RTHK: Austria's Nehammer 'pessimistic' over Putin's 'logic'

Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer on Monday said he was "rather pessimistic" about the chances of diplomacy after being the first European leader to visit Russian President Vladimir Putin since the start of Moscow's military campaign in Ukraine.

Describing Putin as having "massively entered into a logic of war", Nehammer told reporters: "If you're asking me whether I am optimistic or pessimistic, I'm rather pessimistic."

"Peace talks are always very time-intensive while military logic says: 'Don't spend too much time and go directly into battle'," he added.

However, he said he spoke to European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz after the meeting and said he had impressed on them the "need for more such meetings" to directly express European outrage at Russia's actions.

While Nehammer said there was "very little interest on the Russian side in a direct meeting" with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, he said the one glimmer of hope was Putin's continued interest in the Istanbul peace talks.

In an earlier statement Nehammer had said the meeting between the two men, which took place at Putin's residence outside Moscow, was not "a visit of friendship".

Nehammer described the conversation as "direct, open and hard".

The Austrian government had requested the meeting be held behind closed doors with no joint pictures or statements from the two leaders.

"I mentioned the serious war crimes in Bucha and other locations and stressed that all those responsible have to be brought to justice," Nehammer said.

Russia denies its forces have committed war crimes.

On the topic of sanctions Nehammer said he had "told President Putin very clearly that the sanctions will remain and be intensified as long as people keep dying in Ukraine".

Nehammer also told Putin of the "urgent" need for humanitarian corridors "to bring water and food into besieged towns and (to) remove women, children and the injured".

"I will now inform our European partners about the conversation and discuss further steps," he said.

Nehammer's trip to Moscow followed a visit to Kyiv on Saturday where he held talks with Zelenskyy. (AFP)

This story has been published on: 2022-04-11. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Ukraine crisis creates shortages in Finnish construction industry

Xinhua) 08:37, April 12, 2022

HELSINKI, April 11 (Xinhua) -- The Finnish construction industry is experiencing unprecedented difficulties due to the Ukraine crisis, Finnish national broadcaster Yle reported on Monday.

Access to building materials is obstructed, with steel products in particular in severe shortage. According to the Confederation of Finnish Construction Industries (CFCI), about a quarter of the steel used in Finland has previously come from Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus.

Juha Luhanka, director of the Building Materials Division at CFCI, told Yle that steel is used in all types of construction, and entire sites may be forced to cease operating without it.

The steel shortage extends across Europe, Luhanka said. During the COVID-19 pandemic, steel prices doubled, and the prices of some products are now almost four times higher than before. Increasing prices for raw materials will also push up product prices.

Betset, the largest manufacturer of concrete components in Finland, said it has enough steel stock to last until next summer. However, Betset's sales director Jari Laajala told Yle that production could stop if raw materials runs out, and therefore the company is already preparing for such a situation in the future.

CFCI estimated that stocks of various building materials in Finland will be sufficient until next summer. However, serious difficulties could arise within the construction industry after that time.

The problems caused by the Ukraine crisis are more profound than the COVID-19 pandemic, according to CFCI.

If EU sanctions against Russia, or Russia's counter-sanctions lead to the closure of natural gas taps, the construction industry could face serious problems, Luhanka said.

There is also a lack of bitumen used in asphalting, glass, and electronic products required for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning equipment. In addition, there are difficulties in obtaining some wood products, such as parquet.

The shortage of steel products also affects the technology and automotive industries, which are major employers in Finland. Therefore supply chain blockages will be rapidly reflected in employment levels throughout the country, said Yle.

(Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun)
An Edgewater man who police say stabbed another man to death at a Glen Burnie restaurant in 2020 was sentenced to 30 years of prison time, and was identified by prosecutors as a member of the notorious MS-13 gang.

Prosecutors maintain that the man who stabbed Jose Salvador Mancia Aguilar, of Glen Burnie, at El Norteno Grill was connected to the criminal enterprise, stating that Cristian Pleitez-Tejada, 23, is a verified member of the MS-13 gang, according to a news release from the Anne Arundel County States Attorneys Office.

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MS-13 is a gang made up primarily of Salvadoran immigrants or descendants and is found in communities across America. In Maryland, authorities say the gangs cliques operate in Anne Arundel, Prince Georges, Montgomery and Frederick counties.

Investigators determined a dispute between the men leading up to the October 2020 stabbing at El Norteno Grill stemmed from an undetermined incident in their mutual home country of El Salvador.

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Mancia Aguilar was found bleeding profusely and declared dead at the restaurant. Weeks after the stabbing, Pleitez-Tejada planned to flee the country, according to prosecutors, but he was found by FBI agents in Arkansas.

Police say he admitted to investigators that he had stabbed Mancia Aguilar with a knife he had been carrying that evening. Pleitez-Tejada pleaded guilty to second-degree murder last year in Anne Arundel County Circuit Court.

Anne Arundel County Circuit Judge Robert J. Thompson sentenced Pleitez-Tejada to 30 years of incarceration earlier this month, according to court records. Pleitez-Tejada was represented by a public defender.

I am grateful that the judge recognized the defendants dangerousness as a verified gang member, and sentenced him to the maximum sentence for this crime, Anne Arundel County States Attorney Anne Colt Leitess said in a statement. Its my hope that this outcome provides the victims family and friends some peace as they have suffered a terrible loss.

Two of Pleitez-Tejadas associates, Carlos Hercules-Aquino and Gerardo Quinteros-Hernandez, pleaded guilty last November to obstruction of justice charges. Authorities stated that they drove Pleitez-Tejada to St. Louis after the stabbing, then drove back to Maryland and sold the car they had used to flee the area. They received time-served sentences and were placed on five years of supervised probation.
Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

Researchers at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center have developed a new bioinformatics platform that predicts optimal treatment combinations for a given group of patients based on co-occurring tumor alterations. In retrospective validation studies, the tool selected combinations that resulted in improved patient outcomes across both pre-clinical and clinical studies.

The findings were presented today at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting 2022 by principal investigator Anil Korkut, Ph.D., assistant professor of Bioinformatics and Computational Biology. The study results also were published today in Cancer Discovery.

The platform, called REcurrent Features LEveraged for Combination Therapy (REFLECT), integrates machine learning and cancer informatics algorithms to analyze biological tumor featuresincluding genetic mutations, copy number changes, gene expression and protein expression aberrationsand identify frequent co-occurring alterations that could be targeted by multiple drugs.

"Our ultimate goal is to make precision oncology more effective and create meaningful patient benefit," Korkut said. "We believe REFLECT may be one of the tools that can help overcome some of the current challenges in the field by facilitating both the discovery and the selection of combination therapies matched to the molecular composition of tumors."

Targeted therapies have improved clinical outcomes for many patients with cancer, but monotherapies against a single target often lead to treatment resistance. Cancer cells frequently rely on co-occurring alterations, such as mutations in two signaling pathways, to drive tumor progression. Increasing evidence suggests that identifying and targeting both alterations simultaneously could increase durable responses, Korkut explained.

Led by Korkut and postdoctoral fellow Xubin Li, Ph.D., the researchers built and used the REFLECT tool to develop a systematic and unbiased approach to match patients with optimal combination therapies.

Using REFLECT, they analyzed pan-cancer datasets from both MD Anderson and publicly available sources, including pre-treatment patient tumor samples, cell lines and patient-derived xenografts (PDXs), representing more than 10,000 patients and 33 cancer types. This generated 201 patient cohorts, each defined by a single therapeutically actionable biomarker, such as EGFR mutation or PD-L1 overexpression.

Within each cohort, the team generated REFLECT signatures of additional alterations that may be actionable therapeutic targets, thus pointing to sub-cohorts that may benefit from specific combination therapies. Across all cohorts, the researchers identified a total of 2,166 combinations, with at least one Food and Drug Administration-approved agent, matched to co-occurring alterations. In total, 45% of the patients included in the initial analysis were matched to at least one combination therapy.

The researchers validated the REFLECT approach through retrospective analysis of publicly available pre-clinical and clinical studies, comparing REFLECT-matched combinations used in those trials to combinations not matched by the tool.

In pre-clinical trials with PDX models, REFLECT-matched combinations had a 34.5% decrease in median tumor volume, while non-matched combinations had a 5.1% increase. Similarly, progression-free survival (PFS) was higher with matched combinations. The researchers also demonstrated a higher synergy score in REFLECT combinations relative to others, defined using the highest single agent (HSA) model.

The researchers also retrospectively validated the approach in the clinical setting through available data from the I-PREDICT trials, which evaluated many combination therapies across diverse cancer types. Patients in this trial that received combinations predicted by REFLECT to be most beneficial had significantly longer PFS and overall survival compared to other combinations.

In this study, the team also developed a detailed map of oncogenic alterations that co-exist with specific immune features. This map revealed many common alterations that frequently co-occur with immunotherapy response markers, such as defects in DNA damage repair and changes in the levels of specific epigenetic regulators. The findings suggest that therapies targeting these pathways should be further studied as options to improve immunotherapy responses.

"While REFLECT is still a concept that requires additional validation, we anticipate a great opportunity to translate this work into real clinical benefits," Korkut said. "In the future, multi-omic profiles from pre-treatment patient samples could be loaded to the REFLECT pipeline to generate co-alteration signatures, allowing physicians to consider precision combination therapies tailored to molecular profiles of those patients."

In the future, this approach will benefit from improved informatics resources to better match therapies to alterations at the RNA and protein level, Korkut explained. Additionally, the researchers plan to expand their study to better address and predict toxicity from matched drug combinations. Finally, future studies also will seek to address the significant heterogeneity within tumors, which can affect response to targeted therapies.

Explore further Genomic profiling of pediatric cancer may expand treatment options for patients experiencing a relapse
Scanning the brains of newborns, researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have found that maternal exposure to poverty and crime can influence the structure and function of young brains even before babies make their entrances into the world. Here, the university's Lourdes Bernardez prepares an infant for an MRI scan as part of ongoing research. Credit: Matt Miller/Washington University

Poverty and crime can have devastating effects on a child's health. But a new study from researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis suggests that some environmental factors influence the structure and function of young brains even before babies make their entrances into the world.

A study published online April 12 in the journal JAMA Network Open found that MRI scans performed on healthy newborns while they slept indicated that babies of mothers facing social disadvantages such as poverty tended to be born with smaller brains than babies whose mothers had higher household incomes.

MRI scans of full-term newborns born to mothers living in poverty revealed smaller volumes across the entire brainincluding the cortical gray matter, subcortical gray matter and white matterthan found in the brains of babies whose mothers had higher household incomes. The brain scans, which were conducted only a few days to weeks after birth, also showed evidence of less folding of the brain among infants born to mothers living in poverty. Fewer and shallower folds typically signify brain immaturity. The healthy human brain folds as it grows and develops, providing the cerebral cortex with a larger functional surface area.

A second study of data from the same sample of 399 mothers and their babiesthis one published online April 12 in the journal Biological Psychiatryreports that pregnant mothers from neighborhoods with high crime rates gave birth to infants whose brains functioned differently during their first weeks of life than babies born to mothers living in safer neighborhoods. Functional MRI scans of babies whose mothers were exposed to crime displayed weaker connections between brain structures that process emotions and structures that help regulate and control those emotions. Maternal stress is believed to be one of the reasons for the weaker connections in the babies' brains.

"These studies demonstrate that a mother's experiences during pregnancy can have a major impact on her infant's brain development," said Christopher D. Smyser, MD, one of the principal investigators. "Like that old song about how the 'knee bone is connected to the shin bone,' there's a saying about the brain that 'areas that fire together wire together.' We're analyzing how brain regions develop and form early functional networks because how those structures develop and work together may have a major impact on long-term development and behavior."

Babies in the study were born from 2017 through 2020, before the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Smyser, a professor of neurology, of pediatrics and of radiology, said that to successfully scan newborns during the first few weeks of life, babies are fed when they arrive for scans because they tend to fall asleep after eating. They are then snuggly swaddled into blankets and a device that helps keep them comfortable and still. The brain scans take place while they sleep.

In the study involving the effects of poverty, the researchers focused on 280 mothers and their newborns. First author Regina L. Triplett, MD, a postdoctoral fellow in neurology, had expected to find that maternal povertyreferred to in the paper as social disadvantagecould affect the babies' developing brains. But she also expected to see effects from psychosocial stress, which includes measures of adverse life experiences as well as measures of stress and depression.

"Social disadvantage affected the brain across many of its structures, but there were not significant effects that were related to psychosocial stress," Triplett said. "Our concern is that as babies begin life with these smaller brain structures, their brains may not develop in as healthy a way as the brains of babies whose mothers lived in higher income households."

In the second study, which implicated living in high-crime neighborhoods as a factor in weaker functional connections in the brains of newborns, first author Rebecca G. Brady, a graduate student in the university's Medical Scientist Training Program, found that unlike the effects of poverty, the effects of exposure to crime were focused on particular areas of the babies' brains.

"Instead of a brain-wide effect, living in a high-crime area during pregnancy seems to have more specific effects on the emotion-processing regions of babies' brains," Brady said. "We found that this weakening of the functional connections between emotion-processing structures in the babies' brains was very robust when we controlled for other types of adversity, such as poverty. It appears that stresses linked to crime had more specific effects on brain function."

Reducing poverty and lowering crime rates are well-established goals of public policy and public health. And the researchers believe protecting expectant mothers from crime and helping them out of poverty will do more than improve brain growth and connections in their babies. But if social programs that aim to help people reach their full potential are to succeed, the researchers said the policies must focus on assisting people even before they are born.

"Several research projects around the country are providing money for living expenses to pregnant mothers now, and some cities have determined that raising pregnant mothers out of poverty is good public policy," Smyser said. "The evidence we're gathering from these studies certainly would support that idea."

More information: Regina L. Triplett et al, Association of prenatal exposure to early life adversity with neonatal brain volumes at birth, JAMA Network Open (2022). Regina L. Triplett et al, Association of prenatal exposure to early life adversity with neonatal brain volumes at birth,(2022). DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.7045 Rebecca G. Brady et al, The Effects of Prenatal Exposure to Neighborhood Crime on Neonatal Functional Connectivity, Biological Psychiatry (2022). DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2022.01.020 Journal information: Biological Psychiatry , JAMA Network Open
The TESER ACT unit, which kills harmful viruses and bacteria within one minute using ultraviolet light, will soon be in use in Calgary and Edmonton. Credit: TESER

A new made-in-Alberta sanitization product aimed at stopping the spread of SARS-CoV-2 will soon be in use at the Edmonton International Airport and government offices in Calgary and Edmonton, thanks to a partnership with scientists at the University of Alberta's Biosafety Level 3 Lab.

The TESER ACT unit uses ultraviolet-C light from hundreds of LED light bulbs to kill viruses and other common pathogens, including flu and common cold viruses, as well as E. coli bacteria, within 60 seconds.

As one of the few facilities in the province certified to handle the infectious SARS-CoV-2 virus, the U of A Biosafety Level 3 Lab was asked by dozens of companies, including TESER Advanced Sanitization Technologies of Calgary, to test their anti-COVID technologies.

"Having a local partner just up the highway with a Level 3 bio lab and all of the resources and expertise of the scientists in the laboratory, it's been absolutely huge," said John Fox, vice-president of business operations at TESER.

"It's honestly one of our competitive advantages over other companies, because a lot of companies have to send their products away to independent labs. We've had these great partners all the way along, giving us suggestions and working through problems with us on destroying microorganisms, viruses and bacteria," Fox said. "It's just been a huge boost."

"This company could not have done this work so quickly if it weren't for the existence of the University of Alberta and its Level 3 facilities," said project supervisor David Evans, professor of medical microbiology and immunology in the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry. "This investment in infrastructure and salaries and students and staff has value."

Killing SARS-CoV-2 in less than a minute

It's been known for about a century that UVC light can kill pathogens, but the company needed scientific proof that it works against SARS-CoV-2 to meet Health Canada regulations.

"We determined how much UVC light was required to fully inactivate the SARS-CoV-2 virus and prevent it from replicating," explained Ryan Noyce, a research associate who works with Evans at the Biosafety Level 3 Lab. "We were able to inactivate it within less than a minute."

TESER developed two models to sanitize everything from cellphones to parcels to non-invasive medical instruments. One unit looks much like a microwave and can be placed on a desk or on a mobile cart and moved from a mailroom to a cafeteria, for example. The other unit has two doors so it can be built into a wall as a pass-through chamber. There is UVC-blocking glass on the doors so you can see the lights working without damaging eyes or skin.

"Any item that can fit inside the unit can be sanitized," explained Fox. "It's not harmful to electronics; there's no chemical component to it. The unit has only two buttons to operate so it's simple, and it's very energy-efficient."

Fox said the technology has commercial and health-care applications, and eventually a smaller unit will be developed for residential use. The units sell for $23,000 each, but the company hopes to bring the price down as they scale up production.

Keeping people safe

"The whole purpose of the contract was to propose a solution to help keep the workplace safe, keep people at work and keep people from getting sick," Fox said.

TESER's product was developed in answer to a call for proposals from Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada's Testing Stream for Canadian technology companies to find innovative ways to battle COVID-19. The units were purchased by Public Services and Procurement Canada and will be deployed at Prairies Economic Development Canada.

Alberta Innovates and InnoTech Alberta also provided development support to TESER. "We were there on the front end to help scale up the technology and look forward to seeing TESER's technology in the marketplace," said Richard Gibson of InnoTech Alberta.

"InnoTech's analytical labs developed the high-resolution UV maps that helped TESER optimize their initial design," he said. "Our plant pathology lab quickly pivoted their microbial expertise to utilize non-pathogenic viruses to help dial in the dosage likely to control SARS-CoV-2 and additional human pathogens, prior to the testing at the U of A's level 3 lab."

Noyce noted that Evans and his lab team pivoted from their focus on poxviruses and cancer when the pandemic broke out.

"He literally changed his whole research program and did whatever he could to try and help out small businesses in Alberta, as well as collaborating with the World Health Organization, Canada's National Microbiology Laboratory, Canadian Blood Services and others, doing testing for SARS-CoV-2 applications," said Noyce.

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Deliverymen wearing protective suits carry bags of food at the gate of a residential community in Shanghai, China, Monday, April 11, 2022. The U.S. has ordered all non-emergency consular staff to leave Shanghai, which is under a tight lockdown to contain a COVID-19 surge. Many residents in the city of 26 million have been confined to their homes for up to three weeks as China maintains its "zero-COVID" strategy of handling outbreaks with strict isolation and mass testing. Credit: AP Photo

Some residents of Shanghai were allowed out of their homes as the city of 25 million eased a two-week-old shutdown Tuesday after videos posted online showed what was said to be people who ran out of food breaking into a supermarket and shouting appeals for help.

About 6.6 million people will be allowed to leave their homes, but some must stay in their own neighborhoods, according to the online news outlet The Paper. The government said some markets and pharmacies also would reopen.

The abrupt closure of most businesses and orders to stay home left the public fuming about a lack of access to food and medicine. People who test positive for the virus are forced into sprawling temporary quarantine facilities criticized by some as crowded and unsanitary.

Meanwhile, the American government announced all "non-emergency U.S. government employees" would be withdrawn from its Shanghai Consulate. A foreign ministry spokesman defended China's handling of the outbreak and accused Washington of politicizing its evacuation.

The unusual severity of Shanghai's shutdown starting March 28 appeared to be driven as much by politics as by public health concerns.

The struggle in China's richest city is an embarrassment during a politically sensitive year when President Xi Jinping is expected to try to break with tradition and award himself a third five-year term as leader of the ruling Communist Party.

People stand on a rooftop at a residential community in Shanghai, China, Monday, April 11, 2022. The U.S. has ordered all non-emergency consular staff to leave Shanghai, which is under a tight lockdown to contain a COVID-19 surge. Many residents in the city of 26 million have been confined to their homes for up to three weeks as China maintains its "zero-COVID" strategy of handling outbreaks with strict isolation and mass testing. Credit: AP Photo

China's case numbers are relatively low, but the ruling party is enforcing a "zero-tolerance" strategy that has suspended access to major cities to isolate every infected person. Some local officials were fired after being accused of failing to act aggressively enough.

The government reported 24,659 new cases through midnight Monday, including 23,387 with no symptoms. That included 23,346 in Shanghai, only 998 of whom had symptoms.

In Shanghai, more than 200,000 cases but no deaths have been reported in the latest wave of infections.

The government eased restrictions by announcing residents of areas with no cases for at least two weeks can leave their homes starting Tuesday. It said they could go to any other area that also had no new cases during that time but were urged to stay home when possible.

A man looks at his smartphone on a balcony in a residential community in Shanghai, China, Monday, April 11 2022. The U.S. has ordered all non-emergency consular staff to leave Shanghai, which is under a tight lockdown to contain a COVID-19 surge. Many residents in the city of 26 million have been confined to their homes for up to three weeks as China maintains its "zero-COVID" strategy of handling outbreaks with strict isolation and mass testing. Credit: AP Photo

Such "prevention areas" have about 4.8 million people, The Paper reported, citing city officials. It said all but 500,000 of those were in less densely crowded suburbs.

An additional 1.8 million people in "control areas" with no new cases in the past week are allowed out but can't leave their neighborhoods, the report said.

Another 15 million people in "quarantine areas" that have had infections in the past week still are barred from leaving their homes. The report gave no indication of the status of the remaining 3.4 million people in the official population.

The abrupt shutdown caught Shanghai households by surprise and prompted complaints they were left without access to food or medicine and were unable to look after elderly relatives who lived alone.

The government distributed packages of vegetables and other food for a few days at least twice to some households. Others said they received nothing.

In this photo released by Xinhua News Agency, a worker in protective clothing walks past a banner reading "Persistence is victory!" at a makeshift hospital and quarantine facility at the National Exhibition and Convention Center in Shanghai, Monday, April 11, 2022. The U.S. has ordered all non-emergency consular staff to leave Shanghai, which is under a tight lockdown to contain a COVID-19 surge. Credit: Ding Ting/Xinhua via AP

A video that circulated online Saturday showed what the caption said were people in the Songjiang district breaking into a supermarket and carrying away cartons of food.

Another showed people thrusting their fists into the air in front of what appeared to be government employees wearing hooded white protective suits. A third showed what it said were apartment dwellers, barred from going outside, shouting appeals for help out their windows.

The Associated Press was unable to find the source of the videos or verify when and where they were shot. The supermarket video was labeled with an account number from China's popular Sina Weibo social media service, but the video doesn't appear on that account.

The ruling party requires Chinese social media operators to enforce censorship and remove videos and other postings about banned topics. Social media and online bulletin boards are filled with complaints about the Shanghai shutdown and appeals for food or medicine. It is unclear how many others might have been deleted.

People wearing face masks walk along a road inside a residential community in Shanghai, China, Monday, April 11, 2022. The U.S. has ordered all non-emergency consular staff to leave Shanghai, which is under a tight lockdown to contain a COVID-19 surge. Many residents in the city of 26 million have been confined to their homes for up to three weeks as China maintains its "zero-COVID" strategy of handling outbreaks with strict isolation and mass testing. Credit: AP Photo

Complaints about food shortages began after Shanghai closed segments of the city on March 28.

Plans called for four-day closures of districts while residents were tested. That changed to an indefinite citywide shutdown after case numbers soared. Shoppers who got little warning stripped supermarket shelves.

City officials apologized publicly and promised to improve food supplies. Despite that, residents said online grocers often sold out early in the day or were unable to deliver. Online commerce companies said they added hundreds of employees to increase deliveries.

The State Department last week advised Americans against travel to China due to "arbitrary enforcement" of local laws and anti-virus restrictions. It cited a risk of "parents and children being separated."

On Tuesday, a State Department statement said the U.S. government decided "it is best for our employees and their families to be reduced in number" due to "changing circumstances on the ground."

Volunteers wearing armbands and face masks stand at the gate of a residential community in Shanghai, China, Monday, April 11, 2022. The U.S. has ordered all non-emergency consular staff to leave Shanghai, which is under a tight lockdown to contain a COVID-19 surge. Many residents in the city of 26 million have been confined to their homes for up to three weeks as China maintains its "zero-COVID" strategy of handling outbreaks with strict isolation and mass testing. Credit: AP Photo

In this photo released by Xinhua News Agency, bunk beds are seen at a makeshift hospital and quarantine facility at the National Exhibition and Convention Center in Shanghai, Monday, April 11, 2022. The U.S. has ordered all non-emergency consular staff to leave Shanghai, which is under a tight lockdown to contain a COVID-19 surge. Credit: Ding Ting/Xinhua via AP

Commuters wearing face masks walk across an intersection in the central business district in Beijing, Tuesday, April 12, 2022. The U.S. has ordered all non-emergency consular staff to leave Shanghai, which is under a tight lockdown to contain a COVID-19 surge. Credit: AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein

A man wearing a face mask waits at a bus stop in Beijing, Tuesday, April 12, 2022. The U.S. has ordered all non-emergency consular staff to leave Shanghai, which is under a tight lockdown to contain a COVID-19 surge. Credit: AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein

A commuter wearing a face mask walks at an office complex in Beijing, Tuesday, April 12, 2022. The U.S. has ordered all non-emergency consular staff to leave Shanghai, which is under a tight lockdown to contain a COVID-19 surge. Credit: AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein

Commuters wearing face masks walk out of a subway station in the central business district in Beijing, Tuesday, April 12, 2022. The U.S. has ordered all non-emergency consular staff to leave Shanghai, which is under a tight lockdown to contain a COVID-19 surge. Credit: AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein

A crossing guard wearing a face mask directs a bicyclist at an intersection in Beijing, Tuesday, April 12, 2022. The U.S. has ordered all non-emergency consular staff to leave Shanghai, which is under a tight lockdown to contain a COVID-19 surge. Credit: AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein

Commuters wearing face masks ride a subway train in Beijing, Tuesday, April 12, 2022. The U.S. has ordered all non-emergency consular staff to leave Shanghai, which is under a tight lockdown to contain a COVID-19 surge. Credit: AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein

A foreign ministry spokesman criticized the announcement and said China's anti-virus work is "scientific and effective."

"The United States should immediately stop attacking China's epidemic prevention policy, stop political manipulation with the epidemic issue and stop smearing and discrediting China," said the spokesman, Zhao Lijian.

___

AP video producer Liu Zheng contributed.

Explore further Guangzhou closes to most arrivals as China's outbreak grows

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Clavicle of the human fetus. Credit: Mikaze Kawada.

A team of researchers from Japan, Belgium and Switzerland has found evidence showing that the shoulder and associated collar bones in humans slow in growth prior to birth. In their paper published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the researchers describe their study of CT scans from humans before and after birth and from other animals as a means for comparison.

Prior evidence has shown that the heads of human fetuses grow at a fast rate compared to other animals for most of the gestation period to accommodate the larger brainbut then it slows for a couple of months before birth. Scientists believe this became necessary to allow the head to fit through the relatively small birth canal. Prior research has also shown that humans have a narrow pelvis compared to other animals due to our upright stance. In this new effort, the researchers noted that during birth, human fetuses have difficulty with their heads and shoulders, and they wondered if the shoulders might also slow in growth prior to birth to allow for passage through the birth canal. Humans have very wide shoulders compared to most other species.

The researchers obtained 81 CT scans of humans both before and after birth, 61 scans of chimpanzees and 31 scans of Japanese macaques. They found that growth of the shoulders did slow before birth in humans and then picked up speed again after birth. They also found that shoulder growth in chimpanzees held steady throughout a pregnancy and shoulder growth in macaques increased steadily prior to birth and then slowed afterward.

The researchers suggest their work confirms their suspicions that the human head and shoulders slow in growth prior to birth, but they also note that it is still not clear why either or both do not simply grow more slowly the whole time they are in the womb and then grow faster after birtha process that might make birth easier.

Explore further Computer simulations show human ancestors would have had an easier time giving birth than modern women

 2022 Science X Network
Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

In two new papers, a team of Massachusetts researchers have examined the implementation of a groundbreaking opioid use disorder medication treatment program in seven jails across the statepart of a $155 million national effort to address the opioid crisis in criminal justice settings. The research was published in Drug and Alcohol Dependence and the Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment.

"Our findings speak to the positive impact that legislative mandates and correctional intent have on changing practices around the provision of gold-standard treatments for individuals who are incarcerated and struggling with opioid use disorder," says lead author Ekaterina Pivovarova, assistant professor in the Department of Family Medicine and Community Health at UMass Chan Medical School in Worcester.

"These papers distill what we learned about barriers and facilitators of implementing a program like this," says Elizabeth Evans, associate professor in the University of Massachusetts Amherst School of Public Health and Health Sciences.

Evans is co-principal investigator, along with Dr. Peter Friedmann, associate dean of research at UMass Chan Medical School-Baystate and chief research officer at Baystate Health, of a $10 million grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), which formed the Justice Community Opioid Innovation Network (JCOIN) in 2019.

The Massachusetts JCOIN research represents a significant and ongoing collaboration across the Commonwealth. Authors of the two papers are based at Tufts University School of Medicine and Northeastern University, in addition to UMass Amherst, UMass Chan Medical School and Baystate Health.

In 2018, Massachusetts became the first state in the U.S. to pass legislation mandating a treatment program, including FDA-approved medication, for incarcerated people with opioid use disorder. The treatment program includes community-based care after detainees with opioid use disorder are released from jaila period when they typically face a high risk of fatal overdose.

"This research was all about talking to jail staff and others who implement the treatment program to learn from their experiences. We can use that knowledge to identify promising practices that jails elsewhere could use. Massachusetts is on the cutting edge of offering this type of treatment program to incarcerated populations," Evans says. "We saw the range of options for implementation. That helps us better understand how to create programs that are adapted to different types of populations and places."

Researchers interviewed 61 clinical, corrections and senior jail administrators involved in the rollout of the opioid use disorder treatment program, which provides incarcerated individuals with an FDA-approved medication, such as buprenorphine or methadone. The researchers found that the state mandate drove staff acceptance.

"Jails are highly structured organizations and quasi-military in their hierarchies," Friedmann says. "The legislative mandate and court orders were key to overcoming any resistance to medication for opioid use disorder."

The mandate signaled support for the program from the top, resulting in an atypical flexibility to seek "innovative solutions" and create new routines, practices and policies to deliver the medications to incarcerated people who wanted to participate.

The JCOIN grant funded on-site research staff at each jail to monitor the evolution of the program and help with data collection. It was more difficult for older jail staffers who previously had confiscated the drugs they were now going to offer incarcerated people.

"The staff had to shift their mindset to see this as a treatment medication and not as an illicit substance," Evans says.

The research team was somewhat surprised to discover that one of the big concerns about the programthat the medication could end up in the wrong hands due to bullying, coercion or other reasonsdid not appear to be a significant problem.

"The staff reported, in the early days at least, that medication diversion is pretty uncommon, and that's not what we expected to hear," Evans says, adding that protocols concerning where and when the medication is provided help ensure that it's correctly taken by the person for whom it is intended.

The next step will involve speaking to people who received the medication when they were incarcerated, assessing the follow-up care in the community and measuring the health outcomes of the program.

Explore further Offering buprenorphine medication to people with opioid use disorder in jail may reduce rearrest and reconviction

More information: Ekaterina Pivovarova et al, Legislatively mandated implementation of medications for opioid use disorders in jails: A qualitative study of clinical, correctional, and jail administrator perspectives, Drug and Alcohol Dependence (2022). Ekaterina Pivovarova et al, Legislatively mandated implementation of medications for opioid use disorders in jails: A qualitative study of clinical, correctional, and jail administrator perspectives,(2022). DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2022.109394 Elizabeth A. Evans et al, Uncommon and preventable: Perceptions of diversion of medication for opioid use disorder in jail, Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment (2022). DOI: 10.1016/j.jsat.2022.108746 Journal information: Drug and Alcohol Dependence
Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

Expanding prescription of statin medication to reduce low-density lipoprotein cholesterol could be a cost-effective intervention against cardiovascular disease, according to a Northwestern Medicine study published in the journal Circulation.

"Thinking about how we can use our limited healthcare resources cost-effectively is very important for structuring healthcare," said Ciaran Kohli-Lynch, Ph.D., a postdoctoral fellow in Health Services and Outcomes Research at the Center for Education in Health Sciences (CEHS) and lead author of the study.

HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors, commonly referred to as statins, help reduce levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and are widely used to prevent cardiovascular disease (CVD) in those at risk. Current Scottish guidelines recommend statin medication for people with more than 20% risk of cardiovascular disease within 10 years, a measure determined by the ASSIGN cardiovascular risk score.

Both the United States and England use a much lower 10-year risk threshold for prescribing statins: 7.5% and 10%, respectively. Further, the patents for major statin drugs expired during the 2010s and generic medication options have reduced the overall cost of statin treatment.

"If it was cost-effective to treat one group of patients at the patented price, we might be able to expand our treatment population as the cost-benefit tradeoff changes," Kohli-Lynch said.

In the study, the investigators used a simulation model to predict health and cost outcomes, drawing base data and survival probabilities from the Scottish Heart Health Extended Cohort Study. The model assigns individuals in the simulated cohort to health stateseach state with its own costs and health benefitsand individuals move between states based on probabilities and risk factor profiles.

Kohli-Lynch and his collaborators tested two ASSIGN thresholds for statin treatment: 10% and the current 20%.

The model found that compared to the 20% threshold, a 10% threshold expanded treatment eligibility by almost 50%, at a cost-effectiveness ratio of 12,300 per quality-adjusted life-year gained (QALY). This is well below the 20,000 per QALY threshold commonly regarded as cost-effective in Scotland, Kohli-Lynch said.

Further, because expanding statin use in the U.S. and England resulted in some pushback from clinicians, the study authors tested using different statin prioritization mechanisms. These included an age-stratified score and a treatment recommendation based on absolute risk reduction, and both were also found to be cost-effective at a willingness-to-pay of 20,000 per QALY.

"With absolute risk reduction, clinicians are treating patients with some clinical marker of risk, rather than asymptomatic ones with high non-modifiable risk," Kohli-Lynch said.

In the future, Kohli-Lynch said he'd like to add some markers of cumulative exposure, as emerging research has repeatedly pointed to the cumulative impact of high cholesterol on CVD risk, as compared to assessing risk based on one-time measurements.

"If we can better account for cumulative exposure in these models, starting treatment earlier might be even more beneficial than we currently predict," Kohli-Lynch said.

Explore further Statins cost-effective in young adults

More information: Ciaran N. Kohli-Lynch et al, Beyond Ten-Year Risk: A Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of Statins for the Primary Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease, Circulation (2022). Journal information: Circulation Ciaran N. Kohli-Lynch et al, Beyond Ten-Year Risk: A Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of Statins for the Primary Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease,(2022). DOI: 10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.121.057631
BOISE, Idaho (AP)  The Idaho governor and attorney general said Tuesday they are seeking to add Idaho to the list of states that have filed a lawsuit to prevent federal officials from ending a public health rule that allows many asylum seekers to be turned away at the southern U.S. border.

Republican Gov. Brad Little and Republican Attorney General Lawrence Wasden said they are working together to join the lawsuit filed earlier this month by Arizona, Louisiana and Missouri.

The lawsuit challenges the Biden administration's planned May 23 end to border controls known as Title 42. The order was imposed nearly two years ago by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention over coronavirus concerns.

The Trump Administration invoked the Title 42 restrictions to protect the American people, and it worked, Little said in a statement. "The policy kept tens of thousands of illegal immigrants from crossing the border. Idahos participation in this multistate lawsuit reinforces the fact that border security is interconnected to the health and safety of American citizens.

Wasden said the lawsuit is yet another example of states being forced to take action because Congress continues to refuse to address an issue that should be its priority.

Little and Wasden said Idaho and other states received an invitation to join the lawsuit Tuesday morning. The two said they began a review of the lawsuit and then took steps to make sure Idaho is represented.

Republican-led state governments have been fighting the Democratic administrations rollback of some immigration policies.

The policy at the center of the lawsuit went into effect under President Donald Trump in March 2020. Since then, migrants trying to enter the U.S. have been expelled more than 1.7 million times.

The lawsuit says the policy is the only safety valve preventing this Administrations disastrous border policies from devolving into an unmitigated chaos and catastrophe.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced April 1 that it would end the policy that limited asylum at the U.S.-Mexico border to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The government said it was already making plans to erect tents and take other steps to prepare for an expected influx of migrants.

Little has long been critical of Biden's handling of security at the U.S.-Mexico border. Last summer, he sent five Idaho State Police troopers on a 21-day mission to assist Arizona State Police in drug interdiction.

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FAIRFAX, Va. (AP)  A jury was selected Monday to hear a long-anticipated libel lawsuit Johnny Depp filed against his ex-wife, actress Amber Heard, whom he accuses of falsely portraying him as a domestic abuser.

Depp sued Heard over an op-ed piece she wrote in The Washington Post in 2018 in which Heard refers to herself as a public figure representing domestic abuse. The article doesn't mention Depp by name, but he says it clearly refers to allegations Heard made in other forums that she suffered physical abuse at his hands. Depp denies the accusations.

The lawsuit brought a little bit of Hollywood to a courthouse that has a long history of dealing with high-profile crimes, just not those involving movie stars.

More than a dozen women, some waving signs saying Justice for Johnny, joined other fans who waved pirate flags in recognition of Depp's signature role in the Pirates of the Caribbean movies, waited outside the courthouse an hour before the hearing.

The courtroom in the city of Fairfax was closed to the public Monday, with limited closed-circuit access in an overflow courtroom. People lined up before 7 a.m. for the wristbands granting access. Both Depp and Heard were in attendance, but court personnel brought them in and out utilizing special access points that frustrated fans' ability to see them.

The judge overseeing the trial, Penney Azcarate, has imposed a series of access rules to try to maintain decorum in the courthouse. Most significantly, neither Depp nor Heard are permitted to pose for photos or sign autographs in the courthouse or on the courthouse grounds.

Depp's fans have been vocal in their support, saying he has been falsely accused. Raylyn Otey, a Depp fan from Bluefield, Virginia, drove five hours to see the movie star. She was disappointed when Depp did not greet fans personally, as sheriff's deputies carefully limited fan access.

I'm so disappointed. I came to give him flowers to show some support, she said, bouquet in hand.

In a separate lawsuit Depp filed against a British newspaper, a judge dismissed the case, finding that Depp assaulted Heard on a dozen occasions and put her in fear for her life on multiple occasions.

Heard has filed a countersuit against Depp that accuses his lawyers of defaming her at his direction.

Heard's lawyers tried unsuccessfully to have the case moved to California, where the actors reside. A Fairfax judge ruled that Depp was within his rights to bring the case here because the Posts online editions are published through servers located in Fairfax County. Depp's lawyers have said they brought the case in Virginia in part because the laws here are more favorable to their case.

A jury of seven, plus four alternates, was selected by Monday afternoon. The smaller jury is typical for civil trials in Virginia.

Opening statements are scheduled for Tuesday morning. The trial is expected to last more than a month. A long list of witnesses includes actors James Franco and Paul Bettany, and tech entrepreneur Elon Musk. Some witnesses are expected to appear in person, while others will testify via video link.

This story has been updated to correct the spelling of Raylyn Otey's last name.

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Concerns about trash building up underneath the Reserve Street Bridge and about how low-income, unsheltered Missoulians are being concentrated in already low-income neighborhoods were brought up during a community forum hosted by the Reserve Street Working Group on Tuesday.

Casey Gannon, the countys shelter projects coordinator, presented an update on the Authorized Camping Site, a 40-spot legal tent-camping site on Clark Fork Lane behind the Super Walmart.

Gannon said that since it opened in January, the site has been at capacity. A private security company, Rogers International, has been hired to provide 24/7 security at the site.

Rogers International has been amazing there, Gannon said. They have relationships and build relationships and are able to de-escalate a lot of situations that might have required law enforcement.

He said the guards have solved a lot of problems at the site. Gannon also said the city and county have hired a staff member to be out during the work week at the site to help manage things and keep the area clean. The community care team from Partnership Health Center, the Homeless Outreach Team from the Poverello Center and representatives from Hope Rescue Mission also work with the people living at the site to connect them to health and housing services.

The purpose of the Authorized Camping Site is to provide a low-barrier place to legally camp and to reduce illegal urban camping, Gannon said.

He noted that initially, the camp was successful in drawing people out of long-term, entrenched illegal camps beneath the Reserve Street Bridge. However, in recent weeks, he said people have filtered back to living under the bridge and there is now a lot of highly visible trash.

Weve seen folks moving back to the illegal Reserve Street camp, he said. Theres quite a bit of trash dispersed and spread out among the area.

Gannon said that the Montana Department of Transportation, which owns the land under the bridge, was supposed to do a cleanup in March but canceled due to a lack of staffing.

Kevin Davis, an organizer for the Reserve Street Working Group, said volunteers are still needed for a cleanup of the riparian area under the bridge from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. on Earth Day, April 22.

Gannon said that county officials are aware of the trash under the Reserve Street Bridge.

Rogers is working with the city to get people out from under the bridge again, he said. With the Johnson Street Emergency Winter Shelter closing on April 18, were going to see more urban camping. Were going to continue to work with the city on how thats going to be addressed. The Authorized Camping Site is one piece of the solution, but its not going to solve everything.

Gannon noted that by next year, the 202-unit Trinity affordable housing project should be open, which will mean many more people making lower wages should have more options for housing. Gannon also reminded people that the Temporary Safe Outdoor Space, currently located on the south side of town, will be moving probably this fall to Mullan Road near the corner of West Broadway, next to where 130 units of the Trinity complex are being built.

John Wolverton, a community member attending the forum, said hes noticed that all of the projects for low-income housing or legal camping seem to be getting concentrated in the area of West Broadway.

Wolverton said that public engagement in wealthy neighborhoods tends to be higher, because people have more time and resources to call their city council member or speak up in meetings about things they dont like. People in lower-income neighborhoods, though, often arent aware of the burden thats placed on their areas by decision-makers.

Its low-income citizens forced into low-income census tracts. Its an expression of classism, Wolverton said. Its lets put all the poor people over there so we dont have to deal with them. There needs to be some community awareness that theres a slow march toward concentrating low-income people in whats already a low-income area.

Gannon said the county and the city are already very aware of that issue. However, he said the decision to move the TSOS to the West Broadway area was made because there simply werent any other options.

We struggled to find this location, Gannon said. It was a battle to find a location. So theres definitely not intention to put it anywhere where there was already a lot of low-income people being housed there.

Wolverton said that Missoula doesnt need another Cabrini-Green, referring to high-rise, low-income housing projects near Chicagos wealthiest neighborhoods that was razed because it wasnt kept up. He also said its well-known in urban planning circles that it isnt good for cities to concentrate low-income residents in one single area.

We need to have duplexes and fourplexes spread all around the city for affordable housing and social services that dont force low-income people to always be gravitating toward one low-income area, Wolverton said. That ties into our government leaders do need to have more open processes.

In all, Gannon said, the Authorized Camping Site has been a success in that its given people a safe, sanitary place to live while limiting the amount of entrenched, long-term camps that are harmful to the environment and people.

Our main success is trying to reduce urban camping throughout Missoula, Gannon said. People had (been under the Reserve Street Bridge) for years and years and providing a safe, legal spot gives them a little more breathing room and gives them more steps to find better housing options."

He noted that providing services is much smoother when people are in a legal space.

"Outreach is easier, its easy to find people when we know where theyre living in a designated area," he said. "But we probably will see more urban camping and illegal camping."

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ALBANY, N.Y.  New York Lt. Gov. Brian Benjamin resigned Tuesday in the wake of his arrest in a federal corruption investigation, creating a political crisis for Gov. Kathy Hochul seven months after she selected Benjamin as a partner to make a fresh start in an office already rocked by scandal.

Benjamin, a Democrat, was accused in an indictment of participating in a scheme to obtain campaign contributions from a real estate developer in exchange for Benjamins agreement to use his influence as a state senator to get a $50,000 grant of state funds for a nonprofit organization the developer controlled.

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Facing charges including bribery, fraud, conspiracy and falsification of records, Benjamin pleaded not guilty Tuesday at an initial appearance in Manhattan federal court. He was released and bail was set at $250,000. The terms of his release call for his travel to be restricted and bar him from returning to the state capitol in Albany.

He submitted his resignation to Hochul hours later.

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I have accepted Brian Benjamins resignation effective immediately. While the legal process plays out, it is clear to both of us that he cannot continue to serve as Lieutenant Governor. New Yorkers deserve absolute confidence in their government, and I will continue working every day to deliver for them, Hochul said in a statement.

Two lawyers representing Benjamin said he was suspending his campaign to focus on defending his actions in court and said the grant in question was used to buy school supplies.

There was nothing inappropriate about this grant. He will focus his energies on explaining in court why his actions were laudable  not criminal. He looks forward to when this case is finished so he can rededicate himself to public service, the statement said.

Hochul in September plucked Benjamin, then a state lawmaker, to serve as second-in-command when she became governor, taking over for Democrat Andrew Cuomo, who resigned amid allegations he sexually harassed 11 women, which he denied.

Hochul, also a Democrat, was Cuomos lieutenant governor. She is now running in this years election to try to remain governor. Benjamin had been her running mate.

Hochuls office and campaign did not respond to messages Tuesday evening about her plans moving forward for a new lieutenant governor and running mate.

New York Lt. Gov. Brian Benjamin leaves the courthouse in New York, April 12, 2022. (Seth Wenig/AP)

Benjamin was the states second Black lieutenant governor. During his state Legislature career, he emphasized criminal justice reform and affordable housing. His district included most of central Harlem, where he was born and raised by Caribbean immigrant parents.

New York law makes it tough to remove Benjamin from the June primary ballot: He could move out of New York to disqualify himself from running for state office, or the state Democratic party could let him run for a down ballot office.

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Democratic Party Chair Jay Jacobs said the party is exploring its options.

Im not ready at this time to outline what we are considering, suffice it to say we will look at the options expeditiously, Jacobs said.

Two months after Benjamin became lieutenant governor, a real estate developer who steered campaign contributions toward Benjamins failed bid for New York City comptroller was indicted. Federal authorities accused Gerald Migdol of wire fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and aggravated identity theft in illegally giving donations to Benjamins campaign.

The indictment said Benjamin and others acting at his direction or on his behalf also engaged in a series of lies and deceptions to cover up the scheme that stretched from 2019 to 2021.

They falsified campaign donor forms, misled municipal regulators and provided false information in vetting forms Benjamin submitted while he was being considered to be appointed as lieutenant governor, the indictment said.

Prosecutors had previously not made any accusations against Benjamin, and his campaign said at the time of Migdols arrest that it had forfeited any improper donations as soon as they were discovered.

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More recently, reports came out saying subpoenas had been issued to Benjamin regarding the financial issues even before Hochul picked him as lieutenant governor.

Before Benjamins arrest and resignation, Hochul had defended him, saying last week she had the utmost confidence in him. She said last week that she didnt know of the subpoenas when she tapped Benjamin to be her No. 2.

Top Republicans and at least a dozen of Benjamins fellow Democrats in the Legislature called on him to resign by Tuesday afternoon.

Senate Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, a Democrat, is taking on the duties of lieutenant governor  a role she took before Benjamins appointment last year when Hochul became governor.

Two candidates for governor, Democratic U.S. Rep. Thomas Suozzi and Republican U.S. Rep. Lee Zeldin, blasted Hochuls judgment for selecting Benjamin in the first place despite longstanding concerns about his potential campaign finance violations.

Immigration advocate Ana Maria Archila, a Democrat running for lieutenant governor alongside New York City public advocate and gubernatorial candidate Jumaane Williams, said Albany politicians have traded favors for money for too long.

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Today is a dark day, with Albany at its worst on display for all New Yorkers to see, Archila said.

The scandal is the latest in a long history of lawmakers and other Albany leaders whove been engulfed in allegations of wrongdoing.

Cuomos resignation as governor came not only amid allegations of sexual harassment but that his administration misrepresented the number of New Yorkers who died in nursing homes from COVID-19.

In 2008, then-Gov. Eliot Spitzer resigned amid a prostitution investigation.

Former New York Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, one of the most powerful figures in state government, resigned in 2015 after he was arrested on federal corruption charges.

Former Republican state Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos, who for a time shared power with Silver, was convicted of extortion, wire fraud and bribery.

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Hays reported from New York. Associated Press writers Deepti Hajela, Michelle L. Price and Larry Neumeister contributed from New York and Michael Hill contributed from Albany.
WASHINGTON (AP)  President Joe Biden said Tuesday his administration will suspend a federal rule that bars higher levels of ethanol in gasoline during the summer. The move, which Biden announced during a visit to Iowa, is intended to tamp down prices at the pump that have spiked during Russias war with Ukraine. Iowa is a key producer of the corn-based fuel additive.

A look at how that the decision to authorize year-round use of so-called E15 will impact gas supplies, prices and the environment.

WHAT ACTION IS BIDEN TAKING?

Most gasoline sold in the U.S. is blended with 10% ethanol. At Biden's direction, the Environmental Protection Agency will issue an emergency waiver to allow widespread sale of 15% ethanol blend that is usually prohibited between June 1 and Sept. 15 because of concerns that it adds to smog in high temperatures.

Senior Biden administration officials said the move will save drivers an average of 10 cents per gallon at 2,300 gas stations that sell E15, as the high-blend ethanol is known. Those stations are mostly in the Midwest and the South, including Texas, according to industry groups.

WHY IS BIDEN DOING THIS?

Lawmakers from both parties and ethanol advocates have urged Biden and the EPA to allow year-round sales of E15, calling it a cheaper and readily available domestic alternative to traditional gasoline. The U.S. has banned imports of Russian crude oil since the country's late February invasion of Ukraine, disrupting global markets and raising prices.

Homegrown Iowa biofuels provide a quick and clean solution for lowering prices at the pump, and bolstering production would help us become energy independent once again, said Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, a longtime ethanol proponent. Grassley and 15 other senators sent Biden a letter last month urging him to allow year-round E15 sales.

Ethanol groups called Biden's action a major win for American drivers and U.S. energy security. "It means cleaner options at the pump and a stronger rural economy, said Emily Skor, CEO of Growth Energy, a biofuel trade group.

HOW WILL THIS AFFECT THE ENVIRONMENT?

Biden administration official say the short-term move will have little effect on the environment and that EPA will work with states to "ensure there are no significant air quality impacts through the summer driving season.''

Environmentalists questioned that, saying ethanol production contributes to greenhouse gas emissions and soil erosion and raises prices for corn and other crops.

The ethanol lobby will be happy and kids with asthma will be sicker,'' said Dan Becker of the Center for Biological Diversity, an environmental group. However well-meaning (Biden's action) might be, kids and the elderly shouldnt pay the price with their health for slight gas savings.''

A recent report in the Proceedings of the National Academy of the Sciences revealed that the federal ethanol mandate inflated corn prices by 30% from 2008 to 2016, made corn-based ethanol more carbon intensive than gasoline and increased annual fertilizer use by up to 8%, polluting waterways.

HAS EPA DONE THIS BEFORE?

The EPA has lifted seasonal restrictions on E15 in the past, including after Hurricane Harvey in 2017. The Trump administration allowed for year-round E15 sales starting in 2019, but a federal appeals court struck down the policy change in July 2021, saying the EPA overstepped its authority.

The decision dealt a significant blow to the ethanol industry and corn farmers who had anticipated increased ethanol demand through year-round sales of the higher blend.

HOW IS THIS DIFFERENT FROM TRUMP'S ACTION?

Senior Biden administration officials said they expected the EPA waiver to survive a likely court challenge, saying that unlike the open-ended Trump rule, the action is limited to this summer and is prompted by a supply disruption caused by the war in Europe.

Greater use of E15 should "help alleviate some of the pain that weve seen since Russia launched this war against Ukraine, EPA Administrator Michael Regan told a Senate committee last week.

But critics said the only emergency is Biden's dropping poll numbers.

Emergency fuel waivers are reserved for acute supply disruptions, such as those resulting from a hurricane, said Chet Thompson, president & CEO of the American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers, which represents petroleum refiners.

An additional three months of E15 sales wont do anything to address high crude oil prices, and 98% of retail (gas) stations cant even sell the fuel,'' Thompson said. This is politics, not a real solution for drivers.

WILL E15 HURT MY CAR'S ENGINE?

E15, often sold at the pump as Unleaded 88, for its octane rating, can safely be used in all cars, trucks and SUVs from 2001 on. Those model years represent more than 90% of vehicles on U.S. roads. The ethanol industry says the fuel is one of the most tested in history and has no effect on vehicle drivability. More than 20 billion miles have been driven in cars and trucks using Unleaded 88, a number continues to grow.

WHAT IS THE PRICE OF E15 GAS?

E15, or Unleaded 88, typically sells for 10 cents a gallon less than E10, the standard formulation for U.S. cars. The price difference between Unleaded 88 and conventional gasoline without ethanol is around 40 cents.

WILL I GET BETTER MILEAGE WITH E15?

There is no noticeable difference between the mileage achieved when using E15 and mileage when operating on E10.

CAN I USE E15 IN MY LAWNMOWER OR OTHER SMALL-ENGINE EQUIPMENT?

E15 has not been approved by EPA for use in non-automotive engines such as boats, motorcycles, lawn mowers and other small engines. E10, the standard ethanol formulation, is approved for small engines.

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TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP)  The Florida Legislature's new approach on drawing congressional maps is, if at first you don't succeed, don't try again.

House Speaker Chris Sprowls and Senate President Wilton Simpson sent a memo to lawmakers Monday ahead of a special session next week saying legislative staff will not draw new maps to be considered by the chambers. Instead, they're asking Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis to give them one.

We are awaiting a communication from the Governors Office with a map that he will support. Our intention is to provide the Governors Office opportunities to present that information before House and Senate redistricting committees, the Republican leaders said in a joint memo.

In an unprecedented move, DeSantis, who is a potential 2024 presidential candidate, interjected himself into the once-a-decade process of drawing new political lines after the federal census by submitting his own congressional map.

The Senate did not take the governors map into consideration, and the House approved two maps, a primary map to try to appease DeSantis and a second in case the first map was found to be unconstitutional.

While the House was debating its proposal, DeSantis used Twitter to say it would be dead on arrival. The Senate later approved the House maps and DeSantis kept his promise and vetoed the bill.

By saying it will wait for the governor, the Legislature is basically conceding the process to him.

DeSantis previously submitted a map that would dismantle the districts of two Black U.S. House members  Reps. Al Lawson and Sheila Cherfilus McCormick. DeSantis proposal also would likely give Republicans more Florida seats than the maps approved by the House and Senate. That would benefit DeSantis, a potential 2024 presidential candidate, if he were to be elected to the White House.

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LINCOLN, Neb. (AP)  Nebraska lawmakers gave final approval Tuesday to a bill that would let the state build a canal in Colorado to divert water out of the South Platte River, a project steeped in fears about the Denver area's growing water consumption.

Lawmakers passed the measure with little fanfare, 42-4, and sent it to Republican Gov. Pete Ricketts, who proposed the idea and is expected to sign it.

The legislation will allow the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources to start work on the estimated $500 million canal. They've only approved $53.5 million in funding, however, which will force the department to seek more money next year to continue the project.

State officials have they'll use the initial money for design work, permitting and purchase options to potentially buy land for the project in the future.

Ricketts announced the plan in January to invoke Nebraskas right to construct the canal under the South Platte River Compact, a legally binding water-sharing agreement approved by Nebraska, Colorado and Congress in 1923.

Building the canal would give Nebraska the right to claim some of the water in late fall, winter and early spring and store it for use in drier times. Colorado has always fulfilled its obligation to provide at least 120 cubic feet per second of water during the summer irrigation season, but it has no such duty during the non-irrigation season.

Some Nebraska lawmakers have questioned whether the project is necessary.

A spokesman for Colorado Gov. Jared Polis has called the project a bad-faith attempt to undermine a century-long and successful compact between Colorado and Nebraska and a costly boondoggle for Nebraska taxpayers.

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Well, Shazam!, as Gomer Pyle would say: Ryan Zinke broke ethics rules while leading the Department of Interior? Say it isn't so! Cumulatively, Commander Zinke has cynically chalked up no less than 18 federal investigations, with the latest one being initiated by a Trump-appointed DOI Inspector General that concluded that he: failed to abide by his ethics obligations and misused his office for private gain. Can you believe it? A former bedraggled Navy SEAL, a former flaccid Montana Congressman, the former resigned-in-disgrace secretary of the DOI, and now running for Montana's new western Congressional representative, accused of ethics violations? Inconceivable!

The Code of Federal Regulations  2635.702 states: An employee shall not use his public office for his own private gain, for the endorsement of any product, service or enterprise, or for the private gain of friends, relatives, or persons with whom the employee is affiliated... That, incidentally, is exactly what Zinke did, according to the IG report.

Why is it that people of Zinke's ilk think that regulations do not apply to them; that they are above the law; that they are exceptions to established norms and are essentially bullet-proof? A certain past president enjoyed  and still enjoys  those ideals and Ryan Zinke, appointed by that very same past president, has adopted that seedy and villainous paradigm as his own.

Sadly, for the citizenry of the United States, political corruption such as this has been elevated to an art form, especially by the grifters of the previous administration. And, it appears to the casual observer, to have been a prerequisite for nomination to key positions by the nation's foremost also-ran: Donald J. Trump, a colossal loser, that deplorably haunts us still. Ryan Zinke certainly fits into that Trumpian mold of flimflam artist, egotistical buffoon, and yes, inveterate loser  just like his former boss. Worse yet, Zinke obscenely tries to masquerade as a Teddy Roosevelt clone, as if TR would condone Zinke's public service behavior, civilian or military, because with Zinkster the Prankster, it's: Ask not what I can do for my country, but what my country can do for me, me, me.

So who do we vote for to fill this all important seat? Well, I'm betting my pensioner's sawbuck on Monica Tranel, and isn't it high time we elect a Montana woman to Congress? (Historical note: Montana's Jeannette Rankin was the first woman in America to be elected to Congress. Alas, she is the only Montana woman to hold this post.) Tranel is a clean-energy advocate, a conservationist, and recognizes that the Montana we know and love is fast disappearing to those that endorse politicos like Ryan Zinke.

While we're at it, let us appeal to another woman  Deb Haaland, the current Secretary of the Interior  to follow the IG's lead and initiate any action deemed appropriate against Zinke's hooliganism. Haaland, who is everything Zinke was not, needs to step up and press the Department of Justice to indict the slippery seal, whose principle talent seems to be never-ending evasion, resistance, and escape from federal justice.

Is there anything positive that can be said of Commander Zinke as a contender for Montana's new Congressional seat? In a word: no. He has demonstrated behavior that is consistently fraudulent while in the Navy, Congress, DOI, and now  alarmingly  an opportunistic return to Congress, where, if elected, it is undeniably certain that his past practices of ethics violations will continue with immersion back into the carnival of harlots beholden to D.J. Trump.

Montana can do better. Much better.

Michael Jarnevic is a retired US Army sergeant major with 42 years of continuous service in both the USMC and US Army Special Forces. Currently, he is a freelance writer, outdoor lecturer, and environmental activist residing outside of Missoula.

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LANSING  A federal judge in Detroit rejected claims Monday from a Black Michigan prison supervisor who says officials demoted him and otherwise made his life hell after he complained about a co-worker calling him the N-word.

U.S. District Judge Paul Borman, who earlier dismissed other claims in the lawsuit, dismissed claims from Michael Doss that he faced a hostile work environment, discriminatory treatment based on his race, and retaliation at Parnall Correctional Facility near Jackson, after he complained about a racist incident at a prison employee Christmas party in 2017.

Lt. Michael Doss

Borman ruled that there were nondiscriminatory explanations for the series of events that Doss complained about.

Doss plans to appeal the ruling, Jonathan Marko, his Detroit attorney, said Tuesday. Heidi Washington, the director of the Corrections Department, said she was pleased with the judge's findings.

It's undisputed that Capt. Frank Sawyer made a comment at the party, within earshot of numerous people, that he hoped a "n-----" was not selected when the department chose a new deputy warden.

Sawyer, who was disciplined for the remark with an unpaid, five-day suspension, denied the remark was directed at anyone in particular.

Doss, who was not present at the time of the remark, but heard about it, believed Sawyer was referencing him, because he was among the captains who would be in line for a pending deputy warden vacancy at the prison. Doss filed a complaint about Sawyer and alleged in the lawsuit that he was labeled a "snitch" and his upward career path suffered, as a result.

Doss alleged in the lawsuit, which was filed in Wayne County Circuit Court in 2019 and moved to federal court in 2020, that he was "bumped" from captain to lieutenant early in 2018, given a counseling notice over a tardy report in April of that year, and rejected for an acting inspector position that fall.

In September 2018, Doss filed a second discriminatory harassment complaint, alleging that then-Deputy Warden Lee McRoberts, who was at the table when Sawyer made the racist remark, had failed to report it, that Sawyer was not disciplined, and that Doss had been retaliated against for complaining about the incident.

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The department determined that the complaint from Doss was unfounded, in that McRoberts had reported Sawyer for his remark before Doss did, there were nondiscriminatory reasons for Doss being passed over for the acting inspector's post, and there was insufficient evidence to support Doss' complaint that Sawyer had joked about the discipline he received for the Christmas party incident.

More: Black deputy warden says department racism, sexism, ageism stalled her prison career

More: Michigan prisoners who train rescue dogs receive 42% pay cut

In January 2019, Doss received another written counseling notice, about failing to notify a supervisor about where a prisoner was placed. When Doss filed a grievance about that, he included in support of his grievance a page from a prison logbook that is considered confidential. For that, Doss received a written reprimand, after a disciplinary conference.

Though he was eventually promoted back to captain in the summer of 2020, Doss was also turned down for open inspector and captain positions in 2019, the lawsuit alleges.

Doss alleged that he was "subjected to a culture of racism that has been ignored, cultivated, and/or perpetrated" by the department and its employees, "including co-workers, secretaries, supervisors, and other individuals in management."

But Borman said Doss does not dispute that he committed any actions he was disciplined for. Also, the "bump" Doss received from captain to lieutenant was due to a force reduction that also affected white supervisors, and the department offered Doss a captain's position at another Jackson-area prison in the fall of 2018, but Doss declined the offer, the judge found. Borman said that Doss did not show that those chosen over him for available promotions were less qualified than he was. Also, there is no evidence that those who made the promotion decisions were even aware of the complaints Doss had filed, Borman said in his 57-page opinion.

The department "articulated legitimate business reasons for its employment actions," and Doss failed to show that those reasons were merely a pretext for discriminatory actions, Borman said.

Washington said she is happy about the court rejecting the claims from Doss.

"This department does not tolerate or condone harassment or retaliation or take employment actions driven by discrimination," she said. "The MDOC will continue to promote a workplace where employees are treated with dignity and respect, and where diversity is valued and appreciated.

Marko said he is "very disappointed" with the ruling and will appeal.

"We presented evidence that the promotions process was routinely manipulated and a charade and that in this particular case Mr Doss should have been given the job but was denied in response to him complaining about being called a n-----," he said.

Contact Paul Egan: 517-372-8660 or pegan@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @paulegan4. Read more on Michigan politics and sign up for our elections newsletter.

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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Judge tosses lawsuit from Michigan prison supervisor over N-word use
ICARD  It was like something out of a nightmare when Jeremiah Brittain woke up Tuesday morning.

His dogs had been barking for about 10 minutes around 5:15 a.m. when he said he heard something that sounded like a woman screaming.

I got up and I was getting ready to come outside, we heard something that sounded almost like a car being drug down the road, a piece of tin or something, really loud, Brittain said. I kind of ran out the door and I looked over and saw flames coming out of the front of their house, the neighbors.

Brittain said when he got up to the house on Virginia Pine Circle, the propane tank on a grill had caught fire and it was shooting flames into the side of the house.

He said he ran around to the back of the house and saw the occupants in the basement.

Hes like, Help me get some water and put it out, Brittain said. And I said, Man, there aint no way we can get this fire put out.

They grabbed what they could from a safe in the house, and Brittain said the occupant was trying to go back in the home to get more stuff.

I said, Man, the roof is starting to come in, Brittain said. Dont go back in there, you might not be able to make it back out.

He said he and the occupants along with some neighbors stood by at the corner while the fire department started working to extinguish the blaze.

Icard Township Fire Chief Brand Lingerfelt said the home was fully engulfed in flames when firefighters arrived. It took about 45 minutes to get the fire put out, and firefighters could hear some explosions from inside the home.

The home was a total loss, Fire Marshal Mike Willis said. The cause of the fire was undetermined, but Willis said investigators believed it started on the front porch.

One of the occupants was taken to the hospital after complaining of chest pains after the fire had been extinguished, Willis said.

Brittain said he wouldve helped save anybody in that situation.

Its just crazy, Brittain said. You wake up and the neighbors house is nearly burned down to the ground; that kind of makes you realize how things can go so quick.

The American Red Cross was called to assist the family.

Lovelady, Rhodhiss and Drowning Creek fire departments also responded along with Burke County EMS.

Chrissy Murphy is a staff writer and can be reached at cmurphy@morganton.com or at 828-432-8941. Follow @cmurphyMNH on Twitter.

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The N.C. Department of Public Instructions Office of Learning Recovery and Acceleration presented state lawmakers with a preliminary report in March on learning loss in North Carolina.

As The News Herald reported April 6, the picture for North Carolina elementary students, just as it was when 2020-21 test scores were released in September, was bleak.

Proficiency levels among high school students also fell statewide in most subjects, though not as drastically, the states September report says. Still, the results clearly demonstrate the toll more than a year of pandemic related shutdowns, precautions and family challenges have taken on learning.

The picture was brighter here than across the state with Burke County Public Schools high schools remaining above state averages in most cases. According to Ross Rumbaugh, director of testing and accountability for the school system, there are a variety of factors that led to better scores among high school students when compared with fourth through eighth graders.

English 2 is a reading test so students in high school are far along on their reading maturity with or without face-to-face instruction, Rumbaugh said.

He added that the Math 3 test may have seen deflated proficiency levels in 2019, since it had recently been overhauled. Sometimes it takes teachers a year or two to figure out how to prepare students for a new test, Rumbaugh said.

As in elementary and middle grades, statewide results among minority and low-income students were hit hardest, further demonstrating the toll pandemic-related educational challenges took on the achievement gap in North Carolina. Statewide, the rate of white high school students attaining proficiency dropped by an average of 14.3% across the English 2, Biology, Math 1 and Math 3 tests between 2019 and 2021. Among Black students, the drop was 25%, and 21.5% among Hispanic students.

In Burke County, results were much evenly distributed. In English 2, proficiency levels fell by 4% among Hispanic students while Black and white students saw a 7% drop. The results for minority students were even better in Math 3 with Black and Hispanic students making double-digit gains over 2019 scores.

Assistant Superintendent Karen Auton credits the districts success to the administrations focus on student growth over proficiency.

Wherever the kids come to us, we want to grow them at least a years growth, she said. Proficiency is still a concern, of course we continue to work to get to those pre-pandemic levels of proficiency and beyond. ... But regardless of where the students come to us at, at least weve grown them. (That) is how we look at it.

The news in Burke County isnt all positive, however, as four-year graduation rates may hint at widening disparity between and within Burke County high schools. While four-year graduation rates across the county school system have remained virtually unchanged since 2019, despite state and national declines, a closer look at the data reveals that this trend did not shake out evenly in every school or among every demographic group.

Patton High School was responsible for most of the districts gains in 2021 with the four-year graduation rate increasing from 92% to 95%. Freedom High School, however, has seen a steady decline. The schools 88.7% four-year graduation rate in 2021 was 3.2% below where it was in 2019. Of Burke Countys four traditional high schools, Freedom is the most diverse with the highest number of students on free and reduced lunch.

The biggest drag on Freedoms four-year graduation rate since 2019 has been dramatic drops among the schools Hispanic and English language learner populations. In 2019, 91.1% of Hispanic students at Freedom graduated within four years; in 2021, that number fell to 70.9%. For English language learners the picture was even more bleak, with 48.1% failing to graduate within four years in 2021.

Auton said that while it is not reflected in state reports, some students who do not graduate in four years do come back and meet graduation requirements either over the summer or during the next school year.

Its not reflected through state accountability, but we do track that data, Auton said.

These trends did not translate countywide. Draughn and East Burke high schools saw four-year graduation rates among Hispanic students remain steady, while Patton, whose Hispanic population is less than half of Freedoms, saw a 20% jump.

Auton said she could not comment specifically on the situation at Freedom, but told The News Herald that administration officials are working closely with all of the county systems high schools to identify areas for potential growth and develop strategies to help students succeed.

I can tell you that Dr. Rumbaugh and (Student Services Director Sara) LeCroy are working hard to address those, she said. They put teams together and counselors together and address that with different action plans to look at those different demographics.

According to Auton, the pandemic brought to light or exacerbated a whole new set of challenges for teachers.

This is a new challenge for a lot of our teachers and administrators, she said. Theyre having to attend to needs that maybe they havent had to attend to before.

She said the district has been working hard to help teachers adjust to the new challenges that have surfaced. She also said that school administrators are working together to help under-performing schools learn from those that have done well.

Instructional support staff are working to build professional learning communities within and between schools to share strategies for success, Auton said. Our curriculum leaders are also in communication with other districts in our region to learn about ways other districts are finding success.

Jason Koon is a staff writer and can be reached at jkoon@morganton.com
Dr. Mimi Bartoletti lives in Butte, but her thoughts have been with Ukraine since Russia invaded the country Feb. 24.

I have some family in Ukraine, she said. So the crisis really hit home.

Bartoletti is a first-generation Polish-American, with much of her family living in Poland and some relatives in Ukraine. She was born in America and lived in Poland the first six or seven years of her life with her grandparents, who were constantly warning her about Russia and a looming invasion. So, when she first found out about the invasion in Ukraine, it brought her back, she said.

When I found out, I just had a huge panic attack, Bartoletti said.

She wanted to show faith and solidarity with the people of Ukraine, and also do something to help. Its my way of feeling like Im not useless, said Bartoletti.

The result? The Fundraiser for Ukrainian Children, to be held 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the Knights of Columbus in Butte. Bartoletti will speak, and a simple meal of borscht and bread will be available for attendees to show solidarity with Ukraine citizens.

Borscht is an Eastern and Central European soup made of beetroots and usually served with sour cream, common in Poland and Ukraine.

Proceeds from the event will go toward the Columbus Childrens Foundation, which was founded by Bartolettis father, to help relocate children from Ukraine with rare genetic diseases and pre-existing medical conditions and their families to Poland and provide them medical treatment and continuity of care once they get there, Bartoletti said.

Dr. Nicholas Blavatsky, who is Ukrainian-American and works at St. James Healthcare will also speak at the event and hopes to raise money for the NOVA Open Charitable Foundation to help Ukraine citizens, Bartoletti said. Hes also trying to raise money to send medical supplies to help Ukrainians who need them, she said.

More than 3.7 million Ukrainian refugees have fled to neighboring countries, according to the Pew Research Center.

When Bartoletti decided she wanted to hold a fundraiser, she reached out to Daniel Hogan, general manager of Butte Americas radio station KBMF, and a member of the Butte Heart Foundation.

The Butte Heart Foundation was founded last year to help Afghan families who were forced to flee their homes and find safety somewhere else. Butte Heart is currently a community partner in the International Rescue Committees Afghan Placement Program. Right now, the foundation has the capacity to house 18 Afghan refugees, who are expected soon, Hogan said.

If it goes well, Butte Heart hopes to become a remote resettlement community partner with the International Rescue Committee, which means itd be able to house refugees from various countries, including Ukraine, Hogan said.

A beet-lover, Hogan offered to make the borscht for the fundraiser.

Its my favorite thing to make, Hogan said.

The night before the fundraiser, Bartoletti and Hogan, with the help of a few others, grated beets for the borscht to be served at the event. Hogan said he got 30 pounds of beets, 20 pounds of onions, 20 pounds of potatoes, 20 pounds of cabbage and 20 pounds of carrots to make the soup.

Hogan also helped to choose the events venue because hes a member of the Knights of Columbus.

Bartoletti said when she started organizing the event, she was expecting 50 to 100 people, but now, with the help of Butte Heart and Father Patrick Beretta of Butte Catholic Community North, more people have found out about the event, and theyre now preparing for around 100.

Were only making enough borscht for 100, she said, laughing.

Beretta said he was kind of recruited after several of his parishioners told him about the event. He said hes been absolutely heartbroken and deeply disturbed by the war in Ukraine.

Once he was involved, he took it upon himself to tell his parish family and motivate them to attend the event or donate if they could, and to contact the press and make sure they knew about the event.

[The parishioners] have been extraordinarily generous, Beretta said. As Butte people are.

Bartoletti said that although raising money for the cause is important, whats most important to her is raising awareness and making sure people dont forget the crisis in Ukraine.

People looking to donate can make a donation via check at the fundraiser, or go to columbuschildren.org/ukrainian-children or https://www.novaopenfoundation.org/.

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Another $37 million will be pumped into constructing phase two of the Musselshell-Judith Rural Water System thanks to money from the federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

With local match from our ratepayers and (Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation) Coal Trust Regional Water funds, we should be able to complete Phase II in 2023-24, Monty Sealey, project administrator for the Central Montana Regional Water Authority, wrote in an email. We have begun our environmental and cultural review activities, securing easements, etc., and will soon begin actual project design; then bidding.

The total of $1.2 trillion in authorized spending also includes $57.5 million for Rocky Boys/North Central Montana Regional Water System for the Chippewa Cree Tribe, Havre, Tiber, Big Sandy and Loma. Another $7 million will go to the Fort Peck Reservation/Dry Prairie Rural Water System.

These funds are only the first round of $1 billion in total funding to complete all authorized rural water projects through the Bureau of Reclamation. In all, the act will appropriate about $194 million for the Rocky Boys/North Central Water System, $56 million for the Musselshell-Judith Water System and $17 million for the Fort Peck/Dry Prairie Water System.

These rural water systems are essential to growing communities and creating jobs in central and eastern Montana, said Sen. Jon Tester in a statement announcing his vote supporting the act.

Sen. Steve Daines and Rep. Matt Rosendale, Montanas two Republican lawmakers in Washington, D.C., voted against the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act saying it was an unnecessary expansion of the federal debt. Daines has supported previous federal rural water system allocations.

Work this summer should finish up the $17 million first phase of the Musselshell-Judith Rural Water System by piping water into the homes of Harlowton residents. The water is pumped from 24 miles away where three wells were drilled near the communities of Utica, Ubet and Garneill.

Phase two will move the pipeline east from Harlowton along the Musselshell River valley all the way to Roundup. Along the way, other small communities would also be connected to the system including Shawmut, Ryegate and Lavina.

Sealey said with the phase two money coming out of the infrastructure bill, rather than normal budget funding, the Musselshell-Judith project probably fared better.

Without those monies, we likely would have ranked quite a bit lower and received less funding, he wrote. We are one of the latest Regional Water Projects authorized by Congress, so without this new funding we would be one of the last to receive much more limited (Bureau of Reclamation) funds.

When completed, the $87 million pipeline will extend 250 miles and serve about 5,000 to 7,500 rural and town residents in nine communities, ending at Melstone.

Existing water supplies serving communities along the Musselshell River suffer from high levels of minerals, nitrates and sulfates. Roundup gets its water from an old coal mine. Melstones supply dwindles in drought years. Flooding of the Musselshell River has destroyed existing pipelines. Harlowtons water supply is also threatened by an underground benzene plume, and the town has been working to replace 80-year-old leaky water pipes. The well water for the new project will only need to be chlorinated. Much of the new pipeline will be gravity fed.

Five other states qualified for the $420 million in funding for rural water projects, including Iowa, Minnesota, New Mexico, North Dakota and South Dakota.

Providing this project-specific funding underscores the Administrations commitment to help rural and Tribal communities access safe drinking water and the water treatment infrastructure they deserve, said Interior Secretary Deb Haaland in a statement. With a $4.6 billion investment over five years for aging water infrastructure and rural water projects, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law ensures that rural and Tribal communities receive adequate assistance and support.

Allocations for projects are based on project plans and significant accomplishments that are projected to be completed with the funding, as well as the capability of recipients to implement the work quickly.

Of the total allocation, $32 million is held in reserve to be distributed throughout the fiscal year to address potential increases in construction costs.

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Sen. Ben Cardin, D-Md., speaks during a hearing of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to examine U.S.-Russia policy with testimony from Victoria Nuland, Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs. (Alex Brandon/AP)

Quick, and without doing Google: Whats the capital city of Belarus? (Hint: It rhymes with Pinsk.) Second question: Is Poland a landlocked country? Third question: What is an oblast?

Bonus question: Which of these countries are not members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization? (a.) Norway (b.) Georgia (c.) Ukraine. (d.) Latvia.

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Answers: Minsk is the capital of Belarus; no, Polands northern coast is on the Baltic Sea; an oblast is a political district, similar to a province, a term still used in Russia and other East European countries; and neither Ukraine nor Georgia are members of NATO, though a commission chaired by Maryland Sen. Ben Cardin recently urged the Biden administration to declare both countries major non-NATO allies, signifying an upgrade of the U.S. defense relationship with them.

His Maryland constituents might not be aware of it, but the Democratic senator currently chairs the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, known as the Helsinki Commission, an independent U.S. agency that monitors human rights and security in Europe. Cardin has been a member of the commission since 1993, and hes chaired it two previous times.

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The commissions recent letter to Biden, first reported by Foreign Policy magazine, said: Although the United States has consistently supported Ukraines and Georgias NATO membership, Russias occupations and ongoing invasion expose the tragedy of long-stalled Euro-Atlantic enlargement.

Enlargement refers to the expansion of membership in NATO. Both Ukraine and Georgia were promised it several years ago, but remain outside the defense alliance. Anyone following Russias invasion closely should know that Ukraines relationship with NATO is both a reason for Russias attack and a key to Ukraines survival.

Absent strong and proactive U.S. backing for Ukrainian and Georgian NATO membership, Cardins commission wrote, [Russian President Vladimir] Putin will continue to take ample advantage in his aspirations to upend security and cooperation in Europe and [push] his neocolonial agenda.

I submit all of this  my East European quiz, Cardins role on the Helsinki Commission  because of the war in Ukraine. While Americans are said to have little time for international affairs, a crisis of this scale usually stirs more interest. And not just because conflict affects the prices we pay at the pump, but because Russias war on Ukraine is an atrocity and because it represents a serious threat to the stability of Europe and the future of democracy. Most Americans understand whats at stake, according to recent polls. Majorities of us support more military assistance for Ukraine and the continuation of economic sanctions against Russia.

We might fail quizzes about geography and world affairs, but most rational Americans appreciate the need to have foreign policy on a sure footing  and experts in our government who know what an oblast is.

This is a favorite subject of mine: The importance of calling Americans to public service and retaining those already serving the nation well. This is especially important in foreign relations, where expertise is required and must be nurtured over time  not disrupted by know-nothings.

Unfortunately, the latter is what happened at the State Department. There was a disturbing brain drain during the Trump administration, with first Rex Tillerson and then Mike Pompeo serving as secretaries of state. Tillerson came in with a plan to significantly cut staffing and scale back diplomatic efforts; Pompeo politicized the department. Several senior staffers resigned and many of those who remained were demoralized.

The Trump administration belittled diplomacy and any professional advice in trying to make foreign policy judgments, Cardin told me recently. [Diplomats] were totally shut out during the Trump years. So there was a significant morale problem.  Tillersons cuts decimated the departments capacity to do its mission.

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I bring up Cardin again because, at age 78, he continues to be a busy man. In addition to his role on the Helsinki Commission, he serves on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and chairs a subcommittee on the State Department. He sees a lot of problems and challenges there  a loss of experience and expertise, numerous positions that need to be filled, and a need for diversity among the men and women who represent the nation around the world.

Foreign service has always attracted the brightest people, Cardin said. And the department has always been very selective. We always had a lot more people interested in foreign service than we had spots for them, but that is certainly reversed and we have not gotten back to the numbers we need.

Cardin and a Republican senator, Bill Hagerty of Tennessee, are pushing legislation to modernize the department with better training of the men and women in the Foreign Service.

Diplomats need training, Cardin said. They need language training, cultural and diplomatic training. And we have a school for that. But, in order for that to work, you need to have enough personnel so you can fill in while a career person is in training.

The State Department needs a hiring surge and the Biden administration has proposed funding it. But recruiting and training diplomats  having them in place during the ordinary execution of foreign policy or in a monstrous crisis like the one in Ukraine  takes time.

Cardin thinks Secretary of State Antony Blinken, along with his deputy Wendy Sherman and undersecretary Victoria Nuland, provide the leadership a department in recovery needs.

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We have talented people at the top, the right people in place, Cardin says. But it would not be accurate to say things are good. They are not good.
When confronted with the immense pressure on our economy and health system during the COVID-19 pandemic, the state of Montana temporarily waived over 130 regulations to boost health care system capacity and provide more flexibility in the private sector. Regulations waived included restrictions on access to telehealth, pharmacy technicians and even curbside alcohol pickup.

These short-term solutions during a period of crisis ended up having long-term benefits as lawmakers were able to identify and permanently repeal many old regulations that werent necessary to keep around anymore. In fact, Republican and Democrat legislators were unanimous in passing Rep. Rhonda Knudsens HB 43 last year, permanently repealing telehealth regulations waived in the pandemic.

The success of the flexible regulatory approach taken by Montanas government during the pandemic should be a model for what we can do next to unleash economic growth. Montana should join our neighbor states by creating a regulatory sandbox to fast-track innovative businesses with good ideas by waiving red tape standing in their way.

Montana has tens of thousands of regulations on the books, many enacted decades ago before anyone was even thinking about iPhones or the blockchain. These types of outdated regulations can crush entrepreneurs trying to launch innovative new products or services that dont fit into the established regulatory framework. Tech start-ups can wither and die when they wait years to get special permission to begin operating.

Thats where a regulatory sandbox comes in. Like the temporary waiver of regulations during the pandemic, a regulatory sandbox would create a mechanism to identify the unneeded regulations standing in the way and fast-track innovative businesses to the market.

Regulatory sandbox programs work like this: entrepreneurs apply to enter the sandbox and, if accepted, specific regulations are waived for a set period of time, say two or three years. Businesses in the sandbox program are free to test their innovative ideas in the market while still undergoing oversight to protect consumer health and safety.

Just like during the pandemic, a regulatory sandbox would give policymakers time to safely test and learn the effects of waiving certain regulations before deciding whether they should be reformed or repealed. This would be a perfect complement to the top to bottom review of regulations being done under Gov. Greg Gianfortes Red Tape Relief Initiative.

Coupled with Gianfortes commitment to keeping taxes on business low, the flexibility provided by a regulatory sandbox would act like a big Montana magnet for entrepreneurs fleeing places like California that are hostile to business.

Utahs regulatory sandbox for legal services has proven enormously successful in attracting businesses that would otherwise be prohibited by current regulations. Utahs sandbox is narrowing the access-to-justice gap by authorizing companies like Rasa, an app service helping to expunge the records of Utahns at a fraction of the cost of traditional legal services.

Cryptocurrency companies like River Financial are flocking to Hawaii where the states regulatory sandbox for financial technology has allowed flexibility on burdensome cash reserve requirements. Online banking companies like BrightFi are relocating to Arizona to participate in the states financial services sandbox.

Eleven states so far have adopted some form of regulatory sandboxes, including our neighbors Wyoming and South Dakota. Montana can maintain our regional economic edge by creating our own regulatory sandbox.

I believe Montana should be more than a destination state for remote workers and tourists. With a regulatory sandbox in place to fast-track innovation, our state could become a destination for business nationwide.

Kendall Cotton is president and CEO of the Frontier Institute, a think tank dedicated to breaking down government barriers so all Montanans can thrive.

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Officials in Spain issue warning over counterfeit bank notes



Many false bank notes circulating in Spain can be very convincing

Counterfeit money is a big business in Spain and as the summer season approaches, both individuals and business owners are more susceptible to this fraudulent practice. As a result, the Guardia Civil has launched an alert through its official Twitter account to advise people of the steps to check if bank notes are real or fake.

Officers posted a bizarre image of a fake bill that looks like a 50 euro note, but is actually stamped with an amount of 39.95 euros. The Guardia Civil pointed out that, although this example is quite amusing and obviously fake, many counterfeits are far more convincing and can easily fool us.

The officials have recommended the following tip to establish if a bank note is real:

Touch the embossed print to check the texture.

Hold the bill up to the light.

Check that the holographic band is present.

Puede parecerte gracioso y evidente, pero algunas falsificaciones no son tan garbanceras como esta

Consejo:

Toca la impresion en relieve

Gira para ver la banda holografica

Mira al trasluz

Evitaras que tu "dinero" no valga nada pic.twitter.com/xEHmull8y5  Guardia Civil  (@guardiacivil) April 3, 2022

Image: Guardia Civil
The year 1848 is momentous in the life of young Iowa pioneer Alexander Clark.

On June 21, he and Benjamin Mathews purchase property on East 7th Street where their church will be built the following year. The Muscatine congregation becomes known as the oldest colored church in Iowa. (Ill tell more about the church in future columns.)

History reveals two other events of 1848: Alexanders marriage to Catherine Griffin and, around the same time, his role  or maybe theirs  in a drama his eulogist will extol in 1892, calling him one of the Underground Railroad engineers and conductors, whose field was the South, whose depot was the North, and whose freight was human souls.

Cade, 19, and Alex, 22, as they are known, marry in Iowa City on October 8 or 9 (Sunday or Monday). Thats where they first became acquainted when she had been employed in the home of E.C. Lyon, Esq. I rely on her obituary.

Pursuing the clue, I learn that Ethiel Child Lyon (1814-1884) was a land developer and one of the first regents of the state university, serving 1847-1859. An 1846 directory shows him as proprietor of a mercantile establishment selling dry goods and groceries.

I learn nothing of the conditions of Cades employment. However, I discover one of E.C. Lyons daughters married to a son of David Warfield who, with two cousins, had brought Muscatines original Black residents from Maryland in 1837. The Warfields set up a dam and sawmill on Mad Creek.

Historian Robert Dykstra: The Mathewses had been slaves belonging to the Warfield family back in Maryland, but had been freed, probably with the understanding that they become the cousins work force out on the labor-scarce frontier. In 1840 young Warfields interracial household included four black couples and their children, amounting to fifteen persons in all.

Catherines obituary yields another connection. She embraced religion and connected herself with the M.E. [Methodist Episcopal] Church at the age of 13 years, and upon  coming to Iowa City [from Virginia by way of Linn County, Iowa], was taken into the church by letter under the Rev. John Harris.

It turns out Pastor Harris served in Iowa City in 1846, the year Iowa became a state, then moved on to Muscatine for the next two yearsa timeline coinciding with courtship and marriage for Cade and Alex. Perhaps he presided at their exchange of vows.

He also might have attended the third annual convention of the Iowa Anti-Slavery Society held at Iowa City in December 1845. The abolitionists met in the basement of the towns Methodist chapel, reports Dykstra, and they adopted resolutions against Iowas onerous Black code created by the first territorial legislature.

The 1839 Act to Regulate Blacks and Mulattoes required a certificate of freedom and $500 bond against becoming a public burden; also for such persons good behavior. Over the next decade lawmakers removed rights and added restrictions, and in 1851 would fully prohibit African-American immigration.

[W]hite Iowans need only look across their southern border, where lived some 115,000 slaves, wrote Dykstra. A ceaseless theme of Iowas conservative editors and politicians  was that the immediate consequence of legislating racial equality in any form would be an overwhelming inrush from Missouris nearby black belt.

The 1840 census shows 25 of Iowas 188 Black residents residing in Muscatine; by 1850 Muscatine counted 62 of the 333 statewide total.

Alexanders barber shop became a thriving business. He purchased land and harvested timber to fuel steamboats plying the Mississippi River, surely creating work and income for other residents. He invested profits in real estate. County records reportedly reveal that in years ahead he became one of the countys larger taxpayers. (I intend to look into those records someday.)

I dont know where the Clarks made their first home together, but in 1849 they bought a house at West 3rd and Chestnut where they would raise children and stay until Catherines death in 1879. Dr. D.P. Johnson came to town in 1848 and moved into a house across the street from the Clarks a few years later. He conducted his medical practice there, and the families were neighbors for the rest of their lives.

Right around the time of their wedding, whether at the house they would buy or somewhere else, the couple shelters a young man whos fleeing a slave catcher from Missouri. Thus begins an encounter with the legal system which will eventually lead father and son to fame as the first Black lawyers in Iowa.

The Negro Case, as the adventure was described in the Bloomington Herald (Oct. 18, 1848), would soon connect the Clarks with another couple, the OConnors, Henry and Sarah, who arrived in 1850. Henry would become Attorney General of Iowa and a central figure in ending the Black codes.

Next time: The story of Jim as told by some who were there.

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Iowans share the goal of having great local schools. We need to invest in them so that Iowa again becomes known as the place to find people who work smart and where hard work is respected.

Unfortunately, many legislators vote time and again against essential funding for those same schools. In fact, this years school funding is so meager, 81 school districts wont get a dollar more that they got last year.

Thats bad news for the many Iowa businesses that cant find the workers they need. Iowas schools have traditionally made our state a place where people want to live, work and raise a family. They attracted businesses and entrepreneurs because they turned out skilled workers and innovators. Now we risk losing their investments to other states.

The topper is yet another push by Statehouse politicians to take funding from our local schools and divert it to a private school voucher programa scheme thats becoming increasingly unpopular with Iowa taxpayers the more they learn about it.

Our Number One focus should be Iowas public schools, which serve 485,000 students and offer a variety of educational optionsonline classes, dual enrollment in high school and community college, competency-based education and technical training.

Heres the bottom line: I believe in public money for public schools. Its wrong to divert another $75 million in taxpayer money to benefit just 8% of select Iowa students, but thats exactly what SF 2369, which passed the state Senate, would do.

The Iowa House has yet to take up the bill because they are hearing from Iowans who dont want their hard-earned tax dollars siphoned off, with no accountability.

Diverting taxpayer dollars to private education is not responsible:

 Theres no oversight or transparency  Good stewardship of tax dollars means setting expectations for how the money is spent, but this bill includes none of the oversight or transparency requirements for private schools that public schools provide for student achievement, testing, curriculum and so much more.

 Private schools pick their students  Public schools serve all students. Shouldnt we also expect every school that receives a taxpayer funded voucher to automatically enroll any student that wishes to attend, regardless of disability, English-language ability, income or minority status?

 Rural students and communities will be hurt  Most of the rural school districts in Iowa do not have a private K12 option anywhere close to them. According to the National Rural Education Association, diverting taxpayer dollars to vouchers cuts resources for rural public schools. SF 2369 amounts to a School Closure Act for rural Iowa that will exacerbate our states workforce crisis.

Instead of siphoning off critical funding, lets invest in our public schools and in all students by:

 Reducing class sizes and making preschool a real option for all parents.

 Recruiting and keeping more great teachers in our classrooms, by treating them with respect, and paying them what theyre worth.

 Expanding STEM and technical education options that prepare students for immediate job openings upon graduation.

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An 18-year-old man accused of attempted murder in 2020 in Muscatine County now faces robbery charges for a 2019 incident in Davenport.

Jattathias Jalee Hodges, of Davenport, has been charged with first-degree robbery, according to Scott County court records. He and another person are accused of striking someone with a firearm and stealing items from them on Nov. 30, 2019. Hodges co-defendant was not identified in the court documents.

Hodges was booked into the jail at 4:11 p.m. Monday after being arrested by Davenport officers, according to the jail website. He was still in custody Tuesday afternoon.

Hodges and his co-defendant allegedly arranged to meet with the victim, got into the victims vehicle, and then drove to a house in the 1900 block of W. 5th Street.

Once there, they robbed the victim, court records state. The items stolen were not described.

A warrant for Hodges arrest on the robbery charge was issued in August of 2020 and served Monday.

Hodges made his initial appearance Tuesday and is next scheduled to appear in court on May 5.

Hodges was already serving time in the Iowa Department of Corrections in relation to a 2020 shooting in Muscatine.

Hodges, then 16, was charged as an adult with attempted murder and first-degree burglary in Muscatine County.

He shot another 16-year-old boy on Feb. 21 of that year in the 600 block of East 6th Street, Muscatine.

A bullet struck the boy in the shoulder and exited his body through his back, according to court records, and required immediate medical attention.

Hodges pleaded guilty to willful injury and second-degree burglary as part of a plea agreement with the Muscatine County Attorneys Office, according to court records. The agreement was accepted by the court on Oct. 13, 2020.

On Nov. 5, 2020, Hodges was sentenced by District Court Judge Tom Reidel to serve up to 10 years in prison on each of the Muscatine charges but the sentences were concurrent, according to court records.

The Iowa Department of Corrections states Hodges was tentatively scheduled for release on the Muscatine case in October of 2024.

An order was filed on April 7 approving his transport from the Iowa Medical & Classification Center, where he is serving his sentence for the shooting, to Scott County to face the robbery charge, according to Scott County court documents.

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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."

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The current tide of antitrust scrutiny and regulations focused on big technology companies has conspicuously omitted one company: Microsoft Corp., the software and cloud-computing behemoth that was the notorious target of a landmark US government lawsuit in the 1990s.

Microsoft, the thinking goes, was already humbled by years of intense government oversight, and since it largely caters to other companies, instead of consumers, it doesnt belong in the same category as Facebook, Amazon, Google and Apple.

But now some Microsoft customers, and some of its fiercest rivals, are making a bold claim: The software giant is again using its sway over one market to thwart competition in another.

Microsoft three years ago overhauled the way it licenses some of its most ubiquitous software programs, including Windows and Office, in ways that increase the cost of running those programs on rival cloud-computing systems like Amazon Web Services and Google Cloud Platform.

In some cases, the revamped agreements outright forbid using some products on competing cloud services. AWS and Google say they have complained to Microsoft on behalf of multiple customers.

French cloud provider OVH, along with other unidentified companies, filed a complaint last year with European regulators about the practice, saying its also being hurt by Microsofts policies.

Major business software customers, some of which are only now starting to see the impact as they renew deals or replace ageing programs, are also incensed.

Over a six-month period, Bloomberg spoke with five Microsoft customers and three software resellers working with clients affected by the changes.

After being contacted by Bloomberg News, Microsoft President and Vice Chair Brad Smith said the company will talk with customers and rivals and is committed to addressing the issues.

There definitely are some valid concerns, he said in an interview. Its very important for us to learn more and then make some changes.

The impact has been felt at companies and organisations both large and small.

A person familiar with the software systems at a Fortune 100 company said Microsofts rules dont allow running its existing Office software on Amazons cloud, and require it to pay more to run the Windows operating system on its rivals servers.

One consultant tried to help a Fortune 10 customer move to Google Cloud, but the client abandoned the idea after finding it would increase the costs of Windows licenses by $50 million over five years.

Customers, consultants and resellers spoke on the condition of anonymity because they werent authorised to discuss confidential license details publicly, and some said they feared retaliation from Microsoft.

The excrement is about to hit the fan, said Wes Miller, an analyst at Directions on Microsoft, a research firm that advises customers on Microsoft licensing.

He said that using the companys software on a competing cloud service is significantly more expensive than it used to be, and more expensive than it costs you to do the same thing on Azure.

Microsofts practices cut across two of the most lucrative areas of technology aimed at businesses: cloud computing, where its playing catch-up, and productivity software, which it dominates.

Amazon.com Inc.s $62 billion cloud unit leads the market for cloud infrastructure services, which let companies tap computing power to run applications and store data. Microsofts Azure is a growing No. 2, while Alphabet Inc.s Google Cloud is chasing Azure.

More businesses are shifting their corporate programs  office software, databases, payroll programs and customer websites  into data centres owned by Amazon, Microsoft, Google and other cloud providers, sparing them the expense of owning and maintaining their own equipment.

But most companies still use Microsofts Windows and Office to run corporate computers and for tasks like sending email and creating spreadsheets and presentations.

The Windows operating system held a 96% share of the personal-computer market last year, according to Gartner, while the Office suite captured 86% of its market in 2020.

Many customers also use Windows Server software and the SQL Server database, which are also impacted by the rule changes.

Linking a product with the market power of Windows to another offering, like Azure, to gain leverage with customers, or making the product work less well with a rivals service, can be an antitrust violation called tying, said Herbert Hovenkamp, an antitrust law professor at the University of Pennsylvania, who consulted on the US states antitrust case against Microsoft in the late 1990s and early 2000s.

Microsoft is playing with fire here to a certain extent, Hovenkamp said.

The 2019 changes technically applied only to the largest cloud providers, but smaller, regional sellers like OVH say they are also facing higher prices when hosting Microsoft programs on their servers.

In order to sell customers OVHs cloud services to work with Microsofts programs, OVH said it must sign on to a Microsoft license agreement under which Microsoft charges higher prices for must-have products, according to a confidential summary of the OVH complaint viewed by Bloomberg.

OVH said its also forced to agree to onerous and abusive clauses, like submitting to audits and providing Microsoft confidential information about users.

In March, European regulators sent a questionnaire to Microsoft cloud rivals and partners that asked about some of the issues OVH raised, according to copies of the document seen by Bloomberg.

In response to an inquiry about the licensing practices, Microsoft said it does offer discounts to existing customers who opt to run some of its programs in Azure, compared with the cost of using the same products with Amazon or Google  but it argues Google and Amazon could offer their own discounts to those customers to win their business.

The company also said it does currently restrict using some versions of Office in Google, Amazon and Alibabas clouds.

The goal of these policies was not to put rivals at a disadvantage, Smith said, but there clearly have been some unintended consequences.

In particular Microsoft wants to speak with European cloud providers and address their concerns.

We should be especially sensitive to the unintended impact on European cloud providers. Were very interested in connecting directly with them and really listening to and understanding better what their concerns are, he said.

Smith didnt elaborate on what changes the company is considering.

Software licensing rules are lengthy and complex, and Microsofts policies vary for each product.

The issue creating tension now affects customers that bought rights to use software in their own data centres and offices, but now want to use those programs in the cloud  meaning the software would be delivered via Amazon, Google, Alibaba or Microsofts own Azure cloud.

Microsoft outlined the restrictions in new licensing agreements starting in 2019, saying certain programs cannot be deployed with dedicated hosted cloud services offered by the following public cloud providers: Microsoft, Alibaba, Amazon (including VMware Cloud on AWS), and Google.

Office, the software package that includes common business programs such as Word, Excel and PowerPoint, is the worst and most complicated, according to Directions on Microsofts Miller.

One version of the Office suite  the one used in cloud-computing environments  is no longer allowed for use on rival cloud providers. And newer versions of the traditional Office product have similar limitations.

Instead, customers must either rely on old versions of Office, which will lose support in 2025, or pay a higher price for a version of Office that is authorised.

For many customers, that fee comes on top of the cost of copies of Office cloud apps they had already purchased, Miller said.

Customers say Microsofts extra costs are restricting choices. A representative from a large educational institution that is accelerating a move to the cloud wants to take a multi-cloud approach rather than relying on one vendor, and wants to begin shifting Windows Server applications to other cloud systems.

But the organisations license says the products can be used in their own offices or hosted on Microsoft Azure only, according to a copy of the agreement with Microsoft viewed by Bloomberg.

The institution may try to persuade Microsoft to amend the agreement when its next up for renewal, anticipating that trying to use Amazon or Google could cost more.

When the U.S. Justice Department sued Microsoft in the late 1990s, the company was accused of illegally tying the omnipresent Windows to the Internet Explorer browser, and using that bond to crush Netscape Navigator.

Microsoft was ultimately found guilty of illegally defending its Windows monopoly. A trial court judge also found the company guilty on the tying charge, but that part of the ruling was set aside by an appellate court, and the US government declined to pursue it further.

One of the biggest current pain points for customers concerns the use of technology called a virtual desktop, which lets software like Windows and Office run on PCs through the internet, instead of installing individual copies of the programs on each machine.

Amazon offers a service for this called WorkSpaces. Microsoft has competing products, including Azure Virtual Desktop and the new Windows 365 Cloud PC  and clients and software resellers said the Redmond, Washington-based company has gotten more forceful in trying to push customers to it.

This is the issue that ensnared a Fortune 100 company that uses Amazons cloud software along with Windows. A person familiar with the company said it started using AWS when it began rolling out mobile devices to employees.

The company used its Amazon and Windows combination successfully for several years, until the changes in late 2019.

The conflict came to a head more recently, when the company began renewing its contracts with Microsoft  to keep using Windows on virtual desktops via Amazons cloud, the customer is required to buy a license that was formerly included, adding millions of dollars to the total cost.

The company considers this a penalty, the person familiar said, because Azure customers get that additional license for free.

The customer isnt allowed to run Office software through a competing cloud at all without violating the terms of its license with Microsoft, the person said.

The company spent months negotiating with Microsoft on the issue, eventually getting a reprieve of several years. After that expires, this customer will again be out of compliance.

A person familiar with another client, a financial-services firm, said it wasnt given any extension to the old policies, so its use of Office with a rival cloud now violates the terms of its license.

Using Office on another cloud often requires companies and their software developers to do all of these exotic, weird modes to be able to try and get something like that to work, said Miles Ward, a former Google employee who is now chief technology officer at SADA Systems, which helps customers move to Google Cloud.

That sits inside what seems like sort of a comprehensive, intentional program to create friction for clouds other than Azure.

AWS and Google said their complaints to Microsoft have gone nowhere. Its probably Microsofts biggest competitive lever to force their licensees to use Azure, said Matt Garman, a senior vice president for AWS sales and marketing.

Google declined to elaborate on its complaints.

Amazon is also lobbying regulators to look at Microsofts behaviour. In February, CISPE, a cloud-computing group that includes AWS, started pushing the European Union to include Microsoft in a sweeping law being planned on digital markets.

It argued that business software makers were abusing licenses to box customers into their own cloud infrastructure. In other words: Microsoft was up to its same old tricks.

Though much of the recent criticism of big US technology companies has omitted Microsoft and instead focused on social media platforms and other consumer services, regulators in the EU have expressed concern about cloud providers, including Microsoft.

French competition authorities are probing providers to examine competitive dynamics in the cloud industry and contracts between providers that team up to offer services.

This is a really screwy convergence of nerd porn and accounting, Directions on Microsofts Miller said. Regulators seem to get and respond to consumer concerns much better than they are able to get enterprise concerns.

Even if the company is offering incentives to use more than one of its products as a bundle, there are ways to successfully argue that such tying is legal, Hovenkamp said.

Im not telling you that there is a violation  I dont know, he said. Still, theyre in dangerous territory when they try to use monetary leverage, or leverage in terms, to switch Windows users or Office users to Microsoft cloud services and away from alternative services.

When the new licensing rules were unveiled in 2019, they officially applied to Azure, too, meaning that technically the higher costs to run these programs in the cloud would be levied on Microsofts own service.

But Microsoft also put in place programs like the Azure Hybrid Benefit, which offers discounts on Azure for moving existing Windows Server and SQL Server to the cloud. Since that benefit doesnt exist for rivals, in practice, its cheaper to select Microsofts cloud.

In fact, Microsoft recently bragged about how customers can save money by using Azure Hybrid Benefit to move traditional licenses to Azure, listing 50% savings in a January blog post, compared with the cost of buying those licenses through the standard pay-as-you-go Azure rate.

Customers who want to use the software on AWS or Google Cloud are stuck with the higher rates.
The Master of the Court has accepted hundreds of claims against bitcoin scam Mirror Trading International (MTI), MyBroadband has learned.

According to a source with knowledge of the proceedings, the Master accepted 967 claims and rejected five.

MTIs liquidators told MyBroadband that it seemed as though most of the claims against the failed scheme were accepted during a meeting at the Masters office.

However, this doesnt necessarily mean that they will pay out all of the claims  they must first be examined.

The MTI liquidators met with Masters office representative Zukile Mabusela on Friday, 8 April 2022.

They quietly gave notice of the meeting in the Government Gazette on 11 March.

The liquidators have now committed to advertising each special meeting of creditors on the Investrust and Tygerberg Trustees websites.

Initially scheduled for 1 April, the meeting was postponed as Mabusela could not preside over it due to unforeseen circumstances.

The rejection or acceptance of the claims is subject to the discretion of the presiding officer at the Office of the Master of the Supreme Court, a spokesperson for the liquidators told MyBroadband.

Section 45 of the Insolvency Act stipulates that the liquidators must examine all accepted claims, they explained.

If the liquidators find that the claims are correct, the claims are finally accepted. However, if some claims are not correct or invalid, those claims are rejected in terms of the Insolvency Act.

To date, the liquidators have scrutinised around 3,200 claims. A further 4,700 claims have been received from investors since December 2021, which are being processed.

The liquidators are also awaiting the Getaquids claims (estimated at 15,000) and Hendrik van Stadens group of approximately 4,000 claims.

They struck a deal with Getaquid to fast-track the payout a percentage of approved claims  up to 20%  provided MTI is declared a pyramid scheme. The deal is open to other creditors.

Creditors that have claims against MTI are requested to submit their claims, the liquidators urged.

Claims will be lodged in batches of a thousand with the Master at special meetings of creditors.

Another source who asked not to be identified, as they were not authorised to speak to the media, said it was difficult to distinguish who the real victims were.

They explained that some MTI investors would deposit bitcoin into one account, wait for profits to compound, then withdraw it all and deposit it into a new account.

However, to try and trick the liquidators, the person submits their claim based only on the deposits in the second (or third or fourth) account.

This is significant because creditors cannot add their profits from the scheme to their claims.

They must instead subtract any withdrawals from their claims.

Therefore, many former MTI members may be required to pay back funds they withdrew from the scheme.

According to the liquidators, this is one of the reasons they applied to have the High Court declare MTI a pyramid scheme.

With MTI declared an unlawful scheme, the liquidators said they would not have to repeatedly prove its unlawfulness in court to recover ill-gotten gains from net-winners.

Some former members raised concerns that having MTI declared an unlawful scheme would cause its assets to be forfeited to the state.

However, the liquidators said that this was false. Once a liquidation was in place, it trumped asset forfeiture.

Chainalysis named MTI the biggest cryptocurrency scam of 2020.

Mirror Trading International was a network marketing scam claiming to offer automated trading services  initially in forex and later in cryptocurrency derivatives.

Members deposited bitcoin into the scheme and it delivered consistent profits, promising an average of 10% per month.

MyBroadband exposed the inner workings of MTI in September 2020 thanks to a data leak from a group calling itself Anonymous ZA.

The scheme collapsed at the end of 2020 after CEO and founder Johann Steynberg vanished, apparently while travelling in Brazil.

Steynberg was arrested in Brazil on 29 December 2021, a year after he disappeared. He allegedly presented fake identification to law enforcement officers.

Liquidators recovered 1,281 bitcoin in early 2021 from Belize-based brokerage FXChoice with the help of South Africas Financial Sector Conduct Authority, immediately selling it for around R1.1 billion.

Court documents last estimated that 29,421.03379 bitcoin flowed through MTI  R17.6 billion at current exchange rates.

A source with knowledge of the case told MyBroadband that a subsequent analysis revealed that over 46,000 bitcoin (R27.6 billion) passed through the scheme.

Now read: Reserve bank wants engagement on cryptocurrency regulation
Huawei has launched a Sub-Saharan Africa digital talent programme, the company announced at its ICT Competition awards event held at its campus in Johannesburg.

The Leadership, Employability, Advancement, Possibility (LEAP) initiative will focus on equipping 100,000 candidates from Sub-Saharan Africa with the skills to fulfil their potential in the IT sector. The program runs over a three-year period.

Through the programme, we strive to cultivate youth leaders in ICT who can explore more possibilities for themselves, their families, communities, and ultimately their nations, said Huawei Southern Africa President Leo Chen.

Huawei has already advanced the ICT skills of over 80,000 people in the region over the past two decades, which has helped bridge the gender gap in the ICT industry while increasing youth employability.

The LEAP initiative represents Huaweis continued commitment to the Sub-Saharan Africa region, and signals a major focus on cultivating a stronger ICT skills base.

The launch was attended by various dignitaries, including political representatives from Tanzania and Uganda who spoke at the event.

South African Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies Khumbudzo Ntshavheni was also present, and lauded the LEAP and other training initiatives in her presentation.

It takes you, as the LEAP, Seeds For the Future, and Huawei ICT Academy Programme participants, to leapfrog us into the future, said Ntshavheni.

We need innovation, we need to support local innovators, and we need to promote our own platforms throughout the continent to reach scale and develop our economies.

Huawei ICT Competition awards

The LEAP initiative was announced at the Sub-Saharan Africa Huawei ICT Competition awards event, where winning teams from across the continent were celebrated.

This competition was organised by Huawei through its relationship with various government organisations, higher education institutions, and enterprises  and has been running since 2015.

It is focused on identifying and incubating young ICT talent, as well as providing them with world-class training opportunities.

More than 15,000 students from over 200 universities and colleges across Sub-Saharan Africa participated in the 2021/22 competition.

48 teams made it through to the regional final, where Nigerian and Kenyan teams won the Grand Prize, and teams from Uganda, Ghana, Nigeria, and Tanzania claimed First Prize.

The winning teams have now earned the opportunity to compete in the global finals.

Tanzanias Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, Prof Eliamani Sadoyeka, commended Huawei for its ICT Academy, which is running initiatives like the ICT Competition to equip young people to live up to their potential.

ICT has given us almost equal access to knowledge, he said.

Once a young mind is connected, a girl from the village in Africa will have the same access to knowledge as a boy in Copenhagen.

He also stressed that Africas future is in the hands of its youth, and urged students to take full advantage of valuable learning opportunities like the Huawei ICT competition.

Tech4Good

Huawei also awarded a South African team of learners with a Top Performance Prize for finishing in the top ten globally in Huaweis Tech4Good programme which formed part of the ICT Competition.

Tech4Good encourages learners to think about how technology can be used to address social and environmental issues. The programme was launched in 2021 and 117 teams entered the inaugural global competition.

The South African teams project, called SA-Tech  South Africas Intrusion Detection System, focused on using cameras and motion sensors to feed information into the cloud via TV whitespaces to help detect rhino poachers.

This was a massive result for us and proved that we have the capabilities to design and build real African solutions to real African problems, said Siyabonga Shandu, leader of the successful SA-Tech team.

In addition to all the awards presented at the event, the Huawei 2021 Excellent Global Talent Ecosystem Partner Award went to the South African Public Colleges Organisation (SAPCO).
Many private Covid-19 vaccination sites in South Africa are shutting down because they are no longer financially viable.

At the same time, public sites might also function at a lower capacity as the sector is shifting its attention from urban to rural areas.

That is according to the National Department of Healths deputy director-general Nicholas Crisp.

MyBroadband spoke to Crisp after several employees and readers found that vaccination sites around the Centurion area where they had previously received their jabs were no longer operating.

These included several Clicks stores and a large vaccination site at the Momentum building in Doringkloof, despite the locations still being listed on the governments online list of active vaccination sites.

Notably, all of the impacted sites were operated by private healthcare providers.

At some of the sites, staff said it was only possible to get vaccinated if a sizable group of people, usually at least six, were willing to take the jab. Others were no longer offering vaccination at all.

Crisp explained that private sites were closing all the time, with the active sites changing daily as resources fluctuated.

It is not financially viable, and vaccine waste is too high with the current turnout, he said. About 80% of the number are still open but not all in the same location.

Crisp said that the department had no say over whether a private vaccination site would remain open but that it depended on the sites own goodwill.

Regarding the list of active sites, he explained it was their responsibility to change their status to inactive.

He added that public sites were open. However, staff were moving around to communities with poor coverage.

Crisp said there was no guarantee of getting a vaccine when arriving at a vaccination site.

The provincial departments are doing what they can to keep sites open, but they are mostly moving vaccination into the routine health services now, he stated.

Crisps feedback correlates with the departments official statistics on weekly Covid-19 vaccinations in South Africa, which show a steep decline from its previous highs in September 2021.

During that month, the country hit a record of 1,026,643 vaccinations in a week, with the most populous province of Gauteng recording more than 400,000 vaccinations in that period.

In the past week, South Africa saw a measly 60,299 vaccinations across the country, a reduction of 94%.

South Africa has not yet reached a 50% Covid-19 vaccination rate, which means more than half of all adults have not received a single dose of the vaccine.

As of Sunday, 10 April 2022, the total number of people who had received a vaccine in South Africa stood at around 19.49 million.

Health experts and authorities have warned that a fifth wave of infections could hit South Africa from the end of April or early May.

While the vast majority of the countrys population has some form of immunity due to vaccination or prior infection, there is concern that the emergence of new variants could make Covid-19 more transmissible or increasingly evasive of vaccines.
This undated photo provided by the U.S. Attorney's Office in Seattle shows a homemade firearm that federal agents say was recovered on Feb. 6, 2020. (U.S. Attorney's Office via AP, File) (AP)

Kudos to the four Maryland GOP state senators who voted in favor of legislation banning ghost guns that allow violent felons and domestic abusers to purchase off-the-records weapons without background checks (Maryland to outlaw so-called ghost guns after Gov. Hogan decides against veto, April 8).

Banning untraceable weapons is a significant step in the battle against violent crime and the few Republican elected officials who voted against the proliferation of ghost guns reflect the views of many citizens including those gun owners who support common sense gun safety.

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John R. Leopold, Pasadena

The writer, a Republican, served as Anne Arundel County Executive from 2006 to 2013.

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Two Napa County residents were hospitalized with major injuries Saturday night after a collision involving the motorcycle they were riding and a pickup truck southeast of Calistoga, the California Highway Patrol reported.

At about 9:45 p.m., 56-year-old Marc Ferneau of Napa was heading south on Highway 29 north of Diamond Mountain Road at the controls of a 2018 Harley-Davidson Road Glide, with 57-year-old Laura M. March of St. Helena as his passenger, according to a CHP news release.

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As a 2021 Ford F-150 pickup approached in the northbound lane of Highway 29, the motorbike crossed the center line into the pickups path, leaving its driver unable to avoid a collision, the highway patrol reported. The Harley-Davidson struck the left front area of the Ford, and both Ferneau, who was not wearing a helmet, and March, who was helmeted, were thrown from the bike, according to CHP.

Both were hospitalized after the wreck, Ferneau at Providence Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital and March at Providence Queen of the Valley Medical Center.

The two occupants of the Ford pickup, Calistoga residents ages 69 and 66, were not injured in the wreck.

Alcohol is believed to have been a factor in the crash, according to CHP.

You can reach Howard Yune at 530-763-2266 or hyune@napanews.com
Josephine Arader of St. Helenas Arader Galleries has donated an Edward Curtis print to the St. Helena Historical Society for display at its Heritage Center.

The print is a sepia-toned Edward Curtis photogravure print of a Native American woman from the Pomo tribe titled The Burden-Basket-Coast Pomo. In 1900, Curtis began photographing and recording information about every tribe in the American West. He recognized that the Native Americans traditional way of life  its customs and rituals  was fading. He knew the information must be recorded or the opportunity would be lost.

Thanks to financial backing from J.P. Morgan, Curtis took more than 40,000 images and gathered rare ethnographic information from more than 80 tribal groups over a period of more than a decade.

"As a student of California history, I was very excited to see this beautiful portrait of the Pomo woman with her basket," said SHHS Research Director Mariam Hansen. It will be displayed prominently in our Heritage Center."

Arader Galleries, 1380 Main St., specializes in historic photographs, maps, rare books and art, including the work of naturalist and artist John James Audubon. Josephine Arader worked in the New York Gallery in online sales for more than 13 years before moving to the Napa Valley and opening the St. Helena gallery in October.

Of her donation, Arader said, I encourage everyone to visit the Heritage Center to view this photograph. It captures the strength and spirit of the Native American people who lived here in the Napa and Sonoma Valleys for 10,000 years. Its my own love of history that inspired me to donate the Curtis photograph  I want more people to see and appreciate what went into this work.

The Heritage Center is at 1255 Oak Ave. at the former St. Helena Catholic School.
Tuesday, April 5

0722  An officer cited someone during a traffic stop at Main/Elmhurst.

0751  A caller saw a man throw trash out of his trailer onto the sidewalk on Hunt Avenue.

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0836  Report of an unwelcome person causing a verbal disturbance on Dowdell Lane.

0950  A caller asked police to check on her friend who lives on Silverado Trail. The caller was transferred to the sheriffs office.

1032  Report of an illegally parked trailer on Spring Mountain Road.

1052  Report of a dog barking nonstop every day near Magnolia Avenue.

1153  An officer cited someone during a traffic stop on Pratt Avenue.

1352  An officer cited someone during a traffic stop on Sylvaner Avenue.

1517  An officer cited someone during a traffic stop on Spring Mountain Road.

1533  Report of a reckless driver speeding on Madrona Avenue.

1914  An officer cited someone during a traffic stop near Main/Madrona.

1923  An officer cited someone during a traffic stop near Main/Grayson.

2043  An officer cited someone during a traffic stop near Main/Madrona.

2102  An officer cited someone during a traffic stop near Grayson/Main.

2353  Following a traffic stop at Main/Vidovich, police arrested a 35-year-old Sacramento man on suspicion of DUI.

Wednesday, April 6

2025  An officer cited someone for driving with expired registration near Adams/Railroad.

2034  Police checked on a barking dog complaint near Mariposa/McCorkle.

2053  A dog was found on Magnolia Avenue.

2145  An officer cited someone during a traffic stop near Silverado/Pope.

2210  An officer cited someone for driving without a license near Main/Mitchell.

Thursday, April 7

0136  A wallet was reported stolen at a bar. As dispatch was on the phone with the caller, someone brought the wallet to the police station.

0937  A mountain bike worth $3,999 was reported stolen from Monte Vista Avenue. It had been locked to a vehicles bike rack. Someone cut the lock and stole it.

0959  The owner of a dog came to the police station to pick up his pet.

1108  Second-hand report of a road rage incident near the Pope Street Bridge.

1510  Following a traffic stop on Main Street, police arrested a 47-year-old Vallejo woman with two outstanding warrants.

1800  Possible drugs were found near Main Street. An officer retrieved them.

1822  Police cited a vehicle for illegally parking in a blue zone.

1847  Report of landscaping noise coming from Brown Street. An officer found a homeowner using a leafblower. Everything was OK.

1901  Report of a drunk woman unable to pay at a Main Street business.

1939  An officer cited someone during a traffic stop near Main/Pine.

1940  A caller was concerned about a dog in a parked car on Spring Street.

2046  An officer cited someone during a traffic stop near Main/Pine.

Friday, April 8

0431  Report of a doorbell ditcher on Spring Mountain Road. Police checked the area.

0811  Report of a double-trailer dump truck using the Sulphur Springs/South Crane/Valley View/Allyn route instead of sticking to the truck route on Main Street. An officer contacted the company and reminded them of the truck route.

0840  An officer cited someone during a traffic stop near Main/Vintage.

1110  Police cited a car parked in front of a fire hydrant on Main Street.

1121  Medical aid at a Main Street hotel.

1349  A person asked for help finding a vehicle that had been towed and stored by another agency.

1432  A lunchbox was found at Lyman Park. Police collected it for safekeeping.

1602  An officer cited someone during a traffic stop near Main/Sulphur Springs.

1827  Report of an abandoned vehicle on Pope Street. Police marked it to be towed in 72 hours.

1915  During a traffic stop near Main/Adams, police arrested a 27-year-old Santa Rosa man with a felony warrant.

2024  Report of a sprinkler system overwatering a landscaped area near Adams Street and causing water to flow down a driveway. The matter was referred to City Hall and Public Works.

2154  Report of a possible drunk driver on northbound Highway 29 near Hoffman Lane.

Saturday, April 9

0027  An officer gave someone directions to Middletown.

0436  A woman asked to talk to Public Works about brown water coming out of her faucet on Voorhees Circle.

0848  A dog found on Hunt Avenue was returned to its owner.

0934  Medical aid for a fall victim on Pope Street.

1317  An officer cited someone during a traffic stop on Main Street.

1343  An officer cited someone during a traffic stop near Main/Elmhurst.

1433  A person asked to talk to an officer about a missing iPhone.

1638  Following a traffic stop on Main Street, police arrested a 30-year-old American Canyon man on suspicion of DUI.

Sunday, April 10

1233  A purse was reported stolen from a Main Street business at around midnight.

1921  An officer cited someone during a traffic stop on Main Street.

2031  An officer cited someone during a traffic stop on Main Street.

2157  An officer cited someone during a traffic stop near Main/Vidovich.

Monday, April 11

0825  Medical aid for a 14-year-old boy who fell off his bike near Crinella/Park.

1007  Second-hand report of an elderly fall victim near Charter Oak/Allison. Police checked the area and didnt find anyone who needed help.

1109  Report of a streetlight out at Starr/Harvest. The caller had already contacted Public Works.

1205  Multiple reports of a downed tree blocking the northbound lane of Silverado Trail near Pratt Avenue.

1241  An officer taught a fifth-grade DARE class.

1244  Report of a tree down on White Sulphur Springs Road.

1343  Report of two school buses parked on La Fata Street, one for about three weeks and one since Friday.

1620  Two-car minor-injury accident on Silverado Trail.

1714  An officer cited someone during a traffic stop near Spring/Main.

1949  Report of a reckless driver almost illegally passing vehicles and almost causing three accidents.

2334  An officer cited someone during a traffic stop near Main/Hunt.

2339  An officer cited someone during a traffic stop near Highway 29/Inglewood.

Tuesday, April 12

0721  Lift assist for a woman who fell out of bed on Crinella Drive.

0805  An officer taught a DARE class to seventh-graders.

0827  An officer cited someone during a traffic stop near Pope/Peppertree.

1141  An officer cited a vehicle parked in a red zone near Church/Hunt.

1253  An officer taught a DARE class to fifth-graders.

1346  A bike was reported stolen from a a vehicle's bike rack near the downtown. The suspect drove away in a gray four-door.

1411  Someone broke into a car parked in a Highway 29 parking lot and stole a backpack containing a laptop, a duffel bag containing electronics, and several purses.

1528  Report of an ongoing problem with motorcycles blasting loud music as they travel down Main Street.

1631  A car hit a fire hydrant on Fulton Lane. Nobody was hurt.

1720  Report of a reckless driver on Main Street.

2246  Following a traffic stop near Main/Grayson, police arrested a 52-year-old Angwin man on suspicion of narcotics possession and probation violation.

Wednesday, April 13

0158  Report of a drunk driver on Main Street. Police arrested the 25-year-old Angwin man on suspicion of DUI.
A quarter-acre grass fire broke out Monday afternoon in Pope Valley before it was extinguished by residents and a Cal Fire/Napa County Fire crew, the firefighting agency reported.

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A battalion chief responding to smoke at about 1:45 p.m. found the vegetation fire in the 2600 block of Harness Court, in the Berryessa Estates community, according to a spokesperson at Cal Fires St. Helena station. Flames spread to about a 50-by-100-foot area, but residents began containing the blaze and later were joined by arriving Cal Fire personnel. The fire was extinguished by about 3:20 p.m.

No injuries or structural damage were reported, the Cal Fire spokesperson said.

The fire developed amid windy conditions on Monday in the North Bay region, with winds in Napa and Santa Rosa measuring upwards of 25 mph from the northwest, according to the National Weather Service.

You can reach Howard Yune at 530-763-2266 or hyune@napanews.com
A flurry of state laws and bills would allow employees of small businesses to set up Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) through state-sponsored programs, making it possible for workers to save with automatic payroll deductions even when their companies don't offer that option.

Just this year, 17 states are considering bills that would provide access to IRAs to workers whose employers don't offer such plans. Ten states recently implemented plans or are in the process of setting them up. The state plans don't require employers to match contributions.

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.

The AARP's Public Policy Institute says employees are 15 times more likely to build retirement savings if they have automatic payroll deductions at work. But such plans don't exist for about 55 million American workers, mostly in small or medium-sized businesses, AARP's research found, and that's where the states can have an impact.

"For employers who don't offer their own plans, these help address a lot of things that are barriers," said Angela Antonelli, executive director of the Center for Retirement Initiatives at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. "This takes all of the responsibility off the employer and connects employees to a vehicle to save for retirement.

"Post-COVID, with such a tight workforce and competition for workers, it's becoming even more important," she added. "It helps level the playing field in a very tight job market and allows them to compete for workers."

In 2019, California implemented one of the first state-sponsored IRA plans and the number of participants has grown steadily. In December 2021, it recorded a record high with nearly 220,000 workers with accounts.

Ten states have automatic contribution plans, according to the Center for Retirement Initiatives, including California, Illinois and Oregon. Connecticut launched its program April 1.

Colorado's pilot program is set to launch in October and will be fully implemented in 2023. Maryland's pilot program is anticipated to start in June, with the program projected to be fully up and running next year, Antonelli wrote in an email.

Last year, Maine, New York and Virginia also launched programs.

In Pennsylvania, the state would provide regulatory oversight and contract with a private financial firm to manage participants' investments. State Rep. Michael Driscoll, a Democrat who is cosponsoring the bill, said he first introduced it six years ago, when about two million Pennsylvanians didn't have access to retirement plans.

The Pennsylvania plan would apply to any business with five or more employees. Many larger businesses do have automatic contribution plans and some even match their workers' payroll deductions, Driscoll said, but the state-run program would at least "provide for some that don't have what the big guys have."

The primary sponsor of the bill is state Rep. Tracy Pennycuick, a Republican. The programs are for workers who "fall through the cracks," said Pennycuick in a phone interview.

Although there are a lot of IRA products on the market now, she said, it takes time for employers to sign up and run the programs. A state plan that takes over administrative responsibilities, she said, could make the difference for small businesses in deciding whether to offer the programs.

But a report last month from the Congressional Research Service noted that some fear the state plans could replace existing employer-sponsored plans and the benefits that go with them.

Opposition has come from the insurance industry which, Driscoll said, is worried about losing potential clients. Insurance companies are among the entities, along with financial institutions, that contract with businesses to provide IRA plans for employees.

Bianca Alonso Weiss, state government relations manager for the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors, which has opposed the state-run programs, said in an email that the trade group "appreciates that states are looking for solutions to encourage more retirement savings." But Weiss noted that at least one research paper from the University of Pennsylvania, focused on Oregon, showed that by April 2020, over 50% of state-run accounts were inactive or had a savings rate of 0%.

Furthermore, she said, low wages and high turnover among small companies' workers limit what such programs can achieve.

But the same paper found that while contributions dwindled in Oregon's IRA plan in April 2020, it was likely due to job losses in the pandemic, not a failure of the program.

"Opt-out rates rise with the local unemployment rate and the volatility of industry income, and employees in industries with lower earnings are more likely to cite that they cannot afford to save when opting out," the authors wrote. "And, during April 2020, we observe a large drop in contributions that we attribute to COVID-19 related job losses and economic uncertainty."

A study by The Pew Charitable Trusts found that 80% of employers who participated in the program in Oregon did not report any extra costs. Pew, which funds Stateline, has supported state IRA programs in multiple states.

In addition, further research by Pew going back to 2016 found that lower-paid and minority workers were least likely to have an automatic retirement savings plan at work.

The federal government also has taken note of the lagging retirement savings rate in the nation. This month, the U.S. House approved a bill designed to expand IRA coverage and change some of the rules governing the programs to benefit savers.

The Secure Act includes an automatic enrollment provision like the ones in state plans. It also would increase the mandatory age at which retirees must begin to withdraw their savings to 75 and provide a way for older retirees with few dollars saved to make bigger "catch up" contributions to their IRAs.

In Hawaii, representatives of the insurance industry, including the American Council of Life Insurers and the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors, testified against a similar bill during state Senate hearings in February.

The Hawaii Senate approved the bill, but a House panel modified the bill to make it entirely voluntary for workers, leading to uncertainty about the bill's future.

The insurance industry seems "to have the ear of a number of influential legislators in the House," Craig Kugisaki, an attorney for the state's Committee on Labor, Culture and the Arts, wrote in an email.

Driscoll, the Pennsylvania legislator, said failing to pass an IRA bill for lower-earning workers is shortsighted, because without retirement savings, older folks will have to rely on government-funded programs to live.

"If we don't have a program like this now, government is going to be paying the bill 30 years from now," he said. "If we do nothing, a whole segment of the Pennsylvania population that's going to be on government programs. We want people to retire with dignitythis can help."

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Traditional homeless shelters have long been off limits to pets, leaving animal owners who want to get off the streets with a difficult choice. But as homelessness surges across the U.S., those working toward a solution are increasingly recognizing the importance pets have for vulnerable populations and are looking for ways to keep owners and pets together. Pending legislation in California would make a pilot program known the Pet Assistance and Support program permanent and expand it across the state. The pilot program in recent years has provided millions of dollars in funding to nonprofits and local jurisdictions that has been used in part for things like food, crates, toys and veterinary services for the pets of homeless people.
A lawyer usually referred to as an attorney, plays a dual role in our society as both advocate and consultant. Advocates represent one of the parties in civil and criminal matters trials by presenting the findings and arguing in court on behalf of their client. Lawyers advise their clients on various topics, including their legal rights and obligations and the best course of action to take in various situations.

Legal counsel and advocates alike conduct a study into the intent of laws and judicial rulings, then apply the law in accordance with their clients unique situations.

Even though every lawyer is permitted to practice in court, some appear in court more often than others. Outside of the courtroom, trial lawyers spend much of their time conducting research, interviewing clients and witnesses, and taking care of other trial preparation tasks.

You should retain the services of a family lawyer even if you are not currently experiencing any legal issues. You may have overlooked some details, but a skilled lawyer will take care of them and connect you with adequate support if you need them.

What Types of Legal Services Does a Lawyer Provide?

Legal services are described as services provided by lawyers that are related to government laws or legal issues, such as legal advice, filing a case, defending against criminal charges, and so on. Trial lawyers and prosecutors are the two main categories of attorneys.

Legal representation and conviction are obtained in civil trials by attorneys for the accused and the victims. Legal assistance can be easily procured through the use of attorney network services.

Lawyers can provide advice to their clients and handle legal concerns outside of the courtroom with the help of the professional legal network and its services. These lawyers provide various forms of legal services in the following cases: personal injury cases, criminal defenses, business legal services, family and divorce issues, and so on.

In a criminal or civil court, lawyers represent one of the plaintiffs by presenting evidence and speaking on behalf of the defendant.

Lawyers advise their clients on their legal rights and obligations and suggest commercial and personal strategies.

Lawyers are uniquely positioned to assist individuals, groups, and organizations with legal challenges while serving the public interest. Public interest attorneys advocate civil campaigns for the greater good to help persons in need of legal representation who might not otherwise be able to afford counsel. Personal attorneys also provide pro bono services to low-income individuals.

At the law court, a lawyer is the conventional mass spokesperson. You might not be able to tell what the constitution says in your scenario. Expert counsel will protect your interests.

In general, the judicial system is self-regulating. Although other occupations have been given self-governance capabilities, the legal profession is unusual in this regard because of the close link between practice and government and law enforcement agencies. The fact that the ultimate authority over the legal profession is mainly centralized reflects this relationship.

Becoming a lawyer is a major endeavor in time commitment and money cost. Passing the bar exam and law school can be difficult. Understanding whats actually good about this career and being able to view it on the horizon out there will often be your source of inspiration.

Defending the Rights of Ordinary People

There is an obvious divide between the powerful and the weak in our culture. Between the large corporation and the small consumer, the wealthy and the poor, and the employer and the employee. Because the danger of a lawsuit is always lurking in the background, lawyers assist in balancing that power imbalance like moloneyandpartners.com.au.

A bad faith lawsuit may be filed against a producer who is negligent in producing a defective product, for example. In the same way, insurance firms can be sued for bad faith if they refuse to pay on a valid policy.

The Upholding of Justice

When a lawyer takes on a case, he is in charge of ensuring that legal technicalities do not result in a miscarriage of justice. An attorney owes it to the rule of law to use the law in a way that contributes to the administration of justice and the preservation of rights.

The experience and ability of a lawyer should not be retained for the benefit of a lawyers personal gain but rather be held in trust for the benefit of society as a whole.

The Final Word

We propose that lawyers play an important role in their communities as connectors: interstitial figures with the knowledge, talent, and trust to assist resolve conflicts, break deadlocks, dissipate tensions, and otherwise bring people and resources together in productive ways.

They should do so in part by providing pro bono services to low-income and low-income clients. It would be a mistake to stifle creative approaches to closing the justice gap. However, it would be a mistake and a heavy loss if lawyers  particularly those who do not generally represent poor and low-income clients  turned their backs on this segment of our society.
Women kick off march in downtown Yerevan

Man found dead under Yerevan bridge

Armenia Judge Boris Bakhshiyan released from custody

Armenia President meets with Security Council secretary

Biden demands to stop leaks of US intel sharing with Ukraine

At least 22 dead in explosion at 5-star hotel in Cuba

Newspaper: Armenia PM had arrangement with ruling political teams parliament faction

G7 leaders to discuss possible new sanctions on Russia

Armenia Security Council chief: No talk of withdrawing Russian peacekeepers from Artsakh?

Resistance Movement heading towards Vanadzor by motorcade

Newspaper: Armenia consumer market inflation was 2.3% in April compared to March

Pentagon announces additional $150M in aid to Ukraine

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
The Gallup Media Institute conducted a study of the effectiveness of the popularity of the leaders of the 4 world powers: how the world treats the United States, China, Russia and Germany.

The ranking refers to the period until 24 February this year.

The survey was conducted among respondents from 116 countries and regions throughout 2021. People over the age of 15 participated in telephone and in-person surveys. The rankings are based on representative samples at the national level.

So what did this global opinion poll show? Before the war in Ukraine, Germany and the United States had the greatest "soft power" worldwide, and more than ever. Both countries were in stronger positions than Russia or China. The U.S. and Germany were well-positioned to rally NATO and the rest of the world before war in Ukraine.

For five years, Germany remained the most popular country in the world in the leadership rankings. We are talking about the period of Chancellor Angela Merkel's rule. Among the residents of 116 countries surveyed, the rating of confidence in the German leadership, and its actions in 2020 was 52%, in 2021 - 50%.

Among residents of European countries, 60% of respondents approved of the policy of the German government. By comparison: 40% of Europeans surveyed approved of the actions of the U.S. administration, 22% approved of Russia, and 18% approved of China.

The U.S., according to the Gallup Institute, is in second place.

The approval rating of the US in the world during the first year of Biden's administration was 49%. This is a significant increase from the last year of the Trump administration's 30% rating. Confidence in the U.S. increased particularly strongly in Portugal, the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden, and confidence was up in all NATO and G7 countries, including Japan.

The Gallup Institute notes that the U.S. has managed to regain the favor of European countries, which had largely lost confidence in the U.S. leadership during the Trump presidency.

Meanwhile, in Zambia and Nepal, U.S. approval ratings in 2020 have plummeted, as have 13 countries, including Russia, Kazakhstan, Georgia and Lithuania.

After the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan, the global average level of confidence in U.S. actions fell to 45 percent. In Afghanistan itself, in August-September 2021, 87 percent of all respondents disapproved of U.S. actions.

Among residents of U.S. neighboring countries, 55% of respondents from Canada and 52% from Mexico trusted U.S. leadership. The lowest trust rating for the U.S. in Latin America was recorded in Chile.

Russia's global approval rating, before war in Ukraine, was 33%, roughly the same as in 2020. But, as the Gallup Institute report notes, since most countries around the world condemn the war in Ukraine, Russia's rating could fall well below the 22% that was recorded in 2014, after the annexation of Crimea.

The actions of China's leadership in the global survey were approved by 30 percent of respondents. This rating has remained virtually unchanged for two years. Sociologists note that China's future ratings also depend on its reaction to the war in Ukraine and on whether Beijing will support Moscow.

With regard to China, the positive dynamics remain in Africa. The actions of the Chinese leadership are approved by 52% of respondents in the African countries, the actions of the United States - 60%.
The parliamentary opposition tables very few law initiatives. They hardly participate in international visits and meetings. Speaker Alen Simonyan of the National Assembly (NA) of Armenia stated this at Tuesdays sitting of the NA, commenting on the parliamentary oppositions boycott of the current regular four-day sessions of the legislature.

"The most famous 'meeting' with Azerbaijan and Turkey was the vote against the report on the growth of democracy in Armenia. After that, no significant, serious 'meeting,' in fact, took place. The Prime Minister has not received proposals to hold meetings on Karabakh, as well as on the topic of the situation around the republic," Simonyan added.

Moreover, he accused the Armenian opposition of cooperating with Azerbaijan, and asked why the opposition MPs do not give up their parliamentary seats. According to the NA speaker, their work is extremely unsatisfactory.
YEREVAN.  Tuesdays Yerevan court hearing on the criminal case against second President Robert Kocharyan and former deputy prime minister Armen Gevorgyanwho is now an MP of the opposition Armenia Faction in the National Assembly of Armeniawas pushed back again.

The session did not take place due to Kocharyan's absence from the courtroom.

His defense attorney Hovhannes Khudoyan told the court that his clients health problem, which was previously reported to the court, still exists, and it will take another 3 to 5 days for Kocharyan to fully recover. Also, the lawyer submitted a respective medical report.

Presiding Judge Anna Danibekyan, in turn, said that Armen Gevorgyan had submitted a petition to the court to allow him to leave the country, but it could not be considered at the moment.

The petition will be considered at the next court hearing, which was set for April 19.

As reported earlier, the previous court session was not held as Presiding Judge Anna Danibekyan was participating in training courses.

And the earlier court hearing did not take place due to Kocharyan not appearing in the courtroom because of health reasons.

Along the lines of the abovementioned criminal case, Robert Kocharyan and Armen Gevorgyan are charged with taking bribesand based on the respective testimony of businesswoman Silva Hambardzumyan.
The parliamentary majority is not satisfactory in its actions. Seyran Ohanyan, leader of the opposition "Armenia" Faction in the National Assembly (NA) and former defense minister of Armenia, told about this to Armenian News-NEWS.am on Tuesday.

According to him, the actions of the incumbent Armenian authorities do not correspond to the created situation.

Ohanyan added that the authorities have been rejecting the opposition's proposals to hold hearings and discussions on urgent issues regarding Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh).

"They explain such behavior with a tense situation, which is of a permanent nature. Does this mean that we should not engage in our activities? The actions of the parliament must be in line with the military-political situation of Armenia," the head of the "Armenia" Faction noted.

Also, Ohanyan called on Armenias authorities to assess the situation in and around Artsakh and the situation in Armenia and around Armenia at least once, especially when there is an escalation of tension at the border or in border settlements.

The former defense minister of Armenia said that the installation of the Artsakh national flag in the communities of Armenia is symbolic, adding, however, that it is not only the flag that should compel to pay a special attention to Artsakh.

In Ohanyans conviction, the current authorities are once again leading Armenia to defeat, humiliation, loss of sovereignty, and worsening of the Karabakh problem.

"Since when did visits to Karabakh start to cause harm to Karabakh or the border settlements of Armenia?" he asked, in particular

Ohanyan expressed confidence that these visits, on the contrary, help and cause to be clear-headed.

"First of all, it is necessary to resolve the security issue, to provide [political] assistance, to raise the level of relations between Armenia and Artsakh," he concluded.

The parliamentary oppositionthe "Armenia" and "With Honor" factionson Tuesday boycotted the regular four-day sittings of the NA. And before that, "Armenia" Faction leader Seyran Ohanyan had placed the national flag of Artsakh on the rostrum of the legislature.
YEREVAN.  Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan of Armenia on Tuesday received Martin Eurnekian, Executive Director of Corporacion America Airports, who was accompanied by Marcelo Wende, CEO of Armenia International Airports, and Sergey Avetisyan, General Manager at Armenia International Airports, the Prime Minister's Office informed Armenian News-NEWS.am.

The Prime Minister attached importance to the company's activities in Armenia, noting that the Government is interested in deepening mutually beneficial partnership.

Martin Eurnekian expressed satisfaction with the cooperation with the Armenian Government and conveyed to the Prime Minister the warm greetings of Argentine-Armenian businessman, philanthropist Eduardo Eurnekian.

The interlocutors discussed the process of the programs implemented by Corporacion America in Armenia and the prospects for their expansion. In particular, the sides touched upon issues related to the development of Yerevan's Zvartnots and Gyumris Shirak airports and the improvement of infrastructure, which have been granted to the company for concession management. In this context, the opportunities of implementing new investment projects were discussed, which will contribute to the development of the aviation market, increase the passenger flow, and provide quality services. The sides exchanged views on possible new programs in other directions as well.

The parties agreed to continue discussions on further actions and practical steps.
Armenian PM Nikol Pashinyan introduced the newly appointed head of the Ministry of Emergency Situations Armen Pambukhchyan to the Ministry staff, the press service of the Armenian government informed NEWS.am

During the meeting, Pashinyan wished Pambukhchyan success in his job and expressed hope for the Ministry's efficiency.

"Usually in such cases, we appoint a new Minister, see off the former Minister and thank him for his work. You know that in this case, we have a different situation, unusual or even unprecedented.

And I must tell you frankly and sincerely that I am very sorry about this development. And in human, moral and political terms it is very painful for me personally. You know that after the 44-day war I offered Mr. Piloyan the position of the head of MES, I entrusted this position to him, we have been working all this time and we had a mutually respectful attitude towards each other," Pashinyan said.

In his turn, Pambukhchyan thanked Pashinyan for his trust and assured him that he would spare no effort to meet the Prime Minister's and society's expectations.
Another criminal agreement between Nikol Pashinyan and Ilham Aliyev has been exposed so far, Ishkhan Saghatelyan, deputy speaker of the Armenian parliament from the "Armenia" bloc, said this on his Facebook page.

"They quickly and simultaneously reacted to the statement of the opposition MPs on going to Artsakh, handed over the names of the politicians who went to Artsakh at the checkpoint, demanding not to let them into the Republic. Another fact of the conspiracy deal to isolate Artsakh and further expel Armenians was revealed.

Notably, the reactions of the Azerbaijani and Armenian authorities to our visit were identical. Our meeting with the leaders of all parliamentary factions of Artsakh nevertheless took place, at the Aghavno checkpoint. We are united and we are resolute to fail the policy against Artsakh and Armenia and to defend the interests of our country," he said.

On Tuesday the parliamentary opposition in the person of blocs "Armenia" and "I have honor" boycotted the next four-day sittings of the National Assembly of the Republic. Their representatives said they would not participate in the sessions this week. "We will go to the border regions of Karabakh and Armenia," Seyran Ohanyan, head of the parliamentary faction of the opposition "Armenia" bloc, explained, while placing a small Karabakh flag in the parliament, which had been removed by Vahagn Aleksanyan, an MP from the ruling "Civil Contract" party known for his scandalous statements, including against journalists.
Story Highlights Approval of U.S. leadership slipped from 49% to 43% after Afghanistan withdrawal

Biden ended his first year with a 45% median approval rating worldwide

U.S., Germany both in strong positions before Ukraine crisis

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- After a strong rebound during President Joe Biden's first six months in office, approval ratings of U.S. leadership around the world slipped in the second half of the year, coinciding with the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan.

A new Gallup report details that by early August 2021, median approval of U.S. leadership worldwide stood at 49% across 46 countries and territories surveyed by that point. This approval rating matched the record-high rating when former President Barack Obama first took office in 2009.

However, the United States' overall rating slipped in the second half of the year. Across 70 additional countries and territories surveyed during and after the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, median approval stood at 43%.

Biden ended his first year in office with a 45% median approval rating across a total of 116 countries and territories. While far from a ringing global endorsement of U.S. leadership, this rating is much higher than the 30% approval rating in the last year of Donald Trump's presidency or any of the previous ratings during the Trump administration.

Line graph. Trend lines showing median approval ratings of U.S. leadership between 2007 and 2021.

Without pre- and post-Afghanistan withdrawal measures in these same 116 countries, it is difficult to tease out links between the withdrawal and the general decline in approval ratings. It's possible that the withdrawal, which drew criticism of Biden at home and abroad, damaged people's perceptions of U.S. leadership.

However, the lower ratings may also reflect the makeup of the countries and territories surveyed in the latter half of 2021. The list includes Iran, which gave the U.S. a 7% approval rating in 2021, and a host of other countries in the Middle East, North Africa and former Soviet states that have historically rated U.S. leadership lower.

Despite the overall decline, U.S. leadership still earned majority approval from residents in 24 of the 70 countries and territories surveyed in the later months of 2021. Ratings also improved by 10 points or more compared with the previous year in 23 countries.

U.S., Germany in Strong Position Before Ukraine Crisis

In addition to asking about U.S. leadership each year, Gallup also asks the world about the leadership of other global powers, including Germany, China and Russia.

Before Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Gallup surveys showed the U.S. and Germany held more "soft power" around the world than they had in years. In that regard, both countries were in much stronger positions heading into the conflict than either Russia or China.

Despite the surge in approval ratings for the U.S., Germany remained the top-rated global power for the fifth year in a row as it prepared for longtime Chancellor Angela Merkel to leave office. In 2021, median approval of Germany's leadership across 116 countries and territories stood at 50% -- essentially unchanged from the record-high 52% approval rating in 2020.

Line graph. Trend lines showing median approval ratings of the leadership of the U.S., Germany, Russia and China between 2007 and 2021.

Both Germany and the U.S. netted higher approval ratings than either Russia or China, whose approval ratings continued to cluster together in the lower 30s in 2021. Russia's approval rating before its invasion of Ukraine stood at 33% -- relatively unchanged from where it was in 2020 -- and China's approval rating was also unchanged at 30%.

With much of the world condemning the invasion of Ukraine, Russia's approval ratings could retreat even lower than the record-low 22% Gallup observed in 2014 after Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine. China's future ratings, too, could be linked to how it responds to the crisis.

Implications

Although the image of U.S. leadership slipped in the second half of 2021, the surge in approval ratings between 2020 and 2021 suggests that Biden's efforts to restore alliances appeared to be paying off -- at least initially.

Some of this goodwill -- particularly among NATO members -- may have helped Biden unify NATO's response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine this year. He will need to continue to tap into that as the war in Ukraine continues. But whatever happens next in this crisis has the potential to undermine -- or bolster -- the rest of Biden's presidency and shape the next world order.

Read more about how the world views the leadership of the U.S., Germany, Russia and China in Gallup's latest Rating World Leaders report.

To stay up to date with the latest Gallup News insights and updates, follow us on Twitter.

For complete methodology and specific survey dates, please review Gallup's Country Data Set details.

Learn more about how the Gallup World Poll works.
Pioneer Woman Drummond to speak at OSUs spring commencement

Media Contact: Jordan Bishop | Editor, Department of Brand Management | 405-744-9782 | jordan.bishop@okstate.edu

Famed author, TV personality, businesswoman and cooking icon Ree Drummond will be the speaker at Oklahoma State Universitys spring 2022 commencement.

OSUs graduation ceremonies are set for Friday, May 6, for graduate students and the College of Veterinary Medicine. Drummond will be speaking at the undergraduate ceremonies on Saturday, May 7. Commencement will take place in Gallagher-Iba Arena.

Drummond has made her hometown of Pawhuska, Oklahoma, famous through her books and Food Network show The Pioneer Woman. A native of Bartlesville, Oklahoma, Drummond has inspired thousands with her homespun recipes, which are a staple in many home kitchens.

Dr. Kayse Shrum has started her presidency off strong with Chancellor Allison Garrett at Shrum's first commencement last fall and Drummond hosting this spring.

Ree Drummond, the "Pioneer Woman," will be the commencement speaker at Oklahoma State University in May.

"Oklahoma State is delighted to welcome Ree Drummond as our spring commencement speaker," Shrum said. "She is an inspiration and an Oklahoma treasure for her down-to-earth approach to life and leadership. Her entrepreneurial spirit and creativity have opened Oklahoma's prairies and way of life to the masses. I'm thrilled that our students get to hear from her as they embark on the beginning of their careers."

After studying gerontology at University of Southern California and living in Los Angeles post-college, Ree eventually returned to Oklahoma, where she met her husband, Ladd. Four of their five children have attended college; their youngest is a junior at Pawhuska High School.

If theres one thing Ive learned over the years, its that life is definitely full of unexpected adventure, Drummond said. Im so honored to celebrate this years OSU graduates, and to have the opportunity to encourage them to stay open to all that life has in storeboth professionally and personally.

The author of seven best-selling cookbooks, several childrens books and an autobiography, Drummond has connected with fans through her down-home personality and candor.

No tickets are required. Graduates arrive 30 minutes prior to ceremony start time through Boone Pickens Stadium Gate 1 South. Doors on the east side of Gallagher-Iba Arena will open for guests one hour prior to the ceremony start time.

For OSUs sister branches, OSU Institute of Technology will host its commencement ceremony on Friday, April 22, at Covelle Hall in Okmulgee.

OSU-Tulsa will have its commencement ceremony Monday, May 9, at the Union Multipurpose Activity Center.

OSU-Oklahoma Citys commencement is set for Friday, May 13, at Jim Norick Arena on the State Fairgrounds.

OSU-Center for Health Sciencess commencement will take place Saturday, May 14, at the Mabee Center on the campus of Oral Roberts University. All graduation ceremonies will be live-streamed on insideosu.com except for OSUIT, which will be available on demand afterward.

For more information on the 144th OSU commencement, go to registrar.okstate.edu/commencement/.
Presidents Celebration of Leadership honors faculty, staff members

Media Contact: Jordan Bishop | Editor, Department of Brand Management | 405-744-9782 | jordan.bishop@okstate.edu

Oklahoma State University honored those who have demonstrated exceptional leadership qualities on April 6.

For the second-annual Presidents Celebration of Leadership, Dr. Kayse Shrum gave out #LeadOrange awards to nine faculty and staff members inside the Nancy Randolph Davis Building.

The #LeadOrange Awards derived from the seven categories of the Social Change Model (SCM)  all of them happen to start with a C. The SCM focuses on leadership development approaches and views leadership as a purposeful, collaborative, values-based process that results in positive social change.

The winners of the awards were:

Overall Student #LeadOrange winner: Chideha Kanu

Overall Faculty/Staff #LeadOrange winner: Dr. Mounzer Manny Al-Harake

Citizenship in Leadership: Dr. Tami Moore

Controversy with Courage: Rashad Cockrell

Common Purpose: Carly Noone

Collaboration in Leadership: Corinne Kissel

Consciousness of Self: Karina Thompson

Congruence in Leadership: Anecia Coleman

Commitment to Leadership: Jillian McGee

The Presidents Celebration of Leadership and the #LeadOrange Awards were created by the Hargis Leadership Institute to shed light on many of the great actions of leadership that previously went unnoticed and unrecognized. OSU students who want to lead and serve in college and beyond may learn more about the OSU Hargis Leadership Institute at leadership.okstate.edu.
During a one-on-one dialogue with a delegation from Bhutan led by its Economic Affairs Minister Lyonpo Loknath Sharma on the sidelines of the Waterways Conclave in Dibrugarh, Sonowal stated that the National Waterway-2 (Brahmaputra river) connectivity can be leveraged by both countries for improved economic ties.

Highlighting the traditional bonds of friendship between India and Bhutan, he said Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visionary "Act East Policy" had added new momentum to trade and socio-cultural movement between the two nations.

About the huge opportunities offered by the MMLP (Multimodal Logistic Parks) in Jogighopa in Assam's Bongaigaon district and the gateway in Dhubri, Sonowal told the Bhutanese delegation that India's advantage in providing infrastructure support and low cost logistics can bring a new era of development for the neighbouring country, an official of Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) said.

Senior officials from India and Bhutan attended during the discussion.

--IANS sc/vd

( 191 Words)

2022-04-11-23:04:03 (IANS)
Hanna Maliar, Ukraine's Deputy Minister of Defence, said on the national joint news broadcast, "We are currently confirming this information, trying to understand what it was. According to preliminary information, we can say that it is possible -- that it was, rather, phosphorous munition. Official information will be finalised later."

Maliar stressed that the risk of Russia deploying chemical weapons remains, and is quite high, Ukrayinska Pravda reported.

On the evening of April 11, it was reported that Russian soldiers dropped a poisonous substance of unknown origin on Mariupol.

According to Andrii Biletsky, leader of the Azov regiment, the army of the Russian Federation deployed chemical weapons on the Azovstal plant, which is held by Azov fighters, the report said.

The victims of the poisonous substance of unknown origin spread by Russian forces in Mariupol are in a relatively satisfactory condition, Azov Regiment has claimed.

Civilian contact with the substance was minimal, as the epicentre was at a certain distance from civilian areas. Servicemen were somewhat closer.

In a video released by the Azov Regiment, the victims describe seeing something resembling smoke or fog.

The main symptoms of the victims are facial flushing, high blood pressure, dryness and a burning sensation in the nasopharynx and mucous membranes of the eyes, tachycardia, tinnitus, shortness of breath, and dizziness, Ukrayinska Pravda reported.

--IANS san/arm

( 252 Words)

2022-04-12-19:04:22 (IANS)
After days of chaotic political crisis, democratic instability and constitutional warfare, Pakistans shaky political ship seems to have come out of the storm and is showing a picture that is in line with the democratic political setup. The recent days have been historical as Imran Khan's designation changed from being a sitting PM of Pakistan to a former PM, forced to succumb to the majority opposition against him, adamant to remove him from power through a first successful no-confidence vote in the country's decades long history. Imran Khan claims that his government was ousted through an international conspiracy, and the opposition parties had sold their souls, integrity, dignity and country's sovereignty, only to take him off power. Khan slammed the United States, the western countries and his opposition parties for conspiring against him only because he was desirous of not being a slave to the western powers and wanted to form an independent foreign policy for Pakistan. While Khan decided to take the narrative to the masses, Shehbaz Sharif was sworn-in as Pakistan's new Prime Minister. He was the sole candidate for the post after Khan's loyalist Shah Mahmood Qureshi withdrew and resigned his seat. Sharif's approach was visible in his first address to the parliament as he focused on domestic financial crisis of the country, for which he blamed Khan's government. Sharif announced immediate raise of minimum wage of Rs 25,000 and also promised to raise pensions by at least 10 per cent for those getting under Rs 1,00,000 in pensions. Sharif also announced to hold an in-camera session of the parliament on national security, to discuss and get briefed about the threat' letter, the cable that started Khan's claim of having foreign hands behind the opposition parties' no-confidence motion against him. Sharif said he would call in Ambassador Asad Majeed, the then Pakistani Ambassador to Washington, to brief the in-camera session with parliamentarians and the armed forces about the reality of the diplomatic cable. He also vouched to resign from premiership if evidence of his or his ally opposition parties are found in the threat letter, a claim Khan made as an international conspiracy against his government for a regime change and accused all of his opposition as traitors of the country. Sharif's approach towards relations with foreign countries also highlighted the urgent need of a damage control policy, as he expressed his desire to have better relations with the US, European Union, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Iran and India. Sharif said that Pakistan desires better relations with India, stressing that a solution is still needed to be found for Jammu and Kashmir. He also highlighted the importance of upholding the sovereignty and status of institutions, including the judiciary and the military establishment, insisting that institutional harmony is the need of the hour for Pakistan's stability. The approach Sharif took seemed to hit the right buttons as he centred the country's goal on becoming financially independent in order to find mutual ground of interest and better relations with the world. --IANS hamza/arm ( 520 Words) 2022-04-12-19:57:35 (IANS)
New Delhi [India], April 12 (ANI/PNN): Metria Network Infrastructure is a basic cryptocurrency platform that provides a well-chosen mix of features and innovations, converting the blockchain sector from a startup to a big high-growth corporation. The chain-agnostic decentralized infrastructure serves the needs of the emerging Decentralized Finance (Defi) and Non-Fungible Token (NFT) industries by standard features between blockchain networks and enabling simple and secure information and value exchange. The chain-agnostic decentralized infrastructure addresses scalability, interoperability, and liquidity fragmentation difficulties by addressing adaptability, interconnectivity, and liquidity segmentation concerns. Metria Network Infrastructure, the long term solution for the whole cryptocurrency community, will be offered to the general public on the three biggest DEXs on April 5. The Metria Network multichain platform is being built as a Polygon-based ecosystem. It has all of the features and upgrades required for successful cross-protocol exchanges of digital products and commodities. Metria Network is a Polygon-native platform that also includes the Ethereum and BNB Smart Chain (BSC) protocols, with plans to expand in the future. The protocol is being developed as a universal protocol capable of implementing future Defi and NFT activities by providing a simplified, massively scalable, and completely decentralized infrastructure. The $METR Token is a type of digital currency. The $METR currency currently and in the future will fuel the full Metria structural economy. $METR is a multichain currency with ecosystem usefulness and administration that will be available on Ethereum, Polygon, and the Binance Smart Chain at first. Its footprint will expand to include more protocols and interoperability with other chains. The Metria ecosystem's primary form of value exchange is $METR. Users may use this token to obtain access to a variety of market products and services, minimize trading costs on Metria DEX and NFT Marketplace, and make money via staking, liquidity replenishment, and produce farm practices inside the environment of the components. Metria DEX: Metria DEX, the Metria ecosystem's DEX protocol, is a totally decentralized subscription marketplace with CEX-like capabilities and a familiar user interface. Users may trade any crypto asset available on most of the approved blockchain protocols using the Metria exchange system, which acts as a single window. NFT Marketplace Assembled: Metria's Unified NFT Global market is helping to build a healthy worldwide NFT ecosystem. Users may mint, exchange, and auction NFTs inside Metria and other cryptocurrency ecosystems, making it the world's first decentralized multi chain NFT marketplace. The Unified NFT Marketplace, as the name implies, provides a single window for consumers to browse NFTs across several marketplaces and acquire them directly using Metria's native function token. The Creators of this Blockchain: Metria Network's crew is diverse and geographically dispersed. They collaborate with programmers from Europe, the United States, Dubai, Singapore, and India. Mr. Sarthak Shah is the Chief Innovation Officer at Metria Network, and he invented this amazing technology. We are working hard to make it as simple as possible for developers to use Metria, so they can build robust DeFi and NFT solutions and share the advantages with the rest of the cryptocurrency world. $METR Token live with staking And Farming from day 1. Finally, Now the users can easily buy the $METR from the most trusted DEXs Uniswap, Pancakeswap, and Quickswap. $METR also made an all-time high of $158, it was listed at 50$. Now the users can also easily do staking and farming to earn high rewards and have passive income. This story is provided by PNN. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/PNN)
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], April 12 (ANI/PRAADIS TECHNOLOGIES PVT LTD): Praadis Education is organizing a National Mathematics Olympiad which has become one of the fastest-growing events among the students and academic fraternity. Praadis Education is conducting the most awaited national event - All India Praadis Mathematics Olympiad 2022 on May 28. The event is open to all the students studying in classes 3 to 12 under different education boards of the country. All India Praadis Mathematics Olympiad is inviting students at a National level. The question paper will contain multiple-choice questions based on subject aptitude, calculation ability, mental ability, logical understanding, and reasoning. The curriculum for the National Olympiad is from classes 3-12 of the State Board, CBSE, and ICSE board. Participants will be given a time limit of sixty (60) minutes. Every class will have one winner. Students will have to solve a set of thirty questions in order to achieve the top rank. It is definitely a thoughtful initiative taken by Praadis Education to boost the interest of students and involve them in mind carving activities that enhance their IQ of the students. The slots for the Praadis National Mathematics Olympiad exam are between 12 pm - 1 pm, 3 pm - 4 pm, and 6 pm - 7 pm. The winners of the Praadis Mathematics Olympiad will be awarded a free Praadis Education premium subscription for the entire academic session. Praadis Education premium subscription is an all-inclusive online study package that supplies all the premium benefits through the Praadis App like live classes, 3D interactive videos, smartboard and VFX videos, AI-enhanced capability adaptive tests, etc. Statistically, all the students that have been studying from the package have experienced its utility and they have results to show for it. To participate, students are required to mention their respective classes while registering for the competition. The duration of the entire exam will be 1 hour. No fees are charged to students for appearing in the Praadis Mathematics Olympiad. The founder of the company Prashant Bhatia says, "Praadis Mathematics Olympiad is going to be free of cost National Mathematics Olympiad conducted for students from grades 3-11, as it going to help students in developing problem-solving skills in students." The co-founder and the creative head of the company, Aditi Bhatia believes "it is a great opportunity for every student to come forward and appear for the Praadis Mathematics Olympiad and win scholarships and subscriptions." Praadis Education takes pride in delivering satisfaction of quality education and support to its students. Praadis Education is a leading global EdTech company geared towards providing a world-class education to millions of students. The company's vision is to help the next generation of students by changing stressful education into joyful learning. Praadis Education focuses on learning through game-play and storytelling for a highly effective and enjoyable education. So what are you waiting for? Register your children for India's biggest Mathematics Olympiad by Praadis Education! URL - https://praadisedu.com/praadis-olympiad/test-math This story is provided by PRAADIS TECHNOLOGIES PVT LTD. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/PRAADIS TECHNOLOGIES PVT LTD)
New Delhi [India] April 12 (ANI/PNN): Business Mint offers the Business Mint's Nation Wide SME Awards-2022 to recognize SMEs' devotion, providing a legitimate chance to support and share our goal of elevating the prominence of industrious, hardworking, and ambitious SMEs across the country. Corporate awards are a sought-after badge of distinction, a real acknowledgment of business success that gives tremendous marketing and public relations possibilities. Business Mint Nationwide SME Awards-2022 honours entrepreneurs that strive to build world-class goods and services, establish the highest standards, and utilize possibilities throughout the world. These prizes not only help Indian SMEs obtain greater access to money, technology, global markets, and high-quality labour, but they also bring a previously disparate set of companies together on a single platform. Micro, small, medium, trade, manufacturing, service, support, and entrepreneurs are just a few of the outstanding facets of business covered by Business Mint. More than 1000 nominations were received from a variety of industries, including real estate, education, healthcare, marketing, software, aviation, and media. Business Mint published a list of firms, agencies, non-profits, and government organizations run by corporate leaders whose groups and missions have resulted in success: https://nationwideawards.org/ Business Mint - India's Best Market Research Company - evaluated and developed the Business Mint Nationwide SME Awards-2022, one of the country's most distinguished awards. The annual Business Mint awards are designed to honor people who have achieved amid a difficult global economy. As far as specialists are concerned, Firm Business Mint delivers a full study of the business and a complete run-through of the most outstanding components of the finest. List of Nationwide SME Awards-2022 Winners: - KLUG FURNITURE - Best Emerging Brand - 2022, Corporate Furniture Category (Karnataka) - Amuktika by Annanya - Best Emerging Jewellery Designer of the Year - 2022, Delhi - Enchante Cafe & Confectionery - Best Standalone Cafe & Confectionery of the Year - 2022, Hyderabad for Celebrations - TKT Engineering Consultant Pvt Ltd. - Most Promising SME of the Year - 2022, Maharashtra in Engineering Consultants & EPC Category - IND 'O' KIDZ - Mumbai's Most Prominent Indoor Play Center and Party Venue for Children - 2022 - PROPMARSHAL INDIA PVT LTD - Best Emerging SME of the Year - 2022, Mumbai in Property & Financial Consultancy Category - Dermaplast Aesthetic Clinic - Most Promising Clinic of the Year - 2022, Mumbai in Transplant & Restorative Services for Hair Category - Verch Consulting - Most Admired SME of the Year - 2022, Talent Acquisition Category - SSA COMPLIANCE SERVICES LLP - Most Promising Company of the Year - 2022, Employment & Labor Law Advisory Category - Astro Kanu - Best Emerging Astrology App of the Year - 2022 - Dentelligent Dental Solutions Pvt Ltd - Most Prominent Dental Lab of the Year - 2022, Andhra Pradesh - MNT Technologies - Most Prominent IT & Audio Visuals SME of the Year - 2022, Gujarat - AK Engineering Solutions - Most Promising SME of the Year - 2022, Maharashtra in Industrial Machinery Manufacturing - Sharp International Lubes Pvt Ltd - Most Promising Company of the Year - 2022, Automotive Lubricants Category - Cloudtool Technologies Private Limited - Most Prominent SME Leveraging IT for Business Performance - 2022 - Macphar Remedies - Most Promising Pharmaceutical Company of the Year - 2022, Jaipur - Foxy Advertising - Most Prominent Ad Agency of the Year - 2022, Andhra Pradesh - Plots Kaka - Best Emerging SME of the Year - 2022, Hyderabad in Real Estate Marketing Category - Obal Innovations - Most Prominent Eco-friendly and Reusable Pallet Cover & Wrap SME of the Year - 2022, Ahmedabad - Radiant Infonet Private Limited - Most Admired SME of the Year - 2022, Developing & Designing Assessments Category - Kerala Cafe - Most Promising Kerala Cuisine Restaurant Brand - 2022 - SamBlogs.com - Best Emerging SME of the Year - 2022 in Jaipur for Digital Marketing Services Category - Brain Tech Learning Centre - Best Emerging Learning Centre in Chennai - 2022 - Geetanjali HomeState Pvt Ltd. - Most Admired Real Estate Company of the Year - 2022, Gurgaon - Nanolite Infratech Pvt.Ltd. - Most Promising SME of the Year - 2022, Brick Machine Manufacturers Category - PG Communication - Best Emerging PR & Communications SME of the Year - 2022 - Hanging Hammer Interiors - Most Prominent Interior Design SME of the Year - 2022, Hyderabad - DR.RJ's White Smile Cosmetic & Family Dental Clinic - Best Emerging Cosmetic Dental Clinic - 2022, Kochi - To The Nines - Best Emerging Unisex Salon of the Year - 2022, Pune - Munch Booth by Gangotree - Most Admired Cafe for Designer Chaats - 2022, Bengaluru - Magneton Technologies Private Limited - Best Emerging IT Services Company - 2022, Bengaluru - Minimac Systems Pvt. Ltd. - Most Promising Company of the Year - 2022, Lubrication Reliability Category - TDB.ai - Most Prominent SME in AI Softwares - 2022, Madhya Pradesh - ASSB Consultants OPC Pvt Ltd - Best Emerging Recruitment, Tourism & Event Management Company - 2022, Chennai - Medlink Pharma Pvt. Ltd. - Most Prominent Pharma Company - 2022, Ahmedabad - BelWether Group - Best Emerging Web Designing Company - 2022, Mumbai - The Global Pharma Equipments - Most Promising Company of the Year - 2022, Pharma Equipment's Category - The Good Food Guys - Best Emerging Restaurant Brand - 2022, Hyderabad - Jaju's Flooring Concepts - Most Prominent Flooring Company of the Year - 2022, Bengaluru - Kanika Rana Fine Jewellery - Best Emerging Bespoke Celebrity Jewellery SME - 2022 - Sun Green - Best Emerging Women-Led Horticulture SME - 2022, Andhra Pradesh - SpeedForce - Most Promising SME of the Year - 2022, Multi-Brand Two-Wheeler Servicing Category - Invest Advise - Most Prominent Wealth Management SME of the Year - 2022, Noida - Senior Care Genie - Most Prominent SME of the Year - 2022, Senior Care Category - Glitter'o Glaze Studio - Most Promising Makeup Studio & Academy of the Year - 2022, Nagpur - TATVA HR Service Providers - Most Prominent SME of the Year - 2022, Bengaluru in HR, Statutory Compliance & Labor Law Category - ACEnovation India Pvt Ltd - Best Emerging Innovative Conference Company - 2022 - United Pixel - Best Emerging Digital Marketing SME of the Year - 2022, Bhubaneswar - TuitionHUB - Best Emerging Company of the Year - 2022, Online Tutoring Category - Rotomaker India Pvt Ltd - Most Promising VFX Company - 2022, Hyderabad Vinay Kanth Korapati, Founder of Business Mint says, The awards are "exceptional", and they honor "ground-breaking ideas, innovations, and improved work processes." These activities, he said, will recognize and celebrate the new Eco-framework while also encouraging SMEs to look at the sky. He believes that some of them will go on to become future unicorns and examples of overcoming adversity in India that will be seen by the rest of the globe. In today's competitive business environment, reputation and credibility are crucial, and they are earned. If you can position yourself as a distinctive thought leader or expert in your field, it will make a huge impact on your brand. I'd want to thank and honor every SME, especially the Nationwide SME Awards 2022 Winners. It's a joy to see so many SME professionals from so many various companies and areas together to achieve our common goal. Business Mint is the one-stop destination to serve organizations and entrepreneurs for their professional advancement through research and recognition approaches. Business Mint is a platform for associations and businesspeople where individuals get acknowledgment for their diligent effort. Their good try to perceive the incredible business thoughts, adventures, and great individuals behind them that get it going at any expense. 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 12 (ANI/NewsVoir): D2C baby product brand, R for Rabbit, is expanding its business to the middle-east, forming a Distribution agreement with global fashion and lifestyle brand conglomerate Apparel Group. The company will be seeking a 10% growth in the revenue from this expansion. Middle-east is one of the biggest markets and is considered the most happening market, possessing multiple opportunities for a brand to strengthen its global presence. The major factors driving the expansion in Middle East Asia (MEA) are the rise in government investment, growth in technology and population, and the increasing need for industrial development. The company's current revenue run rate is around INR 100 crore, and the company expects to double its revenue in the span of 3 to 5 years. With this expansion, the company is also looking to create broader brand awareness amongst its consumers overseas and seek over 10% sales within a year. The impact of COVID-19 primarily affected the industries and various markets. Even, R for Rabbit observed disruption in both their logistics and functioning. But the brand picked up the pace and was able to resume their business. Delighted with this collaboration, Kunal Popat, Founder, R for Rabbit said, "We are pleased with the collaboration of R for Rabbit and Apparel Group. Seeing multiple opportunities in the Middle East, we are keen to enter a new geographic and expand our business. Our expansion plan will benefit our business, and we are expecting to see over 10% revenue within a year. We aim to accelerate our business growth in the coming few years and seek to double our revenue in 3 to 5 years. We will be offering our various range of products in the middle-east region about 100 SKU's. Our company is well recognized among our Indian consumers and with this expansion in middle east, we expect to see our business grow exponentially. Furthermore, we will be at the forefront to create innovative, quality, and hygienic products for babies and kids." Rahul Pawar, Business Head of R&B Kids said, "The Apparel Group continues to identify innovative approaches to partnerships that enable R&B Kids to stay at the forefront of consumer trends across retail and e-commerce platforms. We believe this collaboration will create compelling and sustainable value for our system and our shareowners. Together, working as a team, we will unlock the full potential of retail and digital transformations and place our clients on the best path for success in the new Middle East region." R for Rabbit has a pan-India presence offering a diverse range of baby products, including Baby Gear, Ride-Ons, Nursing & Feeding Range, Activity & Bathing toys, Baby care, baby grooming kit and many more. Company Recently Launched Feather Diapers - Premium Diapers for the consumers who are aspiring international quality and comfort for their little ones. Founded by the entrepreneur couple Kunal Popat and Mrs. Kinjal Popat, the company focuses on developing safe baby products that meet international safety guidelines at accessible price points. After the birth of their daughter Aarna, they observed a huge gap in the design and quality of the baby products available in the market, and R for Rabbit was conceptualized to fill the space of a high quality, "Designed in India" baby products brand. Prioritizing safety and sustainability, the brand believes in making the parenting experience fun, safe and simple while delivering a comfortable lifestyle for the healthy development of babies and children. The company has developed innovative products suited to Indian tastes and requirements, embedded with world-class safety standards and technology. The four fundamental aspects that embody the brand include Certified Safety Standards, Innovation, Robust Quality and Excellent Customer Service. R for Rabbit recently expanded their product portfolio and launched baby care products such as baby diapers, diaper pails, and baby wipes. In addition, the company has recently raised funding of INR 40 crores from Private Equity firm, Xponentia Capital Partners. This will help strengthen the company's brand approach, scaling distribution and operations in the domestic market, enhancing the existing product portfolio and introduce new categories of products. The brand is also planning to expand in Nepal and Bhutan in the coming time. R for Rabbit is a team of young professionals dedicated to making the parenting experience wonderfully simpler and amazingly easier. The brand provides a diverse range of baby products that are developed by putting in special focus and understanding to the needs of both, the parents and the child. R for Rabbit works with the goal of providing babies with the best products, safe technologies and a comfortable lifestyle for their healthy development. Since 2014, R for Rabbit has grown its business across platforms, and in the coming years the company expects to invest in various new product categories. Recently, the company raised Series A funding from Private Equity Firm Xponentia Capital Partners. This story is provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/NewsVoir)
New Delhi [India], April 12 (ANI/TPT): One of India's well-known celebrity hairstylists, Seema Mane, is all set to launch her hair academy and studio. The hair academy and studio is aimed at teaching the art of hairdressing to young people who want to make a successful career in the makeup industry. With the launch of her maiden hair academy and studio, she envisions providing the finest of hairstyling and dressing services under one roof. The academy will be open to anyone and everyone and will have a plethora of hairdressing courses for beginners as well as experienced ones who want to further enhance their skills. The soon-to-be-launched hair academy and studio will also teach students the basics of hairdressing including innovative color techniques and styling as well as focusing on delivering personalized consultation and experience. Upon completion of the course, the academy will also be providing students with the respective course certificates. From teaching the art of Haircut to teaching Hair Color Techniques, from Men's Grooming to Hair Extension, Color Correction, Perming, and Straightening, Seema, through her hair academy and studio, wants to provide education and skills regarding the realm of hairdressing. Talking about her dream project of opening her own hair academy and studio, Seema Mane stated, "I am very much excited to finally announce the launch of my dream project. Having gained proficiency in the hairdressing and styling segment, I now want to teach the young enthusiastic students about the art of hairdressing and the aspects involved in it. The reason for this is because I see young students are very much passionate about the makeup and grooming industry and at the same time, the sector has been booming and there are good future prospects. I would also like to take this opportunity to urge young students to take up their dream and assure them that they will have complete knowledge about the realm once they have completed their respective courses." Seema Mane, who has expertise in the realm of hairstyling has also worked with numerous A-listers Bollywood Actress like Taapsee Pannu, Kiara Advani, Tabu, Madhuri Dixit, Alia Bhatt, Parineeti Chopra, and Kriti Kharbanda. Further, apart from working on Movie Projects, the celebrity hairstylist has also styled hair for numerous photo shoots, press releases, and other events. Through her hair academy and studio, she wants to contribute to building the much-required infrastructure for providing education regarding hairstyling and grooming tips. This story is provided by TPT. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/TPT)
Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], April 12 (ANI/Hunk Golden and Media): Tynimo, a Bengaluru-based lifestyle retail brand has been successfully running Tynimo Store on Wheels since March 2022 in Bengaluru. Tynimo Store on Wheels is a unique concept launched by Tynimo to reach out to the customers directly during the third wave of the pandemic when the customers were finding it difficult to visit the stores. In the challenging times, brand Tynimo innovated itself to have a laser-sharp focus on deepening customer engagement. Tynimo Store on Wheels is an extension of the company's customer service commitment. The smart store which is aptly called "Tyni Space Mo Love" operates out of a vibrantly designed van retailing array of products and travelling across the city. Tynimo Store on Wheels has been extremely well received by the loyal customer base with an overwhelming response and has already visited over a dozen large housing complexes in Bengaluru. Tynimo Store on Wheels offers 17-plus categories of products, price ranging between Rs.60 - Rs.3000. The store has covered over 12 apartments, spread across 7 locations within Bangalore, reaching about more 5000-plus customers at their doorsteps. Tynimo looks forward to spreading across its store on wheels at most of the tier-1 cities in the coming months, normalizing reliability, and affordability from the comfort of homes. A visibly excited Vaibhav Jain, Founder, Tynimo spoke about this radical concept, "With Tynimo Store on Wheels, we are bringing exclusive and quality retail experience to our customers. Our aim is to increase our availability and accessibility making it easier for our customers to enjoy shopping at the comfort of their doorstep. Following all the necessary hygiene and safety protocols, while regulating crowds and maintaining social distances, Tynimo Store on Wheels is fully safe for consumers to visit. We have piloted in Bengaluru so far and will take Tynimo Store on Wheels to other cities too. With this new initiative, we are determined to reach and address the needs of customers anywhere anytime." Vaibhav further added that, "Our mini vehicles beautifully display the products making it very attractive for our customers to shop. The products are directly delivered to their homes making it very convenient. We have observed that shopping at Tynimo Store on Wheels has become a regular family ritual and we look forward to serving them better. We will continue to introduce special initiatives and offers to ensure ease of purchase. This will certainly encourage a good customer connect and business continuity." Tynimo focuses on blending the immeasurable shopping experience with unrivalled quality. The merchandise is innovative & made for fashionable souls. The aim is to create a fan army who would cherish the brand for what they do and eventually become the brand representatives. Tynimo has been Integrating Indian products in their offerings, to spread awareness about diverse innovations that take place locally in India. Also, the choice of promoting more eco-friendly & organic products for the sake of a greener Earth. Tynimo, a part of Hansum India group was started as a response to other international lifestyle brands from Japan and China. Founded by Vaibhav Jain, Tynimo offers over 17 categories of products ranging from home decor to Indian handicrafts that are sourced globally and locally. With a brand philosophy of 'tiny store, more products, high-quality products at affordable prices', each Tynimo store has an eclectic collection of products ranging from Rs.60 to Rs.10,000 catering to value-conscious consumers. Apart from lifestyle products, Tynimo has a curated range of Indian Handicrafts directly sourced from Indian Artisans. Tynimo has over 7 stores spread across Bengaluru and Mumbai, including an exclusive store at Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, Mumbai, and an international presence in Bhutan. Over the next one year, Tynimo plans to launch 20-30 stores across India. As a part of their expansion plan, Tynimo is inviting applications for the Franchise model. For further information, please visit: www.tynimo.com Instagram - @tynimostore Facebook - @Tynimoindia For further media queries, please contact: Sonia Kulkarni | Hunk Golden and Media 9820184099 | sonia.kulkarni@hunkgolden.in This story is provided by Hunk Golden and Media. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/Hunk Golden and Media)
Chandigarh (Punjab) [India] April 12 (ANI/PNN): 'The Wellness City' - coming up on the Chandigarh-Patiala road and nestled in serene natural landscape - is aimed as a residential real estate complex with a difference, offering an environment well blended with spiritual grandeur and world class facilities. It is being developed by Prime Land Promoters and Builders (PLPB) and recently hosted the 'Mahasatsang' of Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, founder of Art of Living (AOL). Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar also unveiled the logo 'The Wellness City' in the august presence of UT Chandigarh Administrator and Punjab Governor Banwari Lal Purohit. Helmed by Sumit Singla, a young Director of PLPB and Lohit Bansal, also a Director with PLPB and AOL teacher, 'The Wellness City' when fully operational will have an Art of Living Ashram, the largest one in north India. It will be spread across 20 acres of land in a lush green area equipped with a meditation hall, an international school, Ayurveda College and many other features. PLPB is proud to be associated with the Art of Living (AOL) and in bringing the Ashram to the region. The Ashram is a part of 'The Wellness City' by PLPB being built up by seeking inspiration from the 5 elements of life - water, earth, fire, water and the soul which is envisaged as an oasis of tranquility and wellness. Being designed by top International architects with bioclimatic architecture, 'The Wellness City' is being designed for physical, social, intellectual and spiritual wellness for denizens across the country. The Ashram apart, 'The Wellness City' will have a sprawling 90 acres area, uniquely designed with ample access to natural light, clean air, and abundant and diverse nature. "'The Wellness City' will be a unique kind of project. It will have a central plaza driveway for access and an integrated pedestrian walkway through the entire community with overhead bridges for safe access. There will be a separate network for pedestrian and traffic flow," says Sumit Singla. According to Lohit Bansal, 'The Wellness City' will offer sustainable living with ample heating, ventilation and cooling facilities along with efficient rainwater harvesting provision. The entire project is energy friendly with low power consumption. It is noteworthy that PLPB, a young real estate developer, believes in delivering environmentally responsible and sustainable projects for communities and is taking the vision of AOL ahead through 'The Wellness City'. "PLPB is dedicated towards delivering the most ingenious and ground breaking projects to elevate the community," adds Sumit. "The Wellness City is driven by the philosophy of Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, who says that true wellness is not just about physical fitness. Mental and emotional happiness is equally important. To raise one's happiness quotient, one should be ready to serve others," says Lohit Bansal. To quote Punjab Governor Banwari Lal Purohit: "We are happy that a centre is being built in Punjab which will be a central place for service projects and meditation programs for the entire northern India apart from being a world class residential complex dipped in the elixir of divinity." 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 12 (ANI/NewsVoir): With the increase of conscious consumers in India; kindlife, a new age beauty and wellness ecosystem, launched their first brand 2BeKynd on 12th April, 2022. Built on kind brands, 2BeKynd is a premium and non-toxic hygiene range that promises to be the most gentle and effective. The portfolio of products include a hand sanitizer, hand wash, deodorant and hand cream. "Hygiene industry globally is valued at USD 500+ billion and is projected to reach USD 700+ billion by 2030. It is estimated to grow exponentially in the next 3 years. For example, just the hand wash category, specifically, will grow by 40%," says Radhika Ghai, Founder & CEO, kindlife. "With a population of 472 million, Generation Z in India is the largest in the world. No one is talking to them in their language," says Radhika. "We see a huge gap in daily essentials for gen Z - if it doesn't look good, smell good, while being super effective, it won't be a part of their daily lifestyle. Purpose is very important to Gen Z and a key driver while making purchase decisions." The first product, 2BeKynd hand sanitizer, is made with 70% Natural Ethyl Alcohol and essential oils. Unlike, other sanitizers, 2BeKynd, is a hydrating, calming/refreshing and kind to the user. The bottle is reusable, with refills being available shortly. Available in Lavender and Peppermint variants, the products are toxin-free and cruelty-free. Early research suggests that 90% consumers found it gentler and softer than regular sanitizers; and 95% said it smells better, a key factor while making purchase decisions. Currently available only on 2BeKynd.com and kindlife, the brand is expanding to other online and offline channels internationally soon. Priced at Rs. 399 for 2 bottles, the bottle is reusable, with refills being available shortly. kindlife kindlife.in is a new age beauty and wellness ecosystem enabling commerce, community, and brands. The platform has 200+ kind brands in clean beauty, nutrition, and home care that are kindcode approved - they are either plant based, organic, toxin-free, eco-conscious or cruelty-free. kindlife also has thriving community of conscientious consumers, well-being experts, and fitness enthusiasts. The promise is simple - no toxins, no trash, no trolls. 2BeKynd 2BeKynd is a hygiene brand with a range of products focussed on providing highly effective yet gentle everyday essentials. Made with natural, toxin-free and cruelty-free ingredients, the brand promises to be kind to you and the environment without compromising on premium quality. kindlife: www.kindlife.in 2BeKynd: www.2bekynd.com 2BeKynd's Instagram: www.instagram.com/2bekynd/ Campaign Film: www.youtube.com/watch?v=9sRgc5hXsUw. This story is provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/NewsVoir)
Dehradun (Uttarakhand) [India], April 12 (ANI/PR Newswire): Founders Shikha Prakash and Robin Nagar were appalled when they discovered that farmers in Uttarakhand were walking miles downhill to barter 5 kg Ghee for 5 kg salt because of pure innocence and sheer ignorance. Hoping to make an impact on the lives of these farmers and also build a healthy sustainable lifestyle they created "Valley Culture". An Agritech Startup based out of Dehradun, which works with farmers from across the state, ensuring fair prices & supplying pure, traditional and wholesome farm produce to the world. Currently, with their offline presence at Taj Rishikesh, Ananda's in the Himalayas, Hyatt Regency Dehradun, Greenr Cafe and many more and retailing the Valley Culture range online from Amazon and their own website. Consumers have been raving about the Valley Culture Jungle honey, Cultured ghee, Traditional Jaggery powder and many more products. Shikha, who hails from a rich legacy of Ayurveda practitioners and as a 3rd generation Vaidya is pained that the traditional highly nourishing food systems of Uttarakhand are fast vanishing and being replaced by Maggi and Momos. Shikha adds, "Most lifestyle diseases like Diabetes are a factor of wrong food choices, which are being pushed our way as a result of modern-day marketing through FMCG giants and social media influencers." Having travelled the world and hailing from a very successful yet demanding stint in hospitality, Robin has himself battled Thyroid as a result of the lifestyle choices he made stemming from stressful work culture, while living and travelling between London, Japan, the USA and Hong Kong. Choosing to take a break and return to his roots with a decision to live slow, Robin travelled to Dehradun in 2018 and reconnected with a long time family friend Shikha. Using his passion for photography and movie making, he moved and documented life around the city, only to discover the plight of the farmers and the impact of migration & he decided to team up with Shikha, and they created Valley Culture in 2019. Persevering to build trust and relationship with farmers, it took overcoming a lot of hurdles, apprehensions and doubts for 3 farmers to associate with them. Valley Culture now works with over 4000 farmers across the state of Uttarakhand of which the majority are women and in that giving hope and a lifeline to more than 600 widows. As any startup, Robin and Shikha learnt the ropes by working consistently for the last 3+ years with persistent efforts and trials and errors, till they were finally able to create an initial range of products. Incubated at Runway, an incubation program at UPES, powered by India Network, Valley Culture has raised their seed round of funding at a valuation of Rs.2 Crores. They plan to build a complete Farm to fork ecosystem, to help Himalayan farmers get better prices, build market linkages & direct access to customers. Also, they are steadfast and determined to promote a healthy lifestyle by reviving the traditional foods of Uttarakhand. Their target is Rs.100 Crores turnover in the next 18 months and impacts at least 1 million Farmer's Lives. Links: https://valleycultureindia.com/ This story is provided by PRNewswire. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/PR Newswire)
Biopharmaceutical firm Bharat Serums and Vaccines Limited (BSV) on Tuesday said it would invest Rs 200 crore in the development of injectable and vaccine manufacturing facility at Genome Valley, India's first organised cluster for Life Sciences R&D and clean manufacturing activities. The facility will produce women health products, rabies vaccines, immunoglobulins, hormones, among others. Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Bharat Serums and Vaccines Limited Sanjiv Navangul met Telangana's Minister for Industry and Commerce KT Rama Rao to discuss the investment plan, according to a statement released by Bharat Serums and Vaccines Limited. "I and delighted to announce the entry of Bharat Serums in Genome Valley, Hyderabad. Telangana is known as the 'Vaccine Capital of the World' and Life Sciences capital of the Country. Entry of Bharat Serums Vaccines further highlights the strength of the life sciences sector in our state," Rao was quoted as saying in the press statement released by the company. "The Government of Telangana will extend all the support required by Bharat Serums and will also partner with BSV in areas like improving women's health," the minister said. (ANI)
Nagpur (Maharashtra) [India], April 12 (ANI/NewsVoir): Grameen Impact Ventures (GIV), in collaboration with MasterCard Technologies, today announced the launch of Grameen Kisan Connect (GKC), a significant initiative toward the digitalization of agriculture value chains in India. Agriculture and allied services account for 18 per cent of India's GDP and over half of all the employment in the country. Yet, the smallholder farmers, accounting for three-fourths of all the farmers, suffer due to inefficiencies in the agricultural supply chain, resulting in lack of market access, barriers in access to quality inputs at competitive prices and low return on investment on them. The Grameen Kisan Connect (GKC) platform is a complete digital ecosystem powered by MasterCard Technologies. It brings together primary producers of agricultural commodities, input suppliers, commodity buyers, agro-processors, logistics providers, agricultural credit providers, farmer producer organizations and digital agricultural advisory service providers. GIV will connect at least one million farmers to the digital ecosystem of GKC by leveraging the network of digitally connected grassroots women entrepreneurs called 'Grameen Mittras'. This network of over 1,600 women entrepreneurs is spread across 16 districts in the Vidarbha region of Maharashtra, Eastern Uttar Pradesh and Central Bihar. Speaking on the occasion of launch of this platform, Prabhat Labh, Founder and CEO of Grameen Impact Ventures said, "Launch of the GKC platform in collaboration with MasterCard Technologies will help in fulfilling an important goal of GIV, which is, to make farming more profitable for the smallholder farmers. By leveraging this digital ecosystem, the farmers will reduce their input costs by benefiting from transparency in input supply, fetch a better price for their produce by having access to a much larger range of buyers on the digital platform and access high-quality crop advisory services." Smallholder farmers in India face enormous challenges and high operating costs due to inefficiencies in agriculture supply chains, lack of awareness about value-addition and advisory services and other market imperfections. The Grameen Kisan Connect platform will address these challenges smallholder farmers face, especially women, in improving access to finance, technology, agriculture inputs and market for their produce with the ultimate objective of increasing farmers' incomes. Grameen Impact Ventures (GIV) is a Social Business promoted by Grameen Foundation India with the purpose of empowering low-income rural people, especially women, small holder farmers and micro and small businesses. GIV manages a network of digitally enabled women entrepreneurs called 'Grameen Mittras' who bring a range of curated financial, agricultural and livelihoods related products and services to under-served rural areas in eastern Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Vidarbha region in Maharashtra. Grameen Foundation India, the promoter of GIV, has a mission to enable the poor, especially women, overcome poverty and hunger. In the last 12 years, working in partnership with leading development organizations, Grameen has directly impacted over 1.5 million people, primarily low-income women in rural areas through its programs. This story is provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/NewsVoir)
The signatories to the project readiness financing (PRF) for the proposed Nagaland Urban Infrastructure Development Project were Rajat Kumar Mishra, Additional Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs in the Ministry of Finance who signed for the Government of India, and Takeo Konishi, Country Director of ADB's India Resident Mission who signed for ADB, according to a statement released by ADB.

"The ADB financing will ensure high readiness of the ensuing project through preparing an urban sector strategy, undertaking feasibility studies and detailed engineering designs of selected subprojects and building capacity of state level agencies in project implementation, resource mobilization and anchoring reforms," said Konishi.

The PRF loan will help design water supply, sanitation, solid waste management and urban roads in 16 district headquarter towns of Nagaland with climate resilient features and improved access to poor and vulnerable.

Capacity building of state agencies will help augment own-resource mobilisation by urban local bodies (ULBs), improve their readiness for implementing the ensuing project and initiating sector and institutional reforms, the statement said. (ANI)
New Delhi [India], April 12 (ANI/NewsVoir): Indus Action, a public policy do tank, brought together policy stakeholders across sectors to discuss the perspectives of Samaaj, Sarkaar, and Bazaar (Society/Community, Government, and Markets) and develop a shared vision and ownership of better public services for vulnerable citizens. The 3-day event featured participation from key opinion leaders, including Mahua Moitra, Member of the Lok Sabha, Rohini Nilekani, Head of Rohini Nilekani Philanthropies (RNP), and P Thiaga Rajan, Finance Minister of Tamil Nadu, and many others, who discussed possible solutions to improve last-mile delivery of welfare schemes, so that vulnerable citizens don't have to run from pillar to post for their rightful entitlements. This is Indus Action's first initiative to build the congregation of an active Samaaj and to create a platform for various stakeholders to work together towards shared development goals such as agency, voice, democracy, liberty, dignity, equality, fraternity, justice, etc., and their ensuing process pathways. The purpose is to see each other as active citizens and to understand how welfare works together as a whole system. "To me, empathy and creativity are the two most important words when it comes to making change through Samaaj organizations. The shrinking of identities to narrow communities can benefit the Bazaar and Sarkaar components, but one must take a step back and co-create the good governance that we want for a better Samaaj. This may seem idealistic, but this human project can be executed through small actions towards a larger social goal with a feeling of hope and belief," added Rohini Nilekani, Head of Rohini Nilekani Philanthropies (RNP). While Mahua Moitra, Member of the Lok Sabha, agreed, she said, "While empathy is an important part of Sarkaar, it does not replace good governance in terms of creating and implementing policies. The Sarkaar and Bazaar must relate and listen to beneficiaries and devise policy accordingly. Also, given that half of the population consists of women, welfare systems must create a more female-focused delivery policy." She spoke at length about the Duare Sarkar initiative of the West Bengal state government as an example, as it aims to deliver specific schemes at the doorsteps of the people through outreach camps organized at the level of gram panchayat and municipal ward level. "Improving data collection system is the need of the hour to help the future generations," she added. Building on this, Tamil Nadu Finance Minister P Thiaga Rajan said that, "To track the progress of welfare measures, we will leverage a lot of data, but chances are it will intrude on citizens' privacy. We are trying to create a fine balance between ensuring privacy is not breached and getting the necessary information for the efficient delivery of welfare schemes." He also shared thoughts on how governments must make larger institutional changes to ensure that schemes reach the bottom of the pyramid, such as the TN government's recent budget, which allocated Rs. 4,816 crores for various social security pension schemes; and proposed direct cash transfer of Rs. 1,000/month for girl students pursuing higher education, by moving away from the "Thalikku Thangam Thittam" marriage assistance scheme. Through these examples, he emphasised that the mark of a good government is how it overcomes structural flaws in the policy and moves to a beneficiary-based ecosystem instead of a department-based ecosystem. "Currently, one billion Indians are vulnerable to poverty traps for at least 15 generations if current inequalities persist. To achieve the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 1 of zero poverty before 2047, Samaaj-Sarkaar-Bazaar must come together," says Tarun Cherukuri, CEO, Indus Action. Indus Action recognises that citizens have a fundamental desire to be seen and heard. It also strives every day to achieve a good society, an active Samaaj, that actualizes the value promises enshrined in constitutions, policies, and social contracts. Through this collaborative initiative, Indus Action hoped to introduce the concept of building communities that foster solidarity, create a sense of belonging, and prioritise that which unites us as Indians. Indus Action is a New Delhi-based public policy 'do-tank' that builds civic-tech solutions and mobilizes communities to enable policy implementation. Its mission is to help vulnerable families in India get sustainable access to legislated rights, including education, healthcare, and social security. Their vision is to lift 1 million vulnerable families out of poverty by 2025. For more information, please visit www.indusaction.org. This story is provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/NewsVoir)
New Delhi [India] April 12 (ANI/NewsVoir): This March, Creators Gram celebrated its one-year anniversary. This bootstrapped startup founded by marketing enthusiast Gaurav Jain crossed 1 million USD revenue within 9 months of its operations in India. They have also successfully achieved INR 1 crore Monthly Recurring Revenue (MRR) within 1 year of its inception. Creators Gram is on a fast track to set up pop-up creator spaces across the country to bring brands and influencers closer and provide better production services too. Educating creators about monetising their online presence with brand collaborations, creating NFTs and Digital IPs will be a key focus in the coming year. They'll be aiming at augmenting one-of-its-kind Creator led Brands, building a strong and tight-knit creator community, and creating collaboration synergy. With a vision to change the way businesses speak, listen and share online, the company started with a team of three and now employs more than 40 professionals working with creators, influencers, celebrities and brands, delivering high-quality content and nurturing talent. Since March 2021, Creators Gram has welcomed over 800 influencers into their creator community and given them a chance to share their creative vision with their multitude of followers. Commenting on the growth, Gaurav Jain, Founder of Creators Gram said, "With the rise in short-form content, the need to educate Creators about the creator economy, brand development and collaborations has also increased. Being a Creator myself, I started on this journey of creating a community where each creator finds a voice that is unique and sustainable in this dynamically changing industry." The platform has created a perfect symphony between creators and brands and is now associated with over 85 well established diverse brands in such a short period. The agency has spearheaded the execution of impactful campaigns for brands like Hirect, Glance, CoinDCX, toothsi, Tinder, Reliance, RPG Group and many more. Creators Gram has been actively engaged in scaling programs for various social media platforms. By delivering services like Influencer Marketing, Social Media Marketing, Creative Problem-Solving, Business Strategy Consultation, Video Production and Talent Management, coupled with an in-depth understanding of the brand's vision and comprehensive research, Creators Gram builds cost-effective campaigns that shine in the digital space. Dr Pratha Poddar, Marketing Partner at toothsi & skinnsi has been associated with the company for a long time, with great confidence in their marketing campaigns. She commented, "Creators Gram was great to work with-professional and true to their word. We ended up doing a long term campaign with their creator Shivam Malik which was a big success. Looking forward to a deeper association with them in the future." For the upcoming year, the platform has chalked an all-encompassing multidimensional growth plan, to sustain its aggressive momentum and expand its business portfolio. "Looking at the current growth in the market, Creators Gram estimates revenue of 4 million USD by the end of the financial year 2022-23. With the plans of global expansion, setting up multiple creator pop-up spaces and creator-led brands will be a key focus moving forward, enabling a change in the way influencers have been dealt with in businesses and other collaborations," Jain added. Invigorating sustainable, meaningful relationships with clients, creators and brands are just what Creators Gram delivers, with its team of specialists and their vast experience. To learn more about Creators Gram, please visit: www.creatorsgram.online. Creators Gram, a unit of Socio Influx Private Limited, is one of the fastest-growing 360-degree full-service influencer marketing agencies in the country. Headquartered in New Delhi, it aims to enable companies and influencers to grow their businesses efficiently and inspire their audiences through creative campaigns and at the same time, delivering higher RoI to the brands. This story is provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/NewsVoir)
"World GDP at market exchange rates is expected to grow by 2.8% in 2022, down 1.3 percentage points from the previous forecast of 4.1%. Growth should pick up to 3.2% in 2023, close to the average rate of 3.0% between 2010 and 2019," the report said.

The decline in the GDP of countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), excluding Ukraine, will be 7.9% this year, with regional imports expected to drop 12% as a result.

CIS exports, on the other hand, will not be affected by the crisis in Ukraine, the WTO said.

"Exports should grow by 4.9% as other countries continue to rely on Russian energy," the report read.

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/Sputnik)
Photo: Noel Zihabamwe's two missing brothers - Antoine Zihabamwe (left) and Jean Nsengimana (right)

This article was originally published in German. The author, Andrea Barron translated it to English for non-German speakers to read this important story. The original article in Germany can be found on this link: https://gewaltsames-verschwindenlassen.de/laenderberichte/afrika/ruanda/...

In Rwanda and Uganda, voices critical of the government are systematically silenced - including by the violent disappearance of the critics. In other cases, their family members disappear without a trace. For this article, the author spoke to those affected in both countries.

Andrea Barron, Torture Abolition and Survivors Support Coalition (TASSC) International, April 07, 2022 (Translation from English: Kristina Stier)

Enforced disappearances first came to the attention of the broader international public during the military dictatorships in Latin America in the 1970s and 1980s. In Argentina, the mothers of the disappeared regularly gathered in front of the Presidential Palace in Buenos Aires, becoming known as the Madres de la Plaza de Mayo. Since 1977, they have become a symbol of resistance to enforced disappearance and the demand for the truth about the whereabouts of the disappeared.

Enforced disappearance is defined in the International Convention for the Protection of all Persons from Enforced Disappearance (ICPPED), which came into force in 2010, as the arrest, detention, abduction or any other form of deprivation of liberty by agents of the State or by persons or groups of persons acting with the authorization, support or acquiescence of the State, followed by a refusal to acknowledge the deprivation of liberty, or by concealment of the fate or whereabouts of the disappeared person, which place such a person outside the protection of the law.

The reasons behind enforced disappearances are varied. The aim is often to intimidate and silence the voices of political dissidents or those deemed to be dissidents. Armed non-state actors are also sometimes involved, victims are frequently tortured and killed --few ever reappear. Family members often do not receive any information about what happened to the missing person - they are left in a state of uncertainty, not knowing whether their loved ones are even alive, unable to bury their relatives or begin the grieving process. Once a common practice in military dictatorships, people are now being systematically disappeared in both authoritarian and formally democratic systems, such as Mexico.

The International Convention obliges the contracting states, among other things, to search for the missing person, investigate the circumstances of the disappearance, appropriately punish those responsible and take measures to prevent the crime. So far, the Convention has only been ratified by 68 states (as of April 1, 2022), including 18 countries in Africa.

Two East African countries, Rwanda and Uganda, have not yet ratified the Convention. Enforced disappearances have been reported regularly from both countries.

Rwanda

Paul Kagame has been President of Rwanda since 2000. His rebels ended the 1994 genocide that killed more than 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus. Rwanda has since turned into a de facto centralized dictatorship. Since 1994, scores of government critics, including former members of the ruling Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) party, political opposition leaders and genocide survivors, have been imprisoned and there have been reports of enforced disappearances. The UN Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances (WGEID) is currently investigating around 25 cases of enforced disappearances in Rwanda.

One such case was reported by Noel Zihabamwe, a Rwandan human rights activist who arrived in Australia as a refugee in 2006. His two brothers, Jean Nsengimana and Antoine Zihabamwe, disappeared on September 28, 2019 after Noel rejected an "offer" from the Rwandan government to spy on the Rwandan diaspora in Australia. As reported by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation , Rwanda has a network of agents across Australia collecting information about the refugee community.

Noel's brothers, Jean and Antoine, were both married with children and were not involved in any political activity. Their disappearance has had a severe psychological and financial impact on their families. As Noel tells the Torture Abolition and Survivors Support Coalition (TASSC) International, an anti-torture human rights organization based in Washington DC, he and his brothers' wives and children have "lived in a climate of uncertainty and great fear" ever since. He adds: The children keep asking where their fathers are. No one can give them an answer. If my brothers had been murdered and we found their bodies, at least we could bury them with dignity and have a memorial service for them every year.

In order to represent the families of Rwandans who have disappeared from the Kagame regime, Noel founded the Rwandan Accountability Initiative: an organization that  like similar initiatives in Latin America, Asia, the Middle East and Europe  works to ensure justice for the relatives of the disappeared. His organization represents a new kind of initiative in sub-Saharan Africa. Since his case became public, hundreds of people have reached out to Noel.

A similar fate befell Innocent Bahatibefell Innocent Bahati, a prominent young poet and teacher who was disappeared in February 2021 after publishing poetry on sensitive issues such as poverty and state oppression. Over 100 writers and artists then wrote a letter to President Kagame asking about what happened to Innocent. Rwandan authorities did not respond.

According to Claude Gatebuke, a well-known human rights activist and genocide survivor now based in the United States, there have been other disappearances of Rwandan dissidents. However, so far they have received less international attention than the cases of Innocent Bahati and Noel Zihabamwe's brothers.

Uganda

In Uganda, north of Rwanda, people were systematically kidnapped, tortured and enforced disappearances before, during and after the presidential election of January 14, 2021. President Yoweri Museveni came to power in a military coup in 1986. Now 77, he rules the country with an iron fist, relying on the security forces to repress opposition supporters, often with violence. As reported in Human Rights Watch's recent report, "I Only Need Justice," Unlawful Detention and Abuse in Unauthorized Places of Detention in Uganda, the kidnappings began in 2018 and increased dramatically with the January 2021 elections. The election was particularly controversial as Museveni had a strong challenger - Robert Kyagulanyi, a popular musician who became a politician. He is also known by the stage name Bobi Wine.

State agents have kidnapped hundreds of government critics and opposition supporters. The agents abduct people from their homes or workplaces in unmarked vehicles called drones and take them to so-called "safe houses," where they are illegally detained, interrogated and often tortured.

The kidnapping and torture operations in Uganda are directed by the domestic intelligence agency. The head of this agency was recently was appointed as Uganda's ambassador to Angola for his "good work.

Human rights defender and torture survivor Ismael Serunjogi fears that repression in Uganda could increase this year despite all the international attention on human rights abuses there. This is so Museveni can prepare his son Muhoozi Kainerugaba, a major general in the Ugandan army, to replace him. In order to facilitate Kainerugaba's transition, Museveni must silence as many opposition supporters as possible.

Appeal to the international community

Human rights activists such as Ismael from Uganda and Noel and Claude from Rwanda are calling on the international community to pressure the governments of these countries to end kidnapping, torture and enforced disappearances. The two countries must ratify the International Convention against Enforced Disappearance and hold accountable those who seek to silence dissident voices and threaten brave human rights defenders and their families.

Andrea Barron is Advocacy Program Manager at the Torture Abolition and Survivors Support Coalition (TASSC ) International, a Washington DC-based human rights organization working against torture that empowers torture survivors, their families and communities.
Riddhima, who resides in Delhi, was spotted arriving at the Mumbai airport with her husband Bharat Sahni and her daughter Samara Sahni.

Riddhima was photographed wearing a camouflaged outfit paired with a black denim jacket and a green textured handbag. Bharat and Samara, both sported casual outfits.

Reportedly, the highly-anticipated wedding will be a 4-day-long affair at the RK house. The functions are expected to start from April 13 onwards with the Mehendi ceremony, followed by a Sangeet ceremony on the next day and finally the wedding on April 15.

While the couple has remained tight-lipped about their wedding details, Ranbir's Krishna Raj bungalow and the Kapoor family's RK Studio have already been decorated with bright lights.

Earlier, on Monday, a car was spotted at Ranbir's house and it was loaded with Sabyasachi outfits apparently for the bride and groom.

Alia and Ranbir began dating on the sets of their upcoming Ayan Mukerji directorial 'Brahmastra'. (ANI)
Karnataka Health Minister K. Sudhakar urged people on Monday to ensure that all their vaccination doses are completed at the earliest after a meeting with the Covid-19 technical advisory committee (TAC) amid a rise in cases of the XE variant of Covid-19 in some foreign countries. Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Sudhakar said that there is an increase in cases of the XE variant in eight countries, including China, Hong Kong, South Korea, the UK and Germany. After the meeting, Sudhakar said that the TAC has suggested thermal screening, strict surveillance, and mandatory quarantine for a period of 7-10 days for passengers arriving from these eight countries. The state government will soon release guidelines regarding this. Additionally, Sudhakar urged people to wear masks, stating that IIT Kanpur has predicted another Coivd wave around June and July. "A total of 4.77 crore (98 per cent) people under the 60+ category have taken the second dose of Covid-19 vaccine and only 49 per cent of people have taken their precautionary dose. I urge everyone to please complete all the doses," Sudhakar said. He said that in the 15-17 age group, 25,11,407 people out of 30,00,000 have taken the vaccine, amounting to 79 per cent, and only 65 per cent have taken the second dose. Among the 12-14 age group, only 13,96,000 children have received the vaccine out of 20,00,000 amounting to 69 per cent. He urged parents to have their children vaccinated. As there are no vaccines for young kids, Sudhakar said that 5,000 children will be tested across the state as per the recommendation of the TAC. "We have received complaints of some hospitals overcharging for vaccines. The government will not tolerate this. A high-level meeting has been held and a committee has been formed in this regard," he said. --IANS mka/arm ( 317 Words) 2022-04-11-23:00:04 (IANS)
Indian Ambassador Devyani Khobragade, along with representatives from the Embassies of Australia, Japan and US to Cambodia, jointly handed over a consignment of 325,000 doses of made in India Covishield vaccines to Prime Minister, Hun Sen, at the Peace Palace in Phnom Penh.

The vaccines have been gifted by India as part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's commitment to donate 500,000 doses of Covid vaccines to the Indo-Pacific under the Quad vaccine initiative.

The Quad Vaccine Partnership was announced by the Quad Leaders at their first Summit on March 12, 2021, aiming to leverage Quad's collective strength to ensure global availability of safe and effective vaccines by expanding manufacturing and assisting countries in the Indo-Pacific with vaccination. Quad countries agreed to provide over 1.2 billion doses of Covid vaccines globally under this initiative.

Quad countries have collectively so far provided Cambodia with close to five million Covid vaccine doses bilaterally and through Covax. Australia and Japan have provided cold storage equipment, freezers and temperature monitors along with equipment for safety of health care workers.

The Cambodian government has conveyed its appreciation for the vaccines received from Quad through India and for its collective assistance to Cambodia.

--IANS avr/vd

( 229 Words)

2022-04-12-20:54:03 (IANS)
The authorities ran the bulldozer over about 45 houses and shops. Around 16 houses and 29 shops were demolished on Monday.

Pawan Sharma, Divisional Commissioner of Indore said, "Khargone administration has decided to demolish the properties of stone pelters during the Ram Navami procession. Police have brought the situation under control. 84 accused have been arrested. Curfew has been imposed in Khargone."

As many as four houses and three shops near Mohan Talkies, 12 houses and 10 shops in Khaskhas Badi area, three shops in Aurangpura area and 12 shops in Talaab Chowk were demolished. Approximately 16 illegal sites were demolished near Ganesh Temple in Khargone.

The incident took place on Sunday when several people, including police personnel, were injured in a Ram Navami procession after a group of people pelted stones at each other. The stone-pelting started at the very beginning of the procession leaving around four people injured including a police inspector, police said.

After the miscreants set four houses on fire, the administration imposed a curfew in Talab Chowk, Gaushala Marg, and Motipura areas.

Chief Minister Chouhan condemned the act and termed it "unfortunate". He said that the damages caused to public and private assets will be recovered from rioters.(ANI)
As the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probing the cattle and coal smuggling cases in West Bengal is not quite sure when it will get to question Trinamool Congress strongman Anubrata Mondal in this matter, the central agency sleuths, in the interim period, are putting together all the circumstantial evidence accumulated by them about Mandal's involvement in the matter. CBI sources in Kolkata told IANS that the principal medium for putting together the circumstantial evidence against Mondal is the evidence relating to the communications of Mondal with those already arrested or accused in the cattle smuggling cases. Some diaries or notebooks seized by the sleuths, which have references to Mondal are also crucial on this count. Mondal, the Trinamool Congress's Birbhum district president, was supposed to reach the CBI office in Kolkata on April 6 morning. However, on that day, instead of reaching the CBI office, he went straight to the SSKM Medical College & Hospital complaining of chest and stomach problems. The hospital authorities admitted him. On that day, Mondal, through his counsels, communicated to the CBI that the agency sleuths could question him at the hospital subject to the permission of the medical board. However, on April 8, the SSKM authorities informed the CBI that Mondal was yet to get over his physical complications, leaving no other option for the CBI but to wait. "Since we will have to wait for the appropriate time to question Mondal, in the interim period we are putting together the circumstantial evidence, so that when the questioning time will come there will be no introductory delay," said a CBI official on condition of anonymity. He added that in the cattle smuggling case an important evidence against Mondal will be the statement given to the agency by arrested Trinamool Congress leader, Bikash Mishra and that is why the central agency has again taken Mishra in their own custody from jail custody. Sources said that if necessary both Mishra and Mondal will be questioned together to avoid inconsistencies in statements by any of them. --IANS src/bg ( 355 Words) 2022-04-11-20:24:12 (IANS)
The terrorists have been identified as Tufail Majid Mir, Owais Ahmed Mir and Shabir Ahmed Wagay.

Acting on specific information regarding the movement of terrorists, a special checkpoint was established by police, 22 Rashtriya Rifles (RR) and 179 Battalion of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) near Sunwani bridge Wadoora Bala.

"During checking, the joint party intercepted three persons coming from Wadoora Bala towards Sunwani bridge who on seeing joint Naka party tried to escape from the spot but were apprehended tactfully," it said.

The police recovered incriminating materials of proscribed terror outfit LeT, arms and ammunition including 3 pistols, 3 pistol magazines, 22 pistol rounds, 1 grenade and cash amounting to Rs 79,800 from their possession.

Preliminary investigation has revealed that the arrested persons are hybrid terrorists of proscribed terrorist organisation LeT and were in constant search of an opportunity to carry out attacks on security forces as well as civilians.

Accordingly, a case under relevant sections of law has been registered at Police Station Bomai and an investigation has been initiated.

Further investigation is underway. (ANI)
"One Pakistani terrorist (code name Chacha) and one hybrid terrorist killed. Two police personnel also injured. They are being evacuated to hospital. Encounter going on," Jammu and Kashmir police tweeted quoting Inspector General Police, Vijay Kumar.

The firefight between the terrorists and security forces took place after the 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 the terrorists were hiding, they came under heavy fire that triggered the encounter.

--IANS zi/sks/bg

( 141 Words)

2022-04-11-20:31:30 (IANS)
Two deputy chief ministers of Adityanath, Keshav Prasad Maurya and Brajesh Pathak were also present during the meeting with President Kovind and Prime Minister Modi.

This was first meeting of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Adityanath and his deputies with President Kovind and Prime Minister Modi after formation of government in the state last month.

In a tweet, the President said: "Yogi Adityanath, Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, along with Keshav Prasad Maurya and Brajesh Pathak, Deputy Chief Ministers of Uttar Pradesh, called on President Ram Nath Kovind at Rashtrapati Bhavan."

After meeting, Modi tweeted: "Many issues were discussed concerning progress of state. His strong will towards public interest and national interest will give new dimension to state progress."

Former IAS officer and minister in Uttar Pradesh government, AK Sharma also met Prime Minister Modi.

After the meeting, Sharma tweeted, "Met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi and took his blessing and guidance."

--IANS ssb/pgh

( 186 Words)

2022-04-11-21:18:03 (IANS)
Trinamool Congress General Secretary and party spokesman Kunal Ghosh, considered the latest 'rebel' within the party, on Monday continued with his salvos against a section of the party leadership. Although Ghosh did not name anyone, his fresh salvos on Monday clearly targeted state Commerce and Industries Minister Partha Chatterjee and the party's Birbhum district president, Anubrata Mondal. On Monday afternoon, Ghosh appeared before a lower court in connection with his suicide attempt in November 2014 when he was in jail for his alleged involvement in the Saradha chit fund scam. At that time, Ghosh was a Rajya Sabha member of the Trinamool Congress. In the court, Ghosh first targeted Chatterjee without naming the latter. "The person who highlighted the chit fund entity, ICore, is now a minister. He described me as a lunatic then. He is roaming freely now. He should be thrown behind bars," Ghosh said. To recall, two central probe agencies, the CBI and the ED, have issued a number of summons to Chatterjee in connection with the probe into the ICore scandal. Ghosh's next target was Anubrata Mondal, who is now undergoing treatment at the state-run SSKM Medical College & Hospital. Mondal got admitted to the hospital on April 6, the day when he was supposed to appear before the CBI in connection with the agency's ongoing probe into the cattle and coal smuggling cases in West Bengal. Ghosh said that now several influential persons are undergoing treatment at the Woodburn Ward in SSKM, which is meant for VVIPs. "SSKM's Woodburn Ward is now not a place for treatment but a shelter for supposed prisoners," Ghosh said. Incidentally, the opposition parties of the day describe the Woodburn Ward as a safe home for criminals. The Trinamool leadership appears to be quite embarrassed over these fresh salvos by Ghosh. "Kunal is a state general secretary of the party and also the party spokesman. Hence, he should not say anything that can embarrass the party," said senior Trinamool MLA, Tapas Roy. --IANS src/arm ( 347 Words) 2022-04-11-21:28:02 (IANS)
Despite losing the February 14 Assembly polls in Goa, the election campaign was as exhilarating as his first election he had ever contested in 1984, former Union Finance Minister and senior Congress leader P. Chidambaram said on Monday. Speaking at the installation ceremony of the party's new state president Amit Patkar, the 76-year-old Congress leader, who was the party's senior observer for the Goa Assembly polls, also said that the way the verdict rolled out in March showed that little had changed in Goa despite the heavily charged polls, which saw the BJP emerge as the single largest party. "Last eight-nine months have been an unforgettable experience in my life. I didn't expect to get this opportunity at this stage of my life. But I enjoyed it as much as when I contested my first election in 1984," Chidambaram said at the function. "The first nine months of 1984 were exhilarating. The last nine months have been equally exhilarating and I thank you all for your cooperation, love and affection," the former Union Minister said. Chidambaram was first elected to the Lok Sabha from Sivaganga in Tamil Nadu in 1988. Chidambaram also said that the Congress accepted the verdict by the people of Goa, but added that little had changed in Goa's political landscape, as far as the ruling government was concerned. "Sixty-seven per cent of the voting population voted against the BJP. They voted for change. But those who voted for continuity, voted with a single-minded purpose. Those who voted for change, voted for different parties. Which is why although 67 per cent wanted a change, today you wake up and what do you find, that there's been no change at all," Chidambaram said. "It is like the same actors, same characters staging a different play. In fact, even the pictures don't change, as the same faces are enjoying the same portfolios. But ask yourself one question. Is this the government which is going to bring about a change in Goa," he asked. --IANS maya/arm ( 352 Words) 2022-04-11-21:54:02 (IANS)
Foreign volunteers help fight epidemic in China

Xinhua) 08:43, April 12, 2022

A local resident thanks Farr, a volunteer from New Zealand, for his help in Haikou, capital of south China's Hainan Province, April 10, 2022. As China strengthens its epidemic prevention and control measures in the face of a COVID-19 resurgence, many volunteers including foreigners have joined the anti-epidemic fight. (Xinhua/Guo Cheng)

HAIKOU, April 11 (Xinhua) -- As China strengthens its epidemic prevention and control measures in the face of a COVID-19 resurgence, many volunteers including foreigners have joined the anti-epidemic fight.

In Haikou, capital of south China's Hainan Province, volunteers from different countries, including the United States, New Zealand and Ghana, assisted with anti-epidemic services and made their own contributions to helping the city.

At a nucleic acid testing site in Haikou on Sunday, Tommy from America checked people's temperatures and made sure that they maintained the proper distance.

Having lived in Hainan for 12 years, Tommy speaks fluent Chinese, and even some Hainan dialect, and he now calls himself "new Hainanese."

"Hainan is my second home," he said. "If I can go out and help out, if I have this opportunity to help out, I should take advantage of that and help out my Hainanese friends."

At the testing site, he greeted local residents in Hainan dialect from time to time. Every time he saw kids coming, he would put on his cartoon mask and interact with them.

"I know that all the kids are going back to school tomorrow, so I knew there would be a lot of kids today, so I brought a bunch of cartoon masks to wear to interact with them," he said.

Tommy said that some kids might be a little scared of foreigners, while some may be scared about coming to do their first nucleic acid test.

"I thought if there's anything I can do to help them relax, help them to have fun, help them to have a good experience today, then I'll do that. "

Tommy has participated in volunteer work twice recently. "I'm really impressed with all the people that are coming out to get their test done," he said, adding that there is a strong sense of community in Hainan.

"Everybody here on Hainan island is working together to make it a better place to live."

Farr from New Zealand is 69 year old, but says that one is "never too old to be a volunteer."

It is his belief that people are doing volunteer work as their way of saying thank you to the community for what it has done for them.

"It's the simplest way of saying thank you to the community," he said. "I feel good because I'm doing something for the community. Although it may look small, it's something."

Kingsford from Ghana stood in the sun for hours, guiding people to ensure they kept the distance.

Following his graduation from Hainan Normal University one year ago, he decided to stay in Hainan and start a business. He now runs a foreign-trade company in Haikou.

"Hainan has given a lot to me personally. So, it's no big deal to come and help out a little bit," he said.

He feels that helping prevent the spread of the virus in the community is meaningful work, as the COVID-19 virus can be reduced in Hainan and people can move around freely.

Several days ago, Tommy underwent a period of self-quarantine, during which he wrote a funny song, encouraging people to stay at home to protect themselves and others.

"The song's kind of funny and kind of silly. But I think a lot of people saw it and it made them smile, so it was worth the effort," said Tommy.

Kingsford, a volunteer from Ghana, guides a girl to take the nucleic acid test in Haikou, capital of south China's Hainan Province, April 10, 2022.

As China strengthens its epidemic prevention and control measures in the face of a COVID-19 resurgence, many volunteers including foreigners have joined the anti-epidemic fight.

(Xinhua/Guo Cheng)

Farr, a volunteer from New Zealand, helps a resident in wheelchair take the nucleic acid test in Haikou, capital of south China's Hainan Province, April 10, 2022.

As China strengthens its epidemic prevention and control measures in the face of a COVID-19 resurgence, many volunteers including foreigners have joined the anti-epidemic fight.

(Xinhua/Guo Cheng)

Tommy, a volunteer from America, checks a resident's body temperature in Haikou, capital of south China's Hainan Province, April 10, 2022.

As China strengthens its epidemic prevention and control measures in the face of a COVID-19 resurgence, many volunteers including foreigners have joined the anti-epidemic fight.

(Xinhua/Guo Cheng)

(Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun)
Annapolis Mayor Gavin Buckley gives his inaugural address following the swearing-in ceremony for him and the eight members of the Annapolis City Council on Monday, Dec. 6, 2021. (Brian Krista/Capital Gazette)

In its first in-person meeting since January, the Annapolis City Council on Monday night extended outdoor dining permissions for restaurants until mid-June.

The council unanimously approved an amended resolution, R-22-22, extending outdoor dining within the areas formerly known as recovery zones for an additional two months.

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The resolution, sponsored by Democratic Ward 8 Alderman Ross Arnett, directs City Manager David Jarrell to initiate a pilot program to study the impacts of outdoor dining in the recovery zone areas on Main Street, Maryland Avenue, Eastport and elsewhere during that time.

The outdoor dining program was initially meant to last a year, but an amendment introduced by Ward 1 Democrat Elly Tierney to limit the period to 60 days was approved by a vote of 5-4.

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Following the meeting, Arnett said he may consider introducing a motion to reconsider at the councils next meeting in two weeks. Two months is not enough time to conduct the study and wont be worth it for restaurants to set up outdoor dining infrastructure such as tents, he said.

The passage of R-22-22 comes as the citys coronavirus state of emergency ended Monday and with it, three months of council meetings that were held virtually.

During deliberations of the resolution, the council approved an amendment sponsored by Mayor Gavin Buckley and Tierney that will allow the Department of Planning and Zoning director to establish rules and regulations related to restaurant owners paying a fee in exchange for using parking lots of dining.

A parking study is necessary to reveal important information as citys parking landscape changes with the demolition of Hillman Garage later this month, Arnett said.

Permanent outdoor dining legislation is expected to be drafted and voted on in the coming months.

Buckley declared an emergency order in December as Anne Arundel County was experiencing a surge in positive COVID-19 cases. The council extended it by 90 days in mid-January, which allowed restaurants to continue offering outdoor dining in parking lots and spaces.

Jarrell will prepare and deliver a report to the council about the effects of the pilot program, according to the bill. Outdoor dining areas would still be subject to city permitting requirements.

Residents turned out to testify on the outdoor dining bill with several more submitting online testimony. Some questioned why the resolution, which was introduced two weeks ago, wasnt given a public hearing or discussed by council standing committees. Resolutions typically dont receive a public hearing or committee deliberation. This bill needed to be implemented prior to the emergency order expiring or outdoor dining would go away, Arnett said.

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Eastport residents have complained that outdoor dining has caused noise and traffic issues, said Jim Conlon, of Chesapeake Avenue. Conlon urged the council to amend the resolution to limit restaurants to their permitted occupancy and impose buffers on where they can operate.

The Eastport Civic Association supports the resolution, said ECA President Bill Reichhardt, particularly because it delays the implementation of another parking-related bill, O-9-22, until the pilot study is complete.

The ordinance, sponsored by Ward 5 Democrat Brooks Schandelmeier, would eliminate off-street parking requirements for restaurants, bars and other establishments.

State of the City

To start the meeting, Buckley delivered his first in-person State of the City since 2019.

Afternoon Update Weekdays Updating you on the day's biggest news before the evening commute. >

Buckley spoke for more than 30 minutes on the accomplishments of his administration over the past year, noting victories and initiatives undertaken by each city department. He also delivered his proposed budget for the coming fiscal year, which begins July 1.

Buckley held a moment of silence for 104 city residents who died from COVID-19 and the more than 10,000 who were infected by the coronavirus since the pandemic began in March 2020.

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This city has fared better than others, he said. We worked proactively to ensure that our businesses could be successful and our residents supported that effort in a way that has helped us thrive. Our residents deserve thanks too.

Other business

In a bit of custodial business, the council voted to reconsider the appointment of Michael La Place for planning and zoning director because there was an error in the vote two weeks ago. La Places appointment was unanimously approved. He will be sworn in May 9.

In another personnel move, Buckley announced that Chief of Staff Susy Smith is retiring after serving for four years. Smith will be replaced by Cate Pettit, a senior communication and business strategist with extensive experience in government, community and politics, according to a city news release.

Pettit volunteered on Buckleys first mayoral campaign and has remained as a volunteer adviser, the city said.

Her start date is next Monday. She will earn $106,000 annually.
The Odisha Government and Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) on Monday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to take vital steps towards the proliferation of green energy in the state. Bhupendra Singh Poonia, Managing Director Industrial Promotion and Investment Corporation of Odisha Limited (IPICOL), and Amit Garg, Executive Director Renewable Energy, Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL), signed a Memorandum of Understanding for a five-year period to collaborate in the fields of the feasibility of setting up renewable energy plant and green hydrogen plant (both for domestic and export customers), round the clock (RTC) power for consumers and proposed green hydrogen plants, setting up of requisite infrastructure, training, and knowledge sharing, etc. "Green Hydrogen would help the industries to cut aggregate emissions of Green House Gases (GHGs) thus contributing to the overall objectives of the Government of India's INDC targets," said a statement from IPICOL. "Odisha, being a power surplus state, is looking to further strengthen its position in power and these upcoming plants will help Odisha-based heavy industries to supplement their growing power requirements," it further added. Chief Secretary, Suresh Chandra Mahapatra, stated, "We have huge natural resources and due to the expanding steel making industry, green energy is a big prospect in Odisha and it has a high potential for production of green energy from ethanol, solar and hydrogen." "Also, we have major ports and developing new ones, which will help BPCL to export the green hydrogen and ammonia to other countries." Principal Secretary Industries, Hemant Sharma said, "Today Odisha is the single largest manufacturer of steel in the country. More than 33 per cent of the steelmaking capacity is now in Odisha though making it the primary prospect of green hydrogen and green ammonia. Because of the value addition policy, the demand is only going to increase in future. Highlighting the growing demand for green energy, Chairman and MD BPCL Arun Kumar Singh said, "Odisha figures out in its innovative ventures. Many parts of Odisha has great potential for production of solar and green-based ethanol energy". Singh, further stated that BPCL aspires to be the world's most admired energy firm by combining skill and technology. Given our constant pursuit of customer service quality excellence, we at BPCL aim to achieve Net-Zero, in Scope I and II emissions, by 2040, he added BPCL also plans to spend Rs 25,000 crore to build a renewable energy capacity of 10 gigawatts comprising a mix of solar, wind, small hydro and biomass by 2040. (ANI)
Even as heat wave to severe heat wave conditions were observed over several areas across Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, Jammu, Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh on Monday, the spatial extent and intensity of heat wave spell is likely to reduce over northwest India from April 13. However, the heat wave conditions would continue over Madhya Pradesh during next five days, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said and warned that dust raising winds (speed 20-30 kmph) are very likely over southern parts of Rajasthan, Punjab, and Haryana on April 12 and 13. "Under the influence of a Western Disturbance, light/moderate, isolated/scattered rainfall is likely over Western Himalayan region during April 12 to 15 with maximum intensity on April 13 when isolated rainfall is likely over Punjab and Haryana," the IMD bulletin warned. The highest maximum temperature was recorded at Ganganagar in Rajasthan at 45.5 degrees Celsius followed by Bopani (Faridabad, Haryana) at 45.3 degrees Celsius, Balasmand (district Hisar, Haryana) at 45.2 degrees Celsius, Sirsa (Haryana) at 44.9 degrees Celsius while Jhansi in Uttar Pradesh recorded 44.5 degrees Celsius. The IMD has predicted no significant change in maximum temperatures is very likely over most parts of east India during the next three days and thereafter, they will fall by 2-3 degrees Celsius. It also said that no significant change in maximum temperatures is very likely over most parts of Gujarat during the next three days and a gradual rise by 2-3 degrees Celsius thereafter. The IMD also said heat wave to severe heat wave conditions are very likely in many parts over Haryana and Delhi and in some parts over Punjab during next 24 hours and heat wave to severe heat wave conditions in isolated pockets over the same region on April 12. Heat wave conditions in some parts are very likely over Madhya Pradesh during the next five days. --IANS niv/vd ( 330 Words) 2022-04-11-23:02:13 (IANS)
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant told reporters on Monday that no one will be allowed to take law and order in their hands.

The main incident occurred on Sunday night, when a group alleged that their procession was pelted with stones from a nearby place of worship of another group, which led to commotion in the Islampur area in Vasco.

One person received minor injuries as a result of the commotion, according to the Vasco police station officials.

Police on Monday registered formal complaints on the basis of statements given by members of both religious groups.

"Video footage of the area is being assessed. We will get vehicle numbers of those who were responsible for the incident," Deputy Superintendent of Police Salim Shaikh told reporters hours before he was transferred.

Shaikh and Vasco police station in-charge police inspector Nitin Halarnkar were transferred to the reserve police lines late on Monday.

Speaking to reporters, Sawant said that he had given instructions to the state administration and the police to ensure that law and order should not be destabilised.

"No one will be allowed to take law in their hands. That's all," Sawant said.

--IANS maya/pgh

( 236 Words)

2022-04-11-23:16:03 (IANS)
Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu on Monday called for devolving 3Fs--Funds, Functions and Functionaries to empower rural local bodies for their holistic growth and to achieve national development and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Inaugurating National Stakeholders Conference on 'Localization of Sustainable Development Goals' organized by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj, he urged the Union Government and various States to facilitate the devolution of the 3Fs from Zilla Parishads to Panchayats. "The rural local bodies have to be revitalized and rejuvenated by strengthening and empowering them," he added. While referring to the increase in fund allocation to the rural local bodies from Rs 100 per capita per annum in the 10th Finance Commission to Rs 674 per capita per annum in the 15th Finance Commission, the Vice President said the funds should directly go into their accounts and there should be no diversion, dilution and deviation. Similarly, every grant meant for people should directly go to the beneficiaries. According to Vice President's Secretariat, Naidu said that given that nearly 70 per cent of India is rural India (68.84 per cent as per the 2011 census), attainment of Sustainable Development Goals at the national level will require actions at the grassroots of villages--that is at the Panchayat level. Observing that the biggest goal is to make the country poverty-free, he said the other equally important missions include providing education to all boys and girls, ensuring delivery of critical services like safe drinking water and creating adequate employment opportunities. Expressing his happiness that women constitute 46 per cent of the 31.65 lakh elected representatives of the rural local bodies in the country, he said that adequate representation should be given in legislatures and other law-making bodies. "Empowering women is empowering the society", he added. Calling for people's participation in all the schemes and programmes at the grass-root level, the Vice President stressed the need for concerted efforts from all stakeholders to ensure comprehensive development of the Panchayats and achieve various targets. "Panchayats have a pivotal role to play in integrated rural development by focusing on the 17 SDGs which are subsumed under nine themes to ensure poverty-free, clean, healthy, child-friendly, and socially secured well-governed villages," Naidu said. Referring to the critical role of Gram Sabhas in enabling direct participation of the people in local governance, the Vice President said the legal framework on the number of Gram Sabhas to be held in a year is necessary and needs to be formulated. Emphasizing the need for transparent, accountable and efficient governance at all levels, Naidu commended the Ministry of Panchayati Raj for having introduced digital solutions like e-Gram Swaraj for smart and good governance in Panchayati Raj Institutions. While noting that 2.38 lakh Gram Panchayats have adopted e-Gram Swaraj, he called for bringing all Panchayats onto this platform to meet the digital mission of governance. Observing that Panchayats have emerged as leaders, planners and policymakers at the grass-root level, he expressed confidence that the aggregation of their achievements will enable India to realize the national as well as global targets in the true spirit of the transition from 'Local to Global'. Giriraj Singh, Minister of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Minister of Jal Sakti, Faggan Singh Kulaste, Minister of State for Rural Development, Kapil Moreshwar Patil, Minister of State, Panchayati Raj, Sunil Kumar, Secretary, Ministry of Panchayati Raj and other dignitaries were present. (ANI)
The panel comprises former minister and MLA Sajjna Singh Verma as chairperson, and former ministers Mukesh Nayak and Bala Bachchan, former MP Gajendra Singh Rajukhedi and party's minority cell chief Sheikh Aleem.

The committee will go to the spot and submit its report to the State Congress Committee.

The incident took place on Sunday when several people, including police personnel, were injured in a Ram Navami procession after a group of people pelted stones at each other. The stone-pelting started at the very beginning of the procession leaving around four people injured including a police inspector, police said.

After the miscreants set four houses on fire, the administration imposed a curfew in Talab Chowk, Gaushala Marg, and Motipura areas.

Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan condemned the act and termed it "unfortunate". He said that the damages caused to public and private assets will be recovered from rioters.

On the instructions of the Chief Minister, the district administration and police demolished illegal buildings of miscreants involved in the attack on a Ram Navami procession.

The authorities ran the bulldozer over about 45 houses and shops. Around 16 houses and 29 shops were demolished on Monday. (ANI)
A CBI official confirmed that Subhash Shankar was in Cairo and after legal formalities he has been brought to India. A CBI team went to bring him back and the team reached Mumbai with Shankar on Tuesday morning.

"He is a close aide of absconding diamantaire Nirav Modi. He used to work as Deputy General Manager in one of the companies of Nirav Modi. We will get more information into the case during his questioning," he said.

In 2018, Interpol issued a red corner notice against Nirav, his brother Nishal Modi and his employee Subhash Shankar at the request of the CBI in connection with the multi-crore Punjab National Bank (PNB) scam.

In December 2021, Parliament was informed that 33 accused in bank fraud cases registered by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) fled the country in the last five years. (ANI)
"We all are ready to go to the Guru's place to bow the head at Guru Nanak Dev, who is the Guru for Indians and Pir for the people of Pakistan," said a member of the batch while talking to ANI.

"We had applied for 900 visa permits but could get permits for only 705, resulting in the disheartening of the 195 whose visas were rejected," said Ravinder Singh Khalsa.

"We really hope the new Prime Minister of Pakistan Shehbaz Sharif to keep the brotherhood amongst countries maintained and ease the Visa system," he added.

Most of the pilgrim devotees have emphasized their demand for cancelling the visa requirements to visit the Gurudwara in the neighbouring country.

Another devotee Paramjeet Singh said, "such cancellations of visa permits make people lose the only chances for Guru Darshan, which is anyways not easy. We expect the Pak PM to make visits to Nankana Sahib Gurudwara as easy as the Kartarpur Sahib."

The integrated check post (ICP) of the Kartarpur Corridor was inaugurated by the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 8 November 2019 for facilitating a smooth, visa-free movement of Indian pilgrims to Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib.

People have expressed genuine hopes for Pakistan's newly elected PM, who belonged to Punjab's Taran Taran. They are optimistic about the better relationships between the countries for neighbourhood, trade and business. (ANI)
To congratulate a beneficiary of PM Awas Yojana on Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrote a letter to congratulate him for the ownership, to add up to his contentment. According to an official statement, Modi sent a letter to Sudhir Kumar Jain of Sagar district of Madhya Pradesh for adding up to his happiness of own roof by congratulating him. "House is not just a structure made of bricks and cement, but our feelings, our aspirations are attached to it. The boundary walls of the house not only provide us security but also instil in us the confidence of a better tomorrow," PM Modi wrote in his letter to Jain. "The dream of your own house has come true through the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana. Your sense of satisfaction after this achievement can easily be felt by your words in the letter. This house is like a new foundation for the dignified life of your family and a better future for both your children," the statement read quoting PM. As per the statement, "PM Modi also said that crores of beneficiaries have got their pucca houses under the PM Awas Yojana so far." The Prime Minister also said that the government is committed to the goal of providing houses to every needy family. "The government is making sincere efforts to bring positive changes in the lives of the countrymen through various public welfare schemes," PM said. In the letter to Jain, PM Modi said that these memorable moments in the lives of beneficiaries like him give him inspiration and energy to continue working tirelessly and non-stop in the service of the nation. Jain also wrote to the PM, thanking him for a pucca house and described how the scheme has been a boon for homeless families. (ANI)
The Supreme Court has expressed annoyance after it came to know about a bunch of posters and hoardings reading "bhaiya is back", welcoming the bail of a student leader accused in a rape case. A bench of Chief Justice of India NV Ramana with Justice Krishna Murari and Hima Kohli's observation came while hearing a petition challenging the Madhya Pradesh High Court order. The Court was informed about hoarding which says 'bhaiya is back'. The Court questioned the accused counsel that what are you celebrating after the bail and what is this hoarding about which says 'bhaiya is back'. "Ask your bhaiya to be careful this week", the top court said while posting the matter to April 18. The top court was hearing a plea challenging the Madhya Pradesh High Court order which granted bail to a man, who has been accused of raping a girl on a false promise of marriage. A case was registered at Police Station Mahila Thana, Jabalpur (MP) under rape charges against the accused. The allegation was that the accused Shubhang Gontia repeatedly established sexual relationship with the victim on various occasions over a period of three years under the garb of a false promise to marry her. According to the prosecution, the accused hurt the modesty and dignity of the prosecutrix byputting vermillion on her forehead. The accused got the prosecutrix aborted without her consent, the prosecution alleged. The accused has told Madhya Pradesh HC that he was innocent and the relationship between the applicant and the complainant was consensual and both the parties mutually agreed for indulging in physical intimacy. (ANI)
State Home Minister Narottam Mishra, Director General of Police and others were also present.

Khargone incident took place on Sunday when several people, including police personnel, were injured in a Ram Navami procession after a group of people pelted stones at each other. The stone-pelting started at the very beginning of the procession leaving around four people injured including a police inspector, police had said.

On the instructions of the Chief Minister, the district administration and police demolished illegal buildings of miscreants involved in the attack on a Ram Navami procession.

The authorities ran the bulldozer over about 45 houses and shops. Around 16 houses and 29 shops were demolished on Monday.

A similar stone-pelting incident was also reported during a Ram Navami procession in Sendhwa town of Barwani district where a police station in-charge and five others were injured. The situation was later brought under control, according to officials. (ANI)
Water bottle company Niagara Bottling plans to build a plant at Tradepoint Atlantic and bring new jobs to the Baltimore County site, Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan announced in a Monday news release.

The company is going to construct a 600,000-square-foot facility at the global logistics hub and plans to move in next spring, the release says.

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Niagara Bottling expects to add more than 90 new jobs initially in the coming years with the potential for more, according to Hogans office.

Not only are we adding a well-known business to the state, but also the potential for more than a hundred new jobs in Sparrows Point, Hogan said in the release.

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Niagara Bottling doesnt have any existing employees here, Hogans office said.

Leonard Howie, director of Baltimore County Department of Economic and Workforce Development, also welcomed the endeavor.

We are excited that Niagara Bottling is expanding its footprint in Baltimore County, Howie said in the release. The addition of this great business to Tradepoint Atlantic will not only provide more job opportunities for our highly trained workforce, but also marks another step forward in Sparrows Points transformative redevelopment as a global hub for commerce.

Established in 1963, the California-based beverage company has facilities across the United States and in Mexico, where it manufactures beverages that include sparkling and flavored waters, teas and coffee.

Niagara Bottling has established strong business and community relationships throughout our numerous plant locations and we look forward to continued growth and success at our new production facility in Baltimore County, Niagara Bottling Executive Vice President Brian Hess said in the release.
The Supreme Court on Tuesday stayed the conviction of Hardik Patel until the appeals are decided, in a rioting and arson case during the Patidar quota stir. A bench of Justices S Abdul Nazeer and Vikram Nath also remarked that High Court should have stayed the conviction and said, "the conviction is, hereby, stayed until the appeals are decided accordingly." Supreme Court was hearing Hardik Patel's appeal seeking suspension of his conviction in the case in which he was found guilty of rioting and arson during the Patidar quota stir in 2015. Patel had moved the apex court challenging the order of the Gujarat High Court which had suspended his jail sentence but not the conviction. Hardik Patel has challenged the judgment of the Gujarat High Court seeking suspension of the conviction so that he could contest the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Earlier, SC said no to an urgent hearing on conviction in a rioting case.Senior Advocate Maninder Singh, appearing for Hardik Patel said that he had earlier lost one chance to contest the election in 2019. Patel, in his petition, had stated that the apex court should urgently hear his petition because the last date and filing of the nomination papers for Lok Sabha elections 2019, was April 04. However, the apex court had earlier declined to give him an urgent hearing at that time. As per rules and the Representation of the People (RP) Act, a political candidate, who was convicted and facing a prison term of two years or more cannot contest the elections, unless the same is stayed by a court. The 26-year-old, in his petition, claimed that he is a leader of the Patidar Andolan and started his agitation in 2015, and due to this, the ruling party of the state of Gujarat registered an FIR against him. "This registration of FIR and the action of the state government were mala fide and were with a view to suppressing the voice of the masses," Patel claimed in his petition. He had further stated in his petition that in the present case, it was argued at length before the Gujarat High Court that there is no legal evidence against conviction and the same is based on hearsay evidence. A lower Court at Mehsana in Gujarat had sentenced the Patidar leader to two years' imprisonment in 2018 July, for his involvement in rioting and arson in 2015, when during the Patidar quota protests. (ANI)
At an interactive programme organised by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on the birth anniversary of Jyotiba Phule in Udupi, the Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said that bringing the voiceless and deprived classes to the mainstream is their objective. "The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has taught us that, everyone has a right to lead a dignified life. We have adopted the same in our programmes," the CM said on Monday evening. "Over the years, many programmes have been drawn to bring equality in India, but have not been implemented effectively. Our government has formulated action plans to deliver our promises," he added. As per the CM Bommai, for effective implementation of the Ganga Kalyana Programme Rs 200 crore has been provided in the supplementary budget and community halls are being built in 208 villages. Bommai said, "There is a shortage of hostels for the students of backward classes in Mangaluru, Bengaluru, Hubballi, Dharwad and Kalaburagi districts. So, funds have been provided in the name of Deendayal Upadhyaya for the construction of a hostel for every 1000 students." He also said that various programmes have been formulated for the education and economic empowerment of the people belonging to the backward class. "While many outfits take the name of Phule, BJP tries to implement the ideals of Phule through its schemes for education of girls and eradication of untouchability," he said while referring to Phule's birth anniversary. Bommai also assured that this year onwards, the deserving teachers will be presented with the Jyotiba Phule award. The CM said that the BJP government is working with the principle of all-pervasive and all-inclusive development cutting across the barriers of caste and religion. According to Bommai, major programmes have been drawn up to provide tapped water to all households and housing for all. The Centre and State governments are working together to make such initiatives a success. "No Prime Minister in the past had the confidence to assure tapped water supply to every household in the country. As it was a herculean task. But our Prime Minister Modi has taken it up as a challenge," he said. (ANI)
According to a tweet by the Chinar Corps-Indian Army, "a Joint Mobile Vehicle Check Post (MVCP) was established in the evening at Sonarwain bridge, Wadoora Bala, Baramulla, where they apprehended three terrorists and recovered war-like stores from their possession."

The PRO Srinagar tweeted to laud the Chinar Corps and Jammu and Kashmir Police for this huge success.

Further details into the matter are underway. (ANI)
Stating that he has discussed the issue of the global food shortage with US President Joe Biden, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said that India is ready to supply food stock to the world. PM Modi said that India can supply food stock if the World Trade Organisation (WTO) comes on board. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday inaugurated the hostel and education complex at "Shree Annapurna Dham" via video conferencing. "Food stock in different parts of the world is dwindling due to the war (in Ukraine). The world is facing a new problem now, with the food stock of the world getting empty. I was talking to the US President, and he also raised this issue. I suggested that if WTO gives permission, India is ready to supply food stock to the world from tomorrow," PM Narendra Modi said. He said that India already has enough food stock for the people in the country but "our farmers seem to have made arrangements to feed the world". However, we have to work according to the laws of the world, so I don't know when WTO will give permission and we can supply food to the world, PM Modi added. "The development of Gujarat is necessary for the development of India," said PM Narendra Modi after inaugurating the hostel and education complex of "Shri Annapurnadham Trust" at Adalaj. Further speaking on the Annapurnadham Trust, Narendra Modi said, "In the field of education, nutrition and health, Gujarat has always contributed to society. The Patidar community has also been part of it." "Bhumipujan (ground-breaking ceremony)" of the "Hiramani Arogya Dham" will also take place. While speaking about the Arogya Dham, the PM said, "The Central Government's free dialysis facility in government hospitals will boost the purpose of Arogya Dham. A large number of people will be able to get dialysis treatment at the same time in the Arogya Dham. There will be 24 hours blood supply. This Arogya Dham will serve mankind." PM Narendra Modi added, "Idol of Mother Annapurna Mata was stolen from Kashi decades ago and transported abroad. We brought back the idol of Mother Annapurna from Canada to Kashi a few months back. Dozens of such cultural symbols have been brought back from abroad in the last seven-eight years." (ANI)
The police have revealed that the gang was habitual of stealing stray cows from different locations and used to slaughter them for selling their meat.

"Acting on a specific tip, a team of Special Staff laid a trap under the jurisdiction of the Geeta Colony Police Station and noticed a rapidly moving car," said Delhi Police.

On being caught at Pusta Road, a scuffle between both the groups of accused and police officials took place which injured the Sub-Inspector (Special Staff) in the right hand.

The police have apprehended and taken all the accused, identified as, Chand alias Arshad, Naseem alias Ayan, Arkam, Anas, and Ahmad Gufran for interrogation.

"During the interrogation, the accused revealed that they have committed similar offences in trans Yamuna area, Gazipur, Mayur Vihar, Anand Vihar and in the areas of North East Delhi," Police said.

"They used to sell the meat of one cow for around Rs 20,000," it added.

On the intervening night of Sunday and Monday (April 10 and April 12), they lifted three stray cows from Shastri Park, Seelampur and Gokalpuri area and slaughtered them in an area in North East Delhi.

The police have registered a case against all accused with Geeta Colony Police Station and have deployed teams to nab the meat buyers. (ANI)
As the by-poll for West Bengal's Ballygunge assembly seat is underway, TMC candidate Babul Supriyo on Tuesday alleged electoral malpractice by BJP. Babul Supriyo said, "BJP candidate Keya Gosh entered a couple of booths last night. Trinamool Congress has lodged an official complaint with the Election Commission. We got a reaction from them. I will be going round in all the wards, meeting our party workers who have worked very hard. But I definitely suspect CPM and BJP are going to say that Babul Supriyo is trying to influence the voters." For the Ballygunge Assembly by-poll, the BJP has fielded Keya Ghosh while Saira Shah Halim is the CPI(M) candidate. He also said that the EVM is not working properly in more than 20 places. "EVMs are not working in many places and we are changing it. The attitude of the Central Force is not right, I was not allowed to enter the booth of South Port School. Initially, some people were asked to deposit their mobiles outside and go inside the booth, after which there was a protest and then it was closed. All the senior party leaders are present and wherever all this is happening, we will complain to the election commission", he added. Meanwhile, Asansol BJP Lok Sabha candidate Agnimitra Paul alleged that BJP's polling agent is not being allowed inside the polling centre at the behest of the West Bengal police."TMC people attacked us, vehicles were attacked, and our people were injured. TMC is scared that is why they are doing all this and the administration has become a mute spectator. My security guard has also been attacked." Polling began at 7 am and will continue till 6.30 pm. The by-polls were necessitated after former Union Minister Babul Supriyo resigned as the Lok Sabha MP of Asansol after resigning from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). He later joined the Trinamool Congress (TMC). The Ballygunge Assembly seat by-poll was necessitated after the demise of state Minister Subrata Mukherjee. The counting of votes will take place on Saturday, April 16. (ANI)
Communist Party of India (Marxist) Politburo member Brinda Karat on Tuesday condemned the Madhya Pradesh government over the demolition of stone pelters' houses during the Ram Navami procession saying that it can not bulldoze "law and constitution" of the country. "Who decides who is a rioter? Bulldozer is not only destroying the house and property of people but it is destroying the law and bulldozing the Constitution of the country," Karat told ANI. He further raised questions over the Madhya Pradesh government and said that it should serve notice to the people whose houses are illegal. "If houses are illegal then serve notice to them and do whatever you want but the actions should be legally. You ruined the house, ruined the shop without notice why and how? Who has given you this right?," Karat stated. CPI(M) leader said that the action of demolishing houses has flouted the legal framework of India. After the violence in Raisen and Khargaon in Madhya Pradesh, the Shivraj Singh Chouhan government has taken strict action against the people involved in the violence and the local district administration got into action mode. As many as four houses and three shops near Mohan Talkies, 12 houses and 10 shops in Khaskhas Badi area, three shops in Aurangpura area and 12 shops in Talaab Chowk were demolished. Approximately 16 illegal sites were demolished near Ganesh Temple in Khargone. The incident took place on Sunday when several people, including police personnel, were injured in a Ram Navami procession after a group of people pelted stones at each other. The stone-pelting started at the very beginning of the procession leaving around four people injured including a police inspector, police said. After the miscreants set four houses on fire, the administration imposed a curfew in Talab Chowk, Gaushala Marg, and Motipura areas. (ANI)
The Supreme Court on Tuesday granted more time to the Centre to file its affidavit on extradited gangster Abu Salem's plea raising the issue that as per the extradition treaty between India and Portugal, his jail terms cannot extend beyond 25 years. A bench of justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and MM Sundresh adjourned the matter for April 21 for further hearing. During the hearing, counsel for Abu Salem requested the Court to direct the government to file its affidavit tomorrow. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta raised an objection and said his client is involved in the bomb blast matter and hence he cannot direct the Government on when to file. Earlier, CBI filed an affidavit in this matter stating that the Indian court is not bound by the assurance given in 2002 by the then deputy prime minister that gangster Abu Salem would neither be given a death sentence nor imprisoned beyond 25 years. "This Court while deciding Criminal Appeal no.415/416/2012 filed by Abu Salem Abdul Qayyum Ansari has held that "both India and Portugal are two sovereign unequivocal terms, the verdict by the Constitutional Court of Portugal is not binding on this Court but only has persuasive value". That the argument of the appellant (Salem) that imprisonment term cannot extend beyond 25 years as per the assurance given is legally unsustainable, " the CBI said in its affidavit. CBI said that there is no merit in the contention of the appellant and the life sentence awarded by the trial court is legally correct and needs no interference. Salem has raised issues that the 2017 judgment of a Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act (TADA) Court sentencing him to life imprisonment was against the terms of the extradition treaty. Salem's advocate Rishi Malhotra said that On December 17, 2002, the Government of India gave a Solemn Sovereign assurance to the Government of Portugal that if the Appellant Salem is extradited for Trials in India he would neither be conferred with the Death penalty nor be subjected to imprisonment for a term beyond 25 years. He also said that the TADA Court were not according to the Extradition Order. He further added that the Government can exercise its powers under section 432, 433 CrPC to commute the sentence of Life imprisonment in order to bring down within the ambit of assurance of a sentence of not more than 25 years as the execution of the sentence was purely in the domain of Government. The petitioner also said that the govt should ensure to bring down punishment consistent and commensurate with the assurances but it cannot be said that the Court's hands were tied in not awarding punishment to the Appellant Salem for more than 25 years. He also mentioned the issue of 'Set Off'. According to the Appellant Salem, though he was in custody for some offences of passport violation in Portugal since September 18, 2002, and was undergoing a sentence of 4 1/2 years, yet, the Appellant was detained also on September 18, 2002, in pursuance of the Red Corner Notice issued by the Designated Courts, Mumbai. "Even if the said date is not to be taken into consideration for the purposes of Set-Off, the Ministerial Order dated 28.3.03 of the Ministry of Justice Portugal by which it had admitted the Extradition request of the Appellant of the Government of India to be tried for various offences ought to have been taken into consideration," the lawyer said. The TADA Court, however, held that since the Appellant was released in the Portugal case on October 12, 2005, therefore, the custody for the purposes of Set-Off would be counted from October 12, 2005. The Appellant Salem as per the imprisonment certificate has undergone around 17 years of sentence by counting his Set Off period from November 2005 whereas his Set Off period should be counted from March 28 2003, the lawyer said. (ANI)
The BJP leader Amit Malviya on Tuesday alleged that the West Bengal police are acting as TMC polling agents while the bypolls in the state are underway. "West Bengal police are doubling up as polling agents for Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool in Asansol. Such is the desperation and fear that the movement of the BJP leaders is being restricted on frivolous grounds," tweeted Malviya. He also stated that the media was denied access during the election coverage. "Despite everything, the BJP workers were out in large numbers," he added. The BJP candidate Agnimitra Paul on Tuesday alleged that the TMC people thrashed her security and pelted stones at her car. "The TMC people thrashed our workers with bamboo sticks. They pelted stones on my car and ransacked it. No matter how hard Mamata Banerjee tries, the BJP is winning here," says BJP's Agnimitra Paul. She also claimed that the BJP's polling agent is not being allowed inside the polling centre at the behest of the West Bengal police. She said, "A West Bengal police personnel is standing there and was not letting him enter. The TMC is trying to ensure that the polling agent does not enter the polling booth. After coming here, I ensured that the polling agent is given entry. I will go wherever a complaint is received." A quick response team of central forces and the police arrived at the spot and controlled the situation, authorities said. "They (police) are attempting to influence voting, attacking us, not allowing media, nor are they letting polling agents sit. The DM has ordered that the media will not accompany me. They all work for Mamata Banerjee," she added. Polling began at 7 am and will continue till 6.30 pm. The bypolls were necessitated after former Union Minister Babul Supriyo resigned as the Lok Sabha MP of Asansol after resigning from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The counting of votes will take place on Saturday, April 16. (ANI)
On Sunday too, the minister had conducted a similar meeting via videoconferencing in connection with incidents of clashes and stone-pelting between two communities in Himmatnagar town Sabarkantha district on April 10 on the occasion of Ram Navami.

The meeting held at Sabarkantha Superintendent of Police Office here was attended by Director-General of Police Ashish Bhatia and other senior police officers.

As per reports, clashes took place during the Ram Navami procession in the Chappariya area of Himmatnagar on Sunday and later on Monday night, there was stone-pelting reported from the Vanzaravas area of the city.

The police rushed to the spot to take the situation under control.

"We received information regarding stone-pelting on Monday night and immediately reached the spot. We had to fire tear gas to take the situation under control and disperse the mob and have detained 10 people," said Vishal Vaghela, Sabarkantha Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP).

"During the investigation on Tuesday morning, we found petrol bombs were also used and we will take action as per the findings," the DSP added.

Rapid Action Force (RAF) and police have been deployed in the area to keep a check on the situation, the DSP further added.

Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) has also been imposed in the city from April 10 to 13 as a precautionary measure. (ANI)
Sinikka Benson, an art teacher who taught and inspired middle school students for nearly four decades and was a working artist in her own right, died April 5 at the University of Maryland Upper Chesapeake Medical Center in Bel Air of complications from a hernia. The White Hall resident was 74.

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The former Mirjami Satu-Sinikka Paavola  who was known as Sinikka  was the daughter of Arvo Paavola, a carpenter, and Meimi Paavola. Mrs. Benson was born in Vaasa, Finland, and emigrated from there with her family in the late 1940s to Baltimore, where they settled in Highlandtown.

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After graduating from Mergenthaler Vocational-Technical High School, she earned a bachelors degree in art education in 1969 from what is now Towson University, and she also received a masters degree in art education.

While at Towson, she met and fell in love with Raymond A. Benson, whom she married in 1970.

4-H Fine Art judges Molly Adler, back, and Sinikka Benson, front, discuss a pen-and-ink drawing entry by Maggie Layman, right, of Jarrettsville as she listens closely during the Harford County Farm Fair in 2019. (Matt Button / The Aegis / Baltimore Sun Media Group)

In 1969, she joined the faculty of Loch Raven Middle School as an art teacher and in 1987 began teaching at Hereford Middle School. She was art department chair at both schools for more than 30 years.

We both started at Hereford in 1987, recalled Kathy Peterson, an art teacher and colleague. For me, she was a mentor because she had been teaching for a number of years and set a great example. She had a natural way with kids and was so talented herself and could impart that to the students and I never saw her lose her temper.

She took so much pride in her students and their creative abilities, wrote daughters, Keira Benson McGuire, of Freeland, and Seija Krasowski, of Stewartstown, Pennsylvania, in a biographical profile of her mother. She would create amazing display cases in the halls of the school featuring their art and photos to applaud their talent and efforts. Often former students will comment on how much they loved having Mrs. Benson as an art teacher  including her son-in-law Tim McGuire, who was a former student.

[ Elizabeth S. Betsy McDonald, longtime Gilman School educator, dies ]

When Mrs. Benson retired in 2006, she suggested that Carrie Aitken, a former student, take her place and teach her former classroom.

Mrs. Benson taught art in a way that not only taught students technique and skills  but in a way that taught them to see the world differently. To find the beauty. She inspired me to be an artist, a lover of beauty and to devote my life to giving my students what she gave me  the ability to see it, Ms. Aitken wrote in an email.

Alex Cassell, 12, top, of Monkton and Courtney Gowland, 12, of Parkton take turns painting a huge fiberglass crab during their seventh grade art class at Hereford Middle School in May 2005. The design, with the state flag and black-eyed Susan flowers, was created by art teacher Sinikka Benson and was chosen as part of the "Crabtown" project that will display the crabs in Baltimore City. (Valerie Roche / Patuxent Publishing)

Said Ms. Peterson: My daughter was one of her students and learned a lot from her. And she really enjoyed art class.

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As an accomplished watercolorist, retirement allowed her to pursue her own work, which was shown often and earned awards. She was a devotee of the plein-air school, or painting outdoors on location.

We did a lot of painting trips together, and she taught me a lot of things, Ms. Peterson said.

Mrs. Benson was an active member of the Harford Artists Association and participated in many juried shows, where her work drew many awards, but more important to her was connecting with fellow artists and art lovers, her daughter wrote in her profile.

Mrs. Benson was recently awarded Best in Show for a painting that depicted three women at an airport.

Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 25 Vivian C. Millie Bailey was a World War II veteran who served in the Army as unit commander of an all-female detachment who later worked for the Social Security Administration and became a Howard County community activist. (Kim Hairston, Baltimore Sun)

One judge commented that the painting made them feel like they were there and that meant a lot to Sinikka, her daughters wrote. Often people would comment that Sinikkas paintings felt peaceful which also brought her joy because she was at peace when painting.

Mrs. Benson and her husband lived at a home in White Hall in Harford County that overlooked Deer Creek, where he also maintained a framing and art restoration business. He died in 2011.

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Mrs. Benson was an avid traveler and a member of a travel group.

Family was always the center point of her life, and she was a doting grandmother whose four grandchildren called her Mummi.

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The five of them were a pack, and Sinikka was the glue, her daughter wrote. She filled their childhood with invented games, scavenger hunts, spooky stories, art projects and so much patience and love.

Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 61 Ron Galella, the celebrity photographer whose pursuit of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis resulted in a restraining order against him after he stalked her for years, died at age 91 on April 30, 2022, at his home in Montville, N.J., of congestive heart failure. (Carlo Allegri/AP)

A celebration of life gathering will be held May 2 from 5 - 8 p.m. at Liriodendron Mansion at 502 W. Gordon St. in Bel Air.

In addition to Ms. McGuire and Mr. McGuire, Ms. Krasowski and her husband Kevin Krasowski, and four grandchildren, she is survived two brothers, Sam Paavola of Queenstown and Matti Paavola of Parkville, and a sister, Susanna Paavola of Phoenix in Baltimore County.

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This story has been updated. A previous version of this story omitted who wrote the family biographical profile and incorrectly stated when Raymond Benson died. The Baltimore Sun regrets the errors.
A fire broke out in a commercial plot in the Kathputli colony of Anand Parvat in the national capital on Tuesday afternoon. As many as 20 fire tenders have reached the spot. No casualties have been reported yet. Officials of the Delhi Fire Department, have said that the fire was later brought under control. More details are awaited. (ANI)
On the directions of Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann the state Education Department on Tuesday ordered the private schools in the state to immediately display the list of a minimum three books/uniform shops in towns and 20 such in cities to be shared with the District Education Officers (DEOs). This move is aimed at allowing the parents to have the option of buying books from any prescribed shops in the vicinity of their place of residence. Notably, earlier the parents of students were unduly harassed by the school managements to buy books from a particular shop. The Chief Minister has already categorically ordered the private schools not to force the parents to buy books and uniforms from any specific shop, said the state government release. Chairing a review meeting, Education Minister Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer directed the DEOs to form inspection teams for ensuring strict compliance of these orders. These teams will verify the list of shops by conducting random inspections and strict action will be taken in case of any violation. The Minister further ordered the District Regulatory Bodies headed by the Deputy Commissioners to pro-actively act on complaints against private schools. The Minister further said that it has been brought to his notice despite strict instructions from the Chief Minister; still few private schools were grossly violating these orders. He said that such defaulter schools would soon face stern action for flouting these directions and asked them to comply with these orders in the letter and spirit. (ANI)
In a major milestone in India's aviation sector, Union Minister of Civil Aviation, Jyotiraditya Scindia launched the first indigenously-made Dornier 228 flight from Assam's Dibrugarh to Arunachal Pradesh's Pasighat. The first made in India aircraft with these details has been developed by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited. Scindia said, "Dibrugarh has been connected with Pasighat and Lilabari today. This Dornier 228 aircraft has been developed indigenously, which is the prime example of the Prime Minister's vision for the country. The alliance will be operating two aircraft as of now." He added, "In the next couple of weeks, we will connect Tezu and Ziro with this route. In the second phase, we will connect Mechuka, Tuting and Bijoynagar. Our aim is to make even common citizens of the country able to fly." Scindia added that this is our Prime Minister's vision and commitment. And we are working in line with this commitment to connect all parts of the country. The remarkable feat comes in line with the integrated efforts of the government and the Airports Authority of India to significantly enhance India's regional connectivity with a special emphasis being given to the country's northeast region lately. Scindia also flagged off the Dornier Aircraft route from Pasighat to Lilabari in Assam. The aircraft will link state's Advanced Landing Grounds and other airports. Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh, Pema Khandu and Union Minister of Law and Justice, Kiren Rijiju were also present at the event. Jyotiraditya Scindia said, "There will be connectivity throughout the region of Arunachal Pradesh, the furthermost corner of India to the heart of India, to south India, to North India and that is the Prime Minister's vision. Through UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik), through northeast connectivity and all of this, the result of the Prime Minister's commitment to the people of the northeast is bearing fruit and the vision is coming true." Scindia also underlined the government's vision of rapidly scaling the country's domestic connectivity through Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) in coming times. The Ministry of Civil Aviation has been vigorously pursuing its objectives of launching new air routes, developing new airports and innovating the underserved and unserved airports across the country. (ANI)
Amid the row over the mysterious death of a contractor in Udupi, Congress on Tuesday demanded the arrest of Karnataka Minister KS Eshwarappa against whom the deceased had levelled corruption allegations. Santosh Patil, a BJP leader and contractor was found dead in a lodge in Udupi on Tuesday. Patil had recently accused Karnataka Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister KS Eshwarappa of corruption. "We heard about the death of Santosh Patil, a contractor from Udupi. Everyone knows it is a murder. He died over corruption allegations. FIR must be filed against Eshwarappa. He must be arrested under IPC section 302," Karnataka Congress president DK Shivakumar told mediapersons here. Former Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah demanded the expulsion of Eshwarappa from the Karnataka cabinet. "KS Eshwarappa is solely responsible for his (Santosh Patil's) death. He should be sacked from the Karnataka cabinet. Bommai as a Chief Minister has failed to take any action against his minister KS Eshwarappa who should be dismissed from the cabinet. Eshwarappa is responsible for Patil's death. He must be arrested. The entire state knows Eshwarappa is a corrupt man," said Siddaramaiah. Congress general secretary Randeep Surjewala said if Eshwarappa is not arrested, the party will gherao the Chief Minister's residence. "BJP worker Santosh Patil was not spared after he levelled corruption charges against KS Eshwarappa. I am told he named the minister in his suicide note. Eshwarappa must be arrested without delay or else, we will have to gherao CM house and demand his resignation too," Surjewala told reporters here. Meanwhile, Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai assured a fair probe into the case. "Action will be taken based on the primary report of the incident. The truth will definitely come out. Police will probe the matter independently without any interference," Bommai told mediapersons. (ANI)
They also termed Bhagwant Mann as a "rubber stamp" chief minister.

"This (Punjab) government is running from Delhi and not from Chandigarh. Two days ago Arvind Kejriwal called Punjab's Chief Secretary, Power Secretary (to Delhi). He held a meeting in the absence of the Punjab CM. This is unconstitutional and is indirect control on Punjab," said Punjab Congress Legislative Party leader Pratap Singh Bajwa.

Former Punjab Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu termed the meeting a clear breach of federalism and insult to Punjabi pride.

Taking to Twitter to slam AAP leaders, Sidhu posted "Chalane do aandhiyaan hakeekat kee, na jaane kaun se jhonke se baharoopiyon ke mukhaute ud jaen" (The winds of reality will blow away the masks of deceivers)

"Punjab IAS officers summoned by Arvind Kejriwal in CM Bhagwant Mann's absence. This exposes the Defacto CM and Delhi remote control. A clear breach of federalism, an insult to Punjabi pride. Both must clarify," Sidhu wrote.

Former CM of Punjab and Punjab Lok Congress chief Amarinder Singh alleged that the worst fear has come true and Arvind Kejriwal has taken over Punjab long before expected.

"Worst was feared, worst happened. Arvind Kejriwal has taken over Punjab much before it was expected to happen. That Bhagwant Mann is a rubber stamp was a foregone conclusion already, now Kejriwal has proved it right by chairing Punjab officers' meeting in Delhi," said Singh.

Meanwhile, Bhagwant Mann on Tuesday called on Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal.

He is expected to hold discussions over the implementation of 300 units of free electricity in Punjab. (ANI)
Police officials have reached the spot to ascertain the facts. A police official told ANI that they have detained one person in connection with a bomb that was hurled near Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's 'Jansabha' site in Nalanda.

Further details are awaited.

On March 27 this year, a man was arrested in Bihar for trying to attack Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. The incident occurred at Bakhtiyarpur block in Patna district, where Nitish Kumar was paying floral tributes to the statue of a freedom fighter from the area. (ANI)
Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways and AYUSH, Sarbananda Sonowal, on Tuesday said that waterways in the country could provide the greatest opportunities for our young entrepreneurs as within a radius of 2,000 kilometres, we have the country's big cities with a combined population of 800 million. A two-day event, Waterways Conclave 2022, was organised by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways and the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) with the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) and ICC as the industry partners in Dibrugarh, Assam. Speaking at the inaugural session of the Waterways Conclave 2022, he said we could anchor robust business relations with our neighbour nations through the optimal and holistic development of the ecosystem of waterways. The Minister invited the industry to proactively partner with the government in the waterways sector and contribute to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi's AatmNirbhar Bharat vision. In his address, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that Assam is implementing Rs 770 crores Assam Inland Water Transport project to provide safe and convenient ferry services to passengers. Talking about the importance of the waterways ecosystem in the northeast, he said that the Brahmaputra basin possesses nearly 30 per cent of India's water resource potential and cargo movement through waterways would significantly reduce dependence on cargo transportation for roadways. "Regular movement of cargo through waterways would create job opportunities and open international market for local products through cost-effective transport", he said. Alluding to the importance of achieving logistics efficiency and, in turn, the waterways sector, Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari, in his virtual address, said that the logistics cost is 8 to 10 per cent (of the cost of goods) in China, 10-12 per cent in the European countries and around 12 per cent in USA and 16 per cent in India. The minister averred that waterways are the most cost-effective medium of transport compared to road and railways, "as far as the logistic cost is concerned, the waterways is the ultimate mission for all of us", he added. Union Minister of Development of North Eastern Region G Kishan Reddy, in his virtual address, said that waterways would be significantly helpful in realising the potential of abundant natural resources in the northeast. Union Minister of Communications, Electronics and Information Technology and Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw said that citizens must try to achieve as high a share of the waterways sector as possible in the logistics mix, comprising rail, road, and waterways in the country. "One litre of fuel will transport one tonne of freight, 24 kilometres by road, 95 kilometres by rail, and an impressive 215 kilometres by waterways", the minister said. Lyonpo Loknath Sharma, Minister of Economic Affairs, Royal Government of Bhutan, said that the trade between Bhutan and India was increasing and invited the stakeholders to work towards enhancing the link between Assam and East Bhutan, which has a vast potential in terms of economy of scale. "Leveraging waterway is the answer", he said, and added, "we are looking forward to regional connectivity". Highlighting the potential of the waterways ecosystem in Bangladesh, Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury, State Minister of Shipping, Government of Bangladesh, said that "there are 700 rivers in Bangladesh, out of which 54 are on the boundary between Bangladesh and India". Addressing the gathering virtually, Chowdhury said that about 8480 kilometres of the navigable waterway of Bangladesh could be utilised for transportation and distribution of goods between Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Bhutan". Union Minister of State, External Affairs, Dr Rajkumar Ranjan Singh said that close to 99 per cent of India's northeast region boundaries are international and pointed to the need "to explore and leverage the proximity of the Bay of Bengal". Union Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas Rameshwar Teli said that 111 waterways had been declared national waterways. He added that waterways in the northeast would be an alternative to the Siliguri region, commonly referred to as the chicken neck of the country. Alluding to the numerous milestones achieved in the waterways sector, Sanjeev Ranjan, Secretary, Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways said that a record movement of 4.5 million metric tonnes under the Bangladesh India Protocol Route had been achieved. (ANI)
The Bharatiya Janata Party plans to connect with ambassadors from over 150 countries in the coming months as part of its foreign outreach programme. To make the facilitation easier, the party has divided them into 8-9 groups with about 10-15 Ambassadors in each group. "The idea is to tell the world about what the BJP stands for right from the era of Jan Sangh to the formation of the BJP. We need to put forth our idea of a nation, our ideology and guiding principle and what social activities we do," in charge of the Foreign Affairs Department of BJP, Dr Vijay Chauthaiwale told ANI. Envoys have been divided into groups including African, East Asian, Gulf, Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and North American nations, he said. "We have got a good response to our interaction on April 6 and taking this forward, we are looking to hold interactions with more than 150 envoys in the coming times," Chauthaiwale added. A senior Minister in the government told ANI on the condition of anonymity, "BJP is a party with a difference and the rise of the party and its contribution to the building of this great nation needs to be told to everyone. After all, we are the world's largest party. We are a party that has almost double the number of members present in the Communist Party of China." On April 6, 2022, to mark the 42nd foundation day of the Bharatiya Janata Party, a programme was organised for the BJP national president JP Nadda to interact with 15 envoys who came over to the party headquarters in Delhi and spent over two hours trying to understand from the BJP brass about the party and its ideology. During the interaction, the BJP National President JP Nadda had answered several questions including the state of minorities in India. It is learnt through reliable sources that Nadda told the visiting envoys that the BJP government worked with the principles of 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas and Sabka Prayas'. "This meant development for all and appeasement of none," Nadda said. ANI sources also learnt that the Singaporean Ambassador wanted to see if they can interact with beneficiaries of the central government schemes in the rural part of India. For that the BJP soon will be organising a tour for the same, sources said. A new Foreign Affairs Department was launched by then BJP president Amit Shah in November 2014 with Chauthaiwale as its chairperson. (ANI)
Noting that Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav and Amrit Kaal was a period to make stronger efforts for making India 'Vishwa Guru' again, Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday said the younger generation should get information about the sacrifices and resilience of the people who fought for the freedom struggle from 1857 to 1947 through the mahotsav. Addressing 'Amrit Samagam', a two-day conference of Culture and Tourism Ministers on Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, he said the sacrifices of freedom fighters should be highlighted and urged states to create some permanent places which inspire people and infuse patriotism in the younger generation. "Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav, Amrit Kaal, the period till centenary of Independence is a period to make India great, to take India to the top position in the world, to make it vishwa guru. Modiji has this expectation from us. I urge you that under the aegis of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav, we should create some permanent places which become centres of inspiration. We should create centres in our states which are places of inspiration," he said. In this context, the Home Minister referred to changes made in Red Fort where the museum on Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose has been opened. Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav is an initiative of the Centre to celebrate and commemorate 75 years of independence. The Amrit Kaal refers to the 25-year-long lead up to India celebrating the centenary of its Independence in 1947. The minister said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has urged people to make a personal resolution in the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav which will help the country. The Home Minister said if people take small resolutions, then 130 crore citizens of the country can make the country more powerful and great. "Our new generation should become aware of freedom struggle, heroes of freedom movement should be celebrated. If 130 crore citizens resolve on behalf of Dalits, the poor, those with poor literacy living in villages, this collective contribution of 130 crore resolutions can be a huge step to making the nation great. If 130 crore people do it, then its power will be huge," the minister said. He said if a child gets associated with the sacrifices made for the freedom struggle, he will remain dedicated to the country's welfare for the entire day and for his entire life. "It is time to connect the coming generation with the occasion," he said. The minister said the country was full of places associated with the freedom struggle and school students should be taken to such places. "This is how we can involve the students with the freedom movement and enhance their love for the country," he said. The Home Minister said the Prime Minister has also decided to celebrate the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav as Sankalp Varsh. "The new generation should get to know the sacrifice our freedom fighters made during the period 1857 to 1947. Don't know who will be running government at Centre after 25 years but the nation will be there and nation should move ahead, we should work together for 'Sankalp Yatra' irrespective of party politics," he added. Noting that the country has had many achievements in the 75 years since Independence, he said "perhaps after a generation, such a time comes in one's destiny that we can celebrate the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav". "We have created many records in all fields with joint efforts, we have been successful in preserving and promoting our history and culture. In the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has envisioned a national celebration and that it should be a multi-purpose celebration," he said. The minister said that gram panchayats, parliament and all government departments should work for the country's progress, "as the 25 years of Amrit Kaal is a period to fulfil this resolve for progress". He said PM Modi began Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav from Kashi Gandhi Ashram on March 12 last year and more than 25,000 programs have been organized across the country. He said the COVID-19 situation has had an impact on the way programmes held earlier but now Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav programmes should be held with public participation. "During this two-day conference, we have to decide how every village, tehsil, district and state should participate in the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, create programmes and make them successful," he said. Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav is envisioned to be celebrated in five categories - Freedom Struggle, Idea @75, Achievements @75, Action @75 and Resolve @75. The Home Minister said that history alone cannot give information to the younger generation and many incidents and characters of brave heroes of freedom struggle will have to be brought alive on their psyche to help them closely associate themselves with the struggle for freedom. He referred to 'Mera Gaon, Meri Dharohar' programme which aims to build 6.5 lakh virtual museums across the nation which would be linked with all districts. The minister said that the Har Ghar Jhanda programme cannot be successful without the participation of state governments and also schools. Union Ministers G Kishan Reddy, Arjun Ram Meghwal, Meenakshi Lekhi and Ajay Bhattwil were present at the event. Reddy said the government is conducting 'Amrit Samagam' under Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav to raise public awareness. "We will conduct such programmes regarding Yoga Day and 75 years of India's Independence," he said. Culture and Tourism ministers and secretaries from all states are taking part in Amrit Samagam. (ANI)
Madhya Pradesh Police on Tuesday registered an FIR against senior Congress leader and former Chief Minister Digvijaya Singh for allegedly conspiring to instigate communal violence by posting misleading tweets. The FIR was filed based on the complaint of one Prakash Mande, a resident of Bhopal. The case was registered under sections 153A, 295A, 465, 505 (2) of IPC. Mande complained that Singh posted a fabricated photo that might instigate communal violence. The FIR mentioned the tweet by Singh in which the Congress veteran said, "Did the Khargone administration allow a procession carrying weapons like sticks and swords? Will bulldozers run at the homes of all those who throw stones, irrespective of religion? Do not forget Shivraj ji, you have taken an oath to run the government impartially." "In the Indian Constitution, every citizen has the right to practice his religion. Shivraj ji's action based on religion is unconstitutional. Is there a provision for this bulldozer culture in any law or rule of India? If you have to drive a bulldozer illegally, then please do not discriminate based on religion," Singh further said. After the violence in Raisen and Khargone in Madhya Pradesh, the Shivraj Singh Chouhan government has taken strict action against the people involved in the violence and the local district administration got into action mode. As many as four houses and three shops near Mohan Talkies, 12 houses and 10 shops in Khaskhas Badi area, three shops in Aurangpura area and 12 shops in Talaab Chowk were demolished. Approximately 16 illegal sites were demolished near Ganesh Temple in Khargone. The incident took place on Sunday when several people, including police personnel, were injured when groups of people pelted stones at each other during a Ram Navami procession. The stone-pelting started at the very beginning of the procession leaving around four people injured including a police inspector, police said. After the miscreants set four houses on fire, the administration imposed a curfew in Talab Chowk, Gaushala Marg, and Motipura areas. (ANI)
Gary Eastwood, 67, of Westminster has traveled 3.2 million miles without an accident during his 32 years as a professional truck driver.

For this accomplishment and other outstanding service, Eastwood, a driver for Pitt Ohio, was one of 12 drivers recognized by the Maryland Motor Truck Association as 2021 Drivers of the Month. Maryland State Police ultimately chose him from among the 12 as Driver of the Year.

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Gary Eastwood of Westminster was chosen by the Maryland Motor Truck Association and the Maryland State Police as Maryland's 2021 Driver of the Year. Eastwood drives for Pitt Ohio. (Dylan Slagle/Carroll County Times)

According to Maryland Motor Truck Association the combined records of the Drivers of the Month equal 380 years of experience and more than 26 million miles of safe driving.

Safety is always on the forefront of my mind, Eastwood said. Ive known other drivers who have been in bad accidents, and it always shakes me up.

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During his career with Pitt Ohio, Eastwood has helped other drivers during a number of incidents. Eastwood once helped another driver whose trailer was on fire, saving the vehicle and the load. He also assisted police and emergency medical personnel when he was first on the scene at a fatal accident on the Pennsylvania Turnpike.

Staying safe is about realizing when it is time for a driver to pull over and understanding your own circadian rhythm, Eastwood said. There is no shame or blame to pull over for a nap or a cup of coffee.

Eastwood works 12 to 13 hours per day, beginning his shift at 8 p.m. and usually taking a break at about 4 a.m.

When everyone else is sleeping Im going up and down the road, he said.

His runs typically take him on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, traveling between Baltimore and Western Pennsylvania.

Its essential for truck drivers to pull over, he said.

Most of the convenient places for truckers to park get filled up quickly. There isnt enough safe pull-over spots for truckers, he noted.

In his career as a trucker, which began with his father in the 1980s, Eastwood has hauled everything from construction equipment, wood products and steel pipes to refrigerator units and fruits and vegetables.

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Eastwood has learned its essential to pack healthy food for each run to help him stay alert. He avoids fast food as much as possible.

I am absolutely honored to win this award, Eastwood said, noting he is only the second driver from Pitt Ohio to receive such an honor. They held a banquet for me and it was very special.

Dean Yockey, manager for training and development at Pitt Ohio, said Eastwood is an exceptional employee who does everything wholeheartedly.

He doesnt do anything halfway, he said. I wish we could have 1,000 of him.

Yockey said he nominated Eastwood for Driver of the Month last year.

Eastwood said after a long career in driving, retirement is on his mind. His goal is to drive for about 24 more months so he can make it to age 69 on the job.

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I love my job and I love the people I work with, he said. That makes all the difference.
Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday announced that a comprehensive cooperative policy will be presented before the country within seven to eight months. "Suggestions for the new cooperative policy are appreciated. Some important points have to be addressed in the new policy like the free registration of cooperatives. Free registration of agriculture cooperative society has been closed, you can make your suggestions around it. The comprehensive cooperative policy will be released in seven-eight months," Amit Shah said. Stressing the need for transparency, Home Minister said transparency is needed in the recruitment and training of employees. "Computerisation is essential to ensure transparency in Cooperatives. Democratic principles are also needed to be established. An organization like the Election Commission of India should have to be formed to ensure transparency in the elections of cooperatives," he said. He also stressed the need for better cooperation among the cooperative societies working in the region. "Coordination among Cooperative societies is also needed. I suppose if there are five cooperative institutions in a village, there should be a system for coordination among them. A novel cooperative institution should be declared in every village to ensure cooperation among the cooperatives in the area," he said. Shah said that if things like these would have been addressed 50 years back, many cooperatives would not have been closed. The Cooperation Minister also advocated uniformity in the laws of every state with regard to a cooperative society. "It is the right of every state to frame Cooperative rules on their own and we are not going to interfere in that. But it is necessary for creating uniform laws among states otherwise cooperatives will fail. Laws made in 1950 cannot continue in 2022. There is a need to amend them," he said. Praising the Cooperative system, Minister said only models like this can uplift 80 crore people from economic distress. "Industries lead to the development of the country but cooperatives lead to equal distribution of wealth. People who are economically backward can come out of their hardships thanks to models like these," Shah said. He also credited the cooperative societies for leading the cause of women's empowerment. "A cooperative (Amul) started by freedom fighters Tribhuvandas Kishibhai Patel has led to women empowerment in Gujarat. Rs 60,000 crores are directly going to their bank accounts today," he said. Slamming previous governments for not creating a coordination system among cooperative societies, Cooperation Minister said that suggestions to establish coordination among various sectors were lying on shelves over the years and no one government took any action. 'There are suggestions to also establish coordination among Public and Private sectors but the files kept lying on the shelves and no one did anything. PM Modi created a ministry to ensure it," he said. (ANI)
The Supreme Court on Tuesday asked Allahabad High Court to nominate a judicial officer to determine the "compensation" for the 2006 Meerut Fire Tragedy victims. A bench of Justices Hemant Gupta and V. Ramasubramanian asked the High Court to provide all the necessary infrastructures to enable the officer to discharge his duties. "We, therefore, request the Chief Justice of the Allahabad High Court to entrust the work of determination of compensation to a Judicial Officer in the rank of District Judge/Additional District Judge at Meerut within two weeks of the order of this Court to work exclusively on the question of determination of the compensation on a day-to-day basis, " the top court said. "The High Court shall provide all necessary infrastructures to enable the Officer to discharge his duties. The nominated Judicial Officer may permit the parties to lead such evidence as may be permissible. We hope that the nominated Judicial Officer shall calculate the amount of compensation and forward the report to this Court for consideration in respect of compensation in accordance with the law, " the top court said. The court further ordered the compensation already paid should be taken into consideration while calculating the amount by the nominated Judicial Officer. "The amount paid by the State and a sum of Rs 30 lakh deposited by the Organizers have been disbursed to the victims. The said amount, excluding the ex-gratia payments made, be taken into consideration while the determination of the amount payable by the Organizers and the State," the court said. The court was hearing the petition preferred by the victims of the fire tragedy which occurred on April 10, 2006 evening, the last day of the India Brand Consumer Show organized at Victoria Park in Meerut district of Uttar Pradesh by Mrinal Events and Expositions. The incident claimed the lives of 65 persons and left 161 or more with burn injuries. The court observed that the victims or their families visited the exhibition at the invitation of the Organizers and not that of the Contractor. The court held that the Organizers were supposed to make arrangements for putting up the exhibition hall, providing electricity and water and also the food stalls for the facility of the victims/visitors. "They (Organizers) cannot take shelter on the ground that the Contractor who was given work order on March 9, 2006, was an independent contractor and the victims should seek remedy from him," the bench said. As observed earlier, the contractor has worked for the Organizers and not for the victims and hence, the Organizers alone are responsible to protect the life and liberty of the victims, the court said. Victims were represented through senior counsel Vikas Pahwa. (ANI)
General MM Naravane, accompanied by Lieutenant General Manoj Pande, the Vice Chief of Army Staff is on a two-day visit to Pune.

"At a function organised at the Bombay Engineer Group (BEG) and Centre today, the Army Chief inducted the first set of indigenously developed Quick Reaction Fighting Vehicle Medium (QRFV), Infantry Protected Mobility Vehicle (IPMV), Ultra Long Range Observation System developed by Tata Advanced System Limited (TASL) and Monocoque Hull Multi Role Mine Protected Armoured Vehicle developed by Bharat Forge," the official release read.

The COAS appreciated TATA and Bharat Forge for their commitment to strengthening the "Atmanirbhar Bharat" initiative of the Government of India and for continued engagement with the Indian Army for the past decades.

The induction of these indigenously developed Systems by TASL and Bharat Forge would greatly enhance the operational capabilities of the Indian Army in future conflicts. A number of retired and serving dignitaries were present on the occasion. (ANI)
An appeal has been filed in the Delhi High Court challenging the single judge order in the matter related to 6-plus years age criteria for admission in schools run by Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangthan (KVS) for the academic year 2022-23. The Delhi High court on Monday had dismissed the five petitions moved by parents of five children challenging the new age criteria. The present appeal has been moved by the father of a child through Advocate Ashok Agarwal seeking direction to KVS to reframe the admission criteria in 2022-23 in accordance with the law. The petition also seeks direction to KVS to permit the petitioner's child to apply for admission in class I in the academic year 2022-23. The petitioner has submitted that the Single Judge erred in overlooking the fact that the Right to Education is fundamental right under Article 21 and 21-A of the Constitution of India and in terms of existing laws and practice going for decades, the tender age of children of 5 plus have acquired a vested right for consideration of their name for admission in class I in schools of respondents KVS which cannot be taken away by Central and Delhi government by alleging policy decision. Justice Rekha Palli had said that even if the petitioners' plea that they were taken by surprise were to be accepted, the fact remains that neither they had any vested right to claim admission in KVS nor have they been debarred from seeking admission. The single judge had said that the only effect of the impugned guidelines is to shift their eligibility to the next academic year which in my view cannot be a ground to interfere with the impugned guidelines especially when the respondents have already received over 7 lakh applications for admission to Class-I for the academic year 2022-23. Additional Solicitor General Chetan Sharma appearing for the Centre had submitted that New Education Policy 2020 is not challenged and the new age criteria is an integral part of the policy. ASG had submitted that there were some difficulties in changing the age criteria. If we change the age criteria, the program would be changed and would take weeks to reorganize. The Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS) in an affidavit filed in Delhi High Court had opposed the plea. KVS had said the Government of India has examined the issues at length and has notified NEP 2020, wherein a new scheme of pedagogical and curricular restructuring has been proposed to be implemented. Accordingly, KVS has implemented the said policy. The age criteria for admission in class/ grade-1 should therefore be in consonance with the NEP 2020 because it is settled law that the Executive has the competence to decide how a policy should be shaped or implemented, the affidavit states. Lawyers Ashok Agarwal and Kumar Utkarsh appeared for the petitioner had stated that the Court's intervention and issuance of direction is required to the respondent Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan to reframe the admission criteria in 2022-23 in accordance with the law. The plea had submitted that prior to the academic year 2022-23, the minimum age of admission for class I in respondent KVS was throughout 5 years as of March 31. It was also submitted that the impugned admission criteria of the respondent KVS is arbitrary, discriminatory, unjust, unreasonable, violative of the fundamental right to education of the petitioner as guaranteed to her under Articles 14, 21 and 21-A of the Constitution of India read with the provisions of Delhi School Education Act, 1973 and Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act. The petitioner, a kid through her father Pawan Kumar submitted that as she would be 5 plus age as of March 31, 2022, she was desirous of applying for admission in class I in respondent KVS in the academic year 2022-23. However, on February 24, 2022, all of a sudden respondent KVS has made changes in the minimum age criteria for admission in class I from 5 years to 6 years by uploading the impugned guidelines on the portal, just 4 days before the admission process starts. The plea submitted that new guidelines say that "as per the mandate of National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, entry age for Class 1 has been revised to 6 plus years with effect of Academic Session 2022-23". (ANI)
A day after incidents of stone-pelting in Gujarat's Himmatnagar and Anand districts were reported, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel convened a high-level meeting of the Home Department in the presence of the Minister of State for Home Affairs Harsh Sanghvi for in-depth review of the events that took place on the day of Ram Navami. "Attempts to disrupt the peace, security and social harmony of the state have been made by some elements at these two places, but the Home Department and the police have taken stern action against the persons involved in the incidents," the Minister of State for Home Affairs informed the Chief Minister at the meeting. He said that the investigation into these incidents has detained 9 persons in Khambhat and 22 persons in Himmatnagar and the police have taken legal action against a total of 31 persons. Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel stated to the Police and Home Department that Gujarat is a peaceful, safe, secure and developed state which has a reputation all over the country, the official press release from the Chief Minister's office said. Bhupendra Patel said that the state government is fully committed to maintain peace, security and social harmony in the state and will not allow any obstruction under any circumstances. In the meeting held under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Patel, Chief Front Secretary to the Chief Minister K. Kailashnathan, Additional Chief Secretary of Home Department Rajkumar, Director General of Police Ashish Bhatia and senior police officers were present. Meanwhile, a curfew under Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) is currently in place in Himmatnagar till April 13 following an order by district collector Hitesh Koya, and troops of the Rapid Action Force (RAF) as well as the State Reserve Police (SRP) have been deployed in the town to restore law and order. On Monday night, around 11 pm, incidents of stone-pelting between communities were reported in Vanzaravas area of Himmatnagar town after which the police fired tear gas shells to disperse the mob, officers said. (ANI)
Taking to Twitter, Prime Minister said, "Many congratulations to all the winning candidates in the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Council elections. This victory is once again an expression of people's faith in BJP's development model. Best wishes to Yogi Adityanathji's government and all the workers associated with the party organization."

After the thumping victory in the state assembly elections, the ruling BJP also gained a majority in the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Council for the first time.

"Today, BJP's thumping victory in the local authority Legislative Council elections of Uttar Pradesh has again made it clear that the people of the state are with nationalism, development and good governance under the able guidance and leadership of the respected Prime Minister," said Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.

The party had earlier already won nine seats unopposed in the Legislative Council. On Tuesday, the counting of votes took place for 27 seats of which BJP candidates won 24. BJP has now managed to win 33 out of 36 seats.

The three seats where the party faced defeat include Azamgarh, Varanasi and Pratapgarh.

Vikrant Singh Rishu, the son of ex-MLC and expelled BJP leader Yashwant Singh won from Azamgarh as an independent candidate. Annapurna Singh, wife of Brijesh Singh emerged victorious from Varanasi. Akshay Pratap Singh, a close aide of Raja Bhaiya, won from the Pratapgarh seat.

Some of the BJP winning candidates include Pragya Tripathi from Bahraich-Shravasti, Dinesh Pratap Singh from Rae Bareli, Brijesh Singh Prinshu from Jaunpur, Ratanpal Singh wins from Deoria-Kushinagar, Ramchandra Pradhan Lucknow-Unnao, Angad Kumar Singh from Barabanki and Avinash Singh Chouhan from Fatehpur. (ANI)
One notice was issued to Anoop, who is the brother of Malayalam actor Dileep, and the other notice was issued to Suraj, the brother-in-law of Dileep.

The Crime Branch asked them to appear at Aluva Police Club on Wednesday.

The Crime Branch also issued notice to Malayalam actress and wife of Dileep, Kavya Madhavan for interrogation on Wednesday.

Dileep is the eighth accused in this case.

Earlier, the Kerala High Court directed the probe team to conclude the probe by April 15.

An actress working in South Indian Movies was abducted and allegedly molested inside a car by a group of men, who had forced their way into the vehicle on the night of February 17, 2017. (ANI)
The Chief Minister held a high-level meeting on Tuesday in Ranchi regarding the ropeway accident in the Deoghar district and the incident in Lohardaga.

The state government directed the officials to provide quality treatment to the people injured in both incidents. The Chief Minister has directed the officers to constitute a high-level inquiry committee to investigate the cable car accident in Deoghar district and to include experts related to the ropeway in the committee.

The state government issued directions to register an FIR regarding the accident.

The Indian Air Force (IAF) on Tuesday completed the rescue of 35 stranded people from the Trikut Hills Ropeway Service in the Deoghar district. Three people died in the accident.

The operation was carried out in close coordination with National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), local administration and Army.

IAF utilised two Mi-17 V5, one Mi-17, one Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) and one Cheetah to fly more than 26 hours in this effort. The operation was initiated in the early hours on Monday.

Some cable cars collided on a ropeway at Trikut hills close to Baba Baidyanath Temple on Sunday. The IAF received the request for the rescue of 59 tourists stuck in the ropeway service.In Lohardaga, a man succumbed to his injuries following a stone-pelting incident that took place after clashes broke out between two groups in Hirhi on Sunday.

Several people were injured and vehicles were also torched during the violence. (ANI)
On Monday, the airport handled a record 102 inbound and outbound flights with a total number of 15,199 passengers.

"Another milestone broken. A century of flights," said Kuldeep Singh Rishi, the airport director at Srinagar Airport in a tweet.

Due to an influx of tourists in Kashmir from different parts of the country the Srinagar airport is handling an average of 90 flights daily. On Tuesday, the airport handled 88 flights and 12,768 passengers.

The airport design has a capacity to handle less than 7,000 passengers per day.

The number of flights at Srinagar Airport has been increasing over the past few weeks due to a rise in the number of tourists who are escaping the heat of the plains.

The tourism sector in the country was badly affected for almost two years due to COVID-19 restrictions. As soon as the restrictions were relaxed, the travellers are rushing towards the country's popular tourist spots. (ANI)
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday said that the state government will hand over the land to Civil Aviation Ministry by May 10 for the expansion and modernisation of Silchar, Jorhat, Dibrugarh, and Lakhimpur Airports. Speaking on the inauguration of the Flying Training Organization (FTO) at Lilabari Airport in Assam's Lakhimpur district, Chief Minister Sarma termed the day a historic day for Assam. He said that after seven decades of India's independence for the first time a flying training organization was built and inaugurated in the Northeast region. "The launch of Redbird Flight Training Academy at Lilabari Airport is a landmark development, which will always remain as a red-letter day in the aviation history of the region," Sarma said. He said that it is one of the nine Flight Training Organisations started under Phase I of the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative and the first in the Northeast. He expressed his happiness about the fact that out of almost 100 flying training schools in India, the Redbird Flight Training Academy is the first in the Northeast region. "The Government of Assam has recently handed over 84 acres of land for the development of basic strip and construction of isolation bay for the purpose," he said. He said that nearly 200 pilots will be trained at the academy where 10 per cent of seats will be reserved to which Assam Government can sponsor aspirants from lower and lower-middle-class families. "Assam government started the land acquisition process for Lakhimpur Airport, Dibrugarh Airport, Jorhat Airport and Silchar Airport. For expansion and modernisation of Silchar, Jorhat, Dibrugarh, and Lakhimpur Airport, the Government of Assam will hand over land to Civil Aviation Ministry by May 10, 2022, to mark the completion of one year of state government," he said. "We have already completed the land acquisition process for the Airport at Silchar. Also, land acquisition for Dibrugarh Airport is almost over. For the land at Jorhat, I have released recently Rs.180 crore for this purpose. That means we are on the track and ready to hand over the land to the Civil Aviation Ministry by May 10, 2022," the Chief Minister added. Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia on Tuesday inaugurated the Flying Training Organization (FTO) at Lilabari Airport in Assam's Lakhimpur district. This is the first FTO of Northeast India. Redbird Aviation has established the Flying Training School at Lilabari Airport with an aim to help the youths of the North-Eastern region in the aviation sector. (ANI)
A federal jury found former Baltimore Police Detective Robert Hankard guilty of corruption and conspiracy charges Monday, including allegations he conspired with others to plant a BB gun on a man in 2014 after another officer had run over them with their car.

Hankards guilty verdict ends the criminal portion of the gun planting incident with all three officers involved in the actual planting of the gun having been convicted. Their prosecution spun out of the larger federal investigation into the Baltimore Police Departments Gun Trace Task Force.

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The man police ran over, Demetric Simon, filed a lawsuit against all the police officers involved in framing him, including Hankard, as well as the department as a whole.

Hankard was hired by the Baltimore Police Department in 2007 and spent the second half of his career as a detective in specialized drug investigation squads. Hankard made $107,411.97 in fiscal year 2019, his last full year of employment, on a base salary of $81,464, according to city employment records.

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He did not testify in his trial and remains out of custody until his sentencing hearing, which has yet to be scheduled. Hankard, standing between his lawyers, seemed unmoved as the jury foreperson read his verdict.

We respect the jury but were very disappointed because it appears the jury credited the testimony of Keith Gladstone, Hankards attorney David Benowitz said. Gladstone, a former Baltimore police sergeant, already pleaded guilty to his role in the gun planting scheme.

Were going to keep fighting on behalf of Mr. Hankard, Benowitz said.

In addition to the gun planting incident, the jury convicted Hankard of lying in 2015 on search warrant affidavits and police reports to cover up times he violated peoples constitutional protections against unwarranted searches and seizures.

In both instances, Hankard filed police reports and affidavits stating that officers had not entered a residence, when in both occasions they had. Benowitz acknowledged to jurors the inaccuracies in the reports but said they didnt amount to a crime because they didnt make a material difference in the substance of the reports.

In both instances, the suspects arrested had been the subject of lengthy Baltimore police investigations Hankard was directing.

In one of the reports, Hankard appeared to have forged a sergeants signature. Recently retired police Sgt. Joseph Landsman testified he didnt sign the report in question and wouldnt have because it was inaccurate. Vignola testified it was common practice for BPD officers to sign off on one anothers reports in place of their sergeants.

In the other search warrant issue, prosecutors focused on whether Hankard knew drugs had been planted in a suspects truck to help justify their arrest and subsequent search of their motel room. Gladstone admitted during his testimony to planting the drugs, and said Hankard knew he had planted them.

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Former Baltimore Police Detective Robert Hankard arrives for court Thursday. He was found guilty Monday of corruption and conspiracy charges, including allegations he conspired with others to plant a BB gun on a man in 2014 after another officer had run over them with their car. (Jerry Jackson/Baltimore Sun)

Hankards lawyers denied that was the case and pointed to Gladstones previous statements to prosecutors in which he told them no one knew he planted the drugs. The suspect, Douglas Brooks, testified in court he didnt have heroin in his truck, only in the motel room, the inside of which officers had not seen.

Benowitz spent most of his closing argument trying to cast doubt on the testimony from Gladstone, who was Hankards supervisor during the time period the crimes occurred.

Gladstone took a plea deal in 2019 for his role in the gun planting plot  he is the one who actually planted the gun  and has yet to be sentenced.

Gladstone admitted on the stand to a number of serious crimes, including robbing suspects and selling drugs, but was protected from self-incrimination with an immunity agreement. He provided key testimony in the case against Hankard, saying Hankard gave Gladstone and another officer, Carmine Vignola, the BB gun Gladstone would eventually plant.

The officers were looking to help Wayne Jenkins after he ran down Simon. Jenkins headed the GTTF and pleaded guilty to crimes similar to the ones Gladstone admitted to.

Throughout the trial, lawyers on both sides used Gladstones explosive testimony to try to further their own arguments. For prosecutors, Gladstones ties to Hankard were proof Hankard was corrupt, and any attempt by the defense to discredit Gladstone ignored the reality of the evidence.

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Youre not going to learn anything about police corruption from the Mother Teresas of the world, Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Regali said to jurors.

Benowitz disagreed, saying Gladstones participation  a corrupt ex-cop taking the stand to implicate one of his former subordinates to lessen his own exposure to prison  was enough to create reasonable doubt about Hankards involvement in any crime, Benowitz said.

Hes not capable of telling the truth unless its bent to his advantage, Benowitz said of Gladstone.

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Gladstones plea deal included a cooperation agreement that could lessen his eventual sentence if he told prosecutors what he knew and testified on the stand about his involvement in crime and corruption inside the Baltimore Police Department.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Leo Wise said in his rebuttal to Benowitz that jurors knew they did not have to solely rely on Gladstone to convict Hankard because each of the governments allegations is supported either by other testimony or by corroborating evidence.

Subpoenaed to testify, Vignola said Hankard did give them the BB gun but that he did not want to be there testifying.

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Vignola pleaded guilty in 2019 to lying to the grand jury about his and Hankards involvement in the gun planting scheme. As part of his plea agreement, Vignola had to agree to certain facts in the case, including where the BB gun came from. Prosecutors claimed Vignola called Hankard to request the gun and Hankard agreed because they were partners.

In the twisted logic at the Baltimore Police Department, thats what these cops do for each other, Wise said.

Hankard was also convicted of perjury for lying to a grand jury when originally questioned about his involvement in the gun planting scheme. He told the grand jury in 2019 he didnt entertain Vignolas request for a toy gun, because thats not the kind of police officer he was.

Im just one of those cops that I do everything by the book and I just didnt even want to think about it, Hankard said then.
Downplaying the differences between India and the US on the approaches to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, US President Joe Biden began his virtual summit with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday by highlighting India's humanitarian assistance to Ukraine. "I want to welcome India's humanitarian support to the people of Ukraine. We're going to continue our close consultation on how to manage the destabilising effects of this Russian war," Biden said. Modi spoke of India's relief supplies to Ukraine and condemned the killings of civilians in Bucha, which he called "very worrying", adding that the Parliament had extensive discussions on Ukraine. "We have sent medicines and other relief materials to Ukraine and to its neighbouring countries, and on Ukraine's request, we will be sending them another consignment of medicines very soon," Modi said. "Recently, the news about the killings of innocent civilians in Bucha was very worrying. We have instantly condemned the killings and have called for an independent inquiry," he said, speaking in Hindi with simultaneous interpretation in English. The summit took place before the 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue of External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin. Modi said the summit "is very important as it will provide direction for discussions" at the 2+2 meeting. At the White House, Biden sat at a semi-circular table with the US secretaries to his right and Indian ministers and Ambassador Taranjit Singh Sandhu to his left, facing Modi on a video screen. While ending his introductory remarks, Biden, who is known for his several slips of the tongue, addressed Modi as "Mr President" although elsewhere during the brief speech he called him the Prime Minister. The media that was in the room to watch the start of the summit was not allowed to ask questions and was ushered out even as they were shouting questions. Before the summit, Blinken and Jaishankar, and Austin and Singh, held separate bilateral meetings. Austin welcomed Singh to the Pentagon with an honour guard. India has stayed mostly neutral on the Russian invasion of Ukraine, abstaining eight times on Ukraine-related voting at the United Nations. This and India buying oil from Russia have led to criticism of India in the US and suggestions of imposing sanctions, even though energy purchases are allowed under the US sanctions and European US allies continue to buy far higher amounts of energy from Moscow. The Biden administration has tried to ward off criticism of India, which is a key player in its global strategy. Hence, Biden stressed India's humanitarian aid to Ukraine. "Our continued consultation and dialogue are key to ensuring the US-India relationship continues to grow deeper and stronger, delivering our people and our global good, good that we all are seeking, managed particularly in your part of the world", Biden said. Modi recalled that at their meeting in September, Biden had said "that the India America partnership can contribute to solving a lot of global problems". "I totally agree with you. As two democracies that are the world's largest and oldest, we are natural partners and progress that has taken place in our relations in the last few years, the new momentum that has been created, would have been hard to even imagine a few decades ago," Modi said. Stressing the democracy link, Modi said, "At the beginning of your term in office, you used to use the very important slogan, Democracies can deliver'. India-America partnership and its success is the best means to make the slogan meaningful this year." On US' ties with India, Biden said, "We have the same concerns about the global challenges we faced with Covid-19. Advancing health security and tracking the climate crisis, and we share a strong and growing major defence partnership. "And our partnership is a deep connection between our people ties of family, of friendship and of shared values." (Arul Louis can be reached at arul.l@ians.in and followed @arulouis) --IANS al/arm ( 680 Words) 2022-04-11-23:12:02 (IANS)
After the conclusion of the India-US 2 + 2 ministerial dialogue, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the United States and India are cooperating to deliver more food to the world market and make more fertilizer amid the shortage due to the Ukraine conflict. "Our countries are working together to try to bring more food to world markets as well as to the World Food Program," Blinken said on Monday. "The United States is also focused on securing more funding for the World Food Program and the UN Food and Agricultural Organization. And producing more fertilizer so that we can help others sustain crop fields in the future," he added. Amid the Ukraine crisis, the UN's World Food Program has warned that this war will lead to spiraling food prices and exacerbating hunger across the world due to disrupted supply chains and derailed crops production. According to several reports, regions such as Africa and the Middle East may suffer the most as they are dependent on inexpensive grain exports. During a joint press conference with the Indian foreign minister and defence minister, Blinken noted the significant humanitarian aid that India is providing to the people of Ukraine. He also noted that India has made a strong statement on the killings of civilians in Ukraine. "India has to make its own choice about how it approaches this challenge. We, as a general proposition, consulting with all our allies and allies partners on the consequences of (Russian President) Putin's war," the US Secretary of State said. "In our judgement, it is important that all countries, especially those with leverage, press Putin to end this war. And democracies must stand together and speak with one voice to defend the values that we share," he added. Blinken recognised that India's relationship with Russia has developed over decades, at a time when the United States was not able to be a partner to India. "Times have changed. Today, we are able and willing to be partner of choice with India across every realm." On February 24, Russia launched a "special military operation" in Ukraine that the West has termed an unprovoked invasion. In response, the United States and its allies have imposed comprehensive sanctions against Russia. (ANI)
Newly-elected Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has stoked controversy after he reportedly deviated from the oath, as mandated in the country's constitution. Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif took oath as the 23rd Prime Minister of Pakistan on Monday evening hours after being elected by the National Assembly of the country. Prime Minister-elect Shehbaz Sharif was administered the oath by the Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani after President Arif Alvi fell ill. Taking to Twitter, Marvi Sirmed, who is a Professor University of Connecticut, said it is outrageous to see how the oath to PM's office has been changed. Explaining how the oath of the Pak PM is part of the constitution, she even asked how can a babu just change it. "It is outrageous to see how the oath to PM's office has been changed and PM @CMShehbaz (change your handle sir) agreeing to it. Was the text changed with your consent Bilawal Bhutto Zardari? Can you please at least raise this? Oath is part of constitution. How can a babu just change it?" Marvi Sirmed tweeted. Another Twitter user Moawiz Taimur agreed with Sirmed's observation. He tweeted, "Yes, well noted. There are changes - 'Khatem ul Kutab' - 'Khatem -un-nabeein yeni jin kay baad koi nabi nahi aa sakta' ( if the meaning of Khatem e nabeein in arabic is last prophet then why added "jin kay baad koi nabi nahi aa sakta." Newly-elected Pakistan earlier on Monday said that his government wants good relations with India, but added that peace would not be possible without the resolution of the so-called "Kashmir issue". "Neighbours are not a matter of choice, it is something we have to live with. Unfortunately, our relations with India could not improve in the past," Sharif said. "We want good relations with India, but peace can not be discussed without resolution of the Kashmir issue," he said. (ANI)
At a time when the Russia-Ukraine war is changing the dynamics of relations among countries, the India-Mongolia ties have been emerging as close partners in the world in terms of energy supply chains. India and Mongolia have consistently pushed the boundaries of their collaboration in the recent past and a fractured, energy-uncertain world is likely to strengthen this partnership. With the war in Ukraine, and the disruption of global supply chains due to the COVID-19 pandemic, new concerns, and opportunities are emerging. In 2022, by the end of the year, an India-built oil refinery at the cost of more than USD 1 billion and with a capacity of 1.5 million metric tonnes would be opened near Sainshand in southern Dornogovi province of the central Asian country with the help of India's public sector Engineers India Limited. This refinery will take care of 75 per cent of Mongolia's oil refining needs for which it would no longer have to turn to other countries. India is also building extensive rail and power infrastructure in Mongolia to help transport the countries mineral and energy wealth. According to the Ministry of External Affairs, both India and Mongolia share warm and cordial bilateral relations. Mongolia regards India as its "third" and a "spiritual neighbour". The bilateral relationship was upgraded to a Strategic Partnership in 2015 during the historic visit of Prime Minister which has proven to be a watershed event in India's bilateral relations with Mongolia. Since then, bilateral cooperation with Mongolia has expanded and has seen significant growth. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic. Both the countries have maintained regular high-level interactions and engagements throughout the year, further strengthening the strategic partnership. Ministry of External Affairs said that several development projects in Mongolia, which are being built in partnership with India, witnessed significant progress despite challenges posed bythe pandemic. Both countries supported each other in the fight against the COVID. Overall, India-Mongolia bilateral relations witnessed positive momentum throughout the year. 2021 marked the 66th anniversary of diplomatic ties between India and Mongolia, during which both sides maintained frequent exchanges and resumed physical interactions at high-level. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar held a bilateral meeting with Mongolian Foreign Minister Battsetseg Batmunkh on October 12 last year on the margins of the 6th CICA Foreign Ministers meeting in Kazakhstan. Both Foreign Ministers briefly met again on November 3 last year on the sidelines of the COP26 Summit in Glasgow. India has been partnering with Mongolia on several developmental projects in Mongolia. The work on construction of Oil Refinery Project (ORP) in Dornogobi Province of Mongolia commenced in January 2021. The ORP project of USD 1.236 billion, funded by EXIM Bank, is the largest Line of Credit (LoC) project undertaken by India outside of its immediate neighbourhood. The construction of another LoC project funded by India in Mongolia - the Atal Bihari Centre of Excellence in IT, CT and Outsourcing, started on 12 August 2021. An upgraded Control and Command Centre (C&CC), installed with two servers provided by Border Security Force of India, was launched at GABP Headquarters, Mongolia on 23 September 2021. Both countries supported each other in fighting the global challenge of COVID pandemic. India was the first country to send COVID vaccines to Mongolia through gifting of 150,000 doses of Made in India Covishield Vaccines on 22 February 2021. India facilitated the export of over 200,000 vials of Remdesivir to Mongolia under a grant of a special export permit. The Government of Mongolia donated an amount of USD 1 million to Red Cross India during the second wave of the pandemic in India on 17 May 2021. In November 2021, both countries agreed to mutually recognize vaccine certificates in order to ease travel between the two countries. (ANI)
US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin on Monday hosted Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh at the Pentagon for talks on the developing defense partnership between the two nations. Pentagon in a release said the topics of discussion will include the problems posed by China and Russia in the region and around the world. Later, they will move on to the State Department to join Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken and Indian Minister of External Affairs S. Jaishankar for the so-called "two-plus-two" talks. "This meeting and upcoming two-plus-two dialogue are indeed important landmarks in our bilateral relationship," Singh said. "I am positive that our visit here shall take India- U.S. comprehensive strategic partnership to the next level." "We're meeting at a critical moment in the US-India defense partnership," Austin told Singh at the beginning of their meeting. "And thanks to decades of hard work, we have built the foundation of one of the most important partnerships of this century." According to the US Defence Department, India and the United States share the vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific. This international, rules-based structure has served the region and globe well since its adoption at the end of World War II. At its heart, this system is based on the rule of law and national sovereignty. "We're facing urgent and mounting challenges to this shared vision," Austin said. "Across the region, the People's Republic of China is attempting to challenge and undermine the sovereignty of its neighbors." The Chinese are constructing dual-use infrastructure along its border with India, and Chinese leaders continue to make unlawful claims in the South China Sea. The United States stands with India in defending their sovereign interests," Austin said. "Beijing is not alone in its efforts to undermine the security of its neighbours and to change the status quo by force," he said. "Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the humanitarian devastation that it has created are blatant attempts to undermine the international order that is grounded in the rules and the principles that we share." India is the world's largest democracy, and India's leadership is central to this rules-based order, Austin said. "So too, is a US-India defense partnership and our collaboration with like-minded partners," he said. "We now coordinate alongside each other across the Indo-Pacific region and across domains, which is truly extraordinary. And we are committed to working seamlessly with you across new and emerging domains, including space and cyberspace." (ANI)
The over-dependence on China for economic development could be a miserable option for any country, and the latest examples of it, are Pakistan and Sri Lanka which have been facing a dire financial crisis at present, according to reports. It is not a coincidence that these two countries have been the biggest beneficiaries of economic "assistance" from China. But instead of becoming more resilient, they folded up in the wake of the global economic crisis brought about by a pandemic many suspects originated in Chinese laboratories, Global Strat View reported. China's "Debt Trap" policy follows a similar global pattern. Pakistan, an "all-weather friend" of China, remains another example, which, according to a recent World Bank Report, now finds its place in the world's 10 largest borrowers. Pakistan owes most of its debt to China. The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor project, which aims to connect Gwadar Port in Pakistan's Baluchistan with China's Xinjiang province, is a flagship project of China's BRI. Further, it has been argued by various analysts that China is using "debt-trap" diplomacy to gain access to strategic assets in Pakistan. The infrastructure projects in Pakistan were financed by Chinese banks. Meanwhile, the crisis in Sri Lanka was apparent after the pandemic that dried up the international tourist traffic to the island nation, one of its main foreign exchange earners, the country's debts spiralled and foreign exchange reserves shrunk as the end result of reckless borrowings from China to finance infrastructure projects, reported The Hong Kong Post. With tourism hit by the pandemic, the economic structure of Sri Lanka, which was already tottering under the heavy burden of loans, crumbled. A major part of this debt was owed to China, which accounts for nearly USD 8 billion. This debt burden was a result of China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) projects like Hambantota Port and Colombo Port City for which Chinese agencies lent large amounts to Sri Lanka under stiff terms of repayment. Notably, in 2021-22, Colombo's debt repayment to Beijing amounted to nearly USD 2 billion. Further, Hambantota port has already been leased out to China for 99 years against USD 1.2 billion. In the face of the deepening foreign exchange crisis, Sri Lanka President Gotabaya Rajapaksa sought China's help in December 2021 as he requested a debt restructuring in a meeting with China Foreign Minister Wang Yi. However, Beijing has reportedly shown Colombo the door, according to the media outlet. Ironically, the deeply pro-China Rajapaksa government dug its own grave as it had booted out the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) of the USA with its offer to extend developmental assistance grant to Colombo as the Board of Directors of MCC discontinued its USD 480 million contract with Sri Lanka in December 2020 "due to lack of partner country engagement," the publication reported citing the US embassy. Further, China-assisted projects in Sri Lanka are likely to deepen the indebtedness of the island nation. Notably, China refused to assist Sri Lanka which appealed to reschedule its huge Chinese debt burden in the face of the Covid-19 outbreak that has adversely affected the tourism sector, said a media report. Chinese loans have come at a hefty cost for Pakistan and Sri Lanka. The slow bleeding would have continued for a few more years without the extent of the damage being recognized by them. While the warnings by experts have been ignored by Colombo and Islamabad alike, the pandemic, followed by the Ukraine-Russia conflict, has exposed how vulnerable both economies had become due to indiscriminate borrowing from China. Two countries going down almost the exact same way is not a coincidence. Other countries tempted by the Chinese-inspired dream of rapid economic progress need to think twice before embracing economic engagement with the dragon. Whether it will make them more resilient or vulnerable to shocks is the question they need to ask. Countries like Madagascar, Maldives and Tajikistan are also reeling under Chinese debts. (ANI)
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that the United States is calling on all nations not to have major weapons transactions with Russia. He made these marks after the conclusion of the 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue between the defence and foreign ministers of India and the United States. "We continue to urge all countries to avoid major new transactions for Russian weapons systems, particularly in light of what Russia is doing to Ukraine," Blinken said when asked whether Washington is considering imposing sanctions on India over procuring S-400 air defence systems. "We have not yet made a determination regarding potential sanctions or potential waivers under the CAATSA law." He recognised that there is a long history and long relationship between India and Russia in the trade of military equipment. "That relationship took hold at a time when we were not able and willing to be a partner to India. Now we are both able and willing to be such a partner -- to be the security partner of choice for India." Addressing a joint press conference, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said the United States is actively discussing military modernization with India and is prepared to make weapons systems more affordable to Delhi, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said during a press conference following meetings with top Indian officials. "On the issue of future systems, we are engaged in active discussions with India on how to best support their modernization needs. As we look at the future, we want to make sure that we maintain the ability to operate together, and so we look forward to those continued discussions, and it also includes a range of options that would make our systems more affordable," Austin said on Monday. India uses several Russian-made weapons, including tanks and missile systems, and has signed deals, including the purchase of Russia's S-400 air defence system. Amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, India has refused to sign join the Western sanctions against Russia despite the looming threat of Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA). (ANI)
Five policemen were killed in a rocket attack carried out by terrorists in Dera Ismail Khan district of Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, local media reported on Monday. Terrorists carried out a rocket attack on a police van near Chowk Yadgar of Dera Ismail Khan's Kulachi city, ARY News reported. According to the police officials, terrorists fired a rocket at the police van and later resorted to heavy firing, however, the terrorists managed to flee from the scene after the fierce attack, according to Pakistani media. Earlier this month, three terrorists were killed in an intelligence-based operation (IBO) by the security forces in Dera Ismail Khan. The IBO had conducted in the Kulachi area of Dera Ismail Khan on the reported presence of terrorists, according to ARY News. (ANI)
Amid the ongoing Russian military operation in Ukraine, India and the United States reviewed mutual efforts to respond to the worsening humanitarian crisis in Kyiv and assessed its broader implications. India and the US held the 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue in Washington with the Indian side led by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and the American side was represented by Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin on Monday. In a joint statement on the fourth India-US 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue, the Ministers unequivocally condemned civilian deaths in Ukraine and sought immediate cessation of hostilities. According to the statement, the ministers underscored that the contemporary global order has been built on the UN Charter, respect for international law, and the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all states. On Monday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while speaking at a virtual interaction with US President Joe Biden, reiterated that India condemns the killing of the civilians in Bucha in Ukraine and demands an impartial probe into the matter. "Recent news of the killing of innocent citizens in Bucha city was a matter of concern. We immediately condemned it and also demanded an impartial probe. We hope that through the talks between Russia and Ukraine, a path for peace would come out," PM Modi said. The Prime Minister also highlighted that India discussed the Ukraine issue in Parliament. He further mentioned that he has been in touch with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. "I have spoken with Presidents of both Ukraine and Russia over the telephone, several times. I not only appealed to them for peace but also suggested President Putin hold direct talks with the Ukrainian President. Detailed discussions were held over Ukraine in our Parliament," PM Modi stated. On February 24, Russia launched a "special military operation" in Ukraine that the West has termed an unprovoked invasion. In response, the United States and its allies have imposed comprehensive sanctions against Russia. (ANI)
The United States has conveyed its full support to India's upcoming G20 Presidency, starting December 1 this year till November 2023. India and the US held the 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue in Washington with the Indian side led by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and the American side was represented by Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin on Monday. The joint statement issued after the fourth India-US 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue stated "the United States conveyed its full support to India's upcoming G20 Presidency from December 2022 to November 2023". In this context, the Ministers reiterated their commitment to work closely on international security, social, and economic issues of global interest and impact, added the statement. Earlier, on Thursday, responding to a question in the Rajya Sabha on the manner in which India is preparing to assume the responsibility of the Presidency of G20 this year in December, the Minister of State for External Affairs Rajkumar Ranjan Singh had elaborated upon the role of India as the G-20 Presidency and responsibilities and power the position would bring for the country. "As the G20 Presidency, India will set the agenda for the year, identify the themes and focus areas, conduct discussions and work out outcome documents. The G20 Secretariat will be responsible for a smooth transition from the previous Presidency, preparations and conduct," the Minister of State had said. He said the hosting of the G20 deliberations would also result in "economic opportunities in different sectors such as tourism, hospitality, IT and civil aviation among others, during our Presidency year". "India will be in a position to identify, highlight, develop and strengthen international support for priorities of vital importance to developing countries in diverse social and economic sectors, ranging from energy, agriculture, trade, digital economy, health and environment to employment, tourism, anti-corruption and women empowerment, including in focus areas that impact the most vulnerable and disadvantaged," he had said. (ANI)
Clay Center, KS (67432)

Today

Mostly sunny skies. Becoming windy during the afternoon. High 78F. Winds SE at 20 to 30 mph. Higher wind gusts possible..

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Partly cloudy skies in the evening followed by cloudy and windy conditions late. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 63F. Winds SE at 20 to 30 mph.
The protest was held outside the office of the district police officer demanding the arrest of PTI workers on Monday.

The protesters chanted slogans against local police for not registering the first information report (FIR) against those who were allegedly involved in the attack on the madrassa and torturing its students, The News International reported.

The emotionally charged PTI supporters on Sunday night had allegedly attacked the mosque and the madrassa in Timergara to express anger over the ouster of Imran Khan through a no-confidence vote in the National Assembly, the Pakistani newspaper reported.

According to the Pakistani newspaper, the PTI workers allegedly tortured the students at the seminary. Four students were injured in the incident.

Speaking at the protest, the JUIF district amir Maulana Sirajuddin and others asked the district police officer to lodge the FIR against those involved in the attack.

However, the local PTI leaders and MPs denied involvement in the incident and termed the allegations baseless, The News International reported. (ANI)
Even after Shehbaz Sharif took oath as 23rd Prime Minister of Pakistan, PML-N has ruled out the possibility of the immediate return of Nawaz Sharif to Islamabad from London. The PML-N leaders are excited after the junior Sharif became the country's PM, hoping that the party's supreme leader will soon be among them. However, there are a number of factors that may not allow former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to take a flight back to Pakistan, reported Dawn. Talking to Dawn, a couple of senior PML-N leaders said the party functionaries and workers were very happy to see Sharif junior as the Pakistan PM while looking forward to seeing Nawaz Sharif among them in the coming days. "Nawaz Sharif has no immediate plans to return. The Sharif family thinks that his early return will establish the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf's (PTI) propaganda that he does not have serious health issues," a senior PML-N leader from Punjab said. He further added, "The other factor Nawaz will weigh before deciding to return is how the 11-party coalition government functions in the coming months in the face of the growing PTI pressure for early elections." However, in reply to a question about the tentative date for Nawaz's return, another leader close to the former premier, said: "Either just before the next polls or right after... If Nawaz gets some relief in the corruption cases ahead of the next elections, the party will press him to return to spearhead the PML-N's election campaign. To match Imran Khan's canvassing, the PML-N needs Nawaz around." Meanwhile, PML-N Punjab spokesperson Azma Bokhari told Dawn, "Mian Sahib (Nawaz Sharif) will return to Pakistan once his consultants allow him to travel." She also stated that after Shehbaz Sharif's election as the PM, the party workers have become emotional and they want Nawaz Sharif to return soon, but the decision has to be taken on the advice of his doctors. "He will be here at an appropriate time," she added. An "ailing" Nawaz Sharif has been living in London since November 2019 for medical treatment after the High Court allowed him a four-week reprieve. He was serving seven-year imprisonment in the Kot Lakhpat Jail in Lahore in the Al-Azizia corruption case before his departure. In August last year, Nawaz Sharif filed an appeal with the British Immigration Tribunal after the Home Department refused to extend his stay in the country any further, citing his medical conditions. Prior to his exit, Shehbaz Sharif had submitted an undertaking to the Lahore High Court that his elder brother would return "within four weeks or on certification by doctors that he has regained his health and is fit to return back to Pakistan", reported Dawn. In a survey conducted earlier by The News International, Pak's former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's popularity has always been on the rise across the country's many provinces as compared to Imran Khan. (ANI)
The sentencing of seasoned terrorist Hafiz Saeed to 31 years of imprisonment on April 8 amid a political crisis in the country is a seasonal pretence by Pakistan to avoid economic sanctions by the global anti-terror watchdog, Financial Action Task Force (FATF), according to a media report. Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) founder and Jamat-ud-Dawa (JuD) chief Hadiz Saeed was sent to prison in two terror financing cases that were registered by the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) in 2019, according to Islam Khabar. Saeed's sentencing is part of Pakistan's 'preparations' to meet stringent anti-terror measures that it is being asked to fulfil since 2018 to escape action by the FATF. It is a seasonal charade to avoid or postpone economic sanctions in case the FATF is not satisfied with the country's measures taken against terror funding and money laundering. However, with the next FATF meeting a few weeks away and the change of government in Pakistan, it still needs to be seen if the country still keeps on following its policy of foot-dragging on measures to fight terror at home and its 'export' to the neighbourhood. Further, the political crisis in the country might be Pakistan's ready excuse for being unable to deliver to FATF. Amidst a raging political crisis that overwhelmed everything else in Pakistan, an anti-terrorism court on April 8, 2022 sentenced Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) founder and the chief of the Jamat-ud-Dawa (JuD), Hafiz Saeed, to 31 years in prison in two new terror financing cases that were registered by the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD). Notably, Saeed is not new to terrorism, his links to the world of terror are established enough for the US to announce a million-dollar bounty on him. He is also the mastermind of the Mumbai terror attacks that killed 172 people in the Indian metropolis in 2008. His outfit LeT was also involved in the 2001 shootout at Parliament House in New Delhi and the 2016 attack on the military headquarters in Uri, according to the media outlet. Using Saeed at will, Pakistan has always curbed his public criticism. Further, his terror trails have been long concealed under the guise of charity. However, amid international pressure and the fear of sanctions from FATF, Pakistan was compelled to investigate against him. Moreover, Saeed's arrest may also be one of Pakistan's old tactics of sentencing terrorists who will later be freed by the higher courts of the country, according to Italian political adviser Sergio Restelli. (ANI)
The proposed financial facilities include grant assistance of Pakistan Rupees 5.2 crores for sports, a credit line of USD 10 million for procurement of defence equipment, a new defence credit facility worth USD 50 million and a credit line of USD 200 million for procurement of mutually agreed items.

Notably, the proposal was made by Pakistan in February 2021 during the two-day official visit of former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan and former Foreign Minister Shal Mahmood Qureshi to Colombo.

Sri Lanka is battling a severe economic crisis with food and fuel scarcity affecting a large number of the people in the island nation resulting in massive protests over the government's handling of the situation.

The economy has been in a free-fall since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, affecting tourism.

Sri Lanka is also facing a foreign exchange shortage, which has affected its capacity to import food and fuel. The shortage of essential goods forced Sri Lanka to seek assistance from friendly countries.

The economic situation has led to huge protests with demands for the resignation of Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. (ANI)
The briefing of the Diplomatic Corps was organized by the United Nations Assistant Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) on April 6.

Knudsen further highlighted the recent UN "donor conference" on March 31 was successful in raising USD 2.4 billion, against the target of USD 4 billion.

"Taliban's decision to ban girls from attending secondary schools has negatively impacted the attitude of the global community towards them," Knudsen noted.

Earlier, the Taliban regime issued a decree banning female students above grade six from attending classes. The girls were further told to stay home until the Islamic Emirate announces its next decision.

She further highlighted that there was no political map and development plan with the Taliban and that they were still linking domestic political stability and peace with aid and assistance, instead of focusing on social agenda.

Further, the regional representative of UNAMA in Faryab Province highlighted that the Taliban's insistence on appointing Pashtuns to all important positions could lead to people joining Islamic State-Khorasan Province (ISKP). However, Mette maintained that despite minor clashes in Panjshir, there was no expectation of escalation in armed clashes between the Taliban and the Resistance Front. (ANI)
Cape Town [South Africa], April 12 (ANI/Sputnik): At least 20 people have died in South Africa's eastern province of KwaZulu-Natal as a result of floods caused by heavy rains, eNCA broadcaster reported on Tuesday, citing local department of cooperative governance and Traditional Affairs. In addition, several people are considered missing. KwaZulu-Natal emergency services spokesperson Robert Mckenzie told the broadcaster that disaster management teams had been evacuating people from the areas experiencing mudslides and flooding. According to Mckenzie, structural collapses of buildings, roads and power lines are observed in the region. In this regard, the spokesman recommended that local residents stay at indoors if possible. Intense rainfalls have been hitting KwaZulu-Natal since Monday night. The municipality of eThekwini and the city of Durban are considered some of the hard-hit areas. (ANI/Sputnik)
Paris [France], April 12 (ANI/Sputnik): The Russian Embassy in Paris said on Tuesday that it had lodged a protest to the French authorities in connection with the expulsion of six Russian diplomats from the European country. On Monday, Paris declared six Russian diplomats personae non gratae in France over alleged espionage. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said that Moscow will respond to their expulsion. "The Russian side expressed a strong protest in connection with the unfriendly action of the French authorities, to which a proportional response will inevitably follow," the embassy said in a statement. (ANI/Sputnik)
Sri Lanka, a thriving island country with a population of 22 million, has succumbed to China's debt-trap diplomacy while Colombo battles most significant economic crisis in decades amid mounting debt repayment woes. China has turned a blind eye after trapping the island country in a financial trap. Sri Lanka is now experiencing its greatest economic crisis since obtaining independence from the British in 1948. The slump is blamed on currency shortages caused by the travel ban imposed during the COVID-19 epidemic. This has resulted in the nation's inability to purchase sufficient fuel, resulting in an extreme shortage of food and essential commodities such as heating fuel and gas. Sri Lanka appears to be on the edge of a "humanitarian crisis," according to the United Nations Development Programme; as its financial troubles grow, food prices rise, and the country's coffers run dry. According to World Bank estimates, five lakh people in Sri Lanka have fallen into poverty since the outbreak began, a "huge setback similar to five years' worth of growth," according to the bank. According to some reports, Fitch downgraded Sri Lanka's credit rating last month owing to fears about the country's USD 26 billion foreign debt being defaulted on. The Census and Statistics Department (CSD) released figures revealing that the country's GDP fell by 1.5 percent in the third quarter of 2021. Several geopolitical analysts have cited Sri Lanka as an example of China's "strategic trap diplomacy" or "debt-trap diplomacy". To understand Sri Lanka's instability and its connection to China's debt trap, it is essential to highlight the role of Laos in China's debt trap. Laos has emerged as a typical illustration of China's debt-trap diplomacy, a nation that most people in the industrialised world would fail to identify on a map. Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, and China border Laos on the Indochina peninsula, squeezed between the Indian and Pacific Oceans. In what is known as China's off-the-book financing practice, China has built a railway line in Laos known as the China-Laos rail network. The rail network was initially discussed in the first decade, but the agreement was reached as part of China's President Xi Jinping's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). It's a USD 6 billion project with China owning 70 per cent of the shares. Several Chinese government firms and a partnership of Chinese government lenders were financially involved in the project. Laos had to borrow USD 480 million from a Chinese bank to cover the remaining costs, and Laos contributed only USD 250 million on its own. According to the agreement, Laos is accountable for the railway's debt, of which China owns 70 per cent directly and 20 per cent indirectly. The project has cost Laos so much that its debt to China equals 45 per cent. In September 2020, Laos, facing bankruptcy due to debt, sold a portion of its electrical system to China for USD 600 million to seek debt relief from Chinese creditors. Laos sold a key asset to China a year before the railway project could be inaugurated to cover off-the books loans obtained from Chinese government enterprises. Laos now intends to profit from the railway network that China effectively owns while continuing to service Chinese debt. Currently, Laosis caught in China's debt. Sri Lanka is the most-discussed example of China's debt-trap diplomacy, with riots over rationing, 12-hour power outages in cities, and military deployment to deal with demonstrators, although the whole national council of ministers has resigned during the financial crisis. Hundreds of thousands of refugees attempt to cross the Palk Strait into India. During Sri Lanka's terrible civil war, which concluded in 2009, the Chinese hand arrived on the island. China regarded the civil conflict in Sri Lanka as a chance to compete with India. During the civil war, it supplied weaponry to the government, spent money on long-term initiatives, and used its veto to protect Sri Lanka at the United Nations. The expansion of the Hambantota port in South Sri Lanka was one of the concerns in Sri Lanka. It is the house of the Rajapaksa family's President and Prime Minister. It was a USD 1 billion project financed by Chinese financiers. They paid for it by hiring Chinese port developers. Several Rajapaksa family members were accused of corruption in the project. Sri Lanka's debts grew dramatically. To settle the debt, Sri Lanka agreed to let China Merchants lease the Hambantota port for 99 years in exchange for new loans from the Chinese government. A USD 1 billion Chinese loan had this effect. China reportedly gave Sri Lanka USD 12 billion over the years. China focuses on financing impoverished, low-income, or economically troubled nations. As of 2020, it owed roughly USD 170 billion to low- and middle-income countries. This loan is heavily tied to the BRI and Infrastructural projects, including roadways, trains, ports and airports, mining and energy. According to AidData, over 40 economically fragile nations have "hidden debt" to Chinese lenders totalling over 10 per cent of their GDP. Some countries, including Laos, Zambia, and Kyrgyzstan, owe China more than 20 percent of their GDP. (ANI)
Iran has asked the Taliban regime in Afghnaistan to ensure the security of its diplomatic assets in Kabul amid rising protests by the people against deportations of Afghan refugees. In reaction to the protests, the spokesperson of Iran's Foreign Ministry Saeed khatibzada said, this is the responsibility of the Afghan government to ensure the security of Iran's diplomatic agencies in the country. The Afghan protesters are taking to the streets to protest against the alleged ongoing ill-treatment of Afghan refugees in Iran by the country's people and police forces and several video clips have gone viral on social media showcasing the same, the most recent one being the burning of the door of Iran's consulate in Herat province, according to The Khaama Press. The acting Foreign Minister of Afghanistan summoned Iran's ambassador to Kabul and raised with him the issue of Afghan refugees in Iran on Sunday. the news agency further reported. Earlier, Iran's embassy in Kabul in a press release said that the ongoing ill-treatment is a foreign conspiracy that is aimed at disturbing bilateral relations between the two countries. The Afghan refugees flew to Iran seeking shelters after the Taliban took over last August. These refugees are facing issues regarding the extension of visas and payment systems. The protestors urged that the Iran government should stop forced deportations of Afghan refugees. However, Sayed Abas Badrifar, the Iran Embassy's press counsellor quoted, "Around seven to eight million Afghan nationals went to Iran. The Afghan government should facilitate an environment, so the people (Afghana) will not go to Iran". (ANI)
"Indian Navy's P8I Aircraft reached Darwin, Australia yesterday to participate in coordinated Maritime Operations. P8 aircraft from both the countries would be conducting coordinated operations in Anti-Submarine Warfare & surface surveillance", the Indian Navy tweeted today.

The aircraft and its crew would be undertaking an operational turnaround at Darwin and during its stay the Indian Navy's maritime patrol squadron, Albatross (INAS 312), is scheduled to engage with its counterparts from the 92 Wing of Royal Australian Air Force, the Indian Navy statement said.

The Indian navy will join Combined Maritime Forces in Bahrain. The Combined Maritime Forces is a multinational maritime partnership and comprises 34 member nations.

Meanwhile, the Royal Australian Air Force said the deployment reflected the enduring nature of the India-Australia security partnership.

"We've been on patrol with our Indian friends. An Indian Navy P-8I Neptune deployed to RAAF Base Darwin in April & conducted patrols with one of our P-8A Poseidons. This deployment reflects the enduring nature of the India-Australia security partnership", Royal Australian Air Force said in a statement.

Earlier in February this year, Vice Admiral Michael Noonan, Chief of Royal Australian Navy met the Chief of Army Staff General M.M Naravane and both sides discussed ways to further enhance bilateral defence cooperation. Both India and Australia are part of the Quad grouping and recently both countries signed a historic economic cooperation and trade agreement with each other. (ANI)
The Pakistani disinformation machinery has gone into overdrive with thousands of provocative tweets under various hashtags. The tweets, mostly from Pakistan and Afghanistan, aim at disturbing the peace and tranquillity of India. Under the disinformation campaign, fake information is being posted on Twitter handles like @Babar_7860; @FMQureshipk; @ihtk1; @raufburrio; @ideowarrior; @zahrakhanpak911; @Abebeellan; @akhirhashmi159 and @rakibpatrkar to sow the seeds of hatred. One such Twitter handle is that of Babar Malik (@Babar_7860) a Pakistani, who claims to be a journalist. There is another Pakistani Twitter handle @fmqureshipk which has also been spewing venom against India. Another account spreading similar lies is @ihtjk1. All these posts are focused on provoking, disturbing the harmony of India. Pakistan whose own house is on fire is leading the vicious campaign against India to deflect any questioning of misgovernance by its citizens. Moreover, Pakistan, which has never shied away from denouncing other nations for atrocities against Muslims, has conveniently ignored the issue of violation of Uyghur human rights in Xinjiang. It champions the cause of Muslims in India but has a dismal record of its own minorities in the country. In Pakistan, minorities like Hindus, Christians, Ahmaddiyas, and Shias are frequently harassed and persecuted. The country has witnessed an unprecedented rise in attacks and arrests against the Shia minority, who make up between 15 per cent and 20 per cent of the Sunni-majority nation. The United Kingdom's All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Pakistani minorities has severely criticized the role of Islamabad in a steadily deteriorating human rights situation of minorities in the country. A 67-page report, which called the human rights situation in Pakistan a national and international tragedy, highlighted all forms of atrocities that the minorities of Pakistan were being subjected to on an everyday basis. It said that even after over seventy years of independence, abductions of minority girls, their forced conversions and subsequent marriages were a widespread phenomenon in Pakistan. Also, there are numerous cases of the state brazenly defending those who have been involved in heinous crimes against minorities and going after the victims. And it is because of such a state of affairs in Pakistan that a number of experts around the world have said that Pakistan is the most unsafe country for women as well as minorities under the sun. According to Human Rights Watch, "Minorities continue to face violence, discrimination, and persecution, with authorities often failing to provide adequate protection or hold perpetrators to account". The authorities routinely use draconian counterterrorism and sedition laws to intimidate peaceful critics, reported Daily Times. (ANI)
A gang rape survivor from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), who has been fighting for justice for the past seven years, now seeks Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's help for a shelter and protection as she and her children face a life threat. In an emotional video message, Maria Tahir said, "I am a gang rape victim fighting for justice for the past seven years. The PoJK police, the governments and the judiciary have failed to provide me justice". She added, "Through this video, I am appealing to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to allow us to come to India. My children are facing life threats. The local police and a senior politician, Choudhary Tariq Farooq, will anytime kill me and my children. I wish to request PM Modi to provide us shelter and protection". Maria has been running from pillar to post to seek hard punishment for those involved in the heinous crime in 2015. In her earlier video, she narrated the incident. She said, "Haroon Rashid, Mamoon Rashid, Jameel Shafi, Waqas Ashraf, Sanam Haroon and three more were involved in crime against me". She approached the police and local politicians but failed to get justice. She even wrote several letters to local authorities including the Chief Justice of Pakistan occupied Kashmir and got the humiliating response that she is a married woman. Many rape survivors and their families in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir are afraid to come forward to publicly confront perpetrators because they fear being shunned by their community. (ANI)
In the wake of the change of guard in Pakistan, hundreds of workers of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) who were protesting against the 'imported government' and workers of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) who were celebrating their success in the no-trust vote, came close to each other and were on the brink of launching a fully-fledged brawl at Post Office Chowk in Mirpurkhas on Sunday night. Charged workers of the PTI party were holding demonstrations in several Sindh towns on Monday to resume their protest against the installation of an 'imported government' at the Centre. On the other hand, after the win of the joint opposition, the PPP workers staged rallies to celebrate their success in the no-confidence motion, reported Dawn. Police averted the clash as the two sides came face to face with each other. Both sides were raising slogans in support of their leaders and traded allegations. The situation turned tense and in order to contain the situation, heavy contingents of police moved in to separate the rival workers. The police dispersed them to cool off the situation. Later, personnel of Rangers were also deployed at the chowk and other significant places to maintain peace in the city. PPP workers danced to the tune of party anthems and taunted their rivals while the PTI workers chanted slogans against opposition parties' leaders. In a similar incident in Jhuddo town, PPP workers took out a procession on Sunday night in the wake of the no-trust move. They danced at main roundabouts of the town to the tune of the party anthems, reported the newspaper. Notably. Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, leader of the joint opposition took oath as the 23rd Prime Minister of Pakistan on Monday evening hours after being elected by the National Assembly of the country. (ANI)
On the night of June 3, 1989, China's military crackdown on students protesting for democratic reforms in various major cities across China led to a massacre of reportedly thousands of unarmed citizens on Tiananmen Square in Beijing, revealing the brutality of the country on its own people. The protests which were started on April 15 were forcibly suppressed on June 4 and as per independent sources, the crackdown by China left nearly 10,000 Chinese citizens brutally murdered, reported a Canada-based think tank, International Forum for Rights and Security (IFFRAS). But unfortunately, it seems their sacrifice might have been in vain as the ruling Chinese dispensation grows even more authoritarian, putting nearly one-fifth of the world's population at grave risk. This April 15, the Tiananmen Square Massacre will complete 33 years however not much has changed in China. Three decades later, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) rules the nation with an iron fist. Even today, there is no mention of the massacre in school textbooks or in the media. A systematic suppression and state-sponsored manipulation of history mean 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. Until 2019, an outdoor candlelight vigil was held on the Tiananmen anniversary every year. But a violent clash took place between the police and the pro-democracy protesters and in 2020, Beijing imposed the national security law in Hong Kong, which completely silenced the political opposition. The country's election system was altered to ensure that only "patriots" ran for the office. Also, the annual vigil has not taken place for the last two years. In another incident, in December last year, the Chinese government showcased more of its ruthless policy when it removed the "Pillar of Shame", a sculpture commemorating the victims of the Tiananmen massacre, put in the University of Hong Kong campus. The 8-metre sculpture, a part of a series of works by Danish sculptor Jens Galschioet, was designed to remind people that such events should never happen again. The one in Hong Kong showed a mass of torn and twisted bodies in a tall pile. It was erected there in 1997 and the text at its base read, "The old cannot kill the young," as per the think tank. The crackdown against the Uyghur population in Xinjiang also exposes China's atrocities on its people. Today, in the country's Xinjiang province, the entire ethnic minority of Uyghur and other minorities are being severely persecuted without any repercussions. They are stuffed in concentration camps, which the state calls "re-education" centres. The general population also seems subdued, especially in the light of what happened at Tiananmen Square. Meanwhile, leader Xi Jinping has changed the constitution and will now rule the country till he lives. Even when China continues to suppress the protests and democratic values, Still, several Tiananmen veterans continue to promote political change in China, often at a high cost. Many have even committed suicide to showcase the plight of their families and to remind the world of those they lost in the Tiananmen Square massacre. (ANI)
Jamat-ud-Dawa leader Hafiz Saeed has been convicted of financing terrorism. But who finances him? Massimo Introvigne, an Italian sociologist of religions, writing in Bitter Winter, a magazine of religious liberty and human rights said though Saeed was sentenced to 33 years in jail, terrorism continues. On April 8, Muhammad Hafiz Saeed, who was already in jail since July 17, 2019, for other charges, was sentenced by a special anti-terrorism court in Lahore, Pakistan, to a jail term of 33 years for "financing terrorism." Here precisely lie the problems not solved by the Lahore decision. The court established that Lashkar-e-Taiba, a terrorist organization, was financed by Saeed and his political group Jamat-ud-Dawa. The further question, however, is who finances Saeed and Jamat-ud-Dawa. This is a subject the court did not want to explore, said Introvigne. Until these complicities, which reach out to the highest echelons of Pakistani politics, are investigated and exposed, the well-publicized trials of a few old terrorist leaders will not solve the problem, and terrorism will continue. There is little doubt that Saeed not only financed terrorism but is a terrorist himself. He is a co-founder of Lashkar-e-Taiba, which is listed as a terrorist organization both by the United States and the European Union and was responsible among others for the bloody 2008 Mumbai terrorist attacks. The United States had placed a bounty of USD 10 million on his head. In recent years, Saeed devoted most of his time to Jamat-ud-Dawa, the political organization he founded. Although widely regarded as the political branch of Lashkar-e-Taiba, Saeed claimed its aims were purely political and it did not support military operations. The Lahore court thought otherwise, reported Bitter Winter. Saeed's terrorist activity has mostly targeted India. His was almost a single-issue terrorist organization, focusing on Kashmir. Many are persuaded, in Pakistan and abroad, that Saeed has consistently been a tool of ISI, and ISI has financed and trained those in Saeed's terror network, reported Introvigne. Moreover, the sentencing of seasoned terrorist Hafiz Saeed to 31 years of imprisonment on April 8 amid a political crisis in the country is a seasonal pretence by Pakistan to avoid economic sanctions by the global anti-terror watchdog, Financial Action Task Force (FATF), according to a media report. Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) founder and Jamat-ud-Dawa (JuD) chief Hafiz Saeed was sent to prison in two terror financing cases that were registered by the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) in 2019, according to Islam Khabar. Saeed's sentencing is part of Pakistan's 'preparations' to meet stringent anti-terror measures that it is being asked to fulfil since 2018 to escape action by the FATF. It is a seasonal charade to avoid or postpone economic sanctions in case the FATF is not satisfied with the country's measures taken against terror funding and money laundering. (ANI)
White House senior staff are in touch with New York City Mayor Eric Adams and Police Commissioner Keechant Sewell, Psaki added.

Multiple people were shot in a subway station in Brooklyn and 13 people were transported to area hospitals, the New York City Fire Department (FDNY)said.

There are no active explosive devices at the scene, according to the New York Police Department (NYPD).

The FDNY had reported earlier that "several undetonated devices" were found.

Residents were asked to avoid the area of 36th Street and 4th Avenue in Brooklyn "due to an investigation."

Meanwhile, schools in the area of the Brooklyn subway shooting are sheltering in, Education Department said.

All schools in the nearby Brooklyn area are on a "shelter in" order, which means no one is allowed to leave the building, and only students are allowed in, a Department of Education spokesperson explained. (ANI)
India on Tuesday handed over to Cambodia 325,000 doses of Made in India Covishield vaccines under the Quad Vaccine Partnership scheme. Indian Ambassador to Cambodia Devyani Khobragade, along with representatives from the embassies of Australia, Japan and US to Cambodia, jointly handed over a consignment of 325,000 doses of Made in India Covishield vaccines to the Prime Minister of Cambodia, Hun Sen, at the Peace Palace in Phnom Penh, according to a statement by the Ministry of External Affairs. The vaccines have been gifted by India as part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's commitment to donate 500,000 doses of Covid vaccines to the Indo-Pacific under the Quad vaccine initiative. The Quad Vaccine Partnership was announced by the Quad Leaders at their first Summit on 12 March 2021. It aims to leverage Quad's collective strength to ensure the global availability of safe and effective vaccines by expanding manufacturing and assisting countries in the Indo-Pacific with vaccination. Quad countries agreed to provide over 1.2 billion doses of Covid vaccines globally under this initiative. Quad countries have collectively so far provided Cambodia with close to five million Covid vaccine doses bilaterally and through COVAX, added the release. Quad countries have also provided last-mile delivery assistance to ensure that vaccines are translated into vaccinations. Australia and Japan have provided cold storage equipment, freezers and temperature monitors along with equipment for the safety of health care workers. The US has provided assistance with surveillance and contact tracing, case investigation, training health care workers and data management. The Cambodian government has conveyed its appreciation for the vaccines received from Quad through India and for its collective assistance to Cambodia. Quad countries have assured Cambodia about their desire to extend all possible support to combat the pandemic. Hun Sen recalled India's key contribution to the reconstruction and development of Cambodia and encouraged further enhancement of the relations and cooperation between both nations. While presiding over the official handover ceremony of 325,000 doses of Covishield vaccine from India to Cambodia under the Quad Vaccine Partnership, Hun Sen expressed his gratitude to India, a compassionate friend of Cambodia, reported Agence Kampuchea Presse (AKP). "Whilst the spread of COVID-19 has subsided, and we have very well managed the COVID-19 situation, I would like to encourage the further strengthening of friendship, promotion of cooperation and strengthening of relations between Cambodia and the members of the Quad Initiative, especially between Cambodia-India in terms of trade, investment, information technology, relaxation of travel requirements and connection through direct flights, and development of tourism," underlined Hun Sen. (ANI)
As Sri Lanka grapples with a deepening economic crisis, the Indian Embassy distributed food packets to the families who are in need in Madawewa and Kirimetiyawa villages in the city of Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka on Tuesday. Taking to Twitter, Indian Embassy in Sri Lanka wrote, "India distributed food packets to needy families in Madawewa and Kirimetiyawa villages in sacred city of Anuradhapura." Ahead of the new year celebrations in Sri Lanka, 11,000 MT of rice from India reached Colombo on Tuesday. According to the Indian embassy in Sri Lanka, the rice reached Colombo on board the ship Chen Glory. New year in Sri Lanka is generally celebrated on April 13 or April 14 and traditionally begins at the sighting of the new moon. Over 16,000 MT of rice has been supplied by India under its multi-pronged support to Sri Lanka in the past week alone, said the embassy, adding that the supplies mark the special bond between India and the island nation. Notably, amid the economic crisis in Sri Lanka, India has stepped forward to help the country by supplying fuel, vegetables, daily ration items and medicines. India has already supplied over 270,000 MT of fuel to Sri Lanka till now and has earlier announced another USD 1 billion as a credit to help shore up the sinking economy of the island nation. The USD 1 billion Line of Credit to Colombo will help in keeping their food prices and fuel costs under check. Since January this year, support from India to Sri Lanka has exceeded USD 2.5 billion. In February, New Delhi provided a short-term loan of USD 500 million to Colombo for the purchase of petroleum products through the Ministry of Energy and the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation on behalf of the Government of Sri Lanka. In November 2021, India had given 100 tonnes of nano nitrogen liquid fertilizers to Sri Lanka as their government stopped the import of chemical fertilizers. Besides, the Reserve Bank of India has extended a currency swap of USD 400 million and deferred payments owed by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka under the Asian Clearance Union worth several hundred million dollars. 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, which has hit tourism. 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)
Even as India has rushed to help its neighbour Sri Lanka, which is facing a severe economic crisis, China has in turn been pressing the Island nation for a Free Trade Agreement that would hurt Colombo's finances. China's actions have allowed the Sri Lankan leaders to approach India for all of their needs, including loans and other items such as rice, fertilizer, maritime security equipment, train engines, and aide for Northern fishermen families, reported India Blooms. Sri Lanka's economic crisis has deepened and amid wide protests, the nation is also witnessing grave political stability. The people of Sri Lanka are urging the Rajapaksa government to leave the country blaming the leadership for plunging it into an economic abyss. India is becoming a stronger and more mutually beneficial partner to Sri Lanka. Apart from assistance during the pandemic and fertilizer chaos, in which India delivered nano fertilizer to save Sri Lankan farmers, India has offered USD 500 million in gasoline and a USD 1 billion loan facility to purchase goods from India due to the current economic crisis. India recently pledged to donate medicines to Peradeniya Hospital, which was running low on supplies due to the US dollar crisis and purchasing medicines became impossible. Sri Lankans were irked by the government's mismanagement of financial affairs, corruption and bad judgment on initiatives that backfired, leaving the country impoverished - mostly in terms of lacking foreign exchange reserves. Many industries in the Island nation are seeing huge problems. Sri Lankan government is unable to import paper for the printing of exam papers, and the print media is already feeling the strain of a paucity of paper for printing newspapers, with prominent newspapers issuing slim editions these days. On March 18, India made significant contributions to Sri Lanka's defence sector. Sri Lanka has requested grant assistance for the supply of a 4,000 MT Floating Dock (FD) for the Sri Lanka Navy. The Indian government then provides DO-228 Dornier Reconnaissance Aircraft for maritime surveillance, reported the media outlet. India also signed an MoU for the establishment of modern computer labs and smart boards with customized curriculum software in schools in the Galle District in Sri Lanka. (ANI)
London [UK], April 12 (ANI/Xinhua): British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Chancellor Rishi Sunak will be fined by the police for attending parties during the country's COVID lockdown, British media reported on Tuesday. More than 50 related fines have been issued by the police over breaches of coronavirus lockdown rules at gatherings in Johnson's offices and residence at Downing Street. (ANI/Xinhua)
Loretto Hospital CEO George Miller is out, following news of a federal grand jury investigation into improper COVID-19 vaccinations. (Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune)

Loretto Hospital CEO George Miller is out, following a tenure marked by turmoil over improper COVID-19 vaccinations given by the hospital.

Loretto spokeswoman Bonni Pear declined Tuesday to discuss the circumstances of Millers departure citing a policy of not discussing personnel issues. She would not say whether he was fired or resigned.

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But she provided a statement from the hospitals board of trustees saying: George Miller is no longer the president and CEO of The Loretto Hospital or affiliated with the organization. Our leadership team, team members, and medical staff remain unwaveringly committed to providing the highest level of patient care and advocacy for the Austin community.

Employees of the West Side hospital were told of Millers departure Tuesday. Tesa Anewishki, executive director of The Loretto Hospital Foundation, will serve as acting president and CEO.

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Attempts to reach Miller for comment were not immediately successful Tuesday afternoon.

It was unclear Tuesday whether the leadership change was related to the controversy that swirled around the early days of Lorettos COVID-19 vaccination program.

In March of last year, Lorettos board reprimanded Miller and former hospital Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer Dr. Anosh Ahmed after the hospital improperly vaccinated ineligible workers at Trump Tower downtown and Cook County judges.

The hospitals board decided to suspend Miller for two weeks without pay, and Ahmed resigned.

After the allegations came to light, the city of Chicago temporarily withheld first doses of coronavirus vaccines from Loretto while it conducted a review.

In May, a federal grand jury subpoenaed the state Department of Public Health for information on dozens of people who were given shots by Loretto in March  the same time frame as the vaccinations given at Trump Tower and elsewhere, according to records released by the state.

That investigation later expanded to include Valley Kingdom Ministries International Church in Oak Forest where hundreds of congregants were allegedly vaccinated while shots were still in short supply and only supposed to be given to people ages 65 and older and front-line workers. Block Club Chicago had previously reported that the hospital administered vaccines in February 2021 to more than 200 members of the church, where Miller was a member.

Miller became president and CEO of Loretto in 2017, replacing Dr. Sonia Mehta. Miller was former president and CEO of CommUnityCare Health Centers in Texas and served on the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission under Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama.

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lschencker@chicagotribune.com
"Good to catch up with USTR @AmbassadorTai. Discussed our bilateral trade and exchanged notes on the global situation," tweeted Jaishankar.

Jaishankar is in the US to attend the 4th India-US Ministerial 2+2 Dialogue in Washington.

During his two-day visit, Jaishankar discussed contemporary challenges and issues in an open and constructive manner.

He concluded a productive and substantive 2+2 Ministerial meeting on April 11.

"Resolved that our strategic partnership would continue to grow and play a greater role in shaping the direction of world affairs," tweeted Jaishankar.

India-US 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue was held between External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin held on April 11 in Washington.

Notably, during the India-US 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue, the defence and foreign ministers of the two countries forged new and deeper cooperation across the breadth of the US-India partnership, including defence, science and technology, trade, climate, public health, and people-to-people ties. (ANI)
After its Foreign Office Minister Lord Zac Goldsmith tweeted in support of ousted Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan, the UK government has distanced itself from his stance saying that Goldsmith's remarks did not represent the UK government's position. "Sad to see last night's events in Pakistan. Imran Khan is a good and decent man, one of the least corruptible politicians on the world stage. I have no doubt he will be returned with a big majority in the upcoming elections," Goldsmith tweeted, reported the News International. Lord Zac Goldsmith, whose elder sister Jemima Goldsmith was once married to Imran Khan - said he was "sad" at the developments in Pakistan. Downing Street was asked whether Lord Goldsmith, who is Foreign Office minister for the Pacific and the international environment, was speaking on behalf of the government. While replying to the question over Goldsmith's tweet, a spokesperson responded, "With regard to Pakistan, we respect Pakistan's democratic system and we would not get into its domestic political affairs. We have longstanding ties with Pakistan and are monitoring developments." Prime Minister Boris Johnson's deputy spokesperson said the UK would not get involved in Pakistan's domestic affairs, adding: "We respect Pakistan's political system." Zac and Jemima Goldsmith's brother Ben Goldsmith also announced support for Imran Khan on Twitter following Khan's ouster. He said: "My brother-in-law @ImranKhanPTI is a good and honourable man, motivated only by a strong desire to do good for his country. His record as PM is exceptional, most of all on the biggest issue of our time: Pakistan under Imran is now a world leader on environmental restoration." The tweet was deleted after Goldsmith was accused of breaking the official protocol. It's understood the UK government had forced Zac Goldsmith to delete his tweet, reported the News International. (ANI)
Horrifying videos have emerged showing Shanghai residents screaming from their windows over strict COVID lockdown measures that prevent them from leaving home even for food. In a clip posted online by a Twitter user that he said was taken by the father of his close friend who reported that "people (are) screaming outside of their windows after a week of total lockdown" because they "can't even step outside their apartments". Many screams can be heard from the windows of nearby apartment buildings in the footage, as per news.com.au. "It's Shanghai, everyone is screaming, started with a couple now everyone is screaming, after a week of lockdown, something is going to happen, no one knows when this is going to end," the man says in the clip, according to a translator. Many people are exposing China's high handedness in tackling the covid situation to the social media. An unpopular policy of separating infected children from their virus-free parents - now softened - also triggered a rare show of public anger this week. China's Zero-COVID strategy has irked the Shanghai residents as China's largest city has been under a draconian lockdown since April 5. China has seen its 25 million inhabitants locked down in phases. The residents complain of food shortages and clashes with health workers reported news.com.au. But officials are not budging on their zero-tolerance approach. City health official Wu Qianyu said during a Sunday press conference the city "would not relax in the slightest". (ANI)
Uyghurs who are being persecuted as an ethnic and religious group by the Chinese government, face a common challenge of figuring out how best to talk with young people about the 21st-century atrocities occurring in China's northwestern Xinjiang region. Children of the Uyghur diaspora often ask their parents about the genocide in China's Xinjiang. They ask why they cannot see their grandparents and why they cannot visit their homeland. When her parents started telling her about the crackdown, the 12-year old Uyghur girl, who now lives in the US state of Virginia, said, "I felt really sad," reported Radio Free Asia. At the time when her schoolmates would talk about where they were from originally, the pain hit home, said the girl on the condition of anonymity. Her voice grows weaker and begins to trail off whenever she is asked about her hometown. "It does affect my voice," the girl told RFA. "Sometimes if people ask me where I'm from, it's going to be sometimes difficult because they don't know much about us [Uyghurs], and because they think that China is like a perfect place. They don't know about the government and everything." "They're going to think you're crazy, she added. It is not easy for teenagers and children to discuss tragedies in their families, nor is it easy for parents to talk about such topics with their offspring. At least 1.8 million Uyghurs and other Turkic minorities are believed to have been held in a network of detention camps in Xinjiang since 2017, purportedly to prevent religious extremism and terrorist activities. Beijing has said that the camps are vocational training centres. The government has denied repeated allegations from multiple sources that it has tortured people in the camps or mistreated other Muslims living in Xinjiang. The United States and parliaments of several Western countries have declared that China's repression and maltreatment of the Uyghurs amount to genocide and crimes against humanity, as per Radio Free Asia. (ANI)
Sri Lanka is all set to celebrate New year on April 14 at a time when the country is in the abyss of a severe economic crisis and as a neighbouring country, India is providing maximum help to the Island nation. The stock of 11,000 MT of rice from India reached Colombo on Tuesday ahead of the country's New Year celebrations. Eldos Mathew Punnose, Central Public Information Officer, Indian High Commission in Sri Lanka told ANI: "11000 MT rice from India reached Colombo by ship Chen Glory today ahead of New Year celebration in Sri Lanka. 16,000 MT of rice was supplied by India to Sri Lanka in the past week itself. These supplies which mark a special bond between two nations will continue." "In addition to USD 1 billion dollar credit line, India supported with food medicines and other essential commodities guided by the priority of govt of Sri Lanka. India has also extended USD 500 million credit line to purchase fuel, under this around 2,70,000 MT of petrol, diesel has already arrived in Sri Lanka," he added. "Our relationship with Sri Lanka is multi dimensional and it is comprehensive in nature. We are good friends and good neighbours," the Indian high commission official added. While speaking to Media, Chairman of State trading corporation, Yoga Perera said that many countries have come forward to help and negotiations going on but India was the first country under credit line delivering the consignment to help Sri Lanka at this time. (ANI)
The Brooklyn subway shooting that led to chaos in the city on Tuesday morning (local time) is not being investigated as an "act of terrorism", according to New York Police Department. New York City Police Commissioner Keechant Sewell said there are no life-threatening injuries following the Brooklyn subway shooting in a press conference. She added that this incident is not being investigated as an act of terrorism. Sewell asked for New Yorkers to share any photos or videos of the incident with law enforcement, as the suspect is still at large. Sewell said that at 8:24 am (local time), as the Manhattan-bound N train waited to enter the 36th Street subway, a man wearing a gas mask took a canister out of his bag and opened it. "The train at that time began to fill with smoke. He then opened fire, striking multiple people on the subway and in the platform," she said. Sewell described the suspect as Black male with a heavy build, wearing a green construction-type vest with a hooded gray sweatshirt. "The accused filled the train with smoke and opened fire on the passengers. He was reportedly a Black male, 5'5" tall, with a heavy build. Wearing a green construction-type vest and a grey hooded sweatshirt," said Sewell. The commissioner confirmed that the shooting happened inside the subway car. "The suspect was in the train car. The shooting began in the train car," Sewell said. Sewell said there was no known motive at this time. "We do not know the motive at this time, but we're not ruling anything out," she said. New York Governor Kathy Hochul warned New Yorkers that a suspected gunman who shot multiple people on the subway on Tuesday morning is still at large. "Tranquility and normalness was disrupted, brutally disrupted, by an individual so cold-hearted and depraved of heart that they had no caring about the individuals that they assaulted as they simply went about their daily lives. This individual is still on the loose. This person is dangerous," Hochul said. The governor urged New Yorkers to remain vigilant. "This is an active shooter situation right now in the city of New York," she said. Hochul said she just spoke with New York City Mayor Eric Adams, who has COVID-19. "He's recovering well. He is monitoring, he's actively engaged in the situation. I wanted to let him know that the people of the entire state of New York stand with the people of this city, this community, and we say no more. No more mass shootings. No more disrupting lives. No more creating heartbreak for people just trying to live their lives as normal New Yorkers. It has to end and ends now," she said. Sixteen people were treated for injuries, including 10 for gunshot wounds, following the shooting in a Brooklyn subway station, said Laura Kavanagh, the acting Fire Department New York (FDNY) commissioner, at today's briefing. "Ten of those patients are suffering from gunshot wounds at this time and five are in stable, but critical condition," Kavanagh said. (ANI)
India and Malaysia held their fifth Foreign Office Consultations in Putrajaya, Malaysia on Tuesday where both sides reviewed the entire gamut of their bilateral relations and exchanged views on contemporary regional and global issues of mutual interest. "Reviewing the multi-faceted relations between India and Malaysia during the Foreign Office Consultations, both sides expressed their desire to advance the overall bilateral relations within the framework of the Enhanced Strategic Partnership of 2015. The Foreign Office Consultations provided an opportunity to review the entire gamut of bilateral relations and exchange views on contemporary regional and global issues of mutual interest," said the Ministry of External Affairs in its statement. Saurabh Kumar, Secretary (East), Ministry of External Affairs, India together with Dato' Amran Bin Mohamed Zin, Deputy Secretary-General for Bilateral Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Malaysia co-chaired the 5th Foreign Office Consultations (bilateral consultations) between India and Malaysia on April 12 at Putrajaya, Malaysia. During the visit, Secretary (East) also paid a courtesy call on Dato' Sri Saifuddin Abdullah, Foreign Minister of Malaysia and exchanged views on India-Malaysia bilateral ties. Both sides expressed satisfaction with the growing economic and commercial ties and expressed the hope for a faster revival of relations in the post-Covid period taking into account the shared commitment of both sides to further intensify cooperation in a wide range of areas. The two sides agreed to work on reactivating the bilateral mechanisms in different sectors, and for presenting the results to the next ministerial-level Joint Commission Meeting to be held on mutually convenient dates, the statement read. As this year marks 65 years of the establishment of diplomatic relations, both sides agreed to hold commemorative events in a befitting manner both in India and Malaysia. It was agreed to hold the next FOC at a mutually convenient date in New Delhi. (ANI)
India's Permanent Representative to the United Nations TS Tirumurti at UNSC briefing congratulated Colombia on the rapid strides the country has made since the signing of the Final Peace Agreement in 2016 and added that India values its bilateral ties with Colombia. Final Peace Agreement was reached between the National Government of Colombia and Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC-EP, in order to end the armed conflict and build a stable and lasting peace. The Agreement was first reached and signed on August 24, 2016. While addressing the United Nations Security Council briefing on the situation in Colombia, the UN envoy said that India values its bilateral ties with Colombia and the increase in the frequency of high-level visits and engagements, especially over the last year is a testimony to the strength of our partnership, which is based on shared democratic values and development goals. "As a long-standing friend and partner of Colombia, India will continue to stand in solidarity with the people and the Government of Colombia in their quest for lasting peace and economic development," he added. He (Tirumurti) welcomed the presence of the President of Colombia Ivan Duque Marquez and joined others in congratulating the people of Colombia on the rapid strides they continue to make on the path to peace and development since the signing of this agreement, a statement by the Indian mission at UN read. Upon the Final Peace Agreement signed in 2016, the UN Envoy stated, "Pleased to see that political alliances have included the implementation of the Final Peace Agreement within their policy priorities and agenda platforms. The progress made in the implementation of the Final Peace Agreement, especially in recent months, is encouraging." Welcoming the positive developments, which clearly demonstrate the strong commitment of the Government and the Colombian political parties to the Peace Agreement, Tirumurti appreciated the country's leadership. Believe that the prioritization of rural reforms aimed at increasing employment and livelihood opportunities is fundamental to sustaining peace, said the UN mission citing the highlights made by Tirumurti during the UNSC briefing. (ANI)
A video has gone viral where an elderly man and Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) party dissident Noor Alam Khan are seen in a scuffle after the former allegedly called Khan a 'turncoat' and used cuss words against him at a private hotel in Islamabad on Tuesday. According to reports, Khan, along with PPP leaders Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar, Nadeem Afzal Chan and Faisal Karim Kundi, was having iftar dinner at the private hotel where the elderly citizen, said to be a PTI worker, was also present. In the video, Khan and Khokhar can be seen thrashing the citizen after he threw a bottle at the dissident PTI lawmaker, reported The Express Tribune. While sharing the footage Geo News Reporter, Murtaza Ali Shah accused the PTI workers of attacking the PPP activists first. He tweeted, "Video clearly shows @Mustafa_PPP and others were attacked first at the Marriott Hotel. This is shocking level of hate, fuelled by fatwas of corruption and treason run with help from media - sponsored with billions of investment from 2014 onwards. Those why did must reflect!" Another Twitter user, Muhammad Ibrahim Qazi defended the PTI and called the footage propaganda by the PTI workers. Taking to Twitter and sharing the footage from a different angle, he wrote, "Please don't fall victim to Tehreek e Insaf's propaganda. The grey haired PTI activist was throwing objects and hurling abuses at @Mustafa_PPP, @NadeemAfzalChan and @NOORALAMKHAN | Please see this video shot by Jamaat e Islami's witness @Afurqankhalil." Moreover, in the wake of the change of guard in Pakistan, hundreds of workers of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) who were protesting against the 'imported government' and workers of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) who were celebrating their success in the no-trust vote, came close to each other and were on the brink of launching a fully-fledged brawl at Post Office Chowk in Mirpurkhas on Sunday night. Charged workers of the PTI party were holding demonstrations in several Sindh towns on Monday to resume their protest against the installation of an 'imported government' at the Centre. On the other hand, after the win of the joint opposition, the PPP workers staged rallies to celebrate their success in the no-confidence motion, reported Dawn. Police averted the clash as the two sides came face to face with each other. Both sides were raising slogans in support of their leaders and traded allegations. The situation turned tense and in order to contain the situation, heavy contingents of police moved in to separate the rival workers. The police dispersed them to cool off the situation. Later, personnel of Rangers were also deployed at the chowk and other significant places to maintain peace in the city. PPP workers danced to the tune of party anthems and taunted their rivals while the PTI workers chanted slogans against opposition parties' leaders. In a similar incident in Jhuddo town, PPP workers took out a procession on Sunday night in the wake of the no-trust move. They danced at main roundabouts of the town to the tune of the party anthems, reported the newspaper. Notably. Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, leader of the joint opposition took oath as the 23rd Prime Minister of Pakistan on Monday evening hours after being elected by the National Assembly of the country. (ANI)
Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal has said that new economic cooperation and trade agreements with Australia and UAE would open infinite opportunities for sectors such as textiles, handloom, footwear. He said that Indian textile exports to Australia and UAE would now face zero duty and expressed confidence that soon Europe, Canada, the UK and GCC countries would also welcome Indian textile exports at zero duty. The minister was delivering the keynote address at the Golden Jubilee Celebrations of the 'Confederation of Indian Textile Industry- Cotton Development and Research Association' (CITI- CDRA) in New Delhi today. Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu was the chief guest at the celebration. Goyal said that trade agreements would help in increasing exports from labour-intensive industries. He added that India must also be open to receiving new technology, rare minerals, raw materials which are in short supply in the country. "This will only increase our production, productivity and quality, which in turn will increase demand for our products all over the world," he said. Goyal also said the Indian textile Industry has the potential to achieve USD 100 billion dollars in exports by 2030. He applauded CITI-CDRA for working towards developing a robust cotton ecosystem by directly engaging about 90,000 cotton farmers. The Minister observed that more than just fibre, cotton has been an integral part of Indian culture, lifestyle and tradition. Reminiscing the monopoly enjoyed by India in manufacturing various cotton textiles for about 3,000 years, the Minister said that the entire world sang praises of the superiority of Indian fabrics. By the mid-17th century, Indian calico and chintz were superhits in Europe, he added. Speaking of the need to achieve atmanirbharta in the textiles sector, Goyal said that textiles of the country must become a symbol of quality, reliability and innovation. (ANI)
Philadelphia became the first major U.S. city to reinstate its indoor mask mandate on Monday after reporting a sharp increase in coronavirus infections, with the citys top health official saying she wanted to forestall a potential new wave driven by an omicron subvariant.

Confirmed COVID-19 cases have risen more than 50% in 10 days, the threshold at which the citys guidelines call for people to wear masks indoors, said Dr. Cheryl Bettigole, the health commissioner. Health officials believe the recent spike is being driven by the highly transmissible BA.2 subvariant of omicron, which has spread rapidly throughout Europe and Asia, and has become dominant in the U.S. in recent weeks.

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If we fail to act now, knowing that every previous wave of infections has been followed by a wave of hospitalizations, and then a wave of deaths, it will be too late for many of our residents, said Bettigole, noting about 750 Philadelphia residents died in the wintertime omicron outbreak. This is our chance to get ahead of the pandemic, to put our masks on until we have more information about the severity of this new variant.

Health inspectors will begin enforcing the mask mandate at city businesses on April 18.

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Most states and cities dropped their masking requirements in February and early March following new guidelines from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that put less focus on case counts and more on hospital capacity. The CDC said at that time that with the virus in retreat, most Americans could safely take off their masks.

Philadelphia ended its indoor mask mandate March 2, and Bettigole acknowledged it was wonderful to feel that sense of normalcy again.

Confirmed cases have since risen to more than 140 per day  still a fraction of what Philadelphia saw at the height of the omicron surge  while hospitalizations remain low at only 46 patients.

I sincerely wish we didnt have to do this again, Bettigole said. But I am very worried about our vulnerable neighbors and loved ones.

The restaurant industry pushed back against reimposed masking, saying workers will bear the brunt of customer anger over the new rules.

This announcement is a major blow to thousands of small businesses and other operators in the city who were hoping this spring would be the start of recovery, said Ben Fileccia, senior director of operations at the Pennsylvania Restaurant & Lodging Association.

PolicyLab at Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia said Friday that while it expects some increased transmission in the northern U.S. over the next several weeks, hospital admissions have remained low and our team advises against required masking given that hospital capacity is good.

Bettigole said masking will help restaurants and other businesses stay open, while a huge new wave of COVID-19 would keep customers at home. She said hospital capacity was just one factor that went into her decision to reinstate the mandate.

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In New York City, Mayor Eric Adams has paused his push to unwind many of the citys virus rules as cases have risen, opting for now to keep a mask mandate for 2 to 4-year-olds in city schools and preschools. But Adams, a Democrat who has said New Yorkers should not let the pandemic run their lives, has already lifted most other mask mandates and rules requiring proof of vaccination to dine in restaurants, work out at gyms or attend shows.

Adams was asked at a virtual news conference Monday afternoon if he was considering reimposing the New York City mask mandate in light of Philadelphias decision. The mayor said he would listen to his team of medical doctors for their advice on whether to bring back any restrictions. Adams himself tested positive for COVID-19 on Sunday.

New York City is now averaging around 1,800 new cases per day, about three times higher than in early March when New York began easing rules. That does not include the many home tests that go unreported to health officials.

The latest outbreak has struck many high-profile officials in Washington, including Cabinet members and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and the governors of New Jersey and Connecticut. Some universities have reinstated mask mandates.

Washington D.C. health officials say they have no immediate plans to change virus protocols, but they reserve the right to change course down the road.

Rubinkam reported from northeastern Pennsylvania. Associated Press reporter Michelle L. Price in New York contributed to this story.
New Delhi [India], April 13 (ANI) At the first Inter-Ministerial Coordination Group (IMCG) meeting organized on Tuesday as part of efforts to promote relations between India and its neighbouring countries, Ministries and Departments have been requested to accord priority to India's neighbours in their international activities, programmes and projects. Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla on Tuesday convened the first meeting of the IMCG, a high-level mechanism for mainstreaming India's 'Neighbourhood First' policy, in line with the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Among various issues that were considered by today's IMCG meeting on India's neighbours were the construction of border infrastructure that would facilitate greater trade with neighbours like Nepal --special needs of countries such as Bhutan and Maldives in terms of supply of essential commodities -- opening rail connectivity with Bangladesh -- humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan and Myanmar -- fisheries issue with Sri Lanka. Further, the first-ever training module on India's neighbourhood was also organized by MEA at the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration as part of the Foundation Course earlier this year, read a press release by the Ministry of External Affairs. Secretaries of Ministries/Departments of Home, Commerce, Finance, Fisheries, representatives from Ministries/Departments of Defence, Railways, Economic Affairs, Consumer Affairs, Agriculture & Farmers' Welfare, Information & Broadcasting and from Cabinet Secretariat, National Security Council Secretariat as well as other relevant agencies along with heads of Border Guarding Forces participated in today's meeting. The meeting deliberated upon and took important decisions on various aspects of India's bilateral relationship with Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka in the areas of trade and investment, connectivity, border infrastructure, immigration, development cooperation, border security, among others, read the MEA statement. The IMCG is supported by Inter-Ministerial Joint Task Forces (JTF) convened by the concerned Joint Secretaries in the Ministry of External Affairs. The government of India's efforts to deliver benefits like greater connectivity, stronger inter-linkages and greater people-to-people connect under India's Neighbourhood First policy takes place through a whole-of-government approach with coordination involving various Ministries, Departments and agencies of GOI and of concerned State governments. As per the press release, the IMCG will further improve institutional coordination across government and provide comprehensive direction to this whole-of-government approach to India's relations with its neighbouring countries. (ANI)
"China continues to commit crimes against humanity in Xinjiang," Blinken said regarding the chapter in the report on China.

The US has branded China as an authoritarian state in the report.

"The People's Republic of China is an authoritarian state in which the Chinese Communist Party is the paramount authority. Communist Party members hold almost all top government and security apparatus positions," the report said.

"Genocide and crimes against humanity occurred during the year against predominantly Muslim Uyghurs and members of other ethnic and religious minority groups in Xinjiang," it added.

The report adds that Chinese government officials and the security services often committed human rights abuses with impunity. "Authorities often announced investigations following cases of reported killings by police but did not announce results or findings of police malfeasance or disciplinary action. Enforcement of laws on corruption was inconsistent and not transparent, and corruption was rampant."

Xinjiang is the largest province in China with a population of 25 million people from various ethnic groups, but about 43 per cent of them are Uyghurs.

UN experts report states that up to 1 million ethnic Uyghurs could be in so-called "re-education camps" in Xinjiang.

Beijing has denied the existence of re-education camps on numerous occasions, insisting that China fully comply with the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination.

Recently, United Nations human rights chief Michelle Bachelet announced plans to visit China in May, including a trip to Xinjiang, after reaching an agreement with Beijing. (ANI)
India and US have strengthened their bilateral trade and economic cooperation with the re-launch of the US-India Trade Policy Forum, said US Trade Representative Katherine Tai on Tuesday after meeting External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. "Today I met with India's Minister of External Affairs @DrSJaishankar. With the re-launch of the US-India Trade Policy Forum last fall, we have strengthened our bilateral trade and economic cooperation. I am excited to continue this work with India moving forward," Ambassador Katherine Tai tweeted. This meeting comes a day after the defence and foreign ministers of the two countries underlined the importance of strengthening the commercial and economic pillar of the India-US partnership to advance economic growth and deliver mutual prosperity for both countries. The ministers applauded the rebound in bilateral trade between the two countries over the last year, surpassing US 113 billion in goods. They also welcomed the 12th Ministerial-level meeting of the India-US Trade Policy Forum (TPF) and the renewal of Working Group discussions to expand bilateral trade, remove market access barriers, and improve ease of business. "They looked forward to both sides developing action plans that identify and prioritize the resolution of specific trade concerns to build on the progress made during the last TPF Ministerial meeting," the joint statement said. Separately in a tweet, Jaishankar informed that he discussed bilateral trade with Tai as well as the present global situation in the backdrop of the Russia-Ukraine conflict. "Good to catch up with USTR @AmbassadorTai. Discussed our bilateral trade and exchanged notes on the global situation," tweeted Jaishankar. Jaishankar is in the US to attend the 4th India-US Ministerial 2+2 Dialogue in Washington. During his two-day visit, Jaishankar discussed contemporary challenges and issues in an open and constructive manner.He concluded a productive and substantive 2+2 Ministerial meeting on April 11. "Resolved that our strategic partnership would continue to grow and play a greater role in shaping the direction of world affairs," tweeted Jaishankar. India-US 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue was held between Jaishankar and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin held on April 11 in Washington. Notably, during the India-US 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue, the defence and foreign ministers of the two countries forged new and deeper cooperation across the breadth of the US-India partnership, including defence, science and technology, trade, climate, public health, and people-to-people ties. (ANI)
Kentucky State Police are investigating a fatal shooting in Kenton County that involved Cincinnati police officers, according to state police.

The shooting took place Monday morning at roughly 9:30 a.m., according to state police. One man was sent to Saint Elizabeths Hospital, where he later died.

No one else was injured during the shooting, state police said. State police didnt release any more details about the incident.

The victim was Ali Coulter, 20, according to multiple media reports. Coulter, who was wanted in Hamilton County on a murder charge, allegedly charged at officers with a loaded revolver.

The shooting also involved Cincinnati police officers, according to multiple reports. The Cincinnati investigators were working with Covington police to try to find Coulter.

The Cincinnati Police Department said their officers followed protocol, according to multiple outlets.

State police have statewide jurisdiction on all officer-involved shootings and were still investigating the incident.
Sandra Bullock in 2022. Albert L. Ortega/Getty Images

Sandra Bullock has been a star since the early '90s.

Ever since she crashed onto the scene with "Speed," she's been giving us daring looks.

During the press tour for "The Lost City," Bullock has been stepping out in bold colors and prints.

Bullock stepped out for the "Speed" premiere in June 1994 in this cutesy pale-pink minidress.

Sandra Bullock attends the Hollywood premiere of "Speed" on June 7, 1994. Vinnie Zuffante/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

Bullock paired the dress with a pair of heeled black Oxfords. She was accompanied that evening by her then-boyfriend Tate Donovan.

Bullock attended the 1994 MTV Video Music Awards in this '90s-tastic skirt-and-shirt combo that bared a sliver of her midriff.

Sandra Bullock in the press room of the 1994 MTV Video Music Awards on September 8, 1994. Vinnie Zuffante/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

She accessorized with a pair of sheer black tights.

Bullock brought out the stockings again for the 1996 People's Choice Awards in this lacy slip dress that March.

Sandra Bullock attends the 22nd People's Choice Awards on March 10, 1996. Vinnie Zuffante/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

Bullock's tan dress featured delicate spaghetti straps. Her frosted eyeshadow and brown lipstick are also perfectly '90s.

The actress looked straight out of a Shakespeare play at the 1998 Golden Globes.

Sandra Bullock attends the 55th Golden Globe Awards on January 18, 1998. Vinnie Zuffante/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

Bullock's black dress featured sheer cap sleeves, blue flowers, and a golden chain detail.

To attend the premiere of "Hope Floats" in May 1998, Bullock wore this reflective purple and green oversized jacket with a matching dress.

Sandra Bullock attends the "Hope Floats" premiere on May 27, 1998. Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection/Getty Images

She co-starred in the film with Harry Connick Jr., Gena Rowlands, and a young Mae Whitman. It was also directed by Forest Whitaker.

Bullock walked the red carpet of the 1999 Met Gala in this plunging red gown with cutouts at the waist.

Sandra Bullock at the 1999 Met Gala. KMazur/WireImage/Getty Images

That year's theme was "Rock Style," and it was sponsored by Tommy Hilfiger. You might not be able to tell from this photo, but Bullock's flowery gown was also almost entirely backless.

She combined red-carpet glam with casual-wear in this maroon taffeta skirt and matching boat-neck T-shirt at the "Forces of Nature" premiere in September 1999.

Sandra Bullock at the "Forces of Nature" premiere on September 9, 1999. Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic/Getty Images

Bullock paired her monochromatic look with a matching lip and a light-pink choker.

Bullock attended the premiere of her 2000 classic "Miss Congeniality" in a backless skin-colored dress with a striped gray overlay.

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Sandra Bullock attends the Hollywood premiere of "Miss Congeniality" on December 14, 2000. Vinnie Zuffante/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images; Sam Levi/WireImage/Getty Images

Her piecey updo is very 2000s.

For the 2002 Vanity Fair Oscar Party, Bullock wore a strapless dress with an illusion neckline.

Sandra Bullock at the 2002 Vanity Fair Oscar Party. Gregg DeGuire/WireImage/Getty Images

According to Vanity Fair, Bullock's polka-dot gown was designed by Valentino. She wore it to co-present the award for best original score with Hugh Grant.

Bullock strutted the 2002 Cannes Film Festival red carpet in this unique flowery gown with a black mesh panel on the back.

Sandra Bullock during Cannes 2002 at the "Murder by Numbers" premiere. Toni Anne Barson/WireImage/Getty Images

The dress also featured mesh panels across the front and lots of frills.

She was almost unrecognizable at the "Two Weeks Notice" premiere in December 2002 in this silver minidress and white coat.

Sandra Bullock during the "Two Weeks Notice" premiere. James Devaney/WireImage/Getty Images

Bullock's curly short hair and bangs paired with her hot-pink lip and hoops were a totally new look for her.

Bullock wore this interesting feathery tiered gown for the 2004 Academy Awards that February.

Sandra Bullock attends the 76th Academy Awards on February 29, 2004. Carlo Allegri/Getty Images

The white dress, which featured sheer white bows at the waistline, was designed by Oscar de la Renta, as per PopSugar.

Two years later at the 2006 Academy Awards, Bullock wore this strapless navy gown that had both pockets and black mesh.

Sandra Bullock arrives at the 78th Academy Awards on March 5, 2006. Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

According to Us Weekly, the look was designed by Angel Sanchez.

Bullock opted for a backless black dress for the premiere of "The Lake House" on June 13, 2006.

Sandra Bullock at "The Lake House" premiere in June 2006. Gregg DeGuire/WireImage/Getty Images

Bullock reunited with her "Speed" co-star Keanu Reeves for "The Lake House."

She wore a bright-red bubble dress at an awards ceremony in October 2006.

Sandra Bullock arrives at the Hollywood Film Festival 10th Annual Hollywood Awards Gala Ceremony on October 23, 2006. Stephen Shugerman/Getty Images for Hollywood Film Festival

This is a silhouette Bullock rarely tries in her red-carpet fashion.

To take the stage at the 2010 MTV Movie Awards, Bullock wore this sparkly black minidress that exposed her entire back.

Bradley Cooper and Sandra Bullock onstage at the 2010 MTV Movie Awards on June 6, 2010. Jeff Kravitz / Contributor/Getty Images

Bullock wore this Oday Shakar dress to accept the MTV Generation Award, according to Red Carpet Fashion Awards.

A year after winning her best actress Oscar, the "Blind Side" actress slayed in this strapless red dress with an oversized bow at the 2011 Vanity Fair Oscar Party.

Sandra Bullock arrives at the Vanity Fair Oscar Party on February 27, 2011. Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic/Getty Images

The Vera Wang gown also featured a rectangular cutout at the bust, as per Red Carpet Fashion Awards.

At the Vanity Fair Oscar Party in 2012, Bullock wore a two-toned dress with golden-leaf beading around the waist and a draped open back.

Sandra Bullock arrives at the 2012 Vanity Fair Oscar Party on February 26, 2012. John Shearer/WireImage/Getty Images; Jeffrey Mayer/WireImage/Getty Images

The Oscar winner chose a Marchesa look for Hollywood's biggest night, according to Red Carpet Fashion Awards.

And for the 2013 Oscars, Bullock wore this black lace gown covered in sheer panels.

Sandra Bullock attends the 2013 Vanity Fair Oscar Party on February 24, 2013. Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic/Getty Images

According to the Huffington Post, Bullock's sheer dress was designed by Elie Saab Haute Couture.

She switched up her style for a more edgy look at the premiere of "The Heat" in June 2013 in this skin-tight leather dress with laser cutouts.

Sandra Bullock attends "The Heat" premiere on June 23, 2013. Gilbert Carrasquillo/FilmMagic/Getty Images

Bullock paired this Ermanno Scervino dress with strappy gladiator heels, Tom and Lorenzo reported.

For another "The Heat" red carpet in July 2013, Bullock wore a tunic minidress with a low neckline.

Sandra Bullock arrives at "The Heat" premiere on July 2, 2013. Brendon Thorne/Getty Images

Bullock's embroidered dress was designed by Emilio Pucci, according to The Shopping Trend.

Bullock walked the red carpet of the 2014 SAG Awards in this emerald strapless dress with a thigh-high slit and bow embellishment.

Sandra Bullock attends the 20th Screen Actors Guild Awards on January 18, 2014. Ethan Miller/Getty Images

Bullock, who was nominated that evening for "Gravity," wore Lanvin, according to Red Carpet Fashion Awards.

The "Minions" star wore an asymmetrical gray paisley dress at the animated film's premiere in June 2015.

Sandra Bullock attends the premiere of "Minions" on June 11, 2015. Anthony Harvey/Getty Images

Bullock's unique brocade look was designed by Stella McCartney, according to Hola. It was her first red carpet in over a year.

For the premiere of "Our Brand Is Crisis" in September 2015, Bullock wore this black dress with a sheer patterned skirt and neckline.

Sandra Bullock at the 2015 Toronto Film Festival. Taylor Hill / Getty

The pencil-dress outfit was designed by David Koma, according to Red Carpet Fashion Awards.

After a break from the red carpet, Bullock returned for the premiere of "Ocean's 8" in June 2018 in this silver gown with a feathery neckline and crystals all over.

Sandra Bullock attends the world premiere of "Ocean's 8" on June 5, 2018. Taylor Hill/Getty Images

As Glamour reported, Bullock's ethereal dress was designed by one of her favorites, Elie Saab.

For the UK premiere of "Ocean's 8" later that month, she wore this daring striped sequin jumpsuit with a plunging neckline.

Sandra Bullock attends the "Ocean's 8" UK premiere on June 13, 2018. David M. Benett/Dave Benett/WireImage/Getty Images

The ensemble was designed by Zuhair Murad, PopSugar reported.

Later on in 2018, at a screening of "Bird Box," Bullock wore a bright-red dress with a keyhole cutout.

Sandra Bullock attends the "Bird Box" New York screening on December 17, 2018. Theo Wargo/WireImage/Getty Images

Bullock loves a red dress on the red carpet, as evidenced by this Martin Grant gown, according to PopSugar.

Bullock walked the red carpet of the 2019 MTV Movie and TV Awards in this bedazzled bustier top with a giant sash.

Sandra Bullock and Gal Gadot attend the 2019 MTV Movie and TV Awards on June 15, 2019. Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for MTV

According to PopSugar, the sequined top was designed by Halpern, and it reached all the way to the floor, essentially doubling as a dress.

In November 2021, Bullock attended the premiere of "The Unforgivable" in this shimmering gold jumpsuit and black blazer.

Sandra Bullock attends the Los Angeles premiere of Netflix's "The Unforgivable" on November 30, 2021. Araya Doheny/WireImage/Getty Images

Bullock's disco ball-esque jumpsuit was skintight from the turtleneck down to her knees, where it transitioned into flowing bell-bottoms. As per People, it was designed by Bullock fave Stella McCartney.

In March 2022, Bullock kicked off the press tour for "The Lost City" in a red suit and coral bodysuit covered in diamond cutouts.

Sandra Bullock attends the premiere of "The Lost City" during the 2022 SXSW Festival on March 12, 2022. Gary Miller/WireImage/Getty Images

Bullock's wide-leg drawstring pants, blazer, and bold bodysuit were all designed by Stella McCartney, according to The Zoe Report.

For another screening of "The Lost City," Bullock wore this unique dress covered in paint drips and lips.

Sandra Bullock attends a screening of "The Lost City" on March 14, 2022. Monica Schipper/Getty Images for Paramount Pictures

As Tom and Lorenzo reported, this "kooky" look is by Stella Jean.

At the official premiere of "The Lost City" in March, Bullock stunned in this ombre pink gown featuring a plunging neckline, a slit, and so many flowers.

Sandra Bullock attends a premiere for the film "The Lost City" on March 21, 2022. MARIO ANZUONI/Reuters

She paired this glamorous Elie Saab dress with a black blazer and thigh-high boots for added edge, according to Glamour.

At yet another "Lost City" screening in March, Bullock wore a black suit with a long striped train that almost made it look like a dress.

Sandra Bullock attends a UK screening of "The Lost City" on March 31, 2022. Jeff Spicer/Getty Images for Paramount Pictures

Bullock had no shortage of iconic looks during the "Lost City" promo tour, including this one by Carolina Herrera, Red Carpet Fashion Awards reported.

Read the original article on Insider
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,
The Research Brief is a short take about interesting academic work.

The big idea

Managers may mistreat employees who perform poorly because they assume it results from a lack of diligence rather than other factors, according to research we published in September 2021.

Surveys show that about 1 in 7 U.S. workers feel that their manager engages in hostile behaviors toward them. Abusive supervision may range from relatively mild behaviors such as lying or not giving credit for work to more severe actions, such as insults or ridicule.

While past research has suggested that its the poor performance of workers provoking managers abusive reactions, we wanted to examine whether the faulty perception of the supervisor deserves at least some of the blame.

So we conducted two studies, drawing on research showing that people are prone to perceptual errors when judging negative events. One of these is the fundamental attribution error, a tendency to overattribute negative outcomes to others personalities rather than other explanations.

In the first study, we recruited 189 pairs of employees and supervisors from a variety of industries. We asked supervisors to rate their employees job performance as well as their conscientiousness or diligence  that is, how organized, industrious and careful they are. We then asked employees to rate themselves on the same measures.

Finally, we asked employees to rate how abusive their supervisors were toward them  such as by ridiculing them in front of others  within the previous month.

We found that managers assessed lower-performing employees as less diligent than the workers rated themselves. Research shows self-ratings of personality traits like diligence are generally more accurate than external ratings. This suggests supervisors believed poor-performing employees were less diligent than they actually were. In addition, these employees perceived higher levels of abuse than others did.

This study didnt include independent measures of the employees diligence or their managers abuse. So in our second one we wanted to determine if the managers still blamed a lack of diligence for an incident involving poor performance even when the supervisor knew that the employee wasnt the primary cause.

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We recruited 443 supervisors via an online portal to complete two surveys. In the first, we asked them to think of one of their employees whose first name began with a randomly generated letter and rate their degree of conscientiousness. We used random letters to avoid bias.

One week later, we contacted the same supervisors to complete the second survey, presenting each with an imagined incident in which the employee from the earlier survey performed poorly on a work project. We then randomly assigned them to various scenarios indicating what was responsible for the poor outcome, such as the employee, a software malfunction or both. We asked them what share of the blame they put on the software versus the employee.

We found that when supervisors were told that the employees lack of effort and the malfunction were equally responsible for the poor outcome, they still blamed the employee most. When asked to provide feedback, managers who blamed employees were more objectively abusive, such as by using expressions of anger or threats.

Why it matters

The consequences and costs of abusive supervision are significant. For example, it can worsen employees psychological health and may be costing U.S. employers up to US$24 billion a year in lost productivity.

Suggesting abusive management behaviors are justified or that a worker may deserve the treatment is problematic because it puts the onus for correcting these harmful actions on the targets of abuse rather than the perpetrators. Our research suggests it may be perceptual errors on the part of managers that deserve more blame.

Whats next

We would like to explore how people and employers can reduce instances of abusive supervision. And wed like to look into what other factors besides perceptual biases might be responsible.

[Over 150,000 readers rely on The Conversations newsletters to understand the world. Sign up today.]

This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit news site dedicated to sharing ideas from academic experts. It was written by: Zhanna Lyubykh, University of Calgary; Jennifer Bozeman, West Chester University of Pennsylvania; Nick Turner, University of Calgary, and Sandy Hershcovis, Is joy being sucked out of your work place? You might have a toxic bossWhy female bosses get different reactions than men when they criticize employees

Jennifer Bozeman received funding for her doctoral studies from Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.

Nick Turner receives funding from Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada

Sandy Hershcovis receives funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.
Actor James McAvoy joins "CBS Mornings" to discuss starring in a modern adaptation of the classic play "Cyrano de Bergerac." He shares why he thinks acting onstage is slightly sacrificial and what it's been like performing this role for audiences in London, his hometown Glasgow and in New York.
Update: Matthew Baggott pleaded guilty to one count of disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building on April 5 at a hearing by video conference before U.S. District Court Judge Amit P. Mehtain the District of Columbia. The other charges against him were dismissed as part of the plea deal. A sentencing hearing in his case is set for Aug. 5. He faces up to one year in prison and a find of $100,000, on the charge, as well as the possibility of additional fines related to the deal. Stewart Parks' case is ongoing in the District of Columbia as of April 12.

Two more Tennesseans were arrested in recent days in connection with the deadly Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol, joining at least 13 other defendants in the massive federal investigation.

Matthew Baggott was arrested by the FBI last Sunday in Murfreesboro. Stewart Parks, also of Middle Tennessee, was arrested Thursday in Columbia, the U.S. Attorney's Office reports.

The pair were charged in the same complaint after investigators say they entered the building together. Each faces charges of entering or remaining in a restricted building, disorderly conduct and violent entry on capitol grounds.

Parks faces an additional charge of theft of government property.

Investigators trawled through Parks' social media after at least three witnesses alerted the FBI to posts an account in his name made on Jan. 6, court documents show.

Federal investigators have charged two Middle Tennessee men in connection with the deadly Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol. Matthew Baggott, in red, and Stewart Parks, in gray, both face disorderly conduct charges.

Although the account had been deactivated in mid-January, investigators report recovering Instagram story posts from Jan. 6 and direct messages referencing Baggott and the riot from the following days.

The criminal complaint includes a screenshot of a story appearing to be taken inside an airplane captioned "ON THE WAY TO DC TO STOP THE STEAL," and another that was reportedly taken outside on the building's steps captioned "PARTY WAS FUN TIL THE SWAT SHOWED UP."

UPDATE: DC judge cites 'zip tie guy' case, denies release of East Tennessee U.S. Capitol riot suspect

Story continues

MORE: 15 with Tennessee connections arrested in Jan. 6 U.S. Capitol riot investigation

Another video, depicting a group of people approaching "what appears to be an entrance to the Capitol building" shows a man later identified as Baggott throwing an unidentified object toward some Capitol police officers.

Investigators shared a selection of messages from the account in Parks' name sent to unidentified other accounts, including "We ain't giving up" and "No way in hell Biden is getting the presidency" around 8:40 p.m. on Jan. 6 and "Baggot wants to know why you weren't there," followed by six smiling emojis, on Jan. 7.

Footage taken inside the Capitol on the day shows two individuals later identified as Baggott and Parks traveling together through the building, court documents indicate. They generally remained together, with Parks often carrying both a yellow Gadsden "don't tread on me" flag, investigators said.

Parks was often pictured holding onto the strap of Baggott's backpack, court documents show.

Federal investigators have charged two Middle Tennessee men in connection with the deadly Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol. Matthew Baggott, in red, and Stewart Parks, in gray, both face disorderly conduct charges.

Parks allegedly picked up and walked out of the building with a hand-held metal detector wand from a table near an entrance, the complaint says.

Baggott is scheduled to appear virtually before a federal judge in Washington on Tuesday; Parks on Wednesday. Both remained in custody as of Saturday afternoon, according to online court records.

Albuquerque Cosper Head, 41, of Kingsport, was arrested April 14 in Johnson City.

Head was charged in connection with two other men, Iowan Kyle Young, 37, and Thomas Sibick, 35, of Buffalo, New York.

Prosecutors say Young was among the mob supporting Trump who dragged Metropolitan Police Department Officer Michael Fanone into a crowd during the attack, shocked him with a stun gun and stole his badge, radio and ammunition. Young is accused of trying to take Fanone's service weapon.

Head faces several charges including assaulting, resisting or impeding officers and use of a deadly or dangerous weapon. A D.C. judge on May 6 granted the government's motion to detain Head while court proceedings continue.

He has entered a plea of not guilty on all counts.

The next status hearing in the case is set for Aug. 3.

A Covington, Kentucky, man, Nicholas James Brockhoff was arrested by the FBI in Tennessee on May 27.

Brockhoff stands accused of spraying officers with a fire extinguisher at about 1 p.m. from scaffolding set up for President Joe Biden's inauguration on the Lower West Terrace of the Capitol, according to a U.S. Department of Justice release, the Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

A federal judge on Thursday ordered Brockhoff to remain in custody. No information on the next hearing in the case was immediately available.

Notable suspects Eric Munchel, 30, of Nashville, and his mother Lisa Marie Eisenhart, 56, of Woodstock, Georgia, were charged Wednesday with superseding indictments after a federal grand jury reviewed the case.

Previously, the pair each faced four counts related to tampering with a witness and unlawfully entering the Capitol; each defendant in February entered a plea of not guilty on the first three of four counts and waived a formal reading of the remaining count.

But on Wednesday, a federal grand jury indicted the pair each on eight superseding counts, including four new charges adding conspiracy and aiding and abetting enhancements to the charges as well as charges of violent entry related to possession of a deadly weapon.

Munchel allegedly carried a taser into the Capitol, according to prosecutors.

The defendants had not entered a plea to the new indictment as of Saturday.

Reach reporter Mariah Timms at mtimms@tennessean.com or 615-259-8344 and on Twitter @MariahTimms.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Two more from Tennessee arrested after deadly US Capitol riot
It has been one of the most controversial topics in American aviation during the pandemic  and a trigger for violent passenger attacks.

The current federal requirement to mask on planes and other public transportation is set to expire Monday, April 18, but the Biden administration has yet to decide whether to extend or end the mandate. While travelers have mixed feelings about a possible extension, the airline industry is renewing its push for the government to drop the rule.

"We need to remove these mandates," said Roger Dow, president of the U.S. Travel Association, which, along with three other industry groups, has cited the "economic costs" as one of the reasons to end travel mask rules for all.

The approaching deadline comes as COVID-19 infections begin to surge again in some parts of the U.S., with more than two dozen states reporting a jump in cases over the past week.

Some fliers say it's time for them to decide whether to mask up or not.

"They should have given the people a choice whether they wanted to wear it or not from the beginning," said John Delgado, a passenger at Reagan National Airport in Washington, D.C.

"I don't really care. I would continue wearing mine," traveler Ana Veciana-Suarez said.

Most Americans seem to favor an extension. A recent survey by The Harris Poll COVID-19 tracker found that six in 10 people support extending the travel mask mandate.

One of the big reasons this has become such a flashpoint is that it is one of the last bastions of mask mandates. COVID-19 restrictions were largely relaxed across the country following a wave of Omicron cases earlier this year. And even as cities like Philadelphia reinstate indoor mask rules amid a surge of infections in recent days, hospitalizations and deaths have not seen a major increase.

"We have an unpredictable virus with many variants. But we're seeing again and again these variants are less severe," Dow told CBS News' transportation correspondent Errol Barnett.

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In a recent letter to Dr. Ashish Jha, the new White House coronavirus response coordinator, several airline groups cited guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that says "the overwhelming majority of the country no longer needs to wear masks indoors."

Allie Malis, the government affairs representative for American Airlines' flight attendant union, said health and scientific data have to be "at the core" of any decision going forward.

"We all look forward to the day when masks are no longer needed," she said. "But until that day, it's really important that we're all cooperating."

White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Monday that the CDC has yet to determine its next move.

In the U.K., where coronavirus restrictions were dropped last month, multiple airlines have had to cancel more flights out of London than usual, citing staffing shortages because of COVID-19.

MoneyWatch: What's causing the rise in inflation?

Actor James McAvoy discusses New York stage debut in modern production of "Cyrano de Bergerac"

Researchers in California develop an ice cube that doesn't melt, can be reused
The Tribune will host a virtual event, the Great Tribune Takeout Night, on April 12, during which we'll announce the winners of the 2022 Readers' Choice Food Awards. (Aly Morris/Chicago Tribune)

The Chicago Tribune is hosting the Great Tribune Takeout Night at 6 p.m. Tuesday.

Well be streaming on Facebook Live, and youll be able to tune in below. Louisa Chu, Tribune food critic, and Monica Eng, co-host of the Chewing podcast with Chu, will reveal the winners of our 2022 Readers Choice Food Awards.

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[ 43 Chicagoland restaurants offer half-off pizzas, meal kits and more for Great Tribune Takeout Night ]

More than 5,000 people cast 12,647 votes in March, from Pilsen to Logan Square to Brookfield  just to name a few of the neighborhoods and suburbs represented north, south and west. Well announce the winners of Best Restaurant, Best Burgers, Best Cocktail Menu and more, plus give away a few gift cards for a takeout dinner of your own.

[ Readers Choice Food Awards 2022: Andros Taverna wins Best Restaurant, plus winners of Best Tacos, Burgers and more ]

Across Chicagoland, more than 40 restaurants, bakeries and other food businesses are offering one-night-only Takeout Night specials. Order in, then share your takeout on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter and tag @chicagotribune or #GTTN2022. Well track the shout-outs Tuesday, and the spot with the most mentions will win one final Readers Choice award for Greatest Takeout.

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Tune in at 6 p.m. Tuesday, and find the winners of this years Readers Choice Food Awards in print Wednesday.

Big screen or home stream, takeout or dine-in, Tribune writers are here to steer you toward your next great experience. Sign up for your free weekly Eat. Watch. Do. newsletter here.
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
In an Albanian city once named for Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin, dozens of Soviet- and Chinese-made planes rust in the open air on a former communist airbase, some with flat tyres, others covered with dust.

The site in the central city now called Kucova is being transformed into a modern NATO airbase, a symbol of Albania's westward shift -- and a key military buffer in Europe as Russia wages war in Ukraine.

The renovation project was agreed in 2018 by the Balkan state and NATO, which has already committed $55 million (50.4 million euros) to the project, according to Albanian sources.

Construction began at the beginning of the year, ahead of Russia's February 24 invasion of Ukraine that has sparked fears of a spillover into NATO and EU member states.

Though the timing of the Kucova base redevelopment was a coincidence, for some it is a welcome one.

"The changed global security environment has now created considerable impetus for the completion of the (base) renovation plan," a NATO official in Brussels told AFP, speaking on condition of anonymity.

The base, due to be completed in 2023, will give the "alliance an important strategic facility in the Western Balkans, within short reach of the Mediterranean, Middle East and the Black Sea region", the NATO official said.

- 'Clear message' -

After decades of global isolation, Albania became a NATO member in 2009.

It was shunned by much of the world under paranoid Communist dictator Enver Hoxha, who forged close ties with the Soviet Union and China before falling out with them over their apparent deviation from true Marxism.

The country embraced the West after the fall of the communist regime in 1990, and today is eager to become an EU member.

The defunct aircraft at the Kucova base are reminders of a chapter of Albania's history many are happy to leave behind -- and a signal to Russia which has sought to extend its influence in the region.

"The construction of this base is a clear message to other players with bad intentions in the Western Balkans region," Albania's Defence Minister Niko Peleshi told AFP.

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The construction is certain to irk Moscow, which strongly opposes any NATO expansion into eastern and central Europe -- especially in the Balkans which has traditionally been torn between East and West.

Today, Albania's neighbours Croatia, Montenegro and Northern Macedonia are all part of NATO too.

For Seit Putro, who has worked in the finance department at the base for more than 30 years, it's a welcome confirmation of Albania's political allegiances.

"Once in the East, we are now in our place, next to the West, which is a good step forward for all," he told AFP.

- Job creation -

The 350-hectare (865-acre) site in the former 'Stalin City' was built in the 1950s under Hoxha with help from the Soviets, and completed later with a network of the same kind of underground tunnels that were dug across the country in case of nuclear attack.

Once the NATO renovation is finished, it will function as a tactical operational base, kitted out with a refurbished runway more than two kilometres (1.2 miles) long, an updated control tower and new storage units.

It will have the capacity to host state-of-the-art military aircraft and can also be used for refuelling and ammunition storage.

Officials are also hoping the base, which once employed 700 people, will create new jobs in the poor region, 85 kilometres south of the capital Tirana.

It will have a "very positive economic and social impact", said deputy commander of the base, Major Leandro Syka.

- 'Natural alliance' -

The aircraft now languishing on the airbase mainly consist of Chinese and Soviet MiGs, Soviet-made Antonovs and Yak-18s.

At the end of the Cold War, the base had about 200 planes and 40 helicopters, which were put out of commission as they were obsolete.

About 75 remain today, and their fate remains uncertain.

The authorities have to yet to decide whether they will be auctioned, put in a museum or turned into scrap metal.

For some, they hold painful memories from past conflicts.

Former pilot Niazi Nelaj remembers clearly his first flight aboard a Mig-15, which bore bullet marks from combat in distant Asian countries.

But the 85-year-old is happy to see the airbase aligned with NATO, and he believes Albania's previous pivot toward the East was only an "accident of history".

"Albania's natural alliance has always been and will be with the West," he said.

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Amber Heard's lawyers have accused her ex-husband Johnny Depp of sexual assault as the actor sets out to prove defamation charges against her.

Depp, 58, is suing Heard, 35, over a 2018 op-ed she wrote for the Washington Post about surviving domestic violence, though she never mentioned Depp by name in the article. On Tuesday, opening statements began for the libel trial, which is expected to last about six weeks, inside the Fairfax County Courthouse in Virginia, with both Heard and Depp present.

During the proceedings, which are being broadcast live by Court TV, Heard's attorney Ben Rottenborn said evidence will show that she suffered domestic abuse by Depp that "took many forms," including physical, emotional, verbal and psychological.

For more on Johnny Depp's defamation suit against Amber Heard, listen below to our daily podcast PEOPLE Every Day.

When discussing the headline used for the online version of Heard's op-ed, the attorney explained that she did not write that headline herself or get to approve it. It read: "Amber Heard: I spoke up against sexual violence  and faced our culture's wrath. That has to change." However, the attorney claimed Heard has indeed been the victim of sexual violence by Depp.

About the headline, "tragically, it's true," Rottenborn told the courtroom. "Amber did suffer sexual violence at the hands of Depp. ... You will hear in the most graphic and horrifying terms about the violence that she suffered. You'll hear that straight from her. She will get on the stand and she will tell you that. It happened."

amber-heard-johnny-depp.jpg

Venturelli/Getty; John Phillips/Getty Amber Heard (L); Johnny Depp

Shortly after, Rottenborn listed a time when Depp allegedly had a three-day, alcohol-fueled blackout while in Australia in 2015 toward the end of their marriage, when Depp "abused and sexually assaulted Amber, all because she had the courage to confront him about his drinking."

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"Imagine that: A concerned spouse confronts her husband about his drinking and gets 'rewarded' with that," said Rottenborn.

RELATED: Johnny Depp and Amber Heard Barred from Signing Autographs or Posing for Photos During Trial, Judge Orders

Pre-Oscar parties

Phillip Faraone/Getty Images Amber Heard

Never miss a story  sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

About this new allegation, a spokesperson for Depp tells PEOPLE, "These fictitious claims were never made at the onset of Amber's allegations in 2016, and only advantageously surfaced years later once she was sued for defamation after noting in her op-ed that she was a victim of 'sexual violence.' "

"Words are key in a defamation case and conveniently, this allegation only came after that," they add. "This follows a pattern of her elaborate, erroneous claims which have continued to change and evolve over time for the purpose of Hollywood shock value of which Amber has mastered and used to exploit a serious social movement."

Depp's legal team went first in opening statements, claiming that Heard manufactured the "false allegations" to boost her career in light of the #MeToo movement at the time. His lawyer Camille Vasquez argued that Heard added sexual assault to a list of allegations because she "panicked" when she realized the "seriousness of what she'd alleged" and couldn't back down from her notoriety as a survivor. Vasquez added that Heard's lawyers would be sharing "explosive" stories "designed" to "distract" from "common sense."

Depp and Heard, who met making the 2011 movie The Rum Diary, broke up in May 2016, when she sought a domestic violence restraining order against him, accusing him of abusing her. Depp denied the claims, and the former couple settled their divorce out of court in August 2016.

Johnny Depp

SC Pool - Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images Johnny Depp

Depp originally filed the $50 million lawsuit in March 2019, but it was postponed due to the pandemic.

Back in November 2020, Depp lost his highly publicized U.K. libel lawsuit case against British tabloid The Sun for calling him a "wife-beater." The court upheld the outlet's claims as being "substantially true" and Heard testified to back up the claims. In March 2021, his attempt to overturn the decision was overruled.

On Saturday, Heard wrote on Instagram that she will be avoiding social media until after the trial, thanking her followers for their support.

She said, in part, "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. At this time, I recognize the ongoing support I've been fortunate to receive throughout these years, and in these coming weeks I will be leaning on it more than ever."

If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, please contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or go to rainn.org.
Apr. 12AMESBURY  The city and roughly 80 of its residents began looking at potential traffic reduction on Main Street and adequate programming in the East End during a pair of Merrimack River District planning meetings over the weekend.

The city has been looking at creating the district, which would run from the former Trader Alan's Truck Stop on Route 150, along Main Street, and up to the proposed East End smart growth overlay district at the corner of Elm Street and Route 110.

The proposed Merrimack River District includes the former truck stop, the former Larry's Marina on Merrimac Street, the 124-unit Village at Bailey's Pond condominium complex now under construction and the 135-acre so-called "golden triangle" site near the corner of Elm Street and Route 110.

The proposed river district is also an offshoot of the planned East End smart growth overlay district that is focused on Elm Street, Route 110 and Clark's Road.

Roughly 40 residents took part in vehicular tours of the proposed districts on Friday that were followed by public meetings on the matter at the high school Friday evening and Saturday morning.

Community and Economic Development Director Angela Cleveland led one of the rolling tours. She said a proposed 130-unit-maximum, affordable housing development has been slotted to be built on land owned by North Andover development company MINCO Corp. that is split between Clark's Road and the intersection of Elm Street and Route 110, just outside the "golden triangle."

Cleveland said the MINCO developments would be part of a proposed Amesbury gateway area that would include all four corners of the intersection of Elm Street and Route 110, including the current Burger King location, the Sunoco gas station and the former Friendly's restaurant, which was recently purchased by Visions Hotels along with the adjoining Fairfield Inn by Marriott Amesbury.

The state also owns a strip of land between the two MINCO properties that is being used as parking and a trail head for the rail trail, and is expected to be put up for auction.

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Friday's tour also headed down Main Street in the Point Shore neighborhood which is home to the former Larry's Marina.

The two-acre property was purchased by ARC Technology founder Dan Healey, who was looking at building a restaurant and function hall on the site, which would also continue to be used as a marina.

"A lot of permitting is going to need to go into this, as you can probably imagine," Cleveland said of the marina site Friday.

The tour on Friday also passed through the Village at Bailey's Pond condominium complex and ended at the former Trader Alan's Truck Stop property which the city has listed as surplus.

Cleveland said the 6.77-acre, brownfield property is zoned as an office park but could be utilized for many potential uses in the future.

Residents at the public meetings said they could see the former truck stop used as a prime space for a children's playground/dog park with plenty of pedestrian access from Pond View Avenue.

Meeting attendees also said all four corners of the East End gateway need to be programmed, while the state property there was seen as a potential visitor's center spot.

Historic preservation, recreational opportunities and open space were among the topics that were also discussed over the weekend and reducing the amount of traffic in the proposed Merrimack River District was also a popular idea.

Main Street resident John Stevenson said his street sees roughly 9,000 vehicles passing through each day and he has spent the past two years working with the city's Traffic & Transportation Committee to find a way to lessen the traffic.

Stevenson took part in all three Merrimack River District events over the weekend and said he was very pleased with the "progressive" path Mayor Kassandra Gove has taken in tackling the area.

"The mayor is bringing in all the projects under consideration in the area, so we are looking at a much bigger picture," he said.

Stevenson also said the weekend sessions were very transparent, fruitful and productive.

"There is still some frustration, since we have been working on this for two years, but it looks like there is much more engagement now and that is a positive note. It appears we will be able to move forward," he said.

Cleveland said roughly 80 residents took part in at least one of the weekend's events and seemed to be excited about follow-up sessions.

The city will be launching a development guide survey on Friday, April 15, and the next public meeting on the matter is expected to take place in June.

"We appreciate people's participation, it was about eight hours of people's time and that dedication shows that people are into being a part of the conversation," Cleveland said.

Staff writer Jim Sullivan covers Amesbury and Salisbury for The Daily News. He can be reached via email at jsullivan@newburyportnews.com or by phone at 978-961-3145. Follow him on Twitter @ndnsully.

Staff writer Jim Sullivan covers Amesbury and Salisbury for The Daily News. He can be reached via email at jsullivan@newburyportnews.com or by phone at 978-961-3145. Follow him on Twitter @ndnsully.
Associated Press

One of the men convicted of murder in the street chase and fatal shooting of Ahmaud Arbery spoke with his former boss, the local district attorney, several times by phone in the days and weeks following the 2020 killing, according to a court document filed Thursday. Investigators found that the day after the shooting, then-Brunswick Judicial Circuit District Attorney Jackie Johnson placed a phone call to Greg McMichael, a retired investigator for her office who initiated the deadly pursuit of Arbery. The call lasted more than nine minutes, prosecutors said in a misconduct case against Johnson said in the legal filing.
Guilty plea

An Army soldier was sentenced on Friday to serve 60 months in prison for possession of child pornography and threatening to assault or murder a federal employee.

Jahara Byfield, 23, was arrested in August 2020 while he was stationed in Fort Huachuca in Sierra Vista for using phones to get pictures and videos of children engaging in sexual activities, according to a press release from the District of Arizona U.S. Attorney's Office. Some of the children were prepubescent minors, the release said.

Following his arrest, Byfield was placed on pretrial release with computer monitoring restrictions. He pleaded guilty to his charge of possession of child pornography in December 2020, the release said.

Byfield threatened to kill those involved with his computer monitoring during a release while waiting for sentencing. The release was revoked in June 2021 and he was charged for the threats, the release said.

In December 2021, he pleaded guilty to the charge of threatening to assault or murder a federal employee. Last week, he was sentenced to serve 60 months in prison by the U.S. Attorney's Office.

Once released from prison, Byfield will be monitored for life and is required to register as a sex offender, the release said.

His case is a part of Project Safe Childhood, an initiative "to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse."

Reach breaking news intern Jane Florance at jflorance@arizonarepublic.com or on Twitter @Florance_Jane.

Support local journalism. Subscribe to azcentral.com today.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Jahara Byfield sentenced for possession of child pornography
Arrest made.

Police say theyve arrested the man who shot and killed a teenager in the parking lot of a Shelby business on Saturday, April 2.

Roderick Jermaine Young was taken into custody Monday.

He was arrested without incident, said Sgt. Seth Treadway with the Shelby Police Department.

According to Treadway, Young is responsible for shooting and killing 18-year-old Zechariah Freeman of Shelby.

Young is also accused of shooting another person in the incident that happened at 12:30 a.m. in the parking lot of Skooterz Saloon at 1981 E. Dixon Blvd., in Shelby.

When Shelby Police officers arrived, they found Freeman dead from at least two bullet wounds.

Another man was found injured at the scene, and a man and woman who were also hit by bullets had driven themselves to the hospital. None suffered life-threatening injuries, and all were treated at Atrium Health Cleveland in Shelby.

Police said early on in the investigation that the shootout involved at least three different caliber guns, so this case isnt over yet, Treadway said.

We do anticipate more arrests and potentially more charges, he said.

In an earlier interview with The Star, Shelby Police Chief Jeff Ledford said the gunfire started after an argument outside of the establishment.

He called the act of using guns to solve a disagreement unacceptable.

The frustrating part is when you have a young person lose their life like that, he said. Anytime you have people indiscriminately firing a weapon, thats unacceptable.

Though the case still has a while to make it through the court system, Treadway said he hoped Freemans family finds some comfort in the arrest of a man police say pulled the trigger that took the teen's life.

It's good that we can bring them some closure with an arrest, he said.

Young, 38, of Shelby, is charged with murder and assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury. He is currently in Cleveland County jail without bond.

Diane Turbyfill can be reached at 704-669-3334 and dturbyfill@shelbystar.com.

This article originally appeared on The Shelby Star: Arrest made in homicide outside a Shelby bar
Australia's Minister for the Pacific was dispatched to the Solomon Islands on Tuesday over a controversial security pact Western allies fear will enable a Chinese military foothold in the South Pacific.

Minister Zed Seselja will travel to Honiara, his office confirmed, despite his political party in Australia being in the grips of a close-fought federal election campaign.

"My discussions will include the proposed Solomon Islands-China security agreement," Seselja said in a statement.

A spokesperson for Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare told AFP the Pacific nation's leader would "love to meet" with the Australian minister in Honiara.

A draft version of the security pact sent shockwaves across the region when it was leaked last month -- particularly measures that would allow Chinese security and naval deployments to the Solomon Islands.

The United States and Australia have long been concerned about the potential for China to build a naval base in the South Pacific, allowing its navy to project power far beyond its borders.

Prime Minister Sogavare has said his government has "no intention whatsoever... to ask China to build a military base in the Solomon Islands".

Last late month, officials from China and the Solomon Islands agreed on elements of the final security agreement, but the document has not been made public.

The leaked draft would allow for armed Chinese police to be deployed at the Solomon Islands' request to maintain "social order".

Without the written consent of the other party, neither would be allowed to disclose the missions publicly.

Seselja's visit follows talks last week in Honiara between Australian intelligence chiefs and Solomon Islands officials over the security pact.

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The Recount

Governor Ron DeSantis claimed that the Florida Department of Education will not let ideology be injected into the math textbooks. In a statement released by the education department on April 15, it said that 54 textbooks were kept out of the states adopted list among the 132 submitted ones. The rejected books made up around 41% of the submissions and contained references to critical race theory among other reasons.
India unlikely to serve as Washingtons pawn over Ukraine despite Biden-Modi meeting: expert

(Global Times) 08:52, April 12, 2022

US, India Illustration: Chen Xia/GT

US President Joe Biden and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a virtual meeting on Monday, during which they spent quite some time in discussing the Ukraine issue.

Despite the US has been escalating methods to court and pressure India to take a stronger position against Russia, Modi showed a neutral stance over the Ukraine issue at the meeting, calling for direct talks between Russia and Ukraine instead of condemning Russia as the US obviously hoped.

Chinese observers believe India won't sway easily on the issue, given its strategic autonomy and concerns over US credibility. The two sides will maintain engagement, and the so-called Indo-Pacific Strategy is one of the reasons for their interactions. But since India and the US have different expectations, New Delhi won't serve as Washington's pawn in the region, they said.

During the virtual meeting, Modi said he had spoken to both Ukrainian and Russian leaders over telephone several times, not only appealed to them for peace but also suggested President Putin to hold direct talks with the Ukrainian President.

While condemning the killings in Bucha, Modi called for an impartial probe.

"We hope that through the talks between Russia and Ukraine, a path for peace would come out," Modi said.

Qian Feng, director of the research department at the National Strategy Institute at Tsinghua University, said Biden is making an ultimate try to sway the Indian position as well as having communication on other bilateral topics. India won't change its neutral position on the Ukraine issue given its "strategic autonomy," which is beneficial for the country.

Lan Jianxue, head of the Department for Asia-Pacific Studies at China Institute of International Studies, told the Global Times that the US has been stepping up efforts to canvass India to take a stronger stance, including sending its allies  Australia, Japan and the UK  and its own officials to New Delhi. Biden's top concern remains the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

The possibility cannot be ruled out that the US would offer a bait attractive enough for India to sway a bit, although it won't lean to the US completely, Lan said, citing the visa and technological transfer as topics India cares a lot.

"But New Delhi has to consider the credibility of Washington and whether today's promises will be fulfilled tomorrow, as the US always upholds 'American first' and has records of abandoning allies and partners," the expert said.

British scholar Martin Jacques, who until recently was a Senior Fellow at the Department of Politics and International Studies at Cambridge University, wrote in a column for the Global Times on Monday given India's westward drift over the last 20 years and more, it might have been expected that India would strongly back the US. But, on the contrary, it has been a major critic of the US's role while maintaining a supportive attitude toward Russia.

According to Jacques, the reason is twofold. First, many countries in the developing world, including India, reject the idea that a country, in this case Ukraine, is free to do whatever it likes even if it threatens the security of another country, in this case Russia.

Second, the weaponization of sanctions as a new form of warfare is widely viewed as a very negative development. The US has assumed the right, based on the vaguest of wording, to act in an arbitrary manner against any country that it deems to have continued trading with Russia. The overriding priority of developing countries, however, is the right to trade and receive investment from wherever it might come from, he wrote.

The leaders' virtual meeting precedes a "2+2" dialogue, the fourth of its kind, in Washington on Monday, which will be followed by the signing of the Space Situational Awareness MOU and a joint press conference, India TV reported.

Indian media believe the "2+2" will focus on cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region, where the two countries are strategically more aligned.

Before the formal 2+2 dialogue, which was postponed from December 2021, Singh met senior executives of American aerospace and defense giants Boeing and Raytheon on Sunday and asked them to take advantage of policy initiatives in India to steadily march from "Make in India" toward "Make for the World," according to Indian news outlet Firstpost.

Qian said the US and India have already come closer but India has its own strategic orientation which was obvious in the Ukraine crisis  India will not act like Japan or Australia. That means the US won't be able to use India as a tool.

Experts said the US' Indo-Pacific was more of a concept and lacks real investment, while India is eyeing substantial benefits and withholds coordination to some extent with the US on the "Indo-Pacific Strategy."

Lan noted India and the US have different paths in dealing with China. The US didn't change from its extreme pressure, but India hopes to maintain engagement with China since the two are neighbors that cannot be moved apart.

Despite some radical, right-wing news outlets in India that have maintained hawkish in front of China, reasonable, balanced and pragmatic voices on China are increasing against the backdrop of the Russia-Ukraine conflict and US-led sanctions, Lan said.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
LOS ANGELES  Britney Spears, less than five months after her conservatorship ended, confused some fans Monday when she posted on Instagram that shes pregnant, and apparently married.

I lost so much weight to go on my Maui trip only to gain it back, the pop star wrote in part Monday, accompanied by a photo of flowers and a cup of coffee. I thought Geez ... what happened to my stomach??? My husband said No youre food pregnant silly!!! So I got a pregnancy test ... and uhhhhh well ... I am having a baby. ...

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Spears  with liberal use of various emojis  didnt name Asghari as the husband and added: I obviously wont be going out as much due to the paps getting their money shot of me like they unfortunately already have.

While some, including Paris Hilton, congratulated Spears, others werent completely sure.

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Multiple email requests for confirmation from Spears representative were not immediately returned Monday.

Monday evening, Asghari added an Instagram post of his own accompanied by a painting of a lion family with three members.

Marriage and kids are a natural part of a strong relationship filled with love and respect. Fatherhood is something i have always looked forward to and i dont take lightly. It is the most important job i will ever do, he wrote.

Britney Spears and Sam Asghari arrive at the Los Angeles premiere of "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood," at the TCL Chinese Theatre, Monday, July 22, 2019. (Jordan Strauss/Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

Spears spoke of suffering from perinatal depression in the past, calling it absolutely horrible and saying shes heartened that the condition is spoken of more freely among women now than at the time of her previous go arounds with her sons, ages 15 and 16. She shares the teens with ex Kevin Federline.

Spears said some people considered it dangerous if a woman complained like that with a baby inside her  but now women talk about it everyday  thank Jesus we dont have to keep that pain a reserved proper secret  This time I will be doing yoga every day !!! Spreading lots of joy and love!!!

The 40-year-old Spears has said she longed for a baby with the 28-year-old Asghari, a personal trainer, but she has said the nearly 14-year-long conservatorship forced her to remain on birth control. The two met on the set of her Slumber Party video in 2016.
Pioneering farm labor leader Dolores Huerta, left, and former L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa show their support for mayoral candidate Rep. Karen Bass, right, during a campaign event in Mariachi Plaza on Tuesday. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

With citywide polling showing her in a dead heat with real estate developer Rick Caruso ahead of the June mayoral primary, Rep. Karen Bass launched a new effort on Tuesday to broaden her reach with Latino voters.

Latinos account for nearly a third of the more than 2 million registered voters in the city, according to Political Data Inc., and make up about one-fourth of the likely electorate.

During a program in Boyle Heights that included a five-piece mariachi band, a mix of English and Spanish and some of the best-known Latinos in California politics, Bass and her surrogates sought to make the case for why Latinos should support her campaign, citing her community organizing roots, support for blue-collar workers and long history with many of the leaders on the stage.

"This is not a new request to support Karen Bass," said Monica Garcia, a Los Angeles school board member. "She has been with us through our great challenges and our great triumphs."

Former Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa  an early endorser and prominent surrogate for Bass  said he has known the congresswoman for nearly 50 years.

"She lived on the south side, I lived on the Eastside. And we were coming together around important issues in our community, bringing Latinos and African Americans together in this town," Villaraigosa said, referring to coalition work that Bass and he had done together beginning in the early 1970s.

Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon (D-Lakewood) urged the crowd onstage, many of whom were clad in union T-shirts, to fight for Bass, imploring them to walk precincts and participate in phone banks.

Gabriel Montoya, an emergency medical technician and member of SEIU-United Healthcare Workers West, said his union and other locals would be working together to reach voters on the ground. (Fellow candidate Councilman Kevin De Leon also has strong support with local unions.)

Mariachi musician Arturo Ramirez photographs mayoral candidate Karen Bass during a campaign event in Mariachi Plaza on Tuesday. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

Civil rights leader Dolores Huerta cited her long history with Bass, saying she "comes from the grass roots" and noted that Bass has a Latino family.

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Bass was introduced by her Latina stepdaughter, Yvette Lechuga, who spoke to a more personal side of Bass rarely heard on the campaign trail. (Lechuga is the daughter of Bass' former husband, Jesus Lechuga, and one of the congresswoman's four stepchildren.)

"I don't think people realize that she's just been an amazing mother all this time behind the scenes," Lechuga said, describing childhood beach and museum trips and how Bass was by her side when she battled leukemia and in the delivery room for Lechuga's son's birth. Bass' young grandson Henry DePaz also joined them onstage.

Bass echoed Villaraigosa's talk of south and Eastside coalitions when she took the stage, citing shared work on immigrant rights and police reform.

"We understood that each other's struggle was the same," she said to raucous applause. "They might be different issues, but the point is we were all fighting together for social and economic justice."

The campaign's new Latino outreach effort will be led by deputy campaign manager Frank Torres, who joined the Bass team this week and will be overseeing neighborhood organizing and outreach. Campaign spokesperson Anna Bahr said that the high-profile surrogates will help guide the campaign's Latino outreach and overarching grass-roots strategy.

A UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies poll co-sponsored by The Times released earlier this week found that no candidate has emerged as a clear favorite of Latino voters: Bass had the support of 10% of likely Latino voters, while De Leon had the support of 15% of Latino voters and real estate developer Rick Caruso polled at 16%.

Half of likely Latino voters said they were undecided, compared with about a third of white or Black voters.

De Leon, a fluent Spanish speaker and the son of a single mother from Guatemala, represents the heavily Latino district where the Mariachi Plaza event was held, and Caruso has been running Spanish language TV ads.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
U.S. President Joe Biden. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Biden called Russian attacks on Ukraine a "genocide" on Tuesday, a term loaded with significance.

Just days ago, his top national security aide declined to call Russia's actions a "genocide."

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called Biden a "true leader" in response.

President Joe Biden on Tuesday labeled Russia's actions in Ukraine as a "genocide," using a term loaded with historic and political significance and one that both the Biden administration and past presidents have tried to avoid using.

"Your family budget, your ability to fill up your tank  none of it should hinge on whether a dictator declares war and commits genocide a half a world away," Biden said during a speech in Iowa.

Biden was delivering a speech about his administration's actions to lower gas prices. It's unclear if his words were a change in his administration's policy. During a fiery speech in Poland, Biden called for regime change in Russia which White House aides quickly tried to walk back.

As of last week, Biden himself was refusing to call Russia's apparent war crimes genocide.

"No, I think it's a war crime," Biden told reporters when asked about graphic scenes in Bucha.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who has also called Russia's action a genocide, praised Biden and called him a "true leader."

"True words of a true leader @POTUS," Zelenskyy wrote on Twitter. "Calling things by their names is essential to stand up to evil. We are grateful for US assistance provided so far and we urgently need more heavy weapons to prevent further Russian atrocities."

Zelenskyy visited Bucha and showed reporters the bodies of those killed. He called for those responsible for alleged atrocities to face a trial similar to what Nazi leaders faced in Nuremberg after WWII.

"Concentrated evil has come to our land," Zelenskyy said while also labeling the actions a "genocide."

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Zelenskyy advisor Oleksiy Arestovych said at the time that some victims were shot in the head with their hands tied behind their back, and that women were raped before they were killed.

On Sunday, national security advisor Jake Sullivan explicitly declined to call Russia's actions a "genocide." International investigations into apparent Russian war crimes are already underway.

"The label is less important than the fact that these acts are cruel and criminal and wrong and evil, and need to be responded to decisively," Sullivan told CNN.

Sullivan later explained to ABC that the reason he was avoiding using the term was due to the desire to wait until the State Department could conduct a formal investigation.

"We haven't reached a determination on genocide," he said. "That is a determination that we work through systematically."

White House officials have expressed increasing horror over the graphic images and details that continue to emerge from Ukraine. Biden called on Putin to face a war crimes trial in the wake of Bucha.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said Russia's actions in Bucha, which were later verified by The New York Times and other outlets, didn't "look far short of genocide."

The US' historic hesitancy to call something a genocide is well-documented. The Clinton administration told its spokespeople to avoid calling the slaughter in Rwanda a "genocide." President Bill Clinton later said one of his biggest regrets was not doing more to stop the slaughter of an estimated 800,000 Tutsi civilians massacred by Hutu extremists.

In later released communications, it was made clear that top aides privately debated their response to Rwanda. A legal advisor rejected claims from some human rights organizations that if the Clinton White House called what happened a "genocide" it would not carry a specific legal obligation.

"Concluding that genocide has occurred/is occurring in Rwanda does not create a legal obligation to take particular action to stop it," Alan Kreczko wrote in an email to a top National Security Council official, NPR reported in 2014. Instead, Kreczko added, "making such a determination will increase political pressure to do something about it."

USAID Director Samantha Power, who served as one of President Barack Obama's ambassadors to the United Nations, wrote a Pulitzer-prize winning book about how the US has been reluctant to label atrocities as genocides.

"Every American president in office in the last three decades of the twentieth century  Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan, Bush, and Clinton  made decisions related to the prevention and suppression of genocide," Power wrote in "A Problem from Hell: America and the age of genocide."

She also dismissed the claim that most US leaders didn't know what was happening.

"... The United States did have countless opportunities to prevent and mitigate slaughter," Power wrote. "But time and time again, decent men and women chose to look away. We have all been bystanders to genocide."

Multiple future presidents promised to call the Ottoman Empire's systematic killing of Armenians a "genocide," but it wasn't until April 2024, 2021 that Biden finally made a formal designation for the early 1900s atrocities.

Read the original article on Business Insider
President Joe Bidens sister railed against her brothers former friend and Republican Senator Lindsey Graham in her new memoir, according to Business Insider.

Valerie Biden Owens writes about the South Carolina Republican in her new book Growing Up Biden and notes how her brother had strong relationships with Republican Senators during his 36 years serving in the upper chamber. But she says Mr Graham became became sycophant in chief to former president Donald Trump.

The man is unrecognizable to me today, she wrote in her book. Mr Graham had previously been complimentary toward Mr Biden, saying in 2015 that he was as good a man as God ever created despite their political disagreements. But Mr Graham became a vociferous critic of Mr Biden and regularly attacked his son Hunter during Mr Trumps first impeachment trial.

Ms Owens is not the only member of the Biden family to say the friendship between Mr Graham and Mr Biden is done. In 2020, Mr Bidens wife Jill told CNN they were no longer friends.

Ms Owens wrote about how Mr Graham was longtime friends with the late Arizona Senator John McCain and she hypothesises in her book that perhaps a part of Senator Grahams soul died when Mr McCain died. She writes about how Mr Graham went from being Mr Trumps biggest critic to engaging in character-assassinating comments about Joe and our family.

Even worse, he became sycophant in chief to Trump when the very underpinnings of our democracy were being threatened, he said. This is incomprehensible to me.

Mr Graham, for his part, said that their friendship irreparaly broke after the United States exit from Afghanistan, which led to the Taliban taking control of the country and 13 American servicemembers dying.

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) speak during a news conference about the confirmation vote for Supreme Court nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson at the U.S. Capitol on April 7, 2022 in Washington, DC. The full Senate voted today to confirm the nomination of Supreme Court nominee Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson with a vote of 53-47. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images) (Getty Images)

I had a good personal relationship with him. He's a decent man, but what he did in Afghanistan, I will never forgive him for, he told Fox News in November.

Mr Graham also emerged as one of the most aggressive questioners of Mr Bidens Supreme Court nominee Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson during her confirmation hearing, voting against her despite the fact he voted to confirm her to the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.

If we get back the Senate and were in charge of this body and theres judicial openings, we will talk to our colleagues on the other side, but if we were in charge she would not be before the committee, he said during the committees confirmation vote.
Bill Gates addressed the anti-vaccine movement at the TED2022 conference on Tuesday. Ryan Lash / TED

Bill Gates used his TED2022 key note speech to float his action plan for preventing another pandemic.

Gates addressed the anti-vaccine protesters outside the event in Vancouver as "weird" and "somewhat ironic."

He said that, despite the false myths about him creating the pandemic, his foundation has "helped save millions of lives."

Bill Gates said "it's somewhat ironic" that anti-vaccine protesters falsely accuse him of malice through his work on vaccine development when his organization has helped save millions of lives.

Gates addressed conspiracy theories and anti-vaccine activists on Tuesday at the TED2022 conference in Vancouver, Canada, where he gave a talk on how to prevent against the next pandemic.

Anti-vaccine activists have spread misinformation on social media that have been shared worldwide, contributing to vaccine hesitancy in some communities, which experts say has prolonged the COVID-19 pandemic.

Asked how he felt about the protests, Gates said it was "kind of weird."

"The Gates Foundation is very involved in vaccines, the invention of new vaccines, funding vaccines, and we're very proud that, through joint efforts like Gavi, that saved tens of millions of lives," Gates said, referring to a global alliance getting vaccines to every continent in the world. "So it's somewhat ironic to have somebody turn around and say we're using vaccines to kill people or to make money or we started the pandemic."

Gates added: "Does this turn into something where there's constantly crazy people showing up? Who knows."

Conspiracy theorists have targeted Gates throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, claiming without evidence he wants to implant tracking microchips into people via vaccines. One myth cites Gates' 2015 TED talk, in which the billionaire predicted a worldwide pandemic would occur, falsely claiming it is proof he played a role in creating COVID-19.

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More than 40% of Republicans in a 2020 Yahoo News poll said they think Bill Gates wants to use COVID-19 vaccines to implant location-tracking microchips in recipients  a "strange" conspiracy Gates addressed at TED2022: "I somehow wanna track the location of individuals because I'm so deeply desirous to know where everybody is. I'm not sure what I'm gonna do with that information."

"Hopefully," Gates said," as the pandemic calms down, people are more rational about, 'Hey, vaccines are a miracle and there's a lot more we can do.'"

Read the original article on Insider
By Eric M. Johnson

SEATTLE (Reuters) -Boeing Co on Tuesday moved orders for 141 of its airplanes into accounting limbo due to the war in Ukraine and international sanctions against Russia, among other contractual issues, meaning it no longer expects the jets to be delivered.

Boeing unveiled the adjustment to its order backlog in monthly orders and deliveries data that also showed it had delivered 41 jets to customers in March.

The monthly deliveries tally included 34 of its cash-cow 737 MAX single-aisle jets, two 767 freighters for FedEx Corp and a 777 freighter for China Airlines.

The 41 March deliveries - nearly double the 22 it delivered in February and up from 29 a year ago - reflect rebounding travel and pandemic-driven cargo demand. Boeing said year-to-date deliveries stood at 95 aircraft.

Deliveries of its 787 Dreamliner remained frozen due to inspections and repairs for production flaws.

In March, Boeing booked orders for 53 planes, while customers canceled orders for 15 jets - including three of its 787s. Net of canceled orders and swapped models, Boeing had 38 orders, it said.

For the first three months of the year, Boeing's orders rose to 167 from 114, Boeing said. Taking out cases where customers canceled orders or swapped models, orders stood at 145, up from 107, Boeing reported.

After adjustments for deals deemed unlikely to result in actual delivery, net orders year to date dropped to 76 from 179, Boeing said.

Overall, Boeing's order backlog fell to 4,231 from 4,375.

Boeing said the accounting adjustment included 141 aircraft removed from its backlog for financial and contractual considerations.

Most of the aircraft removed were due to the war in Ukraine, which prompted international sanctions against Russia and ruined Ukraine's airline industry.

The orders were mainly for Russian carriers and included 138 of Boeing's best-selling 737 MAX, and more than a dozen 777 and 787 widebody models.

Jet orders could return to the backlog if Boeing's assessment changes.

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Boeing rival Airbus SE said it delivered 142 planes in the first quarter, up more than 13% on the year.

Airbus said it sold a total of 253 jets in the first quarter, or a net total of 83 after cancellations.

Airbus does not publish a figure comparable to Boeing's accounting adjustment, but industry sources said the European planemaker also has an internal filter for screening out orders that are unlikely to be delivered and does not place them into its production plan.

(Reporting by Eric M. Johnson in Seattle; Editing by David Gregorio)
Bonnie Langford appeared as Carmel Kazemi on 'EastEnders' from 2015 until 2018. (BBC)

Bonnie Langford has revealed she couldn't bring herself to watch the brutal death of her EastEnders on-screen son Kush, played by Davood Ghadami.

The stage and screen legend played Carmel Kazemi from 2015 until 2018 and had left the soap by the time Kush was murdered by serial killer Gray Atkins last year.

In the shocking scenes aired in April 2021, Gray confronted Kush on a London Underground platform to try to stop him from fleeing Albert Square with Whitney Dean.

Gray fell onto the tracks during a scuffle and Kush was able to save him before a train arrived, only for Gray to then shove Kush into the path of the approaching vehicle.

Read more: Lorraine Kelly slates Cats movie in front of Bonnie Langford

Kush was killed off in April 2021 after a dramatic encounter with serial killer Gray. (BBC)

Read more: Toby-Alexander Smith bids farewell to killer Gray role

Langford told Inside Soap magazine: "Davood is adorable, such a lovely man, and that wasn't a nice ending. So I didn't watch Kush being chucked under a tube train, no. I didn't want to see that.

"At least I just went off in the back of a taxi. Carmel's still in Dubai as far as I know, with her other son, Darius."

Carmel made an off-screen appearance in the wake of Kush's death, telling Martin Fowler on the phone that she would like her son's body to be sent to join her in Dubai.

Gray was finally brought to justice in March 2022, when viewers saw him taken away by police after a violent confrontation with Whitney.

Bonnie Langford said she wouldn't rule out showing up on 'EastEnders' again in the future. (PA/Getty)

Read more: Jessie Wallace becomes a grandmother at the age of 50

Langford refused to rule out a potential return to Walford, saying "you can never predict what's going to happen next" in the acting business.

She added: "I'm very lucky to still be doing something that I did as a youngster, and something I still enjoy.

"It's a privilege to entertain people and tell a story, I feel really honoured."

Langford rose to fame as a child star in the 1970s and with her role as companion Mel Bush in Doctor Who during the 1980s.

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She subsequently embarked on a career in numerous West End shows, including as Roxie Hart in Chicago and Rumpleteazer in Cats.

Watch: Keep up with the latest from EastEnders
The Boston Symphony Orchestra announced the cancellation of its upcoming European tour on Monday.

The BSO was slated to visit Vienna, Leipzig, Hamburg and Paris from May 15-24, but bowed out due to a rise in COVID-19 numbers in Europe and the United States, according to a release from the BSO.

Thirty-one of its own musicians were impacted by a recent surge in cases, the BSO said.

The European performances were part of a Strauss-focused tour partnership with the Gewandhausorchester Leipzig (GHO). The GHOs performances will continue as scheduled.

Given the ongoing presence of COVID, brought home by its unfortunate impact on a significant number of our own artists, we must keep as our first priority the health and safety of everyone involved with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, BSO President and CEO Gail Samuel said. Sadly, the only prudent and responsible course of action is, with deep regret, to cancel the European tour.

The BSO requires its performers to be vaccinated and boosted against COVID-19, and tests wind and brass instrumentalists, as well as members of the chorus, daily.

Audience members must show proof of full vaccination or a negative test result to enter Symphony Hall and remain masked while inside the building.

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Brazils election authority invited the European Union (EU) to supervise its upcoming general elections in October when the countrys far-right president, Jair Bolsonaro, will seek reelection, according to a report.

Following the Supreme Electoral Courts offer for the EU to observe the process, European Commission Vice President Josep Borrell last month thanked the court for the invitation and said it would require the consideration of the EUs 27 member states and the European Parliament, according to Reuters.

Sources told the news service that the EU plans to send a mission to the country in May to determine whether it is plausible to be an official observer of the upcoming election.

The court also is negotiating invitations to observe the election with other groups, including the Organization of American States, the Carter Center, the parliament of South American trade bloc Mercosur and the International Foundation for Electoral Systems, Reuters reported.

The courts invitations come as Bolsonaro once again seeks office after questioning the legitimacy of the countrys electronic voting system.

Following the 2018 race, Bolsonaro asserted baseless claims of fraud, and with the current presidents polling numbers behind his opponent  Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, the leftist former president  some people are concerned that Bolsonaro may claim the results of the upcoming October election are fraudulent, Reuters added.

The president has specifically claimed that the countrys electoral system is vulnerable to electronic tampering and has insisted on the use of paper ballots.

More recently, Bolsonaro met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in February ahead of Russias unprovoked invasion of Ukraine.

At that time, Bolsonaro said he told Putin that Brazil supports any country that seeks peace.

And thats his intention, he said of Putin.

Since the invasion began on Feb. 24, thousands of people, including civilians and children, have been killed in Moscows attack on the besieged country.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Brazilian ex-president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva vowed Tuesday to undo current President Jair Bolsonaro's policies on indigenous people if elected, branding his rival a "fascist" aligned with "those who want to kill our forests."

Speaking at a protest by thousands of indigenous people who are camping out in the capital, Brasilia, to protest Bolsonaro's policies, Lula drew loud cheers with a promise to create a ministry of indigenous affairs if he wins Brazil's October presidential elections.

"And one of you will have to run it, not a white person like me," he said, wearing a beaded necklace with a colorful macaw emblem.

If elected for a new term, he said, "we'll need to hold a 'revocation day,' where everything (Bolsonaro) decreed to hinder (indigenous rights) will be immediately revoked.

"We can't allow everything you've fought for to be taken from you by decree and handed over to those who want to kill our forests and wildlife," he said.

The leftist ex-steelworker, who led Brazil from 2003 to 2010, currently leads Bolsonaro in pre-election polls.

The far-right incumbent has drawn protests from indigenous groups and environmentalists for pushing legislation that would dramatically reduce the creation of new indigenous reservations and open up existing ones to mining.

A series of studies have shown protecting indigenous lands is one of the best ways to preserve forests, vital resources in the race to curb climate change.

Under Bolsonaro, who took office in 2019 with solid backing from Brazil's powerful agribusiness sector, deforestation has surged in the crucial Amazon rainforest, home to the majority of Brazil's 900,000 indigenous people.

There were chants of "Get out, Bolsonaro!" as Lula arrived to speak at the indigenous camp, which opened last week just up the road from the presidential palace and Congress.

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A volunteer fighter from the UK who battled Russian forces in the besieged southern port city of Mariupol alongside Ukrainian troops has been forced to surrender after running out of food and supplies.

Aiden Aslin, who goes by the name Johnny, said the unit he was with had no choice but to lay down their weapons after weeks of heavy fighting and relentless Russian attacks cut off supply lines to the area.

Mr Aslin will likely become a prisoner of war but friends have said they are hopeful he could be included in a future prisoner exchange. Such agreements between Kyiv and Moscow have been reached in recent weeks.

Aiden Aslin, who goes by the name Johnny, and uses the social media name COSSACKGUNDI, has been documenting his experience of fighting Russian forces (cossackgundi)

The 28-year-old, from Newark in Nottinghamshire, had spent time fighting against Isis in Syria with Kurdish forces before travelling to Ukraine.

A statement on his Twitter account said: Weve gotten word from Johnny. Its been 48 days, we tried our best to defend Mariupol but we have no choice but to surrender to Russian forces. We have no food and no ammunition. Its been a pleasure everyone, I hope this war ends soon.

Were putting this out after direct consultation with his family. Until were told otherwise well continue working on sharing the facts of the war. Hope for a prisoner exchange.

Mr Aslins Instagram page, which attracted thousands of followers and had been used to document his experience of the war, was deleted last week.

Jake Hanrahan, who describes himself as a journalist and filmmaker and friend of Mr Aslin, tweeted: Aiden is not a mercenary as some claim. He has been a full member of the Ukraine Marines for 5+ years now.

Hes done all the training etc. He didnt join recently. He lives in Ukraine and plans to stay there with his fiance.

British #Ukraine Marine Aiden Aslin (AKA Cossack Gundi / Johnny) has had to surrender with his unit to Russian forces in Mariupol. They fought like hell for 48 days and have now run out of food and ammunition due to #Russias siege and destruction of the city. pic.twitter.com/RPYbXimRSi  Jake Hanrahan (@Jake_Hanrahan) April 12, 2022

A later statement on Mr Aslins Twitter account added: Something very important to note: Aiden is a member of Ukraines military and totally legal combatant. Mercenary, a word idiots try to attach to him, has a defined legal meaning. If you see them lying in the comments wed be grateful if you corrected them.

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The post was attached to a photo shared in 2018 showing him apparently taking an oath to defend Ukraine.

A throw back to 2018 when we finished training our training and I took the outh to Defend the Ukrainian people and defend Ukraine. pic.twitter.com/8VL1hp3CmJ  COSSACKGUNDI (@cossackgundi) January 26, 2022

Mariupol, which has been largely destroyed by Russian air and artillery strikes, has seen some of the most intense fighting of the war.

The mayor of the port city said on Monday that more than 10,000 civilians had been killed in the Russian siege, and that the death toll could exceed 20,000.

Weeks of attacks have left the bodies "carpeted through the streets, mayor Vadym Boychenko said.

Ukraine has said it expects Russia to begin an offensive soon in the eastern Donbas region - which includes the prized target of Mariupol - as Moscow shifts its focus to seizing territory there after its invasion force was driven from the gates of Kyiv this month.

The Ukrainian government said on Tuesday that it was checking unverified information that Russia may have used chemical weapons while attacking the city.
Gilbert Gottfried, the comedian, Aladdin star and owner of one of the most iconic voices in Hollywood, has died after battling a long illness, his family announced Tuesday. He was 67.

His publicist told the Washington Post that he died due to complications from muscular dystrophy.

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We are heartbroken to announce the passing of our beloved Gilbert Gottfried after a long illness. In addition to being the most iconic voice in comedy, Gilbert was a wonderful husband, brother, friend and father to his two young children. Although today is a sad day for all of us, please keep laughing as loud as possible in Gilberts honor, his family wrote on Twitter.

Many people in Hollywood, including comedians Jason Alexander, Dane Cook and more, paid tribute to Gottfried after the shocking news of his death. Gilbert Gottfried was never not funny, wrote Cook. He was a lovely guy, always friendly and made many people happy.

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Gottfried was known for his crude humor, political incorrectness and shrill voice, which helped give life to a number of animated characters, such as Iago the parrot in Disneys Aladdin, the robotic bird Digit in PBS Kids Cyberchase and the Aflac duck in commercials for the insurance company.

He was born in Brooklyn, N.Y., on Feb. 28, 1955, and started performing stand-up comedy at just 15. Gottfried had a short, 12-episode stint on Saturday Night Live during Season 6 in 1980, and he reunited with his SNL colleague Eddie Murphy on Beverly Hills Cop II, one of his first major film roles. Howard Stern frequently invited Gottfried on his radio show in the 80s, where he impersonated people like Andrew Dice Clay, Groucho Marx and Bela Lugosi as Dracula.

By the 90s, Gottfried landed roles in films like Problem Child movies, Highway to Hell and Looks Whos Talking Too, before landing his most recognizable voice role as Iago the parrot in 1992s Aladdin. Iago was the annoying but funny comic relief who accompanied the villain Jafar, and Gottfried reprised the role in two direct-to-video sequels, a TV series and the Kingdom Hearts video games.

His other major voice roles included Kraang Subprime in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Mr. Mxyzptlk in Superman: The Animated Series, Dr. Bender and his son Wendell in The Fairly OddParents, plus SpongeBob Squarepants, The Ren & Stimpy Show, Duckman, Disneys House of Mouse and countless more.

In the 2000s and 2010s, Gottfried became a regular on celebrity roasts and game shows. He appeared in Comedy Central roasts of Bob Saget, Joan Rivers, David Hasselhoff, Donald Trump and Roseanne Barr, plus game shows like Hollywood Squares and Pyramid.

He was frequent contributor at Chicago clubs over the years.

Gottfried spoke to the Tribune in 2007 before appearances at the suburban and Wells Street Zanies comedy clubs, the conversation was soon before his marriage to Dara Kravitz, who he met at a Grammy Awards party, and the birth of the first of their two children together: daughter, Lily and son, Max.

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My hope is I dont turn into one of those comics with cutesy stuff all about their kids, he said. My feeling is, once you give up drugs and alcohol youre never quite the same. So with that in mind, Im planning on taking up drinking and hard drugs.

Speaking offstage over the phone, his voice lost the signature brash Brooklyn accent hes known for and became softer. But he need not have worried about that edge, his comedic material never lost it.

Gottfried had his share of controversial moments. At a New York Friars Club Roast of Hugh Hefner in 2001, three weeks after the Sept. 11 attacks, he joked he was trying to catch a plane but could not get a direct flight because they said they have to stop at the Empire State Building first. The audience gasped. Someone yelled out, Too soon! Gottfried abandoned his prepared remarks and launched into the Aristocrats, the venerable dirty joke about a traveling family act performing obscene acts on one another. The bit killed. It became the center of the 2005 film The Aristocrats.

He talked about the moment over lunch in Chicago in 2009. After the Aristocrats thing, he said, I was known for dirty jokes. Its not like I havent told my share of dirty jokes before.

Later, in March 2011, Gottfried made jokes on his Twitter account about the earthquake and tsunami in Japan. Insurance company Aflac dismissed Gottfried from voicing its duck mascot.

Bad taste jokes have their own apology built into them because you laugh and cringe at the same time, Gottfried told the Post-Tribune before a 2019 show in Hobart, Indiana. People need jokes like that to touch the sore area. About being fired, I lost some money, but I was just doing my job, he recalled. Its like eating a bowl of corn flakes every morning, and then one day you eat another bowl and all hell breaks loose. Its a ridiculous concept.

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Gottfried said growing up, he looked up to comics such as Henny Youngman, who favored clean, short one-liners, often followed by a violin flourish.It was not particularly clever or witty, Gottfried said. It was funny because his jokes were stupid.

He had been expected back in Illinois next week to headline 2022 Ebertfest, according to the News-Gazette of Champaign, an annual Roger Ebert film festival organized by the College of Media at the University of Illinois. A 2017 documentary about his life and career is part of the lineup. Gilbert is still scheduled to be screened at the Virginia Theatre (203 W. Park Ave., Champaign) at 4 p.m. April 21.

The Tribune contributed to this report.
Heavy police presence on the scene outside the subway station (NBC New York)

At least five people have been injured in a shooting and possible explosion on a Brooklyn subway during Tuesday mornings rush hour, as crowds of New Yorkers commuted to work.

The FDNY said that it was called to reports of smoke at the 36th Street and Fourth Avenue station in Sunset Park at around 8:30am and discovered multiple people suffering from gunshot wounds.

The extent of the victims injuries remains unclear.

Law enforcement officials have not released any information on a possible suspect.

However several law enforcement sources told NBC New York that the male suspect appeared to be wearing clothing that resembles that worn by MTA workers.

Sources told ABC7 that the suspect was also wearing a gas mask.

No active explosive devices on the scene

15:00 , Rachel Sharp

The NYPD confirmed that there are no active explosive devices on the scene of the shooting.

In a tweet just before 10am local time, the police department said: In regard to the multiple people shot at the 36th Street subway station in Brooklyn, there are NO active explosive devices at this time.

The NYPD appealed for witnesses to call @NYPDTips at #800577TIPS.

In regard to the multiple people shot at the 36th Street subway station in Brooklyn, there are NO active explosive devices at this time. Any witnesses are asked to call @NYPDTips at #800577TIPS. Please stay clear of the area. More provided information when available. pic.twitter.com/8UoiCAXemB  NYPD NEWS (@NYPDnews) April 12, 2022

Multiple people shot in subway attack

14:56 , Rachel Sharp

Multiple people were shot or wounded by shrapnel in an attack on the Brooklyn subway on Tuesday morning.

Authorities were called to reports of gunfire and multiple explosions at the Sunset Park station, near Fourth Avenue and 36th Street at around 8:30am.

Sources said a masked man threw a device in the air and began shooting, striking several commuters.

The Independents Bevan Hurley has the full story:
Sunset Park residents watch from behind police tape after a subway attack on 12 April (Getty Images)

Brooklyns Sunset Park neighbourhood is reeling after a subway station attack that left at least five shot and 13 wounded on Tuesday morning.

Sunset Park is located on the southwestern edge of Brooklyn overlooking the Upper Bay between New York and New Jersey, with views of the Statue of Liberty.

The neighbourhood is named after the 24.5-acre hilltop park at its centre, with a thriving Chinatown on one side and a predominantly Latino community on the other.

The waterfront is a popular draw for creatives and artists at the Industry City warehouses.

The area was rocked on Tuesday when an attack unfolded at the 36th Street subway station in the middle of rush hour - prompting lockdowns at schools.

Police responded to the scene at about 8.30am after receiving reports of smoke inside the station.

At least five people sustained gunshots, according to local reports, and 13 injured have been taken to hospitals, the Fire Department of New York (FDNY) said.

An unnamed law enforcement official told the New York Times police are searching for a man wearing a gas mask and an orange construction vest.

Another law enforcement source briefed on the situation said preliminary information suggested a suspect was dressed in construction attire, according to the Associated Press.

Map showing location of Sunset Park neighbourhood in Brooklyn (NYC.gov)

Sources said a masked man threw a device in the air and began shooting, striking several commuters.

Graphic photos posted to Twitter showed injured commuters covered in blood.

Witness Roddy Broke tweeted: Either shots or a bomb went off at 36th Street. Scariest moment of my life, man.

Few confirmed details have been given about the undetonated devices found at the station, but the NYPD said none of them were active amid unverified social media reports that an explosion may have gone off.

Train service on the D, N and R lines, which pass through the 36th Street station, has been disrupted during an investigation.

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority posted a service alert about the incident but did not provide any additional details.

The agency said the B, F and Q lines would also face major delays.

Police have directed the public to steer clear of the area around 36th Street and 4th Avenue in Brooklyn.
Three family members have been charged with a hate crime after kidnapping and beating a gay man so severely that he was permanently blinded, Broward prosecutors said Tuesday.

Two parents and their son were formally charged Tuesday on counts of first-degree attempted murder, burglary with battery and kidnapping with prejudice  all charges enhanced under Floridas hate crime law. That means they all face up to life in prison on each count.

Charged so far are Inna Makarenko, 44, Yevhen Makarenko, 43, and Oleh Makarenko, 21, all of Pompano Beach. They have been in jail since last month, records show. Theyve already pleaded not guilty, according to court records. The familys defense attorney did not initially respond to a request for comment.

Another son, Vladyslav Makarenko, 25, was jailed in Alabama, transferred to Broward County on Monday and is awaiting a decision from prosecutors on whether hell also be charged under the hate crime statute.

Read more: Historically, Florida law enforcement agencies have lagged behind in reporting hate crimes.

The Broward State Attorneys Office did not release details of the alleged attack, and public court documents reveal little about about what happened. The victim, who is declining to be named publicly, was attacked around Aug. 6 in Pompano Beach. According to one court document, the trio brandished a firearm or other deadly weapon during the attack.

The charges were brought by the Broward State Attorneys Hate Crime Unit, created by State Attorney Harold Pryor earlier this year.

Since the arrests, supporters of the Makarenkos have started an online petition proclaiming the familys innocence. The page described the family as Ukrainian refugees who run successful door and interior design renovation companies. The accusations are completely false and need to be defeated and ultimately dismissed! the petition says.
Ohio State Highway Patrol

A recent traffic stop by a State Highway Patrol trooper on Southgate Parkway in Cambridge has two out-of-town residents facing felony drug charges.

Single second-degree felony counts of aggravated possession of drugs were filed against Delbert E. Robinson, 42, Zanesville, and Judy N. Queen, 38, Marysville, on Monday in the Cambridge Municipal Court.

Arraignment hearings were scheduled for both suspects, who remained incarcerated in the Guernsey County Jail.

The pair is accused of possession a bulk amount of a suspected Schedule 1 substance and multiple drug paraphernalia items.

According to a sergeant with the patrol's Cambridge post, a trooper stopped a 2000 Honda Civic occupied by Robinson and Queen at 11:12 p.m. on April 7 for a vehicle defect.

A Cambridge police K-9 reportedly alerted to the Civic during the traffic stop.

During a subsequent probable cause search, troopers reported finding a bulk amount of a crystal substance inside the vehicle. Troopers also reported finding a digital scale and smoking pipes and a spoon with an unknown residue.

The suspected narcotics and paraphernalia items were seized as evidence and sent to the patrol's laboratory for testing.

The incident remains under investigation by the patrol's Cambridge post.

This article originally appeared on The Daily Jeffersonian: Cambridge traffic stop leads to felony drug charges for Zanesville man
A Catholic activist group has launched a petition condemning a cinema in Belfast for showing Benedetta, a film about lesbian nuns, on Good Friday.

Paul Verhoevens film is based on the real-life 17th-century Italian abbes, Benedetta Carlini, who was stripped of her authority after her relationship with another nun was discovered. She was also accused of being a fake stigmatist  someone who miraculously receives the bodily wounds of Christs crucifixion.

Responding to news that the film is being distributed by Mubi, the Irish Society for Christian Civilisation  whose website shares its campaigns against abortion and gay marriage  called director Paul Verhoeven a fraud.

This movie is a fraud and nothing more than a blatant attack on the Catholic faith, Damien Murphy, a spokesman for the ISCC told Belfast Telegraph.

The film is out across Ireland and the UK on Friday 15 April, but Murphy picked out the Queens Film Theatre in Belfast particularly, saying: To launch this film on Good Friday is a calculated insult to Christians everywhere. And shame on the Queens Film Theatre in Belfast for permitting this showing at any time, but especially on this highly significant religious occasion.

The ISCCs petition, which is addressed directly to the films producer and distributor Mubi, reads: I strongly oppose and condemn your distribution and promotion of Paul Verhoevens film Benedetta. It offends God, and countless Catholics all over the world.

Benedetta (Guy Ferrandis/SBS Productions)

The petition states that the film blasphemously features several Jesus-on-nun intense make outs, a statuette of Mary Most Holy used as a sex-toy, and voyeuristic lesbian nuns pornography. In a graphic, the page adds that Hollywood and worldwide media are ALL-IN with the sophistry of based on a true story.

Representatives for Queens Film Theatre and Mubi did not respond to The Independents request for comment.

Its not the first time Catholic groups have protested the films release. The American Society for the Defence of Tradition, Family and Property gathered outside the films New York Film Festival premiere last year with signs calling the film blasphemous.
The drought is the worst in modern history (AFP/Getty)

The Chilean capital of Santiago has announced a plan to ration water as the country enters its 13th year of drought.

The city of almost six million people is in an unprecedented situation, Claudio Orrego, the governor of the Santiago metropolitan region, explained at a press conference.

A city cant live without water, he explained, before adding, And were in an unprecedented situation in Santiagos 491-year history where we have to prepare for there to not be enough water for everyone who lives here.

The water rationing plan features a four-tier alert system that moves from green to red and starts with public service announcements, moves onto restricting water pressure and ends with rotating water cuts of up to 24 hours. This will apply to about 1.7 million customers.

The alert system is based on the capacity of the Maipo and Mapocho rivers that supply the capital with most of its water. Both have seen dwindling water levels as the drought has continued.

According to government estimates, the amount of water available in the country has dropped 10 per cent to 37 per cent over the past three decades.

There are concerns it could drop a further 50 per cent in northern and central parts of the country by 2060.

The frequency of the water cuts will be determined by the water deficit in the rivers, measured in litres per second. They could take place every 12, six or four days and in every case, a different area will face water cuts each day.

This is the first time in history that Santiago has a water rationing plan due to the severity of climate change, Mr Orrego said. Its important for citizens to understand that climate change is here to stay. Its not just global, its local.

Certain areas in the city centre are set to be exempt due to the high concentration of capitals.

Areas which are fed by well water or other sources, rather than one of the two rivers, will also be exempt from restrictions.

Although intense droughts that may last a couple of years are not uncommon in Chile, the past decade has seen rainfall in the centre of the country up to 45 per cent below average. In the capital city, rain has hovered around 10 to 20 per cent of normal levels.

The drought is the worst in modern history, with scientists attributing around 25 per cent of its severity to climate change.
Fresh clashes between Israeli soldiers and Palestinian militants rocked the West Bank city of Jenin on Tuesday as a Palestinian was killed after stabbing an Israeli police officer, adding to a surging death toll.

Israeli troops launched a fourth day of military operations around Jenin after an assailant from the flashpoint district last week shot and killed three people in a Tel Aviv bar in the latest of a spate of attacks that have stunned the Jewish state.

Prime Minister Naftali Bennett -- who warned in response that there would "not be limits for this war" -- vowed during a visit to the Tel Aviv shooting scene overnight: "We will not let our enemy stop our lives.

"We will fight where they are located, in their bases, at their source - and, please God, we will win."

In Tuesday's battles, which raged for a fourth day, Israeli soldiers "fired live bullets, stun grenades and tear gas," the official Palestinian news agency Wafa said.

The Israeli army said its soldiers fired "live ammunition toward suspects who hurled explosive devices at them as well as toward armed suspects in the area", and arrested 20 Palestinians.

A makeshift barricade of car tyres blocked a road to the Jenin refugee camp, where a wall poster hailed the Tel Aviv shooter, Raad Hazem, 28, who was killed after a massive all-night manhunt last Friday.

- Ramadan tensions -

"Here the (armed Palestinian) factions are united against the common enemy," said Ismael, a young labourer from Jenin camp, labelling the Tel Aviv attack "heroic".

"What happened in Tel Aviv means a lot to the camp. The more operations Israeli launches here, the more resistance it will face," he told AFP.

The latest violence to rock Israel came in the Mediterranean port city of Ashkelon, where police said an officer was checking a Palestinian man in his 40s who then "pulled out a knife and attacked the officer".

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The policeman "fired and neutralised the suspect, whose death was declared on site", police said, adding that the officer was hospitalised with light wounds from a kitchen knife.

Police said the man was from Hebron -- a powder keg where around 1,000 Jewish settlers live under heavy military protection among 200,000 Palestinians.

Palestinian youth have also clashed elsewhere with Israeli security forces, including in Ramallah, where they threw rocks and were met with tear gas.

The rise in violence comes during the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan and days before the Jewish festival of Passover and Christian Easter.

Last year during Ramadan, tensions in Jerusalem flared into 11 days of war between Israel and the Hamas militant group ruling the Gaza Strip.

- 'Cycle of violence' -

Israeli troops and police have stepped up operations over the past three weeks in which four shooting, stabbing and car-ramming attacks have left 14 people dead.

Over the same period, Israeli forces have killed 15 Palestinians, including assailants, according to an AFP tally.

Defence Minister Benny Gantz visited an area Tuesday where a barrier that runs roughly along the West Bank border is to be extended by 40 kilometres (25 miles) in coming months under a plan approved Sunday.

Israel started building the controversial, more than 500-kilometre barrier, part wall and part fence, 20 years ago after a spate of deadly Palestinian attacks.

The army said that, following the recent attacks in Israel, it would reinforce the barrier with additional troops.

Palestinians say the barrier's construction grabbed nearly 10 percent of the West Bank, and the International Court of Justice ruled it illegal.

Militant group Islamic Jihad, meanwhile, hailed the Palestinian response to Israel's military incursions in Jenin and other cities.

"We salute our people who stand like an unyielding barricade in the face of the Zionist enemy's terrorism," it said.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres followed "with deep concern the escalating violence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and Israel," said his spokesman Stephane Dujarric.

"He is appalled by the increasingly high number of casualties, including women and children," Dujarric added.

Palestinian presidency spokesman Nabil Abu Rudeineh charged that Israel's actions "will lead to a dangerous and uncontrollable escalation" and cause a new "cycle of violence".

bur-dac/fz/lg
On the Feb. 27 morning of the Democratic mayoral primary in 1979, I was standing next to my newspaper colleague Jay McMullen in a bathroom on the fourth floor of what was then the Sun-Times building on Wabash Ave., hard by the river.

We had both worked for the Daily News when it shared the building with the Sun-Times, he as its longtime City Hall reporter. When that paper folded on March 4, 1978, I came to the Sun-Times as a reporter and he was there covering real estate. On this February morning, I asked him about his wife of little more than a year Jane Byrne, who was running in the primary, Any chance today?

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Jay laughed and when he stopped, he said, No chance. But its been fun.

By that night, the fun had just begun, as well as the craziness, controversies, sexism, missteps and accomplishments that would define her next four years.

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In one of the most notable, and all but incomprehensible to many, upsets in political history, Jane Byrne beat incumbent mayor Michael Bilandic and, in April would be elected the 50th mayor of this city and the first woman to hold that office.

That is the substantial story of the first episode of this seasons Chicago Stories on WTTW-Ch. 11, a nicely detailed hour about Byrne and her life and political times.

For those of us old enough to have observed this era, the program reminds us of these not-so-distant years and evokes all manner of memories, good and bad, strange and ugly.

For those for whom Jane Byrne is but a name affixed to a small park surrounding the Water Tower and a when-will-this-ever-be-finished expressway interchange under construction, it provides a lively trip into a city that still struggles with many of the same troubles Byrne faced.

It begins with her as a 26-year-old military widow, her Marine Corps pilot husband, Bill, dying in a crash; her presidential campaign work for fellow Catholic John F. Kennedy, which brought her to the attention of Mayor Richard J. Daley, who would always call her Janie and found for her a role in his administration as commissioner of sales, weights and measures.

She made the most of that minor position but in the wake of Daleys 1976 death, she was fired by the man who took his place, Bilandic. So, she started her unlikely campaign for his office, and was initially seen as a very long shot but also heroic for challenging the Democratic machine.

Chicago Mayor Jane Byrne listens to Ald. Edward Vrdolyak during a City Council meeting on Jan. 31, 1983. (Karen Engstrom/Chicago Tribune)

But her victory resulted in a rocky ride, as she faced all sorts of conflicts with the City Council members; had a revolving door at City Hall; and confronted three strikes by transit workers, firefighters and teachers. She also moved with McMullen from their Gold Coast apartment into the notorious and dangerous Cabrini-Green public housing project, an event that many saw as a public relations blunder that infuriated many Black citizens.

She may have been a lousy administrator, but the show reminds us that she also started the revitalization of Navy Pier, nurtured Taste of Chicago, created a number of neighborhood festivals and brought Hollywood to Chicago by being very accommodating to film crews, including the gang from the Blue Brothers. She would be followed in the Mayors office by Harold Washington.

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Archival footage and photos are judiciously employed as are those common documentary elements, talking heads. In this case, they form a good and smart crowd, including her campaign manager, Don Rose; political consultant David Axelrod, then a reporter for the Tribune; televisions Carol Marin; activist Jacky Grimshaw; and, most intimately and knowingly, Byrnes sister Carol Burke Sexton and Byrnes daughter Kathy.

Especially sharp is Axelrods take on Bilandic, who he calls the most unlikely politician ever. He really was like the bookkeeper in a Dickens novel.

McMullen is a minor player in the show, referred to as a cool cat guy by Marin and as a scoundrel and a rogue by Axelrod. The current mayor shows up with, Women, people of color, are held to a different standard.

I knew Byrne a bit, having been to her St. Patricks Day 1978 wedding to McMullen at Queen of All Saints Basilica in the Sauganash neighborhood, and socializing now and then with the couple, and watching as she did the impossible and later tried to get elected again before fading into the fabric of the city she really did love.

Jay died in 1992, Jane in 2014. Neither of them would have enjoyed all of this program but I think both might have felt that it does Jane justice.

The second episode of this season of Chicago Stories is Downtown Disasters, which pairs two very different catastrophes, the 1903 Iroquois Theatre Fire and 1992s Great Loop Flood, which took place 30 years ago on Wednesday. Though the latter was costly  $2 billion, give or take  and resulted in inconvenience for thousands, it did not cause any deaths. The Iroquois fire killed some 600 people, most of them women and children. The show includes some dramatic recreations of the fire and solid historical facts. For the latter, there is ample TV news footage to rely on.

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Hoses used to pump flood water out of the basement in Chicago City Hall are routed into a sewer. A damaged wall in an old freight tunnel allowed water from the Chicago River to flood the buildings and streets in the Chicago Loop. (Eduardo Contreras/Chicago Tribune)

Next up is The Real Mad Men of Chicago about the glory days and colorful characters of the advertising business when Chicago was its creative center. Then comes The Union Stockyards, a marvelous history of that vanished complex, followed by Our Soldiers, Our Lady of Guadalupe, focusing on a South Side Mexican American parish and the price of patriotism during the Vietnam War. This season closes with The Birth of Gospel.

The first two shows are available for streaming, as will be the others that arrive every Friday, and I would, to varying degrees, recommend them all. The previous season is also available as are some highlights and supplemental clips. Too often we think of history as what we had for dinner yesterday. What Chicago Stories accomplishes is to remind us of many of the events and people that shaped the city, and it can pleasantly drive us to further exploration.

The Jane Byrne show compelled me to reread her very fine memoir, My Chicago, in which she wrote, Yes, it was a privilege to be mayor of Chicago, but it is a privilege just to live and work and play every day in the city of my ancestors and my future. What that will be, no one can say.

rkogan@chicagotribune.com
STORY: The nationwide operation, supported by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and local environmental authorities, led to 21 arrests, the police said in a statement.

The 1,004 animals, which also include turtles, starfish and tarantulas, are now in the care of environmental authorities.

Colombia is one of the world's most bio-diverse countries and police say they have rescued nearly 6,000 animals from potential trafficking so far this year.
An image shared by Robinson Lalins family (Robinson Lalin / GoFundMe)

A 39-year-old commuter killed after getting his hand trapped in the door of a Boston subway train has been identifed as Robinson Lalin, according to reports.

Lalin was riding the Red Line of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) subway on Sunday when his arm became stuck in the door of a train.

The MBTA commuter was pulled along the platform of the Braoadway MBTA station in Boston, Massachusetts, and suffered fatal injuries. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Im going to miss everything about him, said a nephew, Kelvin Lalin, to CBS Boston. He always lit up the room everywhere he went. Hes loved by everyone.

The relative added in a GoFundMe page that Lalin was on his way home from work when the tragedy occured at about 12.30am. He allegedly rode the same line every day.

Robinson was an amazing man who always had a huge smile, a warm heart and loved to help everyone around his community, said Mr Lalin. He will be greatly missed. He was loved by everyone, and many will mourn his death for a long time.

An aunt, Neny Norales, has also called on authorities to answer for her nephews death.

She told CBS Boston: I want to know. I want to find out what happened to Robinson. How can it be possible to die like that? When he put his hand [out], nobody saw that?

A MBTA Boston train (Getty Images)

An investgation into the incident is ongoing and investigators from The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) were at the station where the accident happend on Monday, according to the news station.

The train operator invovled in the incident has also been taken off duty while that investigation is carried out.

MBTA said in a statement to WBZ-TV: As NTSB, Transit Police and the MBTA Safety Department work to establish the facts, the investigation includes, but is not limited to, collecting statements from witnesses, reviewing any images captured by cameras, and examining vehicle maintenance and inspections records.

Jim Borghesani, a spokesperson for the Suffolk district attorneys office, told reporters no foul play was suspected.

The Independent has approached NTSB and MBTA for comment.

Additional reporting by The Associated Press.
The Washington Commanders may somehow be in even deeper trouble than they were before.

In a letter to the Federal Trade Commission, which was obtained by the Washington Post, the House Committee on Oversight and Reform accused Commanders executives and team owner Daniel Snyder of hiding revenue from the NFL for over a decade by withholding security deposits that should have been refunded to season ticket-holders.

We are writing to share evidence of concerning business practices by the Washington Commanders uncovered during the Committees ongoing investigation into workplace misconduct at the team, the letter says. Evidence obtained by the Committee, including emails, documents, and statements from former employees, indicate senior executives and the teams owner, Daniel Snyder, may have engaged in a troubling, long-running, and potentially unlawful pattern of financial conduct that victimized thousands of team fans and the National Football League [NFL].

A large portion of this evidence comes from Jason Friedman, the Commanders' former vice president of sales and customer service, who testified in front of the committee in March. The letter says that Friedman, who worked for the Commanders for 24 years, also turned over numerous spreadsheets and other documents relating to the alleged unlawful financial activities.

In the letter, the committee asks the FTC, which has the authority to investigate unfair or deceptive business practices, to examine the evidence it provided to determine if the Commanders have broken the law.

The NFL responded to the letter later Tuesday:

From @NFLprguy on the latest #Commanders allegations:



We continue to cooperate with the Oversight Committee and have provided more than 210,000 pages of documents. The NFL has engaged former SEC chair Mary Jo White to review the serious matters raised by the committee.  Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) April 12, 2022

The alleged financial misconduct

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According to the letter, Friedman's interview and the documents he submitted shed light on a potentially unlawful practice the Commanders had allegedly been engaging in for at least a decade.

Mr. Friedman provided the Committee with information and documents indicating that the Commanders routinely withheld security deposits that should have been returned to customers who had purchased multi-year season tickets for specific seats, referred to as seat leases.

The security deposit for the seat leases was 25 percent of the full cost of the seats for one year. Friedman told the committee that the security deposits were supposed to be refunded when the multi-year seat contract ended. But in 2012, the end of a 15-year waiver that capped how much money teams were required to share from club-seating revenue, team executives allegedly "directed employees to establish roadblocks to prevent customers from obtaining the security deposits that were due  effectively allowing the team to retain that money."

Revenue gained from that practice was allegedly referred to as "juice." The Commanders allegedly misclassified that "juice" intentionally, so it would look like it came from non-NFL events held at FedEx Field (such as college football games or concerts) and could therefore be hidden from the NFL and not included in the NFL's pool of shared money. Friedman said that the Commanders were able to hide these activities by keeping two sets of books.

In the letter, the committee said that after examining Friedman's testimony and the documents he submitted, it believes the Commanders improperly withheld refunds from around 2,000 season ticket accounts, allegedly allowing the team to pocket approximately $5 million that should have gone into the NFL's revenue-sharing pool.

Congress has accused the Commanders of stealing season ticket deposits from fans, pocketing the money, and hiding the misclassified revenue from the NFL. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)

Commanders deny everything

The accusations of financial impropriety first came to light a few weeks ago, and not long after it was reported that Friedman had testified in front the House Committee on Oversight and Reform about the Commanders allegedly withholding ticket revenue. On April 4, the Commanders released a statement denying everything.

"There has been absolutely no withholding of ticket revenue at any time by the Commanders," the statement read. "Those revenues are subject to independent audits by multiple parties. Anyone who offered testimony suggesting a withholding of revenue has committed perjury, plain and simple."

The Commanders have yet to release a new statement, and the NFL has not commented on the newly detailed accusations.

While the public found out about these accusations just over a week ago, the NFL may have learned about these alleged financial crimes almost two years ago. Rachel Engleson, the teams former director of marketing and client relations, told the committee that she revealed her suspicions about the team's ticket practice to Beth Wilkinson, the attorney that had been investigating accusations of sexual misconduct, a hostile work environment, and gender discrimination against the Commanders. Wilkinson's investigation took place in 2020.

At the time, the NFL did not ask Wilkinson to submit a written report of the investigation once it was completed, preventing a full and public accounting of what she learned. Congress later began investigating why there was no written report and asked Snyder and the NFL to turn over all documents and communications relating to the investigation.

Both parties refused to turn over those documents, which likely led the House Committee on Oversight and Reform to dig deeper into the Commanders' affairs and open a separate investigation, resulting in Friedman's testimony and Tuesday's letter to the FTC.
Editors note: An earlier version of this story misstated the number of COVID-19 deaths in May 2020.

Since the pandemic arrived in March of 2020, the COVID-19 virus has officially killed just more than 38,000 Ohioans. In Kentucky, the number is nearing 15,000. Cincinnati has recorded 565 deaths, with nearly 5,000 for the eight-county Greater Cincinnati region.

Cincinnati's Christ Hospital lowers its flag to half-staff in April 2020 to mark 100,000 U.S. COVID-related deaths.

Later this spring or early this summer, the national death toll, now just more than 980,000, will hit 1 million.

It is likely to be a muted milestone.

"Despite the ongoing harm COVID is doing to Cincinnati and other communities around the globe, many people seem to have moved on and stopped paying attention," said Josh Nelson, a Kennedy Heights resident who thinks lax attitudes toward masking could lead to more illness and death if another COVID wave arrives.

Nelson, who works as a political and non-profit consultant, worked with a few other volunteers to stage a local memorial event back in May 2020, when COVID deaths stood at 100,000. They opted to cancel when attention shifted to the death of George Floyd, and did not try again.

A full two years later, COVID fatigue has only grown  even for those still dealing with it every day.

Bill Hawke puts in 50- to 60-hour weeks as a nurse manager in the emergency room department at Good Samaritan Hospital. COVID stress has been real for him and his staff.

Burnout is real

Bill Hawkes first year as a nurse manager of the Good Samaritan Hospital Emergency Department has been filled with COVID stressors.

Last summer, 13 of the nurses on his 106-person staff left to take high-paid traveling nurse jobs. The ups and downs of COVID levels have created up and down staffing needs. He once worked 22 days in a row and had to cancel recent plans for a short trip to New Hampshire to cover a shift.

He controls his own stress by shutting off the TV. Early on, watching COVID news, I felt like the world was coming to an end, he said. He now works a lot in the yard and helps a friend with his concrete business. Hell volunteer at the May 1 Flying Pig medical tent, too, like he did last year.

He also watches for stress on his team. Sometimes that requires moving a nurse from a demanding task to a more routine one. Sometimes it means suggesting they take vacation days.

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With 30-plus years in nursing, Hawke considers empathy a job requirement. If youre burned out, go! I dont need you here, he tells his nurses. Go do something fun! Go shopping!

Last summer, he recharged his own empathy bank by organizing a Good Sam program to complete COVID vaccinations on people whod had an allergic reaction to a first dose. Before that, in an earlier job, he got a boost by skirting rules and arranging a brief visit between a woman and her husband, just intubated while fighting COVID. Three days later, he died.

When the national death count reaches 1 million, Good Sam managers will mark it quietly  inviting their staff to recall patients they cared for and calling for a few moments of shared silence.

Rabbi Elena Stein and colleagues at Jewish Hospital in Kenwood take refuge in the Shalom room to address COVID stressors.

Fourteen end-of-life conversations a day

During the early months of COVID, Elena Stein reluctantly had to call it in.

As the chaplain at Jewish Hospital in Kenwood, the ordained rabbi usually ministers to patients at their bedsides and to colleagues in their offices.

But for about six months in 2020, she practiced phone chaplaincy from home.

Youre not able to read peoples body language, she said of the COVID-induced change. Sometimes, they just want someone to hold their hand and you cant do that over the phone.

When she was back on site, but Jewish was still limiting visitors, Stein often served as the liaison between patients and their families about end-of-life decisions. At the peak of COVID, she had that conversation up to 14 times a day.

Stein acknowledges that COVID deaths hit her and her Jewish Hospital colleagues hard. Some, too pressed for time during chaotic shifts, sent her calls for help via Facebook. Now, the hospital has extra counselors available for staffers who need to process their grief, along with six "Code Lavender" rooms, quiet spaces that provide brief on-the-job respite.

Jewish is not planning an event to mark 1 million U.S. COVID deaths.

But in February, Steins four-person team did its part to promote healing, staging a memorial service where staff members eulogized their patients and participated in a traditional Jewish handwashing ceremony.

We save a lot of lives at Jewish, Stein said. The number of lives that we could not save (because of COVID) was challenging.

Brittany, Amber, Jorge, Norma and Pat

If Cincinnati were to stage a COVID memorial, names would be hard to come by.

Thats because government agencies can tally the count, but cannot, under the privacy rule of the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, identify victims by name.

That leaves the decision to families. Some note COVID as the cause of death in obituaries. Some post it on social media. Some stay quiet, given strong public opinions on vaccinations, masking, lockdowns and much else related to COVID.

If there was a master list of the 4,950 Greater Cincinnatians killed by COVID it would include Amber Feltner of Mount Healthy, who died last Sept. 22, leaving the oldest of her eight children a surrogate mother to her siblings.

If there was it would include Jorge Gonzalez of West Chester, who died Oct. 18, leaving a wife and daughter and the Kings High School students he taught Spanish.

If there was it would include Norma Pidcock of Springfield, who loved the Reds; and Earl Gilbert of Cincinnati, who posted regularly to his "Health Is Your Wealth Facebook page; and Dorielis Reyes-Paula of Middletown, who attended fourth grade at Wildwood Elementary School; and Pat Barry, who worked in local TV and radio newsrooms for four decades.

And it would include Brittany Luvender of Middletown. She died Oct. 1, at age 26, after delivering her second child, prematurely and by Cesarean section. She had declined vaccination for fear it would harm her baby.

Absent any formal memorial event, Jonathon Luvender is honoring his late wife with frequent Facebook posts. Thats where he provides updates on their two daughters and showed off a new tattoo in his wifes handwriting. Youre my person, it reads, repeating one of her favorite lines about him.

Im trying my hardest to step up and be the best dad I can be, he wrote on the sixth-month anniversary of Brittanys death. I miss you every day.

Akron resident Randy Watt, with daughters Danielle (left) and Jessica in 1982, died Jan. 7, just weeks after a COVID diagnosis.

'I'm still here, love'

Jessica Watt Dougherty thinks COVID victims deserve more attention than they are getting.

So she's become the first (and so far only) Ohioan to get involved in Marked By COVID. The national grassroots group is pushing to make each March 1 a COVID Memorial Day, with the support of an Arizona congressman.

The group's March 7 virtual vigil was the balm Dougherty needed as she mourned her fathers Jan. 7 death.

"I did not feel connected to anybody until I attended that vigil," the Bellaire, Ohio, woman said. Hearing about COVID loss from some of the other 900 online mourners, "I felt my soul sigh."

Now, she working with Marked By COVID organizers to add her coming mini-documentary to its site. "I'm Still Here, Love" will tell the story of her father, Randy Watt, a healthy Akron man who died at 64 less than three weeks after developing COVID. The title comes from Watt's last lucid text to his daughter.

She's heard the line of thinking that the nation cannot mourn its COVID deaths until the dying stops.

She rejects that, saying her pain fuels her passion. "This is the right time. This is when action happens."

Editors note: An earlier version of this story misstated the number of COVID-19 deaths in May 2020.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: COVID deaths: 5,000 in Cincinnati area; 1 million, soon, in U.S.
DENNIS QUAID, Laura Savoie

Jason Kempin/Getty Images Dennis Quaid and Laura Savoie

Monday night was date night for Dennis Quaid and Laura Savoie.

The married couple stepped out together at the 2022 CMT Awards in Nashville, Tennessee, where they stopped to pose for photos on the pink carpet.

Quaid and Savoie cut stylish figures in coordinating black ensembles, including a black V-neck shirt and slacks under a silver blazer for the 68-year-old actor.

Meanwhile, Savoie, 29, wore a black jumpsuit with a plunging neckline and flared bottoms. Her blonde hair hung in loose waves over her shoulders, and she accessorized with a cross necklace.

Never miss a story  sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human-interest stories.

DENNIS QUAID, Laura Savoie

Jeff Kravitz/Getty Images Dennis Quaid and Laura Savoie

RELATED: Dennis Quaid on 39-Year Age Gap Between Him and His New Wife: "We Don't Even Notice It"

Quaid previously told PEOPLE that Savoie, whom he married in 2020 at a seaside resort in Santa Barbara, California, "is the love of my life."

"We have the most incredible relationship," he added in his interview with PEOPLE from this past December.

Following their nuptials, the couple told PEOPLE that their shared faith is their "greatest source of strength."

"With the quarantine, it hasn't been easy," said Savoie. "And when you just pray together and say that this is where I'm having a hard time, help us be the people we're supposed to be towards each other. It changes everything."

RELATED VIDEO: Surprise: Dennis Quaid and Laura Savoie are Married! Secret Elopement "Was Beautiful," He Says

"It brings you back to being loving and kind towards each other and working through those things that inevitably come up," she added. "And it's just the greatest source of strength in our relationship to have, to share that."

The couple began dating in May 2019 after being introduced at a business event. "It was love at first sight," Quaid told PEOPLE.

Quaid, a father of three, was previously married to P.J. Soles, Meg Ryan and Kimberly Buffington.
Tokens sit in the snow at a memorial for Abby Williams and Libby German along the Monon High Bridge Trail, Wednesday, Feb. 9, 2022 in Delphi. Abby Williams and Libby German, both Delphi eighth-graders, were murdered while hiking a popular community trail near Delphi on Feb. 13, 2017.

Indiana State Police investigating the Delphi killings of Libby German and Abby Williams asked people to call detectives if they ever had contact with the profile anthony_shots on a social media platform called Yellow, currently known as Yubo.

Police tied the anthony_shots Instagram and Snapchat to Kegan Kline, who currently is jailed in Miami County awaiting trial on child exploitation and child pornography charges.

Police alleged that Kline used the anthony_shots Instagram and Snapchat profiles to meet children and exploit them. Now detectives want to know anyone on Yellow or Yubo who had contact with the anthony_shots profile, which is a catfish profile.

Delphi murders: Kegan Kline's police, HLN interviews show Delphi murder investigation focus on fake profile

Investigators would like any individual who communicated with, met or attempted to meet the anthony_shots profile to contact law enforcement by by calling the tip line at 765-822-3535 or by emailing the tip line at abbyandlibbytip@cacoshrf.com

Kline admitted to being the creator of the anthony_shots profiles and used a model's photos as if the pictures were him.

Police questioned Kline in August 2020, and recently released transcripts indicate the police told Kline the anthony_shots profile had contact with Libby German just before her Feb. 13, 2017, killing.

'The pain isn't less': Five years after their unsolved murder, Delphi teens still mourned

Kline has not been charged with killing the girls, and police are not bound to be truthful during interrogations.

Libby and Abby were best friends and had a sleepover at Libby's grandparents' house. On an unusually warm Feb. 13, the girls went hiking on the trails east of Delphi.

An unknown man ordered the girls off the trails, took them to an isolated site east of the Monon High Bridge and killed the girls on the banks of the Deer Creek.

The girls' bodies were found on Feb. 14, 2017.

The girl's killer has eluded police for five years.

Reach Ron Wilkins at rwilkins@jconline.com. Follow on Twitter: @RonWilkins2.

This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: Delphi murders investigation expands to Yellow or Yubo social media
Oksana, a Ukrainian woman trapped in Russian-controlled territory, was 39 weeks pregnant and getting desperate.

She had no running water, no electricity and no way to get to a doctor. She was planning on walking miles through nearby fields, hoping to evade Russian soldiers, to get to the nearest town in order to give birth.

Then she heard about Project Dynamo.

Bryan Stern, co-founder of Project Dynamo, a non-profit group of ex-military members who evacuate refugees from war-torn countries, has overseen nearly 400 rescue missions since the start of the war, transporting refugees safety across the Polish and Romanian borders.

Now his team is conducting coordinated rescue missions  code name Aquarius  evacuating Ukrainian surrogate mothers. Like Oksana, whose name is being withheld to protect her safety, these are women carrying babies for other couples, and they have rarely received the same media attention or level of concern as the surrogate babies they have been giving birth to in the midst of a violent war. When Stern got a request from an American couple to help their Ukrainian surrogate, it sparked the idea for this mission.

Related video: Daring operation rescues surrogate twins from Ukraine

So far, Project Dynamo has rescued five pregnant Ukrainian women, Stern told TODAY Parents via Zoom, collecting them from various regions of Ukraine and safely transporting them to one of their safe houses far from Russian occupation, where they have access to medical care as well as food, water and electricity. The team has happily named the safe house "Club Dynamo."

Related: Why one Ukrainian mom wrote family contact information on her daughters body

Once a staging area to temporarily house refugees, "Club Dynamo" has been turned into a makeshift maternity ward, complete with two medical professionals and a translator. It's located about 30 minutes away from a hospital ready to care for the women when they go into labor.

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Right now, we have a list of 25 surrogates who need to be rescued, Stern explained. Theyre all in various stages of pregnancy. Some people would argue we should evacuate people in order of who is the most pregnant, but we dont see it that way. We evacuate those who are in the most danger. Whether youre 11 weeks pregnant or 36 weeks pregnant, whats the difference if youre in Russian-occupied Ukraine?

Inside the daring rescue mission

There are some unique factors the team has to consider when evacuating pregnant women, although Stern says the missions don't pose significant additional logistical challenges.

"One seat turns into two or three," he explained. "And some of these women are really pregnant, so we have to stop more so they can go to the bathroom. We also had more in-depth conversations about medical requirements, because these women are on a timeline  at some point, I know they need to be in a hospital."

Marina, one of the rescued surrogates, pictured with her daughter and her husband. She was forced to leave her husband behind. (Courtesy Project Dynamo)

Project Dynamo spends a significant amount of time route planning  never taking the same route twice, and considering various checkpoints, Russian troop movements and other factors that will give them the best chance of evacuating safely. In order to successfully rescue pregnant Ukrainians, the team had to add another factor to their route plan: Proximity to a hospital.

"Do we go to a hospital even? Because in some cases, they're dangerous," Stern added. "So I really thought about, OK, so every 100 miles or so, is there a hospital? Will she need a bathroom break? A water break? And in many cases, there are no options  things are blown up or closed."

Related: Voicemails from Kyiv: A survivor who stayed describes what war is really like

Stern also had to consider the women's medical needs, especially if they were experiencing pregnancy complications as a result of the war. While the team was able to secure two medical professionals willing to travel with the women, they did not  and still do not  have the money to hire a gynecologist.

"I simply can't afford it, and the surrogate agencies won't pay for it," he added. "The reality is, we provide a free service  we are 100% donor funded, and every cent donated pays for an evacuation. We've asked the (surrogate) agencies if they would pay for a doctor to travel with us, but they said no. So what do we do, just leave (the women) there and say, 'No doctor, no drive'? Or do we bring them out? We bring them out and take our chances."

Another picture of Operation Aquarius, inside one of the evacuation vans transporting Ukrainian surrogates and their families to safety. (Courtesy Project Dynamo)

Once the team had a plan in place, it was time to pick up the women from various locations in Ukraine, including Kherson, Oleksandria, Kamianske, and Mykolaiv. Many of the women were evacuated with their own family members and children in tow.

"These women tend to be in at least contested areas, if not (Russian) occupied," Stern said. "So, the threat to them is extreme, which means we're at risk also. We're with them."

In one Russian-occupied town, a Project Dynamo driver was detained, then forced to strip naked so Russian troops could check for any Ukrainian tattoos. The team drove by bombed homes, destroyed apartment complexes and shot-up vehicles. The journey was perilous, especially as Russian troops have been committing war crimes by continuously targeting humanitarian corridors, the press and civilians.

Related: Russia escalates bombing of civilian targets amid food shortage

The team traveled more than 1,500 miles to five towns over the course of a week, sometimes taking multiple trips to safely reach the pregnant women.

"For one woman, we had to make three attempts because the bridge to get to her had land mines on it," Stern added. "We couldn't proceed, because driving over land mines is generally bad for your health. And even if we made it through the land mines, we had to get back  I'm not driving over land mines with a pregnant woman in my van."

What the journey was like for the surrogates, in their own words

Oksana, 33, was 39 weeks pregnant when Project Dynamo rescued her from her Russian-occupied hometown in the Mykolaiv region of Ukraine.

"It is a very difficult process to get out when Russians are controlling everything," Oksana told TODAY via Signal and a Ukrainian translator. "They're checking people very carefully, and they won't let anyone get out."

Related: What it's like to be pregnant in Ukraine right now

Oksana did not have access to any electricity, a running water supply or telecommunications  her situation was similar to those trapped in Mariupol.

"I have no clue what I would have done, because the hospitals don't work. There are no grocery shops. Nothing works," she added. "In the nearest city, the situation is quite easy, but it's difficult to reach there. If Project Dynamo didn't rescue me, I would have walked through the fields to reach the nearest town to get medical attention."

A picture of evacuees and Project Dynamo team members, enjoying a hot meal after safely being evacuated out of Russian-occupied towns in Ukraine. (Courtesy Project Dynamo)

Marina, 34, is around 13 weeks pregnant, and was evacuated with her mother and her two young children. She has no idea what she would have done if she had not been evacuated  Russian forces were attacking the train station near her hometown in the Dnipro region of Ukraine.

"I had pregnancy screening tests I couldn't have because of Russians," Marina told TODAY via the same translator. "I can get them now that I am in a new location."

While most of her family were able to get out, she was forced to leave her husband and the family's pets behind.

"The children were crying very hard, but Bryan tried to keep them calm," she explained. "He gave them some toys, some candies and after that they started some connection and they stopped crying."

Related: 12 photos that show whats going on in Ukraine right now

Another woman, also named Marina and who is 28 weeks pregnant, was in the same evacuation van, and said she is grateful for the Project Dynamo team for trying to keep everyone as calm as possible.

"It was scary, of course. I was scared," Marina told TODAY via a translator. "But the guys from Dynamo decreased the stress level as much as possible. We were singing Ukrainian songs during the trip  it was really amazing."

Her daughter, 8, was also scared, but she said the songs the team were singing helped.

"It really made the trip less stressful," she added. At one point, her daughter told Stern she wanted to give him a makeover  at 8 years old, her favorite thing to do is play with makeup. Stern bought her a cheap makeup kit at a gas station, along with a doll and some candy.

Mila, 38, was 30 weeks pregnant when she was rescued, along with her 10-year-old daughter. She says if Project Dynamo had not evacuated them, she would have stayed in her Russian-occupied town of Kherson, because "Russians are hunting volunteers."

"They made a hunt on them, and they dont let volunteers to bring medicine or food," Mila told TODAY. "So I would only stay there and expected the worst. And the situation is becoming worse  the situation there is becoming worse and worse."

All smiles during Operation Aquarius. (Courtesy Project Dynamo)

She said she was scared during the journey, because a lot of cars that have been evacuated have been attacked.

"There are no evacuation corridors, humanitarian corridors and local Russians use people inside Kherson as live shields," she added. "They use them to prevent Ukrainians from attacking them. They dont let people go out."

The majority of the women do not know where they will go after they give birth, nor do they know when it will be safe for them to return home. But every single one says they do not want to leave Ukraine. They want to go home.

"I love Ukraine. I love my country," Mira said. "I love Kherson. I want to travel in other countries like a tourist, not a refugee, and I will always come back to Ukraine."

Related:
Andrew Taggart, 36, of Canton, was sentenced Monday to a minimum of 10 years in prison for a January traffic crash while eluding police. Canton resident Jason Robison was killed in the crash.

CANTON  The driver of a stolen van who caused a fatal crash in January while eluding police will spend a minimum of 10 years in prison.

Andrew Taggart, 36, of Canton, told Jason Robison's family he hoped some day they'd be able to forgive him for what he'd done.

"There's nothing that I can do to change that morning as much as I would like to," Taggart read from a two-page letter to Robison's loved ones.

More: Canton authorities release identify of man killed in crash with stolen van

More: Person killed in two-vehicle crash in Canton

Stark County Common Pleas Judge Frank Forchione told Taggart that if there was ever a time to step up, it was that day when the police told him to shut off the vehicle. He '"failed miserably," Forchione said.

Robison, 42, of Canton, died instantly when Taggart drove the stolen van through a traffic signal and crashed into Robison's car on Jan. 13, Canton police said.

Taggart, through defense attorney Aaron Kovalchik, pleaded guilty Monday to an eight-count indictment. Assistant Stark County Prosecutor Seth Marcum represented the state.

The indictment included felony counts of involuntary manslaughter, aggravated vehicular homicide, failure to comply with an order or signal of a police officer and misdemeanor charges.

Taggart's passenger, Jacob Lang, pleaded guilty in March to a reduced charge of receiving stolen property, a fourth-degree felony. He is serving an 18-month prison term.

What led up to the January crash that killed Jason Robison?

Canton police were alerted to a stolen vehicle in the 600 block of Henderson Avenue NE early Jan. 13. The van was spotted later that day near Fourth Street NW and Lawn Avenue NW.

An officer arrived and discovered the vehicle still occupied, as shown on police body camera video obtained by The Canton Repository through a public records request.

The officer told Taggart and Lang to put their hands up and stay inside the vehicle while he called for additional officers.

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With his gun drawn, the officer approached the van, demanding the men close their doors, turn off the engine and toss out the keys.

Instead, Taggart started the van and drove away.

Additional officers arriving were immediately commanded to "stay back, don't chase," the officer shouted. Those officers stopped immediately, according to the video.

Less than 15 seconds later, as the first police officer was getting back into his SUV, a crash can be heard in the background.

Investigators said Taggart blew through a red light and crashed into Robison, who was driving a Toyota Corolla. He was pronounced dead on scene.

Members of Jason Robison's family Marcella Dennis (sister) and Diane Dickerson (mother) speak to Andrew Taggart, 36, of Canton, who was sentenced Monday to a minimum of 10 years in prison for a January crash that killed Robison.

A mother's final request

Robison's mother, sister and brother spoke directly to Taggart when given the opportunity during Monday's sentencing hearing.

Diane Dickerson, Robison's mother, said that she was grateful to have had 42 years with her son before his death.

"I hope, Mr. Taggart, that during your time in jail you'll turn your life around and use it for good. That's what I'm doing," Dickerson said.

She said she is using the tragedy to be a better mom, better nurse and better Christian, and to be able to look at people with love.

"I'm sorry. Right now I can't look at you with love, but I understand addiction. Please get free of that heroin and live a good life," Dickerson said.

'I've had enough of repeat offenders'

Forchione rattled off a laundry list of Taggart's prior criminal offenses before imposing his prison sentence, saying he'd had enough of the repeat offenders who keep coming before him.

"You were in a stolen car, drunk without a license - which is no way to live life ... every night when you hear those bars clank, I want you to think of those broken hearts that you've left behind," Forchione said.

Reach Cassandra cnist@gannett.com; Follow on Twitter@Cassienist

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Andrew Taggart sentenced for fleeing police, causing fatal crash
Jon Michael Hill as Moses and Julian Parker as Kitch in Steppenwolfs 2017 world premiere production of "Pass Over," written by Antoinette Nwandu and directed by Danya Taymor. (Michael Brosilow)

Steppenwolf Theatre's artistic and executive directors said Wednesday they are working on an "official institutional response" to Sun-Times theater critic Hedy Weiss for her "Pass Over" review, which has drawn criticism online.

"We denounce the viewpoints expressed in some of these reviews as they fail to acknowledge the very systemic racism that 'Pass Over' addresses directly. Particularly egregious are the comments from Sun-Times critic Hedy Weiss, whose critical contribution has, once again, revealed a deep-seated bigotry and a painful lack of understanding of this country's historic racism. Her contribution is actively working against the kind of theater we are striving to be," Steppenwolf artistic director Anna D. Shapiro and executive director David Schmitz said in a statement e-mailed to the Tribune.

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Playwright Antoinette Nwandu's "Pass Over" follows two young black men struggling to survive as they encounter a white man in their space.

In her Tuesday review of the production, Weiss wrote that "Nwandu's simplistic, wholly generic characterization of a racist white cop (clearly meant to indict all white cops) is wrong-headed and self-defeating. Just look at news reports about recent shootings (on the lakefront, on the new River Walk, in Woodlawn) and you will see the look of relief when the police arrive on the scene. And the playwright's final scenes  including a speech by the clueless white aristocrat who appears earlier in the story  and who could not be more condescending to Steppenwolf's largely white 'liberal' audience  further rob the play of its potential impact."

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Weiss and representatives for Nwandu did not respond to a request for comment, while Sun-Times editor and publisher Jim Kirk declined to comment.

An online petition calling for theaters to stop giving Weiss tickets to review their productions because "she is not willing to work with us to create a positive environment" had garnered more than 2,300 signatures as of Wednesday afternoon.

"We're not saying that she can't buy tickets to the show. That is never, ever our intention. We're just saying that maybe no longer open that door by giving her free tickets to come and discriminate against the people that are performing because that happens to be what's kind of going on," said Chicago stage actor Sasha Smith, a representative for the Chicago Theater Accountability Coalition, which created the petition.

Kirstin Franklin, co-artistic director of Akvavit Theatre, said an invite went out to the Sun-Times for the theater's upcoming production of "Hitler on the Roof" before the petition was posted this week.

Franklin said she prefers the Sun-Times send a different reviewer instead of Weiss if the newspaper decides to review or Weiss can purchase a ticket.

"I agree that it's important that we have freedom of press, and that they're able to speak their opinion, but it's also important for editors to really look at what is being printed and to say, 'Will words from this hurt a specific person?' or 'Will words from this review hurt a specific group of people?' I think that's important," she said.

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Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 126 Woody introduces the gang to a homemade spork toy with self-esteem issues in "Toy Story 4." Read the review. (Pixar / AP)
These are your EastEnders spoilers for 18-21 April 2022. (BBC)

Full details of Sam Mitchells comeback are revealed on EastEnders next week, plus the guilt mounts for a troubled Ben. Stacey intervenes as fears grow for Jean, while Harvey is unsettled by a disturbing incident.

Its your spoiler-filled guide to EastEnders in the week of 18-21 April 2022.

Sam Mitchell is back

Sam Mitchell (KIM MEDCALF) (BBC)

Sam returns to Albert Square on Tuesday, now played again by Kim Medcalf rather than Danniella Westbrook.

But while fans will no doubt be delighted to see her, Sams reappearance does not go down well with either Kat or Sharon. For her part, Sam is staying tight-lipped as to why shes back, but takes great delight in winding the two women up.

Read more: Next week on Emmerdale

Read more: Next week on Coronation Street

Jack is also perturbed to see her and, despite assurances from her that its a brief visit, he confides his fears in Denise and they agree that young Ricky ought to be told who she is.

But as Sam reignites old feuds and causes trouble, Jack is soon left riled when she goes to extreme lengths to get what she wants.

Will Harvey help Aaron?

Harvey Monroe (ROSS BOATMAN) (BBC)

Harvey is left shaken during Mondays episode when Neil approaches him and gives him the burner phone thats intended for an incarcerated Aaron.

Wednesdays drama then finds a nervous Harvey being taken in Mitchs taxi to the prison. But, as he ventures behind bars, will he ultimately opt to hand the mobile over to his son?

Ben feels guilty

Ben Mitchell (MAX BOWDEN) (BBC)

Feelings of guilt are nagging at Ben and he decides to visit Steve, the guy he attacked a week previously.

In order to explain his presence, Ben tells Steves mum that hes one of his friends. But worried that his actions could catch up with him, Ben is later seen pleading with Sharon to be an alibi for him if needed.

Callum and Jack, meanwhile, interview Steves mother, who tells them about the hospital visit. And after checking the CCTV, Jack has little choice but to confront Ben about the footage

Stacey intervenes with Jean

Jean Slater (GILLIAN WRIGHT) (BBC)

All is not well with Jean, with first Lily and then Shirley picking up on some troubling aspects to her mental health.

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In fact, a shopping trip to buy a wedding dress proves to be so fraught that Stacey and Shirley end up gaining entrance to Harveys flat and confronting Jean, who orders them to leave. And feeling increasingly desperate about her mums abnormal behaviour, Stacey responds by taking drastic action

Vi tries to help Stuart

Vi Highway (GWEN TAYLOR), Rainie Highway (TANYA FRANKS) (BBC)

Rainie opens up to Vi about her struggles with Roland. And, wanting to help, an uncharacteristically helpful Vi decides to encourage Stuart to step up.

But after his nan hands him his prescription painkillers, a worried Stuart takes himself off to an addiction meeting, only to find that the date has been changed. So will he get the reassurance hes seeking?

Dottys behaviour worries Vinny

Dotty Cotton (MILLIE ZERO), Vinny Panesar (SHIV JALOTA) (BBC)

Vinny will be seen reiterating his feelings for Dotty, but fails to notice that shes been left spooked by his declaration.

Bernie, though, picks up on Dottys reaction and advises her to be honest with Vinny and tell him she doesnt love him. Later on, though, Vinny starts to get an inkling that all isnt well when, as the Panesars await Kheerats return, he realises that Dotty is off with him.

When Vinny subsequently confronts Dotty, she shrugs it off. But will he be convinced?

Watch: Nick Cotton actor pays tribute to June Brown
From Easter egg hunts to photo ops with the Easter Bunny, we found a few places where you can have a hoppin good time this Easter weekend.

Please use the links provided to check for last-minute updates before you go.

April 14

Cramerton Twilight Easter Egg Scramble  Egg hunts will be organized by age groups, and more than 3,000 eggs will be spread in different areas. The Easter Bunny will be there, too. 6:30 - 8 p.m. at Goat Island. Admission is free. website

ALSO READ: Easter Sunday 2022: 5 places to get holiday meals, deals

Matthews Peter Cottontails Bunny Trail  There will be crafts, games, face painting and the Easter Bunny will be there. 6 - 8 p.m. at Stallings Municipal Park. Admission is free. website

April 15-16

Easter Bunny Express at the North Carolina Transportation Museum  Take a train ride with the Easter Bunny! Other activities include egg hunts, games and inflatables. Tickets cost $14 for adults and $10 for children ages 3-12. Children younger than 3 years old are admitted free. website

April 16

Easter Eggstravaganza  Egg hunts will be organized by age groups. Eggs will be filled with prizes. There will also be crafts, snacks and a visit from the Easter Bunny. 1 - 3 p.m. at Croft Community School. Admission is $20 per child; $10 for each additional child. Adults are admitted free. website

Bunny Run 5K and Festival in Concord  The festival will feature music, inflatables, food trucks and other activities. 9 - 11 a.m. in downtown Concord. Admission to the festival is free. Registration for the 5K costs $15. website

Easter Egg Hunt at Optimist Hall  Egg hunts will be organized by age groups, including one for adults. There will also be live music in the courtyard. Starts at 10:30 a.m. Admission is free. website

ALSO READ: Fun happens at Queen Charlotte Fair

Easter Egg Hunt in Belmont  Egg hunts will be organized by age groups. 11 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. at Stowe Park. Admission is free. website

Easter Egg Hunt in Huntersville  In addition to an egg hunt for ages 2-12, there will be a scavenger hunt for adults. There will also be yard games and snacks. 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. at Blackberry Ridge Farm. Admission is $10 per child. Adults are admitted free. website

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Easter Egg Hunt and Spring Carnival in Kings Mountain  There will be an egg hunt at the Rick Murphey Childrens Park at 10 a.m. The Spring Carnival also starts at 10 a.m. at the YMCA Walking Track. There will be inflatables and a petting zoo. Admission is free. website

North Carolina Easter Festival  Egg hunts will be organized by age groups. Other festivities include dance performances, crafts, games and face painting. 1 - 5 p.m. at Cabarrus Arena & Events Center. Admission is free. website

April 17

Adult Easter Egg Hunt in Plaza Midwood  Big kids can celebrate Easter and search for eggs hidden at Legion Brewing, Pilot Brewing, Resident Culture and Southern Strain. Prizes will be awarded. website

Through April 17

Easter Eggs on Parade  If you prefer creating your own fun, check out this art installation thats part of Charlotte SHOUT! and features 12 giant decorated eggs, which are on display through Sunday at Romare Bearden Park. Admission is free. website

(WATCH BELOW: The White House Easter Egg Roll: What you need to know)




Billionaire Elon Musk is facing a lawsuit following a week of headlines created by his purchase of 9.2 percent of Twitter's stock. An investor sued Musk on Tuesday and proposed a class-action lawsuit against him for not disclosing his purchase to the Securities and Exchange Commission sooner.

The plaintiff, Marc Rasella, said in the lawsuit filed in federal court in Manhattan, New York, that he lost money by selling shares of Twitter at artificially deflated prices because Musk waited beyond the mandated SEC deadline to disclose his stake.

Musk disclosed in an SEC filing on April 4 that he had bought shares representing 9.2 percent of Twitter, making him the largest outside shareholder of the companys stock. The share price rose more than 27 percent after the news.

Rasella said in the lawsuit that Musk had an obligation mandated by the SEC to disclose his stake within 10 days of passing a 5 percent ownership threshold, a deadline that would have been March 24.

Plaintiff and the Class would not have sold Twitters securities at the price sold, or at all, if they had been aware that the market prices had been artificially and falsely deflated by Defendants misleading statements, the lawsuit said.

Musk has long been an avid Twitter user, but his interest as an investor is more recent. Over the weekend, he declined an invitation to join the Twitter board, a position that would have closed off the possibility of a hostile takeover and limited what he could say about the social media company.

The lawsuit did not ask for a specified amount in damages, but it said Musk saved about $143 million by filing his form after the SEC deadline and purchasing shares in the meantime.

Representatives for Musk, the worlds wealthiest person according to Forbes, did not immediately respond to a request for comment submitted to Tesla, the automaker where Musk is CEO.

Twitter declined to comment on the suit.
Erik ten Hag has verbally agreed to take over at Manchester United this summer, according to reports (Tess Derry/PA) (PA Wire)

Erik ten Hag has taken a major stride towards becoming the next Manchester United manager after reaching an agreement in principle with the club, according to reports.

Ten Hag, 52, has been in charge at Dutch giants Ajax since December 2017 but he has been repeatedly linked with the United hot seat this summer, with Ralf Rangnick set to move into a consultancy role.

Paris St Germain head coach Mauricio Pochettino was also on Uniteds wishlist but the Athletic has reported Ten Hag has verbally agreed to take over from interim boss Rangnick at the end of the season.

Ralf Rangnick is in interim charge of Manchester United until the end of the season (Martin Rickett/PA) (PA Wire)

The PA news agency has contacted United for comment.

Rangnick agreed to take interim charge of United last November following the sacking of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

The club face missing out on the Champions League next season as they sit three spots and six points adrift of fourth-placed Tottenham in the Premier League with seven games of the campaign remaining.

But that seems to have been no obstacle in attracting another standout European coach, with Ten Hag winning the Eredivisie and Dutch Cup twice while he led Ajax to the 2019 Champions League semi-finals.

Ajax are on course for another domestic double  they are four points clear of second-placed PSV Eindhoven and will take on their rivals in the final of the Dutch Cup this weekend.
Israels Eurovision act will not perform at the live shows in Turin, it has been announced

The final of the Eurovision Song Contest is due to take place on 14 May in the Italian city  after Maneskins win in 2021  with two semi-finals taking place on 10 and 12 May.

Israel was due to be represented by Michael Ben David, with his song IM.

However, on Tuesday (12 April), it was announced that he would not be travelling to Turin for the competition.

This is due to an ongoing strike within the countrys foreign ministry, meaning that the Israeli security service Shin Bet doesnt have the capacity to send David to the competition.

As of now, due to the ministry of foreign affairs strike, that affects the security protocols, the Israeli delegation will not attend the Eurovision in Turin, a tweet from the official Israeli Eurovision account reads.

An EBU spokesperson said that discussions were occurring to determine whether Israel would be withdrawing from the competition completely or if they would still compete remotely.

As of now, due to the Ministry of Foreign affairs strike, that affects the security protocols, the Israeli delegation will not attend the Eurovision in Turin.  KAN Eurovision Israel (@kaneurovision) April 12, 2022

During last years competition, 2020 frontrunner Dai Frey performed over video link from home after a member of his band tested positive for Covid-19.

If Israel does withdraw, they will be the second country not to perform in 2022, after Russia was banned from Eurovision following the invasion of Ukraine.

Meanwhile, Ukraines entry Kalush Orchestra have said that they want to be another mouthpiece for their country amid the war.
The Department of Homeland Security says thousands of refugees displaced by Russia's invasion of Ukraine have traveled to Mexico hoping to gain refuge in the United States. That now includes a teenager trying to get placement with his aunt and uncle, who live in the Los Angeles area.

CBS Los Angeles says Ivan Yerashov is a typical 14-year-old, who's into sports and his computer. As of a week and a half ago, he also became a Ukrainian refugee.

His aunt, Iryna Merezhko, picked him up in Kharkiv after her sister said she and her husband wanted to stay and fight against the Russian invasion, but they wanted their son brought to safety, a move the family did its best to spin, according to Merezhko.

"I told him it will be like a long summer break in California for you, yeah. Don't think about the divided with parents, like a long summer break," she said.

Ivan Yerashov, 14-year-old Ukrainian in San Diego immigrant detention center in April 2022. / Credit: CBS Los Angeles

After 30 hours on an evacuation train and 40 hours on a plane, the teen and his aunt made their way to a refugee camp in Mexico, where she'd heard the best and easiest way to get her nephew into the U.S. was to go to the border and ask for humanitarian admission.

Once in San Diego, though, immigration workers said Yerashov had to stay in a detention center for two or three days until the Merezhko's had a background check and their connection to the teen was verified.

After just three days, they were told the wait for the teen could be as long as 20 to 30 days, alone and without a phone for someone who has just left his country and his family in a war zone with no idea if or when he might return.

"I think it's very difficult, psychologic for him, and without a connection to his parents and with us," Merezhko said.

His aunt and uncle said they understand safety protocols, but also said they believed 20 to 30 days was cruel given all their nephew's been through. The couple hired an attorney to try to get the 14-year-old out immediately.

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The final picture 14-year-old Ivan Yerashov took with his mother and aunt before leaving Ukraine for the United States.

Yerashov took one last picture with his mother and his aunt before leaving Ukraine, a moment Merezhko said she knew could be the last.

"Me and my sister understand it could be last goodbye, yeah."

Both Merezhkos said while they want to help their nephew get out, they also want to help all children of wars from having to stay in those detention centers for anything longer than just a few days.

Mariupol mayor says citys death toll could top 20,000: CBS News Flash April 12, 2022

What's happening with key figures in the Jan. 6 House committee investigation

London Calling: British politician faces scrutiny over wife's taxes
Photo Illustration by Elizabeth Brockway/The Daily Beast/Getty

This reporting appears as one of several scoops featured in this weeks edition of Source Material, the media newsletter that pulls back the curtain to reveal whats really going on inside the worlds most powerful navel-gazing industry. Subscribe here and send your questions, tips, and complaints here.

AT&T-backed satellite provider DirecTV finally made it official last Tuesday, dropping far-right One America News from its lineup, leaving the conspiratorial channel in a full-blown existential crisis. The inevitability of OANs calamity also caused an exodus from the Trumpy network in recent weeks, Source Material has confirmed.

Even though OAN owners Robert and Charles Herring hoped to force AT&T to keep them, and at one point begged other providers for a rescue, several key staffers saw the writing on the wall and bailed.

Christina Bobb, the weekend host who moonlighted as former President Donald Trumps insurrectionist attorney, ditched the network last month to work for Trumps PAC. Taking over for Bobb as Weekly Briefing host is longtime OAN conspiracist Chanel Rion, who also co-founded an election-denying nonprofit with Bobb.

Like what youre reading? Subscribe to the Source Material newsletter here and have The Daily Beast media teams stellar reporting sent straight to your inbox every Monday night.

Former Trump advisory board member Natalie Harp, who debuted last year in primetime with The Real Story, quietly left in mid-March to also go work for Trump. Additionally, correspondent and producer Jezzamine Wolk exited early last month to anchor a morning show for a local Louisiana news station.

Two people with knowledge of the situation further told Source Material that White House correspondent Camryn Kinsey and producer Justin Adam Brown also recently jumped ship. Brown was executive producer of Dan Balls nightly Real America show but is now at Newsmaxwhich has a history of poaching OAN talent. (Kinsey did not respond to Source Material when asked about where she landed.)

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A rep for OAN did not respond to a request for comment.

Subscribe to the Source Material newsletter here and have The Daily Beast media teams stellar reporting sent straight to your inbox every Monday night.

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The Pismo Beach Police Department arrested a man involved in a traffic collision near Spyglass Park in Shell Beach after he allegedly threatened to shoot another person in the face.

The man told one of the people involved in Sundays crash that he would shoot him in the face, the police department posted on Facebook.

According to the post, the man was involved in another collision before officers arrived on the scene, causing his car to become disabled.

Pismo Beach police said the man, who was not identified in the post, appeared intoxicated and uncooperative.

Officers allegedly found a loaded AR-15 rifle within the mans reach in the car while searching for his ID. The rifle was loaded with two 30 round magazines with one round in the chamber, according to police.

Police arrested the man, who was later identified as a felon, on suspicion of multiple crimes, including driving under the influence, criminal threats, hit-and-run and a weapons charge.
Good day, neighbors! Alexis Goring here with the latest Laurel Daily.

First, today's weather:

Very warm with periods of sun. High: 82 Low: 66.

Here are the top three stories in Laurel today:

School graduation rates are increasing despite the ongoing pandemic. Laurel High School had a graduation rate gains of three or more percentage points. The Prince Georges County Public Schools (PGCPS) four-year Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate increased by 1.5 percentage points to nearly 78 percent for the 2020-21 academic year with 10 schools registering a graduation rate of more than 90 percent. Dr. Monica Goldson, Chief Executive Officer of PGCPS said, Despite challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic and distance learning, we have made progress. I remain grateful for the commitment and resilience of our students, educators and staff who continue to keep teaching and learning at the forefront.(PGCPS) Jemison, a female racehorse, beat the boys in her career debut Sunday at Laurel Park. Ridden by Jevian Toledo for trainer Brittany Russell, Jemison ran six furlongs in 1:10.95 over a fast main track to win the maiden special weight for horses 3, 4 and 5 years old by 7  lengths despite being fractious behind the gate and bobbling at the start. (Laurel Park) Recently, the House and the Senate in Marylands state legislature agreed to change the name of Indian Head Highway to Piscataway Highway. The bill now awaits Gov. Larry Hogans signature before it can take effect. Changing the name of this road that spans Charles and Prince Georges counties became the focus of the Piscataway Conoy Tribe because of the fact that the name is derogatory to Native Americans. (WTOP)

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Today in Laurel:

Swahili Live Wednesdays | AfroHouse & AfroBeats (After Work Social) This social takes place at Swahili Village - The Consulate DC. Enjoy amazing food, VIP Bottle Packages and Great Music Vibes. Celebrate life! Must be 21+ to attend. IDs required. (5:00 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.)

Piano Jazz at Tagliata in Baltimore To complement the restaurants menu and decor, guests will be able to hear some of Baltimores most talented musicians play Tagliatas 1926 Steinway piano 7 nights a week in the lounge. Pasta, wine and live piano will make every night out even more memorable! (6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.)

Great Decisions Event hosted at Laurel Branch Library (6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.)

Todd Marcus Jazz Orchestra, Quartet, Trio, & Duo at Joe's Movement Emporium in Mount Rainier A seminar by Todd Marcus focused on community engagement, social justice program strategies from his work at Intersections of Change, and incorporation of these aspects into his work as a musician. (7:00 p.m.)

Laugh, Sip & Paint Night plus a comedy show at Takoma Station Tavern in NW D.C. Enjoy an evening of sip and paint with live comedy and music performances. Hosted by Dude In Da Corner and guest painter Comedienne KeeKee. Music by DJ Mike G. Happy Hour Menu item included with purchase of Sip & Paint ticket. (7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.)

The Power of Networking Mixer at 5 Sisters Restaurant in Laurel Do you want more customers? Do you need exposure? 5 Sisters Restaurant & Lounge and TB Events are providing the platform to showcase your small business. Vending Tables and Speaking Opportunities are available for a small fee, Free for local Laurel based Businesses.Purchase your Vending Table and/or Speaking Opportunity Now! (7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.)

2nd Wednesdays Open Mic at Busboys and Poets in NW D.C.|Hosted by Simply SherriFor two hours, audiences can expect a diverse chorus of voices and a vast array of professional spoken word performers, open mic rookies, musicians and a different host every week.

California born and Maryland raised, Sherri started writing in 2001 and started reciting her work in 2008 in her poetic home of Baltimore. With topics ranging from love and relationships to depression and verbal abuse, her writing style is easy going and a reflection of her world.She has spotlighted and featured in New York City, Philadelphia, Washington and Atlanta. In 2010 she released her debut poetry CD Liquefy. She released her first book Love Simply in 2015. She is the host of several poetry venues between Baltimore, MD & Washington, D.C..Email: simplysherri@outlook.com (8:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.)

From my notebook:

Laurel Police Department: In recognition of the heroes that you don't see, the calm amidst the chaos, we would like to introduce you to our dispatchers. The first dispatcher we would like to introduce to you is PCS Xavier Sykes. We appreciate you, PCS Sykes! (Facebook)

Laurel Volunteer Rescue Squad Company 49: As part of the monthly EMS drill topic, the Saturday day crew and other members discussed motorcycle based accidents and injuries, and how best to provide care during these low-frequency, high stress situations. (Facebook)

City of Laurel - Government: See something, say something. Call Laurel Police Department at this number: 301-498-0092. (Facebook)

Laurel Police Department: Here is a look at our entire Communications Team. These are the faces of the women and men who bravely answer the call when you are in need. We thank them for what they do for this city and for all of you. (Facebook)

City of Laurel - Government: While youre on Main Street in Laurel, be sure to dine in one of our fine restaurants and shop in the stores. (Facebook)

City of Laurel - Government: Save Water, Win Money! Make your pledge to conserve water and save energy during Earth Month and you can win $3,000 toward your annual utility bills, water saving fixtures, and hundreds of prizes. (Facebook)

City of Laurel - Government: Its not too late to be a vendor at this years Main Street Festival or in the parade. (Facebook)

Nextdoor Neighbor, North Laurel Road: Thank you to the gentleman who payed for my gas tonight at the Shell gas station on All Saints Road. (Nextdoor)

Prince George's County Planning Department Carly Brockinton, Prince Georges County Government: The Placemaking Riverdale project is having a virtual kickoff event. Join us on April 26 at 6:30 p.m. to participate. (Nextdoor)

Nextdoor Neighbor, Cherry Branch: M y cat Ginger slipped out my house yesterday while taking my kids out for play in the Laurel area near Cherry Lane. If you see him please call me at this number: 240-353-7630. (Nextdoor)

POFC J. Hang, Prince George's County Police Department: The Prince George's County Police Department is actively hiring for the position of Entry Level Police Officer, Lateral Police Officer, and Police Cadet. (Nextdoor)

Corporal Kurt Schnitzenbaumer, Prince George's County Police Department: Do you want to be the next Traffic Safety Champion? Department of Public Works and Transportation is holding a traffic safety video contest...(Nextdoor)

Corporal Kurt Schnitzenbaumer, Prince George's County Police Department: Stop the Killing, Start the Healing. Join us on April 30, when we will be celebrating the life and legacy of Darryl A. Hairston II! The event is from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. at 7126 Temple Hills Road. (Nextdoor)

Nextdoor Neighbor, Bowling Brook Farms: Amazon delivered a package that was suppose to come to Stebbing Way. However, it appears Amazon handed my package to a resident at the wrong location. Our daughters recital outfit for school was in that package. (Nextdoor)

Nextdoor Neighbor, Montpelier: I need to find a local hair salon or stylist. Any recommendations? (Nextdoor)

Nextdoor Neighbor, Leishear Village: C an anyone recommend a company who can install concrete such as for a front step? (Nextdoor)

Nextdoor Neighbor, Montpelier: The neighbor has a guest over who just let his dog out in their unfenced yard without a leash or collar. It's a Loose Whippet/ Greyhound dog, white and tan/brown spots running around Eastgate Lane. (Nextdoor)

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 Alexis Goring

About me: My name is Alexis A. Goring. I'm a Bowie area resident with a pulse for people, news and feature stories! I've worked as a freelance writer/editor/proofreader in the media industry for 15 years. I'm also a published author, experienced blogger, and founder of Writer at Heart Editorial Services. Visit my website for more details about me and my work. Here's the link: https://alexisagoring.jimdofree.com.

This article originally appeared on the Laurel Patch
Atlanta on FX is back for a third season, and in the intervening years since the previous season concluded in 2018, the careers of those working both in front of and behind the camera have expanded considerably, including that of Brian Tyree Henry, who plays Alfred, a rapper who goes by the stage name Paper Boi.

This time out, his career has kicked into high gear with a European tour. This doesnt mean, however, that the (baloney) doesnt follow him, you know what I mean? Henry said. I think its even more frustrating because hes like, I did everything I was supposed to do and youre still trying me?

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Few characters can express silent frustration better than Als pointed stare. As an actor, Henry has that ability to say more with a look  a mix of disgust and disbelief  than mere words could convey. Wait till the looks you see this season, he said. I love that about him, because I know the viewer sees what I see  I know you see the (nonsense) thats happening.

From left: Brian Tyree Henry as Alfred "Paper Boi" Miles and show creator Donald Glover as his manager and cousin Earn Marks on Season 3 of Atlanta. (Oliver Upton/FX)

In addition to his work on Atlanta (for which he has been Emmy-nominated), Henry is known for everything from If Beale Street Could Talk to Joker to Godzilla vs. King Kong to the Marvel movie Eternals, to name just a few. This summer, he stars as an assassin opposite Brad Pitt in the action-comedy Bullet Train, coming out in July.

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Henry is best known for his extensive list of TV and film credits, but his first big break was on Broadway in The Book of Mormon.

Performing on stage is where he also experienced his worst moment, which has been seared into his memory: Lets bring it down to earth! he laughed.

My worst moment 

OK, lets go back to the year 1999 when I was in high school. This is not just the worst moment, but it manifested into the best moment because this was the moment I knew I had to act. Like, for the rest of my life.

This is E.E. Smith High School, home of the Golden Bulls, in Fayetteville, North Carolina. And I had been dabbling in speech and debate, show choir  I was just arts, arts, arts at this point. There was a new drama program and I got cast as one of the main ensemble in this play called The Colored Museum, written by George C. Wolfe. (The play is a series of exhibits that satirize Black cultural stereotypes.)

Just to preface this, Ive only gone to all-Black schools all my life  from daycare to elementary to junior high to high school.

So in the play, there is a character named Walter-Lee-Beau-Willie, because this part of the play is a sendup to A Raisin in the Sun and the character is based on Walter Lee Younger. So Im playing this Black man who has the world on his shoulders and theres a monologue where hes like, The world isnt built for me.

Before we open, we do a performance for the students. They also decided to invite the in-school suspension students. And for people who dont know, in-school suspension is when they say, instead of sending you home for a week, were going to do you one better and make you come to school  but youre going to stay in a classroom all day, like detention.

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So Im on stage. The spotlights on me. And in this particular moment in the monologue, Im on my knees and Im really going in. My 17-year-old self is trying to give the screams and the war cry of the Black man in this monologue. Tears and everything.

So Im on my knees and its completely quiet. And from the very back of the auditorium I heard someone scream, (N-word), you suck!

Like, with the fervor of a thousand kings, this person screams this at the end of my monologue.

And everyone in the audience broke into laughter. And I wanted to laugh too! There was faculty there, so I had to wait because they were escorting this kid out. Im just on my knees, holding this moment, sweat coming from my forehead, but the show must go on. I mean, there was a whole second act we still had to do.

Brian Tyree Henry at the 25th annual Screen Actors Guild Awards in 2019  a long way from "you suck." (Jordan Strauss/Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

And then I finished, got up (laughs) and went backstage, and everyone was mortified. But I just remember looking at my drama teacher like, I could do this for the rest of my life. Because that was the truest, most visceral response I had gotten. And I was like, well, it aint a tomato! I didnt get booed!

For someone to really truly yell at you You suck! (laughs) while Im in the middle of a monologue and I didnt break? Well, I guess I can really do this.

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The performance provoked a response!

Yeah, I got something, right? At the end of the day, this kid felt something. He was moved emotionally  and physically, because they escorted him out  but either way, something was felt. And that always sticks with me.

I remember my co-stars standing on stage mortified, just the looks on their teenage faces, whereas I was like: Im locked in, youre not going to break me! And thats kind of what the monologue was about  not being broken. I literally had my head in my hands and I wanted to laugh so bad, but I didnt.

But that moment helped me keep an openness and airiness about what I do. Nothing is too precious. I dont want anything to be too precious, because at the end of the day its a play  thats why its called a play, because youre playing. You get to live in the shoes of somebody for a few hours and hopefully you reach someone in the back of the audience who truly thinks you suck (laughs). And then you move on to the next performance.

I dont really get bothered by audience responses because it lets me know you felt something. Any response is better than no response at all. You sitting down to watch me is already one response, and that lets me know that youve signed up for this transaction  to watch me stand up here and pretend for an hour-and-a-half.

But those in-school suspension kids did not sign up for that.

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I never found out who said it, but you know that suspension was extended after that.

A lot of teenagers might have taken the comment personally.

I never took it personally. Never. Because I think about how many times Ive sat down and watched certain plays and wanted to scream you suck so bad. I used to watch Showtime at the Apollo, and I was like, if that hook ever came for me, I would be so delighted! If you can stand up at the back of the room and tell me I suck, then bless you. Youre doing Gods work, honestly.

Ive been on Broadway. And Broadway is expensive. So theres a decorum on Broadway thats different from what youll get being in a high school play. Theres nothing more real than coming to see a play thats put together with whatever little budget youve got and youre a teenager portraying things you probably havent experienced yet  like, I didnt know what I was saying, giving this monologue of a middle-aged Black man. But there is nothing more fulfilling. The stakes arent as high, and neither is the production value (laughs).

Being an actor, you have no idea what a viewers life is when theyre watching you at any given moment. You dont know where youre meeting people in their lives.

Brian Tyree Henry, known for everything from If Beale Street Could Talk to the Marvel movie Eternals." (Deborah Lopez)

However, what I would like to think is that on that day, I gave them something to have a response to (laughs). I also think it was such a youthful thing to do, to shout that. So I was like, aw man, this is never going to happen again. Here we are, doing a play written by a prominent Black playwright, talking about issues and things that are going on that are relevant to Black people in this country, and at the same time, yeah, sometimes you want to scream you suck at that (laughs).

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And thats when I knew I wanted to be an actor. I never felt more alive.

I just remember going backstage, smiling so hard and laughing so hard, while changing my costume. Like: Welp, on to Act 2!

The takeaway 

To perform for that guy.

When you think about these looks Alfred gives people on Atlanta? Im doing it for that guy, whos had enough and wants to stand up and say you suck!

I dont know who he is, I may never know who he is. I may never see him, I dont know where he is now  watch, Ill find out hes one of the producers of Atlanta (laughs). I guarantee you, he runs something in Hollywood.

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But at the end of the day, if my performance can get somebody feeling like they just cant take it anymore and they have to stand up  and look, it doesnt always have to be you suck, if you want to say youre great! (laughs)  you know what I mean? We can have a variation of how you feel about me (laughs).

Im glad that I can look back on it fondly because lord knows, I still laugh about it to this day because nothing afterward has been that bad. No review, no critic.

But if I make you viscerally feel something, then Im doing my job.

Few characters can express silent frustration better than Als pointed stare, played by Brian Tyree Henry on "Atlanta." (Curtis Baker/FX)

Nina Metz is a Tribune critic

nmetz@chicagotribune.com

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President Donald Trump came to resemble Russian leader Vladimir Putin in "political practice and predilection" during the former's time in office, said Fiona Hill. Eva Marie Uzcategui/Getty Images

Fiona Hill, a top advisor on Russia under Donald Trump, said he started to resemble Vladimir Putin during his presidency.

Hill said that Trump started looking more like Putin in "political practice and predilection."

She added that Trump used Ukraine as a "plaything for his own purposes."

Fiona Hill, a top advisor on Russia during Donald Trump's presidency, said Trump started to "resemble" Russian President Putin as his term wore on and used Ukraine as a "plaything for his own purposes."

In an interview with The New York Times Magazine published on Monday, Hill shared what it was like working for Trump and watching him deal with foreign leaders.

"In the course of his presidency, indeed, Trump would come more to resemble Putin in political practice and predilection than he resembled any of his recent American presidential predecessors," said Hill, per the outlet.

Hill compared Trump to the presidents before him, noting how meetings with George W. Bush in 2008 differed from her experience during the two years she served in the Trump administration, per The Times.

She told the outlet that Bush, unlike Trump, actually read his briefing materials. She added that she was allowed to give unpopular opinions to Bush without being punished or frozen out and that Bush asked respectful questions.

In comparison, Hill said it was a tall order to try to steer policy under Trump.

"It was extraordinarily difficult. Certainly, that was the case for those of us who were serving in the administration with the hopes of pushing back against the Russians, to make sure that their intervention in 2016 didn't happen again. And along the way, some people kind of lost their sense of self," she said, per the outlet.

Hill also told The Times that Trump "was using Ukraine as a plaything for his own purposes"  particularly when he sent his personal attorney Rudy Giuliani on a "domestic political errand" and pressured Ukraine to investigate then-former Vice President Joe Biden.

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In the same article, Charles Kupperman, who was once a deputy national security adviser to Trump, recounted how his former boss once "let loose" on the topic of Ukraine and launched into an expletive-laden rant about the country.

"They're [expletive] corrupt. They [expletive] tried to screw me,'" Trump said while falsely accusing Ukraine of trying to sabotage his election chances.

Following The Times' article, Trump released a brief statement on Twitter via his spokesperson Liz Harrington, insulting Hill.

"Fiona Hill is a Radical Left RINO, but the word RINO is too good. She doesn't know the first thing she's talking about. If she didn't have the accent she would be nothing," Trump wrote, using the acronym for the pejorative term "Republican In Name Only."

"During the Impeachment Hoax #1, she had no credibility, obviously, because we won unanimously. Never listened to her, I hardly knew her at all. She knew nothing about me, I knew nothing about her, and I liked it that way," he added, referring to his first impeachment in December 2019.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Former National Security Council officer Fiona Hill criticized her former boss, Donald Trump, in a scathing interview on Monday and said he yearned to stay in power like the strongmen he admired.

The domestic political errands, the way Trump had privatized foreign policy for his own purposes. It was this narrow goal: his desire to stay in power, irrespective of what other people wanted, Hill told The New York Times Magazine.

Hill said the Jan. 6, 2021 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol was Trumps attempt at pulling a Putin.

I saw the thread, she said. The thread connecting the Zelenskyy phone call to Jan. 6. And I remembered how, in 2020, Putin had changed Russias Constitution to allow him to stay in power longer. This was Trump pulling a Putin.

Hill was present for the initial phase of Trumps scheme to pressure Volodymyr Zelesnkyy by threatening to withhold military aid unless the Ukraine president dug up dirt on Joe Biden and his son Hunter Biden. Trump also asked Zelesnkyy to explore the conspiracy theory that it was Ukraine that interfered in the 2016 election. There is no evidence to support this claim.

In the course of his presidency, indeed, Trump would come more to resemble Putin in political practice and predilection than he resembled any of his recent American presidential predecessors, Hill said.

When asked by the Times for a response to her comments, Trump said of Hill: She doesnt know the first thing shes talking about. If she didnt have the accent she would be nothing.

This article originally appeared on HuffPost and has been updated.

Related...
NEW YORK  A gunman in a gas mask and an orange construction vest tossed a smoke bomb into a southbound R train and then opened fire on passengers early Tuesday, wounding five people, police sources said.

The mayhem began just before 8:30 a.m. at the 25th St. station in Sunset Park. As the doors closed, the man in the vest threw several smoke bombs into a train car as the doors closed and started firing, NYPD sources said.

When the train reached the 36th St. stop, the doors opened and the wounded commuters collapsed on the platform, terrifying people waiting for the train.

Either shots or a bomb went off at 36th Street, witness Roddy Broke wrote on Twitter. Scariest moment of my life, man.

Other witnesses reported seeing wounded people, all adults, coming out of both the 36th St. and the 25th St. stations.

I was heading into 36th Street Station in Brooklyn when a young guy who was bleeding from the legs said people were injured and bleeding, witness Conrad Aderer said.

Multiple witnesses called 911 about an explosion with four people either shot or hit by shrapnel, according to preliminary reports. A fifth person was found shot on 25th St. and Fourth Ave.

One of the victims was unconscious and in critical condition, police said.

The gunman was described as wearing a gas mask and an orange construction vest, possibly an MTA vest. He was also carrying construction tools.

Firefighters were sent to the 36th St. station on a report of smoke coming from the train station. When they arrived, they found multiple people shot and several undetonated smoke bombs an FDNY source said.

An NYPD spokeswoman said there were reports of smoke coming from the station and possible people shot, but had no further information. Police and members of the NYPD Bomb Squad were heading to the area with caution.

The gunman remained at large Tuesday morning.

Cops from all over the city, as well as NYPD Aviation units have been called in to help investigate and secure the area. Fourth Ave. between 25th and 36th Sts. have been shut down as police continue to investigate.

The MTA shut down D/N/R service through most of Brooklyn and parts of Manhattan, a spokesman said. Major delays on all B/D/F/N/Q/R and W trains were expected throughout Brooklyn as a result.

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When creative thinkers are grasping for inspiration, theres one piece of advice thats likely to spur a breakthrough: put yourself in a child-like mindset. As adults, we tend to get stuck in rigid patterns of thinking that curtail our imaginations. Kids, on the other hand, have no such mental boundaries. Ask them to design an object that serves a particular function, and theyll come up with ideas that evade our preconceived notions and sometimes even teach us new ways of thinking. One crucial lesson is that everything can be art. Why should a chair just be a chair when it can be a sculpture, too?

Creative chair designs by students of Bruce Edelstein's Grade Three Chair Project.

At New Yorks Trinity School, art educator Bruce Edelstein has spent the last 18 years exploring the creativity of kids with The Grade Three Chair Project. Edelstein leads third graders at the private prep school on Manhattans Upper West Side through a process of designing and building their very own chair designs over a school semester. Weekly, hour-long workshops teach the seven to 10-year-old students to come up with creative concepts, sketch them out, and build scale models using paper before getting to the really fun part: construction.

In 2021, the kids came up with some of their most remarkable designs yet. The autumn semester program wasnt just for third graders last year, but incorporated fourth graders as well, since school was disrupted due to the pandemic in 2020. In a recent interview, Edelstein explained how he adapted the program for the pandemic. Shifting to online learning for the design process was a unique challenge.

Creative chair designs by students of Bruce Edelstein's Grade Three Chair Project.

Creative chair designs by students of Bruce Edelstein's Grade Three Chair Project.

We started by talking about the same ideas, of looking around you seeing that someone created all these things, whether its a faucet in your bathroom or a light fixture, that the whole idea of design is something we live in all the time, that they can participate in, Edelstein says. I didnt get as involved with the question of could you actually make it. When were making it in wood, there are certain things you have to learn about how to connect the wood, whether its glueing and nailing, or using triangles to reinforce things like the leg against the seat.

https://vimeo.com/371422017?fbclid=IwAR2HKZL-3vz7Zb2YCI0mse4dk219tuyl_DZJq0OIkF72L94tAfwNJpNpwic

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The kids got to make their designs a reality when in-person learning recommenced. Clearly skilled at prompting the kind of abstract thinking that leads to exciting designs, Edelstein asked the kids questions about their themes. He encouraged one student who wanted her chair to evoke ballet to think about what drew her to ballet in the first place, taking some of the ideas or shapes that were important to her, and using them in the chairs form. The result is striking. The student imagined how she would stand in ballet and translated it to the chair, with an arm arched overhead and one leg being in a plie.

Creative chair designs by students of Bruce Edelstein's Grade Three Chair Project.

Some students focused on utility and pragmatism over artistic flair, combining chairs with other furniture like bookshelves, desks, or storage hooks. Others produced designs that look like the expensive works of renowned contemporary artists. Its fascinating to see how they ignore the archetypal chair shape and simply think about how they want the chair to feel, or to serve them in particular. One unpainted piece twists and turns the basic shapes of the chair to create a one-armed seat with a circular side table. Another is shaped like an easel, another a wheelchair. Some have horns, fangs, and even the open jaws of an alligator as the seat.

Creative chair designs by students of Bruce Edelstein's Grade Three Chair Project.

Allowing personal nuances to come out in your work is really important, Edelstein notes. And thats what you see with these kids. Theyre very much in touch with their feelings at this point in their lives. Theyre not holding themselves back. Theyre not editing themselves. Theyre not wondering if its silly or not. I think as an adult, you look at them and you realize, maybe we can let go a little bit.

The post What Happens When Kids Design Furniture? A Wave of Inspiring Creativity first appeared on Dornob.
Chaucer Barn in Norfolk, the location of the first Heartbreak Hotel retreat. Chaucer Barn.

The Heartbreak Hotel is a three-night UK retreat for women going through breakups.

Guests are offered therapy sessions and yoga, and are given blankets and hot water bottles.

It costs 2,500, or around $3,255, which equates to $1,085 per night.

"Where do heartbroken people go? There's just nowhere for us out there." That was the question posed by Alice Haddon, founder of The Heartbreak Hotel, and her business partner, Ruth Field, before they launched the retreat in September, Field told Insider.

The Heartbreak Hotel is a three-night retreat that was launched in Norfolk on the east coast of England. It's exclusively for women who are experiencing heartbreak and loss, and costs 2,500, or around $3,255. That equates to around $1,085 per night.

A bedroom in Chaucer Barn in Norfolk, England. Chaucer Barn.

While the name suggests that The Heartbreak Hotel is a physical place, Field explained that it's not a hotel but a retreat held at different locations throughout the year. The first retreat in November was held at Chaucer Barn, a 9-bedroom property in Norfolk, England.

During the retreat, guests are offered group therapy sessions from Haddon, who is a counseling psychologist with more than 25 years of experience, according to the Heartbreak Hotel website. Other activities included in the price of the retreat are yoga, walks on the beach, wild swimming, and plant-based meals from the company's "heartbreak chef," Field told Insider.

She added that guests are given hot water bottles, blankets, and notebooks to make them feel comforted and taken care of.

The interior of Chaucer Barn, where the first Heartbreak Hotel retreat was held. Chaucer Barn.

Haddon was inspired to create the retreat after her mother died during the first COVID-19 lockdown in 2020, according to Field. She said it prompted Haddon to ask herself what people need the most when dealing with heartbreak and grief.

"She noticed how important it was to not have to make decisions, to have a blanket and a hot water bottle, and to be just taken care of," Field told Insider. "It's an experience that we don't often get as women because we're busy looking after others."

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Field added that the retreat breaks the structure of traditional therapy, as they offer what she said is the equivalent of eight hours of therapy a day.

"Is therapy really suited to this sacred 50-minute session?" Field said. "This is a more profound healing experience, and guests doing it together have more empathy for each other."

Field told Insider that the retreat has been attended by those going through breakups, divorce, and loss, and that the attendees either discovered the retreat for themselves, or in some cases, it was gifted to them by a friend or relative. She said many women attend the retreat solo without knowing anyone beforehand.

The Library of Letters page on the retreat website shares anonymous reviews from former guests which give insight into what it's like to attend. While several people praised Haddon's therapy in their reviews, others spoke about a group exercise that involved writing a letter about heartbreak and betrayal.

"As instructed, I had written a letter of my betrayal and I read it out on the first night, whilst sat in front of a roaring log fire and with a warm 'cuppa' in my hands," the person wrote.

"I felt so lonely, unloved, desperately sad and upset. By the time I wrote the second letter to myself three nights later, I felt and looked a different woman," they added.

The company has two retreats lined up in 2022. The first retreat, titled "Moving Beyond Betrayal and Infidelity" will be held from June 10 to June 13, and the following retreat, titled "Healing your Heartbreak," will take place in September, according to the website. Both retreats will be held in Norfolk at locations that have not yet been announced.

Read the original article on Insider
TEHRAN, Iran (AP)  Iran on Tuesday summoned Afghanistans envoy in Tehran over attacks the previous day on Iranian diplomatic missions in the neighboring country, state media in Iran reported.

According to the reports, Irans foreign ministry summoned the Afghan charge daffaires in protest over Mondays attacks on the Iranian Embassy in Kabul and the Iranian Consulate in Herat, where protests had turned aggressive. In Herat, angry Afghan protesters pelted the consulate with rocks.

The ministry demanded that Afghanistans new Taliban rulers provide the missions with full security and said they stopped working until further notice. On Monday, ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh said more needed to be done by the Taliban to ensure security to Iranian missions.

Later on Tuesday, Iran said the missions had reopened.

An Associated Press video showed the protesters setting the consulate's gates on fire and chanting Death to Iran! as police were trying to disperse them by shooting into air. The video also showed protesters gathering at the Iranian Embassy in Kabul.

In recent weeks, unverified videos purporting to show Afghan refugees being tortured in Iran have been published on social media, angering many Afghans. Iran has denied the accusations.

Iran hosts millions of Afghan refugees. Last week, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian said the number of Afghans in Iran has jumped to 5 million, from nearly 4 million before the Taliban took power last August.
A Kentucky man died Saturday after being shot by a Kentucky State Police trooper, according to state police.

The shooting happened in Green County at approximately 9:15 p.m., state police said. One man was pronounced dead on scene. No other citizens were injured, state police said.

No other details about the incident have been released. Its typical for state police to investigate shootings which involve law enforcement across the state.

Its standard operating procedure not to release specific details until vital witnesses have been interviewed and pertinent facts gathered, state police said. Timelines to complete investigations vary based on the complexity of the case.
Counselors and coaches were on hand at Beth Center Middle school after the death of a 13-year-old student. Seventh-grader Jayden Anderson was killed Friday in a car accident on Sunset Drive in West Pike Run Township.

Jayden stood out, not just on the athletic field, but in the classroom, in the hall, he was Mister Personality, said Gary Welsh, Andersons English teacher.

Its a tremendous loss... our hearts go out to his family and everyone close to him. Its a tough time for Beth Center.

Pennsylvania State Police say Jayden was a passenger in a car that was speeding as it went around a curve in the road. The driver lost control before hitting the hillside and rolling multiple times.

The driver was flown from the scene. A 13-year-old in the back seat survived the crash with minor injuries. A neighbor ran out to help and comfort him. He was screaming for Jayden. He was screaming for his mom, Brenda said.

Brenda didnt want to share her last name. She said the crash was devastating, just months after she lost a son of her own.

Jayden had a lot people who loved him, Ill tell you that, Brenda said. It showed by all these cars coming here. My heart just goes out to his mom and his dad.

A friend of Jayden told Channel 11s Cara Sapida that he had raw talent as an athlete, but beyond that was kind, respectful and made his friends feel seen.

His English teacher agreed. Just a great kid with a bright future gone way too soon. He will be missed.

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Jorge Garcia fills up his tank at Costco in Azusa. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Gas prices in the Los Angeles metropolitan area on Tuesday dropped for the 15th consecutive day, with an average gallon of regular gasoline decreasing 1.3 cents to $5.849, according to figures from the American Automobile Assn.

That number was down from $5.96 just one week ago and $6.07 on March 28  the highest average price ever recorded in the area. But it was still far costlier than the price on this day last year: $3.979.

California in March saw an "unprecedented rise in gas prices even compared to the rest of the country," said AAA spokeswoman Marie Montgomery, noting that the Golden State was the only one in recent weeks to see prices in several metro areas above $6 a gallon. "Our market got very, very heated. ... Now it's sort of falling back down to earth."

Prices are also inching down statewide and across the nation, with the average American paying $4.098 for a gallon of regular, down from $4.176 a week ago, according to AAA.

Experts say the slow reversal of prices at the pump is largely linked to the lowering cost of crude oil, from which gasoline is made.

Those costs began shifting after several countries, including the U.S., announced plans to release barrels of crude oil from their emergency reserves in an effort to relieve soaring prices connected to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. President Biden at the end of March ordered the release of 1 million barrels of oil per day for six months.

UC Berkeley energy economist Severin Borenstein said it takes some time for those releases to pass down to the retail level, "but we are seeing it slowly."

"Basically we are dumping a million barrels a day into the world crude market, which is 100 million barrels a day," Borenstein said. "That doesnt sound like it would do a lot, but it actually can do a bit  particularly combined with releases from other strategic petroleum reserves around the world. That's what's pushing down prices."

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Last week, more than 30 member countries of the International Energy Agency pledged an additional 60 million barrels from their stockpiles, the second such release in just over a month, bringing the total to about 120 million. The U.S. will contribute about 60 million barrels to that effort as part of its larger drawdown.

Borenstein noted that the war in Ukraine isn't the only factor behind the recent price spikes, which started surging at the end of last year after demand roared back from early pandemic slowdowns and overpowered supplies, months before Russia's invasion.

Local refinery disruptions  including a March outage at the Torrance PBF Energy refinery  also widened the gap between costs in California and those in other states. Although tanker load prices at the Port of L.A. typically run 10 to 20 cents higher than those in New York and near the Gulf Coast, the difference was as high as 90 cents in recent weeks, Borenstein said.

Montgomery, of AAA, noted that a fire last weekend near the Port of Benicia in Northern California could also cause some regional impacts, but said damage assessments are still underway.

In response to the soaring gas prices, Gov. Newsom last month outlined a proposal to provide gas rebates to Californian drivers. Meanwhile, climate experts have argued that now is the time to tackle fossil fuel dependency amid the worsening climate crisis.

Borenstein said he didn't think Californians would see prices below $5 a gallon until the Russian invasion in Ukraine is stopped and sanctions are removed.

Still, he said, the release of the reserves should help continue to ease gas costs in the days and weeks to come, and will be particularly helpful to European allies who are highly dependent on Russian oil.

"I would very much expect prices to continue to decline," he said, "because we are still catching up at the pump with the price declines upstream from the lower spot price and the declining price of crude. I think that has a ways to go still."

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
The new White House COVID-19 response coordinator, Dr. Ashish K. Jha, said Monday that while there had been a recent uptick in new U.S. coronavirus cases, he was not overly concerned.

Weve got to watch this very carefully  obviously, I never like to see infections rising  I think weve got to be careful, Jha said on the Today show. But I dont think this is a moment where we have to be excessively concerned.

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Dr. Ashish Jha, dean of Brown University's School of Public Health, stands for a portrait, Dec. 23, 2020, in Newton, Mass. (Elise Amendola/AP)

Jha, a public health expert, made several media appearances Monday, his first official day according to the White House, and he pointed to low hospitalization numbers across the United States. The vast majority of the country has low community levels of COVID-19, according to calculations performed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that are designed to assess the number of new cases in a community and the strain on its hospitals, a point also made on Sunday by Dr. Anthony Fauci, President Joe Bidens top pandemic adviser.

Right now that is showing an uptick, but not showing substantial changes in what we should be doing, Jha said on CNN, referring to the CDC framework. And I think the CDC policy is right on this.

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And while he touted the role of at-home tests, Jha acknowledged many of those results may go unreported, underpinning, he said, the importance of hospitalizations as a metric.

Jhas tenure begins as a highly transmissible omicron subvariant, known as BA.2, has become the dominant version among new U.S. cases. As of Sunday, the United States was averaging more than 31,000 cases a day, an increase of 3% over the past two weeks, according to a New York Times database, just a fraction of the height of the omicron winter surge.

Still, New York City and Washington, D.C., are among the places seeing steeper increases than the nation overall, though their average numbers of new cases remain far lower than recent peaks, too. Prominent officials in both cities, such as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Mayor Eric Adams of New York, have tested positive in recent days, as have some Broadway stars.

On Monday, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said that both Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris had tested negative in the past 24 hours. Harris had been considered a close contact of her communications director, who tested positive last week, but the vice president was now five days post-exposure, Psaki said.

A handful of colleges and universities in the country have reinstated mask mandates as they battle outbreaks on campus. On Monday, the city of Philadelphia announced it would soon reinstate an indoor mask mandate.

And after the Gridiron Club and Foundations annual dinner in Washington on April 2, at least 80 attendees tested positive, Tom DeFrank, a contributing editor for National Journal and president of the Gridiron Club, said in an email Monday afternoon. The number of new cases reported each day has been declining, he said, adding that reported symptoms remain mild, with several asymptomatic cases.

Now that we are nine days after the dinner, the connection between a new positive test and our dinner is certainly arguable, particularly for public officials who have had a full week of public events, DeFrank said in a statement.

What it reminds us is the pandemic isnt over, Jha said on Good Morning America, referring to the number of cases after the Gridiron dinner, which included some Cabinet members. We are still going to see cases of this virus spreading. And we have to continue to be vigilant. We have to continue to be careful.

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Neither Biden nor Pelosi attended the Gridiron dinner, and Pelosi said Monday that she would be leaving isolation Tuesday after testing negative Monday.

Elsewhere in the House, Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., said Monday she had tested positive. In Connecticut, the lieutenant governor, Susan Bysiewicz, said she tested positive, too.

Jha also told the Today show that the CDC would get the final say on the future of the mask mandate on airplanes and other public transportation  but said that extending the requirement, which goes through at least April 18, is absolutely on the table.

Jha replaced Jeffrey D. Zients, who left the position to return to his private life, according to the White House. Zients, an entrepreneur and management consultant, steered the White House response and U.S. vaccination campaign through multiple variants.

c.2022 The New York Times Company
Potentially historic blizzard may be the Prairies' 'worst' in decades

History could be made on the eastern Prairies, with a major, prolonged spring blizzard anticipated to wallop southern Manitoba, southeastern Saskatchewan and northwestern Ontario Wednesday to Friday. In fact, Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) says it has the potential to be the worst blizzard in decades. People should prepare now for widespread, significant disruptions to travel, power and schools. By the time it ends, some spots may see as much as 75 cm of snow. More on the timing and what you can expect over the coming days, below.

DON'T MISS: Red River flood risk low, but Manitoba isn't out of the woods yet

THIS WEEK: MAJOR SPRING BLIZZARD THREATENS DANGEROUS TRAVEL, EXTENDED POWER OUTAGES, ROAD CLOSURES

Thanks to a trough, temperatures plunging well below normal will set the stage for a major snowstorm for parts of southeastern Saskatchewan, southern Manitoba, and northwestern Ontario during the latter half of the week.

Tuesday will see single-digit values in Manitoba, temperatures you wouldn't expect right before a significant snow event.

PRTEMPTUES

A Colorado low will rapidly intensify as it tracks into the U.S. Midwest and eventually pulls into Manitoba and northwestern Ontario. This will be a disruptive system south of the border, with the threat for blizzard conditions across the northern Plains and several days of severe thunderstorms for the southern half of the Plains and the Deep South states.

The snow will start early Tuesday evening near the international border then push northward throughout the overnight. By Wednesday morning, heavy snow will be falling in much of southeastern Saskatchewan, southern Manitoba and northwestern Ontario as the storm continues to push northward. Intense northerly winds will develop and persist into Friday morning as the low slowly pivots through Minnesota on its way into northwestern Ontario.

blizzardsetup

This is shaping up to be a high-impact, historic storm with steep snowfall totals and gusty winds that could lead to periods of whiteout conditions for many areas. Winter storm watches are already in place in Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and northwestern Ontario, along with special weather statements for the latter.

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The potential for reduced visibility and whiteout conditions would significantly disrupt travel along a stretch of the Trans-Canada Highway on the Canadian side of the border as the day progresses Wednesday.

Travel will become increasingly difficult as the day progresses Wednesday, with widespread highway closures a near-certainty. By Wednesday evening, even travel within communities may become impossible as the heavy snow and strong winds continue...and more of the same is expected on Thursday.

MBONSnow

Do not plan to travel as this storm has the potential to be the worst blizzard in decades, according to ECCC. Stock up on needed supplies and medications now. Power outages are likely, rural areas in particular should be prepared for extended outages. As well, school cancellations are also a near certainty.

Widespread totals of 20-40 cm are possible, with a few spots possibly picking up as much as 50-75 cm of snow. However, it may be difficult to measure the exact snowfall amounts because of blowing and drifting snow. The broad scope and slow movement of this storm means that this will be a prolonged snow event, with snow lasting for up to 48 hours in some areas.

The heavy snow accompanied by northerly winds gusting 70-90 km/h, will give near zero visibility at times.

If the snowfall does pan out, the precipitation could have negative implications for the Red River flooding potential.

Conditions should begin to improve on Friday as the winds taper off and the heaviest snow moves into northern Ontario, although the cleanup after this storm will likely last well into next week.

RED RIVER FLOODING OUTLOOK UNCERTAIN AS MAJOR STORM HEADS TOWARD MANITOBA

Click here to view the video

The good news is that cold won't be sticking around for an extended period of time, as it often did in the winter. It looks like milder Pacific air will return to the Prairies the week after next.

Stay tuned to The Weather Network for all the latest on conditions across the Prairies.
One person was injured Monday evening in a shooting in the Johnson Ridge community of Terrebonne Parish, authorities said.

According to the Terrebonne Parish Sheriffs Office, shots rang out after 4:30 p.m. on Livas Lane. A man was injured and was taken to an out-of-area hospital.

His condition was unknown as of Tuesday afternoon.

The incident marked the second shooting in less than a week on Livas Lane, a dead-end street off La. 24 in Schriever, just outside Thibodaux.

Related: 'We just want to bring her home': Johnson Ridge shooting victim's sister speaks out

A shooting about 8:30 p.m. April 6 on Livas Lane killed 28-year-old Selena Marquez of El Paso, Texas.

As of 1 p.m. Tuesday no arrests, motive or suspects in either incident have been announced. Sheriff Tim Soignet did not rule out a connection between the two shootings.

The most recent shooting happened pretty quick, Soignet said.

By the time we got there, the victim was already in the hospital," the sheriff said. "We wanted to talk with him, but he was intubated so we couldnt. But we were still able to figure out the location of the shooting and are in the process of putting it together as we speak. Were still gathering all the facts.

Also: Crime, vaccines and criminal justice discussed during Houma town hall meeting

Carl Harding, the Terrebonne Parish councilman who represents the Johnson Ridge area, said the recent shootings are part of a larger issue that needs to be addressed.

Im very much concerned, Harding said Tuesday. We have to look at where to deter crime, and thats where the problem comes in. A lot of this stems from what goes on in the neighborhoods. Its an issue that members of the community have to get involved with. So we have to really take care of our community and not just through law enforcement. People need to get involved. We have to look at the bigger picture. Sometimes it can be as simple as a high school rivalry that escalates or a territorial dispute. Its more of a social issue that we have to address.

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Authorities ask anyone with information about the shootings to call the Sheriff's Office at 876-2500 or Bayou Region Crime Stoppers at 800-743-7433, where callers may be eligible for a cash reward.

 Staff Writer Dan Copp can be reached at 448-7639 or at dan.copp@houmatoday.com. Follow him on Twitter @DanVCopp.

This article originally appeared on The Courier: Man injured in second shooting in a week on same street in Schriever
A man pretending to be a health care worker was gunned down after breaking into a Texas home, Houston police told news outlets.

It started with a knock at the door just before midnight on Monday, April 11, the Houston Chronicle reported.

An older woman who lived at the southeast Houston home looked outside and saw a man dressed as a nurse, KHOU reported. He tried to talk his way in, but it didnt work.

When the disguise failed, the fake nurse apparently dropped the facade and began forcing his way inside, KTRK reported. The woman called her son, who lives close by.

When the womans son arrived, the front door was broken open and the man was inside the house. The son shot and killed the intruder, police told outlets.

The incident is under investigation.

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Sometime in the day or so after he strode into a south Macon dollar store toting a .380-caliber pistol, held up the clerks and got away with money from a cash drawer, Jarvis Flowers mother recognized him from surveillance photographs the cops shared with local news outlets.

The stickup happened the night of Aug. 12, 2020, at the Family Dollar at 3567 Houston Ave.

Forty-eight hours later, Flowers  thanks in large part to his moms tip  was arrested and jailed.

On Tuesday in Bibb County Superior Court, the 34-year-old Flowers pleaded guilty to robbery by force and possession of a firearm by a felon. He was sentenced to serve 10 years in prison and another decade on probation.

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During the robbery, Flowers had worn sunglasses and a black baseball cap, and when he stepped into the store two clerks and a manager were cleaning up to close. Investigators said Flowers, whose jail booking sheet lists his home address near Centerville, then walked up to a cash register and told a clerk to give him the paper, referring to money from the till.

Flowers reportedly told the workers that he didnt want to hurt anyone. While they scrambled to fork over the cash, Flowers said, Come on, yall. Its not yalls money anyway.

It was unclear how much money he made off with, but when he was caught two days later he was carrying what was believed to be the same pistol used in the robbery.

The Family Dollar store at 3567 Houston Ave. in Macon.

By The Telegraphs count, there have been 23 armed robberies at Macon dollar stores since the beginning of 2020: 11 at Dollar Generals; 11 at Family Dollars and one at a Dollar Tree. The one Flowers held up has been robbed at least once since he has been locked up.

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In court on Tuesday, Flowers did not say much.

The judge told him that when he is released from prison sometime around 2030, You cant go back to this Family Dollar store, you understand?

Yes, sir, Flowers said.

Itd probably be best, the judge went on, that when you get out you dont go to any store that has the word dollar in the name of it.
The Daily Beast

Fox19 Cincinnati via TwitterAn Ohio school districts decision to cancel Diversity Day celebrationstwicehas sparked a bitter feud in the suburban community, leaving students and parents asking why white school board members continue to press pause on the celebration.Diversity Day has been an annual event in the Forest Hills School Districta Cincinnati suburbsince 2017, Fox19 Cincinnati reported. It was originally scheduled for March of the current school year, but was postponed to May 18 due
Meghan Markle will be joining her husband Prince Harry to support some inspiring athletes.

On Monday, a spokesperson for the royal couple confirmed that the Duchess of Sussex will be alongside her spouse in the Netherlands for the first several days of the Invictus Games. The international sports competition was founded by Harry in 2014 for wounded service members and veterans. This years event will take place April 16-22 in the Dutch city of The Hague.

The former American actress previously joined the British prince at the Toronto Games in 2017, which marked their first appearance as a couple. They announced their engagement two months later.

MEGHAN MARKLE SEEKS TO TRADEMARK THE WORD ARCHETYPES FOR HER NEW SPOTIFY PODCAST

The Duchess of Sussex will attend the first several days of the Invictus Games. Gotham/WireImage

This years Games were originally scheduled for 2020. However, it was postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

But before they met, Markle, 40, and Harry, 37, were no strangers to supporting the troops.

Harry, who served 10 years in the British Army, has been a champion of causes that benefit both servicemen and women. He has been involved with the Walking with the Wounded charity and the Endeavor Fund, which honors veterans. Just days after welcoming his son Archie in May 2019, he traveled to the Netherlands to kick off the official countdown to the 2020 Games.

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Meghan, Duchess of Sussex attends the wheelchair basketball final during the Invictus Games at the Quay Centre on Oct. 27, 2018, in Sydney, Australia. Karwai Tang/WireImage

As for the former "Suits" star, she traveled to Afghanistan in December 2014 on a USO tour.

Markle became the Duchess of Sussex when she married Harry in May 2018 at Windsor Castle.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussexs departure from royal duties began in 2020 over what they described as the British medias intrusions and racist attitudes toward Markle. The family now resides in the coastal city of Montecito, California.

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry attend wheelchair tennis during the Invictus Games on Sept. 25, 2017, in Toronto, Canada. Samir Hussein/Samir Hussein/WireImage

On June 4, the couple welcomed their second child, a daughter named Lilibet "Lili" Diana Mountbatten-Windsor. The name pays tribute to both Harrys grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, whose family nickname is Lilibet, and his late mother, Princess Diana.
OKLAHOMA CITY  Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt signed a bill into law on Tuesday that makes it a felony to perform an abortion, punishable by up to 10 years in prison, as part of an aggressive push in Republican-led states across the country to scale back abortion rights.

The bill, which takes effect 90 days after the Legislature adjourns next month, makes an exception only for an abortion performed to save the life of the mother. Abortion rights advocates say the bill signed by the GOP governor is certain to face a legal challenge.

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Its passage comes as the conservative U.S. Supreme Court considers ratcheting back abortion rights that have been in place for nearly 50 years.

We want to outlaw abortion in the state of Oklahoma, Stitt said during a signing ceremony for the bill, flanked by anti-abortion lawmakers, clergy and students. I promised Oklahomans that I would sign every pro-life bill that hits my desk, and thats what were doing here today.

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Under the bill, anyone convicted of performing an abortion would face up to 10 years in prison and a $100,000 fine. It does not authorize criminal charges against a woman for receiving an abortion.

A person holds flags during the Bans Off Oklahoma Rally on the steps on Oklahoma state Capitol in Oklahoma City, April, 5, 2022. (SARAH PHIPPS/AP)

Sen. Nathan Dahm, a Broken Arrow Republican now running for Congress who wrote the bill, called it the strongest pro-life legislation in the country right now, which effectively eliminates abortion in Oklahoma.

Abortion rights advocates say the bill is clearly unconstitutional, and similar laws approved recently in Arkansas and Alabama have been blocked by federal courts.

Oklahoma legislators are trying to ban abortion from all sides and merely seeing which of these dangerous, shameful bills they can get their governor to sign, Dr. Ghazaleh Moayedi, an obstetrician and gynecologist in Texas and Oklahoma and a board member at Physicians for Reproductive Health, said in a statement.

Although similar anti-abortion bills approved by the Oklahoma Legislature in recent years have been stopped as unconstitutional, anti-abortion lawmakers have been buoyed by the U.S. Supreme Courts decision to allow new Texas abortion restrictions to remain in place.

The new Texas law, the most restrictive anti-abortion law to take effect in the U.S. in decades, leaves enforcement up to private citizens, who are entitled to collect what critics call a bounty of $10,000 if they bring a successful lawsuit against a provider or anyone who helps a patient obtain an abortion.

The U.S. Supreme Courts failure to stop Texas from nullifying the constitutional right to abortion has emboldened other states to do the same, Nancy Northup, president and CEO of the New York-based Center for Reproductive Rights, said in a statement. Weve sued the state of Oklahoma ten times in the last decade to protect abortion access and we will challenge this law as well to stop this travesty from ever taking effect.

Several states, including Oklahoma, are pursuing legislation similar to the Texas law this year.

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The Texas law bans abortion after roughly six weeks of pregnancy and makes no exceptions in cases of rape or incest. Abortions in Texas have plummeted by about 50% since the law took effect, while the number of Texans going to clinics out of state and requesting abortion pills online has gone up.

One of the Texas-style Oklahoma bills that is one vote away from the governors desk would ban abortions from the moment of conception and would take effect immediately upon the governors signature.
The Mesquite Police Department arrested a youth pastor on April 5 after receiving a delayed sexual assault of child report.

Mesquite resident Conner Jesse Penny, 32, was arrested after police obtained a warrant for continuous sexual abuse of a child.

For children and adults needing more information and resources regarding child sexual abuse, the Child Information Gateway lists the toll-free crisis hotline number to call as 866-367-5444.

According to a police department news release, an investigation found that Penny had sexual contact with a girl under 17 years of age on multiple occasions between 2015 and 2018. Since his arrest, additional victims have come forward alleging Penny abused them between 2013 and 2021, police said.

Penny was employed as the youth pastor at Inspiration Church, formerly known as Mimosa Lane Baptist Church, in Mesquite. Police said Pennys previous employers include the Mesquite Independent School District and the City of Mesquite, where he worked as a teachers aide and a counselor through the Recreational After School Program, also known as RASP.

Penny is held in the Dallas County Jail on a $2.5 million bond on one count each of Continuous Sexual Abuse of a Child, Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child and Indecency with a Child.

If you or someone you know was a victim of abuse by Penny or you have information that could be beneficial to the investigation, contact the Mesquite Police Department at 972-285-6336 ext. 0 or Detective Christopherson at lchristo@mesquitepolice.org.
El Paso border crossing Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc/Getty Images

After Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) ordered state troopers last week to begin inspecting commercial trucks bringing produce and other goods into the state from Mexico, a job already performed by federal Customs and Border Enforcement agents, truck traffic backed up for miles as the wait to cross the border jumped significantly, The Texas Tribune reported Monday.

At times, the Tribune reports, "troopers appear to be checking every commercial vehicle that crosses select international bridges, with each inspection taking between 45 minutes and an hour." Mexican truckers have blocked traffic at key border crossings in protest, making the wait time even longer.

"The bridge connecting Pharr and Reynosa is the busiest trade crossing in the Rio Grande Valley and handles the majority of the produce that crosses into the U.S. from Mexico, including avocados, broccoli, peppers, strawberries, and tomatoes," the Tribune reports. "International bridges elsewhere in the Valley ... have also seen delays, with many commercial products produced in Mexico  like electronics, vehicle parts, and medical instruments  also held up."

Abbott said he was ordering the Department of Public Safety to inspect trucks in response to the Biden administration's phase-out of using Title 42, a temporary public health measure, to immediately deport Central American migrants to Mexico. Drug cartels use commercial trucks to smuggle people and drugs into the U.S., Abbott said.

Truckers told Reynosa's El Manana newspaper they had waited there or four days at the border bridge and were running out of fuel. "We are losing just as much as them," one trucker said. "When they start needing more produce, the prices are going to go up."

Lawmakers and officials along the border said Abbott's order was hurting business. "There are security issues, but that's why our federal partners are there," Teclo Garcia, economic development director for Laredo, told the Tribune. "The real impact is going to be in the supply chain, which is already strained, and the consumer."

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"Many of my constituents are asking 'Why are we being punished?' The Valley supports border security, but this doesn't seem to have much or anything to do with border security," state Sen. Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa (D) said Monday. "This is hurting people in their pocketbook." Abbott's office didn't respond to the Tribune's request for comment.

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Mark Walker

A Springfield area business leader will chair a new state-level group created to develop a detailed plan aimed at attracting and keeping enough highly qualified teachers inside Missouri classrooms.

Mark Walker, chairman and CEO of the Transland trucking company, will lead a Teacher Recruitment and Retention Blue Ribbon Commission appointed by the Missouri Board of Education.

The list of 18 commission members was made public Tuesday as part of the state board meeting. The final four are expected to be named next month.

On the list, there are two from southwest Missouri: Melissa "Misty" Grandel and Kurt Hellweg.

Grandel is a language arts teacher at Fordland High School. She was the 2020 Missouri Teacher of the Year.

Hellweg, of Springfield, serves as chairman of the Board of International Dehydrated Foods, Inc.; American Dehydrated Foods, Inc.; Food Ingredients Technology Company, LLC; and IsoNova Technologies, LLC  all privately held companies that manufacture and market ingredients for both the food and feed industries.

The complete list was put together by a trio of state board members: Mary Schrag, of West Plains: Don Claycomb, of Linn; and Kim Bailey of Raymore. They will also serve on the commission.

Mary Schrag, a member of the Missouri Board of Education, is from West Plains.

"We focused on making sure we had good representation from across the state, from different backgrounds," Schrag said.

She said there is a mix of rural, suburban and metro areas.

Schrag said the commission is heavily populated with business and industry leaders, by design, but noted many also have an education background.

"The intention is that the business that benefits from having a well-educated society and prospective employees in the future will help drive this," she said.

More: Missouri school board forms commission to address urgent teacher shortage, improve pay

The group will start meeting soon with the goal of making recommendations to the entire state board, as well as Missouri lawmakers, about how to address the teacher recruiting and retention challenges faced in the state.

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When contacting potential commission members, many questions were asked about climate and culture in our schools and how that impacts teacher satisfaction and retention, Schrag said.

Commission members understand that addressing those issues is just as important as the issue of pay, and we look forward to these continued discussions in the coming months.

Melissa "Misty" Grandel, a language arts teacher at Fordland High School, was the 2020 Missouri Teacher of the Year.

Members include Darrion Cockrell, the 2021 Missouri Teacher of the Year from the St. Louis area, and Rhonda Gilstrap, a school board member from Blue Springs, in the Kansas City area.

Jamie Birch, deputy policy director, will represent the office of Gov. Mike Parson. Paul Katnik, assistant commissioner of education, will represent the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

The commission will include four state lawmakers, who have not yet been named. The other members, largely from the business community include:

Amy Estes, Rosebud, is the regional manager at Ayusa Global Youth Exchange.

Kathy Osborn, St. Louis, is president and CEO of the Regional Business Council in St. Louis.

Ruth Stricklen Pullins, Kansas City, is the chief human resources officer for University Health.

Dred Scott, Kansas City, has been devoted to serving youth throughout his more than 20-year career. He is president and CEO of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Kansas City.

Maxine Clark, Clayton, is the founder of Build-A-Bear Workshop.

Keith Pritchard, Waynesville, is chairman of the board of Security Bank of Pulaski County.

Aaron Decker, Poplar Bluff, is a vice president and retail lending officer at Southern Bank.

Bob Wollenman, St. Joseph, is the managing partner of Deluxe Truck Stop in St. Joseph.

This is important work, as high-quality teachers are vital to ensuring our students grow into the next generation of Missouris workforce, said board president Charlie Shields, of St. Joseph, in a news release.

We are thrilled to have so many commission members who realize their future employees will be directly impacted by this work, and are eager to collaborate and problem-solve on behalf of public education in Missouri.

In December, DESE issued a report showing of the 71,705 full-time teaching positions in the 2020-21 year, 5 percent were either vacant or filled by individuals who were not fully qualified.

No academic area in the state has been untouched by the shortage. The areas with the highest shortages included special education followed by math, science and early childhood.

Missouri's average starting pay for teachers is ranked 50th in the nation. It is just under $33,000, nearly 20 percent lower than the national average, according to the National Education Association.

Missouri set its minimum starting pay for teachers at $25,000, a floor that has remained in place for years.

Parson announced, as part of the State of the State address, plans to raise the minimum to $38,000. However, it is unclear how much of the cost would be covered by the state compared to local districts.

Claudette Riley is the education reporter for the News-Leader. Email news tips to criley@news-leader.com.

This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Members picked for MO commission on teacher pay
Minnesotas largest police association has endorsed state Sen. Paul Gazelka, R-East Gull Lake, for governor in November.

Mondays announcement by the Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association is noteworthy because the top competitors in a crowded field of Republicans are trying to distinguish themselves as law-and-order candidates at a time when crime is perceived to be a major problem, especially by Republican voters and perhaps by key swing voters.

The groups endorsement of Gazelka isnt limited to the Republican field; if Gazelka were to advance to the general election, hed hold their support as he goes against Gov. Tim Walz, a Democrat who is seeking re-election in November.

He is an extraordinary supporter of first responders and public safety officials and stands against attempts to defund and dismantle the police, MPPOA Executive Director Brian Peters said of Gazelka in a statement. He will always promote public safety proposals that keep communities safe.

There has been no proposal within the state Legislature or from Walz to defund or dismantle the police, but ideas like that gained enough traction in the left wing of the Democratic party  and in a failed Minneapolis ballot initiative to reinvent the police department  that it has become a popular way for police groups and their staunchest allies to frame the issue.

Former state Sen. Scott Jensen, a Republican physician from Chaska who has gained a national platform endorsing dubious ideas about COVID-19, is widely thought to be the front-runner in the race for the GOP endorsement.

The Republican field also includes state Sen. Michelle Benson, R-Ham Lake, former business owner Kendall Qualls, former Hennepin County Sheriff Rick Stanek, Lexington Mayor Mike Murphy, and physician and business owner Neil Shah.

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Don't miss CoinDesk's Consensus 2022, the must-attend crypto & blockchain festival experience of the year in Austin, TX this June 9-12.

The U.S. Treasury Department and Congress are preparing regulation for stablecoin or crypto dollars issuers that could see them being regulated in a similar way to how the banks are regulated, Morgan Stanley (MS) said in a recent research report.

President Joe Biden recently signed an executive order relating to the future of digital assets, with a focus on investigating a central bank digital currency (CBDC).

The U.S. administration is acknowledging the competition from foreign CBDCs in China and the eurozone, and sees the need to act with the highest urgency for the U.S. dollar to remain the favored and dominant payment mechanism, Morgan Stanley analysts led by Sheena Shah wrote. The Biden administration sees the regulation of the crypto markets as a way to manage the impact on U.S. dollar banking dominance, the note said.

Implications for the crypto markets could be far reaching as about 60% of bitcoin (BTC) and ether (ETH) exchanges are trades against a stablecoin, and stablecoin lending has become an important part of centralized and decentralized finance (DeFi), the note added. DeFi is an umbrella term used for lending, trading and other financial activities carried out on a blockchain, without needing any third parties.

Morgan Stanley said there is still regulatory uncertainty about whether stablecoins are securities, derivatives or commodities, noting that they are not currently widely used for business and consumer transactions.

If the U.S. government is serious about introducing a retail CBDC, it could potentially change the business models of banks and payment companies, the report said, and could also lower fees, it added.
The mother of a 17-year-old student shot and killed last year; has filed a civil rights suit against City and County officials and the Knoxville police department (KPD).

Anthony Thompson Jr. was killed after a confrontation with four KPD officers at his school.

Chanda Robinson, the mother of Thompson, told WIBR News 10 that they need to know what happened to her son. Robinson noted that policies need to be changed so this doesnt happen again.

We need to get to the heart of what happened to Anthony, Robinson said. we need to see some policy changes so that this never happens again, [so that] theres never another mother sitting in my position.

Robinson said the loss of her son is a pain that will never go away. She remembers Thompson as a picky eater and a teenager who loved his long dreadlocks. The slain teenagers mother said she missed his cooking and called him sweet and gentle.

What I miss most about him is him asking me to cook, Robinson said. He was gentle; he was sweet; he was kind.

Robinson said she had no idea he had a gun  if she had, she would have kicked his butt.

That was my baby, Robinson said.

On April 12, 2021, KPD officers responded to the Austin-East High School after the mother of Thompsons girlfriend filed a domestic violence complaint against him.

BREAKING: Exclusive story on a new development tomorrow in the matter of Anthony Thompson Jr., an Austin-East High School Student who was shot and killed by police in the school bathroom exactly one year ago this week. Stay tuned. pic.twitter.com/mxDRrfe3pA  Angela (@AngelaDWrites) April 11, 2022

WBIR News 10 reports that she and her daughter say Thompson physically hurt her earlier in the day at school, and it wasnt the first time.

The four officers would locate Thompson in one of the bathrooms, sitting in a stall with the door open and on his phone. The officers would order Thompson to stand up, in which he would put his hands into the front pockets of his hoodie.

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While one officer took his left hand, School Resource Officer Adam Willson struggled to get Thompson to remove his right hand from his hoodie.

According to the news outlet Officer Clabough approached, he allegedly could see the barrel of a gun pointing at him from inside the hoodie pocket. The gun fired, but it is unclear if Thompson intended to fire the weapon or if it was by accident.

The bullet fired passed Officer Brian Baldwin and hit a trash can. Baldwin said to have fallen back, believing that he had been shot. Officer Clabough said he saw the gun, still inside Thompsons hoodie, pointed toward Lt. Stan Cash, and fired his weapon at the 17-year-old, killing him.

Officer Clabough described Thompsons movement; he thought he pointed a gun at Willson and fired again. Willson was struck in the leg by the shot.

On Monday, Chanda Robinson, Thompsons mother and a speech therapist employed by Knox County Schools, and Gralyn Strong, his best friend who reportedly witnessed the boys death, filed a lawsuit in the Eastern District of Tennessee.

The four KPD officers, Lt. Stanley Cash, Officer Brian Baldwin, Officer Jonathan Clabough, and Officer Adam Willson, are now being sued by Robinson and Strong, accused of depriving Anthony Thompson Jr of his civil rights guaranteed by the Fourth, Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments;  #Joe_Is-My-President (@meomy1236) April 11, 2022

The complaint names the city of Knoxville, Knox County, the Knox County Board of Education, and the Knoxville police officers involved as defendants; Officers Baldwin, Clabough, Adam Willson, and LT. Cash.

According to the suit, Robinson was questioned at the police station by an agent with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation after the shooting. However, it wasnt until she demanded to know where Thompson was that she was notified of his passing. The suit states it took two days of calling hospitals to find Anthonys body.

Knoxville Mayor Indya Kincannon released a statement, calling the shooting incident a tragic day for the family and the city.

I can say that April 12, 2021, was a tragic day for the Thompson family, our officers, the school system, and our entire city, Kincannon said. Anthony Thompson died before reaching his full potential, and my thoughts remain with his family today.

After reviewing the video evidence, Knoxville District Attorney General Charme Allen decided not to file charges against any officers involved.

Allen stated during a press conference last year that although the family asked her not to release the bodycam, she would release it.

I have just spent four hours with this family, and I will tell you that was a painful long agonizing four hours for that family, but we talked about the death of their 17-year-old son, Allen said. and one thing that family asked me not to do was release those tapes today, but because I had made a promise that once I completed the file and once I talked to the family I would release the tapes.

As a result of the decision not to charge the officers, the incident sparked unrest in the community. To that, District Attorney General Allen said the protesting must stop.

At some point, we have to stop protesting against each other, Allen said. and work together for the greater good.
Christian Burgos voice boomed through a bullhorn, the words spreading over a crowd of more than one hundred.

We, as the youth of Mount Vernon, need to be the change for whats right, the 17-year-old told the crowd gathered outside the Boys & Girls Club of Mount Vernon. It starts with us, not the adults who always say they want to help us change that never do.

Moments earlier, 12 miles north in White Plains, a 15-year-old girl pleaded not guilty in the fatal stabbing of 16-year-old Kayla Green. The incident occurred Friday afternoon, toward the end of what was an otherwise joyous occasion in which the Mount Vernon community celebrated its state champion varsity boys basketball team with a parade.

It was an incident Green's family called a "preventable tragedy," casting blame not only on their daughter's alleged killer, but also on officials that did not respond, they said in a statement, to reports of bullying that preceded the attack.

Death: Mount Vernon mourns 16-year-old cheerleader; officials appeal for help curbing violence

Mount Vernon: Teen faces manslaughter charge in connection to fatal stabbing

Gangs Next Door: Decades of gang violence rooted in some Hudson Valley neighborhoods

The statement, read by a family spokesperson on behalf of Green's mother, Lavern Gordon, and father, Marlon Green, thanked the Mount Vernon community for their support and the actions of officers on Friday. But it also called for "immediate changes at Mount Vernon City Hall and the Mount Vernon City School District," including "resignations, removals and prosecutions of bureaucrats that did nothing" to prevent the attack from "wrecking our lives and children's lives forever."

Change was pushed on the streets of Mount Vernon, as well. As they did for a vigil Saturday, community members gathered again Monday for a walk in memory of Green, organized by teen members of the Boys & Girls Club. The organization pushed a slogan  "Make the resolution violence is not a solution."  which many wore on shirts.

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It starts with us, Burgos said, we are the change and we want to change the violence going on in Mount Vernon.

'An inspiration'

Green was a sophomore at Mount Vernon and a cheerleader on the junior varsity team. Outside Westchester County Courthouse Monday afternoon, a family spokesperson read the statement that recalled her life, noting she was active with the Mount Vernon Youth Police Academy, among other activities.

The memorial for 16-year-old Kayla Green in Mount Vernon April 11, 2022. The teenager was stabbed to death at the site on Friday afternoon.

Green, the statement read, was a beautiful big sister and special young woman with dreams and ambitions of becoming a doctor one day. She was a cheerleader. A captain. An inspiration.

Just before 4 pm. Friday near Gramatan and East Prospect avenues in Mount Vernon, Green and her 15-year-old friend, Mainece Simpson, were stabbed numerous times in an altercation that, video recordings appear to show, involved a group of teens. Simpson is expected to make a full recovery.

The incident came roughly seven months after The Journal News and the USA TODAY Network Hudson Valley region published an investigation focusing on the cycle of gang violence, including that involving teen perpetrators and victims, that has kept cities around the region like Mount Vernon frustrated and scarred.

Over one-hundred young people marched in Mount Vernon April 11, 2022 calling for an end to violence. The march came after Kayla Green, a sophomore cheerleader for Mount Vernon High School was stabbed to death last Friday. Another Mount Vernon teenager has been arrested in the stabbing.

The family in their statement made special mention to thank "the police officer that risked his life to stop a mob of misguided, violent teens. We thank him and his partner for recognizing that Kayla needed lifesaving treatment and their efforts to save her have not gone unnoticed."

The family also expressed it hoped "federal charges are added" to what the 15-year-old faces "to send a stronger message that bullying must stop."

'Tragic incident'

The defendant, also a Mount Vernon resident, plead not guilty to charges of first-degree manslaughter and first-degree assault at an arraignment in the Youth Part of the Westchester County Criminal Court Monday. She was sent to Woodfield Cottage, a secure holding facility in Valhalla for defendants her age. The case was adjourned to May 3 and an order of protection issued Saturday remains in place.

Over one-hundred young people marched in Mount Vernon April 11, 2022 calling for an end to violence. The march came after Kayla Green, a sophomore cheerleader for Mount Vernon High School was stabbed to death last Friday. Another Mount Vernon teenager has been arrested in the stabbing.

The name of the defendant has not been released in the interest of her age. Her attorney, Pamela Hayes, said the ninth-grade student has no prior criminal record.

This was a very tragic, tragic incident, Hayes said.

The defendant lives with her mother and stepfather, Hayes told the judge, but she was staying with a cousin in Dobbs Ferry as her mother was away on Friday.

The defense attorney requested bail to be set, but the prosecution asked for bail to be denied, referring to the senseless nature of the violence. He said it occurred in broad daylight, not far from the police station, and said the accused discarded the knife and deactivated her phone for a time.

After the court hearing, asked if people should be urged to withhold judgment, Hayes, who represented the defendant, said: Yes. Absolutely.

Its a horrible thing; its horrible," Hayes said. "Both families are very sad. All of the participants know each other. And you know, we just want the truth to come out, thats all. You know sometimes things arent what they seem. Theyre just not.

Michael P. McKinney is a breaking news reporter for The Journal News. Staff visual journalist Seth Harrison contributed to this report.

This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Mount Vernon's Kayla Green remembered at march
Seventeen people have been injured in a shooting during the morning rush hour at a New York City subway station.

The unidentified attacker detonated a smoke bomb and opened fire at Brooklyn's 36th Street station at 08:30 local time (12:30 GMT).

Images from the scene showed bloodied passengers lying on the floor of the smoke-filled station.

Officials are appealing for information about the gunman, who fled the scene and is still at large.

"An individual donned a gas mask, he then opened fire striking multiple people on the subway and on the platform." New York City Police Commissioner Keechant Sewell said.

The attacker then fled wearing what Ms Sewell said was a green construction-type vest and a grey sweatshirt.

"This is not being investigated as an act of terrorism at this time," she added.

Police have since tracked down a rental van they had been searching for in connection with the attack, according to the Associated Press, but the suspect wasn't there.

Ten of those who are being treated for injuries were shot, while others suffered smoke inhalation as well as injuries sustained during the initial panic.

Five people are in a critical but stable condition. None of the injured are believed to be in a life-threatening condition, police said.

Officers are still working to establish a motive for the attack.

WARNING: Graphic image below

"My subway door opened into calamity. It was smoke and blood and people screaming," eyewitness Sam Carcamo told the Associated Press. He added that a billow of smoke poured out of the train once its doors opened.

Images shared on social media showed injured people inside the smoke-filled station

Another witness, identified only as Claire, told the New York Post that she had "lost count" of the number of shots that were fired.

The woman said she saw the suspect dropping "some kind of cylinder that sparked at the top" - initially believing him to be a subway worker because of the vest she said he was wearing.

New York's fire department told the BBC it originally received a call about smoke inside the station.

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But officials arrived to find multiple people shot and injured.

Initial police investigations into what happened may have been hampered by a failure in the station's surveillance system.

"At that particular station there appeared to be some form of malfunction with the camera system," New York City Mayor Eric Adams later said.

Responding to the attack, President Joe Biden expressed gratitude to "all the first responders who jumped into action, including civilians who didn't hesitate to help their fellow passengers."

US cities have seen a troubling rise in gun violence incidents over the past two years.

"This insanity that is seizing our city has to stop," New York Governor Kathy Hochul said after the attack. "We say no more. No more mass shootings. No more disrupting lives."

Map of Tuesday's shooting incident

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Law enforcement gather near the entrance to a subway stop in Brooklyn, New York, on Tuesday. AP Photo/Kevin Hagen

Multiple people were shot on a subway train in Brooklyn Tuesday morning, the FDNY said.

The FDNY said 10 people were shot and six more were injured in the mass shooting.

Police said the shooter donned a gas mask and smoke filled the train before the man opened fire.

Ten people were shot and more than a dozen injured on a New York City subway train in Brooklyn during a rush-hour mass shooting Tuesday morning, authorities said.

The shooting unfolded just before 8:30 a.m. as a Manhattan-bound N train pulled into the 36th Street subway station in the Sunset Park neighborhood of Brooklyn, authorities said.

The suspect put on a gas mask, opened a canister that filled the train with smoke, and then opened fire inside the car and on the platform, Commissioner Keechant Sewell of the New York City Police Department said during a press briefing outside the train station.

The shooting suspect  described by Sewell as a roughly 5-foot-5-inch Black man with a "heavy build" wearing a green construction vest and a grey hooded sweatshirt  remains at large.

Shortly after 5 p.m. local time, law enforcement located a U-haul cargo van on Kings Highway they believe is connected to the suspect. A law enforcement source told CNN that the NYPD's bomb squad is responding to the scene.

It was not immediately clear if the suspect was inside the vehicle when officers located the U-Haul van.

CNN reported that investigators identified the suspect in the shooting after finding a credit card at the scene that was used to rent the U-Haul van currently under investigation.

Gov. Kathy Hochul of New York, who also spoke at the briefing, called the suspect "dangerous" and asked New Yorkers to remain "vigilant" and "alert."

Emergency personnel at the entrance to the subway stop in Brooklyn Tuesday. AP Photo/John Minchillo

Sixteen people were injured in the incident, the New York City Fire Department said. Of the 10 people who were shot, five are in critical but stable condition, FDNY Commissioner Laura Kavanagh said.

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Other injuries were related to smoke inhalation, shrapnel, and panic.

Victims were taken to NYU Langone Hospital  Brooklyn and NewYork-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital, the fire department said.

Eight of the victims were taken to NYU Langone, a spokesperson from the hospital told Insider. Their injuries included gunshot wounds and smoke inhalation. All are in stable condition.

The FDNY initially reported finding "several undetonated devices" at the location of the shooting. The NYPD later said there were no active explosive devices at the scene as of 10 a.m. Mayor Eric Adams of New York City said in a video statement that "the suspect in today's attack detonated smoke bombs to cause havoc."

There is no known motive at this time, and the shooting is not being investigated as active terrorism, authorities said.

"We are using every available officer to look for the suspect," an NYPD source told Insider.

The fire department was responding to reports of smoke at the 36th Street station in the Sunset Park neighborhood of Brooklyn when it found multiple people shot on the platform, the FDNY said.

One witness told the New York Post there were so many rounds fired she "lost count."

"There was, like, lots of them. I don't even know how many," she said.

Another witness, Yav Montano, told CNN he was in the train car when the shooting began.

He said that between the 59th Street and 36th Street stops on the N train, the car filled with smoke about two minutes before getting to the platform and he heard what he thought were fireworks but turned out to be gunshots.

"It seemed like it was planned," Montano said. "As soon as the smoke flared up and engulfed everything, people migrated to the front of the car."

He said one man was able to open one of the doors to move between cars but the second door was locked, so they were stuck in the car.

When the train got to the station, Montano said people ran out of the car. Blood was left behind on the floor of the train car, he said.

Law enforcement gather near the entrance to a subway stop in the Brooklyn borough of New York, Tuesday, April 12, 2022. AP Photo/Kevin Hagen

Kelly Serrano was walking to the subway station Tuesday morning to go to the gym when she saw a crowd of people running from the station down Fourth Avenue, some of them screaming and crying. One of the women, through tears, told Serrano there were many people bleeding in the station, Serrano told Insider as she stood by the police barricade with her 4-year-old son.

"Thank God I didn't go inside," Serrano told Insider. "This is crazy. I take that train every day."

At the scene, helicopters soared overhead as hundreds of law enforcement officers and firefighters flooded the area. About a one-block radius was closed to foot and car traffic through Tuesday afternoon.

The NYPD issued an emergency alert to people near the scene in Brooklyn, telling them to avoid the area between Third Avenue and Fifth Avenue from 20th Street to 40th Street.

The NYPD issued an emergency alert to people nearby the Brooklyn mass shooting Tuesday. Haven Orecchio

A spokesperson from the New York Department of Education told Insider all schools in the area had occupants sheltering in place.

The Tuesday shooting on the subway train in Brooklyn came amid a massive uptick in crime in the New York City subway system.

Subway crime is up 70% year to date, Insider's Haven Orecchio-Egresitz previously reported.

"It's dangerous," Selma Castro told Insider as she waited for her 17-year-old son outside his school, Sunset Park High School.

"I have to take the train all the time," Castro said, adding that she's scared to take the subway or let her children on it but that they would continue to ride the rails out of necessity.

This story is developing. Please check back for updates.

Read the original article on Insider
PIERRE, S.D.  The South Dakota House on Tuesday impeached state Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg over a 2020 fatal crash in which he initially told authorities he thought he had struck a deer or another large animal.

Ravnsborg will at least temporarily be removed from office pending the historic Senate trial, where it takes a two-thirds majority to convict on impeachment charges.

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Ravnsborg pleaded no contest last year to a pair of traffic misdemeanors in the crash, including making an illegal lane change. He has cast Joseph Boevers death as a tragic accident.

On Monday night, he sent lawmakers a pair of defiant letters urging them to vote against impeachment.

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In a few hours, your vote will set a precedent for years to come, Ravnsborg said in the first of two letters sent Monday night and obtained by the Argus Leader. No state has ever impeached an elected official for a traffic accident.

The South Dakota Legislature had never investigated impeachment for an elected official, and only once, in 1917, launched an impeachment inquiry into a circuit judge.

Ravnsborgs letter also accused Republican Gov. Kristi Noem of interfering in the investigation and of supporting impeachment because of the attorney generals investigations into her behavior. A second letter from Ravnsborgs spokesman delved into evidence, allegations and misconceptions, about the case.

In its 36-31 vote, the House rejected the recommendation of a GOP-backed majority report from a special investigative committee and sided with Noem, who has argued that Ravnsborg lied to investigators. Democrats also had pushed for impeachment, arguing that he was not forthcoming to law enforcement officers and had abused the power of his office.

South Dakota Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg, joined by a bipartisan group of state attorneys general, speaks to reporters in front of the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington on Sept. 9, 2019. (Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP)

Ravnsborg, who took office in 2019, initially told aides and a 911 dispatcher he did not know what he hit on a rural highway as he was returning home from a Republican dinner in September 2020. He went back to the scene the next day and found the body of 55-year-old Boever, who had been walking on the highways shoulder.

The Highway Patrol concluded that Ravnsborgs car crossed completely onto the highway shoulder before hitting Boever, and criminal investigators said later that they didnt believe some of Ravnsborgs statements.

The special investigative committees report argued Ravnsborgs actions in the crash were unrelated to his official duties.

But some Republicans raised doubts about the crash reconstruction and where Boever was when he was hit. Ravnsborg, who has said little about the crash, denied being untruthful in a brief interview in February.

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Ravnsborg is positioning for a reelection bid. He would face a Republican challenger, former attorney general Marty Jackley, at the June GOP convention that decides its next nominee.
STORY: In footage aired by state broadcaster KRT, Kim was seen cutting a ribbon to celebrate the completion of newly-built buildings, before viewing them through binoculars during a ceremony held on Monday (April 11). Various drone footage of the new buildings was also shown.

North Korean media said the event was to mark the completion of 10,000 apartments and an 80-storey skyscraper in the Songsin and Songhwa areas of Pyongyang and a major street with facilities for public catering.

The event took place as the country marked ten years since the younger Kim was elected as the top party and state leader. The Kim family has ruled the one-party state for its entire history.
SpinLaunchs mass accelerator hopes to deliver payloads to orbit after partnering with Nasa (SpinLaunch)

Nasa could soon be catapulting payloads into space through an innovative launch system that hopes to dramatically improve space accessibility.

The US space agency partnered with California-based startup SpinLaunch to develop a Suborbital Accelerator Launch System, with the hope of performing the first orbital test flight in 2025.

The launcher works by rotating a carbon fibre arm at speeds of up to 8,000 kilometres per hour (5,000 mph) within a 91-metre diameter steel vacuum chamber.

The hypersonic speed propels a launch vehicle containing a satellite into the sky, allowing it to reach orbit much quicker than conventional rockets.

Once above the stratosphere, the payload deploys a small amount of propulsion to provide the final push to reach the required position for orbit.

SpinLaunch claims the system requires no fundamental advances in material science or emerging technologies, and can be built using existing industrial hardware and commonly available materials.

If successful, it would significantly reduce the cost of delivering payloads into orbit.

SpinLaunch is offering a unique suborbital flight and high-speed testing service, and the recent launch agreement with Nasa marks a key inflection point as SpinLaunch shifts focus from technology development to commercial offerings, said Jonathan Yaney, founder and CEO of SpinLaunch.

What started as an innovative idea to make space more accessible has materialised into a technically mature and game-changing approach to launch.

SpinLaunch performed the first ever test flight of its launch system in October 2021 from its testing site at Spaceport America in New Mexico. Objects have since been flung into the skies at speeds in excess of 1,600 kph, though none are yet to reach orbit.

Through these turnkey space solutions, SpinLaunch is helping customers eliminate the cost, time, and complexity constraints currently driving space-related business models  ultimately delivering less expensive, scalable access to space, SpinLaunch said in a statement.
The Navy has in recent years been plagued by a series of high-profile shipbuilding problems that have delayed construction, sent costs skyrocketing and impacted quality and performance across platforms.

Although the sea service has an oversight tool within major private shipbuilding yards that could help improve things, it remains hindered, according to a Government Accountability Office report released this week.

Co-located with shipyards, the Navys Supervisors of Shipbuilding, Conversion and Repair, or SUPSHIP, are the sea services on-site lead for overseeing quality assurance, according to GAO, a legislative branch watchdog agency.

But SUPSHIP offices face several challenges in their mission to improve shipbuilding results, the report found.

For starters, SUPSHIPs have limited input before contracts are awarded, and their expertise is not leveraged in the decision-making process, according to GAO.

Further, the Navys process for accepting ships from builders fails to include SUPSHIPs expert input on ship quality and readiness, and SUPSHIPs position within Naval Sea Systems Command dilutes their ability to be a distinct, authoritative voice in decision-making for Navy shipbuilding programs, according to the report.

A Government Accountability Office graphic showcases how a Navy office charged with shipbuilding oversight is hindered in its mission. (GAO)

Quality requirements vary across shipbuilding contracts, which also hinders SUPSHIPs ability to provide quality oversight, GAO found.

The watchdog noted that Congress passed legislation late last year to stand up a deputy commander dedicated to the SUPSHIP mission, which should help improve their authority and accountability.

The problems of the last decade are well-known.

From propulsion systems aboard the Freedom-class littoral combat ship to the advanced weapons elevators aboard the aircraft carrier Gerald R. Ford to a special treatment not adhering to the hulls of Virginia-class fast attack submarines, the Navy regularly accepts delivery of incomplete ships with significant uncorrected deficiencies, the GAO report states.

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In 2018 alone, the lead ships for six programs saw delays ranging from six months to six years, sending costs as high as 154 percent of the expected total in some cases.

Such problems have not only driven up prices and affected which ships are ready to get underway, such acquisition boondoggles have regularly sparked the ire of Congress and raised questions about the Navys ability to effectively oversee shipbuilder performance throughout the construction of new ships.

GAO has raised issues with the quality of ships accepted by the Navy for more than a decade, and prescriptions for how to fix these issues have at times gone ignored by the Navy and Defense Department.

Although a certain number of deficiencies can be expected for something as complex as a Navy ship, we found that the Navys routine acceptance of ships with significant unresolved deficiencies and reliability problems consumed limited resources, diminished ship performance and added to sailors workloads, the new report states.

Beefing up SUPSHIPs will not be a panacea for the various problems, it notes.

Improving the SUPSHIPs involvement and accountability in supporting decision makers for Navy shipbuilding programs will not on its own eradicate the long-standing problems that these programs have had with cost, schedule and performance, the report states. However, improvements to maximize the SUPSHIPs value in shipbuilding oversight and better harness their direct knowledge of shipbuilding activities can contribute to the Navy making better-informed decisions when setting and attempting to fulfill expectations.
The Daily Beast

Sasha Mordovets/Getty ImagesRussian fighters have been sharing tips with one another about how to deliberately damage their own equipment and hamper Russian President Vladimir Putins war plans in Ukraine, according to recordings of alleged Russian troops phone calls that the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) intercepted.In one regiment, one Russian soldier allegedly said theyve been pouring sand into the tanks fuel systems to clog them up.I don't follow stupid orders, I simply refuse, one
NEW YORK (Reuters) - New York Lieutenant Governor Brian Benjamin pleaded not guilty to bribery and related criminal charges on Tuesday, after prosecutors said he directed state funds to a group controlled by a real estate developer who was a campaign donor.

Benjamin entered his plea in Manhattan federal court.

(Reporting by Luc Cohen in New York; Editing by Chris Reese)
Happy Tuesday, New York City! Here's everything you need to know today in New York City.

First, today's weather:

Warmer; a morning shower. High: 71 Low: 52.

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Here are the top five stories in New York City today:

COVID-19 cases in New York City have tripled since the start of March, with the city's seven day average currently standing at 1,590. There were some days in February with as few as 400. Despite that news, and the fact that he tested positive on Sunday, Mayor Adams still believes that NYC is overall "winning" against the virus. (New York City Patch) Blossoming cherry trees were cut down at Corlears Hook Park along the East River in Lower Manhattan on Monday, as part of the city's East Side Coastal Resiliency Plan, which involves leveling the parkland along the river in order to raise it several feet. The plan was developed following the devastation caused by Superstorm Sandy. (New York City Patch) Manhattan's top prosecutor, District Attorney Alvin Bragg, plans on expanding his office's hate crimes investigation unit, as it experiences a surge across the city. His expansion, which is contingent on whether he receives over $1 million in funding from the city, would include positions specifically to investigate anti-Asian and Pacific Islander and LGBTQ+ crimes. (New York City Patch) One man is dead and another is injured after a shooting in the lobby of a Crown Heights, Brooklyn apartment building around 1 a.m. on Saturday morning. As of Monday morning no arrests had been made. (New York City Patch) A fire on a dense Harlem apartment block a few weeks ago is now believed to have been intentional, according to authorities. The block has seen several other fires over a short period of time, leading many in the community to be suspicious. Meanwhile, the block's owner has been for the past several years attempting to rezone it to allow for new high-rise towers. (New York City Patch)

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Today in New York City:

Through Our Eyes: Homefront (Virtual Film Screening & Panel Discussion) (7 p.m.)

Workers Circle Presents: From Krakow to Krypton: Jews, Justice, and Comic Books, at the Workers Circle, West 37th Street (7 p.m.)

From my notebook:

This magician cast a spell on Central Park Friday when he ran a total of 116 miles around it nonstop, setting a new record. (New York City Patch)

Get excited! The weeklong Gold Standard Arts Festival is coming to the Upper West Side, featuring cabaret, comedy and film. (New York City Patch)

An heiress living in a $15 million Upper East Side penthouse is suing her condo's board over maintenance issues including water leaks. (New York City Patch)

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Now you're in the loop and ready to head out the door on this Tuesday! I'll see you back in your inbox tomorrow with a new update.

 Dashiell Allen

This article originally appeared on the New York City Patch
State health officials in Washington and Oregon are recommending the public limit their consumption of sturgeon caught from the lower Columbia River.

A health advisory comes from the Washington Department of Health as fish tissue data shows contaminant levels of polychlorinated biphenyls  or PCBs  at levels above Washington states screening values, The Seattle Times reported.

In Washington, the advisory applies to any fish caught in the Columbia River between the Bonneville Dam and the mouth of the Columbia.

Officials recommend that most adults should not eat more than eight meals of sturgeon a month, and no more than seven for pregnant women, nursing mothers and children.

The Oregon Health Authority also issued an advisory for the lower Columbia River and the lower Willamette River.

PCBs can exist in sediment where sturgeon feed, which can lead to accumulations in their fat-rich meat. Eating too many fish contaminated with PCBs can have negative health effects including damage to organs, the nervous system and potential learning and behavioral organs, according to the Oregon Health Authority.

Infants and young children are the most vulnerable to the effects, according to Washington officials.

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By Gabriella Borter

(Reuters) -Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt on Tuesday signed a bill that makes it illegal to perform an abortion in the state except in medical emergencies, penalizing those who do with up to $100,000 in fines and 10 years in prison.

The legislation, which is one of several anti-abortion measures advanced by the state's Republican-controlled legislature this year, will take effect this summer unless it is blocked in court.

"We want to choose life in Oklahoma. We do not want to allow abortions in the state of Oklahoma," Stitt said as he signed the bill at a news conference.

If it takes effect, the ban will widen a swath of the country where there is little to no legal abortion access. Oklahoma has become a frequent destination for Texas women seeking abortions since the larger neighboring state in September banned abortions for pregnancies from about six weeks, before many women even know they are pregnant.

Planned Parenthood abortion providers in Oklahoma saw a nearly 2,500% increase in Texas patients in the months after the Texas law took effect compared to the same period in 2020, the organization said.

"The ban signed today is cruel and if it takes effect this summer, will have a devastating impact on people in Oklahoma, neighboring Texans, as well as an entire region facing attacks on their rights to abortion access," Melissa Fowler, the National Abortion Federation's chief program officer, said in a statement.

White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki condemned the ban in a statement and called on Congress to pass legislation that would codify abortion rights nationally.

"The actions today in Oklahoma are a part of disturbing national trend attacking womens rights and the Biden Administration will continue to stand with women in Oklahoma and across the country in the fight to defend their freedom to make their own choices about their futures," Psaki said.

Separate legislation introduced in Oklahoma this year proposes banning almost all abortions and relying on private citizens to sue any person who "aids or abets" abortions, similar to Texas' six-week abortion ban. That bill contains an emergency clause, which would allow it to take effect immediately once it is signed by the governor.

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In the past few months, Republican-led states like Oklahoma have been quickly passing ever-stricter abortion bans with the anticipation that an impending U.S. Supreme Court decision could help the bans withstand legal challenges.

The Supreme Court is due to rule by the end of June on a case involving a Republican-backed Mississippi law that gives its conservative majority a chance to undermine or even repeal the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling that legalized abortion nationwide.

During arguments in the case, the conservative justices signaled a willingness to dramatically curtail abortion rights in the United States.

(Reporting by Gabriella BorterEditing by Bill Berkrot)
KYIV, Ukraine  President Vladimir Putin vowed Tuesday that Russias bloody offensive in Ukraine would continue until its goals are fulfilled, and insisted the campaign was going as planned, despite a major withdrawal in the face of stiff Ukrainian opposition and significant losses.

Russian troops, thwarted in their push toward Ukraines capital, are now focusing on the eastern Donbas region, where Ukraine said Tuesday it was investigating a claim that a poisonous substance had been dropped on its troops. It was not clear what the substance might be, but Western officials warned that any use of chemical weapons by Russia would be a serious escalation of the already devastating war.

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Russia invaded on Feb. 24, with the goal, according to Western officials, of taking Kyiv, toppling the government and installing a Moscow-friendly one. In the six weeks since, Russias ground campaign stalled, its forces suffered losses that may number in the thousands and it stands accused of killing civilians and other atrocities.

Putin insisted Tuesday that his military action aimed to protect people in areas in eastern Ukraine controlled by Moscow-backed rebels and to ensure Russias own security.

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He said Russia had no other choice but to launch what he calls a special military operation, and vowed it would continue until its full completion and the fulfillment of the tasks that have been set.

For now, Putins forces are gearing up for a major offensive in the Donbas. which has been torn by fighting between Russian-allied separatists and Ukrainian forces since 2014, and where Russia has recognized the separatists claims of independence. Military strategists say Russian leaders appear to hope local support, logistics and terrain in the region favor Russias larger and better-armed military, potentially allowing its troops to finally turn the tide in their favor.

In Mariupol, a strategic port city in the Donbas, a Ukrainian regiment defending a steel mill claimed a drone had dropped a poisonous substance on the city. It indicated there were no serious injuries. The assertion by the Azov Regiment, a far-right group now part of the Ukrainian military, could not be independently verified.

It came after a Russia-allied separatist official appeared to urge the use of chemical weapons, telling Russian state TV on Monday that separatist forces should seize the plant by first blocking all the exits. And then well use chemical troops to smoke them out of there, the official, Eduard Basurin, said. He denied Tuesday that separatist forces had used chemical weapons in Mariupol.

Ukraines Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar said officials were investigating, and it was possible phosphorus munitions  which cause horrendous burns but are not classed as chemical weapons  had been used in Mariupol.

That city has been razed in six weeks of pummeling by Russian troops that the mayor said Monday has left more than 10,000 civilians dead, their corpses carpeted through the streets. Mayor Vadym Boychenko said the death toll in Mariupol alone could surpass 20,000 and gave new details of allegations by Ukrainian officials that Russian forces have brought mobile cremation equipment to dispose of the corpses.

Firefighters work to extinguish a fire after a Russian attack destroyed the building of a Culinary School in Kharkiv, Ukraine, April 12, 2022. (Felipe Dana/AP)

British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said use of chemical weapons would be a callous escalation in this conflict, while Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne said it would be a wholesale breach of international law.

Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said in a statement that the U.S. could not confirm the drone report. But he noted the administrations persistent concerns about Russias potential to use a variety of riot control agents, including tear gas mixed with chemical agents, in Ukraine.

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Britain, meanwhile, has warned that Russia may use phosphorus bombs  whose use in civilian areas is banned under international law  in Mariupol.

In the face of stiff resistance by Ukrainian forces bolstered by Western weapons, Russian forces have increasingly relied on bombarding cities, flattening many urban areas and leaving thousands of people dead. The war has also driven more than 10 million Ukrainians from their homes  including nearly two-thirds of all children.

Moscows retreat from cities and towns around the capital, Kyiv, led to the discovery of large numbers of apparently massacred civilians, prompting widespread condemnation and accusations that Russia is committing war crimes in Ukraine.

Putin falsely claimed Tuesday that Ukraines accusation that hundreds of civilians were killed by Russian troops in the town of Bucha were fake. Associated Press reporters saw dozens of bodies in and around the town, some with hands bound who appeared to have been shot at close range.

The Russian leader spoke at the Vostochny space launch facility in the countrys Far East, during his first known foray outside Moscow since the war began. He also said that foreign powers wouldnt succeed in isolating Russia.

He said that Russias economy and financial system withstood the blow from what he called the Western sanctions blitz and claimed they would backfire by driving up prices for essentials such as fertilizer, leading to food shortages and increase migration flows to the West.

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Addressing the pace of the campaign, Putin said Russia was proceeding calmly and rhythmically because it wanted to achieve the planned goals while minimizing the losses.

While building up forces in the east, Russia continued to strike targets across Ukraine in a bid to wear down the countrys defenses. Russias defense ministry said Tuesday that it used used air- and sea-launched missiles to destroy an ammunition depot and airplane hangar at Starokostiantyniv in the western Khmelnytskyi region and an ammunition depot near Kyiv.

Karmanau reported from Lviv, Ukraine. Associated Press writer Robert Burns in Washington, and AP journalists around the world contributed to this report.
No. 5 Alabama softball picked up its fourth straight SEC series win after taking the first two games in Gainesville, Fla., winning 8-3 and 2-1 before falling in Monday's finale, 12-7. The Gators trailed for the first 19 innings of the series, but a six-run fourth inning Monday was the difference.

The Crimson Tide (33-6, 9-5 SEC) has won nine of its last 11 games, five against ranked opponents. Alabama now has 12 wins against teams in the top 25.

ALLY SHIPMAN: Five things to know about Alabama softballs offensive leader, Vols transfer Ally Shipman

PERFECT GAME: Alabama softball's Lexi Kilfoyl throws perfect game to close out series win over Georgia

Here are three things we learned:

Rough going for opponents

Montana Fouts (16-3, 2.30 ERA) picked up her 11th complete-game win Saturday and her 38th career 10-plus strikeout appearance. Lexi Kilfoyl (7-2, 1.78 ERA) pitched a career-high eight innings Sunday, topped off by Fouts third save of the year.

Fouts struggled in the finale, allowing six hits and five earned runs, while Kilfoyl lasted only 13 pitches facing three batters in relief.

Alabama's defense made plays throughout the series. Jenna Johnson had a diving catch in left field, Bailey Dowling threw out a runner after fielding the ball and doing a full 360-degree turn, Ashley Prange saved a run with a snag out of the air and Kat Grill made a diving catch in right field.

Opponents are averaging just under three runs per game over the last 11 games. Alabama has committed just four errors in that span.

REUNION: How Alabama softball's 2012 national championship team was honored on Saturday

Passing the bat

"I think we have done a much better job of passing the bat lately," said outfielder Kat Grill. "Each pitch is important, and no pitch is more important than the next one."

Alabamas offense scored first in all three games and has scored six or more runs in nine of its last 11 games. The Crimson Tide is 26-4 when scoring first this year.

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The Crimson Tide offense continued to show power with seven doubles over the three games, including two from freshman Jenna Lord. Bailey Dowling blasted three home runs, bringing her total to seven. Ashley Prange added a home run Monday. Alabama had 11 multi-hit performances.

MONTANA FOUTS: How ace Montana Fouts is managing increased workload for Alabama softball in 2022

Owning the rivalry

Alabama has now won four straight regular-season series in Gainesville, including a sweep in 2019. The Crimson Tide defeated the Gators in the 2021 SEC Tournament championship game.

The two programs have won the regular season in all but one year since the 2005-06 season. The Gators tied with Arkansas last season.

Alabama hitter Kaylee Tow connects for a hit at Rhoads Stadium Sunday, April 3, 2022. The Crimson Tide defeated the Bulldogs 9-3. Gary Cosby Jr./Tuscaloosa News

SEC SWEEP: How a pinch-hit grand slam powered Alabama softball to series sweep at South Carolina

What's next

Alabama hosts Mississippi State in a three-game series at Rhoads Stadium beginning Thursday at 5 p.m. followed by Saturday at 6 p.m. and Sunday at 4 p.m. The Thursday and Sunday games will be available on SEC Network.

Alabama hitter Savannah Woodard rounds first on her way to second with a double. The Crimson Tide fell short in a 6-5 loss to Florida State Wednesday, March 16, 2022, in Rhoads Stadium.

Reach Brett Greenberg at bgreenberg@gannett.com or follow @74talk on Twitter.

This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Alabama softball takes series at Florida on Bailey Dowling's home runs
OPEC Secretary-General Mohammed Barkindo said the volatility in the oil market is beyond its control. AFP/Getty Images

OPEC and the EU met on Monday amid pressure on the EU to impose a ban on Russian oil.

OPEC's Secretary-General Mohammad Barkindo said it would be "nearly impossible" to replace Russian oil.

Barkindo said the highly volatile market is not based on fundamentals and is out of its control.

The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) has told the European Union that it would be "nearly impossible" to replace Russian oil if supplies are cut off due to sanctions or boycotts, according to reports from Reuters and Bloomberg.

"We could potentially see the loss of more than 7 million barrels per day of Russian oil and other liquids exports, resulting from current and future sanctions or other voluntary actions," said OPEC's Secretary-General Mohammad Barkindo, Reuters reported, citing a copy of his speech.

"Considering the current demand outlook, it would be nearly impossible to replace a loss in volumes of this magnitude," Barkindo told the EU, per Reuters.

OPEC and the EU met on Monday amid pressure on the EU to impose a ban on Russian oil over Russian atrocities in the Ukraine war. The trade bloc has also called on OPEC to consider increasing supply, a European Commission official told Reuters.

The EU relies on Russia for around 25% of its oil imports, but the trade bloc  which has banned Russian coal and is considering an oil embargo  is trying to wean itself off Russian energy. But oil prices are already up 30% year-to-date on the back of the Ukraine war due to disrupted trade flows linked to boycotts and sanctions against Russia.

OPEC's Barkindo said the "highly volatile market" was due to political factors rather than supply and demand fundamentals of the oil market.

"These are non-fundamental factors that are totally out of our control at OPEC," Barkindo said, per Bloomberg.

Last month, Saudi Arabia, the world's top oil exporter, said that OPEC+  which includes OPEC and other major producers such as Russia  will leave politics out of its decision-making, per CNBC.

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"That culture is seeped into OPEC+, so when we get into that OPEC meeting room, or OPEC building, everybody leaves his politics at the outside door of that building, and that culture has been with us," the country's Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman told the outlet.

OPEC+ said last month that it would increase output by about 432,000 barrels per day in May to meet a recovery in demand as the pandemic eases.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Watch: More than 50 fines issued over partygate probe, Scotland Yard says

The families of COVID victims have called on Boris Johnson to resign after the Met confirmed at least 30 more fines were being issued. over COVID-19 rule-breaking parties held in Downing Street and Whitehall.

Detectives are investigating 12 events, including as many as six prime minister Boris Johnson is said to have attended.

On Tuesday, the Metropolitan Police confirmed officers have now made more than 50 referrals in total for fixed penalty notices to the ACRO Criminal Records Office.

Following the annoucement, bereaved families said it is indisputable that widespread rule breaking occurred.

Calling on the prime minister to resign, Matt Fowler, co-founder of COVID-19 Bereaved Families for Justice, said: There you have it  its now indisputable that whilst bereaved families were unable to be at their loved ones sides in their last moments, or stood at their funerals alone, the people responsible for protecting us in Downing St were partying and rule breaking en masse.

Scotland Yard has announced 50 fines will be issued in connection with Downing Street parties (PA)

Its a reality that is unbelievably painful for bereaved families like mine to face as we try and move forward with our lives.

Its plain as day that there was a culture of boozing and rule breaching at the highest level of Government, whilst the British public was making unimaginable sacrifices to protect their loved ones and communities.

The identities of people issued with FPNs have not been disclosed publicly by the Met, nor the event a fine relates to.

However, Downing Street has said it will confirm if either Boris Johnson or Cabinet Secretary Simon Case are handed a fine.

A former senior official last week became the first person to confirm they had received an FPN as a result of the Partygate investigation.

Downing Street has said it will confirm if either Boris Johnson or Cabinet Secretary Simon Case are handed a fine. (PA)

Former deputy cabinet secretary and Whitehall ethics chief Helen MacNamara said she was sorry for the error of judgment I have shown.

MacNamara, who now works for the Premier League, was reported to have received the fine in connection with a leaving do held in the Cabinet Office on 18 June 2020.

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Separately, The Guardian has reported that other people had been fined for a gathering held on the eve of the Duke of Edinburghs funeral last year.

Scotland Yard announced on 29 March that they were issuing 20 fines.

The force said it was making every effort to progress this investigation at speed, with the possibility of more fines to come.

In a statement, the Metropolitan Police said: The investigation into allegations of breaches of COVID-19 regulations in Whitehall and Downing Street continues to progress.

Read more: Blunt apologises and retracts statement defending convicted sex offender MP Khan

On Tuesday, the Metropolitan Police confirmed officers have now made more than 50 referrals on total for fixed penalty notices to the ACRO Criminal Records Office. (PA)

As of Tuesday, 12 April 2022, we have made over 50 referrals for fixed penalty notices (FPN) to the ACRO Criminal Records Office for breaches of Covid-19 regulations who, following the referral, issue the FPNs to the individual.

We are making every effort to progress this investigation at speed, this includes continuing to assess significant amounts of investigative material from which further referrals may be made to ACRO.

Following the news more fines were being issued, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said the announcement of at least 30 more fines relating to the partygate saga has blown the Prime Ministers defence out of the water.

Speaking during a campaign visit in Glasgow on Tuesday, Sir Keir said: He claimed to the country that all the rules were being obeyed in Downing Street  where he lives and where he works  that there had been no parties.

Its now clear there was widespread criminality.

Watch: Question Time audience mocks Tory MP over Boris Johnson Partygate claim

I think this just not only blows his defence but calls into question his honesty and his integrity.

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey once again called for Johnson to resign.

He said: These fines expose the shocking scale of the criminality in Boris Johnsons Number 10.

The police have now completely shredded Johnsons claims that no laws were broken. He cannot be trusted and cannot continue as Prime Minister.

No other leader in any other organisation would be allowed to continue after law-breaking on this scale.

If Boris Johnson wont resign, Conservative MPs must show him the door.

In a statement to a packed but silent House of Commons in January, Johnson apologised for going to an event that invited people to "bring their own booze" to make the "most of the lovely weather".

He said he believed it had been a work event.

Watch: Boris Johnson admits he went to No10 party during lockdown

It was also reported a leaving party for the prime minister's former communications secretary James Slack was held, and became so raucous that a swing belonging to the PM's son Wilf was broken, and staff used a suitcase to smuggle alcohol into the building.

Johnson came under intense pressure to quit as a result of the Partygate scandal, but in recent weeks the war in Ukraine has seen MPs rally round the leader at a time of international crisis.

But the Mets intervention, confirming that laws were broken at the heart of government, could reignite the debate about his leadership.

The Metropolitan Police said more than 100 questionnaires had been sent out to people at the gatherings.
Editors note: An interview for this story was conducted in Spanish and translated into English.

A student was injured in a stabbing Tuesday morning at Northeast Middle School in the Kansas City Public Schools district, police said.

The victim was taken to a hospital with life-threatening injuries, said Officer Donna Drake, a spokeswoman for the Kansas City Police Department. A person of interest was detained and police did not believe there to be an ongoing threat.

The victim was in critical condition Tuesday afternoon, the school district said in a letter sent to families and staff.

Officers responded after 9 a.m. to the school at 4904 Independence Ave. on reports of a stabbing. Arriving officers found the victim, a male student, inside a bathroom with stab wounds and immediately began rendering First Aid along with school security. Emergency medical crews responded and took the student to a hospital.

The school went into lockdown and police shut down streets in the area immediately surrounding the school.

Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas said on Twitter that he was horrified to learn of the stabbing and that his office was in touch with the school district.

Our schools should always be safe environments for our young people to learn, Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas wrote on Twitter. I am horrified to learn of a stabbing at a Kansas City middle school just after the beginning of the school day. We are in touch with our school district partners and authorities.

The stabbing occurred early in the school day. Classes begin at 8:20 and run to 3:20 p.m. The school has an enrollment of about 675 students in grades seven and eight as of late November, according to the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

Both the victim and the person detained are students at the school.

Kansas City Police were outside Northeast Middle School after one person was injured in a stabbing on Tuesday morning in Kansas City. The victim was taken to the hospital with life-treating injuries, said Officer Donna Drake, a spokesperson for the Kansas City Police Department. One person has been detained.

DaNiro Moore, who is in the seventh grade, called from his science class and told his father, Carl Moore, they were on lockdown.

I was very concerned. I know they have metal detectors but you cant keep them safe from everything, Carl Moore said. Its for the individual to deescalate the situation.

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Alberto Rodriguez, the father of seventh grader Naomi Rodriguez, said he is concerned for his daughter to go back to school. He hopes to get a clear explanation on how the stabbing happened.

Why is it that this doesnt happen in other countries? said Rodriguez, who is from Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, and has lived in Kansas City since 2001.

The school has metal detectors and only clear backpacks are allowed, according to the district.

The district was working with families on reuniting them with students who attend the school, said Elle Moxley, public relations coordinator for the district.

Students could be seen waving to parents from the second story window while waiting to be released from the school.

Parents wait outside Northeast Middle School to greet their children after one person was injured in a stabbing on Tuesday morning in Kansas City. The victim was taken to the hospital with life-threatening injuries, said Officer Donna Drake, a spokesperson for the Kansas City Police Department. One person has been detained.

Were going to dismiss slowly, one class at a time, so that will take a little bit of time to clear them, Moxley said at the time. Then we will be dismissing our car riders and walkers.

Parents were asked to pick up their students on the Chelsea Avenue side of the building.

Students with nowhere to go after school, or who needed a safe place to go, stayed at the school until arrangements were made with their families.

We are gathering information and will be working closely with the KCPD to understand what happened today, Moxley said.

The early dismissal was completed shortly after noon, the district announced on Twitter. Included with the announcement was a letter sent home to families and staff.

Your students safety at school is our number one priority, Kelly Wachel, the districts chief communications and marketing officer, said in the letter. Today and tomorrow, we will be providing additional information and counseling support to students and staff who need help processing todays events.

We are sharing information with KCPS families and staff about an emergency at Northeast Middle School this morning.



This is the email we sent to our community at 11:12 a.m. We have now completed early dismissal. Please keep our NEMS family in your thoughts today. pic.twitter.com/mfO41jBXUm  KCPS (@kcpublicschools) April 12, 2022
MANILA (Reuters) - Rescue teams in the Philippines faced a race against time on Tuesday in the search for 28 people missing and feared dead, after tropical storm Megi unleashed heavy rains and deadly landslides in southern and eastern areas of the country.

National and local disaster agencies reported five more deaths in central and southern Philippines on Tuesday, taking the toll to 30 since the storm struck at the weekend.

Megi, the first storm to hit the typhoon-prone archipelago this year, made landfall on Sunday with sustained winds of up to 65 kilometres (40 miles) per hour and gusts of up to 80 kph (49 mph).

Police, coast guard, and army personnel had by Tuesday retrieved 25 bodies after landslides in mountainous areas in Baybay city in Leyte province, according to the military, with 105 injuries reported.

The storm has since weakened and was as headed for the Pacific Ocean on Tuesday afternoon.

"We are saddened of this dreadful incident that caused unfortunate loss of lives and destruction of properties," said Colonel Noel Vestuir, an infantry brigade commander, during an area survey.

"We race against time to rescue those who are hit by landslide and save lives," Vestuir said.

Continuous rains are hampering search and rescue operations, Baybay city information officer Marissa Cano told DZBB radio.

"Rescuers did not advance because the ground is still moving, it is dangerous," Cano said.

More than 100 communities, especially those near rivers and beaches, were submerged in floods from moderate but continuous rains over the weekend.

Images shared by the coast guard showed rescuers wading through forests and chest deep waters, carrying mud-covered survivors on stretchers.

"We are asking for help. We left our home last night because the floodwater kept rising," Mary Catherine Relos, a 29-year-old resident of Capiz province, told Reuters.

(Reporting by Neil Jerome Morales; Editing by Martin Petty)
Merced police are investigating after a report of shots fired was made Monday afternoon at Merced College, prompting a brief lockdown of the campus.

No injuries were reported and no arrests have been made.

Lt. Emily Foster told the Sun-Star police responded to the Merced main campus off M Street and Yosemite Avenue following reports of a disturbance in a campus parking lot.

There were no reports of any person or building being struck by gunfire.

Police are investigating and looking for any possible witnesses as well as video surveillance from the school or evidence of a shooting.

The campus was placed on lockdown immediately afterward at 4:16 p.m.

Initial reports are that the shooter has left campus. However, out of an abundance of caution, we are issuing a campus-wide lockdown until further notice, read a message that went out to the campus community.

The lockdown was lifted just after 5 p.m. Classes were canceled at the main campus for the rest of the day after the shooting, and resumed Tuesday.
By Philip Pullella

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Pope Francis said on Tuesday that the war in Ukraine was marked by "the forces of evil" because it was leaving in its wake abominations such as the massacre of civilians.

Francis made his comments to participants at an inter-religious pilgrimage of solidarity with the Ukrainian people in Chernivtsi in Western Ukraine organised by the Israeli-based Elijah Interfaith Institute.

"The present moment leaves us deeply troubled, because it is marked by the forces of evil," he said in the message read on his behalf.

"The suffering inflicted on so many frail and defenceless persons; the many civilians massacred and the innocent victims among the young; the desperate plight of women and children  All this troubles our consciences," he said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, a member of the Russian Orthodox Church, has described Moscow's actions as a "special military operation" in Ukraine designed not to occupy territory but to demilitarise and "denazify" the country.

Francis has rejected that terminology, calling it a war.

The Kremlin says allegations that Russian forces have committed war crimes by executing civilians in Ukraine were a "monstrous forgery" aimed at denigrating the Russian army.

Francis, who has issued many appeals for an end to the conflict, said it was impossible to remain indifferent and that it was necessary "to speak out forcefully in order to demand, in the name of God, the end of these abominable actions".

At a meeting of the pilgrimage where key members spoke, former Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams echoed the pope's recent call for an Easter truce in the conflict. [L2N2W805L]

It was also attended by Jews, Hindus, Muslims, Buddhists and members of other religions.

In his message, Francis urged "government leaders, especially those who appeal to the sacred principles of religion," to seek peace and shun evil.

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Since the war began, Francis has only mentioned Russia explicitly in prayers, such as during a special global event for peace on March 25. But he has made clear his opposition to Russia's actions, using the words invasion, aggression and atrocities.

During a trip to Malta earlier this month, Francis implicitly criticised Putin over the invasion of Ukraine, saying "potentate" was fomenting conflict for nationalist interests.

(Reporting by Philip Pullella; Editing by Bernadette Baum)
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.  Trial opened Monday in Floridas opioid epidemic lawsuit against the Walgreens pharmacy chain, which state officials accuse of prioritizing profits over health by improperly dispensing millions of powerful painkillers that caused tens of thousands of deaths.

The trial, in Pasco County north of Tampa, comes after other defendants in the Florida lawsuit including the CVS drug store chain settled for an estimated $870 million. The state could seek similar massive damages from Walgreens in the jury trial expected to last a few weeks.

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OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma has a tentative nationwide deal that includes $6 billion in cash from members of the Sackler family who own the company. In all, settlements, civil and criminal penalties around the country since 2007 have totaled over $45 billion, according to an Associated Press tally.

In Florida, the states case hinges on accusations that as Walgreens dispensed more than 4.3 billion total opioid pills in Florida from May 2006 to June 2021, more than half contained one or more easily recognized red flags for abuse, fraud and addiction that the company should have noticed and acted upon.

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The evidence will show Walgreens knowingly profited from the opioid crisis, said attorney Jim Webster for the state in an opening statement, which was attended by Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody. Walgreens wasnt just greedy. It was fueling the opioid crisis that was killing people.

Walgreens is based in Deerfield, Illinois, and operates more than 9,000 stores in all 50 states, according to the company website. About 820 of those locations are in Florida.

Walgreens attorney Steve Derringer told jurors they should focus on how manufacturers such as Purdue Pharma misled pharmacies on opioid addictive properties. He also noted that Florida did little as the opioid epidemic arose, particularly the predatory pill mills that proliferated in the state before a crackdown finally ended them.

Walgreens had nothing to do with any of that, Derringer said in his opening statement. They (drug makers) caused this epidemic by misrepresenting the risks and benefits to pharmacies.

The opioid epidemic has been linked to more than 500,000 deaths in the U.S. over the past two decades, counting those from prescription painkillers such as OxyContin and generic oxycodone as well as illicit drugs such as heroin and illegally produced fentanyl.

In Florida, Webster said, more than 39,000 Floridians died from opioid abuse or related problems between 1999 and 2020. Walgreens, he said, sold about one of every four opioids in the state over a similar time span often under questionable circumstances, such as a shady doctor, fake prescriptions or huge amounts of drugs obviously far in excess of what was necessary for a given patient.

Walgreens was the last line of defense, Webster said. Walgreens failed its duty to investigate suspicious prescriptions.

Florida has spent some $14 billion over the last 20 years for multiple opioid-related costs, ranging from criminal justice to drug rehabilitation for addicts to treatment for opioid-addicted infants, Webster said. The state will seek billions of dollars in damages in the Walgreens case.

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In the same case, Moody said CVS Health Corp. and CVS Pharmacy Inc. will pay the state $484 million. Teva Pharmaceuticals Industries Ltd. agreed to pay $195 million and Allergan PLC more than $134 million.

Florida has previously obtained millions of dollars in opioid settlements involving McKesson Corp., Cardinal Health Inc., Johnson & Johnson Inc. and AmerisourceBergen Corp.
Vladimir Kara-Murza, a prominent critic of the Kremlin and opponent of Russias invasion of Ukraine, was arrested in Moscow on Monday.

Kara-Murza was detained by Russian law enforcement and sentenced to 15 days in jail for disobeying police, reports The Guardian. It was not clear if the arrest was linked to the prominent activists recent critiques of Russias deadly war on Ukraine.

Earlier that day, CNN posted a video interview in which Kara-Murza called out the Kremlins regime of murderers for their history of poisoning and killing political opponents. He has also written columns in The Washington Post condemning Russias actions in Ukraine.

Kara-Murza himself has said he was previously poisoned twice by Kremlin actors.

Early on Tuesday, Kara-Murzas wife, Evgenia, demanded his release in a tweet: Twice have the Russian authorities tried to kill my husband for advocating for sanctions against thieves and murderers, and now they want to throw him in prison for calling their bloody war a WAR.

Amid Russias weekslong, deadly attack on Ukraine, the Kremlin has cracked down severely on journalists in the country.

Last month, just days into Russias invasion of Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a law criminalizing news reports that contradict the Kremlins version of its attack on Ukraine.

This article originally appeared on HuffPost and has been updated.

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Associated Press

Sri Lankan police used tear gas and a water cannon on Friday to disperse student protesters who were camped outside Parliament criticizing lawmakers for not ousting President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and his government over the country's worst economic crisis in decades. Separately, protesters have been occupying the entrance to the president's office in the capital, Colombo, for 28 days demanding Rajapaksa and his powerful ruling family quit. Shops, offices and schools were closed across the country on Friday and transport came to a near standstill amid widespread demonstrations against the government.
Russian President Vladimir Putin. Mikhail Klimentyev/AFP via Getty Images

In his first public comments on the massacre since Russian troops withdrew from the Kyiv suburb a little over a week ago, Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday said the reports of Russian war crimes and the gruesome images out of Bucha were "fake," Bloomberg reports.

Putin's comments came alongside an update on Russian and Ukrainian peace talks, which he claims are at a "dead end."

Moscow has denied all responsibility for the horrific deaths in Bucha, despite evidence appearing to link it to the attacks. A clear perpetrator, however, has yet to emerge.

On Tuesday, Putin compared the killings to "U.S. attacks on cities like Raqqa in Syria," Bloomberg writes.

"Have you seen how this Syrian city was turned to rubble by American aircraft? Corpses lay in the ruins for months decomposing," Putin said, per Reuters. "Nobody cared. No one even noticed."

"There was no such silence when provocations were staged in Syria, when they portrayed the use of chemical weapons by the Assad government," he continued. "Then it turned out that it was fake. It's the same kind of fake in Bucha."

A Ukrainian official later countered that, although peace negotiations had been "very hard," they were, in fact, continuing, per CNBC. Kyiv blames Russia for any standstill.

Putin said that without a concrete deal in place, Russia's "military operation will continue until its final completion and the tasks that were set at the start of the operation are achieved," per Bloomberg.

The Russian president also lauded his country's economy for shouldering what he called the West's "blitzkrieg" of sanctions, and said he hoped "good sense" would eventually move Western leaders to curb the measures, according to Bloomberg.

The invasion of Ukraine is going "according to plan," he added.

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LONDON (Reuters) -President Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday peace talks with Ukraine had hit a dead end, using his first public comments on the conflict in more than a week to vow his troops would win and to goad the West for failing to bring Moscow to heel.

Addressing the war in public for the first time since Russian forces retreated from northern Ukraine after they were halted at the gates of Kyiv, Putin promised that Russia would achieve all of its "noble" aims in Ukraine.

In the strongest signal to date that the war will grind on for longer, Putin said Kyiv had derailed peace talks by staging what he said were fake claims of Russian war crimes and by demanding security guarantees to cover the whole of Ukraine.

"We have again returned to a dead-end situation for us," Putin, Russia's paramount leader since 1999, told a news briefing during a visit to the Vostochny Cosmodrome 3,450 miles (5,550 km) east of Moscow.

Asked by Russian space agency workers if the operation in Ukraine would achieve its goals, Putin said: "Absolutely. I don't have any doubt at all."

Russia will "rhythmically and calmly" continue its operation but the most important strategic conclusion was that the unipolar international order which the United States had built after the Cold War was breaking up, Putin said.

Putin said Russia had no choice but to fight because it had to defend the Russian speakers of eastern Ukraine and prevent its former Soviet neighbour from becoming an anti-Russian springboard for Moscow's enemies.

The West has condemned the war as a brutal imperial-style land grab targeting a sovereign country. Ukraine says it is fighting for its survival after Putin annexed Crimea in 2014 and on Feb. 21 recognised two of its rebel regions as sovereign.

Putin dismissed the West's sanctions, which have tipped Russia towards its worst recession since the years following the 1991 fall of the Soviet Union, as a failure.

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"That Blitzkrieg on which our foes were counting did not work," Putin said. "The United States is ready to fight with Russia until the last Ukrainian - that is the way it is."

Putin, who had been ubiquitous on Russian television in the early days of the war, had largely retreated from public view since Russia's withdrawal from northern Ukraine two weeks ago.

His only public appearance in the past week was at the funeral of a nationalist lawmaker, where he did not directly address the war. On Monday he met the visiting chancellor of Austria at a country residence outside Moscow but no images of that meeting were released.

'BUCHA IS FAKE'

Putin dismissed Ukrainian and Western claims that Russia had committed war crimes as fakes.

Since Russian troops withdrew from towns and villages around the Ukrainian capital Kyiv, Ukrainian troops have been showing journalists corpses of what they say are civilians killed by Russian forces, destroyed houses and burnt-out cars.

Reuters saw dead bodies in the town of Bucha but could not independently verify who was responsible for the killings. Ukraine says Russia is guilty of genocide and U.S. President Joe Biden has accused Putin of war crimes and called for a trial.

Putin said he had told Western leaders to think a little about destruction by the United States of the Syrian city of Raqqa, the former de facto capital of the Islamic State caliphate, and in Afghanistan.

"Have you seen how this Syrian city was turned to rubble by American aircraft? Corpses lay in the ruins for months decomposing," Putin said. "Nobody cared. No one even noticed."

"There was no such silence when provocations were staged in Syria, when they portrayed the use of chemical weapons by the Assad government. Then it turned out that it was fake. It's the same kind of fake in Bucha."

The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons has found that poison gas was used repeatedly in Syria, including in Ghouta, an opposition-held suburb of Damascus. Russia has objected to those findings that implicated its ally Syrian president Bashar al-Assad.

Washington and its allies have denied targeting civilians in the 2017 air strikes on Raqqa, a Syrian city that had become the headquarters of the Islamic State militant movement the U.S.-led coalition was fighting.

Putin, who says Ukraine and Russia are essentially one people, casts the war as an inevitable confrontation with the United States, which he accuses of threatening Russia by meddling in its backyard.

Sixty one years to the day since the Soviet Union's Yuri Gagarin blasted off into the history books by becoming the first man in space, Putin drew an analogy between Soviet space successes and Russia's defiance today.

"The sanctions were total, the isolation was complete but the Soviet Union was still first in space," he said.

"We don't intend to be isolated," Putin added. "It is impossible to severely isolate anyone in the modern world - especially such a vast country as Russia."

(Writing by Guy FaulconbridgeEditing by Peter Graff, Tomasz Janowski and Gareth Jones)
Kremlin via Reuters

Russias Vladimir Putin hailed his brave and effective troops in Ukraine on Tuesday, even as social-media posts surfaced showing the Russian military suffered yet another setback after more than 40 days of war.

The Russian leader vowed that his noble war against Ukraine would be successful and defiantly said his country could not be isolated from the rest of the world.

There is no doubt that the goals and tasks of the operation in Ukraine will be fulfilled, he said, claiming confrontation with the growing anti-Russian forces in Ukraine was inevitable and only a question of time.

The Russian Armed Forces have acted bravely, efficiently, and effectively in the course of the special military operation in Ukraine, using the most contemporary kinds of weapons, he said.

What we are doing is helping people, saving people, on the one hand, and on the other handwe are simply taking measures to ensure the security of Russia itself. Its evident that we had no other choice, this is the right decision, he said, according to Russias Interfax news agency.

His glowing assessment comes amid reports that another high-ranking military official was killed in Ukraine.

Lt. Col. Dibir Dibirovich Magomedovich, a Dagestan native, was killed on April 9, according to a now-deleted post on the VK page of a Russian military academy.

A screenshot of the since-deleted post shared by Ukrainian media outlets shows that people were invited to make donations to Magomedovichs family.

Magomedovich was reportedly based in Chechnya with the 291st Guards Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 42nd Guards Motorized Rifle Division. No details were given on where, and in what circumstances, he was killed.

His death adds to a long list of senior military brass killed in Ukraine, as Russia goes all in on drumming up support for the war at home, with huge Z symbols popping up on theaters and museums around the country, and schoolchildren instructed to write letters of support to Russian soldiers in Ukraine.

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Meanwhile, evidence of possible Russian war crimes in the country has continued to grow, as Ukraines human-rights ombudswoman told The New York Times and the BBC that Russian troops held more than two dozen women captive in a basement in Bucha while they occupied the devastated town.

Nine of the women in that groupwhich included girls as young as 14are now pregnant, according to the ombudswoman, Lyudmila Denisova.

Russian soldiers told them they would rape them to the point where they wouldnt want sexual contact with any man, to prevent them from having Ukrainian children, Denisova told the BBC.

In one of the most heinous allegations against Russian troops so far, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Tuesday confirmed reports that a Russian soldier sent around video of himself sexually assaulting a baby.

That is such a Russian military defender of children, Zelensky said in a speech before the Lithuanian parliament, quipping that Russian propagandists will likely claim the alleged abuse was protecting Russian speakers.

According to Russian media reports, the soldier in question, Aleksei Bychkov, was arrested on Russian territory, where he serves in Pskov. It was not clear where the alleged attack on the child took place.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Vostochny Cosmodrome in Amur region, Russia, on April 12, 2022. Sputnik/Evgeny Biyatov/Kremlin via Reuters

Putin defended invading Ukraine on Tuesday.

He said Russia's goals there were "absolutely clear and noble" and that it "didn't have a choice."

His comments came after Russia acknowledged heavy losses in Ukraine, and its economy faltered.

Russian President Vladimir Putin defended the botched invasion of Ukraine on Tuesday as his country continued losing elite troops and getting pummeled with economic sanctions.

"Its goals are absolutely clear and noble," Putin said during a visit to the Vostochny Cosmodrome in Russia's far eastern Amur region, according to Reuters. "It's clear that we didn't have a choice. It was the right decision."

Putin has long justified the invasion of Ukraine as a way to repel what he called the US and NATO's eastward expansion, which he considers a threat to Russia.

He has also said that Russia needed to demilitarize and "denazify" Ukraine, a claimed based on debunked information falsely casting the government there as Nazis.

His comments came as Russia continued to lose weaponry and elite troops, including top generals, in the fighting in Ukraine. Reports have emerged of Russian troops being ill-equipped to fight amid staunch Ukrainian resistance, a scenario they did not expect.

A BBC investigation found that Russia's losses in Ukraine included many officers that take over a decade and between thousands and millions of dollars to train.

Western countries, notably the US and those in the EU, have also levied heavy economic sanctions against Russian businesses and individuals, including Putin and his family members.

Putin hit back at the sanctions, saying: "We don't intend to be isolated ... It is impossible to severely isolate anyone in the modern world  especially such a vast country as Russia," Reuters reported.

Putin made his Tuesday visit to the cosmodrome alongside Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, one of his top allies who has also sanctioned by Western countries over Ukraine. Belarus borders Ukraine's north, while Russia borders Ukraine's east and northeast.

Russian troops have withdrawn from northern Ukraine, including the capital Kyiv, in recent days as Ukrainian forces retook control of many towns and cities. Ukraine, the US, and Britain believe Russia is regrouping in the country's east for a concentrated attack on the Donbas region.

Read the original article on Business Insider
(Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday that Moscow's military operation in Ukraine would undoubtedly achieve what he said were its "noble" objectives.

Speaking at an awards ceremony at the Vostochny Cosmodrome in the Russian Far East, Putin was quoted as saying by Russian news agencies that said Moscow had no other choice but to launch a military operation to protect Russia and that a clash with Ukraine's anti-Russian forces had been inevitable.

"Its goals are absolutely clear and noble," Putin said of Russia's military campaign.

Putin said the main objective of Moscow's military intervention in Ukraine was to save people in the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine, where Russian-backed separatists have been fighting Ukrainian forces since 2014.

"On the one hand, we are helping and saving people, and on the other, we are simply taking measures to ensure the security of Russia itself," Putin said. "It's clear that we didn't have a choice. It was the right decision."

Millions of Ukrainians have been forced to flee the country since Russia sent tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine on Feb. 24 in what it called a special operation to degrade its southern neighbour's military capabilities and root out people it called dangerous nationalists.

Ukrainian forces have mounted stiff resistance and the West has imposed sweeping sanctions on Russia in an effort to force it to withdraw its forces.

(Reporting by Reuters; editing by Guy Faulconbridge)
TAMPA  About nine weeks ago, Tampa Mayor Jane Castor announced that shed picked Mary OConnor to serve as the citys next police chief, setting off one of the most contentious debates over the position in the departments history.

A divided City Council voted last month to confirm OConnor, who retired from the department in 2016 as an assistant chief and then worked as a law enforcement consultant and trainer. Now shes moving forward with her goals to improve what she says is one of the best police departments in the country.

In a wide-ranging interview with the Tampa Bay Times last week, OConnor talked about her goals for the department, strategies to combat violent crime, how she hopes to build trust in communities of color and how she hopes to diversify the departments ranks.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

Why did you want to come back to do this high-stress job?

I realized very shortly after I left that I wasnt done with my calling. My husband and I have a very, very long history of serving the city of Tampa, and when Keith went back to work (as the citys neighborhood enhancement manager)  I almost felt like a longing for that because consulting and training, while its very rewarding and it was extremely beneficial for my professional and personal growth, its also nice to kind of bring it all back home. And law enforcement is a very camaraderie-centric job, so when you leave the profession, you almost lose a sense of your identity to a certain extent. When the opportunity presented itself when Chief (Brian) Dugan retired in September, the first thought that popped into my head was, Well, I want to get that job.

How would you describe your first five weeks or so trying to do the job while also having the controversy about the selection and the question of your confirmation hanging over you?

I would describe the first five weeks, six weeks, as tumultuous, but it also drove me more than ever to prove to the community that I was the right choice for the job. So through all of the controversy, you take a moment to step back and self-reflect and say, You know, the mayor chose you, Mary. Step into the role and prove to the community that you are the right choice. So the controversy also created a drive in me to succeed and show everyone that Im going to do right by this community.

Story continues

Lets talk about your three goals and take them one by one. Whats your plan to increase community engagement, and hows it going?

I think its going really well. I always go back to COVID when I talk about community engagement and I think that the virtual world that we lived in for, quite honestly, a couple of years really set back the value of a face-to-face conversation, and I think we just got very used to communicating on Zoom in social media and phones and texting. I just think that theres tremendous value in being able to look someone in the face and converse, so I want to try to keep the gatherings up.

I think that we need to attend a lot of community meetings. I was at the V.M. Ybor Neighborhood Watch Association last night. Ive been to tons of community events in the last six weeks, all of which were all face-to-face and very well-attended.

With that being said, theres still a portion of society that probably is uncomfortable coming to gatherings. So I think that any gatherings or any platforms that TPD is invited to, there needs to be virtual meeting options. I want to create opportunities for community listening, whatever that looks like.  The community really needs to drive how TPD does business through its concerns, priorities and the values that the community has.

Officer wellness is the next one. What do you think is missing at TPD? And what is your plan to address that?

I think TPD is pretty classic in the model that we have an Employee Assistance Program that officers can reach out to if they feel like they need help. They can go to the gym and they can work out. and I just think that having a gym and having an (Employee Assistance Program) is not enough. Theres always been a stigma attached to officers reaching out for help, and I really want to kind of change that culture a little bit and change that message that its OK to not be OK and to ask for help if you need it in order to save your career, your family, your livelihood, everything that can be lost when an officer goes down the spiral of alcohol abuse or drug abuse or domestic violence or whatever is causing that stress.

I just ordered 1,000 copies of Emotional Survival for Law Enforcement by Dr. Kevin Gilmartin to pass out to all of my sworn members of my agency. It just gives tips for coping mechanisms of, like, how to get a better sleep at night and how to eat healthy and how to just try to not let the stress eat you alive.  I think that the officers in order to better serve the community need to have happy and healthy lives, both physically and mentally.

Your third goal is reducing violent crime. What can be done about gun violence that hasnt already been tried, especially when it comes to the increase of juveniles getting shot and doing the shooting? You recently said youve had conversations with Hillsborough State Attorney Andrew Warren and Hillsborough Public Defender Julianne Holt and that focusing on children is a priority.

The first conversation I had was with Andrew Warren. We both came to the conclusion that the No. 1 priority in the community needs to be gun violence, so at least our priorities completely aligned.

I went back and met with my chaplains pretty early on in March and I said, Listen, what can we do together to make the community safer? And they were all in unison, You partner with the churches. The churches and the pastors reach such large audiences, and people that feel less than secure in their lives often reach out to their pastors and their faith leaders to make them feel better. If the message from the pastors and the priests and all of our faith-based leaders is Gun violence is not the answer and If you see something, say something, then were reaching a much larger audience, and its a trusted member spreading that message.

As far as youth violence is concerned, Ive partnered with Rise Up for Peace. That is led by Patricia Brown and Jay Johnson. Both of those individuals lost their children to senseless gun violence. They want the community to know that this gun violence needs to stop, that gun violence, particularly for youth, is not the answer.

Many of the neighborhoods most affected by violent crime are communities of color where trust in the police is sometimes tenuous. How do you increase trust in those communities to improve the chances of getting cooperation to successfully investigate and prosecute crimes?

Transparency, legitimacy and communication. I really believe in strong communication. I have to have an open ear and I have to have an open mind to anything the community says, and that includes all of the rank and file of Tampa PD, not just me. And we need to be transparent and have credibility with the community by doing what we say were going to do. If we say were going to increase our presence in the parks during the summer to prevent gun violence or were going to engage in more youth programs or were going to partner with the pastors on patrol or the clergy, they need to see us doing that because actions are much louder than words.

How do you plan to track progress on the violent crime fight and hold yourself and the department accountable for that progress?

Progress and success is tracked by data and metrics, so if we just look at the murder rate or the violent crime rate and it continues to be on the plus side, then weve got problems. We really need to be laser-focused on the number of shootings that we have, and Im not even talking murders. Im talking nonfatal shootings because those far exceed the murders.

The Tampa Police Department is very fortunate to have a lot of technology and a lot of evidence-based policing initiatives that we can use in order to link cases together and bring cases to successful resolution. It should be no surprise that a lot of these cases that we see are linked to each other, whether its retaliation or whether its gang-related. I have a new data integrity unit thats working directly for the chiefs office that is carefully analyzing all of our crime rates, particularly our violent crime, and they analyze the numbers every day.

Youve emphasized the need to identify the root causes of crime and work with partners including social services to address those root causes. What is the department doing on that front and does more need to be done?

The department is still kind of in its infancy stage in this area, and its just going to have to be built as time goes on. We do have a new behavioral health unit, an officer partnered with a clinician, and the co-response model goes out and tries to intervene on mental health calls to provide services at that level to avoid mental health calls in the future, to get that person the help that they need.

But I think the bigger picture here is reaching out to our partners. We have a lot of partners in the community that are working on social services. We have Gracepoint, we have ACTS (Agency for Community Treatment Services), we have Meals on Wheels. We have so many wonderful organizations out there that are providing social service resources to our community members. And I think that being able to partner with them and making sure that were not overlapping any services and making sure that any gaps are filled is key.

Obviously, we have a very big opioid crisis going on and we have an Opioid Task Force, where our detectives are going out to the overdoses in order to try to identify the root cause of it, i.e. the dealer that dealt the fentanyl to the person that overdosed, whether theyre still alive or theyre not. So were trying to get the bigger picture of opioids, and how were doing that is through our federal partnerships. Last week, I hosted a very large meeting at TPD headquarters of our federal partners. I had the U.S. attorney there, I had DEA, ATF, FBI. We all got together to see how we can take our partnerships and our prosecutions to the next level.

You werent with the department during the 2020 protests, but you have a good sense of what happened and the tension between departments and protesters, especially over police tactics at protests. What have you learned about that chapter in the departments history and what is your message to critics of the way the department handled the protests?

Without fully knowing both sides of the story, I would be remiss to come up with an opinion, but I want the community to know that I respect the rights of every community member and I respect the right to express their freedom of speech, their right to protest. But we have to meet somewhere in the middle as far as where the criminal activity is concerned. I think that once it turns into illegal activity, we have to do our job, but yet we have to respect each others opinion.

It was very hard to watch from the outside looking in. Theres obviously a lot of disenchantment in the community, theres obviously a lot of pain, and were going to be respectful of that, but we also have a mission, and our mission statement is pretty simple. Its to reduce crime and improve the quality of life through a cooperative partnership.

The demographics of the departments officers are not really reflective of the city it polices. A recent check showed about 70 percent of officers are white and only about 43 percent of the city is. Whats being done to address this and can more be done, and if so, what?

I think that we need to have recruiters in place so that young men and women of color or other ethnicities, i.e. Hispanic, can feel like they can speak to someone who looks like them and has a culture like them. And Ive heard that from a lot of community members, about people trusting people who look like them. If thats the case, which Im hearing a lot, then I think we need to diversify our recruitment and personnel division. Thats a start.

How do we reach our young people? How do we reach our Hispanic community? We do it with a Spanish-speaking video. We do it with a Spanish-speaking officer that can recruit Spanish-speaking young people to come and want to be a part of Tampa PD. We increase the youth opportunities to come in and learn what the police department is all about.  I want the department to reflect the community it serves, but thats a challenge and I welcome ideas from the community in that regard.

Critics of the citys Citizen Review Board say it needs more tools to hold the department accountable. They wanted the board to have subpoena power and its own attorney and more members appointed by the City Council. You might recall a compromise was reached last year between the mayors office and the City Council. Where do you stand on giving more power to the board?

I guess I would really have to get to know what the history of the board has been over the course of the last six or seven years that its been in place. Its my understanding that the board and the police department have always had a very good relationship. I dont feel like there was a time, at least I dont know of many times, where the board needed information that we were not able to give them. So if the board requested information, and it was a reasonable request, we supplied it to them. So I guess the need for more power to be given to the board would have to be driven by the boards lack of getting their needs over the last six or seven years, which I dont believe has happened.

Do you believe that officers who use force in the line of duty, up to and including deadly force, should be able to invoke Marsys Law and remain anonymous if theyre an alleged victim of a crime, and what is your policy for these cases moving forward?

I feel like the public deserves to know whats going on in their police department. We serve the public. If the community wants to know something, I feel that we have to make every effort to fulfill that request. I really would like to take it on a case-by-case basis. If an officer is legitimately attacked and doesnt discharge his firearm and is a victim of a crime  I would prefer to invoke Marsys Law and let his name be private. I havent come across this issue yet, but when I do I just want to take in all the facts before I make that decision.

How long do you see yourself doing this job? Police chiefs last about five years nowadays.

I would like to do five years. I think that I have enough gas in my tank and enough energy that I could do five years and then take it from there. I support the mayors needs, whatever the mayor needs from her police chief. If Im the vision that she sees leading the department, Im going to keep this position as long as she feels that were a good match for each other, and I think right now she feels that were a good match for each other and Im going to put the department in a good place.
MSNBC host Rachel Maddow announced she will host her eponymous television show only on Mondays starting in May, she told viewers on her first night back from a hiatus.

MSNBCs top personality shared the news on Monday nights The Rachel Maddow Show, her first time back in prime time since she returned from a two-month hiatus, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Until the end of April, Maddow will host the 9 p.m. slot on MSNBC on Mondays to Thursdays, the Times reported.

We will see how things go, but that is the plan as of now, Maddow told viewers.

Maddow said that she would continue to work on other projects. She took a break from her show to work on podcasts and feature films as part of a deal with NBCUniversal.

One of the things I realized to my surprise is that I actually dont need another hiatus, she said Monday night. This one was great. But I think I only needed the one. I still have these other irons in the fire, all these other things I am working on that I want to bring to fruition.

The news of Maddows new schedule comes after MSNBC recently reorganized its show programming.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Feature: Ugandan teacher on mission to spread Chinese language teaching

Xinhua) 08:57, April 12, 2022

Florence Nakijoba, a Chinese language teacher, interacts with students during a lesson at Entebbe Comprehensive Secondary School in Wakiso, Uganda, April 5, 2022.(Photo by Hajarah Nalwadda/Xinhua)

WAKISO, Uganda, April 11 (Xinhua) -- "Ni hao," students in Kitoro, a tiny village on the shores of Lake Victoria in the central Ugandan district of Wakiso, chorused as they responded to greetings from their Chinese language teacher, Florence Nakijoba.

Murmurs of students passing by, mimicking their peers, indicate a new wave of youngsters in the school eager to learn Chinese, the latest foreign language that was included in the school curriculum by the government back in 2019.

Nakijoba, 26, has been a proponent of this at Entebbe Comprehensive Secondary School, one of the government schools selected to teach the Chinese language.

"I always wanted to be a linguist, learning different languages, and Chinese is one of them," she told Xinhua in a recent interview.

Nakijoba was teaching Luganda and computer studies in 2019, before she took a nine-month training course in Chinese language teaching, as the government rolled out Mandarin in the school curriculum.

"I was very scared at first, but with time I got used to the language," she said. "By the end of nine months, I had reached level four."

In her class of about 90 students, Nakijoba teaches intonations, tenses and sentence construction of Mandarin.

The class, which is composed of students in their early teenage years, is still at the elementary level of learning the language.

Some students said that learning the Chinese language is one of the ways of widening their opportunities, especially as the Asian country deepens its ties with Africa.

Charles Bwebale, one of the students, said being multilingual widens one's opportunities.

"We hear China is one of the successful countries in the world, so when you know Chinese, you can engage them, you can do business (with the Chinese)," he said.

Ephraim Muwonge, deputy headmaster of the school, told Xinhua that parents have embraced the idea of their children learning the Chinese language, one of the sure ways of deepening the people-to-people relations between Uganda and China.

"We should teach Chinese," he said. "At the end of it, we shall benefit."

Nakijoba has extended Chinese language teaching beyond the school premises, offering online lessons for some learners.

She said that online learning was at its height during the lockdown last year as the country grappled with the COVID-19 pandemic. Many parents put their children on online Chinese language learning programs.

One major highlight of her Chinese language tutoring came earlier this year, Nakijoba said, when she was tasked with teaching Chinese songs to Ugandan musicians who were preparing for a Lunar New Year performance.

Back home, Nakijoba's siblings and parents are all excited that she speaks and teaches Chinese.

"My parents, up to now, still cannot believe I can speak Chinese," she said.

Ephraim Muwonge, deputy headmaster of Entebbe Comprehensive Secondary School, speaks in an interview with Xinhua in Wakiso, Uganda, April 5, 2022.(Photo by Hajarah Nalwadda/Xinhua)

Florence Nakijoba, a Chinese language teacher, teaches during a lesson at Entebbe Comprehensive Secondary School in Wakiso, Uganda, April 5, 2022.(Photo by Hajarah Nalwadda/Xinhua)

Charles Bwebale writes Chinese characters during a lesson at Entebbe Comprehensive Secondary School in Wakiso, Uganda, April 5, 2022.(Photo by Hajarah Nalwadda/Xinhua)

(Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun)
Evidence markers are seen on the ground as Chicago police process a crime scene in the 4800 block of South Wells Street, where a female was fatally shot and a male was critically injured on Feb. 11, 2022. (Terrence Antonio James / Chicago Tribune)

The Chicago Police Department has improved its training processes for officers and devoted significant attention to its foot pursuit policy, but it also faces significant struggles with community engagement and building trust, according to a report on the departments progress toward making court-ordered reforms.

The biannual report released Tuesday offered a snapshot of CPDs ongoing reform effort  finding that the department had reached some level of compliance in more than 70% of the provisions reviewed but also noting challenges the department continues to encounter. The report evaluates CPDs compliance with the consent decree during the second half of 2021.

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In an unusual move, Maggie Hickey, the former federal prosecutor whos the court-appointed independent monitor, attached a letter to the report that nodded to major changes instituted by CPD under the guidance of the consent decree, but also outlined outgoing problems that plague the department as it works to comply with the consent decree.

Constitutional and effective policing and the Consent Decree require more than a simple checklist: the CPD and other relevant City entities must become learning organizations, capable of identifying new and existing challenges and implementing corresponding solutions, Hickey wrote.

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The Chicago Police Department has been under the sweeping consent decree since 2019, after a U.S. Department of Justice investigation of the department that came in the wake of the killing of 17-year-old Laquan McDonald by former Chicago police Officer Jason Van Dyke.

Chicago police Superintendent David Brown provides an update on public safety initiatives at the Chicago Tabernacle in the Kilbourn Park neighborhood on April 4, 2022. (E. Jason Wambsgans / Chicago Tribune)

In the letter, Hickey said CPD must significantly improve and demonstrate its commitment to community engagement as well as data collection, analysis and management.

She also made a connection between reform efforts and crime reduction, writing that the two should work hand in hand. Shootings in Chicago remained high last year, during the period evaluated in the report, after they began surging in 2020.

Some resistance to police reform has been from those who believe crime reduction is separate from, or even opposed to, reform efforts, she wrote.

Regarding the report, it overall highlighted community policing and engagement as areas needing particular improvement, saying: The CPDs community engagement efforts continue to frustrate members of Chicagos communities.

Reflecting on the reforms in a briefing before the report was released, Chicago police Superintendent David Brown noted that the department has challenges to overcome in community policing, but said CPD continues to make progress in the long process of complying with the consent degree.

We certainly have a sense of urgency around building trust and engaging in the community, Brown said.

Among challenges outlined in the report: CPD seeks out input from the community on its policies late in the process, depriving people of the chance to offer feedback during the formative phase of the plans. Its office of community policing also has insufficient staffing, and the department has two different vehicles for community policing, Chicago Alternative Policing Strategy (also known as CAPS) with its Neighborhood Policing Initiative (also known as NPI).

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The monitoring team wrote that, despite asking for clarification for two years, it remains unclear how CPD will merge the two initiatives.

We continue to be concerned about how the CPD understands and discerns the differences and nuances among community engagement, community partnerships, community relationships, community policing, and community service, the report said.

The report also criticized the departments recent focus on generating at least 1.5 million positive community interactions. The effort, first reported by the Chicago Sun-Times, was meant to build trust in the community, but the independent monitoring team wrote that it may ultimately undermine this goal.

Though such interactions do have a role in building trust among Chicagoans, CPD appears to be overemphasizing them, the report said.

The department also seems to be seeking quantity over quality, the report said. It does not have a clear definition of what constitutes a positive community interaction nor a sound way to track and maintain quality control of the data.

CPD seriously risks increasing negative interactions, damaging public trust, and undermining its ability to ensure it is providing constitutional and effective policing, the report said.

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In a statement, the ACLU of Illinois said the report should be a wake up call for CPD and Mayor Lori Lightfoot. It called on the department to abandon its quota for positive community interactions and meaningfully seek community input on its policies and procedures.

They must move beyond timid, preliminary steps and fully embrace the measures necessary for fundamentally changing the nature of policing in Chicago, the statement read.

Among other areas where CPD needs to improve, the report noted that the Bureau of Internal Affairs, which investigates misconduct in the department, has lagged behind the progress of other departments.

Still, the department made progress in areas such as training, where it significantly improved in the resources allocated to some trainings, though the report says the department still has challenges efficiently tracking attendance.

Also, in response to community input, the department began requiring officers to physically intervene  rather than just verbally  when they see excessive force, the report said.

CPD officials have consistently maintained that complying with the consent decree is a long process that moves forward in phases.

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The departments 70% compliance rate marks an increase over the last monitoring period, which achieved a little more than 50%.

This  is real and significant progress, Brown said.

During the first half of 2021, the department was found to be in at least some compliance with about 52% of the provisions evaluated in that monitoring period. CPD also met 26 of the 51 agreed-on deadlines.

In that report, the independent monitor highlighted concerns with the departments progress toward implementing a foot pursuit policy in the wake of the shooting death of 13-year-old Adam Toledo in March 2021. The report said the police department, though it has an interim policy, missed the deadline to formulate the new policy.

Friends and relatives of 13-year-old Adam Toledo light candles during a gathering at a mural in his memory, in the 3600 block of West Ogden Avenue, March 29, 2022, in Chicago. Adam was fatally shot by a Chicago police officer during a foot pursuit on March 29, 2021. (John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune)

The report also said the departments foot pursuit data was likely inaccurate.

Offering an update on the foot pursuit concerns, Robert Boik, executive director of constitutional policing and reform at the Chicago Police Department, told reporters the department will have a foot pursuit policy in place at some point this year. He also said the department is working on the data inaccuracies, and will have a form for officers to fill out that will help in the data collection.

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A federal judge in March granted CPD a three-year extension to comply with the consent decree, giving the department a total of eight years to meet all of the court-ordered reforms.

To do it right and really make the change the community is expecting of the Police Department, and has demanded of the Police Department, it takes time to get there, Boik said.
Rachel Maddow will host her MSNBC show only on Mondays starting in May.

On the other nights of the week, Tuesday through Friday, other hosts will helm the show, reported The Washington Post.

There are no current plans for a new host to replace Maddow, according to Deadline.

Maddow had previously been on a hiatus from her show since February as she worked on other projects, including a podcast and Bag Man, a movie directed by Ben Stiller that is based on her book and podcast of the same name.

Maddow, who has hosted her show since 2008, has been MSNBCs top-rated host, according to Deadline, but in her absence, viewership has dipped.

This article originally appeared on HuffPost and has been updated.

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Security system artwork

An online forum providing criminals with stolen personal data has been taken down, in a global operation which saw its founder arrested.

Found on the open web rather than the darknet, RaidForums hosted sensitive financial information and "served as a major online marketplace for hackers".

Its founder and chief administrator Diego Santos Coelho, 21, from Portugal, was arrested in the UK on 31 January.

The US Department for Justice said he remains in custody pending extradition.

Separately the National Crime Agency (NCA) reported police had arrested another suspected founder of the site - a 21 year-old from Croydon - at his home in March.

He has since been released, under investigation, but at the time of his arrest officers seized 5,000 in cash, thousands of US dollars and activated a freeze on crypto assets worth more than half a million dollars.

Criminal marketplace

RaidForums launched in 2015 and gained prominence in criminal circles by offering access to high-profile database leaks, which could be used to enable crimes such as fraud.

According to the threat intelligence firm Recorded Future, the site contained more than 530,000 registered members and was a powerful tool among low to mid-level cyber-criminals.

The compromised data, which hackers bought and sold, included information stolen from UK companies, some of which related to credit cards, bank accounts, usernames and passwords.

Investigators found that the forum was operating a membership scheme, where users of the site paid up to 10 euros for access to chatrooms which allowed the exchange of photographs and data linked to cyber-crime.

They suspected that administrators of the website, based in the UK, were helping to manage its membership, as well as laundering payments to the site through a separate - seemingly legitimate - online business.

International Operation

Police from the UK, US, Germany, Sweden, Portugal and Romania were all involved in the dismantling of the online platform.

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Under Operation Tourniquet, the international partners took action to close RaidForums and carried out a number of linked arrests.

The illegal marketplace #RaidForums has been shut down 



Its administrator & two accomplices arrested 



Once again, international #lawenforcement cooperation leads to a major success  and we are just getting started.#StrongerTogether pic.twitter.com/gGawRPkimj  EC3 (@EC3Europol) April 12, 2022

"The takedown of this online market for the resale of hacked or stolen data disrupts one of the major ways cyber-criminals profit from the large-scale theft of sensitive personal and financial information," said Assistant Attorney General Kenneth Polite.

"This is another example of how working with our international law enforcement partners has resulted in the shutdown of a criminal marketplace and the arrest of its administrator."

The FBI's Steven M D'Antuono said: "The seizure of the RaidForums website, which facilitated the sale of stolen data from millions of people throughout the world, and the charges against the marketplace's administrator, are a testament to the strength of the FBI's international partnerships."

"Cyber-crime transcends borders, which is why the FBI is committed to working with our partners to bring cyber-criminals to justice - no matter where in the world they live or behind what device they try to hide."

Special agent Jason Kane, from the US Secret Service, said: "This global investigation signifies the remarkable dedication of the US Secret Service and highlights our partnerships with our foreign law enforcement counterparts essential to disrupting sophisticated networks of cyber-criminals."
Jason Ravnsborg and a screen shot of his letter to lawmakers

PIERRE  A spokesman for South Dakota Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg issued two letters on Monday night ahead of the House's vote to impeach him after a 2020 fatal crash.

In the first letter to lawmakers, Ravnsborg defended his actions following a Sept. 12, 2020 accident that killed Joe Boever. The letter also accused Gov. Kristi Noem of interfering in the investigation for political gain, slamming the governor and accusing her of calling for his impeachment because of investigations into her behavior.

In the second letter, Ravnsborg's spokesman addresses "evidence, allegations and misconceptions," about the case.

Read both documents below:

Jason Ravnsborg letter to lawmakers ahead of impeachment vote

'Evidence, allegations and misconceptions' letter

Ravnsborg's letter comes ahead of the full House convening Tuesday in Pierre to decide whether the attorney general should be impeached for the accident, which killed 55-year-old Joe Boever. Investigators alleged that Ranvsborg had been reading news articles on his phone prior to the crash and that he had driven onto the shoulder of Highway 14 west of Highmore where he hit Boever, who was walking along the highway.

This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: South Dakota AG Jason Ravnsborg sends two letters to lawmakers
Renton Junior High School in New Boston

Huron Township Director of Public Safety Everette Robbins

NEW BOSTON -- A 12-year-old Renton Junior High School student was taken into custody for making a joke about shooting up the school, a statement police and district officials did not find one bit humorous.

On Monday the Huron Township Police Departments school resource officer and members of the detective bureau took the student into custody while at the New Boston school. The girl is being held pending formal criminal charges being filed.

I am honestly unsure how the message has not gotten out to all students that this behavior and threats of this type are unacceptable and is not funny under any circumstance, said Huron Township Director of Public Safety Everette Robbins. We will continue to have a zero-tolerance policy regarding threats of any kind to our schools and our students, period.

According to Donovan Rowe, superintendent of Huron Schools, a student reported to his teacher Monday morning that he received a prank call while at home, around 11 p.m. the previous evening.

The student reported that the caller made a comment about "shooting up the school" while on the phone. The student also stated the girl called back shortly afterward and said the previous call was a prank.

As soon as the incident was reported, school officials notified the school resource officer, and the alleged caller was immediately brought to the office. Her locker and her belongings were searched, but no weapons were found. The girl admitted making the call and stated that it was a joke. The students parents were notified and the investigation is ongoing.

Rowe said staff and students were never in an unsafe situation, and the student who made the call was located quickly and brought to the office safely.

Regardless of the student's intent, we take issues like this very seriously, and appropriate disciplinary procedures are being followed in accordance with board policy and the student handbook, Rowe said.

The report will be sent to the Wayne County Prosecutors Office for review of possible charges. The juvenile will be held in custody pending that review.

Once again, we ask parents to have this discussion with your children at home tonight, Robbins said. We all want the same thing for our children, a safe and comfortable learning environment within our great school districts.

This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Renton Junior High 12-year-old student arrested on shooting threat
Spartanburg businessman Geordy Johnson will join Richmond Fed President Tom Barkin in a featured discussion Wednesday at United Community Bank's spring leadership conference in Greenville.

Bank Chairman and CEO Lynn Horton will moderate an economic forum featuring Johnson, Barkin and Mark O'Halla, president and CEO of Prisma Health.

Thomas Barkin, president and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond

Johnson, a board member of the Richmond Fed's branch office in Charlotte, said the forum is an opportunity for Upstate business leaders to understand economic conditions.

It also provides Barkin with local input to guide the Richmond Fed's research economics and inform discussions about monetary policy.

"One way the Richmond Fed connects with this region is through firsthand knowledge of economic conditions," said Johnson, president and director of Johnson Management and CEO of Johnson Development Associates. "That happens when people like Tom Barkin, economists and others visit places around the region, like this week's event in Greenville.

Geordy Johnson, CEO Johnson Development Associates

"As a director on the Charlotte board, every six weeks we also meet with Tom, bank leadership, the research team and others to provide insight into our respective industries and communities across North Carolina and South Carolina," Johnson added. "As a director, I am honored to not only provide valuable insights, but learn more about our nation's rich economy."

You may also like: Cryptocurrency mining company announces $264M investment, 40 jobs in Spartanburg County

More than 250 United Community Bank employees and local business leaders are expected to attend the event at the Peace Center's Gunter Theatre.

Johnson, Barkin and O'Halla are scheduled to hold a discussion on economic and regulatory outlook at 12:30 p.m. Wednesday.

Mark O'Halla, president and CEO of Prisma Health

Barkin has been president and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond since 2018. He serves on the Fed's chief monetary policy body and the Federal Open Market Committee.

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O'Halla has been president and CEO of Prisma Health since July 2019. He previously served five years as executive vice president and chief operating officer of McLaren Health Care in Flint, Mich.

Spartanburg news: Tiny homes on Spartanburg's Northside to provide housing for women experiencing homelessness

Also: Magna Mirrors opens Duncan plant, to supply BMW, other automakers with 1.6M mirrors a year

Johnson began his career as an investment banking analyst at Wachovia Securities, now Wells Fargo Advisors. He is a member of the advisory board for the Wood Center for Real Estate Development at the University of North Carolina's Flagler School of Business.

He also serves as director of the Real Estate Roundtable and is a member of the Palmetto Business Forum.

United Community Bank is headquartered in Greenville and has branch locations Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee and South Carolina, including Spartanburg,

Contact Bob Montgomery at bob.montgomery@shj.com. Please support our coverage of Spartanburg County with a digital subscription.

This article originally appeared on Herald-Journal: Richmond Fed CEO, Spartanburg's Geordy Johnson to speak at forum
Adam Seaney

GALESBURG  A second administrator will leave ROWVA at the end of the school year.

Galesburg District 205 School Board voted to hire Adam Seaney as vocational director at Galesburg High School, effective July 26. Seaney, who replaces the retiring Jeff Houston, will have an annual salary of $91,412.

Seaney is principal of ROVWA High School and Junior High. He was not immediately available for comment as schools are on spring break.

More: What happened in ROWVA? School board splinters over masks, transgender issues, book ban

News of Seaney's departure from ROWVA follows that of Superintendent Joe Sornberger, who has accepted the superintendent position at Jasper County Community Unit School District near Effingham. Sornberger and Seaney will finish the academic year at ROWVA.

Seaney was hired in 2018 as ROWVA principal in 2018. He replaced Joe Peters. Previously he was assistant principal at Parkside Elementary in Lawrenceville, Illinois.

Seaney earned a masters in education leadership and administration from Eastern Illinois University and received his bachelors in physical education and health from Olivet Nazarene University.

More: Superintendent, two board members, teacher resign from ROWVA School District Thursday night

This article originally appeared on Galesburg Register-Mail: ROWVA High School principal takes job in Galesburg
(Reuters) - Russia will launch a lunar probe later this year and deepen cooperation with Belarus on space infrastructure and technology, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday.

Speaking at a meeting with Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko at the Vostochny Cosmodrome in Russia's Far East, Putin recalled Soviet successes in space and said no sanctions on Russia could halt its progress.

What Russia calls its "special military operation" to demilitarise and "denazify" Ukraine triggered a barrage of sanctions from Western countries including restrictions on scientific funding and cooperation.

Putin said Russia would develop a new generation transport spaceship and technologies for nuclear energy in space.

He also said it would launch a probe called Luna-25 to the moon in the third quarter of this year.

Russia would work with Belarus on infrastructure that guarantees the countries independent access to space, said Putin, adding that he'd asked Russia's space agency, Roskosmos, to train a Belarusian for flight on a Russian spacecraft.

(Reporting by Reuters; editing by Guy Faulconbridge)
A sign encourages voters to use Shawnee County's ballot drop box at the Rossville Community Swimming Pool. Monday was the first day for in-person advance voting in the county.

A Shawnee County judge rejected Monday two core parts of a challenge to a controversial election bill enacted last year by the Legislature, including greater restrictions on the collection of mail ballots.

A group of voting rights groups last year challenged House Bill 2183 in court, saying a range of provisions in the law violated the Kansas Constitution.

The legal challenge, filed in June, argues the force of the measure will "make it far harder for specific communities, namely Kansass senior citizens, minorities, young voters, disabled individuals, and rural residents, to cast their ballots."

More: Voter advocacy groups want appeals court to block Kansas election law ahead of August primary

That includes a provision requiring that a person cannot drop off another voter's advanced ballot without a sworn statement from them. A person also cannot return more than 10 ballots in a given election cycle and candidates for office cannot return any ballots.

The law also requires election officials match the signature on an advanced ballot to the one on record.

More: Gov. Kelly signs bill banning sanctuary cities in Kansas, despite Democrats' objections

Judge cited 2021 U.S. Supreme Court ruling

But Shawnee County District Court Judge Teresa Watson dismissed the parts of the lawsuit challenging these two provisions.

In her ruling, she said the provisions should be reviewed with a lower level of scrutiny than what the law's critics wanted. Because of this, she said, any restrictions on voting access were outweighed by the state's interest in preventing voter fraud.

She cited a 2021 U.S. Supreme Court ruling, which found that Arizona restrictions on mail voting did not violate Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, in part due to an interest in cracking down on fraud, real or perceived.

"Plaintiffs assert that there is no evidence of voter fraud or insecurity in Kansas' election processes and thus no need to enact prophylactic measures," Watson wrote. "But as articulated in Brnovich (the Arizona case), the government need not demonstrate that fraud exists to justify taking measures to prevent it."

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She also voters who are concerned about their signature matching can cast their ballot in-person. They could also take advantage of a requirement that county election officials give individuals whose signatures don't line up an opportunity to correct the mistake.

"The Court concludes that the provisions of the (signature verification requirement) are reasonable, non-discriminatory restrictions which are outweighed by the state's compelling state interest in the integrity of its elections," Watson said.

More: Wyandotte County residents cite past discrimination as debate rages over redistricting

Judge didn't rule on core argument

The coalition of voting rights groups is currently appealing a decision by Watson not to block the law's enforcement.

But she did not rule on the core argument of the case, which focuses on a different portion of the law that criminalizes impersonating an election official.

The groups argue they have been forced to shut down their efforts to register Kansans to vote over fear they could be charged with a felony, though supporters of the law say there is no risk of that outcome.

Andrew Bahl is a senior statehouse reporter for the Topeka Capital-Journal. He can be reached at abahl@gannett.com or by phone at 443-979-6100.

This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Controversial 2021 mail voting law partially upheld by Kansas judge
On the 60th anniversary of Algeria's independence from France, descendants of the North Africans deported to the Pacific territory of New Caledonia remember the "silent pain" of their ancestors.

Between 1864 and 1897, as French colonial troops advanced through Algeria, 2,100 people were tried by special or military courts and deported.

They were sent in chains around 18,500 kilometres (11,500 miles) to the other side of the world, to a penal colony on the Pacific archipelago of New Caledonia.

The palm-fringed islands east of Australia are one of France's biggest overseas territories.

"The number of dead, whose bodies were thrown overboard, during the crossing, remains unknown," said Taieb Aifa, whose father was on the last convoy of convicts bought to the colony in 1898.

Those who survived the tough journey became known as the "straw hats" -- a nod to the convicts' headgear as they worked in the blazing sun.

Today, their descendants say that so great is the pain, the story has to be "almost prized from them," Aifa told AFP.

Aifa described a five-month journey to the islands, during which convicts were "chained in the holds" of ships.

For many years, even speaking about his ancestors' tale was taboo.

"A code of silence reigned in the families of deportees," said 89-year-old Aifa, now regarded as a pillar of New Caledonia's "Arab community" after serving as mayor of the small town of Bourail for 30 years.

- Colonised 'became coloniser' -

Aifa's father was sentenced to 25 years for fighting against the French army in Setif, in eastern Algeria.

"From the colonised in Algeria, they became colonisers... On land confiscated from the Kanaks", he said, referring to New Caledonia's indigenous inhabitants.

"In New Caledonia, the French state aimed, as in Algeria, to create a settlement," Aifa said.

Christophe Sand, an archaeologist at the IRD Research Centre in Noumea, who is also the descendant of convicts, said that "the deportees were transformed into colonists".

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While some French convicts were later able to bring their wives, it was forbidden for the Algerians.

Those sentenced to more than eight years in prison -- the majority -- were not allowed to return to Algeria after their sentence, said Sand.

"This process must have abandoned 3,000 to 5,000 orphans in Algeria", he said.

Maurice Sotirio, the grandson of a convict from Constantine in northeast Algeria, described the heartbreaking trauma of his family's past.

"My grandfather left two children in Algeria whom he never saw again", Sotirio said.

The suffering continued even in freedom.

In New Caledonia, the Algerians were second-class citizens since they often did not speak French, but Arabic or Berber, said Sand.

Their children suffered from the stigma, and only a few families kept hold of their origins.

At the end of the 1960s, the descendants came together to form an association, the "Arabs and friends of the Arabs of New Caledonia".

The islands -- so-called because a British sailor thought they looked like Scotland -- have been French territory since 1853.

Today, they have about 270,000 inhabitants, with the economy's mainstays the production of metals, especially nickel, of which New Caledonia is a major global producer.

Algeria, which Paris regarded as an integral part of France, is this year marking six decades since its 1962 independence following a devastating eight-year war.

- 'Healing process' -

In 2006, Aifa took his first trip to Algeria.

He said the visit was like "bringing back his father who, like other Arabs, had suffered from not being able to return and die in his native country".

Aifa, while proud of his Caledonian heritage, also celebrates his roots in Algeria.

"I am also Algerian, I have a link with Algeria, family, land... I managed to obtain my Algerian papers 20 years ago", he said.

Sand, who also travelled to Algeria with two other descendants, said he felt he was "carrying his ancestor on his shoulders" on the flight.

"When I saw, through the porthole, the port of Algiers, where my great-grandfather and his companions had been thrown into the hold, I felt the urge to scream," he said.

Arriving at his ancestral home in the village of Agraradj in the northern Kabylia region, he bent down to touch the earth.

"I felt that the symbolic weight that I had on my shoulders since the beginning of the journey had disappeared," he said. "I brought his exiled spirit back to the place where he was born".

For Sand, you have to go through "this process of healing, of closing the door" to "build a future" in New Caledonia.

"Healing from the trauma of exile allows the Caledonians that we are today to project ourselves into the future, without remaining prisoners of the past," Sand said.

amb/fka/rm/gb/pjm/it
It was the day after Christmas 2018 when retiring Chicago Ald. Daniel Solis signed a secret agreement with federal prosecutors admitting to taking bribes from real estate developers in exchange for his help on zoning issues.

On Tuesday, after nearly 3 1/2 years under wraps, the terms of the unprecedented deferred prosecution agreement Solis signed with the U.S. attorneys office that day were finally made public.

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Solis was charged with a single bribery count on Friday as part of his stunning turn as a government mole, a sitting alderman wearing an undercover wire to help federal investigators build cases against Ald. Edward Burke and ex-House Speaker Michael Madigan.

The bare-bones, one-count criminal information alleged Solis 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.

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In exchange for Solis substantial assistance, however, prosecutors said they will dismiss the case against him in three years as long as he continues to cooperate in the ongoing investigations.

How long that will take is an open question. Burke, who has pleaded not guilty to racketeering conspiracy charges, still has no trial date nearly three years after he was indicted. Madigan, meanwhile, was charged only last month in a separate racketeering case that could take several years to go to trial.

In the agreement with Solis, Assistant U.S. Attorney Amarjeet Bhachu wrote that Solis cooperation will conclude when prosecutors notify the former alderman in writing that all investigations and prosecutions arising from or requiring Mr. Soliss cooperation are final and that his cooperation is complete.

A spokesman for U.S. Attorney John Lausch had no comment Tuesday. Solis attorney, Lisa Noller, also could not be reached.

Solis, 72, is scheduled to be arraigned on the bribery charge Wednesday in a telephone hearing before U.S. District Judge Andrea Wood. The legal formality is likely the last time he will ever be required to appear in court other than to testify or see his case officially dropped.

The eight-page agreement filed Tuesday included a statement of facts that linked $15,000 in campaign donations to the Michigan Avenue Real Estate Group, a developer backed by Chicago Bulls owner Jerry Reinsdorf that was seeking Solis help with zoning on a project to put a residential building on the former Carmichaels Chicago steakhouse.

Unbeknown to Solis at the time, the FBI was listening in on his phone calls, and agents recorded a July 2015 conversation where one of the aldermans aides warned about the optics of hitting up the groups top executive, Tom Meador, for campaign donations so soon in advance of approving their zoning change.

Solis disregarded the advice, telling the aide that Meador and his associates should be able to structure it so it would not look suspicious, according to an FBI affidavit unsealed in 2019.

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They should be smart enough to figure out how they can give me a contribution, you know, not necessarily connecting with them, so Im just gonna tell them, Solis allegedly said on the wiretapped call.

Yeah, absolutely, Im sure, the unidentified aide replied, according to the affidavit. Hes got like 25 LLCs.

On Aug. 26, 2015, two other executives from Michigan Avenue Real Estate Group  Al Lieberman and Robert Judelson  each donated $5,000 to Solis campaign fund, according to details contained in the deferred prosecution agreement and state election board records.

Two days later, Solis asked one of the developers representatives if they were going to his annual fundraiser in September 2015, which the representative confirmed, according to Solis agreement with prosecutors.

Solis chaired the Zoning Committee meeting on Sept. 21, 2015, where Developer As zoning change was recommended. On that same day, a third executive from the company donated another $5,000 to Solis 25th Ward fund, the agreement stated.

The change was passed by the full City Council three days later, with Solis voting in favor of the project, the agreement stated.

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No one else has been charged as part of the alleged bribery scheme.

Meador, Lieberman and Judelson could not immediately be reached.

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, 72, will not only escape any jail time, but he could 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.

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.

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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.

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.

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Burke was indicted in May 2019 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.

One recording made by Solis allegedly captured Madigan agreeing to look for a colleague to sponsor a House bill approving the parcels sale, according to the indictment against Madigan.

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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. 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.

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.

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Burkes lawyers alleged that despite Solis best efforts, Burke never agreed on tape to provide any official action in exchange for private business.

But prosecutors have 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 motions in the coming weeks.

jmeisner@chicagotribune.com
DNY59 / Getty Images/iStockphoto

Local Social Security offices are offering more in-person services  but the Social Security Administration (SSA) is telling Americans to expect large crowds, long waits and service delays. To avoid long waits, the SSA advises to call ahead and schedule an appointment, however, the SSA has also warned the public of busy signals or dropped calls.

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Ways and Means Republican Leader Kevin Brady (R-TX), Subcommittee on Social Security Republican Leader Tom Reed (R-NY) and Subcommittee on Oversight Republican Leader Tom Rice (R-SC) have sent a letter to Ways and Means Chairman Richard Neal (D-MA) to hold a hearing to discuss these challenges.

In light of the ongoing difficulties that the public continues to face when trying to reach the SSA, and with offices already reopening, the American people deserve to understand how the SSA plans to manage this transition and improve on the service it provides to the public, the letter states.

In the more than two years since the SSA closed its offices to the general public, this committee has not held a single hearing to discuss these challenges, despite the difficulties that our constituents have had and continue to face when trying to do business with the SSA, the letter continues.

U.S. Senators Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Bob Casey (D-PA) sent a letter in March urging President Biden to create a Beneficiary Advocate position within the SSA to act as a voice for beneficiaries.

Democrats also sent a letter to Acting Commissioner Dr. Kilolo Kijakazi in January requesting an update on how the SSA plans to improve service delivery to the public.

See: 10 Reasons You Should Claim Social Security Early

Find: 7 Things Every Woman Should Know About Social Security

The letter cited a report that found that nearly half of the 151 million callers to field offices and the national 800-number went unanswered, including 16.4 million callers who gave up while waiting in the queue. Many of these service issues have persisted long before the pandemic, but COVID-19 has amplified and exacerbated these gaps in service for all, particularly for those whose sole source of income is Social Security, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), or both.

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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Social Security Office Struggles: Republicans Urge Change as Backlogs and Wait Times Persist
EL SEGUNDO, Calif.  Elastic is the word Boeings President of Commercial Satellites Ryan Reid uses to describe the relationship between the companys commercial, government and small satellite divisions.

Heres what he means by that. When his team used digital technologies to significantly shrink the size of its traditional satellite communications payload, they no longer needed as much room to build it. So, they shifted to a smaller space. That made room for Millennium Space Systems, a Boeing-owned small-satellite company that is expanding its manufacturing capacity, to move in.

Along with helping accommodate Millenniums growth, the resized payload can now fit on smaller satellites, offering a more flexible, powerful communications capability they may not have had access to before.

Vice President and Deputy General Manager of Boeings Space and Launch Division Michelle Parker told reporters during a recent visit to the companys El Segundo, Calif., satellite factory, that Boeings purchase of Millennium in 2018 has added depth to its space portfolio at a time when customers are wanting new technology, resilient architectures and rapid production timelines.

Weve been able to take the Boeing knowledge of production, mission space understanding, advanced manufacturing, and help Millennium with that, she said. And Millennium has brought to our family that diversity of products and satellite sizes. . . . The way they do design and development and rapid prototyping is really something were looking to infuse not just in our Millennium products, but through all of our space products.

This kind of flexibility is something many space companies are embracing as they adjust to growing government and commercial demand for hybrid satellite constellations that feature more small space vehicles operating in a more diverse range of orbits.

Growing demand

Reid said that while the shift from large satellites in geostationary orbit to low Earth orbit constellations had led many analysts to predict a future where GEO systems were less relevant, that hasnt proved out. Instead, diversity appears to be the trend in both commercial and government markets.

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What weve seen is, I think, a realization and a recognition that the future is not a GEO thing, its not a [non-GEO] thing, but its really this kind of hybrid, multi-orbit solution that really depends on what kinds of mission and customer base our operators and customers fundamentally are trying to address, Reid said.

On the government side, the push for hybrid architectures is largely a push for resiliency, driven by the idea that more satellites in more orbits makes it harder for adversaries to take out large swaths of capability at once.

Speaking April 5 at the Space Symposium in Colorado Springs, Colo., Chief of Space Operations Gen. John Raymond said the service is embarking on a transformation to more resilient architectures with diverse mixes of capabilities across multiple orbits.

If we are going to migrate away from our large, monolithic systems to hybrid, diversified space architectures, we cannot continue to build expensive satellites with exquisite mission assurance, he said. We need to focus on the reduction of cost as the key driver to build incredibly distributed architectures that are resilient in a fight. The government cannot afford a distributed, resilient force design unless industry changes with us.

The Space Force last year created a new Space Warfighting Analysis Center tasked with analyzing, and in some cases redesigning, the services constellations to help achieve that end.

The SWAC completed its first force design effort last fall for the space-based missile warning and tracking mission, calling for a layered approach that augments the Space Forces GEO-based Next-Generation Overhead Persistent Infrared System with the Space Development Agencys vision for a missile tracking layer composed of hundreds of small wide-field-of-view satellites based in LEO. The services fiscal 2023 budget included a $1 billion increase for Next-Gen OPIRs space and ground segments and another $1 billion for the SDA tracking work and a future MEO-based layer.

The SWAC is conducting similar analysis of other mission areas, including satellite communications and positioning, navigation and timing, that could drive more small satellites into those architectures as well.

Expanding production

Millennium currently builds small satellite prototypes at its headquarters, about a mile away from Boeings satellite factory in El Segundo, Calif. The space is busy  and busting at the seams. Or, as CEO Jason Kim told reporters during a recent tour of the building, Its jam-packed.

By the end of this year, the companys new small satellite factory at Boeings larger facility will be fully operational, with all the tooling and processes in place to support Millenniums current customers. The company will continue to develop prototypes at its current location, but the move into Boeings facility will enable it increase its throughput and work on larger constellations

Im not going to put a number on it, Kim said, when asked about the companys projected production rates once the floor is up and running. Were modular and flexible, and we can meet the different customers demand.

Along with a new pulse production line, which means parts move sequentially through a series of work stations, the new facility will have an integration and test space as well as a feeder line where Millennium will develop its dual-use satellite products, including batteries, software-defined radios, flight computers and star trackers.

The process, Kim said, is similar to that of a company developing a concept car or aircraft, proving it works and then putting it into production.

Were building the prototypes and the prototype small constellations, he said. Once its all wrung out and we launch those, we will transition seamlessly here to build them in a very, very large constellation fashion.

Lockheed Martin is also making adjustments to accommodate significant growth in small satellite production at its Waterton Campus in Littleton, Colo. The company is on contract to build 52 satellites across the first two phases of the SDAs Transport Layer  which will create an on-orbit mesh network in LEO to connect space-based sensors with shooters on the ground  and is anticipating more small satellite business in the future.

Lockheed is currently assembling the SDA space vehicles on the same floor where it builds satellites for the Space Forces GPS and Next-Generation OPIR systems, but as it incrementally scales up its SDA production line, its making plans to expand and shift that work into another facility on its campus in the next year.

Erik Daehler, Lockheeds protected communications mission area lead, told C4ISRNET in a recent interview that the new production space will accommodate future orders from SDA as well as other customers.

We have multiple customers asking for satellites in this class and this production scale, Daehler said. This will become the heart of that production system, but well be delivering satellites like this in the long term.

Kristin Robertson, president of space and command and control systems for Raytheon Intelligence and Space, says having a diverse, vertically integrated portfolio is key to responding to customer demands. Raytheon in 2020 bought Blue Canyon Technologies, a small satellite company, and then last November completed its acquisition of SEAKR Engineering, a space electronics provider.

Speaking with C4ISRNET in a recent interview, Robertson was hesitant to project future production quantities, but said the company is prepared to increase its capacity as needed.

Were investing to grow, because the market and the demand signal is there, she said.

Small-satellite demand has also driven changes at L3Harris, a company traditionally known for its space technology development. In recent years, the company has been building up its manufacturing capacity and last year announced it would expand its facility in Melbourne, Fla., and increase its production throughput to six satellites per month.

That increased capacity makes room for development and testing of the Air Force Research Laboratorys experimental positioning, navigation and timing satellite, NTS-3  which could be part of a future hybrid PNT architecture  as well as the companys missile tracking work for SDA and the Missile Defense Agency.

Tim Lynch, vice president of the space and airborne segment at L3Harris, told C4ISRNET the investment in those facilities has paid off for the company, preparing it to respond to Department of Defense and intelligence community needs. He said he projects the company will build between 75 and 100 satellites over the next three to five years.

The architectures are all pointing towards multiple satellites in multiple different orbits, which plays directly into where weve invested very strongly over the last five years, Lynch said. Our internal research and development is really focused on how do you build exquisite capability at an affordable price and how do you package that in a small volume so that you can launch a lot of satellites at one time.
MADRID (Reuters) - Spain's High Court has sentenced a 65-year-old security guard to a seven-and-half-year prison term for discussing assassinating Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on a far-right WhatsApp chat in 2018 and possessing illegal guns.

Manuel Murillo Sanchez was sentenced to two-and-a-half years for attempted murder and five years for possession of war weapons, a court document released on Tuesday said. He was also prohibited from owning firearms for the next eight years.

He can appeal the sentence. His lawyer did not immediately return calls seeking comment.

In August 2018, Murillo offered to "hunt down" Sanchez "like a deer and put his head on a chimney" after the Spanish government ordered former dictator Francisco Franco's body exhumed from a state mausoleum outside Madrid.

Even though Franco's rule ended with his death in 1975, Spanish public opinion is still divided over the 1936-1939 Spanish Civil War, which tore apart families and communities, and the legacy of the ensuing dictatorship.

Over the past 20 years, the attempts of left-wing governments to eliminate the dictatorship's remnants have prompted the ire of far-right fringe groups nostalgic for the era.

On the chats, Murillo also asked for help to organise an attack and bragged about the guns he owned and his ability as a sharpshooter. "I'm a sniper and with an accurate shot Sanchez is over," he said.

The judges dismissed Murillo's defence that he was drunk when making those comments. He has already spent two years in preventive custody between September 2018 and September 2020, when he was released ahead of the ruling.

(Reporting by Christina Thykjaer; Editing by Inti Landauro and Alex Richardson)
Protesters near the parliament building in Colombo have been demanding the president resign

Sri Lanka has said it will temporarily default on its foreign debts amid its worst economic crisis in over 70 years.

Officials said the impact of the pandemic and the Ukraine war made it "impossible" to pay its creditors.

The South Asian country has seen mass protests as it suffers food shortages, soaring prices and power cuts.

It is due to start talks with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) next week on a loan programme to get its economy back on track.

Sri Lanka's finance ministry said it otherwise had an "unblemished record" of paying its dues since independence from the UK in 1948.

"Recent events, however... have eroded Sri Lanka's fiscal position that continued normal servicing of external public debt obligations has become impossible," it said in a statement on Tuesday.

The IMF had assessed Sri Lanka's debt to be unsustainable last month, the ministry noted.

"Although the government has taken extraordinary steps in an effort to remain current on all of its external indebtedness, it is now clear that this is no longer a tenable policy," it said.

"A comprehensive restructuring of these obligations will be required."

Credit rating agencies have not yet classified the move as a default.

S&P Global Ratings said it had "nothing to say at this stage" when approached by the BBC.

In January, the firm lowered Sri Lanka's rating to a classification where it was "currently vulnerable and dependent on favourable business, financial and economic conditions to meet financial commitments".

Moody's and Fitch Ratings did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Lakshini Fernando of Asia Securities welcomed the move by Sri Lanka's government, and called it "the better option compared with a hard default".

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"We expect Sri Lanka's current credit rating to be downgraded to 'selective default' or 'restricted default' following the announcement," Ms Fernando said.

She noted that Sri Lanka had $78m (60m) in international sovereign bond payments due next week.

Sri Lanka's foreign reserves stood at $1.93bn at the end of March. However, it has around $4bn in foreign debt payments due this year.

The country recently named a new central bank chief and almost doubled its key interest rate to help tackle soaring prices and shortages of essential goods.

In recent weeks, demonstrators have taken to the streets of the capital Colombo as homes and businesses were hit with long power cuts.

Sri Lankans are faced with shortages and rising inflation after the country steeply devalued its currency last month ahead of talks with the IMF over a bailout.
ProFootball Talk on NBC Sports

The Browns and Baker Mayfield may eventually need each other in 2022. Someone may be trying to blow things up before it ever gets to that point. A new article from Jake Trotter of ESPN.com throws more bituminous on the burn pile in Cleveland, highlighting how and why player and team got to the point [more]
Associated Press

Sri Lankas beleaguered government won a key vote in Parliament on Thursday as a ruling coalition-backed candidate was elected deputy speaker, despite growing public pressure on the government amid the worst economic crisis in decades. The vote was seen as crucial to demonstrate that the government still has majority support in the 225-member Parliament after 40 governing coalition lawmakers said last month they would no longer vote according to coalition instructions. It was feared that their move would significantly weaken the government and that it might also lose a majority.
Steven Seagal reiterated his support for Vladimir Putin and his allies at a party in Moscow for his 70th birthday, it has emerged.

The star of several Hollywood action films, including Under Siege, attended a dinner held in his honour at a restaurant in Moscow on Sunday (10 April).

According to the Financial Times, the allies present at the event included Russian state TV host Vladimir Soleviev and Russian journalist Margarita Simonyan, both of whom have been placed on an EU sanctions list in response to Putins invasion of Ukraine.

In a video shared on Twitter, Seagal, who previously called Putin one of the greatest world leaders, if not the greatest world leader, alive today, could be seen calling everyone in the room my family and my friends.

He added in English, with a translator by his side: I love all of you and we stand together, through thick and through thin.

Seagals praise of Putin comes as Russias invasion of Ukraine enters its sixth week. In March, Seagal told Fox News Digital that he looks at both Russia and Ukraine as one family.

Most of us have friends and family in Russia and Ukraine, he said at the time. I look at both as one family and really believe it is an outside entity spending huge sums of money on propaganda to provoke the two countries to be at odds with each other.

Steven Seagal praised Putin at his birthday party in Moscow (Getty Images)

My prayers are that both countries will come to a positive, peaceful resolution where we can live and thrive together in peace, Seagal added.

In 2018, Russia appointed the Above The Law actor as a special envoy to improve ties with the US.

The Russian Foreign Ministry said Seagals responsibility would be to facilitate relations between Russia and the United States in the humanitarian field, including cooperation in culture, arts, public and youth exchanges.

When Seagal received his Russian citizenship in 2017, Ukraine barred him from entering the country, as fighting between Russian rebels and Ukrainian forces escalated in eastern Ukraine.

The Independent has a proud history of campaigning for the rights of the most vulnerable, and we first ran our Refugees Welcome campaign during the war in Syria in 2015. Now, as we renew our campaign and launch this petition in the wake of the unfolding Ukrainian crisis, we are calling on the government to go further and faster to ensure help is delivered. To find out more about our Refugees Welcome campaign, click here. To sign the petition click here. If you would like to donate then please click here for our GoFundMe page.
Sen Marsha Blackburn (Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

GOP Sen Marsha Blackburn amused more than a few of her Twitter followers on Tuesday when she insisted that residents of her state wanted a wall on our border, apparently referring to the US border with Mexico.

Ms Blackburn is one of many Republicans who have returned to the issue of immigration as a line of attack against the Biden administration, which recently announced the end of a CDC rule allowing DHS agents at the border to turn away migrants seeking asylum due to Covid fears.

The Republican lawmakers state is nowhere near the USs southern border with Mexico; as such, her insistence that residents of the state supported the construction of a border wall resulted in users mockingly questioning what Ms Blackburns beef was with the state of Alabama, one of its southern neighbours.

One example was a response from left-leaning journalist Molly Jong-Fast, who tweeted in response: But then people from Alabama wont be able to come in.

But then people from Alabama wont be able to come in.  Molly Jong-Fast (@MollyJongFast) April 12, 2022

[T}ennesseeans finally telling mississippi, alabama and georgia whats what, joked Ian Bremmer, president of the Eurasia Group.

tennesseeans finally telling mississippi, alabama and georgia whats what  ian bremmer (@ianbremmer) April 12, 2022

Another user wrote, [t]ell Tennesseans their southern border is with Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia, and that neither of three states will pay for that wall.

Tell Tennesseans their southern border is with Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia, and that neither of three states will pay for that wall. pic.twitter.com/tItEBOI7OK  Nameless Individual (@mvocc) April 11, 2022

Others, like 2020 presidential candidate Marianne Williamson, did not go for a joke and instead questioned the senators priorities for federal spending.

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Will you take money from healthcare for Tennessees citizens, from feeding Tennessees hungry children and educating Tennessees uneducated children, in order to pay for for it? Is that what you and your pals call good governance? asked Ms Williamson.

Will you take money from healthcare for Tennessees citizens, from feeding Tennessees hungry children and educating Tennessees uneducated children, in order to pay for for it? Is that what you and your pals call good governance?  Marianne Williamson (@marwilliamson) April 12, 2022

The White House has defended the CDCs independence and denied any political considerations regarding the decision to rescind Title 42, the controversial directive that allowed the Department of Homeland Security to sharply curtail asylum requests during the Covid pandemic.

Progressives, conversely, have cheered the end of the rule and called on the White House to do more to rebuild the asylum system that Biden officials have repeatedly characterised as gutted by the previous administration.

Many experts agreed that the rule was being kept in place due to the convenience of its use to deter migration, and argued that it violated international law. In Congress, Hispanic Democrats furiously described the rule as a racist relic of the Trump administration.

Today is a bright spot in our nations history with the end of the Trump-initiated Title 42 policy, Congressional Hispanic Caucus chair Rep Raul Ruiz said when the policy was lifted in early April.

The CHC repeatedly called for the end of this policy, which was fueled by Trumps anti-immigrant hate and fear agenda that used the pandemic as an excuse to deny asylum seekers their legal right to due process, he continued at the time in a statement.
Updated April 12

San Antonio Independent School District will soon have a new superintendent  Jaime Aquino, a reform-friendly career educator with experience in the nations largest school systems.

I will work tirelessly to ensure that every child in every school receives the highest quality education possible. I dont take this job lightly, Aquino said at a Monday school board meeting. In touring the schools in San Antonio during the interview process, he said, he was inspired by their stories, by their hopes, and by their sense of optimism.

Mondays announcement, which will be followed by a mandatory 21-day waiting period before a contract can be signed, comes six months after Pedro Martinez left the job to helm Chicago Public Schools. Many are hoping Aquino will pick up where Martinez and his innovation chief, Mohammed Choudhury, left off.

Pedro, Mohammed Choudhury and our board ran the first lap of a race, but that race is far from finished, former district board Trustee Steve Lecholop told The 74. Lecholop, who also had a large hand in recruiting Martinez to San Antonio in 2015, played an active role in the search, despite losing his board seat in 2021 to one of Martinezs most outspoken critics. This is not tearing down and rebuilding in your own image. This is a continuation of a significant amount of process, Lecholop said.

The board still has the majority that carried out Martinezs reforms, and Trustee Ed Garza told The 74 the board was looking for someone who didnt need any convincing as to the value of Martinezs and Choudhurys reforms, which included socioeconomic integration, open-enrollment schools and a framework for teacher incentive pay.

Jaime Aquino

However, Garza acknowledged that Aquino, having served as a deputy superintendent in Los Angeles, Denver Public Schools and New York City, will bring ideas and experiences of his own  as well as, he hopes, a steady hand. In areas where Martinez and his team struggled, such as coalition building, the district board hopes Aquino will shine.

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Hes coming at a time when the district needs some healing. Not just from COVID, but from the roller coaster of the last six years, Garza said. While he celebrated the pre-pandemic progress made under Martinez in increasing student enrollment and academic achievement, he said there had been some who had been jarred along the way.

The board gave special consideration to Aquinos ability to balance the needs of various communities, Lecholop said, and to his experience in large, urban districts where kids experience high poverty and have diverse needs. He said he wanted to see a candidates commitment to equity based on experience and results.

Feedback from the community during the search process indicated that parents wanted a superintendent who shared the lived experiences of their children, said San Antonio ISD Board President Christina Martinez.

I think what we need right now is inspiration, and you bring that, Martinez said to Aquino at Mondays meeting.

Born in the Dominican Republic, Aquino learned English as his second language, as do more than one-fifth of San Antonio district students. He immigrated to the United States in the 1980s as a teacher.

My life journey is probably very similar to many of the families in San Antonio, Aquino said, shortly before continuing his remarks in Spanish.

Among issues that came up in vetting Aquino were a purchasing controversy in Los Angeles and Aquinos departure from Rochester City School District in New York.

Aquino has consistently denied any wrongdoing in L.A., where critics questioned whether he had given his former employer, Pearson, advice on bidding for a contract to provide iPads for the districts one-to-one technology rollout. Many attributed his 2013 departure to the stalled rollout of the Common Core standards, and he wrote in a memo to district employees, the current political climate does not allow me to lead an agenda that is in the best interest of kids.

In Rochester, where Aquino was appointed a distinguished educator to consult on needed improvements in 2018, he left after his one-year contract was up. Some expressed frustration with his short tenure, and his final report declared Rochester a community with low expectations for students rooted in a deep history of institutional racism.

By contrast, Aquino said he plans to serve San Antonio in the interest of making it a city that gives every child a fair shot at the American dream, where any kid can see a pathway forward, including those who see themselves in his journey.

Related: Sign up for The 74s newsletter
Traffic at a crossing point on the Texas-Mexico border has come to a standstill due to protests by Mexican truckers over Texas Gov. Greg Abbotts (R) new rule that allows state troopers to inspect commercial vehicles crossing into the U.S.

Both sides of the Pharr-Reynosa International Bridge, the most trafficked trade crossing in the Rio Grande Valley, were blocked by the truckers Tuesday for the sixth day in a row, according to multiple news sources.

The U.S. side of the bridge is closed without reopening in sight, The Wall Street Journal reported, as 500 truckers block border entrances from the U.S. to Mexico.

Abbott ordered the Texas Department of Public Safety Wednesday to tighten inspections of trucks crossing the border in an effort to reduce illegal immigration and drug trafficking.

The state inspections are in addition to federal inspections and have not regularly been ordered.

Abbotts order came shortly after the Biden administration said it would end Title 42 restrictions on immigration.

DPS officials are checking nearly every commercial truck, according to reporting from the Texas Tribune, and each inspection takes close to an hour.

We are supporters of Governor Abbott, but unfortunately we werent taken into consideration, Texas Trucking Association Charmain Ernesto Gaytan told Reuters.

The Pharr-Reynosa bridge is vital to the transport of produce such as avocados, peppers, strawberries and tomatoes.

Those refrigerated units are powered by diesel, sales manager Modesto Guerra from Sterling Fresh Inc., a broccoli importation company, told the Tribune. These trucks are in line and when the diesel runs out they have no way of refueling.

Guerra said that customers had already canceled their shipments due to the holdups beyond his control.

Traffic on nearby bridges has also stalled due to protests in Eagle Pass, El Paso and Laredo, Texas as well as the Rio Grande Valley.

The traffic is effecting the transport of various types of electronic, vehicle and medical equipment.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Chicago police and Cook County prosecutors are investigating a possible overtime-abuse scheme involving a detective and an officer who were notified to come to court hundreds of times in the span of about a year, making them eligible for significant amounts of extra pay, the Tribune has learned.

Records show the two men were stripped of their police powers in November due to allegations of court appearance irregularities.

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Cook County prosecutors routinely notify police officers to come to court in order to testify or help with case preparation, and the officers earn overtime pay for time spent at court.

But the number of times the detective and officer were notified was extraordinarily high, especially given that many of the notifications were sent when Cook County courts were emerging from pandemic-related shutdowns and in-person court proceedings were relatively rare.

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The Chicago Police Department denied the Tribunes request for further records about the probe, citing an ongoing investigation by the bureau of internal affairs. A spokesperson for the department also declined to comment, citing the pending investigation.

While the records provided by police do not show which Cook County prosecutor or prosecutors sent most of the notifications, the majority of cases for which they were notified have a connection to one particular Cook County prosecutor, who no longer works with the office.

A spokesperson for the Cook County states attorneys office said in a statement that the Police Departments bureau of internal affairs alerted prosecutors to the matter, and that prosecutors Law Enforcement Accountability Division is working with internal affairs on the investigation.

Our office was cooperating fully with the investigation prior to and subsequent to the former assistant states attorneys departure from the office, Cristina Villareal wrote. This remains an ongoing investigation.

In response to a public-records request, the states attorneys office said there is no evidence of a disciplinary report or proceeding in that prosecutors personnel file.

The detective has been on the force since August 2012. He was notified to come to court about 250 times from July 2020 to August 2021, according to data provided to the Tribune through a public records request.

The second officer has been with the department since September 2010. He was notified to come to court about 170 times from October 2020 to August 2021.

During some of those months, the pair were notified to come to court almost every single work day, records show. The vast majority of their notifications involved just two cases: a murder and an attempted murder, both dating to 2020.

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The officers specific connection to the cases, if any, is not immediately clear. But being notified to come to court almost daily on one or two cases, for months on end, is extraordinarily unusual.

mcrepeau@chicagotribune.com
A Facebook post from Tricare celebrating April as Autism Acceptance Month has struck a nerve, with hundreds of military families criticizing the Defense Department for its health care coverage of autism treatment for military families.

Families complained that recent DoD policy changes have resulted in cuts in coverage for autism treatment.

What a gross post from a group that has made getting services so difficult for hundreds of people, wrote Meigan Toland, commenting on Tricares simple April 8 post.

At last look on April 11, there were 690 comments to the post, which reads: We can all work to make room for more inclusivity and tolerance with just a little patience, understanding and education. Learn more about Tricare coverage of Autism treatment: tricare.mil/autism.

The post immediately, albeit unintentionally, highlighted the concerns and limitations with the changes in autism care that many military families encounter, stated a press release from the organization Exceptional Families of the Military.

The responses to the post are eye-opening, underscoring a problem that needs to be addressed in the military community, said Austin Carrigg, CEO and founder of the group.

Hundreds of military families took issues with Tricare's Facebook post, citing problems with Tricare coverage of autism treatments. (Tricare via Facebook)

In spring 2021, defense officials announced an expansion of the Tricare Comprehensive Autism Care Demonstration program to provide more support to meet families needs. There are nearly 16,000 military children diagnosed with autism involved in that program, which began in 2014 and is currently authorized to continue through Dec. 31, 2023.

In response to Military Times request for comment, Defense Health Agency officials said the Tricare benefit is unique in its coverage. Unlike commercial plans, Tricare is defined in statue and regulation, whereas commercial plans tend to have flexibility for various coverage determinations, said Peter Graves, spokesman for DHA.

Tricares autism benefit is one of the most robust available and provides coverage for occupational therapy, physical therapy, physician services, psychological services, psychological testing, prescription drugs and speech therapy.

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Changes in the demonstration program focus on providing enhanced beneficiary and family support, improving outcomes, encouraging parental involvement and improving utilization management controls to truly provide a comprehensive benefit, he said.

Military families have said that among other things, the changes curtailed coverage of Applied Behavioral Analysis, or ABA, services provided in community and school settings, where therapists help children develop skills to deal with real world situations when they may experience sensory overload. Registered behavior technicians are not covered in community or school settings. Board-certified behavior analysts are allowed but only if approved by the Tricare contractor for a limited time.

Unpredictable stressors in community settings cant be replicated at home, and therapy cant address behaviors until the behaviors happen, families contend.

I can recreate a grocery store at home, with a cashier  but I cant recreate the 80-plus people in the store, Holly Duncan, an Air Force wife and mother of two children on the autism spectrum, told Military Times. If therapists are allowed to work with students at school, they can reinforce the proper behavior for the child who may not want to sit in her seat and do the work. This also allows the teacher to continue to teach the class.

We also want to make sure everyone is on the same page so that the behavior is reinforced to better help the child, said Duncan, co-director of the Autism Family Advocacy Committee for the Exceptional Families of the Military organization.

Our children already have enough hoops to jump through, commented Lana Lazar-Amaro on the Tricare page. Limiting ABA to clinic settings only makes it nearly impossible for our children to receive the necessary therapy hours when they are school age.

Graves said Tricare is consistent with commercial and Medical plans regarding the exclusion of ABA services in the school setting, and cited as examples the Federal Employee Health Benefits plans, Texas Medicaid and Cigna.

Duty to protect: It's time to remove barriers to autism services for military children

In a Dec. 21 letter to the Defense Department, Sens. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire and Kirsten Gillibrand of New York said they began hearing from families about the adverse consequences of the changes shortly after they took effect. They requested more information about the changes and the steps DoD is taking to support military families with beneficiaries diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Military families on Facebook repeatedly cited problems with bureaucratic processes that often cause disruptions in a childs treatment. Treatment plans have to be submitted to Tricare every six months now. Waiting lists for appointments compound the difficulties.

Im on edge, wondering if well be able to be approved, said Dr. Jennifer Bittner, an Army spouse who, with Duncan, is co-director of the Autism Family Advocacy Committee.

Bittner, who was previously a practicing child and adolescent therapist, wants to ensure that her child receives a quality treatment plan that supports his needs, not just one that checks the boxes for Tricare, she said. I cant tell you the amount of stress I go through every six months wondering if services are going to be stopped if the plan isnt approved, she told Military Times.

Some commenters called for coverage of additional alternate therapies. There are therapies that families want for their children that arent being offered through the autism care demonstration, Duncan said. Those who dont choose ABA for their families are left behind. Thats not okay. ABA is not a one-size-fits-all therapy. We need other therapies offered for families.

For example, shed like Tricare to also cover social skills groups, which is not covered under the autism care demonstration.

Tricare, please stop with the acceptance and awareness spiel until you put together accessible, meaningful coverage that addresses issues instead of making families lives so much more difficult, commented Kristin Proffitt on the Tricare Facebook page. After 10 years with 2 children on the spectrum, your callous and arbitrary changes to their services and the steps you have actively taken to make therapy less accessible  has caused our family more stress and harm than their diagnosis ever would.

Kira Barrett-Voelker called the Tricare post a slap in the face.

As a health-care provider with a child on the spectrum, all youve done is reinforce societys negative view of autistic individuals, she wrote. Its not just ABA thats the issue. Its becoming increasingly more difficult to find any therapy or provider, even in big cities, that will work with Tricare.
WASHINGTON  An attorney for a man who took a coat rack and a bottle of liquor during the U.S. Capitol attack argued to a jury Tuesday that former President Donald Trump "authorized" the assault on the building on Jan. 6, 2021, by convincing "vulnerable" people like his client that the election had been stolen.

Dustin Thompson, 38, of Ohio, is the third Jan. 6 defendant to face a trial by jury after the convictions of Guy Reffitt and former police officer Thomas Robertson. Thompson faces six charges, including obstruction of an official proceeding and theft of government property. His co-defendant, Robert Lyon, pleaded guilty last month, admitting that he and Thompson traveled to Washington together and saying stole the coat rack and fled from police when they were confronted on the grounds of the Capitol.

Samuel Shamansky, an attorney for Thompson, told jurors Tuesday that his client had "snatched the coat rack, foolishly," and that there was "no question" that his client took part in the "horrible" event on Jan. 6 that interrupted a "solemn and sacred proceeding."

Video: What the first Jan. 6 acquittal means for the federal investigation

But, Shamansky argued, the "genesis" of the attack began months before Jan. 6, and responsibility fell at the feet of Trump, who "authorized this assault" on the Capitol.

"It was a plot, it was a scheme, it was a conspiracy ... that began at the highest levels of our government," Shamansky argued.

Thompson and other "vulnerable" Trump supporters like him "believed the lies that were fed to them" in the months leading up to Jan. 6, Shamansky argued. Thompson was "predisposed" to "this lunacy," Shamansky said, and losing his job at the beginning of the Covid pandemic left him sitting at home to digest the "garbage" that Trump and his supporters were spreading.

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"This is the garbage that Dustin Thompson is listening to," Shamansky argued. "Donald Trump encouraged people like Dustin Thompson to storm the Capitol."

The question for jurors to answer, Shamansky argued, isn't whether Thompson stormed the Capitol  "he most certainly did," Shamansky conceded  but "why."

Shamansky, who argued Tuesday that Trump took part in a "sinister, disgusting" plot to overturn the election results, had tried to subpoena the former president at his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida, according to a previous court filing, but was turned away by a person believed to be with the Secret Service.

Trump, who has said he is not responsible for the actions of the rioters that day, has sought to blame others who were at the Capitol.

Nearly 800 people have been charged in connection with the attack, and almost 250 have pleaded guilty. Hundreds of additional cases are in the works.
Former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort leaves the Prettyman Federal Courthouse following a hearing November 2, 2017 in Washington, DC. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Manafort was convicted for work he did for former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych.

Trump pardoned Manafort in 2020; Manafort was Trump's campaign chair in 2016.

Manafort said he plans to steer clear of politics in his new consulting role.

Paul Manafort's involvement with Russia, Ukraine, and former President Donald Trump jeopardized his career once before.

That's why the Trump-pardoned campaign veteran told Politico he's steering clear of politics in his latest venture  and then wove in a plea for world leaders to help Ukraine survive the ongoing Russian invasion.

"The U.S. and Europe need to be much more aggressive with providing Ukraine with the lethal weapons that they need to defend themselves," Manafort, who reportedly made tens of millions of dollars while advising former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych, said of the current conflict.

"I have no doubt in my mind that Ukraine would not lose a battle on the ground if they have the weapons they need, but I also worry that Putin's strategy will be to win through negotiations what he cannot win on the battlefield," Manafort said, adding that he fears "Europeans and Americans would put pressure on the Ukrainians to concede on things that they should not concede on, like ceding any territory to Russia or committing that they would not be part of NATO in the future."

The pro-Ukrainian posturing echoes the anti-Russian sentiments Manafort shared with WABC radio host Frank Morano in March.

"Afghanistan is going to look like a cakewalk compared to what Ukraine will be like if Putin does get control of the country," Manafort said during an appearance on "The Other Side of Midnight."

His expertise in Ukrainian affairs aside, Manafort insists he has other things to offer the consulting world.

"When you're as old as I am, you have a lot of breadth and depth and are able to help people with strategic advice to solve their problems or give them comfort," he said in the Politico interview.

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Manafort was then-presidential hopeful Donald Trump's campaign chairman for six months in 2016. He was convicted on eight counts of bank and tax fraud relating to his Ukrainian-related consulting work in 2018, and sentenced to 7  years in prison in 2019.

Trump pardoned Manafort in late 2020.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Tucker Carlson in a July, 2021, edition of his Fox News show questioning the use of COVID-19 vaccines. Fox News

Tucker Carlson told a San Diego church he had not been vaccinated against COVID-19.

He dismissed proponents of the vaccines as liars, despite proof of the shots' effectiveness.

Carlson has long stirred opposition to vaccines, putting him at odds with Fox's own policies.

Fox News host Tucker Carlson, who has long used his top-rated show to erode trust in COVID vaccines, told a church congregation in San Diego that he had not gotten the shot himself.

The remarks follow long speculation about Carlson's vaccination status, which until now he had refused to address directly.

When asked the question last year by New York Times reporter, he dismissed it as inappropriate, asking in return "when was the last time you had sex with your wife and in what position? We can trade intimate details."

The admission of being unvaccinated was made at a gathering Awaken Church on April 2, where Carlson mocked the idea of getting a booster shot, and praised the church for defying COVID-19 restrictions.

"I skipped the first three, I'm not getting that one either," Carlson said, according to the Voice of San Diego, a nonprofit news outlet.

In recordings of his remarks at the event published by The Daily Beast, Carlson went on to say that he was not opposed to vaccines in general but did object to those against the coronavirus.

"I've had like a million of them," he said, of vaccines.

But, speaking of the various medical and politics figures wo recommended the vaccines, he said: "I look at these people, like, this just does not make sense at all. And I have no idea what's up here, but whatever you're telling me it's just not true."

For months, Carlson has been among the most high-profile vaccine skeptics in the US, using his show to advance misleading and false claims about the safety and efficacy of the shots. The vaccines have been shown to be safe and effective in multiple studies by public health authorities and research organisations globally.

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Fox News had previously not responded to requests from Insider to clarify Carlson's vaccination status.

Despite its biggest hosts attacking the vaccine and COVID restrictions, Fox Corporation, Fox News' parent company, in a memo sent out by a senior executive last September said that 90% of employees were vaccinated.

It said that those who were not had to get daily tests.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Some Twitter employees are reportedly stressed following the announcement that Tesla and SpaceX chief Elon Musk will not be joining the social media giants board of directors.

Twitter announced last week that Mr Musk would be joining its board, a day after disclosing that the Tesla chief took a stake of just under 10 per cent in the social media company.

But the social media giants chief executive Parag Agarwal said early Monday that Mr Musk had decided not to join the companys board after all.

Following the announcement, some Twitter employees are super stressed, and working together to help each other get through the week, Bloomberg reported.

While the billionaire hasnt disclosed why he isnt joining Twitters board, the decision coincides with a set of tweets he has now deleted, including one proposing that the company drop ads, which are its main source of revenue, and another transforming the social media giants headquarters in San Francisco into a homeless shelter.

The worlds richest man also liked a tweet by a user on the platform which speculated that he was told to play nice and not speak freely, as a reason for him not taking up his position on the board.

While the like feature on Twitter can be used for a variety of functions, and Mr Musk did not express any explicit agreement with the post, liking the post means at the least that it would more likely appear in his followers feeds.

Elon has decided not to join our board. I sent a brief note to the company, sharing with you all here. pic.twitter.com/lfrXACavvk  Parag Agrawal (@paraga) April 11, 2022

With Mr Musk not joining the board, he could act more freely and continue to tweet his critiques of Twitter to more than his 80 million followers on the site, without needing to act in the best interests of the company.

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Employees shared memes to express the confusion and chaos amid messages of solidarity from others.

Unlike Elon, I **AM** joining Twitter. Hopefully this comes as good news to you 



1 week from today Im joining the flock as a Product Manager on the DevEx team!



To say Im excited is an understatement. I cant wait to be a Tweep #OneTeam #LoveWhereYouWork @TwitterCareers pic.twitter.com/L0AmTEYRrE  Morgan Bell (@livelovegeek) April 11, 2022

My heart goes out to all the brilliant, kind, intelligent, hard working, mission driven people at Twitter, who show up and give it their all, day after day  Youve got this #oneteam  Geraldine Finn (@gerfinn) April 11, 2022

Literally what I did this entire weekend while on "vacation"   Paul Lee (@BeeBimBop) April 11, 2022

Following the announcement on Monday, a Q&A session organised by Mr Agarwal with Mr Musk and the companys employees was also cancelled.

The Q&A session may have clarified whether Mr Musk was planning to be friendly or hostile with his stake.

This is going to sound funny but Musks immediate chilling effect was something that bothered me significantly. Twitter has a beautiful culture of hilarious constructive criticism, and I saw that go silent because of his minions attacking employees.  Rumman Chowdhury (@ruchowdh) April 11, 2022

This is going to sound funny but Musks immediate chilling effect was something that bothered me significantly, Rumman Chowdhury, a director on Twitters AI research team, tweeted on Monday.

But amid the chaos, many of Mr Musks followers on Twitter have followed his lead, being critical of the platform.

Twitter has a beautiful culture of hilarious constructive criticism, and I saw that go silent because of his minions attacking employees, Dr Chowdhury, a pioneer in the field of applied algorithmic ethics, said.

Experts also point out that with Mr Musk not joining the board, he is also not subject to an agreement that would cap his stake at about 15 per cent.

If the billionaire had joined the board, they say hed have been only one of the many voices in the companys strategy discussions.

But by turning down this option, he could potentially build a bigger stake  one in which he might try to take over the company or help elect directors who are more aligned with his thinking.

That 15% is an arbitrary number. Its not like if you own 15%, you can or cant do something else, Harry Kraemer, clinical professor at Northwestern Universitys Kellogg School of Management and former chairman and CEO of Baxter International, told Associated Press.

Im speculating, but maybe the thought was: If we bring him on as a director, and he cant buy more than 15%, that literally stops him from taking control of the company, Mr Kraemer said.
Two Fresno officers received minor injuries when a fleeing man rammed a police cruiser head-on, according to police.

The officers were in a single patrol car about midnight Tuesday when they attempted to pull over a car for a traffic violation, police said.

The car carrying two men initially stopped in the area of Abby Street and White Avenue, but as the officers exited the cruiser, the driver sped off, Lt. Ignacio Ruiz said.

Police pursued the vehicle as it headed northwest, police said. During the pursuit, police said they learned the car was registered to a man wanted on suspicion of a recent shooting.

When the car reached Shaw and West avenues, the driver quickly changed directions and struck the cruiser head-on, police said, before speeding off.

Not far from that intersection, the men fled on foot into a neighborhood as more officers responded to the area, police said.

Officers were able to locate the man accused of a shooting on a roof and he was arrested, police said. The other man is still on the lam, police said.

The officers injuries were described as minor by police, and they were taken to Community Regional Medical Center in Fresno.

Police have not provided the name of the man arrested nor details on the shooting to which hes allegedly connected.
Editors Note: This story had been updated to reflect the correct location of the shooting. A police investigation revealed that the men were shot at a different location than what was originally reported by police.

Two men were rushed to the hospital after gunfire rang out on Knight Arnold Rd., according to Memphis Police.

Police originally reported that officers responded to a shooting call on Fox Burrow Circle around 4 p.m.. Later, MPD tweeted that the shooting happened in the 5800 block of Knight Arnold.

Two males were shot, according to police.

MPD said one of those men was rushed to Regional One Hospital in critical condition and the other was taken to St. Francis in non-critical condition.

Police said there is no suspect information.

If you have any idea who pulled the trigger that sent these two men to the hospital, Memphis Police urge you to call Crime Stoppers at 901-528-CASH.

Any information that leads to an arrest, in this case, could be worth up to $2,000.

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The United States has filed suit against Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare (MLH) and Methodist Healthcare Memphis Hospitals (Methodist) for paying unlawful kickbacks to a local clinic in exchange for patient referrals.

A release from the Department of Justice said the hospitals violated the False Claims Act (FCA) and Anti-Kickback Statue (AKS) by allegedly paying West Clinic, P.C. (West) in exchange for Wests patient referrals.

The U.S. seeks to recover hundreds of millions of dollars from the lawsuit.

The government began investigating the alleged scheme in response to a lawsuit filed under the qui tam, or whistleblower, provisions of the False Claims Act, which allows private citizens with knowledge of false claims to bring civil suits on behalf of the government and to share in any recovery.

The qui tam action was initially filed on May 30, 2017, by Jeffrey H. Liebman, the former President of Methodist University Hospital, the release said.

In December 2019, David M. Stern, M.D., the former Executive Dean and Vice Chancellor at the University of Tennessee Health Sciences Center, who served on the Board of Directors of MLH from 2011 to 2017, joined the lawsuit. Stern was also a member of the Executive Cancer Council and the Steering Committee for the West Cancer Center.

The complaint details the unlawful kickbacks, disguised through a sophisticated business integration wherein Methodist purchased substantially all of the outpatient locations of the largest oncology practice in the Memphis area, owned by West, the release said.

At the time of the arrangement, Methodist lacked a comprehensive cancer treatment center.

The multi-agreement transaction purported to be a lawful way to allow Wests patients to be treated at Methodist locations by West-employed physicians for outpatient and inpatient services, with West providing management services to Methodists adult oncology service line.

As a result of the deal, Methodist would receive increased Medicare reimbursements relating to the cancer care. The parties described it as a partnership to achieve a cancer center without walls, where patients would go to Methodist-owned facilities for all their cancer-related care in what was called the West Cancer Center, the release said.

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However, there was never any formal partnership created, as to do so likely would have violated regulatory requirements.

As part of Methodists business combination with West, Methodist made a separate for-profit $7 million investment in ACORN Research, LLC (ACORN), an entity in which West and its Medical Director and shareholder, Dr. Lee Schwartzberg, had a personal financial interest.

Through the deal, Methodist provided an immediate influx of millions of dollars in cash to West through its purchase of certain assets, as well as the ACORN investment, which resulted in a repayment of $3.5 million in debt owed to West and its shareholder, Dr. Schwartzberg, officials said.

Kickbacks for the revenues Methodist generated from the West referrals, however, were disguised as payments Methodist made to West during the seven years of the deal, and expressly for certain services that were supposed to be  but were not  provided under the management services agreement, officials said.

As a result of the transaction, Methodist, which prior to the deal had no outpatient cancer treatment, was able to establish a new stream of income in the reimbursements for outpatient treatment that previously went to West. Methodist also realized a huge increase in referrals for inpatient services from West, which previously referred the bulk of its patients to Methodists competitors, including Baptist Memorial Hospital.

By purchasing Wests outpatient locations, Methodist was able to bill Medicare not only for the facility and professional components of outpatient treatment but also for the chemotherapy and other drugs provided, for which Methodist could recoup a staggering discount in costs through the 340B Discount Drug Program, resulting in $50 million in profits to Methodist in one year alone.

Methodist knew that it would be a violation of the AKS to compensate West in exchange for the volume or value of referrals to Methodist, yet, as the referrals to Methodist increased over the seven years of the deal, so did Methodists payments to West under the management agreement, officials said.

Methodist also knew that West had not been providing all the management services at all the locations required by the MSA. For the management services West was performing, Methodist often was double-paying West, as it was paying West separately for these services pursuant to other agreements.

Methodist knowingly agreed to pay West millions of dollars in kickbacks for the revenues Methodist expected to, and ultimately did, realize from Wests referrals.

The arrangement lasted from January 1, 2012, through December 31, 2018, and continued even after Methodist knew that the United States was investigating these allegations following the filing of the whistleblowers lawsuit, the release said.

The matter is being investigated by the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kara F. Sweet represents the United States.

The claims in which the United States has intervened are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.

Methodist Le Bonheur Hospital released the following statement:

The governments complaint recycles a familiar set of allegations that mischaracterize the relationship between MLH and West Clinic. As we have said many times since this lawsuit was made public more than two years ago:

The affiliations compensation structure was designed by respected outside experts who determined it reflected fair market value for such services. Our payments were appropriate, and MLH received the services due under affiliation agreements. The governments belated decision to intervene in the suit two years after it declined to do so has changed nothing about the case.

We are proud that our partnership with West succeeded in creating an integrated cancer diagnosis treatment and surgical service that not only improved cancer care, but provided care where it was needed most, reduced health disparities and led to better patient outcomes for the Memphis and Mid-South communities. Indeed, it is undisputed that the affiliation brought much needed cancer care to our community and delivered the highest level of services.

MLH will refute the governments allegations in detail in the appropriate legal forum. We are confident that we will demonstrate that MLHs affiliation with West Clinic was proper and reflected customary and legal business arrangements, and that the affiliation with West was in keeping with our mission to provide high-quality, cost-effective patient and family-centered care.

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WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The U.S. State Department on Monday ordered non-emergency U.S. government workers to leave the consulate in Shanghai due to a surge in COVID-19 cases and China's measures to control the virus.

On Friday, the State Department announced that non-emergency personnel could voluntarily leave the consulate. It is not clear why the departure of those workers has become mandatory.

China's zero-tolerance approach to COVID-19, prescribing central quarantine for anyone testing positive even in the absence of symptoms, is increasingly strained by the highly infectious, though less deadly, Omicron variant.

The most controversial of Shanghai's practices had been separating COVID-positive children from their parents. Authorities have since made some concessions.

The State Department, which last week said it had raised its concerns about China's COVID-19 policies with Chinese officials, cited the risk of parents and children being separated in Monday's announcement.

The United States should "stop political manipulation under the pretext of the epidemic, and stop smearing China", Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian told a daily briefing on Tuesday in Beijing.

On Saturday, the ministry had expressed "strong dissatisfaction" with the United States after it raised concerns over China's coronavirus control measures.

Shanghai, fighting China's worst COVID outbreak since the virus first emerged in Wuhan in late 2019, locked down its entire population of 25 million but on Monday began easing movement curbs for some residents.

(Reporting by Eric Beech; additional reporting by Martin Quin Pollard in Beijing; editing by Dan Whitcomb, Kim Coghill and Alex Richardson)
New York City Police Department personnel gather at the entrance to a subway stop in the Brooklyn borough of New York, Tuesday, April 12, 2022. AP Photo/John Minchillo

Uber said it'll refund customers who were charged surge pricing around Sunset Park in Brooklyn.

Twitter users said they noticed surge charges on the Uber app while trying to leave the area.

At least ten people were shot and over a dozen were injured after the shooting Tuesday morning.

Ride-share company Uber said it would refund customers who were charged surge pricing near a mass shooting at a New York City subway station in Brooklyn on Tuesday.

"Following the incident, Uber disabled surge pricing in the vicinity and capped pricing citywide," the company said in a statement shared with Insider.

It added: "If anyone on our platform experienced unintended charges during this emergency, we will work to get them refunded."

At least ten people were shot and over a dozen were injured after the shooting  which happened at around 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday morning  at the 36th Street station in the Sunset Park neighborhood of Brooklyn.

NYPD Commissioner Keechant Sewell said at a press conference Tuesday afternoon that none of the injuries are life-threatening at this time.

Following the incident, several people posted on Twitter that they noticed surge charges on the Uber app while trying to leave the area of the shooting.

The NYPD launched a manhunt for the gunman, and local schools were placed on lockdown following the attack.

This story is developing. Please check back for updates.

Read the original article on Insider
A federal probe stemming from a South Side mass shooting last year that uncovered an alleged Tennessee-to-Chicago gun trafficking network has expanded to include COVID-19 loan fraud, court records show.

Martinas Norvell, one of eight people shot in the deadly mass attack after a pop-up party in March 2021, was arrested in the Chicago area Tuesday on charges unsealed in U.S. District Court in Nashville, Tennessee, according to court records.

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Norvell, 29, was charged with conspiring with four others to submit fraudulent Paycheck Protection Program applications to the government that netted at least tens of thousands of dollars in ill-gotten gains, according to the indictment.

Also charged in the conspiracy were Brandon Miller and Jarius Brunson, Army soldiers stationed at Fort Campbell along the Tennessee-Kentucky border, who were previously charged with orchestrating the pipeline that brought dozens of firearms into Chicago to help fuel a deadly gang war, records show.

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Norvell was already facing felony weapons charges himself after police said they stopped a Dodge Charger seen fleeing the scene of the mass shooting and found him lying in the rear seat with a gunshot wound to the leg and a 9 mm handgun was underneath him, according to Cook County court records.

Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 9 Chicago police pick up evidence as they investigate the shooting where eight people were shot, one fatally, in the 2500 block of West 79th Street in Chicago on March 26, 2021. (Jose M. Osorio / Chicago Tribune)

A month after being freed on bond in that case, Norvell allegedly applied for a loan under the federal program intended to give relief to small businesses struggling amid the ongoing pandemic, according to court records and publicly available information.

His application stated he was the sole proprietor of a Black-owned masonry and construction business in Chicago. The lender assigned to the application awarded Norvell $20,340 in April 2021, records show.

The next month, Miller allegedly sent bank account and other information for an acquaintance theyd recruited into the scheme to Norvell, who used it to submit another fraudulent PPP loan application to the same lender, the indictment alleged.

Norvell later sent his co-conspirators a screenshot showing the application was submitted falsely claiming the acquaintance  identified only as R.E.  owned a multifamily housing construction business, the indictment alleged. The application requested $20,400, but the charges do not state whether R.E. actually received any money.

Norvell was scheduled to appear Tuesday before a federal magistrate judge in Chicago, where hell likely be ordered to appear in Nashville to answer to the charges there. Hes pleaded not guilty to the gun case in Cook County, which is up for a status hearing Wednesday before Judge Neera Walsh, records show.

His lawyer could not immediately be reached for comment.

The COVID-19 loan fraud charges were unsealed a little more than a week after U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland announced charges accusing nine reputed members of the Pocket Town faction of the Gangster Disciples in Chicago with conspiring with three Fort Campbell soldiers to traffic guns into Chicago, where they were used in a bloody and ongoing gang dispute.

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Miller and Brunson were each charged in that case with conspiracy, money laundering conspiracy and conspiracy to commit firearms offenses in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

jmeisner@chicagotribune.com
KYIV (Reuters) -Ukraine is checking unverified information that Russia may have used chemical weapons while besieging the southern Ukrainian port city of Mariupol, Ukraine's Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Malyar said on Tuesday.

"There is a theory that these could be phosphorous munitions," Malyar said in televised comments, adding: "Official information will come later."

Russia's defence ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Russia-backed separatist forces trying to wrest complete control of Mariupol denied using chemical weapons in comments carried by Russian news agency Interfax.

Mariupol's city council wrote on the Telegram messaging service that it was not yet possible to examine the area where the poisonous substance had allegedly been used because of enemy fire. It added that the city's civilian population had minimal contact with the unspecified poison but that Ukrainian soldiers had come into closer contact with it and were now being observed for possible symptoms.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy warned on Monday that Russia could use chemical weapons in Ukraine.

Britain and the United States have said they are aware of reports that Russia may have already used chemical agents in Mariupol. Britain said it was working with partners to verify the reports.

Russia has previously accused Ukraine of preparing to use chemical weapons, without providing evidence.

Last month the Kremlin said U.S. talk of Russia using such weapons was a tactic to divert attention away from awkward questions for Washington.

Russia's invasion of Ukraine has killed thousands and displaced millions. Moscow calls its actions in Ukraine a "special operation" to destroy Ukraine's military capabilities and capture what it views as dangerous nationalists, but Ukraine and the West say Russia launched an unprovoked war of aggression.

(Reporting by Pavel Polityuk in Kyiv and Guy Faulconbridge in LondonWriting by Alexander WinningEditing by Gareth Jones)
(Reuters) - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Wednesday proposed swapping senior pro-Russian politician Viktor Medvedchuk for male and female prisoners of war being held by Moscow's forces.

In an early morning address, he said it was "important for our security forces and military forces to consider such a possibility." Ukraine's security services on Tuesday said they had arrested Medvedchuk, who is President Vladimir Putin's closest and most influential ally in Ukraine.

(Reporting by David Ljunggren and Ron Popeski; Editing by Leslie Adler)
By Zuzanna Szymanska

BERLIN (Reuters) - Ukrainian refugees fleeing war have been hospitably received around Europe, but the longer they stay the more their presence may exacerbate housing price pressures in host nations like Germany, Poland and the Czech Republic.

More than half the 4.5 million who have left since Russia's Feb. 24 invasion have gone to neighbouring Poland, which was already home to the region's biggest Ukrainian diaspora.

Marcin Janczuk, from local real estate firm Metrohouse Franchise, said Poland's commercial housing market would have to immediately grow by half a million flats to satisfy the needs of refugees who have arrived so far.

"We estimate that in (Poland's) largest cities, rental prices are currently about 20% higher than at the beginning of the year," Janczuk said, adding that the refugee influx was just one of many reasons for the growth.

European nations are mostly backing Kyiv against Moscow and have shown solidarity with the refugees, finding them free or cheap accommodation in private homes and emergency lodgings, and promising help with jobs and schools. Most are women, children and the elderly as men below 60 stay to fight.

"I experience some nightly waves of gratitude for the fact that I've got to know Peter and Yulia," said refugee Yulia Sarycheva, who found shelter at a family's apartment in Prague.

Yet as the war drags on, it is unclear when the refugees might return or what shape their homes will be in when that is possible, so the need for longer-term housing plans is growing.

MEMORIES OF 2015

Sebastian Wunsch, from housing research institute GEWOS, said demand in Germany may grow by some 200,000-400,000 apartments due to the Ukrainian refugee influx, most in already over-populated cities.

After Germany received 1 million refugees during the 2015 refugee crisis, new rents grew a slightly faster 3.5% in 2015-2018 compared to 2.5% in 2011-2014, he said.

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The number of refugees Germany took in was about one eightieth of the population, but Poland has already crossed the 1/15 threshold, as Europe debates the fairest way to distribute the influx of Ukrainians.

The Czech government estimates more than 300,000 Ukrainian refugees have entered the nation of 10.7 million people.

Real estate agents there report soaring rental demand.

"The growth is several-fold," said Artem Egorov Pozo-Sandoval at the Chirs agency.

Though adding to existing pressures on house prices and rentals, data shows refugees ultimately benefit host countries' economies as they plug workforce shortages, start businesses and contribute to tax revenue.

(Reporting by Zuzanna Szymanska; Additional reporting by Jason Hovet in Prague and Luiza Ilie in Bucharest; Editing by Andrew Cawthorne)
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson offered a "full apology" on Tuesday after being fined for breaching Covid-19 lockdown laws in the so-called "Partygate" scandal, but looked set to defy calls for his resignation.

Embattled finance minister Rishi Sunak and Johnson's wife Carrie will also be fined, as the political storm following revelations of a swathe of lockdown-busting parties in and around Downing Street threatens to engulf Johnson once more.

"Let me say immediately that I've paid the fine and I once again offer a full apology," Johnson said during televised remarks.

Johnson's office said his fine was for attending a surprise birthday gathering in his honour on the afternoon of June 19, 2020 in the Cabinet Room at Number 10.

The prime minister said the event lasted around 10 minutes, and denied that he had lied about not knowingly breaking the law, saying: "In all frankness at that time, it did not occur to me that this might have been a breach of the rules.

"But of course the police have found otherwise and I fully respect the outcome of their investigation," he added.

The leader of the opposition Labour Party, Keir Starmer, swiftly called for the two most senior members of the government to resign.

"Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak have broken the law and repeatedly lied to the British public," Starmer tweeted.

"They must both resign. The Conservatives are totally unfit to govern. Britain deserves better."

However, Johnson said he now wanted "to get on and deliver the mandate that I have", and early signs were that his MPs were currently sticking with him.

- A 'government in crisis' -

Johnson was left fighting for his political survival earlier this year after several lawmakers from his ruling Conservative Party withdrew their support for his leadership over the affair.

An unknown number of Conservative MPs submitted letters calling for a no-confidence vote in Johnson's leadership.

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If the Conservative Party's 1922 Committee receives such letters from 54 of Johnson's 360 MPs, it would spark a confidence vote.

The leader of the opposition Liberal Democrats, Ed Davey, called for parliament to be recalled from its Easter recess for a confidence vote.

"This is a government in crisis neglecting a country in crisis," Davey tweeted.

But Russia's invasion of Ukraine had eased the political pressure on Johnson, with MPs seemingly reluctant to trigger a leadership amid an international crisis.

Conservative MP Roger Gale, one of those earlier calling for Johnson's head, said on Tuesday that now was not the time to "unseat" the prime minister, as this would bolster President Vladimir Putin.

"It's serious of course," Gale said.

"But... I am not prepared to give Vladimir Putin the comfort of thinking that we are about to unseat the prime minister of the United Kingdom and destabilise the coalition against Putin.

"So any reaction to this is going to have to wait until we have dealt with the main crisis which is Ukraine and the Donbas," he said, referring to the eastern Ukrainian region where Moscow is now concentrating its assault.

- Johnson 'broke the law' -

London's Metropolitan Police earlier announced they had issued more than 50 fines over the parties, without disclosing the number or identities of those being fined.

Bereaved families of victims of the Covid pandemic also called on Johnson to resign.

Lobby Akinnola, spokesman for Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice, said Johnson and Sunak "broke the law" and "took us all for mugs.

"There is simply no way either the prime minister or chancellor can continue... Their dishonesty has caused untold hurt to the bereaved," he said.

"They have lost all credibility with the wider public, which could cost lives if new variants mean restrictions are needed in the future."

London police are still investigating claims that Johnson and government officials organised and attended at least a dozen boozy events in 2020 and 2021 that violated Britain's then-strict virus curbs.

Johnson has already apologised for the parties, which included Christmas celebrations and a drink-fuelled gathering the evening before Prince Philip's funeral.

The prime minister initially denied any rule-breaking events had occurred in the complex where he lives and works, and he consistently rejected any suggestion of personal wrongdoing.

But his opponents accused him of having misled parliament by insisting the Downing Street events were work-related and within the rules.

cjo/jwp/raz
Correction: An earlier version of this report misstated the order for nonessential employees and their families to leave Shanghai. This version has been updated.

The State Department is ordering nonessential U.S. Consulate General employees and their families to leave Shanghai as COVID-19 cases in the area surge.

An announcement posted Monday by the U.S. Mission to China said that officials assessed that it is best for our employees and their families to be reduced in number and our operations to be scaled down as we deal with the changing circumstances on the ground.

U.S. Mission staff will continue to be available 24 hours per day across China to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens. it said.



We have adjusted staffing throughout the Mission to respond to the surge in demand for emergency citizen services, including providing supplemental support to Consulate General Shanghai by a team at the U.S. Embassy in Beijing, it added. Where conditions permit, regular U.S. citizen and visa services remain open to the public, and facilities at the U.S. Consulate General in Shanghai will reopen to the public as soon as possible.

Nonessential consulate employees and their families were allowed to leave voluntarily on Friday.

In an advisory on Monday, the State Department also urged travelers to reconsider travel to China due to the arbitrary enforcement of local laws and COVID-19-related restrictions.

Shanghai has issued harsh coronavirus-related lockdowns that have left residents frustrated and struggling to access necessities such as food, according to multiple reports. Now, more than 25 million people in the city have been forced to remain indoors after a complete lockdown was implemented on April 5 as part of Chinas zero tolerance COVID-19 strategy.

Video footage posted to social media showed residents in the city screaming out of their high-rise apartments, anxious to leave the severe lockdown.

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On Monday, officials announced that areas would loosen the lockdown to allow for appropriate activity in neighborhoods without COVID-19 cases. But Shanghai reported more than 25,000 new COVID-19 asymptomatic infections on Sunday, according to Reuters.

Updated on April 12 at 7:22 a.m.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
The Missing Child Unit of the U.S. Marshals Service Eastern District of Louisiana New Orleans Task Force rescued 16 missing children and took five people into custody, CNN reports.

The operation titled, Fresh Start, was initiated on Jan. 1 in New Orleans and concluded on March 31, according to the agencys official press release.

Based on the operation, at least four (4) felony warrant(s) exist for adults suspected of involvement with MCU minors, and the USMS New Orleans Task Force is actively pursuing these fugitives, authorities said of the alleged sex trafficking ring, The Washington Informer reports.

In late January, a 5-year-old girl and a 7-year-old boy were found after being kidnapped by their mother, who is a noncustodial parent, according to CNN.

The mother traveled to the Fort Lauderdale, Florida, area with her children and later was arrested by the task force.

In another case, a New Orleans father abducted his 1-year-old baby and shot and killed the childs grandfather. The infant was found safe. The father eventually surrendered to law enforcement.

I am very proud of the cooperative work done by all the agencies involved in safeguarding at-risk children. Our Office is proud to be a part of a robust MCU program that took root in New Orleans starting in 2016, U.S. Marshal Scott Illing said in a statement, the Washington Informer reports.

This work is being done with our partners while our office still performs its critical USMS missions (judicial and witness security, managing federal prisoners, violent fugitives apprehension, sex offender investigations, and service of federal process), Illing continued.

Other agencies assisted the task force with the operation, including the New Orleans Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the New York Police Department, CNN reports.
Irish Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney with US ambassador to Ireland Claire Cronin (Damien Storan/PA) (PA Wire)

The US government is offering a $5million reward for information on the Irish Kinahan crime gang, or for the arrest and conviction of its leaders.

It comes after the treasury imposed sanctions against seven senior members of the notorious Irish cartel in a bid to target their financial operations, which will deal a heavy blow to their criminal activities, Irelands police chief has said.

Speaking at an event at Dublin City Hall, US ambassador to Ireland Claire Cronin said the US department is offering a reward of five million US dollars (3.8 million/4.6 million euro) for information that will lead to the financial destruction of the crime gang or the arrest and conviction of its leaders.

Garda Commissioner Drew Harris said the Kinahan group is worth more than one billion euro through its criminal enterprise. Daniel Kinahan, 44, has previously been named in the Irish courts as the head of one of Europes most prominent drug gangs.

Mr Harris warned senior members they can run but cant hide from justice forever, adding that they will eventually run out of money.

US Ambassador to Ireland Claire Cronin has said that the US Department of the Treasury is offering a reward of $5 million dollars for information on the Kinahan crime gang and for the arrest and conviction of its leaders. pic.twitter.com/7krLv7ywbR  Cate McCurry (@CateMcCurry) April 12, 2022

Among those sanctioned by the US department of the treasurys office of foreign assets control (OFAC) were its key members, including leaders Christy Kinahan Snr, Daniel Kinahan and Christy Kinahan Jnr, all named as heads of the criminal network.

Also named and sanctioned were their associates Sean McGovern, Ian Dixon, Bernard Clancy and John Morrissey.

Three associated businesses were also identified as being linked with the gang.

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The US department said the action is the result of close collaboration between OFAC, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the US department of state, Irish law enforcement, the UKs National Crime Agency and the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation.

The Kinahan organised crime group smuggles deadly narcotics, including cocaine, to Europe, and is a threat to the entire licit economy through its role in international money laundering

US under secretary Brian E. Nelson

Under secretary for terrorism and financial intelligence, Brian E. Nelson, said: The Kinahan organised crime group smuggles deadly narcotics, including cocaine, to Europe, and is a threat to the entire licit economy through its role in international money laundering.

Criminal groups like the KOCG (Kinahan organised crime group) prey on the most vulnerable in society and bring drug-related crime and violence, including murder, to the countries in which they operate.

Treasury is proud to have co-ordinated so closely with our international counterparts, and the US government will continue to use every available resource to dismantle these criminal networks.

As a result of the action, all property and interests in property of the named gang members and their businesses that are in the US or in the possession or control of US people will be blocked and reported to OFAC.

OFACs regulations generally prohibit all transactions by US people or people within, or transiting, the United States that involve any property or interests in property of those who have been sanctioned.

Treasury is proud to have co-ordinated so closely with our international counterparts, and the US government will continue to use every available resource to dismantle these criminal networks.

Brian E. Nelson

In a lengthy statement, the US treasury office said that the Kinahan crime gang, which operates in Ireland, is also established in the UK, Spain, and the United Arab Emirates.

It described their operations as a significant transnational criminal organisation.

It said the gang emerged in the late 1990s and early 2000s as the most powerful organised crime group operating in Ireland.

Since then, Irish courts have said the Kinahan gang is a murderous organisation involved in the international trafficking of drugs and firearms.

Criminal activities include international money laundering, generating proceeds in the UK, which are then pooled together and passed to local criminals before being handed to Irish organised crime group members and laundered out of the UK.

The Kinahans also use Dubai as a facilitation hub for its illicit activities.

Since February 2016, the criminal group has been involved in a gang war with another group in Ireland and Spain, resulting in numerous murders, including those of two innocent bystanders.
The Daily Beast

ANGELA WEISSEver at the center of the rumor mills, on Friday Elon Musk denied a new report claiming that former president Donald Trump had encouraged him to buy out Twitter.The claim originated from Devin NunesCEO of Trumps social media company Truth Socialin an interview with the Fox Business Network on Wednesday.Were all for it, Nunes said. President Trump, basically before Elon Musk bought it, actually said to go and buy it, because the goal of our company is really to build a commun
Victoria's Secret launches latest Mother's Day campaign. (Photo: Victoria's Secret)

Victoria's Secret is celebrating "hard-working, never-stopping, do-it-all moms" for its first Mother's Day since announcing its rebrand.

The lingerie company famously overhauled its image in June 2021, revealing that it would be retiring the Angels in favor of a collective of women in support of a new mission of inclusivity. Most notably, the company would be embracing the beauty of motherhood, which was seemingly off limits for Victoria's Secret in the past. (CEO Martin Waters told the New York Times that in the past, "the brand never celebrated Mothers Day because "the Victoria brand had a single lens, which was called sexy.)

For Mother's Day 2021, just a month before Victoria's Secret made its new marketing intentions public, the lingerie company featured a pregnant model for the very first time in honor of Mother's Day 2021. Nearly one year later, Victoria's Secret is doubling down on honoring parenthood with the launch of the Real Love campaign.

"No matter how you mom, how you were mothered, or how your narrative came to be, were excited to celebrate the multifaceted relationships that instill real love," the tagline for the new campaign reads.

Faces featured include Victoria's Secret models new and old, including former Angel Lais Ribeiro with her son, Chanel Iman with her two daughters and Paloma Elsesser with her mother and grandmother. Model Hari Nef also appears alongside her mother as well as Yumi Nu and her family. Nu even praised VS's diversity, telling V magazine, "I absolutely love that the fashion industry now embraces diversity because I think it is the truest representation of what it means to be beautiful. We are all different  and it is so important to celebrate the beauty of that. This may not have been the case in my mothers experience growing up, but today, I am proud to say that this industry is evolving. It is an honor to be a part of this change by having my mother and sister by my side throughout this campaign. Our unique love, along with the amazing women that Victorias Secret has presented, really captures what it means to be yourself  and that is beautiful."

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Brooke Shields is also included with her 15-year-old daughter Grier Henchy, which she told InStyle was an "emotional" moment.

"It was as if I was watching my baby girl grow up right in front of my eyes," the 56-year-old model and actress told the publication. "I would absolutely love for Grier to continue to participate in meaningful and inspiring campaigns like this, that empower the love that women have for each other."

She continued, "Victoria's Secret is truly capturing this message and I couldn't be more excited for this campaign to be a part of her very own modeling journey."

Video: Victorias Secret introduces its first model with Down syndrome

Others praised Victoria's Secret for the "beautiful campaign" in the comment section on Instagram and spoke to the "adorable" moments between the mothers featured and their children. Still, it marks a new milestone for the brand that hadn't always embraced this role.

In fact, the company's 2021 announcement to rebrand included an expansion into the maternity category, which wasn't deemed sexy enough to be featured in catalogs prior. Now, the brand's website includes images of a woman breastfeeding to advertise its new nursing bras.

The company's progress was also celebrated during the launch of the Love Cloud Collection in late February when the campaign included a model who was 38 weeks pregnant.

"Finally!!!! I remembered going on looking for maternity bras 6 years ago and yall didn't have any..." a commenter wrote. "We can have our baby bump and still be sexy."

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Penny Parrish in 2020 with a dollhouse replica of her childhood home. Her father and a friend built the family home in the early 1950s, and he later built the dollhouse for Parrish and her sister. She's now trying to find a home for the replica. (Family photo)

A lot of people remember their childhoods through photo albums or a cherished toy. Penny Parrishs keepsake is rather more substantial  and that has become a problem.

A few years after her family moved into the Bensenville ranch-style house her father and a friend built with their own hands, her dad made a replica of the home as a dollhouse for Parrish and her younger sister.

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It was scrupulously faithful to the real thing  he carved the chimney brick by brick and added imitation shrubbery on the artificial lawn  and it was massive, covering most of an 4-by-8 foot sheet of plywood.

Parrish long ago moved away from Bensenville, but for decades she has kept the dollhouse as a memento of those happy midcentury days.

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Penny and Deb Parrish with the replica dollhouse their father built for them in 1955. (Family photo)

I couldnt take the big house with me, but I could always take the little one to remind me of our time in Bensenville, she said.

But now she is 75, and she wonders what will become of the dollhouse that occupies a room in her Fredericksburg, Virginia, home. She has no children to whom she can leave it, her sister doesnt have room for it, and though she believes it should be preserved as a piece of postwar suburban history, shes found no takers among Illinois historical societies.

Such is the limbo that often awaits granddaddy houses, as Lori Kagan-Moore of the Great American Dollhouse Museum calls them. These dollhouses, built by family members, tend to lack the artistry or meticulous detail that would make them collectible, she said, though she gets donation inquires almost every week.

Half an hour ago, I responded to one of those letters, she said. I try to tell them what is really nice about the house, but we usually cant take them.

Parrish was 5 when her family moved in the early 1950s from Chicagos North Side to a new subdivision in the farmland near Bensenville.

Her dad, Jess Parrish, was an Army veteran and IBM service engineer who had learned carpentry and other construction skills from his father, and he built the home with a pal. According to a ledger in which Jess Parrish and his wife, Jean. logged every expense, the entire job cost just over $11,000.

The three-bedroom, one-bath house had a fireplace, radiant heat and a clothesline in the backyard, fitting right into the burgeoning neighborhood. The streets teemed with children her age, Parrish said, and families grew so close they vacationed together and kept in touch even after they moved away.

The Bensenville house of the Parrish family during the time of construction around 1952. (Family photo)

A jogger passes the former Bensenville home of Penny Parrish on April 6, 2022. (Stacey Wescott / Chicago Tribune)

It was part of the Greatest Generations suburban migration, which saw Bensenvilles population more than double in a decade. Nancy Flannery of the Wheaton Historic Commission said many of the houses that went up in the DuPage County suburbs during that time were similar to the one the Parrishes built, optimized for growing families.

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I think the architecture reflected a certain value system that was very appealing to men and women who had been in World War II, she said.  ... (It provided) not a luxurious place, but a place a man and woman could be proud of, where they could raise their children, have good schools and a lovely home.

When Parrish was 9, her father surprised her and her sister, Deb, at Christmas with a replica version of the house. It was faithful all the way down to the decorative screen on the front porch, and the roof could be removed so the girls could set their Tiny Tears dolls inside.

I remember him being very proud of what he had done, Deb Parrish recalled. He was not a very talkative guy, but you could tell he admired his work, both in the big house and the little house.

Penny Parrish stayed at home through college, then left for a job in Florida. The dollhouse remained with her parents even after they left their Bensenville home and moved to Michigan.

When they sold the house, I told them they could not pitch the dollhouse, Parrish said. So they hauled it up to Michigan and it sat in the rafters of the garage there for a long time. When they sold that house in the 1990s, thats when I took it.

She has had the dollhouse ever since  she had to take it off the plywood in order to move it  but with no heirs to claim it when shes gone, she has tried to interest museums and historical societies.

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What most people have told me is that they think its a fascinating story and piece of history, but they either dont have room for it or COVID has made their staffing so low they just cant deal with it, she said.

The Bensenville home her father built still stands, and its appearance isnt far removed from its original state. Parrish said she hasnt reached out to the current owners, but after shes gone, she plans to have the executor of her estate inquire about whether they might want the dollhouse.

And if they dont?

I wont be around at that point, she said. At least I wouldnt know about it.

A Tribune reporter stopped by the house this week, but the resident didnt respond to an interview request.

Kagan-Moore said the scale of the replica makes it particularly hard to donate. But in an age where children rarely get handmade toys  or toys of any sort, given the popularity of video games and other digital devices  she understands its enduring value.

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It (tells) the story of that family and those relationships and those children who loved it, she said. I think its sad when that sort of thing is lost.

For now, though, its presence remains a comfort. Not long after the pandemic began, Parrish took a photographic self-portrait with the dollhouse and slipped into a reverie about all it had meant.

I thought of my past, my family, she said. This was a dollhouse my dad made. It just (conjured up) memories, all kinds of memories.

jkeilman@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @JohnKeilman
It is said that power corrupts. It also blinds. Has Vladimir Putin stumbled into a Churchillian moment of becoming yet another who has either misread or failed to learn from history and is therefore doomed to repeat it?

Allow me to share some personal and professional perspectives beginning with a stint in which I reported for The Economist from Tehran, during the Iranian Hostage Crisis in 1979.

Being the only American reporter in Iran who could speak Farsi, I was able to develop contacts with people who revealed to me not only the date (Inauguration Day 1981) when the hostages would be released, but also information regarding the virtually concurrent invasion, on December 24, 1979, of Afghanistan by the Soviet Union.

Former U.S. Ambassador Michael McFaul, according to Newsweek reporter Jason Lemon, has predicted Putins decision would ultimately be seen as his downfall.

However, possibly more telling than that prediction was his revealing to MSNBC recently that he had seen numerous videos of captured Russian soldiers befuddled by the unexpected reception they encountered on the battlefield.

So, too, I was told back in 1979 that the Soviet soldiers had been surprised by the resistance that they had not been warned to expect in Afghanistan. Just as telling was this reported quote by a Russian soldier invading Ukraine: We dont know who to shoot. They all look like us!

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Lessons we can learn from the Iranian Revolution

I lived in Iran for seven years prior to reporting on it and I followed developments there particularly closely in 1978 and early 1979 when, on January 16, the Shah, who had ruled with an iron fist, was forced to flee the country.

A young man pushes a wheelbarrow in front of a destroyed apartment building in the town of Borodyanka, Ukraine.

The undoing of his regime and what significantly began to seal his fate was when, in the fall of 1978, soldiers began to join and protest rather than put down the citizen protests. What follows the downfall of an autocrat or a dictator is not guaranteed to be better, as was demonstrated by the Iranian Revolution, but it can be positive.

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It behooves us to pay close attention to those brave Russian souls who are taking to the streets of so many Russian cities to protest the war with their brothers and sisters in Ukraine.

The offensive into the brotherland appears to be revealing that the current, unfortunately sad state of warfare, can lead, ultimately, to fortunate outcomes. More importantly, the misfortune to Ukraine of NATOs lack of direct military involvement, happens to be fortunate.

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Why Ukraine must be the only aggrieved party

Allow me to explain, notwithstanding how much it pains me to think of the suffering and burden placed on so many brave Ukrainians.

It is crucially important that the aggrieved party in this conflict just be Ukraine! So long as the Russian homeland is not attacked, the whole world  with the exception of a few rogue states, but including a growing number of Russian citizens  will oppose Putins miscalculated invasion.

Take Kazakhstan, for example, which refused Putins initial request to send troops to the battlefront.

Frankly, whether Russia overpowered Ukrainian resistance, by overrunning Kyiv and contending to "control" the country, was irrelevant  except to Ukrainians  in the short run.

The psychological battle seems already to have been lost by the Russians. So, if Kyiv falls, Putin will find himself with a months-to-years-long insurgency on his hands, definitely not a victory.

Reference the Soviets being bogged down in Afghanistan from Dec. 24, 1979 to their eventual withdrawal on February 15, 1989  and the subsequent dissolution of the Soviet Union on December 25, 1991 (Christmas Day)!

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The pressure is getting to Russian leaders

Couple an unending Ukrainian insurgency with the accompanying Russian isolation  particularly economic isolation  from the rest of the world and it will only be a matter of time  granted possibly a relatively long time  before Russian citizens or the currently corrupt coterie surrounding Putin will have had enough and find a way to dethrone him.

Steve Manis

For starters, look no further than the resentment of those hither-to yes men "leaders" who attended the end-of-February Security Council meeting in which Putin openly chastised them, particularly the director of foreign intelligence, Sergey Naryshkin, whom he publicly humiliated on national television.

Think economic sanctions cant work? Welcome to Irans world. When I lived in Tehran in 1965, a U.S. Dollar was exchanged for around 75 rials. Today, if one can find a way to exchange it, the rate is 42,200.70 rials per a single dollar.

Steve Manis has lived in or traveled through more than 160 countries and has reported on several of them. He visited Prague two months before the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia in August of 1968 and the year before, on a trip to Moscow, he obtained a Russian soldiers hat and several Russian anti-War (Vietnam) posters. His father was a University of Tennessee professor who was involved in the famed civil rights-focused Highlander Folk School in Monteagle and passed that advocacy to his progeny.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Ukraine war: Putin fails to heed the lessons of Iran and Afghanistan
Its a time 15-year-old Uliana Kucherova wont forget.

She was home with her dad and siblings just outside Kyiev when Russia invaded the country.

My dad woke me up: We need to pack everything really fast, she recalled.

The family fled, first to a neighbors basement where they stayed for days.

READ: Can this be real? Orlando woman worries as family waits out Russian invasion in Ukraine

Nobody slept, nobody ate anything, Kucherova said. The only topic was how to leave, how to run.

And they eventually did.

They spent days trying to get to the border until they finally made it to Romania. It was then time for Kucherova and her siblings to say goodbye to their father, who had to turn around and fight.

READ: Central Florida-based team evacuates thousands from Ukraine

The three were on their own, staying with family friends.

But back here in Orlando their aunt and uncle, Dr. George Hagerty and Dr. Oksana Hagerty, were already planning to come get them.

I was a little hasty, George Hagerty said. I wanted to go right over.

READ: Dozens rally in Orlando for continued support for Ukraine

Before they could bring the three children back, each child needed a visa. However, a visa application is 60 pages for each one of them.

We had those with us and we finally decided to make the dive and go over March 10, George Hagerty said.

The tricky part: there was no Plan B if they were denied visas at the U.S. Embassy. The childrens mother passed away 12 years ago, and their father was off fighting. To borders to Ukraine was closed.

READ: Brevard County nonprofit reaches Poland-Ukraine border to deliver portable water purifiers

The young family members were approved for visitor visas, meaning theyre allowed to be here six months.

The family said they will try to obtain student visas for them.

READ: Ukrainian family on Disney vacation at time of Russian invasion finds community support

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Kucherova said she misses home, especially her dad.

We talk to each other every day, but its not really a conversation, she said. Its just, Are you OK?

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The Washington Post has canceled plans to host a party before the White House correspondents dinner scheduled for later this month.

In a memo sent on Tuesday, publisher Fred Ryan and executive editor Sally Buzbee said plans for the annual gathering had been scrapped due to the recent spike in coronavirus cases in the Washington, D.C., region.

We had hoped to be emailing you an invitation to The Washington Post reception preceding the White House Correspondents Dinner on April 30, the pair wrote. As much as we would have loved to see everyone, in light of what appears to be an increase in Covid-19 transmission, we did not want to put our friends and colleagues at further risk.

In lieu of the gathering, Ryan and Buzbee said, the Post will donate what it would have spent on the reception to Reporters Without Borders to support the work the organization is doing for reporters covering the war in Ukraine.

A number of top politicians and Washington dignitaries have tested positive for COVID-19 after attending the star-studded Gridiron Club dinner last weekend, fueling fears of another major spike locally.

The dinner itself is still scheduled to go on as planned, though over the weekend, the White House Correspondents Association announced that proof of vaccination would be required for entry to the April 30 event.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Washington State Ferries says a worldwide shortage of mariners is to blame for long wait times for customers and reduced service on multiple ferry routes.

But now theyre working with a local academy to solve that problem.

Students at Seattle Central Colleges Seattle Maritime Academy train in classrooms, aboard vessels and in state-of-the art engine room and Captains bridge simulators.

About one-in-four of WSFs current engine room employees graduated from the maritime academy.

Engine room employees are a part of ferry operations that a lot of people dont know exist, yet theyre absolutely vital to ensure the largest ferry system in North America can safely serve the people of Washington, said WSF Chief of Staff Nicole McIntosh. The jobs can pay more than $60 per hour and once on board there is a clear career path.

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As 20% of workers in the local maritime industry are within five years of retiring, WSF is encouraging women, people from communities of color and other underrepresented groups to consider maritime training and careers.

Theres huge demand for merchant mariners, not just at Washington State Ferries, but across the entire industry, said academy Associate Dean Dale Bateman. We offer a fast-track program to train the next generation of mariners. Students in the marine engineering technology unit can graduate and be on the water in as little as a year.

The academy offers a 90-day paid internship at sea with the state ferry system and says tug and shipping companies are also in urgent need of their graduates.

Anyone interested in joining a WSF engine room crew is encouraged to attend one of the academys monthly public tours and information sessions which take place on the second Tuesday of each month.
Several climate activists were arrested Saturday after blockading the entrance to a West Virginia power plant as part of an effort to call attention to Sen. Joe Manchin's ties to the coal industry.

"Manchin has a lot of power nationwide," said one protester, who told Fox News the demonstrators came to "call him out on his-self dealing. He's not doing what the people of West Virginia want and need him to do."

A West Virginia University student activist, Ryley Haught, told Fox News: "Manchin profits 500,000 a year from the trucks that bring in that coal, and at the same time he serves as the chair of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee. This is a huge conflict of interest."

A company Manchin co-founded with his brother paid the West Virginia Democrat nearly $492,000 in 2020, his financial disclosures show. The company, Enersystems Inc., is run by Manchin's son and sells waste coal to the Grant Town Power Plant, The New York Times reported.

Protesters called on Manchin to abandon his support for fossil fuels and embrace green energy legislation.

SEN. JOE MANCHIN SAYS HE'S OPEN TO A NEW VERSION OF BIDEN'S BUILD BACK BETTER AGENDA

"He's decided that the U.S. Chamber of Commerce agenda is better than the agenda for the people of West Virginia and the people of the United States," Rev. William Barber told a crowd of protesters.

WASHINGTON, DC - DECEMBER 17: Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) is followed by reporters as he leaves a caucus meeting with Senate Democrats at the U.S. Capitol Building on December 17, 2021 in Washington, DC. Democrats continue to work on a path forward in regards to the Build Back Better and election reform legislation ahead of the Holiday recess. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images) Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

Marion County sheriffs warned protesters that if they position themselves too close to the Grant Town power plant fencing, they would risk arrest. Within the first 10 minutes of the protest, West Virginia State Police began arresting activists who sat right in front of the fence.

At least a dozen arrests were made throughout the protest.

"We gave them boundaries they could remain in," Marion County Sheriff J.C. Riffle said. "They chose not to remain in those boundaries."
The Orange County Sheriffs Office is asking for help tracking down a person who was caught on video attempting to kidnap a child.

>>> STREAM CHANNEL 9 EYEWITNESS NEWS LIVE <<<

The incident happened just before 8 a.m. Monday near the intersection of Semoran Boulevard and Dahlia Drive in the Azalea Park area.

READ: Violent physical attack under investigation at Osceola County middle school

Video released by the sheriffs office shows the victim walking alone as the suspect approaches from the opposite direction. The suspect can be seen grabbing the victim by the head before the two walk out of the frame together.

HELP ID: Someone tried to kidnap a child near Semoran Blvd. & Dahlia Dr. in East Orange County. The suspect was driving what detectives believe is a white Toyota RAV4. The child was able to get away. If you have information, please contact @CrimelineFL at 1-800-423-8477. pic.twitter.com/KxViWI0lzZ  Orange County Sheriff's Office (@OrangeCoSheriff) April 11, 2022

According to the sheriffs office, the child was eventually able to escape.

READ: Daytona Beach daycare owner charged with child abuse

The next video clip shows the suspect driving away from the area in what the sheriffs office says appears to be a white Toyota RAV4.

Theyre asking anyone who recognizes the suspect or their car to contact Central Florida Crimeline at 1-800-423-8477.

READ: 15 shootings reported in Central Florida in 48 hours

Tips can be left anonymously, and could be eligible for a reward if they lead to an arrest.

Click here to download the free WFTV news and weather apps, click here to download the WFTV Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
WHEATON, MD  The Westfield Wheaton Mall may undergo a change in owners in the near future, as reports said the owner of the Westfield Montgomery mall hopes to sell many of its American properties.

The Wall Street Journal broke the news last Tuesday. The Journal said the parent company, Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield, wants to sell most of its U.S. malls by the end of 2023. The Los Angeles Times reported last Friday that Unibail, which is based in Paris, plans to sell all of its American locations.

Unibail told Patch that it had no comment on whether the Westfield Montgomery Mall will be up for sale.

Unibail bought its 24 U.S. malls from Westfield, an Australian property manager. The companies finalized the $16 billion sale in December 2018. The malls seem to have lost value as online shopping continues its takeover. This trend was already hurting shopping centers, but the COVID-19 pandemic sped up the decline.

Unibail estimated that its U.S. malls were worth $13.2 billion last year, the Los Angeles Times said. Real estate analyst Green Street instead valued them at $11.4 billion. Unibail took on a significant amount of debt to buy Westfield. The company hopes to ease a bit of this debt by selling some of its American assets.

The business wants to lower its loan-to-value ratio to 40 percent. This means that Unibail wants its debt to be about 40 percent of the value of its holdings.

Unibail is optimistic that it will find a buyer. The company said 95 percent of its U.S. malls are in the top tier of sales. Unibail will turn its focus toward the wealthiest European cities after this "radical reduction of financial exposure to the US."

"This is the beginning of an exciting journey for URW that will reshape the business to focus on our core strengths in Europe," CEO Jean-Marie Tritant said in a March 30 press release outlining her path to 2024.

This article originally appeared on the Wheaton Patch
An Oklahoma law criminalising abortion care as a felony with 10-year prison sentences and $100,000 fines for healthcare providers marks an unconstitititional attack on womens health, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said in a statement.

Oklahomas Republican Governor Kevin Stitt Senate signed Senate Bill 612 into law at a ceremony surrounded by anti-abortion advocates and faith leaders at the state capital on 12 April. If it survives anticipated legal challenges, it is scheduled to go into effect this summer following the adjournment of the states legislative session.

The law  which seeks to effectively outlaw abortion care in the state  also does not make exceptions for rape or incest, emerging as one of the most severe anti-abortion measures in the US amid a recent wave of restrictive legislation emboldened by an anticipated US Supreme Court ruling that could upend decades of precedent for womens healthcare.

Today, the countrys most restrictive legislation regulating access to reproductive health care was signed into law in Oklahoma, Ms Psaki said in a staement on Tuesday. This unconstitutional attack on womens rights is just the latest and one of the most extreme state laws signed into law to date.

The nations high court is expected to issue a ruling in the coming weeks on a Mississippi case involving a state law banning the procedure after 15 weeks, with the courts six conservative justices signalling a readiness to uphold the law.

Precedent established in the landmark 1973 decision in Roe v Wade prohibits states from banning abortion before a foetus is considered viable outside the womb, which medical professionals determine is roughly 23 weeks of pregnancy.

The nations high court also has declined to intervene to stop a Texas law banning abortion after six weeks of pregnancy, before many women know they are pregnant.

Governor Stitt is expected to sign another bill mirroring the Texas law  that measure would effectively ban all abortion after six weeks of pregnancy and bar physicians from performing or inducing an abortion at any point unless it is to save the life of the pregnant person. The bill includes an emergency clause that triggers an immediate effective date.

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In her statement, Ms Psaki urged Congress to pass federal legislation that codifies the protections in the Roe ruling.

Protecting the right recognized in Roe v Wade continues to be a priority for the Biden-Harris Administration, and we call on Congress to pass the Womens Health Protection Act, which would shut down these attacks and codify this long-recognized, constitutional right, she said.

Ms Psaki characterised the Oklahoma law as part of disturbing national trend attacking womens rights and vowed that the administration will continue to stand with women in Oklahoma and across the country in the fight to defend their freedom to make their own choices about their futures.
Thousands of Latino refugees arrive in the Mexican city of Tijuana each year, dreaming of one day crossing the border that separates them from the United States.

But as Ukrainians who fled Russia's invasion have recently begun to cross the same frontier with little delay, many Latinos stuck waiting for months are wondering why they are not being treated the same.

"Why are we -- neighbors of the United States -- not given the same opportunity to seek asylum? We came here fleeing almost the same thing," said L., a 44-year-old Mexican man.

Because of the war raging in their homeland, Ukrainians have been granted special humanitarian permission to enter the United States. Washington said last month it would take in up to 100,000 refugees.

Thousands of Ukrainians have since flown to Tijuana to cross the land border to the United States -- easier than getting the visa required to fly direct.

Volunteers in Tijuana and the neighboring US town of San Ysidro say that, on average, new Ukrainian arrivals wait just two or three days before crossing, using an entrance available only to them.

"I think we all deserve a chance," L.'s wife said, with tears welling up in her eyes.

The couple fled their central Mexican hometown of Irapuato with their three children, carrying only a change of clothes, after suspected cartel members torched their home and the bakery where they made their living.

Staring down at the floor and nervously clutching a piece of paper in her trembling hands, the woman spoke to AFP hesitantly, declining to give her name for fear of something happening to her or her family.

"We came here not by choice but out of necessity -- we have endured a lot of violence," she said.

"We want to give them a better life," she added, pointing to her children, who are living in one of several tents at the Movimiento Juventud 2000 shelter.

The family are just three blocks from Unidad Deportiva Benito Juarez, which has become the staging post for thousands of Ukrainians.

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"Why don't they give us a chance?" she asked.

- 'Almost a war' -

The contrast between the two shelters could hardly be more stark.

At Movimiento Juventud 2000, the atmosphere is heavy with frustration and sadness, while at Benito Juarez, relief and hope abound.

Volunteers at the Ukrainian shelter have created a database to keep up with the rapid turnover of asylum seekers.

By Saturday afternoon, more than 2,600 Ukrainians had registered.

At Movimiento Juventud 2000, some families have been waiting as long as six months for a change in border restrictions that would allow them to apply for asylum.

R., who also did not want to give her full name, is from Honduras, and has five children aged between one and nine. She said they were forced to leave their city eight years ago when her journalist husband was attacked.

They fled to Guatemala, where her husband received medical treatment. But they realized they could not remain when one of the doctors who treated him was murdered.

Another attempt to rebuild their lives in Mexico was scuppered when a flood destroyed their new home, and so the family headed to the US border, encouraged by the election of Democratic President Joe Biden.

"We have been applying for asylum since we lived in Guatemala, but a long time has passed and we are still waiting," she said, sitting on a plastic bucket next to the tent in which the whole family has slept for months.

The youngest of her babies learnt to walk between tents.

Like the Ukrainians, "we also came fleeing," she said.

"It's different, but it's almost a war with the gangs... we can't go back."

- 'Suffered' -

Thanks to donations from both sides of the border, Ukrainian volunteers installed a children's play area at their shelter.

Toys, crayons and books are available, with a new crate of plastic yellow ducks arriving Saturday.

Nearby, young Haitian, Mexican and Central American children do not have any dedicated space and few materials, although they are entertained a couple of times each week by UNICEF workers and individual volunteers.

Teacher Nelly Cantu, who is part of that effort, says she was approached about helping at the Ukrainian shelter, but decided to stay put.

"Besides the language barrier, I preferred to stay here because the children need me. They have suffered a lot, and have less support. This is also a war," she said.

Some 125 people, mainly from Haiti and Central America, live in the shelter staffed by six people, said its director Jose Maria Garcia.

"We try to explain to them that they have to be patient," Garcia said.

pr/amz/hg/sw
The heads of Cook Countys assessors office and its property tax appeal agency currently dont agree on how it happened, but they agree on this: Second-installment property tax bills are going to be delayed this year again.

County officials have not announced how far the postponement will stretch, but the chair of the Board of Review has warned it could be six months  the latest due date in the past 10 years. Traditionally, the offices involved have aimed to get the second round of bills out by July with an August due date.

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The tardiness could impose a hardship not only on property owners but also on taxing bodies such as public school districts and other forms of local government. And it comes after second-installment bills faced a two-month delay in 2021.

A view of the Little Village neighborhood in April 2017. Second-installment property tax bills will be delayed this year. (E. Jason Wambsgans / Chicago Tribune)

Board of Review Chair Larry Rogers Jr. in Chicago in 2017. (Chris Sweda / Chicago Tribune)

Board of Review Chair Larry Rogers Jr. contends the buck stops with Assessor Fritz Kaegi, whom Rogers said controls the calendar because Kaegis office begins the process by assessing property values before handing calculations to the Board of Review. The appeals board then conducts another look at properties whose owners want their assessments reconsidered. The clerk then applies the equalizer formula, and the treasurer issues the bills.

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Its time for the assessor to own his mistakes and spend less time pointing fingers and more time figuring out how to get the bills out on time, if in fact that was ever his priority, Rogers wrote in a March 30 statement that said Kaegis office did not transmit data to the appeals board on time.

Sign up for The Spin to get the top stories in politics delivered to your inbox weekday afternoons.

Also that day, Rogers took to Twitter to declare Kaegi was worse than Covid for what Rogers said was Kaegis responsibility for the delays.

Kaegis office responded that it was Rogers who was at fault because the assessors office had been modernizing its technological framework, a plan that had been in place since 2015, but the Board of Review hasnt cooperated.

Commissioner Rogers should stop slow-walking this process and playing politics with the property tax system, Kaegis wrote on what he called the Board of Reviews refusal to participate in the computer mainframe transition.

Cook County Assessor Fritz Kaegi addresses members of the City Club of Chicago, Jan. 21, 2020, at Maggiano's Little Italy in Chicago. (Erin Hooley / Chicago Tribune)

Kaegis office also said it began sending data to the Board of Review in November but the appeals board dragged its feet with hearings. Meanwhile, Rogers said Kaegis implementation of the new technology was disastrous.

Kaegi is seeking reelection this year and is being challenged in the June 28 Democratic primary by Kari Steele, president of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District.

Kaegi announced on Twitter Monday that he has tested positive for COVID-19 the previous day, saying hes been vaccinated and boosted since treatments became available. My symptoms are relatively minor.

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A hearing on getting the property tax bills out is slated for the coming weeks among all the agencies involved: the assessor, Board of Review, county clerk, treasurer and bureau of technology. But in the meantime, Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle said she already told the first two offices to sort out their disagreements.

Finger-pointing and name-calling isnt helpful in that process, and Ive told the actors involved that directly, Preckwinkle told reporters last week. She cited the technological growing pains and the COVID-19 pandemic as the roots of the problem.

ayin@chicagotribune.com
Sharon Whitford was found guilty of second degree murder in September 2019 for killing her husband on Dec. 30, 2017. Whitford requested a retrial at the NC Court of Appeals for not reviewing self defense, but the court denied the dismissal of her murder charge on Nov. 18, 2021.

A Craven County woman who was found guilty of killing her husband, did not agree with the court's sentence due to her claims she acted out of self-defense.

After Sharon Whitford's retrial request on Sept. 19, 2019 to the state's Court of Appeals, she was heard in court on Nov. 18, 2021 and denied of her charges being dropped under the self defense law.

Whitford's murder trial took place in September of 2019 in Craven County Superior Court after her arrest in 2018. She was found guilty of second-degree murder and sentenced 20 to 25 years in prison.

Previous coverage:

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Whitford, a former Craven County Clerk of Court employee of 19 years, was accused of fatally shooting her husband, Jimmy Lee Whitford, on Dec. 30, 2017. Court of Appeals said she shot her husband due to a confrontation about Sharon Whitford's affair with a former Craven County Sheriff's Office deputy.

Appeals court stated there was enough evidence to convince the trial court Sharon Whitford did not act in self-defense.

"That (Sharon Whitford) killed her husband is (certain)," read Court of Appeals' reason to not dismiss the murder charge. "And the state's evidence that she killed her husband out of a desire to be with her lover and do away with her husband was enough for a jury to (conclude malice)."

Sharon Whitford maintained the motivation for shooting her husband was due to Jimmy Whitford violently assaulting her and not her relationship with her lover, Court of Appeals documents show.

Romantic affair leads to deadly confrontation

Jimmy Whitford was shot multiple times by his wife, Sharon Whitford, in the abdomen, right hip and left knee and soon after, he died of his injuries on Dec. 30, 2017, according to the Court of Appeals documents.

His death comes after he read text messages on his wife's phone, which revealed her relationship with another man. Jimmy Whitford called his wife's lover and then confronted Sharon Whitford about the affair after she exited the shower and pushed her several times, according to appeals court.

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Court documents read the husband retrieved a shotgun and him and Sharon Whitford struggled over control of the weapon. Contrarily, evidence revealed the husband's DNA, but not Sharon Whitford's DNA, on the shotgun which contradicts her claim she grabbed the gun in struggle of control, appeals court stated.

Sharon Whitford testified she ran to the living room, grabbed a loaded rifle and returned to the master bedroom. Her husband fired the shotgun in his wife's direction which caused pellets to hit her right eye and shoulder. Sharon Whitford fired at her husband several times, eventually killing him.

At the accused's murder trial in 2019, Sharon Whitford claimed she acted out of self-defense due to her husband violently assaulting her in the bedroom, kitchen, laundry room and living room after discovering her extramarital affair.

The state's evidence disclosed the lack of Jimmy Whitford's DNA from anywhere other than the bedroom. Evidence also showed Sharon Whitford left the room and returned to the bedroom to reinitiate the altercation--firing downward at her husband while he was lying in fetal position on the bedroom floor, according to appeals court.

In addition to the physical evidence, the state presented Sharon Whitford's interactions with her lover, the former deputy, to demonstrate her state of mind during the shots.

Sharon Whitford tried several times to be dismissed of her murder charge due to acts of self-defense and insufficient evidence. Trial court denied all motions.

Evidence that denied Sharon Whitford's retrial

The court disagreed with Sharon Whitford's argument that she acted in self-defense against the claimed attack by her husband and believed there was enough evidence to support her conviction, according to Court of Appeals.

Evidence presented during her murder trial included: Sharon Whitford used deadly force against her husband, she shot her husband in the abdomen at a downward manner while he was in fetal position and not standing, the wife left the room and returned and she fired at Jimmy Whitford while she was returning to the room and while he was hiding.

"If there is more than a scintilla (trace) of evidence to support the convictions, the motion (to dismiss for insufficient evidence) is properly denied, read the Court of Appeals document. "Murder in the second degree is the unlawful killing of a human being with malice but without premeditation and deliberation."

The state concluded the sufficient evidence proved Sharon Whitford gained aggressor status at the time she shot her husband, as well as a variety of additional evidence on how the deceased was killed.

Reporter Symone Graham covers local public safety for the Sun Journal. Have a story tip or idea? Send it her way at sgraham@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Sun Journal: Craven County woman found guilty of killing her husband denied appeal
Cathay Pacific A350-1000 aircraft. Phuong D. Nguyen/Shutterstock

Cathay Pacific Airways has planned the new world's longest flight from New York's JFK airport to Hong Kong.

The flight relies on strong tailwinds to operate, but those winds are already "tapering off," according to Cathay.

The over 10,000-mile flight would beat out Singapore Airlines, which currently holds the world's longest flight title.

Cathay Pacific Airways may be a contender for the world's longest flight as it finds new route options to avoid Russian airspace between Asia and the US.

Shortly after Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, the European Union closed its skies to "any plane owned, chartered or otherwise controlled by a Russian legal or natural person" as part of sweeping sanctions against the nation.

Russia responded with its own airspace ban, forcing carriers to detour around the country to avoid restrictions. But the long reroutes are expensive, so airlines are looking at more cost-effective options to connect cities.

While carriers like Finnair and Japan Airlines are flying Cold War-era flight paths that take their planes over the Arctic, Cathay Pacific may instead fly a southerly route across the Atlantic on flights from New York's JFK airport to Hong Kong.

In an email statement to Insider, Cathay confirmed it has planned "contingency routings" in response to "potential events or scenarios within the world of aviation." Many airlines, particularly in Asia, have been avoiding Russian airspace over the conflict in Ukraine. The news was first reported by Bloomberg.

According to a Cathay spokesperson, the new route will fly eastbound from New York and head across the Atlantic, the UK, Southern Europe, and Central Asia before reaching Hong Kong. Before the invasion, the route flew over the Arctic and across Russia.

Cathay Pacific's routing between JFK and Hong Kong before Russia invaded Ukraine. This flight was operated on January 31. Courtesy of FlightAware.com

"The transatlantic option for New York JFK to Hong Kong is just under 9,000 nautical miles," a spokesperson told Insider. "Our Airbus A350-1000 aircraft can comfortably accomplish this in 16 to 17 hours with similar fuel consumption to the transpacific flights."

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Cathay explained that the eastbound flight will be "more favorable" than flying across the Pacific because of the strong seasonal tailwinds happening this time of year. However, the transatlantic flight option relies on those tailwinds to keep the flight time under 17 hours, and they're already "tapering off," according to the airline.

If the winds do not cooperate, it is possible that the flight may never come to fruition. According to FlightAware data, Cathay Pacific's Sunday flight took the transpacific route instead of the new transatlantic option, flying 17 hours and 34 minutes.

Cathay Pacific's April 3 route from JFK to Hong Kong. This is the current transpacific option to avoid Russia. Courtesy of FlightAware.com

The last flight to take the westerly route operated on April 3, with the carrier only planning to operate the direct route a total of four times in April, according to Cirium data. FlightAware data shows travelers can still connect to Hong Kong from New York-JFK via partner airlines that fly to places like Los Angeles, London, or Tel Aviv. Cathay flies the final leg to Hong Kong.

The new route, if ever operated, would become the world's longest flight by distance at 16,618 kilometers (10,326 miles), beating out Singapore Airlines. Currently, the Asian carrier flies a 15,349-kilometer (9,537 miles) route from New York-JFK to Singapore, which lasts about 19 hours, according to FlightAware.

Read the original article on Business Insider
U.S. Army Col. William E. Weber, a decorated Korean War veteran who oversaw the design and construction of the wars memorial, passed away on Sunday at age 97.

Born in 1925, Weber joined the Army in 1943 and served with the 11th Airborne during World War II. When the Korean War broke out, he deployed with 187th Airborne Regimental Combat Team and remained in Korea until February 1951, during the battle for Wonju. Injuries there cost him a leg and part of his arm.

For his service, Weber received the Distinguished Service Medal, Silver Star, Bronze Star with V, Legion of Merit with Oak Leaf Cluster, Purple Heart with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters, and an Army Commendation Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, according to the Korean War Veterans Memorial Foundation.

In 1987, Weber was appointed by President Ronald Reagan to an advisory board to shepherd the Korean War Veterans Memorials construction on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.

Once the memorial was completed and dedicated in July 1996, Weber went on to establish the Korean War Veterans Memorial Foundation. He served as the chairman of the foundation and then as its chair emeritus until his death.

The memorial is meant to honor what many call the Forgotten War.

Weber, when soliciting maintenance funds for the memorials upkeep, told Military Times there is a lack of public knowledge of the Korean War itself, even though more than 36,000 U.S. troops died and more than 103,000 were wounded in the conflict.

As a result, Weber felt the memorial was incomplete. He had hoped to add to it a wall of remembrance. In 2016, Congress granted that wish. Construction began on the memorials remembrance wall in March 2021.

His vision was to add a Wall of Remembrance, according to the Korean War Veterans Memorial Foundation. After many years of hard work and determination, Bills dream of honoring and thanking those who gave the ultimate sacrifice is nearly complete.

On July 27, 2022, the Korean War Veterans Memorials Wall of Remembrance will be dedicated.
The Miller Home of Lynchburg will hold a new fundraising event May 7 at the Academy Center of the Arts.

Stacy Garrett, executive director of the Miller Home of Lynchburg, said the nonprofit will hold a live viewing party of the Kentucky Derby race and tickets will sell for $50.

Were going to have hors doeuvres, people can get mint juleps, we want our people to wear the Derby hats and bow ties, she said. Its definitely going to have the Kentucky Derby theme throughout the event.

Garrett said the outside patio will be open but the theater will livestream the race inside.

The event, Down and Derby, has an anonymous sponsor who will match up to $50,000 from money raised, Garrett said.

Miller Home has been taking care of girls since 1875 in the Lynchburg community, so were probably one of the oldest residential homes in Virginia, if not in the United States, Garrett said. But on top of that, weve never taken state or federal money so we solely operate by charitable contributions such as an event like this.

She said these events allow the nonprofit to increase its revenue to care for at-risk girls between the ages of 4 and 21 who need a safe place to live.

Garrett said some girls just need some redirection and a network of professionals to help them learn to make better choices and identify better ways to meet their mental and physical health and improve social skills in the community.

During the past two years, due to COVID-19 restrictions, Garrett said so many organizations have been unable to hold events at the scale they usually would.

So now this allows us to have an event where we can definitely bring people back together to not only socialize but build the awareness of Miller Home and even during these uncertain times to support a local nonprofit that takes care of girls in our community in Virginia and to put them back on the path to success, she said.

If You Go "Down and Derby" will be held from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. May 7 in the Academy Center of the Arts.

For tickets, call the Miller Home at (434) 845-0241 or visit millerhomeoflynchburg.org

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Alexis Jansen  a 2021 graduate of Gretna High School  is getting firsthand experience in local business through 402 Door Signs, a startup she launched as part of her studies at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Through her major in agribusiness, Jansen got involved with the Engler entrepreneurship program at the university. The program is centered on agribusiness and students in the ag field, but is not exclusive to agribusiness. The program was founded and funded by Paul Engler, a UNL grad and legendary cattleman who bought and managed his first cattle herd of 100 at age 12.

Thats just the culture of it, Jansen said. Basically, its more about discovering yourself, your passions and what makes you happy. We were all given more than to just work a 9 to 5 job.

Jansens family farms  her father is a farmer and her mother handles the business side of things.

Going through school, I didnt have many ag friends at all, she said. Ive never really given up on my passion for ag and my passion to continue ag here in Sarpy County.

Along with being a member of the Engler organization, Jansen plans to take all of the programs courses, adding the entrepreneurship program as a minor.

The program offers lessons in financing, finding your passions, a Bible study and more.

Ive built so many connections in Engler that I will be able to take with me forever, Jansen said. I really value that; relationships to have for a lifetime and the opportunity to do this is awesome.

In her current coursework, each student was given $50 to start a business. Though students were allowed to partner up on the project, Jansen chose to go her own route.

I like to have the independence of doing things my way, how I want and when I want, she said.

In one of the introductory Engler courses, students had to create a personal creed, bringing in an object that represented that creed. Jansen painted her creed on a door sign: I know what I want, but I have to find the way. Never be afraid to take the first step. Work hard. Believe in yourself. Stay humble. Focus on the good. It will all be worth it in the end.

When she faced the journey of entrepreneurship, door signs just struck her, she said.

I love painting and putting my creativity onto stuff, giving them to people and making them happy, she said.

Thus, 402 Door Signs was born.

From building a mailing list, to cold calls, to finding target market demographics, making a Facebook/Instagram page, taking financial risks and keeping records of finances, I have done a little bit of it all this semester, Jansen said. You get to experience entrepreneurship firsthand at pretty much no risk to you. Fifty dollar does not go a long way. I was $2,000 into debt within the first week. I just prayed that I made it back. I already had so many orders.

One of those orders included 60 door signs for the Gretna Volunteer Fire Department. She had run into Fire Chief Rod Buethe, an acquaintance through mutual connections, who wanted to use the signs as gifts for volunteers at the fire departments annual banquet.

I had three weeks to have them ordered, painted, finished, wrapped and delivered to the venue, she said. That was a lot of work, but it was so worth it. I was very honored to do it.

Jansen worked with a wholesaler out of Mississippi, who helped her customize a board in the shape of the GVFD logo. She incorporated the Star of Life and a fire hydrant on the board to represent the fire and EMS services provided by the fire department. On each sign, she painted a volunteers name to further customize the gift.

Ive driven through some neighborhoods and seen some on doors, its kind of cool to see my signs on peoples doors locally, Jansen said.

Since launching 402 Door Signs in early February, her business has grown.

I try to post on my Facebook every day or every other day, Jansen said. I currently have 24 (signs) to work on now. I have lots of orders to fill, especially for Mothers Day.

Outside of her 17 credit hours and 402 Door Signs, Jansen works at Hy-Vee. She is also involved with numerous organizations at UNL. She is the philanthropy chair for Sigma Alpha, an ag sorority, is the secretary of the National-Agri marketing Association, a part of the ag business club and is an Ag Sack Lunch Ambassador at UNL. Jansen also volunteers for the Sarpy County Fairs concert committee.

A lot of people have doubt that our generation can really do anything, Jansen said. When you share your story, the effort you put into the things you can do, it really helps.

402 Door Signs can be found on Facebook and Instagram.

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When Gov. Kim Reynolds announced last week that the state was going to close the Glenwood Resource Center, which provides residential care and other services for Iowans with intellectual and developmental disabilities, in 2024, it came as a surprise to many, including Glenwood Mayor Ron Kohn.

(The day before the announcement), about 1 oclock, I got a call from the governors office saying were going to have a press conference to announce the closing, Kohn said in a phone interview with the Daily Nonpareil. One of the reasons it was quite a surprise is because the Legislature had already passed funding for the next year.

The U.S. Department of Justice in 2019 opened an investigation into two state-run facilities that house people with complex behavioral or medical needs: Glenwood Resource Center and Woodward Resource Center.

Federal officials in 2020 found the Glenwood facility likely violated the constitutional rights of residents by subjecting them to human experiments.

The justice department in 2021 issued a strongly worded 33-page report that said federal investigators found reasonable cause to believe Iowa had violated the Americans with Disabilities Act by failing to provide services that integrate people with intellectual disabilities into their communities, the Associated Press reported.

State lawmakers this week proposed a $16.3 million budget for Glenwood for the coming state fiscal year, an increase of $1.5 million over the previous year.

The GRC in southwest Iowa will continue to provide care to its residents over the next two years, according to a news release. The state will relocate the facilitys 200 residents, though there is a possibility that some could stay in Glenwood, Kohn said.

For many residents, its the only home theyve ever known, Reynolds said in the news release. I am fully committed to a seamless and successful transition of care for them, their families and the staff at Glenwood.

The approximately 600 employees at the GRC will be offered incentives by the state to stay on for the next two years, and the state will assist staff in finding new jobs, according to the news release.

Its been a very good work location for many years, Mayor Kohn said. Obviously, (the employees) were very, very surprised. Its going to be quite a change, because they were good jobs. You could live in a rural area and still have a good job. Its going to impact at least 600 people very seriously.

The state will work with local government officials and community leaders to minimize the impact on the Glenwood community and Mills County, and to identify alternative uses for the GRC campus after the facility closes, according to the news release.

The state is going to work very conscientiously to transition that property into a property that has a purpose for the community, Kohn said. The states going to work with various entities to try to promote development. There are going to be jobs in that area.

The Glenwood Resource Center opened in 1876.

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Residents at 208 Scott St. were awoken on Monday by city officials knocking on their doors telling them that they had to vacate the building, which had been deemed uninhabitable.

This came as quite a surprise to the tenants who lived in the building, according to Lisa Jenkins, who was told she and her husband had to pack up and leave immediately.

I had no clue, no warning, no anything, just woke up to a knock on the door, we gotta get our stuff out by five, Jenkins said.

From the outside, one could see the citys point. Multiple windows were missing or smashed on every side of the two-story building. The inside was even worse, Jenkins said.

I tried to keep the, you know, the hallways picked up, Jenkins said. It was worthless, its totally worthless. The writing on the wall, I freak out, I dont want to look at this (stuff), and the dirty hallways. I tried cleaning up, but theres, you know, theres only so much you can do when theres one person doing it.

It seems like in (recent) days, somebody had done extensive vandalism in there, Council Bluffs Mayor Matt Walsh said. Somebody went nuts with a cinder block and was throwing it through the windows and throwing it through the drywall.

Jenkins said that over the past few months there were constant fights in the hallways, and drug use. The building sits across the street from Kanesville Alternative Learning Center, a school for at-risk youth.

I was afraid for my life, Jenkins said. The fighting and arguing in the hallway? I never left my apartment.

Jenkins said she and her husband had been living in the building for about two years. Prior to that, they were homeless, and she is afraid they will be again. She thinks theyre going to try to get beds at a shelter, but she really hopes shell get to move in with her daughter and bond with her grandchildren.

Thatd be the ultimate for me, Jenkins said, to be a live-in babysitter.

Service agencies were on site to assist residents as they worked to find a place to stay.

We have some housing programs that have been assisting, said Mindy Paces, Heartland Family Services vice president of housing and financial stability. We have a homeless prevention diversion team in partnership with the city, so when a building has been identified as unlivable and there are tenants who are going to be displaced, we partner with them to help identify alternative housing in the community.

Many of the former residents of 208 Scott St. were able to find temporary housing with family, Paces said. HFS is now working to secure long-term housing for them.

The property at 208 Scott St. is owned by 208 Scott St LLC, based in Littleton, Colorado, according to county records. The LLC purchased the property in December. Attempts to contact the property owner were unsuccessful.

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Iowa has launched a new rating system for preschools and child care centers.

Iowa Quality for Kids, rolled out on April 1, is available for all DHS-licensed child care centers and preschools, registered child development homes and programs operating under the authority of an accredited school district or nonpublic school. It replaces the states former Quality Rating System.

As such, Council Bluffs Community School Districts preschool and child care programs will follow IQ4K, according to Tracy Mathews, chief of schools for preK-5.

Were working closely with Child Care Resource and Referral to be sure were up to date on everything we need to do to be ready for IQ4K, she said.

Professional development for preK-5 teachers this fall will focus on training required for IQ4K, Mathews said. That will be completed by November.

IQ4K is a voluntary program that offers a way for child care providers to assess their current level of quality across all areas of their programming and devise a structured plan for improvement, according to a press release from West Central Community Action. The new system provides guidelines and benchmarks to help providers build off successes, identifying five levels of quality that can be achieved. After reaching a new quality level, providers will be eligible to receive bonuses and may receive higher child care assistance reimbursements that can be used for any area of their business.

I think it will be very effective, Mathews said. From what I know, it is a very comprehensive approach to making sure (quality guidelines are met). If youre following the process, you should have those quality indicators in place.

Iowas child care providers want the best for the children, families and communities they serve and share our commitment to quality, said Julie Allison, state child care administrator, said in the press release. Its a win for Iowas child care providers, who will have increased support to achieve their quality goals. And its a win for Iowa families, who will have the assurance that their child is receiving the best care possible.

The idea is for the system to be a vehicle for continuous improvement, said Deb Martens, program director for Child Care Resource and Referral of Southwest Iowa, which is based at West Central. Child care centers rate themselves on nutrition and physical activity, development, partnerships with families and the community, staff qualifications, learning and environment, she said.

IQ4K specialists provide guidelines for improvement and check in periodically to verify improvements, Martens said. A child care specialist can also make online visits to verify improvements.

Weve been very good at doing online visits, she said. We can visit the provider where theyre at and help them continue in the quality.

Parents will be able to trust that everything  thats all verified and rated by the DHS, Martens said. We want you to learn how to build (quality) and we want to help you. You wont have to reinvent the wheel.

Its very different than the old system, she said. The old system was all paperwork.

Documentation is an important part of the new system, too, but a lot of it can be done online instead of on paper, Mathews said. And the school district received visits under the old system, too, she said.

Child care centers currently operating under the old system can continue to do so until their term expires, Martens said, which could be as late as March 2024. If a child care center is operating on a provisional license, they are not eligible to be rated on the new IQ4K system.

They must be off that provisional license with DHS, if they are caring for six or more children, she said. If they have five or fewer children and are caring for them in their home, they dont need to be registered.

Providers can provide evidence when they have already earned a rating, Martens said.

When we work with parents, were able to tell if a program is rated and what theyre rated at, she said. We want to help parents to be good consumers. We want those children to have the best development possible so when they get to school age, theyre ready. We think its a great investment.

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CEDAR RAPIDS  Cedar Rapids Democrat Abby Finkenauer is appealing what she calls an outrageous and partisan decision by an Iowa district court judge to throw her off the June 7 primary election ballot for a U.S. Senate seat.

After careful review, I have decided to challenge this deeply partisan decision to the Iowa Supreme Court, Finkenauer, a former member of the U.S. House, said in a statement Monday.

Finkenauer will ask the court to reverse a ruling issued Sunday night by Polk County District Court Judge Scott Beattie that she did not submit enough signatures on nomination petitions to qualify for the Democratic primary to determine the partys U.S. Senate nominee in the November general election.

His decision overruled the State Objections Panel that rejected challenges to Finkenauers campaign raised by GOP activists. The panel decided Finkenauer had met the ballot requirement to acquire at least 3,500 signatures, including at least 100 signatures each in at least 19 counties. But only the Democrats on the panel  Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller and State Auditor Rob Sand  voted in Finkenauers favor, while Republican Iowa Secretary of State voted against her campaign.

Finkenauer called the judges decision a massive gift to Washington Republicans  that ignores decades of precedent, interferes in the electoral process and makes a mockery of our democracy.

Its clear now more than ever: Republicans are scared of the campaign were building, she said. Theyve gone to historic lengths to slow us down because they know Chuck Grassley is more vulnerable than ever and that we can beat him in November.

Finkenauer has been competing with retired Admiral Michael Franken of Sioux City and physician Glenn Hurst of Minden for the Democratic nomination. Grassley is expected to be the Republican nominee but faces a primary challenge from state Sen. Jim Carlin of Sioux City.

Grassley's reelection is considered solid by the Cook Political Report and Inside Elections, and safe by Crystal Ball.

Beattie, according to Finkenauer, did the bidding of Chuck Grassley and his allies in Washington. Grassley was not a party to the challenge brought by other GOP activists.

The state Supreme Court issued an order Monday that the case was being expedited but did not say when a ruling would be issued. It scheduled oral arguments for Wednesday.

The Finkenauer campaign hopes the court acts quickly because Pates office said Monday county auditors need a final decision by April 18 to have ballots printed to meet an April 23 deadline for sending overseas ballots. Early voting starts May 18.

After the Objections Panel approved Finkenauers nomination petitions, determining she had substantially complied with state law, Kim Schmett, a former Republican congressional candidate, and Leanne Pellett, co-chair of the Cass County Republicans, filed a number of objections. They asserted some signature lines were missing information, and as a result, Finkenauer did not have the mandatory 100 signatures from 19 counties.

Beattie said the panels interpretation of the law was incorrect.

The court takes no joy in this conclusion, he wrote. This court should not be in the position to make a difference in an election, and Ms. Finkenauer and her supporters should have a chance to advance her candidacy. However, this Courts job is to sit as a referee and apply the law without passion or prejudice. It is required to rule without consideration of the politics of the day.

Beatties decision also is being appealed by Miller, according to his spokesman. Miller had discussed the ruling and challenging it with the other Objection Panel members, Pate and Sand.

Republican Party of Iowa Chairman Jeff Kaufmann said Miller and Sand should be ashamed of their hyper-partisan actions and have more respect for our election laws. With the district judges decision, he said, the rule of law has prevailed.

This is not the first election-related case Beattie has ruled on. In 2018, he dismissed a challenge brought by Democrat Kayla Koether in her race for an Iowa House seat in Northeast Iowa.

When the ballots were counted that year, she trailed incumbent Republican Rep. Michael Bergan of Dorchester by nine votes. However 29 absentee ballots from Winneshiek County were not counted because they had not arrived in the county auditors office before the deadline. The Postal Service confirmed the ballots had been mailed on or before the deadline.

Koether wanted those ballots opened and counted. Beattie dismissed her case on jurisdictional grounds. He cited the Iowa Constitution, saying the legislative branch, not the judiciary, was the proper venue for determining contested elections.

The GOP-controlled Iowa House upheld Bergans win.
Nebraska could put a record $1.1 billion into the pockets of property taxpayers next year, and, thanks to a bill passed last week, that amount would keep growing.

In fact, an Omaha World-Herald analysis showed that the amount of state dollars devoted to direct property tax relief could approach $1.6 billion within 10 years.

Thats a big number isnt it? said State Sen. John Stinner of Gering, a retired banker and chairman of the Legislatures Appropriations Committee. Thats what you have to be wary of, moving forward. The number is a potentially huge number.

Sen. Tom Briese of Albion, a farmer and champion of property tax relief, said the number is significant. But he said he hopes to do more in the future, noting that Nebraskans will still pay more in property taxes than in either sales or income taxes.

Theres been substantial progress, but Im not into taking victory laps because theres work yet to do, he said.

The number represents the accumulation of legislative efforts over several years. Legislative Bill 873, passed Thursday, was the latest bill to address the most-hated tax in Nebraska.

With the bill and others before it, the amount of direct property tax relief statewide would equal about 21% of projected property taxes for 2023. The World-Herald analysis showed that the proportion of relief would remain at the same level through the next 10 years.

The amount of relief provided to homeowners and other property owners would vary, however, depending on their location and circumstances.

Gov. Pete Ricketts is expected to sign LB 873 into law this week. Along with the increased property tax relief, the measure would reduce the top income tax rate for corporations and individuals and phase out income taxes on Social Security. The package is expected to reduce state tax revenues by close to $900 million when fully implemented.

The property tax portion of the bill includes creating a refundable income tax credit equal to a portion of what property owners pay in community college property taxes.

It would become Nebraskas fourth property tax credit or exemption program.

The newest credit program would be similar to the LB 1107 program created two years ago, which offsets a portion of school property taxes. That program will provide $548 million worth of credits this year, enough to cover about 25% of K-12 property taxes, and grow to $560.7 million for 2023.

The community college credit program would start at $50 million this year and ramp up to $195 million by 2026. At full implementation, it could offset about three-quarters of community college property taxes.

Under LB 873, both credit programs would grow by the same percentage that property valuations grow statewide, up to a 5% maximum. The growth factor would kick in for the K-12 credits in 2024 and for community college credits in 2027.

In addition, Nebraska has a longstanding property tax credit program that reduces the amount of tax that property holders have to pay. The credits are based on the propertys valuation and appear as a line on the annual property tax statement.

The program provides $313 million a year in credits now, up from $105 million when it began in 2007. Proceeds from the yet-to-begin casino gambling are earmarked for the credit fund.

Finally, the state provides homestead exemptions for low-income elderly and disabled homeowners. The program has grown along with the number of older Nebraskans and as lawmakers have expanded it to cover additional people. Homestead exemptions are budgeted at $131.7 million for 2023.

Sen. Lou Ann Linehan of Elkhorn, the Revenue Committee chairwoman who led the push for LB 873, said she would rather give property tax relief through school aid than through the current variety of programs.

But she has long argued that increased school funding needs to be coupled with tighter limits on school spending, which has proved politically unpopular.

This is not the ideal way to do this, she said. This is what weve been able to do. Its not perfect, but its relief.

Sen. John Cavanaugh of Omaha also argued that there are better ways to ease property taxes than Nebraskas current approach. While the current programs can help taxpayers, they do not lower the actual tax levies.

Its just a tax shift, he said. Its not actually alleviating taxes.

In addition, they can be complicated. Property owners claimed only 60% of the LB 1107 school tax credits when they filed their income taxes last year, the first year that the credits were available. Many were unaware of the credits or how to claim them.

Sen. Wendy DeBoer of Bennington raised concerns that the growth factors in the two newer programs could put the state in a fiscal pickle down the road. She said capping growth at 5% will help, but she would like more safeguards.

We will have to be vigilant and continue to watch whats happening, she said.

But Stinner offered cautious optimism about the sustainability of the current programs, at least over the long term. He said the 5% cap should keep the property tax relief programs from growing faster than the historical average of state revenues.
Newly-elected Sheriff Oscar Martinez Jr. discussed his new role Wednesday at his office in the Lake County Sheriff's Department. (Craig Lyons / Post-Tribune)

Lake County Sheriff Oscar Martinez seeks to appeal a judges denial of a motion to dismiss charges for allegedly resisting law enforcement and reckless driving.

Paul Stracci and J. Michael Woods, Martinezs attorneys, filed a motion Monday for certification for interlocutory appeal because Newton County Circuit Court Judge Jeryl Leach, who is presiding over the case, denied the motion to dismiss without specific findings of fact or conclusions of law.

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In October, the Lake County Board of Commissioners sent a letter to Prosecutor Bernard Carter seeking an investigation into the alleged misuse of some of the countys new police vehicles.

The state charges stem from a Sept. 18 incident in which Crown Point police officers conducting a traffic stop at about 11:30 p.m. in the 9000 block of Taft Street saw a black SUV traveling northbound on Main Street at what appeared to be at a speed well above the 45 mph posted limit.

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The SUV continued onto Taft Street in Merrillville, passing the stopped officers. In seeing the speeding violation, officers attempted to catch up to curb the vehicle, according to a police report.

The report continues, saying the SUV was seen making a right-hand turn onto eastbound U.S. 30 in Merrillville. As officers were catching up to the vehicle, the driver activated emergency red and blue police lights, giving notice that it was an unmarked police car. In seeing the lights, officers stopped trying to catch up.

The indictment states that Martinez did knowingly or intentionally flee from Crown Point police and that he did recklessly operate a motor vehicle by driving at such an unreasonably high rate of speed as to endanger the safety or property of others.

Martinezs attorneys filed a motion to dismiss Feb. 16 arguing that the grand jury proceedings that brought forth the charges were defective insofar as it was held in violation of Indiana code and the fourteenth amendment of the constitution.

The issue that will be addressed in the appeal is if prosecutors violated Martinezs right to a detached and neutral atmosphere, according to court records. The motion will also argue that Martinez will suffer substantial damage and injury if the determination of this issue is withheld until after conviction and judgment, according to court records.

Martinez being an elected officeholder and sworn law enforcement officer, conviction and judgment, regardless of incarceration, carries significant collateral consequences such as loss of public office and loss of merit law enforcement position, according to court records.

The denial of the motion to dismiss involves a substantial question of law that needs to be addressed: solicitation of fact and legal opinions from the lead detective in the case before the grand jury, according to court records.

It is unlikely that interlocutory appeal would create any substantial, additional delay in the prompt administration of justice. Instead, determination of these issues on interlocutory appeal may save the taxpayers the expense and burden of a felony jury trial, according to court records.

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Special prosecutor Stanley Levco, of Evansville, and David Thomas, co-special prosecutor, filed a motion in response to the motion to dismiss stating the grand jury statute states a prosecutor shall identify the offense committed.

The prosecutors motion points to Levco stating I had originally told you we were looking at two charges, reckless driving and resisting law enforcement. You theoretically could indict him on speeding, and I told you that you can do what you want to do. Later on, Levco said: If you do it, Ill pursue it.

A pretrial conference in this case is currently set for Aug. 1 with a jury trial beginning Aug. 15, according to court records.
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Starting this April 12, ferries will start carrying passengers again between Morocco and Spain after a halt that lasted two years because of Covid and diplomatic tensions.

Cars will be transported between Spanish ports and Moroccan counterparts starting April 18, according to Spanish ports agencies.

The measure was announced last week in a joint statement issued after talks between Moroccos King Mohammed VI and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, ushering a new era of bilateral cooperation.

The economies of southern Spanish cities such as Algeciras and Tarif depend on trade and the flow of goods and passengers with Morocco.

This year, Spanish ports will also be included in operation Marhaba, held annually during the summer marking the return of over 3 million Moroccans from Europe to their homeland for holidays.

Spains support for Moroccos autonomy plan for the Sahara ended a year-long diplomatic crisis that was fomented by Madrids decision to host Polisario leader for medical treatment under a false identity to help him avoid the judiciary.

The new Spanish position in favor of Moroccos territorial integrity and the visit by Sanchez to Rabat have repaired the prejudice and put relations on track of a win-win partnership that is conducive for regional peace and neighborliness.
Tunisia Monday submitted its candidacy to host the new headquarters of the African Medicines Agency (AMA), several days after Egypt expressed willingness to provide a venue for the construction of the agencys continental office.

Tunisias Minister of Health Ali Mrabet made the offer as he received Aggrey John Douglas Ambali, an African Union (AU) official leading a delegation, Webdo Tunis reports.

The delegation to stay until April 13 will investigate Tunisias ability to host the AMAs new headquarters, the media adds.

Tunisias candidacy will compete with that of Egypt. Ambali was early this month in Cairo where he met with Egypts Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly.

Madbouly had indicated that Egypt is keen to host the new headquarters and has already designated a diplomatic district in its new administrative capital where AMA can host its headquarters, along diplomatic missions and the residence of their workers.

The AMA came into being last year after the treaty for its creation came into force in November at the African Union (AU).

The agency aspires to enhance capacity of State Parties and AU recognized Regional Economic Communities (RECs) to regulate medical products in order to improve access to quality, safe and efficacious medical products on the continent.

AMA shall build on the efforts of the African Medicines Regulatory Harmonization (AMRH) initiative (2009), which is led by the Africa Union Development Agency  the New Partnership for Africas Development (AUDA-NEPAD).
Libyan authorities have released 24 Tunisian fishermen who were arrested late last week. The fishermen were arrested on Friday on board three ships from Sfax and Mahdia, the Head of the Tunisian Observatory for Human Rights, Mustafa Abdelkabir, said.

The latest release follows that of six other fishermen on April 5, after more than one month of detention by Libyan authorities, Libya Observer reports.

Despite good ties between the two countries, the oil-rich African country has repeatedly accused Tunisian fishermen of violating its territorial waters without prior permission.

The Libyan Coast Guard patrols are focused on monitoring illegal immigration boats and illegal boats that may smuggle contraband or fuel.
Although Charles Foldesh, a 37-year-old American drummer, had to temporarily stop his performance due to the COVID-19 resurgence in Shanghai, he has transformed his balcony into a stage, winning applause and cheers from his neighbors.

The megacity, with a population of 25 million, is currently under temporary closed-off management. Amid multiple rounds of citywide nucleic acid testing to stem the spread of infections, Shanghai has become a primary battleground against the Omicron variant.

Foldesh, who is also a drum teacher, has lived in Shanghai since 2007. During the ongoing closed-off management period, he is making good use of his talent and time playing drums while sitting on the balcony of his apartment in the city's Hongkou District.

Foldesh has become a viral sensation, as videos circulating on the internet showed him drumming to melodic rhythm amid enthusiastic cheers of his neighbors.

"That is cool. Hope the beats can drive everything bad away," commented a user on the popular short video sharing platform Douyin, the Chinese version of TikTok.

"People who are interested in it can watch his live show after the epidemic," wrote another netizen.

Life under the epidemic has been frustrating for a lot of people although they have got food, water and other basic necessities, Foldesh said.

"The other day when I was out there, I noticed that all the neighbors were on the balcony, making a lot of noise, like 'Shanghai Jia You' (Shanghai, keep going). So I heard everybody was going on a little crazy, and I figured that it was the right time to set up the drums on the balcony and beat the drums," he added.

"The inspiration for playing drums on the balcony is really something I've wanted to do for a long time," Foldesh said, adding that he did not anticipate such an energetic reaction from the neighbors. "I thought they were going to yell me out to stop, but everybody was really enthusiastic about it, and it's kind of bringing up the spirit of the community."

Expressing his astonishment at how his video has garnered widespread attention on social media, Foldesh said a lot of his friends and acquaintances outside of Shanghai sent him the video to confirm if that was him.

"I'm happy to give them some energy. But I guess it also lifts the spirit of people outside Shanghai, as well as the community. So I'm glad people liked it," he said.

The skilled drummer said he is optimistic about the situation in Shanghai and that his family has stocked up on supplies and stockpiled food. However, he has been concerned about his work, as he is unable to work or perform due to the current epidemic situation, leaving him without income.

"I've experienced the epidemic in 2020 when many clubs were closed for a while, and then they opened gradually. During that time, I took full advantage of the time to practice and settle," Foldesh said.

"China's response to the epidemic is very strong and swift, which allows people to return to normal life quickly. The real heroes in my eyes are the delivery people because they kept us safe at home during the epidemic," Foldesh said.
The OPEC Fund for International Development has lent Morocco $100 million to enhance financial inclusion, modernize the economy and mitigate the impact of Covid-19 pandemic.

The loan, supported by the World Bank, will enable Morocco implement reforms to provide households and firms with affordable, transparent and sustainable financial services.

It aims to ensure financial inclusion by diversifying financing and payment sources for individuals as well as micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) by leveraging technology and supporting alternative financing models and infrastructure.

The funding also seeks to finance reforms to help digital entrepreneurs and MSMEs harness economic opportunities, while nurturing the economic inclusion of youth, women and graduates.

OPEC Fund Director-General Dr. Abdulhamid Alkhalifa said: Inclusive innovation is a key enabler of sustainable development. This loan, which focuses on financial and digital inclusion, will help to empower the more vulnerable and impacted populations such as youth, women, small businesses and entrepreneurs and bolster the countrys long-term sustainable economic recovery.

To date, the OPEC Fund has injected more than $600 million in the countrys energy, financial, and transport sectors.
UK mining company Altus Strategies Plc announced this Tuesday that the Moroccan ministry of Energy Transition has granted it a 10 year mining license for Agdz copper and silver project.

Agdz is located 14km southwest of the Bou Skour Cu-Ag mine in the eastern Anti-Atlas of Morocco. Agdz is one of 14 Moroccan projects to be vended by Altus to Eastinco subject to its proposed London Stock Exchange listing. Altus will hold royalties on all of the Moroccan projects.

The granting of a mining license for the Agdz Cu-Ag project in Morocco is a notable milestone for the project. The 10-year license provides long-term security of tenure for Agdz, where the Company has discovered a number of significant copper and silver prospects, said Steven Poulton, Chief Executive of Altus.
The National Council for Human Rights (CNDH) held, Monday in Rabat, an interactive meeting on the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights and on the prospects for strengthening interaction with the African human rights system.

This meeting aimed to highlight efforts to ratify the African Charter on Human Rights and identify opportunities and obligations arising from it.

It also aimed to identify the modalities of the interaction of each component of the national system with the African human rights system, as well as the roles of the different actors of this system in order to strengthen the existing dialogue between Morocco and the African human rights system.

Speaking on this occasion, CNDH President Amina Bouayach said that this meeting is part of the advocacy conducted by the national council and the African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights for the ratification by Morocco of this Charter.

She also announced a second working visit of the Commission to Morocco in order to promote the dialogue between the stakeholders working in the field of human rights and the African Commission.

For his part, Remy Ngoy Lumbu, chairperson of the African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights (ACHPR) highlighted the features of this charter, its most important elements and the roles it plays in defending human rights. The official also stressed that the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights is the only reference document at the African level that deals with the promotion of human rights in Africa.

The official also stressed that the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights is the only reference document at the African level that deals with the defense of human rights issues.

The program of the ACHPR delegations visit to Morocco includes meetings with the speakers of the House of Representatives and the House of Advisors, as well as thematic meetings with NGOs working in the field of human rights, as part of the promotion of dialogue between the African Commission, the parliamentary institution and the civil society.
Morocco affirmed, Tuesday in Addis Ababa, before the Peace and Security Council (PSC) of the African Union its support for the AU Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS), while reiterating the primacy of the United Nations Security Council in maintaining international peace and security.

This came during the PSC meeting devoted to the financing of ATMIS in accordance with the decision of the 1068th meeting of the PSC and UN Security Council Resolution 2628, which mandates ATMIS to address the threat posed by Al Shabab terror group.

Moroccos Permanent Representative to the African Union and the UNECA, Mohamed Arrouchi, who was speaking at the PSC meeting, expressed the Kingdoms support for this Mission to assist the Federal Government of Somalia in implementing the Somali Transition Plan and to gradually transfer security responsibilities from ATMIS to the Somali National Security Forces by December 2024, with a view to enabling Somalia to assume full responsibility for its own security.

The diplomat leading the Moroccan delegation to this meeting, commended AMISOM for its contribution to reducing the threat caused by Al-Shabaab terrorists over the past 15 years, and supports the reconfigured ATMIS mission to implement the vision stipulated in the Somali transition plan.

Reiterating the UN Security Councils primary responsibility for preserving international peace and security, the Moroccan delegation stressed that sustainable and predictable funding for ATMIS and adequate financial and logistical support are essential to improve Somalias ability to meet growing security challenges and combat terrorist threats.

The Moroccan diplomat stressed the need for international cooperation and support through contributions from partners and other donors, as well as in-kind contributions that can be provided by member states and mandatory contributions from the UN, in order to ensure predictable and sustainable funding for ATMIS.

He also noted the importance of providing international and bilateral funding to Somalia for training, equipping, and capacity building of Somali security forces, as the success of ATMIS is attributable to the success of Somali security forces and institutions, which is likely to allow for a gradual and effective transfer of responsibilities from ATMIS to Somali security forces and institutions.
A fire Sunday night destroyed a home at the Mobile Manor mobile home park in the 2100 block of West 16th Street.

A wood-burning stove caused the fire, North Platte Fire Marshal Mike McConnell said.

The fire call came into the North Platte Fire Department about 9:30 p.m.

The first rig was on scene within two minutes, he said, and three fire stations plus volunteers responded.

He said the fire was out by about 11:30 p.m.

McConnell said four adults and one child were able to get out safely.

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A trio of Lincoln County grass fires wiped out the weekend plans of most west central Nebraska firefighters not already engaged against the massive 35,000-acre wildfire in Gosper and Furnas counties.

Fortunately for local residents, only remnants of last years growing season were consumed in the unconnected blazes northeast and north of North Platte and northwest of Sutherland.

But a combined 1,400 acres or more were left charred by the series of fires, the first of which started Friday and the last of which wasnt controlled until Sunday afternoon.

It was the second major fire outbreak in two years on the combined Platte River valleys northern edge. A 2,000-acre grass fire on March 9, 2020, blackened the northern line of hills north of North Platte.

That blaze raced from east of the Hillcrest subdivision to Hall School Road near Rolling Hills Estates  threatened then from the west and Friday from the southeast.

Brandon Myers of North Platte, Region 51 emergency management director, said Monday that little lasting relief from wildfire threats can be expected short of extended moisture.

We need a pretty good sustained rain to bring us out of the drought, and its not looking good this year, Myers said. Its looking to be a very long fire season in Nebraska.

The National Weather Service office at the North Platte Regional Airport has recorded just 1.27 inches of rain from New Years Day through Sunday.

Thats the least for a years first 100 days since 2002 and the 10th lowest since recordkeeping moved from downtown to Lee Bird Field in 1949.

Myers begged area residents to take every precaution against unwittingly starting a grass fire and avoid the temptation to drive out sightseeing when fires are in progress.

That wind shifts in a split second, and all of a sudden youre on a road and you cant see, he said.

Dont throw your cigarettes out that window. And if you see a fire, call it in immediately, please. The faster we can jump on them, the better it is.

People can follow firefighting progress via Facebook on its pages for Region 51 and local fire and law enforcement agencies, Myers said.

Firefighters from as far west as Sidney and Julesburg, Colorado, were among the multiple fire crews pitching in to control Lincoln Countys weekend fires, he said.

The initial blaze late Friday afternoon blackened 100 to 120 acres east of Airport Road, stretching from a rise south of Rolling Hills to a treeline to the southeast.

Myers said it appeared that some debris got caught up in a power line from last weeks fierce winds. They had slowed Friday but were still brisk enough to spread flames.

Rolling Hills residents were evacuated while the battles outcome was in doubt. A fixed-wing tanker plane from Wallace Aviation unloaded water and halted the first fires progress Friday evening, Myers said.

That plane would be used again and again.

Firefighters were called out again about 10 a.m. Saturday to a field near Johnson Road, about 10 miles north of North Platte and 5 to 6 miles north of Nebraska Highway 97.

It sounds like someone was driving out in the field and had mechanical issues with their vehicle related to the fires ignition, Myers said.

The Johnson Road fire had consumed about 500 acres of rangeland when the Wallace water plane and another from Broken Bow apparently succeeded in controlling it about 3 p.m. Saturday.

But firefighters werent finished  neither for the day nor with the middle fire in the weekends smoky trilogy.

Just as it seemed the Johnson Road fire was handled, Myers said, dispatchers received a 911 call from the area between West Snake Road and the North Platte River northwest of Sutherland.

The third fire also took the longest to conquer, he said, with multiple fire departments working the blaze until about 5 p.m. Sunday. The cause of that fire remained undetermined Monday.

Only about 300 acres burned up in the Sutherland-area fire, Myers said, but that one was the most cumbersome because of being around the riverbank and soft ground.

Flames also migrated from the North Plattes south bank into vegetation on a channel island. Being in the middle of the channel, you couldnt get equipment onto that, he said.

Wallace Aviations tanker plane, this time paired with one from Grant, launched aquatic assaults on the channel island in Wallaces third fire battle of the weekend.

There would be one more. About 6 p.m. Saturday, Myers said, weary crews got word that the Johnson Road blaze had rekindled.

Away went the water planes, he said, joined by firefighters that could be spared from the Sutherland-area fire.

A second 500-acre stretch of rangeland had turned black by the time the Johnson Road fire again was deemed controlled about 8 p.m. Saturday, Myers said.

In addition to regional fire departments, the Region 51 director credited the assistance of the states Wildland Incident Response and Assistance Team with the trio of fires.

The State Fire Marshals Office and Nebraska Forest Service both contribute employees to WIRAT, Myers said.

The team deploys and offers tactical and coordination support when the local organizations have exhausted all resources and strategies, according to WIRATs state webpage.

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ASHLAND  Just as talk of renovating a historic Ashland structure was heating up, the historic Beetison House was destroyed by fire Tuesday morning.

At 2:20 a.m. Tuesday, the Ashland Volunteer Fire Department was called to a working fire in the Iron Horse neighborhood. Upon arrival, firefighters found the 148-year-old Beetison House fully engulfed in flames.

It was heavily involved from the basement to the roof, said Fire Chief Mike Meyer.

The roof timbers were falling in as firefighters mounted a defensive attack, using the aerial truck to spray water onto the blaze. Meyer said they were lucky that a hydrant was located 700 feet away.

The fire expanded to a nearby grassy area, Meyer said, and threatened a nearby neighborhood.

Meyer said the wind, which was blowing to the northwest, was a factor in spreading the blaze.

A total of 18 personnel fought the fire. The department was on scene until 5:06 a.m., Meyer said.

A state fire marshal was to begin an investigation of the fire, Meyer said.

Meyer estimated the building to be a total loss. He said the wood components of the structure were completely gone, and the limestone stones that make up the buildings exterior developed extensive cracks from the heat of the fire.

Multiple posts and comments on social media just hours after the fire indicated many suspect the fire was intentionally set. But the investigation could take some time to complete, Meyer said.

Its too dangerous to go inside right now, he added.

The Nebraska State Fire Marshals Agency is asking for anyone who has information about the fire or security camera footage of the area to call 888-992-7766. Callers can leave a message if no one answers and may remain anonymous.

Members of the Beetison family shared their anguish over the fire on social media.

Furious and heartbroken, said Maria Beetison on Facebook Tuesday morning. We didnt own it but the memories Jason Beetison and his family and friends made in this house were so precious to them. To have a glimmer of hope that it would be restored only to have it go up in flames a few weeks later is devastating.

Just two weeks before the fire, a developer announced at a public meeting that they were interested in the Beetison House site as a potential senior housing development. Peter Katt, an attorney from Lincoln and partner in Epcon Communities, indicated they were aware of the buildings history and the communitys attachment to the home.

Ive heard it loud and clear. The community loves it, weve tried to save it, weve tried to do a lot of things over the years. And I said, well, weve got to address that, Katt said at the March 29 meeting, which drew about 100 people to the Ashland Public Library.

The Beetison House is part of a 20-acre parcel in the third phase of the Iron Horse development and is still owned by The Land Co., formerly known as Boyer Young Land Development.

At the public meeting, representatives from Historic Resources Group and RO Youker, a structural engineering firm, said it would take at least $1 million to restore the home, which was built nearly 150 years ago by Israel Beetison. Other estimates put the number even higher.

Krista Beetison-Sender, a descendent of Israel Beetison, said on Facebook Tuesday morning: It breaks my heart to see whats become of it.

Beetison-Sender thanked the fire department for extinguishing the fire and the Ashland community for its devotion to the home her grandparents lived in.

And to all the people of the Ashland community who loved the house, thank you for all your support in trying to bring my grandparents beautiful old home back to life, she wrote.

Ashland Mayor Rick Grauerholz said the community is upset by the loss of the historic structure at a point in time when it was seemingly being brought back to life.

A story on possible renovation plans was published in Monday's edition of the Journal Star.

Its sad to lose that when there was some interest from some people to get it restored, he said Tuesday morning.

Although the fire had not officially been ruled suspicious as of Tuesday morning, Grauerholz and City Council Member Bruce Wischmann are ready to donate money to a reward fund if necessary, Grauerholz said.

Israel Beetison hired the Dalton brothers, local masons, to build the limestone house in 1874 on a site near the Oxbow Trail. Teams and scrapers uncovered the limestone at quarries in South Bend and Louisville. The hand-chiseled limestone exterior had 18-inch thick walls. The two-story Italianate design included arched windows, bracketed eaves, decorative corner stonework and a low-pitched hip roof, according to the Ashland Historical Society. Israel Beetison had a cupola built at the top of the house to watch for Native tribes, which would camp on the east side of the home, according to an article written by Dwight Beetison for the 1983 Saunders County Historical Society book.

The Beetison family received the Aksarben Pioneer Farm Family Award in 1974 for 100 years of agriculture on the property. The home was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1977. The home has been vacant since the property was sold to Boyer Young in 1999.

This is a developing story. Stay with JournalStar.com for updates.
A 26-year-old man was sentenced Monday to three to five years in state prison for felony theft and weapons possession in two separate cases.

In Lincoln County District Court, Javin J. Newbrey also was sentenced to 180 days in a third case for third-degree domestic assault with a prior conviction.

The term for the domestic assault case will run separately from the other two cases, and he was credited with 97 days served.

The sentences for the theft and weapons charges will run at the same time. Newbrey was credited with 131 days served in both of those cases.

The theft charge stems from a June 8, 2021, incident in which tools valued at more than $5,000 were removed from a locked trailer that was at a construction site for an apartment building complex on Lakeview Boulevard.

The damage to the trailer was estimated at $3,200.

Newbrey returned several tools to the construction site, but not all were recovered.

The weapons charge stems from an incident last November when a .50-caliber muzzleloader and a rifle were found in a vehicle that Newbrey was seen driving with another individual in the passenger seat.

Due to a previous felony conviction, Newbrey is not allowed to possess a firearm.

In other cases Monday (defendants are from North Platte unless otherwise noted):

 Scott L. Harbick, 37, was sentenced to 18 months in prison for intentional child abuse on Aug. 4, 2021. He was credited with 102 days served and received nine months of post-release supervision.

Harbick also received 12 months for violation of probation conditions in a separate case on an initial charge of negligent child abuse on Dec. 19, 2018.

In addition he received a six-month term for a probation violation in a third case for providing false information on a handgun application.

He received 180 days credit in both probation violation cases.

The terms for all three cases run at the same time.

 Michael R. Smyth, 43, of Maxwell, admitted to violating the conditions of an 18-month probation term.

He was sentenced to 364 days in jail and credited with 140 served.

 Logan R. Johnston, 27, pleaded guilty to a pair of methamphetamine possession charges in separate cases that stem from incidents on Dec. 18, 2020, and June 11, 2021.

Johnston was sentenced to 364 days in jail in both cases and credited with 300 days served.

The terms run at the same time.

 Carrie A. Guerra, 55, pleaded guilty to an amended count of attempted possession of methamphetamine.

Guerra was sentenced to 270 days in jail.

 Calvin L. Theus, 37, was sentenced to 360 days in jail in a pair of cases that involved possession of methamphetamine charges on July 3 and Oct. 27, 2021.

Theus was removed from problem-solving court on Feb. 28 for a violation of the conditions.

Theus was credited with 199 days served for the July 3 charge, and 142 days in the other cases.

The terms run at the same time.

 Karlie K. Swink, 23, pleaded guilty to an amended charge of third-offense driving under the influence.

Swink was sentenced to 24 months of specialized substance abuse supervision. She also received 30 days in jail and was credited with 11 days served. In addition, Swink will have her license revoked for two years and was fined $1,000.

 Kyle W. Lange, 36, of Gothenburg, pleaded no contest to violating a harassment protection order.

A felony stalking count was dismissed in the plea agreement.

Lange was sentenced to 30 days in jail and credited for 30 days served.

 Elliot A. Fair, 41, pleaded no contest to charges of possession of methamphetamine, cocaine and hydrocodone bitartrate.

Two additional charges were dismissed, as well as a separate criminal case.

Sentencing is scheduled for June 6.

 Ransley J. Foust, 23, pleaded no contest to theft by unlawful taking with a value of $501-$1,499.

Foust also pleaded no contest to an amended charge of attempted possession of methamphetamine in a separate case.

Foust is scheduled to be sentenced in both cases on May 9.

 Richard H. Heglin Jr., 42, of Omaha pleaded no contest to possession of methamphetamine charge.

Heglin is scheduled to be sentenced on July 11.

 Brad J. Leeper, 45, pleaded not guilty to felony counts of tampering with physical evidence and operating a motor vehicle to avoid arrest, as well as a misdemeanor charge of driving under suspension.

A May 23 status hearing is scheduled.

 Scott L. Kramer, 62, of Stapleton, pleaded not guilty to driving under the influence with a blood-alcohol level over .15 with previous convictions.

A June 6 status hearing was scheduled.

 Jeffrey Lammers, 34, of Orleans pleaded not guilty of driving under the influence with a blood-alcohol level of .08 with previous convictions. A June 6 status hearing was scheduled.

 Shane A. Ross, 44, pleaded not guilty to a methamphetamine possession charge.

The case is scheduled for a jury trial on May 10 along with a separate criminal case.

 Ryan G. Tilley, 37, of Gibbon, pleaded not guilty of possession of methamphetamine.

A June 27 status hearing was scheduled.

 Colby I. Saucedo, 33, pleaded not guilty to a felony count of possession of heroin.

A May 9 status hearing was scheduled.

 Alfonso V. Romero, 34, pleaded not guilty of possession of methamphetamine.

Romero also pleaded not guilty to two charges in a separate case, resisting arrest and operating a motor vehicle to avoid arrest.

Both cases stem from a Feb. 8 incident.

A May 23 status hearing was scheduled for both cases.

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An Adams County grand jury that investigated the fatal August shooting of a Juniata man at the hands of the State Patrol found the agency's SWAT team committed no criminal conduct in the standoff that proceeded Brooks Hacker's death.

In fact, the 16-member jury's findings indicate law enforcement exhibited remarkable restraint in the four-hour affair, during which Hacker fired 79 rounds from a 9 mm handgun toward his girlfriend and police, including one shot that struck and injured a Lincoln-based trooper.

The jurors, whose identities are permanently sealed, heard nearly 16 hours of testimony from Hacker's relatives, Adams County Sheriff's deputies, State Patrol investigators and the forensic pathologist who examined the 35-year-old's body in the aftermath of the Aug. 11 shooting.

In the end, the jury deliberated for less than an hour, returning a no true bill in the incident, finding "no criminal conduct on the part of any individual that caused or contributed to the cause of death of Brooks Alan Hacker," according to the 391-page grand jury report filed in Adams County.

Sheriff's deputies responded to the house Hacker shared with his girlfriend after an argument between the two had escalated and Hacker began shooting toward her as she stood in their backyard near Fifth Street and North Brass Avenue in the Adams County town, about seven miles west of Hastings.

The girlfriend, the first of about a dozen witnesses to testify, told the grand jury that Aug. 10 had been "a real normal day" in the hours and even minutes before her argument with Hacker, who had been "laughing and joking" as the two went to Sonic for dinner earlier in the evening.

She said Hacker, who was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and muscular dystrophy, "religiously" took his daily medications for both conditions  and he had taken them Aug. 10.

But Hacker, who had been drinking for much of the evening, left their residence to smoke a cigarette for an unusually long time before returning as "a completely different person," she said.

Within an hour, she said, he was shooting at her.

He did not follow her as she retreated farther into the backyard because "he physically couldn't" due to the severity of his muscle disease, which caused progressive weakness and loss of muscle mass, the girlfriend said.

"I wish he would have," she told the jury. "Because he probably would have fallen and that would have been the end of the entire incident. He'd still be alive."

First responders from the Adams County Sheriff's Office and State Patrol established a perimeter around the residence, providing cover as the girlfriend ultimately ran to safety. She was taken to the nearby fire hall, which law enforcement used as its command post throughout the incident.

For much of the next four hours, from about 10:30 p.m. to 2:30 a.m. Aug. 11, the State Patrol devised a plan to subdue Hacker peacefully while weathering sporadic gunshots he fired from inside the house, troopers told the jury.

Hacker, at times, would go as long as 30 minutes without firing a round before firing in spurts of three or four shots, State Patrol Sgt. JJ Pederson testified.

Over the course of the standoff, Hacker struck three law enforcement vehicles with shots and repeatedly targeted officers themselves, who were staged more than 50 yards away from the house, according to testimony.

"You didn't feel the shots were haphazard?" an alternate juror asked. "You felt they were directly toward police officers?"

"I do," said Kevin Mauck, the chief deputy in Adams County.

As gunfire continued, a State Patrol negotiator made contact with Hacker over the phone.

Nicole Saathoff first called Hacker at about 11 p.m. as she was still on the way to Juniata from the agency's Grand Island headquarters, she told the jury. From the beginning, she said, Hacker was agitated and brief. He told Saathoff he would kill himself before ending their call.

On her second attempt, he made a similar threat.

"At that time, he said he was going to either kill himself or he wanted the police to shoot him," Saathoff told the jury. "That he did not want to come out."

Saathoff's phone calls with Hacker continued for 3 hours. He had repeatedly vowed to die that night, Saathoff testified. And, as the night went on, he turned his attention to the law enforcement surrounding him, threatening to shoot more officers, and striking a trooper at 1:31 a.m.

Sgt. Ryan Henrichs, a 21-year State Patrol veteran, was at home in the Lincoln area when he was dispatched to Juniata, where he gathered for a briefing in an armored vehicle near North Bowen and Fifth Street early Aug. 11.

Henrichs told the jury that troopers had been briefed on Hacker's physical disabilities and mental health diagnosis and had prioritized deploying nonlethal weapons, such as pepper-ball guns, as they tried to apprehend him.

The operators split into two teams, with Henrichs leading one unit behind an armored vehicle on Fifth Street, northeast of the house.

From there, he watched Hacker exit the front of the house and use the garage as cover, blocking Henrichs' line of vision, the trooper said.

As he looked down the sight of his rifle toward Hacker, he saw a muzzle flash, and felt a bullet pierce his left arm.

"I tried to pick my gun back up and shoot back," he told the jury. "I couldn't get my left arm to work."

Henrichs rolled back behind the armored vehicle and started to apply a tourniquet. Hacker moved back inside the house. No officer fired a shot  and wouldn't for another hour.

"We make our own decisions to shoot," Henrichs said. "Nobody tells us to shoot. Nobody tells us not to shoot. ... So I can't answer what anyone else would have done."

"You didn't have to make an order to fire on the suspect?" the alternate juror asked.

"I would never do that in my career," the sergeant said.

As Henrichs was taken by ambulance to Mary Lanning Healthcare in Hastings, the patrol's sniper team made a decision.

"Provided another opportunity, we had to put a stop to this individual's behavior," Trooper Kyle Gaudreault recalled to the grand jury.

In front of the house, the ground teams devised an entry plan, Trooper Alan Eberle Jr. said. They utilized a small robot to get a better view of the back of the residence, and they got set to deploy tear gas and a rubber projectile to subdue Hacker, Eberle said.

As the troopers prepared to move in, just before 2:30 a.m., Hacker received a phone call from his girlfriend's mom, who was getting set to leave her home in Lincoln to comfort her daughter at the fire hall in Juniata.

The woman called Hacker in an effort to serve as a personal negotiator, she said. She tried to talk him down. She told him to put the gun down in another room and to lie down on the floor, she said.

"He goes, 'I can't go back to jail and they're not going to let me out of this,'" she testified. "And then the phone went dead."

She told the jury Hacker's grandmother, who raised him, had suffered from muscular dystrophy, but his had progressed much faster.

"And I think he just  he did not want to see himself end up like that," she said. "He was just  he was done with the pain."

As the State Patrol moved in, Hacker opened the front door again, firing shots toward the armored vehicles.

Gaudreault, the assigned sniper, had left his post to change the battery in his radio.

Investigator Jonathan Schwarz, the other member of the sniper team assigned to protect Gaudreault, was still stationed in the tree line where they were posted, about 120 yards away from the house.

He had watched Hacker shoot Henrichs an hour before. And he watched through the scope of his Colt M4 as Hacker started to fire toward troopers again.

"So I fired three rounds into the doorway," Schwarz told the jury.

One of them went through Hacker's arm and into his chest, nicking a rib and severing an artery, before exiting through his back, the pathologist told the jury.

Hacker was pronounced dead at the scene.

"I just  he obviously displayed deadly force toward our troopers," Schwarz said in his testimony. "And so I had to stop that threat."

The grand jury, after deliberating for 55 minutes, agreed.

Reach the writer at 402-473-7223 or awegley@journalstar.com. On Twitter @andrewwegley
Donald Trump Jr. is slated to visit western and central Nebraska Wednesday alongside GOP governor candidate Charles Herbster.

The campaign announced Monday that Trump Jr. would appear at events in Gering, North Platte and Grand Island.

Former President Donald Trump, the father of Donald Trump Jr., has endorsed Herbster.

Doors open for a "meet and greet" at Gering Civic Center at 9:30 a.m., according to a press release. Another event is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. at the Lincoln County Fairgrounds in North Platte. Doors are scheduled to open at 2 p.m. for the tour's final event, billed as a "Nebraska First Celebration" at the Heartland Events Center in Grand Island.

The meet and greets will be focused on "shaking hands and meeting people" and short remarks, Herbster campaign spokesperson Emily Novotny said in an email. The Grand Island event will feature longer remarks.

All of the events require tickets to attend. Novotny said there's no limit to the number of tickets someone can order beyond the capacity of the venues.

Trump Jr. visited Nebraska in 2020 during his father's re-election campaign, as Trump and now-President Joe Biden vied for an electoral vote in Nebraska's competitive 2nd Congressional District. Biden ultimately won that electoral vote, while Trump claimed Nebraska's remaining four. Trump Jr. also stumped for 2nd District Rep. Don Bacon at 88 Tactical in west Omaha. The senior Trump has since soured on Bacon, last year calling for someone to challenge Bacon.

Trump endorsed Herbster for governor in October, saying the Falls City farmer and businessman would "do a fantastic job." The endorsement prompted current Gov. Pete Ricketts to issue a strong statement in opposition, saying he "strongly" disagreed that Herbster is qualified. Ricketts has since endorsed Columbus hog producer and University of Nebraska Regent Jim Pillen.

Novotny said no campaign events have been scheduled with the former president.
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.
A bill allowing Nebraskans to carry concealed weapons without a permit missed the mark Monday in the Nebraska Legislature.

Lawmakers voted 31-9 on a filibuster-ending cloture motion on Legislative Bill 773, two short of the number needed to succeed. The vote means the measure is dead for the year.

But State Sen. Tom Brewer of Gordon, the bill's sponsor, has his sights set on trying again next year.

"Next year we'll start over again," he vowed, predicting that newly elected lawmakers will change the makeup of the Legislature and provide enough votes for the measure to pass.

Under LB 773, which was co-sponsored by a majority of state senators, Nebraska adults who were not otherwise banned from having guns would no longer have had to get a permit to carry a concealed weapon.

Measures like this are sometimes called constitutional carry in reference to some gun rights advocates belief that the U.S. Constitution gives people the right to carry concealed guns without a permit.

Currently in Nebraska, getting a concealed-carry permit requires passing a criminal background check, paying a $100 fee and taking an eight- to 16-hour gun safety class.

The measure would have allowed people to still get concealed-carry permits, which Brewer said they may want to do to carry a gun across state lines or potentially expedite a background check for purchasing a gun.

The bill initially faced opposition from most major law enforcement agencies in the state. Following lengthy negotiations with Brewer, the Omaha Police Officers Association and the Omaha Police Department agreed to take a neutral position if lawmakers adopted a compromise amendment.

But the amendment failed on a 13-29 vote Monday, with hard-line gun rights advocates joining those who favored gun restrictions to shoot it down.

The Omaha police union then switched back to opposition and began urging senators to vote against the bill.

The compromise amendment would have allowed cities of the metropolitan class, meaning Omaha, to continue to require registration of all handguns, other than those owned by people with a concealed-carry permit. The city could not deny registrations to anyone allowed by state law to own a gun.

The amendment also would make it a crime to carry a concealed handgun while committing any of a lengthy list of offenses. The list ranges from murder to unauthorized graffiti and includes violations of city or village ordinances, as well as state laws.

But some senators expressed concerns about the compromise, saying it would carve out Omaha residents for different treatment and would add new criminal charges to the books.

LB 773 would not have loosened restrictions on gun ownership or changed laws governing where concealed weapons could be prohibited, such as schools. Nor would it have allowed people to carry concealed weapons while drinking or using drugs.

The bill would have required a person carrying a concealed weapon to announce its presence during encounters with law enforcement or emergency services personnel. People without concealed-carry permits would have had to carry identification and show it upon request by those authorities.
State senators Monday took a matter of seconds to advance a bill slowing the potential spread of horse track-casino combinations to final reading.

Thats because lawmakers had finished second-round action on Legislative Bill 876  everything, that is, but their final vote  before adjourning for the weekend Friday.

They gave voice-vote approval to state Sen. Tom Briese of Albions measure Monday afternoon, setting up a third and final vote on LB 876 Wednesday.

Bills that advance through the first two rounds of Unicameral debate must sit a day between their second and final votes.

LB 876 would require the Nebraska Racing and Gaming Commission to hold up proposals for all-new racinos until studies of their possible socioeconomic impacts and statewide market conditions are finished.

First-time horse-racing tracks and attached casinos have been proposed for North Platte, Ogallala, Gering, Kimball, Bellevue, York and Norfolk since Nebraska voters authorized racinos in November 2020.

Final passage of LB 876 and its signature by Gov. Pete Ricketts would put off their consideration as late as 2025, depending on how quickly the studies could be finished.

Five of Nebraskas six existing horse tracks at the time of the 2020 vote are moving toward adding casinos. Theyre located in Omaha, Lincoln, Grand Island, Columbus and South Sioux City.

Brian Becker, operator of the states other existing horse racing meet at Hastings Adams County Fairgrounds, lost a 4-3 City Council vote March 15 for an all-new track and casino north of Hastings.

Becker and Global Gaming Solutions, who sought approval of the Hastings racino, also initiated the North Platte and Gering proposals last summer.

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New York City Police and Fire Department officials on the scene of the shooting. Photo: Justin Lane/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

After a daylong manhunt, police said Wednesday they have apprehended the man who allegedly opened fire inside a train car in Brooklyn on Tuesday, unleashing the bloodiest attack on the subway in recent memory.

Frank James, 62, was arrested after he reportedly told police where he was in Manhattan. He was hit with terrorism charges by Brooklyn federal prosecutors under a terrorism statute and faces up to life in prison for the attack that wounded ten people and injured dozens more. His motive is not clear, but he made disturbing social-media posts prior to the attack about Mayor Eric Adams and New York City.

New Yorks most-wanted man somehow evaded capture for more than 30 hours, then practically turned himself in a bizarre final twist to an inexplicable rampage. Authorities struggled to conclusively link James to the attack, until Wednesday morning when they upgraded him from a person of interest to suspect. At 10:20 a.m., authorities issued a citywide alert with his name, age, and description. Hours later, police said they received a tip that James was at a McDonalds in the East Village. When officers arrived, he was already gone. Just a block away on First Avenue, a security-camera installer named Zack Dahnan saw James openly walking down the sidewalk. I told the police, this is the guy! Catch him! Catch him! Dahnan said during an impromptu press conference later.

Zack Dahnan, the 21-year old security camera installer who first spotted the suspected subway shooter in the East Village, is holding an impromptu press conference on 1st Avenue. He says news of the presser left him unable to sleep. pic.twitter.com/5j3DrFqnMx  Jake Offenhartz (@jangelooff) April 13, 2022

Officials pieced together the most detailed timeline yet of the attack during a press conference announcing Jamess arrest. Early Tuesday morning, he drove a rented U-Haul from Philadelphia to Brooklyn. After exiting the van dressed like a transit worker in a reflective vest and jacket, he boarded a Manhattan-bound N train. Just before 8:30 a.m., after the train left the 59th Street station, James is accused of throwing smoke grenades inside the second car from the front of the train. He then is accused of firing 33 shots with a 9-mm. Glock handgun as smoke filled the car. When the train pulled into the next station at 36th Street in Sunset Park, straphangers barreled out, coughing and bleeding on the platform.

At the same time, police said, James crossed the platform to another train that pulled out of the station moments later. He exited the system at the next stop and melted into the city, but not before leaving behind a trove of evidence, including the pistol that was traced to him via a federally licensed gun dealer in Ohio that it to him in 2011. Despite a lengthy criminal record involving charges in New York and New Jersey, officials said he had never been convicted of a felony that would have barred him from legally purchasing a firearm.

Frank Robert James had nowhere else to run or hide  and is now in NYPD custody. The work of our detectives is second to none and the dedication of our patrol officers is never ending. pic.twitter.com/uOXliUvoJ7  Commissioner Sewell (@NYPDPC) April 13, 2022

Mayor Adams, who is isolating in Gracie Mansion with COVID, broke the news of the gunmans arrest. My fellow New Yorkers, we got him. We got him, the mayor said before city and federal officials detailed how it happened. A day earlier, Adams inveighed against what he called a cult of death that allows so many people to be shot.

The FBI suggested it might have been worse. Federal agents executing a search warrant on a storage unit belonging to James and an apartment in Philadelphia where he resides found a magazine and ammunition for an AR-15-style rifle, according to court papers. Agents said they did not recover such a rifle, which has been notoriously used in mass shootings across the country.

On Tuesday, eyewitnesses described how a routine part of the lives of millions of New Yorkers suddenly became a nightmare.

Hourari Benkada was headed to his job at the New Yorker Hotel in midtown when he boarded the train at 59th Street. He told CNN he took a seat next to the gunman and fled to the other end of the car with dozens of passengers when the smoke grenades went off. I couldnt see after the smoke bomb and then I got hit on my knee, Benkada said in a separate interview with the New York Daily News, where he recounted shielding a pregnant woman from gunfire. We were trying to break the door, and the train took forever to reach the station, he said. An emergency-call button didnt work either.

Fitim Gjeloshi was in the same car where he noticed the suspect muttering in the corner. I looked at him, and I thought to myself he was talking to himself for like a while, so I looked at him, and I was like, this guy must be on drugs, Gjeloshi told the New York Post. He opened one of his gas tanks, and he said, Oops, my bad. He pulls out an axe, he drops it, he takes a gun out, he starts shooting.

Thats when, in an adjoining car, WNYC journalist Juliana Fonda heard loud pops and noticed a commotion. The reaction of the passengers was terrifying, she told Gothamist. They were trying to get in our car, away from something happening in the back of the train. Fonda described passengers banging on the locked door as the train hurdled forward.

Riding a few cars over were Daniel Gamz and Johnathan Muravick, headed to class at Brooklyn Technical High School. When they reached 36th Street, they said the conductor told passengers over the loudspeaker to get off immediately. As they exited, Muravick saw a man limping away, holding his leg. We didnt know there was a shooting at first; I thought someone had a stroke or something, Gamz said. They and others fled aboard an R train across the platform thanks to a quick-thinking motorman and conductor, AM New York reported.

Raymond Chiodini, a photojournalist, was riding on that R train when it pulled into the station seconds after the attack ended. When the doors opened, he saw wounded passengers on the blood-slick platform and pulled an injured man by the hood of his sweatshirt into the train before it took off. A surprising amount of the victims were up and awake and cognizant and talking or screaming  or in agony, Chiodini said. Then he began taking photos.

Wounded passengers on the platform of the 36th Street station in Sunset Park, moments after a gunman shot ten people aboard their train. Photo: Raymond Chiodini

Meanwhile, other eyewitnesses recorded the aftermath with their phones.

So this just happened #NYC



3 ppl shot. Suspect was dressed as an MTA employee. Used smoke bombs pic.twitter.com/dMiYQyKjFJ  Will B. Wylde (@IXIXI_45) April 12, 2022

Fernando, a 70-year-old Sunset Park resident, saw people running out of the station, including one man who was visibly bleeding from his leg. Its crazy, totally crazy, he said in disbelief.

Much of Sunset Park remained locked down hours after the attack ended, with helicopters swirling above and Fourth Avenue choked by countless police vehicles and fire trucks. Nearby schools were locked down, but students and teachers could be seen peering through the classroom windows. Train service remained suspended for hours, leaving one resident to wonder how he would get to work without the subway.

 With additional reporting by Nia Prater. This post has been updated throughout.

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Stormy weather afflicts a major 2021 Democratic fundraiser in Des Moines. Photo: Jeremy Hogan/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

Not so very long ago, Iowa was a highly competitive battleground state in which two very professionalized political parties slugged it out on a fairly even playing field, while sharing the spotlight (and the resources) associated with holding the first in the nation caucuses every four years. Iowa Democrats in particular seemed to punch above their weight, given the states agrarian heritage and small minority population. From 1988 through 2012, Democrats won six of seven presidential elections in Iowa, and only lost in 2004 by a whisker. In his successful elections in 2008 and 2012, Barack Obama did better in Iowa than he did nationally. Democrats controlled one of two U.S. Senate seats from Iowa for the three decades of Tom Harkins time in office, and held the governorship from 1999 to 2011.

But Iowa Democrats have had a hard time since then, thanks to a combination of demographics and human error  probably the former more than the latter.

Things really started falling apart for Iowa Democrats in 2014 when Harkin retired from the Senate; Democrats lost their grip on his seat, plus a House seat, and suffering a 21-point beating in the gubernatorial race. At the time, it was hard to figure out if the problem was unforced candidate errors or something more fundamental. Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Bruce Braley was in a close race with a very right-wing Joni Ernst when video leaked of Braley telling a Texas trial lawyer fundraising event that theyd better help him if they didnt want the Senate to flip, making Republican and Iowa farmer, Chuck Grassley, chairman of the Judiciary Committee. This insult to Iowa and to farmers may have sunk Braley even in a good Democratic year, which it wasnt.

But the real shocker occurred in 2016, when Donald Trump carried Iowa by an unimaginable nine points, the biggest Republican margin of victory in the state since Ronald Reagan waxed Jimmy Carter in 1980. The GOP also earned a governing trifecta at the state level in 2016 by flipping the state Senate.

In the very good 2018 landscape Iowa Democrats posted something of a comeback by flipping two U.S. House seats by narrow margins, but its well-regarded and heavily financed gubernatorial nominee, Fred Hubbell, lost despite leading incumbent Kim Reynolds in most polls. Then in 2020, Iowa reverted to its now-established Republican status quo ante, with Trump carrying the state by eight points, and Democrats losing another Senate race, along with two U.S. House seats.

Amid this decline in Iowa Democrats electoral fortunes, the Democratic presidential Caucus was undergoing big problems as well. In 2016 a photo finish between Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders led to loud complaints over Iowas arcane results formulation. That led, in turn, to national party mandates that Iowa report its 2020 results in two additional ways, which contributed heavily to the famous 2020 Caucus meltdown, in which the state party could not report results at all on Caucus night.

So now Democratic misfortunes are mutually reinforcing, with the national party threatening to deny Iowa its traditional status as a calendar-protected early state because its not a particularly good state for the Donkey Party, and Iowa Democrats struggling even more electorally. The latest disaster occurred on Sunday when former congresswoman Abby Finkenauer  the overwhelming favorite to challenge that Iowa farmer, Chuck Grassley, who is running for his eighth Senate term at the age of 88  was knocked off the primary ballot by a state judge due to faulty signatures on her petition for candidacy (she is appealing the decision). This embarrassing sign of apparent campaign incompetence brought back memories of a similar occurrence in 2018 that kept a promising Democratic U.S. House candidate off the ballot.

In the other big statewide race on the ballot this year, Kim Reynolds bid for a third term as governor, a March Iowa Poll from renowned pollster Ann Selzer showed Democrat Deidre DeJear trailing the incumbent by a hardly insurmountable 43-51 margin. But DeJear, the rare Black Iowa pol who ran a credible if losing campaign for secretary of State in 2018, is badly underfunded and has low name ID.

So whats the basic problem bedevilling Iowa Democrats? While you can blame this or that setback or mistake, the underlying issue is demographic, as I noted in 2016, when Trump was leading handily in all the Iowa polls:

Iowa, once a classic blue-leaning battleground state (it went for Obama handily in 2008 and 2012), is moving toward the GOP and particularly Trump because of its high concentration of conservative white working-class voters and its small minority population. To put it another way, Democrats in both presidential and state elections have had to rely in Iowa (as in other Upper Midwestern states) on winning a relatively high percentage of the white vote. The Obama Coalition in its full glory just doesnt exist there. And as Democratic support among white voters  especially evangelicals, and especially non-college-educated people  has gradually eroded, it has gradually made Iowa more hospitable to Republicans 

Donald Trump with his very blunt appeal to white working-class voters is a custom-made candidate for Iowa in a general election.

And so it has remained, despite the efforts of so many talented and dedicated Democrats in a state aspiring political operatives used to flock to in order to make their bones in the Caucuses. Its a trend afflicting other Heartland states such as Indiana, which was carried by Obama in 2008 and had two Democratic senators in the 2010s. No Hoosier Democrat has won statewide in the last decade, and Republicans have won the last three presidential contests there by double digits. Sometimes you can overcome the fundamentals, but sometimes they are just overwhelming.
Illustration: Zohar Lazar

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By the time I arrived in Yamhill, Oregon, Nicholas Kristofs political career had already ended in a face-plant. I didnt feel any burning ambition to be a politician whatsoever, he told me. Good thing. From start to finish, from his decision to quit the New York Times to the state Supreme Court decision that ruled him ineligible to hold the office, his campaign for governor lasted all of 114 days. Now he was no longer a columnist or a candidate, and about this outcome he claimed to be at peace.

It was the afternoon of Friday, March 25, and the sun lit up the hills around the Kristof family estate, accessed via a winding road over rolling fields, past neighboring dairies and a sharp turn up a steep dirt road leading to a keypad-protected gate. In friendly Kristof fashion, a sign posted at the entrance welcomes guests in a loopy font that spells out the passcode.

A Pulitzer Prize winner once described as the conscience of a generation of journalists, Kristof devoted his life to chasing stories of poverty and genocide in places like Darfur and Sudan before epidemics of addiction and homelessness called his attention back to his home state. I spent so much time reporting abroad in Afghanistan and Iraq and thinking this is really important and trying to convince people in the U.S. that this is important. And I deeply believe it was, he told me. But last time I calculated, every three weeks in the U.S., we were losing more Americans to drugs, alcohol, and suicide than Americans who died in 20 years of war in Iraq and Afghanistan.

He became convinced that he could help save Oregon, he said, after the 2020 publication of Tightrope: Americans Reaching for Hope, the oddly chipper book (and companion documentary) he wrote with his wife, Sheryl WuDunn, to document working-class suffering through the decline around Yamhill. People will always come up and say, Oh, you should run for office. We need you here,  he said. It happened at book signings and Q&As and receptions after his speeches. I just dismissed it, he said. Until he didnt. The Democratic-primary field looked weak. Tightrope had functioned, intentionally or not, as a briefing book for a better candidate. And Kristof could swear he detected a vibe that communicated the public was desperate for transformative change, the redundant inspirational slogan favored by Establishment technocrats plotting a revolution of efficiency powered by the consultant class. He came to believe that he could become governor and that he ought to be governor.

He cited The Man in the Arena in his final Times column, the Theodore Roosevelt speech beloved by athletes and politicians: It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles  The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena. It was time, Kristof said, to move from covering problems to trying to fix them.

Last year, the Scarsdale property Kristof and WuDunn bought for $1.2 million in 2000 was placed in a private trust, and he returned officially to Oregon. He brewed and bottled cider from the apples grown on the orchard and planted a patch of grapes and then, his small-business credentials established, he declared his candidacy.

Kristof looked the part when he greeted me at the farm in a vest, a flannel, frayed jeans, and the kind of practical and unsightly footwear favored by those who have accrued more than their fair share of REI Co-op Member Rewards points. He made his way past the Honda Accord and Subaru with COEXIST and ILL BELIEVE CORPORATIONS ARE PEOPLE WHEN TEXAS EXECUTES ONE bumper stickers parked in the garage, while his two dogs, Chloe and Connie, darted ahead into the grass. (Asked later about the Subaru, Kristof said that it belongs to his 89-year-old mother.)

The vineyard was teeming with the buds of Pinot Noir grapes that Kristof plans to harvest for the first time in the fall (already, a mile down the road in Carlton, Kristof Farms cider goes for $11 a bottle at a deli on Main Street, where the girl working the cash register reports its been selling pretty well). As he led me to a trail beyond its edge, he talked about his friends and neighbors who had overdosed or committed suicide. Just that morning, an addict he knew had posted a suicide note on Facebook. I dont think that most people appreciate that most years, alcohol kills more people than drugs, Kristof told me, though he clarified that he does not believe this is true of the type of alcohol that he makes. He also does not think that profiting off the sale of alcohol and lowering rates of alcohol addiction, two of his stated immediate goals, are in conflict. You know, Ive lost friends to alcoholism, but I havent lost any to Pinot Noir alcoholism, he said.

I wouldnt be in favor of barring alcohol in general. I think that wine can be, or cider can be, a social good and can create social capital. Things that bring people together, I think, are good for society. I think alcohol can do that, and I think thats true of wine and cider. I take your point that some people start with nice Pinot Noirs and then , he trailed off. But I think that is much less common, and those who die, the mortality from alcoholism, its driven really by working-class Americans, and its in kind of bulk hard liquor particularly. I dont think that good wine and cider add significantly to the problem.

Kristof, who is 62, has a pleasant manner and a delicate way of speaking, almost as if he would prefer not to be committing to any speech at all. His every few words are interrupted by repetition  We, we  That, that  The, the  or by Uhhs or Umms or I means or You knows. An old friend said that Kristof possessed a kind of serenity and maturity about him even when he was very young. He also had a precocious streak and a low tolerance for injustice. At Yamhill Grade School, he published an investigation into the dress code to lobby the school to allow girls to wear blue jeans (the school changed its policy in response). From Yamhill, he went from one storied elite institution to the next: Harvard, then Oxford (he was a Rhodes scholar), and then, at 25, the Times, where he spent 37 years on assignment in Asia and Africa and the Middle East.

Critics (whom, in case you forgot, Men in the Arena absolutely hate) characterize Kristof as a White Savior Complex head case or an easy mark for sob stories that oversimplify and overdramatize complicated global affairs. Kristof does not especially care. In general, the problem around the world has not been white saviors eager to save people of color. Its been that the world has been much more interested in saving the lives of white people than people of color. We intervened in Kosovo and not Rwanda or Darfur, he said.

And he is eager to point out how often he has pushed the boundaries of journalistic norms in order to save people. In China, he said, he helped smuggle a dissident out of the country: I dont know; should I be breaking the law? In Sierra Leone, he said, he helped the police arrest an alleged rapist. He paid to free two Cambodian girls enslaved in a brothel, which he told students at Columbia was probably the first time a New York Times reporter had bought two human beings. Even on the farm, Kristof was intervening to help creatures less capable. Im helping the hawks with the voles, he said. He had snipped the grass into a crew cut to give the hawks a better chance of spotting their prey. (There was something in it for Kristof, too. The voles posed a threat to the vineyard.)

This kind of reporting is an act of hope. A belief that if theres more attention called to a problem, there will be more resources that go to it, he told me. Its a belief that reporting about these things really does make a difference, which is the opposite of cynicism.

The act of reporting itself, though, often involves cynical calculations. Kristof admits hes made a lot of those. I think that Ive developed a certain amount of emotional armor over the years, and Im not particularly proud of it, but I do think that it is a protective mechanism that helps me avoid getting overwhelmed by some kind of suffering that Im in the middle of. He remembered once, as a columnist, rushing into a village in Darfur and asking if anyone had been shot, and the first wounded person he found was an elderly man who had been shot in the leg. I knew immediately that I could do better, that I could find a case more compelling, Kristof said. He needed to achieve maximum impact in as little time as possible, and people care more when the victims are children. Kristof stopped the man before he started speaking. I said, Are there any kids whove been shot? I felt terrible.

Politics, too, can require cynical calculations. In its first fundraising disclosure, the campaign unveiled a donor list that could well double as a flight manifest for a charter to Davos. Kristof said he was pleasantly surprised to find that political fund-raising did not present ethically compromising challenges, at least not when phoning the global business and media elite from the forgotten lands of rural America. I was raising quite a bit of money from outside Oregon, he said. Nobody really had issues for the Oregon governor. Melinda Gates chipped in $50,000. Venture capitalist and Goldman Sachs alum David Cohen gave $50,000 too. Thomas Bernthal, a strategic consulting agency executive who is engaged to Sheryl Sandberg, also gave $50,000. Another $10,000 came from Angelina Jolie, and another $5,000 from Larry Summers.

Kristof knew he had not lived in Oregon long enough (year) to meet the legal requirement to hold office (three years). He hired lawyers and corralled a stable of allies to argue his case in the media, which was that voters should decide if such rules matter.

It was an act of faith that I could win the race  and that obviously turned out to be completely untrue.

Oregons secretary of state, Shemia Fagan, a civil-rights attorney with the word vote tattooed across her radius, was not convinced. I have nothing personal against Nick Kristof. I dont know Nick Kristof. Ive read his books. I think he has an interesting perspective, she told me. I wanted to make the decision that I believed was in line with the Constitution. In Oregon, the secretary of state also serves as the lieutenant governor, and Fagan said that she feared a worst-case scenario in which Kristof got himself elected governor only to have the courts stop him from taking office on the technicality. In that event, she said, I would become governor, and that seems like a shitty conspiracy to me. She laughed. I am constitutionally the next person in line.

Those aligned with Kristof dont buy that such a thing would have happened. And when Fagan ruled against him, he accused her of being a political Establishment  insider fighting the threat posed by someone outside the political Establishment (but physically inside the state of Oregon, crucially). Instead of working to end homelessness, Kristof said, theyre working to end my candidacy.

Fagan told me she understood why he reacted that way instead of just saying, Wow, this is really shitty! It sucks to have this dream of going out and becoming governor and then finding out that I cant!  On appeal, the Supreme Court unanimously sided with Fagan.

Would he have been a good governor? How the fuck do I know? the longtime friend said. Hes certainly well intentioned. The thing I couldnt get over is he didnt vote in Oregon in the last election. Kristof voted in New York in 2020. Its like, What the fuck? The only condition in which Ill move back to the state is if you make me governor?

That last thing was half-true. Asked if he would consider a state office besides the office of governor, he said, In Oregon? He paused. If Im trying to figure out how I can bring about the greatest change on issues I care about, Im just not sure that thats how I can do it. Besides, he added, one of the advantages of losing ones job very publicly is that you get a lot of job offers. Running a foundation, running a news organization, running a couple of universities. But I like journalism, and I think its hard to beat the journalistic toolbox for making a better world. (He would not rule out entirely the hypothetical notion of working in the Biden administration in the event that the president called.)

Between Yamhill and Eugene, I met Carol McKiel, 67, an independent councilmember in Monmouth. On Sundays, she stands outside of a gas station in a Black Lives Matter T-shirt to hold signs with anti-racist slogans, which is where I ran into her. McKiel is a Kristof reader, she said, and I like his view on life, but having experienced in her first year in public office how complicated the government of a single municipality can be, she thought it was insane for Kristof to run for governor with zero political experience. Its a lot to learn, she said. I question, particularly at the governors level, if a good perspective is enough to be effective. Start at the state-representative level and then move up to governor!

Kristof concedes the point. I thought it was a genuine disadvantage not having political experience, he told me, but I thought that was compensated to some degree by having good communications skills and a vision for the state. (He also did not believe  still doesnt believe  that voters cared.)

Theres nobody who becomes a columnist of his stature who doesnt have some iteration of vanity, a former Times colleague said. Hes super-earnest. Hes not fun. Hes also just decent.

Back at the top of the hill, we were joined by WuDunn at a picnic table in the shed. Oh! she said. Did he tell you that the secretary of state has a handbook  the blue book that they publish every year? It announces every year the most famous and prominent Oregonians, and hes on the list twice! (Kristof had in fact mentioned it already  twice.) Asked about this, Fagan said, From a legal perspective, it means nothing, the blue book. Nobodys questioning whether hes an Oregonian, but it doesnt mean you can run for governor.

WuDunn has a Pulitzer (for Times coverage of Tiananmen Square she co-bylined with Kristof) and a Harvard M.B.A. (she did a stint at Goldman Sachs), and she is funny and quick and a lot more fun than her husband. She wore a cropped leather jacket and pretty pastel eye makeup. I am not an Oregonian, she said. She grew up on the Upper West Side, and when I asked if she missed New York at all, she raised her eyebrows. Oh, Im going back to New York! she said. Like, immediately. She was flying out for a visit the following week. She had meetings to attend, she said.

For a person who has made a career out of observing the people who are collateral damage of the worlds great diplomatic and policy failures (and who has just had his own dream obliterated), Kristof maintains outrageous optimism about the human race, and he really doesnt seem to be bullshitting. In my adult lifetime, weve seen the global extreme-poverty rate go from 40 percent to 10 percent. Infant mortality rates are down, leprosy is down, blindness is down, literacy is up, Kristof said. Solved is a big word. Can homelessness be solved? Im not sure we can get it to zero. But Oregon doesnt have to have one of the highest rates of unsheltered homelessness in the country. So it was an act of faith that a governor could make a difference in policies in the state that would make lives better. Likewise, it was an act of faith that I could win the race  and that obviously turned out to be completely untrue. He half-jokingly attributes his optimism to a chemical imbalance Ive inherited. His father fled what is now Ukraine in 1944. He survived Nazi concentration camps and prison in Yugoslavia before coming to America as a refugee, and yet nothing he endured made him less than cheerful.

Running for office does involve  self-confidence is a polite way of putting it, Kristof said. He paused when he said the word polite, as if to politely emphasize that the question (I had asked about hubris) was not. Anyway, it was no more hubristic, he said, than the journalism he produced about foreign affairs and far-flung conflicts and cultures that he was not of. Bouncing into a country and, in 800 words, telling them how to do a better job, he said with a laugh.

There is a version of the myth of Nicholas Kristof in which he plays the fool, riding into town on his white horse only to get pulled over by a traffic cop. But there is another version in which the fools are the people who would never risk appearing foolish just to live by their political ideals. A second former Times colleague put it this way: What a spectacular leap and fail, but good for him  and I mean that. Why not be a starry-eyed optimist who secretly hopes you can just break the residency rules?

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Forecasts by Capacity (Less than 100 Ah, 100-200 Ah, 200-300 Ah, 300-400 Ah, 400 Ah & Above), by Application (Electrical Vehicle (EV), Plug-in Hybrid Electrical Vehicles (PHEV), Industrial Application, Mobile Mechanical Handling Equipment (MOPU), Locomotives, Other), by Product Type (Lead Acid Based, Nickel Based, Lithium-ion Based, Other) AND Regional and Leading National Market Analysis PLUS Analysis of Leading Companies AND COVID-19 Recovery Scenarios

New York, April 12, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Traction Battery Market Report 2022-2032" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p06267772/?utm_source=GNW



The Traction Battery Market Report 2022-2032: This report will prove invaluable to leading firms striving for new revenue pockets if they wish to better understand the industry and its underlying dynamics. It will be useful for companies that would like to expand into different industries or to expand their existing operations in a new region.



Traction Batteries have a wide range of applications in terms of market driving factors



Traction batteries are used in electric forklift trucks, electric tractors, large industrial cleaning machines, aerial platforms, and other heavy industrial electrical applications. Many 2V cells make comprise a traction battery. When the cells are connected in series, higher voltages are obtained. A traction battery with a voltage of 24 volts has 12 cells, a 48 volts battery has 24 cells, and an 80 volts battery has 40 cells. To recharge a battery, an external voltage source must be utilised to elevate the cell voltage over 2 volts.



Traction Batteries for EV and HEV Applications are an opportunity factor



Traditional traction applications have relied on lead acid batteries, but their limitations, combined with the high cost of alternatives, have limited the number of potential battery-powered traction applications. A normal family automobile would require a 40 KWh Lead Acid battery to offer a one-way range of 200 miles, and a 40 KWh Lead Acid battery weighs 1.5 tonnes.



Traction batteries are very expensive



Traction batteries are quite expensive, and they, like other batteries, degrade over time. Customers demand a certain degree of performance even at the end of a batterys life, therefore the buyer is more likely to specify the expected performance at the end of life (EOL) rather than the beginning of life (BOL) (BOL). In most cases, the EOL capacity for EV applications is stated to be at least 80% of the BOL capacity. Internal impedance change is frequently employed as a lifetime indication in HEV applications. Because the battery is the only source of power in an electric vehicle, it must be sized to provide that power on a more or less constant basis.



The Ukraine situation may prove to be a speed breaker for the electric car revolution



Electric vehicle (EV) manufacturers are in for a bumpier ride in the future, as the current geopolitical turmoil in Ukraine  a country with a large store of the critical battery material lithium  might cause lithium battery prices to skyrocket. Auto companies, including electric vehicle manufacturers, have already begun to experience supply chain disruptions as a result of the ripple effects of Russias invasion of Ukraine, despite the fact that they are still dealing with the double whammy of the Covid pandemic and chip shortage. Because supplies of critical battery materials like lithium do not match actual demand, the Ukraine situation may prove to be a speed breaker for the electric car revolution, at least in the short to medium term.



What Are These Questions You Should Ask Before Buying A Market Research Report?

 How is the traction battery market evolving?

 What is driving and restraining the traction battery market?

 How will each traction battery submarket segment grow over the forecast period and how much revenue will these submarkets account for in 2032?

 How will the market shares for each traction battery submarket develop from 2022 to 2032?

 What will be the main driver for the overall market from 2022 to 2032?

 Will leading traction battery markets broadly follow the macroeconomic dynamics, or will individual national markets outperform others?

 How will the market shares of the national markets change by 2032 and which geographical region will lead the market in 2032?

 Who are the leading players and what are their prospects over the forecast period?

 What are the traction battery projects for these leading companies?

 How will the industry evolve during the period between 2020 and 2032? What are the implication of traction battery projects taking place now and over the next 10 years?

 Is there a greater need for product commercialisation to further scale the traction battery market?

 Where is the traction battery market heading? And how can you ensure you are at the forefront of the market?

 What can be the best investment options for new product and service lines?

 What are the key prospects for moving companies into a new growth path? C-suite?



You need to discover how this will impact the traction battery market today, and over the next 10 years:

 Our 500-page report provides 350 tables and 329 charts/graphs exclusively to you.

 The report highlights key lucrative areas in the industry so you can target them  NOW.

 Contains in-depth analyse of global, regional and national sales and growth

 Highlights for you the key successful trends, changes and revenue projections made by your competitors



This report tells you TODAY how the traction battery market will develop in the next 10 years, and in-line with the variations in COVID-19 economic recession and bounce. This market is more critical now than at any point over the last 10 years.



Forecasts to 2032 and other analyses reveal the commercial prospects

 In addition to revenue forecasting to 2032, our new study provides you with recent results, growth rates, and market shares.

 You find original analyses, with business outlooks and developments.

 Discover qualitative analyses (including market dynamics, drivers, opportunities, restraints and challenges), cost structure, impact of rising traction battery prices and recent developments.



This report includes data analysis and invaluable insight into how COVID-19 will affect the industry and your company. Four COVID-19 recovery patterns and their impact, namely, V, L, W and U are discussed in this report.



Global Traction Battery Market (COVID Impact Analysis) by Capacity

 Less than 100 Ah

 100  200 Ah

 200 Ah  300 Ah

 300  400 Ah

 400 Ah & above



Global Traction Battery Market (COVID Impact Analysis) by Application

 Electrical Vehicle (EV)

 Plug-in Hybrid Electrical Vehicles (PHEV)

 Industrial Application

 Mechanical Handling Equipment

 Locomotives

 Other Application



Global Traction Battery Market (COVID Impact Analysis) by Product Type

 Lead Acid Based

 Nickel Based

 Lithium-ion Based

 Other Product Type



In addition to the revenue predictions for the overall world market and segments, you will also find revenue forecasts for 4 regional and 20 leading national markets:



North America Traction Battery Market, 2022 to 2032 Market Outlook

 U.S. Traction Battery Market, 2022 to 2032 Market Forecast & COVID Impact Analysis

 Canada Traction Battery Market, 2022 to 2032 Market Forecast & COVID Impact Analysis

 Mexico Traction Battery Market, 2022 to 2032 Market Forecast & COVID Impact Analysis



Europe Traction Battery Market, 2022 to 2032 Market Outlook

 Germany Traction Battery Market, 2022 to 2032 Market Forecast & COVID Impact Analysis

 Spain Traction Battery Market, 2022 to 2032 Market Forecast & COVID Impact Analysis

 United Kingdom Traction Battery Market, 2022 to 2032 Market Forecast & COVID Impact Analysis

 France Traction Battery Market, 2022 to 2032 Market Forecast & COVID Impact Analysis

 Italy Traction Battery Market, 2022 to 2032 Market Forecast & COVID Impact Analysis

 Rest of Europe Market Forecast & COVID Impact Analysis



Asia Pacific Traction Battery Market, 2022 to 2032 Market Outlook

 China Traction Battery Market, 2022 to 2032 Market Forecast & COVID Impact Analysis

 Japan Traction Battery Market, 2022 to 2032 Market Forecast & COVID Impact Analysis

 India Traction Battery Market, 2022 to 2032 Market Forecast & COVID Impact Analysis

 Australia Traction Battery Market, 2022 to 2032 Market Forecast & COVID Impact Analysis

 South Korea Traction Battery Market, 2022 to 2032 Market Forecast & COVID Impact Analysis

 Rest of Asia Pacific Market Forecast & COVID Impact Analysis



Latin America Traction Battery Market, 2022 to 2032 Market Outlook

 Brazil Traction Battery Market, 2022 to 2032 Market Forecast & COVID Impact Analysis

 Argentina Traction Battery Market, 2022 to 2032 Market Forecast & COVID Impact Analysis

 Rest of Latin America Traction Battery Market, 2022 to 2032 Market Forecast & COVID Impact Analysis



Middle East and Africa Traction Battery Market, 2022 to 2032 Market Outlook

 Egypt Traction Battery Market, 2022 to 2032 Market Forecast & COVID Impact Analysis

 Turkey Traction Battery Market, 2022 to 2032 Market Forecast & COVID Impact Analysis

 Saudi Arabia Traction Battery Market, 2022 to 2032 Market Forecast & COVID Impact Analysis

 South Africa Traction Battery Market, 2022 to 2032 Market Forecast & COVID Impact Analysis

 UAE Traction Battery Market, 2022 to 2032 Market Forecast & COVID Impact Analysis

 Rest of Middle East and Africa Traction Battery Market, 2022 to 2032 Market Forecast & COVID Impact Analysis



The report also includes profiles and for some of the leading companies in the Traction Battery Market, 2022 to 2032, with a focus on this segment of these companies operations.



Leading companies and the potential for market growth

 Hitachi Group

 Johnson Controls Inc

 Chaowei Power Holding Limited

 GS Yuasa Corporation

 Enersys Inc

 Exide Industries

 Camel Group

 Leoch International Technology Limited

 Sebang Global Battery

 Amara Raja

 Banner Batterien

 Coslight Technology International Group Ltd

 Midac S.P.A.

 GS Yuasa Corporation

 Haze Batteries Europe Ltd.

 BAE Batterien GMBH



Overall world revenue for Traction Battery Market, 2022 to 2032 in terms of value the market will surpass US$xx million in 2022, our work calculates. We predict strong revenue growth through to 2032. Our work identifies which organizations hold the greatest potential. Discover their capabilities, progress, and commercial prospects, helping you stay ahead.



How the Traction Battery Market, 2022 to 2032 Market report helps you?



In summary, our 500-page report provides you with the following knowledge:

 Revenue forecasts to 2032 for Traction Battery Market, 2022 to 2032 Market, with forecasts for each capacity, application, product type forecasted at a global and regional level discover the industrys prospects, finding the most lucrative places for investments and revenues

 Revenue forecasts to 2032 for 4 regional and 20 key national markets  See forecasts for the Traction Battery Market, 2022 to 2032 market in North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific and LAMEA. Also forecasted is the market in the US, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Germany, France, UK, Italy, China, India, Japan, and Australia among other prominent economies.

 Prospects for established firms and those seeking to enter the market including company profiles for 20 of the major companies involved in the Traction Battery Market, 2022 to 2032 Market.

Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p06267772/?utm_source=GNW



About Reportlinker

ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place.



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Opelika police said a 13-year-old child has died from a gunshot wound following a shooting on Wittel Avenue on Wednesday afternoon, and the incident remains under investigation.

Police were called to the 300 block of Wittel Avenue at about 4:14 p.m. Wednesday in response to a report of a gunshot victim. When they arrived, they found the 13-year-old victim suffering from a single gunshot wound.

First responders arrived on the scene and attempted life-saving first aid before the child was transported to East Alabama Medical Center. The victim died at EAMC at 5:15 p.m.

Police left the scene around 6 p.m., according to Allison Duke, community relations specialist for the Opelika Police Department. Duke said police do not have a suspect as of Wednesday evening nor have they made any arrests in connection to the shooting.

Out of respect for privacy of the child's family, Duke said OPD will not release the victim's name and gender.

Those with information are asked to contact the OPD's Detective Division at 334-705-5220 or its Secret Witness Hotline at 334-745-8665. OPD said tips can also be submitted through the department's mobile app, and people may choose to remain anonymous.

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.
Washington, PA (15301)

Today

Rain early...then remaining cloudy with showers in the afternoon. High 53F. Winds NE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall around a quarter of an inch..

Tonight

Mostly cloudy early, then clearing overnight. Low around 40F. Winds ENE at 10 to 15 mph.
In 2001, a 72-episode TV drama, Da Zhai Men (Grand Mansion Gate) premiered and dominated the ratings. Directed and written by Guo Baochang, it was about the story of the Beijing-based Bai family set during one of the most tumultuous periods in Chinese history, spanning from the late Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) until World War II.

Peking Opera was a major element used in the TV drama as the leading character, Bai Jingqi, is a big fan of the art form.

Li Jun, a dancer-choreographer of the National Ballet of China, was drawn to the TV drama and of all the roles portrayed in it, his favorite was Bai Yuting, the younger sister of Bai Jingqi, who is so obsessed about Peking Opera star Wan Xiaoju that she gets married to his photo. She spends her whole life in her dream of being with Wan until her death.

Bai Yuting was performed earlier by well-known Chinese actress Jiang Wenli and the role lingered in Li's head for years.

Li decided to adapt the story of Bai Yuting into a ballet piece titled Where to Pour All My Love? The piece will be premiered at Tianqiao Theater in Beijing on Tuesday and Wednesday.

The 20-minute piece is part of the upcoming 12th ballet workshop of the National Ballet of China, which will gather 12 young choreographers to present 10 of their original dance works.

"Bai Yuting is tragic. Her love for the Peking Opera star is out of control and sad. I am keen on combining Peking Opera with ballet. Bai Yuting is the right role to exist in these two art forms," says Li, who graduated from the Beijing Dance Academy in 1999 and has performed leading roles in the National Ballet of China's productions, such as Swan Lake and Raise the Red Lantern.

To prepare for his work, Li visited Guo earlier this year. Guo, in his 80s, started to learn Peking Opera along with martial arts at the age of 5. He recalls watching Peking Opera pieces and skipping school to watch shows. Performing and watching Peking Opera has been a major part of Guo's life.

"He taught me how to enjoy Peking Opera and within a short period of time, I watched lots of Peking Opera shows," says Li.

Li learned ballet from the age of 11 and he was totally new to Peking Opera, a 200-year-old art form that combines singing, dancing, acrobatics and martial arts.

"I only knew Peking Opera by looking at the costumes, makeup and stage sets. I didn't understand the lyrics since they are mostly performed in ancient Chinese language. Thanks to Guo, I started to appreciate its peerless beauty," says Li.

He also mentions that he once put on Peking Opera costumes when he performed in the ballet production of Raise the Red Lantern, directed by Zhang Yimou. Before putting on headwear, Li recalls that he had to tie a ribbon on his head very tightly to ensure its stability.

"It was very painful, which reminded of the ballet dancers performing on their pointe shoes. They look beautiful but also bear lots of pain," says Li. "Both of the art forms pursue extreme beauty, which requires years of practice."

Li has participated in the ballet workshop since 2010 when the project was launched. He says that he has experimented with various ideas, which allowed him to grow from a dancer to a choreographer. He plans to expand the piece Where to Pour All My Love? into a full-length ballet work.

Other new works to be staged during the event include Before the Next Move, choreographed by Sun Haifeng, which is inspired by chess, and Looking For My Soul Mate, choreographed by Su Yang, which is based on the ancient Chinese story of Yu Boya, who plays his guqin in the mountains, when a woodcutter, Zhong Ziqi, hears the music and understands exactly what Yu wants to express.

Farewell, My Free Bone is an original dance piece choreographed by Yan Mengxuan, a student of the dance school of the National Ballet of China. It is the first time that Yan is participating in the ballet workshop and the piece is based on her personal experience.

"This work was created during my recovery from the surgery to remove the free bone from the back of my ankle," says Yan, 14. "During recovery, I always looked forward to dancing, which gave me the idea of creating a piece."

Feng Ying, president of the National Ballet of China, says, "Every year, we look forward to seeing those young dancers and their original pieces during the workshop, which offers them an opportunity to fulfill their ideas onstage. The workshop allows them to try a wide range of themes and showcase their creativity.

"After 12 years, the workshop not only brings out new choreographers but also helps the company to discover talents in different fields, such as in video-making, visual design and stage design," Feng adds.
At the first-ever conference devoted exclusively to carbon-free hydrogen in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), participants looked in depth at the technical and financial complexities of getting major projects off the ground.

They covered projects announced by various consortiums worldwide, all in early-stage development. An exception appeared in Saudi Arabias $5bn hydrogen-based ammonia plant, a project of the NEOM Energy & Water Company.

Many conference participants and panelists saw NEOMs ambitious green hydrogen-to-ammonia project as the most likely leader. They expressed confidence that, among the many major green hydrogen initiatives now appearing in the news, this one at least would reach actual production.

Discussions occurred at the World Hydrogen MENA conference, held in Dubai last month. It brought together more than 200 attendees for two days of panels and networking. Sponsored by the MENA Hydrogen Alliance, an initiative of Dii Desert Energy, the conference was delivered by the World Hydrogen Leaders networking platform of UK-based Green Power Conferences.

NEOM near to FID

NEOM, the clean energy city under development in northwest Saudi Arabia, was launched in 2019 with the backing of the countrys Public Investment Fund (PIF). In 2020 it announced a joint venture to develop a major green hydrogen and ammonia production facility in the new citys industrial sector, to be owned equally by NEOM and two partners.

Acwa Power, a Riyadh-based power generation developer that is now half owned by PIF, will lead development of wind and solar power assets. US-based Air Products will develop a hydrogen-based ammonia plant. It will be the exclusive off taker and will invest $2bn in distribution.

The plant will produce 650 tonnes (t) of hydrogen daily, to produce 1.2 million tonnes (Mt) annually of green ammonia. Electrolysers with a capacity of 2GW will be supplied by thyssenkrupp Unde Chrlorine Engineers, a joint venture with Italys Industrie De Nora.

Energy for the electrolysers will be derived from wind (1.5GW) and solar PV (2.5GW) capacity to be developed on-site, with a first phase utility-scale production beginning in 2026.

Considering the sheer size of it, there have been doubts. But according to Roland Kaeppner, Executive Director, NEOM Energy & Water Company (the energy and water subsidiary recently branded ENOWA), there will be FID in June, with delivery of the first electrolyser unit in '24 and completion of the plant in '26.

Speaking at the Dubai conference in March, he also mentioned the development of an on-site innovation center with 20MW electrolysis capacity. This took shape in NEOMs recently announced Hydrogen and Innovation Development Centre (HIDC). The project progressed further last week with Acwa Power and Air Products signing a $900m engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract.

As for off takers, Kaeppner mentioned 'flexible ammonia' for mobility markets in Europe.

Offtaker options

Cornelius Matthes, CEO of Dii Desert Energy, says that NEOM is a leader for several reasons. First, he points to the players involved, with ACWA Powers impressive record as a developer of renewables and Air Products substantial financial depth making it a credible guarantor of the entire off-take from the project.

He also says that the purely commercial nature of the project adds to its viability. While the Saudi leadership is a key partner, it is expecting the project to succeed without direct subsidy.

If you look at announcements of major projects, theyre often subject to special regulatory conditions and subsidies, he says. This is a bold project without any such supports.

Matthes organization Dii (Desertec Industry Initiative), is a Dubai-based public-private sector association that promotes renewable energy development. Founded in 2009 with support of the German government to explore the potential of MENA renewables to supply European power markets, it is now pursuing its Desertec 3.0 agenda that looks at renewables as the basis of entire energy systems.

He sees, as the last piece of the puzzle for any major hydrogen project, a critical need to secure off-takers. Here again he sees significant advantages for NEOM.

It is a bet by Air Products on a market starting four years from now, he says. Theyre looking at options in Europe, especially in the mobility sector.

Matthes references the growing array of hydrogen-based infrastructure in Germany, which already has more than 100 hydrogen filling stations (currently supplied with gray hydrogen). He sees a building momentum for a hydrogen market for cars, busses, trains, and trucks, appearing for example in Daimler Trucks advanced work on its GenH2 Truck.

Such private sector initiatives are finding support in Germanys National Hydrogen Strategy, approved in 2020, accompanied by a stimulus package that is supporting more than 60 carbon-free hydrogen projects in the country.

In Matthes view, such developments in Germany and elsewhere in Europe are the necessary counterpart to MENAs supply projects.

Today, we need clarity of off-take, without it we cannot finance any projects, he says. Its why Dii is connecting production and demand.

He says that when the off takers are identified, then European buys can decide on the amounts, and benefit from competition among the MENA producing countries.

Pipeline potential

The remarkable fall in the cost of renewable power has surely enabled commercial green hydrogen ventures such as NEOM. It is equally clear that low-cost renewable power is not enough to launch them.

Will need bold partnerships of government and industry, says Matthes, something like a Marshall Plan for hydrogen.

To really launch a MENA hydrogen economy, Matthes points to a key piece of infrastructure that could come about through international collaboration. A pipeline connecting the eastern Mediterranean with Europe would be the kind of Marshall Plan project he has in mind.

While natural gas pipelines in the western Mediterranean currently link Algeria, Tunisia, and Morocco to Spain, Portugal and Italy, there is no pipeline in the east. But a hydrogen-capable pipeline there could be a breakthrough for NEOM and others. Matthes says that within a 300-kilometer radius of Sharm el-Sheikh (where the COP 27 conference will occur this fall) are places with potential 100+ GW production potential in Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Jordan.

He believes that while liquid organic hydrogen carriers can help to launch commercial hydrogen, pipelines will be a key piece of infrastructure. These alone will be able to meet the massive demand foreseen for the so-called Hydrogen Backbone in Europe. A pipeline can easily carry NEOMs 2GW capacity and much more, as a large pipeline could have up to 60GW capacity. It would dwarf the capacity of undersea electric cables.

Putting it in place would require bold commitments from governments in a long-term partnership for the import of the green molecules. The European Investment Bank (EIB) would be the most logical entity to manage the project, Matthes thinks.

Nord Stream 2 is now obsolete, he says. Its 11 billion Euros stranded under the Baltic Sea.

An Eastern Med pipeline with a similar capacity could be built for 15-17 billion Euros, about 50% more, than the now-suspended Nord Stream 2.

Seeking certification scheme

The MENA Hydrogen Alliance used the occasion of the conference to launch a working group devoted to hydrogen certification. This certification piece of the hydrogen puzzle was announced the same week Friday, leading conference organizers to acclaim the first-ever Middle East conference devoted exclusively to carbon-free hydrogen as Dubai hydrogen week.

By Alan Mammoser for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
The deeply impoverished South American microstate of Guyana, which was rocked by the COVID-19 pandemic, finds itself at the epicenter of the continent's latest mega-oil boom. Since 2015, ExxonMobil, which has a 45% stake and is the operator, along with its partners Hess and CNOOC which own 30% and 25% respectively, has made a swathe of high-quality oil discoveries in Guyanas offshore 6.6-million-acre Stabroek Block. Exxon, which is the operator of the Stabroek Block, has made over 20 discoveries, 6 of those in 2021 alone, which the global energy supermajor estimates to hold at least 10 billion barrels of recoverable oil resources. The most recent crude oil discoveries, announced in January 2022, were at the Fangtooth-1 and Lau Lau-1 exploration wells. Those finds will boost the Stabroek Blocks oil potential adding to the 10 billion barrels of recoverable oil resources already estimated by Exxon.

The integrated energy supermajor is investing heavily in the Stabroek Block, which will be a game-changer for the company. Exxons first operational field in the Stabroek Block Liza Phase-1 achieved a nameplate capacity of 120,000 barrels per day during December 2020. The next notable development for the Exxon-led consortium and a deeply impoverished Guyana is that the Liza Phase-2 development pumped first oil in February 2022. That operation is expected to reach a nameplate capacity of 220,000 barrels daily before the end of 20220, lifting the Stabroek Blocks output to around 340,000 barrels per day. In September 2020 Exxon gave the green light for the Payara oilfield project. This $9 billion development is the supermajors third project in the Stabroek Block, and it is anticipated that Payara will start production during 2024, with the asset expected to reach a capacity of 220,000 barrels per day before the end of that year.

Earlier this month, Exxon made the final investment decision on the Yellow Tail offshore development choosing to proceed and invest $10 billion in the project. This was announced on the back of Guyanas national government, in Georgetown, approving the project and signing a petroleum production license for Yellow Tail with the Exxon-led consortium. This will be the integrated energy supermajors largest project to be developed to date in offshore Guyana. It is anticipated that Yellow Tail will commence production in 2025 reaching a nameplate production capacity of 250,000 barrels per day before the end of that year. That will lift overall petroleum output from the Stabroek Block to at least 810,000 barrels per day. Exxon envisages that the Stabroek Block will be pumping over 1 million barrels per day by 2026 when the Uaru project, which has yet to be approved, comes online.

Exxon Guyana Oil Production

Source: Exxon 2022 Investor Day Presentation.

As a result of Exxons investment, Guyana will become a major player in global energy markets and a top 20 producer with the former British colony pumping an estimated 1.2 million barrels daily by 2026, two years earlier than originally predicted.

It isnt only the Exxon-led consortium in the Stabroek Block which is enjoying drilling success in offshore Guyana. In late-January 2022 Canadian driller CGX Energy and its partner, the companys majority shareholder, Frontera Energy discovered oil with the Kawa-1 exploration well in the 3-million-acre Corentyne Block in offshore Guyana. The block, where CGX is the operator and its parent company Frontera owns a 33.33% working interest, is contiguous to the prolific Stabroek Block lying to its south-southwest. The Kawa-1 well is in the northern tip of the Corentyne Block, close to the discoveries made by Exxon in the Stabroek Block.

Source: Frontera Energy Corporate Presentation March 2022.

CGX and Frontera intend to invest $130 million in exploring the Corentyne Block. That includes spudding the Wei-1 exploration well in the northwestern part of Corentyne during the second half of 2022. According to CGX, the geology of the Kawa-1 well is similar to discoveries made in the Stabroek Block as well as the 5 significant finds made by TotalEnergies and Apache in neighboring Block 58 offshore Suriname. It is believed that the northern segment of the Corentyne Block lies on the same petroleum fairway that runs through the Stabroek Block into Surinames Block 58.

Related: Tight Oil Markets Are Sending Fuel Margins Through The Roof

These events point to offshore Guyanas considerable hydrocarbon potential, supporting industry claims that the United States Geological Survey grossly miscalculated the undiscovered oil potential of the Guyana Suriname Basin. The USGS, which committed to revisiting its two-decade-old appraisal during 2020, only for that to be prevented by the COVID-19 pandemic, estimated 2 decades ago that the Guyana Suriname basin had to mean undiscovered oil resources of 15 billion barrels. To date, Exxon has disclosed that it estimates to have found at least 10 billion barrels of crude oil in the Stabroek Block. This number can increase because of the latest discoveries in the block and ongoing development activities. Then there are TotalEnergies and Apaches crude oil discoveries in Block 58 offshore Suriname where the flow-tested Sapakara South appraisal well has tapped a reservoir estimated to hold oil resources of over 400 million barrels. In 2020 U.S. investment bank Morgan Stanley estimated that Block 58 could possess oil resources of up to 6.5 billion barrels.

The low costs associated with operating in Guyana, reflected by projected industry-low breakeven prices of $25 to $35 per barrel, and a favorable regulatory environment make it an extremely attractive jurisdiction for foreign energy companies. That appeal is enhanced by the crude oil discovered being relatively light and low in sulfur, making it particularly attractive in a global energy market where demand for low-carbon intensity and reduced emission fuels is rapidly growing. For those reasons investment from foreign energy companies and hence exploration as well as development activities in offshore Guyana are accelerating.

Aside from Frontera allocating up to $130 million to be invested in exploration activity in the Corentyne Block, Spanish energy major, Repsol, plans to ramp up activity in the nearby Kanuku Block in offshore Guyana. The company has contracted Noble to spud the Beebei-Potaro well in the block during May 2022. The Kanuku Block, where Repsol is the operator and holds a 37.5% interest with partners Tullow and TotalEnergies owning 37.5% and 25% respectively, is located south of, and contiguous to, the prolific Stabroek Block. That places it close to Exxons Stabroek discoveries, notably the Hammerhead, Pluma, Turbot, and Longtail wells, indicating that the northern part of the Kanuku Block potentially contains the petroleum fairway that runs through the Stabroek and northern part of the Corentyne Block into offshore Suriname Block 58.

Recent oil discoveries combined with rising interest as well as investment from foreign energy investment coupled with the speed with which Exxon is developing the Stabroek Block could see Guyana pumping well over 1 million barrels per day earlier than expected. Some industry analysts speculate that volume could be reached by 2025 which is supported by statements from the CEO of Hess, Exxons 30% partner in the Stabroek Block, John Hess. These latest developments in offshore Guyana couldnt come at a more crucial time with the U.S. looking to bolster crude oil supplies in the wake of Washington banning Russian energy imports. If Guyana can rapidly grow low-carbon intensity offshore oil production as predicted, the deeply impoverished South American microstate will become an important supplier of crude oil, especially for the U.S. This will also deliver a significant economic windfall for Guyana, which has already seen its gross domestic product expanded by a stunning 20.4% during 2021 when crude oil production was only averaging 120,000 to 130,000 barrels per day.

Matthew Smith for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
A "real embargo" on Russian oil could end the war in Ukraine in a matter of months, the BBC has reported, citing a former chief economic adviser to President Putin.

According to Andrei Ilarionov, who resigned in 2005, if the West "would try to implement a real embargo on oil and gas exports from Russia... I would bet that probably within a month or two, Russian military operations in Ukraine, probably will be ceased, will be stopped".

"It's one of the very effective instruments still in the possession of the Western countries," the former Kremlin official also said.

Illarionov was also openly critical of the Russian government, saying that President Putin's "territorial ambitions, his imperial ambitions, are much more important than anything else, including the livelihood of the Russian population and of the financial situation in the country... even the financial state of the his government."

The European Union has been discussing an oil embargo on Russia but has stopped short of imposing one because of its heavy dependence on the commodity, not to mention natural gas where the dependence is a lot heavier.

Even so, officials in Brussels continue to discuss an oil embargo and, according to a Reuters report from Monday, it could become part of the next sanctions package, even though for some member states, such an embargo would constitute an "asymmetric shock".

While the discussions are ongoing, OPEC poured cold water on EU hopes for a quick replacement of Russian oil. Per another report by Reuters, the oil-producing cartel has told the EU it would not be able to fill the gap left by Russian barrels lost to an EU embargo.

"We could potentially see the loss of more than 7 million barrels per day (bpd) of Russian oil and other liquids exports, resulting from current and future sanctions or other voluntary actions," the group's chief, Mohammad Barkindo, said in a speech seen by Reuters.

"Considering the current demand outlook, it would be nearly impossible to replace a loss in volumes of this magnitude," Barkindo added.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
Oilprice Alert: Whether you are new to the oil and gas industry or an energy market veteran, you will regret not signing up for Global Energy Alert. Oilprice.com's premium newsletter provides everything from geopolitical analysis to trading analysis, and all for less than a cup of coffee per week.

Chart of the Week

Diesel Cracks Have Never Been This Good

- Confirming the unprecedented tightness in middle distillates across the globe, low-sulphur diesel continues to trade at a widely steep premium vs Dated Brent, currently at around $38 per barrel.

- Whilst Asias tight stocks might be alleviated in the long run by Chinas lockdowns, US diesel inventories continue to plummet despite being at 4-year lows already, leaving only India and the Middle East as potential sources of incremental diesel supply.

- Whilst Russian diesel exports did drop some 100,000 b/d month-on-month in March, trending around 650,000 b/d, outflows are still largely uninterrupted compared to the expectations.

- Nevertheless, diesel stocks in NW Europe remain depressed, roughly half of what they were this time of the year in 2021 and might continue declining amidst refinery maintenance in the region.

Market Movers

- US oil major Chevron (NYSE:CVX) increased its foothold in Argentinas Vaca Murray shale play, signing up for the Trapial Este concession as an operator and exclusive block holder.

- Chinese offshore oil producer CNOOC (HKG:0883) said it expects to raise 32 billion yuan ($5 billion) in a share listing in Shanghai, only six months after the company was delisted from NYSE over suspected connections to the Chinese military.

- French energy major TotalEnergies (NYSE:TTE) said it would expand production at the Cameron LNG project in Louisiana operated by Sempra, with the expansion coming in the form of a fourth train with a production capacity of 6.75 mtpa.

Tuesday, April 12, 2022

After last weeks decline, oil prices have started to pick up again on the back of hopes for Chinese demand rebounding soon and OPEC warnings that it would be impossible to replace 7 million b/d of Russian oil and products exports. Thus, Brent CFDs have moved into contango whilst the ICE Brent futures curve retains its usual backwardated shape, albeit narrower. All this indicates that whilst the IEA SPR release has managed to ease fears of immediate tightness, the structural supply/demand deficit is still on the agenda in oil markets.

Chinas Protracted Lockdowns Hit Demand. Chinese refiners are cutting throughput runs as zero-COVID-driven lockdowns continue to hamper products demand across the country, with Shanghai remaining shut whilst the southern city of Guangzhou expected to go down the same path soon.

US Warns India on Russian Purchases Again. US President Joe Biden warned India that buying more oil from Russia was not in the countrys interest, coming on the back of Indian refiners already buying 16 million barrels of Urals since the start of the Russia-Ukraine war.

Iran Details JCPOA Return Conditions. A group of more than 250 Iranian lawmakers issued a set of pre-conditions for the restoration of the 2015 nuclear deal, including guarantees that the US will not withdraw from the deal, will not restrict Teherans freedom to sell its oil and repatriate the revenues.

US Gas Inventories Drop to Lowest in Three Years. Driven by unprecedentedly high LNG exports out of the United States, US gas inventories ended the winter at just 1,382 billion cubic feet on April 1, the lowest in three years, pushing Henry Hub prices upwards and steepening the backwardation along the futures curve.

Russian Oil Embargo on the Agenda for Next Sanctions Round. According to media reports, the European Commission is drafting proposals for an EU oil embargo on Russia although many governments object to an all-out ban and might rather opt for a dedicated tariff.

Italy Signs New Algeria Supply Deal. Italy signed an agreement with the government of Algeria to increase imports of natural gas by 40%, with the countrys oil major ENI (NYSE:E) seeing gradually higher flows via the Transmed pipeline, reaching 9 bcm per year of extra gas by 2023-2024.

Ford Clinches First Public Lithium Deal. US carmaker Ford Motor (NYSE:F) signed a preliminary deal to buy lithium from Sydney-based Lake Resources (ASX:LKE) direct extraction Kachi project in Argentina, the first the company has publicly announced where it would source its electric vehicle battery metal.

OPEC Cuts 2022 Oil Demand Forecast. OPEC curbed its forecast for oil demand growth this year citing the impact of Russias invasion of Ukraine, expecting the 2022 increment at 3.67 million b/d, down almost 500,000 b/d compared to the previous forecast.

Zinc Market Storm Picks Up Pace. Europe is increasingly facing a zinc shortage as exorbitant power prices are limiting regional smelting output, with the LME contract trading at $4,300 per metric ton amidst supertight inventories, as only 25 tons are available to the market in LME warehouses.

Nigeria Power Grid Collapses Again. Nigerias national electricity grid has collapsed for the second time in a month, stoking fears that soaring diesel prices are having an impact on the provision of power across the country that is used to outages but not complete blackouts.

Indian Refiner Runs into Financing Woes. Several Indian and foreign banks have stopped offering trade credit for oil imports to Nayara Energy, a refiner operating the 400,000 b/d Vadinar refinery and co-owned by Russias Rosneft (MCX:ROSN), compelling it to sell more products domestically.

European Wheat Prices Hit New Record. With no end in sight for the Russia-Ukraine war so far, European wheat prices have hit another all-time high as supply from the Black Sea remains constrained, with the Dec 22 futures contract surpassing the mark of 350 per metric ton.

NYMEX Suspends Trading of Russian Platinum and Palladium. The New York Mercantile Exchange indicated it would halt trades of platinum and palladium produced by Russias two refineries, following a similar move by the London markets, pushing palladium 5% up on the week.

By Tom Kool for Oilprice.com

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Germany would have enough gas to last it through at least late this summer if Russian supply stopped now, the head of the German network regulator told weekly Die Zeit in an interview published on Tuesday.

Klaus Muller, the head of Bundesnetzagentur, currently receives a lot of letters from German businesses asking for protection in case gas supplies are cut off, he told Die Zeit.

Germanys gas reserves look better now than they did a month ago and could last until late in the summer and early autumn if Russian gas flows stopped now, either because of physical disruption of supply or sanctions or embargo on Russian gas, Muller said.

Still, Germany should brace itself for potential gas rationing later this year in case it cannot get enough supply in time, he warned.

At the end of last month, Germany started to prepare for a potential disruption of natural gas supply from Russia and activated an emergency plan ahead of the March 31 deadline Vladimir Putin had ordered for gas-for-ruble payments.

Germany depends on Russian gas for around half of its needs, with many industries using gas and about half of all households heating with gas. The Russian war in Ukraine exposed Germanysand Europesvulnerable reliance on gas and other energy flows from Russia. Europeand especially Germanyhas been reluctant to impose an embargo or sanctions on Russian energy because of its high dependence on supply from Moscow.

Last week, however, the EU adopted a ban on Russian coal imports, as of August 2022, in the wake of footage and mounting evidence of atrocities committed by Russian troops withdrawing from Ukrainian towns.

The EU is currently discussing an oil embargo, with Germany one of the opponents of such a move. Germany signaled last week it could end its dependence on Russian oil this year, but it would need another two years to wean itself off Russian gas.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

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There are a number of factors that have pushed oil prices into the stratosphere, but the rally may be becoming unsustainable.

One popular saying in the oil industry says that the only cure for high oil prices is high oil prices. With a war in Europe, tight global supply that's about to get even tighter, lockdowns in China, and economic uncertainty rife, oil prices may have finally become too high to be sustainable. While prices rebounded somewhat on Tuesday, Brent crude earlier this week slipped below $100 for the first time in weeks as worry about Chinese demand weighed on international benchmarks. And it could get worse if the spread of the coronavirus continues, CNBC reported, citing Andy Lipow from Lipow and Associates.

"The spread of Covid in China is the most bearish item affecting the market," Lipow told the network. "If [Covid] spreads throughout China resulting in a significant number of lockdowns, the impact on oil markets could be substantial."

Yet Covid is not the only bearish factor for oil prices. Reuters' John Kemp noted in his latest column that an economic slowdown in Europe and North America has also contributed to the latest trends in oil prices. Also, Kemp noted, there was heightened uncertainty and volatility in markets, which made large oil buyers such as hedge funds adopt a more cautious approach to buying.

The coordinated release of as much as 240 million barrels over several months by the United States and members of the International Energy Agency has also served to lower prices but the effects of this move, based on historical evidence, are likely to be short-lived, especially since their daily total will be lower than what the IEA expects to be lost in Russian supply this quarter.

Related: Germany Has Enough Gas Through Summer Without Russian Supply

Despite the decline in prices, concern about a possible global recession remains, not least because even if crude oil prices wane, fuel prices have not. As the Wall Street Journal reported earlier this month, the combination of high oil prices, labor shortages, and strong demand for goods have combined to cause a lot of pain for the freight transport industry. This pain will likely be passed on to customers, eroding their purchasing power.

Yet, according to experts, it is too early to talk about the danger of a recession, and oil prices will need to stay at higher levels for a prolonged period of time to make this danger immediate, according to a Yahoo Finance report.

According to Andy Lipow, again, Brent crude would need to remain at around $120 per barrel for the recession risk to become serious enough to worry about it in the U.S. According to Stewart Glickman from CFRA Research, the benchmark needs to stay above $125 per barrel in order to trigger a recession in the United States.

In Europe, however, a recession is a lot more likely because of higher natural gas prices, according to a senior portfolio manager from ICAP ETF. Currently, natural gas prices in Europe are equivalent to $240 per barrel of oil, which has undermined the competitiveness of European industries and caused much bill pain for consumers, Jay Hatfield told Yahoo Finance.

Despite all these latest developments, there are still tailwinds for prices, as proven by the rebound of Brent to $100 and above, as of the time of writing of this article. OPEC this week made it clear to the EU that it will not step in to fill a potential gap left by lost Russian barrels in case Brussels decides to impose an embargo on Russian hydrocarbons. And it painted a grim picture.

"We could potentially see the loss of more than 7 million barrels per day (bpd) of Russian oil and other liquids exports, resulting from current and future sanctions or other voluntary actions," OPEC Secretary General Mohammad Barkindo said, as quoted by Reuters. "Considering the current demand outlook, it would be nearly impossible to replace a loss in volumes of this magnitude."

Such a loss is highly unlikely as the EU would be unwilling to self-inflict such damage, yet the very prospect of supply loss of such magnitude is likely to keep countering tailwinds such as the demand destruction fears prompted by China's lockdowns.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

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United States President Joe Biden and India Prime Minister Nerendra Modi met on Monday to discuss Russian energy imports. As the Russian war in Ukraine continues and war crimes and atrocities come to light in the Kyiv suburb of Bucha, the United States and Europe are getting more serious about hitting Russia where it hurts, with sanctions on Russian energy. To make sure that these sanctions have their desired impact, its crucial that Russia is not able to easily pivot and sell more energy to other fuel-crunched economies, such as China and India. To this end, Biden is meeting with Modi today to try to ensure that India will not snap up temptingly discounted Russian oil, gas, and coal to ease the impact of the global energy crunch on the subcontinent.

"President Biden will continue our close consultations on the consequences of Russia's brutal war against Ukraine and mitigating its destabilizing impact on global food supply and commodity markets," United States Press Secretary Jen Psaki said in a statement on Sunday. Biden's Monday meeting will not propose any hard and fast limits on Indias Russian energy imports, but will seek to gain assurance from Indian leaders that there will not be a "rapid acceleration" in purchases.

Concern that India will provide a reliable wartime market for Russian energy is well-founded. Lured by steep discounts following Western sanctions on Russian entities, India has bought at least 13 million barrels of Russian crude oil since the country invaded Ukraine in late February, Reuters reported this week. That compared with some 16 million barrels for the whole of last year.

In order to support Indias cooperation with a Russian energy embargo, the United States has made clear that it intends to help the South Asian nations efforts to diversify its energy imports. Of course, the United States intends to do so by selling more of its own oil and gas to New Delhi. At present, Russia is not a major supplier of oil to India. India gets the bulk of its energy supplies from the Middle East and around 7.5 to 8 percent from the US, reports Indian new outlet the Deccan Chronicle, while the procurement from Russia in the past was less than one percent. While Russia provides just a fraction of Indian energy supplies, the country has indicated that it will ramp up these imports, and any small increase from an economy the size of Indias stands to seriously ease the pressure of sanctions on the Kremlin.

Related: Indias Russian Dealings Have Left Bidens Geopolitical Oil Strategy In Tatters

Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has made clear that India is strongly against the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and has said that if India has chosen a side, it is a side of peace and it is for an immediate end to violence. Despite this stance, there is doubt as to whether this condemnation will extend to Indias energy imports. As the nation is faced with rising oil prices and a potential looming coal crisis, Indias options are limited as New Delhi tries to balance the needs of the Indian population with the countrys external affairs with respect to Russia and Ukraine.

India is not alone in this economic and political ambivalence. The European Union, one of the loudest critics of Putins war in Ukraine, has been similarly unable to wean itself off of Russian energy imports. Even as the continent gets more serious about energy sanctions on Russia, the most concrete decision making has been limited to Russian coal, and has tiptoed around the much larger issue of liquefied natural gas (LNG) which provides 45% of the European Unions gas imports, and a full half of Germanys. Due to the dependence on Russian energy, and the severity of the energy crunch without the added pressure of cutting ties with Russia, European nations have been unable to agree to sanctions terms. In fact, Europes consumption of Russian oil and gas has actually increased since the invasion of Ukraine. According to Bruegel, a Belgian think tank, Europe bought US$24 billion worth of Russian oil and gas in March alone.

The Kremlin has been shoring up its energy dominance around the world for decades, and its paying off. With such massive economies as the European Union and India unable to just say no to Russian energy, Purin has been able to keep a formidable amount of leverage on the world stage. All of the strongly-worded press releases in the world wont make a whit of difference as long as the world keeps funneling billions of dollars to Russia every month in order to keep the lights on.

By Haley Zaremba for Oilprice.com

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After more than a week of consecutive declines, Europes benchmark natural gas prices rose on Tuesday amid lower orders for Russian gas supply transiting Ukraine.

In morning trade in Amsterdam on Tuesday, the front-month gas futures price at the Dutch TTF hub, the benchmark gas price for Europe, was up by nearly 4 percent, while the front-month gas contract in the United Kingdom had risen by 3.5 percent, per Bloomberg data.

Prices were up as orders for Russian gas transit via Ukraine on Tuesday had dropped to 68 percent of the capacity that Russias giant Gazprom can send. At the same time, deliveries via the Nord Stream pipeline to Germany were close to capacity.

The first rise in European gas prices in seven days of trading comes as the European Union intensifies its efforts to procure non-Russian gas supply.

Italy, for example, which depends for 40 percent of its gas demand on Russia, signed a deal on Monday with Algeria to receive 40 percent more gas from the African gas exporter via the existing pipeline in the Mediterranean. Italys Eni will increase the quantities of gas imported through the TransMed / Enrico Mattei pipeline under the long-term gas supply contract in place with Sonatrach starting from the next autumn.

Other deals will follow, Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi said, noting that the deal with Algeria is a step toward reducing reliance on Russian gas.

Europe is also looking to boost its imports of liquefied natural gas (LNG), and various countries, including major economies dependent on Russian gas such as Italy and Germany, have been in talks with exporters, including the United States and Qatar, for more LNG supply, if possible.

Just yesterday, French supermajor TotalEnergies said it plans to raise the production capacity of the Cameron LNG plant in Louisiana in the United States, as the U.S. is looking to boost LNG shipments to Europe to help it reduce dependence on Russian gas.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

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Greece plans to step up efforts to explore for natural gas in an attempt to reduce its 40-percent reliance on Russian gas, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said on Tuesday.

"Accelerating the exploitation of the country's national energy resources will allow us, if we are lucky and we have exploitable natural gas fields, to boost our energy independence, our energy security," Mitsotakis said, as carried by Reuters.

The prime minister met with oil and gas industry officials and representatives of the Greek commission on hydrocarbons as the European Union and its membersincluding Greecelook to diversify their gas supply away from Russia in the wake of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

The EU, overall, is dependent on Russian gas for over 40 percent of its supply. Greece is among the member states with high dependence on Russian supply and is looking for alternatives. Greece is part of the gas route from Azerbaijan to Italy via the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP).

Greece has tried to explore its natural gas resources in the past, but a lack of political will stalled plans. Now, the EU and Greece are motivated to scour their own resources and non-Russian energy supply in an attempt to break the reliance on Russian oil and gas.

Greece also aims to be a hub for gas from the Mediterranean region and LNG imports.

"Greece has a significant potential to play as a renewable powerhouse, as an entry point for gas from the Eastern Mediterranean, either through pipelines, the EastMed project, or in the short term through LNG and we're talking to all parties involved. And of course we also want to move forward with strengthening our interconnections," Mitsotakis said last week during a meeting with EU Commissioner of Energy Kadri Simson.

Also last week, Greece said it would double its production of coal over the next two years in order to reduce the use of Russian natural gas.

By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

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OPEC raised its oil production by just 57,000 barrels per day (bpd) in March from February, as African members struggles to pump more crude partially offset increases at the core OPEC members of the Middle East.

All 13 OPEC membersincluding Libya, Iran, and Venezuela which are exempted from the OPEC+ dealpumped 28.56 million bpd in March, up by just 57,000 bpd from February, according to secondary sources in OPECs Monthly Oil Market Report (MOMR) published on Tuesday.

Crude oil output increased mainly in the three Arab Gulf producersSaudi Arabia, Kuwait, and the UAE, while production in Libya, Nigeria, and Congo declined.

Saudi Arabia raised its production by 54,000 bpd to 10.262 million bpd in March, according to OPECs secondary sources. That compares with 10.331 million bpd quota for Saudi Arabia for March per the OPEC+ deal. The Saudis self-reported March crude oil production of 10.300 million bpd, OPEC said in its report today. The UAE raised its production by 23,000 bpd to 2.983 million bpd, per OPECs secondary sources, compared to a quota of 2.976 million bpd. Kuwaits production rose by 25,000 bpd to 2.639 million bpd, in line with its quota under the OPEC+ deal.

While the Arab Gulf producers more or less complied with their quotas, African producers such as Nigeria, Congo, and Angola saw their production drop, with Nigerias output down by 24,000 bpd to 1.354 million bpd. Thats a massive underachievement compared to Nigerias quota of 1.718 million bpd.

In terms of expected supply from non-OPEC producers this year, OPEC revised down its supply growth estimate by 300,000 bpd to growth of 2.7 million bpd, mostly due to a downward revision of Russias liquids productiondown by 530,000 bpd. OPEC, however, raised its estimate for U.S. crude oil production growth by 260,000 bpd.

While most US oil companies continue to focus on paying off debts and returning capital to shareholders, increasing drilling and completion trends could translate into higher production levels in the coming months, the cartel said. Therefore, the US liquids supply growth forecast for 2022 is revised up by 0.26 mb/d to 1.29 mb/d.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

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Shehbaz Sharif elected new Pakistan PM, vows to promote CPEC projects

By Yang Sheng and Xu Keyue (Global Times) 09:04, April 12, 2022

Political changes within Pakistan could bring instability after the new prime minister was elected on Monday because the struggles between the supporters of ousted former prime minister Imran Khan and other political parties are unlikely to end easily, and although China doesn't need to be worried about its solid friendship with Pakistan, internal chaos in the country could affect some cooperation projects to some extent, said analysts from China and Pakistan.

The opposition's joint candidate and the President of the Pakistan Muslim League, Nawaz Shehbaz Sharif, became the new Pakistan Prime Minster since the candidate of the PTI (Pakistan Movement for Justice), former foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, quit the election held by the National Assembly on Monday.

PTI parliamentarians walked out of the National Assembly after their candidate Qureshi announced a boycott of the polling process, according to Pakistani media.

China has noted that some changes have occurred in the Pakistani political situation. As a close neighbor and iron-clad friend, we sincerely hope all parties in Pakistan can remain united and jointly safeguard stability and development in the country, said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian while answering a question about the latest situation in Pakistan at a routine press conference before the election on Monday.

Zhao said, "I want to emphasize that no matter how the political situation of Pakistan changes, China will unswervingly insist on a friendly policy toward Pakistan. We believe the political change in Pakistan won't affect the general picture of China-Pakistan relations."

China's attitude is consistent with its diplomatic principle of non-interference and China has developed friendships with different parties of Pakistan, and this is a key reason why upholding the China-Pakistan friendship is an unshakeable consensus shared by all groups in Pakistan after many political power transitions in history, said Liu Zongyi, secretary-general of the Research Center for China-South Asia Cooperation at the Shanghai Institutes for International Studies.

The new government will make efforts to fix ties with the US, as the opposition parties that will form the new government, as well as the military believe that former Imran Khan administration's tense ties with the US did not serve the interests of Pakistan, as they prefer to make Pakistan more neutral and serve as a bridge between China and the US, rather than holding a clear anti-US stance, said Liu.

Shehbaz Sharif promised to vigorously promote the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) in a speech after winning the election on Monday, according to media reports.

Shehbaz had previously spoken highly of the CPEC several times, calling it an ambitious blueprint to transform Pakistan into a major emerging economy so that the less developed parts of the country could enjoy the dividends of development.

Long Xingchun, a senior research fellow at the Academy of Regional and Global Governance of the Beijing Foreign Studies University, told the Global Times that Shehbaz spoke of the construction of the CPEC in his victory speech, which showed that he intended to safeguard China-Pakistan friendly cooperation and stabilize Pakistan's economy.

"It also highlighted the importance he attached to the relationship. In fact, the CPEC has been through several changes of government since its establishment, but it has always been highly appreciated and promoted by the Pakistani side, which shows that the project is a reflection of mutual benefit and win-win cooperation, and also helps the two countries and the people of the region," Long said.

Rana Ali Qaisar Khan, executive member of the Central Standing Committee of the National Party of Pakistan and an expert on Pakistani politics, told the Global Times on Monday that once the opposition parties regain power, they will try to fix ties with the US, at least on the surface, but they will "surely have a much closer relationship with China" because the Pakistani military and the public all want to prioritize the relationship with China, and Pakistan will never develop ties with the US at the cost of the China-Pakistan friendship.

Complicated situation

A large number of PTI supporters took to the streets across many major cities in the country on Sunday in support of the party's chairman Imran Khan after he was ousted through a no-confidence motion, Pakistani media the Dawn reported on Monday.

The PTI on Monday also decided to resign from the National Assembly to oppose the decision to oust Imran Khan, minutes before the election for the new prime minister was scheduled to place.

Experts said Khan and his supporters and members of PTI remained influential, but since the opposition parties are also very united and have the support of the military, Khan and the PTI are unlikely to come back and reverse the no-confidence motion, but to what extent the protests will affect public order and social stability remains a question.

Rana Ali Qaisar Khan said if the current situation escalates into more serious nationwide chaos, it won't affect general cooperation in the CPEC but will affect Pakistan's economy and social order, and the people will suffer.

Although the current uncertainty in Pakistan is likely to last for a short time, the mainstream of Pakistani society and the key forces for stability in the country, such as the military, will definitely oppose long-term chaos, said Qian Feng, director of the research department at the National Strategy Institute at Tsinghua University, who predicted that the unstable situation would eventually be brought under control.

Liu reiterated that the key to analyzing the current situation lies in whether the military will show up to stop the protests with resolute measures.

"The CPEC has been widely welcomed by all sectors of society in the two countries since it was established. The project has entered the second phase of high quality construction and it is expected that Sharif will pay more attention to the positive social and economic effects brought by the project, and continue to work with China to advance the project in the direction of high quality," Qian said.

Qian also said the instability caused by political struggles within Pakistan could have some negative effects on CPEC projects, but these would be temporary and the projects will continue to go better in the long term.

Diplomatic changes

Sharif is an experienced official in economic issues and has better relations with the military than his brother Nawaz Sharif, a three-time former prime minister of the country, and will establish a coalition government formed of multiple opposition parties, while his diplomatic policy will signal a great change to Khan's policy, said Chinese analysts.

While the solid friendship with China will remain unshakeable, the changes will occur in the ties with other major countries that Pakistan must deal with, including fixing ties with the US, and also easing tensions with India, but the Pakistani stance on Afghanistan will not see any major change, Liu noted.

Lin Minwang, a professor at the Institute of International Studies of Fudan University, told the Global Times that due to the protests by the PTI, Shehbaz Sharif has very limited space to make major changes on foreign affairs even though he wants to ease tensions with the US and India, and the conflicts between Pakistan and India are structural, so it would be difficult for him to make significant policy adjustments in diplomacy after taking office.

On ties with the US, Liu said that after the Biden administration decided to pull out from Afghanistan, the importance of Pakistan in the eyes of the White House has been reduced, and the US strategy to draw India into its bloc to contain China is clear, so the US will not be interested in fixing ties with Pakistan as this could also affect US-India ties.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on Monday called for the stabilization of employment and price levels to keep the country's economy running within an appropriate range.



Li, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks while presiding over a symposium on the economic situation in east China's Jiangxi Province, which government officials from Jiangxi, Liaoning, Zhejiang, Guangdong and Sichuan provinces attended online or offline.

While highlighting the strong resilience of the Chinese economy, Li urged people to remain vigilant in the face of unexpected changes and mounting downward pressures both domestically and externally, and face up to new challenges.

The premier underscored the need to use this time to implement decisions and measures laid out during the Central Economic Work Conference in 2021 and in this year's government work report.

Supportive policies such as tax refunds and cuts, financial support for the real economy, the issuance of special government bonds, and the construction of key projects should be accelerated to help market entities tide over difficulties, he said.

He urged solid efforts to boost spring farming, strive for a bumper grain harvest for the whole year, and consolidate the foundations of stable prices.

Efforts should be made to ensure stable supplies of electricity, coal and other energies, and maintain the orderly operations of key transport networks and ports so as to maintain the stability of industrial and supply chains, Li said.

The premier said that targeted supportive measures should be unveiled for sectors and firms facing difficulties -- particularly medium, small and micro-sized enterprises, and individually owned businesses.

Li also stressed the importance of ensuring the supply of daily necessities for people affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, and the need to work to meet the people's medical treatment needs.
Replacing Russian crude oil lost by a possible ban from the EU would be nearly impossible, OPEC Secretary General Mohammad Barkindo said today in a speech at a high-level meeting between OPEC and the EU was seen by Reuters.

OPEC wasn't sugar-coating the harsh realities of the oil supply situation should the EU choose to ban imports of Russian crude oil in response to Russian President Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine.

"We could potentially see the loss of more than 7 million barrels per day (bpd) of Russian oil and other liquids exports, resulting from current and future sanctions or other voluntary actions. Considering the current demand outlook, it would be nearly impossible to replace a loss in volumes of this magnitude," the Secretary General said.

The EU, like others before it, implored OPEC to increase crude oil output. OPEC has thus far decided to stick to its agreed-upon oil production hikes of just 400,000 bpd on the grounds that the market issues are geopolitical and not fundamentaland therefore beyond OPEC's control.

The EU has not yet banned imports of Russian oil and gas, but new humanitarian rights issues have triggered an increased fervor in replacing potentially banned Russian barrels in an effort to choke off Russia's income stream.

Russia's crude oil shipments rebounded in the first week of April to the highest level so far this year, with Russia's Q1 trade surplus hitting record levels as the prices of oil and gas continue to be elevated. While it has been noted that large Asian buyers such as India and China continue to import oil and gas from Russia, so does the EU.

Russia expects to earn $9.6 billion more in April from oil and gas than it did in March.

By Julianne Geiger for Oilprice.com

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For the first time since July 2020, Russias crude oil production has slipped below the 10 million bpd mark on Monday, two anonymous Reuters sources suggested.

The decline in Russias crude oil production is largely the result of sanctioning and self-sanctioning from Russias usual oil clientele and the logistical issues created by those actions, including payment issues and lack of storage availability.

So far in April, Russias average crude oil production for the first 11 days of April came in at 10.32 million bpda decline of 6% from March levels. But the trend is downward, with Russias crude production for April 1 to April 6 averaging 10.52 million bpd.

Russias crude production quota set by OPEC+ for the month of May was 10.549 million bpd, on par with the level assigned to Saudi Arabia.

But Russias trade surplus for Q1 this year more than doubled from Q1 2021 as oil and gas revenues soared on higher prices, the Russian central bank said on Monday. And Russias oil and gas revenues in April are expected to come in at an additional $9.6 billion.

The EU is looking to add even more sanctions on Russia, including sanctions on imports of Russian oil, although OPEC warned the EU on Monday that compensating for lost Russian oil barrelsshould they choose to go that routewould be nearly impossible. OPECs March crude oil production was just 57,000 bpd higher than the previous month54,000 bpd of it from Saudi Arabia.

While Russias crude oil production dipped, Russias exports of crude oil rebounded in the first full week of April to the highest level so far this year. Some cargoes, however, are making the long voyage to Asialeaving the crude off the market for weeks in the meantime.

By Julianne Geiger for Oilprice.com

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The U.S. has warned India that it was not in its interest to continue importing crude oil from Russia, media reported, citing government officials and White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki.

According to a Reuters report that cited unnamed White House officials, during a video call on Monday, the U.S. president had expressed concerns about India's position in the world if it continued relying on Russian energy imports.

The same official noted that India had concerns about the increasingly closer ties between Moscow and its regional rival, Beijing.

Al Jazeera, meanwhile, cited White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki as saying President Biden had told Prime Minister Modi that the U.S. could help India diversify its energy suppliers.

"The president  conveyed that we are here to help them diversify their means of importing oil. The imports from the United States are already significant, much bigger than the imports that they get from Russia," Psaki said, adding, "The president conveyed very clearly that it is not in their interests to increase that."

However, per the Reuters report, the U.S. president had stopped short of actually asking India to stop buying Russian crude. The External Affairs Minister in New Delhi, meanwhile, brushed off any concern about India's Russian oil purchases, saying that "Probably our total purchases for the month would be less than what Europe does in an afternoon."

Indeed, an Economic Times report cited Press Secretary Psaki as saying that Russian oil accounts for about 1 to 2 percent of total Indian oil imports. U.S. imports, by comparison, constitute a tenth of the total.

An official White House readout of the call between President Biden and Prime Minister Modi did not mention oil imports at all, with the only reference to the war in Ukraine made with regard to global food security.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

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SAN JOSE, Costa Rica (AP)  A DHL cargo jet slid off the runway and broke in half while landing at San Jose's international airport Thursday, shutting down the airport, but not injuring crew.

The fire department said the Boeing 757 had taken off from Juan Santamaria Airport just west of the capital, but decided to return after detecting a failure in the hydraulic system.

Hector Chaves, director the Costa Rica Fire Department, said that upon landing the aircraft skidded, turned and broke in two, exposing its cargo.

"Units mobilized to remove the pilot and co-pilot," Chaves said. "Then they applied foam to prevent a spill and now they are working on an earthen dike to avoid any fuel from reaching the drainage system."

A spokesman for cargo carrier DHL said both pilots were unharmed but one was being undergoing a medical check as a precaution.

DHL spokesman Daniel McGrath said the company was working with airport authorities to move the plane so flights could resume. He said an investigation would be conducted to determine the cause of the incident.

DHL is a subsidiary of Deutsche Post DHL Group.

Luis Miranda, deputy director of civil aviation for Costa Rica, said the plane had gone only about 35 miles from the airport when it requested permission to turn back from its planned flight to Guatemala City. He said the pilot and co-pilot were the only crew members aboard the plane, which was carrying only about 2 hours worth of fuel. .

The airport administration said the crash would keep the airport closed to incoming and outgoing flights until at least 6 p.m. Some flights would be diverted to Daniel Oduber International Airport in Liberia, about 125 miles northwest of San Jose.

***
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa  Cedar Rapids Democrat Abby Finkenauer is appealing what she calls an outrageous and partisan decision by an Iowa district judge to throw her off the June 7 primary election ballot for a U.S. Senate seat.

After careful review, I have decided to challenge this deeply partisan decision to the Iowa Supreme Court, Finkenauer, a former member of the U.S. House, said in a statement Monday.

Finkenauer will ask the court to reverse a ruling issued Sunday night by Polk County District Judge Scott Beattie that she did not submit enough signatures on nomination petitions to qualify for the Democratic primary to determine the partys U.S. Senate nominee in the November general election.

His decision overruled the State Objections Panel that rejected challenges to Finkenauers campaign raised by GOP activists. The panel decided Finkenauer had met the ballot requirement to acquire at least 3,500 signatures, including at least 100 signatures each in at least 19 counties. But only the Democrats on the panel  Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller and State Auditor Rob Sand  voted in Finkenauers favor, while Republican Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate voted against her campaign.

Finkenauer called the judges decision a massive gift to Washington Republicans  that ignores decades of precedent, interferes in the electoral process and makes a mockery of our democracy.

Its clear now more than ever: Republicans are scared of the campaign were building, she said. Theyve gone to historic lengths to slow us down because they know Chuck Grassley is more vulnerable than ever, and that we can beat him in November.

Finkenauer has been competing with retired Admiral Michael Franken of Sioux City and physician Glenn Hurst of Minden for the Democratic nomination. Grassley is expected to be the Republican nominee but faces a primary challenge from State Sen. Jim Carlin of Sioux City.

Grassleys reelection is considered solid by the Cook Political Report and Inside Elections, and safe by Crystal Ball.

Beattie, according to Finkenauer, did the bidding of Chuck Grassley and his allies in Washington. Grassley was not a party to the challenge brought by other GOP activists.

The states Supreme Court issued an order Monday that the case was being expedited but did not say when a ruling would be issued. It scheduled oral arguments for Wednesday.

The Finkenauer campaign hopes the court acts quickly because Pates office said Monday that county auditors need a final decision by April 18 to have ballots printed to meet an April 23 deadline for sending overseas ballots. Early voting starts May 18.

After the Objections Panel approved Finkenauers nomination petitions, determining she had substantially complied with state law, Kim Schmett, a former Republican congressional candidate, and Leanne Pellett, co-chair of the Cass County Republicans, filed a number of objections. They asserted some signature lines were missing information, and as a result, Finkenauer did not have the mandatory 100 signatures from 19 counties.

Beattie said the panels interpretation of the law was incorrect.
STRASBOURG, France (AP)  French President Emmanuel Macron and extreme-right politician Marine Le Pen voiced two radically opposed visions of Europe on Tuesday: one resolutely advocating for the bloc of 27 nations, the other defending her French nationalist mottos.

If Macron falters in France's April 24 presidential runoff between the two, the far-right could be at the helm of the European Union, an abhorrent idea to most leaders in the bloc.

Experts say a win for Le Pen would have immense repercussions on the functioning of the EU. Not only would her coming to power damage the democratic values and commercial rules of the bloc, but it would also threaten the EUs common front and sanctions in response to Russias war in Ukraine.

Macron headed on Tuesday to Strasbourg, the seat of the EU parliament, to speak about France's role in Europe. All polls show he is the favorite in the runoff, but Le Pen has significantly narrowed the gap compared to when Macron handily won five years ago.

Nationalism is war, Macron warned in front of thousands of supporters waiving French and European flags.

At a time when war is back on the European continent ... it's through Europe that we will build peace, he said, welcoming a big Ukrainian flag being waived in front of the stage.

Europe is a treasure we patiently built, but which will also allow us to respond to the challenges of the future, he added.

The outdoor rally, near the city's 12th-century cathedral, was closed by the French and the European anthems.

France has always stood at the heart of the EU  a founding member that has partnered with neighbor and historical rival Germany to turn the bloc into an economic giant and an icon of Western values. To hand that vaunted perch to a far-right politician would be bad enough. But, as coincidence would have it, France also holds the EU's rotating six-month presidency this spring, which also allows it to speak with the power of the 27.

It is a pedestal few want to offer to Le Pen. The National Rally leader wants to establish national border controls on imports and people, reduce the French contribution to the EU budget and cease to recognize that European law has primacy over national law.

She has proposed removing taxes on hundreds of goods and wants to reduce taxes on fuel  which would go against the EUs free market rules and efforts to fight climate change.

Although Le Pen has excised Frexit from her platform, her hostility toward the EU is still clear. Speaking to France Inter radio, Le Pen said Tuesday that a large majority of French people no longer want the European Union as it exists today. She accused the bloc of acting in an absolutely anti-democratic way.

She refuted critics charges that her policies would amount to a French exit from the EU. Instead, she said the EU can be changed from within.

Macron accused Le Pen of speaking nonsense.

She explains that she wont pay the bill for the (EU) club, that she will change the rules, but will change the rules alone" he said. It means she wants to get out (of the EU) but doesnt dare say it anymore."

Jean-Claude Piris, who served as a legal counsel to the European Council, said a victory for Le Pen would have the effect of an earthquake."

She is in favor of a form of economic patriotism with state aids, which is contrary to the rules of the single market, Piris told The Associated Press.

She wants to modify the French constitution by giving preference to the French, by suppressing the right of the soil, the right of asylum, which would be totally incompatible with the values of the European treaties, Piris added.

Piris said Le Pen would also threaten the unanimity of the bloc's 27 nations on the sanctions they have adopted so far against Russia for its invasion of Ukraine. She could prevent further measures being adopted. The bloc is currently mulling whether to add further restrictions on oil imports from Russia.

Le Pen has built close links with the Kremlin over the years. In her previous bid to become the French president in 2017, she called for strong security ties with Moscow to jointly combat radical Islamic groups. She also pledged to recognize Crimea  the peninsula Russia annexed from Ukraine in 2014  as part of Russia.

Le Pen acknowledged Russias invasion of Ukraine has partially changed her views about Russian President Vladimir Putin, saying he was wrong and expressing her support for the Ukrainian people and refugees.

A report from the Center for European Reform highlighted how Le Pen could go down the same road as Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and his Polish counterpart Mateusz Morawiecki in throwing up roadblocks for Brussels wherever she can to further slow the EUs already cumbersome decision-making.

"The difference is that France ... is indispensable to the EU, the report stressed, saying the consequences would be political chaos.

Macron made a similar parallel with Hungary, warning that the far-right Le Pen would do the same thing that he said is happening in Budapest: methodically, gradually reducing and deteriorating rights.

CER experts also believe that Le Pen's policies would clash with the blocs climate goals. Le Pen is in favor of expanding nuclear and several non-governmental groups have warned that she would slow down the transition toward renewable energy.

On top of that, the traditional French-German tandem would be undermined, with German Socialist chancellor Olaf Scholz highly unlikely to reach any compromise with Le Pen.

Luxembourgs long-serving foreign minister, Jean Asselborn, said Le Pen as French president would put us on a totally different track in the essence of the European Union.

The French must prevent that, he said.

Casert and Petrequin reported from Brussels. Colleen Barry in Milan, Italy, and Geir Moulson in Berlin contributed.

Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
The oldest son of former President Donald Trump has met with the congressional committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. That's according to two people familiar with the matter who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the private session. The interview with Donald Trump Jr. took place Tuesday. He's one of nearly 1,000 witnesses interviewed by members of the House committee as they work to compile a record of the worst attack on the Capitol in more than two centuries. He's the second of Trumps children known to speak to the committee. His sister Ivanka Trump sat down with lawmakers for eight hours in early April.
Congresswoman Liz Cheney raised almost $3 million in campaign contributions over the first three months of the midterm election year, continuing her record-breaking fundraising streak as she attempts to defend her seat against a Trump-backed challenger.

The third-term Wyoming Republican began April with $6.8 million cash on-hand, while her opponent Harriet Hageman began the final four-month stretch leading up to Wyoming's Aug. 16 Republican primary with more than $1 million in her campaign coffers.

Though deep-red Wyoming traditionally draws significantly less in campaign contributions than more populous battleground states, Cheney's unrelenting criticism of former President Donald Trump and statements blaming him for the violence at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6 have transformed the race for the state's lone U.S. House seat into one of the most closely watched contests of the 2022 midterms.

Cheney, who chaired the Republican House Conference before being ousted from her post last year, has broken her personal fundraising records in five consecutive quarters and has raised more than $10 million throughout the election cycle, her campaign said in a statement.

Cheney's criticisms of Trump have alienated her from many of her colleagues in the U.S. House and the Wyoming Republican Party and made her among the most endangered Republican incumbents facing reelection this year. But they've also expanded her profile and allowed her to build a nationwide fundraising network.

Given her vote to impeach him and her position on the Jan. 6 House Select Committee, Cheneys seat is among Trumps top 2022 targets. Hageman has received endorsements from Trump, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy and Rep. Elise Stefanik, Cheneys replacement as House Republican Conference Chair.

Hageman, a Cheyenne attorney, raised $1.3 million over the first three months of 2022, her campaign said in a news release Monday. Though her haul pales in comparison to Cheney's, it is roughly triple what she raised in the final three months of 2021 and a comparatively large sum for a Wyoming candidate.

Political parties typically do not campaign against their incumbent members. But the Republican National Committee censured Cheney in February, effectively opening the door for them to throw their support behind Hageman's challenge.

The Federal Election Commission is scheduled to publish campaign finance reports for the first quarter of 2022 on Friday, which will detail campaign spending and the sources of each candidates' contributions.

Other Republicans running include state Sen. Anthony Bouchard and retired Army Col. Denton Knapp. No Democrat has announced plans to challenge Cheney, and her candidacy could benefit from Democratic crossover voters, who in Wyoming can change their party affiliation from now until the day of the August primary.

Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Creighton University reversed its decision to approve a conservative student groups political event on campus following what a university spokesman said were material changes to the event, including a change of the events title and additional speakers.

The spokesman said the changes could have jeopardized the universitys tax-exempt status.

The Creighton chapter of Turning Point USA originally submitted a request to host an on-campus event Saturday titled Introduction to Nebraska Politics Conference. Sam Achelpohl, the Creighton spokesman, acknowledged in an email Monday that the event was designated as controversial and did not include an endorsement from the university. Still, certain activities associated with the event that were deemed educational, including a panel discussion, were approved to take place on campus.

Friday, Achelpohl wrote, Creighton officials were informed of changes to the event, including a change of the events title to Take Back Nebraska Summit 22. They also learned of the addition of speakers to an off-campus cocktail reception, including Jack Posobiec, an alt-right political activist who has promoted debunked conspiracy theories. Creighton officials then notified organizers that the groups on-campus activities could not proceed.

In the days leading up to the event, Nebraska Freedom Coalition, a conservative political action committee, promoted the event on Facebook. The group writes on its website that it is the central hub for over a dozen affiliated conservative grassroots activism organizations throughout the state who share the common goal of government accountability and terminating intrusion of government in our lives, land, and liberty.

On the morning of the event, Nebraska Freedom Coalition wrote on Facebook that Turning Point USA chapters are no longer associated with Take Back Nebraska Events. Nebraska Freedom Coalition also wrote that it had been CANCELED by Creighton at the last minute.

The coalition also criticized Jams American Grill Old Market after the restaurant pulled out of hosting the groups evening cocktail reception.

Philip Murante, executive vice president and general counsel for Jams corporate owner Cutchall Management Co., wrote in an email to The World-Herald that we were totally unaware that this outside group was advertising an event at our restaurant. He also wrote that restaurant staff and management had received calls, emails and messages from about 25 to 30 people before Jams canceled the reception.

In a statement posted on Facebook, the management company said it had no knowledge of the nature of the event.

The Nebraska Freedom Coalition said it moved the summit to Turner Park at Midtown Crossing and the reception to a restaurant in the Elkhorn area. The political organization said Posobiec drew a standing-room only crowd of more than 100 people at the reception.

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The Omaha Public Schools board is heartened that Superintendent Cheryl Logan chose not to move forward with a job search in Fairfax, Virginia.

The board issued a statement Tuesday afternoon following Logans announcement that she had taken her name out of the running for the superintendent job with Fairfax County Public Schools.

Logan informed members in March that she had been asked to apply for the position in Fairfax, according to the school board. The board said she was considering taking the position if selected due to its proximity to her family.

It presented a unique opportunity to serve another exceptional school district near my husband, adult daughter and almost all of my extended family, Logan said in an email sent to staff on Saturday.

The board said Logan informed members last week that she decided to withdraw her name from the search.

The interest from a district so much larger than Omaha Public Schools, and for what is considered by many to be one of the top superintendent jobs in the country, is a gratifying confirmation of the caliber of our superintendent, the board said. We are heartened that Dr. Logans choice to remain in Omaha reflects the support she has received from the Omaha community.

The same day Logan sent an email to staff regarding her decision, the Fairfax County NAACP disclosed that Logan was one of two finalists for the job to lead Fairfax County Public Schools, a district of about 180,000 students near Washington, D.C.

In the press release issued on Saturday, the Fairfax County NAACP said it was disclosing the information after being contacted by whistleblowers concerned with the search process and the qualifications of the other finalist.

We knew she had conversations with her district, but as far as where and how far she was into the decision making process, we didnt know, said Karen Campblin, Fairfax County NAACP president.

The Fairfax County Public Schools board issued a statement Monday, saying they are aware of several statements in social media and the media about its superintendent search.

The board has reviewed applicants and looks forward to publicly announcing the final candidate in the next few weeks, the Fairfax County board said.

Logans contract was unanimously renewed in June, extending her employment to June 30, 2024.

The renewal included her first raise since she started the job in 2018. Her base salary increased from $300,000 to $313,890.

Between her benefits package and annual salary, Logans total compensation will almost be $491,331 this year, according to a pay transparency notice.

OPS is the largest public school district in the state.

World-Herald Staff Writer Ryan Hoffman contributed to this report.

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You are here: China

Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, on Monday inspected the city of Wuzhishan in Hainan Province.

Xi visited a section of a tropical rainforest national park and a village to learn about efforts to protect the environment and biodiversity, as well as the alignment of rural revitalization with the achievements in poverty alleviation.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP)  Sherri Papini, the Northern California woman charged last month with faking her kidnapping in 2016, accepted a plea bargain with prosecutors Tuesday and acknowledged she made up the story that prompted a frantic search and international headlines.

Defense attorney William Portanova said his client will plead guilty to charges of lying to a federal officer and mail fraud.

I am deeply ashamed of myself for my behavior and so very sorry for the pain Ive caused my family, my friends, all the good people who needlessly suffered because of my story and those who worked so hard to try to help me, she said in a statement released through Portanova. I will work the rest of my life to make amends for what I have done.

The search for Papini, 39, of Redding, set off a three-week search across California and several nearby states until she resurfaced on Thanksgiving Day in 2016.

She had bindings on her body and injuries including a blurred brand on her right shoulder and a swollen nose. She had other bruises and rashes on many parts of her body, ligature marks on her wrists and ankles, and burns on her left forearm.

Federal prosecutors alleged in early March that she actually was staying with a former boyfriend nearly 600 miles (966 kilometers) away in Southern Californias Orange County and injured herself to back up her false statements.

Portanova told The Associated Press he's not sure why his client did what she did.

Honestly I dont know if anybody does. I dont know if she knows, he said.

In my opinion it is a very complicated mental health situation, but one that has to be confronted and dealt with  and that includes admission and acceptance and punishment, Portanova said. He said treatment is not required under the plea deal, but counseling is part of her daily life and will continue to be.

The plea agreement calls for Papini to pay restitution topping $300,000.

That includes $30,694 to the California Victims Compensation Board, which reimbursed her for things including visits to her therapist for treatment for anxiety and PTSD and for the ambulance ride to the hospital after she surfaced near Sacramento.

She also will pay the Shasta County Sheriffs Office nearly $149,000 and the FBI more than $2,500 for their expenses during the investigation. She also owes the Social Security Administration at least $127,568.

The Sacramento Bee first reported that Papini had reached a plea deal.

The charges carry penalties of up to five years in federal prison for lying to a federal law enforcement officer and up to 20 years for mail fraud. Prosecutors agreed as part of the plea bargain to recommend a sentence on the low end of the sentencing range, estimated for Papini to be between eight and 14 months in custody.

The U.S. Attorneys Office in Sacramento filed amended charges Tuesday of 34 counts of mail fraud and one count of making false statements. But Papini agreed to plead guilty to a single count of mail fraud and one count of making false statements.

She is scheduled to be arraigned on those charges Wednesday and will likely enter the guilty pleas next week, Portanova said.

Papini was reported missing Nov. 2, 2016. She was found alongside Interstate 5 nearly 150 miles (240 kilometers) from her home, battered and with remnants of bindings on her wrists and ankles.

She told authorities at the time that she had been kidnapped at gunpoint by two Hispanic women, and provided descriptions to an FBI sketch artist along with extensive details of her purported abduction.

She was still making false statements as recently as August 2020, when prosecutors said a federal agent and a Shasta County sheriffs detective showed her evidence indicating she had not been abducted and warned her that it was a crime to lie to a federal agent.

A GoFundMe campaign raised more than $49,000 to help the family, which the couple used to pay off bills and for other expenses, according to a court filing by investigators.

She was a stay-at-home mom at the time and her husband worked at Best Buy. The family wasnt wealthy and there was never a ransom demand, officials said at the time.

She had gone jogging that day near her home about 215 miles (350 kilometers) north of San Francisco. Her husband, Keith Papini, found only her cellphone and earphones when he went searching after she failed to pick up their children at day care. She left her purse and jewelry behind.

He passed a lie detector test, investigators said.

Papini had both male and female DNA on her body and clothing when she was found, and the DNA eventually led to the former boyfriend, prosecutors say.

The former boyfriend told investigators that Papini stayed with him while she was gone, and that she had asked him to come to Redding to pick her up. Authorities verified his account by tracking two prepaid cellphones that they had been using to secretly talk to one another as early as December 2015, according to the court filing.

A cousin of the former boyfriend also told investigators that he saw Papini, unrestrained, in the mans apartment twice. Records also backed the ex-boyfriends story that he rented a car and drove Papini back to Northern California about three weeks later.

Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP)  New Mexico's top elections regulator and voting rights advocates described efforts to combat disinformation and intimidation at the polls and ensure voting access for minority groups, as Democrats on a congressional subcommittee gathered testimony Monday to inform their work on election initiatives.

The field hearing led by Democratic U.S. Rep G. K. Butterfield of North Carolina highlighted New Mexico as a leader in efforts to expand voter access and as a counterpoint to a wave of restrictive new voting laws in Republican-led states, many of which were inspired by former President Donald Trumps false claims of a stolen 2020 election.

New Mexico's two Democratic congresswomen  Reps. Teresa Leger Fernandez and Melanie Stansbury  attended the hearing and called for changes to Senate filibuster rules that have been instrumental in blocking voting rights legislation in Washington.

In January, Senate Democrats fell far short of the 60 votes needed to push past a Republican filibuster of the House-approved Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act, which would make Election Day a national holiday, ensure access to early voting and mail-in ballots, and enable the Justice Department to intervene in states with a history of voter interference, among other changes.

There were no congressional Republicans in attendance at Monday's field hearing of the House administration elections subcommittee.

New Mexico Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver told the congressional panel that the current national discourse about voting and elections have been infected with a disturbing amount of misinformation about how elections are run and about the measures in place to secure the vote."

Toulouse Oliver pressed for additional federal funding to underwrite election cyber-security as well as physical safety at the polling places.

She insisted that voting access can be expanded while also ensuring the security and integrity of elections.

Although policies like same-day registration are sometimes presented as giving an unfair advantage to Democrats, I should note that more Republican voters utilized same-day registration in the 2020 general election than any other party" in New Mexico, she said.

Heather Ferguson of the progressive watchdog group Common Cause New Mexico said New Mexico stands out as a "beacon of light" against states proposing to restrict voting access. She also called attention to vehicle caravans in recent elections that block or intimidate voters at polling locations.

Separately, Ahtza Dawn Chavez of New Mexico Native Vote noted that it has only been 74 years since a court overturned a New Mexico law that had prevented Native Americans from voting, and that changes are still needed to shore up Native American participation in elections.

A far-reaching state elections bill to expand voting access and protect election workers from harassment failed this year to win approval from the Democratic-led New Mexico Legislature.

Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
WASHINGTON (AP)  Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg so liked the caricature that accompanied an article about her that she got a copy from the artist and hung it in her Supreme Court office.

That signed and inscribed print by artist Eleanor Davis is among 150 items from Ginsburg's office and home at the Watergate in an online auction to benefit opera in Washington that will end in late April.

An earthenware plate by Pablo Picasso that hung in Ginsburg's dining room, a black mink coat with her name sewn in a pocket and a souvenir vase from the Capitol luncheon following former President Barack Obama's first inaugural also are up for auction.

The sale could raise $50,000 to $80,000 for the Washington National Opera, one of the late justices passions. She took part in at least three productions over the years, including a speaking, but non-singing, role for one night in 2016.

Ginsburgs family selected the Potomack Company to handle the auction.

Its an opportunity to own something personal of hers and support the opera, said Elizabeth Haynie Wainstein, the auction houses owner.

Bidding for some items begins as low as $25, though the opening bid on the Picasso plate is $4,000, Haynie Wainstein said. Three other Picasso pieces also are in the auction.

The natural black mink coat, made by the Gartenhaus fur company in the Washington area, is going for a starting bid of $250.

Ginsburg died of cancer at age 87 in September 2020. Appreciation for the Supreme Court's second female justice and liberal icon, dubbed the Notorious RBG in her later years, has continued well after her death.

The Navy recently announced it would name a ship after her in the John Lewis-class of replenishment oilers. The ships are named in honor of people who fought for civil and human rights, the Navy said.

Last month, the Smithsonian also posthumously honored Ginsburg with the National Museum of American History's Great Americans Medal. Her children, Jane and James Ginsburg, have donated other of their mother's possessions to the museum, including Ginsburg's Paris-made judicial robe and a collection of collars she wore over it.

In January, an online auction of Ginsburg's books brought in $2.3 million, almost 30 times the pre-sale estimate, according to Bonhams, the company that conducted the auction.

The April auction includes a print of the artist Josef Albers' Red Orange Wall that hung above Ginsburg's bed. Albers was among Ginsburg's favorite artists. An original Albers work that was on loan from the National Gallery of Art was prominently displayed in her office at the court.

Six works by the sculptor Glenna Goodacre that Ginsburg acquired during her regular summer trips to Santa Fe, New Mexico for an opera festival are for sale, along with a silver tea set and a pair of Saint Louis Crystal eagle bookends.

One of Ginsburg's grandchildren, Paul Spera, also has an original piece of art among the items being auctioned. His Bubbie of Liberty, using the Yiddish word for grandma, has Ginsburg's likeness atop the Statue of Liberty.

Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP)  Pastors have filed at least three federal lawsuits in recent weeks against the African Methodist Episcopal Church along with several subsidiaries and financial firms the church used, alleging tens of millions of dollars from a pension fund were mismanaged and missing.

The retired and current pastors in Florida, Maryland and Virginia filed the lawsuits against the oldest historically Black denomination in the U.S. late last month. They are seeking class-action status on behalf of thousands of other AME pastors and church officials throughout the country who lost money through the pension fund.

The pastors, who were required to participate in the retirement plan, said they have been unable to get access to their money.

The lawsuit filed by the Florida pastor, the Rev. Charles Jackson in Orlando, alleges the church and its related financial institutions were negligent and breached their fiduciary responsibilities. Jackson is seeking a jury trial and punitive damages in the complaint filed in federal court in Tennessee.

Many Class member  including Plaintiff Reverend Jackson  are retired and have suddenly learned that resources they relied on to support themselves, to depend on in times of bad health, and to simply enjoy during retirement, have been stolen from them by people they trusted," the lawsuit said.

In their lawsuit filed in Virginia, the Revs. Derrell Wade and Reuben Boyd allege that between $80 million and $90 million was unaccounted for by either 2020 or 2021.

In his lawsuit, the Rev. Cedric Alexander of Bowie Maryland, said the then-chair of the church's retirement fund invested money in undeveloped land in Florida and a now-defunct capital venture outfit, and gave a promissory note to an installer of solar panels. The lawsuit alleges violations of a federal law protecting employee retirement funds.

The church's retirement fund chair invested Plan assets in imprudent, extraordinarily risky investments that ultimately lost nearly $100 million of Plan participants retirement savings," the Maryland lawsuit said.

In a statement Tuesday, the church said it was limited in what it could say because of the litigation but noted that it had resumed some distributions to fund participants starting last month.

We appreciate our communitys concern and remain grateful for the patience of our clergy, staff and members as we continue to investigate this matter," the statement said.

In a message posted to its website late last month, the church acknowledged that retirement fund participants may have been the victim of a financial crime."

After a new administrator of the church's Department of Retirement Services took over last year, financial irregularities" were uncovered in some retirement fund investments. The church has hired an outside legal firm and forensics experts to conduct an investigation, the statement said.

The AME Church takes financial irregularities and disclosures seriously, and we are committed to the restoration of any impacted retirement funds," the statement said. We are also committed to making every fund participant whole by restoring their full investment plus interest."

Attorney Greg Francis, who is representing Jackson, the Florida pastor, said he hoped the lawsuits will eventually be consolidated.

Jackson, 72, told The Associated Press in a phone interview that he feels betrayed.

When you take advantage of my money, you lose my trust, Jackson said. You lose the trust of your employees.

Follow Mike Schneider on Twitter at https://twitter.com/MikeSchneiderAP.

Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
A Kansas man will be heading to jail after he is released from the hospital after he was involved in a collision that killed an Alliance woman.

Ryan McElroy, 36, of Salina, Kansas, has been ticketed on suspicion of motor vehicle homicide, willful reckless driving, DUI-third offense, possession of an open alcohol container and driving under suspension, the Nebraska State Patrol said Tuesday.

McElroy is accused of causing a collision Sunday afternoon on Nebraska Highway 2 near Alliance that killed 22-year-old Blythe Boness.

About 2:10 p.m. Sunday, officials said, a westbound Chevrolet Camaro that McElroy was driving hit the eastbound Ford Escape that Boness was driving. The Ford rolled into a ditch and Boness was ejected. She died at the scene.

McElroy had to be cut out of his car. He was flown to Regional West Medical Center in Scottsbluff with serious injuries. When he is released from the hospital, the patrol said, he will be booked into jail.

Neither Boness nor McElroy was wearing a seat belt, the patrol said.

McElroy was charged with DUI in 2008 in Gage County, according to court records. In that incident, a Nebraska State Patrol trooper stopped McElroy near Beatrice because the vehicle he was driving matched the description of one driven by a suspected drunken driver. He also was driving 10 mph over the speed limit, according to court records.

The trooper reported that he saw McElroys 10-month-old son in the backseat and an open 18-pack of beer in the vehicle. McElroys preliminary breath test result was .183  more than double the legal limit.

Randall Ritnour, who was the Gage County attorney at the time, declined to file child abuse charges against McElroy, and he ultimately dismissed an open container charge against him. McElroy was sentenced to 19 days in jail on a misdemeanor DUI charge and had his license revoked for six months.

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LINCOLN  Nebraska lawmakers killed a bill Monday that would have increased food stamp eligibility for drug felons.

The Legislature debated until about 9:30 p.m. Monday night, ending with Legislative Bill 121, but did not reach a vote. Because Monday was the last day bills could be debated for second-round approval, that effectively ended the bills progress.

LB 121, which State Sen. Megan Hunt of Omaha introduced in 2021, would have allowed a person convicted of drug offenses  possession, use or distribution  access to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits, commonly called food stamps, as long as they were complying with probation, parole or post-release supervision.

Under current Nebraska law, people with three or more felony convictions for drug use or possession, or just one felony conviction for drug sale or distribution, are banned from receiving SNAP. People with one or two convictions for use or possession are eligible for SNAP only if they participate in an approved treatment program, according to the bill.

Meanwhile, other felons, including rapists, robbers and murderers, face no such bar to getting food assistance, Hunt said.

Though LB 121 passed its first round of debate in March, Sen. Julie Slama of Sterling vowed at the time to filibuster the bill in the second round. Slama argued Nebraska should not expand government benefits to criminals.

Im a woman of my word, Slama said Monday.

Slama led the filibuster from 5:15 p.m. until the Legislature adjourned. She intended to take the maximum time to bring a bill to a cloture vote around 10:30 p.m., but lawmakers adjourned for the day before that could happen.

Slama spent most of her testimony reciting a 2009 research study published in the National Library of Medicine about the correlation of violent offenses and people who use illegal substances and have mental health problems. Hunt claimed the report had no relevance to LB 121.

Hunt has been trying to pass a bill to increase access to food assistance for drug felons since 2019, when she introduced Legislative Bill 169. That bill was killed by a filibuster.

Hunt argued that LB 121 was fundamental to changing the culture of the state, and would improve the quality of life for all Nebraskans by helping those in poverty. She said it makes no sense for young people who are convicted of a drug offense to not have access to food when they are older.

This is the last group of people we should be doing this to, Hunt said.

Hunt also claimed that the bill would help Nebraskas prison overcrowding by reducing recidivism. Slama argued that expanding SNAP eligibility wasnt a good use of taxpayer money, while Hunt said it would not cost the state because SNAP is federally funded.

Opponents of LB 121 argued that most Nebraskans didnt want to expand food stamp eligibility, and emphasized that drug users with two or fewer convictions were still eligible.

I think allowing two chances is good enough, said Sen. Robert Clements of Elmwood.

As the filibuster continued, the topic shifted to LB 773, a bill that would have allowed residents to carry concealed handguns without a permit. The bill died earlier Monday when it failed to get the 33 votes needed for cloture after a separate filibuster, which Hunt participated in. Sen. Tom Brewer of Gordon, who introduced LB 773, called out lawmakers who voted against it.

In turn, Hunt called out Brewer, Slama and the other senators who opposed LB 121 for drifting off topic. Hunt said if they thought they were getting revenge on her for filibustering their previous bills, she didnt consider it as that because their filibuster method was poor.

When I filibuster your bills, I talk about your bills, Hunt said.

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LINCOLN  With just three days left in the session, lawmakers passed a slew of bills Tuesday, including one that will devote $335 million to recovery efforts in North and South Omaha and other underserved areas of Nebraska.

The Legislature passed Legislative Bill 1024 in a 45-1 vote, sending it to Gov. Pete Ricketts desk for final approval. Lawmakers also passed dozens of other bills, including two to advance major water projects.

LB 1024 allocates $335 million to projects that would support affordable housing, infrastructure improvements, crime prevention projects and other recovery initiatives.

Its an historic moment, State Sen. Justin Wayne of Omaha said, adding that there is a lot of pressure to deliver for the community. Weve got to step up and get it done.

The project was first intended to allocate $475 million to serve underserved areas in North and South Omaha, but after negotiating with other lawmakers, Wayne expanded the bill to encompass parts of Lincoln and rural areas with high concentrations of low-income residents.

Though the total funding is less than Wayne originally sought, he said he hopes the bill encourages local business leaders to contribute to the effort.

Two major water projects in the state are also moving forward after receiving approval Tuesday.

LB 1015, which would build a $500 million canal-and-reservoir system in eastern Colorado and western Nebraska, passed in a 42-4 vote. Immediately after that, lawmakers passed LB 1023 in a 38-6 vote. That bill takes steps to build a 7-mile lake along the Platte River between Omaha and Lincoln.

LB 1015 would carry out the provisions of a nearly century-old compact with Colorado. Under the compact, Nebraska can lay claim to 500 cubic feet per second of water for irrigation use between Oct. 15 and April 1 if the canal is built.

LB 1023 establishes a framework for the 4,000-acre lake, but an exact site has not been designated for the project yet. Speaker of the Legislature Mike Hilgers of Lincoln said the effort could ultimately come up dry if further study shows that the project would harm Lincolns drinking water supply or run afoul of environmental laws.

It also could be derailed if backers cannot get enough money or are unable to acquire land, he said.

Though both water projects received broad support from lawmakers, each was routinely criticized by opponents.

Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh of Omaha, who opposed both bills, proposed an amendment to LB 1023 on Tuesday to ensure the state couldnt exercise eminent domain to acquire land for the lake. The amendment failed in a 6-30 vote.

Some of the other bills passed Tuesday include:

Holiday. Juneteenth National Independence Day would become a state holiday under LB 29, which passed 48-0. Wayne introduced the bill last year, before President Joe Biden declared Juneteenth a national holiday. The day, observed on June 20 this year, marks the day in 1865 when Union troops brought news of the Emancipation Proclamation to enslaved people in Texas.

Victim immunity. Victims or witnesses of sexual assault would receive immunity for minor drug or alcohol possession charges under LB 519, which passed 37-7. Individuals would receive immunity only if they were the one reporting the assault to law enforcement or seeking emergency medical attention. An individual would not be charged if evidence of the offense was obtained as a result of the assault investigation. The individual would be required to cooperate with law enforcement.

Computer science. Nebraska high school students would be required to complete at least one course on computer science or technology by the start of the 2026-27 school year under LB 1112, which passed 33-11. The bill aims to address the tech talent workforce crisis that Sen. Terrell McKinney of Omaha, who introduced the bill, said is limiting business growth across Nebraska.

Behavioral health contacts. Nebraska school districts would be required to establish behavioral health points of contact under LB 852, which passed 36-10. These contacts can refer students or parents to local community behavior providers in their area. Sen. Jen Day of Omaha, who introduced the bill, said it was drafted in response to the mental health needs among students that increased during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mead ethanol plant. Lawmakers passed two measures addressing problems created by AltEn, a now-defunct plant near Mead that used pesticide-treated seed to produce ethanol and left behind waste products highly contaminated with insecticides and fungicides.

LB 1068, passed 35-8, would provide $1 million to continue research into the potential adverse effects the plant has had on human health and the environment. LB 1102, passed 46-0, would give the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy more authority to issue cease-and-desist letters to companies that endanger humans and the environment and more latitude to order environmental cleanups.

State contracting. The Department of Administrative Services would have to bring in a consultant to evaluate the states contracting process under LB 1037, which passed 46-0. Sen. John Arch of La Vista introduced the bill after a legislative investigation found the state has had a string of costly procurement failures. The most recent, and the reason for the investigation, was the now-terminated contract with St. Francis Ministries of Kansas to oversee child welfare cases in the Omaha area.

Mental health and pregnancy. Doctors, physician assistants and advanced practice registered nurses would be encouraged to screen women during and after pregnancy for mental health disorders under LB 905, which passed 44-0. The bill was introduced by Sen. Lynne Walz of Fremont. Such disorders can include depression, anxiety and postpartum psychosis.

Craft beer. Nebraskas craft breweries could build their business by selling beer directly to retailers under LB 1236, introduced by Sen. John Lowe of Kearney. Under the bill, which passed 46-0, breweries could self-distribute up to 250 barrels per year, but only in areas where they do not have an agreement with a wholesaler.

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LINCOLN  Nebraskas next governor wont get a pot of money to use in luring or keeping businesses after all.

State Sen. Brett Lindstrom of Omaha pulled Legislative Bill 729 from the agenda Monday after it became clear that the measure had lost too much support to advance.

The measure would have created the Quick Action Closing Fund within the Department of Economic Development that the governor could have used to help land a high-impact business project or facility or to keep a business already located in the state. A high-impact business would be one expected to create a net benefit, through jobs and investments, compared with the cost of the incentive.

Assuming a project met the necessary requirements, including thresholds for jobs and salaries, the bill would have given the governor the discretion to award the funding.

But several senators on Monday objected to giving that kind of power to the governor, including Sen. Mike Flood of Norfolk, who argued that the bill would diminish the Legislatures power over the state purse strings.

Our ancestors fought a war to get rid of the king, Flood said.

Sen. Steve Erdman of Bayard said the proposal would give governors a slick way to pay back political favors without much control by legislators.

You tell me if that isnt a slush fund, he said.

Supporters of the proposal took issue with the term slush fund, describing the fund as an extra tool that the state could use in trying to compete with other states for businesses.

Sen. Matt Williams of Gothenberg said he has seen cases in which Nebraska lost out because state officials could not offer enough incentives under existing laws. Supporters said the fund could have helped in situations when the Legislature is not in session and cannot react quickly.

I think LB 729 sends a clear message that we are open for business, Williams said.

Lindstrom, who is a Republican candidate for governor, said LB 729 was inspired by a similar program created in Oklahoma in 2011. He said that program has awarded about $14 million to seven companies, which resulted in the creation of 3,500 jobs and $3.4 billion in investments by those companies.

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It will take a while for rain to shift from west to east across the state, but once it does, it will continue for quite some time. Track the rain and see how much is expected in our latest forecast.
BLOOMINGTON  A new family medicine residency program at OSF St. Joseph Medical Center aims to recruit physician residents to the area, allow them to train here and become a part of the community.

"As we see more and more people come into town, we're also seeing more and more new patients coming into our ambulatory practices," said hospital President Lynn Fulton. "We knew we had a need four years ago, but now that we a have a larger population, that need has increased, and to bring those physicians really is going to be critical for the future of medical care in our community."

U.S. Rep. Darin LaHood, R-Dunlap, announced $700,000 in federal Community Project Funding (CFP) program funding for the program during a visit to the hospital Monday afternoon. His office requested the funding in the appropriations bill and has been in play since 2021.

The new residency program is a response to ongoing shortages of physicians across the country, especially in Illinois, and will attempt to attract physician residents here where they can train, become comfortable and hopefully call this community their home in the long run, Fulton said.

"Study after study shows when you have a residency program that is built out that physicians come to you, they stay in the community, they raise their families here, they spend money, and I look at that as how that affects our community here in Bloomington-Normal," LaHood said. "And also when you think about physician shortages across the country, having a facility that is a first-class facility to have that type of training and you couple that with what OSF has done  it's a win-win for the community and for OSF."

The funding will be used to convert and remodel a 4,000-square-foot space into an education and learning environment for physicians enrolled in the family medicine residency program at St. Joseph, said Todd Kettering, director of the program.

Kettering added the space will have a lounge area and individual workspaces for practicing physicians to relax and focus on their clinical work all while being on call.

Other features include a conference room that can hold 30 members to observe clinical studies or MRI images and a simulation center that is part of OSF's hospital network and will allow physicians to access practice terminals, Kettering said.

"Fortunately a lot of great groundwork has already been done by all the fine people here to make that happen," he said. "You don't have a house built on sand; we got a house built with a great foundation to do what we need to do in educating the next generation of physicians."

Fulton said they are beginning with the bidding process this month and hoping to start construction on the lower level of Eastland Medical Plaza II sometime early in the summer with the program kicking off in July 2023.

It will consist of a three-year program with six residents receiving hands-on training per year that will eventually turn into 18 physician residents working alongside clinicians in all parts of the hospital, Fulton said.

The program also is in the process of receiving accreditation from the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education, a nonprofit private council that is responsible for evaluating all graduate medical training programs for physicians in the U.S.

"It's not just Bloomington-Normal; we really look at the surrounding community as well as our sister hospital in Pontiac," Fulton said, referring to OSF Saint James-John W. Albrecht Medical Center.

"By having this residency program it will also enable us to do some rotations," Fulton added. "They may go to Pontiac to see some of the care that's delivered there and give those physicians more exposure to what we view as rural medicine."

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Chinese Vice Premier Han Zheng on Tuesday called for the advancement of the national afforestation and greening cause to further boost the construction of an ecological civilization.



Han, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and head of the national afforestation committee, made the remarks at a national afforestation committee plenary conference.

He stressed the importance of efforts to fully, accurately and comprehensively implement the new development philosophy, fulfill the requirements for high-quality development and unswervingly follow the path of giving priority to ecological protection and pursuing green development.

China will further balance land greening and farmland protection, as it has been working to ensure the nation's farmland acreage remains above the redline of 1.8 billion mu (about 120 million hectares), he said.

Han also called for efforts to protect ecological resources, fight illegal logging, wildlife trafficking and occupation of forests and grasslands, prevent forest and grassland fires, and guard against forest and grassland pests.
LEROY  The city of LeRoy and the LeRoy Park District will each receive grants from the energy company planning a wind farm in McLean County.

Apex Clean Energy, the Virginia company thats planned the 300-megawatt wind farm project between Heyworth and LeRoy, announced a fifth round of grant funding this week as part of the Diamond Grove Wind Community Grant Program.

The city plans to use the funding to purchase new self-watering planters for the downtown business district to be used by the volunteer group, the Mayors Planter Brigade, which will plant and maintain vegetation in planters year round.

Mayor Steve Dean said the grant will be a huge help.

These durable, commercial-grade planters will withstand the elements to keep Le Roy beautiful for years to come and will help the Planter Brigade grow and maintain a flourishing streetscape throughout the year, he said.

The LeRoy Park District will receive its second Diamond Grove grant, having been awarded its first last month to help purchase new equipment for the community recreation center known as the Replex.

This round of grant funding will also be used to purchase exercise equipment for the Replex, this time a new elliptical machine, executive director Corey Windle said.

This is one of our most popular pieces of exercise equipment because it provides a safe, low-impact way for people of all ages and fitness levels to exercise, he said.

The Diamond Grove Wind Community Grant Program, named for the wind farm project, aims to support programs in McLean County that build healthy communities in the areas of economic development, environmental sustainability, education and health and recreation, according to Apex.

Until now, grants had been awarded on a quarterly basis since April 2021, with prior recipients including United Way of McLean County, the Heartland Community College Foundation and the Heyworth school district.

Organizations interested in applying for a Diamond Grove grant should visit diamondgrovewind.com/grant.

Apex aims to begin production on Diamond Grove by 2024 with 75 turbines planned.

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

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I am appalled by Gov. Pritzker's ad attacking Republican, Richard Irvin, on the grounds that Irvin has defended numerous clients charged with crime. The right to a fair trial has been fundamental since our nation's founding. A fair trial demands competent legal representation on both sides. There is no shame in a lawyer defending such individuals.

John Adams defended nine British soldiers who fired on a mob of colonists, killing 5, in the Boston Massacre of 1770. Abraham Lincoln defended 27 murder cases in the courts of Central Illinois. In 1847, he represented a slave owner in his effort to keep his slave in bondage. Although Lincoln abhorred slavery his whole life, he took this case.

Some of the finest, most courageous, and honorable lawyers in Illinois are "criminal lawyers." Their character is in no way tainted by their professional calling.

Pritzker's ad is noteworthy for several other reasons. He is spending some of his inherited billions during the Republican primary, in which he only attacks Irvin. Clearly he believes that Irvin is the opponent he will face in November. Finally, this feckless politician of demonstrated lack of integrity and truthfulness, is not transparent enough to even acknowledge his campaign as the source of the deceptive ad. It identifies the sponsor as "Democratic Governors Association."

Republicans should vote for Richard Irvin in the June primary, and everyone should do the same in November.

Guy C. Fraker, Bloomington

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In the past two years, income-earning assets of the Bulk Oil Storage and Transportation Company Limited (BOST) have improved from 18 percent to 91 percent, Mr Edwin Provencal, the Managing Director, has said.



He said that was as a result of Managements drive towards operational excellence, which also led to a revaluation of its assets in the 2020 financial year.



The revaluation of the assets become necessary as most of the assets still in operation had been written down to near-zero levels whilst still useful in the operations of the company, he said.



Mr Provencal said this during a media engagement to refute the purported loss of GHC400 million being speculated in a session of the media that, as required by the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), when assets were revalued, the increase in their values is taxed resulting in larger tax obligations.



The revaluation, a deliberate decision to enhance the company's reporting, led to a deferred tax obligation of GHC292,935,973 compared to the net loss of GHC291,017,758, a difference of GHC1,918,215.



He said the increase in the value of the revalued assets also resulted in increased depreciation charges, which further reduced the bottom line or the profit for the year.



In any financial year, any loss in the market value of shares of GOIL Company Limited was computed and that reduced the income of BOST to arrive at its net profit or loss for the year as it had 20 percent shares in GOIL, Mr Provencal said.



In the year 2019 to 2020, our investment in GOIL saw a reduction of GHC15,674,525 in market value.



Respectfully, this event is external to BOST operations, and therefore to gauge the performance of BOST, Management and Staff by this loss in investment will not be fair.



This is the reason why we should rely on the profit before tax rather than all these uncontrollable factors, which have been factored in to arrive at the net profit or loss for the year.



Mr Provencal said the recorded net losses for the years 2019 and 2020 per the income statement were GHC101,411,781 and GHC291,017,758.



BOST has seen a turnaround, any comprehensive and objective analysis of the audited statements for the past five years 2016-2020 profit before tax trend will show a company on track to higher performance through enhanced efficiency, he said.



We look forward to capitalising on these modest improvements to make BOST an example of a World-Class State-Owned Enterprise.



Mr Provencal noted that it remains uncontested that the debt to suppliers and related parties of $623 million has been paid down to $39 million, the debts owed the local banks of about GHC273 million have been fully cleared.



Our pipelines, which were procured in 2011 and left to the mercy of the weather in the United States under the AT & V contract have arrived safely on our shores and we expect to complete the installation of the additional 12-inch pipeline between the Accra Plains and Akosombo depots.



The cash flow position of the company is enhanced and the repair of the companys infrastructure continues despite the reduction in our BOST Margin, he said.



So, we believe that BOST can be run like any world-class organisation. It is possible. And so going forward the next four years, the focus is on operational excellence, holding people accountable and aggressively growing our business.







Source: GNA









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The Founder and Executive Chairman of the Jospong Group of Companies, Dr. Joseph Siaw Agyepong, has revealed how he leveraged a GHC3.00 his mum loaned him, to become one of the biggest business moguls in Africa.



According to him, after being compelled to manage his mothers bookshop after his second cycle education, he quickly grabbed an opportunity to establish a printing press to meet demands in 1995.

This gave birth to the Jospong Printing Press, which he established with the loan of GHC3.00.



With perseverance, commitment and the guidance of God, Dr. Siaw managed the printing press efficiently and has since established several companies, hence the accolade serial entrepreneur bestowed on him.



He revealed this when speaking at the University of Health and Allied Sciences 6th Leadership Lecture Series in memory of the late President Evans Atta Mills, under whose tenure the University was established.



After his basic education, he continued to the Royal Technical Institute at Nungua in Accra where he studied for the City and Guilds London Certificate, completed in 1990. He, however, had to abandon his dream of becoming a pilot or marine engineer due to a lack of funds and joined his mother who was operating a bookshop.



He detailed that he hawked exercise books on the streets of Accra for a period, where he learned a major skill in business.



I learnt some valuable marketing and negotiation skills on the job while selling my mothers exercise books on the busy streets of Accra, he said.



Dr. Siaw took over management of his mothers business when she fell ill.



He went ahead to establish the Excellent Building and Construction Limited in 1996 and the Appointed Time Screen Printing Company after four years when he got an opportunity to print t-shirts for political parties during the 2000 electioneering campaign.



Upsurge in filth in Ghana leading to challenges in public health prompted him to set up Zoomlion Ghana Limited, which has become one of the leading waste management firms in Africa.









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The Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor, has extended the time for the submission of an investigative report on the Bulgarian Embassy land matter by one week.

Consequently, the sole inquirer into the case, Justice Kwasi Anto Ofori Atta, now has until April 26, this year to present his report.



Justice Ofori-Atta was appointed on March 18, this year and given one month to present the report on the Bulgarian Embassy land, which is at the centre of a dispute between the embassy and a private developer.



He was given seven days to present his report and one month for the report on matters relating to lands occupied by diplomatic missions in Ghana.



Reason for extension



However, the Public Relations Unit of the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources told the media yesterday that the minister had extended the time upon a request by the sole inquirer.



"Following the commencement of his investigations, the sole inquirer says he found the issues considerably complex and needed more time to deal exhaustively with all the issues," the Head of Public Relations at the ministry, Abraham Otabil, said.



Mr Otabil said the minister was hopeful that the extension of the date for the submission of the report would help the sole inquirer to get "the full facts to enable him to act decisively and comprehensively on the issue".



He assured members of the public that Mr Jinapor would ensure that all the questions which needed answers would be addressed when investigations were concluded on the matter.



Background



The Bulgarian Embassy, located at Kakramadu Road, Plot No. 10, East Cantonments in Accra, was demolished by a private developer in 2017.



Following the protracted nature of the dispute over the land, the Lands Commission ordered the developer to stop work on a redevelopment project on the site.



In the afternoon of Wednesday, March 16, 2022, a Deputy Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Benito Owusu-Bio, and his counterpart from the Foreign Affairs Ministry, Kwasi Ampratwum-Sarpong, visited the site to stop the private developer from continuing with work.



Justice Ofori-Atta was tasked to, among other things, undertake a full and impartial inquiry into the alleged encroachment and or demolition of the property on the land being used as the Bulgarian Embassy.



Also, the terms of reference required him to make appropriate recommendations relating to the land being used as the Bulgarian Embassy, inquire into the nature of interest in any land held or occupied by diplomatic missions in Ghana, inquire into any matter relating to land in which diplomatic missions in Ghana have an interest whatsoever and make recommendations to the government.















Source: graphiconline.com









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The CEO of NABCO Dr Ibrahim Anyars said the 3-year NABCO Scheme Bridges the gap between Academia and Industry by providing opportunities for young people after tertiary education to add value to themselves and become attractive to the demand side of Industry which indicates that young people from school did not adequately have the required skills and values for Industry.



Dr Anyars made his remarks on a panel discussion at a Consultative Breakfast Meeting on Harmonizing Policies and Programmes on Youth Development in Ghana organized by The National Youth Authority (NYA) today, Friday, April 8, 2022, at The Alisa Hotel, North Ridge-Accra.



The meeting brought together The Nation Builders Corps (NABCO), The National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Plan (NEIP), The Youth Employment Agency (YEA), National Service Scheme (NSS), Ghana Enterprise Agency (GEA), National Alternative Employment and Livelihood Programme (NAELP), The Ghana Scholarship Secretariat (SCHOLSEC) among others who discussed the core objectives of their agencies and how to synergize to create greater impact.



The Minister of Finance, Hon. Ken Ofori-Atta who was the special guest of honor reemphasized that entrepreneurship must be at the centre stage of job creation for Ghanas youth and the YouStart under the Ghana CARES Programme will be the platform to provide the needed capacity; Technology, required Skills Set and Capital.



The Minister for Public Enterprises and MP for EFFIA, Hon. Joseph Cudjoe in his closing remarks stated that Entrepreneurship create jobs and not the other way round, and therefore youth programmes in harmonizing should prioritize entrepreneurship.



Dr Kodjo Esseim Mensah-Abrampa, Director General of The National Development Planning Commission (NDPC) chaired the meeting and was very clear that the current older generation must stop encouraging the youth to go look for public sector jobs but go into entrepreneurship and drive value from private sector which has a much larger potential.



Representatives of The United Nations (UN) Systems in Ghana, Development Partners and Civil Society Organizations, and other youth development organs were part of this meeting.



Citing the entrepreneurship initiative under the YouStart Dr Anyars hinted that the now 66,648 trainees from the NABCO Scheme can provide an immediate and ready resource to the YouStart initiative. This is in the light of their exit arrangements, but even more imperative is the quantum of investment that has been made already in these tertiary graduates.



To conclude the consultative meeting, the youth-focused agencies agreed to the need for convergence, harmonisation and the coordination of their respective mandates for greater impact.

Source: Peacefmonline.com









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Ghana Post has, in a brief ceremony, unveiled a new fleet at the company's headquarters in Accra to enhance its operations.



The brief ceremony which coincided with the 100 days of office of the company's MD, Bice Osei Kuffour, was to unveil a new fleet of cars, trucks, and motorbikes to augment and strengthen Ghana Post's resolve to deliver world-class services to customers.



In a welcoming address, Ghana Post MD, Bice Osei Kuffour indicated that Ghana Post is on the path to lead the way in courier services locally and internationally. "We are committed to offering you the best of services. Your good old EMS service is still functional and even better resourced to deliver with speed and precision; speed Link offers you a well-organized pick and drop service irrespective of your location, our 24-hour parcel service is real, and patrons are excited about it; our E-commerce platform, Post shop offers you with the opportunity to buy your item of choice online which we deliver to you on request." Bice Osei Kuffour





In a message read by Fredrick Akuffo Gyimah (Member, Ghana Post Board), on behalf of the board, he assured Ghana Post staff, customers, partners and stakeholders of their commitment to lead Ghana Post to harness a better World by improving living standards for humanity. "The unveiling and Presentation of these new motorbikes, pickups and trucks is a clear indication of our commitment to serving our customers with excellence and to increase the company's revenue streams" he added.



The Minister for Public Enterprises, Hon. Joseph Cudjoe, applauded the MD, management and staff of Ghana Post for their efforts in increasing the company's fleet for expanded operations and new market penetration.







Speaking at the ceremony, Hon Ursula Owusu Ekuful (Minister of Communications and Digitalisation) reiterated that at the inaugural ceremony of the board on Thursday, February 17th this year, she charged them to transform Ghana Post into a profitable, self-sustaining company to satisfy employees and customers. Therefore, the presentation of the new fleet indicates that the new board is working tirelessly to strategically position the company to improve its service delivery in the country and beyond.



She, however, entreated the board, management, and staff to focus on Maintenance culture, security and customer service. Hon Ursula Owusu charged Ghana Post to provide excellent customer service to distinguish the brand and gain a competitive advantage over other brands.



Hon Ursula Owusu Ekuful admonished that Ghanaians are looking forward to seeing a postal service driven by technology and innovation to deliver essential quality service to communities. "Continue to push innovations to the people's doorsteps and, most importantly, serve customers with speed, loyalty, efficiency, and reliability." Hon Ursula Owusu Ekuful



Speaking to the media, Amb Edward Boateng (Director General, SIGA) who graced the occasion, indicated that, Government shall continue to support Ghana Post to position itself as the leader in the industry and grow from a self-sustaining organization to a dividend-paying organization



Ghanaians and postal patrons worldwide have witnessed a series of brand elevation activities by Ghana Post during the first 100 days of Bice Osei Kuffour led administration. Key amongst these programs is Rebranding to achieve Top Of Mind Awareness for Ghana Post through the Revitalization of the Pick & Drop Speedlink service, Vals on Wheels Promo during Valentine's day, The Re-introduction of the Scuttle Home Parcel Box service and Todays Fleet Unveiling and Presentation Ceremony.



Mr Bice Osei Kuffour attributed the success of his first 100 days of office to the hardworking staff of Ghana Post and urged them to continue to support his administration to lead Ghana Post to greater heights

Source: King Edward Ambrose Washman Addo/peacefmonline.com/ghana









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Minister for Information, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah has admonished media company TV3 Network to protect the reputation that has seen it cement its place as one of the leading television networks in the country.



According to him, as TV3 celebrates 25years of success it is imperative that the management of the company continue to guard against occurrences that have the potential to undermine the reputation of credibility it has built over the years.



He gave the admonition at the 25th-anniversary launch of the television station in Accra on Tuesday, April 12, 2022.



The next 25 years are more important than the past 25 years. And over the next 25 years one of the things, you should pay attention to is your risks. What are the risks you face as a business? In our industry one of the risks, I think you should pay attention to is reputation risk.



Reputation risk is the end product of what your staff as individuals or group of staff or the corporate programming may churn out. And so, as we excite ourselves today and celebrate, I want to draw your attention to that the 25 years are ahead of you."



"Look out for the risks that your face and how to mitigate those risks. So that 25 years down the line, we can join you for more celebrations, he said.



This the Minister challenged the network to sustain its strong track record in the countrys media space and continue to produce relevant content for both local and international viewers.

Source: King Edward Ambrose Washman Addo/peacefmonline.com/ghana









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The Ghana Culture Forum (GCF) has called on the government to consider the establishment of a national arts gallery.



It said such a facility would preserve the artistry and intellectual works of artists for posterity.



Nana Otuo Owoahene Acheampong, General Secretary of the Forum, who spoke to the Ghana News Agency, bemoaned how the country had lost out on the legendary artworks of Amon Kotei, Kofi Antubam and continue to miss out on arts work from the younger generation.



I am a visual artist, but we do not have an art gallery to showcase the work of legendary Ghanaians like Kofi Antubam, Amon Kotei," he said.



The Artist said the art gallery was one of the infrastructural investments the government ought to put up to help promote the industry value chain activities through exhibition, promotion and sales of artworks.



Nana Owoahene Acheampong said galleries all over the world had become a fundamental space in the art market to bring together sellers and buyers, which Ghana must take advantage of.



President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, in the 2022 State of the Nation Address (SONA), said the creative art industry had great potential and that the government would unleash that through education and skills training.



The Creative Arts Senior High School, in Kwadaso, whose construction is currently 70 percent complete, will serve as a beacon for many young and talented people seeking a fulfilling career in this field, the President said.



Nana Otuo Owoahene Acheampong lauded the establishment of the School, saying it would bridge the gap.



He, however, suggested that the government put up at least one complex training centre in all the 16 regions to train budding and industry players in the various domains  film, arts, sculpture, music, among others.



As it stands now everybody in the industry is trying to find a way to equip him or herself, therefore, proper accredited institutions should be established, capacity building programmes and seminars should be in place for members, he added.



Nana Owoahene Acheampong also appealed to the government to support the industry with credit facilities.

Source: GNA









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The Ghana Catholic Bishops Conference (GCBC) has called on Ghanaians, particularly Christians to shun acts of evil during and after the celebration of this years Easter festivities.



A statement signed by the Most Rev. Philip Naameh, President, GCBC, said let usrenew our commitment to reject any acts of evil, including acts of war, conflicts and any actions, which will lead to the senseless loss of lives and the creation of needless crises.



"Easter is significant for us because the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead is a source of hope and new life for Christians, and indeed, for all mankind," the statement added.



This year, the Ghana Catholic Bishops Conference is celebrating Easter on the theme: Returning to Galilee, finding the path to peace and hope in a time of crisis.



It asked Christians to see the resurrection as a call to the world to do all to break the barriers that kept us separated or divided.



In the resurrection, all of us are invited to live and share in Gods life of glory and find Gods path that leads to peace.



Unfortunately, this gift of the Prince of Peace is often rejected by acts of conflicts, wars and division.



Thus, when we look all around us, we see conflicts, wars, and the horrors associated with these acts of evil, it noted.



The Conference said God had created from all the races of the world, one common race and one family for Himself and that the uneasy calm at Bawku, the Russia-Ukraine war and other conflicts and wars around the world must be addressed.



The statement admonished Christians to pray fervently to God for peace and an end to the Russia-Ukraine war.



Let us never get tired of praying for peace, because a Church on its knees is stronger than an army on its feet, it added.



The Conference also urged the citizenry to continue to deal with difficulties posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and protect themselves and others always.

Source: GNA









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The Ghana Academy of Muslim Professionals, in collaboration with Ghana Muslim Students Association, has held the 24th M.A. Mujahid Annual Ramadan Lecture series in Tamale with a call on the youth to be innovative to help solve pertinent problems in their communities.



It was on the theme: Leveraging on the power of change of Ramadan for Holistic Development of the Ummah.



Miss Khadijah Abdul-Samed, a Researcher at the Ghana Academy of Muslim Professionals, at a lecture called on Muslim youth to play vital roles to ensure sustainable development of their communities.



She advised them to be innovative in whatever they did and form partnerships to address challenges facing their localities.



Naa Prof Yakubu Seidu Peligah, former Rector of Tamale Technical University, expressed the need for structural reforms, people centered solutions and collective action towards a model of prosperity that benefited all the people.



He called on the youth to develop their talents to take up leadership positions in the country.



The Ghana Academy of Muslim Professionals is a non-political, non- sectarian organisation that brings together Muslim professionals from across diverse sectors of the economy to work together to advance the progress and development of Muslims.





Source: GNA









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The Akuapim South Police Command has advised complainants involved in land disputes to seek justice in court since the Police do not handle civil matters.



The Police do not deal with these civil cases, so, complainants are directed to send their cases to court to be settled, DSP Isaac Quaye, Akuapim South Police Commander told the Ghana News Agency in an interview.



The civil cases involved parties in dispute over the ownership of a property, custody of a child, family misunderstandings or divorce.



He also asked residents who registered their lands between the 1990s and the early 2020s to do it again using the new Global Positioning System (GPS) to ensure ownership authenticity.



"Those who registered under the previous system in the 1990s and early 20s should look through their registration with the GPS to prevent having multiple ownership of lands," he said.



DSP Quaye stated that the paucity of property for sale in the national capital, Accra, has prompted most individuals to acquire land in the Greater Accra region's neighboring areas, such as the Eastern and Central regions.



This, he observed, has resulted in the acquisition of land twice or even three times by different persons, resulting in a lot of misunderstanding about land ownership in the Akuapim South Municipality.



Accusations of threats of life reported to Police officers, according to DSP Quaye, are frequently accompanied by land dispute issues, motivating complainants to file their cases in court.



Ms Akosua Oye, a resident of Akuapim South Municipality who is in her late 70s, said her land, totaling more than 10 acres, was transferred to a family by bogus persons claiming to the landowners.



I was reported to the police for threat of life, she said. However, those who reported me were found to have no case, and I was directed to the court to file my case.



According to her, the majority of fictitious property owners pose as chiefs and landowners and sell lands to unsuspecting members of the public looking to acquire land.



She, therefore, advised buyers to register their lands via the new land registration system.





Source: GNA









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Ukraine has accused Russia of unleashing "chemical agents" in an attack on the people of Mariupol, leaving soldiers and residents "dizzy and unable to breathe".



Troops defending the port city of Mariupol are reportedly suffering respiratory failure, dizziness and other symptoms as a result of the "unknown substance".



The unidentified agent is said to have been dropped on the southern city - which has seen some of the worst fighting since the war began - via a Russian drone, according to unverified reports from the city's Azov regiment.



Addressing the reports, Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said it would be a "callous escalation" if Russia has used chemical weapons in its invasion of Ukraine.



She wrote on Twitter: "Reports that Russian forces may have used chemical agents in an attack on the people of Mariupol. We are working urgently with partners to verify details.



"Any use of such weapons would be a callous escalation in this conflict and we will hold Putin and his regime to account."



It comes hours after the UK's Ministry of Defence warned Vladimir Putin may resort to using devastating "phosphorous bombs" in his efforts to take hold of Mariupol and break the stalemate in Ukraine.



The MoD warned Russian forces had already used the devices in the Donetsk region of Ukraine.



"Russian forces prior use of phosphorous munitions in the Donetsk Oblast raises the possibility of their future employment in Mariupol as fighting for the city intensifies," said the MoD on Sunday night.



White phosphorus is used for illumination at night or to create a smokescreen, but when it is deployed as a weapon it causes horrific burns.



Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has previously accused Russia of using the chemical.



The far-right Ukrainian Azov regiment said: "Russian occupation forces used a poisonous substance of unknown origin against Ukrainian military and civilians in the city of Mariupol, which was dropped from an enemy drone.



"The victims have respiratory failure... the effects of the unknown substance are being clarified."



On Monday evening, Ivanna Klympush, a Ukrainian MP, tweeted: "Russia 1.5hr ago used unknown substance in #Mariupol.



"Victims experience respiratory failure, vestib.-atactic syndrome. Most likely chem.weapons!



"This is red line beyond which must destroy economy of despotism.We demand full embargo on all fuels from #RU &heavy weapons 2UA now!"



The alleged attack came just hours after a pro-Russian general in Donbas appeared to promote the idea of using chemical weapons.



They told state media Russia would "smoke the Ukrainian moles out of the underground".



Meanwhile, the Ukrainian Parliament tweeted to say it has received reports of Russian forces firing "nitric acid" in the Donetsk region.



It warned local residents to wear "protective face masks soaked in soda solution". It is not clear if the incidents are linked.



Mariupol's mayor, Vadym Boychenko, said the city has suffered more than 10,000 deaths to date.



The port city has seen some of the most intense fighting since the invasion began at the end of February.



Mr. Boychenko also warned the toll could rise beyond 20,000 and claimed Russian forces are bringing mobile cremation equipment into the city to dispose of bodies.













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A Colombian researcher has been trampled to death by an elephant in Kibale National Park, in western Uganda. The deceased identified as Sebastian Ramirez Amaya, a 30-year-old US based researcher from Arizona State University attached to Ngogo Chimpanzee Research Centre in Kibale National Park in Kamwenge District.



The Rwenzori West Regional Police Spokesperson, Mr Vincent Twesige, said the incident happened on Sunday at around 9am when the deceased and his colleagues went deep inside the National Park for research under the guidance of one Ngene, a Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) warden.



"While in the forest, the students took different directions, and while coming out, everyone else returned to the camp except Amaya. The team decided to head back to the forest to look for him, but unfortunately, they found when an elephant had already killed him," he said.



Mr Twesige said the UWA warden (Ngene) reported the matter to Bigodi Police Station that evening.



Police led by Kamwenge District CID Officer, Mr Paddy Tumwebaze, visited the scene and retrieved the body, and took it to Fort Portal Regional Referral Hospital for postmortem as investigations into the matter continue.



The UWA spokesperson, Mr Bashir Hanji, said that its a regrettable and unfortunate incident the Authority had not witnessed in the last 50 years in Kibale National Park.









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American television host and writer, Steve Harvey has described Ghana as one of the safest countries in Africa for Black people.



Detailing his experience in the West African state, he noted that unlike in the United States of America where there are daily reports of police shooting Blacks in a stopover, it is rare to have a police officer in Ghana shoot a driver when they pull them over.



According to Steve, in all the instances he encountered Ghanaian police, he was never harassed or felt threatened; he either received a warning or paid an amount of hundred dollars without any hustle.



"When I'm in Ghana and get stopped by the police, guess what I get? I get a warning, a ticket or I give him a $100 and I drive off... I have never, since I got there seen on the news or nothing that somebody got pulled over by the police and got shot. They don't shoot you in Africa," Steve disclosed in an interview with 'Earn Your Leisure'.



The celebrated American host added that Africa is home to all and urged his people to pay a visit to the beautiful continent.



"I think it is beneficial for us to go back home. America is my home but Africa is my homeland. Me going to Africa is like going to a place called home that I've never been to. When you land in Africa, you immediately feel good. It is a place I get to walk around and am good all the time because the majority of the people look just like me everywhere I go...people don't understand how rich of a continent Africa is," he said.



Ghana's Year of Return in 2019, witnessed Steve Harvey and his wife, Marjorie Harvey stepping their feet on its soil. The couple visited some historic sites including the Elmina Castle and Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum.



:

Source: youtube/ghanaweb









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The Northern Regional Police Command has arrested Mohammed Iddi, alias Water, over unlawful possession of six foreign firearms.



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 new foreign-made '9mm Calibre Bruni 92' pistols.



The Police disclosed this in a press release signed by Deputy Commissioner of Police Mr Kwesi Ofori, Director General, Public Affairs Unit.



It said the suspect was on Friday put before the High Court One in Tamale and had been remanded into police custody to reappear on 25th April 2022.



"We commend the Northern Regional Police Command, especially the team that was involved in this operation for their diligence," it said.



The Police said it remained committed to ensuring a safe and secure environment and called for support from all.

Source: GNA









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Dr. Amakye Boateng, a Political Science lecturer at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, KNUST, has described as problematic, the recent endorsement of Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia by Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta.



The Minister said in an interview with Metro TV last week that the Vice President had shown that he was a capable hand to take over after his boss, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.



The claim, according to the lecturer, does not bode well for the party going into the keenly awaited 2024 elections.



What is going on in the party will spell the downfall of the party, he said on Accra-based Neat FM on Monday, April 11, 2022.



He added: Ghanaians will not allow the political patronage playing up in the party. I believe Ghanaians will not let this happen in the body politics of the country.



The academic also avers that such premature endorsements do not help in party cohesion especially when there are known procedures that the party employs at specific times to elect its leaders.



What did Ofori-Atta say:



On the sidelines of the April 7 State of the Economy address delivered by Bawumia in Kasoa, the Finance Minister said:



I think it lays out very distinctly what we have done as a party and the capacity to take us to the transformation level that we are talking about.



"Clearly for me, also makes it very evident to Ghanaians that we have the type of person who can lead after Nana Akufo-Addo leaves and that is reassuring, he told Metro TV on the sidelines of the event Thursday.



Bawumia is seen as a leading candidate in the race for the New Patriotic Party flagbearership slot. If he is to contest, he is likely to come up against the likes of Alan Kyerematen, Joe Ghartey and Boakye Agyarko.





Source: ghanaweb.com









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Honorable Kwabena Abankwa-Yeboah has expressed his condolences to the family of late former 2nd Lady of Ghana, Hajia Ramatu Mahama.



The death of Hajia Ramatu Mahama came as a shock on Thursday, 7th April at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital.



Speaking to Kwabena Abankwa Yeboah, he said; Whereas death is inevitable, so do we have to comfort ourselves with the Islamic principle of "Inna Lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un" which literally means: _Surely we belong to Allah and to him shall we return.



He added; I wish therefore to extend my heartfelt condolences to the family of Former Vice President, H.E Aliu Mahama and the entire New Patriotic Party family, for the loss of our beloved Former 2nd Lady, Hajia Ramatu Mahama.



May Allah admit the soul of our mother to Janna and strengthen the family in these trying times.



May her soul rest in peace.

Source: Josephine Acheampomaa/[email protected]









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Russia has warned Finland and Sweden against joining Nato, saying the move would not bring stability to Europe. Nato was formed in 1949 to counter the threat of Soviet expansion and domination, and since the fall of the Berlin wall a number of formerly communist eastern European countries have joined the military alliance.



Member states agree to come to one another's aid in the event of an armed attack against any individual member state. Back in February Maria Zakharova, Russia's foreign ministry spokeswoman, warned of "military and political consequences" if the countries joined the bloc.



And on Monday, April 11, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that "the alliance remains a tool geared towards confrontation" and thst Moscow is clear when it comes to opposing any potential enlargement of the alliance.



Peskov warned the bloc "is not that kind of alliance which ensures peace and stability, and its further expansion will not bring additional security to the European continent".



The warning by Russia comes as US defence officials expect Sweden and Finland to bid for membership of the alliance, potentially as early as June saying Moscow's invasion of Ukraine has been a "massive strategic blunder" which is likely to bring Nato enlargement.



The move would see the Western alliance grow to 32 members and US State Department officials said last week that discussions had taken place between Nato leaders and foreign ministers from Helsinki and Stockholm.



Before Russia invades Ukraine, Russia demanded that the alliance agree to halt any future enlargement, but the war has led to the deployment of more Nato troops on its eastern flank and a rise in public support for Swedish and Finnish membership.



Finnish lawmakers are expected to receive a security report from intelligence officials this week, and Prime Minister Sanna Marin said she expects her government "will end the discussion before midsummer" on whether to make a membership application.



Finland shares a 1,340km (830 miles) long border with Russia and has been angered by the invasion of Ukraine.



While Sweden's ruling Social Democratic party, which has traditionally opposed Nato membership, said it is rethinking this position in light of Russia's attack on its western neighbour. Party secretary Tobias Baudin told local media that the Nato review should be complete within the next few months.





"When Russia invaded Ukraine, Sweden's security position changed fundamentally," the party said in a statement on Monday.

Also both countries stepped up defence spending since the invasion of Ukraine.



On Monday, army leaders in Helsinki announced a new plan to allocate 14m (10.88m) to purchase drones for Finland's military.

And last month Swedish officials said they would boost defence spending by three billion kronas ($317m; 243m) in 2022.









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The National Democratic Congress (NDC), Member of Parliament (MP) for Banda, Ahmed Ibrahim, sees absolutely nothing wrong with National Security Minister Albert Kan-Dapaahs caution to the judiciary.



He said the minister was brave to have voiced out issues involving the judiciary despite his key involvement in the current Nana Addo-led government.



He [Kan-Dapaah is one person who is always bold to speak the truth, he said.



Adding that, I am happy this issue is not coming from any NDC member but a member from the ruling government.



Background



Kan-Dapaah, during a meeting last week with members of the judiciary, underscored the importance of the third arm of government to peace and national security.



While urging them to ensure the continuous delivery of fair judgments, he pointed out that any perception of bias on the part of the judiciary has dire consequences on the countrys security.



Injustice occasioned as a result of the absence of an effective justice delivery system or delayed justice or biased justice is certainly a threat to national security. Indeed, when injustice abounds, particularly in situations where the bench, which is considered the final arbiter of disputes, is deemed biased, citizens tend to take the law into their own hands most times without recourse to the established systems of justice delivery.



If the interpretation of the law is tilted in our favour all the time, people will start accusing the judiciary and will not have the confidence that they need, he warned.



Backlash



His comments has however, generated controversy with many including members of his own party, attacking the former Member of Parliament for his utterances.



Leading the charge is the New Patriotic Party (NPP)s Legal Committee Chairman, Frank Davies, who described the Ministers comments are misplaced.



 . . saying that one political party is in power [so] the justices should be mindful of how they interpret the law is completely lopsided. National security would be threatened in what way? So, what? The judges are supposed to balance the equation? They give five judgements in favour of the NPP and give another five in favour of the NDC?



Its not a sharing party. I really respect Kan Dapaah a lot but I think maybe he got the context completely wrong, he stated.



Pat On The Back



Ahmed Ibrahim, however, lauded the National Security Minister for addressing the issue of a possible security threat to the nation. To him, Mr Kan-Dapaah might have grounds for passing such comments considering the highly sensitive security position he wields.



He was speaking based on national security perspective, he noted.





Source: King Edward Ambrose Washman Addo/peacefmonline.com/ghana









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Professor at the University of Ghana, Legon Ransford Yaw Gyampo has reacted to some comments made by the National Security Minister Albert Kan Dapaah about his observation of recent rulings of the judiciary.



Mr Kan Dapaah speaking at a sensitization workshop on the national security strategy for judges of the superior courts said: injustice occasioned as a result of the absence of an effective justice delivery system or delayed justice or biased justice is certainly a threat to national security.



Indeed, when injustice abounds, particularly in situations where the bench, which is considered the final arbiter of disputes, is deemed biased, citizens tend to take the law into their own hands most times without recourse to the established systems of justice delivery, he said.



If the interpretation of the law is tilted in our favour all the time, people will start accusing the judiciary and will not have the confidence that they need he added.



This has, however, generated controversy. According to NPPs head of Legal Committee, Frank Davies Justices or judges of our courts do not dispense justice in tandem with whichever political party holds the reins of government. So this business tilting interpretation in favour of uswho determines who has tilted the interpretation of the law?



Wading into the debate, Prof Gyampo in a statement said, "to my mind, anyone who cant understand this, does not only lack analytical astuteness. Such a person is also a political infant, a nation wrecker and a great threat to the quest for strong institutions, national cohesion, consensual politics, peace, and political stability, without which there can be no development.



We cannot offer partisan opposition or defense for everything. There must be an elite consensus on many issues that we must agree never to disagree on, else our drive towards the maturation of our democratization processes would be stampeded at all times".



Below is his full take:



It is either the few very professional (but politically hawkish) people are being too partisan or completely do not know what they are talking about in their critique of Kan Dapaahs candor.



Judicial oaths are not godly orders. They are not Biblical or Koranic injunctions that are even flouted with impunity by religious adherents. They are sworn and can be broken by the very fallible mortals who staff the bar and the bench.



It is a fact that there are some great independent-minded judges in Ghana. But we cannot pretend or suddenly be afraid to point out quite frankly and without mincing words that, some people are also losing confidence in the judiciary and this is a major threat to national security.



To my mind, anyone who cant understand this, does not only lack analytical astuteness. Such a person is also a political infant, a nation wrecker and a great threat to the quest for strong institutions, national cohesion, consensual politics, peace, and political stability, without which there can be no development.



We cannot offer partisan opposition or defense for everything. There must be an elite consensus on many issues that we must agree never to disagree on, else our drive towards the maturation of our democratization processes would be stampeded at all times.



Yaw Gyampo



A31, Prabiw



PAV Ansah Street



Saltpond



&



Suro Nipa House



Kubease



Larteh-Akuapim

Source: Peacefmonline.com









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The typical Easter movie is about the crucifixion, burial, resurrection and sometimes ascension of Jesus Christ. But what if Mary, the mother of Jesus decides to sue God on behalf of her son Jesus Christ - what reason would she have to file such a bizarre lawsuit? The answer lies in the ultimate Easter movie with the most innovative twist - MARY AT THE COURT OF LAW.



The movie, MARY AT THE COURT OF LAW, written and produced by author and playwright, Lady Pastor Nora Osei-Bonsu of the Qodesh Family Church, is an unusual story where a mere mortal like the Virgin Mary, takes God to court accusing the Supreme Being of "hypnotising" her son Jesus to his grave.



Yes, Mary drags God to court to explain the reason for Jesus's untimely death at a very young age of 33, when He (God) had actual told her that her son will live forever.



The twist to the story gets even more interesting as the Almighty God, the creator of the universe and giver of life, actually honoured the invitation to appear before a court where a mere mortal was the judge. But can any human being stand God's presence, much less put Him on trial?



Mary lawsuit against God may be bizarre, but it is also sensational enough to attract massive media coverage, and the news went viral. The result is that the courtroom banter was replicated on the airwaves and on the streets and gave rise to the celebration of the risen Lord everywhere.



This is an Easter titled Movie where the resurrection of Jesus Christ is heightened - the reason for the redemption of the world and the celebration of Easter.



The producer, LP Nora said her personal study of the Biblical character, Mary inspired the story behind the movie.



She noted that Mary was a young woman who had a pleasant encounter with Angel Gabriel, earned an ugly reputation for getting pregnant out of wedlock, almost lost the love of her life and then witnessed the painful death of her son Jesus.



"I thought to myself that as Mary watched her son give up the ghost, she probably might have asked this question - God, what about what Angel Gabriel told me: thou are blessed amongst women - and what about your promise that my son will grow to become a mighty God...is that what I just witnessed? he could not even defend himself."



Set mainly in a courtroom and TV studio, the 100-minute-long movie features a cast made up of some very experienced stage actors drawn from the Qodesh Family Church, Makarios Church, Calvary Baptist Church and International Central Gospel Church.



The maiden Trading Talents Pictures production, directed by Dickson Dzakpasu and Patrick Collins, is slated for premiering on Tuesday, April 19, 2022 at the Jesus Cathedral of the Qodesh Family Church.



Regarding what audience should expect, LP Nora simply said "Well, Hollywood just came to the Qodesh. We are 'putting our swag on - we are dressing up for the Red Carpet - we expect media to be present in their numbers and there will be an after party for the cast and invited guests."



The playwright, poet and serial stage play director said after Mary in the Court of Law, "another unusual story will be released next year."

Source: Peacefmonline.com









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Leading Ghanaian actress, Zynnell Zuh is one of the most sought after brands on the African continent.



The talented filmmaker and scriptwriter is a major force to reckon with in Ghanas movie industry with many Nollywood collaborations and three independent films to her name.



In this interview, she shares her thoughts on the state of the movie industry, Netflix, and opportunities in the movie sector. She has also announced her return to the movie production scene with an upcoming movie.



Que: Tell us about your growing up and educational background?



Ans: I grew up in the Greater Accra Region. I was privileged to attend some of the best schools in Ghana. After Junior high school, I attended Wesley Girls High School in Cape Coast.



After obtaining my first degree at the University of Ghana, Legon, I studied Law at the MountCrest University College



Que: What inspired you to movie production?



Ans: I decided to produce my first movie because it was the only way I could bring the many ideas in my head to life. Besides, I enjoy the whole process of filming, from conceiving the story, scripting, getting the cast and crew together, principal photography, post productions and eventually showing my ideas in pictures to the world. My first attempt at producing wasnt easy. I spent double the amount I initially budgeted for. The moviecame together beautifully and did so well at the cinemas that Netflix contacted me in 2016 to acquire it for two years. So far, I have produced three movies specifically, When Love Comes Around, Love Regardless and Anniversary.



Que: Whats your take on homegrown cinema culture?

Ans: Ghanas movie industry has the talent and appetite for ambitious and original films, but it needs to cultivate a homegrown cinema culture to make this a reality. One of the many ways that we can achieve this, is to get the Ghanaian Government to invest in the film industry by professionally training filmmakers and employing them to produce films for the socio-economic development of the country just as ex-President Kwame Nkrumah did.



Que: What impact has the collaborations between Nollywood and Ghanas movie industry made so far?

Ans: Collaborations between the Nigerian and Ghanaian film industries have been integral to the growth of Ghanas movie sector since 1997. It has not only produced several films, but it has also brought to the limelight some of the Ghanaian top actors and actresses including myself and these collaborations have given us continued access to work in Nigeria (Nollywood).



Que: What was your breakthrough movie in Nollywood?



Ans: My first breakthrough role in Nollywood was in the movie Just Married, and my most memorable has been Hire a Man, I enjoy working with my Nigerian colleagues. I am a firm believer in Nollywood and Ghanas movie industry working together to push the narrative and to continue telling our own authentic stories.



Collaborations between Ghana movies and Nollywood remain one of the most crucial aspects of the growth of the Ghanaian film industry and I look forward to more collaborations.



Que: Are there opportunities in the Ghanaian film industry?



Ans: There are many opportunities out here to encourage the artistic development of our film industry. However, one factor that is perhaps less obvious and less immediate  but no less crucial  is the fact that producing films in Ghana is relatively more cost-effective than in Nigeria. This is one of the structural areas that the Ghanaian film industry can truly invest in, capitalize on and strengthen more collaborations with Nollywood.



Que: What has funding been like with Ghanaian filmmakers?

Ans: To begin with, filmmaking is as much a business as it is about art and the film industry here is severely underfunded.



Que: What do you mean?



Ans: Money is a crucial element in the world of cinema, and more sustainable funding is essential to enabling Ghanaian filmmakers like me to take risks rather than just repeat tied and tested formulae in a bid to secure a return on our investments. It would give us the freedom to put in the time and training to develop our craft and produce more original and ambitious works. We need production value in our projects and that can only be achieved by having the budget for it. A lot of producers are afraid to go the whole nine yards when producing because they are afraid they may not recoup their monies and that limits creativity which can stifle the growth of our industry.





Que: How about the Ghanaian movie industrys relationship with Netflix?



Ans: Rather than exclusively producing and financing movies in Ghana, Netflix opted for the licensing of Ghanaian movies to stream on its platform, In 2016, my movie When Love Comes Around was one of the first two Ghanaian films to be licensed by Netflix. This was all before Netflixs giant road into the Nigerian market. The implication of this is that Ghanaian producers, directors, and writers would need to take more daring choices in their approaches to filmmaking, not only for global recognition but for a better return on investment that will result in Netflix vying for Ghanas attention.



Que: Is any new project in the works?

Ans: Currently at the pre-production stage of my next project.

Source: Daily Guide









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Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

Generating power while purifying the environment of greenhouse gases should be achievable using bacteria. In a new publication, microbiologists from Radboud University have demonstrated that it is possible to make methane-consuming bacteria generate power in the lab. The study will be published in Frontiers in Microbiology on April 12.

The bacteria, Candidatus methanoperedens, use methane to grow and naturally occur in fresh water such as ditches and lakes. In the Netherlands, the bacteria mostly thrive in locations where the surface and groundwater are contaminated with nitrogen, as they require nitrate to break down methane.

The researchers initially wanted to know more about the conversion processes occurring in the microorganism. In addition, they were also curious whether it would be possible to use it to generate power. "This could be very useful for the energy sector," says microbiologist and author Cornelia Welte. "In the current biogas installations, methane is produced by microorganisms and subsequently burnt, which drives a turbine, thus generating power. Less than half of the biogas is converted into power, and this is the maximum achievable capacity. We want to evaluate whether we can do better using microorganisms."

A kind of battery

Fellow microbiologists from Nijmegen have previously shown that it is possible to generate power using anammox bacteria that use ammonium during the process instead of methane. "The process in these bacteria is basically the same," says microbiologist Heleen Ouboter. "We create a kind of battery with two terminals, where one of these is a biological terminal and the other one is a chemical terminal. We grow the bacteria on one of the electrodes, to which the bacteria donate electrons resulting from the conversion of methane."

Through this approach, the researchers managed to convert 31 percent of the methane into electricity, but they aim at higher efficiencies. "We will continue focusing on improving the system," Welte says.

Explore further Microbes reduce methane coming from Amsterdam's canals

More information: Heleen T. Ouboter et al, Methane-Dependent Extracellular Electron Transfer at the Bioanode by the Anaerobic Archaeal Methanotroph "Candidatus Methanoperedens", Frontiers in Microbiology (2022). Journal information: Frontiers in Microbiology Heleen T. Ouboter et al, Methane-Dependent Extracellular Electron Transfer at the Bioanode by the Anaerobic Archaeal Methanotroph "Candidatus Methanoperedens",(2022). DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.820989
Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

In the mosquito breeding rooms of British biotech company Oxitec, scientists line up fresh eggs, each the size of a grain of salt. Using microscopic needles, the white-coated researchers inject each egg with a dab of a proprietary synthetic DNA.

For four days, Oxitec technicians care for the eggs, watching for those that hatch into wriggling brown larvae. Those "injection survivors," as the company calls them, face a battery of tests to ensure their genetic modification is successful.

Soon, millions of these engineered mosquitoes could be set loose in California in an experiment recently approved by the federal government.

Oxitec, a private company, says its genetically modified bugs could help save half the world's population from the invasive Aedes aegypti mosquito, which can spread diseases such as yellow fever, chikungunya and dengue to humans. Female offspring produced by these modified insects will die, according to Oxitec's plan, causing the population to collapse.

"Precise. Environmentally sustainable. Non-toxic," the company says on its website of its product trademarked as the "Friendly" mosquito.

Scientists independent from the company and critical of the proposal say not so fast. They say unleashing the experimental creatures into nature has risks that haven't yet been fully studied, including possible harm to other species or unexpectedly making the local mosquito population harder to control.

Even scientists who see the potential of genetic engineering are uneasy about releasing the transgenic insects into neighborhoods because of how hard such trials are to control.

"There needs to be more transparency about why these experiments are being done," said Natalie Kofler, a bioethicist at Harvard Medical School who has followed the company's work. "How are we weighing the risks and benefits?"

She pointed out that the possible benefits of the technology in California are lower than they would be in more tropical regions of the world where mosquito-borne disease outbreaks often threaten humans. California has never had a casein which an Aedes aegypti was found to transmit disease.

Nathan Rose, Oxitec's head of regulatory affairs, said the company chose California because the Aedes aegypti mosquitoes have spread rapidly after being discovered in the state about a decade ago. The tiny, aggressive day-biters can lay eggs in a space as small as a water-filled bottle cap left in the backyard.

Rose noted that the company found its mosquito reduced the population in a Brazilian neighborhood by 95% in just 13 weeks.

So far, Oxitec has released little of its data from that experiment or from a more recent release in the Florida Keys. It hasn't yet published any of those results in a peer-reviewed scientific journalpublications that scientists expect when evaluating a new drug or technology.

On March 7, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced that it had granted Oxitec a permit to release its transgenic insects on 29,400 acres in the counties of San Bernardino, Fresno, Stanislaus and Tulare.

The company plans to start the release in northern Tulare County in the Central Valley, where it has partnered with the local mosquito control district based in the city of Visalia.

The experiment must still be approved by the state Department of Pesticide Regulation.

Inserting synthetic DNA

To create its mosquito, known as the OX5034, Oxitec started with Aedes aegypti captured in Mexico's Chiapas state. Its scientists then inserted into the insects asynthetic DNA sequence they call the "self-limiting" gene.

When the engineered male mosquitoes are released into neighborhoods and mate with the wild bugs, the gene works to kill the female offspring, Oxitec said. The male progeny fly away to mate with more of the local mosquito population, further spreading the company's gene, which it says is lethal only to the Aedes aegypti and not other species.

The company said that because it is releasing only males there is no danger of the public being bitten by an engineered insect. Only female mosquitoes bite and carry disease.

Oxitec scientists also inserted a fluorescent marker gene into the modified bugs. That gene produces a protein to make its mosquitoes glow when exposed to a specific color of light so that the company can track them.

The company plans to use the data from the California experiment to try to gain full commercial approval of its engineered mosquitoes from the EPAa goal that would substantially increase the private company's value. It uses the same technology in myriad other invasive pests, including the fall army worm and the soybean looper, which it hopes to sell in the U.S. and around the world.

Oxitech is owned by Third Security, a private company in Virginia founded by billionaire Randal J. Kirk. The former lawyer became wealthy through founding and investing in pharmaceutical companies. He received more than $1 billion in 2007 when his company New River Pharmaceuticals and its attention deficit disorder drug called Vyvanse were purchased by Shire.

More recently, Kirk has focused on experimental products created through genetic engineering. Another of his investments is the genetically modified salmon created by the company AquaBounty to grow faster with less food. AquaBounty is now farm-raising the modified fish for commercial sale at facilities in Indiana and on Prince Edward Island.

Experiment in the Central Valley

When it comes to the environment, growing modified fish inside a factory raises different issues than releasing winged experimental creatures into the wild, which the company hopes to do soon in Tulare County if state regulators agree.

Oxitec has proposed releasing its mosquitoes at 48 different locations in the county. Under the plan, the company said it would release a maximum of 3.5 million mosquitoes a week.

"This is alarming," said Angel Garcia, who lives in near Visalia, where the first engineered bugs may be released. "Residents have not been consulted and they have not consented to being part of this."

Garcia, who does outreach to local residents as part of his job for the nonprofit group Californians for Pesticide Reform, pointed to a hiring event that Oxitec hosted in Visalia on March 17. A company flyer said it was hiring field and lab technicians.

"It's as if this is already a done deal," he said.

Rose told The Times that the company was still waiting for state approval while also continuing with plans to build a research facility in Visalia to aid in the work.

State officials said they plan "a rigorous scientific evaluation" of the company's proposal that will take at least several months to complete. They said public comments can be emailed to mosquito.ra@cdpr.ca.gov until April 19.

Among scientists' concerns is that releasing the genetically modified mosquitoes into neighborhoods could create hybrids that are hardier and more dangerous to humans than the state's current population.

The EPA said it had reviewed a 2019 study led by researchers at Yale who found that DNA from the Oxitec bugs had been transferred to the local mosquito population in an area of Brazilraising questions of whether the experiment had unintentionally created hybrids that were more robust. When that study was published, Oxitec complained that the researchers had exaggerated their findings and the journal's editors later added a note to the article that some of the language may have been misleading.

EPA regulators agreed that what the Yale scientists had foundthe transfer of DNA from the corporate-created mosquitoes to the wild population, which is called introgressionwas a concern. They said the probability of this happening with the OX5034, the strain of bugs the company wants to release in California, was "likely to be significantly higher" than what the Yale study had found with an earlier generation, according to a memo written by EPA scientists.

Rose said Oxitec expected the introgression. He said the company had designed its mosquitoes so that their DNA soon disappeared from the wild population. That happens, he said, because not only do the mosquitoes with the company's genes have female offspring that die, but they are also more vulnerable to chemical insecticides than the Aedes aegypti now in California.

An EPA spokesperson said regulators expected that mosquitoes with the corporate genes "would disappear from the environment within 10 generations of mosquitoes because they are not able to reproduce as successfully as local populations."

To prove this, the agency has required Oxitec to monitor neighborhoods for mosquitoes that have DNA from its engineered insects until none have been found for at least 10 consecutive weeks.

The Central Valley's large agriculture industry poses another risk for the experiment because of farmers' use of antibiotics on citrus groves and in livestock.

Oxitec uses the antibiotic tetracycline to raise its bugs and mass produce them. When larvae of its modified mosquitoes are exposed to tetracycline, the femaleswhich bite humanscan survive.

Because of the risk posed by the antibiotic, the EPA required Oxitec not to release its mosquitoes within 500 meters of any commercial citrus grove, livestock facility or human waste treatment plant.

The agency also required Oxitec to search for any female mosquitos that survive and alert regulators if any are found. The EPA said it could shut down the experiment if problems are found.

The EPA added that it believed the release would have "no discernible effects" on endangered species or other wildlife including birds, bats or fish.

Technology and regulation

Through genetic engineering, scientists have gained increasing powers to reshape nature. Already, modified crops such as glyphosate-resistant corn are common in American fields, making farming easier and earning huge profits for their corporate developers.

But as the science grows more complex and moves from plants to animals, some scientists worry that regulators are overmatched. They fear the EPA's regulations are not strong enough to protect the public and the environment.

"We are concerned that current government oversight and scientific evaluation of GM mosquitoes do not ensure their responsible deployment," Kofler and four other academic scientists wrote in 2020 soon after Oxitec proposed its first release in Florida.

The group detailed how the EPA was reliant on internal data from the biotech companies in making its decisions. That data could be biased, they said, because the companies have a conflict of interest since they could profit if the technology is approved.

Instead, EPA scientists should seek the opinion of independent experts to help decide whether to approve the products, they wrote.

The EPA spokesperson said that the agency had policies to ensure the corporate data "represent sound science" and that it had sought advice from other sources before approving Oxitec's California trial.

Kofler said the group worried that the EPA was "getting caught a little flat-footed."

"It's not a modern enough regulatory structure," she said, "for a very modern and complicated technology."

2022 Los Angeles Times.

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
One of the pools at Dewar Creek hot springs in British Columbia, Canada. Credit: Allyson Brady

Researchers demonstrated the value of conducting large-scale single cell genomics by collecting nearly 500 single cells from a single low diversity hot spring sediment sample. Their work showed that single cell genomics can add significant value to the other commonly used culture-independent sequencing approaches including amplicon and metagenomic sequencing. For example, they showed that the composition of the community was similar across sequencing approaches, that species specific sets of single cells harbored mobile genetic elements that were missed within paired metagenome assembled genomes (MAGs), and that dominant populations varied with respect to the amount of within species recombination, indicating variation in gene flow between the analyzed community members.

Though microbes help regulate the planet's nutrient cycles and are potentially of use in fields ranging from agriculture to biotechnology and medicine, the vast majority in, on, and around the planet remain unknown. In recent years, advances in sequencing technologies and bioinformatic tools have helped decode the genomes of tens of thousands of previously unknown and uncultivated microbes through metagenomics. Such techniques take advantage of bioinformatics tools for extracting snippets of microbial genomes directly from environmental sequence data, by piecing each genome together from large mixtures of genomic sequences. A complementary approach to this is single cell genomics, where cells from environmental samples are first separated, and their genomes then amplified and sequenced individually, offering scientists the opportunity to apply population genomics approaches to closely related cells plucked directly from the environment.

Dewar Creek is a remote hot spring, deep within the British Columbia backcountry (Purcell Wilderness Conservancy Provincial Park of British Columbia, BC Parks). In these springs, temperatures can reach as high as 80C (~ 190F), yet microbes thrive here. The communities in this extreme environment are often less diverse than those within more moderate ecosystems. A few years ago, a candidate bacterial lineage was identified from microbial and metagenome sequence data sets generated from a handful of hot springs, including Dewar Creek.

Continuing explorations into this unique environment, researchers from the University of Calgary and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Joint Genome Institute (JGI), a DOE Office of Science User Facility located at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab), employed single-cell sequencing to assess the diversity within and between microbial populations. The work appeared in The ISME Journal.

Members of the Dunfield lab collected samples from this hot spring. A single sample was then used to produce a paired amplicon dataset (a.k.a. 16S rRNA gene sequencing), a shotgun metagenome, and a single cell dataset of nearly 500 single cell genomes. The single cell portion of this work was performed by Danielle Goudeau and Rex Malmstrom of the JGI's Microscale Applications group. Cells were randomly sorted, whole genome amplified, then sequenced and assembled. Robert Bowers, a JGI scientist within the Microbial Program, led the genomic analyses to compare the resulting datasets, emphasizing the utility of single cell sequencing to assess the variation within natural microbial populations.

Each of the three sequencing approaches produced a generally similar community profile. But each approach demonstrates its full value at different scales. Amplicon sequencing is commonly used to assess fluctuations in microbial diversity across thousands of samples. Metagenomics is currently being applied across tens to hundreds of samples, while single cell approaches have been typically used as a complement to isolate sequencing, i.e., when the targeted cells cannot be cultivated in the lab.

What makes this particular study unique is the application of single cell genomics to a whole community. Given the low microbial diversity of the sampled hot spring, a dataset of nearly 500 single cells covered the diversity of most taxa within the sample. Furthermore, the three most abundant lineages were represented by enough single cell genomes to facilitate an analysis of within and between population heterogeneity by comparing the ATGCs of the genomes from each single cell. The team showed that while the broad nucleotide-level diversity was similar across the dominant lineages, each microbial group displayed vastly different recombination profiles. This is akin to the structure of social media networks where one social media group may have a relatively constrained set of friends, while another might exhibit few limitations to interactions and new connections, thus sharing more ideas, similar to the sharing of genes within a highly recombining microbial population. This work showcases the utility of single cell sequencing, as monitoring population-level heterogeneity of uncultivated microbes will provide researchers the ability to capture the fine-scale variation within populations that is a precursor to strain-level diversification and microbial speciation.

Explore further New technology illuminates microbes that can't be cultivated in a laboratory

More information: Robert M. Bowers et al, Dissecting the dominant hot spring microbial populations based on community-wide sampling at single-cell genomic resolution, The ISME Journal (2021). Journal information: ISME Journal Robert M. Bowers et al, Dissecting the dominant hot spring microbial populations based on community-wide sampling at single-cell genomic resolution,(2021). DOI: 10.1038/s41396-021-01178-4
Method presented by the researchers. As a case study they generated over six million alternatives to a popular flame retardant and evaluated their properties. Credit: UvA/HIMS

With many human-made chemicals, problems regarding public health and the environment become apparent only years after their widespread use. A team of researchers from the University of Amsterdam and Utrecht University now propose a way to change that. In an article in the journal Chemosphere they present a method for (re)designing safe and sustainable chemicals. Their paper is part of a special issue on hazardous substances in the circular economy, to be published in June.

In modern society, human-made chemicals are almost everywhere. You find them in food, clothes, toys, cosmetics, medicines and many more aspects of everyday life. Although developed for all kind of useful functions, these chemicals can at the same time possess hazardous properties that pose risks to public health and the environment. In many cases, these become only apparent a long time after their widespread use. The resulting environmental pollution is seen as a global threat and listed as one of the main drivers of biodiversity loss.

"The problem with new chemicals is that their influx into the market far outpaces the speed with which hazard assessments can be performed," says Joanke van Dijk, a Ph.D. candidate at the Copernicus Institute for Sustainable Development at Utrecht University. In her research she aims to obtain insight into the future risks of chemicals, for which she cooperates with Ph.D. candidates Hannah Flerlage and Steven Beijer and Dr. Chris Slootweg at the Van 't Hoff Institute for Molecular Sciences at the University of Amsterdam (UvA). Van Dijk also investigates possible mitigation options in order to prevent chemical pollution of surface water, under the supervision of Prof. Annemarie van Wezel from the UvA Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics.

Looking beyond a chemical's function

According to Van Dijk, for many chemicals there is no adequate information on environmental hazards such as persistency and long-term effects. As a result, problems are often identified long after a chemical has been approved on the market. "To tackle this, the European Commission promotes the development of safe and sustainable chemicals as part of the European Green Deal," Van Dijk says. "In our study, we have put these objectives into practice and developed a framework to design safe and sustainable chemicals. We assess whether a chemical can provide a certain function, but we look beyond that and provide an outlook on sustainability and hazards."

In a case study, Van Dijk and co-workers focused on the organophosphate compound triisobutylphosphate (TiBP). As a flame-retardant this chemical contributes to protection against fire, but as a consequence of its widespread use it has been detected in many European waterbodies. "It leaches out of textiles during washing," Flerlage explains, "so that it is released into the environment. As this release is inevitable, we chose to redesign TiBP in order to reduce its environmental persistence and improve its biodegradation."

"Persistent chemicals can be an asset in a well-functioning circular economy," Flerlage adds. "But once released into the environment they are of major concern as they have the potential to affect organisms for a very long period of time. In order to prevent that, we have to redesign such essential chemicals to be biodegradable."

Systematic redesign for safe chemicals

Van Dijk and Flerlage adapted a computer program to systematically generate over 6.3 million chemical structures similar to the original TiBP compound. Subsequently, they employed Quantitative Structure Activity Relationship (QSAR) modeling to predict the chemical properties relevant to the environmental fate and toxicity. All possible structures where then ranked, not only based on the environmental hazard properties but also on their ease of synthesis. This led to a "top 500" of most benign structures that the researchers evaluated manually. They ultimately selected di-n-butyl (2-hydroxyethyl) phosphate as a target molecule, and synthesized this in the lab to confirm and complement the model predicted properties by experimental testing.

"The first results indicate the flame-retardant function is preserved and possibly even enhanced," Flerlage says. Although further testing is required to elucidate biodegradation mechanisms, the researchers are confident about their approach. "Experimental results such as this will help to expand and further verify our method, so that it can reach its full potential in the mitigation of chemical pollution and help enable a safe circular economy," Van Dijk concludes.

Explore further Researchers' novel tool to help develop safer pesticides

More information: Joanke van Dijk et al, Safe and sustainable by design: A computer-based approach to redesign chemicals for reduced environmental hazards, Chemosphere (2022). Journal information: Chemosphere Joanke van Dijk et al, Safe and sustainable by design: A computer-based approach to redesign chemicals for reduced environmental hazards,(2022). DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.134050
Graphical abstract. Credit: Forest Ecology and Management (2021). DOI: 10.1016/j.foreco.2021.119377

Over the last century, emerging diseases have progressively been recognized by the scientific community as the main threat to forest ecosystems. With increasing international trade and globalization, the introduction of non-native species into new environments has exacerbated the problems of emerging pests and diseases worldwide. Additionally, other factors, such as climate change, further complicate matters by altering host-pathogen interactions, thus promoting the spread of diseases caused by native or non-native pathogens.

In this complex context, the EU-funded research project HOMED (HOlistic Management of Emerging forest pests and Diseases, grant agreement No. 771271) is dedicated to developing evidence-based policy recommendations that ensure the effective prevention, detection, identification, eradication, containment or control of emerging pests and diseases. As part of this effort, the project has a collection of policy briefs, specifically addressing policy-makers, and presenting them with well-defined insights, guidelines and possible solutions for different risks related to invasive forest pests and pathogens in Europe. HOMED's collection of policy briefs has recently doubled in size, thanks to the publication of briefs number four, five and six.

The fourth policy brief, titled "Biological control: a novel approach to managing emerging forest diseases" is based on the article "Biological control of emerging forest diseases: How can we move from dreams to reality?" which was prepared in the framework of the project by Simone Prospero, Leticia Botella, Alberto Santini and Cecile Robin and was published in the scholarly journal Forest Ecology and Management. It provides suggestions on how to improve protocols and strategies related to the use of biological control in order to achieve an effective control of a pest.

The fifth brief, called "Classical biological control against insect pests: What influences its success?" provides recommendations aiming to increase the success of future classical biological control programs against insect pests. It was developed on the basis of a scientific article ("Classical biological control against insect pests in Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East: What influences its success?") by HOMED project partners Lukas Seehausen, Catarina Afonso, Herve Jactel, and Marc Kenis that was published in the open access scholarly journal Neobiota.

The sixth policy brief is titled "Preventing invasions of Asian longhorn beetle and citrus longhorn beetle in Europe." It is based on a research article, published in the Journal of Pest Science, titled "Preventing invasions of Asian longhorn beetle and citrus longhorn beetle: are we on the right track?" which was prepared in the framework of the HOMED project by Sofia Branco, Massimo Faccoli, Eckehard G. Brockerhoff, Geraldine Roux, Herve Jactel, Nicolas Desneux, Emmanuel Gachet, Raphaelle Mouttet, Jean-Claude Streito, and Manuela Branco. This brief focuses on the prevention of invasions of Asian longhorn beetle and citrus longhorn beetle, both of which have unintentionally arrived in North America and Europe.

With these three new policy briefs, HOMED now has six briefs available on its website, providing policy- and decision-makers with practical and comprehensive insights on how to employ innovative solutions in order to manage potential risks of emerging or invasive forest pests and pathogens in Europe.

Explore further Advanced detection tool to limit the spread of devastating tree pathogens

More information: Simone Prospero et al, Biological control of emerging forest diseases: How can we move from dreams to reality?, Forest Ecology and Management (2021). Simone Prospero et al, Biological control of emerging forest diseases: How can we move from dreams to reality?,(2021). DOI: 10.1016/j.foreco.2021.119377 Sofia Branco et al, Preventing invasions of Asian longhorn beetle and citrus longhorn beetle: are we on the right track?, Journal of Pest Science (2021). DOI: 10.1007/s10340-021-01431-x M. Lukas Seehausen et al, Classical biological control against insect pests in Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East: What influences its success?, NeoBiota (2021). DOI: 10.3897/neobiota.65.66276 Journal information: NeoBiota , Forest Ecology and Management
Over the past two decades demand has tripled primarily due to urbanisation and population growth, a trend which is expected to continue with aggregates use reaching beyond 50 Bt per year by 2030. Credit: UNIGE / UQ

After water, sand is the most exploited natural resource on the planet. However, its extraction from seas, rivers, beaches and quarries has an impact on the environment and surrounding communities. A new study by researchers from the University of Geneva (UNIGE) and the University of Queensland's Sustainable Minerals Institute (SMI) has found that a step-change in mineral processing could drastically reduce mineral wastethe world's largest waste streamwhile creating a sustainable source of sand. Coined "ore-sand," this material has the potential to address two global sustainability challenges simultaneously, according to the report "Ore-sand: A potential new solution to the mine tailings and global sand sustainability crises."

Concrete, asphalt, glass, electronic chipssand has many applications. Composed of small mineral particles, this granular material comes from sensitive dynamic environments such as seas, beaches, lakes and rivers or, from static land-based environments such as ancient river deposits and rock quarries. It is estimated that 50 billion tons of sand are used each year. Over the past two decades demand has tripled primarily due to urbanization and population growth, a trend which is expected to continue with aggregates use reaching beyond 50 Bt per year by 2030.

In addition to the risks of local shortages, the extraction of such a volume of sand has environmental and societal consequences. For example, it is leading to erosion in river banks, which significantly increases the risk of flooding. In some countries, sand mining has caused loss of livelihoods in communities.

Two sustainability challenges with one solution

Researchers from the University of Geneva (UNIGE) and from the Sustainable Minerals Institute at the University of Queensland (UQ), Australia, have researched the potential of a viable alternative to naturally occurring sand. This material, presented in a recent report published by the two universities, has been coined ''ore-sand."

UNIGE's Adjunct Professor at Department F.-A. Forel for environmental and aquatic sciences of the Faculty of Science, Pascal Peduzzi said that "ore-sand has the largest potential in volume for reducing the amount of sand taken in the natural environment. By using what has been so far considered as ''left over'' material, the project gives an important impetus towards a more circular economy."

The production of ore-sand can help reduce the production of mineral mining waste and thus the further build-up of mine tailings. Mineral wastes from the mining of ores currently represents the largest waste stream on the planet, estimated between 3060 billion tons per year. These residues come from crushing operations to extract certain metals from the rock.

SMI's Development Minerals Program Leader Professor Daniel Franks said ore-sand has the potential to address two global sustainability challenges simultaneously. "Separating and repurposing these sand-like materials before they are added to the waste stream would not only significantly reduce the volume of waste being generated but could also create a responsible source of sand."

A map showing mining sites (in red) and areas of high aggregate demand (in blue). Credit: UNIGE / UQ

Reduction of carbon emissions

The 12-month study independently sampled and investigated sand produced from iron ore mining, pioneered by Vale S.A in Brazil, which has previously experienced tailings dam failures. After an analysis of the chemical properties and some refining operations, the researchers were able to demonstrate that part of the material stream which would otherwise end up as mining residues could be used as a substitute for construction and industrial sand, in the same way as recycled concrete and steel slag. "If these results can be replicated with other types of mineral ores there is potential for major reductions in global mine tailings."

"By mapping mining locations worldwide and modeling global sand consumption, we discovered that almost a third of mine sites can find at least some demand for ore-sand within a 50 km range. This could contribute to at least 10% reduction in the volume of tailings generation at each site. Simultaneously, almost half of the global sand market (by volume) could find a local source of ore-sand. For example, ore-sand could potentially substitute 1 billion metric tons of sand demand in China," explains Daniel Franks.

In addition, the life cycle assessment of ore-sand, based on the Vale case, shows that substituting naturally sourced sand with ore-sand could potentially lead to net reductions in carbon emissions during sand production. The carbon emissions by transport is however a key consideration.

A benefit for mining companies

"Considering the co-production of ore-sand is a significant advantage for mining companies: it reduces the large tailings which hinder operational mining activities, while at the same time can generate additional revenues. Ore-sand is a step towards a 'no tailings mine,'" explains Pascal Peduzzi. Developing countries have fewer options for using recycled aggregate materials, given their more recent infrastructure. However, many have mining operations that can generate ore-sand as a by-product."

Some of the next steps are to collaborate with aggregate market players to demonstrate this substitute material's ease-of-use, performance and sourcing process. Findings from the study were presented at the 5th United Nations Environment Assembly. A new UNEA resolution (UNEP/EA5/L18/REV.1) on "Environmental aspects of minerals and metals management'' calls for strengthened scientific, technical and policy knowledge with regard to sand to support global policies and action regarding its environmentally sound extraction and use.

Explore further Calculating global sand demand for the coming years and ways to avoid a demand crisis

More information: Artem Golev et al, Ore-sand: A potential new solution to the mine tailings and global sand sustainability crises: Final report, (2022). smi.uq.edu.au/files/83107/Fina  eport_OreSand_v1.pdf Artem Golev et al, Ore-sand: A potential new solution to the mine tailings and global sand sustainability crises: Final report, (2022). DOI: 10.14264/503a3fd
SARATOGA SPRINGS  Noah Howarth sat on a couch with his peers to escape the excitement and noise of the vendors in the auditorium.

His mother, Kristin Howarth of Queensbury, approached him with a framed single-page poem. Howarth said her 18-year-old non-verbal, or unreliably verbal, son wrote a poem with the program the family attends weekly in Westchester County.

What they do is called spelling to communicate. It takes the fine motor aspect of speaking and turns it into gross motor skills, which is easier, using a letter board. He wrote this poem with Judys (the instructor) help just on Wednesday and Im so proud I just have to show it off, Howarth said.

Howarth said Noah and his twin brother were both diagnosed with autism at 2 years old and have remained in special education courses with infantile curriculum.

My boys are really actually pretty smart, they just need a vehicle to get there, she said.

Howarth and her husband are the founders of the Upstate NY Autism Alliance, which focuses on creating social and physical activities for children and teens diagnosed with autism.

We were meeting families after our boys were diagnosed who were in the same situation looking for services and we couldnt find many, so we said why dont we just create some? Howarth explained.

She said they focus mainly on events outside of school and more recently on the physical programs offered after finding the kids tended to become more sedentary and isolated with little physical activity.

Andrew Paolano of Glens Falls recognized a similar problem when he graduated from high school.

Paolano said he founded the Young Adult Social Group four years ago, after finding himself in search of friends to combat the loneliness he experienced after school.

I wanted to make more friends while giving back to the community as well and help others, he said.

The group is always open to new members over 18 and has grown from five people at its inception to now 25 to 30 regular, returning members.

Paolano said anyone with a disability can join and attend group outings such as trips to Sky Zone, snow tubing, bowling, picnics at parks and holiday parties.

I just love seeing everyone making friends in a happy, fun and safe environment. I feel like we dont have stuff like this available, he said.

Julie Marks, the lead organizer of Saratoga Springs Autism Expo, recognized this need when she began the event 10 years ago.

In my professional life, I was continuously contacted by families looking for services and service providers, and another colleague of mine at the Parent Network was seeing the same thing. So we put our heads together and realized it would be great to have a one-stop shop for available services, Marks said of the expos beginnings.

When it began, the event was held at the Skidmore College intermural gym, however she said they quickly outgrew that space within two years.

The expo was put on hold due to COVID, but returned with a smaller number of vendors allowed to participate this year.

We capped it at 50 exhibitors this year, but our last event before COVID, in 2019, we had over 90 tables, Marks said.

She spoke highly of the artwork set up in a gallery before entering the main auditorium.

All these pieces were done by individuals with autism. Living Resources runs a program called the Carriage House Arts Program and they just do a phenomenal job, she said pointing out an acrylic painting of a seated ballerina.

Marks and Howarth were also both excited about the sensory room that was available to attendees this year.

Amy Catalfamo, owner of Sensory tOT Spot in Malta, designed the room for the first time this year.

We designed our sensory room today to be calming and really stimulate all the senses for our kiddos. We added sensory lights and some beanbag chairs for soft seating. We also have a sensory sequin board as well, so hopefully there is something in there for all the kiddos that need it, Catalfamo said.

Catalfamo is an occupational therapist who began her own business in March 2021 after gaining experience working in the community traveling to family homes and day care centers.

State Sen. Jim Tedisco, R-Glenville, also stopped by the expo to show his appreciation for some of the local standout organizations by handing out certificates of merit.

Among the recipients of the senators certificates were a group of Skidmore College psychology students who staffed the large arts and crafts tables set up to engage guests with some fun activities while they explored the vendor tables.

There is actually a professor there that runs a whole course centered around the expo, with events that run during the two weeks surrounding the expo, Marks told the senator.

Tedisco said he believes programs like this open so many doors.

More and more doors are opening up because of programs like this and the new concepts being introduced, he said.

Jana DeCamilla is a staff writer who covers Moreau, Queensbury, and Lake George. She can be reached at 518-742-3272 or jdecamilla@poststar.com.

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China and New Zealand recently ratified and implemented the upgrading of their bilateral free trade agreement, which has now come into force, eradicating most tariffs on imports and exports between the two countries.



China is New Zealand's largest export market, accounting for nearly 30% of its exported goods. These are largely in the field of agricultural products, with China's 1.4 billion people and burgeoning food demands providing ample opportunity for New Zealand's sparsely populated country of 5 million and rich farmland. The total value of all the exports amounted to $20 billion in 2019.

It is no surprise on this note that the countries have sought to double down on free trade agreements and more deeply integrate their economies. The new commitment to an extended FTA demonstrates New Zealand's moderate and cautious example, recognizing that there is only one path to regional prosperity: that of pursuing a pragmatic foreign policy.

China is the largest and geographically closest export market to New Zealand, and there is no other country in the world capable of matching it. As a result, it is in New Zealand's economic interests to pursue a degree of regional integration with China as a Pacific Ocean country, signing up to a number of free trade deals and provisions. This path is beneficial not just for their export numbers but also by positively engaging China and ensuring that Beijing complies with certain standards and regulations on its inbound trade that meet the interests of New Zealand. As such, the positive results can be described as a "win-win." Moreover, such win-win FTA upgrades also show the importance of China to continued economic development and prosperity in the region.

Given the global circumstances of uncertainties that are interrupting trade and business, the implementation of the upgraded protocol reflects the determination of China and New Zealand to support multilateralism and free trade through practical actions. This is conducive to safeguarding the stability of global industrial and supply chains.

Certain regional and global powers, particularly the U.S. and Australia, are pursuing Cold War-style antagonism against China, deliberately formulating political distrust, tensions, and uncertainty in relations. This is ultimately detrimental to the wider interests of countries involved as it is a foreign policy without balance or reason.

New Zealand otherwise exhibits greater maturity, sensibility, and prudence in how it handles its own respective national interests and differences with other countries, which is expected to boost bilateral economic and trade activities and provide a solid deterrent to decoupling.

All countries can be better off following the practice of seeking common sense instead of alignment or opposition.

Tom Fowdy is a British political and international relations analyst and a graduate of Durham and Oxford universities. For more information please visit:

http://www.china.org.cn/opinion/TomFowdy.htm

Opinion articles reflect the views of their authors, not necessarily those of China.org.cn.

If you would like to contribute, please contact us at opinion@china.org.cn.
GREENFIELD  Police arrested a Greenfield woman on Monday on multiple charges following a fatal accident where she had been driving 91 mph just before the crash on Oct. 9.

Ashley R. Donovan, 26, was arrested on a felony charge of criminally negligent homicide and a misdemeanor charge of endangering the welfare of a child. She was also issued a speeding ticket.

On Oct. 9, the Saratoga County Sheriffs Office responded to an accident involving two vehicles at the intersection of Route 9N and Lanie Drive.

Police said there were several reported injuries, including to three children. A female was trapped in one of the vehicles as well.

Police found a total of six individuals with various injuries. They were all transported to the hospital.

Diane Welch, 62, succumbed to the injuries she suffered as a result of the crash after she arrived at Albany Medical Center, according to police.

The other patients were treated and released from the hospital.

After an investigation by the Saratoga County Sheriffs Office Collision Reconstruction and Criminal Investigations units, it was determined that Donovan had four passengers in her 2015 Nissan Rogue as she drove northbound on Route 9N. Welch was operating her 2009 Jeep Grand Cherokee on Lanie Drive when she entered the intersection, intending to travel southbound on Route 9N, police said.

Donovan was operating her Nissan at a speed of 91 mph, seconds before the crash, which was recorded by the Event Data Recorder from the vehicle, according to police.

As a result of the crash, Donovan was charged with exceeding the area speed limit of 55 mph and driving at excessive speeds with three children under the age of 16 in her car.

She was brought to Greenfield Town Court and was released on her own recognizance. She is scheduled to return to court at a later date.

The Sheriffs Office was assisted on scene by State Police, New York State Park Police, the Greenfield fire companies, the Saratoga Springs fire companies and EMS companies from the community, Wilton, Malta-Stillwater, Moreau, Clifton Park and LifeNet.

The Sheriffs Office was also assisted by the State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit.
MOREAU  A 25-year-old Fort Edward man was arrested on a charge of aggravated DWI after police said they caught him driving the wrong way on the Northway.

Dylan J. Lyon was pulled over by State Police in Moreau for traveling south in the northbound lane just before 6 a.m. Saturday, police said.

Police said they could smell alcohol while talking to Lyon, and they conducted a roadside sobriety test, which he refused to complete.

Lyon was subsequently arrested and transported to the state police station in Wilton, where police said his blood alcohol level measured 0.24%, three times over the 0.08% threshold for DWI, police said.

Lyon is scheduled to return to Moreau Town Court on April 20.
GLENS FALLS  On Monday, Glens Falls Hospital and Albany Medical Center Hospital were each awarded $2.35 million in state funding from the Department of Health.

The money, to be distributed over a five-year period, is a direct result of the hospitals again being named as Centers of Excellence in Alzheimers Disease care.

The hospitals serve as comprehensive resources to the health care community, providing diagnostic and consultative services to primary care providers in diagnosing patients, development of comprehensive care plans, assistance with the management of complex patient situations, and referrals of patients to specialty care, a news release stated.

Heather Hogan OConnor, Center of Excellence for Alzheimers Disease program director, said this is the second time the hospital has been recognized and received state funding.

Hogan OConnor said the funds help to underwrite initiatives for both Alzheimers and other dementias, or related conditions that affect the brain.

In addition to the diagnostic expertise the program supports, education is central for the communitys understanding of brain function, how to ameliorate symptoms of disease, and how to embrace life with a chronic cognitive condition. The funding also helps to support education for health professionals, patients and their families, she said of the hospitals program.

She said the staff is grateful the Department of Health has recognized their efforts again.

We are in a pivotal period in neuroscience where more is understood about how the brain operates. It is an exciting time for science and for medicine and for all who benefit from this gained insight. We are grateful to the Department of Health and look forward to our continued efforts to serve our community, Hogan OConnor told the Post-Star.

The news release on Monday stated the partnership between Albany Med and Glens Falls allows them to share resources and educational opportunities, making services more accessible to patients.

This designation is reflective of the high level of services both hospitals provide patients and their caregivers, said Dennis McKenna, MD, president and CEO of the Albany Med Health System. Our ability to leverage both programs resources through the Albany Med Health System is a perfect example of the benefit our patients receive with our hospitals working together.

Jana DeCamilla is a staff writer who covers Moreau, Queensbury, and Lake George. She can be reached at 518-742-3272 or jdecamilla@poststar.com.

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A former Atlantic County man accused of taking part in the Capitol riot is set to stand trial in federal court later this year.

The trial for James Rahm Jr., formerly of Atlantic City, is scheduled to begin Aug. 8 in a Washington, D.C., courtroom before U.S. District Judge Thomas Hogan, court records show.

Rahm is charged with tampering with a witness, victim or informant; entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds; disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds; disorderly conduct in a Capitol building; and parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building, for his alleged actions Jan. 6, 2021.

Rahms son, James III, also has been charged with crimes tied to the insurrection. James III was arrested March 18, 2021, in Northfield, after a tipster notified authorities he posted videos on Snapchat of himself inside the Capitol on that day.

Rahm III faces a maximum of 22 years in prison. A court date for him has yet to be ordered.

Rahm III, who still lived in Atlantic City with Rahm Jr.s former wife, Kelly Rahm, previously said he was out of town when the FBI first raided the city home. Kelly Rahm asked investigators at the home, Is this because of that trip they took? When an agent asked her to clarify her question, she declined to comment further, according to a criminal complaint.

The FBI obtained text messages confirming Rahm IIIs presence at the riot with his father, according to court documents. One such text was an image sent Jan. 9 from Rahm Jr. to Kelly Rahm of him and Rahm III in front of the Capitol building.

She responded with, Thats so GREAT!! Dont post JDs pic plz. Rahm Jr. responded, No I just deleted it because I want it off my phone Im deleting my Facebook also, court documents said.

Authorities also obtained text messages between Rahm Jr. and another individual, who told Rahm to Go find Pelosi and rip her (expletive) head off. Rahm later told the individual that I pissed in her (Pelosi) office my sons got video.

He said something similar in a Facebook comment, but told The Press in March he was lying about urinating in House Speaker Nancy Pelosis office to impress his friends online.

The father and son are among several South Jerseyans facing charges for participating in the riot.

Last month, Robert Lee Petrosh, of Mays Landing, was sentenced to 10 days in jail after pleading guilty to theft of government property, a charge brought about after a video captured him stealing two microphones from Pelosis lectern.

Locals accused in Jan. 6 unrest have gone quiet In the weeks following the storming of the Capitol in Washington last year, several local pa

Petrosh, a veteran, originally faced multiple charges stemming from the riot.

Leonard Guthrie Jr., of Cape May, was arrested for allegedly walking past a police barricade before the crowd breached the building.

Contact Eric Conklin: 609-272-7261 econklin@pressofac.com Twitter @ACPressConklin

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EGG HARBOR CITY  Activists demanding more integrated New Jersey schools are continuing their campaign to preserve the Absecon-Pleasantville send-and-receive agreement.

A group of Pleasantville residents and activists from the New Jersey Coalition against Racial Exclusion, or NJ-CARE, and Building One America spoke Monday night during the Greater Egg Harbor Regional Board of Education meeting at Cedar Creek High School.

The group, consisting of about two dozen people, asked the school board to break off a planned send-and-receive agreement between the Greater Egg district and Absecon, which would allow Absecon students to attend Absegami High School in Galloway Township.

The K-8 Absecon district is seeking to break off its send-receive agreement with Pleasantville Public Schools, under which some Absecon students attend Pleasantville High School.

Most rising high school students from Absecon opt to attend the Atlantic County Institute of Technology in Mays Landing, with only about a tenth actually going to Pleasantville. Still others pay to attend Holy Spirit High School. Building One America maintains that voiding the send-receive agreement between Absecon and Pleasantville would nevertheless worsen racial segregation in the region and set an alarming precedent.

The Rev. Willie Francois III of Mount Zion Baptist Church in Pleasantville praised the Greater Egg district for its diversity, saying it could be a model for what school integration could be in New Jersey, but he warned that board members would make themselves culpable in segregation if they did not change course on its send-receive agreement with Absecon.

Atlantic County activists march against school segregation outside Democratic Convention SOMERS POINT  Activists spent the first day of spring trying to uproot school segregation i

One of the things that is so important to our coalition is making sure that there are more districts that look like yours, districts that actually match the demographics of our state, Francois said.

Greater Egg Superintendent James Reina said during a recess at the meeting that he appreciated how Building One America had reached out to the district with its concerns. He said he had met with Francois and planned to meet in the near future for further discussions. He also expressed gratitude toward Francois for recognizing the districts diversity.

Francois argued that relevant state case law on the matter indicated Absecons bid to change its send-receive agreement from Pleasantville to Greater Egg would be unconstitutional. He further urged the board not to join the serial segregationist plan being advanced by district leaders in Absecon.

You all dont look like segregationists to me. You all dont sound like segregationists to me. And I know that you care about the children, Francois said. I am inviting you to live out your already demonstrated commitments to living in that sunlit path of racial justice.

Mainland/Pleasantville NAACP President Olivia Caldwell was also in attendance and expressed optimism.

If we are able to have them reconsider, relook at what has happened, then I think that there will be opportunities for more conversations, Caldwell said.

Racial slur apparently used by adult at Pleasantville High School PLEASANTVILLE  The local school district has investigated and addressed an incident in whic

A Jan. 26 public letter posted on the Absecon School District website said it still planned to have its rising high school students attend Absegami at the beginning of the 2022-23 school year but was awaiting a review from the New Jersey commissioner of education.

The district cited the fact that more than 100 residents commented in support of the change when Absecon petitioned the state, while no Pleasantville residents commented  arguing this shows the change would not have a negative impact on either district.

The Absecon letter also cites the recent, caustic conflicts within the Pleasantville School District and said a decision in Absecons favor would avoid subjecting more of our students to Pleasantvilles ongoing turmoil. In recent months, Pleasantville has been beset by board disputes over personnel, while parents have expressed concerns about school safety.

The Pleasantville Board of Education, having once dropped its opposition to the deal, now appears to be stalwart against the change. Several Pleasantville school board members participated in a march to the Atlantic County Democratic Convention last month organized by Building One America, which acted as a protest against a new send-receive agreement.

The dispute over Pleasantville comes as a 2018 lawsuit against the state over segregation in New Jersey schools, filed by the Latino Action Network and other civil rights groups, is still being adjudicated in state court.

Contact Chris Doyle cdoyle@pressofac.com

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EGG HARBOR TOWNSHIP  With assurances that current patients of medicinal marijuana will not suffer, the New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission approved licenses for retail cannabis sales for companies with locations in the township and Vineland.

The expanded licenses will allow the companies to grow and sell cannabis for the recreational market.

Seven medical cannabis companies were on the agenda for expanded licenses at a special meeting Monday afternoon. All seven were approved, opening the door for the first legal sales to adults without a medical cannabis card in the state.

Approvals included licenses for The Botanist, with a location in Egg Harbor Township and another in Williamstown in Gloucester County, and Columbia Care, which has a dispensary at 1062 Delsea Drive in Vineland.

The companies had to show they had the OK of the local municipality and a labor agreement with workers, as well as promise to meet requirements for safety and social equity.

Steps remain before sales begin, including inspections from state officials. It could be about a month, commission members said, but could take longer before the final approvals are in place.

Demand is expected to be high.

Board member Dianna Houenou, who leads the commission, said at the virtual meeting she expects the new license holders to abide by the conditions and hold off on recreational sales until all the approvals are in place.

She added that the companies should keep both the commission and municipal officials informed, including making sure towns know in advance when sales start, which could mean additional traffic and long lines at the dispensaries.

Many more licenses are expected to be approved in the coming months, but the medicinal dispensaries were always expected to be the first to open their doors. The Botanist was the first up for a vote.

Owned by the national brand Acreage Holdings, The Botanist has locations at 100 Century Drive in Egg Harbor Township, 2090 Black Horse Pike in Williamstown and in Atlantic City at 1301 Boardwalk. While Atlantic City officials have expressed interest in allowing cannabis sales, City Council has voted not to allow retail sales on the Boardwalk, so the Atlantic City location is set to remain open only to medicinal cannabis customers.

Before voting on the approvals, board members with the Cannabis Regulatory Commission heard plans to ensure the companies would have enough supply for patients before allowing sales to the recreational market.

Brian Sickora, the general manager of Acreage Holdings, discussed the steps planned to keep current patients from being lost in the new recreational market.

That will include patient-only hours at the dispensaries, which in New Jersey are described as alternative care centers or ATCs.

In Egg Harbor Township and Williamstown, Sickora said, the patient-only hours will include four hours each Sunday, along with reserved parking and curbside delivery. He said there will be separate check-out areas for patients.

You can kind of think of it like TSA pre-check in an airport, he said.

Representatives of each of the seven ATCs on Monday discussed plans, which also included home delivery for patients and other proposals.

In southern New Jersey, the board approved three licenses, including Acreage, Curaleaf in Bellmawr, Camden County, with additional licenses approved for Verano, GTI New Jersey, Ascend New Jersey and TerrAscend further north in the state.

According to Jeff Brown, the commissions executive director, there are almost 130,000 cannabis patients in the state. Based on an estimate of about 12% of state residents buying from dispensaries, there could be 836,000 customers for the recreational market, buying an average of four ounces a year. Another 788,000 customers could come from out of state, which could mean a demand of more than 258,000 pounds a year.

Supplies could fall short as the sales begin, Brown said, adding those shortages will be on the recreational side, not for those with medical marijuana cards.

More growing capacity is on the way, he said, with many more licenses for the medical market that applied in 2019 set to come online soon.

On Monday, the commission approved 34 new licenses for the cultivation or manufacture of cannabis products. The board approved 68 licenses at its last meeting. In all, the commission has had more than 700 license applications, with 102 conditional licenses approved so far.

On March 15, the first day for applications for retail sales for new cannabis companies, the commission received more than 200 applications, with more coming in since then.

At the meeting, Houenou said Tuesday will be the commissions first birthday, praising the staff and the boards efforts.

Its truly remarkable what we have accomplished in a year, Brown said.

Industry groups praised the vote before the meeting was even adjourned at about 3:30 p.m., with the New Jersey Cannabis Trade Association calling it a win that will mean new tax revenue and jobs.

Since New Jersey residents voted to legalize adult-use cannabis in November 2020, it has been a long road to receiving approval for selling safe, vetted products, the group said in an email.

The organization represented the 11 licensed alternative treatment centers in New Jersey.

Over the last two years, our member ATC operators have been working tirelessly to plan for this day, and have invested significant time, money and resources into expanding operations to prepare for a smooth transition to recreational sales without harming access or supply to New Jerseys medical cannabis patients, who have always been and will continue to be our top priority.

Another industry organization was also enthusiastic about the vote.

New Jersey continues to move ahead of other states in the region on adult-use cannabis. Todays action is the culmination of a tremendous amount of time, work and effort by the CRC and the industry to get this done right, said Edmund DeVeaux, the president of the New Jersey CannaBusiness Association, after the vote. Looking to the future, it is critical that we ensure that both medical and adult-use cannabis are in supply and affordable for New Jerseyans. We look forward to continuing our work with the CRC on that process and eagerly anticipate the next round of progress for New Jersey.

Some organizations remain skeptical of legal marijuana. One speaker in the public comment portion of Mondays meeting said the state should prepare for the harm it will cause, especially to young people.

New Jersey is one of 18 states, along with the District of Columbia, that have legalized recreational marijuana. There also are 37 states, including New Jersey, that have legalized medical marijuana.

Contact Bill Barlow: 609-272-7290 bbarlow@pressofac.com Twitter @jerseynews_bill

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Atlantic City casino workers feel they are closer than ever to getting a law passed that would ban smoking in the gambling halls. Tuesday was the 16th anniversary of a New Jersey law that banned smoking almost everywhere indoors, except in casinos. About 250 casino workers held a rally in a waterfront park to call on the state Legislature to pass a bill that already has many co-sponsors in both parties. The casino industry and the main casino workers labor union oppose the bill, saying it will lead to job losses and revenue declines. No vote has yet been scheduled.
MAYS LANDING  Nursing students about to finish Atlantic Cape Community Colleges program as registered nurses milled around the student center Monday at a job fair to help them choose what hospital or other facility to apply to, or what further education to choose next.

Some had already chosen their next step.

I applied to a step-down trauma unit at AtlantiCare, said KeShia Williams, 26, of Egg Harbor Township. She had already been hired by the hospital system but was there with friend Onessa Minard, of Ventnor, who was considering her options.

Williams, a 2013 graduate of Atlantic City High School, first got a bachelors degree in psychology from Rowan University before deciding to go to nursing school, she said.

Minard, a 2016 graduate of Atlantic City High School, said she has wanted to be a neo-natal nurse since middle school.

She cant get hired directly to a neo-natal job, she said, so is applying to be a medical/surgical floor nurse for a year or so before she will be eligible to try for a neo-natal job.

Most likely it will be AtlantiCare, she said of where she will accept a position. Its local and they have really good benefits.

Weve already hired many, said Jacqueline Bortu, AtlantiCare nursing manager and recruiter. She said the hospital system has more job openings than normal, but isnt experiencing the severe shortages many are facing.

Bortu worked as a medical/surgical nurse and in labor and delivery for about 13 years before taking on the recruiting job about a year ago, she said.

I can speak to the variety, she said, with so many different types of nursing available to people.

Williams and Menard said they are both probably going to enroll in an online bachelors of nursing program at William Paterson University.

Both plan to get their bachelors while employed, with the cost of tuition covered by the employer.

About 100 to 110 students are accepted into the two-year nursing program at Atlantic Cape each year, said Geralynn Michelfelder, chairperson of Atlantic Capes Nursing Department.

It is competitive to get in. That gives us the best students, Michelfelder said.

Andrew Chillari 25, of Ventnor, is a Holy Spirit graduate of the Class of 2014. He is already working at Cooper University Hospital in Camden as an operating room technician, he said, and plans to be an operating room nurse.

Chillari spent some time talking to Carla Donega, associate director of health professions partnerships for Thomas Edison University in Trenton.

Donega said the school specializes in catering to the needs of adult learners with full-time jobs, not only offering classes online but classes that can be taken at any time of day or night for extreme flexibility.

The 2021 class is graduating into a shortage of nurses. The field suffers from burnout of longer-term nurses who had to work long hours under great stress, especially in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, Michelfelder said.

A recent New Jersey Hospital Association surveyed 70% of the states hospitals on the extent of the worker shortage and found the registered nurses vacancy rate increased to 13.4% in 2021, from 8.2% in 2020.

Hospitals reported spending about $222 million for agency and travel staff, which fill in for a lack of full-time nurses, in 2020, and about $670 million in 2021.

Whats amazing is, in light of all that, we still have all these students willing to enroll and be part of caring for patients, Michelfelder said.

Currently about 20% of Atlantic Cape nursing students are male and 47% are members of minority groups, she said.

The program to become an R.N. costs about $23,000 over two years, according to Atlantic Capes website.

For a time, the typical age of students was late 20s to early 30s, Michelfelder said. But in the last few years, and especially during the pandemic, the average age has fallen.

There has been a lot of publicity about nurses on the front lines, and as heroes, Michelfelder said. Younger people see it as a way of doing something that makes a difference, she said.

Im thinking of doing maternity and OB (obstetrics) nursing, said Shannen Haviland, 23, of Upper Township. Im working in an OB office now, as a medical assistant.

She wants to stay in the area for her first nursing job and finish a bachelors degree, she said.

A graduate of Ocean City High School Class of 2016, she is leaning toward Rutgers University for her next step in education.

Most of South Jerseys hospital systems were there to recruit, as was Recovery Centers of America at Lighthouse in Mays Landing.

Were looking for nurses who have a passion to treat people with addictions  to alcohol or other drugs. We treat them all, said Tracy Terrana, nurse training manager for Lighthouse.

Nurses primary responsibility in such settings is dispensing medication, she said.

But we dont want people to just give pills, said Joseph Ognibene, Lighthouses director of nursing. We want nurses to hand out compassion.

REPORTER: Michelle Brunetti Post 609-841-2895 mpost@pressofac.com

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PLEASANTVILLE  Students at the Washington Avenue School had their knowledge of the judicial system tried and tested  in game-show format.

Three employees of the Atlantic/Cape May County Vicinage of the New Jersey Superior Court hosted an assembly in the gymnasium of the elementary school Tuesday. They quizzed students on civics, with a particular focus on the branches of state and federal government, the American justice system and the independence of the judiciary.

The event was themed after Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader? the TV game show that had adults compete against elementary school students for prizes.

Atlantic/Cape May Vicinage Ombudsman Ellen Procida, who works as a court community liaison, said Tuesday connecting with children was critical to the functioning of the state judiciary.

Part of our partnerships and relationships with the community is educating students and really getting out to the entire county, Procida said after the assembly.

Atlantic County Affirmative Action/Equal Employment Opportunity Officer Sandra Rodriguez and bilingual Probation Officer Yolanda Garcia joined Procida at the event.

Integration activists speak at Greater Egg school board meeting EGG HARBOR CITY  Activists demanding more integrated New Jersey schools are continuing thei

Along with their civics-based questions, the trio asked students to talk about Washington Avenue. Procida said it was important for the courts to learn about the communities they serve and teach young people about the justice system.

One subject they emphasized was the role of interpreters in the court. The court employees emphasized that being bilingual was an important asset to the court. They encouraged students to continue learning both English and Spanish. Parts of Tuesdays assembly were delivered in both languages.

Garcia, who speaks English and Spanish, emphasized to students that being bilingual would open professional opportunities for them.

Students were given the opportunity to ask questions. Some of the fifth graders broached topics central to conversations around criminal justice reform, asking what happens when the courts convict the innocent. The court employees explained that defendants had the opportunity to appeal their cases, and emphasized that having a diverse justice system would be critical in preventing false convictions, which could see the innocent spend decades of their lives incarcerated.

Ernestine Smith, vice chair of the Coalition for a Safe Community, helped organize the event. She said it was important for different parts of the community to come together to provide the citys children with new opportunities.

Its about working together in our community and making it great, one child at a time, Smith said.

Atlantic elections board splits over early voting sites EGG HARBOR CITY  The Atlantic County Board of Elections split 2-2 along party lines Tuesday

Washington Avenue Principal Cynthia Ruiz-Cooper said she was eager to expose students to information about how the justice system functions in their community. She was particularly grateful to have the professionals introduce students to the utility of speaking multiple languages, noting a large share of Washington Avenue students were Hispanic and spoke Spanish as their first language.

Anytime any of the community wants to come in, we invite them in, Ruiz-Cooper said.

Contact Chris Doyle cdoyle@pressofac.com

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Ten students attending United Township Area Career Center in East Moline, Illinois have been selected March 2022 Student of the Month. These students are chosen on the basis of classroom tests and performance, as well as attitude, motivation and attendance. These students will be awarded with a certificate indicating their achievement. Students from ten area high schools attend the Area Career Center where they receive a wide variety of training in these programs.
 Flash

The Shanghai Disney Resort launches its 5th birthday celebration and the 10th anniversary of groundbreaking for the site on April 8.[Photo by Gao Erqiang/China Daily]

The Shanghai Disney Resort celebrated the 10th anniversary of its groundbreaking on Thursday, with president and general manager Joe Schott expressing great confidence in the resort's future.

"We believe in the long-term benefits of the China market. That's what you'll see us continue to do," Schott says.

Since its opening on June 16, 2016, the Shanghai Disney Resort has set many records, which include beating market expectations by welcoming more than 11 million visitors in its first year of operations.

The main features of the resort saw rapid expansion of its operations. The first major expansion, DisneyPixar Toy Story Land, opened on April 26, 2018, making Shanghai Disneyland the fastest Disneyland in the world to expand after opening.

The second major expansion is the Zootopia themed land, which is currently under construction. It is also the first-ever Zootopia themed land at any Disney park in the world.

He Jianmin, a professor at the Shanghai University of Finance and Economics, says the resort has made a positive impact on the industry, improving service quality and innovating tourism products.

Shanghai plans to double the number of scenic spots and tourism projects with more than 10 million visits annually in 2025, as compared with last year. In this context, He says the Shanghai Disney Resort could be a new driver for high-quality development of the tourism industry in the Yangtze River Delta.

Analysts have pointed out that the continuous development of China's economy and the growing middle-income population have increased consumption demand for culture and tourism among Chinese people.

Quan Heng, an economist with the Shanghai Federation of Social Science Associations, says the success of the resort reflects China's continued expansion of opening-up and has proved the trend of win-win cooperation among different economies.
The trial in the fatal boating crash in LeClaire is heading into a second day of jury selection.

James Thiel Sr., of Pleasant Valley, is on trial in Scott County, charged with four counts of involuntary manslaughter in the crash that killed Craig Verbeke and Anita Pinc, of Moline. The August 2020 crash occurred just off the riverfront in LeClaire.

Trial in LeClaire boat crash to begin Monday Jury selection is to begin Monday in the involuntary-manslaughter case against a Pleasant Valley man charged in a double-fatal boat crash in LeClaire.

Nearly 100 potential jurors spent most of Monday in a third-floor courtroom, waiting to be called into a private room for questioning.

Judge Patrick McElyea dismissed them for the day around 4:30 p.m., telling them to return on Tuesday morning.

While some were excused throughout the day, it did not appear any jurist had been impaneled for the trial. Many were simply returned to the courtroom after questioning. The first round of interviews appeared to be a process of elimination.

Thiel faces two felony and two aggravated misdemeanor charges of involuntary manslaughter, though he was not operating either boat. A minor was driving a 35-foot boat owned by Thiel, while Verbeke was at the wheel of a 19-foot vessel.

Thiel is being represented by Iowa City-based attorney Leon Spies, and the state is represented by Scott County Attorney Mike Walton and Assistant County Attorney Amy Devine.

The 15-year-old who was operating Thiel's boat is not being identified by name.

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An attorney for the family of a 26-year-old Amazon contractor who died in a Madison County Amazon warehouse collapse in December alleged Tuesday the facility showed signs of structural issues.

A government engineer who responded to the scene of the warehouse collapse Dec. 10 in Edwardsville found structural concerns regarding the facilitys support columns, according to a copy of the engineers report released by Jack Casciato, an attorney with Chicago-based Clifford Law Offices.

I became concerned when I noticed that none of the columns appeared to be ripped or torn from the base, the engineer wrote in a four-page report from West County EMS & Fire. This was especially concerning to me knowing that the International Building Code (IBC) requires structural members to be secured against uplift from wind loads, among other things.

The engineer wrote there was no weld or bolted connection at the base of any column, but only a bead of what appeared to be some sort of caulk around the column at the finished floor line. Examination of the empty pockets where the columns once stood also revealed no evidence of positive securement, the engineer wrote.

Casciato, who obtained the report through a Freedom of Information Act request, represents the family of Austin McEwen, one of six workers at the Amazon warehouse who died in the tornado. An initial lawsuit filed in Madison County Circuit Court in January alleges the Amazon facility had inadequate emergency plans and no basement shelter. The lawsuit alleges McEwen and others were told to shelter in a bathroom during the storm.

In a news conference Tuesday, Casciato said holiday profits took precedence over worker safety on the day of the tornado. Delivering packages that day was more important than safety, he said.

In a statement, Amazon spokesperson Kelly Nantel said the company continues to focus on supporting our team and all those affected by this tragic natural disaster.

Investigators continue to conduct a comprehensive forensic examination of the building and debris  so its premature and misleading to suggest there were any structural issues, Nantel said.

She said construction of the building was completed in 2018 in compliance with all applicable building codes as documented by the city and the original owner and that the building passed city inspections again when Amazon leased the building in 2020.

Amazon is also facing scrutiny over its Edwardsville facility from Congress. Members of the House Committee on Oversight and Reform have requested documents from Amazon regarding its labor practices, citing the companys response to the tornado strike.

In a March 31 letter to CEO Andy Jassy, committee Chairwoman Carolyn Maloney and Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Cori Bush wrote they were concerned by recent reports that Amazon may be putting the health and safety of its workers at risk, including by requiring them to work in dangerous conditions during tornadoes, hurricanes, and other extreme weather.

The representatives requested documents from the company by Thursday.

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DES MOINES  The Iowa House addressed the growing problem of catalytic converter theft by requiring recyclers and scrap metal dealers to keep a confidential log of paperwork authenticating ownership.

Senate File 2287 requires the seller to provide an original receipt for a replacement catalytic converter purchased fewer than 30 days before selling it to a scrap dealer or a junking certificate for a vehicle issued fewer than 30 days before the sale of the catalytic converter.

What this bill does is to make sure that there's a paper trail for those who would break the law and to give a tool to law enforcement, said Rep. Cherielynn Westrich, R-Ottumwa.

The bill also would be required to keep a confidential register or log of each transaction, including a copy of the information required by the bill.

Westrich did not offer data on the number of thefts, but said she heard from many people about catalytic converter thefts and the cost of replacing them. Victims, she said, include transit authorities.

The cost of a catalytic converter theft, including replacement, loss of the use of the vehicle and alternative transportation, can range from $1,000 to $3,000, according to the National Insurance Crime Bureau.

It reported catalytic converter thefts jumped from 1,298 in 2018 to 3,3,89 the following year to 14,433  a 325 percent  in 2020.

This is a much-needed legislation  because there is a huge uptick in the catalytic converters thefts, said Rep. Charlie McConkey, D-Council Bluffs.

The bill passed 88-5. A Democratic amendment to require that a violation of the law had to be intentional in order for a scrap metal dealer to be prosecuted was rejected along party lines.

As of March 15, 35 states were either considering or had passed legislation to address catalytic converter thefts.

A catalytic converter, which looks like a small muffler in a vehicles exhaust system, converts hazardous emissions into less hazardous gasses. A variety of precious metals are used in catalytic converters, with prices ranging as high as $20,000 per ounce for rhodium, nearly $3,000 per ounce for palladium and $1,100 for platinum, according to the insurance bureau.

There is a clear connection between times of crisis, limited resources and supply chain disruptions that drives catalytic converter thefts, the bureau said.

The bill goes back to the Senate because the House amended it.

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WHAT WE KNOW: Colona Mayor Rich Holman has wanted to start a new tax-increment financing (TIF) district from the Dairy Queen on Illinois Route 84 to the Rock River bridge and also to extend the TIF on U.S Highway 6, which is set to expire in 2026 or 2027, for another 12 years. In a TIF, the new property taxes over a base year amount are held in a special trust fund for the municipality or the developers to encourage development.

WHAT'S NEW: The mayor announced Monday there had been no objection from the other taxing districts to a 12-year extension of the Highway 6 TIF, so the city is planning to move forward with that. Stonebridge developer Ki Wirth has said he would develop a strip mall at the Stonebridge frontage property if the TIF district there were extended. The mayor said the city also was moving forward with the creation of a new downtown TIF.

"We're excited. We've got some things happening," the mayor said after the meeting.

Holman also announced that the Friends of the Hennepin Canal had requested that area taxing districts give them 10% of their funding from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) for the upkeep of the canal. The council took no action on the request Monday, but the mayor said he's been assured the organization would use any funding from the city for canal improvements within city limits.

WHAT'S NEXT: A vacant car wash will see new life as the Cloud Wash and Lounge, with the addition of a laundromat, gaming facility and all-ages lounge as well as the car wash bays. J.C. Hillman said he wanted to update the building's facade and hopefully be in business before the end of the summer. Holman said the business was seeking TIF funding to pay for building improvements and they could likely receive a reimbursement for up to 35% of their costs. The city currently has its maximum of seven gaming licenses so it would be asked to increase that total before the new facility could be licensed.

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The trial in the fatal boating crash in LeClaire is heading into a second day of jury selection.

James Thiel Sr., of Pleasant Valley, is on trial in Scott County, charged with four counts of involuntary manslaughter in the crash that killed Craig Verbeke and Anita Pinc, of Moline. The August 2020 crash occurred just off the riverfront in LeClaire.

Trial in LeClaire boat crash to begin Monday Jury selection is to begin Monday in the involuntary-manslaughter case against a Pleasant Va

Nearly 100 potential jurors spent most of Monday in a third-floor courtroom, waiting to be called into a private room for questioning.

Judge Patrick McElyea dismissed them for the day around 4:30 p.m., telling them to return on Tuesday morning.

While some were excused throughout the day, it did not appear any jurist had been impaneled for the trial. Many were simply returned to the courtroom after questioning. The first round of interviews appeared to be a process of elimination.

Thiel faces two felony and two aggravated misdemeanor charges of involuntary manslaughter, though he was not operating either boat. A minor was driving a 35-foot boat owned by Thiel, while Verbeke was at the wheel of a 19-foot vessel.

Thiel is being represented by Iowa City-based attorney Leon Spies, and the state is represented by Scott County Attorney Mike Walton and Assistant County Attorney Amy Devine.

The 15-year-old who was operating Thiel's boat is not being identified by name.

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ST. PAUL, Minn.  Two Illinois men who helped bomb a Minnesota mosque in 2017 were sentenced Tuesday to about 16 years and roughly 14 years in prison  far below the 35-year mandatory minimum that each man faced  after victims and prosecutors asked for leniency because the men cooperated and testified against the mastermind of the attack.

Michael McWhorter, 33, was sentenced to just under 16 years in prison and Joe Morris, 26, was sentenced to about 14 years in prison. Both testified in the 2020 trial against Emily Claire Hari, the leader of a small Illinois militia group called the "White Rabbits." Morris and McWhorter are both from Clarence, an unincorporated community in Ford County.

Hari was convicted in late 2020 and sentenced last year to 53 years in prison for the attack on Dar Al-Farooq Islamic Center, a mosque in the Minneapolis suburb of Bloomington.

U.S. District Judge Donovan Frank said Tuesday that the men's "substantial assistance" allowed him to issue penalties below the statutory minimums called for in the domestic terror case, the Star Tribune reported.

No one was hurt in the Aug. 5, 2017, explosion after a pipe bomb exploded in the imam's office as worshippers gathered for early morning prayers, but community members where shaken by the incident and the mosque's executive director testified at Hari's trial that it has led to diminished attendance due to fear.

Attorneys for McWhorter and Morris both asked Frank for 10-year sentences, citing their clients' testimony against Hari. Prosecutors requested leniency because of their cooperation.

"Both Morris and McWhorter have expressed remorse for their participation in the bombing and have accepted responsibility for their actions," prosecutors said in court filings prior to sentencing. "The government acknowledges and greatly respects Dar Al-Farooq's ability to forgive their attackers and to use this act of terrorism as a platform to promote mercy."

Imam Mohamed Omar, executive director of Dar Al-Farooq Center, sent a letter to fellow clergy and faith leaders, asking them to sign an open letter urging forgiveness. Omar called McWhorter and Morris two young men who "temporarily were plunged downwards into the darkness of Emily Hari's world."

"The harm that was done is real, the crime that was committed is real, the horror of what happened that day is real, but what's also real is our opportunity to offer real forgiveness, and lead by example," the letter said. "We believe that only through forgiveness can we have any real chance to heal and move forward."

McWhorter and Morris both pleaded guilty to multiple counts in 2019.

At Hari's trial, their testimony showed that Hari told them to throw the pipe bomb into the Dar Al-Farooq Islamic Center while Hari waited in a rented truck. Morris testified that Hari told him that the mosque was training ISIS fighters  something the the mosque has denied and prosecutors have never alleged.

Hari was the leader of a group called the "White Rabbits 3 Percent Illinois Patriot Freedom Fighters." In addition to the mosque bombing, the group also robbed a Wal-Mart with airsoft guns, tried to extort the Canadian railroad, invaded homes and attempted to firebomb a women's health clinic in Champaign, Illinois.

Chris Madel, McWhorter's attorney, said in court filings that McWhorter committed the crimes "at the invitation, direction and plan" of Hari. Madel said his client was manipulated by Hari's lies about Muslims.

Morris' attorney, Robert Richman, said his client has a "reduced mental capacity" and had suffered from undiagnosed mental illness, including schizophrenia and depression, Richman wrote in court documents that Hari took advantage of Morris's illness, telling him to follow the "angels" speaking to him.

Hari also exerted a special power over Morris, said Richman in the filing. "No one in the world was closer to him. When Hari told Joe to do something, Joe did it. Hari was a hero to Joe. He felt that Hari accepted him.  Given the despair of self-loathing in which Joe was mired for most of his life, one can only imagine how refreshing it was to be accepted by Emily Hari."

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Last week, Shelby Kriss caught the eye of plenty of folks as she came riding through town on her horse, Candy. Though some may have thought this was a protest against the recent high gas prices, the ride is an important part of Candys training  and part of rescuing horses from a grim fate.

I consider myself a horse trainer, Kriss said. What Im doing is, essentially, helping horses avoid getting into those slaughter pipelines by giving them a second chance before they go to auction. She further explained when a horse goes to auction there is a chance it will end up in that pipeline. There are organizations that go to auctions, she said, and buy up all the loose horses  those that did not sell. From there, the animals are taken to kill pens in various states.

People can buy the horses for sometimes two or three times more than what was paid at the auction. Any leftover horses, Kriss said, are then shipped to Canada or Mexico and processed for human or animal consumption.

People might decide they no longer want a horse, Kriss said, and instead of training it and finding it a good home they choose instead to ship it off to auction having never been ridden. These horses arent ending up in good situations. Unless its a really bad horse, theres opportunity for someone like me or any horse trainer to train the horse and make it a companion instead of shipping it off.

Many, even Candy, are not expensive or well-bred horses. Shes beautiful, she deserves someone like me to help her avoid becoming a loose horse at an auction.

Currently everything Kriss does for the horses comes out of her own pocket. I go, I try to picky healthy horses that I think I can tame and help them find someone whos willing to work with the animal, not just ship them off to auction.

While she has gone to auctions for animals, Kriss also noted there are private people who are willing to sell horses for what they would get at auction. If I can get horses people dont want and help them avoid the auction, I prefer that so the horses arent being put through it.

She clarified that shes not saying theres not a place for horse auctions in our society, but people can treat them as a disposable pet. Because theyre so powerful, when they do something wrong it might seem like the horse is being disrespectful or something to that effect. But the horse is just being a horse, and a person might need help training it.

Im trying to help people have better horses . . . There are so many horses out here that could wind up who knows where. Many of the horses I get are scared and are intimidating. Theyve learned how to get out of things and havent been handled properly. Within a month or two  sometimes even up to a year  Kriss gets them on the right track and in a place where they feel safe.

As to regular training of horses, Kriss noted there are so many good ropers and reiners, and other specialists out here, though her focus is starting horses and horsemanship, not reining or roping, or barrel racing. My main concern is training them to be tame. Most folks dont want training in just basic horsemanship, she added, which puts her in a position to help more horses. She can work at her own pace on what the horses need and not have to meet anybodys expectations.

Im helping the horse, and if I find it a great home with people I can trust, then I recoup some of my money from it that way. Im essentially being paid for my training and the horse. Nine times out of 10, she is successful in finding a good home for the horse.

I have helped 10 or more horses in the last year. I have one that I brought home last year that I dont believe is ready for a home any time soon. The rest of them are good, sound and ready to become somebodys partner horse.

This is horse country, and Kriss finds it mind blowing when people choose to give up their horses to auction and later find theyve come up loose. Even some basic training and halter breaking will dispel the image that theyre wild animals, she said, and usable, so they dont wind up in an auction having never been ridden.

She further added training can provide value to the horse, but some are just looking for a quick buck and dont understand theyre putting the animals life in jeopardy when they sell them to auction. They think, That could never happen to this beautiful horse, but every day beautiful horses ship to Canada and Mexico to be bought by the pound for meat.

In all of this, Kriss gets to follow her passion. She grew up on horse farms in Pennsylvania, but gave up horse training when she was 15 and her mentor passed away. I honestly never trained a horse again until five years ago.

She moved to Chadron in 2015, and when she came out here she realized it was a different kind of horsemanship than what she was used to.

Where Im from, horses are kept in the stall all day, turned out, theres not the big pastures, the roping, the reining. My biggest thing was natural horsemanship and working with horses nobody wanted to ride. She noted she did all the grunt work as a youth and hoped it would pay off, and now she gets to do her own grunt work, and feels fortunate to be able to do it and take the pressure off the horses.

The pressure is on me to do it, but they never feel any of that pressure. Its me reading the horse, knowing if Im pushing the horse too far, knowing they understand what Im asking them. Its not that Im some magnificent trainer. Its more that Im listening to the horse.

Over the past five years, Kriss has been working with her personal horses but is starting to branch out with her operation, Trustworthy Horsemanship.

Its hard work. Im not going to lie. Its not glamorous. Some days it hurts. Some days you bleed, some days you cry, but to see a horse like Candy become a horse somebody can use again, what a rewarding thing. She noted Candy is available for re-homing.

More information is available through the Trustworthy Horsemanship page on Facebook.

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Construction has started on Rapid City Regional Airport's new sanitary sewer collection system that will eventually replace the outdated lagoon system that caused environmental concerns in the past.

"We're starting to see some of these things come to fruition as we're able. Right now they're digging along Airport Road," Airport Executive Director Patrick Dame said Tuesday.

The estimated $2.5 million project will build a new gravity sewer line from the airport's main collection system to carry wastewater to the city's Water Reclamation Facility. It includes 4,820 feet of eight-inch piping that will travel along Airport Road to a new lift station.

Dame said the new pipe has been installed all the way to the lagoon area and the construction team has a bit more to install along Airport Road.

"That's already probably right around a quarter mile left to dig along there and then they will start digging in the opposite direction to the treatment plant," he said.

A new lift station will be installed near the intersection of Airport Road and State Highway 79. The lift station will then send the wastewater through another 12,200 feet of four-inch pipe west along the highway, where it would connect to the city's existing sewer infrastructure.

"What might delay some of this is the actual construction of the lift station, which could take upwards of a year," Dame said.

The 1960s-era lagoon is too small to serve the airport during the peak travel season and does not have the capacity to serve in the future.

During the summer of 2019, the airport had to spread approximately 74,100 gallons of sewage on the northern end of the property. That emergency discharge was done without proper permitting from the then-named South Dakota Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

Although the state agency later found that no contamination was caused by the emergency discharge, it brought the lagoon's age and limitations to light and airport administration began studying how to fix the capacity issue in the long term.

A 2020 Environmental Assessment indicated connecting the airport's collection system with the city's wastewater network was the preferred option over constructing a new aerated lagoon.

During the summer peak travel season, the airport had to pay a company thousands of dollars to pump out the lagoon because of capacity issues again.

Contact Nathan Thompson at nathan.thompson@rapidcityjournal.com.

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A rapidly changing snowstorm is still expected to blow through western South Dakota on Tuesday and Wednesday, but the amount of expected snow accumulation has decreased while wind gusts have increased.

The National Weather Service offices in Rapid City and Aberdeen issued their latest forecast Monday afternoon, showing blizzard conditions in Harding, Perkins and Corson counties. A blizzard warning is in effect for those areas through Thursday morning and afternoon, respectively.

In Harding and Perkins counties, total snow accumulations of 2 to 11 inches are expected, with the highest amounts along the Montana and North Dakota borders. The National Weather Service said winds will gust as high as 70 mph. The strongest winds are expected Wednesday.

"Travel could be very difficult. Widespread blowing snow could significantly reduce visibility. Very strong winds could cause extensive tree damage," the weather service said in a Monday statement.

In Corson County, a mixture of snow and ice could blanket the area, with up to 10 inches of snow possible and gusty winds of up to 60 mph through Thursday morning.

Closer to the Black Hills and southwest South Dakota, Butte County and northern Lawrence County are under a winter storm warning until 6 a.m. Thursday. Heavy snow is expected, with snow accumulations of 2 to 6 inches. The National Weather Service said the highest amounts will generally be near and west of Highway 85. Winds will gust as high as 65 mph through Wednesday in the Northern Foot Hills and could produce near-blizzard conditions at times.

"Plan on slippery road conditions. Widespread blowing snow could significantly reduce visibility. Very strong winds could cause extensive tree damage," the National Weather Service in Rapid City said Monday.

A winter storm watch is in effect through late Wednesday evening for northern Meade County and Ziebach County. The weather service said blizzard conditions are possible with winds gusting to as high as 65 mph and up to 2 inches of snow.

In the Northern Hills area of Lawrence and Meade counties, the National Weather Service issued a winter weather advisory through 6 p.m. Wednesday for snow accumulations of up to 5 inches and winds gusts to 45 mph.

Rapid City and the plains to the east look to be missing out on any significant snow accumulation but will not be spared from the brutal winds, the weather service said.

A high wind watch has been issued through Thursday afternoon. Sustained northwesterly winds of 30 to 40 mph are expected, with gusts up to 70 mph possible.

"The high winds could blow down large trees and damage roofs, small outbuildings and signs," the weather service said in a bulletin. "Power outages are possible. Travel could be difficult, especially for high profile vehicles."

The Southern Hills and portions of the Pine Ridge Reservation are not expecting any accumulating snow. However, winds gusting between 40 and 45 mph are possible in these areas, the National Weather Service said.

Contact Nathan Thompson at nathan.thompson@rapidcityjournal.com.

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PIERRE | The South Dakota House on Tuesday impeached state Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg over a 2020 fatal crash in which he killed a pedestrian but initially said he might have struck a deer or another large animal.

Ravnsborg, a Republican, is the first official to be impeached in South Dakota history. He will at least temporarily be removed from office pending the historic Senate trial, where it takes a two-thirds majority to convict on impeachment charges.

Ravnsborg pleaded no contest last year to a pair of traffic misdemeanors in the crash, including making an illegal lane change. He has cast Joseph Boevers death as a tragic accident.

In voting 36-31 to impeach Ranvsborg, the Republican-controlled House charged him with committing crimes that caused someones death, making numerous misrepresentations to law enforcement officers after the crash and using his office to navigate the criminal investigation.

When were dealing with the life of one of your citizens, I think that weighed heavily on everyone, said Republican Rep. Will Mortenson, who introduced the articles of impeachment.

All eight House Democrats voted for impeachment, while Republicans were split, with 28 voting for it and 31 against. Among House members from West River, 14 voted in favor of impeachment, while eight voted no.

West River Republican Reps. Caleb Finck, Rebecca Reimer, Liz May, Sam Marty, Chris Johnson, Phil Jensen, Tina Mulally and Tony Randolph cast votes against the articles of impeachment. One West River Republican lawmaker, Rep. Scott Odenbach, recused himself because he had given legal advice to the attorney general after the crash. Republican Rep. Taffy Howard, who is running for Congress, was excused from Tuesday's vote.

Ravnsborg, who took office in 2019, was returning home from a Republican dinner in September 2020 when he struck and killed Boever, who was walking along a rural highway. A sheriff who responded after Ravnsborg called 911 initially reported it as a collision with an animal. Ravnsborg has said he did not realize he hit a man until he returned the next day and found the body.

The Highway Patrol concluded that Ravnsborgs car crossed completely onto the highway shoulder before hitting Boever, and criminal investigators said later that they didnt believe some of Ravnsborgs statements.

The House rejected the recommendation of a GOP-backed majority report from a special investigative committee, which argued that anything wrong he did was not part of his official duties in office. But even Republican lawmakers who argued his actions did not meet constitutional grounds for impeachment, said Ravnsborg should resign.

He should have stepped down, should have done the honorable thing, said House Speaker Spencer Gosch, a Republican who oversaw the House investigation and voted against impeachment.

Ravnsborg, who had been largely silent about the crash and was not present for the vote, sent lawmakers a pair of defiant letters Monday night urging them not to impeach him.

In a few hours, your vote will set a precedent for years to come, Ravnsborg wrote. No state has ever impeached an elected official for a traffic accident.

He also accused Republican Gov. Kristi Noem of interfering in the investigation and of supporting impeachment because of the attorney generals investigations into her behavior. A second letter from Ravnsborgs spokesman delved into evidence, allegations and misconceptions about the case.

After Ravnsborg fell out with the governor after the crash, he pushed a pair of ethics complaints against Noem to the states Government Accountability Board. His office is also investigating whether an organization aligned with the governor broke campaign finance disclosure laws.

Noem lauded the House on Twitter after its vote, writing that it did the right thing for the people of South Dakota and for Joe Boever's family.

For Boever's family, who held his wedding photo as they watched from the House gallery during the vote, the decision brought some relief. They have decried the criminal prosecution as a slap on the wrist for Ravnsborg.

Were a step closer to justice. Were not done, said Boevers cousin, Nick Nemec.

Now we just need the Senates help on this because these laws need to be changed badly, said Jennifer Boever, who was married to Boever. People are getting hurt and killed, and the pedestrian has no self-defense against a 4,000 pound (1,814 kilogram) vehicle.

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 Flash

A Chinese envoy on Monday called for an early end to the conflict in Ukraine in order to fundamentally solve the humanitarian crisis and spare women and children from violence.

Women and children are the most vulnerable to violence, and should be given priority protection in armed conflicts, said Dai Bing, China's deputy permanent representative to the United Nations.

"We call on parties involved in the situation in Ukraine to strictly abide by international humanitarian law, effectively protect women and children, respect and guarantee the civilian nature and safety of facilities such as schools and hospitals, and provide special care to women and children in evacuation, rescue, and medical assistance," he told a Security Council meeting on Ukraine.

China deplores that dozens of civilians, including women and children, were killed or injured in the attack on Kramatorsk train station. The relevant circumstances and specific cause of the incident must be established and verified, and any claim should be based on facts, he said.

A large number of Ukrainian women and children have taken refuge in neighboring countries. China appreciates these neighboring countries and other countries for opening their borders and providing shelter and humanitarian assistance. All refugees, regardless of skin color, race, or religion, should receive equal protection under international refugee law, said Dai.

The humanitarian needs of Ukraine and neighboring countries remain immense. Relevant UN agencies should continue to mobilize and coordinate international support for humanitarian assistance for all those in need. The special needs of women and children should be considered, and targeted medical treatment, psychological counseling, and social services should be provided to them. And children's rights to education should be ensured, he said.

"We are deeply concerned about reports that women and children seeking asylum were subjected to abduction, human trafficking and abuse," he said. "We call on international agencies such as UN Women, the UN Children's Fund, the UN Refugee Agency, and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights to strengthen monitoring and support relevant countries to take measures to resolutely prevent this group of people from being harmed a second time."

Dai stressed the need to bring an end to the conflict.

Only by ending the conflict as soon as possible can the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine be fundamentally solved and can women and children be kept away from violence, he said.

"Dialogue and negotiation are the only way to peace. We support the parties involved to continue negotiations, strive to overcome difficulties and differences, create conditions for a cease-fire, and make positive efforts so that women and children can see the dawn of peace at an early date. All other parties in the international community should do more to facilitate dialogue and negotiations, and create the necessary environments and conditions for progress in the negotiations," he said.

Simply imposing sanctions and sending weapons will not bring peace. The ever-intensifying extensive and indiscriminate sanctions have triggered food and energy crises and soaring prices for necessities, for which the entire world population is paying a heavy price. Tens of millions of women and children in Afghanistan, Yemen, the Horn of Africa, and the Sahel have been hit the hardest, said Dai.

"China once again calls on all parties to exercise restraint, adopt a responsible attitude, and make constructive efforts to properly resolve the crisis in Ukraine and restore peace at an early date," he said.
South Dakota Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg sent lawmakers a pair of defiant letters urging them to vote against impeaching him for his conduct before and after he struck and killed a pedestrian on the shoulder of a highway.

Troopers have said Ravnsborg was distracted before the September 2020 crash that killed 55-year-old Joseph Boever. Ravnsborg initially told authorities he thought he had struck a deer or other large animal. He went back the next day and found Boever's body.

The House is scheduled to gavel in Tuesday morning to discuss whether they should follow a recommendation by a House investigation committee to vote against impeachment. Ravnsborg has said very little publicly about the incident.

In a few hours, your vote will set a precedent for years to come, Ravnsborg said in the first of two letters sent Monday night and obtained by the Argus Leader. No state has ever impeached an elected official for a traffic accident.

The letter also accused Republican Gov. Kristi Noem of interfering in the investigation and of supporting impeachment because of the attorney general's investigations into her behavior. A second letter from Ravnsborgs spokesman delved into evidence, allegations and misconceptions about the case.

Opponents of impeachment say Ravnsborg need not be held accountable by the House because he wasn't on the job when the crash happened. He had been driving back from a Republican fundraiser.

Ravnsborg has cast Boevers death as a tragic accident. He pleaded no contest last year to a pair of traffic misdemeanors, including making an illegal lane change.

An investigation committee from the Republican-controlled House voted against recommending impeachment after arguments that Ravnsborg's actions were not part of his official duties. Noem has pushed for impeachment, saying Ravnsborg lied to investigators.

The Highway Patrol concluded that Ravnsborgs car crossed completely onto the highway shoulder before hitting Boever, and criminal investigators said later that they didnt believe some of Ravnsborgs statements.

Republican Rep. Will Mortenson, of Pierre, brought articles of impeachment against Ravnsborg more than a year ago. He did not return phone messages left Monday by The Associated Press.

Last week, at the request of Republican Rep. Tim Goodwin, of Rapid City, about 30 lawmakers took in a presentation by two Highway Patrol troopers outlining details of the investigation.

Goodwin said it raised doubts about the committee's recommendation. House Speaker Spencer Gosch, who chaired the committee, called it a sales pitch. Gosch did not respond to phone messages Monday.

While it's unclear whether the presentation would have any effect on the impeachment vote, Noem's spokesman referenced it Monday to sum up the feelings in the governor's office.

The troopers' presentation speaks better than I ever could, Ian Fury said.

Democrat House Minority Leader Jamie Smith, a member of the impeachment investigation committee, said the troopers helped with unanswered questions, but he doesn't believe they will change any minds. He expects Tuesday's floor debate to last a couple of hours before the vote.

As a member of the committee, I said I believed there were grounds for impeachment and I will stay with that, Smith said.

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Gov. Kristi Noem and the Department of Social Services are working to expand the number of regional behavioral health facilities across the state.

The state received $15 million in federal stimulus funding to support the expansion, which was approved by legislators and included in the department's overall budget.

Over the next four years, an estimated $3,750,000 will be spent annually for the construction and expansion of facilities across the state, Noem said in a news release.

The goal is to have at least one facility in all five of the state's behavioral health regions.

Adding short-term regional crisis stabilization services in each region of the state is a very positive step for South Dakota, said DSS Secretary Laurie Gill. The Department is committed to working with its partners across the state to support crisis service delivery. This will require collaboration with state, county, and city entities as we all have a role to play in providing quality crisis services.

According to authorities, people in mental health crisis are often placed in jail or are involuntarily committed to inpatient psychiatric hospitals when they could be served in a less restrictive setting closer to their home and community.

We want all South Dakotans, regardless of where they live, to have access to short-term comprehensive behavioral health crisis stabilization close to home 24 hours per day, seven days a week, Gill said. This will also take pressure off law enforcement and first responders in our communities who have for a long time been the people responding to behavioral health crises.

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Rep. Dusty Johnson visited two facilities Monday in Rapid City that serve people experiencing homelessness. He spent time at the Pennington County Care Campus and received a full tour of the Cornerstone Rescue Mission in downtown Rapid City in the afternoon. Johnson said he was seeking to learn more about resources for the homeless in the state.

I think one of the biggest areas that our country has under-invested in has been behavioral health, and so I just have an interest in trying to figure out how are these services actually getting deployed in the community, and frankly, how can we do better, Johnson said.

Throughout the hour-long tour, Lysa Allison, Cornerstones executive director, led Johnson, one of his staff members, and members of the media through the faith-based rescue mission headquarter facilities at 30 Main Street in the former City Hall building.

The shelter offers 60 emergency beds and 48 transitional housing beds utilized by former inmates who are working to reintegrate into the community. The shelter will take in up to 70 additional men who sleep on the floor when beds are full, Allison said. Several staff members are former residents of the facility.

Guests must be sober, turn in any weapons, and follow other shelter rules. The non-profit gives the people staying there 30 days to find a job, and they can stay up to 90 days total while saving money. Cornerstone also receives grants to help with security deposits and works with local landlords to find housing. They also run a separate location for women and children, the Cornerstone Thrift Store, and Cornerstone Apartments, which has 24 fully furnished family units.

With the help of local volunteers and church groups, the shelter also provides approximately 400 meals a day, Allison said. She estimated anywhere from 60% to 65% of the people who come to the shelter suffer from mental health issues and 80% to 90% struggle with addiction, something that Johnson said most Americans have been affected by in some way.

My family has been touched by addiction in the same way that most American families have. In a very real way, I understand were all gonna make mistakes. Some of our mistakes are bigger than others, but I think that even after people make mistakes, this is a country where people deserve to be safe, and they deserve an opportunity at redemption, Johnson said.

The congressman discussed the limitations of resources with Allison, who said that local shelters can be overlooked when it comes to funding and that adding more staff is a major priority of the shelter, which is run by three staff during the day and two at night.

We do what we can to keep people safe here, and I think we do a really good job on a very limited budget with very limited staff, Allison said.

Johnson did not point to any specific federal policy changes in the future to increase funding for shelters like Cornerstone, but he stated that he felt that state and local governments will continue to be the primary drivers of policy decisions and smaller shelters hold an important role in communities.

To me its amazing how much they do with how little. Theres a bigger role for community-based providers and faith-based providers than most people realize," Johnson said. "In communities in South Dakota there are relatively small non-profits who every single day are trying to meet the needs of their clients, their guests, their stakeholders. We want to make sure were giving them the tools that they need to succeed.

On Tuesday, Johnson is scheduled to host a town hall with Elevate Rapid City and visit GCC Cement to discuss workforce issues. In the afternoon, he will visit Black Hills State University to discuss free speech and finish off the afternoon at the DC Booth Fish Hatchery in Spearfish.

 Contact Shalom Baer Gee at sgee@rapidcityjournal.com 

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The wish list for upgrades to three state fishing access sites in western Montana is getting closer to becoming a reality.

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Region 2 recreation manager Rory Zarling said the funding is in place to accomplish the work on sites on the Bitterroot River near Stevensville; the West Fork of the Bitterroot west of Connor; and on Rock Creek west of Phillipsburg.

All of them are very popular areas, Zarling said. One is right in the heart of Rock Creek, another is the only state fishing access site on the West Fork of the Bitterroot and the other is right in the heart of the Bitterroot River at Stevensville. They are all very high-profile sites.

While the state still needs to jump through a few more hoops on each one, Zarling expects work will begin on the sites as soon as this fall and, if not then, for sure in 2023.

All three are funded, Zarling said. They are the only three that are entirely funded in our region at this point.

The busiest of the three would likely be the access located just west of Stevensville where floaters have launched their boats for years.

Work began last fall on the new John Owen Fishing Access Site with the installation of some new fencing and planting trees and shrubs to protect the bank of the river immediately downstream of where people launch their boats.

The state plans to expand the site on the 6.25 acres donated by Myla Yahraus of the Fort Owen Ranch to include enough parking for about 30 vehicles and trailers, four campsites, a concrete latrine and trail connections. That work will occur just east of the boat launch.

Currently, Zarling said FWP is working with the Montana Department of Transportation to develop a plan to safely move traffic and pedestrians through the area. In the meantime, the current site is open and is already seeing traffic from fishermen anxious to get in on the first early hatches of spring.

Im sure its going to get very busy really soon, Zarling said.

Upstream on the West Fork of the Bitterroot, the state is working on a unique project at the C. Ben White Memorial Fishing Access Site that is located about 3 miles above the confluence of the west and east forks of the Bitterroot River.

The 97-acre site was acquired by the state in 2020 following a partnership that included the landowner, Bitter Root Land Trust and several community entities.

Unlike any other fishing access site in western Montana and maybe the entire state, the site will provide access to both the river and thousands of acres of national forest lands. The site has land located on both sides of the roadway.

Sometime in the near future, plans call for graveling the new parking lot on the upper section of the parcel that will offer parking for a new trailhead that connects to a trail built last summer to adjoining Bitterroot National Forest lands.

The trail connects to a very vast road and trail system that will allow access to miles and miles of national forest lands, Zarling said. As far as I know, its the only fishing access site in the state that connects FWP lands with Forest Service lands.

On the property adjacent to the river, the state plans to enlarge the parking area at the fishing access site, build several campsites and install two concrete latrines.

This is a high-priority project, Zarling said. We have received funding through the Bitter Root Land Trust and a number of other community organizations. Its a community/multiple organization effort.

The new trailhead should be ready by summer. Zarling expects the work on the fishing access site to either happen this fall or be completed in 2023.

The project on Rock Creek has been in the works for at least 20 years.

In the past, it didnt work out before for one reason or another, he said. We couldnt get the funding, or the necessary permits, and the property sold.

The state doesnt own the property at Gillies Bridge but a conservation easement allows it to build the new Westslope Fishing Access Site thats located about 15 miles west of Phillipsburg on Highway 348.

That site has preliminary stakes in place as a consultant works to make the final adjustments to the plan for new fishing access. Again Zarling is hoping for construction to get started this fall but is certain it will be completed by 2023.

There is an emphasis on getting these three done, he said.

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The Montana Department of Environmental Quality will appeal a recent decision that found the agency inadequately analyzed the potential environmental impacts of a proposed copper mine near a tributary of the Smith River.

State District Court Judge Katherine Bidegaray ruled late last week that DEQ erred in its issuance of a mine operating permit for the Black Butte Copper Project near White Sulphur Springs. The judge found the agencys determination that storage of tailings, and specifically a plan to use cement to stabilize and store tailings, reached unsupported or questionable conclusions.

On Tuesday, DEQ told the Montana State News Bureau that it would appeal Bidegarays decision to the Montana Supreme Court.

We care about protecting water quality, the iconic Smith River and upholding the laws of Montana  thats why our team of experts thoroughly analyzed the permit application and required stringent measures to protect Montana, DEQ Director Chris Dorrington said. Before, and after, becoming director I have been involved in this mine permitting process and know it is one of the most protective permits DEQ has ever issued. DEQ plans to appeal Judge Bidegarays decision on this sound and defensible permit.

The Montana Environmental Information Center, Montana Trout Unlimited, Earthworks and American Rivers together filed the lawsuit last year against DEQ and mine owners Tintina Montana Inc. The commissioners of Meagher and Broadwater counties intervened in support of the mine.

On Tuesday, Derf Johnson with MEIC applauded the courts decision.

Our position is that the judge was right on the law, he said. She did her homework and its disappointing DEQ will appeal this decision rather than deny the permit. If DEQ appeals we will defend the decision vigorously in the Montana Supreme Court.

Tintina first applied for an operating permit in 2015 and DEQ issued the permit in 2020. The plan calls for a 13-year production period, producing 14.5 million tons of copper ore over the mine life.

In 2020 the company began its first phase of surface construction but had not yet begun mining phases.

The mine has seen support for its economic potential with hundreds of jobs slated to come to White Sulphur Springs during construction, mining and reclamation.

But conservation groups have long opposed the mine due to its proximity to Sheep Creek, a tributary of the Smith River. The Smith, known for its limestone canyons, is the states only river requiring a permit to float with thousands of applications each year.

The copper deposit resides in a sulfide ore body. That means mitigation measures are required to store tailings and prevent pollution to the creek. Tintina sought and received approval for a 72-acre tailings facility that would store tailings in a cement mixture that, once hardened, would prevent material from destabilizing and causing pollution. Additional tailings would be stored below ground.

Bidegaray found DEQs conclusions unpersuasive on several fronts and ruled the agency failed to fully analyze the long-term stability of the tailings facility as a result. She specifically took issue with conclusions that tailings would quickly harden into a solid mass; that tailings would be insulated from oxygen and water that could result in degrading acidification; and that tailings would not be susceptible to liquefaction due to an earthquake or mine blasting.

DEQs inadequate or irrational analysis with respect to any one of these assurances alone is enough to render DEQs decision to permit the Black Butte Copper Mine arbitrary, capricious and unlawful, Bidegaray wrote (emphasis in the original). Yet DEQ failed to support all three assurances with adequate testing and analysis.

DEQ in issuing the permit determined the use of cement would provide additional pollution protection and that the facility designs alone were sufficient to meet state environmental requirements. The state found that the mine proposal is not predicted to harm the Smith River and that the company had met the necessary steps to mine under Montana law.

The Smith is safe. This mine plan is solid as a rock. It will not move, it will not leak, it will not fail. It is the safest and most stable mine plan ever proposed in the state of Montana, and probably in the world, Sarah Clerget, an attorney for DEQ, said during oral arguments in Meagher County last year, the Bozeman Daily Chronicle reported.

The judge, however, found environmental analysis relied on a higher concentration of cement than might typically be used and that plans to add layered tailings before lower layers fully set were not appropriately analyzed under Montana law.

DEQs own consultants had recommended a different treatment process, whereby miners would remove the acidic pyrite waste to a separate underground storage and lower the risk of pollution getting in the creek and river. The agency also dropped suggestions to use a stronger cementing process for the above-ground tailings, the Missoulian reported Monday.

Tom Kuglin is the deputy editor for the Lee Newspapers State Bureau. His coverage focuses on outdoors, recreation and natural resources.

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Gov. Greg Gianforte on Tuesday announced an 11-person advisory board to assist with vetting applications for the upcoming vacancy for a district court judgeship in central Montana.

Chief Justice Mike McGrath of the Montana Supreme Court notified Gianforte on March 11 that Judge Jon Oldenburg will retire on July 2. The 10th Judicial District covers Judith Basin, Fergus and Petroleum counties. The Governor's Office is accepting applications for the bench through April 19.

Representing the interests of their communities, members of our judicial advisory councils play a critical role in identifying candidates to fill judicial vacancies that interpret laws, not make them from the bench, Gianforte said in a press release. I look forward to the 10th Judicial District advisory councils work over the coming weeks and receiving their recommendations.

The committee members include law enforcement officials, business owners in agriculture, attorneys and former lawmakers.

Kris Birdwell, attorney at Stogsdill & Birdwell, PC;

Bonnie Boettger, former probation and parole officer for the Montana Department of Corrections;

Bill Cassell, Petroleum County Sheriff;

Diane Cochran, deputy county attorney for Fergus County;

Nathan Descheemaeker, cattle rancher and board member of Petroleum County Conservation District;

Justin Jenness, Lewistown Police chief;

Jim Peterson, rancher and former legislator'

Betty Sampsel, owner of Hughes Newford Co.;

KellyAnne Terry, chair of Fergus County Port Authority and Lewistown city commissioner;

Oliver Urick, attorney at Urick Law Firm; and

Bing Von Bergen, owner and operator of Von Bergen Farms.

The deadline to submit applications for the appointment is 5 p.m. on April 19. Applications will be made available to the public, which can offer comment on the candidates from April 20 through May 19.

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Richmond school officials heard from a handful of people Monday night on plans to alleviate overcrowding at the citys newest middle school.

Built for 1,500 students, River City Middle School opened in September with 1,626 students and enrollment projections have the school at 1,740 students by the 2024-25 school year.

River City, at 6300 Hull Street Road in south Richmond, replaced Elkhart and Thompson Middle Schools.

A proposed plan recommended by a rezoning committee shifts more than 450 students from River City over the next three years to three other middle schools: 77 students would go to Lucille Brown, 239 to Binford and 137 to Thomas C. Boushall. The movement is projected to keep River City at just over 1,100 students  about 74% capacity  while each of the other three schools would also be kept at 76% capacity.

For the current school year, Lucille Brown is at roughly 75% capacity, while Binford and Boushall are 62% and 51%, respectively, according to Virginia Department of Education enrollment numbers from September.

During the public hearing, one speaker  an RPS teacher  questioned why the board would wait three years to move all of the students, explaining that relief is needed now. Another speaker who works with families of River City students  many of whom come from Spanish-speaking communities  said classrooms with more than 25 students affects students mental health, grades and attendance.

Boushall Principal LaTonya Waller, a member of the rezoning committee, said her cohort brought forth a thoughtful plan, though not a perfect one.

Nothing is going to be a perfect solution ... but it is a potential solution, she said, adding that the committee has worked hard to create a plan that will re-allocate resources and personnel. We do want to make sure to alleviate [the overcrowding issue] but we also dont want to create any other potential issues elsewhere.

River City Principal Jacquelyn Murphy-Braxton encouraged the school board to remember that overcrowding is more than just the number of students in a building.

It is also lack of space for staff members and students, its ... fewer bathrooms, she said. There are so many things that come with being overcrowded than just the number of bodies in a building.

With regards to concerns about resources following the students who are transferred to another school, she said, I am glad to allow staff members to go and support those students.
The Richmond City Council declared a climate emergency last year, but you wouldnt know it by looking at Mayor Levar Stoneys budget proposal for next year, activists said in a public hearing on the spending plan Monday.

While the mayor and other officials say they are taking climate change seriously, about half of the approximately 30 speakers raised concerns about the citys plans to continue investing in gas-powered vehicles, facilities, infrastructure and equipment.

The next few years offer a narrow window to provide a sustainable future for all, said Bill Muth, a local resident who joined a few dozen other community members Monday to call on the council to commit to energy reforms.

The worlds top climate scientist with the United Nations last week published a report that shows Earth is firmly on track toward an unlivable world because of continued reliance on fossil fuels and broken promises by governments and corporations, according to U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

The climate activists in Mondays public hearing came as part of a coalition led by the advocacy groups Virginia Interfaith Power & Light and RVA Interfaith Climate Justice League.

As part of the outreach efforts, more than 40 activist groups recently endorsed a series of budget recommendations that include calls for energy-efficient upgrades in city facilities, transitioning to an all-electric vehicle fleet, replacing old HVAC equipment with modern heat pumps, and suspending gas infrastructure expansion and replacing it with sustainable energy sources.

Council members did not commit to any changes Monday, but a few officials praised the speakers for focusing on environmental issues.

Councilwoman Katherine Jordan, the chief sponsor of the climate emergency resolution approved by the council last year, said more progress needs to be made to meet the goals the governing body adopted last year.

We dont have a choice, honestly, she said. Were going to need more partners on this. Keep speaking up and showing up.

Keep being our partners in this. We cant do it without you.

The mayors budget proposal calls for increasing the citys annual spending by $63.2 million, or 8.2%, over the citys budget for this year while maintaining the citys real estate tax rate level at $1.20 per $100 of assessed value.

About one-quarter of all revenue is being earmarked for giving raises to firefighters and police officers, nearly all of whom would receive a raise of at least 10%. The proposed budget also includes 5% raises for all non-sworn employees and $15 million in additional funding for Richmond Public Schools.

Several speakers in the public hearing applauded the focus on compensation for police and firefighters, as their starting pay and wages in recent years have trailed that of their counterparts in surrounding localities.

Passing this is necessary to ensure that those in public safety are properly compensated for their continued sacrifice to the people who live, work or visit the city of Richmond, said Capt. William Spindle III, a member of the Richmond Fire Department who was involved in helping craft the proposed public safety pay plan.

The City Council will continue deliberating over the budget in the coming weeks, with amendment requests due Tuesday, according to interim council chief of staff Joyce Davis.

A few more budget work sessions are scheduled ahead of a final public hearing and adoption vote scheduled for May 2.
Developers of a decadeslong planned residential project in Henrico Countys Varina District recently pulled out of developing the 420-acre site. Residents had criticized the 650 single-family homes and town homes subdivision project.

Last year, D.R. Horton, a home construction company headquartered in Texas, took over the project  located about a mile east of Interstate 295 and state Route 5  from Atack Properties.

However, on April 5, Henrico officials received notice that D.R. Horton withdrew its contract with the Atack Estate to purchase the site, which is set to become The Ridings at Warner Farm.

Via email, the county learned that the developer no longer intended to move forward with the acquisition of the property, said Steven Yob, Henricos deputy county manager for community operations.

In previous interviews with residents, the issues at hand were the projects potential impact on the Camp Holly Springs aquifer and the Civil War battlefield of New Market Heights, where 14 members of the U.S. Colored Troops earned the Medal of Honor for valor in an attack on Confederate forces.

D.R. Horton abandoned the project after the Coalition raised concerns that the project was out of compliance with permits issued by the Army Corps of Engineers, specifically that the project had not completed several elements of the cultural resources plan, which is a condition of the permit, according to a news release Monday from the Coalition for the Protection of New Market Heights Battlefield.

An attorney for D.R. Horton did not immediately respond to a request for comment Monday.

D.R. Horton was also working through a checklist from the county. The forms are used to make sure compliance is met with all components of the design, engineering standards and aspects related to roads, the environment and the subdivision, Yob said.

As far as the county goes, we will review it as many times as it takes to make sure everything is good to go, Yob said. In the case of The Ridings, they had gotten very far getting through the checklist and requirements ... [and] we were working through the items that they were doing.

Non-county-issued permits concerning the environment were set to expire this summer. The county takes those permits into account with its checklists. For example, impacts on wetlands require approval from the Army Corps of Engineers and/or the Department of Environmental Quality.

The process did what the process was supposed to do as it relates to accountability, said Varina District Supervisor Tyrone Nelson. D.R. Horton was in the planning of its development stage and there are checkpoints and checklists that our planning department goes through with developers and Horton did not meet that criteria.

Environmental protections are important to Henrico County, including protection of floodplains, wetlands, streams and rivers, he said.

In 2012, Bob Atack of Atack Properties went before the Henrico Planning Commission and secured approval for the development, after initially purchasing the land seven years earlier. Atack died in 2014 before the project truly began.

When D.R. Horton stepped in last year, new plans were developed to expand the number of homes from 650 to 770. However, in November, D.R. Horton withdrew its rezoning application from the Planning Commission, bringing the project back to 650 homes.

Despite D.R. Hortons decision, the 2012 rezoning case still stands, meaning the land can still be developed.

The Atack Estate, which did not respond Monday evening to an email sent to an address listed on the Richard Atack website, has the ability to either sell the land to another developer or potentially a preservation group.

As a property owner, you have a right to look at all options for your property, Nelson said.

The Capital Region Land Conservancy and the American Battlefield Trust have previously expressed interest in purchasing the property for preservation purposes if D.R. Horton stepped aside.

Its been one of those things where the community [has been] saying repeatedly over the past year that this is an important site for them and they would like to see it preserved, said Parker Agelasto, executive director of the land conservancy. I can only think that has had some impact on the decision makers to get to this point.

Community members who wanted to see the land be preserved sought out the help of Agelasto. He has helped them access available conservation information and has assisted them in understanding how regulations are used to protect resources.

Jeff Dawes, a member of the New Market Heights coalition, said in a statement that the coalition hopes the result of D.R. Horton stepping away from the project is allowing for the land to be preserved.
GOP Gov. Glenn Youngkin vetoed nine out of 10 bills sponsored by a Democratic state senator whose bills were threatened during the legislative session by a senior aide to the governor.

Ten bills filed by Sen. Adam Ebbin, D-Alexandria, reached the governors desk. Youngkin amended one and vetoed the other nine.

Im stunned at the governors unexplainable decision to veto meaningful, non-controversial, legislation. It is the polar opposite of what he campaigned on, Ebbin wrote on Twitter.

Four of the nine bills passed the House and Senate without any opposition. Asked why he vetoed the bills, Youngkin spokeswoman Macaulay Porter issued a statement that cited companion bills in the House for a number of Ebbins bills.

In other words, because the same bill passed the House, Ebbins bill wasnt needed. However, governors traditionally sign a bill if they agree with the policy, even if theres a companion bill. No other lawmakers bill was vetoed for that reason even though many bills have companions in the other chamber.

Youngkin vetoed a total of 26 bills.

The General Assembly will address the governors vetoes and amendments to legislation on April 27.

Ebbin was in the thick of a partisan fight during the regular General Assembly session this year over personnel appointments. After House Republicans stripped 11 appointees of Democratic former Gov. Ralph Northam of their positions, Senate Democrats scuttled Youngkins choices for the Virginia Parole Board.

Ebbin had exchanges in the Capitol with Matt Moran, a senior Youngkin aide who was the governors liaison to lawmakers, helped craft legislation and told lawmakers which bills the governor might sign or veto. The Richmond Times-Dispatch reported last month that Moran is on the payroll of private political consultants, and not the state.

In that story, Ebbin said Moran subtly threatened a Youngkin veto of Ebbins bills.

Asked Tuesday if Moran told the governor to veto Ebbins bills, Porter, the governors spokeswoman, did not respond.

The Democratic Party of Virginia called the vetoes of Ebbins bills a blatantly political and personal move.

Among other vetoes was a bill from Sen. Creigh Deeds, D-Bath, that sought to prevent harassment of crime victims from debt collection agencies. Youngkins veto explanation said the bill had unintended consequences.

Deeds said it was the first time one of his bills had been vetoed since 1999, and he was disappointed the governor or his team didnt notify him in advance, which Deeds said was the traditional protocol.

It is not surprising given the Governors absolute lack of experience with government, Deeds wrote in a statement.
 Flash

As the Russia-Ukraine conflict grinds on, NATO has been targeting China instead of focusing on facilitating peace talks. Chinese officials, researchers and netizens refuted the accusations by clarifying China's longstanding position of maintaining world peace.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said that China's response to the Russia-Ukraine conflict presents a "serious challenge" to the North Atlantic alliance after a meeting last week.

"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 Stoltenberg, adding that "this is a serious challenge to us all. It makes it even more important that we stand together to protect our values."

The NATO chief also claimed the necessity of taking into account "how China's growing influence and coercive policies affect our security."

In a recent opinion article, Chen Yang, who is the deputy director and associate researcher of the Institute of European Studies at the China Institute of Contemporary International Relations, called NATO's accusations against China both baseless and clumsy.

When analyzing the reasons underlying such claims, Chen said that in response to the Russia-Ukraine conflict, NATO, behind the scenes, sent money and weapons and Western countries launched unprecedented sanctions in an attempt to put pressure on Russia. However, without China, Russia's largest trading partner, the effect of economic containment may be greatly reduced.

BRICS, the Middle East and many African countries have not joined the sanctions, but NATO only targeted China and interpreted China's stance with self-imposed bias, the researcher said, adding that these claims that smear China are nonsense and expose the deep-rooted arrogance of Western centralism.

On Monday, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian called on NATO to immediately stop spreading disinformation and provocative remarks targeting China, as well as to abandon the confrontational approach of drawing ideological lines.

Some Chinese netizens also commented on such arguments. One user on Weibo said that NATO and its "client states" have long made defamatory allegations against China, which posed a "serious challenge to us all." Another netizen questioned why they didn't condemn when NATO bombs fell on the ground of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. Meanwhile, others also said that China has been promoting world peace and NATO should stop picking a fight with China in the name of peace.

This is not the first time that NATO has made reference to China regarding the Russia-Ukraine conflict. In a joint statement after an extraordinary summit of the military alliance in Brussels on March 24, NATO leaders called on all states, "including China," to "abstain from supporting Russia's war effort in any way, and to refrain from any action that helps Russia circumvent sanctions."

The statement also called on China to "cease amplifying the Kremlin's false narratives, in particular on the war and on NATO, and to promote a peaceful resolution to the conflict."

In response to such claims, the spokesperson of the Chinese Mission to the EU said that China firmly opposes such groundless accusations and suspicions, as well as any attempts to exert coercion and pressure against China.

The spokesperson once again repeated China's "longstanding and consistent position" that China maintains that the sovereign independence and territorial integrity of all countries should be respected, and that the purposes and principles of the U.N. Charter be upheld.

"Since the crisis broke out in Ukraine, China has been working actively and constructively in an objective and impartial manner, to facilitate peace talks, the cessation of conflicts, as well as the avoidance of a large-scale humanitarian crisis," he said.
Gov. Glenn Youngkin on Monday proposed that the General Assembly establish new misdemeanor penalties for people in possession of more than two ounces of marijuana, a move that was recommended last year by a state oversight agency.

Youngkins proposal comes in the form of an amendment to a bill, which will go back to the General Assembly for consideration on April 27 when lawmakers consider vetoes and amendments that the governor made before a midnight Monday deadline. The first-year governor also announced signing more than 700 bills Monday.

Virginia last year legalized possession of small amounts of marijuana for adults. Up to an ounce is legal. Anyone caught with between an ounce and a pound  16 ounces  of marijuana is subject to a civil penalty of $25. And people with more than a pound face a criminal felony charge.

The states Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee recommended in June that Virginia follow other states that have legalized small amounts of marijuana but still maintain a criminal misdemeanor charge for people who have gradually larger amounts.

But some civil rights advocates have opposed creation of new marijuana-related crimes. The legislature hasnt taken any action on the issue.

Youngkin made the amendment to a bill sponsored by Sen. Emmett Hanger, R-Augusta, that requires state officials to create regulations prohibiting production and sale of retail marijuana products that depict or are in the shape of a human, animal, vehicle or fruit.

Youngkin also is amending that bill to set the minimum age at 21 for buying CBD products.

The bill would also ban products containing Delta-8, a hemp-derived product sold in shops and convenience stores that users say feels similar to marijuana.

The legislature sent 841 bills to Youngkin during the 2022 regular session and he offered amendments to 100 of them, although his office said many of the amendments were technical. Among other amendments by the governor is one that adds further training for law enforcement use of facial-recognition technology.

I call on the General Assembly to adopt these changes and quickly enact them into law so that they can benefit all residents of the Commonwealth, Youngkin said in a statement.

Youngkin vetoed 25 bills, his office said.

The General Assembly remains in special session because lawmakers were unable to reach agreement on a new budget in the regular session, and some pieces of legislation remain outstanding.

When lawmakers convene later this month to address amendments and vetoes issued by the governor to legislation passed in the regular session, which ended March 12, they can accept his amendments or reject them. But if they reject, they risk Youngkin vetoing a bill entirely.

Youngkin has signed:

Legislation to make improvements to adult guardianships and conservatorships, reforms stemming from a series of articles published by the Richmond Times-Dispatch in 2019.

A bill designed to prevent law-enforcement agencies from creating traffic ticket quotas for officers and deputies.

A bill that prohibits anyone other than certain attorneys and certain family members of victims from getting access to any closed police investigative file in the state.

A bill that eliminates the prohibition on switchblades.

Legislation that strips power from citizen environmental advisory boards.
A Roanoke woman bitten in the face by a small pet dog last week at a Salem pharmacy will not have to undergo a series of potentially expensive rabies vaccination shots.

I told you about that unfortunate matter in Sundays column. Since its publication, Salem police have identified the dogs owner  hooray! Police also determined that the biting black pup, whose name is Pepper, is up-to-date on its vaccinations, Adkins told me.

Thats a great relief to Adkins, 63. It means she wont have to undergo a series of post-exposure rabies vaccinations. Those could easily have cost thousands of dollars, which Adkins  whos said shes uninsured except for inpatient hospitalization coverage  doesnt have.

I really appreciate everything you did, she told me Monday afternoon, minutes after a Salem animal control officer gave her the good news.

Adkins is disabled but works part time as a merchandiser for an independent company. She handles in-store advertising in various retailers  CVS is just one of the stores to which she moves around.

On April 3, a Sunday, she was working in the Ridgewood Farms CVS on Electric Road. That afternoon is when she encountered Pepper, unleashed and in a store cart, and the dogs owner, in one of the pharmacys aisles.

Adkins loves dogs. Shes owned her own, now deceased, and she told me she often dog-sits for friends and families. The dog, which Adkins guessed was a cocker spaniel-poodle hybrid, appeared friendly and was wagging its tail when she approached and began making googly eyes at it, she said.

The dog jumped up in the cart and put its paws on Adkins chest and licked her face. Then without warning, it took a bite that pierced her skin in two places  her upper cheek and lower nose. The cheek wound, about half-an-inch long, was the more severe of the two. The result was blood, which Adkins dabbed at with tissues supplied by another CVS customer.

Adkins told the dog owner she thought she was all right, and the customer and Pepper moved on. A few minutes later, she encountered the woman again at the stores front self-checkout register.

Adkins gave the dog owner Adkins name and phone number, and the woman entered those into her phone, with the notation dog bite as Adkins said she watched. But Adkins neglected to get the dog owners information. She overlooked that because she was still flustered from the bite, she said.

Amy Thibault, a CVS spokeswoman, said the drugstore chain usually bars pets inside its stores.

Since we are a health care provider, we generally prohibit animals inside our CVS Pharmacy stores, however, service animals are welcome, she said.

That afternoon, Adkins sought treatment from an urgent care center, and wound up at the Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital emergency room last Tuesday after the wound exhibited signs of infection.

An ER physician recommended Adkins begin a course of rabies vaccination shots. Adkins own physician recommended the same, so long as the dog and its owner remained unidentified.

Roughly 60,000 people in America each year undergo post-exposure vaccination against rabies, most of them following a run-in with a wild animal. (One of them was a congressman bitten by a rabid fox on Capitol Hill just last week.)

The CDC also notes that when the biting animal is a pet cat, dog, or ferret that appeared healthy at the time you were bitten, it can be confined by its owner for 10 days and observed. No anti-rabies prophylaxis is needed. No person in the United States has ever contracted rabies from a dog, cat or ferret held in quarantine for 10 days.

For Adkins, the 10-day window would have been up April 13, which is Wednesday. Thats why she was desperate to get details about the dog and its vaccination records by then.

She reported the bite to Salem police on April 4. The following day, last Tuesday, she reported it to me. Salem spokesman Mike Stevens said Lt. G. Haston had obtained store security video that showed Pepper and the dog owner.

Thursday, Salem police posted a screen capture of the dog owner and Pepper to their Facebook page. I posted that to Roanoke.com Saturday night and included it in The Roanoke Times Sunday print edition.

Without success, police also asked others around the Ridgewood Farms area if they recognized the dog owner, Stevens said.

At 8:16 a.m. Monday, Adkins got a call from Salem police.

Lt. Haston called, she texted me. Nobody has identified the dog owner.

Haston called her back at 8:42 but didnt have any good news. Then, right at noon Adkins received a call from a Salem animal control officer. He gave Adkins the dog owners name and contact information.

He said the dogs up-to-date with vaccinations until 2024, she told me. She gleaned from their conversation that someone had called police with the information.

He used the word tip, Adkins told me.

Stevens said the information came via an anonymous tip by someone who recognized the dog owner, and that the tip actually came in Sunday. It was the only tip about the dog bite that Salem police received, he said.

Not sure if it was generated by your article or Facebook post, as the tipster did not indicate that, he added.

Either way, it proved good news for Adkins.

The CDC estimates that a course of five rabies shots over two weeks typically costs $3,800 just for the medicine, depending on insurance and other factors. But Ive read newspaper stories in which bitten individuals have been charged $10,000 or more for post-exposure rabies vaccinations.

Contact metro columnist Dan Casey at 981-3423 or dan.casey@roanoke.com . Follow him on Twitter: @dancaseysblog .

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Roanoke Countys prosecutor has determined that the police officer who fatally shot a man in the North Lakes community in November legally used deadly force.

Commonwealths Attorney Brian T. Holohan said he had conducted an independent review of the police departments investigation of the shooting that left dead Shawn Alan Smith, 52.

The crucial legal question regarding the killing of Shawn Smith is whether the police officer who fired the fatal shots was reasonably in fear of death or serious bodily injury due to an overt act, indicative of imminent danger, by the deceased, Holohan wrote in his review released Friday. It is reasonable to infer from Smiths actions that he willfully and knowingly placed the officer in fear that he had a firearm and was about to open fire.

At approximately 7 p.m. Nov. 26, Roanoke County police officers responded to a call about a domestic dispute involving a weapon in the 4900 block of Lantern Street. Officers set up a perimeter around the residence occupied by Smith, who they believed had a handgun.

Police made several failed attempts to negotiate with Smith, who denied from his back porch having a gun in the house. The police officer who later fired the fatal shots told Smith that the report of a gun being involved made the officer worried for his life, Holohan wrote.

Smith responded, If that was the case I wouldve shot you by now. Smith then went back into the house. He reemerged from the house and pointed a flashlight with a strobe function into the police officers eyes, Holohan wrote.

Is that a flashlight or a gun? the officer asked Smith, according to an audio recording caught on the officers personal microphone.

I dont know. You tell me. Am I pointing it at you? Smith said.

I dont know, the officer said.

Then shoot me, Smith said.

Then, Holohan wrote, Smith began to move toward the officer, holding his hands at chest level pointing in the police officers direction.

The officer could tell Smith had something in his hand in addition to the flashlight, but could not clearly see the object due to the light flashing in his eyes, Holohan wrote. After the police officer gave Smith a final command to drop the objects he had in his hand, the police officer, believing his life was in danger, fired two shots from his issued patrol rifle.

Smith died at the scene. Police found a large hunting knife and a flashlight near his body, but despite an exhaustive search, police could not locate a firearm on the porch or in the residence.

The officer who shot Smith was placed on administrative leave after the shooting. He has not been identified, but he is an active employee, county public information officer Amy Whittaker confirmed in an email Monday.

Roanoke Countys 140 sworn officers do not wear body cameras, but are equipped with microphones. The audio recorded by those microphones is examined during investigations and was made available to Holohan, Whittaker said.

Roanoke County Police Chief Howard Hall concurred with Holohans determination.

A separate administrative investigation into the use of force was conducted by the police departments Professional Standards Unit and found that the officer had complied with policy, Hall said in the countys press release.

But Terry Grimes and Melvin Williams, attorneys representing Smiths wife, Lori Smith, arent satisfied.

The attorneys announced Friday that they intend to file a civil suit against the members of the Roanoke County Police Department responsible for Shawns death, Williams said in an email Monday.

The attorneys have maintained that Smith was struggling with a mental health crisis that called for a different response from responding police officers.

The Roanoke County Police Department treated the situation as a SWAT team event and markedly and unnecessarily escalated the situation, the attorneys press release said.

As officers were responding to the domestic dispute call, other officers were transporting Lisa Smith to the Roanoke County magistrates office to obtain an Emergency Custody Order for her husband.

The magistrate issued the ECO at 7:49 p.m., the attorneys press release said. By 7:52 p.m. Shawn Smith was dead.

The attorneys news release described Smith as a decorated Marine who survived Desert Storm but who could not survive the Roanoke County police.

We intend to hold the police responsible for yet another brutal and senseless killing, the press release said. We can only hope that the Roanoke County Police learn from this incident how to protect and to serve, and not harm, those in mental health crisis.

Holohan said this is the only officer-related case of deadly force he has examined since entering office in January 2020. He said it is not a common occurrence in the county.

One of the most high-profile police shootings in the Roanoke Valley in recent years involved Roanoke County police. Two county officers shot and killed Kionte Spencer, an 18-year-old high school student, in February 2016 beside Cave Spring Corners shopping center after police said Spencer did not comply with commands to drop what appeared to be a weapon. The object in Spencers hand turned out to be a broken BB gun.

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The prevalence of telemedicine has skyrocketed since the beginning of the COVID pandemic.

More patients and doctors are using this next generation technology to consult about all sorts of health concerns.

Patients using video chat to meet with a doctor is no longer an anomaly, and in many cases the preferred avenue for ones health care experience.

The ability to virtually meet on minor or major issues is cutting costs and saving time for patients who can more seamlessly connect with their health care provider without having to worry about transportation, extended child care or getting off work.

The lifeline telehealth provided to patients and doctors throughout the pandemic makes clear the importance of continuing to foster telehealths growth and adoption to unleash the full potential it holds.

This breakthrough technology can be adopted across a variety of health care related scenarios, from connecting our troops abroad with specialists at home to breaking down barriers around mental and behavioral health.

Throughout Virginia telehealth innovations are making a real impact. Recently Glen Lea Elementary School in Henrico County celebrated a new virtual clinic on campus providing students improved access to health care while also reducing missed class time. The schools Telehealth Clinic utilizes an internet webcam and additional tools for students to consult with doctors, nurses, dentists and other health professionals. Any student (with the permission of their parent or guardian) is eligible to utilize these services for no out-of-pocket costs.

Similarly in 2019, Augusta Health Clinic in Fisherville, saving hundreds of lives from sepsis using next generation connectivity and technology that assess patients before they arrive. The independent hospital also has developed a software tool for real-time patient monitoring. This technology should be accessible to all, and not just a luxury for the well-connected.

Establishing public policies that improve accessibility to high-speed internet access is central to accomplishing this goal. Happily, an unprecedented amount of broadband infrastructure funding is available and waiting for allocation. Policymakers at the state and local levels must capitalize on this unique opportunity to help close the digital divide and ensure Americans across the country can utilize the benefits of internet access, including telemedicine.

While Congress allocation of billions toward broadband infrastructure is a necessary and important start, the process of deployment is far more complicated.

In the past, misguided policies have resulted in these funds flowing to regions with multiple preexisting internet providers, instead of areas where people live without any coverage.

It is critical for policymakers to ensure unserved and underserved areas receive this support and utilize the various tools for allocation oversight at their disposal.

At the same time, local officials should be looking to streamline rules and regulations governing infrastructure deployment.

Creating a welcoming environment ripe for innovation and infrastructure deployment as opposed to being a cumbersome landscape delaying development.

For example, one tech company is experimenting with new small cells that can fit on top of a traditional street lamp, using an existing utility pole to enable new connectivity. Removing overburdening regulations will open the market to more deployments, resulting in increased user connectivity.

These deployments can enable next generation technology to expand and improve local residents Internet accessibility and opportunity to utilize telehealth applications in a whole new way.

Technological innovations are making peoples lives better, but access to reliable Internet must be expanded to ensure everyones afforded the opportunity to utilize these life changing innovations.

Leamer is executive director at Digital First Project. Previously he served as policy advisor to Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai. He lives in Alexandria.
Email Thomas Elias at tdelias@aol.com. His book, "The Burzynski Breakthrough, The Most Promising Cancer Treatment and the Governments Campaign to Squelch It" is now available in a soft cover fourth edition. For more Elias columns, visit www.californiafocus.net
Kevin Merrill of Mesa Vineyard Management is a board member of the Santa Barbara County Farm Bureau and a director on the Santa Barbara County Fair Board. He can be reached at kmerrill@mesavineyard.com
Prof. Sedat Nizamoglu. Credit: Koc University

Koc University's Sedat Nizamoglu will receive 2 million euros from a European Research Council's (ERC) Consolidator Grant to develop retinal implants with high visual acuity and a wide field of view for sufferers of visual impairments. The grant will be given over a period of five years.

ERC grants are awarded to top researchers of any nationality who are working on scientific and technological innovations that could form the basis of new industries, and who intend to work in Europe. This year, the highly coveted ERC Consolidator Grant, which is for experienced researchers, was awarded to just12 of 2,652 applicants.

Koc University researchers hold 20 of the 36 ERC-funded projects in Turkey. Of these, 15 won main project funding (8 in engineering, 5 in social sciences, and 2 in molecular biology and genetics), while 5 were awarded Proof of Concept grants for commercialization of research. Nizamoglu is a professor at Koc University's Electrical and Electronics Engineering Department.

Nizamoglu's research began in 2014 after he received an ERC Starting Grant to demonstrate device architectures that stimulate neurons by converting light energy into controlled ion currents. With his new project, Nizamoglu aims to develop a retinal implant that can cure visual impairments.

The photoreceptor (specialized neurons in the retina that turn light into electrical signals) degeneration is among the leading causes of visual impairment and can occur with common diseases like macular degeneration and Retinitis Pigmentosa (also known as light blindness). Photovoltaic retinal implants (which convert light energy to electricity) are among the most exciting electronic solutions for alleviating loss of vision from photoreceptor degeneration. However, the amount of vision regained with existing photodiode-based implants is limited because of the difficulty of matching pixel size, efficiency, and compatibility with mechanical and structural properties of the retina and remains below the official threshold of blindness.

Prof. Sedat Nizamoglu. Credit: Koc University

Prof. Sedat Nizamoglu. Credit: Koc University

Using Nizamoglu's retinal mesh optoelectronics, however, retinal implants will meet important visual requirements, such as:

 a high pixel density for high visual acuity,

 conform with the natural curvature of the retina for optimal quality of vision,

 a large retinal area for a wide angle of view,

 integration with neurons to keep intact photoreceptors healthy,

 biocompatible,

 use of safe capacitive current,

 can be delivered by injection, and

 are removable.

The First in its Field

Today, many treatments for preventing photoreceptor degeneration such as drugs, stem cells, optogenetics, and gene therapy, are promising but face important limitations. Other approaches have also suffered from manufacturing challenges. This means that the development of a flexible, high-resolution, wide-angle, photodiode-based retinal implant that works efficiently and can be produced with a solution-based fabrication technique, is all the more urgent.

Retinal mesh optoelectronics, the new retinal implant being developed by Nizamoglu and his team, will combine nanomaterials with non-traditional approaches in electronics. The implants will initially be tested on animals at the Institute de la Vision in Paris, by institute director Dr. Serge Picaud.

Provided by Koc University
DARLINGTON, S.C.  The Darlington County Board of Education named Stephania Lenard as the new principal of Mayo High School for Math, Science & Technology.

Lenard is currently the assistant principal for seniors and the Early College program at Darlington High School.

Mrs. Lenard is well equipped to carry on the lofty expectations and traditions of Mayo High School, said Dr. Tim Newman, Darlington County superintendent. From her experience as a high school graduate of a STEM magnet school to her rigorous classroom instruction as a National Board Certified and Advanced Placement (AP) Biology teacher and her progressive administrative experiences, Mrs. Lenard is ready for her Mayo moment. I believe parents, students, staff, and the community will quickly see the great qualities that made her the best choice for this new role.

Lenard began her public education career as a science teacher in 2000. Before joining the Darlington County School District, Lenard worked in Richland School District One as an AP science teacher, high school dean of students, and assistant principal at A.C. Flora High School. In 2016, Lenard became an assistant principal of Darlington High School. Her responsibilities covered curriculum and instruction, attendance, 504 coordination, testing, professional development and instructional leadership, as well as student support.

As I stand at the intersection of preparation and opportunity, I am humbled by this career-changing moment, said Lenard. Mayos hashtag, #hardworkpaysoff, holds true. By partnering with the families, students, faculty and staff of Mayo High School for Math, Science and Technology, we will continue the hard work of maintaining the tradition of academic excellence.

Lenard earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Mercer University, a Master of Social Work from the University of South Carolina, and an Education Specialist degree in Educational Administration from South Carolina State University. Lenard is currently pursuing a Doctor of Education degree in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Louisiana. She holds a teaching certificate in biology, national board certification in science, and secondary principal certification. In addition, she has endorsements in Advanced Placement (AP) Biology and Gifted and Talented.
 "The Return of the Firing Squad?" | Main | "Trauma and Blameworthiness in the Criminal Legal System" 

This AP story, headlined "Juvenile lifer seeks reprieve amid broader push for leniency," focuses on one high-profile juvenile lifer case while also discussing some of the other realities of juve LWOP in the federal system since the Supreme Court's major Eighth Amendment ruling in Miller v. Alabama a decade ago. Here are some excerpts from a lengthy piece worth reading in full:

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. Meanwhile, 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.

But the move toward greater leniency has been gradual and not without resistance. Briones is among those whose life sentences have been upheld in recent years, though he still has another chance. Prosecutors in his case have opposed a reduced term. They argue despite Briones improvements, he minimized his role in the gang and its crimes that terrorized Salt River amid an explosion of gang violence on Native American reservations in the 1990s....

Briones case became eligible for resentencing 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 court previously eliminated the death penalty for juveniles and barred life-without-parole sentences for juveniles except in cases of murder. A handful of the defendants in the 39 federal cases  most of whom are minorities  have been released from prison.

The Feb. 17 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. Taking a life is really, really serious, and I dont belittle that at all, said Mary McCord, executive director of the Institute for Constitutional Advocacy and Protection at the Georgetown University Law Center, one of the signatories. But a full life in prison when youre a juvenile and youre talking about 40, 50, 60 years in prison is exceedingly excessive probably in almost every case and not consistent with typical sentences for homicides, even adults....

The California-based Criminal Justice Legal Foundation, a victims rights group, said changes in the law that continually allow juvenile offenders to get another shot at freedom are damaging for the families, communities and the criminal justice system. Some of these crimes are just very horrible, and the impacts on the families are substantial, and they never go away, said the groups president, Michael Rushford.

The Campaign for the Fair Sentencing of Youth has long argued the changes a person makes once theyve entered prison should matter, and juveniles offenders should be able to live as adults outside prison walls. If the facts of the crime are always going to be the overpowering force, then Miller isnt going to be meaningfully interpreted to outweigh all this positive growth, said Rebecca Turner, who tracks the federal cases for the group.

The federal court in Arizona has resentenced more of the juvenile offenders to life in prison than any other state. Texas has two juvenile offenders who are serving life but werent able to be resentenced because of how courts interpreted Miller v. Alabama. South Carolina resentenced one inmate to life. All three federal cases in Arizona were from Native American reservations, where the federal government has jurisdiction when the suspect, victim or both are Native American for a set of major crimes, including homicide. The penalties, in general, are stricter than if the crimes happened off the reservation and the cases ended up in state court.
SIOUX CITY -- Patrick Jacobson-Schulte will become interim president of Briar Cliff University on July 1.

Briar Cliff's board of trustees on Tuesday announced its selection to lead the four-year school after President Rachelle Keck leaves to become president of Grand View University.

Jacobson-Schulte, who has served as Briar Cliffs vice president of finance and chief information officer, has been promoted immediately to executive vice president to learn from and collaborate with Keck prior to her departure on June 30.

Beginning this fall, the board of trustees will launch a presidential search, with the objective to name the school's 12th president by July 2023.

"The board has been preparing for interim leadership and a presidential search, and we are grateful to Patrick for his continued leadership and guidance for this special place," Mark Ward, chair of the Briar Cliff board Chair and a 2002 alumnus.

Originally from Lakeville, Minnesota, Jacobson-Schulte has diverse experience in finance and administration within educational institutions.

He previously served as the executive director of finance & operations for Northeast Metro Intermediate School District 916, vice president and chief financial officer at Dakota County Technical College/Inver Hills Community College, vice president for Finance & Treasurer at The Sage Colleges, and was also an adjunct faculty member for nine years.

Jacobson-Schulte received his bachelor of arts in economics, and master of business administration; and will be defending his dissertation for a doctor of business administration degree from Saint Marys University this month.

Since joining Briar Cliff in June of 2021 as Vice President of Finance, Patrick has shown his dedication and passion for the university to thrive. He has strengthened the universitys finances, strategized departmental excellence, projected financial growth opportunities, and enhanced operations, Ward said.

His financial acumen, strategic approach, and higher education knowledge has served the university well and will meet our presidential needs in the interim. As a practicing Catholic, Patrick embodies our Franciscan values with a mission to serve and inspire ethical world changers.

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DOW CITY, Iowa -- When Estelle J. (Busch) Leinen has her birthday on Saturday, she'll also mark a very important milestone.

Born April 16, 1922, the Chicago native will celebrate the centennial of her birth with her family, which consists of six children, 14 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren.

Now living in the Crawford County town of Dow City, Leinen is one of the last remaining U.S. Navy W.A.V.E.S., a group of women who served in World War II.

Graduating from high school in 1940, she enlisted in the U.S. Navy Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Services (or W.A.V.E.S. for short) in 1943, after being recruited by Genevieve Sullivan, sister of the five Waterloo, Iowa-born Sullivan Brothers, who were all killed in action on the light cruiser USS Juneau in 1942.

The women's branch of the U.S. Naval Reserves W.A.V.E.S was established by the U.S. Congress and signed into law by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. This law authorized the Navy to accept women into the Naval Reserve as commissioned officers and, at the enlisted level, effective for the duration of World War II, plus six months.

Although the branch was only around from July 1942 to Sept. 1946, an estimated 87,000 W.A.V.E.S. served at that time.

This included Leinen, who completed U.S. Naval Training School at Hunter College, in the Bronx, New York, where she receive the rating of a storekeeper. She subsequently completed Storekeeper Specialist Training School from the University of Indiana, in Bloomington, Indiana.

For her W.A.V.E.S. service, Leinen received her Honorable Service Lapel in Aug. 1946. She married her husband Lavern P. "Spider" Leinen, a sailor from Earling, Iowa, the very next month.

Eventually, the Leinens settled in Dow City, where they had a large family farm as well as Leinen's Produce, which bought and sold agricultural products from farmers in four counties in Iowa.

According to Leinen's son Vincent Leinen, she was honored by the Rev. R. Walker Nickless, the Bishop of the Diocese of Sioux City, on her 85th birthday in 2007.

Nickless even blessed his mom's then brand-new Pontiac G6 at the time, Vincent Leinen remembered.

Between her military career, her involvement with American Legion Post #444, and work in civil causes, Leinen has been recognized by U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst and former Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad over the years.

Just as exciting, Leinen received autographed posters, clothing, and a personalized digital video birthday message from actor Taylor Kinney ("Chicago Fire") for her 98th birthday a few years ago, her son said.

The Leinen Family are requesting that birthday cards be sent to Estelle Leinen, Post Office Box 54, Dow City, Iowa, 51528.

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LE MARS, Iowa -- On the day he was to stand trial for stealing drugs from homes and the Plymouth County Sheriff's department's evidence room, former sheriff's deputy Aaron Leusink instead pleaded guilty Tuesday to burglary and theft charges that could land him in prison for dozens of years.

Leusink, 43, of Le Mars, pleaded guilty to 11 charges: single counts of first-degree burglary, felonious misconduct in office, fourth-degree theft and unlawful possession of prescription drugs, two counts each of second-degree burglary and third-degree burglary, and three counts of fifth-degree theft.

District Judge Roger Sailer scheduled sentencing for June 10 in Plymouth County District Court. The charges carry prison and jail sentences totaling more than 60 years. Sailer could order the sentences to be served consecutively -- one after another, concurrently -- all at the same time -- or a combination of the two. The most severe charge, first-degree burglary, is a Class B felony punishable by 25 years in prison.

Previously free on bond, Leusink's bond was revoked and he was taken into custody at the conclusion of Tuesday's hearing.

Leusink was arrested in September 2020 and charged with stealing prescription drugs from homes while enforcing search warrants, taking pills that had been collected as evidence in cases and committing a string of burglaries at five Plymouth County pharmacies dating back to 2017.

Then-Sheriff Mike Van Otterloo asked the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation to investigate Leusink in April 2020 after a review of his body camera videos showed him taking prescription drugs from a rural Le Mars home. Leusink was fired later that month.

Agents searching Leusink's home found more than 1,600 prescription medication pills, several Plymouth County Sheriff's evidence bags that had been ripped open or were left unsealed, a thumb drive and an iPhone from a case he had previously worked and $5,432 in cash. Agents searching Leusink's desk at the sheriff's office found ripped-open evidence bags that were missing hydrocodone pills seized in cases Leusink had worked.

The DCI also found evidence linking Leusink to the unsolved pharmacy burglaries, including break-ins at drug stores in Akron and Kingsley.

Video and audio footage from Leusink's body camera showed him seizing bottles of prescription medications while executing search warrants at homes in rural Merrill and Hinton.

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SIOUX CITY -- A former bookkeeper at a Sioux City company has pleaded not guilty of stealing more than $64,000 by overpaying herself and others and using company credit cards.

Brandi Smith, 31, of Sioux City, entered her plea Monday in Woodbury County District Court to single counts of first-degree theft and commission of a specified unlawful activity, two counts of credit card fraud and five counts of forgery.

According to court documents, Smith worked at Dave's Glass Company, 3201 U.S. 75 N., from May 16, 2018, through June 26. For almost three years, Smith used two company credit cards to make personal purchases totaling $31,130 and, in an effort to hide them, forged the company owner's signature on company checks to make payments on the credit card debt and write checks to herself, her husband and for other personal payments.

Smith is charged with paying her own bills and other personal debts by making online payments totaling $26,491 from business accounts. She also overpaid herself and two other workers -- her husband and a friend -- a total of $3,306, court documents said.

The total amount of fraudulent purchases and payroll overpayments totaled $64,076.54.

Smith has admitted using the company credit cards without permission to make personal purchases, court documents said.

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SIOUX CITY -- A South Sioux City man has been sentenced to more than two years in federal prison for illegal possession of a firearm.

Esai Lopez, 23, pleaded guilty in October in U.S. District Court in Sioux City to one count of being a drug user in possession of a firearm. He was sentenced Thursday to 30 months in prison. He also must pay $38,863 in restitution to his victims and an insurance company.

According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, Lopez illegally possessed a handgun and was disarmed by police on June 3, 2020.

On June 23, 2020, Lopez and three other men were involved in a shooting in which shots were fired at an occupied Sioux City house. While that shooting was under investigation, Lopez shot and killed an acquaintance's dog on Sept. 18, 2020.

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SIOUX CITY  Community members spoke out Monday against a Sioux City Community School District proposal to remove a fine arts coordinator position, a move that many felt was a step backwards that would make the arts less of a priority within the district.

After listening to the community, the board decided to keep the arts position in a different capacity while also paring back the teacher-leadership program it was originally part of.

The board decided in a 4-3 vote Monday to reduce state-funded teacher leadership positions to backfill teaching positions.

The Teacher Leadership and Compensation program, known as TLC, is a state-paid program that uses teachers to support other teachers.

The program pays the salaries of consulting teachers, program coordinators and curriculum facilitators in certain program areas. Currently there are 53 TLC teachers in the district.

When a teacher is pulled from the classroom to a TLC-funded position, the replacement teacher can be paid through the TLC funds. Board President Dan Greenwell said the availability of this option was never communicated to the school board or TLC leadership.

The board asked district administration to present a plan to use TLC funding to backfill positions and create a one-to-one replacement system.

That way, the TLC funding would be used to pay the teacher leader position and the replacement teacher.

To do this within the next year, the district would need to move 17 TLC teachers to other district positions, reducing the TLC program by 31 percent, to backfill classroom positions.

The school boards main reason for reducing the TLC program is to get more teachers in the classroom, which reduces class sizes, Greenwell said.

Many of the community members who spoke at the meeting felt the reduction of these positions will have a negative impact on the teachers and students.

One of the suggested positions to remove was the arts and community coordinator, who was in charge of connecting community arts and music programs with classes in the district and providing arts instructors with knowledge and education.

With the position being eliminated, these tasks would have potentially been delegated to a teacher leader committee made up of school and district administrators. Those who spoke out Monday felt this should be handled by someone with arts expertise.

Angela Bemus, the district's director of curriculum, instruction and assessment, said the arts coordinator position was on the chopping block because there are secondary and elementary principals with music degrees who could help fill the gap left by cutting the position.

Board member Taylor Goodvin said he didn't realize this particular position was one that could be cut. He said he supports the position and asked the board to consider removing it from the TLC.

The board decided to remove the position from the TLC program and instruct district administration to reclassify the position, keeping the position in the district and bring it to the board in the future.

Representatives from music and arts organizations throughout the district and community asked the board to support the position and the other TLC positions.

Music and arts teachers described feeling supported through the arts coordinator and discussed the amount of work the coordinator does for the arts and music programs.

The educators asked the board not to remove their one representative at the administrative level.

Board members Greenwell, Jan George, Goodvin, and Bob Michaelson voted for the reduction. Juli Albert, Monique Scarlett and Perla Alarcon-Flory voted against it.

The 17 TLC positions will be reduced as follows:

- Decrease of six consulting teachers from secondary;

- Decrease five consulting teachers from elementary;

- Decrease three program coordinators and;

- Decrease of three technology consulting teachers.

The district will follow the involuntary transfer procedures laid out in the employee handbook.

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SIOUX CITY -- The Sioux City Council approved a resolution Monday to reject the bids for the SUX Aviation Center Project, after the low bid came in roughly 47% over the engineer's estimate.

There was no discussion about the project before the council voted 4 to 0 in favor of the resolution. Councilman Alex Watters abstained due to a conflict of interest.

In July, the council entered into a lease and development agreement with Oracle Aviation, LLC for the construction, lease and operation of a new hangar facility at Sioux Gateway Airport. The facility will be the home of the Oracle Aviation Center, which includes a flight academy established in partnership with Morningside University, as well as additional aviation-related operations.

According to city documents, three local contractors were contacted about the project. Two bids were received by the March 15 deadline. L&L Builders Co. submitted the the low bid of $12,950,584.50. The engineer's estimate for the project is $8,794,186.25.

RS&H Iowa, P.C., which provides architecture, engineering and consulting services, said in a letter addressed to Assistant City Manager Mike Collett that uncertainty over the post-COVID supply chain and energy prices due to the crisis in Eastern Europe, as well as a significant amount of work in Siouxland were contributing factors to the bids.

"RS&H Iowa, P.C. and city staff have reviewed the bids and feel that re-bidding the project with a change in the design would be in the best interests of the city," city documents state.

The new building was initially proposed to be 35,000 square feet and include two hangars located on either side of a two-level, 10,000-square-foot unfinished office facility. Site improvements were to include a new parking lot, taxiway, apron, landscaping and related amenities.

The project, which currently has an available balance of $9.7 million, is primarily funded using general obligation bonds. A $1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration will also assist with the cost of construction.

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SIOUX CITY -- Entrance fees for Sioux City's three swimming pools are going up for the first time since 2008.

The Sioux City Council voted 4 to 1 Monday to raise rates. The Parks and Recreation Department proposed the higher rates to support pay raises for pool staff. According to the department, lifeguards are already leaving Sioux City to work in nearby communities, which pay $12 or more per hour.

The new scale for a lifeguard 1 will be $10 to $13.50 per hour, with $12 recommended as a starting wage. The range will be $10.50 to $14 for a lifeguard 2/instructor guard, with $12.50 per hour recommended as a starting wage.

Before the vote, Sioux City recreation supervisor John Byrnes told the council that the city's proposed swimming pool rates were on par with or less than those of neighboring communities.

Admission for 2 to 17-year-olds in the low-income bracket will increase from $1.80 to $2.40 at Leif Erikson and Lewis pools and from $2.80 to $3.20 at the Riverside aquatics center, while general admission in that age group will rise from $2.25 to $3 at Leif and Lewis and from $3.50 to $4 at Riverside.

Adult admission in the low-income bracket will rise from $2.80 to $3.20 at Leif and Lewis and from $3.40 to $4 at Riverside, while adult general admission will rise from $3.50 to $4 at Leif and Lewis and $4.25 to $5 at Riverside.

Coupon books will also increase from $45 to $60 at Leif and Lewis and from $70 to $80 at Riverside. Punch passes will increase from $20 to $25 at Leif and Lewis and from $30 to $35 at Riverside.

"I just can't support it this year just because of what's all going on with the cost of living and everything else that we've got facing us," said Mayor Pro Tem Dan Moore, who cast the lone "no" vote. "I just don't think the timing is very good right now."

According to city staff, the rate increases will have little to no impact on low-income residents. The Parks and Recreation Department receives an annual $10,000 Community Development Block Grant through Neighborhood Services for free swimming pool passes. Qualifying residents receive a book of 25 free pool passes and a low-income card, which provides a 20% discount on admission to any pool after the free passes are used up.

"We always worry about the low-income people, but somebody's that's not low-income, but moderate-income is the one that's going to suffer on this as much, because they don't get the advantage of the free swimming and their parents' wages have probably not gone up that kind of percentage," Mayor Bob Scott said. "I think it's great that we have a program, but don't have that sliding scale for moderate income people."

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DAKOTA CITY -- Tyson Foods said Tuesday it plans to spend over $1 million to expand a program that helps immigrants become U.S. citizens.

The Tyson Immigration Partnership, or TIP, which helps provide legal services to workers to apply for citizenship, has been supported for the last year at seven Tyson sites, including its beef plant in Dakota City, Nebraska, its pork plant in Madison, Nebraska, and its pork and turkey plants in Storm Lake, Iowa. With a workforce of around 4,500, the Dakota City plant is by far the largest employer in metro Sioux City.

At the three Siouxland locations, Tyson partners with Immigrant Connection, a non-profit groups that help provide immigrants with legal services, such as employment authorization renewals and petitions for citizenship. A similar non-profit, Arkansas Immigrant Defense, assists workers in Tyson's home state of Arkansas.

In the last year alone, TIP has helped over 500 Tyson workers. The company reimburses team members for citizenship application fees, which can cost as much as $725 per individual.

The investment announced Tuesday will expand the program to over 40 company locations in 14 states. Immigrant Connection is hosting monthly informational meetings for Tyson workers at 27 locations and Arkansas Immigrant Defense is visiting 13 locations in Arkansas.

We care about our team members and want to help them achieve their goals, including those who have dreams of becoming U.S. citizens and having greater access to opportunities our country has to offer, Tyson executive vice president and chief sustainability officer John R. Tyson said in a statement.

Were working hard to help team members who want and need assistance with their lawful immigration status or the complex and expensive process of becoming a citizen. We want to be the most sought-after place to work, and this is one way we hope to do that.

In the U.S., the company's employees come from over 160 countries and collectively speak over 50 languages.

Starting the process to become a citizen was intimidating and scary, but I wanted stability for me and my family. Without the people involved in the programs, I would not have the confidence to pursue citizenship, Jose Avjix, a Tyson worker in Green Forest, Arkansas, said in a company press release. Tyson is a place that keeps you growing and I really appreciate the professional and personal growth the company offers.

In the press release, Tyson said it has "historically attracted immigrants because it provides good-paying entry level jobs with benefits."

With average hourly pay of over $18, plus the value of medical, dental and vision insurance, vacation and other benefits, the average total compensation for hourly workers has increased to over $24 an hour, or an annual value of more than $50,000, the company said.

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NEW YORK (AP)  A gunman wearing a gas mask set off smoke grenades and fired a barrage of bullets inside a rush-hour subway train in Brooklyn, wounding at least 10 people Tuesday, authorities said. Police were trying to track down the renter of a van possibly connected to the violence.

Chief of Detectives James Essig said investigators weren't sure whether the man, identified as Frank R. James, 62, had any link to the subway attack.

Authorities were looking at the man's apparent social media posts, some of which led officials to tighten security for New York City Mayor Eric Adams. Police Commissioner Keechant Sewell called the posts concerning.

The attack transformed the morning commute into a scene of horror: a smoke-filled underground train, an onslaught of at least 33 bullets, screaming riders running through a station and bloodied people lying on the platform as others administered aid.

Jordan Javier thought the first popping sound he heard was a textbook dropping. Then there was another pop, people started moving toward the front of the car, and he realized there was smoke, he said.

When the train pulled into the station, people ran out and were directed to another train across the platform. Passengers wept and prayed as they rode, Javier said.

Im just grateful to be alive, he said.

Five gunshot victims were in critical condition but expected to survive. At least a dozen people who escaped gunshot wounds were treated for smoke inhalation and other injuries.

Sewell said the attack was not being investigated as terrorism, but that she was not ruling out anything. The shooter's motive was unknown.

Sitting in the back of the train's second car, the gunman tossed two smoke grenades on the floor, pulled out a Glock 9 mm semi-automatic handgun and started firing, Essig said. A riders video shows a person raising an arm and pointing at something as five bangs sound.

Passengers in the smoke-filled car pounded on the door to an adjacent car, seeking to escape, rider Juliana Fonda, who was in that adjoining car, told the news site Gothamist. Fonda is a broadcast engineer for Gothamist's owner, public radio station WNYC.

Investigators believe the shooters gun jammed and kept him from firing more, said two law enforcement officials who werent authorized to discuss the investigation and spoke on condition of anonymity.

Essig said police found the weapon, along with extended magazines, a hatchet, detonated and undetonated smoke grenades, a black garbage can, a rolling cart, gasoline and the key to a U-Haul van.

That key led investigators to James, who has addresses in Philadelphia and Wisconsin, the detective chief said. The van was later found, unoccupied, near a subway station where investigators determined the gunman entered the train system, Essig said.

Rambling, profanity-filled YouTube videos apparently posted by James, who is Black, are replete with Black nationalist rhetoric, violent language and bigoted comments, some of them directed at other Black people. One, posted April 11, criticizes crime against Black people and says drastic action is needed to change things.

Several videos mention New York's subways, and Adams is a recurring theme.

A Feb. 20 video says the mayor and governors plan to address homelessness and safety in New York Citys subway system is doomed for failure and refers to himself as a victim of the mayors mental health program. A Jan. 25 video criticizes Adams plan to end gun violence.

The attack unnerved a city on guard about a rise in gun crimes and the ever-present threat of terrorism. It left some New Yorkers jittery about riding the nation's busiest subway system and prompted officials to increase policing at transportation hubs from Philadelphia to Connecticut.

This individual is still on the loose. This person is dangerous, Gov. Kathy Hochul, a Democrat, warned at a midday news conference.

In Menlo, Iowa, President Joe Biden praised the first responders who jumped in action, including civilians, civilians who didnt hesitate to help their fellow passengers and tried to shield them.

After people streamed out of the train, quick-thinking transit workers ushered passengers to another train across the platform for safety, transit officials said.

High school student John Butsikaris was riding that other train and initially thought the problem was mundane until the next stop, when he heard screams for medical attention and his train was evacuated.

Im definitely shook, the 15-year-old said. "Even though I didnt see what happened, Im still scared, because it was like a few feet away from me, what happened.

New York City has faced a spate of shootings and high-profile bloodshed in recent months, including on the citys subways. One of the most shocking was in January, when a woman was pushed to her death in front of a train by a stranger.

Adams, a Democrat a little over 100 days into his term, has made cracking down on crime  especially in the subways  an early focus of his administration, pledging to send more police officers into stations and platforms for regular patrols. It wasnt immediately clear whether any officers were in the station when the shootings occurred.

The mayor, who is isolating following a positive COVID-19 test on Sunday, said in a video statement that the city will not allow New Yorkers to be terrorized, even by a single individual.

Balsamo reported from Washington. Associated Press writers Beatrice Dupuy, Karen Matthews, Julie Walker, Deepti Hajela, Michelle L. Price and David Porter in New York contributed to this report, and Michael Kunzelman contributed from College Park, Maryland.

Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

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Most of the sandhill cranes in central Nebraska are heading north, but that doesnt mean there isnt still lots to view across the state.

The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission has put together its top nine parks with trails for wildlife watching. Visitors can spot birds of all types as well as several varieties of wildlife, from deer to beavers.

Nebraska has many opportunities thanks to its diverse habitats  everything from prairie to ponderosa pine, wetlands and more than 23,000 miles of rivers and streams.

Its a great time to view wildlife all across the state, said Olivia DaRugna, the watchable wildlife biologist for Game and Parks. With the warmer spring weather, everyone is eager to get outside. With few leaves on the trees it is a perfect time to watch for birds in the canopies.

Songbirds are starting to trickle up from the south and DaRugna said that if you listen closely, you might hear a meadowlark sing. The western meadowlark is the state bird of Nebraska.

Turkey vultures are flying over Ponca State Park and lots of pelicans are arriving in the Lake Ogallala area.

Muddy spring soil makes it easier to spot animal tracks.

Early mornings are the best for viewing the most wildlife, she said.

If youre planning a visit, check out more about the parks at outdoornebraska.org.

Here are some of the best parks for wildlife watching this spring:

Ponca State Park: One of Nebraskas most visited state parks, Ponca State Park is popular for its forested hills, scenic vistas  and great wildlife watching. Observers have tallied a bird list of nearly 300 species for the park and surrounding area, and during peak migration in late April and early May, the park is a hot spot for both amateur and experienced birders. Turkeys also are a common sight at the park, and if youre lucky, you may spot white-tailed deer along the parks 22 miles of trails.

Rock Creek Station State Historical Park: History buffs will love exploring this former Pony Express station where James Butler Wild Bill Hickok began his bloody gunfighting career. But its also a great place for birdwatching: More than 6 miles of trails offer outstanding birding opportunities. Try the Natural Legacy Demonstration Hike Trail. You can see eastern bluebirds, towhees, barred owls and a variety of sparrows. Many sparrows that wintered here, such as the American tree sparrow and Harris sparrow, will be heading north to their breeding grounds soon, while field sparrows and grasshopper sparrows will just start to arrive and begin singing as they stack out their breeding grounds. If the weather is warm, you may see some turtles and snakes coming out to bask in the sun. Coyote, red fox and white-tailed deer can all be observed here, especially in early mornings.

Branched Oak State Recreation Area: This park features the largest lake in eastern Nebraska and has long been a popular spot for fishing, boating and camping. It also offers 7 miles of hiking trails, with a multi-use trail along the south side of the lake that provides great wildlife viewing. The lake attracts many birds during early spring, such as gulls, waterfowl and loons. Many species of ducks, as well as double-crested cormorants and American white pelicans, are common during migration. Upland game birds and deer also can be spotted at the park. Its great for viewing birds and other wildlife from your car and features many parking areas with different vantage points around the lake to view waterbirds such as American white pelicans.

Pawnee Prairie Wildlife Management Area: Only 2 miles from the Kansas border, this wildlife management area features native prairie, woodlands, ponds and creeks, which support northern mockingbirds, Carolina wrens, upland sandpipers and loggerhead shrikes. A flock of about 20 greater-prairie chickens gather on a lake near the center of the prairie, about three-quarters of a mile from the perimeter parking lots. No permanent blinds are available, but temporary blinds are allowed; bring one to view the birds in early mornings or late evenings from mid-March to mid-April. Upland sandpipers will start showing up later this month.

Fort Kearny State Recreation Area: Looking for a place to view sandhill cranes? Fort Kearny is a great spot, although many have continued their migration north to their breeding grounds. From the hike/bike trail 1 mile east of the fort, visitors can see cranes arriving and leaving the river in early morning and late evening, from late February through early April. The trail is well-maintained and handicap accessible. Throughout the year, you can see many bird species from this spot, including bald eagles, geese and ducks in the winter. Watch for belted kingfisher, eastern phoebe and tree swallows along the hike-bike trail as well as deer, opossum, and fox.

Lake Ogallala State Recreation Area: Located on the east side of Kingsley Dam and massive Lake McConaughy, Lake Ogallala is a well-known fishing destination. A variety of waterbirds can be observed here in early April, including ducks, Horned Grebes and gulls. Shorebirds are just starting to migrate through Nebraska, but you may observe greater yellowlegs and American avocet here over the weekend. Camping spots are available along the west and north shorelines of the lake, where the deciduous wooded habitats shelter a rich array of nesting passerines.

Niobrara State Park: Situated at the confluence of the Niobrara and Missouri rivers on Nebraskas northeastern border, Niobrara State Park offers visitors an array of outdoor experiences, including wildlife viewing. Both white-tailed deer and wild turkeys roam freely throughout the park, and beaver, muskrat and mink prowl the riverbanks. The park also is home to a wide range of birds, including woodpeckers, shorebirds and bald eagles right now.

Fort Robinson State Park: This stunning park comprises more than 22,000 acres of exquisite Pine Ridge scenery and supports a variety of species, including bighorn sheep, bison, pronghorn and elk. Laced with 130 miles of hiking trails, this park also offers birding opportunities, including chances of seeing species found in the western United States. Search rocky escarpments for golden eagles and prairie falcons. Walk along the White River Trail, where you can observe barred owls, black-billed magpies, western meadowlark and Says phoebe, as well as deer and other wildlife.

Wildcat Hills: Situated high on a rocky escarpment in the Wildcat Hills, this park offering an escape to the regions signature rugged topography. An array of wildlife roams here, including wild turkeys, deer, bobcats and coyotes. The rugged terrain and ponderosa pines also provide habitat for western bird species. Stop by the visitor centers bird feeders to see a big variety. Traverse the parks 3 miles of trails and keep your eyes open. Tracks of some of the parks stealthier animals, such as bobcats, can be spotted on the Nature Trail. Along the SRA roads, you may also observe mountain bluebirds as they choose which birdhouse to nest in this spring and a Says phoebe perched on the top of a yucca plant.

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Pakistani political changes will not affect China-Pakistan ties: FM spokesperson

Xinhua) 09:04, April 12, 2022

(Source: Xinhua)

BEIJING, April 11 (Xinhua) -- China on Monday said it will maintain its policy of friendly ties with Pakistan no matter how the political situation in Pakistan changes.

Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian made the remarks at a press briefing when answering a query concerning the National Assembly of Pakistan passing a no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan on April 10.

"As Pakistan's close neighbors and friends, we sincerely hope that all factions in Pakistan will remain unified and jointly safeguard their overall national stability and development," Zhao said.

"We believe that changes in Pakistan's political situation will not affect the overall situation of China-Pakistan relations," Zhao added.

(Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun)
An Iowa state board has approved an $8 million payment to an Illinois man who was left permanently disabled when he was hit in 2019 by a state Transportation Department snow plow. The Des Moines Register reports that on Monday, the three-member Iowa State Appeal Board approved the settlement to 64-year-old Terry Bunting of Viola, Illinois. Officials say Bunting was clearing the windshield of his semitrailer after pulling over on U.S. Highway 67 in Le Claire when he was hit by the blade of a passing plow. The impact caused acute kidney and spine injuries and multiple broken bones and left Bunting paralyzed. Experts estimated the cost Buntings future medical and other care could exceed $7 million, on top of the $1.25 million he's already accrued.
It took two years of working as a script writer and producer in the porn industry before I told my mom what I did for work. Now I complain over dinner about the cost of purchasing Cetaphil face wash in bulk (an amazing ejaculate substitute for money shots) and map out the economics of pizza deliveries paid for in sexual favors. Weve come a long way.

In part, I didnt tell her because I wasnt sure how to fit it into our otherwise standard mother/daughter dynamic: She asks me to explain pop culture; I try to hide how long its been since Ive done my taxesthat sort of thing. Last year, on that note, she asked me what the deal is with Netflixs Shondaland hit Bridgerton: Why were so many of her friends suddenly obsessed with a show thatto herseemed like a run-of-the-mill Regency drama?

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Despite my pragmatic relationship with the topic of sex, I struggled to tell my mom that her fiftysomething peers probably werent as interested in the historical accuracy of the costume design so much as what happened when the brocade was ripped off. A revisionist romance series, Bridgerton was described by the comedy writer Jenny Jaffe as having a solid 90% more graphic sex scenes than I expected it to when I started watching it with my entire family. It reached No. 1 on Netflix in 76 countries, buoyed by an accessible streaming service and hot cast stacked with up-and-coming stars.

What word, I wondered, should I use to describe Bridgerton to my mom? I know one Netflix doesnt want me to: The streamer made more headlines last year when it issued takedown notices to porn sites that had the series explicit scenes uploaded onto their platforms. Following the takedown, a source told a British tabloid that the shows sex scenes appearing alongside some of the most obscene material the web has to offer has sparked horror and anger among the shows cast.

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While I fully concede intellectual property theft and piracy are legitimate concerns for Netflixto say nothing of the casts consent about where their work appearsthe side of moral panic surrounding the shows approximation to obscenity was confusing. Watching the show as a consumer, I didnt see much of a difference between their well-lit choreography and what I was producing for work. Bridgerton might not be on the level of a click this and try not to cum hentai pop-up ad, but a plot revolving around whether or not a man will or wont creampie his wife isnt exactly prudish.

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Since the rise of YouTube-style aggregation sites, sex scenes from mainstream television or film winding up on porn platforms has become a regular occurrence, usually followed closely by PR statements that seem more concerned about the association with pornography than any copyright violation. When full-frontal sex scenes from the Hulu production of Normal People started appearing on adult platforms, executive producer Ed Guiney told Variety, Were hugely disappointed that excerpts from the series of Normal People have been used in this way. Its both a violation of copyright and more importantly, its deeply disrespectful to the actors involved and to the wider creative team.

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In the adult industry, work like Bridgerton, Normal People, and a lot of HBOs lineup would be categorized as softcore pornfrontal nudity, but no penetration or visible money shot. This is clearly not mainstream Hollywood or medias definition. A Vulture article described Normal Peoples sex scenes (which occasionally dominated up to a third of the episode) as never pornographic but quite explicit. If explicit sex does not make a scene pornographic, what does? As sex-forward shows only seem to get more graphicand more popularthe need to hold on to this distinction is looking a little dishonest, and maybe a little desperate.

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In the legal sphere, the attempt to separate pornographic or obscene material from art has proved difficult. Consider two well-known cases from Ohio: In the Jacobellis v. Ohio Supreme Court case of 1964, a theater manager, Nico Jacobellis, was charged with possession and distribution of an obscene film, the Louis Malle drama The Lovers. His eventual conviction was ultimately overturned by the court, and inspired then-Justice Potter Stewarts famously murky quote about the distinction between First Amendmentprotected obscenity and hard-core pornography: I shall not today attempt further to define the kinds of material I understand to be embraced within that shorthand description; and perhaps I could never succeed in intelligibly doing so. But I know it when I see it, and the motion picture involved in this case is not that. Almost 30 years later, an art museum and its director were put on trial for obscenity after showing artist Robert Mapplethorpes exhibit The Perfect Moment, a case that inspired citywide protests in Cincinnati both for and against the pieces validity as art. (They were acquitted.) As we see in nearly every related trial and the subsequent culture war it sparks, sexuality and human expression cant be classified so neatly. Art can be pornographic, and pornography can be artistic.

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Despite these nebulous borders, professionals working in the film industry seem overeager to distance themselves from their openly raunchy siblings. This is especially clear among the actors and other artists who walk freely between the industriesand are met with frantic tabloid coverage and insidious concern.

Consider Caitlin Stasey, the mainstream Australian actress known for her roles in Reign, Please Like Me, and Bridge and Tunnel, who has also written and directed porn films for Afterglow, an independent studio based in L.A. Shes seen firsthand the shame mainstream Hollywood has built around its triple-X counterpart.

I think the actors sense of fear isnt even one theyve come up with themselves, she told me. Youre convinced as an actor that if you do porn, if youre associated with porn, youll never work again.

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This culture of fear in the film industry goes beyond studio porn, too: Stasey describes a peers concern for her career after she uploaded a nude photo of herself on her own website. There are a lot of people who get nominated for Oscars for putting their pussy in a Martin Scorsese or Lars von Trier film, but because I did it on my own termsfor my own artit was regarded as reckless, compulsive, nonessential, she said.

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In much of her work, Stasey plays an explicitly sexual character, but existing as a sexual person in her own right was met with reproval. In the film industry, she argued, there is a precedent in which sexuality is only respected when someone with established power profits from it. She describes some of her earliest workacting as a scream queen in a horror moviewhere she was told to crawl over the bodies of other women dressed in lingerie, a process that, to her, was far more degrading than anything shes seen working in porn.

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Allie Oops, an indie porn performer and producer studying to work on more mainstream sets as an intimacy coordinator, the growing subindustry designed to make actors feel protected during sex scenes, has felt similar pressures. For Oops, watching mainstream medias explosion of explicit sexual content has been frustrating. The double standard has never been more obvious, with porn performers experiencing unprecedented censorship online while mainstream production companies are lauded for realistic sex scenes.

It feels unfair, she said. If this is where we can be in Hollywood, where sex is beautiful and artistic and special and cool, then why cant we extend that respect to the adult industry and to sex work in general, and start valuing the labor that goes into making beautiful sex scenes?

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Oops said that while a performers experiences do vary based on whether or not penetrative sex is actually involved, the processes of sex-scene coordination and porn production have huge overlap. Sure, maybe their genitals arent touching, she saidthough unsimulated sex does occasionally happen on mainstream film setsbut in porn, we go through similar negotiation processes, similar contracts, similar choreography and blocking. Sex workers, with honed experience in everything from sexual performance to consent and boundaries, are a natural fit for intimacy coordinationbut a lack of respect for those who create erotic content for a living is limiting the entire industry.

Like Stasey and Oops, Im very proud of the work Ive produced, which isnt reflected in how long it took me to tell my mom what I was doing. I hear similar stories all the timepeople in the adult industry who love their careers but are deflated by reactions at family gatherings or parties or high school reunions. As Bridgerton rose to cultural ubiquity, I felt a distinct resentment imagining how excited the cast must be to tell their parents about their roles, while doing much the same work so many of my peers have been ostracized for.

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Bridgerton or Normal People have, after all, found success in large part through their blunt depiction of sex, to say nothing of the ever-racier titles that fill out Netflixs top 10. Arguing over whose sex scene qualifies as artand whose does notultimately leads to sexuality gatekept by deep-pocketed institutions and sex workers facing further stigmatization. There is nothing deeply disrespectful about being associated with a lot of the great porn produced in the past and today; sexual expression has artistic value both as a plot device and for the sake of itself. The crossover from adult to mainstream isnt only speculatively successful either, as shown by porn performer Chloe Cherrys well-received performance in HBOs Euphoria this year. The rise of explicit content is not a moment to redraw lines and reinforce old boundaries. Its an opportunity for mainstream media to recognize and welcome the sex workers who have been perfecting this art form for years.
The zany nature of the crowded Senate race in Pennsylvania, which has no incumbent, has a lot to do with the Keystone States importance. Its considered a bellwether for a lot of communities: an East Coast urban core in Philadelphia, a Midwestern Rust Belt vibe in Pittsburgh, and other regions that feel like Appalachia. If you admit that Florida seems to be solidly GOP country now, then Pennsylvania is the swing state with the most electoral votes right now, explains Jonathan Tamari, who covers politics for the Philadelphia Inquirer. If you win Pennsylvania, theres a good chance youre going to be winning a lot of other swing states as well. On Tuesdays episode of What Next, I spoke with Tamari about the Senate race that will help decide whether Pennsylvania is a new predictor for where national politics currently stands. Our conversation has been edited and condensed for clarity.

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Mary Harris: Lets start with the Democrats. How would you sort the candidates out there right now?

Jonathan Tamari: Lets start with John Fetterman, who the lieutenant governor and, by all accounts, the significant front-runner at this point. He elevated his platform by serving as the mayor of Braddock, a really small city outside of Pittsburgh. Hes got tattoos, one of which is Braddocks ZIP code, another of which represents the death dates of people who were killed in Braddock when he was mayor. Hes got a goatee. He wears gym shorts all the time, including when the president comes to visit.

So hes this image of a blue-collar guy, even though he grew up in a fairly well-off family. Hes got this persona of being a no-nonsense guy who doesnt look like a regular politician, whos not scripted like a normal politician. He endorsed Bernie Sanders in 2016, and hes going on this progressive path for Democratsthe idea that you rally your liberal base by being firm on issues like the $15 minimum wagewhile arguing that he can go out and win back some of these white working-class voters who left the Democratic Party and went to Trump.

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Does Fetterman call himself a socialist, though?

He does not. He calls himself a populist.

Whats the difference to him?

He probably knows theres not much upside to socialist label in Pennsylvania, at least when youre running statewide in such a swing state.

Which brings us to Conor Lamb, Fettermans main opponent.

Lamb is much more in the historic Biden mold. In 2018, he won a special election in a district that had gone almost 20 points for Trump. He ran as this moderate Democrat, and the only national figure he brought in to help him win that race was Joe Biden. When he launched his campaign, he went to a Pittsburgh union hall. He had a bunch of union workers with him, and he won three congressional races in districts that are either very Republican or slightly Republican. Hes gone and worked the rooms of party leaders, and hes worked activists like Black clergy members in Philadelphia, and is counting on that to help him overcome Fettermans big financial and name-ID advantages. Lamb is racking up endorsements from big union and party officials and hoping they will influence voters to help him.

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Theres one more Democratic candidate I want to talk about: Malcolm Kenyatta. He seems to be this interesting mix of a couple of different kinds of Democrat: Hes from Philadelphia, hes black, hes gay, and hes quite progressive. In some ways, he and Fetterman share some things, but theyre also different. Where do you place him in the contest?

Kenyatta would represent the AOC strain. He has not been able to raise a lot of money for his campaign, which is the big challenge. But people have been impressed by how hard hes worked. Hes also got this message of saying: If were the party of working class, I grew up in a working class family. If were the party that cares about student debt, I actually have student debt. If were the party thats worried about gun violence, I live in a community where gun violence is a real present risk.

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Is this contest close? I know the primaries are not until May.

Fetterman, by all accounts, has a pretty significant lead of 20 percentage points or more, per some polls.

Is that usual, to have someone so far out?

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Not in a primary. And now the caveat is that a lot of the polling also shows theres a fair number of undecided voters. But Fettermans got more money to communicate, so right now, hes definitely in the drivers seat.

It was notable to me that Lamb released an attack ad that Fetterman was a self-proclaimed socialist, since Lamb himself has been so vocal about how Republicans have harmed Democrats by attacking them as socialists and the people behind defund the police.

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The Fetterman response is hes the guy whos going to excite Democrats. Thats whats going to overcome the headwinds that they face: that hes a hardcore Democrat liberals will be excited to come out for even in a down year.

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Lamb is really gunning to paint Fetterman as somehow risky. But I dont know that Pennsylvania voters see Fetterman as risky. Hes been an elected official for a little while, so its not like hes a random doctor whos carpetbagging in from New Jersey, right?

The question is, is Fetterman popular just because he has a particular image? And will he become less popular once someone puts millions of dollars of attack ads going through his record on TV, because hes never faced that yet?

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Its notable to me that Fetterman has so much more money than Conor Lamb, and hes raising money from within Pennsylvania, versus another candidate who has some PACs going for him.

Thats when his campaign talks like, Hey, weve got ordinary voters who dont just like Fetterman but are opening up their checkbooks to give him money. In fact my colleague has written a story about how Fettermans getting a lot of money from people physically mailing him checks.

Does that ever happen these days?

I mean, very rarely. It takes a lot of enthusiasm for somebody to take all those steps to send them your money when you can just click a link on something. So that is clearly a sign that he is resonating with a certain group of voters.

Fetterman also does seem to have a broad range of support. His opponents keep saying, he cant win, hes too risky, but hes in the lead. That is kind of his rebuttal to the argument that he cant win.

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With the end of each presidency in the 21st century, historian Julian Zelizer has assembled a cast of colleagues to evaluate the outgoing administration. The first two installments in this series focused on George W. Bush (2010) and Barack Obama (2018) and featured essays by Nelson Lichtenstein, Mary Dudziak, Kevin Kruse, and other major names in the historical profession.

In the new volume The Presidency of Donald J. Trump: A First Historical Assessment, Zelizer and more than a dozen other historians offer their insights on the Trump administration. The project captured the former presidents attention last year, after he had begrudgingly left office. Trump requestedand secureda Zoom meeting with Zelizer and the other authors attached to the project, during which he hoped to tighten up some of the research they were conducting. Fortunately, Trumps attempt at meddling failed. Although the essays included here are fair and thoughtful, they also dont pull any punches.

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They do, however, reveal some of the challenges inherent in the project of what historians call recent historythe study of events and processes that have unfolded over the past several years or decades. Recent history differs from journalism in its emphasis on historical analysis and context. Because its practitioners want to determine how and why contemporary phenomena came to be, they home in on the linkages, and discontinuities, between the distant past, the more recent past, and the present. And, as historians Claire Potter and Renee Romano explain in a book on the topic, recent history talks back, as circumstances change and living subjects, like Trump, vie to control the dominant narrative. Since these scholars are analyzing ongoing developmentsand doing it in the rigid format of a published book, no lesssome of their assessments are already outdated or, at the very least, incomplete.

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This particular recent history is even more difficult, given historians visceral (yet varied) responses to Trumps candidacy and presidency. His emergence in 2015 and 2016 raised major philosophical, definitional, and strategic questions within the historical profession. How, and to what extent, many historians wondered, should we resist Trumpism? Some historiansincluding several featured in Zelizers new volumewrote, circulated, and signed online petitions highlighting the existential threat that Trump ostensibly posed to U.S. democracy. Now-familiar names like Heather Cox Richardson, Joanne Freeman, and Kruse became influential public intellectuals during Trumps term, sharing their historical wisdom with hundreds of thousands of online #Resisters, many of whom believed that Trump and the contemporary GOP were subverting otherwise noble American institutions and traditions. Other academics, coming from the left, criticized historians like Timothy Snyder for their attempts to characterize Trump as a fascist and to frame his popularity as an exceptional phenomenon, rather than a logical outgrowth of racism, capitalism, xenophobia, sexism, and other malign forces that have long defined the American experience.

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If this crisis in the historical profession sounds familiar, its because it paralleled the reckoning faced by news media organizations struggling to define their role during the Trump years. And because Zelizers study extends the analysis provided in contemporaneous journalistic accounts, it occasionally reproduces the reductive partisan framing seen in so much American political reporting. Writing about the state of U.S. political history amid the Tea Party insurgency in 2011, historian Matt Lassiterwho, by the way, contributed a sharp critique of Obamas drug policies to Zelizers 2018 volumelamented the ways some of his fellow political historians seemed to reinforce the crude redblue binaries reflected in the national maps of presidential election returns. While several of the essays in The Presidency of Donald J. Trump locate the 45th president firmly within the American conservative tradition, few consider in any serious depth the continuities between Trump, his predecessors (from both political parties), and his Democratic successor.

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Indeed, despite the rancor and fear it provoked outside of MAGA Nation (and within the historical profession), Trumps presidency and its immediate aftermath didnt solely illuminate continuities between the past and present, the historians stock in trade; it also revealed tremendous overlap between American liberalism and conservatism. After all, relatively few Democrats objected when Trump called for historically large defense budgets, and in 2020, the party ultimately rallied behind a safe candidateone with a deeply troubling record on foreign policy, race, the criminal legal system, and immigration. With early hopes for a new FDR now thoroughly dashed, President Joe Bidens proposed 2023 budget would further increase military, immigration enforcement, and police spending. He has also fared just as poorly as Trump on COVID-19, while simultaneously perpetuating unspeakably cruel immigration, asylum, and counterterrorism policies. And yet Biden has received a much warmer reception among professional historians. This paradox suggests that scholars of the recent past should pay closer attention to the structural processes and forcescapitalism, carceralism, white supremacy, militarismthat cut across presidential administrations and blur the lines between the nations political parties.

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That said, The Presidency of Donald J. Trump is an ambitious and compelling book, one that covers a great deal of territory. The contributors grapple with Trumps record on climate change (Bathsheba Demuth), his posture toward Big Tech (Margaret OMara), his foreign policy and attempts at diplomacy (Jeffrey Engel, Daniel C. Kurtzer, James Mann), his mishandling of the pandemic (Merlin Chowkwanyun), his relationship with right-wing media outlets and with conservatism itself (Nicole Hemmer, Zelizer), his investment in white supremacy and exclusionary nationalism (Kathleen Belew, Mae Ngai, Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor), his penchant for lying (Angus Burgin), his sexism and its effect on feminist activism (Leandra Zarnow), his support among Latinx voters (Geraldo Cadava), his (surprisingly successful) use of the language of infrastructure (Jason Scott Smith), his impeachments (Gregory P. Downs), his hostility toward the FBI and the administrative state (Beverly Gage), and his galvanizing effect on Democrats and the left (Michael Kazin). Several major themes run through many of these chapters: the role of racism and xenophobia in Trumps rise and (later) his policymaking, the tension between disruption and stability in Trumps rhetoric and approach to governing (or not governing), and the polarization caused or exacerbated by Trump and Trumpism. Theres a lot to chew on here, and the book can sometimes feel like a bit of a grab bag as a result. But thats to be expected with edited anthologies as expansive and impressive as this one.

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Unsurprisingly, COVID-19 looms over the book, just as it continues to loom over all of our lives. However, since most of the anthology was probably finalized last fallas the delta wave ravaged the country and before omicron unleashed its wraththe book too often betrays the very 2021 notion that the worst is behind us. At times, the authors subtly relegate to the past the mass death and misery wrought by the pandemic. The book is dedicated, for example, to all the people whose lives were lost during the COVID-19 pandemic, even though hundreds of people continue to die from the illness in the U.S. daily. Zelizer and contributors Chowkwanyun and Hemmer, among others, rightly condemn former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and other Republicans for praising Trump [d]espite a devastating pandemic that left more than a half million people dead. But now that COVID-19 has claimed more than 1 million lives in the U.S. alone, the narrow focus on Trump and his disciples feels inadequate. More people have died of COVID under Biden than under Trump.

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The volumes treatment of COVID, which was not even recent history at the time of the books writing, shows how an analytical approach that stresses partisan and ideological cleavages can obscure continuities between the nations major political parties. Most of the authors featured here consider Trump to be a product of the modern Republican Party and conservative movement. Zelizer, for one, calls Trump the culmination of more than three decades in the GOPs evolution. In his viewwhich reflects the historical professions dominant interpretation of the trajectory of U.S. conservatism, at least until recentlythe midcentury Republican Party beat back the far-right challenges posed by Barry Goldwater and veer[ed] toward the middle, where the votes supposedly were. Only with Reagans capture of the party in the 1980s, the story goes, did the shift rightward (in both political parties) begin in earnest. Powerful Democrats facilitated this rightward drift in American politics by redefining their agenda within the parameters Reagan had set, Zelizer contends. Reagans political success provoked imitation, Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor writes in her chapter. Casting about as their electoral fortunes continued to diminish, the leadership of the Democratic Party began adapting to the prevailing antiwelfare and pro-criminal justice system and policing logics. Michael Kazin strikes similar notes, pinning the Democrats move rightward on the electoral successes of Reagan and George H. W. Bush.

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These characterizations miss critical transformations and tensions within liberalism before Reagans presidency and the supposed fall of the New Deal order. Historians such as Lily Geismer and Brent Cebul have traced the liberal and Democratic embrace of the so-called new economy (driven by the real estate, financial, and tech sectors), market-based solutions to social problems, and professional-class voters back to at least the 1960s and 1970s. After all, Jimmy Carter, despite his latter-day iconic status on the left (solar panels on the White House!), helped usher in the neoliberal age through deregulation and supply-side economics, and the military-industrial complex was very much a New Deal liberal project. Naomi Murakawa, Elizabeth Hinton, and Heather Schoenfeld have also shown that liberal reform efforts in the mid-20th century laid the physical and intellectual groundwork for racialized mass incarceration. Rather than being just a response to the so-called Reagan Revolution, Democrats and liberals rightward lurch in the late 20th century resulted from contradictions within liberalism itself and from broad structural processes in the national and global economies.

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This interpretive disagreement notwithstanding, The Presidency of Donald J. Trump is essential reading for historians of the United States and anyone who hopes to understand, on a more fundamental level, the antecedents to and potential consequences of the Trump years. All of the essays here are sharp and incisive, although standouts include Angus Burgins chapter on the ongoing epistemological crisis triggered by Trump, Nicole Hemmers exploration of the right-wing media ecosystem in the Trump era, Kathleen Belews examination of white power rhetoric and organizing during the Age of Trump, and Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylors meditation on the fall of racial colorblindness and the reemergence of a viable left wing in American politics. As challenging as the study of the recent past can be, these four essaysand, indeed, this entire volumedemonstrate that it is a vital project, especially in this moment of national and global uncertainty. Scholars and other commentators must continue to undertake this kind of workhopefully concentrating more on state power, political culture, and political economy and less on the reductive redblue, conservativeliberal paradigms that inform (and inhibit) far too much political analysis.
Last week, Pinterest announced that it would be banning climate change misinformation from its platform, including content that denies the existence of the environmental phenomenon and humans contribution to it. Our new policy makes Pinterest the only major digital platform to have clearly defined guidelines against false or misleading climate change information, including conspiracy theories, across content and ads, a company statement read.

Pinterest, an image curation site thats often used for interior design and recipe brainstorming, isnt a particularly political platform compared to the likes of Twitter and Facebook. Its unclear how big of a problem climate change misinformation was for Pinterest prior to this new policy. When asked about the amount of climate change misinformation that the platform has taken down and what it looked like, a Pinterest spokesperson told Slate, Our goal is to be proactive. We dont wait until harmful content reaches a certain threshold before taking action. We repeatedly heard from climate experts that climate misinformation, including climate change denying narratives, is causing real harm by impeding meaningful climate action.

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The company declined to disclose to the New York Times how many ads with climate change misinformation its taken down in the past. A search for the term climate change on the platform returned images of a polar bear atop a melting iceberg and of the earth on fire. A search for the term climate hoax on the platform did not return any results, but rather a message reading, Pins about this topic often violate our community guidelines, so were currently unable to show search results. Running climate hoax through Google did reveal active Pinterest pages with bumper stickers reading climate change is a false religion and infographics insisting that the earth is actually cooling. But this sort of content generally seems few and far between, which is perhaps a testament to how effective its anti-misinformation measures have been.

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Pinterest hasnt been completely immune to the misinformation and hate speech issues that have plagued other social media networks. In 2018, the platform found that searching for medical terms like vaccines and cancer cures returned results that were rife with misinformation. The company initially disabled the search function for those terms, and then decided to reenable it but only show results from medical institutions like the World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control. During the pandemic, outlets like PBS and Stat News applauded Pinterest for taking proactive steps to curb vaccine information, such as a proactively neutralizing search terms in preparation for the Plandemic conspiracy theory film. Pinterest has implemented similar measures against the QAnon conspiracy theory.

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Former employees say that the company hasnt always been so proactive in combating misinformation. In an episode of the Slate podcast Thrilling Tales of Modern Capitalism, some of the first members of Pinterests public policy team said they faced internal pushback for trying to institute the companys early policies against vaccine misinformation around 2018, even though those same policies later earned the platform good press. It was a familiar pattern where I would be punished internally for what I was pushing, former public policy manager Ifeoma Ozoma said on the podcast episode, adding that she would face accusations of being too aggressive that are commonly levied against Black women. But then the public praise would be the type of thing that Ben Silbermann, the CEO, would stand on the stage of an ad conference and talk about in order to get more advertisers. (Ozoma has also accused the company of discrimination. Pinterest denied the accusations at first, but then apologized for its culture and pledged to make changes.)

One cynical reason for Pinterests climate change move: it could be trying to draw attention to the fact that the platform is a place to look for green living ideas. In its press release announcing the new policy, the company reported that it was seeing six times as many searches for the term zero waste tips compared to last year, and that searches for zero waste lifestyle had increased by 64 percent. As with its previous initiatives against coronavirus and vaccine misinformation, the coverage from the press has been largely positive.

Future Tense is a partnership of Slate, New America, and Arizona State University that examines emerging technologies, public policy, and society.
Canoeists can also learn more about wine-making traditions during their adventure.

Latorica, a protected landscape area with rich fauna and flora, is the second largest protected area of a lowland type in Slovakia. (Source: Facebook/Peter Petrikan)

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From Velke Kapusany, adventure seekers can set out on a trip down a river, observe birds, taste wine and cycle back to this Slovak town, set in a beautiful landscape.

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The municipality lies a stones throw away from the protected landscape area Latorica, named after the river. In addition, it is located a few kilometres away from the border with Ukraine and just over 20 km from the Slovak-Hungarian border.

Canoeing on the river is undemanding with slight bends, said Velke Kapusany Mayor Peter Petrikan. He himself has tried out the new regional tourism opportunity and considers it a great weekend venture.

The town has recently bought canoes and bicycles for tourists ahead of the oncoming season.

Down the river to Hungary

The whole canoeing adventure of 35 km ends in the village of Vinicky, near the border with Hungary. The final point is the Streda nad Bodrogom Port in the village.

More experienced canoists can head down to the Hungarian town of Tokaj, Petrikan said. The Tokaj area, spreading around the Slovak-Hungarian border, is well known for its wine.

Although the canoeing adventure starts on Latorica River, the waterway flows into Bodrog River as canoists continue to reach their final destination. The Bodrog runs beyond the border, to Tokaj. The town is easily accessible even to those who do not feel experienced enough to canoe to Hungary.

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Read also: How Tokaj is made in Slovakia Read more

In Vinicky, tourists can buy a boat ticket and set off to the towns of Tokaj or Sarospatak for the whole day, the mayor said.

Tourists can also stay overnight in the village, where they can taste local wine, and return to Velke Kapusany by bike the next day.

Almost like a rainforest

In Petrikans opinion, River Latoricas dead arms are a hidden gem.

They make people feel like they are in a rainforest, he said.

Read also:

Read also: Slovak Tokaj region got a new tower Read more

Latorica, a protected landscape area with rich fauna and flora, is the second largest protected area of a lowland type in Slovakia. The river of the same name with plenty of canals runs across it. Swamps and wetlands can also be seen there.

A large part of the protected landscape area includes Medzibodrozie, a protected bird area.

Spectacular Slovakia travel guides
Nuclear power plants are still safe.

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Slovak nuclear plants rely on fuel from Russia. Slovakia now has enough of it to last for at least a year. What then? We have other options, says nuclear physicist MARTIN VENHART. However, it's not easy to change a fuel supplier. Talking to the Sme daily, the physicist discusses the current situation in the Ukrainian nuclear plants, the threat of nuclear weapons, and even why he wouldn't go to Chernobyl.

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Did you feel relieved when the Russian forces pulled back from Chernobyl?

Yes, although I feel that the whole reaction was too disproportional. It's a place where it's better not to do anything stupid. It's best when no one is there. Pripyat is a place tourists visit, but I wouldn't go there. I'm conservative in these regards.

What do you mean?

You should avoid radiation if you can. At work we observe every safety regulation. We don't work with radioactive material without reason. If there isn't any, why do it? The best and only safe dose is the one you're not exposed to.

After the forces pulled back Ukrainians said that there were trenches and that some Russian soldiers were suffering from radiation sickness. What do you think about this?

I share the statement of Dana Drabova, chair of the Czech State Office for Nuclear Safety, who immediately questioned the claims. It seemed impossible to her. The doses in the area are insufficient for radiation sickness.

Yet there is a but. We don't have much information. We heard trenches were supposedly found in the Red Forest. There are both dangerous and not dangerous places in the zone.

Which are the dangerous places?
12. Apr 2022 at 11:33 I Modified at 12. Apr 2022 at 19:48 I Premium content

He also confirmed that the S-300 air defence system sent to Ukraine is in good condition.

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The Slovak S-300 anti-aircraft missile defence system recently delivered to Ukraine is secure and in good condition.

This is how PM Eduard Heger (OLaNO) responded to information from Russia, claiming they destroyed the S-300 system from Slovakia. He disproved the claim that the system was the one donated by Slovakia and added that this has been confirmed on the Ukrainian side as well.

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The claims of Russia correspond with the mosaic of their propaganda, Heger told the Sme daily, using the original claim that Russia would not attack Ukraine as an example. Now we see a brutal war we could not even imagine.

This is how it feels to be proud of your prime minister Read more

The prime minister also commented for Sme on whether the MiG-29 fighter jets currently used in Slovakia could be sent to Ukraine as well.
Society in Slovakia is very polarised, a sociologist opines.

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As much as 50 percent of people in Slovakia are dissatisfied with how the EU is responding to the war in Ukraine. At the same time, 45 percent said they are satisfied.

This stems from a poll carried out by the Focus agency for the EC Representation in Slovakia.

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Sociologist Michal Vasecka opines that people who expect the EU to introduce stricter sanctions against Russia might be among the dissatisfied.

Yet, the result copies the polarisation of society, he said, as quoted by the TASR newswire. Those dissatisfied with the response support the opposition and follow what they hear from leaders they trust. This can be generally said about the coalition as well.

From vaccination to war: Slovak disinformation outlets quick to shift the conversation Read more

Society is currently so polarised that if any topic was selected, it would split in two halves with opposing opinions. People who used to promote opinions against Covid vaccines during the pandemic often cast doubt on the war in Ukraine, Vasecka said.

The links and correlations are very strong, he added, as quoted by TASR.

Differences between voters

After the war in Ukraine started, everybody expected the preferences of the coalition parties to go up, but this has not happened.

The recent Focus poll from the turn of March and April suggested that the preferences of parties has stagnated, and the junior coalition party Freedom and Solidarity (SaS) even fell in favour.

The current development comes as a surprise, but it also confirms that parties keep their preferences at more or less the same levels regardless of scandals or changes in society. These change radically only before the election, Vasecka said, as reported by TASR.

One third of Slovaks believe the West provoked the war in Ukraine Read more

Martin Slosiarik, head of Focus, also said the results of the survey for the EC Representation in Slovakia can be divided based on the voters of the opposition and the coalition.

The supporters of the coalition parties are satisfied with the EUs response, while those supporting the opposition are dissatisfied.

This is also the score of the government that is a representative of the attitude of Slovakia towards Ukraine and how the EU acts, Slosiarik said, as quoted by TASR.
About 3,000 soldiers in total.

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Another 900 troops from NATO member countries may arrive in Slovakia. The government approved the proposal today, but the parliament has to approve as well.

The soldiers should originate from the Czech Republic, Germany, the US and Slovenia. Together, 3,000 soldiers should be operating in Slovakia within a multinational combat group. Originally, the presence of 2,100 NATO soldiers was approved in Slovakia after the war in Ukraine started, in a so-called enhanced forward presence.

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Slovakia has sent an S-300 air defence system to Ukraine. Here's what it means Read more

The capabilities of the foreign armed forces will be complemented by the capabilities and capacities of the Armed Forces of the Slovak Republic, and will contribute to increasing the level of deterrence from a possible armed attack, the Defence Ministry declared in the document, as quoted by the TASR newswire.

More soldiers for Patriot system

The number of Czech soldiers should increase by 100, the total number being 700. With 500 more German soldiers, their total number should be 1,200; with 200 US soldiers about to arrive in Slovakia, their total number will be 600; Slovenia will send 100 soldiers more, so there will be 200 Slovenian soldiers in Slovakia.

There should also be 200 troops from the Netherlands and 100 troops from Poland, the SITA newswire reported.

First Patriot anti-missile defence system arrives in Slovakia Read more

Every unit supposed to arrive in Slovakia is tied to a certain type of technology we requested, Defence Minister Jaroslav Nad (OLaNO) explained.

The number of German troops has increased so that they can operate three batteries of the Patriot system alongside the Netherlands. In the case of the US, the increase in soldiers is also linked with the Patriot system.
https://sputniknews.com/20220412/alabama-governor-signs-bill-criminalizing-health-care-for-trans-youth-1094689551.html

Alabama Governor Signs Bill Criminalizing Health Care for Trans Youth

Alabama Governor Signs Bill Criminalizing Health Care for Trans Youth

The new law will make providing hormone treatment, puberty blockers, as well as surgery to underage transgender peoples as felonies punishable of up to 10... 12.04.2022, Sputnik International

2022-04-12T03:58+0000

2022-04-12T03:58+0000

2022-04-12T03:58+0000

lgbtq

trans rights

law

alabama

politics

trans

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Alabama Governor Kay Ivey signed on Friday a bill into law that will criminalize gender-affirming health care for transgender people under the age of 18, despite warnings from both medical and mental health care professionals who say gender-affirming care can help prevent depression and suicide.The Alabama governor also signed a second bill on Friday that will ban transgender students from using whatever sex-based school facility best aligns with their gender identity, as well as ban the discussion of sexual orientartion and gender identity in grades K-5. The bill mirrors Florida Governor Ron DeSantis Parental Rights in Education act, which is now known across social media as the Dont Say Gay bill.Critics of the Dont Say Gay bill and those adjacent to it say that these bills are pretending to address an issue that doesnt exist. A 2018 study from the Williams Institute at UCLA School of Law said there are no increase in safety risks when transgender persons are allowed to access public facilities that align with their gender identities.The new law will become effective in less than 30 days, on May 8, but will most likely face challenges in court by civil rights groups. The American Civil Liberties Union has vowed to challenge the law in court. Meanwhile, families with transgender teens have already begun to sue the state of Alabama in federal court on Monday.One set of parents pursuing the lawsuit said they were fearful that their transgender daughter would try to commit suicide or harm herself in some way if she was no longer allowed access to the puberty blockers she has already been taking for the past year.Transgender youth are a part of Alabama, and they deserve the same privacy, access to treatment, and data-driven health care from trained medical professionals as any other Alabamian, Tish Gotell Faulks, legal director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Alabama, said in a statement. Faulks then accused politicians of using children as political pawns for their reelection campaigns. Governor primaries start next month.The Alabama legislation was initially cleared by state lawmakers on Thursday. At the time, Mark Del Monte, the CEO of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), remarked in a statement that the measure puts minors at great risk of physical and mental harm."Criminalizing evidence-based, medically necessary services is dangerous, Del Monte underscored.To date, over a dozen US states have either passed or introduced bills similar to Alabamas Senate Bill 184, according to the UCLA School of Law. Aside from Alabama and Florida, measures have been taken up in Arizona, Mississippi and Utah, among other states.

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lgbtq, trans rights, law, alabama, politics, trans
https://sputniknews.com/20220412/beijing-congratulates-shehbaz-sharif-as-new-pakistani-prime-minister-1094706120.html

Beijing Congratulates Shehbaz Sharif as New Pakistani Prime Minister

Beijing Congratulates Shehbaz Sharif as New Pakistani Prime Minister

BEIJING (Sputnik) - Beijing congratulates Shehbaz Sharif on his election as the Pakistani prime minister and looks forward to continuing and deepening... 12.04.2022, Sputnik International

2022-04-12T13:05+0000

2022-04-12T13:05+0000

2022-04-12T13:05+0000

shehbaz sharif

china

pakistan

asia-pacific

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On Sunday, the Pakistani parliament ousted Prime Minister Imran Khan in a vote of no confidence, with the motion succeeding by a vote of 174-0. On Monday, lawmakers elected opposition leader Shehbaz Sharif from the Pakistan Muslim League-N as the new prime minister.According to Khan, his independent foreign policy irritated foreign powers, including the United States, and they financed the opposition's actions on a vote of no confidence. The US State Department has since dismissed Khan's statement as untrue.

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https://sputniknews.com/20220412/biden-to-roll-out-plan-to-ease-gas-prices-on-tuesday-1094696315.html

Biden to Roll Out Plan to Ease Gas Prices on Tuesday

Biden to Roll Out Plan to Ease Gas Prices on Tuesday

The White House previously blamed skyrocketing fuel prices in the country on Russia. The average price of gas in the United States reached $4.33 per gallon... 12.04.2022, Sputnik International

2022-04-12T09:06+0000

2022-04-12T09:06+0000

2022-04-12T10:34+0000

us

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US President Joe Biden will unveil plans to combat spiking costs of gas later in the day, the White House said.According to recent reports, Washington plans to extend the availability of higher biofuel-blended gasoline in a bid to ease the situation on the American fuel market and at the same time to cut reliance on foreign energy sources.It is expected that the Environmental Protection Agency will permit the sale of E15 gasoline (which uses a 15% ethanol blend) across the country starting this summer. According to the Biden administration, E15 can save a family 10 cents per gallon of gas on average, considering current prices.Fuel prices in Europe and the US have been rising dramatically since last year over growing energy demand, as the global economy was recovering from COVID. Another major spike occurred after Washington and its allied slapped sanctions on Moscow amid the latter's special op in Ukraine.Biden ordered a boycott of Russian energy imports and called on EU allies to do as much as posible to reduce their dependence on Russian fuel. Russia replied to these steps by demanding to pay for gas in rubles.

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us, joe biden, gas, gas prices
https://sputniknews.com/20220412/eu-ends-training-program-for-malian-troops-blames-russians-for-moura-killings-1094713353.html

EU Ends Training Programme for Malian Troops, Blames Russians for Moura Killings

EU Ends Training Programme for Malian Troops, Blames Russians for Moura Killings

Western Europe once ruled 90% of Africa as colonial subjects and has tried to retain similar relationships with the now-independent countries in what African... 12.04.2022, Sputnik International

2022-04-12T19:59+0000

2022-04-12T19:59+0000

2022-04-13T05:59+0000

mali

european union

pmc wagner

africa

france

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"We are halting the training missions for the [Malian] armed forces and national guard", the European Union's foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, told reporters on Monday. "There were not sufficient guarantees on non-interference by the Wagner group".The training programme had been paused in mid-March over fears that the private military contractor (PMC) was operating in the country and responsible or could become responsible for civilian deaths in the war-torn West African nation. Those claims continued through late March after unconfirmed anonymous reports claimed that Russians were among a group of Malian troops accused of massacring as many as 300 people in the town of Moura.France has raised fears about the Wagner PMC or Russia penning a deal with the Malian government ever since it decided last year to end Operation Barkhane, including its cooperation with the Malian government, and pull its troops out of Mali. However, Moscow has denied there is any agreement between Wagner or the Kremlin and the Malian government. It has also denied accusations that Wagner PMC is a foreign policy tool for the Russian government, asserting that it's a private company that hasn't broken Russian law.In February, French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said French troops were totally pulling out of Mali, but not leaving the Sahel region, where they are engaged in a smaller-scope counterterrorism operation dubbed Task Force Takuba. On Monday, Borrell said much the same, telling reporters that "the Sahel remains a priority. We're not giving up on the Sahel, far from it. We want to commit even more to that region".A similar situation erupted in another former French colony, the Central African Republic, in June 2021, when France became enraged at Bangui's growing closeness with Russia and the increased effectiveness of CAR troops who received Russian training as compared to those who drilled with EU or French training programmes.However, the Malian government also faces a deep internal struggle. The present government is a military junta that seized power in May 2021 when now-Interim President Assimi Goita removed several civilian ministers from power, including the prime minister and president. That government was already an interim government consisting of a tense alliance between the military and June 5 Movement - Gathering of Patriotic Forces (M5-RFP), an umbrella of civilian activist groups who led mass protests against the previous government of President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, resulting in his downfall in August 2020.*A terrorist group banned in Russia and many other countries

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https://sputniknews.com/20220412/federal-jury-convicts-ex-virginia-cop-who-lost-job-over-armed-role-in-jan-6-insurrection--1094689833.html

Federal Jury Convicts Ex-Virginia Cop Who Lost Job Over Armed Role in Jan. 6 Insurrection

Federal Jury Convicts Ex-Virginia Cop Who Lost Job Over Armed Role in Jan. 6 Insurrection

Thomas Robertson, a former officer with Virginias Rocky Mount Police Department, was indicted on six countsincluding five felony chargesand was rejailed... 12.04.2022, Sputnik International

2022-04-12T04:11+0000

2022-04-12T04:11+0000

2022-04-12T04:08+0000

donald trump

felony

obstruction

2020 united states presidential election

joe biden

gop

republicans

washington dc

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After two days of deliberation, a trial jury has moved to convict Thomas Robertson, 49, on all six counts including obstruction of the Senates official proceeding, destruction of evidence, disorderly conduct at the US Capitol while armed with a dangerous weapon, interfering with police during a riot, and trespassing.The charges are punishable by up to 20 years in prison.The verdict comes as the second time a DC court has ruled in favor of the prosecution in the US Capitol riot. Texas militia movement recruiter Guy Reffitt was convicted of five felonies last month.Robertsons passion for firearms was a constant variable in the months following his felony indictment. After being released on personal recognizance, the 50-year-old was rejailed pending trial in July after authorities discovered he illegally stockpiled 34 firearms.Per his release, Robertson was barred from firearms possession. The prosecution argued that the 50-year-olds actions proved he had been further radicalized.Despite three days of court proceedings, the case against Robertson was overwhelming as video footage from the insurrection showed the now-49-year-old among the first wave of pro-Trump rioters to break into the Senate chamber.Additional body camera footage presented by the prosecution showed Robertson, equipped with a three-foot stick, refusing to move for a DC squad car.Thomas and Jacob Fracker, a 30-year-old who was also fired by the Rocky Mount Police Department, ventured to the nations capital together on January 6, 2021, in an attempt to stop or overturn the actions of Congress.Fracker pleaded guilty last month to conspiring to obstruct Congress in its 2020 Electoral College vote count. As part of his plea agreement, the 30-year-old agreed to provide federal authorities his full cooperation in their case against Thomas.

https://sputniknews.com/20210125/son-who-informed-on-dad-to-fbi-ahead-of-capitol-siege-says-hopes-relationship-can-be-patched-up-1081876032.html

https://sputniknews.com/20220406/ivanka-trump-testifies-before-us-capitol-riot-committee-for-8-hours---reports-1094515547.html

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donald trump, felony, obstruction, 2020 united states presidential election, joe biden, gop, republicans, washington dc
https://sputniknews.com/20220412/former-pakistani-prime-minister-imran-khan-calls-for-immediate-parliamentary-elections-1094694539.html

Former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan Calls for Immediate Parliamentary Elections

Former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan Calls for Immediate Parliamentary Elections

NEW DELHI (Sputnik) - Former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan has demanded that immediate parliamentary elections be held in the country to appoint a new... 12.04.2022, Sputnik International

2022-04-12T07:45+0000

2022-04-12T07:45+0000

2022-04-12T07:58+0000

pakistan

imran khan

election

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On Sunday, the nation's parliament ousted Khan in a vote of no confidence. On Monday, parliament elected opposition leader Shehbaz Sharif from the Pakistan Muslim League-N as the new prime minister.The politician went on to say that he would organise a public gathering, or jalsa, in the northern Pakistani city of Peshawar.On 3 April, the Pakistani Parliament initiated a no-confidence vote to remove Khan from office. After the motion was rejected as unconstitutional, Khan asked the president to dissolve parliament, but the decision to cancel the no-confidence vote was challenged in court by the opposition.The Supreme Court ruled that the no-confidence vote must take place, with Khan saying that the opposition's motion was an attempt by foreign powers to depose him. After Imran Khan was ousted, his party Tehreek-e-Insaf withdrew from parliament. The remaining MPs elected Shehbaz Sharif Pakistan's new prime minister.

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pakistan, imran khan, election
https://sputniknews.com/20220412/frances-socgen-bank-sells-rosbank-pulls-out-of-russian-market-at-336-billion-loss-1094715553.html

Frances SocGen Bank Sells Rosbank, Pulls Out of Russian Market at $3.36 Billion Loss

Frances SocGen Bank Sells Rosbank, Pulls Out of Russian Market at $3.36 Billion Loss

On Monday, French bank Societe Generale announced it, too, would end its activities in Russia, following decisions to do so by Frances two larger banks, BNP... 12.04.2022, Sputnik International

2022-04-12T22:29+0000

2022-04-12T22:29+0000

2022-04-12T22:29+0000

societe generale

rosbank

france

russia

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The bank announced it would be selling its Russian subsidiary Rosbank and its insurance activities in Russia to Interros Capital, an investment firm owned by Russias richest man, former deputy prime minister Vladimir Potanin.However, in doing so SocGen has accepted a loss of $3.36 billion. Last month, the bank said it had about $20 billion of exposure to Russia, which is under sanction by many Western nations in response to the launching of the special neutralization operation in Ukraine on February 24.BNP Paribas, Frances largest bank, and Credit Agricole, its second-largest, pulled out of their Russian operations last month. Both banks had a fairly small exposure to Russia by comparison: just $1.4 billion for Paribas and $7.28 billion by Credit Agricole. However, the banks have not commented on their losses due to the withdrawal.Other Western banks have similarly made flight from Russia since February, especially after the US instituted widespread sanctions targeting the Russian economy, including its largest banks and state-owned enterprises, as well as freezing some $400 billion in foreign currency reserve assets in conjunction with the other Group of Seven nations. In addition, all sanctioned Russian banks have been excluded from the Brussels-based SWIFT international bank wire service.Despite this, Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov said on Tuesday that Russian payments were being made, albeit in rubles instead of dollars, and Western financial institutions would have to make the conversions themselves. He also rejected the notion that just because Russia was blocked from making some payments, it was therefore defaulting on its debt.The Russian ruble has also recovered from a decline after Western sanctions, ending Tuesday at the same value it had when the Ukraine operation began: $0.12 dollars per ruble.The Ukraine operation was launched after months of failed negotiations over NATOs eastward expansion and the continuing war in the Donbass, where Ukraines ultra-nationalist government has waged an eight-year-long war to return two Russian-speaking peoples republics to Kievs control. Moscow has said the operation will end when the neo-Nazi forces in Ukraine are destroyed, the countrys military is neutralized, and Kiev forswears membership in the NATO alliance.

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societe generale, rosbank, france, russia
https://sputniknews.com/20220412/gazans-rush-to-learn-the-language-of-the-enemy-in-a-bid-to-improve-living-conditions-1094690072.html

Gazans Rush to Learn the 'Language of the Enemy' in a Bid to Improve Living Conditions

Gazans Rush to Learn the 'Language of the Enemy' in a Bid to Improve Living Conditions

A Gaza-based teacher, who has been teaching Hebrew for years, says he has seen a spike in the demand for his classes. Some enroll in his school to be able to... 12.04.2022, Sputnik International

2022-04-12T05:26+0000

2022-04-12T05:26+0000

2022-04-12T05:26+0000

israel

gaza strip

hebrew

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Before the 1990s, Israel's official language was taught in many Palestinian schools in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, but since the establishment of the Palestinian Authority in 1994 Hebrew has lost its status.Tensions between the two peoples, the second Intifada, and the four wars between Israel and Hamas - who controls the Gaza Strip - have pushed many Palestinians to despise Hebrew. For years, it has been branded as "the language of the enemy". Very few wanted to learn it, and those who opted to do so were viewed with suspicion by society.Hebrew Gaining PopularityYet, this negative attitude towards the language appears to be changing. Last June, Israel welcomed a new government led by Prime Minister Naftali Bennett. From the very beginning, his coalition - which is comprised of several liberal parties - has vowed to improve the nation's security situation, and the idea was that it would make a few concessions to Hamas in exchange for long-lasting quiet in the country.One such concession is the decision to grant work permits to some 10,000 Gazans, who have been struggling to make a living in the impoverished enclave, where poverty and unemployment rates have reached unprecedented levels.Following that move in October of last year, tens of thousands of Gazans lined up outside chambers of commerce across the enclave in the hopes of obtaining permits to work inside Israel. And many also rushed to enroll in Hebrew classes to study the language of their future employers.Salim Shamali, a 39-year-old father of six from the Gaza Strip, says he joined Hebrew classes a month ago, shortly after he submitted his papers to the Israeli authorities to obtain a work permit.Shamali is far from being alone. Ahmed Al-Falit, a Palestinian from the Gaza Strip, has been teaching the language for years, and he says his business is now booming.Hebrew Is a Must?Al-Falit says he understands the urge and the curiosity to study Hebrew. He himself learned it in an Israeli prison, where he had been incarcerated for 20 years on charges of terrorism. Just as many other inmates, he managed to obtain a university degree while serving his sentence. When he was released in 2011 as part of the Gilad Shalit deal, he decided to use that knowledge and turn it into a profession.The teacher says his students share his views. For them, it is an opportunity to improve their living conditions and put food on the table, and Shamali, who has been enjoying Al-Falit's classes reassures that studying Hebrew has even improved his attitude towards Israel and its people."These classes have enabled me to learn more about Israeli culture and its people. Suddenly, I realised that many of them, those who immigrated from Arab countries, share our culture. And what I also realised is that they too want to live in peace", concluded Shamali.

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https://sputniknews.com/20220412/germany-reportedly-ready-to-provide-cold-war-era-tanks-to-ukraine-amid-leaderships-hesitation-1094688715.html

Germany Reportedly Ready to Provide Cold-War Era Tanks to Ukraine Amid Leadership's Hesitation

Germany Reportedly Ready to Provide Cold-War Era Tanks to Ukraine Amid Leadership's Hesitation

If German authorities approve the delivery of the tanks, they will join a number of other EU countries that have lately transferred tanks and other armored... 12.04.2022, Sputnik International

2022-04-12T04:01+0000

2022-04-12T04:01+0000

2022-04-12T03:59+0000

situation in ukraine

germany

ukraine

ukraine crisis

tanks

leopard 2

bundeswehr

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The German defense company Rheinmetall's CEO Armin Papperger spoke on the possible delivery of 50 Leopard 1 tanks to Ukraine, saying that the political will is needed to make that happen, the local newspaper Handelsblatt reported on Monday.According to the report, the first shipment of the tanks could be on their way to Ukraine within six weeks of the transfer being approved, and the Ukrainian military would receive all of them in three months.Papperger reportedly assured that the Ukrainian personnel could train, operate and maintain these NATO tanks in days if "certain existing skills" applied. But it is unclear how Ukrainians would be taught to operate or maintain the tanks, as well as how numerous supply channels would be developed.Some, according to a War Zone's report, are concerned with how quickly the Ukrainian military will be able to deploy Leopard 1s after receiving them, given that the Ukrainians lack institutional experience operating and maintaining this type of tank, as well as supply lines for spare parts and ammunition for their 105mm main cannons.If the transfer is approved, Papperger reportedly claimed the tanks will be transferred through Rheinmetall Italia, the company's Italian division, raising the likelihood that the tanks in issue once belonged to the Italian military, which operated Leopard 1s until 2008.The German government usually imposes severe limitations on the re-transfer of German-made weapon systems from one country to another. Over the weekend, German Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht claimed the country had "reached a limit" in terms of what it could directly deliver to Ukraine.The public comment of the national defense contractor is expected by some to increase the pressure on Germany's government to approve the transfer. Despite rising support for providing the tanks to the Ukrainian military from within his own Social Democratic Party and others in the country's current coalition government, Germany's Chancellor Olaf Scholz is said to be holding up the process.According to the War Zone, allowing a transfer through a third country could allay German political worries over the trade, particularly fears of a direct retaliation from Russian authorities. Despite German officials' claims that the country is attempting to wean itself off Russian-supplied natural gas, it remains a major energy source at the moment.In light of this, Germany has already reportedly approved some third-party shipments to Ukraine, including one involving improved ex-East German BMP-1 infantry vehicles from the Czech Republic.Both reports have not shed light on how long it might take to get the approval of the delivery plan.This is part of a broader campaign by Ukraine in recent months to bring higher-end weapons into the country, including not only tanks, but surface-to-air and anti-ship missiles, as well as artillery systems. For example, in March, an attempt to transfer old Soviet MiG-29s belonging to Poland to Ukraine failed because the US and other NATO partners feared the possible interpretation of arms shipments as an escalation of the conflict.In the last month, the Russian military said that it has successfully completed the first step of the special operation in Ukraine, and stated that it was now ready to undertake a re-energized operation in and around Ukraine's eastern Donbass region to secure multiple goals as part of its demilitarization and "denazification" campaign.

https://sputniknews.com/20220403/bundeswehr-chief-in-no-circumstances-will-nato-send-troops-to-ukraine-as-kiev-eyes-guerrilla-war-1094434037.html

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germany, ukraine, ukraine crisis, tanks, leopard 2, bundeswehr
https://sputniknews.com/20220412/giant-us-assault-ship-makes-port-call-in-norway-ahead-of-allied-drills-1094691600.html

Giant US Assault Ship Makes Port Call in Norway Ahead of Allied Drills

Giant US Assault Ship Makes Port Call in Norway Ahead of Allied Drills

The 258-metre USS Kearsarge has arrived barely two weeks after the massive Cold Response drill, billed as the largest in Norway since the Cold War-era, and... 12.04.2022, Sputnik International

2022-04-12T06:03+0000

2022-04-12T06:03+0000

2022-04-12T06:03+0000

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The American assault ship USS Kearsarge of the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit has docked in the port of Troms in northern Norway ahead of upcoming drills.The huge 258-metre ship arrived barely two weeks after the massive Cold Response exercise and less than a week after a contentious surprise visit by the nuclear submarine USS Albany, which sparked polarising reactions. This is the first time in history a warship of this size has ever visited the city.In the coming weeks, 800 US soldiers will participate in winter training in Inner Troms. Most of the drills will take place on land, but there will also be activity at sea and in the air.According to the military, this exercise was planned long before the conflict in Ukraine erupted.Karsten Friis, a senior researcher at the Norwegian Institute of Foreign Policy (NUPI), argued that it is logical to maintain and even increase exercise activities in light of Russia's demilitarisation campaign in Ukraine in support of the Donbass republics, which is portrayed as an "invasion" in the West. Stale Ulriksen of the Norwegian Defence College ventured that Russia will probably claim this visit and the drill to be a provocation, but suggested that there is no real danger.In recent years, exercise activity in northern Norway has escalated both at sea and on land. Norway saw a series of drills described as the largest since the Cold War-era, culminating in Trident Juncture 2018 and Cold Response 2022. Norway also receives forces from the US Marine Corps on a rotary basis, with the Vrnes Air Station serving as a storage facility for the US military. This policy has sparked questions about whether it contradicts Norway's historic approach to foreign military bases in peacetime.Meanwhile, Norwegian-Russian relations, which date back hundreds of years to the Viking Era, have over the recent decade deteriorated amid reciprocal military buildups in the north, numerous fighter jet interceptions, spying accusations, and expulsion of diplomats.

https://sputniknews.com/20220318/us-military-plane-with-4-people-on-board-reportedly-crashes-in-norway-1093996649.html

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https://sputniknews.com/20220412/indian-firms-begin-process-to-accept-chinas-yuan-for-their-exports-to-russia-pharma-group-head-1094668721.html

Indian Firms Begin Process to Accept China's Yuan for Their Exports: Pharma Group Head

Indian Firms Begin Process to Accept China's Yuan for Their Exports: Pharma Group Head

The US and its allies have imposed several sanctions on Russia over Moscow's special military operation, launched on 24 February after the republics of the... 12.04.2022, Sputnik International

2022-04-12T05:20+0000

2022-04-12T05:20+0000

2022-04-12T05:22+0000

india

russia

ruble

yuan

china

big pharma

energy

crude

exports

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Sputnik has spoken with Dr D. B. Bhaaskara, CEO of the multinational company Roerich Healthcare, about bilateral trade with Russia amid the so-called economic war on the country launched by the US.Sputnik: The US has insulated the pharma, fertiliser, and energy sectors from sanctions. What are the prospects you foresee for Indian companies in Russia, considering the two countries still haven't yet decided on the mode of payment?Dr D.B. Bhaaskara: We are experiencing a huge delay in payments as only a couple of banks have successfully transferred in euros. Ruble-rupee transactions are yet to start as we were told that conversion rates and other formalities have not been finalised.Also, a few companies, including mine, have started the process to accept the Chinese yuan for exports. Several firms are trying to transfer Chinese CNY for exports, and we must wait and see the fruitful transactions.Sputnik: Russian Ambassador to India Denis Alipov said Russia provides a significant opportunity for Indian pharma companies. What are the factors Indian firms should keep in mind while increasing their businesses in Russia?Dr D.B. Bhaaskara: As the ambassador rightly said, we may have huge opportunities in pharma and consumer products and supplies since Western and American companies are now withholding all pharmaceutical products, both in raw materials and finished products, machinery, etc. Only China and India can support the exports. There are several products still not developed or produced in India or China that Western companies produce, so we must be prepared to develop and produce these generic products that do not have valid patents.We may have an opportunity to register and fast-track the most necessary innovative molecules, including finished products, to cater to the vacuum.India is a pharmacy to the world in terms of high-quality generics at very affordable prices, so there are potential opportunities to further export.Sputnik: Despite insulating several sectors from sanctions, the US is warning India of severe consequences if New Delhi increases trade with Moscow. How do you assess this warning, and whether Indian firms, which have a large presence on the Western market, will take the risks?Dr D.B. Bhaaskara: Yes, and it's very tricky and risky. Several companies which have a presence and business in the West and North America are hesitant to do any business with Russia at this crucial and difficult time.Several of my partner companies have temporarily halted the next steps in registration, clinical trials, and business with Russia, which they had plans for, some of them were even at the halfway point.Sputnik: Prices for active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) are increasing. Will that impact business prospects?Dr D.B. Bhaaskara: Yes. Due to the shortage of intermediate raw materials as well price hike in basic raw materials in China and India due to various reasons forces every manufacturer to manage and fix the new cost and price.This may be for the time being or may remain. This will impact the end-users' point of view as the finished dosage prices gradually increase.So temporarily, they will reduce consumption hoping the raw materials may go down soon. Time will further make changes!Sputnik: Will firms that are sourcing supplies from Europe feel disruptions as Europe relies on Russia for its energy needs?Dr D.B. Bhaaskara: It's quite natural in these circumstances. Sanctions will go both ways. Russia may face severe disturbance in these economic-cum-international political scenarios. But it needs to overcome all, and at the same time, several EU businesses are also in trouble.Regarding energy exports, the Central Bank of Russia has officially announced that as of 28 March 2022, the Russian ruble is bound to gold.The rate is 5,000 rubles per gram of gold bullion.Worse, because Russia will only sell its oil and gas in rubles, now fixed at 5,000 rubles per gram, anyone wishing to buy oil or gas will need to either pay in rubles or pay in gold, and they won't get the US dollar value for the gold they tender as payment!

https://sputniknews.com/20220331/deeply-disappointing-us-australia-slam-india-for-proposed-sanctions-averting-deal-with-russia-1094348624.html

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https://sputniknews.com/20220412/khans-dissent-us-china-enmity--kashmir-new-pakistani-pm-has-a-lot-on-his-plate-scholars-say-1094701744.html

Khan's Dissent, US-China Enmity & Kashmir: New Pakistani PM Has a Lot on His Plate, Scholars Say

Khan's Dissent, US-China Enmity & Kashmir: New Pakistani PM Has a Lot on His Plate, Scholars Say

The ouster of former Prime Minister Imran Khan through a no-confidence vote in the National Assembly, the Pakistani Parliament, and the subsequent rise of... 12.04.2022, Sputnik International

2022-04-12T12:50+0000

2022-04-12T12:50+0000

2022-04-12T12:50+0000

asia & pacific

us

world

opinion

ukraine

russia

pakistan

india

imran khan

shehbaz sharif

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"Though Imran Khan has lost the position of prime minister, he continues to be a credible political force who will challenge the government of Shehbaz Sharif by popular mobilisation and holding of public rallies", says Dr Hasan Askari Rizvi, an independent political and defence analyst.Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif was elected the new Pakistani PM on 11 April and is expected to form a new government. It was Sharif who tabled a no-confidence motion against former Prime Minister Imran Khan in early March, citing corruption allegations and supposed inability of the Khan cabinet to tackle the nation's economic problems.On 27 March, Khan stated publicly that Sharif's move was part of a US-backed soft coup, citing threats from America's Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Donald Lu. Reportedly, Washington was fuming over Islamabad's unwillingness to join the Western sanctions regime against Russia over the latter's special operation in Ukraine. Following Khan's ouster, tens of thousands of protesters took to the streets protesting the National Assembly's decision.Abdullah Khan has drawn attention to Imran Khan's party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) having grown very strong over the last few years and gaining substantial influence across the country and forming local governments in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Azad Kashmir as well as in Gilgit Baltistan. The scholar notes that the PTI's objective is to hold early elections."If the new government does not quickly address Pakistan's economic problems, Imran Khan will find it easy to contest the new government with his anti-America rhetoric and emphasis on national honour against foreign intervention in internal affairs", emphasises Dr Hasan Askari Rizvi. "[Khan] describes the new Pakistani government as an imported government".'Sharif Will Have to Walk a Tightrope Between US and China'In addition to the growing social turmoil, Shehbaz Sharif will have limited room for manoeuvre in his foreign policy, according to the observers.PM Sharif is expected to continue developing mutually beneficial cooperation with China, including the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).Regardless of who assumes office, China and Pakistan are likely to have cordial relations, according to the scholar.At the same time, in his latest interview Sharif stressed the importance of good relations with the US, which he claimed are critical for Pakistan. However, it is unclear whether the new PM will find a balance between Washington and Beijing.Sino-American relations have been deteriorating for quite a while. In addition, Washington has been repeatedly accused by the Khan government of "sabotaging" the CPEC. In October 2021, Khalid Mansoor, then-special assistant to Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan, suggested that the US, backed by India, would not let the CPEC succeed."The US will tolerate that embrace to some extent as it fully realised it does not have much strategic and economic influence in the region", argues Dr Amalendu Misra, a senior lecturer in politics, philosophy, and religion at Lancaster University in the UK, referring to China-Pakistan ties and the CPEC in particular.PM Sharif has to bear in mind that Pakistan is not a priority in America's Asian policy, according to Dr Hasan Askari Rizvi. He notes that "the US has decided to regard India as its strategic partner for its Asia policy", while Pakistan is less important for Washington.Pakistan-India Relations: KashmirIn his first speech the new Pakistani prime minister "offered an olive branch to India" saying the resolution of the Kashmir issue will allow the two sides to focus on shared problems such as poverty, according to the Hindustan Times. "Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif devoted more time to India in the foreign policy segment of his maiden speech than any other country", the media outlet remarks.Sharif's pledge to start viable cooperation with India is likely to face some hurdles too, according to the scholars.First, the Sharif interim government will be at the helm until August 2023 when new general elections are expected to take place. It's impossible to mend any fences in such a short period of time, the observers believe.Second, "any Pakistani leader to stay politically relevant among the electorate and the army has to take an anti-India and pro-Kashmir stance", according to Dr Amalendu Misra. "Expect more of the same in the months and years ahead", he notes.According to Dr Hasan Askari Rizvi, there has been no regular dialogue between India and Pakistan since August 2014, after Narendra Modi assumed office in May 2014. To complicate matters further, the territorial conflict over the Kashmir region, which is claimed by both India and Pakistan, has been a bone of contention between the nations since 1947.The unfolding internal problems and foreign policy uncertainties are likely to haunt the new Pakistani government in the short- and medium-term, according to the observers. Time will tell whether Shehbaz Sharif will find a way to tackle the issues.

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Residents of Mariupol Do Not Confirm Reports About Use of Chemical Substances in City

Residents of Mariupol said they know nothing about the alleged attack on the city with the use of chemical weapons.



On Monday, Ukrainian battalion Azov, with commonly recognized neo-Nazi ideology, accused the Russian forces of having used a poisonous chemical substance against its fighters in Mariupol, which allegedly resulted in the militants and even some civilians feeling sick.



I myself am from the Levoberezhny District, but this is the first time I hear about this information. I havent seen or heard anything like that," a resident of Mariupol, who was evacuated from the city, told Sputnik.



Another resident of Mariupol, who is staying in the city, said: At the moment, I can only say one thing. We have been here since [April] 10. Today I talked with my mother, who is currently in the Kalius region, and she said that everything is fine, she feels fine, no such incidents and there were no gases, there was nothing like that."



White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki said Tuesday the United States cannot confirm the allegations that a chemical weapon was used in Mariupol.
https://sputniknews.com/20220412/lonely-rider-only-person-talking-to-prince-andrew-now-is-his-horse-author-says-1094693025.html

Lonely Rider: Only Person Talking to Prince Andrew Now is His Horse, Author Says

Lonely Rider: Only Person Talking to Prince Andrew Now is His Horse, Author Says

'Only Person Talking to Prince Andrew Now is His Horse', Royal Family Expert Says

2022-04-12T08:25+0000

2022-04-12T08:25+0000

2022-04-12T08:25+0000

uk

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horse

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People who follow the life of the British Royal Family know that many of its members enjoy horse riding. Prince Andrew is not among them, but, according to a royal expert, he has been doing a lot of it lately.The author also noted that the whole scandal is "utterly grotesque".Earlier this year, the disgraced prince settled a sexual assault case brought against him by Virginia Guiffre, an alleged victim of billionaire paedophile Jeffrey Epstein. In the suit, Giuffre claimed that the Duke of York forced her to have sexual intercourse three times when she was a minor. Prince Andrew maintained his innocence, but in the end he decided to settle the case via an out-of-court payment estimated at $16 million.Due to the whole ordeal, the prince was stripped of his military roles and royal patronages, ceasing to use the title "His Royal Highness" (HRH) in an official capacity.However, Prince Andrew's suffering seems to be far from over, as a new scandal is unfolding: according to reports in the British media, the Duke of York and his family received money from former Goldman Sachs banker Selman Turk, who is now accused of fraud by Turkish millionaire Nebahat Evyap Isbilen.

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https://sputniknews.com/20220412/muslim-leader-slams-madhya-pradesh-state-chief-for-punishing-stone-throwers-after-communal-violence-1094696135.html

Muslim Leader Slams Madhya Pradesh State Chief for Punishing Stone Throwers After Communal Violence

Muslim Leader Slams Madhya Pradesh State Chief for Punishing Stone Throwers After Communal Violence

Incidents of violent clashes were reported in various cities across India during the Ram Navami festival on Sunday. It was alleged that people from the Muslim... 12.04.2022, Sputnik International

2022-04-12T10:53+0000

2022-04-12T10:53+0000

2022-04-12T10:53+0000

india

india

religion

religion

religion

religion and politics

politics

politics

politics

politics

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A prominent Indian Muslim politician has lashed out at Madhya Pradesh State Chief Shivraj Singh Chouhan for punishing the alleged culprits involved in throwing stones at a Hindu procession on Sunday in Khargone during the Ram Navami festival.Asaduddin Owaisi, chief of the party All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), criticised the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led state government a day after communal violence occurred in the city."The rule of law in Madhya Pradesh has been overwhelmed by a mob lynching system. State Chief Shivraj Singh Chouhan, even if your ideology justifies the desecration of mosques and attacks on elders, you should not forget that you occupy a constitutional post. It is your responsibility to protect the life and property of the public", Owaisi said in a series of tweets late Monday night. He also warned the Madhya Pradesh state chief, saying: "Remember that you are destroying the homes of the poor by being intoxicated with power and keeping the law in abeyance! Today the government is yours, tomorrow it may not be".On Sunday, a procession was conducted in Khargone to mark the Ram Navami festival when some individuals began to hurl stones, triggering the violence. It was alleged that people from the Muslim community hurled stones and threw petrol bombs while the procession was passing through their area. It led to a violent clash between members of the Hindu community and the Muslim community that left more than 20 people injured.After the incident, the Madhya Pradesh administration demolished the houses of the stone-throwers and purported culprits as a step to punish the wrongdoers.

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https://sputniknews.com/20220412/oklahoma-gov-kevin-stitt-passes-bill-making-performing-an-abortion-punishable-by-up-to-10-years-1094708090.html

Oklahoma Gov Kevin Stitt Passes Bill Making Performing An Abortion Punishable By Up to 10 Years Jail

Oklahoma Gov Kevin Stitt Passes Bill Making Performing An Abortion Punishable By Up to 10 Years Jail

Before signing the SB612 - the bill that makes performing an abortion illegal and punishable by up to 10 years behind bars - Governor Kevin Stitt said he... 12.04.2022, Sputnik International

2022-04-12T14:27+0000

2022-04-12T14:27+0000

2022-04-12T14:58+0000

us

abortion

oklahoma

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Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt signed a bill into law on Tuesday making it a felony to perform an abortion in the state.The controversial legislation only makes exceptions for abortions that are performed to save the life of the mother. Those failing to comply with the new law will face up to 10 years in jail and a $100,000 fine.The bill will go into effect 90 days after the Legislature adjourns in May.Oklahoma's abortion legislation was signed just as the Supreme Court is debating the fate of Roe v Wade - the 1973 ruling guaranteeing nationwide rights to abortion. Abortion rights activists have already slammed the SB612 legislation as unconstitutional.Many other conservative states are pursuing similar anti-abortion legislation, particularly inspired by the recent Texas law that encouraged private citizens to bring lawsuits against abortion providers or anyone who helps to facilitate an abortion, by offering a $10,000 "bounty. The Supreme Court has not blocked the Texas law in a move that was condemned by reproductive rights activists.

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https://sputniknews.com/20220412/police-slap-30-more-fines-on-downing-street-staff-over-partygate-probe-1094700750.html

Johnson and Sunak Among 30 More Fined After Downing Street 'Partygate' Probe

Johnson and Sunak Among 30 More Fined After Downing Street 'Partygate' Probe

An initial batch of some 20 fines were handed out to Downing Street staff last month following the police probe into claims they partied in the seat of... 12.04.2022, Sputnik International

2022-04-12T12:42+0000

2022-04-12T12:42+0000

2022-04-13T10:08+0000

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The UK's prime minister and chancellor of the exchequer are among 30 people given on-the-spot fines to following the investigation into the 'Partygate' scandal.The BBC reported on Tuesday afternoon that PM Boris Johnson and Chancellor Rishi Sunak had been slapped with the fines for breaching COVID-19 lockdown rules.That brought the total number of the Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN) fines imposed by London's Metropolitan Police to 50.The PM's wife Carrie Johnson revealed she had also been handed a fine.The first 20 fines were issued last month as a result of the probe into allegations that Prime Minister Boris Johnson's staff socialised after hours at the Westminster seat of government with drinks and snacks in breach of the rules.Among the claims reported in the media was that Johnson was greeted by his staff with a cake on his 56th birthday on June 19 2020. The Daily Mirror claimed police had a photo of the PM holding a bottle of beer at the impromptu celebration, although the image has never been published.Carrie Johnson reportedly organised the birthday gathering and allegedly also held a "victory party" with friends on November 13 2020 after the PM's top advisor Dominic Cummings was forced to resign.Opposition leaders called for Johnson and Sunak to resign over the development.Johnson had repeatedly insisted to Parliament that he was not aware of any breaches of the lockdown restrictions at Number 10."These fines expose the shocking scale of the criminality in Boris Johnsons Number 10," Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey declared. "The police have now completely shredded Johnsons claims that no laws were broken. He cannot be trusted and cannot continue as Prime Minister."FPN fines of up to 200, legally equivalent to a parking ticket, were routinely levied against citizens caught breaching now-abolished restrictions.The Met's retrospective probe of the Partygate claims was unprecedented for a minor offence. Opposition parties who initially demanded the investigation later attacked the force after senior civil servant Sue Gray's official report was delayed as a result.

https://sputniknews.com/20220406/partygate-labour-urges-bojo-to-release-pictures-taken-at-illegal-number-10-lockdown-gatherings-1094516450.html

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https://sputniknews.com/20220412/political-commissar-lies-goebbels-principles-still-in-demand-in-the-west-1094671726.html

'Political Commissar Lies': Goebbels' Principles Still in Demand in the West

'Political Commissar Lies': Goebbels' Principles Still in Demand in the West

Recently, the West has embraced the trend of making direct appeals to the Russian people, sometimes using sloppy Russian-language phrases. 12.04.2022, Sputnik International

2022-04-12T11:19+0000

2022-04-12T11:19+0000

2022-04-12T11:19+0000

donbass. genocide. 2014-2022

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This tradition was established a couple of weeks ago by Arnold Schwarzenegger, and in recent days has been creatively used by the British media and personally by British Prime Minister Boris Johnson. The Daily Mirror even featured a Russian-language headline on its front page titled "You Need to Know". This is not counting the frequent injections of similar appeals to Russians by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in his daily television broadcasts.All of the authors of the fiery speeches constantly proceed from the same postulate: Russian residents are deprived of the opportunity to receive "the truth about the events in Ukraine". Just compare:In other words, they seriously believe that Russian citizens are cut off from world news and, like in the good old days, still listen to foreign "voices" through their tube radios, trying to catch the signal that occasionally breaks through the "jammers". How poorly they know our people and understand the situation in Russia! A fact well proved by Johnson, who fancies himself as Prometheus, bringing the Russian people the secret knowledge of "fire" - in this case, the mysterious acronym VPN. And how, one wonders, before Boris, could we have known about such a miracle of modern technology? If necessary, our people are ready to share this knowledge with the British, we don't mind.I would like to remind those Western critics who have suddenly developed a "love for the Russian people" that it was not Russia who started turning on the "jammers", as was the case during the Cold War. It was the West, contrary to all its fairytales about "freedom of speech" and its own laws, that began mercilessly sweeping Russian media outlets and even users of social networks sympathetic to Russia the information expanse, putting them under the single label of "Kremlin propaganda". And our response was just reciprocal and symmetrical.Schwarzenegger and company genuinely believe that we haven't seen footage of the destruction in Mariupol or other cities. Confessing his "love for the Russian people", Arnold refers to his childhood memories of meeting our great heavyweight weightlifter Yury Vlasov. Ask Schwarzenegger if he has heard anything about what has been going on in Makeevka, his childhood idol's birthplace, for eight years, the ex-governor of California would be most surprised. Show him footage of Ukrainian troops razing this city to the ground in 2014-2015, and ask him why he did not remember the name of the great Vlasov back then  he will shrug it off, and that is it. Kindergartens, schools, and hospitals in Makeevka  everything was indiscriminately shelled. But there were no such appeals to the Ukrainian people and UAF soldiers by Western actors, politicians, and writers. They had no interest whatsoever.Boris Johnson believes that the Russian viewer or reader has heard nothing at all about the events in Bucha. If we turn on a VPN and read the British press, the scales will immediately fall from our eyes. He probably has no idea that if there is a place, it is in our media that the events in the town near Kiev are analysed frame by frame, minute by minute, with reference to primary sources, including, first and foremost, Ukrainian ones. I have not seen in any Western publication such a detailed analysis of these horrifying images as we have. Perhaps I haven't seen it because a thorough analysis of the chronology of the events in Bucha refutes the myths about "brutal Russians executing defenceless people".For example, we are the ones showing everywhere the statement by the mayor of Bucha, who solemnly declared on 31 March that the city had been "liberated from the Russian orcs". It is we who are showing footage of this mayor (please note, together with Ukrainian police units) in the city centre on 1 April. We are the ones wondering where the pile of dead bodies in the streets of a small settlement that has only recently received the status of a city is. It is our media who are broadcasting a video of the National Police of Ukraine about the mopping-up of Bucha, filmed on 2 April. And at the same time, they quote a Ukrainian fighter who requested permission to shoot at people "without blue armbands". For some reason, they're actively trying to remove this video from social networks, and it is our media that cites it. Schwarzenegger and Johnson do not want to ask why these facts are being kept from Western audiences?Or does someone in the West think that our public is not being shown the "sensational" satellite images from Bucha shared by The New York Times, allegedly proving that the bodies had been lying untouched in the streets since at least 19 March? It is the Western media that dutifully, without any critical analysis, echoed the "enemy of the American people" (as Donald Trump affectionately called this newspaper). Our journalists have analysed these pictures in detail, raising questions that you will not find in this or any other Western newspaper.For example, none of the many Western analysts has raised the question as to how the bodies could have been preserved and not decomposed during the more than two weeks of warm weather. We're the ones who've carefully analysed the temperature in Kiev and its suburbs since 19 March and found out that sometimes on those days it reached 20 degrees Celsius. But the hordes of Western journalists who have swarmed Bucha in recent days are quietly filming these bodies and do not even wonder why they do not need respirators to be near a place where the smell of death should simply knock you out. Nor were there any questions as to why in more than two weeks none of the townspeople, neighbours, relatives, or acquaintances of the murdered people had missed them, found them in the streets, called for help or called the same police that was working in the city even while the Russian units were there. We're the ones who want to know the whole truth about the tragedy of the residents of Bucha, not them.And now let's ask Johnson: so why would a Russian user need a VPN? What more can they learn about the events in Bucha that are not reported and covered in great detail on Russian TV? But a British viewer would discover much more if they could get away from the propaganda of Russophobia and media fakes for a moment and familiarise themselves with Russian materials. Both London and Washington are well aware of this, which is why they are actively cleansing all information from Russia.Although it does not always work. Media outlets in the Netherlands, for example, lament that the party Forum for Democracy, which recently boycotted Zelensky's virtual address to their parliament, continues to accuse the West of unleashing the conflict in Ukraine even after the events in Bucha. The Financial Times pointed to a more serious problem in Asia and Africa: its audience, no matter how Twitter bans accounts for the hashtag #IStandWithPutin, still believes in the "Russian propaganda" and, once again, blames the West. One would wonder why people with more access to information than Britons or Americans with their carefully censored social media are inclined to trust Russian media outlets? Perhaps because they know at a glance who is right? But the conclusion is unambiguous: all the worse for the truth - they need to increase the censorship of their media and spread more lies about Russia.The example of the address by Britain's Daily Mirror in Russian is most revealing because it is written in the worst traditions of Goebbels' propaganda. Eighty years ago, the trenches of the Red Army were constantly bombarded with leaflets: "The political commissar lies to you. You are not tortured or killed in German captivity, but treated well!" Hence The Mirror blatantly writes: "Your president is not telling the truth when he says Ukraine is a threat to Russia and full of Nazis".And the same newspaper publishes a monstrous fake headlined "Woman raped and killed by Russian troops who branded her corpse with swastika". The lie is awfully cynical, as the article features a photo of a woman's body found in the basement of Mariupol School Number 18, which the Azov fighters have turned into their base. The photo has long since made its way around all the Russian media and caused broad resonance, Russia's Investigative Committee opened an investigation into the atrocity back on 28 March, with The Mirror writing a week later that it has failed to establish "where the photo was taken". But the newspaper already knows, you see, that the girl was allegedly raped and killed by Russian troops. Because, you see, if you admit that she was a victim of Nazis from "Azov"  the leaflet "The political commissar lies to you that Ukraine is full of Nazis" immediately loses all meaning. And how, pray tell, are The Mirror's principles different from those of Goebbels in this case?!Now let Johnson answer the question for himself: how would access to British sites via a VPN change the mind of a knowledgeable reader who knows (mind you, thanks to the Russian media!) where and when the gruesome photograph of the tortured woman was taken? For some reason, it was the British audience that was kept away from this photo for a week, not the Russian audience. Had the people of London or Edinburgh had access to our TV channels, blocked by Boris Johnson's government, they would have been able to receive truthful information about the events in Ukraine and Donbass, rather than these primitive fakes from their tabloids. But this is precisely why Johnson the "Prometheus" is explaining to us, not to them, what a VPN is.By Vladimir Kornilov

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https://sputniknews.com/20220412/president-biden-reveals-new-gun-control-measures-on-ghost-guns-1094685479.html

President Biden Reveals New Gun Control Measures on 'Ghost Guns'

President Biden Reveals New Gun Control Measures on 'Ghost Guns'

On today's episode of "The Backstory", host Lee Stranahan discussed current events including China shipping weapons to Serbia, and Elon Musk leaving the board... 12.04.2022, Sputnik International

2022-04-12T07:38+0000

2022-04-12T07:38+0000

2022-04-13T12:15+0000

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President Biden Reveals New Gun Control Measures on "Ghost Guns" On todays episode of The Backstory, host Lee Stranahan discussed current events including China shipping weapons to Serbia, and Elon Musk leaving the board of Twitter.

GUESTIan Shilling - Geopolitical Analyst, Researcher, and Blogger | French Elections, Globalist Media, and Western Weapons Sent to UkraineManila Chan - Veteran News Anchor and former Host of RT's In Question | The War on Language, College Student Confronts CNN Host, and Corporate NarrativesIn the first hour, Lee and Carmine Sabia spoke with Ian Shilling about Boris Johnson in Ukraine, censorship laws in Britain, and George Galloway. Ian predicted Emmanuel Macron will win the second round of elections. Ian spoke about Boris Johnson's visit to Ukraine and British censorship laws.In the second hour, Lee and Carmine Sabia spoke with Manila Chan about the state of journalism, Hunter Biden's laptop investigation, and independent media outlets. Manila discussed the video of Brian Stelter confronted by a college student and Stelter's non-answer response. Manila talked about gender pronouns and the attack on womanhood.Also, President Biden announced new regulation on ghost guns, to track and catch illegal firearms.We'd love to get your feedback at radio@sputniknews.comThe views and opinions expressed in this programme are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the position of Sputnik.

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https://sputniknews.com/20220412/students-activists-hold-peace-march-supporting-russia-in-new-delhi-1094709813.html

Students, Activists Hold Peace March Supporting Russia in New Delhi

Students, Activists Hold Peace March Supporting Russia in New Delhi

Many Indians feel a great affinity with Russia, because of the support it has given India over the past few decades over defence equipment, education and other... 12.04.2022, Sputnik International

2022-04-12T17:49+0000

2022-04-12T17:49+0000

2022-04-12T17:49+0000

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Dozens of students and activists gathered at Delhi's iconic Rajghat on Wednesday and held a peace march to support Russia during its military operation in Ukraine.Speaking with Sputnik, Dr RB Singh, ex-deputy chairman of North Delhi Municipal Corporation, said: "Russia has offered various reasons for Indians to support them. Russia has not only provided defence equipment, but also helped India during the 1971 war of liberation in Bangladesh."The United States, on the other hand, backed Pakistan at the time and opposed the liberation of Bangladesh."I feel sad that people are dying in Ukraine. But, Ukraine's government has forced this war on its citizens. On the other hand, Russia is trying to protect its borders," Dr Singh said.Dr Singh feels that despite Moscow's warnings, Ukraine should have tried to understand why its neighbour does not want them to join NATO.Supporters also visited the memorial of Mahatma Gandhi at Raj Ghat in New Delhi, which is considered a sign of peace. After that, students were seen holding placards, raising slogans "We Support Russia", and "Indians and Russians are brothers".A few were even seen holding Russian flags and former Congress parliamentarian Jai Prakash Agarwal also expressed his solidarity with Russia in a video message.A senior retired Delhi Police officer, Vaid Bhushan Aggarwal, said: "Ukraine can't be considered a trusted ally of India. In 1998, Ukraine had voted against India for conducting nuclear tests.""In 1950, India asked US and Russia to supply us with wheat as we were facing famine and other situations. The US discussed the terms and conditions and prices, but the Russian leadership immediately helped us without conditions," Purnima Anand, founder of the Global Peace Commission, stressed.And a history student, Sarthak Aggarwal, believes that western media suppress the Russian narrative across the world.New Delhi has maintained a neutral stance over the whole situation in Russia. So far, India has abstained from voting on a United Nations Security Council resolution and UNHRC condemning Russian aggression.India's opposition parties unanimously support the Indian government's stance on the matter.

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https://sputniknews.com/20220412/ukraine-and-russia-trade-blame-for-missile-strike-on-train-station-in-donbas-1094687087.html

Ukraine and Russia Trade Blame for Missile Strike on Train Station in Donbass

Ukraine and Russia Trade Blame for Missile Strike on Train Station in Donbass

Versions of the same story differ by country as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the Russian military deliberately struck a Ukrainian train station... 12.04.2022, Sputnik International

2022-04-12T07:44+0000

2022-04-12T07:44+0000

2022-04-13T11:58+0000

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Ukraine and Russia Trade Blame for Missile Strike on Train Station in Donbas Versions of the same story differ by country as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the Russian military deliberately struck a Ukrainian train station, while Russia denied it was responsible.

Mark Sleboda, Moscow-based international relations security analyst, joins us to discuss the missile strike on a train station in Donbass. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the Russian military deliberately struck the train station, while Russia denied it was responsible.Dr David Oualaalou, host of "Geopolitics in Conflict Show" on YouTube, international geopolitical consultant, global speaker, veteran, and author of many books, including "Volatile State: Iran in the Nuclear Age", joins us to discuss the military situation in Ukraine. An article in Postil Magazine surmises that the developments the world is witnessing regarding the conflict have "causes that we knew about but refused to see", such as the expansion of NATO, the Western refusal to implement the Minsk Agreements, and the repeated attacks on the civilians living in Donbass in recent years.Laith Marouf, broadcaster and journalist based in Beirut, Lebanon, joins us to discuss the Middle East. Laith will discuss Israel's hopes that the US position on Iran could sink talks, a rare daytime Israeli airstrike targets northwest Syria, and Iran's Parliament seeks assurances that the US will honour the nuclear deal.Dr Gerald Horne, professor of history at the University of Houston, author, historian, and researcher, joins us to discuss France and Pakistan. French President Emmanuel Macron will face right-wing candidate Marine Le Pen in a runoff election as they vie to lead France as the country's president. And in Pakistan, ousted prime minister Imran Khan rallies support in his country after being voted out of office, as supporters publicly denounce the "foreign conspiracy" against him.Scott Ritter, former UN weapons inspector in Iraq, joins us to discuss Ukraine. He will talk about NATO planning a massive military buildup along Russia's border, Washington's promises to give Ukraine the "weapons it needs", and Ukrainian President Zelensky's accusations of Russia committing "another war crime" after the train station bombing in Donbass.John Kiriakou, journalist, author, and host of Political Misfits, joins us to discuss the US prison crisis. Kiriakou penned a story in Consortium News detailing the atrocities found in the New York State prison system. Currently, the worst prison facility identified in New York is the Great Meadow facility, where the rate of self-harm stands at 155 per 1,000 prisoners.Kim Ives, editor and journalist at Haiti Liberte, joins us to discuss Haiti. So far this year, over 800 Haitians have landed in the Florida Keys. The rise in Haitian migrants in the US is mainly due to the humanitarian conditions and political instabilities that the nation has endured for almost the last fifty years.Oscar Chacon, co-founder of Alianza Americas, and Carlos Castaneda, immigration lawyer, join us to discuss immigration. Texas Governor Greg Abbott, a Republican, says Texas will send buses of undocumented immigrants to the US Capitol if they're willing to go. The gentlemen also discuss Title 42 and why President Biden plans to get rid of it.We'd love to get your feedback at radio@sputniknews.comThe views and opinions expressed in this programme are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the position of Sputnik.

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https://sputniknews.com/20220412/us-state-department-orders-non-essential-personnel-to-leave-shanghai-amid-covid-19-surge-1094687748.html

US State Department Orders Non-Essential Personnel to Leave Shanghai Amid COVID-19 Surge

US State Department Orders Non-Essential Personnel to Leave Shanghai Amid COVID-19 Surge

The US on Saturday warned of "arbitrary" COVID-19 measures that would likely take place in response to a recent surge of infections within the locked-down... 12.04.2022, Sputnik International

2022-04-12T01:20+0000

2022-04-12T01:20+0000

2022-04-12T02:40+0000

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The US Department of State issued an order on Monday calling for the departure of non-emergency US government employees, as well as their family members, from the Consulate General Shanghai consular district. The release highlighted that Beijing's "response" to the surge in COVID-19 infections prompted the department's order. Americans are advised to also "reconsider travel to the PRCs Hong Kong SAR due to arbitrary enforcement of local laws." On Monday, Shanghai reported 22,348 new asymptomatic COVID-19 cases, and 994 symptomatic cases of the contagious disease. The financial hub's government noted that new asymptomatic cases were down from 25,173 cases the day prior.Shanghai logged more than 130,000 COVID-19 cases since March 1, but officials have reported zero related deaths, and only one individual is believed to have a severe illness from the disease. Shanghai's absence of COVID-19-related death has raised some eyebrows, as major cities in other countries have typically experienced a wave of COVID deaths following an outbreak or spike in infections. Sean Sylvia, an assistant professor of health policy at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, stressed to the Wall Street Journal that estimates should not be viewed as a true measure of the novel disease. Nevertheless, estimates in Hong Kong show that new COVID-19 infections are progressively decreasing. However, a report from the region last month logged 5,000 for Hong Kong between December 31 and mid-March. Experts have since said that unvaccinated, elderly individuals represented a disproportionate amount of the fatalities that occurred alongside the Omicron outbreak.

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https://sputniknews.com/20220412/violence-erupts-during-by-election-in-indias-west-bengal-bjp-politician-attacked-1094694032.html

Violence Erupts During By-Election in India's West Bengal, BJP Politician Attacked

Violence Erupts During By-Election in India's West Bengal, BJP Politician Attacked

The eastern Indian state of West Bengal has been witnessing continuous clashes between workers from the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) and cadres from the... 12.04.2022, Sputnik International

2022-04-12T11:04+0000

2022-04-12T11:04+0000

2022-04-12T11:04+0000

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Hours after voting in by-elections for the Asansol parliamentary seat commenced in the state of West Bengal on Tuesday, violence broke out at polling stations in the area.BJP candidate Agnimitra Paul alleged that people from the ruling party TMC hurled stones at her convoy."TMC workers thrashed our security personnel with bamboo sticks. No matter how hard [state chief] Mamata Banerjee tries, the BJP will win here [Asansol]", said Agnimitra Paul, who is contesting against TMC's Shatrughan Sinha in the by-poll. "They are not allowing our polling agents to sit in polling booths. TMC goons ransacked my car. Now they have blocked cars of media persons".Polling was necessitated after BJP politician Babul Supriyo resigned from this seat and joined the TMC last year.Meanwhile, polling for the Ballygunge assembly seat also began amid tight security arrangements this morning. Voting began at 7 a.m. (Indian Standard Time) today and will continue until 6:30 p.m. The results will be announced on Saturday.Asansol, a metropolitan city, has around 1.5 million voters, while Ballygunge, a locality of South Kolkata, has around 250,000 voters.The occurrence of violence during polls in West Bengal appears to be a common incident. The Election Commission of India has identified 650 polling booths as sensitive out of 2,012 in Asansol. All 300 polling booths in Ballygunge have been identified as sensitive. Around 130 companies of central security forces have been deployed for the polls.

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https://sputniknews.com/20220412/we-are-monitoring-rise-in-human-rights-abuses-in-india-says-us-secretary-of-state-1094690566.html

'We Are Monitoring Rise in Human Rights Abuses in India', Says US Secretary of State

'We Are Monitoring Rise in Human Rights Abuses in India', Says US Secretary of State

Blinken's remarks came days after US Congresswoman Ilhan Omar (D-MN) had asked why the Biden administration was "so reluctant" to criticise the Indian... 12.04.2022, Sputnik International

2022-04-12T07:56+0000

2022-04-12T07:56+0000

2022-04-12T07:57+0000

india

india

prime minister's office of india

narendra modi

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antony blinken

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us

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United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Monday said that his government is monitoring a "rise in human rights abuses in India"."We regularly engage with our Indian partners on these shared values [of human rights] and to that end, we are monitoring some recent concerning developments in India including a rise in human rights abuses by some government, police, and prison officials", Blinken stated during a joint briefing after 2+2 talks between US and Indian defence and foreign ministers in Washington.The joint press briefing was also attended by US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin, India's Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, and Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.During the briefing, Blinken also stated that India and the US share a commitment to democratic values, such as protecting human rights.Yet, he did not elaborate on his remark or make any further comments on the matter, while his Indian counterpart also refrained from commenting on the human rights issue.The statement followed remarks made by US Congresswoman Ilhan Omar, who has been critical of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his policy toward Muslims. The latter make up around 20 percent of the country's population.Last week, Omar compared Prime Minister Modi with former Chilean General-turned-President Augusto Pinochet."But I ask, what about Modi in India? How are we promoting a free and open region by supporting Modi? So, I ask you, why has the Biden administration been so reluctant to criticise Modi's government on human rights?", Omar stated. The critical observations by Omar come against the backdrop of a row over the wearing of hijabs in the southern Indian state of Karnataka, where Muslim students have been banned from putting on their Islamic headscarves inside classrooms. Last week, another row erupted in Delhi after a Bharatiya Janata Party-ruled civic authority asked meat-sellers to shut down their shops to avoid hurting religious sentiments of Hindus during the ongoing Navratri festivities.In the past, Omar has raised concerns over a "surge in attacks" against Muslims for the consumption of beef and their targeting of the community in Jammu and Kashmir.On Monday, in his opening remarks at a virtual meeting with Prime Minister Modi, President Biden said he was looking forward to seeing his Indian counterpart in Japan on 24 May during a summit of the leaders of the Quadrilateral coalition. Japan will host the summit of the Quad leaders, where extensive discussions on ways to further enhance cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region are expected to be on the agenda.

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The Georgia Department of Education is awarding $899,420 in Opportunity Grants to help school districts expand options and opportunities for their students. SCCPSS has been awarded multiple grants from those funds totaling $31,044. The funds will support opportunities in world languages, fine arts, physical education, summer learning, and Advanced Placement. These grants allow schools and districts to continue to expand opportunities and ensure an excellent education for students across the state," Superintendent Woods said. Education is more than just the core content areas, and this funding will ensure students have access to opportunities that prepare them for life and keep them engaged in school."



The Opportunity Grants awarded to Savannah-Chatham County Public Schools include:

Advanced Placement (AP)

AP Teacher Mentoring Grants will provide financial support for districts to design a mentoring program for teachers, including mentoring activities. The grant funds will allow schools to offer focused support to new or experienced AP teachers who seek to improve their instructional practices.

Advanced Placement Summer Institute (APSI) grants will allow non-AP teachers to attend the AP Summer Institute training for their subject area to help districts build vertical alignment for access to accelerated learning in schools. The training will increase teachers' content knowledge and expand opportunities for students to participate in AP classes by providing teachers with in-depth content and strategies appropriate for high school courses.

World Languages Innovation grants awarded to Johnson High School and Heard Elementary will provide opportunities to create and enhance existing programs and activities that connect world language instruction with other academic areas.

A World Languages START-UP Dual Language Immersion grant to Gould Elementary will support the start of a new Dual Language Immersion (DLI) program, thereby expanding access to these innovative programs in our community.

A World Languages Sustaining Dual Language Immersion grant awarded to Windsor Forest Elementary will support the school's existing DLI program and teachers by providing resources to support DLI training and instruction.

Fine Arts

Fine Arts Consumables and Equipment (FACE) grants awarded to Islands High School, Largo-Tibet Elementary, and Hodge Elementary will allow fine arts teachers at the schools to implement sustainable fine arts education instruction initiatives to increase access to quality fine arts education.

The Opportunity Grants were made possible through federal stimulus funds under the American Rescue Plan (ARP  ESSER). 




Local precinct changes to Culpeper Countys seven voting sites will be minimal as part of the required decennial redistricting process the Board of Supervisors finalized last week with a public hearing.

Six of the countys voting sites either added or lost voters, impacting residents on less than two dozen streets, mostly in town as town precincts shrink and shift to accommodate growth.

The precinct target number of voters is 7,449, maximum with a 5 percent up or down variation permitted, according to redistricting rules regarding equal population per voting district. All Culpeper precincts met those guidelines with East Fairfax being the largest and Jefferson the smallest to accommodate projected residential growth at Clevengers Corner, according to a county staff report.

Initially, only Jefferson needed to increase in population while East and West Fairfax both needed to decrease.

Jefferson absorbed an area from Catalpa, addresses along Hazel River Road west of Rixeyvlle Road bounded by Alum Springs.

Catalpa then made up for that loss by taking from West Fairfax along Sperryville Pike and Col. Jameson Boulevard, according to a presentation at the April 5 board meeting from County Administrator John Egertson.

East Fairfax district was reduced by giving an area in the Madison Grove development behind Lowes to Stevensburg, which became too large and in turn gave an area along Route 522 along Route 29 South to Cedar Mountain. Only the Salem District remained unchanged.

Its been 10 years since the last redistricting, Egertson said.

The changes are not drastic, he said. Its the plan that caused the least amount of change for the people and the registrar.

According to General Registrar James Clements, many Madison Grove residents already vote at the Stevensburg District precinct location at Brandy Station VFD, and have since 2016.

Its never been easier to vote in the state of Virginia, he said.

He estimated 35-40 percent, as has been seen during the pandemic years of voting, would vote early or by mail. Far fewer vote on actual Election Day anymore, Clements said. He said election officers are always needed.

The new Virginia House of Delegate districts for Culpeper are District 61 (the town and northern parts of the county) and District 62 (southern parts of the county).

Culpeper County is now in State Senate District 28, no longer split.

Finally, Culpeper County remains at the center of the dramatically redrawn U.S. Congressional District 7 that now stretches west from Greene County east to Caroline County, also encompassing Orange and Madison counties.

No one spoke at the public hearing on the redistricting process at last weeks meeting.

In order to complete the redistricting process, the County Code, Chapter 7Elections was amended and the Attorney General of Virginia must also not object.

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Kristian Schank wasnt always planning on being a history teacher. But when he took a 400-level Civil War class as a sophomore in college, he discovered his passion for the world of the past. He dropped out of engineering school at the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology in Rapid City and pursued a degree in history education at Chadron State College.

Now, over a decade later, he seems to have made the right choice, having been selected as a Claes Nobel Educator of Distinction by The National Society of High School Scholars. Schank, a 2004 alum of Gering High School and current history teacher for Gering, was nominated by a student for outstanding dedication and commitment to excellence in the profession, according to a press release.

Its been a rough couple of years in education, so I just was happy, Schank said. Its always a nice thing to get an award like this. Im not normally, terribly  I dont pat myself on the back a whole lot, so it was kind of nice to actually see this.

With a student having nominated him, the honor was that much sweeter, he said.

It really meant a lot because I think  she (the student) was applying for a scholarship as well as this, he said. Just the fact that she took all the time and effort to nominate me, as well  most kids, its a lot of work to apply for scholarships, so they would just do that and then probably call it good, but it was nice that she took the extra time and effort to do that.

He must have had a strong impact on her, which isnt too much of a surprise, as working with students is Schanks favorite part of the job.

My favorite thing about teaching  is building relationships with kids. Thats where I love being a teacher. That is so much fun to get to know kids and build relationships with them, he said. But then the other thing about teaching that I really like is when a kid 'gets' history. Theres that moment that always happens in the class and the kid who maybe has been struggling to understand whats going on, and maybe its the topic; maybe its the timeline. Then all of a sudden they get it and thats when its really cool.

The part of Schanks job that he loves is teaching his favorite subject. Schank teaches U.S. history, western civilizations, humanities, comparative religions and honors U.S. history, a dual credit course through Western Nebraska Community College. For him, history is the most important subject in school.

At the beginning of the school year, (I tell) the students, You can talk about how important math is or English or all that stuff, but if you dont have history, guess what? You dont have any of that, he said. So, everything depends on that. And then I say, It also tells us where were going and what to watch out for. We learned from history; we understand what sort of things we need to be aware of and whats happening next. And especially when you start to really understand history and realize that things weave together, you can begin to make predictions based on future events and things like that.

Its through history that he is able to teach important life lessons to his students.

I dont usually say it (history) repeats itself, but it does rhyme, he said.

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Donald Trump Jr. will visit Gering Wednesday, April 13, to stump for Republican gubernatorial candidate Charles Herbster. Trump Jr. and Herbster will make remarks and meet with voters during a meet and greet at the Gering Civic Center.

Doors open at 9:30 a.m. and Trump Jr. will make his remarks at 10 a.m. Tickets are required for the event and may be found for free on Eventbrite, https://bit.ly/3joALGS.

The speakers are stopping by to shake hands, take pictures and talk to the people of Nebraska, Herbster campaigns communications director Emily Novotny told the Star-Herald. She said theyll share Herbsters campaign visions to attendees. The event will last around an hour, Novotny added.

After short remarks, Herbster and Trump Jr. will mingle with the voters.

Trump Jr. is the eldest child of former President Donald Trump, who endorsed Herbster to be Nebraskas next governor in October. Herbster, a farmer and businessman from Falls City, is one of nine Republicans and 12 candidates overall aiming to replace term-limited governor Pete Ricketts.

Kolene Woodward, chairman of the Scotts Bluff County GOP, said, I think its terrific we can get such high-profile people here. I think it says a lot about the campaign.

Woodward said the local Republican chapter was asked to help out at the meet and greet, but the Herbster campaign put the event together.

She said plenty of local Republicans will be in attendance.

If you mention the word Trump, lots of GOP people are going to show up.

Trump Jr. will also hold events with Herbster in North Platte and Grand Island on Wednesday. The North Platte event will be a similar meet and greet, with remarks at the Lincoln County fairgrounds at 1 p.m. The Grand Island event will be a "Nebraska First Celebration" at the Heartland Events Center with remarks at 3 p.m. These events also require tickets.

Herbster previously visited the Scottsbluff area in April 2021 with former President Trumps senior adviser Kellyanne Conway.

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Willa is still waiting to go to Washington.

And the man who will help take her there is a capable tour guide.

As a boy, Littleton Alston would wander the U.S. Capitol, run around the National Mall, wade in its reflecting pools, visit all the free museums  then bike back across East Capitol Avenue to his own neighborhood, its storefronts still burned out or boarded up from the 1968 riots after Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated.

On each trip, he carried something home with him.

It made me realize, in a concrete way, that there was a larger world. It showed me a different world; there wasnt rats, there wasnt garbage, there wasnt people acting stupid.

Hed make the trip day after day during the summer. He found himself drawn to the public artwork, particularly the statues and sculptures, like those that loomed so much larger than him in the Capitols Statuary Hall.

It was like a wonderland. It opened up a world for me that my neighborhood didnt have, that my education didnt have. It began an education for me, really.

And it would lead, 50 years later, to a studio in midtown Omaha, where Alston last week finished packing up the 7-foot, 500-pound Willa Cather sculpture that he brought to life.

He wrapped her in protective padding, built a plywood-and-pallet crate around her.

Now theyre both waiting for word on when hell get to introduce her to his childhood draw, Statuary Hall.

But theres room for only so many statues.

The towering Cather bronze  sculpted by the first African American artist to contribute to the Statuary Hall Collection in its 160-year history  will unseat J. Sterling Morton, famous for starting Arbor Day but getting better known for his pro-slavery position.

After 85 years in the Capitol, Morton will head home to Nebraska City, in the same wooden crate that will carry Cather to Washington.

And his welcome there hasnt been wholly warm.

* * *

Littleton Alston learned about Cather as most of America did  in junior high.

But in 2018, after the Nebraska Legislature voted to send Ponca Chief Standing Bear and Cather to Washington, and recall William Jennings Bryan and Morton, he learned even more.

Serious, scholarly research: Immersing himself in her words, and those written about her. Sensory, too: Visiting her hometown, and her childhood home, and surrounding himself with her images.

He saw parallels in their paths. They were both born in Virginia, but they both considered Nebraska their home.

Alston has taught at Creighton University since 1990, and his work is on display across the state, and the country. Charles Bessey at the state Capitols Hall of Fame. Bob Gibson at Werner Park in Papillion. St. Ignatius at Creighton. Martin Luther King Jr. in Illinois. Hell soon have Gale Sayers at Omaha Central High School.

For the Cather piece, he started with drawings of the author, then smaller, three-dimensional studies sculpted in clay. Those show structure and proportion  how the statue is standing, the play of the light  but not much detail.

And then he progressed to slightly larger pieces, 2-foot maquettes, which gave him room to add finer touches, such as the tilt of her hat, or the pins she wore.

When I get to the large size, Im able to put a tremendous amount of detail in. Ive worked out all of those questions in the smaller sizes.

But he wanted more than her resemblance. He was trying to freeze the feelings and thoughts and contemplation of another artist.

Am I capturing her? She has a very complex face. I wanted to represent her in the process of thinking and creating. You know how someone looks at you when they have an idea?

Did he replicate the glimmer in her eye, the strength of her jaw, as he wanted to? The Willa Cather National Statuary Hall Selection Committee thought so; it approved Alstons final version, and a Colorado foundry has since cast his Cather statue in bronze.

But shell remain a secret until shes not, said committee chairman Ron Hull.

The board wants the Washington unveiling to be an event, and that will be the first time the public will see it.

The committee was charged with raising the roughly $200,000 to commission the statue  and found a benefactor in the late Senior U.S. District Court Judge Laurie Smith Camp, who donated most of it  and identify a new home for Morton.

The Cather group watched the Standing Bear Selection Committee begin Nebraskas changing of its guard, installing the Ponca chiefs 9-foot statue at the Capitol and sending Bryan to his new home in Seward, in fall 2019.

But it was told 2020 was an election year, so it would likely have to wait until 2021 to move Cather to Washington. And then the pandemic paused everything. The Capitol closed to the public, and only reopened late last month.

Hull hopes Cather goes to Washington soon. Theyre planning a reception for a couple of hundred people, celebrating all things Nebraska, but the dedication date isnt up to them.

The Speaker of the House will set the schedule.

The last word weve had, two weeks ago, is that it cannot happen until this fall, Hull said. Theres an awful lot of stuff going on in Washington, as you know.

* * *

A bidding war broke out for William Jennings Bryan after Standing Bear replaced him in Statuary Hall.

Lincoln wanted him on Centennial Mall, but Seward won out, and he found a new home under the roof of the National Guard Museum.

But when Hulls committee sought proposals for Mortons new home, only Nebraska City stepped up.

It made sense, he said at the time. Morton belonged there.

Hed moved to Nebraska City in 1854 and settled in as a farmer, newspaper editor, member of the territorial legislature, territorial secretary and, later, President Grover Clevelands agriculture secretary.

But he became famous for launching Arbor Day in 1872. Nebraskans planted an estimated 1 million trees that first year. It became an official state holiday two years later, and has since spread to all 50 states.

Nebraska City is home to Arbor Lodge, Arbor Day Farm and Arbor Day celebrations.

The committee in Nebraska City that proposed bringing Morton home found a spot for him on the east side of the Otoe County Courthouse  the states oldest public building  and began raising the $5,000 cost of hauling him out of D.C.

But then plans changed.

County commissioners started getting calls and emails from those opposed to the location, given Mortons flagrant pro-slavery and anti-Black civil rights views.

Among their concerns: It might not be a good look to plant Morton, who didnt think Black men should be allowed to vote, that close to the building where people register to vote, said Sara Crook, a Nebraska City native, Peru State professor and member of the Cather committee.

So to avoid a political conundrum and controversy, they looked for other locations to put the statue, she said.

Mortons views were held by many in the middle of the 1800s. Hes been called a man of his time. But that doesnt mean he was right, she said. I think he was wrong.

The Nebraska City committee found itself needing a Plan B.

Questions were raised, and certainly we didnt want to have a situation where it was going to be controversial, said member Doug Friedli.

But they didnt want to hide that side of Morton, either, he said.

They found a new home for him at the Morton-James Library, which was paid for, and named after, Mortons son.

Its a good fit for a couple of reasons, he said. First, Morton will be inside, protected from the elements. But more importantly, the library will provide resources that tell the rest of his story  and not just the part about the trees.

Well be able to tell all sides of his life. Were really pleased to have that opportunity, so if people want to research various aspects of his life, its going to be there.

Alston is aware of Mortons past.

But hed rather look forward, and talk about how his statue will elevate Nebraskas image to those who visit the Capitol.

Cather deserves to be there, he said.

I do think its poetic justice that Willa will have her day in the sun.

Reach the writer at 402-473-7254 or psalter@journalstar.com. On Twitter @LJSPeterSalter

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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
The Easter Bunny likely will not need to borrow Santas sled to reach Lower Columbia River Valley children this Sunday, despite Mondays heavy snowfall.

The National Weather Service forecast calls for a chance of rain and snow throughout the week, with only showers at lower levels over the weekend as temperatures rise to the mid-50s by Sunday.

Mondays snow

Lower Columbia residents awoke Monday to April snow, and local schools, government offices and health centers closed because of wet and icy road conditions.

Volunteers reported to the National Weather Service Portland office that 3 inches of snow hit Toutle at 5:14 a.m., 3.8 inches hit Kalama at 6:45 a.m. and 5.5 inches hit Ryderwood at 7:32 a.m.

The National Weather Services winter storm warning was set to expire at 5 p.m. Monday after being triggered for roughly three hours for the southern Washington Cascade foothills, including Toutle, Ariel and Cougar. Meteorologists said the areas could have been hit with additional accumulation of 1 to 3 inches, and winds could reach gusts up to 35 mph.

National Weather Service Meteorologist Dan Miller said motorists should continue to drive cautiously Tuesday morning in case roads, bridges and highway ramps refreeze overnight and become slick.

Forecast

Throughout the week, rain and snow is expected overnight in higher Cowlitz County elevations  past where most people live  until temperatures rise in the afternoons, leaving just rain. Little or no snow accumulation is expected throughout the week.

Meteorologists call for rain in Cowlitz County after 2 p.m. Tuesday, with thunder possible. Snow is expected to hit 1,200 feet elevation in the afternoon when the high reaches 46 degrees. After 8 p.m., weather experts call for rain, snow and thunder. The snow level is expected to drop to 500 feet after midnight with a low around 33 degrees.

By comparison, National Weather Service Meteorologist Colby Neuman said rivers have an elevation of around 20 to 30 feet.

Snow is expected to hit at 200 feet elevation early Wednesday, rising to 1,500 feet in the afternoon with a high around 46 degrees. A chance of rain and snow is forecasted for Wednesday night, with snow hitting 900 feet in elevation after midnight.

A chance of showers is predicted for Thursday. The day is expected to be partly cloudy with a high of 49. A slight chance of rain and snow is expected overnight with a low of around 33.

Over the weekend, snow is expected to hit at elevations from 700 feet to 2,900 feet. Saturdays high is expected to be 53 and Sundays high is expected to be 56.

The wet forecast is not expected to cause flooding. The National Weather Service reports the Cowlitz River at Kelso and Castle Rock, as well as the Columbia River at Longview and Lewis River at Woodland are expected to stay far below flood stages.

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Two Fairchild Air Force Base staff sergeants in Washington state face charges of stealing thousands of rounds of ammunition from the base in a case with antigovernment overtones. John I. Sanger and Eric Eagleton were named in a criminal complaint unsealed in federal court in Spokane on Tuesday. The Spokesman-Review reported that authorities said they linked Sanger with a pair of social media accounts that made antigovernment statements in the months between the 2020 presidential election and the storming of the U.S. Capitol. Both men face charges of conspiracy to commit theft of government property and possession of stolen ammunition. Sanger does not have an attorney yet who can speak on his behalf. Eagletons attorney could not be immediately reached for comment.
Microsoft says it will make changes to address customer concerns that it hinders use of rival clouds with Windows, Office

The current tide of antitrust scrutiny and regulations focused on big technology companies has conspicuously omitted one company: Microsoft Corp., the software and cloud-computing behemoth that was the notorious target of a landmark U.S. government lawsuit in the 1990s. Microsoft, the thinking goes, was already humbled by years of intense government oversight, and since it largely caters to other companies, instead of consumers, it doesnt belong in the same category as Facebook, Amazon, Google and Apple. But now some Microsoft customers, and some of its fiercest rivals, are making a bold claim: The software giant is again using its sway over one market to thwart competition in another.

Microsoft three years ago overhauled the way it licenses some of its most ubiquitous software programs, including Windows and Office, in ways that increase the cost of running those programs on rival cloud-computing systems like Amazon Web Services and Google Cloud Platform. In some cases, the revamped agreements outright forbid using competing cloud services. AWS and Google say they have complained to Microsoft on behalf of multiple customers. French cloud provider OVH, along with other unidentified companies, filed a complaint last year with European regulators about the practice, saying its also being hurt by Microsofts policies.

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Major business software customers, some of which are only now starting to see the impact as they renew deals or replace aging programs, are also incensed. Over a six-month period, Bloomberg spoke with five Microsoft customers and three software resellers working with clients affected by the changes. After being contacted by Bloomberg News, Microsoft President and Vice Chair Brad Smith said the company will talk with customers and rivals and is committed to addressing the issues. There definitely are some valid concerns, he said in an interview. Its very important for us to learn more and then make some changes.

The impact has been felt at companies and organizations both large and small. A person familiar with the software systems at a Fortune 100 company said Microsofts rules dont allow running its existing Office software on Amazons cloud, and require it to pay more to run the Windows operating system on its rivals servers. One consultant tried to help a Fortune 10 customer move to Google Cloud, but the client abandoned the idea after finding it would increase the costs of Windows licenses by $50 million over five years. Customers, consultants and resellers spoke on the condition of anonymity because they werent authorized to discuss confidential license details publicly, and some said they feared retaliation from Microsoft.

The excrement is about to hit the fan, said Wes Miller, an analyst at Directions on Microsoft, a research firm that advises customers on Microsoft licensing. He said that using the company's software on a competing cloud service is significantly more expensive than it used to be, and more expensive than it costs you to do the same thing on Azure.Microsofts practices cut across two of the most lucrative areas of technology aimed at businesses: cloud computing, where its playing catch-up, and productivity software, which it dominates. Amazon.com Inc.s $62 billion cloud unit leads the market for cloud infrastructure services, which let companies tap computing power to run applications and store data. Microsofts Azure is a growing No. 2, while Alphabet Inc.s Google Cloud is chasing Azure. More businesses are shifting their corporate programsoffice software, databases, payroll programs and customer websitesinto data centers owned by Amazon, Microsoft, Google and other cloud providers, sparing them the expense of owning and maintaining their own equipment.

But most companies still use Microsofts Windows and Office to run corporate computers and for tasks like sending email and creating spreadsheets and presentations. The Windows operating system held a 96% share of the personal-computer market last year, according to Gartner, while the Office suite captured 86% of its market in 2020. Many customers also use Windows Server software and the SQL Server database, which are also impacted by the rule changes. Linking a product with the market power of Windows to another offering, like Azure, to gain leverage with customers, or making the product work less well with a rivals service, can be an antitrust violation called tying, said Herbert Hovenkamp, an antitrust law professor at the University of Pennsylvania, who consulted on the U.S. states antitrust case against Microsoft in the late 1990s and early 2000s.

Microsoft is playing with fire here to a certain extent, Hovenkamp said.

The 2019 changes technically applied only to the largest cloud providers, but smaller, regional sellers like OVH say they are also facing higher prices when hosting Microsoft programs on their servers. In order to sell customers OVHs cloud services to work with Microsofts programs, OVH said it must sign on to a Microsoft license agreement under which Microsoft charges higher prices for must-have products, according to a confidential summary of the OVH complaint viewed by Bloomberg. OVH said its also forced to agree to onerous and abusive clauses, like submitting to audits and providing Microsoft confidential information about users. In March, European regulators sent a questionnaire to Microsoft cloud rivals and partners that asked about some of the issues OVH raised, according to copies of the document seen by Bloomberg.

In response to an inquiry about the licensing practices, Microsoft said it does offer discounts to existing customers who opt to run some of its programs in Azure, compared with the cost of using the same products with Amazon or Googlebut it argues Google and Amazon could offer their own discounts to those customers to win their business. The company also said it does currently restrict using some versions of Office in Google, Amazon and Alibabas clouds.

The goal of these policies was not to put rivals at a disadvantage, Smith said, but there clearly have been some unintended consequences. In particular Microsoft wants to speak with European cloud providers and address their concerns. We should be especially sensitive to the unintended impact on European cloud providers. Were very interested in connecting directly with them and really listening to and understanding better what their concerns are, he said. Smith didnt elaborate on what changes the company is considering.

Software licensing rules are lengthy and complex, and Microsofts policies vary for each product. The issue creating tension now affects customers that bought rights to use software in their own data centers and offices, but now want to use those programs in the cloudmeaning the software would be delivered via Amazon, Google, Alibaba or Microsofts own Azure cloud. Microsoft outlined the restrictions in new licensing agreements starting in 2019, saying certain programs cannot be deployed with dedicated hosted cloud services offered by the following public cloud providers: Microsoft, Alibaba, Amazon (including VMware Cloud on AWS), and Google.

Office, the software package that includes common business programs such as Word, Excel and PowerPoint, is the worst and most complicated, according to Directions on Microsofts Miller. One version of the Office suitethe one used in cloud-computing environmentsis no longer allowed for use on rival cloud providers. And newer versions of the traditional Office product have similar limitations. Instead customers must either rely on old versions of Office, which will lose support in 2025, or pay a higher price for a version of Office that is authorized. For many customers, that fee comes on top of the cost of copies of Office cloud apps they had already purchased, Miller said.

Customers say Microsofts extra costs are restricting choices. A representative from a large educational institution that is accelerating a move to the cloud wants to take a multi-cloud approach rather than relying on one vendor, and wants to begin shifting Windows Server applications to other cloud systems. But the organizations license says the products can be used in their own offices or hosted on Microsoft Azure only, according to a copy of the agreement with Microsoft viewed by Bloomberg. The institution may try to persuade Microsoft to amend the agreement when its next up for renewal, anticipating that trying to use Amazon or Google could cost more. When the U.S. Justice Department sued Microsoft in the late 1990s, the company was accused of illegally tying the omnipresent Windows to the Internet Explorer browser, and using that bond to crush Netscape Navigator. Microsoft was ultimately found guilty of illegally defending its Windows monopoly. A trial court judge also found the company guilty on the tying charge, but that part of the ruling was set aside by an appellate court, and the U.S. government declined to pursue it further.

One of the biggest current pain points for customers concerns the use of technology called a virtual desktop, which lets software like Windows and Office run on PCs through the internet, instead of installing individual copies of the programs on each machine. Amazon offers a service for this called WorkSpaces. Microsoft has competing products, including Azure Virtual Desktop and the new Windows 365 Cloud PCand clients and software resellers said the Redmond, Washington-based company has gotten more forceful in trying to push customers to it.

This is the issue that ensnared a Fortune 100 company that uses Amazons cloud software along with Windows. A person familiar with the company said it started using AWS when it began rolling out mobile devices to employees. The company used its Amazon and Windows combination successfully for several years, until the changes in late 2019. The conflict came to a head more recently, when the company began renewing its contracts with Microsoftto keep using Windows on virtual desktops via Amazons cloud, the customer is required to buy a license that was formerly included, adding millions of dollars to the total cost.

The company considers this a penalty, the person familiar said, because Azure customers get that additional license for free. The customer isnt allowed to run Office software through a competing cloud at all without violating the terms of its license with Microsoft, the person said. The company spent months negotiating with Microsoft on the issue, eventually getting a reprieve of several years. After that expires, this customer will again be out of compliance.

A person familiar with another client, a financial-services firm, said it wasnt given any extension to the old policies, so its use of Office with a rival cloud now violates the terms of its license. Using Office on another cloud often requires companies and their software developers to do all of these exotic, weird modes to be able to try and get something like that to work, said Miles Ward, a former Google employee who is now chief technology officer at SADA Systems, which helps customers move to Google Cloud. That sits inside what seems like sort of a comprehensive, intentional program to create friction for clouds other than Azure.

AWS and Google said their complaints to Microsoft have gone nowhere. Its probably Microsofts biggest competitive lever to force their licensees to use Azure, said Matt Garman, a senior vice president for AWS sales and marketing. Google declined to elaborate on its complaints.

Amazon is also lobbying regulators to look at Microsofts behavior. In February, CISPE, a cloud-computing group that includes AWS, started pushing the European Union to include Microsoft in a sweeping law being planned on digital markets. It argued that business software makers were abusing licenses to box customers into their own cloud infrastructure. In other words: Microsoft was up to its same old tricks.

Though much of the recent criticism of big U.S. technology companies has omitted Microsoft and instead focused on social media platforms and other consumer services, regulators in the EU have expressed concern about cloud providers, including Microsoft. French competition authorities are probing providers to examine competitive dynamics in the cloud industry and contracts between providers that team up to offer services.

This is a really screwy convergence of nerd porn and accounting, Directions on Microsofts Miller said. Regulators seem to get and respond to consumer concerns much better than they are able to get enterprise concerns. Even if the company is offering incentives to use more than one of its products as a bundle, there are ways to successfully argue that such tying is legal, Hovenkamp said.

I'm not telling you that there is a violationI don't know, he said. Still, theyre in dangerous territory when they try to use monetary leverage, or leverage in terms, to switch Windows users or Office users to Microsoft cloud services and away from alternative services.

When the new licensing rules were unveiled in 2019, they officially applied to Azure, too, meaning that technically the higher costs to run these programs in the cloud would be levied on Microsofts own service. But Microsoft also put in place programs like the Azure Hybrid Benefit, which offers discounts on Azure for moving existing Windows Server and SQL Server to the cloud. Since that benefit doesnt exist for rivals, in practice, its cheaper to select Microsofts cloud.

In fact, Microsoft recently bragged about how customers can save money by using Azure Hybrid Benefit to move traditional licenses to Azure, listing 50% savings in a January blog post, compared with the cost of buying those licenses through the standard pay-as-you-go Azure rate. Customers who want to use the software on AWS or Google Cloud are stuck with the higher rates.
Billions of dollars and a decade later, and Amazons delivery by drone program still isnt off the ground.

Jeff Bezos went on 60 Minutes in 2013 and pledged to fill the skies with a fleet of delivery drones that could zip parcels to customers homes in 30 minutes. Asked when this future would arrive, the Amazon.com Inc. founder said he expected drone deliveries to commence in the next five years or thereabouts.

Almost a decade later, despite spending more than $2 billion and assembling a team of more than 1,000 people around the world, Amazon is a long way from launching a drone delivery service.

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A Bloomberg investigation based on internal documents, government reports and interviews with 13 current and former employees reveals a program beset by technical challenges, high turnover and safety concerns. A serious crash in June prompted federal regulators to question the drones airworthiness because multiple safety features failed and the machine careened out of control, causing a brush fire. While experimental aircraft are expected to crash during test flights, current and former employees say pressure to get the program back on track has prompted some managers to take unnecessary risks that have put personnel in harms way.

With rigorous testing like this, we expect these types of events to occur, and we apply the learnings from each flight towards improving safety, Amazon spokesman Av Zammit said in an emailed statement. No one has ever been injured or harmed as a result of these flights, and each test is done in compliance with all applicable regulations.

Amazon plans to ramp up testing in the coming months. Having missed a goal of conducting 2,500 test flights last year, according to documents reviewed by Bloomberg, the company has set an even loftier target of 12,000 for 2022although fewer than 200 had been completed as of late February. The company plans to add new testing locations this year in College Station, Texas, about 100 miles northeast of Austin, and Lockeford, California, near Stockton. Amazon also hopes to start testing drones beyond the sight of flight observers, according to documents reviewed by Bloomberg, a key step toward proving their ability to fly autonomously.

It will be years before the Federal Aviation Administration approves commercial drone deliveries, although the agency is letting companies conduct test flights in increasingly populated areas so long as they dont pose significant safety risks. But the prospect of replacing human drivers with flying robots appeals to online retailers because 30-minute shipping is expected to become standard for certain deliveries, such as medicine, snacks and baby products.

Amazon drones could fan out up to 7 miles (11 km) from a delivery station, breezing above traffic to deliver packages weighing as much as 5 pounds (2.3 kg) within a half-hour of a customer clicking buy. The speed would finally make ordering from Amazon as quick as a trip to the store and help offset one of the biggest costs of e-commerce: paying someone to drive packages to homes.

The Seattle-based company is under growing pressure to keep up with deep-pocketed rivals. Just last week, Alphabet Inc.s Google Wing accelerated its own drone testing program by starting to ferry packages to shoppers from Walgreens in a 90-square-mile suburban area north of Dallas. Walmart Inc. and United Parcel Service have their own drone programs in varying stages of development (see table).

Even Amazons toughest internal critics dont question the technologys potential, but current and former employees say the company is doing what it has done so many times before: putting speed before safety in the name of beating the competition. Someone is going to have to get killed or maimed for them to take these safety issues seriously, said Cheddi Skeete, a former Amazon drone project manager who says he was fired last month for raising concerns to his managers. How can we bring these tests to more communities when we know we have problems. Spokesperson Zammit denied Skeete was terminated for speaking up.

The FAA declined to comment on the crashes, but said its testing requirements were designed to protect the public. Flight testing is a critical part of all aircraft certification projects, the agency said. FAA flight-testing approvals contain provisions to ensure it occurs safely, without posing a hazard to people, property or other aircraft.

Drone Wars

Alphabets Wing

Payload: up to 2.6 lbs (1.2 kg)Max cruising speed: 64.9 mph (104.4 km/h)The pitch: A fixed-wing aircraft that uses vertically oriented propellers to hover over its target, lowering a payload to the ground with a retractable tether.Track record: Wing, which does most of its testing in Australia, also runs pilot delivery projects in the U.S. and Europe, and claims more than 200,000 commercial deliveries.

Amazons Prime Air

Payload: up to 5 lbs (2.3 kg)Max cruising speed: 69 mph (111 km/hr)The pitch: Amazon staked its claim in drones back in 2013, promising 30-minute delivery from its warehouses as soon as the technology and regulatory framework were ready. Track record: Amazons aircraft have gone through major changes, evolving from a quadcopter to a hybrid craft that can takeoff vertically and fly like a plane before descending again at its destination. It is still in testing, including at a drone range in eastern Oregon.

United Parcel Service

Payload: up to 4.4 lbs (2kg)Max cruising speed: 45 mph (72 km/hr)The pitch: UPS and its Flight Forward division hope to acquire a fleet of massive, electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft that will be piloted at first, but could later operate as drones to ferry packages between sorting hubs. For last-mile delivery, the courier has relied on much smaller quadcopters that operate in a confined areas like a hospital campus.Track record: UPS in 2019 became the first company to receive Federal Aviation Administration approval to operate a drone airline, using Matternets M2 drones to deliver at select hospital, university and retirement community campuses.

Walmart

Payload: up to 4 lbs (1.8 kg)Max cruising speed: 64 mph (103 km/h)The pitch: Catapult-launched fixed-wing drones, made by Zipline International, fly to their destination like an airplane and release packages that descend by parachute.Track record: Zipline, which got its start delivering medical supplies to rural clinics, says it has completed hundreds of thousands of commercial deliveries, and is working on a package delivery pilot with Walmart in Arkansas. Walmart has also conducted delivery trials with DroneUp and Flytrex, which operate quadcopter-style drone models.

Source: Bloomberg reporting, Federal Aviation Administration, the companies

In 2013, Amazon tapped aviation buff and software engineer Gur Kimchi to run its nascent drone program, now known as Prime Air. Designing delivery drones promised to be a heavy liftand Amazon made the challenge all the harder by opting to create a completely new machine itself rather than farming out pieces of the design and building of prototypes to other companies. Kimchi favored a D.I.Y approach because doing so gave the team control over the final design, but former and current employees said the decision slowed development. For example, personnel wound copper wire around electric motor magnets themselves when an outside vendor could have done it faster. Even the prototypes were built in-house by hand.

The machines Bezos revealed on 60 Minutes resembled something you might see in a local park and simply werent up to the task; they could barely fly a mile and got tossed around in wind gusts. Amazon wanted a drone that blended the ability of a plane to fly long distances with the maneuverability of a helicopter that can swiftly change direction to avoid trees and power lines and hover over a back yard during inclement weather. The drones also needed to fly and find their destination with no human intervention.

The team went through more than two dozen concepts. The work was tedious and slow. The drones required new software that would allow on-board cameras to recognize and react to obstacles and differentiate between things like swimming pools and driveways. The team ultimately settled on a large 85-pound drone because they wanted it to be capable of carrying a 5-pound parcela payload that covers about 85% of the packages Amazon delivers. Extending the range as much as possible was key because every extra mile meant the drone could serve a larger population. Bezos was patient with the team so long as it meant creating a superior machine, according to a senior executive familiar with the program.

With six propellers, Amazons drone can shift from flying up and down to flying forward, a difficult engineering feat that had already bedeviled the U.S. militarys notoriously over-budget V-22 Osprey aircraft. The drones wings encase the propellers, helping it fly more efficiently over long distances and providing an additional layer of protection around the spinning blades.

Kimchi took safety seriously and gave his team time to fix defects rather than rushing them, according to people who worked for him. Information was shared freely, and employees were allowed to watch video of crashes to assess what went wrong. The Prime Air group had a pretty strong safety culture, said one former employee, who requested anonymity to discuss internal matters without authorization. I remember even just the software meetings, we always had to open our meetings with someone volunteering a safety tip. They definitely werent playing fast and loose.

Yet as the team struggled to get the drones various components working seamlessly together, one deadline after another came and went, according to a former employee. Jeff Wilke, who then ran Amazons consumer division, wanted to demonstrate the drone at a 2019 tech conference and announce that deliveries would begin by the end of that year. During a meeting with the drone team, he shared the goal to make sure everyone was on the same page. Employees knew the timing was unrealistic but dared not challenge him, according to people who were there.

Wilke showed off the drone at a Las Vegas hotel, playing video of it operating and touting the potential upsides for customers. He didnt provide a date for the start of deliveries, saying theyd begin in months. Several employees watching the presentation recall thinking Kimchi wouldnt be around much longer. The following year, the drone program became part of Amazons operations team, another sign executives wanted to move things along, and Kimchi was out as the boss. He left Amazon later that year.

He overpromised and underdelivered, said one former employee, who requested anonymity to discuss an internal matter. That said, I think if the guy wasnt so positive, or overambitious about the timelines, I dont know if Prime Air would exist. Kimchi declined to comment.

In March 2020, Amazon hired David Carbon to run the drone program. The Boeing Co. veteran arrived with baggage. A New York Times investigation had previously revealed that a Boeing 787 factory that Carbon ran in South Carolina tended to value production over safety. Several employees told the newspaper theyd been retaliated against for raising safety concerns. Though the problems pre-dated Carbons arrival, they continued on his watch, the Times reported. Boeing executives defended the plants commitment to safety, but a month later Carbon was on his way out.

When Amazon announced his hiring internally the following year, an interim director of the drone program told the team not to believe everything they read in the press, according to current and former employees. That didnt stop them from googling Carbon on their smartphones during the meeting. Still, these people acknowledge that Carbon brought discipline and focus to the program. His long industry experience helped accelerate development and he began farming out some drone production. He closed facilities in England and France and moved some image-recognition work to lower-cost Costa Rica.

But current and former employees said it wasnt long before Carbon began pushing speed over safety. Amazon didnt make the drone chief available for an interview, but spokesperson Zammit said Carbon has over 25 years of experience bringing aerospace innovations to scale safely and reliably, and were excited that hes leading the next phase of our mission to bring 30-minute delivery by drones to customers.

Last year, an Amazon team was preparing for a flight at a Crows Landing testing facility in Californias Central Valley about 20 miles south of Modesto. Some of the crew worried they would violate FAA testing guidelines because a farmer was driving a tractor in the flight path. After a debate, according to personnel who were there, a team leader said the test would be safe so long as the drone wasnt directly above the farmer. They conducted the test without incident, but some employees said the boss had improperly interpreted the FAA rules.

We always clear the test area before beginning each flight test, Zammit said in the emailed statement. In this instance, a farm vehicle entered the field after we launched. The crew safely and quickly landed the drone.

David Johnson was a drone flight assistant for about a year, mostly at remote testing facilities in rural Oregon. He said Amazon often conducted tests without a full flight team and inadequate equipment, forcing employees to handle more than one role. For example, he said, someone responsible for a pre-flight drone inspection would quickly pivot to flight observer, which requires watching out for potential obstacles. Johnson said he once warned his bosses that his laptop had a broken keyboard but wasnt given a replacement in time for a test. He went ahead with an external keyboard that made it difficult to complete a pre-flight inspection in time. Johnson said he was still completing his checklist when the drone took off, earning him a reprimand for taking his eyes off the aircraft.

They give people multiple things to do in a very narrow window of time to try to boost their numbers, and people cut corners, Johnson said. They were more concerned about pumping flights out and didnt want to slow down. Two former Amazon employees corroborated Johnsons account that crew members have been assigned multiple roles to keep tests going if the full team isnt present.

Amazons Zammit called those claims false. Crew members are assigned to only one role per flight, he said. Before each flight test, crew members are briefed on their individual role. We do not set time limits for completion of any aspect of our flight tests, and our team can take their time to complete their roles safely.

While information flowed freely during the Kimchi era, Carbon put a stop to that, according to current and former employees. They said he was sensitive about language in written documents due to potential liability or regulatory scrutiny and let only select people view video of crashes, a move some employees interpreted as fear that clips would be leaked to the media. During a meeting, according to several people who were there, one employee suggested safety concerns were being swept under the rug. Carbon bristled, these people said, and cautioned the employee to be more careful with his choice of words. They said Carbons reaction had a chilling effect, discouraging others from speaking out.

The people most worried about safety were the ones conducting flights in hazardous situations and the ones least concerned about safety were the ones sitting behind a desk somewhere, said one former employee, who requested anonymity to discuss internal matters without authorization.

Over a four-month period last year there were five crashes at a testing site in Pendleton, Oregon, a remote agricultural area in the high desert known for its annual rodeo and whiskey festival. Accidents are inevitable in an aviation testing program, where equipment is deliberately pushed to the max to determine breaking points and improve the vehicles design. But these were vehicles Amazon was hoping to deploy for public tests.

In May, a drone propeller dislodged, causing the vehicle to tumble and crash upside down while its other motors were still running. The machine sustained substantial damage. Amazon employees cleared the wreckage before notifying federal officials so no inspection was conducted. The FAA advised the company not to disrupt crash sites in the future, federal records show.

In June, a drone motor conked out while the vehicle was transitioning from a vertical climb to forward motion. The automatic safety feature designed to land the machine in such instances didnt work. The aircraft flipped upside down, and a stabilizing safety function also failed. Instead of a controlled descent to a safe landing, [the drone] dropped about 160 feet in an uncontrolled vertical fall and was consumed by fire, the FAA wrote in a report on the incident. The ensuing blaze scorched 25 acres and was extinguished by the local fire department. Insider previously reported some of the incidents details and last week published a report on the high costs of Amazon drone delivery.

After all those years and all the money invested, you would expect better, said Antoine Deux, who was a senior engineer on the drone program for four years before leaving in 2018. He said Amazons drone is too heavy compared with Googles aircraft, which weighs about 11 pounds. Every time you increase the weight of the load, the drone gets heavier, needs more batteries, Deux said. Its a vicious circle.

With crashes proliferating, morale on the team worsened and employees began departing. Some took jobs at Amazon Web Services while others left the company altogether. Some who had trouble meeting the pace their managers demanded were offered severance packages. Departures in 2021, Carbons first full year running the department, exceeded 200 people, more than double the previous year, according to documents reviewed by Bloomberg.

Cheddi Skeete had a front-row seat on the departments turmoil. A former flight attendant, he started as a drone flight assistant and was put in charge of improving morale. Skeete traveled frequently to get to know workers on the front lines and identify problems. In Corvallis, Oregon, he discovered there were no portable toilets on a testing range leased from a local farmer. Female employees had to radio the entire team when they needed a bathroom break, forcing testing to be suspended while they searched for facilities off-site. Skeete said he reported the situation but was told the property owner didnt want portable toilets on his land. The testing continued, and Skeete said he continued to question the wisdom of assigning people to a job with no restrooms. Amazon said it later installed portable toilets at the testing range.

In another instance, Skeete spoke up about plans to keep testing drones just five days after a motor failed and a drone crashed. Those eager to continue tests assured the team they had checked roughly 180 motors on some 30 other drones, Skeete said. But he doubted this because testing each engine is time consuming. Amazon disputed the number of motors requiring checks.

Shortly afterward, Skeete told his boss he no longer wanted to work for him. Skeete was advised to seek a different role at Amazon and said he applied for more than 30 positions. After his replacement was hired, Skeete spent weeks on the payroll with nothing to do. He filed an internal ethics complaint laying out his safety concerns but was told no such issues had turned up. Last month Skeete was fired and offered what he deemed a small severance package in exchange for signing a nondisclosure agreement.

I didnt sign it because Im someone who speaks up for myself and others, Skeete said. So many people before and after me have not been willing to speak up.
Credit: CC0 Public Domain

Jeff Bezos went on 60 Minutes in 2013 and pledged to fill the skies with a fleet of delivery drones that could zip parcels to customers' homes in 30 minutes. Asked when this future would arrive, the Amazon.com Inc. founder said he expected drone deliveries to commence in the next five years or thereabouts.

Almost a decade later, despite spending more than $2 billion and assembling a team of more than 1,000 people around the world, Amazon is a long way from launching a drone delivery service.

A Bloomberg investigation based on internal documents, government reports and interviews with 13 current and former employees reveals a program beset by technical challenges, high turnover and safety concerns.

A serious crash in June prompted federal regulators to question the drone's airworthiness because multiple safety features failed and the machine careened out of control, causing a brush fire. While experimental aircraft are expected to crash during test flights, current and former employees say pressure to get the program back on track has prompted some managers to take unnecessary risks that have put personnel in harm's way.

"With rigorous testing like this, we expect these types of events to occur, and we apply the learnings from each flight towards improving safety," Amazon spokesman Av Zammit said in an emailed statement. "No one has ever been injured or harmed as a result of these flights, and each test is done in compliance with all applicable regulations."

Amazon plans to ramp up testing in the coming months. Having missed a goal of conducting 2,500 test flights last year, according to documents reviewed by Bloomberg, the company has set an even loftier target of 12,000 for 2022although fewer than 200 had been completed as of late February.

The company plans to add new testing locations this year in College Station, Texas, about 100 miles northeast of Austin, and Lockeford, California, near Stockton. Amazon also hopes to start testing drones beyond the sight of flight observers, according to documents reviewed by Bloomberg, a key step toward proving their ability to fly autonomously.

It will be years before the Federal Aviation Administration approves commercial drone deliveries, although the agency is letting companies conduct test flights in increasingly populated areas so long as they don't pose significant safety risks. But the prospect of replacing human drivers with flying robots appeals to online retailers because 30-minute shipping is expected to become standard for certain deliveries, such as medicine, snacks and baby products.

Amazon drones could fan out up to 7 miles (11 km) from a delivery station, breezing above traffic to deliver packages weighing as much as 5 pounds (2.3 kg) within a half-hour of a customer clicking "buy." The speed would finally make ordering from Amazon as quick as a trip to the store and help offset one of the biggest costs of e-commerce: paying someone to drive packages to homes.

The Seattle-based company is under growing pressure to keep up with deep-pocketed rivals. Just last week, Alphabet Inc.'s Google Wing accelerated its own drone testing program by starting to ferry packages to shoppers from Walgreens in a 90-square-mile suburban area north of Dallas. Walmart Inc. and United Parcel Service have their own drone programs in varying stages of development.

Even Amazon's toughest internal critics don't question the technology's potential, but current and former employees say the company is doing what it has done so many times before: putting speed before safety in the name of beating the competition.

"Someone is going to have to get killed or maimed for them to take these safety issues seriously," said Cheddi Skeete, a former Amazon drone project manager who says he was fired last month for raising concerns to his managers. "How can we bring these tests to more communities when we know we have problems." Spokesperson Zammit denied Skeete was terminated for speaking up.

The FAA declined to comment on the crashes, but said its testing requirements were designed to protect the public. "Flight testing is a critical part of all aircraft certification projects," the agency said. "FAA flight-testing approvals contain provisions to ensure it occurs safely, without posing a hazard to people, property or other aircraft."

In 2013, Amazon tapped aviation buff and software engineer Gur Kimchi to run its nascent drone program, now known as Prime Air. Designing delivery drones promised to be a heavy liftand Amazon made the challenge all the harder by opting to create a completely new machine itself rather than farming out pieces of the design and building of prototypes to other companies.

Kimchi favored a D.I.Y approach because doing so gave the team control over the final design, but former and current employees said the decision slowed development. For example, personnel wound copper wire around electric motor magnets themselves when an outside vendor could have done it faster. Even the prototypes were built in-house by hand.

The machines Bezos revealed on 60 Minutes resembled something you might see in a local park and simply weren't up to the task; they could barely fly a mile and got tossed around in wind gusts. Amazon wanted a drone that blended the ability of a plane to fly long distances with the maneuverability of a helicopter that can swiftly change direction to avoid trees and power lines and hover over a back yard during inclement weather. The drones also needed to fly and find their destination with no human intervention.

The team went through more than two dozen concepts. The work was tedious and slow. The drones required new software that would allow on-board cameras to recognize and react to obstacles and differentiate between things like swimming pools and driveways. The team ultimately settled on a large 85-pound drone because they wanted it to be capable of carrying a 5-pound parcela payload that covers about 85% of the packages Amazon delivers. Extending the range as much as possible was key because every extra mile meant the drone could serve a larger population. Bezos was patient with the team so long as it meant creating a superior machine, according to a senior executive familiar with the program.

With six propellers, Amazon's drone can shift from flying up and down to flying forward, a difficult engineering feat that had already bedeviled the U.S. military's notoriously over-budget V-22 Osprey aircraft. The drone's wings encase the propellers, helping it fly more efficiently over long distances and providing an additional layer of protection around the spinning blades.

Kimchi took safety seriously and gave his team time to fix defects rather than rushing them, according to people who worked for him. Information was shared freely, and employees were allowed to watch video of crashes to assess what went wrong.

"The Prime Air group had a pretty strong safety culture," said one former employee, who requested anonymity to discuss internal matters without authorization. "I remember even just the software meetings, we always had to open our meetings with someone volunteering a safety tip. They definitely weren't playing fast and loose."

Yet as the team struggled to get the drone's various components working seamlessly together, one deadline after another came and went, according to a former employee. Jeff Wilke, who then ran Amazon's consumer division, wanted to demonstrate the drone at a 2019 tech conference and announce that deliveries would begin by the end of that year. During a meeting with the drone team, he shared the goal to make sure everyone was on the same page. Employees knew the timing was unrealistic but dared not challenge him, according to people who were there.

Wilke showed off the drone at a Las Vegas hotel, playing video of it operating and touting the potential upsides for customers. He didn't provide a date for the start of deliveries, saying they'd begin in "months." Several employees watching the presentation recall thinking Kimchi wouldn't be around much longer. The following year, the drone program became part of Amazon's operations team, another sign executives wanted to move things along, and Kimchi was out as the boss. He left Amazon later that year.

"He overpromised and underdelivered," said one former employee, who requested anonymity to discuss an internal matter. "That said, I think if the guy wasn't so positive, or overambitious about the timelines, I don't know if Prime Air would exist." Kimchi declined to comment.

In March 2020, Amazon hired David Carbon to run the drone program. The Boeing Co. veteran arrived with baggage. A New York Times investigation had previously revealed that a Boeing 787 factory that Carbon ran in South Carolina tended to value production over safety. Several employees told the newspaper they'd been retaliated against for raising safety concerns. Though the problems pre-dated Carbon's arrival, they continued on his watch, the Times reported. Boeing executives defended the plant's commitment to safety, but a month later Carbon was on his way out.

When Amazon announced his hiring internally the following year, an interim director of the drone program told the team not to believe everything they read in the press, according to current and former employees. That didn't stop them from googling Carbon on their smartphones during the meeting. Still, these people acknowledge that Carbon brought discipline and focus to the program. His long industry experience helped accelerate development and he began farming out some drone production. He closed facilities in England and France and moved some image-recognition work to lower-cost Costa Rica.

But current and former employees said it wasn't long before Carbon began pushing speed over safety. Amazon didn't make the drone chief available for an interview, but spokesperson Zammit said Carbon "has over 25 years of experience bringing aerospace innovations to scale safely and reliably, and we're excited that he's leading the next phase of our mission to bring 30-minute delivery by drones to customers."

Last year, an Amazon team was preparing for a flight at a Crows Landing testing facility in California's Central Valley about 20 miles south of Modesto. Some of the crew worried they would violate FAA testing guidelines because a farmer was driving a tractor in the flight path. After a debate, according to personnel who were there, a team leader said the test would be safe so long as the drone wasn't directly above the farmer. They conducted the test without incident, but some employees said the boss had improperly interpreted the FAA rules.

"We always clear the test area before beginning each flight test," Zammit said in the emailed statement. "In this instance, a farm vehicle entered the field after we launched. The crew safely and quickly landed the drone."

David Johnson was a drone flight assistant for about a year, mostly at remote testing facilities in rural Oregon. He said Amazon often conducted tests without a full flight team and inadequate equipment, forcing employees to handle more than one role. For example, he said, someone responsible for a pre-flight drone inspection would quickly pivot to flight observer, which requires watching out for potential obstacles. Johnson said he once warned his bosses that his laptop had a broken keyboard but wasn't given a replacement in time for a test. He went ahead with an external keyboard that made it difficult to complete a pre-flight inspection in time. Johnson said he was still completing his checklist when the drone took off, earning him a reprimand for taking his eyes off the aircraft.

"They give people multiple things to do in a very narrow window of time to try to boost their numbers, and people cut corners," Johnson said. "They were more concerned about pumping flights out and didn't want to slow down." Two former Amazon employees corroborated Johnson's account that crew members have been assigned multiple roles to keep tests going if the full team isn't present.

Amazon's Zammit called those claims false. "Crew members are assigned to only one role per flight," he said. "Before each flight test, crew members are briefed on their individual role. We do not set time limits for completion of any aspect of our flight tests, and our team can take their time to complete their roles safely."

While information flowed freely during the Kimchi era, Carbon put a stop to that, according to current and former employees. They said he was sensitive about language in written documents due to potential liability or regulatory scrutiny and let only select people view video of crashes, a move some employees interpreted as fear that clips would be leaked to the media. During a meeting, according to several people who were there, one employee suggested safety concerns were being "swept under the rug." Carbon bristled, these people said, and cautioned the employee to be more careful with his choice of words. They said Carbon's reaction had a chilling effect, discouraging others from speaking out.

"The people most worried about safety were the ones conducting flights in hazardous situations and the ones least concerned about safety were the ones sitting behind a desk somewhere," said one former employee, who requested anonymity to discuss internal matters without authorization.

Over a four-month period last year there were five crashes at a testing site in Pendleton, Oregon, a remote agricultural area in the high desert known for its annual rodeo and whiskey festival. Accidents are inevitable in an aviation testing program, where equipment is deliberately pushed to the max to determine breaking points and improve the vehicle's design. But these were vehicles Amazon was hoping to deploy for public tests.

In May, a drone propeller dislodged, causing the vehicle to tumble and crash upside down while its other motors were still running. The machine sustained substantial damage. Amazon employees cleared the wreckage before notifying federal officials so no inspection was conducted. The FAA advised the company not to disrupt crash sites in the future, federal records show.

In June, a drone motor conked out while the vehicle was transitioning from a vertical climb to forward motion. The automatic safety feature designed to land the machine in such instances didn't work. The aircraft flipped upside down, and a stabilizing safety function also failed. "Instead of a controlled descent to a safe landing, [the drone] dropped about 160 feet in an uncontrolled vertical fall and was consumed by fire," the FAA wrote in a report on the incident. The ensuing blaze scorched 25 acres and was extinguished by the local fire department. Insider previously reported some of the incident's details and last week published a report on the high costs of Amazon drone delivery.

"After all those years and all the money invested, you would expect better," said Antoine Deux, who was a senior engineer on the drone program for four years before leaving in 2018. He said Amazon's drone is too heavy compared with Google's aircraft, which weighs about 11 pounds. "Every time you increase the weight of the load, the drone gets heavier, needs more batteries," Deux said. "It's a vicious circle."

With crashes proliferating, morale on the team worsened and employees began departing. Some took jobs at Amazon Web Services while others left the company altogether. Some who had trouble meeting the pace their managers demanded were offered severance packages. Departures in 2021, Carbon's first full year running the department, exceeded 200 people, more than double the previous year, according to documents reviewed by Bloomberg.

Cheddi Skeete had a front-row seat on the department's turmoil. A former flight attendant, he started as a drone flight assistant and was put in charge of improving morale. Skeete traveled frequently to get to know workers on the front lines and identify problems. In Corvallis, Oregon, he discovered there were no portable toilets on a testing range leased from a local farmer. Female employees had to radio the entire team when they needed a bathroom break, forcing testing to be suspended while they searched for facilities off-site. Skeete said he reported the situation but was told the property owner didn't want portable toilets on his land. The testing continued, and Skeete said he continued to question the wisdom of assigning people to a job with no restrooms. Amazon said it later installed portable toilets at the testing range.

In another instance, Skeete spoke up about plans to keep testing drones just five days after a motor failed and a drone crashed. Those eager to continue tests assured the team they had checked roughly 180 motors on some 30 other drones, Skeete said. But he doubted this because testing each engine is time consuming. Amazon disputed the number of motors requiring checks.

Shortly afterward, Skeete told his boss he no longer wanted to work for him. Skeete was advised to seek a different role at Amazon and said he applied for more than 30 positions. After his replacement was hired, Skeete spent weeks on the payroll with nothing to do. He filed an internal ethics complaint laying out his safety concerns but was told no such issues had turned up. Last month Skeete was fired and offered what he deemed a small severance package in exchange for signing a nondisclosure agreement.

"I didn't sign it because I'm someone who speaks up for myself and others," Skeete said. "So many people before and after me have not been willing to speak up."

Explore further Amazon wins FAA approval to deliver packages by drone

2022 Bloomberg L.P.

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

Injury rates at Amazon warehouses increased about 20% over the last year, according to a new analysis of company data.

In a report released Tuesday, the Strategic Organizing Center, a coalition of four labor unions, analyzed data Amazon has submitted to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration about its warehouses in 2021. That analysis found Amazon accounted for nearly half of all injuries in the warehouse industry last year and had a higher rate of injury than other non-Amazon facilities.

The serious injury rate at Amazon warehouses in 2021 was 6.8 per 100 workers, compared to a rate of 3.3 per 100 at other non-Amazon warehouses, according to the study. For workers who were seriously injured, Amazon employees needed an average of 19 more days to recover than workers at other non-Amazon warehouses.

In total, workers at Amazon facilities sustained roughly 38,300 injuries in 2021, compared to 27,700 in 2020 and 21,200 the year before.

"Amazon has spent years promising to improve safety at its warehouses," the report's authors stated. "Yet Amazon's injury rates still went up. ... Amazon is not doing enough to keep workers safe."

Pressured to slow the pace of work at its warehouses, Amazon has defended its safety record while committing millions to improving conditions in its distribution centers. In his final letter to shareholders before stepping down as CEO, Jeff Bezos a year ago committed the company to reducing repetitive-stress injuries incurred in Amazon's then-roughly 1,500 fulfillment centers worldwide and to investing $300 million in safety projects.

"Despite what we've accomplished, it's clear to me that we need a better vision for our employees' success," Bezos said in the April 2021 letter. "We have always wanted to be Earth's Most Customer-Centric Company. We won't change that. ... (But) we are going to be Earth's Best Employer and Earth's Safest Place to Work."

In 2020, Amazon briefly slowed the expected pace of work at its facilities, allowing workers extra time to account for measures to protect against the spread of COVID-19. Since then, it has resumed a pace that Washington's Department of Labor and Industries has pinned as unsafe and a direct cause of injury for workers.

"Many Amazon jobs involve repetitive motions, lifting, carrying, twisting and other physical work. Workers are required to perform these tasks at such a fast pace that it increases the risk of injury," the department wrote in a March citation for Amazon's Kent warehouse. "The company is aware of these hazards."

Washington's labor department has cited and fined Amazon four times in the last 11 months for violating workplace safety laws.

Amazon has appealed the first three citations and intends to appeal the fourth. In a November court filing related to a citation at its DuPont facility, the company said its productivity requirements "allow associates to work comfortably and safely." Amazon is "constantly looking for new opportunities" to minimize injuries with new technologies and procedures, it wrote.

It maintains that the rate of injury has actually gone down over time. In a safety report released in January, Amazon said the incident rate improved 24% from 2019 to 2020. The lost time incident rate, which accounts for the number of injuries and illnesses that result in time away from work, improved 43%, Amazon's analysis found.

Amazon has pledged to cut the injury rate at its warehouses in half by 2025 but the authors of the Strategic Organizing Center's report say its analysis has raised "significant questions about Amazon management's commitment to preventing worker injuries."

Concerns about the pace of work, employee safety and working conditions at the warehouses have led some Amazon workers to pursue union campaigns, hoping to bring the company to the bargaining table to negotiate things like higher pay and more time for water and bathroom breaks.

Workers at a Staten Island facility voted earlier this month to form the first union at an Amazon warehouse in the U.S. Since then, organizers for its Amazon Labor Union say they have already heard from workers at 100 facilities across the country interested in starting their own union drive.

Workers in Bessemer, Alabama, are still awaiting the results of its union vote as contested ballots are counted.

The Strategic Organizing Center's report found the rate of injury increased over the last year at both facilities leading the union momentum. In Staten Island, JFK8 saw its injury rate increase 15% from 2020 to 2021. In Bessemer, at BHM1, it jumped 43%.

Amazon submitted data to OSHA for 906 facilities and a workforce of 566,736 people in 2021, according to the SOC.

Explore further Labor board seeks to force Amazon to reinstate fired worker

2022 The Seattle Times.Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Honda Motor Co. Chief Executive Toshihiro Mibe answers questions from media during a press conference Tuesday, April 12, 2022, in Tokyo. Credit: AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko

Honda is investing 5 trillion yen ($40 billion) over the next decade in research, especially to realize a major shift to ecological electric vehicles, the Japanese automaker said Tuesday.

The products and services in the works will account for more than half of its 8 trillion yen ($64 billion) research and development budget in that time and will be tailored for each major market, the U.S., China and Japan.

Efforts in North America will focus on the collaboration with General Motors Co., under which Honda Motor Co. is jointly developing two midsize to large EV models, set for sale in 2024.

By 2027, also under its alliance with GM, Honda plans to offer an affordable electric vehicle that's competitive with gas-powered models in performance and pricing.

Top automakers are accelerating electric car offerings amid pressing concerns about climate change, while also employing new kinds of fuel, such as biofuel and hydrogen-powered fuel cells.

Honda will launch 30 EV models globally by 2030, targeting production of more than 2 million vehicles a year, according to the maker of the Accord sedan, Asimo robot and Gold Wing motorcycles.

They will span the whole range of models, from tiny vans to muscular sportscars.

Honda Motor Co. Chief Executive Toshihiro Mibe, center, walks in to attend a media during a press conference Tuesday, April 12, 2022, in Tokyo. Credit: AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko

"We will continue to deliver the kind of fun in driving that our customers have come to expect from Honda," said Chief Executive Toshihiro Mibe.

In China, where the move to electric vehicles is especially bullish, Honda is introducing 10 new EV models by 2027.

In Japan, a market dominated by gas-electric hybrids, Honda will start with small commercial vehicles, such as delivery vans.

Businesses are likely to be more open to such investment because of the Japanese government's sustainability goals, officials said.

Honda Motor Co. Chief Executive Toshihiro Mibe, center, Executive Vice President and Representative Executive Officer Kohei Tekeuchi, right, and Senior Managing Executive Officer Shinji Aoyama answer questions from media during a press conference Tuesday, April 12, 2022, in Tokyo. Credit: AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko

A commercial-use mini-EV model at the 1 million yen ($8,000) price range will go on sale in Japan in 2024, while other EVs, including sport-utility models, for regular consumers will follow, they said.

By the late 2020s, Honda hopes to have a breakthrough on next-generation batteries.

It also will develop related software since electric vehicles need recharging infrastructure and could add features such as robotics and avatars.

Like other automakers, Honda lost business during the coronavirus pandemic. But it's forecasting an operating profit of 800 billion yen ($6.4 billion) for the fiscal year ended in March.

 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
A photo of the META logo during an event in November 2021.

Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, will give content creators the opportunity to sell virtual items to users in Horizon Worlds, its main platform in the metaverse, the company said Monday.

"For example, someone could make and sell attachable accessories for a fashion world or offer paid access to a new part of a world," the Californian tech group said in a press release.

The metaverse, touted by Meta and other companies as the future of the internet, consists of a set of parallel "universes" accessed primarily through augmented and virtual reality platforms.

It already exists in a basic way in the form of video games such as Minecraft, Fortnite and Roblox and social platforms such as Horizon Worlds, and VRChat, where people come together not only to play, but also to interact and participate in events.

Meta, whose income is overwhelmingly dependent on large-scale targeted advertising, has made it its mission to make a major contribution to the emergence of the metaverse, and is staking out its place in the next battle for the public's attention.

To that end, the social networking giant is seeking to attract content creators who are likely in turn to attract more new users.

It had already set up a $10 million fund for creators on Horizon in October, where more than 10,000 different "worlds" already exist, according to the company.

"While we're launching this today as a test with a handful of creators to get their feedback, these types of tools are steps toward our long-term vision for the metaverse where creators can earn a living and people can purchase digital goods, services, and experiences," Meta said.

The company also plans to test bonuses for creators who achieve certain goalssuch as "building worlds that attract the most time spent."

These bonuses will not be "subject to fees and will be paid to creators in full," Meta said, unlike revenue from virtual items, which is subject to a commission.

Horizon Worlds has more than 300,000 users in the United States and Canada, according to an article by the specialized site The Verge published in February.

 2022 AFP
This years Honor Flight is taking off early this morning, and the nonprofit Golden Isles Honor Flight is asking as many residents as possible to show up at the Brunswick airport this evening to welcome the veterans home.
Local_news

Former murder suspect pleads to separate gun, drug charges

A man who Brunswick police implicated in the 2016 shooting death of a 21-year-old woman is going to federal prison, having pleaded guilty last month to firearms and drug trafficking charges, according to the Southern District of Georgias U.S. Attorneys Office.

Antoine Bernard Ladson pleaded guilty March 24 in U.S. District Court in Brunswick to possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

The federal charges stem from Ladsons arrest in January 2021, when Brunswick police nabbed him with drugs, cash and a stolen gun outside of a liquor store on L Street.

Ladson faces up to 20 years on the drug trafficking charge and up to 10 years on the gun charge, said Barry Paschal, spokesman for Southern District of Georgia U.S. Attorney David H. Estes.

Sentencing has not been scheduled.

This was a good partnership with the feds on this case, and they were able to pick it up and take it to that higher level, Brunswick Police Chief Kevin Jones said. And its mandatory in the federal system that he serves the full sentence he receives.

Brunswick police alleged Ladson shot and killed Amy Dean at a home in the 2300 block of Gordon Street after the two argued on the night of Aug. 28, 2016. Police responding to a report of a suicide at the home found Ladson spattered in blood inside a bedroom, where Dean, his girlfriend, was on the floor with a fatal gunshot wound to the head.

Ladson and Dean lived at the residence with some of Ladsons family members.

Police arrested Ladson and charged him with murder. However, the Brunswick Judicial Circuit District Attorneys Office of Jackie Johnson later dead docketed the case, citing lack of evidence.

We felt like we had a good case, and the evidence was there, Jones said.

It was not Ladsons only run-in with police involving firearms. A month before Deans shooting death, Ladson was arrested after police said he shot up a 2000 Buick LeSabre and threatened to kill the man inside the vehicle. He was later found guilty of criminal property damage in that case and given 10 years probation.

Ladson is being held in the Glynn County Detention Center, where he was taken after Brunswick Police arrested him on the gun and drug charges on Jan. 24, 2021.

Two Brunswick police officers who were assigned to an FBI task force helped develop the federal charges against him, Paschal said.

This keeps a bad guy off the streets for a long time, Jones said. He had just gotten out of control and thought he was untouchable.

Working with local law enforcement, a federal task force that included the FBI, DEA and ATF has made more than 750 illegal firearms arrests over the last four years in the U.S. Attorneys Southern District of Georgia.

It is a priority of our office to collaborate with our law enforcement partners to target those whose illegal possession of firearms threatens the safety of our communities, Estes said. We wont tolerate violent criminal activity in the Southern District.
College Station fire officials said Monday that a discarded cigarette could be responsible for starting a fire over the weekend at Sundance Apartments on Harvey Road.

Derek Bishop of the College Station fire marshals office said because of the amount of damage from the fire that started late Saturday, the cause could not be positively identified, but there were smoking materials found around the building.

Id say two [apartments] were probably thoroughly damaged to the point of no repair, and [there are] some stability issues with the second floor, so most of that will probably be a demolition and rebuild scenario for, Id say, half of the complex, Bishop said.

The fire appears to have originated at the center of the building from a unit on the second floor with a balcony, he said.

Neighbor witness statements had said the occupants of the unit that had the balcony that was fully involved were smokers, and did smoke. Based on history and experience with similar situations, we considered that its probable the fire was smoking-related, but its nothing we can say for sure, Bishop said.

Bishop said high winds likely helped start the fire from embers inside a discarded cigarette.

Without that heavy wind, I dont know if it would have ever gotten to that point because the wind was going right into that balcony, so that really did help ignite it to the extent that it got to, and as far as the fire growth that played a tremendous factor, Bishop said.

One person received medical treatment at the scene, Bishop said, but he was unsure whether it was directly related to the fire.

The American Red Cross is working with the apartment management to secure housing for displaced residents, said AJ Renold, the Heart of Texas chapter executive director.

Our volunteers are working to verify the number of apartment units that are actually destroyed. Those families in particular weve been working with to provide financial assistance and replace items that are needed, Renold said.

Renold said there will be daily follow-ups with the residents to connect them with the needed resources.

We have licensed counselors who are experienced and trained to address any emotional or mental health issues that people are suffering from due to the devastation of the fire, Renold said.

Since the start of its fiscal year in July, the Heart of Texas American Red Cross chapter has responded to 27% more fires than in the past fiscal year, Renold said. Primary causes are cigarettes and kitchen fires, she said.

We just want to educate and remind people to be more careful with things like cigarettes and cooking on the stove, because this is devastating, and especially in apartments where it can affect a lot more people than yourself, Renold said.

An ashtray and high winds are also suspected to have caused an unrelated fire at Chicken Oil Co. on April 3. The Bryan restaurant will be closed indefinitely for repairs.

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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.

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Personnel are working inside a bio-lab at the US Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases at Fort Detrick on September 26, 2002. Photo: AFP

Editor's Note:

Since the military conflict between Russia and Ukraine began, the international community has grown increasingly aware of the roles the US and NATO have played behind the crisis.

From funding biological labs to creating ethnic division and ideological confrontation around the world, from imposing sanctions on "disobedient countries" to coercing other nations to pick sides, the US has acted like a "Cold War schemer," or a "vampire" who creates "enemies" and makes fortunes from pyres of war. The Global Times is publishing a series of stories and cartoons to unveil how the US, in its superpower status, has been creating trouble in the world one crisis after another. This is the fifth installment.

After World War Two (WWII), the US ran amok around the world, leaving behind a plague of war and hatred wherever they went. Whether on the biological front or in the ideological front, the US is the top "poison disseminator."

A US army tank rolls deeper into Iraqi territory on March 23, 2003?when US forces invaded?Iraq. Photo: VCG Mysterious bio-labs Since conflict broke out between Russia and Ukraine, biological laboratories in Ukraine that are funded by the US caught global attention. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said on March 22 that Russia cannot tolerate the US setting up biological laboratories in Ukraine with the prospects of developing biological weapon components, TASS reported. Earlier that month, Russian defense ministry also disclosed that US spent more than $200 million on biolaboratories in Ukraine, TASS said. The Russian military said they had gotten hold of documents confirming that Ukraine developed a network of at least 30 biological laboratories that host extremely dangerous biological experiments, aimed at enhancing the pathogenicity of plague, anthrax, tularemia, cholera, and other lethal diseases with the help of synthetic biology. This work is funded and directly supervised by the US' Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) in the interest of the Pentagon's National Center for Medical Intelligence, according to a statement by Russian Permanent Representative to UN Vassily Nebenzia. The Russian defense ministry said that it learned of the details regarding a project implemented at laboratories in Kiev, Kharkov, and Odessa, which studied the possibilities of spreading particularly dangerous infections through migratory birds, including the highly pathogenic H5N1 influenza (lethal to humans in 50 percent of cases) and the Newcastle disease. As part of some other projects, bats were considered as carriers for potential biological weapon agents. Among the priorities identified are the study of bacterial and viral pathogens that can be transmitted from bats to humans: pathogens of the plague, leptospirosis, brucellosis, as well as the coronaviruses disease, and filoviruses. The analysis of the obtained materials confirms the transfer of more than 140 containers with ectoparasites from bats from a bio-lab in Kharkov abroad, according to Nebenzia's statement. The bio-labs in Ukraine are only a handful of the 336 biological laboratories the US reportedly funds in 30 countries around the world. Most of these labs are located in the Middle East, Southeast Asia, Africa, and along the perimeter of former USSR, according to the Russian defense ministry. Despite covert behaviors, the dubious activities of the US' overseas bio-labs had previously been revealed. In August 2021, a South Korean civic group sued the Fort Detrick bio-labs and the US Forces Korea (USFK) over the smuggling of toxic substances to US military bases there in violation of domestic law. In December 2015, the South Korean Yonhap News Agency revealed that the USFK had staged 15 experiments using neutralized anthrax samples at the Yongsan Garrison in Seoul from 2009 to 2014. US officials gave incongruous responses to the bio-lab issue since Russia disclosed relevant documents. They admitted to the existence of such labs but failed to provide substantial evidence that the programs they funded were to promote public health. Thus, it increased the world's suspicions over such labs.

Libyan protesters gather in Benghazi on March 11, 2011 as Arab Spring spread in the country. The US, the UK and France?intervened in Libya?with a bombing campaign on March 19, 2021. Photo: AFP Creating turmoil and division The US prides itself on being the "city upon the hill" and a "beacon of democracy." However, the history of the US was full of wars and killing. During its over 240 years of history, there were only 16 years when the US was not at war. After the end of WWII, the US became the most powerful country in the world, however, war became an important tool for the US to maintain its own hegemony. Data shows that from the end of WWII to 2001, the US initiated 201 of the 248 armed conflicts worldwide in 153 locations, accounting for over 80 percent of total conflicts. The Korean War (1950-53), for example, resulted in the deaths of more than 3 million civilians and created approximately 3 million refugees, and almost all major cities in the Korean Peninsula were left in ruins. However, the US evidently lacked self-reflection after the Korean War. Immediately after the end of the Korean War, the US intervened in Vietnam in the 1950s under the pretext of preventing the expansion of Communism in Southeast Asia. During the Vietnam War, the brutality of the US army made the war the longest and most brutal war since WWII. The Vietnamese government estimates that as many as 2 million civilians died in the war, many of whom were slaughtered by US forces in the name of fighting Viet Cong communists. In March 1999, under the banner of "avoiding humanitarian disaster," NATO forces led by the US openly bypassed the UN Security Council and carried out the bombing of Yugoslavia for 78 days, causing death of many innocent civilians. After the September 11 attacks in 2001, the US first invaded Afghanistan in the name of fighting Al Qaeda and the Taliban and then launched a war in Iraq under trumped-up charges. Over the years, the US instigated the "Arab Spring," igniting civil wars in Libya and Syria. Since 2001, wars and military operations by the US have claimed more than 800,000 lives and displaced tens of millions of people. "We inflated the stature of our enemies to match our need for retribution. We launched hubristic wars to remake the world and let ourselves be remade instead...We midwifed worse terrorists than those we set out to fight," New York Times columnist Michelle Goldberg wrote in September 2021, on the eve of the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks.
Much is planned for 2022s Nebraska State Fair, which Executive Director Bill Ogg described as exciting.

We want the fair to be a cant miss destination for all of the folks in Nebraska, he said. We realize thats a grand goal, but certainly they need to be invited and they need to feel welcome, and we are committed that their investment of leisure time and leisure money, both valuable commodities, will be well-served if they make that investment at the State Fair.

Events and activities currently are being planned.

Behind the scenes, to improve the experience for fairgoers, upgrades are being made to the fairs Fonner Park location.

Outdoor concerts will be offered again in the infield of Fonner Parks practice training field.

We hope to make that more accessible and more comfortable for our guests as they make their way out there, said Ogg. And not only for the concerts, which last year, this was a new location or venue for these concerts. We intend to change the configuration and enhance access and comfort while theyre there.

The terrain will be improved.

Its an outdoor venue, so itll be grass and earth footing, Ogg said, but we want to make that more comfortable and covered with grass, rather than bare earth, as it was last year.

The area will be enhanced for non-concert events, specifically motor sports, such as the truck and tractor pull, demolition derby, and the popular Indian Relay Races, held on the first weekend, which utilize the track area.

The location of the fairs events is also important.

We are tweaking some of those things to what we hope to be a better utilization of the Fonner Park campus during State Fair, proximity for our guests to those events from the parking area to those attractions, said Ogg.

Attractions are going to be relocated to better improve pedestrian flow.

Weve had several attractions that are in close proximity to each other, Ogg said. Were going to try to separate those as an invitation for people to make their way across the fairgrounds and see other exhibits and attractions and commercial opportunities that they may not have seen before.

Shuttle routes will be improved to make it easier to traverse the entirety of the campus and better improve pedestrian traffic.

We do have many fair attractions and activities on what we call the east side, the equestrian area, closer to Stuhr Road, Ogg said. We want to, rather than making our guests ride one shuttle on the west side and getting off that shuttle and onto another shuttle, were going to run a continuous loop from east to west.

Shuttle stops and distances will remain similar, Ogg noted, but fairgoers will no longer have to get off of one shuttle to get on another to get from west to east side of campus.

Much work behind the scenes will ensure the future growth of Nebraska State Fair, including support for bills currently in the state Legislature.

We have, we think, a very viable infrastructure request in to the Legislature for the American Rescue Plan Act funds, said Ogg. It was designed for infrastructure work. We have again what we think to be a very good match for that work.

With those funds, enhancements are planned that would enhance surface water drainage on the campus, enhance parking and pedestrian and vehicular traffic patterns, such as additional paving and sidewalks, and hard surface parking and lighting for parking areas.

That will not be ready by the 2022 fair, but that is pending in the Legislature and hopefully could have some marked improvement for the fair in 2023, said Ogg.

From Elite Casino Resorts, a $100 million casino/hotel project is coming to Fonner Park.

Its planned construction is considered in the State Fairs future plans, Ogg said.

Theres a lot of unknowns at this point if that construction will actually be able to begin prior to this years fair, he said. We anticipate some will, and so were cooperating and working and adjusting our footprint for fair events to complement that anticipated construction.

The Nebraska State Fair is a wonderful institution, Ogg said.

Were celebrating 153 years this year, he said. Being old in itself is an attraction. Augmenting that history and tradition with a freshening of location of attractions and activities, and adding more accessibility, in terms of comfort, and just getting to those attractions, Im really excited to try and improve our convenience for our guests this year.

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HOLDREGE  Gov. Pete Ricketts traveled to Holdrege today to meet with local residents following the outbreak of the Road 739 fire.

Representatives from the Nebraska Farm Bureau, the Nebraska Department of Agriculture, the Nebraska Emergency Management Agency and several local officials and community members met at the Holdrege Sun Theatre to discuss conditions around the area following a major wildfire that burned thousands of acres across a 22-mile-long stretch of land in Furnas and Gosper counties.

Conversation focused on the needs of landowners and first responders as they look toward a long road of recovery. The affected infrastructure and the scarcity of available resources to replace what was damaged in the fire were among the top concerns.

Following that meeting, Ricketts and emergency management leadership traveled to Arapahoe to speak with Arapahoe Fire Chief Brian Sisson and Holbrook Fire Chief Wesley Hock who were in charge of the overall response to the fire.

During a tour of the area to survey the damage, Hock was able to discuss the many challenges first responders faced while fighting the fire.
When Grand Island Police Department officers tried to clear a house early Sunday morning, one person remained, hiding under a bed.

Nineteen-year-old Alonzo Perez, who had an active Hall County warrant, was placed into handcuffs.

GIPD arrived at 2517 Brahma St. at 2:25 a.m. Sunday in response to a noise complaint. There also was a report that the house might be the scene of underage drinking.

Officers gave instructions several times, directing everyone to exit the home. When the people did not comply, GIPD entered the house to clear it.

As Perez was being escorted to a patrol vehicle, he allegedly pulled away from officers. Because he physically resisted his escort, officers had to physically take him to the ground, according to Mondays GIPD media report.

Perez was positioned in front of a patrol vehicle where a search was being conducted of his person when he again pulled away from officers and attempted to square up with them, according to the media report.

Officers again had to take Perez to the ground to control him, based on the media report.

He was taken to the Hall County Jail, where police say a search of his person turned up an unidentified substance concealed in a $20 bill.

Perez, who lives in Grand Island, was arrested for failure to appear, obstructing a police officer and first-offense resisting arrest.
A Lee Enterprises survey of 900 Nebraskans, conducted online from late February to mid-March, asked participants to rate a dozen topics on a scale from 1 to 10, with 10 being the most important. Here are the average ratings for each topic.

Attracting and retaining workers  8.07

Affordable housing  7.93

School funding  7.89

Slowing the loss of nursing homes and hospitals in smaller communities  7.7

Addressing prison crowding and criminal justice reform  7.7

Broadband or high speed internet access  7.48

Climate change  7.43

Property taxes  7.07

Promoting agriculture and trade  6.91

Incentives to increase the number of medical professionals  6.81

Abortion, either protecting or limiting access  6.52

Tourism and recreation  5.83

Newspaper survey: Nebraskans concerned about retaining workers, affordable housing

By Kelsey Stewart

Omaha World-Herald

Nebraska voters are inundated with advertisements, yard signs and text messages from political candidates.

Much of the messaging, particularly among this years crop of gubernatorial candidates, has centered on topics such as illegal border crossings or critical race theory.

But other topics, and ones that hit closer to home, are top of mind for Nebraska voters.

Nebraskans who responded to a Lee Enterprises survey, which included the Kearney Hub, said they cared most about attracting and retaining workers, affordable housing and school funding.

The survey, which was conducted online from late February to mid-March, asked participants to rate a dozen topics on a scale from 1 to 10, with 10 the most important. Nearly 900 individuals responded.

Other important issues were slowing the loss of nursing homes and hospitals in smaller communities and addressing prison crowding or criminal justice reform.

Rankings differed by region, although only slightly. In Omaha-area replies, prison crowding and criminal justice cracked the top three. Meanwhile, school funding topped the priority list made by Lincoln and southeast Nebraska residents, with climate change also landing higher.

Jeri Lundblad of Omaha said affordable housing and the loss of nursing homes in small towns are important to her. She said some of the topics she hears candidates talking about are like dog whistles. Instead, the 68-year-old wants to hear candidates talk about issues that affect her and her community.

I find those issues that are broad topics are not anywhere specific enough to help, said Lundblad, a registered Democrat.

Saving nursing homes in rural communities is important, she said, because many of the elderly in those places have nowhere else to go. Concerning prison overcrowding, she said the problem wont be solved by building more facilities if the people who are released from prison havent had adequate training or rehabilitation.

Some issues are related, Lundblad said. If you want to attract and retain workers, she said, you should be able to provide them with affordable housing options.

Many political candidates are trying to appeal to their voter base by addressing hot-button issues, said John Hibbing, a professor of political science at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Meanwhile, what actually appeals to voters could vary.

Real-life issues, such as what the Nebraska Legislature has been addressing, are ones that impact Nebraskans daily, Hibbing said. Hearing candidates talk more about those issues, he said, would be better than whats in campaign ads.

Hibbing said he was surprised to see that property taxes consistently ranked low in the survey. Overall and among Omaha respondents, property taxes came in at No. 8 out of 12. In Lincoln, property taxes were 10th on the list.

It makes sense, he said, that attracting and retaining workers ranked high. That could relate to fears of brain drain and the state losing residents, he said.

Getting jobs was the issue, Hibbing said. Now, its getting people to fill the job.

Lisa Lee of Lincoln said she saw most of the items in the survey as priorities for the state, whether they impact her directly or not.

Lee said the No. 1 problem is a shortage of workers. Having more people to fill jobs would be a boost to the economy and state revenue, she said.

Other priorities for Lee, a 60-year-old lifelong Republican, are climate change and prison reform. Addressing the climate is complicated, she said, but she thinks solutions are out there. As for prison reform, Lee said it needs to be talked about but its going to take more than just adding beds.

Lee said its concerning to see top Republican candidates for governor worrying more about a border problem. While she thinks that is an issue, the best course of action from a Nebraska perspective would be having members of Congress act on reform.
Nebraskas next governor wont get a pot of money to use in luring or keeping businesses after all.

State Sen. Brett Lindstrom of Omaha pulled Legislative Bill 729 from the agenda Monday after it became clear that the measure had lost too much support to advance.

The measure would have created the Quick Action Closing Fund within the Department of Economic Development that the governor could have used to help land a high-impact business project or facility or to keep a business already located in the state. A high-impact business would be one expected to create a net benefit, through jobs and investments, compared with the cost of the incentive.

Assuming a project met the necessary requirements, including thresholds for jobs and salaries, the bill would have given the governor the discretion to award the funding.

But several senators on Monday objected to giving that kind of power to the governor, including Sen. Mike Flood of Norfolk, who argued that the bill would diminish the Legislatures power over the state purse strings.

Our ancestors fought a war to get rid of the king, Flood said.

Sen. Steve Erdman of Bayard said the proposal would give governors a slick way to pay back political favors without much control by legislators.

You tell me if that isnt a slush fund, he said.

Supporters of the proposal took issue with the term slush fund, describing the fund as an extra tool that the state could use in trying to compete with other states for businesses.

Sen. Matt Williams of Gothenberg said he has seen cases in which Nebraska lost out because state officials could not offer enough incentives under existing laws. Supporters said the fund could have helped in situations when the Legislature is not in session and cannot react quickly.

I think LB729 sends a clear message that we are open for business, Williams said.

Lindstrom, who is a Republican candidate for governor, said LB729 was inspired by a similar program created in Oklahoma in 2011. He said that program has awarded about $14 million to seven companies, which resulted in the creation of 3,500 jobs and $3.4 billion in investments by those companies.
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Soldiers are seen near the building that was destroyed in the explosion in Benafoul, Lebanon, April 12, 2022. (Photo by Ali Hashisho/Xinhua)

BEIRUT, April 12 (Xinhua) -- At least one person was killed and seven others were wounded in an explosion in southern Lebanon early on Tuesday, the Lebanese National News Agency reported.

The explosion rocked a scout center affiliated with the Shi'ite Amal Movement in the town of Benafoul, destroying a municipal council building and damaging other buildings nearby.

Preliminary information revealed that the explosion was caused by oxygen flasks that caught fire due to electric friction. The oxygen flasks were stored in the scout center for coronavirus patients.

The injured had been transferred to hospitals, and the Lebanese Civil Defense continued searching among the rubble for further casualties. 

Soldiers are seen near the building that was destroyed in the explosion in Benafoul, Lebanon, April 12, 2022. (Photo by Ali Hashisho/Xinhua)

A man checks on the car damaged by the explosion in Benafoul, Lebanon, April 12, 2022. (Photo by Ali Hashisho/Xinhua)

Cars damaged by the explosion are seen in Benafoul, Lebanon, April 12, 2022. (Photo by Ali Hashisho/Xinhua)
I was introduced to stuffed dough treats when I was 10 years old, and I fell in love. My dads favorite restaurant for take-out was a small submarine sandwich shop. It served delectable subs long before my hometown had any chain sandwich shops. My absolute favorite treat was their knishes. They had beef or potato, and they were unlike anything I had ever eaten before.

Those knishes were just the beginning of my foray into the world of stuffed dough. As I was introduced to foods from different cultures, something my parents ensured, I noticed similarities across the food we eat. Stuffed dough is one example. Seriously, we all loved stuffed dough.

Italian cuisine has calzones and ravioli. Eastern Europeans eat pierogi, bierocks and knish. Asian cuisine includes samosas and wontons. The Scots have bridies. Empanadas belong to Spanish cuisine, and the British have pasties.

Oh, the pasties. Pasties are my favorite. To avoid any verbal pitfalls and embarrassment, remember to pronounce this as "pass-tee." Pasties are baked shortcrust pastries stuffed with beef and vegetables. The dish is particularly associated with Cornwall, England.

If you watched the British series Poldark (also a favorite), you will certainly be familiar with this area, as well as the mining communities that gave rise to the Cornish pasty. The history dates back hundreds of years when Cornwall had some of the biggest tin and copper mining industries in the world.

The men who worked in the mines would take pasties with them to eat for lunch. Their initials would be baked into the pasty to prevent mix ups. While the sealed-in filling usually remained warm until lunch time, the pasties would often be reheated by the heat of oil lamps.

True Cornish pasties include beef, potato, rutabaga and onion. Salt and pepper are the only seasonings used. These ingredients are raw when the pasties are filled, then cooked as the pastry bakes. Pasties, however, can be filled with other ingredients if you feel like breaking from tradition. Just dont call them Cornish.

Pasties made their way to the U.S. when Cornish miners began arriving in Michigans Upper Peninsula in the 1840s. This was the areas iron and copper mining heyday. Just like in Cornwall, the miners carried pasties with them to work. The heavy filling and dough would keep them full while they completed their workday.

Eventually, the pasty went from food cooked in home kitchens of Upper Peninsula residents, known as Yoopers, to being served to tourists in restaurants. Yooper pasties remain a tradition in the Upper Peninsula.

If you cant get to Cornwall, or even Michigan's Upper peninsula, you can make these hefty treats at home. The one ingredient you may struggle to find is rutabaga. Turnips provide a similar, albeit less sweet, flavor. You may also opt for store-bought pie dough.

Once baked, pasties are eaten by hand from the top down so leftovers can be stored easier. Yooper pasties are traditionally eaten with ketchup, but many prefer gravy. Either way, this dish will keep your belly full and your spirits high.

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A recent escape attempt made by a man who allegedly murdered a Wayne County Sheriff's Deputy was thwarted, according to police.

Ray Tate, 40, of Hopkinsville, Kentucky allegedly escape his cell at the Jefferson County Jail early Sunday morning.

As Tate attempted to escape the facility he was taken into custody without incident or injury, the Jefferson County Sheriffs Office said in a news release.

Due to the jail already being on night shift lockdown status when Tate was apprehended, deputies and officers from the Mount Vernon Police Department were requested to set up an exterior perimeter of the Justice Center while a headcount and security check was conducted.

No other detainees were involved and all were present and accounted for, according to police.

The initial investigation into the escape attempt revealed Tate discovered a way to get out of his cell because of a flaw in the original construction of the Justice Center.

Jail property was damaged at several locations.

However, none of the damage rendered the jail unsuitable to continue housing detainees and inmates, with the exception of Tates cell.

Repairs to all damaged areas are being coordinated by the Sheriff's Office Maintenance Supervisor, police said.

Further investigation revealed the aforementioned flaw was limited to only three specialty cells.

No other information about this escape attempt will be released because of security protocols, police said.

Sheriff Jeff Bullard Sr. will be communicating through the Sheriffs Association the details of the flaw so other jails with similar construction will be able to take corrective steps.

Tate was originally charged with the first-degree murder of Deputy Sean Riley by the Wayne County States Attorneys Office late last year, Illinois State Polices Criminal Division Zone 8 said in a release.

Riley was allegedly shot and killed by Tate while responding to a motorist assist call on eastbound Interstate 64 at mile marker 115.

Excluding any future charges related to the escape attempt, Tate is facing a total of 38 different counts.

This includes one Class X felony, one Class 2 felony and 36 Class X felonies, according to Judici, an online court records database.

Tate plead not guilty to all 38 counts on Feb. 9.

His sentencing hearing is for 9 a.m. on April 22 in the Wayne County Court.

The incident

At about 5 a.m. on Dec. 29, 2021, Illinois State Police Criminal Division Zone 8 was requested to assist with a shooting involving an officer.

Preliminary reports indicate that Riley was dispatched for a motorist assist call on eastbound Interstate 64 at mile marker 115.

A short time later, another responding officer located Riley dead at the scene. The deputy's squad car was missing, and then located abandoned a short time later just east of the scene.

ISP said it's believed the suspect, Tate, carjacked a semi-trailer near where Rileys squad car was located.

The driver of the semitrailer said he was held against his will and drove Tate to a gas station in St. Peters, Missouri, police said.

While in Missouri, a series of carjackings, robberies and shootings occurred, police said.

Tate allegedly traveled back into Illinois with a kidnapped victim in another stolen vehicle, ISP said. That stolen vehicle was located at a residence in rural Carlyle.

Police say Tate committed a home invasion and took the homeowner and the kidnapped victim hostage at a residence in rural Clinton County.

At 1:42 p.m., ISP S.W.A.T. officers made entry into the residence and took Tate into custody without incident. The homeowner and kidnapped victim were located uninjured.

After a manhunt that lasted several hours, Tate was taken in custody and transported to the Clinton County Jail.

However, Tate currently awaits the continuation of his trial at the Jefferson County Jail.

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California Congressman Ro Khanna is participating in a Fireside Chat with Dr. Dwaun Warmack, president of Claflin University, on Tuesday, April 12, at 6 p.m. at Claflin University in Orangeburg.

In 2018, a delegation of elected officials -- including Khanna, Congressman Jim Clyburn, and a group of Silicon Valley venture capitalists -- traveled by bus to Claflin Universitys Ministers' Hall to learn how historically Black colleges (HBCUs) are preparing students to become the next generation of entrepreneurs and technology professionals.

The trip was part of the Comeback Cities Tour South, which visited cities throughout the region and HBCU campuses in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia. Khannas Claflin experience was the catalyst for a five-year partnership between Claflin and Zoom Video Communications Inc.

The partnership represents $1.2 million in educational and financial investments.

I saw Democratic Whip Jim Clyburns passion for this firsthand when he took me on a tour of his congressional district. Together we toured Claflin University," Khanna said. Im so proud to see Zoom announce a $1.2 million partnership over the next five years with Claflin. This is not just a one-time donation from Zoom; they will provide paid internships, scholarships, and real-world experience for students at Claflin. We need structural change and Zoom's partnership is the model of a substantive partnership that others should follow.

The 6 p.m. Tuesday event is open to the public and now will be held in Ministers Hall (on the campus of Claflin University).

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South Carolinas chief justice has stripped former Greenwood judge Curtis Clark of his job presiding over foreclosures, just days after The Post and Courier reported that his family repeatedly won dozens of properties at real estate auctions he ran.

Chief Justice Donald Beattys April 11 order instructs court officials not to assign Clark to oversee any new foreclosure cases. It also requires them to identify every case hes already been tapped to hear so that they can be referred to someone else.

Clark has acted for decades as Greenwood Countys foreclosure judge in everything but title. Because the county doesnt have a sitting master-in-equity judge, attorneys are appointed to fill that role on a case-by-case basis. Clark is almost always tapped for the job, court records show.

Beattys order shuts down the flow of cases indefinitely. It states that Clark cannot be appointed to hear foreclosure cases until further notice.

The decision came just over a week after a Post and Courier Uncovered investigation revealed that Clarks wife and children had purchased dozens of properties at foreclosure auctions he presided over. Property records also showed that some of the real estate purchased by the family  33 acres of undeveloped land near his home  was later gifted to him.

Whats more, the newspaper found that when state officials asked Clark under oath about his wifes participation at his foreclosure auctions, he failed to mention that she had won property at them. The states judicial screening board, which was then considering him for reelection as master-in-equity judge in neighboring Abbeville County, did not follow up.

Clark told the newspaper that he previously had concerns about having his family bid at auctions but he did not ask the states judicial ethics panel for advice. He ultimately decided on his own that they were allowed to participate, just as any other member of the public. His attorney, Desa Ballard of West Columbia, said he still does not plan to request an advisory opinion.

Even so, after the article was published on April 3, Clark opted to have another attorney oversee foreclosure auctions scheduled to take place the next day.

In a written statement April 11, Ballard sought to downplay Beattys order, saying the chief justice routinely reassigns judges as he sees fit.

Mr. Clark is a man of the highest integrity. As such, it was the prudent thing to step aside when Mr. Clarks conduct was questioned, especially since his family was made the source of inappropriate speculation, Ballard said. Mr. Clark has not engaged in any misconduct, nor has he communicated with anyone regarding the unwarranted inferences about how he has done his job in the past.

UNCOVERED: Shedding light on questionable government conduct The Post and Courier of Charleston has launched Uncovered, a project to cast new light on questionable government conduct, especially in sma

Under South Carolinas court rules, judges are supposed to avoid even the appearance of impropriety, an especially high standard intended to preserve the publics trust in the courts impartiality. Legal ethicists contacted by The Post and Courier said the sales threatened to run afoul of that rule.

The newspaper investigated the Clark familys participation in foreclosure sales as part of Uncovered, its initiative to shine light on questionable government conduct and voids in oversight. The project is being done in partnership with 18 community newspapers, including the Index-Journal of Greenwood.

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On the afternoon of Tuesday, April 5, strong thunderstorms and multiple tornados ravaged parts of South Carolina.

One of the tornados was an EF3 for most of its path from Ulmer to Bowman. At its widest portion, it was 500 yards wide.

The National Weather Service said it had the power of an EF4 when it touched down in a pine tree plantation, snapping of all the big trees five feet off the ground and decimating the forest.

The tornado hit a rural area and was constantly touching down and picking up off the ground throughout its path.

When it touched down just outside of Branchville on Freedom Road, it was an EF3. The storm damaged at least 13 homes in the rural community located between Branchville and Rowesville.

By the grace of God, no one was seriously injured, though many very big trees were violently thrown to the ground with the majority of them falling across driveways and near homes, S.C. United Methodist Volunteers In Mission Early Response Teams Coordinator Billy Robinson said.

A few trees did partially fall onto some homes, causing roof damage and breaking windows.

The following day, additional violent storms rocked the state, hindering aid to the affected areas.

Orangeburg County Emergency Services Director Billy Staley contacted the S.C. United Methodist Volunteers In Mission Early Response Teams for help aiding the families affected.

On Thursday, the group responded first with assessment teams, who made contact with the survivors and assessed their needs, prayed for them and offered scripture aids of comfort and care.

On Friday and Saturday, ERT disaster response teams responded with 21 volunteers from various portions of South Carolina, two disaster response trailers and two skid steers to take on the phenomenal task of cutting up the big trees with chainsaws at 11 homes and piling the debris in wood lines.

The group also tarped seven homes and structures that had damaged roofs and windows to prevent any further weather damage.

The volunteers started by cutting a big pine tree away from the side and roofline of a home and placed tarps over three broken windows for a grateful family that was unable to do the task themselves due to health concerns.

The volunteers went from house to house in the same vicinity and across the road, saving homeowners tens of thousands of dollars and making their homes accessible and livable again.

In several locations, the volunteers also cut out access so the power company could restore power to the homes. On Seacrest Lane, The volunteers found some people who drove from Charleston to help their family members.

We worked side by side with them, cutting fallen trees and debris away and tarping damaged roofs, Robinson said.

The last home they worked at was a unique one, where a big oak tree had fallen over and into a shed on Freedom Road.

The big tree was completely covering the shed, making access to it impossible and very dangerous due to partial collapse of the building.

Using a skid steer and chainsaws, volunteers very methodically and carefully removed the big tree from the partially destroyed shed. They were able to save the large majority of its contents, including 300 elephant collectibles, educational items for kids and various other items.

The salvaged items were loaded onto a trailer and hauled to the familys home. A tarp was placed over the severely damaged shed to help salvage half of it and protect its remaining contents.

The homeowners kept stating that they were so grateful and had never witnessed or even heard of a group of people who would come out in the midst of a disaster to voluntarily help complete strangers in need.

One man teared up as he stated, Yall work so hard and somehow keep a smile on your face at all times.

Robinson replied, We are so blessed and find great joy, hope, fulfillment, excitement and much love in being Gods hands and feet to others in need.

It is truly our honor and privilege to represent the love of Jesus in such caring ways. We become so much better people and are so blessed ourselves when we heed Gods calling to be our brother and sisters keeper. We are the church being the church, as Jesus Christ calls us to be!

Anything less would be unacceptable.

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BEIRUT  The release of Raja Salameh, brother of the governor of central bank Governor Riad Salameh, was approved Tuesday by Mount Lebanon Indictment Chamber judge Pierre Francis, a judicial source confirmed to L'Orient Today. Raja Salameh has been in state custody since March 17 on suspicion of money laundering.

Heres what we know:

 Judge Francis also agreed to reduce the financial bail to secure Salamehs release from LL500 billion to LL200 billion, the source said.

 The judicial source added that Raja Salameh will however continue to be questioned by the first investigating judge of Mount Lebanon, Nicolas Mansour. Mansour questioned Raja Salameh for several hours on March 24..

 Raja Salamehs detention follows a complaint of illicit enrichment and money laundering brought by the collective Pioneers of Justice, on the basis of which Mount Lebanon Public Prosecutor Ghada Aoun conducted an investigation leading to his arrest. Raja Salameh is also suspected of involvement in real estate transactions in France in connection with Banque du Liban.

 Last week, the head of the Mount Lebanon Appeals Court, Elie Helou, rejected a request to recuse Judge Francis from the case concerning Raja Salamehs bail application. The reasons behind the request for recusal are not officially known, but some parties claim that the judge is close to the camp of President Michel Aoun, with whom Judge Aoun is also close. A judicial source affirmed this version to LOrient Today.
NEW YORK (AP)  A gunman filled a rush-hour subway train with smoke and shot multiple people Tuesday, leaving wounded commuters bleeding on a Brooklyn platform as others ran screaming, authorities said. Police were still searching for the shooter.

Officials said the gunfire wounded at least 10 people, and at least 16 in all were injured in some way in the attack that began on a subway train that pulled into the 36th Street station in the borough's Sunset Park neighborhood. Five people were in critical condition, New York Fire Department Acting Commissioner Laura Kavanagh said, but Police Commissioner Keechant Sewell said there were no life-threatening injuries.

Sewell added that the attack was not being investigated as terrorism, but that she was not ruling out anything. The shooter has not been identified.

A train rider's video shows smoke and people pouring out of a subway car. Wails erupt as passengers run for an exit as a few others limp off the train. One falls to the platform, and a person hollers, "Someone call 911!" In other video and photos from the scene, people tend to bloodied passengers lying on the platform, some amid what appear to be small puddles of blood, and another person is on the floor of a subway car.

"My subway door opened into calamity. It was smoke and blood and people screaming," eyewitness Sam Carcamo told radio station 1010 WINS, saying he saw a gigantic billow of smoke pouring out of the N train once the door opened.

According to multiple law enforcement sources briefed on the investigation, preliminary information indicated that the suspect who fled was a man wearing a construction vest and a gas mask.

Investigators believe the suspect deployed a smoke device before opening fire, one of the law enforcement officials said. Investigators are examining whether the suspect may have used that device in an effort to distract people before shooting, the official said.

Fire and police officials were investigating reports that there had been an explosion, but the police department tweeted that there were "no active explosive devices at this time." Multiple smoke devices were found on the scene, said mayoral spokesperson Fabien Levy, who confirmed the initial shooting injury count.

At least 11 people were being treated at two local hospitals. No MTA workers were physically hurt, according to a statement from the Transport Workers Union Local 100.

Juliana Fonda, a broadcast engineer at WNYC-FM, told its news site Gothamist she was riding the train when passengers from the car behind hers started banging on the door between them.

"There was a lot of loud pops, and there was smoke in the other car," she said. "And people were trying to get in and they couldn't, they were pounding on the door to get into our car."

President Joe Biden and Attorney General Merrick Garland were briefed on the incident, as was Gov. Kathy Hochul. New York City Mayor Eric Adams, who is isolating following a positive COVID-19 test on Sunday, was briefed at the mayor's residence.

The incident happened on a subway line that runs through south Brooklyn in a neighborhood about a 15-minute train ride to Manhattan. Local schools, including Sunset Park High School across the street, were locked down.

Danny Mastrogiorgio of Brooklyn had just dropped his son off at school when he saw a crush of passengers, some of them wounded, running up the subway stairway at the nearby 25th Street station in panic. At least two had visible leg injuries, he said.

"It was insane," he told The Associated Press. "No one knew exactly what was going on."

Allan Lee was running his business, Cafe Nube, when a half-dozen police cars and fire vehicles suddenly converged on the block that contains the 36th Street station.

"Then they started ushering people that were on the block to the adjacent block and then closed off the subway entrance" near the cafe's door, he told the AP. When he noticed bomb squad officers and dogs, he was certain it was no everyday subway problem.

A sea of emergency lights was visible from at least a dozen blocks away, where a police cordon was set up.

New York City has faced a spate a shootings and high-profile incidents in recent months, including on the city's subways. One of the most shocking was in January when a woman was pushed to her death in front of a train by a stranger.

Adams, a Democrat a little over 100 days into his term, has made cracking down on crime  especially on the subways  a focus of his early administration, pledging to send more police officers into stations and platforms for regular patrols. It wasn't immediately clear whether officers had already been inside the station when the shootings occurred.

For continuing developments on this story, click here:

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ADEN, Yemen, April 12 (Xinhua) -- A commercial ship carrying foodstuffs caught fire in the waters of the strategic port of Aden in Yemen's southern part, a government official told Xinhua on Tuesday.

The local official said on condition of anonymity that a fire engulfed the engine room of an Indian ship on Monday overnight. The seven Indian sailors on board were rescued by the local authorities.

He confirmed that some of the sailors were injured and moved to a nearby hospital for treatment in Aden, and a firefighting squad was dispatched to the site.

The Indian ship was "carrying various kinds of foodstuffs and heading to the port of Berbera in Somalia," said the official, adding that the causes of the incident were still unknown. 
Wyomings Select Committee on Tribal Relations is looking to exempt the states tribal members from online sales taxes. They are already exempt from sales tax on purchases made in-person on the reservation.

Wyoming is home to the Wind River Reservation which houses the Northern Arapaho Tribe and the Eastern Shoshone Tribe. The sales tax exemption was decided over multiple U.S. Supreme Court cases from years before online retail existed, and this is the first time lawmakers will seriously explore the issue, said Sen. Affie Ellis, R-Cheyenne, chairwoman of the Tribal Relations Committee and member of the Navajo Nation.

Part of the committees work will be to visit with the states tribal leadership and look to states like South Dakota on how theyve addressed the issue. South Dakota shares a border with Wyoming and has a large Native American population.

Even as tribal members are sales tax-exempt from in-person purchases, its not a perfect process, Ellis said.

As it stands, the law really puts the burden on the retailer to look at the customer identify weather theyre Indian or non-Indian and decide weather or not to collect the tax, she told the Management Council.

So when we add online sales that gets complicated.

Before the heavy lifting gets underway, the states Attorney Generals office is reviewing tax law on the reservation because tax law in Indian Country is incredibly complicated, Ellis said.

I would support those exemptions just because of the unique status of the tribes and our history of giving up land to the federal government, said Rep. Andi LeBeau, D-Riverton, a member of the Northern Arapaho and Cheyenne River Sioux tribes.

Because Native American exemption from sale taxes are upheld by a number of U.S. Supreme Court cases, Ellis, an attorney, fears that not addressing this issue leaves the door open to a lawsuit.

A lawsuit also carries the possibility that sales tax revenue from online purchases that has gone to the county would have to be re-allocated to the tribes.

The Select Committee on Tribal Relations also plans to continue to address the issue of missing and murdered indigenous persons in Wyoming, the pipeline from high schools on the reservation to the University of Wyoming and funding for child protective services on the reservation.

The Wyoming Legislatures Management Council approved the topics that the legislative committees would take up during the interim, with some committees shifting gears and others continuing work from the last interim.

The interim is 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.

Committees are made up of lawmakers from both sides of the aisle and both chambers of the Legislature. There are roughly 10 standing committees that address large, statewide issues like the Joint Revenue Committee and the Joint Labor, Health and Social Services Committee. There are also a number of select committees and task forces that address more specific issues like Wyomings water and tribal relations.

A full list of interim topics can be found here.

Follow state politics reporter Victoria Eavis on Twitter @Victoria_Eavis

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Mothers will get extra special treatment on Sundaylavish lunches, concerts and gifts of perfumes and roses.

Meanwhile, mere days before the celebration, Port of Spain businesspeoplevendors and huckstersare reporting slow sales. They are cautiously optimistic that it will pick up today.
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.
DOING THE HONOURS: Trade and Industry Minister Paula Gopee-Scoon, centre, and Gervase Warner, president and Group CEO of the Massy Group of Companies, cut the ribbon yesterday to officially open the Massy Stores branch at Brentwood, Chaguanas. Also assisting, from left, are Roxanne de Freitas, chief executive officer and director at Massy Stores (Trinidad); David Affonso, executive chairman, Integrated Retail Portfolio, Massy Group, and Dr Krishna Bahadoorsingh, chairman of Caribbean Housing Ltd. Photo: JERMAINE CRUICKSHANK
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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.
TEHRAN, April 12 (Xinhua) -- Iran's Foreign Ministry on Tuesday summoned the Afghan charge d'affaires to protest against the recent attacks on the Iranian diplomatic missions in the neighboring country.

Iran has "strongly protested against the attacks on the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Kabul and the Consulate General of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Herat," according to the ministry's website.

The ministry said the Afghan government is responsible for ensuring the security of Iran's diplomatic missions and called for legal action against the attackers.

The Iranian missions in Afghanistan have suspended their consular services for security reasons temporarily, after protestors on Monday attacked the Iranian consulate in Herat, and gathered outside the Iranian Embassy in Kabul over "alleged mistreatment of Afghan immigrants in Iran." 
The Gospel Rescue Mission will hop into the weekend with Easter Blessings to Go, a free in-person banquet and drive-thru food outreach event from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday, April 15, at the H.S. Lopez Family Foundation Center of Opportunity, 4550 S. Palo Verde Road.

For many people, Easter represents hope for a new beginning, and were excited to share that hope with all of our neighbors, especially those who are homeless, hungry or hurting. Everyone is welcome to sit down and join us for a delicious Easter brunch or to drive-thru and get ready-to-heat Easter brunch meals for the entire family, plus a box of much-needed resources that includes nonperishable food, hygiene products and Easter baskets for the kids, said Lisa Chastain, CEO of the mission.

Chastain said the Good Friday event expects to serve about 2,500 meals, filling a void in food outreach for the homeless and near-homeless during the spring season.

There are not a lot of resources available right now, and with the state of the economy, people are putting more money into their gas tanks and into groceries: Everything is more expensive. We always want to be that place of help and hope that keeps people from becoming homeless by helping those on the brink, said Chastain.

Easter Blessings to Go also helps promote awareness about services available at the Center of Opportunity, which include shelter and programs for addiction recovery, employment and housing.

It is important for us to get the word out to people on the streets. In another month or so, they wont be able to be outside due to the extreme heat. The timing of this Easter outreach is significant not only on its own, but especially in these economic times, Chastain said.

In-kind donations of non-perishable food or hygiene products are accepted year-round at the Center of Opportunity. Items needed include canned goods (meat, vegetables and fruit), peanut butter, juice, pasta, rice and beans as well as cases of bottled water and household essentials such as paper towels, toilet paper, hygiene products, cleaning supplies and diapers.

Visit grmtucson.com for more information or to make a monetary donation.

Contact freelance writer Loni Nannini at ninch2@comcast.net

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The United Way of Tucson and Southern Arizona said last week that it has begun accepting cryptocurrencies as donations.

This move expands donor options beyond more traditional contribution channels, such as online, U.S. mail, stock transfers, planned giving, and more, and broadens the organizations appeal with an updated website to allow for user-friendly donations in cryptocurrency, or digital funds, such as Bitcoin and Ethereum.

Dozens of our sister United Way chapters around the country have welcomed this new method of giving, and our leadership team agreed that now is the time for our United Way to adopt it as well, stated Tony Penn, president and CEO of United Way of Tucson and Southern Arizona. As an organization, we must remain nimble and innovative to continue to meet the needs of our community. After consulting with our board and doing our due diligence, we determined this to be a safe and useful method of giving for many in our community.

Jeff Petrovic, chief development officer, said the United Way will accept 42 different cryptocurrencies, and the management platform we have chosen, Engiven, will make the experience simple, quick and efficient while providing all of the safety protocols for giving online.

Once a donation is made, the cryptocurrency will be immediately exchanged for cash to eliminate risk due to volatility in the crypto market. The IRS ruled in 2014 that nonprofits can accept donations in cryptocurrencies.

To donate, including using cryptocurrencies, you can go online to unitedwaytucson.org/donate/.

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TRENTON, N.J. (AP)  New Jersey regulators gave a green light Monday to seven facilities that already sell medical marijuana to also sell recreational cannabis, although it's not clear exactly when sales would begin.

Sales could start in a matter of weeks or longer, but a specific date wasn't set at the New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commissions vote during a remotely held meeting. Three of the facilities, known as alternative treatment centers, are in the northern part of the state. Three are in the south, and one is in central New Jersey.

The timing of the start of sales is unclear in part because the facilities must still pass a regulatory inspection of their operations and be issued new licenses.

The New Jersey Cannabis Trade Association, a trade group that advocates for the alternative treatment centers, estimated that recreational retail sales could start as the soon as the end of April, according to spokesperson Pamela Dollak. But it could vary by location, as each center faces compliance and other considerations.

Retail sales for the general public would start in 13 dispensaries operated by the seven treatment centers across the state.

To get approval, the facilities have agreed that the coming influx of recreational buyers won't interrupt access for patients who are currently using medical marijuana. The facilities said they would reserve parking spaces for patients as well as keep hours specifically for patients only.

There are about 130,000 medical marijuana patients in the state, with an estimated roughly 800,000 potential recreational consumers, and fewer than 800,000 estimated tourism consumers, according to the commission.

These approvals were given based on commitments from the ATCs that we would not see adverse effects with expansion, commission chairperson Dianna Houenou said. Expansion into the adult-use market  with a substantial advantageous start ahead of new applicants  is a privilege that must not be taken lightly."

The vote comes about a year after the commission started operating, and a year and a half after voters overwhelmingly approved a ballot question to permit recreational marijuana for people 21 and older.

New Jersey's Senate President Nicholas Scutari praised the development in a statement Monday, but said the state needs to do better and in a timely way.

He added that he plans to hold oversight hearings to get an understanding of the delays, the uncertainties and any obstacles that hinder the full implementation of the cannabis law.

New Jersey is one of 18 states, along with the District of Columbia, that legalized recreational marijuana. There also are 37 states, including New Jersey, that have legalized medical marijuana.

Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

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SANTA FE, N.M. (AP)  Even after failing a test that set her back a semester, Maribel Rodriguez will be heading back to nursing school next spring with a generous new state scholarship that abandons eligibility criteria to help more working adults get a college degree.

New Mexico is expanding its Opportunity Scholarship, which has already paid for Rodriguezs tuition and allowed her to apply federal grants toward living expenses like gas and groceries. She's reapplying to the nursing program and hopes to finish her degree without racking up debt that could hurt her husband and three children.

I didnt think a whole lot of opportunities were really out there for me at my age, said Rodriguez, 37, of Lovington, New Mexico, who left college at 19 in part because she couldn't afford rent. Even though if we missed it whenever we were younger theres still hope for us.

Many states  including New Mexico  have for years offered free tuition programs for four-year degrees to residents, but the programs had restrictions, limiting participation to recent high school graduates and requiring that they attend school full-time.

Supporters of those restrictions say they incentivize students to finish their degree and narrow the number of students who participate, reducing costs. But critics argue they create too many hurdles for students to succeed, especially those who are low-income and struggling to work, pay rent and raise a family.

New Mexico's revamped program provides students with more flexibility, including attending college part-time and allowing them to use federal grants for personal expenses. There's no requirement to finish in a set number of years.

It opens the door for a lot of people, especially people who started a degree and had to leave for some reason, said Kathy Levine, financial aid director at Northern New Mexico College in Espanola.

Still, Levine and other college counselors hesitate to promise students future funding.

Most of the $75 million expansion of the program relied on one-time federal pandemic relief and is authorized for only one year. If funding is cut, students could find themselves without support midway into their degree or certificate program.

As recently as 2017, New Mexico cut its other college scholarship program to just 60% of tuition because of an unexpected drop in state revenue. State officials now say that program, the Lottery Scholarship, is now solvent at 100% for at least the next four years.

New Mexicos governor and Legislature hope the expanded Opportunity Scholarship program will be enough to reverse the states dismal education outcomes. Only Mississippi has a lower percentage of four-year-degree holders, at 23%, according to Census estimates.

Since 2020, the program has been used by 10,000 state residents pursuing associate's degree programs, including nursing.

It checks all those boxes, very robust, certainly stands out as a national model, Jessica Thompson, vice president of the left-leaning think tank The Institute for College Access and Success, said of the revised program.

But Thompson warns that states are often ill-equipped to promise generous programs to students long-term because their revenues are so closely tied to the whims of the economy.

Thompson says other states like Oregon have authorized generous programs for undergrads, only to cut them when budgets were lean.

In 2020, Oregon had to cut its budget and tell 1,070 low-income students they wouldnt be receiving the aid previously promised to them. This month, Oregon announced its doubling its cost-of-living grant for low-income students.

New Mexico officials had estimated that roughly 35,000 students could participate in the expanded program. But that number will likely shrink because universities across the state already have raised tuition, disappointing state higher education officials.

New Mexico Tech raised tuition by 9%, citing increased costs and the availability of the new scholarships. Others raised tuition by around 4%.

Starting in July, universities will have to negotiate with the state on tuition increase limits if they want to participate in the free tuition program. But the law didnt prevent them from increasing tuition before that date.

At least for next year, the expanded program also will make existing support for recent high school graduates even more generous by allowing them to use federal funding for personal expenses, in addition to the existing Lottery Scholarship that pays their tuition.

That's welcome news at an arts school in Santa Fe where students discussed their plans with a New Mexico State University recruiter on a lunch break.

Some of our parents are still paying back their loans from college, said junior Zoe McDonald, 17, an aspiring cinematographer.

Painter Cruz Davis-Martinez, 18, knows he wants a four-year degree and is comparing the University of New Mexico and two schools in other states.

A lot of my high school career, unfortunately, was spent taking dual credit, Davis-Martinez said, because I had that financial insecurity.

At age 15, he started traveling 40 minutes so he could take advantage of free college classes paid for by his high school. The idea was to earn college credits so he could save money in college.

Now hes realizing he can attend all the classes he needs without going into debt and without having to work so much that it cripples his academic performance.

Under New Mexicos new plan, hell get more support than expected, though the exact cost of college is unclear. State officials are still writing the final rules for the program, including what fees will be covered and how much universities can raise tuition.

Thompson said it's important for students to be able to pursue their education without the threat of debt hanging over them. Still, she thinks the state is one economic downturn away from cutting benefits and that the federal government needs to fund more of these programs.

Ill be surprised if New Mexico can sustain this without, you know, continued federal engagement and involvement in funding," she said. And I dont think other states can follow them."

This story has been corrected to show that Maribel Rodriguez will return to school next spring, not this fall.

Attanasio is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on under-covered issues. Follow Attanasio on Twitter.

Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

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PHOENIX  Two candidates are asking judges to throw out complaints they cant legally run based on contentions they are guilty of insurrection for their roles in the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol.

State Rep. Mark Finchem and U.S. Rep. Andy Biggs say through their attorneys there is no basis for the claims, by an organization called Free Speech for People, that they are constitutionally barred from office. Exhibit No. 1, they say, is that neither of them has been convicted of anything, much less charged with a crime.

We dont allow random members of the public to accuse politicians of a crime and remove them from office, Finchems attorney, Jack Wilenchik, told Capitol Media Services on Monday. If we did, then, Lord knows, the courts would be full of this kind of thing every day.

He said thats why mere allegations against everyone from Donald Trump to Hillary Clinton cant be used in things like election challenges to bar them from running for office.

If the courts were to even attempt to hold such a proceeding, then it would not only encourage countless more cases in which political candidates claim their opponent is unfit to hold office due to commission of a crime, but the trial would also fail to satisfy basic constitutional guarantees of due process in criminal cases, Wilenchik said.

But the outcome of the lawsuits filed last week against the candidacies of Arizona Republicans Finchem, Biggs and U.S. Rep. Paul Gosar could turn on finer legal arguments of what the Fourteenth Amendment means.

A provision of the 1868 amendment, approved in the wake of the Civil War, says that anyone who engaged in insurrection or rebellion is precluded from holding any office in federal or state government. Free Speech for People, a national organization involved in election issues, contends the alleged activities of all three in planning what happened on Jan 6. meet that definition.

And in the case of Finchem, an Oro Valley Republican who now is running for secretary of state, he was at the Capitol that day but says he did not go inside.

The legal arguments presented by challengers are a stretch, at best, said Biggs attorney Kory Langhofer.

Even if we assume all the facts they said are true, it wouldnt constitute insurrection, he said. Insurrection has a particular meaning.

He said its more than doing mean things.

The bigger legal question is whether, even assuming the definition fits, any of that can be used in a state court action to knock a candidate off the ballot.

To date, Congress has enacted no legislation that would provide a state court with the authority to determine that a person is barred from holding public office under the Disqualification Clause (of the Fourteenth Amendment), especially in an expedited civil proceeding such as this, Wilenchik wrote in legal filings.

To the contrary, Congress has seen fit to address the penalties for engaging in violent rebellion only though criminal statutes which provide that such persons  following a proper indictment, trial, conviction and entry of judgment, of course  shall be incapable of holding any office under the United States, he continued.

Langhofer said the lawsuits are even more problematic when trying to keep someone from running for Congress.

Only Congress can judge the qualifications of its members, he said. And whether you are an insurrectionist is, in fact, a qualification for membership.

Moreover, Langhofer pointed out that all three of the defendants are not just candidates but have, in fact, been holding office for years.

They knew more than a year ago who was running, Langhofer said of the challengers.

He pointed out that the Fourteenth Amendment not only precludes someone from seeking office but also from holding office in the first place. Yet Langhofer said those who filed suit didnt challenge the officials ability to be in office now, but instead waited until after the April 4 filing deadline for candidates for the 2022 election to file suit  and only to keep them off the ballot.

That last-minute maneuver does not provide the time for a proper trial, Langhofer said.

Its also a violation of a legal concept known as laches, in which courts can throw out claims where plaintiffs knew about the facts but waited to file suit, he said.

We all have to scramble, Biggs attorney said. Were not going to be able to bring in witnesses, do discovery, things like that. You cant bring a major constitutional case at the very last minute.

Court hearings were originally scheduled to begin later this week but have been delayed.

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he land that was to become Arizona territory in 1863 and a state in 1912 was, for centuries before, a destination for multiple Spanish explorations in search of gold, and also served as a prominent area for notable silver processing techniques  and stories of lost treasure.

Beginning on April 12, 1539, Fray Marcos de Niza  sent by Viceroy Mendoza  traveled into Arizona on an expedition reaching the Zuni pueblos in New Mexico. De Niza was credited with being the first European to explore west of the Rockies.

De Nizas report of gold and silver utensils initiated the expedition of Francisco Vasquez de Coronado the following year. The expedition included 250 cavalrymen, 200 foot soldiers, 1,000 Indians, and 1,000 horses and mules. While the expedition mapped the region from eastern Arizona to Kansas, a distance of over 1,500 miles, it failed to uncover previously anticipated mineral wealth of the fabled renowned Seven Cities of Cibola.

Bartolome de Medina of Pachuca, Mexico, is credited in 1557 with the invention of what became known as the patio process. It involved the amalgamation of silver sulfide low grade ore using a combination of salt, water, copper sulfate and mercury spread 1 or 2 feet high on an open floor or patio and crushed by burros hooves using an arrastra. Long-term sun exposure coupled with consistent crushing ensured that the silver ore binded with the mercury, forming an amalgam from which the mercury was later separated by the application of heat.

This processing method proved invaluable for recovering silver, though it did take longer to treat the ore and was eventually improved with pan amalgamation invented by Alvaro Alonso Barba in the early 1600s. While retaining the mixtures of salt, water, copper sulfate and mercury with ground silver ore, it supplanted the outdoor patio with the use of heated shallow pans instead of reliance on the sun. This led to a reduction of the amalgamation process from a week to less than a day.

These processing methods saw practical application in later Spanish explorations. Antonio de Espejo discovered one of the earliest silver deposits in Arizona near the headwaters of the Verde River in 1582, which may have been the same location of the renowned United Verde Mine 300 years later. Espejo also documented the Verde River salt deposits.

The exploration of Juan de Onate in 1604 along the Santa Maria and Bill Williams rivers in present day Mojave County reported rich silver ore, possibly in the Aquarius and Hualapai mountains.

The arrival of Padre Eusebio Francisco Kino in 1691 and subsequent mineral exploration and mining of silver ore in the Santa Rita Mountains south of Tucson followed in the decades thereafter. With renewed mining interest, Jesuits founded a series of missions along the Santa Cruz River including San Felipe Guevavi and San Xavier del Bac.

The discovery of the Bolas y Planchas de Platas (Balls and Plates of Silver) in northern Sonora, 15 miles southeast of Nogales, occurred in 1736. The discovery was noteworthy, including slabs of silver weighing up to 2,700 pounds.

The area, comprised of a ranch and surrounding hills, was known to the Spanish as Arissona from the Papago (now Tohono Oodham) term Arizonac.

This discovery fell under the jurisdiction of Captain Juan Bautista de Anza, employed by the Spanish colonial government, who declared it for the Spanish crown and sparked further exploration by his son Juan Bautista de Anza II, who went on to chart a route from Sonora to California in the 1770s.

When Mexico gained independence from Spain in 1823, the missions were abandoned, and no protection was afforded to the Spanish-Mexican miners in Arizona. The area became untenable to mining due to raids by Apaches and outlaws. Mining would reconvene under more favorable protections when the area was acquired by the United States after the Gadsden Purchase from Mexico in 1854.

One of the most enduring mining legends in Arizona involves the lost mines of the Peralta family. The story begins with Don Pedro, who left his homeland in Barcelona, Spain, in 1757 aboard a Spanish galleon arriving in La Ciudad de Chihuahua, where he acquired multiple silver mines.

His son Manuel became a mine operator. So too did his son Miguel and his three sons who followed, Manuel, Pedro and Ramon, who moved forward on an expedition in 1846 to uncover gold deposits which they discovered at Mormon Flat in Arizona.

The rich gold ore originating from an 18-inch vein and valued at several thousand dollars was milled in arrastres operated by the Peralta brothers. Additional out-croppings of gold-bearing quartz were discovered by Pedro Peralta upon a black-topped mountain west of Weavers Needle, also known as La Sombrera.

Pedro drew up maps and markers to the location while shipping gold to his brothers for processing. Two sons successfully returned to their home in Mexico with some gold from their placer mining operations, while Pedro returned to Chihuahua to muster 68 men and several hundred mules to mine the deposits upon his return in 1848. Apaches ambushed the miners, killing them onsite.

Pedro is said to have buried the gold while his entourage fought a rear guard action. This gold, and the later link in the 1870s between Peraltas maps, Jacob Waltz The Dutchman and his partner Jacob Weiser, would evolve into the modern day quest to find a purported gold cache valued at perhaps $200 million.

William Ascarza is an archivist, historian and author of seven books available for purchase online and at select bookstores. These include his latest, In Search of Fortunes: A Look at the History of Arizona Mining, available through M.T. Publishing Co. His other books are Chiricahua Mountains: History and Nature, Southeastern Arizona Mining Towns, Zenith on the Horizon: An Encyclopedic Look at the Tucson Mountains from A to Z, Tucson Mountains, Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum with Peggy Larson and Sentinel to the North: Exploring the Tortolita Mountains. Email William Ascarza for a signed copy of his publications at AZMiningHistory@gmail.com

Sources Anthony, J.W., S.A. Williams, R.A. Bideaux, and R.W. Grant. Mineralogy of Arizona, Third Edition. Tucson: University of Arizona Press, 1995. Bird, Allen T. Resources of Santa Cruz County.University of Arizona Bulletin No.29 County Resource Series 1. McAllister, R.W. Lost Mines of California and the Southwest. Thomas Bros. Los Angeles. 1953. Storm, Barry. Gold in the Superstitions. Southwestern Press Vol. 1. Phoenix. October, 1940.

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Pickering, James

James Pickering, 92, of Tucson, Arizona passed away peacefully on March 30, 2022.

He was born in Burnley, England on August 28, 1929. At age 20, he moved to the United States, where he proudly served our country for 23 years in the U.S. Air Force. James retired at the rank of Chief Master Sergeant and fondly remembered his service as one of the greatest hallmarks of his life.

James went on to work in the aerospace industry for Learjet and AlliedSignal (Honeywell), where he met his loving and devoted wife of 33 years, Beverly. A great historian and avid storyteller, James enjoyed having long conversations with his many friends.

He was grateful for his long and full retirement, which allowed him to pursue his numerous lifelong passions. He was a sought-after expert in cacti and enjoyed growing them and sharing his knowledge of them for 72 years. He loved history, the Old West, and collecting antique firearms and ancient coins, among many other hobbies. James was one of the original members of the Historical Arms Society of Tucson (HAST).

He was a superb calligrapher, and his beautiful writing graced the hundreds of love letters he wrote to Beverly during their marriage. He generously shared his gifts and talents with those around him.

James will be greatly missed by many, but his sense of humor, love, service to others and booming voice will live on in our hearts forever. He will receive military honors during his funeral service at noon Friday, April 15th at the Arizona Veterans Memorial Cemetery, 15950 N. Luckett Road, Marana, 85653. Arrangements: Adair Avalon.
China's Jiangsu to build over 400 pocket parks

Xinhua) 09:07, April 12, 2022

People enjoy the spring view at a park in Nanjing, east China's Jiangsu Province, April 5, 2022. (Photo by Su Yang/Xinhua)

NANJING, April 11 (Xinhua) -- East China's economic hub Jiangsu Province plans to add more green spaces to improve people's living environment, including building over 400 pocket parks by 2025, said local authorities.

With pocket parks of up to 20,000 square meters and greenways of at least 2 km, the green spaces will be ideal destinations for residents to relax and work out, said the provincial housing and urban-rural development department.

Jiangsu also plans to promote rooftop greening and vertical greening of fences, walls, corridors, and transport facilities. A rooftop greening project is expected to cover at least 500 square meters.

The industrial powerhouse has planted about 164,600 hectares of forests in the past five years to protect the environment, resulting in its forest coverage rate reaching 24 percent.

(Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun)
BEIJING, April 12 (Xinhua) -- China on Tuesday congratulated Shahbaz Sharif on being elected prime minister of Pakistan, and expressed the expectation of even closer China-Pakistan partnership.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said that China and Pakistan are all-weather strategic partners of cooperation, and the relationship between the two countries is rock solid and unbreakable.

"China looks forward to working with the Pakistani side to continue our traditional friendship, deepen all-round cooperation, jointly build the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor in a high-quality manner, and build an even closer China-Pakistan community with a shared future in the new era," Zhao added. 
In what would be an unprecedented move, the U.S. Interior Department is considering an action that would create a possible, immediate cutback in Colorado River water supplies to Arizona, California and Nevada: holding back nearly a half million acre-feet of water it had planned to release this year from Lake Powell to Lake Mead.

In a letter Friday to all seven Colorado River Basin states' top water officials, Assistant Interior Secretary Tanya Trujillo wrote that such a possible cutback would be aimed at keeping Powell from falling below the elevation at which electricity couldnt be generated at Glen Canyon Dam.

Trujillo warned of possible major risks to the dams operations and infrastructure if Powell falls below the minimum power pool level of 3,490 feet.

If that happened, it would raise concerns about the dams ability to deliver water to the Lower Basin states of Arizona, California and Nevada, wrote Trujillo, Interiors assistant secretary of water and science.

In such circumstances, Glen Canyon Dam facilities face unprecedented reliability challenges, water users in the basin face increased uncertainty, downstream resources could be impacted, the Western electrical grid would experience uncertain risk and instability and water supplies to the West and Southwestern United States would be subject to increased operational uncertainty, Trujillo wrote.

Her letter asked water officials in the seven states to comment on a potential 480,000-acre-foot cut by April 22. The cut would be effective in water year 2022, which runs from October 2021 through September 2022.

Trujillo also warned that without a change in river flows, which would require a break in the recent arid conditions, it may not be possible to avoid operating Lake Powell below 3,490 feet.

This reality reinforces the need for the basin states, and all entities in the basin, to prioritize work to further conserve and reduce use of Colorado River water to stabilize the systems reservoirs, she wrote.

A midyear delivery cut of this scale would remove about 6.5% of the 7.48 million acre feet the lower basin was to receive this year from Powell.

But that cut would still further slash elevations at already depleted Lake Mead, triggering major concerns among water users about the certainty and reliability of future deliveries, said Kathryn Sorensen, a research fellow at Arizona State Universitys Kyl Center for Water Policy.

The letter points to how dire conditions are on the Colorado River and, I think, the big picture is that communities have a responsibility to make sure there is water at the tap. If they havent already put contingencies in place to be able to deliver alternative water supplies, we need to do it now, Sorenson said.

Certainty is really important to water planners, but in an increasingly volatile system that certainty is going to be hard to come by, she said.

Today, the river basin faces the 22nd year of what some scientists call this regions worst drought in 1,200 years.

The Lower Basin states, including Arizona, had already cut back more than 500,000 acre feet in deliveries this year, following a 2019 drought contingency plan. Thats the equivalent of enough water to serve 2 million households if they consume water at Tucsons rates.

Hardest hit was the Central Arizona Project, a 336-mile canal stretching from the river to Tucson, with cuts particularly smacking farmers in Pinal County northwest of Tucson.

But as reservoirs keep falling due to drought and climate change, Interiors Bureau of Reclamation was already considering releasing more water from upstream reservoirs in the Upper Basin states of Utah, Colorado and New Mexico, to prop up Powell. A plan for such releases is to be finished this spring.

But in March, Lake Powell for the first time dropped below 3,525 feet, the level acting as a buffer against the possibility of it falling to 3,490 feet at which the dams turbines could no longer operate. On Sunday, Powell stood at 3,522.9 feet, nearly 40 feet below its April 2021 elevation and more than 75 feet below that of two years ago.

The bureau has forecast a nearly 1 in 4 chance of Powell falling below 3,490 from 2023 through 2026.

Now, Interior officials are concerned that more actions are needed to reduce the risk of power generation being curtailed, Trujillo wrote. Below the 3,490 feet elevation, water releases to the Lower Basin would have to be delivered through outlet tubes, massive steel structures lying at the foot of the dam.

Glen Canyon Dam was not envisioned to operate solely through the outlet works for an extended period of time, and operating at this low lake level increases risks to water delivery and potential impacts to downstream resources and infrastructure, Trujillo wrote.

In addition, should Lake Powell decline further below 3,490 feet, we have confirmed that essential drinking water infrastructure supplying the City of Page, Arizona and the LeChee Chapter of the Navajo Nation could not function, Trujillo said. Page, population about 7,530, adjoins Lake Powell.

Given our lack of actual operating experience in such circumstances, these issues raise profound concerns regarding prudent dam operations, facility reliability, public health and safety and the ability to conduct emergency operations, Trujillo wrote.

The bureau is committed to safely operating the dam and maintaining reliable reservoir releases, she said. But in todays low runoff conditions, we are approaching operating conditions for which we have only very limited actual operating experience  and which occurred nearly 60 years ago, Trujillo said.

in a statement, the Arizona Department of Water Resources said that ADWR Director Tom Buschatzke "is evaluating the actions contained in the letter. He recognizes that the increased operational uncertainties present serious risks with substantial potential impacts to the resources and stakeholders reliant upon the river and the infrastructure on the river."

The Southern Nevada Water Authority said in a statement that, "Conditions on the Colorado River are serious, and we are committed to working with the Bureau of Reclamation and our partners on the river in accordance with the operating guidelines to identify and develop responsive strategies as requested by April 22.

The statement referred to guidelines for operating the river's reservoirs, including Powell and Mead, that the seven states and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation approved back in 2007.

But if the regions arid conditions persist beyond this year, I think there will be immense pressure to find another solution beyond the cuts currently proposed, said Sarah Porter, the Kyl Centers director.

No one has adequately studied what happens if Glen Canyon Dam isnt producing power. I dont think weve adequately looked into the capacity of the grid to provide redundant power supply, Porter said.

As for Lake Mead, Porter noted that its important to realize that as the lake falls, its rate of decline accelerates due to the lakes inverse pyramid shape.

Photos: Glen Canyon Dam dedicated in 1966 after years of construction Glen Canyon Dam Glen Canyon Dam Glen Canyon Dam Glen Canyon Dam Glen Canyon Dam Glen Canyon Dam Glen Canyon Dam Glen Canyon Dam Glen Canyon Dam Glen Canyon Dam Glen Canyon Dam Glen Canyon Dam Glen Canyon Dam Glen Canyon Dam Glen Canyon Dam Glen Canyon Dam Glen Canyon Dam Glen Canyon Dam Glen Canyon Dam Glen Canyon Dam Glen Canyon Dam Glen Canyon Dam Glen Canyon Dam Glen Canyon Dam Glen Canyon Dam Glen Canyon Dam, bridge, construction Glen Canyon Dam, bridge, construction Glen Canyon Dam, bridge, construction Glen Canyon Dam, bridge, construction Glen Canyon

Contact Tony Davis at 520-349-0350 or tdavis@tucson.com. Follow Davis on Twitter@tonydavis987.

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Mariupol mayor says siege has killed more than 10K civilians

KYIV, Ukraine (AP)  The mayor of the Ukrainian port city of Mariupol says more than 10,000 civilians have died in the Russian siege of his city and the full death toll could surpass twice that number. Speaking by phone Monday with The Associated Press, Mayor Vadym Boychenko said corpses carpeted the streets of the city. He said Russian forces brought mobile cremation equipment to the city to dispose of the bodies and accused Russian forces of refusing to allow humanitarian convoys into the city in an attempt to disguise the carnage. Mariupol has been cut off by Russian attacks and has suffered some of the most brutal assaults of the war.

Philadelphia to restore indoor mask mandate as cases rise

Philadelphia has become the first major U.S. city to reinstate its indoor mask mandate after reporting a sharp increase in coronavirus infections. The city's top health official said Monday she wants to forestall a potential new wave driven by the omicron subvariant. Dr. Cheryl Bettigole says that COVID-19 cases in the city have risen more than 50% in 10 days. That's the threshold at which the citys guidelines call for people to wear masks indoors. Health inspectors will start enforcing the mask mandate at city businesses starting April 18. Most states and cities dropped their masking requirements in February and early March.

Biden aims at 'ghost gun' violence with new federal rule

WASHINGTON (AP)  President Joe Biden is taking fresh aim at ghost guns, the privately made firearms without serial numbers that are increasingly cropping up in violent crimes. At the White House on Monday, Biden highlighted the Justice Departments work to finalize new regulations to crack down on the guns. He also announced the nomination of Steve Dettelbach, who served as a U.S. attorney in Ohio from 2009 to 2016, to run the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Still, the announcement of the new regulation also highlighted the limits of Bidens influence to push a sweeping congressional overhaul of the nations firearm laws. Congress has deadlocked on legislative proposals to reform gun laws for a decade.

Ex-officer convicted of storming Capitol to disrupt Congress

WASHINGTON (AP)  A federal jury has convicted a former Virginia police officer of storming the U.S. Capitol with another off-duty officer to obstruct Congress from certifying President Joe Bidens 2020 electoral victory. Jurors on Monday convicted former Rocky Mount police officer Thomas Robertson of all six counts he faced stemming from the Jan. 6, 2021, riot, including charges that he interfered with police officers at the Capitol. His sentencing hearing wasnt immediately scheduled. Robertsons jury trial was 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.

US orders consular staff to leave Shanghai amid COVID surge

BEIJING (AP)  The U.S. has ordered all non-emergency consular staff to leave Shanghai, which is under a tight lockdown to contain a COVID-19 surge. Many residents in the city of 26 million have been confined to their homes for up to three weeks as China maintains its zero-COVID strategy of handling outbreaks with strict isolation and mass testing. But people living under the restrictions have described an increasingly desperate situation, with families unable to obtain food and daily necessities. The State Department said the order is an upgrade from the advisory last week that made the decision to leave voluntary. Chinas government and the entirely state-controlled media are growing increasingly defensive about complaints over the COVID-19 prevention measures.

EXPLAINER: Where do US opioid trials, settlements stand?

A trial on whether pharmacy chain Walgreens bears responsibility for the opioid crisis started Monday in Florida on the heels of opening statements last week in another opioid trial in West Virginia. The cases are pressing ahead even as companies have been settling many of the claims filed by state and local governments across the U.S. Going to trial brings risk for both sides. If the suing governments win, they could get major payments. But rulings for the companies could help bolster their cases that they shouldn't be held liable for a complicated epidemic linked to the deaths of more than 500,000 Americans over two decades.

EXPLAINER: 2 men in Gov. Whitmer plot could be tried again

DETROIT (AP)  A jury last week couldn't reach a unanimous verdict for two men charged with a conspiracy to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. It means the federal government can take Adam Fox and Barry Croft Jr. to trial again. A hung jury is unable to unanimously agree on whether someone is guilty or innocent. It could be just one person on the 12-member panel who disagrees with the others. Former federal prosecutor Mark Chutkow would be surprised if prosecutors fold, citing allegations of a violent plot against a governor. U.S. Attorney Andrew Birge says his team will get back to work on the case. Two other men were acquitted of all charges.

UN: Nearly two-thirds of Ukraine's children have fled homes

UNITED NATIONS (AP)  The U.N. children's agency says nearly two-thirds of all Ukrainian children have fled their homes in the six weeks since Russias invasion. And UNICEF says the United Nations has verified that 142 children have been killed, though the numbers is almost certainly much higher. UNICEFs emergency programs director told the U.N. Security Council on Monday that having 4.8 million of Ukraines 7.5 million children displaced in such a short time is quite incredible. Manuel Fontaine said it was something he had not before seen happen so quickly in 31 years of humanitarian work.

Families, doctors contest Alabama transgender treatment ban

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP)  Families with transgender teens have sued the state of Alabama to block a law that makes it a crime for doctors to treat trans youth under 19 with puberty blockers or hormones to help affirm their gender identity. It was one of two separate lawsuits filed in federal court Monday. The lawsuit were filed three days after Republican Gov. Kay Ivey signed the measure into law. The law will go into effect next month unless blocked by the court. Violations will be punishable by up to 10 years in prison.

Carrie Underwood, Jason Aldean win big at CMT Music Awards

NASHVILLE, Tennessee (AP)  Carrie Underwood and Jason Aldean were the big winners at the CMT music awards. Underwood and Aldean won video of the year and collaborative video of the year Monday night for their duet If I Didnt Love You on the show from Nashville, Tennessee that uses fan votes to honor the best in country music videos. The Judds reunited on the show for their first major awards show performance in more than two decades. Kelsea Ballerini, who was scheduled to co-host the show with Anthony Mackie before testing positive for COVID-19, hosted segments of the show from home and moved her performance to her backyard.

Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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Russia is readying a massive, new offensive in eastern Ukraine, hoping to reverse its fortunes on the battlefield after a catastrophic start to seven weeks of war.

A long convoy of combat vehicles has jammed highways across northeastern Ukraine in preparation for an attack that could begin within days, and the Kremlin has named a general known for overseeing Moscow's campaign in Syria to lead it.

A look at Russia's military objectives and challenges it faces.

A BOTCHED BLITZ

A failed Russian attempt to storm Kyiv and other big cities took a heavy toll in personnel and equipment, boosted morale in Ukraine and allowed it to rally broad international support.

The myth about the invincibility of the Russian military as the second-most powerful in the world has been shattered to much surprise of the Ukrainians themselves, Ukrainian military expert Oleh Zhdanov told The Associated Press.

The flow of Western weapons into Ukraine and a growing popular resistance to Russian aggression will further raise the costs of war for Moscow.

President Vladimir Putin badly needs a quick battlefield victory to find an exit from what increasingly looks like a disastrous quagmire.

Russia's focus is turning to Ukraines industrial heartland, known as the Donbas, where Moscow-backed separatists have been fighting Ukrainian government forces since the conflict there erupted shortly after the Kremlin's 2014 annexation of Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula.

In the first round, Russia has lost face both politically and militarily," Zhdanov said. "It has done every possible stupid thing in the careless hope for a blitz ... but it will make the Russian attack in the next round even more furious.

REFOCUS AND REDEPLOYMENT

After their retreat from Kyiv, Chernihiv and Sumy, Russian forces pulled back to the territory of Belarus, Moscows ally, as well as areas in western Russia to be rearmed and resupplied for the new offensive.

Retired British Gen. Sir Richard Barrons estimated the Russians have probably lost about 25% of the ground forces they started out with in the sense that those have been units that have become noncombat effective.

So theyre amalgamating them, theyre refitting them, theyre reinforcing them and then moving them around, Barrons told AP.

Russia also was trying to move additional equipment from elsewhere and mobilize reservists in a desperate attempt to build a sufficient attack force, said Barrons, a co-chair of the consulting group Universal Defence & Security Solutions.

Theyve had a beating, and they will have only a few weeks to get better, he said.

Recently, Russian troops have been seen rolling into eastern Ukraine to move into attack positions. A convoy stretched for about 13 kilometers (8 miles) on a highway east of Kharkiv, heading south toward Ukrainian lines near Izyum, a strategic road junction.

At the same time, Russian forces rushed to crush remaining pockets of Ukrainian resistance in Mariupol after besieging the vital Sea of Azov port for nearly 1 1/2 months.

The offensive is expected to start once Mariupol is fully under Russian control, and the troops pulled from areas near Kyiv, Chernihiv and Sumy complete their redeployment.

WILL A NEW COMMANDER MAKE THE DIFFERENCE?

Gen. Alexander Dvornikov was appointed the new military commander for the campaign in Ukraine. The 60-year-old soldier is one of Russias most experienced officers, credited with leading Moscow's forces to victory in Syria in a ruthless campaign to shore up President Bashar Assads regime in a civil war that saw entire cities flattened and millions displaced.

In 2016, Putin awarded Dvornikov the Hero of Russia medal, one of the countrys highest awards, and named him the chief of the Southern Military District, commanding units in southwestern Russia.

Dvornikov's appointment is seen as reflecting the Kremlin's awareness to quickly improve poor coordination among various forces that hampered previous military efforts. Skeptics point out, however, that the Syrian campaign involved a relatively small number of troops, unlike the massive operation in Ukraine.

TRYING NEW BATTLEFIELD TACTICS

Ukrainian and Western experts expect the Russians to try to encircle Ukrainian forces in Donbas with a pincer movement by advancing from Izyum in the north and Mariupol in the south.

Some predict Russia also may try to use its forces north of Crimea to try to capture the industrial hubs of Zaporizhzhia and Dnipro on the Dnieper River, effectively cutting Ukraine in half.

Barrons said the Russians are focusing on the east instead of trying to do three or four big things at once and spreading the air power and the logistics.

The key conundrum is, can the Russians muster enough force ... good enough to overwhelm a very good Ukrainian defensive position by sheer weight of brutality by concentrating firepower and troops in a few key locations, he said.

WILL RUSSIA'S LOGISTICAL PROBLEMS PERSIST?

Despite a new commander, the offensive will likely face the same logistical challenges Russian troops encountered early in the campaign.

During the botched attempt to storm Kyiv, Russian convoys stretched along highways leading to the capital, becoming easy prey for Ukrainian artillery, drones and scouts.

Supporting the operations in the east could be equally hard, with Russian supply lines likely to face hit-and-run raids, helped by the arrival of spring as foliage offers natural cover for Ukrainian scouts and guerrillas.

Control of the skies also has been a problem, with Ukrainian air defense assets continuing to shoot down Russian warplanes, making it more difficult for ground troops to advance. In recent days, Russia has launched strikes on Ukrainian long-range air defense systems in apparent preparation for the offensive.

If the Russians learned the lessons of their failure so far and could concentrate more force and could connect their air force to the ground forces better and could sort the logistics out, then they might start to overwhelm the Ukrainian positions eventually, although I still think it would be a battle of enormous attrition, Barrons told AP.

MORE FAVORABLE TERRAIN FOR RUSSIA?

During the eight years of fighting separatists in the east, Ukrainian forces have built multilayered defenses, which Russian troops failed to break despite persistent attacks since the invasion began Feb. 24.

Theyve been fighting in these current positions in the Donbas for about eight years, so theyre very seasoned and theyre very well prepared," Barrons said of Ukrainian forces.

He noted, however, that "this will be different because the Russian onslaught will be potentially very much greater and the east's flat terrain could give the Russians an edge.

The sort of ambush tactics the Ukrainians were highly successful with around Kiev may not apply in the Donbas, Barrons said. And if the Russians were capable of maneuvering their armor so tanks, armored infantry and armored artillery at speed, they could get behind the Ukrainian position. It is going to be a much harder, bigger fight than weve seen so far.

Ukraine has pleaded with the West for warplanes, long-range air defense systems, heavy artillery and armor to counter a massive Russian edge in firepower.

There is a battle of time and space between the Russians and Ukrainians for the Russians to muster enough force and the Ukrainians to get the weapons that they need and rehearse themselves for what will be a bigger and slightly different battle, and I think it is finely balanced, Barrons said.

FOR PUTIN, A RACE AGAINST TIME

After earlier battlefield failures, Putin desperately needs a quick success in the east.

Battered by Western sanctions, Russia lacks financial resources for a protracted conflict. If the fighting drags on, it will inevitably worsen the economy and could bring social tensions, eroding the Kremlins support base.

The military already has put its most capable combat units in the campaign, and continued fighting will likely force it to call up more reservists and throw fresh conscripts into combat  moves that could be extremely unpopular.

Putin could be hoping to quickly expand the territory under separatist control in the east, then try to force Ukraine into concessions in negotiations to wrap up the campaign and spin it as victory.

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Associated Press writers Yuras Karmanau in Lviv, Ukraine, and Danica Kirka in London contributed.

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Follow the APs coverage of the war at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine

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The mother of a Puerto Rican Olympian was killed by a stray bullet while sewing in her Connecticut home over the weekend, according to the athlete and police.

Police believe Mabel Martinez, 56, was an innocent bystander and the intended target was apparently a man walking outside her home in the town of Waterbury. He was wounded in the leg and survived. No arrests have been announced.

Mabel Martinez was the mother of Yarimar Mercado Martinez, a rifle shooter on the Puerto Rico Olympic team who competed in the summer Olympics last year and in 2016.

Mabel Martinez died Sunday after being shot in the head Saturday afternoon, police said.

Mercado Martinez, 27, expressed her anguish in social media posts.

Why you? Why this way? You were just sitting in your little house sewing, as you always did, she wrote in Spanish.

Two days ago you called me with excitement, asking me to save the date and help you prepare to renew your wedding vows with daddy in Puerto Rico, she said Sunday. There are so many things I still needed to learn from you ... I was so far away without being able to do anything, I couldnt even say goodbye to you."

She wrote that the family intends to bring her mothers body to Puerto Rico so her friends and family can say goodbye.

I apologize to Puerto Rico because even if I wanted to, I really cant compete, my place is with my family," she wrote.

A message seeking comment was left Monday for Mercado Martinez.

The athlete flew out of Brazil late Sunday and has arrived in Connecticut, according to Gilberto Hernandez, president of the Puerto Rico Shooting Association, the sport's governing body in the U.S. territory.

Hernandez said its not clear when the body would arrive for burial in Puerto Rico, adding that the shooting association is helping pay a portion of the funeral costs.

We trust that she will overcome this, he told The Associated Press. She can count on us. ... The doors of the association are always open.

Waterbury Police Chief Fernando Spagnolo said investigators believe the shooting was drug-related and had nothing to do with Mabel Martinez.

This was definitely a random, tragic act of violence, he told the AP. She was in her house. She's not the intended target.

Spagnolo said relatives were extremely distraught, including Mabel Martinez's husband, whom he described as inconsolable.

He said the investigation has been very, very active since Saturday.

AP journalist Danica Coto contributed to this report from San Juan, Puerto Rico.

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PIERRE, S.D. (AP)  The South Dakota House on Tuesday impeached state Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg over a 2020 car crash in which he killed a pedestrian but initially said he might have struck a deer or another large animal.

Ravnsborg, a Republican, is the first official to be impeached in South Dakota history. He will at least temporarily be removed from office pending the historic Senate trial, where it takes a two-thirds majority to convict on impeachment charges. The Senate must wait at least 20 days to hold its trial, but has not yet set a date.

Ravnsborg pleaded no contest last year to a pair of traffic misdemeanors in the crash, including making an illegal lane change. He has cast Joseph Boevers death as a tragic accident.

In narrowly voting to impeach the state's top prosecutor, the Republican-controlled House charged Ravnsborg with committing crimes that caused someones death, making numerous misrepresentations to law enforcement officers after the crash and using his office to navigate the criminal investigation. A Senate conviction would mean Ravnsborg would be barred from holding any state office in the future.

When were dealing with the life of one of your citizens, I think that weighed heavily on everyone, said Republican Rep. Will Mortenson, who introduced the articles of impeachment.

Ravnsborg said in a statement he is looking forward to the Senate trial, where I believe I will be vindicated.

Meanwhile, Tim Bormann, the attorney generals chief of staff, said his staff would professionally dedicate ourselves to their work while Ranvsborg is forced to take a leave.

Ravnsborg, who took office in 2019, was returning home from a Republican dinner in September 2020 when he struck and killed Boever, who was walking along a rural highway. A sheriff who responded after Ravnsborg called 911 initially reported it as a collision with an animal. Ravnsborg has said he did not realize he hit a man until he returned the next day and found the body.

The Highway Patrol concluded that Ravnsborgs car crossed completely onto the highway shoulder before hitting Boever, and criminal investigators said later that they didnt believe some of Ravnsborgs statements.

The House rejected the recommendation of a GOP-backed majority report from a special investigative committee, which argued that anything wrong he did was not part of his official duties in office. But even Republican lawmakers who argued his actions did not meet constitutional grounds for impeachment said Ravnsborg should resign.

He should have stepped down, should have done the honorable thing, said House Speaker Spencer Gosch, who oversaw the House investigation and voted against impeachment.

The articles of impeachment required approval from a majority of the 70 members of the House and passed by just one vote.

Of the 36 people who voted in favor, eight were Democrats and 28 were Republicans. The 31 against it were all Republicans. Republican Rep. Scott Odenbach recused himself because he had given legal advice to the attorney general after the crash. Two other Republican lawmakers were absent.

Ravnsborg, who had been largely silent about the crash and was not present for the vote, sent lawmakers a pair of defiant letters Monday night urging them not to impeach him.

In a few hours, your vote will set a precedent for years to come, Ravnsborg wrote. No state has ever impeached an elected official for a traffic accident.

He also accused Republican Gov. Kristi Noem of interfering in the investigation and of supporting impeachment because of the attorney generals investigations into her behavior.

After Ravnsborg fell out with the governor following the crash, he pushed a pair of ethics complaints against Noem to the states Government Accountability Board. His office is also investigating whether an organization aligned with the governor broke campaign finance disclosure laws.

Noem lauded the vote on Twitter, writing that the House did the right thing for the people of South Dakota and for Joe Boever's family.

The decision brought some relief for his family, who his wedding photo as they watched from the House gallery during the vote. They have decried the criminal prosecution as a slap on the wrist for Ravnsborg.

Were a step closer to justice. Were not done, said Boevers cousin, Nick Nemec.

Now we just need the Senates help on this because these laws need to be changed badly, said Jennifer Boever, who was married to Boever. People are getting hurt and killed, and the pedestrian has no self-defense against a 4,000 pound (1,814 kilogram) vehicle.

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PRESCOTT, Ariz. (AP)  Walter Harold Mitchell III, who is accused of dumping body parts around central Arizona, was scheduled to change his not guilty plea in the case Monday. Instead, he opted to represent himself and go to trial.

Mitchell is charged with 29 felony counts of concealing or abandoning a dead body. Authorities linked him to the remains found on the outskirts of Prescott in late December 2020 through tags and medical gauze that accompanied them.

Mitchell was living in Chino Valley, a two-hour drive north of Prescott, when he was arrested. He had moved there earlier in 2020 from Washington state, where he owned a business that managed cadavers for research. The remains that included arms, legs and heads have been linked to nine people, according to Deputy Yavapai County Attorney Casi Harris.

Yavapai County Superior Court Judge Krista Carman set Mitchell's five-day trial for late August into September after letting him know he's responsible for all aspects of his defense, though she would appoint advisory counsel.

Mitchell, 60, said he understood and considered himself a subject matter expert in his case.

I've wanted a trial from the very beginning, he said. I've been very patient, and I believe I can win at my trial.

Mitchell faces a maximum of more than 22 years in prison if convicted of all the charges. He is being held at the Yavapai County jail.

The prosecution withdrew a plea agreement that would have made Mitchell eligible for probation.

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HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP)  Former President Donald Trump waded into Pennsylvania's GOP gubernatorial primary on Tuesday, slamming a former acolyte over his alleged failure to investigate Trumps false claims of widespread election fraud. Trump's attack prompted another high-profile candidate to reconsider his decision to drop out of the race.

Bill McSwain, who spent nearly three years as the top federal prosecutor in Philadelphia under Trump, had been seeking Trumps endorsement. McSwain has called the presidential election in Pennsylvania a partisan disgrace as he sought to curry favor with the former president, and often touted his connection to Trump while campaigning for the GOP nod in a crowded primary field.

Instead, Trump turned on him.

One person in Pennsylvania who I will not be endorsing is Bill McSwain for Governor. He was the U.S. Attorney who did absolutely nothing on the massive Election Fraud that took place in Philadelphia and throughout the commonwealth, Trump said in a statement. Do not vote for Bill McSwain, a coward, who let our Country down. He knew what was happening and let it go.

Trumps false claims of a stolen election have been debunked by the courts, his own Justice Department and numerous recounts, and no prosecutor, judge or election official in Pennsylvania has raised a concern about widespread fraud after Democrat Joe Biden won the state in 2020.

McSwain, in a statement released by his campaign, did not address Trump directly but said, I'm proud of my record as U.S. Attorney.

Ive prosecuted and put people behind bars who committed voter fraud, and put rioters and looters in jail. When Im Governor, were going to get back to a voting system that everyone has confidence in, he said.

Trump's snub of McSwain prompted a change of heart for another GOP candidate, Jake Corman.

Corman, the top-ranking state senator, had his lawyers petition the state Commonwealth Court on Tuesday afternoon to withdraw his candidacy and remove his name from the May 17 primary ballot  and then, barely three hours later, changed his mind and decided to continue with his campaign.

Two developments today have led me to decide to remain in the race for governor: President Trumps statement on the race and my conversation directly with the president. He encouraged me to keep fighting, and thats what Im going to do  keep fighting for the people of Pennsylvania," said Corman, whose campaign has struggled to gain traction.

Corman, who represents a swath of central Pennsylvania surrounding Penn States main campus, is the Senates president pro tempore and has served in the chamber since 1999 after taking over the seat his father held.

Besides McSwain and Corman, other GOP candidates include former GOP congressman Lou Barletta, best known for his hard line on immigration; state Sen. Doug Mastriano, a Trump supporter who pushed to overturn the 2020 election and showed up outside the U.S. Capitol during the Jan. 6 insurrection; and Dave White, who runs a large plumbing and HVAC firm and is a former Delaware County councilman.

The nine-person field has some state GOP officials worried that a badly divided primary electorate will choose a nominee who cant beat presumptive Democratic nominee Josh Shapiro, the state attorney general.

Last summer, when McSwain asked for Trump's endorsement, the former prosecutor criticized the manner in which Pennsylvanias presidential election was run but claimed that Trump's attorney general, Bill Barr, had blocked him from investigating potential irregularities. Barr told him to pass along any serious allegations of election fraud to Shapiro's office, McSwain said in a letter seeking Trump's imprimatur.

Barr disputed McSwain's account, saying the order came from a top deputy, not him. He told The Philadelphia Inquirer that McSwain was never told to stand down from investigating.

McSwain told me that he had to do this because he was under pressure from Trump and for him to have a viable candidacy he couldnt have Trump attacking him, Barr told the paper last year. So McSwain tried to thread the needle by saying things that were technically true without giving support to Trumps stolen election narrative, Barr said.

Trump, who has endorsed celebrity surgeon and former TV host Mehmet Oz in Pennsylvanias Republican U.S. Senate primary, has yet to make an endorsement in the governors race.

Democrats were gleeful about Trumps attack on McSwain. Sorry Bill. Youre fired, Sam Newton, spokesperson for the Democratic Governors Association, said in a statement.

Rubinkam reported from northeastern Pennsylvania.

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LONDON (AP)  U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson's office said Tuesday he will be issued a fine for breaching COVID-19 regulations following allegations of lockdown parties at government offices. Treasury Chief Rishi Sunak will also be fined.

The "partygate" scandal has angered many in Britain and seen dozens of politicians and officials investigated over allegations that the government flouted its own pandemic restrictions.

Police sent questionnaires to more than 100 people, including the prime minister, and interviewed witnesses as part of the investigation.

Johnson has denied any wrongdoing, but he is alleged to have been at several of the dozen events in his 10 Downing St. office and other government buildings that are being investigated by the police.

Opponents, and some members of the governing Conservative Party, have said that Johnson should resign if he is issued a fine for breaking rules he imposed on the rest of the country during the pandemic.

The scandal had left Johnson's tenure on a knife-edge before Russia launched a war in Ukraine more than a month ago that gave Britain's politicians more urgent priorities and pushed the scandal from the headlines.

But the police have continued their investigation of dozens of politicians and officials. Full story here:

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An Owasso High School student recently placed in the OBA Law Day Committees 2022 Law Day Contest.

With a theme of Toward a More Perfect Union: The Constitution in Times of Change, the contest helped students recognize the importance of shared responsibility to promote the rule of law, defend liberty and pursue justice.

This year, 1,331 students from 47 towns and about 70 schools and home school groups entered the contest.

In 11th grade writing, Carina Galutia, of Owasso, took home first place for her essay, Influence of Government Protections on Social Movements.

Galutias four-page work focuses on a comparison of womens rights movements in the United States and Saudi Arabia.

Thank you to all the students, parents and teachers for participating in this years contest, the OBA Law Day Committee said in a news release.
OKLAHOMA CITY  A recently formed political action committee will be asking candidates for office to sign what they are calling an anti-corruption pledge.

Clean Up Oklahoma on April 1 filed its statement of organization with the Oklahoma Ethics Commission.

It will be asking candidates who file for statewide, legislative and other offices to sign the pledge.

The amount of corruption that has been occurring really in the last four or five years is just disgusting, said Cindy Alexander, a 63-year-old retired veterinarian from Stillwater. The use of taxpayer dollars to line the pockets of our elected officials who give more money to political donors is reprehensible. I am just fed up.

Alexander, who chairs the political action committee, is a Republican who recently switched from Democrat.

I really dont think party is an issue in this effort, Alexander said.

She said one of the most foremost incidents of corruption is the lack of criminal action stemming from the audit of Epic, a charter school whose founders are accused of the inappropriate use of millions in state taxpayer dollars.

The group notes several other instances of corruption and questionable activity.

The pledge seeks to prevent politicians, staff, family members and their donors from cashing in at the taxpayers expense.

It supports a two-year ban on elected officials and their staff from lobbying once they leave government.

It seeks to require politicians to disclose their tax returns and any income generated that is state regulated or generated from a state contract.

If a public figure can take money through taxes and distribute it, I think I have a right to know how you make your money, Alexander said.

The pledge supports an independent redistricting commission.

It seeks to make the Oklahoma Legislature subject to the Oklahoma Open Records Act.

Supporters say Oklahoma is among a few states that do not make the Legislature subject to the Open Records Act.

It opposes efforts to make it more difficult for voters to put issues on the ballot or veto laws passed by the Legislature.

The Legislature is trying to limit that right by making it harder to get state questions on the ballot and making it harder to pass once they are on the ballot, Alexander said.

The pledge supports a recall process for elected officials.

The group plans to ask those filing for office to sign the pledge.

Filing for statewide, legislative, judicial and other offices is Wednesday through Friday at the Capitol.

I am hoping we see some efficacy from this push, said Erika Wright, 49, who does sales and marketing for her familys construction business and supports the effort. If a politician cant sign an anti-corruption pledge, they have no business being in office, regardless.

Wright, who is from Noble, is currently a registered Republican, but in the past has been a Democrat and independent.

Anti-corruption is something all Oklahomans, regardless of politics, should be able to get behind, she said.

A copy of the pledge can be found at: www.CleanUpOklahoma.org.

The group said it will disclose its donors.

Featured video: Tulsa World Opinion podcast: Election season is upon us

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BEIJING, April 12 (Xinhua) -- The COVID-19 pandemic is still wreaking havoc across the globe. However, it cannot prevent China-Africa cooperation from growing in both depth and substance.

The just-concluded China-Africa conference on civilization dialogue has become a new platform for strengthening exchanges between cultures and civilizations, seeking wisdom that contributes to building a China-Africa community with a shared future in the new era.

China-Africa ties are built on the long history of exchanges between the two civilizations, which have been embracing mutual cooperation, equal partnership and solidarity to advance their relations in a turbulent international order.

China and Africa are close friends, reliable partners and good brothers. They stand together in terms of mutual assistance, team up amid difficulties and treat each other with sincerity.

In early January, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi put forward a proposal called "Outlook on Peace and Development in the Horn of Africa" (HoA), which is expected to play a big role in promoting regional peace, development and stability.

The proposal aims to support countries in the region to jointly tackle security, development and governance challenges, earning it a warm welcome in the HoA.

China believes that Africans, as their own masters, should have the final say in their own affairs.

To this end, China actively promotes the countries in the region in strengthening intra-regional dialogue, suggesting they hold peace conferences and reach political consensus on jointly safeguarding peace and security.

Peace and development cannot be achieved amid poverty.

In late February, as some African countries battled drought, China announced it would provide emergency food aid to Somalia, Eritrea, Ethiopia and Djibouti. Meanwhile, the Mombasa-Nairobi Railway and the Addis Ababa-Djibouti Railway, built by Chinese enterprises, together with the implementation of the Belt and Road Initiative, have also helped boost the local economies and create job opportunities.

China and Africa have always been a community with a shared future, and China has always respected and supported Africa. Together with the countries in the region, China will continue to work tirelessly and play a constructive role in bringing peace and development to the HoA. 
Along with a better variety of healthy foods, an innovative new grocery store-style approach to feeding Tulsas hungry should help bring more dignity to the process, a longtime charitable food provider said.

The Market at Catholic Charities, located on the organizations Tulsa campus, 2450 N. Harvard Ave., was officially introduced on Monday, with Mayor G.T. Bynum and other city leaders on hand for a ribbon-cutting and blessing.

The market, expected to open to the public next week, was created as part of a $5 million renovation to the site and comes with an adjoining commercial kitchen.

Catholic Charities, which has been providing food to Tulsas hungry for almost 70 years, has always been kind of a food bag or a food parcel kind of operation. And were proud of our history, said Deacon Kevin Sartorius, Catholic Charities CEO.

But we know that with this market, we can provide so much more dignity to the client, to the people we serve, to our friends and our neighbors here in north Tulsa.

Additionally, the renovation tripled Catholic Charities existing warehouse space, expanded freezer and cooler spaces, and added a new loading dock.

But its the market and kitchen  under the direction of Michael Fusco, Catholic Charities head chef  where clients will experience the most direct benefits.

The facility provides carts at the door and is set up to look like a grocery store, but with no charge for any of the items.

Thanks to our partnerships in the community, we have an abundance of fresh produce, dairy, eggs, meat  way more than nonperishable foods to give away, Sartorius said.

Ready-made meals will also be available, prepared in the kitchen.

Sartorius added: By allowing people to choose what they like, it helps them feel good about what they put on the table for their families, and it helps us reduce food waste from giving people food items they wont eat.

The kitchen will also be home to a new culinary training program.

Mike Neal, Tulsa Regional Chamber president and CEO, said, What we are anticipating is that were going see a lot of people come here not just to get great meals but to learn a career.

All of our restaurants these days are challenged to find workers, to find cooks, wait-staff, any kind of job you can find in a restaurant. And theyre going to be providing that very important training right here.

Bynum said the market is just the latest example of Catholic Charities stepping up for the community. He praised the organization, as well, for its responses to the 2019 floods, the COVID-19 pandemic and the recent Afghan refugee crisis.

Thank you so much for all that youre doing for our community, the mayor said. You continue to find ways to do more, identifying the need thats out there and how we can do a better job of serving and being that real presence of God for people who need it.

Featured video: Catholic Charities drive-through food pantry in 2020





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After four decades of having their state convention in Oklahoma City, several Oklahoma FFA chapters have had to adjust their plans to accommodate having the event in Tulsa through 2026.
The city of Broken Arrow is seeking a $25 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation to support the Ninth Street Corridor Safety Improvement Project to improve traffic flow from Kenosha (71st) to Albany (61st) streets.

The proposed project would widen Ninth Street, also known as Lynn Lane Road and 177th East Avenue, from five to seven lanes  three lanes in each direction with a center turn lane and a new westbound entrance ramp to the Broken Arrow Expressway, Oklahoma 51.

The requested grant is part of the Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity  or RAISE  Transportation Discretionary Grants Program. The money, if approved, would be used to make improvements to the streets bridge and interchange reconfiguration with the Broken Arrow Expressway.

At its April 5 meeting, the City Council authorized Mayor Debra Wimpee to send a letter supporting the project to U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg.

On a recent trip to Washington, D.C., Wimpee said the council secured the support of the citys congressional delegation. U.S. Rep. Kevin Hern, R-Okla., has already sent a letter to accompany the grant application. U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofes office has said his correspondence is on the way.

In addition to mitigating congestion and traffic accidents, the proposed project will increase overall safety by constructing an area of separation between vehicles and pedestrians, the city said in a news release.

We believe this is a critical infrastructure project for our community, and we enthusiastically support it, Wimpee said.

We believe the project will greatly improve pedestrian and vehicular traffic flow in the area, she said. This will allow lower-income residents better access to goods, services, recreational areas, and local places of employment.

The RAISE Grant, if awarded, would supplement existing local funds from the 2018 general obligation bond and possible state of Oklahoma funding.
The second in a series of public meetings on the Tulsa Police Departments plan to install license plate reader cameras is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at Ellen Ochoa Elementary School, 12000 E. 31st St.

The meeting will be held in both English and Spanish.

The Police Department entered into an agreement with Flock Safety late last year to use 25 cameras throughout the city during a year-long pilot program in partnership with the National Police Foundation. There is no cost to the city for the pilot program.

The motion-activated cameras can read license plates and identify vehicles by their make, model, color and other distinguishing characteristics but cannot be used to track a vehicles speed or to assist in the repossession of vehicles.

The cameras are not monitored 24/7 but instead provide still images that can be reviewed as needed to help solve crimes or to assist police during Amber and Silver alerts.

We are planning meetings specifically in the areas of where the cameras are going up just so that the residents can come and hear what the cameras are all about, but most importantly be able to ask their questions and give their concerns, said Karen Gilbert, executive director of Tulsa Crime Stoppers.

The nonprofit is partnering with the Police Department to educate the public about the initiative.

Tulsa police have already announced plans to install license plate cameras in the 61st Street and Peoria Avenue neighborhood, and Gilbert said she expects that cameras will also be placed in the 32st Street and Memorial Drive area.

All the areas that the Tulsa police are placing these have been strategically decided where there has been just not an uptick in crime but where there has been a steady increase in crime, Gilbert said.

In a separate but related development, Police Chief Wendell Franklin has announced his desire to create a Real Time Crime Center, which police are calling a Real Time Information Center. That entity would use video cameras that rolled 24/7 and were actively monitored by officers and civilians.

The intent is to use the technology as a force-multiplier. Cameras would be placed in high-crime areas as well as at special events and other larger gatherings.

Franklin and Mayor G.T. Bynum have pledged that cameras would not be placed in neighborhoods without the publics knowledge and input.

Police have said previously that the license-plate reader cameras would be used in areas where violent crime is prevalent. The hope, police say, is to demonstrate how technology can help law enforcement do its job better.

They will help solve the crimes, but (decreasing crime) is going to be the goal  the tangible goal, Gilbert said.

The Tulsa County Sheriffs Office also plans to install license plate readers in unincorporated areas of the county as part of the pilot program.

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MADISON, Wis. (AP)  The Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled unanimously on Tuesday that challengers of a school referendum in Racine did not have a right to have the ballots examined in court following a recount that upheld a five-vote margin of victory for the ballot measure.

Racine voters approved the referendum in April 2020 with 16,748 voters in favor and 16,743 against. After a recount, the five-vote margin of victory was upheld with 16,715 in support and 16,710 against.

Those challenging the results had argued that courts should be able to examine ballots after they have been recounted.

The Wisconsin Supreme Court, in its unanimous decision, ruled that the ballots could not be examined in court. It upheld a similarly unanimous state appeals court decision last year that said reopening the ballots was unnecessary because that had been done during the recount. A Racine County judge also had determined that the recount was done properly and that both sides had an opportunity to challenge ballots.

The approved referendum is expected to cost Racine taxpayers $1 billion over 30 years, with the money primarily going toward updating and constructing school buildings.

Recounts are not uncommon in narrowly divided Wisconsin. Former President Donald Trump had recounts done in Milwaukee and Dane counties in 2020 and there was a statewide recount in the 2016 presidential race.

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A proposed merger of three state law enforcement agencies lived to fight another day, but barely, after tangling with the Oklahoma House of Representatives Public Safety Committee on Tuesday.

Senate Bill 1612, by Sen. Kim David, R-Porter, is the latest attempt to combine the Department of Public Safety, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, and the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs Control under single management.

It isnt a new idea, but it is one promoted by Gov. Kevin Stitt in this years State of the State address.

The bill passed 6-4 with the help of the two Democrats on the committee and Speaker Pro Tem Kyle Hilbert, R-Bristow, who as an ex officio member of all committees was brought in when it became apparent that the bill was in trouble.

A possible tie was averted when Rep. Justin Humphrey, R-Lane, switched his vote to yea.

As passed by the Senate, SB 1612 would have combined the three agencies into one under a single public safety commissioner chosen by an 11-member board.

But House Majority Leader Jon Echols, R-Oklahoma City, responding to concerns about giving so much authority to one person, subbed out the public safety czar in the committee substitute presented Tuesday. Instead, he proposed a nine-member commission with a rotating chairman.

Considerable skepticism remained. Rep. Danny Williams, R-Seminole, who served three House terms in the late 1980s and early 1990s, reminded younger members that considerable pressure was brought to bear on the OSBI during its investigation of Gov. David Hall during the 1970s.

The Hall investigation, in fact, is why the OSBI was given and still has considerable autonomy.

I dont see a way this could be done and preserve the integrity of (the agencies) to investigate us, Williams said.

Echols, however, maintained that his proposed set-up would be more resistant to political pressure than the current one because a majority of the new commission would have law enforcement backgrounds.

Echols said this push for consolidation came from boots on the ground members of the agencies  especially Highway Patrol troopers, apparently  who want more ability to move among the three agencies.

The bill is now in such a crippled procedural state that, even if it passes off the House floor, it will still have to go through the Senate and House again for final passage.

Also in the House Tuesday:

An unwieldly charter school reform bill stayed alive but in need of a serious makeover, House sponsor Sheila Dills, R-Tulsa, told the Common Education Committee.

Dills was assigned SB 1621, by Sen. Adam Pugh, R-Edmond, only on Friday, and she asked the committee to keep it moving while final language continued to be worked on.

This is a big bill, Dills said. It has language that needs changing. It has language that needs to be added. There is language that needs to be taken out of it. Were trying to put together a positive bill for Oklahoma, but were going to need to do some major work on it.

Were trying to set up a system where we have adequate oversight of charter schools, where we have consistency and transparency in all that we do, Dills said.

Her list of musts for SB 1621 centers around tighter financial, administrative and academic controls for charter schools and their authorizing sponsors.

House Judiciary-Civil Committee Chairman Chris Kannady laid over all 11 bills on Tuesdays agenda, likely consigning them to the sessions discard pile, after the Senate Judiciary Committee refused to hear legislation he and Rep. Josh West, R-Grove, have been pursuing for several years.

House Bill 3899 would allow first responders to receive workers compensation benefits for post-traumatic stress suffered on the job.

West is also upset that the Senate again refused to hear his data-privacy legislation, which has been the subject of some fairly intense lobbying by business groups. It would put up some obstacles to collecting and selling data gathered online without explicit consent.

The term pro-life is thrown around this building a lot, said West. After six years of watching (the PTSD) bill die, I think theres a lot of people here who are pro-birth, because we dont do anything to help people after theyre born.

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Legislation its authors say would make more difficult the release of some law enforcement crime-scene images passed the Oklahoma House of Representatives and was sent to the Governors Office on Monday.

Carried over from last session, when it cleared every hurdle except final passage in the House, Senate Bill 968, by Sen. John Haste, R-Broken Arrow, is an effort to block public access to videos such as the one showing the fatal shooting of Tulsa Police Sgt. Craig Johnson and wounding of Officer Aurash Zarkeshan in June 2020.

These videos have no place out in the public, said Rep. Sheila Dills, R-Tulsa, the bills House sponsor.

But whether SB 968 will have much practical effect is unclear. Current law already allows law enforcement agencies to withhold dashcam and bodycam video depicting deaths or dead bodies, and the Johnson video was ordered released by a Tulsa County judge because the Tulsa Police Departments version of events did not match the departments video.

SB 968 also would leave the final decision to a judge.

Rep. Regina Goodwin, D-Tulsa, argued that the proposed amendment to the states Open Records Act would chisel another piece from the publics right to information.

Any officer thats killed  nobody wants that, she said. Were not debating whether the (shooting) was egregious. Were not debating whether life should be valued.  The problem is that there was a police report, and when people could see the video, thats when we could see the police report was inaccurate.

These kinds of bills  tend to narrow and clamp down on the facts, Goodwin said. Every year we come into this body and we narrow access to video cams, dash cams, body cams. It seems  no, it never works in the favor of the general public.

Dills said then-District Judge William Musseman ordered the release because state law required it in cases in which no one is actually killed. Johnson, though mortally wounded, did not die until the next day.

That was not, however, the basis for defense attorney Kevin Adams motion leading to Mussemans order. Adams argument involved the accuracy of police statements that his client, David Ware, stood over a wounded Johnson and fired three more shots into him, which the videos show he did not.

Dills said the discrepancy was irrelevant and that releasing the video served no legitimate purpose. She said the videos availability over the last 18 months is among the factors complicating jury selection for Wares impending trial.

Responsible provisions have been included in this bill to protect the public interest, the defendant, the law enforcement official and his or her family, the defense and prosecution teams, as well, Dills said.

It protects the defendant by assuring they will have an untainted jury, she said. It protects the public interest if a court finds the public interest or the interests of an individual outweighs the reason for denial.

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Former President Donald Trump has endorsed 3rd District Congressman Frank Lucas for a 15th term.

Congressman Frank Lucas is a strong advocate for the people of Oklahomas 3rd Congressional District, Trump said in a written statement. Frank is working hard to grow our economy, encourage innovation, promote American farmers, defend the Second Amendment, and support our military and vets.

In 2016 and 2020, I won 77 of 77 counties in the great state of Oklahoma, and I was proud to campaign alongside Oklahoma leaders like Frank. Frank Lucas has my complete and total endorsement!

The low-key Lucas has not been as outspoken in his support of Trump, but his district gave the former president some of his largest majorities in 2016 and 2020, and Lucas joined Oklahomas other House members in voting against certifying Joe Bidens victory in the 2020 presidential election.

Lucas has been challenged in the GOP primary by several candidates, including term-limited state Rep. Sean Roberts, R-Hominy.

Im honored to receive President Trumps endorsement, Lucas said in a written statement. Weve worked tirelessly fighting for Oklahomas farmers and ranchers, bolstering Americas energy independence, strengthening Americas economy, and standing up to progressive extremism.

Thank you Mr. President for choosing this farmer from Cheyenne to continue our America first mission and defend Oklahomas values in Washington.

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The big message at the moment is do not be overly dependent on any one country and Vietnam, of course, has long sought to maintain a form of neutrality and make sure it is friends with as many as possible, which is very wise, the UKs Graham Stuart told Tuoi Tre News last week.

During his very first official visit to Vietnam from April 4 to 8 since being appointed the UK Prime Minister's Trade Envoy to Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos, Stuart put green technologies in focus as he seeks to promote UK  Vietnam trade relations.

In an exclusive interview with Tuoi Tre News on April 7, he explained how the UKs clean growth strategy fits the 'Indo-Pacific shift' in the Global Britain policy, and how the UK and Vietnam can cooperate amid the current challenges posed by the situation in Ukraine and Chinas zero-COVID policy.

He emphasized the need for working together, creating a diverse supply chain, and committing to international trade.

What are the top priorities of your trip to Vietnam, and particularly to Ho Chi Minh City?

In terms of my priorities for this trip, it is my first trip to Vietnam since being appointed the Prime Minister's Trade Envoy to Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos.

Overall, the role of a trade envoy is to promote trade engagement between the two countries, to encourage businesses in the UK to understand and get involved in opportunities in Vietnam, to engage with businesses in Vietnam, and to encourage them to see opportunities by partnering or indeed exporting to the UK.

A particular pick-out would be green technology whether that is transportation, offshore wind, solar energy, upgrading the Vietnamese grid, or other technology. That is probably the top priority right now, given that Ho Chi Minh City has set out a pathway to a greener city.

Most notably, at one of the most significant events of the COP26 Climate Summit last year, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh announced that Vietnam would commit to move to net zero by 2050.

UK Prime Ministers Trade Envoy to Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos Graham Stuart checks out the public bicycle service in Ho Chi Minh City, April 7, 2022. Photo: Le Phan / Tuoi Tre

So I think the UK is a world leader in reducing emissions. In fact, we have reduced emissions by more than any other major economy in the world, any of the top 20 economies in the world. At the same time, we have grown the economy. We have a lot of expertise in designing regulatory and legal systems, incentivizing international investment, and driving down the cost of the delivery of systems such as offshore wind, so that will probably be the top priority, but there are many others.

And lastly, I would highlight education whereas there are so many senior people in the government and industries in Vietnam who have been educated in the UK. I was privileged to open the first British branded private school in Vietnam and Reigate Grammar School when I was in Hanoi the other day.

Can you tell us more about the potential for cooperation between Vietnam and the UK in financial technology?

We are the digital and tech leader in Europe in terms of investment and our fintech and startup scene. Similarly, here in Vietnam, there is a tremendous entrepreneurialism. Your strong education system is producing people who, I think, create 120 fintechs here. And so there is opportunity for us to partner and mutually benefit each other in the technology space.

Fintech, of course, brings in another area of priority: financial services. With the city of London, the UK is the global leader in cross-border finance. Meanwhile, Ho Chi Minh City and Vietnam have ambitions to develop the city as a financial center.

My meeting [on April 5] with Ho Chi Minh City chairman Phan Van Mai was a really constructive one. I look forward to us developing closer partnerships to help Vietnam and Ho Chi Minh City in that space.

The UK-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (UKVFTA) came into effect last year in a challenging period, with COVID-19 peaking in Vietnam. But against the odds, two-way trade between Vietnam and the UK still reached US$6.6 billion in 2021, up 17.2 percent compared to 2020. Is this result in line with expectations from the UK side?

About the FTA, I was at the ministerial talks last week in London between Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Tran Quoc Khanh and UK Minister of State at the Department for International Trade Penny Mordaunt. We were looking at the progress of the implementation of the UKVFTA.

As you say, we have seen a significant increase in trade between the two sides. There is still so much potential for more, not least in the areas that I have identified previously. I do not think that relations between Vietnam and the UK have ever been as warm as they are today.

We seem entirely aligned from the climate pledges through to aspirations to develop digital government and to help Vietnam be a genuine part of the international financial system as well as get the international investment it needs to fulfill its desires to become a fully developed country by 2045.

The world is currently facing many difficulties such as the situation in Ukraine and the lockdowns in some major Chinese cities important for international trade. How can countries like Vietnam and the UK work together to protect our economic growth, energy security, and supply chains?

In the context of the pandemic, both the UK and Vietnam took a little time to work out the right approach, but then went on to be world leaders in vaccination and in being able to open up the economies again. Within Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh City has a particular success in that respect. So both of us have shown adaptability, the ability to change course when the facts require it. And that will help us in dealing with the challenges globally.

I do not believe trying to do everything by yourself actually makes you more resilient, often when responding to a crisis, whether it was a pandemic or the current pressures right now. Actually, you are more resilient when you create diverse supply chains, you stay committed to international trade. I know that is the approach of both the Vietnamese and UK governments.

Ho Chi Minh City chairman Phan Van Mai (R) presents a souvenir to UK Prime Ministers Trade Envoy Graham Stuart in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, April 5, 2022. Photo: British Embassy in Hanoi

The big message at the moment is do not be overly dependent on any one country and Vietnam, of course, has long sought to maintain a form of neutrality and make sure it is friends with as many as possible, which is very wise.

The UK has set out its ambitions in the Global Britain strategy. How does the clean growth strategy fit the British ambitions in the Indo-Pacific region?

We also produced something called the Integrated Review that looked at across multiple domains, and stated what our priorities should be going forward. Within that was something called the Indo-Pacific shift. And that is what the whole focus of the UK government has moved towards. Therefore, we very much see Vietnam -- a country of 100 million people with expected growth rates of 6-7 percent, with whom we have good relations -- as a key part of our future foreign policy and trade policy going forward.

Clean growth is a perfect fit [for Global Britain], which is why we were so delighted with the announcement of Vietnam at the COP26 summit that we hosted. As I said at the beginning, we are entirely aligned and aware that part of the Indo-Pacific shift fits with our trade strategy, which is to re-balance UK trade with the fastest-growing parts of the world. And there are very few parts of the world growing as fast as Vietnam.

In general, what is Vietnam's position in the UK's strategy in the region?

Vietnam is still a developing country. Therefore, I think we can very constructively work with Vietnam to help with legal and regulatory changes that allow the investments and the improvements that need to be made.

If you do not get those right, then you will not see the investments in the right way, you will create perverse incentives. Or you will find that whatever you may wish for, you do not get the implementation at the speed you like.

For example, one thing we got right was the regime we created for so-called Contracts for Difference for offshore wind. We created an auction system and set up a regular series of auctions, so that the industry knew that there was going to be a pipeline of work, which meant that they would invest in their supply chain and we saw the auction in 2015. The lowest price the industry would accept per megawatt for offshore wind was 120 pounds [US$156] at the time. It dropped in 2017 and came down to 39.5 pounds [$51.4] in 2019.

If you create the right regime, and you provide that certainty, then you can see an acceleration of the cost curve downwards. I see the potential in Vietnam to be one of the most effective producers of clean energy in the world. That will be great for the domestic economy, great for the local environment and will help give further competitive advantages to what is already a competitive Vietnamese economic system.

COVID-19 brings expensive lesson on global supply chains Answering Tuoi Tre News at the UK-ASEAN Business Forum on February 24, UK Secretary of State for International Trade Lord Gerry Grimstone said that the UK and ASEAN had received great lessons in facing recent challenges: It will be very obvious to us that, prior to the pandemic, we thought globalization was a magic force, which would allow any goods that you wanted to arrive from anywhere in the world at any time that you wanted. I am afraid that the whistle was blown on that during the pandemic Frankly, the other big surprise was how little knowledge even our largest companies have of their supply chains once they went down below their tier-one suppliers. "And I think it taught everybody a lesson about resilience, having diversity of supply, understanding who your suppliers are, and encouraging your suppliers. And I think that ASEAN and the UK are really well placed together to try to be leaders in developing diverse supply chains.

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Pham Hoai Nguyen Anh, founder of Anh Coffee, works as hard as he can to make Vietnamese coffee an ambassador for tourism.

Although he was born in Dak Lak Province, dubbed the land of coffee in Vietnam, Anh became seriously interested in coffee as a sophomore at Tay Nguyen University.

Coffee all the time

He initially applied for a job at coffee farms in Ea Hleo District in Dak Lak, much to the coffee farm owners surprise since they could not pay him and he was not asking for a salary.

He then traveled to India, Indonesia, Colombia, and even Mexico to learn more about their coffee.

With a strong desire to further understand coffee, and especially the effective coffee industries of nations around the world, Anh set no limit on what he learned.

After researching documents and gaining knowledge from coffee farmers, he found out a key point explaining why Vietnamese coffees value always falls behind.

Anh even worked as a coffee seller to understand the market as well as customers' behaviors and favorites.

In the peak time, he stood 15 hours a day to sell his products.

Anh noted down all very clearly from which coffee beans that are popular to ways of making different kinds of coffee and flavors when they are combined.

Most farmers know that the best coffee beans are the ripe ones that have a stronger fragrance and tastier flavor," Anh said.

"However, as coffee traders do not ask for the best beans, farmers collect all of them from green to red to save costs."

Raising coffee value

Anh often tells himself if something is wrong, fix it.

He imparted all he had learned about coffee in foreign countries to coffee farmers in Vietnam.

At the same time, he sought the help of his family and partners to support his coffee dream.

It is not easy to convince the local farmers to change their mindset," Anh admitted.

"At this time, I have nothing but an enthusiasm for Vietnamese coffee."

After quite a long time, Anh also received the first quality ripe coffee beans.

However, he faced a new challenge -- a coffee fermentation recipe.

It took him half a year to create a satisfying method.

Costs for collecting the ripe coffee beans are much higher than those for the regular ones, which elevates their purchase price.

It was difficult for me to make a decision at that time because there were many coffee giants offering lower prices, Anh divulged.

Currently, he has a 5,000-hectare coffee farm in En Hleo District. He buy coffee beans that have to be clean, ripe, and fermented as per Anh Coffees standards.

Anh Coffee is always 30-40 percent more expensive the market price.

Anh Coffee Company is operating a 3,000-hectare production facility and a warehouse with a storage capacity of 1,500 metric tons of coffee.

It has provided tons of coffee for the market. The companys production process follows international standards from materials and processing to packaging.

Many foreign partners from the U.S., Australia, and Hong Kong offer me a high price but I want it to be higher, at least equal to that of other countries because Vietnamese coffee is by no means worse than their beans, said Anh.

Coffee tours To help customers learn about his coffee products, Anh hosts tours of Anh Coffees production facility. During such tours, visitors will be able to select their favorite coffee beans, make coffee by themselves, and enjoy the drink. I expect these tours to help customers understand the coffee value, thereby well positioning the Vietnamese coffee brand [to compete on the market] and making it a tourism ambassador, Anh said.

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People talk at a booth of Uganda during World Travel Market Africa in Cape Town, South Africa, on April 11, 2022. (Xinhua/Lyu Tianran)

Tourism ministers and officials from a number of African countries on Monday joined a tourism roundtable, highlighting green tourism and connectivity for Africa's tourism growth.

CAPE TOWN, April 12 (Xinhua) -- Tourism ministers and officials from a number of African countries on Monday joined a tourism roundtable here, highlighting green tourism, connectivity, among others, for Africa's tourism growth.

An African ministerial roundtable with the theme of tackling challenges for future investments in Africa's tourism industry was held in Cape Town International Conference Center during the three-day World Travel Market Africa, where the officials participated in-person or virtually.

There are only about 70 million travelers among Africa's 1.3 billion people while only 26 African cities are connected to international standards, thus, African countries need to improve connectivity by air and open up their sky to establish a domestic market, said Najib Balala, Cabinet Secretary for Tourism and Wildlife of Kenya.

In this way, airfare can be affordable and Africa will be able to move from an expensive destination to an affordable destination, not only for foreigners but also for domestic people, according to Balala, who also suggested relaxing visa regimes in Africa.

People stand by a robot at a hotel chain's booth during World Travel Market Africa in Cape Town, South Africa, on April 11, 2022. (Xinhua/Lyu Tianran)

Ministers also spoke of the need of "going green" in the tourism sector. Botswana looks at sustainability as a key to facilitating the growth of tourism sector, said Botswana Minister of Environment, Natural Resources, Conservation and Tourism, Philda Kereng.

"We have to conserve and preserve national resources, on the base of which we are developing and serving products," she said, adding that the southern African country has revised its tourism policy to make it responsive and resilient to climate change.

"Going green is the way for tourism development that is based on the natural resources," she said.

The Kenyan minister also said that Africa could utilize its vast solar energy potential and become a leader in green tourism.

The participants also talked about the need for an African coordinated COVID-19 protocol framework, digitalization in the tourism sector and a central financing institution for tourism.

World Travel Market Africa includes a business-to-business tourism exhibition and other events, to bring benefits and opportunities to travel professionals in Africa. 
Indonesia's parliament passed a long-awaited bill on Tuesday to tackle sexual violence, aimed at building stronger cases and helping victims to secure justice in a country where sexual abuse has often been regarded as a private matter.

A majority of lawmakers backed the bill at the plenary session in parliament, overcoming opposition from some conservative groups in the world's biggest Muslim majority country after six years of deliberation.

"We hope that the implementation of this law will resolve sexual violence cases," said house speaker Puan Maharani.

The legislation has been broadly welcomed by activists, though some have objected to its limited scope, with only some sex crimes included and rape omitted. The government has said rape is covered in a revision of the criminal code currently being drawn up.

"This is surely a step forward," said Asfinawati, a law expert at Jentera school of law who has helped sexual violence victims, adding that rape should have been included in the bill.

Sexual violence complaints have been rising in Indonesia, where prosecuting crimes of a sexual nature has been complicated by the absence of specific legislation. Activists says victims' concerns of being shamed during questioning have deterred many from speaking up.

Vivi Widyawati from the Perempuan Mahardhika, a civil society organisation that was consulted on the bill, said it was important to monitor closely how authorities enforce the law.

"For years, sexual violence wasn't seen as something important," she said. "What we have now is enough to resolve cases."

The bill's passage follows President Joko Widodo's instruction in January to his government to expedite the legislation, which seeks to make it easier to build cases and secure convictions.

The National Commission on Violence Against Women (Komnas Perempuan) and civil society groups first proposed the idea of legislation a decade ago and a bill was submitted to the house in 2016.

Hope for justice

The final draft approved on Tuesday includes prison terms of up to 12 years for crimes of physical sexual abuse, both within and outside of marriage, and 15 years for sexual exploitation.

It prescribes terms of nine years for forced marriage, which include child marriage and marriage between rapists and their victims, and four years for circulating non-consensual sexual content.

It stipulated that a court must compel convicted abusers to pay restitution and authorities to provide counselling to victims, many of which have chosen not to report abuse in the past.

"As a survivor, all this time, it was like hitting the wall," said one victim, who requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter.

She said she chose not to make a formal complaint against her abuser after hearing that other victims had been mistreated by authorities.

"If this bill had existed, I would've had more hope to find justice," she said.

One party in parliament, the Islamist Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), had objected to the bill, saying it should regulate extramarital sex and urging a ban on relations involving what it described as "deviant" sexual orientation.

Kurniasih Mufidayati, a PKS member of parliament, told Reuters "the parliament has ignored input from the public who objected to the passing of this bill."
Here are todays leading news stories:

Society

-- Lieutenant Thai Ngo Hieu, a firefighting police officer in southern Dong Nai Province, has been promoted to the captain rank after saving four people from drowning at a beach in southern Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province last weekend.

-- Traffic congestion occurred at the entrances of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City on Monday afternoon as residents returned to the cities after their holiday weekend marking the Hung Kings Commemoration Day.

-- A total of 81 traffic accidents occurred across Vietnam during the holiday weekend marking the Hung Kings Commemoration Day (April 9 to 11), killing 37 people and injuring 52 others.

-- Bamboo Airways and Vasco, a member company of Vietnam Airlines, announced they had to cancel some flights to and from northern Dien Bien Province on Monday due to smog.

-- Police in northern Hai Phong City are verifying a case where nearly 20 men engaged in a street brawl in Our City urban area after a video clip of the incident was shared on social media on Monday evening.

-- A fire broke out at Ha Long I Market in northern Quang Ninh Province on Monday evening. Firefighters were able to promptly put out the blaze before it could cause any human and property loss.

-- The Red Cross Society in north-central Quang Binh Province has established a team with five ambulances to provide free emergency transport service for poor patients.

-- Police in District 12, Ho Chi Minh City confirmed on Monday evening they had arrested a 51-year-old motorbike taxi driver for allegedly stabbing to death a man with a screwdriver earlier the same day.

-- Officers in northern Bac Giang Province have initiated a manhunt for the suspect in the murder of a clothing store owner on Monday evening.

Lifestyle

-- Da Nang City welcomed nearly 78,000 visitors during the holiday weekend marking the Hung Kings Commemoration Day, according to the municipal Department of Tourism.

Business

-- The inflow of foreign direct investment into Vietnam hit US$8.1 billion in the first quarter of this year, the Vietnam News Agency quoted the Ministry of Planning and Investment as saying.

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A former navy soldier did not hesitate to jump from a high bridge to save a suicidal teenage girl from drowning in Nam Dinh Province, northern Vietnam on Sunday.

Nguyen Van Chinh, 28, a local in the provinces Hai Hau District, jumped into the Ninh Co River to save a schoolgirl who attempted suicide late on Sunday afternoon.

At around 5:30 pm, Chinh was crossing the Thinh Long Bridge, on the way home from work, when he saw a chaotic scene and heard many shouts about a girl who had jumped into the river, the man narrated.

Chinh, a recently discharged naval soldier, then jumped from the bridge into the river, around 30 meters deep below, and managed to bring the girl to the riverside safely.

The girl, a grade-8 student at a local school, was then taken to a hospital for care and she recovered later.

The student told Chinh that she attempted to take her own life after experiencing an exam with bad results, for which she was afraid of being scolded by her relatives.

The teenager added her parents are divorced.

Chinhs brave action was recorded in a video clip that spread rapidly on social media and attracted thousands of views and shares praising and honoring the man as a hero.

This supplied photo shows Nguyen Van Chinh (right) meeting a man who visited him at home after viewing the video clip of Chinhs life-saving act on social media on April 10, 2022.

The Hai Hau District administration sent a representative to pay a complimentary visit to Chinh at home after receiving reports about his brave jump.

Chinh told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper that anyone in his position would do the same.

Tran Trung Hieu, who uploaded the video clip on social networks, said he highly appreciated Chinhs bravery, and considered his act a very noble deed.

Not everyone dares to jump from a 30-meter height into a river with swift flowing currents near the sea mouth to rescue a person like Chinh, Hieu commented.

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Police in Ho Chi Minh City have arrested a motorbike taxi driver for stabbing a man to death with a screwdriver following an argument last weekend.

Officers in District 12 confirmed on Monday they had apprehended Dinh Tien Tri, 51, who resides in District 12.

Tri is the prime suspect in the murder of 36-year-old N.T.D..

Preliminary information shows that Tri works as a motorbike taxi driver and often picks up passengers at Nga Tu Ga Bus Station in Thanh Loc Ward, District 12.

On Sunday afternoon, Tri rode his motorbike into the bus station and saw D. at the nearby drink stall.

The two had a conversation that led to an argument.

They then engaged in a physical confrontation before Tri stabbed D. in his head with a screwdriver.

D. was rushed to the hospital but eventually succumbed to his wound.

Tri left the scene following the incident.

Police carried out an investigation and identified Tri as the main suspect in the case.

He was arrested in the Mekong Delta province of Tien Giang early on Monday morning.

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A total of six flights carried visitors from Singapore and Thailand to Da Nang City in central Vietnam during the holiday weekend marking the Hung Kings Commemoration Day.

Da Nang welcomed nearly 78,000 visitors from April 9 to 11, according to the municipal Department of Tourism.

Among them, about 39,000 traveled to the central hub by air.

During the three-day holiday, Da Nang welcomed six flights carrying tourists from Thailand and Singapore, and 256 domestic flights from Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Hai Phong, Vinh, Nha Trang, Da Lat, Pleiku, Can Tho, and Phu Quoc.

Employees of a company participate in team-building activities at a beach in Da Nang City, Vietnam, April 11, 2022. Photo: Tan Luc / Tuoi Tre

The number of visitors traveling by road from neighboring provinces and cities, as well as Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, also increased significantly.

The occupancy rate of four- and five-star hotels was about 50-60 percent, while that of hotels located by the beach reached 70-90 percent.

The number of visitors to popular tourist destinations on these days was estimated at 55,370.

Visitors pose for a photo at the Nui Than Tai hot spring park in Da Nang City, Vietnam, April 11, 2022. Photo: Tan Luc / Tuoi Tre

The Sun World Ba Na Hills tourist area welcomed about 18,500 guests, the Nui Than Tai hot spring park served some 9,000 visitors, Mikazuki Resort & Spa welcomed 4,000 guests, and the Marble Mountains received about 4,500 tourists.

The favorable weather conditions also attracted a lot of people to local beaches.

To prepare for the holiday, authorities in Da Nang had announced the tourism stimulus program named Enjoy Da Nang, put into operation the boat service connecting Da Nang and Ly Son Island, organized the Da Nang - The City of Future electronic music show, offered free tickets to the Marble Mountains, and provided discounts for several tourism services.

A beach in Da Nang City, Vietnam, April 11, 2022. Photo: Tan Luc / Tuoi Tre

Employees of a company participate in team-building activities at a beach in Da Nang City, Vietnam, April 11, 2022. Photo: Tan Luc / Tuoi Tre

Children build sand castles at a beach in Da Nang City, Vietnam, April 11, 2022. Photo: Tan Luc / Tuoi Tre

People have a swim at a beach in Da Nang City, Vietnam, April 11, 2022. Photo: Tan Luc / Tuoi Tre

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Britain is about to get a look at its first season of SAS: Who Dares Wins without Ant Middleton, who was let go by Channel 4.

In his place is former US Marine Rudy Reyes as Chief Instructor, but still with Mark Billy Billingham and Jason Fox.

We just embraced it and [Reyes] did a great job, Billingham told RadioTimes. It was different, [theyre] totally different people, you know, but it just goes to show that the show is such a success. Its not about one person, its about a team and its about different characters.

He continued: It was just different to the way it is now and weve adapted to that and I think the audience will love it. And maybe the next one, who knows what well change up?

The series was shot in Jordan.
Stan Grant hosts the first election 22 panel for Q+A on Thursday.

This week on Q+A, the race for the nation. Election 2022 is officially underway and Australians head to the polls on May 21. Prime Minister Scott Morrison is urging voters to stick with his tried and tested government for another term, while challenger Anthony Albanese says his pitch is about building a better future.

Both candidates have begun their campaigns in marginal electorates, launching the opening salvos in a 41-day race set to be defined by close contests in a series of seats. The latest Resolve poll shows voters deserting the Coalition in parts of Queensland and WA where it once thought it was safe, highlighting the challenge that Scott Morrison faces to secure victory. But its not a clear path to the Lodge for Anthony Albanese either, with a campaign-eve Newspoll showing that the contest between the two major parties has tightened to its closest margin this year.

Labor has entered the water wars in a bid to woo South Australian voters  with Anthony Albanese promising to uphold the Murray-Darling Basin Plan and deliver SAs share of water. But the Coalition says its opponent is just chasing a few votes in Adelaide. What role will water play in the poll? Has climate change fallen off the election agenda of both major parties?

Indigenous leaders have issued an urgent call for a referendum on an Indigenous Voice to Parliament, saying the Australian people are ready to say yes to constitutional recognition for a First Nations voice and that history is calling. Labor has pledged to hold a referendum if it wins government while the Coalition hasnt made such a commitment. Why has the process taken so long?

Well unpack the political spin and hold candidates to account over the next six weeks of whats set to be a bitter battle. What are the issues that you care most about? How do you feel about the choice thats being offered? And just what impact will independent candidates have on this years election?

Panel:

Osher Gunsberg, TV and podcast host

Megan Davis, Pro Vice Chancellor Indigenous, UNSW

Kate McBride, Farmer and researcher

Andrew Bragg, Liberal Senator for NSW

Chris Bowen, Shadow Minister for Climate Change and Energy

8:30pm Thursday on ABC.
Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. (James 5:16)
EasyJet said the removal of UK coronavirus travel measure on 24 January sparked a 'strong and sustained recovery'. Photo: Gareth Fuller/PA via Getty

EasyJet (EZJ.L) has reported that summer bookings in the last six weeks beat 2019 levels, with expectations to "emerge as one of the winners in the recovery" thanks to the removal of travel restrictions.

The Luton-based airline has turned its focus towards bringing back capacity after narrowing its estimated loss in a turbulent fiscal first half which saw Omicron infections rise.

Europe's second largest discount carrier said it had "ramped up" capacity, operating at 80% of full-year 2019 capacity in March alone.

Still, the low-cost airline could run out of recovery runway as it expects to post a headline loss before tax in the range of 535m ($696m) to 565m in the six months to 31 March. It posted a 701m loss in the year-earlier period.

EasyJet added that the removal of UK coronavirus travel measure on 24 January sparked a "strong and sustained recovery" resulting in the proportion of bookings between Britain and the European Union being "broadly equal".

The flying schedule for the current quarter will be about 90% of 2019 levels, the company said in a trading update on Tuesday. It's seeing strong demand in Greece, and expects to be the biggest carrier to the Greek islands this summer.

Meanwhile, passenger numbers in the quarter increased to 11.5 million, compared to 1.2 million in the second quarter of 2021.

Image: EasyJet

The carrier said it was "little exposed" to the conflict in Ukraine and the ensuing economic fallout as it operates no routes into the country, Russia or Belarus.

"Our nearest network points are Budapest in Hungary and Krakow in Poland which only account for 1.4% of our total capacity," the company said.

Read more: Heathrow records busiest months since start of pandemic

"While restrictions have largely been lifted, Russias invasion of Ukraine has added a new level of uncertainty to the market," said Allegra Dawes, senior airlines analyst at Third Bridge.

Story continues

"While EasyJet is not exposed to routes in the Ukraine or Russia, our experts expect volatility in jet fuel pricing to further slow the pace of the airline's recovery."

Rising energy costs, the staffing issues and ramp-up challenges mean "the road to a full recovery remains long and bumpy," she added.

Shares in easyJet tumbled as much as 2.8% to 527.36 pence in early trade on Tuesday in London.

Johan Lundgren, easyJet CEO said: "EasyJets performance in the second quarter has been driven by improved trading following the UK governments decision to relax testing restrictions with an extra boost from self-help measures which saw us outperform market expectations.

"Since travel restrictions were removed, easyJet has seen a strong recovery in trading which has been sustained, resulting in a positive outlook for Easter and beyond, with daily booking volumes for summer currently tracking ahead of those at the same time in FY19.

"We remain confident in our plans which will see us reaching near 2019 flying levels for this summer and emerge as one of the winners in the recovery."

Looking ahead the airline forecast its third quarter capacity to be around 90% of Q3 2019 levels.

The budget carrier and rival British Airways were forced to cancel over 500 flights between them over the Easter holiday period, as airlines and airports battled COVID-related staff absences.

Read more: UK airline industry warned over more Easter travel disruption

It comes as Ryanair (RYA.IR) warned it expects to post a loss of at least 300m for the full year later in May as it stages a cautious recovery from the pandemic.

Europe's biggest budget airline said passenger numbers "recovered strongly" but were still more than a third below pre-COVID levels.

Traveller numbers at the Dublin-based firm increased to more than 97 million over the last year, up from 27.2 million in the year to March 2021. Continued COVID measures in some regions mean numbers are still significantly below pre-pandemic levels of 149 million.

Watch: Airline refunds: What are your rights as a consumer?
Xu Ning kissed her daughter before leaving for Shanghai, in north China's Tianjin, April 11, 2022.

Tianjin sent a team of 78 traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) medical workers to help Shanghai fight COVID-19 pandemic on Monday.

Xu Ning, a deputy chief physician from the First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, is one of them. Over the past two years, she has been in the wards of Tianjin Haihe Hospital for many times to fight against the pandemic, and gained a lot of experience in TCM treatment. (Xinhua/Li Ran)

Xu Ning works at Tianjin Haihe Hospital in north China's Tianjin, Jan. 10, 2022.

Tianjin sent a team of 78 traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) medical workers to help Shanghai fight COVID-19 pandemic on Monday.

Xu Ning, a deputy chief physician from the First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, is one of them. Over the past two years, she has been in the wards of Tianjin Haihe Hospital for many times to fight against the pandemic, and gained a lot of experience in TCM treatment. (Xinhua)

Xu Ning (R) waves goodbye to her family before leaving for Shanghai, in north China's Tianjin, April 11, 2022.

Tianjin sent a team of 78 traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) medical workers to help Shanghai fight COVID-19 pandemic on Monday.

Xu Ning, a deputy chief physician from the First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, is one of them. Over the past two years, she has been in the wards of Tianjin Haihe Hospital for many times to fight against the pandemic, and gained a lot of experience in TCM treatment. (Xinhua/Li Ran)

Xu Ning waves to her family through the window of a bus as she leaves for Shanghai, in north China's Tianjin, April 11, 2022.

Tianjin sent a team of 78 traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) medical workers to help Shanghai fight COVID-19 pandemic on Monday.

Xu Ning, a deputy chief physician from the First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, is one of them. Over the past two years, she has been in the wards of Tianjin Haihe Hospital for many times to fight against the pandemic, and gained a lot of experience in TCM treatment. (Xinhua/Li Ran)

Xu Ning (1st R) puts on team uniform before leaving for Shanghai, in north China's Tianjin, April 11, 2022.

Tianjin sent a team of 78 traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) medical workers to help Shanghai fight COVID-19 pandemic on Monday.

Xu Ning, a deputy chief physician from the First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, is one of them. Over the past two years, she has been in the wards of Tianjin Haihe Hospital for many times to fight against the pandemic, and gained a lot of experience in TCM treatment. (Xinhua/Li Ran)

Xu Ning works at the First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine before leaving for Shanghai, in north China's Tianjin, April 11, 2022.

Tianjin sent a team of 78 traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) medical workers to help Shanghai fight COVID-19 pandemic on Monday.

Xu Ning, a deputy chief physician from the First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, is one of them. Over the past two years, she has been in the wards of Tianjin Haihe Hospital for many times to fight against the pandemic, and gained a lot of experience in TCM treatment. (Xinhua/Li Ran)
Tough sanctions against the international Kinahan crime cartel have been imposed by the US government, as part of a major new operation against the gang by American, Irish and British authorities.

The three most senior members - Christopher Kinahan Sr, Daniel Kinahan and Christopher Kinahan Jr - as well as four other gang members, and three businesses including a Glasgow-based drinks company were all designated by the United States.

The US Department of the Treasury said it had been working with the UK's National Crime Agency (NCA), the Irish police (An Garda Siochana) as well as other agencies like the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation, better known as Europol.

"The Kinahan Organised Crime Group smuggles deadly narcotics, including cocaine, to Europe, and is a threat to the entire licit economy through its role in international money laundering," said the under secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, Brian E Nelson.

"Criminal groups like the KOCG prey on the most vulnerable in society and bring drug-related crime and violence, including murder, to the countries in which they operate.

"Treasury is proud to have coordinated so closely with our international counterparts, and the US government will continue to use every available resource to dismantle these criminal networks."

The US has now named the Kinahans as being at the apex of an international crime network, and published a wealth of detail on the men, including their addresses and the passport numbers they use, both genuine and false.

The sanctions mean that money or assets the Kinahans have in the US, or in US banks, can be frozen, as well as any US-controlled properties, similar to the restrictions placed on Russian oligarchs in the wake of the invasion of Ukraine.

Their credit cards can be blocked and they cannot fly on US airlines.

As well as the three senior Kinahans, who are all now based in the United Arab Emirates, the sanctions also apply to associates Sean McGovern, Ian Dixon and Bernard Clancy, who are all based in Dubai, and John Morrissey who lives in Spain.

Story continues

Two UAE-based companies, Hoopoe Sports and Ducashew General Trading, are sanctioned, as is Nero Drinks, which is based in Glasgow, and produces Nero Vodka.

The US says that John Morrissey owns or controls Nero Drinks, and "has given a significant portion of the business to Daniel Kinahan to compensate for loads of drugs seized by law enforcement".

The Americans also said that Daniel Kinahan sources large quantities of cocaine in South America and attempts to import the drugs to the United Kingdom.

He fled Ireland after the infamous Regency Hotel shooting in 2016, when gunmen from the rival Hutch gang disguised as armed police attempted to murder him, killing an associate instead.

At least 18 people have been murdered in the feud between the two gangs.

Daniel Kinahan lives in Dubai, where in recent years he has attempted to reposition himself as a boxing promoter, and has worked with Tyson Fury.

There is no suggestion that Fury was involved in any criminality.

Two weeks ago, Thomas "Bomber" Kavanagh, the "top man" in the UK for the Kinahans, was jailed for 21 years at Ipswich Crown Court.

The National Crime Agency (NCA) said that he masterminded a "commercial-scale" smuggling operation, and imported cocaine and cannabis worth more than 30m.

Two other men, Gary Vickery and Daniel Canning, also received lengthy prison terms.

Gardai (Irish police) are holding a news conference in Dublin later this morning, at which further details of the Irish and British involvement in the international operation against the Kinahans will be revealed.
The Israeli delegation will no longer attend the Eurovision Song Contest in Italy, its national broadcaster has announced.

Kan said a strike at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Israel had affected its security protocols.

Michael Ben David is due to represent the country with the song IM after winning the Israeli version of the X Factor.

As of now, due to the Ministry of Foreign affairs strike, that affects the security protocols, the Israeli delegation will not attend the Eurovision in Turin.  KAN Eurovision Israel (@kaneurovision) April 12, 2022

However, the announcement throws his performance into doubt.

Kan did not confirm whether the singer will compete using a pre-recorded performance aired during the contest.

A tweet from the broadcaster said: As of now, due to the Ministry of Foreign affairs strike, that affects the security protocols, the Israeli delegation will not attend the Eurovision in Turin.

A statement from Eurovision said: We are aware of the statement made by KAN this morning and are in dialogue with them about Israels continued participation in this years event.

Russia has been banned from competing at this years contest following the invasion of Ukraine.

The European Broadcasting Union (EBU), which produces the event, said the inclusion of a Russian entry at the contest in May would bring the event into disrepute.

The union had previously said it intended to allow Russia to compete but faced strong criticism from state broadcasters in countries including Iceland, Finland, Norway and the Netherlands.

The 2021 competition was held in Rotterdam, Netherlands, after the show was cancelled in 2020, and won by Italys rock band Maneskin with their song Zitti E Buoni.

The UK was handed a crushing defeat as singer James Newman was the only entrant to score zero points from both the jury and public vote, coming bottom of the leaderboard.

The Eurovision grand final will be broadcast on BBC One and BBC iPlayer and on BBC Radio 2 and BBC Sounds from 8pm on May 14.

Kan and the EBU have been contacted for comment.
The EU will halt military training missions in Mali but will keep a presence in the Sahel, foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said Monday, citing concerns over "interference" and civilian killings committed by Russian mercenaries from the Wagner Group. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock was headed to the country for talks this week with the ruling junta.

"We are halting the training missions for the [Malian] armed forces and national guard," EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell told a media conference, but added: "The Sahel remains a priority. We're not giving up on the Sahel, far from it. We want to commit even more to that region."

He spoke after chairing a meeting of the bloc's foreign ministers that discussed the region.

Borrell said it was decided that developments in Mali "have forced us to see there were not sufficient guarantees ... on non-interference by the Wagner group," a Russian private military organisation that France and other countries say is operating in Mali as an armed force.

Russia says it has only supplied what it officially describes as military instructors to Mali.

Borrell said the "notorious Wagner group ... is responsible for some very serious events which have led to tens of people being killed in Mali in recent times".

France last week expressed concern over reports that Malian soldiers and Wagner mercenaries killed more than 200 civilians in an operation last month in the Malian village of Moura.

Human Rights Watch has said Malian soldiers and foreign fighters executed 300 civilians between March 27 and 31 in Moura.

German Defence Minister Christine Lambrecht visited German troops stationed in Mali at the weekend and spoke of "atrocities" in Moura.

Borrell called the incident a "massacre" and said: "We cannot collaborate with reprehensible events ... We cannot be training people who are responsible for those kinds of behaviours. So the military training for troops, we're going to stop."

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He said the EU ministers discussed hopes that west Africa's regional bloc ECOWAS would reach an agreement with Mali's junta for "an acceptable election" to be held for a return to civilian rule.

Paris announced in February the withdrawal of its troops from Mali, a former colony, after a breakdown in relations with the country's ruling junta that seized power last year and the expulsion of the French ambassador.

France's January 2013 deployment to fight the Islamic extremists who had seized much of northern Mali was a mission independent from EU operations in the country.

>> Malis junta seeks review of unbalanced defence deal with France

German foreign minister to meet junta

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock will hold talks with the junta in Mali this week amid uncertainty over the future of German troops there, a foreign ministry spokesman said on Monday.

She will then continue to Niger for talks with President Mohamed Bazoum and Foreign Minister Ibrahim Yacoubou, returning to Germany on Saturday.

Baerbock's aim is to "get a precise picture of the political and security situation on the ground" as Germany weighs its ongoing participation in military missions in Mali, the spokesman said.

"The Bamako government has lost the confidence of the international community in recent months, notably by holding back democratic transition and by intensifying military cooperation with Moscow," Baerbock said in a statement before her departure.

Germany has around 1,100 soldiers deployed as part of the UN peacekeeping mission in Mali, known as MINUSMA.

Berlin has also contributed some 300 troops to the EU military training mission in Mali.

(FRANCE 24 with AFP and REUTERS)
LAGOS, April 12 (Xinhua) -- A global maritime organization on Tuesday said seven incidents of maritime piracy and armed robbery were recorded in the first quarter of 2022 in the Gulf of Guinea.

That was a sharp drop from 16 in the same period of 2021, the International Maritime Bureau (IMB) said in its quarterly piracy report on Tuesday.

The maritime agency said there had been no reported crew kidnappings within the Gulf of Guinea waters in the first quarter of this year, compared to 40 crew kidnappings in the same period in 2021.

The agency attributed the drop in piracy incidents to the increased presence of international naval vessels and cooperation between regional authorities.

The IMB urges the coastal response agencies and independent international navies to continue their efforts to ensure piracy is permanently addressed in these highly risky waters.

"The threat to innocent seafarers remains and is best exemplified by a recent attack where a Panamax-sized bulk carrier was boarded by pirates 260 NM off the coast of Ghana on April 3. This illustrates that despite a decrease in reported incidents, the threat of the Gulf of Guinea piracy and crew kidnappings remains," said Michael Howlett, director of IMB, in the report.

The Gulf of Guinea remains the world's main piracy hotspot, said the report, urging crews and vessels plying these waters to be cautious as the perpetrators remain violent and the risk to crews remains high. 
A Woodway man identified as the victim in a fatal shooting in North Waco on Saturday had been awaiting trial on charges of family violence and injuring an elderly person, court records show. Following next-of-kin notifications, Waco police identified the victim Monday as Benjamin Brannan Miller, 45. No arrests had been made in the case as of Monday afternoon. Miller had been indicted May 27, 2021, on the family violence and elder injury charges.
Waco Coin Show

The Waco Coin Clubs annual Spring Coin Show will be held from noon to 6 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at the Bellmead Civic Center, 3900 Parrish St.

Admission is $3 for adults, free for children under 12.

Donations for Attic Treasures

Historic Waco Foundation is accepting donations for its Attic Treasures fundraiser from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday through April 23 at 4328 W. Waco Drive. No adult clothing or shoes are accepted.

A preview party will be held from 6-9 p.m. April 28, catered by Waco Ale Co. Tickets are $50 and reservations are required by calling 254-753-5166.

McGregor Lions Club

McGregor Lions Club is sponsoring a barrel racing event Friday through Sunday at Extraco Events Center, 4601 Bosque Blvd.

The event features barrel racing, a car show and an authentic Texas barbecue cookoff, with proceeds supporting the Texas Lions Camp.

Contact McG.Lions@gmail.com for more information, or call Gigi Morgan at 254-840-2873 or Mike Olson at 254-258-8171.

Healthy Kids Day

Greater Waco YMCA, 6800 Harvey Drive, will host Healthy Kids Day from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 30. The event features cooking and art classes for kids, games, bounce houses, face painting and more. Other area organizations also will be present to share information and host activities.

For more information, call 254-776-6612.

Gem and mineral show

Waco Gem And Mineral Club will hosts its 62nd annual show 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 30 and May 1 in McLennan Hall at the Waco Convention Center, 100 Washington Ave.

Admission is $5 for adults, $3 for ages 7-17. Email wacogemandmineralclub@gmail.com for more information.

Submit printed or typed items to Briefly, P.O. Box 2588, Waco, 76702-2588; or email goingson@wacotrib.com.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP)  A Tennessee court on Monday declined to reopen the case of an inmate set to be executed later this month for the 1989 killings of his estranged wife and her two sons.

Inmate Oscar Smith had filed the motion to reopen last week, saying DNA from an unknown person was detected on one of the murder weapons. But Davidson County Criminal Court Judge Angelita Blackshear Dalton wrote in an order that the evidence of Smith's guilt was overwhelming and the DNA evidence does not tip the scales in his favor.

Smith, 71, is scheduled to receive a lethal injection April 21. He was convicted of fatally stabbing and shooting Judith Smith, and her sons Jason and Chad Burnett, 13 and 16, at their Nashville home on Oct. 1, 1989. He was sentenced to death by a Davidson County jury in July 1990. Smith has maintained that he is innocent.

Smiths attorney states that newly available touch DNA technology allowed the previously impossible analysis of evidence left on an awl  a leatherworking tool similar to an icepick  that was found at the crime scene. The victims were also shot and stabbed with a knife, although those weapons were never recovered. In January, the courts released the awl to Smiths DNA experts upon agreement between Smith and the state. The analysis found DNA from an unknown person.

Evidence presented at trial included that Smith previously made threats against the victims and was physically violent towards them. A neighbor saw Smith's car at the house on the night of the killings. Two of Smith's co-workers testified that he had solicited them to kill his wife. Smith had taken out insurance policies on all three victims. And one of the child victims could be heard yelling, Frank, no! in the background of a 911 call on the night of the murder. Frank is Smith's middle name and one he used regularly.

Taking all the evidence together, Dalton concluded, there is not a reasonable probability that the recently-discovered DNA evidence would have prevented Mr. Smith's prosecution or conviction.

Smith previously sought to prove that fingerprint evidence used against him was unreliable. Crime scene investigators testified they found a bloody palm print on the sheet next to Judith Smiths body that was missing two fingers  the same two fingers that Oscar Smith is missing on his left hand. A fingerprint expert hired by Smith later opined that the investigator made numerous errors and could not have definitively identified the print.

In one example, the investigators own fingerprint was found on the awl, demonstrating incompetence and lack of professionalism, according to Smith's filing. A panel of the Tennessee Criminal Court of Appeal last month upheld a lower courts ruling rejecting Smiths fingerprint analysis claims. Smith has appealed.

Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
CEDAR FALLS  Sexual Assault Awareness Month has brought out the teal in the Cedar Falls Public Safety Department and other area agencies.

Teal ribbon magnets can be seen on police cruisers driving around the city.

In bringing awareness to how more than 1 in 3 women and nearly 1 in 4 men have experienced sexual violence involving physical contact at some point in their lives  and at least 50% of cases go unreported  officials are encouraging citizens to learn more about a partnership with Riverview Center, a 24/7 advocate supporting survivors.

Advocacy is the key for Officer Morgan Hoeft, the Cedar Falls Special Victims Response patrol liaison, when reflecting on the importance of the relationship.

The centers team supports and backs victims nearly every step of the way, through the therapy, support groups, counseling sessions, to name a few and if wanted, applying for a no-contact order and receiving case updates from law enforcement or a county district attorney's office.

Hoeft highlighted how the centers team is there for victims whether or not they file a formal complaint with law enforcement and even if a persons case gains little or no traction in a court of law.

They make sure you never feel alone, she said. They never villainize you, and are always on your side and are there for you emotionally.

Education is another vital piece, she said, whether its understanding the different types of abuse or understanding why one might feel the need to stay in the relationship.

Offenders use intimidation, or victims may just feel they might not be able to see their kids if they leave the relationship, she said.They may feel they have no choice but to stay.

Riverview Center serves 14 counties in Northeast Iowa and two counties in Illinois. It does a lot during April to educate youths and young adults. The center will present a talk by Michelle Knight, who escaped from 11 years of captivity, torture, and abuse, at its Luncheon of Light at 11 a.m. April 29 at the Bien Venu Event Center in Cedar Falls.

Now known as Lily Rose Lee, Knight disappeared in 2002 after leaving her cousins house in Cleveland, Ohio. She would not be seen or heard from again until May 2013 after being rescued from the home of Ariel Castro, who kidnapped her and subjected her to years of abuse.

She certainly will talk about her experience, but also share what it was about her childhood that perhaps made her particularly vulnerable. Shes an amazing survivor, said Executive Director Gwen Bramlet-Hecker.

The centers services include a 24-hour confidential crisis hotline  (888) 557-0310  legal, medical and social service advocacy, long- and short-term counseling, trauma-informed therapy, transition and basic needs assistance, and more, says its website.

A person can walk in to its offices at 100 E. Park Ave. #250 in Waterloo and on the University of Northern Iowas campus.

During a telephone interview, Bramlet-Hecker gave a shout-out to one of its biggest local supporters, the UNI fraternity chapter of Sigma Phi Epsilon.

Every April, the fraternity hosts various events on campus throughout the week dedicated to raising awareness around the issue of sexual assault and educating the community about how they can help stop this issue, according to its website.

It also raises a few thousand dollars to be donated to the center.

Misconceptions

A few years ago with the MeToo Movement, it did spark many more conversations about sexual violence and trying to reduce the stigma and the shame surrounding it, said Bramlet-Hecker. A couple of the common things that keep people from reporting are the shame and the self-blame of the sexual violence but also oftentimes the criticism or disbelief that people experience.

Other developments, she said, have been addressed a past misconception, that of the stranger lurking behind the bush that was going to jump out and attack you.

Sixty percent of sexual assault cases are committed by someone that the adult or person knows and likely trusts, she said In 93% of child sexual abuse, it is committed by someone known, loved and trusted by the family.

Bramlet-Hecker said awareness is not about weeding out bad people. Its getting people to recognize the dynamics within culture and society and how people use their power to harm others.

We want to get away from the good guy versus bad guy talk, Bramlet-Hecker said. If someone tries to coerce you to have sex, thats a problem. If someone tries to get you drunk to have sex with you, thats a problem.

She also noted how the reaction of the first three people a victim tells of sexual violence they experienced is important and affects how well or poorly a person heals.

Noted Bramlet-Hecker, Weve even worked with county attorneys who arent able to proceed with a case because there is not enough evidence, but say to the survivor, but you know what, I believe you.

As for the process, if someone feels theyve been sexually abused, its best to start by checking into a hospital emergency room, which is when Riverview Center will be brought into the case.

Cedar Valley clean-ups organized by cities, various groups April 22 will be the Earth Day Spring Cleanup for Waterloo. Cedar Falls will host its second annual City-Wide Clean-up Week from April 17 through April 23.

Bramlet-Hecker emphasized at the hospital, the most important aspect is a persons health. It doesnt mean a rape kit has to be completed or a report has to be filed.

Plan B One-Step (a morning-after pill that can be used after unprotected sex to prevent pregnancy) anti-STI medications, anti-HIV medications, are some of those health-related offerings.

Survivors should know that they have the right to take care of their health as much as they do to report or not report, she said.

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CEDAR FALLS  A presentation will be offered on the latest draft of the Cedar Falls Resilience Plan during an in-person town hall from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Community Center.

The city encourages additional input from interested community members on the documents recommendations and findings.

The Resilience Plan is about our future and how we can be stronger as a community, said Amanda Huisman, the citys communications specialist and spokesperson.

The plan will address attracting and retaining workforce, installation of environmentally friendly infrastructure, providing housing options, creating bicycle/pedestrian options, preparing for extreme weather, building a stronger local economy, welcoming all people and preserving natural habitat.

Initial funding for the plans creation has been in place. However, in a 5-2 vote last month, the City Council delayed $25,000 in new dollars for the plans implementation in fiscal year 2023, which begins July 1.

With the funding cut, a slight decrease in the tax hike was realized, but that could hinder immediate action on the plans recommendations.

Cedar Falls council, mayor discuss return to three committees for more public input, different chairs During a work session Monday, Mayor Rob Green and councilors discussed forming three committees for administration, public works, and community relations and planning.

The plan helps in preparing for the next pandemic, as one example of an unforeseen event.

Ironically, COVID-19 played a role in delaying its roll-out after the first kick-off event in the fall of 2020. Input already had been solicited from multiple community workshops in October 2020.

On Nov. 10, 2020, that feedback was presented at a virtual meeting. A series of three worksheets to solicit input was created, available beginning in mid-December 2020 and wrapped up in mid-March 2021.

From April 13 to 27, the Resilience Plan will be available online at: www.cfresilience.com. Residents will be able to submit input and questions by visiting that link.

Following the public review period, the plan may be updated based on the feedback. To this point, discussions have been led by staff and a core team of community stakeholders.

It will move forward for City Council consideration at some point. Thats tentatively scheduled for the late spring or early summer.

Its been about creating a better quality of life in Cedar Falls, said Huisman. And the community input has played a major role in making that happen.

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WATERLOO  Easter is the most important day of the year on the Christian calendar and a special day for all Christians. This year, one Waterloo congregation plans to celebrate the Resurrection in a unique way.

Hope City Church will hold expanded Easter services in the newly renovated Waterloo Convention Center on Sunday. Thats because, according to Quovadis Pastor Q Marshall, it isnt a house party, but a block party.

To us, its a statement about our commitment to our community, Marshall said. We love the Cedar Valley, were committed to its flourishing, and so we dont see this as a Hope City Easter; we see this as an Easter celebration for our entire community, and everyones invited.

Its the churchs first time back at the convention center since major renovations were recently completed and since the outbreak of the pandemic in 2020. With that in mind, theyre pulling out stops and making room for as many people as possible.

Hope City Church will hold Easter services at 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. at the convention center. Fun and games have been planned for the whole family, including an Easter egg hunt with over 10,000 eggs hidden around the property. But Marshall stressed the centerpiece of the services will be the Gospel message.

The Super Bowl of Christianity is Easter. Its the day that changed human history, Marshall said. If its true that a man was dead and came back to life by his own power, then that changes everything. That means theres nothing too dead, broken or buried in our lives that God cant give new life to it. And thats big news, thats a big deal and were going to celebrate that in a big way.

Its that message Marshall credits with changing his life on Aug. 23, 1997, when he was 17 and prayed for guidance. The next morning, a pastor knocked on his door and told him about Jesus. He accepted the Lord into his heart that day, convinced he could be forgiven of his sins and wanting to help others find the joy that hed found. There would be setbacks and backsliding in his life and his personal walk, but eventually, he would get to where he said God wanted him to be.

The journey isnt easy for any of us, but it is learning to enjoy the journey on the way to the destination where lifes greatest lessons come, Marshall said. And we are all on a journey.

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WATERLOO  Peoples Community Health Clinic is planning a $9.5 million expansion of its Waterloo medical facility, aided in part by $549,164 in CARES Act funding allocated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for the Waterloo Community Development Board.

Officials from the clinic and the city of Waterloo planned to announce the project at 8 a.m. Tuesday in the Peoples Clinic conference room.

Peoples Clinic is a federally qualified health center providing care to all residents regardless of financial situation or health insurance status.

Grout Museum District launches $1 million fundraising campaign for renovation WATERLOO  A campaign to raise about $1 million has been launched by the Grout Museum District.

The westward expansion, which could be completed as soon as the summer of 2023, will include a separate entrance to keep patients away from those who have been potentially exposed to COVID-19, as well as an additional waiting room that allows for practicing social distancing.

Additional exam rooms will lower the waiting time for patients. The clinics behavioral health services also will be expanded and there will be more space to accommodate increasing needs. The pharmacy will allow for drive-up service, and the parking lot will allow for more vehicles.

It was unknown at press time exactly how big the facilitys footprint will grow as a result of the expansion, but it will take over an area that is mostly parking lot.

Waterloo Community Development manages the disbursement and oversight of federal funds to the city of Waterloo to improve the standard of living for low- to moderate-income residents and neighborhoods.

This was a great opportunity to partner with Peoples Clinic, said Rudy Jones, Waterloo Community Development director. Were always looking for opportunities in services that directly help our community. COVID-19 numbers are creeping back up in other states, and this just helps us prepare for the future.

Previous rounds of CARES (Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security) Act funds distributed to Waterloo Community Development have been smaller, but have helped organizations like the Salvation Army, Northeast Iowa Food Bank and micro-enterprises weather the pandemic.

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Biden will make the announcement at an event scheduled for this afternoon at a biofuels processing plant in Menlo, a small town of 345 people about 45 miles west of Des Moines in Guthrie County.

Iowa is the countrys top producer of corn and corn-based ethanol.

Currently, the E15 blend of ethanol cannot be sold between June 1 and Sept. 15. Former President Donald Trumps administration in 2019 issued a federal rule allowing for the year-round sale of E15, but a federal appeals court struck down the rule in July 2021 based on procedure.

During Mondays press call, senior White House officials said the administrations plan for an E15 emergency waiver is designed to address rising gas prices, which they attributed to Russias military invasion of Ukraine. The administration plans to cite the strain on the U.S. fuel supply caused by the Russian invasion of Ukraine as justification for an emergency waiver to allow the sale of E15 this summer, officials said.

In addition to calls from the renewable and biofuels industries, a bipartisan group of Iowa leaders has called for Biden to issue the emergency waiver.

(Today), President Biden will have the perfect opportunity to stand with Iowa farmers by allowing summer sales of E15, Iowa Republican U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley said in a statement issued Monday. Im hopeful (today) the President will finally embrace cleaner, cheaper homegrown biofuels that reduce dependence on foreign sources and empower American workers to solve the energy crisis. I know Iowa biofuel producers can ramp up production and provide affordable, low-carbon biofuels to the country if the president allows summer sales of E15.

Biden is scheduled to deliver his remarks this afternoon at a bioprocessing plant operated by POET, a biofuels company based just across Iowas northwestern border in Sioux Falls, S.D., that operates 12 facilities in Iowa.

This is Bidens first trip to Iowa since his election in November 2020. It is a part of his administrations tour of the country to promote rural infrastructure investment and projects.

I have always believed that for America to succeed, rural America must succeed, Biden said in a statement issued by the White House on Monday. Since taking office, my administration has focused on building pathways to the middle class for rural Americans in rural America  including investing in rural infrastructure and rebuilding the communities that feed and fuel our country.

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.

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Calling him a tireless advocate for Iowans who has fought and delivered time and time again for Iowans, U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik has endorsed Sen. Chuck Grassley's re-election.

Grassley, an Iowa Republican, is seeking an eighth term. He has fought tooth and nail to root out waste and corruption in our government, the New York congresswoman said.

I'm honored to join President Donald Trump in endorsing Chuck Grassley, Stefanik said.

In her endorsement, Stefanik, who was a domestic policy adviser to President George W. Bush before being elected to the House, noted Grassley's efforts since 2019 to uncover deeply troubling financial entanglements of the Biden family and the communist Chinese regime involving President Joe Bidens son, Hunter Biden, and brother, James Biden.

Im proud to join Sen. Grassley in calling the media out for their blatant cover-up and censorship of the Hunter Biden scandal, she said.

Grassley, who served in the House before being elected to the Senate in 1980, welcomed the endorsement from Stefanik  a powerful voice for conservatives in Congress.

She calls it like it is and fights for what's right, Grassley said.

Grassley faces a primary challenge from state Sen. Jim Carlin, R-Sioux City.

Few conservatives in Congress have accomplished more than Grassley., according to Stefanik, who pointed to his work as Senate Judiciary Committee chairman to confirm hundreds of Trumps constitutionalist judges to the federal courts and led the confirmation of two Supreme Court justices to lifetime tenure, cementing the high court's conservative majority.

Hes also stopped far-left judicial nominees, led the way to expose wrongdoing at the Department of Justice and FBI, root out corruption in the federal government and uncover the truth so that justice can prevail, she said.

MATHIS OFFICE OPENING: Sen. Liz Mathis of Hiawatha, a Democratic candidate for the U.S. House in the new 2nd Congressional District covering Linn County and northeast Iowa, will host a grand opening of her campaign office at 4850 First Ave. NE, Cedar Rapids from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. April 16.

U.S. SENATE FORUM: Eastern Iowa Democrats will host an in-person forum with Democratic U.S. Senate hopefuls from 1 to 3 p.m. April 16 at Maquoketa Valley High School auditorium in Delhi.

Candidates Mike Franken and Glenn Hurst are scheduled to participate in the event hosted by Democratic parties in Delaware, Dubuque, Jackson and Jones counties.

Masks are recommended and appreciated.

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After careful review, I have decided to challenge this deeply partisan decision to the Iowa Supreme Court, Finkenauer, a former member of the U.S. House, said in a statement Monday.

Finkenauer will ask the court to reverse a ruling issued Sunday night by Polk County District Court Judge Scott Beattie that she did not submit enough signatures on nomination petitions to qualify for the Democratic primary to determine the partys U.S. Senate nominee in the November general election.

His decision overruled the State Objections Panel that rejected challenges to Finkenauers campaign raised by GOP activists. The panel decided Finkenauer had met the ballot requirement to acquire at least 3,500 signatures, including at least 100 signatures each in at least 19 counties. But only the Democrats on the panel  Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller and State Auditor Rob Sand  voted in Finkenauers favor, while Republican Iowa Secretary of State voted against her campaign.

Finkenauer called the judges decision a massive gift to Washington Republicans  that ignores decades of precedent, interferes in the electoral process and makes a mockery of our democracy.

Its clear now more than ever: Republicans are scared of the campaign were building, she said. Theyve gone to historic lengths to slow us down because they know Chuck Grassley is more vulnerable than ever, and that we can beat him in November.

Finkenauer has been competing with retired Admiral Michael Franken of Sioux City and physician Glenn Hurst of Minden for the Democratic nomination. Grassley is expected to be the Republican nominee, but faces a primary challenge from state Sen. Jim Carlin of Sioux City.

Grassleys re-election is considered solid by the Cook Political Report and Inside Elections, and safe by Crystal Ball.

Beattie, according to Finkenauer, did the bidding of Chuck Grassley and his allies in Washington. Grassley was not a party to the challenge brought by other GOP activists.

The state Supreme Court issued an order Monday that the case was being expedited but did not say when a ruling would be issued. It scheduled oral arguments for Wednesday.

The Finkenauer campaign hopes the court acts quickly because Pates office said Monday county auditors need a final decision by April 18 to have ballots printed to meet an April 23 deadline for sending overseas ballots. Early voting starts May 18.

After the Objections Panel approved Finkenauers nomination petitions, determining she had substantially complied with state law, Kim Schmett, a former Republican congressional candidate, and Leanne Pellett, co-chair of the Cass County Republicans, filed a number of objections. They asserted some signature lines were missing information, and as a result, Finkenauer did not have the mandatory 100 signatures from 19 counties.

Beattie said the panels interpretation of the law was incorrect.

The court takes no joy in this conclusion, he wrote. This court should not be in the position to make a difference in an election, and Ms. Finkenauer and her supporters should have a chance to advance her candidacy. However, this Courts job is to sit as a referee and apply the law without passion or prejudice. It is required to rule without consideration of the politics of the day.

Beatties decision also is being appealed by Miller, according to his spokesman. Miller had discussed the ruling and challenging it with the other Objection Panel members, Pate and Sand.

This is not the first election-related case Beattie has ruled on. In 2018, he dismissed a challenge brought by Democrat Kayla Koether in her race for an Iowa House seat in Northeast Iowa.

When the ballots were counted that year, she trailed incumbent Republican Rep. Michael Bergan of Dorchester by nine votes. However 29 absentee ballots from Winneshiek County were not counted because they had not arrived in the county auditors office before the deadline. The Postal Service confirmed the ballots had been mailed on or before the deadline.

Koether wanted those ballots opened and counted. Beattie dismissed her case on jurisdictional grounds. He cited the Iowa Constitution, saying the legislative branch, not the judiciary, was the proper venue for determining contested elections.

The GOP-controlled Iowa House upheld Bergans win.

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SYDNEY, April 12 (Xinhua) -- A new report has revealed that over 4 million Australian workers are currently in insecure work, highlighting the growing precarity faced by workers in the "gig economy".

The report, published by the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) on Monday, showed that about one in three workers were in insecure jobs such as casual work, labor hire, gig economy workers, and those on rolling fixed-term contracts.

It noted that the number of insecure workers had grown by over 500,000 since 2013. A poll in the report revealed that three out of four of those in insecure work felt that their cost-of-living struggles had worsened in the last year.

ACTU Secretary Sally McManus said the report shows Australians are becoming more and more dissatisfied with the precarious nature of an unregulated job economy.

"Insecure work gives employers the upper hand in pay negotiations with more than 4 million workers. It's a key part of the reason we have such low wage growth," she said.

Australia's unemployment rate has recovered since the onset of the pandemic, falling from a multi-decade high of 7.4 percent to a multi-decade low of 4 percent in February, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).

Despite this, the ACTU report outlined that more Australians were working multiple jobs and were in unstable work.

"It's (insecure work) also the reason why a record number of people are now forced to work more than one job. It is a huge problem that a record number of people now need more than one of them to get by," said McManus.

The report called for greater regulation of the gig economy in Australia and the closing of legal loopholes that allowed companies to take on employers as independent contractors to avoid providing full-time employment.

Angela Knox, associate professor of human resource management and industrial relations at the University of Sydney Business School, told Xinhua that the way Australia's unemployment rate is calculated can fail to paint the full picture.

"To be defined as employed, you only need to be working one hour or more, during the specified period," she said.

"Although it looks at an aggregate level as though unemployment is really low ... What it is concealing is that there are large numbers of people who have very few hours of work, and it's very insecure employment."

Knox said insecure work negatively impacts all areas of people's lives as without regular income, sick leave and carer's leave it can be hard to maintain relationships, progress in one's careers and save for important purchases like a house.

"It also means they have less bargaining power. So, they're much less able to have the ability to increase their wages over time, or to shore up more permanent jobs and better opportunities."

Knox echoed McManus' calls for greater regulation of employers, and proposed greater incentives for employers to provide secure, full-time jobs.

"I think we should be re-introducing quotas to awards and enterprise agreements, to protect, secure employment and to minimize insecure forms of employment." 
VIENNA, April 11. /TASS/. The talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin were very harsh and open, Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer said after the meeting in Moscow, the Austrian Press Agency reported Monday.

Source: Talks with Putin were harsh, open, Austrian Chancellor says  report  World  TASS

Maybe stop trying to take over the world and Russia might take you serious. You were going to put sanctions upon Russia even if they did nothing. Time for the EU to accept that they are lapdogs of the USA

Okay Dokey.EU blink blink blink at the truth

WtR
We can expect such a barbaric way of behaving in light of the fact that what is left for the US and EU? The calls within governments of the West are already gearing up to what to do with all those Russians living amongst us? It is a constant barrage upon Russians in the West as they try to play their sports, ballet, chess, work and whatever, start with the rich and famous.Denounce Putin or do not participate! lose your job and or worse, soon to come

Star conductor and close friend of Putin dropped by his management ahead of deadline to speak out or be fired from Munich Philharmonic Source: Denounce Putin or lose your job: Russian conductor Valery Gergiev given public ultimatum | Valery Gergiev | The Guardian

It will get worse

The Ruble is more grounded than before the illegal authorizations and thefts against it, the Russian Armed Forces is on a relentless roll against everything the West can manage to throw at it and the sanction backlash are gnawing the West much more than they anticipated.Last yet not least, Russia has not yet applied 1% of their genuine capability at waging war and that scares the heck out of the West

WtR
Weather Alert

...WINDY AND COLDER MOTHER'S DAY WEEKEND WITH SNOW SHOWERS... * Winds: Periods of strong winds will continue through the weekend. The most widespread strong winds will be tonight and again on Sunday, with localized strong winds in the Eastern Sierra on Saturday. * While not major wind events, we will likely see rough air for plane travel. Travel restrictions for high profile vehicles are possible. Check with CalTrans and/or NDOT for the current road information. Areas of blowing dust are possible, and backcountry and ski recreation will be impacted along with rough conditions on area lakes this weekend. * Temperatures: A strong cold front will roll through on Sunday. This front will usher in a much colder airmass Mother's Day into the first half of next week. Temperatures will be 15-25 degrees below normal. While there is still some uncertainty due to winds and cloud cover, it's likely we will have frost and freeze concerns Sunday through Tuesday nights. Watch those sprinklers and protect any sensitive vegetation ahead of time. * Rain and Snow: We will see periods of rain and snow/pellet showers along with slight chances for thunderstorms Sunday through Tuesday. The best chance for accumulating snows in the mountains appears to be Sunday afternoon and evening as the cold front moves in. Check travel conditions Sunday before heading over the hill. Outside of that, rain and snow showers will be more scattered in nature through Tuesday, but accumulations will be hard to come by. Sorry mom. We'll do better next year.

...WIND ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 2 AM PDT SATURDAY... * WHAT...West winds 25 to 35 mph with gusts up to 55 mph. Wind prone areas may see gusts up to 65 mph. Wave heights of 2 to 5 feet on Pyramid Lake. * WHERE...Greater Reno-Carson City-Minden Area and Western Nevada Basin and Range including Pyramid Lake. * WHEN...Until 2 AM PDT Saturday. * IMPACTS...Gusty winds could blow around unsecured objects. Tree limbs could be blown down and a few power outages may result. Dangerous boating conditions on Pyramid Lake. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Winds will last into the night Friday night, especially for the Reno-Carson City area. Areas of blowing dust are possible downwind of the Carson Sink, which could bring reduced visibility to I-80, US-95, and US-50. Travel restrictions are possible for high profile vehicles. Check with NDOT for the latest on road conditions. Consider delaying going out on area lakes. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Now is the time to secure loose outdoor items such as patio furniture, holiday decorations, and trash cans before winds increase which could blow these items away. The best thing to do is prepare ahead of time by making sure you have extra food and water on hand, flashlights with spare batteries and/or candles in the event of a power outage. &&
KABUL, April 12 (Xinhua) -- Four kidnappers were killed after intelligence personnel of the Afghan caretaker government busted a group in the western province of Herat, the authorities said in a statement on Tuesday.

The country's national intelligence agency General Directorate of Intelligence (GDI) said it rescued Mohammad Ibrahim from the kidnappers following an operational task in Herat on Monday.

The statement said that four members of the gang were killed after they engaged with the security forces, adding one suspect was at large and efforts were underway to arrest him.

In addition, Afghan security forces arrested 10 criminals in Herat on Monday, the local government said in a statement earlier on Tuesday, adding that the case has been handed over to relevant institution after initial investigations.

The Taliban-run administration has vowed to crack down on outlaws to ensure law and order in the country. 
Sinus infections are surprisingly common (practically as common as an ordinary cold), affecting around 1 in 8 adults in the U.S. The following raise your risk of being that 1 in 8:



A cold

Allergies

Smoking and exposure to secondhand smoke

Structural problems within the sinuses (such as growths on the lining of the nose or sinuses, known as nasal polyps)

And although experts cant say for certain, theres reason to believe that people become more susceptible to sinus infections with age. There are many ideas about why some older adults might be more prone to sinus infections or might have a more difficult time clearing a sinus infection, says David Conley, M.D., associate professor of otolaryngology at Northwestern Universitys Feinberg School of Medicine. Among the potential reasons is that the lining of the nose and sinuses, which provides a barrier against infections, becomes thinner over time, Conley says. And for some older adults, mucus often becomes thicker. Plus, a weakened immune system or taking drugs that weaken the immune system increases your risk of sinusitis.

How to treat sinusitis

The best way to get over a sinus infection? Wait it out. A viral sinus infection  the kind thats caused by, say, a cold that progresses  usually gets better on its own within 14 days. To treat symptoms, the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery recommends the usual suspects: acetaminophen or ibuprofen for pain and fever, decongestants to help you breathe easier and nasal saline sprays or whats known as sinus irrigation with a neti pot to help remove mucus.

If your sinus woes last longer than 14 days, however, you probably have a bacterial sinus infection, which is caused by a structural issue in your nose, a viral issue or an inflammatory/allergic issue, Iloreta says. One of these typically sets the stage for a bacterial infection, and theres a domino effect. At that point, you should see your doctor.

An antibiotic isnt always the answer

Although antibiotics are often the go-to treatment for all sinus infections, theyre effective in treating only bacterial infections.

Research published in Annals of Family Medicine found that bacteria cause around 1 in 3 sinus infections, yet the majority of sinusitis sufferers are prescribed antibiotics. That sort of unnecessary antibiotic use is more than just pointless; its one of the leading contributors to antibiotic-resistant infections, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Probably 7 in 10 people with a sinus infection who seek treatment from their doctor are prescribed an antibiotic and shouldnt be, Iloreta says.

The over-prescription of antibiotics is setting patients up for worse infections in the future if they dont truly have a bacterial infection, he adds. The microbiome is the normal bacteria in your nose  we have hundreds of thousands of species of bacteria in our body that are good for us  and even just one dose [of antibiotics] changes it significantly. Oftentimes that change will predispose you to having worse bacterial infections.

To diagnose a bacterial sinus infection, your doctor will typically look at the symptom duration. Both viral and bacterial infections tend to produce the same symptoms; a combination of headache, fatigue, ear pain, cough, loss of smell, general malaise and difficulty sleeping is common, Iloreta says. But sinusitis caused by a virus tends to clear faster.

Preventing a sinus infection

To prevent sinus infections altogether, borrow strategies from your cold-prevention playbook. Most notably, practicing hand hygiene is the easiest way to prevent a sinus infection, Iloreta says. Sinus infections come from chronic allergies, or chronic inflammation in the nose, so by treating your allergies  taking antihistamines, avoiding pollen exposure  youll also help prevent subsequent sinus infections.

Kimberly Goad is a New Yorkbased journalist who has covered health for some of the nations top consumer publications. Her work has appeared in Womens Health, Mens Health and Readers Digest. 
CANBERRA, April 12 (Xinhua) -- Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has promised his government will create more than a million new jobs over the next five years if re-elected in May.

Morrison and Treasurer Josh Frydenberg used the second day of the general election campaign to spruik the governing Coalition's economic plan, promising an additional 1.3 million jobs by 2027.

"Our tax relief for workers and small business, our investments in skills and trades, and our support for our local manufacturing sector mean we can get more people into more jobs," Morrison said.

The announcement came in the wake of Anthony Albanese, leader of the Opposition Labor Party, failing to recall the official cash rate and national unemployment rate.

Asked at a press conference on the first morning of the campaign on Monday, Albanese admitted he did not know the Reserve Bank of Australia's cash rate and guessed unemployment was 5.4 percent.

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), unemployment was 4 percent in February while the RBA's cash rate target is 0.1 percent.

Speaking on Monday afternoon, Albanese accepted responsibility for the mistake.

Morrison and the Coalition have seized on the mistake, turning it into a campaign advertisement.

The prime minister said on Tuesday that Albanese not knowing the figures was "staggering."

Seeking to bounce back from Monday's blunder, Albanese on Tuesday promised Labor would restore funding for telehealth mental health appointments for regional Australians after the program was cut by the government.

The 31-million-Australian dollar (22.9-million-U.S. dollar) commitment is expected to support 450,000 telehealth consultations over four years.

"Scott Morrison's cuts to regional mental health consultations during a pandemic which has seen people struggling with mental health issues are unconscionable," Albanese said.

"Labor will restore these vital mental health services, making them affordable and accessible to people wherever they live."

On Monday the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) confirmed it is working on a telephone voting system for Australians in COVID-19 isolation for election day on May 21.

Voting in Australia is mandatory for all citizens aged 18 and over who have enrolled with the AEC. 
The Star of the West Milling Co. in Frankenmuth has enlisted the help of 10 goats to clear its property near the Cass River.


CSIRO Ultrafine Soils Program Targets Gold, Nickel and Lithium

Perth, April 12, 2022 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Monger Gold Limited ( ASX:MMG ) announces that a CSIRO UltrafineTM+ (UFF+) soil sample program will start on the 17 April at our Gibraltar Project. The program will continue on to Mt Monger North and South Projects, covering large areas on 400m by 50m spacings. The program targets extensions to favourable lithologies/structures along strike of known occurrences of pegmatite lithium-caesium-tantalum (LCT), supergene/ primary orogenic gold, laterite nickel-cobalt and VMS copper-zinc, with other commodity types integrated into the CSIRO models.o At the Gibraltar Project abundant pegmatites were identified to the north and east with known lithium-caesium-tantalum (LCT) mineralisation. Gold mineralisation occurs 1km north at our Pamela, Grace and Gibraltar Prospectso Monger North Project identified as prospective for nickel-cobalt laterite and gold mineralisation (5km NW of Daisy Milano Mine ( ASX:SLR ))o Monger South Project identified as prospective for gold, nickel sulphide and copperzinc mineralisation (5km SE of Daisy Milano Mine ( ASX:SLR ))This surface soils UltrafineTM+ CSIRO sampling program has been awarded to a contractor.Planned start date is Sunday 17 April on all projects with 1555 unique samples sites planned (1653 total sample assays including duplicates and certified reference standards). The total area covered is ~31.1 km2 (figs. 2,3,4*) The program will test for gold, base metals and LCT.Commenting on this campaign, Monger Gold's Chairman Mr Peretz Schapiro said "This program is designed to find new mineral deposits hidden beneath deep transported cover.The program will search for minerals on our tenements that our geologists have identified as being prospective for, including Lithium, Nickel-Cobalt, Copper-Zinc and Gold.It is worthwhile noting the potential at the Gibraltar Project for lithium-caesium-tantalum (LCT) mineralisation, particularly in the south where alluvium may have hidden strike extensions of known historic lithium and tantalum in the Londonderry Pegmatite deposits.The latest advances in exploration technology will drive forward Monger's success rate and we look forward to announcing these results from all three project areas."Gibraltar South ProjectAt Gibraltar the Bullabulling shear, a regional scale structure, lies immediately to the south of the tenements. In the immediate area northeast striking faults structurally control the location of gold mineralisation on the intersection with mafic/ultramafic contacts proximal and parallel to monzogranite (e.g. Pamela, Grace, Gibraltar East Prospect mineralisation on MMG ground). Late pegmatite intrusions exploit structures especially around fold hinges. Multiple commodities including lithium, tantalum, feldspar and beryl were historically mined from pegmatite intrusions at the Londonderry deposits 6km east along strike, with the same stratigraphy predicted to underly our tenements (fig. 1*). Pegmatite intrusions have been identified throughout the northern project area that contain lithium minerals including spodumene, lepidolite and petalite. Regionally, the large Mt Marion lithium mine (Mineral Resources Ltd, ( ASX:MIN )) occurs ~40km east in geochemically/texturally similar pegmatites with analogous structural settings, hosted in Archean mafic and ultramafic lithologies.Historical carbonate sampled auger soils programs found large anomalous areas of low tenor, in the range of 16-25ppb Au across the mid-south (ENE strike) and secondly down the eastern boundary of the licences (SE strike) with peak values between 25-50ppb Au. Although these gold values are subtle anomalous signals, the transported alluvium across the area comprises source rocks with gold potentially derived from surrounding known outcropping gold deposits and demonstrates that the geomorphic regime has the potential to conceal basement gold concentrations. Gold-in-soils anomalies coincide with drainage channels sourced from the gold deposits of Gibraltar, Lloyd George and Grosmont. A large mid-south ENE gold anomaly is more enigmatic. This anomaly has been of interest to previous explorers with historic drill holes of wide spacings, except one continuous traverse of 12 holes that encountered low-level gold anomalism, between 0.1-0.5g/t Au in four of the holes.This historical drilling is not systematic and there are large areas within the historic soils anomalies to potentially host gold deposits of typical size for this area. CSIRO landscape evaluation will provide a better understanding of above background UFF+ assay results. Using dispersion direction maps, the aim is to generate semi-automated outputs that will provide indicators/confidence in how localised a geochemical signature is and expect to provide an enhanced view compared to historical soils data. Also, there are probable paleochannels that will be discretely identified in the spatial data analytics and therefore will be accounted for in the landscape components that CSIRO evaluates with the geochemistry. Primary quartz vein gold deposits in amphibolite facies rocks have relatively small alteration and trace element footprints. UFF+ soils data will define multi-element signatures (including near misses without anomalous gold) and define alteration elements and minerals with spectral proxies that sometimes pick up "different" minerals which may assist to define basement anomalies. CSIRO use exploration indices for many mineralisation styles so different deposit types are not overlooked.Monger North ProjectReconnaissance by our geologists identified the north-east tenement group as both having potential for nickel-cobalt laterite and supergene/primary gold.The Daisy Milano Gold Mine (1.5Mt @18.4g/t for 877koz, 2017 ( ASX:SLR )) stratigraphy of sediment (conglomerate, siltstones/shale) and felsic volcanics in contact with ultramafic, traverses the eastern section of our tenements. Gold in drill intercepts at are found at Black Hills 1.5km north within the same stratigraphy (( ASX:BC8 ) Black Cat Further Expands Strategic Tenements at Fingals and Bulong ASX Announcement 29 May 2020). At Hammer and Tap Prospect (BC8) gold is concentrated in clay beneath pisolite and nodular laterite.A recent deep roadside cutting on a Silver Lake Resources ( ASX:SLR ) tenement on the boundary with MMG's ground exposed a cross-section of regolith. A smectite zone with nontronite clays and mottled zone has developed beneath serpentinite peridotite with relict mesh texture of the parent rock preserved. Nickel essentially concentrates in smectite zones so the question is whether trioctahedral Mg+Ni saponite exists within the smectite zone.Surface soil samples will search for nickel anomalies across the widespread northeast laterite covered areas. Directly 3.5km north and along geological strike of MMG tenements, a JORC2004 Inferred Resource was estimated by Cortona Resources Ltd of 30 Mt at 0.64% Ni having dimensions of 3.5 km x 0.4 km, extending to a maximum depth of 40m (now Black Cat Syndicate Ltd ( ASX:BC8 )).Monger South ProjectThere are colluvium and high energy alluvium deposits draining N/NE from elevated topographic relief in the south. This significant relief produced colluvium, alluvial drainage channels, alluvial fans and alluvial plains. CSIRO spatial data analytics and the supplemental UFF+ sample data like particle sizing is effective at separating out different soil types. In the NE, two historical short drill lines (targeting magnetic highs) intersected 1.99 g/t Au (1m). This area is the most prospective on the property with ESE/E-striking ultramafic, felsic/intermediate volcanics and volcaniclastic geological contacts of the Daisy-Milano mine corridor sequence from Christmas Flats to Mirror open pits. NNW faults intersecting DM stratigraphy are prospective for gold mineralisation in the area. These NNW structures host gold in andesite and intermediate conglomerate in close proximity to ultramafic rocks. The Mt Monger Shear, a regional scale domain boundary structure dips NE/N and sits immediately south of the tenements. Bedding and geological contacts generally dip SW/S into the structure. A major north-striking dextral fault lies immediately east of Monger South tenements, separating the Randall group of gold mines and gold mill (( ASX:SLR ) 1.7 MTPA). The deepest transported cover is in this area and new soil sampling will target this area.Historical carbonate sampled auger soils programs have found anomalous areas of high tenor >100ppb Au above NW-striking Tommies Dam and at Three Emus Prospects (SW locale).Minor gold mineralisation has been discovered directly below these soil anomalies. The prospects follow a linear trend that is suboptimal without the intersection of northerly faults crossing the NW-striking structures. The resulting intersection increases host rock permeability. Around 30% in area of the new program has historical soil sampling. New soils samples across these areas will be compared to historical anomalies. Cenozoic deep weathering has leached basement, especially the felsic/intermediate volcanics and associated sediments. There is the potential for base metal VMS, Sedimentary Cu or even REE clay targets that information can be generated on. Although early in development, many different mineralisation styles have the potential to be defined from the UFF results.*To view tables and figures, please visit:About Monger Gold Ltd

With an enterprise value AUD $1m and AUD $5m in funding, Monger Gold Limited's (ASX:MMG) intention is to generate value for shareholders by directing funds raised by the Offer into targeted and systematic exploration of our Projects, resulting in the definition of one or more JORC compliant gold and nickel resources.


Kalahari Metals - Botswana Exploration Update

Sydney, April 12, 2022 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Cobre Limited ( ASX:CBE ) is pleased to provide an update after review of final drill core and Reverse Circulation (RC) results on the Endurance Prospect located on Kalahari Metals Limited's (KML) Kitlanya East Project.The Endurance Prospect covers an area over 25 kilometres (km) containing an extensive elongated fold structure with numerous smaller doubly plunging anticlinal structures superimposed, offering excellent trap-sites for Cu-Ag mineralisation analogous to Sandfire Resources' ( ASX:SFR ) neighbouring T3 and A4 deposits.HIGHLIGHTS:- Positive drill results support KML's targeting model, increasing confidence in the Project.- Base metal assays from priority holes corroborate geological logging results and validate the targeting methodology employed with indications of mineralisation consistently occurring below, and along breaks, in folded conductors.- A total of 34 drill holes have been designed by KML's technical team to test new high-priority targets with an initial 14 holes (approximately 4,000m) prioritised for the next phase of drilling.- Next phase drilling, which is subject to approvals under the KML joint venture, forms part of KML's systematic exploration programme aimed at discovering the next Cu-Ag deposit in the Kalahari Copper Belt, Botswana.Cobre Limited's Executive Chairman and Managing Director Martin Holland said:"The next stage of proposed exploration that has been well thought out by our experienced technical team, is a significant step towards the potential discovery of a new copper orebody in the Kalahari Copper Belt, Botswana. This copper belt is gathering significant traction with Sandfire Resources Limited recently announcing the commencement of open pit mining at Motheo, a significant Cu/Ag mine that sits adjacent to KML's advanced exploration tenure".During 2021, KML set out to test a targeting model based on folding, feeder structures and stratigraphy. Drilling was very broadly spaced to provide an initial insight into multiple targets across the large prospect area. A total of 3,345 meters (m) of diamond and 1,701m of RC drilling were completed on the Endurance Prospect in two stages. The first stage provided important insights into the selected targets and demonstrated key alteration assemblages at Endurance, which are known to be associated with major deposits across the Kalahari Copper Belt (KCB). Second stage drilling successfully refined the targeting model and involved an initial test of new targets and broad step out around some first stage holes (aimed at assessing alteration vectors).Drill results provided several intersections displaying signs of encouraging alteration and intense veining with accompanying visible trace Cu, Pb and Zn mineralisation, all considered important vectors to mineralisation. Selected zones of drill core and RC samples were sent for assay to confirm the logging results and assist with further target generation.Based on drill results to date, an expanded programme testing multiple targets on the Endurance Prospect has been designed as the next step in KML's systematic exploration programme aimed at discovering the next Cu-Ag deposit in the KCB.UPDATED TARGETS FOR FOLLOW-UP WORKSeveral new targets have been prioritised for follow-up drill testing subject to appropriate approvals by the KML JV. The new targets focus on disruptions and washouts in folded AEM conductors which, based on the 2021 drilling, appear to relate to hydrothermal fluid activity associated with introduction of Cu-Ag mineralisation. The 5km x 2km central portion of the Endurance Prospect looks particularly interesting with evidence for a degree of stratigraphic uplift in this area supported by magnetic data and drill results to date. A total of 34 drill holes have been planned to test these new targets with an initial 14 holes (approximately 4,000m) prioritised for the next phase of drilling. Targets are illustrated in Figure 2*. The exploration process to whittle down the extensive prospective areas to focussed drill targets is schematically illustrated in Figure 3*.DRILL SAMPLE RESULTSA total of 832 drill core and 115 RC samples along with appropriate duplicates, replicates and control source material were sent for aqua-regia ICP-AES multi-element analysis at ALS laboratories in Johannesburg. Samples were selected from zones with intense alteration and veining, often with evidence of trace base metal mineralisation in drill core. RC samples with anomalous provisional pXRF results were also included for assay.Results were used to:- Confirm the logging of trace base metal sulphides in drill core;- Identify potential element assemblages which could help with identification of alteration halos associated with mineralisation; and- Prioritise the multiple targets identified to date and refine the next phase of drilling.Results:- Base metal assays from priority holes corroborate geological logging results and validate target selection criteria;- Mineralisation appears to consistently occur in breaks in folded AEM conductors as well as below the marker conductor horizon corroborating the structural model used for target generation; and- Encouraging Cu results were returned from a doubly plunging fold target identified during progressive review of field observations and refinement of the targeting model during the 2021 drilling programme.*To view tables and figures, please visit:About Cobre Limited

Cobre Limited (ASX:CBE) is a copper and base-metals explorer with projects in Western Australia and Botswana. The Company recently discovered a new high-grade VMS deposit enriched in Copper, Gold, Zinc and Silver in Western Australia, and is currently exploring approximately 8,100 km2 of tenements within the Kalahari Copper Belt (KCB) in Botswana.
Copyright  2022 Albuquerque Journal

SANTA FE  Republican Mark Ronchettis campaign for governor has raised over $2.1 million since October  more than twice as much as any other GOP candidate in the race, according to reports filed Monday.

Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, in turn, announced her own hefty haul, of nearly $2.7 million in recent donations.

Mondays finance reports offered the first peek this year at the financial strength of New Mexicos candidates for governor. The documents cover activity for the six months ending April 4.

Ronchetti, a former meteorologist at KRQE, a CBS affiliate, led the Republican field with about $2.1 million in cash contributions, making him the only GOP candidate to report over $1 million, much less $2 million, for the period.

State Rep. Rebecca Dow, R-Truth or Consequences, took in the next-highest total at $751,000 in donations, a figure that includes a $40,000 loan to herself.

Ronchetti spent more than the other GOP candidates but still led in cash on hand at the end of the reporting period, with about $1.6 million in his account.

In a written statement, Ronchetti said he was honored by the support.

New Mexicans want safer streets, meaningful border security, and excellent schools that focus on the basics, he said.

Among his largest contributors are ranchers, oil and gas companies, members of the Perot family in Dallas; and Allen Weh, a former chairman of the state Republican Party.

Dow, a member of the state House district since 2017, was backed by over $70,000 in donations from members of the Yates family and affiliated trusts  some of which is reserved for the general election campaign. The Artesia family has been a prominent part of the oil and gas industry.

Dows report also included a host of contributions from fellow Republican legislators, among other donors. She reported a closing balance of $684,000.

Weve connected with thousands of voters across New Mexico with our conservative, New Mexico first approach and the response has been truly humbling, Dow said in a statement.

The states campaign finance website had some technical trouble Monday as candidates uploaded their reports. By 6 p.m., the reports of two candidates, Republican Jay Block and Lujan Grisham, hadnt been published on the site, but their campaigns provided estimates to the Journal.

The other Republican candidates include:

 Greg Zanetti, a military veteran and financial adviser who reported $169,000 in cash donations this period.

 Block, a Sandoval County commissioner and Air Force retiree who said his report would show roughly $130,000 in cash and in-kind contributions.

 Ethel Maharg, a former mayor of Cuba and an anti-abortion activist, reported about $13,000 in recent donations.

The five GOP candidates are engaged in a competitive race to challenge Lujan Grisham this fall.

The primary election is June 7, and absentee balloting begins May 10.

Lujan Grisham, who is seeking reelection to a second term, doesnt face any opposition in the Democratic primary.

Her campaign said she had raised nearly $2.7 million despite facing a number of fundraising blackout periods. State law prohibits her from seeking donations during and 20 days after legislative sessions, creating more than 80 days of prohibited activity in recent months.

The Democratic Party of New Mexico said Lujan Grisham is well-positioned for the fall.

As demonstrated by these completely underwhelming fundraising numbers, the entire GOP gubernatorial field is weak and floundering, Democratic spokeswoman Delaney Corcoran said.

The Nov. 8 general election will also feature a Libertarian candidate. Karen Bedonie, who initially ran as a Republican before switching her affiliation to Libertarian, reported $24,000 in recent donations.
Copyright  2022 Albuquerque Journal

Bosque School students came face to face with living history Monday  namely one of New Mexicos last remaining Holocaust survivors  who came to teach them about the different sides of humanity.

Around 40 juniors gathered in a visual and performing arts hall to listen to the story of Andy Holten, a docent for the New Mexico Holocaust Museum who between 1943 and 1944 lost the vast majority of his family to the genocide that claimed the lives of 6 million Jews.

Im incredibly glad to have had this opportunity, since we will be one of the last generations to be able to speak to actual Holocaust survivors, said junior Tenzin Wong. I think thats incredibly powerful.

Bosque School is a private college preparatory school for middle and high school students situated along Albuquerques Bosque. Attendees for Mondays presentation were mostly students enrolled in humanities classes, which teacher Norah Doss said combine English and history.

Holten, 84, blended textbook history about the beginning of the Holocaust with stories of his experience as a hidden child, after his birth parents made the excruciating, but ultimately life-saving decision to ask a Christian family to take him in.

They made the very difficult decision, Im still in awe that they made that decision, Holten told a captivated audience. But thats what made it possible for me to be here, talking about it.

Holten, then a Jewish 5-year-old, went underground with Johannes and Petronella Meijer in the town of Haarlem, not far from where he was born in Holland, where he hid out under a false name for the last two years of World War II.

In January 1944, his parents and maternal grandparents were loaded onto a train with nearly 1,000 others  122 of whom were children  bound for the Auschwitz concentration camp.

His mother and grandparents were immediately sent to the gas chamber, while his father was forced to work in a nearby camp for around four months before he fell ill due to work conditions and was executed in August.

Holten survived the war, completing high school under the wing of the Meijers, who he emotionally said elected to keep him, before immigrating to the United States in 1956, where he earned a physics degree from the City College of New York.

He enlisted in the U.S. Air Force, reaching the rank of captain and helping design protection for the fuel system of the attack aircraft A-10 Warthog Thunderbolt II, before moving to Albuquerque and eventually becoming a substitute teacher in Rio Rancho for around 22 years.

Holten, who is among 23 to 33 Holocaust survivors in the state, has recounted his and his familys stories to hundreds of local students in the last few weeks alone, according to New Mexico Holocaust Museum Director of Programs Carson Morris.

That experience, Holten said, can at times be difficult. For the most part, however, its been therapeutic.

Talking about it has helped me, he told the Journal, while clutching a copy of Nicole Krauss The History of Love  a novel one student described as involving a Holocaust survivor turned U.S. immigrant grappling with their past and people from it.

But telling his story also serves much larger purposes, Holten said, referencing a 2020 Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany study finding that 63% of millennials and Gen Z respondents didnt know of the murder of 6 million Jews during the Holocaust.

Above all, Holten said his story is one that teaches young students to practice tolerance, and about the many different sides of humanity.

I experienced the worst of what people can do to one another  they exterminated my whole family, Holten said. But I also experienced the best of what people can do. The Meijers took me in  they were willing to take a chance.

Holtens message seemed to have had an effect on his students.

Its so important that we understand our history, said junior Soren Olsen. Even in the future, we really need to learn about the Holocaust, and prolong this understanding of our society  and I think it was really enlightening to speak to someone who actually had to experience that.
WELLINGTON, April 12 (Xinhua) -- New Zealand's lobster exporters are optimistic about post-COVID exports to China, boosted by an upgraded free trade agreement (FTA) that entered into force last week.

"We are definitely optimistic about post-COVID exports, as Chinese consumers return to restaurants and enjoy celebrating together again," Fiordland Lobster Company General Manager Andrew Harvey told Xinhua on Tuesday.

The company is New Zealand's largest exporter of live rock lobsters. Harvey noted that China's National Day Golden Week in October is always one of the most important events on the calendar for lobster exports.

"We're optimistic that it will be again this year, if COVID-19 allows," Harvey said. His company started lobster export to China in the 1990s.

A recent good news for New Zealand's export sector is the protocol on upgrading the China-New Zealand FTA taking effect last Thursday.

The upgraded FTA makes exporting to China easier and reduces compliance costs for New Zealand exporters by addressing a range of non-tariff issues, such as a six-hour limit on customs clearance of perishable goods and proper storage while pending release.

"This will give New Zealand exporters, especially exporters of fresh seafood and fruit, more confidence that their cargo will be processed with minimal delay and reduce spoilage, which will save time and money," Huang Yuefeng, the economic and commercial counselor of the Chinese embassy in New Zealand, told Xinhua.

Over the last two years the COVID-19 pandemic has led to frequent interruptions and challenges for lobster exports, Harvey said.

"Fortunately, the governments of New Zealand and China have both handled COVID-19 pretty well, so overall business has been able to continue through the challenges," Harvey said, adding that both New Zealand exporters and Chinese importers have experience in handling COVID-related conditions.

The lobster fisheries in New Zealand are very healthy, and demand from Chinese consumers is good when restaurants are open, "so we just need to manage the COVID-related challenges that come up. Those are unpredictable," Harvey said.

They are ready to react quickly to changing conditions and work closely with their Chinese importer clients, he said.

New Zealand's rock lobster export industry is estimated at around 300 million New Zealand dollars (roughly 205 million U.S. dollars) per annum, statistics show.

China is New Zealand's largest export market for lobsters, Harvey said, noting that wealthy lobster consumers are mainly from southern Chinese cities such as Shenzhen and Guangzhou, where seafood consumption is traditionally large.

Helicopters and insulated trucks are used to fly live lobsters from the depots to one of the company's exports packing factories in New Zealand in order to keep lobsters fresh, he said. "Lobsters cannot be bred artificially and must be caught in remote sea areas." 
Copyright  2022 Albuquerque Journal

Over the past 10 months, Louie Sanchez has called the police nearly a dozen times about the goings-on outside his Allstate Agency office on Central and 61st.

And the city councilor  a former Albuquerque Police Department officer  wants to know why officers werent immediately dispatched to his latest report about a man threatening or maybe hitting another with a gun. He said he believes calls are getting downgraded from what should be considered the highest priority to where officers are not even sent to the scene.

Sanchez, who was sworn in this January, has been sharply critical of Chief Harold Medina. He frequently brings up his calls to 911 and 242-COPS at council meetings as well as his history with the police department.

Last week, after the last meeting, council services requested the citys Office of Internal Audit conduct an audit of 911 emergency response times, said Nicole Kelley, the city auditor. She said they are determining what the scope and objective of that review would be.

In an interview Friday, an APD spokesman agreed that officers should have been sent to Sanchezs call on March 26  in which he said he saw a man hit another man with the butt of a gun and point the gun. Sanchez told the call-taker no one was injured.

Spokesman Gilbert Gallegos said the call should have been considered a priority one or two since there was an allegation that a gun was involved. Instead the call-taker told Sanchez she was setting up a be on the look out.

Gallegos said the call-taker has received additional training since Sanchez aired his grievances.

Ideally, they would have dispatched officers, gone to the scene  Gallegos said. Ideally, they would have victim information, or they could have met with Mr. Sanchez, to get more information  if theres someone out there on the property they could formulate a plan and go deal with it.

But Gallegos also said he thought Sanchez may have confused the call-taker by saying that he didnt want an officer to contact him and then saying he did.

If the victims not there and they dont know if a victim wants to press charges or a witness isnt contacted, the officer cant just show up and take the gun from someones hands if theyre not sure that they committed a crime or have suspicion, Gallegos said.

Sanchez clarified to the Journal that when he told the call-taker no about an officer contacting him he meant thats not the way thats supposed to be taking place, not that he wouldnt talk to an officer.

Officers were eventually dispatched after Sanchez called the director of the Emergency Communications Center directly  Gallegos said he called a secure line that is supposed to only be used by the chief and Sanchez countered that: Ive called that line for 26 years as a police officer and I still have that in my phone.

Gallegos said when officers went to the scene  about 50 minutes after Sanchezs call  all they found were two people sitting in the shade who said they had been there a few minutes and hadnt seen anything suspicious. He said when officers reviewed security camera footage of the area they didnt have a clear view of the gas station where Sanchez said the incident took place.

It did show at least four different police cars in the area at various times on a busy street, Gallegos said.

Logs provided to the Journal from APD show Sanchez called 911 or 242-COPS on 11 different days between June 2021 and the end of March referencing fights hes seen, or suspected drug dealing and prostitution. Police were dispatched to at least three of those calls.

In some cases Sanchez told the operator its already too late and expresses disbelief that no one had answered the phone when he called. Before the past year, Sanchez had only called 911 once in 2020.

Sanchez acknowledged that he has called more frequently in the past several months and says thats because a lot of incidents have happened in front of his office.

I witnessed a fight in progress with a stabbing, I witnessed individuals throwing rocks at each other during heavy traffic, he said.

Gallegos said it was concerning that on a couple of the calls you can hear him arguing with the call-taker.

If theyre all legitimate emergencies, thats quite a bit for that period of time, Gallegos said. The concern is we dont want him tying up the line for anyone else who does have a legitimate emergency. Its impossible for me to know whether they were and what his intentions were.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.  Strong spring winds fueled wildfires burning around New Mexico on Monday, prompting evacuations south of Albuquerque where authorities said some structures have burned and more are threatened.

About 100 firefighters were battling the latest blaze, which was burning out of control and sent up a large plume of smoke that could be seen for miles in the Rio Grande Valley.

Valencia County officials called for evacuations in the area and directed residents to a shelter at a community center in rural Belen, just south of Albuquerque.

They reported an unknown number of structures were lost, but it wasnt immediately clear how many were homes, barns or other outbuildings. KOAT-TV broadcast aerial footage that showed at least one residence burning near Rio Communities.

Weather forecasters have warned of high fire danger statewide state due to gusty winds, dry conditions and low humidity levels.

In northern New Mexico near the community of Las Vegas, crews also were grappling with the wind as they worked to corral a prescribed fire that had jumped its containment lines last week and prompted voluntary evacuations.

A larger inter-agency team with more than 170 firefighters assumed command of that fire on Monday. Its estimated to have burned more than a square mile (2.5 square kilometers).
The University of New Mexicos Health Sciences Centers top financial officer, Ava Lovell, will retire in June.

Lovell, HSCs senior executive officer for Finance & Administration, has spent nearly 28 years with UNM. She began her time with the university in 1994 and has been in her current role since 2012.

I just cant think of a better way to spend your time that you put into a career any place else really, Lovell told the Journal. It went so fast and I really enjoyed it.

A certified public accountant with more than 30 years of financial management experience, Lovell has fiscal and administrative oversight for academic and health system enterprises under UNMs Health Sciences Center.

She had received her bachelors degree in accountancy from Northern Arizona University. She also received her masters degree in health administration from the University of Southern California in 2016.

Lovells most recent salary stood at $275,000, according to UNMs transparency portal.

Lovells career had taken her many places before her time at UNM. She had worked for a national auditing firm in Ernst & Young and several Fortune 500 companies, including PepsiCo, before heading to UNM.

In 2007, Lovell became the vice president and university controller over main campus and UNM Health Sciences Centers financial services. By 2012, she had moved full-time into HSCs Finance & Administration department as SEO.

Lovell has also taught some classes related to accounting through the National Association of College and University Business Officers.

Her excellent skills and knowledge combined with tireless efforts has helped create stability in a rapidly changing healthcare and health sciences landscape, and we have been very fortunate to benefit from her leadership, executive vice president for Health Sciences and CEO of UNM Health System Doug Ziedonis said.

The UNM Health Sciences Center said it will conduct an internal search for an interim VP of Finance & Administration until a national search is implemented for the role. Lovell, whose last day is June 30, will remain through the rest of the year in an advisory capacity, according to HSC.
SANTA FE  New Mexico state Sen. Jacob Candelaria is suing fellow Sen. Mimi Stewart, accusing her of retaliation over his criticism of her leadership.

Candelaria, an independent, believes Stewart, a Democrat, used her authority as president pro tem of the Senate to move his Capitol office and change his seat on the Senate floor.

Candelaria, 35, says he is suing out of principle because any form of reprisal is unlawful.

A spokesman for Senate Democrats said Stewart, 75, would not comment on the lawsuit, according to the Santa Fe New Mexican.

The relationship between the two senators was already known to be icy. But things escalated after Stewart allowed an investigation of a state administrator accused of making racist

remarks but didnt alert all state legislators.

Several staffers under Rachel Gudgel, director of the Legislative Education Study Committee, alleged she made racist comments about Native Americans, belittled a gay man and had a harsh management style.

Only a few other legislative leaders knew an attorney was conducting an investigation into her conduct. But this did not include eight of the 10 lawmakers with direct supervisory authority over her.

Candelaria and others called for her dismissal but Stewart remained a steadfast defender of Gudgel.

Gudgel eventually resigned.

Candelaria wants his lawsuit to go to trial even though hes resigning from the Senate in December in the middle of a third term.
KYIV, Ukraine  Vladimir Putin vowed Tuesday that Russias bloody offensive in Ukraine would continue until its goals are fulfilled and insisted the campaign was going as planned, despite a major withdrawal in the face of stiff Ukrainian opposition and significant losses.

Russian troops, thwarted in their push toward Ukraines capital, are now focusing on the eastern Donbas region, where Ukraine said Tuesday it was investigating a claim that a poisonous substance had been dropped on its troops. It was not clear what the substance might be, but Western officials warned that any use of chemical weapons by Russia would be a serious escalation of the already devastating war.

Russia invaded on Feb. 24, with the goal, according to Western officials, of taking Kyiv, the capital, toppling the government and installing a Moscow-friendly regime. In the six weeks since, the ground advance stalled and Russian forces lost potentially thousands of fighters and were accused of killing civilians and other atrocities.

Putin insisted Tuesday that his invasion aimed to protect people in parts of eastern Ukraine controlled by Moscow-backed rebels and to ensure Russias own security.

He said Russia had no other choice but to launch what he calls a special military operation, and vowed it would continue until its full completion and the fulfillment of the tasks that have been set.

For now, Putins forces are gearing up for a major offensive in the Donbas, which has been torn by fighting between Russian-allied separatists and Ukrainian forces since 2014, and where Russia has recognized the separatists claims of independence. Military strategists say Moscow appears to hope that local support, logistics and the terrain in the region favor its larger, better-armed military, potentially allowing Russia to finally turn the tide in its favor.

In Mariupol, a strategic port city in the Donbas, a Ukrainian regiment defending a steel mill claimed a drone dropped a poisonous substance on the city. It indicated there were no serious injuries. The assertion by the Azov Regiment, a far-right group now part of the Ukrainian military, could not be independently verified.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that while experts try to determine what the substance might be, The world must react now. Evidence of inhuman cruelty toward women and children in Bucha and other suburbs of Kyiv continued to surface, he added, including of alleged rapes.

Not all serial rapists reach the cruelty of Russian soldiers, Zelenskyy said.

The claims came after a Russia-allied separatist official appeared to urge the use of chemical weapons, telling Russian state TV on Monday that separatist forces should seize the plant by first blocking all the exits. And then well use chemical troops to smoke them out of there, the official, Eduard Basurin, said. He denied Tuesday that separatist forces had used chemical weapons in Mariupol.

Ukraines Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar said officials were investigating, and it was possible phosphorus munitions  which cause horrendous burns but are not classed as chemical weapons  had been used in Mariupol.

Much of the city has been leveled in weeks of pummeling by Russian troops. The mayor said Monday that the siege has left more than 10,000 civilians dead, their bodies carpeted through the streets. Mayor Vadym Boychenko said the death toll in Mariupol alone could surpass 20,000.

Zelenskyy adviser Mykhailo Podolyak acknowledged the challenges Ukrainian troops face in Mariupol. He said via Twitter that they remain blocked and are having issues with supplies, while Ukraines president and generals do everything possible (and impossible) to find a solution.

For more than 1.5 months our defenders protect the city from (Russian) troops, which are 10+ times larger, Podolyak tweeted. Theyre fighting under the bombs for each meter of the city. They make (Russia) pay an exorbitant price.

British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said the use of chemical weapons would be a callous escalation in this conflict, while Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne said it would be a wholesale breach of international law.

U.S. President Joe Biden for the first time referred to Russias invasion as a genocide. He was even blunter later Tuesday, repeating the term and saying: Its become clearer and clearer that Putin is just trying to wipe out the idea of even being a Ukrainian.

Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said in a statement that the U.S. could not confirm the drone report. But he noted the administrations persistent concerns about Russias potential to use a variety of riot control agents, including tear gas mixed with chemical agents.

Britain, meanwhile, has warned that Russia may resort to phosphorus bombs, which are banned in civilian areas under international law, in Mariupol.

Most armies use phosphorus munitions to illuminate targets or to produce smoke screens. Deliberately firing them into an enclosed space to expose people to fumes could breach the Chemical Weapons Convention, said Marc-Michael Blum, a former laboratory head at the Netherlands-based Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons.

Once you start using the properties of white phosphorus, toxic properties, specifically and deliberately, then it becomes banned, he said.

In Washington, a senior U.S. defense official said the Biden administration was preparing yet another package of military aid for Ukraine possibly totaling $750 million to be announced in the coming days. The official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss plans not yet publicly announced. Delivery is due to be completed this week of $800 million in military assistance approved by Biden a month ago.

In the face of stiff resistance by Ukrainian forces bolstered by Western weapons, Russian forces have increasingly relied on bombarding cities, flattening many urban areas and killing thousands. The war has driven more than 10 million Ukrainians from their homes  including nearly two-thirds of the countrys children.

Moscows retreat from cities and towns around Kyiv led to the discovery of large numbers of apparently massacred civilians, prompting widespread condemnation and accusations of war crimes.

More than 720 people were killed in Kyiv suburbs that had been occupied by Russian troops and over 200 were considered missing, the Interior Ministry said early Wednesday.

In Bucha alone, Mayor Anatoliy Fedoruk said 403 bodies had been found and the toll could rise as minesweepers comb the area.

Ukraines prosecutor-generals office said Tuesday it was also looking into events in the Brovary district, which lies to the northeast.

It said the bodies of six civilians were found with gunshot wounds in a basement in the village of Shevchenkove and Russian forces were believed to be responsible.

Prosecutors are also investigating allegations that Russian forces fired on a convoy of civilians trying to leave by car from the village of Peremoha in the Brovary district, killing four people including a 13-year-old boy. In another attack near Bucha, five people were killed including two children when a car was fired upon, prosecutors said.

Putin falsely claimed Tuesday that Ukraines accusation that hundreds of civilians were killed by Russian troops in the town of Bucha were fake. Associated Press journalists saw dozens of bodies in and around the town, some of whom had their hands bound and appeared to have been shot at close range.

Speaking at the Vostochny space launch facility in Russias far east, in his first known foray outside Moscow since the war began, Putin also said the West would fail to isolate Russia and its economy has withstood a blitz of sanctions.

Addressing the pace of the campaign, he said Moscow was proceeding calmly and rhythmically to achieve the planned goals while minimizing the losses.

The Russian defense ministry said Tuesday that it used used air- and sea-launched missiles to destroy an ammunition depot and airplane hangar at Starokostiantyniv in the western Khmelnytskyi region and an ammunition depot near Kyiv.

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Karmanau reported from Lviv, Ukraine. Associated Press writer Robert Burns in Washington, and AP journalists around the world contributed to this report.

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Follow the APs coverage of the war at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine
NEW YORK  A gunman wearing a gas mask set off smoke grenades and fired a barrage of bullets inside a rush-hour subway train in Brooklyn, wounding at least 10 people Tuesday, authorities said. Police were trying to track down the renter of a van possibly connected to the violence.

Chief of Detectives James Essig said investigators werent sure whether the man, identified as Frank R. James, 62, had any link to the subway attack.

Authorities were looking at the mans apparent social media posts, some of which led officials to tighten security for New York City Mayor Eric Adams. Police Commissioner Keechant Sewell called the posts concerning.

The attack transformed the morning commute into a scene of horror: a smoke-filled underground train, an onslaught of at least 33 bullets, screaming riders running through a station and bloodied people lying on the platform as others administered aid.

Jordan Javier thought the first popping sound he heard was a textbook dropping. Then there was another pop, people started moving toward the front of the car, and he realized there was smoke, he said.

When the train pulled into the station, people ran out and were directed to another train across the platform. Passengers wept and prayed as they rode, Javier said.

Im just grateful to be alive, he said.

Five gunshot victims were in critical condition but expected to survive. At least a dozen people who escaped gunshot wounds were treated for smoke inhalation and other injuries.

Sewell said the attack was not being investigated as terrorism, but that she was not ruling out anything. The shooters motive was unknown.

Sitting in the back of the trains second car, the gunman tossed two smoke grenades on the floor, pulled out a Glock 9 mm semi-automatic handgun and started firing, Essig said. A riders video shows a person raising an arm and pointing at something as five bangs sound.

Passengers in the smoke-filled car pounded on the door to an adjacent car, seeking to escape, rider Juliana Fonda, who was in that adjoining car, told the news site Gothamist. Fonda is a broadcast engineer for Gothamists owner, public radio station WNYC.

Investigators believe the shooters gun jammed and kept him from firing more, said two law enforcement officials who werent authorized to discuss the investigation and spoke on condition of anonymity.

Essig said police found the weapon, along with extended magazines, a hatchet, detonated and undetonated smoke grenades, a black garbage can, a rolling cart, gasoline and the key to a U-Haul van.

That key led investigators to James, who has addresses in Philadelphia and Wisconsin, the detective chief said. The van was later found, unoccupied, near a subway station where investigators determined the gunman entered the train system, Essig said.

Rambling, profanity-filled YouTube videos apparently posted by James, who is Black, are replete with Black nationalist rhetoric, violent language and bigoted comments, some of them directed at other Black people. One, posted April 11, criticizes crime against Black people and says drastic action is needed to change things.

Several videos mention New Yorks subways, and Adams is a recurring theme.

A Feb. 20 video says the mayor and governors plan to address homelessness and safety in New York Citys subway system is doomed for failure and refers to himself as a victim of the mayors mental health program. A Jan. 25 video criticizes Adams plan to end gun violence.

The attack unnerved a city on guard about a rise in gun crimes and the ever-present threat of terrorism. It left some New Yorkers jittery about riding the nations busiest subway system and prompted officials to increase policing at transportation hubs from Philadelphia to Connecticut.

This individual is still on the loose. This person is dangerous, Gov. Kathy Hochul, a Democrat, warned at a midday news conference.

In Menlo, Iowa, President Joe Biden praised the first responders who jumped in action, including civilians, civilians who didnt hesitate to help their fellow passengers and tried to shield them.

After people streamed out of the train, quick-thinking transit workers ushered passengers to another train across the platform for safety, transit officials said.

High school student John Butsikaris was riding that other train and initially thought the problem was mundane until the next stop, when he heard screams for medical attention and his train was evacuated.

Im definitely shook, the 15-year-old said. Even though I didnt see what happened, Im still scared, because it was like a few feet away from me, what happened.

New York City has faced a spate of shootings and high-profile bloodshed in recent months, including on the citys subways. One of the most shocking was in January, when a woman was pushed to her death in front of a train by a stranger.

Adams, a Democrat a little over 100 days into his term, has made cracking down on crime  especially in the subways  an early focus of his administration, pledging to send more police officers into stations and platforms for regular patrols. It wasnt immediately clear whether any officers were in the station when the shootings occurred.

The mayor, who is isolating following a positive COVID-19 test on Sunday, said in a video statement that the city will not allow New Yorkers to be terrorized, even by a single individual.

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Balsamo reported from Washington. Associated Press writers Beatrice Dupuy, Karen Matthews, Julie Walker, Deepti Hajela, Michelle L. Price and David Porter in New York contributed to this report, and Michael Kunzelman contributed from College Park, Maryland.
LONDON  Prime Minister Boris Johnson said Tuesday he paid a fine from police for attending a lockdown-breaching birthday party in his official residence, making him the first British leader to be sanctioned for breaking the law while in office.

The fines for Johnson, his wife, Carrie, and Treasury chief Rishi Sunak brought a simmering crisis for the prime minister back to full boil, with opposition politicians immediately calling for his resignation.

Johnson and his Conservative government have faced growing outrage since allegations surfaced late last year that he and his staff flouted Britains pandemic restrictions and held office parties in 2020 and 2021 when millions in the country were barred from meeting with friends and family  or even attending funerals for their loved ones.

I have paid the fine and want to offer a full apology, Johnson said. I understand the anger many will feel that I myself fell short when it came to observing the very rules which the government I lead had introduced to protect the public. I accept in all sincerity that people had the right to expect better.

Downing Street said Johnson was being sanctioned for attending a gathering of two or more people indoors in the Cabinet Room at 10 Downing Street on June 19, 2020. The event was a surprise birthday party for the prime minister.

Johnson said the gathering lasted less than 10 minutes, and at that time, it did not occur to me this might have been a breach of the rules.

Londons Metropolitan Police force said it had issued at least 50 fines after investigating a dozen events held in 10 Downing St. and and other government buildings. They reportedly included bring your own booze office parties and wine time Fridays organized by Johnsons staff.

The force did not identify the recipients or the size of the fines. But Johnsons office confirmed shortly after that the prime minister and Sunak each received notice Tuesday that they would be issued with fines for an undisclosed amount. If paid promptly, such fines do not result in a criminal record.

Opponents, and some members of the governing Conservative Party, say Johnson should resign.

Thousands of people were fined between 60 pounds ($79) and 10,000 pounds ($13,200) by police for rule-breaking social gatherings during the pandemic.

Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak have broken the law and repeatedly lied to the British public, said Keir Starmer, leader of the opposition Labour Party. The Conservatives are totally unfit to govern. Britain deserves better.

Opposition parties called for lawmakers to be recalled from their Easter break for a vote of no-confidence in Johnson.

The COVID-19 Bereaved Families for Justice group said there is simply no way that Johnson or Sunak can remain in their jobs.

Its still unbelievably painful to know that the Prime Minister was partying and breaking his own lockdown rules  while we were unable to be at our loved ones sides in their dying moments, said the groups spokesman Lobby Akinnola.

A total of 16 parties were investigated by a senior civil servant, Sue Gray, with a dozen of them also under investigation by the Metropolitan Police.

In January, Gray published a report into some of the gatherings, the ones not under criminal investigation. She said failures of leadership and judgment in Johnsons government allowed events to occur that should not have happened.

The report said some of the gatherings showed a serious failure to observe standards for government, and some behavior at the parties were difficult to justify given how the public were asked to restrict their lives.

Johnsons grip on power had appeared to be on a knife-edge earlier this year because of the scandal and the departure of several top aides. Allies feared partygate could become a tipping point for a leader who has weathered a series of other storms over his expenses, and his moral judgment.

Some Conservative lawmakers were openly calling for a no-confidence vote in their leader  something that can happen if 15% of Conservative lawmakers demand it.

But Johnson has hung on, partly because Russias invasion of Ukraine distracted public and political attention.

Johnsons international image, battered by Britains messy exit from the European Union under his leadership, has been revived by his firm military, political and moral support for Ukraine. Johnson traveled to Kyiv last weekend to meet with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Johnson might also benefit from the woes afflicting Sunak, the 41-year-old Treasury chief who has been seen as a potential rival and successor. The fine for Sunak comes as he also faces a backlash over the spiraling cost of living and questions about his financial arrangements and the tax status of his wealthy wife.

Jill Rutter, a senior fellow at the Institute for Government think-tank, said partygate had damaged the reputation of both the government and the civil service.

The line, Its one rule for them and another law for the rest of us really does resonate, she said.

Rutter said Johnson was probably safe for now, but could face fresh peril if the Conservatives take a hammering in next months local elections.

And with the prime minister, theres always a possibility that something else comes out, she said. So you wouldnt say that its guaranteed plain sailing through to the 2023-2024 election. But I think we definitely premature to write him off now.

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Associated Press Writer Danica Kirka contributed.



Follow APs pandemic coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic
STRASBOURG, France  French President Emmanuel Macron and extreme-right politician Marine Le Pen voiced two radically opposed visions of Europe on Tuesday: one resolutely advocating for the bloc of 27 nations, the other defending her French nationalist mottos.

If Macron falters in Frances April 24 presidential runoff between the two, the far-right could be at the helm of the European Union, an abhorrent idea to most leaders in the bloc.

Experts say a win for Le Pen would have immense repercussions on the functioning of the EU. Not only would her coming to power damage the democratic values and commercial rules of the bloc, but it would also threaten the EUs common front and sanctions in response to Russias war in Ukraine.

Macron headed on Tuesday to Strasbourg, the seat of the EU parliament, to speak about Frances role in Europe. All polls show he is the favorite in the runoff, but Le Pen has significantly narrowed the gap compared to when Macron handily won five years ago.

Nationalism is war, Macron warned in front of thousands of supporters waiving French and European flags.

At a time when war is back on the European continent  its through Europe that we will build peace, he said, welcoming a big Ukrainian flag being waived in front of the stage.

Europe is a treasure we patiently built, but which will also allow us to respond to the challenges of the future, he added.

The outdoor rally, near the citys 12th-century cathedral, was closed by the French and the European anthems.

France has always stood at the heart of the EU  a founding member that has partnered with neighbor and historical rival Germany to turn the bloc into an economic giant and an icon of Western values. To hand that vaunted perch to a far-right politician would be bad enough. But, as coincidence would have it, France also holds the EUs rotating six-month presidency this spring, which also allows it to speak with the power of the 27.

It is a pedestal few want to offer to Le Pen. The National Rally leader wants to establish national border controls on imports and people, reduce the French contribution to the EU budget and cease to recognize that European law has primacy over national law.

She has proposed removing taxes on hundreds of goods and wants to reduce taxes on fuel  which would go against the EUs free market rules and efforts to fight climate change.

Although Le Pen has excised Frexit from her platform, her hostility toward the EU is still clear. Speaking to France Inter radio, Le Pen said Tuesday that a large majority of French people no longer want the European Union as it exists today. She accused the bloc of acting in an absolutely anti-democratic way.

She refuted critics charges that her policies would amount to a French exit from the EU. Instead, she said the EU can be changed from within.

Macron accused Le Pen of speaking nonsense.

She explains that she wont pay the bill for the (EU) club, that she will change the rules, but will change the rules alone he said. It means she wants to get out (of the EU) but doesnt dare say it anymore.

Jean-Claude Piris, who served as a legal counsel to the European Council, said a victory for Le Pen would have the effect of an earthquake.

She is in favor of a form of economic patriotism with state aids, which is contrary to the rules of the single market, Piris told The Associated Press.

She wants to modify the French constitution by giving preference to the French, by suppressing the right of the soil, the right of asylum, which would be totally incompatible with the values of the European treaties, Piris added.

Piris said Le Pen would also threaten the unanimity of the blocs 27 nations on the sanctions they have adopted so far against Russia for its invasion of Ukraine. She could prevent further measures being adopted. The bloc is currently mulling whether to add further restrictions on oil imports from Russia.

Le Pen has built close links with the Kremlin over the years. In her previous bid to become the French president in 2017, she called for strong security ties with Moscow to jointly combat radical Islamic groups. She also pledged to recognize Crimea  the peninsula Russia annexed from Ukraine in 2014  as part of Russia.

Le Pen acknowledged Russias invasion of Ukraine has partially changed her views about Russian President Vladimir Putin, saying he was wrong and expressing her support for the Ukrainian people and refugees.

A report from the Center for European Reform highlighted how Le Pen could go down the same road as Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and his Polish counterpart Mateusz Morawiecki in throwing up roadblocks for Brussels wherever she can to further slow the EUs already cumbersome decision-making.

The difference is that France  is indispensable to the EU, the report stressed, saying the consequences would be political chaos.

Macron made a similar parallel with Hungary, warning that the far-right Le Pen would do the same thing that he said is happening in Budapest: methodically, gradually reducing and deteriorating rights.

CER experts also believe that Le Pens policies would clash with the blocs climate goals. Le Pen is in favor of expanding nuclear and several non-governmental groups have warned that she would slow down the transition toward renewable energy.

On top of that, the traditional French-German tandem would be undermined, with German Socialist chancellor Olaf Scholz highly unlikely to reach any compromise with Le Pen.

Luxembourgs long-serving foreign minister, Jean Asselborn, said Le Pen as French president would put us on a totally different track in the essence of the European Union.

The French must prevent that, he said.

____

Casert and Petrequin reported from Brussels. Colleen Barry in Milan, Italy, and Geir Moulson in Berlin contributed.
ALBANY, N.Y.  New York Lt. Gov. Brian Benjamin resigned Tuesday in the wake of his arrest in a federal corruption investigation, creating a political crisis for Gov. Kathy Hochul seven months after she selected Benjamin as a partner to make a fresh start in an office already rocked by scandal.

Benjamin, a Democrat, was accused in an indictment of participating in a scheme to obtain campaign contributions from a real estate developer in exchange for Benjamins agreement to use his influence as a state senator to get a $50,000 grant of state funds for a nonprofit organization the developer controlled.

Facing charges including bribery, fraud, conspiracy and falsification of records, Benjamin pleaded not guilty Tuesday at an initial appearance in Manhattan federal court. He was released and bail was set at $250,000. The terms of his release call for his travel to be restricted and bar him from returning to the state capitol in Albany.

He submitted his resignation to Hochul hours later.

I have accepted Brian Benjamins resignation effective immediately. While the legal process plays out, it is clear to both of us that he cannot continue to serve as Lieutenant Governor. New Yorkers deserve absolute confidence in their government, and I will continue working every day to deliver for them, Hochul said in a statement.

Two lawyers representing Benjamin said he was suspending his campaign to focus on defending his actions in court and said the grant in question was used to buy school supplies.

There was nothing inappropriate about this grant. He will focus his energies on explaining in court why his actions were laudable  not criminal. He looks forward to when this case is finished so he can rededicate himself to public service, the statement said.

Hochul in September plucked Benjamin, then a state lawmaker, to serve as second-in-command when she became governor, taking over for Democrat Andrew Cuomo, who resigned amid allegations he sexually harassed 11 women, which he denied.

Hochul, also a Democrat, was Cuomos lieutenant governor. She is now running in this years election to try to remain governor. Benjamin had been her running mate.

Hochuls office and campaign did not respond to messages Tuesday evening about her plans moving forward for a new lieutenant governor and running mate.

Benjamin was the states second Black lieutenant governor. During his state Legislature career, he emphasized criminal justice reform and affordable housing. His district included most of central Harlem, where he was born and raised by Caribbean immigrant parents.

New York law makes it tough to remove Benjamin from the June primary ballot: He could move out of New York to disqualify himself from running for state office, or the state Democratic party could let him run for a down ballot office.

Democratic Party Chair Jay Jacobs said the party is exploring its options.

Im not ready at this time to outline what we are considering, suffice it to say we will look at the options expeditiously, Jacobs said.

Two months after Benjamin became lieutenant governor, a real estate developer who steered campaign contributions toward Benjamins failed bid for New York City comptroller was indicted. Federal authorities accused Gerald Migdol of wire fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and aggravated identity theft in illegally giving donations to Benjamins campaign.

The indictment said Benjamin and others acting at his direction or on his behalf also engaged in a series of lies and deceptions to cover up the scheme that stretched from 2019 to 2021.

They falsified campaign donor forms, misled municipal regulators and provided false information in vetting forms Benjamin submitted while he was being considered to be appointed as lieutenant governor, the indictment said.

Prosecutors had previously not made any accusations against Benjamin, and his campaign said at the time of Migdols arrest that it had forfeited any improper donations as soon as they were discovered.

More recently, reports came out saying subpoenas had been issued to Benjamin regarding the financial issues even before Hochul picked him as lieutenant governor.

Before Benjamins arrest and resignation, Hochul had defended him, saying last week she had the utmost confidence in him. She said last week that she didnt know of the subpoenas when she tapped Benjamin to be her No. 2.

Top Republicans and at least a dozen of Benjamins fellow Democrats in the Legislature called on him to resign by Tuesday afternoon.

Senate Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, a Democrat, is taking on the duties of lieutenant governor  a role she took before Benjamins appointment last year when Hochul became governor.

Two candidates for governor, Democratic U.S. Rep. Thomas Suozzi and Republican U.S. Rep. Lee Zeldin, blasted Hochuls judgment for selecting Benjamin in the first place despite longstanding concerns about his potential campaign finance violations.

Immigration advocate Ana Maria Archila, a Democrat running for lieutenant governor alongside New York City public advocate and gubernatorial candidate Jumaane Williams, said Albany politicians have traded favors for money for too long.

Today is a dark day, with Albany at its worst on display for all New Yorkers to see, Archila said.

The scandal is the latest in a long history of lawmakers and other Albany leaders whove been engulfed in allegations of wrongdoing.

Cuomos resignation as governor came not only amid allegations of sexual harassment but that his administration misrepresented the number of New Yorkers who died in nursing homes from COVID-19.

In 2008, then-Gov. Eliot Spitzer resigned amid a prostitution investigation.

Former New York Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, one of the most powerful figures in state government, resigned in 2015 after he was arrested on federal corruption charges.

Former Republican state Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos, who for a time shared power with Silver, was convicted of extortion, wire fraud and bribery.

___

Hays reported from New York. Associated Press writers Deepti Hajela, Michelle L. Price and Larry Neumeister contributed from New York and Michael Hill contributed from Albany.
WASHINGTON  Shirley Troutman, a judge on New Yorks highest court, was working last week when her daughter texted messages that included a clapping hands emoji. Soon, her phone was buzzing with other celebratory messages. The applause and the excitement was for Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, who last week was confirmed to the U.S. Supreme Court and will become its first Black female justice.

Jackson will become the courts 116th member. Thats special for Troutman, who is the 116th member of her court too.

As a judge, as a Black woman, I am extremely proud and wish her the best, said Troutman, who took her seat earlier this year and is the second Black woman to serve on her court. She said she cried tears of joy Thursday when Jackson was confirmed.

Troutman is among 17 Black women and 14 Black men currently serving on their states highest court, according to the Brennan Center for Justice in New York, which has tracked diversity on those courts. A majority of the women joined the bench within the last five years and, like Jackson, shattered a barrier, becoming the first Black woman on their states high court. In interviews, some of those women described not only their own delight at Jacksons confirmation but also suggested theres more work to be done to make Americas courts more reflective of its citizens.

I am so proud and optimistic about her accomplishment and what this means, said Justice Melissa Long of Rhode Islands Supreme Court.

Long, who joined her states high court in 2021, also feels a great sense of connection to Jackson. They were born 10 days apart in 1970 in Washington, D.C. Longs parents had married in the city because laws against interracial marriage, struck down by the Supreme Court in 1967, prohibited them from getting married in Virginia.

Being the first Black woman and first person of color on her states five-member court feels like a responsibility, Long said. Its an important responsibility, but it does feel like a responsibility.

Thats in part because diversity overall on state courts is lacking. People of color make up 17% of the judges on state supreme courts, but as of last year, 22 states had high courts where no member identified as a person of color, according to the Brennan Center. In 11 of those states, minorities make up at least 20% of the population, according to the Brennan Center. About 30% of all federal judges, meanwhile, identify as people of color.

Those numbers help explain why the Brennan Centers Madiba Dennie says shes wary of people thinking that Jacksons confirmation means: We did it. We have a Black woman on the Supreme Court now. Theres more work to be done, she said, with huge disparities throughout the rest of the federal judiciary and at the state judiciary as well.

The history of Black women serving on their states highest court goes back to 1988 when Juanita Kidd Stout joined Pennsylvanias highest court. That was seven years after Justice Sandra Day OConnor became the first woman on the U.S. Supreme Court. Stout served for a year before she reached the mandatory age of retirement. Today, the four men and three women on Pennsylvanias highest court are all white.

Other state high courts are more diverse. Maryland has two Black women on its highest court, the Court of Appeals, where members wear red robes with white collars and are called judge, not justice. Judge Shirley M. Watts joined the seven-member court in 2013 and Judge Michele D. Hotten in 2015.

In California, Justice Leondra Kruger was among the women President Joe Biden considered nominating to fulfill his campaign pledge to put a Black woman on the Supreme Court, if given the opportunity. In Ohio, Justice Melody Stewart was a classically trained pianist before making the switch to a career in law. And in Washington, Justice G. Helen Whitener is one of two gay justices and one of seven women on states nine-member high court.

In Massachusetts, Kimberly Budd serves as her courts chief justice, a position she has held since 2020. North Carolinas Cheri Beasley served as the chief justice of that states Supreme Court and is now a leading candidate in the Democratic primary for the 2022 U.S. Senate election.

Louisiana also until recently had a Black woman leading its highest court. Bernette Johnson was elected to the court in 1994 and served as its chief from 2013 to her 2020 retirement. Today, Justice Piper D. Griffin is the second Black woman and third Black person to serve on that court.

Griffin called Jacksons confirmation surreal and humbling. It was one of those things that you never think youd see in your lifetime. You know, its kind of like you, youre hopeful, but youre never expecting it, said Griffin, who was elected to her position in 2020.

Griffin said her phone blew up Thursday afternoon when Jackson was confirmed. I got lots of exclamation points, she said. One friend, knowing Griffin couldnt watch Vice President Kamala Harris announce live that Jackson had been confirmed, recorded the moment on her phone and texted it to her. Over and over and over again friends texted one word: Yes!

Troutman, the judge on New Yorks highest court, said one of the things her daughter sent her that day was a picture of Jackson and the president hugging. Its important that Jackson is the first Black woman on the Supreme Court, Troutman said, but: It is most important that she shall not be the last.
Introduction

The notion of a gentleman is today perceived as both offensive and archaic. (When a man I know courteously held open a door for a young woman, she kicked him in the shins!) We Christians however should not be in reaction or conformity to culture, past or present. We must always be sensitive to what the Spirit is saying to the churches (Revelation chapter 2 verse 7). This present teaching aims to be an example of such spiritual sensitivity.

My current denomination is in the midst of various controversies over sexuality, on one side are the classic liberals, who might have a rainbow flag flying in front of their church, on the other side are the Evangelicals, famous for their no compromise Bible-based faith. Yesterday I was praying with a group that included both parties. Towards the end of the prayer meeting the bishop present mentioned she had never thought of praying for gentleness before. This article was provoked by what is sensed the Lords Spirit inspiring me to pray concerning gentleness earlier in that meeting.

A Gentle Warrior

Given our general biblical illiteracy, we may be surprised to find that the man most connected to the notion of gentleness in the Old Testament is the great warrior-king, David. He testifies before the Lord, You have given me the shield of your salvation, and your right hand supported me, and your gentleness made me great. (Psalm 18 verse 35; see also 2 Samuel chapter 3 verse 39, chapter 18 verse 5). Whilst some commentators think this powerful text makes no sense, the great preacher Charles Spurgeon shows wisdom and insight in teaching us, How much patience and gentleness God has had with us in suiting His truths to our understandings and experiences!...What gentleness our God has shown to us in the timing and the tuning of our trials! Spurgeon is doubtless correct, but to embrace this word we must turn to Jesus himself for understanding.

The Gentle Man

Who but the perfect God-man could say without fear of contradiction, learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart (Matthew chapter 11 verse 29). It is because the Spirit is sent by Jesus that one of his fruit is gentleness (Galatians chapter 5 verse 23). It is in the Spirit of Jesus that we are to respond to the opponents of the gospel with gentleness (1 Peter chapter 3 verse 15). More corporately, those with leadership in the Church are to discipline sinners with gentleness (Galatians chapter 6 verse 1; 2 Timothy chapter 2 verse 25). Sadly, this is hardly the reputation of the conservative Christians I am familiar with. Praise God however, the scriptures point us to the One who can infallibly heal us of our hardness.

Repent and Desire

The Lord spoke to me once from this text; Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed (Matthew chapter 25 verse 24). The Spirit witnessed that despite all our affluence this is how the average Australian thinks of Gods character. If you are surprised by anything Ive said in this teaching so far, you, dear reader, exemplify this problem.

Paul begins his teaching on spiritual warfare in 2 Corinthians chapter 10, I, Paul, myself entreat you, by the meekness and gentleness of Christ? Becoming the ruler of the universe has not changed Christs character in the least. Thankfully he is the same yesterday and today and tomorrow (Hebrews chapter 13 verse 8).

Conclusion

In the light of all these wonderful truths I exhort you to change your mind about the character of God, and petition him in the name of Jesus for an infusion of the spirit of gentleness (1 Corinthians chapter 4 verse 21). If you ask for this gracious characteristic of Christ, he will infallibly answer in the affirmative. This will mean the annihilation (no doubt gradually) of agitation, rudeness, loud speaking, shouting and all other un-Christlike manners in your life (Matthew chapter 12 verses 18-21). What do you have to lose? Dont hesitate!
Russia is readying a massive, new offensive in eastern Ukraine, hoping to reverse its fortunes on the battlefield after a catastrophic start to seven weeks of war.

A long convoy of combat vehicles has jammed highways across northeastern Ukraine in preparation for an attack that could begin within days, and the Kremlin has named a general known for overseeing Moscows campaign in Syria to lead it.

A look at Russias military objectives and challenges it faces.

A BOTCHED BLITZ

A failed Russian attempt to storm Kyiv and other big cities took a heavy toll in personnel and equipment, boosted morale in Ukraine and allowed it to rally broad international support.

The myth about the invincibility of the Russian military as the second-most powerful in the world has been shattered to much surprise of the Ukrainians themselves, Ukrainian military expert Oleh Zhdanov told The Associated Press.

The flow of Western weapons into Ukraine and a growing popular resistance to Russian aggression will further raise the costs of war for Moscow.

President Vladimir Putin badly needs a quick battlefield victory to find an exit from what increasingly looks like a disastrous quagmire.

Russias focus is turning to Ukraines industrial heartland, known as the Donbas, where Moscow-backed separatists have been fighting Ukrainian government forces since the conflict there erupted shortly after the Kremlins 2014 annexation of Ukraines Crimean Peninsula.

In the first round, Russia has lost face both politically and militarily, Zhdanov said. It has done every possible stupid thing in the careless hope for a blitz  but it will make the Russian attack in the next round even more furious.

REFOCUS AND REDEPLOYMENT

After their retreat from Kyiv, Chernihiv and Sumy, Russian forces pulled back to the territory of Belarus, Moscows ally, as well as areas in western Russia to be rearmed and resupplied for the new offensive.

Retired British Gen. Sir Richard Barrons estimated the Russians have probably lost about 25% of the ground forces they started out with in the sense that those have been units that have become noncombat effective.

So theyre amalgamating them, theyre refitting them, theyre reinforcing them and then moving them around, Barrons told AP.

Russia also was trying to move additional equipment from elsewhere and mobilize reservists in a desperate attempt to build a sufficient attack force, said Barrons, a co-chair of the consulting group Universal Defence & Security Solutions.

Theyve had a beating, and they will have only a few weeks to get better, he said.

Recently, Russian troops have been seen rolling into eastern Ukraine to move into attack positions. A convoy stretched for about 13 kilometers (8 miles) on a highway east of Kharkiv, heading south toward Ukrainian lines near Izyum, a strategic road junction.

At the same time, Russian forces rushed to crush remaining pockets of Ukrainian resistance in Mariupol after besieging the vital Sea of Azov port for nearly 1 1/2 months.

The offensive is expected to start once Mariupol is fully under Russian control, and the troops pulled from areas near Kyiv, Chernihiv and Sumy complete their redeployment.

WILL A NEW COMMANDER MAKE THE DIFFERENCE?

Gen. Alexander Dvornikov was appointed the new military commander for the campaign in Ukraine. The 60-year-old soldier is one of Russias most experienced officers, credited with leading Moscows forces to victory in Syria in a ruthless campaign to shore up President Bashar Assads regime in a civil war that saw entire cities flattened and millions displaced.

In 2016, Putin awarded Dvornikov the Hero of Russia medal, one of the countrys highest awards, and named him the chief of the Southern Military District, commanding units in southwestern Russia.

Dvornikovs appointment is seen as reflecting the Kremlins awareness to quickly improve poor coordination among various forces that hampered previous military efforts. Skeptics point out, however, that the Syrian campaign involved a relatively small number of troops, unlike the massive operation in Ukraine.

TRYING NEW BATTLEFIELD TACTICS

Ukrainian and Western experts expect the Russians to try to encircle Ukrainian forces in Donbas with a pincer movement by advancing from Izyum in the north and Mariupol in the south.

Some predict Russia also may try to use its forces north of Crimea to try to capture the industrial hubs of Zaporizhzhia and Dnipro on the Dnieper River, effectively cutting Ukraine in half.

Barrons said the Russians are focusing on the east instead of trying to do three or four big things at once and spreading the air power and the logistics.

The key conundrum is, can the Russians muster enough force  good enough to overwhelm a very good Ukrainian defensive position by sheer weight of brutality by concentrating firepower and troops in a few key locations, he said.

WILL RUSSIAS LOGISTICAL PROBLEMS PERSIST?

Despite a new commander, the offensive will likely face the same logistical challenges Russian troops encountered early in the campaign.

During the botched attempt to storm Kyiv, Russian convoys stretched along highways leading to the capital, becoming easy prey for Ukrainian artillery, drones and scouts.

Supporting the operations in the east could be equally hard, with Russian supply lines likely to face hit-and-run raids, helped by the arrival of spring as foliage offers natural cover for Ukrainian scouts and guerrillas.

Control of the skies also has been a problem, with Ukrainian air defense assets continuing to shoot down Russian warplanes, making it more difficult for ground troops to advance. In recent days, Russia has launched strikes on Ukrainian long-range air defense systems in apparent preparation for the offensive.

If the Russians learned the lessons of their failure so far and could concentrate more force and could connect their air force to the ground forces better and could sort the logistics out, then they might start to overwhelm the Ukrainian positions eventually, although I still think it would be a battle of enormous attrition, Barrons told AP.

MORE FAVORABLE TERRAIN FOR RUSSIA?

During the eight years of fighting separatists in the east, Ukrainian forces have built multilayered defenses, which Russian troops failed to break despite persistent attacks since the invasion began Feb. 24.

Theyve been fighting in these current positions in the Donbas for about eight years, so theyre very seasoned and theyre very well prepared, Barrons said of Ukrainian forces.

He noted, however, that this will be different because the Russian onslaught will be potentially very much greater and the easts flat terrain could give the Russians an edge.

The sort of ambush tactics the Ukrainians were highly successful with around Kiev may not apply in the Donbas, Barrons said. And if the Russians were capable of maneuvering their armor so tanks, armored infantry and armored artillery at speed, they could get behind the Ukrainian position. It is going to be a much harder, bigger fight than weve seen so far.

Ukraine has pleaded with the West for warplanes, long-range air defense systems, heavy artillery and armor to counter a massive Russian edge in firepower.

There is a battle of time and space between the Russians and Ukrainians for the Russians to muster enough force and the Ukrainians to get the weapons that they need and rehearse themselves for what will be a bigger and slightly different battle, and I think it is finely balanced, Barrons said.

FOR PUTIN, A RACE AGAINST TIME

After earlier battlefield failures, Putin desperately needs a quick success in the east.

Battered by Western sanctions, Russia lacks financial resources for a protracted conflict. If the fighting drags on, it will inevitably worsen the economy and could bring social tensions, eroding the Kremlins support base.

The military already has put its most capable combat units in the campaign, and continued fighting will likely force it to call up more reservists and throw fresh conscripts into combat  moves that could be extremely unpopular.

Putin could be hoping to quickly expand the territory under separatist control in the east, then try to force Ukraine into concessions in negotiations to wrap up the campaign and spin it as victory.



Associated Press writers Yuras Karmanau in Lviv, Ukraine, and Danica Kirka in London contributed.



Follow the APs coverage of the war at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine
Nathan Farmer never thought he would be spending his time hauling away peoples junk and discarded items.

As a child, Farmer said his parents stressed the importance of education saying that it was a gateway to avoid manual jobs, and for much of his life, he heeded that advice.

Until last year.

Farmer said that last year his interest in a new career was piqued after his childhood best friend, Brian Battaglia, casually mentioned how well his weekend gig of hauling away peoples old items was going.

The two quickly partnered up and started spending their lunch hours and evenings hauling away old mattresses, piles of concrete and large appliances.

On April 15, the duo are launching their company, A1 Services, as a full-time operation.

The move to becoming full-time junk haulers is a far cry from both Farmers and Battaglias former professions.

Farmer works as a full-time professor at Central New Mexico Community College while Battaglia works as a petroleum engineer for New Mexico Gas Co.

Though Farmer and Battaglia are leaving their former professions behind, Farmer said the decision made sense since both he and Battaglia had always prioritized flexibility and the need to not work desk jobs.

The most important thing for me in my life was always flexibility, never having a desk job  And thats why I went into teaching because you dont have a desk job, Farmer said.

He also said it allowed both of them to be their own bosses.

The business started on a whim when Battaglia casually posted an advertisement for junk hauling services on Craigslist.

Soon, Battaglias phone was blowing up with requests from people needing the services, Farmer said.

The volume of business eventually allowed Battaglia and Farmer to purchase a trailer and a box truck.

There are hopes to continue growing.

Farmer said that he and Battaglia would like to continue scaling the business since there is an obvious need for the services.

He said many of their clients include elderly people that are unable to move heavy items on their own, or family members needing to clean out houses after a death.

I never in my life thought that I would be doing this as my job, and so I think it kind of opened my eyes to like this whole different type of living, he said.

Farmer said he realized that his new career isnt just about removing junk, but about providing a service to those in need.

Were actually doing a service that helps people, he said. I didnt realize thats what it would be like.

While Farmer uses the term junk removal, items that still have use are often donated to thrift stores like Family Thrift Center.

A1 Services currently serves Albuquerque and Rio Rancho, though the company may begin weekly operations in Santa Fe, according to Farmer.

Customers are charged based on the size of the load and how much space it takes up on the trailer and box truck.

For more information, visit A1abq.com
Copyright  2022 Albuquerque Journal

Alstate Steel, a company that specializes in the fabrication of metals for structural purposes, will receive about $300,000 in Local Economic Development Act funds to remain at and expand at its current Albuquerque facility.

The company was planning on relocating its Albuquerque operations to Arizona  where it also maintain another facility  before receiving money to remain in New Mexico, according to a news release from the states Economic Development Department.

The state is allocating $250,000 in LEDA money and the City of Albuquerque is committing $50,000 in LEDA money for the expansion.

Assistance is pending full review and approval from the Albuquerque City Council and will be awarded as Alstate meets economic development benchmarks detailed in the proposed Project Participation Agreement, according to the news release. Alstate will pour in $2.5 million into the expansion of its facility at 203 Murray SE.

Alstate Steel is expected to hire 28 additional workers. The economic impact of Alstate remaining in Albuquerque is expected to be $82.3 million, according to the news release.

Sustained economic growth takes more than just attracting new players, Albuquerque mayor Tim Keller said in a statement. We also have to make sure were keeping the businesses whove invested here for years and providing the support they need for future growth.
Instagram Celebrity

Also joining the hip-hop moguls at the ceremony held on the 6200 block of Hollywood Boulevard are Teyana Taylor, Fat Joe, Jeezy and N.O.R.E. among many others.

Apr 12, 2022

AceShowbiz - DJ Khaled has got his name cemented into Hollywood history. After more than two decades in the industry, the rapper/record executive was honored with his own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

The ceremony, which took place on Monday, April 11 on the 6200 block of Hollywood Boulevard, drew a number of other big names in the industry. Several of Khaled's key collaborators and supporters, including Jay-Z, Sean "P. Diddy" Combs, Teyana Taylor and Fat Joe, showed up to help celebrate the milestone.

In introducing the honoree, Fat Joe complimented Khaled's all-orange look before recalling memories of how they first met and grew into friends. "When I met him, he made me move out of New York to Miami," Joe began his story of Khaled. "Just to be close to him  that energy was so infectious."

"When I think of Khaled, I think of love. That's the only reason why you see the heavyweights here like you see them," he added of his dear friend. "In hip-hop, for a long time, we haven't really embraced fatherhood. Nobody has done it like Khaled. And music-wise, there's nobody with a greater ear."

In his speech, Diddy praised Khaled's determination. "You are the definition of, if you wanna make something happen, you gotta put in that work and make it happen," he remarked. "I've seen you from when we didn't have nothing, from when we were just coming out from the mud."

The Bad Boy Records founder continued sharing, "I remember that day when you told me, 'They don't believe me, Puff.' I was like 'Khaled, what are you talking about? You're doing great, you're the vice president of A&R.' And you were said, 'But they don't believe me.'  I remember from that day, you worked all the way up."

"You're a pioneer; you're an icon and a brilliant businessman," he continued gushing over the 46-year-old artist. "But most importantly, you're a great friend to all of us here - a great father, a great husband, and one of the greatest people I've ever met. Your energy and your work ethic is unmatched, we celebrate you for everything."

Khaled, meanwhile, got emotional as he took the podium. "I want my star to represent the light, the love that shines on everybody. God put me on this earth to be a light," he said. "They didn't believe in us, but God did." He gave a shout out to Motown, his Roc Nation management team, his label and himself. "There's only one Khaled, that's all I gotta say," so he declared.

The Grammy-winning artist then shouted his personal motto, "We the best - it's not just me it's we." Before ending his speech, he said, "And I just want to make it super clear: We are just getting started, anything you've seen me do before, just imagine that to the most trillionth power ever cause I'm not stopping, I'm making more music."

Jay-Z didn't speak, but he joined the group for a photo opp in front of Khaled's new star. At the ceremony, Khaled was also joined by his family, including wife Nicole Tuck and their two children. Jeezy (Young Jeezy), N.O.R.E., label executives Sylvia Rhone (Epic Records), LA Reid (Hitco), Ethiopia Habtemariam (Motown), Tunji Balogun (Def Jam), LaTrice Burnette (Island), Jeff Harleston (Universal Music Group) and Mark Shimmel (Dick Clark Productions), along with Cool & Dre, Reggie Saunders of Nike and Wayne Barrow were also present at the event.
Instagram TV

An Insider writer named Kate Taylor reveals that the 48-year-old TV personality deletes her page on the blue-bird app after she reaches out to her for comment on an article exposing 'ANTM'.

Apr 12, 2022

AceShowbiz - Tyra Banks has bid farewell to Twitter. Having found herself landing in hot water over exposure on "America's Next Top Model" and "Dancing With the Stars", the TV personality deleted her account on the blue-bird app.

The 48-year-old deactivated her page after an Insider writer named Kate Taylor penned an article about her. The title read, "Tyra Banks wanted 'America's Next Top Model' to fix fashion. Now, some contestants say the show was 'psychological warfare.' "

In her tweet, Kate wrote, "What is Tyra like??? Actually, a pretty great boss according to many on ANTM's crew. Of course, some contestants had a different take." She then added in a follow-up post, "After I reached out for comment + fact check last week, Tyra Banks deleted her Twitter. (Could be unrelated! Who can say!)"

Kate Taylor claimed Tyra Banks deleted her Twitter account amid 'ANTM' backlash.

Many on the micro-blogging site have since put Tyra on blast. One person in particular fumed, "This thread kinda makes dislike Tyra banks a whole lot now because wtfffff." Another individual simply argued, "In short, f**k Tyra Banks."

"I stopped taking Tyra Banks seriously when she chastised an ANTM contestant for gaining weight. Then Tyra used her talk show to call herself fat and preach body acceptance," someone else opined. "I don't think she'll ever be held to task for all the damage she's done."

Around the same time, Tyra was also blamed for "Dancing with the Stars" moving from ABC to Disney+. It was reported that the dancing competition show was dropped by ABC following criticism against Tyra and plummeting ratings.

Tyra hosted "DWTS" season 29 after Tom Bargeron and Erin Andrews were let go from the show. Ever since her debut, the model has been slammed by viewers several times, including the moment when she wore a Britney Spears-inspired outfit dedicated to the pop star.

In addition, fans were unhappy with Tyra's "frequent habit of messing up the script," according to The Sun. She's alo described as an "epic failure" for making the show's rating lower.
WENN/Avalon Celebrity

The media mogul shows off a more natural look after he shares that there is 'no filler' at all in his face after the latest treatment left his son, Eric, 'in hysterics.'

Apr 12, 2022

AceShowbiz - Simon Cowell has been spotted showing off a more natural look lately. When attending the 2022 Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards, the media mogul looked strikingly different after he stopped using Botox.

On Saturday, April 9, the 62-year-old longtime judge of "America's Got Talent" posed backstage at Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, California alongside fellow judges Heidi Klum, Sofia Vergara, Howie Mandel as well as "AGT" host Terry Crews. He sported a full beard as he showcased his natural look without any fillers.

For the awards ceremony, Simon, who celebrated "AGT" win for Best Reality Show, opted to dress casually in a plain black long sleeve T-shirt and matching trousers. The TV personality also sported a wrist cast after recently breaking his arm in an electric bike crash in his hometown, London.

In the meantime, Sofia stunned in a chic white one-shoulder jumpsuit that featured a half wrap-skirt detail. As for Heidi, she donned a matching ensemble but chose a dark purple sequined version. Howie showed off his fun side with a bright blue shirt jacket that has numerous badges, as Terry rocked a cream jacket and matching trousers with a baby pink polo shirt.

The outing came shortly after Simon said he no longer has Botox treatments after it left him looking like "something out of a horror film." He told The Sun earlier this month, "There was a stage where I might have gone a bit too far. I saw a picture of me from 'before' the other day, and didn't recognize it as me first of all."

"Eric [his son] was in hysterics. Enough was enough. There is no filler in my face at all now. Zero," Simon shared. "There was a phase where everyone was having their faces pumped full of this and the other. But actually, for me now, a lot of it comes down to healthy eating and drinking tons of water."
WENN/Avalon/Nicky Nelson Celebrity

The 'Power' co-creator weighs in on the 'Saturday Night Live' alum's declaration that he is not going to talk about the slap in public until he gets paid for it.

Apr 12, 2022

AceShowbiz - 50 Cent has once again given his take on the Oscars slap drama. Sharing his two cents on Chris Rock's recent remark, the rapper/TV producer has applauded the comedian's decision not to bring police into the situation.

On Saturday, April 9, Fiddy re-posted The Shade Room's report about Chris' remark that he's not going to talk about the slap unless he gets paid. Predicting that "this is about to be the most expensive slap you ever seen in your life," the "In da Club" spitter added, "@chrisrock did the right thing not bringing law enforcement into it."

Chris first broke his silence on the Oscars slap during his set in Boston on March 30. "I don't have a bunch of s**t about what happened, so if you came to hear that, I have a whole show I wrote before this weekend. I'm still kind of processing what happened," he told the crowd at the time.

The "Saturday Night Live" alum added that he would eventually talk about it later, "So, at some point I'll talk about that s**t. And it will be serious and funny." He also suggested he hasn't talked to Will Smith after the slap, saying, "I haven't talked to anyone despite what you may have heard."

Later on April 8, when taking the stage at Fantasy Springs in Indio, California, the 57-year-old told the crowd, "I'm OK, I have a whole show, and I'm not talking about that until I get paid." Keeping a positive attitude, he assured the audience, "Life is good." He then joked about getting his hearing back after getting smacked across the face by Will, adding, "I got my hearing back."

50 Cent, meanwhile, has reacted after the Academy announced a 10-year ban on Will. "Got Damn they doing Will dirty," the "Power" star/co-creator tweeted on Friday. He went on to note, "This is too harsh so he cant come back till he 63 years old. and the law suit ain't even hit yet. SMH."
Taking the overall brand proposition of its value-added dairy products  Rishton Ka Swaad Badhaye  to a new geography, Mother Dairy, countrys beloved milk and milk products major, has today announced that it is rolling out its first-ever vernacular campaign focusing on its Mishti Doi. The campaign which is going live on the eve of Poila Boishakh 2022, has been developed exclusively for its consumers across Kolkata and West Bengal.

The newly introduced campaign is led by 1 TVC featuring renowned actor  Abir Chatterjee  in the lead. The TVC beautifully curates the thought of stimulating togetherness and family bonding while indulging in the delightful flavor of Mishti Doi. The viewers will be able to see Abir Chatterjee getting in a playful and sweet namesake familial banter in a manner that is relatable to any Bengali household.

Talking about the campaign, Mr. Sanjay Sharma, Business Head  Dairy Products, Mother Dairy, said, Mishti Doi has been one of the leading product categories for Mother Dairy in the state of West Bengal and this state-specific delicacy continues to be a strong carrier product for all our dairy products. Our dairy products offer the quintessential delightful refreshing taste that prolongs the time spent with friends and loved ones. Taking this cue deeper into our product portfolios, we are augmenting our overall value-added dairy products proposition of Rishton Ka Swaad Badhaye in a new geography and that too for one of our much-loved product categories.

The TVC has been directed by renowned director Ms. Reema Daschaudhary. The 4-week long campaign is spread across other mediums including print and OOH. With the new campaign, Mother Dairy intends to build salience for its Mishti Doi during key consumption periods as well as strengthen its leadership position and supremacy in the packaged Mishti Doi segment.

Mr. Sharma further added, Abirs persona is best-suited as mature and gentleman-like. He comes across as a natural fit for the brand, displaying our caregiver brand persona in a contemporary way. Collectively, the category made a natural choice for us to begin within the eastern market, and it couldnt have been better than kickstarting the flavor of Rishton of Swaad Badhaye in a city known as the City of Joy coupling it with the most auspicious occasion around.

Elaborating on the association, celebrated Actor Abir Chatterjee added, It gives me immense joy to be associated with an iconic brand like Mother Dairy and a product that really symbolizes Bengals traditional taste. The new Mother Dairy Mishti Doi ad truly represents a very sweet message in a manner that is most relatable to any Bengali household, signifying the sweetness in relationships.

THE EXECUTION

The campaign revolves around a playful banter between the father (Abir Chatterjee) and his daughter  Mishti (Aradhya Anjana). The frame opens with the father and the daughter, where we see the father teasing his daughter and giving attention to her namesake  Mishti Doi. As the daughter is caught up in playing with her toys, she assumes that the father is complementing her. However, after listening to a few compliments she looks from the corner of her eye only to find out that he is talking about a cup of Mishti Doi. She however asks her father to clarify if hes talking about her to which the father hesitates and responds with a yes. As the daughter is getting adorably jealous, the father offers a bite of Mother Dairy Mishti Doi and says, Meri favourite Mishti ke liye meri favourite Mishti Doi! Both the daughter and father have a beaming smile on their face as they take a bite into Mishti Doi with childlike innocence.

Elaborating on the campaigns insight, Ms. Ritu Sharda, Chief Creative Officer, Ogilvy India (North) said, Our campaign celebrates the sweet relationship between a father and his daughter. And how the daughter, aptly named Mishti, brings out her dads playful side. Its a relationship that is so mishti that you can feel the sweetness even if u dont understand the language.

Mother Dairy is the first company to popularize the traditional artisanal offering of Mishti Doi across the country. The Company has been instrumental in replicating the exact taste of the traditional product with great precision, consistent taste, superior quality and hygiene. Apart from the state of West Bengal, Mother Dairys Mishti Doi is also cherished by consumers across the northern and western regions.
Scaler, one of the fastest-growing tech upskilling startups, in collaboration with Isobar, the creative experience agency from the house of dentsu India, has partnered with the most loved Marathi content platform, Bhadipa (Bharatiya Digital Party), to launch the biggest Marathi web series. While the objective of this association is to convey the brand's value proposition to its niche audience through engaging storytelling, the core focus is to leverage the power of digital media on the back of regional content.

The web series, B.E. Rojgaar, is an aspirational story of 3 friends that captures the struggles faced by engineers in India, today. With tech professionals being the key target audience for Scaler, this association fits just right. It intends to build a meaningful connection with the viewers, which will further transition into consumer advocacy for the brand in the long run. The show has been touted as the biggest Marathi web series to date. Additionally, it is directed by Sarang Sathaye and stars the big name in Marathi cinema, Saie Tamhankar, along with Sambhaji Sasane and Jagdish Kannam.

Commenting on the partnership, Ranjeet Kumar, Head - Brand & Content, Scaler & InterviewBit said, Content is the core engine of Scaler's storytelling and branding efforts. Our desire to build meaningful connections with personalised messaging led us to explore the diverse languages that our learners speak. We have done other small experiments in vernacular language content, and the business & brand outcomes were fantastic. The one-line story of the show is 'skills over degrees' built around friendship and employability of engineers, with the quintessential Marathi sass - is right up our alley. With B.E Rojgaar, we want to develop a strong affinity with our Marathi audience and break the degree/certificate hoarding bias when it comes to skilling. We are very confident it will be one of the biggest shows in that market, and our learners will resonate with the theme.

Madhura Ranade, AVP & Head - Branded Content & Partnerships, Isobar India added, Vernacular content has always been the need of the hour. It is seldom that we see brands making the most of this and that too in such a big way. Content is always more relatable when it comes packed with cultural nuances and regional flavours. When a brand is seamlessly integrated within that, it is sure to hit the sweet spot and move the needle on business. A great brand experience is elevated when it is encountered in the most comfortable setting, which is being a regional language in this case. This has proven true, time and again and with every new partnership, this belief gets stronger. This time, addressing a key market in Maharashtra and with none other than the team at Bhadipa and a stellar star cast, we are sure to make this a blockbuster in the Marathi-speaking market and beyond.

Heeru Dingra, CEO, Isobar India group added, Given India's size and diversity, we have always been hearing that vernacular and regional content is the way to go. However, with most brands, there is a hesitation when it comes to committing to this narrative. We are glad to team up with pan India, addressing a brand like Scaler. The brand foresees the need to include regional languages in its marketing strategy, leading to greater audience engagement, deep connections, and overall brand affinity. This will be the largest regional content collaboration India has ever seen and we feel proud to have been a part of it.

Scaler recently launched a brand film that aims to reiterate the importance of practical exposure and industry relevance in talent. It highlights the true value potential of a robust skillset, which empowers the holders to create a meaningful impact through whatever they do. The brand urges techies to imbibe the true value and create a resilient repository of practical capabilities, shifting the onus of 'creating impact' onto the techies themselves.
UPL Ltd., global provider of global provider of sustainable agriculture products and solutions, today announced a partnership with the newly formed Ahmedabad franchise - Gujarat Titans as their sustainability partner for the ongoing IPL 2022. The strategic association aims to bring focus to the area of sustainable farm solutions, specifically in Gujarat (the home state of UPL Ltd.), and also to give a dimension of socially and environmentally responsible franchise to Gujrat Titans.

Gujarat is an important market for UPL and it is also the first state where the brand, initiated its Groundnut ProNutiva programme, focused on making the country self-reliant in edible oil production, improving grower economics and meeting the evolving food chain requirements. In 2021 in Gujarat, the programme has benefitted over 75000 farmers and farmland of over 2.5 lakh acres was covered.

UPLs mission is to use innovation to provide sustainable solutions to farmers that guarantee them not just financial stability but also cultivation sustainability. This ethos aligns with the Gujarat Titans spirit of sustainability, as they are a young team looking to establish themselves as a frontrunner in promoting environmental and social responsibility while producing the best results on field. This partnership will not only showcase the noble efforts of UPL Ltd. in promoting sustainability, but also reaffirm the Gujarat Titans as a socially conscious team.

Ashish Dobhal, Director  India, UPL Ltd. said We are delighted to be partnering with the Gujarat Titans, a team that made its IPL debut this season. With decades of experience in the sustainability sphere, we hope to guide the newly formed team on their own path of promoting the cause. The popularity of the IPL, and its wide scale and reach will also help shine light on our noble efforts. We hope for a long and fruitful partnership with the team and wish them the best of luck for this season.

Arvinder Singh, Chief Operating Officer Gujarat Titans said, We welcome UPL as a member of the Gujarat Titans family! UPL is a world leader in sustainability in agriculture, with a strong presence in Gujarat. Our partnership with UPL is an endeavour to support environment friendly practices in agriculture and raise awareness about the same. Together, we look forward to work closely and achieve our objectives
We have felt personally the significance of building a community with a shared future for mankind

09:07, April 12, 2022 By Sun Guangyong ( People's Daily

As the leader of a major country and a major political party, Chinese President Xi Jinping has not only made remarkable achievements in governance, but cared deeply about humanity, Sommad Pholsena, vice president of the National Assembly of the Lao Peoples Democratic Republic, told Peoples Daily in a recent interview.

Chinese President Xi Jinping meets Sommad Pholsena, Vice President of the National Assembly of the Lao Peoples Democratic Republic, and his family at a hotel in Vientiane, capital of Laos, Nov. 14, 2017. (Photo/Lan Hongguang)

His father, Quinim Pholsena, was an important promoter of and witness to the China-Laos friendship. Before China and Laos established diplomatic relations, Quinim Pholsena, then Foreign Minister of the Kingdom of Laos, visited China for many times. He became close friends with the older generation of leaders of the Communist Party of China (CPC), including Mao Zedong, Zhou Enlai and Chen Yi, and contributed significantly to the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Laos.

In the 1960s, Sommad Pholsena and his siblings studied at the Beijing Bayi School, where they became schoolmates of Xi, and forged a friendship with him that has lasted for over half a century.

Sommad Pholsena vividly remembers his meetings with Xi. Xi visited Laos as vice president of China in 2010. He only stayed in Laos for about one day during the visit, and yet he spent over an hour meeting my family, he said.

He told us that he really looked forward to the meeting and was delighted to see us again after half a century. He remembered what kind of clothes we wore to school and what we liked doing at that time, which showed his sincere care about his old friends, he added.

During his state visit to Laos in November 2017, Xi once again met Sommad Pholsena and his family. It has been seven years since our last meeting. Im really glad to see that youre all in good shape and have a happy family, Xi told Sommad Pholsena kindly.

Sommad Pholsena, Vice President of the National Assembly of the Lao Peoples Democratic Republic, reads a copy of Peoples Daily. (Peoples Daily/Sun Guangyong)

Sommad Pholsena still remembers Xis expectations of them. I hope you will continue devoting yourselves to deepening China-Laos friendship and encourage your children and grandchildren to carry forward our friendly ties so that the friendship between the two peoples will last forever, Xi told them.

President Xi has always cared about us old schoolmates, which made us feel warm and moved, he said.

During the meeting, Sommad Pholsena and his family also asked Xi to sign their copies of the Chinese and English editions of Xi Jinping: The Governance of China, a three-volume collection of speeches and writings by Xi.

Laos, which has entered a period of innovation and development, has the same ideals, beliefs and social systems as China. We have always wanted to learn from Chinas governance experience, so Xis books are really helpful, Sommad Pholsena pointed out.

Sommad Pholsena has Xis books neatly placed in his office. After each volume was published, I would read it carefully immediately. Besides Xi Jinping: The Governance of China, other books about President Xis thoughts are also inspiring, he said.

Sommad Pholsena and his family all think that Xi is easy-going and values greatly his friendship with others. Every time I saw him, I felt closer to him; and every time I talked with him, I understood better his commitment to his people and nation, he pointed out.

He was deeply touched by Xis remarks, For the good of my people, I will put aside my own well-being. In his association with Xi, Sommad Pholsena saw a CPC member who always puts the people in the most prominent place in his heart, always serves the people wholeheartedly, and always works hard for the peoples interests and happiness.

President Xi is concerned about the interests of people from various countries and endeavors to benefit the humanity, Sommad Pholsena pointed out.

The farsighted Chinese leader proposed jointly constructing the Belt and Road and building a community with a shared future for mankind, constantly contributing to world peace, development and prosperity, he stressed.

We have felt personally the significance of building a community with a shared future for mankind in Laos. China will do well only when the world does well, and vice versa, as President Xi noted, Sommad Pholsena said.

After making the first ever return trip along the China-Laos Railway from Vientiane, capital of Laos, to Chengdu, southwest Chinas Sichuan province, a train arrives at the Chengdu International Railway Port, Jan. 24, 2022. (Peoples Daily Online/Bai Guibin)

On Dec. 3, 2021, the China-Laos Railway was officially put into operation, bringing to Laos its first modern railway. Sommad Pholsena, who once served as minister of public works and transport of Laos, witnessed how the railway came into existence, from its planning, foundation laying, to construction and completion.

In 2015, President Xi, together with Lao leaders, made a major decision to jointly build the China-Laos Railway. In fact, China wasnt the first country that said it would help Laos build railways, but it was the only one that actually did it. It seems that only the Chinese people helped us so sincerely and only President Xi lived up to his words to assist us, Sommad Pholsena said.

The long-lasting friendship between our family and China is a great interpretation of the relationship between Laos and China, who are forever good neighbors, good friends, good comrades and good partners, he pointed out.

As an old friend of China, Laos, more than any other country, is happy for China over its achievements in development, hopes that China will grow stronger, and expects President Xis proposal of building a community with a shared future for mankind to be embraced by more people and the country to make greater contributions to promoting regional and world peace, stability, development and prosperity, he added.

(Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun)
Open Doors USA, is an organization that tracks global religious maltreatment and it publishes the World Watch List of the countries where it is hardest to be a Christian around the world.

It is evident that the top 10 countries experiencing religious persecution have extremist groups, which are either running the government or are influencing the government and culture in these countries in such a way that it is not safe to practice your faith.

The compilation of the World Watch List is an interesting process which you may read about here.

Afghanistan

Afghanistan has supplanted North Korea as the number 1 country in the world where it is most difficult to be a Christian, according to this World Watch List. The shocking development is undoubtedly the biggest seismic shift in decades, as North Korea, the reclusive and oppressive East Asian country, was bumped from the top spot it had occupied for 20 years.

It is impossible to live openly as a Christian in Afghanistan. The Talibans takeover increased the persecution of Christians, and many were forced to flee. Control and supervision are stricter in rural areas than in most cities. To many, leaving Islam is considered a sign of insanity, and a Christian who has converted from Islam may be forcibly sectioned in a psychiatric hospital.

Women in Afghanistan have little social or financial autonomy and are highly vulnerable to all forms of physical abuse. Since the Taliban takeover in 2021, contrary to assurances made before the takeover, the position of women has become even more dangerous, and any progress that had been made in womens freedoms was swiftly undone. There is little chance of legal justice for women. Christian women are especially vulnerable and are seen as ideological enemies.

Open Doors USA CEO David Curry said that the situation deteriorated further when the U.S. undertook a chaotic withdrawal last August, with serious consequences. Taliban militants are purportedly arresting and possibly seeking to kill believers.

The events in Afghanistan have emboldened Islamic extremists in other parts of the world, so we may be seeing a ripple effect across the globe.

North Korea

North Korea still occupies the second spot on the World Watch List, and theres no sign the chaos and targeted hatred perpetuated by leader Kim Jong-un and his restrictive government will dissipate.

For 20 years, North Korea was number one. They have a post-communist system that has been generational, Curry said. They have now lifted Kim Jung Un as the dictator. People are forced to worship him.

He continued, Its clear that they dont want any other faith except the worship of their leader and the communist system. They control all the means of life. Government control persists over necessities like food and medical care. This systematic control has led to mass starvation for the general populace.

Christians are often the last people to get food and are sometimes put in labour camps or relegated to remote areas because of their faith in Jesus. Curry said the 2022 World Watch List shows, from a large scale, the strength of extremism around the world.

China

Even though China ranks no. 17 on the World Watch List, it is a major player and the governments actions should be deeply concerning. Their system and their technology is the greatest threat right now overall in the future of religious expression, Curry said, likening the methodical restrictions to a high tech noose around the neck of expression of faith.

As reported in these articles previously, the Chinese government has hampered the efforts of almost every church, forcing houses of worship to break into groups and to shut down. Christians are at risk of losing jobs, having travel restricted, and even worse. China has the technological ability to monitor all online presence.

Looking at the diverse forms of persecution that exist, Curry noted that there is a two-front war against Christianity that can be observed on the World Watch List. On one side, there are the tribal-led government forces like the Taliban and on the other are centralized and tech-savvy governments like what is seen in China.

Pray for the persecuted

Please pray for secret believers in Afghanistan, North Korea and China, that they will be protected from the violence of the regimes and be able to stand strong, encouraging each other in the faith and drawing others to Jesus.

Ask God to cause the leaders in these regimes to uphold and preserve human life, and that God would turn their hearts from hate to love.

Pray for Open Doors partners supporting Afghan refugees to be filled with grace and love. Pray also that the world might become aware of the hardships and suffering that Christians under these regimes experience every day.

To conclude this article, I thought I would share this beautiful hymn sung by Ukrainians in Kyiv Precious Lord, Take my Hand: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M3BPXYFFQfw Let us not forget the struggles in the Ukraine at the moment.
Coun Dale said: What were proposing to do is invest more in increasing places at existing special schools in particular with a focus on autism, because thats where we recognise there isnt a huge attention at the moment and more and more kids getting a diagnosis.

Last week, the Government also released the SEND review green paper, which outlines a need to simplify processes surrounding special educational needs and alternative provision.

Many children in the Greater Philadelphia region are in need of diagnostic evaluations, treatment or both, and many remain on waiting lists.

NeurAbilities Healthcare will open treatment centers in Northeast Philadelphia and Hatboro/ Warminster Township in April, and in Center City Philadelphia in July. The nationally accredited, Voorhees-based practice launched a major expansion in 2020, adding five sites over the past two years. With its latest additions, NeurAbilities will operate a total of 12 facilities: four in New Jersey and eight in Pennsylvania.

When autism was rare, a lot of systems were put in place to make sure that the person really had autism before you offered or provided really extensive or expensive interventions, said Miller.

But long waitlists are an issue for patients since a formal diagnosis is key to accessing autism services.

Thats because, since the turn of the millennium, the prevalence rate of autism increased by 200%. And Miller pointed out that now, the number of children who need to be evaluated for the disorder is incredibly high compared to the number of professionals who have experience with it.

Philadelphia, PA: Autism researcher calls for more and improved services for autistic children.

Steinburg said the demand for autism treatment services is only growing, and the new clinic meets the needs of Greater Bangor. 

Over and over were told that increases are real. No one bothers to promote the tired line of better diagnosing/greater awareness thats been around for the last 20 years. Instead, no explanation is given.

My stories from Loss of Brain Trust last week only confirm what we all know, namely that the number of disabled kids will continue to flood schools, both here and abroad, and the people in charge will not ask why its happening.

Shrewsbury, MA: A ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held as another autism center opens on April 23rd.

The agency has three existing locations in Connecticut and Massachusetts, with another two in Shrewsbury and West Hartford, Conn. opening soon. Another separate autism care center, Autism Care Partners, opened in Worcester in mid-March.

Colorado: Autism provider now offers free screenings.

InBloom Autism Services initially began offering diagnostic evaluations for ASD back in January of 2020, InBloom has since made investments to expand its ability to connect with families currently seeking or waiting for an evaluation from a clinical psychologist, including opening additional Learning Center locations throughout the state.

"The waitlist for those evaluations can sometimes be a year or year and a half, and many insurance providers will not continue to authorize treatment while the families are awaiting those diagnostic evaluations.

Regional Australia: 30,000 autistic children have to compete for schools and places.

Outside the big cities it can be next to impossible to even get a diagnosis, let alone support. Only 40-percent of these kids attend a special school or special classes.

Leicester, England: The county council is providing $6.3M for a new special school for disabled kids, specifically those with complex autism.

A photo of the ribbon-cutting ceremony with smiling adults was included.

Were working hard to meet the growing demand for SEND provision in the city, both by increasing capacity at our special schools and by creating additional specialist places within mainstream schools.

These 60 additional spaces at the new Knighton Fields campus are just part of our commitment to increasing our specialist support for children and young people whose needs cant be met within mainstream education.

The council has committed a further 16.5m [$22M] to expanding its SEND provision over the next two years, with plans already in place to increase capacity at a further eight sites.

Hertfordshire, England: A story about a mothers efforts to help parents navigate the muddy waters of procuring services for their disabled children had this sobering info:

Corina says she wasn't the only one and Hertfordshire wasn't the only county that struggled with SEND places. Due to the number of children living with SEND, all specials schools are oversubscribed and the funding just isn't there to help people properly.

Around 36,000 children and young people in Hertfordshire have an identified SEND need according to the latest SEND strategy from Hertfordshire Council Council. That's around 13.3 per cent of pupils in Hertfordshire schools.

The number keeps rising year after year, in 2018/2019 there were 26,893 students with SEND and as of 2019/2020, there are 27,565. Since the reintroduction of SEND reforms in Hertfordshire in 2015, the county has seen rapid growth in the number of children with EHCPs - an increase of 127 pre cent between 2015 and 2021, that's around a 15 per cent increase year on year.

Solihull, England: Parents held a protest over special needs services outside the Solihull Council house.

The parents say their children are being "failed" by the local authority, as their special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) are not being met in mainstream schools. Some feel they have been left with no choice but to pull their children out of school entirely.

"Figures show there were 302 children being electively home educated as of December 2021, but we know from speaking to parents that many of them have only chosen this path because they feel they have no other choice.

"In some cases, the council is refusing to assess these children and parents are having to go to mediation to get an Education and Health Care Plan (EHCP) that accurately represents their child's needs.

Northern Ireland: The special education crisis in NI is beyond being a crisis, its a disaster.

THE scale of the crisis in the special educational needs sector in Northern Ireland is "unquantifiable", a teaching union has warned.

"Around 80,000 school-age children in Northern Ireland have some form of special needs, almost a quarter of all pupils. More than 18,000 of those have a statement. However, it is likely the statementing figure should be higher. For instance, last year almost 4,500 children were waiting for an autism assessment.

"So in truth the scale of unmet need is currently unknown while schools are expected to struggle on themselves without the capacity to provide proper support for children with increasingly complex social, emotional and behavioural difficulties.

Co. Louth, Ireland: Parents: Our state is failing our children with limited numbers of paras in schools.

Houghton, MI: As autism rates increase we need more awareness.

April is Autism Awareness Month. The importance of that is because the number of children diagnosed with autism continues to increase. Learning more about the disorder and raising awareness becomes increasingly important.

According to the South Louisiana Medical Associates, the rate of autism is rising, and it is more important than ever that individuals and families affected by autism receive sufficient support and services. 

In a Dec. 2, 2021, press release the CDC updated their earlier statistical statement, saying: One in 44 (2.3%) 8-year-old children have been identified with autism spectrum disorder according to an analysis of 2018 data published in CDCs (December, 2018, weekly) Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) Surveillance Summaries.

Warwickshire, England: The county council plans to mainstream more disabled students.

As part of the improvement plans, the local authority wants all children and young people in Warwickshire to lead a fulfilling life and be part of their communities. This includes promoting inclusion in mainstream schools, providing the skills and resources to support children and young people with SEND.

Oxfordshire, England: More special schools could be built in Oxfordshire.

The SEND review is a response to the widespread recognition that the system is failing to deliver for children, young people and their families.

The review proposes to establish a new national SEND and alternative provision system, which will set nationally consistent standards for how needs are identified and met at every stage of a childs journey across education, health and care.

This could see an additional 1 billion [$1.3B] invested in the school budget in 2022 to 2023, to support children and young people with the most complex needs.

We need more special schools and places for alternative provision.

Ellesmere Port, England: The local MP laments the struggles faced by parents with disabled children as shown by a recent national government reform paper.

The experiences of many is that they must ultimately have the issue determined by an appeal tribunal where up to 95% of parents appeals are successful; such a high success rate must surely show that there are huge flaws in the system?

Part of the challenge is the huge demand placed on stretched local authorities and schools; one in six children in England have a special educational need or disability which is the equivalent of five in every class.

A lack of specialist help is also a huge issue with children are stuck on waiting lists for many months before they can access support from occupational therapy to speech and language assistance.

There was positive news from around the U.S. that should dispel any real concern that anything is wrong.

Chula Vista, CA: Sesame Place theme park is now a Certified Autism Center.

Each ride and attraction has a sensory guide to provide insight into how a child with sensory processing issues may be affected. 

Every employee is also trained on how to attend to children with autism and their families.

Both Shreveport, LA and Parkersburg, WV published stories telling us that the April is now, Autism Acceptance Month, not awareness month anymore.

In Macon, GA theyre going to celebrate the autism community on April 30th.

Miami: All police officers will have autism training by 2023.

April is Autism Awareness and Acceptance Month, and the Miami-Dade Police Department is committed to training its police officers to recognize the signs and symptoms of Autism in order to effectively communicate with people who have the developmental disability.

On Friday, the department announced the launch of its ambitious Autism and Sensory training sessions to every member of the police department by 2023. 

The Department already has an Autism Awareness vehicle, which features a motif of solid red, blue, yellow, and green puzzle shapes, and initialed handprints of 28 autistic children of Department employees.
BLACKWELL, Wis.  Each year folks in the north look forward to early spring when sap rises in the forest trees. The smell of wood smoke wafts 
SPOONER, Wis.  For many, winter and early spring are times to tackle work that needed to wait during growing and harvesting seasons. Fencerow
Dear Michael: We want to do our estate planning, but we have had a meeting with the local attorney and all of it has just sat there for the past two years. He is either too busy or too focused on being city and county attorney to do our wills. We had purchased a large life insurance policy from our agent, and we wanted to set this up for our non-farming children while our farming son took over the business. No one seems to want to help us finish our process. What should we do?  Left In Neverland.

Dear Left In Neverland: Let us examine the second part of your question first.

You bought a large insurance policy from an agent. This agent made a large amount of commission for this sale. Now, he has no idea how to set up your wills so that this insurance is managed correctly.

Your first mistake was buying life insurance from an untrained agent. Not an uncommon thing for people to do. I have heard stories of people buying from some guy who stopped in their yard, never knew him before, but they bought a huge policy from him. Or someone at your bank sold you huge term insurance policies without informing you of the risk of causing estate taxes upon your estate.

There are a lot of agents  perhaps as high as 95 percent or more  who are not trained in any estate planning. These agents are great when it comes to covering a young family with term insurance to pay off the house, create some income and stability for the survivors. Your basic needs guy.

A lot of farmers go to great lengths to find a good attorney to help them set up and estate plan, accept huge charges for doing so, and yet buy one of the most efficient and precious assets in your estate from Joe Blow. All the money you just spent setting up an estate plan could be ruined by owning the life insurance incorrectly in your estate, or not having the correct passages in your estate to deal with such a large, liquid asset.

In estate planning, a life insurance policy is much like unsold wheat as an asset in your estate. Until the wheat is sold, it just sits in the bin. However, upon your death, this unsold wheat has a value attached to it and it becomes a cash equivalent in your estate. Same as life insurance  just an uncashed check!

Cash equivalents are often the most overlooked and under planned assets of your estate and, as such, often can cause as much harm as good. Why? They are seldom accounted for and often can cause estate taxes.

Lets move on to your attorney who, much like life insurance agents, knows he does not have the right training to complete your will. Attorneys can go through law school without taking estate planning as a mandatory course.

It is better your attorney had said, or indicated, he cannot do the work necessary than to have someone do it that doesnt know what they are doing.

A will that has moving parts in it is not an easy thing to build. You have a farming child, but what happens if that child does not farm after your death? Can s/he take the land and sell it outright for a much higher amount than the non-farming childrens split of your life insurance  if the insurance ever gets to them?

How does it work if you enter a nursing home and have to cash in your life insurance to pay for care taking the non-farming childrens inheritance along with it? Will the non-farming children feel that you used their inheritance for your care while your farming child still received an inheritance?

You need to have a professional estate life insurance agent. If this agent is any good, he will tell you how this life insurance fits into your short-term and long-term estate plan and how to protect it in the event of long-term care or estate tax issues. If you bought insurance from a guy at the bank, do not expect this to happen.

Once this is determined, then you must answer the what ifs? of your estate plan. If you need long-term care, how long does your farming child have to farm to receive the much higher inheritance than the non-farming children? How do you protect your non-farming childrens inheritance as well as the farm?

If you are not getting these answers from either your attorney or your life insurance agent, you need to keep seeking a professional in both areas.

Michael Baron provides estate planning guidance at Great Plains Diversified Services in Bismarck, North Dakota. Email him at KeeptheFamilyFarm@gmail.com.

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BASS Genetics Inc., based in Danube, Minn., was recently awarded $53,662 from APUC to help with developing a highly competitive non-GMO corn hybrid.

BASS (Baumgartner Agricultural Science and Service) researchers and the Baumgartner family have spent a long time researching corn hybrids and breeding corn before beginning to sell all non-GMO corn seed across the Corn Belt in 2017.

They produced the seed for their first sale in 2016.

BASS started coming up with non-GMO parent corn hybrids in 2005 that could hold their own in the field with insect pressure and drought without having to insert a trait in them, said Mike Parkinson, national sales manager for BASS Genetics. Now, were either the fifth- or sixth-largest breeding program in the U.S.

Parkinson explained BASS was bringing modern plant breeding and genetics to compete directly against the traited products.

Were not using old off-patent corns, and in doing that, were bringing non-GMO natural insect tolerance and products that can (withstand) drought, he said.

BASS tests heavily in research plots near smaller towns in North Dakota and South Dakota, with some testing in Minnesota.

We have some 600-1,400 corn hybrids in each location being tested, Parkinson said.

BASS also has a research facility in Puerto Rico, which is unique, because BASS tests on the south side of Puerto Rico where it doesnt rain as much and isnt as humid, in spite of the ocean.

Once you are there (where the research goes on), you see it is warm, in the 80s and 90s during the day, but it looks like South Dakota with rolling hills and cattle grazing on tan-colored grass, Parkinson said. We have 360 acres of research plots there on the dry side of the island that we drip irrigate, and where we breed for heat and lack of moisture every day without even trying because that is your environment.

The other part of the Puerto Rico environment is that there is significant insect pressure.

BASS had been working with other corn companies there and would need to spray the traited corns in the plots 21 times in 90 days because of the large number of insects.

Parkinson explained that what protects those traits from insects is protein. Companies would put in two proteins for corn borer, an above-ground insect, and two proteins for rootworm, a below-ground insect.

What we noticed in the process of bringing and spraying and looking at these hybrids over a 15-20-year period, was that there were natural occurring corns that the bugs didnt really bother very much, he said.

While the insects would eat on these corns, which started the natural resistance in the plant, the other plants would be so eaten they were skeletonized.

Rachael Baumgartner explained that there are several natural characteristics that make up the insects natural resistance to the corn.

These corn plants would still have the leaf, the ear, the silks, the tassel, and the roots intact, but no trait in it.

Ed Baumgartner and his team began collecting those products that seemed to have more of a natural resistance, and then started breeding them to each other, he said. Eventually, we came out with corns that visibly, you could see that the insects just didnt bother with them as much.

The non-GMO corn was tested on a separate farm on the island, totally separate from the GMO corn products.

Parkinson pointed out the new non-GMO corn products were the result of a lot of hard work collecting and breeding.

There was no magic wand, just hard work, he said. Wewould develop the natural insect tolerance down there in Puerto Rico.

The other part of the breeding story came from the Danube, Minn., research facility and plots in North Dakota.

Since 2009, we have been testing in North Dakota  bringing products from the south and coming up with the correct balance of what we think is insect resistance and yield production, Parkinson said.

The reason BASS has many testing plots near towns in North Dakota is the soils are different in each site, the climate is different, and the crop management is different.

We test for crop management, no-till, tillage or minimum till, and high moisture or low moisture and whether it is corn on corn or corn following other crops, he said.

Hybrids have to be selected very precisely for all these local differences.

We know the difference between the soils in Minot, Harvey, and Grand Forks and other places, and that takes different hybrids, he said. You are going to see every combination of weather on those hybrids over that period of time.

BASS is continually testing to make sure their hybrids are strong and have significant data over time before they are released.

During testing with the plots, one of the things the BASS team was amazed at was that a lot of their hybrid stands were probably 97-98 percent, which was about 10 percent more than other companies.

We do three different tests on germination, he said.

With corn hybrids, Parkinson believes BASS has the right hybrid products to outcompete the trait corn hybrids.

BASS non-GMO corn hybrids are in high demand because our seed costs are less than other companies and the hybrids are top quality and have tolerance to drought and insects, Parkinson said.

Parkinson has been selling corn for 40 years, and he sold conventional corn for 20 years.

Conventional corn, at one time, gave farmers a financial advantage, but cost per bag of seed began creeping up to where it became very expensive.

When the GMOs came in, they put the trait technology fee on everything. So, all of a sudden, corn that I had been selling for $72 as conventional, was now $172, he said.

From 1997 to present, trait corns jumped higher, with some in the $265-$285 range for a bag of seed.

Parkinson has many of the same customers he had long ago. He saves these farmers, on average, $100 a bag.

Can the non-GMO corn go into the same markets as GMO corn?

While some non-GMO corn can go into specialty markets like organic, other farmers just send it to the same place they send other corn to.

While 10 percent might go to specialty markets, everything else, 90 percent of it is going to the ethanol plants, feedlots and wherever else corn goes, he said.

Parkinson pointed out farmers are getting equal yields or better yields on BASS corn. They also find out there are less insects with the corn.

I video log the fields I walk through with farmers, and I will ask them, Are there holes in the leaves? They will say no, he said.

Farmers in North Dakota that planted the BASS corn during the drought had amazing yields.

We actually had yields that went into the 190s, depending on the farmers. We had some guys around Streeter that were actually knocking off 190-bushel corn, he said. And the other corn in those areas was not getting remotely close to that because of the drought. Those guys all ordered almost a 100 percent of our corn back.

Parkinson said they felt that a huge advantage to North Dakota farmers would be to let them save the money up front.

So many companies want you to put every input that you possibly can into this corn and try to get the absolute max bushels out of that corn, but the only weak spot on that is it still has to rain for that to happen, Parkinson said.

Farmers can decide if they want to use the extra money they saved on bags of seed and put it into extra nitrogen on a good field or something else to try and improve that crop.

BASS is a global business and used the APUC award to buy two machines to improve plant quality.

We were excited with the APUC award. We were so excited to see legislators in North Dakota who wanted to share a vision of coming up with options for the farmers and the ranchers that they represent out there to make more money or to be able to improve the conditions on their farm through increased value in corn, he said.

The award allowed BASS to purchase a near infrared machine that can check the quality or protein percentage, oil percentage and more on the corn.

They also were able to purchase a high-quality drone with the APUC grant to gauge the nutrient deficiencies in the plants.

The next thing on BASS list of improvements to their hybrids is that all their corn hybrids need to be able to handle stress.

We want insect tolerance, natural insect tolerance in our corn, and all of our corns have to take stress. Thats the very next thing on the list, Parkinson said.

With their silage corns, Parkinson said they have increased the feed value of the corn.

Weve had tremendous results in silage. One of our customers feeds thousands of head of cattle and theyve been using our products for the last three years, 100 percent, he said.

The customer has cut up to 33 tons per acre of silage on irrigation, which is high.

The responsibility thats falling on the U.S. farmer to feed the world is going to be exponential this year, and we want to help them with that, Parkinson said.

The 2022 corn line-up includes 30 hybrids that maximize performance for the farmers overall operation, according to BASS. The company sells grain corn, silage corn, and high moisture corn that has maturity from 76 days to 113 days.

For more information on BASS offerings, visit www.basshybrids.com or call (320) 522-3461.

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Farming is one of the most challenging occupations on Planet Earth but imagine trying to plant crops while under attack. Farmers in Ukraine are in that uncharted territory because of Russias invasion.

Nick Gordiichuk is a Ukrainian farmer facing war and spring planting at the same time.

Gordiichuk farms 600 hectares (1,482 acres), which he said is considered a relatively small farm in Ukraine. He told Dustin Hoffmann during an interview with the Iowa Agribusiness Radio Network that he grows winter wheat, maize (corn), seed potatoes and table potatoes.

My farm is 150 kilometers north of Kyiv, Gordiichuk said over Skype. Its right in the area where the aggressor entered our country. That means our farm is under occupation, and we dont have access to it right now.

Some reports in the United States say Ukraine officials are urging the countrys farmers to go forward with their normal plans as much as possible. Gordiichuk points out that normal is something new on a minute-by-minute basis.

At this point in the year, Gordiichuk would typically be seed-drilling the earlier-planted crops and putting fertilizer on their winter wheat. Ukraine has been the breadbasket for many countries around the world, and the fact that normal farming operations have been interrupted isnt good for the worlds food security.

First of all, our farmers dont have access to a lot of their land, he said. Even those farmers who do have access to land and machinery face challenges getting inputs like fertilizer. We also dont have enough access to diesel and gasoline, because the logistics of getting those fuels have gotten destroyed by war.

As any American farmer knows, financing is a yearly challenge. Gordiichuk says Ukrainian farmers also rely on financing from their local banks, which will be an even bigger challenge to get in 2022. The Ukraine government is also trying to arrange financing plans for the countrys farmers, but he points out that most banks in his country are trying to cut down on risk.

We see that the Russian army is purposefully targeting our countrys agricultural enterprises, Gordiichuk said. Theyre destroying our machinery and stored crops. Some farmers still have a lot of crops they were holding onto in hopes of selling at better prices. But where will we sell it, with no access to Black Sea ports?

The only option for some farmers may be to ship commodities via railroad through Europe.

The Ukrainian farmer estimates that at least 30% of the countrys farmland wont get planted. Even those farmers that do manage to grow crops arent sure what theyll do with it once harvest is complete, assuming the crops even get to maturity. But, like American farmers, he says Ukraines growers are still trying to get out when the sun is shining and the soil is at the right temperature.

For example, as we were recently putting fertilizer on our winter wheat, we could hear shells exploding nearby, he recalled. Unfortunately, thats about when we saw Russian tanks entering our village and had to evacuate the people and some of the items from our farm.

He says its likely that only central and western Ukraine will be able to grow at least some crops this season. In southern Ukraine, Gordiichuk says Russians are actually stealing the countrys grain and shipping it as their own exports. But no matter what happens in the days ahead, farmers and other groups are working together to get as much food to as many people as possible.

We are trying to supply as much food as we can to cities that are under attack, including (the capital city of) Kyiv, he said. We try to distribute vegetables, potatoes and flour so that people can make bread. We want to help people in each of these cities survive the attacks.

Farmers are also helping the Ukrainian army by providing food for the soldiers and fuel for their vehicles.

We believe we are helping the army stand its ground against the aggressors, he said.

About a month into the war, 10 million Ukrainians have had to leave their homes because of the fighting. Three million of those people fled to other countries like Poland, which Gordiichuk called a good friend to Ukrainians, as well as other countries like Germany, France and Romania. Most of those 3 million people were women and children.

Many of the 7 million Ukrainians that stayed behind moved from the eastern part of Ukraine to the western areas of the country. Thats escalated food demand in that particular region.

Farmers are also getting together to think about what might happen next year, Gordiichuk said. Were trying to organize enough diesel, gasoline and seed supplies for the next planting season. The government is also working to make it easier to import things like seeds and machinery from overseas to get ready for next year.

The war is equally hard on Ukraines livestock farmers. While the country doesnt have a lot of livestock and dairy farms, Gordiichuk has a farmer friend in northern Ukraine that owns 700 cows.

He has soldiers and shelling all around his farm constantly, but he has to stay there with his family because the cows need care every day, he said.

The other problem dairy farmers run into is where to take the milk for processing.

The milk processing factories arent working right now, so our dairy farmers are giving the milk away to those who need it, Gordiichuk said.

About 70% of all Ukrainian businesses had to stop their operations, he said, and supply chains are either severely disrupted or destroyed. Gordiichuk says if they wanted to move potatoes from one area to another, theyd first have to find a driver willing to risk his life. He would then have to find diesel or gasoline to fuel the truck.

Were in a very challenging time, he added. But we are all inspired by our army thats fighting and allowing us to do our farming so we can feed our people.

Every morning and every evening, we have people in our country running for bomb shelters, Gordiichuk said. Its unbelievable to see this situation in the 21st century.

Chad Smith can be reached at editorial@midwestmessenger.com.

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Quality or quantity? When it comes to the workforce shortage, the Midwest could benefit from either.

Every area is affected by the workforce shortage, but especially jobs in agriculture. We say one in three jobs in this region is connected to agriculture. It used to be qualified workers were in demand but now its a worker shortage, said Dr. Cyndi Hanson, Dean of Workforce Development at Northeast Community College (NECC) in Norfolk, Nebraska.

NECC understands that as the worker shortage prevails, companies are turning to technology to fill the void. It also realizes the need to prevent technological malfunctions and hacking within those systems.

The Ruraltech Training Program to Boost IT and Cybersecurity Skills in the Agricultural Workforce program will prepare workers to manage and protect technology utilized by large companies, cooperatives and even small farms. Agricultures dependency on precision ag makes the NECC program vital.

NECC received a three-year grant worth $450,000 from the U.S. Department of Agriculture for the program.

A more traditional learning environment will be offered for updating personnel already certified, whereas entry-level students will be immersed in a boot camp. The boot camp simulates a cyberattack on a company in an enclosed virtual environment.

Hanson encourages any business connected with agriculture to contact NECC about the program in order to support the current workforce as well as new, inexperienced employees.

Another response to the workforce shortage, specifically in the meat packing industry, is the start-up company Marble Technologies. The team consists of meat scientists, engineers and entrepreneurs. They are piloting intelligent automation equipment to address the bottleneck in the meat supply chain.

Agriculture in general is facing labor shortages, but it is particularly acute in meat processing, said Jordyn Bader. Its been a longstanding problem but has finally come to a tipping point where its an issue that has to be resolved.

Bader, a native of Ainsworth, Nebraska, is cofounder and director of industry partnerships for Marble. She explained in a Nebraska Women in Agriculture webinar on Feb. 8 that Marble is focused initially on developing technology to sort and pack meat products into boxes, a role that requires substantial labor in meat facilities. A degree of intelligence is required to identify sealed meat packages. Because meat products are not uniform, the machines must adapt to variability by relying on their decision-making capability.

We are putting brains on equipment to automate processing tasks, Bader said.

Incorporated in November 2020, Marble Technologies has locations at Cambridge, Massachusetts and Nebraska Innovation Campus in Lincoln. Marbles first product is being tested with several large meat processors and anticipates to commercialize this year.

The environment of meat processing facilities poses a challenge for integrating technology. Bader elaborated that the cameras must withstand cold and wet conditions while also being protected against daily hot, high-pressure power washing. She also noted that the design must be compact to fit in tight facilities.

According to Bader, meat packing plants can be short 100 to 300 employees on any given day.

Marble is aimed at reducing the pain point of labor shortages in meat processing facilities, Bader said.

Marble Technologies intends to reduce the amount of physical labor required in meat packing plants, enabling employees who perform repetitive and physically demanding tasks to be redeployed to other, higher need areas of the plant.

Technology may be a solution for some aspects within the workforce shortage, but human workers are still necessary even in todays high-tech society.

For people seeking agriculturally-related employment or employees, Hansen Agri-PLACEMENT may be the solution. The company is located in Grand Island, Nebraska but has a worldwide presence. Established in 1959, this specialized recruiting service for agriculture production and business is the oldest and well-respected recruiting firm.

At any given time, there are 300-plus various job openings across the country for farm, ranch, farm or ranch, swine and dairy, in both production and agri-business sectors. In the last 18 months, Nebraska and the Midwest has had a shortage of qualified workers, said Kerry Glandt, who is one of five recruiters at Hansen Agri-PLACEMENT.

From Glandts perspective as a recruiter, employers value skill sets, stability and a reference set.

You are not building strong experience or references if hopping from job to job, Glandt said.

For those who want to get involved in agriculture but lack fundamental experience, he recommends finding a starter job in the field to build stability and experience.

In addition to the worker shortage, Glandt has also seen a desire for people to return home. Moreover, more people have transitioned back to the farm from corporate or manufacturing positions.

People who drifted and are working 500 plus miles from their family or in-laws and havent been able to visit in the last year want to get back closer to family and perhaps aging parents, Glandt said.

Whether seeking a job closer to home, starting fresh out of college, wanting change in occupations or unemployed, Hansen Agri-PLACEMENT can help. The recruiters match employers and potential employees carefully, helping job seekers take a snapshot of their skill sets, fine-tune their resume and find multiple job openings to meet their criteria, when possible.

There is no cost for businesses to post openings nor a service fee if the position is not filled. Moreover, Hansen Agri-PLACEMENT offers an employment guarantee.

As the worker shortage continues, hopefully it will dissipate through the work of innovative companies and individuals who have dedicated themselves to agriculture. Maybe employers will not have to settle for only quantity but can also find the quality candidate to join their company.

Reporter Kristen Sindelar has loved agriculture her entire life, coming from a diversified farm with three generations working side-by-side in northeastern Nebraska. Reach her at Kristen.Sindelar@midwestmessenger.com.

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Grass has been the very root of our familys survival, Neil Bien said. To have that in our history spurs us to save the grassland and keep 
You know that feeling when youre riding a fancy brand-new rollercoaster and youre literally being smashed and banged around from side to side and never know what to expect next? Well, as cheesy as it sounds, I can think of no better analogy to describe my college experience  a rollercoast
Jaclyn Wilson Jaclyn Wilson raises Red Angus cattle at Wilson Ranch near Lakeside, Nebraska. Send comments to her at jaclyn@flyingdiamondgenetics.com. Follow Jaclyn Wilson 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

Social media, how I love to dislike it some weeks. Im a firm believer that there is a place for it, but sometimes its easy to get bogged down in it.

The good news is that I had posted two different sets of replacement heifers on there, and even with the drought and the weirdness in the markets I was able to get them sold. Im going to be doing delivery on them this coming weekend when Im heading to Lincoln to speak at the National Block and Bridle Convention, and then the rest will go the following weekend when Im heading to Omaha for Humanities Nebraska.

Sure, its a pain with hotel parking and driving in the middle of Lincoln and Omaha with a trailer, but with the price of diesel right now, its just better to cram everything into the same trips. Who am I kidding, though  Ive always done it this way.

Since I was heading that direction, I thought Id put a post out on a buy and sell page in Omaha that I could bring Flying Diamond Beef to any interested parties in my travels. Im know that customer service is supposed to be the focus, and since I took the direct-to-consumer business on ranch Ive really tried to make an effort there. But I tell you what  people can get frustrating.

The post read something like: head over to the website and check out product and place an order. Then the messages start coming in: How much will a half of cow cost? Whats the cost on 72 briskets and one package of ground beef? (That one may have been an exaggeration, but you get the point.)

I patiently keep saying head over to the website at this address. Everything is there, and if you have question just call or send a direct message. Then the comments come from those that may or may not have looked at the website and have decided that beef prices are highway robbery.

Maybe for some they are, but I can stay that since weve started doing direct to consumer marketing, and working on pricing in fall 2019, there has been one price increase  even though the price of everything else has gone up. But while there are those that are going to always complain about having to pay for anything, the biggest concern that I see is the utter mass confusion on pricing.

The more I deal in the business, the more I despise hanging weight. Its usually the most confusing piece for a consumer whos new to buying beef direct. Let me break this down more.

A consumer can pay for beef in multiple ways: live, hanging weight, finished product. Paying on live and hanging weight works out OK for those that are not using plants inspected the U.S. Department of Agriculture. But I have had numerous consumers and producers tell me how confusing it is and how upset people can get when they are paying on a hanging weight price.

For those that are asking what hanging weight is, its also known as the carcass weight  or what is left after you remove hide, head and some internal organs. Hanging weight will be around 60-65% of the live animal weight. For instance, if you have a 1,550-pound finished steer, the hanging weight will be around 960 pounds.

So what becomes the problem? Let me give you an example. Consumer A decided to buy a half of steer. Hanging weight on the steer was 960 pounds and the price was $3.50 per pound. Consumer A also had to pay processing, which varies from anywhere from 60 cents to $1.25 per pound depending on the processor.

Consumer A thought he was getting an amazing deal and was telling all of his friends of the steal he was getting. The day he went to go pick up his product he got around 480 pounds of beef to take home. Consumer A was upset. He not only yelled at the processor but threw a pound of ground beef at the processors head. The next call was to the producer where Consumer A informed the producer that he was nothing but a crook and they would never purchasing from them again.

How can we solve this confusion? The first is to explain in detail what the consumer can expect. I use a really easy formula called the 60-50. The hanging weight should be 60% of the live weight, and then just divide the hanging weight in half and that will equal the amount of take-home product you can expect.

Now there are a variety of factors that go into this, including bones, bone in product and even grind percentage, but its an easy way that usually covers even an inefficient packer.

The other way to solve the confusion is consistency. I wont sell anything on our website by hanging weight. Every package will have a set amount of weight. If you want a half a beef, you will be getting right around 250 pound of product. If you want a whole, you will be getting right around 500 pounds. If I run short or long, Ill adjust with other product. Its become an easy way to explain exactly what one is getting.

At this point, I no longer have wholes listed on the website. Thats because the only way we could really make it work to sell the whole animal was to base it on hanging weight. No thank you.

I know for some producers, with their processors that hanging weight is the only way they can sell. Please, please, please do a better job of explaining what they are getting so I dont have to listen to all the bickering and moaning. My metal state thanks you for it!

Jaclyn Wilson is more than a rancher, raising Red Angus cattle at Wilson Ranch near Lakeside, Nebraska. Shes an artist with a welders torch. She holds leadership positions with several agriculture organizations. She can be reached at jaclyn@flyingdiamondgenetics.com. This column represents the views of one person and are not necessarily the opinion of the Midwest Messenger.

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The Tamil Nadu police have posted a large contingent of policemen at the borders of Kerala in Walayar, Kanniyakumari and Kumali to prevent smuggling of spirit as Kerala is preparing for Vishu and Easter festivities.

While Vishu, the Malayalam new year falls on April 15, Easter is on April 17, Sunday.

On Sunday, Tamil Nadu police apprehended two Keralites at the Walayar check post with 1,000 litres of spirit which they were smuggling to their state under the guise of vegetables in a mini lorry.

Kerala has a high rate of liquor consumption during the festival season and with Vishu, which is a major celebration in Northern part of Kerala for the Hindu community, the possibilities of spirit arriving in large volumes cannot be ruled out.

Easter is another celebration in which liquor is consumed in good volume and with both the festivals being celebrated in a space of three days, there are possibilities of a huge volume of spirit reaching Kerala which has the distinction of the second-highest liquor consuming state after Punjab.

Several Kerala based suppliers of liquor from Tamil Nadu are under the scanner and a senior officer at the state police headquarters told IANS that the vehicles they use for the purpose are all under the radar of the state police.

In another incident, the Tamil Nadu police have commenced checking the vehicles that transport migrant labourers into Kerala after four of them were arrested for carrying 'Ganja', at the Walayar check post. Police have also issued an alert to border police patrolling teams to check all the vehicles, including buses, that transport migrant labourers who are working in Kerala.

On the southern tip of Kerala at the Kaliyakkavilai check-post, Tamil Nadu has deployed a huge police team to prevent the smuggling of liquor into Kerala.

M.K. Aroghyasamy, a police officer posted at Kalihakkavilai, while speaking to IANS said: "There were occasions in previous years when the police team apprehended big lorries full of spirit during the festival seasons in Kerala. This year also we have been deployed here but unlike earlier years, we have not come across major smuggling but are taking into custody small smugglers who are transporting hundreds of litres of spirit in cans, mostly through minivans."

In Kumali, the Idukki district of Kerala which shares borders with the Theni district, there is a heavy deployment of police to prevent any smuggling of spirit. The possibility of 'Ganja' crossing over to Kerala from Andhra through Tamil Nadu is also not ruled out by the police.

A senior police officer who is in charge of the Kumali check post told IANS that the police is on a high vigil and will not allow any spirit being smuggled into Kerala through Kumali.


December 14, 2020

With President-elect Joe Biden signaling that the United States will reenter the nuclear deal that limited Irans nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief, Irans President Hassan Rouhani has signaled that his administration would not be deterred in fully rejoining the deal as well.

The administration will not allow anyone to delay the end of sanctions, and some want this to happen, Rouhani said at a press conference today. We will not allow it for one minute or even one hour, and the sanctions must be broken. America must return to its previous commitments  and we will return to our own commitments.

Rouhani said later in the press conference that both Donald Trump and some inside the country wanted to destroy the nuclear deal. On Dec. 1, members of Irans conservative-led parliament passed a bill to push Irans nuclear abilities to pre-2015 levels. In response to a question at the press conference from Tasnim News Agency about parliaments bill, Rouhani said he has already stated his opposition to these measures as tactics to increase Irans bargaining with the removal of sanctions, and his administration will implement the bill according to their own interpretation.

Iran and five permanent members of the UN Security Council signed the nuclear deal known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action in 2015. Trump exited the deal in 2018 and reapplied all previous sanctions. Iran gradually reduced some of its nuclear commitments but remained in the deal. With six months left in his administration, Rouhani is motivated to save his key foreign policy achievement. Given that the US exit robbed Iran of many of the tangible benefits of the deal, a reentry would eventually be more beneficial to the incoming administration.

While Rouhani deals with salvaging the nuclear deal, Health Ministry officials are still dealing with the coronavirus, which has hit Iran particularly hard. In the last 24 hours, 251 people have died due to the virus. Over 52,000 people in total have died from the pandemic in Iran, though officials say the actual number is likely higher.

Unable to shut down the entire country due to being under crippling sanctions, Iran tried a variety of targeted shutdowns with limited success. Officials are now telling the public that they are working on a vaccine that should be ready by spring. Health Minister Saeed Namaki said Iran would produce the vaccine itself, adding he would not allow Iranians to be tested with unproven vaccines. He said a vaccine would also be imported from reliable sources. Spokesperson for Irans Health Ministry Sima Sadat Lari said Iran is currently pursuing vaccines from Russia, China and India.
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Phoebe, education partners launch career pathway program

Special Photo: Phoebe Phoebe Putney Health System President and CEO Scott Steiner speaks during the launching a new program to attract more students to careers in health care and help them complete their education quicker. Special Photo: Phoebe Phoebe Vice President for Education Tracy Suber said that a Certified Nursing Assistant pipeline will enhance care and service for patients at Phoebe by providing valuable help for the hospital nursing staff. Special Photo: Phoebe Representatives from Albanys 4C Academy, Albany Technical College, Southern Regional Education Board, GADOE, Albany State University, Dougherty County School System and Phoebe Putney Health System take part in a Phoebe Health Science Pathway launch ceremony Monday.

ALBANY  Phoebe Putney Memorial Health System, in cooperation with multiple education partners, is launching a new program to attract more students to careers in health care and help them complete their education quicker, so they can enter the work force earlier.

The health care work force shortage  particularly in nursing  is no longer just a problem, it is a crisis, health system President/CEO Scott Steiner said. There are nearly 30,000 open nursing positions in Georgia now, and that number continues to increase. We cannot reverse the trends that led to this crisis without thinking outside the box and working with multiple partners to create innovative programs right away.

The Phoebe Health Science Pathway builds on existing partnerships by creating a specialized curriculum that will allow students at the Commodore Conyers College & Career (4C) Academy to begin working as certified nursing assistants at Phoebe while still in high school. They will have the chance to complete their core college courses through dual enrollment as high school students so, upon graduation, they can go straight into the nursing program at either Albany State University or Albany Technical College.

We are already reaching out to eighth-grade students and their parents to let them know about the benefits of this unique program, 4C Academy CEO Chris Hatcher said. When school starts next fall, we hope to have more than 100 students enrolled in the pathway, putting them on a path to a successful and well-paying career, serving the health care needs of people right here in southwest Georgia.

With support and guidance from the Southern Regional Education Board, a Georgia-based nonprofit organization that works to improve public education at every level in 16 states, Phoebe worked closely with leaders at 4C, ASU, ATC, the Georgia Department of Education, the University System of Georgia and the Technical College System of Georgia over the last year to create this program. The partners created course standards that ensure students meet all requirements for high school graduation and include courses that will be accepted by both USG and TCSG, to ensure a seamless transition to nursing programs for students.

This was an industry-driven initiative originated by Phoebe, but it took incredible commitment from all the partner institutions to make this a reality, and I am exceedingly proud of their work, Barbara Wall, director of Career, Technical and Agricultural Education, said. We have created a unique program that will have a major impact on health care work force development in southwest Georgia, but it is also replicable. We believe the Phoebe Health Science Pathway can serve as a model for other regions of Georgia  and the entire country  and lead to many other partnerships to address the critical nursing shortage.

Phoebe is already working with Lee County High School, Georgia Southwestern State University and South Georgia Technical College to create a pathway for Lee County students to the nursing programs at those two colleges in neighboring Sumter County. That pathway should also be ready to launch next fall.

A student who sticks with the program could earn certification as a certified nursing assistant during his or her 11th-grade year and have the opportunity to work as a CNA through a paid internship at Phoebe during his or her 12th-grade year.

That CNA pipeline will enhance care and service for patients at Phoebe by providing valuable help for our nursing staff, Phoebe Vice President of Education Tracy Suber said. It also gives those students an incredible jumpstart to a nursing career. The hands-on patient care experience they gain will be incomparable. When they enter nursing school, not only will they be younger than the typical student, they will be more prepared for the rigors of the coursework and clinical training.

Students in the Phoebe Health Science Pathway also will have professional learning opportunities in the Phoebe Simulation & Innovation Center, and Phoebe will help health science teachers prepare students for testing, such as nursing pre-entrance exams and CNA certification.

We are in this for the long haul, Steiner said. We are investing in the future of young people in southwest Georgia and in work force development in our region. We know those investments will pay off by creating a reliable pipeline of prepared and dedicated workers who want to serve their families, friends and neighbors here at home.
Pope Francis is at it again. Although it is traditional for papal podiums to depict the crucifix, during his recent visit to the island of Malta, Pope Francis ditched the cross lest he offend Muslim migrants. As the archdiocese of Malta openly admitted, The podium will not be adorned with a crucifix, given that the majority of migrants are Muslim.

Instead, the podium backdrop used by Francis consisted of recycled plastic bottles with red blobs meant to highlight the two primary reasons Francis was visiting Malta -- to defend migrants and the environment: When you look deeper, you will see that the sea is made of recycled plastic bottles, because there is more plastic than fish in our sea, artistic director Carlo Schembri explained. And the red blobs are life jackets -- the lives of people lost at sea.

While this was meant to highlight the hazards illegal Muslim migrants experience crossing the Mediterranean, one wonders but doubts if Francis remembered the dozens of Christians who were intentionally thrown overboard and drowned in the Mediterranean by their Muslim counterparts for their faith.

Meanwhile, Dr. Philip Beattie, an economist at the University of Malta, explained the reality of his islands migrant situation: The majority of the illegal immigrants trafficked to Malta on rickety boats leaving the Libyan coastline are not genuine refugees, but economic migrants -- and are mainly Muslim young men aged between 18 and 28.

Beattie also got to the heart of the matter:

Saint Paul preached Christ crucified -- a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles [1 Cor. 1:23] when he brought the gospel to Malta. The Apostle boasted in the scandal of the Cross. Why is the pope ashamed of the Cross before Muslims, especially during Lent?

Perhaps its not just shame; perhaps Francis, whose Maltese mission was to support the many Muslim migrants who have flooded the tiny island, removed the cross as a precaution, lest irate Muslims cause a scene and thus compromise his presentation of them as poor victims in need of more state aid and concessions. After all, and as is well documented in this article, past and present, Muslims have engaged in an unwavering pattern of desecrating and destroying the cross, including in Christian cemeteries.

The fact that this shameful spectacle took place in Malta is especially ironic, if not ominous, for Malta was the scene of one of the worst Islamic invasions of history, one worth remembering.

On May 18, 1565, Muslims, in the guise of Ottoman Turks, savagely besieged Malta. The defenders of that tiny island were led by the Knights of Saint John (formerly the Hospitallers).

The Ottomans proceeded to subject the tiny island to what was, at that time, historys most sustained bombardment (some 130,000 cannonballs were fired in total). I dont know if the image of hell can describe the appalling battle, wrote a contemporary: the fire, the heat, the continuous flames from the flamethrowers and fire hoops; the thick smoke, the stench, the disemboweled and mutilated corpses, the clash of arms, the groans, shouts, and cries, the roar of the guns... men wounding, killing, scrabbling, throwing one another back, falling and firing.

The vastly outnumbered Knights of Christ fought tooth and nail; many of them were ritually mutilated, their hearts and entrails pulled out to cries of Allahu Akbar. Afterward -- and speaking of the crucifix that Francis is ashamed of -- the Muslim invaders nailed their bodies to crosses and set them adrift in the harbor. Despite this, the Knights and Maltese defenders so persevered that, on September 11, the Muslim invaders raised the siege and retreated.

Today, Islamic invasions of Europe continue, though under the guise of a refugee crisis -- one that the head of the Catholic world is doing all he can to facilitate, not in the name of Christianity, as evidenced by his abandonment of the cross, but supposed humanism, even as many migrants continue acting like their invading and conquering forbears, including by destroying the hated cross.

Days prior to the Islamic siege of Malta, Jean Parisot de Valette (1494-1568), the grandmaster of the Knights of Saint John -- his disposition is rather sad, wrote a contemporary, but for his age [seventy-one], he is very robust and very devout -- explained to his men what was at stake:

A formidable army composed of audacious barbarians is descending on this island; these persons, my brothers, are the enemies of Jesus Christ. Today it is a question of the defense of our Faith as to whether the book of the Evangelist [the Gospel] is to be superseded by that of the Koran? God on this occasion demands of us our lives, already vowed to His service. Happy will those be who first consummate this sacrifice.

Amazingly, everything he said is now explicitly and implicitly rejected by the current pope -- even though Valettes words are largely still applicable: masses of people who not infrequently behave like audacious barbarians are still descending on this island, as well as all of Western Europe, even though they are and openly behave as the enemies of Jesus Christ. Moreover, Today it is [still] a question of the defense of our Faith as to whether the book of the Evangelist is to be superseded by that of the Koran.

And in the midst of such an existential struggle, the so-called vicar of Christ is doing everything in his power to compel Christians to drop their guard and take in and appease more and more Muslims -- even as he ditches the cross of Christ, lest it offends these selfsame Muslims.

Surely Valette -- whom the capital of Malta is named after in honor of his sacrifice -- is turning in his grave.

The above adaptation of the Siege of Malta was excerpted from the authors Sword and Scimitar: Fourteen Centuries of War between Islam and the West. Raymond Ibrahim is a Shillman Fellow at the David Horowitz Freedom Center, a Judith Rosen Friedman Fellow at the Middle East Forum, and a Distinguished Senior Fellow at the Gatestone Institute.

Image: National Archives
In modern Chinese history, Sun Yat-sen (1866-1925) holds a unique place. He led the revolution that overthrew the Qing dynasty in 1911; devoted his life to championing an independent and democratic China; and was a revolutionary leader and a man of vision. Sun remains the only political leader honored by both mainland China and Taiwan. Whats fascinating about Sun, but little known in America, is that his birthplace, formal education, medical training, religious faith, and political values made him a true American.

Suns elder brother concealed the fact that Yat-sen was an American. His family would claim that he was born in China because a Chinese identity was crucial to his mission for Chinas future but contemporaneous records show that he was an American citizen by birth. The National Archives at San Francisco verified on April 29, 1904, that Sun had US citizenship. The American Institute in Taiwan also confirms that Sun Yat-sen was born in Hawaii.

When Sun was 4 years old, his parents took him back with them to China. Then at age 12, he sailed on a British steamship back to Hawaii, to live with his elder brother. Sun received his secondary education at the Iolani School under the supervision of the Church of Hawaii.

At 18, Sun wanted to convert to Christianity. He was baptized in Hong Kong by Rev. C. R. Hager, an American missionary. He began studying Western medicine at the Hong Kong College of Medicine for Chinese . At 22, he joined a group of revolutionary thinkers called the Four Bandits. They founded the Furen Literary Society, which emphasized discipline, purifying the character, and learning from the West. In 1892 Sun graduated with a medical doctorate degree from the University of Hong Kong, a globally respected educational establishment in the British territory.

In 1894, Sun wrote a petition to the Qing Viceroy of Zhili, Li Hongzhang , presenting his ideas for modernizing China but was refused an audience. That same year, he founded a nationalist party in Hawaii, the Revive China Society. It would later be renamed the Kuomintang .

In 1895, Sun formed an alliance with the underground Triad Societies in Hong Kong to organize the First Guangzhou uprising against the Qing dynasty. But when the plan failed, Sun escaped to Japan. This began his 16-year traveling exile, during which his brother supported him, selling most of his 12,000 acres of ranch and cattle in Hawaii to do so.

In 1896, now in London, Sun was kidnapped by the Chinese legation, which wanted to extradite him to China for execution. With the help of Sir James Cantlie (Dean of the College of Medicine in Hong Kong,) the British Foreign Office intervened. Sun was released and stayed at Grays Inn Place for eight months. Every day, he went to the nearby British Museum library for reading, constantly searching for an ideal political system applicable to a modern China.

In 1897, Sun was in Canada to seek funding from the Chinese communities, where he was followed by a Chinese official and a British detective whom the Chinese consulate in London had hired. Sun evaded capture and boarded a transpacific liner to Japan. There he soon met Toten Miyazaki, a philosopher, who offered to assist his cause. Sun began organizing a more inclusive and influential network for fundraising in Southeast Asian countries, where large numbers of overseas Chinese lived and prospered.

In 1900 Sun launched the Huizhou uprising but failed. His Great Ming uprising in 1903 also failed. He further extended his network with a revolutionary base in Ha Noi and a military academy near Tokyo. Returning to Hawaii, he joined the Triad Societies branch there. Blessed with a magnetic personality, Suns popularity was now spreading beyond Greater China.

Image: Symbolizing Americas support, the U.S. Post Office Department twice depicted Sun Yat-sen on postage stamps.

In 1904, Sun sailed to New York from Hawaii. While in New York, the San Francisco Chinese community funded and promoted a pamphlet he wrote, entitled The True Solution of the Chinese Problem. American influence on Sun was growing because he saw America as a model of success. Sun admired the political philosophy of President Lincoln for a democratic government. He called this the Three Principles of The People and developed his own version for China: minzu (national feelings of the people,) minquan (rights of the people,) and minsheng (the peoples livelihood.)

Between 1905 and 1910, Sun led six armed uprisings. All failed. In December 1910 (now on his 11th trip to the US mainland) he arrived in San Francisco to begin a fundraising tour to all Chinese communities in the country.

In October 1911, his revolutionary forces uprising at Wuchang finally succeeded. Sun heard the news while in Denver and was anxious to return to China. His trusted friend, Homer Lea, offered to accompany him. Lea was an American adventurer, writer, and geopolitical strategist from Colorado. They arrived in Shanghai on Christmas Day. A whole series of successful uprisings was taking place throughout China during their sea journey, known as the Xinhai Revolution, or the 1911 Revolution. The last Emperor Puyi was overthrown, ending 2,132 years of Chinas imperial rule.

January 1, 1912, marked the birthdate of the Republic of China, with Sun Yat-sen as President. He called for the end of warlord rule and the abolition of all unequal treaties between the Qing dynasty government and other countries. But to unite various factions within China was challenging. Fighting among the warlords, among the politicians, and between the warlords and the politicians led to many regional factions.

A brief civil war between North and South in 1915 ended in compromise. After the army of warlord Yuan Shi-kai defeated Suns nationalist army, Sun resigned from his leadership position. Yuan then proclaimed himself as the new Emperor of China and sparked a violent backlash from other warlords. Yuans reign was short-lived, for he was emperor for only 83 days, at which point he abandoned the effort and, a short time later, died.

In 1917, Sun re-emerged and met with former nationalist colleagues to form a military government. However, the local warlords still possessed the real power. Suns parliament in Canton was split and several of his key men were assassinated. He was forced to withdraw to Shanghai in 1918.

From this time on, and out of power, Sun devoted himself to promoting education and health care. In 1924, he founded a university in Guangdong, with five campuses and ten affiliated hospitals. Sun Yat-sen University ranks 89th globally by the 1921 Academic Ranking of World Universities.

Sun died in Beijing in January 1925, leaving a short political will with the message, The revolution is not done. All my comrades must strive on. Chiang Kai-shek remained Suns loyal follower, spearheading the Northern Expedition to defeat the warlords, purging the Communists, ending the Civil War (1916-28), and succeeding in reunifying most of China.

Chiangs first Republic of China (1928-49) and second Republic of China in Taiwan (1949-75) were based on Suns Three Principles of the People. In addition, Suns Five-Yuan Constitution served as a political and administrative guideline. Part of Suns speech was included in the National Anthem of the Republic of China.

After Sun Yat-sen died, the Kuomintang continued to control all five branches of government in China for 24 years and in Taiwan for 60 years. In Taiwan, the National Sun Yat-sen University (founded in 1980) has been devoted to public research. It has a powerful political and commercial relations curriculum. Situated by the beach and the mountains, the beautiful campus also accommodates a leading research center in marine sciences.
It was in this month, one hundred and fifty-seven years ago, that the Civil War ended. I have seen aficionados of both sides lament what happened, while they might argue over who was right, and what was lost.

I am not an aficionado of the Lost Cause Theory. While some defenders of Dixie claim the issue was states rights, the chief underlying cause of the war was slavery. In his "Cornerstone Speech" of March 21, 1861, Confederate VP Alexander H. Stephens' stated bluntly that slavery was the very foundation of Southern society. Four states: Mississippi, Texas, Georgia, and South Carolina, even listed slavery among their reasons for leaving.

Four states went further. Texas, Mississippi, Georgia and South Carolina all issued additional documents, usually referred to as the Declarations of Causes" Two major themes emerge in these documents: slavery and states' rights. All four states strongly defend slavery while making varying claims related to states' rights. -- Battlefields.org

The usual reply is that the South rejected the proposed Corwin Amendment which would have protected slavery in the south; hence, the issue was states rights.

The problem with that argument is that the South did not want slavery to be protected. Rather, the South wanted slavery to expand to the Pacific. They wanted New Mexico, Arizona, and even Southern California to allow slavery. In their minds, the Corwin Amendment wasnt enough.

The Arizona Territory voted to join the Confederacy in March 1861, but it wasnt until 1862 that the territorial government got around to officially proclaiming it part of the Confederate States of America. -- History

One group even wanted to expand slavery throughout the Caribbean.

In 1854 a small group of pro-slavery sympathizers formed the Knights of the Golden Circle, a secret society whose goal it was to create a vast new empire for slavery -- one that traced a golden circle from the deep South through Mexico, Central America, parts of South America, and the Caribbean. -- Smitsonian Associates

On more than one occasion, a Tennessee-born mercenary named William Walker tried to set up slaveowner republics in Latin America. The idea of extending slavery was not some fanciful discussion over mint juleps.

For a region that claimed to love states rights, the South was furious when the North exercised states rights by forbidding the transit of slaves across their territoriesthat is, until the Dred Scott decision, which overruled Northern sensibilities. So much for states rights.

States rights was not the underlying cause. In a way, the Civil War was a collision of cultures: free vs. slaveto paraphrase Lincoln. But there is still much more to it.

I am utterly amazed how much how media downplays the casualties, especially concerning the South. We are told the Civil War was terrible, but not just how terrible it really was.

So lets do a back-of-the-envelope calculation, a technique made famous by the physicist Enrico Fermi, who demonstrated how much can be gleaned by just simple logic.

At the start of the Civil War, there were 9 million people in the South.

In the Confederacy, the population was listed as 5.5 million free and 3.5 million enslaved -- National Park Service

Of that 9 million, only 5.5 million were white.

Of those 5.5 million whites, half or 2.75 million, were male.

Of the 2.75 million, roughly half were either too old or too young leaving roughly only 1.4 million available for the draft.

Remember, these were a rural people, given to large families, probably leaning to a lot of younguns. This is not a far-fetched conclusion. Historically, fertility does not drop until people are urbanized.

Of that 1.4 million, probably 30% or more were unfit due to health reasons or from legitimate exemptions.

So, in theory, the South could only muster roughly a million men at the maximum. In practice, the South mustered 880,000 men, very close to the absolute maximum it could have. Other sources list higher numbers. When gender, age, and health are factored in, about one-fifth or one-sixth of any population is all that is available to fight. And the South came close to the theoretical limit.

The National Park Service lists the Confederate casualty rate as:

94,000 killed in battle 164,000 diseases 194,026 wounded in action 31,000 prisoners of war

Remember that a lot of those wounded men were seriously maimed for life. Modern reconstructive surgery did not exist in the 19th century.

Now, reflect that almost half of the theoretical limit were killed, wounded, or died of disease.

Also note that recent historiography seems to indicate that, the deeper one looks, the higher the numbers become. Add in post-war starvation, disease, etc. My educated guess is that these newer numbers are still low.

By combing through newly digitized census data from the 19th century, J. David Hacker, a demographic historian from Binghamton University in New York, has recalculated the death toll and increased it by more than 20 percent -- to 750,000 It helps you understand, particularly in the South with a much smaller population, what a devastating experience this was. -- New York Times (2012)

These were the men who carry on a culture, a civilization. The old rarely reproduce, while those under 14 are not yet fully educated in the civilization that they are going to carry on. Those who are sick may reproduce, but often they do not -- certainly less so in the pre-antibiotic 19th century.

So the 880,000, or higher, who went out to fight under the Stars and Bars were close to being all that was available to carry on Southern culture and roughly one-third -- quite possibly more -- did not come back fit enough, or did not come back at all.

Essentially, an intermediate generation came close to being wiped out. Had the Southern casualties been just a slight bit worse, any Southern cultural distinctives -- and I am not even considering race relations -- would have been lost.

Children, especially the sons, learn from their fathers. And if one-third to one-half of them do not make it home in good condition, who transmits the culture?

The women? Well, maybe to the daughters. But who instructs the sons?

It would have been Northern troops and/or Northern men who migrated down South to fill in the gaps. Catastrophes like this are precisely how nations are seriously changed.

Devastation of such magnitude eventually forced the Highland Scots and the Irish to lose their Gaelic tongue. It is why the Welsh now speak English for the most part.

Had the South fought on for just a few months more -- against incredible odds, with the North getting ever stronger as the South got weaker -- the casualties would have approached genocidal levels. Genocide not necessarily in the sense of population destruction, but in the sense of cultural destruction, which is an accepted definition.

Now, I am not a fan of the Confederacy, and some of the apologists for the Lost Cause drive me nuts with their easily refutable defense of secession. However, as one examines the Civil War and the Reconstruction, I am amazed that the South, as a distinct American subculture, survived at all.

I am amazed that a more thorough population replacement did not occur. Credit has to be given to Southern women for hanging tough on that. Lesser females would have collapsed under the strain.

This, more than anything else, more than racism -- though racism does exist in the South, as elsewhere -- explains why it will be impossible to wring Neo-Confederate sympathies out of many Southerners. It explains why so many respect Confederate monuments, and were opposed to their dismantling.

Consider the King Arthur legends which bemoan the Anglo-Saxon conquest of Celtic Britain 1600 years ago, hoping for a future Celtic King to return.

The historic figure of Arthur as a victorious fifth-century warrior, leading [Celtic] Britons into battle against Saxon invaders BBC

It is why Scotland erected monuments to William Wallace centuries after England had won the contest.

Finally, consider how many of those Southerners are descended from those Scots and Welsh, and one may anticipate the legends of Confederate heroes will linger on, long after our woke leadership has gone back to sleep should the Lord tarry.

Again, I am not a fan of the Confederacy, but I can understand why it holds such an appeal to so many.

Mike Konrad is the pen name of a writer who wishes he had paid more attention in his Spanish class, lo those many decades ago.

Image: Pixabay
The whole world knows that Joe Biden is a husk of a man, mentally and physically not up to the job. On top of the danger that his sheer incompetence poses for Americans comes the risk that enemies and less friendly countries (and even allies) will be tempted to defy or take advantage of the vanished leadership at the top of the federal government.

One country that has moved away from the status of ally thanks to the Biden administration's insane backing of Iran through giveaway "negotiations" over restoring the JCPOA nuclear deal is Saudi Arabia. Media there are careful not to offend the government, so the following broad satire of an utterly decrepit Biden no doubt reflects government attitudes toward the man occupying the post that used to be called "leader of the free world."

Via Grabien:
Six were killed in Sacramento at 2 A.M. on April 3, in an area packed with bars, restaurants, and nightclubs just blocks from California's Capitol Building. A dozen more were wounded. The toll could easily have been worse: 100 shots were fired.

The Officeholder Formerly Known as Joe Biden reacted immediately, quite unsurprisingly calling for further restrictions on the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding Americans. For leftists, this non sequitur comes as easily as breathing. Privately owned firearms are anathema to the authoritarian left. American Democrats are newly emboldened by their ability to commit massive election fraud without consequences. It stands to reason that they will seize any opportunity, no matter how bereft of logic, to grab guns. It's what they do.

As we confront yet another assault on our God-given right to defend ourselves, let's imagine how firearms laws yet to be enacted might have protected those killed in Sacramento. Most were non-white people. One was a 57-year-old woman, homeless for years. She was caught in the crossfire, as happens often in a war zone. It's a too common occurrence now in presumably civilized American cities. How might lawmakers have saved their lives had they acted sooner?

One suspect was arrested within a day. Time will tell if the police have the right guy. He was a convicted felon, prohibited by law from owning a firearm. Nonetheless, he had one.

A second arrest was made a day later. That suspect wasn't hard to find; he was hospitalized with bullet wounds. Some things we know about suspect #2:

 He was on probation after his release from prison in February. He served five years of a ten-year sentence for felony assault on a woman. He punched her, dragged her by her hair, beat her with a belt, and tried to force her into prostitution.

 He was also convicted of theft and possession of an illegal "assault weapon," as defined by California law.

 A Sacramento prosecutor called his criminal conduct "violent and lengthy," asserting that he had "little regard for human life and the law."

 As a convicted felon, he was prohibited from even handling a firearm.

 Days before his arrest, he posted a video brandishing a handgun, a felony in itself.

 In the April 3 shooting, he may have used a handgun converted for fully automatic fire  in effect, a machine gun. While antique machine guns can be owned under highly controlled circumstances, weapons such as he used are illegal nationwide.

Suspect #1 didn't have a machine gun. He did have a gun, though  illegally.

A third suspect, the only one over 30, was arrested not a day later. He, too, had an illegal firearm. He was not charged with a crime related to the shooting and was released the same day. You read that correctly: though he possessed a firearm illegally, he was released the same day.

More suspects may be found. Police say evidence indicates five or more gunmen, probably gang members. "If rival gang members see each other, it doesn't matter where they are," said a Cal State criminal justice professor, who noted that gangs typically target one another in drive-by shootings, with fewer bystanders.

If the three suspects, or others with similar backgrounds, are in fact responsible for the carnage on April 3, no proposed new firearms law could have prevented it. They could not legally buy or possess firearms anywhere in the United States. A highly reliable federal background check system prevented any retailer from selling them a gun. They had guns anyway. They ignored multiple laws when they stole them or bought them on the street, and when they carried them. If they are tried, jurors must consider whether they will ignore those laws again after regaining their freedom. A reasonable jury might easily conclude they will and impose a life sentence.

That would certainly prevent gun violence  at least in their cases.

Sacramento sheriff Scott Jones has already blamed the loss of lives on April 3 on soft-on-crime California policies that "treat criminals like victims." The Biden administration, however, will not demand stronger prosecution, or increased sentences, for those guilty of murder, assault with a deadly weapon, and illegal possession of firearms. Like all good leftists, it will instead call for even more of what are meaninglessly termed "commonsense gun laws": the elimination of certain types of rifles and pistols (most developed a century or more ago) and further prohibitions on the ownership or carry of all firearms by the law-abiding for self-defense. The administration will attempt to curtail the sales of gun parts and sub-assemblies, alleging that their lack of serial numbers appeals to criminals who assemble them into "ghost guns." Alas, criminals have all the black-market guns they need.

None of this will stop crime. The people affected by the new legislation the administration will propose very rarely commit crimes. Their intent is to protect themselves from violence by the most effective means available: the private ownership and carry of a weapon. They obey the law. They dutifully undergo background checks, apply for permits, and take training courses as required. They present no threat to the public.

Like the armed citizens of any free nation, they do present a threat to those with designs on freedom. It is for that reason that they, not criminals, have legislative targets on their backs.

Image via Pxhere.
They think it's a COVID problem. They call it a "gentrification" issue. They say it's housing costs. They say it's "demographics."

That's the response from the "experts" to the damning news about California's school enrollment.

According to CalMatters:

For the first time since the start of the century, California has fewer than 6 million students attending public schools. According to new data released by the California Department of Education, enrollment in public schools continues to drop more quickly than it did before the pandemic, stirring fears of more budget cuts and long-term financial instability for schools. Among key takeaways from the newly released data: Statewide enrollment has dropped by more than 110,000 students to 5,892,240 during the current school year, a 1.8% dip from last year but less steep than the 2.6% decline during the first year of the pandemic.

Charter school enrollment also is down for the first time since at least 2014.

Kindergarten enrollment is up, though nowhere near pre-pandemic levels.

And 9,000 more students are enrolled in private schools, a 1.7% increase, but that doesn't explain much of the exodus from public schools.

What they don't say is that mask mandates, vaccine mandates, Zoom classes, wokester Critical Race Theory in the classrooms, drag queen story hour, school officials working behind parents' backs to promote transgenderism among kids and treat their parents as enemies, state-encouraged abortion on demand, ending advanced and honors classes in the name of "equity," and massive numbers of Californians fleeing the state for economic and tax reasons have all taken their toll on enrollment. Chase the locals out, don't be surprised to see fewer kids in school. It's called "voting with their feet."

You don't see that anywhere in any of the reportage on this phenomenon of missing kids in school, nor do we see much link between the fact that around half of kids aren't going to class anymore because they can't stand Zoom classes.

The press accounts say the pandemic is over now, so maybe the worst is over, but additional reportage from a few months earlier suggests that the problem isn't over at all.

According to the Public Policy Institute:

Over the next decade, declines are projected to accelerate, with statewide enrollment expected to fall 9% by 203031. The interactive below shows significant variation in past and projected enrollment across the state. Most counties are projected to see lower enrollment over the next decade, particularly in Southern California, along the coast, and in much of the Central Valley. Projected declines are greatest in Los Angeles and Ventura Counties  roughly 20% lower by 203031. The declines in Los Angeles County are particularly noteworthy: county enrollment has already fallen over 10% in the past decade, and enrollment in 203031 is projected to be 30% lower than it was in 201011.

Accelerate, they say.

In some areas, according to the Los Angeles Times, schools are actually closing.

Already, districts such as L.A. Unified and Oakland Unified are considering school closures as part of their effort to deal with the effects of falling enrollment.

But instead of confronting the real reasons why this is happening, we are seeing befuddled responses like this:

Officials at the California Department of Education did not have a clear explanation for this sudden drop. The California Charter Schools Association President Myrna Castrejon said this decline illustrates how charter schools "are facing the same statewide challenges as non-charter public schools." She called for equitable funding for charters.

We are seeing head-scratching like this:

California Department of Education officials would not comment on where those students went. Some school district officials said they also are looking for answers. "It's a problem across all grade levels," said Barrett Snider of Capitol Advisors, a lobbying firm for school districts. "We just aren't sure where they've gone." And we are seeing "everybody does it" and "everybody has the same problem" in rationalizations like this: The decline is not unique to Los Angeles or California. Enrollment dropped across the nation as families and school systems grappled with the pandemic. In Los Angeles, for instance, many worried families kept their children at home when they had a choice to return to campus.

This is true, as I wrote about here last year  but only insofar as other states' educational institutions resemble wokester California's. Parents everywhere are rejecting wokesterism and pulling their kids out of bad schools. Nobody has made that link in the press, or in the embattled schools, either.

Surely, the decline in academic standards based on wokester "equity" concerns should make the people running these failing institutions recognize what is happening. But it doesn't, and the press isn't asking about it.

The schools' wokester policies are probably the biggest factor lowering the quality of education for kids and driving enrollment down. Parents in general who pay attention to the quality of their children's schools are going to hold educational quality as something important. That was obvious enough to all but the lefties when three school board members in San Francisco were thrown out of office in an unprecedented recall election over the wokester direction of the schools this year, as well as the scrapping of honors at competitive institutions such as Lowell High School. That's just San Francisco. A major high school in San Diego, Patrick Henry High School, just dropped all honors classes in the name of "equity," something that absolutely will chase more kids out from that once-vaunted institution. Los Angeles, brimming with wokesters, has done one bad thing after another and has an illegals influx as well. Not surprisingly, it has seen the biggest drop-off in enrollment of any place in the state.

Can there be an honest "conversation" about wokesterism, Critical Race Theory, transgender promotion, and other things that absolutely repel school consumers? It's so bad that even the charter schools are infected with it.

Probably not, given the failure of any news reporter to ask the serious questions. But it's obviously taking a toll. Too bad the schools don't want to know it.

Image: Pixabay, Pixabay License.
Tucker Carlson opened his show on Monday night with the story of the mass lockdown in Shanghai, with more than 24 million people turned into starving prisoners in their homes, as the government adds in the singular cruelty of slaughtering their pets. This is ostensibly in the name of a "Zero COVID" policy, but that's nonsense. The real goal is to bring the citizens of Shanghai to heel, lest they pose a threat to Xi Jinping's and the party's dominance.

We've learned a lot about COVID since China released it to the world in 2019. It's most dangerous to the very elderly and those with comorbidities. It may well be treatable  if caught early enough  using common, safe medicines such as hydroxychloroquine, ivermectin, and doxycycline.

And most importantly, we've learned that lockdowns don't work:

States that imposed the harshest lockdowns had the most devastating impact on the public, the most wide-ranging study into Covid restrictions in the US to date has found. New York, California, New Jersey and Illinois were panned for their pandemic performance after bringing in draconian measures to shut their citizens in their homes. Those states' Democrat Governors' policies caused high death rates, ruined children's education and destroyed businesses due to the severe curbs on freedom, researchers found as they slapped them with an F-grade. Nine out of the ten worst responses to the pandemic were in blue states, the report said, with only Republican-run Maryland bucking that trend and coming seventh last. Meanwhile places that allowed their residents more freedom as coronavirus swept across the country appeared to fair better over the last two years.

You can read the full study here.

And the whole notion of Zero COVID is ridiculous. Even New Zealand, which kept its borders fanatically closed for two years, was ultimately unable to keep COVID at bay.

Additionally, despite its man-made origins, COVID is doing what all viruses do: they mutate over time and, in the process, become less deadly. COVID is now just part of the usual panoply of viruses that routinely affect humans.



Image: Shanghais lockdown. YouTube screen grab.

Even though Zero COVID is impossible to achieve and lockdowns are ineffective and dangerous, the Chinese health minister nevertheless went ahead and completely locked down Shanghai, which is China's largest and, not coincidentally, most prosperous city. Tucker Carlson sums up what's happening there, along with his contention that Xi isn't doing this to stop COVID's spread. Instead, he's doing it to remind an increasingly Westernized Shanghai that the Chinese Communist Party is still in control:

Tucker: Our leaders are defending what China is doing https://t.co/Fn89TAcmQt  Bookwormroom (@Bookwormroom) April 12, 2022

I think Tucker's right because what Xi is doing is right out of the Mao Zedong playbook. Consider these quotations from Chairman Mao about achieving complete control over a population, with mass death being a feature, not a bug:

"When there is not enough to eat, people starve to death. It is better to let half of the people die so that the other half can eat their fill." "All political power comes from the barrel of a gun. The communist party must command all the guns, that way, no guns can ever be used to command the party." "Deaths have benefits. They can fertilise the ground." "Don't make a fuss about a world war. At most, people die. ... Half the population wiped out  this happened quite a few times in Chinese history. ... It's best if half the population is left, next best one-third." "People say that poverty is bad, but in fact poverty is good. The poorer people are, the more revolutionary they are. It is dreadful to imagine a time when everyone will be rich. ... From a surplus of calories people will have two heads and four legs." "Everything under heaven is in utter chaos; the situation is excellent."

You can be completely sure that Xi is deeply familiar with these words. Mao may have been a complete megalomaniac and psychopath, but he was correct about the steps to take to control a huge population  including shrinking the population, if necessary.

Tucker is correct that the Democrats would love that kind of control. However, I'm rather sanguine that, much as they'd like to copy Xi, they won't succeed because of the Second Amendment that they despise. With well over 400,000,000 guns in American hands, we are not sitting ducks.

Additionally, as the American Revolution, the Warsaw Ghetto uprising, and the war in Ukraine show, a determined civilian army can hold off a larger professional army. The Americans won; the starving, unarmed residents of the Warsaw Ghetto severely damaged the Nazis; and the Ukrainians are currently making a damn good showing against Russia.

Be of good hope. Outside leftist enclaves, we're a country with deep roots in liberty. Moreover, because leftists have overplayed their hands, Americans are waking up to what's being done to them. Heck, even the woke Al Sharpton is waking up!
On the first Earth Day, April 22, 1970, the world was warned that billions would die soon because of a disastrous ice age. The Earth had been cooling for thirty years, and it was about to get much worse. Crops would not survive the ice age, so the people couldn't be fed. The Earth was cooling even though CO2, the population, and fossil fuel consumption were rising rapidly, which we are told causes warming.

The complicit media dutifully repeated these warnings to scare the public with no questions and no research. The warnings were 100% wrong because they were WAGS (wild-a-- guesses) instead of based on scientific data.

In 1922, this was in the Washington Post to scare the public. Again, there was no research or questions or scientific data before they published this piece.

The Arctic Ocean is warming, icebergs are growing scarcer and in some places the seals are finding the water too hot. Reports from fishermen and seal hunters all point to a change in climate conditions (global warming) and unheard of temperatures in the Arctic zone. Great masses of ice have been replaced by moraines of earth and stone, while at many points, wel- known glaciers have entirely disappeared.

In 1989, the U.N. essentially gave the same warnings as in 1922 and again the sycophant media reported it to scare the public with no questions asked because they don't care when they are campaigning for a leftist agenda to destroy America.

A 1989 AP Report: Nations "Wiped Off Face of the Earth" by 2000

The predictions in 1922 and 1989 were 100% wrong, just like the predictions on the first Earth Day, because they were also WAGS. It is scientifically impossible for fossil fuel consumption and rising CO2 to cause both cooling and warming. That is not a hard concept.

Despite all the false predictions, the indoctrination never stops. The U.N. is doubling down in 2022 with the same predictions from 1922 and 1989, and again, we have only a few years left. Again, the compliant, worthless media just repeat the scare predictions with no questions asked because facts haven't mattered for a long time, only power for Democrats.

The world is running out of options to hit climate goals, U.N. report shows

With the world on track to blaze past its climate goals, only immediate, sweeping societal transformation can stave off catastrophic warming.

The solution for Democrats, whether it is warming or cooling, is always to take more money and freedom from the people and transfer it to the greedy, powerful government. They will gladly reduce our quality of life if they get more control. They would rather have people dependent on them for kickbacks than give people more opportunities to move up the economic ladder. They always claim it is for the common good. They claim they are for reducing inequality, but the politicians and bureaucrats always come out ahead.

The two richest counties are, Loudon [sic] County and Falls Church City in Virginia, which are just outside Washington's city limits. They have average household incomes of $140,382 and $137,551 respectively.

Wealthy people, like the Obamas, build and purchase expensive coastal properties in Martha's Vineyard and Hawaii, while they lecture the rest of us that we are destroying the planet, that coastal properties will soon be underwater, and that we must reduce our carbon footprint. They just make that up, and the media genuflect at how great these hypocrites are.

Here are some of the dire predictions from the first Earth Day, compiled by Mark Perry of the American Enterprise Institute:

1. Harvard biologist George Wald estimated that "civilization will end within 15 or 30 years unless immediate action is taken against problems facing mankind." 2. "We are in an environmental crisis that threatens the survival of this nation, and of the world as a suitable place of human habitation," wrote Washington University biologist Barry Commoner in the Earth Day issue of the scholarly journal Environment. 3. The day after the first Earth Day, the New York Times editorial page warned, "Man must stop pollution and conserve his resources, not merely to enhance existence but to save the race from intolerable deterioration and possible extinction." 4. "Population will inevitably and completely outstrip whatever small increases in food supplies we make," Paul Ehrlich confidently declared in the April 1970 issue of Mademoiselle. "The death rate will increase until at least 100-200 million people per year will be starving to death during the next ten years." 5. "Most of the people who are going to die in the greatest cataclysm in the history of man have already been born," wrote Paul Ehrlich in a 1969 essay titled "Eco-Catastrophe! "By[1975] some experts feel that food shortages will have escalated the present level of world hunger and starvation into famines of unbelievable proportions. Other experts, more optimistic, think the ultimate food-population collision will not occur until the decade of the 1980s." 6. Ehrlich sketched out his most alarmist scenario for the 1970 Earth Day issue of The Progressive, assuring readers that between 1980 and 1989, some 4 billion people, including 65 million Americans, would perish in the "Great Die-Off." 7. "It is already too late to avoid mass starvation," declared Denis Hayes, the chief organizer for Earth Day, in the Spring 1970 issue of The Living Wilderness. 8. Peter Gunter, a North Texas State University professor, wrote in 1970, "Demographers agree almost unanimously on the following grim timetable: by 1975 widespread famines will begin in India; these will spread by 1990 to include all of India, Pakistan, China, and the Near East, Africa. By the year 2000, or conceivably sooner, South and Central America will exist under famine conditions. ... By the year 2000, thirty years from now, the entire world, with the exception of Western Europe, North America, and Australia, will be in famine." 9. In January 1970, Life reported, "Scientists have solid experimental and theoretical evidence to support ... the following predictions: In a decade, urban dwellers will have to wear gas masks to survive air pollution ... by 1985 air pollution will have reduced the amount of sunlight reaching earth by one half..." 10. Ecologist Kenneth Watt told Time that, "At the present rate of nitrogen buildup, it's only a matter of time before light will be filtered out of the atmosphere and none of our land will be usable." 11. Barry Commoner predicted that decaying organic pollutants would use up all of the oxygen in America's rivers, causing freshwater fish to suffocate. 12. Paul Ehrlich chimed in, predicting in 1970 that "air pollution ... is certainly going to take hundreds of thousands of lives in the next few years alone." Ehrlich sketched a scenario in which 200,000 Americans would die in 1973 during "smog disasters" in New York and Los Angeles. 13. Paul Ehrlich warned in the May 1970 issue of Audubon that DDT and other chlorinated hydrocarbons "may have substantially reduced the life expectancy of people born since 1945." Ehrlich warned that Americans born since 1946 ... now had a life expectancy of only 49 years, and he predicted that if current patterns continued this expectancy would reach 42 years by 1980 when it might level out. (Note: According to the most recent CDC report, life expectancy in the US is 78.6 years). 14. Ecologist Kenneth Watt declared, "By the year 2000 if present trends continue, we will be using up crude oil at such a rate ... that there won't be any more crude oil. You'll drive up to the pump and say, `Fill 'er up, buddy,' and he'll say, `I am very sorry, there isn't any.'" (Note: Global production of crude oil last year at 82.275M barrels per day (bpd) was just slightly below the record output in 2018 of 82.9M bpd, and about 50% higher than the global output of 55.7M bpd around the time of the first Earth Day). 15. Harrison Brown, a scientist at the National Academy of Sciences, published a chart in Scientific American that looked at metal reserves and estimated the humanity would totally run out of copper shortly after 2000. Lead, zinc, tin, gold, and silver would be gone before 1990. 16. Sen. Gaylord Nelson wrote in Look that, "Dr. S. Dillon Ripley, secretary of the Smithsonian Institute, believes that in 25 years, somewhere between 75 and 80 percent of all the species of living animals will be extinct." 17. In 1975, Paul Ehrlich predicted that "since more than nine-tenths of the original tropical rainforests will be removed in most areas within the next 30 years or so, it is expected that half of the organisms in these areas will vanish with it." 18. Kenneth Watt warned about a pending Ice Age in a speech. "The world has been chilling sharply for about twenty years," he declared. "If present trends continue, the world will be about four degrees colder for the global mean temperature in 1990, but eleven degrees colder in the year 2000. This is about twice what it would take to put us into an ice age."

The Democrats are the party of fear, whether on climate change, COVID, or anything else. They must indoctrinate and scare the people into submission, and they are willing to spread as much misinformation as they must in order to infect the public with their desired policies. They seek to silence anyone who disagrees.

It is sad that we have a president and vice president who have limited intellectual capacity, and seemingly no curiosity, as they just repeat what they are told, just like most people pretending to be journalists.

People should stop pretending Democrats are the party of facts and science. That is a bald-faced lie.

The greatest threat to democracy, prosperity, freedom, and survival as a great country is when the media, politicians, bureaucrats, Hollywood, and educators collude to push the big-government policies on the American people. It is not when people challenge a questionable election.

Public domain image.
The city of Berlin today is a fusion of the silence and degradation of inhumane horrors and the ripe opinions of contemporary nuevo fashionistas. The Cold War Wall was a representation of the battle between evil, oppression, and communism on the East side juxtaposed with Western capitalism, opportunity, and plenty on the other.

For twenty-eight years, East Berliners were separated from their families, lovers, and employers, leaving them living in a kind of prison by a bold, tyrannical, despotic regime standing still in time. To those trapped on the wrong side by fate, West Berlin seemed a mystical wonderland.

Today, the border fortification is no longer muted; its paint has a lot to say, as do the thousands of tourists quenching their curiosity about what happened here almost sixty years ago. In clear defiance of the communist government that once ruled with a somber veil over East Germany, a colorful, vibrant representation of unadulterated human emotion has bloomed. Transparent broken hearts, bold political statements, and sometimes freakish kaleidoscope dreams float across the concrete barricade for all to contemplate.

The creative methods used around the city to inspire include writing with fire extinguishers to reach high above the ground, where wall rent is cheap but hard to get to. These expressions know no borders and have no rules. Styrofoam art was attached to buildings, trash cans, and walls in empty lots and junkyards. Graffiti tape was used to create the illusion of a flowing dress and geometric shapes where straight lines and precise angles add a two- or three-dimensional experience. From flowers, butterflies, and poetry to hardcore mazes of devil's imagery, the range of artistic drive is unlimited. And so it goes, with impassioned interaction between ardent street artists contrasted against angry gang members voicing their dismay at commercial life in a society that does not accept them.

It is common to find huge murals paid for by advertising agencies promoting a product, a point of view, a chuckle, or the hope for a revolution. Graffiti, on the other hand, is forbidden and illegal. It can result in jail time and large fines, depending on the size of the art, which is literally measured to determine the size of fines.

There are a few locations where the Wall still stands. The East Side Gallery's unmasking of east and west somehow humanized the enemy on the other side. In 1988, a mural was commissioned to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Kristallnacht pogrom, when thousands of Jewish residents were murdered and their homes and businesses destroyed by the Nazis. As a sign of unity between Germany and Israel, the German flag was painted with a superimposed blue Star of David in the center. The artist stated that he has painted over anti-Semitic vandalism 51 times.

A portrait from a 1979 photo of Soviet Leonid Brezhnev kissing hard-line East German Communist leader Eric Honecker is a humiliating and grotesque depiction of both leaders displaying their military prowess in a tender public moment called "Fraternal Kiss." The painting screams, "My God, help me survive this deadly love."

Other political statements include a drawing of the Statue of Liberty holding the Brandenburg Gate, the Kremlin blown by the wind, and "The Adventures of Khashoggi Game of Power," with the Saudi king and crown prince next to coffins.

From a distance of just a few yards, lives were defined by freedom or oppression. Once dark, quiet, and seemingly lifeless, freedom-seekers were shot attempting to escape over the Wall.

Little white space on the Wall is left for personal contemplation as attitudes, opinions, and emotions force their way into the atmosphere. Colors slash the air, reinforcing the need to finally and simply be heard. The Wall has become a memorial for old rebels and young artists whose self-expression and meaning are shared with others who may be thirsty for their own.

Now the Berlin Wall is a symbol to remind the world that freedom cannot be taken for granted. Since COVID-19, the loss of individual rights has created a dangerous precedent that must be reversed. Complacency is the enemy of individual freedom.

May communism remain only as a reminder of how easy it is to lose what is cherished most. The Berlin Wall serves as a history lesson that the colorful murals of sunshine, butterflies, and blooming flowers can easily be repainted gray.

Images: Valerie Greenfeld.
The handwriting is on the wall: Joe Biden has outlived his usefulness to the people who foisted him upon us and who pull his strings. He is on his way out.

And although some envision him stepping down or being removed from office and being succeeded by either Kamala Harris or Nancy Pelosi, his regime, which many have already likened to the third term of Barack Obama, will morph into the actual third term of Barack Obama.

Don't be led astray by popular misunderstandings of the provisions of the 22nd Amendment. That amendment (which came about in reaction to Franklin D. Roosevelt having been elected to a third and even fourth term) bars Obama (or anyone who has served as president) from being elected to a third term. But, in an American Thinker post published on April 6, Andrea Widburg lays out the process by which Obama could step back into the Oval Office without being elected and without violating the 22nd Amendment.

In that scenario, Kamala Harris would be prevailed upon to step down, and Obama would be drafted (on the grounds that the current global instability calls for a person with Obama's mastery of foreign policy) to replace her (which, under the 25th Amendment, would require confirmation by a majority vote of both houses of Congress). Then Biden would be removed via the 25th Amendment's provision for such removal (and replacement by the current V.P.) should the president be "unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office."

In that same article, Ms. Widburg posits that Obama's April 5 appearance at the White House (ostensibly to mark the 12th anniversary of Obamacare), an appearance in which Obama was fawned over and Biden was apparently snubbed by Obama, Harris, and everyone else, was a "signal to Democrat apparatchiks that Biden is now shark chum."

Further indication that Biden's days are numbered is in the mainstream media's sudden new interest in actually acting like investigative journalists and finally acknowledging the scandal of corruption and possible treason that surrounds Hunter Biden.

We can expect the Hunter Biden story to be vigorously pursued. Having ignored or suppressed the story sufficiently to keep it from influencing the election, and having finally reached the limits of strained credulity with their claims that a) the laptop wasn't Hunter's, and then b) the laptop was Hunter's, but the alleged evidence it contained smacked of "Russian disinformation," the Democrat party's press lackeys (which is to say, almost the entirety of the Fourth Estate!) have now decided that Hunter Biden shall be pilloried.

But we shouldn't expect any negative fallout for "the big guy." Although his political future may be no better than that of shark chum, I predict that Joe Biden won't be savaged the way actual shark chum would be. Rather, despite having now been deemed expendable, Ol' Joe will be permitted to save face. While his son is being fitted for an orange jumpsuit, the elder Biden will be gently shuffled offstage. And the leftist agenda of the "fundamental transformation" of the U.S. will steam right along.

Along with self-congratulatory stories about how "the system" and the noble profession of journalism "still work" to ferret out and punish corruption, I predict that the stories and talking points are right now being written about how Joe Biden has been "the real victim" here, a tragic figure who knew nothing of Hunter's bad behavior. All his alleged failings will be laid at the feet of his preoccupation with the travails of his beloved, albeit wayward, son.

Having already lost his first wife and infant daughter in a tragic collision, and having lost his other son to cancer (tragedies about which he has never missed an opportunity to remind us), Joe Biden's only sin was to have loved and trusted his remaining son too much. [Pass the Kleenex. And maybe a barf bag.]

It won't surprise me one little bit if Joe Biden, even as he's led off into the sunset, is feted to a ceremony in which he receives the "Father of the Year" or "Excellence in Parenting" award. (I wrote something about this, here.)

Stu Tarlowe has, since 2010, contributed well over 150 pieces to American Thinker. For some 15 years, he was the personal editor for the late Barry Farber; more recently, he was a staff writer for a magazine forecasting political and societal trends, but when he had to be hospitalized for COVID, he was replaced. Now recovered, he writes on a variety of topics (political and personal) in his newsletter at https://stutarlowe.substack.com and is seeking another gig as a writer/editor/proofreader.

Image credit: Donkey Hotey CC BY 2.0 license.
In his latest column on the Ukraine war, the New York Times's Thomas Friedman writes that when the leader of a superpower is a "war criminal," as Vladimir Putin is, "the world as we've known it is profoundly changed. Nothing can work the same." This is the same Thomas Friedman who not that long ago called Chinese Communist Party (CCP) leaders "reasonably enlightened" autocrats who are capable of imposing "politically difficult but critically important policies needed to move a society forward in the 21st century."

I suppose there is a semantic difference between a "war criminal" and what former Trump adviser Steve Bannon rightly calls the CCP  a transnational criminal organization  but there is no moral difference. Friedman writes that the United States should treat Putin as a "pariah," but he does not say that about China. In fact, in one recent column, Friedman speculated that China may be able to exert pressure on Putin to end the Ukraine war. China shows no signs of doing that or of being the enlightened autocrats of Friedman's dreams.

Friedman calls for implementing policies  supplying Ukraine with the "best weaponry and training," ending our "addiction to oil" (instead of ramping up our own oil and gas production), and broadcasting that "the world is at war 'with Putin' and 'not with the Russian people.'" These three policies, Friedman hopes, will "set in motion forces inside Russia that topple Putin from power." He suggests that perhaps the Russian armed forces will turn on Putin if the war goes bad in Ukraine.

There are no similar calls from Friedman to implement policies designed to topple President Xi Jinping from power. Perhaps Friedman considers Xi one of those CCP enlightened autocrats. Friedman certainly does not consider Xi a "war criminal" because China is for the time being at war only with its own people, especially Uyghurs and Tibetans. Chinese leaders, unlike Putin, are not bombing and murdering civilians of another country  yet. They have forcibly cracked down on freedoms in Hong Kong and repeatedly threatened Taiwan. And they are, by most accounts, committing genocide against the Muslim Uyghurs.

The title of Friedman's column is "How Do We Deal With a Superpower Led by a War Criminal?" And the answer is, just as we have done before, according to our geopolitical interests. In World War II, we sided with Joseph Stalin, whose war crimes exceeded exponentially anything that Putin has done in Ukraine. And during the latter phase of the Cold War, we sided with Mao Zedong, who was an even greater killer than Stalin. We could "co-exist" with those war criminals but, apparently, we shouldn't do so with Putin.

Perhaps it is important to co-exist with both Eurasian nuclear powers, just as we did during the Cold War. It's not morally satisfying, but in the real world, as opposed to the abstract visions of enlightened columnists secure at their desks in New York, morality should not be the basis of our foreign policy.

Friedman's column is noticeably lacking in any concrete strategic rationale for risking a wider European war over Ukraine, except for the claim that Putin's aggression has "shattered" the postCold War global order. His rationale is mostly moral, but as we have seen, that moral posturing is at best selective. Russia's aggression in Ukraine has not altered the global balance of power. In fact, Friedman writes that Putin's actions have strengthened NATO's solidarity and reinvigorated the Western military alliance. If NATO is stronger and more resilient because of Putin's invasion, how has the post-Cold War global order been "shattered"?

Russia's invasion of Ukraine, as bad and evil as it is, has not profoundly changed the world such that nothing can work the same, as Friedman claims. He is an example of the modern progressive  like Barack Obama, who ridiculed Russia's invasion of Crimea as an antiquated 19th-century move  who thinks human nature and "mankind" are evolving toward some version of Immanuel Kant's perpetual peace. Unfortunately, it is not so.

Image via Wikimedia Commons, public domain.
The French went to the polls this past weekend. According to exit polls, France's current president, Emmanuel Macron, will face the National Rally candidate, Marine Le Pen, in a run-off election on April 24.

Macron led the first round of voting Sunday with 27.6% of the vote to Le Pen's 23.0%. The far-left candidate Jean-Luc Melenchon, finished far stronger than expected with 22.2%. It was largely a redo of the vote five years ago.

By chance, I happened to be in France during the last election and was struck by how much French politics resemble those of the U.S.  and how much it does not.

Everywhere I went in Paris and in the small towns in Alsace, where I was staying, I saw giant posters of Emmanuel Macron with red lines drawn through them and the words "sauf sans Macron"  anyone but Macron.

As in America, politics in France is less about ideology than it is about class.

Macron and his allies represent the technocratic elite  Macron was an investment banker before becoming a politician  for whom the erasure of national identity, mass immigration, and "luxury beliefs" such as redefining marriage are no big deal. Macron and his rich friends make money no matter how much gasoline costs.

As in America, in France, the elitism of progressives like Macron has triggered a massive backlash and the rise of populist movements such as the "gilets jaunes" (yellow vest) demonstrations and the "extreme right," as represented by Marine Le Pen and the National Rally. This year, a candidate appeared who is even more radical than Le Pen: the Jewish journalist Eric Zemmour, whose Reconquest Party vows to deport illegal aliens by the thousands.

In 2017, Marine Le Pen was poised to overtake Macron but fumbled at the last minute. During a disastrous face-to-face televised debate, Le Pen seemed disorganized, unsure of her facts, while Macron projected a banker's command of the details.

Many ordinary French people held their noses and voted for the competent, albeit arrogant technocrat over the populist rabble-rouser.

But there is one way in which French elections differ radically from those in America: they still do things the old-fashioned way.

The French still cast their votes in person and on paper ballots, not on election machines run by a handful of private corporations.

They also must show photo identification and sign a document, next to their name, to complete the process.

What's more, the paper ballots are all counted by hand, one by one. Mail-in ballots are illegal. The French decided in 1975 that mail-in ballots are vulnerable to fraud and undermine public confidence in the legitimacy of the vote. The only exception is for people serving prison sentences.

Polls validate the tried and true methods used by the French.

According to a recent Ipsos poll conducted in January 2022, only 20% of American voters are very confident that U.S. elections are fair and honest, down from 37% a year earlier.

Among Republicans, that number is now only 13%, with the majority, 58%, saying they have little to no faith in the honesty of U.S. national elections.

Despite their claims to the contrary, many Democrats agree. In 2018, a poll found that two-thirds of Democrat voters believed that in 2016, Russia had "tampered with vote tallies in order to get Donald Trump elected President."

The widespread use of mail-in ballots, dropping requirements for ID to vote, early voting for weeks before Election Day, and other non-traditional voting practices may partially explain this lack of confidence.

In the widely contested 2020 election, 10 million more mail-in ballots were used than in all previous elections  and the 2020 election was decided by fewer than 50,000 votes in just four battleground states.

According to the U.S. Census, fully 69% of American voters in 2020 "cast their ballot nontraditionally  by mail and/or before Election Day."

This leads many Americans, particularly Republican voters, to ignore media claims and conclude that the U.S. voting system is vulnerable to interference  by foreign actors, Big Tech billionaires such as Mark Zuckerberg, or local campaign officials.

As a result, the same Ipsos poll mentioned earlier found that 58% of Americans surveyed believe that "the nation's democracy is in danger of collapse," including 62% of Republicans, 57% of independents, and even 56% of Democrats.

In contrast, the French have relatively high confidence in the accuracy and fairness of their elections.

Of course, the French face the same issues as most voters in developed democracies, such as fake news from the corporate media and manipulation by Big Tech oligarchs.

In the 2017 election, a mainstream candidate widely considered Macron's chief rival, veteran politician Francois Fillon, had his campaign sabotaged at the last minute when an article about his wife's cushy employment deals appeared in the satirical publication Le Canard enchaine. After that, Macron's election was all but assured.

In the U.S., it is now known that the media's decision not to report on the corrupt business dealings in China and Ukraine of Joe Biden's son, Hunter Biden, revealed in a laptop computer he left at a computer repair shop, contributed to Joe Biden's victory over Donald Trump.

So French voters face the same challenges as their American counterparts.

The big difference, however, is that once they cast their ballots, French voters are more confident that the tallies will reflect the actual results.

In the land of the free and home of the brave, that is no longer the case. Polls show that voters don't believe that their elections are fair and honest.

Robert J. Hutchinson writes about the intersection of politics and ideas. He latest book is What Really Happened: The Death of Hitler.

Image: cagdesign via Pixabay, Pixabay License.
The current U.S. administration has driven the world into a more dangerous place, and it has been led there by the climate change dictators.

Consider where they have led us.

The forceful anti-fossil fuel dictates of the green energy policy-makers have led America from being not just energy independent, but also a major exporter to become dependent on dangerous and belligerent regimes.

They closed the spigots decades before the essential infrastructure had been installed to sustain any adequate dependence on wind power, solar panels, or semiconductor chips.

They are so maniacal in their devotion to their golden calf that they truly believe that leaving America bereft of fuel and energy is the only way to combat their obsessive fear. The outcome has been a domestic economic disaster and far more damaging to the global environment and security.

Common sense tells us that introducing renewable energy must begin with a hand-in-hand transition in which traditional fuels must continue to be available in quantities and at prices affordable to most ordinary folk and to maintain essential industries.

When common sense is abandoned, the world becomes a more dangerous place. This is precisely what is happening, and the American green energy fanatics are to blame.

Follow the chronology of the damage that America has inflicted on the world in the last year, basically since day one of the Biden administration:

On Day One, as part of the Democrats' fevered rage to eradicate everything that President Trump had achieved, the new president closed the Keystone Pipeline and opened America's southern border.

One Day Two, Biden lifted sanctions off Putin's Nord Stream pipeline into Europe and, to make up his country's shortfall, he increased America's dependency on Russian oil and gas.

In early April, Treasury secretary Janet Yellen admitted that the administration she works for has chosen to "shield Russia's energy sector from sanctions."

Paying Russia billions of dollars in rising oil and gas prices while leaving Americans short of locally produced fuel apparently made sense to the clean planet folk in Washington. Certainly, John Kerry and a Tesla-driving former barmaid in the House had smiles on their faces as ordinary Americans suffered. But elsewhere, things were stirring.

Russia invaded Ukraine and carried out atrocities, and America refused to allow Poland to give Ukraine the MIG planes it needed to defend itself. For Biden, a no-fly zone meant Ukraine could not have sovereignty over its own skies. American and European sanctions involved impounding oligarchs' yachts but not Putin's oil.

Meanwhile, over in Vienna, American negotiators were always going to lose out by negotiating with Iranians, the global experts in outsmarting people wanting to buy their favors. They are, after all, the smartest traders in the bazaar and nifty chess players. Their hard-line leaders are also messianically determined to obtain and use the ultimate doomsday weapon. It's enshrined in their religious DNA.

And yet, America decided to let Russia do their bartering for them.

It wasn't just Israel that scratched our collective heads over this puzzling strategy. When Biden announced that he wanted to buy Iranian oil, the anger of the Gulf States and Saudi Arabia reached a boiling point. No wonder they refused to pick up Biden's phone calls. Biden was seen as rushing to close a deal that would throw Israel to the Iranian wolves for the cost of Iranian oil that was to be lifted off the Trump-imposed sanctions list.

It became obvious that the Biden administration was also about to lift the Iran terror army that trains and arms their proxies around the Middle East from the Foreign Terror Organization sanctions list. This list included terrorists who killed 84 in the 1984 bombing of the Buenos Aires Jewish Center and the 1983 bombing of the U.S. Marine barracks in Beirut that killed 241 American servicemen. The commanders of both terror attacks remain prominent members in today's Iranian regime.

One is forced to ask if the current U.S. administration has no soul, no moral compass. Is it all about a temporary foreign oil supply, and the world be damned? It sure seems that way.

Outsiders are dumbfounded at an America that locks down its own energy resources but is eager to buy unlimited amounts from tyrant regimes such as Russia, Iran, and even Venezuela. CNN pundit Fareed Zakaria suggested that the United States lift sanctions from Maduro to compound the Russia-Iran-Venezuela tyrannical axis. This will do nothing to make the climate greener, but it will make the world a far darker place.

The only solution is a return to Trump's successful domestic and foreign policies, but this would be an admission of failure by an administration that is failing due to its own disastrous mistakes.

An administration employing a burn-the-house-down approach to legitimate environmental challenges cannot claim the moral high ground as thousands of lives are lost as the world turns dark. There are now five million European refugees fleeing the destruction of their towns and cities in which the raging fires belching thick black smoke does infinitely more damage to the environment than a Keystone pipeline.

Appeasing and emboldening tyrants like Iran may end up with no planet at all.

Barry Shaw, international public diplomacy director, Israel Institute for Strategic Studies.

Photo credit: Mark Dixon CC BY 2.0 license.
War is one of the most consequential actions our government can take. The question is whether, looking back at America's conflicts in the past hundred-plus years, we can discern lessons that should guide us going forward. David T. Pyne, a former U.S. Army combat arms and HQ staff officer with an M.A. in national security, has used his Substack account to write a concise essay analyzing which wars America should have avoided entirely and which were justified wars, whether conducted wisely or not. Trump understood much of this intuitively; Biden does not.

The post, entitled "How Modern Wars Have Harmed U.S. National Security," begins with "Wars the U.S. Should Never Have Fought." The first of those is the Spanish-American War in 1898. The justifications for entering that war were false (e.g., Spain did not sink the USS Maine), it turned America into a colonial imperialist, and it led to about 220,000 Filipino deaths in a war the U.S. eventually fought, not against the Spanish, but against the Filipinos themselves. What Pyne doesn't mention is that the media, especially the Hearst media empire, banged the drums, pushing America into the war.

I see echoes of the Spanish-American War in the disastrous decision to go into Iraq (false intelligence, a quagmire, and tens or hundreds of thousands of Iraqi dead) and in the media's current drum-banging for America to engage in a hot war in Ukraine against Russia.

Another disastrous, unnecessary war was America's involvement in WWI. Without America riding to the rescue, the war would have had a different outcome that might have avoided most of the ills of the 20th century, including the successful Russian Revolution, Nazi Germany, and even Communist China. It was not America's war, and she had no business being there.

Pyne also strongly chastises American involvement in Vietnam (not a vital U.S. interest), the Gulf War in 1991 (ditto), the NATO-Yugoslav War in 1999 (which saw the newly non-communist Russia under Putin start to view the U.S. as an enemy again), the Iraq War beginning in 2003 (a disastrous effort to turn a Muslim tyranny into a liberal, Western-style democracy), the Syrian civil war beginning in 2011 (a bloody internecine battle in which we had no business), and the First Libyan Civil War (a bloody, ineffective disaster from start to finish and another warning to Putin that America and, by extension, NATO are dangerous aggressors).

As for the wars that Pyne considers valid instances of U.S. involvement, Pyne nevertheless believes that we conducted them so badly that we vastly extended the damage to ourselves, our allies, and even our enemies. For example, although he doesn't see a way out of World War II once the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor, he believes that Roosevelt provoked that bombing through the joint U.S.-U.K.-Dutch oil embargo, which directly threatened Japan. Of course, after the Japanese attack, Hitler declared war on America, and America had to fight whether she wanted to or not.



Image: American Marines on Tarawa, November 1943, where 1,009 were killed and 2,101 were wounded. On the Japanese side, 4,690 Japanese died. USMC Archives. CC BY 2.0.

The Democrat president also shouldn't have funded the Soviet war effort, says Pyne. Roosevelt knew well what the Soviets were and would have done better to enter into a non-aggression pact, some subtle military support, and a race for control over central and eastern Europe.

Most significantly, Pyne asserts, America shouldn't have demanded Germany's and Japan's unconditional surrender. A German resistance leader offered to overthrow the Nazis by 1943, but both FDR and Churchill said no. Accepting that offer would have stopped the Holocaust early and, possibly, have returned the Soviet Union to its August 1939 borders, saving Estonia; Latvia; Lithuania; and large parts of Finland, Poland, and Romania from Soviet control. Pyne has other alternative historic endings for Europe if FDR and Churchill had worked with the resistance.

Additionally, he claims that, if FDR had accepted a January 1945 peace offer from the Japanese, that would have stopped the Chinese communists, saving China, Korea, and Vietnam. It would also have saved the lives of the troops who died between January and August 1945 and those who died in Korea and Vietnam.

Pyne also has harsh criticism for U.S. decisions in the Korean and Afghan Wars.

For anyone who likes alternative histories or military histories, the article makes for interesting reading. But even more importantly, it offers intelligent lessons for U.S. leadership today.

Trump seems to have understood those lessons intuitively, for he was the only president in decades not to embroil America in foreign wars. Bush certainly did not understand the lessons, as evidenced by his mistaken belief (based on erroneous intelligence) that he could reshape the Arab world to make it more friendly to America.

Meanwhile, modern Democrat presidents (Clinton, Obama, and now Biden), seem to believe that America must scourge herself for the sins of her existence by engaging in painful wars that confer no benefit whatsoever on America or her citizens. We can only hope someone talks sense into Biden before it's too late.

Hat tip: Mark Wauck.
(Image source from: Twitter.com/trspartyonline)

KCR announces a Deadline for Centre on Paddy Procurement:- Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao (KCR) staged a protest against the Centre for the procurement of the paddy that is produced in the state during the rabi season. The Centre is not ready to take up the request of Telangana after which the entire TRS cadre flew to New Delhi and staged a protest for a day. KCR during his speech urged Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Minister Piyush Goyal to procure the paddy. He said that they would wait for 24 hours for the response and if the Centre has a no, the party and the leaders would intensify the protests. KCR said that the Telangana government will not leave the Centre over the issue.

CM Sri K Chandrashekhar Rao on Monday set a 24-hour deadline to the Centre to declare its decision on procuring entire paddy crop produced in Telangana.#OneNationOneProcurement pic.twitter.com/3RkaXAKvbk  TRS Party (@trspartyonline) April 11, 2022

"We will expose the double standards of the Centre if the justice is not done for the farmers. We will wait for the next 24 hours to see if Centre responds. Else, the protests would be huge and we will not leave you. We will let the people know about the injustice done to the farmers. We will also unite all the like minded people and the political parties to initiate a movement for the farmers across the country. This will sure shake the Centre and the ruling BJP exposing their double standards for sure" told KCR during his speech. All the crucial Telangana leaders, MLAs, MPs, Ministers and party supporters attended the protest in New Delhi's TRS office in large numbers yesterday.

(Video Source: T News Telugu)
Google recently filed a lawsuit against an online scammer that used the companys services to launch an online puppy fraud scheme. Google says the scammers have violated the companys terms of service.

Scams come in many forms, and anyone may one day fall into the scammers trap. You may one day receive a phone call from someone claiming to be calling from the IRS and asking for your personal information. Also, sometimes buying a puppy results in an online scam.

According to The Verge, Google has accused Nche Noel of Cameroon of running an online puppy fraud scheme. Google claims that the Nche Noel of Cameroon has used a network of fake websites, Google Voice phone numbers, and Gmail accounts to scam older people who just wanted to buy a puppy.

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For example, one victim paid $700 in electronic gift cards to Noel and expected to receive a puppy. Then the scammer told the victim that the delivery company needed an additional $1,500. This way, they played with the victims and asked for more money. Finally, no puppy was delivered even after paying that additional $1,500.

The scam mostly targeted elderly people

Googles senior counsel Mike Trinh elaborated on the issue in a blog post, saying, The actor used a network of fraudulent websites that claimed to sell basset hound puppies  with alluring photos and fake customer testimonials  in order to take advantage of people during the pandemic.

Trinh also said that the scam disproportionately targeted older Americans, who can be more vulnerable to cyberattacks.

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Noel has used Google services to communicate with victims, but this is not the only accusation Google has made against them. Google claims that Noel has launched a Google Ads campaign to promote the fraudulent websites.

According to Googles lawsuit, the AARP, an elderly issues group, notified the company about the scams last September. Then, the AARP detailed the puppy fraud scams in a report. As per the AARP report, scammers targeted isolated and elderly people who just wanted companionship during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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(ANSA) - ROME, APR 12 - Italy on Tuesday started giving out the fourth dose of the COVID vaccine to the over-80s, care home residents and over 60s who have been classed as vulnerable and fragile.

Italian medicines agency AIFA authorised the second booster after European Medicines Agency (EMA) came out in favour last week. (ANSA).


(ANSA) - ROME, APR 12 - President Sergio Mattarella stressed the importance of the police's work in protecting the billions of EU money being invested into Italy's economic recovery and modernization following the pandemic under the NRRP plan in a message to State Police Chief Lamberto Giannini for the force's 170th anniversary.

"In this phase of the country's revival, the effort to make sure the economic recovery, helped by major European resources, is not invalidated by attempted criminal infiltration and widespread forms of illegality is decisive," Mattarella said.

"Synergy with other police forces, local institutions and local community figures is essential in this battle within a vision of participatory security.

"Combatting terrorism and the promotion of IT security are additional challenges that should be met in cooperation with the police forces of other countries," he added. (ANSA).


(ANSA) - ROME, APR 12 - Italy's three big trade-union confederations, CGIL, CISL and UIL, said Tuesday that they will hold their big May Day rally this year in Assisi, the city of Saint Francis, with the focus being on jobs, Italy's economic growth and peace.

The leaders of the three unions will all speak at the rally in Assisi's Piazza San Francesco.

The labour groups are also organizing the traditional 'concertone' free rock concert in Rome's Piazza San Giovanni in Laterano on May 1. (ANSA).


ROME - A wide range of colors used in Imperial Rome, from 'serpentine green' to 'ancient yellow' and alabaster showcase the grandiosity of ancient Rome at the Musei Capitolini with an exhibit opening on Tuesday. Two rooms of Palazzo Clementino host the exhibit "I colori dell'Antico.



Marmi Santarelli ai Musei Capitolini", curated by Vittoria Bonifati, which presents a selection of over 660 colorful marbles from the Imperial age. The marbles come from the museum's collection and from the Fondazione Dino ed Ernesta Santarelli (which has granted its collection for free for a ten-year period). The marbles show an insight into the evolution of Rome from a social, cultural, political and economic standpoint.



The show was organized in cooperation with architectural firm Cookies (Alice Gregoire, Clement Perisse, Federico Martelli) with panels and a documentary by Adriano Aymonino and Silvia Davoli, which explain to the public the close connection between the presence of materials not coming from the city and the political, economic and geographical expansion of the ancient Roman empire. In order to help the visitor, the four walls of the main exhibition room were ordered according to the four cardinal directions to show the exact provenance of marbles (82 polychrome fragments - of different cut, weight and color, set on metallic grids, mainly from the south East, from countries like Greece, Turkey, Algeria and Egypt). As the only example of a statue, curators chose to showcase the head of Dionysus set on an unconnected feminine bust (composed of eight different types of marble); the didactic room includes a selection of tools coming from the Fiorentini marble workshop.




ISTANBUL - Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu has said that "there are important developments concerning relations with Israel", newspaper Hurriyet reported, quoting a speech to lawmakers of ruling party AKP in Ankara.



"Palestine too appreciates improvements of our relations with Israel", Cavusoglu was quoted as saying, announcing that he will soon undertake an official visit to the Jewish State. According to Turkish press reports, Defense Minister Hulusi Akar will accompany Cavusoglu in the trip, which could take place at the end of April.



After years of complicated relations, also due to Turkey's support of the Palestinian cause, in March Israeli President Isaac Herzog travelled to Ankara for an official visit to meet Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, becoming the first Israeli leader to visit Turkey in 14 years. The inauguration of a process of reconciliation with Israel, after a problematic period during the administration led by former premier Benjamin Netanyahu, was announced over the past few months by Erdogan, who also mentioned the possibility of an energy cooperation with the idea of bringing Israeli gas to Europe through Turkey.
An asylum seeker who was shot dead after stabbing six people called the Home Office and various migrant support groups more than 70 times before his attack, it has been reported.

Badreddin Abadlla Adam, 28, was one of hundreds of asylum seekers moved into hotels in Glasgow at the start of lockdown.

It is understood he had contacted the Home Office, the housing and social care provider Mears, and the charity Migrant Help 72 times about his health and accommodation in the period leading up to the attack.

An internal Home Office evaluation, seen by the BBC, said his calls should have acted as a warning.

It also found Adam had complained to staff in the hotel and was in touch with the Home Office about an assisted voluntary return to his home country.

Badreddin Abadlla Adam, 28, from Sudan, was shot dead by officers after six people  including 42-year-old police constable David Whyte  were injured in the incident on Friday at the Park Inn Hotel on West George Street (Police Scotland handout/PA)

The review is said to have made various recommendations, including developing a system to identify patterns of contact which may cause concern, and ensuring hotel staff are given mental health awareness and de-escalation training.

A spokesperson for the Home Office said significant changes have now been made.

On June 26 2020, Adam stabbed six people in the Park Inn hotel in Glasgow, including three other asylum seekers, police constable David Whyte and two members of hotel staff.

Refugees for Justice was among multiple organisations and charities at the time raising concerns after Mears, which was subcontracted by the Home Office, moved refugees from self-contained accommodation to hotels.

Its members have been been campaigning for an independent public inquiry into the Park Inn incident since 2020.

The organisations Dylan Fotoohi told the BBC the Home Office review is a shameful cover-up attempt.

He said: Lessons have not been learned, there has been no meaningful investigation, the biased evaluation report by the Home Office has been kept hidden, and they have now expanded the exact same practice that led to these tragedies in Glasgow to other cities in Scotland.

This is utterly unacceptable.

A Home Office spokesperson said: Due to the pandemic the Home Office had to use an unprecedented number of hotels for asylum seekers, including in Glasgow.

The use of hotels is unacceptable and we are working hard to find appropriate accommodation for asylum seekers but local authorities must do all they can to help house people permanently.

Since this horrific incident we have undertaken a number of significant changes to keep asylum seekers safe, including how we, our contractors and charities spot vulnerable individuals and provide them with wraparound support and appropriate accommodation.

The Home Office has completed the majority of recommendations in the review which found that hotels in Glasgow were of a good standard, clean and well-maintained.

Our New Plan for Immigration, which is going through Parliament now, will fix the broken asylum system, enabling us to grant protection to those entitled to it and to remove those with no right to be here more quickly.
Boris Johnson will be fined for attending his own birthday bash in the Cabinet Room of No 10 during Covid lockdown.

No 10 said the Metropolitan Police had provided more clarity about why the Prime Minister had been told he would receive a fixed-penalty notice (FPN) as part of the probe into alleged lockdown parties at the heart of Government.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak and the Prime Ministers wife, Carrie Johnson, are among those told to expect a fine, with Mrs Johnsons spokeswoman confirming that her FPN also relates to her husbands birthday celebration.

A spokesman for No 10 said: The Met Police have now explained that the FPN issued to the PM will be in relation to the following incident: On June 19 2020 at the Cabinet Room, 10 Downing Street, between 1400 and 1500 you participated in a gathering of two or more people indoors.

The birthday party was reportedly a surprise do for the Prime Minister, organised by his wife and for which the Chancellor was also in the room.

Northern Ireland minister Conor Burns previously said Mr Johnson was ambushed by a cake at the event, at which up to 30 people are said to have gathered and sung Happy Birthday.

A spokesperson for Mrs Johnson said the former Tory director of communications had paid the fine, which is understood to have been 50 if settled within 14 days,

Whilst she believed that she was acting in accordance with the rules at the time, Mrs Johnson accepts the Metropolitan Polices findings and apologises unreservedly, her spokeswoman said.

PA news agency has been told that Mrs Johnson briefly attended the Cabinet Room with their then-newborn baby, Wilfred, during the PMs lunch break and alongside some socially distanced staff.

Prime Minister Boris Johnsons wife Carrie has paid her fine, according to her spokeswoman

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has called for the Prime Minister and Mr Sunak to resign following the issuing of fines for breaking coronavirus laws.

Speaking in Preston, the former director of public prosecutions said the polices decision marked the first time in the history of our country that a prime minister has been found to be in breach of the law.

He accused Mr Johnson of repeatedly lying about what happened behind the famous black door of No 10 and said he and Mr Sunak had dishonoured the sacrifices made by Britons during the coronavirus pandemic.

Britain deserves better, they have to go, Sir Keir added.

His party has joined the chorus of demands for the Commons to be recalled from its two-week Easter break and allow Mr Johnson to tender his resignation in person to MPs.

The push for a recall has also been made by the Liberal Democrats and Plaid Cymru, while Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has been among those of prominence to demand the PM quits.

Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak have broken the law and repeatedly lied to the British public. They must both resign. The Conservatives are totally unfit to govern. Britain deserves better.  Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) April 12, 2022

A Labour spokeswoman said: Boris Johnson promised he would give a statement to the House of Commons, so we want to hear from the Prime Minister at the earliest possible opportunity to give him the chance to correct his lies and tender his resignation.

Obviously it is only the Government who actually has the power to ask the speaker to recall Parliament.

Scotland Yard said on Tuesday that it had made at least 50 referrals for fixed-penalty notices  up from 20 at the end of March  to ACRO Criminal Records Office, which is responsible for issuing the fines, as part of Operation Hillman.

Mr Johnson is understood to have been present at six of at least 12 events being investigated, with the Met Police not ruling out issuing further punishments as the inquiry continues.

The Met has opted not to name individuals who have been fined as part of its probe into lockdown breaches in No 10 and Whitehall.

But, following the announcement about another 30-plus fines being referred, No 10 confirmed that Mr Johnson and Mr Sunak were among those to be included in the latest tranche of FPNs.

PM has been clear about what happened on 19th June 2020 & offered a full apology. It was a brief gathering in the Cabinet Room, less than 10 minutes during a busy working day. PM is at his best when delivering on the priorities of the British people which he will continue to do.  Nadine Dorries (@NadineDorries) April 12, 2022

Amanda Milling, a Foreign Office minister and former Tory Party chair, led the defence of the Prime Minister as the first minister to speak out in support.

Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries followed on, arguing that the Tory leader had been clear about what happened on in June 2020 and had offered a full apology.

It was a brief gathering in the Cabinet Room, less than 10 minutes during a busy working day, said Ms Dorries.

Veteran Tory MP Sir Roger Gale, a vocal critic of the Prime Minister, said now was not the time to unseat Mr Johnson, with Russias attack on Ukraine to deal with.

The North Thanet MP told the PA news agency there was an international crisis and that nothing should be done to destabilise the coalition against Russian president Vladimir Putin.

It has been reported that Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak have received fines for breaching lockdown restrictions: Do you think Boris Johnson shouldResign: 57%Remain in his role: 30% Do you think Rishi Sunak shouldResign: 57%Remain in role: 29%https://t.co/EEByTjCj6M pic.twitter.com/9ZgFP5f3BC  YouGov (@YouGov) April 12, 2022

Sir Roger said the Prime Minister would need to acknowledge that he was patently wrong to have argued that no rules were broken in Government.

Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross echoed his colleagues sentiments, saying it wouldnt be right to remove the Prime Minister during the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Mr Ross had previously submitted a letter of no confidence in Mr Johnsons leadership  a method used for toppling a Tory leader if there is enough dissenters  but withdrew it following the outbreak of war in eastern Europe.

It comes as a poll found that a majority of people in Britain think the Prime Minister should resign after being issued with a Covid fine.

A snap YouGov poll of 2,460 adults taken on Tuesday found that 57% of people think he should go, with the same proportion thinking the same about the Chancellor.
Amber Heards lawyers said Johnny Depp was an obsessed ex-husband hell-bent on revenge as they set out their defence in his multimillion-dollar US defamation lawsuit.

The actor, 58, is suing actress Ms Heard, his former partner, for libel over a 2018 article she wrote in The Washington Post in which she discussed her experiences of domestic abuse.

Mr Depps lawyers say the article falsely implies Ms Heard, 35, was physically and sexually abused by him when they were married.

The article does not mention Mr Depp by name and, according to Ms Heards lawyers, is covered by the first amendment of the US constitution which protects freedom of speech.

Actress Amber Heard and her lawyer Elaine Bredehoft inside the courtroom at the Fairfax County Circuit Court in Virginia (Brendan Smialowski, Pool via AP)

Benjamin Rottenborn, representing Ms Heard, said the actress had also suffered sexual violence at the hands of Depp.

You are being asked to decide a very simple question: were the words used by Amber in the 2018 opinion piece that was published in The Washington Post protected free speech under the first amendment or not? he said in his opening remarks.

The question is whether the words were protected by the first amendment, and the answer is very clearly yes.

He continued: The evidence for Mr Depp isnt pretty youre going to see who the real Johnny Depp is behind the fame, behind the pirate costumes.

Were going to focus on those words whether you look at them individually or in the context of the piece doesnt really matter, because theyre true.

Tragically its true. Amber did suffer sexual violence at the hands of Depp.

Mr Rottenborn added that the actor had brought the suit rather than take responsibility for his own actions and planned to turn the trial into a soap opera.

Amber Heard never wanted to offer up to the public who Johnny Depp was, but that is going to come out, he said.

Johnny Depp in the courtroom (Brendan Smialowski, Pool via AP)

He wanted to make her life hard, he wanted to ruin her life. He wanted to destroy her. And that is what he did.

I wish I could say that its surprising. Its disturbing but not surprising.

Elaine Bredehoft, also representing Ms Heard, detailed a number of alleged abusive incidents triggered by crushing drug and alcohol problems.

These included a drug binge with his good friend Marilyn Manson and a blackout in Australia, which the court was told Ms Heard had previously described as a three-day hostage situation.

But Mr Depps lawyers argued that the allegations by Ms Heard were false and the actress was preparing to give the performance of a lifetime during the proceedings.

Camille Vasquez, representing Mr Depp, said the actor would go to his grave knowing that whatever he does there will always be people who believe he abused a woman.

Ms Heard took on the role of a lifetime, she couldnt back down, she said.

She has been living and breathing this lie for years now.

Amber Heard walks into the courtroom (Brendan Smialowski, Pool via AP)

She is preparing to give the performance of a lifetime in this trial.

Scores of people, mostly fans of Mr Depp, crowded into the courtroom on Tuesday as the case was officially opened, where both actors are attending the trial in person and are due to give evidence.

Mr Depp wore a dark blue suit and black shirt with a cream tie, while Ms Heard wore a grey blazer and wore her hair in a low bun.

Ms Heards Washington Post article was titled I spoke up against sexual violence  and faced our cultures wrath.

The case is being brought in Virginia rather than in California, where the actors live, because The Washington Posts online editions are published through servers located in Fairfax County.

Other high-profile celebrities are listed as witnesses in the trial, including actors James Franco and Paul Bettany, and Tesla founder Elon Musk.
Johnny Depp was an obsessed ex-husband hell-bent on revenge, a court has heard, as the actors defamation lawsuit against Amber Heard got under way in the US state of Virginia.

Lawyers on behalf of the Aquaman actress said Mr Depp had sought to destroy her and that the situation was disturbing, but not surprising.

The actor, 58, is suing actress Heard, his former partner, for libel over a 2018 article she wrote in The Washington Post in which she discussed her experiences of domestic abuse.

Mr Depps lawyers say the article falsely implies Ms Heard, 35, was physically and sexually abused by him when they were married.

He says the accusations have made it difficult for him to get the sorts of roles he used to, and launched the 50 million dollar (38.2 million) lawsuit in 2019.

Amber Heard and Johnny Depp attending the premiere of Black Mass during the 59th BFI London Film Festival (Jonathan Brady/PA)

But Benjamin Rottenborn, representing Ms Heard, said the actor had brought the suit rather than take responsibility for his own actions and planned to turn the trial into a soap opera.

Amber Heard never wanted to offer up to the public who Johnny Depp was, but that is going to come out, he said, during his opening remarks.

He wanted to make her life hard, he wanted to ruin her life.

He wanted to destroy her.

And that is what he did.

I wish I could say that its surprising.

Its disturbing but not surprising.

He was an obsessed ex-husband, hellbent on revengeas his career was in free-fall and her career was talking off.

Mr Rottenborn continued: Its quite ironic that a piece that briefly discussed Amber moving on from Johnny Deppis the vehicle that he used to keep her from moving on, rather than take responsibility for his own actions.

Actress Amber Heard, alongside her sister Whitney Henriquez (Victoria Jones/PA)

Elaine Bredehoft, also representing Ms Heard, detailed a number of alleged abusive incidents triggered by crushing drug and alcohol problems.

These included a drug binge with his good friend Marilyn Manson and a blackout in Australia, which Ms Heard had previously described as a three-day hostage situation.

But Mr Depps lawyers argued that the allegations by Ms Heard were false and the actress was preparing to give the performance of a lifetime during the proceedings.

Camille Vasquez, representing Mr Depp, said the actor would go to his grave knowing that whatever he does there will always be people who believe he abused a woman.

Ms Heard took on the role of a lifetime, she couldnt back down, she said.

She has been living and breathing this lie for years now.

She is preparing to give the performance of a lifetime in this trial.

Scores of people, mostly fans of Mr Depp, crowded into the courtroom on Tuesday as the case was officially opened, where both actors are attending the trial in person and are due to give evidence.

Actor Johnny Depp inside the courtroom at the Fairfax County Circuit Court (Brendan Smialowski/AP)

Mr Depp wore a dark blue suit and black shirt with a cream tie, while Ms Heard wore a grey blazer and wore her hair in a low bun.

Ms Heards Washington Post article was titled I spoke up against sexual violence  and faced our cultures wrath.

That has to change.

It did not mention Mr Depp by name.

The case is being brought in Virginia rather than in California, where the actors live, because The Washington Posts online editions are published through servers located in Fairfax County.

Other high-profile celebrities are listed as witnesses in the trial, including actors James Franco and Paul Bettany, and Tesla founder Elon Musk.
Accountancy giant Deloitte is being investigated by the industry watchdog over its audits for scandal-hit bus and train group Go-Ahead.

The Financial Reporting Council (FRC) said it had launched a probe into Deloittes auditing of Go-Aheads financial accounts over the six years between 2016 and 2021.

Go-Aheads Govia joint venture with French firm Keolis was stripped of the Southeastern rail franchise by the Government last year for a serious breach of trust after it deliberately concealed more than 25 million of historic taxpayer funding that should have been returned.

Go-Ahead former chief executive David Brown stepped down last year (Go-Ahead/PA)

It was fined 23.5 million over the scandal, with top bosses  chief financial officer Elodie Brian and chief executive David Brown  also quitting last year as the saga unfolded.

Go-Ahead has also referred itself to the Serious Fraud Office.

Deloitte said it would co-operate fully with the FRCs investigation and was committed to the highest standards of audit quality.

The FRC has not disclosed the scope of its investigation.

Deloitte was first appointed as Go-Aheads auditor in 2015.

Earlier this month, Go-Ahead pledged to resume payouts to shareholders and increase earnings as part of a business overhaul, as it recovers from the pandemic and the Southeastern rail scandal.

The firm said it would return to its pre-pandemic shareholder dividend policy from 2021/22, turn around under-performing businesses and expand into growth areas following a group-wide business review.

The plan, led by new chief executive Christian Schreyer, aims to increase annual revenues by about 30% to 4 billion and operating profits to at least 150 million.
The UK labour market has shed hundreds of thousands of people since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, with a growing number of older workers choosing to give up their career, new figures show.

A total of 32.5 million people were in employment in the three months to February this year, down from 33.1 million in the same period two years earlier.

The change has been driven by an increasing number of people becoming economically inactive  meaning they are of working age but are not currently seeking employment.

This can be because they have taken early retirement, are looking after a family or home, or are long-term sick.

(PA Graphics)

The number of economically inactive working-age people in the UK stood at 8.9 million in the three months to February, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

This is up 76,000 on the previous quarter and a jump of nearly half a million on the three months to February 2020.

(PA Graphics)

Analysis by the PA news agency shows the rate of economic inactivity among older workers has climbed to its highest level for six years.

A total of 27.2% of people aged 50 to 64 were classed as economically inactive in the latest quarter, compared with 25.2% at the start of the pandemic.

The last time the rate stood any higher was in the three months to February 2016.

There are now 302,000 more economically inactive 50 to 64-year-olds than before the pandemic, suggesting an increasing number of older workers are choosing to retire early.

This represents a sharp reversal of the long-term trend before Covid-19, which had seen a growing proportion of people in this age group choosing to remain in employment or actively look for work.

Nearly three-quarters (74.8%) of 50 to 64-year-olds were classed as economically active before the start of the pandemic, up from two-thirds in 2005 and a record high.

The figure now stands at 72.8%.

The change has also had an impact on the balance of age groups within the labour market.

Before Covid-19, 50 to 64-year-olds accounted for a steadily growing proportion of all people in employment in the UK, rising from 19% in 1992  when current records began  to reach 25% by 2008 and 29% by 2020.

But this trend has come to a halt in the last two years and the figure currently stands at 28%.

There are early signs that the level of economic inactivity might be starting to rise among 35 to 49-year-olds.

The rate had dropped to a record low of 11.7% in the quarter to August 2021, but has since climbed to 12.4%.

Darren Morgan, ONS director of economic statistics, said: While unemployment has fallen again, we are still seeing rising numbers of people disengaging from the labour market, and as they arent working or looking for work, are not counted as unemployed.

The total number of unemployed in the UK stood at 1.3 million in the three months to February this year, down from 1.4 million in the previous quarter.

Unemployment reached 1.7 million towards the end of 2020, having stood at 1.4 million before the pandemic began.
Health officials are investigating 74 cases of hepatitis among children under the age of 10 across the UK as they urged parents to be alert to the signs of the illness.

All of the youngsters were admitted to hospital where medics picked up the cases.

The UK Health Security Agency said it is examining 49 cases in England, 13 in Scotland and 12 across both Wales and Northern Ireland, all of which have occurred since January.

The UKHSA said that it is investigating a number of possible causes behind the spike in cases.

One potential line of inquiry is whether or not a group of viruses called adenoviruses may be causing the illnesses.

An update on hepatitis cases in children: We are continuing to investigate 74 cases of hepatitis (liver inflammation) in children in the UK since January 2022. 1/2  UK Health Security Agency (@UKHSA) April 12, 2022

Other possible explanations are also being investigated, including whether or not Covid-19 could have played a role in the spate of cases.

But officials stressed that there is no link to Covid-19 jabs as none of the children affected have received a Covid-19 vaccine.

Dr Meera Chand, director of clinical and emerging infections at the UKHSA, urged parents to be alert to the signs of hepatitis amid the rise in cases.

She said in a statement: We are working swiftly with the NHS and public health colleagues in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to investigate a wide range of possible factors which may be causing children to be admitted to hospital with liver inflammation known as hepatitis.

One of the possible causes that we are investigating is that this is linked to adenovirus infection.

However, we are thoroughly investigating other potential causes.

One of a number of potential causes under investigation is that a group of viruses called adenoviruses may be causing the illnesses. None of the currently confirmed cases in the UK have received a COVID-19 vaccine. Read more: https://t.co/glRsbmjwYi 2/2 pic.twitter.com/v9VjjBJVxH  UK Health Security Agency (@UKHSA) April 12, 2022

Normal hygiene measures such as good handwashing, including supervising children, and respiratory hygiene, help to reduce the spread of many of the infections that we are investigating.

We are also calling on parents and guardians, to be alert to the signs of hepatitis, including jaundice, and to contact a healthcare professional if they are concerned.

Hepatitis symptoms include:

 dark urine.

 pale, grey-coloured poo.

 itchy skin.

 yellowing of the eyes and skin (jaundice).

 muscle and joint pain.

 a high temperature.

 feeling and being sick.

 feeling unusually tired all the time.

 loss of appetite.

 tummy pain.

The UKHSA said that adenoviruses are a family of common viruses that usually cause a range of mild illnesses  including colds, vomiting and diarrhoea  and most people recover without complications.

While they do not typically cause hepatitis, it is a known rare complication of the virus.

Adenoviruses are commonly passed from person to person and by touching contaminated surfaces, as well as through the respiratory route, the UKHSA said.

It added that the most effective way to minimise the spread of is to practice good hand and respiratory hygiene and supervise thorough handwashing in younger children.
The West will have all options on the table if Vladimir Putins forces are found to have used chemical weapons in an assault on the Ukrainian port of Mariupol, a UK defence minister said.

Western officials are examining claims that a chemical agent was used by Russian forces in a drone attack on the besieged city.

Armed forces minister James Heappey said the use of chemical weapons was beyond the pale and if the reports were accurate there would be a response from the UK and its allies.

Its important to recognise that there are all sorts of ways in which these things could be used, from the use of tear gas which is effectively a riot-control measure, all the way through to utterly devastating lethal chemical weapons systems, so I dont think its helpful to be too binary about the situation because these are highly nuanced, he told Sky News.

But he added there are some things that are beyond the pale and the use of chemical weapons will get a response, and all options are on the table for what that response could be.

Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said the UK was working urgently with partners to verify details of the attack.

The Azov regiment, a unit with far-right links which is defending Mariupol, claimed the substance was delivered by a drone.

Road workers load a destroyed Russian tank onto a platform in the village of Andriyivka close to Kyiv (Efrem Lukatsky/AP)

The Kyiv Independent news website reported that Azov leader Andriy Biletsky said that three people have clear signs of chemical poisoning.

Ms Truss said: Any use of such weapons would be a callous escalation in this conflict and we will hold Putin and his regime to account.

Shadow foreign secretary David Lammy said: If chemical weapons have been used as part of Vladimir Putins already barbaric and illegal invasion of Ukraine, this would represent an appalling escalation and amount to a war crime.

These deeply disturbing reports must now be verified as a matter of urgency.

If true, Putin and his criminal cronies must be held to account.

In his nightly address, Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelensky said the threat of chemical weapons being used was taken as seriously as possible.

Russian forces have concentrated their efforts on Mariupol in the south and the Donbass region of eastern Ukraine, after apparently abandoning efforts to seize capital Kyiv.

Mariupols mayor said more than 10,000 civilians have died in the Russian siege of his city and the death toll could surpass 20,000.

A UK defence intelligence summary published on Tuesday suggested fighting will intensify in eastern Ukraine over the next two to three weeks.

Russian attacks remain focused on Ukrainian positions near Donetsk and Luhansk with further fighting around Kherson and Mykolaiv and a renewed push towards Kramatorsk, the Ministry of Defence said.

Russian forces continue to withdraw from Belarus in order to redeploy in support of operations in eastern Ukraine.

Reports that Russian forces may have used chemical agents in an attack on the people of Mariupol. We are working urgently with partners to verify details. Any use of such weapons would be a callous escalation in this conflict and we will hold Putin and his regime to account.  Liz Truss (@trussliz) April 11, 2022

Western officials think Russia wants to bring about the fall of Mariupol to free up troops for the fight in the Donbas and to create a route north for the Kremlins forces as they look to form a pincer movement on Ukrainian defenders in the east.

Officials have said Mr Putin will double or even possibly triple the number of Russian troops in the Donbas as the Russian president resorts to a diminished invasion strategy.

The amassing of troops, however, will not necessarily give Moscow an advantage over Ukraine, with Kyivs forces having had success in pushing back insurgents in the east of the country, they said.

The Russian leader has been forced to diminish considerably the plan in Ukraine, one official said.

There are suggestions Mr Putin wants to take the Donbas region before May 9  when Russia traditionally marks the Soviet Unions Second World War victory against Nazi Germany with military parades in Moscow  in an attempt to claim victory for his so-called special operation.

Russian forces fire on nitric acid tanks in #Donetsk region.This was reported by the patrol police. Locals are urged to prepare protective face masks soaked in soda solution.#WarCrimes #StopRussia #StopPutin  Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine  Ukrainian Parliament (@ua_parliament) April 11, 2022

Meanwhile, late on Monday Ukraines parliament said Russian forces had fired on nitric acid tanks in Donetsk, with residents of the eastern city being urged to prepare protective face masks soaked in soda solution.
Johnny Depp and Amber Heard's defamation trial is underway, and while the exes have publicly accused each other of abuse during their tumultuous four year relationship, a jury heard new, shocking claims during opening statements on Tuesday.

Heard's lawyers allege she was sexually abused by Depp on more than one occasion. Elaine Bredehoft, one of the attorney's representing the Aquaman star, claimed Depp penetrated the actress "with a liquor bottle" during a three-day hostage situation in Australia in March 2015. The actors, who are both in court, have very different accounts of the trip, which ended with Depp severing the tip of his finger while he was filming the fifth Pirates of the Caribbean movie. Later during her opening statement, Bredehoft accused Depp of sexually assaulting Heard again in the Bahamas in Dec. 2015. The actress will testify about the "verbal, emotional and physical sexual abuse" she allegedly endured during the trial, which is expected to last six weeks.

Johnny Depp and Amber Heard in Virginia's Fairfax County Circuit Court on April 12, 2022 for their defamation trial. (Photos: Getty Images)

Depp is suing Heard for $50 million over a 2018 op-ed she wrote for the Washington Post in which she wrote she's "a public figure representing domestic abuse." The online version was titled, "I Spoke Up Against Sexual Violence  and Faced Our Culture's Wrath. That Has to Change." Although Heard didn't name Depp, his attorneys argue it's clear she was referring to the actor and it has caused "significant impact on Mr. Depp's family and his ability to work." Heard is countersuing her ex-husband for $100 million.

Heard opening: #JohnnyDepp sexually assaulted #AmberHeard in Australia.

He took 8-10 tablets of ecstacy. The next 3 days were very violent. He has hurled bottles at her, dragged her, punched her....then he "penatrates her with a liquor bottle."@LawCrimeNetworkpic.twitter.com/hL9pCUrPYc  Cathy Russon (@cathyrusson) April 12, 2022

Depp's attorneys, Benjamin Chew and Camille Vasquez, spoke first and preemptively brought up the sexual assault claim, calling the allegation "a lie." Chew declared in court that Heard was "the aggressor in the relationship." He highlighted how the actor's famous exes  including Winona Ryder, Kate Moss and Vanessa Paradis, with whom he shares his two children  have never accused him of abuse. Chew said "the evidence will show" that Heard is lying about being assaulted. Vasquez called Heard "a profoundly troubled person" and claimed images her team intends to show depicting the alleged abuse could be manipulated.

"The only medical report of an injury during their relationship was a severe one sustained by Mr. Depp after an argument shortly after their marriage," Vasquez said, referring to the Australia incident. "[Amber] threw a vodka bottle at him that hit his hand and exploded, severing the end of one of his fingers."

Heard and Depp met filming The Rum Diary and began dating during the press tour in 2011. They split in May 2016 after 15 months of marriage. Depp's team will call witnesses, including LAPD officers, who responded to a disturbance call on May 21, 2016 and will testify they did not "see any of" the alleged "property damage" and that "officers determined there had been no violence and no crime."

However, Heard's team paints a very different picture with attorney Benjamin Rottenborn calling Depp an "obsessed ex-husband hell bent on revenge" during his opening statement, and said this case hinges on the first amendment.

"There's absolutely nothing false about that statement," Rottenborn said, referring to the five words in the op-ed Heard wrote about being a "public figure representing domestic abuse."

"Try as he might to take it away, Amber's free speech gives her the right to say that," Rottenborn continued, adding that Heard suffered "physical, emotional, verbal and psychological abuse... that's the truth."

As for the title of the op-ed, Rottenborn told a jury that while Heard did not write or approve the headline that was posted online, the actress "did suffer sexual violence at the hands of Mr. Depp."

"You will hear in the most graphic and horrifying terms about the violence that she suffered, straight from her," he added.

Rottenborn agreed that Depp's career "is in free fall," but that "it's because of problems [Johnny] created." He said that the actor's "poor choices" brought him to the court room, like "his own refusal to commit to sobriety."

Depp's struggle with substance abuse, which he has not denied, will be a factor during trial as Heard claims many instances of abuse were when he was high or drunk. Bredehoft claims the actor spent $100,000 a month for a concierge doctor that prescribed many medications, and that Depp did drugs like cocaine and ecstasy. Bredehoft claims Depp was drunk and on drugs when he punched and kicked Heard during the Australia incident, dragging the actress across the floor over broken bottles before sexually assaulting her.

Christi Dembrowski, Depp's older sister, was the first witness called to the stand on Tuesday afternoon. She testified about the abuse they endured growing up from their mother, who was allegedly both physically and verbally abusive. Dembrowski said her brother vowed never to be like that. The actor appeared visibly emotional at times during the testimony when his sister talked about their upbringing.

Dembrowski worked as Depp's assistant for years and testified she always booked an extra hotel room when the former couple traveled together, in case the actor needed a place to hide like he did when he was a child.

Dembrowski testified that while she never witnessed any altercation between Depp and Heard, she heard the actress insult the Fantastic Beasts star. "She called him an old, fat man," Dembrowski claimed. Another example she gave was when Heard learned that Dior was interested in having Depp star in a campaign and the actress's reaction was "disbelief and disgust."

"[Dior's] about class and about style  you don't have style," Heard allegedly said, according to Dembrowski.

Heard's lawyers hit back at Dembrowski during cross-examination, arguing that she is invested in Depp's finances as an employee, which have dissipated since abuse allegations. They also tried to establish that Dembrowski knew her brother was off the rails with drugs and alcohol during the couple's relationship, which she denied.

Depp lost a libel lawsuit in 2020 against a U.K. publication that called him a "wife beater." A judge ruled it's "substantially true" the actor abused Heard. This marks the former couple's first showdown in the U.S.
Trevor Noah came home to The Daily Show studio at 733 11th Avenue in Manhattan on Monday, just over two years after he last taped an episode of the Comedy Central late-night series there in front of an in-studio audience.

For his first show back, Noah, who hosted the Grammys just over a week ago, brought in a vaccinated, masked-up crowd to give him the comedian-audience exchange hed been sorely lacking in his many, many at-home Daily Show tapings. Of course, the COVID-19 pandemic has changed everything, including how Noah interacts with his in-person viewers.

I feel like youre all robbing me, Noah joked while chatting with the audience, where Variety was in attendance, from his desk during a commercial break. Noah encouraged The Daily Show-goers to ask him whatever they wanted, saying this part of the making a late-night show  the human-to-human, back-and-forth element  is what hed missed most.

One audience member asked him if he had been wearing pants while taping his at-home shows, to which Noah responded Yes  and then launched into a story about how a time he was left freezing outside in his boxers because of a fire alarm prompted him to always at least be wearing a sweatshirt and pants at all times. And for loyal Daily Show viewers, that will be a wardrobe they are very familiar with seeing Noah in over the past two years of shows.

With the exceptions of some planned hiatuses, The Daily Show hasnt stopped making new episodes during the COVID-19 pandemic. But those were made by Noah remotely, and dubbed The Daily Social Distancing Show in the early days of COVID. As things got slowly safer, Noah brought in his production team, some better decor and several in-person guests. But he hadnt come back to the studio or invited a live audience to sit in until today, a show that featured Severance director and executive producer Ben Stiller as guest.

Oh man, Ive missed you guys, Noah said at the top of his monologue Monday. And Im so sorry that we were separated for two years. In hindsight, I shouldnt have left that Tupperware open in Wuhan. My bad, guys. The important part is, were all here together again, and the reunion sex is gonna be amazing.

Noah spoke at length about the spiking COVID cases among politicians in Washington, D.C., quickly bringing the jokes back around as a way to play with his audience. And this just shows that unfortunately we cannot let our guard down when it comes to COVID, Noah said. And I hope each and every one of you in this packed indoor audience remembers that. In fact, tell the person next to you. Pull down your mask so they can hear you clearly and tell them to stay safe.

The Daily Show has been on hiatus since March 18, so this was Noahs first time to address several big headlines within the context of the show, including Ketanji Brown Jacksons Supreme Court appointment, which he covered with pride in a segment alongside Daily Show correspondent Dulce Sloan, and Will Smiths 10-year ban from the Oscars following his slap of Chris Rock at the ceremony last month.

When I first saw the headline, I thought this was the worst punishment ever, but then I heard he still gets to keep his Oscar and he can still win Oscars! So in many ways, this isnt a punishment. This is a favor! Noah joked. Will Smith doesnt have to go to the ceremony. He doesnt have to get dressed up, he doesnt have to sit through a bunch of boring awards he doesnt care about He doesnt have to pretend to be happy when he loses. I wish I could get banned from the Emmys. Every year I have to go and act like I might beat John Oliver, its a nightmare. Put on my hopeful face. It could be me! Its not gonna be me. I know its not, its not gonna be any of us. Its always John Oliver.

Noah added: I do think they shouldve at least consulted Chris Rock about this, because if Will was still going to the Oscars thats at least four hours when Chris Rock knows where he is. Now he could be anywhere!

The Daily Show host then came up with what he believes would be an even better idea for the Academy to have made. Honestly, I dont think they should have banned Will Smith at all. I actually think they should hire Will Smith to replace the wrap it up music they play at award shows, Noah said. Do you know how quickly winners will finish their speeches when they see Will Smith watching them on the side of the stage?

Noah brought correspondent Roy Wood Jr. into the studio for a traffic update that went predictably awry before Stiller emerged to talk about Severance, the Apple TV Plus workplace thriller that Noah feels is the perfect show for the COVID era and was very excited to pick Stillers brain about. Stiller also got in on the fun of having a live crowd, by faking that he had tripped on the way to his seat, something he had heard Noah joking about with the audience from his dressing room. You know, the kind of bit that can only work in a studio, with a live audience.

He ended the taping by thanking his studio audience, and making this TikTok video with them. While Noah said he was very happy to have such an enthusiastic, engaging crowd on Day 1 back, hes worried theyve ruined him for Daily Show audiences to come.

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Johnny Depps lawyers accused his ex-wife, Amber Heard, of fabricating domestic violence claims against him in order to advance her own career, as a defamation trial got underway in Virginia on Tuesday.

Depp has sued Heard for $50 million, alleging that she devastated his career when she revived her allegations against him in a 2018 op-ed in the Washington Post.

Heards attorneys, meanwhile, argued in their opening statement that her allegations are entirely true, and that she had a First Amendment right to express her views. Her attorney Ben Rottenborn argued that Depp is seeking to ruin Heards life by pursuing the lawsuit.

For years, all Mr. Depp has wanted to do is humiliate Amber, to haunt her, to wreck her career, Rottenborn argued, calling Depp an obsessed ex-husband hellbent on revenge.

The trial is expected to last about six weeks, as 11 jurors will be asked to sort through a mountain of documentary evidence and conflicting testimony to decide who is telling the truth.

Depps attorneys  Ben Chew and Camille Vasquez  noted that the Washington Post piece was published just before the release of Aquaman, in which Heard starred, and helped her portray herself as a sympathetic advocate.

She presented herself as the face of the #MeToo movement  the virtuous representative of innocent women across the country and the world who have truly suffered abuse, Vasquez said. The evidence will show that was a lie.

Heard has accused Depp of numerous instances of assault, including times when she alleges Depp grabbed her by the neck, threw her against a wall, kicked her, choked her and punched her. Her attorney, Elaine Bredehoft, went through many of the allegations in detail in her opening statement, including one occasion when Depp allegedly sexually assaulted her with a liquor bottle.

The trial will go into painstaking detail about drug abuse, violence and trashed apartments. In his opening argument, Rottenborn said that jurors should try to keep their focus on her op-ed, which does not identify Depp by name.

The article isnt about Johnny Depp, he argued. The article is about the social change she is advocating.

Rottenborn argued that at the time of the publication, Depps career was in freefall while Heards career was taking off. The op-ed, he argued, was her attempt to move on from the abusive relationship. But by suing her, Depp is refusing to let her move on.

This case isnt about a day-to-day chronicle of their marriage, Rottenborn said. Its not about who you like more. Its not about which party can sling more mud Ultimately what this case is about is the First Amendment.

Heard has filed a $100 million counterclaim against Depp, alleging that his lawyer defamed her by accusing her of fabricating a hoax.

Chew argued that Heards allegations have caused severe harm to Depps career, because Hollywood studios do not want to face the backlash that comes with hiring someone accused of domestic violence.

The evidence will show that Ms. Heards false allegations had a significant impact on Mr. Depps family and his ability to work in the profession he loved, Chew said. Ultimately this trial is about clearing Mr. Depps name of a terrible and false allegation.

Depp has alleged that he was dropped from the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise after Heards op-ed was published. But Rottenborn argued that Disney was discussing dropping him months earlier due to his erratic behavior.

Any damages he suffered in his career were not because of this op-ed, Rottenborn told the jury. Its time to make Johnny take responsibility Its up to you, ladies and gentlemen, to make him do that.

Depp lost a similar lawsuit in 2020 against The Sun newspaper in the United Kingdom. The judge in that case found that Heards allegations were substantially true, and that therefore the newspaper did not defame him when it described him as a wife beater.

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A panel composed of representatives from A-list festivals got together on Sunday for an online talk staged by documentary film festival Visions du Reel to discuss the place of documentary films at their events.

The speakers were Giulia DAgnolo Vallan, U.S. programmer and selection committee member of the Venice Film Festival, Cristina Nord, head of the Berlinale Forum, Eva Sangiorgi, director of the Viennale, and Frederic Boyer, artistic director of the Tribeca Film Festival.

Asked to outline their selection criteria, most panelists agreed theirs was a director-driven approach based on individual submissions.

Its first and foremost about inviting films that are truly inspiring and ground-breaking: its always interesting when you discover something that you havent seen before, said Nord, adding that documentaries hold a significant place in the Berlinales independently curated, experimental Forum section, where they represent roughly half of the films selected.

Our objective is to give an impression of whats going on in documentary filmmaking in its broadest sense. We explore all types, from very classical, observational approaches like in Constantin Wulffs Chamber of Labor, which premiered this year, to more experimental films like the Canadian doc debut by Myriam Charles, Cette Maison,  she said.

The fact that there is no specific section dedicated to documentaries at the Venice Film Festival empowers nonfiction filmmaking, according to DAgnolo Vallan: It encourages the idea that docs can participate in the same space as traditional feature films. The presence of documentary films is growing and is peppered throughout [the lineup], she said, adding that part of the special relationship Venice has with doc filmmaking is due to its vibrant association with the Venice Art Biennale.

One of the defining moments was in 2013 when Gianfranco Rosis Sacro GRA won the main competition, because it was not easy to agree on that film, that was a big step for us in terms of the way we perceive documentary, she said, further citing the example of Frederick Wiseman, whose last six films have all been selected in or out of competition in Venice  the only A-list fest to do so. A further step was to give him a career award because a Golden Lion has never been awarded to a documentarian before, she said.

When she arrived at the Viennale, Sangiorgi said one of her first moves was to eliminate the different categories. At first, she said the idea of mixing fiction and documentary didnt arouse sympathy, but today the audience appreciates it. Its a way of giving another position to documentaries, on the same level as other films.

Asked about the changes brought about by streamers offering higher visibility to documentary films, Boyer said that while working with them was inescapable for a festival like Tribeca, it was essential to give smaller gems a platform at A-list festivals, citing the example of Oscar-nominated films like Honeyland by Tamara Kotevska and Ljubomir Stefanov, which premiered in Sundance, or Alexandre Nanaus Collective, which had its world premiere in Venice.

[Collective] is an extremely small, simple film  but what a wonderful film  and it wasnt brought by Netflix or Apple TV, it was just the new Nanau film, so I think its really important for us to keep our autonomy from the platforms, he said.

Regarding the Viennale, Sangiorgi was uncompromising, Im kind of orthodox. I have always been against collaborating with platforms because a festival is something different. Our mission is completely physical and plays a social role. Our dialogue with the audience is based on the fact that we meet in theaters, she said.

While she said it was unlikely there would be a Netflix doc in a Forum lineup, Nord welcomed specialized platforms like MUBI or Tenk for her films. Its not an antagonistic relationship: its good to know this type of distribution exists for Forum films, because when it comes to regular cinema releases, most of the docs we show  especially the hybrid, more essayistic films  wont have a big cinema release, so its great that they can have a life on such a platform.

Forum also provides an attractive offer for festival programmers, she added. Look at Art of the Real in New York. They had eight films from Forum this year. What we provide is precisely this opportunity to have a film meet with people who will program it in another context  thats what we can do to strengthen this type of filmmaking.

Speaking for Venice, DAgnolo Vallan said that while the fest doesnt discriminate against streamers  citing the recent selection of Netflix films Winter on Fire: Ukraines Fight for Freedom and Hopper/Welles  the big challenge lies in making people understanding the difference between an informative doc and something thats more like a movie: in that sense, our selection is more strict, she said.

When it comes to the selection process, both Nord and Boyer said they actively scout for new talent around the world, thanks to a selection committee spread out across the globe in Tribecas case, and to consultants around the world in the case of Berlin, people who not only make geographic but also aesthetic recommendations on films in specific fields, such as queer filmmaking for instance, explained Nord.

Questioned on whether the role of festivals is to reflect current affairs by selecting films on Ukraine, there was a general consensus among panelists that the urgency shouldnt trump the quest for quality filmmaking. With regard to boycotting Russian-funded films, Sangiorgi said it was a complex question: I will be open to having Russian movies in my selection, otherwise the same criteria should be applied to many other governments, for example from the Philippines or Brazil  government funding doesnt necessarily mean the film is affiliated to these governments.

Visions du Reel will be hosting another online talk on April 14 entitled Filming in Resistance, where Ukrainian filmmakers and producers currently shooting in Ukraine will be invited to debate on the possibility of resisting the war with images.

The festival runs until April 17.

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It seems like a good idea -- getting that membership to Costco so you can save lots of money on groceries and household products. But if you're on the fence about whether a membership would be right for you, take some time to check out Costco's online site to see what products it has that you're interested in, or visit a location in person to look around.

Budget: 5 Best Foods To Buy in Bulk at Costco This Spring

More: Target, Amazon and 4 More Retailers That Will Reward You for Turning In Your Old Stuff

You can get a Costco membership for as little as $60 per year, which averages out to about $5 per month. If you shop once a month, do you think you can rack up at least $5 in savings during a single trip? To help you gain perspective and see how much you can potentially save with a Costco membership, here's a look at the price of 10 Costco signature products versus the price of 10 similar products at Kroger with the savings calculated for you.

Chase Brock / GOBankingRates

Olive Oil

How much you could save by buying the Kirkland product: $4.34

Olive oil can be expensive and quality matters. Plus, according to the experts, Kirkland's Signature Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil is high-quality olive oil. A two-liter bottle of Kirkland Signature Organic Extra Virgin Olive oil is just $15.99 at Costco. To compare, a 51-ounce bottle of Simple Truth Organic Unfiltered Extra Virgin Olive Oil at Kroger costs $13.29. In terms of price, the Simple Truth product is $2.70 less than Costco's brand, but you get 16 ounces less product. The Costco product costs $7.99 per liter or $0.23 per ounce, while the Kroger product costs a bit more than $0.26 per ounce. Even though there's not a huge cost saving here, in terms of quality, the Costco product may more than make up for it.

Costco

Mixed Nuts

How much you could save by buying the Kirkland product: $2.91

Kirkland Signature Extra Fancy Mixed Nuts are $19.49 for 40 ounces of almonds, Brazil nuts, cashews, macadamia nuts and pecans. Kroger Deluxe Sea Salt Mixed Nuts are $17.99 for only 32 ounces or 2 pounds of cashews, almonds, Brazil nuts, hazelnuts and pecans. (Note that the Kirkland product features macadamia nuts, while the Kroger product features hazelnuts.) When you do the calculations, you're paying around $0.48 per ounce for the Kirkland product and $0.56 for the Kroger product, which is a difference of $0.08 per ounce.

Costco

Paper Towels

How much you could save by buying the Kirkland product: $1.83

You can get a really good deal when you buy Kirkland Signature Create-a-Size Paper Towels with 140 2-ply sheets per roll in a 12-count pack for $21.99. To compare, a pack of six-count Kroger Select-A-Sheet Double Paper Towels with 110 2-ply sheets per roll is $11.49. So, you could buy two six-packs of the Kroger product for around the same price as Costco's product, but you'd get 30 fewer sheets per Kroger roll, which can add up. Kirkland paper towels cost about $1.83 per roll, and the Kroger paper towels cost $1.91. The only difference is you're losing 360 sheets (30 sheets X 12 rolls) -- or about 2 1/2 rolls (there are 140 sheets in each roll of the Kirkland product) -- if you buy the Kroger product.

Chase Brock / GOBankingRates

Maple Syrup

How much you could save by buying the Kirkland product: $3.42

There's nothing like pure maple syrup on your pancakes. You can get Kirkland Signature Organic Pure Maple Syrup for $14.49 for 33.8 0unces or $0.43 per ounce. To compare, Private Selection 100% Pure Grade A Amber Maple Syrup at Kroger is $16.99 for 32 ounces or almost $0.53 per ounce. Plus, the Kroger brand is not organic but the Kirkland brand is.

Amazon

Dishwasher Detergent Tabs

How much you could save by buying the Kirkland product: $26.56

At Costco, Kirkland Signature Platinum Performance UltraShine Dishwasher Detergent Pacs, 115-count, are $11.39 or $0.09 each. At Kroger, Finish Powerball Quantum Dishwasher Detergent Tabs, 50-count, are $16.29 or about $0.33 each. This is where you can really rack up the savings and pay for almost one-third of your Costco membership just by the savings you'll reap from buying this one Costco product.

Costco

Animal Crackers

How much you could save by buying the Kirkland product: $8.35

If you have children or if you just like having something simple, yet sweet, to satisfy your sugar craving without going overboard, animal crackers may be something you'd buy. A 4-pound quantity of Kirkland Signature Organic Animal Crackers is $11.99 or around $0.02 per ounce. In comparison, two 8-ounce packages of Simple Truth Organic Animal Crackers from Kroger are $5.98 or $0.37 per ounce. If you're into animal crackers, you can really save at Costco.

Costco

Plastic Wrap

How much you could save by buying the Kirkland product: $11.37

Kirkland Signature Stretch-Tite Plastic Food Wrap is $11.29 for two boxes of wrap that are 758 square feet each or 1,516 square feet total, which equals about $0.0074 per square foot. In comparison, Kroger Tight Seal Cling Wrap is $2.99 for 200 square feet or about $0.01495 per square foot. The savings you can get by buying over seven times more plastic food wrap at a time may surprise you.

Costco

Kitchen Trash Bags

How much you could save by buying the Kirkland product: $20.70

Kirkland Signature Flex-Tech 13-Gallon Scented Kitchen Trash Bags, 200-count are $22.49 or $0.11 per bag. Kroger Tall Kitchen Super Flex Bags, 34-count, are $5.49 or $0.16 per bag. By buying the Kirkland trash bags, even though you have to buy more up front, you can save over $20. That's more than one-third of the price of the $60 Costco membership.

Costco

Weight Control Cat Food

How much you could save by buying the Kirkland product: $11.81

Overweight kitties need a solution, and weight control cat food can help. Kirkland Signature Healthy Weight Cat Food is $32.99 for 20 pounds or $1.64 per pound. IAMS ProActive Health Chicken & Turkey Indoor Weight & Hairball Care Adult Dry Cat Food is $13.99 for 7 pounds or $1.99 per pound. Not only is the Kirkland formula cheaper but it also doesn't contain any corn, wheat or soy.

Costco

Absorbent Pet Pads

How much you could save by buying the Kirkland product: $4.00

If you're potty training an indoor puppy, absorbent pet pads are good to have. And you'll get a lot more value from Costco's offering. Not only are the pet pads cheaper, but they're also larger than what you can get at Kroger. You can get Kirkland Signature Extra-Large Absorbent Pads, 100-count, for $21.99 or $0.21 per pad. Kroger offers Pet Pride Super Absorbent Training Pads in a 100-count package for $25.99 or around $0.26 per pad.

ARTYOORAN / Shutterstock.com

Is a Costco Membership Worth It?

If you bought every item on this list instead of buying the similar products from Kroger, you could save $94.38 in just one trip to Costco, which more than makes up for the $60 membership fee. And that's just one trip. The membership fee is due once every year, so think about how many more opportunities you'll have to save. Yes, a Costco membership is worth it -- as long as you use it.

More From GOBankingRates

Methodology: It's difficult to find the same size of similar products at Costco and Kroger. In instances where the Costco product contained more ounces, pounds or units than the similar Kroger product, the "how much you could save by buying the Kirkland product" was determined by calculating how much the Costco quantity of the product would cost at the Kroger price and then subtracting the Costco price from the new Kroger price.

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: How Much Does a Costco Membership Really Save You?
For many Americans who dont live in big cities, a for-profit college near where they live may seem like a convenient higher education option compared with a public college many miles away. But that convenience comes at a price, according to a new report.

Students who enrolled at a nearby four-year, for-profit college on average take on $3,300 more in federal student loans than if they had gone to a comparable public college, according to new research published this month in the Journal of Financial Economics.

Students who chose to go to a two-year, for-profit college on average originate $6,000 more debt than if they had chosen a community college.

Aside from taking on more debt, enrollment at a four-year for-profit college increases the likelihood of default by 11 percentage points, which is nearly double the baseline default likelihood, according to the study.

The research used five publicly available resources, from Census information, data on colleges, loans, and employment, to tease out how students choose their college.

The researchers used data from time periods when the economy went south and workers job prospects dimmed to map out whether the prevalence of for-profit schools in their vicinity affected their decision to pursue higher education.

A commencement ceremony for Strayer University, a private, for-profit educational institution. Strayer University specializes in higher education for working adults seeking career advancement. (Photo by Brooks Kraft LLC/Corbis via Getty Images)

Transparency over debt outcomes isn't enough: author

To help students compare colleges before they enroll, the Education Department has been putting more information on the College Scorecard to help students factor in financial prospects when choosing a school.

The Scorecard is a government database that publishes data including how much debt a student is expected to take on, and how much in earnings they can expect on average, should they choose a specific school.

Yet "students just seem to be very poorly informed, Michael Lovenheim, a co-author of the study and a professor at Cornell University, told Yahoo Finance.

Part of it is on purpose on the part of for-profits ... they're giving them a sales pitch, and the students for the most part lack the background ... to make an informed choice, he said. "Just information being available is insufficient  you have to help them understand what it means."

The federal government has also signaled that it is watching for-profit colleges to see whether they mislead students about jobs and earnings prospects.

The Federal Trade Commission in October sent notices to 70 for-profit higher education institutions with the warning that any false promises they make about their graduates' jobs and earnings prospects and other outcomes could lead to "significant financial penalties."

UNITED STATES - JULY 30: From left, Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., and Rep. Elijah Cummings, D-Md., hold a news conference in the Capitol Visitor Center to unveil a report on the for-profit college industry on Monday, July 30, 2012. (Photo By Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call)

Location, location, location

But the choice of which college to attend is a student's own.

And particularly during times of economic crisis, a lot of publicly available information on outcomes is not fully utilized, which could in the future lead to students taking on unnecessary debt.

For instance, when the U.S. economy undergoes a shock and more people find themselves out of a job, they turn to education to fill in the gap. But their method of choosing a school  especially nontraditional students  has historically been influenced simply by whats most convenient and nearest to them, according to the report.

And if they see more for-profit colleges in their vicinity, then theyre more likely to attend such schools, versus another student surrounded by public community colleges.

This phenomenon is concerning to the authors. This makes the supply of local options critical, Lovenheim said, because it affects where people choose to go and how much debt they end up taking.

JUNE 24, 2014. SANTA ANA, CA. Lobby of Everest College at 500 W. Santa Ana Blvd, in Santa Ana, CA, on June 24, 2014. Everest is part of Corinthian Colleges Inc., a huge conglomerate of for-profit trade colleges that is about to be broken up and sold. The company will likely go into bsnkruptcy. (Photo by Don Bartletti/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)

For-profit schools branch out across the country

For-profits appear to be ubiquitous partly because they have the financial ability to create many branch campuses aimed at making it easy to commute to school, particularly for those working part- or full-time jobs.

A separate data project by researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison found that most undergrads attend college within just 50 miles of their permanent home address."

For-profits appear to capitalize on that demand for convenience.

According to the University of Wisconsin-Madison authors, some colleges that have signed an agreement to operate with the Education Department have created many branch locations across the state, such as in fire stations, YMCAs, churches, and even within private companies such as at Verizon Wireless stores or in a Walmart, or in hotels.

Yahoo Finance has reached out to the Education Department for comment on whether it monitors such branch locations and whether that has an implication on their agreement with the schools.

When a school signs an agreement with ED, it can tap federal funding from taxpayers. These funds are then loaned to students as loans.

Student loan debt and for-profit colleges

The U.S. economy is holding steady at present, but this new report in the Journal of Financial Economics said that the findings carry implications for when a recession hits.

Roughly two decades ago, 450,000 students were enrolled in for-profit colleges, which represented 2.9% of enrollment. During the recession in 2010, enrollment peaked at 9.6%, then dropped to 5% in 2018.

A rise in enrollment at for-profits coincided with large increases in student debt, the authors noted. Total federal loans to undergrads rose from $34.1 billion in 2000 to $57.5 billion in 2018  a 66.3% increase. Out of all the borrowers who had defaulted on their federal student loans in 2012 specifically, 39% had enrolled in a for-profit school in the 2010-11 academic year.

It's not just students who bear the financial burden: When some of these for-profit colleges go bust, if they've acted in a predatory manner, millions of taxpayer dollars are written off.

Ultimately, Cornells Lovenheim said he wanted his research to stress how a students choice of school is impacted by their options in their area, and how that can be addressed.

With for-profits being more prevalent, and taking up a large part of the U.S. higher education system, he said, the answer to this question is quite important for the outcomes of these students.

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Aarthi is a reporter for Yahoo Finance. She can be reached at aarthi@yahoofinance.com. Follow her on Twitter @aarthiswami.

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An influential U.S. group is raising doubts about routine suicide screening for children and teens even as others call for urgent attention to youth mental health.

In draft guidance posted Tuesday, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force said theres not enough evidence to recommend routinely screening kids who show no obvious signs of being suicidal. The document is open for public comment until May 9, and opposing voices are already weighing in.

Many experts agree with the groups assessment that more research is urgently needed but argue that theres no evidence that screening  asking kids if theyve ever considered or attempted suicide  could cause harm.

In the meantime, what are you going to do with this mental health crisis? You cannot turn a blind eye, said psychologist Lisa Horowitz of the National Institute of Mental Health.

The task force is an independent group of doctors and other experts that creates guidelines for prevention services in primary care settings, based on an analysis of research. The group's final recommendations often mirror its draft guidance. Insurance coverage decisions are often based on its advice.

The draft guidance pertains to screening in pediatricians' offices and similar settings for kids up to age 18.

In 2020, suicide was the second-leading cause of death for ages 10 to 14, and the third leading cause for ages 15 to 19, according to data from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Abundant reports suggest kids mental health has suffered during the pandemic, with troubling numbers of suicide attempts and increases in depression, anxiety, eating disorders and other signs of distress.

Certainly, we all share the same concern about wanting to minimize this risk for young people and to intervene effectively so that we can prevent these consequences, said task force member Martha Kubik, a professor of nursing at George Mason University. But she said suicide screening in kids who arent obviously troubled could lead to stigma and needless anxiety.

The task forces draft document recommends anxiety screening for ages 8 to 18, and echoes its previous advice for depression screening starting at age 12. Kubik said depression screening may catch some suicidal kids.

Suicide prevention experts say theres a common misconception that asking kids about suicide will plant the idea in their minds. They argue that open conversations will reduce suicide stigma and let kids know parents and trusted adults care about their wellbeing.

This report may actually set the field back, said Dr. Christine Moutier of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.

Just last month, the foundation and the American Academy of Pediatrics backed suicide screening for ages 12 and up, and for kids aged 8 to 11 when there are concerns.

Last year, the pediatrics group and two others declared childrens health a national emergency worsened by the pandemic. And in January, the government issued updated Affordable Care Act preventive care guidelines that call for universal screening for suicide risk for ages 12 to 21.

The suicide of a 12-year-old Elkhart, Indiana, girl last month left her close-knit family reeling and wondering if theyd missed any signs. Rio Allred was a witty, bright-eyed seventh grader with a wicked laugh who loved books, sketching and video games.

They knew she was bothered by merciless bullying about her alopecia, an autoimmune disease that causes hair loss. She developed it during the pandemic, shaved her head and only sometimes wore wigs or a hat. The family complained to school authorities and gave Rio a choice of transferring or home-schooling, but she wanted to stay put, said her mom, Nicole Ball.

She put on such a brave face, Ball said. I never thought it would get to this point.

The family talked openly about tough subjects including suicide, and Ball says Rio had recently gone to a school counselor, worried about one of her friends self-harming.

But Ball says she thinks routine suicide screening by somebody thats trained, on the outside looking in, might pick up things kids dont openly share, or signs that parents overlook.

The family has launched an anti-bullying campaign, and Ball says shes sure Rio would approve.

I always said she would change the world, she said. I hate that its this way.

___

Follow AP Medical Writer Lindsey Tanner: @LindseyTanner

___

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.
On the day Russia invaded Ukraine, Vladimir Putin summoned 37 of his countrys most powerful business leaders to the Kremlin.

The Russian president told them the incursion had been a necessary measure and asked them to be understanding of what is going on.

Russias stock exchange had just closed at a 33 percent loss, wiping out an estimated $71 billion in wealth, with a raft of new sanctions from the United States and the European Union already in effect and more on the way.

For many oligarchs in the room, it would be their first taste of international financial restrictions.

But for others, like Suleiman Kerimov, sanctions were nothing new.

The enigmatic, Ferrari-driving billionaire and his family have gone to great lengths to shield their assets, documents suggest, an effort that would have helped to insulate him when he and other Russian elites were sanctioned by the U.S. in 2018 for benefitting from the countrys malign activity around the globe.

A trove of leaked financial records provides a glimpse into how Kerimov and his associates used a maze of corporate structures to obscure his astronomical wealth and financial dealings, which include $300 million in mysterious wire transfers from a holding company registered under the name of a Swiss tattoo artist to companies linked to Kerimov and his family.

If youre an oligarch, you are by definition already operating with shell corporations and carve-outs in expectation that this day would come, said former U.S. Treasury official Jonathan Schanzer.

Image: Vladimir Putin and Suleiman Kerimov (Mikhail Svetlov / Getty Images file)

In collaboration with the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ), NBC News has mined major financial record leaks  including the Pandora Papers and the FinCEN Files  to illustrate the difficulties Western governments will face in enforcing sanctions against Russian oligarchs.

While rich people around the world use creative tactics to protect their wealth, the documents reveal the exceptional steps Kerimov and his associates have taken in the past and highlight the challenges ahead for authorities seeking to stem the flow of money to Putins inner circle.

Fast cars, fancy parties

Kerimov is lesser known but wealthier than the likes of Roman Abramovich and Oleg Deripaska. Hes worth roughly $14.3 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, making him the 130th richest person in the world.

Today, much of Kerimovs wealth is thought to stem from his familys stake in Polyus  the largest gold producer in Russia. He also has deep political connections. Since 2008, he has served as a senator in Russias Federation Council for his native region of Dagestan, in the majority Muslim southeast.

By turns private  Kerimov rarely gives interviews  and flamboyant, he has been called a Russian Gatsby for hosting multi-million-dollar parties at his massive villas on the French Riviera, including one soiree that reportedly featured a performance by Beyonce. He reportedly owns a $325 million megayacht, and his car collection has included such rarities as a Ferrari Enzo, which he crashed into a tree in Nice in a near-fatal accident in 2006.

That flamboyance, the spending  thats a part of their persona. But its also a way to launder money, Karen Greenaway, a former FBI agent who worked in the bureaus International Corruption Unit, said, speaking broadly about oligarchs.

A journalist films the wreck of a black (Valery Hache / AFP via Getty Images file)

Despite holding diplomatic immunity, Kerimov was arrested in France in 2017 in connection with a tax evasion and money laundering case over the purchase of a nearly $190 million estate in Cap dAntibes on the French Riviera, an area otherwise known as the Bay of Billionaires.

The year before, the Panama Papers investigation by ICIJ and the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project found that Kerimov-linked companies had transferred $200 million to a financial network associated with Sergei Roldugin, who the European Union has dubbed Putins wallet.

"The tax case against him was a surprise," Greenaway said, referring to Kerimov. "He must have really triggered something somewhere to get somebody to look at it."

Roldugin has previously denied any wrongdoing.

Banks are supposed to file suspicious activity reports  called SARs  with the U.S. Treasury Departments Financial Crimes Enforcement Network when a transaction raises certain red flags. FinCEN gets more than a million of these reports each year, which are shared with law enforcement and intelligence agencies, and form the basis of investigations into money laundering, tax evasion and other financial crimes.

The leaked financial documents, first obtained by BuzzFeed News and shared with ICIJ and NBC News, include SARs detailing more than 12 suspect wire transfers that flowed through the Bank of New York Mellon between 2012 and 2014.

In the reports, bank officials flagged more than $700 million in wire transfers between opaque companies based in Cyprus, the Cayman Islands, the Bahamas, Switzerland, and the British Virgin Islands, the documents show.

By cross-referencing the names of the mystery companies with previously leaked documents from the Pandora Papers, NBC News and its reporting partners were able to link several companies involved in the $700 million in flagged transactions with Kerimov or his business associates.

It would not be normal for someone to create shell companies like this, said Graham Barrow, a London-based anti-money laundering expert who reviewed several of the SARs involving companies linked to Kerimov.

There is a higher cost and slower speed using multiple entities to run money through the banking system. For the normal flow of capital, this runs against the grain of what would make sense economically.

In one case from 2013, the Bank of New York Mellon, also known as BNY Mellon, reported to authorities that a company called Fletcher Ventures sent a $100 million wire to a company called LT Trading. In the report, the bank said internet research suggested that LT Trading was a U.K. firm that specialized in the sale of fruits and vegetables.

Public filings reveal little about LT Trading, but leaked records from Trident Trust, an offshore services provider in the British Virgin Islands, show that the company is in fact a British Virgin Islands-registered firm owned by Nariman Gadzhiev, Kerimovs nephew. The records were part of a tranche of confidential financial files that were leaked from companies that set up and manage shell companies in tax havens, and shared with NBC News as part of the Pandora Papers.

The suspicious activity reports give no indication that BNY Mellon reached out to the bank where the money originated to get more information on the questionable transactions. Experts say that inaccurate or incomplete reports filed by major U.S. and international banks complicate the already difficult task of federal investigators to crack down on potential financial crimes.

In a statement, a spokesperson for BNY Mellon said the bank could not comment on specific suspicious activity reports, but that it fully complies with relevant laws and regulations and takes its role in protecting the integrity of the global financial system seriously.

Trident Trust said it does not discuss its clients with the media, but that it works diligently to evolve and invest in its compliance processes, in line with relevant regulatory developments and guidance in all the jurisdictions in which it operates.

Image: Amadea (Balint Porneczi / Bloomberg via Getty Images)

At the center of the $700 million in mystery transfers is a man named Alexander Studhalter, a Swiss financier with close ties to Kerimov.

Billions of dollars passed between firms owned by Kerimovs family and shell companies owned or administered by Studhalter, according to the leaked Trident Trust records.

In one record, Studhalter listed a Lucerne tattoo artist as the owner of a holding company that the SARs show sent more than $300 million in wires to Kerimov-linked companies in 2013. Another record listed Gadzhiev, Kerimovs nephew, as the owner of a company that financed two private jets.

When a reporter from the Swiss media outlet Tamedia, a reporting partner on this project, approached the tattoo artist at his studio, he referred all questions to Studhalter.

Gadzhiev, who lives in Switzerland, declined to comment.

In the 2017 money laundering and tax evasion case, French authorities accused Studhalter of acting as a front for Kerimov and purchasing the multimillion-dollar villa and three others on his behalf. Charges against the two men were later dropped, but the company used to purchase the property paid out about $12 million in back taxes and fines.

A lawyer for Kerimov in France said, After several years of investigation, no incrimination has been brought against our client.

But an official from the prosecutors office in Nice said the investigation had not been closed.

To put it simply, he has been released from the charges first brought against him but continues to be implicated in the proceedings and likely to be prosecuted in the event of new elements, the official said.

In a statement to ICIJ, Studhalter said that he is an entrepreneur and investor who worked with Kerimov as a partner and not as a service provider.

The whole case was just made up, and remains falsely reported in some media, Studhalter said.

Studhalter also said that all four of the French villas were owned by him, and that Kerimov was merely renting one. But a bank record that was produced as evidence in the case showed that Studhalter listed Kerimov as the owner of the company that bought the properties and contained the signatures of both men. Studhalter told Tamedia that their signatures were forged.

Studhalter also said that all of his companies were founded in accordance with Swiss law, that he has not worked with Kerimov since 2017, that he and his father owned the companies accounting for most of the $700 million in wire transfers, including the company that listed the tattoo artist as its owner.

Image: Villa Hier (Yann Coatsaliou / AFP via Getty Images file)

Family help

Setting up numerous companies to obscure his ownership stake in various businesses would have been one way for Kerimov to protect his wealth. But he has also used simpler methods, namely moving wealth into the hands of his family members.

In 2015, his company, Polyus, was delisted from the London Stock Exchange during the fallout from Russias invasion of Crimea, so Kerimov took measures to insulate his controlling stake in the Russian gold giant, by transferring it to his then-20 year-old son, Said.

The move proved effective. Kerimov was sanctioned by the U.S. in 2018, along with seven other Russian oligarchs, for benefitting from the Putin regime and play(ing) a key role in advancing Russias malign activities, including the occupation of Crimea and efforts to subvert Western democracies. Kerimov himself was sanctioned for alleged money laundering and for being an official in the government of the Russian Federation, the Treasury Department said at the time.

But the designation did not extend to his son or to various companies linked to his wealth. Trading in Polyus continued unfettered, until it was suspended from the London Stock Exchange in response to the invasion of Ukraine earlier this year.

On April 6, the Financial Times reported that the European Union was considering adding Said to its sanctions list, and within hours Polyus announced that the younger Kerimov had resigned from its board of directors and sold off nearly half of his shares in the company. With Said no longer the majority shareholder, the move was seen as an attempt to shield Polyus from the freezing of its accounts.

Polyus said those decisions took place April 4, two days before press reports of possible sanctions against Said.

The E.U. sanctioned Said on April 8 for being associated with a leading businessperson involved in economic sectors providing a substantial source of revenue to the Government of the Russian Federation, according to the sanctions announcement.

Between May and November of last year, Kerimovs eldest daughter, Gulnara Kerimova, was listed as the ultimate beneficial owner of the companies used to purchase the four villas in the south of France that were at the center of the French money laundering case, according to French company register records obtained by reporting partner Radio France and shared with NBC News.

Kerimovs son and daughter did not respond to requests for comment.

Experts say the changes at Polyus last week match steps taken by other oligarchs in which they transfer their wealth in anticipation of possible sanctions.

If these bad actors catch wind early enough, they will grab the money and run. Thats how it works, said Schanzer, who is now a senior vice president for research at the nonprofit Foundation for Defense of Democracies.

Since the start of the invasion of Ukraine, Kerimov has been hit with additional sanctions by Canada, the U.K. and the E.U. But so far his assets have apparently escaped unscathed.

His reported megayacht was last spotted near Fiji, according to MarineTraffic, a maritime analytics provider. French authorities, meanwhile, have made no moves against his sprawling estate on the French Riviera, according to people familiar with the matter.

Their shell companies are unnamed and their status as the ultimate beneficiary are veiled. That makes it horrendously difficult to enforce sanctions, Barrow, the money-laundering expert, said.

But sanctions can be felt in other ways, experts said.

These guys are going to be shunned. Theyre going to be pushed out of polite company, said Schanzer. I think that might be the real punishment here. Because I dont think theyre going to lose money. Theyre just going to have a harder time moving it.
The Times has filed a lawsuit against the city of Los Angeles that seeks to force Mayor Eric Garcetti's office and the Fire Department to release numerous internal records in the case of a high-ranking fire official who was reported to be drunk on duty during a major blaze. (Bob Chamberlin / Los Angeles Times)

The Times has filed a lawsuit against the city of Los Angeles that seeks to force Mayor Eric Garcettis office and the Fire Department to release numerous internal records in the case of a high-ranking fire official who was reported to be drunk on duty during a major blaze but faced no discipline and retired with a $1.4-million payout.

Filed late Monday in Los Angeles Superior Court, the suit alleges that the city violated the California Public Records Act by denying the newspapers requests for an investigative report and other documents regarding former Chief Deputy Fred Mathis, who was the departments top administrative commander.

Mathis was reported to be under the influence during last Mays Palisades fire while overseeing the departments operations center at City Hall East. Critics of then-Fire Chief Ralph Terrazas contended that he and other officials attempted to cover up the incident by not filing a complaint about Mathis conduct for three days and allowing someone to make a retroactive entry in city timekeeping records to show he was out sick when he was allegedly intoxicated at work.

The episode was kept under wraps until The Times disclosed it in a July story, which touched off a furor inside and outside the department. Rather than conduct its own investigation, City Atty. Mike Feuers office farmed out an inquiry into Mathis behavior to a private law firm, a move the critics said was also intended to keep the public in the dark.

The Times later reported that Mathis had accessed the departments complaint tracking system while he was under investigation. The system contained sensitive information about his case, including the names of witnesses. A question of whether Mathis misused that information became part of the law firms probe.

The investigation dragged on until January, and the city refused to release a full report on its findings, which cleared Mathis. Within days of the inquirys conclusion, Mathis retired on a roughly $225,000 annual pension and received nearly $293,000 in what the department said was unused time off for illness, holidays and vacation. He collected about $1.1 million that the city put aside while he was enrolled in a controversial program that aims to keep police officers and firefighters on the job past retirement age.

The critics had predicted that the city would run out the clock on the inquiry until Mathis left, that he would face no discipline, and that the report would be buried.

Mathis has told The Times in an email that he did nothing wrong and was treated unfairly by the department.

The city has maintained that the records The Times sought are legally exempt from disclosure because releasing them would violate Mathis privacy rights and attorney-client privilege. In its suit, however, The Times asserts that the exemption does not apply in the Mathis case.

Under a body of law that goes back almost 45 years, public agencies, including the city, must disclose government records reflecting well-founded allegations of misconduct against public employees such as Mathis and Terrazas, the 18-page filing states.

Kelly Aviles, an attorney representing The Times, said, The public has a right to oversee how the government responds to these issues and agencies cant evade disclosure requirements by vague claims of exemptions."

The suit is known as a petition for a writ of mandate and declaratory relief. It asks the court to order the immediate release of the records and to direct the city to pay The Times legal fees.

In addition to withholding the records, Garcetti and his representatives have declined to answer many questions about the Mathis case, as have Feuer and his spokesman, Rob Wilcox. Feuer is running for mayor, and Wilcox is a candidate for city controller.

Wilcox said in an email Tuesday that Feuer's office will review The Times' lawsuit "and have no further comment at this time." Garcetti's office and the LAFD did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Leaders of three organizations that represent Black, Latino and women firefighters say the citys handling of the Mathis affair reflects a deep-seated pattern of preferential treatment for department chiefs, especially if they are white or men, and a lack of transparency in such matters. Much of their criticism has been echoed by two of the five members of the civilian Fire Commission  Rebecca Ninburg and Jimmie Woods-Gray.

Terrazas, who retired last month, has denied that Mathis or other chiefs received special treatment. Among the questions he did not answer is whether Mathis had been required to undergo a urinalysis for alcohol or drug use, as department rules mandate.

The law firms rationale in clearing Mathis outraged department insiders. The firm, Yasinski & Jones of Pasadena, concluded that Mathis was technically off duty while he was likely intoxicated as he had put himself out sick that day, according to a brief summary of the findings the department released in February.

Mathis has declined to be interviewed. In a written response to emailed questions from The Times, he said, All of the allegations you have presented to me are false and unsubstantiated through the investigation initiated by the department.

He acknowledged that he was struggling with alcoholism at the time, and he said his privacy was violated and his reputation damaged when Terrazas discussed his need for treatment with other department officials and the firefighters union. In an emailed response, Terrazas said, At no point was confidentiality violated during this investigation.

Mathis spent his last seven months with the LAFD on paid leave for what the department said was continuous trauma to an extremity. The nature of the trauma was not detailed. Worker compensation records for Mathis are among those The Times is seeking.

Apart from the complete investigative report, the city has denied the newspapers request for the original complaint against Mathis; the identification numbers of the LAFD vehicle assigned to him; vehicle entry and exit logs and security camera footage for the City Hall East parking structure; and security camera footage of the interior and pedestrian entrances and exits of the LAFD operations and dispatch centers. The Times asked for that material to determine precisely when Mathis and his vehicle were at City Hall East during the Palisades fire.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
LVIV, Ukraine (Reuters) - Civilians were fleeing from areas of eastern Ukraine on Tuesday ahead of an anticipated Russian offensive, while Kyiv said it was checking reports that Russian forces had used chemical weapons in the besieged port city of Mariupol.

The battle for Mariupol was reaching a decisive phase, with Ukrainian marines holed up in the Azovstal industrial district.

Should the Russians seize Azovstal, they would be in full control of Mariupol, the lynchpin between Russian-held areas to the west and east. The city has already been laid waste by weeks of Russian bombardments that have killed possibly thousands of civilians.

Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Malyar said the government was checking unverified information that Russia may have used chemical weapons while besieging Mariupol.

"There is a theory that these could be phosphorous munitions," Malyar said in televised comments.

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy had said on Monday night that Russia could resort to chemical weapons as it amassed troops in the eastern Donbas region for a new assault on Mariupol. He did not say if they actually had been used.

The United States and Britain said they were trying to verify the reports. If Russia had used chemical weapons, "all options were on the table" in response, British Junior Defence Minister James Heappey said in London.

Chemical weapons production, use and stockpiling is banned under the 1997 Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC). Although condemned by human rights groups, white phosphorous is not banned under the CWC.

An armoured vehicle of pro-Russian troops is seen in the street in Mariupol

The Russian defence ministry has not yet responded to a Reuters request for comment. Russian-backed separatist forces in the east denied using chemical weapons in Mariupol, the Interfax news agency reported.

But should it prove to be the case, it would mark a dangerous new development in a war that has already left a trail of death of destruction since Russian President Vladimir Putin sent his troops over the border on Feb. 24.

About a quarter of Ukraine's 44 million population have been forced from their homes, cities turned into rubble, and thousands of people have been killed or injured - many of them civilians.

Putin calls the action a "special military operation" to demilitarise and "denazify" Ukraine but it has drawn condemnation and alarm in the West, which has imposed a wide range of sanctions to squeeze the Russian economy.

After their troops got bogged down in the face of Ukrainian resistance, the Russians abandoned their bid to capture the capital Kyiv for now. But they are redoubling their efforts in the east and Ukrainian forces are digging in to face a new offensive.

The governor of Luhansk region, Serhiy Gaidai, urged residents to evacuate using five humanitarian corridors agreed for the east.

"It's far more scary to remain and burn in your sleep from a Russian shell," he wrote on social media. "Evacuate, with every day the situation is getting worse. Take your essential items and head to the pickup point."

In all, nine humanitarian corridors had been agreed for Tuesday, including one for private cars from Mariupol, Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk said.

Rescuers search for bodies under the rubble of a building destroyed by Russian shelling, amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine, in Borodyanka

In its morning briefing on the conflict, the General Staff of Ukraines Armed Forces said that aside from trying to take control of Mariupol, Russian forces were also intent on capturing Popasna, a town about two hours drive west of Luhansk, and were set to launch an offensive in the direction of Kurakhove, in the Donetsk region.

The Ukrainian military said its troops had repulsed attacks in both Luhansk and Donetsk.

President Zelenskiy pleaded overnight for more weapons from the West to help it end the siege of Mariupol and fend off the expected Russian offensive in the east.

"Unfortunately we are not getting as much as we need to end this war faster... in particular, to lift the blockade of Mariupol," he said.

The departure of Russian forces from the outskirts of Kyiv brought to light allegations of war crimes including executions and rape of civilians. Moscow dismisses the allegations as Ukrainian and Western provocations and has also accused Ukrainian forces of sexual violence.

'We are increasingly hearing of rape and sexual violence'

Senior U.N. official Sima Bahous told the U.N. Security Council on Monday that while all allegations must by independently investigated, "the brutality displayed against Ukrainian civilians has raised all red flags".

"We are increasingly hearing of rape and sexual violence," she said.

Kateryna Cherepakha, president of rights group La Strada-Ukraine, told the council via video: "Violence and rape is used now as a weapon of war by Russian invaders in Ukraine."

Russia's deputy U.N. ambassador denied the allegations and accused Ukraine and allies of "a clear intention to present Russian soldiers as sadists and rapists".

Russia's defence ministry said Ukraine's government was being directed by the United States to sow false evidence of Russian violence against civilians despite what it cast as Moscow's "unprecedented measures to save civilians".

Putin is scheduled to meet Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko on Tuesday to discuss Ukraine and Western sanctions, news agencies in Russia and Belarus reported. Belarus is a key staging area for Russian forces.

The Russian leader said on Tuesday that Moscow's military operation would undoubtedly achieve what he said were its "noble" objectives.

Speaking at an awards ceremony at the Vostochny Cosmodrome in the Russian Far East, Putin was quoted as saying by Russian news agencies that Moscow had no other choice but to act to protect Russia and that a clash with Ukraine's anti-Russian forces had been inevitable.
WASHINGTON  Luda Draganova woke up on March 23 ready to evacuate her 86-year-old mother from her apartment in Kyiv.

Her mother had suddenly developed a sharp pain in her back, 10 days before Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24. Three days into the war, the pain had gotten so intense that Draganova tried calling for an ambulance but was told emergency services would respond only to serious injuries.

Days later, her mother developed a strong cough and fever. Draganova believes she contracted COVID-19 from a neighbor who was checking on her.

Protesters in support of Ukraine gather in front of the Reflecting Pool near the Washington Monument. (Courtesy of Luda Draganova)

Draganova  who was born in Kyiv when the Ukrainian capital was still part of the U.S.S.R. and who now lives in Reston, Va.  had planned for her mother to take a train to Poland, where she would be taken to Denmark by Draganovas son, who is completing his PhD there.

The plan, which had been methodically devised for weeks since the invasion, fell apart when her mother categorically refused to leave that morning, citing extreme pain. Draganova had to abandon the plan.

It's very hard to listen to her and to feel her pain but at the same time try to help her make the right decision, Draganova told Yahoo News. She said the situation has since become even harder, given that the majority of her [mothers] friends and some other relatives that we could have relied on for her trip have already escaped.

Draganova said the plan is still on hold, given that her mother fell on April 5, sustaining a femoral neck fracture.

Draganova is just one of many Ukrainian Americans trying to evacuate their families from their native country as they watch the war unfold from thousands of miles away, often with a mix of guilt and fear.

Oleksandra Ustinova, a member of the Ukrainian Parliament and the leader of the liberal Holos Party, has been stuck in the United States for weeks, after going there with some weeks left before her due date to give birth on April 12.

A woman named Olia stands next to the rubble in her courtyard on April 5 in Bucha, Ukraine. (Alexey Furman/Getty Images)

Ten days before the war started, she flew to Austin, Texas, to visit her husband, who is also Ukrainian, and who works for a company based in the city.

While in the U.S., Ustinova had hoped to reconnect with some contacts in Washington, D.C., and to lobby on Capitol Hill to raise awareness of Russias impending attack. After the invasion, she was too close to giving birth to fly, and was effectively stuck in the U.S.

Living in a friends apartment in the Brookland neighborhood of D.C., Ustinova used every day to lobby on Capitol Hill for more U.S. military assistance and a U.S.-imposed no-fly zone over Ukraine.

She has met with an estimated 50 members of Congress, including Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Pa. On Feb. 28, she met with members of the House of Representatives to discuss humanitarian aid, the possibility of a no-fly zone and direct actions targeting the finances of Russian oligarchs.

We were talking about specific needs for our country in the meeting with the bipartisan Congressional Ukraine Caucus, she told Yahoo News. These can be divided into financial needs  which means we need sanctions, and we need personal sanctions against Putin and his close allies and their families.

Ustinovas headshot from the Ukrainian parliament (Courtesy of Oleksandra Ustinova)

On the first day of the war, Ustinova sent both her mother and her mother-in-law to Vinnytsia, a city located 270 miles southwest of Kyiv. After Vinnytsia was shelled on March 6, she moved them to Slovakia.

Ustinova said that now that things appear to be improving and after Russian forces, faced with fierce resistance, started pulling back from the assault on Kyiv on April 4, the family intends to go back to Vinnytsia and decide what to do next.

She said the devastation is so widespread that most families in Ukraine know someone who has lost either a friend or a family member. Every night, I'm afraid to open Facebook, because there's always someone that I know who was killed or shot or shelled, she said.

Ustinova said that for her as a new mother, the Russian bombings targeting maternity hospitals have struck a nerve. When I see all this happening, I understand how lucky I am, she said. To be honest, I feel guilty for this at some point, because I should be there, but I'm trying to make the best out of being here.

Draganova said the war and the destruction it has brought will fundamentally change the lives of Ukrainians abroad for years to come.

Our life, in terms of our everyday life, is like: before the war and after the war. Even though we have a life here [in the U.S.], it is still before the war and after the war, Draganova said.

She said her life now revolves around the news. I cannot imagine going to a theater or watching a movie or watching something entertaining. After dinner every day with my husband, now we watch news feeds, videos, analysis and things like that.

Since the beginning of the war, the Biden administration has pledged support for Ukraine. In a March 24 background press call on President Bidens meetings with the G7 and the European Council, a senior administration official announced that the U.S. will welcome up to 100,000 Ukrainians and others fleeing Russia.

Ustinova with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky. (Courtesy of Oleksandra Ustinova)

To meet this commitment, we are considering the full range of legal pathways to the United States. So that includes the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program, parole, and immigrant and non-immigrant visas, the senior administration official said.

In addition to taking in more refugees, Biden announced on March 30 that the U.S. will give Ukraine $500 million in budget assistance.

Despite the call for a no-fly zone that Draganova backed with other activists, press secretary Jen Psaki said on Feb. 28 that the administration would not grant one, since it would have to be carried out with the U.S. military and would represent an escalation of the conflict.

It would essentially mean the U.S. military would be shooting down planes, Russian planes. That is definitely escalatory and would potentially put us in a place in a military conflict with Russia, Psaki said.

Despite this, Draganova remains hopeful that Ukraine will prevail against its larger, better-armed neighbor, saying, It's inevitable for Ukraine to prevail in some way.

I believe the help that we are getting from the whole world, especially the military assistance, will help us to just regain the territory and defeat the enemy, she said.

In the meantime, Draganova has been active with a local group in Washington, D.C., called US Ukrainian Activists.

Luda Draganova and other members of the group US Ukrainian Activists protest outside the White House to raise awareness for Ukraine. (Courtesy of Luda Draganova)

The volunteer organization holds daily rallies near the White House to raise awareness as well as money for those in Ukraine. So far, it has gathered almost $100,000 for frontline paramedics medical supplies and humanitarian aid.

As the war drags on, experts say the end is hard to predict. Robert Orttung, a research professor of international affairs at George Washington University's Elliott School of International Affairs, said the war will have lasting repercussions, given the death and destruction Russian forces have inflicted on Ukraine.

As Ustinova works the congressional offices, she said, her message to the American people is to pressure their government to act, adding, This is the only thing that works.

Please, Im begging you, go out on the street protesting, because if you do not go out on the streets protesting that your government is doing nothing, our children will never get out of those bomb shelters, she said.

Draganova said that while the humanitarian help is greatly appreciated, military assistance is urgently called for.

We are asking for those fighter jets, she said.

_____

What happened this week in Ukraine? Check out this explainer from Yahoo Immersive to find out.
Ukraines United Nations ambassador shocked many today when he told members of the United Nations Security Council that Russia had abducted 121,000 Ukrainian children from his country since the start of its bloody invasion. The council met to hear of the impact of the Russian war against Ukraine on women and children.

Sergiy Kyslytsya, Permanent Representative of Ukraine told council members that most of the children that he said were abducted by the Russians, were orphans and not those with parents and other relatives. He said the abductions were in flagrant violation of international law and conventions. He also claimed that Russia was reportedly drafting a bill that would "simplify and accelerate the procedures for the adoption of abducted Ukrainian children"

Kyslytsya said the withdrawal of Russian troops from some areas has left a trail of "unimaginable suffering, with killings, unspeakable torture and sexual violence including rape and mutilation."

He gave one example that he said was under investigation by Ukraines prosecutors office of a case where "a Russian soldier killed a local resident and then repeatedly raped his wife in their private house. The suspects identity has been established." He called on the international community to investigate this and other crimes.

UKRAINE'S ZELENSKYY: WERE NOT READY TO GIVE AWAY OUR COUNTRY'

He emotionally concluded his speech by reading from a letter from a nine-year-old boy to his dead mother.

"Mama. This letter is my gift to you on the Womens Day of 8th March Thank you for the best 9 years of my life! Many thanks for my childhood! You are the best mama in the world. I will never forget you! I wish you good luck in the Heavens. I wish you to get to paradise. I will try to behave well to get to paradise too. Kiss you, your Tolya."

Linda Thomas-Greenfield the United States ambassador to the United Nations took aim at the Russian president: "When men like President Putin start wars, women and children get displaced. Women and children get hurt. Women and children get raped and abused. And women and children die," she said.

Thomas-Greenfield spoke of the risks associated for women and children and minority groups during war and described how a deputy mayor from a town in Ukraine recently told reporters "that some girls are cutting their hair short, in hopes of avoiding rape by Russian troops."

She noted the US is helping to fund projects to protect women and children in and around Ukraine.

The Security Council heard from Kateryna Cherepakha, President of La Strada-Ukraine, a human rights advocacy group for women. She told the council that her group had received reports of rapes committed against women and girls in towns that were occupied by Russian troops. She said Russian troops have used rape as a weapon of war.

She said in one case a victim was raped in front of her family. She also noted that they will never get a full picture of the total number of sexual crimes as many of those who were attacked are dead and wont be able to report the crime perpetrated against them.

She noted that female prisoners of war have been "exposed to torture including sexual violence (and) undressed in front of male groups harassed and shamed."

UNICEFs emergency programs director, Manuel Fontaine, told the council that during his thirty-one years of working in the humanitarian arena that he had, "rarely seen so much damage caused in so little time."

Fontaine said that of the estimated 3.2 million children said to have remained in their homes nearly half were likely at risk of not having enough food. He also noted that attacks on the water system and power outages have resulted in an estimated 1.4 million people without access to water and with another 4.6 million having limited access to water.

He quoted the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OHCHR) on the rising number of dead and injured children: "As of yesterday, OHCHR has verified 142 children killed and 229 children injured. We know these numbers are likely much higher -- and many of them were caused by crossfire or the use of explosive weapons in populated areas."

Russias deputy UN ambassador Dmitry Polyanskiy pushed back and accused the councils western members of continuing to unleash an information war against his country.

He complained that no evidence had been given for all the accusations against his country, and questioned the allegations aimed at Russian soldiers for the massacre of civilians in Bucha, as well as last weeks bombing of a railway station and other places where Polyanskiy claimed fabrications had taken place.

FRANCE ELECTION: EMMANUEL MACRON, MARINE LE PEN PROJECTED TO FACE OFF IN SECOND ROUND

He then claimed that "the staging of the so-called atrocities of the Russian army are being conducted by British film directors."

The British representative fired back at his Russian colleague for his comments called such claims a lie.

Ukranian servicemen search through rubble inside the Retroville shopping mall after a Russian attack in northwest of Kyiv on March 21, 2022. - At least six people were killed in the overnight bombing of a shopping center in the Ukrainian capital Kyiv, an AFP journalist said, with rescuers combing the wreckage for other victims. The 10-storey building was hit by a powerful blast that pulverized vehicles in its car park and left a crater several meters (yards) wide. Photo by ARIS MESSINIS/AFP via Getty Images

Lord Tariq Ahmad, the British minister for the United Nations told the council that, "Sadly, weve once again heard Russia trying to deflect from the facts, the reality on the ground  muddy the waters  by what can only be described as quite extraordinary statements, and even lies. Yet, what is true, what is fact, is that Russian attacks on civilians and residential areas have been truly barbaric."

The United Nations has so far met a dozen times on Ukraine since the eve of the Russian invasion and has failed to take any significant action to stop Russias aggression. Russia as a permanent member of the Security Council holds a veto and was forced to use it in February when the council demanded that Russia stop its invasion and withdraw its troops immediately.
The United Sates government has imposed sanctions against seven senior members of the Irish Kinahan crime gang as part of a bid to target their financial operations.

Among those sanctioned by the US department of the treasurys office of foreign assets control (OFAC) were its key members, including leaders Christy Kinahan Snr, Daniel Kinahan and Christy Kinahan Jnr.

They were named as being heads of the criminal network.

Also named and sanctioned were their associates Sean McGovern, Ian Dixon, Bernard Clancy and John Morrissey.

A number of businesses were also identified as being associated with the crime gang.

In a statement, the US department said the action is the result of close collaboration between OFAC, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the US department of state, An Garda Siochana, the UKs National Crime Agency and the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation.

Under secretary for terrorism and financial intelligence, Brian E. Nelson, said: The Kinahan organised crime group smuggles deadly narcotics, including cocaine, to Europe, and is a threat to the entire licit economy through its role in international money laundering.

Criminal groups like the KOCG (Kinahan organised crime group) prey on the most vulnerable in society and bring drug-related crime and violence, including murder, to the countries in which they operate.

Treasury is proud to have co-ordinated so closely with our international counterparts, and the US government will continue to use every available resource to dismantle these criminal networks.

As a result of the action, all property and interests in property of the named gang members and their businesses that are in the US or in the possession or control of US people will be blocked and reported to OFAC.

OFACs regulations generally prohibit all transactions by US people or people within, or transiting, the United States that involve any property or interests in property of those who have been sanctioned.

In a lengthy statement, the US treasury office said that the Kinahan crime gang, which operates in Ireland, is also established in the UK, Spain, and the United Arab Emirates.

It described their operations as a significant transnational criminal organisation.

It said the gang emerged in the late 1990s and early 2000s as the most powerful organised crime group operating in Ireland.

Since then, Irish courts have said that the Kinahan gang is a murderous organisation involved in the international trafficking of drugs and firearms.

Criminal activities include international money laundering, generating proceeds in the UK, which are then pooled together and passed to local criminals before being handed to Irish organised crime group members and laundered out of the UK.

The Kinahans also frequently use Dubai as a facilitation hub for its illicit activities.

Since February 2016, the criminal gang has been involved in a gang war with another group in Ireland and Spain, resulting in numerous murders, including of two innocent bystanders.
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This undated photo provided by the Nebraska State Patrol shows a wildfire in southern Nebraska fueled by dry conditions and strong winds that forced evacuation of the small village of Edison and a rural fire chief was killed in a crash while he was responding to the blaze. The Nebraska State Patrol called for a mandatory evacuation Thursday, April 7, 2022 of the Furnas County community of about 130 people about 187 miles southwest of Lincoln.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
YEREVAN, APRIL 12, ARMENPRESS. 90 Ukrainian citizens have applied to the Armenian authorities requesting refugee status as of April 8, the Migration Service of Armenia said in response to a query from ARMENPRESS.

More than half of the applicants are ethnic Armenians.

Those who receive refugee status after being interviewed will be granted virtually all rights and obligations of Armenian citizens, with few exceptions. The Migration Service has an Integration Center where refugees can live for free for one year, and in some cases more.

In addition, the agency said that some 90 citizens of EAEU-member states have applied via the workpermit.am platform for work permits. Most of the applicants are Russians.

Anna Gziryan
YEREVAN, APRIL 12, ARMENPRESS. Both opposition blocs of the Armenian parliament announced that they are boycotting the parliament session and will instead travel to border towns of Armenia and to Artsakh.

Hayastan faction leader Seyran Ohanyan said that Armenia and Artsakh are facing the most serious challenges and cited the red lines which they had stated during their latest rally in Yerevan.

The provisions stipulated in the Consitution of Armenia, our territorial integrity, sovereignty, are not for bargain, we find unacceptable any option of resolution of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict that would make Artsakh part of Azerbaijan, Ohanyan said.

Ohanyan accused the Pashinyan administration in being incapable of solving numerous foreign and domestic issues. He said the latest developments show that everything is proceeding by the "Azeri-Turkish agenda".

Based on this situation, the parliamentary opposition announces that it wont participate in this weeks sessions and votes, we are going to Artsakh and to border provinces of Armenia, Ohanyan said.

Secretary of Pativ Unem bloc Hayk Mamijanyan also announced that they wont participate in the sessions. He said their lawmakers are also traveling to Artsakh.

Meanwhile, ruling Civil Contract bloc lawmaker Vagharshak Hakobyan accused the opposition MPs in endangering the citizens of Artsakh and Armenia by traveling to Artsakh.

A narrative was voiced here, that they are traveling to Artsakh to follow the most important agenda and to protect the citizens of Artsakh. Id like to argue the contrary, by traveling to Artsakh now they are endangering the citizens of the Republic of Artsakh and the citizens of the Republic of Armenia. Take this into consideration, Hakobyan said.
YEREVAN, APRIL 12, ARMENPRESS. Parliament Majority Leader Hayk Konjoryan (Civil Contract) accused the opposition in carrying out a provocation by boycotting the parliament session and traveling to Artsakh. He accused the opposition in exploiting the Artsakh issue and the security issues in Armenia to carry out a coup detat in Armenia.

Konjoryan cited Hayastan faction leader Seyran Ohanyans post-election statement where hed said that entering to parliament is a trench for them, and they must fight in that trench. Konjoryan accused the opposition in attempting to de-value the parliament and paralyze it. And perhaps they think they have solved their objective in this trench and now they are traveling to Artsakh to perhaps take another trench, most likely against the government and people of Armenia, Konjoryan said.

Speaking on the opposition bringing the flag of Artsakh to parliament, Konjoryan said he doesnt understand the demonstrative installation of the flag in Armenia against anyone.

The flag of Artsakh and Artsakh is in the hearts and thoughts of everyone. Our people sacrificed its finest children for Artsakh. And the opposition ought to install the flag of Artsakh, defend the interests of Artsakh where it is needed to raise awareness on the issue of the rights and freedoms of our compatriots in Artsakh. But what does this opposition do? They boycott all inter-parliamentary platforms where they ought to go and defend the rights and interests of Artsakh and its people, so to say raise the flag of Artsakh there for the world to see, Konjoryan said, accusing the opposition in not fulfilling the mandate they received from the people.

Today, with this step the parliamentary opposition is not defending Artsakh but rather making a provocation, it is escalating the security issues of Artsakh and of Armenians, Konjoryan said.

He further accused the opposition in exploiting the Artsakh issue and the security issues for carrying out a coup detat in Armenia. Today they are entrenching in the domestic-political life of Artsakh to generate more domestic intrigues. But we, with our people, wont allow this, Konjoryan said.
YEREVAN, 12 APRIL, ARMENPRESS. During the past 24 hours, the Russian peacekeeping contingent in Nagorno-Karabakh registered one case of violation of the ceasefire by the Azerbaijani armed forces in the Parukh area, as a result of which a serviceman was wounded from the Armenian side, ARMENPRESS reports the Russian Defense Ministry informed.

The command of the peacekeeping contingent, in cooperation with the representatives of both sides, settled the incident.

"Continued cooperation with the General Staffs of the Azerbaijani and Armenian Armed Forces is maintained to ensure the security of Russian peacekeepers and to prevent possible incidents," the statement said.
Nancy Carolyn Roberts Chappell, 71, a native and lifelong resident of Crossett, died Wednesday, April 20, 2022, at her sisters residence in Hamburg. She was a 1968 graduate of Crossett High School and a graduate of the University of Arkansas at Monticello School of Nursing. She worked as a  Read more
Situation in Ukraine worrying, says PM Modi

New Delhi: Announcing that the top leaders of the four-nation Quad will meet in-person on May 24 in Japan, US President Joe Biden began his virtual summit with Prime Minister Narendra Modi late Monday evening (IST) by condemning the horrific assault on Ukraine by Russia and said both India and the United States would consult on how to stabilise the effects of the Russian war. The two leaders discussed the situation in Ukraine in detail later in the talks, apart from the cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region and efforts to combat both the Covid-19 pandemic and climate change.

The US President referred to the major defence partnership between the two countries, that is significant given Chinas increasing military assertiveness in the region. In his inaugural remarks that followed, Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the situation in Ukraine as worrying, adding that New Delhi had condemned the recent killings of civilians in Ukraines Bucha and had demanded an independent probe.

Pointing out that India had supplied humanitarian assistance to Ukraine including medicines, Mr Modi said that at Ukraines request, India was sending one more consignment of medicines. The PM also said he had personally requested Russian President Vladimir Putin to hold direct discussions with his Ukrainian counterpart, adding that the Indian Parliament had discussed the situation in Ukraine and that New Delhi hopes there can be peace following talks between Russia and Ukraine.

Mr Modi also thanked the US President for taking the initiative to host the virtual meeting, adding it was important to give a direction to the 2+2 talks in Washington at the foreign and defence ministerial level that will follow the virtual meeting. External affairs minister S. Jaishankar also met US secretary of state Antony Blinken in a separate bilateral meeting on Monday evening in Washington.

It should be noted that the US is stepping up pressure on India to take a tougher line on Russia, particularly after the Russian military offensive in Ukraine that has been followed by crippling economic sanctions by the West on Russia. The US President himself recently had described Indias response as shaky, and it is well known Washington is not too pleased with New Delhi which has so far not condemned Moscow for the invasion. While India enjoys time-tested ties with Russia, the US is also unhappy at India recently buying Russian oil at heavily discounted rates.

In a statement after the virtual meeting between the two leaders, New Delhi said: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Joseph R. Biden held a virtual meeting today. Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh and Minister of External Affairs Dr S. Jaishankar, who are in Washington DC for the India-US 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue, were also present at the White House during the interaction, along with their US counterparts, secretary of defence Lloyd Austin and secretary of state Antony Blinken. The two leaders had an extensive exchange of views on several regional and global issues, such as the Covid-19 pandemic, global economic recovery, climate action, recent developments in South Asia and the Indo-Pacific region, and the situation in Ukraine.

New Delhi added: They also took stock of the significant progress made in bilateral relations in recent years. Both leaders agreed that further strengthening of the India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership would be of tremendous benefit to the two countries, and would also contribute to global peace, prosperity and stability.

In his remarks, Mr Modi also said: As the world's two largest and oldest democracies, we are natural partners. And the progress we have made in our relationship over the years, which has created a new momentum, even a decade ago today, was perhaps hard to imagine.

On Ukraine, he added: Our talks today are taking place at a time when the situation in Ukraine remains very worrying. Till a few weeks ago, more than 20,000 Indians were stranded in Ukraine. And most of these were young students. After a lot of hard work, we were able to get them out of there safely, although one student lost his life. Throughout this development, I spoke on the phone several times with the Presidents of both Ukraine and Russia. Not only did I appeal for peace, but I also suggested (to) President Putin to have direct talks with the President of Ukraine. The subject of Ukraine has been discussed in great detail in our Parliament as well. Recently the news of killings of innocent civilians in Bucha city was very worrying. We immediately condemned it and demanded a fair investigation. We hope that the ongoing dialogue between Russia and Ukraine will lead to peace.
The minister asked the officials to constantly review the availability of essential drugs required in the treatment of COVID-19 patients

New Delhi: Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, who chaired a meeting of the country's key experts on the new XE variant' of coronavirus, directed officials to boost the ongoing monitoring and surveillance of new variants and cases.

He also asked the officials to constantly review the availability of essential drugs and medicines required in the treatment of COVID-19 patients, a statement from the ministry read.

The minister further emphasized on carrying out the ongoing vaccination drive at full pace and to vaccinate all eligible candidates, the statement said.

The meeting was attended by Dr VK Paul, Member (Health), NITI Ayog; Rajesh Bhushan, Secretary, Health; Dr Randip Guleria, Director, AIIMS; Dr Balrama Bhargava, Director General, ICMR; Dr. N K Arora, chief of National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation in India, and other senior officials of the health ministry.
JNU warns students, says no violence will be tolerated

ABVP students interact with media after the clash between students of left-wing and ABVP over non-veg food during Navratri, outside JNU campus, in New Delhi, Monday, April 11, 2022. (PTI/Ravi Choudhary)

New Delhi: The Delhi police on Monday registered two First information Reports (FIRs) over the clashes at the Jawaharlal Nehru University campus over non-vegetarian food on Sunday night. An FIR was filed against unknown ABVP students based on the complaint received from a group of students on Monday. A counter FIR was also registered Monday afternoon against unknown JNU Students Union, SFI and DSF students. The police said it had also tightened security at the campus to maintain peace and ensure that no further untoward incident takes place.

The JNU administration on Monday warned students not to get involved in any incident that disturbs peace and harmony on the campus, saying no violence will be tolerated on the campus.

Scores of JNU students affiliated to the All-India Students Association held a protest near the Delhi police headquarters, demanding the arrest of ABVP activists for their alleged role in the violence. The AISA activists alleged some students were detained and taken to the Tughlaq Road police station.

Sai Balaji, AISA president, said the protest will continue. People who attacked the students are repeat offenders, so is the JNU administration. The protest at PHQ (police headquarters) was to ensure accountability by the Delhi police and ensure that justice happens. There will be more protests, he added.

Women protesters were manhandled and their clothes pulled by male security personnel. Several have been injured by the Delhi police. We have been detained inside Tughlaq Road police station, AISA activist Neha said.

The police said AISA members gathered around Jai Singh Road, New Delhi, where prohibitory orders under Section 144 CrPC was in force. They were asked to leave the place but they violated lawful directions. Around 48 males and 22 females were detained. No woman protester was handled by policemen and no one was manhandled, said a senior police official.

The Jawaharlal Nehru University Teachers' Association condemned the violence and demanded that the vice-chancellor intervene in the matter.

The university released a statement Monday, saying there was a scuffle on the campus on April 10 between students groups. It was the occasion of Ram Navami. A havan was organised by students in Kaveri Hostel, and there were some who were objecting to this. The wardens and the dean of students tried to pacify them and the havan concluded peacefully. Despite this, some students were not happy with this, and soon after, at the time of dinner, a ruckus was created there and heated arguments were followed by an altercation between both groups in the Kaveri Hostel, said the registrar in the statement.

The wardens clarified on the spot and issued a notice when the ruckus was going on among students that there is no bar on serving non-vegetarian food. The warden has also issued a notice calling for peace and clarifying these issues, the statement read.

The JNU registrar issued an appeal to the students, taking serious note of the incident, and the vice-chancellor, rector and other officials visited the hostel and met the students. The V-C conveyed that no violence will be tolerated on campus and appealed to the students to maintain peace and harmony, said the registrar.

The JNU administration reiterates its resolve for zero tolerance towards any form of violence on campus. The students are also warned to refrain from being involving in such incidents which disturb peace and harmony on campus. If anyone is found indulging in such acts, they will be liable for disciplinary action as per university rules, he said.

The ABVP on Monday alleged that students from Left-backed outfits wanted to disrupt a Ram Navami puja, and were using diversionary tactics by raising the issue of serving of non-vegetarian food. The Left-led JNU Students Union (JNUSU) accused the ABVP of orchestrating the incident and unleashing violence in the name of food.

On Sunday night, two groups of students clashed at JNUs Kaveri Hostel allegedly over the serving of non-vegetarian food on Ram Navami in the mess, with the police saying six students were injured in the violence. The police said 20 people were injured in Sundays clashes between the two groups.

DCP (Soutwest) Manoj C said the police had received a complaint from a group of students who are members of JNUSU, SFI, DSF and AISA early on Monday morning against unknown ABVP students. Another complaint was received Monday afternoon from a group of students who are members of the ABVP against unknown JNUSU, SFI, DSF students, the DCP added.

Accordingly, the police have a registered FIRs under Section 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 341 (wrongful restraint), 509 (word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman), 506 (criminal intimidation) and 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention). Further investigations are on to collect factual or scientific evidence and identify the culprits, said the DCP.
On civil liberties India has only scored 33 out of 60, while the United States has scored 51

What is a democratic government? Often it is reduced to one essential element, and that is the electoral process. This refers to having heads of government who are elected through fair and free elections. This also extends to whether or not all sections of society have the right to participate, that is, to take part in the electoral process. India usually scores well on this count. Even in the rankings of Freedom House, the American outfit which has declared that India is only partly free, on the count of electoral democracy, India scored 33 out of 40, which is pretty good. In fact, it is one point more than what the United States of America has scored, which is just 32.

On civil liberties, however, India has only scored 33 out of 60, while the United States has scored 51. And so, the US was rated as free while we have been categorised as partly free (and Jammu and Kashmir was rated as not free). It may surprise some readers that electoral democracy was only good for 40 points while civil liberties was 60 points. But that is how most of the world views democracy. It is about the rights and freedoms of the individuals and not just limited to a single act once every five or six years. This, then, is how democracies are rated and why we are constantly slipping.

However, there is a third aspect to democracies which has not been discussed here, and that is the functioning of the State. The engagement the most citizens have is not with the politician that they elected. It is with the bureaucrat and collector and the police officer and the judge that we have to deal with. For us, it is these people who are the State, and who are the ultimate representatives of the democracy. If they were to be rated, how would it go?

Unfortunately, it would be quite bad. One part is obviously the corruption and inefficiency that we all have to live with. But there is something else, and it is the ability of the political establishment to bend the bureaucracy to their will. The police and the various agencies of the State are unleashed by the politicians in power on their opponents, and there is no resistance to this from within the system.

There appears to be no real morality prevalent among the officers who are staffing the agencies that are used in this way. The raids by the Enforcement Directorate (which is controlled by the Union government) on Opposition leaders and parties have become a weekly affair. And the targeting of those who are especially threatening is obvious. Similarly, the National Investigation Agency, again controlled by the Union government, has been used against many activists. The Bhima Koregaon case was initially about the violence between the Marathas and dalits in the village of Bhima Koregaon, but it was taken away from the police in Maharashtra after the BJP lost power in the state to the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA). Those in jail in the case include individuals whose work the BJP doesnt like and doesnt want to be continued. One of those, Father Stan Swamy, died in prison as the BJP kept opposing bail to him.

But the intent of the political party is separate from what actually happens. Some officer will have to write down a case that is either wholly fraudulent or cooked up in some way or meddled with in other ways. Another officer must approve this file, knowing fully well that what is happening is patently illegal. But they go along with it. These things do not happen in other democracies. We have to accept that. And when they do, these things are caught and exposed and there are consequences. There is none of that here. And that is the reason that officers continue to harass people whom the political leaders want harassed. What can be said about those individuals in government who as officers and as advocates denied Stan Swamy the right to die with dignity? What can be said about those in the police force who, as the courts in Delhi have said, deliberately went after the victims of the Delhi pogrom rather than the perpetrators? You have to be a particularly venal sort of person to do such things. And yet it seems that there are more of such people in the system than of the sort that resist. On such things as the meat ban and the hijab ban, we are finding out that elements that comprise the system are enthusiastic about denying people their rights. It says something awful about us as a society.

It is bad enough that the State structurally does not allow us to exercise our rights and freedoms, as the global indices scores show. But it is even worse that within such a restrictive space, the apparatus of the bureaucracy has succumbed to the whims of those who are elected. It is why our road to becoming a modern, civilised, prosperous and free society is long and will continue to be full of obstacles.
Mr Narendra Modis actions must live up to his rhetoric before he can respond to Mr Bidens call to help suffering Ukrainians

Given the vagaries of party politics in the worlds two biggest democracies, nothing may come of President Joe Bidens flattering assessment that its relationship with India is the most important for the US. Going far beyond Atal Behari Vajpayees natural allies comment, it recalls the verdict of Sir Olaf Caroe, a British diplomat and scholar who crafted Washingtons West Asian strategy and wrote as long ago as 1979: It is impossible to see Gulf problems in correct perspective unless the view includes an India which, despite Partition, still stands at the centre of the ocean that bears its name.

The politics is especially relevant because even though India looks like a rock of stability while the surrounding countries are in turmoil, it is still threatened by the cankers of majoritarianism and fundamentalism that are also and more obviously ravaging Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Afghanistan and Pakistan, whose new ruler Shehbaz Sharif lost no time even before being sworn in on Monday night in dredging up the Kashmir dispute. Ukraines plight cannot but move Indias leaders and it is undoubtedly highly gratifying for Prime Minister Narendra Modi to be singled out by the American President for a tete-a-tete. But the increasingly serious challenge within is something India cannot ignore. Only an India that ensures good governance, economic growth and equal justice to all its communities can think of playing the role of a global policeman.

Jagat Mehta, Indias foreign secretary from 1976 to 1979, believed that Singapore was the only former colony to make a success of independence largely because its strict disciplinarian first Prime Minister, Lee Kuan Yew, walked a sternly impartial line between the Chinese, Malays and Indians in a squeakily clean economy. Lee had tremendous respect, admiration and affection for Jawaharlal Nehru, but, at the end, he felt like James Cameron, the British journalist and friend of India, that Nehru made India and lost it. Nehru could have done with India anything he wished, but he let it wither

Mr Narendra Modis actions must live up to his rhetoric before he can respond to Mr Bidens call to help suffering Ukrainians whose plight may partly be blamed on competitive global power politics.

Few Indians except for stalwarts of the now defunct Swatantra Party viewed the Cold War  which the United States and Russia are continuing with additional zest  as a battle between dictatorship and the free world. It was and is a struggle for power in which the Asian nations on the American bandwagon (including the Shahs Iran, Syngman Rhees South Korea, the erstwhile South Vietnam, Ferdinand Marcos Philippines and, of course, Pakistan) had little in common with the liberal humanism that is Nehrus most significant and still not totally destroyed legacy.

Equally anxious to cozy up to Americas principal adversary, the old Soviet Union, successive Pakistani rulers saw membership of the Baghdad Pact, Cento and Seato only as an insurance against India. When US deputy secretary of state Wendy Sherman said the other day that the US would prefer India to move away from its long-term history of non-alignment (and) G-77 partnership with Russia, she appeared to visualise the future in similarly opportunistic terms. It is historically inevitable that India and the United States cannot forever remain estranged allies, but a nation whose civilisation goes back 5,000 years does not switch sides simply to ensure regular supplies of fuel or military spares and avoid uncomfortable votes at the United Nations.

Whether or not Ms Sherman is aware of it, India-US friendship boasts a more respectable provenance rooted in shared values and convictions. If this was not translated into active defence trade, it was mainly because of American phobias about Communists evident in restrictions such as the General Security of Military Information Agreement (GESOMANIA) or the bureaucratic demands that held up for over 30 years implementation of the Indian plan to develop a $20 million (original cost) Light Combat Aircraft, which eventually became the Tejas, with a striking range of up to 500 km. The LCA was the symbol of all that was wrong between the two supposed natural allies. It affected the development of education, famine relief and even deployment of the cheques in payment for the PL-480 wheat. It was typical of the connection that when after years of bickering, the Reagan administration at last agreed to sell India two supercomputers (but not the advanced XMP-24 which Rajiv Gandhi sought), the senior Indian officials sent to collect the machines muddied the record by demanding commissions.

The change began in October 1981 when Indira Gandhi wangled an invitation to the two-day North-South Summit (International Meeting on Cooperation and Development) at Cancun in Mexico, where she met Ronald Reagan. The real breakthrough, however, was in July 2005 when President George W. Bush and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh signed a civil nuclear cooperation agreement in Washington. That agreement in effect extended de facto recognition to India as a nuclear power and cleared the way for India to develop nuclear energy.

A no less significant development, but perhaps not fully appreciated at the time, was the observation by Colin Powell, then US secretary of state, during Jaswant Singhs visit to Washington that while Americas Pakistani friends should not be neglected, he recognised that India alone had the potential to help keep the peace in the vast Indian Ocean area and its periphery.

This is precisely what Sir Olaf Caroe had meant all those years ago when he waxed lyrical about Indias traditional eminence in the Indian Ocean system around which more than 50 per cent of the worlds then known reserves of crude oil were located, and of the kotas and ganjas (traditional boats) of Kutch and Bombay which had sailed right up to Basra since ancient times. This was also the core of the Quad, or the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, between Australia, India, Japan and the US that was initiated in 2007 when Dr Singh was Prime Minister, and which China later dubbed as the Asian Nato. The Quad became moribund when Kevin Rudd became Australias Prime Minister but was revived in 2017 and may now be destined for an active role under Mr Biden.

Whether domestic politics, communal friction and an obsession with majoritarian supremacy will allow India to play a leading part is quite another matter. And whether the Quad will serve Indias principal security aims by deterring China in the Himalayas and Pakistan in sponsoring cross-border terrorism may be even more relevant.
by Melani Manel Perera

The archdiocesan Caritas is behind the initiative, despite the countrys very serious economic situation. We are in trouble, but I think God has blessed us many times, said the father of one family.

Colombo (AsiaNews)  Despite the economic crisis that has caused havoc in Sri Lanka, with a large part of the population calling for the resignation of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, the Church continues to support the neediest.

Caritas Seth Sarana, the welfare agency of the archdiocese of Colombo, has sponsored a fundraiser during Lent to help school children and young people affected by the long COVID-19 epidemic.

Families were asked to make a donation to mark the Passion of Jesus. This years theme is Let my cry come before you, Lord. The Church will use the offerings to fund charity activities as well as spiritual, economic and social development.

At Caritas Seth Sarana, we respond to the requests of the needy sent to us through parish priests, to improve the life of the parishioners most in difficulty, said Fr Lawrence Ramanayake, the director.

This year, special focus will be on the education of children who lost their parents to COVID-19 and to their future aspirations, he added. Some of the Lent offerings will also go to teachers who, as volunteers, have dedicated their time to Catholic children.

Although the agency is turning Gods word into action, placing the last first, the countrys serious crisis has placed many parents in a difficult predicament since they cannot donate any money because of the terrible economic crisis.

We are going through a very troubled time, said Matilda Ratnayake, speaking to AsiaNews. I don't know when we will be able to breathe peacefully, added the mother of three small children from the parish of Jaela St Mary. When the church asks us to donate, it is a headache for us because we are not able to do it as before.

For Milroy Dhanushka, things are different. We are in trouble, but I think God has blessed us many times, said the father of three small children, from the parish of Ragama. For this reason, despite the difficulties, I decided to contribute.
by Fady Noun

The vote is an act of faith at a critical moment in the countrys life. Hezbollahs weapons, positive neutrality, financial crisis and law reform are the main issues. Christian parties are vying for voters support amid polarisation. Lebanon-North III is a key constituency. The new parliament will elect a new president.

Beirut (AsiaNews)  The fact that parliamentary elections are taking place at all, despite all the darkness of the times, bears witness to Lebanons durability. Still, a month and a half before the election (15 May), political polarisation is growing day by day.

The election has crystallised around four main themes: Hezbollahs weapons; Lebanons positive neutrality, defended by the Maronite patriarch; the banking and financial crisis which have ruined the Lebanese; and law reform, in particular as it relates to uncovering the circumstances that led to the Beirut Port explosion of 4 August 2020.

Following the vote, the new 128-member parliament, elected via proportional representation, will be tasked with choosing a new President of the Republic. The mandate of the incumbent head of state, President Michel Aoun, will end on 31 October.

Over the past two years, cracks have emerged within the incumbent majority between Gebran Bassils Free Patriotic Movement (FPM) and Nabih Berris Amal movement, as well as between the FPM and Suleiman Frangiehs Marada Movement. Hezbollah is trying, out of necessity, to bridge the gap between these groups.

The election is also seen as an opportunity to structure the thaoura (revolution), the protest movement of 17 October 2019, with the help of Western embassies through direct aid or NGOs, to change the balance of power within Lebanons parliament.

However, the proliferation of party lists resulting from the protest movement is a sign of its pending defeat since its leaders have failed to form a united front. Of the 103 registered party lists, around 30 belong to this area.

More generally, the election will be influenced by the decision of Saad Hariri, leader of the moderate Sunni Future Movement, to drop out of the race and call on his supporters not to stand for election.

This vacuum could considerably reduce the electoral threshold and might benefit pro-Syrian Sunni leaders won over to Hezbollah. This in turn might compensate for the potential losses caused by the FPMs decline in popularity among Christians.

Meanwhile, conscious of the risks of a stronger Hezbollah, the ambassadors of Saudi Arabia and Kuwait came back to Beirut last Friday, a little more than five months after they were recalled following a serious diplomatic spat between Lebanon and several Gulf monarchies.

Saudi and Kuwaiti diplomats are working, during Ramadan, to show their support for Sunni candidates who have defied Hariris ban, by organising iftar, the post-sunset meal Muslim take to break their fast.

North Lebanon III, key constituency

North Lebanon III is a constituency where the battle for votes is likely to prove decisive for the Christian camp, in particular Maronites. The future of this group will be decided on 15 May in this Christian majority a region, including perhaps that of Michel Aouns successor.

Covering four large districts (Batroun, Koura, Becharre and Zghorta), it has 10 seats (seven Maronite and three Greek-Orthodox).

The two great Christian rivals are Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea (who is not running) and FPM leader Gebran Bassil. Marada Movement leader Suleiman Frangieh is the third major Maronite leader, who could also run for president.

In addition to Geagea, Bassil and Frangieh and their parties, other groups in the race are: an alliance that includes Michel Mouawad, a former Bassil ally who moved away from the FPM after the uprising of 17 October 2019, the Kataeb (Phalanges) party and a new emerging figure, Majd Mouawad, son of former lawmaker Boutros Mouawad.

Three other lists bringing together the protest movement will also join the race hoping to make a breakthrough.

It should be finally noted that North Lebanon III has the largest number of expatriates registered to vote (more than 26,000), and could flip the result if they vote as a block for the same list.

According to experts, more than 40 per cent of expatriates are said to be close to the Lebanese Forces, a clear threat for the FPM.
by Nirmala Carvalho

Nationalist groups file a complaint with police against an evangelical association promoting inmates dignity. They see this as a way to convert, and want such associations banned from prisons.

Bangalore (AsiaNews)  The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and the Bajrang Dal, two Hindu nationalist groups, filed a complaint with the police in Gadag, a district in the Indian state of Karnataka, because copies of the Bible were given to prison inmates.

The incident came to light after a member of one of these groups visited a prisoner and gathered pictures and copies of the Bible and destroyed them.

According to the complaint, seven evangelical Christians visited the Gadag district prison on 12 March, where they prayed and distributed copies of the New Testament.

For Hindu nationalists, this is tantamount to religious conversions and criticised prison authorities for allowing it. In view of this, they demand immediate action against Christian missionaries.

Prison Ministry India is an evangelical organisation that operates nationwide. Its goal is to bear witness to the truth. It values every person, even those in prisons, in a country where the prison population often lives in squalid conditions and overcrowded facilities.

Although many Hindu NGOs also visit prisons, right-wing Hindu nationalist groups prefer to target and intimidate Christian groups.
Today's headlines: Pope Francis spoke by video-conference with the president of Kazakhstan, hypothesis of a trip to the country; in Herat Afghans protest against Iranian guards use of violence on refugees; Over 200 priests of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church want to expel Patriarch Kirill; in Hong Kong the journalist and producer Allan Au arrested; a hundred private planes belonging to Russian oligarchs blocked at Dubai airport.

PHILIPPINES

There are at least 25 victims, but the toll is still provisional, of the passage of tropical storm Megi (Agaton in the local language) that hit the Philippines, causing landslides and flooding. This morning, rescue teams are battling to recover people stranded on the eastern and southern coasts. This is the first tropical storm; an average of 20 occur each year.

AFGHANISTAN - IRAN

Shouting "Death to Iran! Killer nation" dozens of Afghans protested in front of the Islamic Republic's consulate in Herat, in the west, and in other cities. A few videos went viral over the weekend, showing beatings and mistreatment of more than five million Afghan refugees by Iranian guards. There is no reliable information on the authenticity of the videos.

KAZAKHSTAN - VATICAN

Pope Francis had a video-conference call yesterday with Kazakhstan's President Qasym-Jomart Toqaev. The Vatican confirmed the news anticipated by Nur-Sultan, who spoke of a possible trip of the pontiff to the country. The Kazakh leader added that the visit could be held in September for the World Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions.

INDONESIA

Police fired tear gas and water cannons at hundreds of demonstrators, mostly university students, protesting against high prices and President Joko Widodo's stay in power beyond the two-term limit. Demonstrators reportedly threw stones inside Parliament. The protests reached Jakarta, South Sulawesi and West Java.

HONG KONG

Former TvbNews network producer and Rthk radio host Allan Au, a prominent journalist in Hong Kong, was taken from his home yesterday morning in Kwai Chung. The man is suspected of "sedition" for publishing material aimed at conspiracy. He had been removed from the media last June following Beijing's crackdown on the media.

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

Dubai airport has become a trap for Russian oligarchs, who have flocked there in their private planes to escape confiscation under Western sanctions. However, the planes cannot take off and fly elsewhere due to the US ban on refueling and servicing them. There are currently over 100 vehicles stranded in Dubai.

RUSSIA

More than 200 priests of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, which is linked to the Moscow Patriarchate, want to bring Patriarch Kirill before an ecclesiastical court, appealing to the patriarchs of the ancient pentarchy of the Eastern Churches. They intend to accuse the primate of heresy for supporting the Russian invasion of Ukraine, demanding that he be excommunicated and dismissed from his position as patriarch.

KYRGYZSTAN

Compulsory 12-year schooling will be introduced in the country, Education Minister Almaz Beyshenaliev explained. The goal is to conform to most world school systems and allow graduates to enroll in foreign universities without additional years. However, the reaction of Kyrgyz society is quite negative in this regard.
by Steve Suwannarat

Eleven Finger, an artist from the Khlong Toei slum openly critical of the military, has been arrested for allegedly throwing smoke bombs at a military compound where the Thai prime minister, a former general, lives. Treason legislation is increasingly used to impose heavy punishments and silence dissidents.

Bangkok (AsiaNews)  The low-intensity struggle between the government that rules Thailand since the military coup of 22 May 2014 and some of the countrys rappers continues.

The latest case involves Thanayuth Na Ayutthaya, aka Eleven Finger, a young rapper from the slums, who has become a target for his social activism and opposition to the regime.

The struggle has taken on various forms, some random, such as flash mobs. Last Sunday in the heart of Bangkok, the Thai capital, the rapper was arrested, along with others, for throwing two improvised explosives at the First Infantry Regiment compound, where Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha, a former general, lives.

Thai mass media described the bombs as nothing worse than firecrackers but that was enough for the authorities to start a new wave of arrests and accusations that could lead to heavy punishments.

Eleven Finger is notoriously critical of the militarys control. He and a dozen other activists already spent time behind bars after they were arrested in August 2020.

This increased his celebrity status, magnified by a Netflix documentary centred on his experience and that of other rappers raised in the Khlong Toei slum.

Like him, many artists, bloggers, influencers and a good number of university students and academics are on a collision course with the authorities. Rather than engage critics, the latter have continued with their old-fashioned but increasingly ineffective crackdown.

In the worst cases, the most dissidents deemed most dangerous have been charged under the lese-majeste law, the most repressive and arbitrary.

Yesterday, Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, the leader of the Progressive Movement, the main opposition force, was indicted for a speech he gave on 18 January 2021 in which he criticised the government's plans to purchase COVID-19 vaccines.

Meanwhile, the rapper's case is being monitored by Thai Lawyers for Human Rights, an association that itself been the subject of repression with some of its members arrested or placed under surveillance.
by John Ai

Chinas official media have created a neutral and impartial image for the foreign public, while the authorities allow aggressive and hostile comments towards Kyiv and the West at home. Criticism of Russia in the blogosphere is censored. Anonymous translators have come under attack from the government.

Rome (AsiaNews)  Chinese authorities have reacted with resentment to a spontaneous online campaign to translate Chinese official media and pro-government speeches into foreign languages.

Since the Russian military invaded Ukraine, pro-Moscow views have multiplied in the Chinese language blogosphere, while anti-war opinions have been censored.

The decentralised and anonymous translation initiative, also called The Great Translation Movement, highlights the goals of Chinese state propaganda: Only interpretations in line with the official narrative are allowed, including hate speech against the West and conspiracy theories.

The Sinocentric web is flooded with nationalistic comments that attribute the cause of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine to NATO and the United States.

Russian President Vladimir Putin is described as a hero who challenges Western hegemony, while those who speak out against the war are verbally attacked or have their posts censored.

Aggressive posts calling for the reunification of Taiwan by force have also increased.

The translation campaign started with a Chinese community on the Reddit social news aggregator decided to translate official media reports and the hottest posts on Chinese social media, a way to let the world know about trends and opinions in China.

The initiative soon spread to other social media such as Twitter and Instagram, in an attempt to expose Chinese authorities anti-Western stance and discriminative speeches.

Anonymous translators want to help overseas Chinese free themselves from the regime's propaganda, so as to integrate into the societies and the countries where they live.

A month after its launch, the campaign began to diversify its topics, to include conspiracy theories spread by official propaganda as well as the chaos of COVID-19 lockdowns adopted in many parts of China.

For instance, anti-government translators revealed how state-run media CCTV and Xinhua repeated Russia's disinformation that US laboratories in Ukraine secretly developed biological weapons.

They recently posted photos and videos showing shortages of food and basic necessities in Shanghai under lockdown, as well as the harsh conditions of the quarantine facilities run by the authorities.

The online campaign soon gathered advocates and volunteers proficient in various languages. The Twitter account "The Great Translation Movement" has over 112,000 followers.

At the same time, it came under attack from official Chinese media, according to which the movement purposely selects extreme comments to hype up sentiment against China.

For the Global Times, the translation campaign is a farce. According to the Chinese government newspaper, the spontaneous movement is actually supported by anti-Chinese media such as the Voice of America and Radio Free Asia, and is part of cognitive warfare by Taiwan, all this without presenting any evidence.

The paper goes on to encourage patriotic translators to "tell Chinas story" and be the main force in the online battle.

Japanese journalist and writer Akio Yaita points out that Chinese authorities invest a lot of money in foreign propaganda to promote traditional culture such as the Peking Opera, calligraphy, or to present the regime as a friendly and peace-loving.

Inside, however, the authorities promote hate education, propaganda about external threats and advocate a policy of expansion.

According to Yaita, the translation campaign reveals Chinese authorities duplicity and is getting unexpected results.

Since mid-March, Chinese education authorities have summoned middle school teachers and university professors in several provinces to tell them how to prepare lectures on the situation in Ukraine.

Teachers have been ordered to "accurately grasp the stance of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine and "guide students' thinking".

Some reports note that the websites of some universities disappeared after they were translated into English, sparking a debate on international social media.

Yaita explained that after seeing the translated stories from official Chinese media, Japanese readers realised the true attitude of Chinese authorities and no longer believe in its foreign propaganda.

The Japanese journalist pointed out that translating official Chinese stories into foreign languages does not violate the law and Chinese authorities are unable to remove the posts on foreign websites; thus, this is a smart tactic to fight the dictatorship.
Pursuing absolute security would only make worse security dilemma

09:21, April 12, 2022 By Zhong Sheng ( People's Daily

NATO's response to the Ukraine crisis clearly exposes its nature as a tool of the U.S. to maintain American hegemony.

The Meeting of NATO Ministers of Foreign Affairs held on April 6 and 7 continued to exacerbate the tensions between Ukraine and Russia, just like what the NATO summit did in late March, trying to build a strategic pattern in Europe where Russia is comprehensively oppressed.

Meanwhile, the NATO again distorted China's responsible stance on the Ukraine crisis that promotes dialogue and peace talks, and groundlessly hyped the so-called China threat, following the U.S. to smear and contain China with the crisis.

NATO survives on conflicts as a Cold War relic. It has never enhanced and will never enhance world peace. The outbreak of the Ukraine crisis is exactly the latest example of the military alliance provoking conflicts upholding Cold War mentality.

The world has gradually become peaceful since the end of the Cold War. However, NATO, led by the U.S., has expanded eastward five times to pursue its absolute security. Its para-security, para-political and para-military practices in the economic, finance and cultural spheres are a potential danger threatening the security of Europe, and have led to a sense of insecurity for all.

Robert Wade, a political economy and development scholar at the London School of Economics and Political Science, sees through the NATO's intention to seek and create an imaginary enemy. He said that to justify U.S. leadership, to present a unitary front in NATO and to justify big increases in western military budgets, Russia must be presented as the common enemy.

Peace is the only target that China sees on the Ukraine crisis. To reach the target, China has actively encouraged Russia and Ukraine to overcome difficulties and disputes, believing that the general direction of peace talks should be upheld until a ceasefire is reached and peace is restored. Such stance is highly consistent with the mainstream voice in the international society.

It is the NATO that lit the fuse for the Ukraine crisis, and is still fueling protracted conflicts. The military alliance is in no position to accuse China for the latter's responsible stance on peace.

Twenty-three years ago, the NATO, without approval from the UN Security Council, arbitrarily launched a 78-day bombing against the sovereign country of Yugoslavia, killing thousands of innocent civilians, including three Chinese journalists. The military alliances war crime will never be forgotten by the Chinese people or the people in the rest of the world. The NATO is never qualified to oppress China with the "sovereignty principle" and "international order" rhetoric.

Nothing is more precious than peace. What's the most urgent for solving the crisis is to strive for a cease fire. However, the practices of the NATO are extremely likely to escalate the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, contradicting the common aspiration for reconstructing peace of the international society, including European countries.

The U.S., as an external force, is just fanning the flames and waiting to profit from the two countries' fight. The conflict between Russia and Ukraine would make the NATO great again, said David Petraeus, former director of the Central Intelligence Agency.

The U.S. is coping with the Ukraine-Russia conflict by enhancing Europe's strategic dependence on the U.S. by dealing a heavy blow to Russia and plaguing Europe with the conflict-related refugee crisis and energy crisis.

George Galloway, former Member of the UK Parliament warned Europeans that the U.S. "is ready to fight to the last drop of Ukrainian blood, in the end, it's prepared to fight to the last drop of European blood."

According to Portuguese newspaper Publico, the NATO should have been dissolved when the Warsaw Treaty Organization was, because only in this way can the EU establish its own defense policies and military power that conform to its own interests, rather than to those of the U.S.

The Ukraine crisis stemmed from the regional security contradictions accumulated over the years in Europe, and to address this root cause, reasonable concerns of all relevant parties shall be accommodated.

Facing the increasing spillover of the Ukraine crisis, European countries urgently need to come to grips with the consequences of themselves being strategically utilized by the U.S. and make rational analysis. Following the U.S. to offer arms, upgrade sanctions and fan up bloc confrontation would only worsen the situations in Ukraine and create more risks against international peace and stability, which will place the European people in miseries.

Cold War mentality cannot by applied to build world and regional security frameworks in today's world. Security should be universal, equal and inclusive. Be it in Europe or other places in the world, countries should embrace a new vision of security featuring common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security. Only by doing this can the security dilemma in international relations be resolved.

(Zhong Sheng is a pen name often used by People's Daily to express its views on foreign policy and international affairs.)

(Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun)


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Share This: Glencore and General Motors Co. announced April 12 a multi-year sourcing agreement in which Glencore will supply GM with cobalt from its Murrin Murrin operation in Australia.

Cobalt is an important metal in the production of EV batteries, and the cobalt processed from Australia will be used in GMs Ultium battery cathodes, which will power electric vehicles such as the Chevrolet Silverado EV, GMC HUMMER EV and Cadillac LYRIQ.

The agreement builds on a commitment both companies share to create strong, sustainable and resilient supply chains through collective industry and multi-stakeholder platforms. Both Glencore and General Motors are members of the Responsible Minerals Initiative (RMI), and Glencores Murrin Murrin operation is conformant with the OECD-aligned Responsible Minerals Assurance Process.

GM and our suppliers are building an EV ecosystem that is focused on sourcing critical raw materials in a secure sustainable manner, said Jeff Morrison, GM vice president, global purchasing and supply chain. Importantly, given the critical role of EVs in reducing the carbon footprint of the transportation sector, this agreement is aligned with our approach to responsible sourcing and supply chain management.



We are delighted to announce this collaboration and support General Motors in delivering its electric vehicle strategy, said Ash Lazenby, Glencore U.S. Cobalt marketer and trader. Future facing commodities like cobalt play a pivotal role in decarbonizing energy consumption and the electric vehicle revolution. Glencore is already a leading producer, recycler and supplier of these commodities, which underpin our own ambition of achieving net zero total emissions by 2050.

Cobalt is a metal that makes up only 0.001% of the earths crust. It is known for its heat-resistant properties and is added to lithium-ion battery cathodes to improve energy density and battery longevity.

By the end of 2025, GM plans to have...
Your Weekend Getaway SUV is how the Japanese automaker from Minato City describes the newcomer in the following clip. Only the EX-L is featured, as in the best-equipped specification currently available in the United States. Honda further brings the point home by opening the trunk to demonstrate how much cargo space is behind the 60/40-split rear seats.Sporty and versatile are used to describe the 2023 model as well. Honda targets the young and active. Its only natural from a crossover from this particular segment, right? Honda also makes a case for the Simplicity and Something interior design language that debuted on the 11th-generation Civic, which is a genuine step up from the previous generations cockpit.Honda further promises more standard features. Reading between the lines, prospective customers will be presented with a higher price tag. For future reference, the LX starts at $21,870 for the 2022 model year. The Sport, EX, and EX-L are $23,820, $25,070, and $26,670 sans the destination charge.Because of the Civics platform, we can also guesstimate that Honda will improve the suck-squeeze-bang-blow department with a higher-displacement engine. The outgoing HR-V flaunts 141 horsepower and 127 pound-feet (174 Nm) at 4,300 revolutions per minute from a 1.8L four-pot lump. By comparison, the compact sedans 2.0L boasts 158 horsepower and 138 pound-feet (187 Nm) at 4,200 revolutions per minute. The Toyota Corolla Cross, which is the closest rival for the redesigned HR-V, packs 169 horsepower and 151 pound-feet (205 Nm) at 4,400 rpm from a 2.0L mill.On that note, bear in mind that North Americas HR-V is a different beast from Europes HR-V . The crossover that Honda sells in the Old Continent features different exterior styling and a two-motor hybrid system that includes a 1.5L engine that runs on the Atkinson cycle. Total system output is rated at 131 ps (129 horsepower) and 253 Nm (186 pound-feet) of torque.
At that point, such a prediction pretty much made sense, especially as the entire planet was supposed to return to a normal life once the vaccines were ready.Unfortunately, not only that this didnt happen, but the chip shortage also persisted, with experts across the world then pushing back their estimates over a potential recovery first to 2021 and then to 2022.Now that 2022 is already upon us, many people believed the lack of semiconductors would be resolved by the end of the year. But its becoming more and more obvious this isnt going to happen, with carmakers one by one admitting that the struggle is likely to continue for one more year.The latest to say it is none other than German car giant BMW. CEO Oliver Zipse has been recently quoted as saying that the chip shortage wouldnt come to an end earlier than 2023, as the worst is yet to be over. In other words, the world is still struggling with the painful impact of the chip crisis, and we really shouldnt hold our breath for a full recovery to pre-2020 levels.Zipse claims that the shortage will continue to be a problem in 2023 as well after BMW previously anticipated the constrained inventory would survive until the end of the year.The most pessimistic predictions indicate the chip shortage wouldnt be over earlier than 2024, and unfortunately, the closer we get to the end of this year, the clearer it becomes that such a gloomy scenario isnt at all impossible.Carmakers are still struggling with the very constrained semiconductor inventory, and more often than not, their solutions come down to temporary halts of their production or selling vehicles without certain non-critical systems.
Thats the case of its latest concept: the Pearlsuites. As the name suggests, these are pods created to provide the ultimate relaxation on the water. Its not the first time weve seen something like this come from the skilled hands of designer Pierpaolo Lazzarini from Lazzarini Design.Five years ago, the studio imagined how life on the water would be and made the U.F.O. 2.0, a floating disc with a dome in the middle that had three levels. Then, in 2020, it came up with another version of the U.F.O., which was slightly smaller and only had two levels.Now, Lazzarini downsized and created the Pearlsuite , a single-level structure with a diameter of seven meters (22 ft) designed as a futuristic resort at sea. It has a much smaller disk that serves as a walkaround deck, allowing people to get closer than ever to the water.As Ive mentioned before, this one has only one level, and it offers a height of 2.5 meters (8.2 ft). It features a retractable windshield with photochromic glass. The interior offers 22 sq meters (237 sq ft) of space and includes a bedroom/studio, a kitchen, and a toilet. Theres also room for other amenities, and the layout can be customized to the future owners preference.The pod moves around thanks to an electric engine capable of delivering 25 hp. Thats enough to allow it to cruise at 5 knots (5.7 mph/ 9.2 kph). The Pearlsuite can also be fitted with a gyroscope stabilizer system that reduces the rolling motion of the floating resort. As a result, these suites can stay close to one another and form a floating community.Just like the other floating pods, this one, too, is just a concept that lives in the form of renderings. But Lazzarini is ready to bring it to life if someone with a deep pocket comes along.
For the Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 363 (VMM-363), based at Marine Corps Base Hawaii, that gear would be the mighty MV-22 Osprey tiltrotors. The squadron, nicknamed Lucky Red Lions, is tasked with supporting troops on the ground and routinely takes part in training exercises.As they were preparing for Balikatan, the Red Lions managed to achieve one of the longest maritime VMM self-deployment flights in 1st Marine Aircraft Wing history. More to the point, an undisclosed number of Ospreys flew for a total of over 4,730 nautical miles (5,443 miles/8,760 km).Thats a lot more than double the factory-rated 2,230 nautical miles (2,566 miles/4,129 km) range for self-deploy with a single aerial refueling. And a hell of a lot more than the 430 nautical miles (495 miles/795 km) this Marine Corps-spec tiltrotor is capable of with 24 troops and their gear on board.This movement has significant strategic value in demonstrating VMM-363s ability to self-deploy across the INDOPACOM AOR and reaffirms the capability and operational reach that the MV-22 Osprey brings to the nations naval expeditionary force-in-readiness, said in a statement last week Lt. Col. Joe Whitefield, Commanding Officer of VMM-363.The Osprey is an aircraft developed by Bell and Boeing. It was introduced at the end of the 1980s as a niche joint service multirole combat aircraft and is configured in such a way that it can take off and land like a helicopter, but fly like an airplane.It is powered by two Rolls-Royce engines developing 6,150 shaft horsepower each, sitting in dedicated nacelles.
Mokumonos Polder is a minimalist-looking e-bike with a simple, clean, yet modern and attractive design. It features a wide, sturdy aluminum frame, internal cable routing, hydraulic brakes, 28 wheels, front and rear fenders, frame-integrated lights, and a Gates carbon belt drive, with the latter requiring minimal maintenance and being able to deliver silent rides. The bike looks heavier than it is, with the Polder boasting a total weight of just 20 kg (44 lb). Mokumono offers the e-bike in over 40 colors.The manufacturer was all about keeping it practical, comfortable, and intuitive with the Polder, aiming to design a bike thats versatile, reliable, and delivers natural rides only. That is why it has no gears, but instead, theres an integrated torque sensor. The motor on the Mokumono Polder is there to provide intuitive pedal assistance so that you can ride intuitively and feel free while on the bike. It has a power of 35 Nm (25.8 lb. ft.) and provides an assist speed of 25 kph (15.5 mph).But one of the most impressive features of the Polder has to be its range, with the manufacturer boasting of the bike being able to put in 80 km (50 miles) or 120 km (74.5 miles) on a single charge, depending on the battery you opt for. As standard, the Polder comes equipped with a 360 Wh removable battery hidden in the tube, but you can extend the range to 74.5 miles by upgrading to the available 540 Wh battery.A mobile app gives you access to several useful features of the e-bike (such as waking up the wheeler when approaching, via the Bluetooth Unlock system). Theres no display on the bicycle, with the smartphone replacing it.Mokumono manufactures the frames for its bikes (including for the Polder) in the Netherlands and aims to make bicycles that are 100 percent produced in Europe, saving over 90 percent on transport and being more responsible toward the environment. Other parts for the bikes are also sourced locally. The manufacturer boasts of its bikes being built to last, sustainably produced, and maintenance-free.Though deliveries for the Polder will only begin in September, Mokumono is already accepting pre-orders for the e-bike. The two-wheeler starts at $3,090 (2,840).
Arde una embarcacion de recreo en el Puerto de Valencia



?? https://t.co/RGP22Sb1fp pic.twitter.com/fEJU69szQK  Valencia Plaza (@valenciaplaza) April 8, 2022

Even when youre not a luxury toy owner, its almost painful to see a beautiful, new pleasure craft being completely ruined by a massive fire. The fire broke out on Friday morning and lasted for more than half a day because it was difficult to put out.It was unusual that the incident did not occur at sea but while the yacht was being docked. The good part is that the fire could not get to the fuel tanks, as they had been placed near the boat refueling station.According to Port Authority of Valencia officials, a failure in the lithium batteries might have caused the fire, which then spread fast. Luckily, nobody was injured, and none of the nearby vessels were affected.Of course, as soon as the firefighters arrived, dozens of boats that were close to the incident area were removed, and barriers were placed in the water to prevent the fire from spreading. Superyacht Times also reports that it took three platoons of firefighters and more than 12 hours to finally put out the flames.Now, the half-sunken wreck isnt looking anything like the beautiful Pesa yacht launched by the prestigious Sanlorenzo shipyard just two years ago. Built on the 87-foot (27 meters) SX88 platform, Pesa was dripping with Italian luxury, offering accommodation for up to eight guests in four elegant cabins. Operating as a luxury charter yacht for a minimum of $76,000 (70,000) per week, Pesa could hit 23 knots (26.4 mph/42.5 kph) and travel for 1,000 nautical miles (1,150 miles/1,850 km).
While the automatic transmission was the more common choice, some Corvettes were also equipped with a close-ratio 4-speed manual transmission in 1979. And according to estimates, just a little over 4,000 units ended up seeing the daylight in such a configuration.One of them is right here in front of our eyes, though its pretty clear from the pics that it doesnt feature the mint shape collectors would love to come across.This Corvette is nothing more than a project requiring plenty of work, and unfortunately, it lacks some essential parts that could make many people walk away.The biggest concern is that the engine and the transmission are no longer there. In other words, if you were hoping for a full restoration to factory specifications, this is going to be a heck of a project. On the other hand, if you dont mind going for a restomod, this Corvette is more than prepared for the job.However, it doesnt necessarily mean your only concern should be the engine.The photos also reveal a rather challenging body shape, with a new front bumper seemingly required. Furthermore, the top seems to be cracked, so major repairs would be required here as well.Is this Corvette worth a second chance? At first glance, it all depends on the price. As the eBay seller, christian491 says, this coupe is a cheap project, but on the other hand, they didnt reveal the selling price.The bidding starts at $100, but a reserve has also been enabled, so nobody knows for sure how high the auction must go before this Corvette can find a new home.
One such company is Saab, a crew that has been in this business since the 1930s. Over the decades, it gave birth to a number of flying weapons platforms, including one of the strangest-shaped aircraft ever to fly in the skies of the world, the Draken . Presently, the flagship Saab military aircraft is the JAS 39 Gripen.Born at the end of the 1980s, the plane is relatively young, by fighter standards, and it is presently available in two versions, C- and E-Series, with their own subvariants. And theyll fly well into the next decade, thanks to a SEK 500 million ($52.5 million) order Saab received from the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) to upgrade the plane.More specifically, Saab will have to bring the Gripen to C/D spec and make sure it can stay operational and up to date to about 2035. The exact details of this configuration were not announced.Gripen C/D is the backbone of the Swedish Armed Forces today and will continue to be for many years to come, so this is an important order where we will ensure the continued operation and operational relevance of Gripen C/D, said in a statement Jonas Hjelm, Head of Saabs Aeronautics business area.The Gripen is powered by one Volvo turbofan powerplant with afterburner, capable of developing a little over 80 kN of thrust in the C and D variants. It can fly at speeds of Mach 2 and for up to 3,200 km (2,000 miles) when conditions are right.At the time of writing, the Saab JAS 39 Gripen is being flown by the Air Forces of some three dozen nations.
Besides his well-known megayachts, Solaris and Eclipse, the billionaire, who is estimated at around $12 bn, also owns a yacht called Halo, and a "shadow" vessel Garcon, eSysman SuperYachts claims. The same outlet reports that the former Chelsea FC is (or was) also the owner of a vessel named Susurro.But what's peculiar about Roman Abramovich, who currently has to loan money to pay for the fuel and maintenance of his expensive, lavish vessels and jets, is that he reportedly owned another yacht, the Aquamarine.However, on February 24 of this year, the vessel, which was in the name of a company owned by Roman Abramovich called MHC Jersey LTC, quickly changed owners. And what happened back then? You guessed it, it was the exact date when Russia attacked Ukraine.In an effort to keep his part of his fleet away from the hands of the governments, the Russian billionaire reportedly tried to be one step ahead and changed the ownership of one of his most recent vessels to a close associate of his, Russian businessman David Davidovich, The Guardian reports. The billionaire had switched the title of the property of the Jersey company MHC Jersey LTC, which officially owned the yacht. A separate company that was previously linked to Abramovich, MHC (Services) Ltd, also shifted to Davidovich's name on February 24.But Davidovich denies there's any wrongdoing there, and takes full ownership of the yacht and the companies. I can confirm that I am the owner of MHC Jersey Ltd and the Aquamarine yacht, Davidovich said in a statement.The 50-meter (164-ft) motor vessel, which is small by Abramovich's standards, was built by Dutch firm Heesen and delivered in 2021 . According to Robb Report, its estimated at $40.3 million. The vessel is currently sitting in the Dutch port of Vlissingen, where it arrived for structural changes on November 16, 2021. A source told The Guardian no work has been done since March 10, when the UK sanctioned Roman Abramovich. So far, this yacht has not been seized by the government.
Finding new, cleaner, and more sustainable energy resources has become of paramount importance for the entire planet and fortunately for us, nature still has our back. All we have to do is be clever enough to harness what it has to offer, and Eco Wave Power is setting a good example, managing to produce clean electricity from ocean and sea waves.Its recently signed agreement with Port Adriano, Spain, will expand the companys presence in Europe through the construction of a wave energy power plant of up to 2 MW, a project planned to be developed in two stages, starting with a 1 MW plant and then focusing on the remaining capacity.Port Adriano will choose a suitable location for the facilities for a period of 20 years, with this being the first time Spain uses this kind of technology to generate electricity. By 2030, Spain aims to have 74 percent of its electricity come from renewable resources alone, according to Inna Braverman, CEO of Eco Wave Power. This is a feasible goal to achieve considering that it has 8,000 km (4,970 miles) of coastline, which makes it a perfect customer for Eco Wave Powers wave energy solution Spain also plans to drop the use of coal and nuclear power entirely, with the former only providing less than 5 percent of electricity. As for the latter (which accounted for 22 percent of power generation in 2019), the country plans to shut down its nuclear plants starting in 2027.Back to Eco Wave Power, its onshore wave energy technology is a patented one that uses a system based on floaters, pistons, and hydraulic motors. It draws energy from the waves and converts it to clean energy. The system can produce electricity from wave heights of 0.5 meters (1.6 ft). If the waves are too high for it to handle, the floaters automatically rise above the water level and remain that way until the storm passes, after which they return to their normal position and resume their operation. Eco Wave Power s technology is already used in Jaffa Port, Israel, and Gibraltar.
We had the privilege to watch these beautiful moments thanks to the track modification made by the Albert Park managers and officials. Because the Albert Park is an iconic circuit in Formula One , Australian Grand Prix CEO Andrew Westacott was very thoughtful and gifted to all the drivers on the grid a piece from the old track. Literally.It's not the first time Formula One officials are giving the drivers gifts when they reach a particular milestone or achieve something great. For example, in 2017, Lewis Hamilton was given a replica of the 1987 iconic yellow, green and blue helmet of Ayrton Senna after matching his number of pole positions.Last year, Valterri Bottas received a nice present. After taking the pole at the 2021 Mexican Grand Prix, Bottas had the chance to take home a replica of the 1951 Juan Manuel Fangio helmet together with the Fangio Award, commemorating the 70th year since the legendary Argentinian driver won the first of his five world titles.Besides F1 CEOs, teams are giving away cars to their drivers after a memorable win. It seems like Ferrari is doing this quite often. Let's remember when they sent Kimi Raikkonen his 2018 USA Grand Prix-winning car or when they gave Charles Leclerc his race-winning SF90 back in 2019.Maybe receiving a piece of tarmac is not as lovely as a special helmet from your favorite driver of all time or as an actual Formula One car. But still, it's something unique with a lot of history behind it that could bring unforgettable memories.The next race will occur in Imola, a legendary circuit with a rich history. Maybe the drivers will receive another gift, or perhaps the F1 fans will receive presents from now on.
This recent Arctic exercise was an amazing display of force on land, water, and in the air. One of the greatest accomplishments for the Royal Navy was that one of its fifth-generation aircraft carriers successfully operated in Arctic conditions for the first time.HMS Prince of Wales, one of the new Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers and the Navys biggest warship, traveled so far north for the first time, faced the extremely low temperatures, and worked efficiently with F-35B fighter jets, Sea Stallion helicopters, and the unmistakable Osprey MV22 tiltrotor.The Royal Navys Wildcat helicopters also marked a premiere, as they operated over land for the first time in support of the Royal Marines 847 Naval Air Squadron. The powerful Seaspray radar was used to track land-based targets instead of enemy ships, as it would normally do.Also, as part of the exercise, small teams from the Surveillance and Reconnaissance Squadron were launched on Inflatable Raiding Crafts (IRCs) from a hunter-killer submarine , while larger and faster boats belonging to the Norwegian military were used to access areas that were harder to reach.Four of the Royal Navys Astute class of modern nuclear submarines are already in operation. These 318-foot (97 meters) hunter-killers weigh 7,400 tons and are equipped with nuclear reactors for an extensive range.The Oversnow Reconnaissance Vehicles (OSRVs), basically military snowmobiles, had the task of tackling threats on the ground in reconnaissance missions along the Norwegian coastlines. The Royal Marines Mountain Leaders also put these beasts to the test during live-fire exercises in the untamed wilderness, where speed and coordination were vital.The impressive cooperation of so many water, land, and air vehicles in the unforgiving Arctic climate turned Cold Response 2022 into a truly memorable defense exercise.
Back in 2004, the world was blessed with 200 copies of Aprilia s special-edition RSV 1000 R Nera  an exotic masterpiece featuring carbon-fiber bodywork, great looks, and incredible performance. Although it didnt quite manage to capture peoples attention as much as the House of Noale wouldve liked, this untamed gladiator is  by all accounts  a force to be reckoned with!Underneath its glossy carbon fairings, the bike houses a fuel-injected 998cc V-twin engine with dual overhead camshafts, four valves per cylinder, and a sizeable compression ratio of 11.8:1. This bad boy is connected to a hydraulically-actuated wet multi-plate clutch and a six-speed transmission, which keeps the rear magnesium wheel in motion by means of a drive chain.When the crank rotates at about 9,500 rpm, the liquid-cooled power source is fully capable of delivering 139 feral stallions. In the proximity of 7,500 spins per minute, youll be experiencing as much as 79 pound-feet (107 Nm) of brutal twisting force. If you were to push it to the limit, the RSV 1000 R Nera would eradicate the quarter-mile in no more than 10.7 spine-tingling seconds.Ultimately, Aprilias gem will plateau at a terrifying top speed of 173 mph (278 kph). The powertrain hardware rests inside an aluminum twin-spar frame, whose front end is supported by TiN-coated 43 mm (1.7 inches) upside-down Ohlins forks. At the opposite pole, suspension duties are taken good care of thanks to a piggyback monoshock thats adjustable for preload, rebound, and compression damping.For abundant stopping power, the Italian rarity counts on dual 320 mm (12.6 inches) discs and four-piston Brembo calipers up north, along with a single 220 mm (8.7 inches) brake rotor and a two-piston caliper down south. Before the creatures 4.8-gallon (18-liter) fuel tank receives any juice, the whole shebang will tip the scales at a mere 386 pounds (175 kg).Now that weve examined the essentials lets talk more specifically about the RSV 1000 R Nera pictured in this articles photo gallery. For starters, the bikes digital odometer tells us that it has only been ridden for approximately 1,300 miles (2,100 km). Moreover, one may find an assortment of aftermarket goodies installed by the previous owner, including a red solo saddle, titanium Akrapovic pipework, and an inconspicuous tail tidy.The two-wheeled treasure was recently serviced with fresh fluids, new fork seals, and a premium fuel filter, while its wheels have been wrapped in grippy Dunlop Sportmax Q4 tires with 2018 date codes. Well, thats just about everything you need to know about this limited-edition RSV 1000 R, and you may be stoked to learn that its currently up for grabs on Iconic Motorbike Auctions ! The top bid of $13,600 is far from meeting the reserve, so feel free to submit yours by April 13.
Palmdale, CA (93550)

Today

Mostly sunny and windy. High around 80F. Winds W at 20 to 30 mph. Winds could occasionally gust over 40 mph..

Tonight

Clear skies. Gusty winds early. Low 51F. Winds W at 20 to 30 mph. Winds could occasionally gust over 40 mph.
The Hayastan and Pativ Unem alliances rallied thousands of supporters in Yerevan on April 5 the day before Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian met with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev in Brussels.

Aliyev and Pashinian agreed to start preparing for an Armenian-Azerbaijani peace treaty and to set up a bilateral commission tasked with demarcating the border between their countries.

Pashinian reiterated afterwards that Bakus proposals on key elements of the treaty, including a mutual recognition of each others territorial integrity, are acceptable to Yerevan in principle. Armenian opposition leaders portrayed this as a further sign that he is ready to help Azerbaijan regain control over Karabakh.

Seyran Ohanian, Hayastans parliamentary leader and a former defense minister, announced a four-day opposition boycott of the National Assembly. Speaking on the parliament floor, Ohanian accused the Armenian government of ignoring grave security challenges facing Armenia and Karabakh.

We are leaving for Artsakh and Armenias border regions in order to continue directly communicating with our compatriots, to visit the sites of our countrys primary agenda, he said before placing a Karabakh flag on the parliament rostrum.

Deputies representing Pashinians Civil Contract party dismissed the opposition move as populist. One of them, Vahagn Aleksanian, removed the small flag from the podium.

With this step the parliamentary is not defending Artsakh but aggravating the security problems of Artsakh and the Armenians, charged another pro-government parliamentarian, Hayk Konjorian. The parliamentary opposition is using the Artsakh issue and our security problems to stage a coup and seize power in Armenia.
The several dozen deputies representing Armenias two main opposition groups headed to Karabakh after announcing a four-day boycott of sessions of the National Assembly.

One of them, Gegham Manukian, said Russian peacekeepers manning a checkpoint in the Lachin corridor connecting Armenia and Karabakh gave no explanations after checking their documents and not allowing them to proceed to Stepanakert.

Manukian blamed the Armenian authorities for the ban. He said that shortly before reaching the Lachin checkpoint the lawmakers were stopped by Armenian border guards and had their personal data collected by them. He suggested that it was immediately passed on to the Russians.

The authorities effectively denied this through a statement released by the Armenian Foreign Ministry. The statement criticized the peacekeepers actions, saying that they run counter to the terms of the Russian-brokered ceasefire that stopped the Armenian-Azerbaijani war in November 2020.

The Russian peacekeeping contingent has previously never stopped any Armenian politicians from travelling to Karabakh.

Manukian and other opposition figures claimed that Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian engineered the unprecedented travel ban as part of his secret deals with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev.

Aliyev and Pashinian agreed to start preparing for an Armenian-Azerbaijani peace treaty and to set up a bilateral commission tasked with demarcating the border between their countries when they met in Brussels on April 6 for talks hosted by European Council President Charles Michel.

Pashinian reiterated afterwards that Bakus proposals on key elements of the treaty, including a mutual recognition of each others territorial integrity, are acceptable to Yerevan in principle. Armenian opposition leaders portrayed this as a further sign that he is ready to help Azerbaijan regain control over Karabakh.

The opposition Hayastan and Pativ Unem alliances rallied thousands of supporters in Yerevan on April 5 to warn Yerevan against making such concessions to Baku.

As he announced the opposition boycott on the parliament floor on Tuesday morning, Seyran Ohanian, Hayastans parliamentary leader and a former defense minister, accused the Armenian government of ignoring grave security challenges facing Armenia and Karabakh.

We are leaving for Artsakh and Armenias border regions in order to continue directly communicating with our compatriots, to visit the sites of our countrys primary agenda, he said before placing a Karabakh flag on the parliament rostrum.

Deputies representing Pashinians Civil Contract party dismissed the opposition move as populist. One of them, Vahagn Aleksanian, removed the small flag from the podium.

With this step the parliamentary is not defending Artsakh but aggravating the security problems of Artsakh and the Armenians, charged another pro-government parliamentarian, Hayk Konjorian. The parliamentary opposition is using the Artsakh issue and our security problems to stage a coup and seize power in Armenia.
Bakersfield, CA (93308)

Today

Some clouds in the morning will give way to mainly sunny skies for the afternoon. High 79F. Winds NW at 10 to 20 mph..

Tonight

A mostly clear sky. Low 52F. Winds NNW at 10 to 20 mph.
Bluefield, WV (24701)

Today

Showers this morning, becoming a steady rain during the afternoon hours. High 54F. Winds WNW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall around a quarter of an inch..

Tonight

Rain showers this evening with overcast skies overnight. Low 42F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%.
Waterbury Police Chief Fernando Spagnolo (right) identified Levi Brock of New Haven as a person of interest wanted for questioning in the fatal shooting of Mabel Martinez Antongiorgi, who was struck by a stray bullet on Saturday. Members of her family attended a press conference held by police and State's Attorney for the Waterbury Judicial District Maureen Platt (middle) on Tuesday morning at the department's headquarters. (Taylor Hartz)

A 56-year-old mother of three was sewing inside her Waterbury home on Saturday afternoon when a stray bullet pierced the wall of her house and struck her.

Mabel Martinez Antongiorgi was found in her home at 42 Orange Street about 1:15 p.m. with a gunshot wound and was rushed to Saint Marys Hospital, where she died from her injuries about 24 hours later.

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On Tuesday, Waterbury Police Department Chief Fernando Spagnolo called Antongiorgi a beautiful woman and told the family they would work hard to find her killer.

This is so tragic, he said. Words cannot describe it or console you, we understand that, but we vow to you we are going to work very hard to understand what happened here and bring the people to justice that are responsible for this.

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Antongiorgi was a devoted wife and mother who had moved to Waterbury from her native Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria devastated the island in 2017, according to Spagnolo and social media posts made by her daughter, Olympic athlete Yarimar Mercado Martinez.

She was a homemaker, and she was at home taking care of some domestic duties when those shots rang out and she was struck in the head, said Spagnolo during a press conference at the Waterbury police headquarters Tuesday .

Antongiorgis family sat together in solemn silence during the press conference, Martinez hanging her head in her hands, as police recounted the details of the tragic shooting.

Police allege that the fatal bullet was fired during a shootout between two vehicles on Orange Street on Saturday afternoon.

In the backdrop of those two vehicles were two locations on Orange Street, said Spagnolo. One of those locations was the home in which Antongiorgi sat sewing. Another bullet struck a neighboring house during the same incident, but no one was injured.

According to police, shortly after Antongiorgi was rushed to the hospital, 25-year-old Waterbury resident Ryan Lindsay was dropped off at the emergency room with a gunshot wound to his hip. He was treated, released and brought into the police department for questioning, Spagnolo said.

Police said they learned that Lindsay had been involved with an alleged drug-related incident along with Angel Gonzales, a 22-year-old Waterbury resident and convicted felon known to police as a member of the citys illegal drug trade. Lindsay was believed to be the intended target of the bullets, police said.

Police said they found nearly two dozen shell casings at the scene and identified two vehicles that were allegedly involved in the drug-deal-turned-shooting, a white Acura belonging to Gonzales and a Black Honda registered to Levi Brock of New Haven.

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Brock, a 38-year-old convicted felon who is out on parole, is wanted for questioning by police, they said. Police said he is a person of interest in the investigation but has not been charged in the shooting.

Police said officers found Brocks vehicle in New Haven and recovered a handgun from the car but have yet to locate him. Theyre asking for the publics help tracking him down.

We are asking anybody, anywhere, if you have information on his whereabouts, to contact the police department, said Spagnolo.

In 2018, while out on parole after a conviction on charges of first-degree assault and possession of weapons, he violated the conditions of his parole by being found in possession of drugs with intent to sell, according to Spagnolo.

What disturbs me is yet again we have another convicted felon who is on probation thats in possession of a gun thats (allegedly) involved in someones death, said Spagnolo. This is a story, its a broken record. We hear it time and time again in every urban community in this state.

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The chief said members of the community can expect to see increased patrols, especially in the Orange Street area.

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Anyone with information about the shooting was asked to contact the departments detective bureau at 203-574-6941 or Crime Stoppers at 203-755-1234.
Astoria Crab / Wine Fest Returns to North Oregon Coast as Live Event in April

Published 04/12/22 at 4:22 AM PST

By Oregon Coast Beach Connection staff

(Astoria, Oregon)  Back in the swing of things is one north Oregon coast favorite: the Astoria / Warrenton Crab, Seafood & Wine Festival. After some time off or being simply a virtual event, the three-day extravaganza of seafood, vino and other goodies has returned in real life, causing the north Oregon coast town to again swell by thousands on April 22  24. (Photos courtesy Astoria / Warrenton Chamber of Commerce)

It's the 40th year of the annual food and fun fest, where coastal arts and crafts are featured as well as microbrews from the region. The festival is all about good times and stuffing yourself silly. Dungeness crab may be the highlight, but the festival also showcases fresh shrimp, salmon, oysters, halibut and clam chowder, along with fine Pacific Northwest wine. This year, organizers said to also be on the lookout for cocktails, crab and shrimp melts, crab cakes, crab mac & cheese, seafood ramen, smoked brisket, fried oysters, lemon garlic pasta with crab, corn dogs, sausages, crabby leek chowder and even Greek cuisine.

The last time the event was in person was back in 2019, so this is a milestone for many in the face of this dreary pandemic. Started in 1982, it has now expanded to around 175 vendors, according to the Astoria-Warrenton Chamber of Commerce, which organizes the event. There are vendors from all over the Pacific Northwest but especially the north coast of Oregon, attracting scores of people to town and supporting hundreds of different businesses in the area, including performers, hotels, restaurants and numerous shops. The Astoria / Warrenton Crab, Seafood & Wine Festival is also a major fundraiser for the chamber and for dozens of community organizations that participate in the event.

Live music is a big part of the revelry with two stages throughout the weekend, but you can take home interesting handcrafted wares from regional artisans as well. Nearly 40 wineries will be on hand offering a huge array of varietals made in Oregon. Local craft brewers will abound, along with distilled spirit-makers for those who prefer a wee bit of a stiffer drink.

About 100 of the booths will be local artists and northwest-made products.

The chamber's executive director David Reid said they had tried to make the last two years as fun as possible by featuring an online presence, as well as the Festival Feast dining pass around town and events like the Astoria Clowns Drive-up. All of it helped connect visitors with local cuisine, but a real, live event can't be beat. Reid said chamber staff were excited to return to the festival's actual format.

However, the chamber acknowledges planning actual events can be tricky in these times, hinting that mask mandates and pandemic surges are still a possibility at the last minute. In the meantime, the chamber said it is working to maintain safe practices for the public and for vendors.

Admission prices are $25 each for Friday or Saturday; $15 each for Sunday. Online ticket prices are: Friday or Saturday, $20 each + $1.25 service fee. Sunday: $10 each + $1.25 service fee.

The event is held at the Clatsop County Fair and Expo. 92937 Walluski Loop Astoria, Oregon - about 4 miles southeast of Astoria on highway 202. Parking is extremely limited at the event, so the chamber urges you to take the shuttles. See the shuttle guide.

Times: Friday 4 to 9 p.m. Saturday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. http://www.astoriacrabfest.com

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FAIRFAX, Va. (AP)  A jury was selected Monday to hear a long-anticipated libel lawsuit Johnny Depp filed against his ex-wife, actress Amber Heard, whom he accuses of falsely portraying him as a domestic abuser.

Depp sued Heard over an op-ed piece she wrote in The Washington Post in 2018 in which Heard refers to herself as a public figure representing domestic abuse. The article doesn't mention Depp by name, but he says it clearly refers to allegations Heard made in other forums that she suffered physical abuse at his hands. Depp denies the accusations.

The lawsuit brought a little bit of Hollywood to a courthouse that has a long history of dealing with high-profile crimes, just not those involving movie stars.

More than a dozen women, some waving signs saying Justice for Johnny, joined other fans who waved pirate flags in recognition of Depp's signature role in the Pirates of the Caribbean movies, waited outside the courthouse an hour before the hearing.

The courtroom in the city of Fairfax was closed to the public Monday, with limited closed-circuit access in an overflow courtroom. People lined up before 7 a.m. for the wristbands granting access. Both Depp and Heard were in attendance, but court personnel brought them in and out utilizing special access points that frustrated fans' ability to see them.

The judge overseeing the trial, Penney Azcarate, has imposed a series of access rules to try to maintain decorum in the courthouse. Most significantly, neither Depp nor Heard are permitted to pose for photos or sign autographs in the courthouse or on the courthouse grounds.

Depp's fans have been vocal in their support, saying he has been falsely accused. Raylyn Otey, a Depp fan from Bluefield, Virginia, drove five hours to see the movie star. She was disappointed when Depp did not greet fans personally, as sheriff's deputies carefully limited fan access.

I'm so disappointed. I came to give him flowers to show some support, she said, bouquet in hand.

In a separate lawsuit Depp filed against a British newspaper, a judge dismissed the case, finding that Depp assaulted Heard on a dozen occasions and put her in fear for her life on multiple occasions.

Heard has filed a countersuit against Depp that accuses his lawyers of defaming her at his direction.

Heard's lawyers tried unsuccessfully to have the case moved to California, where the actors reside. A Fairfax judge ruled that Depp was within his rights to bring the case here because the Posts online editions are published through servers located in Fairfax County. Depp's lawyers have said they brought the case in Virginia in part because the laws here are more favorable to their case.

A jury of seven, plus four alternates, was selected by Monday afternoon. The smaller jury is typical for civil trials in Virginia.

Opening statements are scheduled for Tuesday morning. The trial is expected to last more than a month. A long list of witnesses includes actors James Franco and Paul Bettany, and tech entrepreneur Elon Musk. Some witnesses are expected to appear in person, while others will testify via video link.

___

This story has been updated to correct the spelling of Raylyn Otey's last name.
Eds: This story was supplied by The Conversation for AP customers. The Associated Press does not guarantee the content.

Henry Bial, University of Kansas

(THE CONVERSATION) In the days leading up to Easter Sunday, Christians around the world will participate in retellings of the story of the last days of Jesus life, from his entry into Jerusalem to the Last Supper and to his trial, crucifixion and resurrection. They may walk the Stations of the Cross  a processional ritual marking key points in the biblical narrative  attend a pageant or simply gather in church for religious services.

And some people will view or listen to Jesus Christ Superstar, the 1971 rock musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice. NBCs Jesus Christ Superstar: Live in Concert, featuring R&B star John Legend in the title role, was first broadcast on Easter Sunday 2018 and re-aired for Easter 2020. This year, if you find yourself in Dallas during Holy Week, you might even score a ticket to the latest touring production.

As I detail in my book Playing God: The Bible on the Broadway Stage, Superstar is the most commercially successful adaptation of a biblical story in Broadway history, with well over 1,000 performances spanning multiple productions. In some ways, this is unsurprising. Church reenactments of biblical scenes were foundational for the development of Western theater, especially the quem quaeritis trope, a 10th-century dialogue that reenacts the moment when Jesus body is supposedly discovered missing from the tomb. Put another way, Christians have seen drama as an appropriate way to communicate the story of Jesus passion and resurrection for more than a millennium.

Yet something about Superstar has always seemed a bit improbable, and its depiction of Holy Week set off controversy from the start. Composer Lloyd Webber has recounted how London producers initially regarded the project as the worst idea in history. Many religious audiences viewed the play with deep suspicion for what they considered an irreverent approach, questionable theology and its rock n roll-influenced score.

As a theater professor, I see Superstar as an important step in the evolution of the Broadway musical, a groundbreaking rock opera that paved the way for contemporary hits like Mamma Mia! and Hamilton. But the musicals now-canonical status was anything but inevitable.

Jesus is cool

The shows irreverent attitude is encapsulated in its title song, which combines a soaring choral hook (Jesus Christ, Superstar, Do you think youre what they say you are?) with a series of pointed and ironic questions via rock melody  Whyd you choose such a backward time and such a strange land?

Though set in the Jerusalem of 2,000 years ago, the play uses modern language  Jesus is cool  and imagery, such as paparazzi following Jesus through the streets. By representing Jesus as a charismatic celebrity whose fame spirals out of control, Superstar offers audiences a contemporary framework for understanding the ancient biblical narrative. This is underlined by self-aware lyrics that offer commentary on how the Passion story would go on to be told. During the Last Supper scene, for example, Jesus disciples sing:

Always hoped that Id be an apostle Knew that I would make it if I tried Then when we retire, we can write the gospels So theyll still talk about us when weve died.

For conservative Christians, such lighthearted paraphrasing of Scripture may have been offensive. More troubling, in the eyes of many religious leaders, was the musicals theology. Superstar is structured similarly to a traditional Christian Passion play, depicting Jesus final days. But it abruptly ends with the crucifixion, omitting the resurrection that is at the heart of the Easter story  and Christianity itself. Whats more, the play hints at a romantic relationship between Jesus and his supporter Mary Magdalene, and gives a prominent role to Judas, the disciple whom the Gospels say betrayed Jesus  in fact, Judas is arguably the shows leading man.

All this caused many Christian leaders to dismiss the show as blasphemous. Others argued that, while well-meaning, Superstar was overly focused on Christs humanity, to the exclusion of his divinity.

Meanwhile, Jewish organizations expressed concern that the play would inspire antisemitism by perpetuating the idea that Jews bear responsibility for the death of Christ. A trio of Jewish priests sings This Jesus Must Die, and later pressures a reluctant Pontius Pilate to have Jesus crucified.

In 1971, this was a particularly sore spot for Jewish-Christian relations. The idea that the Jewish people bore collective guilt for killing Jesus had long been part of antisemitic rhetoric from Catholic leaders like the Rev. Charles E. Coughlin. In fact, it wasnt until 1965 that the Vatican officially declared, what happened in [Christs] passion cannot be charged against all the Jews, without distinction, then alive, nor against the Jews of today.

Rock n rebels

Still, most early objections to Superstar were driven less by its content and more by its form. The mere idea of turning the Bible into a loud, flashy, rock n roll spectacle was often seen as a kind of sacrilege. As religion scholar David Chidester and others have observed, conservative Christian groups have historically complained about the superficial and amoral nature of American popular culture, with particular distaste for its music. In this view, rock lyrics advocate sin while the loud, sensual and unrestrained nature of the music encourages it.

For such critics, Jesus Christ Superstar seemed to pose a threat simply by juxtaposing the sacred narrative of the Bible with the profane atmosphere of the rock concert.

Yet half a century after its premiere, the musical no longer generates much controversy. The recognition and appreciation of Jesus humanity has gradually become more acceptable among American Christians, though not to the exclusion of his divinity. Compared with earlier generations, Generation X and millennials are less likely to read Scripture, and therefore less likely to be concerned over fine points of theological interpretation.

Rock music, meanwhile, is aging along with its fans, while the rise of the American megachurch has blurred the line between rock concert and church service, between celebrities and spiritual leaders. No longer are electric instruments, flashy costumes, spotlights and microphones seen as disrespectful or inconsistent with worship.

Perhaps most significantly, todays audiences, both religious and not, may simply have a greater regard for so-called superstars. For many people in the 1970s, the musicals comparison of the deification of Christ and the idolatry of a rock star was inherently derogatory, undercutting Jesus spiritual significance. Yet today, in an era when Lady Gaga has six times as many Instagram followers as Pope Francis, arguably the title  and the musical itself  reads as a more sincere form of appreciation.

[The most interesting religion stories from three major news organizations. Get This Week in Religion.]

This article has been updated to correct the lyrics to The Last Supper.

The Conversation is an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts. The Conversation is wholly responsible for the content.
LOS ANGELES (AP)  Six Southern California companies have been ordered to pay $1.8 billion in restitution after evading import duties on aluminum from China and participating in a scheme to artificially inflate the revenues of a Chinese company, federal prosecutors said.

The scam involved raw aluminum extrusions that were spot-welded together to appear as finished and functional pallets, the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Central District of California said in a statement Monday.

Prosecutors said the firms lied to U.S. Customs and Border Protection to avoid paying $1.8 billion in anti-dumping and related duties on extruded aluminum. Finished aluminum products such as pallets are not subject to the same duties.

The scheme was directed by Zhongtian Liu, the former president and chairman of China Zhongwang Holdings, Asias largest manufacturer of aluminum extrusions, prosecutors said.

A federal jury last August found all six California companies guilty of conspiracy, wire fraud and passing false and fraudulent papers through a custom house. The companies are: Perfectus Aluminium and Perfectus Aluminium Acquisitions, along with warehouse owners Scuderia Development, Von Karman, 1001 Doubleday and 10681 Production Avenue.

The metal was stored in the warehouses around Southern California, and China Zhongwang Holdings told investors that high volumes of the metal were being sold, prosecutors said.

In fact, the pallets were not sold and were kept in warehouses around Southern California and in New Jersey.

Liu, China Zhongwang Holdings and others were charged in Los Angeles federal court in May 2019. The U.S. does not have an extradition treaty with China, and the defendants have not appeared in court.

The aluminum seized during the investigation is estimated to be worth about $70 million, federal officials said.
HONOLULU (AP)  Hawaii's governor said Monday he is not currently considering reinstating a mask requirement for public indoor spaces.

Hawaii was the last state in the nation to lift its indoor mask mandate at the end of March.

I dont anticipate reinstating the mask mandate at this point, said Ige in an email to The Associated Press.

The state has seen an uptick in new cases since the rules were lifted.

We did expect a slight increase in case numbers after spring break, and we have seen that in the last week or so, Ige said. However, we are not seeing the kind of surges that are currently happening on the mainland. Hospitalizations continue to be low here, and we are in a good place.

Philadelphia reinstated its mask mandate Monday amid a surge in COVID-19 cases, and other cities across the country are seeing a rise in cases.

Ige said that if the conditions warranted it, he might consider requiring masks again in the future.

If there is a big spike, we may have to revisit masks, Ige added. However, I noticed over the weekend that many people continue to wear their masks indoors. We know that masks work and they make a difference in keeping our communities safe.

Public schools in Hawaii still require children to wear masks indoors, a measure the governor said he continues to support.
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TOKYO (AP)  Japanese Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi said he and his Italian counterpart agreed Tuesday to step up military cooperation as Japan expands security ties with Europe amid concern about Russia's invasion of Ukraine and its impact on Asia.

Kishi told reporters that he and Italian Defense Minister Lorenzo Guerini discussed the possible expansion of joint military drills and development of defense technology.

Guerini, who is visiting Tokyo, especially expressed interest in possible Italian participation in Japans F-X next generation fighter jet, Kishi said, declining to elaborate. It would be Japans first domestically developed fighter jet in 40 years.

Japan and Britain have agreed to jointly develop a future demonstration fighter jet engine and to explore other combat air technologies and subsystems. The project includes Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and IHI in Japan and Rolls-Royce and BAE Systems in the U.K.

The two ministers agreed that Russias invasion of Ukraine undermines the foundation of the international order, not only in Europe but also in Asia, and is absolutely impermissible.

We agreed on the importance for countries that share fundamental values, such as Japan and Italy, to stick together and act resolutely," Kishi said.

Kishi said Japan highly regards Italys interest and involvement in the Indo-Pacific, where China's increasingly assertive military activity has raised tensions.

Japan in recent years has significantly expanded security talks and joint drills with the U.S. and other partners in the Asia-Pacific region and Europe that share its concerns about Chinas assertion of its territorial claims in the region, which has some of the worlds busiest sea lanes.

Japan is not a NATO member but has strengthened its partnership with the group. It sent Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi to join the NATO foreign ministers' meeting earlier this month to discuss Ukraine.

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 a tense territorial standoff in the South China Sea for decades.

China defends its activities as its own right.
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MEXICO CITY (AP)  Analysts in Mexico said Monday that President Andres Manuel Lopez Obradors successful push to hold the weekend's recall vote could, paradoxically, leave Mexicos democracy weaker.

Lopez Obrador declared Sunday's referendum, in which he was strongly supported by the few Mexicans voters who participated, as a complete success and a historic event.

He described the vote as a victory for participative democracy, noting Mexicans had never before been allowed to vote on whether a president should be recalled from office.

But his Morena party used illegal, old-style electioneering tactics to get out the vote for what was a largely symbolic vote.

Lopez Obrador was never in doubt of losing the referendum Sunday, with his approval ratings currently hovering around 60%. Near-final vote tallies Monday showed that about 92% of the ballots cast said he should remain in office.

Still, the president saw getting large numbers of voters to turn out was the real measure of his political movement. Turnout was about 16.5 million, or only about 18% of eligible voters  far below the 40% turnout needed to make the vote binding.

The leader of Lopez Obradors party, Mario Delgado, boasted about driving around in a van, picking up people to take them to polling places, a practice that is illegal in Mexico.

Delgado posted photos in his social media accounts showing him driving a van painted with the words Do you want to vote? I'll take you there! The van was later shown loaded with people who had voted.

Clara Jusidman, an economist and civic activist, said some government employees also were required to bring a minimum number of people to polling places. That is a practice reminiscent of the old Institutional Revolutionary Party, which governed Mexico for seven decades without interruption until it lost the 2000 elections.

A lot of rules were broken that had been established to protect against government intervention, the use of public funds to promote (a vote) and client politics, Jusidman said, referring to people who feel they have to vote to preserve their government benefits.

And the president himself has criticized elements of the electoral system that emerged after decades of near one-party rule in an effort to strengthen democracy, among them independent electoral authorities established in the late 1990s to ensure fair play and equity in elections.

Lopez Obrador has pledged to overhaul the National Electoral Institute, contending that it is too expensive and is hostile to his Morena party.

Critics said Sundays vote was the real waste of money. They said it cost almost $80 million and was just a way for Lopez Obrador to rally his base midway through the single term allowed Mexicos presidents. They worry that changes to the electoral institute are likely to decrease its autonomy and independence.

In fact, Lopez Obrador has expressed dislike for independent regulatory and oversight bodies in general, such as in government transparency and information access. He has sought to eliminate some of them.

Luis Miguel Perez Juarez, an expert in democratic transitions at the Monterrey Technological Institute, said the president has never had much affection for the electoral institute, known by its initials as the INE, which occasionally tries to limit what elected officials can say in the runup to elections.

Ever since he came to power, the INE has bothered him, Perez Juarez said.
The recently created and first ever Beaumont Communications Department offered the public a tour of their new office space in the Jefferson Theatre with an open house Friday.

Friends, family and other city employees made their way through the office, gathering in a community room where the walls are decorated with pictures reflecting the city's culture, events and landscape.
A 56-year-old woman died after a bullet meant for someone else pierced the wall of her Waterbury house and struck her in the head over the weekend, police said. A man walking nearby was wounded but survived.

Police responded to a report of gunshots in the area of Walnut and Orange streets about 1:15 p.m. Saturday. When they arrived, someone told them a member of their family had been struck by a bullet while inside their home at 51 Walnut St., police said. Inside, police found Mabel Martinez Antongiorgi on the floor suffering from a head injury.

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Waterbury Police Chief Fernando Spagnolo said early Tuesday that he planned to meet with the family later in the morning.

By all accounts, he said, Antongiorgi was a homemaker and a very sweet woman.

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Mabel Martinez was the mother of Yarimar Mercado Martinez, a rifle shooter on the Puerto Rico Olympic team who competed in the summer Olympics last year and in 2016, according to the Associated Press.

Mercado Martinez, 27, expressed her anguish in social media postings.

The elder Martinez was taken by ambulance to Saint Marys Hospital where she was considered to be in critical condition, police said. According to police, Martinez was pronounced dead at the hospital Sunday night.

Shortly after she was rushed to the hospital Saturday afternoon, a man walked into the Saint Marys emergency room at 2:08 p.m. and said hed been shot. The 35-year-old was dropped off at the hospital with a gunshot wound to his leg. He told police he had been walking in the area of Walnut Street and Orange Street when he was struck by a bullet.

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According to police, he was treated for non-life threatening injuries and was released.

Investigators believe both people were shot in the same incident and dont think the woman was the intended target, police said.

Waterbury Police Departments major crime detectives are still investigating the shooting. Anyone with information was asked to contact the Waterbury Police Departments Detective Bureau at 203-574-6941 or Crime Stoppers at 203-755-1234.

Courant staff writer Christine Dempsey contributed to this story.

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Taylor Hartz may be reached at thartz@courant.com.

Editors note: The victims name has been updated in this story as a correction was issued by police.
Under better weather than the past such gathering, protesters showed up to the April regular meeting of the Port Neches-Groves ISD school board Monday, once again calling for its "Indian" mascot to be removed.

While fewer people showed than at last month's protest, also organized by the global social justice organization Indigenous Peoples Movement, the message was unchanged: the districts mascot needs to change.

Standing outside Port Neches-Groves High School, with the school board meeting just inside, about 10 people held signs and called for change.

Paulina Kirikakos, who is Mexica and Dine, in particular spoke to community members as they entered and left the school.

RELATED: Community protests tribal-themed mascot

"All parents, community members, administration...whether you like to hear it or not, the Indianettes sexualizes Indigenous women," Kirikakos said into a bullhorn. "You do not honor our culture. You do not honor the Indigenous people with your prancing around. You claim that your dances, these traditions that the school holds is to honor Indigenous people, but you're trying to silence the very people that you claim you're trying to honor."

Kirikakos, an activist originally from the Los Angeles area, said she was made aware of PN-G last month when she was sent videos of the high school dance team's Disney performance, which garnered national attention.

"One of my friends called me -- she's an activist herself," Kirikakos said. "A girl was receiving hate for speaking out, and so (her friend) asked me to take her under my wing and kind of mentor her, teach her how to be an organizer. It was too much for her. So, she handed it to me, and now here I am."

RELATED: Cherokee Nation Chief responds to local school's Disney performance

Kirikakos traveled from California to Texas to protest the district's mascot because she said she was alarmed by the threats of violence she was seeing online from some community members.

"People of this community were making jokes about vehicular manslaughter, saying they want to avoid where the protesters are going to be because they don't want to mess up their suspension," she said. "It was at that moment where I realized these people will go as far as violence to keep this racism in their school."

As community members left the school, some shouted "Scalp 'em, Indians!" and played the school's "Cherokee" fight song as they drove out of the parking lot. The Enterprise was unable to speak to any community members.

PN-G High School 2021 graduate Ken Doiron, who also attended last month's protest, spoke to her community through a bullhorn, describing how some students are afraid of being associated with the "racist" mascot, though they also are afraid of speaking out against community tradition.

RELATED: District not budging as Cherokee chief demands removal of 'Indian' mascot

"I know (many) Indianettes personally. I know (many) cheerleaders personally, and I know that those girls are scared to apply to colleges because they don't want to be affiliated with this school's racist mascot," Doiron said. "They are embarrassed to tell people that they go here. I've heard it myself, and they are embarrassed to tell their parents because they know what their parents are going to say. They know what the community is going to say because no one here has room to stand out for themselves, especially not when you go to school every day inside (the high school) with that racist mascot as the logo."

Though the conversation surrounding PNGISD's mascot has been ongoing for years, Kirikakos said she can see this time as being different -- a time when real change could occur.

"Our younger kids, they're waking up every day and they're realizing that, 'Hey, that person looks like me, why are they making a joke, why are they painting their face?'" she said. "(Change is) definitely on the horizon. Maybe not this year, maybe not the following year, but the year after that? Maybe."

The district school board did not have anything relating to the mascot or the Disney performance on their meeting agenda.

Kirikakos and some of the other protesters said they were going to continue to show up at upcoming PNGISD board meetings.

olivia.malick@hearst.com

twitter.com/OliviaMalick
WFO DALLAS / FT. WORTH Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Tuesday, April 12, 2022

_____

SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING

The National Weather Service in Fort Worth has issued a

* Severe Thunderstorm Warning for...

Coryell County in central Texas...

Northeastern Lampasas County in central Texas...

* Until 515 PM CDT.

* At 410 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located 8 miles west of

Pidcoke, moving northeast at 30 mph.

HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and quarter size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Hail damage to vehicles is expected. Expect wind damage

to roofs, siding, and trees.

* Locations impacted include...

Gatesville, McGregor, Evant, Fort Gates, Mother Neff State Park,

Oglesby and South Mountain.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 1100 PM CDT for central

Texas.

For your protection get inside a sturdy structure and stay away from

windows.

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED TORNADO WATCH 112 IN

EFFECT UNTIL 11 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR THE FOLLOWING AREAS

IN TEXAS THIS WATCH INCLUDES 5 COUNTIES

IN SOUTH CENTRAL TEXAS

BLANCO BURNET HAYS

TRAVIS WILLIAMSON

THIS INCLUDES THE CITIES OF AUSTIN, BLANCO, BURNET, GEORGETOWN,

AND SAN MARCOS.

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 430 PM CDT

FOR EAST CENTRAL BROWN COUNTY...

At 414 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located near Blanket, moving

northeast at 30 mph.

HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and quarter size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Hail damage to vehicles is expected. Expect wind damage to

roofs, siding, and trees.

This severe thunderstorm will remain over mainly rural areas of east

central Brown County.

For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a

building.

_____

Copyright 2022 AccuWeather
Bedford, PA (15522)

Today

Rain likely. High around 50F. Winds NE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall around a half an inch..

Tonight

Rain showers this evening with overcast skies overnight. Low around 40F. Winds NE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 70%.
Speaker of the House Puan Maharani waves after Indonesias parliament passed a bill to tackle sexual violence, in Jakarta, April 12, 2022.

After years of delays, Indonesias parliament passed a landmark law on Tuesday to punish sexual violence that, analysts say, provides a victim-centered approach for securing justice amid rising sexual abuse.

Under the law, types of sexual violence include both physical and non-physical sexual harassment, electronic-based sexual harassment, sexual torture, forced contraception, forced sterilization, sexual exploitation, forced marriage, and sex slavery.

Todays plenary session is a historic moment that the nation has been waiting for, House of Representatives Speaker Puan Maharani said. Todays passage of the bill on sexual violence is a testament to the struggle of victims of sexual violence.

The new law defines sexual crimes to include lewd acts, sexual exploitation of children, non-consensual indecent acts and child pornography.

Cases of violence against women in Southeast Asias most populous nation rose to 8,800 in 2021, from 8,600 the previous year, according to the Indonesian Ministry of Womens Empowerment and Child Protection.

Physical violence accounted for 39 percent of the cases, followed by psychological violence (29.8 percent) and sexual violence (11.3 percent), data from the ministry showed.

The laws passage is a good first step in efforts to stamp out sexual violence, said Johanna Purba, a researcher at the Center for Law and Policy Studies.

But yes, there are also shortcomings, such as the absence of provisions on rape, Johanna told BenarNews.

Our next agenda is to push for more comprehensive provisions on rape and forced abortions in the revised bill on the Criminal Code, which is being deliberated in parliament, she said.

Still, despite these shortcomings, Indonesia now has a law that specifically deals with sexual violence, The Jakarta Post newspaper wrote in an editorial Tuesday.

It promotes a victim-centered approach by providing victims with access to restitution from a so-called victims trust fund, integrated services to handle cases and victim rehabilitation, the editorial said.

It also contains an expanded definition of sexual violence, namely physical and nonphysical sexual harassment, sexual torture, forced contraception, forced sterilization, forced marriage, sexual slavery, sexual exploitation and cybersexual harassment.

A comprehensive legal umbrella

The bill had been held up for the past few years, with some Muslim groups arguing that the new law would promote extramarital sex and homosexuality.

On Tuesday, the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) was the only parliamentary faction opposed to the bill on the grounds that the proposed legislation does not criminalize sex outside of marriage, or homosexual relations.

Al Muzzammil Yusuf, a PKS legislator, said his faction rejected all forms of sexual violence and supported efforts to protect victims.

At the same time, the PKS faction is also deeply concerned about the growing prevalence of extra-marital sex, promiscuity, and deviant sexual behavior, Muzzammil told BenarNews.

But for Luluk Nur Hamidah, a lawmaker from the National Awakening Party (PKB), the 10-year-wait for the legislation was finally over.

We are now well equipped to prevent sexual violence, Luluk told the parliamentary session.

Tunggal Pawestri, a prominent womens rights activist, also welcomed the bills passage.

Im touched because this is the fruit of the tireless advocacy work, despite exhaustion (physical and mental), by all groups, especially survivors and their companions, Tunggal said on Twitter.

Parliament passed the billed just over a week after a court in the Sumatran city of Pekanbaru acquitted a lecturer at the University of Riau whom a female student had accused of sexual harassment.

Activists said Syafris acquittal underscored the difficulty of bringing perpetrators of sexual violence to justice.

Maidina Rahmawati, a researcher at the Institute for Criminal Justice Reform, said the new law emphasizes respect for human dignity, non-discrimination, the best interests of victims and justice.

The passage of the bill is important to strengthen state responsibility to prevent and handle cases of sexual violence and protect and rehabilitate victims, Maidina told BenarNews.

Maidina said the law also provides more rights to victims of sexual violence, including the right to treatment, the right to protection and the right to financial support.

Meanwhile, the United Nations office in Indonesia welcomed the passing of the bill.

It is a victory for all women, girls, and victims and survivors of sexual violence in Indonesia who have the fundamental right to protection under a comprehensive legal umbrella, it said in a statement.

The Sexual Violence Crime Bill delivers a long-awaited legal framework for handling sexual violence. Although the bill has its shortcomings in terms of adopting a narrower scope of types of violence considered, it is an important step in the right direction.
Malaysians have scant hope that perpetrators of the multibillion-dollar 1MDB financial scandal will be brought to justice in their country in the way that a compatriot and key player in the affair was convicted in a U.S. court last week.

Some Malaysians havent even heard of former Goldman Sachs banker Roger Ng but, having been told he was found guilty of looting from the sovereign fund, they wish that those involved at home would also be held to account.

Last Friday, Ng was convicted on all charges that tied him to the scheme to steal billions from the 1Malaysia Development Berhad fund, a scandal that implicated then-Prime Minister Najib Razak and brought down his government four years ago.

Malaysians will never get the justice we deserve, said 38-year-old Desiree Gasper, a Kuala Lumpur-based producer with a local television station.

Perhaps its because I dont believe we will ever get back the money. At least not all of it. Najib is still in power and affluent, Jho Low is still out there somewhere, she told BenarNews.

She was referring to the ex-prime minister, who remains an influential figure in the UMNO party, which is back in power at the national level, and Najibs once close associate, fugitive financier Low Taek Jho (also known as Jho Low).

In July 2020, Najib was convicted of money laundering and abuse of power in a case related to a 1MDB subsidiary and sentenced to 12 years in prison. He has appealed the conviction and sentence before the Supreme Court, and is awaiting a decision. Separately, Najib is standing trial in numerous other 1MDB cases.

Low, the subject of an international manhunt, faces criminal charges in Malaysia and the United States for his alleged role in embezzling billions of dollars from 1MDB through his relationship with Najib.

Danial Hassan, a 28-year-old executive, is disenchanted with Malaysias political elite.

So much has happened since 1MDB and I think most young Malaysians like me dont have very high hopes when it comes to the political situation in the country or seeing justice when it comes to the elite class, he told BenarNews.

Ahmad Akbel Ali, a member of an older generation, admitted that he was clueless about Ng.

I have no idea about him. Corruption is everywhere and what is there to comment [about]? the retiree from Perak state told BenarNews.

To me, the bread-and-butter issue is more important and I will be more interested if it was Najib who got arrested.

Markandan, 59, a retiree from Ipoh, said he read about Roger Ng verdict but has little understanding of the case.

I follow Najibs case and I understand it better. I am frustrated that Malaysia is becoming famous abroad because of corruption, told BenarNews.

The 1MDB money should have been used to develop the country but what we can see now with 1MDB is that, peoples money is being wasted.

Former Goldman Sachs executive Roger Ng (right) leaves federal court in New York, April 8, 2022. A U.S. jury convicted Ng on all counts in $4.5 billion scheme to loot Malaysian fund 1MDB. [AP Photo]

Breon Peace, a U.S. attorney, echoed the Malaysian pensioners statement moments after Ng was found guilty in a verdict handed down at a federal courthouse in Brooklyn. N.Y.

The defendant and his cronies saw 1MDB not as an entity to do good for the people of Malaysia, but as a piggy bank to enrich themselves with piles of money siphoned from the fund, he said.

1MDB raised billions of dollars for investment projects between 2009 and 2013, the Reuters news agency reported. Goldman Sachs helped raise some of this money.

Malaysian and U.S. prosecutors allege that at least $4.5 billion (18.8 billion ringgit), was stolen from 1MDB and diverted through acquisitions of real estate, artwork and luxury properties by Najib and his associates, including Jho Low.

Scam really did happen

For James Chin, a political analyst and professor of Asian studies at the University of Tasmania, the conviction of Ng shows that the 1MDB swindle did in fact occur.

In terms of Roger Ngs conviction, I think this is a very clear indication that the scam really did happen and this is just another confirmation we have that Jho Low, Najib and everybody else were intimately involved in this case and that billions were stolen, he told BenarNews.

I think that the rest of the world will see this as a defining moment for Malaysia and if Najib gets away with it in the Malaysian courts, I think this will impact Malaysias reputation for many years to come.

Many courtroom revelations made by Ng and another Goldman Sachs banker implicated in the scandal, Tim Leissner, have not been revealed in the cases tried in Malaysia, making ordinary Malaysians question the local judiciary system, according to Chin.

Meanwhile, opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim on Monday urged the government to haul up everyone involved in the 1MDB scandal and take them to the Malaysian courts to face justice.

The sworn statements by witnesses have overall dismissed the claims by Malaysian government officials that nothing had happened in  1MDB. Senior Goldman Sachs officials involved in the 1MDB scandal cannot escape their negligence as well as the damage and losses caused to Malaysia, Anwar said in a statement.

On Goldman Sachs apparent involvement in this scam, I reiterate my position that the settlement reached between the Malaysian government and Goldman Sachs in 2020 was premature and failed to consider the losses that Malaysians will continue to bear, he added.

In October 2020, Goldman Sachs and its Malaysian subsidiary agreed to pay the Malaysian government more than $2.9 billion (12.2 billion ringgit) after pleading guilty to conspiring to violate the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) when raising money for 1MDB.

Money laundering, bribery, conspiracy and misuse of power are only some of the charges faced by those involved in the scandal, including Najib.
A New Haven man was sentenced to 27 months in prison Monday in U.S. District Court for selling heroin and cocaine after police captured him while he was hiding in a garbage can.

Federal prosecutors said Darryl Russell, 33, was captured by New Haven police who were following a car that was suspected of involvement in drug trafficking, but had eluded them earlier.

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A detective followed the car until he saw two occupants get out on Brown Street and engage in what allegedly looked like sidewalk drug sales before getting back in the car, according to federal officials. A short while later, police saw the two  Russell and James Lee, who had posted bond on an earlier drug charge  enter a building on Elm Street.

Lee was arrested when he came out of the building, federal prosecutors said. Russell fled, but was captured a short distance away in the garbage can.

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A search of the car turned up heroin, cocaine and crack cocaine packaged for distribution, and more than $2,000 in cash.

Russell has been in custody since May 21, 2021, federal prosecutors said. On Sept. 14, 2021, Russell pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute, heroin, cocaine and cocaine base, according to federal authorities.

Lee pleaded guilty to the same charge and was sentenced to 46 months in prison on Feb. 14, 2022.
Malaysian Police Inspector-General Abdul Hamid Bador (center) displays cash and items seized during a series of raids against the Nicky Gang, during a news conference at Federal Police Headquarters in Kuala Lumpur, March 30, 2021.

Malaysian police announced the arrest of a suspected criminal leader who is said to be close to the Chinese underworld, following his surrender to law enforcement here on Monday after more than a year in hiding.

Nicky Liow Soon Hee, who faces 26 counts of money laundering according to the police, had been on the run since March 2021 when authorities smashed his syndicate and arrested more than 60 suspects, including some law enforcement officers, police said.

Nicky is alleged to be close to the United States-sanctioned Chinese triad leader Wan Kuok Koi (commonly known as Broken Tooth), the head of the 14K Triad, one of the largest Chinese organized crime gangs in the world.

[Nicky] Liow Soon Hee also known as Nicky Liow was arrested at 11 a.m. at the Federal Police Commercial Crime Department office in Jalan Tun Razak after he turned up and surrendered to police, Commercial Crime Director Kamarudin Md. Din said.

Liow will be charged with 26 counts of money laundering under ... the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001, he added.

Liow is scheduled to be produced at Shah Alam court in Selangor on Tuesday. He is staring at a prison sentence of 15 years and hefty fines, if convicted.

Last month, the Federal Police Commercial Crime Department obtained an arrest warrant for Liow after it filed charges against him at the Shah Alam Court for money laundering offenses under the instructions of the Attorney Generals Chambers, according to Kamarudin.

Liows Nicky Gang operated a telecommunication scam where it tricked victims, mostly in China, into handing over large sums of money, allowing the gang to allegedly amass millions of ringgit, police said. The syndicate would also target investors from China by promising them huge returns through investments in cryptocurrency, real estate and the foreign exchange market.

During a series of raids in March 2021 to take down the Nicky Gang, police arrested more than 50 people and seized 773,000 ringgit (U.S. $187,500) along with 35 vehicles valued at 8.86 million ringgit ($2.14 million) under provisions of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act of 2001.

Among those arrested were Liows two brothers, Liow Wei Kin and Liow Wei Loon, but they were later freed after prosecutors dropped charges against them.

A series of sanctions by the U.S. Treasury Department on Wan Kuok Koi, the Macau underworld kingpin allowed the Royal Malaysia Police to establish links to the Nicky Gang, Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay, then the police chief of Johor state, told BenarNews in an interview last April.

It was crucial information as based on the tip of the iceberg. We were able to study the serious and extensive operations of the local syndicate, which has international connections, Ayob told BenarNews. It is very serious and we are very concerned what would have happened should we have failed to react accordingly and slam the brakes on their operation.

He described Liows and Wan Kuok Kois relationship as close.

Liow and Broken Tooth are as close as siblings, Ayob said.

They have known each other since 2018 and Broken Tooth  had since been providing Liow with patronage and security assurance under his 14K Triad.
Frank R. James is walked from the 9th Pct. on Wednesday, April 13, 2022, in Manhattan, New York. James was arrested after the NYPD received a tip after he was spotted on First Ave. near St. Marks Place. (Barry Williams for New York Daily News)

A deranged gunman wearing a gas mask and firing a 9mm handgun blasted a path of destruction through a Brooklyn rush hour subway car that injured 23 people Tuesday before he disappeared despite a massive NYPD manhunt.

The assailant detonated two smoke bombs and opened fire around 8:30 a.m. after issuing a two-word warning to straphangers inside the crowded car of a northbound N train: Start running.

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Ten riders were shot and 13 others were injured. Five of the victims were hospitalized in critical condition once the shooting stopped, authorities said. The victims ranged in age from 12 to 61, and included a 28-year-old pregnant woman who suffered from smoke inhalation.

Police released photos of a person of interest in the attack, who they identified as Frank James, 62. A reward of up to $50,000 is being offered for information leading to the shooters arrest.

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He started firing randomly into the crowd, recounted eyewitness subway rider Catherine Garcia, 34. He probably couldnt see, because it was black smoke. We just prayed and hoped that he would not just execute us one by one.

Garcia, who was seated alongside her husband when the gunman stood up and squeezed the trigger, watched as people were shot around them: An Asian youth whose finger was nearly blown off, another man with a gunshot wound to his leg. A third straphanger narrowly dodged death when a bullet tore through his pants leg.

The shooter, a Black man in an orange and green construction vest and gray hoodie, carried two extended magazines of bullets. But his Glock 9mm pistol jammed as he sprayed the subway car with gunfire, police sources said.

Eyewitnesses recounted hearing anywhere from 15 to 30 shots as the train rolled beneath Sunset Park, and one rider recalled the gunman announcing Oops, my bad after the smoke bomb went off.

Dont know how this guy could start shooting on a crowded train and only hit a few people, said a law enforcement source. There must have been an angel up there knocking the bullets out of the way.

Authorities provided no motive for the shooting spree as the manhunt for the suspect continued. The gun was recovered at the scene, along with 33 shell casings, 15 more bullets, a hatchet and a bag filled with fireworks and smoke grenades, Chief of Detectives James Essig said.

Police found three extended Glock-style magazines -- one in the gun, another under a seat, and a third in the shooters backpack, Essig said. They also found two detonated and two unused smoke grenades, and a container with gasoline, he said.

Also found at the scene were a credit card and a key that authorities linked to a rented U-Haul van with Arizona license plate number AL31408. Late on Tuesday afternoon cops found the U-Haul parked on Kings Highway as the manhunt continued. It contained his personal belongings, but no additional explosives, a police spokesman said late Tuesday.

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Police believe James rented the van in Philadelphia. He has a criminal record in Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, cop sources said.

Im not ruling out anything, said NYPD Commissioner Keechant Sewell.

James ranted for hours in several YouTube videos about Mayor Adams and homelessness, railing that mental health and homeless outreach workers were homosexual predators and that the war in Ukraine was a precursor to a larger race war.

The suspect sat quietly in the trains second car before slipping the mask on and opening the canister to send the blinding smoke pouring out, Sewell said at a Tuesday afternoon press conference. Photos from the scene captured a bloody stretch of the subway train and platform. Victims sprawled on the tiles were tended to by fellow straphangers. A bullet was lodged by a seat in the train covered in debris.

MTA Chairman Janno Lieber, in a CNN interview, said authorities had a ton of evidence from the scene and the NYPD was hot on the trail of the suspect.

Rider Houari Benkada, 27, was wearing his headphones and sitting across from the shooter when the smoke bomb detonated and everything went sideways in the blink of an eye.

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I couldnt see, and then I got hit in my knee, he said. I heard maybe 15 to 20 shots ... I hit the floor, and a guy next to me got hit in the shin.

The victims ranged in age from 17 to 49. None of their injuries were believed to be life-threatening.

It was not immediately clear where the gunman entered or exited the train system.

We have not found any live explosive devices, but the suspect in todays attack detonated smoke bombs to cause havoc, Mayor Adams, who was quarantined at Gracie Mansion with COVID, said in a statement. We will not allow New Yorkers to be terrorized even by a single individual.

The canister the shooter opened on the train was akin to a smoke bomb and readily available for sale on the internet, a high-ranking NYPD source said.

The train was waiting to enter the 36th Street station when the shooting began. Once the doors opened, wounded commuters ran out and collapsed on the platform, terrifying people waiting to board.

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A cellphone video seen by the Daily News shows smoke pouring out of the subway car at the 36th Street station as the train doors open.

Either shots or a bomb went off at 36th Street, tweeted witness Roddy Broke. Scariest moment of my life, man.

Videos captured dozens of people bolting from the train car, coughing and gagging from the smoke. A few moments later, at least two people limped out of the smoke-filled train car, with one falling to the ground, bleeding.

I was heading into 36th Street Station in Brooklyn when a young guy who was bleeding from the legs said people were injured, said witness Conrad Aderer.

Other witnesses reported seeing wounded people, all adults, reeling out of the station to the street above. Several were screaming Call 911! Others shouted Somebodys shooting!

Many victims and witnesses jumped onto an R train waiting at the station, which took them to 25th St.

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Police gather at the entrance to a subway stop in Brooklyn, Tuesday, April 12, 2022. (John Minchillo/AP)

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Brooklyn College student Emily Guzman, 19, was headed to take a statistics exam when everything erupted just seconds after she boarded the train.

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Bleeding, smoking  lots of smoke, she said. Three people shot. When people started running, they were screaming. Thats all you could hear. Just screaming.

With Emma Seiwell and Noah Goldberg
If you'd like to leave a comment (or a tip or a question) about this story with the editors, please email us

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Greg Sukiennik has worked at all three Vermont News & Media newspapers and was their managing editor from 2017-19. He previously worked for ESPN.com, for the AP in Boston, and at The Berkshire Eagle in Pittsfield, Mass.
In this file photo from last year, the dark blue-gray stone of the Bennington Battle Monument is evident. Engineers are working with the lights to overcome the dark color and light the obelisk blue and gold as a tribute to the Ukrainian people.
A trial on whether pharmacy chain Walgreens bears responsibility for the opioid crisis started Monday in Florida on the heels of opening statements last week in another opioid trial in West Virginia
Biden urges Modi not to step up Indian use of Russian oil

President Joe Biden has asked Indias Narendra Modi not to accelerate the buying of Russian oil as the U.S. and other nations try to cut off Moscows energy income following the invasion of Ukraine
Anthony Todt told detectives he sat for hours on the bed of his 4-year-old daughter Zoe trying to bring himself to kill her.

I needed to save her soul, Todt told detectives from the Osceola County Sheriffs Office in a videotaped confession that was shown to the jury in his murder trial Tuesday. I wanted her to be with us.

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Todt described laying on top of the 30-pound girl and smothering her with a pillow for about 10 to 15 minutes. In court, Todt shook his head as he heard his past recounting of the killing.

How long did she kick and scream? Detective Cole Miller asked.

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Only for a couple minutes, Todt said on the video.

Jurors watched hours of Todts confession in the trial for the Connecticut physical therapist accused of killing his wife, children and dog at their Central Florida home.

He is charged with four counts of first-degree murder and one count of animal cruelty in the killings of 42-year-old Megan Todt; the couples children Alek, 13, Tyler, 11, and Zoe; and their dog Breezy. Law enforcement found Todt living with the blanket-wrapped decomposing bodies in January 2020 at their Celebration home on Reserve Place.

Todt, 46, has pleaded not guilty.

After his arrest, Todt was involuntarily committed under Floridas Baker Act because authorities said he made comments about harming himself and said he had ingested Benadryl pills.

Detectives interrogated Todt three times, and he repeatedly confessed his involvement. A judge, though, ruled to exclude the first confession because detectives failed to fully inform Todt of his constitutional rights.

Todt has since blamed his wife for the slayings in jailhouse writings, claiming she took her life after poisoning the children with a tainted dessert and stabbing them in their sleep.

In the video shown to jurors Tuesday, Todt told detectives he wanted to be with his family on the other side.

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You know your wife and children are deceased? Miller asked.

Thats where I want to be, Todt said during his confession.

Todt told detectives his wife, who was chronically ill, started watching videos that predicted an upcoming apocalypse and described how to reach salvation. Todt said he and his wife spoke to their children about killing themselves.

We dont want you to die, Todt claimed his kids said. We want to die with you.

Anthony Todt told detectives he and his wife made plans to kill the family before Christmas, starting with Zoe. He said Megan Todt was outside when he killed their daughter but helped him suffocate their eldest son Alek by holding his legs.

Todt said they consoled each other after killing their two children but decided they needed to continue with the plan and kill Tyler. We have to finish this, Todt claimed his wife said. Theres one more left.

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Todt claimed his wife was doing meditations as he suffocated and stabbed their youngest son.

We had salvation in mind, Todt said.  We love our kids.

Todt said after he killed their dog, his wife stabbed herself and they waited together for her death. Megan Todt drank Benadryl to quicken the process and got so frustrated she asked her husband to kill her, Anthony Todt claimed.

If you love me, you can do this, he claimed his wife said. I want to be with my babies.

Todt told detectives he tried to kill himself in a variety of ways in the weeks after their deaths, including overdosing on Benadryl and hanging himself, though he chickened out of using a knife. He said he took full responsibility for the killings.

If I could commit suicide right now, I would, he said. ... Im not hiding behind lawyers.

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Jurors also heard testimony Tuesday from several experts, including a medical examiner.

Megan Todt and her three children had been dead for at least a couple weeks before they were found by law enforcement, said Jennifer Nara, a former Orange-Osceola associate medical examiner.

The state of their decomposition made it hard to determine any injuries or if they had been asphyxiated, Nara said.

I did not rule it out, Nara told jurors. Just given the scale of decomposition, I cannot tell if they were suffocated or strangled.

The cause of death for all four victims was homicidal violence of unspecified means in association with a Benadryl toxicity, according to the medical examiner. A forensic toxicologist testified the amount of Benadryl in the victims could have caused fatigue, lethargy or possibly a coma.

The medical examiner said the boys each had one non-fatal stab wound to their abdomens. Neither wound hit vital organs or caused hemorrhaging, which means they were stabbed after they died, Nara told jurors.

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Megan Todt, though, had two stab wounds that went at least eight inches deep into the abdominal cavity and hemorrhaging, Nara said.

To me, that indicates that she sustained those injuries antemortem  when she was alive, she said.

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Orange-Osceola Public Defender Robert Wesley asked Nara if Megan Todts injuries were self-inflicted.

Based on the autopsy, I was not able to determine whether she inflicted it herself or whether it was inflicted on her, she said.

During his interrogation, Todt denied stabbing the boys after they died and said the children were given cough medicine because they were sick and not as a sedation method.

Prosecutors said Todts fingerprints were found on boxes of Benadryl scattered throughout the house.

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Christopher Conklin, a crime lab analyst with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, told jurors he tested the handle of a knife found in the bedroom with the bodies. It contained a mixture of DNA from three people, with the entire Todt family being possible contributors, Conklin said.

Jurors will return to the Osceola County Courthouse Wednesday morning to hear more testimony in the trial.

mcordeiro@orlandosentinel.com
FILE - "Ghost guns" are displayed at the headquarters of the San Francisco Police Department in San Francisco, on Nov. 27, 2019. The Biden administration is unveiling a completed rule aimed at reining in the proliferation of ghost guns, firearms without serial numbers that have been turning up at crime scenes across the nation in increasing numbers. The White House and the Justice Department argue that regulating the firearms parts and requiring dealers to stamp serial numbers of ghost guns will help drive down violent crime and aid investigators in solving crimes. Gun groups, however, argue that the government is overreaching and that its rule violates federal law.
FILE - A sign requiring masks as a precaution against the spread of the coronavirus on a store front in Philadelphia, is seen Feb. 16, 2022. Philadelphia is reinstating its indoor mask mandate after reporting a sharp increase in coronavirus infections, Dr. Cheryl Bettigole, the city's top health official, announced Monday, April 11, 2022. Confirmed COVID-19 cases have risen more than 50% in 10 days, the threshold at which the city's guidelines call for people to wear masks indoors.
FILE - Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey waves as she arrives to deliver her State of the State address at the State Capitol Building in Montgomery, Ala., Jan. 11, 2022. Ninth grader Harleigh Walker, 15, spent her spring break trying unsuccessfully to persuade members of the state House and Senate to reject legislation banning gender-affirming medications for transgender kids like her under 19. On Thursday, April 7, Alabama lawmakers passed the measure, and Gov. Ivey signed it into law on Friday.
Solablock, a member of the Berkshire Innovation Center, has received $170,000 in investment tax credits from the state to develop a project that its says will bring 17-full-time jobs to its Pittsfield office.
Keith Girouard, the regional director of the Berkshire regional office of the Massachusetts Small Business Development Center Network in Pittsfield, will participate in a three-part free webinar workshop series the center will hold beginning in May.
NORTH ADAMS  A man with a history of burglaries has been charged with the recent break-in at the Central Berkshire District Court building in Pittsfield.

Christopher Vandesteene, 40, of Pittsfield, is accused of breaking into the courthouse sometime during the last weekend in March.

First Assistant District Attorney Karen Bell said Monday during Vandesteenes arraignment that authorities discovered the courthouse had been broken into on March 28. Court was canceled that day in light of the incident.

A woman told police that Vandesteene brought items he had allegedly stolen from the courthouse off Wendell Avenue to her residence, Bell said. Armed with a warrant, police searched her home and recovered the items, which were unspecified.

Also found in the womans residence was a pair of sneakers that she said Vandesteene was wearing when he dropped off the items, Bell said.

The sneakers matched a footprint that was found outside a window that Bell said was used in the break-in, she said.

Asked by Judge Paul Vrabel whether she could share anything about a possible motive, Bell said, Not at this time.

No further information was available because the police report associated with the investigation was impounded at the request of the Berkshire District Attorneys Office, thereby shielding it from public view.

A spokesman for the DAs office Monday would not say whether there are any other suspects in the courthouse break-in, saying the incident remains under investigation. The impoundment order expires Sept. 1.

While prosecutors have not detailed what exactly was stolen, several sources told The Eagle that authorities were investigating the theft of a safe from the clerks office. Requests for information about the break-in made prior to Mondays arraignment were referred to the Berkshire DAs office.

The Eagle submitted to the office a public records request for the incident report associated with the break-in, but Deputy District Attorney Richard Dohoney on April 6 denied the request, citing an exemption for materials whose disclosure would probably  prejudice the possibility of effective law enforcement.

In 2017, Vandesteene was sentenced to serve up to four years in prison after admitting to stealing four ATMs and a safe in order to pay an outstanding debt to a drug dealer.

Earlier this year, in January, Vandesteene was arrested in connection with a break-in at the Gateways Inn in Lenox where $8,000 of cash, merchandise and credit cards were stolen and later used at businesses in Lee, Pittsfield and Dalton.

At his January arraignment larceny and breaking and entering charges for the Gateways Inn incident, Judge Danielle Williams denied a request from the DAs office to revoke Vandesteenes bail on an open case in Central Berkshire District Court.

On Monday, Vandesteene pleaded not guilty in Northern Berkshire District Court on Monday to charges of felony nighttime breaking and entering and receiving stolen property over $1,200. His arraignment was moved to the North Adams courthouse to avoid any conflict of interest.

Judge Vrabel agreed to Bells request to revoke Vandesteenes bail on four open cases, and also set $5,000 cash bail on the new case.
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.
WEST STOCKBRIDGE  The owner of Rouge restaurant on Center Street has decided to sell both the eatery that she has run for over 20 years, and its recently constructed wine shop.

In a recent Facebook post, Maggie Merelle said she intends to put both businesses on the market this week.

In a brief telephone interview Monday, Merelle declined to elaborate on her reasons for putting Rouge and Rouge Fine Wines on the market.

All that I would be able to tell you right now is that I look forward to supporting all the West Stockbridge businesses as they enter their 2022 season of renewal, she said.

When asked how she planned to sell the businesses, Merelle referred to her position as a Realtor with William Pitt Sothebys International Realty, which has offices in Great Barrington and Lenox. According to her biography on Sothebys website, Merelle is licensed to sell real estate in Massachusetts, Connecticut and New York.

In the post, which she described as a valedictory not a eulogy, Merelle stated that she has been been the heart and soul of Rouge for over 20 years, and the eatery with the help of my local customers, team and the community... revitalized West Stockbridge.

Now that the COVID restrictions are lifting this should be a period of renewal for Rouge, she wrote. For me it is a fork in the road.

I was fortunate to be able to launch a successful career in real estate, she stated. I plotted a path to lead Rouge in this era while also recognizing this is the ideal time for a new leader with their own team, talent and resources to carry forward this beloved Berkshires institution.

With a heart full of gratitude I have decided to step away and offer this magical space for someone else to cherish.

Merelle also wished Rouges patrons many more evenings of happiness sitting at its tables and barstools, and, in spirit, I will be raising my glass to you all.

She concluded her post by writing in French, avec mes meilleurs voeux et souvenirs which means with all my best wishes and memories. Rouge is the French word for the color red.

Originally from Brooklyn, N.Y., Merelle moved to the Berkshires 22 years ago, and founded Rouge the year after she came here, according to her biography on Sothebys website.

A graduate of Antioch College, Merelle has also lived in Manhattan and in France and speaks English, French and Spanish.
staff photographer

Gillian Jones has been a staff photographer and columnist for the Berkshire Eagle since 2014. She began her journalism career at The North Adams Transcript in 1992.
Philadelphia became the first major U.S. city to reinstate its indoor mask mandate on Monday after reporting a sharp increase in coronavirus infections, with the citys top health official saying she wanted to forestall a potential new wave driven by an omicron subvariant.

Confirmed COVID-19 cases have risen more than 50% in 10 days, the threshold at which the citys guidelines call for people to wear masks indoors, said Dr. Cheryl Bettigole, the health commissioner. Health officials believe the recent spike is being driven by the highly transmissible BA.2 subvariant of omicron, which has spread rapidly throughout Europe and Asia, and has become dominant in the U.S. in recent weeks.

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If we fail to act now, knowing that every previous wave of infections has been followed by a wave of hospitalizations, and then a wave of deaths, it will be too late for many of our residents, said Bettigole, noting about 750 Philadelphia residents died in the wintertime omicron outbreak. This is our chance to get ahead of the pandemic, to put our masks on until we have more information about the severity of this new variant.

Health inspectors will begin enforcing the mask mandate at city businesses on April 18.

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Most states and cities dropped their masking requirements in February and early March following new guidelines from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that put less focus on case counts and more on hospital capacity. The CDC said at that time that with the virus in retreat, most Americans could safely take off their masks.

Philadelphia ended its indoor mask mandate March 2, and Bettigole acknowledged it was wonderful to feel that sense of normalcy again.

Confirmed cases have since risen to more than 140 per day  still a fraction of what Philadelphia saw at the height of the omicron surge  while hospitalizations remain low at only 46 patients.

I sincerely wish we didnt have to do this again, Bettigole said. But I am very worried about our vulnerable neighbors and loved ones.

The restaurant industry pushed back against reimposed masking, saying workers will bear the brunt of customer anger over the new rules.

This announcement is a major blow to thousands of small businesses and other operators in the city who were hoping this spring would be the start of recovery, said Ben Fileccia, senior director of operations at the Pennsylvania Restaurant & Lodging Association.

PolicyLab at Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia said Friday that while it expects some increased transmission in the northern U.S. over the next several weeks, hospital admissions have remained low and our team advises against required masking given that hospital capacity is good.

Breaking News As it happens Get the latest updates on Coronavirus and other breaking news events happening across Connecticut >

Bettigole said masking will help restaurants and other businesses stay open, while a huge new wave of COVID-19 would keep customers at home. She said hospital capacity was just one factor that went into her decision to reinstate the mandate.

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In New York City, Mayor Eric Adams has paused his push to unwind many of the citys virus rules as cases have risen, opting for now to keep a mask mandate for 2 to 4-year-olds in city schools and preschools. But Adams, a Democrat who has said New Yorkers should not let the pandemic run their lives, has already lifted most other mask mandates and rules requiring proof of vaccination to dine in restaurants, work out at gyms or attend shows.

Adams was asked at a virtual news conference Monday afternoon if he was considering reimposing the New York City mask mandate in light of Philadelphias decision. The mayor said he would listen to his team of medical doctors for their advice on whether to bring back any restrictions. Adams himself tested positive for COVID-19 on Sunday.

New York City is now averaging around 1,800 new cases per day, about three times higher than in early March when New York began easing rules. That does not include the many home tests that go unreported to health officials.

The latest outbreak has struck many high-profile officials in Washington, including Cabinet members and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and the governors of New Jersey and Connecticut. Some universities have reinstated mask mandates.

Washington D.C. health officials say they have no immediate plans to change virus protocols, but they reserve the right to change course down the road.

Rubinkam reported from northeastern Pennsylvania. Associated Press reporter Michelle L. Price in New York contributed to this story.
Police detain anti-war demonstrators last month in St. Petersburg, Russia. Police have conducted mass arrests of protesters and banned any information about the siege on Ukraine that differs from state-run news reports.
House Speaker Ron Mariano checks in with a table of kids during lunchtime Monday at Ellis Early Learning in Boston's South End, prior to holding a press conference on his budget proposal for the early education and care sector.
The union representing Massachusetts State Police criticized the governor for keeping the COVID-19 vaccine mandate executive order in place even as he works to lift other pandemic-era restrictions such as a school mask mandate.
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Spearfish, SD (57783)

Today

Mainly cloudy. High 74F. Winds WSW at 15 to 25 mph. Winds could occasionally gust over 40 mph..

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Partly cloudy. Low 43F. Winds WSW at 10 to 15 mph.
In the most critical moment of the entire Bible, the moment when Jesus dies on the cross, he shouts from the cross a phrase that can be puzzling to those of us reading the account so many centuries later: "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"

The phrase is found in both Matthew 27:46 and Mark 15:34. The English Standard Version of the Bible relates it like this: And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?

Forsake means to turn away from or withdraw from. Why would God do that to his own son? As it is something that we would not do to our own children, it is odd that the source of all love would turn away from his own son, yet this is exactly what has happened in this moment. It was necessary for the fullness of Gods love for humanity to be realized and it tells us how much God values us.

Verse Context in Psalm 22

When Jesus cries out this phrase, it is a reference to Psalm 22. This Psalm is held to be a messianic psalm and one where the author (King David) appears to be sharing in some vision of what will happen to the Lords Messiah. Jesus only shares the first verse of the Psalm, but because of the scriptural literacy of Jesus day, most people would have assumed he was referring to the entire Psalm. We can examine it and find tie-ins to the crucifixion narrative.

In Psalm 22:6-8, it says that Davids enemies are mocking him, specifically because he trusts in the Lord that the Lord would rescue him. Matthew 27:35-44 and Mark 15:29-32 both say that the people mocking Jesus claimed that if God loved him so much, then God should save him in that moment.

Psalm 22:18 states that the clothing of the author was divided up and the oppressors were casting lots (a game of chance) for the possession of it. Matthew 27:35 tells us that Jesus garments were divided up and the new owners were decided by casting lots. How amazing is it that across the approximately 1,000 years difference between King Davids visionrecorded in Psalm 22and the recorded actions of the death of Jesus, should be so similar?

But wait, theres more. Psalm 22, though a Messianic Psalm, is also classified as a lament (another category of Psalm). Laments are notable in that not only do they describe an unbearable situation in which the author finds himself, they also declare a universal dependence upon the Lord and gratitude is offered for the grace of God. When Jesus cried out the first verse of this Psalm, he was also calling out his dependence upon God and his gratitude for the benevolence of God (Psalm 22:3-5, 9-11, 19-31). He recognized the desperation of humanity that suddenly hung upon his shoulders and even in that agonizing moment, his voice called out to show that only God can deliver us.

Verse Context in Matthew and Mark

Matthew and Mark share the same verse in the same way (almost word-for-word). Yet they are doing it with different goals. Matthew stresses throughout his writings that Jesus is the Messiah that was predicted in the Old Testament. This is highlighted by his emphasis on Jesus roles of teacher and king. Keeping that in mind, Matthew would have likely connected in his mind the author of Psalm 22 (King David) to Jesus and thereby making Jesus the one who was anointed to complete the work, save his people, and rule in eternity.

Mark had a different focus. While he did understand Jesus as the Son of God, he typically made sure that people understood his humanity as being a part of the unique personhood of Jesus. Jesus is not half human and half God. The human part was as important as the God part. For him Jesus was fully God and fully human, not some less powerful demigod as the Romans or Greeks would have understood. He has the attributes of God and humanity fully expressed and fully powered.

Jesus cry of the Psalm would have been of a suffering Savior facing death for the most noble cause. This was different than most peoples notion of God. For them, God was unkillable. Here, God has become truly vulnerable for the sake of his creation and now the moment of death arises.

The verse in question arises at a very specific point in the story of Jesus death. They are his very last words. Prior to this, Jesus was suffering not only the physical pain of his torture and the implementation of the crucifixion, but he was suffering the psychological pain of ridicule by those whom he was saving by his actions. Both Matthew and Mark share that after he gives his life, the curtain in the Temple was torn from top to bottom and the Roman Centurion watching Jesus die exclaimed that he was surely the Son of God.

In the Temple of Jerusalem, the curtain that the Bible speaks of is the one that separates the Holy of Holies from the rest of the Temple. The Holy of Holies was the place where the Ark of the Covenant had been placed (though it had been lost by this point) and it was the physical location where God would meet with the representative of his people (High Priest). If we interpret the actions leading up to this moment, it leads us to the conclusion that the humiliation, suffering, and death of Jesus Christ removed the barriers between us and God.

The theological term for this is justification. There was no longer a need for a blood sacrifice every year for sinJesus sacrifice dealt with sin once and for all. No longer do we need a High Priest to speak on our behalf, Jesus has assumed this role (Hebrews 7: 22-28). The relationship that we were created to have with God is now possible again.

Why Does Jesus Cry "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me"?

Ultimately, it comes down to an exchange or substitution. We were given the covenant ideas and language to be able to understand in some way the need for God to demand justice for the offense of human sin. We despised the goodness of God when Eve took of the forbidden fruit and because of the first offense, we have all lived under its curse. It is an imperfection in the good thing that God created us to be.

The language of sacrifice allows us to begin to comprehend our need and the remedy for that imperfection: a sacrifice of blood. However, the question does present itself, how effective is a sacrifice that has to be renewed continuously? Is there some way to pay the price forever? God had this very thing in mind from the beginning. The early sacrifices were in place to help us to understand what Jesus would do when he came to walk among us.

You see, sacrifices had to be perfect animals. Humans are not perfect from birth. He would be able to satisfy the demand for a perfect sacrifice because he was perfect from before conception. Only Jesus could pay our price, only Jesus could suffer in our place.

When Jesus hangs on the cross, despised, suffering, and dying, he has upon himself the entirety of all sin. God cannot look upon sin, so he turns his back and withdraws his favor. The burden is now fully upon his Son and the reality of Gods wrath for sin reveals itself in full. Here is where Jesus cries out My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? In this moment there is the despair of death, but in the words of the Psalm that he references, there is also hope for deliverance. Jesus still has trust in the God of the Universe. He has submitted to Gods will to that very last moment. There is a terrible beauty in this death in that it shows us that God loves us by taking our place on the cross and dying in our stead.

What Do Other Translations Say?

How much does translation impact the interpretation of this verse? Has anything been lost over the generations? Lets take a look at a few different English translations:

ESV: And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani? that is, My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?

Holman Christian Standard Bible: About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out with a loud voice, Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani? that is, My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?

KJV: And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? That is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?

The Message: From noon to three, the whole earth was dark. Around midafternoon Jesus groaned out of the depths, crying loudly, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? which means, My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?

NIV: About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, Eli, Eli, lemasabachthani? (which means My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?).

As you can see in the different English language translations, this passage has been translated with a great deal of confidence in its meaning for a long period of time (the King James version is from the year 1611).

What Do Jesus' Words Mean for Us?

Jesus last words are not a pleasant phrase; they are full of despair. It was misunderstood by those close by when he said it and today it can be difficult to understand without placing it into its appropriate context of Psalm 22. You cannot leave it by itself. Jesus was calling us to the full Psalm just as he knew that his followers would understand when they figured out what he had said. Yes, that was a moment of ultimate pain and loss as only the burden of sin could cause.

But also, there was still hope in the promise of Gods deliverance and that there would be resurrection on the other side of death. Psalm 22 shows us Jesus utter dependence upon God, even when he could not feel anything but the weight of the sin of the world. We are invited to do the same in our lives. To depend on God, trust in his love, and believe that eternal life is offered to us through the sacrifice of Jesus his son.

Photo credit: Getty Images/mbolina

Larry White is the Pastor of Community United Methodist Church in Marathon, FL and is also an Adjunct Professor at Florida Keys Community College teaching courses in World Religions and New Testament.
Shanghai to bring epidemic under control: Spokesperson

(People's Daily App) 09:47, April 12, 2022

With the leadership of the Communist Party of China and help from all over the country, the epidemic in Shanghai will be contained soon, Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Zhao Lijian said at a press conference in Beijing on Monday.

Chinas central, provincial and municipal governments have sent medical staff and supplies to help Shanghai, Zhao said.

Asked whether China would continue with its dynamic zero-COVID policy, Zhao said, The Chinese governments dynamic zero-COVID approach is in the spirit of being responsible to the people of China and the world.

China had one of the lowest rates of COVID-19 infection and mortality in the world, Zhao said.

The policy has proved to be in line with its national conditions, and has made an important contribution to the global fight against the COVID-19, he said, adding There is an end to every pandemic and every war.

(Produced by Qiao Wai and Meng Gaohan)

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
The state Supreme Court on Tuesday ordered an unprecedented investigation that could lead to the removal or suspension of Superior Court Judge Alice Bruno, who has collected as much as $400,000 in salary while missing nearly 2 years of work for what she describes as health-related reasons.

The justices appointed Robert Devlin, the retired judge and federal prosecutor recently appointed as the states new Inspector General, to direct the investigation. He is given broad powers, including the authority to collect all of Brunos personnel and health records and order her to submit to further medical examinations, the ruling says. The order also requires all judges and judicial branch employees to cooperate with Devlin, something one judge called significant and unprecedented.

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Bruno, 66, has been involved in a strange standoff for more than three years with the judges of the state judicial branch over her attendance and performance at work. The branch contends her prolonged absence while collecting a salary violates the code of judicial conduct by, among other things, undermining public confidence in the judiciary. She claims she has become incapacitated by an undisclosed health condition that has been aggravated by years of antagonism by senior administrators in the court system.

[ Connecticut judge who collected as much as $400K while missing 2 years of work tells state Supreme Court she should not be disciplined ]

The standoff has started discussion among lawyers, judges and others about how judges are appointed and, once appointed, how they are held accountable. The Supreme Courts intervention in the standoff is taking place as the legislature once again embarks on the mostly secret process of appointing a large number of Superior Court nominees chosen by Gov. Ned Lamont. The legislatures judiciary committee approved 22 new judges earlier this year and Lamont is expected to submit another 10 nominees before the session ends in early May.

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[ Lamont sending big class of nominees for Connecticut judgeships to legislature for confirmation ]

The Supreme Court decided last year to take charge of the Bruno case and decide what, if any discipline is appropriate. It is the first time the court has embarked on a process that could lead to dismissal of a judge, a constitutional position with protections greater than those of civil service employees.

Under the high courts order, Devlin is permitted to appoint assistants to work on the investigation, all of whom will have access to the volumes of sealed records and medical reports already on file.

In addition, the Office of the Chief Court Administrator, all Connecticut judges, and all judicial branch employees, shall promptly and fully cooperate with the investigator and his designees in connection with the investigation, and shall provide to them any records or other information upon request, the order states.

Bruno, who remains a salaried judge in spite of her years-long absence, also is ordered to fully and promptly cooperate with the Investigation including requests by Devlin or his staff for interviews, records in possession of third parties, and records in possession of the state Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities and the state Judicial Review Council.

Bruno previously filed a complaint with the Commission of Human Rights and Opportunities, claiming that she is being discriminated against on the basis of a disability because administrators of the court system will not accommodate her by providing her with a stress-free work environment. Chief Court Administrator Patrick Carroll was required by law to refer Bruno to the Judicial Review Council, the secretive agency that adjudicates routine complaints against judges, when she refused his request to submit to an independent medical examination.

Should Bruno fail to comply with the Supreme Court order, she will face further disciplinary proceedings, according to the order.

Devlin is instructed to keep the investigation secret and submit his findings when complete to the justices, who will decide at that point what further steps are required. One section of the courts order gives Devlin the authority to explore alterative resolutions to the issues underlying this investigation, a suggestion that he can negotiate Brunos resignation.

The justices declined to discuss the order. Brunos lawyer, Jacques Parenteau, said she will cooperate.

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I think we are in an unprecedented area here, Parenteau said. Judge Bruno fully intends to comply with the order of the court.

Bruno and the judges of the state judicial branch have been at odds for years over her attendance and job performance, according to internal agency correspondence. The precise nature of the dispute remains something of a mystery, because records and correspondence describing the medical condition or conditions underlying the disagreement are sealed

She last reported to work on Nov. 14, 2019. In a filing with the court she claims the stressful work environment related to the hostility toward my medical conditions and appointments to treat ongoing health issues reached a peak two weeks before then, when she left work to see her primary care physician about an undisclosed medical condition. By that point, the judicial branch administration had become concerned about absences by her and other judges and had initiated an audit.

Bruno alleged in the filing that, While I was in the doctors office Judge (Anna) Ficeto continued the harassment directed by Chief Court Administrator Carroll in leaving a voice mail on my phone that was critical of my taking time to attend to health issues.

According to Bruno, Ficeto, who was supervising the Waterbury Courthouse, said she had become aware from a colleague that Bruno was taking a week off for medical purposes. Ficeto asked Bruno to provide a medical note.

Five Things You Need To Know Daily We're providing the latest coronavirus coverage in Connecticut each weekday morning. >

 So you just need to be aware of the fact that your attendance, your doctors appointments and all those things are being scrutinized at every level. I understand youve got doctors appointments coming up, once again theyre in the middle of the day, the affidavit recounts Ficeto as saying on the voicemail. You keep digging this hole for yourself Alice, I dont know how many ways to tell you that what youre doing is not acceptable. Call me when you get a chance. . Thank you.

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Bruno, appointed by former Gov. Dannel P. Malloy, submitted a letter from her doctor on Nov. 26, 2019 and said she would be back at work Dec. 11, 2019. But she submitted another note before then, saying she was unable to return to work, the affidavit says.

In her affidavit, Bruno claims that at one point the judicial branch proposed having her return to work in Waterbury  which is relatively close to her home, but also where Ficeto was working  as a proposed accommodation. Bruno said she rejected the offer because Ficeto allegedly had been hostile to her in the past, apart from what Bruno said she considered to be the antagonistic voice message.

For example, after I was appointed to Waterbury Judicial District she would not say hello to me when passing me in building, Bruno wrote.

Bruno said what she claimed was mistreatment by colleagues began as early as 2015.

I was assigned to domestic violence docket in the Judicial District of Hartford in July of 2015, she wrote, also claiming she was forced to work with a high temperature and fever because Chief Court Administrator told me that I could not take time off.

It was also during this assignment that I was informed that I could not schedule doctors appointments on Monday or Friday, or even during the workday. As will be seen these unreasonable restrictions on my ability to obtain medical treatment eventually caused me to experience severe, physical stress and mental distress that resulted in hospitalization for cardiac distress symptoms in November of 2019, she wrote.
This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters (1 John 3:16).

There are so many different aspects of Christs character we can learn from. As believers Jesus is our greatest example and whom we always strive to emulate while we live on this earth. I am sure you would agree there is room for improvement in this area for all of us.

Since we are looking at the character of Jesus, I want you to pay close attention to what 1 John 3:16 teaches us about Christ. His genuine love and humility  which this verse speaks to  are what is needed in the body of Christ now more than ever before.

What Does 1 John 3:16 Mean?

There are three key parts of this verse I would like to highlight for you. Make sure you keep the question what does 1 John 3:16 teach us about Christ in mind as we break down these three parts.

1. The Setup - This is how we know what love is

When I read these words, for some reason the song by Foreigner pops into my head. The lyrics to that song were I want to know what love is, I want you to show me.

In the first part of this verse, John sets the stage to define for us what love is. I appreciate the fact that John is going to give us a definitive answer as to what love really is. Its as if he does not want there to be any doubt in your mind as to what love looks like.

2. The Definition - Jesus Christ laid down his life for us...

After setting us up to tell us how we can know what love is, John proceeds to tell us. Love is defined and demonstrated by Christ laying down his life for us. This is not the first time in the Bible that we have heard this truth. This verse agrees with what Jesus said earlier in the Gospel of John.

Greater love has no one than this: to lay down ones life for ones friends (John 15:13).

When Paul was writing to the church in Rome, he also used similar language to inform us of how God demonstrated his love for us.

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8).

When you think about what love is, it must include some level of sacrifice. If you are going to love someone and demonstrate that love, at some point it will cost you something. Sometimes these costs can be measured in dollars, but often the cost is something far more valuable. Love requires a sacrifice of time, talent, possibly treasure, but the real sacrifice of love comes when it costs you something that has real value to you.

In Jesus case, he showed us his love by laying down his life for us. I think you would agree that is something of real value and something that is of a high price. What makes this display of love a true sacrifice is that Jesus died for us when we had nothing to offer him. He was not a bad man dying for good people. He was a sinless man dying for sinful people. Just the fact that he would be willing to bear the punishment of our sins is proof of how great his love is for you and me.

3. The Response - And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.

Knowing what 1 John 3:16 teaches us about Christ, what should your response be? This is the last part of this verse.

John tells us what our response to each other should be in correlation to what Jesus did for us. Because Jesus laid down his life for us, we should be willing to do the same for our brothers and sisters. Does this mean we have to die for them? Not necessarily. But it does mean we may have to die to ourselves for them.

One of the challenges facing the body of Christ  and maybe this is just in Western culture  but it feels like we have forgotten to put others ahead of ourselves. Either we have forgotten or have simply chosen to ignore it. The concept of dying to yourself is foreign and this verse is a reminder of what we need to get back to. Imagine the difference the church would make if we stopped thinking so highly about ourselves and started putting the interests of others ahead of our own. This may not be popular, but this is what Christ did and this is what we are called to do.

What Is the Context of This Verse?

In chapter 3 of this book, John is talking about the love of God, the children of God, and how you identify them. Some of the ways we do this are tied to our attitudes about sin and how we choose to love each other. For example, you cant say you know God and continue to live in sin. Neither can you say you love God and at the same time hate your brother or sister. These two things cannot exist in someone who is a child of God.

This does not mean you may not have a struggle with sin or find some people who are difficult to love, it means you dont willfully continue in sin or choose to hate your brother or sister.

What Does This Verse Show Us about Christ's Character?

One thing 1 John 3:16 teaches about Christs character is his willingness to lay down his life. He didnt have to do it, he chose to do it. This speaks volumes to the mindset we should have when it comes to laying down our lives for others. We should not see it as a have to, where we do this begrudgingly; we should see it as a want to, because Christ did it for us.

How Can We Lay Down Our Lives for Others?

If we are going to lay our lives down for others what does this look like? While there may be many ways to demonstrate this, I simply want you to think about the little things. In this same chapter here is something John says.

If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? (1 John 3:17).

One thing laying down your life for others means is to help your brother or sister when you can do so. If you see your brother or sister in need and can do something about it, then that is what you do. You dont do this because you have to, but when you remember the sacrifice Jesus made for you, it compels you to.

This verse in 1 John 3:16 is a true reminder of what Christ did for us, but also what we must do for each other. If we are going to live this Christian life right, then it will require submission, sacrifice, and surrender. These arent the most popular themes in Christianity today, but it is exactly what Christ modeled for us. Moreover, this is what we should be displaying toward each other.

If we can get to this level of Christianity, this is the kind that can truly impact the world around us. I must also say this is the type of Christianity that will draw many people to Christ. For this reason alone, we should strive to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. If it wins one more person to the Kingdom, then the sacrifice will all be worth it.

Photo credit: Getty Images/Shuang Paul Wang

Clarence L. Haynes Jr. is a speaker, Bible teacher, and co-founder of The Bible Study Club. He is the author of The Pursuit of Purpose which will help you understand how God leads you into his will. He has also just released his new book The Pursuit of Victory: How To Conquer Your Greatest Challenges and Win In Your Christian Life. Do you want to go deeper in your walk with the Lord but cant seem to overcome the stuff that keeps getting in the way? This book will teach you how to put the pieces together so you can live a victorious Christian life and finally become the man or woman of God that you truly desire to be. To learn more about his ministry please visit clarencehaynes.com.

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.

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LEWISTON - Lewiston Assistant City Attorney Kayla Hermann has been awarded the Idaho Women Lawyers' Rising Star Award, the city announced in a press release Monday.

The award recognizes a woman within the first seven years of practice for her contributions to the legal community and who appears to be on a path toward even greater accomplishments.

Kayla has been with the City of Lewiston for six years after joining the City Attorneys Office just five months after becoming a licensed attorney.

Kayla is known by her peers as someone who exemplifies professionalism and exudes compassion for public service, City of Lewiston Public Information Officer Carol Maurer said. Public service is no easy feat, but Kayla handles every task with a strong and ethical mind and an open heart. She is a true servant leader, and the community is lucky to have her working on their behalf.

In addition to her valuable contributions to the City of Lewiston, Kayla has taken a leadership role among all municipal attorneys in Idaho. In 2018, just two years after starting with the City of Lewiston, Kayla was elected to serve as the Idaho Municipal Attorneys (IMA) Secretary. She has since continued her leadership by serving as the IMA Vice President in 2019 and the IMA President in 2020. She currently serves as the IMA Past President. IMA also awarded Kayla with its own Rising Star Award in 2018.

Kayla will be recognized and will receive the Idaho Women Lawyers (IWL) Rising Star Award at the IWL Gala later this month.
MOSCOW - A University of Idaho junior with a double major in biochemistry, and molecular biology and biotechnology, was selected from a pool of over 5,000 college sophomores and juniors as this years recipient of the Barry Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation. Zhenhao Victor Zhong will receive up to $7,500 to pay for tuition, fees, books and room and board.

Zhong works with Assistant Professor Paul Rowley and Professor Doug Cole in the Department of Biological Sciences. Zhongs undergraduate research focuses on isolating the virus-like element related to pathogens that cause Chagas disease and sleeping sickness.

Zhong plans to obtain a Ph.D. in molecular virology and conduct research aimed at isolating and mapping viruses to create more effective treatments.

The Goldwater Foundation is a federally endowed agency established by Public Law 99-661 on Nov. 14, 1986, with a scholarship program honoring Senator Barry Goldwater. It is designed to encourage outstanding students to pursue research careers in the fields of the natural sciences, engineering and mathematics. The Goldwater Scholarship is the preeminent undergraduate award of its type in these fields.
To boost jobless aid funding and help small businesses address the abuse of Michigan's unemployment system, Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed a bill Monday.

The legislation pours $139.8 million into the Michigan Unemployment Compensation Fund. This includes $106.8 million in federal funds, $24 million from the state general fund and $8.9 million of state restricted funds.

Most of the money is to be deposited into the Unemployment Compensation Fund to lower future costs for small businesses, according to a Monday press release by Whitmer's office.

"By making a deposit into the Unemployment Compensation Fund, we can help small businesses balance their books by lowering the costs of unemployment," Whitmer said in the release. "Together, we will pursue anyone who improperly exploits unemployment benefits to pad their own pockets and ensure they are prosecuted to the full extent of our laws."

To prosecute those abusing the system, "Attorney General Dana Nessel, Michigans Unemployment Insurance Agency, our federal partners and my administration will continue working together to utilize this funding as effectively as possible to crack down on fraud and save taxpayers money," Whitmer continued in the release.

Additionally, the legislation is to allow Michigan's Unemployment Insurance Agency to hire dozens more investigators and collections staff to pursue criminals and work to recover stolen funds. As the new head of UIA, Director Julia Dale will oversee the implementation of the funding to continue to crack down on fraud and hold bad actors accountable, according to the release.

The legislation also helps Nessel's office pursue unemployment claimant fraud, employer fraud and identify theft.

Whitmer's Unemployment Insurance Fraud Response Team, created in late 2021 after a report found the state paid out $8.5 billion in fraudulent benefits during the pandemic, works with Nessel's office and local law enforcement to identify and prosecute criminals.

The team has charged 54 people and 13 have been convicted or pleaded guilty, according to the release.
On Monday, Bill spoke with passenger rights advocate Paul Hudson about how Americans can fight back against the increasingly-lousy airlines. Enhance your life  become a Premium Member for complete access to the No Spin News and get a FREE COPY of Killing the Killers.
With the acquisition of 100% stake by Suven Pharmaceuticals, Casper would become wholly owned subsidiary

The Board of Directors of Suven Pharmaceuticals Limited (SPL) has approved the investments by way of purchase of entire (100%) share capital from the existing shareholders of Casper Pharma Private Limited (CPPL) a Hyderabad based SEZ company engaged in formulations business. Post purchase of shares, the target entity would become a wholly owned subsidiary of SPL.

Cash consideration of $20.50 million based on the present exchange rate equivalent to around Rs 155 crores will be paid to the sellers of the shares in target entity.

The present manufacturing facility of Casper Pharma has installed capacity of 1.2 billion tablets/ capsules. The company is ready for USFDA inspection which is expected to happen within next 6 months timeframe. The unit is yet to reach its commercially viable operations.

The objective of this acquisition is to acquire formulations facility of Casper Pharma and to engage in manufacturing and supplying solid oral dosage formulations including tablets, capsules and liquid oral products through the contractual arrangement with customers for USA and other regulated markets.
Launches Gali Gali Mein Digital Clinic programme

Docty is aiming to set up 100 Digital Health Kiosks across Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra. As a part of this 'Phygital Care' programme Gali Gali Mein Digital Clinic, Docty has partnered with 100+ offline stores, local pharmacies, photo-copy centres, and Internet cafes in these geographies. The initiative is dedicated to improving digital healthcare accessibility for the rural and impoverished urban communities of India.

The kiosks will also enable residents to consult doctors across 28+ specialities. Docty kiosks will be set up at every three kilometres in cities, and 5 kilometres in villages, providing access to quality healthcare in almost every Gali.

Over 2022-23, Docty plans to further expand its Digital Health Kiosks across Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar, covering all their surrounding villages and tier-III cities.
South Africa's two biggest mineworkers' unions said on Tuesday, 12 April, that workers at Sibanye Stillwater's platinum operations plan to go on strike to show their support for gold miners locked in a wage dispute with the company.

Members of NUM and AMCU, who have been on strike at Sibanye-Stillwater's gold operations since 9 March, hold placards as they stage a protest outside the company's Kloof Mine in the southwest of Johannesburg, South Africa, 25 March 2022. Reuters/Siphiwe Sibeko

Sibanye makes final offer

Members of the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) and Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (AMCU) have been on strike at Sibanye's gold operations since 9 March demanding an increase of R1,000 per month over the next three years.To show solidarity with the gold miners, close to 35,000 workers are expected to down tools at Sibanye's platinum group metal operations at Rustenburg and Marikana.An NUM official told Reuters the unions were yet to give official notice for the strike or announce a start date.Sibanye has said it will not increase its final offer of a 5% increase for miners, artisans and officials and an annual increase of R800 a month each year for "unskilled and semi-skilled" employees between 2022 and 2024."The workers are strong in their conviction and they remain steadfast in their demand for a better life and livelihood while working in the belly of the Earth," the two unions said in a joint statement.Sibanye was not immediately available to comment.A strike at Sibanye's South African platinum operations, which accounted for more than 70% of the group's earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) in the year ended December 2021, would hurt profitability.
Leon Steyn, CEO of IT sourcing and procurement specialists Dante Deo, takes us on a dive into the procurement industry.

Leon Steyn, CEO of Dante Deo

When people talk of procurement, it may seem a bit vague to those not in the industry. Break down what it means to be in procurement and why young people should be excited about getting involved in the sector?

What are the available opportunities and earning potential in the field?

What experience gap is the procurement and supply chain industry currently facing, and how do we bridge that?

How can big corporates make a difference to small businesses through procurement and supply chain?

What should small businesses do to get noticed by big businesses?

What does the Constitutional Court's recent ruling on Preferential Procurement Regulations mean for the industry and job creation?

Steyn has 20 years experience in the IT industry, working across a variety of sectors including supply chain, logistics and mining. He spent nearly six years with Anglo American as a global category specialist and manager before breaking away to found Dante Deo.Here Steyn shares with us his expertise, weighing in on the career potential as well as knowledge gaps in the procurement industry, while offering insight to small businesses looking to make it as a supplier.Procurement is the opposite side of the sales process. However, unlike the sales process, the procurement professional gets exposed to many different suppliers in the industry. It's also important for the procurement professional to specialise in a particular industry vertical, such as technology, facilities management, or industrial equipment.A specialisation is essential to ensure that the procurement manager is able to deliver the best product at the best price at the right time to stakeholders. Unfortunately, many procurement professionals believe that they only need to follow the process, for example, tick-box procurement. This leads to poor deals that ultimately cost stakeholders a significant amount of money, time, and valuable resources. It can also ruin the relationship between the company and the supplier.The procurement industry plays a critical role in facilitating the relationship between supply and demand, making it a key driver of economic activity. And since procurement sits at the core of all economic models, the sector also promotes the growth of countries and regions.Procurement has two high-level streams, namely tactical and strategic. The tactical procurement process deals with the process of buying goods and services. The tactical side of procurement involves buying items or services that a company requires to operate at a basic level. These are not strategic for the company, and usually, many suppliers can supply them, for example, nuts and bolts or recruitment services. Tactical procurement is admin-intensive and requires skills that focus on both routine and attention to detail.On the other hand, strategic procurement (often called strategic category management) involves a significant amount of experience in a specific field, such as IT, mining equipment, or utility transport. The supply and demand of the goods and services that need to be procured by the strategic procurement manager are critical to the organisation. Therefore, it is important that the right product is bought at the right price and delivered at the right time to ensure operational stability and success. Procurement professionals in this stream need to understand the market drivers, influences on the supply of goods and services, and the relative risks that persist. In short, these are the dealmakers that sit behind the executives.When I was growing up, I wanted to be the CEO of a large multinational organisation and make all the deals. But today, I'm doing exactly that in the procurement industry. The sector is very dynamic and mentally challenging  it requires continuous learning and keeping up to date with global events and trends.Every organisation needs to procure something since no company can operate in a vacuum. Within small and micro enterprises, the owners or management team are responsible for procurement. However, for medium and large businesses, procurement becomes even more of a critical role.Whether it's the buyers on the ground, the category managers, or the chief procurement officer, there are many opportunities at various levels. You can stay in the fundamentals of procurement for your entire career or move around and grow every two to three years, learning new skills, industries, and technologies. Besides IT, I think that procurement is the fastest-changing career in the employment market now.Given the wide variety of options, a potential procurement candidate can earn anything from R200k per year as a junior with minimal experience to a seven-figure salary as a specialised professional.The fourth industrial revolution is fundamentally changing the way we work and buy goods in the market. This means that most things today have some technology and licensing impact. In South Africa, we find that the knowledge and skills relating to the usage and risks associated with edge computing and smart tech are scarce.Universities and training institutions tend to focus on procurement and supply processes, but specialisation in a particular field is unfortunately lacking. In addition, I also find that very few procurement professionals understand the operational and business impact of legal terms on the organisation. This is usually left to a lawyer or legal group. As important as these professionals may be, they don't have the skills to bridge the gap between legal terms and business needs. This must be done by a procurement professional.To remedy this, I look for individuals with good business acumen yet are currently in a different career, such as software development or engineering. It's relatively easy to teach a person the fundamentals of procurement but very difficult to find someone that can bridge the gap between what the business needs and what the supplier offers. However, negotiation is a gift, and not everyone is born a negotiator. Often, those that claim to be great negotiators are just bullies.All large corporates started small. They became big because someone gave them an opportunity. Large businesses should remember this fundamental fact when they evaluate their supplier base. However, giving everybody an opportunity is not feasible. Therefore, it is important for procurement professionals to continuously scan the market for good small- and medium-sized organisations that can make a difference.While it may be convenient to use a single large, diversified supplier to deliver different products and services, it can also be risky. For example, you may pay premium prices, not necessarily get the best resources, and may have to deal with a lot of red tape. On the other hand, small businesses have the advantage of being extremely agile. They are also often focused on a particular product they do very well, if not better than larger suppliers.However, having thousands of small vendors comes at a massive administrative cost. Therefore, you shouldn't focus on dealing with these small businesses on a one-on-one basis. Creating a panel of suppliers that includes one or two small companies is a good idea or implementing a service integrator model where an organisation is appointed to deal with the complexities of integrating diverse suppliers to deliver a particular product or service.Therefore, large businesses should formulate a clear strategy to develop small organisations, and this should be seen in the same vein as succession planning and risk management.The single biggest stumbling block for small businesses is a lack of proper financial management. It is a well-known fact that many small companies fail because of cash flow issues, and therefore, they need to ensure that their businesses are managed sustainably. No large organisation can afford to change suppliers regularly, so if a small company is perceived to be a risk, it will be removed from the supplier base.Therefore, every small business must have a proper strategy in place, a clear focus on its offering, good financial management, and be seen as a trusted vendor that is sustainable and will continue to deliver. A small enterprise's fundamental advantage is being agile, but that should never be at the cost of proper business management principles.In my opinion, the Constitutional Court's ruling won't harm the industry. However, it will result in public procurement relying on a greater pool of suppliers and more competition in the market. We believe that the fundamental problem was that the regulations were exclusionary, meaning certain market participants were disqualified based on racial make-up. However, I don't think that that was the intention when the constitution was drafted.Given this, we can expect the various spheres of government to procure goods and services at a lower price point since a greater number of companies will be allowed to compete for government spend.From an employment perspective, this will be beneficial. If the government spends with a greater number of organisations, employment opportunities increase too. Therefore, the ruling can have a positive impact on competition in the market and boost job creation, in turn aiding South Africa's economy.
The Thrive by Five Index, South Africa's largest ever survey of preschool child development, has revealed the 65% of 4- to 5-year-old children attending Early Learning Programmes in South Africa are failing to thrive. The Index, released on 8 April 2022, was initiated by First National Bank (FNB) and Innovation Edge, in collaboration with the Department of Basic Education (DBE), and is supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and ECD Measure.

Image: Supplied

Less than half of 4- to 5-year-olds are on track for learning

Physical and emotional growth

Image: Supplied

Children from poor households are disadvantaged before formal schooling starts

Urgent action is needed from all sectors in South Africa

Image: Supplied

View the video of the Thrive by Five Index report below:

The survey's findings indicate these children are not meeting the expected early learning and/or physical growth standards for their age and will start Grade R at a considerable disadvantage, with possible long term implications for their education.The Thrive by Five Index assessed over 5,000 children aged 4-5 years enrolled in various types of Early Learning Programmes (ELPs) around the country. Children were assessed in three areas which are known to be predictive of a childs performance in school: early learning, physical growth, and social emotional functioning.Learning tasks that were assessed fall into five groups: gross motor skills, fine motor skills, early literacy, early mathematics, and executive functioning, which is the childs ability to solve problems and pay attention.The Index reports that 55% of children attending ELPs are not able to do the learning tasks expected of children their age, with 28% of children falling far behind the expected standard.Childrens physical growth - measured as their expected height for their age - and social emotional functioning were also assessed. Both of these are important measures because they influence a child's ability to succeed at school and beyond.One in four children (25.1%) showed signs of long-term malnutrition, which presents itself as stunted physical growth.Stunted children on average perform worse at school than their non-stunted counterparts, and are more likely to be unemployed as adults. They are also at higher risk of getting diseases like diabetes and hypertension and are vulnerable to being trapped in intergenerational cycles of poverty.For social emotional functioning, the Index found that 27.5% of children did not meet the standard when it came to age-appropriate social relations with peers and adults, while 33.4% were found to not be emotionally ready for school.The Index found that while there are instances of considerable variation in performance within income groups, on average children from poorer households are falling behind their better off peers as a result of the challenges they face in their earliest years.Children thrive by age five when, from birth, they experience a nurturing and safe environment, and they have access to quality healthcare and nutrition, as well as opportunities for learning - both in the home and in ELPs.The Thrive by Five Index partnership has called for urgent collective action to decrease the performance gap between young children in the richest and poorest households at the point of entry into school; and to increase the percentage of young children in South Africa who thrive by five, setting more children up for success.The Thrive by Five Index has truly thrown into sharp focus the importance of the work of ECD in molding and shaping the nations future leaders, moreover the index will enable the DBE to track progress in providing integrated services that lead to improved child outcomes over the next 10 years, says Basic Education Minister, Angie Motshekga. The DBE assumed responsibility for the support and regulation of ELPs on 1 April 2022. This role was previously held by the Department of Social Development.The private-public partnership to create the Index was forged, because early childhood development needs and services are interdependent. Ensuring that all children in South Africa are developmentally on track by the time they start school requires collaboration between multiple government departments, as well as the corporate and non-governmental sectors, community organisations, and researchers.Committed to making a difference, FNB CEO, Jacques Celliers highlights that, "The value of this Index is that it allows us as a collective to provide optimal support to our children as they progress from grassroots to greatness. Thrive by Five's actionable insights will influence targeted interventions that will result in quantitative and qualitative outcomes. As a result, it is incumbent on all stakeholders to ensure measurable progress in the coming years."South Africa will not realise its development goals of eliminating income poverty and reducing inequality, without addressing the significant challenges that young children face in their earliest years. We have to tackle the injustice of unequal opportunities in early childhood, said Sonja Giese, former Executive Director of Innovation Edge and Project Lead for the Thrive by Five Index.USAID Mission Director Andy Karas, The US Government, through USAID and our partners Innovation Edge and FNB, has a shared vision with the Government of South Africa to address the root causes of socioeconomic disparity. That vision starts with the education of young people - the youngest in this case. Thrive by Fives data will provide a framework for the Department of Basic Education to help the next generation of South Africans to thrive in a just and equal society.
Thamar Esperance-Smith, president-elect of the George W. Crawford Black Bar Association, speaks Tuesday in Hartford about the significance of Ketanji Brown Jackson's confirmation to the U.S. Supreme Court. (Don Stacom)

Proclaiming a historic civil rights advancement that has some Connecticut roots, leaders of the states legal community on Tuesday celebrated Judge Ketanji Brown Jacksons confirmation to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Judge Jacksons confirmation is a confirmation of our professions evolution, our progress in our journey to becoming a profession that is truly reflective of the society we serve, said Cecil Thomas, president of the Connecticut Bar Association.

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At a small group of public defenders, law school representatives and Bar Association leaders gathered on the steps of the state Supreme Court at mid-day Tuesday to talk about the significance of the first Black female justice on the U.S. Supreme Court.

With Judge Jacksons confirmation, the members of the African-American legal community can aspire to achieve in the legal profession and know that there are no barriers  and that every aspect of our profession is accessible to them, said Thamar Esperance-Smith, president-elect of the George W. Crawford Black Bar Association, the statewide organization of Black attorneys, judges and law students.

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The addition of Judge Jackson to the Supreme Court begins the necessary stop in ensuring that our nations highest court begins to reflect the colorful tapestry that this country is composed of, Esperance-Smith said.

The gathering was organized by Sen. Richard Blumenthal, an outspoken advocate for Jackson throughout the contentious  sometimes bitterly angry  confirmation process.

I guarantee you it wouldnt have happened without the strong support of the American people, Blumenthal said. In the week before the vote, my colleagues went home and they heard from the people about how extraordinarily moved they were by the spectacular performance of Ketanji Brown Jackson.

Blumenthal said theres a Connecticut link to her history-making career: The late U.S. District Court Judge Constance Baker Motley.

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Judge Jackson said she stands on the shoulders of her heroes including Constance Baker Motley, a daughter of New Haven, Connecticut, Blumenthal said. Constance Baker Motley, the first Black woman to argue in the U.S. Supreme Court, the first Black woman to be appointed a district court judge.

Blumenthal praised Jacksons demeanor during what was periodically an openly hostile questioning by Republicans.

When her opponents went low, she went high, to paraphrase Michelle Obama, Blumenthal said. When they became nasty she demonstrated the aplomb and poise and extraordinary intelligence you knew she had.

Dan Horgan, president-elect of the Connecticut Bar Association, pointed out that it was 40 years ago when Sandra Day OConnor became the first female justice on the court.

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She was a role model and a mentor for years and years to come. Now we finally have a Black female justice who will be a role model and mentor to girls of color in particular for decades and generations to come, Horgan said.

Esperance-Smith offered a similar assessment.

She will be the first Black woman and only the sixth woman overall to sit on the nations highest court, Esperance-Smith said. This serves as a booster for not only the African-American community, but especially the women in our community, who traditionally are under-represented in the judicial system.
Jesse Martin vice president 1199NE SEIU, left, speaks during a news conference at headquarters as care providers, behind, listen, in Hartford, Conn., Tuesday, April 12, 2022. Nursing home care providers announced more than 400 nursing home care providers will strike for a $20 per hour minimum wage for CNA's, fair pension plans, affordable healthcare, and measures to address the discrimination that many Black and brown care providers face both on the job and in the communities where they work. (Jessica Hill / Special to the Courant)

Nearly 450 workers at five nursing homes in Hartford, Rocky Hill, West Hartford, Bloomfield and Windsor will begin a strike April 22 to resolve what they describe as unfair labor practices, their union announced Tuesday.

Many of the caregivers, dietary, housekeeping and laundry workers we represent have received poverty-level wages, have spent weeks or days without pay, and have worked in some cases 16 hours a day for weeks on end, said Jesse Martin, vice president of SEIU District 1199 New England.

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The union announced that its membership had overwhelmingly authorized a strike for April 22 starting at 6 a.m. at the Bloomfield Health Care Center, Hebrew Center for Health & Rehabilitation in West Hartford, Maple View Health and Rehabilitation Center in Rocky Hill, Windsor Health and Rehabilitation Center and Avery Heights Senior Living in Hartford.

These employers have committed significant violations of federal labor law, Martin said.One nursing home had hired unlicensed staff and offered them CNA licensure in lieu of their first few weeks of pay, he alleged.

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The union said those nursing homes are also among the last stragglers to reach new labor contracts; it said it has successfully negotiated multi-year agreements with about 90 percent of Connecticuts nursing homes.

It wants minimum wages of $20 for certified nursing assistants, $18.50 for other workers, more affordable health insurance, retirement and pension contributions, and what it called measures to address racial discrimination.

National Health Care Associates, which owns the nursing homes in Rocky Hill, West Hartford and Bloomfield, countered that it has been bargaining in good faith all along.

The company has agreed to increases of 15.5 percent to 20.5 percent for minimum wage employees starting next summer, and a 4.5 percent raise for anyone earning more than minimum wage, it said.

We also have committed to using monies from the state to fund a defined contribution employer pension plan, and to make improvements to the health plan and/or make it more affordable, spokeswoman Christina Fleming said in a written statement.

By contrast, the union made an initial proposal on Feb. 21 and, with one exception, has not modified its position, Fleming said.

National Health Care will continue negotiating and believes a strike isnt the right answer, she said, but added it is doing everything necessary to limit disruption to our residents and ensure patient care is in no way affected.

At Avery Heights, Administrator Bill Thompson offered a similar response.

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We will continue to negotiate in good faith in hopes of reaching a settlement that is fair and equitable to the team members represented by NEHCEU, he wrote. If no agreement can be reached before the April 22nd deadline, Avery Heights will continue to ensure the ongoing care, safety and wellbeing of our residents.

Windsor Health and Rehabilitation spokesman Lara Alatise said in an email that her company has offered a 13 percent raise over the next four years. She called the strike decision troubling.

Yvonne Foster, a CNA at Windsor Health and Rehabilitation Center, listens during a news conference Tuesday where her union announced it will strike April 22. (Jessica Hill / Special to the Courant)

The union said its members have filed grievances and that at least 10 National Labor Relations Board complaints are pending, but claimed it must strike to prevent further losses to workers.

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It alleged some members have been threatened and harassed for union membership, and that some of the nursing homes have refused to pay new employees for their first two or three weeks of work.

As part of a COVID-19 mitigation package, the companies all received state aid to help pay workers  but some have refused to spend it, Martin said. He said the union is concerned that when the state department of social services audits those grants, it will reclaim the money and the workers will never get what theyre owed.

Several certified nursing assistants from the homes attended the morning press conferences at 1199s Hartford office, and told of longtime workers still making substandard wages despite the demands of the pandemic and the shortage of health care workers.

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We have worked consistently and are tremendously tired through the COVID (pandemic). We should be paid fairly for the work we have done and are still doing, said Annamaria Parsons, a CNA at Avery Heights. The boss is making lots of money and doesnt want to share.

Yvonne Foster said she has worked at Windsor Health for 21 years and still doesnt make $20 an hour, has no retirement account and cant afford health insurance.

Marcia Armstrong, a CNA at Bloomfield Health, said coworkers whove put in 30 and 40 years are being treated unfairly, and accused her employer of making promises that go unfulfilled.

Weve been told for two years that were essential, yet I still cant pay my bills or afford health care with the low wages Im being paid, Nadine Lawrence, a CNA at the Bloomfield Health Care Center, said in a statement. Im at my breaking point.
The new Winchester Estates development will be built north of Churchill Street and west of Route 229 in Southington, as shown on this map. (Courtesy of Town of Southington)

A developer is preparing to build 34 homes in the $700,000 to $1 million range on a nearly 50-acre tract north of Churchill Street in Southington.

Lovley Development Inc. won municipal approval last week to construct the new subdivision, Winchester Estates, and in a reflection of the hot real estate market already has a lengthy list of prospective buyers.

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Even without having the approvals we had 30 to 40 names. Its just amazing, owner Mark Lovley said.

The company will clear woodlands north of Churchill and west of West Street. The site is less than a half-mile from the I-84 ramps at Route 229.

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Southington-based Lovley Development has built more than 200 houses and townhouses in Southington, along with more than 150 in Watertown and scores more in Colchester, West Hartford, Canton, Middlefield, Berlin and Hamden.

The Winchester Estates project won a subdivision approval from the planning and zoning commission on April 5. Neighbor Timothy Connellan objected that the development would hurt nearby property values and worsen traffic on Churchill.

The most expensive homes in the Winchester Estates subdivision in Southington will be priced just below $1 million, according to the sales brochure. (Courtesy of Lovley Development )

As proposed, this plan is grossly unfair to the existing residents of Churchill Street. There will be a significant and adverse economic impact on our neighborhood, he wrote in a letter to the commission.

At least one of our neighbors will now have their property bounded by five new lots  five new lots. The rest of the neighbors adversely effected will have properties now bounded by at least two new lots, a former schools superintendent who has lived with his wife on Churchill for more than 30 years.

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But after reviewing wetlands, engineering and fire department reviews, commissioners approved the proposal.

The smallest properties at Winchester Acres will have a half acre, and lots will range upward to as large as 1.3 acres. All houses will have at least two-car garages, and the most expensive ones will have three.

All of the homes will be two-story, and there will be a mix of three- and four-bedroom units.

Theyll start anywhere from 2,600 square feet to up to 3,700 square feet, Lovley said.

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The most expensive ones will have three and a half bathrooms, a two-story foyer, formal dining room, and two-story great room with fireplace. The master bedrooms in those homes will measure 23 by 15 and feature a fireplace, secluded sitting area and separate walk-in closets.

Southington has little luxury housing, and Lovley said thats part of why he expects it to sell quickly.

The pricing is right on par with the market in that town, he said.
In a relatively rare step, the Connecticut Department of Education is opening an investigation into the Killingly Board of Education after a group of parents and residents last week filed a complaint alleging the school board is failing to meet social and emotional health standards set out by the state.

The complaint  known as a 10-4b, which allows residents to appeal when the local school board fails to implement the educational interests of the state  stems from the Killingly school boards rejection of a plan that would have created a school-based mental health center at the high school, at no cost to the district.

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We are pleased that the State Department of Education is taking this complaint seriously. The mental health crisis our students are facing is very real, Christine Rosati Randall, a Killingly parent, said in a statement. Our students need help now. The School-Based Mental Health Center is an immediate way to meet the dire need of our students at no cost to the District.

The states decision to pursue an investigation doesnt mean it has found the allegations set out in the 10-4b complaint to be true.

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Rather, it means the state has determined that it merits a substantial complaint, defined as a complaint that sets forth basic facts which state a cause of action concerning an alleged violation of the educational interests of the state.

The focus of the investigation is whether the Killingly school board is providing a safe school setting, according to the letter sent to the board signed by Education Commissioner Charlene Russell-Tucker.

It is the first time in at least a decade the state Department of Education is moving forward with an investigation for this purpose.

The state has received 30 10-4b complaints over the last 10 years, according to Andrew Feinstein, an attorney working with the Killingly residents. Of those, at least 23 were dismissed outright.

In March, the Killingly Board of Education voted 6-3 to reject the plan for a school-based health center.

The plan was designed in partnership between the districts superintendent and Generations Family Health Center. It would have come at no cost to the district, and had vocal support within the community.

Parents and staff argue the need for mental health services in Killingly schools goes beyond what its counselors and social workers have the capacity to provide amid an increase in demand associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.

As alleged in the 10-4b complaint, survey and school data suggest a dire need for mental and behavioral health intervention in a community where access to services is a challenge.

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Nearly 15% of Killingly students admit to having made a suicide plan, according to a November survey of 477 students in grades 7 to 12 conducted by SERAC, a nonprofit focused on mental health in eastern Connecticut.

More than 28% reported feeling sad or hopeless almost every day for two weeks or more, and another 28.2% admitted to having thoughts of hurting themselves.

There were 500 incidents where students had to leave class to receive immediate counseling in just the first half of the 2021-2022 school year, the complaint reads.

Killingly High School is calling 211 several times a week for services, according to Kristine Cicchetti, human resource assistant in Killingly Public Schools.

Cicchetti said the school board floated the idea of hiring another school psychologist, but she argues this is the wrong tactic.

The district has had a school psychologist opening for over a year, but [the school boards] solution is to create another vacancy in our school district instead of providing our children with the appropriate level of mental health resources they require  it makes no sense, Cicchetti said in a statement.

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A small group of students, parents and staff made the trip from Killingly to Hartford last Wednesday to appeal to education leaders during the state Board of Educations monthly meeting.

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The issue of children and staffs social, emotional and behavioral well-being is so critical to education, Russell-Tucker, education commissioner, said during the meeting. We continue  to work to ensure that every school building in our state has the requisite support necessary, be it more staff, be it working in partnership, to make sure that we are addressing those needs because theyre critical to academic success, and just overall well being.

Janice Joly, former chair of the Killingly school board, resigned on Friday. She had drawn particular criticism within the community for appearing to doubt the veracity of the mental health survey during a school board meeting.

How do you know they were honest responses? They were dealing with kids. They could have written anything. Thats what kids do, Joly said.

Joly did not provide a reason for her resignation in a brief letter to the town clerk, but elaborated on her departure in an interview with WINY Radio.

The reason why I resigned was because theres so much hate I believe on the Democrats side, Joly reportedly told WINY. There could be some Republicans involved as well, but mainly it seems like its coming from the Democrats. And its become rather saddening and scary, and I just felt like I didnt want to be part of any of this anymore.

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Regarding her comments about the survey, Joly said That was a generality. They turned it into, She said our kids our liars. And that is not what I said. That is not what I meant.

Seamus McAvoy may be reached at smcavoy@courant.com
Finland and Sweden are poised to join NATO as early as this summer, a move that a US official said stemmed from Russias massive strategic blunder of invading Ukraine, according to a report published Monday. 

Membership of the two Nordic countries in the Atlantic alliance was a topic of conversation and multiple sessions last week during meetings of NATO foreign ministers that were attended by representatives from Stockholm and Helsinki, the Times of London reported.

Finland is expected to submit an application in June, with Sweden following soon after, the report said.

The addition of Sweden and Finland would increase the alliance membership to 32 countries  and extend its border with Russia by hundreds of miles.

How can this be anything but a massive strategic blunder for [Russian President Vladimir] Putin? a senior American official told the publication.

Sweden and Finland would be real feathers in NATOs cap as net contributors. They are real players, a European diplomat told the Times, noting that adding both countries would help expand the alliances capabilities, including in intelligence gathering and in air power.
At the end of the Cold War, the end-of-history theory was that every country in the world that desired prosperity and progress would necessarily have to embrace both economic liberty and political democracy. You cannot have one without the other, the theory went. It was inevitable.

The world waited for China to go the direction of Eastern Europe and so many other countries.

It did not happen. Despite liberalizing economic reforms, the CCP maintained hard-core political control for the decades following. Yet its economy grew and grew. This gave rise to a new theory: perhaps the most successful countries will foster economic liberalism while securing tight political control, thus dispensing with the inefficiencies of democracy.

China seemed to have it all going.

Now we have evidence of whats wrong with a one-party state with a powerful chief executive. It works until it doesnt. What stopped working in China could not have been expected years ago. The party believed it had solved the problem of pathogens via massive violations of human liberty.

Today, the people of Shanghai are suffering weeks of lockdowns, food shortage, and extreme quarantine of healthy people, all in the interest of eradicating a virus that the rest of the world has finally realized must become endemic. Even Fauci is admitting this now (following two years of urging more restrictions).

But in China? Children are being taken from parents, the pets of people with a positive test are being shot, people are screaming from skyscrapers, and food is rotting in warehouses even as people report to be starving. There are videos online of stores being ransacked. There is talk of revolution in the air.

Never forget: China was the birthplace of lockdowns. The head of the World Health Organization praised the early 2020 lockdowns in Wuhan. In one letter dated January 2020, the WHO congratulated China and urged the country to enhance public health measures for containment of the current outbreak. Director Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus further underscored the point with a tweet.

Neil Ferguson from the Imperial College did too. Its a communist one party state, we said. We couldnt get away with it in Europe, we thought and then Italy did it. And we realised we could. And so China became a model for the world: Wuhan, Northern Italy, the US, the UK, and then all but a handful of the countries in the world followed the lockdown paradigm.

To this day, Xi Jinping surely basks in the warmth of this glowing praise. It put Chinas policy prowess on display for the world. As I write, Yahoo reports concerning Shanghai:

Chinas President Xi Jinping praised the countrys tested zero-Covid strategy on Friday, even as Shanghai authorities prepared nearly 130,000 beds for Covid-19 patients amid surging cases and mounting public anger.

We can only intuit what is happening here. For Xi Jinping, lockdowns were his greatest triumph. They seemed to work two years ago. He earned plaudits the world over, and the world followed his model. Perhaps this filled him and the CPC with a sense of incredible pride and confidence. They had done it correctly and the rest of the world copied the idea, without having practiced the article of lockdown as perfectly as China.

Eventually governments can convince themselves of their own propaganda. That appears to be what happened here. That illusion prevented Xi and the party from observing what should have been obvious to anyone with a modicum of knowledge about viruses such as this one: in a functioning society and market, it will spread no matter what. As Vinay Prasad has constantly reminds us, everyone will get Covid. And through that path, we finally move beyond the pandemic.

What has happened now in China is as predictable as the failure of Zero Covid in Australia and New Zealand.

This means that cases are nowhere near stopping in China. They will spread to every city, every town, every countryside until vast numbers of 1.4 billion are exposed. This could mean rolling lockdowns for years to come, along with all the damage and political instability that they necessarily entail. This will surely have a profound impact on economic growth and possibly the credibility of the CCP itself.

The communist party has made a profound error. Most places in the world did. The US was not Shanghai-level terrible but this is a matter of degree because the theory was tried out here too. In political democracies, politicians and bureaucrats have mostly tried to soft land their gross errors while manufacturing excuses for reopening without apology. Many want everyone just to forget this whole disaster.

Will that happen in China? The trouble is the incredible centrality of lockdowns to Chinas perceived achievements over the last two years. So long as there are powerful people in Beijing who genuinely believe that lockdown is the path forward  and no opposition party in place to take a different point of view  this will likely continue, raising fascinating questions about the political and economic future of this country.

The magic combination of political and economic freedom turned out not to be the end of history. But China-style dictatorship is not the end either, simply because it contains no operational mechanism for the correcting of egregious errors. What saved the US from lockdown terror was political pluralism and federalism; China has institutionalized neither. Thus does intellectual error lead to egregiously immoral outcomes.

Lockdowns are nowhere a solution to pathogenic spread, contrary to the assurances of the WHO or celebrity scientists in the UK or the US. When governments of the world tried to prove their competence by declaring war on cell biology, they finally met their match. No matter how powerful a state, there are forces of nature that will always outsmart it.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday said that images and footage of dead bodies strewn across the Ukrainian town of Bucha were fake.

Speaking at a televised news conference after talks with his Belarusian counterpart Alexander Lukashenko, Putin compared Ukrainian allegations that Russian servicemen executed civilians in Bucha to what he said was the staging by the West of a chemical weapons attack in Syria aimed at incriminating Bashar al-Assad.

"Its the same kind of fake in Bucha," Putin said.
The World Banks President David Malpass said on Tuesday the lender is preparing a $1.5 billion support package for war-torn Ukraine. The loan will include a $1-billion payment from the development lenders fund for the poorest countries.

According to Malpass, who was speaking in Warsaw, the package was enabled by Mondays approval of $1 billion in International Development Association (IDA) aid by donor and recipient countries, as well as a $100-million IDA payment to neighboring Moldova.

He explained the banks support as aimed at helping Ukraine provide critical services, including paying wages for hospital workers, as well as funding pensions and social programs.

The World Bank was created in 1944 to help Europe rebuild after World War II. As we did then, we will be ready to help Ukraine with reconstruction when the time comes, Malpass said.

Sources told Reuters that the plan still needs full approval by the World Banks board of directors in coming weeks.The funding comes on top of about $923 million in fast-disbursing financing approved by the World Bank last month, which also includes donor-country contributions.

Malpass said the bank was in close contact with Ukrainian authorities to provide support and was working to assist Ukrainian refugees and the countries hosting them.The World Bank is analyzing global impacts of the war in Ukraine, including the spike in food and energy prices, and is preparing a surge crisis response that will provide focused support for developing countries, Malpass added.
The Pentagon said Monday night they "cannot confirm" the Azov Battalion's claim they were attacked by Russian "chemical weapons" in Mariupol.



Voice of America national security correspondent Jeff Seldin reported that the Pentagon told him they're "aware of social media reports" claiming Russian forces used a potential chemical munition in Mariupol but they "cannot confirm" them.





JUST IN: US, #Pentagon "aware of social media reports which claim #Russia|n forces deployed a potential chemical munition in #Mariupol, #Ukraine"



"We cannot confirm at this time & will continue to monitor" per @PentagonPresSec "These reports, if true, are deeply concerning..."  Jeff Seldin (@jseldin) April 11, 2022

MORE: @PentagonPresSec calls unconfirmed reports of #Russia|n chemical weapon use near #Mariupol "reflective of concerns that we have had about Russias potential to use a variety of riot control agents, including tear gas mixed w/chemical agents, in #Ukraine  Jeff Seldin (@jseldin) April 11, 2022



Azov put out the claim on their Telegram channel.



A translation performed with an OCR program is embedded below.







Azov founder Andriy Biletsky claimed on Telegram that three people had "clear signs of poisoning with chemical warfare agents" but are apparently all fine because Russians are "idiots" who "cannot even use weapons of mass destruction to their full potential."



They must have used the same "chemical weapons" they used to "poison" Roman Abramovich which you can recover from in a couple days from without issue.



These must also be the same chemical weapons used against Sergei and Yulia Skripal which they recovered from in short order without issue.



If Russian chemical weapons are apparently so harmless, why are Western powers putting out all this talk about "red lines"? These are apparently the only chemical weapons you can recover from in a matter of hours with no evidence you were even poisoned!



Pentagon officials admitted last week they put out fake intelligence about Russia moving chemical weapons to the border of Ukraine and lied about China arming Russia as part of an "info war" -- nonetheless, they're not willing to run with this obvious Azov lie.



Last week, the Pentagon also said they could not independently confirm Ukraine's story about the alleged "Bucha massacre."



Ukrainian officials have been doing everything in their power over the past month and a half to lie America and NATO into World War III based on false pretenses and this "chemical attack" story is clearly no different.



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Valerie Biden Owens, a longtime campaign manager for Joe Biden, made the remarks in an interview with CBS Mornings. She was asked by host Gayle King whether Hunter Biden was a problem for the family. In response, Owens said, No.

King pressed on, pointing out how Hunter Bidens business dealings have come under scrutiny. Owens responded by saying that the attention to her nephews business activities was born out of the 2020 presidential election.

The only race that I wasnt enthusiastic about Joe getting involved in was the 2020 presidency, Owens said, because I expected, and was not disappointed, that it would be ugly and mean, and it would be an attack on my brother Joe, personally and professionally, because the former president is very intent on bringing my brother down.

I assumed from the beginning that the former president and his entourage would attack my brother by going and attacking my family, Owens added. [Trump] thought the weak link would be to attack my brothers child.

Owens then went on to defend her nephew.

Hunter has written in exquisite detail about his struggle with addiction, his walk through hell, and I am so grateful that hes been able to walk out of hell. But I dont think that theres a family in this country who hasnt tasted it, she told King.

King then interrupted Owens, reminding her that their discussion should center on Hunter Bidens business deals.

In the end, Owen seemed to dismiss any allegations of wrongdoing against her nephew.

There hasnt been a there there since it was mentioned in 2019 or whenever it first was, Owens said.

Watch the full interview below:




A subproduct of that intrinsec dismissal of poorer and darker victims of all genders is made even more evident when we see how welcome Ukrainian refugees are in countries like Poland, which until not long ago was inhumanly not allowing Arab refugees cross from Belarus into safety. Or how Latin Americans fleeing gang violence are treated when trying to cross the Mexican border into the United States.





Syrians have been bombarded for over a decade and most Europeans see those victims who try to reach Europe as potential terrorists, job stealers and cultural contaminators. Fallacious excuses go from the fact that most of them are male to that they should try refuge in neigboring countries with the same religious traditions, ignoring that Muslim nations are not a tight brotherhood group, often being in cultural or actual conflict with each other.





Notwithstanding the needed support that we all should give to poor Ukrainians, who are being savagely attacked by a militarily much stronger nation, we should not forget that the world is currently facing other wars, just less seen and heard about.





Kyaw is a Burmese 14-year-old girl whose village was pillaged and burnt down by the criminal General Min Aung Hlaing's forces after the coup that dethroned Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi more than one year ago. She was raped by a big number of soldiers (she tells me she can't remember how many, for she fainted many times during her ordeal). Through a common friend whose social assistance works used to be co-sponsored by the Czech NGO Clovek v tisni, Kyaw talked to me this week, saying how much she laments that her country's situation has left the headlines and the dictatorship continues with normal relations with most other countries, regardless of not so damaging sanctions imposed by the United States and by the ASEAN group, which is formed by Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.





Kyaw survived her ordeal but was left with a destroyed vagina and needs to urinate through an external device, which was donated by another foreign NGO, for her country's government has forbidden doctors and hospitals from providing any health assistance to the victims of their military actions.





According to conflict monitoring group Acled (Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project), the clashes in Myanmar are still happening on a daily basis, spread across all regions of the country and around 12 thousand people have been killed. The groups fighting government forces are collectively known as the People's Defense Force (PDF), an informal network of civilian militia groups made up largely by young people whose lives are still being taken without any international reaction.





Protests against criminal president Bashar al-Assad of Syria in 2011 turned into a civil war that has lasted since then. The confrontation has already left more than 380 thousand dead, more than 200 thousand missing. Countries like Russia, the United States, the United Kingdom and France took sides in the conflict, sending money, weapons and fighters. Jihadist organizations such as the self-styled Islamic State (IS) extremist group and al-Qaeda have also become involved. But the lives of Syrian victims seem to mean less to most Europeans than those of Ukrainian victims. It is obvious that the reason behind this inhumane imbalance in empathy is related to racial and religious prejudices.





Yemen is another blatant example of a war that doesn't seem to horrify the media and the public enough. The conflict was motivated by the failure of the political transition after the Arab Spring, which forced the former president of Yemen, Ali Abdullah Saleh, to hand over power to his deputy, Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi, in 2011. The United Nations classifies Yemen as the worst humanitarian situation in the world. So far, the war has claimed 233 thousand deaths, including 130 thousand from lack of food, health services and infrastructure. More than 10 thousand children died as a direct result of the fighting.





South Sudan is the youngest country in the world. It was recognized in 2011 after splitting with Sudan. But the new nation has been mired in civil war since 2013 and is in a state of ethnic-political violence and chronic instability. According to the International Committee of the Red Cross, of the 12 million people inhabiting South Sudan, 6 million are hungry and in need of food assistance. A peace deal signed in 2018 by enemies Riek Machar and Salva Kiir remains largely unenforceable. More than two million South Sudanese have fled the country, constituting the "biggest refugee crisis in Africa", according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).





A war that has lasted more than a year has already left thousands dead in Ethiopia. Pro-government forces and rebels in the Tigray region have been fighting in the north of the country since November 2020, when prime minister Abiy Ahmed sent the federal army to expel the populations from the area, until then ruled by the TPFL (Front for the Liberation of Tigray People), a movement that contested his authority. TPLF troops were defeated, but in 2021 the rebels took control of the region and have since advanced to locations near Amhara and Afar. In March of this year, the Ethiopian government and the rebels in the Tigray region announced a ceasefire. But a new battlefront, in the Afar region, despite the ceasefire, led to the fighting continuing in two of the six districts occupied by Tigray's fighters. Women are being raped and children becoming orphans without any assistance and the world is not watching.





After the fall of the Islamic State in the Middle East in 2017, Islamic militant groups have increasingly turned to Africa, where fragile governments do not have the strength to fight their forces. These jihajist groups try to dominate various regions in countries such as Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso, Somalia, Congo and Mozambique.





In Mozambique, the Ministry of Defense sent troops to the city of Palma, in the north of the country, to contain the advance in the region. The site has rich natural gas reserves that are being exploited in collaboration with multinational energy companies.





In the Democratic Republic of Congo, the government accuses the militia known as the Allied Democratic Forces of having murdered at least 23 civilians in recent days. The United States considers this group an ally of the Islamic State.





So why are we not paying attention to them as well?





The answer is not difficult to find. Besides the natural human limitation of selective focus - a survival skill developed for thousands of years in the jungles of our primal ancestors to survive the dangers that wild animals posed to them - a keenship tribal "cultural gene" also partly excuses our discriminative choices of attention. However, the media has the power of bringing to the surface these conflicts and doesn't do it sufficiently because of the above-mentioned White Girl Missing Syndrome. And we are all accomplices to that.



Everyday, dark people's lives are taken as less important by the media and the public. Not on purpose, but as a consequence of a subconscious higher value given to white people's lives. White girls, often attractive under the conventions created by the media since the last century, from wealthier societies, get our attention and pity, while low-income women of color are marginalized, as if their victimhood was natural and expected, thus unworthy of our worries. The incessant interest in British blonde girl Madeleine McCann's disappearance is an evidence of that.
Republican gubernatorial candidate Bob Stefanowskis first campaign finance report showed $599,743 in donations from people not named Bob Stefanowski and loans of $10 million from the candidate himself.

The report his campaign filed before the midnight deadline Monday showed Stefanowski delivering on what he promised on the first day of his campaign in January: He would provide $10 million of his own funds.

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FILE  Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont delivers the State of the State address during opening session at the State Capitol, Feb. 9, 2022, in Hartford, Conn. (Jessica Hill/AP)

Gov. Ned Lamont, who provided $15 million of the $15.9 million he spent defeating Stefanowski in 2018, filed a report showing him to be a pay-as-you-go candidate, writing personal checks to his campaign as bills come in.

[ Two Connecticut donors provide total of $1M to anti-Lamont PAC. This is who they are. ]

He wrote two checks in the first three months of 2022: one for $400,000 on Jan. 18 and another for $750,000 on March 22.

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Donors not named Ned Lamont contributed $13,998.

Cynthia Blumenthal, an investor from Greenwich married to another Democrat who will be on the ballot, U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, was one of two donors to give Lamont the maximum of $3,500.

Lamont spent $639,091 in the most recent financial quarter, bring his total spending to $742,795. He declared his candidacy in November.

Stefanowski raised $101,500 from 29 donors who gave the maximum of $3,500, including David Kelsey of Old Lyme. He is one of two donors who each gave $500,000 to a super PAC supporting Stefanowski with ads attacking Lamont.

There is no limit on contributions to super PACs.

By loaning his campaign money instead of donating it, Stefanowski potentially could recover some of the funds if his fundraising produces a surplus at the campaigns end.

From Jan. 12 to March 30, Stefanowski made 11 loans to campaign, ranging from $200,000 to $5 million. He spent nearly $2.6 million.
Outgoing superintendent of West Hartford Public Schools Tom Moore will be replaced on an interim basis by Andrew Morrow, the districts assistant superintendent for administration, the West Hartford school board announced.

Andrew Morrow, West Hartford's assistant superintendent for administration, was appointed last week by the town's school board to serve as interim superintendent amid the scheduled departure of current superintendent Tom Moore. (Courtesy Photo)

Morrow will begin as interim superintendent on July 1 and continue through June 30, 2023, or until a permanent superintendent is selected.

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Im honored to be asked to serve as the interim superintendent, and I appreciate the trust and opportunity to continue the work that were doing, Morrow said. I think weve got a good team in place, and Im happy to be able to help the [school] board and the district during this time and during their process.

Moore, who began his career at West Hartford schools in 1996, has led the district since 2014. He was recognized as the states 2021 Superintendent of the Year by the Connecticut Association of Public School Superintendents.

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In late February, Moore announced he will leave the district at the end of the school year to oversee two large high schools in suburban Chicago.

West Hartford Public School Superintendent Tom Moore speaks to a large audience and the Members of the Town Council. (Peter Casolino / Special To The Courant)

The West Hartford Board of Education voted unanimously to appoint Morrow interim superintendent at a school board meeting last week.

Morrow came to West Hartford first as a principal at Bristow Middle School in 2009. Both of his children attended West Hartford schools from elementary through graduation, he said.

Morrow previously worked as a principal and teacher in upstate New York and Arizona.

West Hartford schools educate about 9,500 students, and the school board just approved a $181,187,018 budget for the 2022-2023 school year.

Morrow said hell maintain the districts focus on leveraging federal relief dollars to address achievement gaps, learning loss and mental health needs created or exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic.

Its really a huge effort, Morrow said. I think itll be a huge effort continuing next year, and will really take multiple years to unwind and address the impact of the pandemic on education. This isnt going to be a quick fix for us, or, frankly, for anyone.

The school board also voted to appoint a personnel search committee, composed of board members, to identify and interview candidates for the permanent position.

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This is a lot of work, to hire a superintendent, Thomas-Farquharson said during the meeting. Its work that requires due diligence, requires time, it requires the efforts of many who are able to attend to that adequately.

Thomas-Farquharson said the selection committee will host community sessions to solicit public feedback, and wants to ensure a diverse pool of candidates.

The West Hartford school board will later select a consulting firm to facilitate the search, she said. Morrow said he will not apply for the position of permanent superintendent.

Having worked in the administration with Moore since 2014, Morrow said he has the privilege of calling the outgoing superintendent a friend. All the lessons Moore has passed on cant be summed up in a brief phone call, Morrow said.

But what Morrow admires most about, he said, is the idea that the district does the right thing for students regardless of difficulty or criticism.

I think thats an important message that we continue to send, that parents expect, and thats really why people are in our school system, Morrow said. Id like to think we can continue that trust with them, and continue to do those right things and make those hard choices sometimes.

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Seamus McAvoy may be reached at smcavoy@courant.com
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With the passing of the Public Act 21-1 on July 1, 2021, signed by Gov. Ned Lamont, Connecticut joined the states that have legalized the recreational use of marijuana for adults.

The first question that comes to mind is what benefits will this legalization bring? A survey from the Pew Research Center reports that the majority of Americans, approximately 60%, largely support the legalization of marijuana for both medical and recreational use. I have had people say to me, Whats the harm in it? There are no real bad side effects. Unfortunately, this is where these people are mistaken, and while there have been positive aspects found with prescribing marijuana for certain medical conditions, there have also been serious side effects that can occur after using marijuana.

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Medical uses of marijuana can include the treatment of acute and chronic pain, vomiting caused by chemotherapy, spasms associated with multiple sclerosis and sleep impairment. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that marijuana is approved for the treatment of seizures and for appetite improvement. However, the question still stands of whether these health benefits carry over to the general population who use marijuana for recreational use.

According to the CDC, using marijuana can lead to numerous adverse effects. Marijuana can significantly affect an individuals cognitive abilities, leading to poor memory and decision-making, loss of coordination and difficulty learning. Impaired cognition can lead to participation in risky behavior and poor life choices that can have serious consequences. Marijuana leads to negative effects on major organs such as the heart and lungs as it causes rapid heart rates, increased blood pressure and lung tissue damage. The substance increases the risk for the development of heart disease and strokes. Cannabis Hyperemesis Syndrome is a condition of severe nausea and vomiting, following marijuana use, which can cause abdominal pain, dehydration, esophagus inflammation or perforation, poor nutrition and tooth breakdown.

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Using recreational marijuana can also lead to psychological effects. The CDC describes a correlation between marijuana use and mental illness including depression and anxiety. There can be both short-term effects such as altered perception of reality and paranoid thoughts, or long-term complications. The most alarming finding of side effects is that suicidal thoughts and attempts have been related to marijuana use.

While the legalization of marijuana applies to adults only, marijuana use is rising among adolescents. Statistics from the CDC show that in 2019, 37% of high school youth admitted to using marijuana. Young adults are maturing mentally and physically. An underdeveloped brain is still learning how to process information and develop critical-thinking skills. Thus, marijuana use can lead to neurological damage, impeding these processes and affecting the students academic achievements and social experiences. In a review published in the Current Addiction Reports, Dr. Elizabeth DAmico and her team describe that teens using marijuana are less likely to graduate high school or go to college.

Why are young adults suffering from these marijuana effects and why is the number of adolescents using marijuana increasing? The answer might lie in the legalization of the substance. Young adults are highly exposed to advertising. They also see adults, whom they know, use the substance. Access to marijuana becomes easier in states where it is legalized. Higher rates of both marijuana and tobacco use are seen in states that have legalized recreational marijuana.

As a society, it is imperative that we protect our youth and guide them in creating the best possible choices to strive for a healthy, successful life. While medical marijuana has been found to have benefits if prescribed for appropriate conditions, the use of recreational marijuana seems to have many more negative effects than positive outcomes. The health of our youth population should be a priority of our government and we should urge our representatives to be our advocates and, with the help of medical professional experts, strive for policy reform that will address these concerns.

Katherine Semyanko is a graduate student studying for her masters for nurse educator at UConn. She is from East Granby.
FAIRFAX, Va. (AP)  A jury was selected Monday to hear a long-anticipated libel lawsuit Johnny Depp filed against his ex-wife, actress Amber Heard, whom he accuses of falsely portraying him as a domestic abuser.

Johnny Depp appears at the High Court in London, on July 17, 2020, left, and Amber Heard appears outside the High Court in London on July 28, 2020. Jury selection begins for the libel lawsuit filed by Depp against Heard in Virginia after The Washington Post published her opinion piece. Depp's lawyers say the article falsely implies that she was physically and sexually abused by Depp when the actors were married. (AP Photo)

FAIRFAX, Va. (AP)  A jury was selected Monday to hear a long-anticipated libel lawsuit Johnny Depp filed against his ex-wife, actress Amber Heard, whom he accuses of falsely portraying him as a domestic abuser.

Depp sued Heard over an op-ed piece she wrote in The Washington Post in 2018 in which Heard refers to herself as a public figure representing domestic abuse. The article doesn't mention Depp by name, but he says it clearly refers to allegations Heard made in other forums that she suffered physical abuse at his hands. Depp denies the accusations.

The lawsuit brought a little bit of Hollywood to a courthouse that has a long history of dealing with high-profile crimes, just not those involving movie stars.

More than a dozen women, some waving signs saying Justice for Johnny, joined other fans who waved pirate flags in recognition of Depp's signature role in the Pirates of the Caribbean movies, waited outside the courthouse an hour before the hearing.

Tiffany Lunn, supporter of actor Johnny Depp, stands outside the Fairfax County Courthouse, Monday, April 11, 2022, in Fairfax, Va. Jury selection has begun in a long-anticipated libel lawsuit filed by Johnny Depp against his ex-wife, actress Amber Heard. ( AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

The courtroom in the city of Fairfax was closed to the public Monday, with limited closed-circuit access in an overflow courtroom. People lined up before 7 a.m. for the wristbands granting access. Both Depp and Heard were in attendance, but court personnel brought them in and out utilizing special access points that frustrated fans' ability to see them.

The judge overseeing the trial, Penney Azcarate, has imposed a series of access rules to try to maintain decorum in the courthouse. Most significantly, neither Depp nor Heard are permitted to pose for photos or sign autographs in the courthouse or on the courthouse grounds.

Depp's fans have been vocal in their support, saying he has been falsely accused. Raylyn Otey, a Depp fan from Bluefield, Virginia, drove five hours to see the movie star. She was disappointed when Depp did not greet fans personally, as sheriff's deputies carefully limited fan access.

I'm so disappointed. I came to give him flowers to show some support, she said, bouquet in hand.

In a separate lawsuit Depp filed against a British newspaper, a judge dismissed the case, finding that Depp assaulted Heard on a dozen occasions and put her in fear for her life on multiple occasions.

Heard has filed a countersuit against Depp that accuses his lawyers of defaming her at his direction.

Heard's lawyers tried unsuccessfully to have the case moved to California, where the actors reside. A Fairfax judge ruled that Depp was within his rights to bring the case here because the Posts online editions are published through servers located in Fairfax County. Depp's lawyers have said they brought the case in Virginia in part because the laws here are more favorable to their case.

A jury of seven, plus four alternates, was selected by Monday afternoon. The smaller jury is typical for civil trials in Virginia.

Opening statements are scheduled for Tuesday morning. The trial is expected to last more than a month. A long list of witnesses includes actors James Franco and Paul Bettany, and tech entrepreneur Elon Musk. Some witnesses are expected to appear in person, while others will testify via video link.

___

This story has been updated to correct the spelling of Raylyn Otey's last name.
A police officer who accidentally fired his gun through his bathroom mirror while training at home was given a conditional discharge on Monday morning.

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A police officer who accidentally fired his gun through his bathroom mirror while training at home was given a conditional discharge on Monday morning.

Jacob Clement, 23, previously pleaded guilty to careless use of a firearm in Brandon provincial court in the June 2020 incident.

"This was an inherently dangerous act inside of a residential building that could have caused serious bodily harm or death to anyone that might have been in the hallway," said Crown attorney Ari Millo.

On June 27, 2020, Clement had been a police officer for a year, Millo told the court. At approximately 1:25 a.m., he "unintentionally discharged" his service pistol in the washroom of his apartment while he was doing a "dry firing exercise," Millo said.

A dry firing exercise involves practising the mechanics of drawing and firing a gun, including pulling the trigger, to instill muscle memory, he said. Police officers and soldiers are often encouraged to practise when they can.

A dry firing exercise is supposed to be done with an unloaded gun that has been proven clear, but Clements was loaded with a full magazine, the Crown said.

The gun fired and the bullet went through the bathroom wall, through the hallway and into his neighbours wall, where police later found it.

While the bullet went through the hall, it didnt enter his neighbours apartment.

When Brandon police arrived at approximately 3:30 a.m., Clement told the officer he came off a night shift and was up late practising with his service pistol.

After firing the gun, he locked the gun in his lockbox and called his supervisor. Police seized the gun, along with three magazines  two with 15 bullets and one with 14.

The RCMP examined the pistol and bullets and found "no deficiencies" that would cause and "abnormal discharge," he said. RCMP handguns cant be fired without the magazine loaded, an extra safety feature of RCMP pistols.

"This isnt a situation we sometimes come across where a bullet is racked into a handgun, a magazine is ejected but the firearm is not properly cleared  thats not what happened here. Clements service pistol could not have discharged without a magazine loaded into it," he said.

Millo said Clement is a "hardworking member," but the incident was a flagrant breach of fundamental firearms safety taught to RCMP officers.

He recommended a fine and a five-year ban from owning guns, except in his duties as an RCMP officer. He said police officers have special privileges with firearms that everyday people dont, and Clements actions were "not consistent" with their duty.

"His actions in the early morning hours of June 27, 2020, were reckless, they were easily avoidable and ones that could have easily caused serious injury or death," he said.

Defence lawyer Joshua Weinstein said Clement realizes he made a mistake and went to his supervisor right away after the gun fired.

Weinstein asked for a conditional discharge and community service hours, saying Clement has endorsements from other RCMP officers that he has a good work ethic and it is a lesson learned for him.

Speaking to the court, Clement said his actions were dangerous and dont represent who he is as a person.

"It was a lack of judgement on my part that night to improperly clear and unload my firearm before doing any manipulations to it," he said, adding he was still trying to get used to the new schedule at the time.

"Unfortunately, that night I didnt take any of the precautions Ive been taught  I can see that as a police officer [I] have a lot of responsibilities and one of them is to use and carry our firearm, store it and maintain it according to the law."

The incident was a very bad decision, Judge Shauna Hewitt-Michta said, but the guilty plea shows he is remorseful and it appears completely out of character.

"This was an inherently very dangerous act that could have had dire and even fatal consequences. Thankfully, that did not happen here, but I cant give much credit to Mr. Clement  you were really just lucky there wasnt someone passing through that hallway to be hit by that bullet."

She sentenced him to a two-year conditional discharge with supervised probation. She also sentenced him to 40 hours of community service and banned him from owning firearms for five years, except for using them in his job as a police officer.

 dmay@brandonsun.com

 Twitter: @DrewMay_
A snowstorm forecast for southern Manitoba, including Westman, has the potential to be the worst blizzard in decades, according to Environment Canada.

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FILE A worker removes snow from the Canadian National Railway tracks at Ninth Street and Van Horne Avenue. Environment Canada estimates Brandon will receive between 25 and 40 centimetres of snowfall this week.

A snowstorm forecast for southern Manitoba, including Westman, "has the potential to be the worst blizzard in decades," according to Environment Canada.

An alert published on the Environment Canada website early Monday morning states that snow will start early Tuesday evening near the border with the United States, travelling northward as the night progresses.

ENVIRONMENT AND CLIMATE CHANGE CANADA Areas in Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Ontario coloured in yellow are expected to be hit by a winter storm Environment Canada warns could end up being the worst blizzard in decades.

Heavy snow and strong northerly winds are expected Wednesday morning as the low-pressure system moves toward northwest Ontario.

Most areas are expected to receive between 30 to 50 centimetres of snow, with some areas on higher terrain potentially being covered with up to 80 centimetres.

"Westman, Brandon to the Saskatchewan border has the chance to see some of the highest snowfall amounts," said Sara Hoffman, a meteorologist with Environment Canada. She expects the Riding Mountain area to get the brunt of the snow.

"I am expecting some of the worst conditions in [that] neck of the woods."

According to Hoffman, the storm could be a one-in-30 years event. Between Wednesday and Thursday mornings, she expects 25 to 40 centimetres of snow to fall over Brandon.

She warned anyone with plans to travel by highway to either get where theyre going before the snow starts to fall or delay their trip until it has stopped.

"Even beginning Tuesday night, the visibility will become reduced by heavy falling snow and blowing snow," Hoffman said. "If you had plans late Tuesday night into Wednesday morning, I would think of postponing or going a little bit earlier."

After the storm, Hoffman said it will likely be cold for a couple of weeks, at least in part because of the snow that has fallen.

During a virtual media call Monday afternoon, provincial officials said the cold after the storm will likely be a defence against major flooding as it will prevent water from draining quickly into rivers.

"The amount of moisture were going to get is concerning, but in the future forecast for next week, the temperature is supposed to be below zero from Wednesday all the way to the following week," Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Doyle Piwniuk said.

"If we get an abundance of snow, this is actually ideal for a slow melt and allow the river flow we had that peaked last week being reduced, especially when theres a cold temperature, and the flow of tributaries to the Red River and Assiniboine River will be much lower."

The minister echoed Hoffmans advice, saying that travellers should either make their trips before the storm has arrived or after it has left.

If the RCMP close the highways, Piwniuk said, its important to follow those directions because not only will the wind and snow on the highways be dangerous, but also the pools of water that have formed at the roadside due to runoff and melt.

The executive director of Manitobas hydrologic forecasting and water management, Fisaha Unduche, said he expects snowmelt to begin again around April 20.

At the City of Brandon, emergency co-ordinator Tobin Praznik said city departments spent part of the day making sure plans were in place ahead of the weather.

"With a system of this magnitude, its our hope that residents are keeping a close eye on it," Praznik said. "Approaching Easter, a lot of them probably have travel plans and hopefully, they rethink their departures times  if they do so, hopefully, theyre prepared with a winter kit."

The city will be offering updates throughout the storm on its website and social media platforms. Hoffman recommends residents keep an eye on any public service announcements and updated forecasts from Environment Canada.

"Probably the biggest risk would be potential power outages," he said. "With this type of snow in spring, its going to be very heavy and the projected winds of 60 to 70 kilometres an hour, the risk would be power outages in the area and depending on the accumulation numbers, [so] is accessibility for our community and our emergency services to go from point A to point B."

Since there is a chance power will be disrupted, Hoffman, Environment Canada and Praznik are recommending that people living in affected areas stock up on supplies and medication now and create an emergency kit containing drinking water, food, medicine, a first-aid kit and a flashlight.

Hoffman also suggests purchasing candles and matches.

"Its incredible how far a candle can go if the powers out," she said. "It not only gives you some light, but it also throws off a little heat that you wouldnt expect."

Manitoba Hydro posted a link on Twitter with tips for what to do in the case of an extended power outage Monday afternoon, though it did not comment on the likelihood of that happening.

 cslark@brandonsun.com

 Twitter: @ColinSlark
Westman farmer Brian Geer is facing four years behind bars for various weapons charges, the most severe of which being possession of a loaded prohibited firearm.

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Westman farmer Brian Geer is facing four years behind bars for various weapons charges, the most severe of which being possession of a loaded prohibited firearm.

This four-year global sentence is the opinion of Crown attorney Rich Lonstrup, who made the recommendation to Justice Sandra Zinchuk on Monday morning inside a Brandon courtroom.

On top of jail time, Lonstrup is also asking the Crown to slap Geer with a lifetime firearm prohibition.

Having served as prosecutor since the case first went to trial in November 2020, Lonstrup used Mondays hearing to remind the court of Geers crimes. The list of charges includes possessing a loaded prohibited firearm without a licence, three counts of improperly storing or transporting a firearm, resisting arrest and possessing a firearm without a licence.

These charges stem from an Aug. 3, 2018 incident, when members of the Killarney RCMP caught Greer driving around town with a loaded Remington 870 Wingmaster 12-gauge shotgun (shortened) and a loaded Remington 7600 6mm pump action rifle in his vehicle. The truck also contained several boxes of ammunition.

The following day, police obtained a search warrant for Geers home, where they found another loaded Remington 870 Wingmaster 12-gauge shotgun in a gun case under the bed of the master bedroom. Officers discovered shotgun shells on the premises.

Zinchuk ultimately found Geer guilty on six charges in February 2021 and later denied his application to have these charges stayed due to what he saw as unreasonable court delays.

On Monday, Lonstrup reiterated how this kind of firearm storage and transportation is worthy of incarceration, since it poses a danger to the community at large.

"We make people lock their guns and trigger-lock their guns during transportation because when guns get stolen, that is the direct pipeline to how they enter into the criminal underworld, and then they really do get used in some of the worst possible offences," the Crown prosecutor said.

Lonstrup also clarified that Geer was carrying these loaded guns in his vehicle as a means of "protection," believing he is the victim of a wide-ranging conspiracy that involves members of the RCMP, the Canadian government and the community of Killarney.

Geer maintains these beliefs and asked Zinchuk on Monday if the Manitoba justice system is going to prosecute all the people who conspired against him over the years.

"Whats going to happen to the dentist who swabbed my mouth with a fking virus so bad, that I cant even eat hot food?" Geer said as his wife Shauna tried to calm him in the background.

"Whats going to happen to the people like that who have stolen, destroyed and basically raped my entire family?"

Lonstrup repeated on Monday that Geer is not on trial because of his beliefs. Rather, the defendant, who served as his own defence attorney throughout the legal proceedings, is facing up to four years in jail because of how his beliefs manifested into action.

"Mr. Geer showed open contempt for our gun laws," the Crown prosecutor said.

"To his credit, he never denied the possession of the firearms or his lack of licensing or improper storage. To his detriment, the entirety of the defence he presented was his lifelong persecution. It certainly appeared to me that he wanted you, the court, to understand that he had a legitimate basis for keeping loaded guns at the ready."

Lonstrup said Zinchuk should factor Geers antagonism toward the community into her sentence, in the hopes of preventing any further escalation that could result in an armed confrontation in the future.

"What happens to the fellow motorist that cuts him off or gets him in a fender-bender, or the banker that denies him a loan or a line of credit?" he said.

"Deterrence and denunciation is by far the most paramount and pressing goal of sentencing in this case."

In a written statement submitted to the court, Geer asked Zinchuk to grant him a conditional sentence order (CSO) instead of jail time, arguing that he has followed all the restrictions the court has imposed since his initial arrest in August 2018.

"He has not breached any conditions, nor been a threat or a disturbance to anyone or anything in over three years and eight months," Shauna Nichol-Geer said on her husbands behalf. "He has proved that a conditional sentence to be served at his place of residence would be appropriate."

However, Lonstrup advised against this kind of sentence, believing that Geer would not abide by the restrictions set out in a CSO given his propensity to disparage the provinces justice system throughout the trial.

"No judge in his or her right mind would give a CSO to someone who holds the system in open contempt," he said.

"I cant envision how Mr. Geer would cooperate with that level of supervision, which is supposed to be intense and binding."

Geer closed out his remarks on Monday by calling Manitobas justice system a "joke."

"Im bloody sick of you people and Im sick of being lied to. Im sick of having my life stolen," he said. "Throw me in jail. Do whatever the fk you want."

While Zinchuk didnt render a verdict on Monday, she scheduled Geers official sentencing for the second week of June.

 kdarbyson@brandonsun.com

 Twitter:@KyleDarbyson
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The Democratic-controlled Senate voted along strict party lines Tuesday to extend four of Gov. Ned Lamonts original executive orders to continue combatting the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

The Senate moved this week because the original orders, which have since been codified by the legislature into law, are scheduled to expire this Friday, April 15. As such, the Senate voted for short-term extensions to push those laws until June 30.

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Democrats supported the extensions, saying they were important provisions that will help the homeless, nurses aides, and renters, among others.

But Republicans complained that the emergency-certified bill never had a public hearing, saying that the general public should have had a better chance to weigh in on the pandemic issues.

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Sen. Rob Sampson, a Wolcott Republican, questioned why any original order should be extended  an issue that has been debated multiple times as Lamonts orders were extended. For months, some Republicans have declared that the pandemic is essentially over because hospitalizations and infections have fallen sharply.

The state of emergency passed on a party line with many Republicans standing up in opposition, Sampson said on the Senate floor that was largely empty. Weve got to make up our minds on whether there is a pandemic. ... Each time this body gets together, we are in effect, separating the people from their government.

He added, We need to return to our American system. ... We need to return to doing our job the right way. This is not it.

Sen. Dan Champagne of Vernon agreed with Sampson, saying the bill should have had a public hearing instead of being fast-tracked through the process.

Weve declared that the emergency is over, except for this batch, Champagne said on the Senate floor. It should have been done properly. This is not properly.

Sen. Tony Hwang, a Fairfield Republican who serves as the ranking member on the public health committee, said he, too, was frustrated by the process.

Let the people have their voice represented, said Hwang, adding that he agrees with some of the concepts in principle. We should have had a public hearing.

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But Sen. Matt Lesser, a Middletown Democrat who led the debate, said that many of the provisions had been examined by various legislative committees, including on the vaccine database that has had a full vetting.

The issues included:

Vaccination database

One of the four extensions would allow the states public health department to disclose a persons vaccination status to school nurses, local health directors and others as some residents have lost their vaccination cards.

This order permits health care providers to properly administer booster shots by making a persons vaccine information readily available even if the person has misplaced their original vaccination card, according to a summary sent to legislators. It also permits school nurses and local health directors to access a persons vaccination status to properly respond to any COVID outbreaks within their jurisdiction.

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Lamont said he is sympathetic to concerns about keeping the records vaccination records confidential.

Keep it private,' Lamont told reporters in a Zoom call. I understand. ... I havent heard about people leaking this information.'

Temporary nurses aides

A second extension allows officials to suspend various requirements for temporary nurses aides and allow them to keep practicing their profession because their skills are in high demand at nursing homes and other facilities.

The order allows the state public health commissioner to adopt, amend, implement, suspend, and revoke training, competency, scope of practice and temporary hiring policies concerning temporary nurse aides and grant a registration to an individual as a temporary nurse aide who complies with the policies adopted, a summary states.

Helping the homeless

Another extension would authorize the state to continue providing non-congregate housing to the homeless and other at-risk residents so that they are not placed into close quarters in bunk beds in shelters that can easily lead to the spread of COVID-19. The state has already received millions from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, known as FEMA, to carry out the program. The funding provides for adequate housing to allow people in need to be spaced apart and thus at lower risk of contracting and spreading the virus.

It allows us to access federal funds that are really critical, Lesser said. We are moving toward normalcy.

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Christopher Keating can be reached at ckeating@courant.com
Australias famed RM Williams boot could start being made from a plant-based leather alternative following a $26 million investment by mining magnate Andrew Forrest in a US sustainable textiles company.

Forrests Tattarang investment firm announced on Tuesday evening it had backed Illinois-based Natural Fiber Weldings $US85 million ($114 million) series B investment round, pouring in $US20 million ($26.8 million) alongside a raft of high-profile investors such as BMW and Ralph Lauren.

Andrew Forrest, owner of RM Williams, has made an investment in a plant-based leather company. Credit:David Mariuz

Natural Fiber Weldings (NFW) main products are Clarus, a collection of high-performance sustainable textiles, and Mirum, a plastic-free, plant-based leather alternative that is fully biodegradable.

Its the latter that Tattarang is eyeing as a product that could potentially be used by another one of the firms investments: RM Williams boots. Tattarang chief investment officer John Hartman said Mirum could provide wide-ranging opportunities for the iconic Australian brand, though stressed the companys core range would remain traditional leather.
Virgin Australia and its high-flying chief executive Jayne Hrdlicka have been accused of bullying a senior pilot at the airline group in a Fair Work court case.

Captain Michael Fitzgerald launched Federal Court action on Tuesday against the airline.

A Virgin Australia spokeswoman confirmed it was being sued by the companys former general manager of flight operations after an extended period of personal leave. The company also confirmed that allegations had been made directly against Hrdlicka. Fitzgeralds lawyer did not respond to inquiries.

Virgin Australia CEO Jayne Hrdlicka. Credit:Bloomberg

Virgin Australia notes the filing of general protections proceedings in the Federal Circuit Court by former employee Michael Fitzgerald on 12 April 2022, a spokeswoman for the company said.
Last we heard, News Corp Australia boss Michael Miller was living his best life at the Australian Grand Prix alongside Foxtel chief executive Patrick Delany and fabled Murdoch whisperer Siobhan McKenna. But with the election campaign underway, its all work and no play at Australias media outlets as they look for ways to engage an increasingly cynical, politics-fatigued nation in the contest.

In a memo sent to News Corp staffers last week, Miller outlined some of the snazzy innovations readers can expect over the next six weeks. News.com.au readers will be able to receive text messages from Gold Walkley winner Samantha Maiden in which the sites political editor dashes off campaign analysis and answers readers questions. Maiden, of course, was the recipient of an infamous text from Peter Dutton in which he called her a mad f***ing witch: instead of sending the text to its intended recipient, former cabinet minister Jamie Briggs, Dutton sent it to Maiden instead.

News Corp Australia boss Michael Miller has outlined the innovations his readers can expect during the election campaign. Credit:Illustration: John Shakespeare

Enemy of all things woke Joe Hildebrand will host live-streamed discussions with candidates in 30 competitive seats and 360 round tables with policy experts. Policy in an election campaign? What next?!

Another innovation is the yet-to-be-launched SuperVoter platform, reflecting what Miller calls the gamification of everything in recent times. News Corps readers will be asked to tip not just the election winner but to predict which candidate will win each of the countrys 151 electorates. Exactly what the skilled prognosticator will receive for such an impressive feat, other than pride, is unclear.
Thats where well leave todays national live blog. If youre just catching up on todays news, heres a summary of the main stories.

Pacific Minister Zed Seselja met with Solomon Islands Prime Minister Sogavare in Honiara after weeks of uncertainty over a proposed security deal between China and Solomon Islands.

He asked the Pacific Islands nation to consider not signing the agreement and to consult the Pacific family in the spirit of regional openness and transparency, consistent with our regions security frameworks, Seselja said.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison had this to say on the issue, The suggestion that Australia should be heavy-handed on these matters, I think is wrongheaded. The suggestion is that somehow the Solomon Islands is under the control of Australia. They are a sovereign nation. I respect their independence, and they will make their own decisions about their sovereignty, he said.

Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare reviews a Chinese honor guard during a welcome ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China. Credit:AP

Prime Minister Scott Morrison says he has no doubt war crimes are being committed in Ukraine by Russia, and Russian President Vladimir Putin should be held accountable for such atrocities.

Theres no doubt in my view that war crimes and atrocities are being committed in Ukraine by Russia, theres no doubt that that is occurring. And Vladimir Putin must be held to account for those war crimes and atrocities. He should be, and I believe the world will continue to seek to hold him to account for that, he said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Scott Morrison Credit:Agencies/Alex Ellinghausen

Greens leader Adam Bandt outlined a $77.6 billion Medicare expansion plan to allow bulk-billing at dentists and orthodontists.

The Greens propose to fund this and other commitments through a 6 per cent wealth tax on billionaires. On climate change, the party wants emissions cut 75 per cent by 2030 and net zero by 2035 - a much more ambitious than Labors target of 43 per cent by 2030 and the Coalitions forecast of 35 per cent by 2030.

Our priorities are stop opening coal and gas mines, dental and mental health into Medicare, fix the housing affordability crisis and wipe student debt. Theyre the things that would be at the top of the list, he said in an address to the National Press Club in Canberra.

Greens leader Adam Bandt. Credit:Paul Jeffers

Opposition leader Anthony Albanese rejected the claim Labor has dumped a plan to review the JobSeeker rate, amid an ongoing political debate about whether unemployed Australians can adequately live on a base rate of $46 per day.

We havent dumped anything. What we have said is we dont have a plan to increase the JobSeeker allowance in our first budget, the Labor leader said.

He said a Labor government would be constrained by what it could do as a result of the countrys record debt levels while remaining fiscally responsible.

Albanese has announced a plan to trial bulk billed Medicare urgent care clinics. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

Australia recorded 39 deaths and 54,185 new cases of COVID-19, bringing Australias active case load to 443,901. There are now 3,147 people in hospital, 126 of whom are in ICU.
Victims of the 2011 Queensland floods have lost a final appeal against a dam operator after the High Court decided not to grant them special leave to continue their case on Tuesday.

In November 2019, more than 6500 flood victims won a historic class action in the NSW Supreme Court against Seqwater, Sunwater and the state government.

Grantham was hit hard in the 2011 Queensland floods. Credit:Paul Harris

The court found the flood engineers in charge of Wivenhoe Dam, about 45 kilometres north-west of Brisbane, relied too closely on rain on the ground estimates in 2011 and did not appropriately use rainfall forecasts to manage Wivenhoe Dam, as required by its manual.

In February 2020, lawyers for Seqwater confirmed it would appeal against the ruling in the NSW Supreme Court  an appeal it won in September 2021.
Leading Australian forensic experts asked to analyse graphic images of apparent civilian casualties in Ukraine have dismissed Russian claims that the photographs are fake and distributed as part of a propaganda war.

Professors Stephen Cordner and David Ranson from the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine have completed a report based on images and videos of victims from the Ukrainian town of Bucha, taken after Russian troops had withdrawn from the area.

Professor Stephen Cordner. Credit:Jason South

Russia claims the images are doctored and called on the UN Security Council to act against Ukraine radicals.

Cordner and Ranson, who are both acknowledged international experts on victim identification and mass deaths, concluded the images were real.
For 1 years, two gargantuan tunnel-drilling machines have lain dormant just west of Melbournes CBD.

After the discovery of toxic soil in 2019, tunnelling was delayed on the city-shaping West Gate Tunnel project. It also put a pause on the frequent press conferences from government politicians in hard hats, as the tunnel linking the West Gate Freeway in Yarraville with CityLink at Docklands became a symbol of Labors popular but troubled Big Build.

But despite the government considering dumping the builders and finding new ones, the project is back on track after a legal dispute ended in December.

A worker on top of the elevated road that will tower over Footscray Road, connecting the west to the CBD. Credit:Jason South

Photographers have not been on-site since the state government began fighting with the builders over who should pay for cost overruns caused by the toxic soil and what the government claimed was a big underquote from Transurban, which controversially came up with the idea for the tunnel.
Most people expect to have a strong voice about what happens in their community, but the proposed planning reforms will muffle that voice.

Sadly for the community, the reforms announced by the Planning Minister are entirely predictable, given the track record of the state government to place themselves at the centre of every deal.

Overriding local opinion and priorities is not the pathway for efficiency when it comes to WAs planning system. Credit:Lauren Pilat

For decades, our planning system has had checks and balances with a focus on community participation at the strategic level, which means the community has its say about what the urban environment should basically look like.

Its on the foundation of those strategic plans that experts and local councils make decisions on individual developments.
Anthony Albanese took Taylor Swifts advice dealing with his numbers snafu and electoral press conference from hell on the opening day of the campaign.

I will just shake if off, he declared as he answered question after question that riffed the same chord line - havent you just ruined your chance to be prime minister.

Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese said hes shaking off Mondays snafu. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

But he also showed a fair bit of Chris Bailey, the legendary frontman of Australian punk greats The Saints who died last week and who sang the angry take down of advertising, Know Your Product.

The product, in Albaneses mind, is Scott Morrison.
Australias minister for the Pacific will make an urgent trip to Solomon Islands during the election campaign in a final lobbying push against the nations new security deal with China.

Senator Zed Seselja will leave on Tuesday to visit Honiara, after the Pacific nations government proposed a deal that could allow Chinese naval ships to be based there.

Minister for International Development and the Pacific Zed Seselja will make an urgent trip to Solomon Islands. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

Seseljas trip while the Australian government is in caretaker mode reflects the deep anxiety within Canberra, Washington and Wellington about the agreement, which took all three governments by surprise when it was announced by Honiara last month. Labor has also signed off on the trip  sharpening Seseljas ability to present a bipartisan resistance to the agreement.

The deal has been initialled by officials but has yet to be fully signed off on by Foreign Ministers Wang Yi and Jeremiah Manele.
The Newport News-based Jose Tequilas Mexican Grill and Bar chain must pay back overtime pay to 97 workers at its seven locations, most of which are in Hampton Roads, the U.S. Department of Labor ordered.

They are to receive a total of $176,276.71 in back pay.

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The Richmond district office of the departments Wage and Hour Division found the company had not paid those workers the time-and-one-half hourly rate when they worked more than 40 hours a week. It also found the company did not maintain required records, in violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act.

One of the companys owners said the problem involved equipment that was improperly counting hours worked.

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Its all been resolved, and the company has paid the overtime, he said. He declined to give his name.

The seven restaurants involved are the Jose Tequilas Mexican Grill & Bar at 615 Thimble Shoals, Newport News; 2052 Lynnhaven Parkway, Virginia Beach; 2101 McComas Way, Virginia Beach; 205 Bypass Road, Williamsburg; 1108 Little Creek Road, Norfolk, and a location in Owings Mills, Maryland. Senor Fox Mexican Restaurant at 1080 Nimmo Parkway, Virginia Beach, was also involved.

Food service employees are entitled to the essential protections provided by the Fair Labor Standards Act, said Roberto Melendez, Richmond district director of Wage and Hour division.

As restaurants struggle to find and keep the workers they need to remain competitive, they must remember that retaining and recruiting workers is harder for employers who fail to respect workers rights and violate labor laws, he said.

More than 900,000 people have left jobs in restaurants and hotel businesses every month since August 2021, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports. Its reports do not say how many moved on to other restaurant jobs or found work in other industries.

Dave Ress, 757-247-4535, dress@dailypress.com
NSW Tourism Minister Stuart Ayres has conceded that hellish queues at Sydney Airport as people head off on long-awaited travel are intensely disappointing and warned the delays would continue.

Mr Ayres said the long lines would start to improve slightly as the changes to rules around close contacts for airport workers allow more people to cover shifts but told travellers to plan ahead.

Travellers queue at Sydneys domestic airport on Tuesday. Credit:Oscar Colman

Lines were already out the door before 6am on Wednesday as travellers prepared for the delays, arriving hours before their morning flights.

Its intensely disappointing, but COVID still has a sting in its tail and that sting is the impact on the workforce, Ayres said. Whilst they [airport workers] have been given an exemption for the close contact isolation arrangements, it may take some time for rosters to recalibrate.
London: President Vladimir Putin defended Russias assault on Ukraine in a rare public appearance on Tuesday, the first time he has addressed the conflict since Moscow withdrew its forces from northern Ukraine after they were halted at the gates of Kyiv.

Vladimir Putin has spoken publicly on Russias invasion of Ukraine. Credit:AP

Putin also said that images and footage of dead bodies strewn across the Ukrainian town of Bucha, near Kyiv, were fake, TASS news agency reported.

He went to say that Ukraine had deviated from the agreements made at a peace conference in Istanbul, and that talks were in a dead end.

Buchas mayor said on Tuesday that authorities had so far found 403 bodies of people they believed were killed by Russian forces during their occupation of the area, but that the number was growing.
Bryan, OH (43506)

Today

Some clouds this morning will give way to generally sunny skies for the afternoon. High 64F. Winds NE at 10 to 20 mph..

Tonight

Clear skies. Low around 40F. Winds ENE at 10 to 15 mph.
An increase in illegal gold mining on Brazil's largest indigenous reservation has brought sickness in the area. (Photo: Neil Hall/Reuters/File Photo)

An illegal gold mining surge on Brazil's biggest indigenous reservation has delivered sickness, conflict, and severe human rights abuses to the Yanomami people, condemning high gold prices and unspoken government support, according to investigations.

Based on a survey by the Hutukara Yanomami Association, wildcat mining on rivers in the area where 29,000 Yanomami dwell in northern Brazil increased by 46% last year, posing a threat to secluded settlements with little or no external connection.

Law authorities have failed to stop the rising invasion of Yanomami land under President Jair Bolsonaro, who has advocated for increased mining on the indigenous property.

Yesterday, tens of thousands of indigenous people from 200 native tribes reportedly marched in Brasilia's capital to protest Bolsonaro's bid to allow mining on protected reservation grounds.

According to the research, which was created with the help of the Instituto Socioambiental, an environmental and indigenous rights advocacy organization, the miners intruding on Yanomami land are now braver, more equipped, and frequently armed with automatic guns.

Mining camps frequently include broadband internet, clubs, strippers, and shops, according to the research, which attributes support for the camps to both local business elite and established crime syndicates playing a growing role in gold theft.

The research details how indigenous health stations have been taken over by unauthorized miners, who are utilizing the airfields to park their aircraft and helicopters and the abandoned buildings to keep their supplies after being vacated by medical staff owing to government reduced funding and a lack of protection.

The miners can alert others of environmental enforcement operations, which have lost their element of surprise, due to access to social media via high-speed internet connections, according to the report.

COVID-19 was carried to the distant region by miners, who also helped spread malaria, both of which have wreaked havoc on the Yanomami.

As per the report, mercury used to extract gold from sand has polluted rivers, resulting in an increase in neurological abnormalities among babies. Miners also smuggled in alcohol and narcotics that are sold to Yanomami women in return for sex, involving rape allegations.

Last year, Yanomami youths attempted to obstruct the flow of supply boats on the Uraricoera river, resulting in tragic conflicts and retribution by miners who fired on the Palimiu settlement to frighten the people.

Anthropologist Rogerio do Pateo said, the rising presence of armed men has made the Yanomami afraid to go out hunting for food or even to cultivate their crops.
The Philippines, according to market analysts, has one of the highest unbanked populations in the Southeast Asian region. (Photo: Image by TheDigitalWay from Pixabay )

Voyager Innovations, a Philippine fintech firm, announced today that it has achieved the unicorn title after acquiring $210 million to expand from transactions to banking and cryptocurrency markets.

Following the newest investment round headed by shareholder SIG Venture Capital, Voyager's worth has risen to $1.4 billion.

Existing Voyager investors such as KKR & Co. Inc, PLDT, China's Tencent Holdings Ltd, and the International Finance Corp. also contributed to the financial investment.

The company, which has 47 million users on its Paymaya app, said it will utilize the extra funds to build Maya Bank, a modern digital bank aimed at consumers and small businesses.

Paymaya's offerings, including cryptocurrencies, micro-investments, and insurance, will continue to be expanded, according to the firm.

"The company's ability to develop into neo-banking and add innovative cutting-edge financial products and services is validated by the strong approval from our new investors and involvement of our current investors in this fundraising," Shailesh Baidwan, president of Voyager and Paymaya, said.

As a result of the coronavirus outbreak forcing millions of people to trade online, the Southeast Asian nation's financial industry grew in the previous two years, spurring the rise of online transactions and digital banking services.

The Philippines is one of Southeast Asia's fastest-growing fintech economies, with the usage of digital services skyrocketing during the pandemic.

According to a report by Google, Temasek, and Bain & Co., its digital economy surged 94% to $17 billion in 2021 and is predicted to grow to $40 billion by 2025.

Last year, Mynt, the business behind GCash, was valued at $2 billion by Ant Group, Globe Telecom in the Philippines, and Warburg Pincus in the United States.

Tonik, one of the country's six regulated digital banks, raised $131 million in a Series B financing headed by Japan's Mizuho Bank in February.

The Philippines has one of the highest unbanked populations in Southeast Asia. The asset-light business model of online banking is expected to spur better and more flexible offers for the millions of Filipinos who do not have a connection to financial services, according to regulators.

Analysts believe that the Philippines' $140 billion retail deposit sector will be very competitive. They claim that digital banks have the ability to outperform traditional lenders in the long run.

After obtaining $300 million from worldwide investors such as Warburg Pincus and Insight Partners, Mynt, a Philippine fintech startup backed by China's Ant Group and Globe Telecom of the Philippines, has earned the country's first unicorn.
Chinese mobile phone maker has come under the (ED) scanner. The federal agency has summoned its global vice-president Manu Kumar Jain in connection with alleged foreign remittances of Rs 1,000 crore, which according to the agency is not compliant with the foreign exchange rules.

This is the third summons issued to him (Jain), after he failed to appear on the earlier summons, a senior official said. He has been asked to appear before the agencys Bengaluru office on Wednesday, the official said without giving details.

According to sources, Jain had been Xiaomis former managing director of its India operations and thats why he could be aware of company activities and the significant amount which is being transferred outside India.

Its learnt that ED had initiated its discreet inquiry in February under the (FEMA) and found evidence of remittances involving a significant amount.

When contacted, a spokesperson said:  is a law-abiding and responsible company. We give paramount importance to the laws of the land. We are fully compliant with all the regulations and are confident of the same.

We are cooperating with authorities with their ongoing investigation to ensure they have all the requisite information, it added.

Sources said Jain has been asked to provide details on Xiaomis various shareholding, funding, and financial statements, besides necessary approval details.

Chinese phone makers and their subsidiaries have been under the lens of Indian probe agencies. In December-January, the I-T department conducted searches at several offices of these firms in multiple cities. The department had said these firms sent money in the form of royalty quoting themselves and group located abroad, which is in thousands of crores.
India's federal financial-crime fighting agency has summoned a former India head of China's Corp in an investigation of whether the company's business practices conformed with Indian foreign exchange laws, two sources with direct knowledge told Reuters.

The has been probing the company since at least February, and in recent weeks asked Manu Kumar Jain, Xiaomi's former India managing director, to appear before its officers, the sources said.

Jain, now a global vice president at based out of Dubai, was currently in India, the sources said, though the purpose of his visit was not clear.

Asked about the probe, a spokesperson said the company abides by all Indian laws and was "fully compliant with all the regulations." "We are cooperating with authorities with their ongoing investigation to ensure they have all the requisite information," the statement said.

The actions signal widening scrutiny of the Chinese smartphone maker, whose India office was raided in December in a separate investigation over alleged income tax evasion. Some other Chinese smartphone markers were also raided at the time.

Jain did not respond to a request for comment. India's also did not respond, though the agency typically does not make details public while investigations are ongoing.

The agency is looking into existing business structures between Xiaomi India, its contract manufacturers and its parent entity in China, according to the first source, who said that fund flows between Xiaomi India and its parent entity, including royalty payments, were being checked.

The Enforcement Directorate, via a notice in February addressed to Xiaomi's Jain, asked for various company documents, the second source familiar with the developments said.

These included details of foreign funding, shareholding and funding patterns, financial statements and information of key executives running the business, the source said.

Xiaomi remains India's top smartphone seller in 2021, with a 24% market share, according to Counterpoint Research. South Korea's Samsung Electronics was the No. 2 brand with a 19% share.

Xiaomi also deals in other tech gadgets in India, including smart watches and televisions.

(Reporting by Aditya Kalra and Munsif Vengatill in New Delhi; Editing by Bernadette Baum)

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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South Africa: Sasria appoints new CEO

The South African Special Risks Insurance Association (Sasria) has announced the appointment Mpumelelo Mpumi Tyikwe as the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO).

His appointment is effective 7 April 2022. Sasria is an agency of the National Treasury.

The association said Tyikwes appointment follows due, vigorous processes that emanated from the recruitment boards satisfaction after all due processes were followed.

In a statement, Sasria said it was looking forward to working with a dynamic and goal-oriented business leader with vast experience in leading business operations within the insurance industry, mostly involving turnaround strategies, spanning 20 years.

Tyikwe succeeds Cedric Masondo, whose term ends in May 2022.

Among his many accolades, Tyikwe created the first black owned Underwriting Management Agency at Hollard. He was also a key figure in Santams development of its business strategy, driving business growth and profitability through specialist companies and corporate business between 2008 and 2009. This was followed by leading strategy at the Standard Bank Wealth Division.

Moss Ngoasheng, Sasrias board chairperson, said: We have gone through a thorough process to find a candidate capable enough to lead Sasria into the future. Tyikwes proven track record proves that his appointment is perfectly suited to lead Sasria as it embarks on its journey, one thats equally challenging and exciting. We thank Mr Masondo for the sterling job he has done for the organisation.

The incoming CEO has been in the same position at the Land Bank Insurance Company (LBIC).

Tyikwe played a key role in the growing business at Santam and LBIC as he developed strategies, which bore the successful implementation of interventions after he initiated them. One of these was the notable acquisition of Absas crop business, a move that saw a significant, profitable increase that ultimately became a sustainable revenue model.

One of the key aspects of running a successful business is the leveraging of existing and the creation of new networks, a skill Tyikwe is familiar with as he is capable of leveraging partnerships aimed at business growth.

Sasria said these kinds of partnerships were what further enhanced Tyikwes skills in stakeholder management, an aspect he showed at LBIC as he established sound relationships with government departments such as Agriculture and Land Affairs. Tyikwe said he was looking forward to the challenge ahead.

Sasria is a big-potential business where I see opportunities in growing and diversifying the revenue streams of the business as we need to make the organisation sustainable, strengthen its investment portfolio and improve the solvency position of the organisation.

We will work closely with various stakeholders to manage key risks with the aim to practively manage riots and public unrest.

Ngoasheng said he was confident that Sasria was in safe hands.

These are hands that see opportunities in identifying possible new products and the creation of unique distribution channels. Thats the kind of thinking Sasria currently needs with unexpected challenges always on the horizon, he said.  SAnews.gov.za

This story has been published on: 2022-04-12. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Lines of hatred and blood: the scars Britain left in S. Asia

Xinhua) 12:39, April 12, 2022

BEIJING, April 12 (Xinhua) -- One of the most atrocious absurdities ever in human civilization would be the fact that a person sitting in an office thousands of kilometers away could draw a line and decide the fate of billions of people on the other side of the continent, where they have been dwelling for thousands of years.

That is what happened to the vast land of South Asia, when British colonists unfolded a world map and dropped the ink while drinking tea, drawing the demarcation lines that have plunged the subcontinent into conflicts and disputes.

THE RADCLIFFE LINE: GRIM REAPER'S SCYTHE

In June 1947 when dusk fell on the British empire, in line with the Mountbatten Plan that prescribed the Partition of India, Britain appointed Sir Cyril Radcliffe, a lawyer "who had never been east of Paris," to chair two boundary commissions, one for Bengal and one for Punjab.

It's not hard to imagine that Radcliffe's hasty demarcation, based on outdated maps and little specialized knowledge, was doomed to fail. To make matters worse, the Radcliffe line was not announced until both India and Pakistan declared independence, forcing the Muslims and Hindus to rush to their new homes.

The Grim Reaper raised his Scythe when 14.5 million people fled across the new boundary in the first few years after the partition: massacres, rapes and torture claimed two hundred thousand to two million lives and turned the subcontinent into a hell. Particularly, the ambiguity over Kashmir directly resulted in wars and conflicts between India and Pakistan in the following decades.

Did Radcliffe make an unconscious and inevitable mistake? It was more like colonial Britain's old tactic "divide and rule" than a coincidence. After all, the British colonists were apt at employing this strategy to incite tension between Hindus and Muslims during the "Great Mutiny" in 1857 to consolidate its rule.

THE MCMAHON LINE: APPLE OF DISCORD

It has been a remarkable spectacle in human history that China and India, two of the greatest Asian civilizations that had prospered for thousands of years, have maintained peaceful exchanges for almost an equally long period of time. But during the last century, an apple of discord was thrown between the two giants by the British colonists.

In March 1914, Henry McMahon, foreign secretary of British India at the time, imposed a line at the Simla Convention to push the China-India border a hundred kilometers north to the crest of the Himalayas. The delimitation of the "McMahon Line," fulfilled by a British spy named Fredrick Bailey through illegal activities of surveying and mapping, was never recognized by the then Chinese government.

As Aitchson's Treaties, the official publication of the treaties signed by the colonial government, did not include the illegal "McMahon Line" agreement, Olaf Caroe, deputy foreign secretary of British India, obtained the British government's permission to withdraw the original volume and publish a revised one in 1938 which not only included the "McMahon Line" but also carried the original date of 1929. In this way, Caroe was able to revise the official maps of India to mark the "McMahon Line" as the new boundary. The plot was approved by the India Office of the British government in July 1936, and ordered to make the change "unobtrusively" without notifying the press. Working secretly, Britain created a dispute out of nowhere between China and India.

THE DURAND LINE: PANDORA'S BOX

In an attempt to expand colonial ambition and seek advantage in the "Great Game" against Russia, the Durand Agreement, which incorporated parts of southern Afghanistan into British India, was imposed onto Afghanistan by Britain in 1893 after two Anglo-Afghan wars, formally acknowledging the Durand Line as the border of the British sphere of influence. The line, cutting through the Pashtun tribal areas, politically divides ethnic Pashtuns, Baloch and other groups living on both sides of the border. Such an unreasonable maneuver was designed to make trouble, and indeed, an anti-Britain campaign quickly broke out in June 1897, where Britain sent 40,000 troops to suppress the unrest.

Yet it was rather the start than the end of misfortune falling on this land: a pandora's box has been opened for Afghans who were trapped repeatedly by hegemonic exploitation ever since. The British retreated from South Asia, but the seed of conflict they planted has grown, and the Anglo-Afghan dispute was transformed into a scar for Afghan-Pakistan relations, making the border one of the most dangerous on earth.

Undoubtedly, Britain's toxic colonial legacy is the root cause of most territorial conflicts in South Asia today. The British colonists have manipulated border disputes to sow seeds of distrust and hatred among different religions, nations or regions, so as to maintain or expand its sphere of influence. When the colonists are gone, those disputed border lines turn into permanent scars or wounds that continue to bleed. Enditem

(Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun)
Higgins  Henry Patterson  in a photo from his publisher, HarperCollins. Patterson wrote 85 books, including "The Eagle Has Landed," using a handful of pseudonyms, including Jack Higgins. (HarperCollins Publishers/AP Photo)

Jack Higgins, the author of dozens of bestselling adventure novels, most notably The Eagle Has Landed, a hugely popular tale about a band of German commandos who infiltrate Britain to try to kidnap Prime Minister Winston Churchill during World War II, died Saturday at his home on the English Channel island of Jersey. He was 92.

His death was announced on Twitter by the British division of HarperCollins, which did not specify the cause.

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Featuring Irish gunmen, international spies and assassins, smugglers and other colorful protagonists, including gorgeous women, Higgins novels have sold an estimated 250 million copies worldwide and have been translated into about 55 languages.

From 1959, when his first book was published, until the mid-1970s, he gradually built a fan base and earned the respect of some critics with his potboilers.

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Higgins has a good ear for dialogue, handles his love scenes without mawkishness and is well up on Mediterranean politics, Newgate Callendar wrote in The New York Times after Night Judgment at Sinos, about an attempt to free a prisoner from an island penitentiary, was published by Hodder & Stoughton of Britain in 1970.

Soon afterward, Higgins found an inspiration for the book that would vault him into the stratosphere of commercially successful writers.

Everyone I dealt with in publishing thought it was a bad idea, he reminisced in a 1987 interview with United Press International. He recalled what a British publishing executive told him: Who on Earth is going to be interested in a bunch of Germans kidnapping Winston Churchill? Youve got no heroes. The public will never go for it.

The public went for it. The Eagle Has Landed has sold more than 50 million copies, by some estimates, since it was first published in 1975 by Collins of London and Holt, Rinehart and Winston in the United States. Like several other Higgins novels, it was adapted for a movie, which starred Michael Caine, Donald Sutherland and Robert Duvall.

Under various pseudonyms, Higgins wrote the kind of stories that were easily  some would say too easily  dismissed by tweedy English professors. But they offered readers an escape from everyday life.

The stories were also an escape for the author, a way of creating a different world for myself, as he put it in a 2000 interview with The Belfast Telegraph of Northern Ireland.

And there were times, especially early in his life, when he must have yearned for a different world.

Jack Higgins, James Graham, Martin Fallon and Hugh Marlowe were all pseudonyms for Henry Patterson, who was born on July 27, 1929, in Newcastle upon Tyne in northern England to a shipwright, Henry Patterson, and his wife, Henrietta. (Father and son both went by Harry.)

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The parents marriage soon failed, and the mother took her toddler son to her native Belfast, in Northern Ireland, and became a waitress. The child, who had been baptized as a Presbyterian but had Catholic relatives, was occasionally beaten up in the streets by hoodlums on both sides of the religious divide. On one occasion, a streetcar he was riding in came under rifle fire by Catholic militants.

Later, when his mother moved to Yorkshire, England, and remarried, he endured the disdain of his stepfather. He always resented me, that I was part of the deal, he said in the 2000 interview with the Belfast newspaper. I remember him saying to me, Youll never amount to much, youre useless. 

The boy was a poor student and was once given nine strokes on the backside for throwing snowballs at the school clock. At 15, he fled the boredom of the classroom. After a series of menial jobs, he joined the British army, where he discovered that he could shoot a rifle very accurately (with the aid of eyeglasses) and that he was actually very intelligent. Tests put his IQ at 147, which is considered highly gifted.

The army gave me a sense of what I was capable of, he said years later.

He left the army and bounced from job to job  clerk, circus tent handler, streetcar conductor, truck driver, factory worker, cigarette salesman  before deciding he should settle down.

I bumped into a friend of mine in the park, and he said he was going to be a teacher, Higgins told The Evening Standard of London in 2001. That made me think that maybe I could be one, too.

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So he entered Leeds Training College, working in a post office at night to pay for his tuition, and earned a teaching certificate in 1958. Late that year, he married Amy Hewitt, a college student.

The next year, his first novel, Sad Wind From the Sea, an adventure set in China, was published under the name of Harry Patterson. It had modest sales.

By then, the onetime failure in the classroom had matured intellectually. He taught high school history in Leeds, England. He earned a degree in social psychology and sociology from the University of London in 1962 and, for the next decade, he was a teacher and tutor at several colleges.

The modest success of his early works convinced him that he had to write a lot of books if he were to make a decent living as an author, and that he should probably use various names.

In the 1960s, the first Jack Higgins novels were published. (The author chose the pseudonym after a great-uncle who had been a gunman with Protestant militants in Belfast.)

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Higgins was stung as academic colleagues poked fun at his thrillers. So he wrote a serious novel, A Phoenix in the Blood, about racial prejudice in Britain.

When the book was published by Barrie & Rockliff of Britain in 1964, it received terribly good reviews from the highbrows who would look down on his later work, Higgins recalled. But it sold only 1,600 copies.

Not content to be respected by professors but ignored by the Everyman, he went back to writing thrillers, generally working with pen and tablet. After the spectacular success of The Eagle Has Landed, Higgins became a resident of Jersey, which is a British island but not part of the United Kingdom, to escape high income taxes in Britain.

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His first marriage ended in 1984, and he blamed the breakup, at least in part, on his fame. Once you set out on the voyage of success, others have no choice in the matter. Everythings changing, and theyre being dragged along  the wife, the children, he said in the 1987 interview with UPI. Suddenly youre not the same person.

Survivors include his second wife, Denise; a son, Sean; and three daughters, Sarah, Ruth and Hannah, from his first marriage.

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Higgins sometimes noted wryly that while his opinions on literary matters were often sought while he was a teacher, they were less in demand after he became a wealthy writer. But he had a sense of his own worth.

Im not pretending Im Charles Dickens or anything, he told the Belfast newspaper in 2000. But whatever I do, whatever it is that makes up a Jack Higgins book, its not like what anyone else does.
The on Tuesday agreed to hear Delhi Distribution Ltd in connection with Rajdhani Power Limited's challenge to an order of the Ministry of Power on the transfer of power generated by a Dadri thermal station from the national capital to Haryana.

Justice Yashwant Varma permitted Delhi Distribution Ltd, which distributes electricity in the northern area of the city, to intervene in the ongoing proceedings before it.

The applicant is permitted to intervene and address submissions, the court said.

Counsel appearing for the applicant said that it was equally affected by the decision and that out of the total allocation, its share is 10 megawatts and thus has submissions to make.

The high court, on March 30, had stayed the Centre's order on the transfer of power supply from the Dadri-II thermal station to Haryana.

On April 1, it extended the stay till April 29 and granted time to the Centre to respond to the petition.

The Centre had then said this is not the first time that such reallocation has been done and it was done earlier also.

The petitioner discom has claimed that the order is completely without jurisdiction and if implemented, 23 per cent of the populace of the national capital would be deprived of power in the next 24 hours.

The petitioner has argued that the respondent authorities have no power to reallocate power that forms part of the allocation made in favour of the petitioner and duly approved by the Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission.

It disputed the recital in the order in connection with the Delhi government having surrendered the power and said that the surrender which was contemplated was concerning the Dadri-I thermal power plant alone.

(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.)
Corp (IOC) has excluded several high-sulphur crude grades, including Russian Urals, from its latest tender, trade sources said on Tuesday.

India's top refiner informed market participants that Das, Eugene Island, Thunder Horse and Urals crude were no longer on the list of grades under its latest tender, which closes on Tuesday, the sources said.

IOC imports crude for itself and on behalf of its Chennai Petroleum subsidiary.

U.S. President Joe Biden had told Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi late on Monday that buying more oil from Russia was not in India's interest and could hamper the U.S. response to the war in Ukraine.

IOC did not respond immediately to a request for comment.

The refiner is running two tenders this week, seeking sweet and sour crude separately for May-June loading.

In previous tenders, IOC bought 6 million barrels of Russian Urals for May loading.

(Reporting by Nidhi Verma in New Delhi and Florence Tan in Singapore; Editing by David Goodman)

(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.)
Last9, a software reliability platform, has raised USD 11 million (over Rs 83 crore) in a funding round led by Sequoia Capital India.

The series A funding also saw the participation from co-investor Better Capital and a few angel investors.

This is the second funding for the company after it raised USD 2 million in the first round from Sequoia Capital India's Surge and Better Capital in April 2020.

Last9 is building the Google Maps and Google search equivalent for microservices, Nishant Modak, the company's co-founder and chief executive, said on Tuesday.

A quick plug-in of the system metrics allows it to build a 'knowledge graph' of microservices and take an aerial view of their software architecture or zoom in to see the most minute, metric-level data, Modak added.

The company is currently working with large-scale customers in the US and in Asia to build a software that works seamlessly.

Last9 is already the largest streaming platform for the Indian Premier League, co founder Piyush Verma said, adding it is also in use at several large organisations, including Disney+ Hotstar, where it is the platform-of-choice to stream mega events.

(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.)
Even as its monthly run-rate is getting back to pre-pandemic levels amid rising demand for (EVs), Ahmedabad-based intercity and intracity mobility solutions provider is planning an initial public offering (IPO) of over Rs 600 crore.

The company plans to raise money to back its bus fleet and city footprint expansion plans. From the current 1000-odd fleet of buses, of which roughly five per cent are EVs, is looking to add another 1,000-1,200 buses in the next one to one and a half years.

Moreover, buoyed by the growing opportunities in electrification of mobility solutions, the company is looking to take up the share of EV buses in its fleet to 50 per cent, said Sanyam Gandhi, whole-time director of Limited.

"Not only is the supply of EVs increasing but the supply time is also getting reduced even as OEMs and mobility solutions providers are getting to participate in tenders. For urban mobility, we are bidding for more tenders and this is where the comes into the picture. This is because for EV, one needs a longer payment tenure which is not available with banks," said Gandhi.

Unlike its competitors, Chartered Speed not only has presence in more states but also the only player to be working in partnership with state governments that allows it to use public transport infrastructure and ply within city limits during the day.

According to industry research, in the Indian mobility landscape, 86 per cent passengers travel by road of which 63 per cent do so by bus. However, around 47 per cent of India's population lives in states with buses less than the national average of roughly 0.29 buses per 1000 people. India is behind countries like Brazil, China, Japan and Belgium, among others.

It is here that the company is looking to foray into more states, especially those below national average in terms of urban public transport. Chartered Speed is also seeing opportunity in over 150,000 state transport undertakings (STU) buses being tendered for EV operations in the next decade.

The plan for an comes at a time when the company expects to be back to pre-pandemic levels. For instance, Chartered Speed clocked a revenue of Rs 340 crore in FY 2019-20 which fell to Rs 140 crore during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic in FY 2020-21 and is now expected to touch Rs 200 crore even as monthly run rates are back to pre-pandemic levels.

Going forward, the company is also banking upon retrofitting old internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles with EV, apart from tapping the transition of urban mobility to green through city authorities' tenders.
Falguni Nayar, the chief executive officer and founder of beauty supply company Nykaa, has been named the EY Entrepreneur of the Year for 2021, said a press statement from the global consulting firm on Tuesday.

Nayar was given the award at a function where Bhupender Yadav, Union Minister of Labour and Employment and Environment, Forest & Climate Change was the chief guest. A M Naik, group chairman of Larsen & Toubro, was felicitated with the Lifetime Achievement Award.

Nayar will represent India at the EY World Entrepreneur of the Year Award on June 9. Nayar, who was an investment banker before becoming an entrepreneur, disrupted a brick-and-mortar industry by taking a digital route to sell beauty products in 2012. is among profitable start-ups in the country, said the EY statement.

India is marching towards an inclusive and sustainable economy which firmly believes in enabling and enhancing the efficiency and efficacy of our entrepreneurs. It is great to see that this year, EOY Awards has 21 Finalists with combined revenues of INR 1.87 trillion, who collectively employ more than 2,60,000 people; this is a testimony of the nation's entrepreneurial talent, said Yadav, the minister.

Awards were also announced for nine other categories with the winners representing both mature industries and young entrepreneurs from startups, including unicorns.

The winners were selected by an nine-member independent Jury Panel led by KV Kamath, former chairman of ICICI Bank. Other Jury Members include Dr. Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, Chairperson, Biocon, Vibha Padalkar, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, HDFC Life, Neeraj Bharadwaj, Managing Director, The Carlyle Group, Amit Dixit, Head Asia Private Equity, Blackstone, Rajnish Kumar, Former Chairman, State Bank of India, Harsh C. Mariwala, Chairman, Marico, Sanjiv Mehta, CEO and Managing Director, Hindustan Unilever, and Gopal Srinivasan, Founder, Chairman and Managing Director, TVS Capital Funds
The government signed an agreement with Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL) for exploring possibilities in the state.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between Industrial Promotion and Investment Corporation of Ltd (IPICOL) Managing Director Bhupendra Singh Poonia and BPCL's Executive Director Renewable Energy Amit Garg on Monday.

" has a high potential for production of from ethanol, solar and hydrogen," Chief Secretary SC Mohapatra said at the programme where the agreement was signed.

The state government would push in a big way and would be provided all support from grounding to commissioning of projects, he said.

"This is a momentous occasion when a company like has joined hands with the state government for the production of green energy," Development Commissioner PK Jena said.

chairman and MD Arun Kumar Singh said that many parts of Odisha have great potential for the production of solar and ethanol energy.

The agreement envisages joint collaboration for exploring the feasibility of setting up hydrogen production plants both for domestic use and export.

It would also help Odisha-based heavy industries to supplement their non-fossil power requirement, officials said.

The company targets to set up a renewable energy production capacity of 10 gigawatts, in a mix of solar, wind, small hydro and biomass by 2040, they said.

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ADB Ventures, a platform of Asian Development Bank, has provided seed funding to Pinbox for expanding micro pension coverage in India.

Pinbox works to address friction and accessibility challenges in delivering micro pension and solutions to underserved informal sector workers, ADB Ventures said in a statement.

It provides a ready-to-deploy micro pension technology platform globally to governments and regulators who are seeking to expand pension and coverage to non-salaried workers.

"It is uniquely positioned to disrupt the micro pension space with its easy-to-use plug and play digital platform. Leveraging its knowledge of financial security pain-points for informal sector workers, especially women, the team has designed an accessible, convenient, and scalable solution," ADB Ventures Investment Specialist Jugnu Pati said.

In 2020, Pinbox joined hands with WhatsApp to integrate its platform with the popular app to make saving for old age as easy and simple as sending a message. The Pinbox-WhatsApp platform is already live in India and Kenya, it said.

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chairman Anil Agarwal on Tuesday said that the company in partnership with will set up a manufacturing plant in the next two years.

The Indian conglomerate had already entered into a pact with electronics manufacturing giant to form a joint venture (JV) for manufacturing semiconductors in India.

Agarwal termed the signing up of the pact with as a "very big job", and said that the industry will promote other sectors like automobiles and electronics in the country.

had unveiled its plan to invest in manufacturing after the government announced a Rs 76,000-crore package to boost electronic chip and display ecosystem in the country.

This is also the second attempt of to enter the semiconductor space after its earlier plan to set up a display unit with about Rs 60,000 crore investment could not take off.

Agarwal was speaking at the 7th National Leadership Conclave.

According to the memorandum of understanding earlier signed between the two companies, Vedanta will hold the majority equity in the JV, while Foxconn will be the minority shareholder. Vedanta's chairman will be the chairman of the joint venture.

Discussions are currently ongoing with a few state governments to finalise the location of the plant, the company had earlier said.

"This will be the first joint venture in the electronics manufacturing space after the announcement of the policy," the company had said.

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Commerce and Industry minister on Tuesday reviewed the progress of the Industrial Corridor Development Program and said the initiative would help support domestic manufacturing in India.

The program is a pan-India initiative involving development of 'plug and play' infrastructure which is aimed at boosting manufacturing ecosystem in the country, Goyal was quoted as saying in a statement issued by the ministry.

He was informed that the 'plug and play' infrastructure at the plot level is being developed in four cities -- Dholera (Gujarat), Shendra Bidkin (Maharashtra), Vikram Udyogpuri (Madhya Pradesh), Integrated Industrial Township (Greater Noida) and the land allotment is currently underway.

A total of 173 Plots (851 acre) have been allotted in these cities attracting investments from the companies of South Korea, Russia, China, UK, Japan and India with an investment mobilization to the tune of about Rs 16,760 crore.

The minister also directed the officials to expedite the land allotment to industrial, commercial and residential sectors in these developed cities through rigorous marketing activities and conducive land allotment policies.

The e-land management system (e-LMS) should be implemented across all the projects and continuous monitoring should be done through an integrated dashboard, he added, he added.

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and the US have reaffirmed their ambitions for building an advanced and comprehensive defence partnership in which militaries of the two nations coordinate closely together across all domains.

In a joint statement issued after the conclusion of the India-US 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue here on Monday, the two sides commended the significant and continuing progress in the India-US Major Defence Partnership.

"Drawing on the momentum from the India-US Defence Policy Group meeting in October 2021, they reaffirmed their ambitions for building an advanced and comprehensive defence partnership in which the US and Indian militaries coordinate closely together across all domains," the statement said.

Defence Minister and External Affairs Minister led the Indian delegation for 2+2 Ministerial, while the US side was represented by Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin and Secretary of State .

As information-sharing forms an important pillar of the India-US defence cooperation, the ministers underlined the importance of building a comprehensive framework under which our militaries are equipped to exchange information in real-time across domains.

At a joint press conference, Singh said that the two countries had a very meaningful and in-depth discussion during the 2+2 Ministerial.

"This will help in maintaining the momentum of India-US relationship and taking our work forward. Our two great nations have complementary interests and a shared will to achieve mutual goals," Singh said.

"We had discussions on a range of bilateral, defence and global issues. It was heartening to note that as world's largest democracies, we have convergence of views on most of them. Both and the US share a common vision of a free, open, inclusive and rules-based Indo-Pacific and Indian Ocean Region.

"Our partnership is of critical importance for peace, stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific and the Indian Ocean Region," Singh said.

During the meeting, Singh said he shared "our assessments of the situation in our neighbourhood and the Indian Ocean Region." The use of terrorism as an instrument of statecraft against came up prominently, the defence minister added.

During the meeting, India's focus on developing its domestic capabilities and helping to ensure reliable defence supplies was highlighted.

The ministers said they were committed to work closely across their respective governments on co-production, co-development, cooperative testing of advanced systems, investment promotion, and the development of Maintenance Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facilities in India.

The ministers also acknowledged the importance of deepening collaboration in science and technology in the India-US Joint Technical Group (JTG), and in evolving new defence domains, including space, artificial intelligence (AI), and cyber.

They underscored the importance of cooperation in space and welcomed plans to conduct an inaugural Defence Space Dialogue in 2022. They welcomed the second Defence Cyber Dialogue held in 2021 and look forward to the next round this year.

They decided to hold an inaugural AI Dialogue this year to harness opportunities for joint innovation and cooperation in new domains. The ministers also discussed additional training opportunities for their respective militaries, and the welcomed enhanced Indian participation in advanced courses across these emerging domains.

They welcomed the progress made toward full implementation of the Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement (BECA) to support the exchange of geospatial information.

They noted that information exchange and placement of liaison officers in each other's military organisations will spur joint service cooperation between our militaries to support integrated and multi-domain cooperation.

Acknowledging that their navies have been a driving force in advancing the US and India's shared interests in the Indian Ocean Region and the wider Indo-Pacific, they discussed opportunities to further advance and deepen maritime cooperation, including in underwater domain awareness.

The also welcomed India's decision to join the Combined Maritime Forces Task Force as an Associate Partner to expand multilateral cooperation in the Indian Ocean.

The ministers lauded the 2022 Indo-Pacific Military Health Exchange, which India and the co-hosted to bring together experts from 38 countries to discuss challenges and solutions to military medical issues. Both sides look forward to India's co-hosting of the Indo-Pacific Armies Chiefs Conference (IPACC) and Indo-Pacific Armies Management Seminar (IPAMS) in 2023.

In support of the Indian military's expanding operational reach and emerging opportunities for cooperation in the Indian Ocean and the wider region, the ministers welcomed regular bilateral logistics operations such as replenishments at sea, air-to-air and ground-refuelling and committed to increasing such cooperation, including through the Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA).

Both sides reaffirmed the importance of regular bilateral and multilateral exercises, including the Malabar exercise with the inclusion of Australia, the tri-service Tiger Triumph exercise, the multilateral Milan naval exercise, the bilateral Yudh Abhyas and Vajra Prahar Army exercises, the bilateral COPE India air exercise, and Indian participation in Red Flag.

They supported increasing the scope and complexity of these exercises. They looked forward to deepening cooperation between the Special Forces of both countries.

Recognising the importance of building robust private industry collaboration, the ministers welcomed ongoing projects under the auspices of the India-US Defence Technology and Trade Initiative (DTTI), including a project agreement to co-develop air-launched UAVs.

They called on both sides to consider additional DTTI projects, such as a counter-unmanned aerial systems (UAS) system and an Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance (ISTAR) platform. They also lauded the rapid growth in bilateral defence trade over the past decade.

Seeking trusted and resilient defence supply chains, the ministers welcomed the progress made towards the implementation of the Industrial Security Agreement to facilitate collaboration on cutting edge defence technologies between industries.

Both sides would explore and further promote the means to encourage reciprocal participation of US and Indian vendors in each other's defence supply chains, the statement said.

To further enhance defence industrial cooperation in the naval sector, both sides agreed to explore possibilities of utilising the Indian shipyards for repair and maintenance of ships of the US Maritime Sealift Command (MSC) to support mid-voyage repair of US Naval ships.

They applauded the recent and upcoming meetings of the India-US Cyber Dialogue and the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Working Group to deepen cybersecurity cooperation. They strongly condemned ransomware and other cyber-related crimes and recognised the need to bolster the protection of critical networks and infrastructure.

Recalling their countries' strong tradition of space exploration and endeavours, they announced the conclusion of a Memorandum of Understanding on Space Situational Awareness and pledged to expand bilateral space cooperation, acknowledging the pivotal role international cooperation plays in the long-term sustainability and safety of the outer-space environment.

They applauded the ongoing development of the NASA- Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) satellite, planned for launch from India in 2023. The NISAR mission will collect data vital to tackling the climate crisis. The ministers also looked forward to the convening of the next India-US Civil Space Joint Working Group in 2022.

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In a major operation, the CBI has got deported from Egypt, Subhash Shankar Parab, a key accused in the Rs 7,000 crore bank fraud case.

Parab was the Deputy General Manager (Finance) in Firestar Diamond, officials said on Tuesday.

Parab, who was allegedly hiding in Cairo, landed in Mumbai early on Tuesday after "deportation", they said.

According to the officials, he was absconding ever since the case involving diamantaire and his uncle Mehul Choksi came to light.

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The US is monitoring some recent "concerning developments" on in India by some government, police, and prison officials, Secretary of State has said.

Blinken made these remarks at a joint news conference with Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin and their Indian counterparts -- External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh -- after the conclusion of the 2+2 Ministerial on Monday.

We are monitoring some recent concerning developments in India, including a rise in human rights abuses by some government, police, and prison officials, Blinken said in his opening remarks.

However, he did not provide any other details.

We share a commitment to our democratic values, such as protecting human rights. We regularly engage with our Indian partners on these shared values, Blinken said.

India has previously rejected criticism by foreign governments and human rights groups on allegations that civil liberties have eroded in the country.

The Indian government has asserted that India has well-established democratic practices and robust institutions to safeguard the rights of all.

The government has emphasised that the Indian Constitution provides for adequate safeguards under various statutes for ensuring the protection of human rights.

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Punjab Chief Minister on Tuesday said his government will soon give a "good news" to people of the state, indicating that it could announce 300 units of free electricity to households.

Mann also said he had a meeting with AAP convener in Delhi.

AAP had made the promise in the run-up to the polls. While making the announcement last year, Kejriwal did not clarify whether 300 units of free electricity will be given per month as Punjab has a two-month billing cycle.

Earlier in the day, the ruling party in Punjab faced flak over some reports suggesting that Delhi Chief Minister summoned senior officials of the state for a meeting in the capital.

Mann, who was in Delhi, met Kejriwal and held discussion over the issue of giving 300 units of free electricity to people of Punjab.

"Had a wonderful meeting with our leader and Delhi CM . Very soon, will give good news to the people of Punjab," said Mann in a Punjabi tweet.

Meanwhile, party spokesperson Malwinder Singh Kang told the media here that the Punjab government's blueprint for giving 300 units of free electricity to people is almost ready and soon an announcement in this regard will be made.

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Vaccine major (SII) has appealed to the government to reduce the gap between the second and booster dose to six months from nine months at present to safeguard people against emerging COVID variants, according to its CEO Adar Poonawalla.

Recalling that they could not meet the commitment of exporting vaccines in the first quarter of 2021 due to "so much noise from public and the opposition", Poonawalla on Tuesday also pitched for a global pact for vaccine utilization.

He noted that India and SII faced severe reputation damage when export of COVID vaccine was banned for nearly two months during the second COVID wave.

"The uptake (for precaution dose) right now is a bit slow as we have a rule that you have to wait for nine months between dose two and dose three. We have appealed to the government and the experts, who are having discussions regarding the matter, to reduce this period to six months," he said during an AIMA event here.

Poonawalla noted that reducing the timeframe would give "real relief" to the people who want to travel abroad. If you have taken a dose in August then only you are eligible for a booster dose, so we need to reduce that gap to six months. Many citizens would be able to take the dose then," he said.

He stated that all across the world, the gap between second dose and booster shot is six month or less.

When asked if the company is in discussions with the government on the issue, Poonawalla replied in the affirmative. "The experts and the government need to have their own discussions. We are just highlighting that this is the need that everyone has voiced from a practical standpoint from wanting to travel. So we have proposed a six month gap."



Against this backdrop, he also pointed out that the world faces a choice between lockdowns and booster shots.

"It is so important to boost with whichever vaccines you can get your hands on, because that will ensure that you are protected and we reduce as a nation or even as states the chances of future lockdowns and disruptions... that's why I've been telling the government that please, for God's sake, reduce the gap from nine months to six months," Poonawalla said.

Lauding the government for having brought in a booster policy, he said that SII has brought down the price of Covishield from Rs 600 per shot to Rs 225 as it wants to make it affordable and accessible for people.

He advised all eligible people to take the shot in order to safeguard against future COVID variants which were emerging in different locations.

Poonawalla stated that the Pune-based vaccine major is giving compensation to private hospitals by way of three doses to adjust on the reduced prices.

"So any hospitals that have old stock at Rs 600, they don't have to sell at a loss, we give them more vials so they don't go into a loss. We don't want them to lose money on old stock," he stated.

Poonawalla said he is working on a global pandemic treaty, which espouses harmonisation of regulatory standards during a global pandemic situation, at the Davos summit next month.

"We need to address not only as a nation... We have to have in a pandemic situation global harmonisation of regulatory standards. We need to have mutual recognition of vaccine certifications. We need to have a free flow of goods of raw materials and vaccines in a crisis so that that sharing happens," he stated.

According to him, with a global pandemic treaty, countries can always use their sovereign rights or whatever to abstain rather than relegate from it, but it would become much harder for political leaders to do that on a global stage.

"It would also make it much easier for politicians to convince their constituents in their own nations that this is the right thing to do and we've committed and signed up at a global level to do it," he noted.

He noted that vaccine exports were hit during the second wave of COVID-19.

"We were trying to export vaccines in the first quarter of 2021. The opposition, government and others felt that all the vaccines should remain in India. But what we failed to communicate to them perhaps as a community was that we get a lot of reciprocity from other countries because India is the pharmacy of the world," Poonawalla said.

He further said: "And our help and support to other nations gives us a lot of other things that I won't go into at the moment including the fact that when we needed oxygen, when we needed other things, other countries have stepped up and helped us because we supported them."



The country should have continued giving some vaccines but there was so much noise from the public and the opposition that the government had no choice but to agree and keep all the vaccines for India, Poonawalla stated.

"That damaged the reputation of India and Indian companies abroad who had made commitments. So all these things are sometimes not easy to convey and articulate and, you know, with the media and the public at large in a crisis it is very difficult to manage that communication. And I hope that these are some of the learnings going forward," he added.

Having a treaty would explain all this and give those commitments ahead of time, he said.

He noted that at some point in time the Indian government helped the company to get raw materials from the US during the pandemic.

"That was not necessarily in the sense that if we had a treaty and understanding in place at the country level, it would have been automatic. And that's what we need to get done," he added.

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The Ministry of Finance has asked IT major Infosys to find ways to access taxpayers' real-time data accurately as it is crucial for taking decisions on policy changes. Meanwhile, has set the stage for next-gen spectrum auction by slashing the reserve price of 5G airwaves in the 3300-3670 MHz band by around 36 per cent. More on those stories in our top headlines this morning

asks Infosys to work on ways to access taxpayers' data accurately

The (FinMin) has asked Infosys to work on ways to extract and access taxpayers real-time data faster and accurately as it is crucial for taking decisions on policy changes. While reviewing progress of the income tax portal 2.0, which had faced glitches, the officials also told the Infosys team to increase the scope of pre-filled data in the ITR forms.

Senior officials in the ministry held a review meeting last month with the Infosys team and officials of the Central Processing Centre. Read more here

slashes base price in 3300-3670 MHz band by around 36%

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) has set the stage for next-gen spectrum auction by slashing the reserve price of 5G airwaves in the 3300-3670 MHz band by around 36 per cent.

It has approved setting up private networks by access providers and recommended an administrative allotment of spectrum, an idea opposed by telecom companies. Read more here

Paid Covid-19 booster shots: Experts divided on govt intervention

With the roll-out of paid Covid-19 boosters off to a slow start, experts believe that in order to ensure universal coverage the government may need to step in and offer free doses of the precautionary shots at some point.

Some experts are also of the opinion that it is a time to strengthen surveillance, testing and collating epidemiological data rather than achieving marginal improvements in vaccination coverage or boosting immunity. Read more here

GST Council meeting unlikely this month as some issues couldn't be taken up

The Goods and Services Council meeting may not happen this month as some key issues, like rate rationalisation, couldnt be taken up. Moreover, the Group of Ministers (GoM) is yet to take any view on this.

The panel was expected to submit a report by last month and suggest various steps to raise revenue, including hiking the lowest slab and rationalising the slab. Read more here

Mukesh Ambani's net-zero plan: Inside RIL's unique energy transition story

Reliance Industries Ltd's strong cash flow generation in the 'best in class' old energy business can fund the capex of the new energy business and in turn drive one of the fastest and most profitable net-zero transitions by 2035 amongst large energy companies, Goldman Sachs has said.

Billionaire in 2020 set a 2035 target for Reliance, which operates the world's largest single-location oil refining complex and also has an array of petrochemical units, to turn net carbon zero by 2035. Read more here
The US has not yet made any decision on potential sanctions or waivers to India under CATSAA law for its purchase of the S-400 missile defence system from Russia, Secretary of State has said.

The US administration is required under its domestic law, Countering America's Adversaries through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) to impose sanctions on any country that has significant transactions with Iran, North Korea or .

is a tough US law that authorises the administration to impose sanctions on countries that purchase major defence hardware from in response to Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014 and its alleged meddling in the 2016 US presidential elections.

We continue to urge all countries to avoid major new transactions for Russian weapons systems, particularly in light of what is doing to Ukraine. We've not yet made a determination on potential sanctions or potential waivers under the CATSAA law, Blinken said.

Blinken's comments came during a joint news conference with Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin along with their Indian counterparts --External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh after the 2+2 Ministerial here on Monday.

He was responding to a question on India purchasing the S-400 missile system from Russia.

In October 2018, India signed a USD 5 billion deal with Russia to buy five units of the S-400 air defence missile systems, despite a warning from the then Trump administration that going ahead with the contract may invite US sanctions.

The US has already imposed sanctions on Turkey under the for the purchase of a batch of S-400 missile defence systems from Russia.

Following the US sanctions on Turkey over the procurement of S-400 missile systems, there were apprehensions that Washington may impose similar punitive measures on India.

Russia has been one of India's key major suppliers of arms and ammunition.

Blinken noted that there is a long history and a long relationship between India and Russia, including when it comes to military equipment.

That relationship took hold many years ago at a time when, as I said, we were not able to be a partner to India, he said.

We are now both able and willing to be such a partner, to be a security partner of choice for India. That's one of the areas that we discussed in some detail today, he said.

The White House echoed Blinken's view earlier in the day.

In terms of military actions: So we have not made a decision about the waiver under . In terms of how much it was discussed during the call, I'd have to get more details from our security team on that specifically, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said in response to a question.

Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby told reporters that the US has a strong defence partnership with India.

We are going to continue to look for ways to deepen that defence partnership. India is an important partner in the region, in the Indo-Pacific region, and we're going to continue to look for ways to improve that partnership, he said.

And India should be able to speak for their own policies with respect to what's going on in Russia and Ukraine. We've been very honest about where we are on this and the actions we're taking and the things that we're doing, but the other things that we're doing are looking for ways to make sure we deepen that partnership with India, he said at his news conference at the Pentagon.

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The Biden administration has reaffirmed its commitment to support India's permanent membership in a reformed UN Security Council and New Delhi's entry to the Nuclear Suppliers' Group.

The US also praised India for its significant contributions as a member of the 15-membered apex decision making body of the UN.

In a joint statement issued at the conclusion of the India-US 2+2 ministerial here, the United States congratulated India for its significant contributions as a member of the Security Council (UNSC) for the term 2021-2022.

In this context, the US expressed its appreciation for India's leadership as the Chair of the three committees of the Security Council: the 1988 Taliban Sanctions Committee, the 1970 Libya Sanctions Committee and the 1373 Counter-Terrorism Committee, it said.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar led the Indian delegation for 2+2, while the US side was represented by Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin and Secretary of State Tony Blinken.

The Ministers reiterated their commitment to work together in close coordination at the and in international organisations. The US reaffirmed its continued support for India's permanent membership in a reformed and for India's entry to the Nuclear Suppliers' Group, said the joint statement.

Considering growing national security threats from both state and non-state malicious cyber actors, the ministers recognised the importance of an open, interoperable, secure, and reliable Internet and stable cyberspace, it said.

On December 2, India said it continues to engage with members of the for support for an early decision on the country's bid for membership of the grouping.

The 48-member is an elite club of countries that deals with the trade-in nuclear technology and fissile materials besides contributing to the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons.

China, one of the five nuclear-weapon states, stridently opposes India's bid primarily on the grounds that New Delhi is not a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). Its opposition has made India's entry into the group difficult as the NSG works on the principle of consensus.

According to the joint statement, both sides reaffirmed the 2021 reports of the UN Open-Ended Working Group and the UN Group of Governmental Experts, which articulate a framework of responsible state behaviour in cyberspace and committed to working together in the future multilateral negotiations to encourage States to implement the framework.

They confirmed their intent to work closely as part of ongoing efforts to counter the use of information communications technologies for criminal purposes.

Acknowledging India's distinguished history of leading peacekeeping missions, the United States welcomed India's commitment to participate in multilateral peacekeeping training in 2022, expand joint-capacity building efforts with third-country partners, and launch a new joint National Investigation Officers Training of Trainers course in partnership with the .

The four ministers called on the Taliban to abide by Resolution 2593 (2021), which demands that Afghan territory must never again be used to threaten or attack any country or shelter or train terrorists or plan or finance terrorist attacks.

They urged the Taliban to adhere to these and all other commitments; respect the human rights of all Afghans, including women, children, and members of minority groups; and uphold freedom of travel. They also emphasised the importance of an inclusive Afghan government and unhindered access for the and its implementing partners to deliver humanitarian assistance.

They recommitted to close consultations on Afghanistan to help facilitate an inclusive and peaceful future for all Afghans.

Calling for the cessation of violence in Myanmar, the release of all those arbitrarily detained, and a swift return to the path of democracy and inclusive governance, the ministers also called for urgent implementation of the ASEAN Five Point Consensus.

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In a fresh incident of arson, miscreants torched four vehicles and a garage in the curfew-bound Khargone city of Madhya Pradesh, where nearly 100 people have been arrested since violence during Ram Navami celebrations, police said on Tuesday, while Muslim clerics alleged their community members were selectively targeted by the state administration.



While the is in force in Khargone since Sunday evening, some anti-social elements set ablaze three buses, a car and a garage in the city's Mechanic Nagar area on Monday night, Additional Superintendent of Police Neeraj Chourasia said.



So far, 95 people have been arrested in connection with the violence that started during a Ram Navami procession on Sunday and the law and situation was under control in the city, police officials said.As an uneasy calm prevailed in the trouble-torn city, a delegation of Muslim clerics on Tuesday met the state DGP in Bhopal and alleged were selectively targeted by the administration after communal clashes in Khargone and Sendhwa towns on Ram Navami even though members of processions had put up saffron flags on walls of mosques and raised inflammatory slogans.A stone-pelting incident was also reported during a Ram Navami procession in Sendhwa town of Barwani district. The clerics alleged the Khargone district administration demolished many houses and properties belonging to members of the minority community in a hurried action without a probe, forcing over 100 Muslim families to migrate from the city.The Muslim clerics led by Qazi-e-Shahar, Bhopal, Syed Mushtaq Ali, submitted a memorandum to Director General of Police (DGP) Sudhir Saxena. The memorandum alleged, "atrocities are committed on the Muslim community by demolishing their houses and putting them in jails in a clear violation of the law of the land".An attempt is being made in MP to create disturbance for quite some time. During the processions taken out on the occasion of Ram Navami festival in Khargone and Sendhwa towns, the members of the processions scaled walls of mosques and put up saffron flags on them besides raising inflammatory slogans, the memorandum said. The "provocative" actions of these people resulted in communal violence in which police personnel and rioters targeted the Muslim community by demolishing and torching their houses and shops, it alleged.The memorandum alleged legislators of the ruling party are issuing provocative statements and urged the DGP to act in time to prevent a repeat of the situation elsewhere in the state. Prominent Muslim body Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind sought Union Home Minister Amit Shah's intervention over the issue of alleged harassment of the minority community in Khargone and demanded a high-level judicial inquiry into the violence in the city.The police were still investigating how the trouble started in Khargone city even as several eyewitness accounts emerged. An eyewitness said a Ram Navami procession started from the Talab Chowk area with a DJ music system playing religious songs loudly. When the procession crossed a mosque located nearby, suddenly stones were pelted on the procession which resulted in the flare-up, he said. Another eyewitness said the procession started late than the scheduled time. While the procession was passing by a mosque, someone hurled stones, he added.Inspector General, Indore range, Rakesh Gupta said, It is a matter of investigation how the violence started and from where the stones were hurled first. It will be known once things settle." Khargone Collector Anugraha P said, The is continuing in the city. People were given relaxation only for urgent medical needs. She said the exams of undergraduate and post-graduate courses in Khargone have been postponed in view of the .An official release said the administration has taken into custody some of those involved in stone-pelting. They are being questioned and their illegal properties, including shops and houses, are being demolished, it added. MP Home Minister Narottam Mishra spoke to Khargone SP Siddharth Choudhary, who had suffered a bullet injury in the violence on Sunday, and enquired about his health.Talking to PTI, Choudhary said, After I got information about the arson and reached the Sanjay Nagar area, a youth holding a sword ran towards me. But, when I chased him and tried to snatch the sword from him, I suffered a thumb injury.""When I chased him again, an associate of the youth shot at me, injuring my left leg. The bullet passed through the calf on the other side. I did not require a surgery, and am recuperating at home, he added. Meanwhile, a case was registered on Tuesday in Bhopal against senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh for allegedly promoting religious enmity after he tweeted a picture of a mosque in another state while commenting on communal violence at Khargone. In a tweet on Monday morning, Singh posted a picture showing some youths hoisting a saffron flag at a mosque, and referred to the violence that broke out during Ram Navami celebrations in Khargone.The former CM deleted the tweet later. The case against the Rajya Sabha MP was registered by the Crime Branch police station based on a complaint about the tweet, Bhopal police commissioner Makrand Deuskar said. After Singh deleted the post, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan took to Twitter, saying the Congress leader had tweeted a photo of youths hoisting saffron flag at a religious place which was not from .

The tweet is a conspiracy to spread religious frenzy in the state and push the state into the fire of riots which will not be tolerated, Chouhan said. State Home Minister Mishra alleged Singh "wants to fuel communal tension by spreading confusion".

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Home Minister who also holds the dual charge of the newly-created cooperatives ministry categorically stated today that the Centre does not intend to interfere in the working of state cooperatives who will remain the sole authority to frame legislations on them.

Addressing a two-day seminar on the framework of a new cooperative policy, Shah said that the judgement on the 97th Constitution Amendment has clearly laid down the roles of the Centre and state with regards to cooperative institutions and all will adhere to them.

He said the functioning of multi-state cooperative societies will continue to remain with the Centre while state laws will govern the state cooperative institutions.

The of India last year had struck down parts of the 97th amendment to the Constitution that sought to crimp powers of the state governments over their cooperative societies.

The 97th constitutional amendment passed by the Parliament in December 2011 and which had come into effect from February 15, 2012, during the UPA regime.

The amendments apart from making Right to Form cooperatives a fundamental right had also laid several guidelines for the state legislations governing the cooperative societies.

A bunch of petitions were filed in the Gujarat High Court challenging the amendment on the grounds that it violated the basic structure of the constitution.

Shah while delineating the role of the Centre and state vis-a-vis cooperative institutions, said it will be his endeavor and the effort of his ministry to talk to state governments to bring about certain changes in their laws that govern such institutions so that there is some sort of uniformity.

This will be done in the strict sense of cooperation and not enforced from the top, the home minister said.

He also a new national policy on cooperatives will be out soon after extensive discussion which should focus on free registration of cooperatives, transparency in administration of cooperatives, free democratic elections in cooperatives under the guidance of Election Commission like independent authority, coordination between different cooperatives working in the same geographies, to look for new business avenues, expand reach of cooperatives and most importantly strive for some sort of uniformity in state coop laws without taking away the right of states to frame such legislations.

The Minister of State for Cooperation B L Verma, Secretary D K Singh, National Cooperatives Development Corporation (NCDC) Managing Director Sandeep Kumar Nayak and other senior officials were present at the event. EoM.
India and on Tuesday reviewed the entire gamut of bilateral relations and hoped for faster revival of ties in the post-Covid period, taking into account the shared commitment of both sides to further intensify cooperation in a wide range of areas.

The two countries vowed to deepen ties at the 5th Foreign Office Consultations at Putrajaya, Malaysia, that were co-chaired by Saurabh Kumar, Secretary (East), Ministry of External Affairs, and Amran Bin Mohamed Zin, Deputy Secretary General for Bilateral Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, .

During his visit, the secretary (east) also paid a courtesy call on Malaysian Foreign Minister Saifuddin Abdullah and exchanged views on India-Malaysia bilateral ties.

Reviewing the multi-faceted relations between India and Malaysia during the Foreign Office Consultations, both sides expressed their desire to advance the overall bilateral relations within the framework of the Enhanced Strategic Partnership of 2015, the said in a statement.

The Foreign Office Consultations provided an opportunity to review the entire gamut of bilateral relations and exchange views on contemporary regional and global issues of mutual interest, it said.

Both sides expressed satisfaction on the growing economic and commercial ties and expressed the hope for faster revival of relations in post-Covid period, taking into account the shared commitment of both sides to further intensify cooperation in a wide range of areas, the statement said.

The two sides agreed to work for reactivating the bilateral mechanisms in different sectors and for presenting the results to the next ministerial level Joint Commission Meeting to be held on mutually convenient dates.

As this year marks 65 years of establishment of diplomatic relations, both sides also agreed to hold commemorative events in a befitting manner both in India and Malaysia.

It was agreed to hold the next foreign office consultations at a mutually convenient date in New Delhi.

(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.)
My goal as Governor is to make Virginia the best place to live, work, and raise a family and the bills I vetoed today reaffirm that commitment, Gov. Glenn Youngkin wrote in a Monday night news release. (BOB BROWN/AP)

Gov. Glenn Youngkin vetoed 25 bills this week  all from Democrats  that received bipartisan support in the General Assembly, a move some lawmakers viewed as an act of retaliation.

State Sen. Creigh Deeds told The Virginian-Pilot he believes the governor wanted to get back at certain Democrats for rejecting his picks for the state parole board, as well as for secretary of natural and historic resources.

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Its tit for tat and he wants to continue that war with us, Deeds said. He doesnt want to talk and have conversations and figure out how to govern or move forward.

A Youngkin spokesperson declined to comment directly on Deeds allegations Tuesday, instead directing The Pilot to Youngkins list of veto explanations.

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My goal as Governor is to make Virginia the best place to live, work, and raise a family and the bills I vetoed today reaffirm that commitment, Youngkin wrote in a Monday night news release.

Youngkins relationship with Democrats took a hit during the recent legislative session when they opposed appointing Andrew Wheeler to serve as Virginias top environmental officer. Wheeler, a former coal lobbyist, led the Environmental Protection Agency for two years under former President Donald Trump and created controversy by rolling back numerous environmental regulations.

Nine of the 25 bills vetoed were introduced by Sen. Adam Ebbin, who chairs the Senate committee that shot down Youngkins nominations, leading Deeds to conclude the governor was targeting certain legislators. Ebbin, however, did have a bill that the governor made recommendations for and sent back to the Senate.

It just doesnt make sense, if you look at the bills themselves ... they are bills that went through without negative votes, Deeds said. They were totally innocuous.

Ebbin wrote on Twitter that he was stunned by Youngkins decision to veto noncontroversial legislation.

Deeds also chalked up Youngkins vetoes to his political inexperience. Youngkin, a businessman, had not previously served as an elected official.

His idea is that he can take the Senate back in 2023, so thats what hes focused on, said Deeds. Let him focus on that, but we were elected to govern.

Three of the rejected bills were from legislators in Hampton Roads, including a housing bill from Newport News Democrat Cia Price that would have given localities the authority to sue negligent landlords over matters that endanger tenants health.

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In Youngkins explanation, he wrote that the bill included unnecessary and duplicative provisions that were already established under the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code.

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Price said she was confused by his explanation, as judges and lawyers shes spoken to say that isnt the case.

Im trying to get to the bottom of that, she said.

Noting that shes been outspoken on civil rights issues, Price said it was very possible the governor targeted her bill. But she said she couldnt be sure.

Im not in the position where I would have benefited from this, I am in the position where I represent a ton of people who could have, she said. So (he) still didnt succeed, if it was a personal attack.

Portsmouth Democrat Louise Lucas, one of the governors most outspoken critics, took to Twitter on Tuesday to share a bit of advice.

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I always taught my kids that bullies dont like it if you punch back  they go away and pick on someone else, she wrote. Saying this for my fellow Democrats because not a single one of my bills got vetoed today by Governor Youngkin. They only respect us when we fight back!

Katie King, katie.king@virginiamedia.com, 757-835-1487
India is planning to boost shipments to Russia by an additional $2 billion as the two nations work out a payment system in local currencies to continue bilateral trade amid sweeping international sanctions on Russia for invading Ukraine, people with the knowledge of the matter said.

To do this, Prime Minister Narendra Modis administration is in talks with Moscow to liberalize market access for several Indian-made products, the people said, asking not to be identified as the talks are private. This comes as the two governments work toward a proposal to settle trade in rupees and rubles and look for ways to balance the trade given that India is a net importer of Russian goods.

India is looking to export products supplied by countries who have halted shipments after U.S. and its allies imposed sanctions, they said.

On the list are pharmaceutical products, plastics, organic and inorganic chemicals, home furnishings, rice, beverages such as tea and coffee, milk products, and bovine products.

India has come under severe criticism for lifting imports of oil to take advantage of a dip in prices after U.S., Europe, Australia and Japan piled economic sanctions onto Russia in response to its war against Ukraine. President Joe Biden met with Modi on Monday and conveyed that the U.S. stands ready to help India diversify its energy imports, which would make it less reliant on Russia.

A Commerce Ministry spokesperson did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment.

An analysis by the trade department shows that India can easily scale up exports to Russia in the top 20 items it needs to imports. Marine products, textiles and apparel, footwear, machinery, and electronics are some of the other items India is seeking to send to Russia.

Currently, Indias exports to Russia stand at a miniscule $3 billion compared to the over $68 billion of shipments to the U.S. It could be higher but for steep logistics cost, sanitary rules, the language barrier and lower allocations in government procurement done by Russian state-run firms. Total bilateral trade between the two countries stood at $11.8 billion in the first 11 months starting April 2021, higher than $8.1 billion recorded for the previous full-year.

India has historically attempted a neutral stance on tensions between major powers, even as it has joined groups such as the Quad security alliance with Australia, Japan and the U.S.
recommendations on cut in base price are incrementally positive, not transformational, some sector analysts said, while others felt that bidding intensity could be moderate or muted in the upcoming auction.

The reduction proposed in pricing, though largely on expected lines, is not in sync with the 90 per cent drop that the industry had been asking for, the experts said.

in its note said recommendations are "incrementally positive" and that Jio and Airtel are well placed to participate in the auction.

" recommends 25-50 per cent reduction in spectrum pricing; incrementally positive but nothing transformational," said.

The 700MHz band could likely see demand by telcos, it added.

"Also, while the price for 3.4 GHz was reduced by 36 per cent, it was lesser than telcos demand for about 90 per cent reduction. Also, the price for mmWave spectrum has been set at 2.2 per cent of the price of 3.4 GHz spectrum versus telco's demand for about 1 per cent," it said.

Emkay Global noted that the reduction proposed in key bands of 3300-3670 MHz and 700 MHz bands, but went on to say that: "Although the reduction is largely on expected lines, it is lower than the industry's demand of about 90 per cent cut".

In its report, said spectrum prices for 700MHz have seen a steeper cut of 58 per cent (on a comparable basis) "but still remain expensive".

"Spectrum supply remains adequate to easily accommodate three players for C-band and thus, we expect bidding intensity to remain muted in the upcoming auction," said.

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) on Monday recommended about a 39 per cent reduction in the reserve or floor price for the sale of spectrum for mobile services, including the latest 5G offering, as it looked to match revenue expectations with the industry's paying capacity.

With large swathes of spectrum remaining unsold in the last two auctions, recommended to the government for selling airwaves in all existing bands of 700 MHz, 800 MHz, 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 2100 MHz, 2300 MHz, 2500 MHz and new slots of 600 MHz, 3300-3670 MHz and 24.25-28.5 GHz.

It has suggested a lower reserve price for all bands, compared to the prices proposed in the previous recommendations in 2018.

In a 20-year scenario, the floor price in the 700 MHz band has been cut by 40 per cent to Rs 3,927 crore per MHz for a pan-India spectrum, while the same in 800 MHz has been lowered by 22 per cent to Rs 3,620 crore per MHz, pan-India.

For the prime 5G frequency of 3300-3670 MHz band, the all-India reserve price adds up to Rs 317 crore per MHz, which is over 35 per cent lower than the Rs 492 crore/MHz suggested by Trai last time around.

All in all, Trai mooted nearly 39 per cent lower base price across all bands referred to it compared to the last time.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
India's busiest ports at Kandla in Gujarat and Mumbai are further clogged with LPG import vessels as the state-owned oil companies refuse to go beyond a small list of ports that have been designated by the government to give freight subsidies for bringing in the cooking fuel from overseas, sources said.

Under the PDS Kerosene and Domestic LPG Subsidy Scheme of 2002, the government has categorised ports at Kandla, Mumbai, JNPT, Jamnagar, Hazira, Mangalore, Kochi, Chennai, Haldia and Vizag as 'Designated Ports' for giving ocean freight subsidy. This means that state-owned get reimbursed for freight for any cooking gas done by these ports.

This subsidy is not available for imports done at other ports and so there is a clamour to get the ships only at these ports, four industry sources with direct knowledge of the matter said.

This has led to the piling up of LPG vessels at these handfuls of ports and a higher turnaround time.

The sources said this facility of claiming reimbursement of the freight is not available on LPG imported in the same vessel at other ports such as Mundra, Dahej, Pipavav, Porbandar, Tuticorin or Paradip.

To avoid incurring the higher cost of import, OMCs are importing unusually high numbers at such designated ports at the cost of efficient operations, thereby increasing the overall cost of LPG import, they added.

The oil industry and the petroleum ministry have made a case for expanding the list of designated ports, but the finance ministry shot down the proposal.

The finance ministry instead wants the entire subsidy scheme to be scrapped as it has lasted way beyond its designated period.

On April 26, 2021, the ministry wrote to the petroleum ministry, saying "the inability of the OMCs to utilise relatively free port and terminal infrastructure of non-designated ports is not justified".

"The dependency of the OMCs on the reimbursement of the ocean freight at more ports under the subsidy scheme should be phased out as the LPG subsidy scheme has become targeted now and, therefore, limited to a segment of consumers only," it had said, adding the Rs 1.15 per cylinder freight subsidy should be completely removed as this will ensure level playing field to all the ports.

It went on to state that this cost may be borne by OMCs.

The sources said a detailed analysis of the imports would show that the imports are not evenly distributed among the different ports, especially on the west coast. There are certain ports like Kandla, Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (near Mumbai), Mumbai port and Mangalore where multiple turnarounds a month are observed, and the resultant piling up of vessels.

In contrast, few other locations in the same region, where ocean freight reimbursement is not available at all, have sporadic imports over the year.

This action on the part of (OMCs) to focus on designated ports just for getting the ocean freight subsidy results in the idling of vessels at such ports and reducing the turnaround of vessels. Idling and reduction in the turnaround of vessels eventually increase the per tonne cost of landed LPG.

This creates inefficiency in the system, they said, adding the cost of can be reduced by vessels being moved to Mundra Port for early release, instead of 2-3 vessels waiting at Kandla.

Similarly, instead of moving the product north from JNPT via rail loading, it is much cheaper to move the product from Pipavav rail loading.

The sources said OMCs only go for term charter vessels where a separate accounting of demurrage is not done. The waiting and idle time fall at the designated ports are computed under freight only.

This is because if demurrage incurred on account of waiting and idle time is shown as a different line item (usually applicable for spot charter or CFR deliveries), the OMCs do not receive this reimbursement.

In addition to this, the discount received by OMCs from suppliers on FOB products is not shown as this may affect the freight subsidy they receive.

"LPG import in the country has increased from 865 TMT (thousand metric tonnes) in 2002-03 to almost 16,000 TMT in 2020-21, which is more than 18 times LPG import growth. Whereas new ports have not been added under designated ports list since the declaration of the subsidy scheme," an industry representation to the oil ministry said.

It said since designated ports' capacity is fully saturated and all designated port terminals are operating at overstretched capacity, OMCs are left with no other option but to utilise non-designated ports for meeting the domestic demand. The industry has imported approximately 16.5 million tonnes of LPG in 2020-21 and handled about 2 MMT at non-designated ports".

State-owned Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL) and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd (HPCL) have been disallowed Rs 826.23 crore of ocean freight claims at non-designated ports from 20016-17 to 2020-21, it added.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Defence Minister on Monday urged American companies to come and invest in India and support the 'Make in India' programme.

"I have talked to American companies for and aerospace and world programme. I have invited them for these programmes," Singh told reporters at a joint conference with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar along with their American counterparts Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin and Secretary of State Tony Blinken.

"We are talking to US companies for co-development and co-production. We are proposing it to them. We have asked the US companies to work in the UP and Tamil Nadu corridor and invest in that area," he said at the conclusion of the India-US 2+2 ministerial, the first of the Biden administration.

"I have insisted that India would focus on co-developmental productions and all the investors should come to India. They are welcome. And because in India they can develop the 'Make in India' because we want to build and make everything in India," Singh told reporters in response to a question.

Earlier, in his opening remarks at the 2+2 ministerial, Singh said that India places the highest priority upon the strategic partnership with USA. "Major defence partnership is one of the most important pillars of India-US strategic relations, he said.

"As the largest country and the centre to Indian Ocean, and as a democracy, India has critical roles to play in the Indian Ocean region and in the wider Indo-Pacific following the Act East and the Neighbourhood First policy," he said.

India played preeminent role in the region, from the Tsunami in 2004 and during the COVID pandemic. "We have signed eight different defence-related agreements between our two countries in last few years, including a Space Situational Awareness Agreement for unclassified domain, which is being signed today," he added.

Despite the pandemic, India-USA military engagements increased with higher capability in communication, closer information sharing, and enhanced mutual logistic support, he said adding that this is a reflection of their growing depth and scale of the defense partnership.

"In a decade, our defense suppliers from USA rose from negligible to a cumulative around of over USD 20 billion. We look forward to US companies investing in India and support the programme," he said.

"We look forward to further enhancing the depth and the scope of our defense cooperation to give effect to our shared vision of a free, open, inclusive, and a rules-bound Indo-Pacific and the Indian Ocean region," he said.

India, he said, is working with the US to double up capabilities across conventional and emerging defense domains. "We have made good progress in a number of defense cooperation activities since the visit of Secretary Austin to India in March 2021".

(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.)
Bumper harvests and overflowing grain bins will help India to meet import needs of the world's top buyers as Russia's Ukraine invasion hits supplies from the Black Sea region, a top government official said.

India, the world's second biggest producer, is prepared to meet any extra demand for from buyers in south Asia and Southeast Asia, and also from countries further afield in Europe, West Asia and North Africa. Ukraine is a major producer of grains but exports have been disrupted since the Russian invasion in February.

"The Indian market has sufficient stocks, and India is in a comfortable position to meet requests from wheat importing countries," Sudhanshu Pandey, the most senior civil servant at the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, told Reuters in an interview.

India's new season wheat harvest is underway, with this year's production pegged at a record 111.32 million tonnes - making it the sixth season in a row that the country has produced a surplus.

India needs at least 25 million tonnes of wheat each year to run a food welfare programme.

Last year, the government bought a record 43.34 million tonnes of wheat from domestic farmers, substantially higher than the amount it needs for the welfare programme.

This year government purchases are likely to fall because private traders are offering farmers a higher price for wheat than the government's price of 20,150 rupees ($265.35) a tonne, - leaving a bigger surplus for export.

"We have to meet our own requirement for the PDS and then the rest is available for global exports," Pandey said referring to the public distribution system, or food welfare programme that supplies around 25 millions tonnes of subsidised wheat to the poor.

Pandey said if there is enough wheat for the poor, the Indian government is "happy" to see farmers getting attractive prices from private traders who have been actively buying from growers to meet rising global demand.

Wheat stocks at government warehouses totalled 19 million tonnes on April 1, he said, significantly higher than a target of 7.46 million tonnes.

Pandey said the government was encouraging wheat exports by asking port and railway authorities to give priority to outbound wheat cargoes.

India's wheat exports hit 7.85 million tonnes in the fiscal year to March, an all-time high and a sharp increase from 2.1 million tonnes in the previous year.

SUGAR SURPLUS

Pandey said India's sugar exports are expected at a record 8.2 million tonnes in the current 2021-22 season, higher than last year's 7.2 million tonnes.

Indian sugar mills have already contracted to export around 7 million tonnes in 2021-22, he said.

Still, India's sugar inventories on Oct. 1, 2022, when the next season begins, are expected at around 7 million tonnes, Pandey said, against 8.2 million tonnes on Oct. 1, 2021.

"This year's (sugar) production is at a record of almost 35 million tonnes, and our domestic requirement is about 26-26.5 million tonnes, so you can very clearly see that we have a surplus from the current year's production. And then we have stocks of 8.2 million tonnes from last year," Pandey said.

Explaining New Delhi's efforts to cut its reliance on expensive vegetable oil imports, Pandey said the long-term solution lies in raising India's domestic output, and the government is working on a plan to encourage farmers to grow more oilseeds.

(Reporting by Mayank Bhardwaj and Rajendra Jadhav. Editing by Jane Merriman)

(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.)
Pte, one of Singapores highest-profile startups, has suspended Chief Executive Officer Ankiti Bose after an effort to raise new funding led to questions about the companys accounting, according to people familiar with the matter.

The company, which supplies technology to apparel merchants and factories, had been trying to raise $150 million to $200 million with help from Group Inc. when investors began to question its finances as part of the due diligence process, said the people, asking not to be identified because the information is confidential. The talks, which could have boosted Zilingos valuation to more than $1 billion, stalled, they said.

The startups investors, which include Temasek Holdings Pte and Sequoia Capital India, have started an investigation into the financial practices, the people said. Zilingos auditor raised questions about its accounting, they said. The concerns center on the way that Zilingo, which regulators said had not filed annual financial statements since 2019, accounted for transactions and revenue across a platform spanning thousands of small merchants.

Bose has disputed allegations of wrongdoing and contends her suspension was due in part to her complaints about harassment, according to two people close to the situation. She has hired an attorney to represent her, Abraham Vergis of Providence Law Asia, and has called the investigation a witch hunt, according to correspondence reviewed by Bloomberg News.

and Temasek declined to comment.

Two of Zilingos directors, Temaseks Xu Wei Yang and Burda Principal Investments Ltd.s Albert Shyy, left its board last month, according to regulatory filings. had hired James Perry, a Citigroup Inc. veteran, as its chief financial officer in mid-2019, but he left about a year later to return to the U.S. bank.

The clash represents a dramatic turn of fate for one of Singapores most celebrated startups. Zilingo was founded by Bose and Chief Technology and Product Officer Dhruv Kapoor in seven years ago to help small businesses across South and Southeast Asia sell their goods online.

The company began by working with small merchants that sell to consumers, and then expanded into adjacent areas. As the founders started talking with small sellers, they realized many lacked access to robust technology and essential capital.

That led them to develop software and other tools that would allow merchants to access factories in places like Vietnam or Bangalore, and would smooth the complicated process of shipping across borders. In 2018, Zilingo began to team up with financial technology firms to provide working capital to small sellers so they can buy raw materials to produce goods.

In early 2019, Zilingo raised $226 million from investors including Sequoia and Temasek, and pushed its valuation to $970 million, almost the $1 billion mark that earns startups designation as a unicorn. Bose, then 27, was celebrated as a visionary and a sign of the entrepreneurial potential for Southeast Asia.

We were a bunch of twenty-somethings with nothing except this dream and we decided to chase it, she said at the time. Bose had worked at Sequoia earlier and had said the experience helped her build the startup.

Zilingo, which had grown into a full-blown marketplace for wholesale buyers and sellers in the fashion industry, faced growth troubles after pandemic-fueled restrictions forced many small businesses to shut their doors. To rein in its own costs, Zilingo said it cut a number of jobs in 2020 and downsized marketing, sourcing and support teams in the U.S., Australia, and Indonesia.

The company made an aggressive pitch in its latest effort to raise fresh capital. Late last year, it forecast that core net revenue would rise from about $40 million in fiscal 2021 to roughly $60 million in fiscal 2022 and $100 million the year after, according to presentation documents reviewed by Bloomberg News. Zilingo said it anticipated breaking even on core Ebitda -- or earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization -- in fiscal 2023 and then reach almost $200 million in fiscal 2026.

On March 31, Bose was called to a meeting with three board members and told about serious complaints about discrepancies in accounts and mismanagement, according to the correspondence reviewed by Bloomberg. She was later questioned by two people from Kroll, the investigations firm. Her suspension is scheduled to run until May 5.

Bose, through her lawyer, has argued that the directors did not follow proper procedures during the process and questioned their right to suspend her, according to the correspondence from her attorney to Zilingo.

We are of the view that our clients suspension has been procured by invalid and defective means; that the investigation commenced into her is unfair and lacking in due process, and that she has been suspended without proper and reasonable cause, her attorney wrote.

--With assistance from Yoolim Lee and Manuel Baigorri.
Lloyd Austin on Monday said that President values strong alliances and partnerships with India, adding that the 2+2 ministerial dialogue held earlier in the day, was about taking US-India ties and making it even stronger.

"Biden truly values strong alliances and partnerships like the one that we have with India. That's what today is all about. It's about taking our own relationship and making it even stronger," he said while addressing a press conference after India-US 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue.

"We are working closely with India on a range of priorities to support India's security and its role is a net security provider in areas like information sharing, deeper cooperation in space and cyberspace," the Defence Secretary said further.

US-India 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue between Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin and External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh was held today in Washington.

Speaking further in the press conference, Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said that both Delhi and Washington share a strategic relationship and invited the foreign investors to invest in India to boost the Make in India initiative by the Indian Government.

"There is a strategic relationship between the two countries and you have inspired that India would focus on core development on production and all the investors should come to India. They are welcome because they can develop the Make in India because we want to make everything in India," Singh said.

Rajnath Singh said that increasing cooperation between India and the US will be important to accessing global economies and maintaining peace and security.

"Today's defence bilateral and 2+2 meeting between India and the US is very important to strengthen the strategic defence engagement. This meeting will make us more capable to work in areas of mutual interest. Our increasing cooperation will be important to accessing global economies and maintaining peace and security," the Defence Minister said.

He underlined that the world's two biggest democracies--India and the US-- share the same views on almost all global issues including terrorism and maritime security.

"Both our nations are common and complementary; we have shared goals to achieve. It's great that the world's two biggest democracies share the same views on almost all world issues... During the meeting, we discussed our assessments of the Indian Ocean region and its neighbours."

The Defence Minister thanked the Secretaries and delegation for great interaction and appreciated their commitment to the bilateral relations between the two countries.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, today held a virtual meeting with United States President wherein both the leaders had an extensive exchange of views on several regional and global issues, such as the Ukraine situation, the Indo-Pacific region.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
US Secretary of State said that the United States is calling on all nations not to have major weapons transactions with .

He made these marks after the conclusion of the 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue between the defence and foreign ministers of India and the United States.

"We continue to urge all countries to avoid major new transactions for Russian weapons systems, particularly in light of what is doing to Ukraine," Blinken said when asked whether Washington is considering imposing sanctions on India over procuring S-400 air defence systems.

"We have not yet made a determination regarding potential sanctions or potential waivers under the CAATSA law."

He recognised that there is a long history and long relationship between India and in the trade of military equipment. "That relationship took hold at a time when we were not able and willing to be a partner to India. Now we are both able and willing to be such a partner -- to be the security partner of choice for India."

Addressing a joint press conference, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said the United States is actively discussing military modernization with India and is prepared to make weapons systems more affordable to Delhi, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said during a press conference following meetings with top Indian officials.

"On the issue of future systems, we are engaged in active discussions with India on how to best support their modernization needs. As we look at the future, we want to make sure that we maintain the ability to operate together, and so we look forward to those continued discussions, and it also includes a range of options that would make our systems more affordable," Austin said on Monday.

India uses several Russian-made weapons, including tanks and missile systems, and has signed deals, including the purchase of Russia's S-400 air defence system.

Amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, India has refused to sign join the Western sanctions against Russia despite the looming threat of Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA).

(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 cause of China's recent passenger plane crash which killed 132 people remains under investigation, a Chinese aviation official has said, rejecting online speculation that the co-pilot may be responsible for the tragic accident.

The Chinese passenger plane crashed in the southern Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region on March 21, killing all 132 people on board including the nine crew members. The Boeing 737-800 aircraft of Eastern Airlines, which flew from Kunming to Guangzhou, plunged into the mountains in Tengxian County in the city of Wuzhou.

Rumours have been doing rounds online that the co-pilot "might be responsible" for the crash, attributing it to the data from black boxes, with some believing that the CAAC will require flight crews to undergo mental health monitoring, the state-run Global Times reported.

China's civil aviation regulator, the Civil Aviation Administration of (CAAC), refuted such rumours over the co-pilot's involvement in the crash of Eastern flight MU5375, saying the accident is still under investigation, and no conclusions have been drawn on the cause and nature of the accident yet.

The "rumours", claimed to be sourced from some public security departments are misleading, would undermine public confidence in the ongoing investigation, and may represent a violation of the law, said Wu Shijie, a CAAC official told the official media on Monday.

"We will try our best to find out the cause of the accident as soon as possible and release the relevant information according to the law and procedures," he said.

Wu said the crash has had an impact on the welfare of frontline civil aviation workers, and some employees have suffered from emotional strain, particularly younger workers.

The CAAC attaches great importance to the mental well-being of aviation workers and requested that airlines take measures to support pilots, flight attendants and safety officers in managing their psychological pressure.

Early this month a working group sent by the US National Transportation Safety Board arrived in China to help investigate the crash of the China Eastern Airlines aircraft.

The seven-member panel, consisting of authorised representatives and technical advisors, will participate in the investigation organised by the CAAC.

Airline safety management is focused on the mental state and health of all aircrew, including pilots, and it is a key function of the regulation, CAAC said.

The aviation industry recently held a two-week-long safety review, stating that it had addressed a number of safety hazards, after the fatal crash of Flight MU5375, killing all 132 persons onboard, the Global Times reported.

Concrete measures should be taken to strengthen the investigation of hidden dangers concerning aircraft maintenance, flight weather conditions, personnel qualifications and technical ability, China's civil aviation regulator said.

China's aviation officials have said that there had not been any weather or other hazards endured by the flight on its route path. China Eastern said the plane, less than seven years old, had also passed all pre-flight checks.

There were three pilots, China Eastern officials said. The captain had 6,709 hours of flying experience, and the first and second officers had 31,769 hours and 556 hours respectively.

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FILE  Fairfax County Public School buses sit idle at a middle school in Falls Church, Va., July 20, 2020. Schools across America are racing to make up for lost classroom time, budgeting billions of dollars for tutoring, summer camps and longer school days. But figuring out which students need help has become its own challenge after the pandemic left holes in some students' learning records. New York City is adding three rounds of testing this year, hoping to pinpoint which students are behind and where. Similar tests are being used in Virginia's Fairfax County, which is allotting larger shares of funding to schools with lower scores. (J. Scott Applewhite/AP)

As schools race to make up for classroom time they lost during the pandemic, many are grappling with a simple but vexing question: Which students need help most urgently, and what kind?

Many schools saw large numbers of students fall under the radar when learning went online for the pandemic. Many skipped class, tests and homework. Record numbers of families opted out of annual standardized tests, leaving some districts with little evidence of how students were doing in reading and math.

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Now districts are trying to address that lack of information by adding new tests, training teachers to spot learning gaps and exploring new ways to identify students who need help. In many districts, the findings are being used to guide the spending of billions of dollars in federal relief thats meant to address learning loss and can be used in myriad ways.

New York City is adding three rounds of testing this year, hoping to pinpoint which students are behind. Similar tests are being used in Virginias Fairfax County, which is allotting larger shares of funding to schools with lower scores. Chicago is prioritizing students using a ranking system that factors in their grades and also rates of COVID-19 and violent crime near their homes.

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Understanding completely where students are and what those gaps or challenges might be for them  that is going to be a challenge for us, said Debbie Durrence, the data officer for Gwinnett County, Georgia.

Her team, which serves the 180,000-student district, has started tracking a new metric: missingness. In regular reports, the team aims to log what is known about each students learning progress, but also what is unknown. Schools have been asked to help fill in gaps, and students are being tested more frequently.

For students, disruptions related to the pandemic are still reverberating. Now that Lorena Riveras twin daughters are back in the classroom in Boston, some of their teachers have quit mid-year or gotten sick with COVID-19. The 14-year-old twins struggled with virtual learning, feeling like they had nowhere to turn when they had trouble with math problems.

There was a lot of giving up  it was hard, Rivera said.

Her daughters, Elizabeth and Amerie Allder, have since found support through a local tutoring program, Boston Partners in Education, but Rivera wonders whether their school knows how her daughters are doing.

Im not sure because every time you meet with someone, they give you something different, she said. Some teachers say theyre doing great, others say they can do better.

Early results of data gathering by some of the countrys biggest school districts confirm what many had feared: Groups of students that already faced learning gaps before the pandemic, including Black and Hispanic students and those from low-income families, appear to be behind in even greater numbers now.

In Fairfax County, tests given this fall found that 68% of Hispanic elementary school students need intervention in math, up from 55% in 2019. Students learning English saw a similar increase. A quarter of white students were flagged for help, up from 19% in 2019.

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Last year, public schools in Houston found that 45% of Black and Hispanic students had at least one failing grade. That was up from 30% in 2019, and nearly three times the rate of white students.

Similar inequities are turning up at schools across the country, said Robin Lake, director of the Center on Reinventing Public Education, a national research group. It suggests that longstanding inequities are widening, she said, which could translate to deeper learning and income gaps for generations to come.

States have been raising alarms, urging schools to focus on students who spent more time away from school. Utahs education officials found that students who missed last years exams were far more likely to be Native American or Hispanic, prompting an urgent call to find those students and prevent them from falling into an academic spiral.

Many bigger districts already had testing regimes and data systems to find students who are falling behind, while some are scrambling to catch up. But not all major districts are analyzing the data or making it public.

New York City is spending $36 million on new testing, but officials said they dont have district-wide results. Instead, they said the tests are being used at the school level to help teachers support students.

Schools in Chicago were encouraged to use a new screening exam, but a district spokesperson declined to provide the results.

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In Fairfax County, where more than 20% of students opted out of state tests last year, district officials attempted to fill in the gaps by giving students informal, low-stakes tests to measure their progress this fall.

Weve been working to figure out which students need the most targeted support most quickly, said Amy Goodloe, principal of Rocky Run Middle School. Teachers have used test results to find concepts students struggle with and create plans to get them up to speed, she said.

The results are also guiding the district as it divides $188 million in federal funding among nearly 200 schools. In many buildings, the money is being used to add staff who help students in small groups, or to hire tutors for more personal help after school.

Testing increases in some districts have led to pushback from parents and teachers who say it takes away from valuable classroom time, but proponents say its a crucial step toward understanding the impact of the pandemic.

In Texas, a law passed last year requires 30 hours of tutoring for students who did not pass state exams last year. It applies to students who failed tests but also those who didnt take exams.

In Houston, the states largest district, officials are hiring more tutors but havent added new tests.

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Increasing the numbers of assessments isnt going to yield a different result, it just would impact the amount of instructional time we have as a district, said Margarita Gardea, who oversees elementary curriculum and instruction.

Finding tutors, though, has been a challenge in many areas amid a sudden surge in demand.

In Floridas Miami-Dade County, school officials created a new learning loss index based on assessments, attendance and state exams, and then ranked students based on need. The district brought back retired teachers to work as tutors on a temporary basis, and its expanding summer school, Saturday classes and other programs.

So far, test results have shown some progress toward getting students up to grade level, but thousands of students are still behind.

The bottom line is that we have such a loss that it will take some time, said Gisela Feild, administrative director of assessment, research and data analysis. You cant make up that kind of a loss in one year.

___

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Associated Press reporter Kathleen Foody contributed from Chicago.
Faced with critically low reserves, on Tuesday announced that the crisis-stricken country will default on its external debt pending a bailout package from the Monetary Fund.

A statement from the finance ministry said, it shall be the policy of the Sri Lankan government to suspend normal debt servicing..shall apply to amounts of affected debts outstanding on April 12, 2022.

The policy shall be in effect for all bonds, all bilateral loans excluding swaps between the Central Bank and a foreign central bank, all loans with commercial banks and institutional lenders, it said.

The debt servicing suspension will be in force for an interim period pending an orderly and consensual restructuring consistent with the proposed arrangement with the IMF.

The government in January resisted calls for debt default in order to pay for its imports.

Since then, the economic crisis has been aggravated by a shortage of food, gas and electricity. People carry out protests throughout the country blaming the government for its mishandling of the economic crisis caused by the crisis.

An analyst, who did not want to be named, said, "this is a unilateral debt suspension, not the outcome of negotiations with creditors or following consent solicitation.

Sri Lanka's external debt servicing obligations were thought to be over USD 6 billion.

In January, a USD 500 million sovereign bond payment was settled. In July another one-billion-dollar payment becomes due.

WA Wijewardena, ex-deputy governor of the Central Bank, said the government was left with very low reserves and hence no available options.

Yet the policy to suspend debt servicing could be reversed after an agreement with the IMF.

is facing its worst economic crisis since gaining independence from the UK in 1948.

People have been protesting for weeks over lengthy power cuts and shortage of fuel, food and other daily essentials. They are demanding the resignation of the president.

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has defended his government's actions, saying the foreign exchange crisis was not his making and the economic downturn was largely pandemic driven by the island nation's tourism revenue and inward remittances waning.

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Sri Lankas system is close to collapse, under the weight of the island nations worst . As well as shortages of vital drugs, some procedures and tests have been suspended.



The lack of foreign exchange has left President Gotabaya Rajapaksas government unable to import essentials including medicines and fuel, causing severe power cuts and bringing thousands of protesters on to the streets demanding his ouster.



An internal memo from a major state-run hospital in Colombo said that only emergency, casualty and malignancy surgeries would be conducted from April 7 onwards because of a lack of surgical supplies.



Sri Lankas government doctors association on Tuesday launched an urgent appeal seeking medicines to supplement hospitals in the island nation amidst its worst that has left the country with a drug shortage.



Government Medical Officers Association, which is the doctors trade union, have opened up a portal seeking donations of medicines and consumables as part of their initiative to bring at least a temporary relief to the medicine shortage in such a time.




Egypt's Supply Ministry has confirmed that it is considering this month adding from India to 16 other national import origins accepted by its state grains buyer, as it seeks to shore up purchases disrupted by Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

A delegation from Egypt's Agriculture Ministry is in India "looking at phytosanitary measures and examining Indian grains in preparation for the accreditation of India as a import origin," the Supply Ministry said in a statement to Reuters.

Egypt, often the world's top importer, usually buys the grain via tenders set by its state grains buyer, the General Authority for Supply Commodities (GASC). Purchases go toward heavily subsidised bread available to more than 60 million Egyptians.

GASC's tender book currently has 16 accredited wheat import origins, including Russia, Ukraine, France, Germany, Kazakhstan and the United States. The most recent addition, Latvia, was added last November.

GASC often prefers Black Sea wheat because of its proximity, quality and competitive prices, usually forgoing offers from other origins. In its last tender, a rare U.S. wheat bid was offered but was not purchased.

Russia's invasion of Ukraine in late February has driven up global wheat prices and disrupted Black Sea shipping, though wheat shipments from Russia continued in March.

Future purchases of Indian wheat would depend on suppliers "offering competitive bids at unique prices in GASC's tenders, as well as on the quantities offered," the Supply Ministry said.

India is looking to take advantage of the gap in the wheat export market left by the Ukrainian crisis. Despite surplus wheat stocks, logistical bottlenecks and quality concerns have previously stymied India's efforts to sell large volumes on the world market.

"Since the Egyptian delegation is here, it very clearly means that they are serious about (buying wheat from India)," Sudhanshu Pandey, the top official at India's food ministry, told Reuters.

has been working to diversify its purchases, holding talks with France, Argentina, and the United States.

The government is studying different ways to purchase wheat, according to several traders, including by issuing limited origin tenders or direct purchases outside the tender framework.

On Monday, GASC issued a limited tender to purchase wheat of European origins only. It cancelled two tenders shortly after the Ukraine war started.

It is unclear whether the government will initiate direct purchases, but traders have said the process could be hindered by Egypt's regulatory framework.

(Reporting by Sarah El Safty; additional reporting by Mayank Bhardwaj; Editing by Bill Berkrot)

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The delegation of the (EU) to Ukraine said on Monday it has resumed its work in Kiev.

"The EU is back in town," the diplomatic mission tweeted.

The EU evacuated its delegation from Kiev to the Polish city of Rzeszow shortly after the conflict between Russia and Ukraine started on February 24, Xinhua news agency reported.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and the EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell visited Ukraine last week, promising a speedier process for the country to join the EU.

--IANS

int/shs

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Ousted Prime Minister of has demanded an "immediate elections" in the country, hours after Shehbaz Sharif took oath as the 23rd Prime Minister on Monday.

Taking to Twitter, who is the chairman of Tehreek-e-Insaf said, "Let the people decide, through fair and free elections, whom they want as their prime minister. He also said that he would be holding a rally in Peshawar on April 13.

"We are demanding immediate elections as that is the only way forward -- to let the people decide, through fair & free elections, whom they want as their prime minister," he Tweeted.

"On Wednesday I will be holding a jalsa in Peshawar after Isha - my first jalsa after being removed through a foreign- instigated regime change. I want all our people to come, as was created as an independent, sovereign state not as a puppet state of foreign powers," he said in another Tweet on Monday.

The voting on the no-confidence motion against the Imran Khan-led Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government was held in the country's National Assembly late on Saturday night, with 174 members recording their votes in favour of the motion that ousted the government.

Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif took oath as the 23rd Prime Minister of Pakistan on Monday evening hours after being elected by the National Assembly of the country.

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Germany's gas reserves would last until at least late summer should Russian supplies stop now, the network regulator said on Tuesday, warning pressure on the European Union to ban Russian energy was building over civilian deaths in Ukraine.



In an interview with weekly Die Zeit, Klaus Mueller, who heads Germany's Bundesnetzagentur, said current reserves looked slightly better than three or four weeks ago and could even last until early autumn in the event of an immediate supply halt.



With mounting civilian deaths in Ukraine amid Russia's invasion, Europe's largest is under pressure to wean itself off Russian gas and oil, as critics say the revenue provides Moscow with vital funds to wage war.



Mueller told Die Zeit reports of atrocities would increase pressure on the EU to ban Russian gas imports, which would force to ration energy - a prospect he said was underestimated by many Germans.



says it is conducting a "special military operation" in Ukraine to demilitarise its neighbour.



last month triggered an emergency plan to manage gas supplies, the first step in a three-phase plan that could result in energy rationing, with priority given to households and critical infrastructure such as hospitals.



GAS RATIONING EMERGENCY PLAN



Mueller said households should not take the promise of prioritization for granted as they would have to give up some luxuries, such as saunas, if gas was rationed. He also said large apartments with one tenant should not count on uninterrupted gas supply in an emergency.



He said pharmaceutical and food companies would also be prioritised under any rationing.



The German Ministry is also preparing legal amendments to make it easier for the energy regulator to expropriate energy companies as a measure of last resort to secure supplies in the event of an emergency.



Sources at the ministry told Reuters on Tuesday that the proposals also included making it more difficult for energy suppliers to terminate contracts if their financial health deteriorates.



The amendments also foresee making it a legal obligation for operators of gas storage facilities to inform the network regulator of plans to decommission facilities.



Gazprom Germania GmbH was taken into the energy regulator's control on April 4 as the ministry sought to stave off a possible acquisition by JSC Palmary and Gazprom Export Business Services LLC, both of .



The EU last week approved new sanctions against Moscow, including a ban on coal imports starting in August, and has stepped up efforts to reduce supplies from .



Russian oil now accounts for 25% of German imports, down from 35% before the Feb. 24 invasion of Ukraine, and gas imports have been cut to 40% from 55%. Russian hard coal imports have been halved to 25%.



Chancellor Olaf Scholz said last week Germany could end Russian oil imports this year. However, Berlin has also said it could take until the summer 2024 to end its reliance on Russian gas.

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is debating whether to invite Prime Minister to the Group of Seven summit its hosting in June, given Indias reluctance to condemn Russia for invading Ukraine, according to people familiar with the matter.



is set to include Senegal, South Africa and Indonesia as guests at the meeting in Bavaria, but remains under consideration, the people said, asking not to be identified discussing confidential matters. One of the people said had been on a list drawn up before the war in Ukraine started, and a final decision hadnt been taken.

was among the more than 50 countries that abstained from a vote to suspend Russia from the UN Human Rights Council, and has not imposed sanctions on Moscow. It is a significant buyer of Russian weapons, which it says it needs to deter its neighbors China and Pakistan.

Government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit said Berlin would present its list of guest attendees as soon as it is finalized.

The chancellor has repeatedly made clear that he would like to see as many partners as possible joining the sanctions, Hebestreit said. A foreign ministry spokesperson declined to comment.

G-7 nations have taken the lead in pursuing sanctions against Russia and some have sent weapons to Ukraine. Theyve sought to engage other countries to condemn President Vladimir Putin and to put limits on trade and investment with Russia, including on energy. But many governments in Latin America, Africa, Asia and the Middle East remain reluctant to do so.

One of the people pointed to data suggesting an increase in Russian oil deliveries to India since the late February invasion. This had not gone unnoticed in the chancellery, the person added.

India has said it will continue to buy Russian oil and Russia has been offering deliveries at a significantly discounted rate, Bloomberg previously reported. The government in New Delhi also plans to boost exports to Russia by an additional $2 billion as the two nations work out a payment system in local currencies to continue trade, according to people with knowledge of the matter.

India Plans $2 Billion More of Exports to Sanctions-Hit Russia

U.S. President spoke with Modi on Monday via video call, where he said the U.S. stands ready to help India diversify its energy imports.

The president has made clear that he does not believe its in Indias interest to accelerate or increase imports of Russian energy and other commodities, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki told reporters afterward.

G-7 countries have also been discussing options to handle Putin should he show up for a Group of 20 summit in Indonesia later in the year. They would insist on any G-20 statement firmly condemning Russia, while at the same time wanting to avoid creating north-south divides within the bloc.
TOKYO (Reuters) - An liquefied natural gas (LNG) body has appealed to governments to help mitigate fuel price spikes and promote new developments to secure a stable global supply.

"This is the first time the Group of Liquefied Natural Gas Importers (GIIGNL) has issued such an urgent message, underlining the sense of crisis," Michiaki Hirose, GIIGNL's vice president for Asia told reporters on Tuesday.

The Paris-based group, whose members account for more than 90% of global trade, issued a statement a day earlier after a meeting of its executive committee, saying governments should provide protection mechanisms to reduce the exposure of importers and consumers to potential procurement cost increases.

It also said governments should encourage technological development and LNG contracts through policy and financial support to underpin final investment decisions in the LNG value chain.

"In the midst of the current global energy crisis, the stabilisation of LNG trade is a matter of urgency," said Hirose, who is also Chairman of Tokyo Gas Co Ltd.

Japan, the world's second-biggest LNG buyer after China, should consider boosting the capacity of LNG storage tanks and tankers, Hirose said.

"Holding LNG reserves has been a taboo subject as it is physically and technically difficult to store...But some measures similar to national petroleum reserves may be needed," he said.

Unlike some European countries that can store months of natural gas supplies in underground salt caverns or depleted gas fields, Japan can only store around three weeks of its LNG requirement in superchilled storage above ground near import terminals.

Cooperation among LNG buyers within Japan and each region are also key in the event of any supply disruption, Hirose said.

"It would be ideal if Japan, South Korea and Taiwan, which have long collaborated over LNG, could cooperate if some emergency happens," he said.

(Reporting by Yuka Obayashi; Editing by Kirsten Donovan)

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India's relationship with was developed over decades at a time when the US was not able to be a partner of the South Asian country, Secretary of State Tony Blinken said as top officials of the Biden administration on Monday showed an understanding of New Delhi's position on Ukraine war.

"India's relationship with was developed over decades at a time when the United States was not able to be a partner to . Times have changed," Blinken told reporters at a joint press conference with Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin and their Indian counterparts External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Defense Minister Rajnath Singh.

"Today, we are able and willing to be a partner of choice with across virtually every realm: commerce, technology, education and security. And that was very much the nature of the conversation that we had today. When it comes to oil purchases, sanctions, et cetera, I'd just note that there are carve-outs for energy purchases," he said in response to a question.

The top US diplomat, however, cautioned the allies and partners against the increase in buying Russian energy.

"Of course, we're encouraging countries not to purchase additional energy supplies from . Every country is differently situated, has different needs, requirements, but we're looking to allies and partners not to increase their purchases of Russian energy, he said.

During the virtual summit between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Joe Biden, the two leaders talked about ways of mitigating the profound impact that this is having on global food supplies and prices, commodity markets, and working together to achieve that.

"I would note has made very strong statements in New York at the UN, the minister before the Indian Parliament, condemning the killing of civilians in Ukraine, calling for an independent investigation of these atrocities. And I would also note that India is providing significant humanitarian assistance to the people of Ukraine, notably medicines, which are very necessary and in real demand," he said.

Blinken said India has to make its own decisions about how it approaches this challenge. "We, as a general proposition, are consulting with all of our allies and partners on the consequences of Putin's war, the atrocities being committed against the people of Ukraine. In our judgment, it is important that all countries, especially those with leverage, press Putin to end the war," he said.

Austin told reporters that Biden "truly values strong alliances and partnerships, like the one that they have with India". "And that's really what today is all about. It's about taking a strong relationship and making it even stronger, and working on those things that create interoperability and allow us to work together to promote the things that all of us have talked about. The issue of values is central to this relationship," he said.

In response to another question, Blinken said that there is, of course, a long history and a long relationship between India and Russia, including when it comes to military equipment.

"That relationship took hold many years ago at a time when, as I said, we were not able to be a partner of India. We are now both able and willing to be such a partner, to be a security partner of choice for India. That's one of the areas that we discussed in some detail today," he said.

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India and the US have called on to take immediate, sustained, and irreversible actions to ensure that no territory under its control is used for terrorist attacks.

In a joint statement issued on the fourth India-US 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar, US Secretary of State Antony J Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd J Austin III welcomed the convening of the 18th Meeting of the India-US Joint Working Group on Counter-Terrorism and the 4th Session of the India-US Designations Dialogue in October 2021.

Expressing strong condemnation against the use of terrorist proxies and cross-border terrorism in all its forms, the ministers called for the perpetrators of the 26/11 Mumbai attack, and Pathankot attack, to be brought to justice.

They called for concerted action against all terrorist groups, including groups proscribed by the United Nations Security Council 1267 Sanctions Committee, such as al-Qa'ida, Islamic State (Deash), Lashkar-e-Tayyiba (LeT), and Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), and Hizb ul Mujahideen.

The two sides committed to the continued exchange of information about sanctions and designations against terror groups and individuals, countering violent radicalism, use of the Internet for terrorist purposes, and cross-border movement of terrorists.

They also emphasized the importance of upholding standards on anti-money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism by all countries, consistent with the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) recommendations.

The ministers also reaffirmed their support for the early adoption of a UN Comprehensive Convention on Terrorism (CCIT) that advances and strengthens the framework for global cooperation and reinforces that no cause or grievance justifies terrorism.

Both sides also looked forward to the next India-US Counter Narcotics Working Group meeting in 2022 and enhancing cooperation through a bilateral Counter-Narcotics Framework to combat drug trafficking, illicit narcotics production, and precursor chemical supply chains.

Building upon the recent Senior Officials Meeting between the US Department of Homeland Security and India's Ministry of Home Affairs, both sides looked forward to reconvening a Ministerial meeting of the India-US Homeland Security Dialogue in 2022.

The US-India 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue between Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin and External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh was held on Monday in Washington.

In a statement, the Pentagon said defence and foreign ministers of the two countries forged new and deeper cooperation across the breadth of the US-India partnership, including defence, science and technology, trade, climate, public health, and people-to-people ties.

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New Delhi: Announcing that the top leaders of the four-nation Quad will meet in-person on May 24 in Japan, US President Joe Biden began his virtual summit with Prime Minister Narendra Modi late Monday evening (IST) by condemning the horrific assault on Ukraine by Russia and said both India and the United States would consult on how to stabilise the effects of the Russian war. The two leaders discussed the situation in Ukraine in detail later in the talks, apart from the cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region and efforts to combat both the Covid-19 pandemic and climate change.

The US President referred to the major defence partnership between the two countries, that is significant given Chinas increasing military assertiveness in the region. In his inaugural remarks that followed, Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the situation in Ukraine as worrying, adding that New Delhi had condemned the recent killings of civilians in Ukraines Bucha and had demanded an independent probe.

Pointing out that India had supplied humanitarian assistance to Ukraine including medicines, Mr Modi said that at Ukraines request, India was sending one more consignment of medicines. The PM also said he had personally requested Russian President Vladimir Putin to hold direct discussions with his Ukrainian counterpart, adding that the Indian Parliament had discussed the situation in Ukraine and that New Delhi hopes there can be peace following talks between Russia and Ukraine.

Mr Modi also thanked the US President for taking the initiative to host the virtual meeting, adding it was important to give a direction to the 2+2 talks in Washington at the foreign and defence ministerial level that will follow the virtual meeting. External affairs minister S. Jaishankar also met US secretary of state Antony Blinken in a separate bilateral meeting on Monday evening in Washington.

It should be noted that the US is stepping up pressure on India to take a tougher line on Russia, particularly after the Russian military offensive in Ukraine that has been followed by crippling economic sanctions by the West on Russia. The US President himself recently had described Indias response as shaky, and it is well known Washington is not too pleased with New Delhi which has so far not condemned Moscow for the invasion. While India enjoys time-tested ties with Russia, the US is also unhappy at India recently buying Russian oil at heavily discounted rates.

In a statement after the virtual meeting between the two leaders, New Delhi said: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Joseph R. Biden held a virtual meeting today. Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh and Minister of External Affairs Dr S. Jaishankar, who are in Washington DC for the India-US 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue, were also present at the White House during the interaction, along with their US counterparts, secretary of defence Lloyd Austin and secretary of state Antony Blinken. The two leaders had an extensive exchange of views on several regional and global issues, such as the Covid-19 pandemic, global economic recovery, climate action, recent developments in South Asia and the Indo-Pacific region, and the situation in Ukraine.

New Delhi added: They also took stock of the significant progress made in bilateral relations in recent years. Both leaders agreed that further strengthening of the India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership would be of tremendous benefit to the two countries, and would also contribute to global peace, prosperity and stability.

In his remarks, Mr Modi also said: As the world's two largest and oldest democracies, we are natural partners. And the progress we have made in our relationship over the years, which has created a new momentum, even a decade ago today, was perhaps hard to imagine.

On Ukraine, he added: Our talks today are taking place at a time when the situation in Ukraine remains very worrying. Till a few weeks ago, more than 20,000 Indians were stranded in Ukraine. And most of these were young students. After a lot of hard work, we were able to get them out of there safely, although one student lost his life. Throughout this development, I spoke on the phone several times with the Presidents of both Ukraine and Russia. Not only did I appeal for peace, but I also suggested (to) President Putin to have direct talks with the President of Ukraine. The subject of Ukraine has been discussed in great detail in our Parliament as well. Recently the news of killings of innocent civilians in Bucha city was very worrying. We immediately condemned it and demanded a fair investigation. We hope that the ongoing dialogue between Russia and Ukraine will lead to peace.
India and the US are restarting their bilateral commercial dialogue and the CEO's forum later this year to deepen their bilateral trade and investment relationship, US Secretary of State has announced.

Blinken made this announcement at a joint news conference with Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin along with their Indian counterparts --External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh after the 2+2 Ministerial here on Monday.

During the 2+2 Ministerial, the two sides discussed their goal of driving inclusive economic growth in the two countries and across the region, said the secretary of State.

India and the US already trade to the tune of more than USD 150 billion each year, he said.

We are deepening that relationship by restarting the US-India commercial dialogue and the US-India CEO forum later this year, where our private sector partners can offer recommendations to strengthen even more our trade and investment relationship, Blinken said.

Earlier during a virtual meeting, Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed President Joe Biden's Indo-Pacific Economic Framework Initiative.

It can allow us to increase our collaboration across more issues including digital trade, supply chain resilience, infrastructure, and tax policy, Blinken said.

The last meeting of the India-US Commercial Dialogue was held on July 2020 through a telephonic conference.

The CEO forum also last met virtually in July 2020.

The forum is an effective platform to highlight key issues that affect business entities and to identify areas for closer collaboration for mutual benefit of both economies.

And our countries are working together to tackle the climate crisis. The United States is supporting India's ambitious COP26 clean energy commitments by investing in renewable energy projects and mobilising private sector financing, Blinken said.

The 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference is commonly referred to as COP26.

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The discussions during the India US 2+2 ministerial here has helped the two countries to strategize on mitigating the volatility and unpredictability that the world is currently experiencing, External Affairs Minister said on Monday.

"It has helped us today to strategize on mitigating the volatility and unpredictability that the world is currently experiencing. That will be naturally reflected in our policies," Jaishankar told reporters addressing a joint news conference with Defense Minister Rajnath Singh and their American counterparts Secretary of State Tony Blinken and the Defense Secretary .

The fourth 2+2, the first under the Biden administration, was held here on Monday.

The discussions have also encouraged the two countries to think together on long-term challenges, especially in the Indo-Pacific. "It has energized our collaborative endeavours to build what is emerging as a key bilateral relationship of our times," he said.

Responding to a question, Jaishankar said india is pressing for a cessation of hostilities in Ukraine. "I think part of what we are doing is to press for a cessation of hostilities, which I think everybody would agree would mitigate matters and



India, he said, is working towards mitigating global volatility and unpredictability. "While we're also addressing the humanitarian situation, in fact, we have -- the Ukrainians have been in touch with us for -- especially for the supply of medicines. We have already provided humanitarian relief to Ukraine to some of the neighbours. And even as we speak, a shipment of medicines is being delivered or will be delivered very soon to Kiev," he said.

"We have discussed the economic consequences as well and we are looking at it ourselves, but we have discussed it as partners," he said.

The minister said that one of the big concerns that India and the world has is of energy security, of rising prices, of increasing premiums, of limited supplies. "So today you have to understand it is a legitimate concern of countries to ensure their energy security. But an equally big worry, which is emerging, is of food security. There are concerns across geographies of societies who are importing wheat or sugar or other foodstuff out of the conflict region".

The issue also came up for discussion during the virtual summit between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Joe Biden, about what could India do to stabilize the global economic situation.

"We are quite willing and, in fact, we have already started responding to the need for greater food supplies, especially wheat, most of all; but to some degree, sugar as well. We have even at this moment a number of countries are discussing with us the possibility of greater food supplies, including the World Food Programme," he said.

Jaishankar said COVID-19 has also left them with a lot of uncertainties and a lot of challenges to be addressed. "I think part of it is how do you construct more reliable and resilient supply chains? How do you increase trust and transparency? How do we work together on critical and emerging technologies like 5G? And again, we discussed an Indian initiative called Performance Linked Initiative, which would incentivize manufacturing in India".

It is very much in American interest to support it, the minister said.

"We also spoke about how we could work together to help with the global health situation. How do we get a shot in every arm? How do we increase the distribution of vaccines? And the other issue, again, which has added to global uncertainty is Afghanistan. And how do you stabilize the region, how do you again provide humanitarian assistance? he told the reporters.

India, he said, is in the middle of providing 50,000 tons of wheat. "How do you deal with the terrorism concerns that the world has in the Security Council, in FATF, et cetera. And I would say in a way, in terms of mitigating and stabilizing, the Quad itself is a great stabilizer. So that too is part of the contribution we are making towards a better world, and making that contribution in large measure through a partnership with the United States," said the minister.

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Despite Shehbaz Sharif finally taking over as the chief executive of Pakistan, his elder brother Nawaz Sharif's immediate return from London has been ruled out by his party, the PML-N, Dawn reported.

" has no immediate plans to return. The Sharif family thinks that his early return will establish the Tehreek-i-Insaf's (PTI) propaganda that he does not have serious health issues," a senior PML-N leader.

"The other factor Nawaz will weigh before deciding to return is how the 11-party coalition government functions in the coming months in the face of the growing PTI pressure for early elections."

In reply to a question about a tentative date for Nawaz's return, another leader close to the former premier said: "Either just before the next polls or right after. If Nawaz gets some relief in the corruption cases ahead of the next elections, the party will press him to return to spearhead the PML-N's election campaign. To match Imran Khan's canvassing, the PML-N needs Nawaz around."

He claimed that since the new Shehbaz-led government would most likely pursue the cases against Nawaz aggressively to secure relief for him, Imran Khan's party had rolled up its sleeves to 'orchestrate propaganda' over the plausible development.

--IANS

san/dpb

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Nepal's Finance minister on Monday dismissed claims by opposition parties that the country's will deteriorate further in the coming days, saying that the Himalayan Nation's economic performance is positive.

On Monday, three former finance ministers of Nepal-- Bishnu Paudel, Surendra Pandey and Dr Yubaraj Khatiwada-- belonging to party Communist Party of (Unified MarxistLeninist) (CPN-UML) made public a 12-point joint statement on the latest economic scenario of the country.

They lamented that the country's was heading towards crisis and it should be brought on the right track through positive interference.

"The country has not gone through any big economic crisis based on the evaluation of available details so far," Foreign Minister Janardan Sharma claimed on Monday while briefing the latest situation of the country's .

Minister Sharma dismissed the joint statement issued by three former Finance Ministers belonging to the main opposition CPN-UML.

Sharma further said that misinformation on the issue was making the rounds with an intent to discourage traders and mislead people and viewed that such acts should be stopped.

"The government is alert and aware about making the country's economy function smoothly."



In another context, the Finance Minister clarified that the investigation into the Governor of Rastra Bank, the central bank of Nepal, Maha Prasad Adhikari, was conducted in compliance with the law and the Rastra Bank Act.

The government has suspended the NRB Governor last week for failing to perform his duty.

A probe committee has been formed to look into the matter and further decisions would be taken acting on the report by the committee, pointed out the Finance Minister.

Urging one and all not to go by rumours about the country's flagging economy, Minister asserted that the Nepalese economy was moving in a positive direction despite the COVID-19 crisis and "struggle" between Russia and Ukraine.

In the current fiscal year so far, remittances amounting to over Rs 631 billion were remitted to the country, a 4.9 per cent decrease as opposed to the same period in the previous year, he pointed out.

He, however, admitted that the country's trade deficit has increased to over Rs 1,290 billion until April 8, 2022, of the current fiscal year. During the period, goods worth over Rs 1,450 billion were imported while goods worth over Rs 159 billion were exported. The import and export increased by 33.9 and 72.8 per cent respectively as compared to the same period in the previous fiscal year, according to the Ministry.

Similarly, at present, the country has foreign exchange reserves amounting to over Rs 1,171 billion as compared to more than Rs 1,399 billion at the end of the previous fiscal year, he informed.

Furthermore, he said that a proposal had been forwarded to temporarily ban the import of expensive and luxurious vehicles and not to allow the government agencies' vehicles to be used on public holidays.

Nepal's economic instability comes into the limelight at a moment when another Asian nation Sri Lanka is witnessing one of its worst forex crises that have brought the government in a fix.

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is expected to travel to and in his first foreign trip after taking charge as Pakistan's new Prime Minister, according to a media report on Tuesday.

Traditionally, a Pakistani prime minister's first foreign visit has often been to Riyadh and Beijing due to Islamabad's strategic relationship with both countries.

Sharif, 70, was sworn-in as the 23rd Prime Minister of on Monday following Imran Khan's ouster a day earlier. Khan, head of the Tehreek-e-Insaf party, became the first Pakistani premier to lose a no-confidence motion in the National Assembly.

The Express Tribune newspaper, quoting a leader of the ruling Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N), said that Sharif during his visit to will perform Umrah and meet the Saudi leadership.

The Sharif family maintains a close personal relationship with the Saudi royal family as the latter played a central role in ensuring the safe exit of Nawaz Sharif after the October 1999 coup.

in the past has extended financial bailout packages to successive Pakistani governments. Riyadh gave former prime minister Imran Khan's government a USD 6 billion bailout package, the report said.

It is unclear if Sharif will also seek financial assistance, given that Saudi Arabia provided USD 3 billion dollars to Pakistan not long ago, it said.

After the Saudi visit, Sharif is also expected to travel to .

Sharif is known to enjoy a good reputation amongst the Chinese leadership because of his administrative qualities. During the previous PML-N tenure, Shehbaz played a central role in accelerating China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects, the report noted.

China's state media welcomed the election of Shehbaz as prime minister and commented that given the Sharif family's previous engagements with Beijing, the new premier would prove better for bilateral relationship than Khan.

In his maiden address in the National Assembly on Monday, Sharif had heaped praise on Pakistan's close relationship with and Saudi Arabia.

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Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) vice president on Monday said the new government led by Shehbaz Sharif will not take revenge against the ousted Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government but will hold it accountable for "scandals" that took place during its rule.

"We will not take revenge, but will surely hold them accountable. There was this goods train running between Lahore and Bani gala (residence of former Prime Minister Imran Khan). We will not take revenge but will surely hold them accountable for these scandals," told reporters.

PTI members boycotted the session of the National Assembly held to elect the new Prime Minister. Shehbaz Sharif, who was the prime ministerial candidate of the joint opposition was elected with 174 members of the 342-member National Assembly voting in his favour.

He was later sworn in as Prime Minister by Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani. President Arif Alvi complained of "discomfort" hours before swearing-in function.

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The government led by Shehbaz Sharif in will establish contacts with friendly countries following the policy of peace and equality, and trade with these states will be enhanced, Express Tribune reported.

"The new government will raise the on all forums," Express Tribune reported.

The federal government will work with the Chinese government to expedite the CPEC projects and further expand relations with Afghanistan.

will not become a part of any war and will promote peace on level, PML-N sources said, indicating broad contours of the new federal government's foreign policy.

The new government would maintain relations with the US on the basis of equality with a "clear principle of no do more" and take Parliament into confidence on all important decisions on foreign affairs.

Sources said that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif would formulate guidelines on the foreign policy in consultation with the military leadership and that the new government would strengthen relations with all Muslim states and other countries.

It has been decided that will not interfere in the internal affairs of any country nor would it become a part of any nation's war policy, the report said.

--IANS

san/dpb

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told the on Monday that current and future sanctions on Russia could create one of the worst ever oil supply shocks and it would be impossible to replace those volumes, and signalled it would not pump more.

officials held talks in Vienna with representatives of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries amid calls for the group to increase output and as the EU considers potential sanctions on Russian oil.

"We could potentially see the loss of more than 7 million barrels per day (bpd) of Russian oil and other liquids exports, resulting from current and future sanctions or other voluntary actions," Secretary General Mohammad Barkindo said, according to a copy of his speech seen by Reuters.

"Considering the current demand outlook, it would be nearly impossible to replace a loss in volumes of this magnitude."

The reiterated its call in the meeting for oil-producing countries to look at whether they can increase deliveries to help cool soaring oil prices, a European Commission official told Reuters.

EU representatives also pointed out that has a responsibility to ensure balanced oil markets, the official said.

OPEC has resisted calls by the United States and the Energy Agency to pump more crude to cool prices, which reached a 14-year peak last month after Washington and Brussels imposed sanctions on Moscow following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

In the meeting with OPEC, the EU said OPEC could provide more production from its spare capacity, according to an OPEC document seen by Reuters.

Still, Barkindo said the current highly volatile market was a result of "non-fundamental factors" outside OPEC's control, in a signal the group would not pump more.

OPEC+, which consists of OPEC and other producers including Russia, will raise output by about 432,000 barrels per day in May, as part of a gradual unwinding of output cuts made during the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The EU-OPEC meeting on Monday afternoon was the latest in a dialogue launched between the two sides in 2005.

Russian oil has been excluded from EU sanctions so far. But after the 27-country bloc agreed last week to sanction Russian coal - its first to target energy supplies - some senior EU officials said oil could be next.

The European Commission is drafting proposals for an oil embargo on Russia, the foreign ministers of Ireland, Lithuania and the Netherlands said on Monday at a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Luxembourg, although there was no agreement to ban Russian crude.

Australia, Canada and the United States, who are less reliant on Russian supply than Europe, have already banned Russian oil purchases.

EU countries are split over whether to follow suit, given their higher dependency and the potential for the move to push up already high energy prices in Europe.

The EU expects its oil use to decrease 30% by 2030, from 2015 levels, under its planned policies to fight climate change - though in the short term, an embargo would trigger a dash to replace Russian oil with alternative supplies.

(Reporting by Kate Abnett; Editing by Mike Harrison and Susan Fenton)

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For decades, the lives of Vladimir Putin's two daughters by his first marriage have been shrouded in mystery. Now sanctions on his children have brought them  and their opaque business dealings  into the spotlight.

The measures against Maria Vorontsova and Katerina Tikhonova, who Putin doesn't publicly acknowledge as his daughters, is a largely symbolic move since its unclear they have significant assets outside of .

Putin had said in a 2011 state-run TV interview that his daughters led ordinary lives. Theyre not involved in politics or business, thank God, he told Channel One television at the time. This appears to have changed in succeeding years, with both daughters stepping into business positions while in academia.

Vorontsova, 36, is an endocrinologist. She is a co-owner of a medical company called Nomeko, focusing on high-tech diagnostics and treatment.

Tikhonova, 35, the younger Putin daughter, was linked to a $1.6 billion project to develop a science center and startup incubator next to Moscow State University. She also headed the elite schools artificial-intelligence center and its sister fund called the National Intellectual Development Fund. Both are managed by the Innopraktika foundation, which counts Putin associates including Rosneft CEO Igor Sechin and Gazprombank CEO Andrei Akimov as board trustees.

Tikhonovas ex-husband Kirill Shamalov made a fortune from investing in petrochemical giant Sibur Holding, with the help of a loan from Akimov's state-controlled bank. He later sold the shares after they divorced.

Putin, who tightly guards his private life, has said very little publicly about his children with ex-wife Lyudmila. During more than two decades in power, he has given drips of information about where they live, a few of their intellectual interests such as biology and Japanese culture, and that they speak multiple languages.

The daughters have given media interviews, but have not been identified as Putin's daughters. They have rarely appeared on camera as adults, though Tikhonova was spotted competing in an acrobatic rock and roll competition in Switzerland in 2013.

Lyudmila, a former flight attendant, has so far escaped sanctions that ensnared his allies, companies linked to them and their families.
The over-dependence on for economic development could be a miserable option for any country, and the latest examples of it, are and which have been facing a dire financial crisis at present, according to reports.

It is not a coincidence that these two countries have been the biggest beneficiaries of economic "assistance" from . But instead of becoming more resilient, they folded up in the wake of the global economic crisis brought about by a pandemic many suspects originated in Chinese laboratories, Global Strat View reported.

China's "Debt Trap" policy follows a similar global pattern. Pakistan, an "all-weather friend" of China, remains another example, which, according to a recent World Bank Report, now finds its place in the world's 10 largest borrowers.

owes most of its debt to . The China- Economic Corridor project, which aims to connect Gwadar Port in Pakistan's Baluchistan with China's Xinjiang province, is a flagship project of China's BRI.

Further, it has been argued by various analysts that China is using "debt-trap" diplomacy to gain access to strategic assets in Pakistan. The infrastructure projects in Pakistan were financed by Chinese banks.

Meanwhile, the crisis in was apparent after the pandemic that dried up the tourist traffic to the island nation, one of its main foreign exchange earners, the country's debts spiralled and foreign exchange reserves shrunk as the end result of reckless borrowings from China to finance infrastructure projects, reported The Hong Kong Post.

With tourism hit by the pandemic, the economic structure of Sri Lanka, which was already tottering under the heavy burden of loans, crumbled. A major part of this debt was owed to China, which accounts for nearly USD 8 billion.

This debt burden was a result of China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) projects like Hambantota Port and Colombo Port City for which Chinese agencies lent large amounts to under stiff terms of repayment.

Notably, in 2021-22, Colombo's debt repayment to Beijing amounted to nearly USD 2 billion. Further, Hambantota port has already been leased out to China for 99 years against USD 1.2 billion.

In the face of the deepening foreign exchange crisis, Sri Lanka President Gotabaya Rajapaksa sought China's help in December 2021 as he requested a debt restructuring in a meeting with China Foreign Minister Wang Yi. However, Beijing has reportedly shown Colombo the door, according to the media outlet.

Ironically, the deeply pro-China Rajapaksa government dug its own grave as it had booted out the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) of the USA with its offer to extend developmental assistance grant to Colombo as the Board of Directors of MCC discontinued its USD 480 million contract with Sri Lanka in December 2020 "due to lack of partner country engagement," the publication reported citing the US embassy.

Further, China-assisted projects in Sri Lanka are likely to deepen the indebtedness of the island nation.

Notably, China refused to assist Sri Lanka which appealed to reschedule its huge Chinese debt burden in the face of the Covid-19 outbreak that has adversely affected the tourism sector, said a media report.

Chinese loans have come at a hefty cost for Pakistan and Sri Lanka. The slow bleeding would have continued for a few more years without the extent of the damage being recognized by them. While the warnings by experts have been ignored by Colombo and Islamabad alike, the pandemic, followed by the Ukraine-Russia conflict, has exposed how vulnerable both economies had become due to indiscriminate borrowing from China.

Two countries going down almost the exact same way is not a coincidence. Other countries tempted by the Chinese-inspired dream of rapid economic progress need to think twice before embracing economic engagement with the dragon. Whether it will make them more resilient or vulnerable to shocks is the question they need to ask.

Countries like Madagascar, Maldives and Tajikistan are also reeling under Chinese debts.

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Hyderabad: Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao on Tuesday announced that the government had decided to purchase paddy at minimum support price (MSP) from farmers in the rabi season, which will cost the state about Rs 3,500 crore.

He said that the government had also decided to revoke GO 111, which protects the two drinking water lakes Himayatsagar and Osmansagar.

The Chief Minister, who was briefing the media on the decisions taken by the state Cabinet, said that a committee headed by the Chief Secretary had been formed to frame guidelines on how to protect the two lakes from pollution after GO 111 is revoked, by ensuring adequate green zones and drawing up an effective master plan to regulate construction activity.

The Cabinet also approved the setting up of six private universities which includes one for agriculture, one on pharmaceuticals and another for aviation, and setting up a common recruitment board to fill over 3,500 teaching and non-teaching vacancies in state universities.

The CM stated that paddy procurement centres would be opened in all the villages from Wednesday, and appealed to farmers not to resort to panic selling or selling their produce below MSP to rice millers or traders.

"We did everything from our side to bring pressure on the Centre to procure paddy but there was no response. We dont want farmers to suffer losses on account of the Centre's wrong policies. For that reason, we have decided to purchase paddy on our own although it may put an additional burden of Rs 3,500 crore on the state government. the Chief Minister said.

Our aim was to expose the Centre's double standard on paddy procurement and make it stand guilty before the people with our agitations. We were successful in this," Rao said.

He lashed out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP-led Centre again, accusing them of dividing the people on communal and religious lines to gain votes, in the process causing irreparable loss to the economy, investments and job opportunities. He warned that if this trend was not checked immediately, it would take at least 100 years for India to recover.

The CM announced that he would intensify the agitation against the BJP for its anti-farmer policies. He announced the holding of a national convention of farmers in Hyderabad next month in which an integrated national agriculture policy will be drafted with suggestions from farmers and experts.

"We will announce this new agriculture policy which gives Constitutional protection for farmers to get MSP for their produce. We will demand that the Centre implement this policy. If not, farmers will change the government and bring in a new government which will implement this policy," Rao stated.

The CM took BJP leaders to task for asking why paddy procurement had become a problem only in Telangana and not in other states, and for accusing the TRS government of playing paddy politics..

"Today, Telangana produces a quantity of paddy which no other state can match due to the TRS government's pro-farmer policies, the CM said. In the rabi season, the total crop sown area of paddy in the country is 1.03 crore acres of which Telangana has 35.84 lakh acres. No other state can boast of at least half of what Telangana achieved. It is for this reason that paddy procurement has become an issue in Telangana because the Centre is not in a position to procure the amount of paddy produced in the state," Rao explained.
President said on Tuesday peace talks with Ukraine had hit a dead end, using his first public comments on the conflict in more than a week to vow his troops would win and to goad the West for failing to bring Moscow to heel.

Addressing the war in public for the first time since Russian forces retreated from northern Ukraine after they were halted at the gates of Kyiv, Putin promised that would achieve all of its "noble" aims in Ukraine.

In the strongest signal to date that the war will grind on for longer, Putin said Kyiv had derailed peace talks by staging what he said were fake claims of Russian war crimes and by demanding security guarantees to cover the whole of Ukraine.

"We have again returned to a dead-end situation for us," Putin, Russia's paramount leader since 1999, told a news briefing during a visit to the Vostochny Cosmodrome 3,450 miles (5,550 km) east of Moscow.

Asked by Russian space agency workers if the operation in Ukraine would achieve its goals, Putin said: "Absolutely. I don't have any doubt at all."

will "rhythmically and calmly" continue its operation but the most important strategic conclusion was that the unipolar order which the had built after the Cold War was breaking up, Putin said.

Putin said had no choice but to fight because it had to defend the Russian speakers of eastern Ukraine and prevent its former Soviet neighbour from becoming an anti-Russian springboard for Moscow's enemies.

The West has condemned the war as a brutal imperial-style land grab targeting a sovereign country. Ukraine says it is fighting for its survival after Putin annexed Crimea in 2014 and on Feb. 21 recognised two of its rebel regions as sovereign.

Putin dismissed the West's sanctions, which have tipped Russia towards its worst recession since the years following the 1991 fall of the Soviet Union, as a failure.

"That Blitzkrieg on which our foes were counting did not work," Putin said. "The is ready to fight with Russia until the last Ukrainian - that is the way it is."

Putin, who had been ubiquitous on Russian television in the early days of the war, had largely retreated from public view since Russia's withdrawal from northern Ukraine two weeks ago.

His only public appearance in the past week was at the funeral of a nationalist lawmaker, where he did not directly address the war. On Monday he met the visiting chancellor of Austria at a country residence outside Moscow but no images of that meeting were released.

'BUCHA IS FAKE'

Putin dismissed Ukrainian and Western claims that Russia had committed war crimes as fakes.

Since Russian troops withdrew from towns and villages around the Ukrainian capital Kyiv, Ukrainian troops have been showing journalists corpses of what they say are civilians killed by Russian forces, destroyed houses and burnt-out cars.

Reuters saw dead bodies in the town of Bucha but could not independently verify who was responsible for the killings. Ukraine says Russia is guilty of genocide and U.S. President Joe Biden has accused Putin of war crimes and called for a trial.

Putin said he had told Western leaders to think a little about destruction by the of the Syrian city of Raqqa, the former de facto capital of the Islamic State caliphate, and in Afghanistan.

"Have you seen how this Syrian city was turned to rubble by American aircraft? Corpses lay in the ruins for months decomposing," Putin said. "Nobody cared. No one even noticed."

"There was no such silence when provocations were staged in Syria, when they portrayed the use of chemical weapons by the Assad government. Then it turned out that it was fake. It's the same kind of fake in Bucha."

Putin, who says Ukraine and Russia are essentially one people, casts the war as an inevitable confrontation with the United States, which he accuses of threatening Russia by meddling in its backyard.

Sixty one years to the day since the Soviet Union's Yuri Gagarin blasted off into the history books by becoming the first man in space, Putin drew an analogy between Soviet space successes and Russia's defiance today.

"The sanctions were total, the isolation was complete but the Soviet Union was still first in space," said Putin, 69, recalling his own wonderment as a schoolboy learning of the achievement.

"We don't intend to be isolated," Putin added. "It is impossible to severely isolate anyone in the modern world - especially such a vast country as Russia."





Russia economy may shrink most since 94 Russias economy is on track to contract by more than 10 per cent in 2022, the biggest fall in gross domestic product since the years following the 1991 fall of the Soviet Union, former finance minister Alexei Kudrin said on Tuesday. A contraction of 10 per cent would amount to the biggest decline in GDP since 1994, according to World Bank and IMF data. Reuters

Quarter-billion more face extreme poverty

The impacts of Covid-19, rising global inequality and soaring food prices caused by the war in Ukraine are set to send more than a quarter-billion more people into poverty this year, according to Oxfam . The combined hit may result in a 860 million people living below the $1.90 a day line by the end of 2022, or 263 million more than the projection before Covid, the group said. Bloomberg

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President warned the West on Tuesday that attempts to isolate Moscow would fail, citing the success of the Soviet space programme as evidence that could achieve spectacular leaps forward in tough conditions.

says it will never again depend on the West after the United States and its allies imposed crippling sanctions on it to punish Putin for his Feb. 24 order for what he called a "special military operation" in Ukraine.

Sixty one years to the day since the Soviet Union's Yuri Gagarin blasted off into the history books by becoming the first man in space, Putin travelled to the Vostochny Cosmodrome in Russia's Far East, 3,450 miles (5550 km) east of Moscow.

"The sanctions were total, the isolation was complete but the Soviet Union was still first in space," Putin said, according to Russian state television.

"We don't intend to be isolated," Putin said. "It is impossible to severely isolate anyone in the modern world - especially such a vast country as ." Russia's Cold War space successes such as Gagarin's flight and the 1957 launch of Sputnik 1, the first artificial satellite from earth, have a particular pertinence for Russia: both events shocked the United States. The launch of Sputnik 1 prompted the United States to create NASA in a bid to catch up with Moscow.

Putin says the "special military operation" in Ukraine is necessary because the United States was using Ukraine to threaten Russia - including via the NATO military alliance - and that Moscow had to defend Russian-speaking people in Ukraine from persecution.

He said on Tuesday that the had no doubts Russia would achieve all of its objectives in Ukraine - a conflict he cast as both inevitable and essential to defend Russia in the long term.

"Its goals are absolutely clear and noble," Putin said. "It's clear that we didn't have a choice. It was the right decision."

Ukrainian forces have mounted stiff resistance and the West has imposed sweeping sanctions on Russia in an effort to force it to withdraw its forces. Russia's economy is on track to contract by more than 10% in 2022, the biggest fall in gross domestic product since the years following the 1991 fall of the Soviet Union, former finance minister Alexei Kudrin said on Tuesday.

Putin toured the space port in Russia's far east with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko. "Why an earth are we getting so worried about these sanctions?" Lukashenko said, according to Russian state television.

Lukashenko, who has a track record of sometimes saying things that appear to jar with his closest ally's stated positions on a range of issues, has insisted that Belarus must be involved in negotiations to resolve the conflict in Ukraine and has said that Belarus had been unfairly labelled "an accomplice of the aggressor".

(Reporting by Reuters; Writing by Guy Faulconbridge)

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Ahead of the in-person leadership summit in Japan next month, External Affairs Minister on Monday said the informal grouping of Australia, India, Japan and the United States has emerged as a powerful force of global good.

Jaishankar told reporters that challenges in the Indo-Pacific were a particular focus of the discussions during the India US 2+2 ministerial that were held at the Foggy Bottom headquarters of the State Department.

"We appreciate the attention and energy devoted by the United States to the . Its elevation and intensification in the last year benefits the entire Indo-Pacific," he said.

"Indeed, the has emerged as a powerful force of global good," Jaishankar said.

Earlier in the day, US President Joe Biden indicated that the next Quad summit would be held in Japan on May 24.

The White House Press Secretary, however, refrained from disclosing a precise date.

"The President is looking forward to going to Asia at some point, but I don't have any more details at this point in time. Clearly, he's excited since he talked about it today," Psaki said in response to a question during her daily news conference.

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Monica Kariuki is about ready to give up on farming. What is driving her off her 10 acres of land outside Nairobi isn't bad weather, pests or blight the traditional agricultural curses but fertilizer: It costs too much.

Despite thousands of miles separating her from the battlefields of Ukraine, Kariuki and her cabbage, corn and spinach farm are indirect victims of Russian President Vladimir Putin's invasion. The war has pushed up the price of natural gas, a key ingredient in fertilizer, and has led to severe sanctions against Russia, a major exporter of fertilizer.

Kariuki used to spend 20,000 Kenyan shillings, or about USD 175, to fertilize her entire farm. Now, she would need to spend five times as much. Continuing to work the land, she said, would yield nothing but losses.

"I cannot continue with the farming business. I am quitting farming to try something else,'' she said.

Higher fertilizer prices are making the world's food supply more expensive and less abundant, as farmers skimp on nutrients for their crops and get lower yields. While the ripples will be felt by grocery shoppers in wealthy countries, the squeeze on food supplies will land hardest on families in poorer countries.

It could hardly come at a worse time: The UN Food and Agriculture Organization said last week that its world food-price index in March reached the highest level since it started in 1990.

The fertilizer crunch threatens to further limit worldwide food supplies, already constrained by the disruption of crucial grain shipments from and Russia. The loss of those affordable supplies of wheat, barley and other grains raises the prospect of food shortages and political instability in Middle Eastern, African and some Asian countries where millions rely on subsidized bread and cheap noodles.

Food prices will skyrocket because farmers will have to make profit, so what happens to consumers?'' said Uche Anyanwu, an agricultural expert at the University of Nigeria.

The aid group Action Aid warns that families in the Horn of Africa are already being driven to the brink of survival.''



The UN says Russia is the world's No 1 exporter of nitrogen fertilizer and No. 2 in phosphorus and potassium . Its ally Belarus, also contending with Western sanctions, is another major fertilizer producer.

Many developing countries including Mongolia, Honduras, Cameroon, Ghana, Senegal, Mexico and Guatemala rely on Russia for at least a fifth of their imports.

The conflict also has driven up the already-exorbitant price of natural gas, used to make nitrogen fertilizer. The result: European energy prices so high that some fertilizer companies have closed their businesses and stopped operating their plants,'' said David Laborde, a researcher at the Food Policy Research Institute.

For corn and cabbage farmer Jackson Koeth, 55, of Eldoret in western Kenya, the conflict in was distant and puzzling until he had to decide whether to go ahead with the planting season. Fertilizer prices had doubled from last year.

Koeth said he decided to keep planting but only on half the acreage of years past. Yet he doubts he can make a profit with fertilizer so costly.

Greek farmer Dimitris Filis, who grows olives, oranges and lemons, said you have to search to find'' ammonia nitrate and that the cost of fertilizing a 10-hectare (25-acre) olive grove has doubled to 560 euros (USD 310). While selling his wares at an Athens farm market, he said most farmers plan to skip fertilizing their olive and orange groves this year.

Many people will not use at all, and this as a result, lowers the quality of the production and the production itself, and slowly, slowly at one point, they won't be able to farm their land because there will be no income,'' Filis said.

In China, the price of potash potassium-rich salt used as fertilizer is up 86% from a year earlier. Nitrogen fertilizer prices have climbed 39 per cent and phosphorus fertilizer is up 10 per cent.

In the eastern Chinese city of Tai'an, the manager of a 35-family cooperative that raises wheat and corn said fertilizer prices have jumped 40 per cent since the start of the year.

We can hardly make any money, said the manager, who would give only his surname, Zhao.

Terry Farms, which grows produce on 2,100 acres largely in Ventura, California, has seen prices of some fertilizer formulations double; others are up 20 per cent. Shifting is risky, vice president William Terry said, because cheaper versions might not give the crop what it needs as a food source.''



As the growing season approaches in Maine, potato farmers are grappling with a 70 per cent to 100 per cent increase in fertilizer prices from last year, depending on the blend.

I think it's going to be a pretty expensive crop, no matter what you're putting in the ground, from fertilizer to fuel, labour, electrical and everything else, said Donald Flannery, executive director of the Maine Potato Board.

In Prudentopolis, a town in Brazil's Parana state, farmer Edimilson Rickli showed off a warehouse that would normally be packed with fertilizer bags but has only enough to last a few more weeks. He's worried that, with the war in showing no sign of letting up, he'll have to go without fertilizer when he plants wheat, barley and oats next month.

The question is: Where Brazil is going to buy more fertilizer from?" he said. "We have to find other markets.''



Other countries are hoping to help fill the gaps. Nigeria, for example, opened Africa's largest fertilizer factory last month, and the $2.5 billion plant has already shipped fertilizer to the United States, Brazil, India and Mexico.

India, meanwhile, is seeking more fertilizer imports from Israel, Oman, Canada and Saudi Arabia to make up for lost shipments from Russia and Belarus.

If the supply shortage gets worse, we will produce less, said Kishor Rungta of the nonprofit Fertiliser Association of India. That's why we need to look for options to get more fertilizers in the country.

(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 Toronto Police on Tuesday announced that a 39-year-old man, who is believed to have shot and killed 21-year-old Indian student Kartik Vasudev in Canada, has been arrested.

The victim, who hailed from Ghaziabad in Uttar Pradesh, had moved to in January to pursue higher education, according to his family.

Kartik was shot on Thursday evening at the Glen Road entrance to Sherbourne TTC station in St James Town. He was rushed to a hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.

"Kartik was just outside the Sherbourne subway station last Thursday when he was approached by a stranger...Unprovoked, this man shot Kartik multiple times, killing him," Toronto Police Service chief James Ramer told reporters.

The police identified the suspect as Richard Jonathan Edwin, who was charged with another homicide last Saturday.

Edwin's second victim was Elijah Eleazar Mahepath (35), who was walking westbound on the north side of Dundas Street East near George Street, police said.

Ramer told the reporters that the suspect behind both the homicides was in police custody and described the incidents as "random attacks".

Detective Sergeant Terry Browne of the Homicide Department, Toronto Police, said Kartik was shot "multiple times" and he was in a "defenceless position" the whole time.

On the motive, Browne said, "the suspect that we are referring to for both shootings, has no criminal background. We are doing a very deep dive to find out his criminal background, to find out who this person is, where he has been and who he has been associating with.

"With regard to the two victims, there is nothing to suggest that he knew either of them and more importantly what we believe at this stage anyways is what we do describe as random, a chance meeting, a chance passing and the reason only known to the suspect," he added.

In Ghaziabad near New Delhi, Kartik's father Jitesh Vasudev told PTI that he has been informed about the arrest by the Canadian police officials.

He said Kartik had spent the last three years studying hard to be accepted into the school in Toronto.

Kartik was particularly drawn to the safety and opportunities in Canada, his father said, adding that he had made friends and had just got a part-time job at the Mexican restaurant just two weeks ago.

The last time he and his wife spoke to their son was Thursday afternoon.

"He was a very polite, very sensitive, very loyal child. Everybody, family, friends, everybody loves him very much," the victim's father said.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar had expressed grief at the killing. "Grieved by this tragic incident. Deepest condolences to the family," he had tweeted.

"We are shocked & distressed at the unfortunate killing of Indian student Kartik Vasudev in a shooting incident in Toronto...," 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.

Seneca College said Kartik 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 his family, friends and classmates. Counselling support is being made available to students and employees.

Police had said the suspect in the shooting was a Black male standing five-foot-six to five-foot-seven inches tall with a medium build. This was city's 19th murder of the year.

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Telecoms network and 5G technology supplier says it will exit the Russian market due to Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.

The Espoo, Finland-based company said Tuesday it has been clear for since the early days of the invasion of Ukraine that continuing our presence in would not be possible.

said it has suspended deliveries, stopped new business and moved research and development activities out of in the past weeks.

The company said that accounted for less than 2% of Nokia's sales in 2021, and the exit decision will have no impact on its financial outlook this year.

It said that as we exit, we will aim to provide the necessary support to maintain the networks and are applying for the relevant licenses to enable this support in compliance with current sanctions.

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Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs Melanie Joly announced that is imposing new sanctions on Russian defence sector.

According to a news release issued on Monday by Foreign Affairs Ministry, these new measures will impose restrictions on 33 entities in the Russian defence sector, Xinhua news agency reported.

These entities have provided indirect or direct support to the Russian military, the news release said.

Since February 24 when the Russia-Ukraine conflict began, has imposed sanctions on more than 700 individuals and entities from Russia, Ukraine and Belarus. Canada's latest sanctions will impose asset freezes and prohibitions on listed entities, the release said.

--IANS

int/shs

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The US and the UK have said they are looking into reports that chemical weapons have been used by Russian forces attacking the Ukrainian port of Mariupol.

Ukraine's Azov regiment has said three soldiers were injured by "a poisonous substance" in an attack on Monday.

UK Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said officials were working to "urgently" investigate what she called "a callous escalation" of the war.

The called the potential use of the weapons "deeply concerning".

Western nations have warned that the use of chemical weapons would mark a dangerous escalation of the conflict and have pledged to take firm action if carries out such attacks.

Ukraine's Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Maliar said the government was investigating the allegations, adding that early assumptions suggested phosphorous ammunition had been used.

On Tuesday, pro-Russian separatist forces in Donetsk denied carrying out the attack.

The Azov battalion, which has been heavily involved in fighting in Mariupol and has strong ties to the far-right, wrote in a telegram post that Russian forces had dropped "a poisonous substance of unknown origin" during a drone attack at the city's large Azovstal metals plant.

It said that its fighters had suffered minor injuries, including shortness of breath.

One injured man described a "sweet-tasting" white smoke covering an area of the plant after an explosion. Another said he felt immediately unable to breathe and had collapsed with "cotton legs".

The reported incident -- which the BBC cannot independently verify -- came hours after a spokesperson for the Moscow-backed Donetsk People's Republic urged to bring in "chemical forces" to the besieged south-eastern city.

Eduard Basurin told Russian state TV the remaining Ukrainian forces in Mariupol were entrenched at the Azovstal plant and that should encircle it and "smoke out the moles".

Speaking on Monday evening, President Volodymyr Zelensky said any use of chemical weapons would mark a "new stage of terror against Ukraine" and called on Western nations to arm his forces with the weapons needed to defend his country.

"Unfortunately, we are not getting as much as we need to end this war sooner," Zelensky said.

"I am sure that we will get almost everything we need, but not only time is being lost. The lives of Ukrainians are being lost -- lives that can no longer be returned."

UK Defence Minister James Heappey ruled nothing out in terms of a Western response if a chemical attack was confirmed.

"There are some things that are beyond the pale, and the use of chemical weapons will get a response and all options are on the table for what that response could be," he said.

Earlier in March, US President Joe Biden said NATO "would respond" if Russia used chemical weapons in .

"The nature of the response would depend on the nature of the use," he added.

--IANS

int/khz/

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US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin on Monday hosted Indian Defense Minister at the Pentagon for talks on the developing defense partnership between the two nations.

Pentagon in a release said the topics of discussion will include the problems posed by China and Russia in the region and around the world. Later, they will move on to the State Department to join Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken and Indian Minister of External Affairs S. Jaishankar for the so-called "two-plus-two" talks.

"This meeting and upcoming two-plus-two dialogue are indeed important landmarks in our bilateral relationship," Singh said. "I am positive that our visit here shall take India- U.S. comprehensive strategic partnership to the next level."

"We're meeting at a critical moment in the US-India defense partnership," Austin told Singh at the beginning of their meeting. "And thanks to decades of hard work, we have built the foundation of one of the most important partnerships of this century."

According to the US Defence Department, India and the United States share the vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific. This international, rules-based structure has served the region and globe well since its adoption at the end of World War II. At its heart, this system is based on the rule of law and national sovereignty.

"We're facing urgent and mounting challenges to this shared vision," Austin said. "Across the region, the People's Republic of China is attempting to challenge and undermine the sovereignty of its neighbors."

The Chinese are constructing dual-use infrastructure along its border with India, and Chinese leaders continue to make unlawful claims in the South China Sea. The United States stands with India in defending their sovereign interests," Austin said.

"Beijing is not alone in its efforts to undermine the security of its neighbours and to change the status quo by force," he said. "Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the humanitarian devastation that it has created are blatant attempts to undermine the order that is grounded in the rules and the principles that we share."

India is the world's largest democracy, and India's leadership is central to this rules-based order, Austin said. "So too, is a US-India defense partnership and our collaboration with like-minded partners," he said. "We now coordinate alongside each other across the Indo-Pacific region and across domains, which is truly extraordinary. And we are committed to working seamlessly with you across new and emerging domains, including space and cyberspace.

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After the conclusion of the India-US 2 + 2 ministerial dialogue, Secretary of State said the United States and India are cooperating to deliver more food to the world market and make more fertilizer amid the shortage due to the Ukraine conflict.

"Our countries are working together to try to bring more food to world markets as well as to the World Food Program," Blinken said on Monday.

"The United States is also focused on securing more funding for the World Food Program and the UN Food and Agricultural Organization. And producing more fertilizer so that we can help others sustain crop fields in the future," he added.

Amid the Ukraine crisis, the UN's World Food Program has warned that this war will lead to spiraling food prices and exacerbating hunger across the world due to disrupted supply chains and derailed crops production.

According to several reports, regions such as Africa and the Middle East may suffer the most as they are dependent on inexpensive grain exports.

During a joint press conference with the Indian foreign minister and defence minister, Blinken noted the significant humanitarian aid that India is providing to the people of Ukraine. He also noted that India has made a strong statement on the killings of civilians in Ukraine.

"India has to make its own choice about how it approaches this challenge. We, as a general proposition, consulting with all our allies and allies partners on the consequences of (Russian President) Putin's war," the US Secretary of State said.

"In our judgement, it is important that all countries, especially those with leverage, press Putin to end this war. And democracies must stand together and speak with one voice to defend the values that we share," he added.

Blinken recognised that India's relationship with Russia has developed over decades, at a time when the United States was not able to be a partner to India. "Times have changed. Today, we are able and willing to be partner of choice with India across every realm."

On February 24, Russia launched a "special military operation" in Ukraine that the West has termed an unprovoked invasion. In response, the United States and its allies have imposed comprehensive sanctions against Russia.

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Telangana CM KCR talks to Kisan leader Rakesh Singh Tikait during the protest at TS Bhavan against Centrel Government's discriminatory policy on paddy procurement from Telangana Farmers in New Delhi on Monday, 11 Apr 2022. (Photo: D. Kamraj)

Hyderabad: Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader Rakesh Tikait on Monday extended support to the TRS government in its fight against the Centre over farmer issues, and joined the dharna along with Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao in Delhi at Telangana Bhavan.

Tikait was among the farmer leaders whose 13-month-long protests led to the withdrawal of the four controversial farm laws by the Centre last year.

Speaking at the dharna, Tikiat said that Telanganas protest in Delhi demanding paddy procurement was a matter of shame for the BJP-led Centre. He praised the Telangana governments initiatives for farmers like 24x7 free power, Rythu Bandhu, Rythu Bhima and said these should be replicated across the country.

He hoped that other Chief Ministers would take a cue from Chandrashekar Rao and stage protests in Delhi for the welfare of the farmers of their states.

Tikait stressed the need for launching another farmer agitation on the lines of the one against the Centre's farm laws. We demanded a law guaranteeing MSP (minimum support price) but the Centre says it is a state matter," he said.

There is a need for all Opposition parties to come together to fight against the anti-farmer and anti-people policies of the BJP government, in the manner all farmers unions came together to fight against the farm laws. Opposition parties should not fight over who should be the captain. We are all sailing on the ship and are in the middle of the sea.

Let us all work together to reach the shore first. If we fight in the middle of the sea, our ship will sink. We can think about who the captain must be when we reach the shore safely," Tikait said.

Explaining why he had joined the TRS dharna, Tikait said. "This is not a political platform, KCR is a farmer and he is not asking for votes. Any Chief Minister who fights for farmers issues, Samyukt Kisan Morcha will be with them.

The BJP government only knows to threaten rivals with CBI and ED raids. They only know to divide people on religion and gain votes. They should realise that farmers are not weak and will fight for their rights, Tikait said.

Tikait expressed his gratitude to the Telangana government for extending support to the farmers protest on the Delhi borders. "We are grateful that you have come to Delhi to protest on the farmers issues, he said.

He questioned the Centre on not providing free electricity to the farmers across the country like the Telangana government was doing in the state.

The Centre gives just Rs 6,000 financial assistance per year to farmers that too in three instalments and with so many restrictions.

The Telangana government gives Rs 10,000 per acre to every farmer without any restrictions. Why are these schemes not provided for the entire country, Tikait asked.
The benchmark indices were trading with modest losses during early afternoon trade, dragged by a selloff in metals, autos and IT scrips. The Nifty managed to hover above 17,500 mark.

At 12:30 IST, the barometer index, S&P BSE Sensex shed 495.25 points or 0.84% at 58,469.32. The Nifty 50 index dropped 172.30 points or 0.97% at 17,502.65.

The S&P BSE Mid-Cap index fell 1.41%. The S&P BSE Small-Cap index slipped 1.32%.

The market breadth, indicating the overall health of the market, was weak. On the BSE, shares 1,070 rose and 2,257 shares fell. A total of 102 shares were unchanged.

Buzzing Index:

The Nifty Auto index fell 1.04% to 10,768.60. The index lost 1.15% in two trading sessions.

Tata Motors (down 2.75%), Escorts (down 2.43%), Sona BLW Precision Forgings (down 1.93%), Bharat Forge (down 1.81%) and Bajaj Auto (down 1.71%) were the top losers in the Auto segment.

Tata Motors declined 2.75%. The Tata Motors Group global wholesales in Q4 FY22, including Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), were at 3,34,884, rising 2%, as compared to Q4 FY21. Global wholesales of all Tata Motors' commercial vehicles and Tata Daewoo range in Q4 FY22 stood at 1,22, 147, higher by 12%, over Q4 FY21. Global wholesales of all passenger vehicles in Q4 FY22 stood at 2, 12,737, falling 4% as compared to Q4 FY22. Global wholesales for Jaguar Land Rover were at 89,148 vehicles (JLR number for Q4 FY22 includes CJLR volumes of 12,622 units). Jaguar wholesales for the quarter stood at 19,570 vehicles, while Land Rover wholesales for the quarter were at 69,578 vehicles.

Stocks in Spotlight:

JSW Steel dropped 3.33%. The wholly-owned subsidiary of JSW Steel, JSW Utkal Steel, received the environmental clearance for setting up of Greenfield Integrated Steel Plant of 13.2 MTPA crude steel from the Union Ministry of Environment & Forest and Climate Change. The mega project will generate huge employment opportunities in the region, which in turn will boost the economy of Odisha. The capital expenditure for the modern, green and environment-friendly integrated steel plant (ISP) project is expected to be approx. Rs 65,000 crore including associated facilities. The phase-wise work for the project will start once the land is handed over to the company by the Government of Odisha.

Gufic Biosciences surged 9.28%. Gufic Biosciences received an approval from the Central Licensing Approving Authority, Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare for the manufacture, sale and distribution of Isavuconazonium Sulfate API and finished formulation Isavuconazole for Injection 200 mg/vial. Isavuconazole for Injection 200 mg/vial is indicated for the treatment of patients having 18 years of age and older for the treatment of Invasive Aspergillosis and Invasive Mucormycosis Isavuconazole is a systemic antifungal drug of triazole class.

Derivatives:

The NSE's India VIX, a gauge of market's expectation of volatility over the near term, fell 1.42% to 18.01. The Nifty 28 April 2022 futures were trading at 17,549, at a premium of 46.35 points as compared with the spot at 17,502.65.

The Nifty option chain for 28 April 2022 expiry showed maximum Call OI of 26.9 lakh contracts at the 18,000 strike price. Maximum Put OI of 32.7 lakh contracts was seen at 17,500 strike price.

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India and US reaffirmed their commitment to promote regional stability and rule of law at the fourth 2 plus 2 Ministerial Dialogue held in Washington last night. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar led the Indian delegation.

The dialogue enabled both sides to undertake a comprehensive review of cross-cutting issues in the India-US bilateral agenda related to Foreign Policy, Defense and Security.

Addressing the media after the talks, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said they had a meaningful talk which will help in maintaining and expanding India-US momentum. He said both nations have shared goals to achieve and it is great that the world's two biggest democracies share same views on almost all world issues. During the meeting, they also discussed assessments of Indian Ocean region and its neighbours.

Singh said they also discussed about terrorism being used as an instrument of statecraft against India. He said India's Department of Space and the US's Dept of Defence have finished a 'Space Situational Awareness' agreement.

An agreement on Defence Space and Defence Artificial Intelligence dialogues has also been reached. He added that many other initiatives and agreements which are in the discussion phase have been agreed to be expanded for progress in the scope and depth of India - US military engagements.

The Defence Minister said the 2 plus 2 Meeting will make India and US more capable to work in areas of mutual interest. He added that increasing cooperation will be important to accessing global economies and maintaining peace and security.

In his address to the media, External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar said a good part of his meeting with Secretary of State Antony Blinken went to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine that has many ramifications.

He pointed out that even countries far away are worrying about energy and food security, commodity prices and logistics disruption.

He said this comes on top of the consequences of the COVID pandemic and has raised awareness about the need for reliable and resilient supply chains. He stressed that the nature of globalization and usage of technology has brought to fore concerns of trust and transparency.

Dr Jaishankar also said that India has made a number of statements in UN, in Parliament and in other forums that India is against conflict, India is for dialogue and diplomacy, and for urgent cessation of violence. He said India is prepared to contribute in a notable way to these.

The External Affairs Minister stated that India buys some energy from Russia necessary for its energy security. He however added that India's purchases for the month would be less than what Europe does in an afternoon. He informed that ensuring a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific was also on the agenda. They spoke of developments in and around Afghanistan and conversations also covered the recent happenings in the Indian subcontinent.

Dr Jaishankar highlighted that strategic partnerships like those between India and US are built through shared interest, common values and constant nurturing. He said it is natural that each side will bring to the relationship their particular perspectives, experiences, and priorities.

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The wholly-owned subsidiary of JSW Steel, JSW Utkal Steel, received the environmental clearance for setting up of Greenfield Integrated Steel Plant of 13.2 MTPA crude steel from the Union Ministry of Environment & Forest and Climate Change.

The mega project will generate huge employment opportunities in the region, which in turn will boost the economy of Odisha. The capital expenditure for the modern, green and environment-friendly integrated steel plant (ISP) project is expected to be approx. Rs 65,000 crore including associated facilities. The phase-wise work for the project will start once the land is handed over to the company by the Government of Odisha. The project is one of the largest in the manufacturing sector in the country and Union Ministry of Environment & Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) accorded the environmental clearance (EC) after successful public hearings.

JSW Utkal Steel (JUSL) has earmarked budgets for social interventions under public health, education, skill development, social infrastructure, waste management, environment, drinking water, women empowerment and so on. Additionally, based on the environment impact assessment (EIA), the company has plans to incur expenditure for the environment protection and mitigation measures.

Shares of JSW Steel fell 1.82% to Rs 753.30 on BSE. JSW Steel is primarily engaged in the business of manufacturing and sale of Iron and Steel Products.

The company's consolidated net profit advanced 69.2% to Rs 4,516 crore on 74.3 % increase in net sales to Rs 37,462 crore in Q3 FY22 over Q3 FY21.

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Power stocks were trading with gains, with the S&P BSE Power index rising 68.4 points or 1.43% at 4849.04 at 09:51 IST.

Among the components of the S&P BSE Power index, Adani Green Energy Ltd (up 6.12%), Adani Transmission Ltd (up 5.78%), and Adani Power Ltd (up 0.22%), were the top gainers.

On the other hand, JSW Energy Ltd (down 3.37%), Tata Power Company Ltd (down 3.09%), and Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd (down 2.65%) moved lower.

At 09:51 IST, the S&P BSE Sensex was down 369.35 or 0.63% at 58595.22.

The Nifty 50 index was down 130.9 points or 0.74% at 17544.05.

The S&P BSE Small-Cap index was down 395.67 points or 1.32% at 29484.4.

The S&P BSE 150 Midcap Index index was down 133.79 points or 1.5% at 8782.78.

On BSE,885 shares were trading in green, 2065 were trading in red and 90 were unchanged.

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SPML Infra hit an upper circuit limit of 5% at Rs 69.45 after the company said it secured several arbitration awards worth Rs 712 crore from different clients in India.

SPML Infra said that it has secured several arbitration awards of cumulated amount of about Rs 712 crore (including interest upto 30 September 2019) for the projects from different clients in India.

The PSU clients, against whom the company has received the awards, have preferred to appeal the same, which are presently at various levels of hearing at the courts.

The company said it is confident of receiving the full amount of arbitral awards along with the interest upto the date of receipt in due course.

Further, SPML Infra added that it is in the final stages of filing several claims worth about Rs 3000 crore ($393.4 million). This is over and above the arbitral awards of about Rs 712 crore that are expected to be realized in due course of time.

Out of the aforesaid Rs 712 crore, there is a clarity on about Rs 287 crore which have been partly received by the company. It also expects further deposit of sizeable amounts as per the directions of the courts. The amount realized by the company will be used for the reduction of debts of the lenders.

Subhash Sethi, chairman, SPML Infra commented, "The arbitration awards are encouraging and we are really pleased that our project claims have been upheld in the arbitration process. The arbitrators have issued the orders on merits. Sometimes, the delays in land acquisitions, drawing approvals and unforeseen changes in contractual conditions with other pressing issues makes it difficult for the construction companies to execute the projects. We are very hopeful that our contract claims will be substantiated in future as well and with the proactive approach of our government, I anticipate that the arbitration process in our country will be streamlined with the amendment of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, and there should be a set limit of time to complete the exercise and grant the genuine claims to the contractors. The revised timelines as stipulated in the amendment of the Act, gives clear visibility to Company to realise the claims amounts through arbitration. It shall also help to settle the dues of the lenders much before the time estimated in the resolution plan and will help improve the realization value to the Lenders. However, the Company always prefers to settle the matter with mutual discussion with its clients."

SPML Infra is an infrastructure development company in India. It has executed over 650 projects in the area of drinking water, improved sewerage facilities, better municipal waste management, and lighting up homes.

SPML Infra reported net profit of Rs 1.09 crore in Q3 December 2021 as against net loss of Rs 27.42 crore in Q3 December 2020. Net sales fell 10.74% to Rs 276.01 crore in Q3 December 2021 over Q3 December 2020.

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The government has opened up access to booster shots to all individuals over 18. This decision in the face of a virus that continues to mutate and evade immunity is welcome but it is unfortunate that the government seems to have returned to its old way of thinking when it comes to distribution by refusing to issue boosters to the 18-60 age group through the public vaccination programme. The reasons the two doses of the regular vaccination course were made free apply with equal force to the booster dose, the top edit argues. Read it here

In other views:

Akash Prakash analyses whether the inversion of yield curves portends a downturn for the US economy. Read it here

R Gopalakrishnan warns of the pitfalls for lenders, investors and regulators when godmen combine the spiritual and the material in the form of business investments. Read it here

The second edit explains why the upholding of constitutional values in Pakistan may be encouraging but is unlikely to change the nature of politics in that country. Read it here




Delhi Chief Minister on Tuesday said his government will send senior citizens living in old age homes in the capital on pilgrimage free of cost.

The chief minister inaugurated the capital's fourth old age home "Baba Sahab Dr Bhim Rao Ambedkar Senior Citizen Home" at Kanti Nagar in East Delhi here.

"We hope our elderly never have to leave their home. But even if they have to due to some reason, we will do our best to make them happy. We will give them a homely environment here," he said.

He said Delhi has four old age homes now and five more will be ready soon.

Altogether, these nine facilities will be able to accommodate 1,000 senior citizens, the chief minister said.

"The Delhi government sends senior citizens on 'tirth yatra'. The yatra could not be held in 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic outbreak. But it has restarted now. We will send all senior citizens from old age homes on tirth yatra," he said.

Under the Mukhyamantri Tirth Yatra Yojana, senior citizens of Delhi can go on pilgrimages at the government's expense.

"I pray to god we do not have to build such homes, that the elderly get love in their home. But in case someone needs care, do not worry. I am your son and I will take care of you," the CM added.

Social Welfare Minister Rajendra Pal Gautam said a fifth facility for senior citizens is coming up in Paschim Vihar and will be ready in three months.

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If the tried to politicise a temple issue to strengthen the party, it would not succeed, Chief Minister said on Tuesday in the Assembly.

Stalin, speaking on an issue raised by MLA Vanathi Srinivasan, told her to concentrate more on issues that affected the poor people. He asked her to urge her party-led Central government to rein in spiralling petrol, diesel and cooking gas prices that affected the ordinary people.

Also, the Chief Minister said she should support the state's efforts towards getting funds due to from the Centre.

If her party tried to unnecessarily 'thrust politics' on the matter, which is before a court, it would never succeed, the Chief Minister asserted after Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Minister P K Sekar Babu spoke on the matter.

Earlier, when Vanathi Srinivasan raised an issue related to takeover of 'Ayodhya Mandapam' temple here (on April 11) by the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department, some remarks she made were expunged by Speaker M Appavu.

She said the action taken was not in compliance of norms. The 'Ayodhya Aswamedha Maha Mandapam' at West Mambalam here was run by Sri Ram Samaj.

Replying to her, Sekar Babu said that since 2004, complaints of irregularities in the Mandapam were received and an inquiry was held in 2013. The inquiry report said activities in the Mandapam shrine went against a provision of the HR and CE Act.

Subsequently, an HR and CE Executive Officer of a nearby temple was assigned to the shrine as 'Thakkar' (Roughly, 'fit person' to oversee temple's activities).

When the Samaj approached a court, an injunction was granted by it against the takeover of the Mandapam by the HR and CE department years ago.

The recent court judgment upheld the appointment of Thakkar, the Minister said.

When officials went to the Mandapam to implement the order, it was resisted and stones were pelted on HR and CE officials.

Later, in the presence of the Tahsildar, the Samaj's administration was taken over by the HR and CE through the fit person.

Sekar Babu said a group fleeced devotees for spiritual services like conduct of 'Homam' (Havan). The Minister made it clear that the government has only implemented the court order.

The Samaj has gone on appeal against the takeover by HR and CE department and the matter is in court.

(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 Congress on Tuesday launched a scathing attack on the BJP over the death of Santosh Patil, a contractor who levelled corruption charges against K S Eshwarappa, and demanded an FIR against the minister and an independent probe into the incident.

Former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi accused the prime minister and the chief minister of being complicit in the contractor's death, saying that the victim's pleas to them went unanswered.

"BJP's 40% Commission Government in has claimed the life of their own Karyakarta. The victim's pleas to the PM went unanswered. The PM and CM are complicit. #BJPCorruptionFiles (sic)," Gandhi said on Twitter.

Patil was found dead in a hotel room in Udupi on Tuesday morning. He had earlier accused Karnataka Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister Eshwarappa of demanding 40 per cent commission in a public work executed by him. The minister not only dismissed his allegations but also filed a defamation suit against him.

Congress general secretary and chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai should lodge an FIR of murder and corruption against the minister and dismiss him, otherwise Bommai's complicity is clear.

"The CM and PM should Lodge an FIR of Murder and Corruption against the BJP Minister. Arrest the Minister. Dismiss him as a Minister. Conduct an independent probe. Otherwise, it will be clear that CM Bommai is complicit in the alleged corruption (sic)," Surjewala said on Twitter.

"Dear Friends of the BJP, At least show guts to speak for a fellow BJP worker! The wife of BJP Worker, Late Santosh Patil is crying and telling how she had to sell her jewellery to fulfil the insatiable lust of Corruption. Will Sh. J.P. Nadda speak up (sic)?" he asked.

Eshwarappa has turned down the demand of the opposition Congress seeking his resignation.

Chief Minister Bommai said the police will conduct a thorough and transparent investigation into the contractor's death. He also ruled out any resignations in this regard.

Surjewala alleged that the "stench of corruption in 40% Commission Bommai Government, Karnataka has reached its nadir".

"Even BJP workers are not spared and are forced to commit suicide as the CM and PM refuse to act upon allegations of 40% Commission against BJP Minister, Eshwarappa," the Congress leader alleged.

Karnataka Congress president D K Shivakumar also alleged that "it's a murder, not suicide. If the BJP has any shame they will immediately arrest the minister."



"I demand an immediate time-bound judicial inquiry into the alleged suicide' of Santosh Patil," Shivakumar said in a tweet.

He said a businessman who had publicly alleged that BJP leaders and ministers were asking for bribes has been suspiciously found dead.

"Corruption is at an all time high under the BJP rule," he alleged.

"The unease of doing business in Karnataka is such that private companies don't want to invest in the state. This is one of the reasons why we have high unemployment rate. Job creators are harassed by BJP's corruption demands," the state Congress chief said.

Meanwhile, a group of Congress workers protested outside the residence of Eshwarappa in Bengaluru, demanding his resignation.

(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: The TRS first dharna in Delhi after Telangana statehood ticked all the right boxes for TRS leaders and cadres.

The highlight of the show was TRS president and Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao speaking fluently in Hindi for about 30 minutes, which they believed would take his message across the Hindi-speaking belt.

They said the reach of the Hindi speech made up for the lack of senior leaders from regional or national parties at the dharna venue. His oratory in Hindi would help him emerge as a key national leader in Delhi and his leadership skills and connection with people of the northern states  something that southern leaders lack  were additional benefits, they said.

The CM terming Union food minister Piyush Goyal as Piyush Golmal frequently in his speech evoked a huge response. The CM's announcement that he would frequently visit Delhi to unite like-minded parties against the BJP-led government at the Centre enthused party leaders and cadre.

The venue reverberated with slogans of Desh ki Neta KCR as the CM took on the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Modi can play games with anyone but he should not dare to play games with farmers, the CM said, to wild applause.

Accompanied by farmer leader Rakesh Tikait, the CM sat on dharna at 11.10 am and concluded the programme in 90 minutes. Minister Harish Rao, MP J. Santosh Kumar, ministers and MPs sat on the dais along with the CM while IT minister K.T. Rama Rao, MLC K. Kavitha and others were with party MLAs, MLCs and others.
India and on Tuesday held wide ranging discussions on major issues related to the and North region, including political, security, economic and trade dimensions.

The discussions were held as part of the first ever consultations between India and on the and North Region in virtual mode.

They were co-chaired by Ambassador Anne Gueguen, Director of Middle East and North Directorate, Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, France, and Pradeep Singh Rajpurohit, Joint Secretary (WANA), MEA.

The two sides had wide ranging discussions on respective priorities, areas of mutual interest and exchanged views on major issues including political, security, economic, and trade dimensions of the and North Africa region, the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement.

Both sides agreed to further strengthen their cooperation in the region and to continue the discussions periodically, it said.

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India, which faces a "very tense situation" along the Line of Actual Control with China, has concerns about the "tight links" between and and it is going to influence its thinking while taking decisions on global issues, a senior US official has said.

The comments came during a press call by the senior administration official on President Joe Biden's virtual meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday.

"What I'll say is that Prime Minister Modi took the opportunity to share his views in a pretty candid way about what's going on," the official said.

"We know that has concerns - we know that India has concerns about the links between and . India, of course, is facing a very tense situation along the Line of Actual Control. And when India sees the tight links between and Russia, that's obviously going to impact their thinking," the official said.

The official was responding to a question on whether Biden specifically asked India to take a side on the Ukraine crisis.

"Whether there was - there was no sort of concrete ask and concrete answer, but the leaders were able to step back and have a pretty detailed and candid exchange of views," the official said.

The official said that Biden "took the opportunity to continue the close consultations we've been having with India at a number of different levels across our government and over the course of many weeks on Russia's brutal war against Ukraine".

"So, India is going to make its own judgments. Prime Minister Modi brought up the situation, again, in his public remarks, and there was discussion. I mean, the President shared his views, and Prime Minister Modi shared his views," the official said.

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. Unlike its Quad partner countries, India has not yet condemned the Russian invasion of Ukraine and it abstained from the votes at the UN platforms on the Russian aggression.

India has been pressing for an immediate cessation of violence in Ukraine and seeking a resolution of the crisis through diplomacy and dialogue.

"The US and India are partnering and consulting on mitigating the most destabilising impacts, both on global food supply and other commodity markets," the official added.

In recent days India made some "pretty strong statements in New York condemning the killings of civilians, supporting calls for an independent investigation", the official said.

"India is also providing humanitarian relief material to Ukraine, including medicine and other supplies," the official added. On India's energy purchases, the official said, "We don't think India should accelerate or increase imports of Russian energy. And the US is ready to support India, remain in a conversation with India about its diversification of imports.

(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 is monitoring some recent "concerning developments" in India including a rise in abuses by some government officials, Secretary of State has said, insisting that America regularly engages with its Indian partners on shared democratic values.

Blinken made these remarks at a joint news conference with Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin and their Indian counterparts - External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh - after the conclusion of the 2+2 Ministerial on Monday here.

"We are monitoring some recent concerning developments in India, including a rise in abuses by some government, police, and prison officials, Blinken said in his opening remarks.

However, he did not provide any other details.

"We share a commitment to our democratic values, such as protecting . We regularly engage with our Indian partners on these shared values, Blinken said.

India has previously rejected criticism by foreign governments and human rights groups on allegations that civil liberties have eroded in the country.

The Indian government has asserted that India has well-established democratic practices and robust institutions to safeguard the rights of all.

The government has emphasised that the Indian Constitution provides for adequate safeguards under various statutes for ensuring the protection of human rights.

(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 data watchdog in the is launching a probe into after a former senior woman engineer claimed the tech giant accessed smartphones of its employees via the Face ID feature.

In a complaint filed with the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO), the whistleblower Ashley Gjovik alleged the tech giant fired her after she raised a number of concerns, internally and publicly, including over the safety of the workplace.

She alleged that is "pressuring its employees to participate in invasive data collection procedures, including scans of ears/ear canals".

The ICO and France's CNIL confirmed receipt of Gjovik's privacy complaint against Apple, reports TechCrunch.

"We are aware of this matter and we will assess the information provided," am ICO spokesperson said.

Gjovik also claimed that used an app on employees' iPhones that "automatically took photos/videos whenever it 'thought it saw a face'".

She was fired from the company last September after she raised concerns about her employer's approach toward staff privacy.

A pair of ex-Apple employees who made headlines last year for leading a whistleblower movement against the company have since become embroiled in a bizarre legal fight, accusing each other of harassment and stalking.

Gjovik and another ex-Apple employee Cher Scarlett co-founded a whistleblower campaign called #AppleToo last tear.

While Scarlett focused on pay equity, remote work and transparency issues at Apple, Gjovik raised concerns at Apple's privacy policies.

Apple was yet to comment on the latest reports.

--IANS

na/svn/

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From risotto to Iranian pulao, Indian Basmati has been an essential part of recipes savoured in different parts of the world for ages. is popular due to its long grains, distinctive texture, and rich fragrance. People world over swear by its taste. In India too, biryani or matar pulao cannot be imagined without basmati. All of this has made one of India's oldest anchors in farm exports. Its main producing regions are the states of Punjab and Haryana, along with the foothills of the Himalayas. India is still the worlds largest exporter of basmati. But, its export is now coming down. India clocked the highest-ever agriculture exports of over 50 billion dollars in FY22. But for the third consecutive year, exports of saw a fall over the previous year in value terms. This fact has been highlighted by the provisional figures. In 2021-22, India exported 3.53 billion dollars worth of Basmati rice, the lowest since 2019-20. Experts have told Business Standard that the reasons for the continued fall in exports include the loss of the traditional market of Iran due to US sanctions. Shipments to Iran plunged 26% from a year ago to 834,458 tonnes. It was mostly because Irans rupee reserves dwindled.

APEDA Chairman M Angamuthu told Business Standard that in some areas, due to an increase in minimum support price, the Basmati acreage had been overtaken by non-Basmati rice.

In the last three years, around 20 per cent area has shifted from Basmati to non-Basmati rice in these regions. This is due to reduced price differentials.

Fungicide problems in the European Union is also a big contributing factor.

Trade policy analyst S Chandrasekaran told Business Standard that Basmati sales to the EU had dropped to 150,000-200,000 tonnes from 500,000 tonnes a year.

One of the most common Basmati rice varieties produced in India does not qualify for duty rebate from the EU.

Adding another blow to Basmati export, Oman, Egypt, Jordan, UAE, and Saudi Arabia adopted pesticide residue norms in 2021 that were on par with those in the EU.

This had led to apprehensions that if Indian farmers were not given time to bring about changes in their pesticide use, would take a big hit due to these stringent norms.

Indias to the EU have been falling since the region tightened its pesticide residue norms in 2017.

But, on the other hand, overall rice export has seen a big jump. India is the world's biggest rice exporter. It exports non-Basmati rice to African countries and Basmati to the Middle East.

According to a report, India's total rice exports saw a jump of nearly 46 per cent in 2021 from a year ago to a record 21.42 million tonnes. The jump came as Bangladesh, China and Vietnam increased purchases.

Also, the existing challenges in the EU and the possibly new ones in West Asia by no way mean that the appetite for Basmati is dwindling.

Basmati is one of India's signature food items. Efforts should be made to revive its exports, especially since much of the market is slowly shifting towards Pakistan, Indias primary rival in the global Basmati trade.

But experts point out that the export may pick up soon. Recently Latin America opened its doors to Indian Basmati rice for the first time ever. Talks between Iran and the US on nuclear agreement also offer hope. If they reach an agreement and sanctions against Iran are lifted, export of Indian Basmati to Tehran will re-start.

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Tata Group firm TCS began the March quarter results season for companies yesterday. On an aggregate basis, brokerages expect the combined net profit of the companies in the 50-pack index to grow by 29% on a year-on-year basis to an all-time high of Rs 1.61 trillion, from around Rs 1.25 trillion a year ago.

The combined net sales of the index companies, meanwhile, is expected to grow by 32 per cent YoY to Rs 14.18 trillion in Q4FY22 from Rs 10.76 trillion a year ago.

A large part of this growth, analysts say, would be driven by the banking, finance and insurance -- or BFSI -- companies.

Banks, in particular, are expected to put up an impressive Q4 show with systemic loan growth seen in double digits and asset quality staying stable.

Deepak Jasani of HDFC Securities, too, says that investors need not worry about the banking sectors earnings this time.

Analysts peg net interest income, pre-provision operating profit, and net profit growth for the entire sector at 19%, 6%, and 93% year-on-year.

Industry credit loans, meanwhile, may swell nearly 13% year-on-year driven by growth across segments, particularly in unsecured retail, SME and housing finance segments.

If one were to analyse the sector in terms of private and public banks, analysts at Kotak Institutional Equities expect the private players under their coverage to report about 21% year-on-year and 6 per cent sequential growth in net interest income.

Improvement in profit after tax, meanwhile, is seen at 86% year-on-year and 6% quarter on quarter led by Bandhan (up 978% year-on-year), RBL (226% year-on-year), ICICI (64 per cent year-on-year), and Axis Bank (51% year-on-year).

Public sector banks, on the other hand, are likely to experience continued traction in their operating performances, supported by recovery in business growth, and a sustained reduction in provisions.

Slippages could continue to subside, which along with healthy recoveries, would reinforce the asset quality performance.

Overall, PSBs are likely to deliver net interest income growth of around 20 per cent. PAT growth is seen at 100% year-on-year and 19 per cent quarter on quarter led by Canara Bank (up 100% year-on-year), Punjab National Bank (up 98% year-on-year), and State Bank of India (up 66%).

That said, while analysts believe forward flow into the delinquency bucket would likely be restricted in Q4FY22, analysts expect behaviour of ECLGS lending pool and restructured portfolio would be key to watch.

In nutshell, Q4FY22 will likely be characterised by stability and normalisation after several quarters of volatility. NIMs, slippages and credit cost are likely to remain stable. Recoveries and upgrades may also outpace fresh slippages and gross NPAs could decline.

On Tuesday, will react to TCS Q4 results, which were announced after market hours on Monday. That apart, Anand Rathi Wealth and GM Breweries will be among the six companies set to announce their March quarter results today.

Among macro triggers, the domestic Index of Industrial Production (IIP), along with Consumer Price Index (CPI) reading for both India and the US will be released later today.
Pret A Manger is set to expand into the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland for the first time after an agreement of terms were reached with franchise partner Carebrook Partnership Ltd. Through the partnership, 20 Pret shops will be established across the island of Ireland over the next decade, creating approximately 500 jobs, with the first shop set to open on Dawson Street in Dublin this summer, creating 25 jobs in the city.



The franchise agreement follows Prets announcement last year that it would aim to double the size of the business within five years, including launching into five new markets by the end of 2023. As part of Prets expansion, it is rolling out a recruitment programme, aiming to hire at least 3,000 Team Members and baristas globally.



Chief Executive Officer at Pret A Manger, Pano Christou said, "Setting up shop in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland has been our plan for a long time, and were thrilled that were finally able to make it happen. There has long been demand from our neighbours on the island of Ireland to bring Prets freshly prepared food and organic coffee, and now with the backing of Carebrook Partnership Ltd were able to do so. We look forward to making this partnership a success."



CEO of Carebrook Partnership Ltd, Gerard Loughran added, "Weve been working with Pret for over three decades, ever since they arrived in London. Having grown up in Tipperary, and with more than two decades of experience in the hospitality and food industry, Ive always wanted to bring Pret to Ireland and Northern Ireland, so Im delighted that this will soon become a reality alongside my co-owner Ray, who has great connections and links to the food sector in Dublin with 25 years experience. We look forward to welcoming our new customers, soon."

Source: www.businessworld.ie
The Irish retail sector could be the next industry to face a serious and damaging staffing crisis, something akin to that currently being suffered in the hospitality sector. This is according to a new study by Excel Recruitment which shows the trajectory of job postings for the retail sector is on a consistent upward trend, having more than doubled from 1,578 in February 2021 to 4,258 in February 2022.



Excel Recruitment is advising retail employers throughout the country about the necessary steps they can take to mitigate this shortage and make their industry a more attractive prospect for workers.



Between 2019 and 2021, the number of retail job seekers per retail job vacancy had been increasing year on year. However, since then it has dipped significantly and in February 2022 there were 39 job seekers per job, down from 78 job seekers per job in February 2021. Furthermore, the number of employers with active retail job vacancies has now nearly tripled in the 12 months to February 2022 when it stood at 1,360 employers - up from 488 employers in February 2021.



Commenting on the research, Director of Fashion and Non-Food at Excel Recruitment, Aislinn Lea said, "Over the course of the pandemic, many people were out of work and/or on reduced hours  they had more time on their hands to really look at their careers, their lives, and what they want from both. As a result, weve seen thousands of workers change careers, upskill in their current industry, and/or just make the decision to strive for a better work-life balance."

She added, "That dynamic, combined with the fact that the industry has also missed out on approximately two years of new candidate intakes - due to workers either leaving the sector during Covid because of lockdowns and working restrictions, or indeed leaving the country - has left supply as a major issue, which continues to deteriorate."



Source: www.businessworld.ie
While Highpoint Auto and Truck Center GMC and Dons Auto Clinic Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram will change their name to Betten Baker, they will retain part ownership by partners Tod Winkle and Tracy Winkle, who also will continue to oversee the day-to-day operations of the dealerships.
All those who believe in the institutions and processes of democracy but rue their fast degradation can take heart in the statement of Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla that laws must be enacted only after thorough debate and discussion. The Speaker made the observation, underscoring the fact that laws ought to incorporate the needs of the aspirational sections of society at an important forum: the India region conference of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association the other day. Mr Birla also noted that India offered an effective, accountable and living example of a functioning democracy and that the world looks at us for directions.

The Speakers words must be taken seriously by both the government and the Opposition not only at the Centre but also in states. Indian democracy has thrived basically because the highest law-making bodies  whether they are the two houses of Parliament to the state Assemblies  have represented every section of society, and hence resonated with their aspirations in all the possible hues. The government of the day would get its business done but not before it is put to scrutiny.

But the system is now witnessing a change, for the worse. The Lok Sabha which Mr Birla presides over has witnessed the sight of key legislation that has the power to alter the destiny of the people being passed in a huff. The law that abrogated Article 370 was passed in a day in both houses of Parliament; the three bills that sought to rewrite the Indian farming system were never allowed to go through the usual motions, causing the agitating farmers to later reject the offer of the government to discuss it clause by clause. That discussion should have happened in Parliament, they had told the government. In a way, the Speaker was articulating the very same position, though in a different way. The legislature must return to its original business: discuss, debate and legislate. The Speakers plain speaking must have its resonance in all the legislatures, lest they are stripped of their role in democracy.
Embattled coal giant Chongqing Energy Investment Group Co. Ltd. and 15 of its subsidiaries have filed a court petition for restructuring on Monday, a major step in the companys march toward bankruptcy reorganization in the wake of debt difficulties that emerged early last year.

The company is now waiting for the courts approval to bring in third-parties to help it negotiate with its creditors, according to an exchange filing (link in Chinese) by its listed entity, Chongqing Gas Group Corp. Ltd. (600917.SH).
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
The reports emanating from Washington have it that India has not only made its independent stand on the Ukraine war known but also succeeded in justifying its actions thus far. It is moot whether a few million barrels of Russian crude are worth more than taking an unequivocal stand on the morality of invasions and war. There is a moral equivalence to Indias stand but it did condemn the atrocities in Bucha without naming the aggressor though calling for an independent probe meant the perpetrator had been named. This may have mollified the US after President Joe Biden had admonished India on its shaky stand earlier.

Significantly, the US seems to have been satisfied that strategic and trade ties, considered to be historically high currently, can be taken even further considering there are far bigger issues like the geopolitics of South Asia and the Indo-Pacific and Indias role in it as a member of Quad. The bonhomie at the highest level of interaction between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Biden represents a victory for diplomacy and as well as an acknowledgement of Indias place in global affairs. Washington did, however, leave it to those just below the President to tell India off at least for its human rights violations and certain discriminatory practices.

The US message regarding the need to go easy on purchase of Russian oil may have been countered cheekily by the foreign ministers comment on how much European countries are buying in an afternoon as their daily purchases were surpassing a billion euros a day even in April. But India must consider issues beyond energy security interests, primarily that the US and the West were far bigger trading partners with their markets representing vital geo-economic interests India cannot ignore. Nor can India get sucked as a minor player in a China-Russia axis in the name of resisting the sanctions of the West on a warmonger in Russias Vladimir Putin.

The worldview of all nations may be narrowly focused on the Ukraine situation now but the most positive outcome of the 2+2 ministerial dialogue held on the same day as the Modi-Biden virtual meeting was the promising offer of the US, conveyed by Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, to treat India as a valuable strategic partner with whom it shares democratic values. The key phrase may have been times have changed for the US seeking to be an able and willing partner across commerce, technology, education and security.

The strength of the bond of future ties may be determined by whether India recognises that times have indeed changed or keeps harping on its dependence on Russia for its security needs. Also, the economical values of Russian arms purchases cannot be the sole reason to compromise strategic autonomy. The question of the purchase of S-400 missiles getting a US waiver is still hanging and it may test the emerging strong ties.

The offers made in the 2+2 dialogue call for quicker evaluation and decisions more than the cleverness of a couple of days supply of cheap crude which entail higher cost in refining. India is at a crossroads so far as redefining its relationships and balancing its strategic neutrality against its geo-economic interests. Drawing conclusions from a study of the larger picture might serve the long-term objectives better. The criticism of Democrats on human rights should be taken in stride and not be allowed to cloud geostrategic judgement.
Feature: "New connections" -- China bridges gap in Maldives' hottest growth spot

Xinhua) 12:42, April 12, 2022

Aerial photo taken on March 30, 2022 shows a bridge built by the China State Construction Engineering Corporation (CSCEC) in Hulhumale, Maldives. It all started a few years ago with the China-Maldives Friendship Bridge. Built with support from China, the opening of the bridge meant that for the first time, people could walk from capital Male to the neighboring island of Hulhumale. (CSCEC/Handout via Xinhua)

MALE, April 11 (Xinhua) -- It all started a few years ago with the China-Maldives Friendship Bridge. Built with support from China, the opening of the bridge meant that for the first time, people could walk from capital Male to the neighboring island of Hulhumale.

Today, five beautiful bridges built by the China State Construction Engineering Corporation (CSCEC) have transformed communications in the tropical island paradise. While the Friendship Bridge made the Maldivians' dream of a bridge across the sea come true, the five bridges in Hulhumale are described in local media as "opening a new chapter for the city."

"The China-Maldives Friendship Bridge has ended the history of having to travel by boat from Male to Hulhumale, while the newly opened five bridges have solved my commuting problem between Hulhumale phase I and phase II," said Uzair Abdulla Uwais, a fashion designer.

"I feel very glad to see that this small but beautiful project has brought so much happiness to local people. I expect the bridges will drive the flourishing development of business, culture, tourism and economy in the surrounding area," said Zhang Tao, general manager of the CSCEC branch in the Maldives.

Hulhumale, northeast of Male, is a man-made island constructed by pumping sand from the seabed and built partly as a response to rising sea levels. The first settlement on the island was inaugurated in 2004.

The five bridges are on the waterway between Hulhumale Phases I and II. Four small bridges rise like rainbows above the waves connecting the busiest parts of town, while a fifth bridge has a more sightseeing function, joining the tourism section of Phase II with other areas.

Hulhumale is the most important emerging city in the country, with 7,000 housing units built in Phase II.

Saeed Ahmed, who has worked in Phase I for many years, was lucky enough to become a resident of the housing project last year and his housing conditions greatly improved.

"The traffic between Hulhumale Phase I and Phase II used to be difficult, I had to run to work every day, and for usual shopping, merchants are not very willing to offer home delivery service."

"It was difficult to get from Phase I to Phase II and back, a trip I made at least once a day," Ahmed said, before the bridges opened, he had to cross every day on wooden planks, which were slippery in rainy days.

In order to improve local commute as soon as possible, the CSCEC overcame the adverse effects of high temperature, high humidity and the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure that the project was completed and delivered on schedule. The five bridges have been opened one after another since the end of last year, greatly facilitating the travel of local people.

To Uwais, the bridges are already a popular destination even for wedding photographs. Known locally as the "dream bridges to happiness," they provide something new for visitors exploring the islands. "With these five bridges, Phase II has become more popular," he said.

Aerial photo taken on March 24, 2022 shows bridges built by the China State Construction Engineering Corporation (CSCEC) in Hulhumale, Maldives. It all started a few years ago with the China-Maldives Friendship Bridge. Built with support from China, the opening of the bridge meant that for the first time, people could walk from capital Male to the neighboring island of Hulhumale. (CSCEC/Handout via Xinhua)

Aerial photo taken on March 24, 2022 shows bridges built by the China State Construction Engineering Corporation (CSCEC) in Hulhumale, Maldives. It all started a few years ago with the China-Maldives Friendship Bridge. Built with support from China, the opening of the bridge meant that for the first time, people could walk from capital Male to the neighboring island of Hulhumale. (CSCEC/Handout via Xinhua)

Aerial photo taken on March 24, 2022 shows a bridge built by the China State Construction Engineering Corporation (CSCEC) in Hulhumale, Maldives. It all started a few years ago with the China-Maldives Friendship Bridge. Built with support from China, the opening of the bridge meant that for the first time, people could walk from capital Male to the neighboring island of Hulhumale. (CSCEC/Handout via Xinhua)

People pass through a bridge built by the China State Construction Engineering Corporation (CSCEC) in Hulhumale, Maldives, Jan. 7, 2022. It all started a few years ago with the China-Maldives Friendship Bridge. Built with support from China, the opening of the bridge meant that for the first time, people could walk from capital Male to the neighboring island of Hulhumale. (Xinhua/Tang Lu)

Aerial photo taken on March 24, 2022 shows a bridge built by the China State Construction Engineering Corporation (CSCEC) in Hulhumale, Maldives. It all started a few years ago with the China-Maldives Friendship Bridge. Built with support from China, the opening of the bridge meant that for the first time, people could walk from capital Male to the neighboring island of Hulhumale. (CSCEC/Handout via Xinhua)

People enjoy view on a bridge built by the China State Construction Engineering Corporation (CSCEC) in Hulhumale, Maldives, Jan. 7, 2022. It all started a few years ago with the China-Maldives Friendship Bridge. Built with support from China, the opening of the bridge meant that for the first time, people could walk from capital Male to the neighboring island of Hulhumale. (Xinhua/Tang Lu)

(Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun)
A policeman examinares the corpse of a man killed during the war with Russia in Bucha, in the outskirts of Kyiv, Ukraine, Monday, April 11, 2022. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)

Kyiv: Six weeks of brutal Russian siege have left more than 10,000 civilians dead in the southern port city of Mariupol and corpses carpeted through the streets, the mayor of that cut-off city said, as the West warned that a Russian convoy and other troops and weapons were on the move for a suspected planned Russian assault in Ukraine's east.

Mariupol has been the site of some of the heaviest attacks and civilian suffering in the 6-week-old war, but the land, sea and air assaults by Russian forces fighting to capture it have increasingly limited information on circumstances inside the city.

Speaking by phone Monday with The Associated Press, Mariupol Mayor Vadym Boychenko accused Russian forces of having blocked weeks of attempted humanitarian convoys into the city in part to conceal the carnage there from the outside world. Boychenko said the death toll there could surpass 20,000.

Boychenko also gave new details of allegations by Ukrainian officials in recent weeks that Russian forces have brought mobile cremation equipment to Mariupol to dispose of the corpses of victims of the siege.

Russian forces have taken many bodies to a huge shopping center where there are storage facilities and refrigerators, Boychenko said.

Mobile crematoriums have arrived in the form of trucks: You open it, and there is a pipe inside and these bodies are burned, he said.

Boychenko spoke from a location in Ukrainian-controlled territory but outside Mariupol. The mayor said he had several sources for his description of the alleged methodical burning of bodies by Russian forces in the city, but did not further detail the sources of his information.

The discovery of large numbers of apparently executed civilians after Russian forces retreated from cities and towns around the capital, Kyiv, this month already has prompted widespread condemnation and charges from Ukrainians and from Western leaders that Russia is committing war crimes in Ukraine.

Elsewhere, U.S. officials point to new signs that Russia's military is gearing up for a major offensive in Ukraine's eastern Donbas region, switching its focus after Russian forces failed in their initial drive to capture Kyiv.

Donbas has been torn by fighting between Russian-allied separatists and Ukrainian forces since 2014, and separatists there have declared independent states. Military strategists say Russian leaders appear to hope for more local support and logistics and terrain in Donbas that favor Russia's larger and better-armed military, potentially allowing Russian troops to gain more territory and weaken Ukraine's fighting forces.

Russia has appointed a seasoned general to lead its renewed push in the eastern Donbas region.

A senior U.S. defense official on Monday described a long Russian convoy now rolling toward the eastern city of Izyum with artillery, aviation and infantry support, as part of redeployment for what appears to be the looming Russian campaign.

More artillery is being deployed near the city of Donetsk, while ground combat units that withdrew from around the Kyiv and Chernihiv areas appear destined for refitting and resupplying before they position in Donbas, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss internal U.S. military assessments.

With their offensive in many parts of the country thwarted, Russian forces have relied increasingly on bombarding cities  a strategy that has flattened many urban areas and killed thousands of people.

The U.N. children's agency said nearly two-thirds of all Ukrainian children have fled their homes in the six weeks since Russia's invasion began. The United Nations has verified that 142 children have been killed and 229 injured, though the actual numbers are likely much higher.

Ukrainian authorities accuse Russian forces of committing atrocities, including a massacre in the town of Bucha, outside Kyiv, airstrikes on hospitals and a missile attack that killed at least 57 people last week at a train station.

In Bucha, the work of exhuming bodies from a mass grave in a churchyard resumed.

Galyna Feoktistova waited for hours in the cold and rain in hopes of identifying her 50-year-old son, who was shot and killed more than a month ago, but eventually she went home for some warmth. He's still there, her surviving son, Andriy, said.

In Mariupol, about 120,000 civilians are in dire need of food, water, warmth and communications, the mayor said.

Only those residents who have passed the Russian filtration camps are released from the city, Boychenko said.

Ukrainian officials say Russian troops are confiscating passports from Ukrainian citizens, then moving them to filtration camps in Ukraine's separatist-controlled east before sending them to distant, economically depressed areas in Russia.

Boychenko said Monday that those who did not pass the filtering" have been moved to improvised prisons. He put the number of people taken to Russia or separatist territory in Ukraine at 33,000 or more.

Russian has denied moving people against their will.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned Ukrainians that Russia might use chemical weapons in Mariupol. We take this as seriously as possible, Zelenskyy said in his nightly address Monday.

Western leaders warned even before Russian troops moved into Ukraine that Russia could resort to unconventional weapons there, particularly chemical agents.

A Russia-allied separatist official, Eduard Basurin, appeared to urge their use Monday, telling Russian state TV that Russian-backed forces should seize a giant metals plant in Mariupol from Ukrainian forces by first blocking all the exits out of the factory. And then we'll use chemical troops to smoke them out of there, he said.

A Ukrainian regiment, without evidence, also claimed Monday that a drone had dropped a poisonous substance in Mariupol. It indicated there were no serious injuries.

Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said in a statement that the U.S. could not confirm the drone report out of Mariupol. But Kirby noted the administration's persistent concerns about Russia's potential to use a variety of riot control agents, including tear gas mixed with chemical agents, in Ukraine.

Russian forces will likely try to encircle the Donbas region from the north and the south as well as the east, said retired British Gen. Richard Barrons, co-chair of the U.K.-based strategic consulting firm Universal Defence & Security Solutions.

The ground in that part of Ukraine is flatter, more open and less wooded  so the Ukrainian ambush tactics used around Kiev may be less successful, Barrons said.

As to the outcome, it's finely balanced right now, Barrons said. If the Russians learned from their previous failures, concentrated more force, connected their air force to ground forces better and improved their logistics, he said, then they might start to overwhelm the Ukrainian positions eventually, although I still think it would be a battle of enormous attrition.

Questions remain about the ability of depleted and demoralized Russian forces to conquer much ground, after determined Ukrainian defenders repelled their advance on Kyiv.

Britain's Defense Ministry said Monday that Ukraine has already beaten back several assaults by Russian forces in the eastern Donetsk and Luhansk regions  they make up the Donbas  resulting in the destruction of Russian tanks, vehicles and artillery.

Western military analysts say Russia's assault increasingly is focusing on an arc of territory stretching from Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city, in the north, to Kherson in the south.

A residential area in Kharkiv was struck by incoming fire on Monday afternoon. Associated Press journalists saw firefighters putting out the fire and checking for victims following the attack, and saw that at least five people had been killed, including a child.

Oleh Synyehubov, the regional governor of Kharkiv, said earlier Monday that Russian shelling had killed 11 people over the last 24 hours.
FILE - In this Nov. 10, 2016, file photo, a "missing" sign for Redding, Calif., resident Sherri Papini is seen near the location where the mother of two is initially believed to have gone missing while jogging. In March 2022, Papini was arrested on charges of faking her own kidnapping in 2016. She signed a plea deal on Tuesday, April 12, 2022 , in which she will plead guilty of lying to a federal officer and mail fraud, her attorney, William Portanova, first told The Sacrament Bee.
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It's her turn: As Duffy retires, granddaughter takes the reins

Jorge Encinas / Jorge Encinas / Capital Journal People from around the community lined up Saturday to thank Pat Duffy as she marked her official retirement. Jorge Encinas / Jorge Encinas / Capital Journal More than 125 people showed up Saturday at the Pat Duffy Community & Youth Involved Center in Fort Pierre to honor Duffy as she celebrated her official retirement. Jorge Encinas / Jorge Encinas / Capital Journal Pat Duffy, 91, had the seat of honor Saturday at her official retirement after more than 40 years of serving the community's youths and seniors.

From championing youth programs to ensuring older residents receive regular meals, Fort Pierre resident Pat Duffy doesnt need much introduction as to what she has done for the community.

And on Saturday, people showed up at the Pat Duffy Community & Youth Involved Center to honor Duffy, 91, as she marked her official retirement after decades of helping to improve the lives of young and old alike.

On Thursday, Duffy sat next to her bay window with a beautiful view of the Missouri River as the heavy winds blew across her yard. She recalled making Fort Pierre her home in 1962, after marrying her late husband, Ed, who opened the doors to The Chateau in September of the same year.

Duffy, a Kampeska, South Dakota, native, said she married Ed in July 1962.

I never quite decided if he married me because he loved me or because he needed a bartender  a person to run his bar, she said with a smile. But it dont matter. It made it a good life for both of us.

The 50 years Duffy spent at The Chateau before they closed the doors on March 31, 2013, remained a fond memory for the woman who earned the name Ms. Kitty, after Amanda Blakes character, Miss Kitty Russell, on Gunsmoke.

I miss the people, she said. I talked bar-talk, is what I talked. Because thats who understood me, and its a heck of a lot different from the English language.

Eventually, Duffy spent less time working at the bar but still came by during last call to help clear the place out.

Wed close at 3 (a.m.), and Id come down at 2:30, she said. My daughter was operating it at that time then  closing  and Id have my cane, and Id get them out of there at closing time. And they knew Id hit them with the cane if they didnt move.

Youth center

Duffys time at The Chateau also led to her making friends and connections that would ultimately lead to helping the communitys youths.

She said the sales barn would send buyers and sellers to The Chateau for a free steak after auctions.

Thats how we got acquainted, Duffy said about her friend and former sales barn business manager Judy Bouchie, who she credited with the idea to start a youth center. Judy was always helping kids and wanting to help kids. She took kids into her home and took care of them. She said, We need to have a place for these kids to go. Theyre out on the street at night, and its dangerous, and its not good. They have to have a place to go.

Duffy agreed and decided to help establish a place in Fort Pierre where kids could hang out and have some company.

She said they received a $50,000 donation from Keith and Dorothy Johnson for collateral to borrow money from a bank and got to work.

In 1981, we built the youth center, the original youth center, Duffy said. The rest of the inside was done with all volunteer labor.

Community impact

Fort Pierre Mayor Gloria Hanson said Duffy was always highly successful at recruiting volunteers and fundraising since no one could say no to her. She added it helped that everyone knew Duffy would give three times as much as she asked of people.

She is just a fixture of Fort Pierre, Hanson said Thursday. I just wrote a proclamation for her retirement, and in there I said she sets the example for the rest of us on what it looks like to be a community leader. I just cant think of higher praise than I could give anyone.

Duffy said she took the reins as chair of the youth centers board when she could no longer work long hours tending bar at The Chateau.

On Saturday, SC GOLD Site Director Kristie Maher said she learned a lot during the few years she spent working around Duffy at the youth center that houses the program.

The GOLD program isnt the first program for kids after school and during summer to have taken place here at the Pat Duffy Community Center, Maher said. Its been going on, I think, 40 years. That was the whole idea for this place in the first place  to be a place that was safe and they could be with their friends. They used to call it a latchkey program  not be latchkey kids, home alone by themselves without any supervision, without any positive activities to take part in.

Duffy had also remembered how some of the kids would need a ride home, often going to an empty house.

Maher noted Duffy promoted programs for years to combat kids spending time alone and without positive activities.

Shes been a big part of refining it to the point where it is now, where we get a 21st century after-school program grant for it, she said. Now, we have staff that can help kids with academics. We do lots of physical activity, healthy eating kinds of stuff with them, lots of social and emotional learning and lots of community building. Shes been a part of every step of the way of the upgrade in those services to the point of what it is today.

A new generation

As Duffy officially steps away from her daily work at the center, she is happy the baton will pass to her granddaughter Dusti Deal.

I know she can do it, Duffy said. Theres no doubt in my mind.

Deal said she is looking forward to taking on Duffys responsibilities.

Ive watched my grandmother do it for years and seen the impact shes had and how many people she gets to take care of, and I want to continue that  take care of the people of the Pierre and Fort Pierre communities, she said.

It isnt just ensuring the community meets the areas youths needs. Duffy wanted to see older residents receive care, too. She pointed to the Meals on Wheels program as a point of pride for the community.

I was still working there during the beginning of COVID, she said. We never missed a meal during that COVID. We served meals every day except for two, and thats because it was snowing so bad that nobody could move.

Deal said the Meals on Wheels program is more extensive than she expected, with 130 people receiving food each day. She joked that being Duffys granddaughter helped with the transition as she started taking on more responsibility while Duffy gradually spent less time working.

Everybody knew Grandma Pat and would do anything for Grandma Pat. And then you have somebody new come in, Deal said. So, I would just say, Im Pats granddaughter.

She also found that people enjoyed getting updates on how Duffy was doing.

On Saturday, the community and Duffys fellow volunteers had a chance to honor her in person during her retirement party at the center that bears her name. The gathering was from 1-4 p.m., and by 2 p.m., more than 125 people had gathered.

Sitting at the head table with a sandwich and a smile, Duffy said she was surprised to see the large turnout as a line of people patiently waited to stop and say thanks for her decades of service.
After its global unveil in India last November and subsequent spy shots showing it landing at the Batangas Port and on its way to dealers...
FILE - French far-right candidate Marine Le Pen leaves her campaign headquarters in Paris, Monday, April 11, 2022. French President Emmanuel Macron, the incumbent president with strong pro-European views, and Marine Le Pen, an anti-immigration nationalist, couldn't have more radically opposed visions of the EU. A win for far-right candidate Marine Le Pen in France's presidential race would have immense repercussions on the functioning of the European Union. (AP Photo/Francois Mori, File)
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Slow Light is produced by Animoon (Moomins and The Winter Wonderland, Even Mice Belong in Heaven, Acid Rain) and co-produced by Portugals Cola Animation. Frances Miyu Distribution will distribute the short globally, and is currently booking festival screenings.

Kijek and Adamski spoke with Cartoon Brew for the release of the the films trailer and shared the below behind-the-scenes video of the films production.

Cartoon Brew: How did you settle on hand-drawn, b&w animation for events happening in the past and the colorful paper cutouts used to show whats happening in the present?

Kijek/Adamski: We often start working on a new project by picking the technique as it is, in our opinion, crucial for bringing the message across. The narration can obviously be an effective allegory and stand for a bigger-than-life concept, but it is the technique which delivers a poster-like direct synthesis of the idea and gives instant access to the core of the meaning. The means of expression have as much potential as storytelling.

In the case of this film, we needed to clearly differentiate between two timelines. Since the past is experienced by the protagonist as a constant flow of images deposited on the retina, we picked the traditional 2d technique with its projection-like characteristics. When we were thinking about the present timeline, we wanted to emphasize the tactile quality of it. We drew inspiration from the models exhibited in museums and galleries to help visually impaired people comprehend the work of art. It is a tangible form which seemingly lets you grasp the reality but at the same time it is not the actual thing you touch. The model is just a mediation of reality.

Using dual timelines and showing how its protagonist suffers living through them is a unique conceit. Where did the idea come from?

At some point we got ourselves caught up in a constant misdating of past events and we realized the older we get, the more we reflect on the past. This seemingly obvious reflection pushed us toward a gloomier realization that we gravitate towards the past on a subconscious level as it takes constant effort to update our reference points in time if we want to stay relevant.

Sometimes it is just easier to hook on the past as it is something we already understand and it makes us feel safer. This regularity works on many levels, but it has the heaviest consequences when it crosses two different eras and makes one long for a bygone time, even if it was objectively dreadful. We observed this kind of sentiment in Poland many times, but it has become omnipresent worldwide and we find it very disturbing.

Can you talk a bit about the production process? How many people were involved and how was labor divided?

We made the stop-motion animation ourselves. It started with a digital 1:1 prototype in After Effects which then was translated to the Illustrator paths and made a series of files sent to the laser-cutting workshop. Once we received the cut elements (184 sheets 10070 cm), we hand-painted every single one of them and assembled the frames. The total number of pieces used was virtually impossible to count. Rough estimation is 90,000. We were painting for about seven months with a team of 8 people.

And how was the 2d animation handled?

Once we finished shooting, we were approached by a Portuguese production company  Cola Animation, which joined the team and became a co-producer. Thanks to this joint venture we were able to optimize the workflow of the production of 2d animation and end up with a very pleasing result. We owe it to a very talented team of animators including Ala Nunu, Joao Gonzalez, Jakub Kaczmarek, Bartosz Stepnik, and Hugo Sequeira.
Photo: Contributed

UPDATE 5 p.m.

Five people were taken to hospital and officials were trying to account for everyone who lived in a building that caught fire Monday in Vancouver's Gastown neighbourhood.

Officials didn't know the status of all the residents of the four-storey building and they were looking for "upwards of a handful," said fire Chief Karen Fry, adding people could have been out or scattered after fleeing the flames.

BC Emergency Health Services said five people were taken to hospital and paramedics treated others for minor injuries at the scene. It says two of those who were hospitalized were in serious condition and the other three were in stable condition.

Fry said paramedics told her one person was injured while jumping from an upper floor as firefighters were arriving and another woman was hospitalized after being rescued from the second floor about an hour into the blaze.

Firefighters used a ladder truck to rescue others from upper floors, which were engulfed in smoke and flame at the time, the chief said.

The fire appears to have started on the third or fourth floor, but officials won't know the cause until an investigation is complete, Fry said.

Fry said fire crews were called around 11 a.m. and found flames and heavy smoke coming from the building, which contains single-room housing. It was home to vulnerable residents in the city's Downtown Eastside and housing will need to be arranged for those who were displaced, she said.

By mid-afternoon, Fry said part of the roof had collapsed. Crews were attacking the fire from all sides to prevent it spreading to neighbouring buildings, she said.

Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth told a separate news conference on Monday that an estimated 70 residents were affected, and a reception centre was being established for those who need support.

Fry said the building had recently been inspected and it had a sprinkler system, but she didn't know if it was working when the fire broke out.

Smoke that drifted across downtown from the fire was toxic and should be avoided, she added.

The building is one of the area's oldest, Fry said, and it likely had a wooden frame with a brick facade that was crumbling in parts.

"Once (the fire) gets into the membrane of the building or the outer walls and into the roof, it's really difficult, it's like you're chasing it, chasing the fire."

About 55 firefighters along with support personnel responded to the call, Fry said. BC Emergency Health Services said nine paramedic ground units and three paramedic supervisors also responded to the fire.

ORIGINAL: noon

Police told drivers to avoid Vancouver's Gastown area due to a structural, three-alarm fire that caused smoke to fill the sky.

The blaze broke out Monday (April 11) morning in a four-storey building on the 200 block of Abbot St.

The 200 block of the area includes several businesses such as Bruce Eyewear Inc, Lemongrass House, Nika Design, and The Flying Pig.

A single-residence-occupancy (SRO) called the Hotel Winters, which occupies the upper floors, has been evacuated.

Hotel Winters employee Rhonda Bright spoke to Vancouver Is Awesome at the scene and said there were three employees in the office when they overheard someone yell, "fire."

"Because we just had a fire Friday night we didn't take it seriously," the staff member added before she was instructed not to speak with the media.

Vancouver Fire and Rescue Services (VFRS) Fire Chief Karen Fry told V.I.A. at the scene that she's been informed that there was a jumper from one of the building's top floors who has been transported to hospital with injuries.

"We rescued a lot of individuals from the building from the top floor," she said. "No reported firefighter injuries at this time and two people have been transported to hospital."

An occupant that was rescued from the second floor was taken to hospital. Other residents were rescued with smoke inhalation but the fire chief was unaware if they were taken to hospital.

Thirteen fire trucks and "well over 60 firefighters" are currently at the scene fighting the blaze and involved in the rescue efforts, added Fry.

While flames reached several feet above the structure when the fire broke out, by just after 12:15 p.m. they were extinguished.

VFRS is still determining where the fire started but Fry thinks the fire likely broke out on the third or fourth floor in the residential area of the building rather than the commercial stores below.

Hotel Winters resident Nicole told V.I.A. that a dog and a cat on the third floor did not make it out of the building. She lives on the third floor and opened her door after she smelled smoke; there were no alarms. When she did, a "gust of black smoke" came into her room and she yelled, "fire!"

Nicole was able to get her own pets, a cat and a rat, safely out of the building. "If we would have taken any longer, I don't know if we would have made it out," she said.

Police have the area blocked off and dozens of locals are watching the scene unfold

Views from the studio look a bit different today. Looks like the fire is in a building on Water Street. Started quickly - hope everyone is safe. #vancouver #gastown #fire @VanFireRescue pic.twitter.com/GOHPKEIYBG  Kate Bouchard (@mskathrynanne) April 11, 2022
Holocaust Remembrance Day (Yom HaShoah) takes place this year on April 28.

This is an important and solemn historical commemoration that reminds all people to be vigilant against rising bigotry, hatred and anti-Semitism.

Sadly, anti-Semitism is growing around the world, including here in Canada. Statistics over the past several years repeatedly state that Jewish people and institutions are among the most common targets of police-reported hate crimes in Canada. Too often, these incidents are dismissed as a byproduct of international events or otherwise downplayed or even denied. But this surge in hate-motivated crimes is a real, growing problem  and it needs to be confronted.

A new, grassroots movement is mobilizing to encourage (especially non-Jewish) Canadians to stand against hatred of all kinds, but particularly against anti-Jewish words and deeds. We believe that Jewish people have been forced to confront these incidents by themselves for far too long.

Upstanders Canada is identifying and empowering Canadians across political, religious, cultural, economic and demographic divides to join together to stand with Jewish people and against hatred and violence.

Our statement of unity is simple: We believe that Jewish people have the right to live in peace and free from fear anywhere in the world, including in Canada and in Israel.

Our goal is to ensure that Canada remains a welcoming society for all people. We invite you to become an upstander.

Patrick Johnson, director, Upstanders Canada
Photo: Bob Kronbauer The case returns to Downtown Community Court on April 25, 2022

The man accused of assaulting a CBC reporter at a Trump rally intends to plead guilty, his lawyer told a Vancouver Downtown Community Court judge on April 11.

Chris Savva is accused of assaulting journalist Ben Nelms.

Nelms was attacked as protesters were gathered on the sidewalk in front of the Vancouver Art Gallery on Jan 6, 2021, the day of the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.

Some held signs saying "TRUMP 2020," others waved U.S. flags with the country's Second Amendment about the right to bear arms scrawled on them, and some paraded placards proclaiming "BIBLE OVER LOGIC OVER SCIENCE 100%."

Around the midway point of the protest, one person involved lunged at photojournalist Nelms, punched him in the face, then walked away.

Savva was charged on Dec. 13 and was released on conditions.

He did not appear in Downtown Community Court (DTCC) on April 7; instead, he was represented by lawyer Matt Smith.

Smith told Judge Elizabeth Burgess he was prepared to set a date for sentencing.

Crown prosecutor Damien Assonitis said that could not be done in DTCC and the case would have to move next door to Vancouver provincial court.

The case returns to DTCC on April 25 to set dates.
Photo: The Canadian Press Italy's Prime Minister Mario Draghi listens reporters' questions during a joint press conference with Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, at Rome's Palazzo Chigi government's office, Thursday April 7, 2022. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia, pool)

Italian Premier Mario Draghi secured a deal Monday for more natural gas imports across a Mediterranean pipeline from Algeria, marking the latest push by a European Union nation to reduce dependence on Russian energy following its invasion of Ukraine.

After meeting with President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, Draghi told reporters in the Algerian capital of Algiers that an agreement to intensify bilateral cooperation in the energy sector along with the deal to export more gas to Italy are a significant response to the strategic goal" of quickly replacing Russian energy.

"Others will follow,'' Draghi said.

Russia is Italys biggest supplier of natural gas, representing 40% of total imports, followed by Algeria, which provides some 21 billion cubic meters of gas via the Trans-Mediterranean pipeline.

The new deal between Italian energy company Eni and Algeria's Sonatrach would add up to 9 billion cubic meters of gas from Algeria by 2023-24, just eclipsing Russias current 29 billion cubic meters a year. The increased flows will start in the fall, Eni said in a statement.

Europe is trying to cut its reliance on Russian natural gas imports quickly, with leaders recognizing that their payments help fund Moscow's war. At the same time, there is concern Russia might turn off the taps in reprisal for sanctions, a threat that would have devastating effects on the European economy. Natural gas is used to generate electricity, heat and cool homes, and power industry.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has already sought to have gas payments be made in rubles, in an apparent bid shore up the currency. A loophole allows countries to pay a designated Russian bank in dollars and euros as set out in contracts.

The tiny Baltic state of Lithuania, a former Soviet republic, recently cut itself off entirely from Russian gas imports, the first of the European Unions 27 nations using Russian gas to break its energy dependence on Moscow.

Lithuania has been planning that move for years, and the task is more difficult for economic powers like Germany and Italy, which have gotten most of their natural gas from Russia.

The EU plans to reduce Russian gas imports by two-thirds by the end of the year and eliminate them before 2030 through steps like conservation, wind and solar development, and alternative sources. The 27-nation bloc has reached a deal with the United States to receive more boatloads of liquefied natural gas, or LNG.

Germany, which gets about 40% of its gas from Russia, has announced plans to quickly build two LNG terminals and reached an agreement with Qatar for LNG supplies. Poland is expanding an LNG terminal to receive deliveries from Qatar, the U.S., Norway and others. It has been reducing dependence on Russian oil through contracts with Saudi Arabia, the U.S. and Norway.

Germany and Italy also are pushing for more renewable energy.

The deal between Italy and Algeria is the first concrete result of missions by Italys foreign minister to energy-producing nations to secure alternate sources, also including Azerbaijan, Qatar, Congo, Angola and Mozambique.

Draghi is traveling with Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio, the energy transition minister, Roberto Cingolani, and the CEO of Italian energy company Eni, Claudio Descalzi.

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. Eni has operated in Algeria for more than 40 years.
Photo: The Canadian Press

U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnsons office said Tuesday he will be issued a fine for breaching COVID-19 regulations following allegations of lockdown parties at government offices. Treasury Chief Rishi Sunak will also be fined.

The news came after London's Metropolitan Police force said earlier Tuesday that they were issuing 30 more fixed penalty notices in relation to the partygate scandal, which has angered many in Britain and seen dozens of politicians and officials investigated over allegations that the government flouted its own pandemic restrictions.

The Prime Minister and Chancellor of the Exchequer have today received notification that the Metropolitan police intend to issue them with fixed penalty notices, a spokesperson for Johnson's office said. "We have no further details, but we will update you again when we do.

It was not clear how much Johnson and Sunak were fined.

Johnson has denied any wrongdoing, but he is alleged to have been at several of the dozen events in his 10 Downing St. office and other government buildings that are being investigated by the police.

Johnsons government has been shaken by public anger over revelations that his staff held bring your own booze office parties, birthday celebrations and wine time Fridays in 2020 and 2021 while millions in Britain were barred from meeting with friends and family because of his governments COVID-19 restrictions. Thousands of people were fined between 60 pounds ($79) and 10,000 pounds ($13,200) by police for rule-breaking social gatherings.

Opponents, and some members of the governing Conservative Party, have said that Johnson should resign if he is issued a fine for breaking rules he imposed on the rest of the country during the pandemic.

In total, police say they were issuing at least 50 fines for the breaches, but did not identify who the recipients are. Police say they have sent questionnaires to more than 100 people, including the prime minister, and interviewed witnesses as part of the investigation.

In January, civil servant Sue Gray published a report into some of the gatherings, the ones not under criminal investigation. She said failures of leadership and judgment in Johnsons government allowed events to occur that should not have happened.
Photo: The Canadian Press Firefighters clear debris and search for bodies in the rubble in Kharkiv, Ukraine.

Ukraine is investigating a claim that a poisonous substance was dropped on besieged Mariupol, as Western officials warned Tuesday that any use of chemical weapons by Russia would be a serious escalation of the already devastating war.

Thwarted in his apparent ambition to overrun the Ukrainian capital, Russian President Vladimir Putin is now building up forces for a new offensive in the eastern Donbas region, and insisted Tuesday that his campaign would continue until it achieves its goals. He said Russia had no other choice but to launch what he calls a special military operation," saying it was to protect civilians in the predominantly Russian-speaking Donbas.

As Ukrainian forces brace for a new attack, Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar said it was possible phosphorus munitions  which cause horrendous burns but are not classed as chemical weapons  had been used in Mariupol. That city lies in the Donbas and has been razed in six weeks of pummeling by Russian troops that the mayor said has left more than 10,000 civilians dead, their corpses carpeted through the streets.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Monday night that Russian forces could use chemical weapons in the city, echoing similar, repeated warnings by Western officials. And leaders inside and outside of the country said they were urgently investigating the unconfirmed claim by a Ukrainian regiment that a poisonous substance was dropped on fighters in Mariupol.

British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said use of chemical weapons would be a callous escalation in this conflict, while Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne said it would be a wholesale breach of international law.

In the face of stiff resistance by Ukrainian forces bolstered by Western weapons, Russian forces have increasingly relied on bombarding cities, flattening many urban areas and leaving thousands of people dead. In other areas, they have pulled back to regroup.

Their retreat from cities and towns around the capital, Kyiv, led to the discovery of large numbers of apparently massacred civilians, prompting widespread condemnation and accusations that Russia is committing war crimes in Ukraine.

The war has also driven more than 10 million Ukrainians from their homes  including nearly two-thirds of all children.

Still, there are fears of even wider carnage to come, amid signs the Russian military is gearing up for a major offensive in the Donbas. A senior U.S. defense official on Monday described a long Russian convoy rolling toward the eastern city of Izyum with artillery, aviation and infantry support.

Putin insisted during a visit to Russia's Far East that the military operation would prevail, and that foreign powers wouldnt succeed in isolating Russia.

He said that Russias economy and financial system withstood the blow from what he called the Western sanctions blitz and claimed they would backfire by driving up prices for essentials such as fertilizer, leading to food shortages and increase migration flows to the West.

The Donbas has been torn by fighting between Russian-allied separatists and Ukrainian forces since 2014, and Russia has recognized the separatists claims of independence. Military strategists say Russian leaders appear to hope local support, logistics and terrain in the region favor Russias larger and better-armed military, potentially allowing its troops to finally turn the tide decisively in their favor.

Describing a battle happening around a steel mill in Mariupol, a Russia-allied separatist official appeared to urge the use of chemical weapons Monday, telling Russian state TV that separatist forces should seize the plant from Ukrainian forces by first blocking all the exits. And then well use chemical troops to smoke them out of there, he said.

But Eduard Basurin was quoted by the Interfax news agency on Tuesday as saying that the separatist forces havent used any chemical weapons in Mariupol.

It was the Ukrainian regiment defending the plant that claimed a drone had dropped a poisonous substance on the city. It indicated there were no serious injuries. The assertion by the Azov Regiment, a far-right group now part of the Ukrainian military, could not be independently verified.

Truss said the U.K. was working urgently to investigate the report, while Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said in a statement that the U.S. could not confirm the drone report out of Mariupol.

But Kirby noted the administrations persistent concerns about Russias potential to use a variety of riot control agents, including tear gas mixed with chemical agents, in Ukraine. Britain, meanwhile, has warned that Russia may use phosphorus bombs  whose use in civilian areas is banned under international law  in Mariupol.

That city has already seen some of the heaviest attacks and civilian suffering in the war, but the land, sea and air assaults by Russian forces fighting to capture it have increasingly limited information about what's happening inside the city.

Speaking by phone Monday with The Associated Press, Mariupol Mayor Vadym Boychenko accused Russian forces of having blocked weeks of attempted humanitarian convoys into the city in part to conceal the carnage. Boychenko said the death toll in Mariupol alone could surpass 20,000.

He said, about 120,000 civilians in the city are in dire need of food, water, warmth and communications.

Boychenko also gave new details of allegations by Ukrainian officials that Russian forces have brought mobile cremation equipment to Mariupol to dispose of the corpses of victims of the siege.

Boychenko spoke from Ukrainian-controlled territory outside Mariupol. The mayor said he had several sources for his description of the alleged methodical burning of bodies by Russian forces in the city, but did not detail the sources.

While building up forces in the east, Russia continued to strike targets across Ukraine in a bid to wear down the countrys defenses. Russias defense ministry said Tuesday that it used used air- and sea-launched missiles to destroy an ammunition depot and airplane hangar at Starokostiantyniv in the western Khmelnytskyi region and an ammunition depot near Kyiv.
Photo: The Canadian Press

Nova Scotia RCMP say one man who was pulled from the waters around Peggy's Cove has died and another taken out of the ocean has suffered life-threatening injuries.

RCMP say the two men slipped off the rocks in the area southwest of Halifax about 8:30 p.m. Monday.

Const. Guillaume Tremblay says the investigation is being assisted by the Nova Scotia Medical Examiners Office.

Tremblay says RCMP officers, along with Halifax Regional Fire and Rescue, the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre and Coast Guard were called to the scene to assist.

Boats and aircraft were also involved in the rescue mission.

The red-and-white lighthouse at Peggy's Cove and nearby fishing village attracted more than 700,000 visitors in 2018, but rogue waves have been known to sweep onlookers into the cold, turbulent water.
Re. Poll question: Defund the CBC? Castanet, April 11)

Sometimes a socialist idea is not a bad idea.

When people live in an area with all the conveniences within a few minutes drive they are content and have narrow views. Canada is a big country. Much of our riches come from rural areas, especially from the far north.

In the Okanagan, where we are blessed with the climate, warm, abundance of food and full of ignorance.

There are some things that need a national perspective. Communications, travel, transport and health are essential to keep the country's cohesion.

The CBC, as well as bus service, postal service, air service and transport should all be funded (fully or partially) to make a strong country. Too many expect commercial enterprises will pick up the void.

How much of our country would be served if everything was left to commercial enterprises?

The loss of Greyhound (long-haul bus service) demonstrated how this loss would impact things.

If you are 20 years old and want to go work in the oil patch now, how do you get there? Without the CBC broadcast, how many people in remote places would know what is happening in the country or the world. CTV, Global and CNN are not going to fill in this gap.

Funding the CBC is good for Canada's culture and awareness. Its a service well needed.

Pat Holman, Enderby
Photo: Metro Vancouver Metro Vancouver contractors look inside the 1.1-kilometre water supply tunnel linking North Vancouver to Burnaby.

A megathrust earthquake could shatter Metro Vancouvers capacity to send water to its 21 municipalities, a new report says.

The heavily redacted report, published internally by the regional body in February but recently obtained by Glacier Media, indicates a 9 magnitude earthquake could lead to 267 water main failures across the region.

Some of the most worrying failures, confirmed Metro staff and independent experts, are forecast to occur where all of the regions main trunk lines pass under bodies of water  from dammed mountain lakes on the North Shore, under the Burrard Inlet, and down the line, below the Fraser River.

It's one thing for a pipe under the Lougheed Highway to leak. We can go dig that out, we can throw a patch on it, we can be out of there in four hours, said Lucas Pitts, director of policy, planning and analysis for the Greater Vancouver Water District.

But for a crossing under the Fraser River, obviously, if that breaks, to fix that takes a very long time.

Should a major earthquake hit the region, roughly 60 breaks are expected across 71 water crossings, found the study. That includes three to four breaks in category one crossings  like the Fraser River, Pitt River, False Creek and Burrard Inlet  and two failures in shallow rivers like the Coquitlam, Seymour and Brunette rivers.

Twenty-two water mains connecting nearly every corner of the Lower Mainland face high seismic vulnerability, according to the report. That includes pipes running through the North Shore, Vancouver, Burnaby, New Westminster, the Tri-Cities, and on to Maple Ridge, Richmond, Delta and Surrey.

The study, commissioned to an external engineering consulting firm, was created through an analysis of 123 reports provided by Metro Vancouver  41 looking at reservoirs, 21 at pump stations and 61 at pipelines. It also relied on geology maps from the Geological Survey of Canada, Google Earth, traditional terrain and digital elevation maps, and LiDAR data  maps created by bouncing lasers off the ground from aircraft.

Metro Vancouver redacted the total number of leaks and breaks in each water main, as well as the estimated damage to the 21 water storage facilities analyzed in the report.

The redactions were carried out under a section of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act that deals with disclosures that could harm the security of any property or system, including a building, a vehicle, a computer system or a communications system.

All I can tell you is that the report was redacted to protect the safety and security of critical infrastructure, added a spokesperson for Metro Vancouver.

Of the reports nearly 300 pages, almost two-thirds were blacked out.

John Clague, a geologist and earthquake expert at Simon Fraser University, described the potential damage to water mains, pump stations and the reservoir system as very large and the reports conclusions rather scary.

Clearly, specific information about damage to particular water mains, pumping stations, and reservoirs is not for the public's eyes, he said. I would have loved to see the maps.

First earthquake assessment of its kind in 30 years

This is the first time in three decades the regional authority has assessed the capacity of its water system to withstand a major earthquake.

The last study, conducted in 1993, found that a roughly one-in 500-year event would lead to 31 water main failures and leave the system inoperable.

This time around, the estimated failures are over 8.5 times higher. Projected failures in water crossings alone outstrip the damage that was projected in the 1993 report.

Part of that is due to improved seismic building standards, which have undergone several rewrites as engineers and seismologists learn more about how megathrust earthquakes can impact a citys built infrastructure.

Pitts, whose department commissioned the report, said he expected it would project heavy damage due to new standards. But when it finally came back, he says the overall picture it painted was quite substantial and more than he expected.

Design standards are theoretical standards. They're not real-world situations. So you just don't know, said Pitts. We can't really make it so everything is going to survive an event like this.

We have to prioritize.

What is a megathrust earthquake?

Megathrust earthquakes occur along subduction zones, tectonic faults in the Earths crust where relatively heavy oceanic plates slip under a more buoyant continental shelf.

Once an oceanic plate sinks deep enough into Earths hot interior, it can melt, feeding a throng of volcanoes around the edge of the Pacific known as the Ring of Fire.

At times, the two tectonic plates can grind against each other. As they slow, pressure builds until one day they slip, releasing vast sums of energy in a single catastrophic moment.

This process is responsible for some of the worlds most violent recorded earthquakes. In recent years, that includes the 8.8 magnitude earthquake that decimated Concepcion, Chile, in 2010, and the 9 magnitude T?hoku earthquake that hit Japan in 2011.

As one of the most documented mega-quakes in history, the undersea T?hoku earthquake triggered a massive tsunami and high-profile meltdowns at the Fukushima nuclear plant. Its also the closest case study to the earthquake many experts expect to hit B.C. in the coming years.

North Americas next megathrust earthquake will begin in the Cascadia Subduction Zone (CSZ). Thats where the Juan de Fuca plate is slowly diving under the North American plate along a 1,000-kilometre arc curving off the coast of Vancouver Island south toward northern California.

It will not be a first: at least 19 9 magnitude megathrust earthquakes have occurred along the CSZ since the end of the last ice age.

But for years, scientists thought the B.C., Washington and Oregon coasts were seismically inactive  despite Indigenous stories that told otherwise.

Many Indigenous people from both sides of the B.C.-Washington border tell stories of the battle between the Thunderbird and the Whale, two supernaturally large creatures.

One story documented on the Northern Olympic peninsula tells of a shaking, jumping up and trembling of the earth beneath, and a rolling up of the great waters.

Another told by 84-year-old Huu-ay-aht First Nation Chief Louis Nookmis in 1964, described one community overwhelmed by a massive wave and another built on a hill that did not drift out to sea with the others.

The land shook a big wave smashed into the beach, said Nookmis in a translated recording published in the journal Seismological Research Letters.

Clague, who was among 10 researchers who published such Indigenous accounts, has also helped uncover the catastrophic potential of a Cascadia earthquake through Western science. In Japan, researchers pored over 300-year-old tsunami records; in Washington state, others studied ancient marsh deposits; in Clague's case, he looked at how B.C.'s coastlines had been deformed.

By the early 1990s, the evidence had grown to confidently declare a major earthquake last struck the region on Jan. 26, 1700, at 9 p.m. The West Coast was indeed a hotbed for seismic activity.

Today, seismologists estimate such an earthquake returns once every 500 years. By that metric, the Metro Vancouver report cites research suggesting a 9 magnitude earthquake has a 14 per cent chance of hitting the coast over the next 50 years, although others suggest the probability could be as high as 37 per cent.

But that 500-year return period is just an average, warns Clague. Megathrust earthquakes could hit once every thousand years or twice in a century.

Whats certain, says the geologist: the region is due for something big.

How will 'The Big One' impact Metro Vancouver?

It's extremely difficult to predict what will face the most damage when the next major earthquake hits. Thats because much of the damage comes down to where and how deep the epicentre of the earthquake lies.

Towns and cities closest to the Cascadia fault line  ostensibly Vancouver Island communities like Tofino, Victoria and Saanich  will almost certainly be hit hardest.

Once the seismic waves reach Metro Vancouver, their strength will probably weaken, states the report. But because Metro Vancouver has the largest concentration of people and built infrastructure in the province, the damage will almost certainly add up to one of the biggest events that all of North America and Canada probably has ever seen, said Pitts.

Strong ground shaking similar to the 2011 T?hoku earthquake is expected to last three to four minutes.

Damage is expected to hit a region stretching from Vancouver as far south as Portland, provoking a massive mobilization of federal, provincial and state resources.

Borders would likely be closed and B.C.s highway system would face heavy damage at least on the scale of last years atmospheric river event, says Brent Ward, co-director of the Centre for Natural Hazard Studies at Simon Fraser University.

The runways at Vancouver International Airport, meanwhile, would almost certainly be taken out of service, making emergency airlifts difficult in the early hours and days after the earthquake.

From the air, Ward says emergency crews would likely see a city punctuated by fire, most triggered by ruptured gas lines. Large pieces of older buildings are expected to fall into the street or collapse entirely.

Some taller, older buildings not built to standard would face accelerating cyclic shaking, creating a harmonic effect where the top part of the building moves faster than the bottom.

One that isn't properly designed will tear itself apart, said Clague.

On the North Shore and along river escarpments across the region, mud and landslides would likely scar the hillsides. And if you were caught among older infrastructure, in the Massey Tunnel or on the Patullo Bridge, theres a good chance you wouldnt survive, says Ward.

That kind of shaking makes it actually hard to drive a car you can actually see waves moving along the land service, he said. You wouldn't be able to walk, you'd be lying on the ground.

Because Ward expects to be on his own for several days, he has food stocked and keeps water filtration devices on hand.

I can go to the nearby lake or pond, or capture from my downspouts the water in the yard, he said. We've got tons of food in the fridge and freezer, and of course, you wouldn't have any power, so you'd be eating the stuff that was going bad as quickly as possible.

For people in higher-density living, in condos or rental apartments, Ward says he is not sure where they are going to go after an earthquake.

The idea is people would go to schools, hang out there if they have to. We're upgrading the schools but some of them may not survive the earthquake, he said. Some of the older ones, especially those ones with the cinder block construction, again, really crappy in an earthquake.

The worst damage from a tsunami is expected on the west coast of Vancouver Island. In Metro Vancouver, Ward says a smaller tsunami could push the sea another metre or two higher.

A bigger concern, he says, are some of the levees along the Fraser River failing due to a process known as liquefaction.

Some of those areas are already below sea level, he said. There would be flooding for sure.

'Liquefaction' identified as major source of damage

Its not the shaking thats expected to lead major sections of Metro Vancouvers water transmission system to fail.

According to the report, about 30 per cent of the regions water mains  or 140 km out of 498 kilometres of pipes  are in areas at severe risk to landslides and liquefying soils.

The ground at your feet might appear solid, but when an earthquake hits, it can quickly melt from under you.

Liquefaction begins to transform the landscape with the arrival of the first seismic waves. Underground, shaking forces water up through the soil, sand and stones, instantly turning once solid terrain into something approaching a soup or stew, said Pitts. Anything that ground once supported gives way, sinking into the morass.

Its a phenomenon geotechnical experts say threatens places like Richmond, B.C., most, where low-lying river sediments have built up over thousands of years, and where humans have dumped fill to reclaim land and prevent flooding. All of that primes the regions dry land to return to the river and sea.

In response, building codes require new construction projects to drive piles deep into the ground to anchor them below whats known as the liquefaction zone. But thats harder to do with pipe infrastructure that runs over long stretches of land as it's heaving up and down.

In San Francisco, in the low-lying areas where they had all the fires, where all the gas lines broke, was all areas of fill, said Pitts, referring to a 6.9 magnitude quake that hit the city in 1989.

Liquefaction also puts at risk Metros pump stations  designed to move drinking water throughout the region  and the regions 26 reservoirs, mostly underground water storage facilities reinforced with concrete and steel.

In both cases, the most serious damage is expected to occur at inlet and outlet pipes, where rigid connections could lead pipes to snap off. If they fail, the reservoir or pump stations will likely be made inoperable, noted the report.

Those are the weak points in the facility systems, said Pitts.

The time it would take to fix damage to Metros pump stations, reservoirs and water treatment plants ranges from less than a day up to 155 days for heavily damaged reservoirs, estimates the report.

Metro Vancouver staff redacted parts of the report detailing how a major earthquake would damage individual facilities.

I would fear that we might have this interruption of these critical services for quite long periods of time, said Clague after reviewing the redacted document. Maybe a certain amount of that is inevitable, but you've got to have a plan B in a situation like that. Where's your water gonna come from?

The presumption, he added, is that Metro Vancouver should always expand its water services from the mountain sources on the North Shore. Its a path Clague says was chosen long before Surrey became a megopolis.

Nobody seems to be talking about how could we use groundwater. There are aquifers in the Langley-Surrey area. They've never been exploited, he said.

The dams holding back lakes in the Coquitlam, Seymour and Capilano watersheds  Metro Vancouvers three main water sources  were not part of the study.

Pitts said authorities independent from Metro Vancouver are currently updating seismic assessments of the Cleveland and Seymour Falls dams.

First step in planning post 'Big One'

For decades, multiple B.C. governments have honed in on seismically upgrading structures like bridges and schools  and for good reason, says Ward.

Those are things that can kill people, right? And so those got the highest priority, he said. Now, we're looking at what happens after the earthquake.

As the latest report lays out, water is going to be an issue.

Metro has made some headway upgrading its water system  water mains passing underneath five major river crossings and two locations under the Burrard Inlet are either under construction or in the design stage. Such projects, however, are very complicated and the design process itself takes many years before construction can begin, warns Pitts.

Metro Vancouver still doesn't have a plan to get water to residents after a major earthquake, said Pitts, though the latest seismic study is the first step to put all those plans together.

Itd be great to just make everything completely resistant to a huge seismic event. But that would cost literally billions upon billions of dollars. And nobody really wants to pay that. And so, the cities struggle with the exact same thing, said Pitts.

Instead of hardening an entire region, Metro's 21 cities, one electoral district and one First Nation have focused on critical infrastructure, like hospitals or communities that will double as emergency shelters in a disaster.

What happens after the shaking stops and the waves recede is harder to plan for.

After a major earthquake, nobody is expecting to be able to turn on their taps, says Pitts. But where people will go to collect water is a question that still needs to be answered.

All the more reason, experts say, for individual households to build their own emergency water and food supply, and create a plan in the event the big one hits. Its the kind of planning taking part across 10 coastal B.C. communities over the next week as people practice walking to high ground in the event of a tsunami.

We dont know when the next megathrust earthquake will hit, but with every passing day, the risk grows greater.

For Ward, that risk means such post-disaster reports should have been completed a decade ago. At the same time, he, like all the experts interviewed for this story, acknowledged planning for a megathrust earthquake is a process of infrastructure triage, one that faces competition from a number of expensive spending priorities.

In addition to conducting long-range planning to prevent the worst impacts of a major earthquake, Pitts says his department is also preparing for cyberattacks on the regions water supply, while at the same time planning for fallout from wildfire and drought, all made worse by climate change.

As Clague put it, This is something you cannot correct overnight.

But you got to start somewhere.
Photo: Contributed

A North Vancouver maritime firm is hoping to launch the countrys first ever hydrogen-fuelled vessel.

Capilano Maritime Design has received a $178,000 grant from CleanBC Go Electric Advanced Research and Commercialization program to introduce the proof-of-concept in the form of a recreational harbour cruise boat.

It's essentially new, said Chris Mulder, Capilano Maritime president. There currently aren't any vessels in Canada that use hydrogen as a marine fuel.

Unlike internal combustion engines, which burn petrochemicals and release carbon, Mulders vessel will have a fuel cell electric hybrid propulsion system, which converts the hydrogen energy to electricity and emits only water vapour as a byproduct.

The boat Capilano Maritime engineers are working on will be a 24-metre catamaran with two 200-kilowatt fuel cells, which will help power twin 250-horsepower electric motors. A full tank of hydrogen should give it a range of 150 nautical miles, although it will mostly be used for pleasure cruises around the harbour. The cat can set up for a dinner cruise or cocktail party with a capacity of up to 194 people. Mulder said they chose a harbour cruise vessel specifically because they wanted something where the public would get to see the new technology in action.

As a company, we're just very interested in finding solutions to climate change. We're doing our part and trying to push that forward as quickly as possible, he said.

But, hydrogen fuel is new to naval architects and regulators alike. Because it is a flammable gas, special care and attention is being placed on how it is stored in tanks on the boat. The hope is to have all regulatory hurdles with Transport Canada and Lloyds Register cleared by this summer, Mulder said. After that, they are aiming to see the H-powered vessel on the H2O within the next two years.

Hydrogen itself may be carrying a hidden carbon footprint, as some forms of hydrogen require large amounts of fossil fuel to be produced. But Mulder said they see great potential for hydrogen to become the zero-emission power source of choice for the industry.

For the marine vessels that are going to be working day-in, day-out, it's going to make a lot more sense than a battery vessel, as the recharge or the refuel time is much faster and the amount of weight you have to carry around is a lot less, he said.

There are no major regulations coming down the pipes that will force the marine industry to decarbonize, Mulder said. Capilano Maritime is pursuing the project now to prove that it can be done and show the desirability of it.

Hopefully the regulations will follow, he added.

Partnered on the project is North Vancouver-based HTEC, which will provide the hydrogen fuel, Ballard Power Systems Inc., Canal Marine & Industrial Inc., the Canadian Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Association, Lloyds Register Group Services Limited, Fairweather Cruises & Events, and the University of British Columbia.

North Vancouvers two NDP MLAs welcomed the companys addition to the provinces zero-emission research and development program.

Transportation accounts for well over a third of greenhouse gas emissions produced in British Columbia, and the need for a rapid transition away from fossil fuels toward clean, renewable energies has never been more evident. Im pleased to know that funding from CleanBC will allow Maritime Capilano to continue developing ways to decarbonize marine travel, said North Vancouver-Seymour MLA Susie Chant, in a release.

Transportation accounts for well over a third of greenhouse gas emissions produced in British Columbia, and the need for a rapid transition away from fossil fuels toward clean, renewable energies has never been more evident. Im pleased to know that funding from CleanBC will allow Maritime Capilano to continue developing ways to decarbonize marine travel, added North Vancouver-Lonsdale MLA Bowinn Ma.
Now that (Prime Minister) Justin Trudeau has hitched his wagon to an electric horse, there is a looming question.

At present, motor fuel is punitively taxed, as it is an easy way for governments to clip money off citizens and businesses. Where does he think the money for his tax-happy agenda is going to come from?

Gasoline and diesel are not easily produced at home, so we are subservient to big oil and big governments whims. With a potentially steep decline in revenues from motor fuel taxes, the appetite for taxes to placate Quebec and Ontario will have to come from taxing motor electricity.

The big problem the regulation-happy federal government has is how to tax electricity for transportation.

Will anyone who installs a solar array on their roof exceeding 6KW have to be licensed and pay an annual tax on the electricity produced? Will a similar license be required to own a EV recharging station at home? What happens if you have a stream producing hydro-electricity from a micro-hydro turbine?

A new bureaucracy will form the federal electricity police. (It will be) on the look-out, with drones, for illegal solar arrays.

The other question is, in the light of declining fossil-fuel tax revenue, will the provincial and federal governments raise enough tax to tax motor fuel use out of existence?

It doesnt (seem to) matter to Trudeau, as he jet-sets around the world with his entourage, in a taxpayer-funded airliner, burning thousands of gallons of kerosene. He will need a personal (Irving) oil refinery to support his junkets.

Andrew Kiesewetter, West Kelowna
Photo: The Canadian Press Alberta Justice Minister Jonathan Denis comments on the auditor generals August 2014 report on the expenses of the office of former premier Alison Redford and Albertas Air Transportation Services Program, in Edmonton on Thursday, Aug. 7, 2014. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson

Observers say emails suggesting a former Alberta justice minister hired a political fixer to obtain a reporter's phone logs show how the province's politics have deteriorated.

The Canadian Press has reported on emails and documents that seem to show Jonathan Denis hired a man to discover who tipped a reporter that his wedding reception may have broken COVID-19 protocols.

Denis, in an email from his lawyer, has denied that he or his clients talked to the self-described fixer, David Wallace.

MacEwan University political scientist Chaldeans Mensah says the documents, if authentic, demonstrate how public debate in the province has become a "blood sport" where personal attacks are common.

Duane Bratt, a political scientist at Calgary's Mount Royal University, calls the purported documents "a nasty affair."

He adds that Denis was once in charge of law enforcement in Alberta and remains closely tied to Premier Jason Kenney and the governing United Conservative Party.

University of Alberta political scientist Laurie Adkin suggeststhe documents look like an attempt to intimidate the press.

She says they show how the province has become so polarized that partisans feel any tactic against their opponents is justified.
Photo: VPD

Vancouver Police have issued a Canada-wide warrant for a high-risk sex offender who failed to return to his halfway house.

Police are searching for 55-year-old Kenneth Kirton, who has been missing since Monday evening. Vancouver police has released his picture with hopes that someone will recognize him and call 9-1-1.

Kirton was convicted of sexual assault in 1987 and is now serving a 10-year long-term supervision order. He has been declared a dangerous offender and has been monitored by the Vancouver Police Departments High-Risk Offender Unit since March 2020.

Kirton is described as five-foot-six, 160 pounds, with short black hair, and brown eyes. He was clean-shaven when last seen, and was wearing a black hoodie, grey sweatpants, and black shoes. He has multiple tattoos.

Anyone who sees Kirton or has information on his whereabouts is asked to call 9-1-1 immediately.
Holcim publishes agenda for 2022 AGM

12 April 2022

The Holcim annual general meeting will take place on 4 May 2022 at 10am CEST at company headquarters in Zug, Switzerland. In accordance with applicable Swiss COVID-19 legislation, it will be held without the presence of shareholders, making safety a priority again for this years AGM. The Board of Directors invites shareholders to submit their questions in advance regarding the Holcim 2021 Integrated Annual Report and the AGM.

Climate report

In line with Holcim's commitment to lead its sector's transition to net zero, the Board of Directors has submitted the companys first climate report, for an advisory vote by Holcim's shareholders with 2030 and 2050 net-zero targets, validated by the Science Based Targets initiative. The report provides details on Holcim's decarbonisation journey, its focus on innovation and breakthrough technologies as well as climate-related risks and opportunities.

Board of Directors changes

Dieter Spalti, Adrian Loader and Colin Hall have decided not to stand for reelection. All other members are proposed for reelection. Beat Hess is also proposed for reelection as Chairman of the Board.

To advance the Board's leadership, gathering the most expert and diverse perspectives to shape our companys future, Leanne Geale and Ilias Laber are proposed as new members to the Board of Directors.

Published under
Breaking News: Several people were shot on a Brooklyn subway platform during the Tuesday morning commuter rush, officials said. The attack occurred at the 36th Street station in Sunset Park. https://t.co/NiP843NRwx  The New York Times (@nytimes) April 12, 2022

#BREAKING Multiple people shot at subway station in Brooklyn, New York: US media pic.twitter.com/YeBt7lMejo  AFP News Agency (@AFP) April 12, 2022

 A 8h27, la police a ete appelee pour un appel d'urgence par une personne qui a ete touchee par balle, dans le metro  a Brooklyn, a confirme une porte-parole de la police de New York, qui a demande au public d'eviter la zone.

Des  engins explosifs non declenches  ont ete retrouves, a indique un porte-parole des pompiers a lAFP.

Plus dinformations a venir
Three Georgia Northwestern Technical College students placed in their competitions at the recent Phi Beta Lambda (PBL) State Competition in Atlanta.Mark Upton, GNTC Marketing Management program director and PBL coordinator, said the students competed in eight events and finished with three first place finishes, three second place finishes and two third place finishes.All three of these students have qualified in all eight events for the PBL National Leadership Conference in Chicago this summer, he said. They have already done very well, and we look forward to their competitions this summer.The students are listed by their name, GNTC campus and awards.Will Arrant, Whitfield Murray Campus, second place in Computer Concepts, second place in Retail Management and third place in Cybersecurity;Misty Hawk, Gordon County Campus, first place in Justice Administration and third place in Marketing Concepts; andAixa Rodriguez, Floyd County Campus, first place in Small Business Management Plan, first place in Management Concepts and second place in Entrepreneurship Concepts.Mr.Arrant is in the Computer Forensics and Security Specialist certificate program. Ms. Hawk is a student in the Criminal Justice Technology associate degree program. Ms. Rodriguez is a student in the Marketing Management associate degree program.All advisors and instructors of these students should be very proud of their accomplishments, Mr. Upton said. We have great instructors who deserve credit for these students awards as well.Competing in these kinds of events adds to students learning, networking, people skills and dealing with stress; prospective employers like to see well-rounded students who are prepared for the workforce, he explained, while students find the competitions fun and exciting.Sometimes students feel anxious about the competition, too, he said.I tell students that you need to put yourselves in uncomfortable situations because thats what the real world is going to expect of you, he said.Trish Wiggins attended as GNTCs director of Student Engagement, who oversees all student organizations, and presented at the conference, agreed that the students rose to the occasion.I am so pleased that our students performed so well at the State Competition, she said. It was our first year back in person since 2019, and to have students competing was incredibly exciting.Ms. Wiggins said she looks forward to seeing GNTCs students compete nationally in Chicago this summer.I believe they will excel in the competition and represent GNTC well, she said.The PBL National Leadership Conference will take place June 24-27.
After a two-year wait, the Chattanooga Area Veterans Council held their 30th annual awards banquet at the American Legion Post #95 William E. Blair.

Mrs. Carolene Grossnickle Perry was awarded the 2020 Charles H Coolidge Associate of the Year Award for her many years of service to her country and community. Mrs. Perry is the wife of retired Navy Commander Alden Perry.



Alan Syler was awarded the Charles Coolidge Volunteer Veteran of the Year (2020) for his heavy involvement in the veteran community here in Chattanooga. Mr. Syler served in the United States Navy as a submariner. He is a director of the Chattanooga Area Veterans Council and is involved in the Armed Forces Parade and the Wreaths Across Chattanooga committees, among many other veteran-rated faucets.



Mr.

Syler is the featured speaker for the upcoming Greater Chattanooga Navy League Council dinner on April 21 that will meet at the Walden Club. The dinner will begin at 6:30 p.m., and Mr. Syler will speak at 7:30 p.m. Not only will he speak on submarines during this meeting, but he will focus on the USS Spearfish's WWII mission to rescue a group of nurses off the island, as well as the POW's who were with them, and their heroic journey to safety. Live descendants of one of the nurse's adult children will connect with the meeting on Zoom. They will share with the attendees their mother's mission and what happened on that fateful rescue mission off the island. Their mother's book will be raffled during the dinner meeting, as the adult children donated this book for this meeting. Other raffle prizes will also be offered.The deadline to register and pay for your reservation is April 18. Make check payable to: Chattanooga Navy League. Mail payment/reservation to: Pam Ann Morgan, Navy League Treasurer, P.O. Box 911014, Chattanooga, Tn. 37412. Email treasurer@chattanooganavyleague.org or call 423-504-0955 with reservation questions. Optional Paypal payment can be made at www,chattanooganavyleague.com/paypal.html

The Chattanooga Navy League Council supports the local and national Maritime Services plus youth, military programs in the Chattanooga-area. "We are a civilian organization and anyone interested in supporting the Maritime Services is welcome to join," officials said. "See our Membership link to join us and support our Maritime Services. We look forward to seeing you on April 21st."
Former representative and now gubernatorial advisor John DeBerry with Rep. Barbara Cooper, D-Memphis, at Mondays opening of the cold case office - photo by Sam Stockard

Emmett Till, pictured at left, was 14 when he was lynched in Mississippi in one of the most notorious crimes of the Civil Rights Era - photo by Sam Stockard

A wall at the new cold case office in the Cordell Hull Building features photos of civil rights activists, including Rosa Parks - photo by Sam Stockard

Four years after the General Assembly passed legislation creating a cold case office to delve into decades-old civil rights crimes, the office opened its doors in the Cordell Hull Building.

Legislation signed by former Governor Bill Haslam in May 2018 created the Tennessee Civil Rights Crimes, Information, Reconciliation, and Research Center, in addition to mandating a statewide survey of civil rights crime cold cases and directing cases for prosecution.

The center will act as a clearinghouse for information, depending largely on the U.S. Department of Justice, district attorneys general and people who make requests for cold cases to be reopened.

The office is filled with photos and quotes from infamous cases such as Emmett Tills murder, Martin Luther Kings assassination, Rosa Parks civil rights case and more.

Im focusing on the reconciliation part to bring us together. Everybody has been hurt, and we cant let our hurt separate us, said Yolanda Arnold, executive director of the Minority Affairs Office, who will run the research center.

The opening comes on the heels of President Joe Bidens signing of the Emmett Till Anti-lynching Act in late March, a bipartisan bill designating lynching as a federal hate crime. The laws passage came 67 years after the 14-year-old Black teen was kidnapped and murdered in Mississippi for allegedly whistling at a white woman.

The Till case was closed in December 2021, four years after being reopened, when the Department of Justice cited lack of evidence to push forward. Tills abductors, Roy Bryant and J.W. Milam were acquitted of the murder in the 1950s by an all-white jury, and even though they admitted later to killing Till in a magazine article, double jeopardy laws averted another trial.

Ms. Arnold said a break-through in the Till case could have provided some precedent for future civil rights cold cases.

Lt. Governor Randy McNally was among state officials and staff who toured the center when it opened last week.

I think its very important, Lt. Governor McNally said. I think the way this is set up for peace and reconciliation and justice, I think those are some very important things that we all have a lot to learn about.

The center was created through the legislative efforts of state Rep. G.A. Hardaway, D-Memphis, who handed the bill off to former Rep. Johnnie Turner, another Memphis Democrat who left office four years ago. She worked with former Senate Majority Leader Mark Norris, a Collierville Republican now serving as U.S. District Court judge in Memphis, to pass the measure in 2018.

The bills passage immediately spurred District Attorney General Garry Brown of Haywood County to reopen the murder case of NAACP leader Elbert Williams, who was killed in 1940 as he led voter registration efforts in Brownsville. Mr. Williams was taken from his home the night of June 20, 1904, locked in the Brownsville city jail and interrogated. When his wife went to the jail that night to find him, he wasnt there and was never seen alive again.

Three days later, his body was pulled from the Hatchie River six miles south of Brownsville. The Haywood County coroner held an inquest on the river bank and found the cause of death to be by foul means by parties unknown.

First-degree murder has no statute of limitations in Tennessee. But no break-throughs have been made in the case, according to Ms. Arnold, and Mr. Brown has retired from office.

Former state Rep. John DeBerry, who now works as a key adviser to Governor Bill Lee, pointed out reconciliation is not possible without justice as he toured the research center.

These cases where there are those who have brutally murdered and taken a life of other individuals and gotten away with it, even if they are gone, the record needs to be made so that folks can heal and find closure, Rep. DeBerry said.

State Rep. Barbara Cooper, D-Memphis, noted hate crimes and lynchings are still being perpetrated.

Its just amazing to know that we have come this far to have it out in the open because when I was coming up you couldnt even talk about it, said Rep. Cooper, who is 92.

A former school teacher, Rep. Cooper said schools were prohibited for years from teaching Black history, then finally got one week, then a month, February, which is Black History Month.



Tennessee Lookout
Our relative was whisked away to Kuwait City during the first holiday season after high school graduation. He joined the Marine reserves as a teenager and served in the Middle East with some intense fighting in Iraq. I still remember a call to home describing the sound of a scud missile as it passed over his encampment.

After returning home home to the USA, he began working as an apprentice in the five-year program to achieve his journeyman electrician license. He purchased some acreage and planned to eventually build a home there. As fate would have it, the economy soured, he was furloughed, and needed to sell his land as the real estate marked had plunged.

It was at this time he enlisted a young, energetic, real estate agent who negotiated a contract on this land. At closing, it became apparent that there was financial difficulties that arose with completing the closing. The real estate broker cut the commission to make the sale happen and remove this debt from our relative. Needless to say we were very thankful. I told this agent that this act was one of the most decent things I had ever witnessed. She looked me in the eye and said, Thats the least I could do as your nephew was overseas fighting for my right to freedom and conduct commerce for my family.

I didnt realize at the time how important that commission was as this parent had three young children and needed to put food on the table.

This mother is Sabrena Smedley. It is important to note that this act of kindness occurred many years before Sabrena ever entered politics.



Its not often that we have folks running for office that are true servants to the public. Sabrena is. Ive subsequently heard that Mrs. Smedley was the catalyst to stop forced annexation. The late Mike Carter passed the bill in Nashville, but Sabrena was in the forefront on this, again, as a mother of three.

I am also aware of the three wonderful children that she raised. All are productive members of our community. One has served in Afghanistan in the armed services and upon returning to Chattanooga, enrolled in the Hamilton County Sheriffs Department Academy where he was valedictorian of his class. Its not surprising as public service and service to his community was instilled in this young man at an early age.

By the way, my nephew Daniel is in his early forties and has been employed by a major public utility for about 15 years. His stellar civilian and military service made him an excellent candidate to work in the nuclear and hydro fields and he owes a great debt of gratitude to the young, energetic real estate agent that made a difference in his life.

The aforementioned is why I am enthusiastically supporting Sabrena Smedley for Hamilton County mayor. This is an opportunity we cant afford to miss with such a quality and experienced person for this very important job.

Jay Wilson
Emporia, KS (66801)

Today

Mostly sunny. High near 75F. Winds SE at 15 to 25 mph. Higher wind gusts possible..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies, with gusty winds developing overnight. Low 61F. Winds SE at 20 to 30 mph. Higher wind gusts possible.
Braving periods of intermittent rain, a crowd of over 50 people intently listened to a debate between the three Republican General Sessions Court Judge candidates.

Braving periods of intermittent rain, a crowd of over 50 people intently listened to a debate between the three Republican General Sessions Court Judge candidates.

The program at Centennial Park in downtown Dayton across from the historic Rhea County Courthouse lasted over an hour with the candidates answering questions that were

, president of the Young Lawyers Division of the Chattanooga Bar Association. Mr. Hufstetler said this was done to have an independent, unbiased moderator.

The debate was moderated by Melody Shekari , president of the Young Lawyers Division of the Chattanooga Bar Association. Mr. Hufstetler said this was done to have an independent, unbiased moderator.

The debate was moderated by Melody Shekari , president of the Young Lawyers Division of the Chattanooga Bar Association. Mr. Hufstetler said this was done to have an independent, unbiased moderator.

General Sessions Court Judge Shannon Garrison started the program by answering the first question of the night followed by challenger Jace Cochran and Assistant District Attorney General David Shinn, who covers the courts for the DAs office in Rhea County.

Incumbent General Sessions Court Judge Shannon Garrison started the program by answering the first question of the night followed by challenger Jace Cochran and Assistant District Attorney General David Shinn, who covers the courts for the DAs office in Rhea County.

Incumbent General Sessions Court Judge Shannon Garrison started the program by answering the first question of the night followed by challenger Jace Cochran and Assistant District Attorney General David Shinn, who covers the courts for the DAs office in Rhea County.

debate, comments to the questions got heated at times but the candidates

During the hour and 15-minute debate, comments to the questions got heated at times but the candidates retained their civility.

During the hour and 15-minute debate, comments to the questions got heated at times but the candidates retained their civility.

When asked about his qualifications to be Judge, Asst. DA Shinn said that he draws on his experience not only in the Attorney General's Office, but also from when he worked for the Tennessee Department of Corrections as a pardons and parole officer.

Attorney Cochran, when asked about his qualifications, said he has been practicing law for the past 10 years and has been in over 25 different courts in East Tennessee. He currently serves as Municipal Judge in Graysville and fills in from time to time at the city of Dayton in the absence of Judge Will Dunn .
Since high school civics Ive always wanted a job in law enforcement. I accomplished that goal the year I became an ADA with the Hamilton County District Attorneys Office.



I have been a prosecutor since I graduated from Cecil C. Humphries School of Law in 2003. I began my career in the 25th Judicial District. During my time in the 25th I jury tried a dozen or so cases. In 2007 we moved to Chattanooga. District Attorney General Bill Cox hired me as an ADA and at that time General Pinkston was the Executive Assistant District Attorney General. I was assigned to Hamilton County Criminal Court, Division Three and began serving in front of Judge Don Poole.

In 2008 I tried my first homicide case with General Pinkston. The defendant in the case raped, murdered and dumped the victims body behind a gas station. Even though I had already tried a number of cases what I saw from General Pinkston over the course of the trial was truly impressive. General Pinkston possesses a wealth of experience and knowledge of the law. He is a great orator and is consistently able to apply his experience and knowledge to the facts of any case. He has the rare ability to communicate these complex ideas and legal issues to the public and to his juries. He is fair, compassionate and highly motivated. General Pinkston is a career prosecutor. During the trial I decided I was going to learn as much as I could from this man. General Pinkston is my most influential mentor and the greatest prosecutor I have ever had the pleasure of working with.

I became General Pinkstons Executive Assistant in 2018 and one of my primary duties is training young prosecutors. Most of what I teach them comes directly from what Ive learned from General Pinkston. One of the primary principles General Pinkston instilled in me and I instill in the prosecutors we train is do the right thing.Sometimes doing the right thing is not popular but prosecutors are bound by the facts and law and not by public opinion.

I have also worked with Coty Wamp in her capacity as a Public Defender and Legal Counsel for the Sheriff and have had several negative experiences. On many occasions, as a public defender, Ms. Wamp told me and other assistants in Division Three that she hated her clients. One time Ms. Wamp told us, I just want to get this done so I dont have to talk to (them) anymore.

In 2016 I had a case where a Hamilton County deputy shot at a potentially armed robbery suspect. Ms. Wamp represented the Defendant. In an email she suggested she would make a story out of the shooting if the deputy was not punished. I chalked it up to inexperience and ignored the email.

In early 2022 Ms. Wamp interfered with the prosecution of a suspect who almost shot a pregnant woman. After charges had been filed and while the case was within the jurisdiction of the Hamilton County District Attorneys Office, Ms. Wamp interviewed witnesses in the case. She did this without first informing the Soddy Daisy Police Department and withheld the information from the HCDAs office. Additionally, Ms. Wamp used her position at the Sheriffs office to attempt to have the case set inappropriately on the Soddy Daisy Municipal Court docket to be dismissed. When that didnt work, Ms. Wamp attempted to set the case in Hamilton County General Sessions Court. Ms. Wamp finally contacted the DAs office after she was made aware the SDPD had contacted our office and informed us of her inappropriate conduct. Currently, Ms. Wamps actions are being investigated by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. Both her bosses, Chief Deputy Austin Garrett and Sheriff Jim Hammond, were made aware of her actions and agreed the TBI investigation was proper. In my opinion, Ms. Wamps actions can be characterized as either severely incompetent or something much worse.

Based on my experience with both attorneys it is my opinion General Pinkston is the only qualified prosecutor on the ballot. Therefore, on May 3rd I will pull a Republican ballot and vote for General Pinkston. I encourage you to do the same.

Cameron Williams

* * *

On April 12th Cameron Williams, not kin to me, wrote a letter that I have had to let marinate for a couple of days. Ill admit I was a bit confused at first because I thought the letter was merely an endorsement of his boss, Neal Pinkston. As I have stated before, I think Neal Pinkston is a fine fellow, just not getting the job done as our District Attorney General.

After reading it a few more times I have realized its more of a letter about Camerons history in law and a bashing of his bosses opponent, Coty Wamp. Thats 70 percent or more of the letter. Its leads me to believe the polls, strongly in Ms. Wamps favor, have Cameron on edge and he has had a front row seat to view the failures of our current DAG, Neal Pinkston. If he is concerned about his position with the office his letter makes more sense. Talk bad about the opponent and cast eyes away from the incumbent. Its what lawyers are supposed to do the win their case.

What cannot be hidden are the failures of the current office holder. There are several that are really glaring. First, having his only opponent investigated by the big Democrat DA from Nashville; second, going after Commissioner Tim Boyd after Mr. Boyd has held him accountable, or at least to the extent he had the power to do so; and third, having an accused murderer and drug dealer in your grasp for 6 years and still not being able to get a conviction.

A lot of my fellow citizens have an issue with the hiring and paying, with our county tax dollars, his wife. After the State Comptroller said it was not legal, Neal Pinkston puts her on leave, with pay. I want a deal like that, one where I get to make over $90,000.00 a year without having to work at all. Who does that? His wife, Melydia Clewell Pinkston, is a darling and I have adored her for many years. Even so, the deal reeks and flies in the face of the State Comptroller and tax payers.

Ive known Coty Wamp since she was a little girl. She has always been a rock star. She has worked as a defender, prosecutor and for the Hamilton County Sheriffs Department, all to gain the experience she needs to be our next District Attorney General. Some people call that job hoping. I call it wisdom beyond her years, knowing what arrows she needed in her quiver to do the job right. Its her time and our time to elect our first female in the history of Hamilton County. I didnt vote for her in early voting because she is female, rather because she is the best.

You want to say she is riding her daddys coattails. Fine, then you have to say the same thing about Peyton and Eli Manning. However, we all know better. They made there own way by working hard and earning their place, just as Coty has done. Did the Manning brothers have an advantage having a father of such greatness, Archie Who Manning? Yes, but they still had to put their talents to good us, just as Coty Wamp has done.

Cameron Williams, spend your time keeping some of the gun slingers off the streets. Our fine Chattanooga Police Department and Sheriffs department risk their lives protecting us from them. When you fail to convict them, theyre right back at it. Please be more attentive to your job and less attentive to bashing Coty Wamp.

J. Pat Williams
Days before 90 Day Fiance Season 9 came out on TLC, fans discovered a 90 Day Fiance: The Other Way Season 1 star revealing huge news. Aladin Jallali, 90 Day Fiance alum, has a new wife after his divorce from Laura. While Aladin kept most details under wraps, fans have gotten some info about the new couple.

90 Day Fiance: The Other Way Laura and Aladin Jallali | TLC

After Aladin and Laura split up after 90 Day Fiance, Aladin announced his engagement to then-future wife, Maria Talebi

The two 90 Day Fiance: The Other Way Season 1 stars Aladin (from Tunisia) and Laura (from Canada) tried to work things out despite cultural differences and Lauras adult son, Liam, not supporting the union. However, the marriage ended in divorce in October 2019.

My current relationship status with Aladin is we are officially divorced as of 12 pm our time, the 90 Day Fiance: The Other Way star said during The Domenick Nati Show in 2020 (via Us Weekly). So I am now single. If theres any men who wanna put a ring on it, I will judge the diamond size and the quality. But yeah, totally, come on, DM me. Show me the ring. Lets get jiggy with it.

90 Day Fiance Alum Aladin Jallali Now Has A New Wife Since Divorcing Laura  https://t.co/8zUWBsTPna  #SoapCrush @SoapCrush pic.twitter.com/oISaQDIl8T  SoapCrush (@SoapCrush) April 10, 2022

In September 2021, Aladin announced his marriage to his new wife, Maria Talebi, with a series of photos.

Words can not explain how I feel when I am with you, Aladin Jallali posted alongside the Instagram photos. You are the love of my life.

90 Day Fiance alum Aladin Jallali has kept info about his new wife private

While Aladin appeared in the photos, his new wife Maria Talebi remained obscured or facing away from the camera.

One photo gives a mostly clear look at her face, except for pink hearts covering her lower half and the message happiest with you written over the top half of her face.

Aladin From '90 Day Fiance' Has a New Wife: Meet Maria Talebi  Distractify: Aladin From '90 Day Fiance' Has a New Wife: Meet Maria Talebi Distractify https://t.co/6T6IFDLaP7 pic.twitter.com/HFTyV0GLSF  Date Minnesota (@dateminnesota) April 8, 2022

Meanwhile, Laura revealed she had a new boyfriend after splitting up with Aladin from 90 Day Fiance.

I do have a honey, she said on 90 Day Bares All. And this time, Im going within the walls of North America. So I have an American sweetheart. He is a doctor. He loves me for me.

However, Laura and her new boyfriend at the time may have split since then.

While Aladin and his new wife Maria Talebi seem happy after the 90 Day Fiance couple split, Laura has had a more difficult time.

In a 90 Day Fiance: Diaries update from April 4, 2022, Laura revealed that she wanted to get back out there, meet men, and more. And she did not mention her American boyfriend at all.

Aladin Jallali Finds New Love with Wife Maria Talebi After Divorcing Laura https://t.co/8mNKndHlNE pic.twitter.com/VSVdrqfNvL  seafrizzy (@seafrizzy) April 7, 2022

Its been three years since Ive been in the presence of a man romantically, like, its been a long time, she said (via Distractify). I really want to get back out there, meet men, have a great time with my friends, and start to get myself back in shape again.

Hopefully, Laura can find the right person for her in the future. In the meantime, fans wish Aladin Jallali and Maria a happy marriage.

90 Day Fiance Season 9 premieres on April 17 at 8 pm EST on TLC and Discovery+.

RELATED: 90 Day Fiance: Aladin Jallali and Deavan Clegg Call Laura Jallali a Liar
In August 2020, Luke Combs and Nicole Hocking got married at an intimate wedding in Florida. However, the couple was forced to shift their wedding schedule at the last minute because of the coronavirus (COVID-19) health crisis.

Luke Combs | Terry Wyatt/Getty Images

We were forced to shift venues a week before the wedding, so that was interesting, Combs remarked on an episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live! The city where we got married, they imposed restrictions the week before our wedding.

The country music superstar claimed that the venue change relieved a bit of pressure because almost all individuals that felt like they would let them down attended the occasion. According to Combs, the event was great, but not as they expected. The stars primary concern was that almost everybody who wanted to attend the wedding was there. Generally, Combs said his wedding turned out perfectly, despite the coronavirus pandemic.

Luke Combs and Nicole Hocking tie the Knot in Florida

People reports that on August 1, 2020, the artist wedded his longtime fiancee Hocking in Florida. Yesterday was the best day of my life. I got married to my best friend. I love you @nicohocking, heres to forever, the country superstar, 30, shared on an Instagram post, accompanied by two images of the pair embracing outside.

Yesterday was the most special day!! Im so happy to spend the rest of my life with you! Although we wish we would have had every single one of our family & friends there, we cant wait to celebrate with everyone next year! Hocking also shared in her social media posts. So excited to share more of this day soon. Much love!

The couple got engaged in 2018 after two years of dating. Combs is 30 and Hocking 27. On their wedding day, the country star wore a blue suit jacket with a pair of light-colored pants, while the blushing bride donned a stunning off-the-shoulder white dress and carried a lush bouquet.

Luke and Nicole were married at their home in southern Florida with family on Aug 1, a rep for Combs told PEOPLE. Despite the threat of a hurricane, the couple had a lovely intimate ceremony and will be celebrating with friends and family in the New Year.

Combs and Hockings relationship timeline

The couple met long before his music profession ballooned. According to Brides, Combs first met his wife in 2016 at the Key West Songwriter Festival. According to Country Fancast, the couple seemingly locked eyes in the crowd, which motivated Hocking to invite Combs to keep her company with her friends.

The Country Music Award winner invited Hocking over for dinner in Nashville following the festival. Their relationship was cemented based on shared interests such as boating, water sport, and country music. They officially started dating in the same year, on Sept 1.

In 2017, Combs launched his career with the song Beautiful Crazy, dedicated to his future wife, Nicole. The artist composed the tune for Hocking a year before they began dating. In 2018, Combs appeared at the Country Music Awards with his lover by his side. He strengthened his status as a country music star by winning the Country Music Association Award for New Artist of the year that night.

How Combs and Hocking got officially engaged

The superstar revealed his engagement with Nicole on November 2, 2018, on Instagram during his Hawaii vacation. However, the proposal took place weeks before the couple disclosed it to fans. He planned to put the ring on her cats collar, but the cat had an accident on the way, which he revealed to fans through an Instagram post. Thus, instead, he got down on one knee in their kitchen. Of course, Hocking accepted the proposal.

In 2019, the engaged pair had their place at the Grammy Awards. Although Combs failed to secure the Award for the Best New Artist that night, his future wife persistently inspired his songs throughout the year. Tracks like Better Together and Nothing Like You from the artists 2019 album and What You See Is What You Get were all composed about Nicole.

Combs marriage life has flourished ever since, and on January 20, 2022, they shared via Instagram that they are expecting their first child, as The Sun reported.

RELATED: Luke Combs Met His Wife Long Before His Career Took Off
When Reba McEntire and her siblings, Alice, Pake, and Susie, were still little, they learned big responsibilities on the family ranch. And they also found out there are very few parts of an animal that cant provide food or warmth or fulfill some other essential need. For example, after they assisted in neutering bulls, the family had mountain oysters for dinner.

Reba McEntire | Taylor Hill/Getty Images

What are mountain oysters?

In McEntires 1994 autobiography, Reba: My Story, she referred to the food in question as mountain oysters. But some call them Rocky Mountain oysters, cowboy caviar, lamb fries  the list goes on.

The names all refer to testicles from a bull, lamb, or another animal. They are seasoned, fried, and served with ketchup, cocktail sauce, or another preferred dipping condiment. According to NPR writer Luke Runyon, theyre surprisingly juicy and vary in flavor depending on what animal they come from.

 The bison tasted like chicken. The lamb was similar in taste and texture, Runyon shared. But the beef were in a league all their own, chewy and meaty and full of a unique flavor somewhere between liver and gizzard.

As Runyon was told, some people consider them a delicacy and an aphrodisiac. But on the McEntire ranch, where even the four young siblings helped look after the cattle, they were supper.

Reba McEntire and her siblings were raised on mountain oysters

McEntire wrote in her autobiography that she and her siblings all had to help out with various chores when they were kids. Alice is the oldest, Pake and Reba are in the middle, and little sister Susie brings up the rear of the brood. And the kids worked together to take on big tasks, including helping out with bull castrations.

When I was six and Susie was four, I remember helping Daddy castrate some young bulls, McEntire wrote. She stood back and watched the neutering process, handing her father the instruments he needed as he needed them. Eventually, she started drawing up penicillin injections to prevent infection once they were done.

After the removals were all complete, she and her sisters would take the bucket of discarded organs to the house. Then, the three McEntire sisters would sit on the back porch and prepare them to cook.

Then wed take them in to Mama and shed slice them thin, roll them in flour, and fry them in hot grease in a huge cast-iron skillet, McEntire wrote before adding she and her siblings were literally raised on mountain oysters.

Reba McEntire said eating mountain oysters is the most country thing shes ever done

When chatting with Billboard, McEntire confessed that eating mountain oysters is the most country thing shes ever done.

Without saying too much, she gave a brief explanation of what they are. Well, Daddy would get cattle in the spring [and] sell them in the fall. They came in as bulls and left as steers, she said. Need I say more?

These days, she often shares her love for other fried foods, like plates of tater tots, corn dogs, and chicken tenders. But she hasnt forgotten her Oklahoma roots, preparing and eating mountain oysters with her family.

RELATED: Reba McEntire Inspired Rex Linns Nickname for Her by Digging into Tater Tots Like a Great White Shark
The Northman is filmmaker Robert Eggers third movie to hit the silver screen thus far. He previously directed The Witch and The Lighthouse, but his third feature film is his biggest and most epic movie yet. In a media landscape filled with franchises, many audiences wonder what The Northman is actually based on. Heres a look at how the Viking story came to hit the big screen.

The Northman tells an epic Vikings journey for vengeance

Ethan Hawke as King Aurvandil War-Raven | Focus Features

Amleth (Alexander Skarsgard) is a Viking who raids Slavic villages. However, everything changes when he has an eye-opening encounter with the Seeress (Bjork). She reminds him of a promise that he made to himself as a young prince when his uncle (Claes Bang) killed his father (Ethan Hawke) and kidnapped his mother (Nicole Kidman).

The Northman is an epic movie that features the return of Amleth. His family believes him to be dead, but he plans to infiltrate their home to cause chaos. Amleth becomes obsessed with avenging his fathers death, saving his mother, and killing his uncle. However, he creates an unexpected alliance with Olga of the Birch Forest (Anya Taylor-Joy).

The Northman movie is based on William Shakespeares Hamlet and, therefore, Amleth from Saxos saga

Amleth Vs The Amleth she tells you not to worry about. pic.twitter.com/pp9tSw5By6  Da7e Gonzales demands Trial by Content (@Da7e) April 12, 2022

The New Yorker explained that The Northman movie is actually based on William Shakespeares Hamlet. It acts as a sort of loose pre-telling of the character Amleth from Saxos saga. However, its clear that Eggers isnt aiming for a direct adaptation of this source material. Nevertheless, some moviegoers wanted it to be a bit more clear.

A member of the audience from an early test screening wrote, You need to have a masters degree in Viking history to understand, like, anything in this movie. As a result, the studio wanted Eggers to make some changes.

However, The Northman movie presents some clear differences from Hamlet. For example, the Viking story presents a much more primal outlook with vengeance becoming the obvious answer for the crime much quicker.

Eggers presents a mystical element to his third feature, but it doesnt bring in the ghost of Amleths father. Rather, the film exists within the understanding of Viking mythology. These supernatural elements certainly arent found in Hamlet.

Finally, there are some parallels between Olga and Ophelia. However, Olga is much more cunning, mature, and tough which is never found in any interpretation of Ophelia.

Robert Eggers father, Walter Eggers, teaches William Shakespeare at the University of New Hampshire

Eggers has a clear connection to history and literature. The New Yorker explains how his father, Walter, became the provost of the University of Hampshire, in Durham when Eggers was a young boy. Walter is an English academic and a Shakespeare scholar. Its clear that this allowed Eggers to develop an appreciation for Shakespeare that many other people dont have the opportunity to experience.

Eggers has a twin brother named Max. Together, they co-wrote The Lighthouse. However, he brought Lamb and Dancer in the Dark co-writer Sjon on board to write The Northman movie with him.

The Northman hits theaters on April 22.

RELATED: The Northman: Alexander Skarsgard Was So Exhausted That You Want to Cry After Working With Director Robert Eggers
Janelle Brown isnt leaving Kody Brown like some fans have spent months theorizing. At least she isnt leaving Arizona or her Coyote Pass property. While the mother of six recently spent time in other states and even caught up with her former sister wife and Sister Wives co-star, Christine Brown, shes back in Arizona and planning for a future there. A recent Instagram post outlined exactly what Janelle has in the works.

Sister Wives fans theorize that Janelle Brown has left Kody Brown

In January 2022, reports surfaced that Janelle was seriously considering leaving Kody. Insiders claimed that the mother of six has seen how well leaving plural marriage has worked out for Christine and wondered if moving on would benefit her, too. While Janelle has never confirmed the statements, she did seem unsure about her marriage when the most recent season of the familys reality TV series ended.

In February, Christine and Janelle were spotted out and about together. They also continue to work together. The duos closeness has further fueled rumors that Janelle was on her way out and planning to leave Arizona. Janelle has almost no relationship with her other sister wives. Janelle and Meri Browns troubled relationship has been documented on Sister Wives. She and Kodys fourth and legal wife, Robyn Brown, have no connection.

Janelle Brown squashes moving rumors with one Instagram post

Janelle seems interested in squashing rumors that shes left her husband and moved out of state. While her relationship appeared to be in an odd place at the end of the most recent season of Sister Wives, she seems mostly satisfied. Janelle even seems happy with the notion of living on Coyote Pass in a camper again.

Janelle Brown Sister Wives | TLC

the TLC star took to Instagram this week to show fans that she is back on the familys controversial property, getting ready for the upcoming season. Janelle told fans that while she spent the winter in town, she is excited to get back to the property for the spring and summer months. Last summer, Janelle moved into a camper on Coyote Pass after her landlord sold the home she was renting. Family followers were skeptical that she would enjoy the experience, but apparently, she did.

How much or little Kody is involved in Janelles life remains unknown. Kody has admitted to rarely seeing his first wife, Meri Brown, but he hasnt openly discussed how much time he spends with Janelle. Kody stated that he wasnt in love with Janelle during the most recent Sister Wives tell-all episodes, though.

The Brown family has yet to break ground on Coyote Pass

Janelle might have spent some time at Coyote Pass getting things prepped, but she isnt preparing for any major construction. At least, it doesnt look like major construction is underway based on the video she shared. So, is the family ever going to build on the acreage they were so smitten with?

Kody, Janelle and Robyn Brown | TLC/YouTube

While the family is retaining the property, there appears to be little movement on actual development. It seems unlikely that anything inhabitable will grace the land anytime soon. Based on social media posts, Janelle appears to be the only member of the Brown family with any interest in the property left. Kody Brown, Meri Brown, and Robyn Brown havent spoken publicly about the land in months.

RELATED: My Five Wives Star, Brady Williams, Comments on Polygamy Could Apply to Sister Wives Family
Lala Kent from Vanderpump Rules said when she learned Tom Schwartz recently hung out with ex Randall Emmett, she cut him out of her life. She also said that if Lisa Vanderpump is still in touch with Randall Emmett, then she wants nothing to do with her.

Kent opened up about her (then) fresh split from Emmett during the Vanderpump Rules reunion. She said she was disgusted by what happened, which is when Vanderpump seemingly shaded her.

Sometimes the way you get them is the way you lose them, Vanderpump told a teary Kent. A few months have passed since the reunion, and Kent recently said if Vanderpump wants to remain friendly with Emmett, he can have her.

Lisa Vanderpump cant be Switzerland, Lala Kent says

Kent did not address if she was in touch with Vanderpump. But during an appearance on Watch What Happens Live, host Andy Cohen mentioned he heard Vanderpump tried to reach out to Emmett. It seemed notable that LVP is still buddies with your ex, Cohen said to Kent during the After Show. I mean that kinda came up at the reunion that she had seen him recently 

Lala Kent, James Kennedy, Scheana Marie, Ariana Madix, Tom Sandoval, Lisa Vanderpump, Jax Taylor, Tom Schwartz, Katie Maloney, Stassi Schroeder, Kristen Doute |Tommy Garcia/Bravo/NBCU Photo Bank

Kent replied, I dont know if shes seen him. I know when everything was happening he was trying to reach out to her. And Im not the type of person to say you have to pick a side. But in this situation, if you dont pick my side. Or if you remain Switzerland, like I want nothing to do with you.

Vanderpump Rules Lala Kent cut off Tom Schwartz

Kent also stopped speaking to Tom Schwartz. She also said Sandoval has been the least supportive of her during her breakup. The most supportive? I would say the most supportive Katie [Maloney] and Scheana [Shay], Kent said on the After Show. And the least supportive  Sandoval has yet to even ask me if Im OK. Or acknowledge it at all.

And I learned that Schwartz hung out with that person the other day, she continued. So, I cut him off. Kent added that she is still friends with Ariana Madix.

Randall Emmett says hes in touch with Jax Taylor and Tom Schwartz

Kent may have been referring to hearing Emmett dish on the Genuinely GG podcast about which Vanderpump Rules cast members he keeps in touch with post-split with Kent.

I know that hes now going through a really tough time, Emmett said about Schwartz, referring to Schwartz and Maloneys divorce. Emmett also said hes still in touch and friendly with Jax Taylor. Jax and I have been friends forever, he said. We had lunch yesterday. Hes always been a friend to me and Ill always be a friend to him.

The best thing in my entire life came out of that relationship." @lala_kent #WWHL pic.twitter.com/WmMlnNqQGD  WWHL (@BravoWWHL) April 12, 2022

Taylor and wife Brittany Cartwright hosted Kents daughters 1-year birthday party at their home recently. Shortly after Kent and Emmetts breakup, Cartwright said she wasnt sure if her husband and Emmett were still friends. Jax and Randall were super close, she told E! News in January. Im not really sure exactly whats going on with them, but let me just say Im team Lala. I hope the best for her and Ocean and their entire family.

RELATED: Vanderpump Rules: Scheana Shay Calls Lala Kent a Strong Woman Amid Randall Emmett Cheating Text Scandal
Fraunhofer IAF has developed an integrable measurement system in collaboration with Fraunhofer CAP for testing applications in the pharmaceutical, chemical and food industries.

Ensuring quality without losing time: Companies from the pharmaceutical, chemical and food industry in particular depend on meeting the highest quality requirements while at the same time optimizing production processes. For such applications, Fraunhofer IAF has developed an integrable measurement system in collaboration with the Fraunhofer Centre for Applied Photonics. It uses machine vision to specifically detect samples and verify them contact-free within a few milliseconds using laser-based infrared spectroscopy.

With an inline-capable, laser-based infrared spectroscopy measurement system, researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Solid State Physics IAF want to support industrial companies from the pharmaceutical, chemical and food industry in making quality assurance measures and process controls more reliable and at the same time more efficient. The system is characterized by a flexible design and a high spectral scanning speed that allows it to be integrated into existing visual inspection systems, enabling full spectroscopic inspection.

The measurement system vividly demonstrates the great benefit of laser-based infrared spectroscopy for industrial sectors in which products have to be verified or differentiated reliably and quickly, emphasizes Dr. Marko Hartelt, responsible project manager at Fraunhofer IAF.

Mid-infrared backscattering spectroscopy by QCL and MOEMS grating scanner

The specific advantages of the system result from the backscattering spectroscopy method in the mid-infrared with wavelengths in the range of 4 to 12 m. Since molecular compounds have very characteristic absorption and emission lines in this spectral range, they can be clearly identified.

One of the core components of the measurement system is a broad-emitting and spectrally fast-scanning laser module. It combines quantum cascade lasers (QCLs) from Fraunhofer IAF and micro-opto-electro-mechanical grating scanners (MOEMS) from the Fraunhofer Institute for Photonic Microsystems IPMS. The high brilliance of the light source and the unique properties of the MOEMS scanner enable infrared spectroscopy at a rate of one kilohertz.

In the analysis of the measurement results, a neural network supports the system to drastically minimize the error rate and at the same time the required measurement time.

Demonstration of industrial use at LASER World of PHOTONICS 2022

To illustrate the measurement systems ability to be integrated into industrial processes, the Fraunhofer IAF team has developed a practical demonstrator: A conveyor belt moves twelve identical-looking tablets in a common tablet blister. The device recognizes the blister contents contactlessly in just 300 milliseconds. The results of the detection for each individual tablet are immediately displayed on the connected screen so that contaminated or defectively loaded specimens can be sorted out.

Fraunhofer IAF will present the demonstrator of its QCL-based measurement system at this years LASER World of PHOTONICS trade fair in Munich from April 26 to 29, 2022 (Hall A6, Booth 441).
This photo made available by the Presbyterian Historical Society, Philadelphia shows 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.\
Graveside services will be held Saturday May 7, 2022, 1:00pm at the Alex Cemetery, Alex, OK. The family will receive guests following the service at the Alex Community Center.
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Embezzlement is a growing problem, globally, impacting Christian ministries and churches of every shape and size. The Center for the Study of Global Christianity projects thieves will take $170 billion in the year 2050, if current trends continue, but there are things that individual churches can do to protect themselves.

Q&A with Todd Johnson, codirector of the The Center for the Study of Global Christianity, on trends in church embezzlement.

Is embezzlement a special problem in churches and Christian ministries?

It is a particular problem with religious organizations because trust is so important. One of the things we found after someone had been convicted of embezzlement, some cases where a pastor was actually in prison, you had church members who still said, I dont believe he could do this. They were the victims, but they still couldnt accept it.

That shows the power of trust. And trust is good, but if its misusedwhich is the definition of affinity fraudthats really a problem.

The Center for the Study of Global Christianity, where you serve as codirector, projects embezzlement in churches in 2025 will be down about $10 billion. Why is that?

I dont have a single clear answer for that. The projections are composite figures, all tied to gross national income, the demographics of Christianity, rates of Christian income and giving, and the dynamics of fraud. Those are all constantly changing.

Its almost so complex underneath that its hard to ascribe a single reason. These numbers have competing trends within them.

Longer term, the center projects an increase in Christian embezzlement. What is driving that?

Its going up because of economic growth.

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Its tempting to believe that our way is the only route to achieving our goals. However, Nigerian American hip-hop artist Wande has learned that when trusting God, He often delivers on our dreams in a way we couldnt even fathom. On this episode of VOICES Where Ya From? podcast, Wande sits down with Rasool Berry to discuss Gods hand in her journey from a young student rapping about biology in Austin, Texas, to Reach Records first female artist.

Guest Bio

Hailing from Austin, Texas, Wandeborn Ywande Isolais a Nigerian American hip-hop artist whose work has been featured on ESPN. Named by USA Today as one of six Christian Hip-Hop Artists to Know, her music effortlessly fuses intense raps and beautiful melodic singing while maintaining a message that expresses her faith.

Notes & Quotes

One thing I learned is whenever youre walking with the Lord, Hes going to call you to do uncomfortable things sometimes.

The Lord has plans, and Hes allowing us to be a part of it. Its not about you. Its about His plans.

I would definitely say Im literally doing this because God told me to be here, and Hes opened all the doors necessary for me to do what I need to do.

Youll never understand what its like to see the Lord come through if you dont trust Him to come through.

From Our Daily Bread Ministries in partnership with Christianity Today.
Preparing a message of biblical exposition isnt a task confined to one gender, even for complementarians. So more programs are training women to teach with their own versions of the preaching classes that have long been reserved for men.

This semester, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (SBTS) started offering Biblical Exposition for Women. The class is the first of its kind; ever since the Conservative Resurgence in the 1990s, the seminary has made a distinction between preaching classes for men and teaching classes that are open to women.

God is raising up women with burdens to be equipped to teach, said Hershael York, dean of the school of theology at SBTS and a preaching professor who teaches the newly formed class. Having a good hermeneutic, solid exegesis, and putting [a message] in a form people can engage and apply is the same preparation process whether you are a man in the pulpit or a woman teaching a Sunday school class.

Male and female students in SBTSs graduate programs can take Christian Teaching, which includes how to design an instructional plan for teaching the Bible and other matters of Christian doctrine and living. For decades, Yorks male-only preaching class has helped prepare pastors to preach.

He recently crafted a version for women, which enrolled 90 students this semester. Biblical Exposition for Women, an elective for seminary students, focused on message preparation without the pulpit-ministry training included in the male-only preaching class.

Yorks class is gifting me with the confidence to interpret Scripture and a process to know how to prepare to teach the Scriptures to others, said Carrie Kahoun, a high school music teacher in Kentucky, whos enrolled in the class as part of her MA in theological studies.

Kahoun attends seminary to strengthen her ability to serve the local church, not through vocational ministry but as an equipped volunteer.

Women at Southern Seminary and several other complementarian programs had similar motivations for learning to teach the Bible. All said they wanted to know how to study Gods Word more deeply. Many want to serve at their local church, some want to teach in the academy, but none had ambitions for pulpit ministry.

A few radical fringe complementarians say, Oh, look! Southern Baptists are training women pastors! York said. If thats what the women in the class wanted, they wouldnt be at Southern.

The school, like fellow Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) institutions, ascribes to the Baptist Faith and Message, which limits the office of pastor to qualified men, while affirming that both men and women are gifted for service in the church.

The Holy Spirit distributes spiritual gifts as he wills (1 Cor. 12:11)to both men and women (Acts 2:17)for the common good of the church.

Sometimes complementarian institutions and pastors act a little bit out of fear that if they equip women, then women will necessarily take on a role that God has not given them. Thats just not true, said York. Women who are complementarian in conviction want to [teach] in the proper place with the proper methodology.  The study of Scripture and the love of theology cant be limited to just one of the two genders.

Other SBC schools already teach message-preparation classes for women. SBTSs lag might be due to the facultys not recognizing the value and advocating for a Bible exposition class for womenuntil Yorks new course.

For example, Terri Stovall, dean of women at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (SWBTS) helped shape SWBTSs all-female Intro to Expository Teaching class almost 20 years ago. The school catalog describes the course as focusing on woman-to-woman teaching.

In the past five years, SWBTS also established the Southwestern Womens Center, the Womens Leadership Institute, and a chapter of the Society for Women in Scholarship and added Womens Ministry and Womens Studies concentrations at the MDiv and MA levels.

Women coming up havent experienced all the cultural boundaries as others before. And I have seen an increase in the conversation about what roles women can fulfill  since I started at Southwestern 20 years ago, Stovall said.

Seminary enrollment among women is up nearly 20 percent over the past decade, according to figures from the Association of Theological Schools (ATS). SBC seminarieswhich include five of the ten largest seminaries in the countrylikewise have seen more women in their degree programs.

SWBTS grad Jacki C. King says Southern Baptist churches, under Article VI of the Baptist Faith and Message, have the autonomy to establish where and when women teach. Sandra Glahn, a Dallas Theological Seminary professor, has identified up to five different views on womens leadership among complementarians.

I wanted to go to seminary to learn how to better teach the Word, King said. But when she started at SWBTS, her degree shifted to include sewing coursework (part of the now-defunct homemaking concentration). I can go to the YMCA or ask a woman at church to teach me sewing.

She opted to attend a different SBC seminary but finished at SWBTS after the degrees for women shifted back toward equipping women to handle the Scriptures in preparation for ministry.

King is now part of the SBC Womens Leadership Network, which began in 2019. In the past, women in SBC leadership felt disconnected and isolated, said King, who serves on the steering committee. Its time to change that.

Plenty of women serve and lead without a degree, but more are attending Southern Baptist seminaries for formal training.

At Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City, the number of women in degree programs grew fivefold over the past decade. At Southeastern in Wake Forest, North Carolina, female enrollment is up 88 percent in doctoral programs and 43 percent in masters programs in the past five years.

New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary added new Ministry to Women degrees at three levels in Fall 2021: MDiv, MA, and BA. They also launched a ministry wives certificate program and prepareher.com website in 2020 to equip women for ministry.

At the evangelical Dallas Theological Seminary, enrollment has gone from 30 percent to 40 percent female. The Expository Preaching classes have long been available for both men and womenand women may also take Women Teaching Women, a class focused on message preparation that includes womens ministry skills.

Seminary taught me how to study the Bible and how to understand authorial intent. Without biblical training, I have seen some incredibly gifted women teach false doctrine, said DTS grad Jodie Niznik, a Bible study author and the host of the So Much More podcast. I also know strong women teachers who do not go to seminary, but training women to exegete Scripture, however they receive the training, is essential.

Some training programs outside the seminary context also teach women how to study and teach the Scriptures. The Charles Simeon Trust, launched in 2001, offers rotating workshops in cities throughout the United States to train women and men to impart the Scriptures to others. They offer teaching workshops for women and preaching workshops for men.

There is no difference in content. The only difference is instructors, wrote Colleen McFadden, director of womens workshops in an email to CT. Our participants at women's workshops are women Bible teachers, so we like to give them examples of capable and intelligent women who do the same in their churchesinstructors who can lead in teaching and training how to teach the Bible.

And this year, Lifewaythe publishing arm of the SBCannounced the launch of a new academy for women to take courses in Scripture without the same demand of a seminary class.

The program, scheduled to launch in October, is designed for teachers, entrepreneurs, moms, influencers, students, ministry leaders, and more.

Have you ever sat in a Bible study and thought, Id really like to know more about how this teacher learned all of this? Or maybe youve considered going to seminary, but youre not sure you can commit to homework, a class schedule, or working toward a diploma at this time. Or perhaps you did go to seminary, but its been a few years and youre feeling rusty when it comes to theological terminology and practices, the announcement read.

We want to fuel the ministry of women just like you in churches around the world by helping you to treasure biblical truth for yourself.
Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (TEDS) has cut nearly $1 million in spending, hoping to head off financial disaster as the seminarys enrollment numbers decline.

President Nicholas Perrin told faculty and staff on Thursday that the suburban Chicago seminary has to make some pretty fundamental changes in how we go about our business plan and mission.

Trinity International University (TIU)which includes an undergraduate school with two campuses, a graduate school, and a law school, in addition to the influential evangelical seminaryis concluding the first part of a three-phase process of creating efficiencies.

The first phase is focused on the seminary. It includes reshaping the personnel so that TEDS can carry out its mission in a revenue-effective way, Perrin said in a recording obtained by CT.

TEDS, never a big school, has long had an outsized influence on evangelicalism. The seminary made a name for itself in the defense of the doctrine of biblical inerrancy and served as the birthplace for Sojourners magazine. It was the institutional home for theologians D. A. Carson, Wayne Grudem, Clark H. Pinnock, Kevin Vanhoozer, and Bruce Ware, and has produced scholars such as Scot McKnight, Douglas Moo, Mark Noll, and David F. Wells.

What happens at the Deerfield, Illinois, school reverberates in evangelical institutions across the country.

Last week, the seminary eliminated at least seven faculty positions. A spokesman for the school declined to give exact numbers. Multiple professors, speaking on the condition that they not be named in this article because they are not authorized to speak for TEDS, said two faculty members have taken early retirement, three have accepted positions at other schools, and two have been terminated.

None of the positions are going to be refilled, Perrin told faculty and staff on Thursday. The cuts and other reductions save the seminary $920,000 annually, which is about 6 percent of what it spent on operations in the 20212022 school year.

We need to be an agile institution, Perrin said. We need to be an institution thats ready to pivot, ready to swing, ready to move quickly. We cant be mired in traditions that weve held on to for too long.

The president added that he was asking faculty and staff to reimagine your own identity.

So far, only two of the departing professors have been named publicly. New Testament professor Madison N. Pierce is leaving to join Western Theological Seminary. James M. Arcadi, associate professor of biblical and systemic theology, had his contract severed and is now looking for employment.

TEDS is in a financial situation that has been described as near catastrophic, Arcadi said on social media. My job is one of many casualties of this situation.

Spokesman Chris Donato disputed the characterization.

Trinity is taking proactive steps from a position of financial prudence and not a near catastrophic financial condition, he said in an email to CT. In order to thrive within todays challenging market realities, universities cannot delay developing a sustainable financial model, while simultaneously addressing the changing needs of students.

However one describes the financial situation, enrollment data paints a dire picture. The number of full-time seminary students has declined 44 percent in the past 20 years.

In 20022003, TEDS had 872 full-time equivalent students enrolled in the seminary, according to Association of Theological Schools data. A decade later, enrollment dipped to 849 full-time equivalent students. When Perrin became the 16th president of TEDS in 2019, the number was down to 642.

Today, TEDS has only 491 full-time equivalent students. The seminary would need another 599 paying the $14,525 tuition and fees to cover its annual $15.8 million operating costs.

The other option would be to increase fundraising. Trinity set a record for fundraising in 2020 with $3.3 million, meeting what Perrin called an only-God-can-do-this goal. The seminary still faced a budget shortfall in the spring of 2022.

Other seminaries that serve broad evangelical constituencies are facing similar trends. Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary has seen a decline of 34 percent in the past two decades. And Fuller Theological Seminary has had full-time equivalent enrollments drop by 48 percent since 2002.

Evangelical seminaries with strong denominational ties have fared better. The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (SBTS) has had full-time equivalent enrollment increase by 60 percent. At Asbury Theological Seminary, which serves the Wesleyan movement, enrollment has gone up by 14 percent.

Challenges for pan-evangelical institutions

TEDS is affiliated with the Evangelical Free Church of America but has historically positioned itself as a pan-evangelical institution. That has been an important part of its identity for many students.

When I enrolled at TEDS in 1989, it was a place of dynamic conversation about the meaning of evangelical faith in the church and the larger society, said John Fea, American historian at Messiah University and author of Believe Me: The Evangelical Road to Donald Trump. We were participating in an intellectually stimulating project that brought the life of the mind to bear on the advancement of God's kingdom in the world.

Trinity was founded as a 10-week Bible course for Swedish free church pastors in 1897. It became a prominent evangelical institution under the leadership of Kenneth Kantzer in the 1960s. The academic dean (and future CT editor) sought to create an institution that could combine centrist evangelical theological convictions with a commitment to academic excellence.

For some students today, thats still the TEDS ideal.

I love TEDS, said Joey Cochran, who completed a PhD in church history at the seminary in 2021. Evangelicalism needs TEDS to thrive if it is going to have a shot at addressing the ongoing concerns of the scandal of the evangelical mind.

Some TEDS faculty say privately that the Trinity administration has not done enough to sell this vision of the seminary and the best part of TEDS has been hidden under a bushel. There is real fear, multiple professors said, that the school will be accused of being woke.

But the market for a seminary with broad evangelical appeal may just be shrinking, according to former Trinity president David Dockery.

More megachurches are training their own pastors instead of sending them to seminary. And debates about racism, gender, sexual abuse, and COVID-19 have divided evangelicals so sharply that many no longer trust Kantzers vision of an evangelicalism that tolerates lots of differences.

That was a model from the middle of the 20th century that seemed to work well, but schools that are thriving in the 21st century are more denomination specific, said Dockery, now a special consultant to the president at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. For pan-evangelical seminaries like TEDS, Gordon-Conwell, and Fuller, its an uphill climb.

Dockery said that TEDS also faces specific challenges going back decades. The school never had a large endowment or received significant support from Evangelical Free churches.

Trinity has also had a fairly high turnover rate at the top. At Fuller, presidents have served an average of 15 years. At Southern, 18. But Trinity presidents, who are tasked with leading a seminary and the rest of TIU, have served an average of eight years.

Thats institutional disruption thats hard to recover from, Dockery said. He served from 2014 to 2018, stepping down for health reasons.

Perrin started with $1.5 million shortfall

When Perrin accepted an offer to lead Trinity in 2019, the former Wheaton Graduate School dean and New Testament scholar knew TIU and TEDS specifically were facing significant financial challenges.

My hope is that, as I bathe myself in the Trinity experience, God will give us, as a team, clarity as to how Trinity should be led in the future, he said in an introduction video posted to the schools YouTube channel.

In addition to declining enrollment, the school was responsible for a major payment on a 2010 loan used to upgrade student housing and a student life facility. As a result, Perrin faced an annual budget shortfall of about $1.5 million.

The new president eliminated five faculty positions from the undergraduate Bible and ministry department three years ago. Professors from the seminary were assigned to teach undergraduate courses. The school also cut staff from the library, advancement, admissions, information technologies, and maintenance.

In a 2019 email to the faculty obtained by CT, Perrin described financial austerity as the new reality at TIU.

The next month, Perrin asked faculty to raise $100,000 by giving 10 percent of their income back to the school from September 2019 to the end of the year. The board agreed to match faculty giving three-to-one, with a target of $400,000.

Apart from a speedy infusion of external cash resources, we will be ill positioned for achieving either the fiscal stability or the long overdue institution reinvestment we so desperately need, he wrote. With such a boon, however, those realities are well within sight though less than guaranteed.

The faculty unanimously signed on to give back a portion of their income. More than half gave 10 percent.

In 2020, Perrin devoted about 40 percent of his time to fundraising. By the end of the year, the advancement office reported giving of $3.3 million, emails to faculty show.

TEDS also started its first digital marketing campaign and announced its first fully online master of divinity degree. Trinity made improvements to the enrollment process, so emails and phone calls were returned more quickly.

But it wasnt enough to fix things long term. The number of students enrolled at the seminary still declined. By the fall of 2021, TEDS was again facing a financial crisis. Perrin told faculty and staff it was an opportunity for reassessment. The school shouldnt change its mission, but it needed to reexamine how it thought it could accomplish its mission.

Challenging market realities are giving us a new opportunity to think afresh not only about our why but also about the how, he wrote. That is, our allocation of our God-given resources.

In December 2021, a few days before Christmas, Perrin returned to the theme.

Given Trinitys lack of success in recent years in achieving a sustainable business model, together with our God-given vocation as stewards, we have a responsibility to examine ourselves as an organization, he wrote.

Were not off the hook

The school brought in two consulting firms for a Mission Activation Process Plan, or MAP. Fuller Higher Ed Solutions assessed capacity and resources with a series of faculty and staff interviews. BKD CPAs and Advisors assessed the financial sustainability of academic programs with a a course-level margin analysis and a market study.

As the consultants researched the profit of Bible courses, faculty were urged not to say anything publicly and wait for the consultants final report. They worried about their jobs, the metrics the consultants might come up with, and the impact the changes would have on the character of TEDS.

There was a lot of euphemistic language and, as the process unfolded, a lot of pleas not to speculate, to trust the process, and not be antagonistic, one professor said on the condition of anonymity. The stress on our campus has been palpable. Faculty have felt angry, scared, confused. It has been incredibly time consuming all year.

The Trinity administration looked at the consultants findings and presented a plan to two faculty working groups at the end of February. The seminary working group, made up of five faculty members, negotiated details and reached an agreement with the president and provost on March 14.

The first phase, with seminary faculty reductions, was announced last week.

Perrin also announced a new entity: Trinity Global, a generator of new educational content, that will partner with churches around the world to offer seminary certification. Details for Trinity Global will be forthcoming, Perrin said, and there are two more phases of the Mission Activation Plan Process.

Even with Trinity Global and the $920,000 budget reduction, there may be more cuts to come.

Last week, professors at the undergraduate school were waiting to hear how many of their annual contracts were going to be renewed.

We are not off the hook, Perrin said Thursday. There are going to be hard decisions ahead, I can promise you that.
Eastern European body votes to leave United Methodist Church

A regional body of The United Methodist Church based in Eastern Europe has voted to leave the mainline Protestant denomination and join a newer, more theologically conservative church.

The Bulgaria-Romania Provisional Annual Conference voted unanimously earlier this month to leave the UMC and join The Global Methodist Church, which is set to officially launch in May.

Bishop Patrick Streiff, head of the Central Conference of Central and Southern Europe, which oversees the conference, said in a statement last week that he resisted the effort, arguing that it went against church law.

As presiding bishop, I explained to the Annual Conference that there is no other legal basis in church law for a separation. Therefore, a vote would not be possible. The members of the Annual Conference did not agree, stated Streiff.

[T]he members then continued the meeting without my presiding, elected Superintendent Daniel Topalski as their presider, discussed the resolution, and finally voted unanimously in open vote in favor of it.

Streiff added that with the UMC in Romania, I will continue to work for a mutually respectful way of leaving The United Methodist Church.

I deeply regret that the church in Bulgaria was not willing to follow the church order for leaving The United Methodist Church and decided to cut all ties towards the Central Conference of Central and Southern Europe, he said.

For their part, the Bulgaria-Romania Annual Conference released a statement arguing that an annual conference has a basic right to vote to withdraw from the United Methodist Church.

It is true that the General Conference has not defined the procedures and conditions of how such a vote can be exercised but this cannot be an obstacle for the annual conference to not take advantage of this possibility, it added.

According to the conference, congregations within its territory have the option to remain with the UMC, but they must announce those intentions before May 1, 2023.

Although the Bulgaria-Romania Conference has less than 1,500 members, according to UM News, its move to disaffiliate may be seen as a harbinger, given the uncertainty and tumult facing the 13-million-member United Methodist Church.

For the past several years, the UMC has been dealing with increasingly divisive debate over whether to change its official stance on homosexuality and same-sex marriage.

According to the UMC Book of Discipline, homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching, with the denomination's rule book prohibiting clergy from blessing same-sex unions, as well as barring the ordination of people in same-sex romantic relationships.

The UMC had originally planned to consider a measure aimed at allowing theologically conservative churches to amicably leave the denomination in order to end the debate at its 2020 General Conference; however, the COVID-19 pandemic postponed the gathering to the fall of 2022.

In March, the UMC announced that it would once again postpone the General Conference to 2024, citing ongoing travel issues related to pandemic lockdown as a reason.

Organizers of the Global Methodist Church denounced the decision, with the latest postponement leading them to decide to launch their conservative denomination in May rather than their previous plan to launch after General Conference.

Many United Methodists have grown impatient with a denomination clearly struggling to function effectively at the general church level, said the Rev. Keith Boyette, chairman of the GMC Transitional Leadership Council, in the March announcement.

Theologically conservative local churches and annual conferences want to be free of divisive and destructive debates, and to have the freedom to move forward together.
Texas pastor and father of 6 murdered, police searching for suspect: Awesome man of God'

Police in Texas are searching for a suspect who shot and killed a 38-year-old pastor and father of six, an "awesome man of God" who held street services and oversaw a prison ministry.

Karl Arthur Hollins Jr., an ordained pastor, was shot and killed by an unidentified man on Harmon Street in Dallas last Wednesday, Fox 4 reported. Police have not identified a motive for the shooting.

Police and Dallas Fire-Rescue responded and took Hollins to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead, The Dallas Morning News reported.

Hollins leaves behind six children, his mother and his siblings.

Dallas Morning News added that anyone who has more information on the murder should contact Detective Christopher Walton at 214-671-3632 and refer to case No. 060922-2022.

My brother did not live to 40. That is devastating and it hasnt settled with me just yet, said the pastors sister, Crystal Hollins, according to Fox 4. I havent had time because I need to be strong for my momma.

His mother, Tammy Jones, described her son as an "awesome man of God. He taught me what a man is supposed to do for a woman, as a man.

In addition to serving as a pastor, Hollins was a security guard who ran a street and prison ministry in the community he grew up in, according to NBC 5.

On his Facebook page, a post was made on Saturday asking people to give his family privacy and telling them to contact an individual identified as "Reanee" for more information.

Several people commented on the post, while others posted on the late pastor's Facebook account giving their condolences over his tragic death.

"Sending love just know he [touched] people he didn't even know he [touched] and if [you all] need help with anything it will be my pleasure," posted one person.

"[I'm] speechless. In prayer silently for the Mom & entire family; church fam & all. I claimed Apostle Hollins as a spiritual Son. Time was so short with him though. Unbelievable," stated another.

While police have not yet released any description of the suspect, they have declared a reward of $5,000 for any information that may lead to the arrest and prosecution of the killer.

In a separate incident in Dallas, a 36-year-old man was shot and killed and three others were injured on Jerome Street on Sunday morning, 5 NBCDFW reported.

One of the three who were injured, a female, is in critical condition, police said.
Disney's not so magic 'wokedom'

For decades, the Walt Disney World Resort enjoyed tremendous growth in the state of Florida. It has become the largest vacation resort in the world, attracting an amazing 58 million visitors per year.

Disney achieved this lofty status due to its reputation as a family-friendly destination. Unfortunately, in the last few weeks, Disneys standing has been completely upended.

The first revelation occurred after the CEO of Disney, Bob Chapek, expressed strong opposition to Floridas new Parental Rights in Education bill, recently signed into law by Governor Ron DeSantis.

Unlike media reports, the legislation does not permit any discrimination against any individuals, regardless of gender or sexual orientation. It simply protects the innocence of students in Kindergarten through third grade and prevents teachers from introducing subjects related to sexual orientation or gender identity.

The law permits parents to protect their young children from being exposed to these adult topics. It also allows parents to sue if schools or educators violate this law.

Chapek and Disney executives were incensed over the new law. The Disney CEO called it yet another challenge to basic human rights. He apologized to members of the LGBTQIA community for not being a stronger ally and vowed to fight for the bills repeal.

In response to the new law, Disney executives held virtual meetings. Some of these videos were leaked to the public and exposed their left-wing agenda.

For example, Disney Diversity and Inclusion Manager Vivian Ware claimed that their theme parks would change their greeting to patrons. Instead of saying ladies and gentlemen or boys and girls, the new message will welcome Dreamers of all ages. Karey Burke, Disney Corporate President, expressed her support for displaying many, many, many LGBTQIA characters in our stories.

Not to be outdone, Disney Production Coordinator Allen March vowed to explore queer stories, while Executive Producer Latoya Raveneau admitted to a not at all secret gay agenda and to adding queerness to various childrens programs. She also claimed that Disney executives were going hard to support her activities.

Not surprisingly, these revelations shocked millions of Americans. It seems the Walt Disney Corporation, the creator of beloved childrens programs, characters, and theme parks, has turned into a bastion of left-wing progressivism.

In response to these discoveries, hundreds of protesters gathered in Burbank, California, on Wednesday, outside the gates of Disney studios, to express their outrage. One unidentified employee addressed the crowd and noted that it is very hard to be someone who has conservative values and work at Disney.

With Disneys far-left agenda disclosed, some Republican leaders are calling for their tax benefits to be eliminated. In a March 31 news conference, Governor DeSantis discussed the possibility of overturning the 1967 Reedy Creek Improvement Act.

Disney controls nearly forty square miles of property in the Reedy Creek Improvement District in Florida. The legislation has allowed Disney to benefit from over five decades of relief from local and state impact fees, regulations, and building codes. These benefits are unique to Disney and are not bestowed on the other theme parks in Florida. If the Governor and Republicans in the state legislature are successful in repealing the law, it will be extremely costly for Disney.

These benefits are just the tip of the iceberg for Disney. U.S. Congressman Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) believes it is time to end an unfair state corporate tax loophole Disney receives.

According to Gaetz, Disney would pay the state of Florida an additional $591.7 million annually if combined reporting of state income taxes was used. He said that Florida taxpayers have to shoulder this burden because Disney has fancy lawyers, lobbyists, and accountants.

In an opinion piece for the Orlando Sentinel, Gaetz wrote The Walt Disney Company, which grossed $72.9 billion last year, should be accurately reporting its income in the states and countries where its business is conducted.

Gaetz is not the only Republican examining the numerous benefits that Disney enjoys. Republican Study Committee Chairman Jim Banks (R-Ind.) expressed his opposition to the renewal of the Mickey Mouse copyright in 2024.

In a stinging letter to Chapek, Banks wrote, Given Disneys continued work with a Communist Chinese regime that does not respect human rights or U.S. intellectual property and given your desire to influence young children with sexual material inappropriate for their age, I will not support further extensions applicable to your copyrights, which should become public domain.

The conservative opposition to this "woke" agenda only emboldened Abigail Disney, the granddaughter of co-founder Roy Disney. In an editorial for TheWashington Post, Disney claimed that the supporters of Floridas Parental Rights in Education law will not be satisfied until they have erased an entire class of human beings.

Of course, such hyperbole is utter nonsense, but Disney is a far-left radical who wants her namesakes corporate leaders to become even more progressive. She wrote that The only option for corporate leaders is to stand tall for authenticity, generosity, joy, and decency. These things are kryptonite for the right-wing agenda. Fortunately, they are also the heart and soul of the Disney brand.

While Chapek, Abigail Disney, and the myriad of other corporate executives are incensed at Floridas new law, there is no outrage about the recently announced expansion of the Disney+ streaming service. Among the countries that will start to receive this programming are ten countries that are known for anti-gay laws.

Disney+ is expanding into the countries of Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Palestinian Authority, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, and Yemen, all of which outlaw homosexuality.

Thus, the Walt Disney Corporation, which also embraces the repressive regime of communist China, is completely hypocritical and disingenuous. If it genuinely cared about its woke agenda, Disney would not be expanding into such countries or doing business with a communist dictatorship.

Since Disney is intent on creating political battles in this country, Republicans and others, who are supported by a majority of Americans, and want to protect children, should be more than willing to engage them.
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?
Mark Wahlberg says he feels the transforming power of Christ every day,' led to preach in new film

MIAMI  Actor Mark Wahlberg described his encounter with the transforming power of Jesus Christ as he answered the call from God to tell the true-life story of Father Stuart Long.

Wahlberg both starred in and produced the new movie Father Stu. Based on actual events, the film tells the story of Long, a boxer-turned-priest, and his incredible journey from self-destruction to redemption.

While the Sony Pictures film is rated R and contains heavy vulgarity, it's inspiring at its core because it shares the power of transformation through Christ, which is something Wahlberg said he's also experiencing.

"I feel it every day. I'm feeling it now more than ever, He told The Christian Post.

When asked about the last time his faith was questioned, Wahlberg said it was during the pandemic.

I couldn't go to church anymore. I lost communication and touch with people that really helped me every day [to] remind me of the importance of my faith, and just going to church every day and praying and going to Mass every weekend, he said.

Wahlberg also suffered the loss of his mother, who died during the pandemic. But despite the challenges, he felt called to make this faith-filled movie and used his own money to partially fund the film because Hollywood refused to finance the project.

Wahlberg portrays Father Stu on-screen and is joined by Academy Award-winner Mel Gibson, who plays his father, Bill Long.

He spent six slow years trying to get to where the movie would finally be made. And when the time came, the project was filmed in 30 days during the ongoing lockdowns last year.

Wahlberg said it was "always a mission" of his to get the film made.

"All this talent, and especially the gifts that have been bestowed upon me and the blessings have been for a reason, he declared. It's not to go off and do another five Transformers, this was part of the calling. This movie came to me at a time when I was prepared enough to be able to do it justice, to be able to go out there and articulate the message and the meaning behind it.

It was created at the height of all of the division and negativity that was amplified in the media.

"This is a movie about redemption, and no person is beyond redemption, as long as they're willing to repent, and they have good intentions in their heart, and they want to make a change, he told CP. I'm just glad that I was able to get it made, I'm glad that it's resonating with everybody, because everybody can identify with his story in some sort of way.

"We're all dealing with loss, uncertainty, lack of faith, hope, just questions of why things happen," he added. "To be able to see somebody handle it with such grace in some of the most difficult and trying times after being through so much, it gives people a lot of hope."

In the film, Father Stu was faced with much resistance from his family as well as those from the Catholic Church, but he never gave up fighting for what he felt called by God to do, which was to become a priest. Wahlberg said he identified with the fight that was in his character.

"It's those kinds of losses and that kind of adversity that makes you stronger, the Boston native explained. Challenges will only make you better if you're willing to get up again, and dust yourself off, and go out there and continue to compete. I certainly was not supposed to be in the position that I am. I just never took 'no' for an answer.

I never listened to what people thought or what they said. So I always felt like it was up to me to prove myself by doing the work. And day by day, job by job, moment by moment on my knees, just trying to better myself as a person, then as a father, and as a husband. Doing the work is the thing that has allowed me to achieve success, or to be able to handle a loss and disappointment and failure, and all those things, and allow me to keep going and keep pushing, he added.

"My destiny is different from everybody else's destiny. How it's written was not by me. It's time for me to go out there and go through the motions, but this is God's doing!

On multiple occasions in the film, Wahlberg preaches and says his mini-sermons were divinely inspired.

"Especially in the jail, I felt like these were people that could relate to Stu. These were people that could [have] easily have been Stu. This was Stu's life, and that was my life. So most of that  there's a bit of dialogue in the beginning, but the message that I'm giving them was all improvised, Wahlberg revealed.

That's just me talking to them from the heart and just telling them that God's not going to give up on them, don't give up on themselves. That's a very important thing because when you have nobody to root for you or to support you, that's the most difficult thing, he stressed. People need to know that people care. That people love them and support them and they're rooting for them and they want them to see them do good. That is very important.

Wahlberg agreed that God's spirit was in him as he preached on set.

Father Stu hits theaters nationwide on April 13.
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.

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Disney to air ad accusing Americans who oppose genital mutilation of kids of wanting to 'tear families apart'

The Walt Disney Company will soon be airing an ad on all of its channels featuring the mother of a trans-identified child lambasting supporters of bills banning genital mutilation surgeries for children and the teaching of LGBT ideology in schools. The mother accuses these Americans of trying to tear our families apart.

The LGBT advocacy organization GLAAD released the public service announcement called Protect Our Families last week. The 60-second ad profiles the Briggle family, which includes Amber Briggle along with her husband and her two children. The ad focuses on her trans-identified daughter, who now identifies as a boy and goes by the name Max.

The LGBT advocacy group says the video shows that families with transgender kids are just like any other family: they love their kids unconditionally and simply want the best for them.

In the video, Briggle discusses Maxs interests as she narrates a background video of her daughter in an effort to persuade those watching the ad that society should support parents who want their children to be given puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones, saying a transgender child is no different than yours.

There are some politicians who are trying to tear my family apart, simply because my [daughter] is transgender, she asserts. Trans kids dont have a political agenda. They are just kids. They just want to be left alone.

CNBC reports that the ad, which does not explicitly mention any legislation, in particular, will air on channels owned by The Walt Disney Company as well as channels owned by Comcast, WarnerMedia and Paramount. The Walt Disney Company has received intense criticism over its outspoken opposition to a Florida parental rights bill recently signed into law by the states Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis.

The legislation states that classroom instruction by school personnel or third parties on sexual orientation and gender identity may not occur in kindergarten through grade 3 or in a manner that is not age-appropriate or developmentally appropriate for students in accordance with state standards. While states including Alabama, Arizona and Arkansas have passed laws banning the prescription of cross-sex hormones and puberty blockers to minors, the Florida law does not include such a provision.

After initially declining to take a position on the Florida bill, Disney, which operates the popular theme park Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida, came out hard against the bill after critics derided it as the Dont Say Gay bill. Disneys opposition to the law that prevents teachers from exposing young children to LGBT ideology motivated worship artist Sean Feucht to hold a protest in front of Disney's headquarters in Burbank, California.

Last month, Christopher Rufo of the Manhattan Institute and City Journal released video footage of Disney officials discussing their efforts to incorporate queerness and other LGBT ideology into programming directed at children as part of what he described as Disneys all-hands meeting about the Florida parental rights bill.

Briggle, a progressive activist who is running for city council in Denton, Texas, operates a blog titled Love to the Max. In an August 2019 blog post, Briggle listed 3 things your child can do to help make middle school better for my trans son." Accompanying the blog post is a photograph of Max, which identifies the child as a member of the fifth grade graduating class of 2019. This seems to indicate that Briggle's child is now in eighth grade and is either 13 or 14 years old.

In the blog, she noted that my sweet [daughter], Max, socially transitioned in 1st grade  changing [her] name and pronouns, but otherwise living life exactly the same (only much, much happier). In a speech at this years GLAAD Media Awards, Briggle said, We live in Texas, where Gov. [Greg] Abbott issued a directive to investigate parents like my husband, Adam and I for child abuse because we provide Max with the gender-affirming care he needs.

'I am angry every single day because of the way the world treats my son'  Mom Amber Briggle delivered a tearful speech at the GLAAD Media Awards after being investigated for providing gender-affirming care for her trans son in Texas pic.twitter.com/q4nc6kiP68  NowThis (@nowthisnews) April 5, 2022

Briggle added that Child Protective Services recently visited their home and questioned them. She expressed relief that a court has barred Texas from investigating parents of trans kids.

Supporters of legislation banning what LGBT advocates refer to as gender-affirming care, including the American College of Pediatricians, warn that puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones can have negative side effects. Side effects of puberty blockers identified by the American College of Pediatricians include emotional instability as well as osteoporosis, mood disorders, seizures, cognitive impairment and, when combined with cross-sex hormones, sterility.

The medical organization lists an increased risk of heart attacks, stroke, diabetes, blood clots and cancers across their lifespan as possible complications of cross-sex hormones.

While supporters of providing puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones to youth with gender dysphoria maintain that such procedures help improve the childrens mental health, children who underwent some form of gender transition only to regret doing so later insisted that such procedures worsened their mental health.

The newsmagazine program 60 Minutes profiled a group of detransitioners last year, including a male who once identified as female explaining to CBS Lesley Stahl that he had never really been suicidal before until I had my breast augmentation. He told Stahl 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, who once sought to transition from female to 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.
Christian conservatives explain outrage over Dave Rubin's surrogacy announcement

Controversy arose after political pundit Dave Rubin announced in March that he and his husband, David Janet, had fathered children through In Vitro Fertilization and surrogacy, methods of conceiving children that conflict with some Christians' beliefs about family and human dignity.

However, the dispute over how Rubin and Janet conceived their children was only heightened after several prominent conservative organizations, such as PragerU and BlazeTV, publicly congratulated the political figure for fathering children through IVF and surrogacy.

While Rubin once had more left-wing views, he's become more of a voice followed by conservatives and libertarians in recent years. Christian author and radio host Michael Brown noted in an interview with The Christian Post that conservative outlets defending a gay atheist's actions prompted some outrage. Christian conservatives, Brown said, "stand for male-female parenting as God's ideal and God's plan."

"So we always grieve when children are brought into the world and intentionally deprived of either a mother or a father, in this case of a mother," Brown said. "That, to us, is not a kindness towards the children. It's a wronging of the children."

IVF involves transferring an embryo into a woman's uterus after sperm and egg are manually combined in a laboratory dish. Some have warned that the process can result in the deaths of unborn children in various ways, such as when excess embryos are discarded or fail to survive being frozen and thawed.

Surrogacy also raises ethical concerns about the treatment of children, critics say. This arrangement involves a woman agreeing to give birth to a baby on behalf of another person or couple, deliberating depriving that child of a biological mother.

In Rubin's case, the eggs are from one female donor, and two women are the surrogates. One baby will come from Rubin's sperm and the other from Janet's sperm. One will be born in August and the other will be born in October.

Rubin told Michael Malice last week that he's not going to disclose how they will raise the children and how much contact the children will have with their birth mothers and egg donor, and indicated that would be kept private.



The Blaze founder Glenn Beck received an onslaught of calls to sever ties with Rubin. Rubin has said that Beck said publicly that he'd burn down his business before cutting ties with Rubin over this issue.

Brown believes society's acceptance of IVF results from a "larger blurring of moral lines and lack of moral clarity." Without a solid biblical basis for their beliefs, Brown warns that people fall prey to human emotions instead of living in a God-oriented way.

According to the Messianic Jewish host of the "Line of Fire" radio program, God intended for children to have a biological mother and father. When people fail to realize the importance of placing children in this ideal familial environment, it becomes easier to dehumanize them, especially during the earliest stages of their development.

"Once you lose sight of these things, then it just becomes a matter of bringing a human being into the world through whatever means," Brown said. "Or perhaps if you don't want that particular human being because it's a male or a female, then you get rid of it in the womb. Once you cross these lines, really, what is the limit?"

Jennifer Morse, author of The Sexual State: How Elite Ideologies are Destroying Lives and Why the Church Was Right All Along, echoed these thoughts in a Thursday statement provided to CP. Morse is the founder and president of the Ruth Institute, a global interfaith coalition that equips Christians to defend the family by educating them about biblical teachings on marriage and human sexuality.

"We can't understand what is immoral until we understand God's will," she wrote. "Sin is the rejection of God's will. For reasons that are not entirely clear to us, God wants our participation in his loving creation."

Morse noted that God intentionally designed human beings' bodies to participate in creating new humans through the interaction between a man and woman. Making a baby should be done "in love," but she contends artificial reproductive technologies change what is intended to be a "relationship between the child, the parents, and God."

According to Morse, when Rubin or others use these technologies, they have "slipped themselves into the position of God, whether they intended to or not."

"This is the core problem with IVF, surrogacy, and donor conception," the family advocate wrote. "This problem exists whether the parents are married or not, whether they are a same-sex couple or whether they are a desperate infertile married couple."

"Instead of the child being a gift from a loving God, entrusted to the parents, the child is 'commissioned' as a product of the parents' 'intentions,'" Morse adds. "In God's providence, every person is a gift from God, with the cooperation of the human parents."

To Morse, there is nothing "conservative" about commercializing gametes and depriving children of a mother because that is not how God intended things to be.

"In God's providence, every person is a gift from God, with the cooperation of the human parents. My mother and father were gifts from God to their parents," the author wrote. "I was a gift from God to my parents. My children are gifts from God to my husband and me. When technology enters the picture, the situation changes."

In an interview with CP, Jennifer Lahl, director and producer of the 2010 "Eggsploitation" documentary examining abusive practices in the fertility industry, revealed another issue with IVF and surrogacy. Lahl is also the president of the Center for Bioethics and Culture Network.

"The surrogate mother [is] exploited because they're not patients, they're doing risky things to their body. They're taking risky drugs that they have no medical need to be taking, and they're being paid," she said.

Lahl cited the case of a surrogate mother carrying a baby for two gay dads and how she was forced to deliver a pregnancy 11-weeks early via C-section because the pregnancy was high-risk. Lahl said the mother and her child's life were in danger because the woman was part of an unethical commercial contract.

She pointed out how surrogacy contracts between the surrogate and the intended parents can also lead to exploitation. Such contracts, she said, often give the intended parents the right to decide if a pregnancy should be terminated, even though the surrogate is the one carrying the baby.

"To me, those are just classic examples of how women and children are exploited and put in harm's way," she said. "We make ourselves feel good about it because they're paid, and they're doing this wonderful act when we don't allow organ donors to be paid, and they're literally saving somebody's life."
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Jesus Christ created 3 resurrection portals

As Christians prepare to celebrate Easter, are you aware that Jesus Christ created three resurrection portals? The first portal is rooted in history; the second is rooted inside mans soul; and the third is rooted in Heaven. A portal is a doorway, gate, or other entrance.

The first resurrection portal is the opening to the tomb Jesus exited after rising from the dead (Matthew 28:5-7). J.C. Ryle said, The resurrection is a fact better attested than any event recorded in any history, whether ancient or modern.

Charles Colson said, I know the resurrection is a fact, and Watergate proved it to me. How? Because 12 men testified they had seen Jesus raised from the dead; then they proclaimed that truth for 40 years, never once denying it. Everyone was beaten, tortured, stoned and put in prison. They would not have endured that if it werent true. Watergate embroiled 12 of the most powerful men in the world  and they couldnt keep a lie for three weeks. Youre telling me 12 apostles could keep a lie for 40 years? Absolutely impossible.

The first resurrection portal involves believing the historical fact that the crucified Savior rose from the dead. When the women found the stone rolled away and then walked through the portal into the empty tomb, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus (Luke 24:2). Christ had risen from the dead, just as He foretold (Matthew 16:21). Do you accept this fact of history and this fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecies concerning the coming Messiah? (Psalm 16:10; Psalm 22:1-31; Isaiah 53:1-12).

The first resurrection portal is an essential element of Christianity. If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost  but Christ has indeed been raised from the dead (1 Cor. 15:17-18,20).

The second resurrection portal is inside mans soul. When you receive Christ as your Savior through faith, (Ephesians 2:8,9) the God of the universe enters your body through a portal in your soul and takes up residence within you. The Apostle Paul informed believers: Christ lives in me (Galatians 2:20), and your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 6:19).

How does God enter the believer? Through a door; that is, a portal. Jesus said, Be earnest and repent. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him and he with me (Revelation 3:19-20).

If Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness (Romans 8:10). The second resurrection portal is necessary so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith (Ephesians 3:17). Jesus said, Because I live, you also will live. On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you (John 14:19-20).

The second resurrection portal is an essential element of Christianity. Jesus declared, I tell you the truth, unless a man is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God ... you must be born again (John 3:3,7). In other words, one must be saved, forgiven, justified and redeemed through faith in Jesus (Romans 3:21-26).

In His great mercy God has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade  kept in Heaven for you, (1 Peter 1:3-4) and for all who have received Christ through faith (John 1:12).

The third and final resurrection portal is entered when the body of the believer dies. At that point, the person's soul is immediately ushered through the gates of Heaven (Genesis 28:17; Revelation 21:21). The Christian is then absent from the body and present with the Lord (2 Cor. 5:8). Believers will be given a resurrection body at the end of time in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed (1 Cor. 15:52).

Jesus told His disciples: In my Fathers house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going (John 14:1-4).

And so, you see: Jesus Christ has created three resurrection portals. The Messiah rose from the dead; Jesus is the author of our faith (Hebrews 12:2) and Christ is also the guarantor of our eternal life in Heaven.

Jesus told Martha, I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this? (John 11:25,26).

The death of Christ on the cross paid for our sins, and the resurrection of Jesus from the grave guarantees everlasting life for all believers. Repent of your sins as you turn away from them. Trust that Christ died on the cross to save you, and then rose from the grave on the third day.

All things have been created by Christ (Colossians 1:16), and this includes the three resurrection portals. Will you humble yourself before the Creator of all things? Will you admit you are a sinner and unable to save your soul?

If you refuse to accept the historical fact of Christs resurrection (first portal), you will remain stuck in unbelief. Without faith, you cannot be forgiven and born again (second portal). And your soul will be locked out of Heaven forever (third portal) unless you repent and believe the good news (Mark 1:15) while you still have time to do so.

If you have not yet placed your faith in Christ for salvation, will another Easter come and go while you remain spiritually dead in the tomb of your unconverted soul? Will you believe in the risen Savior who is the resurrection and the life? (John 11:25,26) Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you (Ephesians 5:14).
Over the years, Houston has rightfully become a dining destination. The city has plenty of homegrown talent, but companies from thousands of miles away are starting to call it a second home, including a New York cult favorite ice cream shop.

Van Leeuwen, the brand behind last summers viral Kraft mac and cheese ice cream, just opened its third Houston scoop shop in Montrose, with more to come.

Van Leeuwen started in 2008 in New York City with just one trucka 1988 mail truck that co-founder and CEO Ben Van Leeuwen and his brother, Pete Van Leeuwen, found on eBay, painted yellow and converted to an ice cream truck. Along with co-founder Laura ONeill, they began selling to the streets of New York, touting a product with no unnecessary ingredients, Ben said. It was certainly different from the strawberry shortcake bars he and Pete were slinging from Good Humor trucks during summers in Connecticut growing up.

Now, 14 years later, the company has scoop shops in New York, New Jersey, California, Pennsylvania, Colorado, Connecticut and Texas. Houston was its first foray into Texas, starting with the Rice Village location that opened in May 2021.

But how does a New York-based brand integrate itself into a place that doesnt really pay mind to the trends up north? Its simple, Ben says: You spend a lot of time getting to know that place and its producers, chefs and people over weeks before opening.

We want the new markets we go into to really understand that were not just throwing stores into a new market in an unthoughtful way, Ben said. Were going into these new markets because we really, really like them.

Houston was an obvious choice for expansion. When Ben first visited the city in May 2020, one thing became immediately clear: People like food here, and they have very good taste. The Van Leeuwen team learned more about one of the biggest and most diverse cities in the U.S., and was attracted to its booming, ever-evolving energy, particularly in the food scene.

Van Leeuwen Ice Cream

To better blend into Houstons fabric, Van Leeuwen has brought some of the citys most famous food personalities into the fold. Each time the brand opens a new shop in a city, it creates an exclusive scoop, highlighting a local producer or flavoran easy task for Houstons locations.

Van Leeuwen partnered with Houstons Yellow Rose Distilling for a Yellow Rose Bourbon Pecan Pie ice cream when it opened its Rice Village location, and tapped local artist Donkeeboy to create a live mural at the grand opening celebration. Not long after, it was followed by a Hugo Ortega-created flavorHorchata Dulce de Leche Swirlfor the opening of the Uptown Park shop in August 2021.

To commemorate the opening of its Montrose outpost in February, Van Leeuwen worked with chef Christine Ha of Xin Chao and The Blind Goat to create the flavor Bananas for Cheese, based on one of her favorite childhood snacks: Laughing Cow cheese and banana slices. Featuring a gouda and mascarpone base with banana jam and milk chocolate chips, its currently available at both of Has restaurants. Ben says its one of the more unique flavors theyve ever made.

Besides the chef partnerships and the weeks of research and visits, Ben also knows its important to come to a new place with humility, especially in a city like Houston. After all, theres good food on every corner and Houstonians can sniff out inauthenticity quickly.

There's definitely fear [of]: Are we just gonna be seen as this bigger New York brand who's swooping into this city that isn't New York and just thinking that we'll be great because we're from New York? We never want it to seem that way, Ben said.

Despite opening its first Houston shop during the pandemic, Ben says business is going great. Van Leeuwen is currently scoping out locations for two more scoop shops in Houston, where Ben is excited to continue exploring the growing dining scene. Hes gotten to sample many of Ortegas restaurants, loves Candente, and recently celebrated his birthday at Bludorn.

There was this old mentality of: The only good food is in New York, the only good restaurants are in New York, Ben said. I think if any city right now proves that to be completely untrue, its Houston.
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SANTA FE, N.M. (AP)  Even after failing a test that set her back a semester, Maribel Rodriguez will be heading back to nursing school next spring with a generous new state scholarship that abandons eligibility criteria to help more working adults get a college degree.

New Mexico is expanding its Opportunity Scholarship, which has already paid for Rodriguezs tuition and allowed her to apply federal grants toward living expenses like gas and groceries. She's reapplying to the nursing program and hopes to finish her degree without racking up debt that could hurt her husband and three children.

I didnt think a whole lot of opportunities were really out there for me at my age, said Rodriguez, 37, of Lovington, New Mexico, who left college at 19 in part because she couldn't afford rent. Even though if we missed it whenever we were younger theres still hope for us.

Many states  including New Mexico  have for years offered free tuition programs for four-year degrees to residents, but the programs had restrictions, limiting participation to recent high school graduates and requiring that they attend school full-time.

Supporters of those restrictions say they incentivize students to finish their degree and narrow the number of students who participate, reducing costs. But critics argue they create too many hurdles for students to succeed, especially those who are low-income and struggling to work, pay rent and raise a family.

New Mexico's revamped program provides students with more flexibility, including attending college part-time and allowing them to use federal grants for personal expenses. There's no requirement to finish in a set number of years.

It opens the door for a lot of people, especially people who started a degree and had to leave for some reason, said Kathy Levine, financial aid director at Northern New Mexico College in Espanola.

Still, Levine and other college counselors hesitate to promise students future funding.

Most of the $75 million expansion of the program relied on one-time federal pandemic relief and is authorized for only one year. If funding is cut, students could find themselves without support midway into their degree or certificate program.

As recently as 2017, New Mexico cut its other college scholarship program to just 60% of tuition because of an unexpected drop in state revenue. State officials now say that program, the Lottery Scholarship, is now solvent at 100% for at least the next four years.

New Mexicos governor and Legislature hope the expanded Opportunity Scholarship program will be enough to reverse the states dismal education outcomes. Only Mississippi has a lower percentage of four-year-degree holders, at 23%, according to Census estimates.

Since 2020, the program has been used by 10,000 state residents pursuing associate's degree programs, including nursing.

It checks all those boxes, very robust, certainly stands out as a national model, Jessica Thompson, vice president of the left-leaning think tank The Institute for College Access and Success, said of the revised program.

But Thompson warns that states are often ill-equipped to promise generous programs to students long-term because their revenues are so closely tied to the whims of the economy.

Thompson says other states like Oregon have authorized generous programs for undergrads, only to cut them when budgets were lean.

In 2020, Oregon had to cut its budget and tell 1,070 low-income students they wouldnt be receiving the aid previously promised to them. This month, Oregon announced its doubling its cost-of-living grant for low-income students.

New Mexico officials had estimated that roughly 35,000 students could participate in the expanded program. But that number will likely shrink because universities across the state already have raised tuition, disappointing state higher education officials.

New Mexico Tech raised tuition by 9%, citing increased costs and the availability of the new scholarships. Others raised tuition by around 4%.

Starting in July, universities will have to negotiate with the state on tuition increase limits if they want to participate in the free tuition program. But the law didnt prevent them from increasing tuition before that date.

At least for next year, the expanded program also will make existing support for recent high school graduates even more generous by allowing them to use federal funding for personal expenses, in addition to the existing Lottery Scholarship that pays their tuition.

That's welcome news at an arts school in Santa Fe where students discussed their plans with a New Mexico State University recruiter on a lunch break.

Some of our parents are still paying back their loans from college, said junior Zoe McDonald, 17, an aspiring cinematographer.

Painter Cruz Davis-Martinez, 18, knows he wants a four-year degree and is comparing the University of New Mexico and two schools in other states.

A lot of my high school career, unfortunately, was spent taking dual credit, Davis-Martinez said, because I had that financial insecurity.

At age 15, he started traveling 40 minutes so he could take advantage of free college classes paid for by his high school. The idea was to earn college credits so he could save money in college.

Now hes realizing he can attend all the classes he needs without going into debt and without having to work so much that it cripples his academic performance.

Under New Mexicos new plan, hell get more support than expected, though the exact cost of college is unclear. State officials are still writing the final rules for the program, including what fees will be covered and how much universities can raise tuition.

Thompson said it's important for students to be able to pursue their education without the threat of debt hanging over them. Still, she thinks the state is one economic downturn away from cutting benefits and that the federal government needs to fund more of these programs.

Ill be surprised if New Mexico can sustain this without, you know, continued federal engagement and involvement in funding," she said. And I dont think other states can follow them."

___

This story has been corrected to show that Maribel Rodriguez will return to school next spring, not this fall.

___

Attanasio is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on under-covered issues. Follow Attanasio on Twitter.
NORWALK  An open call for auditions of Fairfield County high school performers will be held next weekend to win two full scholarships to Norwalk Conservatory of the Arts summer program.

The two-week inaugural program, which costs about $2,500, is open to high schoolers nationwide in ninth, 10th or 11th grades, Conservatory President Danny George said.

The program will be split into threes areas of study: Music theater, music theater dance and television/film, George said. Applicants should be high schoolers who intend to pursue either a career or degree in the arts after high school graduation, George said.

For us, its really about the ability to work in the industry. We are looking for the best of the best because theres a certain standard we look for, George said. To get in, we are looking for the strongest skilled performers that have the opportunity to work in the industry after graduation. Any institution has to provide opportunities, it has to create pathways for students to go into the career.

For each of the three majors, 16 students will be admitted, for a total of 48 students, George said.

While not all students will be from Connecticut, two open spots were reserved for Fairfield County residents as the openings were funded in full by Peoples Bank, George said.

Peoples Bank really graciously offered us two scholarships for Connecticut students of $2,500 with housing, George said.

The conservatory knew it wanted to find a diverse array of students, including some who may not be able to afford the program, so George began contacting local businesses to help fund scholarships.

We knew we had to build a summer program for the Norwalk Conservatory to attract students that are sophomores and juniors in high school. We want our conservatory to be on their radar when theyre applying to college and since were a new institution, its all about attracting people from all over the country, George said. A huge thing for us is having a well-rounded class of different and diverse students in every sense of the word. We identified some really incredible students and a lot will need financial means.

Some local students may not require housing for a lesser tuition, but those who require housing will stay at the Norwalk Inn, George said.

To determine who will be awarded the Peoples Bank scholarships, the conservatory is holding auditions for Fairfield County high school students. Once the student is registered for next Saturdays audition, they will be contacted with an arrival time.

The summer program has one spot left in the music theater major, one to two spots left in TV and film major and three openings for the dance major, George said.

TV and film majors will be asked to perform a one-minute contemporary monologue. Music theater majors must prepare a 16 to 32 bar cut of a song and bring a karaoke track to accompany the performance, George said.

Dance majors are not required to prepare a routine ahead of time and instead will be taught a musical theater jazz combination to perform during the audition, George said.

Honestly, I always say the more time you have training, the better, however, Ive been in this industry a long time and Ive found students that had no training come in and be far stronger than people who have been doing it for 10 years, George said. Its less about training and more about passion.

Outside of the two open scholarships, students from Florida, Texas, Ohio, Georgia and South Carolina, among other locations, will be in attendance at the summer program, George said.

Alongside the two Peoples Bank scholarships, the Norwalk Rotary Club sponsored a Norwalk High School student to attend the program as well, George said.

The NHS student, who was pre-selected, will receive a full ride to the program to study TV and film, George said.

abigail.brone@hearstmediact.com
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BRNO, Czech Republic (AP)  Of the first four shots Olha Dembitska fired from an AK-47 assault rifle in her life, one hit the target.

Its pretty difficult the first time, the 22-year-old Ukrainian woman acknowledged.

On this occasion, the target was the shape of a human body at a shooting range in the Czech Republic. Next time, it might be for real, in Ukraine, and the target could be one of the Russian troops who have invaded her homeland.

Dembitska is one of at least 130 men and women who have so far undergone free-of-charge training for Ukrainians living in the Czech Republic who want to learn how to fight the aggressor.

I might return to Ukraine if they need me, she said.

Almost none of the participants had any experience with weapons before war struck their homeland.

Since Russia launched its brutal attack, Ukrainians from all parts of the country and elsewhere have been arriving in the Czech Republic's second-largest city, Brno, attracted by courses designed to teach them essentials and skills to safely handle lethal rifles while being able to inflict damage on their enemy.

Beside learning to shoot, the courses give them the basics about guns, movement around the battlefield and a lesson in providing first aid, something that can save lives if theyre mobilized by their embattled country or decide to return home as volunteers to join the Ukrainian army.

They are all motivated.

Its horrible, Dembitska said about the situation in her homeland. She gets her news from social media and from phone calls with a friend based in the southern city of Kherson, seized by Russian troops in the early stages of the invasion.

She tells me everything. They havent received humanitarian aid. Its a horror what the Russian soldiers are doing, Im sick of it.

Michal Ratajsky, the owner of CS Solutions, a security company that offers the training program at its base on the outskirts of Brno, located some 200 kilometers (125 miles) southeast of Prague, called it our contribution to the help for Ukrainians.

We view it as a morale boost were giving them in this situation, an effort to show were supporting them and that we will do for them what we can at the given moment, Ratajsky said. That was our motivation and goal.

A crowdfunding campaign helped secure enough money for the ammunition, while his company provides the rest, including experienced instructors, weapons and the shooting range.

Ratajsky said the brief, three-hour training cant do miracles but should be enough to introduce the Ukrainians to new, unfamiliar skills.

We know that we dont make soldiers of them in those three hours, he said. We try to do the maximum for them in the time, with the focus on their safety.

Some of the participants have returned for repeated lessons. Some have come from as far away as Vienna. in neighboring Austria. Some took the course on their way back to Ukraine from Western Europe, Ratajsky said.

He said the Ukrainians are united by anger about the Russian aggression, and determined to end it.

They take it seriously and want to do something about it.

He said that because some 80% percent of troop losses in a war like the one in Ukraine are caused by artillery and missiles, a sense of self-preservation and knowledge of first aid might be more useful for survival than shooting.

Were aware of the limits of what we can get them ready for and make no secret of it, Ratajsky said.

Yehor Nechyporenko, 38, who had traveled some 260 kilometers (160 miles) from the town of Mlada Boleslav to Brno for the second time said he is helping Ukrainian refugees who have arrived in the Czech Republic but wants to be ready to go back home to fight.

Its very useful for me," he said of the training. I really like it. I need to learn those things because I didnt do military service.

Nechyporenko said he was sure the Russians have no chance of taking the entire country.

I think the war will be over in a couple of months, he said. And if we see were losing, well all travel home.

___

Follow the APs coverage of the war at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine
BIG RAPIDS  As more students are becoming aware of their career options, one Ferris State University student in the welding program is looking to encourage more women to join the trade workforce, and welding careers.

Senior Jeanine Beaver has been studying welding engineering technology at Ferris for the last four years and has found positive opportunities through the universitys programming. She is hoping to host a Women in Welding event on Ferriss campus to advertise the major to interested future or current students.

Originally from Peoria, Illinois, Beaver said her interest in welding came from her participation in robotics in high school.

I welded a bit in high school, and my senior and my junior year in high school I welded for my first robotics team, Beaver said. I really enjoyed it, and I decided to take some classes at my community college and, again, I really liked it. I knew that I didn't want to be a hands-on welder. Its just really hard on your body, and especially as a female, just different.

I then heard about Ferris and their Welding Engineering Technology program and I knew it was exactly what I wanted to do, she added. It had that hands-on aspect of welding that I love, but also the engineering side. I've always been really interested in how things are put together, and that's what really drew me to welding.

Established in 1984, Ferriss nationally recognized Welding Engineering Technology program is the largest of its kind in the United States. The program is designed to produce plant-level welding engineering technology graduates who are involved in the concept, design, and engineering of weldments and implementation of welding processes.

The most common industry employers include automotive, agricultural, and construction equipment producers, oil and gas industry suppliers, welding equipment manufacturers, and robotics and welding automation firms.

Beaver said she is one of the few females in her classes and wants to change that for future students with her Women in Welding event.

I think this event is extremely important because, oftentimes, females are too shy to ask for help, Beaver said. They might know someone who has a welder, or they might not notice them at all. This might be something that they want to try, just for fun, because they hear their friends talk about it.

"With this event, I'd like to introduce women to the world of welding. I think this is an excellent way to do that, because it'll be female-led, and there will be female students engaging in helping the participants with whatever questions they have. The strong female presence and the ability to have hands-on engagement.

'SPARK THAT SOMEONE NEEDS'

According to Forbes, there are about 5% of all welders in the U.S. are women. But this number is rising further and further. It is estimated that by the year 2022 there will be a shortage of welders.

Since 1986, students in the Ferris welding programs have received over $1.8 million in academic scholarship awards from various industry and professional organizations.

More than 100 Ferris students have been recognized with endowed National Named Scholarships through the American Welding Society, including two students who have traveled to Japan as part of the AWS Matsuo Bridge Company Scholarship award.

Beaver said encouraging trade school options for students early is a good way to get more women into trade fields like welding.

I think we've all been hearing about the decline in people in hands-on trades, Beaver said. That's something that everyone hears about, it's all over the news. I think this workshop would be that spark that someone needs. It might not be the participant themselves, it could be they go home, and they talk to their friends or their siblings or their daughters, whatever it may be. They are inspired to try welding themselves.

Theres just an increased presence of not only hand trades, skilled trades, individuals, but also females in trade, she added. Anyone who walks through the program is encouraged to learn as much as they can, and to then use that knowledge to enter the workforce and improve these processes. Specifically, with welding, we learn a lot of it is heavily focused on automation so that then we can take this automation and use it in the field to improve their processes and make up for that gap in trades.

Ferriss bachelor welding engineering technology program provides several welding instructional areas including laboratories dedicated to inspection, mechanical testing, robotics, laser processing, resistance welding, and material preparation and fabrication in the newly renovated state-of-the-art Swan facility.

Beaver explained that one of her interests in welding is renewable energy and contributing to bettering the systems used in the future to reduce waste and the impact on the environment.

My dream job would be working with a company that produces windows or electric vehicles, Beaver said. I think, as the next wave of engineers, it's kind of our responsibility to improve the environment that we are given.

She said she hopes the university will support the event, and this will allow her to help engage with students.

Hopefully women will take this experience, and they go home and they tell their friends, and maybe inspire them to try welding, then try welding themselves, she said. Or just asking someone to help them with that, because I think the hardest part is just getting your feet wet. It was definitely scary for me. I didn't want to be in a class full of men. Just having the support around me, and knowing that people were there for me, was very comforting.

For more information on Ferriss welding engineering technology programming, visit the university webpage at www.tinyurl.com/fsuweldingengineering.
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WASHINGTON (AP)  Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg so liked the caricature that accompanied an article about her that she got a copy from the artist and hung it in her Supreme Court office.

That signed and inscribed print by artist Eleanor Davis is among 150 items from Ginsburg's office and home at the Watergate in an online auction to benefit opera in Washington that will end in late April.

An earthenware plate by Pablo Picasso that hung in Ginsburg's dining room, a black mink coat with her name sewn in a pocket and a souvenir vase from the Capitol luncheon following former President Barack Obama's first inaugural also are up for auction.

The sale could raise $50,000 to $80,000 for the Washington National Opera, one of the late justices passions. She took part in at least three productions over the years, including a speaking, but non-singing, role for one night in 2016.

Ginsburgs family selected the Potomack Company to handle the auction.

Its an opportunity to own something personal of hers and support the opera, said Elizabeth Haynie Wainstein, the auction houses owner.

Bidding for some items begins as low as $25, though the opening bid on the Picasso plate is $4,000, Haynie Wainstein said. Three other Picasso pieces also are in the auction.

The natural black mink coat, made by the Gartenhaus fur company in the Washington area, is going for a starting bid of $250.

Ginsburg died of cancer at age 87 in September 2020. Appreciation for the Supreme Court's second female justice and liberal icon, dubbed the Notorious RBG in her later years, has continued well after her death.

The Navy recently announced it would name a ship after her in the John Lewis-class of replenishment oilers. The ships are named in honor of people who fought for civil and human rights, the Navy said.

Last month, the Smithsonian also posthumously honored Ginsburg with the National Museum of American History's Great Americans Medal. Her children, Jane and James Ginsburg, have donated other of their mother's possessions to the museum, including Ginsburg's Paris-made judicial robe and a collection of collars she wore over it.

In January, an online auction of Ginsburg's books brought in $2.3 million, almost 30 times the pre-sale estimate, according to Bonhams, the company that conducted the auction.

The April auction includes a print of the artist Josef Albers' Red Orange Wall that hung above Ginsburg's bed. Albers was among Ginsburg's favorite artists. An original Albers work that was on loan from the National Gallery of Art was prominently displayed in her office at the court.

Six works by the sculptor Glenna Goodacre that Ginsburg acquired during her regular summer trips to Santa Fe, New Mexico for an opera festival are for sale, along with a silver tea set and a pair of Saint Louis Crystal eagle bookends.

One of Ginsburg's grandchildren, Paul Spera, also has an original piece of art among the items being auctioned. His Bubbie of Liberty, using the Yiddish word for grandma, has Ginsburg's likeness atop the Statue of Liberty.
HARTFORD, Conn. (AP)  Connecticut's governor said Tuesday that the state may provide supplemental funds to help conservationists purchase a 252-acre Boy Scout camp and keep it out of the hands of developers.

Gov. Ned Lamont, a Democrat, said he recently toured the Deer Lake Scout Reservation in Killingworth and believes it should remain open space.

It's gorgeous, Lamont said. So we could step in as needed. We're not the piggy bank. I like going in along side other people.

The Connecticut Yankee Council has set a May 1 deadline to consider bids for the property. It has rejected offers from two conservation groups, The Trust of Public Land and a local nonprofit called Pathfinders, and is considering a $4.6 million offer from developers.

U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal also has gotten involved in preservation effort. The Connecticut Democrat said he's looking into the possible use of money from the National Park Service's Land and Water Conservation Fund to help in the purchase of this camp and other Boy Scout properties for sale across the nation.

The Boy Scouts and their local councils have been selling off land as enrollment declines and as they raise money to help pay sexual abuse victims under a proposed national bankruptcy settlement agreement.

Unfortunately, local Boy Scout councils are selling to the highest bidder, Blumenthal said. So, I think it is a national challenge, but it goes to the core of what scouting means and the ethos and ethic of scouting, which they may be betraying.

Ted Langevin, who heads Pathfinders, said Tuesday he has had only preliminary meetings with government officials, but remains hopeful they can piece together a new bid that would be accepted by the Boy Scouts.

We've still got a little ways to go to raise all the money that we need, he said. But we expect that our objectives will align with the state's objectives and that we should be able to work together very nicely.

____

Associated Press writer Susan Haigh contributed to this report.
Feature: Foreigners in Shanghai express solidarity toward city's anti-epidemic efforts

Xinhua) 13:27, April 12, 2022

SHANGHAI, April 12 (Xinhua) -- Despite normality coming to a halt in Shanghai due to the temporary closed-off management following a resurgence in COVID-19 cases, Peter Corne believes that his life remains stable without much disruption.

"The government provides us with vegetables. It's healthy. I can cook fresh vegetables that come from the government, and we have group ordering for other things," said Corne, an arbitrator with Shanghai International Arbitration Center.

Corne, who is a dual Australian-British national, lives in the city's Pudong District. Although no infections have been reported in his community, residents need to undergo nucleic acid testing every day as part of stringent anti-epidemic efforts.

"I totally understand all the measures that the city has taken in order to get it back under control. ... I fully support the Chinese government's effort in trying to eradicate COVID-19," he said.

Expressing his wonder at how quarantine centers were set up within a few days and how support poured in from other provinces, Corne said he was deeply impressed by the concerted efforts. "In such a country with such complexity, such diversity, it's absolutely incredible and so impressive that people are able to coordinate so closely to do things so quickly."

In the face of numerous challenges, Corne remains upbeat and is confident that Shanghai will vanquish COVID-19. "I believe that through collaboration and the government directives we'll beat this," he said.

Peter Jolicoeur, who comes from the United States, is a Shanghai-based aviation consultant and lives with his wife, mother-in-law and two children in Pudong.

"We have a lot of support together. All things considered. I think we're doing pretty well," Jolicoeur said, adding that he can work from home and his kids are attending school online.

He said their community, which is located on the east of the Huangpu River, went into closed-off management earlier than other areas in Shanghai, as the megacity with a population of 25 million began enforcing closed-off management in two phases starting from March-end.

"My wife has been actively volunteering in the community as well, helping organize neighbors when we need to go for testing and distribute food," Jolicoeur said, hailing the sense of community spirit and solidarity among people.

Noting that COVID-19 resurgence is a tremendous challenge for Shanghai as it is China's economic hub and an international gateway, Jolicoeur said China has done a fantastic job over the last couple of years in controlling sporadic outbreaks.

"I think eventually we will prevail, and we will be able to control this and open the city up again," he said.

(Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun)
This blog covers software patent news and issues with a particular focus on wireless, mobile devices (smartphones, tablet computers, connected cars) as well as select antitrust matters surrounding those devices.
ALTON  District 8 Madison County Board Member Michael Doc Holliday Sr. has officially announced his reelection campaign for the board.

The lifelong Democrat has been endorsed by the Madison County Democratic Party and has been a precinct committeeman since 1984. He has served a term as vice-president. He was elected to the county board in 1998. He is past president and the Voice of the Illinois Association of Local Boards of Health, a member of the National Association of Local Boards of Health, Vice-President, past President Behavioral Health of Wood River, First Vice President Alton Chapter NAACP, Adjutant of American Legion Post 354 and President of Illinois Association of County Board Members.

He has worked on the political campaigns of Carol Mosley Braun, Jessie White, Jerry Costello, Dick Durbin and President Barack Obama.

He said he will continue to be the voice advocating for citizens that are not able to speak on their behalf: citizens with mental issues, senior citizens, veterans, the homeless, and union workers.

President Holliday is well respected by county officials around the state," said Kelly Murray, executive director of the Illinois Association of County Board Members and Commissioners. "He has a unique ability to bring people together, and a strong commitment to make government more efficient, effective, and inclusive. The people of Illinois and the associations members will be well served by Docs leadership."
JERUSALEM (AP)  An Israeli police officer shot and killed a Palestinian man who stabbed him in southern Israel early on Tuesday, police said, the latest in a series of deadly incidents during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

The police said the man drew a knife and stabbed the officer during a security check near a construction site in the city of Ashkelon. The officer, lightly wounded, shot the man and killed him. The Magen David Adom rescue service took the officer to a nearby hospital.

Police did not identify the Palestinian man, but said he was was from Hebron in the occupied West Bank. The shooting raised to five the number of Palestinians killed in recent days, among them an unarmed woman who was shot and killed at a military checkpoint in Bethlehem.

The Israeli army, meanwhile, confirmed carrying out multiple raids across the West Bank, saying it had arrested 20 suspects.

Much of the military's recent activity has focused on Jenin, a city in the northern West Bank where two Palestinian attackers who killed Israelis lived. The army said that residents hurled explosives at troops, who fired back at the suspects. There were no immediate reports of Palestinian injuries, and the army said none of its soldiers were hurt.

The incidents are part of a spate of violence around Israel during Ramadan, when tensions between Israelis and Palestinians often run high. Ramadan this year converges with major Jewish and Christian holidays. Protests and clashes in Jerusalem during Ramadan last year boiled over into an 11-day war between Israel and Gaza militants.

We will not let them, our enemy, stop our lives," Prime Minister Naftali Bennett told about 100 late-night revelers at the re-opening of Tel Aviv's Ilka bar, the nightclub where a Palestinian gunman from Jenin killed three people last Thursday before being gunned down. Were returning back to life ... And simultaneously, we fight.

Israel has stepped up its military activity in the West Bank after Palestinian assailants killed 14 Israelis in four attacks inside the country in recent weeks. At the same time, it has taken a series of steps to try to calm the situation, including granting thousands of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip, run by the militant Hamas group, permits to work inside Israel.
SAN DIEGO (AP)  A California appeals court has upheld a lower court ruling that Johnson & Johnson must pay penalties to the state for deceptively marketing pelvic mesh implants for women, but reduced the amount by $42 million to $302 million.

Johnson & Johnson had appealed in 2020 after Superior Court Judge Eddie Sturgeon assessed the $344 million in penalties against Johnson & Johnson subsidiary Ethicon.

Sturgeon found after a non-jury trial that the company made misleading and potentially harmful statements in hundreds of thousands of advertisements and instructional brochures for nearly two decades.

California's Fourth District Court of Appeal issued a ruling Monday that $42 million in penalties assessed for the companys sales pitches to doctors were unjustified because there was no evidence of what the sales representatives actually said.

But the appeals court said Sturgeon received ample evidence that Ethicon knowingly deceived both physicians and patients about the risks posed by its products, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.

Ryan Carbain, a Johnson & Johnson spokesperson, told the Chronicle that the company would appeal the appeals court ruling to the state Supreme Court.

The instructions for use in all of the company's pelvic mesh implant packages falsified or omitted the full range, severity, duration, and cause of complications associated with Ethicons pelvic mesh products, as well as the potential irreversibility and catastrophic consequences, Presiding Justice Judith McConnell of the appeals court said in a 3-0 ruling upholding the $302 million in penalties.

She rejected the companys claim that the fine was excessive, saying it amounted to less than 1% of Johnson & Johnsons net worth of $70.4 billion.

The products, also called transvaginal mesh, are synthetic and surgically implanted through the vagina of women whose pelvic organs have sagged or who suffered from stress urinary incontinence when they cough, sneeze or lift heavy objects.

Many women have sued the New Jersey-based company alleging that the mesh caused severe pain, bleeding, infections, discomfort during intercourse and the need for removal surgery.

The condition is estimated to affect 3% to 17% of women and it sometimes becomes severe after age 70.

Johnson & Johnson, the worlds biggest maker of health care products, is contesting other lawsuits over drug side effects, its role in the U.S. opioid epidemic and allegations its baby powder caused cancer in some users.
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP)  Oregons top judge for settling disputes between citizens and state agencies is facing child pornography allegations.

Chief Administrative Law Judge John Mann, 56, was booked into Washington County Jail last month on ten counts of first-degree encouraging child sexual abuse, The Oregonian/OregonLive reported. He was released on bail hours later.

A spokesperson for the Beaverton Police Department, which investigated the case, said Mann was arraigned Monday in Washington County Circuit Court. Charles Boyle, a spokesperson for Gov. Kate Brown, said Mann had been placed on unpaid administrative leave amid the investigation.

Copies of the charges werent yet available Monday on the states electronic court information system, the newspaper reported.

It wasnt immediately known if Mann has a lawyer to comment on his behalf and efforts to find contact information for the judge weren't immediately successful.

These are incredibly serious allegations, Boyle said in a statement, adding that Mann had been appointed by Brown in 2017. We are continuing to monitor the situation and will take further action as warranted.

Mann oversaw roughly 60 judges who adjudicate thousands of cases each year brought by residents or businesses that disagree with state agency rulings mostly involving unemployment insurance, child support payments or the Department of Human Services, according to a newsletter published by the Oregon State Bar.
SANTEE, Calif. (AP)  A judge has ordered the Southern California city of Santee to throw out the approval of a long-planned housing project, the latest major development in the state to be sidetracked over concerns about destructive wildfires.

The Santee City Council in late 2020 approved the Fanita Ranch project, giving the green light to 3,000 new homes in hills northeast of San Diego.

In her decision, Superior Court Judge Katherine Bacal wrote that Fanita Ranch developers hadnt adequately considered how the new homes could affect potential wildfire evacuations. The judge said that eight resolutions and ordinances giving approval must be overturned, the San Diego Union-Tribune reported Monday.

The newspaper said the judge expressed concern that the plan didnt fully address whether thousands of new residents would have time to flee during an emergency like a wildfire.

It's the third California housing development to be blocked in recent months. The state has experienced increasingly larger and deadlier wildfires as climate change has made the West much warmer and drier over the past 30 years.

The Santee project, overseen by HomeFed Fanita Rancho, is not dead, and developers said they would revise the environmental impact report to address the judges concerns.

Messages left by the Union-Tribune with the citys manager and attorney were not immediately returned.

The decision was celebrated by environmental groups that sued to stop the project, arguing that more homes would only increase the risk of fire.

Last October, a judge halted parts of the 1,100-home Otay Ranch project, also in San Diego County, after state Attorney General Rob Bonta and others objected that it would be too prone to wildfires.

Superior Court Judge Richard Whitney ruled that the countys environmental impact report for portions of the Otay project failed to properly account for the increased risks from housing thousands of people in a fire hazard zone.

In February 2021, the attorney generals office backed a Northern California court challenges contending Lake County officials did not account for increased wildfire risk from approving 1,400 homes, 850 hotel rooms and resort apartments at the Guenoc Valley Ranch property.

The challenges come at a time when California is struggling with a persistent affordable housing and homelessness problem, though critics said the proposed upscale developments would do little to help.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP)  Women will have to wait 24 hours before getting an abortion under a ruling by a Florida judge in a nearly seven-year battle over the waiting period.

Circuit Judge Angela Dempsey in Tallahassee tossed out a lawsuit filed on behalf of a Gainesville women's clinic, saying other medical procedures have similar waiting periods and other important decisions like getting married, getting divorced and buying a gun have longer waiting periods.

Twenty-four hours is the minimum time needed to sleep on such an important decision, Judge Dempsey wrote.

The waiting period goes into effect once Dempsey signs one additional piece of paperwork.

Dempsey also added that exceptions for the life of a mother, documented cases of rape and incest, and victims of domestic violence and human traffic support the constitutionality of the law.

The Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops praised the decision.

The 24-hour reflection period is a reasonable measure that will empower women to make truly informed, deliberate decisions apart from the abortion industrys pressures, Christie Arnold, the organization's lobbyist, said in a news release.

The ruling comes a month after the Florida Legislature sent Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis a bill banning abortion after 15 weeks. DeSantis is expected to sign it.

Since the passage of this law, Florida politicians have continued to place hurdles in the path of people seeking abortion care as part of a larger effort to push care out of reach," said American Civil Liberties Union lawyer Julia Kaye. "The state legislature took its most extreme step yet in attacking reproductive freedom earlier last month."

The ACLU is evaluating its next steps in the legal battle.

Former governor and current U.S. Sen. Rick Scott signed the bill into law in June 2015. The ACLU of Florida and the Center for Reproductive Rights filed the suit the next day on behalf of the Bread and Roses Womens Health Center in Gainesville.

The lawsuit argued that many women will have a difficult time scheduling appointments on two consecutive days because of work or school schedules, child care availability and the need to travel, especially if they have a low income.

It also said the exceptions in the law such as rape and incest are meaningless because they require documentation and the majority of victims do not report such crimes. The creation of a two-day process also increases the chances that a womans abuser will discover the pregnancy and force her to not have the abortion, the lawsuit said.

The lawsuit has been dragged out for nearly seven years. A trial court initially threw it out without a full trial, finding it unconstitutional. In a 2-1 ruling, the 1st District Court of Appeal sent the lawsuit back to the circuit court, saying the state had built evidence that supports the constitutionality of the law. The court also lifted an injunction that was temporarily blocking the law from taking effect during legal proceedings.

The state Supreme Court quickly put the injunction back in place while the case continued.

An abortion clinic in Jacksonville began implementing the 24-hour waiting period last week in anticipation of the judges ruling. Amber Gavin, head of advocacy and operations at A Womans Choice, said the clinic didn't want patients to suddenly have to change travel plans to quickly adhere to the law.

This is incredibly hard on some of them. They come to us and have already taken the day off from work, arranged child care, she said. Some of them had not realized this was going to happen, so its really painful and hard for our staff to tell the patient that the state is mandating this.

Gavin said it will also require more staffing hours, and for physicians to be at the clinic longer than before.

___

Associated Press writer Adriana Gomez Licon in Miami contributed to this report.
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP)  Nebraska lawmakers gave final approval Tuesday to a bill that would let the state build a canal in Colorado to divert water out of the South Platte River, a project steeped in fears about the Denver area's growing water consumption.

Lawmakers passed the measure with little fanfare, 42-4, and sent it to Republican Gov. Pete Ricketts, who proposed the idea and is expected to sign it.

The legislation will allow the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources to start work on the estimated $500 million canal. They've only approved $53.5 million in funding, however, which will force the department to seek more money next year to continue the project.

State officials have they'll use the initial money for design work, permitting and purchase options to potentially buy land for the project in the future.

Ricketts announced the plan in January to invoke Nebraskas right to construct the canal under the South Platte River Compact, a legally binding water-sharing agreement approved by Nebraska, Colorado and Congress in 1923.

Building the canal would give Nebraska the right to claim some of the water in late fall, winter and early spring and store it for use in drier times. Colorado has always fulfilled its obligation to provide at least 120 cubic feet per second of water during the summer irrigation season, but it has no such duty during the non-irrigation season.

Some Nebraska lawmakers have questioned whether the project is necessary.

A spokesman for Colorado Gov. Jared Polis has called the project a bad-faith attempt to undermine a century-long and successful compact between Colorado and Nebraska and a costly boondoggle for Nebraska taxpayers.
COVINGTON, Ky. (AP)  A suspect in an Ohio slaying was fatally shot by officers in northern Kentucky as he came toward them with a loaded revolver, authorities said.

Officers with the Cincinnati Police Departments fugitive apprehension squad went to a Covington home Monday with local officers to ask about the suspect, news outlets reported, citing a statement from the agency.

Body camera footage shows the suspect immediately came outside and continued towards our officers with a loaded gun pointed at them" and officers fired when he did not comply with several commands to drop the gun, the statement said.

Any time there is a loss of life, it is a traumatic and tragic situation for everyone involved, Interim Cincinnati Police Chief Teresa Theetge said in a statement. Our officers thought they were going to interview the mother of a murder suspect and ultimately had to use deadly force in front of her.

The Hamilton County Prosecutors Office identified the man as Ali Coulter, 20. Coulter was wanted in connection with fatal shooting of Christian Jones, 28, earlier this month, according to court documents.

Cincinnati police identified the officers who fired shots as Charles Knapp, who has been with the force since 2004, and Mark Longworth, who has been with the force since 1998.

Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Pureval said there will be a thorough and transparent investigation into the shooting.

Since the shooting took place in Covington, Kentucky State Police are investigating in addition to Cincinnati police.
The mother of a Puerto Rican Olympian killed by a stray bullet in her Connecticut home was an unintended victim of a drug dispute that erupted into the firing of more than 20 gunshots, a police official said Tuesday.

Mabel Martinez, 56, was shot in the head inside her Waterbury home on Saturday afternoon when at least two people opened fire outside on the street, Waterbury Police Chief Fernando Spagnolo said at a news conference. No arrests were announced.

Martinez was the mother of Yarimar Mercado Martinez, a rifle shooter on the Puerto Rico Olympic team who competed in the summer Olympics last year and in 2016. She and other family members were in Waterbury on Tuesday, but did not speak at the news conference.

Spagnolo said people in two cars, including convicted felons known for drug dealing, got into a shootout outside Mabel Martinez's home. The reason for the dispute was not clear. A man involved in the confrontation, who was on the street, was shot in the hip but survived. No other injuries were reported.

Officers found 15 9mm casings and seven 45-caliber cases at the scene. Police said they were trying to determine if one or two 9 mm guns were fired.

Police have found both cars involved in the shooting and one of their owners. The other owner was being sought for questioning. Both men are convicted felons known to have sold drugs, police said, but they have not been charged in the shooting.

Spagnolo said the shooting raises questions about how illegal guns get into communities and how people on parole and probation are monitored.

Yarimar Mercado Martinez, 27, traveled to Waterbury late Sunday from Brazil, where she was to compete in an international shooting competition. She expressed her anguish in social media posts.

Why you? Why this way? You were just sitting in your little house sewing, as you always did, she wrote in Spanish on Facebook.
An official of a party faction in the Baath Party was killed in the city of Nawa in the western countryside of Daraa, after being shot at by unidentified gunmen, at a time when the region is witnessing security chaos, according to what the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported.

According to the observatory's sources, the party official works as spy for the security branches of the Damascus government.

Thus, the outcome of the targeting in Daraa, since the beginning of January, according to the observatorys documentation, has reached 133, all of which took place in different ways and methods, and caused the death of 108 people, they are: 57 civilians, including a woman and two children, and 37 soldiers affiliated with the Damascus government and collaborators with The security services and settlements elements, 7 local militants who made settlements and did not join any military party after that, a former ISIS mercenary, 5 unidentified people and a member of pro-Russian groups.

T/S

ANHA
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STRASBOURG, France (AP)  French President Emmanuel Macron and extreme-right politician Marine Le Pen voiced two radically opposed visions of Europe on Tuesday: one resolutely advocating for the bloc of 27 nations, the other defending her French nationalist mottos.

If Macron falters in France's April 24 presidential runoff between the two, the far-right could be at the helm of the European Union, an abhorrent idea to most leaders in the bloc.

Experts say a win for Le Pen would have immense repercussions on the functioning of the EU. Not only would her coming to power damage the democratic values and commercial rules of the bloc, but it would also threaten the EUs common front and sanctions in response to Russias war in Ukraine.

Macron headed on Tuesday to Strasbourg, the seat of the EU parliament, to speak about France's role in Europe. All polls show he is the favorite in the runoff, but Le Pen has significantly narrowed the gap compared to when Macron handily won five years ago.

Nationalism is war, Macron warned in front of thousands of supporters waiving French and European flags.

At a time when war is back on the European continent ... it's through Europe that we will build peace, he said, welcoming a big Ukrainian flag being waived in front of the stage.

Europe is a treasure we patiently built, but which will also allow us to respond to the challenges of the future, he added.

The outdoor rally, near the city's 12th-century cathedral, was closed by the French and the European anthems.

France has always stood at the heart of the EU  a founding member that has partnered with neighbor and historical rival Germany to turn the bloc into an economic giant and an icon of Western values. To hand that vaunted perch to a far-right politician would be bad enough. But, as coincidence would have it, France also holds the EU's rotating six-month presidency this spring, which also allows it to speak with the power of the 27.

It is a pedestal few want to offer to Le Pen. The National Rally leader wants to establish national border controls on imports and people, reduce the French contribution to the EU budget and cease to recognize that European law has primacy over national law.

She has proposed removing taxes on hundreds of goods and wants to reduce taxes on fuel  which would go against the EUs free market rules and efforts to fight climate change.

Although Le Pen has excised Frexit from her platform, her hostility toward the EU is still clear. Speaking to France Inter radio, Le Pen said Tuesday that a large majority of French people no longer want the European Union as it exists today. She accused the bloc of acting in an absolutely anti-democratic way.

She refuted critics charges that her policies would amount to a French exit from the EU. Instead, she said the EU can be changed from within.

Macron accused Le Pen of speaking nonsense.

She explains that she wont pay the bill for the (EU) club, that she will change the rules, but will change the rules alone" he said. It means she wants to get out (of the EU) but doesnt dare say it anymore."

Jean-Claude Piris, who served as a legal counsel to the European Council, said a victory for Le Pen would have the effect of an earthquake."

She is in favor of a form of economic patriotism with state aids, which is contrary to the rules of the single market, Piris told The Associated Press.

She wants to modify the French constitution by giving preference to the French, by suppressing the right of the soil, the right of asylum, which would be totally incompatible with the values of the European treaties, Piris added.

Piris said Le Pen would also threaten the unanimity of the bloc's 27 nations on the sanctions they have adopted so far against Russia for its invasion of Ukraine. She could prevent further measures being adopted. The bloc is currently mulling whether to add further restrictions on oil imports from Russia.

Le Pen has built close links with the Kremlin over the years. In her previous bid to become the French president in 2017, she called for strong security ties with Moscow to jointly combat radical Islamic groups. She also pledged to recognize Crimea  the peninsula Russia annexed from Ukraine in 2014  as part of Russia.

Le Pen acknowledged Russias invasion of Ukraine has partially changed her views about Russian President Vladimir Putin, saying he was wrong and expressing her support for the Ukrainian people and refugees.

A report from the Center for European Reform highlighted how Le Pen could go down the same road as Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and his Polish counterpart Mateusz Morawiecki in throwing up roadblocks for Brussels wherever she can to further slow the EUs already cumbersome decision-making.

"The difference is that France ... is indispensable to the EU, the report stressed, saying the consequences would be political chaos.

Macron made a similar parallel with Hungary, warning that the far-right Le Pen would do the same thing that he said is happening in Budapest: methodically, gradually reducing and deteriorating rights.

CER experts also believe that Le Pen's policies would clash with the blocs climate goals. Le Pen is in favor of expanding nuclear and several non-governmental groups have warned that she would slow down the transition toward renewable energy.

On top of that, the traditional French-German tandem would be undermined, with German Socialist chancellor Olaf Scholz highly unlikely to reach any compromise with Le Pen.

Luxembourgs long-serving foreign minister, Jean Asselborn, said Le Pen as French president would put us on a totally different track in the essence of the European Union.

The French must prevent that, he said.

____

Casert and Petrequin reported from Brussels. Colleen Barry in Milan, Italy, and Geir Moulson in Berlin contributed.
NEW HAVEN  Talks of a student backlash against U.S. Sen. Ted Cruzs appearance at Yale University never materialized Monday night, as the conservative Texas senator spoke uninterrupted for nearly 40 minutes with the co-host of his popular podcast.

The speaking event, held in the ballroom of the Omni Hotel, came days after Cruz joined other Republican officials in signing an open letter calling on Yale Law School administrators to crack down on student protesters who disrupted another event featuring a speaker known for her opposition to LGBTQ rights.

Cruz and his co-host, Yale-alumnus Michael Knowles, spoke about the incident at length along with their broader concerns about what they said was a culture of censorship and groupthink at elite universities.

What happened at Yale Law School, whats sad about that is it is not unusual, you see it happening at universities all over the country, Cruz said. Instead of doing what one would imagine Yale lawyers would be capable of doing, which is presenting arguments and reasoning, they instead tried to exercise the hecklers veto and just scream down anyone who disagrees.

But despite threats of another protest by students, as reported by the Yale Daily News, the scene outside the hotel was calm Monday evening as attendees lined up down the block for a chance to fill some of the unused seats at the reportedly sold-out event.

One of those in line, Yale senior Marielena Rodas, held a neon yellow sign with the words traitor and an expletive written in Spanish.

I think its pathetic, Rodas said of the decision to host the senator by the William F. Buckley Program at Yale, which touts its mission as promoting intellectual diversity.

Another Yale student with Rodas cited Cruzs recent questioning of Supreme Court nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson that some criticized as an attempt to smear the judge as sympathetic toward sex offenders based on her sentencing records.

Rodas later made it into the event  though her sign did not  and sat listening with the hundreds of other attendees as Cruz and Knowles recorded a live session of their podcast, Verdict with Ted Cruz.

During the first part of the event, a roughly 40-minute discussion between Knowles and Cruz, the crowd remained unobtrusive and there were no interruptions by jeering or hecklers. Afterward, during a question-and-answer session, Knowles invited attendees with differing viewpoints to come to the front of the line to ask questions.

Cruz praised the attendees who had come in opposition to his views without shouting him down, calling the event wonderfully and refreshingly open-minded.

One attendee who confronted Cruz with a question about his conduct during Jacksons hearing  calling his treatment of the judge flagrantly racist  asked if he could say two positive things regarding Jacksons nearly decade-long judicial record.

Cruz defended his questioning of Jackson, saying every single question I asked her had to do with her record, and not race, though he declined to offer any positive remarks on her judicial rulings. Instead, he said he was conflicted over the nomination of Jackson, who was his classmate at Harvard Law School, calling her smart and charming despite her liberal record.

At another point, a person asked Cruz about his vote against certifying the results of the 2020 presidential election and whether he believed President Joe Biden had won the election fairly.

Cruz responded that Biden is indisputably the president of the United States today, before repeating debunked claims that the election had been unfairly tainted by widespread voter fraud.

Prior to Cruzs appearance on Monday, Yale administrators had defended their response to previous incidents involving disruptions of speaking events by student protesters that have prompted accusations of the student-body being hostile toward free speech.

In a letter to students and faculty on March 28, Yale Law School Dean Heather Gerken called the March disruption by students unacceptable, but said it did not violate the universitys free expression policy, which she said grants students three strikes before they are removed by security.

According to the Yale Daily News, the majority of the students who showed up to protest that event featuring Alliance Defending Freedom attorney Kristen Waggoner left after initially expressing their objections to the speaker.
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BEIJING (AP)  Some residents of Shanghai were allowed out of their homes as the city of 25 million eased a two-week-old shutdown Tuesday after a video posted online showed what was said to be people who ran out of food breaking into a supermarket.

About 6.6 million people can go outdoors, but some must stay in their own neighborhoods, the online news outlet The Paper reported, citing city officials. The government said some markets and pharmacies would reopen.

A health official warned Shanghai doesn't have the coronavirus under control despite easing restrictions.

The epidemic is in a period of rapid growth, said Lei Zhenglong of the National Health Commission at a news conference. Community transmission has not been effectively contained.

The abrupt closure of most businesses starting March 28 and orders to stay home left the public fuming about lack of access to food and medicine. People who test positive for the virus are forced into sprawling temporary quarantine facilities criticized by some as crowded and unsanitary.

Meanwhile, the American government announced all non-emergency U.S. government employees would be withdrawn from its Shanghai Consulate. A foreign ministry spokesman defended China's handling of the outbreak and accused Washington of politicizing its evacuation.

Also Tuesday, the government of Guangzhou, a manufacturing and trading center northwest of Hong Kong, announced a new round of virus testing for its 19 million people. Most access to the city was stopped after 27 infections were found Monday.

The unusual severity of Shanghais shutdown appeared to be driven as much by politics as by public health concerns.

The struggle in Chinas richest city is an embarrassment during a politically sensitive year when President Xi Jinping is expected to try to break with tradition and award himself a third five-year term as leader of the ruling Communist Party.

Chinas case numbers are relatively low, but the ruling party is enforcing a zero-tolerance strategy aimed at isolating every case. Some officials have been fired for failing to act aggressively enough, which gives others an incentive to impose extreme measures.

The government reported 24,659 new cases through midnight Monday, including 23,387 with no symptoms. That included 23,346 in Shanghai, only 998 of whom had symptoms.

In Shanghai, more than 200,000 cases but no deaths have been reported in the latest wave of infections.

The government eased restrictions by announcing residents of areas with no cases for at least two weeks can leave their homes starting Tuesday. It said they could go to other areas that also had no new cases during that time but were urged to stay home when possible.

Such prevention areas have about 4.8 million people, The Paper reported, citing city officials. It said all but 500,000 of those were in less crowded suburbs.

An additional 1.8 million people in control areas with no new cases in the past week are allowed out but can't leave their neighborhoods, the report said.

Another 15 million people in quarantine areas that have had infections in the past week still are barred from leaving their homes. The report gave no indication of the status of the remaining 3.4 million people in the official population.

The shutdown of Shanghai, home of the world's busiest port and China's main stock exchange, has prompted fears manufacturing and global trade might be disrupted.

Automakers in Shanghai, a manufacturing center, have suspended or reduced production due to interruptions in supplies of components. The port's management says operations are normal, but European Union Chamber of Commerce in China has estimated the volume of cargo it handles every day has fallen 40%.

Residents complained the shutdown left them without access to food or medicine and unable to look after elderly relatives who lived alone.

The government distributed packages of vegetables and other food for a few days at least twice to some households. Others said they received nothing.

A video that circulated online Saturday showed what a caption said were people in the Songjiang district breaking into a supermarket and carrying away cartons of food.

Police denied the event occurred in Shanghai. A police statement Tuesday said the video was posted by a man in Kunshan, west of Shanghai, but not when or where it was shot. It said the man received unspecified administrative penalties for disrupting public order by fabricated facts.

The Associated Press was unable to find the source of the video or when and where it was shot.

Official plans in late March called for suspending access to districts of Shanghai for four days at a time while residents were tested. After case numbers soared, that changed to an indefinite citywide shutdown with only a few hours notice.

Despite a promise by city officials to improve food supplies, residents said online grocers often sold out early in the day or were unable to deliver. Vendors said they added hundreds of employees to speed deliveries.

The State Department last week advised Americans against travel to China due to arbitrary enforcement of laws and anti-virus restrictions. It cited a risk of parents and children being separated.

On Tuesday, a State Department statement said the U.S. government decided it is best for our employees and their families to be reduced in number due to changing circumstances on the ground.

The foreign ministry criticized the announcement and said China's anti-virus work is scientific and effective.

The United States should immediately stop attacking Chinas epidemic prevention policy, stop political manipulation with the epidemic issue and stop smearing and discrediting China, said a ministry spokesman, Zhao Lijian.

___

AP video producer Liu Zheng and researcher Yu Bing in Beijing and researcher Chen Si in Shanghai contributed.
BOSTON (AP)  Russian military hackers attempted to knock out power to millions of Ukrainians last week in a long-planned attack but were foiled, Ukrainian government officials said Tuesday.

At one targeted high-voltage power station, the hackers succeeded in penetrating and disrupting part of the industrial control system, but people defending the station were able to prevent electrical outages, the Ukrainians said.

The threat was serious, but it was prevented in a timely manner, a top Ukrainian cybersecurity official, Victor Zhora, told reporters through an interpreter. It looks that we were very lucky.

The hackers from Russia's GRU military intelligence agency used an upgraded version of malware first seen in its successful 2016 attack that caused blackouts in Kyiv, officials said, that was customized to target multiple substations. They simultaneously seeded malware designed to wipe out computer operating systems, hindering recovery.

Authorities did not specify how many substations were targeted or their location, citing security concerns, but a deputy energy minister, Farid Safarov, said 2 million people would have been without electricity supply if it was successful.

Zhora, the deputy chair of the State Service of Special Communications, said the malware was programmed to knock out power on Friday evening just as people returned home from work and switched on news reports.

He said that power grid networks were penetrated before the end of February, when Russia invaded, and that the attackers later uploaded the malware, dubbed Industroyer2. The malware succeeded in disrupting one component of the impacted power station's management systems, also known as SCADA systems.

Zhora would not offer further details or explain how the attack was defeated or which partners may have assisted directly in defeating it. He did acknowledge the depth of international assistance Ukraine has received in identifying intrusions and the challenges of trying to rid government, power grid and telecommunications networks of attackers. The helpers include keyboard warriors from U.S. Cybercommand, which declined comment.

The Computer Emergency Response Team of Ukraine thanked Microsoft and the cybersecurity firm ESET for their assistance in dealing with the power grid attack in a bulletin posted online.

Officials said the destructive attacks had been planned at least since March 23, and Zhora speculated it was timed by Russia to invigorate its soldiers after they took heavy losses in a failed bid to capture Kyiv, the capital.

Zhora stressed that Russian cyberattacks have not successfully knocked out any power to Ukrainians since this invasion began.

GRU hackers from a group that researchers call Sandworm twice successfully attacked Ukraines power grid  in the winters of 2015 and 2016. U.S. prosecutors indicted six GRU officials in 2020 for using a previous version of the Industroyer malware to attack Ukraine's power grid by gaining control of electrical substation switches and circuit breakers.

In the 2016 attack, Sandworm hackers used Industroyer to turn circuit breakers on and off in a sequence designed to create a blackout, said Jean-Ian Boutin, director of threat research at ESET.

We know that Industroyer still has the capability to turn off circuit breakers, he said.

Working closely with Ukrainian responders, ESET also determined that the attackers had infected networks at the targeted plants with disk-wiping software.

Successfully activating the malware would have rendered plant systems in operable, seriously hindering remediation and recovery and destroying the attackers' digital footprints, Boutin said.

One of the destructive malware varieties used in the attack, dubbed CaddyWiper, was first discovered by ESET in mid-March being used against a Ukrainian bank, he said.

Western prosecutors blame Sandworm for a series of high-profile cyberattacks including the most destructive, the 2017 NotPetya wiper virus that caused more than $10 billion in damage globally by destroying data on entire networks of computers of companies doing business in Ukraine including those belonging to the shipper Maersk and the pharmaceutical company Merck.

Russias use of cyberattacks against Ukrainian infrastructure during its invasion has been limited compared with experts pre-war expectations. In the early hours of the war, however, an attack Ukraine blames on Russia knocked offline an important satellite communications link that also impacted tens of thousands of Europeans from France to Poland.

In another serious cyberattack of the war, hackers knocked offline the internet and cellular service of a major telecommunications company that serves the military, Ukretelecom, for most of the day on March 28.

Zhora said the potential of Russian (state-backed) hackers has been overestimated and cited a number of reasons why he believes cyberattacks have not played a major role in the conflict:

 When the aggressor is pummeling civilian targets with bombs and rockets there is little need to hide behind covert cyberactivity.

 Ukraine has significantly upped its cyber defenses with the help of volunteers from sympathetic countries.

 Attacks as sophisticated as this effort to knock out power are complex and tend to require a lot of time.

This is not an easy thing to do, Zhora said.

Ukraine has been under steady Russian cyberattack for the past eight years, with Zhora noting that the attacks have tripled since the invasion when compared with the same period last year.

Russia has said its invasion was needed to protect civilians in eastern Ukraine, a false claim the U.S. had predicted Russia would make as a pretext for the invasion. Ukraine has called Russia's assault a war of aggression, saying it will defend itself and will win.

___

Associated Press writer Alan Suderman in Richmond, Virginia, contributed to this report.
CHICAGO (AP)  The widow of a northern Illinois police officer who killed himself amid an investigation of his alleged theft of thousands of dollars from a youth program was sentenced on Tuesday to two years probation for her role in the scheme.

Melodie Gliniewicz, who pleaded guilty in February to one felony count of deceptive practices in exchange for prosecutors' agreement to drop several other charges, faced a maximum sentence of three years in prison. But Lake County Judge James Booras' sentence was not surprising given that prosecutors did not ask that Gliniewicz be sent to prison.

In sentencing Gliniewicz, Booras said that there was no indication that Gliniewicz took any money from the Fox Lake Explorers Post that her husband oversaw. Booras said her involvement was totally the result of her late husband, Fox Lake Police Lt. Charles Joe Gliniewiczs scheme to use thousands of dollars from the programs funds to pay for a vacation, meals, health club membership and other personal expenses.

Further, he said, The defendant appears to be rehabilitated."

The sentencing came after an all-day hearing during which Gliniewicz tearfully told the judge that she did not know the extent of her husband's use of the money from the Fox Lake Explorers program and, in fact, paid money back when she learned what had happened.

I never took a cent from the Explorers fund, no matter what has been reported," she said.

Gliniewicz said she has been punished daily for what her husband did, telling the judge that she has been unable to find a job because of my name and that her husband's grave has been defaced by vandals.

The sentencing is the latest chapter in a bizarre story that began after Lt. Gliniewicz was found shot to death on Sept. 1, 2015, shortly after he radioed a dispatcher to report that he was chasing three suspects on foot in the community about 45 miles (72.42 kilometers) northwest of Chicago.

The discovery of his body, with two bullet wounds in his torso, sparked a massive manhunt involving hundreds of officers from area law enforcement agencies, helicopters, heat-sensing sensors and K-9 units, as local residents locked themselves in their homes out of fear that the killers were on the loose.

Weeks later, officials made a stunning announcement that the popular lieutenant known as G.I. Joe" and whose funeral procession attracted thousands of people who lined the streets to pay their respects, had staged his suicide. Officials later sad the 30-year department veteran stole thousands of dollars from the youth program he oversaw.
RICHMOND, Va. (AP)  Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin has proposed substantial changes to a hemp bill aimed at reining in the retail sales of products containing a psychoactive form of THC, including amendments that would create new misdemeanor penalties for marijuana possession.

The bill is among more than 100 pieces of legislation the Republican governor is seeking to amend, his office announced late Monday, just ahead of a deadline Youngkin faced to take action on bills sent to his desk. Of the 841 measures the divided General Assembly passed, the governor signed about 700 and vetoed 26.

Lawmakers will meet April 27 to consider the governor's proposed amendments and will also have the chance to override his vetoes, a move that would require a 2/3 vote in each chamber.

The hemp measure rewrote the definition of marijuana in state code in a way industry players said would have severely curtailed the sale of CBD products that don't produce a high, in addition to ending the retail sales of delta-8, a chemical cousin of pots main intoxicating ingredient, sales of which have proliferated around the country.

Youngkin's amendments, which both chambers would have to approve, would prohibit the retail sale of products containing synthetic delta-8 as of Oct. 1, according to an overview his office provided. But it is intended to preserve the market for regulated CBD products currently available, Youngkin said in a statement.

Youngkin's amendments would also create a Class 2 misdemeanor offense for possession of more than 2 and less than 6 ounces of marijuana and a Class 1 misdemeanor for possession of more than 6 ounces and less than 1 pound.

A 2021 law passed when Democrats were in full control of state government laid out a yearslong pathway toward retail sales and legalized the possession of up to an ounce of marijuana. Anyone possessing an amount between an ounce and a pound is currently subject to a small civil fine.

The creation of a misdemeanor offense was a recommendation of the legislature's watchdog agency, which said last year that the state's approach to possession was out of line with other states where marijuana is legal, the Richmond Times-Dispatch reported.

Youngkin is also seeking amendments to another controversial bill that would lift a ban enacted only a year ago on the use of facial recognition technology by most police agencies.

The measure passed in March with an unusual bipartisan coalition of support after appearing to teeter on the brink of death for several days.

The amended version of the bill would require additional training and establish the Virginia State Police as a resource for local law enforcement who need to utilize the technology, Youngkin's office said.

With his proposed amendments, Youngkin also took aim at Loudoun County Public Schools, which have drawn outsize attention for controversies over curriculum debates, COVID-19 policies and the district's handling of two sex assaults.

The governor's proposed amendments to a Democratic legislator's bill that dealt with the staggering of school board terms would force the entire board to face election this fall.

Youngkin said in a statement that the proposed changes would provide accountability and transparency in education.

A district spokesman didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.

As for the 700 bills Youngkin approved, all bipartisan thanks to the split control of the General Assembly, Youngkin said he was honored to sign them.

Among the bills he signed were:

 a campaign finance oversight measure that would implement reviews of campaign committee financial records by the Department of Elections;

 a Freedom of Information Act measure that would undo a recent reform intended to expand public access to certain law enforcement files in closed criminal investigations;

 legislation that toughens the penalty for stealing catalytic converters;

 a measure banning racial discrimination at Virginia's highly regarded Governor's Schools;

 legislation intended to crack down on unsolicited sexually explicit pictures and videos;

 a measure allowing small localities to opt out of a 2020 law that called for the establishment of statewide teams of behavioral health workers to respond to people experiencing mental health crises.

In addition to considering the governor's amendments and vetoes, lawmakers still have plenty of work to finish from their regular session, which they adjourned in mid-March because the Democrat-controlled Senate and GOP-controlled House were unable to reach agreement on a state budget.

Lawmakers kicked off a special session April 4 but met only briefly before going home again because negotiators had made no substantial progress toward an agreement during their break.

Also left undone were dozens of bills carried over from the regular session. It wasnt clear Tuesday when lawmakers would be meeting to take up that unfinished business.

___

Associated Press writer Denise Lavoie contributed to this report.
The city of Houston would really like locals to stop feeding ducks in Hermann Park, but responses on social media indicate stopping the practice will be an uphill battle.

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KHOU 11 posted a story Monday highlighting a push by local officials to enforce a feeding ban for the ducks living in the downtown park space. The feature included footage from the park, where residents have been asked to stop tossing breadcrumbs and other food to the duck population, which the city says has "exploded" in recent months and caused the birds to loiter in the space.

"For many years people have been bringing bread to the park and feeding the ducks and families like to come and do that," city of Houston natural resources manager Kelli Andracek told KHOU 11. "But it really has created some problems and the ducks are prolific breeders and the population has gotten a little bit out of control there."

The chief instigators of the overpopulation are Muscovy ducks, according to Andracek. Muscovys are large, warty-faced ducks with white and black plumage commonly found in South America. They make up a significant portion of the 150 waterfowl living in the park that officials are saying residents shouldn't feed. Efforts to drive home this point have included the city installing "Do Not Feed" signs by ponds in the park, but judging by social media responses to KHOU's news report, it's going to take a lot more than posted warnings to dissuade some people from the practice.

"All the fkn crime in the city and you're worried about some ducks being fed!!! Smh," commented one user on KHOU's YouTube video of the duck report.

"Just let people take them home," wrote another. "Free ducks!"

"I will feed the ducks any damn time I want," wrote user Dave Smiling Coyote.

"These people just wanna ruin the fun!" commented Jerin Browder. "[I'm] going to keep feeding the ducks."

"You have to put them on buses and send them to Delaware," wrote user @namagemx.

Hermann Park's duck drama comes months after Houston Nextdoor.com users began circulating a false story about an alleged plan concocted by the city to kill all of the park's domesticated ducks and geese. Park officials were quick to debunk the rumor and assured citizens that they are hoping to push the invasive ducks from the park peacefully via the feeding ban.
Commercial traffic at a key South Texas border crossing has stopped after Mexican truckers on Monday blocked north- and southbound lanes on the Mexico side of the Pharr-Reynosa International Bridge in protest of Texas Gov. Greg Abbotts decision to have state troopers inspect northbound commercial vehicles  historically a job done by the federal government.

The bridge connecting Pharr and Reynosa is the busiest trade crossing in the Rio Grande Valley and handles the majority of the produce that crosses into the U.S. from Mexico, including avocados, broccoli, peppers, strawberries and tomatoes. On Monday, with trucks backed up for miles in Reynosa for the fifth day in a row, some produce importers in Texas said they have waited days for their goods to arrive and already had buyers cancel orders.

One of our customers canceled the order because we didnt deliver on time, said Modesto Guerra, sales manager for Sterling Fresh Inc., which imports broccoli from Central Mexico via the Pharr bridge before shipping it to the Midwest and East Coast. Its something beyond our control.

While many companies cross perishable foods in refrigerated trucks, Guerra said the bottlenecks could lead to equipment failures that cause produce and other products to spoil in the heat.

Those refrigerated units are powered by diesel, Guerra said. These trucks are in line and when the diesel runs out they have no way of refueling.

International bridges elsewhere in the Valley, as well as in Eagle Pass, El Paso and Laredo, have also seen delays, with many commercial products produced in Mexico  like electronics, vehicle parts and medical instruments  also held up.

In response to the Biden administrations recent announcement that it plans to end Title 42  a pandemic-era emergency health order that lets federal officials turn away migrants at the border without the chance to request asylum  Abbott on Wednesday ordered the Texas Department of Public Safety to increase its inspections of commercial vehicles, which he said drug cartels use to smuggle humans and drugs into the United States.

At times, DPS troopers appear to be checking every commercial vehicle that crosses select international bridges, with each inspection taking between 45 minutes and an hour.

Mexican news outlets reported that about 500 truckers are blocking southbound traffic into Mexico to prevent the entrance of U.S. trucks. Truckers told El Manana in Reynosa that they had waited three to four days at the international bridge and were running out of fuel while they waited.

One trucker told the news outlet that prior to Abbotts order, he made two crossings into the U.S. a day. Now, hed be lucky to have one or two a week given the long delays at the bridges.

We are losing just as much as them, he said. When they start needing more produce, the prices are going to go up.

No one has told us what the reason for this is or asked what solutions we can come up with together, he added, saying the blockade will continue until their issues are resolved. All we know is that its an order from the governor of Texas.

Abbotts office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

U.S. Rep. Vicente Gonzalez, D-McAllen, joined a chorus of elected officials from the border who called on Abbott to rethink his strategy, saying the DPS inspections duplicate inspections already conducted by the federal government at the ports of entry.

Governor Abbotts unnecessary secondary inspections are killing business on the border, Gonzalez said in a written statement to The Texas Tribune. If this continues it will cause further supply line issues impacting America. And we will see prices of produce and other imports rise at the grocery store. He needs to allow the U.S. Customs and Border [Protection] inspection folks to do their job.

Commercial traffic bottlenecks on the Mexican side of the bridge are not unusual. From time to time, disgruntled Mexican farmers have used their tractors to block traffic in the border state of Tamaulipas to protest low government payments. Sometimes their protests disrupt traffic flow within Reynosa, and other times they block bridge traffic.

International bridges across the Texas-Mexico border also saw significant lines in 2019 when former President Donald Trump reassigned hundreds of customs officers from ports of entry to assist Border Patrol in dealing with detaining migrants crossing the border in between the bridges.

Those delays lasted hours or days in some cases. This time, importers and local officials are bracing for an even longer disruption to cross-border trade. Even without state troopers stopping vehicles, inspection times at international bridges have long been a source of delays due to federal staffing shortages as well as technology and infrastructure problems.

Hidalgo County Judge Richard Cortez said he cant remember a Texas governor upending international trade along the border like this.

This is a very serious situation, Cortez said in an interview. Truckers on the Mexican side closed the bridge so nothing can come across. I mean, what has happened is idiotic. It really is.

The delays are happening during one of the busiest weeks of the year at border crossings. Semana Santa, or Holy Week, started on Sunday and lasts through Saturday, and many families typically cross the border to see relatives, causing long lines at the bridges.

Teclo Garcia, the economic development director for Laredo, said city officials understand there are security issues the state wants to address, but the state didnt contact local officials to discuss the best way to address those issues.

Were dealing with 20,000 truck crossings a day [in Laredo]  there are security issues but thats why our federal partners are there, Garcia said. If [the state] wants to do more we can do more, but lets not impede trade.

Garcia said its too soon to know what economic impact the DPS inspections will have on the city, which has the busiest commercial crossings on the southwest border, but he added that eventually they could affect the entire country.

Of course, this is going to affect Laredo, El Paso and Brownsville, but the real impact is going to be in the supply chain which is already strained and the consumer, Garcia said.

On Saturday, five state senators from the border region asked Abbott in a letter to reconsider his directive, saying the increased inspections were generating delays and stalling the movement of goods at the ports of entry.

On Monday, state Sen. Juan Chuy Hinojosa, D-McAllen, whose district includes the Pharr bridge, called the situation a crisis and a mess that has been created, but it was not necessary.

Many of my constituents are asking Why are we being punished? The Valley supports border security, but this doesnt seem to have much or anything to do with border security, Hinojosa added. This is hurting people in their pocketbook.

Abbott on Monday touted the states increasing border security efforts during a speech at the annual meeting of the Texas Border Sheriffs Coalition in El Paso, saying its been successful in apprehending drug smugglers and people previously convicted of murder. He said the Biden administrations plan to end Title 42 next month could be cataclysmic for border communities because immigration officials are expecting up to 18,000 encounters a day with immigrants once Title 42 removals end. The current average is 6,000 a day.

According to an investigation by The Marshall Project, ProPublica and The Texas Tribune, the state had been including drug seizures and arrests for crimes far from the border to its Operation Lone Star tally  and later revised the arrest numbers.

Abbott didnt comment on the bridge delays Monday.

Last week, Abbott announced the state would be transporting migrants who already have been processed and released by federal immigration officials to Washington, D.C., or other places on buses. Later, he said the bus rides would be voluntary.

On Monday, Abbott said the buses are already available in some border counties and instructed local officials who need a bus to contact their county emergency management coordinator to request one.

He said the state is offering bus rides because some border cities dont have the services or infrastructure to help transport the migrants to their final destination.

If Border Patrol drops people off in your county, you will be able to work with the state to transport people out of your county to a location where they will be immediately connected with either Border Patrol professionals, [Immigration and Customs Enforcement] officials or other appropriate federal authorities, Abbott said.

Typically, when migrants have been released from immigration officials custody, local nonprofit organizations help many of them get in touch with friends and family already in the United States. The migrants usually pay for their own transportation to other parts of the country, then wait for their asylum requests to be resolved in immigration courts.

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.

The Texas Tribune is a member-supported, nonpartisan newsroom informing and engaging Texans on state politics and policy. Learn more at texastribune.org.
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Schools across America are racing to make up for time they lost during the pandemic by budgeting billions of dollars for tutoring, summer camps and longer school days and trying to untangle which students need help most urgently after two years of disruptions.

Many schools saw large numbers of students fall under the radar when learning went online for the pandemic. Many skipped class, tests and homework. Record numbers of families opted out of annual standardized tests, leaving some districts with little evidence of how students were doing in reading and math.

Now districts are trying to address that lack of information by adding new tests, training teachers to spot learning gaps and exploring new ways to identify students who need help. In many districts, the findings are being used to guide the spending of billions of dollars in federal relief that's meant to address learning loss and can be used in myriad ways.

New York City is adding three rounds of testing this year, hoping to pinpoint which students are behind. Similar tests are being used in Virginias Fairfax County, which is allotting larger shares of funding to schools with lower scores. Chicago is prioritizing students using a ranking system that factors in their grades and also rates of COVID-19 and violent crime near their homes.

Understanding completely where students are and what those gaps or challenges might be for them  that is going to be a challenge for us, said Debbie Durrence, the data officer for Gwinnett County, Georgia.

Her team, which serves the 180,000-student district, has started tracking a new metric: missingness. In regular reports, the team aims to log what is known about each students learning progress, but also what is unknown. Schools have been asked to help fill in gaps, and students are being tested more frequently.

For students, disruptions related to the pandemic are still reverberating. Now that Lorena Riveras twin daughters are back in the classroom in Boston, some of their teachers have quit mid-year or gotten sick with COVID-19. The 14-year-old twins struggled with virtual learning, feeling like they had nowhere to turn when they had trouble with math problems.

There was a lot of giving up  it was hard, Rivera said.

Her daughters, Elizabeth and Amerie Allder, have since found support through a local tutoring program, Boston Partners in Education, but Rivera wonders whether their school knows how her daughters are doing.

Im not sure because every time you meet with someone, they give you something different, she said. Some teachers say theyre doing great, others say they can do better.

Early results of data gathering by some of the countrys biggest school districts confirm what many had feared: Groups of students that already faced learning gaps before the pandemic, including Black and Hispanic students and those from low-income families, appear to be behind in even greater numbers now.

In Fairfax County, tests given this fall found that 68% of Hispanic elementary school students need intervention in math, up from 55% in 2019. Students learning English saw a similar increase. A quarter of white students were flagged for help, up from 19% in 2019.

Last year, public schools in Houston found that 45% of Black and Hispanic students had at least one failing grade. That was up from 30% in 2019, and nearly three times the rate of white students.

Similar inequities are turning up at schools across the country, said Robin Lake, director of the Center on Reinventing Public Education, a national research group. It suggests that longstanding inequities are widening, she said, which could translate to deeper learning and income gaps for generations to come.

States have been raising alarms, urging schools to focus on students who spent more time away from school. Utahs education officials found that students who missed last years exams were far more likely to be Native American or Hispanic, prompting an urgent call to find those students and prevent them from falling into an academic spiral.

Many bigger districts already had testing regimes and data systems to find students who are falling behind, while some are scrambling to catch up. But not all major districts are analyzing the data or making it public.

New York City is spending $36 million on new testing, but officials said they dont have district-wide results. Instead, they said the tests are being used at the school level to help teachers support students.

Schools in Chicago were encouraged to use a new screening exam, but a district spokesperson declined to provide the results.

In Fairfax County, where more than 20% of students opted out of state tests last year, district officials attempted to fill in the gaps by giving students informal, low-stakes tests to measure their progress this fall.

Weve been working to figure out which students need the most targeted support most quickly, said Amy Goodloe, principal of Rocky Run Middle School. Teachers have used test results to find concepts students struggle with and create plans to get them up to speed, she said.

The results are also guiding the district as it divides $188 million in federal funding among nearly 200 schools. In many buildings, the money is being used to add staff who help students in small groups, or to hire tutors for more personal help after school.

Testing increases in some districts have led to pushback from parents and teachers who say it takes away from valuable classroom time, but proponents say its a crucial step toward understanding the impact of the pandemic.

In Texas, a law passed last year requires 30 hours of tutoring for students who did not pass state exams last year. It applies to students who failed tests but also those who didnt take exams.

In Houston, the states largest district, officials are hiring more tutors but havent added new tests.

Increasing the numbers of assessments isnt going to yield a different result, it just would impact the amount of instructional time we have as a district, said Margarita Gardea, who oversees elementary curriculum and instruction.

Finding tutors, though, has been a challenge in many areas amid a sudden surge in demand.

In Floridas Miami-Dade County, school officials created a new learning loss index based on assessments, attendance and state exams, and then ranked students based on need. The district brought back retired teachers to work as tutors on a temporary basis, and its expanding summer school, Saturday classes and other programs.

So far, test results have shown some progress toward getting students up to grade level, but thousands of students are still behind.

The bottom line is that we have such a loss that it will take some time, said Gisela Feild, administrative director of assessment, research and data analysis. You cant make up that kind of a loss in one year.

___

Associated Press reporter Kathleen Foody contributed from Chicago.
Alexander Spatari/Getty Images

A Houston-based breakfast & brunch restaurant is planning two locations in the Hill Country area. On Monday, April 11, Toasted Yolk Cafe CEO and co-founder Chris Milton announced the company had signed multiple area development agreements with franchisees to bring the brunch spot across America in 2022 and 2023.

Were very excited to introduce this amazing brand to multiple central Texas, Arkansas, and north Harris County communities and surrounding areas, Milton said in a news release. "We cant wait to see the Toasted Yolk become the new popular spot in markets like San Marcos, New Braunfels, and here locally in Magnolia and Tomball."
The hygiene campaign launched by the Democratic Society Movement (TEV-DEM) continues in the new al-Sinaa area in Qamishlo city, at 09:00. (photos and video attached).

The Martyrs Families Council in al-Darbasiyah district is holding a public meeting on the political reality in the Kurdish arena, the preparations of the Turkish occupation state and the Kurdistan Democratic Party to attack the legitimate defense areas, and about the separation wall between Shingal district and northeastern Syria at 12:00. (photos and video attached).

At the invitation of the Martyrs Families Council in al-Hasakah canton, the people of the city and its villages are heading towards Shingal, denouncing the separation wall that the Iraqi government is building in cooperation with the Kurdistan Democratic Party between Shingal district and northeastern Syria, at 10:00. (photos and video attached).

A leader in the Tel Tamr Military Council revealed intensive movements of the Turkish occupation army and its mercenaries, and its mobilization of forces on the fronts, in preparation for an attack on north and east Syria, stressing the Turkish occupation state's attempt to exploit the international preoccupation with the Ukrainian-Russian war to penetrate the region. (photos and video attached).

The head of the Gas Depot in al-Shahba canton said that the Fourth Division of the Damascus government is preventing trucks loaded with gas cylinders from entering al-Shahba. For their part, the people stressed that the Damascus government is trying to undermine their resistance by imposing a siege on them. (photos and video attached).

Politician Jamal Rashid said that the statements of Abdul Hakim Bashar are nothing but mouthpieces to establish the occupation in Afrin and other areas. He called for the formation of a fact-finding committee in occupied Afrin. (photos and video attached).

Dialogue

Political activist Emin Ay from Bakur Kurdistan said that the policy pursued by the Justice and Development Alliance and the National Movement poses a great danger to the communities and ethnicities in Turkey, stressing that the only way to Turkey's democracy is to solve the Kurdish Cause (photos and video attached).

Kurdistan

In an attempt to consolidate the concept of "divided Kurdistan", and in endeavors extending for nearly five centuries, Kurdistan is facing a division scheme woven by Turkey and neighboring tyrannical regimes, with artificial borders in three regions, an extension of the Shirin Palace and Sykes-Picot agreements. (photos and video attached).

A member of the General Council of the Democratic Union Party, Amin Aliko, said that the KDP is implementing the plans of the Turkish state against the Kurdish people and the PDK to protect its interests. (photos and video attached).

A member of the "Time for Freedom" campaign committee, Luqman Hassan, confirmed that the campaign has reached advanced stages, while Aziz Ali, the administrator of the democratic society academies in al-Hasakah canton, attributed the continued detention of leader Ocalan and the tightening of isolation imposed on him, to the desire of world powers to maintain the foundations conflict. (photos and video attached).

Politics

The Lebanese journalist Ali Al-Amin called for the institutionalization of Kurdish-Arab relations, and said: "It would achieve positive results." He explained that the Kurdish people's struggle is a beacon for all who aspire to achieve freedom, justice, mutual recognition and cultural diversity. (Pictures attached).

World

The head of the Arab Center for Research and Political Studies, Muhammad Fathi Al-Sharif, said that there were prior arrangements by America and Turkey to enable the Muslim Brotherhood and armed groups to gain power in Libya. and take power peacefully. (Pictures attached).

ANHA
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Commercial traffic at a key South Texas border crossing has stopped after Mexican truckers on Monday blocked north- and southbound lanes on the Mexico side of the Pharr-Reynosa International Bridge in protest of Texas Gov. Greg Abbotts decision to have state troopers inspect northbound commercial vehicles  historically a job done by the federal government.

The bridge connecting Pharr and Reynosa is the busiest trade crossing in the Rio Grande Valley and handles the majority of the produce that crosses into the U.S. from Mexico, including avocados, broccoli, peppers, strawberries and tomatoes. On Monday, with trucks backed up for miles in Reynosa for the fifth day in a row, some produce importers in Texas said they have waited days for their goods to arrive and already had buyers cancel orders.

One of our customers canceled the order because we didnt deliver on time, said Modesto Guerra, sales manager for Sterling Fresh Inc., which imports broccoli from Central Mexico via the Pharr bridge before shipping it to the Midwest and East Coast. Its something beyond our control.

While many companies cross perishable foods in refrigerated trucks, Guerra said the bottlenecks could lead to equipment failures that cause produce and other products to spoil in the heat.

Those refrigerated units are powered by diesel, Guerra said. These trucks are in line and when the diesel runs out they have no way of refueling.

International bridges elsewhere in the Valley, as well as in Eagle Pass, El Paso and Laredo, have also seen delays, with many commercial products produced in Mexico  like electronics, vehicle parts and medical instruments  also held up.

In response to the Biden administrations recent announcement that it plans to end Title 42  a pandemic-era emergency health order that lets federal officials turn away migrants at the border without the chance to request asylum  Abbott on Wednesday ordered the Texas Department of Public Safety to increase its inspections of commercial vehicles, which he said drug cartels use to smuggle humans and drugs into the United States.

At times, DPS troopers appear to be checking every commercial vehicle that crosses select international bridges, with each inspection taking between 45 minutes and an hour.

Mexican news outlets reported that about 500 truckers are blocking southbound traffic into Mexico to prevent the entrance of U.S. trucks. Truckers told El Manana in Reynosa that they had waited three to four days at the international bridge and were running out of fuel while they waited.

One trucker told the news outlet that prior to Abbotts order, he made two crossings into the U.S. a day. Now, hed be lucky to have one or two a week given the long delays at the bridges.

We are losing just as much as them, he said. When they start needing more produce, the prices are going to go up.

No one has told us what the reason for this is or asked what solutions we can come up with together, he added, saying the blockade will continue until their issues are resolved. All we know is that its an order from the governor of Texas.

Abbotts office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

U.S. Rep. Vicente Gonzalez, D-McAllen, joined a chorus of elected officials from the border who called on Abbott to rethink his strategy, saying the DPS inspections duplicate inspections already conducted by the federal government at the ports of entry.

Governor Abbotts unnecessary secondary inspections are killing business on the border, Gonzalez said in a written statement to The Texas Tribune. If this continues it will cause further supply line issues impacting America. And we will see prices of produce and other imports rise at the grocery store. He needs to allow the U.S. Customs and Border [Protection] inspection folks to do their job.

Commercial traffic bottlenecks on the Mexican side of the bridge are not unusual. From time to time, disgruntled Mexican farmers have used their tractors to block traffic in the border state of Tamaulipas to protest low government payments. Sometimes their protests disrupt traffic flow within Reynosa, and other times they block bridge traffic.

International bridges across the Texas-Mexico border also saw significant lines in 2019 when former President Donald Trump reassigned hundreds of customs officers from ports of entry to assist Border Patrol in dealing with detaining migrants crossing the border in between the bridges.

Those delays lasted hours or days in some cases. This time, importers and local officials are bracing for an even longer disruption to cross-border trade. Even without state troopers stopping vehicles, inspection times at international bridges have long been a source of delays due to federal staffing shortages as well as technology and infrastructure problems.

Hidalgo County Judge Richard Cortez said he cant remember a Texas governor upending international trade along the border like this.

This is a very serious situation, Cortez said in an interview. Truckers on the Mexican side closed the bridge so nothing can come across. I mean, what has happened is idiotic. It really is.

The delays are happening during one of the busiest weeks of the year at border crossings. Semana Santa, or Holy Week, started on Sunday and lasts through Saturday, and many families typically cross the border to see relatives, causing long lines at the bridges.

Teclo Garcia, the economic development director for Laredo, said city officials understand there are security issues the state wants to address, but the state didnt contact local officials to discuss the best way to address those issues.

Were dealing with 20,000 truck crossings a day [in Laredo]  there are security issues but thats why our federal partners are there, Garcia said. If [the state] wants to do more we can do more, but lets not impede trade.

Garcia said its too soon to know what economic impact the DPS inspections will have on the city, which has the busiest commercial crossings on the southwest border, but he added that eventually they could affect the entire country.

Of course, this is going to affect Laredo, El Paso and Brownsville, but the real impact is going to be in the supply chain which is already strained and the consumer, Garcia said.

On Saturday, five state senators from the border region asked Abbott in a letter to reconsider his directive, saying the increased inspections were generating delays and stalling the movement of goods at the ports of entry.

On Monday, state Sen. Juan Chuy Hinojosa, D-McAllen, whose district includes the Pharr bridge, called the situation a crisis and a mess that has been created, but it was not necessary.

Many of my constituents are asking Why are we being punished? The Valley supports border security, but this doesnt seem to have much or anything to do with border security, Hinojosa added. This is hurting people in their pocketbook.

Abbott on Monday touted the states increasing border security efforts during a speech at the annual meeting of the Texas Border Sheriffs Coalition in El Paso, saying its been successful in apprehending drug smugglers and people previously convicted of murder. He said the Biden administrations plan to end Title 42 next month could be cataclysmic for border communities because immigration officials are expecting up to 18,000 encounters a day with immigrants once Title 42 removals end. The current average is 6,000 a day.

According to an investigation by The Marshall Project, ProPublica and The Texas Tribune, the state had been including drug seizures and arrests for crimes far from the border to its Operation Lone Star tally  and later revised the arrest numbers.

Abbott didnt comment on the bridge delays Monday.

Last week, Abbott announced the state would be transporting migrants who already have been processed and released by federal immigration officials to Washington, D.C., or other places on buses. Later, he said the bus rides would be voluntary.

On Monday, Abbott said the buses are already available in some border counties and instructed local officials who need a bus to contact their county emergency management coordinator to request one.

He said the state is offering bus rides because some border cities dont have the services or infrastructure to help transport the migrants to their final destination.

If Border Patrol drops people off in your county, you will be able to work with the state to transport people out of your county to a location where they will be immediately connected with either Border Patrol professionals, [Immigration and Customs Enforcement] officials or other appropriate federal authorities, Abbott said.

Typically, when migrants have been released from immigration officials custody, local nonprofit organizations help many of them get in touch with friends and family already in the United States. The migrants usually pay for their own transportation to other parts of the country, then wait for their asylum requests to be resolved in immigration courts.

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.
A lawsuit in federal court has been filed against Midland County and former Midland County assistant district attorney Ralph Petty and former District Attorney Al Schorre for alleged deprivation of rights under the 14th amendment of the U.S. Constitution.

The suit by Erma Wilson is another legal issue following Pettys employment as an assistant district attorney and as a law clerk for Midland County district judges. Wilson was found guilty of possession of a controlled substance (crack cocaine) in a trial more than two decades ago. She alleges that then-District Judge John Hyde denied her motions before, during and after her trial in 2001, including motions to suppress evidence. Working for Hyde, according to the lawsuit, was Petty, advising them on legal matters and drafting the judges orders and opinions.

For nearly 20 years, Petty served as several judges right-hand advisor, engaging in ex parte communications and surreptitiously drafting opinions and orders in the prosecutions favor in more than 300 cases, the lawsuit states.

The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals in September tossed a capital murder conviction and granted a new trial for Clinton Lee Young, a death row inmate convicted by a Midland County jury in 2003. The appeals court overturned Youngs conviction because of the same revelation that Petty helped prosecute Young as an assistant district attorney and then moonlighted as a judicial clerk in the same trial.

The lawsuit references the Youngs case, stating Mr. Youngs federal and state due process rights were violated by  both the trial courts use of prosecutor Ralph Pettys services as a paid law clerk during Mr. Youngs trial  and the prosecutions withholding of that arrangement.

Like Mr. Young, Erma was a victim of Pettys conflict of interest, the lawsuit states. If Erma had known about Pettys involvement as a law clerk in her case, she would have requested Judge Hydes recusal and a new trial.

The lawsuit also states that Midland County adopted and enforced an official employment policy or custom of permitting a prosecutor to work as a law clerk to judges in cases he was also prosecuting and in cases in which his employer was a party.

It mentioned Pettys arrangement as a law clerk and ADA was signed off on by (former) County Treasurer Jo Ann Carr, County Attorney Russell Malm and Schorre.

With Midland Countys policymakers knowledge and consent, Petty worked as a law clerk in Ermas trial while also working for the District Attorneys Office and, on information and belief, advising on the prosecution of her case, the lawsuit states. This dual role violated due process by depriving Erma of a criminal proceeding free from either actual or perceived bias.

The lawsuit states that the defendants  the county, Petty and Schorre  caused harm to Wilson, including preventing her from pursuing a career in her chosen profession of nursing, inhibited her ability to obtain gainful employment and forced her to spend money on attorney fees and court costs related to her defense.

It also said her quality of life and pursuit of happiness were harmed, especially living with a felony record. It also harmed her access to justice, harmed her family life, harmed her faith in the criminal justice system and harmed her reputation.

The lawsuit also states Wilson seeks attorney fees, other legal costs and other relief as the court may deem just and proper.
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Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller called on Gov. Greg Abbott to halt his recent policy of additional commercial inspections at the border, calling the measure political theater and predicting it will leave grocery store shelves empty within weeks.

In an open letter addressed to the governor Tuesday, Miller said Abbotts economy killing action is exacerbating already strained supply chains and causing massive produce shortages resulting in untold losses for Texas businesses.

Your inspection protocol is not stopping illegal immigration, Miller said in his letter. It is stopping food from getting to grocery store shelves and in many cases causing food to rot in trucks  many of which are owned by Texas and other American companies.  The people of Texas deserve better!

Abbott announced last week that state troopers would conduct inspections of northbound commercial vehicles in addition to those performed by U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents at ports of entry between Texas and Mexico.

Officials with the United States Border Patrol and Customs and Border Protections already conduct extensive inspections of commercial vehicles entering the United States at Texas border crossings. Resources should be placed where illegal crossings take place, not to create a crisis where they do not, Miller wrote.

Miller is one of the first Republicans in Texas to break with Abbott over the new border policy. The measure is part of Abbotts response to the Biden administrations decision to end Title 42, a pandemic-era emergency health order that allowed immigration authorities to turn away migrants at the border, even those seeking asylum.

Following the measure, commercial movement along much of Texas southern border slowed to a standstill and Mexican truckers waited in mileslong lines at ports of entry.

On Monday, matters went from bad to worse as truckers at the Pharr-Reynosa International Bridge protested the measure by creating a blockade on the north- and southbound lanes on the Mexican side of the crossing. Commercial traffic at the bridge, the busiest trade crossing in the Rio Grande Valley, has come to a complete halt, and trucks carrying avocados, broccoli, peppers, strawberries and tomatoes have been sitting idle.

A similar protest in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, affecting traffic into and out of El Paso was also reported by Border Report on Monday. So far, more than 20,000 commercial trucks have been backed up on the border, Miller said.

Miller is running for a third term as agriculture commissioner, but was seen as a potential challenger to Abbott because of his vocal criticism of the governors handling of COVID-19. Miller is also a close ally of former President Donald Trump.

Abbotts office did not respond to an immediate request for comment on the letter.

In addition to the increased inspections, Abbott announced other measures in response to the end of Title 42, including busing undocumented immigrants to the nations capital.

The Presidents failed border policy does not need to be enhanced by a state policy that does little or nothing to impact illegal immigration, Miller said.

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.
Midland College holds a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) license to operate an Aircraft Maintenance Technology (AMT) school. In August of this year, an FAA representative from Lubbock will come to Midland and remove that license. The Midland College AMT school will close. This article will address that unfortunate result.

If you are reading this article and have flown on an aircraft, you may well owe your present existence to FAA licensed Aircraft Maintenance Technicians (AMTs or A&Ps, as they are commonly known in the aerospace industry).

From the FAA website: "The Federal Aviation Administration is the organization responsible for managing our nation's busy skies. With more than a million domestic passengers and countless tons of cargo in the air every day, our mission is a far-reaching and critical one. Our nationwide workforce is dedicated to providing the American public with the safest, most efficient and environmentally responsible civil aviation systems and airspace possible."

A&Ps are the front line of safety and airworthiness of aircraft in aviation. According to the FAA, the following shows Texas' current A&P jobs:

Employment: 14,900

Employment per thousands of jobs: 1.22

Location quotient: 1.37

Hourly mean wage: $34.35

Annual mean wage: $71,440.

"About 14,400 openings for aircraft and avionics equipment mechanics and technicians are projected each year [nationwide], on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire." 14,400 x 10 = 144,000. For more information, see the FAA website.

Approximately two years ago, the Midland College board of trustees voted to disband its AMT program. The reason given at that time was largely one of money. The AMT school, in its current configuration, does not pay for itself through tuition. Arguably, Midland College as a whole does not pay for itself through tuitions, as noted each year on Midland residents' property tax bills. There are probably some programs that do pay for themselves, but based on needed tax revenue, these are few.

There are approximately 180 AMT schools nationwide. To meet the demand for 144,000 A&Ps in 10 years, each school would have to produce 80 A&Ps yearly. As a nation, if we do not meet that demand, aircraft maintenance goes overseas, and/or flight restrictions in commercial and general aviation will follow. We know what it is like to depend on foreign states for goods and services; we have our foot in a Chinese vice right now, or ask Germany.

What has changed locally over the past several years? In a major recent decision, the Midland City Council decided to keep and expand Airpark. MAF now has a space port license authorizing it to accommodate horizontal takeoffs and landings of rocket powered aircraft to serve commercial spaceflight. AST & Science, and Kepler Aerospace Ltd. have located at MAF.

"The Midland International Air & Space Port is the first to be co-located with a major commercial airport. It is FAA approved as a Commercial Space Launch Site. The launch site is currently being used by AST & Science, a satellite testing and manufacturing company, who has recently raised $128 million in investment. Satellite technology company, Kepler Aerospace, has also located in the Spaceport Business Park and is benefiting from access to affordable space and state-of-the-art equipment." At a recent meeting, officials from Kepler indicated a future need of approximately 20 A&Ps. Midland Development Corp. (MDC) advertises "Airframe Mechanics and Aircraft Maintenance Technology/Technician" as part of Midland's Local Talent as an inducement for companies to locate in Midland. MAF recently acquired a one-half section of land for expansion of airport facilities, and a new fixed base operator (FBO) for MAF is in the wings.

Vertical takeoff and landing electric aircraft for commuting are here. Not a flying car; not a toy; not a model aircraft. As reported in the British Broadcasting Corporation, Science Focus , "Why Flying Taxis Are Coming Sooner Than You Think," a number of companies are building air taxis to make our journeys faster, easier and cleaner; to wit, Boeing, Embraer, Pratt & Whitney, Eviation, Ampaire, BETA Technologies, Bye Aerospace, Lilium, Zunum, Longanaire, Siemens, Pipistrel USA, Joby Aviation, Electric Aircraft Corporation, Magnix, Duxon, Harbour Air (seaplanes), and more. Midland College AMT formal, required classes include: Basic Electricity, Aircraft Electrical Systems, and Aircraft Powerplant Electrical. AMTs educated at Midland College will be ready.

Want to run to the field to check on a well or a frac job? Your vertical takeoff and landing aircraft, sitting in the parking lot of your office will get you there quickly. You can recharge the batteries using the rig's powerplant and fly back to the office. No more fighting traffic on Interstate 20 or deadly Farm-to-Market Road 1788.

Some things have not changed. We have FBOs at both MAF and Airpark which are licensed facilities. They employ A&Ps for line services and maintenance. If Midland College's AMT program disappears, those FBOs can recruit elsewhere, but many of Midland College's A&Ps wish to remain in this area. That latter pool of candidates seems more reachable than having to entice someone to move to Midland.

Midland College's AMT school is a gem. It has its own hangar at MAF, located near the Vietnam Memorial, across the street from the old Reserve Training Center. The facility is complete with many fixed wing aircraft and helicopters on which to learn and train. With highly qualified and personable instructors, training is divided into three sections: General, Airframe and Powerplant. The required classes require between 1,900 and 2,200 classroom and lab hours. The widely varying instruction will include welding, weight and balance, landing gear, turbine engines, reciprocating engines, dope and fabric, electricity, sheet metal fabrication and riveting, Federal Aviation Administration regulations, hydraulics, fuel systems, air conditioning and heating, propellers and many more. I am as proud of my A&P licenses as my law degree.

The tuition for the entire Midland College AMT program is approximately $14,000. In comparison, the same private programs at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology are approximately $100,000 and $90,000 respectively. Additionally, Midland College offers an accompanying AA degree to enhance the A&P school diploma. Scholarships are available, including those of Midland West Rotary which are dedicated to students in the technology sector of Midland College.

Following cancellation of the program and concomitant cessation of recruiting, officials at Midland College think it would take two years to get the A&P school up and running again. Is there a chicken and egg in the process? Yes, the Midland College board of trustees would have to reinstate it.

Then there is always the question of money. It would be best if the program would pay for itself through tuition revenue. That will probably not be possible in the near term and may never be possible. Midland College is funded in part by taxpayer dollars, and there are those who argue that private funding for a tax-supported entity is inappropriate. In reality that's not how it works; there are multiple private foundations and entities that support Midland College. One obvious additional possibility for funds is Midland Development Corp.

MDC has a history of recruiting air- and space-related businesses: Xcor, Trace Engines and a space suit company, all of which have come and gone. Now we have AST and Kepler, which have a firm presence. As long as MDC and local government bodies are recruiting and seeking to expand aeronautical businesses, support from MDC seems appropriate and logical. An official at MDC says that Midland College would have to make the request for MDC funds to support the AMT school. The Midland College board of trustees or other officials are unlikely to make that request without first voting to reinstate the AMT school.

If you believe that reinstatement of the AMT program is in the best interest of local businesses, the city and county of Midland, Midland International Air and Space Port, Midland College, the state of Texas, and the United States of America, please contact your Midland College trustee and voice your opinion.

The timeframe is short. For classes to begin in August, a lot of recruiting will have to be done. More than 60 persons have inquired about the school since the trustees decided to shut the program down. Inquiries do not always equate to students, but the calls continue to come in; two in the last week, one of them from Nigeria.

The school has hosted foreign students in the past. One was from Taiwan, here on a green card. He became a U.S. citizen and works for American Airlines as a nationwide troubleshooter.

Please do your part. Contact a Midland College trustee, and make your opinion known.

--

Edmund T. Anderson, IV, is an attorney and FAA Certificated Airframe and Powerplant mechanic

--

Contact your representative

Midland College

3600 N. Garfield, Midland, TX 79705

Phone: 685-4500

Website: midland.edu

Facebook: www.facebook.com/MidlandCollege

Twitter: twitter.com/MidlandCollege

President Steve Thomas 685-4520

Trustees  Steven Kiser, Linda Cowden, Larry Lawrence, Paul Morris (chairperson), Steven Castle, Charlene McBride, Adrian Carrasco, Scott Lynch, Scott Kidwell
Malones claim to fame is Bunch O Balloons, a product that allows dozens of self-tying water balloons to be filled at once. His invention brought him tremendous success, while exposing problems with the U.S. patent system that can be stifling to upstarts like himself who had to wage costly court battles to defend their ideas. In search of a legislative remedy, Malone pressed his case in meetings and calls with Taylor and his staff, but he said the congressman was noncommittal and kept kicking the can.

Malones frustrations came to a head during an October 2021 meeting with Taylor at his Capitol Hill office. It would be their last, and Malone said one of the last things he told Taylor there was a warning.

If youre not gonna do the right thing, Malone said, Ill elect someone who will.

Those words turned out to be prescient. Seven months later, Taylor, a two-term Plano Republican, is on his way out of Congress after a swift and dizzying downfall.

On its face, Taylor failed to win his primary outright after weathering months of attacks from fellow Republicans over his vote for a commission to investigate the Jan. 6 insurrection at the Capitol, and in the closing weeks, a super PAC came out of nowhere to press the offensive to the tune of over $400,000. The final blow came two days before the primary when it was reported that Taylor had an extramarital affair.

Hours after being pushed into that runoff  where his infidelity would have been an unavoidable issue  he announced he was ending his reelection campaign.

Perhaps no person is more responsible for the runoff than Malone. Recognizing that his patent reform crusade lacked resonance with primary voters, Malone bankrolled the super PAC and took a personal interest in defeating Taylor. He estimated he put up over half of the 300 anti-Taylor road signs that the super PAC placed throughout the district.

Taylor was the only Republican congressional incumbent in Texas to be forced into a runoff. Neither his campaign nor his office responded to requests for comment for this story.

The Harvard-educated Iraq veteran and former state lawmaker easily ascended to Congress in 2018 and successfully fended off national Democrats as they tried to flip the seat two years later. But his 3rd Congressional District in the Dallas suburbs was made redder in redistricting last year, creating fertile territory for primary challengers.

Still, very few could have seen coming the events that culminated in Taylors downfall. Malone played a key role, but so did Taylor McCray  a volunteer for one of Taylors primary challengers, Suzanne Harp  who hustled in the final days of the primary to track down a woman who claimed to have had an affair with Taylor.

It was kind of just the nail in his coffin, McCray said.

Now, the runner-up in the primary, former Collin County Judge Keith Self, is the likely next congressman  and he happens to share Malones views on the patent system.

Patent law fight

In 2006, Malone quit his job at Texas Instruments to focus full time on inventing, draining his familys finances as he spent years casting about for a game-changing innovation. He was about to give up when he had a breakthrough, tapping into a frustration he felt as a kid  and later with his own kids: the arduous process of filling up water balloons one at a time. So he came up with Bunch O Balloons.

But after Malone put his product on Kickstarter to raise seed money, the company behind the ubiquitous As Seen On TV logo  Telebrands  ripped off the idea and rushed out its own version, he said. Telebrands had convinced the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to revoke Malones patent, he said, under a patent invalidation tribunal that was created by the 2011 America Invents Act.

What followed was a yearslong legal battle over Malones idea. His licensing partner, the toy company Zuru, provided the initial funding and then Malone used revenue from sales of Bunch O Balloons.

The legal fight was all-consuming. Malone had grown up in Texas, studied engineering at Colorado School of Mines and lived in the Plano area since the mid-1990s. But in 2019, he moved his family to Northern Virginia to be closer to the litigation  and Congress.

That year, a federal judge in Tyler ordered Telebrands and retailers to pay nearly $31 million to Malone and Zuru. Malone got his patent back along the way.

He was grateful he had the resources to wage such a crusade, but he also knew every inventor was not as fortunate. And so he started lobbying Congress to reform the patent system, setting his sights on the 2011 America Invents Act. He lobbied for legislation by U.S. Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky.  a fellow inventor  that would roll back parts of the 2011 law, proposing a patent system as the Constitution of the United States originally envisioned it.

Malone had not always paid close attention to politics, tuning out as a young adult because he found it hopeless. He considers himself a libertarian, and his campaign contribution history backs that up  he gave to Ron Pauls 2012 presidential campaign, for example. But he has also given to more mainstream conservative Republicans, even Taylor in his 2020 campaign. (Malone does not remember the $250 donation but said it would not have surprised him if he was willing to give Taylor a chance at first.)

But as Taylor prepared to ask voters for another term two years later, Malone was clearly thinking differently about the incumbent. He was not getting anywhere with Taylor, and he felt especially aggrieved after U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, partnered last fall with U.S. Sen Patrick Leahy, D-Vermont  an author of the 2011 law  on a new patent bill that Malone said would have [made] everything worse.

Malone and other Texas inventors mobilized against the Cornyn-Leahy proposal, writing a letter of opposition that Malone said Taylor had in hand during their unproductive final meeting in October 2021. Taylor disputed some of the assertions in the letter and continued to come off as wishy-washy on patent reform, Malone said.

It just hit me, like, what is this guy doing here? Malone said. Whether it was Cornyn or Taylor, he added, Theyre not taking us seriously, so we gotta go get involved and elect people who will.

The primary

Back home, Taylor was facing the prospect of a competitive primary, fueled by his vote for the Jan. 6 commission. He was one of a small minority of Republicans who voted for the independent, bipartisan commission, and while it never became law, Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi later formed a special Jan. 6 committee that became anathema to Trump-aligned Republicans.

By the December filing deadline, Taylor had drawn four primary challengers, most prominently Self and Harp, a Dallas businesswoman whose son is chief of staff to U.S. Rep. Madison Cawthorn, the controversial Trump acolyte from North Carolina.

Taylor took the primary threat seriously, picking up his fundraising and securing key conservative endorsements like U.S. Sen. Ted Cruzs. Self and Harp kept hammering Taylor, but they were vastly underfunded and endorsements were hard to come by. Even though Taylor had crossed Trump by voting for the Jan. 6 commission, the former president was not showing any outward interest in getting involved.

In late January, signs started popping up in the district that said Van Taylor Betrayed Us. They directed people to a website, RINOReckoning.org, that laid out the case against Taylor, calling him another swamp creature. The website said it was paid for by Defeating Communism PAC, which started in 2019 and had done little fundraising last year, instantly raising the question of where it had suddenly gotten a potential infusion of money.

Media inquiries with the group led to Paul Morinville, a Georgetown man who was serving as RINO Reckonings executive director  and also had a history of frustrations with patent law. He said in a February interview that RINO Reckoning was strictly an anti-Taylor effort and not working on behalf of any particular challenger. He declined to comment on who was funding it but made one thing clear: They were not playing around. He said they were saturating the district, not only putting up the signs but also buying billboards and airing radio and TV ads.

Every primary voter in this district is gonna know that Van Taylor betrayed us, Morinville said at the time.

As early voting got underway in mid-February, it remained a mystery who was truly behind RINO Reckoning because it had not filed a pre-primary campaign finance report that would have at least shown its donors through Feb. 9.

Regardless, Taylor and allied groups were clearly getting worried. Notably, the top super PAC aligned with House GOP leadership  the Congressional Leadership Fund  spent $150,000 on a late ad buy for Taylor, an unusual foray into an incumbent primary for CLF.

Defeating Communism PAC did not disclose its expenditures in the primary until the weekend before the primary. The total: $436,000, a hefty sum to unload in a congressional primary in a little over a month.

Affair

Then came the affair story.

McCray, the volunteer for Harps campaign, said a woman named Tania Joya messaged Harp on Facebook in the closing days of the primary, sharing purported evidence of her affair with Taylor. Joya seemed motivated by the family-man image that Taylor was projecting in his reelection campaign.

McCray said Joyas message was strikingly similar to a rumor she heard about Taylor earlier in the campaign, and so she sprung into action, working to track down Joya. McCray had been working around conservative politics for a number of years but was also trying to break into journalism. It all culminated on Feb. 25, McCray said, when she interviewed Joya at her home in Plano.

Joya, a reformed jihadist from Plano, reportedly met Taylor through her anti-extremism work after she returned from Syria.

After their meeting, McCray scrambled to find a media outlet that would run the story before the imminent election. She said she sent all the information she had gathered, including a recording of the interview, to an operative working with RINO Reckoning, Justin Greiss, who passed it along to the far-right National File, which published a story about the affair on the Sunday before the election.

At the same time, McCray said she was talking to a reporter with another conservative news site, Breitbart, and they posted a story on the affair the next day.

Harp did not respond to requests for comment.

With hours left until the polls opened, Taylors campaign was silent on the reports. A spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment on the Breitbart article.

Malone said he had no role in the story and was blindsided by it. He said he was out putting up road signs when he learned about it and didnt think it was credible  thought it was absurd.

Election night was a rollercoaster. Taylors vote share hovered for hours around the 50% mark that he needed to avoid a runoff, but when the dust settled early the next morning, he was at 48.8%, some 700 votes short of winning outright, and Self was in second place, poised to be his runoff opponent.

Some votes were still being counted, but it looked likely Taylor was headed to a runoff in which he would not be able to ignore the affair story.

That afternoon, Taylor confronted the reality, sending an email to his supporters admitting to an affair about a year ago and announcing he was ending his reelection campaign. He would remove his name from the runoff ballot, effectively making Self the Republican nominee for the 3rd District  and its next representative, given that it was drawn to favor the GOP in November.

McCray said she understood people had reason to be skeptical of the affair story given its timing, but she thought voters needed to know and considered it a national security issue due to Joyas past jihadist ties. McCray also said she considers herself a conservative and did not think her side holds itself accountable enough.

McCray said she never thought Taylor would have abandoned his reelection campaign.

I personally dont believe he wouldve done it had he won outright, she said.

Thats up for debate, but one thing is clear: Taylor had been on track to win the primary outright before the stories came out, capturing 52% of the early vote. He carried election day ballots with only 45%.

Downfall

As the dust settled on the primary, it still was not reported to the Federal Election Commission who funded the anti-Taylor program.

After The Texas Tribune inquired, the group filed the pre-primary report, showing Malone as its only significant donor, giving $250,000 as of Feb. 9. He said he ended up investing almost twice as much by the time of the March 1 primary.

Malone had wanted to start his own super PAC to defeat Taylor, but he ended up determining it was more efficient to use the existing group, Defeating Communism PAC, which had ties to libertarian circles. The strategist who worked with the group on Taylors primary was Cliff Maloney, the former president of Young Americans for Liberty, a national libertarian youth group.

Malone acknowledged it would not have made political sense to campaign against Taylor on patent issues. But he said he views those issues as similar to the ones that actually came up in the primary because they all fit into a narrative that Taylor sold out to corporate interests and the establishment.

"Josh Malone did what a lot of funders usually refuse to do, Maloney said. Instead of getting wonky  he didnt go into the district and talk about patent reform  he talked about the key issues that we knew would impact Van Taylor with his primary voters.

Maloney did not comment on RINO Reckonings role in the affair story other than to say, National File broke the story.

Maloney provided polling data that showed Taylor was well on his way to winning the primary outright before RINO Reckoning started in late January, with a projected vote share of 66% when undecided voters and his two minor opponents were set aside. His share dropped 7 points two weeks later, and it ticked back up to 61% a week before the primary, as outside groups like CLF were airing last-minute ads to try to rescue him.

Malone never endorsed any of Taylors primary opponents, though FEC records show he gave a maximum donation to Self, and Malones wife gave the same amount to Harp. Malone said they were both worthy challengers who took some time to study the patent issues that are important to him.

Self declined to comment for this story, but during the primary, he posted a statement on his website that aligned tightly with Malones crusade on patent policy. In the statement, Self criticized the America Invents Act of 2011 and pledged to sponsor Massies legislation.

Toward the end of the primary, Self took to Facebook to share a blog post by Malone that outlined his motivations for working to defeat Taylor. Self called it a personal story that directly impacts my race to restore the conservative legacy to Congressional District 3.

Malone said he believes Self is ready to do the right thing.

Plus, if he doesnt, Malone said, well run him out of office.

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.

Disclosure: Facebook and Texas Instruments have been financial supporters of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune's journalism. Find a complete list of them here.

This article originally appeared in The Texas Tribune.

The Texas Tribune is a member-supported, nonpartisan newsroom informing and engaging Texans on state politics and policy. Learn more at texastribune.org.
If the Uber Eats commercial with Elton John reminded you about scoring tickets to Elton John in Houston 2022, youre in luck. Weve rounded up tickets you can buy safely online at fairly reasonable prices. Elton John at Minute Maid Park is all set for November 4; all thats missing is you.

By using online ticket resellers like Vivid Seats, StubHub, and Ticketmaster, you can buy authentic event tickets at major Houston venues without the worry of being scammed. For detailed information on the guarantees provided by these online ticket marketplaces, keep scrolling.

How to buy tickets to Elton John Houston

100% Buyer Guarantee with Vivid Seats

Elton John Minute Maid Park  Houston, TX vividseats.com Shop Now

As of April 8, tickets start at $66.

With the Vivid Seats 100% Buyer Guarantee, you can purchase resell tickets to the most popular events with peace of mind. Vivid Seats guarantees your tickets are authentic and valid by putting licensed, certified, and professional ticket resellers through a rigorous evaluation process. Should your event be canceled and not rescheduled, Vivid Seats will refund the full cost of your tickets, including delivery charges. In some cases there may be a restocking fee that will be deducted from your refund.

Ticketmaster Verified: A safe way to buy Elton John Houston tickets

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As of 4/8, tickets start at $77.

Ticketmaster Verified guarantees your event tickets are 100% authentic and issued in your name after purchase. Once the tickets are yours, they cannot be counterfeited; so you dont have to have anxiety about your tickets authenticity at the entrance. Put simply, Ticketmaster boasts that the seat you buy is the seat you get.

Getting the Stubhub Fan Protect Guarantee

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As of 4/8, tickets start at $76.

Stubhub customers get valid tickets to any event or their money back with the Stubhub Fan Protect Guarantee. Even if an issue arises with your order, the customer service team at Stubhub works to find replacement tickets for you. If your event is canceled and not rescheduled, you can count on receiving either a credit worth 120% of the amount you paid for the event or a cash refund. The choice is yours.

COVID-19 Protocols at Minute Maid Park

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Minute Maid Park asks that guests refrain from attending events if theyve experienced any common symptoms within fourteen days of the event date. Symptoms include the following:

Fever over 100.4

Cough or shortness of breath

Sore throat

Headache, muscles aches, and/or chills

Additionally, anyone who has tested positive for COVID-19 or been in close contact with someone who has within the fourteen days prior to the event is also asked not to attend events at Minute Maid Park.

You can view the full COVID-19 protocol policy here, as well as Minute Maid Parks commitment to fan safety through The Houston Clean Pledge.

More information about Elton John Houston

Sir Elton John is nothing short of an icon, and were thrilled hes returning to perform at Minute Maid Park on his final tour, Farewell Yellow Brick Road. It seems Elton John likes a long good-bye, because he already played in Houston on his Final Curtain tour years ago, and more recently on this same Farewell Tour at the beginning of the year.

Truthfully, were glad to see Elton John stretching out his final performing years. At 75 years old, he still has what it takes to charm and move stadiums filled with adoring fans, so why shouldnt he?! We expect to hear all our favorite tunes when he knocks it out of the park this fall, like Tiny Dancer, Rocketman, and of course, Goodbye Yellow Brick Road. We don't anticipate a Cold Heart Elton John Dua Lipa mash-up to happen live, but we certainly can dream!

Hearst Newspapers participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites.

Pamela Mahler is an E-Commerce Writer for Local Commerce at Hearst Newspapers. Email her at pamela.mahler@hearst.com.
If you want to get out there and see a part of Texas you never knew existed this spring, you could walk all 800 miles across the state. (Fun fact: Thats approximately the greatest east-west distance.) But if that sounds like a bit much, instead set your GPS for one of Texass excellent state parks. Theyre a diverse bunch, with Mars-like desert landscapes, rolling hills and winding rivers, and with unlimited options for outdoor adventures, including hiking, kayaking and casual spelunking.

Weve collected six of the best hiking destinations in the state, from Big Bend to Enchanted Rock. Make sure to wear a good pair of shoes, bring plenty of water and enjoy the scenery.

Big Bend State Park Travel Texas

West Texas

Big Bend National Park and Big Bend Ranch State Park are West Texas neighbors and both worth visiting. The national park is the biggest of the two, covering 800,000 acres of high-desert terrain. It stretches along the Rio Grande river, borders Mexico and is generally removed from civilization  its 100 miles from Marfa and 300 from El Paso. Temperatures soar in the summer, so a spring visit is a good bet. When you get there, take advantage of the 200 miles of hiking trails that climb up to nearly 8,000 feet in the Chisos Mountains. Keep it easy with day hikes, or backpack your way through the park, stopping at one of the more than 100 backcountry campsites as you go. If you need a fun diversion, you can book guided river trips or drop a fishing line in the water.

Take a hike: The Cattail Falls Trail leads to a hidden 80-foot waterfall that descends into clear pools below.

Canyon

The Texas panhandle is home to the second-largest canyon in the country, runner-up to a little-known marvel called the Grand Canyon. More than 30 miles of hiking, biking and equestrian trails are available, as well as campsites that range from bare bones to luxurious. Palo Duro is also where youll find hoodoos  or tent rocks  which are long spires of rock that protrude up from the ground. They make great photo opps, and are a lot closer than other examples in Utah and Cappadocia, Turkey.

Take a hike: With so many options for hiking, its easy to overlook the .9-mile Palo Duro Caves Trail. It starts easy enough, but the dirt trail then hits a cave, where you can clamber over rocks, squeeze through narrow passages and enjoy the noticeably cooler temperature. Bring a flashlight and watch your head.

Bend

Colorado Bend State Park is a choose-your-own-adventure destination with plenty to do across the 5,300 acres of wilderness. If you want to stay on land, hike along the 35 miles of trails or do a little single-track mountain biking. If its water activities youre after, go bass fishing or kayak along the Colorado River. And if youd rather see what lies beneath the surface, take a guided spelunking tour and explore the parks 400 caves.

Take a hike: No trip to Colorado Bend is complete without a glimpse of Gorman Falls, a 70-foot spring-fed waterfall thats reachable via a three-mile round trip hike. Cables line the final descent, so you can make your way down the slippery rocks to reach your destination. Pack a lunch to eat on the wooden deck that looks out over the river.

Pedernalas Falls State Park Travel Texas

Johnson City

Thirty miles west of Austin lies Pedernales Falls State Park, named for the winding Pedernales River that flows around and over huge slabs of limestone. Those stones are perfect for basking in the sun, but you can also hike, camp, fish and paddle your way down the water. Skilled cyclists can test their mettle on the Juniper Ridge Trail, a 10-mile technical single track mountain bike run.

Take a hike: The Twin Falls Nature Trail is a half-mile hike that leads to an overlook of the falls. So, do that. But save some time for the six-mile Wolf Mountain Trail, which leads to Arrowhead Pool, a series of stepped pools that formed where Bee Creek spills into the river.

Enchanted Rock State Natural Area Travel Texas

Fredericksburg

Fredericksburg is the epicenter of the Texas Hill Country wine region, so its a fine place to spend a long weekend. But when you want to get out of the tasting room and onto a trail, head for Enchanted Rock. The massive mound of pink granite stands 425 feet tall and is estimated to be 1.1 billion years old, and humans have been coming to the area for at least 12,000 years. More than just a history lesson, its also a fun place to camp, hike, rock climb and stargaze  the area is an international Dark Sky Park, controlling light pollution to keep the stars visible above.

Take a hike: There are nearly 11 miles of hiking trails around Enchanted Rock, but if youre only doing one hike, make it the Summit Trail. This short but breathless trek takes you straight to the top, where you can enjoy the scenic Hill Country views as you mine your backpack for water and snacks.

Quitaque

Caprock Canyons is a hikers paradise, with 90 miles of trails that range from easy out-and-back walks to extra-challenging, extra-long hikes that navigate canyon rims and picturesque plateaus. Youre not the only animal roaming around the area; Bison run free in the park, so keep your head on a swivel and always yield the right of way.



Take a hike: The Haynes Ridge Trail leads to the parks highest point. After a steep scramble to the top, youll settle onto a flat, scenic overlook that provides uninterrupted views of the land below.

This article was featured in the InsideHook Texas newsletter. Sign up now for more from the Lone Star State.

The post The Six Best Spring Hikes in Texas, From Hidden Waterfalls to Secret Caves appeared first on InsideHook.
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Showers are moving into Houston on Tuesday afternoon as a broader threat for severe weather kicks off in north and central Texas, including communities northwest of the Bayou City.

Meteorologists with the National Weather Service (NWS) in League City forecast quick-developing thunderstorms Tuesday afternoon, which includes the threat for potentially damaging winds, hail and isolated tornadoes. They also predicted heavy downpours embedded in the storms, though they should be in isolated areas.
WFO SAN ANGELO Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Tuesday, April 12, 2022

_____

SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING

The National Weather Service in San Angelo has issued a

* Severe Thunderstorm Warning for...

Northwestern Coleman County in west central Texas...

Northeastern Runnels County in west central Texas...

* Until 245 PM CDT.

* At 200 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located over Crews, moving

east at 15 mph.

HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and quarter size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Hail damage to vehicles is expected. Expect wind damage

to roofs, siding, and trees.

* This severe thunderstorm will be near...

Novice around 220 PM CDT.

Glen Cove around 225 PM CDT.

Silver Valley around 240 PM CDT.

Coleman around 245 PM CDT.

Other locations impacted by this severe thunderstorm include Hords

Creek Reservoir.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a

building.

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM CDT THIS

EVENING FOR STRONG WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR THE

SOUTH PLAINS...THE ROLLING PLAINS...AND THE EXTREME

SOUTHERN PANHANDLE...

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM TO 9 PM CDT WEDNESDAY

FOR STRONG WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR THE SOUTH

PLAINS...THE ROLLING PLAINS...AND THE EXTREME SOUTHERN

PANHANDLE...

The National Weather Service in Lubbock has issued a Red Flag

Warning, which is in effect from 10 AM to 9 PM CDT Wednesday. The

Fire Weather Watch is no longer in effect.

* Wind...For the remainder of this afternoon and early evening,

from the southwest with 20 foot level wind speeds ranging from

near 35 mph across the extreme southwestern Panhandle to near 25

mph across the southern Rolling Plains. For Wednesday, from the

west to northwest at 20 to 30 mph at the 20 foot level.

* Humidity...Minimum relative humidity this afternoon ranging

from near 7 percent Rolling Plains and extreme southeastern

Panhandle to 8 to 12 percent on the South Plains and in the

extreme southwestern Panhandle. For Wednesday afternoon,

minimum relative humidity near 5 percent areawide.

* Fuels...Extremely dry.

* Impacts...Any fires that develop can spread rapidly. Outdoor

burning is discouraged. Conditions could be particularly

dangerous on Tuesday.

A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions

are imminent or already occurring. These conditions can create

rapid wildfire growth.

_____

Copyright 2022 AccuWeather
WFO SAN ANGELO Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Tuesday, April 12, 2022

_____

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT

Special Weather Statement

National Weather Service San Angelo TX

228 PM CDT Tue Apr 12 2022

...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of central McCulloch

and west central San Saba Counties through 315 PM CDT...

At 228 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near

Brady Lake, moving northeast at 25 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph and penny size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around

unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is

possible.

Locations impacted include...

Brady, Placid, Brady Lake, Rochelle and Us-190 Near The Mcculloch-

San Saba County Line.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 900 PM CDT for

west central Texas.

LAT...LON 3099 9943 3115 9956 3141 9916 3115 9901

TIME...MOT...LOC 1928Z 236DEG 21KT 3110 9943

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.75 IN

MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM NOON TO 7 PM CDT WEDNESDAY FOR

STRONG WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY VALUES FOR THE BRUSH

COUNTRY...

The National Weather Service in Corpus Christi has issued a Red

Flag Warning, which is in effect from noon to 7 PM CDT Wednesday.

The Fire Weather Watch is no longer in effect.

* AFFECTED AREA...La Salle...McMullen...Live Oak...Webb...

Duval...Jim Wells Counties.

* TIMING...From Noon to 7 PM CDT Wednesday

* WIND...Northwest winds from 15 to 22 mph with gusts from 25 to

30 mph.

* HUMIDITY...From 8 percent Webb/La Salle Counties to 19 percent

Live Oak and Jim Wells Counties.

* IMPACTS...Any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly.

Outdoor burning is not recommended.

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.

_____

Copyright 2022 AccuWeather
Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov warned that Moscow could take legal action if it were placed into default as credit ratings agency S&P said that the country was already in "selective default" on its foreign debt because it offered to pay bonds with rubles and not dollars.

The company said in a note on Friday that Russian authorities tried to use rubles to pay for two dollar-denominated bonds that matured on Apr. 4. Officials said that this amounted to a selective default because investors would not be able to convert the currency into dollars "equivalent to the original due amounts."

Russia's "Selective Default"

A selective default is declared when an entity has defaulted on a specific obligation but not its entire debt, said S&P. Now, Moscow has a 30-day grace period starting from Apr. 4 to make the payments of capital and interest, but the credit rating agency said that the country would most likely not convert its payment into dollars.

They argued that the situation is brought about by the Western sanctions imposed on Russia over its unprovoked war in Ukraine. The agency said that sanctions undermine Moscow's "willingness and technical abilities to honor the terms and conditions" of its obligations, as per CNN.

Read Also: Russia-Ukraine War: Authorities Found 132 Tortured Bodies in Ditch Near Petrol Station in Town of Makariv

Siluanov's threat of legal action was made during an interview with the pro-Kremlin Izvestia newspaper on Monday. The official's remarks sharpened Moscow's tone in its continuing financial battle with the West.

Russia is currently facing its first external sovereign default in more than a century after it said that it would be making payments to international bonds using rubles. The Apr. 4 bond required Moscow to pay roughly $650 million, but the transfer was blocked by the US Treasury, preventing Russia from using any of its frozen foreign currency reserves.

Effects of Western Sanctions

According to Reuters, Siluanov said, "Of course, we will sue, because we have taken all the necessary steps to ensure that investors receive their payments. We will present in court our bills confirming our efforts to pay both in foreign currency and in rubles. It will not be an easy process. We will have to very actively prove our case, despite all the difficulties."

It is unclear whether the issue will be resolved if Russia continues to refuse to repay the debt in dollars, as European Union sanctions will bar credit rating agencies by the end of the 30-day grace period. This will prevent them from providing any ratings to Russian entities, and they will not be able to make a judgment on whether or not a default has occurred.

Siluanov also accused countries that chose to freeze Russia's internationally held currency reserves of trying to create an "artificial default." The country's finance ministry said that if the reserves were unfrozen, then Moscow's ruble payments could be converted into dollars.

On Friday, S&P also said that it held its "CC" junk debt rating for Russia's sovereign debt in rubles because it was not sure if nonresident bondholders would be able to access their coupon payments, the New York Times reported.

Related Article: Russia Pays $650 Million in Rubles For Bond After US Treasury Blocks Dollar Transfers



Related Article: Russia Pays $650 Million in Rubles For Bond After US Treasury Blocks Dollar Transfers

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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
Florida, US (34429)

Today

Sun and clouds mixed. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High around 85F. Winds WSW at 15 to 25 mph..

Tonight

Clear skies. Low 66F. Winds W at 10 to 20 mph.
Even as he faces a rapidly-intensifying federal tax fraud inquiry, President Joe Biden's sister stated on Monday that Donald Trump is focused on dragging her family down and argued that Hunter Biden is not an issue for the family.

Valerie Biden Owens, 76, defended her nephew's international business connections by claiming that there had been none since before the 2020 presidential election.

President Joe Biden's Sister Says Hunter Is Blameless Victim

During an interview with CBS Mornings to promote her new memoir, 'Growing Up Biden,' Owens, a longtime Joe Biden confidante and political adviser, also told host Gayle King that she believes her 79-year-old big brother was the 'right person' to run for president again in 2024 despite his advanced age.

Owens claimed that the 'one race' she had misgivings about was his 2020 candidacy against Trump despite staying behind him and playing a crucial part in all of his campaigns. Hunter Biden's business operations in Ukraine and China, some of which happened while his father was Barack Obama's vice president, have prompted Republicans in Washington to demand an investigation.

The contents of a laptop he reportedly left at a Delaware computer shop were first disclosed by the New York Post in October 2020, revealing Hunter Biden's overseas links. It included a slew of email correspondences with foreign business partners, raising doubts about how much, if any, awareness and involvement the now-president had in the proceedings.

During the 2020 presidential campaign, Trump and his associates exploited the laptop to smear Biden, but the paucity of mainstream media coverage ensured the issue would have minimal impact on the general electorate, according to Daily Mail.

As stated in Independent, Owens claims that her nephew has written openly about his struggles with addiction, a topic on which Trump pounced on Biden at the first general election debate in September 2020. The key inquiry was not about Biden's addiction, but about his financial activities.

The younger Biden's financial transactions have been a topic of controversy. Trump attempted to get Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to probe Hunter Biden's financial affairs while in government. According to the Washington Post, a federal grand jury heard testimony concerning payments he received while on the board of a Ukrainian energy business earlier this month.

Read Also: Joe Biden To Virtually Meet India's PM Narendra Modi as POTUS Pushes for Hard-Line Policy on Russia Over Invasion of Ukraine

Valerie Biden Owens Also Defends Brother Over Stumbling Speeches

Last month, Republican Senators Chuck Grassley and Ron Johnson moved to the Senate floor to raise concerns about Hunter Biden's financial ties to the Chinese government.

The contents of Hunter Biden's laptop were revealed in a bombshell report by the New York Post in 2020, which was largely dismissed by the media as Russian disinformation at the time. However, liberal media outlets changed their tune in 2022 after newspapers like The Washington Post and The New York Times authenticated thousands of his emails.

Hunter Biden is the subject of a federal investigation that began in 2018 and is now allegedly heating up as prosecutors from the US Attorney's Office in Delaware seek grand jury evidence on his overseas revenue sources. Owens also defended Joe Biden, whom she referred to as Joey during the interview, and his fumbling speeches and stories, which have been widely panned.

According to Owens, the siblings also converse on the phone frequently, generally about 10 pm. Meanwhile, Hunter Biden has been largely absent from the public spotlight in recent weeks although his wife Melissa Cohen was photographed on Friday near their Malibu home at a premium Los Angeles restaurant.

The Secret Service is reportedly spending $30,000 per month in taxpayer cash to rent out a property near the Biden family's $20,000 per month Malibu home, according to reports. During her excursion on Friday, Cohen seemed to be escorted by Secret Service officials, Fox News reported.

Related Article: Donald Trump Endorses "Tough" Celebrity Surgeon Mehmet Oz in US Senate Race in Pennsylvania

@YouTube

@ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
A food box giveaway is set for Thursday, April 14, in Tallahassee. The event is a partnership between The Salvation Army and Peter Boulware Toyota.
Why immigrants are set to have a bright future in Canadas labour market Canadas aging population is set to benefit Canadian-born and immigrant workers alike.

Why immigrants are set to have a bright future in Canadas labour market Canadas aging population is set to benefit Canadian-born and immigrant workers alike.

Why immigrants are set to have a bright future in Canadas labour market Canadas aging population is set to benefit Canadian-born and immigrant workers alike. Kareem El-Assal Aa Accessibility Font Style Serif

Sans Font Size A

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Canada is enjoying its lowest unemployment rate ever.

On the surface, this may seem strange given the coronavirus pandemic.

However there was little doubt the labour market would recover given the major demographic shifts that were transforming Canadas workforce prior to the pandemic, and that will continue to transform it over the next decade.

Discover if You Are Eligible for Canadian Immigration

From an immigration policy perspective, one of the biggest concerns is how a recession will impact the labour market performance of immigrants who obtain permanent residence during periods of economic downturn. Research shows that such immigrants may see their labour market outcomes negatively impacted for the rest of their careers in Canada.

This is alarming in light of the major shock to the Canadian economy at the start of the pandemic and Canada seeking to welcome the highest levels of immigration in its history.

But a closer look suggests that the COVID recession is different, and immigrants who have recently landed or who will be landing in the near future are still poised for a bright future in the Canadian labour market.

More Canadian workers retiring

The first reason for this is the exodus of baby boomers from Canadas workforce. This exodus helps explain why Canada enjoyed its lowest unemployment rate ever prior to the COVID recession, and has achieved another historic low in the unemployment rate despite the pandemic continuing to impact the Canadian and global economy.

Canada has about 20 million workers, of whom about 9 million are baby boomers. All 9 million of these baby boomers will reach Canadas retirement age of 65 within the next decade. More of them are retiring which is leaving a larger gap in the labour market. Historically, Canada has been able to fully replace retirees with young Canadian graduates completing their education and entering the workforce but this is no longer the case. Canadas low birth rate means it must rely on other sources of talent to replace its retiring workers.

Replacing retiring workers is important to keep the economy going and ensure the tax base is large enough to support the services that residents of Canada are able to benefit from such as education and health care. This is even more important as the aging of the population will see Canadas health care spending rise.

Other talent sources include under-utilized groups such as women, persons with disabilities, older workers, Indigenous peoples, and disengaged youth, among other groups. But adding more of them to the labour market would not fully compensate for all the retirees even if we lifted their employment participation rates to the national average.

This explains why immigration is so crucial to Canadas economic success. Prior to the pandemic, they comprised up to 100% of Canadas annual labour force growth on a few occasions, and this will become the norm over the next decade.

With so much experience and skill leaving the labour market, Canadian employers will need to turn to all the talent sources they can find to keep their operations going, which is precisely the phenomenon we are seeing now. The aging of the Canadian labour force is seeing the unemployment rate fall and wages rise, a phenomenon that is benefiting Canadian and immigrant workers alike. What were seeing now is likely to continue as more baby boomers retire.

We should also make note of the major immigration policy shifts over the past decade that are also having an impact on the labour market outcomes of newcomers.

More competitive selection process

One is the shift to a more competitive selection process for skilled immigrants. The federal government and provinces and territories have transformed their selection criteria in recent years to account for human capital factors demonstrated by research to result in stronger economic outcomes for immigrants. Under the Express Entry Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) for example, candidates who are young, well-educated, fluent in English and/or French, with professional work experience, and other bonuses such as having Canadian education and/or work experience, are awarded a higher CRS score which increases their chances of obtaining permanent residence and ultimately succeeding in the Canadian labour market.

More immigrants selected from within Canada

Another major shift has been the increasing number of permanent residents selected from within Canada. Prior to the pandemic, immigrants overseas comprised some 70% of those who landed under Express Entry but last year this figure fell to 30% with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) relying more on in-Canada candidates to achieve its immigration levels targets amid pandemic-related disruptions such as travel restrictions. It remains to be seen whether IRCC will rely more on selecting immigrants overseas or in Canada after the pandemic, we do know Immigration Minister Sean Frasers mandate letter asks him to identify more immigration pathways for in-Canada candidates. In addition, provinces and territories are increasingly selecting more in-Canada candidates via the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) and other streams.

The in-Canada selection trend is also backed by Canadian government research which shows that former international students and temporary foreign workers benefit in the labour market from their Canadian experience once they gain permanent residence.

More Canadian government investment to help newcomers

A third major consideration is IRCCs increased investment in immigrant settlement services such as workforce and language training. IRCC now spends some $2 billion per year on such services compared to about $350 million per year twenty years ago. These services are also delivered pre-arrival to give immigrants useful information and supports to help expedite the settlement process once they arrive in Canada.

Conclusion

When all these factors are considered, one is able to better feel at ease that the COVID-induced recession should result in less labour market scarring for newcomers than prior recessions. Compared to the past, Canada has a historically tight labour market, a more competitive selection process, is selecting more immigrant candidates from within the country, and is spending more money to help immigrants succeed.

Discover if You Are Eligible for Canadian Immigration

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While on vacation with her family in North Carolina, a Pennsylvania child died when she was swept down a waterfall.

The Jackson County Sheriff's Office stated that three-year-old Nevaeh Jade Newswanger was washed away near the top of Whitewater Falls on Sunday. After the small child was swept away by the stream, her worried parents dialed 911, and first responders from Jackson, Transylvania, Haywood, Henderson, and Oconee counties arrived, Daily Mail reported.

Girl Was Swept Over North Carolina Waterfall

The corpse of Nevaeh was discovered at 1 am on Monday. According to local news station WMBF, the toddler had been temporarily staying with her family in Oconee County, some 25 miles south of Whitewater Falls. The Newswangers from Denver, Pennsylvania, was on a work trip to the state. The Jackson County Sheriff's Office expressed its sympathies to the family on Monday and cautioned visitors to be careful.

With a drop of 411 feet, Whitewater Falls is the tallest waterfall east of the Rocky Mountains. It is situated on the North Carolina-South Carolina border. In the last three decades, more than a dozen individuals have perished near the waterfall. Before Sunday's tragedy, a member of a rescue squad died in 2020 after slipping down the waterfall while attempting to save a 24-year-old guy.

Jackson County Sheriff Chip Hall stated, "First and foremost our prayers are with the Newswanger family as they grieve the loss of this precious young child." Hall issued a caution to those who might be considering visiting the waterfall. Visitors should always keep a safe distance, observe all safety measures and warnings, and see waterfalls from approved viewing places.

Read Also: Russia-Ukraine War: Authorities Found 132 Tortured Bodies in Ditch Near Petrol Station in Town of Makariv

Sheriff's Office Warns About the Scenic Areas

Visitors are encouraged to stay on the paths even if they want to obtain a better view of the region, according to the department's website. Several visitors to the hiking review website AllTrails classify one of the Whitewater Falls treks as challenging and moderately difficult, according to People.

Several counties' emergency services were dispatched to the Whitewater Falls region soon before 6:00 p.m., on Sunday after reports that a little girl had been washed away from the top of the falls and taken away by a torrent. The Whitewater River has a sequence of waterfalls and cascades that span the border from North Carolina to South Carolina.



The youngster was discovered in an area near the waterfall at about 1 am on Monday, after many hours of recovery efforts. People should be informed of the hazards connected with many picturesque sites of the region, such as waterfalls, as spring weather approaches, according to Jackson.

Since 1995, at least 15 people have perished at Whitewater Falls. Hall went on to explain that while the falls are magnificent to look at from a safe distance, getting too close to them for any purpose is extremely dangerous, as per Philly Voice.

Related Article: Russian Missile Strike in Kramastorsk Railway Station Kills 30, Injures 100; EU Condemns Attack in the Eastern Ukrainian City

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On Saturday, after months of local and national media speculation, former TV businessman Donald Trump endorsed former TV doctor Mehmet Oz for an open US Senate seat in Pennsylvania. Ozs campaign to this point had not been smooth sailingthe Philadelphia Inquirer refused to call him Dr. Oz, which they called a commitment to fairness and he called an attempt to cancel him; local activists spurned him; he recently sounded off to a Bloomberg reporter in a restroom about the medias supposed failure to scrutinize his main rival, David McCormickand so the endorsement looked like a boon. Trump initially supported Sean Parnell in the race, but Parnell withdrew after his estranged wife, who had accused him of spousal and child abuse, was granted custody of their kids; Sean Hannity, of Fox News, was reportedly among those who lobbied Trump to back Oz in Parnells stead. When youre in television for eighteen years, thats like a poll, Trump said, referring to Ozs background. That means people like you.

Trumps decision quickly attracted a barrage of media coverage and takes. (Rolling Stones headline: Fraud Endorses Quack.) This was not a surprisefor months now, but particularly with the midterms heaving, tediously, into view, the Beltway press and outlets beyond have obsessed over Trumps hyperactive endorsement strategy in everything from key congressional primaries to the race for Georgias insurance and fire safety commissioner. (The dogcatcher joke was getting tired, after all.) In recent weeks, in particular, one overarching narrative has dominated coverage in major outlets: that the upcoming primaries in which Trump has endorsed will constitute a major test of his political strength. Is Trumps hold on the GOP waning? ABC News asked, representatively, last week. Were about to find out. Some commentators arent even waiting for the results to come in. Axioss Mike Allen already concludedwith reference to Parnell dropping out and Trump rescinding his endorsement of Mo Brooks for US Senate in Alabamathat each time a Trump-backed candidate fails, his aura fades as GOP kingmaker.

ICYMI: The war crimes beat

Such articles have often described the very real phenomenon of Republican primary candidates jockeying slavishly for Trumps supportwhich many of them clearly see as being of enormous potential benefitand the referendum-on-Trump framing of his endorsements would seem to have at least some merit in high-profile races where he is gunning loudly for a sworn foe: the gubernatorial election in Georgia, for instance, where incumbent Brian Kemp stood minimally in the way of Trumps attempted coup, or the US House race in Wyoming, where incumbent Liz Cheney has become Trumps most vocal GOP critic. Even these races, though, are subject to a web of complex dynamics involving multiple candidates. And this points to a much broader problem: that the Trump-endorsement obsession, at its worst, is priming the press to draw overly generalized national conclusions from elections where a messy array of specific local factors are at play. Were all America First people, an activist told Politico recently after Trump made an odd endorsement in a North Carolina US House race, but we dont need Mr. Trump or anybody else bringing candidates in who dont know nothing about farming, dont know anything about agriculture and the roads here and the needs we have.

The Trump-strength-test narrative has other pitfalls, too, that point to a broader pattern of oversimplification. First, there are limits to what even a clean sweep of embarrassing primary defeats for Trump-endorsed candidates would tell us about his standing in the Republican Party right now, let alone what it might portend for a possible Trump presidential run in 2024. Sure, such an outcome would offer insight as to what issues animate Republican voters the most at that moment. The idea, though, that it would decisively herald Trumps irrelevance is misguided. Trump-endorsed candidates have lost primaries before, including at moments when his influence was indisputably high; in 2017, for instance, he backed Luther Strange over Roy Moore in a US Senate primary in Alabama, and we all remember how that one turned out. And election years that feature Trumps own name on the ballot are simply different from those that dont. The average voter is likely tracking endorsements less closely than the average pundit.

Second, the direction of causality is muddled here: while some candidates might win because Trump endorsed them, its clear in other cases that he is endorsing candidates because he thinks theyll win. Trump is a notoriously sore loser and has not hidden his desire to have his name associated with likely winners, either in the past (see Strange, again) or the current election cycle. He framed his Oz endorsement explicitly in terms of popularity. (When youre in television for eighteen years, thats like a poll.) When he dropped Brooks, he said that it was because the latter had gone woke over the 2020 election, but many pundits traced the decision to the fact that Brooks was floundering in the polls, as Brooks (sort of) did himself, quipping in a radio interview that Trump might go on to endorse all three major candidates in the race because that way, hes assured of being able to say that he won. There is an obvious trap here for the press. Its clearly in Trumps interests for the media to report that his influence over the Republican Party remains strong. If he tees up endorsements that he thinks will send that message, then reporting that his influence remains strong clearly plays into his hands.

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Well, reporting that his influence remains strong on the basis of endorsementsbecause the third, and most important, point here is that Trumps influence over the Republican Party is still strong, and there are much easier and more pertinent ways of reporting this clear fact than the overinterpretation of messy local races. As I wrote recently, the question of Trumps grip on the GOP seems to be of endless fascination to political reporters and pundits who routinely seize on minor acts of supposed defiance to theorize that it might be slipping. Zoom out, however, and the big picture is abundantly clear; the Republican Party as an institution is so in the thrall of Trump and Trumpism that most of its representatives either endorse or will not debunk his dangerous lies about the last election, and a few faulty endorsements dont seem likely to change that. Indeed, in many racesincluding Ozs in Pennsylvaniacandidates Trump hasnt endorsed sound just as Trumpy as the Trump endorsee, if not more so. Would these candidates winning really constitute a defeat for Trump? On paper, maybe. But not in practice.

Endorsements can be an indicator of political influence. But they are one among many, and should not be driving this much coverage. In the end, our obsession with them looks like one more iteration of a broader Trump fixation that political media has yet to kick. To the extent that members of the press are limbering up to draw misleadingly neat, if not outright false, conclusions from messy data points, its dangerous. Even if the eventual conclusions end up aligning with other indicators of Trumps strength, to focus on them is ultimately to center horse-race-style journalism at the expense of other, far more urgent stories about Trumps power. Election denialismand the fact that so many candidates feel they have to spout it to get Trumps approvalis a more important story than these elections themselves.

To the extent that the recent Trump-endorsement story can remind us of anything useful, its that while Trump has taken the Republican Party in frightening new directions, hes built on an existing bedrock. One endorsement that has recently been touted as a test of Trumps strength was that, last weekend, of Sarah Palin, the former Republican vice-presidential nominee and unsuccessful New York Times litigant who is running for Alaskas open congressional seat. Palin, in many ways, was the ur-Trump; indeed, in 2016, she was perceived as giving him a boost when she became one of the first prominent Republicans to endorse his first presidential bid. As Trump put it when he returned the favor last week, Sarah shocked many when she endorsed me very early in 2016, and we won big. Now, its my turn!

Below, more on Trump and the midterms:

What the polls say: New survey data from Morning Consult suggests that Trumps favorability rating remains very high among Republican voters in states with key midterm races coming up, raising questions, Eli Yokley writes, about what the fate of Trumps endorsed candidates actually portends for his grip on the party. One Republican operative told Yokley that while we judge Trump very differently from every other president, for obvious reasons, he doesnt have control over all the factors that decide individual races. Its one thing to say, Trump is popular, another operative noted, and quite another to say, voters will do whatever they are told every time.

New survey data from Morning Consult suggests that Trumps favorability rating remains very high among Republican voters in states with key midterm races coming up, raising questions, Eli Yokley writes, about what the fate of Trumps endorsed candidates actually portends for his grip on the party. One Republican operative told Yokley that while we judge Trump very differently from every other president, for obvious reasons, he doesnt have control over all the factors that decide individual races. Its one thing to say, Trump is popular, another operative noted, and quite another to say, voters will do whatever they are told every time. King of kingmakers: Trumps endorsements were clearly on his mind when he sat down last week with the Washington Posts Josh Dawsey. He sought during much of the interview to tout his political supremacy inside the Republican Party, Dawsey writes. Unprompted, he decried news coverage that indicated otherwise and crowed about how many people wanted his endorsement, while vowing to stop the Republicans who favored impeaching him. At one point, Trump claimed that Viktor Orban, the recently reelected prime minister of Hungary, had called to thank Trump for endorsing him. Im the king of endorsements, he said. Its more than just this country. Its other countries.

Trumps endorsements were clearly on his mind when he sat down last week with the Washington Posts Josh Dawsey. He sought during much of the interview to tout his political supremacy inside the Republican Party, Dawsey writes. Unprompted, he decried news coverage that indicated otherwise and crowed about how many people wanted his endorsement, while vowing to stop the Republicans who favored impeaching him. At one point, Trump claimed that Viktor Orban, the recently reelected prime minister of Hungary, had called to thank Trump for endorsing him. Im the king of endorsements, he said. Its more than just this country. Its other countries. Restroom with a view: Joshua Greens recent Bloomberg profile of McCormick and the Pennsylvania Senate race is worth a read, not least for its Oz restroom interview. When Oz comes bounding out to greet the audience a few minutes later, he sticks to familiar culture-war themes, blasting vaccine mandates and Dr. Anthony Fauci and complaining that the media is trying to cancel him, Green wrote, of what happened next. Oz, it should be said, is a more convincing vessel of Trumpian grievance than McCormickwild, frenetic, slightly unhinged, and always attentive to the campaign cameraman, who mirrors his every move like a duet partner.

Joshua Greens recent Bloomberg profile of McCormick and the Pennsylvania Senate race is worth a read, not least for its Oz restroom interview. When Oz comes bounding out to greet the audience a few minutes later, he sticks to familiar culture-war themes, blasting vaccine mandates and Dr. Anthony Fauci and complaining that the media is trying to cancel him, Green wrote, of what happened next. Oz, it should be said, is a more convincing vessel of Trumpian grievance than McCormickwild, frenetic, slightly unhinged, and always attentive to the campaign cameraman, who mirrors his every move like a duet partner. Enough already: For CJRs recent issue on political journalism, Kyle Pope, our editor and publisher, took aim at the medias ongoing Trump fixation, arguing that we blew an opportunity to refocus after Biden took office. If the insurrection foiled our initial shot at a new, Trump-free approach to covering politics, the instincts of the press doomed it, Pope wrote. The pace of White House coverage eased, as did reporters fixation on the presidency, yet Trump remained a character in major stories.



Other notable stories:

ICYMI: When it comes to how journalists use it, theres no such thing as Twitter

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Jon Allsop is a freelance journalist whose work has appeared in the New York Review of Books, Foreign Policy, and The Nation, among other outlets. He writes CJRs newsletter The Media Today. Find him on Twitter @Jon_Allsop.
SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP)  A weekend fire gutted a Home Depot store in the San Francisco Bay Area, sending up a huge plume of smoke and prompting orders for some nearby residents to shelter in place, authorities said.

The five-alarm blaze in South San Jose erupted around 5 p.m. Saturday and took about six hours to contain shortly before midnight, with some firefighters remaining overnight to douse embers.

Employees and customers inside the store ran for safety. No injuries were reported.

The fire apparently began in the lumber section of the store but the cause remained under investigation, fire officials said.

The fire also fed on flammable materials and chemicals such as paint thinner, which made it harder to fight, Fire Battalion Chief Brad Cloutier said at a briefing.

About 100 firefighters fought the blaze and protected nearby homes and businesses.

Concerns about unhealthy air prompted authorities to order people living nearby to stay inside, close their windows and turn off their air conditioning.

City Councilman Matt Mahan, who lives near the store, told the Bay Area News Group that the air in his home smelled of chemicals and burning plastic.

Dozens of animals also were evacuated from a nearby veterinary hospital.

The fire broke out about three hours after another blaze erupted at the Port of Benicia in the Bay Area.

That fire started on a conveyor belt carrying a refinery byproduct and spread to creosote-soaked timbers supporting a commercial pier, Benicia fire chief Josh Chadwick said.

No injuries were reported.

Two ships were moved away from the area, while fire boats from San Francisco and Oakland helped fight the blaze, fire officials said.

By Sunday morning, the fire had slowed considerably and only three small flaming pockets remained, the city said in a Facebook update.

About the photo: Firefighters work on a five-alarm fire at the Home Depot off Blossom Hill Road in San Jose, Calif., on Saturday, April 9, 2022. A shelter-in-place advisory was expected to remain in effect until at least early Sunday afternoon for residents living or working near the store that was destroyed Saturday in a fiery blaze. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group via AP)

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Disclaimer

The Cleveland Jewish News does not make endorsements of political candidates and/or political or other ballot issues on any level. Letters, commentaries, opinions, advertisements and online posts appearing in the Cleveland Jewish News, on cjn.org or our social media pages do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Cleveland Jewish Publication Company, its board, officers or staff.
Cleveland State University recently conferred the honor of distinguished professor on Samantha Baskind for her contributions to the CSU Department of Art and Design, its College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences and to the university.
The Russian government has installed a new general to oversee its continued invasion of Ukraine, prompting fears of more brutality and violence as the "Butcher of Syria" becomes the latest leader of the country's military forces.

President Vladimir Putin's new official, 60-year-old Gen. Aleksandr Dvornikov, previously commanded Russia's southern military district. He led the crushing military operations in Ukraine's Donbas region and in Syria. The attacks led to the massacres of tens of thousands of civilians.

The "Butcher of Syria"

The appointment of the new general comes as Russia is now 46 days into its invasion of Ukraine and moves to shift its focus to the eastern parts of its neighboring country. The situation follows Moscow's failed attempts to take over the capital Kyiv.

On Monday, Pentagon press secretary John Kirby warned of Dvornikov's reputation and his alleged disregard for avoiding civilian casualties, including infrastructure. The American official said that the Russian general also ignored the laws of war and laws of armed conflict, as per The Hill.

Dvornikov is known to be one of Russia's most experienced and also most notorious military leaders. The United Nations claimed that the general led military troops that killed more than 350,000 in the Syrian conflict. Dvornikov allegedly ordered his forces to destroy cities and drop barrel bombs that displaced millions of residents.

Read Also: Russia-Ukraine War: Authorities Found 132 Tortured Bodies in Ditch Near Petrol Station in Town of Makariv

A Syrian army defector, Lt. Col. Fares al-Bayoush, said that he was expecting a ruthless strategy from the Russian general, arguing that troops under his control will engage in concurrent "rapid battles" around Ukraine. Furthermore, Dvornikov could use the "scorched earth policy" that was previously used in Syria.

According to the New York Post, in an interview on Sunday, retired Adm. James Stavridis said that Dvornikov's appointment as commander of the Russian military was a blow to hopes that the Russia-Ukraine war could come to a quick and peaceful end.

War on Ukraine

However, a senior U.S. defense official said that Dvornikov's appointment will not be able to erase the logistical and operational problems that have plagued Russian forces. The American official said that Moscow's military troops have high challenges to surpass and noted that the choice of a new general will not help them reach greater success.

The official also noted that Russia's continued attacks in the southern regions of Ukraine have largely stalled out, gaining no ground against Mariupol since last week and failing to advance on Mykolayiv. While it is unclear how the appointment of the new military commander will affect Russia's efforts in the invasion, a pattern of brutality is expected.

The situation comes as some of the Russian units that retreated from the northern areas of Ukraine started to move towards the east, heading for the Russian cities of Belgorod and Valuyki. A long convoy of Russian vehicles could be seen traveling south to Donbas from that area.

The Pentagon believes that Russia would use the region to refit and resupply its battalion tactical groups (BTGs) that have faced resistance near Kyiv and other areas of Ukraine. The agency argued that some military units were too gutted to continue fighting, ABC News reported.



Related Article: White House Confirms Ukraine Is Beating, Pushing Russia Back; Ambassador Warns About Dangerous US Provocation

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Last night, Vladimir Putin ordered the dismissal of 150 security personnel as he prepared for last military onslaught in Ukraine.

Officers from the Federal Security Service, which is the successor to the KGB, have been fired, and others have been detained. After Western intelligence officers discovered his country's combat preparations before the invasion, the desperate Russian president is on the lookout for traitors.

Vladimir Putin Orders Purge of 150 Secret Agents

After his military effort fell short of a speedy triumph, he's seeking someone to blame. Colonel-General Sergei Beseda, the chief of the FSB's foreign intelligence section, was transported from house arrest to Moscow's high-security Lefortovo jail Wednesday night.

Officially, the 68-year-old espionage director is being probed for theft, but it is believed that the Kremlin is holding him responsible for the leaks that have hampered Russia's war effort. The investigation is being directed by Russia's military counterintelligence organization as Putin attempts to stifle the flow of information from the West.

Several FSB personnel have been jailed for allegedly "providing misleading information to the Kremlin about the true situation in Ukraine before the invasion."

They are believed to have sent briefings to Putin, persuading him that Russian soldiers would be welcomed as liberators and that Ukrainian forces would give little opposition. Russia's military effort has never fully recovered from the Kremlin's erroneous planning assumptions, Daily Mail reported.

Secret service briefings had persuaded Putin that his forces would be warmly received by many Ukrainians and would accomplish a quick triumph. In truth, they've been up against insurmountable odds.

The action will be interpreted as a message to other senior Putin advisers who are expected to shoulder responsibility for Russia's massive death toll in Ukraine. The Military Investigative Department of the Investigative Committee is looking into Beseda's case, according to Russian intelligence analyst Andrei Soldatov, who reported the Lefortovo maneuver.

Beseda, who was the head of FSB intelligence and political subversion throughout the former Soviet Union, was seized while on a trip to Ukraine. Putin is claimed to be concerned that spies may have disclosed invasion plans to the West; therefore, Beseda and his deputy Anatoly Bolyukh were seized but have been placed under house arrest until recently.

Beseda served as the head of the FSB's 5th service since 2009 and was a long-time trusted Putin secret service figure. Bolyukh's present whereabouts are unknown, and Russia has made no official announcement about his arrest or confinement. Putin also dismissed the Russian national guard's deputy commander last month, according to Mirror.

Read Also: Russian Ministry of Defense Claims They Eliminated Top Neo-Nazi Commander in Ukraine

Report: Russian Officials Putin Will Be Prosecuted of War Crimes

Meanwhile, Ukraine's envoy to the United States stated Sunday that Putin and any forces involved in atrocities in Ukraine will face war crimes charges. According to Oksana Makarova, all Russian troops and leaders complicit in war crimes would face international prosecution.

Since Russia's incursion on February 24, Putin and his army have been accused of perpetrating heinous war crimes across Ukraine. President Joe Biden judged that the allegations were accurate late last month and the US. Later, the House of Representatives enacted a measure mandating the administration to describe any criminal evidence.

Russian soldiers came under increased scrutiny on Friday when one of its missiles hit a railway station in the eastern city of Kramatorsk, killing at least 50 Ukrainian citizens attempting to evacuate the war-torn nation.

Hundreds of Ukrainian people were allegedly slaughtered and tortured by the military days before they withdrew from the Kyiv area. In the village of Bucha, where more than 300 people were killed, disturbing photographs have emerged depicting mass graves and bodies with their hands tied behind their backs. Russian soldiers are also accused of raping and torturing women, as well as murdering and kidnapping children, as per Newsweek via MSN.

Related Article: [Report] China Sends Missiles Bound to Serbia, Accelerates More Than 100 Silos Capable of Reaching US

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President Joe Biden is taking fresh aim at ghost guns, the privately made firearms without serial numbers that are increasingly cropping up in violent crimes. At the White House on Monday, Biden highlighted the Justice Departments work to finalize new regulations to crack down on the guns. He also announced the nomination of Steve Dettlebach, who served as a U.S. attorney in Ohio from 2009 to 2016, to run the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Still, the announcement of the new regulation also highlighted the limits of Bidens influence to push a sweeping congressional overhaul of the nations firearm laws. Congress has deadlocked on legislative proposals to reform gun laws for a decade.
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Pacific Gas & Electric Company (PGCE) managed to avoid criminal charges by paying a $55 million settlement with Northstate prosecutors over its involvement with two wildfires, the Dixie Fire and the Kincade Fire.

The District Attorneys of Plumas, Lassen, Tehama, Shasta, and Butte Counties on Monday announced that they have reached a settlement with the utility company over the Dixie Fire that ravaged the nation last year.

$55 Million Settlement

The recently agreed settlement requires PG&E to make rapid payments with a deadline of this summer to residents who lost their homes because of the Dixie Fire. The company is also required to continue to make extensive improvements in the safety and reliability of PG&E infrastructure in the North State and the affected counties.

PG&E will also be subject to oversight by the District Attorney through an independent safety monitor. It will also pay nearly $30 million to recompense local charities and organizations who were involved in mitigating the effects of the fire on nearby structures. The settlement also requires the company to pay penalties and costs of the investigation to the DA offices, as per KRCRTV.

Sonoma County prosecutors spent roughly two months in negotiations with PG&E over the settlement agreement so that the company can prevent District Attorney Jill Ravitch's 30-count criminal case from pushing through against the utility company.

Read Also: Pennsylvania Girl, 3, Dies After Being Swept Down a 411-Foot Waterfall in North Carolina

If the settlement was not agreed to, the investor-owned company would have pleaded guilty to the eight felonies and 22 misdemeanors. These would have added to the list of official punishments against PG&E for its role in the largest wildfire in Sonoma County history in 2019.

According to Press Democrat, the company had already paid $31 million in damages to Sonoma County and the cities of Santa Rosa, Windsor, Cloverdale, and Healdsburg and $125 million to the state. But the company is set to pay more in the settlement as even after almost two-and-a-half years after the fire, many victims of the Kincade Fire have not yet received compensation.

PG&E's Involvement

The district attorney for Butte County, Michael L. Ramsey, released a statement saying that the settlement avoids both bankruptcy and inordinate delay for the Dixie Fire homeowners and renters. This is particularly helpful for the victims who do not have insurance to compensate for what they lost.

Investigators determined that the fires were sparked when a tree came into contact with PG&E's power lines near the Cresta Dam which is located roughly 100 miles north of Sacramento. The Kincade Fire burned through nearly 78,000 acres in Sonoma County, resulting in four injuries and the destruction of 374 buildings.

On the other hand, the Dixie Fire burned roughly 963,000 acres and destroyed more than 1,300 buildings across various counties in the region. Ravitch said that while criminal charges against PG&E have been dismissed, the level of punishment and oversight provided by the settlement agreement is greater than what could be achieved against a corporation in criminal court while still helping and supporting victims, the New York Times reported.



Related Article: 250,000 Theft of Diesel Fuel Takes Royal Navy by Surprise; Here's How the Thieves Accomplished the Incredible Heist

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Queen Elizabeth II has given her blessing to a book written by her trusted stylist on Her Majesty's responses to Prince Philip's death and the coronavirus lockdowns.

Angela Kelly, the Queen's stylist and valued counsel for over 30 years, was among the inner circle that spent much of the lockdown at Windsor Castle with Her Majesty and the Duke of Edinburgh in what became known as HMS Bubble.

Queen Elizabeth Pays Tribute on Prince Philip's First Death Anniversary

In a new edition of her book, the Queen's right-hand woman will provide details of how the royal household helped keep Her Majesty safe throughout the lockdown.

Kelly will provide her firsthand experience of how the Queen dealt with the pandemic and the Duke of Edinburgh's death in a new version of 'The Other Side Of The Coin: The Queen, The Dresser, and The Wardrobe,' which has been authorized by Her Majesty.

Per Daily Mail, Kelly claims she was called upon to trim the Queen's hair when regular formality could not be followed in one of the lighter tales. Miss Kelly, the three-times-divorced daughter of a Roman Catholic crane driver from Liverpool, has spent the previous 20 years cultivating an intriguingly intimate friendship with the Queen.

The influence of the dresser has now spread to the younger Royals, with Prince George being baptized in a long robe created by Miss Kelly, who learned to sew from her mother and aunt.

Prince Philip, the longest-serving consort in British history, died "peacefully" at Windsor Castle on April 9, 2021, at the age of 99. As the first anniversary of Prince Philip's passing approached on April 9, Queen Elizabeth went to Twitter to share a poignant poem penned by the famed UK poet Laureate Simon Armitage.

Queen Elizabeth even made a video montage of her memorable moments with Prince Philip and shared it on social media. Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, as well as Prince William and Kate Middleton, shared the tweet, as per Republic World.

Remembering His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh on the first anniversary of his death.



Find out more about his life and legacy at: https://t.co/6tFq2vjyNk



Words: The Patriarchs  An Elegy by Poet Laureate Simon Armitage pic.twitter.com/WpB2L6D75K  The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) April 9, 2022

On April 17, Prince Philip was laid to rest in St. George's Chapel on the grounds of Windsor Castle in a private ceremony. The Queen was sitting alone in the chapel due to coronavirus restrictions. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the funeral ceremony was shortened since St. George's Chapel had a capacity of just 30 mourners. The funeral was attended by around 730 members of the military forces.

Read Also: Prince Harry's Memoir Might Attack Prince Charles, Camilla as Royal Author Claims Duke Doesn't Want Duchess of Cornwall To Become Queen

Queen Says COVID-19 Left Her "Very Tired and Exhausted"

Furthermore, Queen Elizabeth II empathized with patients, physicians, and nurses in a London hospital last week as she listened to their accounts of life on the front lines of the pandemic following her own recent fight with COVID-19.

COVID-19 might make a person feel "exhausted," according to Queen Elizabeth II. During a virtual visit to the Royal London Hospital, the monarch spoke to patients and staff about the Queen Elizabeth Unit, a 155-bed critical care facility created in only five weeks at the height of the pandemic.

In February, Queen Elizabeth tested positive for COVID-19 and experienced "moderate cold-like symptoms," according to Buckingham Palace.

Staff from all around the region, including retired physicians and nurses, as well as troops sent in to aid, have treated roughly 800 coronavirus cases from across northeast London.

Senior nurse Mireia Lopez Rey Ferrer informed Queen Elizabeth that they tried their utmost to soothe extremely ill patients as friends and family members prohibited from the hospital due to tight virus-control procedures.

By the end of December 2020, Hussain became the third member of his family to be hospitalized with COVID-19. Hussain's brother died first, followed by his father, who died while he was on a ventilator, USA Today reported.

Related Article: Queen Elizabeth Death: Top Secret Files About Her Majesty's Demise Plan Leaked, Prompting Urgent Probe

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The Coastal Point is a local newspaper published each Friday and distributed in the Bethany Beach, South Bethany, Fenwick Island, Ocean View, Millville, Dagsboro, Frankford, Selbyville, Millsboro, Long Neck and Georgetown, Delaware areas.
Local government officails are being invited to take part in the state's Climate Leadership Academy, which will focus on the state's Climate Action Plan.
On Tuesday, Penn State announced its yearly awards for members of faculty and staff, recognizing, outstanding faculty and staff with annual awards in teaching and excellence, according to a release.

In a livestream at noon on Thursday, Penn State will recognize individuals of their distinguished staff with awards ranging from undergraduate teaching to graduate teaching and achievement awards.

The Undergraduate Faculty Teaching Awards:

The Milton S. Eisenhower Award for Distinguished Teaching:

Nate Brown, Eberly College of Science professor of mathematics

Courtney Nagle, Penn State Behrend Campus professor of mathematics

The George W. Atherton Award for Excellence in Teaching:

Carol Evans, biology professor at The Eberly Campus at Penn State Fayette

Lauren Kramer, College of Health and Human Development associate professor kinesiology

Debra Majetic, Penn State New Kensington radiological sciences assistant teaching professor

Heather McCune Bruhn, College of Arts and Architecture professor of art history

Ashley Patterson, College of Education assistant professor of education

Eric Robbins, Penn State Behrend teaching professor of finance

The Penn State Teaching Fellows:

The Penn State Alumni/Student Award for Excellence in Teaching:

Fred Fonseca, College of Information Science and Technology associate professor

Marinda Harrell-Levy, Penn State Brandywine associate professor of human development and family studies

Jessica Schocker, Penn State Berks professor in social studies education and womens studies

The Penn State Excellence in Advising Award:

Renae McNair, Penn State Scranton assistant teaching professor of psychology

Karen Sofranko, Penn State Hazleton director of academic services and retention

The Presidents Award For Engagement with Students:

Marissa Nicosia, Penn State Abington associate professor of Renaissance literature

The Undergraduate Program Leadership Award:

Sharon Huang, College of Information Sciences and Technology associate professor

The Graduate Faculty Teaching Awards:

The Howard B. Palmer Faculty Mentoring Award:

Luis Ayala, College of Earth and Mineral Sciences Professor of Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering

The Graduate Faculty Teaching Award:

Frank Ritter, College of Information Sciences professor and Applied Cognitive Science Lab director

The Graduate School Alumni Society Graduate Program Chair Leadership Award:

Chris Calkins, Master of Health Policy Administration in the College of Health and Human Development teaching professor

The Faculty Scholar Medals:

Ralph Colby, College of Earth and Mineral Sciences professor of materials science and engineering

Jonathan P. Eburne, College of the Liberal Arts professor of literature, English, French and francophone studies

Homero Gil de Zuniga, Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications professor

Jonathan Lynch, College of Agricultural Sciences professor of plant nutrition

Carleen Maitland, College of Information Sciences and Technology professor

Susan Sinnott, Department of MatSE professor

The Faculty and Staff Achievement Awards:

The McKay Donkin Award:

Jeffrey Bardzell, College of Information Sciences and Technology associate dean of undergraduate and graduate studies

The Rosemary Schraer Mentoring Award:

Laura Leites, College of Agricultural Sciences research professor of quantitative forest ecology

The Award for Administrative Excellence:

Chad Long, Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus director of student affairs

The Staff Excellence Award  The Support Staff Award:

Debbie Jozefick, Department of Nutritional Sciences administrative support assistant

The Staff Excellence Award:

Megan Gilpin, University Libraries outreach coordinator

The Barash Award for Human Service:

Renea Nichols, Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications associate teaching professor

The Dr. James Robinson Equal Opportunity Award:

Anthony Mitchell, Penn State Greater Allegheny and cofounder of the Steward and Jones Scholar Leadership Program professor of African and African American studies

The W. LaMarr Kopp International Faculty & Staff Achievement Award:

Elizabeth Ransom, School of International Affairs and senior research associate with Rock Ethics Institute associate professor and interim director

The Penn State Award for Faculty Outreach:

Melanie D. Hetzel-Riggin, Penn State Behrend professor of psychology

Outreach and Online Education Emerging Faculty Award for Engagement Scholarship:

Shaheen Pasha, Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications professor of journalism

The Shirley Hendrick Award:

Brian Cameron, Smeal College of Business associate dean of the office of Professional Graduate Programs

The Penn State Community Engagement and Scholarship Award:

Peter Stempel, leader of The Coastal Studio Penn State  Portsmouth Rhode Island Resilience Planning project

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US claims of Chinas nukes excuse for own expansion

By Liu Xuanzun and Guo Yuandan (Global Times) 14:43, April 12, 2022

DF-41 intercontinental ballistic missile Photo: Fan Lingzhi/GT

US military leaders, politicians and media have been repeatedly hyping the so-called China nuclear arsenal expansion, highlighted recently again by a report by the Wall Street Journal, and these speculations are an excuse for the US to expand its own nuclear arsenal and push the "China threat" theory, Chinese experts said on Monday.

China has accelerated the expansion of its nuclear arsenal because of a change in its assessment of the threat posed by the US, the Wall Street Journal reported on Saturday, citing people "with knowledge of the Chinese leadership's thinking."

The report comes only days after Admiral Charles Richard, the head of US Strategic Command, claimed on April 5 that China's first test of an intercontinental ballistic missile-launched hypersonic glide vehicle last July is a "technological achievement with serious implications for strategic stability," as the hypersonic vehicle flew 40,000 kilometers for more than 100 minutes, marking "the greatest distance and longest flight time of any land attack weapon system of any nation to date," Richard wrote in the testimony, Bloomberg reported on April 5.

Both the Wall Street Journal and Richard claimed that China has been building more than 100 suspected missile silos in China's remote western region that could be used to house nuclear-tipped missiles capable of reaching the US.

These are pure speculations, and the US has been hyping this topic for a long time, and it is nothing new, Zhang Junshe, a senior research fellow at the Naval Research Academy of the People's Liberation Army, told the Global Times on Monday.

By repeatedly hyping and building up tensions, the US is creating an excuse to expand its own nuclear arsenal, despite the US' nuclear triad leading China in both quality and quantity, Zhang said.

The US is retiring its Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missiles that entered service in the 1960s, and is now developing the new Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile. So it is obvious why the US is finding a reason for this upgrade, a Chinese nuclear strategy expert told the Global Times.

Xu Guangyu, a Chinese military expert, told the Global Times on Monday that the US relies on its nuclear capability to maintain its hegemony, so it wants to use the "China threat" theory as an excuse.

The eastward expansion of the US-led NATO would ultimately aim to not only contain Russia, but also China, so hyping China's so-called nuclear expansion is also a way to hype the "China threat" theory, Xu said.

Fu Cong, Director General of the Arms Control Department at the Chinese Foreign Ministry, said in a media briefing in Januarythat China has no plans to drastically expand its nuclear arsenal but will continue to modernize it under the changing security environment.

China is the only major nuclear power in the world to announce the no-first-use policy, and it maintains the minimum level of nuclear capability required to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity, Zhang said, noting that facing the current needs in national defense, China needs to continue to develop its nuclear arsenal, and the US is exaggerating it.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
The Shanghai government declared on Monday that it will relieve COVID-19 restrictions in more than 40% of its communities despite the continuous spread of the virus in the whole city.

Based on results from citywide PCR testing on Saturday and other data, a total of 7,565 neighborhoods in the coastal city that logged no new cases over the past 14 days have been designated "prevention areas," according to city official Gu Honghui.

The list of qualifying areas is being released gradually. Some are already allowing residents out of their homes, as per Nikkei Asia report.

Residents of these areas may travel within a predetermined boundary but are still urged to avoid unnecessary outings.

But infections have shown no signs of subsiding. Shanghai reported 26,087 local infections on Sunday, topping records for the 10th day in a row.

According to Tuesday's report (April 11), the local government has registered 22,348 new asymptomatic COVID-19 cases and 994 symptomatic cases, per The Guardian.

Asymptomatic cases were lower compared to 25,173 recorded a day earlier. But the symptomatic cases went up from 914.

To limit movement, the Shanghai government has classified its communities into three COVID-19 risk categories.

Rigorous Lockdowns

The city has designated 2,460 neighborhoods as "restrictive control areas," where residents are allowed to leave their houses but must remain within their complexes if no infections were recorded within seven days. In 7,624 "closed-off management zones" that have reported infections in the last seven days, the lockdown will remain in place.

China has maintained a "Zero Covid" policy, with rigorous lockdowns, mass testing, and travel restrictions aimed at eradicating infections, The Bangkok Post reported.

However, since March, when more than 100,000 cases in Shanghai prompted a lockdown of the city's 25 million residents, causing considerable public outcry over food scarcity, lack of access to medical services, and uncompromising policy of sending everybody who tests positive to isolation centers. Hence, the program has come under fire.

Read Also: [Report] China Sends Missiles Bound to Serbia, Accelerates More Than 100 Silos Capable of Reaching US

US Issues Advisory Amid COVID-19 Surge In China

Meanwhile, per CNBC report, the US State Department has issued an order for all non-emergency government personnel and their families in Shanghai to leave amid the surging cases of COVID-19.

The US government also advised its citizens to rethink their trip to China.

The State Department said in its announcement dated April 11 that Americans should "Reconsider travel to the People's Republic of China (PRC)" citing reasons of "arbitrary enforcement of local laws" and COVID-19 constraints.

"Do not travel to the PRC's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR), Jilin province, and Shanghai municipality due to COVID-19-related restrictions, including the risk of parents and children being separated," the statement said.

The State Department's announcement came after one released by the US Mission China in Beijing over the weekend. It advised non-emergency US consulate employees and family members of officials to leave Shanghai.

On April 8, the US issued a travel warning that included the same wording concerning "arbitrary enforcement of local regulations" and Covid-19 restrictions.

But according to a translation of the statement issued by Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Zhao Lijian, China is "strongly dissatisfied" with and "firmly rejects" the baseless allegations of the United States on China's COVID-19 policy.

Related Article: Shanghai Widens COVID-19 Testing Amid Rise of Asymptomatic Infections

@ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
For Penn State student Tatum Cutley, the number of individuals in the universitys LGBTQ community who are out and open about their identity is quite small, but she believes there is more than meets the eye.

Cutler (freshman-biochemistry and molecular biology) is from Chicago and found Penn States LGBTQ dating scene to be much different than what she was used to back home.

My experience being from Chicago is that there are so many openly queer people and people who align with my political and ethical beliefs, Cutler said. This, she said, allowed for relationships to be a lot easier.

Cutler said in terms of size, because Penn States LGBTQ community is comprised of so many different identities, its pretty large.

There are people that are trans but havent transitioned yet. There are people that are bisexual but arent out. There are people who are questioning their sexuality. All of this is encompassed in the community, Cutler said. Out of the people that are open and out with their identity, I would say that it is relatively small.

Cutler compared LGBTQ dating to supply and demand. She finds supply  eligible people  is low, and demand  the amount of people that want relationships  is high.

Those who are open and out versus those who arent will face two very different and separate communities, Cutler said, which ultimately affects dating life in college.

With dating in general, You have some really great experiences and some really bad experiences, according to Cutler.

What Cutler likes about Penn States dating scene is what she likes about LGBTQ culture in general  the feeling of comfort.

Cutler said when she meets someone who identifies as part of the LGBTQ community, she said she instantly feels safer and more comfortable with them.

You stand a little closer to those people  compared to those that you might not know, Cutler said.

However, Cutler said there are aspects of LGBTQ dating at Penn State that shes not fond of.

The gay community likes to place [itself] at the top of the pedestal. Thats a turnoff for me because obviously you cant step outside yourself and see whats actually wrong with the world, Cutler said. I feel like being gay is the least interesting part of me. You can be proud and true to yourself without it being your entire existence.

MORE CAMPUS COVERAGE

Cutler said she thinks the LGBTQ community at Penn State is moreso into hookups than dating, and a lot of people  especially those questioning their sexuality  are only interested in a one-time thing.

They essentially want to use you in order to find themselves, Cutler said.

Before coming to Penn State, Kelly, a student who wished to remain anonymous, said she did not have much experience with dating.

You kind of date people you go to high school with, but I feel like I usually met people through mutual friends, Kelly said.

After having only 60 students in her high schools graduating class, Kelly said she came to college and wanted to have fun meeting more people.

My friend and I downloaded Tinder one night as a joke, and thats actually how I wound up meeting my current girlfriend, Kelly said.

Kelly said shes been with her girlfriend for seven months, describing their relationship as a happy accident.

Id say that my dating experience at Penn State has been great because I got lucky, and Im so thankful, Kelly said.

At such a large university, Kelly said she was curious to find out more about the dating scene at Penn State as a member of the LGBTQ community.

You realize how small the queer community is, and you start to realize you kind of know everybody, Kelly said.

Christopher King agreed and said prior to meeting his current boyfriend, King (junior-advertising) felt the community was too small for him to date anyone comfortably.

If youre dating someone, most likely theyve been with someone you know, King said.

Something King likes about the LGBTQ dating scene at Penn State is the doors it opens for people.

I know people who didnt feel safe dating at home, King said. College gave them the opportunity to explore themselves more.

MORE CAMPUS COVERAGE

Piazza Center at Penn State partners with Assessment Institute in Indianapolis The Timothy J. Piazza Center for Fraternity and Sorority Research and Reform at Penn State w
Towering high and wide in the HUB-Robeson Center, cans of cuisine have been constructed into conceptual designs for the Lions Pantry 2022 CanStruction.

CanStruction is basically a competition where teams compete by building structures out of canned goods, incoming Lions Pantry President Taylor Dorsett said.

Following the competition, all canned goods used will be donated to the Pantry.

Raising advocacy and awareness for food insecurity, outgoing Director of the Lions Pantry William Lee said the Pantry focuses on how awareness and stigma go hand in hand.

The more you increase awareness, the more you see stigma actually decrease, so that is really that aspect of the work we are doing here, Lee (senior-mathematics) said.

This years CanStruction, taking place from Sunday to Tuesday night, had three competing organizations: the Schreyer Honors College Student Council, the American Society of Civil Engineers and the Lions Pantry themselves  each with a unique structure.

Given the theme of childrens books, concepts from "The Lorax," "The Cat in the Hat" and "The Little Engine That Could" inspired structure designs.

Colorful cans containing pumpkin pie, organic soups, beans and more stacked up to the test.

Suzanne Kozloski, on the Schreyer team, discussed her experience with the building process for their Lorax design.

It's been really cool, we weren't expecting our structure to look good, Kozloski (sophomore-biochemistry and microbiology) said, laughing alongside her partner Alyssa Altstaedter.

It is our first year, and it was fun, Altstaedter (freshman-business administration) said.

Kozloski and Altstaedter decided to take part in CanStruction because they "thought it was a really great opportunity, considering what the Lion's Pantry does for its community, Kozloski said.

Lacey Fink, member of the American Society of Civil Engineers, discussed her experience building a structure based on the iconic book "The Cat in the Hat."

Initially, I was like What if we do something like a literal book that stood up on its side and kind of use the cans to paint the illustration on the book?' Fink (senior-civil engineering) said.

Ultimately evolving ideas into a pop-up book, there were a few trial and errors, Fink said, but it led us to a pretty solid outcome.

Reflecting on the organizations involved, Dorsett (junior-biobehavioral health) said they've "been really excited to help with the structures and event."

Following the observation of these structures, the Lions Pantry held a short presentation in the HUB Flex Theater  sharing their missions and motives alongside partnering organization, Penn State's Student Advisory Board on Student Poverty.

Coming together with SABOSP, the Lions Pantry shared its goals to address and mitigate student food insecurity and poverty here at Penn State by providing adequate nutrition, reduction in stigma and ultimately raising awareness "beyond the campus, Lions Pantry Engagement Director Catarina Rodrigues (sophomore-food science) said.

Ending the presentation, four of the five competition awards were announced. The Schreyer team took home the Structural Ingenuity, Best Meal and Judges Choice awards, while the Lions Pantry team won the Best Use of Labels award.

The fifth award, Peoples Choice," along with raffle winners at the event, will be announced Tuesday night on the Lions Pantry Instagram.

The night finished with a free meal and chatting among community members, as Dorsett reflected on the Pantry.

RELATED
The Timothy J. Piazza Center for Fraternity and Sorority Research and Reform at Penn State will partner with the Assessment Institute in Indianapolis, according to a release.

The Piazza Center is named after Timothy Piazza, a former Penn State student who died on Feb. 4, 2017 from a fall resulting from alcohol-related hazing on initiation night at the Beta Theta Pi fraternity.

The Assessment Institute is based out of Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis campus and dedicates itself to informing professional practice and improving professional development within the higher education system, the release said.

According to the release, this partnership aims to provide resources to Greek life organizations to assess the learning occurring in fraternities and sororities.

The Piazza Center will serve as the principal adviser for new fraternity and sorority life content at the Assessment Institute in 2022, the release said.

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FAIRFAX, Va. (AP)  A jury was selected Monday to hear a long-anticipated libel lawsuit Johnny Depp filed against his ex-wife, actress Amber Heard, whom he accuses of falsely portraying him as a domestic abuser.

Depp sued Heard over an op-ed piece she wrote in The Washington Post in 2018 in which Heard refers to herself as a public figure representing domestic abuse. The article doesn't mention Depp by name, but he says it clearly refers to allegations Heard made in other forums that she suffered physical abuse at his hands. Depp denies the accusations.

The lawsuit brought a little bit of Hollywood to a courthouse that has a long history of dealing with high-profile crimes, just not those involving movie stars.

More than a dozen women, some waving signs saying Justice for Johnny, joined other fans who waved pirate flags in recognition of Depp's signature role in the Pirates of the Caribbean movies, waited outside the courthouse an hour before the hearing.

The courtroom in the city of Fairfax was closed to the public Monday, with limited closed-circuit access in an overflow courtroom. People lined up before 7 a.m. for the wristbands granting access. Both Depp and Heard were in attendance, but court personnel brought them in and out utilizing special access points that frustrated fans' ability to see them.

The judge overseeing the trial, Penney Azcarate, has imposed a series of access rules to try to maintain decorum in the courthouse. Most significantly, neither Depp nor Heard are permitted to pose for photos or sign autographs in the courthouse or on the courthouse grounds.

Depp's fans have been vocal in their support, saying he has been falsely accused. Raylyn Otey, a Depp fan from Bluefield, Virginia, drove five hours to see the movie star. She was disappointed when Depp did not greet fans personally, as sheriff's deputies carefully limited fan access.

I'm so disappointed. I came to give him flowers to show some support, she said, bouquet in hand.

In a separate lawsuit Depp filed against a British newspaper, a judge dismissed the case, finding that Depp assaulted Heard on a dozen occasions and put her in fear for her life on multiple occasions.

Heard has filed a countersuit against Depp that accuses his lawyers of defaming her at his direction.

Heard's lawyers tried unsuccessfully to have the case moved to California, where the actors reside. A Fairfax judge ruled that Depp was within his rights to bring the case here because the Posts online editions are published through servers located in Fairfax County. Depp's lawyers have said they brought the case in Virginia in part because the laws here are more favorable to their case.

A jury of seven, plus four alternates, was selected by Monday afternoon. The smaller jury is typical for civil trials in Virginia.

Opening statements are scheduled for Tuesday morning. The trial is expected to last more than a month. A long list of witnesses includes actors James Franco and Paul Bettany, and tech entrepreneur Elon Musk. Some witnesses are expected to appear in person, while others will testify via video link.

This story has been updated to correct the spelling of Raylyn Otey's last name.
NASHVILLE, Tennessee (AP)  Carrie Underwood and Jason Aldean were the big winners, the Judds reunited, and Kelsea Ballerini turned a tough break into a one-woman house party at Monday night's CMT music awards.

Underwood and Aldean won video of the year and collaborative video of the year for their duet If I Didn't Love You on the show that uses fan votes to honor the best in country music videos.

"This ones all about the fans man," Underwood said as she accepted the belt-buckle CMT trophy for video of the year, a record 25th win for her.

Im pretty sure I picked the perfect partner for this song, Aldean said.

The Judds made their first major awards show performance in over two decades, with 76-year-old Naomi and her 57-year-old daughter Wynonna singing their signature 1990 classic Love Can Build a Bridge.

They were joined by a gospel choir in the performance that was pre-recorded outside the Country Music Hall of Fame.

The show from the Municipal Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee made the best of the last-minute absence of co-host Kelsea Ballerini, who tested positive for COVID-19 a few days earlier.

Her co-host, Avengers actor Anthony Mackie, took the stage alone at the start of the live CBS telecast and introduced a backup KB, Kane Brown, to help with hosting duties. Brown was also the night's most nominated artist but came up empty.

But Ballerini wouldn't be left out. She appeared on a big screen from home, decked out in a full awards-show dress in her living room.

This is my normal Monday night, in full glam, with lighting I set up myself, and a remote truck outside, Ballerini said. I would so much rather be there with you, but I will be popping in all night long.

Later in the show, Ballerini performed from her backyard, singing her new single Heartfirst alone with a white guitar while standing on the grass with images of her band projected on to a curtain hung behind her.

She made constant costume changes, appearing in a new dress for each appearance and ending the night in her pajamas.

Miranda Lambert won her eighth CMT award, for female video of the year, for If I Was a Cowboy, which she also performed.

I am so happy to be a part of the women of country music today, Lambert said.

Cody Johnson won male video of the year for Til You Cant.

Maddie & Tae won best group or duo video for Woman You Got. Tae Kerr, who recently went through a difficult pregnancy and premature birth, appeared on a screen from home during their acceptance, holding her new baby.

I've missed you, Ive missed you so much, and Ive been drinking because Im so nervous," Maddie Font said to her musical partner during an acceptance speech where she went from laughs to tears and back again. Tell that baby girl I love her.

At age 69, George Strait won his first ever CMT award, taking CMT performance of the year for Is Anybody Goin to San Antone? from CMT Giants: Charley Pride.

Performances came fast and furious during the three hour show.

Keith Urban opened the telecast with his single Wild Hearts, followed immediately by the duet Never Say Never from Cole Swindell and Lainey Wilson, who stepped out to the front of an outdoor stage to let the Nashville rain hit them as they sang.

Underwood sang her song Ghost Story in a pre-taped performance from her Las Vegas residency, taking flight mid-song Cirque du Soleil-style on a cloth swing hung from the ceiling.

Jimmie Allen, Monica and Little Big Town gave the first live performance of their collaboration Pray. All wore all white and stood on a smoke covered stage as inspirational images from the pandemic and the war in Ukraine were shown behind them.

The hosting change-up wasn't the only hiccup the show faced: lightning forced the closure of the CMT's pink carpet before most stars arrived to have their photos taken and be interviewed.

This story has been corrected to show that Underwood has won 25 CMT awards.

Dalton reported from Los Angeles.

Follow AP Entertainment Writer Andrew Dalton on Twitter: https://twitter.com/andyjamesdalton
Update: 1:28PM EST

Watch as NYPD Executives and City and State Officials provide an update on the shooting incident in Brooklyn. https://t.co/xGGlDJ6UQI  NYPD NEWS (@NYPDnews) April 12, 2022

My statement on this morning's shooting in Brooklyn: pic.twitter.com/TbLfCZa7WW  Mayor Eric Adams (@NYCMayor) April 12, 2022

In New York City, a manhunt is underway for a suspect accused of donning a gas mask, setting off a smoke canister, and opening fire inside a Brooklyn subway train and station on Tuesday morning, wounding at least 16 people, five of whom are in severe condition. Original Story Officials and NYPD sources informed The Post that at least 13 people were injured in a grisly attack in a Brooklyn subway station during Tuesday morning rush hour, with five of them believed to have been shot. Authorities discovered six undetonated explosives at the 36th Street station in Sunset Park at 8:30 a.m., according to the FDNY and NYPD. According to sources, the suspect is dressed in construction attire, similar to that of an MTA employee.

In regard to the multiple people shot at the 36th Street subway station in Brooklyn, there are NO active explosive devices at this time. Any witnesses are asked to call @NYPDTips at #800577TIPS. Please stay clear of the area. More provided information when available. pic.twitter.com/8UoiCAXemB  NYPD NEWS (@NYPDnews) April 12, 2022

"While we gather more information, we ask New Yorkers to stay away from this area for their safety and so that first responders can help those in need and investigate," the spokesman said.

@ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
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Satellites stay up in space for multiple years serving whatever purpose they each have been given by their owners. However, like many things, satellites have a definite lifespan and the point comes where they are too old and can no longer be used.

What happens then to old satellites that have been decommissioned by the people who launched them to space to begin with? Are they left floating in space or are they destroyed somehow?

There are actually a few ways that old satellites can be dealt with once their lifespans end. Here are some examples:

Death by Cremation

One of the ways that satellites "die" is by cremation. However, by cremation, we mean they are intentionally made to burn up in the Earth's atmosphere.

According to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), this method only applies to small satellites that have low orbits. "The heat from the friction of the air burns up the satellite as it falls toward Earth at thousands of miles per hour," NASA explains.

It should be noted that this method is not ideal for bigger satellites because they may not completely burn up in the atmosphere, which will cause a lot of problems should it ever hit the planet's surface.

Read Also: Orionid Meteor Shower or Falling Satellite? Mysterious Fireball Stuns Americans!

Graveyard Orbits

If a satellite cannot be sent to a fiery death, its owners can opt to send it to what is referred to as graveyard orbits.

According to an article by Space, an old satellite that still has fuel left can be made to use it to fire its engine so it can head to a graveyard orbit. NASA describes a graveyard orbit as "an orbit almost 200 miles farther away from Earth than the farthest active satellites."

The space agency also says that it is located around 22,400 miles away from our planet. Graveyard orbits are located far away so that the satellites in them can avoid colliding with fellow satellites and other spacecraft.

An example of a satellite that has been sent to a graveyard orbit is Russia's Express-AM11 communications satellite. Per Space, the satellite was hit by space debris, causing Russia to decide to send it to its graveyard orbit in 2006.

Shooting Satellites Down with Missiles

Owners can also opt to just shoot down an old satellite so that it bursts up in space.

The article by Space provides examples of instance where this took place. One of which is a spy satellite owned by the United States known as USA 193. The US military opted to use a missile to shoot it down as the satellite "was plunging to Earth with a full tank of toxic hydrazine fuel, on Feb. 20, 2008," according to Space.

However, this method of discarding old satellites can cause problems in the form of space junk. Space junk still floating in space my cause damage to other satellites and spacecraft.

Related Article: ISS Accident: Russian Anti-Satellite Missile Explodes; Astronauts Find Shelter in SpaceX Crew Dragon
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Cursus

Learn how to investigate, respond to, and hunt for threats using Microsoft Azure Sentinel, Azure Defender, and Microsoft 365 Defender. In this course you will learn how to mitigate cyberthreats using these technologies. Specifically, you will configure and use Azure Sentinel as well as utilize Kusto Query Language (KQL) to perform detection, analysis, and reporting. The course was designed for people who work in a Security Operations job role and helps learners prepare for the exam SC-200: Microsoft Security Operations Analyst.

Na deze training

Mitigate threats using Microsoft Defender for Endpoint

Mitigate threats using Microsoft 365 Defender

Mitigate threats using Azure Defender

Create queries for Azure Sentinel using Kusto Query Language (KQL)

Configure your Azure Sentinel environment

Connect logs to Azure Sentinel

Create detections and perform investigations using Azure Sentinel

Perform threat hunting in Azure Sentinel

Voor wie is deze training bedoeld?

The Microsoft Security Operations Analyst collaborates with organizational stakeholders to secure information technology systems for the organization. Their goal is to reduce organizational risk by rapidly remediating active attacks in the environment, advising on improvements to threat protection practices, and referring violations of organizational policies to appropriate stakeholders. Responsibilities include threat management, monitoring, and response by using a variety of security solutions across their environment. The role primarily investigates, responds to, and hunts for threats using Microsoft Azure Sentinel,
Google recently sued a man from Cameroon for allegedly scamming people of their money and committing fraud.

According to Google's announcement, the man operated fraudulent websites that claimed to sell puppies that were actually nonexistent.

Google did not disclose the current status of the man in question.

Google's Lawsuit Against Puppy Fraudster

Google's announcement and legal documents said that Nche Noel Ntse, a Cameroonian, was allegedly running a "puppy fraud scheme" where he sold fake basset hound puppies to people online on his various fraudulent websites.

These websites contain photos, Google products, and fake customer testimonials meant to lure victims into believing the puppies are real and that they're interacting with actual dog breeders.

However, the puppies don't exist, and instead of selling the puppies to sellers, Noel runs with customers' money, which is the basis of his alleged multiple international non-delivery scams. Google legal documents added that Noel wants to exploit the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting high demand for puppies in the U.S.

Google noted that Noel's scam disproportionally targeted older Americans, who can be more vulnerable to cyberattacks due to their fear of bothering family members about their problems, sounding like they don't understand technology, or losing their independence, per CNBC.

Some older Americans are also afraid of reporting being a scam or fraud victim because of the perceived difficulty of reporting the incident to authorities.

Noel's scheme was found to be following a similar script many scammers use: they would pretend to be someone they are not to convince victims to give them money for something they will never receive. Noel's scheme is also part of the 35% of all online shopping scams reported to The Better Business Bureau.

Read More: 'Return to Space': Elon Musk's SpaceX Brings NASA's Doug Harley and Bob Behnken to ISS

This 35% is made up of pet scams or frauds similar to Noel's scheme. The large percentage is due to the spike in demand due to people wanting a companion in their homes due to them being forced to stay in their homes to avoid COVID-19 during the pandemic's initial onset.

American Pet Products Association found that pet ownership in 2020 rose to 70% in U.S. households, per Pet Food Industry.

Google mentioned that it built its security into all of its products and uses machine learning to filter new threats.

The company also utilizes its CyberCrime Investigation Group to look into misconduct and send referrals to appropriate law enforcement agencies to combat such scammers.

How To Avoid Pet Scams or Fraud

Google also gave tips to help people avoid pet scams or fraud. First, you should see the pet you're interested in getting in person or on video call before paying any money to confirm the pet is real.

You should also avoid wiring money or paying with gift cards or prepaid debit cards for the pet in question. Additionally, you should also research the pet's price to see how much the market asks for them to avoid paying too much or too little.

A reverse Google image search should also be done to know if the same pet or product is a stock image or if the photo is stolen.

Lastly, do a background check on the seller to confirm their identity. Ask the seller for the company name, number, and street address and search the info on Google.

If the company doesn't appear on where they said they should be, the name and address are probably fake,

Related Article: Google Home Unveils New User-Friendly Design
577d.com scored 40 Social Media Impact. Social Media Impact score is a measure of how much a site is popular on social networks. 2/5.0 Stars by Social Team

This CoolSocial report was updated on 6 Jun 2013, you can refresh this analysis whenever you want.

The total number of people who shared the 577d homepage on StumbleUpon. The total number of people who shared the 577d homepage on Google Plus by a google +1 button. The total number of people who shared the 577d homepage on Delicious. This is the sum of two values: the total number of people who shared the 577d homepage on Twitter + the total number of 577d followers (if 577d has a Twitter account). This is the sum of two values: the total number of people who shared, liked or recommended the 577d homepage on Facebook + the total number of page likes (if 577d has a Facebook fan page).

Basic Information

PAGE TITLE DESCRIPTION KEYWORDS OTHER KEYWORDS iis , iis, iis , iis , iis , iis , iis



The title found in the head section of the homepage. CoolSocial advanced keyword analysis tool is able to detect and analyze every keyword on each page of a site. The description meta-tag found in the head section of the homepage. The keywords meta-tag found in the head section of the homepage. The URL (Uniform Resource Locator) is the address of the site.

Domain and Server

DOCTYPE CHARSET AND LANGUAGE GB2312 DETECTED LANGUAGE SERVER Microsoft-IIS/6.0 (ASP.NET) OPERATIVE SYSTEM Windows Server 2003 Windows Server 2003

Character set and language of the site. The language of 577d.com as detected by CoolSocial algorithms. Type of server and offered services. Operative System running on the server. Represents HTML declared type (e.g.: XHTML 1.1, HTML 4.0, the new HTML 5.0)

Site Traffic trend during the last year. Only available for sites ranked <= 100000 in the world.

Referring domains for 577d.com by MajesticSeo. High values are a sign of site importance over the web and on web engines.

Facebook link

FACEBOOK PAGE LINK NOT FOUND

The description of the Facebook page describes website and its services to the social media users. Facebook Timeline is the new layout of Facebook pages. The total number of people who like website Facebook page. The type of Facebook page. The URL of the found Facebook page. A Facebook page link can be found in the homepage or in the robots.txt file. The total number of people who tagged or talked about website Facebook page in the last 7-10 days.

Twitter account link

TWITTER PAGE LINK NOT FOUND
Modellbahn-kramm.com scored 44 Social Media Impact. Social Media Impact score is a measure of how much a site is popular on social networks. 2/5.0 Stars by Social Team

This CoolSocial report was updated on 12 May 2013, you can refresh this analysis whenever you want.

This is the sum of two values: the total number of people who shared the modellbahn-kramm homepage on Twitter + the total number of modellbahn-kramm followers (if modellbahn-kramm has a Twitter account). The total number of people who shared the modellbahn-kramm homepage on Delicious. The total number of people who shared the modellbahn-kramm homepage on StumbleUpon. This is the sum of two values: the total number of people who shared, liked or recommended the modellbahn-kramm homepage on Facebook + the total number of page likes (if modellbahn-kramm has a Facebook fan page). The total number of people who shared the modellbahn-kramm homepage on Google Plus by a google +1 button.

Basic Information

PAGE TITLE Modellbahn Kramm DESCRIPTION KEYWORDS OTHER KEYWORDS



The keywords meta-tag found in the head section of the homepage. The description meta-tag found in the head section of the homepage. The title found in the head section of the homepage. The URL (Uniform Resource Locator) is the address of the site. CoolSocial advanced keyword analysis tool is able to detect and analyze every keyword on each page of a site.

Domain and Server

DOCTYPE CHARSET AND LANGUAGE SERVER Microsoft-IIS/6.0 (ASP.NET) OPERATIVE SYSTEM Windows Server 2003 Windows Server 2003

Operative System running on the server. Type of server and offered services. Character set and language of the site. Represents HTML declared type (e.g.: XHTML 1.1, HTML 4.0, the new HTML 5.0) The language of modellbahn-kramm.com as detected by CoolSocial algorithms.

Site Traffic trend during the last year. Only available for sites ranked <= 100000 in the world.

Referring domains for modellbahn-kramm.com by MajesticSeo. High values are a sign of site importance over the web and on web engines.

Facebook link

FACEBOOK PAGE LINK NOT FOUND

The type of Facebook page. The total number of people who like website Facebook page. The URL of the found Facebook page. The description of the Facebook page describes website and its services to the social media users. The total number of people who tagged or talked about website Facebook page in the last 7-10 days. A Facebook page link can be found in the homepage or in the robots.txt file. Facebook Timeline is the new layout of Facebook pages.

Twitter account link

TWITTER PAGE LINK NOT FOUND
The memorial service for Judith McFerran Robertson will be held at Algiers United Methodist Church, 637 Opelousas Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70114 at 2PM on Sunday, May 22, 2022 with Reverend JoAnne Pounds officiating. The obituary for Judi can be viewed and online condolences made at www.shule
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After reporting a sharp rise in coronavirus infections, Philadelphia will become the first major U.S. city to reinstate its indoor mask mandate. On April 18, health inspectors will begin enforcing the mask requirement at city businesses.

Residents are being asked to report establishments that are not adhering to the mask mandate.

It was noted that Philadelphia's previous indoor mask mandate just ended on March 2.

Philadelphia Will Restore Indoor Mask Mandate

Philadelphia became the first major U.S. city to resume its indoor mask requirement after reporting a significant increase in coronavirus infections in the city. From Monday, April 18, all indoor public areas, including shops, restaurants, schools, childcare facilities, and government buildings, will require masks.

Residents are encouraged to report establishments who are not following the mask mandate.

According to Dr. Cheryl Bettigole, the city's health commissioner, confirmed COVID-19 cases have increased by more than 50% in ten days.

Confirmed cases have since grown to around 140 per day, still a fraction of what Philadelphia saw during the omicron outbreak's peak, although hospitalizations have remained low at only 46 people.

Dr. Bettigole noted that it is above the level at which the city's standards require individuals to wear masks indoors. Health officials believe that the highly transmissible BA.2 subvariant of omicron, which has spread swiftly throughout Europe and Asia and has just become prevalent in the U.S., is to blame for the recent rise.

Read Also: Face ID Not Working with Mask? Here's Another Way to Unlock Your iPhone

According to U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) data released last week, Omicron is now responsible for more than 70% of COVID-19 infections in the U.S..

On the other hand, Philadelphia County's COVID level is recorded in CDC website as low, a level at which the agency says that masking can be optional.

It was noted that Philadelphia's previous indoor mask mandate just ended on March 2.

In February and early March, the majority of states and cities repealed their masking mandates, with Hawaii becoming the last American state to repeal its mask requirement on March 25.

What Do Netizens Think of the New Measures?

After Philadelphia Public Health tweeted about the restoration of the indoor mask mandate as cases rise in the city, netizens began posting their opinions regarding the matter.

You can read Philadelphia Public Health's tweet below:

 Due to increasing COVID-19 cases, @PhiladelphiaGov will move to Level 2: Mask Precautions beginning today. In order to provide a one-week education period for businesses, masks will be required in all indoor public spaces as of Monday, April 18, 2022. (1/4)  Philadelphia Public Health (@PHLPublicHealth) April 11, 2022

Many netizens who posted their replies to Philadelphia Public Health's tweets seem to disapprove of the restoration of the indoor mask mandate in the city. Others were criticizing the authorities for discontinuing the mandate only to bring it right back.

So once again our kids have to suffer.  Meghan S. (@xoxo_meghan) April 11, 2022

Meanwhile, a few held that the Philadelphia authorities should also focus on the rampant crimes in the city and not just on COVID-19 measures.

Because covid is more important than crime  Yann (@yannAl_) April 11, 2022

Related Article: Is Razer Zephyr Mask Safe vs. COVID-19? Questions Arise Amid Omicron Variant Spread
Weather Alert

...The Flood Warning is extended for the following rivers in Arkansas... Arkansas River At Morrilton affecting Perry and Conway Counties. ...The Flood Warning continues for the following rivers in Arkansas... Arkansas River At Dardanelle 1 NE affecting Yell and Pope Counties. Arkansas River At Toad Suck Lock And Dam Tailwater affecting Faulkner and Perry Counties. Arkansas River At Pine Bluff affecting Lincoln and Jefferson Counties. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Motorists should not attempt to drive around barricades or drive cars through flooded areas. Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood deaths occur in vehicles. River forecasts are based on current conditions and rainfall forecasted to occur over the next 24 hours. During periods of flooding...Evening forecasts are reissued with updated rainfall forecasts. Observed and forecasted stage data plots are available on our Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service web page at... www.weather.gov/lzk Under the Current Conditions section...Select River and Lakes AHPS. && ...FLOOD WARNING NOW IN EFFECT FROM THIS AFTERNOON TO MONDAY MORNING... * WHAT...Minor flooding is forecast. * WHERE...Arkansas River At Dardanelle 1 NE. * WHEN...From this afternoon to Monday morning. * IMPACTS...At 32.0 feet, Minor flooding, commercial and industrial areas along the river in Dardanelle and Russellville may be affected. Lower lying agricultural land within the levee starts to flood. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS... - At 2:00 AM CDT Saturday the stage was 28.7 feet. - Forecast...The river is expected to rise above flood stage late this afternoon to a crest of 32.4 feet this evening. It will then fall below flood stage just after midnight tonight. - Flood stage is 32.0 feet. && Fld Observed Forecast 1 AM Crest Location Stg Stg Day/Time Sun Mon Tue Crest Time Date Arkansas River Dardanelle 1 N 32.0 28.7 Sat 2 AM 32.2 27.4 23.6 32.4 7 PM 5/07 &&
Honda will be joining other automakers in reducing its internal combustion engine (ICE) cars while manufacturing electric vehicles (EVs) to replace them in 2030.

The company recently announced that it intends to allocate approximately 5 trillion yen or around 40 billion dollars to technologies that would further accelerate its electrification and launch 30 EV models globally by 2030.

Honda believes that its electrification efforts, which are part of its wish to seek a "zero environmental footprint," would help it realize "the joy and freedom of mobility."

Honda Electrification Details

According to Honda's announcement, it would first procure liquid lithium-ion batteries for its EVs by strengthening its partnership with external companies, such as General Motors (GM), China's Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. (CATL), and the Automotive Energy Supply Corporation (AESC).

Honda is also considering the possibility of creating a joint venture company with GM for battery production aside from procuring EV batteries from the latter company.

The company will also invest around 43 billion yen or 342 million dollars to further accelerate its independent research and development of next-generation batteries and build a demonstration line to make it operational by Spring 2024. These next-generation batteries Honda would produce should be available in the market by the second half of the 2020s.

Honda will also introduce two mid-to-large-size EV models, the Honda Prologue SUV and the Acura EV SUV, in North America from now through the second half of the 2020s. These cars are currently being developed with GM, but Honda didn't disclose the car's release date.

Similarly, the automaker will introduce 10 new EVs in China and Japan by 2027 and in early 2024, respectively.

Read More: Robert Pattinson's 'The Batman' Officially Coming to HBO Max  When Will It Start Streaming?

By the second half of the 2020s, Honda will begin adopting Honda e:Architecture, an EV platform that "combines the hardware platform and software platform."

Techcrunch mentioned in its article that this architecture, which Honda will introduce in 2026, is the result of Honda "beefing out" its software capabilities. It also includes cloud-connection features aside from hardware and software platforms.

Honda plans to launch 30 EV models by 2030 through the previously mentioned initiatives with a production volume of more than two million units annually.

To help realize its plan for 2030, Honda will also build a dedicated EV plant in Guangzhou and Wuhan, China, and a dedicated EV production line in North America.

Honda's Unique Approach

Honda mentioned in its announcement that it is on track to achieve its 10 percent reduction for global automobile production, compared to the cost recorded in 2018.

The company's goal is to reduce its global automobile production to one-third by 2025.

The automaker believes that a multifaceted and multidimensional approach is needed to realize carbon neutrality for all products and corporate activities and not just replace car engines with EV batteries.

Related Article: 2022 Honda Civic Si Price More Expensive vs. 2020 Model: Specs, Features, Reasons for Price Increase
Margaret Pearl Blaylock, age 85, of Crossville, TN, passed away at her home on May 3, 2022. She was born on November 18, 1936, in Crossville, TN, daughter of the late William Wyatt and Alice (Hale) Wyatt. Margaret was a homemaker and attended Stephen Gap Church of Christ. She is survived by 


remaining of

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Almost all cloud users, roles, services, and resources grant excessive permissions leaving organizations vulnerable to attack expansion in the event of compromise, a new report from Palo Altos Unit 42 has revealed. The security vendors research discovered that misconfigured identity and access management (IAM) is opening the door to malicious actors that are targeting cloud infrastructure and credentials in attacks.

The findings indicate that when it comes to IAM in the cloud, organizations are struggling to put good governance in place. The report also identifies five attack groups that have been detected targeting cloud environments and reveals their attack methods.

99% of cloud identifies are too permissive

In Identity and Access Management: The First Line of Defense, Unit 42 researchers analyzed more than 680,000 identities across 18,000 cloud accounts and over 200 different organizations to understand their configurations and usage patterns. It revealed that 99% of the cloud users, roles, services, and resources granted excessive permissions that were left unused for 60 days. Adversaries who compromise these identities can leverage such permissions to move laterally or vertically and expand the attack radius, the report read.

Unit 42s data showed that there were two times more unused or excessive permissions within built-in Content Security Policies (CSPs) compared to customer-created policies. Removing these permissions can significantly reduce the risk each cloud resource exposes and minimize the attack surface of the entire cloud environment. However, cloud security is being hampered by poorly implemented IAM and credential management, the report stated.

Unit 42 said that misconfigurations are behind 65% of detected cloud security incidents, while 53% of analyzed cloud accounts allowed weak password usage and 44% allowed password reuse, the report read. Whats more, almost two-thirds (62%) of organizations had cloud resources publicly exposed. Misconfigurations within the identity user, role, or group policies within a cloud platform can significantly increase the threat landscape of an organizations cloud architecture, and these are vectors adversaries constantly seek to exploit, Unit 42 said. All the cloud threat actors that we identified attempted to harvest cloud credentials when compromising a server, container, or laptop. A leaked credential with excessive permissions could give attackers a key to the kingdom.

Unit 42 identifies five attacks groups targeting cloud infrastructure

Unit 42 detected and identified five threat actors leveraging unique escalation techniques and collecting credentials to directly target cloud service platforms. Of them, three performed container specific operations including permission discovery and container resource discovery, two performed container escape operations, and all five collected cloud service or container platform credentials as part of their operating procedures. They are:

TeamTNT: Considered the most sophisticated cloud threat actor in terms of cloud identity enumeration techniques, this groups operations include lateral movement within Kubernetes clusters, establishment of IRC botnets, and the hijacking of compromised cloud workload resources to mine the Monero cryptocurrency.

Considered the most sophisticated cloud threat actor in terms of cloud identity enumeration techniques, this groups operations include lateral movement within Kubernetes clusters, establishment of IRC botnets, and the hijacking of compromised cloud workload resources to mine the Monero cryptocurrency. WatchDog: While technically adept, this group is willing to sacrifice skill for easy access, Unit 42 said. It uses custom-built Go scripts as well as repurposed cryptojacking scripts from other groups (including TeamTNT) and are an opportunistic threat group that targets exposed cloud instances and applications.

While technically adept, this group is willing to sacrifice skill for easy access, Unit 42 said. It uses custom-built Go scripts as well as repurposed cryptojacking scripts from other groups (including TeamTNT) and are an opportunistic threat group that targets exposed cloud instances and applications. Kinsing: Another opportunistic cloud threat actor with heavy potential for cloud credential collection, this group targets exposed Docker Daemon APIs using GoLang based malicious processes running on Ubuntu containers and has begun to expand their operations outside of Docker containers, specifically targeting container and cloud credential files contained on compromised cloud workloads.

Another opportunistic cloud threat actor with heavy potential for cloud credential collection, this group targets exposed Docker Daemon APIs using GoLang based malicious processes running on Ubuntu containers and has begun to expand their operations outside of Docker containers, specifically targeting container and cloud credential files contained on compromised cloud workloads. Rocke: An old-timer group ramping up cloud endpoint enumeration techniques, Rocke specializes in ransomware and cryptojacking operations within cloud environments and is known for using the computing power of compromised Linux-based systems, typically hosted within cloud infrastructure.

An old-timer group ramping up cloud endpoint enumeration techniques, Rocke specializes in ransomware and cryptojacking operations within cloud environments and is known for using the computing power of compromised Linux-based systems, typically hosted within cloud infrastructure. 8220: Rockes cousin, this group is adopting containers into its target set. Tools commonly employed during their operations are PwnRig or DBUsed, which are customized variants of the XMRig Monero mining software. The group is believed to have originated from a GitHub fork of the Rocke groups software.

IAM misconfigurations a common entry point

Unit 42 advised organizations to address IAM vulnerabilities to secure their cloud infrastructures. Properly configured IAM can block unintended access, provide visibility into cloud activities, and reduce the impact when security incidents happen, it stated. However, maintaining IAM in the most secure state is challenging due to its dynamic nature and complexity. Historically, IAM misconfigurations have been the entry point and pivot cybercriminals most commonly exploit.

To assist in the defense of cloud environments against threat actors, Unit 42 said organizations should implement cloud-native application protection platforms (CNAPP), focus on hardening IAM permissions, and increase security automation.
When it comes to cybersecurity, employees can be your greatest defenders or your worst vulnerability. To protect data and other valuable digital assets, it's never been more important to build a cyber aware workforce. In the United States, the White House has issued warnings encouraging organizations to bolster their cybersecurity defenses. And one of the bullets on the accompanying Fact Sheet states:

Educate your employees to common tactics that attackers will use over email or through websites, and encourage them to report if their computers or phones have shown unusual behavior, such as unusual crashes or operating very slowly.

It's critical for employees to understand the risks of taking security shortcuts. Many companies are just one accidental click away from an attack. In a global ransomware survey conducted by Fortinet, 67% of organizations reported having been a ransomware target, and nearly half said they had been targeted more than once. Even worse, a jaw-dropping one in six said they had been attacked three or more times. It's clear that many organizations need to work on their security strategies to include workforce cybersecurity training because what a lot of them are doing now doesnt always ensure proper cyber hygiene from employees. Programs such as Fortinets Security Awareness and Training service can help organizations further enhance their security posture against threats by educating and training all employees.

Help Employees Do the Right Thing

On a day-to-day basis, a lot of a CISO's focus is on technology. What protections do we need? Where are there security gaps? But in addition to the technology, organizations also need to ensure their employees know what a phishing email looks like (or what it is) to prevent them from falling victim to cyber attackers and consequently introducing risks to the organization. Employee cybersecurity training and education must be a key part of any security strategy.

Building a cyber aware workforce and culture requires training and ongoing awareness of the dangers of doing seemingly innocuous things like surfing the web, checking email, or opening attachments. Everyone in the company needs to view preventing cyberattacks as part of their job description. Although you can't expect everyone to become a cybersecurity analyst reading logs, you can give them the information they need to perform their job safely, no matter where they may be working. The tendency for people to be more relaxed and comfortable in a home environment is part of the reason for the increase in cyberattacks as more people started working remotely or following a hybrid model.

Organizations should ensure that everyone in the company has a foundational understanding of cyber threats, regardless of their role or location. The Fortinet Security Awareness and Training service is designed to help organizations educate their workforce about cyber threats, such as phishing, social engineering, and ransomware attacks, and how to protect against them. The awareness and training service can be used for the entire workforce, including both technical and non-technical employees and contractors. Designed by the Fortinet Training Institute, which provides cybersecurity certification and training, the service is aligned to the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) guidelines (NIST 800-50 and NIST 800-16). The engaging and relevant courses cover topics such as information security awareness, data privacy, physical security, password protection, and internet security. It also takes advantage of FortiGuard Labs threat intelligence, so the training is informed by the latest developments observed across the threat landscape.

An Integrated Approach to Cybersecurity

Having a cyber aware workforce is an integral part of improving the organization's overall strong security posture. Just like a manufacturing company provides safety equipment like eye protection and training, cybersecurity protection and training shouldn't be optional.

To prevent cyberattacks, organizations really need a combination of the right security technology and a cyber aware workforce that is trained to spot threats and not fall victim. When it comes to the technology, organizations need to make sure they have integrated solutions that make it possible to see what is happening throughout the network. You can't protect what you can't see; visibility needs to extend to every endpoint, which should be protected with endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions. And if you have remote workers, protection using zero trust principles is essential.

As a CISO, you need to provide justification for allocating money for training and cybersecurity tools. Cybersecurity incidents can be expensive. According to the Cost of a Data Breach Report 2021, data breach costs rose from $3.86 million to $4.24 million. With the risks of attack and costs continuing to rise, organizations can no longer afford not to educate their employees about cybersecurity.

Learn more about the Fortinet free cybersecurity training initiative and Fortinets Training Institute, including the NSECertification program, Academic Partner program, and Education Outreach program which includes a focus on Veterans.
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HARTFORD  The anti-abortion movement in Connecticut has been reenergized by the likelihood that the national right to abortion will be significantly curtailed in the coming months, even as Democratic lawmakers here move to protect abortion providers and expand access to the procedure.

As lawmakers in the General Assembly are set to begin debate on whether to enshrine a persons right to choose into the states constitution, about 2,000 anti-abortion supporters descended upon the Capitol grounds Wednesday for the first March for Life rally ever held in Connecticut. The event was scheduled to take place in 2020, but was rescheduled due to the pandemic.
WILLOWBROOK, Calif. (AP)  Two people were killed in a weekend shooting near Los Angeles and five people were wounded and hospitalized, authorities said.

The gunfire erupted at about 4 p.m. Sunday on a residential block in the community of Willowbrook, about 10 miles (16 kilometers) south of downtown Los Angeles, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department said.
Last year, NFTs became mainstream, and some of the most popular collections became celebrities. The most famous of them is Bored Ape Yacht Club, a bored-looking ape avatar which comes in thousands of different appearances.

And it was announced recently that it would be getting a Hollywood film that would be unveiled in June.

The NFT Collection of the Bored Ape Yacht Club Is Getting a Hollywood Film Trilogy

The non-fungible token (NFT) collection of the Bored Ape Yacht Club will now do more than just sell NFTs. Coinbase announced a new film project with a Bored Ape Yacht Club film trilogy titled the "Degen Trilogy."

The first installment will be unveiled during NFT NYC, an annual NFT event held in New York between June 20 and June 23.

According to CNET, a "degen" is a frequent and often endearing phrase used to characterize someone who buys coins or NFTs without performing any real investigation into what they're actually buying.

The owners of Bored Ape NFTs have been invited to audition their apes for the trilogy by Coinbase. Each Bored Ape NFT has unique attributes and accessories, and Coinbase is encouraging owners to build a storyline for their character to potentially appear in the films.

If chosen, the NFT's owner will be given a $10,000 licensing fee in Bitcoin or Yuga Labs' own Ape Coin.

Read More: NFT Bored Ape Yacht Club: How To Make Billions In NFT Art

To access the trilogy, viewers will need to open a Coinbase wallet, which could coincide with the introduction of CoinbaseNFT, Yahoo reported.

Last month, Coinbase announced the impending launch of CoinbaseNFT, a peer-to-peer marketplace where users may discover, mint, purchase, and exhibit NFTs.

NFT's Infiltration to the Movie Scene

While Coinbase may have been one of the first to bring NFTs to the movies, the film industry has been collaborating with NFTs for quite some time. With Coinbase and its film production capabilities, the platform may be planning to join the film industry revolution, Yahoo reported.

Recently, the movie industry has developed deeper relationships with NFTs as filmmakers turned to NFTs for fundraising. NFTs even started to attract some of Hollywood's biggest names.

CNET mentioned that Bored Apes is a Twitter profile image used by celebrities such as Eminem, Snoop Dogg, and Steph Curry. During a Tonight Show interview, Paris Hilton and Jimmy Fallon addressed their respective Apes, which were seen by over a million people despite being highly derided.

Separately, FF3, a new platform that allows the film industry to fund their movies through NFT sales, began in January. Investors can receive a portion of film revenues in addition to collectible NFTs that could be worth a lot of money in the NFT market.

What Else Does the Bored Ape Yacht Club Offer to the Market?

Bored Ape Yacht Club, which was founded by Yuga Labs, has grown to become the world's largest NFT collection. Bored Ape NFTs, which formerly sold for around $250 each, are now unavailable for just less than $300,000.

According to CNET, the Bored Ape Yacht Club mobile game is being developed with Animoca Games. In addition, Yuga Labs has partnered with toymaker Superplastic to release Ape figurines, and a pop-up burger shop was opened in California.

Related Article: Bored Ape Yacht Club NFT: 5 Biggest Celebrities Who Invested in Unique NFT Collection
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WASHINGTON  The United States and its allies are pushing ahead with sanctions aimed at forcing Vladimir Putin to spend Russias money propping up its economy rather than sustaining its war machine for the fight in Ukraine, a top Treasury Department official said Tuesday.

Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo, one of the main U.S. coordinators on the Russian sanctions strategy, said in an interview with The Associated Press that the goal is to make Russia less able to project power in the future.

On the same day that inflation notched its steepest increase in decades, Adeyemo said reducing supply chain backlogs and managing the pandemic are key to bringing down soaring prices that he related to the ongoing land war in Ukraine, which has contributed to rising energy costs.

Adeyemo discussed the next steps the U.S. and its allies will take to inflict financial pain on Russia  and the complications the war has on rising costs to Americans back home.

Adeyemo said the U.S. and its allies will next target the supply chains that contribute to the construction of Russias war machine, which includes everything from looking at ways to go after the military devices that have been built to use not only in Ukraine, but to project power elsewhere.

KEY DEVELOPMENTS IN THE RUSSIA-UKRAINE WAR:

 Ukraine probes claim poisonous substance dropped in Mariupol

 A look at Russias military objectives and challenges it faces

 Its not the end: The children who survived Buchas horror

 Russian war worsens fertilizer crunch, risking food supplies

 Czechs provide free shooting training for local Ukrainians

 Go to https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine for more coverage

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OTHER DEVELOPMENTS:

KYIV, Ukraine  More than 720 people have been killed in Bucha and other Kyiv suburbs that were occupied by Russian troops and more than 200 are considered missing, the Interior Ministry said early Wednesday.

In Bucha alone, Mayor Anatoliy Fedoruk said 403 bodies had been found and the toll could rise as minesweepers comb the area.

Ukraines prosecutor-generals office said Tuesday it was also looking into events in the Brovary district, which lies to the northeast.

Authorities said the bodies of six civilians were found with gunshot wounds in a basement in the village of Shevchenkove and Russian forces are believed to be responsible.

Vladimir Putin vowed Tuesday that Russias bloody offensive in Ukraine would continue until its goals are fulfilled and insisted the campaign was going as planned, despite a major withdrawal in the face of stiff Ukrainian opposition and significant losses.



WASHINGTON  The Biden administration is preparing yet another, more diverse, package of military support possibly totaling $750 million to be announced in coming days, a senior U.S. defense official said Tuesday.

The official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss plans not yet publicly announced.

The additional aid is a sign that the administration intends to continue expanding its support for Ukraines war effort.

Delivery is due to be completed this week of $800 million in military assistance approved by President Joe Biden just one month ago.

 reported by Associated Press writer Robert Burns.



KYIV, Ukraine  Ukrainian officials say fugitive Ukrainian oligarch Viktor Medvedchuk, who is both the former leader of a pro-Russian opposition party and a close associate of Russian leader Vladimir Putin, has been detained in a special operation carried out by the countrys SBU secret service.

In his nightly video address to the nation Tuesday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy proposed that Russia could win Medvedchuks freedom by trading Ukrainians now held in Russian prisons.

Ivan Bakanov, the head of Ukraines national security agency, said on the agencys Telegram channel that Medvedchuk had been detained.

The statement came shortly after Zelenskyy posted on social media a photo of Medvedchuk sitting in handcuffs and wearing a camouflage uniform with a Ukrainian flag patch.

Medvedchuk was the former leader of the pro-Russian party Opposition Platform - For Life. He was being held under house arrest before the war began and disappeared shortly after hostilities broke out.

Putin is the godfather to Medvedchuks youngest daughter.



KYIV, Ukraine  Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy appealed to the world Tuesday to respond to Russias use of a poisonous substance in Mariupol.

Given the repeated threats by Russian propagandists to use chemical weapons against the Mariupol defenders and given the repeated use by the Russian army, for example, of phosphorus munitions in Ukraine, the world must react now, Zelenskyy said in his nightly video address to the nation Tuesday.

Phosphorus munitions cause horrendous burns but are not classed as chemical weapons.

Zelenskyy said experts were still trying to determine what had been used in Mariupol.

Zelenskyy said in addition to the killings in Bucha, more evidence was appearing of the inhuman cruelty of Russian soldiers toward women and children in other Kyiv suburbs and other towns in the north and east.

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DES MOINES, Iowa President Joe Biden on Tuesday said that Russias war in Ukraine amounted to a genocide, accusing President Vladimir Putin of trying to wipe out the idea of even being a Ukrainian.

Speaking in Iowa shortly before boarding Air Force One to return to Washington, Biden said he meant it when he said at an earlier event that Putin was carrying out a genocide against Ukraine.

Yes, I called it genocide, he told reporters. Its become clearer and clearer that Putin is just trying to wipe out the idea of even being a Ukrainian.

Biden added that it would be up to lawyers to decide if Russias conduct met the international standard for genocide, but said it sure seems that way to me.

More evidence is coming out literally of the horrible things that the Russians have done in Ukraine and were only going to learn more and more about the devastation and let the lawyers decide internationally whether or not it qualifies, Biden said.

Biden had previously said he did not believe Russias actions amounted to genocide, just that they constituted war crimes.

__

MENLO, Iowa  President Joe Biden for the first time referred to Russias invasion in Ukraine as a genocide Tuesday.

Speaking in Iowa at an event about steps his administration is taking to staunch rising fuel costs because of the war, Biden termed the conflict, which has seen Russia carry out atrocities against Ukrainian civilians, as a genocide.

Said Biden: Your family budget, your ability to fill up your tank, none of it should hinge on whether a dictator declares war and commits genocide a half a world away.

Biden has previously stated that he did not believe Russias actions amounted to genocide, as Ukrainian government officials have argued, but rather were war crimes.



WASHINGTON  Members of the U.S. Congress said the Biden administration and its allies will not stand by if chemical weapons were used in the Russian war with Ukraine.

Lawmakers monitoring developments during a trip to Poland said Tuesday that the U.S. is investigating reports that a poisonous substance had been dropped in Mariupol. But they cautioned that determining the nature of the attack in the beleaguered port city could take time.

Were taking those reports seriously and I know the United States government and others are trying to determine if that did indeed occur, said Rep. Jason Crow, D-Colo.

Crow said the administration has been very clear that the use of chemical weapons will not be tolerated.

The Democratic lawmakers, all members of the House Intelligence Committee, are bracing for a potential long war in Ukraine. They said at a press briefing that Congress is looking at next steps in sending additional military and other aid to Ukraine.

In Washington, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken also addressed the reports coming from Mariupol.

Were not in a position to confirm anything, I dont think Ukrainians are either, Blinken told reporters. But let me say that we had credible information that Russian forces may use a variety of riot control agents, including tear gas mixed with chemical agents, that would cause stronger symptoms to weaken, incapacitate ... Ukrainian fighters and civilians, as part of the aggressive campaign in Mariupol.

We share that information with ... Ukraine and other partners, Blinken said. And were in direct conversation with partners to try to determine what what actually is happening.

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THE HAGUE, Netherlands  The global chemical weapons watchdog says it is concerned by the recent unconfirmed report of chemical weapons use in Mariupol and is closely monitoring the situation in Ukraine.

The spokesperson for the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons says in a statement that the allegations follow reports in the media over the past few weeks of shelling targeted at chemical plants located in Ukraine, together with accusations levelled by both sides around possible misuse of toxic chemicals.

The spokesperson said in Tuesdays statement that the use of chemical weapons anywhere by anyone under any circumstances is reprehensible and wholly contrary to the legal norms established by the international community against such use.

Both Russia and Ukraine are among the organizations 193 member states.

The Nobel Peace Prize-winning organization says that it remains ready to assist any State Party upon its request, in case of use or threat of use of chemical weapons.

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WARSAW, Poland  Germanys president has called on Russias leader Vladimir Putin to pull out his troops from Ukraine and stop the barbarity there as he stressed that Germany will not restore its previous ties with Russia as long as Putin is in power.

Frank-Walter Steinmeier visited Warsaw on Tuesday to talk with Polands President Andrzej Duda about supporting Ukraines fight and aiding millions of refugees fleeing the war.

This barbarity which we see every day must stop, Steinmeier said at joint news conference.

This can only happen by President Putin ordering his army to stop and I believe that only then (armistice) talks can be successful, Steinmeier said.

One thing is clear: a return to normal is not possible with Russia under Putin, Steinmeier said, adding that war crimes in Ukraine must be investigated and those who committed them and those who are politically responsible must be held accountable.

Steinmeier last week admitted mistakes in policy toward Russia in his previous high-ranking jobs, when Germany pursued dialogue with Putin and cultivated close energy ties.

Steinmeier served as ex-Chancellors Gerhard Schroeders chief of staff and Angela Merkels foreign minister. Schroeder is now head of the board of directors of Russias state oil giant Rosneft.

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VIENNA  Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer pledged continued political and humanitarian support for Ukraine in a phone conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Tuesday, Nehammer said in a statement.

The call came a day after Nehammer became the first European leader to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow.

Its important to me to immediately inform all key proponents in this conflict about my talks, Nehammer said, according to the statement released Tuesday evening by the Austrian chancellery.

Nehammer said he recounted his meeting in Moscow to Zelenskyy, telling the Ukrainian leader about the most important messages he relayed to Putin.

Among those messages are that the war needs to stop, that those responsible for serious war crimes like those committed in the Ukrainian city of Bucha will be held to account, and that the European Union is as united as its ever been on maintaining its sanctions against Russia.

He also told Zelenskyy he believes the continuation of talks in Istanbul are an important step toward bringing an end to the violence, and that Austria will continue to support all ongoing efforts for peace.

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KYIV, Ukraine  An adviser to Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy has paid tribute to Ukrainian troops defending the besieged south-eastern port of Mariupol but acknowledged they are running low on supplies.

Adviser Mykhailo Podolyak wrote on Twitter that for more than 1.5 months our defenders protect the city from (Russian) troops, which are 10+ times larger. Theyre fighting under the bombs for each meter of the city. They make (Russia) pay an exorbitant price.

Mariupol was a key target for Russian forces soon after the invasion began in late February. It has symbolic significance as one of the largest cities in eastern Ukraine. It is also strategically valuable as a major harbor and as part of a land corridor between territory held by Russia-backed separatists to the east and the Crimean peninsula, which Russia annexed from Ukraine in 2014.

Our soldiers remain blocked and have issues with supplies, Podolyak wrote, adding that Zelenskyy and the Ukrainian general staff are working to find a solution and help our guys. He did not give details, citing operational reasons.

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KYIV, Ukraine  The mayor of the Ukrainian town of Bucha, where corpses of civilians with bound hands and gunshot wounds to the head were found after Russian forces pulled out, says 403 bodies have been found so far and that he fears the toll will rise.

Today, at 10 a.m. we started unearthing the second mass grave, there are 56 bodies there. Plus, there are four private graves. But Id like to repeat that as of today, we have 403 bodies, Anatoliy Fedoruk told reporters in Kyiv. Taking into account that our armed forces, our minesweepers are working in the forests between villages and settlements in our territorial community, we hope that those who are missing are still alive but most probably we will find their bodies somewhere between the villages, in those forests.

Fedoruk also said 31 multi-story residential buildings had been destroyed or damaged beyond repair during the war, along with 243 private houses.

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BERLIN  Germanys president says his Polish counterpart suggested that they travel to Ukraine together with other leaders to show solidarity, but that proposed visit "apparently wasnt wanted in Kyiv.

President Frank-Walter Steinmeiers comments Tuesday, during a visit to Poland, came after German newspaper Bild quoted an unidentified Ukrainian diplomat as saying that hes not welcome in Kyiv at the moment because he had close relations with Russia in the past.

Steinmeier said Polish President Andrzej Duda had suggested that they travel to the Ukrainian capital with the presidents of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia to send a strong signal of joint European solidarity with Ukraine. He said he had been prepared to do so.

Steinmeier last week admitted mistakes in policy toward Russia in his previous job as foreign minister.

Steinmeier served twice as ex-Chancellor Angela Merkels foreign minister, most recently from 2013 to 2017, and before that as ex-Chancellor Gerhard Schroeders chief of staff. In that time, Germany pursued dialogue with Russian President Vladimir Putin and cultivated close energy ties.

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KHARKIV, Ukraine  A strike hit a what is believed to be a culinary school near the airport in Ukraines second-largest city on Tuesday, destroying the building and damaging others nearby, according to Associated Press journalists at the scene.

It wasnt clear what hit the building in Kharkiv, with witnesses describing a loud whoosh followed by an explosion. There were no immediate reports of fatalities.

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BUCHAREST, Romania  Romanias President Klaus Iohannis used a speech to his countrys delegation of Invictus Games participants on Tuesday to admonish Russian aggression in Ukraine.

The Russian Federation has been waging war against Ukraine for almost 50 days, and shocking evidence of atrocities and horrors is unimaginable day by day, Iohannis told the wounded and injured military personnel, who will compete in the 2022 Invictus Games set to begin in the Netherlands on Saturday.

You know best what destruction and loss of life and the dramas of war mean, how much families and communities are affected forever, he said.

Iohannis said that Russias acts of horrific, unjustified cruelty must be punished by the international justice system.

The Invictus Games, an international sporting event for wounded servicemen and women, was launched in London in 2014.

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KYIV, Ukraine -- Ukrainian prosecutors are expanding their war crimes investigations in northeastern suburbs of Kyiv after Russian forces withdrew.

Reports of killings of civilians have primarily focused so far on the northwestern suburbs such as Bucha, but the Prosecutor-Generals Office said Tuesday it was also looking into events in the Brovary district, which lies to the northeast.

Russian troops advanced into that area last month before retreating to focus on fighting in eastern Ukraine.

The Prosecutor-Generals Office said the bodies of six civilians had been found with gunshot wounds in a basement in the village of Shevchenkove and that Russian forces were believed to be responsible.

Prosecutors are also investigating an incident in which they allege Russian forces fired on a convoy of civilians trying to leave by car from the village of Peremoha in the Brovary district, killing four people including a 13-year-old boy. In another incident near Bucha, five people were killed, including two children, when a car was fired upon, prosecutors said.

Prosecutors did not say when they believed the incidents occurred.

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MOSCOW  President Vladimir Putin says that Russians unity will only grow stronger in the face of Western sanctions and it will be the West that will face instability.

Putin said during a visit to the Vostochny space launch facility in Russias Far East on Tuesday that the West mistakenly expected its sanctions to undermine Russias stability. He said that the Russian people always strengthen their unity in a difficult situation.

He insisted that it will be the West that will be shaken by growing instability, fueled by public dismay over galloping inflation. The Russian leader also lashed out at European leaders, describing them as Washingtons stooges and saying that they are conducting policies harmful to their nations.

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MOSCOW  President Vladimir Putin says that Russia will press on with its military action in Ukraine until its goals are fulfilled.

Putin said Tuesday that the campaign is going according to plan. He said it is not moving faster because Russia wants to minimize losses.

He said during a visit to the Vostochny space launch facility in Russias Far East that the military operation will continue until its full completion and the fulfillment of the tasks that have been set.

Putin claimed that Ukraine backtracked on proposals it made during talks with Russian negotiators in Istanbul, resulting in a deadlock in talks and leaving Moscow no other choice but to press on with its offensive.

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MOSCOW  Russian President Vladimir Putin says the Russian economy has successfully resisted new Western sanctions over Ukraine.

Speaking Tuesday on a visit to the Vostochny space launch facility in Russias Far East, Putin said that Russias economy and financial system withstood the impact of what he called the Western sanctions blitz and the ruble has recovered its losses.

Putin argued that the sanctions will backfire against the West. For example, he said that Western restrictions on fertilizer exports from Russia and ally Belarus will drive up global fertilizer prices, eventually leading to food shortages and increased migration flows.

Putin said that common sense should prevail and added that the West should come back to reason and make well-balanced decisions without losing its face. He contended that they wont be able to shut all the doors and windows.

He argued that new Western restrictions on high-tech exports will encourage Russia to move faster to develop new technologies, opening a new window of opportunities.

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BOSTON  Ukrainian officials say a planned cyberattack by Russian military hackers on the countrys power grid has been foiled.

They say the countrys computer emergency response thwarted an attack planned by hackers from Russias GRU military intelligence agency that intended to knock electrical substations offline last Friday.

The State Service of Special Communications said on its website that malware was discovered designed to destroy data on computers.

There was no immediate explanation of how the attack was defeated, though the Computer Emergency Response Team of Ukraine thanked Microsoft and the cybersecurity firm ESET in a separate bulletin. Nor was the scope immediately explained.

GRU hackers twice successfully attacked Ukraines power grid, in the winters of 2015 and 2016.

Russias use of cyberattacks against Ukrainian infrastructure has been limited compared to experts pre-war expectations. In the early hours of the war, however, an attack Ukraine blames on Russia knocked offline an important satellite communications link that also impacted tens of thousands of Europeans from France to Poland.

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BRATISLAVA, Slovakia  Slovakias government has approved increasing the number of troops in a multinational NATO battlegroup in the country from 2,100 to 3,000.

The first 800 service members have already arrived in Slovakia. The Czech Republic took charge of the battlegroup, with the United States, Germany, the Netherlands, Poland and Slovenia also contributing.

Defense Minister Jaroslav Nad says the increase in the planned troop numbers is related to Patriot air defense systems that the United States, Germany and the Netherlands are deploying in Slovakia.

The move should boost Slovakias defense capabilities after the country donated its Soviet-era S-300 air defense system to Ukraine last week.

The alliance stationed troops in the Baltic countries  Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania  and Poland after the 2014 annexation of Ukraines Crimean Peninsula by Russia. After Russia attacked Ukraine, NATO decided to boost its presence along the entire eastern flank by deploying forces in Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary and Slovakia.

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GENEVA  The World Trade Organization is predicting that trade in goods will grow much less than previously expected this year, saying prospects for the global economy have darkened since the onset of Russias war in Ukraine.

The Geneva-based WTO on Tuesday pointed to multiple uncertainties in its forecast over the next two years because Russian and Ukrainian exports of items like food, oil and fertilizers are under threat from the war. It also cited the lingering impact of the COVID-19 pandemic - notably from lockdowns in China.

Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala described a double whammy from the conflict and the coronavirus. She said the war has caused immense human suffering in the region and its effect has rippled around the world, notably in poorer countries.

The WTO said its projections for world trade take into account factors like the impact of the war, sanctions on Russia, and lower demand around the world from lower business and consumer confidence. It said world merchandise trade volume is expected to grow 3% this year, down from a forecast of 4.7% before the war began.

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MOSCOW  The Russian military says it has hit Ukrainian arsenals with long-range cruise missiles.

Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov said Tuesday that the military used air- and sea-launched missiles to destroy an ammunition depot and a reinforced hangar for warplanes at Starokostiantyniv in the Khmelnytskyi region.

Konashenkov said that another strike destroyed a Ukrainian ammunition depot in Havrylivka, near Kyiv.

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NICOSIA, Cyprus -- The head of Cyprus Orthodox Christian Church is unreservedly" condemning Russias invasion of Ukraine, saying theres no justification for Russian President Vladimir Putin to destroy a country, to raze it to kill.

Archbishop Chrysostomos II told state broadcaster CyBC Tuesday that the invasion is an unacceptable situation and that Putins actions have no logic. The archbishop said hes distraught that people are being killed and questioned whether the Russian leader is in his right mind.

The archbishop added that hed be the first to go and bless a defensive war, but the egotism, if not the stupidity of the Russian leadership knows no bounds.

Chrysostomos also questioned Putins embrace of Orthodox Christianity, including the sincerity of his travels to the site where Christians believe Jesus Christ was baptized.

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CARLYLE, Ill. (AP)  A Kentucky man jailed in connection with the fatal shooting of an Illinois deputy and a subsequent carjacking in neighboring Missouri last year failed in an escape attempt, authorities said.

Ray Tate, 40, of Hopkinsville, Kentucky, escaped from his cell at the Jefferson County Justice Center early Sunday morning but was captured by Mount Vernon police, who had established a perimeter around the lockup, the Jefferson County Sheriffs Office said.
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KIAMBU COUNTY, Kenya (AP)  Monica Kariuki is about ready to give up on farming. What is driving her off her 10 acres of land outside Nairobi isnt bad weather, pests or blight  the traditional agricultural curses  but fertilizer: It costs too much.

Despite thousands of miles separating her from the battlefields of Ukraine, Kariuki and her cabbage, corn and spinach farm are indirect victims of Russian President Vladimir Putins invasion. The war has pushed up the price of natural gas, a key ingredient in fertilizer, and has led to severe sanctions against Russia, a major exporter of fertilizer.

Kariuki used to spend 20,000 Kenyan shillings, or about $175, to fertilize her entire farm. Now, she would need to spend five times as much. Continuing to work the land, she said, would yield nothing but losses.

"I cannot continue with the farming business. I am quitting farming to try something else, she said.

Higher fertilizer prices are making the world's food supply more expensive and less abundant, as farmers skimp on nutrients for their crops and get lower yields. While the ripples will be felt by grocery shoppers in wealthy countries, the squeeze on food supplies will land hardest on families in poorer countries. It could hardly come at a worse time: The U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization said last week that its world food-price index in March reached the highest level since it started in 1990.

The fertilizer crunch threatens to further limit worldwide food supplies, already constrained by the disruption of crucial grain shipments from Ukraine and Russia. The loss of those affordable supplies of wheat, barley and other grains raises the prospect of food shortages and political instability in Middle Eastern, African and some Asian countries where millions rely on subsidized bread and cheap noodles.

Food prices will skyrocket because farmers will have to make profit, so what happens to consumers? said Uche Anyanwu, an agricultural expert at the University of Nigeria.

The aid group Action Aid warns that families in the Horn of Africa are already being driven to the brink of survival.

The U.N. says Russia is the worlds No. 1 exporter of nitrogen fertilizer and No. 2 in phosphorus and potassium fertilizers. Its ally Belarus, also contending with Western sanctions, is another major fertilizer producer.

Many developing countries  including Mongolia, Honduras, Cameroon, Ghana, Senegal, Mexico and Guatemala  rely on Russia for at least a fifth of their imports.

The conflict also has driven up the already-exorbitant price of natural gas, used to make nitrogen fertilizer. The result: European energy prices so high that some fertilizer companies have closed their businesses and stopped operating their plants, said David Laborde, a researcher at the International Food Policy Research Institute.

For corn and cabbage farmer Jackson Koeth, 55, of Eldoret in western Kenya, the conflict in Ukraine was distant and puzzling until he had to decide whether to go ahead with the planting season. Fertilizer prices had doubled from last year.

Koeth said he decided to keep planting but only on half the acreage of years past. Yet he doubts he can make a profit with fertilizer so costly.

Greek farmer Dimitris Filis, who grows olives, oranges and lemons, said you have to search to find ammonia nitrate and that the cost of fertilizing a 10-hectare (25-acre) olive grove has doubled to 560 euros ($310). While selling his wares at an Athens farm market, he said most farmers plan to skip fertilizing their olive and orange groves this year.

Many people will not use fertilizers at all, and this as a result, lowers the quality of the production and the production itself, and slowly, slowly at one point, they wont be able to farm their land because there will be no income, Filis said.

In China, the price of potash  potassium-rich salt used as fertilizer  is up 86% from a year earlier. Nitrogen fertilizer prices have climbed 39% and phosphorus fertilizer is up 10%.

In the eastern Chinese city of Taian, the manager of a 35-family cooperative that raises wheat and corn said fertilizer prices have jumped 40% since the start of the year.

We can hardly make any money, said the manager, who would give only his surname, Zhao.

Terry Farms, which grows produce on 2,100 acres largely in Ventura, California, has seen prices of some fertilizer formulations double; others are up 20%. Shifting fertilizers is risky, vice president William Terry said, because cheaper versions might not give the crop what it needs as a food source.''

As the growing season approaches in Maine, potato farmers are grappling with a 70% to 100% increase in fertilizer prices from last year, depending on the blend.

I think its going to be a pretty expensive crop, no matter what youre putting in the ground, from fertilizer to fuel, labor, electrical and everything else, said Donald Flannery, executive director of the Maine Potato Board.

In Prudentopolis, a town in Brazil's Parana state, farmer Edimilson Rickli showed off a warehouse that would normally be packed with fertilizer bags but has only enough to last a few more weeks. He's worried that, with the war in Ukraine showing no sign of letting up, he'll have to go without fertilizer when he plants wheat, barley and oats next month.

The question is: Where Brazil is going to buy more fertilizer from?" he said. "We have to find other markets.''

Other countries are hoping to help fill the gaps. Nigeria, for example, opened Africa's largest fertilizer factory last month, and the $2.5 billion plant has already shipped fertilizer to the United States, Brazil, India and Mexico.

India, meanwhile, is seeking more fertilizer imports from Israel, Oman, Canada and Saudi Arabia to make up for lost shipments from Russia and Belarus.

If the supply shortage gets worse, we will produce less, said Kishor Rungta of the nonprofit Fertiliser Association of India. Thats why we need to look for options to get more fertilizers in the country.

Agricultural firms are providing support for farmers, especially in Africa where poverty often limits access to vital farm inputs. In Kenya, Apollo Agriculture is helping farmers get fertilizer and access to finance.

Some farmers are skipping the planting season and others are going into some other ventures such as buying goats to cope, said Benjamin Njenga, co-founder of the firm. So these support services go a long way for them.

Governments are helping, too. The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced last month that it was issuing $250 million in grants to support U.S. fertilizer production. The Swiss government has released part of its nitrogen fertilizer reserves.

Still, there's no easy answer to the double whammy of higher fertilizer prices and limited supplies. The next 12 to 18 months, food researcher LaBorde said, will be difficult.''

The market already was super, super tight" before the war, said Kathy Mathers of the Fertilizer Institute trade group.

Unfortunately, in many cases, growers are just happy to get fertilizer at all, she said.

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Asadu reported from Lagos, Nigeria, and Wiseman from Washington. Contributing to this story were: Tatiana Pollastri in Sao Paulo, Brazil; Debora Alvares in Brasilia, Brazil; Sheikh Saaliq in New Delhi; Lefteris Pitarakis in Athens; Jamey Keaten in Geneva; Joe McDonald and Yu Bing in Beijing; Lisa Rathke in Marshfield, Vermont; Dave Kolpack in Fargo, North Dakota; Kathia Martinez in Panama City; Christoph Noelting in Frankfurt; Fabiola Sanchez in Mexico City; Veselin Toshkov in Sofia, Bulgaria; Tarik El-Barakah in Rabat, Morocco; Tassanee Vejpongsa and Elaine Kurtenbach in Bangkok; Ilan Ben Zion in Jerusalem; Edie Lederer at the United Nations; and Aya Batrawy in Dubai.
Online posts are using flawed logic and false information to malign The Walt Disney Co. as sympathetic to pedophiles or predatory toward young children after the company publicly opposed a Florida bill banning instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity in kindergarten through third grade.

Posts shared thousands of times on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram have attempted to link Disney to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Theyve highlighted Disney employee arrests as alleged evidence of a companywide problem. Theyve pointed to Disney prioritizing diverse content as evidence of the company grooming kids.

But these attacks on Disney, which have escalated across social media since the bill passed in late March, are misleading and not supported by facts.

Heres a closer look at the facts.

CLAIM: Disney has close ties to the disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein and his ex-girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell, who was convicted of luring young girls to be sexually abused by him.

THE FACTS: These claims are not supported by evidence. Social media posts in recent weeks have pointed to three different examples of purported connections between Disney and Epstein, none of which stands up to further investigation.

The first claim involves snorkeling trips that a Disney-affiliated tour provider used to run near Little St. James Island, a small private island in the United States Virgin Islands that Epstein owned.

REVEALED: Disney Was Sending Kids To Epsteins Pedophile Island For Snorkeling Trips, read one widely shared headline.

Posts pointed to a website titled Magical Kingdoms, which included a description of a 3.5-hour Disney Cruise Line affiliated tour that included a snorkel stop at Little St. James Island among other stops around the islands.

However, Disney confirmed in an emailed statement that the tour, which is no longer running, did not involve a stop at the island and had no relationship to it.

The island, as well as another location, were included in the description of a third-party tour so that participants could identify the areas where snorkeling would be available," the statement read. "The tour had no connection to the island itself and Disney has never had plans involving the island.

The second claim  that Disney has plans to build a theme park on Little St. James Island  also has no basis in reality. Disney said it had no plans involving the island, and an internet search reveals no legitimate news reports contradicting that. A spokesperson for Epstein's estate also confirmed in an email that the claim was false.

The islands known as Little St. James and Great St. James are currently listed for sale," the spokesperson wrote. "However there are no plans to build a theme park on either island or any serious discussion of the issue.

For the third claim, social media users are sharing photos of Maxwell at a Disney-themed event in 1985 to suggest that Disney tacitly endorses someone who committed sex crimes against children.

But the photos dont prove that. According to a photo caption provided online by the U.K.-based Daily Mirror tabloid newspaper, they were captured at a Mirror fundraiser at a private residence in the U.K., which involved the presentation of a check to the Save the Children Fund. The only link to Disney was that the event used a Disney theme  hardly proof of a Disney endorsement.

The photos were also captured before Maxwell met Epstein, according to her own recollection in a 2016 deposition, when she said she met Epstein in 1991.

The Mirror did not respond to an emailed request for comment, and Disney did not respond to claims about the Maxwell photos.

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CLAIM: Authorities recently arrested 108 Disney employees for child pornography as part of a human trafficking sting operation.

THE FACTS: Four Disney employees along with 104 other people were arrested as part of a March 2022 law enforcement effort targeting human traffickers, child predators and people soliciting prostitution, according to Floridas Polk County Sheriffs Office, which made the arrests. Disney employees 190,000 people, according to its 2021 annual report.

The suspects who told detectives they were Disney employees included a lifeguard at a resort, a food service worker at a theme park and two people in information technology-related positions, Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said during a news conference.

One of the four was arrested for allegedly sending sexual images and graphic texts to an undercover detective posing as a 14-year-old girl, while the other three were arrested for allegedly attempting to solicit a prostitute, according to Judd.

Disney did not respond to a request for further comment.

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CLAIM: The CEO of The Walt Disney Company has been arrested for human trafficking in California.

THE FACTS: There is no record of any arrest of Disney CEO Bob Chapek, and the claim first appeared on a conservative blog that labels some of its content as satire.

A Twitter user elevated the blogs false claim in March, writing that The CEO of Disney was arrested, and not one MSM outlet is reporting on it. The post received nearly 8,000 shares and more than 17,000 likes.

Chapek lives in Southern California under the jurisdiction of the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department, according to federal records. Sgt. Jeff Walker of the Los Angeles Regional Human Trafficking Task Force confirmed to The Associated Press that his office had not made any human trafficking arrests related to Chapek.

Additionally, a federal database search returned no such records. The Walt Disney Company did not provide comment on the claims.

Twitter later removed the widely-circulating tweet for violating our rules and suspended the user who first shared it.

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CLAIM: Disneys decision to incorporate LGBTQ themes and characters into its content shows that the company is grooming children to be gay.

THE FACTS: The term grooming is being used on social media to undermine Disneys diversity initiatives, a tactic that also has been used at school board meetings across the country by parents who oppose discussions of sexual orientation in schools.

But that's a departure from the commonly understood meaning of grooming, according to experts, who say the term refers to specific tactics that sexual abusers use to initiate contact with their victims.

Disneys Obsession With Grooming Children Is Nothing New, But Their Openness About It Is, read the headline of an article that discussed Disneys efforts to incorporate LGBTQ characters into its programs.

Groomer-Gate: 15 Times Disney Promoted LGBTQAI2S+ in Childrens Programing, read the headline of a conservative blog post that was later deleted.

These claims operate on a false premise that sexual orientation and gender identity are imposed upon kids, Catherine Oakley, state legislative director and senior counsel at the LGBTQ advocacy group Human Rights Campaign previously told the AP. It comes from just a really fundamentally wrong position about where a persons LGBTQ identity comes from.

Incorporating LGBTQ characters into Disney programming also isnt done to coerce a child into illegal activity. That would be a necessary feature to define someones behavior as grooming, according to William ODonohue, a psychologist who studies child sex abuse at the University of Reno.

Grooming refers to the deceptive process by which a would-be sexual-abuser chooses a vulnerable victim, gains access to them and isolates them, gains their trust and often their familys trust and communitys trust, and then desensitizes them to sexual content and physical contact before the abuse happens, according to Elizabeth Jeglic, a psychologist who studies sexual violence prevention at John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York.

The way grooming has been used in the media as of late does not reflect sexual grooming as it has been described as in the research literature, Jeglic told the AP in an email. Dilution of the term can be very dangerous because it is only now that we are starting to understand how predators use sexual grooming strategies to abuse children.

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This is part of APs effort to address widely shared misinformation, including work with outside companies and organizations to add factual context to misleading content that is circulating online. Learn more about fact-checking at AP.
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OKLAHOMA CITY (AP)  Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt signed a bill into law on Tuesday that makes it a felony to perform an abortion, punishable by up to 10 years in prison, as part of an aggressive push in Republican-led states across the country to scale back abortion rights.

The bill, which takes effect 90 days after the Legislature adjourns next month, makes an exception only for an abortion performed to save the life of the mother. Abortion rights advocates say the bill signed by the GOP governor is certain to face a legal challenge.

Its passage comes as the conservative U.S. Supreme Court considers ratcheting back abortion rights that have been in place for nearly 50 years.

We want to outlaw abortion in the state of Oklahoma," Stitt said during a signing ceremony for the bill, flanked by anti-abortion lawmakers, clergy and students. I promised Oklahomans that I would sign every pro-life bill that hits my desk, and thats what were doing here today."

Under the bill, anyone convicted of performing an abortion would face up to 10 years in prison and a $100,000 fine. It does not authorize criminal charges against a woman for receiving an abortion.

Sen. Nathan Dahm, a Broken Arrow Republican now running for Congress who wrote the bill, called it the strongest pro-life legislation in the country right now, which effectively eliminates abortion in Oklahoma."

Dahm said the bill would apply to any physicians in Oklahoma who dispense abortion medication to women, which accounted for about 64% of all abortions performed in Oklahoma in 2020, the most recent year for which statistics were available. There is no enforcement mechanism in the bill for women who order abortion medication online from out-of-state suppliers. Oklahoma lawmakers passed a bill last year to prevent women from ordering abortion medication online, but that measure was blocked by the Oklahoma Supreme Court.

Abortion rights advocates say the bill is clearly unconstitutional, and similar laws approved recently in Arkansas and Alabama have been blocked by federal courts.

White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki released a statement Tuesday describing the bill as an unconstitutional attack on women's rights."

Protecting the right recognized in Roe v. Wade continues to be a priority for the Biden-Harris Administration, and we call on Congress to pass the Womens Health Protection Act, which would shut down these attacks and codify this long-recognized, constitutional right," Psaki said.

Although similar anti-abortion bills approved by the Oklahoma Legislature in recent years have been stopped as unconstitutional, anti-abortion lawmakers have been buoyed by the U.S. Supreme Courts decision to allow new Texas abortion restrictions to remain in place.

The new Texas law, the most restrictive anti-abortion law to take effect in the U.S. in decades, leaves enforcement up to private citizens, who are entitled to collect what critics call a bounty of $10,000 if they bring a successful lawsuit against a provider or anyone who helps a patient obtain an abortion.

The U.S. Supreme Court's failure to stop Texas from nullifying the constitutional right to abortion has emboldened other states to do the same," Nancy Northup, president and CEO of the New York-based Center for Reproductive Rights, said in a statement. We've sued the state of Oklahoma ten times in the last decade to protect abortion access and we will challenge this law as well to stop this travesty from ever taking effect."

Several states, including Oklahoma, are pursuing legislation similar to the Texas law this year.

The Texas law bans abortion after roughly six weeks of pregnancy and makes no exceptions in cases of rape or incest. Abortions in Texas have plummeted by about 50% since the law took effect, while the number of Texans going to clinics out of state and requesting abortion pills online has gone up. If the Oklahoma bill were allowed to take effect, women from Texas seeking abortions would be forced to travel further distances to Democratic-led states like Colorado and New Mexico, which have recently passed laws to protect abortion access.

One of the Texas-style Oklahoma bills that is one vote away from the governor's desk would ban abortions from the moment of conception and would take effect immediately upon the governor's signature.

The U.S. Supreme Court's conservative majority also has indicated they would uphold a Mississippi law that bans abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy and allow states to ban abortion much earlier. The court may even overturn the nationwide right to abortion that has existed for nearly 50 years.
MADISON, Wis. (AP)  A Republican district attorney and candidate for attorney general on Tuesday filed a complaint with Democratic Gov. Tony Evers seeking the removal of five members of the bipartisan Wisconsin Elections Commission, even though an attorney for the Legislature says he can only remove two of them.

Fond du Lac County District Attorney Eric Toney submitted a complaint with Evers asking him to remove two Republicans and three Democrats from the board because they did not allow special voting deputies into nursing homes in 2020 to assist residents with voting.

The election commission's decision affecting nursing homes has been cited by Republican critics of how that election was run as opening the door to potential voting fraud in nursing homes. The Racine County Sheriff, a supporter of former President Donald Trump, called for prosecuting the board members but no prosecutor has filed charges. The action was also cited in a widely discredited report from Michael Gableman, a former Wisconsin Supreme Court justice hired by Republican Assembly Speaker Robin Vos to investigate the election.

The Racine County district attorney, a Republican, declined to bring charges against commission members in February, saying she didn't have jurisdiction because none of them live in her county. District attorneys in Milwaukee and Green Lake counties have also declined to bring charges, saying there wasn't enough evidence to prove commission members living in those counties committed a crime.

Toney said he also doesn't have jurisdiction, but that he can ask Evers to remove the board members.

They went rogue," Toney said of the commissioners. "What they did was illegal. They committed crimes and they should be held accountable.

A spokesman for the elections commission, Riley Vetterkind, had no immediate comment. Evers' spokeswoman, Britt Cudaback, referred to past comments Evers has made defending the actions of the commission.

Toney insisted that Evers has the legal authority to remove the commissioners. But a nonpartisan attorney with the office that advises the Legislature said that Evers could only remove the two commission members he appointed. The other three  two Democrats and one Republican  could be removed by the legislative leaders who appointed them, said Legislative Council attorney Peggy Hurley.

Toney also asked the elections commission itself to refer the matter to county prosecutors to bring charges. And if no charges are brought, he asked that a special prosecutor be appointed. That is highly unlikely to happen because the commissioners he wants to have criminally charged would have to vote to refer the matter for investigation.

Toney's Republican challenger in the Aug. 9 primary for attorney general, Adam Jarchow, called the complaint a political stunt.

My focus is on restoring order and keeping our citizens safe in Milwaukee, Green Bay, and other places across the state where violence is out of control, Jarchow said in a statement.

The winner of the primary will face Democratic Attorney General Josh Kaul in November.

State law requires local election clerks to send so-called special voting deputies to nursing homes to give residents an opportunity to vote. After trying to make two visits, the deputies can mail absentee ballots to the residents instead.

But early in the COVID-19 pandemic, when the Wisconsin Elections Commission made its decision not to send in the deputies, the state was under a safer-at-home order and nursing homes were severely limiting who could come into their facilities, often not even allowing immediate family members inside.

The elections commission in March 2020 voted unanimously that poll workers could not be sent into nursing homes. The commission voted 5-1 in two follow-up votes extending the order through the November 2020 election before rescinding it in March 2021. Instead of sending in voting deputies, the commission directed clerks to mail absentee ballots to nursing home residents who had requested them.

Toney was not seeking the removal of the one commissioner who changed his vote, Republican Bob Spindell.

The nonpartisan Legislative Audit Bureau determined that the commission broke the law by not sending in the voting assistants.
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BRIDGEPORT  The new East End library branch has finally opened after a few years worth of delays.

But that milestone accomplishment is marred by an ongoing dispute involving $500,000 in alleged cost overruns between the developer, Ashlar Construction, and the citys library board. The matter is in the hands of the municipal law department.

They say, We owe them. We say, We dont, said City Attorney R. Christopher Meyer. Were trying to analyze the whole situation and see if theres something we can work out so that the city is not overcharged and that the contractors paid correctly.

Owned by East End native Anthony Stewart, who made a successful career out of town and has in recent years returned to help revitalize his old neighborhood, Ashlar was chosen in 2018 to renovate and expand the shuttered Newfield library on Central Avenue. The original completion date was around late 2019 or early 2020.

But that projected dragged on, with the Newfield building open to the public earlier this month.

Over the years the budget also grew. The library board hired Ashlar to do the work for $6.2 million. But the branch, according to Stewart, wound up being $1.9 million over budget  $1.4 million of that for subcontractors, which the board has paid, plus $500,000 for Ashlar.

Stewart has in prior interviews last year and again this week blamed the complications on the global coronavirus pandemic, which struck Connecticut in March 2020, shuttering businesses for a time and also impacting the availability and cost of supplies.

But Tom Errichetti, the library boards treasurer, said this week he does not understand how Stewart can use COVID-19 as an excuse.

He was substantially completed before COVID happened, in my memory, Errichetti said.

Still, the board reluctantly paid the $1.4 million, but has refused to give Stewart the $500,000 balance.

We had a contract for a guaranteed price, Jim ODonnell, the library boards chairman, said this week, referring to the initial $6.2 million. We paid in excess of that price and we dont believe any further amounts are due. But its being reviewed by the city (law department) and theyll make the recommendations.

This is a half million dollars in cost, Stewart said this week. Not in profit. ... This is a half million in cost of me buying stuff, having people there doing work.

And, he continued, even at around $8 million the city got more than its moneys worth for the beautiful new East End building when compared to another ongoing library project along upper East Main Street near Beardsley Park.

The tensions between the board and Ashlar over the rising price tag were evident in the minutes of a May 2021 library board meeting. At that time ODonnell sought to dispel rumors in the East End that the Newfield project was held up because library officials were withholding the $1.4 million from Ashlars subcontractors.

ODonnell at that meeting complained that Ashlar had not provided enough justification for the additional expenses  there were no purchase orders, no change orders or other documentation  but ultimately the library paid the debts of Ashlar Construction to satisfy the obligation to those contractors.

Errichetti this week blamed the situation on poor communication on Stewarts part. He said the contractor did not alert library officials to the added expenses  referred to as change orders  in a timely manner and has not provided enough justification for them.

We had a contract for about $6.2 million. He came to us with an overrun of $1.9 million, Errichetti said. He never discussed most of the change orders with us. We were aware of a few, but not all, and not the magnitude. ... His cost overruns arent our problem if he didnt come to us and tell us he was having them.

Errichetti noted Stewart successfully built the new East Side library which opened in January 2019 with no major cost overruns. In an interview at that time, Jodi Weisz, the branch manager, praised Ashlar and Stewart.

He really worked hand-in-glove with the library staff, she said. He was wonderful.

Complicating the current situation further is the fact Stewart, the library board and City Hall must, despite the Newfield dispute, maintain other business relationships.

Ashlar was chosen in 2018 by the city to redevelop a dilapidated commercial block adjacent to the Newfield branch and build a long-awaited grocery store there. Stewart has dubbed that also-delayed project Honey Locust Square, and will be providing some on-site parking there for the library.

Stewart has also been negotiating with the city to build housing and retail at the old, municipally-owned AGI Rubber site at 141 Stratford Ave. on the edge of downtown.

I went over budget and theyre playing hardball, Stewart said of Newfield. Im hoping cooler heads will prevail. Thats why Im not making a big stink. Im quietly trying to keep going and do the other projects. But its still a half million. Its a big deal to me. I counted on it.
Actor Seol Kyung-gu in a scene from "Yaksha: Ruthless Operations" / Courtesy of Netflix





By Kwak Yeon-soo







"Yaksha: Ruthless Operations," a film about Korean spies taking up a dangerous mission in China, has become the third most-viewed film on Netflix worldwide.







It is the first time for a Korean film to be included in the top 3 on the Netflix movie chart, while there have been several dramas to do so, such as "Squid Game" and "All of Us Are Dead."







According to data by streaming analytics company FilxPatrol, the film starring Seol Kyung-gu and Park Hae-soo placed third on Netflix's global top 10 movie chart as of Monday, three days after its release. The teenage romance film, "The In Between," topped the ranking of the most watched films on Netflix followed by the Polish action film, "Furioza."







However, in the Asia region for Netflix's most-streamed movie, "Yaksha" came out on top.







Directed by Na Hyeon, well known for his 2016 crime action film, "The Prison," "Yaksha" follows the story of Ji-hoon (Park), a prosecutor in the National Intelligence Service who is given a task to inspect the Shenyang branch and the leader of the overseas black ops team, Kang-in (Seol). Digging into Kang-in, Ji-hoon gets dragged into a perilous mission in a Chinese city riddled with spies from the two Koreas, the U.S., Japan and China.







The film was supposed to hit local theaters sooner, but its theatrical release was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It then signed with the global streaming giant and was released as a Netflix original.


WATERBURY  The mother of an Olympian from Puerto Rico was killed over the weekend after being shot in the head by a stray bullet fired during a drive-by shooting, police and the womans daughter confirmed.

The woman killed was identified as 56-year-old Mabel Martinez Antongiorgi. She was the mother of Yarimar Mercado Martinez, who was on the Puerto Rican rifle shooting teams at the 2016 Olympics in Rio and 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.

Waterbury police said Monday that they do not believe Antongiorgi was the intended target in the shooting. At least 22 shots were fired from as many as three guns during what police described as a drug-related incident. Police have identified two men they say are persons of interest in the shooting, but so far investigators have not made any arrests.

In a post shared on her Facebook and Instagram pages, Mercado Martinez wrote that she didnt get a chance to say goodbye to her mother.

I really would give anything to be able to change places with you and have everything happen to me and not you. You are the best mother I could have, we were missing many more adventures to live, you always dreamed of my wedding day, making me a wedding dress and clothes for my children, she wrote in Spanish.

Thank you very much to everyone who sent me messages, I apologize if I don't reply, but this pain I feel exceeds any pain I've felt in my life. I appreciate your messages and that they are for me and my family the post later reads. ...Rest in peace mom, you were the best grandma to Jacob, the best mother and the best wife, we were blessed to have you. Thank you for everything you taught me. I love you with every bit of my being.

Some of Antongiorgis family was present during a press conference held by police Tuesday morning to give an update on the shooting.

I relay to them the sorrow - from the city, myself and the officers, from the mayors office, from the states attorney with me - on your loss, Waterbury Police Chief Fernando Spagnolo said. This is so tragic. Words cannot describe or console you, we understand that, but we vow to you: Were going to work very hard... We understand what happened here and we bring the people to justice that are responsible for this.

Spagnolo said the shots were fired between two cars - a white Acura and a black Honda - on Orange Street on Saturday afternoon. Waterbury police said officers were called to the area after receiving the reports of gunfire.

When police arrived, Antongiorgis relatives told police she had been hit while inside the home. Police said she was found on the floor and had been struck by a bullet in the area of her head.

She was taken to Saint Marys Hospital in critical condition, where she later died from her injuries Sunday evening, police said.

Spagnolo said Tuesday that investigators had found 15 9mm shell casings at the scene along with seven .45-caliber shell casings. Police are working to determine if the 9mm casings were all fired from the same weapon, but Spagnolo said as many as three guns may have been involved in the shooting.

Spagnolo said police believe the intended target of the shooting was a 35-year-old man. He was on the street at the time and was shot through and through in the hip area. He was later treated at an area hospital and released, according to police.

The man was interviewed by police, Spagnolo said Tuesday. It was at that point that we determined that this was a drug-related incident involving those two vehicles, he said.

Police said they have since identified the owner of the white Acura as 22-year-old Waterbury man , who is convicted felon who is known to be involved in the drug trade. Spagnolo said police have interviewed the man, but are still looking to speak to the owner of the black Honda allegedly involved in the shooting.

The owner of the Honda was identified as 34-year-old New Haven man. Police said investigators found the mans Honda in New Haven on Monday and located a handgun with other weapons in that vehicle. Forensic investigators were working on the car Monday, and testing the gun to see if it was involved in the weekend shooting in Waterbury, Spagnolo said.

Spagnolo said the New Haven man was previously convicted on charges of reckless endangerment, cruelty to animals and drug charges, and is currently on probation.

Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to contact Waterbury police detectives at 203-574-6941; or to call the anonymous tip line at 203-755-1234.
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STRATFORD  Speaking about how her first week in business had gone, Maria Estrada pointed to her bakerys display case at Dulce de Leche on Broadbridge Avenue.

It had been nearly a week since it first opened for business on April 2, and she said the display case, which had been filled with miguelitos, a sweet milk pastry, media luna, a Argentinian croissant and other dishes was empty.

All of my product ran out, she said. Everything ran out. I dont know when I started to bake again to refill it, Estrada said.

Estrada said she and her husband, Diego Castro, were shocked that the bakery, believed to be the first of its kind in Fairfield County, had been an immediate hit.

That shows us that theres been something that this community has been missing that I think we definitely put out there now that people love it, said Mathew Castro, one of the couples sons. All types of cultures come in. They enjoy food, enjoy the atmosphere, the pastries. People enjoy it.

While its been only a week since theyve been in business, she said the common theme among the shops customers has been surprise at the Argentinian offerings.

Argentinians and Argentinian Americans are present in the state, but most Latinos in areas such as Bridgeport and New Haven are of either Puerto Rican, which make up the majority of the Latino population in the state, Mexican, Dominican or Central American ancestry.

While the business is brand new, Estrada said she always liked to cook.

My mom too, she loved being in the kitchen. And when I was little, I would spend time with her in the kitchen and it rubbed off on me, she said.

Estrada and Castro were born in Argentina. With the country in a severe economic depression in the late 1990s early 2000s, there were few economic opportunities to be had. The two emigrated to Yonkers, New York in 2000 and moved to Stratford in 2018. Castro worked various jobs from construction to newspaper delivery and at an auto shop. Estrada worked as a school bus monitor to make ends meet.

One day, Estrada said she bought a cake for one of her sons. She didnt like it.

It wasnt what I wanted. I wanted something else, something special for my son, she said. So I started to make them. I liked it so much I started taking courses. I couldnt go to school so I took online cooking courses with the money I had.

She said she sold her cakes to people by word of mouth. They were popular, her sons said, and she eventually wanted to open a bakery. Diego said she saw a corner property on Broadbridge Avenue that used to be a hair salon, but they decided it would be a good fit for her bakery.

It was always her dream to open up her business because she sold her pastries over Facebook, Castro said.

He said his wife bought the property in 2020, during the pandemic, then spent more than a year renovating it, with the entire family working weekends to get the interior ready and to source commercial baking equipment.

Estrada said her oldest son, an industrial design student at the University of Bridgeport, designed the website and the logo for the bakery. Castro said he was able to use his construction experience to remodel the property. Everyone in the family he said, participated in the cleanup and renovation.

But it wasnt easy. One of her sons, Thomas Castro, said there were times they felt discouraged.

There were moments where it would be discouraging. We bought a whole ventilation hood for the oven and come to find out that we couldnt even use it because the way it was set up just wasnt useful for what we needed, he said.

However, the family was able to overcome those obstacles together, Diego said. And finally, the bakery was ready for its April 2 grand opening.

Except they forgot one small detail.

We forgot to put money in the cash register. There was nothing in there, Estrada said.

Mathew Castro said when they realized there was no money in the register, his dad went to get whatever cash he could to put in the register and got coins and cash. Customers immediately came in to shop, many of them carrying fliers that the family had handed out in the weeks prior to opening.

Estrada said she feels rich when customers come in and give her good feedback on her product. She said she tries to do her best.

I like it so much, its my passion. I try to make them as delicious and as pretty as I can, she said.
Ned Gerard / Hearst Connecticut Media

BRIDGEPORT  One person was taken to the hospital with injuries after a shooting in the city late Monday, according to police.

The department said officers responded to a report of gunfire in the area of Noble Avenue just before 10 p.m.
Cullman, AL (35055)

Today

Partly cloudy this morning, then becoming cloudy during the afternoon. High 67F. Winds NW at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low around 50F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph.




Food delivery app owner Woowa Brothers saw its sales nearly double in 2021 from a year earlier as the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic pushed up demand for food deliveries.







Woowa Brothers posted 2.008 trillion won ($1.62 billion) in sales on a consolidated basis last year from 1.033 trillion won a year ago, the company said in a regulatory filing.







Korea is the world's fourth-biggest food delivery market, backed by its high smartphone penetration and dense population.







Woowa's Baedal Minjok, sometimes referred to as Baemin, leads the country's food delivery app market, followed by GS Retail's Yogiyo app and Coupang Eats, the food delivery arm of e-commerce leader Coupang.







In December 2019, German online food delivery service Delivery Hero acquired Korea's top food delivery app operator Woowa Brothers for $4 billion.







Delivery Hero owns an 89.55 percent stake in Woowa Brothers.







Korea's online food delivery market grew sharply to reach 25 trillion won last year amid the extended pandemic from 2 trillion won in 2017, according to Statistics Korea.







As of January, Baemin accounted for 69 percent of the market, with Yogiyo and Coupang Eats holding 20 percent and 11 percent, respectively, according to data from mobile platform analysis service Mobile Index.







But Woowa reported widened operating and net losses in 2021 compared to the previous year.







Its operating losses widened to 75.69 billion won from 11.23 billion won, while net losses also deepened to 141.46 billion won from 48.59 billion won.







"Woowa's low commission rates amid tougher competition with rivals and increased spending to cover extra delivery service charges to its riders ate into the bottom line last year," a Woowa spokesman said.







To reduce losses and improve profitability, the company has stopped offering promotional delivery prices and introduced new, reasonable commission rates, he said. (Yonhap)






Rembert Wayne Stanley, age 72, of Dalton, GA passed away Tuesday, May 3, 2022. He was born on May 13, 1949. Arrangements have been entrusted to independently owned and operated Dalton Funeral Home, 620 S. Glenwood Ave.
Hardcore Red Hot Chili Peppers fans can rejoice. The funk-rock group recently released their first album in six years  and first album featuring the bands original guitarist, John Frusciante, in 16 years  titled Unlimited Love.

The latest release has 17 tracks in just over an hour of music, with the same funk-rock style fans know and love. Trying  in a mostly successful way to bring an old style into a new era, Unlimited Love'' seeks to demonstrate the chemistry that made them famous with the founding members reunited once more.

Frusciante first left the band in the early 1990s, after an inability to cope with the commercial success of Blood Sugar Sex Magik, and returned in the late 1990s after recovering from a drug addiction. The guitarist left again after the Stadium Aracadium release in 2006 to focus on his solo career and was replaced by Josh Klinghoffer. Frusciante rejoined the RHCP in 2019.

Unlimited Love is most successful at capturing the original chemistry of the band  something a lot of fans have missed on the last few albums. RHCP are known for their funk-rock sound, with Fleas epic and irreplaceable slap bass, walking lines and an almost laid back (yet powerful) drum beat from Chad Smith. The sounds blend smoothly with Frusciantes subtle guitar licks and strumming  or in-your-face distorted rock chords.

The grungy album opener Black Summer  also a single for the album  is arguably Unlimited Loves best song. It begins quietly with subtle strumming and licks from Frusciante and a shuffle beat. The chorus picks up the energy, with distorted guitar forcing you to headbang and vocalist Anthony Kiedis belting Its been a long time since I made a new friend / waitin on another black summer to end.

Kiediss vocals throughout the song are likely describing the Australian wildfires in late 2019 through January 2020; Flea is an Australian-American musician.

The song is reminiscnet of the sound that made the band successful with Blood Sugar Sex Magik and Californication. It has a grungy rock sound that makes you move to the beat, thanks to a unique sound that fuses Chad Smiths strong drums with Fleas bass talent, Frusciantes simple but impactful solos. The song Black Summer sounds like the Seattle grunge sound met a more laid-back, happy California rock.

But most importantly, with Frusciante back on guitar, the band sounds most like its original self. Even if grunge-like music isnt their normal style, the headbanging energy of the album helps remind you why the band got famous in the first place. Its a blend of instrumentals and vocals that feels authentic to an evolved version of the classic RHCP sound.

Another song that successfully brings back the bands original style is Poster Child, which was also a single for the album. The song has a funky groove, with Fleas popping bass line and some funk guitar  Frusicante takes advantage of the wah pedal in cool and effective ways.

There are also some quiet bongos, or another form of hand drum, on the song, adding to the funky feel.

Throughout the verses, Kiediss almost raps  or at the very least sings with spoken word. The lyrics include countless references to famous musicians and bands from the past, such as Led Zeppelin, Thin Lizzy and the Ramones. The almost rap-rock style is a strong part of the RHCP sound, as Kiedis was inspired to sing by old hip-hop artists like the The Sugarhill Gang and Grandmaster Flash.

Despite songs like Black Summer and Poster Child effectively tapping into the core energy of the band, the album as a whole feels like the band is attempting to evolve by going backwards. The album is a bit lacking in innovation  many of the songs sound just like its music from the 1990s. This can be a plus if thats what youre looking for.

There are a couple songs on the album that will cause you to raise an eyebrow, such as Not the One. The song is a soothing piano ballad, with Frusiantes guitar sounding like a calming flute. Chad Smiths drumming reminds you that it is the RHCP playing the song  bringing the energy of the band into a peaceful ballad. A peaceful song like this is a bit out of character for the band, but it was done well.

For any fan of the Red Hot Chili Peppers  or fans of rock in general  Unlimited Love is certainly worth a listen. It will have you head banging and grooving to some funk-rock sounds. Not to mention having Frusciante back is like a breath of fresh air for RHCP fans.

Put on your headphones, and prepare for the familiar funk-rock to make you move with the groove.
Ashland, KY (41101)

Today

A steady rain this morning. Showers continuing this afternoon. High around 60F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%..

Tonight

Cloudy skies early, then partly cloudy after midnight. Low near 45F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph.
Sunbury, PA (17801)

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Rain likely. High 51F. Winds NE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall may reach one inch..

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Showers early, then partly cloudy overnight. Low 38F. Winds NNE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 70%.
Having named their organisation Archewell Inc, after their son Archie, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are looking to expand.

Meghan is seeking to trademark the 476-year-old word archetypes, which is also the title of her forthcoming Spotify podcast.

Accordingly, Meghan has applied to the United States Patent and Trademark Office to reserve Archetypes for goods and services, such as podcasts, TV series, live stage performances, global computer networks, the internet, mobile applications, on-demand streaming media and much more.

What next? The Duchess explains:

Archaeology: You know what? Archaeology is so heart-warming. It connects us with people and helps us uncover the inspirational power of the human spirit.

Harry and Meghan are looking to trademark the word 'Archetypes', the title of Megan's upcoming Spotify podcast

When I visited the ancient site of Pompeii the other day, I experienced a truly out-of-body sense that all those ancient people, frozen in time, were literally struck dumb that I had bothered to come and say hello. Yes, its a little word. But it means so much, and makes us truly human.

Archbishop: We need to trademark this lovely old word because it means so much to us. We put Canterbury on the map when we were married in a secret ceremony by the Archbishop of Canterbury. Were now hoping hell give something back and drop the Arch in his name.

After all, its deeply personal to us, whereas he can always call himself something else.

Arch-enemy: We hope to trademark this lovely old word because it means a lot, not just to us but also to our compassionate lawyers.

Meghan has applied to the United States Patent and Trademark Office to reserve Archetypes for goods and services, such as podcasts, TV series, live stage performances, global computer networks, the internet, mobile applications, on-demand streaming media

We plan to make a six-part series for Netflix in which we drop by unexpectedly on all those Royal folk who sadly sought to undermine us.

We call them our Arch-Enemies. They know who they are.

We hope to reach out to them, and ask them, with so much love and compassion in our hearts, why they would have wanted to cause us so much hurt.

Like, when I attended a State Banquet at Buckingham Palace, not one person around that table reached out to ask me what my favourite series of Suits was.

Such a simple, inclusive question. And one that would have meant so much.

It makes me sad on their behalf.

Compassion is so necessary in these dark times. And thats why were going to offer our Arch-Enemies the opportunity to own their mistakes on camera.

If they want to shed a tear or two for the hurt they caused, hey thats okay, guys, let it out! Its all about the healing.

And you know what? Begging for forgiveness can be a beautiful thing.

Archery: It was a small, struggling sport before we decided to call our son Archie and our organisation Archewell.

We said nothing, but, if Im honest, yes, we were deeply hurt that the sport never thanked us for the product recognition we brought to it. Now we need to own that hurt. Its the only way forward.

Archimedes: The next series were developing for Netflix is so exciting. A brilliant mathematician is relaxing in his net-zero infinity pool in his Speedos when it comes to him in a flash that the ratio of the radius of a circle to its circumference is, like, based on the number of personal assistants employed by that circle.

The couple named their organisation Archewell Inc, after their son Archie,

So he shouts Eureka!, which is the name of his chief personnel officer, and Eureka negotiates a suitable development fee for worldwide rights with a prestigious streaming service.

And then were also hoping to take ownership of these words ending in arch:

Frogmarch: To encourage someone to unleash the power of compassion in order to drive through cultural change by pinning their arms from behind.

Starch: We aim to produce a new, progressive type of starch, a starch that is proud to say, Hey! This collar is too stiff, too traditional, too formal. You guys want to loosen up and unwind, so try New Starchewell, the more casual, relaxed starch.

Monarch: When I agreed to join the Royal Family, they were hurting so bad. But  hey!  they didnt want to admit they needed help.

So I let them cry on my shoulder, and I shared their hurt. I mean, we only have one Planet.

Thats why we at the Archewell Foundation are now reaching out to them to trademark the Monarch, as part of a wider non-profit drive to increase global awareness.
The satellite footage is chilling both because of the hardware on display and the intent.

Published in the Daily Mail this week, it showed a convoy of armoured vehicles stretching for eight miles  the latest in the vast array of Russian reinforcements now swarming into north-east Ukraine.

And it is just one of many signs that this cruel war in Ukraine is about to get much bloodier.

For those sickened by images of the destruction inflicted by Vladimir Putin's troops in Mariupol, Kharkiv and Chernihiv; by reports of the barbarity outside Kyiv; and by unconfirmed claims of the use of chemical weapons, that might seem an impossibility.

Sadly, the worst is yet to come.

The Russians may have withdrawn from northern Ukraine, but I fear the horrors revealed in the mass graves around Bucha are just the prelude to an intensification of the war of conquest.

Illusions of a quick victory and a triumphant entry into Kyiv have been replaced by a grim determination to win regardless of the human cost.

Looking for scapegoats for failures thus far, Putin has sidelined senior military personnel, locked up his spy chief and sacked 150 security officials.

Boris Johnson with President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky, touring Independence Square during his visit to Kyiv on Saturday

Now he is turning to veterans of Russia's brutally relentless intervention in Syria to finish the job in the disputed Donbas region of Ukraine.

The new Russian overall commander, General Alexander Dvornikov, fought in the Chechen War in the early 2000s when the city of Grozny was flattened block by block.

In 2015, he was sent to Syria. Ominously, he supervised operations in which the Syrians dropped chemical weapons  banned chlorine gas  on the rebels.

Meanwhile, the commander of Russian forces blasting Mariupol to smithereens is Colonel General Mikhail Mizintsev who masterminded the siege of Syria's second city, Aleppo.

Such men are experts in annihilation and the West needs to urgently consider what that means for our friends in Ukraine.

Of course, Britain and our East European allies such as Poland and Lithuania have been pouring defensive equipment into the country.

Nadiya Trubchaninova, 70, sits next to a plastic bag that contains the body of her son Vadym Trubchaninov, 48, who was killed by Russian soldiers in Bucha on March 30, in the outskirts of Kyiv

During his lightning visit to Kyiv at the weekend, Boris Johnson promised 100million of weapons that are even more powerful than the shoulder-launched anti-tank and anti-aircraft missiles we have given so far  including ship-killer Harpoon missiles.

These could help push the Russian navy back from the Black Sea coast and stop an assault on the key port of Odessa.

But US President Joe Biden has dithered and Germany is stalling, too.

And to turn the tide and decisively defeat Putin, Ukraine needs airpower, tanks, blockbuster missiles and heavy artillery to outmanoeuvre the invaders on the battlefield and liberate the whole country.

Time is of the essence. Putin needs to knock out Ukraine before Western leaders unite to give President Volodymyr Zelensky what he needs to force Russia to agree to a real peace.

And time is on the Kremlin's side because Ukraine's dogged defence is not enough to win the war.

Changing that state of affairs to Ukraine's advantage with offensive weaponry is crucial  but it is not risk-free.

A Russian soldier collects weapons found on April 12 while patrolling at the Mariupol drama theatre, hit last March 16 by an airstrike

As a video emerged purporting to show missile systems being moved toward the border with Finland hours after the Kremlin warned its northern neighbour against joining Nato, all of us in the West will have to be ready to face threats of retaliation by an enraged Putin.

And that could include nuclear weapons. For if he can get away with blurring the international ban on weapons of mass destruction by using small amounts of gas  the unconfirmed reports in Mariupol have cited breathing difficulties and dizziness  mightn't he also be prepared to escalate to tactical nuclear weapons?

He could go further, threatening a nuclear strike against countries that are providing aid to Ukraine, including Britain.

It is a real and present danger, but if ever there was a time for the West to hold its nerve  just as the Ukrainians have held theirs  it is now.

The risk to us is still low. The daily toll on Ukrainians is terrible.

We have options, such as unused sanctions to hold over Putin's head. A complete ban on Russian energy exports would stop the billion euros a day tumbling in to the Kremlin's coffers.

Making the price of war too high for Putin has been the West's strategy all along, but we need to ensure he understands that sinking to a new  chemical or nuclear  low in Ukraine means total economic war.

And deterrence can work to our advantage. The West still has its vast nuclear stockpile.

Putin is a bad man but despite his renewed vow yesterday of 'consequences' for nations that 'interfere' in Ukraine, he is not willing to go down in nuclear flames.

We can face him down by supplying Ukraine with whatever it takes to make him realise Russia cannot win.

In other words, upping our aid to Ukraine is the shortcut to peace  albeit a bloody one.

Just keeping Ukraine on life support will result in a war of attrition with many more lives lost and economies wrecked.

And Chechnya and Syria show that Putin has an appetite for such a meat-grinder engagement.

Any kind of victory for him would be an existential defeat for the West.

If it defeats Ukraine, the Kremlin will pause only to lick its wounds before moving on to its next victim. We must give brave Ukraine the tools it needs to finish the job now.

Mark Almond is director of the Crisis Research Institute, Oxford.




North Korean leader Kim Jong-un attended a ceremony to celebrate the completion of a major housing project in the country's capital, state media reported Tuesday.







The event was to mark the completion of 10,000 apartments and an 80-floor skyscraper in the Songsin and Songhwa areas of Pyongyang, and a major street with "public catering facilities," according to the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).







Kim did not deliver a speech in person while warmly waving to the cheering crowds and "wishing them happiness" in the new houses.







The workers and soldiers involved in the project "performed an eye-opening miracle of building the distinctive grand architectural group of 10,000 flats" by waging a fierce campaign despite challenges, the KCNA said.







Top officials attended the ceremony, including Jo Yong-won, secretary of the Central Committee of the ruling Workers' Party, and Premier Kim Tok-hun.







At the eighth congress of the ruling Workers' Party meeting last year, North Korea announced its aim of building 50,000 apartments in Pyongyang by 2025, or 10,000 units each year.







Last month, Kim called for the construction of the Songsin and Songhwa areas to be completed before the 110th birth anniversary of the North's late founder and his grandfather Kim Il-sung on April 15. (Yonhap)


Bad parking is enough to make your blood boil.

So it's easy to see why these people chose to handle the situation by leaving hilarious passive aggressive notes for the offending drivers in the hope they will learn their lesson.

Social media users from around the world shared the very best examples in this gallery put together by trivia website Unpasted.

One motorist printed a map of how and where his neighbour should be parking with detailed instructions, just to ensure there was no misunderstanding.

Another drew a picture of a 'grumpy cat' to deliver the threat of towing another vehicle. Meanwhile, another took the simple approach of writing 'please park better' on a motorist's snow-covered windshield.

Feline generous! This person in the US drew a picture of a 'grumpy cat' to deliver the threat of towing another person's vehicle after it was parked in the wrong spot

Straight to the point! At least this person didn't have to use a pen and paper with this pretty blank canvas

Take the bus! This person got a whole pile of business cards printed to deliver the message so it must be an issue they encounter regularly

Welcome to the neighborhood! One American homeowner printed a map of how and where his neighbour should be parking with detailed instructions

Kill them with kindness! 'Mr Important', who lives in the US, has no consideration for his neighbours and how they might need to park outside the property

Ticket prank! There's nothing worse than walking outside and seeing a parking ticket on your windshield so this person was probably very relieved

This pooch is having a great day! This driver in the US thought ahead and let everyone know his puppy was safe inside the locked car

Don't anger the potato clan! This person got very creative with their funny note and even used some potatoes carved into figurines

Passive aggressive level 100%! This person didn't hold back and used their artistic skills to take aim at the bad parking

Well that escalated quickly! This person, believed to be in the US, has a very thought out plan for the punishment this bad parker will face if they are a repeat offender

Appealing to a sense of humanity: It's hard to not to feel bad for this man, thought to be from the US, whose parking sticker hasn't arrived on time

Ouch! This person from the US decided to spray paint the message for a more permanent outcome

Want to Play a Game? Hopefully the reference to the horror flick Saw wasn't lost of the traffic warden

Be careful or you might be Taken! This person has made Liam Neeson proud with this note - and hopefully the neighbour saw the funny side too
When couples exchange vows on their wedding day, they hope it's the start of their 'happily ever after'.

But these eye-opening confessions show it's not always smooth sailing after the honeymoon, especially when it comes to keeping each other happy between the sheets.

Married people from around the world have taken to anonymous secret-sharing app Whisper to explain why they are disappointed with their sex lives now that they've tied the knot.

Many of the posters complain that their spouse's libido fell off a cliff once they became husband and wife, including one man who says he now 'has a piece on the side' in order to fulfil his sexual urges.

Elsewhere there is an unusual story of a divorced couple who are happily remarried to new partners, only they still meet up to have sex because they miss that aspect of their relationship...

There's something missing: A husband from Winnipeg, Canada, says he's really happy in his marriage, except when it comes to their sex life. It was one of a number of eye-opening confessions shared on secret-sharing app Whisper

Playing away: This married man from Bedford Hills, New York, has gone outside his marriage to satisfy his sexual urges

Selfish husband: This wife from Town and Country, Missouri, is disappointed to learn her partner hasn't done anything to improve his performance in the bedroom

Putting the 'ex' in 'sex': This divorced couple from Santa Monica, California, might be remarried to other people but nothing beat their chemistry in the bedroom

What's changed? This bride from Bentonville, Arkansas, says her life is missing the sexual spark it used to have

Regrets, they've had a few: This person from Woodridge, Illinois, finds themselves considering if divorce might be in their future

That's one way to fix the problem! This person believes opening up the relationship might help solve the dissatisfaction they feel in their marriage

Unusual perspective: This person from Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota, believes there is a logical reason why people feel the need to have affairs

Growing older, growing colder: A wife from Princeton, Kentucky, makes the brutal admission that she no longer finds her husband physically attractive

Few and far between: A person from Frederick, Ohio, reveals they have only had sex with their partner five times in a year

Playing the blame game: A husband from Walnut Grove, Virginia, has no problem blaming his wife for his own infidelity
In 2016 the oldest dress in the world was found to be an ancient bundle of rags discovered in an Egyptian tomb more than a century ago; a simple pleated V-neck shirt thought to be a portion of what was once likely a floor-length Tarkhan dress.

While the oldest item in your wardrobe isn't likely to date between 5,100 and 5,500 years (according to radiocarbon dating) it's clear humans haven't quite let go of their penchant of holding onto clothing which may hold importance beyond its material function.

Five writers have opened up about their sentimental reasons for keeping something in their wardrobe instead of throwing it into the charity pile.

Be it igniting cultural importance, bringing back the memory of a loved one or a confidence boost - sometimes all it takes is a decades-old garment in the back of your closet.

The deathbed gift from my devoted husband

LINDSAY NICHOLSON is the former editor of Good Housekeeping magazine

Thirty years ago, John, my beloved husband, was desperately ill in hospital, where he was being treated for the leukaemia that would eventually kill him.

Christmas was fast approaching but a present was the last thing on my mind. I just wanted John home, so I was thrilled when I was told I could collect him late on Christmas Eve.

On Christmas morning, he handed me a beautifully wrapped present. I had honestly expected nothing more than something from the hospital gift shop, and would have been thrilled he had been able to manage that.

Lindsay Nicholson MBE, got her jumper from Joseph in 1991 - as a gift from her late husband - and it has lasted till now

Ms Nicholson, pictured in 1994, writes: 'For many years it was my go-to Christmas jumper and I still get it out every Christmas and wear it for a few hours'

But wrapped in tissue paper was a slouchy, bronze lurex sweater from the upmarket boutique Joseph.

I had seen it in the shop window some weeks earlier and must have mentioned that I had fallen in love with it while chattering away about inconsequential stuff during a hospital visit.

This being 1991, it was before online shopping or mobile phones. John had not only remembered the detail of this sweater that I'd talked about but had got in touch with one of my girlfriends using the ward pay phone and gave her instructions to buy it.

He then had to send her a cheque to pay for it, because it wasn't cheap. Finally, he concealed the gift in the locker next to his bed.

He even got the size right  the sweater fitted perfectly and looked amazing. Looking after him and our daughter (I was pregnant with her sister, inset above, when John died), I had given up on thinking about my appearance. But it was so easy to wear, just thrown on over leggings or jeans.

For many years it was my go-to Christmas jumper and I still get it out every Christmas and wear it for a few hours.

It still fits, it's still one of the most beautiful pieces I own and, even now, wearing it makes me feel close to John.

Sari brings me closer to my grandma's spirit

SHRUTI ADVANI, writer

Over the past two decades, I have lived in seven homes.

Some, like my place in Mumbai, India, had custom-built, walk-in wardrobes; in a tiny, one-bedroom flat in Mayfair, central London, I had only a few clothes rails from Argos.

But across countries and continents, one item of clothing has been a constant. It is my least practical outfit, weighing 3.5 kg (7.7 lb), and I typically wear it just once a year.

But each time I do, I feel a powerful connection to my grandmother (inset above), who died more than a decade ago at the age of 93.

The outfit I refer to is a sari, which in Sanskrit means 'strip of cloth'. But it is so much more than that. For Indians, it is a part of our national identity, one we are incredibly proud of.

Shruti Advani writes: 'The sari was ordered as part of my grandmother's trousseau and she wore it with a modest long-sleeved blouse like the one I have on here'

'I first wore it for Diwali in 2010, the year my grandmother died,' Ms Advani writes of her sari

This sari was woven in Benares, a town in northern India, where weavers have been spinning magic on hand-operated looms for hundreds of years.

A gauzy cream and gold base fabric, called tissue, has been hand-embroidered with traditional motifs using a technique called Zardozi, believed to date back to the 14th century.

The tissue fabric for this sari was spun using pure silver woven with silk yarn. Today, there are only a handful who know how to weave it.

The sari was ordered as part of my grandmother's trousseau and she wore it with a modest long-sleeved blouse like the one I have on here.

I first wore it for Diwali in 2010, the year my grandmother died. I missed her so desperately on that day, but wearing it was almost a spiritual experience that made me realise I would always have her love and wisdom to draw on.

Love gave me the confidence to wear this

KATE FREUD, writer

The thigh-skimming minis, knee-high boots and revealing tops of my youth are long gone, and in their place are cashmere knits, T-shirts and skinny jeans.

But hidden among this sedate assortment is a strappy dress with embellishment around the neckline.

Bought from Whistles, around 2003, when I was channelling my inner Sienna Miller, I know full well it will never see the light of day again. But I can't quite bring myself to get rid of it.

Kate Freud, pictured wearing a dress from 20 years ago writes that she 'bought from Whistles, around 2003' while 'channelling my inner Sienna Miller'

Ms Freud met Jack, pictured, 'in the summer of my first year at university, when I was fresh out of a pretty destructive relationship'

For me, it is such a tangible reminder of the start of a new chapter, a time when I was in love with the man I would one day marry, at the very beginning of the life we would build together.

I met Jack in the summer of my first year at university, when I was fresh out of a pretty destructive relationship.

My best friend Candy had scooped me up and taken me to Barbados to get away from it all, and there I ended up meeting the love of my life.

I'd been so shy before we met, but the confidence he gave me changed the way I dressed. This dress, worn to a party in London, is a memorable example of my new daring. And I wore it with heels!

At 5 ft 10 in I'd previously been too nervous to wear anything but flats, but Jack encouraged me, even though I ended up taller than him.

I am sure he wouldn't object to me donning it again, 20 years and three children later.

Silk gown fit for a princess

CAMILLA RIDLEY-DAY, fashion journalist

A recent house move means my wardrobe has been cut to the bone, but there's one dress from years ago that lives on.

A 'princess dress', as my children call it, and not one I'll be donning for our upcoming trip to Disney World, despite the fact I can still wear it!

It was made for me by a dressmaker in London, a generous 18th birthday present from my (fairy) godmother, who told me I could choose whatever I liked to be made for my party.

Camilla Ridley-Day pictured in a dress which was made for her 'by a dressmaker in London, a generous 18th birthday present from my (fairy) godmother'

Ms Ridley-Day at her birthday party. She writes: 'These days, I do without the gloves and tiara, and add a strapless bra, but it still gives me an instant feeling of glamour'

We'd gone for a Hollywood theme and I opted for Cinderella, searching for the distinctive pale blue silk in the fabric shops of Soho.

As a fashion-obsessed teenager, watching the boned corset being made was fascinating, an experience only rivalled later when designer Bruce Oldfield did the same with my wedding dress. You can't help but fall in love with a piece tailored just for you.

More than 20 years on, it still looks the same. These days, I do without the gloves and tiara, and add a strapless bra, but it still gives me an instant feeling of glamour.

Dress that keeps the 1980s alive

ROSIE MILLARD is a writer and the chair of BBC Children In Need

What I really yearned for in the winter of 1982 was a sweater-dress. My favourite brands at the time included Miss Selfridge and Kickers, but I aspired to all things Fiorucci  a label I couldn't really afford.

Such was my obsession with the label, that when I spotted this turquoise sweater-dress in a tiny boutique near my home in Wimbledon, I just had to have it.

Decorated with black jungle foliage on the shoulders and a leaping panther on the back, it cost 65. I saved up the money from my paper round to buy it.

Rosie Millard pictured in her turquoise boutique-bought dress which she 'will never' throw away

Ms Millard writes: 'I often wore it with thick black tights from Miss Selfridge, Cuban-heeled ankle boots and a black velvet ribbon tied around my wrist, channelling Madonna'

Whenever I wore it, I felt like a Milanese woman hanging out at an espresso bar. I wore it to key events in Wimbledon such as trick or treating and the Youth Club outing to Boulogne.

I often wore it with thick black tights from Miss Selfridge, Cuban-heeled ankle boots and a black velvet ribbon tied around my wrist, channelling Madonna.

I will never throw it away. It's kept in a red suitcase I've had since the age of ten, alongside its partner in crime, a bubble-skirted mini-dress from Miss Selfridge.
Princess Anne was given a red-carpet welcome from schoolchildren in Papua New Guinea as she embarked the latest leg of her Southern Hemisphere tour.

The royal was greeted by students in traditional dress before being presented with flowers from pupils on the second day of her tour marking the Queen's Platinum Jubilee.

The Princess Royal visited the Caritas Technical Secondary School, a Catholic boarding school for 700 girls in Port Moresby, where she was given a tour of the facilities.

Anne, 71, was shown around the cooking laboratory where she was presented with homemade cakes from students before staff gave her a guided tour of the gymnasium.

Later in the day, the royal attended the opening of the National Cardiac Diagnostic Centre at the Port Moresby General Hospital, where she met patients and unveiled a plaque to mark the occasion.

The Princess Royal then travelled to Hanuabada Village, on outskirts of Port Moresby, where she was greeted by locals in traditional dress before meeting residents of the village.

The royal then visited the Bomana Cemetery, where she laid a wreath at the Cross of Sacrifice, the Birds of Paradise enclosure at the Adventure Park and joined James Marape, Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea for dinner.

Anne, 71, was shown around the cooking laboratory where she was presented with homemade cakes from students

A student in traditional dress during a performance for the Princess Royal at Caritas Technical Secondary School

A student in traditional dress during a performance for the Princess Royal at Caritas Technical Secondary School on day two of the royal's trip to Papua New Guinea

Students performed for the Princess Royal on the second day of her Papua New Guinea on behalf of the Queen, in celebration of the Platinum Jubilee

Princess Anne was given a warm welcome from schoolchildren in Papua New Guinea as she embarked the latest leg of her Southern Hemisphere tour

The Princess Royal visited the Caritas Technical Secondary School, a Catholic boarding school for 700 girls in Port Moresby, where she was given a tour of the facilities

Later in the day, the royal attended the opening of the National Cardiac Diagnostic Centre at the Port Moresby General Hospital where she met a volunteer giving blood

The Princess Royal unveiled a plaque to mark the opening of the National Cardiac Diagnostic Centre, at the Port Moresby General Hospital

The Princess Royal then travelled to Hanuabada Village, on outskirts of Port Moresby, where she was greeted by locals in traditional dress before meeting residents of the village

The Princess Royal was presented with a traditional model boat during a visit to Hanuabada Village on the second day of her royal trip to Papua New Guinea

The Princess Royal and Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence visit the Birds of Paradise enclosure at the Adventure Park PNG

Princess Anne later shook hands with the Heads of Mission during a visit to the Bomana Cemetery in Port Moresby

The Princess Royal prepares to lay a wreath at the Cross of Sacrifice during a visit to the Bomana Cemetery in Port Moresby

The Princess Royal leaves a message after visiting the Bomana Cemetery in Port Moresby, on day two of the royal trip to Papua New Guinea on behalf of the Queen

The Princess Royal gives a speech whilst attending a dinner with James Marape, Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea

he Princess Royal and Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence attend a dinner with James Marape, Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea, and representatives from across the charity sector and business groups, at APEC Haus

The Princess Royal conducts the investiture of Sir John Pundari MP at Government House in Port Moresby

The Princess Royal and Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence receive a gift at the National Museum and Art Gallery on day two of their royal trip to Papua New Guinea

The Princess Royal speaks to representatives from across the charity sector and business groups after a dinner, at APEC Haus in Port Moresby, on day two of the royal trip to Papua New Guinea

Princess Anne speaks to representatives from across the charity sector and business groups after a dinner, at APEC Haus in Port Moresby, on day two of the royal trip to Papua New Guinea

Wearing a narrow-striped sand-tone two-piece pantsuit, Anne offered the seated pupils inside the gymnasium some advice while also expressing her gratitude for the welcome.

In comments carried by local media outlet Loop PNG, Anne said the school was a place where pupils could build their skills and options for life as adults.

'But it's also about enjoying being part of the educational process, making new friends and respecting one another wherever you might come from,' she added.

'So, my congratulations to this school and all of you who have been part of it over the years. And a particular thank you for the way in which you have celebrated Her Majesty's Jubilee.'

Princess Anne offered the seated pupils inside the gymnasium some advice while also expressing her gratitude for the welcome

The Princess Royal watches a performance by students in traditional dress during a visit to Caritas Technical Secondary School

Wearing a narrow-striped sand-tone two-piece pantsuit, Anne chatted with staff and pupils at the all-girl boarding school on the second day of her Papua New Guinea tour

The Princess Royal visited was presented with homemade cake from pupils at the Catholic girls school in Port Moresby

The Princess Royal is welcomed by students in traditional dress to Caritas Technical Secondary School on the second day of her royal visit to Papua New Guinea

Anne was given a warm welcome from students of Caritas Technical Secondary School, an all-girl boarding school for 700 students run by the Catholic Church in Port Moresby

The Princess Royal watches a performance by students in traditional dress during a visit to Caritas Technical Secondary School

The Princess Royal speaks to a patient whilst attending the opening of the National Cardiac Diagnostic Centre on her royal trip to Papua New Guinea

Princess Anne and Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence met royal fans as they attended the opening of the National Cardiac Diagnostic Centre

The Princess Royal is given a tour during the opening of the National Cardiac Diagnostic Centre at the Port Moresby General Hospital

The Princess Royal was seen chatting with cardiac doctors and nurses as they attend the opening of the National Cardiac Diagnostic Centre

Princes Anne and Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence speak to cardiac doctors and nurses at the National Cardiac Diagnostic Centre on her royal trip to Papua New Guinea

The Princess Royal watches a performance by students in traditional dress during a visit to Caritas Technical Secondary School

The royal was greeted by students in traditional dress who performed as Anne walked into the school

Pupils at the Caritas Technical Secondary School, a Catholic boarding school for 700 girls in Port Moresby, welcome Princess Anne

Pupils at the Caritas Technical Secondary School were seen in traditional dress as they welcomes Anne on her royal visit

Students in traditional dress during a performance for the Princess Royal on her royal trip to Papua New Guinea on behalf of the Queen, in celebration of the Platinum Jubilee

Anne and her husband, Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence, landed in Port Moresby on Monday evening after a weekend of engagements in Australia, including opening the 200th Sydney Royal Easter Show on Saturday.

They were greeted on the tarmac of Jacksons International Airport by Prime Minister James Marape, and Anne was presented with a garland of flowers before she inspected a guard of honour.

After visiting Caritas on Tuesday, the princess and her husband were scheduled to tour Papua New Guinea with visits to St John Ambulance, the Bomana War Cemetery, Adventure Park Papua New Guinea and the National Museum and Art Gallery.

She will also open a Women's Resource Centre at Vabukori Village and the National Cardiac Diagnostic Centre at Port Moresby General Hospital, and will meet elders and community leaders at Hanuabada Village.

The Princess Royal and Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence during a visit to Hanuabada Village, on outskirts of Port Moresby, on day two of the royal trip to Papua New Guinea

The Princess Royal and Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence were seen walking around Hanuabada Village on day two of her royal trip to Papua New Guinea on behalf of the Queen,

People wearing traditional dress line the road in Port Moresby to welcome Princess Anne on day two of the royal trip to Papua New Guinea on behalf of the Queen

Residents of Hanuabada Village, on outskirts of Port Moresby, await the arrival of the Princess Royal and Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence

Residents of Hanuabada Village, on outskirts of Port Moresby, await the arrival of the Princess Royal and Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence on day two of their royal trip

Anne will conclude the two-day tour with a dinner with Mr Marape and representatives from the charity sector and business groups.

The royal visit is part of the line-up of celebrations to mark Her Majesty's 70 years on the throne including, Trooping the Colour, a Service of Thanksgiving and a concert at Buckingham Palace.

A royal expert warned yesterday that the 'very tired' Queen will limit her Platinum Jubilee appearances to 'just a few' events after battling covid two months ago and ongoing mobility problems.

Royal biographer Angela Levin said the Queen s presence at jubilee events will be limited due to her frailty.

The Princess Royal and Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence visit the Birds of Paradise enclosure at the Adventure Park PNG in Port Moresby

The Princess Royal and Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, with Minister for Urban Development Justin Tkatchenko (left) walk through the Orchid garden at the Adventure Park PNG

The Princess Royal and Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence look at the grave of a soldier during a visit to the Bomana Cemetery in Port Moresby, on day two of the royal trip to Papua New Guinea

The Princess Royal and Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence look at the grave of a soldier during a visit to the Bomana Cemetery today

Princess Anne and Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence visit the Bomana Cemetery in Port Moresby on day two of their trip to Papua New Guinea on behalf of the Queen

The Princess Royal lays a wreath at the Cross of Sacrifice during a visit to the Bomana Cemetery in Port Moresby

The Princess Royal views Totem Poles at the National Museum and Art Gallery, on day two of the royal trip to Papua New Guinea on behalf of the Queen

Princess Anne views an ocean canoe at the National Museum and Art Gallery, on day two of the royal trip to Papua New Guinea

The Princess Royal views artefacts at the National Museum and Art Gallery, on day two of the royal trip to Papua New Guinea on behalf of the Queen

The Princess Royal conducts the investiture of Sir John Pundari MP at Government House in Port Moresby, on day two of the royal trip to Papua New Guinea on behalf of the Queen

The Princess Royal and Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence attend a dinner with James Marape, Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea

The Princess Royal speaks to representatives from across the charity sector and business groups after a dinner on day two of the royal trip to Papua New Guinea

The Princess Royal attends a dinner with James Marape, Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea, and representatives from across the charity sector and business groups, at APEC Haus in Port Moresby

She said: 'It's going to be very difficult and I think they will only show her in a few instances, maybe at the service at St Paul's. That will be very important to her because she is a Christian.

'I dont think we'll see her around and about. Maybe she'll be well enough to sit and watch horses. It won't be her, everywhere. But if she is there, she will appreciate the fact the public will be wanting to be there and supporting her.

'I imagine that the aides are worried that if the public don't see her, people may think that if she's not there it's not worth us going.

'I'm sure everyone in the Palace hopes that people will turn up to show their respects and say thank you for an extraordinary reign both in length and in breadth.
Richard Madely has branded a proposal to make it a criminal offence to not do household chores as 'absolute nonsense'.

The TV host joined a furious debate on ITV's Good Morning Britain today as historian Dr Tessa Dunlop suggested legislation could help balance the burden of domestic labour, which often falls on women.

Starting the discussion, Richard's co-host Ranvir Singh explained that almost half of French people back a proposal to make it a criminal offence to avoid doing household chores.

The legalisation was proposed last month by feminist politician Sandrine Rousseau, with French pollsters since discovering 14 per cent of the public would be prepared to file a criminal lawsuit against their spouses for failing to do their share of the housework.

A furious debate erupted on ITV's Good Morning Britain today as historian Dr Tessa Dunlop (left) suggested legislation could help balance the burden of domestic labour, which often falls on women. The panel were joined by cleaning expert Aggie Mackenzie (right) who argued that it was 'education' not 'legalisation' that was needed.

Tessa (left) argued there are 'a lot of things legislated within a marriage' while Aggie (right) branded there were 'lots of things legislated within a marriage

'The point that's being made is that we've hardly seen an increase in men doing chores since 1970s. Men only do 14 minutes more of household chores now that in 1970, if we keep going at this rate it will take 6,500 minutes to achieve equality,' Ranvir suggested.

But Richard quickly responded arguing: 'We're talking about this being a criminal offence. This is absolute nonsense, to drag a man or a woman into court because they don't do the washing up!'

The panel were joined by cleaning expert Aggie Mackenzie, who argued that it was 'education' not 'legalisation' that was needed.

But Dr Tessa Dunlop argued the opposite, saying there are 'a lot of things legislated within a marriage'.

'Let's flip this argument on its head, we enshrined in law the idea of equal pay before I was even born,' she argued.

'That was in 1970 and we still haven't achieved equal pay. Women are still paid 10 per cent less despite our best efforts. All the research says, until you have equality in the domestic space, until men are doing their fair share, it won't be equal.'

Richard Madely (left) branded a proposal to make it a criminal offence to not do household chores as 'absolute nonsense'.

But Richard argued it was a 'false analogy'.

'Can you imagine getting nicked and going down to the police station, what would the charge be?' he added.

Aggie added: 'And how do you measure it? It's just crazy. It's about respecting your partner'.

'But it's not simple is it? We haven't shifted for decades despite all the conversation,' Tessa added.

'The statistics say we haven't shifted. There's a a massively gender based division of labour. Women do it all, men don't

'When I was a child there we got beaten about, they made it illegal in Scotland and now I wouldn't dream of hitting my three year old, despite her being a pain in the neck and guess what, i do most of the cleaning up after her.

Starting the discussion, Richard's co-host Ranvir Singh (right) explained that almost half of French people back a proposal to make it a criminal offence to avoid doing household chores.

'When I get home this morning, the dishwasher won't be emptied, there will be dirty dishes over the clean ones.

'There's lots of stuff that's legislated against in a marriage behind closed doors, I don't think we should shy away there's lots of ways you can change behaviour from establishing things in law.

'Generations older than me - women included - are to blame here because the patriarchy has made us believe men earn the bread and butter'.

Aggie added: 'We're talking about men who are doing less than women, but it's down to mothers to educate their sons. It starts early on, we need to show sons how to clean, how to look after themselves how to be in a clean and just way.

'We can' t be taking this to legalisation. It's completely bonkers and a waste of police time'.

Viewers were baffled by the proposal, with one writing: 'Should avoiding housework be a crime? what is the world coming too?'.

'It's not,' Tessa replied.

'We've got a worker crisis, a labour shortage in this country, women between 18 and 40 are doing 140 billion of unpaid work in the home'.

But Richard argued there were 'more serious crimes to investigate than men not fluffing up the pillows' while Aggie added: 'If you get to the point where you're using the law, your relationship is over'.

However, Ranvir back Tessa's arguments saying: ' 15 per cent of divorced couples say chores led to their break up, 58 per cent of women that work full time say the majority of household chores fall on them, only 9 per cent of men who work full time do.

Viewers were baffled by the proposal, with one writing: 'Should avoiding housework be a crime? what is the world coming too?'.

'There are too many serious problems in the world, housework division is not one of them,' said another.

'Im a very clean person and hate mess but to make it a criminal offence is ridiculous. Can you imagine?? Also such a waste of police time. And can I say its not just men who are untidy!' wrote a third.
Nina Siemiatkowski says she won't be 'defined by the success' of her billionaire husband after he founded fintech giant Klarna.

Swedish-born entrepreneur Nina, 40, met husband Sebastian, co-founder of the buy-now, pay-later firm, as a student in Stockholm and the couple tied the knot in Kenya in 2014.

The trendy fintech firm, founded in 2005, was valued in a recent funding round at $46.6billion and Sebastian's seven per cent stake in the company is worth more than $3billion.

The mother-of-three, was a successful marketing executive in her own right before heading up her own tech startup, Milkywire, a platform which allows users to explore and directly donate to grassroots projects all over the world

She told the Times: 'Somebody not so long ago said to me, "You're never going to be anything else but the wife of the Klarna founder".

Nina Siemiatkowski says she doesn't want to be 'defined by the success' of her billionaire husband after he founded fintech firm Klarna

Mother-of-three Nina was a successful marketing executive in her own right before heading her own tech startup in 2018

'They meant well, but it didn't really land that way with me. It's the opposite of what I want to be and it pushed me into thinking I'm going to prove them wrong.

'I don't want to be defined by my husband and I don't think I ever will be.'

Growing up Nina had always wanted to be a photographer, however after school decided to play enroll in Stockholm School of Economics before entering the world of finance.

After university Nina became head of marketing at one of Sweden's biggest consumer firms - where she used her valuable skills to help rebrand Klarna as a 'cool' way of shopping.

Swedish-born entrepreneur Nina, 40, met husband Sebastian, co-founder of the buy-now, pay-later giant, as a student in Stockholm and the couple tied the knot in Kenya in 2014

Nina says that while she's often judged by the achievements of her husband - she's determined to 'prove them wrong'

The trendy fintech firm, founded in 2005, was valued in a recent funding round at $46.6billion and Sebastian's seven per cent stake in the company is worth more than $3billion

Her career course changed trajectory at the age of 29, when she realised her corporate job wasn't making her happy and decide to enroll on a six-month photography course.

She then decided to embark on a documentary project, following the lives of a pride of lions in Kenya and between 2012 and 2016 spent five months in Masai Mara following a family of lions.

During her time in Kenya, Nina became interested in conservation work and began working with nonprofit organisations working to protect lions.

While working with these organisations she noticed challenges local charities faced and decided to launch Milkywire.

Nina even admitted that she's tried to poach employees from Klarna for Milkywire, which works with more than 50 organisations in more than 30 countries.

Nina even admitted that she's tried to poach employees from Klarna to work for Milkywire, which works with more than 50 organisations in over 30 countries

She explained to the publication that charities receive 90 per cent of every donation with Milkywire taking a small cut for the development of the business which they are 'transparent and open' about.

In an interview with The Successful Founder, Nina explained some of the challenges her start-up is faced with while trying to raise funds for various causes around the world.

'Peoples first thought in the morning is rarely "Today is the day Im going to protect our rainforests." People wake up and are thinking about their first caffeine boost.

'One of the biggest challenges is to make it easy and attractive enough for people to engage and take action. Pushing people to not just think about the problem, but to actually do something about it is the difficult part.

'Ensuring people connect emotionally with a cause is so important if you want them to get involved in it.'
A married woman has revealed how she is in a relationship with three different people.

Anna, 26, who lives in Chicago, Illinois, often finds herself kicking her husband Jake, 25, out of their bed to spend quality time with her boyfriend.

The costume design student was married to Jake for four years before meeting her boyfriend Spencer, 28 and most recently, her girlfriend Ellie, 26.

Anna sees herself as having three individual relationships, and her partners do not have physical or romantic relationships with each other.

Anna, 26, from Chicago, Illinois, often finds herself kicking her husband Jake, 25, (left) out of their bed to spend quality time with her boyfriend Spencer, 28 and most recently, her girlfriend Ellie, 26 (right)

Married Anna, 26, who lives in Chicago, Illinois, US, revealed she is in a relationship with THREE different people (pictured with husband Jake, 25)

Anna said: 'I've been with Jake for nine years and married for the last four.

'We were at a point in life where marriage seemed like the best course of action for financial and dependency reasons.

The costume design student was married to Jake (right) for four years before meeting her boyfriend Spencer

Anna and her husband Jake decided to get married because it made sense for financial and stability reasons

Date nights between Anna (pictured with boyfriend Spencer) and her individual partners are usually scheduled months in advance

'We are still very much in love, but, I have a whole lot of love to spare for other people as well.

'Whilst not everyone is just in a relationship with each other, we are all extremely good friends and have a "kitchen table" style polycule relationship where we all get along and vibe with each other.

'I live with Jake full time, but Ellie and Spencer live in different states, and everyone has full time jobs so it's always quite hard to schedule separate time for each individual.

'I would love for us all to be able to live together at some point, but that's not really a viable option right now as everyone is on their own path in life.'

Anna said everyone in her 'polycule' is extremely good friends', even though she's the only one in a relationship with all the members

She admitted it was a 'kitchen table' style polycule relationship where they all get along and 'vibe with each other'

Anna revealed when Spencer (left) comes over, Jake tends to give them some space and goes to 'sleep on the couch'

Date nights between Anna and her individual partners are usually scheduled months in advance, and when it comes to staying in the same bed, that's really up to everyone involved.

Anna said: 'When Spencer comes over, Jake tends to go and sleep on the couch.

'He gets pretty claustrophobic and likes to give Spencer and I space when we get the chance to see each other.'

Spencer said: 'Jake also snores, but he's a big cuddler as well, so it's nice to chill with him as a friend and get a hug from him every now and then.'

Jake added: 'Mine and Anna's love is pretty grounded, and I've had my own personal experiences being in a relationship with more than one person.

She said her husband gets 'pretty claustrophobic' and he likes to give Spencer and Anna space when we get the chance to see each other

Spencer and Jake consider each other close friends but do share a cuddle every now and again

Jake said polyamory doesn't work unless you make a point to understand the your partner's feelings

'Polyamory is different, it doesn't work unless you make a point to understand the your partner's feelings and help them love who, and how they want to.' '

Despite being in three different relationships, Anna finds that there is very rarely any jealousy between her partners and that everyone gets along very well.

She said: 'There's never any jealousy in the relationship, we always make sure that communication is a big part of our everyday life.

'Polyamory really makes you look into your own feelings and where those feelings come from, it definitely puts a focus on dealing with things in a healthy way.

'You can discuss these feelings with a group of people that love you and support you, rather than dumping all of these feelings on a singular person.

Despite being in three different relationships, Anna finds that there is very rarely any jealousy between her partners and that everyone gets along very well

Jake added that his and Anna's love is 'pretty grounded', and he had his own personal experiences being in a relationship with more than one person

Spencer said that Jake is 'a big cuddler' so it's nice to chill with him as a friend and get a hug from him every now and then

'I feel like monogamous relationships carry quite heavy burdens when it comes to carrying your partners feelings and emotions.'

Anna's 'polycule' defies the stereotypical 'triad' relationship; rather than being composed of three partners who are all romantically involved with each other, Anna's partners are platonic with each other and able to pursue their own separate romantic interests.

A 'polycule' is a group of people connected through their inter-connecting non-monogamous relationships, where each person may have more than one partner to themselves.

She said she feels like monogamous relationships carry quite heavy burdens when it comes to carrying your partners feelings and emotions

A 'polycule' is a group of people connected through their inter-connecting non-monogamous relationships, where each person may have more than one partner to themselves

With such a unique relationship, Anna and her partners are no strangers to backlash and trolls, and often try to educate people via social media.

Anna said: 'We get trolled and a lot of abuse in our DMS on the TikTok account where I share our day-to-day relationship quite often.

'Some big far-right figures actually picked up on one of our videos recently like Ben Shapiro, and we were just inundated with lots of hateful comments.

'In order to tackle the hate and misinformation which trolls spread, I've actually started to do videos where I respond to hateful comments and rate them on a scale of one to ten.

Anna's 'polycule' defies the stereotypical 'triad' relationship; rather than being composed of three partners who are all romantically involved with each other, Anna's partners are platonic with each other and able to pursue their own separate romantic interests

Jake said you 'cannot convince him' that people who hate on us are older than 12, and 'I do not care what some random child thinks'

With such a unique relationship, Anna and her partners are no strangers to backlash and trolls, and often try to educate people via social media

Anna said they get 'trolled and a lot of abuse in our DMS on the TikTok account' where she shares their 'day-to-day relationship'

Anna's boyfriend Spencer even showed up to their wedding day and had a photoshoot with the bride

Spencer and Anna posed up a storm for many fun snaps on her wedding to Jake, the trio certainly had a lot of fun on their big day

'It's a fun way to tackle the hate, whilst also being informative to people interested or confused by polyamorous relationships.'

Ellie added: 'I'm the happiest when I know less about the hateful comments really.'

Jake said: 'You cannot convince me that people who hate on us are older than 12, and I do not care what some random child thinks. Grow up and speak to me like an adult.'

Despite the backlash they've received, the polycule are thriving, and have the full support from their family and friends.

Anna said: 'All our parents have been really supportive, although they were quite unsure of it all at first, especially the logistics of it all.

'But they can see how happy we are, and how we all support each other.'

For a fun snap Anna, Spencer and Jake all dressed as each other in a hilarious carousel which they shared on social media

Despite the backlash they've received, the polycule are thriving, and have the full support from their family and friends

Anna said all their parents can 'see how happy they are, and how they all support each other no matter what
A woman has revealed how she avoided a viscous catfishing scam and is now in a relationship with the real man whose photos were stolen to create the fake profile used to lure her.

Nicole Hayden, 38, from Fort Lauderdale, Florida first received a message from a man named Marcus on Instagram last year.

At first, their conservations were light-hearted but the mother-of-two soon realised the account was fake and ended the flirtation and things turned sour.

Appearing on This Morning today alongside her now boyfriend Alessandro Cinquini, Nicole explained that it 'started horribly' but is going well now.

Catfishing is the phenomenon of luring someone into a relationship by creating a fictional online persona.

The phrase gained popularity after the 2010 American documentary Catfish and subsequent MTV show.

Nicole Hayden, 38, from Fort Lauderdale, Florida first received a message from a man named Marcus on Instagram last year. But the pictures were of her now boyfriend Alessandro (right)

Nicole was wowed by Alessandro's hunky pictures - but soon realised he was a catfish, before finding love for real

Speaking to hosts Vernon Kay and Josie Gibson via videolink, Nicole explained: 'It didn't start out well.

'It started back in October, I just replied to an Instagram DM and it ended up being a profile that was a catfisher.

'I didn't know straight away it was a catfish. It wasn't until about a week later that I started to catch on. It was when he was getting really hot and heavy and telling me he loved me and wanted to marry me.

'That's when I realised there was something wrong. I started to think it was either at catfish profile or someone wanting things way too fast'.

Marcus also tried to scam Hayden and told her that that his mother was in the hospital and that he needed $6,000 (4,600) for medical expenses.

She realised that the Instagram account was a scam and didn't send money, but he then started to blackmail her and threatened to photoshop nude photos of her and leak them online.

Appearing on This Morning today alongside her now boyfriend Alessandro Cinquini, Nicole explained that it 'started horribly' but is going well now.

The show was hosted today by Josie Gibson (right) and Vernon Kay (left)

He also threatened her children's safety, demanding he send the cash 'or else'.

'After I blocked them on Instagram they found me on WhatsApp. It was about a month later. He started threatening me and my kids on Instagram,' she explained.

'I didn't give him my number, if you looked up my name in Florida you can find my name, address, voter registration number.

'I wasn't too scared, I was thinking he was international but I didn't like it when he used my kids names'.

Still scared by the attempted shakedown, Hayden was trying to move on, when months later she spotted a profile of Alessandro Cinquini, an Italian man based in Florida, - who looked exactly the same as 'Marcus'.

Alessandro, who is originally from Italy, lives in southern Florida, works on yachts and has had his photos stolen several times

'I was sitting at the gas station, pumping gas, just scrolling through Instagram like everyone else does,' she explained.

'It was a different profile picture but I could tell it was him, and when I clicked on it I knew it was his real profile.

'I knew it was him, he had 40,000 followers and he had a highlights section discussing all the fake profiles'.

Alessandro explained it was 'strange' to receive the message from Nicole, as he gets a lot of messages from women, he was initially suspicious.

'She messaged me on a private page I use for fitness,' he explained.

'I asked her "are you real?" her profile was private and I thought, she could be a scam too.

Still scared by the attempted shakedown, Hayden was trying to move on, when months later she spotted a profile of Alessandro Cinquini (pictured), an Italian man based in Florida, - who looked exactly the same as 'Marcus'.

'I asked "can we video call each other?" and here we are now.

'It's the sixth year my photos have been used to target women, I met Nicole and thought let's share this story to send a message to be aware of scammers'.

Nicole admitted it's been 'surreal' and that her friends can't believe she's dating the real Alessandro.

'I knew just by seeing his real profile, even though I was nervous, I felt this sense of calm, I knew everything was going to be okay,' she added.

The couple say they are now taking it 'day by day' and are grateful for their 'modern' 'one of a kind' situation.

'We share the same goals and prospects in life' Alessandro explained.
The Queen of the Netherlands donned another flawless look as she stepped out this morning.

Maxima, 50, attended the Spring conference of the Dutch branch association for financial assistance NVVK - which is also marking its 90th anniversary - in Enschede today.

The mother-of-three donned a crimson wrap dress for the occasion, which she paired with burgundy accessories, including a fedora hat.

The Dutch Queen looked poised in the wrap midi dress which was fitted at the waist with a burgundy belt.

Queen Maxima of the Netherlands, 50, attended the Spring conference of the Dutch branch association for financial assistance NVVK in Enschede today

The Dutch royal looked stylish in a red look, and accessorised with a burgundy belt and a matching hat

The wrapped collar added a touch f fantasy to the streamlined look.

Known for her love of colour-coordinated outfits, Maxima only sported burgundy accessories, matching her clutch leather bag to her heels in a similar hue to the belt's.

She completed the look with a burgundy fedora, which she donned over her blonde locks tied in a neat bun.

Her hairdo revealed a pair of diamond drop earrings which worked well with a silver chain bracelet she was sporting on her wrist.

Crimson on the red carpet! The mother-of-three looked stylish in the midi-dress. She wore a burgundy belt and matching heels

Maxima took part in the celebrations for the the non-profit organisation's 90th anniversary during her visit

She made sure to keep to her tight schedule with her beloved back watch on her left wrist.

The Dutch royal sported a glamourous everyday makeup today, with a golden brown eyeshadow bringing the focus to her hazelnut eyes. Her lashes looked liked velvet thanks to a generous dash of mascara.

Bronzer completed to highlight the 50-year-old Queen's healthy glow and a bright shade of red on her lips brought the look together.

The Dutch Queen waved at the royal fans who had come to greet her this morning. She looked relaxed and happy to be there for the engagement

Maxima accessorised with diamond earrings and a silver bracelet. Her blonde locks were neatly tucked into a bun under her fedora hat

Strutting confidently down the Wilminktheater's red carpet, the mother-of-three waved graciously at royal fans who had come to greet her.

The NVVK is marking its 90th anniversary today. It has been dispensing financial advice and assistance since 1932.

Maxima has rekindled her love of monochromatic outfits in recent weeks. Yesterday, she sported burgundy from head to toe as she and her husband, King Willem-Alexander headed for a concert in Maastricht.

And last week, she stunned in a navy blue ensemble as she and Willem-Alexander visited the Dune and Bulbs region of the Netherlands, where the country's emblematic tulips are grown.
A divorce lawyer has revealed the top five professions that a woman should avoid when looking for a husband - and many people on the internet are surprised by her revelations.

Katherine Leonard from Atlanta, Georgia, has been practicing law for more than a decade now.

Over the years, she said she noticed a trend in what the men that her clients were divorcing do for work, and she decided to use her expertise to warn other women.

According to Katherine, ladies who are on the hunt for a potential suitor shouldn't marry men who have jobs that make them feel like 'gods' - like a police officer, surgeon, or military personnel - because those guys 'tend to be more narcissistic.'

She shared her advice to TikTok, and the video quickly went viral - gaining more than 1.5 million views in a matter of days and sparking a major debate between commenters.

A divorce lawyer has revealed the top five professions that a woman should avoid when looking for a husband - and many people on the internet are surprised by her revelations

According to attorney Katherine Leonard, ladies shouldn't marry men who have jobs that make them feel like 'gods' - like a police officer, surgeon, fireman, surgeon, or military personnel

Jobs women should avoid when looking for a husband, according to a divorce lawyer Police officer, surgeon, fireman, pilot, and military personnel

According to divorce lawyer Katherine Leonard, women shouldn't marry men who have jobs that make them feel like 'gods'

The attorney claimed that guys in those professions 'tend to be more narcissistic' because they're used to having authority and being in charge

Katherine said that military personnel are treated with 'a tremendous amount of respect' and 'have a lot of responsibility' which can make them controlling

She also pointed out that it's hard for men to transition from being in a power position to coming home to 'someone asking you to take out the trash' Advertisement

'When I first started practicing law 13 years ago, a woman attorney gave me a statistic about the professions of men that women should avoid marrying,' the attorney began in the clip.

'I thought, that's a really random thing to think about [and I wondered] how would you even get that kind of statistic? But it stuck in my head.

'Over the course of my career, I've watched my most difficult cases and shockingly, many of them involve men in these professions.'

Katherine said she wanted to 'be really clear' that not all men in these professions are bad, stating that she is 'generally speaking' from things 'she's observed' over her years as a lawyer.

She added: 'If you're married to someone in these professions, it doesn't mean it's your doom to failure or that your husband is a bad person - I'm sure there's outliers to any statistic.

'This is just for fun, it's something generally speaking that I've observed as being pretty common.'

Katherine claimed that the top five jobs that women should avoid in men when getting married are: fireman, police officer, military, surgeon, and pilot.

'What I noticed about these five professions is they tend to be more narcissistic and they tend to be more controlling,' she continued.

'They tend to be far more difficult when dealing with a divorce. They have kind of a nuke the Earth, how dare you challenge me, type of approach to litigation.

'The men in these professions, they're Gods in these professions. If you're a police man, you're walking around with a gun, you're walking around with authority.

Katherine claimed that lawyers didn't make the list because 'lawyers are too general of a category to just categorically say "Don't marry lawyers"'

Katherine also spilled on the job she thought men should avoid - claiming that the top profession she's seen in her divorce cases with women is a stay-at-home mom

'If you're a surgeon, you're walking around the hospital and everyone looks up to you, you're in charge, everyone treats you with respect.

'You come home and someone's asking you to take out the trash, I think that's kind of a difficult transition to make.'

Katherine pointed out that people in the military are often 'in control of 150-200 people's lives at a time.'

'They are treated with a tremendous amount of respect and they have a lot of responsibility. They tend to be very narcissistic and very controlling,' she explained, adding, 'I'm sure there are great ones in these professions it just tends to be a theme that I see.'

Many people agreed with Katherine's assertions and took to the comment section to back her up, sharing their own nightmare stories from dating people in those professions.

'I've dated two firefighters and when I say never again... Never again,' wrote one person.

'All the pilots that my friends dated cheated,' a different user added person.

Another revealed: 'Divorced a surgeon and confirm this is true.'

'My brother was a fireman and was married and divorced five times,' said someone else.

She said stay-at-home moms 'tend to focus so much' on their kids while their husbands are focused on working, which leads to them feeling like they're not 'appreciated by one another'

'My dad is a world class surgeon in his specialty and dragged my mom through a 12-year divorce so this is spot on,' agreed another viewer.

'Been married to an MD. He sold me a fantasy and delivered a complete nightmare,' read another comment.

Others shared some more jobs that they thought were 'red flags,' with one person asking, 'Can we add finance/financial advisor to the list? Controls the money, lots of financial abuse.'

'I would add personal trainers lol,' added another user.

'Athletes!' read a different comment. 'They are especially bad once their sport career is over.'

'Don't forget lawyers and chefs,' someone else commented.

'I'm shocked professional athletes and actors/musicians aren't on there lol,' said another TikToker. 'Some of the most narcissistic men I've met.'

Some people, on the other hand, commented with the professions that they thought were good for potential husbands.

'Ladies, get yourself a construction worker. Low maintenance, doesn't mind to do laundry, and builds the desk as a hobby,' wrote one person.

Many people agreed with Katherine's assertions and took to the comment section to back her up, sharing their own nightmare stories from dating people in those professions

Others shared some more jobs that they thought were 'red flags' like athletes, financial advisors, and chefs

'Girl, if you're wondering what profession has the best men... Engineers. They're always the sweetest,' added another.

Someone else said: 'Girls get y'all a farmer, 10/10.'

'My husband is great and he's a teacher,' gushed a different user. 'Caring for kids, organized, does everything.'

'Y'all want a good man?' asked someone else. 'Find a funeral director. Very empathetic and a great sense of humor.'

In a follow-up video, Katherine explained why lawyers didn't make the list.

'First of all, lawyers are too general of a category to just categorically say, "Don't marry lawyers,"' she said.

'There's definitely some bad ones and definitely some good ones. ... But generally speaking, lawyers know how bad litigation is.

'Lawyers do it for a living, we're not the ones spending 100 or 80 grand to get divorced because we're trying to look for the fastest route to get it over with, so that's why lawyers aren't on the list.'

Some people, on the other hand, commented with the professions that they thought were good for potential husbands

In one more TikTok, which has racked up more than three million views, Katherine spilled on the job that she thought men should avoid when looking for a woman.

She claimed that the number one profession that she has seen throughout her divorce cases in women is a stay-at-home mom.

'When you're divorcing a stay-at-home mom, they are paralyzed with fear - and rightfully so - because their whole life is going to change,' she said in the viral video.

'They're going to have to go back to the work force, they're going to have to possibly move, their finances are going to be very different.

'There's lots of things that they don't know, financially, about what's going on so they tend to stick their head in the sand and stall.

'So the cases become very contested and very expensive.'

She added that stay-at-home moms 'tend to focus so much' on their kids while their husbands are focused on their careers, which can lead to them both feeling like they're not 'appreciated by one another.'

'The husband starts feeling like an ATM and the wife becomes completely focused on the children and they tend to grow apart,' she said. 'That's not hate, just an observation.'
Xi inspects Wuzhishan in Hainan

Xinhua) 15:23, April 12, 2022

HAIKOU, April 12 (Xinhua) -- Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, on Monday inspected the city of Wuzhishan in Hainan Province.

Xi visited a section of a tropical rainforest national park and a village to learn about efforts to protect the environment and biodiversity, as well as the alignment of rural revitalization with the achievements in poverty alleviation.

(Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun)
Juan Carlos Salazar, secretary general of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) speaks during the 2022 ICAO Legal Seminar in Seoul, April 12. Yonhap



The head of the United Nation's civil aviation agency urged North Korea on Tuesday to make prior notifications on its missile launches, saying Pyongyang's unannounced missile tests would pose a risk to international civil aviation.



Tensions have recently escalated on the Korean Peninsula as North Korea fired its first intercontinental ballistic missile last month since November 2017.



The latest launch ended North Korea's self-imposed moratorium on long-range missile testing in 2018 and came after a series of shorter-missile launches in recent months.



"Every time that North Korea is conducting these unexpected tests, one of the first concerns we have is precisely the risk that is posed to international civil aviation," Juan Carlos Salazar, secretary general of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), said in an interview with Yonhap News Agency in Seoul.



"ICAO member states, including North Korea, are expected to notify all other member states and adjacent countries of any activity or incident arising from their territory, which may pose a risk to nearby civil aviation and operations," he said.



The agency sent "a formal letter to North Korea expressing our concerns whenever the situation arises," though ICAO does not have regular communication channels with the North amid restrictions in engagement with the communist country over international sanctions, the secretary general said.



North Korea is one of the agency's 193 member nations.



As for North Korea's proposal in 2018 of opening new flight routes between its capital city of Pyongyang and South Korea's western city of Incheon, the chief expressed support, though he said it is more of a bilateral matter between the two Koreas.



"The preamble of the Chicago Convention says that the international air connectivity fosters peace and exchange among member nations," Salazar said.



"If such an agreement is made between South Korea and North Korea, of course, ICAO will welcome that. And of course, ICAO will be ready to support any decision that the two states made in that regard," he added.



Speaking of Russia's recent ban on airlines from dozens of European and other nations, the ICAO chief said his agency has been "communicating" with nations concerned to remind them of their commitments to making "safe and secure international air travel over that territory or between those territories."



Russia prohibited airlines from 36 nations, including 27 European Union nations, in response to sanctions imposed on the country for its invasion of Ukraine.



Salazar is in Seoul to attend the 2022 Legal Seminar that kicked off in Seoul on the day for a three-day run, where hundreds of participants discuss ways of ensuring the safe recovery of the global aviation sector in the post-pandemic era.



"Since I was appointed secretary general of the ICAO last year, I have made my key priority to support the sector's pandemic recovery and reconnect the world while keeping vigilant on our long-term strategies to support the development of safe, secure and sustainable air transport," he said. (Yonhap)


While the last few years has seen various X-rated dramas streamed into our living rooms via Netflix, a racy new Swedish drama film is set to hit the big screen this summer and could be the most shocking film of the year.

Pleasure, which is set to be released cinemas in the UK this June, follows a young woman who moves from her small Swedish town to Los Angeles to become a porn star.

The movie sees protagonist Bella agree to filming increasingly extreme material including anal sex and bondage in order to make a name for herself in LA's porn industry.

The erotic drama features full-blown sex scenes, threesomes and BDSM, as well as various disturbing scenes in which porn stars act out rape or are harassed and degraded by fellow actors.

Directed by Ninja Thyberg, Pleasure stars burgeoning actress Sofia Kappel in her debut role.

Much of the rest of the cast is made up of real-life adult film stars and industry figures, including American pornographic talent agent Mark Spiegler.

Pleasure, which is set to be released cinemas in the UK this June, follows a young woman who moves from her small Swedish town to Los Angeles to become a porn star

The movie follows 20-year-old Linnea who is working as an adult star under the stage name 'Bella Cherry' in Sweden and decides to move to LA to become the next big porn actress.

After finding a manager she begins to land bigger roles with increasingly extreme content including BDSM scenes as she attempts to build her brand as a porn star.

Keen to push herself further into the spotlight, Bella requests harder material from her manager - who ropes her into a film which features multiple men degrading her and depicting rape scenes.

Her co-stars grow tired of Bella as she struggles to film and after the film company refuse to pay her, she fires her manager and begins working independently.

Directed by Ninja Thyberg, pleasure stars burgeoning actress Sofia Kappel (pictured) and features nudity and full frontal sex scenes

The movie sees protagonist Bella agree to filming increasingly extreme material including anal sex and bondage in order to make a name for herself in LA's porn industry

In a bid to catch the attention of a well-known porn agent who only accepts actresses willing to do extreme sex scenes, Bella participates in a threesome which includes 'double anal penetration'.

After boosting her following with the film Bella is hired by the agent and enlists one of her friends, Joy, to film with her in an extreme pornographic movie -

However Bella soon falls out with her friend after not speaking out against their male co-star, who was harassing Joy off camera.

Soon she partners up with, Ava, one of the biggest names in the local porn scene, who humiliates her by refusing to perform oral sex on her, alleging Bella has a yeast infection.

It's decided Bella will penetrate Ava with a sex toy and the actress - but the protagonist finds herself acting violently and aggressively towards her co-star.

The movie follows Bella as she lands increasingly extreme content including BDSM scenes as she attempts to build her brand as a porn star

Keen to push herself further into the spotlight, Bella requests harder material from her manager - who ropes her into a film which multiple men degrading her and depicting rape scenes

After Ava begs her to stop, she quickly forgets about the whole situation and attends a party with Bella, where she runs into her old friends who no longer speak to her because of how she treated Joy.

The film ends with Bella abruptly leaving the car on the way home from the party, with viewers left intentionally unsure of her plans for the future.

Pleasure was selected for the 2020 Cannes Film Festival before premiering at the 2021 Sundance Film Festival last February and is based on Thyberg's 2013 short of the same name.

In an interview with Variety, Thyberg explained she had been fascinated with the subject of pornography for a long time before shooting the movie.

The movie follows 20-year-old Linnea who is working as an adult star under the stage name 'Bella Cherry' in Sweden and decides to move to LA to become the next big porn actress

'I am interested in gender roles, media images and different stereotypes. Its very easy to find them in porn', she said.

'They are very extreme in a lot of porn. And Im interested in how media images shape our identities.'

She explained that after making the short film in 2013, she spent several years researching porn from the inside - emerging herself in the industry as much as she could without filming adult material herself.

'I didnt do any porn myself, but I came as close to Bella as I possibly could', she said.
Viola Davis says that it was stressful playing former first lady Michelle Obama, 58, in Showtime's new series The First Lady  because high expectations come with portraying a person that is beloved by so many.

Davis, 56, took on the role in the ten-part series, which she also produced, but she admits now that she is relieved the production is finish.

'I'm glad it's over!' she said on Monday night's Jimmy Kimmel Live. 'I mean, the stress. Because everybody likes  loves  Michelle Obama. They know what she sounds like, they know what she looks like.

'And I'm like, "I don't want Michelle Obama calling me, cussing me out."'

Viola Davis says that it was stressful playing former first lady Michelle Obama in Showtime's new series The First Lady

Davis (left), 56, took on the role in the ten-part series, which she also produced, but she admits now that she is relieved the production is finished

'I'm glad it's over!' she said on Monday night's Jimmy Kimmel Live. 'I mean, the stress. Because everybody likes - loves - Michelle Obama'

The First Lady premieres Sunday, but Kimmel and his wife already got a sneak peak  and he sang Davis' praises on his show.

'That's crazy how good you are at this,' he told her. 'It's not just the voice you have down, it's [also] the walking? It's crazy how much you became Michelle Obama,' Jimmy Kimmel said.

The series also stars Michelle Pfeiffer as Betty Ford and Gillian Anderson plays Eleanor Roosevelet, but Kimmel noted that Davis had the biggest challenge because she's playing someone who is still alive.

'It may seem like you're giving me a compliment, but you're just rising my anxiety level. That's all you're doing right now,' she said.

In fact, she was incredulous at the suggestion that she had reached out to the former first lady about the role or sent her screeners.

'They know what she sounds like, they know what she looks like,' the actress (left) said of viewers' expectations

'I am hiding from Michelle. I'm hiding. I'm hiding in my house,' Davis (seen recreating a portrait of the former first lady) said

'I am hiding from Michelle. I'm hiding. I'm hiding in my house,' she said. 'I'm not sending her nothing.'

Davis  who has won as won an Academy Award, a British Academy Film Award, a Golden Globe Award, three Critics' Choice Movie Awards, and four Screen Actors Guild Awards  seems anxious that the former first lady might not like something about her performance.

'That's the kind of thing where you have to prostate yourself on the floor and just go, "OK, Michelle, I messed up,"' she said.

While Davis didn't speak to Obama during or after the making of the series, she has spoken her before  but she told Deadline she's keeping most of the contents of their conversation private.

'Whats dramatic about Michelle Obama? Ill tell you whats dramatic. She is a Black woman and the first Black woman in the White House built by slaves, someone who literally was perceived to be overly masculine, not feminine, angry, hostile, and I will share one thing that she said to me,' she said.

Davis (pictured in the show) didn't speak to Obama during or after the making of the series, but she has spoken her before

The series also stars Michelle Pfeiffer as Betty Ford

Gillian Anderson plays Eleanor Roosevelt (pictured). The series premieres on Sunday

'She said, "Im not even an angry person." Isnt that something? Listen, I am sort of an angry person, but shes not. And so what I wanted to do was honor her and not the perception of what Black women are supposed to be.'

Davis' Obama does have some emotional moments in the series, and Davis said they employed artistic license  like when Michelle uses the n-word in a conversation with her husband about racist attacks.

'We use creative license because we all know that Michelle Obama is someone who does not like politics, the viciousness of it,' she said.

'And so it was an imagined conversation. And I did push for those words to be used because I know that those are the words that Black people use in private. We do. We use those words in private, especially to drive something home, and Michelle Obama is from the South Side of Chicago.

'So I felt it was imagined but I felt good about it being something that could have happened.'
A YouTube-famous family with more than 13 million subscribers has prompted fury after comparing abortion to the Holocaust a new 'tone-deaf' documentary released on their popular channel.

Cole, 25, and Savannah LaBrant, 29 - a married couple who run the YouTube channel The LaBrant Fam - are facing furious backlash over a new 'pro-love documentary' video in which they compared the number of people who have had abortions to the number of people who were tragically killed during the Holocaust.

Titled 'Abortion. (Documentary),' the 38-minute video - which was uploaded on April 9 and has been viewed more than two million times - showed them talking to doctors, professionals, and activists about what they called the 'most deadly killer' in the world - abortion.

Cole and Savannah, who have become well-known for sharing family-friendly videos of their daily lives alongside their three kids, claimed that they weren't 'pro-life' or 'pro-choice' in the new video, but insisted they were 'pro-love' instead.

In California - the state in which the LaBrant family lives - abortion is currently legal up to 16 weeks after the start of a woman's last menstrual period. The abortion pill is offered up to ten weeks after the start of a woman's last menstrual period.

The YouTube-famous LaBrant family is facing severe backlash for comparing abortion to the Holocaust a new 'tone-deaf' documentary

Cole, 25, and Savannah LaBrant, 29, shared a video in which they contrasted the amount of people who have gotten abortions to the amount of people who died during the Holocaust

About one-minute into the video, the death counts from various genocides throughout history popped up on the screen as Cole discussed abortion

It then showed the death toll from the Holocaust, which is believed to be around 11 million people, before cutting to the amount of abortions that have taken place in the U.S.

The video claimed that more than 61 million people have gotten abortions in America since it was first legalized in 1973, but didn't state where the data came from

However the pair faced bitter criticism when they implied that abortion was worse than the Holocaust in the so-called documentary.

About one-minute into the video, the death counts from various genocides throughout history popped up on the screen as Cole, who wed Savannah after she had her first child, daughter Everleigh, at age 19, discussed abortion.

It listed the 1994 Rwandan genocide - which left 800,000 people dead - and the 1975-1979 Cambodian genocide - which saw 3,000,000 deaths, according to the video.

It then showed the death toll from the Holocaust, which is believed to be around 11 million people, before it cut to the amount of abortions that have taken place in the U.S. - seemingly comparing the two figures.

The video claimed that more than 61 million people have undergone abortions in America since it was first legalized in 1973, however the couple didn't state where the data came from.

Many people furiously criticized the LaBrant family for collating the tragedy to abortion, and they took to social media to share their dismay.

The YouTube stars claimed that they weren't 'pro-life' or 'pro-choice' in the new video, but insisted they were 'pro-love' instead

Titled 'Abortion. (Documentary),' the 38-minute video shows them talking to doctors and activists about what they called the 'most deadly killer', referring to abortion

'There's no way the LaBrant family is comparing abortion to the Holocaust,' wrote one shocked viewer.

Another added: 'In what world did The LaBrant fam think it was OK to compare abortion and the Holocaust?'

'Im sorry did the LaBrant fam really put out a pro life video that compared abortion to the Holocaust? It really doesnt get much more tone deaf than that,' said someone else.

A fourth user tweeted: 'The LaBrant family is entitled to their own opinion on abortion, but you CANNOT compare abortion to the f**king Holocaust.

'Its even more sickening that most of their viewers/fan base are literal CHILDREN.'

'What the f**k is wrong with yall?' asked a different user, while another tweet read, 'The LaBrant family is f**king disgusting, the fact that they compared abortion to the holocaust is a absolutely obscene.'

'The LaBrant family is so - the Holocaust and abortion are two completely different and incomparable things. Literally WTF,' said another viewer.

Others wrote that they were 'stunned' and called it 'absolutely mortifying,' with one user urging them to 'do better.'

Viewers were quick to blast the couple over the video - with some calling them out for criticizing abortion while living an incredibly privileged lifestyle

In response to the scrutiny, Savannah spoke out on Twitter, insisting that they 'didn't mean it in a hurtful way.'

'We didnt mean it in a hurtful way or anything. I do understand nothing should be compared to something like the Holocaust,' she wrote.

'I didnt go through to edit the video, Cole edits most of our videos that are uploaded. I do apologize for any hurtful things the video has done.

'The uploading of this video was to show how we plan to help anyone going through something or thinking of an abortion and to show our view.'

She added: 'I totally do agree with you on it being presented in another way. As a mom, Im still learning from things and I do hope to learn from this on future documentaries we do.'

According to the World Health Organization, six out of 10 of all unintended pregnancies end in abortion, and around 73 million induced abortions take place worldwide each year.

The family faced fury on Twitter from horrified viewers, with some branding the documentary 'vile' and 'mortifying'

In the video, Cole and Savannah insisted that 'all ad revenue made from the video will be directly donated to local pregnancy centers.'

'Abortion has been arguably the most polarizing, heated, and controversial civil rights issue since 1973, when abortion was legalized in the U.S.,' Cole said during the doc.

'There is so much passion on either side of the topic and there seems to be no middle ground and no humane conversations.

'So much anger and so much hate. In the midst of it all, we truly believe that love is the answer.

'Instead of pro-life or pro-choice, is it possible for us to be pro-love? Is it possible for us to love the mother and the baby? Maybe the answer isn't either or, but rather, both.'

He explained that they wanted to find a way to make a real 'difference' instead of adding 'more noise' to an 'already deafening discussion.'

In response to the scrutiny, Savannah spoke out on Twitter, insisting that they 'didn't mean it in a hurtful way'

Savannah was only 19 when she got pregnant with her first daughter, Everleigh

She and Cole have since welcomed another daughter named Posie together in 2018 and a son named Zealand together in 2020

'If one baby is saved from this - if one mom chooses to keep her baby from it it's all worth it,' he continued.

'This documentary is by no means trying to illegalize abortion, after this documentary you're still going to have a choice.'

Savannah explained that she was only 19 when she got pregnant with her first daughter, Everleigh.

She and Cole have since welcomed another daughter named Posie together in 2018 and a son named Zealand together in 2020. They are currently expecting their fourth child.

'I remember just being so scared. I didn't know what I was going to do,' she recalled of getting pregnant at such a young age.

'I was actually in college and I was too scared to tell my family, I was too scared to tell my friends.

The couple, who has racked up more than 13 million subscribers on their joint channel called The LaBrant Fam, are currently expecting their fourth child

The pair claimed that the documentary is not 'trying to illegalize abortion,' with Cole adding that 'if one baby is saved from this it it's all worth it'

'It was just a lot for me to take in being so young. I remember being so terrified of what the future would look like, what my life was going to look like.

However, she added that having the baby was so 'worth it' in the end.

It turns out, this isn't the first time that the pair has sparked fury from their viewers. Back in 2019, they were slammed after they played a cruel prank on their then-six-year-old daughter Everleigh - pretending that they were giving their dog away and leaving her in tears.

In honor of April Fools' Day, the couple posted a video titled 'We Have to Give Our Puppy Away... Saying Goodbye Forever.'

The 14-minute clip appeared to be a typical vlog up until the halfway point, when the camera panned to Everleigh lying face down on the couch, sobbing.

As the little girl broke down, her parents told the camera that they were getting rid of their dog Carl because they 'can't take good enough care of him.'

After a few minutes of torture, the couple told Everleigh that it was all a prank, but she was not amused - bursting into tears again.

'Too far?' Cole then asked the camera.

This isn't the first time that the pair has sparked fury from their viewers. Back in 2019, they were slammed after they played a cruel prank on their then-six-year-old daughter Everleigh

The couple pretended that they were giving their dog away, and the trick left Everleigh in tears

After a few minutes of torture, the couple told Everleigh that it was all a prank, but she was not amused - bursting into tears again. 'Too far?' Cole then asked the camera

One year before that, they were slammed after they were caught pretending to be forced to evacuate their home during the California wildfires

The backlash from viewers was so fierce that they ended up disabling the comments on the video.

One year before that, they were slammed after they were caught pretending to be forced to evacuate their home during the California wildfires - which left thousands of people with no where to live.

The video began with Cole talking to his viewers, telling them there was a 'huge fire' right by the couple's house and that they 'might need to evacuate.'

Later, it showed Cole and Savannah all packed up with their necessities, before they went to pick up Everleigh from her grandmother's house.

They told Everleigh in the vlog that they were going 'far, far away' from the fire and that she didn't have to be scared anymore.

However, when neighbors claimed that their community was never told they had to leave their homes, many people were outraged.

There were also no mandatory evacuations listed for Ladera Ranch - where the LaBrants lived - on the National Wildfire Coordinating Group website.

'I just think it's really sad they would exploit a situation that's as serious as a fire that so many people were evacuated from, just so they could get more likes or more hits on their channel,' a neighbor told Fox 11 at the time.
My Unorthodox Life star Julia Haart has admitted that she had sex at the Trevi Fountain while surrounded by 'throngs' of tourists, as she opened up about escaping her sheltered Jewish upbringing that forced her to 'recite Psalms' during intercourse.

Designer and entrepreneur Haart, now 50, starred in the popular Netflix series last year, which focused on her rise in the fashion industry after she left her strict religious household at age 42.

Now, Haart - who is currently embroiled in a nasty divorce from her second husband and Elite World Group CEO, Silvio Scaglia - has shared more intimate details on her journey through her newly released memoir, Brazen, which hit stands on Tuesday.

In the book, Haart, who is the co-owner and former CEO of Elite World Group, revealed that she and her ex-boyfriend once had sex in public at a popular tourist spot.

Haart said that she and her boyfriend at the time, whom she named only as Lucas, were visiting Italy for a business trip in 2014.

The two were doing some sight seeing and stopped by the Trevi Fountain in Rome when he suddenly 'reached under her skirt.'

My Unorthodox Life star Julia Haart admitted that she had sex at the Trevi Fountain while surrounded by tourists

Haart, 50, opened up about escaping her sheltered Jewish upbringing in her newly released memoir, Brazen, which hit stands on Tuesday

In the book, Haart revealed she and an ex-boyfriend named Lucas once had sex in public at the Trevi Fountain in Rome, Italy, as 'throngs of people' stood by (stock photo)

'Throngs of people surround the fountain,' she wrote in the book, according to Page Six. 'Then I felt his hand reaching under my miniskirt, and before I knew what was happening, he was inside me!

'I had never been so shocked in my life I tried to be quiet so as not to give us away. It was crazy.'

She added that after they both climaxed he lowered her skirt.

'We looked at each other, delighted. It had been a mad, crazy thing to do,' she continued.

Haart went on to launch her own namesake shoe collection and became the creative director at Italian luxury house La Perla after she decided to leave her Haredi community - where 'women were to be rarely seen and never heard' in 2013 - after 42 years.

She was born in Moscow, Russia, and emigrated to the U.S. with her parents at the age of three.

When she was 11, they settled in Monsey, a suburb 35 miles north of New York City with the largest population of Hasidic Jews in the U.S. outside of New York City, with nearly half of households speaking Yiddish or Hebrew.

'We lived in the 1800s,' she previously told the Los Angeles Times of her Yeshivish background, explaining that modesty for women was paramount and access to outside information via television, radio, or even newspapers was was hard to come by.

She also described a sexist worldview wherein men studied the Torah but women did not 'because her mind wasn't capable of grasping it.'

Haart starred in the popular Netflix series last year, which focused on her rise in the fashion industry after she left her strict religious household at age 42

She decided to leave her Haredi community, where 'women were to be rarely seen and never heard,' back in 2013 - after 42 years. She is pictured with a sibling during her childhood

While discussing her childhood, Haart said modesty for women was paramount and access to outside information via television, radio, or even newspapers was was hard to come by

She explained: 'I was told, "Womens minds are light"  "nashim da'atan kalos." Where I lived, women were to be rarely seen and never heard.

'Our lives were governed by a web of modesty laws that required us to not only cover our bodies head-to-toe, but to behave comparatively, as well. You grow up thinking you dont matter at all.'

But Haart's interests always pushed beyond the limits of what was deemed acceptable.

She read a lot - from classic literature to fashion magazines she had to sneak from a nearby 7-Eleven.

In her book, Haart wrote that she 'spent the first 42 years of my life in utter misery,' but admitted to The Times in a new interview that she purposely 'downplayed' the 'extent of her misery' in it.

'I didnt want to be a victim, right? I didnt want people to feel sorry for me,' she told them, while discussing the memoir.

At age 16, she taught herself to sew, and would make her own modest versions of the clothes she saw in those magazines.

Haart got married at the age of 19 to a man named Yosef Hendler, and she wrote in her book that she had only met him a handful of times before their wedding.

In her memoir, the entrepreneur and businesswoman explained that she and her husband struggled to have sex at first, and it wasn't until their doctor introduced them to lubricant that they were able to.

She wrote that she longed to 'be kissed and explored, and wanted to do her own exploring,' on their wedding day, when they were finally allowed to touch each other. But it didn't go as planned.

'I wanted to touch every part of [Hendlers] unfamiliar body. But he was horrified He assumed I would be shy and quiet, and that I would lie still and let him do his thing,' she wrote.

Haart got married at the age of 19 to a man named Yosef Hendler, and she wrote in her book that she had only met him a handful of times before their wedding

She wrote that she longed to 'be kissed and explored' on their wedding day, when they were finally allowed to touch each other - but her new husband was 'horrified'

'Instead of praising his lucky stars that he had such an uninhibited wife, he chastised me and looked so uncomfortable and disgusted with my blatantly un-tznius behavior that I stopped what I was doing and lay still so he could enter me.'

She added she nor Hendler 'knew what an orgasm meant' for most of their marriage.

'I had my very first orgasm when I was in my thirties, and it was with a Rabbit vibrator and had nothing to do with my husband,' she continued.

But she insisted that she didn't blame her former husband for not making her feel good, adding that they were both doing what they had been taught.

It took her years to get out - secretly selling insurance to save up enough money to finally break free in 2012. She is pictured in 2017

'We both thought we had a duty, and that to do it any other way was to harm our childrens souls and their very lives,' she explained.

Together, they had four children - Batsheva, Miriam, Shlomo, and Aron - and they were raised with the same religious upbringing.

As time went on, Haart grew more and more depressed, and she even began to think of ways she could kill herself.

'The day came when I couldnt take it anymore. I couldnt stay for one more second,' she previously told the New York Post.

'Youre trapped in a life thats not yours. So it was stay and die, or walk out the door.'

She ultimately decided that starving herself was the best way to go because people would assume it was unintentional, an eating disorder  so her children wouldn't carry the shame of their mother's suicide. At just over five feet tall, she got down to 73 pounds.

But seeing her daughter Miriam face the same struggles to conform as she did made her realize it was time to leave instead.

It took her years to get out - secretly selling insurance to save up enough money to finally break free in 2012.

By 2013, she was already launching her own shoe line after finding investors 'in the craziest places,' including on a plane and in an eye doctors office.

'It genuinely didn't occur to me that I would fail, because I was so f**king ignorant,' she said in her show.

She didn't fail, though, and ultimately landed a collaboration with La Perla. By 2016, she was the brand's creative director.

'43 years of my life have been stolen from me. I don't have time,' she added.

She is currently embroiled in a nasty divorce battle with her second husband -Elite World Group CEO Silvio Scaglia. They are pictured together in 2017

Haart filed for divorce in February after Scaglia, 63, fired her from Elite World Group. In a court filing obtained by DailyMail.com, Haart then hit back against her 'wrongful' termination

When asked how her sex life improved after leaving the religion, Haart responded by asking the Times, 'When you dont have to recite songs when you are entered, you mean?'

Elsewhere in her memoir, Haart recalled a time where she believed she was date-raped, after attending a luxurious fashion party during Paris Fashion Week.

She said she met a 'beautiful man' during the get together, but was confused when she woke up hours later feeling 'lost and woozy.'

She didn't remember much of the night - other than him being 'inside of her' - and at first, she blamed herself for drinking too much.

But then, after talking to a friend about the incident months later, she came to believed that she had been date-raped.

'I started to trust my instincts and my inner voice,' she added.

In 2017, Haart designed Met Gala dresses for Kendall Jenner and Mary J. Blige, whom she accompanied to the A-list event.

As creative director, her designs were also worn by stars like Naomi Campbell, Anna Kendrick, Lily Collins, Lea Michele, Laure Dern, Padma Lakshmi, and Kourtney Kardashian.

Now, Haart wants to use her story to make a difference in other women's lives who may be going through something similar.

'I feel pain sometimes, when people say that I shouldnt have left the life I lived, or that the life back there is normal, or that our education is good. It feels like being raped all over again,' she admitted to the Times.

'Theres so many times where I say, "Why do I do this to myself? I could have such a comfortable life! I could lunch all day and travel and party."

'But whats the point of everything Ive been through if that doesnt help other people? I know that sounds corny, but its what I want.

'And I dont know how to shut up. I couldnt shut up there [in Monsey] and I cant shut up here.

On the rise: After leaving her religious upbringing behind, she launched her own shoe line and eventually became creative director at La Perla, where she dressed stars like Kendall Jenner

Haart has become a big name in the fashion world and in 2017, she designed Met Gala dresses for Jenner and Mary J. Blige. She is pictured with Met Gala chair Anna Wintour

She has four children with Hendler - two daughters named Batsheva (left) and Miriam (right), and two sons named Shlomo and Aron

Her son Shlomo (left), now 26, is a law school student and her youngest son Aaron (right), now 16, still attends high school while dividing time between his parents' homes

'And yes, it makes my life a lot more complicated, it opens me up to attacks and a lot of pain When you fight fundamentalism, fundamentalism fights back. But if I dont do it, then nobody does it.

'I want to be able to go to my grave knowing that there are thousands, or tens of thousands, of women whose lives Ive made better.

'And that, to me, makes all the rest worth it. Ive had two women say they were planning to take their own lives and chose not to after watching the show.

'I have women coming over to me in restaurants and at Fashion Week saying, "I left my husband because of your show," or "I started my business because of your show."

'Forget everything else, the show was really worth it, to save two human beings lives.'

Haart doesn't include much on her second husband, Scaglia, in the book, however, she did recall the moment they first met.

'He looked so ominous sitting there, and I already thought he was an a**hole,' she wrote.

Haart filed for divorce in February, just hours after Scaglia, 63, fired her from her position as CEO at Elite World Group.

In a court filing obtained by DailyMail.com, Haart hit back against her 'wrongful' termination, claiming Scaglia called her the 'best CEO they had ever had' multiple times and asserting that she never even took a salary from EWG.

Haart then filed a temporary restraining order against her tech entrepreneur husband, whom she claimed engaged in 'bullying behavior' against her during their marriage.

'He has become increasingly volatile, abusive, and unhinged over the past several weeks,' she claimed in the restraining order documents.

Scaglia accused Haart of 'illegally' withdrawing $850,000 from the company account, while she claimed he 'withdrew millions to invest in SHS Asset Management and fund his lavish lifestyle.'

Haart originally met Scaglia in 2016 while she working for La Perla, which he had acquired in 2013.

'Its not the first time in my life that Ive had to fight for my freedom, and I never failed before. So this is no different,' she told the Times, while discussing the lawsuit.

'Its just, to me, its another step in my journey of when men try to put women down and take everything that weve done to their own advantage.

Haart's daughter Batsheva (pictured), now 28, is now an FIT graduate and popular TikTokker . As for Miriam, now 22, she is now an app designer

'So this is my life and its not fun, but I have to find a way, again, to grow and proclaim my freedom.'

On February 2, Haart announced that filming had commenced for season two of her Netflix reality series, which will no doubt detail the divorce.

Haart's daughter Batsheva, now 28, is now an FIT graduate and popular TikTokker with millions of followers.

As for Miriam, now 22, she is now an app designer who came out as bisexual in the series, with her mom's full support.

Meanwhile, her son Shlomo, now 26, is a law school student and her youngest son Aaron, now 16, still attends high school while dividing time between his parents' homes.

Haart said she has a friendly relationship with Hendler, but is estranged from most of her siblings.

As for her love life, she told the Times that she isn't dating anyone at the moment, but added: 'I love love. I love giving love. I love being in a relationship. I love sex.'

She continued, 'To be honest with you, I am scared s**tless. I dont know how to date. Ive never dated. Ive never been on a dating app. I have terrible taste in men. Disastrous.'
Orange is the new black. Orange is also the new beige and the new grey. In other words, orange is the antidote to every fashion choice that is safe, predictable or downright gloomy.

Right now, orange feels not so much a style option as a necessity.

With the world around us in darkness  from the abominable war being raged against Ukraine, to doomsday predictions about our planet and almost the whole of the UK currently plagued by Covid  women are enlisting fashion to bring in the light.

From the Duchess of Cambridge in delightful pops of orange during her tour of Jamaica, to the divinely ditsy Emily In Paris, aka Lily Collins, sporting a citrus-sharp double-breasted suit, royalty and celebrities alike are cheering us all up with the jolliest colour of them all.

Pictured: Karlie Kloss and The Duchess of Cambridge in orange outfits

Take Jenna Coleman, resplendent at the Baftas in burnt orange; Juliette Binoche, a tangerine dream at the Berlin Film Festival, or Strictly star AJ Odudu in a marmalade mini-dress at the Beauty Awards last month. One thing is clear  fashion has been Tango-ed. The rallying cry is this: Your Country Needs You. And what it needs you to do is inject us all with some joy.

For a colour, orange has a lot of clout. One recent study found it was associated with feelings of playfulness and vibrancy.

It's certainly attention-grabbing, and what better way to grab some long-overdue attention after the tiresome business of Covid isolation as we boldly step out once more into the world?

Orange has the ability to improve our mood and, like a 1,000 mg boost of vitamin C, orange can both energise and vitalise us. Too many of us subscribe to the myth that orange is difficult to wear. Not if you're brunette, it's not. Or if you have olive skin or are a woman of colour, where rich skin tones are flattered by vibrant shades.

Pictured: Starlets pose in different shades of orange around the world

But even the fair-skinned can look lovely in orange. Just think of Lord Leighton's iconic painting Flaming June, the warmth of colour oozing from the sheer dress that envelops the pale sleeping woman a celebration of heady summer days.

And if all-over orange is a fashion leap too far, you'll find plenty of orange bags, belts and shoes to zest up your wardrobe.

Kurt Geiger and Russell & Bromley have all styles, from boots to slides, in orange. Every designer from Kate Spade to Michael Kors has a selection of orange bags.

And if trousersuits are all the rage, orange ones are even more so. You'll find them on the high street from H&M to River Island and Oasis, at prices low enough not to guilt-trip you if they turn out to be a one-season wonder.

The future may not be orange, but the present most certainly is. So join the celebrations for the cheeriest hue of 2022.

Looks that are a bright idea Orange looks from hm.com, zara.com and massimodutti.com Bag 65, dunelondon.com (left) and sandals 275, russellandbromley.co.uk Cardigan, 12.99, hm.com (left) and linen trousers, 99, jigsawonline.com (right) Advertisement

What a life!

Sergio Costa, founder of Costa Coffee

Packing for the future

What would you take if you were emigrating with your family from northern Italy to South London? The kitchen sink, your three-piece suite, a small mountain of warm clothes and the family pet?

Not so the parents of the late Sergio Costa, who has died aged 72. In 1959, they left all that clutter behind in favour of one very big, very old, very heavy coffee bean drum roaster that had been in the family for years.

Madness, you'd think. But a few years later, it was this roaster and little else that young Sergio, barista extraordinaire, used to start Costa Coffee  which is now the world's second-largest coffee chain with more than 5,400 coffee shops in 31 countries, 18,400 employees and its name on one of Britain's top literary awards.

Coffee or tea, madam?

The Costa family had coffee coursing through their veins for generations, but that wasn't true of their new compatriots in London. The brief, louche coffee-drinking craze of the 1950s and 1960s was on the wane and most Britons were reverting to boring old tea.

But Sergio saw a gap in a fading market and, after blind-testing 112 variations of coffee, he and his brother Bruno opened their first Costa Coffee shop in Victoria, London, in 1978  years before the arrival of Starbucks and Caffe Nero.

Authentic Italian, innit!

It was an instant success. Initially, largely with Italians, who fell with whoops of Latin joy upon the dark wood and brass interior and distinctive Mocha Italia blend  six parts Arabica bean, one part strong Robusta bean, slow roasted for 18 minutes  which Costa still uses today.

His magic?

Sergio was fanatical about the correct temperature of both the milk and water and so passionate about the taste that, having personally trained Gennaro Pelliccia to become Costa's chief taster, he had the latter's tongue insured for 10 million with Lloyd's of London.

Regrets, he had a few

He bought Bruno out in the mid-1980s, but everyone was rather surprised when, in 1995, and wrongly assuming coffee could never supplant tea as the Brits' favourite drink, Sergio sold out to Whitbread for a reported 23 million.

No bitter aftertaste

There's no doubt he sold out too soon, and then had to watch from the sidelines while Whitbread expanded the business to more than 1,000 shops and, in 2019, sold the lot to Coca-Cola for a reported 3.9 billion. But Sergio was never bitter  vowing to enjoy all life offered.

He died aged 72 on March 24, 2022, and is survived by his wife and three children, Monica, Marco and Tania.
Home cooks are racing to Australian retailer Spotlight after the store marked down high-end cookware sets from $100 to just $30.

Shoppers are saving a whopping $70 on the Equip five-piece cookware set that includes one casserole pot, two saucepans and two fry pans.

A thrifty mum alerted shoppers to the deal in a post to the popular Facebook group Markdown Addicts Australia causing members to rush to the Spotlight website or their nearest store and nab the bargain.

Shoppers are saving a whopping $70 on the Equip five-piece cookware set that includes one casserole pot, two saucepans and two fry pans from Australian retailer Spotlight

A thrifty mum altered shoppers to the deal in the Facebook group Markdown Addicts Australia causing members to rush to the Spotlight website or nearest store and nab the bargain

'My closest spotlight is 45 minutes away. As soon as I saw the post, I jumped in the car and went and brought myself a set. From $100 down to $30 - one happy Mumma,' one woman wrote in a separate post.

'Thanks for this, I just nabbed myself a set, and even with postage I managed to get it for $27.99 using my birthday voucher too!,' another commented.

'Thank you for posting this. I rang my local store but they had run out, just ordered online, woo-hoo!' a third said.

'My closest spotlight is 45 minutes away. As soon as I saw the post, I jumped in the car and went and brought myself a set. From $100 down to $30 - one happy Mumma,' one woman said

While many said they missed out on the deal, some shared the cookware bargains they found in their local Spotlight.

'I spoilt myself with a set too! But I got the 10-piece for $65, down from $250. Such a great deal!,' a member explained.

'Damn it, I missed out - kept trying all day if anyone brought an extra,' a second said.

The Equip Marble+ range pots and pans set is designed for everyday use, non-stick and has a stainless steel induction base with durable handles resistant to oven temperatures up to 180 degrees.
A Michigan woman who was born with a severe, potentially deadly, heart defect believed it would be too dangerous for her to ever have children, but is now living a happy, healthy, life with two kids after undergoing multiple high-risk pregnancies in a matter of years.

Hannah Hawley, 31, of Houghton, Michigan, has suffered a anomalous left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery (ALCAPA), which makes it harder for her heart to pump enough oxygen.

Throughout her life she has needed surgery, hospitalization and regular medication to manage her condition. As part of one of the surgeries, she had a valve implanted into her body that would likely prevent her from ever getting pregnant.

After two surprise, tough, pregnancies, she now is a proud mother of Luna, 2, and Axel, 1, and living a happy life she believed would never be possible.

Hannah Hawley (pictured), 31, of Houghton, Michigan, did not expect to ever get pregnant after she had a bioprosthetic implanted to deal with a heart defect from birth

Hawley required two surgeries before she reached the age of five because of her struggles with ALCAPA.

The serious condition occurs in one in every 300,000 children born, according to a study published by the Nation Institutes of Health.

Those suffering from the condition have a mitral valve that is not working properly, and failing to provide an adequate amount of oxygen and blood to the heart.

It can often cause heart inflammation, failure and even death in many cases. The first sign that a child is suffering from a heart problem is often troubles they have while feeding.

After two surgeries at a young age, Hawley used medication to manage her condition. Her condition improved to the point where she was able to drop the meds in adulthood.

She was hospitalized once again in 2017, though, after she was diagnosed with endocarditis, a condition where a person's heart valves become inflamed.

Hawley (pictured) got pregnant in 2019, though, and underwent a tough pregnancy that nearly took her life. Her severe heart issued returned during the pregnancy, and she even needed the bioprosthetic replaced at one point.

In order to treat the condition, and save her life, she needed a bioprosthetic valve implanted to replace her mitral valve. While it likely saved her life, she was told she could likely never get pregnant, and even if she did, it would be a very risky ordeal.

Only years later in 2019, she did get pregnant. She was guided through the pregnancy and constantly monitored by doctors at the University of Michigan.

'She was a very complex patient who required the care of our collaborative team,' Dr Elizabeth Langen, a Cardio-Obstetrics physician at Michigan Health, said in a statement.

'She was quite ill with cardiac issues before, during and after her pregnancy.'

At one point during her pregnancy, Hawley began to experience difficulty breathing, and was hospitalized once again.

Eventually, she had to have the valve in her heart replaced as the original prosthetic had shrunken.

A problem emerged, though. With a baby on the way, and C-section birth likely coming up, doctors were not sure whether they could perform the operation before or after she gave birth.

Hawley survived the ordeal, though, and even had a second child who she is now happily raising at home

They decided to perform C-section at 33 weeks, and Luna was born in 2019, while her mother awaited heart operation.

'We knew we would need to do the mitral valve procedure very soon,' Dr Timothy Cotts, who treated Hawley at the hospital, said in a statement.

Six days after giving birth, she developed congestive heart failure, a condition where the heart can no longer pump enough blood to provide the body with needed oxygen.

Doctors performed a valve-in-valve procedure on her to place a catheter into her femoral artery.

'It was such a hard experience... I was just trying to hang on,' Hawley.

After a few weeks in intensive care, Hawley was able to recover and raise her first child at home.

Her second birth was less eventful, though she still asked for monitoring from the Michigan Health team to make sure her heart could hold up.

'Her heart did much better during her second pregnancy,' Langen said.

Axel was born without any major hiccups, and she is now raising her two children at home.
Blocked blood vessels cause millions of heart attacks and strokes around the world every year.

However, doctors are now clogging blood vessels deliberately as a way to treat conditions as diverse as arthritic knees and prostate trouble.

The procedure  arterial embolisation  involves completely shutting off blood supply to parts of the body by injecting materials to act as a dam.

Embolisation was first developed in 1970, when an American doctor called Charles Dotter used a clot from a patient's blood to block an artery in his stomach to halt life-threatening gastric bleeding.

Since then, the method has evolved to use materials such as tiny plastic beads or metal coils to form a permanent blockage to shut off blood flow.

Its big appeal is that it can often be performed under local anaesthetic and has relatively few side-effects  it also allows access to parts of the body that surgeons sometimes cannot reach.

Embolisation was first developed in 1970, when an American doctor called Charles Dotter used a clot from a patient's blood to block an artery in his stomach to halt life-threatening gastric bleeding

The technique is already being used as a way to treat men with an enlarged prostate, or benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).

As men age, the prostate, a walnut-shaped gland surrounding the urethra (the tube that carries urine out of the body) slowly grows until, in many cases, it presses on the urethra, leading to trouble passing urine.

Embolisation of the arteries that carry blood to the prostate is an increasingly popular treatment option to shrink the prostate tissue.

A thin tube  a catheter  is inserted into an artery in the wrist or groin and fed through to the prostate, then thousands of microscopic beads, each not much bigger than a speck of dust, are released to 'dam' the artery.

The beads are made from a type of plastic or gel that does not get absorbed by the body, so they stay in place. Deprived of its blood supply, the prostate gradually shrinks, taking pressure off the urethra, allowing urine to flow more easily.

Embolisation is also being investigated as an option for many other conditions...

The 40-minute obesity op

Scientists at Imperial College London are testing a 40-minute obesity treatment that blocks blood flow to the top of the stomach, where ghrelin, the 'hunger hormone', is released. Ghrelin is produced by cells that line the gastrointestinal tract  it's picked up by passing blood and carried to the brain, which then activates hunger pangs.

The Imperial College London trial, involving 76 patients, is based on observations that appetite slumps when blood flow to the fundus  the top of the stomach  is restricted.

For the trial, which began in December 2021, half the patients will have a catheter inserted, via an artery in the wrist or groin, to deposit tiny plastic beads into an artery in the fundus, permanently halting blood flow to it.

The remaining patients will undergo the same procedure but won't have any beads injected. Both groups will be followed up for a year.

Scientists at Imperial College London are testing a 40-minute obesity treatment that blocks blood flow to the top of the stomach, where ghrelin, the 'hunger hormone', is released

Initial studies in the U.S. have found that obese patients can lose more than 10 per cent of their bodyweight within three months of the procedure.

Researchers hope left gastric artery embolisation  as it's called  could be a cheaper, faster alternative to gastric bypass surgery, with fewer side-effects.

Dr Prashant Patel, clinical research fellow at Imperial College London and one of the team investigating the procedure, says: 'It's a promising, minimally invasive treatment but there hasn't yet been enough research for us to say how effective it might be.'

Treatment for painful fibroids

Around 40 per cent of women develop fibroids  blood-filled lumps that grow in or around the womb and can cause heavy, painful periods. Fibroids tend to develop during a woman's reproductive years and shrink only after the menopause.

They can cause fertility problems and miscarriage  and for some women the only treatment is a hysterectomy (surgical removal of the whole womb).

But in recent years arterial embolisation has emerged as an alternative and is now available on the NHS (for women with large fibroids). Doctors shut off blood flow in one of the main arteries carrying oxygenated blood to the uterus, injecting thousands of tiny particles or beads through a tube inserted in the main artery in the groin.

Deprived of blood flow, the fibroids shrivel over the following weeks and months.

A review of research on the technique in 2010 by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence found that more than 80 per cent of patients had improved symptoms six and 12 months after the treatment.

However, embolisation is usually reserved for women with large fibroids and the NHS website warns: 'Although it's possible to have a successful pregnancy after having the procedure, the overall effects on fertility and pregnancy are uncertain.'

Chemo boost for liver cancer

Doctors can use the artery-blocking technique alongside chemotherapy to help eliminate liver tumours.

The treatment, trans-arterial chemoembolisation (TACE), involves first depositing a chemotherapy drug directly into the tumour on the liver via injection, then using miniature beads to seal the hepatic artery, a large blood vessel that supplies the liver (and any tumour growing on it).

This allows the medicine to start attacking the tumour while it has no blood supply to help it grow.

In some cases, doctors will block the artery with high-tech beads that gradually release the chemotherapy drug into the liver over a period of weeks.

With both approaches, the advantage is that higher doses of chemotherapy reach the tumour than if it was simply injected into the bloodstream.

TACE treatment, which is available on the NHS, is usually reserved for patients who are unsuitable, perhaps because of their age or general health, for conventional surgery to remove the tumour.

It is sometimes deployed to shrink large tumours to make it easier to remove them surgically.

Trials are also looking at its potential use in bowel cancer and breast cancer.

Tackling piles and brain bleed risk

Up to a third of the UK population will suffer with haemorrhoids, or piles  swollen blood vessels in and around the anus that may be triggered by constipation, heavy lifting or pregnancy.

Although creams can ease the pain, itching and swelling, many people need hospital treatment to get rid of them  such as zapping the growths with electricity or infra-red light to shrink them and cut off their blood supply. Severe cases can require surgery to remove them.

But a trial currently under way at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford is looking at an alternative  shutting off blood flow by 'packing' dozens of tiny stainless steel or platinum coils inside an artery so that no blood reaches the swollen blood vessels, making them shrink.

The coils, which are soft and springy and pack together tightly to form a barrier against blood, are already used to treat brain aneurysms  where a dangerous bulge forms in a weak spot of an artery in the brain.

The coils are packed into the bulge, stopping blood getting in and potentially causing a fatal burst, or haemorrhage.

The piles study, which is treating 24 patients, is due to be completed in 2023.

Dr Raman Uberoi, a consultant urologist leading the trial, says: 'If it's successful, it will pave the way for larger trials comparing it with the 'gold standard' of surgery.'

...And it could even prevent sore knees

Reducing blood flow to the knee could help thousands of people affected by osteoarthritis, where wear and tear destroys the cartilage inside the joint that acts as a shock absorber.

Around 100,000 people a year in the UK need knee replacement surgery because of osteoarthritis, but one in five reports little improvement after the op.

A trial has been under way at the Royal Berkshire Hospital in Reading since 2019, to see if a one-hour procedure to block the geniculate artery, one of the main arteries supplying oxygenated blood to the knee, can reduce inflammation and pain in the joint

As blood pours into the knee, it carries inflammatory cells which can make any existing swelling and inflammation even worse.

The new technique deploys millions of tiny gelatin particles, each about the size of a grain of sand, to seal off the artery.

A Japanese study found that the treatment led to a 75 per cent reduction in knee pain over a four-year period.

Interim results from the Royal Berkshire Hospital trial, published in the journal Cardiovascular Interventional Radiology last June, showed that knee pain almost halved within three months of the treatment among a group of 38 patients.

However, NICE has since ruled that there is not enough evidence yet to support its widespread use on the NHS.
A Brazilian man who shoved a dumbbell in his rectum needed to get it yanked out by surgeons.

The unidentified 54-year-old waited two days before seeking medical attention after failing to extract the 2kg metal weight himself.

He turned up to a hospital in Manaus complaining of abdominal pain, nausea and being unable to defecate.

After an examination of his rectal region found no sign of what might be causing his symptoms, doctors ordered an X-ray of his abdomen.

Medics  who suggested the unusual case was of a 'sexual nature'  said the man was 'uncooperative' during the physical examination.

The X-ray revealed a dumbbell, which was almost 8 inches long (20cm), was lodged where the colon meets the rectum.

Medics sedated the man for their attempted extraction involving surgical tweezers, but couldn't remove the dumbbell.

Left with no other option, the team opted for the 'manual extraction', involving the surgeon shoving in their 'forearm'.

A 54-year-old Brazilian got a 20cm dumbbell stuck inside his rectum after inserting it for sexual pleasure

Attempts by surgeons to remove the object with medical tools failed forcing them to take a hands-on approach

The 20cm dumbbell after extraction, pictured next to a 24cm surgical tool for comparison

Writing in the International Journal of Surgery Case Reports, they claimed it was fraught with 'difficulties' but ended up a success with the man discharged after three days in hospital.

Doctors said the majority of patients admitted with retained rectal objects are white men between the ages of 20 and 40.

Sexual gratification is the most commonly reported reason for getting objects stuck.

This is partly to do with the number of nerves in the anus, making it highly sensitive.

For men, it can also simulate the prostate  an erogenous region of the reproductive system.

For women, it can also indirectly stimulate pleasurable centres in the vagina.

Medics also said many patients only turn up to A&E after repeated failed attempts to extract the objects themselves.

In this case, the man is expected to suffer no long-term complications.

But the authors of the report said other cases can result in internal injuries and faecal incontinence.

Dr Ana Elisa de Landa Moraes Teixeira Grossi and colleagues did not detail when the incident took place.

NHS doctors spend around 300,000 a year extracting items out of British rectums, experts believe.

The Royal College of Surgeons' report found that NHS hospitals had removed 3,500 objects between 2010 and 2019.

MailOnline has previously reported on people using toothbrushes, aerosol cans, toy figurines, and eggs in their pursuit of sexual pleasure.

A UK study found the incidence of objects having to be removed from rectums is on the rise with cases particularly growing in men
Tobacco-style health warnings on alcohol containers makes booze less appealing and socially acceptable to young people, a study suggests.

Graphic images and text illustrating about the dangers of smoking cigarettes have been a staple of tobacco packaging in the UK for two decades.

Now scientists from the University of Stirling suggest similar warnings on alcohol could help persuade youngsters to drink less.

Experts stuck mock-up warnings on bottles of vodka brand Smirnoff. The warnings included text with phrases like 'alcohol causes mouth cancer', as well as images of people clutching their liver as if in pain.

People who viewed the warnings were less likely to find alcohol appealing and more likely to think about the health risks.

Charities have said it is bizarre that the current rules mean more health information is on a pint of milk than a bottle of wine.

The 1,306 survey participants were randomly assigned to one of four groups to measure their attitudes to alcohol, one of which was a control of a normal Smirnoff vodka bottle (far left) and another health warning labels

The text warning labels came in two different font sizes, featuring messages like 'Alcohol causes liver disease'. One set of warning labels also included health risk related imagery image such as a person clutching their lower abdomen or of a medical scanner

Alcoholic drinks in the UK only legally need to include their alcohol percentage by volume, total volume and country of origin on the label.

However, many also include how many units of alcohol is contained in the drink as well as a general warning that pregnant women should not consume then.

Scientists tested the impact of small text warnings, large text warnings, and a text warning accompanied by a related picture on attitudes to drinking.

They showed the images to 1,360 young drinkers in the UK and then surveyed their attitudes to alcohol afterwards.

Just over 80 per cent of participants were classified as binge drinkers for the study, published in Drug and Alcohol Review.



Participants were randomly exposed to either the image of a normal Smirnoff bottle or one of three styles of warning label versions.

Those exposed to the large text warnings or the picture warnings were about five times as likely to perceive the drink as unappealing and socially unacceptable than the control group, researchers claimed.

People who viewed the small text warning were about three times as likely to report similar feelings, compared to the controls.

The NHS recommends that adults drink no more than 14 units each week  that's 14 single shots of spirit or six pints of beer or a bottle and a half of wine

Additionally, young drinkers who viewed the warning labels were between eight and 11 times more likely to report wanting to consume less alcohol.

The largest impacts were once again observed for the large text warning and picture labels.

Study author Daniel Jones said the findings suggested warning labels on alcoholic drink could help people make healthier choices.

'Large pictorial or text warnings in particular may help to counteract the appeal and social acceptability of alcohol products while increasing awareness of risks,' he said.

'The findings of the research indicate warnings could, potentially, lead to a reduction in consumption and related harms.'

Alison Douglas, chief executive of the charity Alcohol Focus Scotland, claimed the current situation of alcohol health labelling in the UK was bizarre.

'Its vitally important we have all the facts to make informed choices, yet because of bizarre exemptions from food and drink labelling rules there is more information required on a pint of milk than a bottle of wine,' she said.

'At present, the alcohol industry can decide what information it will and wont include on its products.

'This study shows that health information and warnings could be useful in reducing how much we drink, and that people want information about what it is in their drinks provided on products where it can usefully inform their decisions.'

The study did have a number of limitations, one being that the specific design of warning and images were not tested for impact on consumers.

For example they were notably less-graphic than the images of diseased organs and tissues found on tobacco products.

The NHS advises Britons to drink no more than 14 units of alcohol per week, roughly equivalent to six pints of beer or a bottle-and-a-half of wine.

Alcohol-related harm cost the NHS 3.5billion per year in England alone, and 8,974 booze-related deaths were logged in the UK in 2020.



The research comes amid calls for England to print health warnings on individual cigarettes.

Tobacco manufacturers would have to use eight different warnings in rotation on its sticks and rolling paper under the terms of the Cigarette Stick Health Warnings Bill.
People wait in line to receive a test for COVID-19 at a testing station in Seoul Station Plaza, April 12. Yonhap



Korea's new coronavirus cases bounced back to more than 200,000 on Tuesday after falling to the lowest level in seven weeks a day earlier amid the government's efforts to return to normalcy.



The country reported 210,755 new COVID-19 infections, including 33 cases from overseas, bringing the total caseload to 15,635,274, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said.



The public health agency reported 171 new COVID-19 deaths Tuesday, raising the death toll to 19,850.



The number of critically ill patients stood at 1,005, down 94 from the previous day.



Korea's virus cases have been on the decrease after peaking in mid-March. On Monday, new cases fell to 90,928, marking the first drop to five digits since the Feb. 22 count of 99,562.



Health authorities are expected to announce later this week a new "post-Omicron scheme" aimed at further lifting social distancing.



Sohn Young-rae, a health ministry official, said in a radio interview that the government is mulling to end the midnight curfew on public places, like restaurants and cafes, and lift the current cap of 10 people on private gatherings.



He said people can go mask-free outdoors as early as June or July.



On Tuesday, Korea confirmed its first case of Omicron XL, a recombinant variant of Omicron strains of the coronavirus.



The unidentified patient, who received a booster shot and tested positive on March 23, shows no particular signs of illness, the authorities said.



The first case of the XL variant occurred in Britain in February, and the number of such cases has since jumped to 66 in Britain, the KDCA said, citing the World Health Organization.



The XL variant is known to be cured without much transmission, the KDCA said, citing the British health authorities.



The KDCA said the WHO classified the XL recombinant variant as a lineage of the Omicron strains, so it is not expecting much diversion from the existing ones.



The KDCA said it will closely monitor the hybrid variant, citing lack of its strength of transmissions and fatality.



As of midnight Monday, 44.52 million people, or 86.7 percent of the population, had been fully vaccinated, while 32.94 million people, representing 64.2 percent, had received booster shots, according to the KDCA. (Yonhap)


Osteopathy only helps if you're suffering aches and pains, according to a review of the evidence.

Experts say the controversial treatment can be even better than seeing a physio for patients with musculoskeletal disorders.

But there is no proof it has any benefits for children or against migraines or irritable bowel syndrome, researchers claim.

Osteopathy  first developed in the 1800s  has been regarded as dubious at best by critics.

The practice entails the soft manipulation of the body's tissues and bones, involving moving, stretching and massaging a person's muscles and joints.

The review, conducted by Italian osteopaths, was based on dozens of trials involving around 3,750 volunteers.

Independent experts told MailOnline most of the primary studies in the review have limited reliability because of 'serious methodological problems'.

Italian osteopaths and medics claim there is 'promising evidence' osteopathy can help relieve conditions including back, neck, and chronic non-cancer pain

Professor Edzard Ernst, a world-renowned expert on alternative medicine, formerly at the University of Exeter, said the findings 'fly in the face of science and common sense'.

He said they should be taken with 'a sizable pinch of salt'.

Osteopathy is considered an 'allied health profession' in the UK and can patients can be referred for the practice by NHS GPs in some areas of England.

There are 5,000 registered osteopaths across Britain. Private sessions can cost 40, approximately.

The review, published in the BMJ Open, analysed nine previous review papers from osteopaths or medics trained in osteopathy.

It was led by Donatella Bagagiolo, of the Higher School of Italian Osteopathy in Turin.

What is osteopathy and does it actually work? Osteopathy is concerned with restoring and maintaining balance in the body's neuro-musculoskeletal systems. Practitioners say misuse, injury and stress can all upset the fine balance between the body's different systems  muscles, joints, ligaments and nerves. Osteopath's aim to restore and preserve the balance, giving relief from unnecessary aches and discomforts. Some even claim it can help other unrelated issues, including irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), asthma and impotence, but there is no evidence to suggest this is the case. Patients can be referred to osteopaths by GPs on the NHS, depending on what area they live in. An NHS spokesperson said: 'There's some evidence to suggest that osteopathy may be effective for some types of neck, shoulder or lower-limb pain, some types of headache, and recovery after hip or knee operations. 'There's only limited or no scientific evidence that it's an effective treatment for conditions unrelated to the bones and muscles (musculoskeletal system), including asthma, period pain and digestive disorders.' Advertisement

Papers covered osteopathy's effectiveness in treating lower back, neck and chronic non-cancer pain.

They also evaluated its effects on paediatric conditions  including cerebral palsy and scoliosis  migraines, tension headaches and irritable bowel syndrome.

They found osteopathy is more effective than other approaches in reducing lower back, neck and chronic non-cancer pain. Ms Bagagiolo described the results as 'promising'.

Other approaches included no treatment at all, physiotherapy and other alternative medicines.

But there was 'inconclusive evidence' that osteopathy helped with any of the other conditions, the team claimed.

Ms Bagagiolo said the studies  based on small sample sizes  produced contradictory findings.

The researchers wrote: 'This overview suggests that osteopathy could be effective in the management of musculoskeletal disorders, specifically with regard to... low back pain in pregnant women or those who have just had a baby.

'In contrast, inconclusive evidence was derived from analysing osteopathy efficacy on paediatric conditions, primary headache, and IBS.

'Nevertheless, based on the low number of studies, some of which are of moderate quality, our overview highlights the need to perform further well-conducted systematic reviews as well as clinical trials... to confirm and extend the possible use of osteopathy in some conditions as well as its safety.'

Experts criticised the study, however.

Professor Ernst told MailOnline: 'Osteopathy is based on obsolete assumptions that fly in the face of science and common sense.

'Most of the primary studies of osteopathy suffer serious methodological problems that limit their reliability.

'Therefore, the evidence produced by an overview of systematic reviews ought to be taken with a sizable pinch of salt.

'Even with those conditions for which osteopathy seems to be backed by encouraging evidence, we must be clear that it is never the best therapy available to date.'

Osteopathy involves using stretching, massage and different movements to increase joint mobility, relieve muscles tension and reduce pain.

Practitioners aim to increase blood supply and help the body to heal in certain areas.

Some practitioners also claim osteopathy can help patients with IBS, migraines and even excessive crying in babies. Tummy rubbing infants and cranial osteopathy  massaging the head  are commonplace at clinics claiming to help the issues.
A couple whose baby died aged just 19 days are calling for doctors to routinely test for the common infection that took their son's life.

Craig Pollard, 37, and Sarah Doolin, 34, from Cornwall, suffered every new parent's worst nightmare last month when Ezrah became very poorly without warning.

Ezrah initially showed signs of restlessness and loss of appetite. But his parents grew concerned and called 111 when he started grunting and his temperature soared.

They claim an hour after being told to wait for an ambulance, they called 999 only to learn one wasn't coming, so drove him to A&E themselves.

Despite medics fighting to save Ezrah, he developed sepsis and meningitis because of his Group B Streptococcus infection.

Now his parents hope that despite his short life, Ezrah's story will help other families avoid the same pain they have suffered.

They are asking for routine screening and wider information on GBS 'to prevent other parents facing the painful loss that we have sadly experienced'.

Strep B is common in pregnant women and rarely causes any problems, so it is not routinely tested for. But one baby dies from the infection every week in the UK, on average. It can be passed from mother to child in labour.

Despite medics fighting to save the three-week-old, he developed sepsis and meningitis as a result of Group B Streptococcus (GBS or Strep B) infection and suffered a severe brain injury, meaning he could not be saved

Craig Pollard (right), 37, and Sarah Doolin (left), 34, from St Martin in Cornwall, suffered every parent's worst nightmare last month when their newborn baby Ezrah (centre) became very poorly without warning

WHAT IS GROUP B STREPTOCOCCUS? Group B Streptococcus (GBS) is one of the many bacteria that normally live in the body and usually cause no harm. It's very common in both men and women and usually lives in the bowel or vagina. It is found in around 20 and 40 per cent of women. It is usually only a problem if it affects pregnant women, young babies and elderly people. Screening for GBS is not routinely offered to all pregnant women in the UK. But it is sometimes found during pregnancy during routine vaginal and rectal swabs or urine tests. If the bacteria is found during pregnancy, or if a pregnant woman has previously had a baby affected by a GBS infection, they are offered antibiotics in labour to reduce the risk of passing the infection to their baby. Infected babies can suffer symptoms including being floppy, grunting when breathing. Their breathing, heart rate and temperature may all be unusually fast or slow. And they may have changes in their skin colour or develop blotches on their skin. On average two babies will develop the infection in the UK every day and, of those, one will die every week, while another will survive but be left with long-term disability. Sources: NHS, RCOG Advertisement

His parents revealed Ezrah became ill 'very suddenly' on March 23, when he was aged just two weeks.

Mr Pollard said Ezrah's 'colour had gone' and his skin was mottled by the time they arrived at Royal Cornwall Hospital in Truro.

He was first treated at the Royal Cornwall Hospital before being transferred by ambulance to Bristol Children's Hospital.

Medics diagnosed him with sepsis and meningitis as a result of GBS.

Mr Pollard said: 'They told us if we waited half an hour he would've died at home.

'Most stories we've read, parents have a long period of time as their child declines, but sadly Ezrah went downhill in hours.'

Strep B is a bacteria that is carried in the vagina and bowel of 20 to 40 per cent of women in the UK and usually causes no symptoms or harm. It can also affect men.

Fewer than one in 2,000 mothers pass the infection to their baby during labour, which can trigger sepsis, meningitis and pneumonia.

Despite fighting to save the newborn, Ezrah had suffered severe brain injury and passed away on March 25, just 19 days after he was born.

On a charity fundraising page, the couple said: 'We are heartbroken that we have lost our little boy and our future with him. We miss him beyond belief.'

They added: 'Ezrah remains a bright shining light in our memories; he was so loved and will forever be missed.'

Routine screening and wider information on strep B should be available 'to prevent other parents facing the painful loss that we have sadly experienced', they said.

Screening is not routinely offered to all pregnant women in the UK.

The Governments UK National Screening Committee in 2017 rejected a programme to swab all pregnant women for GBS and give antibiotics to those who tested positive on the grounds it was not 'cost-effective'.

The infection is sometimes found during pregnancy during routine vaginal and rectal swabs or urine tests.

If the bacteria is found during pregnancy, or if a pregnant woman has previously had a baby affected by a strep B infection, they are offered antibiotics in labour to reduce the risk of passing the infection to their baby.

On average, two babies will develop the infection in the UK every day and, of those, one will die every week.

Mr Pollard said: 'It's our thought that we want to raise as much awareness as we can. 'We wouldn't want anyone else going through the hell we've been through'

His parents hope that despite his short life little Ezrah's story will help other families avoid the same pain they have suffered

His parents hope that Ezrah's story will help other families avoid the same pain they have suffered.

Mr Pollard said: 'It's our thought that we want to raise as much awareness as we can.

'We wouldn't want anyone else going through the hell we've been through.'

The parents have set up a memorial fundraising page which has so far raised more than 5,900 in support of two charities.

One is The Grand Appeal, which funds Bristol Children's Hospital  including the Watch ambulance service that transferred Ezrah to hospital.

The second is Group B Strep Support, a charity working to eradicate the infection in babies.

The couple said: 'We've chosen Group B Strep Support in addition to The Grand Appeal because we want more to be done to protect babies and parents from such devastating infection.'
Teenage deaths from overdosing on fentanyl have tripled over the two years since the COVID-19 pandemic began, a new study finds.

An analysis of official statistics performed by researchers at the Researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), found that deaths from the synthetic opioid surged to 680 in 2020, and 884 in 2021 - up from 253 deaths from the drug in 2019.

That is a more than two-fold rise in only one year, and a rate that more than tripled from 2019 to 2021.

Overall, deaths from overdosing on any drug in the age group doubled from 2019 to the second year of the pandemic.

Fentanyl is at the center of America's drugs crisis, which experts say is now at an 'unacceptable' level and should 'shock everyone'.

The synthetic opioid is often mixed with other drugs such as heroin, Xanax or cocaine to raise their euphoric effects. It means many people overdose on the drug without realizing they are even using it - often fatally.

Teen deaths from overdosing on fentanyl (grey line) have tripled since the Covid pandemic began (dotted line between 2019 and 2020). Scientists say this may be linked to the synthetic opioid being mixed with other drugs such as cocaine and heroin

Fentanyl is at the center of America's drug crisis, as it is regularly mixed with other drugs. This means most people overdose on it accidentally without realizing

America's drug deaths rocketed to a record 100,000 during the first year of the pandemic after lockdowns and social isolation rules were imposed.

Opioids such as fentanyl were behind more than seven in ten of these fatalities. The super-strength drug first shot to notoriety in 2016 after music superstar Prince died of a fentanyl overdose, and has continued to tear through families since.

US drug enforcement agencies warn that taking as little as two milligrams of the drug could result in an overdose. The first symptoms are often clammy skin and stupor.

In some cases this can also lead to respiratory failure, resulting in death.

What is fentanyl? How is it used? How does it kill people? Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine. It is normally prescribed to cancer patients to help with severe pain, and is administered through patches or as lozenges. But the drug is also illegally made and sold in the US through the black market. Dealers often mix it with other drugs such as heroin or cocaine to raise the products euphoric effects. Many people taking these drugs do not know that fentanyl has been added, or that there is a risk they could overdose on this drug. The US Drug Enforcement Administration warns as little as 2 milligrams of the drug could be fatal. When someone overdoses it triggers stupor, cold, clammy and blue skin. In serious cases it can also trigger respiratory failure leading to death or a coma. Advertisement

In the study, published Tuesday in JAMA, researchers warn the pandemic was a major factor behind rising fatalities.

Lead author and PhD candidate at UCLA Joseph Friedman along with other researchers wrote: 'The contribution of factors unique to the COVID-19 pandemic, such as suicidal (thoughts), mental illness, social isolation, and disruptions to illicit drug markets, cannot be discerned.'

Benzodiapezines  drugs primarily used for treating anxiety  were the second-leading cause of death from drug overdoses among the age group last year.

Fatalities from the drug doubled over the two years since the pandemic began from 71 in 2019, to 152 last year.

Methamphetamines  also known as 'meth' or 'crystal'  were the third leading cause of death from an overdose (112 deaths last year), followed by cocaine (84 deaths) and prescription painkillers (66 deaths).

Overall, the fatality rate from drug overdoses among 14 to 18-year-olds surged two-fold from 2.36 deaths per 100,000 teenagers in 2019 to 5.49 deaths.

Researchers also found that the rate of drug overdose deaths was highest among American Indians or Alaskan natives last year (11.79 per 100,000 members of the population).

They were followed by Latino (6.98), white groups (5.36) and black or African American groups (3.1).

The data was compiled from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention database which records all US deaths listing drug overdose as the primary cause.

Adolescent deaths from drugs rose during the pandemic despite official surveys suggesting drug use in the age group is falling.

About 4.6 percent of eighth graders said they used an illicit drug in 2021, compared to 7.7 percent the year before.

Among 10th graders 5.1 percent admitted to using one, compared to 8.6 percent previously, and among 12th graders it dropped from 11.4 to 7.2 percent.

National Institute on Drug Abuse director Nora Volkow said they had 'never seen' such dramatic decreases in drug use among the age group.

Last month the CDC's drugs report revealed US fatalities from overdoses had hit a record high for the fourth year in a row.

There are mounting calls for action to curb the surge in deaths from overdosing on drugs.
Columbia University is bringing back masks in the classroom amid a rise in Covid cases in the student population - as Philly was blasted for doing the same despite being a low-risk area.

The elite college, based on New York City's Upper West Side, announced the move Sunday, citing a recent uptick in positive cases. Students will be required to wear a non-cloth mask in classrooms as of Monday, regardless of vaccination status.

According to data from the school's Covid dashboard, cases in the student population have jumped four fold to 133 in the week that ended April 10, up from only 30 in the previous week.

For now, the mandate only applies to classroom settings, and there is no word on whether it will be expanded if cases continue to rise.

Just two hours south of the I-95 corridor, the city of Philadelphia has reintroduced its indoor mask mandate in a bizarre, widely criticized, move for a state recording around 150 Covid cases per day.

Covid cases at Columbia University have jumped four-fold over the past week, but cases are still dwarfed by the massive surge the school suffered at the start of the semester. Students will now be required to wear masks in the classroom

Philadelphia is averaging 149 Covid cases per day as of the most recent update on Monday. The state will bring back its indoor mask mandate on April 18

'Continued caution in certain situations remains extremely important, particularly in indoor social settings when the vaccination status of attendees is unknown or uncertain,' Donna Lynne, Columbia's Covid director, said in a statement.

Barnard College, a women's college also on the Upper West Side that is partnered with the Ivy League school, reinstated its mask mandate last week amid rising cases.

Columbia lifted its mask mandate on March 14, just as much of the rest of the state was starting to drop face-coverings after the winter Omicron surge.

The recent uptick in cases has triggered the school's 'yellow' risk category, per its official Covid guidelines.

The rise in cases has occurred entirely among students in the school, with staff remaining largely unaffected.

Last week, 133 of the 136 cases were among students - leaving only three among staff and faculty. The number of staff and faculty cases has not eclipsed ten in a single week since January.

Covid cases have also not reached this level since late-January, when the winter Omicron surge that struck the nation finally began to recede.

The most cases recorded during this spring semester were in early January, where 376 cases among students and 134 within staff and faculty - of 510 total - were recorded by the school.

Columbia University lifted its on campus mask mandate of March 14 amid declining cases, but has now brought it back for classrooms as cases begin to rise once again

Columbia is not the first Ivy league school to suffer a post-Omicron wave Covid surge.

Cornell University, in Ithaca, New York, suffered a 421 percent surge in cases in late-March, reaching over 170 per day at its peak.

The school was able to weather the surge with minimal intervention, though, and daily figures have returned to normal levels in mid-April.

Rises at Columbia University also come as New York City as a whole deals with a recent increase in cases that officials, while watching it, are not expressing concern over.

The Big Apple is recording 1,964 cases per day, according to a New York Times database, a 55 percent jump over the past two weeks - though comparatively much smaller than the 40,000 cases averaged at the peak of the Omicron variant surge.

A return to Covid restrictions does not seem likely, though, with Mayor Eric Adams lifting the city's controversial vaccine and mask mandate last month.

Mask mandates have made a return in nearby Philadelphia, though.

The City of Brotherly Love will reinstate its mask mandate for all indoor public places, like schools, businesses, restaurants and government buildings, starting next Monday, officials announced this week.

It comes as cases have risen 86 percent over the past week to 149 per day, a very low total for a city of over 1.5 million residents. The city also only reports around 40 hospitalizations related to the virus.

City officials report that these figures have eclipsed certain thresholds that trigger the return of these types of measures, but some prominent health experts - and even Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance - disagree that mask mandates are needed in the city right now.

Philadelphia Public Health said on Twitter Monday that the city will now enter 'Level 2: Mask Precautions', as triggered by the recent increase in cases.

'Philadelphia's COVID-19 response levels allow us to be clear, transparent and predictable in our response to local conditions,' Jim Kenney, mayor of Philadelphia, said in a tweet.

'Given the rise in cases, we're moving to Level 2 on April 18 to prevent higher case rates.'

Case figures are not considered to be a reliable metric when judging the state of the pandemic by many federal level officials, though.

The CDC changed its metrics earlier this year, now valuing hospitalizations over all else when recommending mask orders on certain populations.

According to the agency, Philadelphia County, which includes the city, is one of the 95% of counties considered to have 'low' Covid risk and not recommended to wear masks indoors.

'Philadelphia reinstated mask mandate in light of rising [Covid 19] cases,' Dr Leana Wen, a public health professor at George Washington University in Washington D.C. and a CNN contributor, said in a tweet.

'However, CDC clearly has Philadelphia in green, or low community [COVID 19] risk. With readily available & effective vaccines, why arent we switching from case counts to the better metric of hospitalization?'

Some local experts understand the reasoning behind the decision, though.

'I'm sure people want to enjoy their summers with friends and family. A temporary reimposition of restrictions now could help alleviate a worse situation when fall comes around,' Dr Daniel Rodriguez, a public health professor at La Salle University, in Philadelphia, told DailyMail.com.
An existing meningitis jab could help protect against super gonorrhoea, research suggests.

Treatments against the common sexually transmitted infection (STI) are becoming less effective due to the over-prescription of antibiotics.

It has become resistant to all but one class of antibiotic and the lack of a vaccine has raised fears the STI could become untreatable in the future.

But three studies, in The Lancet Infectious Diseases, suggest that the meningitis jab 4CMenB could reduce gonorrhoea rates by up to a third.

The research, carried out by academics in the UK, US and Australia, looked at young adults and gay men, who are most at risk of the STI.

4CMenB was known to protect against the STI but until now there had not been any research into what effect the jab would have at a population level.

Experts say cross-protection is possible due to the large genetic match between the bacteria that cause gonorrhoea (Neisseria gonorrhoeae) and meningitis (Neisseria meningitidis).

Around 70,000 people in England and 800,000 in the US are diagnosed with the STI every year. If untreated, it can lead to infertility in women.

Treatments for gonorrhoea, which the World Health Organization estimates there are 78million cases of every year, are becoming less effective. The infection, which is the most antibiotic-resistant STI and second most common one in the UK, is usually tackled with a single antibiotic injection that improves symptoms within a few days. But since treatment became available in the early 1900s, its effectiveness against the bacteria that causes the infection  Neisseria gonorrhoeae  has dropped. Pictured: Neisseria gonorrhoeae graphic

Gonorrhoea  which infects 80million people a year and kills around 2,000  is usually tackled with a single injection of antibiotics which improves symptoms within a few days.

But the infection has progressively evolved to become resistant to the primary class of antibiotics used to treat it  fluoroquinolones.

Public health chiefs are worried if a new super-strain emerges that can also evade cephalosporin antibiotics, then the infection could become untreatable.

In one of the latest studies, researchers at the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) examined meningitis vaccination and STI rates among 110,000 16 to 23-year-olds in New York City and Philadelphia.

The team found 7,692 people were vaccinated with 4CMenB, with around half having had one dose and the others being double-jabbed.

WHAT IS GONORRHOEA? Gonorrhoea is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by bacteria called Neisseria gonorrhoeae. The bacteria is mainly found in discharge from the penis and vaginal fluid. It is easily passed between people through unprotected sex and from pregnant women to their babies. The bacteria can infect the cervix, urethra, rectum, throat and eyes. Left untreated, gonorrhoea can cause infertility in both men and women. Symptoms usually appear within 10 days of exposure. But around half of women and 10 per cent of men have no symptoms. Signs of the virus include a yellow, white or green discharge from the vagina or penis and a burning feeling while urinating. Women may also experience bleeding between periods while men may have a swollen foreskin. Among women, symptoms can include a change in discharge, a burning feeling when urinating and bleeding between periods. People can get tested at sexual health clinics. It is treated with a single antibiotic injection in the buttocks or thigh which usually improves symptoms within a few days. Advertisement

And more than 18,000 gonorrhoea cases were detected in the cohort between 2016 and 2018.

After matching jab status with cases, the researchers concluded one dose provided 26 per cent protection against the STI, while two jabs gave 40 per cent protection.

Dr Winston Abara, from the CDC's STI prevention unit and study leader, said: 'Our findings suggest that meningitis vaccines that are even only moderately effective at protecting against gonorrhoea could have a major impact on prevention and control of the disease.

'Clinical trials focused on the use of 4CMenB against gonorrhoea are needed to better understand its protective effects and could also offer important insights towards the development of a vaccine specifically for gonorrhoea.'

A second group of researchers at the University of Adelaide examined the effectiveness of 4CMenB vaccination against meningitis and gonorrhoea.

South Australia has an ongoing 4CMenB vaccination rollout to infants, children and adolescents, which saw 53,000 people jabbed in the first two years.

The team compared gonorrhoea and chlamydia rates among those jabbed to estimate whether the jab drove down infection numbers.

The team found the vaccines were 33 per cent effective in preventing infection.

Professor Helen Marshall, a public health expert at the university and study lead, said the 'unprecedented scale' of South Australia's 4CMenB vaccination programme provides 'valuable real-world evidence'.

It sheds light on both the vaccine's effectiveness against meningitis in children and adolescents, as well as gonorrhoea in adolescents and young people, she said.

'This information is vital to inform global meningitis vaccination programmes and policy decisions,' Professor Marshall added.



A third set of findings from researchers at Imperial College London show that giving those most at risk of gonorrhoea the meningitis vaccine could drive down rates of the STI nationally and save millions of pounds.

The modelling study examined whether using the 4CMenB vaccine triggered health and economic benefits.

The researchers compared projected gonorrhoea infection rates to the cost to the health service if gay men were vaccinated and vaccinating all men.

The results showed vaccinating men who have sex with men would lead to roughly 110,000 fewer cases and save 8million over 10 years.

Professor Peter White, a public health modelling expert who led the study, said: 'With a gonorrhoea-specific vaccine likely to take years to develop, a key question for policymakers is whether the meningitis vaccine 4CMenB should be used against gonorrhoea infection.

'Our analysis suggests giving the vaccine to those at the greatest risk of infection is the most cost-effective way to avert large numbers of cases.'

The 4CMenB jab has been given out routinely to infants in the UK since 2015.
Midwife and mother Amalia Alonso was so traumatised by her initial care at Sheffield Teaching Hospital she opted to move to London to give birth instead (pictured here with her son Blake shortly after he was born)

Mothers today revealed their horror stories after receiving care at a scandal-hit maternity unit in Sheffield.

Several have spoken out after a damning report revealed a number of serious issues at the Jessop Wing in Sheffield Teaching Hospital.

Rinoa Pearson, who was 19 at the time, claims she was forced to lie naked and covered in bodily fluids for eight hours after giving birth to her baby girl Delilah, despite begging medics for pain relief.

Amalia Alonso, 37, a midwife herself, was so scared about her unborn child's safety that she moved 170miles away to London just weeks before her due date to give birth.

Another mother, 25-year-old Demi Hastings, said she was left feeling 'embarrassed and humiliated' after being handed her baby moments after giving birth and left 'with her legs open' alone with the child for two hours.

Others said 'basic dignity and care went out the window' at the maternity unit. Inspectors found one instance in which mothers had to share food as they weren't given enough to eat.

They also recorded the experience of a woman who was put on the wrong ward for days. After an inspection England's health watchdog, the Care Quality Commission (CQC), downgraded the Sheffield trust's rating to 'requires improvement'.

The inspectors' report came after the publishing of the Ockenden report, which unearthed harrowing details about the worst maternity scandal in the NHS's 70-year history at Shrewsbury.

Another mother, Demi Hastings, pictured here said she felt 'humiliated' after her experience giving birth on the Jessop Wing at Sheffield Teaching Hospital

Last week hospital inspectors have raised the alarm regarding care at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, particularly in regard to its maternity services (pictured here is the trust's dedicated maternity ward the Jessop Wing)

Rinoa Pearson (right) and her partner just moments after the birth of their baby girl Delilah at Sheffield Teaching Hospital

Rinoa Pearson had been in and out of hospital in the weeks leading up to the birth, complaining of dizziness and debilitating headaches.

She feared it might have been pre-eclampsia, a condition that causes high blood pressure and can be serious if not treated. But she was assured this wasn't the case.

NHS bosses given 15 areas for 'immediate and essential action' The report recommended 15 areas for 'immediate and essential' action to improve maternity services across England. They are listed below: All maternity units must receive 'multi-year' funding packages to ensure they can maintain minimum staffing levels, to be agreed nationally or locally. A portion of the budget must be 'ring-fenced' for training midwives; When maternity unit staffing levels fall below the 'minimum' level, senior management teams should be alerted immediately; In cases where staff are concerned over expectant mother's care, there should be a clear process for escalating this; All maternity services should be monitored by hospitals senior managers; When there is an 'incident' during a birth, such as the death of a baby, the resulting investigation must be 'meaningful for families' and staff must learn lessons in a 'timely manner'; When a mother dies during or after a birth, a postmortem must be carried out by a pathologist who is an expert in maternal physiology; Midwives must train together, and regular compulsory training compulsory training should be offered; Women with pre-existing medical problems such as heart disease and diabetes who are trying to get pregnant must have access to care. Women who are pregnant with twins or triplets must also receive specialist care; All trusts must ensure systems are in place for women who are at a high risk of a pre-term birth; When a woman chooses to give birth outside a hospital, midwives must give them 'accurate' advice on average transferral times to hospital units should this be required; In cases where women suffer physical or mental harm during birth, treatments must be available; Women who are re-admitted to wards after birth must have a 'timely' consultant review; Women who have suffered a loss during pregnancy must have access to 'appropriate' bereavement services; All trusts must raise the number of neonatal critical care cots they have available; The mental health and wellbeing of mothers, their partners and families as a whole must be 'integral' to maternity services. Midwives must engage with the community to ensure their services are what families say they need from care. Advertisement

However, when she went back to hospital at 40 weeks pregnant with a blood pressure reading of 190  70 above average  the complete opposite turned out to be true.

'They had been telling me for weeks that I didn't have pre-eclampsia, but it turned out that I had it severely,' Ms Pearson said.

'They had to break my waters there and then. It was terrifying.'

The young mother was forced to go through the ordeal herself due to Covid visiting restrictions at the time.

'All I was thinking was is she [Delilah] going to be okay?' Ms Preason said.

She also detailed how she had been left in agony for eight hours without medication to ease her suffering.

'I asked for pain relief on so many occasions, but I didn't have any gas and air for about seven or eight hours of labour,' she said.

'There was no pain relief at all. I was in agony. It was horrible.'

As Delilah's heart rate plummeted, Ms Pearson was rushed into theatre to undergo an emergency caesarean section.

'They said they weren't sure if she was going to make it,' she said.

Thankfully, Delilah was born without any complications and she was soon safely in her mother's arms.

However, Ms Pearson's ordeal would not end there.

The teenage mum was left alone with her firstborn child and said she felt 'tossed aside' by midwives.

'They left me to go and have a shower on my own when I couldn't feel anything,' she said.

'I couldn't feel my legs. I couldn't dress myself and I was in so much pain that I had to pull the cord to get someone to come and help me. All I could feel was the pain.

'I just felt really embarrassed and I felt like I had no dignity. I would have felt more comfortable if someone was with me all along.

'I was completely on my own. I just couldn't stop crying. I was so overwhelmed. I was stressed and angry.'

Ms Pearson said she fears for women who give birth on Jessop Wing.

'It's horrible,' she said.

'I have got two friends who are due this year and they keep asking me what it was like. I don't want to tell them. I don't want to stress them out.

'It's worrying that it's still happening now and it's just not fair on the women and their babies.'

Ms Alonso was so concerned about what she heard about Jessop Wing she opted to move to London for the birth of her son Blake in January of last year.

The 37-year-old had a scan Sheffield Teaching Hospital in the early stages of her pregnancy after noticing bleeding.

It was at this appointment that Amalia was told her son had a spinal condition called spina bifida and she claims a consultant told her to have an abortion.

'He said the bleeding was the last of my worries,' she said.

'He said he wasn't an expert but that I should terminate my pregnancy.

'I had an MRI and the person who did that scan told me my son wouldn't walk or talk. I was enraged.'

Ms Alonso claims staff at Sheffield Teaching Hospital told her to abort her son Blake after a scan showed he had a spinal birth defect called Spina bifida

After feeling as though they were being 'ignored' by staff at Sheffield Teaching Hospital, Ms Alonso and her partner James decided to move into an apartment 170 miles away in London, where they felt assured they would receive better care.

'I rang my partner at 32 weeks saying I can't do this anymore,' she said.

'We paid for an apartment for a month, so I could be near the hospital. That was the only time I felt safe in the pregnancy and the only time I felt listened to.

'It felt like we were crazy for having my son and giving him a chance, but I feared my son and I might have died if we had the pregnancy in Sheffield.'

She said while she was thrilled to have a healthy baby she had been left with mental health problems over her initial treatment.

'I have developed anxiety and depression. It has caused me so much stress,' she said.

'I wish the person that told me to terminate my pregnancy could see my son now. How wrong he was.'

Three other mothers reported similar experiences to inspectors.

Ms Alonso pictured here with her partner James Beswick and their son Blake

Ms Hastings, said she was left feeling 'embarrassed and humiliated' by staff on the ward during both of her pregnancies.

Her first baby, Liorah, was born extremely premature at just 25 weeks in 2013.

Three years later, she returned and gave birth to her second child, but conditions hadn't improved.

'The midwife just gave me the baby and walked off,' she said. 'I still had my legs wide open and nobody came back for two hours.

'The blood wasn't cleared up or the sheets removed. They didn't tell me how to feed my baby or anything. It was really traumatic. After I gave birth, I said to my mum I felt embarrassed.'

On the CQC inspection, Ms Hastings said it was 'shocking' that improvements haven't been made since her experience in 2016.

CQC inspectors said dangerously low staffing levels exposed patients to the risk of serious harm, while midwives themselves revealed a toxic environment of a 'bullying and intimidating culture' from senior management.

Professor Chris Morley, chief nurse at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, has apologised to all affected families and promised to improve its services.

In a statement, he said: 'Our teams work hard to provide the best possible care for all women and babies and so we are very sorry that the experience of some women has not been of the standard that we strive for. We are committed to making the improvements needed and a number of actions have already been completed.

The inspectors' report came after the publishing of the Ockenden report, which unearthed harrowing details about the worst maternity scandal in the NHS's 70-year history at Shrewsbury.

It revealed 201 babies and nine mothers died needlessly during a two-decade period of appalling care at the Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust.

Senior midwife Donna Ockenden, who authored the report, warned that childbirth in England will be unsafe until all 15 of her recommendations were implemented across all NHS trusts.
Walgreens, one of the largest pharmacy chains in America, is being accursed of 'flooding' the state of Florida with opioids in a civil suit.

The company is being sued by the state of Florida for allegedly failing to do its due diligence in filling opioid prescriptions from 1999 to 2020, and not diverting drugs away from patients that were likely to either abuse of illegally use the drugs.

One lawyer for the Sunshine state even said the Deerfield, Illinois-based company, had allowed the highly addictive drugs to flood into the state.

The suit comes as many high profile players in the opioid crisis - which is responsible for tens of thousands of U.S. deaths every year, face a reckoning of civil suits.

The pharmacy giant Walgreens is facing a civil suit from the state of Florida over allegations that it helped 'flood' the state with opioids by not properly restricting distribution to people who displayed red flags that they would use them illegally

Walgreens points to physicians for the problem, blaming them for over-prescribing the highly addictive drugs to vulnerable patients

'Walgreens was the last line of defense in preventing improper distribution of opioids,' Jim Webster, who is serving as the state's lawyer, said.

'It was the entity that actually put the opioids in the hands of people addicted to opioids and the hands of criminals.'

Steven Derringer (pictured(, Walgreens attorney, said 'There are so many pills because doctors have written so many prescriptions for pain medicine.'

Walgreens filled one in four opioid prescriptions in Florida between 1999 and 2020, and failed to investigate red flags that could have prevented drugs from being diverted for illegal use, Webster said as jurors heard opening statements in the trial held in New Port Richey, just north of Tampa.

Many of the drugs illicitly sold on black markets are legally obtained via prescriptions, and many people who end up abusing highly-addictive opioids do get started by using the drugs as a pain-killer.

The company argues that the fault falls on doctors for writing so many prescriptions for the drugs.

Steven Derringer, Walgreens attorney, said in his opening statement that the pharmacy chain filled prescriptions from doctors and did not ignore red flags that allowed opioids to flood Florida.

'There are so many pills because doctors have written so many prescriptions for pain medicine,' Derringer said.

Physicians have come under scrutiny in recent years for the role they potentially played in creating the opioid epidemic.

Multiple analysis's find that doctors over-prescribed the drugs, often giving them to patients who either did not require them, or offered more than what was needed.

This especially became a problem after surgeries, where many patients who needed the drugs for pain management purposes ended up taking so much that they became dependent.

Walgreens is the final defendant in a massive wave of lawsuits filed by the state against drug distributors and manufacturers for the role they allegedly played in surging drug deaths in Florida, and around America.

Florida has collected more than $3 billion in opioid litigation against drugmakers, distributors and pharmacies, according to Attorney General Ashley Moody.

CVS was also sued by the state of Florida, and paid a half-billion dollar settlement for its role in the opioid crisis

Most will be spent on efforts to mitigate the opioid crisis in the state.

'With the monies that were going to bring to Florida. These families are going to start healing,' Moody told Fox 13 in Tampa.

In March, Walgreens rival CVS Health Corp agreed to pay Florida $484 million.

Drugmakers Teva will pay $194.8 million, Allergan will pay $134.2 million and Endo will pay $65 million.

Moody says it is about more than just the money, though, its about stopping these harmful business practices.

'The marketing the distributing, the practices that led to where we are today, cannot happen again in the future,' she said.

Walgreens previously argued it was immune from being sued based on a mere $3,000 settlement it reached with Florida in 2012, following an investigation into its record-keeping policies and efforts to prevent the diversion of opioid drugs.

Judge Kimberly Sharpe Byrd, who is overseeing this trial, ruled in March that the 2012 settlement addressed only a single record-keeping violation and did not protect Walgreens from other claims.

The company has appealed her ruling.

The U.S. recorded a record 105,000 drug overdose deaths from October 2020 to 2021, with 80 percent being caused by opioids, and synthetic versions of the drug like fentanyl making up 70 percent of deaths, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports (CDC).

Many people who develop an opioid addiction will eventually transition to using illicit versions of the drug once their original supply runs out.

Some of these illicit drug manufacturers use fentanyl as a cheaper alternative to opioid drugs made by pharmaceutical companies.

The drug is highly potent, though, and just limited amounts of it can cause an overdose.

Florida recorded the 8,000 overdose deaths from October 2020 to 2021, per the CDC report, or 37.1 per every 100,000 residents - the 18th highest rate in the state.
A new app that claims to be able to turn a smartphone into a speed camera has raised eyebrows since launching last month - and has seen its developers receive a string of abusive emails from disgruntled drivers.

The application, which is called Speedcam Anywhere and is currently available on the Google Play store, can be used to record a passing motorist and professes to be able to estimate their speed to calculate if they're over the limit or not.

While the footage can be saved and a report generated to share with authorities, it cannot be used to enforce speeding offences, having not received approval from the Home Office for use as a certified speed detection device.

Snitch cam! A new smartphone app claims to turn a smartphone into a speed camera to calculate if drivers are speeding - but the tech can't be used to prosecute motorists

Launched in March, the app's developers told The Guardian that they have already been forced into anonymity after receiving a flood of vicious communications from the public.

Yet they continue to back the use of the technology that encourages people to report on one another.

'We're getting quite abusive emails,' the app's founder told The Guardian under the premise that his name would not be shared.

He adds that he does not have a 'personal vendetta against anyone' and claims the app is there to make roads safer by becoming a 'deterrent to speeding' and to encourage the police to take speeding more seriously.

A scan of the 177 reviews the app has received so far on the Google Play Store give an indication of the tone of emails its developers claim to have received from motorists lambasting their Big Brother-style tech.

Valkyria 9001 commented: 'Another brilliant idea to help the government turn the public against one another while they sit there with the self entitled rich to destroy the country.'

Alasdair McGregor posted a review calling the app 'Stasi-cam Anywhere' in reference to repressive East German secret police unit that operated from the 1950s.

'Just what the world needed. Use it for settling vendettas or getting back at that neighbour who always takes your parking space,' he said.

In their review, Carlos de almeida said: 'Absolutely ridiculous this snitch culture we are experiencing nowadays.

'The creator(s) of this app should be caught speeding using their own apps and be reported to police for it... What a joke!!!'

The app, which is said to have been developed by a team of artificial intelligence (AI) scientists who have graduated from top UK universities and previously worked for Silicon Valley tech companies, has software that can read a passing cars number plate.

This is then cross referenced with the DVLA's database to identify the make and model of the car.

Once this has been determined the app will know the length between the specific vehicle's front and rear axles.

This information is then relayed to the footage captured to calculate at what speed the driver is travelling and whether they are over the limit in that area, which can be located using GPS data.

The Speedcam Anywhere app details how the technology measures the speed of a passing car and the report it generates that can be shared with authorities. It is free to download but users need to buy credits to access it

While the footage can be saved and a report generated to share with authorities, it cannot be used to enforce speeding offences, having not received approval from the Home Office for use as a certified speed detection device

Yet, the app cannot result in drivers receiving speeding tickets as the technology isn't signed off as a speed detection device and therefore cannot provide sufficient evidence for police to prosecute motorists.

However, boffins behind the tech say the footage can still be provided to the police and used as evidence for other offence types.

Many forces are signed up to a nationwide portal created in 2018 by dashcam brand Nextbase - this allows drivers and cyclists to upload their clips of careless and dangerous driving to a police database for review.

In its first three years, some 68,000 videos were uploaded to the portal.

Latest records show that around four in five cases result in some form of police action, which ranges from warning letters to fixed penalty notices and even court cases.

Developers behind the tech say the footage can still be issued to the police and used as evidence for other offence types, such as dangerous driving

While the app is free to download, users have to buy credits if they want to process the video footage captured.

Speedcam Anywhere's website say this charge is 'a small fee' to cover the cost of running the AI system.

Buying 1,000 credits costs 14.99, which can capture up to 1,000 clips in 'Basic Mode' or 100 videos in 'Pro Mode', which gives a more accurate estimation of speed.

When the app was first launched in March, Google had initially refused to make it available in the Play Store having questioned the validity of the tech's capabilities to use AI to estimate speed.

However, it is now available for download after the developers provided a demonstration of how the app works.

An iOS version has also been created, though Apple has so far refused its distribution without explanation.

'Were not sure why they would block a useful piece of technology, something that could save peoples lives,' the app's founder told The Guardian.

Martin B, who posted a review of the app, described the concept as 'awful'.

'This is wrong on so many levels and should be illegal... Live and let live.

'It has a potential to create additional distraction to drivers by wannabe cops.

'There is no need for apps like this and enforcement should be left to the police so they can do it where it's necessary.'

James Tagimuri posted: 'What a load of s***e, so we have to pay for credits to grass speeders to the police. We already pay the police to catch speeders.'

Jamie Leng also commented: 'In East Germany, citizens were encouraged to report their neighbours to the Stasi for even the smallest societal infraction.

'Congratulations on creating a modern day version of that. If you couldn't tell, I'm being sarcastic. This app disgusts me.'
Elon Musk has refused to join the board of Twitter amid mounting speculation he wants to buy more of the business.

The 50-year-old, who became the social media platform's biggest shareholder last week with a 9.2 per cent stake, was expected to take his seat as a director on Saturday.

But after a weekend of tweeting criticism of the company, it emerged the Tesla tycoon has turned the job down.

Eyes on the prize: Elon Musk, who spent the weekend criticising Twitter, has declined to take a place on the board

Announcing the U-turn on Twitter, the firm's chief executive Parag Agrawal said: 'I believe this is for the best.'

The move set tongues wagging that Musk, the electric car maker's chief executive, could look to increase his stake in the coming months. And some believe the decision not to join the board leaves him free to try to buy Twitter.

One expert at a Los Angeles investment firm claimed that a Game Of Thrones-style battle has now been set up between the billionaire and Twitter executives.

Dan Ives, analyst at Wedbush, said Musk will take a more aggressive approach to buying Twitter stock.

He said: 'This now goes from a Cinderella story, with Musk joining the Twitter board and keeping his stake under 14.9 per cent, helping move Twitter strategically forward, to likely a Game Of Thrones battle between Musk and Twitter.'

He added there was a 'high likelihood that Elon takes a more hostile stance towards Twitter and further builds his active stake in the company'.

Musk, the world's richest man, became Twitter's biggest shareholder when he snapped up a 9.2 per cent stake for 2.2billion last month.

He was then offered a seat on the board and seemingly agreed not to raise his holding above 14.9 per cent for the duration of his contract  which was due to end in 2024.

Musk's decision not to take up the job sparked speculation he does want a bigger stake.

His refusal to join the board coincided with a barrage of tweets  some apparently jokes  about how he thinks Twitter could be improved.

Musk, a prolific tweeter with 81.2million followers, suggested converting Twitter's San Francisco headquarters into a homeless shelter.

He also asked if the platform is 'dying' due to many of its most-followed accounts  including those belonging to pop stars Justin Bieber and Taylor Swift  not tweeting frequently.

'Convert Twitter SF HQ to homeless shelter since no one shows up anyway,' he wrote, along with a poll allowing users to agree or disagree.

More than 90 per cent of nearly 2m respondents voted 'yes' on Saturday before the poll was deleted.

He later tweeted on Sunday: 'I'm serious about this one btw.'

Twitter announced last month that employees can work from home 'forever', adopting a similar policy to several other tech giants since the Covid pandemic began.

Announcing Musk's decision not to join the board, Agrawal said in his tweet: 'We will always value input from our shareholders whether they are on our board or not. Elon is our biggest shareholder and we will remain open to his input.'

He also took a swipe at Musk who last week caused a media storm by suggesting Twitter should implement an edit button.

Agrawal added: 'There will be distractions ahead but our goals and priorities remain unchanged.

Let's tune out the noise, and stay focused on the work and what we're building.' Musk responded on Twitter with an emoticon of a face with hand over its mouth.

He is understood to be upset about Twitter muzzling free speech and suspending high-profile figures like Donald Trump.

Susannah Streeter, an analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown, said: 'It's clear Elon Musk wants to retain the full freedom to criticise company policy, to steer it in his desired direction of travel and he still has a ringside seat, remaining the biggest shareholder and also has the power of his 81m Twitter followers to do just that.'
The takeover of fighter jet and helicopter parts maker Meggitt by a US rival moved a step closer after the European Commission gave the deal the green light.

The British fighter jet and helicopter parts maker backed a 6.3billion bid from engineering giant Parker Hannifin last year  triggering a spate of investigations by regulators around the world.

European regulators gave the deal their blessing yesterday after the American group agreed to sell its aircraft wheel and brake division.

Meggitt last year backed a 6.3bn bid from engineering giant Parker-Hannifin - triggering a spate of investigations by regulators around the world

The decision puts pressure on Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng, who is also looking into the merger amid concerns about the sale of another British defence company to foreign buyers.

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has already completed its report on the deal, which was handed to the Department for Business on March 18.

Kwartengs decision is understood to be imminent and will be a significant moment and show if the UK is willing to stand up to US predators and protect one of Britains most important industries.

A source close to the deal said: The Government is engaging with other departments and the intelligence community on the transaction before a decision is reached.

National security will not be compromised. The deal has faced heavy criticism and sparked fears that it could give the US access to the UK militarys most cutting edge technology.

Military and political figures including former head of the Royal Navy Admiral Lord West and Tory grandee Lord Heseltine have been among those who slammed the deal.

Business select committee chairman Darren Jones said: Parliament has given ministers extensive powers under the National Security and Investment Act to make sure that strategic British companies arent merely sold to the highest bidder.

Sir Sell-Off: If Meggitt's takeover is approved, it would give chairman Sir Nigel Rudd (pictured) another mammoth payday

This is important for maintaining highly skilled workers in Britain as well as maintaining British ownership of key businesses.

Parker Hannifin swooped on Meggitt in August last year, offering 8 a share for the FTSE 250 firm. In September 99.8 per cent of Meggitt shareholders voted in favour of the sale.

It would give Meggitt chairman Sir Nigel Rudd  dubbed Sir Sell-Off  2million from his shares if the deal goes through.

He has offloaded a number of UK companies to foreign buyers in the recent past, including glass business Pilkington and pharmacy chain Boots.

Coventry-based Meggitt traces its roots back to the 1850s and the invention of the first altitude meter for hot air balloons.

It has around 9,000 staff, 2,000 of whom are in the UK, and makes components for planes and military jets including black boxes, wheel and brake components for the Royal Air Forces Typhoon fighter jets and kit for American F-35 aircraft.
Members of the Korea Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) march down the street toward Seodaemun Station in central Seoul waving flags and calling on the government to improve workers' rights, Oct. 20, 2021. Police will set up a wall of buses near the headquarters of President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol's transition committee to beef up security in response to a planned labor rally. Yonhap





Police will set up a wall of buses near the headquarters of President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol's transition committee to beef up security in response to a planned labor rally, officials said Tuesday.







The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), the more militant of Korea's two major umbrella unions, and the Korean Peasants League have warned of massive rallies in central Seoul and the southern district of Yeouido, respectively, Wednesday.







In response, police plan to mobilize forces and set up the buses around the transition team's office and other places in the capital where the KCTU is expected to gather.







Police also plan to set up checkpoints to block cars coming into the area for the rally, and control cars and public transportation if needed.







The Seoul city government banned the KCTU's demonstration last week, citing COVID-19 risks, but the labor group filed an injunction request against the city's move with the Seoul Administrative Court, Tuesday. (Yonhap)


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Britain's drive to vaccinate children against Covid could see officials have to bin hundreds of thousands of doses, campaigners fear.

Official figures show one in eight (12.8 per cent) jabs earmarked for youngsters aged between five and 11 in Wales have already had to be dumped.

Government sources said while the exact reason for the jabs needing to be binned is not clear, children failing to attend appointments had exacerbated the issue. Insiders also told MailOnline the problem is unlikely to be unique to Wales.

Even at a 4 per cent wastage rate  the level seen in England up to October last year  400,000 jabs would still have to be chucked away.

The People's Vaccine Alliance, a coalition of 90 organisations that want to end 'vaccine apartheid', told MailOnline the 'shocking waste' was caused by ministers hoarding 'more vaccines than they can use'.

It said Pfizer should have focused on sending its jabs to countries where millions of adults have yet to have a first dose. Yesterday, the World Health Organization revealed that 20 countries are still yet to inoculate 10 per cent of their populations.

Critics of the Department of Health's decision to offer vaccines to healthy youngsters say there is still not enough evidence they even need to be inoculated against the virus, given that it poses such little threat to them.

Welsh Government figures show 12.8 per cent of the Pfizer 5- to 11-year-old Covid vaccine formulation has been 'not suitable for use' so far. In over-12s, 4.5 per cent of Moderna's jabs, 2 per cent of AstraZeneca and 1.4 per cent of Pfizer were unusable

Some parents have chosen to get their children vaccinated in order to go on family holidays, with countries including Spain still requiring over-12s show proof of inoculation. Uptake rates still stand at below 60 per cent in 12- to 15-year-olds (purple line with circles)

NHS sites began inoculating five- to 11-year-olds on Monday, using toys to distract them from the needles. Children are being offered doses a third as strong as those being given to adults [stock pic]

NHS jab centres began inoculating five- to 11-year-olds last Monday, using toys to distract them from the needles. Children get specially-formulated doses, roughly a third of the strength of jabs given to adults.

Nearly all 5million in the age bracket will be offered two doses of a vaccine but take-up is expected to be slow and continue throughout spring.

Officials stressed the roll-out  which sparked controversy in some quarters when it was announced  was 'non-urgent'.

Parents of teenagers, who've been eligible since September, have been reluctant to get their youngsters jabbed due to safety fears. Uptake rates still stand at below 60 per cent in 12- to 15-year-olds.

Professor Nadav Davidovitch, an Israeli Government scientist, in February warned UK ministers they would have to overcome 'fake news' about side effects if they wanted teenage uptake rates to match those of adults.

WHO: 20 countries still below 10% Covid jab rate Twenty countries have still not vaccinated even 10 percent of their population against Covid, the World Health Organization's vaccine advisers warned on Monday. The Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunisation (SAGE) said the speed of the Covid jab rollout had been 'unprecedented'. However, 20 mostly African countries  down from 34 in January  had still not managed a 10 per cent immunisation rate, Kate O'Brien, the WHO's vaccines chief, told reporters. 'These are countries that are working really hard to advance their programmes. Supply is no longer the issue. The legacy of all the supply constraint from 2021 - the effects of that (are) still being felt,' she said. SAGE said vaccination coverage among the groups most vulnerable to severe Covid-19 disease was not enough to give them the protection they needed. Health worker coverage is at 65 percent overall. 'That's certainly a very, very strong position to be in, but we're really carrying the message forward that it needs to be 100 percent,' said O'Brien. Coverage in the over-60s is at 69 percent - though the figure falls to 24 percent in some regions of the world. Advertisement

One of the main concerns is that the vaccines have been linked to cases of myocarditis, where the muscles in the heart become temporarily inflamed. Covid itself, however, can also cause the condition.

The complication, thought to strike one in 14,000 boys aged 12 to 15 after their second dose, can cause chest pain, breathlessness, a pounding pulse and nausea.

But experts insist the majority of cases are mild, and that rates of the condition in Britain are lower than ones seen in Israel and the US, where fears were first sparked.

One reason why UK jab-related myocarditis rates appear much lower is doses are spaced eight to 12 weeks apart, compared with three weeks in other major nations. This, scientists believe, might reduce the risk of injury to heart cells.

And rates are actually slightly lower in children than in young adults, with boys and men in their early 20s at most risk.

But low uptake in under-12s may have already seen jabs binned, experts told MailOnline.

Figures show 12.8 per cent of the Pfizer 5- to 11-year-old Covid vaccine formulation has been 'not suitable for use' so far in Wales.

The figures are based on the number of doses that had to be binned out of all the jabs the country has received.

Officials said there had been no issues with batches on either the supply side or with storage, meaning the doses did not have to be chucked away because they were faulty or had gone off earlier than expected.

Instead, vials had to be dumped because the packs of six that they come in have to be used within six hours once opened.

Government sources, who insisted the number of doses binned was small, said sky-high infection rates in children may also have had an effect on wastage rates. People have to wait 28 days after testing positive to get a jab.

A Welsh Government spokesperson said: 'We are very proud of NHS Wales' ability to keep vaccine waste as low as possible throughout the whole vaccination programme.

'Regrettably some doses have passed their expiry date because the 6 hour time frame a Pfizer vaccines need to be used in has passed. However this represents a very small number, fewer than 180 doses.

'We continue to offer the Covid vaccine to child aged 5-11 and encourage anyone who has yet to come forward for their vaccine to take up the offer.'

With 5million youngsters eligible for two doses across the UK, this wastage figure for Wales would mean at least 1.2million jabs could be wasted if jabs were bought to cover every child.

Officials claim they expect the proportion to reduce as the programme expands, with other jab types only seeing wastage of about 4 per cent in England, according to the National Audit Office.

But even 4 per cent would theoretically see at least 400,000 doses  which can expire within weeks, if they are not stored at super-cold temperatures  in the bin. Jabs have to be thawed before use, and can't go back into a freezer once taken out.

Vaccine equality campaigners claimed the large numbers of unusable vaccines in Britain is a direct result of over-stocking. Jabs would be better used in lower income countries that have been unable to get them because big pharma has sold them to the highest bidder, they claimed.

Maaza Seyoum, of the People's Vaccine Alliance, told MailOnline: 'One child has lost a parent every minute in this pandemic. And the real death toll of Covid is likely to be four times higher in lower income countries than in rich nations.

'Their lives are no less valuable than lives in the UK. Yet leaders like Boris Johnson have hoarded more vaccines than they can use, which inevitably leads to shocking wastage like this.'

She added: 'This is exactly why low and middle-income countries are demanding the right to make vaccines, tests, and treatments for themselves.

What are the risks of Covid and vaccines to five-year-olds? Covid Most children only experience mild symptoms after being infected with Covid. Just one in 300,000 children who test positive for Covid die, according to UK Government data. And the risk of being hospitalised and getting admitted to ICU is similarly low. But the risk is higher to children with serious underlying conditions. The Joint Commission for Vaccination and Immunisation updated its guidance to say children younger than 12 can benefit from the non-urgent offer of the vaccine in February. It advised all children aged between 5 to 11 will be offered two 10 microgram doses, a third of the strength given to all over the age of 12, of the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid vaccine Its advice on recommending first jabs to over-12s suggested one Pfizer dose only prevents 131 hospital admissions per million 12-15-year-olds. And second doses only prevent nine hospital admissions for every million dished out to the age group. The figures are likely to be less for five- to eleven-year-old, who are less vulnerable to the virus. Vaccines Myocarditis  an ultrarare form of heart inflammation  is the main side effect of the Pfizer vaccine that concerns experts. Data shows the risk is slightly higher in adolescents than adults, particularly in boys. The JCVI has not released data on how many cases are expected in children aged five to 11 but studies show children in younger age groups are less at risk than teenagers. It found myocarditis cases in between 2.6 to 17.7 million first vaccine doses in children aged 12 to 15. And the condition was found in between 20.9 to 42.2 children in the age group per million second doses dished out. Advertisement

'Rich countries and pharmaceutical companies would rather send doses to the bin than to the global south.

'And, in many cases, when vaccine donations do arrive, it is just before they are set to expire, making distribution that much harder.'

Professor David Livermore, a medical microbiologist at the University of East Anglia, said the proportion of jabs discarded was 'particularly high'.

He added: 'It might be that uptake is slow, with a lot of paediatric doses hitting their expiry date.

'I'm sure that Wales, and the UK as a whole, shouldn't be vaccinating children in the first place. These vaccines would be far better use in the old and vulnerable worldwide.

'Healthy children are very unlikely to develop severe Covid. They have an immune system tailored to establishing the relationship that theyll need, throughout the rest of their lives, with multiple circulating respiratory viruses, including SARS-CoV2.'

Professor Livermore added: 'There is really no need to vaccinate them. Worse, there is a risk, particularly for boys, that the hazard from the vaccine, specifically for myocarditis, exceeds the risk from infection.'

The Joint Commission for Vaccination and Immunisation updated its guidance to say children younger than 12 can benefit from the non-urgent offer of the vaccine in February.

It advised all children aged between 5 to 11 will be offered two 10 microgram doses  a third of the strength given to all over the age of 12, of the Pfizer Covid vaccine.

Trials are currently underway for Pfizer and Moderna's jabs on children as young as six months old, although plans to roll-out the vaccine to babies are not in advanced stages.

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson told MailOnline: 'Our phenomenal vaccination programme has saved countless lives and is helping us to live with Covid.

'Thanks to thorough planning and the British public coming forward to get protected against Covid, the vast majority of our vaccines were suitable for use.

'We rightly ordered enough doses to cover the entire eligible population  and the skill of vaccinators has meant we've been able to extract more doses from a single vial than originally anticipated.'

A spokesperson for Pfizer said: 'Quality is top priority for Pfizer and our products are released only after meeting high quality standards specification.

'We can confirm, there have been no rejections of paediatric doses to the Welsh Government upon delivery from Pfizer at this time.

'Decisions regarding the allocation and use of doses reside with the local Governments and health authorities.

'Pfizer ships the doses according to the country's preferred channel to designated locations, following relevant regulatory authorisations, monitoring the temperature and location 24/7 during the shipment.

'Once the vaccines are received and accepted by the designated location, the facility is responsible for storage. As such, any wastage figures will need to be provided by the local Governments and/or health authorities.'

No10 has not disclosed how much it has spent on vaccines for five- to 11-year-olds, but the NAO estimates wasted doses across the entire rollout cost around 70.5million. The roll-out as a whole cost 5.6billion as of October last year.

The NAO report revealed some 4.7million vaccine doses had been wasted in England as of last October, including 1.9million AstraZeneca jabs. It added: 'Wastage can occur when a vaccine is not handled in line with guidance (for instance, regarding refrigeration) or cannot be used before its expiry date.'
Nick Coatsworth is happy to be called a straight-shooter but is cutting back his commentary on the Covid-19 pandemic before he gets stuck with a label he says doesn't fit.

The face of the nation's vaccine roll-out recently saw himself dubbed 'the former deputy chief medical officer turned outspoken critic of Covid-19 policy' and did not like the description.

'That signals to me that I need to take a step back,' he says.

Coatsworth, who held that official role for only six months from the early days of the pandemic, might be stepping back but he is not shutting up completely.

In a lengthy interview with Daily Mail Australia the 43-year-old describes what has worked best in the nation's response to the virus, what could have been done better and where we are heading.

He also slams the 'loud voices' he says are still scaring Australians who should by now be learning to live with Covid.

Dr Nick Coatsworth is happy to be called a straight-shooter but is cutting back his commentary on the Covid-19 pandemic before he gets stuck being labelled as 'the former deputy chief medical officer turned outspoken critic of Covid-19 policy'. He is pictured with wife Rebecca

Unlike some of the fearmongers he has railed against, the Sydney-born, Perth-raised father-of-three is an optimist. 'I think we're in a good spot in the pandemic compared to other nations,' Coatsworth says

Coatsworth maintains restrictions should be removed as soon as they are not demonstrably necessary and will continue speaking out when an issue such as forcing children to wear masks at schools bothers him.

'My preference was always to look at the benefits and consequences of whatever restriction was brought in,' he says.

'I've thought in general that we were too slow to realise the negative consequences of most of the restrictions.'



At heart, unlike some of the fearmongers he has railed against, the Sydney-born, Perth-raised doctor and father-of-three is an optimist.

'I think we're in a good spot in the pandemic compared to other nations,' he says.

'It's difficult for people to see that because the Omicron BA.1 and BA.2 variants have actually caused a lot of disruption, but we've got short memories, I think.'

Case numbers might be high but the fact intensive care units were coping was more significant.

Coatsworth maintains restrictions should be removed as soon as they are not demonstrably necessary. He says the risk of contracting Covid outdoors was always small. Pedestrians are pictured in Melbourne in November last year

'At the really pointy end, which I think is what we always have to bring it back to with the pandemic, is how much actual morbidity and mortality is this disease causing?' he says.

'It's really quite small compared to the number of cases that there are in the community.'

You'll get these little spikes of cases but the trend over time will be downwards towards eventually just low levels of circulating cases in the community

Coatsworth notes almost 95 per cent of the population are now double-vaccinated and an 'extraordinary number' of people have infection-induced immunity.

'I think that happening all at the same time will probably actually lead to a really big drop off in the cases,' he says. 'That's the most likely thing.

'You'll get these little spikes of cases but the trend over time will be downwards towards eventually just low levels of circulating cases in the community.'

Coatsworth was appointed one of three new deputy chief medical officers under Dr Brendan Murphy in March 2020 during the early days of the pandemic.

Coatsworth had extensive experience in disaster management, having previously volunteered with Medecins Sans Frontieres (Doctors Without Borders) in Congo-Brazzaville, Chad and the Darfur region of Sudan

The consultant physician in infectious disease and respiratory medicine was seconded from Canberra Hospital where he was clinical director of medical services.

'People often wonder where I got the job from and it was partly being in Canberra - I knew all the players around the table,' he says.

Coatsworth had previously volunteered with Medecins Sans Frontieres (Doctors Without Borders) in Congo-Brazzaville, Chad and the Darfur region of Sudan.

He had also served as executive director of the National Critical Care and Trauma Response Centre in Darwin and led an Australian Medical Assistance Team to The Philippines in the wake of Typhoon Haiyan in 2013.

Just as significantly, Coatsworth had recent experience as a frontline clinical physician.

It also helped that he knew Professor Paul Kelly, who later replaced Murphy as chief medical officer, through the Trauma Response Centre.

Some restrictions including curfews, particularly those enforced in Victoria, served no useful purpose. 'Taping up the playgrounds was just bizarre,' Coatsworth says. A playground is pictured taped-off at Flagstaff in Melbourne

Coatsworth studied medicine at the University of Western Australia where he met his future wife Rebecca Pearson, now a lung transplant physician, while dissecting foetal frogs. 'It's not the most romantic,' he says.

The young doctor did his internship at Royal Perth Hospital then returned to Sydney where he worked at Royal North Shore Hospital before heading to Darwin.

I was confident that we were doing our best but I certainly wasn't confident about what would happen

Coatsworth and Pearson got together about seven years after they met and moved to Canberra when their two daughters and one son were aged one, five and three respectively. [They are turning seven, nine and 11 this year].

The first major government response to Covid was to shut international borders, which Coatsworth says bought valuable time to plan for the coming pandemic.

'I was confident that we were doing our best but I certainly wasn't confident about what would happen,' he says.

Early priorities were securing personal protective equipment, ensuring intensive care bed capacity, and procuring and making ventilators.

Coatsworth says Australians should '100 per cent' be proud of how they have managed Covid-19. 'It was a joint effort between government, health care workers and the community. What it actually proves is Australia is not as polarised as everybody thinks it is'

'It was all pretty united in the first six months,' Coatsworth says. 'I think national cabinet was working, the states and territories were doing things in a broadly consistent way.

'And then when it started to fracture and different states started doing different things it started getting quite confusing.'

Coatsworth's initial contract was for three months, later extended to six months, but he stayed on as a part-time adviser for another year.

He became a familiar face to most Australians from press conferences, television interviews and advertising campaigns but still thinks there was a lack of communication about where Covid was headed.

Coatsworth says it should have been made clearer that cases would eventually rise and there would be significant numbers of deaths but the health system could deliver care to those who needed it.

'That was the message that we needed to shift to in early 2021, to kind of prepare people,' he says.

Coatsworth says the best thing Australia has done in its fight against Covid is getting the vaccination rate to 95 per cent. 'That's an extraordinary number,' he says. Wearing masks was important, 'when we didn't know much about the virus'

'But unfortunately there was always a very loud group that thought Covid should be eliminated at all costs and I think that did hold us back a bit.'

The 'inevitable' happened when the Delta strain hit.

Coatsworth is scathing of those who discouraged the take up of the AstraZeneca vaccine when it was linked to a tiny proportion of complications.

There were lives lost because of that anti AstraZeneca message. No question about it

'When the Delta wave came through it had the biggest impact on the people who had been eligible for AstraZeneca but had chosen not to get it,' he says.

'There were lives lost because of that anti AstraZeneca message. No question about it.'

Coatsworth says once the Pfizer vaccine became available residents of New South Wales and Victoria began getting the jab at an extraordinary rate.

'I still think that's the case that no other jurisdiction in the world did it as quickly.'

Coatsworth's philosophy is that no policy was necessarily wrong at the start and that most measures were worth trying.

Coatsworth is sure the number of Covid cases has been understated and the only way to get an accurate figure would be to take blood from a sample of the population. Sydneysiders are pictured exercising at Bondi as restrictions were eased in September last year

'Most of us were pretty convinced that we needed the restrictions at the start,' he says. 'All the measures that we took were reasonable.

'But because they represented an infringement on human rights they needed almost a weekly reconsideration.'

Coatsworth says the 'default position' was to bring in restrictions first and worry later about civil liberties, when the reverse should have happened.

Some restrictions including curfews, particularly those enforced in Victoria, served no useful purpose. 'Taping up the playgrounds was just bizarre,' Coatsworth says.

'The idea that being outdoors was ever any risk to anybody was an example of how we went too far with our restrictions.'

Coatsworth says vaccine mandates were 'very important early on' to drive uptake but have passed their usefulness.

'There's very few people who are likely to change their minds now because of the mandates,' he says.

Coatsworth came to his Covid role with experience in disaster management but not of the magnitude of Covid. 'We kind of fooled ourselves into thinking we could sneak through and that was actually never going to be the case,' he says

Wearing masks was also important, 'when we didn't know much about the virus and may still be important if we have a more lethal variant.'

Lockdowns, because of their mental health consequences, 'probably caused more harm than good', Coatsworth says.

He also believes working from home now serves no purpose from a public health perspective.

I think for the people who are concerned about coming back to work we just need to reassure them

'I think there's stuff to be said about work-life balance, giving people the opportunity to have days at home,' he says.

'But I think for the people who are concerned about coming back to work we just need to reassure them.'

Internal border closures should have had an exemption process that allowed people with good reasons to travel the opportunity to do so.

'It's not enough to stand in front of a press conference and say "these decisions are heartbreaking" when you're stopping someone from seeing a loved pass away,' Coatsworth says.

Coatsworth's views are at odds with some more risk-averse commentators such as the ABC's Dr Norman Swan (above) and former Australian Medical Association president Kerryn Phelps who favour restrictions

'I find it hard to describe those decisions in polite terms. I mean, we're bloody Australians.'

Closing the nation's borders was the right thing to do at the time but caused the same unnecessary hardships as shutting off states.

'As an Australian citizen overseas, what on earth does citizenship mean if you can't get home?' Coatsworth says. 'I think the right decision at the start but it set us off on a path that left us closed for far too long.'

As an Australian citizen overseas, what on earth does citizenship mean if you can't get home?

Coatsworth agrees with vaccinating children aged five to 12 but does not think there will be much difference in disease severity in a vaccinated person and an unvaccinated child.

'I have no problem that our child vaccination rates are sitting between 55 and 60 per cent,' he says. 'I don't think that's a major public health issue.'

Coatsworth reckons a fourth dose of vaccine is right for those with compromised immunity, and is probably worthwhile for those over 65.

'For people under 65 unless they've got some pretty severe condition I reckon three doses is fine,' he says.

Coatsworth became a familiar face to most Australians from press conferences, television interviews and advertising campaigns but still thinks there was a lack of communication about where Covid was headed

Coatsworth's views are at odds with some more risk-averse commentators such as the ABC's Dr Norman Swan and former Australian Medical Association president Kerryn Phelps who favour restrictions.

'The problem is that group is loud and it's influential,' he says. 'It's a bit exhausting really.

'I thought it'd be all done and dusted by now - not the pandemic - but this bloody argument.

'It's bad for the punters as well. No one wants to see duelling experts, but then you have a choice. Do you shut up and let them run the narrative?'

The emergence of an unexpected Covid variant which was highly transmissible and lethal across age groups would be the worst future scenario but was 'very unlikely', Coatsworth says.

Internal border closures should have had an exemption process that allowed people with good reasons to travel the opportunity to do so, Coatsworth says. Police are pictured stopping drivers at a Western Australian checkpoint in April 2020

He does not like to use the terms winning or losing when it comes to Covid-19.

'Whilst I wouldn't say winning or losing I would say we've put ourselves in a better position that most other nations,' he says. 'That's how you've got to see it.

'It's a pandemic. We were never going to get through this with no deaths, no work force shortages, no supply chain disruptions. That's just magical thinking.'

Coatsworth says Australians should '100 per cent' be proud of how they have managed Covid-19.

'It was a joint effort between government, health care workers and the community. What it actually proves is Australia is not as polarised as everybody thinks it is.'

After his secondment to the Department of Health ended Coatsworth went back to Canberra Hospital as the executive director of clinical services.

Closing the nation's borders was the right thing to do at the time but caused the same unnecessary hardships as shutting off states. Returning international travellers are pictured at Perth Airport in March this year

He is now completing a PhD on health in foreign policy at Australian National University where he also lectures, and offering the occasional Covid commentary.

'I'm trying to do it less and less,' he says. 'I'm more and more conscious that I should be doing less and less. I'm not in government. I don't hold an official position.'

But it is hard to say nothing when someone with a loud voice says something with which he strongly disagrees.

'I suppose the best thing is to ignore them and just try to run a middle narrative, that's probably the best thing to do,' Coatsworth says.

'Sometimes my personality gets in the way. I get a bit fed up and have a crack.

'The one thing I just can't sort of let go of is the kids in masks thing. That's probably the only thing I'm going to stay very vocal about. I'm so convinced that that's the wrong policy.'
The Russian journalist who stood up to Putin's propaganda machine with an on-air protest against the invasion of Ukraine has been hired by a German newspaper.

Marina Ovsyannikova, 43, was arrested and fined after shocking viewer's of Russia's state brainwashing organ Channel One by jumping in front of the camera with a large placard and shouting anti-war slogans.

Yesterday she was hired by German media outlet Welt as a 'freelance correspondent' to report for the Welt newspaper as well as for Welt's TV news channel, including from Ukraine and Russia.

Welt is the respected flagship publication from the Axel Springer publishing group, with a daily circulation in Germany of around 180,000 and is most similar to The Daily Telegraph.

Welt Group editor-in-chief Ulf Porschardt said that he was excited to be working with Ovsyannikova, adding that her on-air protest 'defended the most important journalistic ethics - despite the threat of state repression.'

'At a crucial moment, Marina Ovsyannikova had the courage to confront Russian viewers with an unembellished view of reality,' he went on to say.

Ovsyannikova, 43, was arrested yesterday following her brave stunt (pictured behind broadcaster Ekaterina Andreeva), but her lawyers have now announced that they have no idea where she is being held and that they have not been allowed to see her

Ovsyannikova made international headlines when she stormed a live broadcast at the state news station where she was a senior producer, shouting: 'They are lying to you'.

The transmission very quickly cut to a different segment and Ovsyannikova was detained and arrested.

She disappeared for a number of days and the worst was feared for her as the Russian parliament had only just passed a new law punishing journalists with 15 years in jail if they did not toe the Kremlin's line.

Through this law Putin has strong-armed independent media outlets into referring to a 'special military operation' instead of a 'war' or 'invasion' and denying mass casualties.

In the end she was only handed a 227 fine by a Russian court - a mere fraction of the retaliation expected, sparking a number of theories about the true nature of her protest.

Marina Ovzyannikova with her lawyer Anton Gashinsky at the hearing for her case after she had been detained and arrested for her on-air protest, in which she was ultimately fined 227

Putin has strong-armed state channels into referring to a 'special military operation' instead of a 'war' or 'invasion', has denied suffering mass casualties, and sought to paint Ukraine as the aggressor with 15 years in jail for anyone who defies him

Some of those theories range from Ovsyannikova being a plant by the Kremlin to her being a 'British spy' by the head of news at Channel One.

Ovsyannikova has remained in Russia after her arrest and fine, seeming to have dodged the worst of state retaliation, but she told Reuters last month that she was worried for her safety and hoped her protest would open Russians' eyes to propaganda.

She has continued to describe what Russia insists is a 'special operation' in Ukraine as a war and invasion, risking further wrath and a potential 15 year jail sentence.

In her first report for her new employers on Monday, she spoke about petty persecution she has faced since the protest.

Her status as a senior television editor at the Channel One station meant she was able to get access to the broadcasting centre to make her protest

Marina Ovsyannikova gave her first interview to American media on Sunday, speaking to George Stephanopoulos on ABC's This Week

Her membership of a swimming pool was revoked, a pet shop refused to supply her with dog food, and she found her car with all four tyres deflated and a flat battery.

During an interview with American media, the 43-year-old journalist also said had turned down French President Emmanuel Macron's offer of asylum because 'she is a patriot' and wants to live in Russia.

'I want to say to everyone, the Russian people are really against the war,' Ovsyannikova told George Stephanopoulos on ABC's This Week. 'It's Putin's war, not Russian people's war.'

'[It] was a spontaneous decision for me to go out live on air, but dissatisfaction with the current situation has been accumulating for many years because the propaganda on our state channels was becoming more and more distorted,' she added.

'I came to work and, after a week of coverage of this situation, the atmosphere on the first channel was so unpleasant that I realized I could not go back there.'

Ovsyannikova said she thought of assisting an anti-war protest at Moscow's square - likely referring to the city's Red Square - but quickly realized being jailed was going to be 'rather useless.'

'I decided maybe I could do something else, something more meaningful where I could attract more attention and show to the rest of the world that Russians are against the war,' she said on Sunday.

'I could show the Russian people this is just propaganda, expose this propaganda for what it is and maybe stimulate some people to speak up against the war and I was hoping that my performance in a way would help people change their mind,' she added

But despite all her troubles since she made her infamous on-air protest, she she said she had no plans to leave Russia.
Robertson's is one of hundreds of cases stemming from the Capitol riots

He was charged after his police dept. mentee co-operated with prosecutors

He was found guilty on all six charges relating to his participation in Jan 6 riots

A federal jury has convicted a former Virginia police officer of storming the U.S. Capitol with another off-duty officer to obstruct Congress from certifying President Joe Biden's 2020 electoral victory.

Jurors on Monday convicted former Rocky Mount police officer Thomas Robertson of all six counts he faced, in what is the second of hundreds of cases stemming from the Jan. 6, 2021 riot.

These including charges that he interfered with police officers at the Capitol and that he entered a restricted area with a dangerous weapon, a large wooden stick.

His sentencing hearing wasn't immediately scheduled.

Robertson's jury trial comes after he was turned over to the authorities by his mentee in the police department who pleaded guilty to a charge of conspiracy and offered to co-operate with prosecutors.

Robertson did not testify at his trial, which started last Tuesday, but jurors deliberated for several hours over two days before reaching their unanimous verdict.

One juror, who spoke to The Associated Press only on condition of anonymity, said as she left the courthouse: 'I think the government made a really compelling case and the evidence was fairly overwhelming.'

But defense attorney Mark Rollins said Robertson will appeal the jury's verdict.

'While Mr. Robertson disagrees with the jury's decision, he respects the rule of law,' Rollins said in a statement.

This Jan. 6, 2021 photo made available by the United States Capitol Police in a complaint and arrest warrant shows Rocky Mount Police Department Sgt. Thomas 'T.J.' Robertson (right) and officer Jacob Fracker (left) in the Capitol in front of a statute of John Stark, a Revolutionary War officer famous for writing the state motto of New Hampshire, 'Live Free or Die.'

A large group of protesters stand on the East steps of the Capitol Building after storming its grounds on January 6, 2021 in Washington, DC

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 authorities.

Fracker testified Thursday that he had hoped the mob that attacked the Capitol could overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election.

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 while carrying a dangerous weapon, 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.

During the trial's closing arguments Friday, 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.

Rollins conceded that Robertson broke the law when he entered the Capitol during the riot.

He encouraged jurors to convict Robertson of misdemeanor offenses but urged them to acquit Robertson of felony charges that he used the stick as a dangerous weapon and that he intended to stop Congress from certifying the Electoral College vote.

'There were no plans to go down there and say, ''I'm going to stop Congress from doing this vote,'' Rollins said.

People are pictured storming the U.S. Capitol building, Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington

Fracker testified 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 Congress.

Under cross-examination by Rollins, Fracker said he did not have a 'verbal agreement' with anybody to obstruct the joint session of Congress.

Fracker said he believed everybody in the mob 'pretty much had the same goal' and did not need for it to be 'said out loud.'

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 told jurors that Robertson only went into the Capitol because he wanted to retrieve Fracker, who entered the Capitol a few minutes before Robertson. Wagner said the U.S. Army veteran was using the stick to help him walk because he 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.

Jacob Anthony Chansley, also known as Jake Angeli, of Arizona, stands with other supporters of U.S. President Donald Trump as they demonstrate on the second floor of the U.S. Capitol near the entrance to the Senate after breaching security defenses, in Washington, U.S., January 6, 2021

More than 770 people have been charged with federal crimes related to the riot. Over 250 of them have pleaded guilty, mostly to misdemeanors

Jurors saw some of Robertson's 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.'

'I've spent most of my adult life fighting a counter insurgency. (I'm) about to become part of one, and a very effective one,' he wrote.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Aloi told jurors that Robertson was charged for his actions, not his political beliefs. Wagner also said Robertson should be judged by his actions, not his words.

The town fired Robertson and Fracker after the riot. Rocky Mount is about 25 miles south of Roanoke and has roughly 5,000 residents.

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 250 of them have pleaded guilty, mostly to misdemeanors.

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.
The three former Minnesota police officers who stood by and watched as Derek Chauvin took the life of George Floyd have rejected a plea deal, prosecutors revealed Monday.

Officers Tou Thao, Thomas Lane and J. Alexander Kueng face charges of aiding and abetting in Floyd's murder when they go on trial in June.

Prosecutor Matthew Frank did not disclose details of the plea offers that were rejected last month but said they were identical and were made after their convictions in February on federal civil rights charges stemming from Floyd's death.

Lane's attorney, Earl Gray, said it was hard for the defense to negotiate on a plea deal when the three still don't know what their federal sentences will be. The judge in that case has not set a sentencing date, and all three remain free on bail.

The revelation came as Hennepin County Judge Peter Cahill heard arguments on whether he has the authority to allow live video coverage of the upcoming trial.

Cahill had taken the rare step of allowing live audiovisual coverage of ex-Officer Derek Chauvin's murder trial last year, making an exception to the normal rules of Minnesota courts. He cited the extenuating circumstance of the need to balance protecting participants from COVID-19 against the constitutional requirement for a public trial.

Now that the U.S. has entered a new phase of living with the coronavirus, Cahill must decide whether to allow the same sort of access for the trial of the three disgraced cops. He did not rule during their pretrial hearing, and said he won't until after the Minnesota Judicial Council - a panel of leading judges and court administrators - meets Thursday to discuss the issue, according to pool reports from the courtroom.

This combination of photos provided by the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office in Minnesota on June 3, 2020, shows, from left, former Minneapolis police officers J. Alexander Kueng, Thomas Lane and Tou Thao. The former policer officers are on trial in federal court accused of violating 46-year-old George Floyd's civil rights as fellow Officer Derek Chauvin killed him. A Minnesota judge will hear arguments Monday, April 11, 2022 on whether to allow live video coverage of the upcoming trial of the three former Minneapolis police officers charged in Floyd's murder

In this picture from police body camera video shown as evidence in court, emergency medical services arrive as Minneapolis police officers, including Derick Chauvin, second from left, and J. Alexander Kueng restrain George Floyd in Minneapolis, on May 25, 2020. All three officers: Thao, Kueng, and Lane are facing trial in federal court as they have been accused of infringing Floyd's civil rights while another officer, Derek Chauvin, fatally kneeled on him

Keung (pictured retraining Floyd) placed his knee on Floyd's back while Derek Chauvin, who was sentenced to 22-years-and-a-half in jail after being found guilty in December, knelt on his neck

Tou Thao (left) kept bystanders at bay during the fatal arrest in 2020, while Thomas Lane (right) held Floyd's legs and arms

Surveillance footage from May 25 2020 showed Floyd in cuffs being escorted to a Minneapolis police car by Lane and Kueng moments before he died from asphyxiation

The three officers gathered around Floyd, who was laying on the street, as Chauvin put his knee on his neck

Bystanders, including Alyssa Funari, filming at left; Charles McMillan, center left in light colored shorts; Christopher Martin, center in gray, with hand on head; Donald Williams, center in shorts; Genevieve Hansen, filming, fourth from right; Darnella Frazier, filming, third from right, witness as then Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin pressed his knee on George Floyd's neck for several minutes, killing Floyd on May 25, 2020

Attorney Leita Walker, who represents a coalition of media organizations, including The Associated Press, urged Cahill to allow video coverage again, saying it's the most reasonable way to ensure public and media access to the trial. She said the public got to watch Chauvin's trial, and that interest remains high because both involve Floyd's death.

Thao, Lane and Kueng are charged with aiding and abetting both manslaughter and murder when Chauvin used his knee to pin Floyd, a black man, to the pavement for 9 1/2 minutes on May 25, 2020.

Kueng knelt on Floyd's back, Lane held his legs and Thao kept bystanders back. The killing, which was recorded on video, sparked protests around the world and a national reckoning on race.

'The public is just not going to understand why they got to watch that one gavel to gavel and they won't be able to watch this one,' Walker said.

But Cahill questioned Walker's assertions that he has the authority to make another exception and that the pandemic is still an extenuating circumstance.

'COVID-19 is less of a pandemic and more of an endemic issue now,' Cahill said.

Cahill noted that while he has publicly said he now believes the legal presumption should be to allow televised trials, he pointed out that that's not the rule yet. 'I'm still sworn to uphold the law,' he said.

Defense attorneys said they still oppose audiovisual coverage of the upcoming trial, and renewed concerns about the willingness of witnesses to testify.

Minnesota court rules generally require the consent of all parties for audiovisual coverage of trials, with fewer restrictions for sentencings. Chauvin's trial was the first in Minnesota to be entirely televised, from jury selection to his murder conviction to his sentencing to 22 1/2 years in prison. People worldwide tuned into the livestreams.

'I think livestreaming that trial enabled people here and around the world to see the inner workings of a system that was handling one of the most important trials of our time,' Suki Dardarian, senior managing editor and vice president of the Star Tribune of Minneapolis, which is part of the media coalition, said before the hearing.

Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison's office initially opposed having cameras in the court for Chauvin's trial, but now supports them for the other officers' upcoming trial.

'The Chauvin trial demonstrated the benefits of robust public access to this important case and proved that the Court could successfully navigate the concerns animating the State's initial opposition to audio and video coverage,' prosecutors wrote last week. 'The Court's commendable transparency inspired public confidence in the proceedings and helped ensure calm in Minneapolis and across the country.'

Judge Peter Cahill (pictured in a Minnesota court) will hear arguments on whether to allow live video coverage of the upcoming trial of three former Minneapolis police officers charged with aiding and abetting the murder of George Floyd

George Floyd was murdered by Chauvin after he was placed on arrest in Minneapolis on May 25 2020 on suspicion of using a counterfeit $20 bill

Former police Officer Derek Chauvin kneels on the neck of George Floyd, a handcuffed man who was pleading that he could not breathe

In April 2021, Chauvin was found guilty on three counts: unintentional second-degree murder; third-degree murder; and second-degree manslaughter for Floyd's murder and is serving a 22-year-and-a-half prison sentence in Minnesota

Due to federal court rules, live video coverage was not allowed for the first trial of Thao, Lane and Kueng this year, when all three were convicted of violating Floyd's civil rights. Nor was it allowed for Chauvin's federal case in which he pleaded guilty to civil rights violations. But it was allowed in the December state court trial of former Brooklyn Center Officer Kim Potter in the death of Daunte Wright, who was killed one year ago Monday.

An advisory committee to the Minnesota Supreme Court is considering whether to allow more video coverage of criminal proceedings. It's due to release its report by July 1.

Cahill, in a letter to the committee, said he had opposed cameras in criminal cases before, but that his experience in Chauvin's case changed his opinion, and he now believes they should be presumptively allowed, subject to the trial judge's discretion.

Hennepin County Judge Regina Chu, who presided over Potter's trial, told the Star Tribune in an interview that both the Potter and Chauvin trials convinced her that cameras can be present without being disruptive.

'I forgot they were even there,' Chu told the newspaper.
The University of Southern California is suing two YouTube performers who the school says created panic after barging into classrooms to film prank videos for their channels.

Court documents obtained by the Los Angeles Times claim the pair caused 'terror and disruption' during three 'classroom takeover incidents' in the university's Mark Taper Hall of Humanities.

The YouTubers, Ernest Kanevsky and Yuguo Bai, are not USC students.

They could not be reached for comment Monday, and it was unclear whether they have attorneys who could speak on their behalf.

Scroll down for video

YouTuber Ernest Kanevsky has more than 111,000 subscribers to his YouTube channels, which have videos that have received more than 8.3 million views

Pictured: a screenshot of a different classroom prank, where YouTubers, Ernest Kanevsky and Yuguo Bai caused 'terror and disruption' during three 'classroom takeover incidents'

Kanevsky in character as a member of the Russian Mafia in a prank video found on his YouTube channel

A judge on Friday issued a temporary restraining order banning the pair from USC's downtown Los Angeles campus.

In the latest incident, on March 29, Kanevsky and Bai interrupted a lecture on the Holocaust while pretending to be 'a member of the Russian Mafia' and Hugo Boss, a known manufacturer of Nazi uniforms during World War II, according to court documents.

Students ran from the classroom - in some cases tripping over seats and leaving behind laptops and backpacks - in an attempt to flee 'what reasonably appeared to them as a credible threat of imminent classroom violence,' the court filing says.

The university's lawyers said the pair's conduct 'amounts to both a public and private nuisance' that caused students to experience fear and emotional distress.

Pictured: the University of Southern California, which is suing two YouTubers who the school says created panic after barging into classrooms to film prank videos for their channels

Another screenshot taken from Kanevsky's YouTube channel, which features prank videos

In September, the muscle-bound Kanevsky, Bai and an associate entered a data science lecture and allegedly used physical intimidation to force the professor out of the classroom before taking over the lectern and subjecting the students to 'insults and demeaning behavior,' court documents say.

In addition to the restraining order, the suit seeks unspecified compensatory damages, along with attorneys' fees and other related costs.

Kanevsy's YouTube channel has more than 111,000 subscribers and his videos have received more than 8.3 million views, the Times reported.

The channel features prank videos at universities, in gyms and restaurants, on the beach and at other locations.
A search is underway to track down three daredevils who risked their lives to scale a high rise crane.

The young daredevils filmed themselves dangling from dangerous heights on top of a crane off a Meriton high rise construction site in Surfers Paradise.

Footage of the death-defying stunt posted to social media and YouTube shows several men climbing the crane described as the tallest on the Gold Coast shortly before sunset while keeping a close watch for helicopters seen flying below them.

'We're about to lose light, we should really get up,' one man can be heard telling his mates.

'Pray for the best. Hopefully they won't see us.'

When they reach the top, a man takes the the stunt to a new level by standing on top of the crane unrestrained.

He then hooks his leg into the crane and leans backwards while dangling off the edge for several minutes.

'Been a dream of mine for minute (sic) now to do that,' he's heard in the video.

It would have taken just seven seconds for the man to plunge to his death had the dangerous stunt gone horribly wrong.

The Meriton Suites Surfers Paradise stands at 250 metres, or 31 storeys high.

Police want to speak to three hooligans who filmed themselves climbing and dangling from a high rise construction crane in Surfers Paradise

The daredevils went to desperate lengths to disguise their faces and voices in the footage, which was still online on Tuesday morning.

The men claimed in the video they were involved in a pursuit with security once they got back down on the ground, which resulted in one dislocating his shoulder and had to be taken to hospital.

They also alleged they later tried to scale the Gold Coast's iconic Q1 building but failed.

The men are in hot water with police, who issued a stern warning.

'People are conducting these activities for notoriety on social media but it just highlights the danger and absolute risk,' Gold Coast Superintendent Rhys Wildman said.

'Just don't do it! The notoriety is not worth putting your life at risk for.'

This man and his two mates face hefty fines and possible jail time if tracked down by police

An police investigation into the incident has been launched.

The men in the video could face fines of up to $3000 or a year behind bars.

Locals were left shocked by the footage.

'Very scary. I don't know why you'd do it, but I guess people get their thrills in different ways,' one resident told Seven News.

Another added: 'Its quite silly to watch.'
Terrified JetBlue passengers on a storm-tossed JFK-bound flight were caught on video pleading with crew members to let them off the plane after it touched down in Newark following several aborted attempts to land at the New York City airport.

'Im not going back in the air,' one passenger can be heard yelling at flight officials as the plane languished at Newark Liberty International Airport for over an hour.

Meanwhile, another man is seen begging crew members to let him exit the plane, which had been scheduled to land at JFK after a flight from Cancun, Mexico.

'My kids are panicking,' the man shouts.

'We gotta get off this plane. Its dangerous!'

'We tried to land four times already  were scared to fly, we wanna get off! I dont want to go to jail but its not right,' he went on to tell officials.

However, crew members would not unlock the doors and kept the packed plane on the tarmac until the thunderstorms passed and they could make the quick flight to JFK.

Irate passenger yells, 'Im not going back in the air' after plane was diverted to Newark

'We tried to land four times already  were scared to fly, we wanna get off! I dont want to go to jail but its not right,' the man went on to tell crew members

Meanwhile, another man is seen pleading with crew members to get off the plane, which had been scheduled to land at JFK after a flight from Cancun, Mexico

'I don't care about JFK  it's our lives! People are sick back there, people are fainting, people are throwing up! A little respect for human beings!' the irate man said, as other passengers begin to similarly plead with crew members to allow them to disembark the plane.

JetBlue spokesman Derek Dombrowski said Flight 1852 was diverted to nearby Newark Liberty International Airport 'due to weather' over JFK.

The spokesman went on to say that a customs processing issue prevented the passengers from being allowed to exit the plan as they requested.

'Without proper customs processing available for the flight at Newark, the aircraft remained on the ground for 60 minutes and once the weather cleared departed again for JFK where it safely landed,' he told the New York Post.

'We apologize for the inconvenience this weather-related diversion created,' Dombrowski added.

One man on the flight described the passengers as 'traumatized' after the ordeal.

'They told us that we would have to wait hours for customs at Newark or 20 minutes to go back to JFK - where we still had to wait hours anyway. JetBlue gave us $50 flight credits for our troubles,' the unnamed passenger said.

Meanwhile, there will be fewer flights for air travelers this summer after JetBlue and Alaska Air announced it will cut their schedules because of worker shortages.

'I don't care about JFK  it's our lives! People are sick back there, people are fainting, people are throwing up! A little respect for human beings!' the irate man, pictured, said

Another traumatized passenger pleads with flight crew to get off the plane

JetBlue said that despite already hiring 2,500 new workers this year, it's still unable to fill all the openings needed for a fuller summer schedule.

'We've already reduced May capacity 8-10 percent and you can expect to see a similar size capacity pull for the remainder of the summer,' Joanna Geraghty, JetBlue's COO and president, said in an email to staff obtained by CNBC on Saturday.

JetBlue's Geraghty added that the airline will share other measures to avoid disruptions with staff in the coming weeks.

'In the meantime, any and all ideas are welcome,' she wrote.

Airlines have been anticipating a huge boon to the travel industry for summer 2022.

The number of tickets sold in February for those traveling between June and August of this year was down just three percent from February 2019.
Thousands of Australians are repeatedly having close brushes with coronavirus without catching it and no one can work out why.

Sydney dad Craig Jeffs has never tested positive to Covid despite having at least three close calls with the virus.

'At the start of the pandemic, I had dinner with a work colleague and it was the very beginning,' he told A Current Affair.

'We shared a steak and a glass of wine and I actually had some steak off his plate. He was positive at the time.'

Courtney Forth, 26, never tested positive despite isolating with and taking care of her parents when they were sick with Covid

In another close call Mr Jeffs sat next to a Covid-positive friend for a rugby match, and then recently isolated with his wife after she contracted the virus.

Given the contagious nature of Covid, most people would expect Mr Jeffs to test positive after at least one of these exposures but he never did.

Courtney Forth, 26, works as a supermarket manager and looked after both her sick parents without ever testing positive herself.

She said she was constantly around them while they had the virus.

'Although Dad was really sick and he was laying in bed, I'd still go and take him dinner, or take him an icy pole, or something like that and I still haven't got it,' she said.

Sydney father Craig Jeffs has never tested positive to Covid despite having at least three close calls with the virus

Residents in Sydney are still opting to wear face mask as case numbers increase in the lead up to the Easter weekend

Professor Bruce Thompson from the University of Melbourne said Covid research was still in the 'very, very early' stages but new evidence suggested a history with the flu or common cold could result in the Covid 'immunity'.

'There's some good data to suggest that if you've actually had a common cold, which is also part of the umbrella coronavirus group, then you may be a bit more protected,' he said.

The research found 'high levels of pre-existing T-cells' - which are created by the immune system to ward off the common cold and flu - could be the answer to the immunity.

However, Dr Thompson said studies on the immune system itself were still a mystery and scientific evidence has drawn no conclusion on any immunity theory yet.
A proposed Bunnings development in a residential suburb has officially been rejected, providing 'relief' for residents who fought tirelessly to have the plans scrapped.

The hardware chain's $21 million plans for a store on Glenlyon Rd in the Melbourne suburb of Brunswick East was blocked by the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal on Friday night, who ruled in favour of Brunswick residents.

Local Andrea Bunting, who led the campaign against the retail giant, said the decision was a 'great relief' for locals.

A proposed Bunnings development in Brunswick East has officially been rejected, providing 'relief' for residents who fought tirelessly to have the plans scrapped

'Residents generally do want a say in shaping their community, but they get frustrated with the planning process. Too often, they are stacked in the favour of developers, especially those with deep pockets,' she said.

'This victory shows that, with a well-organised campaign, it is possible to win.'

Ms Bunting argued that the project would've had an 'adverse impact' on local residents living near the development, pointing out there are '120 homes' in the immediate area.

She also stated the store would increase traffic congestion due to delivery trucks and trade vehicles, as well as the fact the building would be situated on an already busy street.

'The design failed to incorporate a safe way to safely enter and leave the site on a congested road,' she added.

The proposal for the Bunnings store, which was drafted in 2020, received 538 objections that were submitted to Moreland City Council by residents.

Since then, 50 locals from the Glenlyon Bunnings Action Group, which Ms Bunting heads, have fought to have the plans rejected.

The Glenlyon Bunnings Action Group is comprised of residents who were against the store for various reasons, but most cited traffic congestion as the main issue.

Local Andrea Bunting (pictured) led the campaign against the hardware chain. She is the president of the Glenlyon Bunnings Action Group

Bunnings wanted to build the new multi-level store at Brunswick's huge Chamton site on Glenlyon Road (pictured)

When VCAT ruled in favour of the group on Friday, Ms Bunting told the Herald Sun it was a testament to what a community can do when it bands together.

'A strong, united community campaign can win against a corporate giant,' she said.

'Too often authorities pay little attention to the concerns of residents, and assume that they are objecting because they don't like change.'

Bunnings wanted to build the new multi-level store at Brunswick's huge Chamton site on Glenlyon Road.

The project proposed to demolish the Chamton premises - a leading art print distributor in Brunswick - and replace it with the new $21 million warehouse.

The proposed two-storey store was to be 15.4m in height with a floor space of around 8,600 square metres. An underground park was planned with 236 parking spaces.

The store would have employed around 100 to 120 staff.

The proposed two-storey store was to have been 15.4m in height with a floor space of around 8,600 square metres. An underground park would have provided 236 parking spaces and the store would have employed around 100 to 120 staff

Upon ruling out the proposed development on Friday, VCAT said: 'This proposal has failed to achieve this outcome in an acceptable manner when all relevant policies are balanced in favour of sustainable development and net community benefit.'

The panel recognised the action group's issue with traffic congestion in the area and stated the project did not align with state government and council policies trying to reduce traffic in the inner-city.

The panel said that the store would also create traffic 'saturation' at a nearby intersection.

Bunnings has not ruled out submitting new plans in Brunswick East.

Bunnings' Director of Property and Store Development, Andrew Marks, told Daily Mail Australia: 'Naturally were disappointed with the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunals decision not to grant a planning permit for a new Bunnings Warehouse in Brunswick, and will now review our options with the developer of the site.'

'Were mindful of the positives a new store would bring over and above providing customers an improved offer. In addition to the $46 million investment in the economy, the proposal would create more than 50 new local jobs on top of our existing Bunnings Brunswick team.'

'Bunnings has been part of the Brunswick community since 2015 when we opened our Sydney Road smaller format store. We remain committed to providing local customers in Brunswick with a wider range of home and lifestyle products,' he added.
The Ministry of National Defense's headquarters is seen from the top of Mount. Nam on April 12. Behind President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol's new office in Seoul's Yongsan district are residential and commercial buildings to the south of the ministry's headquarters. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul



Relocation move raises hopes among some, while others scratch heads



By Ko Dong-hwan



Less than 300 meters from the main entrance of the Ministry of National Defense's headquarters in Yongsan district is a small Chinese restaurant that has been open more than 40 years. The owner of the restaurant sounded rather indifferent to the news about the presidential office moving close to her place of business from Cheong Wa Dae in Jongno district.



But she added that she hopes the relocation will bring more customers to her restaurant.



"I know I may sound greedy to think the relocation could bring more customers to our store," she said. "But I just take in customers whether there are many of them or not. I don't know what will happen (after the relocation), so I can't say anything for sure now, can I?"



The presidential office will move to the defense ministry's headquarters, while the ministry will relocate to the Republic of Korea Joint Chiefs of Staff building next door. The relocation has already caused real estate prices in the area to creep up.



A realtor in the area said the news has prompted some people to inquire about buying residential property in the district, while existing residents are trying to sell their homes and stores located in underdeveloped areas of the district.



"Residential property prices in this area have gone up about at least 10 percent," the realtor, whose office is close to Shin Yongsan metro station, about one kilometer south of the defense ministry's headquarters, told The Korea Times. "There is clearly rising demand in the real estate market in Yongsan right now. I have been getting so many calls inquiring about buying apartment or officetel units. There are many officetels particularly in Yongsan. But it's difficult matching the hopeful buyers with the right property, because right now the supply pool is just too low."



An officetel is a multi-purpose building housing both residential and office units.



Many of those who own property in Yongsan are not in a rush to sell, according to the realtor, because they are betting on the incoming administration's promise to slash property taxes for homeowners.





But more and more people who own property in underdeveloped areas of Yongsan are looking for buyers, the realtor said. They are concerned that they might not be able to develop their property once the new presidential office moves into their neighborhood, because regulations could be imposed limiting construction.



"So rather than risking those regulations, people are rather choosing to sell them," the realtor said.



But it remains unknown exactly which regulations, if any, will kick in once President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol's new office moves into the area following his inauguration on May 10.



"That's a question we also would like to ask," Han Jin-hee, the head of the planning team at Yongsan district office's Planning and Budget Division, told The Korea Times. "Those regulations will usually come down from the central government, like the defense ministry or the land, infrastructure and transport ministry. But we haven't heard anything from the central government so far."



Outlook for Yongsan



Yoon has been adamant about the relocation plan  using 36 billion won ($29 million) from the national coffer as an initial cost  which was announced on March 20. Cheong Wa Dae has been the location of the country's top office since Korea's first President Syngman Rhee took office in 1948. But Yoon claims that the secluded location of the current presidential office hinders communication with the public.



The president-elect also declared that he will not use an existing bunker beneath the presidential office, which contains a state-of-the-art command center for the country's leader in the event of a national disaster or emergency. Yoon said he wishes to open the bunker to the public along with the pristine compound of Cheong Wa Dae. He said he can instead use a special vehicle that serves as a mobile command center in the event of a national emergency.



The new presidential office is eager to use Yongsan Park located a block across the defense ministry, as a symbolic landmark in the area. The site used to house the United States Forces Korea's (USFK) main garrison. The USFK, which moved the main base to Camp Humphreys in Pyeongtaek, started returning the site to Korea step by step. So far, 10 percent of the site's overall area of over 2.03 million square meters has been returned.





Yongsan Park is seen behind the National Museum of Korea in Yongsan District. The property used to be owned by the United States Forces Korea. Newsis



Yoon said that once the site is fully returned, he will build a Korean version of Blair House inside the park, which is the U.S. presidential guest house in Washington D.C. He also said that no additional regulations will be enforced in the area following the relocation so that local residents won't be affected.



The relocation plan has prompted city planners and architects to call for the launch of a state-level urban development project in Yongsan.



The new presidential office, according to the experts, completes a seven kilometer-long vertical line which already connects Gyeongbokgung Palace, Gwanghwamun Square and the Seoul Metropolitan Government building north of Yongsan. The complete line then can be further developed into a symbolic avenue by constructing new skyscrapers housing residences and offices as well as high-end hotels. The experts compared the symbolic avenue to Paris' Champs Elysees and Washington D.C.'s National Mall.



The relocation plan is also viewed by historians as putting an end to the history of Cheong Wa Dae's geographical site, which has hosted the country's rulers for the past 900 years. The site was home to a royal palace in 1104 during the reign of King Sukjong of the Goryeo Kingdom. It lived on throughout the following Joseon Kingdom, except during Japanese Invasion of Korea in 1592 and over 200 years following that, during which the royal palace at the site wasn't used.



The site also hosted the residential house of three governor-generals of the Japanese forces in Korea during Japan's colonial occupation from 1910 to 1945. Following Korea's liberation, the residence was used by Gen. John Reed Hodge who commanded the U.S. Army Forces in Korea from 1945 to 1948. After the Korean government was established in 1948, 12 presidents inhabited Cheong Wa Dae.



Historians also point out the fact that Yoon's new office is moving to a part of the country that had repeatedly housed invading troops for centuries. Forces from Mongolia stationed their logistics base in Yongsan during the Goryeo Kingdom in 1231 because of the region's proximity to the Han River, which gave them a convenient route to infiltrate Kaesong (now in North Korea). Chinese forces occupied the area in 1882 during the Joseon Kingdom to control rebels during the Im-O Military Revolt, and so did Japanese military troops around Mount. Nam in Yongsan during the colonial occupation. USFK troops had occupied the Yongsan Park site from 1945 until 2017 when Yongsan Garrison started moving to Pyeongtaek south of Seoul.





President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol explains to journalists about his plan to relocate the country's presidential office to the defense ministry's headquarters in Yongsan at the presidential transition committee's press room in Seoul's Jongno District, March 20. Joint Press Corp.
A Brisbane man accused of raping a 33-year-old Tinder date after spiking her drink left a post-it-note the next morning saying 'Sorry Babe', a court was told.

Jon Dennis Gurney faced Brisbane District Court on Monday on the first day of his trial on two charges of rape and one charge of administering an unknown drug intending to commit a sexual act.

Jurors are expected to hear from six witnesses over the woman's interaction with Gurney over two weeks in October and November 2019, prosecutor Michael Andronicus said in his opening.

Jon Dennis Gurney allegedly raped a woman he met on Tinder. A court heard she found a post-it note reading 'sorry babe'

The single woman met Gurney on Tinder, communicating via the application for three or four days before meeting on October 28.

She says they 'hit it off' and talked and kissed a few times before falling asleep in the same bed, Mr Andronicus said.

Over the next few days the pair met for drinks and had consensual sex twice, and the woman gave Gurney a mobile phone when he said his was smashed or broken, the Crown told the court.

In return he promised $350, but claimed he couldn't access cash that day, Mr Andronicus said.

'Things took a turn for the worse' when the pair were drinking together on November 1.

The woman claims Gurney told her it was 'time for some fun' when they got home as he had slipped MDMA into her drink, the court heard

She was left alone for about 20 minutes before finding Gurney at the bar.

'She recalled seeing he was high-five-ing everybody and buying drinks for people,' Mr Andronicus told jurors.

When the woman confronted him, Gurney pushed her against the bar and told her to 'f*** off', he said in the opening.

The single woman met Gurney on Tinder, communicating via the application for three or four days before meeting on October 28 last year, the court heard

'He told her he had been in a fight and to leave him alone,' the prosecutor added.

Mr Andronicus said the pair agreed to have a last drink - which the woman says she skolled - before getting into an Uber.

The woman claims Gurney told her it was 'time for some fun' when they got home as he had slipped MDMA into her drink.

At her house he walked into her bedroom saying she was 'going to pay' and 'nobody makes a fool out of me' before raping her, Mr Andronicus told the court.

After Gurney had left the woman found 'Sorry babe' written on a post-it note.

The alleged rape was reported to police more than a week later when the woman went to the Redcliffe Hospital.

At her house he walked into her bedroom saying she was 'going to pay' and 'nobody makes a fool out of me' before raping her, Mr Andronicus told the court

In body-worn camera footage played to the court the sobbing woman tells police Gurney said she 'deserved it' when she yelled at him.

'I was screaming out in pain', she says.

The court was told that messages between the two will form part of the evidence before the jury.

The trial before Judge Michael Rackemann continues.
The teenager allegedly stabbed to death at the Easter Show is believed to be a carnival employee who was working the day he died.

The 17-year-old was rushed to Westmead Hospital in a critical condition but later died. He'd been stabbed in the chest while working at the show.

Paramedics were called to a busy strip inside the Sydney Royal Easter Show about 8pm amid reports of a brawl between two groups of young men.

At least two teenagers were stabbed; the victim and a 16-year-old boy who remains in hospital in a stable condition with wounds to his leg.

Police confirmed in a press conference on Tuesday morning at least one suspect remains on the run. A strike force has been established to identify any other people involved in the brawl.

Daily Mail Australia can reveal the victim was an employee of the carnival and had been for at least two years.

He was on his break midway through his shift when he reportedly went to meet some friends, including his younger brother, who were attending the show.

Daily Mail Australia can reveal the victim was an employee of the carnival and had been for at least two years

The group then are understood to have encountered another group of youths, leading to the altercation.

Just a day before his death, the victim shared a video at work pouting at the camera with the caption: 'When you wish ur gf worked at the Easter Show again with u'.

He was working the Break Dance ride inside the adult section of the carnival. The ride is near a thoroughfare which is often congested and brimming with people.

Friends and colleagues have described him as a 'great guy' who always made shifts fun.

'Was a blessing working with you at the show,' one friend said.

'He had his whole life ahead of him... This never should have happened.'

A 15-year-old boy arrested at the scene was still being question by police on Tuesday morning

While campaigning in western Sydney on Tuesday, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said he was 'distressed' to learn of the teen's death.

'I would say to the family of those who have lost their son, my heart goes out to you. Your hearts must be shattered and broken,' he said.

'I would be asking all parents, obviously, to be taking care and making sure their kids are doing the right thing and making sure they're staying safe and being very aware of their surroundings.'

Footage circulated to social media showed two men brawling in the middle of the carnival.

The taller of the pair tried to send his knee into the other's head as he was driven backwards before landing a series of punches in his abdomen.

The smaller man retaliated by driving him backwards into a set of garbage bins before the taller man was joined by another who also began to swing his fists.

The victim was working the Break Dance ride inside the adult section of the carnival. The ride is near a thoroughfare which is often congested and brimming with people

A 15-year-old was arrested nearby a short time later and taken to Auburn Police Station, where he faced questioning.

He has been charged with carrying knife in public place, armed with intent, and affray. Daily Mail Australia does not suggest he had any direct involvement in the victim's death.

Detectives and forensic officers were at the carnival on Tuesday combing over the scene of the alleged crime.

While at least three people have been identified so far, police are certain other people were involved in the melee.

A police spokeswoman said on Tuesday at least one suspect remains on the run, as she called on witnesses to come forward.

'We know someone knows who has done this,' she said.

A 17-year-old boy has tragically died after being fatally stabbed in the chest at the Sydney Royal Easter Show on Monday night (pictured, paramedics at the scene)

Police believe the two groups of men were known to each other, assuring the public it was not a 'random attack'.

'We're trying to piece it together. It's a tragic, senseless act. This is a family event and the fact that someone has bought a knife into the show is upsetting.'

NSW Ambulance Inspector Mark Whittaker said by the time paramedics arrived the victim was already suffering a cardiac arrest as a direct result of the chest wound.

'Paramedics performed CPR and a number of other critical interventions at the scene before loading the patient for transport to Westmead Hospital, unfortunately despite best efforts he couldn't be resuscitated,' he said.

Showgoers were moved out of the carnival area as officers established a crime scene.

Confused show-goers were seen filing out of the Sydney Showground on Monday night as dozens of police officers cordoned off sections of the venue to continue investigations

The Royal Agricultural Society of New South Wales released a statement shortly thereafter confirming the adult carnival would be closed on Tuesday.

'The RAS confirmed all other aspects of the show will remain open on Tuesday.

'The RAS does not tolerate or condone any violence or anti-social behaviour and we join with NSW Police and the wider community in condemning this appalling behaviour and unnecessary loss of life.'

Any ticketholders who no longer want to attend the carnival are entitled to a full refund.

Tens of thousands of revellers flock to the showground every year to enjoy spine-tingling rides, wood-chopping, the animals, and the famous showbags.

Police and paramedics were called to the Easter Show just after 8pm on Monday, with riot squad vehicles also pictured at the scene

Tens of thousands of keen attendees made the most of the hot weather and descended on the Sydney Showground for some family fun

However, in recent years the annual event has become the back drop for scenes of violence.

The fatal stabbing comes after the 2021 Easter Show saw an all-out brawl erupt among terrified families with two people stabbed in the chaos.

An 18-year-old boy was treated for lacerations to his shin while a 17-year-old boy was treated for lacerations to his lower legs, luckily neither injury proving fatal.

There were also reports of gangs of youths wreaking havoc on the final night of Sydney's Royal Easter Show last year.

Dozens of teenagers were filmed by onlookers running away from cops in a series of confronting videos uploaded to TikTok.

In another shocking video, a group of at least 20 men were seen brawling on the middle of the promenade inside the showground.

The annual show is held for around two weeks over the Easter period and was first held in 1823. Pictured is show-goers enjoying a carnival ride on Monday

A third video taken by a bystander showed an officer from Auburn Police Area Command pointing his pepper spray at a group of out of control youths.

A day earlier, the Easter Show was criticised when a photo surfaced showing a four-year-old autistic boy left unrestrained on a popular children's ride.

Tristan Curtis was on the 'Free Fall' ride on Sunday afternoon when horrified onlookers rushed to alert operators that his restraint had not locked into place.

Photos circulated online show Tristan on the ride with the restraint - which should be locked downward before the ride begins - still open above his head. Other children sitting next to him all had their restraints firmly secured.

The adult carnival section of the Royal Easter Show will be off limits to visitors on Tuesday
A Melbourne mother who was jailed for leaving her baby in a locked car on a scorching hot day is facing more time behind bars over a string of fraud charges.

Kaija Millar, 34, will have to spend at least 12 months behind bars after she was sentenced to three years jail for leaving her then 14-month-old baby Easton in her car for five hours while she played the pokies and bingo at a Point Cook pub in 2020.

The windows were rolled up, the air conditioning was off and temperatures outside reached a sweltering 37.5C.

Millar pleaded guilty to negligence causing serious injury to her son who is now blind and suffers from severe cerebral palsy.

Kaija Millar, 34, (pictured with son Easton) was jailed for leaving her baby in a hot car while she played the pokies for five hours. Millar is now facing more jail time over fraud charges

Millar, 34, will have to spend at least one year behind bars after given a three-year sentence for leaving her then 14-month-old baby Easton in her car for five hours while she played the pokies and bingo at a Point Cook pub in 2020

The mother was sentenced in February this year but is now facing more time behind bars, accused of allegedly swindling $12,475 in an online scam between August and September last year, 9 News reported.

Millar is alleged to have scammed four victims, while awaiting sentencing over the neglect of her child.

If convicted of the charges the 34-year-old could be facing a maximum of 10 years in jail.

Millar will appear in court over the new charges in May.

Kaija Millar, 32, (pictured, left) left 14-month-old Easton (right) in her car and abandoned him while she went to play bingo

Following her sentencing for neglecting Easton, a judge accepted Millar was less intelligent than an ordinary person, which had impaired her judgment, but that she knew what she had done was wrong.

The court heard Easton's internal temperature had skyrocketed to 40C, causing his fragile body to go into renal failure, deranging his liver, sending him blind and severely damaging his brain.

Millar had told emergency service workers that the windows had been rolled down with the air-con on, and she had regularly checked on her baby, but none of this was true.

Easton is now being looked after by a family member and requires 24-hour care.
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A bracing westerly is shaking the rigging and I am feeling distinctly wobbly way up high on the yard arm of what was once the fastest ship in the world.

Given that I'm feeling nervous, what on earth must they have been thinking back in the old days?

At least I am strapped to the rigging by a harness and stainless steel shackles which mean there's no chance of me coming to any harm.

What's more, the Cutty Sark is sitting bolt upright in her South London dry dock and she has no sails flapping in the breeze.

All I have to do is cling on and admire the view. A century and a half before me, though, this was a place of work.

The original crew would be expected to shin up these rope ladders ('ratlines') as fast as possible in all weathers with no safety equipment, sometimes at night, sometimes in a storm.

They then had to climb along 'yards' (those wooden spars at right angles to the masts) to haul in or unfurl the sails  there were 32 in total.

Some of the crew were as young as 14. Judging by the size of the bunks, none of them was very big. One slip, and they could crash to their death.

Robert Hardman climbs the riggings of the Cutty Sark in Greenwich, a new attraction that opened for visitors on Saturday

Cutty Sark is a British clipper ship built in Dumbarton in 1869 for the Jock Willis Shipping Line, one of the last great tea clippers to be built as well as one of the fastest

'The original crew would be expected to shin up these rope ladders ('ratlines') as fast as possible in all weathers with no safety equipment, sometimes at night, sometimes in a storm'

Little wonder some of them deserted after a single voyage. The last thing they could imagine is that, 150 years later, the public would pay 41 (26 for children) for the privilege of standing in their shoes.

For, as of this month, visitors to the Cutty Sark can do more than walk around her and marvel at the 19th Century's answer to Concorde. They can now haul themselves up into what passed for the engine room in the days before engines.

For the fame and commercial success of the Cutty Sark depended on her delivering cargo  first tea, then fine wool  from the other side of the world faster than any other means.

That speed  which could get her from Australia to Britain in a record-breaking 73 days  was down to her design, skipper and, above all, the sail area at his disposal. On a good day, she could shift a cargo of tea from Shanghai  worth more than 18million in today's money  at 20mph.

Her cargo would be worth even more if it could reach Britain before any other ship, with the result that these voyages became a precursor to today's round-the-world yachting races.

Standing on deck, preparing to put my first foot on the ratlines, I am reminded of the old saying: 'I wouldn't do that for all the tea in China'.

Back in the 1870s, they really were doing this for all the tea in China, hence the need for speed. Today, the priority is health and safety.

'They then had to climb along 'yards' (those wooden spars at right angles to the masts) to haul in or unfurl the sails  there were 32 in total'

'Some of the crew were as young as 14. Judging by the size of the bunks, none of them was very big. One slip, and they could crash to their death'

'Little wonder some of the crew deserted after a single voyage. The last thing they could imagine is that, 150 years later, the public would pay 41 (26 for children) for the privilege of standing in their shoes'

One member of the team double-checks my harness, while another hooks me onto a rope running parallel to the ratlines. That way, if I do fall, I'll dangle in the wind. The rigging tours are limited to nine, starting every half hour, so there is no need for speed any more.

From the deck, it looks a long way up. I get dizzy craning my neck so decide the best option is to look dead ahead. And then I gradually tread up. Nearly 70ft above the deck, I reach the 'Tops Platform' which feels like a relief.

Except it has no guardrails. It's a ledge which gives access to other areas of the rigging.

Those who have paid an extra tenner for the 'Rig Climb Experience Plus', must swap from one safety line to another and keep climbing to the next level, known as the lower topsail yard.

Here, I am clipped on to another rope. This is the point where you climb sideways instead of upwards, side-stepping along a length of rope beneath this mighty beam.

Even with all safety kit, it's a sobering thought that people would come up here to do important jobs, as opposed to merely clinging for dear life. It feels like the top of the world, although it's still a long climb to the top.

Thankfully, that is not an option. I look down and see members of the public gawping at me.

However, I have the benefit of a view across the London skyline in one direction and out over the sights of Greenwich in the other.

Behind me is the Royal Observatory, the place from which the world still sets its clocks. There's a sense of being at a crossroads of history.

I'm holding on to the rigging of a ship that was battling round Cape Horn in the age of Empire, while overlooking City skyscrapers.

'As of this month, visitors to the Cutty Sark can do more than walk around her and marvel at the 19th Century's answer to Concorde'

For the first time since arriving in Greenwich in 1954, visitors to Cutty Sark will be able to climb the famous ship's masts and enjoy views of the Thames and London with urban adventure company Wire and Sky

'Visitors can now haul themselves up into what passed for the engine room in the days before engines'

There's no need to clamber down as the final element of the rigging tour involves another sharp intake of breath and a closing of the eyes.

You are attached to a near-vertical zip wire which delivers you to the quayside, albeit with another safety rope to slow you down.

I have no doubt this will be a hit  with everyone from schoolchildren (minimum age: 12) to corporate team-bonding types.

It's the latest innovation in the history of a ship that has always grabbed the imagination. The story of the Cutty Sark is also a tale of survival.

For the last time I came to see this ship, she was a smouldering wreck after a fire in 2007.

Yet here she is, suspended so the public can appreciate the design of her hull, wreathed in sheets of a copper-based alloy that repelled barnacles and made her even faster.

'There's no need to clamber down as the final element of the rigging tour involves another sharp intake of breath and a closing of the eyes'

'You are attached to a near-vertical zip wire which delivers you to the quayside, albeit with another safety rope to slow you down'

'It's the latest innovation in the history of a ship that has always grabbed the imagination. The story of the Cutty Sark is also a tale of survival'

'Here she is, suspended so the public can appreciate the design of her hull, wreathed in sheets of a copper-based alloy that repelled barnacles and made her even faster'

The Cutty Sark has been cheating the scrapyard all through her life, as I learn from Dr Hannah Stockton of Royal Museums Greenwich, the custodians of this piece of our national heritage.

The ship was built and launched in 1869 at a shipyard in Dumbarton, destined for a career in the tea trade. She was officially named  from the witch in Robbie Burns's Tam O' Shanter  by the wife of her first captain.

Capable of carrying 600 tons of tea, with a sail area of 32,000sqft and 11 miles of rigging, the Cutty Sark could outpace almost anything else afloat, including steamships. Yet, within a few years, she was starting to look obsolete.

It wasn't just the development of steam engines which threatened her but the Suez Canal. This cut weeks off a voyage to the Far East and was designed for motorised vessels.

However, Cutty Sark's owner, John Willis, found a new role for her, transporting wool from Australia. With a competitive new skipper, Richard Woodget, she was soon beating the competition again.

On one evening in 1889, the captain of a steamship, the SS Britannia, recorded that, while steaming along at full cruising speed, he was overtaken by a sailing ship. Sure enough, it was the Cutty Sark.

As she grew older, Willis sold her to a Portuguese company. She began doing slower, more menial work. Still without an engine, she worked on through World War I and was on her last legs when she pulled into Falmouth for repairs in 1922.

There, she was spotted by a retired sea captain, Wilfred Dowman, who saved her for the nation.

Married to an heiress from the Courtauld family, he bought her for 3,750 and converted her for use as a cadet training ship. She was moved up to the Thames Estuary and remained there through World War II.

By 1952, she was barely seaworthy when she was hit by a passing tanker and the scrapyard loomed once again.

However, thanks to the persistence of a band of admirers, notably the Duke of Edinburgh, the Cutty Sark Preservation Society was formed and built a new dry dock for her on an empty bombsite at Greenwich. And there she has remained ever since.

At the turn of the millennium, with her timbers starting to buckle after decades of sitting on her keel on dry land, someone had the bright idea of suspending her 1,000-ton structure over the dock.

It would require a major overhaul, during which that dreadful fire broke out. By a stroke of luck, all the rigging and much of the ship's timbers had been removed, with the result that only 10 per cent of the original ship was lost.

Like every tourist attraction, this ship has taken a heavy financial blow during the pandemic but the crowds are returning. The hope is that tours of the rigging will raise revenues to keep her going.

Having survived everything else the fates have thrown at her over the years, I am sure Cutty Sark will just sail serenely on  as she has always done
Scott Morrison has vowed to create 1.3million jobs in five years - but his opponents are already warning it will be just another empty promise.

'We know he has made promises in the past but this is another promise, not a plan,' said Shadow Finance Minister Katy Gallagher on Tuesday.

Before the last election the Prime Minister made several pledges which he has failed to deliver on.

These include a federal integrity commission to root out corruption, new laws to stop religious discrimination and a botched plan to build 47 commuter car parks.

As both the Coalition and Labor make new promises during the six-week election campaign which began on Sunday, Daily Mail Australia takes a look at the pledges Mr Morrison made but couldn't keep last time around.

Integrity commission

Scott Morrison and then attorney general Christian Porter announced the Government would set up a federal integrity commission in December 2018.

They said the new Commonwealth Integrity Commission would 'take the lead on detecting and stamping out any corrupt and criminal behaviour by Commonwealth employees.'

The Government finally released an exposure draft of the bill in November 2020.

Scott Morrison (pictured on Sunday) has vowed to create 1.3million jobs in five years - but his opponents are already warning it will be just another empty promise

Labor said the proposal was too weak because the commission would be unable to hold its own independent inquiries, prevented from holding public hearings into politicians or public servants and banned from investigating past scandals.

Fearing Labor would amend the proposal with the backing of some Liberal rebels, Mr Morrison never introduced the bill into Parliament.

Religious discrimination bill

Scott Morrison promised new laws to prevent discrimination on the basis of faith in 2019.

After lengthy delays he finally introduced it to parliament in November. It passed the House but was not debated in the Senate before the election was called.

Mr Morrison said the bill 'seeks to protect people of faith from discrimination on the basis of their religion in daily life, including work, education, buying goods and services, and accessing accommodation'.

But the bill also contained a controversial 'statement of belief' clause to prevent religious people from being sued for comments based on their faith.

Scott Morrison promised new laws to prevent discrimination on the basis of faith in 2019. Pictured: Muslim worshippers in an Eid al-Fitr prayer in Sydney in May 2021

Gay and transgender rights activists were concerned the bill would make it easier for religious schools to offend gay and trans students.

To partly tackle this, the Government moved to change a separate law - the Sex Discrimination Act - which allows religious schools to discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity, marital or relationship status or pregnancy.

The Government initially only wanted to ban gay students from being expelled but five moderate Liberal MPs crossed the floor to also protect trans students.

Budget surplus

In the 2019 Budget, the Government claimed it would deliver a surplus the following year, meaning it would save rather than lose money for the first time in 12 years.

Scott Morrison boasted that he was 'bringing the budget back in black'.

He released a propaganda photo with the slogan 'back in black' which voters said made him look like he was on the toilet.

In the 2019 Budget, the Government claimed it would deliver a surplus the following year, meaning it would save rather than lose money for the first time in 12 years

The Liberal Party even sold a $35 mug bearing the slogan 'back in black' on its merch store.

A year later the mug had to be removed because the surplus was not reached.

Mr Morrison blames the Covid-19 pandemic but Labor says the Government was not on track for a surplus even before the virus hit.

Car Parks

In the build-up to the 2019 election the Government announced a $650million program to build 47 commuter car parks.

A scathing report found that 77 per cent of them were in Coalition-held electorates as the PM looked to hold onto seats at the election.

In the build up to the 2019 election the Government announced a $650million program to build 47 commuter car parks (pictured in Melbourne)

However, only six car parks have actually been built and construction work has only been started on another six, while others have been scrapped altogether.

The Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications said Covid-19 and bushfires caused 'considerable disruption to multiple projects'.

1billion new trees

In 2018 Scott Morrison announced a plan to plant 1billion trees in 10 years to help the environment.

The government said 400,000 hectares of new tree plantations are needed to meet its target.

But government stats show only 4,300 hectares of trees were planted in 2018/19 and 2019/20, which is equivalent to around one per cent of the target.

In 2018 Scott Morrison announced a plan to plant 1billion trees in 10 years to help the environment

Independent Senator Rex Patrick said the Coalition should just admit it will break its promise.

'I think the government knows the billion trees is not a possibility - they ought to admit that,' he said.

Agriculture Minister David Littleproud blamed the 2019 bushfires, saying: 'The reality was that that whole program was displaced because of the Black Summer events.'

Social media crackdown

In March 2019 Mr Porter promised a tightening of privacy laws to protect Aussies on social media.

The proposal would have increased the penalty for 'serious or repeated breaches' of privacy from $2.1million to $10million.

But the bill was never introduced to Parliament.

Mr Morrison announced a fresh crackdown on social media in November 2021, pledging laws to unmask anonymous trolls.

But these also were not introduced to Parliament. Labor frontbencher Mark Dreyfus said this was 'another broken promise'.
The National Union of Students has been reported by an MP to the Charity Commission over allegations of anti-Semitism.

Tory MP Robert Halfon referred the student body to authorities alongside a dossier of incidents from recent years.

He also called for a statutory inquiry into the NUS and its trustees. Mr Halfon, who is also chairman of the Commons education committee, has been a vocal critic of the organisation.

He made the request jointly with the Campaign Against anti-Semitism (CAA), a charity that seeks to fight hatred against British Jews.

MP Robert Halfon, pictured in the Commons, referred the National Union of Students to authorities over allegations of anti-Semitism after its new president Shaima Dallali posted material seeming to express sympathy for Palestinian militant group Hamas

It follows the election of a controversial new NUS president, Shaima Dallali, whose past social media posts have alarmed the Jewish community.

Her posts include comments showing apparent sympathy towards Palestinian militant group Hamas and quoting an anti-Jewish battle cry.

In his letter, Mr Halfon said: The NUS has consistently failed to protect Jewish students from discrimination and harassment, and sometimes has been the cause of such discrimination and harassment.

The NUS told Sky News: NUS is taking anti-Semitism allegations seriously. There is no place for anti-Semitism within the student movement.

A Charity Commission spokesman said: We are aware of media reporting on the National Union of Students. We are engaging with the trustees of the NUS Students Union Charitable Services to inform any next steps, including whether or not this is a matter for the Commission.

An NUS spokesman said: NUS is taking antisemitism allegations seriously. There is no place for antisemitism within the student movement.

We have unreservedly apologised for the concern and worry caused in recent weeks, and are working to address any wrongdoing and rebuild trust.

The Board are meeting to instigate our robust internal procedures including considering appointing an independent external party to support with this. If we find that action needs to be taken we wont hesitate to take it, as we have previously.

For information, NUS is not a charity and we arent funded by public money. However, we gladly set ourselves the highest bar in terms of our conduct.

We welcome the opportunity to work with politicians, as we do with various Government officials and advisors.

The student body also prompted outrage when it invited rapper Lowkey to perform at a special concert.

He has previously expressed support for former Labour MP Chris Williamson, who was suspended from the party in 2019 over allegations of anti-Semitism, and Professor David Miller, a former sociology lecturer at Bristol University who was sacked after alleged anti-Semitic comments.

In an online interview, Lowkey said that the mainstream media had weaponised the Jewish heritage of [Volodymyr] Zelensky, the President of Ukraine.

Mr Halfon pointed out that before the rapper withdrew amid media scrutiny, Jewish students concerns were not taken seriously.

He said the NUS reportedly told Jewish students that they could remove themselves from the event and find an existing safe space for students who do not like loud noise.

Mr Halfon added: The NUS has allowed a culture of discrimination and harassment against Jewish students to brew, to the point where they suggested Jewish students segregate themselves from an event - the very opposite of inclusion.

It comes after universities minister Michelle Donelan said she was considering measures including suspending the NUS from all engagement with government... unless they take immediate steps to regain the confidence of Jewish students.
The WNBA remains committed to bringing league star Brittney Griner back to the United States from Russia, where she's currently imprisoned awaiting trial on drug charges.

Moments before Rhyne Howard went to Atlanta with the No. 1 pick in the WNBA draft on Monday, commissioner Cathy Engelbert said the league is working with 'everybody in our ecosystem to try and find ways to get her [Griner] home safely.'

Griner, who plays for both the WNBA's Phoenix Mercury and the Russian league's UMMC Ekaterinburg, has been detained overseas since arriving at a Moscow airport in mid-February. Russian authorities said a search of her luggage revealed vape cartridges that allegedly contained oil derived from cannabis, which could carry a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.

'I want to take a moment to reiterate the WNBA's support for Phoenix Mercury star Brittney Griner,' Engelbert said before the draft started. 'Please know that getting her home safely continues to be our top priority and while we are facing an extraordinarily complex challenge, there is strength in community, especially the WNBA.'

The drug charges are unproven, and there is speculation Griner is being framed by a Russian government that wants to use her as leverage amid the war in Ukraine.

New York Democratic Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, for one, has accused Moscow of bringing false charges against Griner and other Americans.

WNBA Commish Cathy Engelbert says the league is still working at bringing Brittney Griner home. pic.twitter.com/Uj5k75OCqA  Sarah Valenzuela (@Sarah_IsabelVee) April 11, 2022

Brittney Griner, 31, a WNBA star and two-time Olympian, was arrested in Moscow airport and faces a potential 10-year sentence for allegedly carrying drugs. State Department official Ned Price said an official from the US Embassy visited her for the first time this month and she was in 'good condition'. In March, Griner was seen for the first time since her arrest (left) after pleading not guilty to the charges in a court in Moscow. Russian officials have also extended her detention until May 19 while they investigate the charges

Moments before Rhyne Howard went to Atlanta with the No. 1 pick in the WNBA draft on Monday, commissioner Cathy Engelbert said the league is working with 'everybody in our ecosystem to try and find ways to get her home safely'

Engelbert said there will be a league-wide charity initiative spearheaded by the Mercury to support Griner's philanthropic project, called BG's Heart and Sole Shoe Drive. The drive has gathered new or gently used shoes for homeless people in the Phoenix area.

'This is an unimaginable situation for BG to be in,' Engelbert said. 'She continues to have our full support. Certainly, we're trying everything we can, every angle, working with her legal representation, her agent, elected leaders, the administration. Just everybody in our ecosystem to try and find ways to get her home safely and as quickly as we can.'

Last month State Department spokesperson Ned Price told CNN that Griner had been seen 'in good condition' by another official. Price did not identify the official who had been granted consular access to Griner, something the US had been demanding.

Price says the US 'will do everything we can to see that she is treated fairly throughout this ordeal.' Griner's legal ordeal comes amid tension between Russia and the US over Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Quanitra Hollingswort of Kursk challenges Brittney Griner of Ekaterinburg during the Euro League Women final match between UMMC Ekaterinburg and Dynamo Kursk at Novomatic Arena in 2019 in Hungary

A member of a Russian state-backed prison monitoring group visited with Griner last week at the pretrial detention facility outside Moscow where shes being held and said the Phoenix Mercury star was faring well behind bars.

Griner's lawyers have been visiting her regularly.

The legal team for the two-time Olympic gold-medalist has been quietly seeking her release and has declined to speak out about the case since her arrest was made public.

Of the thousands of US citizens arrested and jailed in prisons abroad, a small subset are designated by the US government as wrongfully detained - a category that affords their cases an extra level of government attention and places them under the auspices of the Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs at the State Department. The US government has not yet put Griner's case in that category.

Griner is not the only American detained in Russia. Marine veteran Trevor Reed was sentenced to nine years in prison in 2020 on charges alleging that he assaulted police officers in Moscow. And Michigan corporate security executive Paul Whelan is serving a 16-year sentence on espionage charges that his family and the U.S. government have said are false. US officials have publicly called for Moscow to release them.

Griner was seen putting her belongings through a scanner at Moscow's Sheremetyevo International Airport in February prior to her arrest on allegations of drug possession

She could face five years in a labor camp, Russian law expert Peter Maggs of the University of Illinois law school told Fox News, while suggesting that high-level government officials may be dragging out the legal process.

'You're talking about five years, not jail time, but a labor camp,' he said.

'One thing I find a little worrisome is this extension of her preliminary holding from two months to three months, because you have to go to a higher authority to get it lengthened.'

Maggs also said the Russian government has been known to plant drugs on people 'if the regime wanted to get them in trouble.'

Government officials and Griner's own agency have hesitated to say too much about her situation, perhaps because doing so could give the Russian government more incentive to keep her imprisoned.

'People around Brittney and the U.S. government know that if you make too big a deal of it here, you not only risk bringing attention to it, but you add value to her as an asset,' ESPN's TJ Quinn said, as quoted by NPR.

Russian state news agency Tass reported last week that a court had extended Griner's pretrial detention to May 19.

The WNBA season tips off on May 6, with training camps opening later this week.
Pundits on Russian state TV have been pushing American regime change amid Democratic President Joe Biden's support for Ukraine, talking up a 2024 ticket consisting of former President Donald Trump and ex-Democratic Rep. Tulsi Gabbard.

The Daily Beast reported Monday that state TV host Evgeny Popov recently declared the time had come to 'again help our partner Trump to become president.'

Another pundit, Russian 'Americanist' Malek Dudakov, suggested Trump should be invited to the coastal Ukrainian city of Mariupol - once Russia wins that territory.

'The most banal approach I can think of is to invite Trump - before he announces he's running for president - to some future summit in liberated Mariupol,' Dudakov floated Thursday night.

Dmitry Drobnitsky, another 'Americanist' on the panel, took it a step further, suggesting former Democratic Rep. Tulsi Gabbard get an invitation alongside Trump.

'Tulsi Gabbard would also be great. Maybe Trump will take her as vice president?' Drobnitsky mused, according to The Daily Beast.

Pundits on Russian state TV have been pushing American regime change amid Democratic President Joe Biden's support for Ukraine, talking up a 2024 ticket consisting of former President Donald Trump (left) and ex-Democratic Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (right)

The Daily Beast reported Monday that state TV host Evgeny Popov recently declared the time had come to 'again help our partner Trump to become president'

Gabbard, who made waves during the 2016 race to back democratic socialist candidate, Sen. Bernie Sanders, in the Democratic primary over the more mainstream Hillary Clinton, more recently has embraced the American political right.

She gave a keynote speech in February at the Conservative Political Action Conference.

The Beast reported that she recently has become a fixture on Russian state TV, and referred to as a 'Russian agent' by the Kremlin's propoganda machine.

Clinton, a former U.S. secretary of State, suggested in 2019 that the Russians were 'grooming' Gabbard.

Gabbard later sued the former Democratic nominee for defamation.

Trump denied any coordination between his 2016 campaign and Russia - what Special Counsel Robert Mueller was investigating in the Russia probe - but made complimentary remarks about Russian President Vladimir Putin's strategy in the run-up to the war.

Dudakov also suggested that Russia's interference in upcoming U.S. elections was in its early stages, but more will be accomplished after the invasion of Ukraine is over.

'When things thaw out and the presidential race for 2024 is firmly on the agenda, there'll be moments we can use,' he said.

He spoke of Russia trying to make the U.S. even more polarized.

The conversation on Russia state TV is happening as U.S. intelligence officials are warning that Russian President Vladimir Putin (pictured) may use Biden's support for Ukraine to meddle in future elections

'With Europe, economic wars should take priority. With America, we should be working to amplify the divisions and - in light of our limited abilities - to deepen the polarization of American society,' Dudakov said.

'There is a horrific polarization of society in the United States, very serious conflicts between the Democrats and Republicans that keep expanding,' he noted. You've already mentioned that America is a dying empire - and most empires weren't conquered, they were destroyed from within.'

'The same fate likely awaits America in the near decade,' Dudakov. 'That's why, when all the processes are thawed, Russia might get the chance to play on that.'

The conversation on Russia state TV is happening as U.S. intelligence officials are warning that Putin may use Biden's support for Ukraine to meddle in future elections.

The Associated Press reported Saturday intelligence agencies have yet to find evidence of Putin ordering election meddling - like he did in 2016 and 2020 to assist Trump - but he may see the U.S.'s backing of Ukraine as a reason to do so.
Anthony Albanese's failure to recall Australia's unemployment rate is not his only misunderstanding about the labour market - his claims about casual work are also wide of the mark.

The Opposition Leader has repeatedly claimed Australia's rate of casual work has been increasing when it has actually been falling for the past two decades, and that trend was strengthened by the Covid lockdowns across the country over the past two years.

Mr Albanese, who has an economics degree, on Tuesday stood by his casual work claims as he campaigned in the Labor-held eastern Tasmanian seat of Lyons.

'We're not exaggerating the level of insecure work and there's a range of areas in which it's happening,' he told reporters at Longford.

Scroll down for video

Anthony Albanese's failure to recall Australia's unemployment rate wasn't his only labour market blunder - with his claims on casual work wrong too

'Casualisation is one of them, the contracting out with labour hire companies is another.

'The third of course is the rise of the gig economy, the gig economy that doesn't classify people as employees, it classifies them as contractors.'

At Parliament House on March 29, Mr Albanese said the rate of casualisation was growing, despite Australian Bureau of Statistics data to the contrary.

'What we see is growth in the gig economy, a growth of casualisation, the growth of contracting out and labour hire companies,' he told reporters on Budget night.

Australia's level of casualisation peaked at 27.6 per cent in August 2003 and dropped to 24.1 per cent in February 2020 just before the national Covid lockdowns.

It fell to 22.5 per cent in August 2021 and slipped further to 20.8 per cent in February this year.

The ABS figures, however, classify casual workers as a share of employees on the payroll while Mr Albanese and Labor are concerned about the rise in contractor labour, used by the likes of Uber and Deliveroo.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison seized on Mr Albanese's blunder as he campaigned on Tuesday in the marginal Labor-held of Parramatta in western Sydney.

The Labor Opposition Leader (pictured with girlfriend Jodie Haydon) has repeatedly claimed Australia's rate of casual work has been increasing when it has been falling for the past two decades with that trend continuing after lockdowns in Sydney and Melbourne ended late last year

Australia's level of casualisation peaked at 27.6 per cent in August 2003 and dropped to 24.1 per cent in February 2020 just before the national Covid lockdowns. It fell to 22.5 per cent in August and dropped to 20.8 per cent in February

'His fundamental understanding of the economy is wrong,' he said.

'Casualisation has been trending down. It's been about the same level for 20 years.'

Mr Morrison said Mr Albanese's guess about unemployment being at 5.4 per cent also demonstrated he had no clue about Australia's economic recovery.

'He didn't get it wrong by this much, he missed it by this much,' Mr Morrison said, stretching his arms wide.

'His assumption that unemployment had a five in front of it, that is what I found more staggering.

'If he said 4.3 or 4.2 or 3.8 or something like that, yeah, it was a memory slip.

'But what this showed was, is he had no idea what has happened with Australia's economic recovery.'

Despite campaigning against casual work, Mr Albanese said he benefited from casual work when he was studying at the University of Sydney during the early 1980s.

'I myself worked casually, I worked a range of jobs at McDonald's, and pancakes on the rocks, that was a good job, 11pm to 7am,' he said.

'You get some good sites at Pancakes On The Rocks, I tell you.

'On a Saturday night. I tell you what it also did, I got triple time.'

Mr Albanese has gone into damage control after he wrongly guessed the jobless rate on Monday - the first full day of the campaign.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison seized on Mr Albanese's blunder as he campaigned on Tuesday in the marginal Labor-held of Parramatta in western Sydney (he is pictured centre with Liberal candidate Maria Kovacic, right, and Treasurer Josh Frydenberg, left)

'The national unemployment rate at the moment is... I think it's 5.4... sorry. I'm not sure what it is,' he told reporters in Launceston in the marginal Liberal-held seat of Bass.

The jobless rate in February fell to four per cent, the lowest since August 2008.

Nonetheless, Mr Morrison was wrong when he said unemployment had been higher under Labor.

'Last time they were in government, unemployment was higher,' he said.

The jobless rate fell to four per cent in February and August 2008 when Kevin Rudd was Labor prime minister during the mining boom.

Unemployment has only fallen to four per cent once under a Coalition government since then.

In July 2020, following the national Covid lockdowns, the jobless rate of 7.4 per cent was the highest since November 1998.

The ABS figures, however, classify casual workers as a share of employees on the payroll while Mr Albanese and Labor are concerned about the rise in contractor labour, used by the likes of Uber and Deliveroo (pictured is a Deliveroo rider at Chatswood on Sydney's North Shore)

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg on Tuesday also repeated his incorrect Budget night claim that four per cent jobless rate was the equal lowest since 1974 when it was the lowest since 2008.

'Despite the pandemic, the unemployment rate is now at its equal lowest level in 48 years at just four per cent,' he told Sunrise.

He repeated that incorrect claim at the Parramatta media conference with Mr Morrison.

'And today we have an unemployment rate at just four per cent - the equal lowest in 48 years,' Mr Frydenberg said.

The Budget papers predicted the jobless rate falling to 3.75 per cent by September 2022 which would be the lowest since August 1974.
It is an important moment in the journey into adulthood, but many 18-year-olds don't seem in a hurry to cast a vote for the first time.

In fact, they are around three times more likely to be on Instagram than they are to vote, a study has suggested.

It found that 227,087 teenagers who became eligible to vote in 2021 were on the electoral roll, compared with 657,356 who used Instagram at least once a month.

A study has suggested that 227,087 teenagers who became eligible to vote in 2021 were on the electoral roll, compared with 657,356 who used Instagram at least once a month (stock image used)

Other social media platforms including Snapchat and TikTok also recorded more users than voters.

Credit check company Experian published its research to encourage people to register to vote.

John Webb, of Experian, said: 'People who haven't registered to vote may not realise it's not just about having your say on election day, it can also benefit you in other ways.

Other social media platforms including Snapchat and TikTok also recorded more users than voters. Stock image used

'It can increase your chances of getting credit. Many young adults may be virtually invisible to the financial system because there's not enough information available to lenders about them.'

Figures from the past three general elections suggest that people are more likely to vote as they get older, according to the British Election Study.

The average turnout for 18 to 34-year-olds is around 50 per cent compared to just over 80 per cent for those aged 65 and above.

Experian datasets found 227,087 young people who became eligible to vote in 2021 were on the electoral roll, compared to 657,356 who used Instagram at least once a month.

Estimates of voter turnout among those aged between 18 to 24 dropped from 54 per cent in the 2017 General Election to 47 per cent when Boris Johnson won a landslide majority in 2019.
President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol gestures as he acknowledges his supporters at a market in Sangju, North Gyeongsang Province, southeastern Korea, April 11. Yoon traveled to the city as part of a two-day swing through the region that includes a meeting with former President Park Geun-hye in the nearby city of Daegu. Yonhap





President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol was to pay a visit to former President Park Geun-hye in her hometown of Daegu, Tuesday, amid attention over whether they will be able to patch up their troubled relationship.







Yoon led a 2016 investigation into a corruption scandal involving Park that led to her impeachment, ouster from office and imprisonment. Yoon said during the election campaign that even though he did what he was supposed to do as a prosecutor, he feels apologetic toward Park.







Park was pardoned in December after serving four years and nine months of a 22-year sentence for corruption. After months of treatment at a Seoul hospital, she returned to a new residence in her hometown last month.







Yoon has repeatedly stated his wish to visit Park. During Tuesday's meeting, Yoon is also expected to invite her to his May 10 inauguration ceremony.







Daegu was the last stop in Yoon's two-day swing through key cities in North Gyeongsang Province that was organized to express gratitude for the support that people in the region showed him in last month's presidential election.







Yoon was scheduled to return to Seoul later Tuesday. (Yonhap)


A 56-year-old man has died after being stabbed in both legs in a 'targeted' attack outside his Bronx apartment building in New York City on Sunday afternoon, the latest in a string of sickening acts of violence across the city.

Antonio Iglesias was ambushed outside his Concourse Village apartment building at 2.30pm when two men approached him on a scooter. One hopped off the vehicle and stabbed him repeatedly in both legs before both assailants fled, the NYPD said.

Iglesias was rushed to the hospital but could not be saved.

DailyMail.com spoke exclusively with his grieving wife Shantel Toro as she held a vigil for him outside 1212 College Avenue, where he was murdered.

She buckled in tears as she looked through photos of him on her phone. His anguished wife, Shantel Toro, held a vigil Monday evening outside 1212 College Avenue where her husband was murdered.

Police do not yet know what the motive for the attack was but sources told DailyMail.com on Monday the building where Mr. Iglesias lived is known for drug use.

The attack is the latest violent act in a spate of random and gang-related killings all over the city that are terrorizing residents.

Antonio Iglesias, 56, was attacked outside his apartment building in the Bronx on Sunday at 2.30pm. He later died in the hospital from wounds to both of his legs

Police said two men approached Iglesias (right) on a scooter and one of them got off their ride and stabbed him in a targeted attack

Police have not yet cited a reason for the attack, but sources told DailyMail.com on Monday the building where Iglesias lives is known for drugs

Iglesias was killed outside his apartment building at 1212 College Avenue in the Bronx

Shantel Toro mourns the loss of her husband Monday by lighting three candles in his memory

Crime across New York is spiraling out of control; for the week ending 28th of March, rape, robbery, felony assault, burglary, grand larceny, grand larceny auto are all up.

Crime in all of those categories combined is up 44 percent compared with the same week in 2021, while crimes on the subway and buses are up by 65.2 percent.

New Mayor Eric Adams has vowed to crack down on crime across the board but he is yet to have an impact.

Part of his plan was to put a team of designated cops on the subway to tackle the crime there.

The stabbing on Sunday was the latest brutal instance of crime in the Bronx.

On March 27, two men jumped out of a parked car to rob a 30-year-old woman walking back to her apartment.

Crimes across all of the city are up this week compared with the same week in 2021

She was wearing a $30,000 watch which they snatched from her wrist.

Although murders have ticked down 9 percent, other crimes are well up, with shooting incidents rising 14 percent, burglary up 31 percent, and grand larceny auto soaring 81 percent.

'This is not what New Yorkers expect or deserve, and we will not stand for it,' NYPD Police Commissioner Keechant L. Sewell said at a Wednesday press conference about the latest troubling data.

'It's clear what we are confronting: A perception among criminals that there are no consequences, even for serious crime. We need tangible changes,' added Sewell.

Without naming names or getting into specifics, Sewell appeared to slam the recent trend toward policies such as bail reform, and Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg's stance reducing or dropping charges for many crimes.

'[The justice system] must be fair, but it must first and foremost favor the people it was designed to safeguard and protect. When the focus on those people is lost -- New Yorkers, who deserve to be free from fear -- the policies fail to deliver on their most basic purpose, which is public safety,' said Sewell.

'Everyday New Yorkers need more help. Our police need more help. We need help from every corner of the criminal justice system, and from everyone who lives in, works in, or visits our great city,' said Sewell.

New York City's crime wave is continuing despite Mayor Eric Adams' promise of a crackdown

In an emotional statement, Sewell recounted numerous recent shootings of children in the city, including the fatal shooting of 12-year-old Kade Lewin last week in Brooklyn.

Sewell insisted that 'preventing and deterring crime remains our commitment' and said that so far this year, there were 335 arrests linked to murders and shootings, up from 257 last year.

The commissioner said that the murder clearance rate stood at 89 percent for the year -- higher than any year-end rate.
A sanctioned oligarch hid his role in 600million of bank transactions and swathes of property deals, leaked documents seem to reveal.

Assets linked to Suleiman Kerimov  one of Vladimir Putins inner circle  were disguised behind a web of companies and false owners, according to papers obtained by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists.

In one case, the owner of a company which transferred more than 230million to Kerimov-linked firms was falsely given as a Swiss tattoo artist.

Assets linked to Suleiman Kerimov  one of Vladimir Putins inner circle  were disguised behind a web of companies and false owners, leaked documents seem to reveal

In another, Swiss accountant Alexander Studhalter allegedly posed as the owner of properties that belonged to the 56-year-old oligarch. Mr Studhalter denies this and says his signature was forged.

Kerimov was the secret owner of several French villas and a London mansion that sold in 2013 for a reported 80million, according to BBC analysis of the documents.

Banks reported their as suspicions as long ago as 2010 but lenders did not trace the deals back to him. Kerimov has been sanctioned by the US since 2018 and by the UK since March 15.

Authorities in the EU, who also slapped penalties on Mr Kerimov last month, claimed he was a member of the inner circle of oligarchs surrounding Vladimir Putin

Authorities in the EU, who also slapped penalties on Mr Kerimov last month, claimed he was a member of the inner circle of oligarchs surrounding Mr Putin.

Experts said the complexity of the web of companies used by Mr Kerimov shows the battle which lies ahead for authorities as they try to track down the wealth of sanctioned Russian businessmen.

Tom Keatinge, director of the Centre for Financial Crime and Security Studies at defence think-tank RUSI, told the BBC: That just shows you how big a challenge we are going to have in genuinely enforcing the sanctions against oligarchs - beyond just seizing their yachts and houses in Belgravia.

Mr Studhalter has claimed that he never acted as a so-called straw man for his friend Mr Kerimov, and that his signature had been forged on bank documents which appeared to show otherwise.
One in four voters are less likely to vote Conservative in next months local elections due to the national insurance hike, a poll has revealed.

And even one in five traditional Tory voters said the 1.25 percentage point rise could put them off supporting the party, according to a Savanta ComRes survey.

The controversial hike for workers and businesses came into force last week, despite calls for a rethink backed by the Daily Mail.

The Prime Minister and Chancellor insist the 12billion a year it will raise is needed to provide long-term funding for the NHS and social care.

But critics fear it will worsen the soaring bills facing families.

The Liberal Democrats had commissioned the survey. Leader Sir Ed Davey said the poll of 2,203 UK adults showed that lifelong Tory voters will take their fury to the ballot box in May.

Rishi Sunak has shown he is more con man than Conservative, he added.

One in five traditional Tory voters said the 1.25 percentage point rise could put them off supporting the party, according to a Savanta ComRes survey, which Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey said will lead voters to take their fury to the ballot box in May

The found that nearly a quarter of adults  23 per cent  said they would be less likely to vote for a Conservative candidate standing in their local election.

And even one in five Tory voters said the tax rise would make them less likely to vote for a Conservative candidate.

Sir Ed said: Peoples living standards are plummeting yet the Chancellor has shown he cares more about his own tax bill rather than helping out hard pressed families.

It should be a no-brainer for Rishi Sunak: Now is clearly the time to be slashing taxes, not hiking them.
An elderly woman had an arm amputated and could lose the other as well after suffering horrific injuries in a dog attack.

The woman in her 60s was savaged by the vicious canine at a home in Palmerston, Darwin, at 1.50am on Sunday.

Whether the woman was mauled on the street or inside the property have not yet been confirmed.

She was treated by St John Ambulance paramedics and passersby at the scene before travelling to Royal Darwin Hospital as a 'priority one patient'.

Northern Territory Police are investigating a brutal dog mauling at 1.50am on Sunday that has seen an elderly woman forced to amputate one arm and at risk of losing the other

St John Ambulance NT operations manager Craig Garraway said on Monday afternoon the woman had surgery to amputate one of her arms and would need a second to try to save the other one.

Mr Garraway told ABC Darwin photographs of the woman's severe injuries shocked him.

'Obviously horrific injuries, a lot worse than I imagined,' he said.

'Injuries that obviously those first responders, family and friends and police had to endure prior to paramedics arriving.'

The woman remains in a critical condition in hospital.

Commander Sachin Sharma said she was severely injured and police would investigate the circumstances of the attack.

'This is a terrible incident and a woman has suffered life-altering injuries,' she said.

'At this stage we have not charged anybody, but we implore all dog owners to make sure their animals are properly trained, controlled and restrained.'

An aggressive dog was seized and surrendered by its owner to council rangers at the property shortly after the woman was mauled.

Two dogs showing signs of aggression were seized from the property by council rangers in Driver, Palmerston, early Sunday morning following a violent dog attack

The rangers also seized a second dog at the property that was showing signs of aggression.

City of Palmerston chief executive Luccio Cercarelli said council was aware of the attack and working with police.

'Our thoughts are with the victim and the victim's family, and all others that have been impacted by the incident, including our staff, NT Police and St John Ambulance,' he said.

'This is an ongoing police matter and City of Palmerston will continue to work with NT Police during this investigation.'

Palmerston Council said complaints about a dog attacks were thoroughly investigated and if the attack was substantiated, the dog owner could face warnings, restrictions, infringement notices, or prosecution.

'Actions taken against a dog owner depend on the specific circumstances involved in the attack,' the council's website reads.

'In a severe attack council can cancel a dog's registration, requiring it to be removed from the municipality, or seek a court order to have the dog destroyed.'
Thousands of Ukrainians are being moved miles away from their homes and into remote regions of Russia, Kremlin documents claim.

Refugees, said to be interrogated for hours and moved out in buses, are allegedly being sent to Chechnya, Ingushetia and Dagestan and as far as Sakhalin - the largest island in Russia located north of Japan in the Pacific Ocean.

According to the decree, none are being sent to Russia's biggest cities Moscow and St Petersburg but it is suggested some may go to Magadan - along Russia's far east - and Murmansk, in the far northwest of the country.

Refugees from Ukraine wait for the bus after they crossed the Ukrainian-Polish border at the border crossing in Medyka, southeastern Poland last week

A Ukrainian soldier pictured yesterday at a Ukrainian frontline in Donbas, Ukraine as the conflict continues

The Kremlin last month made an emergency order, seen by the i, to move 95,739 people into remote regions in the country, saying that the Government 'approves the distribution' of citizens of the Russian Federation, Ukraine, Donetsk and Lugansk, and stateless individuals to the 'constituent entities of the Russian Federation'.

The decree was said to include provisions to send 11,398 people to Siberia, 7,218 to the Far East and 7,023 to the North Caucasus, with regions reportedly told to update Moscow on arrivals monthly.

It comes as Russia has 'unleashed chemical weapons on Mariupol' with Ukrainian troops claiming they were hit by an agent dropped by a drone leaving them unable to breath and dizzy - as the besieged city's mayor reveals more than 10,000 civilians in the conflict have died so far.

The unidentified agent is said to have been dropped on the southern port city from a Russian drone, according to unverified reports from the city's Azov regiment.

Details of the assault, via the Telegram messaging app, say a 'poisonous substance of unknown origin' has led to the city's defenders suffering from symptoms including breathing issues, 'respiratory failure' and 'vestibulo-atactic syndrome'.

The alleged attack came just hours after a pro-Russian general in Donbas appeared to promote the idea of using chemical weapons, telling state media it would 'smoke the Ukrainian moles out of the underground'.

A picture released by the Azov Regiment claiming to show troops destroying Russian tanks and vehicles in Mariupol

Emergency workers remove debris of a building destroyed in the course of the Ukraine-Russia conflict, in the southern port city of Mariupol on Sunday

Service members of pro-Russian troops drive an armoured vehicle during Ukraine-Russia conflict in the southern port city of Mariupol yesterday

Meanwhile, the Ukrainian Parliament tweeted to say it has received reports of Russian forces firing 'nitric acid' in the Donetsk region. It is not clear if the incidents are linked.

It warned local residents to wear 'protective face masks soaked in soda solution'.

It follows a warning from the Ministry of Defence yesterday suggesting that Russia could turn to the use of a deadly phosphorus bombs amid attempts to finally break heroic resistance in Mariupol.

While strictly not considered a chemical weapon, the substance burns fiercely and can cause horrendous injuries, and its use on civilians constitutes a war crime.

People trying to flee the besieged Mariupol are also allegedly being given papers to sign which claim Ukrainian troops shelled the besieged city, the i reports.

According to the outlet, the paper alleges the person signing is a victim of Ukraine violating the Geneva convention.

Reports say that refugees, some of whom are allegedly interrogated by the Kremlin's troops for hours, are then sent to Russia as there is nowhere else to go from Mariupol.

An armoured vehicle of pro-Russian troops is seen in the street during Ukraine-Russia conflict in the southern port city of Mariupol, Ukraine yesterday

People queue to cross the border on their way back to Ukraine at the border crossing in Medyka, southeastern Poland on April 8

The scramble to leave Ukraine - where 10 million people have been displaced since Putin's invasion - comes following Russia's invasion on February 24.

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.
Kristina Keneally says she's isolating after testing positive to Covid

A senior federal Labor MP has contracted COVID-19 and will have to isolate for the next week, two days after the campaign for the national election began.

The candidate for the NSW seat of Fowler in Sydney's southwest, home affairs spokeswoman Kristina Keneally, said she woke up on Tuesday morning feeling ill.

'This morning I woke up feeling rotten and tested positive for Covid,' she posted on Twitter.

'I'll be isolating at home in Liverpool for the next 7 days...'

Ms Keneally is attempting to make the transition from NSW senator to lower house MP in the poll, which was called on Sunday and will be held on May 21.

Fowler is a safe Labor seat previously held by Chris Hayes, who's leaving politics.

'A big thank you to the ALP Fowler volunteers for campaigning without me at train stations this morning - very grateful,' she said.

Meanwhile, Australians stuck in virus isolation on election day as a confirmed case or close contact will still be able to cast their vote.

Anthony Albanese kicked off the federal election campaign with a blunder - failing to remember the unemployment rate or the cash rate during a press conference with reporters

For the first federal election of the COVID-19 era, the Australian Electoral Commission is working on a nation-first telephone voting system for those subject to isolation orders on the day of the May 21 poll.

Voters who miss pre-polling and postal vote options will have to make a declaration they are subject to a health order to access the emergency measure.

Confirmed COVID-19 cases and most close contacts are currently required to spend seven days in isolation across the country.
Seattle's police department is so weakened thanks to the woke policies of its city council that it is no longer investigating reports of sexual assault, according to an internal report.

Two members of the embattled police force provided documentation to KUOW showing that last month not a single sexual assault case involving an adult victim was assigned to a detective.

'The Seattle police department sexual assault unit is not at all investigating adult sexual assault reports or cases unless there was an arrest,' said one source inside the force.

Only four detectives handle sexual assault and child abuse cases in Seattle at the moment - an indication of the widespread staff shortage affecting the demoralized force.

In the city of 724,000, 16 percent of officers are on leave, while others have left permanently.

Seattle protesters calling for the police to be defunded are pictured marching in August 2020. The following month the city council adopted their call, and police numbers have been falling ever since

A sign is pictured on a protester's skateboard during a 'Defund the Police' march in August 2020

Seattle's police force is struggling to retain and recruit officers, amid continuing pressure from the city council to defund the police

Between January 2020 and December 2021 at least 339 Seattle police officers retired or resigned, The Wall Street Journal reported - noting that the city has an authorized force of 1,347 but only some 1,000 deployable officers.

The failure to investigate sexual assault cases is a new development, but the problems within Seattle's policing community have been brewing for several years.

In September 2020 Carmen Best, the widely respected then-chief of Seattle police, resigned hours after the city council made good on its promise to approve sweeping proposals that would cut about 100 officers and slash the department's budget.

The 2021 police budget, approved in September 2020, was reduced by nearly $35.6 million, or nine percent, from 2019.

A year later, the budget was cut again.

In November 2021, the city council voted 8-1 for a 2022 city budget that cuts police funding by more than $7 million.

Teresa Mosqueda, chair of the budget committee, claimed the budget includes 'no cuts' to 'officers or officer salaries' - and the proposal did include funds to hire 125 officers in 2022.

But critics said the strong message of 'defunding the police' was a powerful deterrent for anyone considering joining the force, and pushed many to retire early or resign.

Angelica Chazaro from Decriminalize Seattle said at the time: 'I want to live in a city equipped to address the current and coming crises without resorting to armed cops to protect the rich at the expense of the poor.

'This is why we demanded a Solidarity Budget, and why we celebrate every penny that leaves harmful policing practices and goes towards building a Seattle where we can all survive and thrive.'

She added: 'Our cross-movement coalition helped us secure a defund of SPD two-years in a row, and we'll be back for more.'

For some the measures were not extreme enough.

Kshama Sawant of the Socialist Alternative party, the lone vote against the budget, wanted a 50 percent cut.

Council President M. Lorena Gonzalez proposed reducing the size of the police force by eliminating 101 unfilled officer positions. That amendment failed after she ran for mayor and lost, 38 percent to 62 percent, against a moderate who campaigned on restoring the police department.

Despite the promises to stop the attacks on the police budget made by the new mayor, Bruce Harrell - who took office on January 1 this year - the results are yet to be felt, and the hollowed-out force is proving unable to cope.

This year so far, only 1.6 percent of cases investigated by the sexual assault and child abuse unit have resulted in an arrest, down from 14 percent in 2019.

Harrell campaigned on addressing 'visible crime' - promising to do more to combat homelessness, which is more of an issue in Seattle than almost any other city in the United States, with only New York and Los Angeles harder hit.

Seattle police are pictured on March 10 detaining a man suspected of dealing drugs, as part of the mayor's push to target 'visible crimes'

Seattle police arrest a woman caught driving a stolen car full of stolen merchandise on March 10

Seattle police are pictured on March 11, beginning the clearing and removal of a homeless encampment in Westlake Park in downtown Seattle

Harrell, a former civil rights and employment attorney who during his legal career challenged the likes of Boeing and the city of Seattle, said the police force, when he took over, was 'devastated and demoralized'.

He has noticeably increased the number of homeless encampment removals, noting in an assessment of his first 100 days that the city has done 30 encampment clearings and made over 300 housing referrals since the start of his term.

But his focus on homelessness has been at the expense of other areas.

At least seven patrol officers have been moved over to help empty tent encampments as part of the Alternative Response Team, KUOW reported.

Other Seattle officers are tasked with targeting city crime 'hot spots' and clamping down on people purchasing and selling drugs and stolen goods.

'Those officers, while certainly needed, will be spending much of their time working with homeless people who haven't asked for help from the City and in many cases won't accept it,' the officer wrote in a document obtained by KUOW.

'Meanwhile vulnerable crime victims who desperately want and need help from SPD are being put on hold.

'And people in the sexual assault unit are left wondering: If there were seven officers to spare, why couldn't one or two have been assigned to them?'

Bruce Harrell, the mayor of Seattle, is pictured on November 2, winning the election. He took over on January 1

Crimes against children are considered the highest priority thanks to a Washington state law, which means they must be investigated immediately. Adult sex assault cases have a longer window for an investigation to begin.

The Seattle police source told KUOW that the numbers for reported child sex abuse cases were soaring.

'Our child cases are increasing due to the fact that children are coming back to school from COVID,' the employee said.

Harrell has focused on 'visible crimes', but is hampered by a shortage of police officers

'There's more reporting, and we are seeing an aggressive level of child abuse than we have seen previously.'

Mary Ellen Stone, chief executive officer of King County Sexual Assault Resource Center, told KUOW that victims were being asked to wait a year and a half to even give their disposition.

Amid a backlog of cases in King County Superior Court, there was 408 sexual assault victims who had been waiting on average 563 days for disposition, she said.

'We want to look at this not as 'Oh, my goodness this all of a sudden happened,' Stone said.

'But this has been the state for some time, and now it's worse.'

Jordan Walker, a legal advocate with the King County Sexual Assault Resource Center, told KUOW that the psychological impact of the delays was significant.

'When the front door into a criminal case, into someone hearing your story, someone looking into your story, when that door is locked, and you can't even get in, the whole system can feel disenfranchised,' Walker said.

Adrian Diaz, the interim police chief, has supported the mayor's policies focusing on homelessness and 'visible crimes'

Adrian Diaz, the interim police chief - who is now hoping to be appointed to the job permanently, to replace Best - has complied with the mayor's wishes and is focused, his spokesman said, on deterring 'crime through proactivity.'

Harrell's office told KUOW after they published the story that 'any lack of urgency around sexual assault investigations or arrests is wholly unacceptable.'

They blamed the problem on a staff shortage, which they inherited.

'When we assumed office, the SPD Sexual Assault Unit had a depleted number of deployable staff and our evaluation of these limited resources underscore the need for increasing SPD staffing to ensure justice for survivors,' they said.

The mayor said he had already asked Diaz for 'detailed and data-based information on the status of sexual assault investigations and what immediate improvements can be made in this area, including additional staff.'

The mayor added: 'Our administration's proposed budget will reflect this priority by increasing detectives, resources, and specific training for investigations.'
Anthony Albanese has brushed off his huge campaign blunder by quoting Taylor Swift

Anthony Albanese has brushed off his huge election campaign blunder by quoting Taylor Swift.

While being peppered with questions on Tuesday about his well-publicised failure to recall key economic figures, the Labor leader said 'my theory is shake it off'.

During a train-wreck press conference in Launceston on Monday, Mr Albanese could not state the cash rate and then wrongly guessed the jobless rate was 5.4 per cent when it's actually 4 per cent.

The moment dominated news coverage of the first day of the official campaign for the May 21 election, and was seized upon by the Coalition as an example of its claim that Labor cannot manage the economy.

The Liberals are already running ads featuring video of the mistake alongside their new campaign slogan 'it won't be easy under Albanese'.

A fired up Scott Morrison on Tuesday said the Labor leader has 'no idea what has happened with Australia's economic recovery'.

Mr Morrison - who failed to state the price of milk and bread at the National Press Club earlier this year - twisted the knife on his opponent in a press conference in western Sydney.

He acknowledged that leaders can't be expected to immediately recall every piece of data, but said this mistake was more than a mere memory slip.





'He thought unemployment had a five in front of it. Not even a four in front of it,' the PM said.

'What that tells me is his working assumptions about our economy and what Australians are achieving in our economy he doesn't know and he doesn't understand.'

The reference to Taylor Swift (pictured) was Mr Albanese's second lyric quote of the campaign after he quoted the Ramones on Sunday, saying: 'Hey-Ho Let's go!'

Scott Morrison (pictured on Tuesday) has blasted Anthony Albanese for his disastrous blunder over economic figures

The Prime Minister added: 'His assumption that unemployment had a five in front of it, that's what I found more staggering. If he said 4.3 or 3.8 or something like that, it was a memory slip.

'What this showed was he had no idea what has happened with Australia's economy recovery.'

Mr Albanese defended his blunder on Tuesday, saying: 'I was concentrating on something else, it shouldn't have happened, it did.'

'I fessed up, took responsibility, that is what I will do. From time to time, if ever I make a mistake, I will own it and I will accept responsibility.'

He added: 'Here is a Taylor Swift comment for you, my theory is ''shake it off''.'

It was Mr Albanese's second lyric quote of the campaign after he quoted the Ramones on Sunday, saying: 'Hey-Ho Let's go!'

The Labor leader made the comments after he unveiled a plan to boost mental health telehealth consultations in regional areas by implementing a 50 per cent regional loading, allowing more bulk billing under Medicare.

The ALP says the plan will support 450,000 consultations over four years at a cost of cost $31.3 million.

Mr Morrison has pledged to create 1.3million jobs over the next five years. Pictured: Tradies in Sydney

Meanwhile, Mr Morrison pledged to create 1.3million jobs over the next five years as he trumpets his Government's economic achievements on the election campaign trail in the marginal western Sydney Labor seat of Parramatta.

The Government says the jobs will be created as a result of its Budget policies including an extra $20billion for road and rail projects, $7.1billion for major infrastructure projects in four regional areas and $2.8billion for apprentice wage subside programs.

After the Coalition pumped billions of dollars into the economy during the Covid-19 pandemic, the unemployment rate sits at 4 per cent, down from from 5.7 per cent when Labor left office.

Mr Morrison insists that if re-elected he will drive this rate down further and create even more jobs.

'We've got the runs on the board and proven plans to deliver these 1.3 million new jobs,' he said in a statement.

'Our tax relief for workers and small business, our investments in skills and trades, and our support for our local manufacturing sector mean we can get more people into more jobs.'

The Coalition claims Labor 'don't have a plan for the economy and jobs', but Anthony Albanese disputes this by pointing to his plan for fee-free TAFE places, cheaper childcare and plan to get power bills down with renewable energy.

Shadow Finance Minister Katy Gallagher said Mr Morrison's jobs pledge was 'another promise, not a plan.'
Russia has 'unleashed chemical weapons on Mariupol' with Ukrainian troops claiming they were hit by an agent dropped by a drone leaving them unable to breath and dizzy - as the besieged city's mayor reveals more than 10,000 civilians in the conflict have died so far.

The unidentified agent is said to have been dropped on the southern port city from a Russian drone, according to unverified reports from the city's Azov regiment.

Details of the assault, via the Telegram messaging app, say a 'poisonous substance of unknown origin' has led to the city's defenders suffering from symptoms including breathing issues, 'respiratory failure' and 'vestibulo-atactic syndrome'.

The alleged attack came just hours after a pro-Russian general in Donbas appeared to promote the idea of using chemical weapons, telling state media it would 'smoke the Ukrainian moles out of the underground'.

Meanwhile, the Ukrainian Parliament tweeted to say it has received reports of Russian forces firing 'nitric acid' in the Donetsk region. It is not clear if the incidents are linked.

It warned local residents to wear 'protective face masks soaked in soda solution'.

While strictly not considered a chemical weapon, the substance burns fiercely and can cause horrendous injuries, and its use on civilians constitutes a war crime.

The US Department of Defense is 'monitoring' the reports, Press Secretary John Kirby told Axios.

'We are aware of social media reports which claim Russian forces deployed a potential chemical munition in Mariupol, Ukraine,' Kirby said. 'We cannot confirm at this time and will continue to monitor the situation closely.'

A picture released by the Azov Regiment claiming to show troops destroying Russian tanks and vehicles in Mariupol

A theatre destroyed by Russian shelling in Mariupol on Sunday, a city that has been the focal point of Russian aggression since the outset of the war

Emergency workers remove debris of a building destroyed in the course of the Ukraine-Russia conflict, in the southern port city of Mariupol on Sunday

Russian President Vladimir Putin is understood to be preparing to double or even treble his number of forces in the eastern Donbas region

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (pictured) has pleaded for more Western aid, saying his forces need heavier firepower to resist the coming onslaught and push Russian forces back

An armoured vehicle of pro-Russian troops is seen in the street of Mariupol as a fire rages in the background

Graves of civilians killed during Ukraine-Russia conflict are seen next to apartment buildings in Mariupol on Sunday

Service members of pro-Russian troops pictured driving an armoured vehicle in the besieged city of Mariupol

Britain's Ministry of Defence today said Russian forces' prior use of phosphorous munitions in the Donetsk region in eastern Ukraine 'raises the possibility of their future employment in Mariupol as fighting for the city continues'.

The port city has seen the most intense fighting since the Kremlin launched its attack on Ukraine and has suffered more than 10,000 civilian deaths to date, according to its mayor Vadym Boychenko.

He also warned the toll could rise beyond 20,000 and claimed Russian forces are bringing mobile cremation equipment into the city to dispose of bodies.

The mayor's comments emerged as Russia claimed it destroyed several Ukrainian air-defence systems in what appeared to be a renewed push to gain air superiority and take out weapons described as crucial ahead of what is expected to be a broad new offensive in the east.

Capturing Mariupol, the main eastern port, would allow Moscow to link troops advancing from the east with those from Russian-annexed Crimea in the south and shift their focus to a new attempt to encircle the main Ukrainian force in the east.

Ukrainian marines have already said they are preparing for a 'last battle' to control Mariupol after being surrounded by invading Russian forces.

The 36th marine brigade of the Ukrainian armed forces said on Facebook that anyone whose limbs have not been torn off will be ordered to fight, and battles are currently being carried out by cooks, drivers and musicians.

They said earlier today: 'Today will probably be the last battle, as the ammunition is running out.

'It's death for some of us, and captivity for the rest,' it added, saying it had been 'pushed back' and 'surrounded' by the Russian army.

It said it had been defending the port for 47 days and 'did everything possible and impossible' to retain control of the city.

But Moscow today claimed it hit four S-300 launchers near the central city of Dnipro that had been provided by a European country it did not name.

Putin's invasion stalled on several fronts as it met stiff resistance from Ukrainian forces, who prevented the Russians from taking the capital and other cities.

And the failure to win full control of Ukraine's skies has hampered Moscow's ability to provide air cover for troops on the ground, limiting their advances and exposing them to greater losses.

With their offensive in many parts of the country thwarted, Russian forces have relied increasingly on bombarding cities - a strategy that has left many urban areas flattened and killed thousands of people.

To date, Kyiv estimates it has killed 19,500 Russian troops, though the Kremlin has only admitted to 1,351 deaths in the conflict.

The catastrophic death toll comes as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky defended his criticism of NATO and the UN, saying he has had enough of diplomacy with Vladimir Putin.

Zelensky told CBS 60 minutes on Sunday: 'When you are [working] at diplomacy, there are no results. All this is very bureaucratic. That's why the way I'm talking to them is absolutely justifiable. I don't have any more lives [to give]. I don't have any more emotions.

'I'm no longer interested in their diplomacy that leads to the destruction of my country. A lot of countries have changed their mind about Ukraine and about our people. But I think we've paid too high price for that.'

Ukrainian officials have also accused Russian forces of committing atrocities, particularly in the Kyiv region where mass graves were discovered outside a church in Bucha yesterday.

In Buzova, a village in the Kyiv region, Ukrainian officials said the bodies of 50 people, all of whom were shot at close range, were discovered on a road. Another mass grave with dozens of bodies was also found in the village.

Emergency workers remove debris of a building destroyed by Russian shelling on Sunday

Graves of civilians have been dug next to apartment buildings in Mariupol, where more than 10,000 have died according to the city's mayor

A heavy armoured vehicle is destroyed amid surrounding buildings in Mariupol

Russia on Monday continued its shelling of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions in eastern Ukraine, but battling Ukrainian forces repulsed several assaults and destroyed Russian tanks, vehicles and artillery equipment, the UK's MoD said.

The MoD warned that Russia's 'continued reliance' on unguided bombs in Ukraine increases the risk of further civilian casualties as the weapons decrease their ability to discriminate when targeting and conducting strikes.

An airstrike on a train station being used by civilians trying to escape the area also killed 57 people last week.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has pleaded for more Western aid, saying his forces need heavier firepower to resist the coming onslaught and push Russian forces back.

Mr Zelensky said on Sunday that the coming week could be crucial and that Western support - or the lack thereof - may prove decisive.

'To be honest, whether we will be able to (survive) depends on this', Mr Zelensky said.

'Unfortunately, I don't have the confidence that we will be receiving everything we need.'

His plea came as Putin is understood to be preparing to double or even treble his number of forces in the eastern Donbas region.

Following his troops' failure to capture Kyiv and other parts of the country's north after more than six weeks' of fighting, the Russian president has withdrawn some of his forces.

Putin is now beginning to redeploy some of those troops towards the Donbas, parts of which are already controlled by Russian-backed separatist groups.

He is said to be eyeing a battlefield win in eastern Ukraine within the next month, so that it will coincide with Russia's annual military parade in Red Square on 9 May.

The date marks the Nazis' surrender in the Second World War.

However, although they noted Mr Putin would desire some form of victory by that date, Western officials have cast doubt on his hopes of doing so.

They have said there is an 'incredibly important' window for the West to increase support for Ukraine as Russia takes time to prepare a new offensive.
Petrol bosses taking advantage of high fuel prices are making 30million in a day.

People campaigning for fuel prices to decrease said the cost of filling up a car could have decreased by 20p per litre.

However, fuel chiefs are raking in up to 29p per litre in profit on petrol alone, according to The Sun.

Statistics showed bosses are making even more - 35.7p per litre - on diesel.

FairFuelUK's Howard Cox said: 'Prices at the pumps should now be 15p to 20p less, due to oil costs falling by 30 per cent in March plus a welcome 6p cut in fuel taxes.'

The BP Petrol station in Ely, Cambridgeshire, which closed on Sunday morning after it ran out of fuel

Meanwhile, Conservative MP Craig Mackinlay said: 'It is now obvious that motorists are being fleeced by the fuel supply chain.

'Wholesale oil prices are way down from historic highs but the price at the pump has moved down by mere buttons.'

It comes as Britain is in the grips of another fuel crisis with one in three petrol stations in the south forced to shut after climate activists caused days of disruption at oil terminals.

Around 1,200 pumps south of the midlands have been forced to turn away motorists, the Campaign for Fair Fuel has claimed, in the wake of the action by Just Stop Oil.

The majority of filling stations in Cambridgeshire were either closed or had long queues on Sunday morning as people tried to fill up. (Pictured: Tesco Petrol station in Ely this morning)

This picture shows the queues at the Tesco Petrol station in Ely on Sunday morning

The eco protestors have been targeting oil terminals across the south of the country, including in Hertfordshire, Essex and Warwickshire this morning by locking themselves to pipes.

The action has been blamed for shortages of both petrol and diesel at stations compounding misery for drivers already facing record prices at the pump, reported at over 2 a litre in some areas.

Mass protests have seen over 800 arrests across the country and put a 'real strain' on local police services with over 50 more arrests expected today.

The protests are exacerbating existing supply issues due to increased demand after Covid lockdowns and Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine.

Frustrated drivers have blasted the eco activists for causing 'misery' to the lives of ordinary people who need to work and have no alternative but to use their cars.

Police today also slammed the criminals for putting lives at risk with their 'exceptionally dangerous' climate stunts as one force has spent more than 1million on policing the protests.

The action at oil terminals is taking place at the same time as climate protests in London, led by Extinction Rebellion, shut down two major bridges in the city.

Hundreds of demonstrators gathered at Speakers' Corner at Hyde Park on Sunday morning before marching into the city centre and 'occupying' both Lambeth and Vauxhall bridges - major traffic arteries across the Thames.

A Government spokesperson said: 'These claims on fuel are untrue and wholly irresponsible. Any closures are localised and not nearly as high as suggested figures, and there is no evidence petrol companies are making anywhere near the profits claimed.

'It is also important to note that there is a four week lag between changes in crude oil prices and retail prices at the forecourt.

'We continue to work closely with industry to ensure that supplies are maintained and have asked retailers to continue to pass the savings from the drop in fuel duty on to the consumer.'
Park Ji-hyun, the co-chairwoman of the Democratic Party of Korea's emergency committee, speaks during a general meeting of the party's lawmakers at the National Assembly on Seoul's Yeouido, Tuesday. Joint Press Corps



Some DPK members call for slowdown in prosecutorial reform



By Jung Da-min



Hardliners have gained the upper hand within the ruling liberal Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) in a drive to reform the prosecution to separate its investigative and prosecution powers in response to its overreaching role in alleged past corruption cases. But a few DPK members expressed concerns about the manner in which the reform is being pursued ahead of the local elections on June 1.



Park Ji-hyun, an interim leader of the ruling party, is one of such skeptic.



"I hope that we can have a reasonable debate today. It seems that there are two roads ahead of us. One is where we give up the prosecutorial reform and then focus our time and energy on improving the livelihoods of the public; the other is one where we go ahead with the reform," she said during a party's meeting with its members. "The problem is that even though we push for it, there are no ways that we can make it because the passage of the bill requires us to work together with the Justice Party, but the minor party is against it and there are also people from within who are voicing concern about the bill."



Park called for a slowdown of the initiative, claiming more time is needed to elaborate on how and when it should be introduced.



Rep. Park Hong-keun, floor leader of the party, and another interim leader, Rep. Yun Ho-jung, said that the DPK plans to push for the passage of the bill aimed at stripping investigation authority from the prosecution before President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol, of the main opposition conservative People Power Party (PPP), is sworn in on May 10.





Rep. Yun Ho-jung, right, co-chairman of the Democratic Party of Korea's emergency committee, and Rep. Park Hong-keun salute the national flag during a general meeting of the party lawmakers at the National Assembly on Seoul's Yeouido, Tuesday. Joint Press Corps



Rep. Park urged all DPK members to unite and support the passage of the measure. He criticized the prosecution in for mobilizing all of its resources in an attempt to protect its privileges, saying that the prosecution had "crossed the line." Park reaffirmed that the DPK would push for the reform.



However, opposition parties PPP and the minor Justice Party criticized the DPK for trying to push through the bill with its supermajority in the National Assembly, without enough time for discussion with other parties and to listen to expert and public opinions.



Senior prosecutors have been going all-out to protest the DPK's push for the reform bill, demanding the establishment of a special committee at the National Assembly to listen to experts and the public on the matter  an idea rejected by the party on Monday.



According to Tuesday's media reports, Prosecutor-General Kim Oh-soo is reviewing raising the issue with President Moon and trying to persuade the president to exercise his veto against the reform bill. Earlier on Monday, Kim voiced his opposition to the reform bill, as it weakens the prosecution's investigative authority, arguing that he will have no reason to remain in his job if the proposed reform goes through.





Prosecutor-General Kim Oh-soo speaks to reporters as he arrives at the headquarters of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office in Seoul's Seocho District, Tuesday. Yonhap



Holding a general meeting of the party's lawmakers, Tuesday, the DPK reviewed and adopted the goal of passing the reform bill.



Earlier the same day, Yun, the DPK's emergency committee chief, said during a radio interview with local broadcaster CBS that the party plans to pass the reform bill at the National Assembly within this month, so that it might be announced at President Moon's last Cabinet meeting, scheduled for May 3.



"There is such a thing as the right timing to carry out such a reform," Yun said when asked to comment on the criticism that the DPK is rushing the passage of the bill.



Yun said that the main reason for the rush is that President-elect Yoon is unlikely to initiate such reforms himself.



"If this prosecutor-turned-president takes office, such prosecutorial reform will never be carried out during the next five years. We need to complete the prosecutorial reform before President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol takes office, so as not to miss the right timing."





The headquarters of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office in Seoul's Seocho District, Tuesday. Yonhap
Victorian airline staff deemed a COVID-19 close contact but who do not have symptoms have been given the go-ahead to return to work.

The state's health department confirmed that from Tuesday, air transport service workers including pilots, crew, airport security and baggage handlers will be exempt from close contact isolation.

That means workers who have no symptoms and return negative rapid antigen tests will be able to attend work.

Staff will need to take RATs for five days and will be obliged to continue to follow isolation rules while not at work.

If the worker develops symptoms or tests positive on a RAT, the exemption no longer applies.

NSW scrapped the isolation requirement for close contact airline staff on Monday.

The decision to allow asymptomatic COVID-19 close contacts to return to work comes as travellers continue to face long lines at Melbourne Airport.

The airport's chief executive Lyell Strambi told the ABC recent days have brought the airport's busiest period since before the pandemic, thanks to the return of the Australian Grand Prix and the Easter school holidays.

He said close contact isolation rules were contributing to staff shortages and delays.

'The people who work at the airport really do want to do the right thing," he said on Tuesday morning.

'They're doing the best they can. It is going to take some time to come out of this.'

Daily COVID-19 virus case numbers in Australia appear to be on a downward trend, although NSW is still racking up counts above 10,000.

The total number of new infections dropped for a fourth consecutive day on Monday, with 41,806 new infections and five deaths recorded across the nation.

Meanwhile, Australians stuck in virus isolation on election day as a confirmed case or close contact will still be able to cast their vote.

For the first federal election of the COVID-19 era, the Australian Electoral Commission is working on a nation-first telephone voting system for those subject to isolation orders on the day of the May 21 poll.

Voters who miss pre-polling and postal vote options will have to make a declaration they are subject to a health order to access the emergency measure.

LATEST 24-HOUR COVID-19 DATA FROM ACROSS AUSTRALIA:

NSW: 15,334 cases, 11 deaths, 1584, in hospital, 70 in ICU

Victoria: 10,293 cases, 12 deaths, 376 in hospital, 19 in ICU.
The U.S. State Department is ordering non-emergency government staff to leave China's most populated city as Covid levels rise in Shanghai.

'The United States has no higher priority than the safety and security of U.S. citizens overseas, including Mission China's personnel and their families,' a U.S. embassy spokesperson said in a statement.

The order came only days after Washington has said all non-emergency employees and family members from the U.S. consulate in Shanghai were allowed to leave, and told Americans to reconsider travel to China because of the 'arbitrary enforcement' of virus restrictions.

Residents stand behind barricades set around a sealed-off area, during a lockdown to curb the spread of the coronavirus disease in Shanghai, China, pictured on Monday

A child is seen accompanied by her mother studies while receiving treatment in the quarantine zone at the Shanghai New International Expo Center this weekend in Shanghai, China

Firemen in PPE carry medical supplies to a temporary warehouse in Shanghai, China Sunday

'Our change in posture reflects our assessment that it is best for our employees and their families to be reduced in number and our operations to be scaled down as we deal with the changing circumstances on the ground,' the spokesperson noted.

The departure order will be up for review in another 30 days.

'Reconsider travel to the People's Republic of China (PRC) due to arbitrary enforcement of local laws and COVID-19-related restrictions,' the State Department said in a statement on Monday.

'Do not travel to the PRC's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR), Jilin province, and Shanghai municipality due to COVID-19-related restrictions, including the risk of parents and children being separated,' the statement said.

The statement comes as something of a surprise after Shanghai started easing its lockdown in some areas despite reporting a record of more than 25,000 new COVID-19 infections.

Authorities sought to get the city, home to China's financial center and 25 million residents, moving again.

Some areas are struggling to find food and medicine after spending more than three weeks locked down in China's battle to contain its biggest COVID-19 outbreak since coronavirus was first discovered in central Wuhan in late 2019.

An employee prepares online orders for delivery at a Burger King store in Shanghai, Sunday

Residents take bags with vegetables at the entrance of a neighborhood during a COVID-19 lockdown in the Jing'an district in Shanghai on Monday

A volunteer delivers daily necessities in a residential compound in a prevention area of Putuo District, east China's Shanghai on Monday

Shocking footage filmed over the weekend shows locals fighting for emergency supplies

The government has divided residential units into three categories.

These consist of 7,624 areas that are still sealed off, while a group of 2,460 is subject to 'controls' after a week of no new infections, and 7,565 'prevention areas' that will be opened up after two weeks of no positive cases.

City government official Gu Honghui said Shanghai would make 'dynamic' adjustments to the residential classification system as he vowed greater efforts to minimise the impact of curbs on ordinary people living in China's most populous city.

'We also hope all citizens and friends will continue to support and cooperate with the city's epidemic prevention and control work,' Gu told a news briefing.

Those living in 'prevention areas' can now move around their neighbourhoods, but must observe social distancing and could be sealed off again if there are new infections, he added.

Photos taken on Saturday show the city remains deserted as Shanghai's lockdown groans on

However, a 'dynamic clearance' policy remains Shanghai's 'best option', said Liang Wannian, the head of the National Health Commission's working group on COVID-19.

It was misleading to characterise Omicron as 'big flu' and lowering China's guard would expose its huge elderly population to risk, especially as the virus mutates, Liang said on a visit to the eastern city.

'If we lie flat, the epidemic would just be a disaster for these kinds of vulnerable people,' the People's Daily newspaper of the ruling Communist Party quoted Liang as saying.

The city faces pressure not only to curb local transmissions but halt the spread to other regions, he added.

Shanghai added 25,173 new asymptomatic infections on Sunday, up from 23,937 the previous day, although symptomatic cases edged down to 914 from 1,006.

The interior view of a makeshift hospital converted from the National Exhibition and Convention Center (NECC) in Shanghai
Beachgoers have been baffled by dozens of washed-up weedy seadragons found along the coast of Sydney.

Northern beaches local Betty Ratcliffe regularly walks Narrabeen Beach but noticed an far more weedy seadragons than usual in recent weeks.

'Today there were two more dead seadragons. Six I have found over the past few days,' she wrote.

Sydney local Betty Ratcliffe said she found eight dead weedy seadragons on her regular Sydney beach walk in just 'a few days'

Seadragon expert and professor of marine ecology at the University of Technology Sydney, Dr David Booth, told Sydney Morning Herald more than 20 dead of the animals had been reported along Sydney's shorelines in the past fortnight.

Weedy seadragons - also known as common seadragons - are only found in Australia along the east and south coast.

The bright creature is a common sight for divers and snorkelers in Sydney.

The small, leaf-shaped relatives of the seahorse don't tend to move much in their lifetime, only straying up to 50m from their homes.

Weedy seadragons - also known as common seadragons - are only found in Australia along the east and south coast

They are described as 'tough little devils' for their ability to hold onto kelp during strong currents, but their homebody tendencies put them at risk during storms.

Dr Booth believes the actual number of washed-up dragons is likely much higher, possibly as high as 50 in Sydney alone, as not every case is reported.

'I reckon it's about 10 times the normal rate of wash-ups. Clearly it's a result of some combination of the shocking weather, pollutants being washed into the ocean and big surf,' he said.

Weedy seadragons were previously listed as an 'near threatened' species on the International Union for Conservation of Nature's Red List of Threatened Species but was downgraded to 'least concern' in 2017.

However, Dr Booth is concerned northern populations are declining and the dragons will relocate down the coast to cooler waters due to climate change.

Seadragon expert and professor of marine ecology at the University of Technology Sydney Dr David Booth said over 20 dead weedy seadragons had been reported along Sydney's shorelines in the last fortnight

Dr Booth believes the tragic event is due to Sydney's wild weather and warned northern populations will continue to decrease with climate change

'At Kurnell, Botany Bay, there might've been seven to eight you'd see in a dive; now there's two to three,' he said.

Dr Booth identifies and tracks weedy seadragons through the help of hobby divers and artificial intelligence.

Using advanced software, he is able to identify individual weedy dragons based on their unique pattern and colours.

It is illegal to handle the body of a deceased weedy seadragon but Dr Booth asked anyone who discovers one to send a photo to help with his research.
A judge dismissed an entire pool of potential jurors in the case of confessed Parkland killer Nicolas Cruz after at least eight of them were led out of the courtroom in tears Monday.

Judge Elizabeth Scherer released the 60-person panel on the fourth day of jury selection for the sentencing of Nikolas Cruz, who killed 17 people at a South Florida high school in 2018.

Judge Scherer said the potential jurors were tainted by the emotional outbursts.

She had already screened two 60-person panels that day. Another panel was seen afterwards. So far, 147 potential jurors have advanced to another round of questions.

Seven women and one man had to be escorted out of the day's third panel, according to the Sun Sentinel. The exodus began after Cruz, 23, entered the courtroom. Eventually, all were released.

One woman was heard telling the judge: 'My son is a victim. He was shot at 15 year old. My spirit is so disturbed,' according to video obtained by WPLG. The judge interrupted the woman in an effort to keep her emotions from influencing the rest of the panel.

The dramatic moment comes after one juror, known only as 'Miss Bristol,' told Judge Scherer last week that she couldn't do the trial because she's too busy juggling her husband and her sugar daddy, an excuse that left the judge visibly confused. She was later excused.

Judge Elizabeth Scherer dismissed an entire 60-person pool of potential jurors on Monday after at least eight emotional people had to be escorted out of the room

The jurors became emotional after Cruz, who confessed to killing 17 people at a South Florida high school in 2018, walked into the room

The jury selection process has reportedly been marred by emotional outbursts.

On Monday, jurors were visibly teary-eyed as they were led out of the Broward County Courthouse in Fort Lauderdale.

The first woman to leave was heard crying loudly as soon as she left, the Sun Sentinel reports.

Cruz appeared in court with disheveled hair and thick-rimmed eyeglasses. He reportedly dropped his head and faced away from the struggling panel before facing them again.

'The ladies and gentlemen that have been taken out so far are people that are just so upset that they can't sit here without without getting emotional, and we don't want to cause trauma for anyone,' Judge Scherer said Monday after the potential jurors had to be removed.

'If you absolutely cannot sit here without breaking down or getting emotional, you can raise your hand.'

The judge excused the jury pool minutes later.

Judge Scherer and attorneys had already made it through one 60-person panel in the morning and another 60-person panel in the afternoon.

The first woman to leave one of Monday's panels was heard crying loudly as soon as she left. 'We don't want to cause trauma for anyone,' Judge Scherer said

So far, 147 potential jurors from a pool of 629 have advanced to the next round of questioning. Above, prosecutors Carolyn McCann, Mike Satz and Jeff Marcus on Monday

Another 60-person group was brought in about half an hour later, and 13 were chosen, WTVJ reports.

Three people were chosen from a subsequent 14-person panel, bringing the total to 147 people from a pool of 629.

Among those dismissed are one man who said he knew one of the Parkland victims and others with medical or language barrier issues.

One potential juror who was struck is a prosecutor at the Broward County State Attorney's Office.

Those who made it through this round will be brought back in May for additional questioning about their thoughts on the death penalty.

The trial is scheduled to run through the summer.

Cruz, above in his booking photo, was a 19-year-old expelled student with a history of mental health and behavioral issues at the time of the killings

Jurors will decide wether to recommend a life sentence or the death penalty for Cruz, who pled guilty to 17 counts of first-degree murder and 17 counts of attempted murder after carrying out a mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in nearby Parkland.

Cruz was a 19-year-old expelled student with a history of mental health and behavioral issues at the time of the killings, prosecutors said last year.

Under Florida law, a jury must be unanimous in its decision to recommend that a judge sentence Cruz to be executed.

If any of the 12 jurors objects, Cruz will be sentenced to life in prison without parole.

Among the mitigating factors the defense will ask the jury to consider are Cruz's brain damage from his mother's drug and alcohol abuse during pregnancy, his long history of mental-health disorders, and allegations he was sexually abused and bullied.

Judge Scherer, a registered Republican who lives in Broward County, has been on the case since 2019, when Cruz was charged.

She sparred with his attorneys during proceedings, labeling them 'disrespectful' at times.

Judge Scherer, a registered Republican who lives in Broward County, has been on the case since 2019, when Cruz was charged

Scherer has been on the bench for ten years and the Parkland case is by far her most high profile.

In 2018, she threatened to restrict reporting of the case after a local newspaper published information about Cruz that was not intended to be part of the public record.

Fort Lauderdale attorneys told The Sun Sentinel at the time that she had a reputation for showing up late to court and for being 'testy' and 'cranky.'

Scherer is a mother, wife and avid horse rider who, according to social media profiles, belonged at one time to the Stanford Equestrian team.

Last week, footage from the courtroom shows Scherer, 46, asking whether anyone has any concerns about the requirements asked of them.

'Miss Bristol' piped up to say not only was the trial expected to take 'a whole entire month', it conflicted with her birthday and would interrupt her love life.

'First of all let me clarify myself, July second is my birthday, July Fourth is my son, and the 18th is my other son. And again, I need to figure out something. I have my sugar daddy that I see every day.'

The judge replied: 'I'm sorry?' Bristol replied: 'My sugar daddy.'

The judge, looking increasingly confused, said: 'I'm not exactly sure what you're talking about.'

Ms. Bristol says she asked to be dismissed from the sentencing of Parkland school shooter Nikolas Cruz because she needs to be able to see her 'sugar daddy'

'Well I am married and I have my sugar daddy. I see him every day.'

Lost for words, Judge Scherer replied: 'OK. All right. Ma'am, we'll come back to you, OK? Thank you.' 'Miss Bristol' was later excused.

The axed juror and native New Yorker says she would've lost $8,000 a month throughout the case's six-month timeframe.

'If I do this case for six months, I have a hardship that means my sugar daddy cant support me,' Bristol told WPLG.

Bristol explained that the six-month time frame would put her in a financial bind of exactly $8,000 a month.

'It's all day for six-months and whats my hardship? I need my sugar daddy money. I said to the judge, "I have a sugar daddy and Im married and I have a husband," just like that,' Bristol said.
A victim of Australia's devastating floods has been brought to tears after he was given a car by a kind-hearted schoolboy.

Dylan Simpson's rental home and car were destroyed when floods inundated Chinderah near Tweed Heads in NSW's far north in February.

Mr Simpson has since crashed on friends' couches and used a bike to travel to work at a bowling club in Kingscliff.

He now has another mode of transport, thanks to a heartwarming gesture from a NSW south coast teen whom he'd never met and lives 950 kilometres away.

HSC student Harry Ledger, 17, travelled north to the Queensland border on Sunday to present his car to a shocked and emotional Mr Simpson at his workplace.

Harry Ledger handed over the keys to his car to flood victim Dylan Simpson (right) on Sunday

The self-proclaimed 'refugee' broke down in tears in joy when Harry handed over the keys.

The surprise presentation was facilitated by local mum-of-four Natasha Shearer, who has spent the last two months assisting with flood recovery efforts in devastated regions across northern NSW, including Lismore, Ballina and Woodburn.

'Two days on, Dylan is still overcome with emotion,' she told Daily Mail Australia.

'It was an amazing feeling to organise it after everything he's been through and show that he hasn't been forgotten.'

'I have an endless list of victims who need help but Dylan's story stuck out and knew he was the right person to give the car to.'

'To some this may seem like a small thing but to Dylan, it is the biggest blessing and he is forever grateful.'

Ms Shearer is long-time friend of Harry's father Dale, who previously lived in northern NSW.

Dylan Simpson (pictured being comforted by a local resident) was overcome with emotion at the surprise presentation at his workplace on Sunday

Harry, his parents and sister Mary recently travelled to the flood devastated region from Kiama on the state's south coast. They spent several days clearing up debris from streets and damaged homes.

The Ledgers also donated $3,000 in cash and items.

Seeing the widespread destruction inspired Harry wanted to do more and decided to donate his second-hand Nissan to a flood victim who needed the car more than him.

Harry spent two years saving up for the car bought four months ago.

'It was a huge deal and such a kind gesture from a 17-year-old,' Ms Shearer said.

Harry told the ABC: 'When we'd heard and saw everything that was happening up there we decided one weekend we would go up there and help out.'

The surprise presentation was organised by Natasha Shearer, who's coordinating flood recovery efforts across northern NSW. She's pictured with Harry and the donated car

Hundreds of displaced flood victims remain still stranded in evacuation centres, unable to return to their homes deemed inhabitable.

Of the 25,000 properties in Woodburn, just six were unscathed by the floods.

Ms Shearer has set up the Rebuilding NR 2022 Connecting and Supporting the Flooded Affected Facebook page for kind-hearted Australians to help displaced victims and with the mammoth recovery effort.

The current focus is finding teams of tradespeople to volunteer their time to fix up damaged homes.

Others who want to pledge their support should donate Visa cards which will be spent on whitegoods and furniture to help victims get back on their feet.

'The recovery effort is going to take months, if not years before everything returns to normal,' Ms Shearer told Daily Mail Australia.

'I've lived through many floods in Lismore but nothing like this.'

Those who want to help can email RebuildingNR2022@gmail.com.
The United States Postal Service has suspended mail service in a California beach town plagued by homeless encampments after the agency claimed its mail carriers have been attacked in recent months.

The first incident happened in Santa Monica on January 19 when a mail carrier was attacked by a broomstick-wielding person near the intersection of 14th Street and Arizona Avenue, three blocks from the beach

The carrier reportedly was not injured in the attack, CBS News reported.

Several months later, residents in the neighborhood received notices from USPS that informed them of the suspension of delivery service to all addresses located along the 1300 block of 14th Street.

The notice explained that 'multiple carriers have been subjected to assaults and threats of assault from an individual who has not been located or apprehended.'

Scroll down for video

The 1300 block of 14th street in Santa Monica, pictured, the scene of at least three assaults on mail carriers in recent months, USPS said

A United States Postal Service (USPS) worker unloads packages from his truck. Mail service has been suspended in a Santa Monica neighborhood due to recent assaults on letter carriers

USPS spokeswoman Natashi Garvins confirmed there there have been three separate incidents in the area involving three separate letter carriers over the last several months, according to Fox News Digital.

'This is an unusual, but necessary step to protect our employees,' Garvins said before declining to go into further detail.

However, only one assault has been officially reported to authorities, CBS News reported.

Meanwhile, USPS has still been delivering packages in the neighborhood despite the notice, yet paper mail delivery has stopped, with residents having to pick up their mail in person at their local post office on 7th Street.

The intersection of 14th Street and Arizona Avenue in Santa Monica, where a mail carrier delivering mail was attacked by a resident with a broomstick

As of Monday, it remains unclear as to when the suspension will end.

A Santa Monica Police Department spokeswoman told the outlet that the department first became aware of the USPS suspension of service on Saturday.

The US Postal Inspection Service said it 'is aware of the recent reports of suspicious activity towards Postal Carriers in Santa Monica, California,' according to a statement provided to Fox News Digital.

'Postal Inspectors are currently investigating the incidents and are unable to comment further at this time.'

'Postal Inspectors encourage anyone who observes suspicious activity involving US Mail to report it to local police and to Postal Inspectors at 1-877-876-2455.'

The news comes after dozens of homeless people had to be removed from an encampment in nearby Downtown Los Angeles - after residents and business owners complained the area was blighted by crime ranging from sexual assault to open drug use, vandalism, fires and prostitution.

During the week of April 2, total violent crimes in Greater Los Angeles increased seven percent, with robberies up over 17 percent and assaults up over four percent.

Crime where the suspect was listed as homeless has risen by 31 percent in Venice over the past year, according to police statistics, analyzed by NBC News . Homeless victims of crime rose by 83 percent in the same period

'We see fights almost daily. There is drug use out in the open, there is semi nudity as they urinate and defecate under a tree. We've had our bikes stolen, there's fires, there's needles everywhere, and the kids at the school are exposed to it all,' one resident said

The homeless population has mushroomed in Venice. A count in 2014 showed only 175 people living rough. Five years later that figure stood at more than 1,200. But it is over the last few months that things have spiraled out of control

The cluster of around 30 remaining people were relocated from the Little Tokyo neighborhood, a few blocks from City Hall, in the latest of a series of clean-ups to move the homeless into temporary housing and confront the staggering level of homelessness in the City of Angels, where 94 percent of residents say the issue is a serious problem.

Sanitation staff worked into the night to clear debris left on the streets after volunteers helped move people and some of their belongings.

It is the second sweep of the Toriumi Plaza in recent weeks. Last month, the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority relocated 55 people from the encampment into shelters, leaving just 25 to 30 people to house, FOX11.com reported City Councilman Kevin de Leon as saying.

Previous clean-ups have targeted the Echo Park and MacArthur Park areas.

In a recent poll conducted by the Los Angeles Times, the city's homelessness crisis was named the biggest concern among residents, ahead of housing affordability, or traffic, air quality and climate change.
A postcode gang war may have sparked an evening brawl at the Easter Show which left one teenager dead and a second in hospital with stab wounds.

Friends of the 17-year-old victim warned his death could further escalate tensions between rival western Sydney gangs, the 67 and the 27.

Members of the two groups, 67 from Doonside and 27 from Mount Druitt, reportedly had an altercation near the adult section of the show about 8pm before it descended into an all-out brawl.

It's unclear if the victim was involved in the reported gang activity or if he was simply caught up in the melee.

Police are yet to formally identify a suspect and believe the attacker may still be on the run.

The victim's 15-year-old brother has been charged with affray and carrying a knife. He has not been charged relating to his death and will face Parramatta Children's Court on Tuesday afternoon.

The boy was allegedly seen on viral footage sitting on the ground in handcuffs after the melee.

Distressed friends and relatives of the victim and 15-year-old have spoken out to clear up false rumours that the teenager has been charged over his brother's death.

Instead, the charges relate to the alleged brawl.

A 15-year-old boy arrested at the scene was still being question by police on Tuesday morning

The victim was an attendant at the Break Dance ride at the Easter Show

Pictured: Members of a different gang involved in the postcode gang wars

'Now a mum has to find out she lost a son. For what? An area you don't own,' one critic said online.

Superintendent Danielle Emerton, from the Auburn Police Area Command, would not rule out the possibility the attack was motivated by postcode wars.

Instead, she suggested it could have been a 'planned confrontation' between the groups.

'We're trying to piece it together. It's a tragic, senseless act. This is a family event and the fact that someone has bought a knife into the show is upsetting,' she said.

'There were two groups involved in the affray incident where there was a knife involved. So we are looking at additional people that were involved in last night's attack.

'Someone knows who has done this.'

Superintendent Danielle Emerton, from the Auburn Police Area Command, would not rule out the possibility the attack was motivated by postcode wars

Detectives and forensic officers were at the carnival on Tuesday combing over the scene of the alleged crime. Police have retrieved one knife

Daily Mail Australia can reveal the victim was an employee of the carnival and had been for at least two years

The 17-year-old victim was rushed to Westmead Hospital in a critical condition but later died. He'd been stabbed in the chest while working at the show.

Paramedics were called to a busy strip inside the Sydney Royal Easter Show about 8pm amid reports of a brawl between two groups of young men.

At least two teenagers were stabbed; the victim and a 16-year-old boy who remains in hospital in a stable condition with wounds to his leg.

Police confirmed in a press conference on Tuesday morning at least one suspect remains on the run. A strike force has been established to identify any other people involved in the brawl.

Daily Mail Australia revealed on Tuesday the victim was an employee of the carnival and had been for at least two years.

The adult section of the Easter Show was closed to the public on Tuesday due to the ongoing investigation

A 17-year-old boy has tragically died after being fatally stabbed in the chest at the Sydney Royal Easter Show on Monday night (pictured, paramedics at the scene)

The victim was working the Break Dance ride inside the adult section of the carnival. The ride is near a thoroughfare which is often congested and brimming with people

He was on his break midway through his shift when he reportedly went to meet some friends, including his younger brother, who were attending the show.

Just a day before his death, the victim shared a video at work pouting at the camera with the caption: 'When you wish ur gf worked at the Easter Show again with u'.

He was working the Break Dance ride inside the adult section of the carnival. The ride is near a thoroughfare which is often congested and brimming with people.

Friends and colleagues have described him as a 'great guy' who always made shifts fun.

'Was a blessing working with you at the show,' one friend said.

'He had his whole life ahead of him... This never should have happened.'

While campaigning in western Sydney on Tuesday, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said he was 'distressed' to learn of the teen's death.

'I would say to the family of those who have lost their son, my heart goes out to you. Your hearts must be shattered and broken,' he said.

'I would be asking all parents, obviously, to be taking care and making sure their kids are doing the right thing and making sure they're staying safe and being very aware of their surroundings.'

Footage circulated to social media showed two men brawling in the middle of the carnival.

The taller of the pair tried to send his knee into the other's head as he was driven backwards before landing a series of punches in his abdomen.

The smaller man retaliated by driving him backwards into a set of garbage bins before the taller man was joined by another who also began to swing his fists.

Friends and colleagues have described the victim as a 'great guy' who always made shifts fun. Pictured with his girlfriend

Criminal psychologist explains why street violence is on the rise Youth outreach group Junction Works confirmed Sydney's brutal 'postcode violence' was now spreading across the city. The postcode wars comprise groups of young boys and girls - usually teenagers - who are willing to risk their lives to 'rep' the area where they were born and raised. Starting in the far western suburbs, vicious tribal identities based on where teenagers live are appearing throughout the city. 'It is across all of Western Sydney that this is happening,' a spokesman said. 'It's an ongoing issue. It's mainly in the Guildford and Blacktown areas but there's also recently been issues with violence among young people in different postcodes within the Canterbury-Bankstown area too.' Tim Watson-Munro, a criminal psychologist, said young people have always sought a sense of belonging and community within their peer group. But he explained this becomes dangerous when young people find 'security in numbers' within dysfunctional groups. 'This leads to trouble,' he said. A former New South Wales detective said increased violence in lower socioeconomic communities was often due to a sense of hopelessness. 'A high proportion of public housing, a high proportion of migrants and a high proportion of unemployment, in any city in the world that is a recipe for disaster,' Western Sydney University Dr Mike Kennedy said. 'The governments leave it to the police to deal with so they don't have to accept responsibility.' Advertisement

Detectives and forensic officers were at the carnival on Tuesday combing over the scene of the alleged crime. Police have retrieved one knife.

While at least three people have been identified so far, police are certain other people were involved in the melee.

Police believe the two groups of men were known to each other, assuring the public it was not a 'random attack'.

NSW Ambulance Inspector Mark Whittaker said by the time paramedics arrived the victim was already suffering a cardiac arrest as a direct result of the chest wound.

'Paramedics performed CPR and a number of other critical interventions at the scene before loading the patient for transport to Westmead Hospital, unfortunately despite best efforts he couldn't be resuscitated,' he said.

Confused show-goers were seen filing out of the Sydney Showground on Monday night as dozens of police officers cordoned off sections of the venue to continue investigations

Showgoers were moved out of the carnival area as officers established a crime scene.

The Royal Agricultural Society of New South Wales released a statement shortly thereafter confirming the adult carnival would be closed on Tuesday.

'The RAS confirmed all other aspects of the show will remain open on Tuesday.

'The RAS does not tolerate or condone any violence or anti-social behaviour and we join with NSW Police and the wider community in condemning this appalling behaviour and unnecessary loss of life.'

Any ticketholders who no longer want to attend the carnival are entitled to a full refund.

Police and paramedics were called to the Easter Show just after 8pm on Monday, with riot squad vehicles also pictured at the scene
A telecommunications watchdog will crack down on telco providers with new rules after victims of 'SIM-swap' scamming spoke out, including a woman whose bank account was hacked to pay for a food delivery service.

The woman, a doctor, had received an alert from a food delivery service saying she had spent $79 on coke, burgers, southern fried chicken tenders, buffalo wings and garlic bread.

The NSW-based professional discovered her phone had been switched to 'SOS only' mode hours before the strange transaction was made.

The doctor had been SIM-scammed. Cyber criminals had impersonated the doctor and requested an eSim card from her phone company.

The scammers then gained access to all her logins by intercepting password reset links sent via text messages.

Her email, bank account, social media accounts, and even food delivery accounts had all been compromised within a matter of hours.

Chair of the Australian Communications and Media Authority taskforce Fiona Cameron (pictured) said the new rules will require phone companies to introduce a 'multi-factor authentication' process to protect telco customers from scams

'The whole hack experience made me feel very vulnerable and unsafe, the whole structure of who I am, that was being taken away,' she told news.com.au.

New rules introduced by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) last week require telco companies to have stronger customer identity checks for 'high-risk transactions'.

ACMA reported that on average an Australian SIM-swap victim loses a whopping $28,000.

Chair of the ACMA's scam taskforce Fiona Cameron said the new rules will safeguard telco customers by 'stamping out unauthorised transactions'.

'SIM-swap scams can cause a lot of harm as scammers take control of your phone number and then use that to gain access to your online banking accounts,' Ms Cameron said.

'These new rules require multi-factor authentication of your identity such as confirming personal information and responding with a one-time code consistent with how other essential services like banking operate.'

A NSW-based doctor was a victim of a SIM-swap scam after scammers stole her personal details, impersonated her and then took control of her phone

The healthcare professional knew something was wrong when her telco provider sent her messages notifying her that her contact details had been changed.

She suspected the hackers had stolen an important letter from her mailbox which armed them with enough personal details to contact her phone company and change the details on her account.

'I remember I was on the phone when I was getting these text messages,' she said. 'I thought I'd deal with it when I get home, which was a bad mistake.'

Her friend called her phone number and spoke to a woman before being passed on to a man who promptly hung up the phone.

The phone company said a woman pretending to be her had called and requested SIM cards.

The healthcare professional knew something was wrong when she received an alert from a meal delivery company that said she had spent $79 on coke, burgers, southern fried chicken tenders, buffalo wings and garlic bread

'A number of SIM cards were delivered to my home address,' she said.

'I assume they [the hackers] had requested additional SIM cards. They might have been outside my place ready to pick it up.'

It took two weeks to sort out the damage caused by the hackers which resulted in the doctor missing a family holiday.

She said that the whole experience had left her afraid and frustrated because the scammers are real people still at large.

'When I got access to my emails I could see the IP address [they used],' she said.

'On my telco phone bill, the location is available. We have the suburb where this is happening, their names, it should be possible to find these people.'

Police refused to take her victim statement but told the doctor to report the crime to the Australian Cyber Security Centre - a government lead agency with no special enforcement powers.

The new requirements, called the Telecommunications Service Provider (Customer Identity Authentication) Determination 2022, will come into effect from June 30.

Under the new guidelines, the ACMA has warned that legal action will be taken against telco companies that fail to adhere to the new rules.

Currently, phone companies such as Optus only require a customer's phone number, full name, address, and date of birth before authorising a SIM swap.
Black Lives Matter issued a thinly-veiled apology on Monday night over the left-wing groups purchase of a multi-million dollar mansion that was paid for with donations raised from loyal supporters.

The purchase was fully exposed last week in an article by New York Magazine.

The property was bought for almost $6million in cash in October 2020 with funds that had been donated to BLMGNF (Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation).

On Monday night, the organization finally responded to the reports in a lengthy Twitter feed with the group noting that more 'transparency' was required going forward.

Black Lives Matter has apologized following an expose that detailed how the organization had used donations to purchase a $6 million home in Los Angeles. The luxurious 6,500 square foot mansion was bought for nearly double what it was worth

In a lengthy Twitter thread on Monday morning, the group vowed to be more transparent in the future

'There have been a lot of questions surrounding recent reports about the purchase of Creator's House in California. Despite past efforts, BLMGNF recognizes that there is more work to do to increase transparency and ensure transitions in leadership are clear,' it stated.

BLM then proceeded to blame the media for the furore and the 'inflammatory and speculative' reports that saw journalists probing the group's financials saying that it 'caused harm'

The reports 'do not reflect the totality of the movement,' the organization claimed.

'We know narratives like this cause harm to organizers doing brilliant work across the country and these reports do not reflect the totality of the movement,' one of the tweets reads. 'We apologize for the distress this has caused to our supporters and those who work in service of Black liberation daily.'

'We are redoubling our efforts to provide clarity about BLMGNF's work,' noting an 'internal audit' was underway together with 'tightening compliance operations and creating a new board to help steer to the organization to its next evolution.'

The organization also criticized the original New Yorker article, pictured above, describing it as 'inflammatory and speculative'

BLM co-founder Patrisse Cullors (above), 38, came under fire last year for a slew of high-profile property purchases. She resigned last year and has called reports investigation the $6 million mansion 'despicable' and claimed that criticisms against her are 'sexist and racist'

The home features six bedrooms and a pool in the back. BLM claimed the home was bought to provide a safe house for 'black creativity' but had allegedly tried to hide the home's existence

The mansion comes complete with a sound stage (pictured) and mini filming studio which the group had used in one of its video campaigns

BLM attempted to justify the purchase of the mansion by saying it was made to encourage 'Black creativity' with the property 'a space for Black folks to share their gifts with the world and hone their crafts as we see it.'

The organization also went on to defend how the funds the group raised were spent including the $3 million used for 'COVID relief' and a further $25 million dollars to black-led organizations.

'We are embracing this moment as an opportunity for accountability, healing, truth-telling, and transparency. We understand the necessity of working intentionally to rebuild trust so we can continue forging a new path that sustains Black people for generations,' the group wrote.

The barrage of tweets, which notably had their comments turned off, ended with the group announcing they were 'embracing this moment as an opportunity for accountability, healing, truth-telling, and transparency' and 'working intentionally to rebuild trust.'

Internal memos from BLM revealed the group wanted to keep the purchase secret, despite filming a video on the home's patio in May

The Studio City home - which sits on a three-quarter-acre lot - boasts more than half-dozen bedrooms and bathrooms, a 'butler's pantry' in the kitchen (pictured)

Concerns over the groups finances have swirled for years with BLM coming under intense scrutiny in the past.

In February the group stopped online fundraising following a demand by the California attorney general tho show where millions of dollars in donations received in 2020 went.

The group said the 'shutdown' was simply short term while any 'issues related to state fundraising compliance' were addressed.

Last April, Patrisse Cullors, the co-founder of the group came in for closer inspection having bought four houses for $3.2million.

Cullors then stepped down as executive director of the Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation demanding people 'understand the enormous pressure and fear that comes with living under the constant threat of white supremacist terror and real threats on my life.'

Days after this latest episode, Cullors, 38, fired back in a lengthy Instagram post of her own denouncing saying it was both a 'racist and sexist attack' on the organization.

'That fact that a reputable publication would allow a reporter, with a proven and very public bias against me and other Black leaders, to write a piece filled with misinformation, innuendo and incendiary opinions, is disheartening and unacceptable,' she stated.

Cullors called the report 'a despicable abuse of a platform that's intended to provide truthful information to the public.'

Cullors, last Tuesday, hit back at questions over the 2020 purchase of the lavish property

Shawn Bolz (left) said he sold the house for $3.1 million. Dyane Pascall (right), who worked for Cullors's consultancy, purchased it. Six days later it was sold in cash for $5.8 million to a shell company run by BLMGFN

Dyane Pascall, president of the Councious Captial Investment Enterprise real estate company and a former employ of Cullors, bought the LA property from televangelists Shawn and Cherie Bolz, according to property records, and Shawn Bolz told The New York Post the sale was for $3.1 million.

Yet six days after it was purchased, on October 27, 2020, Pascall transferred the property to Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundations (BLMGNF) for $5.8 million - with BLMGNF paying Pascall in cash, and the purchase registered to a shell company registered several days before.

The purchase came days after BLMGNF received an injection of $66.5 million in donations that had flooded in from around the globe after the murder of George Floyd at the hands of a Minneapolis policeman.

The $2.7 million increase in value in less than a week has not been explained.

It is also at odds with the market rate.

The 1936 mansion is 257.43 percent 'more expensive' than similar homes in its Studio City neighborhood, according to realtor.com.

On Thursday, Pascall denied that he paid $3.1 million for the house but told the Post that he couldn't remember how much it was.

'No, I did not buy the house for $3.1 million and sell it for $5.8 million. That would be ridiculous,' he said.

Neither BLMGNF, Cullors nor Pascall have responded to DailyMail.com's request for comment.

The Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation famously grew into one of the largest international movements against racial injustice in mid-2020 but has now come under intense scrutiny over its finances

The organization allegedly hoped to keep the house's existence a secret - despite three of its former leaders reportedly filming a series of videos dining and drinking champagne outside the estate last spring, New York Magazine reported.

Documents and internal communications reportedly reveal the luxury property was handled in ways that 'blur boundaries' between charitable use and those that would benefit some of the organization's leaders - including Cullors, who shared video in June of her enjoying a ritzy brunch outside the estate with fellow officials Alicia Garza and Melina Abdullah, who have both since left the organization.

When contacted by New York Magazine for comment regarding the property's existence, officials seemingly attempted to make the story go away.

The magazine said it learned of the estate through a source from within the firm, who had access to the BLM leaders' internal emails.

Patrisse Cullors, Alicia Garza, and Melina Abdullah, allegedly laid out $6million to buy a 6500-square foot Southern California mansion (seen in background). Emails show the firm wanted to keep it secret, despite filming a video on its patio in May (pictured) - an incident officials in emails called a 'hole' in the story given to New York Magazine

The video, posted in June, shows Cullors (not pictured) enjoying a ritzy brunch outside the estate with fellow officials Alicia Garza and Melina Abdullah, who have both since left the organization

Cullors said in a statement that she never lived in the property, but she did not attempt to explain the price.

Cullors also noted that BLM will release its 990s  forms that tax-exempt nonprofits file to the IRS  very soon.

'I do not own the property, have never lived there and made that clear to the reporter,' she said.

'I want to be clear: While I will always see myself as a part of the BLM community, I am no longer in leadership and I am not a part of any decision-making processes within the foundation.

'I have never misappropriated funds, and it pains me that so many people have accepted that narrative without the presence of tangible truth or facts.

'Nevertheless, this will soon be made clear upon the release of the BLM 990s.'

Every organization that has been recognized as tax exempt by the IRS has to file Form 990 every year, unless they make less than $200,000 in revenue and have less than $500,000 in assets.

BLMGFN has never submitted a 990, according to ProPublica's database, Nonprofit Explorer.

The foundation emerged as part of the Black Lives Matter movement, which itself was begun in 2013.

The foundation's decision to keep quiet about the house until now, when confronted, is unusual for a supposedly charitable - and tax-exempt - organization such as BLM, and it is one that leaves the organization open to further critique and scrutiny, nonprofit expert Jacob Harold told New York Magazine.

'That's a very legitimate critique,' said Harold, a former CEO of GuideStar and the co-founder of Candid, an information service that reports on nonprofits.

The revelation could negatively affect further donations to the foundation, Harold added, as it continues to face scrutiny over its finances.

U.S. Rep. Darrell Issa (above), of California, urged the Department of Justice to investigate Black Lives Matter following reports that it used $6 million to buy a mansion in Los Angeles

Last week, a California congressman called on the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate the group over the mansion's purchase.

Rep. Darrell Issa, a Republican, said Thursday that now is the time to look into the group's finances, which have been heavily scrutinized as little is known of how they're spending the $90 million on donations raised since the height of the movement in 2020.

Last year the foundation said it had committed $21.7 million to official and unofficial BLM chapters and its expenses were $8.4 million, leaving around $60 million still unexplained.

'The disturbing information that we are learning is more than enough to warrant an investigation from the DOJ  and doubtless not the end of all there is to know,' Issa told Fox News.

'This definitely has the suggestion of misappropriation of charitable funds and an abuse of our nonprofit laws.'
President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol shakes hands with former President Park Geun-hye during their meeting in Daegu, Tuesday. Yonhap



By Kang Seung-woo



President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol invited former President Park Geun-hye to his inauguration ceremony, May 10, as the incoming president tries to rebuild relations with his predecessor.



Park said she will attend the inauguration if conditions permit.



Yoon's much-heralded meeting with Park took place for 50 minutes, Tuesday, while he was on a national tour, which started, Monday.



"The president-elect said he was sorry for his bad relationship with Park, which started when Yoon was a member of the special prosecution team investigating Park's corruption scandal," Rep. Kwon Young-se, the vice chairman of Yoon's transition committee who accompanied the president-elect, said following the meeting between Yoon and Park in Daegu.



Yoon has repeatedly stated his wish to visit Park, saying he feels "great sorrow" for the investigation on a political and emotional level, although he was doing his job.






A drug addict has been jailed after killing his flatmate's four-year-old Maltese cross service dog Oliver in a 'senseless, violent and frankly frightening act'.

Liam Brandon Maxwell killed the animal by throwing him across a living room with such force that he slammed into the roof or wall in the Surfers Paradise home on February 8 last year.

The 24-year-old was sentenced in the Brisbane District Court on Tuesday after earlier pleading guilty to one count of serious animal cruelty.

Service pup Oliver was killed by meth addict Liam Brandon Maxwell last year and found in a pool of blood after being thrown against the wall

'This was a senseless, violent and frankly frightening act,' Judge Rowan Jackson said.

Police found blood splattered on the roof, walls, floor and curtains, and pooled around Oliver who was dead on the floor.

'He would have experienced extreme emotional distress and fear as he was being traumatised,' Judge Jackson added.

Oliver's death had a 'profound effect' on owner Chantelle Astin, who got him to help with her anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder.

'She describes having lost time, motivation, peace, happiness and hope,' Judge Jackson said.

The court was told Maxwell is an addict who 'responds very badly' when using drugs, has difficulty managing anger and has had very serious mental health issues since his early teens.

He first used marijuana at the age of 14, but meth had become his drug of choice.

Owner Chantelle Astin said she got Oliver to help with her anxiety and PTSD and has been robbed of her happiness and hope since his death

At the time he killed Oliver, Maxwell had been on probation for six months after being convicted for assaulting a person over 60 in 2017.

He had punched the complainant, continuing after the man fell to the ground.

Since killing Oliver, Maxwell has moved to Brisbane to remove himself from the Gold Coast drug culture, his barrister James McNab told the court.

He and his family have received death threats online since the incident.

Judge Jackson said Maxwell seemed to need a 'significant amount of supervision'.

He sentenced him to two years and six months behind bars, but ordered he be released on parole after serving three months.
South Dakota attorney general Jason Ravnsborg was impeached Tuesday for a 2020 car crash where he killed a man in a hit-and-run but told police he thought he'd hit a deer.

Jason Ravnsborg, 45, was impeached a year-and-a-half after killing Joseph Boever, 55, on September 12, 2020 while Boever was walking along a highway near the small city of Highmore.

Ravsnborg, a Republican, was the first official to be impeached in South Dakota history. He will be temporarily removed from office until his Senate trial. Two-thirds of the state's upper chamber must vote to convict for him to be removed from office.

Investigators allege that Ravsnborg had been reading news articles on his phone before the crash and had driven onto the shoulder of the highway where Boever was walking.

Ravnsborg, who took office in 2019, was returning home from a Republican dinner in September 2020 when he struck and killed Boever, who was walking along a rural highway. A sheriff who responded after Ravnsborg called 911 initially reported it as a collision with an animal. Ravnsborg has said he did not realize he hit a man until he returned the next day and found the body.

The Highway Patrol concluded that Ravnsborgs car crossed completely onto the highway shoulder before hitting Boever, and criminal investigators said later that they didnt believe some of Ravnsborgs statements.

Jason Ravnsborg, 45, was impeached a year-and-a-half after killing Joseph Boever, 55, on September 12, 2020 while Boever was walking along a highway near the small city of Highmore

Ravsnborg, a Republican, was the first official to be impeached in South Dakota history

Nick Nemec, the cousin of Joseph Boever, poses with a wedding photo of Boever in the South Dakota House gallery before lawmakers voted to impeach Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg, Tuesday, April 12, 2022, in Pierre, S.D.. The attorney general struck and killed Boever with his vehicle in 2020. The House voted 36-31 to impeach Ravnsborg. (AP Photo/Stephen Groves)

Ravnsborg pleaded no contest last year to a pair of traffic misdemeanors in the crash, including making an illegal lane change. He portrayed Boever's death as a tragic accident.

The House Select Committee on Investigation concluded last month that Ravsnborg should not be impeached for the accident, but a narrow vote in the Republican-controlled House charged him with committing crimes that caused someone's death, making 'numerous misrepresentations' to law enforcement officers after the crash and using his office to navigate a criminal investigation.

'When were dealing with the life of one of your citizens, I think that weighed heavily on everyone,' said Republican Rep. Will Mortenson, who introduced the articles of impeachment.

Some Republicans argued that any wrongdoing committed by Ravnsborg was not in his official capacity. Others who voted against impeachment said they still thought he should resign.

'He should have stepped down, should have done the honorable thing,' said House Speaker Spencer Gosch, who oversaw the House investigation and voted against impeachment.

The articles of impeachment required approval from a majority of the 70 members of the House and passed by just one vote.

Of the 36 people who voted in favor, eight were Democrats and 28 were Republicans. The 31 against it were all Republicans. Republican Rep. Scott Odenbach recused himself because he had given legal advice to the attorney general after the crash. Two other Republican lawmakers were absent.

Joe Boever, who was struck and killed by the South Dakota attorney general, is pictured above with is wfie

Investigators say Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg reported hitting a deer following a crash that left a Highmore man dead, while the family of the victim is calling for more information about the incident to be released.Ravnsborg called 911 immediately after the Saturday night's crash on Highway 14 outside of Highmore, saying he believed he had hit a deer. The body of the victim, 55-year-old Joseph Boever of Highmore, was not found until the next morning

Jennifer Boever, whose husband was killed in 2020 by a car driven by South Dakota Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg, reacts Monday, March 28, 2022, in Pierre, S.D., as a House committee recommends no impeachment charges for Ravnsborg

In a letter on the eve of the vote Ravnsborg said a vote to impeach would 'overturn an election' and went after Gov. Kristi Noem, who he said had called for his impeachment due to investigations he was pursuing into her office.

'Your decision could overturn an election and set forth a dangerous precedent for all South Dakota elected officials,' he wrote.

'I could not resign then and cannot resign now because the incident did not impede my ability to perform the functions of Attorney General including on-going investigations of the executive office,' he wrote. 'Knowing Governor Noem could hand select my replacement, I felt it appropriate to stay in office to maintain the checks and balances within the state.'

'My office has multiple ongoing investigations into the Governor's alleged activities and people associated with her,' he wrote. 'However, despite her procedural interference and bias towards me, I believe she has rights and should have the ability to let the process prevail regarding these open investigations regarding her and her administration. Justice should be blind and we all have rights under the state and federal constitution.'

Ravnsborg had been largely silent on the crash before the letter.

Noem shot back: 'He killed an innocent man, lied about the events of that evening, and abused his office to cover it up.'

Noem lauded the vote on Twitter, writing that the House 'did the right thing for the people of South Dakota and for Joe Boever's family.'
An engaged couple who lost their $75,000 house deposit they had saved since they were teenagers to 'greedy' sellers have finally purchased their own home.

Mark Trau, 30, and Maddie Goyder, 27, made headlines last year when their bank was a day late in meeting the 30-day settlement for their $965,000 dream property, causing them to lose their 10 per cent deposit.

The four-bedroom house at Jindalee in Brisbane's west was sold hours later by the retired owners to a different buyer for an extra $64,000, netting them an additional $140,000 in total.

The couple were left with neither a house or their deposit, which a shattered Ms Goyder described as 'like being robbed', until their bank Westpac admitted their mistake.

Mark Trau and his fiance Maddie Goyder (pictured) lost their $75,000 after a manual failure from their bank

A controversial property rule that has left thousands of Australians out of pocket is set to be changed in sweeping new legislation (pictured: the house the couple missed out on)

'We threw everything at this. The bank was the one thing that stopped it from happening on the day,' Mr Trau previously said.

Westpac paid back the couple their $75,000 as well as an additional $25,000 to help them find a new home to buy and $5,000 each for the stress they had been put under.

The return of their money has now allowed them to finally purchase a house.

With prices soaring thanks to the property market bubble, Brisbane was unfortunately proving too expensive - even just six months on - and the couple had to look elsewhere.

They eventually found a house in Buderim on the Sunshine Coast just over an hour's drive north and while it doesn't have a pool they are just minutes from the beach.

'We're loving it, it seems a little bit surreal. Guess the wild ride worked out for us in the end,' Mr Trau told news.com.au this week.

The sellers of the Brisbane house (pictured) sold to another buyer hours later for an extra $65,000 and kept the young couple's deposit

'We ended up settling in a place for $940,000 and Westpac helped a bit with a better fixed rate because they had jumped up since the Brisbane house,' he said.

He added the pair were also finalising plans to get married later this year saying it was 'all coming together' for them.

The furore over their case has also resulted in a change to property laws in Queensland.

While other states and territories allow a two-week grace period if settlement falls through, the Sunshine State - which prides itself on super fast property transactions - previously did not.

This leaves buyers open to losing tens of thousands of dollars through circumstances which are often not their fault.

But from January 20, the Real Estate Institute of Queensland changed the rule to prevent similar situations for other would-be buyers.

The rule won't disappear entirely - they will have five extra days to settle the property before the contract can be cancelled and the deposit kept.

The buyer or seller in the transaction must apply for an extension in writing before 4pm of the cut-off day, and the seller is forced to accept.

They can apply for multiple extensions but it must not extend past five days from the set settlement date.

Mark Trau (pictured with Ms Goyder) said it 'worked out in the end' with the pair buying a property of their own on the Sunshine Coast near the beach

The REIQ said the change came about after reports of significant delays in property transactions by banks, largely due to Covid.

'Because of the volume of transactions that's happening and because of Covid-19, banks are often causing delays,' chief executive Antonia Mercorella previously said.

'What we've been seeing is that banks are often not ready. Obviously we recognise that is outside the control of either party.'

She said the seller cannot reject the extension request from the buyer.

'It is a contractual right, you can't say no,' Ms Mercorella said.
Tucker Carlson on Monday night warned that the COVID-19 lockdown in Shanghai was a dangerous example of what could happen in the United States - telling his viewers: 'We're just beginning to see the outlines of the repression that COVID has made possible.'

The Fox News host opened his show with a lengthy segment on the tough policies currently being enforced in Shanghai, as part of China's 'zero COVID' policy.

The country's leaders aim to rid their shores of the virus entirely, and as soon as one case is recorded huge swathes of the country are forced into lockdown. Western experts warn it is not sustainable, and footage on social media has shown desperate citizens of Shanghai begging for food. One man's pet corgi was beaten to death by a health worker after the owner was taken away and put into isolation with suspected COVID.

'You have 25 million people locked inside their homes,' said Carlson.

'You have the largest prison camp in human history.'

Tucker Carlson on Monday night spoke about the brutal lockdown encompassing Shanghai

Empty streets in Shanghai on Saturday, amid the city-wide lockdown

A temporary hospital is pictured on Friday inside the National Exhibition and Convention Center

A maintenance employee rides a bicycle in a residential community under lockdown in Shanghai on Monday

Carlson continued: 'If you believe in democracy, this is repugnant. Twenty-five million people just lost their most basic human rights.

'So, the question is, has anyone in the Biden administration, which is constantly lecturing us about democracy and human rights, said anything about this? Has the State Department issued an angry denunciation of Xi Jinping? Is the U.S. government threatening sanctions against China for building the world's largest prison camp?

'Well, of course not.'

He argued that President Xi Jinping's government was locking the city down not because of the virus, but because it was the freest place in his country, and posed a threat to his authoritarian country.

The city - home to 25 million - has seen its case count rise to 23,000 in a week.

'This is again the richest city in China and you never thought you'd see anything like this,' he said.

'So the question is: What is going on here?

'Obviously, it's not about COVID. Let's stop pretending. Shanghai does not have a COVID crisis.

'Even if Shanghai did have a COVID crisis, we know perfectly well from recent experience this is not the way to handle a COVID crisis.

'So, from the perspective of China's central government, the problem is not COVID. The problem is Shanghai itself.'

Carlson said Shanghai was being singled out because it represented freedom within China

CNN's David Culver, based in Shanghai, told how he had been locked into his residence

Some residents in Shanghai say they are starving under the Covid-19 lockdown, @CNN International correspondent @David_Culver reports on Monday's #GoThere. pic.twitter.com/3FjQP7Gs5N  CNN+ (@CNNplus) April 11, 2022

Carlson said Shanghai was singled out because it was independent-minded and home to a large number of international residents.

'Shanghai is probably the freest place in China,' he said.

'It's certainly got more foreign nationals than any city in China. They're drawn by the trade that revolves around its historic port.

'So, by Chinese standards, Shanghai is an independent-minded city, and that's the problem. For authoritarians, independent mindedness is the main threat.'

On Monday, the city of Philadelphia announced that it was reintroducing its mask mandate - the first major U.S. city to do so.

COVID-19 cases have increased more than 50 percent in the previous 10 days, the city's Department of Public Health announced on Monday, but numbers remain small.

On April 11, the department said the city was averaging 142 new cases per day.

Carlson said that restrictions were being reintroduced to control people.

'If you watch carefully, you can see all of this taking shape, and why wouldn't it be taking shape in this country?' he asked.

'We've got midterm elections coming.'

He noted that the Biden administration are thought likely to bring back their 'lunatic vaxx mandate for federal employees', which was challenged by a Texas judge in January, and then reinstated by a New Orleans appeals court last week.

And he noticed that in Dallas's Love Field airport, two seven-foot robots known as 'Security Control Observation Towers' were being trialled to monitor people within the airport. The robots will alert security if you are not wearing a mask while boarding a flight, or if you are caught parking your car for too long at the curb while picking up a traveler.

'Now with facial recognition software, the robots could know exactly who the disobedient are,' Carlson said.

'We're just beginning to see the outlines of the repression that COVID has made possible. That's the point and if we want to know what the future looks like, you can look at China and shiver.

'In the state of California, the state is starting to pull funding from any school that won't comply with the new mandate, a vaccine mandate for children.

'Joe Biden endorses that. Inject your children with a drug with no actual benefits, or no education for your family.'

On Monday, the State Department ordered non-emergency government staff to leave Shanghai.

'The United States has no higher priority than the safety and security of U.S. citizens overseas, including Mission China's personnel and their families,' a U.S. embassy spokesperson said in a statement.

The order came only days after Washington has said all non-emergency employees and family members from the U.S. consulate in Shanghai were allowed to leave, and told Americans to reconsider travel to China because of the 'arbitrary enforcement' of virus restrictions.

Residents stand behind barricades set around a sealed-off area, during a lockdown to curb the spread of the coronavirus disease in Shanghai, China, pictured on Monday

A child is seen accompanied by her mother studies while receiving treatment in the quarantine zone at the Shanghai New International Expo Center this weekend in Shanghai, China

Firemen in PPE carry medical supplies to a temporary warehouse in Shanghai, China Sunday

'Our change in posture reflects our assessment that it is best for our employees and their families to be reduced in number and our operations to be scaled down as we deal with the changing circumstances on the ground,' the spokesperson noted.

The departure order will be up for review in another 30 days.

'Reconsider travel to the People's Republic of China (PRC) due to arbitrary enforcement of local laws and COVID-19-related restrictions,' the State Department said in a statement on Monday.

'Do not travel to the PRC's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR), Jilin province, and Shanghai municipality due to COVID-19-related restrictions, including the risk of parents and children being separated,' the statement said.
If you or someone you know needs confidential support, call the National Suicide Prevention Line - 1 800-273-8255

The husband of an Australian diplomat reportedly jumped to his death from a 42-story condominium in New York City after leaving a suicide note on Monday.

The 31-year-old man, who was not immediately identified, jumped around 5:30 p.m. from the 27th floor of a luxury building across from the Empire State Building by West 33rd Street, law enforcement sources told the New York Post.

The man reportedly landed on an eighth-floor awning and was pronounced dead at the scene.

The man, whose name is being withheld pending family notification, left behind a suicide note, the sources told the Post.

No other details regarding his death or identity were released as of early Tuesday morning.

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Pictured: the body of an unidentified 31-year-old man, who sources said was a husband of an Australian diplomat

Medical Examiner officers carry the man's body into an emergency vehicle. He was pronounced dead at the scene

The suspected suicide comes as others have also jumped to their death in New York City this year, including former Miss USA Cheslie Kryst.

Kryst, 30, was a lawyer and also worked as a correspondent for the entertainment show Extra. She jumped from a skyscraper in the Hell's Kitchen neighborhood in January.

She won the Miss USA pageant in 2019, using her platform to speak out about social and criminal justice reform.

Kryst, who had an apartment on the ninth floor of the luxury building on West 42nd Street, leaped from the 29th floor of the 60-story high-rise around 7:15am and was found dead on the snow-covered sidewalk.

Miss USA 2019, Cheslie Kryst, 30, was found dead after jumping from a New York City skyscraper

NYPD officers cordoned off scene where Kryst's body was found after the former beauty queen jumped to her death from luxury building on 42nd Street

Just in March, a 33-year-old woman was killed after she jumped off an overpass onto a busy four-lane road, where she was fatally struck by an SUV driver who did not stop.

Police said the unidentified woman leapt from the East 135th Street overpass above Harlem River Drive around 10 a.m. and was struck by a white SUV traveling northbound.

When authorities arrived on scene they found her unconscious, unresponsive and had suffered trauma to her body.

Police said the unidentified woman leapt from the East 135th Street overpass above Harlem River Drive around 10am and was struck by a white SUV traveling northbound

A 33-year-old woman was killed after she jumped off an overpass onto a busy four-lane New York City road, where she was fatally struck by an SUV driver who did not stop

And just last week, a New York Supreme Court justice killed himself days after cops raided his house as his 'really close' friend - the nephew of Buffalo's alleged top mob boss - faced federal charges of sex trafficking and bribery.

John L. Michalski, 61, was found dead at his home near Buffalo last Tuesday morning, his lawyer says. The circumstances of his death remain unclear.

Authorities raided Michalski's home on March 24. Law enforcement sources told The Buffalo News they were looking for evidence of tax crimes and that various other state agencies were looking into his professional and personal conduct.

Michalski tried to kill himself February 2021 by lying on train tracks in the middle of the night. He was hit by a freight train but survived with a serious leg injury.

That suicide attempt was the same day his friend, strip club owner Peter Gerace Jr., was arrested in Florida on charges including conspiracy to commit sex trafficking, maintaining a drug involved premise and bribing a federal drug enforcement agent.

The jumper reportedly plunged from the 27th floor of 325 Fifth Avenue, pictured, and landed on an awning located on the eighth floor

First responders arrive at the scene around 5:30 pm on Monday after a man jumped to his death in Midtown Manhattan

Police investigating the man's death after his apparent suicide early Monday evening

Michalski knew Gerace for decades and had done legal work for him. In 2006, he wrote a letter to a federal judge asking for a lower sentence after Gerace was convicted of wire fraud in connection with a telemarketing sweepstakes business.

The judge was named an acting state Supreme Court justice in 2006. He made $210,900 a year, according to a state salary database.

He is survived by his wife Susan and four adult children, one son and three daughters.

If you are struggling with suicidal thoughts or are experiencing a mental health crisis and live in New York City, you can call 1-888-NYC-WELL for free and confidential crisis counseling.

You can also dial the 24/7 National Suicide Prevention hotline at 1-800-273-8255 or go to SuicidePreventionLifeline.org.
A potential juror who asked to be dismissed from the trial of Parkland shooter Nikolas Cruz because of obligations to her 'sugar daddy' says she would've missed out on $8,000 a month if chosen to sit on the jury to decide whether he gets the death penalty.

The married woman, identified only as Ms. Bristol, became a viral sensation after giving her scandalous reason for not wanting to be part of the months-long trial.

'Well I am married and I have my sugar daddy. I see him every day,' she explained to Judge Elizabeth Scherer last week.

The judge appeared confused but later dismissed her.

On Saturday, she elaborated about her conundrum to a local TV station, which she approached to tell her story.

'It's all day for six months and what's my hardship? I need my sugar daddy money,' she told WPLG, adding that he provides her with about $8,000 a month.

The native New Yorker says she could lose her house if she doesn't see him.

'If I do this case for six months, I have a hardship that means my sugar daddy cant support me,' she explained, though the case is only expected to stretch from June to September.

Jury selection grew more complicated on Monday when Judge Scherer dismissed an entire pool of potential jurors after eight of them were led out of the courtroom in tears after the confessed school shooter walked in the room.

Ms. Bristol says she asked to be dismissed from the sentencing of Parkland school shooter Nikolas Cruz because she needs to be able to see her 'sugar daddy'

The axed potential juror says she would've missed out on $8,000 a month from her lover. The native New Yorker says she could lose her house if she doesn't see him

Judge Elizabeth Scherer was baffled by the woman's excuse, which she first shared in court, and said: 'OK ma'am, we'll come back to you' before dismissing her last week

A total of 12 jurors and eight alternatives will be seated for sentencing, which is expected to last through the summer.

Last week, footage from the courtroom showed Scherer, 46, asking whether anyone has any concerns about the requirements asked of them.

'Miss Bristol' piped up to say not only was the trial expected to take 'a whole entire month,' it conflicted with her birthday and would interrupt her love life.

'First of all let me clarify myself, July second is my birthday, July Fourth is my son, and the 18th is my other son. And again, I need to figure out something. I have my sugar daddy that I see every day.'

The judge replied: 'I'm sorry?' Bristol replied: 'My sugar daddy.'

The judge, looking increasingly confused, said: 'I'm not exactly sure what you're talking about.'

'Well I am married and I have my sugar daddy. I see him every day.'

Lost for words, Judge Scherer replied: 'OK. All right. Ma'am, we'll come back to you, OK? Thank you.' 'Miss Bristol' was later excused.

The axed juror now says she would've lost $8,000 a month during the case, which is expected to last between June and September.

She wore a purple tank top and pink lipstick as she spoke to a reporter outside of a South Florida home about the hardships she would face if she weren't able to see her 'sugar daddy,' including possibly losing her home.

Judge Elizabeth Scherer dismissed an entire 60-person pool of potential jurors on Monday after at least eight emotional people had to be escorted out of the room

The jurors became emotional after Cruz, who confessed to killing 17 people at a South Florida high school in 2018, walked into the room

Jury selection continues for the sentencing of Nikolas Cruz, who killed 17 people at a South Florida high school in 2018.

On Monday, Judge Elizabeth Scherer released a 60-person panel of potential jurors because they were tainted by emotional outbursts in the room.

Seven women and one man had to be escorted out of the day's third panel, according to the Sun Sentinel. The exodus began after Cruz, 23, entered the courtroom. Eventually, all were released.

She had already screened two 60-person panels that day. Another panel was seen afterwards. So far, 147 potential jurors have advanced to another round of questions.

One woman was heard telling the judge: 'My son is a victim. He was shot at 15 year old. My spirit is so disturbed,' according to video obtained by WPLG. The judge interrupted the woman in an effort to keep her emotions from influencing the rest of the panel.

The jury selection process has been marred by emotional outbursts.

On Monday, jurors were visibly teary-eyed as they were led out of the Broward County Courthouse in Fort Lauderdale.

The first woman to leave was heard crying loudly as soon as she left, the Sun Sentinel reports.

Cruz appeared in court with disheveled hair and thick-rimmed eyeglasses. He reportedly dropped his head and faced away from the emotional panel before facing them again.

'The ladies and gentlemen that have been taken out so far are people that are just so upset that they can't sit here without without getting emotional, and we don't want to cause trauma for anyone,' Judge Scherer said Monday after the potential jurors had to be removed.

'If you absolutely cannot sit here without breaking down or getting emotional, you can raise your hand.'

The judge excused the jury pool minutes later.

Judge Scherer and attorneys had already made it through one 60-person panel in the morning and another 60-person panel in the afternoon.

The first woman to leave one of Monday's panels was heard crying loudly as soon as she left. 'We don't want to cause trauma for anyone,' Judge Scherer said

So far, 147 potential jurors from a pool of 629 have advanced to the next round of questioning. Above, prosecutors Carolyn McCann, Mike Satz and Jeff Marcus on Monday

Another 60-person group was brought in about half an hour later, and 13 were chosen, WTVJ reports.

Three people were chosen from a subsequent 14-person panel, bringing the total to 147 people from a pool of 629.

Among those dismissed are one man who said he knew one of the Parkland victims and others with medical or language barrier issues.

One potential juror who was struck is a prosecutor at the Broward County State Attorney's Office.

Those who made it through this round will be brought back in May for additional questioning about their thoughts on the death penalty.

The trial is scheduled to run through the summer.

Cruz, above in his booking photo, was a 19-year-old expelled student with a history of mental health and behavioral issues at the time of the killings

Jurors will decide wether to recommend a life sentence or the death penalty for Cruz, who pled guilty to 17 counts of first-degree murder and 17 counts of attempted murder after carrying out a mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in nearby Parkland.

Cruz was a 19-year-old expelled student with a history of mental health and behavioral issues at the time of the killings, prosecutors said last year.

Under Florida law, a jury must be unanimous in its decision to recommend that a judge sentence Cruz to be executed.

If any of the 12 jurors objects, Cruz will be sentenced to life in prison without parole.

Among the mitigating factors the defense will ask the jury to consider are Cruz's brain damage from his mother's drug and alcohol abuse during pregnancy, his long history of mental-health disorders, and allegations he was sexually abused and bullied.

Judge Scherer, a registered Republican who lives in Broward County, has been on the case since 2019, when Cruz was charged.

She sparred with his attorneys during proceedings, labeling them 'disrespectful' at times.

Judge Scherer, a registered Republican who lives in Broward County, has been on the case since 2019, when Cruz was charged

Scherer has been on the bench for ten years and the Parkland case is by far her most high profile.

In 2018, she threatened to restrict reporting of the case after a local newspaper published information about Cruz that was not intended to be part of the public record.

Fort Lauderdale attorneys told The Sun Sentinel at the time that she had a reputation for showing up late to court and for being 'testy' and 'cranky.'

Scherer is a mother, wife and avid horse rider who, according to social media profiles, belonged at one time to the Stanford Equestrian team.
South Australians will receive an early Easter present - a relaxed mask mandate and the mothballing of QR code check-ins.

Premier Peter Malinauskas announced the changes on Tuesday, bringing the state into line with other jurisdictions in Australia.

'Wearing a mask is a choice, there is nothing wrong with choosing to wear a mask - there is no rule against mask wearing,' Mr Malinauskas told reporters.

Premier Peter Malinauskas (left) announced on Tuesday mask mandates and QR code check-ins will be scrapped on Good Friday

'We are providing the ability for South Australians to exercise more choice, more discretion when it comes to wearing a mask.'

The current rules will come into effect on Good Friday.

Masks will be required only on passenger transport, planes, indoors at airports, hospitals and community healthcare, residential aged care, disability care facilities, and correctional service centres.

And QR check-ins will only be required in hospitals and aged care facilities.

From Good Friday masks will only be required on passenger transport, planes, indoors at airports, hospitals and care facilities, and correctional service centres in South Australia

'The Easter Bunny comes in four days time, in two days time South Australians will have a lot more choice when it comes to mask wearing,' Mr Malinauskas said.

'We are also announcing the mothballing of the QR code regime, which means QR codes won't be required anywhere but hospital and aged care facilities,' he said.

Mr Malinauskas clarified the regime was being wound back, rather than being abolished as there may be a time when it had to return.

South Australia recorded 4401 cases on Tuesday, along with six deaths and 232 patients in hospital, including 12 in intensive care.
New Zealand is sending a cargo plane and 50 defence force personnel to bolster Ukraine's war effort against Russia.

Jacinda Ardern on Tuesday announced the Kiwi government will also hand over $13 million worth of weapons, ammunition and high-tech satellite intelligence equipment.

The prime minister previously refrained from supplying military equipment to the besieged eastern European nation, saying earlier this month her government would focus solely on humanitarian support.

Jacinda Ardern (pictured) announced the Kiwi government will hand over $13million worth of weapons, ammunition and high-tech satellite intelligence equipment to Ukraine

New Zealand is sending a cargo plane ( NZ Defence Force aircraft C-130 Hercules, pictured) and 50 defence force personnel to bolster Ukraine's war effort against Russia

WHAT SUPPORT IS NEW ZEALAND GIVING TO UKRAINE? - The deployment of an NZDF C-130H Hercules transport aircraft and 50 support personnel to Europe  for two months - A further NZDF 8-person team logistic specialists to support the international donor coordination centre in Germany with the flow of aid and supplies to Ukraine - An extra $13.1 million, towards military and legal and human rights support, including: - $7.5 million to contribute to weapons and ammunition procurement by the United Kingdom - $4.1 million to support commercial satellite access for the Ukrainian Defence Intelligence - $1 million to the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights - $500,000 for the International Court of Justice and International Criminal Court Todays announcement brings New Zealands total contribution to the Ukraine to $30 million and 67 people deployed. Source: NZ government Advertisement

NZ was at the time also lagging behind the rest of the world imposing sanctions on Putin and his cronies.

Kiwi laws required the United Nations Security Council - of which Russia is a member - to sign off on travel restrictions and harsh financial deterrents.

But the NZ Parliament passed a bill to join the international sanctions effort and changed its tune on supplying President Volodymyr Zelenskyy with arms and other non-lethal equipment.

A C-130 Hercules will set off for Europe on Wednesday to join a chain of military aircraft from partner nations for the next two months.

The plane will travel through Europe, carrying much-needed equipment and supplies to key distribution centres.

The 50 NZDF staff will oversee the operation of the aircraft and distribution of aid, including military supplies, which will be procured from the UK.

It will be taken to a base of operations in Germany and sent on another transport aircraft to the battlefield.

Pictured: Ukrainians carry the body of man killed by Russians in Kyiv on 11 April 2022

Pictured: An apartment building is destroyed in Chernihiv after being bombed by Russian invaders

The arsenal will include $7.5m of weapons and ammunition and $4.1 million of satellite equipment to support the Ukrainian Defence Intelligence.

NZ will also provide $1 million to the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and $500,000 for the International Court of Justice and International Criminal Court - as Western powers build up a case against Russia for war crimes.

'Our support to date has been comprehensive and covers every aspect of this conflict  humanitarian, legal, military, transportation, and people  and is in addition to the economic and trade sanctions we have put in place to help cripple the Russian economy,' Ms Ardern said.

NZ Parliament passed a groundbreaking bill to join the international sanctions effort and have now changed their tune on supplying President Volodymyr Zelenskyy (pictured) with arms

A Ukrainian man stands on a destroyed Russian tank in Buzova village of Kyiv on April 11 2022

'Russia's invasion of Ukraine is a violation of international law, which is why we are supporting the International Criminal Court in their investigations to hold Russia to account.

'We will continue to answer to the calls of Ukraine, with regular reviews of how we can keep making the greatest difference.'

Nine defence intelligence and liaison personnel were sent to assist Ukraine following a request weeks earlier.

Peeni Henare, the NZ Minister of Defence said Wednesday's deployment was in response to a 'direct ask by the UK, which identified that New Zealand could play a tangible role in supporting what has become an enormous logistical task'.

'At no point will they enter Ukraine.'

NZ's total contribution to the Ukraine now stands at $30 million with 67 people deployed.
A political candidate running on a public health platform has denied she was involved in a violent pub assault in which a police officer lost a piece of her scalp.

Raina Cruise, 38, has been charged with two counts of assault over two incidents on the same night at an Adelaide pub in October last year.

Ms Cruise, an SA Senate candidate for the Informed Medical Options Party, fronted Adelaide Magistrates Court on Tuesday with her defence lawyer claiming she did not assault anyone.

The Bachelor of Health Science student, who says in her political bio she wants to abolish vaccine mandates and remove fluoride from the water supply, recently posed for a picture in a Covid mask bra saying she had finally worked out their use.

Ms Cruise (pictured in her political promotion material left ) has been charged with assault after a night out in an Adelaide pub. The Bachelor of Health Science Student recently posted a picture on Instagram in a Covid mask bra saying she had finally 'worked out how to use them' (right)

Her lawyer Andrew Graham said Ms Cruise had intervened on the night in question at the Exeter Hotel when bouncers were being rough with patrons.

'They say she assaulted them, she says she did not,' Mr Graham told the court, reported the Adelaide Advertiser.

'Later that evening, two police officers came up to speak to her outside, there was an argument about producing identification, and my client allegedly assaulted an officer.

'We say there was no assault because there were no words of arrest uttered (and) these are two separate incidents... so should be the subject of two separate trials.'

Police previously alleged Ms Cruise had grabbed a female officer by the hair and yanked so hard that she was left without a piece of her scalp.

Ms Cruise (pictured) has denied assaulting anyone and will reappear in court in May

Ms Cruise has addressed the incidents on a video she posted to YouTube in which she admits she pulled a Covid mask from a bartender but says she assaulted no one.

'If I hadn't had a few drinks, it wouldn't have happened,' she said.

As well as the two counts of assault, Ms Cruise is also charged with failing to provide her personal details to a police officer and to resisting arrest.

Her case has been adjourned until May.
A woman who conned almost $800,000 from two men she met on Tinder has failed in her bid to have her prison time cut short.

Jocelyn Zakhour was sentenced to four years and eight months jail after she had swindled more than $780,000 from two businessmen she met on the dating app between June and November 2018 to fund her gambling addiction.

Zakhour had been living as a VIP member in Melbourne's Crown Casino when she falsely told the victims that she needed money to invest into a blueberry and tobacco farm in NSW.

Jocelyn Zakhour (pictured) was sentenced to four years and eight months jail after she had swindled more than $780,000 from two businessmen she met on Tinder in 2018 to fund her gambling addiction

The 41-year-old Melbourne woman has launched an appeal claiming the sentence was manifestly excessive for the crimes she was convicted of.

According to the Herald Sun, Zakhour said the sentencing judge, Gregory Lyon, had placed 'too much emphasis' on the fact that she had met the victims off Tinder and subsequently tricked them both into giving her money.

She also refused the judge's assertion that she had used Tinder as a 'hunting ground to seek and exploit' people for their money.

Finally, Zakhour stated the judge refused to consider her claim that she was possibly dating both men at the same time.

Court of Appeal justices Stephen McLeish and Cameron Macaulay rejected Zakhour's appeal on Tuesday.

Zakhour said the sentencing judge had placed 'too much emphasis' on the fact that she had met the victims off Tinder and refuted his assertion that she had used Tinder as a 'hunting ground to seek and exploit' people for their money

Zakhour managed to swindle $728,700 from her first victim after promising him a 300 per cent return for his investment into the fake farm.

She also gifted him with a fake Rolex to assure him that what she was doing wasn't a 'scam'.

He initially transferred her $200,000 but was forced to give her more after Zakhour said 'the employees would find him and his family and harm them'.

'Tell your ex-wife you will kill yourself if she doesn't give you the money,' she said.

Zakhour also told the victim to take money out of his super and if he didn't, workers would 'come to Melbourne and do something to him and his family'.

The first man eventually reported Zakhour to police in November 2018 after she sent him 240 emails threatening his ex-wife, children and even his mother.

Detectives swooped on Zakhour after one of her victims arranged to meet up with her at a restaurant.

The 41-year-old told police she regretted blowing all the money on pokies and baccarat at the casino, adding her victim 'knew what type of girl I am'.

'The thing that's killing me is I did nothing with the money, I could have bought the biggest business, I didn't even buy myself a car, not even property, nothing to show for it,' Zakhour said.

'I don't feel sorry for him, how can you be so stupid to believe those stories?'

Her second victim, a financial planner, was conned into paying her $61,000 which she said would go towards farm equipment and staff wages.

Zakhour was sentenced to the maximum four years and eight months jail after she pled guilty to multiple fraud, blackmail and extortion charges. She will be eligible for parole in two years and eight months time

It was also heard that Zakhour had been held hostage by a man in Syria who then forced her family to pay up $400,000 in order to let her go.

This resulted in Zakhour gambling heavily in a bid to pay her parents back.

She lived as a VIP member of the Crown Casino and even gambled away $24million between 2016 and 2018.

She was sentenced to the maximum four years and eight months jail after she pled guilty to multiple fraud, blackmail and extortion charges.

Zakhour will be eligible for parole in two years and eight months time.
President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol, left, shakes hands with Yoo Young-ha, a lawyer and close aide of former President Park Geun-hye, during the former's visit to Park's residence in Dalseong County, Daegu, Tuesday. Joint Press Corps









By Nam Hyun-woo







With 50 days to go until the June 1 local elections, the race to select the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) candidate to run in the Daegu mayoral election has been heating up, following President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol's visit to the city to meet ex-President Park Geun-hye, who has found a new home in the conservative stronghold.







Currently, a two-way race is underway between senior lawmaker Hong Joon-pyo and Yoo Young-ha, Park's lawyer and aide, whom the latter has endorsed.







It remains to be seen whether Yoon's visit with Park will affect public opinion ahead of the mayoral election.







Hong, who ran unsuccessfully in the 2017 presidential election, had initially been considered as a surefire winner in the mayoral race. However, Yoo, who had been the legal representative and close aide of former President Park, has been on the rise after Park released a video on his YouTube channel publicly endorsing him as the PPP's candidate. Park still enjoys a wide range of hometown support in Daegu.







Rep. Hong Joon-pyo of the main opposition People Power Party answers reporters' questions at the National Assembly on Yeouido in Seoul, April 8. Joint Press Corps





According to a survey by Media Real Research Korea released on Sunday, Hong led Daegu mayor hopefuls with a 31.9 percent support rate, followed by Yoo with 21.7 percent and Kim Jae-won with 15.1 percent. The three are members of the PPP. The liberal Democratic Party of Korea contender, Hong Eui-rak, garnered 14.2 percent.







Yoo gained public attention originally as a legal adviser to Park. When Park stood trial for a corruption scandal that ended her presidency in 2017, Yoo was appointed as her legal representative, and he continued serving as her spokesperson during her prison term.






Aussie travellers keen to get out to sea face strict Covid rules and vaccine mandates as the East Coast prepares for the return of cruise ships.

New South Wales, Queensland and Victoria have been working jointly to put together changes to cruise travel that aims to reduce the risk of big Covid outbreaks, while allowing passengers to enjoy their cruise ship holiday.

Passengers will need to get a negative Covid-19 test before embarking, while those symptomatic are able to board ships but they will need to get a negative PCR test that same day.

All passengers over 12 must be double vaccinated, with most crew needing the triple dose

Crews will be tested every 14 days, or when they get symptoms and must wear masks on board the whole time, except when they go to their own rooms.

Passengers will only need to wear masks when embarking and disembarking, plus indoors on board when it isn't possible to socially distance.

All holiday makers over 12 must have received two doses of the Covid vaccine, yet all crew have to have their three doses, with exceptions for those who aren't yet eligible.

Unvaccinated kids under 12 or anyone with a valid medical exemption can travel - but cannot make up more than five per cent of the ship's passengers.

Cruise ship operators will need to undertake health measures in order to reduce transmission risk, which include shore excursions and managing cases and contacts on board.

The protocols will not apply to passenger ships that sleep less than 100 people.

Buffets will also still feature on cruises but staff will choose the food for guests from behind screens in another way to prevent the spread of Covid.

The changes come after the federal government threw a lifeline to the struggling cruise ship industry allowing them to return to shores.

2,700 holidaymakers (some pictured disembarking in March, 2020) went out into the community sparking a 20 per cent increase in infections at the time.

Ships will be back in force domestically with international ships being given the green light this month.

P&O's Pacific Explorer will be the first major cruise ship to return to Australia, leaving from Sydney on a four-night voyage to Brisbane on May 31st.

Cruise ship environments have been a hotbed for spreading Covid, with the country giving cruise ship arrivals a wide berth since March 2020.

The bans came at the outset of the pandemic as passengers on the Ruby Princess cruise ship were allowed to disembark in Sydney without having health checks.

More than 2,700 holidaymakers went out into the community - some with obvious Covid symptoms - sparking a 20 per cent increase in infections at the time.

Crews (from the Ruby Princess pictured in 2020) will be tested every 14 days, or when they get symptoms and must wear masks on board the whole time, except when they go to their own rooms.
Police today launched an urgent manhunt for a Toyota Prius driver after a woman was allegedly raped in the early hours of the morning in London.

The woman reported getting into the white car in the Upper Street area of Islington, North London, on Thursday, April 7 at 2.15am, according to Scotland Yard.

She claimed a man drove her to the Wormwood Scrubs area of White City in West London before he raped her in the vehicle.

Police urgently want to speak to Salad Ahmed Mohamed, 36, in connection with the incident

Police urgently want to speak to Salad Ahmed Mohamed, 36, in connection with the incident. They described him as black, of slim build and 5ft 10in tall.

The white Toyota Prius is a vehicle commonly used by drivers on ride-hailing apps, but the man is not believed to be affiliated to any of these.

Police are also now investigating whether he works as a cab driver or intimated that he was one - and detectives want to trace the car he was using,

They also said that specialist officers are supporting the woman. Mohamed is known to frequent the Islington, Finsbury Park and South Tottenham areas of North London.

The woman reported getting into the car in the Upper Street area of Islington, North London

The woman said the man drove her to the Wormwood Scrubs area of White City, West London

Officers added in a statement issued this morning that anyone seeing Mohamed should 'not approach him, but call 999 immediately'.

It is not clear exactly where the attack took place, with the Wormwood Scrubs site comprising a Category B prison and a large open park which share the same name.

Police said anyone with any information which could help the investigation should call them on 101 or get in touch via Twitter @MetCC, quoting CAD768/07APR.

To give information anonymously contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or online
A fifth of Russian soldiers killed in Ukraine are officers who were sent to the battlefield to oversee Putin's chaotic invasion, analysis has shown.

An investigation found that of 1,083 Russian servicemen killed whose identity has been verified, more than 20 per cent were officers.

BBC Russian Service counted 31 majors and 155 servicemen ranked between captain and second lieutenant among the dead.

Their bodies were returned to their homeland up to a month after their death, suggesting their could be many more high profile casualties still in Ukraine.

The high death toll betrays baffling Kremlin tactics which have seen officers being sent to the battlefield to make their tactical decisions, putting them in danger.

In the West, these roles are delegated to non-commissioned officers.

The most recent officer identified among the growing Kremlin death toll was Lieutenant Colonel Vyacheslav Savinov (pictured)

An extra 15 per cent of the identified fatalities were elite paratroopers and 25 per cent were special forces personnel.

They were likely killed in the battle for Hostomel airport near Kyiv, where Russian paratroopers (VDV) were deployed by helicopter on the first day of the brutal invasion.

They were sent with unarmoured light vehicles and when infantry was halted in the convoy towards Kyiv, more paratroopers were airlifted in.

Oleksiy Melnyk, a retired colonel and director at the Razumkov centre, told The Times: 'VDV are considered to be the most combat ready, effective, but at the same time they are not usually equipped with infantry fighting vehicles.

A funeral was held for Colonel Alexander Bespalov (pictured) on Friday in the closed Russian city of Ozersk

'They are only equipped with light vehicles  they have no heavy armour. It's another one of those stupid mistakes to use your special forces to complete infantry tasks.'

The most recent officer identified among the growing Kremlin death toll was Lieutenant Colonel Vyacheslav Savinov, head of artillery reconnaissance for the 49th Combined Arms Army.

The decorated 40-year-old from Neustrelitz in former East Germany had fought in Syria where he was wounded.

Earlier this week, Putin lost his ninth colonel in battle , 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.

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 19,500 troops to their deaths.

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 statements discrediting the military were criminalised.

Pictured: A car drives past a burnt Russian tank on a road west of Kyiv during Russia's military invasion launched on Ukraine

Pictured: A Ukrainian serviceman stands atop on destroyed Russian tank in Chernihiv region, Ukraine

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.

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.'
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Conservative ex-justice minister Crispin Blunt U-turned on his astonishing support for a child sex attacker Tory MP today as he faced a barrage of criticism from across Westminster.

The senior Tory apologised for backing his 'friend' Imran Ahmad Khan after he was convicted of sexually assaulting a boy, 15, and saying it was an 'international scandal' and 'dreadful miscarriage of justice'.

Wakefield MP Khan, 48, was found guilty on Monday of sexually assaulting the teenager at a house in 2008. He was expelled from the Tory party following yesterday's verdict.

However, Mr Blunt, who came out as gay in 2010, slammed the verdict in a stunning statement posted on his website late last night.

He said the sexual assault conviction would have 'dreadful wider implications for millions of LGBT+ Muslims around the world' and claimed the prosecution's argument relied on 'lazy tropes about LGBT+ people'. He also called for the convicted sex offender to be reinstated to public service.

However, as MPs from his own party joined opposition figures in condemning him, he deleted the comment from his website and the tweet promoting it this morning.

And he later apologised fully for his remarks, saying: 'I am sorry that my defence of him has been a cause of significant upset and concern not least to victims of sexual offences. It was not my intention to do this.

'To be clear I do not condone any form of abuse and I strongly believe in the independence and integrity of the justice system.'

He also announced he was resigned as chairman of a parliamentary group on LGBT+ rights, while the LGBT Conservatives suspended him as a patron.

Blunt's comments triggered fury with Labour Party chairwoman and shadow equalities secretary Anneliese Dodds labelling them 'disgraceful'.

She called on Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Tory chairman Oliver Dowden to 'take action' against the former prisons minister and 'distance their party from his comments'.

A Tory source said: 'Crispin's views are wholly unacceptable. Following exchanges late last night we expect the statement to be retracted first thing this morning.'

Meanwhile minister James Heappey suggested Mr Blunt could lose the Tory whip, telling the BBC: 'It's for people to look at today as they speak to Crispin, find out what this is all about. What matters is that absolutely nobody in Her Majesty's Government is seeking to be critical of the decision of the court.'

Former youth justice minister Crispin Blunt (pictured) jumped to the defence last night of Tory MP Imran Ahmad Khan, who was expelled from the party after being found guilty of sexually assaulting a 15-year-old boy at a house in 2008

He apologised fully for his remarks this morning, saying: 'I am sorry that my defence of him has been a cause of significant upset and concern not least to victims of sexual offences.'

A court heard that the disgraced 48-year-old dragged the Catholic teenager upstairs, pushed him onto a bed and asked him to watch pornography before the attack

Suspended Conservative MP Imran Ahmad Khan has today been convicted of sexually assaulting a 15-year-old boy after forcing him to drink gin and tonic at a house party in Staffordshire in 2008

Labour's Chris Bryant (left) and Kate Osborne (right) and the SNP's Stewart McDonald and Joanna Cherry have stood down from the all-party parliamentary group on global LGBT+ rights, which Tory MP Blunt leads

SNP MP Stewart McDonald (left) is one of four MPs to resign. He was joined by fellow SNP MP Joanna Cherry (right)

A flurry of resignations from the all-party parliamentary group on global LGBT+ rights were announced on Monday night after Crispin Blunt's comments about convicted sex offender Khan

Khan tweeted in support of press freedom on the day he tried to gag the media over the sex assault charge It has also emerged that Khan tweeted in support of press freedom on the day he tried to gag the media from reporting his name over a charge of sexually assaulting a schoolboy. He attempted to stop key details of the case - including the age of his victim, his own homosexuality, and even his fondness for a gin and tonic - coming into the public domain. The disgraced Wakefield MP was thwarted in his bid for secrecy unprecedented in a case not involving national security following two expensive legal challenges from media organisations. The full details of how the story finally came to be told can be reported for the first time after he was found guilty of sexually assaulting a 15-year-old boy after a party in 2008. The victim came forward days after Khan was elected in 2019 and gave three video-recorded interviews to police - two in December 2019 and one in February last year, when he drove almost 200 miles from his home during the pandemic's second wave. Khan was sent a questionnaire by Staffordshire Police rather than being interviewed under caution at a station because of 'Covid protocols in place at the time', providing written answers on May 7, 2020. Neither Staffordshire Police nor the Crown Prosecution Service informed the media or the public when Khan was charged by postal requisition - the point at which suspects in criminal cases are routinely named. His first appearance at Westminster Magistrates' Court by videolink on June 3 last year did not appear on the public or press lists. Chief Magistrate Paul Goldspring granted the MP an interim anonymity order ahead of another unlisted hearing, which the CPS refused to confirm was taking place as well as what charge Khan was facing. On June 17 last year, the day Khan argued in court he should be granted anonymity, he retweeted then foreign secretary Dominic Raab's message about 'press freedom' in Hong Kong. Khan had previously spoken in the Commons against Extinction Rebellion's efforts to 'constrain press freedom' after the protest group blocked a newspaper printing press. His lawyers said that as a serving MP there were concerns about his safety and argued he should not be named in court because it would breach his right to life (Article 2), protection from 'inhuman or degrading treatment' (Article 3) and right to a private life (Article 8) under the European Convention of Human Rights. The application included statements from former British diplomat and intelligence officer Richard Barrett and former senior RAF officer Afzal Ashraf, a letter from DUP MP Jim Shannon on House of Commons paper and openly available information about Ahmadi Muslims. But a risk assessment by West Yorkshire police counter-terrorism security advisers concluded that there was 'no objective threat to defendant's life that would arise from being named as the defendant in these allegations'. Rejecting Khan's application, Mr Goldspring noted the MP's earlier attempts to prevent the press reporting the victim was a minor gave 'insight into the defendant's real concerns'. 'Damage to reputation is not a ground for making of an order, open justice is and should remain a corner stone of democracy and the rule of law,' he said. Khan was given until 4pm the following day to challenge the decision in the High Court before the order automatically expired. However, Khan's lawyers instead sought a review of the decision by the Old Bailey's most senior judge Mark Lucraft QC at a hastily arranged hearing, where his name was listed as 'IK'. The judge told Khan he did not have jurisdiction to change the decision and would have agreed with the Chief Magistrate even if he did, meaning the charge against Khan could be reported for the first time. The publicity prompted a second complainant - who said Khan performed a sex act on him in Pakistan in 2010 - to come forward. Prosecutor Sean Larkin QC said during legal argument it was a 'mere technicality' the MP was not charged with a further offence because it was outside the jurisdiction before a change in UK law. On the first day of his trial, Khan's name appeared only as asterisks on the public Southwark Crown Court list and he launched another bid for reporting restrictions, of which journalists had no prior warning. His lawyer Gudrun Young QC said the court had been informed weeks earlier, but both the judge and prosecutor said they had only been notified the day before the trial. Khan argued that as an Ahmadi Muslim, both the consumption of alcohol and homosexuality are strictly prohibited within his faith, and the reporting of those matters would expose him to 'a risk to his safety both here and abroad'. The 'evidence' ran to more than 200 pages, including claims a bullet was found in his constituency office in January 2020, dozens of tweets, including one of a noose, and reference to the murders of MPs Jo Cox and Sir David Amess. High Court judge Mr Justice Baker made a temporary order, meaning the prosecution opening could not be fully reported, to allow the media time to make representations. Key parts of the complainant's evidence could not be reported live, but the order was lifted at the end of the second day of the trial - at which Khan was allowed to sit outside the dock because the court's microphones did not work - after news organisations instructed counsel at an estimated cost of 4,000. Advertisement

And Tory North Dorset MP Simon Hoare this morning said: 'The statement by Blunt was appalling and not the view of the Tory Party. Our legal process must be free of politicians interfering with due process.'

Meanwhile, four members of a cross-party LGBT+ group that Blunt chairs quit in protest, with one urging him to resign from his role.

Labour's Chris Bryant and Kate Osborne and the SNP's Stewart McDonald and Joanna Cherry all stood down from the group over Blunt's comments.

In his statement, Blunt, the MP for Reigate said: 'I am utterly appalled and distraught at the dreadful miscarriage of justice that has befallen my friend and colleague Imran Ahmad Khan, MP for Wakefield since December 2019.

'His conviction today is nothing short of an international scandal, with dreadful wider implications for millions of LGBT+ muslims around the world.

'I sat through some of the trial. The conduct of this case relied on lazy tropes about LGBT+ people that we might have thought we had put behind us decades ago.

'As a former Justice Minister I was prepared to testify about the truly extraordinary sequence of events that has resulted in Imran being put through this nightmare start to his Parliamentary career.

'I hope for the return of Imran Ahmad Khan to the public service that has exemplified his life to date.

'Any other outcome will be a stain on our reputation for justice, and an appalling own goal by Britain as we try to take a lead in reversing the Victorian era prejudice that still disfigures too much of the global statute book.'

A court heard 48-year-old Khan had been invited to celebrate the 21st birthday of a 15-year-old Catholic schoolboy's sister at her home as a 'friend of a friend' before he dragged the child upstairs, pushed him onto a bed and asked him to watch porn before sexually assaulting him.

Khan appeared wearing a dark suit holding a walking stick and showed no emotion when hearing his guilty verdict this afternoon. He had previously denied sexual assault and accused his traumatised victim of lying  but jurors heard how he had also drugged and assaulted an aid worker in Pakistan nearly three years after attacking the boy.

He was today suspended from the Conservative Party 'with immediate effect' following the conviction.

It can now also be revealed that the disgraced MP tweeted in support of press freedom on the day he tried to gag the media from reporting his name over the charge of sexual assault.

The Catholic teenager, now in his late 20s, told a jury he was left feeling 'scared, vulnerable, numb, shocked and surprised' after the future politician touched his feet and legs, coming within 'a hair's breadth' of his privates, as he tried to sleep in a top bunkbed.

He said he wasn't 'taken very seriously' when he made the allegation to the Conservative Party press office days before Khan was elected as the MP for Wakefield in West Yorkshire in the December 2019 general election, Southwark Crown Court was told.

The victim made a complaint to police days after Khan helped Prime Minister Boris Johnson win a large Commons majority by taking Wakefield in the so-called 'red wall' that had formed Labour's heartlands in the Midlands and northern England.

No further action had been taken because the youngster did not want to make a formal complaint. However, the victim told jurors 'it all came flooding back' when he learned Khan was standing in the 2019 election.

Khan, who is gay and a Muslim, had also made a lewd comment about the boy's older brother who was wearing a kilt. A court heard he asked if he was wearing the kilt like a 'true Scotsman' lifted it up to see if he was wearing underwear.

The judge, Mr Justice Baker, said he will sentence Khan on a later date.

Khan will be thrown out of the House of Commons if he is handed a prison sentence of more than a year, or otherwise could be subject to a petition to oust him in the recall process.

Sir Keir Starmer's Labour Party called for Khan's immediate resignation as an MP following the verdict.

A party spokesman said: 'Imran Ahmad Khan should immediately resign so a by-election can take place and the people of Wakefield can get the representation they deserve.'

The judge released Khan on bail, telling him: 'You have been convicted by a jury of this offence of sexual assault and you will have to be sentenced in due course.

'I make it clear that all sentencing options, including immediate custody, are being considered by the court.'

Anneliese Dodds, Labour Party chairwoman and shadow equalities secretary, labelled Mr Blunt's comments about Khan's conviction as 'disgraceful'.

She called on the Prime Minister and Tory chairman Oliver Dowden to 'take action' against the Reigate MP and 'distance their party from his comments'.

A Tory spokesman, when asked whether the party agreed with Mr Blunt's view, reiterated that Khan had been expelled from Boris Johnson's party.

'Our view is pretty clear,' he added.

Tory MPs Crispin Blunt and Sir Peter Bottomley, the father of the House of Commons, attended court today, while a third, Adam Holloway, earlier provided a character statement used as part of Khan's defence case.

Khan was born in Wakefield, where he attended the independent Silcoates School. He went to university at the Pushkin Institute in Russia and graduated from King's College in London with a bachelor's degree in war studies.

The 48-year-old worked for the UN as a special assistant for political affairs in Mogadishu before entering Parliament.

Khan's 15-year-old victim told a court that he 'vividly' remembered the gin bottle Khan took to the party, the smell of the spirit in the glass tumbler, and the fizz of the bubbles as he was forced by Khan to drink the cocktail.

He said Khan also watched him do pull-ups, asked him to watch pornography and told him he was 'good looking' in a 'love whisper' in his ear, which was 'disgusting and really slimy'.

The victim said he pretended to be asleep in the top bunkbed before Khan reached through the wooden bars to touch his feet.

'He was drunk because I could hear his heavy breathing,' he said.

The complainant said the 'slow caressing' continued as Khan 'worked his way around the bed' and 'up my leg', despite him telling the MP to stop.

He said he 'froze', adding: 'I freaked out and jumped out of the bed and ran as fast as I could.'

The boy's brother, who was 18 at the time, told jurors he was also the victim of an 'assault' when Khan asked if he was wearing his kilt like a 'true Scotsman' - referring to the tradition of wearing the garment without underwear - before lifting it up with both hands.

During legal argument, prosecutor Sean Larkin QC said it was a 'mere technicality' that Khan had not been charged with a second sexual assault of a man at a guesthouse in Pakistan, where the MP was working on a Foreign Office-funded project.

The alleged victim, then in his mid-20s, said Khan performed a sex act on him in his sleep after offering him a sleeping pill as they shared a room following an evening of drinking whiskey and smoking marijuana.

The man told jurors he reported the November 2010 incident to the British High Commission and the Foreign Office but did not want to go to police in Pakistan because of Khan's 'powerful connections' in the military and government.

He came forward as a witness after hearing Khan had been charged with sexual assault following the MP's failed bid to gag the press from reporting his name.

It is understood a charge could not be brought because the alleged assault took place outside the jurisdiction before a change in the UK law.

Khan claimed the sexual activity was consensual.

It has also emerged that Khan tweeted in support of press freedom on the day he tried to gag the media from reporting his name over a charge of sexually assaulting a schoolboy.

He attempted to stop key details of the case  including the age of his victim, his own homosexuality, and even his fondness for a gin and tonic  coming into the public domain.

The disgraced Wakefield MP was thwarted in his bid for secrecy unprecedented in a case not involving national security following two expensive legal challenges from media organisations.

The full details of how the story finally came to be told can be reported for the first time after he was found guilty of sexually assaulting a 15-year-old boy after a party in 2008.

The victim came forward days after Khan was elected in 2019 and gave three video-recorded interviews to police  two in December 2019 and one in February last year, when he drove almost 200 miles from his home during the pandemic's second wave.

Khan was sent a questionnaire by Staffordshire Police rather than being interviewed under caution at a station because of 'Covid protocols in place at the time', providing written answers on May 7, 2020.

Neither Staffordshire Police nor the Crown Prosecution Service informed the media or the public when Khan was charged by postal requisition  the point at which suspects in criminal cases are routinely named.

His first appearance at Westminster Magistrates' Court by videolink on June 3 last year did not appear on the public or press lists.

Chief Magistrate Paul Goldspring granted the MP an interim anonymity order ahead of another unlisted hearing, which the CPS refused to confirm was taking place as well as what charge Khan was facing.

On June 17 last year, the day Khan argued in court he should be granted anonymity, he retweeted then foreign secretary Dominic Raab's message about 'press freedom' in Hong Kong.

Khan had previously spoken in the Commons against Extinction Rebellion's efforts to 'constrain press freedom' after the protest group blocked a newspaper printing press.

His lawyers said that as a serving MP there were concerns about his safety and argued he should not be named in court because it would breach his right to life (Article 2), protection from 'inhuman or degrading treatment' (Article 3) and right to a private life (Article 8) under the European Convention of Human Rights.

Khan was found guilty by a jury at Southwark Crown Court today after around five hours of deliberations

Conservative Party press office did not take 'very seriously' the allegation that Khan had sexually abused 15-year-old boy when 'victim' told them about it days before 2019 election, court hears A court was told that the Conservative Party press office did not take 'very seriously' allegations that a 15-year-old boy was sexually assaulted by Khan before he stood as an election candidate. The then-teenager did not want to make a formal complaint at the time but told Southwark Crown Court 'it all came flooding back' when he discovered Khan was standing to become the MP for Wakefield in West Yorkshire in the December 2019 general election. Giving evidence at Southwark Crown Court, the victim's parents both broke down in tears as they told how their son was left 'inconsolable' and 'shaking' after the incident at a house in Staffordshire. He went to police days after Khan helped Prime Minister Boris Johnson win a large Commons majority by taking the constituency in the so-called 'red wall' that had formed Labour's heartlands in the Midlands and northern England. But the alleged victim, who voted Labour, told a jury that his complaint was 'not motivated by political reasons'. 'If it was, I would've done it before the general election,' he said. 'I also contacted the Tory press office, trying to inform them what had happened. I wasn't taken very seriously.' He continued: 'I explained that Imran Khan was running for MP and had just sort of been hurriedly put through. I explained this and said 'He sexually assaulted me when I was a child, when I was 15'.' He said the woman he spoke to sounded 'shocked' and passed him on to someone else who sounded more 'stern' and asked if he had any 'proof'. 'I said 'Yes, there's a police report' and she said 'Well...', and that was it. I said 'I'm going to the police', and she said 'Well, you do that'.' Advertisement

The application included statements from former British diplomat and intelligence officer Richard Barrett and former senior RAF officer Afzal Ashraf, a letter from DUP MP Jim Shannon on House of Commons paper and openly available information about Ahmadi Muslims.

But a risk assessment by West Yorkshire police counter-terrorism security advisers concluded that there was 'no objective threat to defendant's life that would arise from being named as the defendant in these allegations'.

Rejecting Khan's application, Mr Goldspring noted the MP's earlier attempts to prevent the press reporting the victim was a minor gave 'insight into the defendant's real concerns'.

'Damage to reputation is not a ground for making of an order, open justice is and should remain a corner stone of democracy and the rule of law,' he said.

Khan was given until 4pm the following day to challenge the decision in the High Court before the order automatically expired.

However, Khan's lawyers instead sought a review of the decision by the Old Bailey's most senior judge Mark Lucraft QC at a hastily arranged hearing, where his name was listed as 'IK'.

The judge told Khan he did not have jurisdiction to change the decision and would have agreed with the Chief Magistrate even if he did, meaning the charge against Khan could be reported for the first time.

The publicity prompted a second complainant  who said Khan performed a sex act on him in Pakistan in 2010  to come forward.

Prosecutor Sean Larkin QC said during legal argument it was a 'mere technicality' the MP was not charged with a further offence because it was outside the jurisdiction before a change in UK law.

On the first day of his trial, Khan's name appeared only as asterisks on the public Southwark Crown Court list and he launched another bid for reporting restrictions, of which journalists had no prior warning.

His lawyer Gudrun Young QC said the court had been informed weeks earlier, but both the judge and prosecutor said they had only been notified the day before the trial.

Khan argued that as an Ahmadi Muslim, both the consumption of alcohol and homosexuality are strictly prohibited within his faith, and the reporting of those matters would expose him to 'a risk to his safety both here and abroad'.

The 'evidence' ran to more than 200 pages, including claims a bullet was found in his constituency office in January 2020, dozens of tweets, including one of a noose, and reference to the murders of MPs Jo Cox and Sir David Amess.

High Court judge Mr Justice Baker made a temporary order, meaning the prosecution opening could not be fully reported, to allow the media time to make representations.

Key parts of the complainant's evidence could not be reported live, but the order was lifted at the end of the second day of the trial  at which Khan was allowed to sit outside the dock because the court's microphones did not work - after news organisations instructed counsel at an estimated cost of 4,000.
A polite 'tradie' has ticked off a selfish driver for parking in the wrong spot at a busy retail centre, but one particular detail of the rebuke caught people's attention.

The driver left their Mazda CX5 hatch in an oversized bay allocated for 'trades and trailers' at the Bunnings at Balgowlah, earning a note tucked under the car's wipers.

The a photo of the note, posted to the Manly Living Facebook group on Tuesday, drew plenty of responses, including comments on the author's immaculate penmanship.

However, the note-leaver's attractive cursive writing drew some skepticism about whether a tradie even wrote it.

The driver left their Mazda CX5 hatch in an oversized bay allocated for 'trades and trailers' at the Bunnings at Balgowlah, earning a note tucked under the car's wipers

The a photo of the note, posted to the Manly Living Facebook group on Tuesday, drew plenty of responses, including comments on the author's immaculate penmanship

'Please DON'T park here, you make it difficult for hard working tradies!' the note read.

'Please be communal.'

The writer even signed off with an old-school smiley face and a 'Thanks'.

'Lovely penmanship from a tradie,' wrote one member of the group.

The person who posted the photos praised the note but doubted whether the driver would pay any attention.

'Vibing on this polite note left on a car that selfishly has parked in the Trades and Trailer Bay allocated in the Bunnings car park at Balgowlah,' a member of the Manly group said.

'Doubt it would change the person's behaviour but you never know.'

The photos drew a mix of admiration for the note-leaver's attractive cursive writing and skepticism that a tradie even wrote it

Some members of the Facebook group suggested the indiscretion didn't matter as, judging by the photo, there were plenty of available spaces.

'Looks like heap of empty parking space. Why care?' another person wrote.

'Because cars with a trailer attached don't fit in a regular parking space. They need these double ones which is why they are designated for cars with trailers,' wrote another.
Fox News star Tucker Carlson has finally revealed he has not been vaccinated against Covid-19.

Carlson made the declaration during an April 2 speech at the San Marcos campus of Awaken Church in San Diego, CA, which has repeatedly made headlines for its refusal to comply with the state's strict Covid restrictions and policies.

The divisive primetime star appeared to mock the need for additional booster shots as the crowd applauded and roared their approval, in a recording of the speech provided by non-profit news organization Voice of San Diego and published by The Daily Beast's Source Material newsletter yesterday.

'Get my fourth shot? I don't think so,' Carlson declared. 'I skipped the first three, I'm not getting that one either.'

Fox News star Tucker Carlson (pictured here on his show last night) has finally revealed he has not been vaccinated against Covid-19

Carlson made the declaration during an April 2 speech at the San Marcos, CA campus of Awaken Church (pictured), which has repeatedly made headlines for its refusal to comply with the state's strict Covid restrictions and policies

Carlson spoke at the San Marcos campus of Awaken Church on April 2 and was interviewed by Jurgen Matthesius - one of the church's lead pastors - pictured left with wife Leanne who is also a pastor

Pictured: Tucker Carlson tells Awaken Church that he's unvaccinated

The Fox News stalwart has long been one of mainstream media's staunchest critics of the Covid vaccine and draconian lockdown policies, but until now has resisted calls to publicize his vaccine status.

Carlson has fallen back on privacy laws and had remained silent on whether he had gotten the vaccine personally, despite launching repeated tirades against the vaccine rollout, jab mandates and restrictions associated with the coronavirus.

His speech at Awaken Church appears to have solidified his anti-Covid vaccine stance, but Carlson went on to affirm that he is not an 'anti-vaxxer', as he is so readily described by his detractors.

'I grew up next the Salk Institute (for biological studies) in La Jolla - I'm not against vaccines okay? Obviously... I've had like a million of them!' Carlson reasoned.

'But this just not make sense at all... I have no idea what's up here, but whatever you're telling me, it's just not true,' he added, referring to the US' rapid rollout of Covid vaccines and booster shots.

The publication of Carlson's anti-Covid vax speech came as he blasted the brutal 'zero-Covid' lockdowns currently in force in Shanghai, China, on his show last night.

He warned the lockdown in Shanghai was a dangerous example of what could happen in the United States - telling his viewers: 'We're just beginning to see the outlines of the repression that COVID has made possible.'

The country's leaders aim to rid their shores of the virus entirely, and as soon as one case is recorded huge swathes of the country are

'You have 25 million people locked inside their homes,' said Carlson.

'You have the largest prison camp in human history.'

The publication of Carlson's braggadocios anti-Covid vax speech came as he blasted the brutal 'zero-Covid' lockdowns currently in force in Shanghai, China, on his show last night

A temporary hospital is pictured on Friday inside the National Exhibition and Convention Center

Carlson continued: 'If you believe in democracy, this is repugnant. Twenty-five million people just lost their most basic human rights.

'So, the question is, has anyone in the Biden administration, which is constantly lecturing us about democracy and human rights, said anything about this? Has the State Department issued an angry denunciation of Xi Jinping? Is the U.S. government threatening sanctions against China for building the world's largest prison camp?

'Well, of course not.'

He argued that President Xi Jinping's government was locking the city down not because of the virus, but because it was the freest place in his country, and posed a threat to his authoritarian country.

Carlson said that restrictions were being reintroduced to control people.

'If you watch carefully, you can see all of this taking shape, and why wouldn't it be taking shape in this country?' he asked.

'We've got midterm elections coming.'

He noted that the Biden administration are thought likely to bring back their 'lunatic vaxx mandate for federal employees', which was challenged by a Texas judge in January, and then reinstated by a New Orleans appeals court last week

'We're just beginning to see the outlines of the repression that COVID has made possible. That's the point and if we want to know what the future looks like, you can look at China and shiver.

'In the state of California, the state is starting to pull funding from any school that won't comply with the new mandate, a vaccine mandate for children.

'Joe Biden endorses that. Inject your children with a drug with no actual benefits, or no education for your family.'
A father was told by NHS staff his son was still alive and being treated at a hospital more than a month after he had escaped and been killed by a train.

Personal trainer Matthew Caseby was able to leave Birmingham's Priory Hospital Woodbourne, where he was an NHS patient, despite signs that he was at high risk of absconding.

The 23-year-old was hit by a train in Birmingham on September 8 2020, just hours after he left the hospital where he had been detained under the Mental Health Act during a psychotic episode.

But an inquest into his death heard that the NHS body responsible for commissioning the Priory's care told Matthew's father that he was still alive 42 days after his death.

Richard Caseby, 61, was informed of Matthew's death after a meeting with Priory staff on the day his son was killed.

But he then contacted Forward Thinking Birmingham the following month, in October 2020, to discuss his son's case, according to the Times.

Staff at the NHS partnership insisted that Matthew, a history graduate, was still alive and being cared for, Mr Caseby claimed.

The Times reports that Fiona Reynolds, chief medical officer at Birmingham Women's and Children's NHS Trust, told the hearing she was 'appalled' at the errors made by her colleagues, adding that it 'should not have happened'.

Richard Caseby was told by NHS staff that his son Matthew was still alive and being treated moer than a month after he had been killed by a train. Pictured: Matthew Caseby in Brighton

She said: 'Mr Caseby should not have been subjected to that and I am very sorry.'

Yesterday, the inquest heard that police officers answering the 999 call from the Priory after Matthew had vanished were 'frustrated' when a receptionist there insisted they fill out visitor paperwork.

The two West Midlands Police response officers, who turned up in uniform at the hospital, were also told to sign to state they had read its Covid policy despite the 'time-critical' nature of their visit, the inquest was told.

The officers had been called to the hospital after a senior nurse reported personal trainer Matthew had jumped a fence and absconded on September 7, 2020.

Louise Hunt, senior coroner for Birmingham and Solihull, heard the 999 call about the then missing Mr Caseby was passed to response officer PC Andrew Freeman, and his colleague PC Wayne Thomas at about 5.28pm.

When the officers arrived at the large hospital site, they did not know exactly which ward Mr Caseby had absconded from, so they went to main reception.

'I initially got held up there a little bit, to my frustration,' said Mr Freeman.

'The receptionist - she was not willing to give us the information I wanted straight away because (of) some kind of Priory policy whereby we had to, first of all, fill in a small amount of paperwork which was then placed into lanyards, showing us as visitors.

Matthew had been detained at Birmingham's Priory Hospital Woodbourne, where he was an NHS patient, and was able to escape despite signs that he was at high risk of absconding

'Secondly, at the time we were in the height of Covid - she wanted us to read a document, and then we had to sign to say that we had read a document before... she would tell us which ward to go to.

'I did voice my frustrations with the receptionist to make her aware this is an immediate response, we need to get this information as quickly as possible.

'I saw it as time-critical.

'However those few minutes could have been the difference of being in the right place at the right time later on, when we were searching roads.

'I was just very frustrated at the time.

'We were called by one person at the Priory to say this is (a) very immediate concern, we need to get out and start trying to find Matthew straight away.

'However, on the other side of the coin when we got there, we were held up for three to five minutes, filling in paperwork so we could wear a visitors pass - which I found highly inappropriate.'

Having eventually gained access to the right ward, staff there were unable to give police basic patient information.

'I found myself being quite frustrated again,' said Mr Freeman.

'All the very basic questions that we had at that stage pretty much were answered 'we haven't got that information'.'

Asked what information they gave about Mr Caseby's risk of harm, he said: 'We were told he had denied any self-harm or suicidal tendencies.'

Mr Freeman also said he was never told by Priory staff about how Mr Caseby was previously found by police on a railway line in Oxfordshire, and detained for his own safety.

The officer only discovered that fact after reading a patient risk assessment form from Warneford Hospital, Oxford, in his police car.

Mr Freeman said: 'Immediately you are thinking 'what is somebody doing on railway lines'.' He added that it 'rings alarm bells massively'.

'Most of the time when people are on railway lines it's unfortunately because they're having thoughts to do something,' he said.

The officer 'updated the log' to 'immediately' alert British Transport Police colleagues to be on the alert for Mr Caseby.

The officers searched, made contact with Mr Caseby's family, and traced likely locations the former University of Birmingham student may have visited but were unable to find him by the time their shift ended in the early hours.

The graduate's father, Richard, 61, previously told the inquest that health authorities had a basic legal duty to keep his son safe and secure.

Mr Caseby told the hearing that after learning of his son's disappearance, he had spoken to a Priory worker who told him 'people abscond all the time to get drink or drugs or see friends... they usually come back'. He said that comment remained 'burned on my mind'.

Matthew was hit by a train at 8.46am. Richard Caseby was 200 yards away, exploring a hunch that his son may have sought refuge near his old hall of residence.

He found out what had happened after a 9am meeting with the Priory's medical director who 'assured me to my face that Matthew was a low suicide risk'.

The inquest continues.

A spokesman for the Priory Hospital Woodbourne said: 'We would like to express our sincerest condolences to Matthew's family at this very difficult time.

'As a formal inquest is still underway, it would not be appropriate to make any further comment.'

For confidential support call Samaritans on 116 123 or visit www.samaritans.org
The mother of a Puerto Rican Olympian was killed by a stray bullet to the head while sewing in her Connecticut home over the weekend.

Police believe Mabel Martinez, 56 was an innocent bystander and the intended target was a man walking outside her home in the town of Waterbury on Saturday afternoon. She died from her injuries on Sunday.

The victim's daughter Yarimar Mercado Martinez, 27, a rifle shooter on the Puerto Rico Olympic team, competed in the summer Olympics in Tokyo last year and in Rio de Janeiro 2016.

Mercado Martinez, 27, expressed her heartbreak in social media posts:, writing in Spanish: Why you? Why this way? You were just sitting in your little house sewing, as you always did.'

Waterbury Police Chief Fernando Spagnolo said investigators believe the shooting was drug related and had nothing to do with Mabel Martinez.

'This was definitely a random, tragic act of violence,' he said. 'She was in her house. She's not the intended target.'

Spagnolo said relatives were extremely distraught, including Mabel Martinez's husband, whom he described as inconsolable.

The man who was targeted in the attack was shot in the leg and survived.

Mabel Martinez, 56, mother of a Puerto Rican Olympian Yarimar Mercado Martinez, 27, (pictured together) was killed by a stray bullet to the head in a drug related shooting outside her Connecticut home

The victim's daughter Yarimar Mercado Martinez, 27, (pictured) a rifle shooter on the Puerto Rico Olympic team, competed in the summer Olympics in Tokyo last year and in Rio de Janeiro 2016

The grief-stricken daughter added that she only spoke to her mother two days prior before her sudden, violent death.

She wrote that the family intends to bring her mothers body to Puerto Rico 'so her friends and family can say goodbye.

The athlete flew out of Brazil late Sunday and has arrived in Connecticut, according to Gilberto Hernandez, president of the Puerto Rico Shooting Association, the sport's governing body in the US territory.

Hernandez said it's not clear when the body would arrive for burial in Puerto Rico, adding that the shooting association is helping pay a portion of the funeral costs.

'We trust that she will overcome this,' he told AP. 'She can count on us... The doors of the association are always open.'

The investigation has been 'very, very active' since Saturday, said police chief Spagnolo.

Waterbury Police Chief Fernando Spagnolo told The Associated Press that investigators believe the shooting was drug related and that Martinez was not the intended target.

Olympian Yarimar Mercado Martinez, who competes in the 50m rifle three positions event, where she landed 28th place in Tokyo 2020, with a score of 1157, and 24th place in Rio 2016.

The event consists of the kneeling, prone, and standing positions, fired in that order with a .22 long rifle, with 340 shots for both men and women.

In her emotional tribute, she touched on the weapon used in her sport: 'Please, if you are going to use weapons, shoot a paper card and learn about its use and handling.

'I apologize to Puerto Rico because even if I wanted to, I really can't compete, my place is with my family and I can't wait to get there and be with them.'

'There are so many things I still needed to learn from you I was so far away without being able to do anything, I couldn't even say goodbye to you,' the daughter continued.

Police believe Mabel Martinez, 56 was an innocent bystander and the intended target was a man walking outside her home in the town of Waterbury on Saturday afternoon. She died from her injuries on Sunday

A close-up shot shows a stray bullet hole in the window of the house where Mabel was killed

The grief-stricken daughter (pictured with Mabel, left) added that she only spoke to her mother two days prior before her sudden, violent death. She wrote that the family intends to bring her mothers body to Puerto Rico 'so her friends and family can say goodbye

Police haven't identified a suspect and no arrests were made in the case as of early Tuesday.

Property crime rates in Connecticut are at 15.7 is the highest of any New England state, but lower than the national average of 19.6.

But in terms of violent crime, they have seen a decrease in recent years, and have one of the lowest percentages of violent crime in the US with just 4 per cent, six percentage points lower than the national average.

In 2020, 237 cases of violent crime were reported in Waterbury, which has a population of 114,000, which went down by 12.2 per cent to 208 in 2021.

Waterbury is the second-largest city in New Haven County, Connecticut, for which as a state, 10 per cent of all crimes are violent, seven per cent lower than the national average.

On Friday last week, a teen was accused of killing a 16-year-old girl by firing a 'ghost gun' which delivered a fatal stray bullet during a street dispute.

Straight-A student Angellyh Yambo was leaving University Prep Charter High School in New York City last week when a total of six rounds were fired.

Jeremiah Ryan, 17, was arraigned on Saturday on charges including murder and attempted murder and mouthed 'I love you' to his mom as he left court.

Mercado Martinez, 27, expressed her heartbreak in social media posts:, writing in Spanish: Why you? Why this way? You were just sitting in your little house sewing, as you always did'

The suspect, who has no criminal record, was ordered held without bail pending a court appearance today.

It comes as the Biden administration is set to release long-awaited rule changes for the sale of 'ghost guns' under growing pressure to crack down on a nationwide spike in the use of the deadly weapons.

Police had said the gunfire appeared to start after Ryan and another person were gesturing at each other across an intersection.

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.

The teen was reportedly identified and tracked down to his Bronx apartment early on Saturday by investigators who scoured hours of surveillance video from the scene.
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Vladimir Putin today warned his enemies in the West they will face 'consequences' if they 'worsen the situation' in Ukraine, as the Russian strongman threatened to create 'waves of migrants' in Europe.

Putin, speaking in front of dozens of rockets at the Vostochny space launch facility in Russia's Far East, insisted that his faltering invasion of Ukraine would prevail as he warned of world starvation as a result of Western sanctions against Moscow.

The Russian President claimed Russia's economy and financial system withstood the blow from what he called the Western sanctions 'blitz' and insisted the move would backfire by driving up prices for essentials such as fertiliser, leading to food shortages and increased migration to the West.

Despite Putin's faltering invasion, which saw Russian troops retreat from Ukrainian cities and instead focus on the Donbas region in eastern Ukraine, the leader said his war effort is going to plan as he vowed Russia would triumph in all of its 'noble' war aims.

Putin said that 'common sense should prevail' and added that the West should 'come back to reason and make well-balanced decisions without losing its face.'

He argued that new Western restrictions on high-tech exports will encourage Russia to move faster to develop new technologies, opening a 'new window of opportunities.'

Putin also claimed on Tuesday that the images and footage of dead bodies strewn across the Ukrainian town of Bucha were fake, parroting the same lines his spokesman gave earlier this week. He compared the accusations to those concerning the use of chemical weapons by the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. 'It's the same kind of fake in Bucha,' Putin said.

Lukashenko wildly accused Britain of staging the atrocities at Bucha by bringing in dead bodies from across Ukraine - not Russian soldiers who wreaked havoc on Ukrainian towns and cities as they retreated.

The Belarusian dictator claimed that a show of Russian cruelty was needed to maintain the West's justification for sanctions against Moscow.

'We've discussed the psychological special operation which was conducted by the English,' said Lukashenko of his talks with Putin. 'If any of you need addresses, details, car plate numbers, brands of cars with which [they] arrived in Bucha and how they did it, the FSB [secret service] of Russia can provide these materials.'

Putin meanwhile claimed Ukraine had deviated from the agreements made at a peace conference in Istanbul, and that talks are in a 'dead end'.

Putin's comments come as a video emerged purporting to show Russian heavy weapons including missile systems being moved towards the border with Finland, hours after the Kremlin warned its northern neighbour against joining NATO.

A ranting Vladimir Putin today warned his enemies in the West they will face 'consequences' if they 'worsen the situation' in Ukraine, as the Russian strongman threated to create 'waves of migrants' in Europe

An unconfirmed video uploaded last night appears to show two Russian coastal defence missile systems moving along a road on the Russian side of the border that leads to Helsinki

The video clearly shows road signs leading to the Finnish capital of Helsinki. Finland, currently neutral, shares a 830 mile long border with Russia

The A-181 leads from Russia's St Petersburg to Finland

A man walks past the Kharkiv Regional Institute of the National Academy of Public Administration building which was destroyed during Russian shelling in Kharkiv on Tuesday

Vladimir Putin has taken his 'nuclear football' (pictured left) to a space port as he met with Belarus dictator Alexander Lukashenko

Putin took his 'nuclear football' to the funeral in a Moscow cathedral last week (pictured), raising fears of a potential attack

An unconfirmed video uploaded last night appears to show two Russian coastal defence missile systems moving along a road on the Russian side of the border that leads to Helsinki.

The missile systems, which were seen driving past a sign to the Finnish capital, are thought to be the K-300P Bastion-P mobile coastal defence system, designed to take out surface ships up to and including aircraft carrier battle groups.

The Russian deployment comes as Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin said she expects her government 'will end the discussion before midsummer' on whether to apply for NATO membership.

Recent opinions polls by a Finnish market research company put 84% of Finns as viewing Russia as a 'significant military threat', up by 25% on last year.

In response, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov euphemistically warned the move would 'not improve' the security situation in Europe, and Moscow lawmaker Vladimir Dzhabarov added more bluntly it would mean 'the destruction of the country'.

'We have repeatedly said that the alliance remains a tool geared towards confrontation and its further expansion will not bring stability to the European continent,' Peskov said.

Meanwhile in a show of Russian strength today, Vladimir Putin took his 'nuclear football' to a space port alongside Lukashenko.

Yesterday NATO announced two multinational naval groups of sixteen ships led by the Royal Netherlands Navy will be patrolling the Baltic Sea coasts of members such as Poland and Estonia to 'maintain a credible and capable defensive capability'.

Finland, along with neighbouring Sweden, has historically avoided NATO membership, despite close alignment with the West, in an effort not to provoke Russia.

But the Scandinavian country shares a 830 mile long border with Russia and has been unnerved by Putin's invasion of Ukraine, having been invaded once before by the Soviet Union in 1939.

Meanwhile, Sweden's ruling party formally began debating the possibility of launching a bid for membership yesterday, a move which would signal a complete role reversal in policy for the Scandinavian kingdom that has remained militarily neutral for decades.

Party secretary Tobias Baudin told local media that the NATO review should be complete within the next few months.

'When Russia invaded Ukraine, Sweden's security position changed fundamentally,' the party said in a statement.

Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin (left) indicated that Finland would decide whether to apply for Nato membership before midsummer, angering the Kremlin which said the move 'would not improve the security situation in Europe'. Meanwhile, Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson (pictured right with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen), has begun discussing the possibility of joining NATO today

A current map of Nato membership in Europe. Sweden and Finland have historically avoided membership in order to not provoke Russia, but the Russian invasion of Ukraine has changed their calculus

Residents stand outside their apartments as shops burn after a Russian attack in Kharkiv, Ukraine, on Monday

Ukrainian tanks move down a street in Irpin, on the outskirts of Kyiv, on Monday after Russian troops retreated from the area

Firefighters clear the debris and search for bodies under the rubble of a building hit weeks ago by a Russian attack after receiving reports of a smell emerging from the area, in Kharkiv on Monday

A man walks with a bicycle next to a truck that carries black bags with corpses of people killed during the war with Russia and exhumed from a mass grave for investigations in Bucha, on the outskirts of Kyiv on Monday

In Sweden, the ruling centre-left Social Democrats have historically opposed NATO membership but the more than six-week conflict in Ukraine has reignited debate in the Scandinavian kingdom.

A policy reversal for the party, which ruled for an uninterrupted 40 years between the 1930s and 1970s, would be historic and could pave the way for Sweden to apply to join NATO.

The party, led by Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson, are said to have begun discussing the possibility of joining NATO today, with the issue expected to be a central to parliamentary elections scheduled for September 11.

Sweden is officially non-aligned militarily, although it is a NATO partner and abandoned its position of strict neutrality after the end of the Cold War.

Having initially stressed that non-alignment had 'served Sweden's interests well,' Andersson recently conceded that she was ready to discuss the policy and in late March said she 'did not rule out' a bid to join NATO.

Mr Peskov made clear that Russia would have to 'rebalance the situation' with its own measures were Sweden and Finland to join Nato.

The spiral of escalation has seen both countries increase their defence spending, with Helsinki announcing plans to spend 11 on drones and Stockholm adding another 243 million to their military budget.

Adding to the fears, Putin warned the West today that Russia will never again depend on them and he had no doubts about his brutal invasion of Ukraine.

'Its goals are absolutely clear and noble,' Putin said. 'It's clear that we didn't have a choice. It was the right decision.'

He said that Russians' unity will only grow stronger in the face of Western sanctions and it will be the West that will face instability.

Putin said the West mistakenly expected its sanctions to undermine Russia's stability, adding 'the Russian people always strengthen their unity in a difficult situation.'

He insisted that it will be the West that will be shaken by growing instability, fueled by public dismay over galloping inflation. The Russian leader also lashed out at European leaders, describing them as Washington's stooges and saying that they are conducting policies harmful to their nations.

Meanwhile, Putin said his faltering invasion is going to plan and claimed it is not moving faster because Russia wants to minimise losses.

He said the 'military operation will continue until its full completion and the fulfillment of the tasks that have been set.'

Putin claimed that Ukraine backtracked on proposals it made during talks with Russian negotiators in Istanbul, resulting in a deadlock in talks and leaving Moscow no other choice but to press on with its offensive.

At a space port in eastern Russia, he cited the success of the Soviet space programme as evidence that the country could achieve spectacular leaps forward in tough conditions.

Putin poses for a photo with employees as he visits the rocket assembly room today

Putin delivers a speech as he visits the Vostochny Cosmodrome in Amur Region in Russia today

Women walk past a bridge that according to residents was destroyed by Russian army soldiers while they were pulling out of the town of Ivankiv, Kyiv region, on Tuesday

Firefighters try to contain a fire at a plant following Russian shelling, as Russia's attack on Ukraine continues, in Kharkiv, Ukraine, on Monday

Sixty one years to the day since the Soviet Union's Yuri Gagarin blasted off into the history books by becoming the first man in space, Putin travelled to the Vostochny Cosmodrome in Russia's Far East, 3,450 miles east of Moscow.

'The sanctions were total, the isolation was complete but the Soviet Union was still first in space,' Putin said, according to Russian state television.

'We don't intend to be isolated,' Putin said. 'It is impossible to severely isolate anyone in the modern world - especially such a vast country as Russia.'

Russia's Cold War space successes such as Gagarin's flight and the 1957 launch of Sputnik 1, the first artificial satellite from earth, have a particular pertinence for Russia: both events shocked the United States.

The launch of Sputnik 1 prompted the United States to create NASA in a bid to catch up with Moscow.

Putin says the 'special military operation' in Ukraine is necessary because the United States was using Ukraine to threaten Russia - including via the NATO military alliance - and that Moscow had to defend Russian-speaking people in Ukraine from persecution.

As Putin dismissed the atrocities in Bucha as 'fake' Ukrainian prosecutors today expanded their war crimes investigations in northeastern suburbs of Kyiv after Russian forces withdrew.

Reports of killings of civilians have primarily focused so far on the northwestern suburbs such as Bucha, but the Prosecutor-General's Office said Tuesday it was also looking into events in the Brovary district, which lies to the northeast.

Russian troops advanced into that area last month before retreating to focus on fighting in eastern Ukraine.

The Prosecutor-General's Office said the bodies of six civilians had been found with gunshot wounds in a basement in the village of Shevchenkove and that Russian forces were believed to be responsible.

Prosecutors are also investigating an incident in which they allege Russian forces fired on a convoy of civilians trying to leave by car from the village of Peremoha in the Brovary district, killing four people including a 13-year-old boy. In another incident near Bucha, five people were killed, including two children, when a car was fired upon, prosecutors said.

In Ukraine, Russian forces are continuing to pull out of Belarus to support operations in the east as Putin focuses his invasion on the Donbas region where Russian-allied separatists have claimed independence.

'Fighting in eastern Ukraine will intensify over the next two to three weeks as Russia continues to refocus its efforts there,' the UK Ministry of Defence said today in its latest intelligence briefing.

'Russian attacks remain focused on Ukrainian positions near Donetsk and Luhansk with further fighting around Kherson and Mykolaiv and a renewed push toward Kramatorsk.'

U.S. officials also point to further signs Russia's military is gearing up for a major offensive in Ukraine's eastern Donbas region, switching its focus after Russian forces failed in their initial drive to capture Kyiv.

Donbas has been torn by fighting between Russian-allied separatists and Ukrainian forces since 2014, and Russia has recognised the separatists' claims of independence.

Military strategists say Russian leaders appear to hope local support, logistics and terrain in Donbas favour Russia's larger and better-armed military, potentially allowing Russian troops to gain more territory and weaken Ukraine's fighting forces.

An elderly walks past an unexploded tail section of a 300mm rocket which appear to contained cluster bombs launched from a BM-30 Smerch multiple rocket launcher embedded in the ground after shelling in Lysychansk, Lugansk region, on Monday

Russian troops drive a tank on a road outside the southern port city of Mariupol on Sunday

People walk down a street near past a building damaged by shelling in Irpin, in the outskirts of Kyiv, on Monday

Ukrainian soldiers shoot with assault rifles in a trench on the front line with Russian troops in Lugansk region on Monday

Russian troops have continued to shell Mariupol, with a British soldier fighting alongside Ukrainian marines in the besieged port city saying his unit has no choice but to surrender to the Russians.

Former care worker Aiden Aslin, 28, who moved to Ukraine in 2018 after falling in love with a woman from Mykolaiv, said forces have run out of supplies with Russians closing in.

It comes after claims Russia used chemical weapons dropped from a drone over Mariupol last night, as Putin continues his brutal assault on the strategic port city.

Aslin said in a message posted via a contact on Twitter: 'It's been 48 days, we tried our best to defend Mariupol but we have no choice but to surrender to Russian forces.

'We have no food and no ammunition. It's been a pleasure everyone, I hope this war ends soon.'

The post added: 'We're putting this out after direct consultation with his family. Until we're told otherwise we'll continue working on sharing the facts of the war. Hope for a prisoner exchange.'

Aiden Aslin is a former carer who previously fought against Isis in Syria. Now he says his unit will have to surrender to the Russians

Aiden Aslin, 28, moved to Ukraine in 2018 after falling in love with a woman from Mykolaiv , another Black Sea port close to Odessa. He is now in his fourth year with the Ukranian armed forces and was due to get married this Spring and complete his service in September

Mourners cry during the funeral ceremony of Ukrainian serviceman Roman Tiaka, 47, who was killed during Russia's invasion of Ukraine, in Stebnyk, Lviv region, Ukraine, on Tuesday

Mourners cry during the funeral ceremony of Ukrainian serviceman Roman Tiaka, 47, in Stebnyk on Tuesday

Families walk on a platform on their way to board a train at Slovyansk central station, in the Donbass region, on Tuesday

Aslin, from Newark, Nottinghamshire, is now in his fourth year with the Ukranian armed forces and was due to get married this Spring and complete his service in September.

When Russia launched their brutal invasion, Aslin was stationed in the Donbass region where separatists and the Ukrainian armed forces have been fighting since 2014.

There are an estimated 10,000 civilians who have been killed by Putin's army in Mariupol which has seen some of the worst fighting of the war.

Corpses are now 'carpeted through the streets' of the crucial port city, according to its mayor Vadym Boychenko.

He accused Russian forces of having blocked weeks of attempted humanitarian convoys into the city in part to conceal the carnage. Boychenko said the death toll in Mariupol alone could surpass 20,000.

Boychenko also gave new details of allegations by Ukrainian officials that Russian forces have brought mobile cremation equipment to Mariupol to dispose of the corpses of victims of the siege.

Russian forces have taken many bodies to a huge shopping center where there are storage facilities and refrigerators, Boychenko said.

'Mobile crematoriums have arrived in the form of trucks: You open it, and there is a pipe inside and these bodies are burned,' he said.

Boychenko spoke from a location in Ukrainian-controlled territory but outside Mariupol.

The mayor said he had several sources for his description of the alleged methodical burning of bodies by Russian forces in the city, but did not further detail the sources of his information.

The discovery of large numbers of apparently executed civilians after Russian forces retreated from cities and towns around the capital, Kyiv, already has prompted widespread condemnation and assertions that Russia is committing war crimes in Ukraine.

Meanwhile, a pro-Putin separatist leader has called for Russia to use chemical weapons to 'smoke out' 4,000 Ukrainian defenders at a key strategic steel plant in Mariupol.

Eduard Basurin, deputy head of the so-called Donetsk People's Republic, claimed thousands of Ukrainian fighters are taking shelter in the Azovstal complex, one of Europe's largest iron and steel works, which has so far defied Russian attempts to seize it.

He made the dire warning just hours after Ukraine accused Russia of unleashing a toxic agent from a drone over Mariupol, causing breathing issues.

Meanwhile, a column of Russian military vehicles has been seen heading towards the Donbas amid fears the Kremlin is set to unleash an onslaught on the eastern Ukrainian region.

The footage taken from Matveev Kurgan in the Rostov Oblast in western Russia shows the armoured vehicles travelling towards the Ukrainian border where Putin is refocusing his war effort, with civilians hoping to flee in nine evacuation corridors today.

The governor of Luhansk region, Serhiy Gaidai, said: 'It's far more scary to remain and burn in your sleep from a Russian shell. Evacuate, with every day the situation is getting worse. Take your essential items and head to the pickup point.'

This morning, the Azov Battalion showed footage purporting to show victims of the apparent attack, who said they have since suffered respiratory problems, high temperatures and tinnitus.

Making further threats on Russian state TV, Basurin said today: 'What is Azovstal? It is a plant built back in Soviet times. There is a lot or concrete, iron, there are many underground floors. So it makes no sense to take this facility by storm.

'Therefore, at the moment it is necessary to deal with the blocking of this plant, find all the exits and entrances. In principle, this can be done.

'And after that, to turn, I think, to the chemical troops, who will find a way to smoke moles out of their holes.'

Yesterday's alleged chemical attack has not been confirmed but would be the first time Russia is believed to have used toxic weapons in Putin's barbaric invasion, which the Pentagon said is 'deeply concerning'.

US Defence Department spokesman John Kirby said: 'We are aware of social media reports which claim Russian forces deployed a potential chemical munition in Mariupol, Ukraine. We cannot confirm at this time and will continue to monitor the situation closely.

The Azov Batallion showed footage purporting to show victims of the apparent attack, who said they have since suffered respiratory problems, high temperatures and tinnitus

Eduard Basurin, deputy head of the so-called Donetsk People's Republic, claimed up to 4,000 Ukrainian fighters are taking shelter in the Azovstal complex

Service members of pro-Russian troops pictured driving an armoured vehicle in the besieged city of Mariupol

'These reports, if true, are deeply concerning and reflective of concerns that we have had about Russia's potential to use a variety of riot control agents, including tear gas mixed with chemical agents, in Ukraine.'

Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said her department is working with partners to verify the claims, which pro-Russian separatist forces have denied.

She tweeted: 'Reports that Russian forces may have used chemical agents in an attack on the people of Mariupol. We are working urgently with partners to verify details.

'Any use of such weapons would be a callous escalation in this conflict and we will hold Putin and his regime to account.'

Armed forces minister James Heappey added today: 'There are some things that are beyond the pale, and the use of chemical weapons will get a response and all options are on the table for what that response could be.'

President Volodymyr Zelensky admitted last night that the Russians might deploy chemical weapons, although he fell short of saying they had definitely been used in Mariupol.

The claim by the Azov Regiment (pictured), a far-right group now part of the Ukrainian military, could not be independently verified

Residents carry their belongings near buildings destroyed by Russian troops, in the southern port city of Mariupol

A man walks past a storage place for burned armed vehicles and cars, on the outskirts of Kyiv, on Monday

Firefighters work to extinguish a fire at a house after a Russian attack in Kharkiv on Monday

Ukrainian military expert Serhiy Grabskiy, head of the Union of Peacekeeping Operations, said that Russia faces serious losses in seeking to storm the Azovstal plant in the city.

'There are a huge number of underground communications [channels] through which the defenders can seep into the rear of the enemy and inflict very painful blows on him,' he said..

'Trying to destroy them will take a long time and require simply colossal resources that Russia cannot afford.

'Therefore, having despaired of winning such a fight, and realising that our guys will not give up, they are considering the use of chemical weapons of various properties.

'Of course, Russia claims they don't have chemical weapons.

'But the statement [from Basurin] that they want or can use chemical troops or chemical weapons in this case can have a fairly unambiguous reaction.

But it should be noted that, as a rule, flamethrowers are also in service with the chemical troops.

'That is, it is possible, for example, to burn underground communications channels with fire or use so-called thermobaric ammunition.'

Such weapons are illegal and Grabskiy said: 'Russia itself declared that in 2017 it had eliminated all stocks of chemical weapons.

'Therefore, God forbid, of course, to see this.

'But I do not exclude the possibility of the use of toxic substances.'

Basurin was given time on Russia's main channel to demand chemical weapons be used in a show hosted by Vyacheslav Nikonov, grandson of notorious Soviet foreign minister Vyacheslav Molotov, after whom the Molotov Cocktail is named.

Meanwhile, the Ukrainian Parliament tweeted to say it has received reports of Russian forces firing 'nitric acid' in the Donetsk region as it warned local residents to wear 'protective face masks soaked in soda solution'. It is not clear if the incidents are linked.

It follows a warning from the Ministry of Defence suggesting that Russia could turn to the use of a deadly phosphorus bombs amid attempts to finally break heroic resistance in Mariupol.

While strictly not considered a chemical weapon, the substance burns fiercely and can cause horrendous injuries, and its use on civilians constitutes a war crime.

Ukrainian prosecutors said Tuesday that six people had been found shot dead in the basement of a building outside Kyiv, the latest discovery fuelling allegations of Russian atrocities.

'The bodies of six civilians with gunshot wounds were found in a basement during an inspection of a private residence,' the prosecutor general said in a statement, adding that the killings took place in Brovary outside the capital Kyiv.

The killings were carried out by Russian forces who took control of the area at the beginning of Moscow's invasion of Ukraine, the prosecutor general said, publishing an image of what it said was the scene of the discovery with several bodies in a dark, concrete hole lit by a flashlight.

Russian troops have been accused of widespread atrocities across the country, particularly in areas around Kyiv from which they have now withdrawn. Moscow denies the allegations.

Ukraine says more than 1,200 bodies have been found around the capital.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Tuesday told lawmakers in Lithuania that officials in Kyiv were continuing to investigate crimes carried out by the Russian military.

'New mass graves are found almost daily. Testimonials are being collected. Thousands and thousands of victims. Hundreds of cases of torture. Bodies continue to be found in drains and cellars,' Zelensky said.

On Tuesday, Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine suffered another devastating blow after his force's death toll rose to 19,600 according to Kyiv's estimates.

Russia has only admitted 1,351 of its troops have died fighting in Ukraine since Putin invaded on February 24, a fraction of the figure estimated by Ukraine's armed forces.

Analysis has shown that a fifth of the Russian soldiers killed in Ukraine are officers who were sent to the battlefield to oversee Putin's chaotic invasion.

An investigation found that of 1,083 Russian servicemen killed whose identity has been verified, more than 20 per cent were officers.

BBC Russian Service counted 31 majors and 155 servicemen ranked between captain and second lieutenant among the dead.

Their bodies were returned to their homeland up to a month after their death, suggesting their could be many more high profile casualties still in Ukraine.

The high death toll betrays baffling Kremlin tactics which have seen officers being sent to the battlefield to make their tactical decisions, putting them in danger. In the West, these roles are delegated to non-commissioned officers.

An extra 15 per cent of the identified fatalities were elite paratroopers and 25 per cent were special forces personnel.

They were likely killed in the battle for Hostomel airport near Kyiv, where Russian paratroopers (VDV) were deployed by helicopter on the first day of the brutal invasion.

They were sent with unarmoured light vehicles and when infantry was halted in the convoy towards Kyiv, more paratroopers were airlifted in.

Oleksiy Melnyk, a retired colonel and director at the Razumkov centre, told The Times: 'VDV are considered to be the most combat ready, effective, but at the same time they are not usually equipped with infantry fighting vehicles.

'They are only equipped with light vehicles  they have no heavy armour. It's another one of those stupid mistakes to use your special forces to complete infantry tasks.'

A woman places a picture on the coffin of Ukrainian serviceman Roman Tiaka, 47, who was killed during Russia's invasion of Ukraine, during his funeral ceremony in Stebnyk, Lviv region, Ukraine, on Tuesday

Mourners react during the funeral ceremony of Ukrainian serviceman Roman Tiaka, 47, who was killed during Russia's invasion in Stebnyn on Tuesday

Families walk on a platform on their way to board a train at Slovyansk central station, in the Donbass region, as they evacuate from the are on Tuesday

Meanwhile, a secret services 'whistleblower' in Moscow has warned of sinister plans for major new false flag attacks causing the 'deaths of hundreds of civilians' in border areas of Russia which will be 'blamed on Ukrainians'.

The attacks will be used by Vladimir Putin's war machine to justify a general mobilisation of Russian troops and a new lurch to militarisation, it is claimed.

The source nicknamed Wind of Change told opposition activist Vladimir Osechkin that the attacks will be against 'Z' and 'V' war symbols which are to be painted in the coming days on prominent residential buildings in border areas of Russia.

The symbols linked to the war in Ukraine have been likened to modern-day swastikas and are being promoted by the Russian propaganda machine.

Explosions in blocks of flats could cause 'hundreds of civilian victims', according to the whistleblower, purportedly an FSB insider.

The 'false flag' attacks will be blamed on Ukrainians and 'internal enemies' in Russia but in fact are being prepared by the authorities, he alleged.

The aim is to provoke a groundswell of national spirit which will be used by the Kremlin to impose a general mobilisation ensuring a flow of manpower for Vladimir Putin's faltering war effort.

Osechkin, the founder of gulagu.net who is now living in exile and on Russia's most-wanted list after exposing hideous torture inside jails, said his secret services source 'did not just pass us the information, but asked us to spread it as wide as possible'.

The whistleblower was trusted due to earlier information he leaked, said Osechkin.

'I must ask you to warn against very specific terrorist risks to civil infrastructure in Russia,' said the source.
A secret services 'whistleblower' in Moscow has warned of sinister plans for major new false flag attacks causing the 'deaths of hundreds of civilians' in border areas of Russia which will be 'blamed on Ukrainians'.

The attacks will be used by Vladimir Putin's war machine to justify a general mobilisation of Russian troops and a new lurch to militarisation, it is claimed.

The source nicknamed Wind of Change told opposition activist Vladimir Osechkin that the attacks will be against 'Z' and 'V' war symbols which are to be painted in the coming days on prominent residential buildings in border areas of Russia.

The symbols linked to the war in Ukraine have been likened to modern-day swastikas and are being promoted by the Russian propaganda machine.

Explosions in blocks of flats could cause 'hundreds of civilian victims', according to the whistleblower, purportedly an FSB insider.

The source told opposition activist Vladimir Osechkin (pictured) that the false flag attacks will be used by Vladimir Putin's war machine to justify a general mobilisation of Russian troops

The source said the attacks will be against 'Z' and 'V' war symbols which are to be painted in the coming days on prominent residential buildings in border areas of Russia

The symbols linked to the war in Ukraine have been likened to modern-day swastikas and are being promoted by the Russian propaganda machine

The 'false flag' attacks will be blamed on Ukrainians and 'internal enemies' in Russia but in fact are being prepared by the authorities, he alleged.

The aim is to provoke a groundswell of national spirit which will be used by the Kremlin to impose a general mobilisation ensuring a flow of manpower for Vladimir Putin's faltering war effort.

Osechkin, the founder of gulagu.net who is now living in exile and on Russia's most-wanted list after exposing hideous torture inside jails, said his secret services source 'did not just pass us the information, but asked us to spread it as wide as possible'.

The whistleblower was trusted due to earlier information he leaked, said Osechkin.

'I must ask you to warn against very specific terrorist risks to civil infrastructure in Russia,' said the source.

'Whistleblower' warns of major 'false flag' operation targeting high rise buildings with the Z or V symbol

The aim is to provoke a groundswell of national spirit which will be used by the Kremlin to impose a general mobilisation ensuring a flow of manpower for Vladimir Putin's faltering war effort. Pictured: A road worker examines a damaged Russian tank on a highway to Kyiv on Monday

The attacks will be used by Vladimir Putin's war machine to justify a general mobilisation of Russian troops and a new lurch to militarisation, it is claimed

Osechkin said: 'Our source, nicknamed Wind of Change. appealed in this letter to all Russians and to his colleagues in the Federal Security Service [FSB], especially in border regions like Crimea and Belgorod.

'He asked to pay maximum attention to information about a series of terrorist attacks being prepared against the people of Russia.

'Possible targets are high-rise blocks of flats [to maximise the number of casualties].

'These attacks will be blamed on Ukrainian sabotage to raise the degree of negativity, hatred and militaristic mood.

'This will make it easier to mobilise servicemen, both conscripts and reservists, even possibly some Cossack troops.'

The aim will be 'to mobilise as many servicemen as possible to send to Ukraine.'

Osechkin claimed it was now obvious that there was a large-scale mutiny among Russian forces with 'a huge number of different troops refusing to go to Ukraine to fight'.

He added: 'It is to break this trend negatively impacting on Putin and the Defence Ministry that this kind of distraction is organised.'

The source said that the V and Z symbols 'represent fascism' in the way that the swastika represented Hitler's Germany.

He claimed an effort was now underway to paint these symbols on large buildings in Russia, especially in border regions

'A particular accent is also placed on the border areas of Crimea and Belgorod,' he said.

'These are the objects that are supposed to be the targets of sabotage strikes - although I am inclined to consider it direct terrorism.'

The source said that the V and Z symbols 'represent fascism' in the way that the swastika represented Hitler's Germany

The plan is to use the explosions to fast track a general mobilisation including the mass enlistment of those with conscript training and reservists.

'Our colleagues (FSB) in the field will not be informed, and I cannot predict the level of damage or casualties expected,' said the whistleblower.

'But such terrorist attacks and hundreds of civilian victims can trigger certain processes that exceed any projection of the authors of this approach.'

Their desire is 'to unify the country and raise support for an external war'.

He called on right-thinking security officers to be vigilant against attacks.

'If this scenario comes true, completely insane processes will be triggered affecting everyone.

'This warning should be a direct basis for residents of these buildings to call on the regional offices of the Federal Security Service, demanding strengthened security control.'
By Cho Hee-kyoung





Just a month has passed since the narrowest presidential election in Korean history, while a month is left until the inauguration. But it looks like voters are already experiencing buyer's remorse about President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol. The incoming president is being hoisted by his own petards and his closest aides seem to be making matters worse not better. Unless he learns to listen to the people and respect others more, Yoon's presidency faces a bumpy road.



Traditionally, the time between the election and taking of the office is when the president-elect should be basking in the rosy glow of a successful election campaign and enjoying a high popularity rating. Even where the election has been bitterly fought, once a winner is declared most people usually throw their support behind the incoming president because it is in their interest that the new government should succeed. After all, the new administration is starting with a clean slate and has yet to make any mistakes that it could be blamed for.



However, despite all the advantages of being the new kid on the block, recent polls show that Yoon's approval rating has slid further down from what was already a historically low starting point of 53 percent. Some polls even show him trailing the incumbent, President Moon Jae-in, in approval rating. It did not help that the first declaration Yoon made as the winner was how he will never set even one foot in the Blue House and instead, move the presidential office to Yongsan after evicting the Ministry of Defense from its current headquarters.



The inappropriately hasty and flippant manner with which the selection of Yongsan as the new presidential office has been made; the unnecessary urgency in pursuing this course of action when it is perhaps the least important of all the campaign pledges; and the uncertain costs associated with the relocation that is only likely to balloon have left most people scratching their heads about the move; or if not the move itself, then at least the timing of the move. Many suspect that it is in fact being driven by superstition, some kind of geomancy and shamanic involvement: after all, Yoon has shown form in that regard several times.



Rather than browbeating Moon into signing off on the interim funding for the office relocation, if Yoon had instead declared that having listened to the people, he has decided to shelve the move for the time being and spend the money instead on helping and housing those poor people who have lost all their earthly possessions in the recent devastating fires, he could have easily shored up the popular support that he sorely needs.



Instead, he and his transition team seem bent on frittering away what little political capital they possess and creating needless conflict by demanding clemency for former President Lee Myung-bak and challenging the appointment of the seemingly perfectly well-qualified governor of the Bank of Korea, among other things.



They say your choice of friends shows what kind of person you are. We do not know Yoon's choice of friends but his choice of the transition team certainly seems to show his mindset and his biases. Made up mostly of graduates from Seoul National University in their fifties in possession of a Y chromosome, they gave birth to a neologism, Seo-O-Nam: Seoul National University graduate; in his 50s (O-sip in Korean); and male (Namja in Korean). Their elitism, conservatism and male chauvinism are on full display for everyone to see. A lack of imagination seems to be a bonus.



The nomination of Han Duk-soo as the prime minister is a case in point. Han is a septuagenarian technocrat who served as the last prime minister of the Roh Moo-hyun government and as the Korean ambassador to the U.S. under the Lee Myung-bak administration. A man who is like water in that he is colorless, almost odorless (although we will have to wait and see how he fares in the confirmation hearing this time around) and he seems just to go with the flow.



If Yoon means what he says and will entrust to the prime minister much of the running of the government, should the people not expect a better indication of his governing philosophy? Yoon's platform seems to be a hodgepodge of the free market, "the market knows best," "trust everything to the invisible hand" kind of Washington consensus-style ideas on the one hand and a whole laundry list of populist, Chavez-esque handouts and giveaways on the other.



Some compare Yoon to Donald Trump and much like Trump vis-a-vis Obama, instead of having his own coherent agenda, Yoon's agenda seems to be simply everything anti-Moon. In short, undo everything that the Moon administration has done and just do the exact opposite of whatever they did.



At the heart of his anti-Moon platform is Yoon's determination to restore the Public Prosecution Office (PPO) to its former glory. He proposes to get rid of the sole avenue of supervision that exists over the PPO by the justice minister and give the PPO an independent budget. Under Yoon, the PPO would become a leviathan answerable to no one except the president himself. One cannot help but recall Lord Acton's famous remark, "Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost always bad men "



There is a reason why the PPO is the least trusted legal institution in Korea. If Yoon has begun as he means to go on, it is going to be a very long five years.





Cho Hee-kyoung (hongikmail@gmail.com) is a professor at Hongik University College of Law.






The Courtauld Gallery has been criticised for introducing a 'woke' new label on a Manet masterpiece to warn viewers of the 'unsettling' presence of a man.

The London gallery, which holds the UK's most prestigious collection of Impressionist paintings, reviewed its labelling as part of a 57million refurbishment.

Edouard Manet's 1882 work A Bar at the Folies-Bergere is one of the paintings that has received a new label.

The work depicts a barmaid at the famous Parisian cabaret club staring at the viewer and a male customer who can be seen in a mirrored image behind her.

The new information panel both in the gallery and online states that the female subject's 'enigmatic expression is unsettling, especially as she appears to be interacting with a male customer'.

Speaking to The Telegraph, art historian Ruth Millington branded the interpretation a 'woke attempt to call out misogyny' which 'unwittingly centres the male gaze' by shifting the viewer's attention to the man.

Another painting that bears a new label is Paul Gauguin's 1897 work Nevermore. The updated panel says that the painting depicts 'one of several teenagers that he took on as 'wives''.

It then adds that 'the widespread racist fantasy of Tahitian girls as sexually precocious led to their unabashed exploitation.'

The Courtauld Gallery has been criticised for introducing a 'woke' new label on the Manet masterpiece A Bar at the Folies-Bergere. It warns viewers of the 'unsettling' presence of a man

Completed a year before he died, 1882 work Folies-Bergere was Manet's last major painting. Above: The artist in 1875

Completed a year before he died, Folies-Bergere was Manet's last major painting.

Whilst the background shows a fashionable mingling crowd, a trapeze artist is seen top left in green boots.

In front of the barmaid are a series of alcoholic drinks.

Most of the scene is a reflection in the large gold-framed mirror that hangs behind the barmaid, whose model was a real woman called Suzon who worked at the Folies-Bergere.

The venue was known to be popular for prostitutes plying their trade and historians have previously suggested that the painting hints at the exploited barmaid's availability to male customers.

The painting's new label adds that the barmaid 'appears as just another item in the enticing array on offer in the foreground: wine, champagne, peppermint liqueur and British Bass beer, with its iconic red triangle logo.'

The new information panel both in the gallery and online states that the female subject's 'enigmatic expression is unsettling, especially as she appears to be interacting with a male customer'

The London gallery, which holds the UK's most prestigious collection of Impressionist paintings, reviewed its labelling as part of a 57million refurbishment

Ms Millington, who has written a book focusing on the female inspirations in art, said: 'In a painting of multiple gazes, it's unfair and misogynistic to emphasise the male perspective.

'I'd rather read a fresh new label which invites viewers to imagine what the woman is thinking.'

The new interpretation of French painter Gaugin's work Nevermore criticises the artist for 'taking advantage of his position as a European coloniser'.

Another painting that bears a new label is Paul Gauguin's 1897 work Nevermore. The updated panel says that the painting depicts 'one of several teenagers that he took on as 'wives''

It then adds that 'the widespread racist fantasy of Tahitian girls as sexually precocious led to their unabashed exploitation'

The Post-Impressionist artist had a home on the island of Tahiti, which is still an overseas territory of France.

The gallery's re-labelling follows the reassessment of other well-known artists at major galleries.

The Tate Britain's exhibition on Hogarth was criticised after curators highlighted the 'sexual violence, anti-Semitism and racism' in the painter's works.

And staff at the National Gallery carried out a three-year audit which linked hundreds of its famous paintings to slavery.

The Courtauld has been contacted for comment.

The rise of 'woke' alerts in the art world: It's not just Manet... how William Hogarth and Francis Bacon are among artists whose work comes with a warning

By Harry Howard, History Correspondent for MailOnline

The move by curators at the Courtauld Gallery to add 'woke' new labels to its collection of famous paintings is just the latest in a string of similar moves in the art world.

Curators of Tate Britain's William Hogarth exhibition, which opened last year, were accused of 'asinine wokery' by critics when they chose to highlight the 'sexual violence, anti-Semitism and racism' in his paintings.

One of Hogarth's famous early works, A Midnight Modern Conversation, which shows drunken men inebriated by lavish helpings of punch, is among those highlighted in the ongoing Hogarth and Europe exhibition.

Tate Britain also attracted attention in February when it opted to not re-open its Rex Whistler restaurant, after it was decided that a mural featuring two slave boys that the artist painted nearly a century ago is too offensive for modern diners.

And it emerged last November that curators at the National Gallery had linked hundreds of paintings to slavery as part of a three-year audit.

British masterpieces by the likes of Constable, Gainsborough and Hogarth have fallen under the spotlight, along with works by Renaissance greats Raphael, Titian and Botticelli, whose Mystic Nativity was once possessed by William Ottley, who owned 17 slaves in Antigua.

The Royal Academy of Arts also baffled experts this year by opting to warn visitors to their exhibition on 20th century painter Francis Bacon about the display's 'adult content'.

Curators of Tate Britain's William Hogarth exhibition, which opened last year, were accused of 'asinine wokery' by critics when they chose to highlight the 'sexual violence, anti-Semitism and racism' in his paintings. One of Hogarth's famous early works, A Midnight Modern Conversation (pictured), which shows drunken men inebriated by lavish helpings of punch, was specifically targeted for its alleged slavery links

Meanwhile, a self-portrait showing Hogarth sitting on a wooden chair while painting at an easel should also be seen within the context of slavery, according to the commentary accompanying the picture. Artist Sonia Barret claimed that Hogarth's chair was made from 'timbers shipped from the colonies' and asks if it could 'stand in for all those unnamed black and brown people enabling the society that supports his vigorous creativity?

At the Tate's Hogarth exhibition, which runs until March, visitors are told in a label alongside the 18th century painter's A Midnight Modern Conversation, that, whilst the picture is meant to be funny, the 'punch they drink and the tobacco they smoke are material links to a wider world of commerce, exploitation and slavery.'

A catalogue accompanying the painting says the men may be 'queasily celebrating such manly misdemeanours - what we might today called 'laddishness'.'

Meanwhile, a self-portrait showing Hogarth sitting on a wooden chair while painting at an easel should also be seen within the context of slavery, according to the commentary accompanying the picture.

Tate Britain also attracted attention in February when it opted to not re-open its Rex Whistler restaurant, after it was decided that a mural featuring two slave boys that the artist painted nearly a century ago is too offensive for modern diners

The venue, which first opened its doors in the 1927, had been closed since March 2020 due to the coronavirus outbreak. Above: The artwork features scenes showing two enslaved black children in chains, while another shows caricatured Chinese characters

Artist Sonia Barret claimed in the note that Hogarth's chair was made from 'timbers shipped from the colonies' and asks if it could 'stand in for all those unnamed black and brown people enabling the society that supports his vigorous creativity?'

Planning for the new exhibition began a decade ago but curators decided to change its focus in part because of the Black Lives Matter movement.

Sixty of Hogarth's works are deliberately displayed alongside those of European painters, in an attempt to show him in a 'fresh light'.

The new exhibition's curators, Alice Insley and Martin Myrone also tried to highlight the alleged marginalisation of black people in Hogarth's work.

They draw attention to one painting, The Discovery, which shows a semi-naked black prostitute on a bed whilst four white men surround her, calling it 'explicitly racist'.

The curators also said the show 'obviously... seems to respond to Brexit' by portraying Hogarth in a 'cosmopolitan, outward-looking' fashion, rather than as an 'insular patriot' and 'xenophobe', which they claim he is often viewed as.

However, the historians added that they are unable to give an objective account of Hogarth's work because the exhibition is a 'Eurocentric project'.

One review of the new exhibition, in the Evening Standard, said last November that the display is a 'stunning depiction' of Hogarth's work, but warned visitors to give what they called the 'asinine wokery' a miss.

It emerged last November that curators at the National Gallery had linked hundreds of paintings to slavery as part of a three-year audit

The National Gallery has linked hundreds of its famous paintings to slavery  if somewhat tenuously in many cases. Pictured: The Hay Wain by John Constable, oil on canvas, 1821

Three months after the opening of the Hogarth exhibition, Tate Britain said it was closing its Rex Whistler restaurant.

It emerged at the end of 2020 that its future was uncertain after it was slammed by a group of critics known collectively as 'The White Pube', sparking a review by the Tate's ethics committee.

The review, led by the committee's then-chair Dame Moya Greene, told the gallery board that members were, 'unequivocal in their view that the imagery of the work is offensive'.

On the back of this, the institution confirmed that the restaurant will not re-open, but the mural - called 'The Expedition in Pursuit of Rare Meats' - will remain.

The room containing the artwork, which was commissioned by the Tate in 1926, will instead be repurposed by a 'contemporary artist' who will create a new display to 'critically engage with the mural's history and content, including its racist imagery'.

Rex Whistler completed the piece aged 23, as a whimsical narrative charting an expedition in search of exotic meats.

The artwork features scenes showing two enslaved black children in chains, while another shows caricatured Chinese characters.

Tate Britain said in their statement that it was decided in 2020 that the room should no longer be used as a restaurant and added that the 'offensive nature' of the mural had been 'discussed over many years'.

The National Gallery's review last November also highlighted how Raphael's Pope Julius II was bought from the collection of John Angerstein, who insured slave-transporting ships.

The Royal Academy of Arts also baffled experts this year by opting to warn visitors to their exhibition on 20th century painter Francis Bacon about the display's 'adult content'

In the Royal Academy of Arts' exhibition on Francis Bacon, more than 40 of the famous painter's workers were brought together

Dutch master Rembrandt's Self-portrait At The Age Of 63 was bought from George Brodrick, who came from a slave-owning family.

The gallery said the project aimed to 'find out what links to slave ownership can be traced with the gallery and to what extent the profits from plantation slavery impacted our early history.'

Labels beside the paintings were updated to reflect these links.

Researchers found that John Constable's famous work, The Hay Wain, was donated to the gallery by Edmund Higginson, who inherited money from an uncle who traded goods made by slaves in South Carolina.

Constable's The Cornfield was presented to the gallery in 1837 by several patrons including poet William Wordsworth, who once lived in a house in Dorset owned by a plantation holder.

Titian's An Allegory of Prudence was once owned by the Rothschild family, whose 19th-century global businesses brought them into connection with slave owners.

But the family also arranged the 15 million loan that allowed the government to compensate plantation owners and abolish slavery in 1833.

In the Royal Academy of Arts' exhibition on Francis Bacon, more than 40 of the famous painter's workers were brought together.

With the artist known for his depictions of nudity, the gallery opted to warn visitors - even though they have not done so with other exhibitions containing the same themes.

Art historian Ruth Millington said 'trigger warning' was 'not only over the top, but oppressive and somewhat infuriating, given current contexts.

'Aren't Western audiences already desensitised to naked bodies?'
The ex-head of the Crown Prosecution Service has called for judges to be given powers to force guilty offenders to attend court after Sabina Nessa's killer refused to leave his cell and face her family.

Lord Ken MacDonald said 'urgent' change was needed to stop killers from 'insulting' families by not attending court to face their sentencing.

He said it would be difficult to force the accused to come to court as 'defendants might be disruptive', adding judges do not want people 'dragged kicking and screaming'.

He suggested convicted offenders could get privileges taken away in prison by judges for not attending court.

They could also be threatened with being in contempt of court, a crime that can mean an additional sentence.

Koci Selamaj, an 'evil' sexual predator, who was jailed for at least 36 years for the murder of Ms Nessa, refused to go to the Old Bailey and was jailed for life in his absence.

Ms Nessa's sister Jebina Yasmin Islam said courts should have the power to force someone to attend after being 'frustrated' with cowardly Selamaj's no-show.

Other defendants who have refused to go to court for sentencing include Emma Tustin who murdered her six-year-old stepson, Arthur Labinjo-Hughes, and triple killer Anthony Russell who raped and killed his final victim when she was pregnant.

Lord Ken MacDonald said 'urgent' change is needed to stop killers from 'insulting' families by not attending court to face their sentencing

Sabina Nessa's sister Jebina Yasmin Islam has asked Home Secretary Priti Patel to be given powers to force guilty offenders to attend court

Ms Nessa was attacked and killed by Koci Selamaj, an 'evil' sexual predator, who was last week jailed for at least 36 years

Albanian national Koci Selamaj, 36, used 'extreme violence' to kill teacher Ms Nessa, 28, whose body was uncovered underneath a pile of leaves in Cator Park, London

Ms Islam said: 'I think it's so important, the fact that they should be able to make the murderer, the perpetrator, come into court and listen.'

And she added convicts should not have the freedom to say they do not want to attend court.

She said: 'I was frustrated. We were like, 'He is such a coward, not facing up to what he has done'.

'It made me angry because I wanted him to hear our impact statement to show how much hurt he's caused my family.'

When asked by Good Morning Britain about receiving a minimum of 36 years for the murder of Ms Nessa, Ms Islam said 'life should mean life'.

She added: 'He's taken my sister's life without a second thought, so he should have all of his rights taken away because he didn't turn up to court on Thursday and Friday, and if you've taken a life you should serve until you die in prison - a tougher sentence.'

Anthony Russell killed three people in a sickening six-day spree during the pandemic. The 39-year-old was convicted of raping Nicole McGregor on October 26, 2020, having previously admitting murdering her and dumping her body in woodland in Leamington Spa

Russell also pleaded guilty to the murders of David Williams and his mother Julie Williams at separate flats in Coventry on October 21, 2020 and October 25, 2020 respectively

Lord Ken MacDonald, former Director of Public Prosecutions, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme he had 'enormous sympathy' for Ms Nessa's family and said it was 'not the first time' defendants did not attend their sentencing.

Triple killer Anthony Russell who raped his final victim when she was five-months' pregnant refused to attend court in March and will die in jail after being given a whole-life sentence.

Heroin junkie Russell, 39, raped Nicole McGregor on October 26, 2020, before murdering her and dumping her body in a woodland in Leamington Spa and also slayed David Williams, 32, and his mother Julie Williams, 58, at separate flats in Coventry on October 21, 2020 and October 25, 2020 respectively.

Jennifer Johnson, 55, who misled the first trial of Babes in the Wood killer Russell Bishop in 1987, leading to him being cleared despite murdering nine-year-old friends Nicola Fellows and Karen Hadaway in Brighton, also did not attend her sentencing.

She was jailed from her cell for six years in May 2021.

Arthur was beaten to death by 32-year-old Tustin following months of abuse by her and his father Thomas Hughes. His trial hear how relatives repeatedly raised concerns with social services and police but were rebuffed

Emma Tustin, 32, (left) killed Arthur Labinjo-Hughes by repeatedly slamming his head on a hard surface after she and 29-year-old Thomas Hughes starved the youngster and poisoned him with salt

Emma Tustin, 32, who was convicted of the murder of her six-year-old stepson, Arthur Labinjo-Hughes, was sentenced in absence in December 2021.

Six-year-old Arthur's father Thomas Hughes was convicted of manslaughter.

Former head of DPP Mr MacDonald added that judges should be given the power to force defendants to attend court and stop them from giving a 'final insult' to families who have lost loved ones.

'It's really damaging to justice,' he added.

He said: 'The government ought to consider this urgently.'

He added that in a lot of cases convicted defendants simply do not want to 'face' families of their victims.

But he said that this change could only be done with the right incentives which could include granting or withholding privileges in the first year of their sentence.

Mr Islam said the impact of the killing had been 'horrendous' for her family who she claimed would have been treated better if they had been a 'normal British white family'.

Referring to senior politicians, she told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'They've not said nothing. Priti Patel has done a tweet on Friday and I was not happy about it because all of a sudden she's using my sister's name for publicity reasons.

'And to be honest she has no right.'

In her interview on Monday morning, Ms Islam said she had had support from the Royal Borough of Greenwich and MP Clive Efford but 'higher up people' had been 'useless'.

'I think it's just down to our ethnicity to be honest', she added.

'And I feel like if we were a normal British white family we would have been treated equally, I guess.'

Selamaj strangled Ms Nessa (pictured) in undergrowth and removed her tights and underwear in what was suspected to be a sexually-motivated attack, prosecutors said

Appearing on Good Morning Britain, Ms Islam said the 'surreal and heartbreaking' incident has left her and her sisters 'scared to walk the streets alone'.

She added: 'You would never have thought that your young 28-year-old sister was brutally taken away.

'If she was ill we could have had some time to spend time with her, make memories, but her life was taken away without a second thought and out of nowhere.

'It has impacted on us a lot. It has impacted myself and my sisters who are scared to walk the streets alone now.'

Ms Islam also claimed newspapers treated her sister's murder 'differently' to the murder of Sarah Everard, who was killed by serving police officer Wayne Couzens, and said it was 'maybe down to her ethnicity'.

Garage worker Selamaj targeted 28-year-old Ms Nessa as she walked through Cator Park in Kidbrooke, south-east London, to meet a friend at 8.34pm on September 17.

CCTV footage captured the moment he ran up behind her and hit her over the head 34 times with a 2ft metal traffic triangle.

He carried her unconscious body up a grassy bank and out of view.

He then pulled up her clothes, removed her tights and underwear, and strangled her before covering her body in grass.

Ms Nessa, who taught a year one class at Rushey Green Primary School in Catford, was found nearly 24 hours later near a community centre in the park.

Undated handout still from CCTV issued by Metropolitan Police of Selamaj being charged

Explaining the reason behind why a person would not have to attend court, head of Birketts' Regulatory and Corporate Defence Team, Matthew Gowen, said: 'Defendants required to attend court for sentencing will either be on bail or remanded in custody.

'If they are on bail and fail to attend, without a good reason, they will have committed a separate criminal offence, and upon the court issuing a warrant will be liable to be arrested and brought to court.

'The judge could then pass sentence on them, re-bail them or remand in custody prior to sentence.

'When a defendant is in custody he/she has to firstly leave their cell at wherever they are being held; then get onto the transport taking them to court and, finally, have to leave the cells in the court building and walk up to the courtroom.

'If the defendant refuses to co-operate those with the responsibility for that prisoner (Prison Service or private security provision), they have no power to physically restrain them and drag them out of their cell or forcibly place them onto the transport.

'This is why there are cases of defendants staying in prison, or refusing to leave the court cells, and not attending the courtroom for the hearing.'
Airline passengers are being told to expect some of the worst delays ever seen at Australian airports ahead of Easter.

Airport authorities in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane have placed the travelling public on alert with fears delays could blow out from Thursday to wait times even longer than last weekend.

The delays are due to a combination of staff shortages colliding with booming passenger numbers, amidst a perception that the traveling public is turning up poorly prepared.

Qantas boss Alan Joyce was slammed last week for saying passengers were not 'match fit' at check-in time, a comment that was echoed by a senior Sydney airport boss.

Its general manager of operations repeated Joyce's claim that passengers were forgetting to take laptops out of bags and that they couldn't travel with aerosol cans.

Airline passengers being told to expect some of the worst delays ever seen at Australian airports ahead of Easter and even warned they might not be able to find a cark park (pictured, passengers queue at Sydney airport on April 8)

Airport authorities in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane have placed the travelling public on alert that delays could blow out from Thursday to wait times even longer than last weekend (pictured, many Sydney passengers queued for over two hours last weekend)

Airport authorities warned domestic passengers to double the amount of time they allow to check-in for flights and to get through security but the wait times look set to get worse for overseas travellers.

Melbourne Airport officially increased the recommended time passengers should arrive before departing on an international flight to an unprecedented 'three plus hours'.

Domestic passengers are being told to come at least two hours ahead of their flight.

Passenger numbers are expected to surpass last weekend's bumper crowds and reach 90 per cent of pre-pandemic levels as flyers were warned parking stations are already full.

'Domestic parking is currently full and is forecast to be right through the Easter long weekend,' Sydney airport's official twitter account warned.

Passenger numbers are expected to boom to 90 per cent of pre-pandemic levels this Easter (pictured, passengers at Sydney airport)

Queues snaked out of terminals and onto the pavements in Sydney for three days last weekend, with two-hour waits common there and in other major cities (pictured, passengers in Sydney wait to enter the terminal so they can check in on April 8)

'If you do not have an online booking over the long weekend, please use an alternative mode of transport.'

Melbourne airport issued a similar warning, 'If you havent pre-booked parking online, please be aware that space for drive-ups to our car parks will be limited this long weekend.'

Sydney Airport CEO Geoff Culbert said delays would be 'particularly' bad from Thursday.

'The reality is were going to be dealing with this for a little bit longer, particularly as we move over the Easter Period Thursday, Friday, Saturday, this weekend, because we cant just (cure) the staff shortages,' he told 9News.

Queues snaked out of terminals and onto the pavements in Sydney for three days last weekend, with two-hour waits common there and in other major cities.

A Sydney Airport spokesman said there are aviation industry-wide staff shortages around the world.

 Plan to arrive 2 hours before a domestic flight and 3+ hours before an international flight



If you havent pre-booked parking online, please be aware that space for drive-ups to our car parks will be limited this long weekend.  Melbourne Airport (@Melair) April 12, 2022

'We have significant COVID-related staff shortages and we're also working to rebuild our workforce in a really tight jobs market,' the spokesman told AAP on Tuesday.

The airport expects the school holiday period, which includes consecutive long weekends of Easter and Anzac Day this year, will be the busiest time for domestic air travel in the past two years.

It is advising domestic passengers to arrive two hours prior to their scheduled departure, effectively doubling the usual waiting period.

Other airports along the east coast have delivered a similar warning to travellers.

Airport authorities warned domestic passengers to double the amount of time they allow to check-in for flights and to get through security but the wait times look set to get worse for overseas travellers (pictured, passengers queuing at Sydney airport)

Melbourne Airport warned on Friday there could be delays over the holidays and queues were expected during check-in and security screening.

Brisbane Airport has been telling domestic passengers to arrive two hours early since the end of March.

'We predict this coming Thursday to be our busiest day yet with more than 50,000 passengers expected,' Brisbane Airport Corporation communications manager Rachel Bronish told AAP on Tuesday.

She said there has been similar numbers on some days recently but queues have been moving quickly, with the longest wait to get through security about half an hour.

Domestic passenger traffic at Sydney airport has nearly doubled in the past six months, general manager of operations Greg Hay said on Monday, however it has not returned to pre-COVID levels yet.

It is expected to reach up to 90 per cent of pre-pandemic traffic during the upcoming holiday weekends.

Queues at security checkpoints are also being exacerbated by the airport's security provider Certis Security Australia rebuilding its workforce as domestic flights return.

The company said it remains committed to supporting the airport's operations in a statement on Tuesday.

Domestic passenger traffic at Sydney airport has nearly doubled in the past six months

Passengers flying from Sydney airport were warned the parking stations are already full and they should not try to bring their cars

'As with many industries, (we are) dealing with the combination of labour shortages and the direct impact of close-contact isolation rules on our workforce.

'Our focus is on building up our team to ensure smooth check-in and security operations in the most efficient manner.'

But Mr Hay said that's not the only reason people were taking a while to get through security.

'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.

Friday and Monday morning saw long queues forming at airport security and check-in counters, while departing passengers faced longer waits for their baggage to be transported from planes to carousels.
A British soldier fighting alongside Ukrainian marine in Mariupol has said his unit has no choice but to surrender to the Russians.

Former care worker Aiden Aslin, 28, who moved to Ukraine in 2018 after falling in love with a woman from Mykolaiv, said forces have run out of supplies with Russians closing in.

It comes after claims Russia used chemical weapons dropped from a drone over Mariupol last night, as Putin continues his brutal assault on the strategic port city.

Aslin said in a message posted via a contact on Twitter: 'It's been 48 days, we tried our best to defend Mariupol but we have no choice but to surrender to Russian forces.

'We have no food and no ammunition. It's been a pleasure everyone, I hope this war ends soon.'

The post added: 'We're putting this out after direct consultation with his family. Until we're told otherwise we'll continue working on sharing the facts of the war. Hope for a prisoner exchange.'

Aiden Aslin is a former carer who previously fought against Isis in Syria. Now he says his unit will have to surrender to the Russians

Aiden Aslin, 28, moved to Ukraine in 2018 after falling in love with a woman from Mykolaiv , another Black Sea port close to Odessa. He is now in his fourth year with the Ukranian armed forces and was due to get married this Spring and complete his service in September

Aslin, from Newark, Nottinghamshire, is now in his fourth year with the Ukranian armed forces and was due to get married this Spring and complete his service in September.

When Russia launched their brutal invasion, Aslin was stationed in the Donbass region where separatists and the Ukrainian armed forces have been fighting since 2014.

There are an estimated 10,000 civilians who have been killed by Putin's army in Mariupol which has seen some of the worst fighting of the war.

Corpses are now 'carpeted through the streets' of the crucial port city, according to its mayor Vadym Boychenko.

He accused Russian forces of having blocked weeks of attempted humanitarian convoys into the city in part to conceal the carnage. Boychenko said the death toll in Mariupol alone could surpass 20,000.

Service members of pro-Russian troops drive armoured vehicles during Ukraine-Russia conflict on a road outside the southern port city of Mariupol

Boychenko also gave new details of allegations by Ukrainian officials that Russian forces have brought mobile cremation equipment to Mariupol to dispose of the corpses of victims of the siege.

Russian forces have taken many bodies to a huge shopping center where there are storage facilities and refrigerators, Boychenko said.

'Mobile crematoriums have arrived in the form of trucks: You open it, and there is a pipe inside and these bodies are burned,' he said.

Boychenko spoke from a location in Ukrainian-controlled territory but outside Mariupol.

The mayor said he had several sources for his description of the alleged methodical burning of bodies by Russian forces in the city, but did not further detail the sources of his information.

The discovery of large numbers of apparently executed civilians after Russian forces retreated from cities and towns around the capital, Kyiv, already has prompted widespread condemnation and assertions that Russia is committing war crimes in Ukraine.

The British Ministry of Defence said Russian forces are continuing to pull out of Belarus to support operations in eastern Ukraine, focused on the Donbas region, where Russian-allied separatists have claimed independence.

A view shows the building of a theatre destroyed in the course of Ukraine-Russia conflict in the southern port city of Mariupol

'Fighting in eastern Ukraine will intensify over the next two to three weeks as Russia continues to refocus its efforts there,' the ministry said in a tweet.

'Russian attacks remain focused on Ukrainian positions near Donetsk and Luhansk with further fighting around Kherson and Mykolaiv and a renewed push toward Kramatorsk.'

U.S. officials also point to further signs Russia's military is gearing up for a major offensive in Ukraine's eastern Donbas region, switching its focus after Russian forces failed in their initial drive to capture Kyiv.

Donbas has been torn by fighting between Russian-allied separatists and Ukrainian forces since 2014, and Russia has recognised the separatists' claims of independence.

Military strategists say Russian leaders appear to hope local support, logistics and terrain in Donbas favour Russia's larger and better-armed military, potentially allowing Russian troops to gain more territory and weaken Ukraine's fighting forces.

Russia has appointed a seasoned general to lead its renewed push in the eastern Donbas region.

A senior U.S. defence official on Monday described a long Russian convoy now rolling toward the eastern city of Izyum with artillery, aviation and infantry support, as part of redeployment for what appears to be the looming Russian campaign.

More artillery is being deployed near the city of Donetsk, while ground combat units that withdrew from around the Kyiv and Chernihiv areas appear destined for refitting and resupplying before they position in Donbas, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss internal U.S. military assessments.

There are an estimated 10,000 civilians who have been killed by Putin's army in Mariupol which has seen some of the worst fighting of the war

With their offensive in many parts of the country thwarted, Russian forces have relied increasingly on bombarding cities - a strategy that has flattened many urban areas and killed thousands of people.

The U.N. childrens agency said nearly two-thirds of all Ukrainian children have fled their homes in the six weeks since Russias invasion began. The United Nations has verified 142 children have been killed and 229 injured, though the actual numbers are likely much higher.

Ukrainian authorities accuse Russian forces of committing atrocities, including a massacre in the town of Bucha, outside Kyiv, airstrikes on hospitals and a missile attack that killed at least 57 people last week at a train station.

In Bucha, the work of exhuming bodies from a mass grave in a churchyard resumed.

Galyna Feoktistova waited for hours in the cold and rain in hopes of identifying her 50-year-old son, who was shot and killed more than a month ago, but eventually she went home for some warmth. 'He's still there,' her surviving son, Andriy, said.

In Mariupol, about 120,000 civilians are in dire need of food, water, warmth and communications, the mayor said.

Only those residents who have passed the Russian 'filtration camps' are released from the city, Boychenko said.

Ukrainian officials say Russian troops are confiscating passports from Ukrainian citizens, then moving them to the camps in Ukraines separatist-controlled east before sending them to distant, economically depressed areas in Russia.

Boychenko said Monday that those who did not pass the 'filtering' have been moved to improvised prisons. He said 33,000 people or more have been taken to Russia or separatist territory in Ukraine.

Russian has denied moving people against their will.

President Volodymyr Zelensky warned Ukrainians that Russia might use chemical weapons in Mariupol. 'We take this as seriously as possible,' Zelensky said in his nightly address Monday.

Western leaders warned even before Russian troops moved into Ukraine that Russia could resort to unconventional weapons there, particularly chemical agents.

A Russia-allied separatist official, Eduard Basurin, appeared to urge their use Monday, telling Russian state TV that Russian-backed forces should seize a giant metals plant in Mariupol from Ukrainian forces by first blocking all the exits out of the factory. 'And then well use chemical troops to smoke them out of there,' he said.

A Ukrainian regiment, without evidence, also claimed Monday that a drone had dropped a poisonous substance in Mariupol. It indicated there were no serious injuries.

Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said in a statement that the U.S. could not confirm the drone report out of Mariupol. But Kirby noted the administrations persistent concerns 'about Russias potential to use a variety of riot control agents, including tear gas mixed with chemical agents, in Ukraine.'

Western military analysts say Russias assault increasingly is focusing on an arc of territory stretching from Kharkiv, Ukraines second-largest city, in the north, to Kherson in the south.

Questions remain about the ability of depleted and demoralised Russian forces to conquer much ground, however, after determined Ukrainian defenders repelled their advance on Kyiv.
A bungling criminal has been caught by returning to the scene of two crimes, just days after he committed the second.

Alexander James Palmer, 20, twice robbed the same service station while armed with a knife.

But when he went back a third time to buy a meat pie and chocolate milk, he was recognised by attendant he'd robbed a few days earlier.

Palmer's first crime was committed on April 15, 2021 when he walked up the Shell Coles Express in the northern Sydney suburb of Forestville at 4.32am.

Alexander James Palmer, 20, twice robbed the Shell Coles Express in the northern Sydney suburb of Forestville (pictured)

The doors were closed, but the attendant, who was counting the takings, buzzed him in.

The agreed facts presented to Sydney's Downing Centre District Court said Palmer put a concrete block down to stop the doors from closing.

The block was later found to have his DNA on it.

As he walked towards the counter, Palmer was seen on CCTV to have a 10cm-long knife in one hand and a Coles plastic bag in the other.

The attendant said Palmer, who was an ice addict at the time, seemed nervous as he said 'put all the money in the bag'.

Palmer then absconded with $397.50 in the Coles bag.

Exactly one month later, a different worker was facing away from the counter when he heard a man say 'hi mate'.

This time Palmer was armed with a 20cm-long kitchen knife, which he held on the counter, shocking the attendant.

Palmer left with $188.50 after telling the attendant to put all the money in a bag.

The court heard that when he returned home and began counting the money, he told a friend who was staying over that it was from his piggy bank.

Just days later, Palmer went back to the same servo, which was near to where he lived.

Alexander James Palmer, 20, twice robbed the same service station while armed with a knife. Pictured is a police vehicle behind police crime scene tape

The attendant on duty was the same person who was on during Palmer's second robbery and recognised him.

Palmer's bank card was declined and he walked out to his car.

The worker took down his license plate number, called the police and Palmer was arrested soon after.

Both Palmer and his mother gave evidence in court, revealing he was a mechanical apprentice who had become addicted to ice, the Daily Telegraph reported.

At the time of the robberies, he owed his parents $6,000, was very thin, barely ate and constantly asked his family for more money.

Palmer was treated in an addiction centre for nine months, the court heard.

The police were called after a service station attendant recognised a customer as someone who had robbed him just days earlier. Pictured is a NSW police officer

He was now in full-time work, close to finishing his apprenticeship and keeping away from drugs and alcohol, Judge Christopher Robison was told.

The judge said Palmer was a 'model example of how one can change'.

'Based on how he has turned his life around and how highly people speak of him, these two incidents were extremely out of character,' he said.

'He is extremely unlikely to reoffend.'

Palmer was convicted of two counts of armed robbery and sentenced to two years and nine months jail, to be served in an intensive corrections order - a sentence served in the community under the strict supervision of Community Corrections.

He was ordered to continue his rehabilitation, abstain from illicit drugs and do 300 hours of community service.
on a chair with his hands tied and eyes and mouth duct-taped

A Greek helicopter pilot who killed his British wife told an Athens court he still loves her as he denied having any intent to harm her.

Babis Anagnostopoulos, 34, went through a charade of pretending that he didn't know that his wife Caroline Crouch, 19, was dead and even poked her body and said 'honey, are you ok?' moments after police arrived at the couple's marital home where he had staged a burglary, the court heard.

On the second day of Anagnostopoulos's high-profile trial, when asked if he accepted the charges he faces, which includes premeditated murder, the pilot told the court: 'My love for my wife hasn't changed from the time I met her and will never change.

'I never had any intent to harm my wife. I loved her and will continue to do so.'

His comments come after police officer Christos Vardikos revealed how after entering the couple's Athens home and making his way to an upstairs bedroom, he saw Caroline lying on a bed tied up while her baby Lydia was beside her, touching her body and staring silently.

The officer told the court that Anagnostopoulos was seated in a chair beside the bed with his hands tied in front of him and duct tape over his eyes and mouth.

Helicopter pilot Babis Anagnostopoulos, escorted by armed police officers, is being led to court in Athens on Tuesday for the second day of his murder trial

The couple began dating when Caroline was still a teenager. They married in Portugal in 2019

He added: 'The woman also had her arms tied behind her back with a piece of clothing. I first untied her and took the baby from on top of her.

'As soon as the defendant was untied, the first thing he did was sit on the bed, poking the woman and asked: 'Honey, are you OK?'

'We told him that it's over, she is dead. We could tell she was dead because she was all white and fluids had come out from the lower part of her body. In a chair next to her, the defendant's legs and hands were tied at the front of his body. The baby was on its knees, its arms on its mother's body. The baby was calm and silent.'

Mr Vardikos revealed that after being untied and told that Caroline was dead, Anagnostopoulos asked to hug baby Lydia and attempted to consoler her, but police removed her from his arms because he was 'rocking her too hard.'

He added: 'We thought it was better to take the baby away from him and the scene because he was rocking her too hard. I held the baby and told Babis that he should call somebody to look after her.'

In addition to the murder of Caroline, Anagnostopoulos is also on trial for killing her pet dog Roxy and with two counts of attempting to pervert the course of justice.

Following the killings, he concocted an elaborate ruse that they were the result of a botched burglary.

Anagnostopoulos does not deny the killings but denies murder, insisting that they were not 'premeditated' and that it was a 'crime of passion' caused by Caroline's behaviour.

He faces life imprisonment for the murder of Caroline plus another ten years for killing Roxy.

Mr Vardikos revealed that after being untied and told that Caroline was dead, Anagnostopoulos asked to hug baby Lydia and attempted to consoler her, but police removed her from his arms because he was 'rocking her too hard.' Pictured: Caroline and Babis Anagnostopoulos

Caroline (left), Anagnostopoulos (right) and their baby daughter pose for a snap in May 2021

Mr Vardikos said that the first thing he saw when he entered the home was Roxy's torso hanging from a bannister.

He said: 'I heard a voice yelling for help. We moved into the house and saw a dog hanging from the bannister. That's when I realised something was seriously wrong.

'When we walked in the entire living room floor was covered with dog excrement.'

Mr Vardikos told the court that he and his colleague, Kleanthis Antonopoulos became suspicious of Antonopoulos's story that burglars had stormed the house and killed Caroline because he was so calm and something 'did not feel right.'

He said: 'We told him not to touch her (Caroline), but he kept on poking her. It was as if he was acting. We were watching a man who was either in shock or had no concept of what was happening.

'His whole behaviour was a bit weird and it seemed that he was too calm.'

He added: 'In my 20 years of experience I have never come across anything like this. We were overpowered by what we saw, and it affected us emotionally. But I never thought that he had made the whole thing up at that stage.'

Mr Kleanthis added: 'He reacted as if his wife wasn't dead. His reactions were very cold, so calm to a point I have never seen before. We were more shocked than he was.

He added: 'Antonopoulos and I were together for four hours and not once did he say, 'my wife is dead.' In all my time in the police, this is the first time that I ever saw a victim so calm and co-operative.

'We were also very surprised at his lack of emotion when he saw the dog.'

A key part of Anagnostopoulos's defence is that Caroline 'triggered' him into a 'fit of rage' after she violently pushed a crib in which their then 11-month-old daughter Lydia was sleeping.

While he has admitted to the killing, he maintains that it was a 'crime of passion' after she threatened to divorce him.

He insists that he killed Caroline's dog Roxy after 'panicking' as he concocted a story about how she died.

A key part of Anagnostopoulos's defence is that Caroline 'triggered' him into a 'fit of rage' after she violently pushed a crib in which their then 11-month-old daughter Lydia was sleeping

After suffocating Caroline in May as she slept, Anagnostopoulos hanged Roxy from the bannister of their Athens home by his leash in an attempt to make more credible his story that burglars had burst in and murdered his wife and the pet she doted on.

Caroline's body was discovered next to her 11-month-old baby Lydia while Roxy's hanging torso was the first thing horrified police officers saw when they stormed the house after Anagnostopoulos alerted them, claiming gun-wielding gangsters had made off with cash and jewellery.

Anagnostopoulos, a helicopter pilot, kept up the pretence of the 'grieving husband' for more than a month and publicly spoke about the botched burglary story.

He was picked up by police last June after attending his wife's memorial service on the island of Alonnisos, where she grew up, and confessed to the crime a few days later.

Greek police arrested him after they found no trace of the gang he claimed had tied him up, suffocated his wife and stole 15,000 (13,000) in cash plus jewellery.

They became suspicious when data collected from a fitness tracker on Caroline's wrist showed her heart had stopped beating before the alleged break-in took place - and data from other technical devices highlighted discrepancies.

There will be nine prosecution witnesses, including Susan Dela Cuesta, Caroline's mother, a therapist who Caroline was seeing with her husband, their former next-door neighbour, the coroner, three police officers and some childhood friends of Caroline.

Anagnostopoulos is relying on six witnesses, including his parents and some friends to help him prove his case that he acted in the 'heat of the moment.'

He also claims Caroline became more aggressive after suffering a miscarriage.
A New Jersey man who was found guilty of brutally murdering two children, seven and 11, and a 23-year-old family friend after becoming furious over a Facebook post has been sentenced to 375 years in prison.

On Friday, Jeremy Arrington, 31, was given three consecutive life sentences for the frenzied killings of Ariel Little Whitehurst, seven, her 11-year-old brother Al-Jahon Whitehurst, and family friend who was visiting, Syasia McBurroughs, 23.

On 5 November 2016, Arrington tied up nine people in an apartment in Hedden Terrace, Newark, New Jersey, torturing and mutilating them for an hour-and-a-half after he broke into the home with a loaded firearm.

He launched the savage daytime attack at the Whitehurst residence with kitchen knives and his gun after becoming angry at the mother of slain children Ariel and Al-Jahon, who commented on a Facebook post about him being wanted by the police.

The 31-year-old murderer had been a suspect in a shooting and sexual assault case prior to these killings.

He stabbed little Ariel, seven, and Al-Jahon, 11, more than a dozen times each and fatally shot Syasia, 23, in the head.

The murdered children's mother, 29, and two 13-year-old twins, a boy and a girl, were also stabbed in the attacks but survived.

Arrington knew the family for a long time but the nature of his relationship with them is not clear.

On Friday, Jeremy Arrington, 31, was given three consecutive life sentences for the frenzied killings of Ariel Little Whitehurst, seven, her 11-year-old brother Al-Jahon Whitehurst, and family friend who was visiting, Syasia McBurroughs, 23 in an apartment in Hedden Terrace, Newark, New Jersey, torturing and mutilating them for an hour-and-a-half after he broke into the home with a loaded firearm

After a 10-day trial, Arrington, from Newark, New Jersey was convicted on 28 charges including three counts of murder, three counts of attempted murder, burglary, criminal restraint and weapons offences.

He was given three 75-year sentences for the murders of seven-year-old Ariel, 11-year-old Al-Jahon and 23-year-old Syasia, and three 50-year sentences for the attempted murders.

Frantic killer Arrington will not be eligible for parole for 281 years.

Sentencing the 31-year-old, court judge Ronald D. Wigler said: 'This may be the worst case I've ever seen.

'You committed perhaps the most horrific, heinous, cruel, and depraved murders this county has ever seen.'

One of the victims caught up in the the Newark apartment killings was Bilqis Karam, the aunt of Ariel and Al-Jahon and a close friend of Syasia McBurroughs' family, described hearing Ariel's screams in the bathroom.

She told of how Arrington repeatedly stabbed the little girl until she stopped screaming.

He stabbed little Ariel, seven, pictured, and Al-Jahon, 11, more than a dozen times each. He launched the savage attack in broad daylight at the Whitehurst residence with kitchen knives and his gun after becoming angry at the mother of slain children Ariel and Al-Jahon, who commented on a Facebook post about him being wanted by the police

Ms Karam recalled seeing 23-year-old McBurroughs, who she went to college and worked with at Amazon, being killed 'execution style' even after she student begged for her life. Arrington did not know McBurroughs.

She also told of the trauma she experiences after Arrington put a gun in her mouth and threatening to kill her: 'I cannot unsee that. I want to unsee that... He really should have killed me that day. I don't want to feel this pain anymore.'

One of the children, a young girl with autism, who hiding in the closet was able to contact a family member, who called the police, ending the 90-minute-long onslaught.

Arrington was arrested the same day by Newark police after a stand-off.

The friends and family of Ariel, Al-Jahon and Syasia stood at Essex Superior Court to urge Judge Wigler the maximum sentence.

Arrington's attorney used an insanity defence for the 31-year-old, but Judge Wigler rejected this after the defence lawyer could not get an expert to testify that the killer was not liable for the three deaths due to his mental state.

The murdered children's mother, 29, and two 13-year-old twins, a boy and a girl, were also stabbed in the attacks but survived. Arrington knew the family for a long time but the nature of his relationship with them is not clear. Pictured, Al-Jahon Whitehurst, 11, who was stabbed to death by Arrington

The jury convicted Arrington, who did not take the sand at his trial, in less than two hours.

He read a short statement ahead of the guilty verdict on Friday, describing his actions as 'craziness and uncalled for', adding that he would 'switch places' with the victims if he could. Family and friends are said to have refused his apology.

The father of 23-year-old Syasia McBurroughs, Mark Follis, said: 'This has brought me nothing but pain and misery. And it will never go away.

McBurroughs' grandfather Raymond Davis spoke about how 'Sy-Sy' Syasia was set to graduate from New Jersey City University before she was brutally shot in the head, and that she had a dream to become a teacher and work with special needs children.

Syasia, who would have turned 29 last Wednesday, was the 'nicest, kindest, most compassionate person', said her mother, Terence McBurroughs. She said the day of celebration has now become one of 'mourning and pain'.

Syasia, who was shot in the head by Arrington, would have turned 29 last Wednesday. She was the 'nicest, kindest, most compassionate person', said her mother, Terence McBurroughs. She said the day of celebration has now become one of 'mourning and pain'

Family of the two children murdered by Arrington recalled how the fatal 5 November began as a lovely Saturday, where they had breakfast together before the 'savage rampage', said Ariel and Al-Jahon's aunt Ms Karam.

'Since that day, it seems like time has frozen,' she added.

Deputy chief assistant prosecutor Justin Edwab said: 'This defendant is pure evil and clearly deserves all 375 years in New Jersey State Prison for the terrible crimes he committed on Nov. 5, 2016.

'These families have waited over five years for this moment, and we are all so grateful for this sentence. Thank you to all those who helped bring this defendant to justice and thank you to the jury for holding this defendant accountable.'
Police have poked fun at a suspected drug dealer's wardrobe after arresting him in a sting operation - joking that he had been 'charged with possession of offensive footwear'.

Officers swooped in on the man during a 'suspicious car park meet' in Willington, Derbyshire where a suspected drug deal was taking place.

They seized 24,000 in cash, a large amount of cocaine a dozens of designer goods.

Among the haul they also found bogey green Balenciaga trainers and Gucci sneakers with garish yellow and red patterns.

Police have poked fun at a suspected drug dealer's wardrobe after arresting him in a sting operation - joking that he had been 'charged with possession of offensive footwear'

Seized 24,000 in cash, a large amount of cocaine a dozens of designer goods, including this pair of 675 Gucci sneakers with garish yellow and red patterns

Posting about the seizure on social media, Derbyshire Police made a dig at the suspect's sense of fashion

The shoes sell for 725 and 675 a pair online and were confiscated as suspected proceeds of crime.

Posting about the seizure on social media, Derbyshire Police made a dig at the suspect's sense of fashion.

Derbyshire Road Crime Unit added: 'Luxury watches, dozens of designer clothes and some very questionable shoes all seized as proceeds of crime.

'Not much at all left in his wardrobe after we stripped it.'

They posted snaps of the trainers online, with the force's Policing Unit joking the owner had been 'charged with possession of offensive footwear'.

Derbyshire Road Crime Unit seized around 24,000 and a large amount of suspected cocaine during the sting operation in Willington

The force added that they had received information that the driver of a white Kia car was 'a busy boy' suspected of 'selling coke left right and centre' and set up a sting operation on Friday.

'Seen in suspicious meet in a car park before we boxed him in and arrested him. Around 24,000 seized with a large amount of suspected cocaine.'

MailOnline have contacted Derbyshire Police for an update on the arrest.

Meanwhile social media users responded to the report by mercilessly mocking to the seized shoes.

Simon Wells said: 'Shrek phoned - can he have his shoes back please?'

One woman - Nicola - said: 'Frightening that some would think those are fashionable, I must be getting old!'

Another person joked: 'Seized as proceeds of crime? You'll be sorry - never in a month of Sundays will they sell at auction.'

Another bloke - Matt - said: 'The state of them.'
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The mother of Sir David Amess's killer suspected he had joined ISIS before he brutally murdered the Tory MP but never reported him to police, it can be revealed.

Ali Harbi Ali, 26, is facing a life sentence after jurors took just 18 minutes to convict him yesterday of the 'cold and calculating' murder of the MP and a plot to assassinate other politicians.

After a harrowing seven-day trial at the Old Bailey, new details can be revealed about how a 'healthy, happy' young boy became a 'bloodthirsty Islamic State-supporting murderer' - and the multiple missed chances to stop him.

In one shocking revelation, his mother suspected her son had joined the Islamic State terror group a year before the savage killing, but was too afraid to report him, according to his aunt.

Ali's father 'never took the issue seriously until his son committed murder', she said.

Islamic State fanatic Ali Harbi Ali, 26, seen in a mugshot released yesterday (left) and in a sketch from court today, right - where he refused to stand up while hearing his verdict for 'religious reasons'

The 26-year-old stabbed Sir David more than 20 times with a foot-long carving knife at Belfairs Methodist Church in Leigh-on-Sea, Essex

Born in Southwark in February 1996, Ali is the eldest of four children. His father, Harbi Ali Kullane, was a former adviser to the prime minister of Somalia who moved to the UK from Mogadishu, marrying wife Jamila in London.

But the couple split when Ali was young, with his father dividing his time between London and east Africa.

Ali grew up in a three-bedroom 1980s terrace house in Croydon with his mum, brother and two sisters.

His family was 'full of love and care', Ali would tell police, adding: 'I had a big wider family that used to come round and help. I don't recall any bad memories from that time.'

Ali attended Parish Church Junior and Infant School  now Minster Junior  in Croydon, followed by Riddlesdown Collegiate School in Purley, the old school of model Kate Moss.

For his first five years there, he was said to have 'excelled academically'. 'He was smart, especially in sciences,' one former friend recalled. 'I remember him scoring well on science tests consistently.

'I can only assume he wanted to do medicine to help people, which is exactly the kind of person he was.'

He added: 'I don't recall ever seeing him angry. Frustrated about something trivial like any other kid, yeah, but never angry. The conversations I can remember having with him were about the edgy kinda rock that teens typically love, video games  that kind of stuff.

'He was very sweet, and just welcoming in general. Whenever I think of him, I just see the happy, dorky kid and teen that everyone liked. It's unthinkable that he'd so much as instigate a scuffle, yet alone kill someone.'

Ali is also accused of preparing acts of terrorism by targeting MPs Michael Gove and Mike Freer between May 1 2019 and September this year

Conservative MP for Southend West Sir David Amess (left), pictured with his wife Julia Arnold (far left) and his four daughters

Why was Ali allowed to give evidence despite admitting to killing? By Duncan Gardham for MailOnline Even though Ali admitted the killing, he denied murder, and was therefore allowed to give evidence in his defence. He claimed that he had been acting to defend 'the Muslims' in Syria but, following legal argument, the judge ruled that he had no defence in law. Mr Justice Sweeney told them: 'Having considered the defendant's account, taken at its height, in his favour, I direct you as matter of law, the killing was neither in lawful self-defence, nor in the lawful defence of another, nor in the prevention of a crime. 'No other defence arises. Nevertheless, the defendant is in your charge and it remains for you to be sure that all three elements of the offence have been proved.' Advertisement

Ali and his siblings would cheerfully sing along with the hymns and join in assemblies designed to imbue the pupils with Christian values.

'They were quite happy at a Christian school and took part in our regular worship,' recalled a teacher, who did not want to be identified.

'Ali wasn't a high-flyer, but was a hard-working child, especially good at maths. We had plenty of naughty boys, but he wasn't one of them. He was a good boy, polite and friendly, and readily joined in with the other children.'

But as Ali approached his A-levels, his attendance and school work declined sharply  despite having been offered a place to study medicine at St George's. As he would later admit to police, he was turning towards extremist views.

'By that time, I pretty much already radicalised myself,' he told them, his indoctrination apparently having occurred largely via the internet.

The radicalisation did not go unnoticed by teachers, who referred Ali to Prevent, the early-intervention scheme designed to turn people away from the risk of supporting violence.

Scotland Yard has admitted Ali 'spent some time' in the scheme, but said any failings would be examined at the inquest into the death of Sir David.

Ali passed his A-levels with two Ds and an E, much worse than expected. He stayed on until 2015 so he could re-sit biology.

He then got a place to study radiotherapy at City University but attended for only six months before officially dropping out at the beginning of his second year.

Ali Harbi Ali, 26, was born in Britain and grew up in Croydon, South London with his mother and three siblings, where neighbours described him as a 'happy boy'. He is seen while younger, left; and travelling to Southend to murder Sir David (right)

On September 22, 2016, he emailed a lecturer claiming a 'mixture of recurrent illness, Eid and family problems' had kept him out of university for two weeks.

I have had the opportunity to think on the reasons of why I took on the course and if it is something I want to continue with,' he added.

'I came to the conclusion that I no longer want to continue with it. I want to pursue a different direction in life.'

By then, Ali had moved out of the family home in Croydon, to live with his aunt and cousins in Kentish Town, north London, in order to be closer to university.

But sources close to the investigation told how Ali's family said they did not realise he had dropped out of university and were not aware of what he was doing for the next five years.

After his arrest, searches of his mobile phone and laptop devices found images of terrorist attackers and 'inspirational' IS propaganda.

One phone had been used since 2016 to receive messages that appeared to be official IS propaganda and communications via a channel on the encrypted Telegram app.

A video on the device showed a man in a black turban and holding an assault rifle, giving a sermon to a circle of masked men in a field, that ended with them chanting: 'Islamic State!'

With his hopes of travelling abroad having come to nothing, by 2019 Ali had settled on an attack in Britain. But his plans were disrupted by the pandemic in 2020.

Having bought a 20 knife from Argos, he carried it in his bag throughout the summer of 2021 as he 'scoped out' possible targets, jurors heard.

He carried out reconnaissance on the Houses of Parliament but found police there were 'armed to the teeth'.

Bodycam footage released from police officers wrestling terrorist Ali to the ground in Belfairs Methodist Church

An email from Ali to Sir David Arness. Ali said he had an 'interest in Christianity' and wanted to discuss the 'solutions' to declining church attendances

Ali researched MPs online, including Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab, Defence Secretary Ben Wallace and Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove.

By September last year, Ali had settled on Sir David as an easy target after seeing his upcoming surgery in Leigh-on-Sea on Twitter.

He made an appointment through the MP's office, falsely claiming he was moving to the area and was interested in churches.

On the morning of the murder, Ali went to pray at Al-Risaalah mosque in Holloway, north London. Mosque manager Abdi Warsame said: 'He used to pray at the mosque sometimes.

'His aunt was at the mosque on the day of the murder and she ran away when she heard about what happened. She was on the phone and then she just ran out.

'We were all shocked we couldn't understand why he would do that.'

As for Ali, he showed no remorse. In court, Tom Little QC, prosecuting, asked him: 'If you could turn the clock back to the morning of October 15, you would leave your property in London and head to Leigh-on-Sea intending to kill Sir David Amess?

'You are utterly shameless about that?' Ali replied: 'I wouldn't use the word shameless, but I don't feel any shame.'

'You regret nothing?' Mr Little asked. 'Nothing,' Ali said. 'If I thought there was something wrong, I wouldn't have done it.'

Missed chances to stop MP's murder: As a jury takes just 18 minutes to find David Amess terrorist guilty, how plot to kill began just months after experts REJECTED him as a threat

By Rebecca Camber, Crime and Security Editor for the Daily Mail

The killer of Sir David Amess was dismissed as a terrorist threat by experts just months before he bought a knife to hunt down MPs, it can now be revealed.

Ali Harbi Ali, 26, is facing a life sentence after jurors took just 18 minutes to convict him yesterday of the 'cold and calculating' murder of the MP and a plot to assassinate other politicians.

After an extraordinary seven-day trial at the Old Bailey, it can now be revealed Ali was discharged by the Government's flagship de-radicalisation Prevent scheme just months before he bought a 20 foot-long carving knife as he started planning a terrorist atrocity in Britain.

Ali (pictured after his arrest) was dismissed as a terrorist threat by experts just months before he bought a knife to hunt down MPs, it can now be revealed

Timeline: Terrorist spent years scoping out targets before brutally murdering Sir David Amess and bought a knife from Argos Here are the key events leading up to the murder of Sir David Amess: 2014: Ali Harbi Ali considers travelling to Syria to join Islamic State but does not go. 2016: Around this time Ali buys a 12-in knife from Argos, which he used to kill Sir David. 2017: He decides to carry out an attack in the United Kingdom. From May 2019: Ali notes down an MP's home address and an attack plan, and saves it on his mobile phone. 2020: The terror plan is disrupted by the coronavirus pandemic. March to July 2021: Ali stakes out the west London home address of Government Minister Michael Gove six times. July to September: He visits the House of Parliament six times. September 17: Ali carries out more hostile reconnaissance outside Mike Freer MP's constituency surgery in Finchley, north London. September 27: Ali finds out about Sir David's constituency surgery in Leigh-on-Sea in Essex and emails to make an appointment claiming to be moving to the area. Following an email exchange with aide Rebecca Hayton, an appointment is fixed for noon on October 15. October 15: At 8.40am, Ali sets off from his home in Kentish Town. He travels by foot and train to Gospel Oak Station and Barking, arriving at Leigh-On-Sea at 10.22am. At 10am Sir David Amess begins his constituency surgery at the Methodist Church in Leigh-on-Sea. He is accompanied by two staff, Ms Hayton and Julie Cushion. Between 10.28am and 11.50am, Ali is captured on CCTV walking around Leigh-on-Sea, arriving at the church shortly before noon. Just after 12noon, Ms Hayton escorts Ali to meet the MP in a vestry office. Ali tells Sir David he wants to talk about foreign affairs before stabbing him 21 times. Shortly before or after Ali sends a WhatsApp message to friends and family explaining his attack 'in the name of Allah'. At 12.07pm, Essex Police receive a report of the incident from Ms Cushion. At 12.13pm, Constituent Yvonne Eaves calls 999 and describes how she and partner Darren King were being threatened by Ali. While Ms Eaves is on the phone, Pc Scott James and Pc Ryan Curtis, who are armed with batons, arrive at the church and apprehend 26-year-old Ali, who drops the 12-inch long carving knife. At 1.10pm, Sir David is pronounced dead. October 18: Prime Minister Boris Johnson announces Southend will be granted city status. - Lady Julia Amess makes an emotional visit the church in Leigh-on-Sea. October 21: Ali Harbi Ali, from Kentish Town, London, is charged with murder. October 22: The defendant appears at the Old Bailey by video-link from high-security Belmarsh prison. - MPs are offered a security guard for constituency surgeries following a review into their safety. October 27: An inquest into the death of Sir David is opened and adjourned. November 15: The UK's terrorism threat level is raised after two attacks in a month. November 22: A private funeral takes place for Sir David in Southend-on-Sea, Essex. November 23: The Pope praises Sir David's years of 'devoted public service' in a message read at a Westminster Cathedral service. December 21: Ali appears at the Old Bailey for a plea hearing charged with murder and preparation of terrorist acts. March 2022: Ali goes on trial accused of preparing terrorist acts and murder. April 11 2022: A jury deliberated for just 18 minutes to find Ali guilty of murder and preparing for terrorist acts. Advertisement

The shameless killer boasted to jurors he managed to fool counter-terrorism experts into dismissing him as a risk after just one meeting.

Now the Daily Mail can reveal Ali's own mother suspected her son had joined the Islamic State terror group, but was too afraid to report him. According to his aunt, Ali's father 'never took the issue seriously until his son committed murder'.

The revelation poses new questions about how the home-grown terrorist managed to slip through the net.

Yesterday experts said the case had exposed failures of Prevent on the eve of a review by former Charity Commission chairman William Shawcross.

In 2014, the teenager was referred by a teacher to the programme, which aims to stop people being drawn into violence.

At the time, Ali said he had 'pretty much already radicalised myself' as he spurned an offer to study medicine to spend more time in his bedroom musing on IS execution clips.

Family and friends claimed Ali was watching extremist videos online, including those by notorious hate preacher Anjem Choudary, who last night issued an extraordinary press release defending Ali's actions.

After his referral, Ali was sent for intensive support under the Channel counter-terrorism programme, overseen by a panel with expertise in de-radicalisation.

But he was discharged in mid-2015 after it was decided he did not pose a terror threat. It meant he was not referred to MI5.

During his trial, the fanatic bragged about outwitting experts by hiding his twisted ideology. He said: 'Ever since I had a visit from the police in 2014, winter time, I kept shut and never spoke about that again or even politics stuff.'

He recalled meeting a Channel expert: 'They asked me about Twitter accounts and how I felt about the Government and booked me in to speak to someone.

'There were supposed to be two meetings but they were happy enough with the first one and I didn't hear anything after.'

Ali's ambitions grew from wanting to travel to Syria and join IS into planning to kill one of hundreds of MPs who voted for air strikes in Syria in 2014-15.

He bought a knife in 2016 and within three years he was regularly carrying it in a rucksack.

Ali initially planned to target Cabinet minister Michael Gove, staking out his home six times and formulating a plan with options such as 'bump into him jogging, best outcome'.

He carried out research on 12 MPs and settled on Sir David Amess as he openly advertised his surgeries.

Ali met Sir David on October 15 last year at Belfairs Methodist Church in Leigh-on-Sea, Essex, and stabbed him more than 20 times. The murderer was stopped by heroic officers wielding only batons.

Yesterday Ali refused to stand in the dock when he was convicted, muttering about 'religious grounds'.

The killing came more than five years after Labour MP Jo Cox was murdered by a Right-wing terrorist.

Her husband Brendan Cox yesterday said: 'Like the killing of Jo, all it has achieved politically has been to allow millions of people to learn about David's decency and the causes he cared about.'

Boris Johnson said: 'Sir David Amess was a beloved colleague, public servant and friend who championed the city of Southend in everything he did. My thoughts today remain with [his widow] Julia, the Amess family and all those who knew and loved him.'

Ali is the latest Islamist terrorist to carry out an attack after being referred to Prevent. Khairi Saadallah, 27, fatally stabbed three men in a Reading park in June 2020.

Prevent officials were warned he could carry out a 'London Bridge-style attack' but he was found to have 'no fixed ideology'.

Usman Khan, 28, who stabbed two graduates to death on London Bridge in 2019, had come into contact with Prevent officers with 'no specific training' in handling terrorists.

Professor Anthony Glees, a security expert from the University of Buckingham, said: 'Sir David's killer has not been the only person who's managed to play footsie with the Prevent people, even though he absolutely fitted the identikit picture of someone who risked turning to terrorism.

'Yet he was still given the benefit of the doubt. This has got to stop.'

Sam Armstrong, of the Henry Jackson Society counter-terrorism think-tank, said: 'When an avowed terrorist who spent years plotting a terror attack was discounted by Prevent, you have to ask questions about whether it continues to achieve its stated aim to tackle terrorism.'

A Home Office source said: 'Prevent is an important tool but it is right that we are carrying out the review to ensure it is working as it should.'

Ali will be sentenced tomorrow.
France's far-right candidate Marine Le Pen is closing the gap with President Emmanuel Macron ahead of the second round of the country's presidential election according to a new poll.

The OpinionWay-Kea Partners poll published by Les Echos and Radio Classique on Tuesday showed Le Pen narrowing the gap by one point as voter turnout continued to fall, although Macron would still win the run-off with 54 per cent of the vote.

The poll's turnout estimate further declined by 1 per cent to 70 per cent, down from 74.56 per cent in 2017, which was already the lowest since 1969.

On Tuesday, conservative former president Nicolas Sarkozy said he would vote for centrist Emmanuel Macron in a run-off presidential vote against Marine Le Pen on April 24.

Sarkozy praised Macron's 'commitment to Europe' as being 'clear and unambiguous'.

'I will vote for Emmanuel Macron because I believe he has the necessary experience in the face of grave international crisis. His economic project puts the value of work as the top priority and his commitment to Europe is clear and unambigious,' Sarkozy said ahead of the second-round vote .

'We must abandon our partisan habits... Fidelity to right-wing republican values and our governing culture must lead us to answer Emmanuel Macron's call for unity,' he said.

Le Pen, 53, secured a run-off against the president in the French elections after she received 23.15 per cent of the vote in the first round on Sunday, just four points behind Macron and the best-ever showing by a far-right party.

The two will now face off in a head-to-head battle on April 24, with pollsters predicting a far closer showdown than their 2017 battle, with the National Rally leader currently forecast to take 49 per cent of the vote in the second round, well within the margin of error for victory.

Marine Le Pen narrowly nudged ahead of Jean-Luc Melenchon in the first round of voting

France's former president Nicolas Sarkozy today said he would vote for centrist Emmanuel Macron (pictured together in 2019) in a run-off presidential vote against far-right leader Marine Le Pen

Macron (centre) takes a selfie during a campaign visit in Carvin, Northern France, on Monday

Marine Le Penposes for a picture with supporters during a visit at a grain farm on Monday in Soucy, France

Sarkozy's comments come just days after the candidate from his own conservative Republicans party - whom he had refused to support publicly - was eliminated in the first round of the election.

Candidate Valerie Pecresse obtained only 4.8 percent in the vote on Sunday. This puts the Republicans in dire financial straits because the party failed to reach the five-percent threshold above which election campaign spending is reimbursed by the state.

On Monday, Pecresse issued an urgent plea for donations to ensure her party's survival, saying she had personally racked up campaign debts of five million euros (4.1 million).

While many of the losing candidates told their supporters not to back Le Pen in the second round, including far-left leader Jean-Luc Melenchon, her populist message focusing on the cost of living crisis is resonating across the political spectrum.

Sophie Pedder, Paris bureau chief for The Economist, told BBC's Today: 'She is really popular among blue collar voters, the low paid, people who work in service sector jobs, people who are struggling with paying the bills at the end of the month, who are facing real difficulties with the price of petrol filling up their cars.

'Lots of them live in rural areas or areas where they need their cars to go to work.

'This focus she has on the cost of living goes down really well with the Melenchon supporters on the radical left.'

Le Pen posed with a teenager wearing a headscarf in Dunkirk

Throughout the campaign, Le Pen has been visiting markets in towns and villages to meet with working class voters where the gilets jaunes protests were sparked, pushing the narrative that Macron has divided France and she is the one to unite it.

She said she is no longer the 'big, bad wolf' of politics, and has been positioning herself as a unifying and benign figure, posing for selfies with a teenager in a headscarf and sharing photos of her pet Bengal cats.

An Ifop survey in March showed that fewer than half of all French now found her 'scary'.

Meanwhile, analysis of the polls by The Telegraph suggested 53 per cent of votes are intending to vote for Macron, whilst 47 per cent intend to vote for Le Pen.

In her speech on Sunday, Le Pen painted herself as a unifying figure, who would heal France's 'fractures' and halt the 'chaos' supposedly brought about by Macron, a former banker who she said embodied the 'power of money' and worked for the few.

It is a far cry from her fiery performances in the last two elections in which she made a number of high-profile blunders, learning from her mistakes to play down her relationship with Vladimir Putin and fiercely condemning his invasion of Ukraine.

One Le Pen supporter said: 'She did a great campaign, she was good all along, she was close to the people.

'She wasn't too much on the TV, she was more with us on the field, in the cities. She did everything right.

'The difference is that in 2017, people voted for Macron because he was new and we didn't know him so we were like, well let's try it. We tried it and it was awful.'

Last week, pollster Brice Teinturier from Ipsos found that more people would expect an improvement in their own situation and the country's if Le Pen were elected instead of Macron.

The pair are equally as trusted on the cost of living crisis, and 19 per cent would vote deliberately to stop Macron in a second round, compared to 18 per cent for Le Pen, showing the dissatisfaction with the current president.

Macron will start his campaign for the second round visiting former mining heartlands in Le Pen's industrial heartlands of northern France in an early indication of how the blue-collar workforce will be a major election battleground.

With 12 candidates in the first round whittled down to two, now they must seek to appeal to the circa 50 per cent of voters who had other first-choice preferences.

In past elections at national, regional and municipal levels, left- and right-wing voters have historically united to block the far right from power, a phenomenon known as a 'republicain front'.

While all mainstream candidates, including those of the conservative Les Republicains and Socialist party, endorsed Macron for the runoff on Sunday night, it is not clear their voters will follow.

Moreover, their low single-digit scores were so pitiful that their support may carry little weight.

Analysts say the left-wing vote could likely be split, with a third going to Macron, a third going to Le Pen and a third abstaining.

The Le Pen-Macron head-to-head is a repeat of the 2017 presidential election, when the first-round results were 24.01 per cent for Macron, and 21.03 per cent for Le Pen.

Macron then went on to beat Le Pen with a resounding 66 per cent in the second round.

But experts say this election will be very different with voters disillusioned after five years of the centrist president's globalist and pro-European policies, with Le Pen seeking to unite voters with her anti-Macron message.

Bruno Gollnisch, former MP for the Front National, said: 'I think the circumstances are quite different from what they were five years ago because there are many people who are disappointed with Mr Macron's policy.

Le Pen poses for a selfie with supporters during a campaign rally in Perpignan last week

The National Rally leader has softened her image in this election, sharing photos of her pet cats with supporters

'Either from the right or left, the real debate now will be between globalism on one side and difference of national identity on the other side.'

Marine took over as leader of the Front National in 2011 from her father Jean-Marie Le Pen, and she has since been trying to 'de-demonise' the party which its critics have accused of being racist and associated with Holocaust denial.

It has since been rebranded as National Rally and in 2015 Marine threw Jean-Marie out of the party he co-founded in the 1970s for repeating his view that the Holocaust was a mere 'detail' of World War II.

Marine Le Pen Cost of living: Lower VAT on fuel and energy from 20% to 5.5%. Income tax for under-30s scrapped as well as the TV licence fee, while highways would be renationalised Immigration: Ban the Muslim headscarf from public spaces, hold a referendum on immigration to prioritise native French people for jobs, housing and healthcare Europe: Dropped previous promises to leave the EU and euro, but wants to cut EU budget contributions. Wants French law to take primacy over EU law Pensions: Drop the pension age to 60 for those who started work before the age of 20 Foreign policy: Condemned Russia but wants to maintain an alliance on 'certain substantive issues'. Pull out of NATO's integrated command structure Advertisement

Emmanuel Macron Cost of living: Remove all tax on inheritance valued less than 150,000, abolish TV licence fee Immigration: Reform the asylum system to make it more efficient, long-stay permit is only given to people who pass a French language exam and are professionally successful Europe: Strengthen the EU and its armies, increase the continent's energy autonomy, fill the gap left by Angela Merkel as de facto EU leader Pensions: Raise the pension age from 62 to 65 to keep the pension system afloat. Minimum pensions would be raised to 1,100 a month Foreign policy: Took a leading role in negotiations with Vladimir Putin Advertisement

But in a rare show of support, Jean-Marie congratulated his daughter on Sunday night on a 'remarkable campaign' as he predicted her election victory.

This election, her campaign has been quietly professional without major gaffes, and she has appeared more presidential than her far-right challenger, the controversial commentator Eric Zemmour, who received seven per cent of the vote.

But she did suffer a blow in January when her niece Marion Marechal, considered a likely successor as party leader, publicly backed Zemmour.

Marine's emotional response on TV in which she described raising Marion as a baby saw her poll numbers rise while Zemmour's fell.

French newspaper Le Monde today pitted the April 24 run-off as 'the France of executives and retirees against the France of employees and workers, cities against the periphery, European integration against national sovereignty.

'One polished his presidential stature thanks to the Covid-19 crisis and the war in Ukraine.

'The other captured the concern of the French about their purchasing power, while continuing to assume an identity and sovereignist project.'

Macron, a former finance minister, will likely target Le Pen's economic programme after she vowed to lower the retirement age to 60, scrap income tax for the under-30s and reduce VAT on energy from 20 per cent to 5.5 per cent.

Marine took over as leader of the Front National in 2011 from her father Jean-Marie Le Pen (pictured together)

Speaking of his own manifesto, Macron said: 'Do you want a France that speaks of full employment and is serious about financing its welfare state, its pensioners, its schools, hospitals and public services?'

'Macron's politics ... has strengthened the far-right,' voter Lea Druet, 27, told Reuters at Melenchon's campaign headquarters. She voted for Macron in 2017 and said she would abstain in this month's runoff.

Other Melenchon supporters were still unsure. 'I'll see how the next two weeks go. If the polls say 49-51, at that moment I will vote Macron,' said Guillaume Raffi, 36, a music producer from Montpellier.

The current president has been vocally pro-EU despite a growing anti-European sentiment in France, hammering Britain over Brexit and playing hardball over fishing rights.

While Le Pen has dropped previous promises to leave the EU and the euro, she still wants to cut French budget contributions to the bloc and pursue a more isolationist European policy, that has endeared her to many voters.

Le Pen won 33 per cent of the votes in the northern industrial Hauts-de-France region.

Left-wing candidates won a combined 27-28 per cent of the vote in the area. How the left's votes are redistributed nationally will be a key factor in the second-round vote's outcome.

But it has been her focus on the cost-of-living issues troubling millions that has helped her tap into a widespread discontent towards rulers as she has toured towns and villages across France.

She said voters were making a choice between two opposite visions of France: 'one of division, injustice and disorder imposed by Emmanuel Macron for the benefit of a few, the other a rallying together of French people around social justice and protection.'

Today, defeated candidates, including Valerie Pecresse of the conservative Republicans, and Anne Hidalgo, of the Socialists, immediately told their voters to back Mr Macron.

It is common for the French to unite in a so-called 'Republican Front' when an extremist candidate reaches the second round.

Left-wing candidate Jean-Luc Melenchon came close to pipping Ms Le Pen on Sunday, with 22.2 per cent of the vote  just 1.2 per cent behind Ms Le Pen

Left-wing candidate Melenchon came close to pipping Le Pen on Sunday, with 22.2 per cent of the vote  just 1.2 per cent behind Le Pen.

Melenchon has also told his supporters to vote against Ms Le Pen in the next round.

Addressing his supporters in Paris after the preliminary results were announced, President Macron said: 'We have a rich democracy  one that is defended by everyone who fights for their values and their ideas.

'I would now like to formally invite all our fellow citizens, no matter what they voted in the first round, to join our movement.'

Macron said many would rightly want to 'block off the far-Right,' adding: 'Their level headedness and desire to block off the far Right's progress is commendable'.

He added: 'Let's not kid ourselves, nothing is certain, and the debates over the next two weeks, will be a deciding moment for our country and for Europe.'

In turn, Le Pen immediately projected the upcoming head-to-head confrontation with Mr Macron as a 'choice between civilisations', saying she would become 'the President of all the French people'.

Speaking to her own supporters in the French capital on Sunday night, she portrayed the incumbent president as a globalist puppet who could not be trusted.

'The French people have spoken, and do me the honour of qualifying to take on the outgoing president,' said Le Pen.

'On April 24 it will be a fundamental choice between two opposing visions of the country  either division and disorder, or the rallying of French people around social justice guaranteed by a fraternal framework.'
Yet Korea hesitant to supply weapons



Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has asked South Korea to provide weapons to help his country defend itself against Russia. He made the request in a 15-minute virtual address to Korean lawmakers at the National Assembly on Monday, 47 days after Russia invaded Ukraine.



"We would be grateful if the Republic of Korea could help us stand up against Russia," Zelenskyy said. He noted that Korea has the military hardware that can stop Russia's vessels and missiles. "If Ukraine receives such weapons, not only will they save the lives of ordinary people, but it will be a chance to save Ukraine."



He also referred to the 1950-53 Korean War to make an emotional plea for help, just as he mentioned the Holocaust in a similar speech to the Knesset in Israel. "You experienced war in the 50s, and numerous civilians lost their lives. But South Korea overcame it," he said, adding that the international community provided much help to the country.



His request for lethal weapons such as military airplanes and tanks demonstrated how desperate Ukraine is for its survival in the face of brutal Russian attacks on his country, including the massacres of civilians. At the end of his speech, he showed a video clip featuring the devastation caused by the Russian military in Mariupol, including images of weeping adults, dying children and bodies being thrown into mass graves.



South Korea cannot turn a deaf ear to Zelenskyy's demand for more help. The country suffered the internecine war in the early 1950s which started with an invasion by North Korea. It claimed the lives of 2.5 million civilians. But the South managed to defend itself with the help of the international community as Zelenskyy pointed out. Sixteen countries sent troops to fight for the South with six others providing medical supplies and other assistance.



We should not forget such support. However, we feel regret for not fully complying with Zelenskyy's request. During a phone conversation between the defense ministers of the two countries last Friday, Ukraine asked Korea for anti-aircraft weapon systems to shoot down enemy helicopters and planes. But South Korea's defense ministry had to turn down the request, citing the precarious security situation here.



The Seoul government finds it difficult to supply lethal weapons to Ukraine amid an emerging new Cold War pitting the U.S. and its allies against Russia and China. South Korea is increasingly getting caught up in such a confrontation which could force Seoul to align with Washington and Tokyo against Pyongyang, Beijing and Moscow. Against this backdrop, Seoul's potential provision of weapons to Ukraine is feared to cause a backlash from Russia.



Nevertheless, South Korea should not give the impression that it is only bent on protecting its own national interests. Seoul has provided 10 billion won ($804,100) worth of medical items and non-lethal military supplies, including bulletproof helmets and blankets, to Ukraine. It is necessary to expand such assistance. The outgoing Moon Jae-in government and the incoming Yoon Suk-yeol administration need to consult more closely with the U.S. and other countries to find a proper way to help Ukraine.






By the time the fee was paid the family was told they had missed the flight

eautician Venera, her husband and daughter were delayed by queries about their passports and visas and had not printed their boarding passes

A family of desperate Ukrainian refugees seeking safe haven with a British family were turned away from a Ryanair flight  because they couldn't print out their boarding pass in advance.

Venera Muminova, 30, her husband and two-year-old daughter, fled Kyiv after their house was destroyed by Russian shells several weeks ago and made the hazardous journey to Poland.

But the British hosts who offered to take them in under the Home Office scheme, Michelina and Richard Primrose, today condemned the budget airline for 'making a bad situation worse by putting a barrier of red tape in their way.'

Beautician Venera and her 31-year-old husband Azamat and their daughter Kamila had spent weeks in a Polish hostel and were almost out of money when they turned up this morning at Krakow airport for their 6am Ryanair flight to safety.

Ukrainian refugees Venera Muminova, 30, her husband Azamat (pictured together) and two-year-old daughter Kamila were turned away from their Ryanair flight to the UK because they couldn't print out their boarding pass in advance

Michelina and Richard Primrose, were are hosting them as part of the Home Office's Homes for Ukraine scheme, condemned the budget airline for 'making a bad situation worse by putting a barrier of red tape in their way'

But because Ryanair's system kept crashing and they had no way of printing out the boarding pass at the hostel, check-in staff demanded a 60 'Boarding card reissue fee' before they could fly.

Passengers with more expensive, flexible tickets do not have to pay.

The Ukrainian family also said they were held up for nearly two hours by the check-in staff who queried Azamat's Turkmenistan passport and British visa, as well as initially claiming the pre-paid tickets had not been paid for.

Unable to pay the boarding card fee, desperate Venera contacted the Primroses, who agreed to pay the charge over the phone by credit card, but by the time that was done the family was told they had missed the flight.

Beautician Venera and her 31-year-old husband Azamat and their daughter Kamila (pictured with Azamat) had spent weeks in a Polish hostel and were almost out of money when they turned up this morning at Krakow airport for their 6am Ryanair flight to safety

'They have been through enough already and now they face this intransigent attitude from the Ryanair staff, it's just disgusting,' said Michelina, from Nottingham, a support worker in a children's hospice.

'Their daughter was in hospital with dehydration a couple of weeks ago and I know how quickly children can deteriorate.

'We linked up with the family on Facebook about a month ago and managed to get them through the visa process which wasn't easy.

'They haven't got much money and we were happy to pay for their flights, but now we've had to pay double, about 550, because of this morning's flight.'

But because Ryanair's system kept crashing and they had no way of printing out the boarding pass at the hostel, check-in staff demanded a 60 'Boarding card reissue fee' before they could fly

The family missed their first flight from Krakow, Poland, but were also to book onto a flight coming into Stansted Airport eight hours later

The family were booked onto a later flight coming into Stansted Airport eight hours later.

Added Michelina: 'It's not the money, it's the hard-faced attitude they were met with at the airport, considering their home has been shelled and they've had to pack their entire lives into one suitcase and flee their country.

'I could hear Kamila crying in the background when I was on the phone, and Venera was also in tears when she thought they weren't going to get on the flight, but the airline staff were not bending at all.

'Two of our children are grown-up now and we have a spare room with a sitting room and after watching the awful reports on the news, and being from a family of Italian immigrants myself, we felt that offering the family a place of shelter was the human thing to do.

'It wasn't easy getting through the red tape, but to be fair the Home Office did expedite their visas because of little Kamila's illness.

Azamat posted on Facebook: 'After receiving a ticket from a sponsor, we repeatedly tried to check in a flight, but the system kept crashing, upon arrival at the airport three hours before departure, the receptionist said that you need to pay for tickets'

'Wizzair are offering free flights for Ukrainians, but they would have had to wait until June to get on one of those, so we were happy to pay for their flight.

'The whole experience has made Venera and Azamat very uncomfortable  what a way to welcome them Britain!'

Richard, a printer, added: 'There's also a profiteering side to this whole thing as the prices for flights from Poland seem to be going up all the time.'

Chef Azamat was exempt from being called up to the Ukrainian military because he is a Turkmenistan citizen.

Venera was originally from Crimea on the Black Sea, but had to flee to Kyiv with her family in 2014 when Russian troops invaded and annexed the region.

Her elderly parents opted to stay in Poland because they wanted to return to Ukraine.

Azamat posted on Facebook: 'After receiving a ticket from a sponsor, we repeatedly tried to check in a flight, but the system kept crashing, upon arrival at the airport three hours before departure, the receptionist said that you need to pay for tickets.

'They also did not like my passport, since I am not a citizen of Ukraine.

'For 20 minutes, the girl figured out on the phone what to do with me, after hanging up she answered me that I can't fly with my family to the UK, I explained to her again that I have a visa, and everything is fine with my passport, we have a family visa, for which she she answered me very rudely.

'Then I showed all the pages of the passport with notes, she looked for a long time, as a result they called her again and answered that everything was fine and I could still fly together with his family, then called the sponsors and found out whether they paid for the ticket or not, as we were told that there was no payment.

'When the sponsor wanted to talk to the airport employee, she again began to be rude and move the phone away, but I insisted.

'As a result, more than two hours were spent, the flight was missed, the sponsors spent [the money] twice, for which we are very ashamed in front of this wonderful family.'

Ryanair's website states: 'If you arrive at the airport without your printed online boarding pass, we can print one for you, but you will be required to pay a 'Boarding Card Reissue Fee' of /20.

'(Flexi Plus customers can check-in free of charge at the airport). This facility is available up to 40 minutes prior to the scheduled flight departure.'

MailOnline contacted Ryanair for comment.
More scientists are calling for the reintroduction of Covid restrictions including masks and outdoor mixing a day after NHS leaders said 'mitigating actions' are needed in England.

The renewed calls for onerous public health measures are based on high levels of Covid admissions in hospitals  although these are already falling without any non-pharmaceutical interventions.

The NHS Confederation warned earlier this week that masks in crowded places and limits on meeting others indoors were needed to fight the virus, claiming this Easter would be 'as bad as any winter' for hospitals.

And despite figures showing half of 'Covid patients' in the NHS are not primarily sick with the disease, Independent Sage is now also demanding the Government intervenes to take pressure off the health service.

The group  made up of far-left scientists and an active Communist party professor  has claimed facemasks alone would not go far enough and wants a 'multi-layered' suite of restrictions.

But NHS England data suggests Covid admissions peaked at the start of April and are already coming down, while the Government's testing survey suggests infections peaked at a similar time.

Indie Sage had lobbied heavily for a Christmas lockdown but quietly softened its stance after the milder Omicron wave subsided naturally and the NHS was not overwhelmed.

But its members, who have amassed huge followings on social media during the pandemic, have become vocal again in recent weeks as infection numbers and hospital rates have risen following 'Freedom Day'.

This morning, Indie Sage's Dr Kit Yates tweeted: 'Masks on their own will help, but will never be enough to suppress Covid. We need multi-layered solutions to help us deal with the virus. Masks, vaccines, ventilation etc. A single layer is not enough.'

No10 has rejected the NHS' call for more restrictions and insisted that 'our living with Covid plan still stands', while Sajid Javid said he was 'proud' of the UK's approach.

This morning, Indie Sage's Dr Kit Yates claimed facemasks alone would not go far enough and wants a 'multi-layered' suite of restrictions. It followed a call from NHS leaders earlier this week for more controls

NHS England data suggests Covid admissions peaked at the start of April and are already coming down

NHS data shows just 42 per cent of Covid patients in hospital were admitted because they were primarily unwell with the virus (blue line) by the most recent count in early April

Officially, cases have been falling for weeks but the country's most reliable testing survey suggests they peaked in early April too

The Office for National Statistics estimates that cases were peaking on the week of April 8, when a record 4million people were carrying the virus in England

The Health Secretary tweeted a video of Chinese residents screaming from high-rise flats after being confined to their homes for days in locked-down Shanghai.

Mr Javid branded China's Zero Covid policy as a 'dangerous fallacy' and praised the UK's 'learning to live with Covid' approach.

Drive to vaccinate children may see HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS of jabs binned because of low uptake, campaigners say Britain's drive to vaccinate children against Covid could see officials have to bin hundreds of thousands of doses, campaigners fear. Official figures show one in eight (12.8 per cent) jabs earmarked for youngsters aged between five and 11 in Wales have already had to be dumped. Government sources said while the exact reason for the jabs needing to be binned is not clear, children failing to attend appointments had exacerbated the issue. Insiders also told MailOnline the problem is unlikely to be unique to Wales. Even at a 4 per cent wastage rate  the level seen in England up to October last year  400,000 jabs would still have to be chucked away. The People's Vaccine Alliance, a coalition of 90 organisations that want to end 'vaccine apartheid', told MailOnline the 'shocking waste' was caused by ministers hoarding 'more vaccines than they can use'. It said Pfizer should have focused on sending its jabs to countries where millions of adults have yet to have a first dose. Yesterday, the World Health Organization revealed that 20 countries are still yet to inoculate 10 per cent of their populations. Critics of the Department of Health's decision to offer vaccines to healthy youngsters say there is still not enough evidence they even need to be inoculated against the virus, given that it poses such little threat to them. Advertisement

The comments were met with fury by Indie Sage's Dr Deepti Gurdasani, one of the group's most vocal members on social media.

She tweeted: 'If we're learning to live with the virus - letting tens of thousands of people get long Covid and >1,000 people die/wk - mostly the elderly, vulnerable, ethic minorities, the poor and disadvantaged - isn't covering us in glory - in the name of "freedom".'

Indie Sage only recently abandoned its Zero Covid stance after heaping praise on the likes of China for suppressing the virus and overlooked the Communist regime's disregard for human rights.

After its calls for a Christmas lockdown last year fell flat, and amid China's failing shutdowns, the pressure group has refocused its efforts on less draconian measures like masks, ventilation and access to therapeutics.

Yesterday, Indie Sage successfully raised 21,000 in donations, which it said will go towards its weekly broadcasts and the running of its website.

Its crowdfunding page states: 'With extra funding we can keep going for longer, bringing the nation support and scientific advice for as long as this pandemic affects us.

'This support costs around 2,000 a month and current funds from donations including a previous crowdfunding drive are coming to an end.'

The easing of rules in England on February 24 has coincided with infection rates spiralling to the highest levels seen throughout the pandemic, with one in 13 people estimated to be infected at the start of the month.

Health bosses say rising cases and staff sickness is impacting its ability to tackle the record backlog of patients needing care.

Millions of patients have already been told to stay away from busy A&E units unless they are genuinely dying, while ambulance services have urged some to make their own way to hospital.

The number of virus-infected patients in hospital last week breached 20,000  the highest since February 2021  but figures show thousands aren't primarily ill with the virus.

And latest NHS England numbers suggest Covid hospital admissions peaked on April 5 at 2,308, falling every day since.

However, it is unclear what impact the scaling back of mass testing is having on admission numbers and there have been reports of some hospitals stopping routine Covid tests for new patients.

Deaths from Covid have also fallen dramatically thanks to jabs, natural infection and the milder Omicron variants  with around 230 daily fatalities now compared to more than 4,000 at times last year.

Despite the growing pressure for ministers to act, Downing Street has so far held firm. A spokesperson yesterday said the virus is now being viewed in No10 like any other respiratory illness.

'There is no change to our guidance and our living with Covid plan still stands,' they said.

'Thanks to a combination of vaccination and treatment and our better understanding of the virus we are now able to manage it as we do with other respiratory infections, so that remains the case with our approach.'
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A pro-Putin separatist leader has called for Russia to use chemical weapons to 'smoke out' 4,000 Ukrainian defenders at a key strategic steel plant in Mariupol.

Eduard Basurin, deputy head of the so-called Donetsk People's Republic, claimed thousands of Ukrainian fighters are taking shelter in the Azovstal complex, one of Europe's largest iron and steel works, which has so far defied Russian attempts to seize it.

He made the dire warning just hours after Ukraine accused Russia of unleashing a toxic agent from a drone over Mariupol, causing breathing issues.

Meanwhile, a column of Russian military vehicles has been seen heading towards the Donbas amid fears the Kremlin is set to unleash an onslaught on the eastern Ukrainian region.

The footage taken from Matveev Kurgan in the Rostov Oblast in western Russia shows the armoured vehicles travelling towards the Ukrainian border where Putin is refocusing his war effort, with civilians hoping to flee in nine evacuation corridors today.

The governor of Luhansk region, Serhiy Gaidai, said: 'It's far more scary to remain and burn in your sleep from a Russian shell. Evacuate, with every day the situation is getting worse. Take your essential items and head to the pickup point.'

This morning, the Azov Battalion showed footage purporting to show victims of the apparent attack, who said they have since suffered respiratory problems, high temperatures and tinnitus.

Making further threats on Russian state TV, Basurin said today: 'What is Azovstal? It is a plant built back in Soviet times. There is a lot or concrete, iron, there are many underground floors. So it makes no sense to take this facility by storm.

'Therefore, at the moment it is necessary to deal with the blocking of this plant, find all the exits and entrances. In principle, this can be done.

'And after that, to turn, I think, to the chemical troops, who will find a way to smoke moles out of their holes.'

Yesterday's alleged chemical attack has not been confirmed but would be the first time Russia is believed to have used toxic weapons in Putin's barbaric invasion, which the Pentagon said is 'deeply concerning'.

US Defence Department spokesman John Kirby said: 'We are aware of social media reports which claim Russian forces deployed a potential chemical munition in Mariupol, Ukraine. We cannot confirm at this time and will continue to monitor the situation closely.

A column of Russian military vehicles has been seen heading towards the Donbas amid fears the Kremlin is set to unleash an onslaught on the eastern Ukrainian region

The footage taken from Matveev Kurgan in the Rostov Oblast in western Russia shows the armoured vehicles travelling towards the Ukrainian border where Putin is refocusing his war effort

The huge convoy shows how Russia is dedicating its military might to the eastern region after suffering major losses so far in the war

The Azov Batallion showed footage purporting to show victims of the apparent attack, who said they have since suffered respiratory problems, high temperatures and tinnitus

Eduard Basurin, deputy head of the so-called Donetsk People's Republic, claimed up to 4,000 Ukrainian fighters are taking shelter in the Azovstal complex

The Azovstal complex (pictured last week) is one of Europe's largest iron and steel works, which has so far defied Russian attempts to seize it.

Service members of pro-Russian troops pictured driving an armoured vehicle in the besieged city of Mariupol

'These reports, if true, are deeply concerning and reflective of concerns that we have had about Russia's potential to use a variety of riot control agents, including tear gas mixed with chemical agents, in Ukraine.'

Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said her department is working with partners to verify the claims, which pro-Russian separatist forces have denied.

She tweeted: 'Reports that Russian forces may have used chemical agents in an attack on the people of Mariupol. We are working urgently with partners to verify details.

'Any use of such weapons would be a callous escalation in this conflict and we will hold Putin and his regime to account.'

Armed forces minister James Heappey added today: 'There are some things that are beyond the pale, and the use of chemical weapons will get a response and all options are on the table for what that response could be.'

President Volodymyr Zelensky admitted last night that the Russians might deploy chemical weapons, although he fell short of saying they had definitely been used in Mariupol.

The General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces said that aside from trying to take control of Mariupol, Russian forces were intent on capturing Popasna, a town about two hours drive west of Luhansk, and were set to launch an offensive in the direction of Kurakhove in Donetsk.

The claim by the Azov Regiment (pictured), a far-right group now part of the Ukrainian military, could not be independently verified

Residents carry their belongings near buildings destroyed by Russian troops, in the southern port city of Mariupol

Ukrainian military expert Serhiy Grabskiy, head of the Union of Peacekeeping Operations, said that Russia faces serious losses in seeking to storm the Azovstal plant in the city

Ukrainian military expert Serhiy Grabskiy, head of the Union of Peacekeeping Operations, said that Russia faces serious losses in seeking to storm the Azovstal plant in the city.

'There are a huge number of underground communications [channels] through which the defenders can seep into the rear of the enemy and inflict very painful blows on him,' he said..

'Trying to destroy them will take a long time and require simply colossal resources that Russia cannot afford.

'Therefore, having despaired of winning such a fight, and realising that our guys will not give up, they are considering the use of chemical weapons of various properties.

'Of course, Russia claims they don't have chemical weapons.

'But the statement [from Basurin] that they want or can use chemical troops or chemical weapons in this case can have a fairly unambiguous reaction.

But it should be noted that, as a rule, flamethrowers are also in service with the chemical troops.

'That is, it is possible, for example, to burn underground communications channels with fire or use so-called thermobaric ammunition.'

A picture released by the Azov Regiment claiming to show troops destroying Russian tanks and vehicles in Mariupol

A theatre destroyed by Russian shelling in Mariupol on Sunday, a city that has been the focal point of Russian aggression since the outset of the war

Such weapons are illegal and Grabskiy said: 'Russia itself declared that in 2017 it had eliminated all stocks of chemical weapons.

'Therefore, God forbid, of course, to see this.

'But I do not exclude the possibility of the use of toxic substances.'

Basurin was given time on Russia's main channel to demand chemical weapons be used in a show hosted by Vyacheslav Nikonov, grandson of notorious Soviet foreign minister Vyacheslav Molotov, after whom the Molotov Cocktail is named.

Meanwhile, the Ukrainian Parliament tweeted to say it has received reports of Russian forces firing 'nitric acid' in the Donetsk region as it warned local residents to wear 'protective face masks soaked in soda solution'. It is not clear if the incidents are linked.

It follows a warning from the Ministry of Defence suggesting that Russia could turn to the use of a deadly phosphorus bombs amid attempts to finally break heroic resistance in Mariupol.

While strictly not considered a chemical weapon, the substance burns fiercely and can cause horrendous injuries, and its use on civilians constitutes a war crime.

Mariupol has seen the most intense fighting since the Kremlin launched its attack on Ukraine and has suffered more than 10,000 civilian deaths to date, according to its mayor Vadym Boychenko.

He also warned the toll could rise beyond 20,000 and claimed Russian forces are bringing mobile cremation equipment into the city to dispose of bodies.

Emergency workers remove debris of a building destroyed in the course of the Ukraine-Russia conflict, in the southern port city of Mariupol on Sunday

Russian President Vladimir Putin is understood to be preparing to double or even treble his number of forces in the eastern Donbas region

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (pictured) has pleaded for more Western aid, saying his forces need heavier firepower to resist the coming onslaught and push Russian forces back

An armoured vehicle of pro-Russian troops is seen in the street of Mariupol as a fire rages in the background

Graves of civilians killed during Ukraine-Russia conflict are seen next to apartment buildings in Mariupol on Sunday

Russian troops 'hiding bombs in washing machines and car boots' as they retreat from Kyiv Russian troops are understood to have hidden bombs in washing machines and car boots as they retreated following a failed attempt to take the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv. Interior minister Denys Monastyrsky claimed Russian forces were targeting the homes of government employees, The Times reports. He said: 'Wherever the occupiers stayed overnight, they would set up tripwires  both at the doorstep and by the fences,' he told Ukrainian television. 'Our people are now also finding explosives in houses and apartments where Ukrainian police officers, rescuers, and military servicemen live.' It comes after Ukrainian officials discovered more than 1,200 bodies in mass graves in villages in the Kyiv region on Sunday. The UN said 4,232 civilian casualties had been recorded in Ukraine to date, with 1,793 killed and 2,439 injured. And Ukraine's prosecutor Venediktova confirmed 1,222 bodies had been found in the region around Kyiv alone so far. With most of the towns and villages around Kyiv now seized back, discoveries of mass graves and civilian casualties have triggered a wave of international condemnation, in particular over deaths in the town of Bucha, northwest of the capital. Advertisement

The mayor's comments emerged as Russia claimed it destroyed several Ukrainian air-defence systems in what appeared to be a renewed push to gain air superiority and take out weapons described as crucial ahead of what is expected to be a broad new offensive in the east.

Capturing Mariupol, the main eastern port, would allow Moscow to link troops advancing from the east with those from Russian-annexed Crimea in the south and shift their focus to a new attempt to encircle the main Ukrainian force in the east.

Ukrainian marines have already said they are preparing for a 'last battle' to control Mariupol after being surrounded by invading Russian forces.

The 36th marine brigade of the Ukrainian armed forces said on Facebook that anyone whose limbs have not been torn off will be ordered to fight, and battles are currently being carried out by cooks, drivers and musicians.

They said earlier today: 'Today will probably be the last battle, as the ammunition is running out.

'It's death for some of us, and captivity for the rest,' it added, saying it had been 'pushed back' and 'surrounded' by the Russian army.

It said it had been defending the port for 47 days and 'did everything possible and impossible' to retain control of the city.

The troops' last stand has so far denied the strategically significant city on the south coast to the Russians.

Should Moscow take control, as is now expected, the Kremlin will hold the entire coast along the Sea of Azov and much of the Black Sea.

For weeks the fall of Mariupol has seemed inevitable, yet the Ukrainians have clung on to parts of the city centre. Since early March food supplies have been scarce, melted ice has been the only source of fresh water and there has been no heating or electricity.

The city has effectively been cut off from the rest of the country.

the commanding officer of the 36th Marine Brigade suggested the government in Kyiv could have done more to support his soldiers, adding: 'We've done everything possible and impossible to retain control.

'But nobody wants to communicate with us anymore because we have been written off.' The razed city has seen the most intense fighting of the war.

Last night Denis Pushilin, leader of the breakaway Donetsk region, said: 'Regarding the port of Mariupol, it is already under our control. Now the operation will be intensified.'

His claims could not be independently verified.

Putin's invasion stalled on several fronts as it met stiff resistance from Ukrainian forces, who prevented the Russians from taking the capital and other cities.

And the failure to win full control of Ukraine's skies has hampered Moscow's ability to provide air cover for troops on the ground, limiting their advances and exposing them to greater losses.

With their offensive in many parts of the country thwarted, Russian forces have relied increasingly on bombarding cities - a strategy that has left many urban areas flattened and killed thousands of people.

To date, Kyiv estimates it has killed 19,500 Russian troops, though the Kremlin has only admitted to 1,351 deaths in the conflict.

Emergency workers remove debris of a building destroyed by Russian shelling on Sunday

Graves of civilians have been dug next to apartment buildings in Mariupol, where more than 10,000 have died according to the city's mayor

A heavy armoured vehicle is destroyed amid surrounding buildings in Mariupol

The catastrophic death toll comes as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky defended his criticism of NATO and the UN, saying he has had enough of diplomacy with Vladimir Putin.

Zelensky told CBS 60 minutes on Sunday: 'When you are [working] at diplomacy, there are no results. All this is very bureaucratic. That's why the way I'm talking to them is absolutely justifiable. I don't have any more lives [to give]. I don't have any more emotions.

'I'm no longer interested in their diplomacy that leads to the destruction of my country. A lot of countries have changed their mind about Ukraine and about our people. But I think we've paid too high price for that.'

Ukrainian officials have also accused Russian forces of committing atrocities, particularly in the Kyiv region where mass graves were discovered outside a church in Bucha yesterday.

In Buzova, a village in the Kyiv region, Ukrainian officials said the bodies of 50 people, all of whom were shot at close range, were discovered on a road. Another mass grave with dozens of bodies was also found in the village.

Russia on Monday continued its shelling of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions in eastern Ukraine, but battling Ukrainian forces repulsed several assaults and destroyed Russian tanks, vehicles and artillery equipment, the UK's MoD said.

The MoD warned that Russia's 'continued reliance' on unguided bombs in Ukraine increases the risk of further civilian casualties as the weapons decrease their ability to discriminate when targeting and conducting strikes.

An airstrike on a train station being used by civilians trying to escape the area also killed 57 people last week.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has pleaded for more Western aid, saying his forces need heavier firepower to resist the coming onslaught and push Russian forces back.

Mr Zelensky said on Sunday that the coming week could be crucial and that Western support - or the lack thereof - may prove decisive.

'To be honest, whether we will be able to (survive) depends on this', Mr Zelensky said.

'Unfortunately, I don't have the confidence that we will be receiving everything we need.'

His plea came as Putin is understood to be preparing to double or even treble his number of forces in the eastern Donbas region.

Following his troops' failure to capture Kyiv and other parts of the country's north after more than six weeks' of fighting, the Russian president has withdrawn some of his forces.

Putin is now beginning to redeploy some of those troops towards the Donbas, parts of which are already controlled by Russian-backed separatist groups.

He is said to be eyeing a battlefield win in eastern Ukraine within the next month, so that it will coincide with Russia's annual military parade in Red Square on 9 May.

The date marks the Nazis' surrender in the Second World War.

However, although they noted Mr Putin would desire some form of victory by that date, Western officials have cast doubt on his hopes of doing so.

They have said there is an 'incredibly important' window for the West to increase support for Ukraine as Russia takes time to prepare a new offensive.
MPs are demanding the departure of Conservative environmentalist Ben Goldsmith from the board of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs after he pledged his support to eco-activists targeting Britain's oil terminals.

Mr Goldsmith, who is the brother of government minister Lord Goldsmith, whipped up a fury among Tory ranks after he spoke out against the imposition of injunctions on protestors who have disrupted fuel supplies and caused misery for motorists.

Activists from Just Stop Oil have been hampering access to oil terminals for days and boasted of how their actions have caused many petrol stations to shut across the country.

But despite the havoc being wreaked by the group - an off-shoot of Extinction Rebellion - they found support from Mr Goldsmith, who sits on DEFRA's board as a non-executive director.

After Labour demanded ministers bring in immediate nationwide injunctions to block the demonstrations, he told the Opposition it was 'not a good look'.

In a now-deleted Twitter post, Mr Goldsmith added: 'The protestors are right to be doing whatever it takes to wake people up.

'The fossil fuel industry is grubby and dangerous. We need to unhook ourselves from our dependence asap.'

Ben Goldsmith, the brother of government minister Lord Goldsmith, whipped up a fury among Tory ranks after he gave his support to eco-activists

Just Stop Oil have been hampering access to oil terminals for days and boasted of how their actions have caused many petrol stations to shut across the country

Mr Goldsmith's tweet provoked outrage among Tory MPs who demanded he either resign from his DEFRA role or be sacked by Environment Secretary George Eustice.

Chris Loder, MP for West Dorset, said that Mr Goldsmith was 'inappropriately interfering in political matters' as a DEFRA director, and accused him of 'hanging on to his brother's coattails'.

He called on Mr Goldsmith to either 'resign and stand for election' or be sacked by Mr Eustice.

Mr Loder also vowed to quit as a member of the Conservative Environment Network (CEN), which Mr Goldsmith chairs.

'One of us will not be a member of this organisation at the end of today,' he said.

A Conservative former minister also joined the calls for Mr Goldsmith's departure from his DEFRA role.

They told MailOnline: 'Of course he should go. He is encouraging illegal conduct.

'His position is untenable and if he doesn't resign, George Eustice should fire him.'

Following the uproar, Mr Goldsmith later said he had tweeted 'in a personal capacity' and stressed that support for Extinction Rebellion was neither a CEN or DEFRA position.

'I have therefore retracted these tweets,' he said.

'I recognise the disruption these protests are causing to people's lives and livelihoods.

'I've always previously stood publicly opposed to the controversial and often bonkers methods employed by ER.'

The group is an offshoot of Extinction Rebellion, who staged a demonstration in central London this weekend

Police were forced to remove activists from the capital's Tower Bridge last week as they continued their campaign of disruption

Boris Johnson and his wife, Carrie Johnson, are close to the Goldsmith family

However, Mr Goldsmith added that he was 'not alone in feeling a rising sense of panic' about climate change issues 'as the reported science grows ever grimmer'.

'Awareness and action are not commensurate with the scale of the issue, even if we in the UK are now leading the way globally,' he said.

Mr Goldsmith also apologised to Tory MPs on the WhatsApp group for CEN members.

The financier and environmentalist is the brother of Foreign Office minister Lord Goldsmith and former journalist Jemima Goldsmith.

The Goldsmith family are close with the family of Boris Johnson.

In October last year, the Prime Minister enjoyed a free stay at the holiday home of the Goldsmith family in southern Spain.

Mr Johnson's wife, Carrie Johnson, is also a close friend of Lord Goldsmith, who she worked for in her first job in politics.

Ben Goldsmith is a trustee of the Aspinall Foundation, the wildlife charity that employs Mrs Johnson as head of communications.
Kim Jong-Un has been seen puffing away on a cigarette and looking back to his usual chubby self just months after slimming down 'for the sake of the country', state media video shows.

Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) released video of the chunky-once-more dictator attending the completion ceremony of major housing project to adoring crowds in Pyongyang.

And while there was little they could do to conceal the return of his protruding belly, they made the decision to show a clip of him smoking while chatting to his generals during celebrations for the completion of 10,000 housing units, including an 80-story building.

The hermit kingdom, which views Mr Kim as a faultless deity, passed a tough new law just 18 months ago forbidding smoking in public places, so the images technically depict their dear leader breaking the law.

On top of the public health issue around smoking, North Korea has been grappling with severe food shortages, prompting Mr Kim to eat less 'for the sake of the country', government officials said last year.

Eyebrows were raised when photos and videos of the usually chubby despot looking gaunt last December, with speculation about his health after he had disappeared from public view for for months.

Mr Kim disappeared from public view between January and May last year. He returned 40lbs lighter looking 'emaciated', according to his own state television, sparking speculationg as to whether the weight loss was deliberate or due to illness.

North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un was pictured during the opening ceremony of a new apartment block looking back to his usual obese weight and holding a cigarette

The country passed a tough new law just 18 months ago forbidding smoking in public places, a law which the dear leader continually flouts during all publicised events

After losing 40lbs last year, the 5ft 7in dictator appears to be back to near his usual 300lb weight

Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) released video of the chunky-once-again dictator attending the completion ceremony of major housing project to adoring crowds in Pyongyang

Hundreds of adoring North Koreans were in attendance to see the man they view as a living deity launch the ceremony for the major housing project

But these new images of a rotund Mr Kim would seem to dispel theories that the strongman had had a a gastric bypass procedure.

Mr Kim's weight ballooned to 300lbs soon after he came to power in 2013 after the death of his father, thought to be driven in large part from his love of Swiss cheese that he picked up while at school in Switzerland.

The 5ft 7in despot suffers from morbid obesity, prompting concerns about associated illnesses such as cardiac disease, secondary diabetes, obstructive sleep apnea, hypertension and elevated cholesterol.

Kim, pictured above, looking slimmer than usual attending the 4th Plenary Meeting of the 8th Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea in December 2021

North Korea leader Kim Jong Un visits a munitions factory producing what state media KCNA says is a 'major weapon system' in January 2022

On top of that, both his father, Kim Jong Il, and his grandfather, Kim Il Sung, both died of heart attacks. The health of the dictator is always a closely guarded state secret.

The impoverished, nuclear-armed country has been hit by severe flooding in recent years which has left families without homes and is currently tackling a food crisis as the nation struggles to feed itself amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

A North Korean resident, speaking on condition of anonymity, said: 'Telling us to endure hardship until 2025 is the same as telling us to starve to death'.

A second source claimed that the North Korean government is attempting to spin the food shortages as a result of their effective Covid-19 strategy, which they say has worked well.

The government has blamed external factors for their food shortages though, citing sanctions imposed on them, natural disasters and the global coronavirus pandemic.

State media and government officials have said that Kim Jong Un's apparent weight loss is symptomatic of his desire to 'eat less to help the country' amid the food shortages, and in August banned citizens from discussing it, labelling gossip as a 'reactionary act'.

Analysts say the remarks showed authorities were seeking to use the change to Kim's weight to reinforce loyalty to the regime in desperate times.
More than 50 fines have been awarded to people who broke lockdown rules to attend boozy Partgate events in Downing Street, police revealed today.

Scotland Yard said it had referred a further 30 on top of the 20 it had already revealed to the ACRO Criminal Records Office 'for breaches of Covid-19 regulations' in 2020 and 2021.

The Metropolitan Police did not disclose if Boris Johnson was among those to be sanctioned with a 50 fine. Downing Street indicated that he was not.

The Prime Minister has yet to publicly acknowledge that the fines being issued by the police are evidence of law-breaking by senior figures in his Government and Whitehall.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said the announcement of at least 30 more fines relating to the partygate saga has 'blown the Prime Minister's defence out of the water'.

Speaking during a campaign visit in Glasgow today, Sir Keir said: 'He claimed to the country that all the rules were being obeyed in Downing Street - where he lives and where he works - that there had been no parties.

'It's now clear there was widespread criminality.

The Metropolitan Police did not disclose if Prime Minister Boris Johnson (pictured in Kyiv at the weekend) was among those to be sanctioned.

Scotland Yard said it had referred a half-century of cases to the ACRO Criminal Records Office 'for breaches of Covid-19 regulations' in 2020 and 2021.

'I think this just not only blows his defence but calls into question his honesty and his integrity.'

Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey said: 'These fines expose the shocking scale of the criminality in Boris Johnson's Number 10.

'The police have now completely shredded Johnson's claims that no laws were broken. He cannot be trusted and cannot continue as Prime Minister.

'No other leader in any other organisation would be allowed to continue after law-breaking on this scale. If Boris Johnson won't resign, Conservative MPs must show him the door.'

Representatives of bereaved families said it is 'indisputable' that widespread rule-breaking occurred.

Calling on the Prime Minister to resign, Matt Fowler, co-founder of Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice, said: 'There you have it - it's now indisputable that whilst bereaved families were unable to be at their loved ones' sides in their last moments, or stood at their funerals alone, the people responsible for protecting us in Downing St were partying and rule breaking en masse.

'It's a reality that is unbelievably painful for bereaved families like mine to face as we try and move forward with our lives.

'It's plain as day that there was a culture of boozing and rule breaching at the highest level of Government, whilst the British public was making unimaginable sacrifices to protect their loved ones and communities.'

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said the announcement of at least 30 more fines relating to the partygate saga has 'blown the Prime Minister's defence out of the water'.

In a statement, the Metropolitan Police said: 'The investigation into allegations of breaches of Covid-19 regulations in Whitehall and Downing Street continues to progress.

'As of Tuesday, 12 April 2022, we have made over 50 referrals for fixed penalty notices (FPN) to the ACRO Criminal Records Office for breaches of Covid-19 regulations who, following the referral, issue the FPNs to the individual.

'We are making every effort to progress this investigation at speed, this includes continuing to assess significant amounts of investigative material from which further referrals may be made to ACRO.'

Mr Johnson has continually stonewalled over whether the issuing of the FPNs means the law was broken by people within his administration, saying he wants to wait until the Operation Hillman probe is completed before commenting.

But his own ministers have been less circumspect in recent weeks, with Cabinet members among those who have publicly accepted there was illegality in No10.
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Britons are preparing for the warmest temperatures of the year so far over the Easter weekend with highs of up to 22C (72F) expected - but not before Sarahan dust falls over the country for the second time in a month.

Warm weather is set to continue throughout the week, with dry conditions expected for most of the UK amid a forecast of 18C (64F) today before 20C (68F) onwards from tomorrow up until at least Easter Sunday. The temperature in London on Good Friday (20C/68F) will be higher than in both Ibiza (19C/66F) and Malta (17C/63F).

But meteorologists warned that those living in East and South East England could again see orange sediment left on their cars, windows and outdoor equipment due to the arrival of Saharan Desert dust from North Africa.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs warned of moderate air pollution in the South East today, coming after the dust also swept in on March 16 to create orange skies and 'blood rain' when it fell in showers.

The previous dust cloud last month saw the skyline of London turn an eerie colour and also forced motorists to clean their cars and homeowners to scrub their windows after these were covered in a thick orange film.

This afternoon, rainfall is expected over patches of the South East between 3pm and 10pm, meaning that the dust could fall within the downpours at any point within this period.

While low levels of air pollution are expected from tomorrow until Friday, there is a separate risk of widespread moderate pollution in eastern England by Saturday - possibly with pockets of high pollution in coastal areas.

And the Met Office has warned hayfever sufferers that there will be high pollen levels in England and Wales at times this week, adding that it is primarily tree pollen which is currently active - including elm, ash and birch.

People out enjoying the warm weather while out on a punt on the River Cam in Cambridge this morning

People enjoy the mild spring weather in London today with high temperatures forecast over the Easter bank holiday

Workers enjoy their lunch outside in London this afternoon as people make the most of the mild spring weather

Sunrise above Gravesend Town Pier in Kent is reflected in the waters of the River Thames this morning

Met Office deputy chief meteorologist Dan Rudman said: 'It's bit of a mixed picture as far as weather is concerned over the long Easter weekend, although feeling warm in places, at least early in the weekend.

'A low pressure system to the north west of the UK will bring unsettled weather to the north with some strong winds likely and rain in the north west, which could impact driving conditions for some.

How does Saharan dust get to Britain and what is blood rain? Saharan dust and sand can be whipped up by strong winds over the desert in North Africa and blow north. As this dust becomes airborne it can get caught up in atmospheric circulation - where it can be carried for thousands of miles, bringing it as far as Britain. Eventually the dust will either fall out of the sky due to gravity or will be caught up in rain clouds, where it mixes with the water droplets. When relatively high concentrations of red coloured dust or particles get mixed into rain, it can give it a red appearance as it falls - known colloquially as 'blood rain' Each year on several occasions the UK will see rain falling with some dust mixed into it. This usually comes from the Sahara before mixing in clouds and falling out. However, the dust seen in Britain is usually yellow or brown and mixed in very low concentrations - so the rain looks just the same as usual as it falls. The only difference is that you might find a thin film of dust on your car or windows after the water has evaporated. Advertisement

'However, further south it will be drier, especially in the southeast, although there will be varying amounts of cloud. Temperature are likely to be above average for the time of year, although low cloud might keep temperatures lower in coastal areas.'

Forecasters said that the warm southerly airflow over Britain will bring milder temperatures than have been observed over the past few weeks - but also showery and occasionally windy weather in the run-up to the four-day Easter weekend.

The warmer air being drawn up from France will be a contrast to the Arctic air mass conditions that have seen temperatures plunge below freezing in much of the UK over the past week.

It comes after sleet and snow showers as far south as the Peak District last Friday, and a hard frost on Saturday night bringing lows of -6C (21F) at Sennybridge in South Wales.

However, there will also now be a number of weather fronts and unsettled spells, particularly in the West where there could be gusts of 60mph along with heavy showers and thundery rain.

Rain will be more persistent in the North, where temperatures will remain lower than those expected in the South East where longer spells of sun will see temperatures climb up to 20C (68F) in places.

There will also be a North-West/South-East split as the week goes on, but the Met Office said there is 'some uncertainty over where the divide will settle at present'.

Forecaster said showers will be 'more likely in the North and West, where temperatures will be around average for the time of year', adding that 'more settled conditions will prevail in the South East'.

Met Office meteorologist Annie Shuttleworth said that despite the warmth expected this week, the North West will experience some lingering cloud, making eastern areas the best destination for sun-seekers this weekend.

'If people are travelling for sunshine, then further eastern areas are more likely to see that brighter weather,' she said. 'I think in the main for the bank holiday weekend, we'll see temperatures quite widely above average across the UK and hopefully they could be very warm in the South East in particular.

The wet weather elsewhere not stop some beachgoers heading to Tynemouth Longsands beach in North Tyneside today

Six-year-old Ellis Harrison from Derbyshire makes a sandcastle at Tynemouth Longsands beach in North Tyneside today

Rain hits Lancashire this morning as people shelter under umbrellas as they walk along Blackpool Promenade today

People walk under umbrellas in Blackpool, Lancashire, today as parts of North West England are hit by heavy rain

MARCH 16: A Saharan dust cloud last month turned skies over London an eerie shade of orange and also brought 'blood rain'

'Warmer than average certainly, but nowhere near heatwave criteria. It will definitely be warmer than the week we've just had and last week.'

The warmest day of the year so far was March 23, when 20.8C (69.4F) was recorded at St James's Park in London - meaning the highs predicted for the South East on the weekend would set a new record for 2022.

Ms Shuttleworth said: 'We'll see temperatures generally come up through the week. From Thursday onwards temperatures could reach 20C, 21C, quite possibly 22C.'

'Across southern and eastern areas we're more likely to see some sunshine and clearer skies in the afternoon.'
Disgraced Royal Prince Andrew may release a memoir, it was claimed today.

The Duke of York may decide to write an autobiography to earn funds after a settling his expensive court case with Virginia Guiffre.

It comes as a much anticipated update to a book penned by the Queen's stylist is due - as Prince Harry prepares his 'tell-all' memoirs, according to a renowned royal author.

Royal dresser Angela Kelly, who has been with Queen for 28 years, is set to release an update to The Other Side of The Coin, it was revealed last night.

The latest chapter of the book, which provides a glimpse into the life and wardrobes of the royals, will address the death of Prince Philip and the Queen's Covid protocol - HMS Bubble.

According to reports, the Queen has given her blessing for the book to be published, by US firm HarperCollins, next month.

The timing of its release, ahead of the publication of Prince Harry's tell-all autobiography, will mean the two books are likely to battle it out in the royal section of bookshops later this year.

However royal author Phil Dampier, who penned a book about Harry and Meghan's romance in 2018, believes they are unlikely to be competing in terms of sales.

Mr Dampier also suggested Prince Andrew could be the next royal to release a memoir - but only if 'he's backed into a corner and needs money'.

Speaking about the two upcoming books, the author told MailOnline: 'I dont think the book is designed to counter Harrys book.

'I think Harrys will be a best-seller, while Angelas is suited to a more niche market.

Prince Harry's (pictured here with Meghan Markle and the Queen in 2018) autobiography will not be competing on the shelves with a much anticipated update to a book penned by the Queen's stylist, according to a renowned royal author

Mr Dampier also suggested Prince Andrew (pictured) could be the next royal to release a memoir after the Duke of Sussex - but only if 'he's backed into a corner and needs money'

'Angela will focus very much on the Queen and how she and her staff coped, while Harry will be talking about his whole life.

'We dont know what will be in Harrys book but he is being paid a lot of money - even if some is going to charity - and so the publishers will want something sensational.

'He is bound to revisit Megxit and justify the reasons he and his wife left the royal family. And he clearly has issues about his mother which have festered for 25 years.'

Mr Dampier also said the Queen giving Ms Kelly her blessing to publish the book showed how much 'trust' she had in the stylist, who is regarded as a long-term confidant of Her Majesty.

Mr Dampier (pictured) meanwhile said the Queen giving Ms Kelly her blessing to publish the book showed how much 'trust' she had in the stylist, who is regarded as a long-term confidant of Her Majesty

'The fact that the Queen is allowing Angela Kelly to update her book with intimate details of life inside Windsor Castle during the pandemic shows how close they are and how powerful Angela is,' he said.

'No other member of staff would be allowed to do so and it shows how much she relies on her and trusts her.'

Mr Dampier, a royal reporter who has penned books about Princess Diana and Prince Philip, also discussed the possibility that Prince Andrew could one day write a book.

The Duke of York has been largely outcast from royal life since facing a US sex assault lawsuit by Jeffrey Epstein victim Virginia Roberts, which resulted in him being stripped of his military titles and patronages in January.

In March, the 62-year-old settled with Ms Roberts, who now goes by her married name of Guiffree, in a deal reported to be as much as 12million.

But he made a surprise return to the royal centre stage earlier this month, when he accompanied the Queen during Prince Philip's memorial service at Westminster Abbey.

Mr Dampier said: 'If he is backed into a corner and needs money who knows?'

'After all, Prince Charles co-operated with the Jonathan Dimbleby biography of him to get his message across, Diana was behind Andrew Mortons book and Fergie of course has written several books.

Last night it was revealed that royal dresser Angela Kelly (pictured), who has been with Queen for 28 years, is set to release an update to her book The Other Side of the Coin

Publishing PR chief says she expects both books to fly off the shelves - but tips Prince Harry's to top the royal book charts A book publicity agent has tipped Prince Harry's tell-all memoir to top the royal book chart this year. Helen Lewis, director and founder of Kent-based publicity firm Literally PR, said she expects Angela Kelly's latest update to sell 'extremely' well. But she believes the Duke of Sussex's book is the 'one we are all waiting for'. She told MailOnline: 'I expect both books to do extremely well, not just in terms of bookshop sales, but also online sales. 'Many publishers, booksellers, reviewers, and of course, readers are all very excited about the big platinum jubilee year, and all the events and celebrations that are in place, as it represents a positive promotional opportunity. 'After years of multiple lockdowns, publications pushed back, bookshop closures, books like this represent an opportunity for the industry to clamour its way back to pre-Covid sales levels. 'Many people are fascinated by the Royal Bubble, and an insider's view into what life was like for the Queen during lockdown, from someone who has worked with the Queen over three decades, will definitely appeal to those who enjoy peeking behind the Royal curtains. 'It makes sense that HarperCollins is updating The Other Side of the Coin in time for the Jubilee. The revised edition features redesigned commemorative packaging, new photography and an additional chapter, covering key events that Royal fans will want to know more about: the Royal households isolation during lockdowns at Windsor Castle, The Duke of Edinburghs funeral and the first public engagements post lockdown, as well as the Jubilee celebrations in June. 'This book will therefore not only appeal to new readers, seeking to buy something as a keepsake for this memorable year, but also to the many who have already bought the first edition but covet this special edition! 'There are, naturally, a lot of books being released this year (self published and traditionally published) about the Royals, particularly the Queen, because of the Jubilee, but of course the one we're all waiting for (and that is certain to grab the media's attention the most) is Prince Harry's memoir!' Advertisement

'Andrew might feel he could explain some of his actions which might pave the way for a return to public life in a couple of years.

'I doubt it will work, but I know he wants to make a comeback, and after all, what is he supposed to do with the rest of his life?'

Ms Kelly has spent almost 30 years as the Queen's stylist and trusted advisor and was among the inner circle who spent much of lockdown with Her Majesty and the Duke of Edinburgh at Windsor Castle, in what became known as HMS Bubble.

The right-hand woman of the Queen is set to reveal details of how the royal household helped support Her Majesty safe during lockdown in a revised edition of her book.

In a new edition of The Other Side Of The Coin: The Queen, The Dresser And The Wardrobe, which has been approved by Her Majesty, Kelly will offer her personal account of how the Queen weathered the troubles of the pandemic and coped with the Duke of Edinburgh's funeral.

In one of the light-hearted anecdotes, she reveals she was called upon to cut the Queen's hair when usual protocol could not be followed.

'It tells the story of the royal bubble as well as the lengths Angela and the royal household went to, to ensure the safety of the monarch,' explained Katya Shipster, publishing director of Harper Non-Fiction.

The Queen and three-times-divorced Miss Kelly - a Roman Catholic crane driver's daughter from Liverpool - have spent the past 20 years forging an intriguingly close relationship.

The dresser's influence now extends to the younger Royals - with Prince George christened in a lengthy robe made by Miss Kelly, who learnt sewing from her mother and aunt.

She is so close to the Monarch that she has written two books with the Queen's approval and lives in a grace-and-favour home in the grounds of Windsor Castle. The Queen has been spotted 'nipping in for tea'.

Ms Kelly rarely gives interviews but she once disclosed: 'We are two typical women. We discuss clothes, make-up, jewellery.'

Kelly was given the Queen's blessing to publish the first edition of The Other Side Of The Coin: The Queen, The Dresser And The Wardrobe in 2019.

This revised edition, which will be released ahead of the Platinum Jubilee, includes a new chapter that also covers the Duke of Edinburgh's funeral, the first public engagements post-lockdown and looks ahead to the celebrations in June.

The title reveals some of the behind-the-scenes tricks used for the monarch's attire.

She sews in extra layers of lining to cushion the impact of beading and crystals on the Queen's back when events require glamorous gowns.

Tiny weights are also put into day-wear hemlines in case of windy weather and fabrics that crumple or could potentially develop messy loose strands are avoided.

Ms Kelly, who has the same size feet as the Queen, wears in the monarch's handmade new shoes to ensure they are comfortable when first used.

The title will be published on May 12 by HarperCollins. Prince Harry's long-awaited autobiography, meanwhile, is expected to be published later this year.

The Duke of Sussex, 37, is set to publicly spill all on his relationship with his estranged family in an explosive 14.7million ($20million) memoir.

Speaking to the Telegraph Magazine ahead of the release of her new royal book, The Palace Papers, Tina Brown, 68, said the Duke of Sussex, 37, never made his peace with Prince Charles and Camilla's relationship, and does not want Camilla to become Queen (pictured together with Meghan Markle on 22 May 2018)

The Royal Family has been left deeply concerned by Harry's decision to secretly collaborate with Pulitzer-winning ghostwriter JR Moehringer on what his publishers described as 'the definitive account of the experiences, adventures, losses, and life lessons that have helped shape him'.

However those close to the Duke of Sussex say he is unlikely to 'go after' the Queen in the book, and instead 'really wants to celebrate her life'.

But it has been suggested he will 'go after' Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, in the book, a move which experts say may deepen his rift with the royal family.

Speaking to the Telegraph Magazine ahead of the release of her new book, The Palace Papers, Tina Brown, 68, said the Duke of Sussex never made his peace with Prince Charles and Camilla's relationship, and does not want Camilla to become Queen.

She added Prince Charles' estranged son, who resides in California with his wife Meghan Markle, 40 and their children, Archie and Lilibet, is likely to voice his frustration in his memoirs.

Brown, who penned the Diana Chronicles in 2006, said: 'William was disgusted about Meghans attack on Kate because she cant answer back. But thats nothing compared to how furious hes going to be when this book comes out.

'Because Harrys not going to go after the Queen, shes sacrosanct. And he probably wont go after Kate, whom hes very fond of. But he will go after Charles and Camilla and maybe William.

'And thats so unhelpful to them all at this particular moment; for William thats the big cloud in their relationship right now.'

Prince Harry's memoir, which is being published by Penguin Random House, is due to be released later this year.
Ukrainian refugees have been pictured waiting at the United States southern border as it emerged that only 12 people fleeing Russia's war in Ukraine were admitted to American soil via the U.S. refugee program in March.

U.S. President Joe Biden said last month that the United States would accept up to 100,000 Ukrainians fleeing the conflict that has wrought havoc in their home country.

But lawmakers and advocates have urged the Democratic president to speed up refugee and visa processing to boost the pitifully low numbers of entrants as the war rages on.

More than 4 million people have fled Ukraine to neighboring countries since Russia invaded the country on Feb. 24, according to United Nations data, representing the biggest refugee crisis in Europe since World War Two.

Poland has already opened its borders to over two million refugees, with several other European countries taking in hundreds of thousands.

Thousands of Ukrainians seeking refuge have been allowed to cross into the US from its southern border with Mexico, provided they are deemed to be 'particularly vulnerable'.

But a shockingly small number have been granted entry through the official U.S resettlement program.

The United States admitted 439 Ukrainian refugees between February 1 and March 31 during Russia's build up to the war, according to State Department data, but only 12 were officially resettled in March as the war intensified and the number of Ukrainians fleeing skyrocketed.

Young refugees fleeing the war in Ukraine look out the window of a bus taking them from a shelter at the Unidad Deportiva Benito Juarez to the San Ysidro port of entry along the US border in Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico, April 9, 2022

More than 4 million people have fled Ukraine to neighboring countries since Russia invaded the country on Feb. 24, according to United Nations data, representing the biggest refugee crisis in Europe since World War Two. But only 12 were officially admitted through the U.S. refugee program in March (Ukrainian refugees wait in a camp inside a gym in Mexico close to the U.S. border)

U.S. President Joe Biden said last month that the United States would accept up to 100,000 Ukrainians fleeing the conflict that has wrought havoc in their home country

Fleeing residents carry their belongings near buildings destroyed by Russian troops, in the southern port city of Mariupol, April 10

The U.N. refugee agency on Tuesday put the total number of people who have fled Ukraine at more than 4.6 million (Marianna Vishegirskaya stands outside a maternity hospital that was damaged by shelling in Mariupol, Ukraine, in March)

Tens of thousands of Ukrainian civilians have been killed since Russian tanks rolled across the border on February 24, with widespread reports of Russian forces having committed mass civilian killings and indiscriminate bombing campaigns of residential areas.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki said today that officials are working on an 'expidited process' to admit war refugees, declaring that it would be 'a different process that we'll have more details on soon'.

The U.N. refugee agency on Tuesday put the total number of people who have fled Ukraine at more than 4.6 million.

A State Department spokesperson said it had paused refugee operations in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv but continued to process cases through an office in Chisinau, Moldova.

Many Ukrainian refugee applicants cleared for travel to the United States in March were set to depart from inside Ukraine, a person familiar with the matter told Reuters last month. Those cases were stalled by flight cancellations related to the conflict, leading to the near-shutdown of admissions, the person said.

Lawmakers and advocates have urged the Biden administration to accelerate the processing of Ukrainian applications saying too little has been done so far.

Biden set the overall refugee ceiling for this year at 125,000 after his predecessor Donald Trump, a Republican, slashed admissions to a record-low 15,000, which gutted the program and led to processing delays already worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The pathways for refugees include the U.S. refugee resettlement program, which provides a road to citizenship, as well as existing visa avenues and a relief program known as 'humanitarian parole,' which allows people into the country on a temporary emergency basis.

The effort could stretch beyond the current fiscal year ending on Sept. 30, one official told Reuters, signaling that it may not move quickly.

Refugee resettlement can take years and there is a long backlog for U.S. visa processing.

Tens of thousands of Ukrainian civilians have been killed since Russian tanks rolled across the border on February 24, with widespread reports of Russian forces having committed mass civilian killings and indiscriminate bombing campaigns of residential areas (A civilian rides a bike amid destruction on a civilian neighborhood in the town of Borodyanka, on the outskirts of Kyiv, April 9)

A plastic sheet covers a mass grave with civilians killed during the war against Russia in Bucha, in the outskirts of Kyiv, Ukraine, Sunday, April 10, 2022

Thousands of Ukrainians and Russians have been traveling to the U.S.-Mexico border to seek asylum, a trend that could accelerate as the humanitarian crisis worsens.

Last week, about 3,000 Ukrainians deemed by U.S. authorities to be particularly vulnerable were allowed to cross the border into the United States, according to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

The circuitous route may be the most accessible pathway into the United States for Ukrainians at the moment, even as it requires them to enter Mexico on tourist visas and approach the border without assurances they will be allowed to enter.

As of Thursday, about 2,400 Ukrainians were in Tijuana, Mexico, waiting to cross into the United States, according to the city's migration affairs director Enrique Lucero.

The U.S. State Department declined to provide statistics on visas issued to Ukrainians in March and DHS did not say how many Ukrainians entered the United States during that period.

About 200 Ukrainians were issued immigrant visas in February while nearly 1,500 were issued temporary non-immigrant visas, according State Department data, though most of those visas were likely approved before Russia invaded Ukraine on late February.

The State Department said that visa applicants in general may face longer wait times at some U.S. embassies and consulates due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Residents carry their belongings near buildings destroyed by Russian troops, in the southern port city of Mariupol

Ukrainian refugees wave after crossing the Ukraine-Poland border, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine, in Medyka, Poland, April 12, 2022

Ukrainians, just like other applicants, can request faster processing if circumstances warrant it, the department said, stressing that refugees should not attempt to enter the United States on tourist visas or other temporary visas.

The U.S. government is devoting significant economic aid to assist the European countries receiving refugees.

Biden pledged $1 billion in new humanitarian aid for those affected by the war during his visit to Europe in late March.

Earlier that month, Biden signed into law a spending bill that provides $13.6 billion to help Ukraine and European allies, including about $4 billion to aid people fleeing.

The U.S. government also announced in March that it will grant Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to an estimated 75,000 Ukrainians already in the United States but it would not apply to people who arrived after March 1.

In a bipartisan letter this week, 65 lawmakers in the U.S. House of Representatives called on Biden to make a technical change to the TPS designation that would include more recently arrived Ukrainians.
A breastfeeding teacher has won a sexual harassment case after her school 'humiliated' her by making her express milk in 'dirty' toilets or the car park.

Tara Mellor had been allowed to express milk in a special room at Mirfield Free Grammar School after her first child but was told this was 'not an option' due to Covid rules after her second baby.

She repeatedly asked bosses for a room in which she could express milk to give her newborn daughter after work, an employment tribunal heard.

But her requests were ignored and she was 'forced' to do it either in the car park or the 'often dirty' toilets during her 25 minute lunch break.

The tribunal heard this meant she would often also have to eat her lunch in the toilets, which she found 'unhygienic' and 'disgusting'.

She also claims she was also off sick due to Mastitis, an inflammation of breast tissue that sometimes involves an infection, from milk build up.

Ms Mellor won the sexual harassment case after an employment judge ruled her school gave her 'no choice' but to resort to the 'humiliating' measures.

The Hull tribunal heard Tara Mellor taught Citizenship at the Mirfield Free Grammar School, pictured, in Mirfield, West Yorkshire (file photo)

The Hull tribunal heard Ms Mellor taught Citizenship at the Mirfield Free Grammar School in Mirfield, West Yorkshire which is part of the MFG Academies Trust and runs three schools in the area.

In 2018 Ms Mellor fell pregnant with her first child, and left on maternity leave until her return in January 2019.

After returning to work, her partner would bring the baby into school so she could breastfeed the child in specified, private rooms which she later used to express milk.

In September 2019 Ms Mellor told the school she was pregnant again, and asked to work three days a week instead of full time when she returned from maternity leave.

The tribunal also heard she requested 'access to a room to enable me to express regularly'.

She gave birth to a daughter in April 2020 and, in June, again asked for a room to breastfeed and express in from September.

However, due to coronavirus safeguarding rules Ms Mellor was told breastfeeding her baby on site was 'not an option'.

The panel was told she had a meeting in June with her line manager, Nicola Horodczuk, in which she said her 'breasts would feel really uncomfortable' if she wasn't able to express, and that she would 'need a room' to do so.

Tara Mellor has won a sexual harassment case after her school (pictured) 'humiliated' her by making her express milk in 'often dirty' toilets or the car park

When the autumn term began in September, the tribunal heard teachers were 'free to go' where they liked but children were to stay in their classrooms, to limit the number of people moving around the school.

The school argued that this meant there were 'many rooms' which were 'out of use' - though this point was rejected by the tribunal.

During her first weeks back, the tribunal heard Ms Mellor was in 'significant pain' due to not being able to express during the day and completed just three days teaching before she went off sick with 'debility'.

Ms Mellor told the school her absence was related to mastitis - the swelling of a gland in the breast usually caused by an infection.

She returned at the end of the month, making another request for a 'place to express'.

The tribunal heard she then began using 'the toilets or her car' during her lunch break to express.

It heard her lunch break was a mere 25 minutes and it took her 20 minutes to express so she 'realistically had no choice but to eat her lunch at the same time'.

It was told she 'more often' used the toilet than her car, as it was 'too cold' and she risked 'being seen by pupils and others' walking past.

Ms Mellor told the tribunal: 'I found it unhygienic and disgusting to have to express in the toilets, which were often dirty.'

The tribunal also heard Ms Mellor was concerned about 'leaking' during lessons, which happened around 'five times' when she didn't have time to express.

She stopped going into work to shield from November 6 and, after returning to work nine days before Christmas, was 'again' required to express in the toilets - despite having made yet another request for a private room.

Ms Mellor told the tribunal she believed the MFG Academies Trust had a 'negative attitude' towards pregnancies.

The Trust argued she 'would have raised a grievance' with the company if she had had a 'real issue with a place to express'.

A breastfeeding teacher has won a sexual harassment case after her school 'humiliated' her by making her express milk in the toilets or the car park (stock image)

However, Employment Judge Richard Miller ruled Ms Mellor was left with 'no other choice' than to express in her car or the toilets.

Judge Miller said: 'As Ms Mellor reasonably and genuinely felt compelled to act in a way that she did not want to, she was, we find, forced to do so.

'Ms Mellor genuinely and reasonably had no choice but to use the toilets or her car to express.

'This is because she had made the school/trust aware on a number of occasions that she needed somewhere to go to express. Nowhere was provided.

'The conduct of the [Trust] had the effect of creating an degrading and/or humiliating environment for Ms Mellor.'

Ms Mellor's claims of sexual harassment were successful, and a remedy hearing will be held to decide how much compensation she is paid.

Her other claims of sexual discrimination failed as she cannot rely on 'detriment' for both sex discrimination and harassment.

The ruling said: 'In our judgement, this means that where a claimant is relying on an alleged detriment as the basis for a claim of both direct sex discrimination and harassment, it cannot be both.

'If it is found to amount to an act of harassment, it cannot also be a detriment amounting to direct discrimination.'
Commentary: Hyping up global impact of Shanghai "lockdown" baseless, near-sighted

Xinhua) 16:36, April 12, 2022

Photo taken on April 11, 2022 shows a view of Pudong New Area in east China's Shanghai. Shanghai has divided the whole city into areas belonging to three categories as part of targeted efforts to overcome a local COVID-19 resurgence. (Xinhua/Chen Jianli)

SHANGHAI, April 12 (Xinhua) -- As China is grappling with flare-ups of the Omicron variant, some overseas media claim its COVID-19 controls have led to a "lockdown" of Shanghai, the country's eastern metropolis and the world's largest port, and "will have a global effect on almost every trade."

Such statements lack the support of in-depth investigations and underestimate China's economic resilience and resolve to forge ahead with opening-up.

Global investors and businesses can be reassured that China will remain a stabilizer and ballast stone in the global industrial and supply chains.

With high daily caseloads since March, Shanghai's restriction measures, designed to cut the virus spread, have indeed affected trade and logistics to some extent, and into April there have been marginal business declines at the city's port.

However, the controls placed in Shanghai have been far from the so-called "lockdown" as overseas media claimed.

For instance, the deepwater dock Yangshan, a significant part of the Shanghai port, has been running normally. On Saturday, it handled 26 international vessels and 42 domestic container ships, basically at the usual level.

With effective measures to cushion the epidemic impact, such as closed-off management at port zones, the Shanghai port has at large maintained its usual around-the-clock operation, ensuring the stability and connectivity of industrial and supply chains in the Yangtze River Delta region and, most importantly, unimpeded ties with the rest of the globe.

Shanghai has stood the test of COVID-19 over the past two years. While major overseas ports witnessed congestion and a shortage of containers, the Shanghai port maintained smooth and stable operation. Its container throughput exceeded 47 million 20-foot equivalent units last year, topping the world for 12 consecutive years and gaining steadily from 43.5 million in 2020.

An open and reliable Shanghai largely illustrates China's role amid the pandemic.

As the world's major manufacturer and trader, the country has reined in the outbreak quickly, retained sound economic fundamentals for the long run, and stayed committed to opening-up. China's imports and exports surpassed 6 trillion U.S. dollars for the first time in 2021, an encouraging figure for not only its own development but the world as a whole.

Exaggerating the global impact of Shanghai's epidemic controls is near-sighted, and temporary challenges will not shake China's determination to open its doors wider. Looking ahead, the world can still count on China for more contribution to global industrial and supply chains, trade, and economic recovery.

(Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun)
By Baek Byung-yeul





Google's logo is seen at Google's Startup Campus in southern Seoul in this Sept. 15, 2021 file photo. Yonhap
Tommy Robinson has been summonsed to court to face contempt proceedings after he failed to attend the High Court for questioning over his finances.

Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, was due to appear at the Royal Courts of Justice in London last month in connection with unpaid legal bills after he lost a libel case brought against him by a Syrian teenager last year.

But a High Court judge has now issued a summons ordering Robinson to attend a hearing on May 6 after the 39-year-old did not appear for questioning.

In an order dated last Friday, Mr Justice Nicklin said Robinson's non-attendance on March 22 was referred to him as a potential contempt of court.

The judge wrote that he considered 'a prima facie case of contempt of court is made out' and was therefore issuing the summons.

His order warns that if Robinson fails to attend the hearing in May to face the contempt allegation, a warrant for his arrest could be issued.

The news comes less than two weeks after he says he was arrested for national security reasons on holiday.

While on his Easter getaway to Mexico with his family he shared footage of him allegedly being arrested at Cancun Airport.

'I have been arrested, separated from my kids and now I'm being deported as a matter of national security', he said.

Tommy Robinson (pictured), 39, has been summoned to court to face contempt of court proceedings after not turning up at High Court for questioning over his finances

Robinson was due to appear at the Royal Courts of Justice in London last month in connection with unpaid legal bills, understood to be over half a million, after he lost a libel case brought against him by Jamal Hijazi (pictured)

The libel case revolved around a viral video in which Mr Hijazi was assaulted at his school (pictured), Robinson then publicly made false claims about the teenager

The English Defence League founder was successfully sued by Jamal Hijazi after the then 15-year-old was assaulted at Almondbury Community School in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, in October 2018.

Shortly after a video of the incident went viral, Robinson claimed in two Facebook videos that Mr Hijazi was 'not innocent and he violently attacks young English girls in his school'.

In the clips viewed by nearly one million people, the 39-year-old said Jamal 'beat a girl black and blue' and 'threatened to stab' another boy at his school, claims a High Court judge later found to be false.

After a pre-trial hearing for the libel case in November 2020, Robinson was ordered to pay more than 43,000 in legal costs.

He declared bankruptcy about four months later, which the court heard has since been discharged.

In February, Mr Hijazi's lawyers successfully applied for an order requiring Robinson to return to the Royal Courts of Justice to answer questions about his finances.

Ian Helme, for Mr Hijazi, previously told the court there was information 'that what is stated in his bankruptcy application is not a full account of (Robinson's) assets'.

Earlier this month Tommy Robinson was detained by police (pictured) who accused him of a security breach at Manchester Airport, shortly after he was deported from Cancun Airport

How schoolboy was taunted with racist abuse in 'campaign of bullying' In his witness statement, Jamal said he joined Almondbury Community School in the city at the age of 13, with very poor English, and was met with hostility from some other pupils. He wrote: 'I faced a lot of issues when I was at the school, including a campaign of bullying and attempts by other students to make me unhappy, so I would go home. 'I was called names which at first I did not understand. 'My Syrian friend explained to me what these words meant and suggested I should report these incidents to a teacher because the names were racist. 'I refer below to a gang of students who regularly bullied me. They often called me 'P**i', 'Syrian' or 'immigrant' in an aggressive way.' Jamal said the attack in the viral video was not isolated and detailed other incidents, including being threatened with a knife in November 2017. He said his sister Fariha was also bullied, referencing an incident where her hijab was deliberately removed by another student. Jamal also said in his statement he had 'no idea' about Robinson before the Facebook videos were made. He added: 'His job has been explained to me by both my litigation friend and my solicitors, but I still do not fully understand what he does. 'I understand that a part of what he does is to make content and that the more attention it gets, the more money and support he can gain.' Advertisement

After Robinson failed to appear in March, Mr Helme said lawyers had 'tried various methods to bring this to Mr Lennon's attention' including sending documents by post to multiple addresses - including one in Tenerife and his ex-wife's home - and to different phone numbers via WhatsApp.

Judge John Dagnall found that Robinson knew 'perfectly well' that he was due to attend court on Tuesday, adding that Robinson had emailed the court asking for the hearing to be adjourned.

Judge Dagnall said that 'all I can do' is to refer Robinson's non-attendance to a High Court judge.

However, the judge added that any committal for contempt of court could be suspended.

When originally ordered to pay the costs to Mr Hijazi, Robinson, who represented himself and attended the remote hearing by video link, said he was 'gobsmacked' by the costs, which he said included 70,000 for taking witness statements.

He said at the time: 'I've not got any money. I'm bankrupt. I've struggled hugely with my own issues these last 12 months... I ain't got it.'

The sentencing judge acknowledged 'there are limits on what can be enforced against him' as a result of Robinson's bankruptcy.

Catrin Evans QC, for Jamal, previously said that Robinson's slurs led to the teenager 'facing death threats and extremist agitation' and that he should receive damages of between 150,000 and 190,000.

In his judgment, Mr Justice Nicklin accepted that Jamal suffered 'particularly severe' consequences due to Robinson's videos, which he ruled made claims that were without foundation.

He said: 'The defendant's allegations against the claimant were very serious and were published widely. The defendant has admitted that their publication has caused serious harm to the claimant's reputation.'

Robinson was previously jailed after being found in contempt of court after he filmed men accused of the sexual exploitation of young girls and live-streamed the footage on Facebook, in breach of a reporting ban, outside Leeds Crown Court in May 2018.

He was sentenced to 13 months after being found in contempt of court on the day of the broadcast. He served two months in jail before being freed after that finding of contempt was overturned by the Court of Appeal in August 2018.

But the case was then referred back to the Attorney General and he was jailed again in July 2019.
Cambridge student activists have claimed the Church of England is 'not fit for purpose' after it foiled their attempt to rip out a 300-year-old memorial to a benefactor with links to the slave trade.

Jesus College had claimed that the memorial to Tobias Rustat  a courtier of King Charles II  was an odious memento of the Transatlantic Slave Trade and was 'incompatible with the chapel as an inclusive community and a place of collective wellbeing'.

They wanted the memorial, which is set high on the wall above the altar in the college's Grade-I listed chapel, removed and replaced in a permanent exhibition space elsewhere.

Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby also backed their campaign, asking: 'Why is it so much agony to remove a memorial to slavery?'.

But the plans sparked accusations that the college was trying to cancel Rustat, who was one of Jesus College's largest benefactors before the 20th Century.

Opponents of its removal also argued that Rustat's links to the Transatlantic Slave Trade had been exaggerated, because he had a relatively small investment in a company that traded slaves and the majority of his wealth came from his work for the king.

A Church court case concluded that the attempt to remove the plaque was based on a 'false narrative', and said the memorial should remain in place as a reminder of 'the imperfection of human beings'.

Sonita Alleyne, Master of Jesus College, has now claimed that students and members of the college 'feel let down by the judgment', calling it a 'misrepresentation of their views'.

'The Consistory Court's decision shows a lack of understanding of the lived experience of people of colour in modern Britain,' she added.

A memorial to Tobias Rustat is pictured inside Jesus College Chapel

Sonita Alleyne, the next Master of Jesus College Cambridge

Jesus College Chapel, where a memorial to Tobias Rustat hangs inside

An employee looks at a memorial to Tobias Rustat inside Jesus College Chapel

University benefactor and slave trade investor: Life of Tobias Rustat - and his links to Edward Colston Tobias Rustat was a 17th century benefactor of the University of Cambridge, as well as a servant to King Charles II Tobias Rustat was a 17th century benefactor of the University of Cambridge, as well as a servant to King Charles II. He created the first fund for the purchase of books at the Cambridge University Library. Born circa 1606, he trained as an apprentice to a barber-surgeon in his youth before becoming a servant - first to the 2nd Duke of Buckingham and later to the monarch. He accumulated his wealth during his career as a courtier - but also invested in several trading companies, including the Company of Royal Adventurers of England Trading into Africa - commonly known as the Royal African Company (RAC). The Company had complete control of Britain's slave trade, as well as its gold and Ivory business, with Africa and the forts on the coast of west Africa. Later in life, Rustat became a benefactor to the university, focusing mainly on Jesus College, where his father had been a student. He died in 1694. A contemporary of Rustat was Edward Colston, who became Deputy Governor of the Royal African Company. During Colston's tenure, his ships transported around 80,000 slaves from Africa to the Caribbean and America. Around 20,000 of them, including around 3,000 or more children, died during the journeys. Colston's brother Thomas supplied the glass beads that were used to buy the slaves. Colston used a lot of his wealth, accrued from his extensive slave trading, to build schools and almshouses in his home city. A statue was erected in his honour as well as other buildings named after him, including Colston Hall. But after years of protests by campaigners and boycotts by artists the venue recently agreed to remove all reference of the trader. In the wake of the Black Lives Matter protests in 2020 sparked by the death of George Floyd in the US, the statue of Colston overlooking the harbour in Bristol was torn down. Advertisement

The college said that Rustat had enabled the slave trade through investing in two important slave trading companies over a period of 30 years, as well as lending funds and taking on roles in the management of the companies.

The court case emphasised that Rustat did not benefit financially from his investments. Deputy Chancellor David Hodge QC of the Diocese of Ely, who decided the case, said that Rustat's investments in the Company of Royal Adventurers Trading into Africa brought him 'no financial returns at all'.

He said that the case for taking down the plaque was the product of a 'false narrative' that 'Rustat had amassed much of his wealth from the slave trade, and that it was moneys from this source that he used to benefit the college'.

But Jesus College said that this is 'irrelevant' and that what mattered was Rustat's active involvement in the trade.

Ms Alleyne said: 'In short, the college is up against a Church ruling which believes involvement in the slave trade over 30 years isn't sufficient to warrant the removal of this celebratory memorial.'

She said that the facts of Rustat's involvement in the slave trade were 'very clearly proven by the excellent and meticulous research undertaken by the Legacy of Slavery Working Party chaired by Dr Veronique Mottier'.

She said the findings of the working party had been 'misrepresented' in court and that the college stood by the work of its academics.

On Tuesday Jesus College announced that it would not be appealing the decision but added that the current processes in the Church of England for addressing issues of racial injustice are in urgent need of reform.

Ms Alleyne said that after 'much thought' and having taken advice, the college would not appeal the 'disappointing judgment' as while the college believed the outcome to be 'fundamentally wrong', the time and costs involved in appealing would be significant.

'We will take our time and consider what to do next. The presence of the memorial in our Chapel continues to be a serious issue for our increasingly diverse community. We strongly believe that our stance will place us on the right side of history.'

Last week 160 clergy, including a former Archbishop of Canterbury and two bishops, signed a letter to the Church Times expressing their opposition to the decision preventing the college from moving the memorial to an alternative space.

Ms Alleyne said: 'Last spring, the Church committed to taking action. This judgment demonstrates the inadequacies of the Church process for addressing issues of racial injustice and contested memorialisation. It is not fit for purpose.

'There is a much overdue debate happening within the Church about how best to face up to the legacy of racial injustice. We will continue to keep up the pressure, because this matters to our students.'

The Reverend James Crockford, Dean of Chapel at Jesus College, said: 'This was a test case for the Church.'

'While the college considers its next steps, it is clear that, if the Church of England wishes to take diversity and inclusion seriously, it cannot ignore the implications of this decision for the wider mission of the Church to be a place where all are welcome.'

Rustat was a courtier under Charles II and a major benefactor to Cambridge University, but became a target for campaigners due to his involvement with the Royal African Company which operated on the west coast of Africa in the later 17th century under royal charter.

The college accused Rustat of 'financial and administrative involvement in the trading of enslaved human beings over a substantial period of time'.

But objectors highlighted the move as an example of cancel culture, which could open dangerous floodgates leading to the removal of monuments to many more historical figures.

The case was heard by a judge specially appointed by the Bishop of Huntingdon because the ornate memorial is housed in a world-renowned Grade-I historic building and an ecclesiastical environment.

Jesus College had urged that 'any harm caused to the significance of the chapel as a building of special architectural and historic interest by the removal of the Rustat memorial is substantially outweighed by the resulting public benefits, in terms of pastoral wellbeing and opportunities for mission'.

What the inscription on Rustat's memorial says TOBIAS RUSTAT, YEOMAN OF THE ROBES TO KING CHARLES THE SECOND, WHOM HE SERVED WITH ALL DUTY AND FAITHFULLNESS, IN HIS ADVERSITY AS WELL AS PROSPERITY. THE GREATEST PART OF THE ESTATE HE GATHERED BY GOD'S BLESSING, THE KING'S FAVOUR, AND HIS INDUSTRY, HE DISPOSED IN HIS LIFETIME IN WORKES OF CHARITY; AND FOUND THE MORE HE BESTOWED UPON CHURCHES, HOSPITALLS, UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES AND UPON POOR WIDOWS AND ORPHANS OF ORTHODOX MINISTERS, THE MORE HE HAD AT THE YEAR'S END. NEITHER WAS HE UNMINDFUL OF HIS KINDRED & RELATIONS, IN MAKING THEM PROVISIONS OUT OF WHAT REMAINED. HE DIED A BACHELOUR THE 15TH DAY OF MARCH, IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD 1693. AGED 87 YEARS. Advertisement

Lawyers for the college highlighted the memorial's position in the chapel 'high up on the west wall', which gave a man linked to the historical slave trade a position of undeserved prominence.

This created a 'serious obstacle' to the college's wish to preach the Christian mission, they added, although stressing: 'it does not seek to erase Rustat's name, or his memory, from the college but merely to relocate his memorial to a more appropriate, secular space, where it can be properly conserved and protected, and become the subject of appropriate educational study and research'.

But others opposed the plans, with historian Professor Lawrence Goldman suggesting that in trying to cancel Rustat, the college was attempting to 'assault carefully selected aspects of its past' and could lead to further calls for removal of memorials to other historical figures elsewhere.

'Other figures from the past, equally bad or even worse, will also have to be removed and cancelled, and the disputes will multiply and intensify,' he told the judge.

'If the church supports the removal of monuments, it will rightly stand accused of adding to cultural division and social discord.'

But the college denied that Rustat was being 'cancelled' since his life would be remembered elsewhere and not 'erased.'

For 65 past college students fighting the removal, barrister Justin Gau argued that the best solution was to 'contextualise' Rustat's life with a plaque close by the memorial explaining his conflicted background.

He said removing the memorial was like 'getting rid of an elderly and unpopular relative  though one who has been hugely generous in the past'.

After exhaustive argument and trawling through historical evidence, Deputy Chancellor of the Diocese of Ely, David Hodge QC, ruling on the case, came down in favour of retaining the memorial.

Given the architectural beauty of the chapel, the college would have to present compelling arguments for ripping out the memorial, he explained, which they had failed to do.

While acknowledging the obvious fact of slavery's 'evil and abhorrence' he said the main opposition to the Rustat memorial was based on a 'false narrative' that he had amassed most of his fortune from the slave trade.

'The true position, as set out in the historians' expert reports and their joint statement, is that Rustat's investments in the Company of Royal Adventurers Trading into Africa (the Royal Adventurers) brought him no financial returns at all; that Rustat only realised his investments in the Royal African Company in May 1691, some 20 years after he had made his gifts to the college, and some five years after the completion of the Rustat memorial and its inscription.

'Any moneys Rustat did realise as a result of his involvement in the slave trade comprised only a small part of his great wealth, and they made no contribution to his gifts to the college.'

He 'recognised' that willing involvement in the slave trade was itself deeply problematic  even if Rustat had made scant profits.

But the judge concluded: 'However, I would hope that, when Rustat's life and career is fully, and properly, understood, and viewed as a whole, his memorial will cease to be seen as a monument to a slave trader.

Jesus College at the University of Cambridge

File photo of the memorial to Tobias Rustat in Jesus College, University of Cambridge

'Certainly, I do not consider that the removal of such a significant piece of contested heritage, representing a significant period in the historical development of the chapel from its medieval beginnings to its Victorian re-ordering, has been sufficiently clearly justified on the basis of considerations of pastoral wellbeing and opportunities for mission in circumstances where these have been founded upon a mistaken understanding of the true facts.'

He was persuaded that the appropriate response to Rustat's undoubted involvement in 'the abomination' that was the slave trade was not to remove his memorial from the college chapel but to retain it in the religious space for which it was always intended.

'In this way, the Rustat memorial may be employed as an appropriate vehicle to consider the imperfection of human beings and to recognise that none of us is free from all sin; and to question our own lives, as well as Rustat's, asking whether, by (for example) buying certain clothes or other consumer goods, or eating certain foods, or investing in the companies that produce them, we are ourselves contributing to, or supporting, conditions akin to modern slavery, or to the degradation and impoverishment of our planet.'

Lawrence Goldman, a former Oxford University history professor who was a party to the case, told The Times: 'The fact we've pushed back sends a message to institutions that there will be opposition and this is not a free ride.

'Jesus College said it was not trying to cancel Rustat... I think the evidence suggests that it was.

'It's also a victory for conservation and historical scholarship. The judgment swept away the college's arguments. I think institutions will now think twice about doing things of this nature.'

Save Our Statues, a campaign group fighting against the removal of historic plaques and statues, also backed the decision.

'As we've long argued, a disproportionate emphasis on links to slavery is not 'more history', it's a false distortion of history,' the group today said on Twitter.

A spokesman for the Rustat Memorial Group, which opposed the memorial's removal, said: 'We are pleased to read the judgment and hope that all parties can agree that the issues raised by the petition are now resolved.

'We wish Jesus College well as it focuses again on today's challenges in the university.'
Families of transgender teenagers are suing the state of Alabama which has become the first state to criminalize the use of puberty blockers and hormones to treat transgender people under the age of 19.

Two lawsuits, from two sets of families and the physicians who treat their children, have posed challenges to legislation which was signed into the laws of Alabama on Friday by Republican Governor Kay Ivey.

The new law, which will take effect on May 8 unless blocked by the court, will make it a felony for a doctor to prescribe puberty blockers or hormones to aid anyone under the age of 19 who is in gender transition.

The two lawsuits were filed by advocacy groups on behalf of families with transgender children, as well as by two medical providers. The children in question were not identified in the lawsuits because of their age.

Violations will be punishable by up to 10 years in prison. It also prohibits gender transition surgeries, although doctors told lawmakers those are not performed on minors in Alabama.

In one of the lawsuits, parents described their fears that their transgender daughter, called 'Mary Roe' in the suit, would harm herself or try to commit suicide if she loses access to the puberty blockers she began taking last year.

'For Mary to be forced to go through male puberty would be devastating; it would predictably result in her experiencing isolation, depression, anxiety, and distress,' the lawsuit states.

Two lawsuits, from two sets of families and the physicians who treat their children, have posed challenges to legislation which was signed into the laws of Alabama on Friday by Republican Governor Kay Ivey, which criminalizes the use of puberty blockers and hormones to treat transgender people under the age of 19

Legal director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Alabama, Tish Gotell Faulks, said in a statement: 'Transgender youth are a part of Alabama, and they deserve the same privacy, access to treatment, and data-driven health care from trained medical professionals as any other Alabamian.'

Faulks added that lawmakers are using children, as, 'political pawns for their reelection campaigns.'

Dr Morissa Ladinsky, a medical provider and plaintiff in one of the lawsuits, said: 'The level of legislative overreach into the practice of medicine is unprecedented.

'And never before has legislative overreach come into pediatric examination rooms to shut down the parent voice in medical decision making between a parent, their pediatrician and their child.'

'I know that I am a girl and I always have been,' one of the 15-year-old plaintiffs said in a statement provided by the American Civil Liberties Union of Alabama.

'Even before I learned the word `transgender' or met other trans people, I knew myself.'

Governor Ivey signed the legislation Friday, a day after it was approved by the Alabama Legislature.

At a campaign stop Monday, she invoked religion when asked about her decision to sign the legislation.

'If the good Lord made you a boy at birth, then you are a boy. If the good Lord made you a girl at birth, then you are a girl,' she said.

The two lawsuits were filed by advocacy groups on behalf of families with transgender children, as well as by two medical providers. The children in question were not identified in the lawsuits because of their age (file photo)

'We should especially focus our efforts on helping these young people become healthy adults just like God wanted them to be rather than self-induced medical intervenors.'

Asked if the law would survive a court challenge, she replied, 'We'll wait and see.'

Similar measures have been pushed in other states, but the Alabama legislation is the first to lay out criminal penalties for doctors.

In Texas, Republican Gov. Greg Abbott has ordered the state's child welfare agency to investigate as abuse reports of gender-confirming care for kids.

And a law in Arkansas bans gender-affirming medications. That law has been blocked by a court, however.

Ivey also signed a separate measure that requires students to use bathrooms that align with their original birth certificate and prohibits instruction of gender and sexual identity in kindergarten through fifth grades.
A baby died in a hospital after his mother took an abortion pill without realising she was 30 weeks pregnant, an inquest heard.

The mother, from East Yorkshire, gave birth in a hospital toilet after taking abortion medicine believing she was just 12 weeks into her pregnancy. She had attended a Yorkshire Hospital for treatment after taking the pill and then going into labour.

An inquest heard she had decided to legally abort the pregnancy on health grounds believing she was 12 weeks gone, when in fact she was more than twice that. The inquest also heard prior to the incident pre-natal scans were either not carried out or were done erroneously.

In England, Scotland, and Wales, it is legal to have an abortion before 24 weeks of pregnancy.

Only in very specific circumstances can an abortion take place after this, if the mother's life is at risk or the child would be born with a severe disability.

The woman went for the treatment at the hospital on October 26 last year after going into labour.

The harrowing evidence was heard during an inquest in Hull on Monday into the baby's death. No family were present and all the evidence heard was in written form.

The mother gave birth to the baby in a toilet after taking the drug mifepristone, which had not been prescribed or administered at Yorkshire hospital.

Staff realised the baby was alive and immediately began to resuscitate him.

Mifepristone (pictured) is given for a medical abortion, the woman takes two medicines, usually 24 to 48 hours apart, to induce an abortion

Named Ronnie by his parents, the baby was rushed to the Jessop Wing maternity unit in Sheffield where desperate attempts were made to save him.

He had suffered a number of problems, including multiple organ failure, and was seriously unwell.

Ronnie was placed on a ventilator and received maximum life support care, despite battling for four days, sadly died four days later on October 30.

A serious incident investigation was carried out by independent medical practitioner Jacqui Evans.

She found the 'volume of patients had severely increased' which 'increased the time taken to assess patients'.

'She said there has been an 'information overload' and staff had 'too much to do'. She also raised concerns about the communication between staff due to the 'severe internal pressure'.

She concluded that had the patient been referred earlier, it is likely the advanced pregnancy would have been identified, Ms Evans said.

She said the baby would then have been born in a suitable department and in an appropriate manner.

A inquest at Hull's Coroner's Court (pictured) heard how staff tried to save baby Ronnie after realising he was alive

While Ronnie was born prematurely, in normal circumstances a baby born at 31 weeks would have a 95 per cent chance of survival.

Senior coroner Professor Paul Marks praised the staff who acted quickly to try and save Ronnie. He said they should be 'commended for this'.

He said that had the true length of pregnancy been identified correctly and if the baby had been born in an appropriate setting he would probably have survived.

Prof Marks delivered a narrative conclusion into Ronnie's death.

He said: 'Ronnie was born alive on October 26, 2021, after a legal termination of pregnancy by the internal use of drug mifepristone.

'He was deemed as being viable and was resuscitated and then treated at the Jessop Wing in Sheffield. Despite this, his condition deteriorated relentlessly.'

The conclusion confirmed Ronnie died at the Jessop Wing, predominantly due to brain damage.
Four artists were announced on the shortlist for the Turner Prize for a visual artist

The artist behind the infamous Fourth Plinth whipped cream sculpture in London's Trafalgar Square has been shortlisted for this year's Turner Prize.

Heather Phillipson's creation The End features a whirl of whipped cream topped with a cherry, a drone and a fly.

The British artist was also nominated for her solo immersive exhibition at Tate Britain titled Rupture No 1: Blowtorching The Bitten Peach, which the jury described as 'overwhelming' following lockdown.

The four-strong shortlist also features Sin Wai Kin, nominated for their ability to bring fantasy to life through storytelling, drawing on their own experience of existing between binary categories.

Also in the running is Ingrid Pollard, whose nominated exhibition Carbon Slowly Turning questions our relationship with the natural world.

Heather Phillipson, the artist behind the whipped cream sculpture on the Fourth Plinth, has been shortlisted for this year's Turner Prize

The drone perched on the cherry transmitted live video of crowds in the square, which people are able to view on their phones via a website.

The British artist was also nominated for her solo immersive exhibition at Tate Britain titled Rupture No 1: Blowtorching The Bitten Peach, which the jury described as 'overwhelming' following lockdown

She was commended for uncovering stories and histories hidden in plain sight in her work over the decades.

The final shortlisted artist is Veronica Ryan, praised for her new body of work which explores ecology, history and dislocation, as well as the psychological impact of the pandemic.

Phillipson's giant dollop of whipped cream topped with a cherry, a fly and a drone baffled crowds in Trafalgar Square when it was unveiled in July 2020.

The drone perched on the cherry transmitted live video of crowds in the square, which people can view on their phones via a website.

Organisers described the bizarre sculpture as 'monument to hubris and impending collapse'. Artist Phillipson reportedly chose whipped cream because it represents a luxury item that could collapse at any minute. It will be replaced in September 2022.

Among the contenders is Veronica Ryan, praised for her new body of work which explores ecology, history and dislocation, as well as the psychological impact of the pandemic

Also in the running is Ingrid Pollard, whose nominated exhibition Carbon Slowly Turning (pictured) questions our relationship with the natural world

The winner will be announced at a ceremony in December and an exhibition of their work will be held at the Tate Liverpool (pictured) from October 20, 2022 to March 19, 2023

Alex Farquharson, director of Tate Britain and co-chair of the Turner Prize jury, said: 'Art has provided much-needed enjoyment and escape over the past year but it has also helped to reconnect us with each other and the world around us, as the practices of the four shortlisted artists variously exemplify.'

'I congratulate all four artists on their brilliant contributions and cant wait to see their exhibition.'

Helen Legg, director of Tate Liverpool and co-chair of the Turner Prize jury, said: 'The jury has travelled the length and breadth of the country, taking advantage of the easing of lockdown to enjoy the explosion of creativity that has emerged from the pandemic.

'The result is a diverse group of artists, each with a singular vision, who impressed the judges with the intensity of their presentations, while also dealing with important issues facing our society today.'

Organisers described the bizarre sculpture as 'monument to hubris and impending collapse'. Artist Phillipson reportedly chose whipped cream because it represents a luxury item that could collapse at any minute

Last year's Turner Prize was won by Array Collective, whose projects include public artworks in support of the decriminalisation of abortion in Northern Ireland

This year the Turner Prize will be awarded at Tate Liverpool for the first time in 15 years.

The judging panel includes Irene Aristizabal, the Head of Curatorial and Public Practice at BALTIC, Christine Eyene, a research fellow at UCLan's School of Arts and Media, Spike Island's Robert Leckie, and Anthony Spira of the MK Gallery.

First established in 1984, the Turner Prize winner is awarded 25,000 with 10,000 going to each of the others shortlisted.

The winner will be announced at a ceremony in December and an exhibition of their work will be held at the Tate Liverpool from October 20, 2022 to March 19, 2023.
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Boris Johnson had his hands full with Wilf as he enjoyed a family day out at a zoo in Hertfordshire.

The Prime Minister, 57, was seen lifting the one-year-old into his arms while his wife Carrie, 34, held four-month-old Romy in a baby sling.

A member of the public said the Johnsons arrived at Paradise Wildlife Park yesterday with little fanfare, albeit accompanied by a security entourage.

The images were taken just 24 hours before Mr Johnson, Carrie and Chacellor Rishi Sunak were told by police they would be fined for attending an illegal Partygate event.

He today became the first serving Prime Minister in history to be penalised for law-breaking as No10 confirmed he will receive a fixed-penalty notice (FPN) for attending a Cabinet room birthday party arranged by his wife.

The trio - who all attended the event - are among a tranche of 30 more FPNs notices dished out by Scotland Yard this afternoon to people who broke lockdown rules.

The Prime Minister, 57, was seen lifting one-year-old Wilf into his arms while his wife Carrie, 34, held four-month-old Romy in a baby sling

A member of the public said the Johnsons arrived at Paradise Wildlife Park yesterday with little fanfare, albeit accompanied by a security entourage

'They just looked like any other family really - everyone was ignoring them in the main,' the source told the Express.

The Johnsons were seen strolling around the World of Dinosaurs - a popular exhibition inside the park, which is home to 800 exotic animals, including big cats.

The PM is due to head to Chequers for his Easter break, with a No10 spokesman saying the plan was for him to 'get some rest and spend some time with family'.

The jolly snaps couldn't have been more of a contrast to ones that emerged of Mr Johnson three days ago meeting Ukraine's President Zelensky in war-torn Kyiv.

Footage showed the pair meeting and sitting across a table from each other, their respective flags on the far side.

Mr Johnson was wearing a dark suit and Zelensky a khaki overall, his signature attire in public appearances since February 24.

During a walkabout in the heart of Kyiv, they were handed ceramic cockerels that have come to symbolise the resistance to Putin since one survived on the top of a kitchen cabinet following bombing in Borodianka.

The Johnsons were seen strolling around the World of Dinosaurs - a popular exhibition inside the park, which is home to 800 exotic animals, including big cats. Mr Johnson posed with Peter Sampson, owner and founder of the park, as well as its CEO, Lynn Whitnall

Mr Johnson posing for pictures with staff at Paradise Wildlife Park, with his clothes seen smeared with dust

In an address to the Ukrainian people overnight, Mr Zelensky said: 'The leadership of the United Kingdom, in providing our country with all the necessary assistance in terms of defence, as well as leadership in sanctions policy, will go down in history forever.'

He said the future of Europe and not just Ukraine's was at stake.

He said Russia's aggression 'was not intended to be limited to Ukraine alone' and the 'entire European project is a target'.

'That is why it is not just the moral duty of all democracies, all the forces of Europe, to support Ukraine's desire for peace,' Zelensky said. 'This isa strategy of defence for every civilised state.'

Security officials gave the green light to the visit after the exhausted and battered Russian forces, which had tried to encircle Kyiv, were withdrawn by Putin.
Finnish telecomes giant Nokia has announced it is ditching the Russian market a day after its Swedish rival Ericsson, paving the way for China's Huawei to move in.

The exit of the two Western heavyweights opens the door for Huawei to develop the Russian telecoms infrastructure.

Huawei has been shut out of new networks in the US and many European states as Western officials voice concerns its technology could be used as a Trojan horse for Chinese espionage - accusations the company rejects.

Nokia's decision comes as hundreds of western companies voluntarily abandon the Russian market in protest at Putin's invasion of neighbouring Ukraine.

It will hit its 2,000 workers in Russia, some of whom may be relocated.

'Nokia can now announce that we will exit the Russian market,' a company statement said, having stopped deliveries to the country in early March.

The pullout is not expected to impact the company's outlook, with only a low single-digit percentage of sales being made in Russia

Pekka Lundmark, President and CEO of Nokia, announced that that the company would be pulling out of the Russian market entirely, putting 2,000 jobs at risk

'We just simply do not see any possibilities to continue in the country under the current circumstances,' CEO Pekka Lundmark said.

On Monday, Swedish rival Ericsson announced an indefinite suspension of its operations in Russia and said it would put its 600 employees on paid leave.

Both Nokia and Ericsson made a low single-digit percentage of sales in Russia, where Chinese companies such as Huawei and ZTE have a bigger share.

Nokia has said it does not expect this decision to impact its 2022 outlook, but it would lead to a provision in the first quarter of about 83 million.

Russia had been keen for Nokia and Ericsson to set up factories in the country in order to manufacture Russian equipment for building the networks,

Russia had also been pushing for companies to start building networks using only Russian equipment, seeking to persuade Nokia and Ericsson to set up factories in the country.

These plans are effectively shot, with Lundmark washing his hands of plans to to set up a joint venture with Russia's YADRO to build 4G and 5G telecom base stations.

Russia is also at loggerheads with Finland and Sweden, the home countries of Nokia and Ericsson respectively, over their interest in joining the NATO military alliance.

Finland, along with Sweden, has historically avoided NATO membership, despite close alignment with the West, in an effort not to provoke Russia.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov (pictured left, with Putin) told reporters today that the possible accession of Sweden and Finland to the NATO military alliance would not improve the situation in Europe

Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin (left) indicated that Finland would decide whether to apply for Nato membership before midsummer, angering the Kremlin which said the move 'would not improve the security situation in Europe'. Meanwhile, Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson (pictured right with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen), has begun discussing the possibility of joining NATO today

Ukrainian tanks move down a street in Irpin, on the outskirts of Kyiv, on Monday after Russian troops retreated from the area

But the Scandinavian country shares a 830 mile long border with Russia and has been unnerved by Putin's invasion of Ukraine, having been invaded once before by the Soviet Union in 1939.

Meanwhile, Sweden's ruling party formally began debating the possibility of launching a bid for membership yesterday, a move which would signal a complete role reversal in policy for the Scandinavian kingdom that has remained militarily neutral for decades.

Party secretary Tobias Baudin told local media that the NATO review should be complete within the next few months.

'When Russia invaded Ukraine, Sweden's security position changed fundamentally,' the party said in a statement.

In Sweden, the ruling centre-left Social Democrats have historically opposed NATO membership but the more than six-week conflict in Ukraine has reignited debate in the Scandinavian kingdom.

A policy reversal for the party, which ruled for an uninterrupted 40 years between the 1930s and 1970s, would be historic and could pave the way for Sweden to apply to join NATO.

The party, led by Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson, are said to have begun discussing the possibility of joining NATO today, with the issue expected to be a central to parliamentary elections scheduled for September 11.

Sweden is officially non-aligned militarily, although it is a NATO partner and abandoned its position of strict neutrality after the end of the Cold War.

Having initially stressed that non-alignment had 'served Sweden's interests well,' Andersson recently conceded that she was ready to discuss the policy and in late March said she 'did not rule out' a bid to join NATO.

Mr Peskov made clear that Russia would have to 'rebalance the situation' with its own measures were Sweden and Finland to join Nato.

The spiral of escalation has seen both countries increase their defence spending, with Helsinki announcing plans to spend 11 on drones and Stockholm adding another 243 million to their military budget.
Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle has admitted some MPs may end face-to-face meetings with constituents after the murder of Sir David Amess by an Islamic State fanatic.

Ali Harbi Ali, 26, has been found guilty of fatally stabbing Sir David more than 20 times during a constituency surgery in Leigh-on-Sea, Essex in October last year.

A trial heard how the killer - who at one point contemplated joining jihadists in Syria - had also scoped out attacks on other MPs, including Cabinet minister Michael Gove.

The shocking murder of Sir David, the MP for Southend West - which came little more than five years after the killing of Labour's Jo Cox - prompted fresh scrutiny of MPs' security arrangements when they meet with members of the public.

Sir Lindsay stressed there are 'a suite of measures' to support MPs and vowed that 'terrorism is never going to win'.

But he acknowledged that some may choose to hold constituency surgeries online or via telephone, rather than in person, due to safety fears.

Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle vowed that 'terrorism is never going to win' following the shocking murder of his 'great friend' Sir David Amess

Sir David, the Southend West MP, was stabbed more than 20 times as he held a constituency surgery at Belfairs Methodist Church in Leigh-on-Sea, Essex in October last year

He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'I've got to say to my colleagues, you must do what you feel safe with.

'That might be that you do it via Teams, it might be that you do it via phones.

'Others, like myself, will carry on meeting constituents. But it's doing it in a very safe environment.

'That's the key to all this. We are constituency-based MPs. Our constituents love to come with their problems and issues.

'And I've got to tell you, that's what we're elected to do. But we must do it safely because we have a duty of care, not just to ourselves but to the staff and the people who come to see us.

'We mustn't put them at risk, so it must be done in a safe environment.'

Sir Lindsay described how, on the day Sir David was murdered, he himself 'of course' went ahead with his own surgery in his Chorley constituency.

But he stressed it was 'the choice of the MP how they wish to carry out their surgeries'.

The 69-year-old's murder - which came little more than five years after the killing of Labour's Jo Cox - prompted fresh scrutiny of MPs' security arrangements when they meet with members of the public

Ali Harbi Ali, 26, is facing a life sentence for Sir David's murder. A trial heard how he also scoped out attacks on other MPs, including Cabinet minister Michael Gove

After Sir David's murder last October, the Speaker called for a 'end to hatred against MPs' and a 'kinder form of political discourse'.

Sir Lindsay said that progress in those aims 'varies day to day'.

'I do want a kinder politics, I want a nicer politics, I want a belief in politics,' he told the Today programme.

'If we haven't democracy, what have we got? A Putin? A despot parliament? Nobody wants that.

'So it is about the respect of politicians, it's building trust with constituents, it's getting them to believe in us and working with them.

'And in the end, the attack took place because these people do not believe in the values of our democracy.'

Sir Lindsay described Sir David as a 'great friend' and said the 69-year-old 'believed and loved being an MP, and nothing would stop him doing that, whatever happened'.

Ali, from London, is facing a life sentence after being convicted of the killing of Sir David when a jury took just 18 minutes to find him guilty.

He will be sentenced tomorrow for murder and preparing acts of terrorism.
Barack Obama defended his actions with Russia in 2014 when Vladimir Putin invaded the Crimea, saying Putin has become more 'reckless' since then.

'What we've seen with the invasion of Ukraine is him being reckless in a way that you might not have anticipated 8, 10 years ago,' Obama told NBC's Al Roker in an interview airing Tuesday on the Today Show.

And the former president praised Joe Biden's administration for how it was handling the current conflict in the Ukraine.

'I think that the current administration is doing what it needs to be doing,' he noted.

In February 2014, Putin, trying to salvage Russia's lost influence in its former Soviet bloc country of Ukrainey, invaded and annexed the Crimea region.

Obama, who was president at the time, placed economic sanctions on Moscow but was criticized for not issuing harsh enough measures. Republicans piled on, saying the United States should have sent arms to Ukraine.

'The situations in each of those circumstances are different,' Obama told NBC News. 'But I think what we're seeing consistently is a reminder of why it is so important for us to not take our own democracy for granted; why it is so important for us to stand for and align ourselves with those who believe in freedom and independence. And I think that the current administration is doing what it needs to be doing.'

He said Putin has gotten more 'reckless' since his dealings with him.

'Putin has always been ruthless against his own people as well as others. He has always been somebody who's wrapped up in this twisted, distorted sense of grievance and epic nationalism. That part of Putin I think has always been there. What we've seen with the invasion of Ukraine is him being reckless in a way that you might not have anticipated 8, 10 years ago. But, you know, can the danger was always there.'

Biden has acted more aggressively in his response to Russia's invasion, issuing harsh economic sanctions that have targeted Putin, his family and his inner circle in addition to billionaire Russian oligarchs and major Russian banks. The U.S. also has sent weapons and military aid to Ukraine.

Barack Obama defended his actions with Russia in 2014 when Vladimir Putin invaded the Crimea, saying Putin has become more 'reckless' since then

President Obama with President Putin in November 2015

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Putin defended his war on Tuesday, saying 'there is no doubt' it will be successful. Russia has shifted its efforts to eastern Ukraine after failing to quickly overtake the country.

He was visiting a spaceport in the Russian Far East along with President Aleksandr Lukashenko of Belarus.

'What we are doing is helping people and saving people, on the one hand, and on the other hand, we are simply taking measures to ensure the security of Russia itself,' Putin said of the invasion of the Ukraine. 'It is obvious that we had no other choice.'

Obama's comments to NBC News, meanwhile, echo those he made last week when he spoke wi th Atlantic editor Jeffrey Goldberg at an event hosted by the University of Chicago 's Institute of Politics and The Atlantic.

In them, Obama noted Putin was always 'ruthless' but seemed not to recognize the Russian president after spending years meeting with him on the world seen.

'I don't know that the person is the same as the person who is now leading this charge,' Obama said of Putin. 'For him to bet the farm this way? I would not have predicted it from five years ago.'

Obama also said he was 'encouraged' by the actions the west had taken against the invasion this time around versus his efforts eight years ago.

Former President Barack Obama has a conversation with The Atlantic's editor-in-chief, Jeffrey Goldberg, during the Disinformation and the Erosion of Democracy conference at the University of Chicago on Wednesday

Russian President Vladimir Putin defended his war on Tuesday, saying 'there is no doubt' it will be successful - Putin spoke during a visit to a spaceport

'In 2014, I often had to drag them kicking and screaming to respond in ways that we would have wanted to see,' he said.

The ex-president said that the invasion is a warning that democracy has gotten 'flabby and confused and feckless' as authoritarians are on the rise.

'Putin represented a very particular reaction to the ideals of democracy but also globalization, the collision of cultures, the ability to harness anger and resentment around an ethno-nationalist mythology,' Obama said.

'This speaks to a much more bumpy, difficult, violent, challenging future for the coming generation if we don't get some things right - here at home, in Europe, in Asia and Latin America because what's happening there is not isolated,' he added.

Obama added that he was unsure of how this would all end, saying it was 'too early to tell.'

'I would not only try not to predict what's in the mind of Putin, but how the Ukrainians perceive of this struggle, because we are sitting her comfortably and they are going through heck,' he said.
Dongwon Group founder Kim Jae-chul, left, and his second-oldest son, Vice Chairman Kim Nam-jung / Courtesy of Dongwon Group



By Park Jae-hyuk



Multiple institutional and retail investors are considering filing a lawsuit against Dongwon Group's directors, over the group's latest plan to merge the KOSPI-listed Dongwon Industries with its unlisted holding company, Dongwon Enterprise, on Oct. 1, according to industry officials, Tuesday.



Minority shareholders of Dongwon Industries claim that the group's management intentionally undervalued the deep-sea fishery subsidiary for the benefit of the group's founder and his son, who is supposed to be the next chairman.



Last Thursday, Dongwon Group announced its governance reform plan, which will convert a single stock of Dongwon Enterprise into 3.84 stocks of Dongwon Industries, which will become the group's new holding firm if the merger takes place.



Dongwon Group Vice Chairman Kim Nam-jung, who is the second-oldest son of founder Kim Jae-chul and the younger brother of Korea Investment Holdings Chairman Kim Nam-goo, holds a 68.3 percent stake in Dongwon Enterprise, which is the largest shareholder of Dongwon Industries with a 62.7 percent stake.



The vice chairman will therefore be able to hold a 48.4 percent stake in Dongwon Industries, while his father will own 17.4 percent, if the merger is completed.



"Although I'm not a shareholder of Dongwon Industries, I have advised its shareholders to take legal action, as the merger plan is seriously infringing on the rights of shareholders," Korean Corporate Governance Forum (KCGF) President Kim Kyu-sik said over the phone from Singapore. "Three asset management companies and a couple of retail investors holding a significant amount of shares have discussed a possible action, as the combined amount of their stakes exceeds 1 percent."



Kim, who is also a lawyer and a hedge fund manager, added that the investors will decide on their response this week, and Dongwon Industries shareholders will organize an alliance soon.



According to the KCGF president, the minority shareholders are set to send a letter urging the group to reevaluate Dongwon Industries by taking into account the book value of StarKist, the world's largest tuna brand, which was purchased by the Korean company in 2008.



Dongwon Group, however, refuted the claims of the minority shareholders, arguing that the swap ratio was fixed fairly based on the market value.



"The market value of Dongwon Industries is lower than its book value, and in that case, the swap ratio can be determined based on the book value, but this is not obligatory, so we made calculations based on the market value," a Dongwon Group spokesman said. "Dongwon Industries' market cap is also reflecting the value of StarKist."



Amid the growing controversy, the stock price of Dongwon Industries fell below 230,000 won ($186) this week, down from 265,000 won last Thursday, the day before its transactions were suspended, for the Korea Exchange to review the merger plan.



Market analysts showed mixed reactions to Dongwon Group's merger plan.



Daishin Securities analyst Han Yu-jung said in a recent report that investors should wait until they can see the effects of the merger. "The reasons behind the merger and its effectiveness are a bit uncertain," Han said.



Korea Investors Service analyst Yoo Young-bin expected Dongwon Industries' financial ratio to worsen after the merger, although the company will be able to make more aggressive investments as a holding company.


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Boris Johnson is tonight clinging to power after police fined him for attending an illegal Partygate event - because Tory MPs refuse to boot him out of No10 while there is a war in Ukraine.

He today became the first serving Prime Minister in history to be penalised for law-breaking as No10 confirmed he will receive a fixed-penalty notice (FPN) for attending a Cabinet room birthday party arranged by his wife.

Mr Johnson, Carrie and Chancellor Rishi Sunak - who all attended the event - are among a tranche of 30 more FPNs notices dished out by Scotland Yard this afternoon to people who broke lockdown rules.

They have been sanctioned by Operation Hillman for breaking the law at illicit events that took place while millions of ordinary Britons were showing self-sacrifice and obeying restrictive Covid rules for the good of the country.

Mr Johnson tonight faced demands from the opposition to resign after making political and criminal history. But Tory MPs who previously demanded he quit pulled their punches, citing his role in leading Western support for Ukraine in the face of the Russian invasion.

However, some suggested the situation might only be a stay of execution. North Leicestershire MP Andrew Bridgen, who handed in a letter of no-confidence in the PM earlier this year, said: 'I am pleased that the police have investigated this matter thoroughly, but very disappointed that so many in number 10 including the PM were found to have breached the rules they set for the rest of us.

'This is not the time to remove the PM given the international situation, but this is not the end of this matter.'

His comments were echoed by Johnson critic Sir Roger Gale, who said: 'I am not prepared to give Vladimir Putin the comfort of thinking that we are about to unseat the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and destabilise the coalition against Putin.

'So any reaction to this is going to have to wait until we have dealt with the main crisis which is Ukraine and the Donbas.'

A former minister told MailOnline that Mr Johnson's position was 'far better' than six or eight weeks ago and he was showing his strengths by managing the threat of a 'third world war'.

The Metropolitan Police did not disclose if Boris Johnson was among those to be sanctioned with a 50 fine. Downing Street initially indicated that he was not.

But this afternoon a No10 spokeswoman said: 'The Prime Minister and Chancellor of the Exchequer have today received notification that the Metropolitan police intend to issue them with fixed penalty notices. '

Downing Street later confirmed that the fine was in relation to the PM's birthday party on June 19, 2020 - at which one ally previously said he'd been 'ambushed by a cake'.

The statement did not mention Carrie Johnson. But her spokeswoman later said she had been fined and had already accepted and paid it. 'Whilst she believed that she was acting in accordance with the rules at the time, Mrs Johnson accepts the Metropolitan Police's findings and apologises unreservedly.'

Questions will also be raised over his honesty towards MPs. Last year he told the Commons that 'all guidance was followed completely in No 10'. Mr Sunak, last December, also told MPs he did not attend any parties.

The Prime Minister, who is at his Chequers country retreat, has yet to publicly acknowledge that the fines being issued by the police are evidence of law-breaking by senior figures in his Government and Whitehall.

Bereaved families said there is 'simply no way' the Prime Minister and Chancellor can continue in post, after the pair were told they will be fined as part of a police probe into allegations of lockdown parties held at Downing Street

Both Labour and the Liberal Democrats demanded Parliament be recalled from its Easter recess to allow MPs to grill the Prime Minister.

Keir Starmer tonight said: 'The British public made the most unimaginable, heart-wrenching sacrifices, and many were overcome by guilt. Guilt at not seeing elderly relatives, not going to funerals or weddings, or even seeing the birth of their own children.

'But the guilty men are the Prime Minister and the Chancellor. They've dishonoured all of that sacrifice, they've dishonoured their office.

The Metropolitan Police did not disclose if Prime Minister Boris Johnson (pictured in Kyiv at the weekend) was among those to be sanctioned.

Mr Johnson also attended a Christmas quiz night in No10 (pictured). It is not known which event the trio were censured for, but they all attended a party organised by Carrie for Mr Johnson's 56th birthday in June 2020.

The Prime Minister, 57, pictured this week lifting one-year-old Wilf into his arms while his wife Carrie, 34, held four-month-old Romy in a baby sling

Downing Street's pandemic parties May 15, 2020: THE GARDEN PARTY A leaked photo showed Boris and Carrie Johnson with 17 senior Downing Street staff, sitting around cheese and wine. This took place during the first Covid lockdown at a time when only two people from different households could mix outdoors, socially distanced May 20, 2020: BYOB BASH A bombshell email from Mr Johnson's principal private secretary, Martin Reynolds, invited more than 100 staff to No10's lavish gardens on May 20 to 'make the most of the lovely weather'. He told guests to bring their own alcohol JUNE 19 2020: 'AMBUSHED BY CAKE' 56th BIRTHDAY PARTY FOR BORIS Downing Street has admitted staff 'gathered briefly' in the Cabinet Room in what was reportedly a surprise get-together for Mr Johnson organised by his now wife Carrie. Rishi Sunak has admitted he 'popped in' on his way to a meeting elsewhere in Downing Street. Lulu Lytle, the interior designer behind lavish renovations of the Downing Street flat, briefly attended while undertaking work there. It was after this gathering that Tory MP Conor Burns claimed Mr Johnson had been 'ambushed by a cake'. No 10 denied a report that, later the same evening, family and friends were hosted upstairs to celebrate the occasion. November 13, 2020: LEE CAIN'S LEAVING DO The PM allegedly made a leaving speech for his director of communications Lee Cain with a number of people gathered. The party is believed to have carried on upstairs that evening after Dominic Cummings unceremoniously walked out of Downing Street carrying a cardboard box. November 27, 2020: CLEO WATSON'S LEAVING DO Mr Johnson reportedly gives a speech at a packed leaving do for a 'senior aide'. '40 or 50 people' were present. The aide was named as one newspaper as Cleo Watson, Dominic Cummings' protege. December 15, 2020: CHRISTMAS QUIZ Pictures obtained by the Sunday Mirror show Mr Johnson on a TV screen flanked by colleagues, one draped in tinsel and another wearing a Santa hat, in the No10 library. A source claimed many staff were huddled by computers in their Downing Street offices, conferring on questions and drinking alcohol while the quiz was taking place. The Mirror said a message sent by No10's head of HR on the night of the quiz advised that those who had stayed behind to take part 'go out the back' when they left. The paper also unearthed the team names used that night, including 'Professor Quiz Whitty', 'Rebels without a Claus', and 'Hands, Face, First Place'. December 17, 2020: Cabinet Secretary Simon Case, charged with probing Partygate, hosted a party after sending an email out to around 15 people in his Private Office titled 'Christmas Quiz'. December 18, 2020: ANOTHER CHRISTMAS PARTY Downing Street staffers allegedly hold their own festive party, with the PM not in attendance. Group size is also given as 40 to 50. April 16, 2021: JAMES SLACK'S LEAVING DO Advisers and civil servants drank alcohol and danced in No10's basement and gardens to mark the departure of Boris Johnson's press chief James Slack and one of the Prime Minister's personal photographers. Witnesses claimed 30 people attended the two gatherings, which were held in different parts of the Downing Street complex before combining in the garden, on the night before Prince Philip's funeral. May 26, 2021: A second, formal leaving event is held for James Slack inside No 10. More than a dozen allegedly attended. Advertisement

'This is the first time in the history of our country that a Prime Minister has been found to be in breach of the law, and then he lied repeatedly to the public about it.

'Britain deserves better, they have to go.'

But even Douglass Ross, the Scottish Tory leader who was among the first to call for Mr Johnson to resign earlier this year, stepped back from the edge.

He said: 'The public are rightly furious at what happened in Downing Street during the pandemic. I understand why they are angry and share their fury. The behaviour was unacceptable. The Prime Minister now needs to respond to these fines being issued.

'However, as I've made very clear, in the middle of war in Europe, when Vladimir Putin is committing war crimes and the UK is Ukraine's biggest ally, as President Zelensky said at the weekend, it wouldn't be right to remove the Prime Minister at this time.

'It would destabilise the UK Government when we need to be united in the face of Russian aggression and the murdering of innocent Ukrainians.'

One northern Tory MP who has been heavily critical of Mr Johnson suggested there will not be a move against him until next month.

'I predict nothing will happen until results of local elections are in and the verdict of the electorate is seen, one way or the other,' they told MailOnline.

The MP said even Mr Sunak resigning might not be enough to force the PM out. 'I think that's a bit priced in at the moment, so not as spectacular as it may have been.'

And the former minister alleged 'damaged' Mr Sunak would just end up 'spending more time with his money' if he decided to quit thinking the Tory Party would respect his 'principle'.

They added: 'Rishi could just walk but if he does it is not because of the fine, it is because there is a lot more to come out on the tax front He might think the Tory Party would hold him in high regard for his principles but it would backfire spectacularly. Nobody would forgive him.'

The MP added: 'He'd better make really sure he's got an alternative career plan, or he will be able to spend more time with his money.'

Scotland Yard said it had referred a further 30 FPNs on top of the 20 it had already revealed to the ACRO Criminal Records Office 'for breaches of Covid-19 regulations' in 2020 and 2021.

And outside the Conservative ranks the mood was apocalyptic.

Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: 'Boris Johnson must resign. He broke the law and repeatedly lied to parliament about it. The basic values of integrity and decency - essential to the proper working of any parliamentary democracy - demand that he go. And he should take his out of touch chancellor with him.'

Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey said: 'These fines expose the shocking scale of the criminality in Boris Johnson's Number 10.

'The police have now completely shredded Johnson's claims that no laws were broken. He cannot be trusted and cannot continue as Prime Minister.

'No other leader in any other organisation would be allowed to continue after law-breaking on this scale. If Boris Johnson won't resign, Conservative MPs must show him the door.'

Lobby Akinnola, spokesman for Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice, said Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak 'broke the law' and 'took us all for mugs'.

He said: 'There is simply no way either the Prime Minister or Chancellor can continue. Their dishonesty has caused untold hurt to the bereaved.

'Not only that, but they have lost all credibility with the wider public, which could cost lives if new variants mean restrictions are needed in the future.

'If they had any decency they would be gone by tonight.'

In a statement, the Metropolitan Police said: 'The investigation into allegations of breaches of Covid-19 regulations in Whitehall and Downing Street continues to progress.

'As of Tuesday, 12 April 2022, we have made over 50 referrals for fixed penalty notices (FPN) to the ACRO Criminal Records Office for breaches of Covid-19 regulations who, following the referral, issue the FPNs to the individual.

'We are making every effort to progress this investigation at speed, this includes continuing to assess significant amounts of investigative material from which further referrals may be made to ACRO.'

Mr Johnson has continually stonewalled over whether the issuing of the FPNs means the law was broken by people within his administration, saying he wants to wait until the Operation Hillman probe is completed before commenting.

A 34-bottle drinks fridge (pictured right) was delivered by a delivery driver (left) through the back door of Downing Street on December 11, 2020, while indoor socialising was banned. He is not a government worker

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said the announcement of at least 30 more fines relating to the partygate saga has 'blown the Prime Minister's defence out of the water'.

Downing Street staff allegedly boozed 'excessively' at two leaving parties the night before the Queen was forced to grieve alone her own at the Duke of Edinburgh's Covid-secure funeral last year

But his own ministers have been less circumspect in recent weeks, with Cabinet members among those who have publicly accepted there was illegality in No10.

The penalty for politicians who break the law should be 'perhaps even greater', a Tory MP said just before a No 10 spokeswoman confirmed Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak will be issued with fines as part of a police probe into allegations of lockdown parties held at Downing Street.

When asked about the Met Police's announcement of at least 30 more fines relating to the partygate saga on the BBC Radio 4's World At One programme, Huw Merriman, MP for Bexhill and Battle, said: 'Well, as lawmakers, it's essential that we pass laws that we expect people to abide by, because we will do so ourselves as MPs.

'So if we break them, then that means that the penalty for us should be perhaps even greater than it would be for those who aren't making the laws. So yes, there is a problem. There is a perception and it doesn't help the entire last six months has been very difficult for Parliament's reputation.'

Will Boris now have to resign? Will he be forced out? Can he appeal? Will he get a criminal record? All your questions answered after the PM is fined over Partygate

Will Boris Johnson now have to resign over Partygate?

This is the question that is hanging over Number 10 after it was revealed both the Prime Minister and Chancellor Rishi Sunak are to be fined over the Partygate scandal.

Until now, Mr Johnson has repeatedly refused to say whether he would quit if he was fined by police for breaking Covid laws.

He has promised to say 'something meaningful' once the Metropolitan Police investigation into Downing Street parties is over.

By convention, government ministers found to have misled parliament are expected to resign.

Opposition parties have claimed that Mr Johnson is already guilty of misleading the House after he previously told MPs that Covid guidance 'was followed and the rules were followed at all times' in Downing Street.

Yet it seems unlikely, for a man who long-dreamed of being in No10 before he fulfilled that ambition in 2019, that he would offer to go voluntarily.

Could the PM be forced out?

If he does not choose to resign himself, Mr Johnson's fate could still be decided by Tory MPs.

Under Conservative rules, if at least 15% of Tory MPs submit a no-confidence letter then the party leader - in this case Mr Johnson - has to face a confidence vote over their leadership.

The figure currently equates to 54 Conservative MPs having to write to Sir Graham Brady, the chair of the Party's powerful 1922 Committee.

It has been said that, when Mr Johnson first faced calls to resign among Tory MPs over Partygate at the beginning of this year, the number of letters received by Sir Graham reached the low-30s.

However, the actual number of letters is a closely-guarded secret and is only known by Sir Graham himself. He will only publicly comment once the 15% threshold is reached.

If Mr Johnson lost a vote of confidence, which would be secret ballot, there would be a leadership contest and the PM would be barred from standing.

However, if he won, Mr Johnson would be immune from another no-confidence vote for a year.

Gavin Barwell, a former MP who was Theresa May's chief of staff when she survived a confidence vote in 2018, predicted Mr Johnson would not decide to resign himself.

'Whether he stays is in the hands of Conservative MPs,' Mr Barwell said.

'What they decide will define their and the party's reputation for the forseeable future.'

What about Rishi Sunak?

It has been suggested that Mr Johnson could also be forced to resign if Mr Sunak himself decides to quit after being fined.

The theory goes that should the Chancellor resign - and Mr Sunak has faced a tumultous few days during a row over his family's finances and tax arrangements - it would place huge pressure on Mr Johnson to do the same.

But one Tory MP told MailOnline that even Mr Sunak resigning might not be enough to force the PM out.

'I think that's a bit priced in at the moment, so not as spectacular as it may have been,' they said.

What exactly has the PM been fined for?

No10 revealed that Mr Johnson had been issued with a Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN) due to a gathering in the Cabinet Room in Downing Street on 19 June 2020 - which was the PM's 56th birthday.

It has been claimed that up to 30 people attended a celebratory gathering that afternoon with picnic food from Marks & Spencer and a cake.

Can the PM and Chancellor appeal?

Yes, both Mr Johnson and Mr Sunak can appeal their Covid fines.

The Met Police have said that individuals are allowed to dispute a FPN.

According to ACRO, the police body that processes FPNs, those who do not want to pay a fine, cannot pay, or disagree with any of the information within their FPN, can contest it and request a court hearing.

The relevant police force will then review an individual's case and decide whether to withdraw the fine or proceed the matter to court.

In the case of Partygate, the Met Police has said that Scotland Yard officers may decide to pursue matters in a magistrates' court if individuals choose to appeal.

Alternatively, once a fine is paid, police said the matter would be 'considered closed'.

It seems unlikely that either Mr Johnson or Mr Sunak would want to risk having to appear in court by deciding to appeal their fines.

How much are the PM and Chancellor being fined?

An exact sum is yet to be revealed, while the size of a fine also depends on how many Covid rule breaches Mr Johnson and Mr Sunak are found to have committed.

Scotland Yard have said their Partygate investigation is still not complete, which leaves open the possibility of further fines being issued to senior figures.

In England, people aged over 18 can be fined 100 for a first offence of breaching Covid rules, which is lowered to 50 if paid within 14 days.

A 200 fine is issued for a second offence, which doubles for each further offence up to a maximum of 6,400 per offence.

Some have suggested that Mr Johnson potentially faces fines of up to 12,300 if reports of his attendance at rule-breaking gatherings are all found to be true.

When will the PM pay his fine?

Those who recieve a fine for breaching Covid rules have to pay their FPN in full within 28 days, unless otherwise stated, from the date of their letter informing them they have been penalised.

Payment can be made online or via cheque.

Some fines are subject to a 14-day 'grace period', which provides an opportunity for those penalised to pay a reduced amount.

However, this grace period - which only applies to some FPNs - cannot be extended if payment is not made before the deadline.

When was the last time a sitting PM was penalised for having broken the law?

Never. Mr Johnson has created history with his Covid fine.

Will the PM and Chancellor now have a criminal record?

Not necessarily.

According to ACRO, fines issued for Covid offences are non-recordable.

This means, whether an FPN is paid or contested, it will not be recorded on the Police National Computer, although local records may be held by the relevant force.

What parties were there?

Twelve alleged lockdown-busting parties held between 2020 and 2021 are being investigated by Scotland Yard.

They include a gathering held in the Downing Street garden, an event on Mr Johnson's 56th birthday, parties in the PM's Downing Street flat, a Number 10 Christmas party, and boozy leaving dos on the eve of Prince Philip's funeral.

From a 'suitcase full of booze', a BIRTHDAY CAKE for Boris, 'BYOB parties and one-year-old Wilfred's broken swing: The Downing Street parties that broke the law while the rest of the country was locked down

From a suitcase 'full of booze' to 'BYOB' bashes and a raucous garden gathering that ended in baby Wilf's swing being broken - the details of the parties held at Downing Street while the rest of the nation was in lockdown caused widespread fury.

Boris Johnson is believed to have attended at least six illegal parties investigated by the Met, meaning his fine - announced today - could have been for any one or even all of them.

These include his 56th birthday party in the Cabinet Room in June 2020 where, in the words of one Tory MP, he was 'ambushed by a cake'.

Embattled Chancellor Rishi attended the gathering as did the PM's wife, Carrie, who were also both fined today. The Met has still not revealed which events their fixed penalty notices were for.

Downing Street are said to have held 'wine-time Fridays' every week throughout the pandemic which Mr Johnson attended, with staff even investing in a 142 drinks fridge to keep their beer, prosecco and wine cold.

Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak were today fined for attending illegal lockdown parties at Number 10, as was the PM's wife, Carrie

Government aides were encouraged by the prime minister, who regularly oversaw the gatherings, to 'let off steam' at the regular drinks which would often continue until the early hours, sources told The Mirror.

Staff took turns to stock up on drinks at the local Tesco Metro with a wheely suitcase to fill up the 34-bottle fridge which was delivered through the back door of Downing Street on December 11, 2020, extraordinary pictures revealed.

At the time, households were not allowed to mix indoors or in most outdoor places with exemptions for people in support bubbles, and a maximum of six people were allowed to meet in some outdoor public spaces like parks and public gardens.

Today's fines are particularly embarrassing given the Prime Minister, speaking in the Commons in December after allegations about parties in Downing Street first emerged, said 'all guidance was followed completely in No 10'.

Below are details of all the gatherings that were investigated by police.

BYOB garden party - May 20, 2020:

A leaked email from the Prime Minister's principal private secretary, Martin Reynolds, showed No 10 staff were invited to 'bring your own booze' to an event in the Downing Street garden.

Mr Johnson admitted he was there for 25 minutes but said he thought it was a 'work event' to thank staff for their efforts during the pandemic.

Mr Johnson with a cake during a visit to a primary school on the day of his 56th birthday. A lockdown-breaking bash was held later that day

Cabinet Office gathering - June 18, 2020

Senior civil servant Sue Gray's interim report said a gathering in the 70 Whitehall building was held to mark the departure of a No 10 private secretary.

The event had not previously been disclosed but The Telegraph said the official in question is former home affairs policy adviser Hannah Young, who left Downing Street to take up the role of deputy consul general in New York.

The newspaper said it understood about 20 people attended, with alcohol consumed.

56th birthday party for the PM - June 19, 2020

Downing Street has admitted staff 'gathered briefly' in the Cabinet Room in what was reportedly a surprise get-together for Mr Johnson organised by his now wife Carrie.

Lulu Lytle, the interior designer behind lavish renovations of the Downing Street flat, briefly attended while undertaking work there.

It was after this gathering that Tory MP Conor Burns claimed Mr Johnson had been 'ambushed by a cake'.

No 10 denied a report that, later the same evening, family and friends were hosted upstairs to celebrate the occasion.

'Dom's Gone' bash: November 13, 2020

Mrs Johnson reportedly hosted parties in the official flat over No 11 where she and her husband live, including one event on November 13, the night of Dominic Cummings' acrimonious departure.

A spokesman for the Prime Minister's wife called the claim 'total nonsense'.

But reports have since suggested that the Prime Minister was seen heading up to the flat on the night in question, with the Mail On Sunday stating that Abba songs, including The Winner Takes It All, were heard coming from the residence.

Mrs Johnson reportedly hosted parties in the official flat over No 11 where she and her husband live, including one event on November 13, the night of Dominic Cummings' acrimonious departure

Mr Cummings, former de facto chief-of-staff at No 10, has alleged there are photographs of parties held at the flat during lockdown and said he has spoken to people who heard music coming from the Johnsons' accommodation on the night he left Downing Street.

According to reports at the time, Mr Johnson gave a leaving speech for Lee Cain, his departing director of communications and a close ally of Mr Cummings.

Lee Cain leaving do: November 13, 2020

Mr Johnson gave a leaving speech for Lee Cain, his departing director of communications and a close ally of Mr Cummings.

Other bashes that police didn't investigate 'Cheese and wine' garden party: May 15, 2020 The Prime Minister and his wife - apparently holding their newborn baby, Wilf - were seen sitting at a table with two people while another 13 were pictured with bottles of alcohol nearby at a table and on the lawn on Friday May 15, 2020. The 'cheese and wine' party in No10's garden on May 15, 2020 Second staff leaving do: November 27, 2020 The Mirror reported that the PM gave a farewell speech to an aide at the end of November while the lockdown in England was still in place. Other reports have said the leaving do was for Cleo Watson, a senior Downing Street aide and ally of Mr Cummings. Department for Education party: December 10, 2020 The DfE confirmed a social event happened after The Mirror reported that former education secretary Gavin Williamson threw a party and delivered a short speech at an event organised at his department's Whitehall headquarters. A spokesman acknowledged that 'it would have been better not to have gathered in this way at that particular time'. Advertisement

Cabinet Office 'Christmas party': December 17, 2020

Cabinet Secretary Simon Case removed himself from the inquiry into Whitehall parties - to be replaced by Ms Gray - after reports emerged of a gathering in the Cabinet Office.

It was reported that the do had been organised by a private secretary in Mr Case's team, and that it was noted in digital calendars as 'Christmas party!' and included an online quiz.

The Cabinet Office said Mr Case played no part in the event 'but walked through the team's office on the way to his own'.

Leaving drinks for former Covid Taskforce head: December 17, 2020

The former director-general of the Government's Covid Taskforce said she was 'truly sorry' over an evening gathering in the Cabinet Office for her leaving drinks during coronavirus restrictions days before Christmas in 2020.

Kate Josephs, who is now chief executive of Sheffield City Council, said she gathered with colleagues who were in the office that day and added that she was cooperating with the Ms Gray's probe.

Number 10 leaving do: December 17, 2020:

The Sue Gray update said the police are also probing a gathering in Downing Street held to mark the departure of a Number 10 official on December 17.

The Telegraph reported that the staff member in question was Captain Steve Higham, then one of Mr Johnson's private secretaries, who advised on defence and national security issues.

The Mirror, which first reported the event before the police investigation began, said Mr Johnson was only there 'for a few minutes'.

Capt Higham became Commanding Officer of the aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales in July 2021.

'Wine and cheese' Christmas party at Downing Street: December 18, 2020

The claim that kicked off the rule-breaking allegations is that a party was held for Downing Street staff on December 18.

Officials and advisers reportedly made speeches, enjoyed a cheese board, drank together and exchanged Secret Santa gifts, although the PM is not thought to have attended.

Mr Johnson's spokeswoman, Allegra Stratton, quit after being filmed joking about it with fellow aides at a mock press conference - although it is not clear whether she attended.

Number 10 leaving do for two staff members: January 14, 2021

A gathering was held in No 10 to mark the departure of two private secretaries.

Reports have suggested the Prime Minister attended the leaving event, which was for a senior civil servant in the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, according to The Telegraph.

The other official's identity is so far unknown.

Drinks and dancing the night before the Duke of Edinburgh's funeral: April 16, 2021

The Telegraph reported that advisers and civil servants gathered after work for two separate events on the Friday night.

They were to mark the departure of James Slack, Mr Johnson's former director of communications, and one of the Prime Minister's personal photographers.

Carrie Johnson (left) was also fined today. Mr Johnson is seen on the right drinking water at a reception for teachers in June 2021 which did not break any lockdown rules

Mr Slack, who left his Number 10 role to become deputy editor-in-chief of The Sun newspaper, said he was sorry for the 'anger and hurt' caused by his leaving do, while Downing Street apologised to the Queen.

The Telegraph quoted a Number 10 spokesman as saying Mr Johnson was not in Downing Street that day and is said to have been at Chequers.

The newspaper reported accounts from witnesses who said alcohol was drunk and guests danced to music, adding that it had been told that around 30 people attended both events combined.

Online Christmas quiz in No 10: December 15, 2020

Police initially said they did not intend to investigate the quiz, during which the Prime Minister appeared on contestants' screens.

However they later said they would review the decision after a photograph emerged of Mr Johnson alongside an open bottle of sparkling wine.
Cops have been caught blasting Disney songs late at night to try and stop people recording their busts and putting them on social media.

Officers in Santa Ana, California, blared out classics from Toy Story, Mulan and Encanto so people could not upload them due to copyright reasons.

They played You've Got a Friend in Me, We Don't Talk About Bruno and Reflection around 11 p.m.

Locals, many who were either asleep or preparing for bed, were fuming, and a city councilman has vowed to get the practice banned.

The tactic has been used by police forces as a way to stop their arrests from being recorded and plastered online due to the copyright of the songs.

Officers in Santa Ana, California, blared out classics from Toy Story, Mulan and Encanto so people could not upload them due to copyright reasons

What are the rules on uploading video with music and how are cops capitalizing? Creators cannot upload video with music featuring that they do not own the copyright to. It means artists' work cannot be ripped off on social media or streaming websites and ensures they get paid for their work. YouTube says: 'Creators should only upload videos that they have made or that they're authorized to use. That means they should not upload videos they didn't make, or use content in their videos that someone else owns the copyright to, such as music tracks, snippets of copyrighted programs, or videos made by other users, without necessary authorizations.' Police have been caught across the US playing music while making arrests or dealing with protestors in a bid to keep their exchanges off social media sites. If the website notices footage of police interacting with the public featuring a song by a famous artist, they will likely remove it because the person sharing the clip does not have copyright approval. But the move appears to have backfired, with cops playing the music still featuring online. The reason for this is unclear, but it may be due to a 'fair use' agreement, which is done on a case-by-case basis. YouTube's rules add: 'Fair Use is a US law that allows the reuse of copyright-protected material under certain circumstances without getting permission from the copyright owner. However, Fair Use is determined on a case by case basis, and different countries have different rules about when it's okay to use material without the copyright owner's permission. In the US, works of commentary, criticism, research, teaching, or news reporting might be considered fair use, but it can depend on the situation.' Advertisement

In one instance, cops in Oakland, California, in June blasted Taylor Swift's 2014 song Blank Space as they confronted activists.

Despite the move, footage of the police on both occasions remains on YouTube and other social media sites.

The officers from Santa Ana Police Department were the latest to deploy the method on April 4.

A cruiser pulled up on the street around 11pm and started blaring out Un Poco Loco from Disney's 2017 movie Coco before moving on to You've Got A Friend In Me.

The cameraman asked: 'You guys get paid to listen to music?'

Meanwhile, Santa Ana city Councilman Johnathan Hernandez asked: 'Why are you playing Disney music?'

He added: 'Do you live here.'

The officer replied: 'No I don't sir.'

Hernandez added: 'Well, maybe you should treat us with respect.'

The officer apologized.

Video of the exchange was posted on the Santa Ana Audits YouTube channel, which monitors police exchanges with the public, and has more than 45,000 views.

Santa Ana Chief of Police David Valentin said his force was looking into the circumstances of the clip.

He said: 'My expectation is that all police department employees perform their duties with dignity and respect in the community we are hired to serve.'

But Hernandez said he believed it meant officers were trying to keep the clip off social media.

He said: 'I'm embarrassed that this is how you're treating my neighbors. There's children here.'

He added to the Post: 'If you work for the public and there are numerous people out recording you telling you to please turn it off, why wouldn't anyone in their right mind stop that?'

In June, the same tactic was deployed by Oakland police in front of the Alameda Courthouse as they played a song.

An officer, identified as Sgt David Shelby, asked protestor James Burch to move a banner before playing the music on his phone when people started recording.
A devastated son has brought his mother's remains home from overseas in a box, after an epic quest searching for her in another country.

Greg Jenkins claims Malaysian police showed 'ignorance' and 'apathy' in helping find his mum Anna Jenkins, so he had to take things into his own hands.

Ms Jenkins, then 65, vanished in 2017 while on holiday visiting her mother in Malaysia.

Her family has spent years searching for answers into her disappearance.

After failing to get answers, Mr Jenkins flew to Malaysia where he travelled 73,000km and handed out more than 12,000 banners, stickers and posters before getting a break through last year.

Brother and sister Mr Jenkins and Ms Bowen (pictured) talk to the media

After receiving a tip off, his mother's belongings were uncovered at a construction site not far from the dentist surgery she had been attending moments before she vanished.

'A day later, I went back out to do my own searches and I found parts of mum's spine and skull fragments,' Mr Jenkins told ABC.

Mr Jenkins and his family believe his mum was murdered and will seek to confirm the remains in the box are hers via a DNA test.

Mr Jenkin's sister, Jennifer Bowen, met her brother when he arrived at Adelaide Airport on Tuesday.

'It's so tough. To have to bring mum home in the way that we did. And the way that poor Greg had to do, it's just not right,' Ms Bowen said.

They are calling on the Malaysian government to account for not doing a proper investigation.

'It's so tough. To have to bring mum home in the way that we did.'

Mr Jenkins said Malaysian authorities acted callously toward his mother's remains when he went to collect them.

He said they suggested that he break the bones so they can be fit into a jar, when he asked for better protective bags to carry the precious remains.

She was last seen getting into an Uber to visit her mother in a nursing home in George Town, but she never turned up.

A coronial inquest was halted due to poor preparation by police.

It is now due to resume in June, with the family vowing to travel again to Malaysia to try and get some answers.
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The suspect in the Brooklyn subway shooting was on the FBI's terrorist radar in New Mexico until 2019, according to a report - and was cleared after 'multiple interviews'.

The shooter has not yet been publicly identified and he remains on the loose hours after opening fire on a busy northbound N train as it approached 36th Street in Sunset Park.

BROOKLYN SUBWAY SHOOTING - WHAT WE KNOW SO FAR Unidentified gunman wearing grey hoodie and green construction vest opened fire on northbound N train at 8.24am

He is known to the FBI, having been on their radar in New Mexico until he was cleared following 'multiple interviews' in 2019

He is believed to have travelled from New Mexico, and then rented a U-Haul in Philadelphia

That U-Haul was found five miles from the scene on King's Highway, Brooklyn

A credit card found on the scene of the shooting matched the credit card used to rent the U-Haul

The suspect put on a gas mask then detonated a smoke bomb that was in his bag before firing the first shots

Panicked c o mmuters tri e d to flee into the next subway car but the door was locked - they were trapped until the train reached 36th street

mmuters tri d to flee into the next subway car but the door was locked - they were trapped until the train reached 36th street The gunman somehow vanished in the chaos - some fear he may have jumped onto the tracks and entered the subway tunnels

Police found a .380 handgun and three extended magazines in backpack at the Brooklyn station

Sixteen people were taken to NYC hospitals - ten were shot, four suffered smoke inhalation and another two were in shock

NYPD is going door-to-door in Brooklyn asking for information, surveillance camera footage and pictures

Anyone with information about the shooting or gunman is urged to call 800 577 TIPS

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Investigators believe they know who he is, having identified the suspect after finding a credit card at the scene that was also used to rent the U-Haul cargo van, two law enforcement sources told CNN.

A federal law enforcement source told Newsweek the suspect was the previously known to the FBI, having been entered into the Guardian Lead system in New Mexico.

The system is the FBI's way of coordinating information from other law enforcement partners about potential terrorism-related threats and suspicious activity reports.

He was cleared after multiple interviews in 2019.

The federal law enforcement source said that he is believed to have driven to New York from New Mexico.

The FBI has now joined the hunt for him and armed police units are patrolling Brooklyn for any clue of his whereabouts.

NYPD has located the U-Haul believed to have been used in Tuesday morning's subway shooting abandoned in the street in Brooklyn, five miles from the scene of the crime.

DailyMail.com obtained an alert that was issued to officers telling them that the suspect is connected to a U-Haul with an Arizona license plate AL31408.

Police sources tell DailyMail.com the van was rented in Philadelphia. U-Haul is now helping with the search.

The U-Haul was located late on Tuesday afternoon near Kings Avenue in Brooklyn, but there is still no sign of the suspect.

Police evacuated people from the immediate area after the van's discovery.

'Police came for the van and told us to clear the store,' said the manager of nearby King's Piano World on Kings Highway.

He told DailyMail.com: 'Police blocked off the area. People were told not to walk in the area. They told us it was dangerous.'

The rental agreement obtained by CNN shows that the U-Haul reservation was made on April 6, and was scheduled to be picked up on April 11 at 2:01 p.m. ET.

The van was supposed to be rented for two days, according to the reservation.

Sebastien Reyes, U-Haul Vice President of Communications, said: 'Law enforcement has alerted us to its search for a rental van and its possible connection to a suspect in today's incident in New York City.

'We are working closely with authorities to ensure they have any and all available information to meet their needs.'

There is a heightened police presence all over the city, particularly on the subway, and some schools in Brooklyn have been told to shelter in place.

Witnesses have described how the gunman calmly put on a gas mask on the slow-moving train this morning at 8.24am then tossed a smoke grenade down the carriage, causing havoc among commuters, before opening fire.

The terrified commuters rushed to the other end of the train to try to get through to the next car but the door was locked. They were trapped on the train until it reached the next station.

Video shows the moment the doors opened and wounded passengers spilled onto the platform, trailing blood.

DailyMail.com can confirm that a .380 handgun was found inside the station, along with three extended magazines; one was empty, one was full and a third was jammed in the gun.

Another bag was discovered that contained a batch of Falcon Rising fireworks and Seismic Wave firecrackers. It's unclear what he intended to do with them.

The gunman then disappeared from 36th St, where no security cameras were in operation.

Eric Adams, the mayor of New York, told WCBS Radio 880 AM that a preliminary review indicates there appeared to be some sort of malfunction with the camera system at the subway station in Tuesday's shooting.

Adams said investigators are trying to determine whether one camera malfunctioned or whether cameras throughout the entire station malfunctioned.

Janno Lieber, the chair and CEO of the Metro Transportation Authority (MTA), told CNN there are almost 10,000 cameras in the system including almost 600 cameras on the Brooklyn section of where the attack happened.

He did not comment on why they were not working.

The U-Haul that police believe is connected to the Brooklyn subway shooter is shown on Tuesday at 1780 West Third Street near King's Highway in Brooklyn, five miles from the subway station where the attack took place. A bomb squad is at the scene

The U-Haul, shown behind police tape, was rented in Philadelphia. It's unclear if there are explosives inside

NYPD officers received this alert on Tuesday alerting them to a U-Haul that the suspect may be driving. NYPD officers received this alert on Tuesday alerting them to a U-Haul that the suspect may be driving. The van was rented in Philadelphia but has Arizona plates

The U-Haul van connected to the suspect is pictured on Tuesday afternoon, five miles from the scene of the subway shooting

U-Haul is helping the FBI and NYPD with their investigations. Police believe to have identified the suspect thanks to a credit card left at the scene, and one given to U-Haul

This bag of fireworks, wire and firecrackers was recovered from the scene of the shooting on Tuesday after the suspect fled

The bag was filled with Falcon Rising fireworks and Seismic Wave Crackers that can easily be purchased online

He may also have jumped onto one of the other trains at the station, or fled into the subway tunnel.

It comes amid a frightening spike in crime across the city, particularly on the subway where crimes are up by more than 60 percent from this time last year.

The worst mass shooting in New York's transit system was in December 1993, when Colin Ferguson opened fire on a Long Island Rail Road commuter train from New York City, killing six and injuring 19.

Other train passengers stopped the perpetrator by tackling and holding him down. Mentally unstable, he fired his lawyers then called for President Bill Clinton to appear at his trial, and was sentenced to six life sentences.

ABC reports that police have obtained a photograph of the suspect from a bystander's phone, but that image has not yet been released anywhere.

The wounded and terrified commuters poured out of the subway doors and onto the platform at 36th Street, where they were filmed writhing on the ground in agony.

The gunman remains at large ten hours after the shooting.

NYPD units are now scouring the city's empty subway tunnels to find the suspect and a city alert has been issued. but ten hours later, police are yet to release a single image of him.

Commissioner Keechant Sewell said at a press conference that she had not yet ruled out terrorism as a motive but that it was not being investigated as an act of terrorism.

She admitted that police still had not yet been able to identify who the gunman was, much less find him.

Police are now going door-to-door in Brooklyn asking store owners and residents in apartment buildings if they have any videos of the scene from around the time of the shooting in an attempt to find the gunman.

Members of the New York Police Department patrol the streets after 14 were injured - 10 of them shot, four affected by smoke - during a rush-hour shooting at a subway station in the New York borough of Brooklyn on April 12, 2022

This is how the horror shooting unfolded on Tuesday morning on the northbound N train at 8.24am as it approached 36th Street station in Sunset Park, Brooklyn

An FBI agent walks along the sidewalk amidst a massive police response on the scene of a reported multiple shooting at a New York City Subway station in Brooklyn on Tuesday

A .38 caliber handgun similar to the type used in today's shooting

'I am not ruling anything out at this point,' she said, as she asked New Yorkers to send photos, videos or any pieces of information that they thought may be relevant to police.

Adams, who is in quarantine after being diagnosed with COVID-19, said in a video message: 'We will not allow New Yorkers to be terrorized.

'The NYPD is searching for the suspect. We will find him.'

Adams asked anyone with information, photos or videos of the suspect to come forward.

Governor Kathy Hochul said: 'This morning ordinary New Yorkers woke up in anticipation of a relatively normal day. They left their homes, went to school, their jobs and to a normal life.

'That was brutally disrupted by an individual so cold hearted and depraved of heart. This individual is still on the loose - this person is dangerous. This is an active shooter situation right now in the city of New York.'

Schools surrounding the subway station were ordered to shelter in place and an amber alert was issued throughout much of the city.

One witness told The New York Post the gunman - who was described as a '5ft 5 black man weighing 170lbs', fired 'too many rounds to count'.

It remains unclear what type of weapon he used.

NYPD officers were checking surveillance cameras around the scene (left) and (right) a cop at 42nd Street station in Manhattan on Tuesday

Police officers patrol in Times Square station after a shooting at a subway station in Brooklyn borough, in New York. There is a heightened police presence all over the city

Police and emergency services are seen near 36 Street subway station after a shooting incident. Brooklyn, New York. April 12 2022

Police and emergency services are seen near 36 Street subway station after a shooting incident on Tuesday afternoon

New Yorkers lie on the platform at 36th Street station after falling out of the northbound N train. They were shot on the train by a gunman who unleashed a smoke bomb and then opened fire before fleeing at around 8.30am

Terrified passengers run off the train at the 36th Street station on Tuesday morning after the shooting on the train

A mass shooting and possible explosion have rocked a subway train in New York at rush hour

Horror pictures from the scene showed blood strewn across the carriage during the latest attack to rock the city

Horrifying scene photos and videos show people covered in blood, lying on the stained subway platform after being shot

A man on the northbound N train before the doors opened covering his mouth to protect from the smoke from the gunman's grenade

This photo provided by Will B Wylde, a person is aided in a subway car in the Brooklyn borough of New York, Tuesday, April 12, 2022. A gunman filled a rush-hour subway train with smoke and shot multiple people Tuesday, leaving wounded commuters bleeding on a Brooklyn platform as others ran screaming, authorities said. Police were still searching for the suspect

The chaos unfolded at 8.30am on Tuesday morning near the 36th Street subway station in Sunset Park, Brooklyn

This video, taken inside the next car along on the train, shows worried commuters walking away from the door as someone pounded on it , begging to be let in. They tried to open it but the door was locked

Shocked witnesses tell how bullets and smoke bombs triggered horror stampede: Terrified witnesses have told how the shooting triggered a horror stampede - with children trampled on as commuters tried to escape the hail of bullets. Passengers revealed there was a huge surge towards the exit of the subway cars as people screamed 'gun' and 'bomb' before fleeing for their lives. Cemile Toseglu, 17, a student at Brooklyn Tech who was on her way to school, said other riders jumped over her in panic while the gunman continued his rampage. She told DailyMail.com: 'The train carried on to 46th street but then we were told to get on the R train because the N wasn't moving. 'The R was very crowded, the most crowded I've ever seen it and everyone was cramped. On 25th street the train conductor said there would be delays so we were standing still. 'That's when there was like a loud noise and people ran towards me - a large crowd. A woman fell and people just ran over her. 'Someone then scream gun and I ran out of the train, I was near the exit but people were jumping over me to get themselves out too. 'No one really knew what was going on. I didn't see the man because I was closer to the exit in the next carriage. That was definitely the most crowded I've seen the R train.' Speaking from her home, she added: 'I was most scared about the fact that there were a lot of children on the way to school.' Advertisement

One witness, Yav Montano, told CNN that he was on the northbound N train between 59th Street in Brooklyn and 36th Street when a smoke bomb went off inside the carriage.

'I thought he was an MTA worker at first because I was like, I didn't like pay too much attention. You know? You've got the orange on,' he said.

'It was crazy. I take the N train every morning to get to where I need to work. From 59th Street to 36th Street, the N-train is express, is where all the dramatics happened.

'I'm in the third part of the express N train. The smoke grenade went off two minutes before we got to 36th street platform. The train was inching towards. It seemed like it was planned.

'This smoke bomb, and what I thought was fireworks, but I'm hearing it was gunshots. I have no words for what I could see. I was in the car - I was in the front end of the third car. Everything happened at the back end.

'People started migrating to the front of the car. I don't know if people know this, it's one of those old things where they locked the door to stop people traveling between trains.

'There were people in the other car who saw what was happening and they tried to open it but couldn't. There was blood on the floor, a lot of blood trailing on the floor.

'At the time, I didn't think it was a shooting. It sounded like fireworks.

'People trampling over each other, trying to get over each other. Thankfully the train moved to the next stop and everyone filed off the train,' he said.

NYPD units are now scouring the city's empty subway tunnels looking for the gunman, who is feared to have jumped onto the tracks at 36th Street and fled.

Cemil Toseglu, who runs a store opposite the station, told how his terrified 17-year-old daughter was on the train on her way to school when it was attacked.

He told DailyMail.com: 'My daughter was going to school and was on the same train when it happened. She said there was smoke and she was told to get into the other train.

'She's now safe and came to my office before I sent her home. She is okay but is a little surprised. I didn't think it was that serious but she then told me people were yelling that it was a man with a gun and maybe a bomb.'

NYPD Commissioner Keechant Sewell at the scene of the shooting on Tuesday

New York Governor Kathy Hochul speaking at the scene on Tuesday

The chaotic scene at the 36th Street subway station in Sunset Park, Brooklyn, on Tuesday morning

EMTs rush to the subway station on Tuesday morning after ten people were shot and another six were injured

NYPD ESU teams at the scene on Tuesday after a gunman opened fire on the subway at around 8.30am

Police officers work at the scene of a shooting at a subway station in the Brooklyn borough of New York City, New York, U.S., April 12, 2022

FDNY units at the scene on Tuesday morning after a gunman opened fire on a northbound N train that pulled into 36th Street at around 8.30am

Police and emergency responders gather at the site of a reported shooting of multiple people outside of the 36 St subway station on April 12

Police officers work at the scene of a shooting at a subway station in the Brooklyn borough of New York City, New York, U.S., April 12, 2022

Police and emergency responders gather at the site of a reported shooting of multiple people outside of the 36 St subway station on April 12, 2022

A police officer works near the scene of a shooting at a subway station in the Brooklyn borough of New York City, New York, U.S., April 12, 2022

The scene on 36th Street and Fourth Avenue on Tuesday as police, EMT and fire department teams responded to the shooting

NYPD officers at a different subway station on Tuesday looking for the suspect

Members of the New York Police Department and emergency personnel crowd the streets

An FDNY spokesman told DailyMail.com: 'Originally, the call came in as smoke in the subway station. Upon arrival, officers found multiple people shot and undetonated devices.'

Shocking video showed blood-covered victims strewn across the ground at the subway station as smoke billowed out of the train.

One person was seen lying still on the floor with their hands over their face and their legs raised after the terrifying attack.

Others had lost shoes and had their clothes torn as the New York subway's speaker system blared out messages to the passengers.

Commuters were screamed at to get on a different train to safety while the wounded were treated by emergency services.

Eric Adams' spokesman said on Twitter: '@NYCMayor continues to be briefed on the situation. While we gather more information, we ask New Yorkers to stay away from this area for their safety and so that first responders can help those in need and investigate.'

NYPD officers and other city workers at the scene of the shooting on Tuesday morning

Law enforcement gathering at the scene of a shooting in the Brooklyn borough of New York on Tuesday, April 12, 2022. Law enforcement sources say multiple people were shot at a subway station in Brooklyn

As many as 16 people are believed to have been injured during the shooting and possible explosion

Police officers and firefighters work near the scene of a shooting at a subway station in the Brooklyn borough of New York City, New York, U.S., April 12, 2022

New York City Police officials on a roof at the scene of a reported multiple shooting at a New York City Subway station on 36th and 4th Ave in the Brooklyn borough

A large presence of NYPD Police officers and FDNY firefighters surround a subway entrance near where at least ten people are believed to have been shot after a shooting in a subway station on 4th Avenue in the Sunset Park section of Brooklyn on Tuesday

NYC Council Member Sunset Park Alexa Aviles said: 'We are aware of reports of a shooting at 36th St subway station, and we are in touch with our city partners and NYPD on the scene.'

She added: 'Please exercise caution and seek alternate travel routes. We will share further details as they become available.'

Senator Kevin Parker said: 'Terrifying report out of Sunset Park. We have to move New York forward and break this cycle of gun violence. Hoping everyone will be ok.'

Chi Osse, NYC Council Member for Brooklyn, said: 'Horrifying news to hear this morning. Praying for the safety and recovery for our neighbors in Sunset Park. This madness must end.'

The Office of New York City Public Advocate Jumaane D. Williams said: 'Our office is monitoring the information coming from Sunset Park, and praying for the New Yorkers who have been shot in this horrific act of gun violence.'

New York City Police Department personnel gather at the entrance to a subway stop in the Brooklyn borough of New York on Tuesday
Former Trump strategist Steve Bannon is warning Donald Trump that his preferred candidates risk losing key primary battles to 'Never Trumpers' if he does not pour millions of dollars into their campaigns.

Holding rallies and sending out emailed endorsements is not enough, he said, if it does not come with staff and cash for advertising.

His comments reflect growing concern among Trump world insiders that the former president's grip on the Republican Party is growing weaker ahead of November's midterms.

And Bannon highlighted the race for governor in Georgia, where Trump's pick David Perdue is trailing incumbent Brian Kemp by double digits.

Closing that gap in 50 days, he said, meant a big ground game and a 'bombardment' of TV advertising.

'You got to really commit. First off you got to spend money, you got to put a lot of money into it. You got to commit money, you got to commit time and effort,' he told the John Fredericks radio show.

'I don't think there's been the focus on it. I don't think one or two rallies is going to do it.'

He adds his voice to other insiders who say that Trump is surrounded by hangers on, all pushing to get endorsements for their preferred candidates - without a well thought out battle plan.

'You have to have a plan when you endorse, that they have to win,' said Bannon.

Steve Bannon says former President Donald Trump should be doing more to help his endorsed midterm candidates win. Holding rallies is not enough by itself

Trump was in Commerce, Georgia, last month to boost the campaigns of David Perdue and Herschel Walker. But Perdue is lagging in the primary to unseat fellow Republican Gov. Brian Kemp, who attracted the ire of MAGA world for not doing more to challenge the 2020 result

Perdue appeared at the Trump rally last month, but internal polling by his opponent suggests Perdue is in line for a heavy defeat in May 24's primary

Trump is using primary races to wheedle out Republicans he believes failed to help him overturn his defeat to Joe Biden.

Georgia is one of the key battlegrounds for Trump allies, a state where they want to replace Republican Governor Kemp whom they hate for resisting pressure to investigate the 2020 results.

Trump visited last month to help lift the campaign of Perdue.

'Before we can defeat the Democrat socialists and communists, which is exactly what were running against at the ballot box this fall, we first have to defeat the RINO sellouts and the losers in the primaries this spring,' he said at a rally 70 miles north-east of Atlanta.

But on Tuesday the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that his opponent's internal polling gave the sitting governor a 16-point lead, and that Kemp was close to winning without a run-off in May 24's primary.

That has Bannon, who was Trump's strategist in the first months of his presidency, worried that the former president is not doing enough to secure his place.

And he said Trump needed to start spending his massive war chest.

'You need a massive get out and vote campaign and you're going to have to put ... if they're sitting on a couple of hundred million dollars, you're gonna put massive resources into this,' he said.

Trump has already had to dump an ally in Alabama, withdrawing his endorsement from Mo Brooks who was trailing badly in polling.

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

There was better news in North Carolina at the weekend, where Trump held a rally in support of Rep. Ted Budd.

Polls that had given his rival a six-to-11 point head start, had turned around in recent days to put Budd ahead. Trump even claimed to have seen a poll putting Budd 17 points ahead.

'That's a big lead,' Trump told about 5000 supporters.

Yet it came after the Club for Growth, a conservative super PAC, deluged the race with $15 million of backing.

'He's the only guy can draw a crowd, he's the only guy who's on message,' said Bannon about the North Carolina rally.

'But there's one thing for a rally and a great rally speech and inspiration that gives - there's another thing about actually getting people out and getting them to vote in these primaries. And that's two different things.'

There is additional anger in Trump circles about his decision to endorse Dr. Oz in the Pennsylvania Senate race over former hedge fund chief executive David McCormick.

'I blame the people around him,' said Bannon.

'They're doing these endorsements because ... they're gonna try to bleed President Trump out.

'And that's why next 60 days is absolutely central for the MAGA movement.'

Trump's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
A political activist who screamed at Scott Morrison calling him a 'disgrace' in front of a packed crowd has claimed he was detained by police after his brazen stunt.

In footage uploaded to TikTok on Tuesday, Adisen Wright, a staunch Labor supporter, asks the Prime Minister for a photo, then if he can pose a question.

Mr Morrison asks if he is a member of the press pack to which the activist admits he is not a journalist, but instead a local with a friend behind the bar.

The prime minister says he will allow the question, but his demeanour quickly changes after he realises Mr Wright is filming at the private event.

'Why are you recording?' Mr Morrison asks the young man in disbelief.

Scott Morrison has been brazenly ambushed by an irate 'activist' who asked the leader for a photo before telling him he was a 'disgrace' during a private campaign event on Tuesday

'Oh... I'm sorry about that. I just wanted to ask one question,' the activist replies.

The prime minister quickly turns on his heel and joins the rest of crowd talking and enjoying their drinks, but not before he is hit with a furious spray.

'Across the river here, people lost their houses. People lost their houses and they were burned,' the activist screams in his direction.

'You are a disgrace. You are a disgrace,' he continues as Mr Morrison looks pointedly in the other direction and other attendees look on in shock.

Mr Wright has since claimed he was detained by police after the fiery encounter.

In the video, a man who later identifies himself as a police officer is seen escorting Mr Wright from the premises.

Adisen Wright, a staunch Labor supporter, (pictured) filmed as he was escorted from the venue and questioned by police

'You're not meant to be in there,' the man says before flashing his police badge and asking the activist to hand over some ID.

Mr Wright claims he hadn't realised the event was private and that he had been invited to the pub by his friend who worked behind the bar.

When questioned whether he entered the event to ask the prime minister a question, he said he had already been inside the 'public' venue.

'I didn't do anything wrong. I got a photo and I asked him a question, I wasn't being a d***. And he didn't want to talk to me,' the man tells the officer.

'I asked him "what are you going to do about the bushfire response?", I'm from the Blue Mountains, I'm pretty passionate about what's going on.

'And he said you weren't allowed to ask questions and said it was a private event.'

The activist explains that his area had been significantly impacted by the bushfires and that he was simply seeking more 'action' and 'assistance' from the PM.

He then promises to abide by the officer's demands before ending the recording.

The vocal climate activist told a police officer at the event he had simply wanted to ask Mr Morrison about his response to the bushfires that had ravaged his Blue Mountains home

Mr Wright (pictured with his mother) is a vocal supporter of the opposition and has been pictured with Labor politician Tanya Plibersek in photos uploaded to his social media

In the comments of the TikTok video, Mr Wright updated viewers and said he had been 'allowed out as I did nothing'.

One viewer commented that the activist was going to 'cop hate' for the video.

'Worth it. Stand strong. MAINTAIN THE RAGE,' Mr Wright responded.

The footage has received nearly 90,000 views in the hours it was first posted with the majority of commenters in support of the activist.

Mr Wright is a vocal supporter of the Opposition and has been pictured with Labor politician Tanya Plibersek in photos uploaded to his social media.

The activist has been awarded Blue Mountains Young Citizen of the Year and has given rousing speeches at local climate protests and schoolyard rallies.

The awkward encounter comes just days after Mr Morrison was confronted by local Ray Drury, 73, at a pub on the outskirts of Newcastle.

The activist has been awarded Blue Mountains Young Citizen of the Year and has given rousing speeches at local climate protests and schoolyard rallies

The Prime Minister had dropped into the Edgeworth Tavern in Newcastle's west on Wednesday night and faced an expletive-laden rant from the pensioner.

Edgeworth is in the Hunter division, a long-held Labor seat - and the locals made that clear.

'This is what you said when you got elected last time: "We're going help all those people that worked all their lives, paid their taxes and those that have a go, get a go".

'Well, I've had a go, mate, I've worked all my life and paid my taxes.'

When Mr Morrison tried to coax the man away from cameras to explain his situation to staff he became angrier.

'You better f***ing do something ... I'm sick of your bullsh**,' he said.

The same night a woman also cunningly asked Mr Morrison to pose with her for a selfie video, before telling him 'congratulations on being the worst prime minister we've ever had'.

Mr Morrison's smile quickly disintegrated into a frown as the video, which has gone viral on Twitter, came to an end.

'Just got to give Slomo my sincerest congratulations,' she wrote, 'I never thought Id get the chance to meet him dreams do come true.'

Asked how Mr Morrison responded, the woman wrote: 'He said thanks, then processed what I said and lost his smirk and turned his back on me.

One woman captured a video of herself ripping into the prime minister after posing as a fan requesting a selfie (pictured)

The prime minister also received a less-than-warm welcome in Culburra, on the NSW South Coast when protestors chanted 'I don't hold a hose mate'.

The angry crowd was referring to Mr Morrison's notorious holiday to Haiwaii during the Black Summer bushfires of 2019-2020.

The encounter comes on the second day of the prime minister's election campaign after he called the federal election for May 21, in just over five weeks time.

On Monday, his Labor counterpart Anthony Albanese was criticised after he failed to recall the national cash or unemployment rate during a press conference.
Western military officials have warned Russia's invasion of Ukraine could prompt China to invade Taiwan

The Eastern superpower has raised tensions with Taiwan in recent months with increased air force and naval activities near the island

China's Communist Party has never controlled Taiwan but wants to seize it

t is the first time Taiwan's military has ever published such a handbook

Taiwan's military on Tuesday published an official handbook advising civilians on how to prepare for a potential Chinese invasion, including where to find bomb shelters and how to stockpile emergency supplies.

China's Communist Party has never controlled self-ruled Taiwan but it nonetheless views the island as part of its territory and has vowed to one day seize it, by force if necessary.

Those threats have turned more hostile under Xi Jinping, China's most authoritarian leader in a generation, while Russia's recent invasion of Ukraine has also heightened fears that China will soon follow through on threats to annex its smaller neighbour.

The 28-page guide contains information which 'the general public can use as an emergency response guideline in a military crisis or natural disaster,' defence ministry spokesman Sun Li-fang said during an introduction at an online press conference.

It is the first time Taiwan's military has published such a handbook.

Taiwan's military today published an official handbook advising civilians on how to prepare for a potential Chinese invasion, including where to find bomb shelters and how to stockpile emergency supplies (Taiwanese army soldiers during a Readiness Enhancement Drill, amid escalating Taiwan-China tensions, in Taiwan, January 2022)

China's Communist Party has never controlled self-ruled Taiwan but it nonetheless views the island as part of its territory. Threats of annexing the island have turned more hostile under Xi Jinping (pictured in Beijing, Friday, April 8, 2022)

Beijing claims the self-governing island of Taiwan as its own territory, and has promised to take it by force if necessary. It has stepped up aggressive flights by warplanes in recent months

Drawn from similar guides by Sweden and Japan, it tells residents where to find bomb shelters via mobile phone apps and what to do in an emergency including how to distinguish air raid sirens.

'The guide is for the public to better prepare themselves before a war or disaster happens,' Liu Tai-yi, an official of the ministry's All-Out Defense Mobilization Agency, said.

It includes information on basic survival skills for the public during air raids, massive fires, building collapses, power outages and natural disasters.

'We hope the public can familiarise themselves where the safety shelters are beforehand,' he added.

Beijing's increased sabre-rattling has spurred diplomatic support for Taipei and visits from Western nations shaken by China's more muscular tone.

Taiwan remains massively outgunned against China but the mountainous island would be a formidable challenge for any military to conquer.

Taiwan last year stepped up its training regime for reservists and has increased purchases of military equipment such as jets and anti-ship missiles.

The island is also considering extending its compulsory military service to 12 months. Currently all eligible males have to undergo a four-month basic military training.

Unlike South Korea, the Philippines and Japan, Taiwan is not a treaty ally with the United States.

Washington remains Taiwan's main arms supplier but it maintains a policy of 'strategic ambiguity', leaving China guessing as to whether an invasion would trigger a response.

Last month, U.S. Admiral John Aquilino, head of Indo-Pacific Command, said China had displayed a 'boldness' during the past year - from its increasingly assertive stance toward Taiwan to its hypersonic weapon test last July.

But it was Russia's invasion of Ukraine, he said, that should put the world on alert.

US Indo-Pacific commander Admiral John Aquilino inspects US Marines at ADF Robertson Barracks in Darwin, Australia, last month. In an interview, he said Russia's invasion of Ukraine should warn the world to be wary of China's intentions towards Taiwan

'I don't think anyone five months ago would have predicted an invasion of the Ukraine. So I think the number one lesson is: "Hey, this could really happen,"' he told the Financial Times during a visit to Australia.

'Number two, don't be complacent... We have to be prepared at all times.'

His warning comes after months of Chinese aggression directed at Taiwan, including nine Chinese aircraft entering its air defence zone on the day Russian troops invaded Ukraine.

Taiwan's publication of the invasion survival handbook comes as US intelligence revealed China was accelerating the construction of hundreds of missile silos, a move that the country's leaders say is meant to deter American forces from intervening in a potential future conflict over Taiwan.

China's nuclear arsenal lags well behind those of America and Russia but Beijing has rapidly developed its nukes and intercontinental ballistic missile capabilities in recent years.

American intelligence analysts say the the most sensitive work on the Chinese silos has been completed, citing satellite images taken in January.

Pictures above a missile silo field in Yumen, a rural area in China's northern Gansu province, revealed that last 45 temporary covers that were placed over each of the suspected missile silos had been removed.

Matt Korda, a senior research associate for the Nuclear Information Project at the Federation of American Scientists in Washington, noted that two smaller silo fields located in western China appear to be in earlier stages of development.

China is accelerating its construction on more than 100 missile silos at a remote northern base that can house nuclear weapons capable of reaching the United States. Above, a satellite image of the site from July 2021

Chinese officials say that the rapid expansion of its nuclear arsenal is meant to deter American forces from intervening in a potential future conflict over Taiwan. Above, another image of the site from June 2021

The silos at each of those sites are reportedly capable of housing a new long-range missile, known as the DF-41, that is capable of striking the U.S. mainland. It was put into service in 2020.

Military analysts also claim that China is putting greater emphasis on its ability to respond to nuclear attacks.

The experts allege that Beijing, with assistance from Russia, is building an early-warning system that can detect incoming missiles.

In February 2021, the nation also launched a satellite that is believed to be the beginning blueprint of a space-based sensor system for missiles.

'All of these capabilities work together to say to the U.S.: ''There is no world in which you can engage in a nuclear first strike against China and not expect nuclear retaliation back on your cities, even with your missile defenses, even with your great counterforce capabilities,'' Caitlin Talmadge, an associate professor of security studies at Georgetown University, told the Journal.
The Guatemalan government has put its security forces on alert as 2,000 migrants are expected to depart from Honduras on Friday, as the expected caravan hopes to reach the Southern U.S. border with Mexico.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Guatemalan Institute of Migration met Monday with counterparts from El Salvador, Honduras, Mexico and the United States to discuss plans on how it will coordinate efforts to contain and stop the caravan.

'The objective, as has been done previously with past caravans, is to safeguard the lives of the people involved in this massive flow, as well as of the population in our territory,' the ministry said in a statement.

The migrants are slated to gather in the Honduran capital of San Pedro Sula and set out at 5 a.m. local time toward the Guatemalan border. A second caravan is set to leave Honduras on Monday, April 18.

It's unclear if the caravans are setting at this time to try and reach the U.S. specifically before Title 42 expires. Last month, the Biden administration said it plans to finally end the Trump-era policy that allowed the instant expulsion of asylum-seekers and other migrants at the border on May 23.

The ending of the controversial measure could possibly lead to up to 18,000 daily encounters with migrants along the southern border.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs revealed Monday that it expects the arrival of a caravan of about 2,000 migrants who will depart from Honduras on Friday and plans to reach the United States border to seek asylum

Guatemala's military stops migrants who are part of a caravan from Honduras hoping to reach the United States after they crossed the border in Puerto Barrios, Guatemala, on January 15, 2022

President Joe Biden, who displayed an openness towards asylum-seekers, was challenged by a caravan of about 400 migrants that departed from Honduras towards Guatemala on March 30, 2021 before it was broken up by Guatemalan security forces. Another caravan is now set to trek from Honduras to Guatemala on Friday

Members of a migrant caravan begin their journey in the hopes of reaching the United States, in San Pedro Sula, Honduras, on January 15, 2022

The government said additional Army and National Civil Police units will be deployed at the border and crossing points with the departments of Izabal, Zacapa, Chiquimula, Jutiapa, El Progreso, Peten and Santa Rosa that share a land border with Honduras, Belize and El Salvador.

Efforts are also being made with the Honduran National Institute of Migration to ensure that migrants who can legally enter Guatemala have current proof of negative COVID-19 tests.

'What is pivotal is that we are together and we are committed to working to save lives,' Foreign Minister Mario Bucaro said.

Bucaro added that security forces will also be on the lookout for criminals who will try to get into the country by infiltrating themselves with the caravan members.

'We also take into account that we have a series of security threats from criminal groups that can use these caravans to enter (Guatemala) territory,' he said.

Guatemala's navy on March 21 intercepted three boats with 50 Cuban migrants and two Hondurans who were being smuggled by sea off the coast of the department of Izabal and headed towards the United States border. An additional eight Cuban migrants were detained while they were traveling by land in Izabal. All 60 individuals were expelled to Guatemala

A Honduran family which is aiming to reach the southern United States border walks along a highway as they leave San Pedro Sula, Honduras before dawn on March 30, 2021

Migrants who are part of a caravan of nearly 600 who were hoping to reach the United States waited to have their documents checked in Corinto, Honduras, on January 15, 2022

In January, Guatemalan authorities were successful in turning away a caravan of 600 people from Honduras, Nicaragua and Cuba who were traveling to the United States.

Many of the caravans have been composed by people from Latin America and Caribbean nations who are running from poverty and violence.

The forming of the latest caravan comes as Title 42 is set to end. The measure was imposed by former President Donald Trump's administration in March 2020 and provided U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) the authority to expel migrants at the border without allowing them the opportunity to apply for asylum.

President Joe Biden, who displayed an openness towards asylum-seekers, was challenged by a caravan of about 400 migrants that departed from Honduras towards Guatemala on March 30, 2021 before it was broken up by Guatemalan security forces. Another caravan is now set to trek from Honduras to Guatemala on Friday

The Trump administration said at the time of implementation that its policy would slow the spread of COVID-19 in the U.S. Under the measure, more than 1.6 million migrants and asylum-seekers have been either turned around and sent back to Mexico or repatriated to their countries of origin.

The Biden administration's decision to do away with Title 42 has drawn criticism not only from the Republican party but also within Democratic ranks.

'I want to see the plan that the administration has to address this, as a lot of my colleagues do,' Representative Pete Aguilar, the vice chairman of the 221-member House Democratic Caucus, said last week. 'There's a lot more that needs to be done.'
Although he's returned to California after filming in war-torn Ukraine, actor Sean Penn revealed that he's thought about 'taking up arms against Russia,' saying that 'if you've been to Ukraine, [fighting] has to cross your mind.'

The filmmaker spent the past several months in Ukraine filming a VICE documentary following President Volodymyr Zelensky and the country's military forces.

Penn, 61, told Hollywood Authentic in an April 9 interview that his 'intention is to go back to Ukraine,' although he is 'not certain what [he] can offer.'

'The only possible reason for me staying in Ukraine longer last time wouldve been for me to be holding a rifle, probably without body armor, because as a foreigner, you would want to give that body armor to one of the civilian fighters who doesnt have it or to a fighter with more skills than I have, or to a younger man or woman who could fight for longer or whatever,' Penn told the outlet.

'So, where I am in life is short of doing that, but if youve been in Ukraine [fighting] has to cross your mind. And you kind of think what century is this? Because I was at the gas station in Brentwood the other day and Im now thinking about taking up arms against Russia? What the f--- is going on?'

Sean Penn, 61, told Hollywood Authentic that he found himself 'thinking about taking up arms against Russia' while at the gas station in Brentwood, California shortly after he returned from the war-torn country

Penn, left, is pictured with Ukrainian President Volodmyr Zelensky. Penn, who was with Zelensky when Russia first invaded Ukraine, credited the president for uniting the country

Penn is pictured at a press conference in Rzeszow, Poland last month announcing a partnership between the city and his nonprofit, CORE, to help Ukrainian refugees fleeing there. However, the Oscar-winning activist said that when he returns to Ukraine, he may 'send one message through the chief of staff' to see how else he can help

Mourners are pictured gathering on April 12 around the coffin of Ukrainian serviceman Roman Tiaka, 47, who was killed during Russia's invasion. Penn described the 'rite of passage' of covering war zones where you ask yourself 'how would I react?'

The director plans to continue filming the ongoing conflict for his documentary. In the interview, however, Penn questioned whether there is 'tangible evidence that documentaries really change anything.'

'We only know that can give hope,' he said.

The activist and Oscar-winning director, who was physically involved in rescuing people after Hurricane Katrina and conducted a secret interview with Sinaloa cartel boss El Chapo in 2016, told the outlet that 'statistically, I've never really taken any risks at all.'

'And that includes 2003 Baghdad, when I was on my own outside the Green Zone... you probably had a one in 100 chance of getting killed.'

Typically, Penn said, he's never been 'a conflict zone journalist who stays months or years in a place that's really sketchy, and never someone who had no choice but to be there and live there.'

He told the outlet that it's possible to be simultaneously 'fascinated by conflict' and 'intellectually very anti-war.'

'There's a rite of passage while you are in or near it that has to do with some basic questions you ask yourself: how would I react? Could I keep enough oxygen in my brain to make clear judgements? Are you going to be damaged by being in a war, emotionally or psychologically?'

'I think that there is a certain part of my own pursuits that is influenced by those questions that on some level demand answering. And so, yeah, I think it would be just not honest if I said that wasn't part of it.'

Penn first arrived in the capital city of Kyiv when Russia first invaded Ukraine in February - Zelensky even announced the director's presence on his official Facebook page.

Penn is pictured at a Presidential Office press briefing in Ukraine on February 24. The actor said that he saw a change in Ukraine's leader after Russia first invaded: 'it struck me that I was now looking at a guy who know that he had to rise to the ultimate level of human courage and leadership'

Penn told the outlet that 'if you've been to Ukraine, [fighting] has to cross your mind.' Field engineers in Ukraine are pictured next to destroyed armored vehicles on a street in the town of Bucha on April 5

'American actor and film director, Oscar winner Sean Penn arrived in Ukraine,' read the post. 'The director came to Kyiv specifically to record all the events taking place in Ukraine as a documentary filmmaker and to tell the world the truth about Russia's invasion of our country.'

Penn credited Zelensky with uniting the country of Ukraine in the face of disaster.

'They are together like never before and, as I said, that the historical legacy of Zelensky, because he's the man who did it.'

'They'll never be able to take it away from him that he unified the Ukrainians to fight for their country.'

Penn first met the Ukrainian president before the conflict, recalling him as 'very charming, and very bright and very charismatic.' When the Russian onslaught began, Penn said, he saw a shift in Zelensky.

Penn, right, is pictured visiting positions of the Ukrainian Armed Forces near the frontline with Russian-backed separatists in Donetsk region, Ukraine

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (C) walking in the street in the recaptured by the Ukrainian army Bucha city of Kyiv on April 4. Penn said that Zelensky's 'historical legacy' will be bringing Ukraine together 'like never before'

'Seeing Zelensky a day before the invasion, I would say, it serves to reason that he would not have felt fully tested. And then seeing him the next day, it struck me that I was now looking at a guy who know that he had to rise to the ultimate level of human courage and leadership. I think he found out he was born to do that.'

Currently, Penn's nonprofit CORE (Community Organized Relief Effort), which was founded in 2010 to help earthquake victims in Haiti, is helping Ukrainian refugees flee into Poland, and Penn said its resources may 'try to cross over the border to add to the resources that are so short.'

More than 4 million people have fled Ukraine to neighboring countries since Russia invaded the country on February 24, according to United Nations data, representing the biggest refugee crisis in Europe since World War Two.

When he returns to the country, Penn will evaluate what else he can do to help.

'I dont spend a lot of time texting the president or his staff while theyre under siege and their people are being murdered. Id probably send one message through the chief of staff. ''Heres what Im looking to do that I think would be of value. You only have to answer me in one of two ways: dont come or come and do what youre planning, or come, but heres where you could be more helpful,"' he said.
Locals in a regional Australian town were horrified to find a family of kangaroos, including two joeys, were run down and killed in a senseless slaughter.

The six kangaroo carcasses were found in a car park adjacent Hampton Oval at Dampier, in northwest Western Australia on Tuesday.

Police alleged the kangaroos were 'deliberately' run down by a vehicle overnight on Monday.

Locals in a regional Australian town were horrified to find a family of kangaroos, including two joeys, apparently run down and killed in a senseless slaughter

Hampton Oval is a popular waterfront park just metres from a children's adventure playground.

The discovery was made by a local who shared a photo of the appalling aftermath in a community Facebook group on Tuesday.

'I have found a slaughtered mob of roos at the Hampton Oval this morning,' the post read.

'I'm horrified that someone that takes gratification in this kind of behaviour is amongst our community.'

The WA Parks and Wildlife Service and WA RSPCA were alerted and are involved in the investigations.

The incident comes less than a month after three teenagers were charged after allegedly torturing a helpless kangaroo before sharing videos of the sadistic acts online.

Footage of the distressing event in Bundaberg, in Central Queensland, was posted to one of the perpetrators' Snapchat accounts.

Three Queensland teenagers have been charged after they allegedly tortured a helpless kangaroo before sharing clips of their sadistic acts on social media

One of the teens ran over the kangaroo with their car before the trio exit the vehicle and beat the defenceless animal, the video allegedly shows.

WA police have appealed for anyone who knows more to contact local police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Emergency workers remove debris of a building destroyed in the southern port city of Mariupol, Ukraine April 10, in the course of the Ukraine-Russia conflict. Reuters-Yonhap





Ukraine said Monday that tens of thousands of people have likely been killed in Russia's assault on the southeastern city of Mariupol while the country's rights ombudswoman accused Russian forces in the region of torture and executions.







Reuters has confirmed widespread destruction in Mariupol but could not verify the alleged crimes or the estimate of those killed in the strategic city, which lies between Russian-annexed Crimea and eastern areas of Ukraine held by Russian-backed separatists.







"Mariupol has been destroyed, there are tens of thousands of dead, but even despite this, the Russians are not stopping their offensive," President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a video address to Korean lawmakers without providing more details.







If confirmed, it would be by far the largest number of dead so far reported in one place in Ukraine, where cities, towns and villages have come under relentless bombardment and bodies, including civilians, have been seen in the streets.







The head of the Russia-backed self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic, Denis Pushilin, told Russia's RIA news agency on Monday that more than 5,000 people may have been killed in Mariupol. He said Ukrainian forces were responsible.







The numbers of people leaving the city had fallen because Russian forces had slowed pre-departure checks, Petro Andryushchenko, an aide to the mayor of Mariupol, said on Monday on the Telegram messaging service.






The Pentagon is closely monitoring reports of a possible Russian chemical weapons attack on the besieged southern Ukrainian city of Mariupol, officails said on Monday.

'We are aware of social media reports which claim Russian forces deployed a potential chemical munition in Mariupol, Ukraine,' Defense Department press secretary John Kirby said. 'We cannot confirm at this time and will continue to monitor the situation closely.'

'These reports, if true, are deeply concerning and reflective of concerns that we have had about Russia's potential to use a variety of riot control agents, including tear gas mixed with chemical agents, in Ukraine,' said Kirby.

President Joe Biden has previously warned there is a strong possibility that Russia could deploy a chemical arsenal and warned there would be 'severe' consequences if they do so.

The British government and other western allies are also investigating claims that Vladimir Putin's army deployed a chemical agent that sickened a handful of people in Mariupol as Russian forces try to take control of the city.

Pytor Andryushchenko, an adviser to the city government, said local officials believed that some chemical had been dropped by a drone on the Azovstal steel plant, a stronghold for Ukrainian forces defending the city. They said it was unclear whether it was intended to be lethal.

He said that it might be something like tear gas, but that they could not be certain.

'It is absolutely correct information that yesterday from a drone, something was dropped in that area and some chemical things were in it,' he told The New York Times. 'But we don't know for sure if it was poison or something else.'

Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar said it was possible phosphorus munitions - which cause horrendous burns but are not classed as chemical weapons - were used.

Meanwhile, a senior American defense official told reporters on Tuesday the U.S. can't confirm the reports because they don't have people on the ground in Mariupol.

'The biggest challenge is we're not there,' the official said, adding they have not been able to talk to locals on the ground.

The Pentagon is closely monitoring reports of a possible Russian chemical weapons attack on the besieged southern Ukrainian city of Mariupol

Russian forces are trying to take the city of Mariupol; local officials say more than 10,000 civilians have been killed

Russian President Vladimir Putin said he 'had no other choice' but to launch what he calls a 'special military operation' in the area

Putin, who has not been able to take the capital, has been building up forces for a new offensive in the eastern Donbas region.

On Tuesday he said Russia 'had no other choice' but to launch what he calls a 'special military operation' in the area, claiming it was to protect civilians in the predominantly Russian-speaking Donbas.

Mariupol lies in the Donbas region and has been razed in six weeks of pummeling by Russian troops. Local officials said the bombing has left more than 10,000 civilians dead.

The British government is also looking into the allegations that chemical weapons were used.

Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said Downing Street was working 'urgently' to verify details of the alleged attack and, if it were true, then Putin would be held accountable.

'Reports that Russian forces may have used chemical agents in an attack on the people of Mariupol. We are working urgently with partners to verify details,' she wrote on Twitter.

'Any use of such weapons would be a callous escalation in this conflict and we will hold Putin and his regime to account.'

Concerns were also raised after Eduard Basurin, a spokesman for the Kremlin-backed, separatist Donetsk People's Republic, urged Moscow to bring in 'chemical forces' to use in Mariupol.

He said on Russian television that the remaining Ukrainian forces in Mariupol were dug in at the steel plant and that Russia should encircle it and 'smoke out the moles.'

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky seized on the report and warned his people to prepare for a 'new stage of terror against Ukraine.'

'The occupiers issued a new statement, which testifies to their preparation for a new stage of terror against Ukraine and our defenders. One of the mouthpieces of the occupiers stated that they could use chemical weapons against the defenders of Mariupol. We take this as seriously as possible,' Zelensky said in a video statement posted online Monday night.

'I want to remind the world leaders that the possible use of chemical weapons by the Russian military has already been discussed. And already at that time it meant that it was necessary to react to the Russian aggression much tougher and faster,' he added.

Chemical weapons production, use and stockpiling is banned under the 1997 Chemical Weapons Convention.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned his people to prepare for a 'new stage of terror against Ukraine'

President Joe Biden has previously said there would be 'severe' consequences if Russia used chemical weapons

The governor of the eastern Donetsk region, Pavlo Kyrylenko, said he had seen incident reports on possible chemical weapons use in Mariupol but could not confirm them.

'We know that last night around midnight a drone dropped some so-far unknown explosive device, and the people that were in and around the Mariupol metal plant, there were three people, they began to feel unwell,' he told CNN.

In March, Biden said the use of chemical weapons would not be tolerated. But he did not detail what the consequences would be for Russia if it made such a move.

American officials have expressed concern that Russia could use chemical weapons as it struggles to make progress in the war.

'I'm not going to speak about the intelligence but Russia would pay a severe price if they use chemical weapons,' Biden said.

Biden has also said the U.S. would respond 'in kind' to such an attack. His national security adviser Jake Sullivan said that meant 'we'll respond accordingly' and that Russia would pay a 'severe price.'

Russia has wielded chemical weapons in the past. Moscow used the deadly Novichok poison in 2018 an attempt to assassinate a defector living in Salisbury, England. And it is suspected of using a similar poison against opposition leader Alexei Navalny in 2020.

Russia also offered diplomatic cover to Syrian use of chemical agents. It accused the West of being behind the 2017 attack on Khan Shaykhun with Sarin or similar nerve agent.
Oklahoma lawmakers passed a strict anti-abortion bill making it a felony to perform an abortion under any circumstances with offenders facing 10 years in jail and $100,000 fine.

On Tuesday Governor Kevin Stitt signed a bill that makes it a felony, punishable by up to 10 years in prison, to perform an abortion with an exception only to save the life of the mother.

The bill, which takes effect 90 days after the Legislature adjourns next month, is part of an aggressive push in Republican-led states across the country to scale back abortion.

On Tuesday, Governor Kevin Stitt signed a bill that makes it a felony to perform an abortion with an exception only if the abortion is performed to save the life of the mother

Abortion rights advocates say the bill is clearly unconstitutional, and similar laws approved recently in Arkansas and Alabama have been blocked by federal courts

'We want to outlaw abortion in the state of Oklahoma,' Stitt said during a signing ceremony for the bill. 'I promised Oklahomans that I would sign every pro-life bill that hits my desk, and that's what were doing here today.'

Under the bill, anyone convicted of performing an abortion would face up to a decade behind bars and a $100,000 fine. It does not authorize criminal charges against a woman for receiving an abortion.

Its passage comes as the conservative U.S. Supreme Court considers ratcheting back abortion rights that have been in place for nearly 50 years.

Abortion rights advocates say the bill is clearly unconstitutional, and similar laws approved recently in Arkansas and Alabama have been blocked by federal courts.

'Oklahoma legislators are trying to ban abortion from all sides and merely seeing which of these dangerous, shameful bills they can get their governor to sign,' Dr. Ghazaleh Moayedi, an obstetrician and gynecologist in Texas and Oklahoma and a board member at Physicians for Reproductive Health, said in a statement.

Although similar anti-abortion bills approved by the Oklahoma Legislature in recent years have been stopped as unconstitutional, anti-abortion lawmakers have been buoyed by the U.S. Supreme Court's decision to allow new Texas abortion restrictions to remain in place.

The new Texas law, the most restrictive anti-abortion law to take effect in the U.S. in decades, leaves enforcement up to private citizens, who are entitled to collect what critics call a 'bounty' of $10,000 if they bring a successful lawsuit against a provider or anyone who helps a patient obtain an abortion.

'The U.S. Supreme Court's failure to stop Texas from nullifying the constitutional right to abortion has emboldened other states to do the same,' Nancy Northup, president and CEO of the New York-based Center for Reproductive Rights, said in a statement. 'We've sued the state of Oklahoma ten times in the last decade to protect abortion access and we will challenge this law as well to stop this travesty from ever taking effect.'

Several states, including Oklahoma, are pursuing legislation similar to the Texas law this year.

The Texas law bans abortion after roughly six weeks of pregnancy and makes no exceptions in cases of rape or incest. Abortions in Texas have plummeted by about 50% since the law took effect, while the number of Texans going to clinics out of state and requesting abortion pills online has gone up.

One of the Texas-style Oklahoma bills, now one vote away from the governor's desk, would ban abortions from the moment of conception and would take effect immediately upon the governor's signature.
Republican Pennsylvania Senate hopeful David McCormick is insisting that he can still win the commonwealth's GOP primary despite former President Donald Trump's endorsement of Dr. Mehmet Oz.

'I think President Trump's endorsement is certainly a big deal, but I think the really big deal is that Mehmet is not a conservative, and not an America First conservative,' McCormick told radio host Rich Zeoli on Monday. 'And so I'm running for office here to convince the people in Pennsylvania that I'm going to be the guy that's going to fight for them in Washington and make sure that agenda, that America First agenda, becomes a reality.'

McCormick suggested Oz received Trump's endorsement because of their 'friendship' and not because they're necessarily politically aligned.

'I think that he was good friends with Mehmet Oz, knew him through Oz's Hollywood TV career, and they also have homes near one another in Palm Beach in Florida, so I think there was a real friendship there,' McCormick said.

McCormick said he respected Trump.

'He's incredibly popular in Pennsylvania as you know well, and has a huge following among conservatives. Mehmet Oz doesn't. You look at the polling, he is not viewed as a conservative and for good reason,' the GOP hopeful said.

Some of Trump's most vocal allies have made similar complaints, after Trump announced Saturday night he would be endorsing Oz in Pennsylvania's May 17 Republican Senate primary.

Republican Pennsylvania Senate hopeful David McCormick (pictured) is insisting that he can still win the commonwealth's GOP primary despite former President Donald Trump's endorsement of Dr. Mehmet Oz

Conservatives are grumbling over former President Donald Trump's (left) decision to back Dr. Mehmet Oz (right) in the May 17 Republican Senate primary

Conservatives on Twitter were quick to point out that Oz previously expressed support for Roe v. Wade, the landmark Supreme Court case that legalized abortion nationally, and dedicated an episode of his long-running television show to transgender children.

'This is not very conservative, Doc!' commented Jack Posobiec of Human Events, a Pennsylvania native, sharing vintage footage of Oz's episode on transgender kids.

Posobiec also called Oz the 'Romney of PA' and highlighted an Oz tweet from 2018 in which the television personality says the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention should partake in a gun violence study.

Speaking to Zeoli, McCormick pointed to a number of issues where Oz diverged from most conservatives.

'His position on guns, on life, on transgender transitions for children, on fracking,' McCormick noted.

McCormick said that he's the candidate who's been running 'as someone who is a big supporter of the president and believes his policies, the America First agenda, are the right policies for the country.'

Trump had originally backed Sean Parnell, who pulled out of the race amid a custody dispute with his ex-wife, with a judge finding her abuse allegations credible.

Parnell started criticizing Trump's endorsement of Oz in the hours following the statement's release.

Human Events' Jack Posobiec, a Pennsylvania native, tweeted out footage of a vintage Dr. Oz episode that focused on transgender children

Posobiec also highlighted an Oz tweet from 2018 that suggested the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention should conduct a study on gun violence

'You're not America First. You're not a conservative. You're not even from Pennsylvania. Hell no,' Parnell tweeted, sharing Oz's tweet announcing Trump's endorsement.

Conservative pundit Erick Erickson blasted Trump's inner circle for giving him bad advice.

'It's like Donald Trump's staff is sabotaging Trump by convincing him to make the worst possible endorsements,' Erickson tweeted Saturday night, shortly after Trump made his choice of Oz public.

While Trump backing a fellow TV personality isn't surprising, it is when some of Trump's former top aides - including Hope Hicks and Stephen Miller - are helping McCormick with his campaign.

Rep. Mo Brooks, an Alabama Republican who lost Trump's Senate endorsement when he encouraged a Trump rally audience to move on from the ex-president's false 2020 election fraud claims, also criticized the pick.

'This is happening because Trump's surrounded himself by staff who are on McConnell's payroll & hostile to the MAGA agenda,' Brooks said. 'Everybody telling Trump who to endorse in primaries works for The Swamp.'

'They played him. Again,' Brooks said.

Trump's previous selection for Pennsylvania Senate, Sean Parnell, quickly came out against his endorsement of Oz

Pundit Erick Erickson tweeted Saturday night: 'It's like Donald Trump's staff is sabotaging Trump by convincing him to make the worst possible endorsements'

The Pennsylvania-based Washington Examiner writer Salena Zito interviewed grassroots Republican activists about Trump's decision to back his fellow TV personality, and they were not impressed.

'President Trump was very out of sync in picking Oz,' Dave Ball, the chairman of the Washington County Republican Party, told Zito. 'I'd like to know who it is who lives in Pennsylvania that knows the voters well told Trump to pick Oz.'

'I think that President Trump very, very seldom does anything that's not thought out and doesn't have a very reasoned and logical basis, but, for whatever reason, in this particular instance, he chose to ignore all of that and endorse Oz,' Ball added.

Ball told Zito he had been fielding calls from conservatives grumbling about Trump's pick.

'People have been calling me all day and asking, "What the hell was he thinking?"' Ball said.

Trump made the announcement Saturday evening in the run-up to his North Carolina rally.

The ex-president said Oz would do well in traditionally Democratic Pittsburgh and Philadelphia 'where other candidates will just not be accepted.'

Rep. Mo Brooks, an Alabama Republican who lost Trump's Senate endorsement when he encouraged a Trump rally audience to move on from the ex-president's false 2020 election fraud claims, also criticized the pick

'I have known Dr. Oz for many years, as have many others, even if only through his very successful television show. He has lived with us through the screen and has always been popular, respected, and smart,' Trump said in a statement. 'He even said that I was in extraordinary health, which made me like him even more (although he also said I should lose a couple of pounds!),' Trump added.

Trump also predicted Oz would be a hit with female Republican voters.

'Women, in particular, are drawn to Dr. Oz for his advice and counsel,' Trump said. 'I have seen this many times over the years. They know him, believe in him, and trust him.'

Zito found that wasn't necessarily the case.

Nottingham township resident Heather Wilhelm told The Washington Examiner writer that she wouldn't be voting for Oz - despite being a Trump supporter.

Wilhelm suggested other conservatives would follow suit.

'In talking to other conservative voters in my cricles, there hasn't been a lot of support for Dr. Oz,' Wilhelm said. 'I think maybe the people Oz attracts are moderate voters,' she added.

On Tuesday, Trump inserted himself in Pennsylvania politics again - this time by issuing a non-endorsement in the commonwealth's governor's race.

'One person in Pennsylvania who I will not be endorsing is Bill McSwain for Governor,' Trump announced. 'He was the U.S. Attorney who did absolutely nothing on the massive Election Fraud that took place in Philadelphia and throughout the commonwealth.'

Like with Brooks, Trump has refused to be supportive of candidates who've pushed back against the so-called 'big lie,' the ex-president's false claims that widespread election fraud prevented him from winning a second term.

While the state's Democratic attorney general, Josh Shapiro, seems to have the nomination for governor on lock, there's a wide field of Republican hopefuls including state Sen. Doug Mastriano and former U.S. Rep. Lou Barletta.
Ukrainian prosecutors are expanding their war crimes investigations into the northeastern suburbs of Kyiv after Russian forces withdrew.

Investigations into civilian massacres carried out by Russian troops have primarily focused so far on the northwestern suburbs such as Bucha, Makariv and Borodyanka, but the Prosecutor-General's Office said Tuesday it was also looking into events in the Brovary district, which lies to the northeast.

Russian troops advanced into that area last month before retreating to focus on fighting in eastern Ukraine.

The Prosecutor-General's Office said the bodies of six civilians had already been found with gunshot wounds in a basement in the village of Shevchenkove and that Russian forces were believed to be responsible.

Prosecutors are also investigating an incident in which they allege Russian forces fired on a convoy of civilians trying to leave by car from the village of Peremoha in the Brovary district, killing four people including a 13-year-old boy.

Ukraine and Western leaders have in recent days accused Russian forces of committing atrocities against civilians in devastated areas around Kyiv that were under occupation - with Bucha proving to be the site of the most egregious examples of war crimes thus far.

Ukrainian authorities say over 1,200 bodies have been found in the area and that they are weighing cases against '500 suspects', including Russian President Vladimir Putin and other top officials.

On Monday, the work of exhuming bodies from a mass grave in a churchyard in Bucha resumed after more than 400 dead civilians were discovered. The majority had been gunned down.

Meanwhile, Putin and Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko today declared reports of the Bucha massacre as fake and part of a Western propaganda plan.

Members of an international team of war crimes prosecutors and Prosecutor General of Ukraine Iryna Venediktova (C) during a visit to a mass grave in Bucha, Kyiv (Kiev) area, Ukraine, 12 April 2022

Forensic investigators began exhuming a mass grave in Bucha containing more than 410 bodies of civilians, according to Ukrainian officials. The UN Human Rights Council has decided to launch an investigation into the violations committed after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the Ukrainian Parliament reported

Prosecutor General of Ukraine Iryna Venediktova speaks to journalists during a visit to a mass grave in Bucha, Kyiv (Kiev) area, Ukraine, 12 April 2022

Ukrainian authorities say over 1,200 bodies have been found in the area and that they are weighing cases against '500 suspects', including Russian President Vladimir Putin (pictured) and other top officials

An international team of forensic experts have deployed to Bucha, where Ukraine's Prosecutor General Iryna Venediktova is leading the search for more bodies and the exhumation of several other mass graves.

The bodies of 132 civilians were also found shot dead in Makariv, a town about 30 miles west of the capital at the weekend. All died from bullet wounds, the town's mayor said.

Roughly 40 per cent 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.

However, Putin today declared the mounting evidence to suggest his forces had carried out war crimes in Bucha as false, in his first personal statement on the topic.

During a joint press conference between Putin and Lukashenko, the Russian strongman dismissed the harrowing events of Bucha as fake while instead pointing to America's bombing of Syria and Afghanistan as real instances of war crimes.

'When [Western leaders] say ''Bucha'' to me, I ask them - ''Have you ever been to Raqqa? Did you see how this Syrian city was turned to rubble by American aircraft?'', Putin said.

'Corpses lay in the ruins for months decomposing. Nobody cared. No one even noticed.'

Lukashenko went even further, declaring that the Russian security service (FSB) could even prove that the events of Bucha were in fact concocted by British and other Western bad actors to discredit Russia's 'military operation' in Ukraine.

'Today we discussed this psychological special operation carried out by the British in detail,' the Belarusian leader said.

'If someone needs addresses, passwords, the car numbers and brands in which they arrived in Bucha, and how they did it, the FSB of Russia can provide these materials.

'If not, then we can help in this regard.'

Russian President Vladimir Putin (R) and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko (L) shake hands during a meeting in the far eastern Amur region, Russia, 12 April 2022

Putin today declared the mounting evidence to suggest his forces had carried out war crimes in Bucha as false, in his first personal statement on the topic, while Lukashenko said the Russian FSB could prove that British bad actors had staged the scenes of war crimes (Russian President Vladimir Putin (L), Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko (C) and Roscosmos State Space Corporation Director General Dmitry Rogozin (R), pictured April 12)

Ukrainian officials are also investigating a claim that a poisonous substance was dropped on besieged Mariupol yesterday, as Western officials warned that any use of chemical weapons by Russia would be a serious escalation of the already devastating war.

Thwarted in his apparent ambition to overrun Kyiv, Putin is now building up forces for a new offensive in the eastern Donbas region, and insisted that his campaign would continue until it achieves its goals.

He said Russia 'had no other choice' but to launch what he calls a 'special military operation', saying it was to protect civilians in the predominantly Russian-speaking Donbas.

As Ukrainian forces brace for a new attack, deputy defence minister Hanna Maliar said it was possible phosphorus munitions  which cause horrendous burns but are not classed as chemical weapons  had been used in Mariupol.

That city lies in the Donbas and has been razed in six weeks of pummeling by Russian troops that the mayor said has left more than 10,000 civilians dead, with their corpses 'carpeted through the streets'.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Monday night that Russian forces could use chemical weapons in the city, echoing similar, repeated warnings by Western officials.

UK Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said use of chemical weapons 'would be a callous escalation in this conflict', while Australian foreign minister Marise Payne said it would be a 'wholesale breach of international law'

Leaders inside and outside of the country said they were urgently investigating the unconfirmed claim by a Ukrainian regiment that a poisonous substance was dropped on fighters in Mariupol.

UK Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said use of chemical weapons 'would be a callous escalation in this conflict', while Australian foreign minister Marise Payne said it would be a 'wholesale breach of international law'.

However, a U.S. defence official speaking on condition of anonymity said the Pentagon had not yet been able to confirm the use of chemical weapons.

The official added the United States had no information to support the movement of chemical agents by Russia in or near Ukraine.
Nurse Lucy Letby has appeared in court via videolink ahead of a trial in which she is accused of killing eight babies as parents of her alleged victims watch the hearing.

The 31-year-old is alleged to have gone on a year-long killing spree while working on the neonatal unit of the Countess of Chester Hospital, Chester.

She pleaded not guilty at an earlier hearing to the murders of five baby boys and three baby girls plus 10 counts of attempted murder of five baby boys and five baby girls.

The nurse is currently being held at the HMP Bronzefield prison in Ashford, Surrey.

She sat impassive throughout the 45-minute hearing, today, and spoke only to confirm her identity and that she could hear proceedings via a videolink from Manchester Crown Court.

The parents of two of her alleged victims were sat in the public gallery during the hearing, with more watching from Chester Crown Court remotely.

Lucy Letby, 31, pictured, is alleged to have gone on a year-long killing spree while working on the neonatal unit of the Countess of Chester Hospital, Chester

The nurse appeared at Chester Crown Court via video link from HMP Bronzefield in Ashford, Surrey (Pictured: Police at the home of nurse Lucy Letby in Chester)

She is alleged to have murdered five boys and three girls while working at the neonatal unit of Countess of Chester Hospital (pictured)

Ms Letby, of Arran Avenue, Hereford, was remanded back into custody by Mr Justice Goss as the hearing concluded.

He told the defendant: 'Lucy Letby you will remain in custody where you are presently and there will be another hearing of this case in the early part of June.

'You will be required to attend, either in person, or over the link; it is a matter that will be considered nearer the time.'

She denies all charges relating to between June 2015 and June 2016.

A court order prohibits reporting of the identities of surviving and deceased children allegedly attacked by Letby, and prohibits identifying the parents or witnesses connected with the children.

Legal issues, which cannot be reported, were also discussed today between her lawyer, Ben Myers QC and the judge Mr Justice Goss.

Ms Letby, pictured, pleaded not guilty at an earlier hearing to the eight murders plus 10 counts of attempted murder of babies

Ms Letby had first been detained by Cheshire Police back in 2018 after a spike in the number of deaths at her neonatal unit.

She was re-arrested over the same alleged offences in 2019 and again last year.

Police launched an investigation after the hospital raised concerns at the high number of deaths between March 2015 and July 2016 - which were said to be 10 per cent above average.

An internal inquiry was undertaken when medics found premature babies had died following heart and lung failure, but were unusually impossible to resuscitate.

Ms Letby has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

A date of October 4 has been set for Ms Letby's trial, estimated to last up to six months at Manchester Crown Court.
Badreddin Abadlla Adam was one of hundreds of asylum seekers moved into hotels in the Scottish city at the start of the first Covid lockdown

A Sudanese asylum seeker who stabbed six people before he was shot dead by police during a rampage in Glasgow called the Home Office and various migrant support groups about his mental health more than 70 times before his attack, reports claim.

Badreddin Abadlla Adam was one of hundreds of asylum seekers moved into hotels in the Scottish city at the start of the first Covid lockdown.

The 28-year-old attacked six people in the Park Inn hotel, including three other asylum seekers, Police Constable David Whyte and two members of hotel staff during the frenzied rampage in June 2020.

It is now understood he had contacted the Home Office, the housing and social care provider Mears, and the charity Migrant Help 72 times about his health and accommodation in the period leading up to the attack.

An internal Home Office evaluation, seen by the BBC, said his calls 'should have acted as a warning'.

It also found Adam had complained to staff in the hotel and was in touch with the Home Office about an assisted voluntary return to his home country.

Hotel staff were warned about the 28-year-old's mental state the night before, it was previously reported.

The review is said to have made various recommendations, including developing a system to identify patterns of contact which may cause concern, and ensuring hotel staff are given 'mental health awareness and de-escalation training.'

A spokesperson for the Home Office said 'significant' changes have now been made.

The 28-year-old attacked six people in the Park Inn hotel, including three other asylum seekers, Police Constable David Whyte and two members of hotel staff during the frenzied rampage in June 2020

Armed police at West George Street in Glasgow, Scotland, June 26, 2020

Refugees for Justice was among multiple organisations and charities at the time raising concerns after Mears, which was subcontracted by the Home Office, moved refugees from self-contained accommodation to hotels.

Its members have been been campaigning for an independent public inquiry into the Park Inn incident since 2020.

The organisation's Dylan Fotoohi told the BBC the Home Office review is a 'shameful cover-up attempt'.

He said: 'Lessons have not been learned, there has been no meaningful investigation, the biased evaluation report by the Home Office has been kept hidden, and they have now expanded the exact same practice that led to these tragedies in Glasgow to other cities in Scotland.

'This is utterly unacceptable.'

A Home Office spokesperson said: 'Due to the pandemic the Home Office had to use an unprecedented number of hotels for asylum seekers, including in Glasgow.

The incident took place near the Park Inn hotel in Glasgow city centre

'The use of hotels is unacceptable and we are working hard to find appropriate accommodation for asylum seekers but local authorities must do all they can to help house people permanently.

'Since this horrific incident we have undertaken a number of significant changes to keep asylum seekers safe, including how we, our contractors and charities spot vulnerable individuals and provide them with wraparound support and appropriate accommodation.

'The Home Office has completed the majority of recommendations in the review which found that hotels in Glasgow were of a good standard, clean and well-maintained.

'Our New Plan for Immigration, which is going through Parliament now, will fix the broken asylum system, enabling us to grant protection to those entitled to it and to remove those with no right to be here more quickly.'

Adam had fled Sudan and is believed to have been in Germany and France before coming to the UK, where he had been for seven months.
A 137 year-old family bakery faces ruin after a woke college falsely accused it of racism - then refused to pay a $33m defamation award ordered by a court.

Gibson's Bakery in Oberlin, Ohio, has slashed its staff from 12 to four after the 2016 incident that saw Oberlin College students - and senior staff members - brand the family business racist.

They did so after Gibson's called the cops on three black shoplifters who stole wine and attacked a staff member, and who were later convicted. When DailyMail.com visited the bakery on Tuesday morning, it was quiet, with staff members there still too distressed by the ordeal to speak.

The Gibsons suffered horrific stress as a result of Oberlin's lies and involvement in protests as well as boycotts, which culminated in the college and its former dean of students Meredith Raimondo being ordered to pay out $44 million for defamation in 2019.

That was later reduced to $33 million, but Oberlin has arrogantly declared that it still won't pay out after losing a state court appear earlier this month. It has also refused to apologize, despite multiple college staff and numerous resources being deployed for the protests and boycotts. Meanwhile, Raimondo has landed on her feet with a cozy new college job in Georgia despite her appalling behavior.

The saga inflicted by college has dragged on for so long that two senior members of the Gibson family died with a stain on their reputation, while waiting for the cash they're legally entitled to.

Gibson's Bakery was quiet during a visit by DailyMail.com on Tuesday morning. Family members were too upset to discuss their ordeal at the hands of Oberlin, but their lawyer said it had cost them business and forced them to lay-off staff

Allyn Gibson Sr - who marched with Martin Luther King Jr - died in February this year aged 93.

And one of his sons, David, died of pancreatic cancer in November 2019 aged 65. He revealed he'd agreed to avoid mentioning the disease during the defamation trial for fear of influencing the jury.

But he released a message before his death saying he believed Oberlin bosses were trying to 'wait the family out' before paying in the hopes that his death would take the heat off them.

The family's attorney Lee Plakas said an unofficial boycott among Oberlin staff and students remains in place, with the bakery quiet when DailyMail.com visited on Tuesday morning.

Plakas explained that when Gibson's hits the news - such as in a DailyMail.com report published yesterday, which was followed-up by Fox News, orders usually roll in.

The family opened-up this morning to 100 enquiries from prospective customers, but Plakas says this business eventually tails off as the story fades from memory, leaving the Gibsons scrabbling around to try and make ends meet.

But former Oberlin dean of students and vice president Meredith Raimondo has faced no such heartache. She was allowed to leave her job in 2021 - despite leading the charge against Gibson's and even protesting outside the shop with a bullhorn and leaflets accusing it of racial profiling.

Raimondo - who also threatened to unleash a woke mob on a professor who criticized the protests - is now free to wreak havoc at Oglethorpe Liberal Arts College in Atlanta.

She took up a position there as vice president of student affairs, and has not responded to DailyMail.com requests for comment on her bullying behavior.

Allyn Gibson (right) and David Gibson (left) fought for their family's legacy until their deaths. David Gibson died in November 2019 at age 65 and Allyn, 93, died in February 2022

DailyMail.com has also contacted Oglethorpe for a comment from Raimondo's appointment.

Attorney Lee Plakas, who represents the Gibsons, told DailyMail.com Tuesday that the college's false accusations continue to hurt the family today.

'Business has suffered and the family is doing everything they possibly can to continue the bakery's tradition,' he said, noting how the bakery was forced to cut back its staff, going from nearly a dozen workers to three to four total employees.

Plakas said the Gibsons were forced to downsize operations because business has significantly slowed and that theyre just trying to hold on until the justice system forces the college to pay for the damages they caused.

'The Gibsons are understandably concerned,' the attorney explained. 'They are very disappointed that the college, to this date - even with this record and mountain of evidence that they were wrong - is acting this way.'

Oberlin can take the case to the Ohio Supreme Court, and US Supreme Court. Legal analysts say the famously-woke college may be deploying cutthroat legal tactics in a bid to force the Gibsons to settle for less, in return for avoiding the stress of further legal tussles.

After the allegations of racial profiling surfaced, Oberlin College terminated its contract with Gibson's, which had been longtime provider to the school's dining hall facility, despite the fact that the bakery never received any complaints of about its product, prices or professionalism

Former Dean of Students and Vice President Meredith Raimondo stoked protests against Gibson's Bakery following the shoplifting incident, even though the claims were found to be totally false. She has since been blamed for much of the behavior that has seen Oberlin ordered to pay $35 million for defamation, with Raimondo since moving to a college in Atlanta

Jonathan Aladin, Endia Lawrence (center) and Cecilia Whettstone (right) were all convicted of shoplifting from Oberlin - but the woke college still accused the family-run business they stole from of racism, and boycotted them

Timeline of Gibson vs. Oberlin College Nov. 9, 2016: Allyn Gibson Jr. catches Oberlin College student Jonathan Aladin stealing a bottle of wine from Gibson's Bakery around 5pm, prompting a pursuit down the street. Aladin's friends, Endia Lawrence and Cecilia Whettstone, intervened and a brawl ensued. All three students are arrested. Later that evening, around 10pm, a group of students plan a protest alleging Allyn Jr racially profiled the three suspects. The students promote the protest via email. Nov. 10, 2016: Dean of Students Meredith Ramiondo learns of the planned protest around 7am. She helps distribute a student-created flyer detailing the incident and encouraging community members to boycott Gibson's. Around 11am, approximately 200 students gathered outside Gibson's Bakery in protest. Raimondo helped lead the demonstration using a megaphone. Later that evening, around 11.15pm the Oberlin College Student Senate notifies school officials it has passed a resolution condemning the bakery. The resolution posted in a display case at school's student center, where it remained for a year. Nov. 11, 2016: Students assemble around 11am for a second day of protest. Nov. 12, 2016: Counterprotests arrive in Oberlin to show their support for the Gibson family. Nov. 14, 2016: Oberlin College suspends placing daily orders for bakery products for the dining halls. All other business arrangements with the shop are permitted to continue. Nov. 21, 2016: Then-college President Krislov meets with David Gibson and others at the Presidents House. Jan. 18, 2017: Dean of Students and Chief of Staff meet with David Gibson. Jan. 23, 2017: President Krislov issues a statement to the campus community indicating that the college is resuming standing orders with the bakery. April 27, 2017: Indictments are filed against Aladin, Lawrence and Whettstone, which included felony robbery charges. Aug. 14, 2017: The three students charged with shoplifting pleaded guilty to amended misdemeanor charges. The plea deal called for them to receive no jail time and to pay restitution. Nov. 17, 2017: Gibson family files a defamation lawsuit against Oberlin College and Raimondo. June 2019: A jury awards found the school guilty of libel, due largely to evidence against Raimondo. Oberlin College was ordered to pay Gibson's Bakery $40 million in damages, which was reduced to $25 million and $6 million in legal fees Oct. 9, 2019: Oberlin College announces its attorneys were filing an appeal in the Gibson's Bakery case. Nov. 16, 2019: David Gibson dies at age 65 after a battle with pancreatic cancer. June 5, 2020: Oberlin College files appeal brief in Gibson's Bakery case Feb. 12, 2022: Allyn Gibson Sr dies at age 93. March 31, 2022: The court rejects appeals by Oberlin College and upheld the judgment against the school. April 1, 2022: The court orders Oberlin College to pay Gibson's $33million. The college continues to contest the payout and says it is considering its options. April 4, 2022: A DailyMail.com reporter visits Oberlin, Ohio and speaks with the Gibson family attorney. Advertisement

The college feared its student body would have 'food tantrums' if they continue to serve Gibson's products, so it ceased using the bakery as a food service provider, Plakas alleged.

'The college became the appeasers rather than the moderators,' he said. 'The reason they cancelled the longstanding food service order with Gibson was to appease the students because they feared the students would throw tantrums..

'Heres a college where tuition is approximately $70,000 a year and, I would expect if you send children to college and pay that tuition, you can reasonably expect there will be an adult in the room. The adult will be a moderating voice. But these adults were pouring gasoline on what shouldve been a spark and it became an inferno.'

The drama that severed the family's longstanding reputation in the Oberlin community also took a toll on the health of Allyn and his son, David Gibson, 65, both of whom died waiting for the college's settlement.

'The impact on the family is equally dramatic, if not more so,' Plakas said.

Allyn, also known as Grandpa Gibson, had reportedly dedicated his life to being a good citizen and maintaining the upstanding legacy his ancestors created when they opened the bakery in 1885.

Grandpa Gibson told his son, David: "Ive lived my life the right way and done all the right things and Ive helped people, people of all colors and ethnic backgrounds, and at the end of my hard life, theyre trying to brand me and my family as a racist,"' Plakas recalled, citing David's testimony during the trial against Oberlin College.

'That moment was a poignant moment in trial. It was hard for David Gibson to get out that testimony because he knew how much these false claims had impacted and hurt Grandpa Gibson, who had dedicated his life to doing the right thing,' the attorney added.

Grandpa marched with Martin Luther King for fairness and equality, so for the college to sacrifice the great Gibson to appease their students, had a dramatic impact on his health. When you ruin someones reputation you cant go to the doctor, you have to live with it.

David, who died in November 2019, was also committed to preserving the family's reputation despite his ongoing battle with pancreatic cancer.

Defending their reputation and protecting the family legacy was so important to the family that although David Gibson had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer during the trial and was receiving treatment, he was there every day at the trial when he was suffering,' Plakas shared.

Although he was ill, David refused to make the jury aware of his condition, fearing they might sympathize for him or his family, the attorney alleged.

'David said the whole purpose was a vindication of the family long reputation and he wanted any determination to be solely on the facts and the history,' Plakas told DailyMail.com. 'He was concerned if the jury knew he was being treated for cancer that would some way impact their verdict in his favor. He didnt want the verdict colored in anyway.'

Plakas shared how David believed the 'facts would speak for themselves' and he wanted his family to be judged 'on their conduct' and history in the community.

The 65-year-old knew 'the college helped propagate the false allegation they had a long history of racism' and was confident the evidence submitted to the jury would prove it.

David's dying wish was that his wife, Lorna Gibson, continue to fight for their family's bakery and legacy.

Lorna is working hard, she feels vulnerable, and somewhat alone without David and Grandpa,' Plakas said of the now-owner of Gibson's Bakery.

'David made her promise, before he passed away, that she would do everything she could humanly do to keep the bakery going and not let the actions of Oberlin College end the long and proud history of the bakery.'

The attorney said Lorna believes by 'working as much as humanely possible' she is fulfilling her promise to her late husband.

Allyn Gibson Jr (left) caught a black Oberlin student, Jonathan Aladin, attempting to steal a bottle of wine from the bakery. Allyn Jr chased Aladin down the street and, according to witness accounts, put the man in a choke-hold before two of the student's friends intervened and a brawl ensued. David Gibson (right) is pictured in 2016 after the attack

This is one of the flyers handed out by students, encouraging others to boycott Gibson's Bakery, later included in their libel lawsuit

However, as Gibson's Bakery struggled to survive, Raimondo, despite her lies and bullying, was allowed to continue working at the college until she stepped down at the end of 2021 to pursue an opportunity in Georgia.

Neither she nor her new employer, Oglethorpe College, immediately responded to DailyMail.com's request for comment.

When asked about Raimondo's employment, Plakas reiterated that Oberlin College took the side of appeasement.

'Since this event, the college never acted as the adult in the room or moderating force, they never mentored the students. They never said lets gather the facts and see what really happened,' he explained.

The attorney did note: Virtually, every admin that testified in the trial and made certain statements for admission to evidence is no longer at Oberlin.

Gibson's Bakery found itself plunged into a firestorm on November 9, 2016, the day after Donald Trump was elected president.

The drama began Allyn Jr caught a black Oberlin student, Jonathan Aladin, attempting to steal a bottle of wine from the bakery.

Allyn Jr chased Aladin down the street and, according to witness accounts, put the man in a choke-hold before two of the student's friends - Endia Lawrence and Cecelia Whettstone - intervened and a brawl ensued.

The next day Oberlin students held protests outside Gibson's accusing the bakery of racially profiling Aladin.

The family's attorney said the Gibsons were forced to downsize operations because business has significantly slowed and that theyre just trying to hold on until the justice system forces the college to pay for the damages they caused'. Gibson's Bakery is pictured on Tuesday

David Gibson is pictured serving whole wheat donuts to Stevie Wonder in May 2010

The Oberlin College student newspaper publishes photos of the protests and pens: 'The social implications of being seen at Gibson's are much worse than any freshman faux pas I can imagine'

Aladin, Lawrence and Whettstone, later pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges of attempted theft and aggravated trespass, and themselves said Gibson's actions were not racially motivated.

But Oberlin, led by dean Raimondo and many students, had already decided to punish Gibson's for the imaged transgression before allowing them fair due process.

The students held protests outside the storefront that led to a severe loss in business, including the loss of a vital contract the bakery had held with the school for years.

'When the college sponsored new student tours, the student tour leaders - who are students paid by the college - go by and they tell the students and parents in the group, that Gibson's is a racist establishment and we dont go there,' Plakas said, alleging this rhetoric still occurs during tours today.

'They told incoming freshmen that the worst faux pas a freshman can commit is being seen at Gibsons bakery,' he added.

The shop also had suffered frequent thefts in the run-up to the incident which saw it accused of racism.

Raimondo encouraged the boycott and distributed fliers during the protests accusing the bakery of a longtime history of racial profiling and offered students up to $100 in compensation for protest supplies.

She even texted another dean to share her desire to unleash another woke mob on an academic who blasted Oberlin's bullying of Gibson's.

She wrote: 'F**k him. Id say unleash the students if I wasnt convinced this needs to be put behind us.'

Gibson's Bakery sued Oberlin College and Raimondo in 2017 for loss of business.

In 2019, the school was found guilty, due largely to evidence against Raimondo.

The institution was ordered to pay Gibson's Bakery $40 million in damages, which was reduced to $25 million and $6 million in legal fees.

Gibson's Bakery sued Oberlin College (pictured Tuesday) and Raimondo in 2017 for loss of business. In 2019, the school was found guilty, due largely to evidence against Raimondo. The institution was ordered to pay Gibson's Bakery $40 million in damages, which was reduced to $25 million and $6 million in legal fees

The college and Raimondo appealed that sentence, but it was upheld this month. Oberlin College admitted that it is still refusing to pay the cash to the family business it tried to ruin.

The college issued a mealy-mouthed statement when contacted by DailyMail.com on Monday, saying: 'Oberlin is obviously disappointed that the appeals court affirmed the judgment in its ruling. We are reviewing the Courts opinion carefully as we evaluate our options and determine next steps.

'In the meantime, we recognize that the issues raised by this case have been challenging, not only for the parties involved in the lawsuit, but for the entire Oberlin community.

'We remain committed to strengthening the partnership between the College, the City of Oberlin and its residents, and the downtown business community. We will continue in that important work while remaining focused on our core educational mission.'

The college was ranked among the 20 most expensive colleges in the U.S. last year, according to a report from The National Observer. Despite the high price tag, the school has only seen a 4 percent decline in its enrollment over the last five years.
Did YOU see what happened? Email: james.gant@mailonline.co.uk

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This is the harrowing moment terrified passengers banged on a subway car door as they desperately tried to flee a rampaging gunman in Brooklyn this morning.

Shocking footage showed one of the travelers frantically launching his body against the metal frame and tugging at the handle in a bid to escape the hail of bullets.

Others recorded themselves yanking on the handgrip several times - proving it was locked - while the shooter loomed nearby.

It comes as terrified witnesses told how the shooting on the packed train triggered a horror stampede - with children trampled on as commuters ran for their lives.

Passengers revealed there was a huge surge toward the exit of the subway carriages as people screamed 'gun' and 'bomb' while the sound of shots rang out.

Cemile Toseglu, 17, a student at Brooklyn Tech who was on her way to school, said other riders jumped over her in panic while the gunman continued to cause carnage.

The shooter, wearing a green construction vest, grey hoodie and gas mask, is currently on the run in Brooklyn after spraying three magazines into the train in Sunset Park during rush hour.

The suspect, described as a 5-foot-5 black man, weighing 170 pounds, is believed to have chucked a smoke bomb into the northbound N service as it moved toward 36th Street.

He shot 10 people - five of whom are now in a critical but stable condition - before potentially making off into the subway tunnels.

Distressing footage from moments after the gunman let loose on his victims showed passengers desperately trying to get into other carriages.

This video, taken inside the next car along on the train, shows worried commuters walking away from the door as someone pounded on it , begging to be let in. They tried to open it but the door was locked

Terrified passengers run off the train at the 36th Street station on Tuesday morning after the shooting on the train

A mass shooting and possible explosion have rocked a subway train in New York at rush hour

One man recorded himself walking up to the door connecting two subway cars and pulling on it to prove they were locked and he could not escape.

He said: 'It don't f***ing open.' In the background other travelers on the system can be heard screaming as they make their exit.

Another clip showed passengers slowly filtering out of one of the carriages while a man could be seen through the window in the next car desperately trying to break through.

He pleaded with them for help as he banged and yanked on the handle but appeared to be able to break down the connecting metal door.

The other customers, some holding their drinks in their hands, watched him struggle but seemed to turn around and carry on exiting their area.

Meanwhile witnesses, including children, parents and commuters going about their usual rush hour routine, told how the terror unfolded this morning.

Ms Toseglu, who was on her way to Brooklyn Tech, said the bullets going off triggered a horror stampede from the huge numbers packed into the carriages.

She told DailyMail.com: 'The train carried on to 46th street but then we were told to get on the R train because the N wasn't moving.

'The R was very crowded, the most crowded I've ever seen it and everyone was cramped. On 25th street the train conductor said there would be delays so we were standing still.

'That's when there was like a loud noise and people ran towards me - a large crowd. A woman fell and people just ran over her.

'Someone then scream gun and I ran out of the train, I was near the exit but people were jumping over me to get themselves out too.

'No one really knew what was going on. I didn't see the man because I was closer to the exit in the next carriage. That was definitely the most crowded I've seen the R train.'

Speaking from her home, she added: 'I was most scared about the fact that there were a lot of children on the way to school.'

New Yorkers lie on the platform at 36th Street station after falling out of the southbound R train. They were shot on the train by a gunman who unleashed a smoke bomb and then opened fire before fleeing at around 8.30am

Horror pictures from the scene showed blood strewn across the carriage during the latest attack to rock the city

Horrifying scene photos and videos show people covered in blood, lying on the stained subway platform after being shot

Her father Cemil, who runs a store opposite the station, said he was glad his daughter was safe but admitted he had not realized the severity of the attack until she arrived at his shop.

He said: 'My daughter was going to school and was on the same train when it happened. She said there was smoke and she was told to get into the other train.

'She's now safe and came to my office before I sent her home. She is okay but is a little surprised. I didn't think it was that serious but she then told me people were yelling that it was a man with a gun and maybe a bomb.'

Meanwhile a man who was also on the train said he watched as the smoke bomb was let off and revealed he had thought it was a firework.

Yav Montano told CNN: 'It was crazy. I take the N train every morning to get to where I need to work. From 59th Street to 36th Street, the N-train is express, is where all the dramatics happened.

'I'm in the third part of the express N train. The smoke grenade went off two minutes before we got to 36th street platform. The train was inching towards. It seemed like it was planned.

'This smoke bomb, and what I thought was fireworks, but I'm hearing it was gunshots. I have no words for what I could see.

'I was in the car - I was in the front end of the third car. Everything happened at the back end. People started migrating to the front of the car.

'I don't know if people know this, it's one of those old things where they locked the door to stop people traveling between trains.

'There were people in the other car who saw what was happening and they tried to open it but couldn't. There was blood on the floor, a lot of blood trailing,.

'At the time, I didn't think it was a shooting. It sounded like fireworks. People trampling over each other, trying to get over each other. Thankfully the train moved to the next stop and everyone filed off the train.'

The chaos unfolded at 8.30am on Tuesday morning near the 36th Street subway station in Sunset Park, Brooklyn

Another witness told The New York Post the gunman - who was described as a '5ft 5 black man weighing 170lbs', fired 'too many rounds to count'.

He said: 'I thought he was an MTA worker at first because I was like, I didn't like pay too much attention. You know? You've got the orange on.'

Meanwhile a college student, 21, who was also on the train but asked not to be named, said the suspect was sitting in the back of the carriage with his luggage.

She said: 'I saw the guy in orange. He was sitting there in the back of the car. I didn't quite pay attention. He was just sitting there and there was luggage with him and he was just holding it next to him.

'There was a big bang sound and people got scared and there were people laying down and running off and I just followed them.

She added: 'I was running, and then laying there, I heard people scream that they got hurt and they need help.' Another man in the same carriage claimed he clothes smelled like gunpowder after the smoke grenades went off.

And Sam Carcamo told radio station 1010 WINS: 'My subway door opened into calamity. It was smoke and blood and people screaming.'

The chaotic scene at the 36th Street subway station in Sunset Park, Brooklyn, on Tuesday morning

EMTs rush to the subway station on Tuesday morning after eight people were shot and another five were injured

NYPD ESU teams at the scene on Tuesday after a gunman opened fire on the subway at around 8.30am

Shocking video shows passengers spilling out on to the platform as soon as the doors opened, coughing as smoke billowed out from the subway car.

Some travelers carried wounded victims off the train and lay them on the platform to render aid until help came. Others, fearing for their life, ran away in tears.

The footage showed blood-covered victims strewn across the ground at the subway station as smoke billowed out of the train.

One person was seen lying still on the floor with their hands over their face and their legs raised after the terrifying attack.

Others had lost shoes and had their clothes torn as the New York subway's speaker system blared out messages to the passengers.

Commuters were screamed at to get on a different train to safety while the wounded were treated by emergency services.

Multiple smoke bombs were found at the 36th Street station, according to the FDNY, but the NYPD says none are active explosives.

The gunman remains at large. NYPD units are scouring the city's empty subway tunnels to find him and an amber alert has been issued.
A Swedish police operation that swept up 38 men visiting prostitutes found that 30 of them had paid to sleep with exploited Ukrainian women, some of whom were refugees from the war.

'Operation Cod', conducted in March, made the shocking discovery that Ukrainian women, often fleeing their homeland alone or with children, were being exploited and trafficked to Sweden to work as prostitutes.

'It's startling,' police inspector Simon Haggstrom told broadcaster SVT.

'It can be clear from the ads that the women have recently come from Ukraine, but these men do not care,'

'More or less all the women we spoke to say that it is the war that has led to prostitution. You have no choice but to sell your body to help your families who are in Ukraine or who are on the run,' Haggstrom added.

Pictured: Suspected sex traffickers at the Polish/Ukraine border at Medyka, Poland (their faces have been pixellated for legal reasons)

An ex-British army soldier talks to a Ukrainian refugee mother and child at the Polish/Ukraine boarder. (His face has been pixellated to protect his privacy)

Haggstrom said that many of the women are lured by sex traffickers to Sweden via adverts on the internet that promise cash and accommodation in exchange for working as prostitutes.

'The traffickers attract [women] with package solutions where they pay for travel and accommodation.

'Then there are so-called operators who act as intermediaries between the women and the sex buyers. Everything is very organized,' inspector Haggstrom said.

The war in Ukraine caused a huge surge in migration and displacement as over four million Ukrainians have fled their homeland as refugees, according to the UN refugee agency UNHCR - mostly women and children, as men were expected to stay.

This has created chaotic conditions at border crossings and train stations with neighbouring countries such as Poland which are ideal of sex traffickers to operate in.

Shirin Tinnesand, refugee and migration coordinator at the NGO said that Ukrainian refugees are at risk of being exposed to human trafficking, prostitution, organ donation.

'Only imagination sets the limits.'

Ukrainian refugees arriving at a welcome and information hall in the port of Nynashamn, about 60 km south of Stockholm, Sweden. Many sex traffickers dress like humanitarian workers to blend in and operate undetected.

'It is a fact that people smugglers pretend to be volunteers who go to places where it is chaotic and where there is no clear organization and the more people who come, the more inconspicuous it becomes and with it easier for smugglers and criminal organizations to operate,' Tinnesand said.

Tinnesand claims that video footage seen by her organisation appears to show a man wearing a yellow vest with a volunteer written on his back approaching Ukrainian women at the main train station in Krakow, Poland and offering them free food and accommodation for a year if they board a 'special bus' to Germany.

'We can't say that he's a trafficker, but that's often how they work, that they come to collection areas and strategically seek out single women, young women,' Tinnesand said.

She added that many of them dress like humanitarian workers to blend in and operate undetected.

'It is a fact that people smugglers pretend to be volunteers who go to places where it is chaotic and where there is no clear organization and the more people who come, the more inconspicuous it becomes and with it easier for smugglers and criminal organizations to operate,' Tinnesand said.

With Putin's war in Ukraine entering a new phase and the Ukrainian government ordering all civilians to leave the Donbass, the flow of refugees into Europe will not relax any time soon.
A Romanian couple were found dead in their tattoo shop yesterday evening in a suspected murder suicide as friends have paid tribute to the 'absolutely lovely pair'.

The man and woman, named locally as Catalin Micu and Ramona Stoia, were declared dead at the scene in Canterbury shortly before 5.30pm on Monday.

Earlier today, police investigators confirmed that only the 35-year-old woman's death was being treated as suspicious.

They both worked at the popular GothInk Studio, which offers tattoos and piercings, in the city and it is understood the couple had a son together and had lived in the city for a number of years.

Eyewitnesses in the area reported seeing at least eight police vehicles and four ambulances with a helicopter and armed police also attending.

Pictures from the scene also showed forensic investigators in white uniforms with equipment, gathering evidence.

The man and woman, named locally as Catalin Micu and Ramona Stoia (pictured), were declared dead at the scene in Canterbury on Monday in a suspected murder suicide

Kent Police confirmed on Tuesday that only Ms Stoia's death is being treated as suspicious

The circumstances of their deaths are still under investigation but Kent Police have said 'officers are not currently looking for anyone else in connection with the investigation'.

A Kent Police spokesman said: 'Detectives from the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate are investigating the deaths of two people in Canterbury.

'At 5.19pm on Monday 11 April 2022, officers attended an address in Lower Bridge Street, where a 54-year-old man and a 35-year-old woman, who were known to each other, were pronounced deceased at the scene.

'Enquiries into the circumstances surrounding the incident are ongoing.

'However, officers are not currently looking for anyone else in connection with the investigation.'

The road and surrounding area remained cordoned off until the early hours of this morning.

Police confirmed only the woman's death is being treated as suspicious. Pictured: the scene

Armed police rushed to the scene after the Romanian couple were found dead on Monday

Tarpaulin and police tape remains in place today (April 12) at the shop, which sits between Oriental Grocers and Smart Nails.

Local business owners, who knew the 'nice and quiet' couple, have spoken of their horror following the incident.

Owner of Omicron Print Specialists, Mark Fawcett-Jones, 47, said: 'I was just closing up at around 5.15pm when it went crazy.

'There were loads of police and sirens.'

He added: 'It was probably a stabbing.

'The two people who owned the store were involved.

Catalin Micu and Ramona Stoia were pronounced dead at the scene by medics on Monday

'They were a nice couple. They've been here for a few years. They were nice and quiet.'

Anggoon Buttayotee, owner of nearby Oriental Grocers, added: 'The police kept coming and coming. But we don't know details.'

Matthew Sandhu, 27, who helps run The Pilgrim's Shop, a newsagent, said he was familiar with Catalin and Ramona, and spoke of his shock at the incident.

He added: 'I've seen them around and didn't think they were any trouble.

'It's crazy, you see it all over the news all the time, but when it happens around here you think oh s***.'

News of their death has sparked an outpouring of grief on social media, with one woman describing Ramona as 'a pure, perfect soul'.

One woman wrote in an online tribute: 'This is so sad. RIP to you both. I cant believe this both lovely people.

'Feel for everyone at this sad time. I just hope you didn't suffer to bad in your last moment. Fly hight angles.'

Another added: 'Absolutely tragic their amazing work will live on. Sending condolences and blessings especially to their child and family.'

Detectives from the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate are investigating the deaths.
In this image made from UNTV video, Kateryna Cherepakha, director at La Strada-Ukraine, speaks during a United Nations Security Council meeting, April 11. AP-Yonhap





The United Nations is increasingly hearing accounts of rape and sexual violence in Ukraine, a senior U.N. official told the Security Council, Monday, as a Ukrainian human rights group accused Russian troops of using rape as a weapon of war.







Kateryna Cherepakha, president of La Strada-Ukraine, said her organization's emergency hotlines had received calls accusing Russian soldiers of nine cases of rape, involving 12 women and girls.







"This is just the tip of the iceberg," she told the council via video. "We know and see  and we want you to hear our voices  that violence and rape is used now as a weapon of war by Russian invaders in Ukraine."







Russia has repeatedly denied attacking civilians since its invasion of Ukraine began Feb. 24.






A 5million superyacht went up in flames before sinking to the bottom of the sea at a Spanish harbour over the weekend.

Six crews of firefighters battled for 12 hours to try and control the blaze in Valencia.

Stunned onlookers watched on from the dock-side and from their own vessels before crews arrived as huge flames and smoke billowed from the deck.

They were able to extinguish the fire initially, but it restarted, according to reports.

Firefighters were ultimately unable to save the 90-foot long Sanlorenzo SX88 luxury boat, which eventually sank. No one was hurt in the incident.

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A 5million superyacht went up in flames before sinking to the bottom of the sea in Spain over the weekend. Pictured: A still from a video showing the fire on-board the yacht

Video from the scene showed the yacht engulfed in flames, with thick black smoke rising into the sky. It was shown moored close to other yachts, but there was no other damage reported.

Local media has identified the yacht as the 2019-built Pesa. The owner of the boat is currently unknown, but according to Boat International, it was last reported to be sailing under the French flag.

The cause of the fire in the harbour in Valencia at 1pm on Saturday is still being investigated. Work to extinguish the fire was stopped at 2.30pm.

The yacht was carrying 8,000 litres of fuel at the time, with ValenciaPlaza reporting that an ecological barrier had been established around the boat to prevent any fuel from spilling into the harbour.

The vessel could sleep up to eight people and boasted four double bedrooms and a lavish lounge area with a huge TV.

There was also a sun deck and mooring for a jet ski.

Six crews of firefighters battled for 12 hours to try and control the blaze in Valencia but were unable to save it. Ownership of the boat is currently unclear

Firefighters were ultimately unable to save the 90-foot long Sanlorenzo SX88 luxury boat, which eventually sank. No one was hurt in the incident

The fire comes at a time when the ownership of super yachts has come under intense scrutiny due to western sanctions being placed on Russian oligarchs.

A number of vessels worth hundreds of millions of pounds have been seized by governments, including Spain's.

Last month, Spain seized a mega yacht believed to be owned by Igor Sechin, a Russian oligarch and close confidant to President Vladimir Putin.

The 458 million 'Crescent' vessel was docked in the port of Tarragona in Catalonia, the Spanish Transport Ministry said. The 443-foot-long yacht was described by specialist publications as one of the biggest in the world.

One witness to the fire on Saturday noted the recent attention given to superyachts.

'There has been a lot of action in the super yacht world over the last month,' they said. 'Threats against the vessels due to Russian connections.'

Another joked: 'No Rushin to put it out.' A third quipped: 'Anyone know if an oligarch owned it? Could need insurance money.'
A renowned West End photographer who sexually assaulted an aspiring actress in his studio more than a decade ago has been jailed for three years.

Pascal Molliere, 55, attacked the woman, then aged 22, during an hour-long photoshoot at a warehouse in Fulham, west London, in July 2010.

Ahead of the shoot, he had asked the woman whether she wanted 'to do fashion or sexy shots' and encouraged her to bring a variety of outfits.

The photographer locked the studio door, then encouraged her to remove more and more clothing and pose for increasingly more revealing photographs before touching and kissing her genitals and forcefully kissing her on the mouth.

Molliere, from Hampshire, was jailed for three years at Southwark Crown Court on Tuesday, after he was previously found guilty by a jury of three counts of sexual assault following a nine-day trial.

Pascal Molliere, 55 (pictured, file photo), attacked a woman, then aged 22, during an hour-long photoshoot at a warehouse in Fulham, west London, in July 2010. He was jailed for three years at Southwark Crown Court on Tuesday, after he was previously found guilty by a jury of three counts of sexual assault following a nine-day trial

Judge Philip Bartle QC said it was a 'clear case of abuse of trust', which had a 'life-changing' impact on the victim, who cannot be identified because she is the victim of sexual offences.

'This would appear to be a case where Mr Molliere exploited his position as a professional photographer to exploit the vulnerability of a trusting young woman who was also a paying customer to satisfy his sexual desires,' he said.

'(The victim) obviously trusted Mr Molliere and he abused that trust in the appalling way, which even he now describes as abhorrent.'

The court heard the woman had moved to the capital to pursue an acting career and had borrowed money from her mother to pay for portfolio images to publicise herself.

Prosecutor Tyrone Silcott said Molliere was a 'highly renowned and highly regarded photographer of celebrities and actors' who was in 'a position of power' which he 'abused'.

Reading her victim impact statement from the witness box on Tuesday, the woman said: 'When I moved to London the dream was to get into theatre, film or television and for that I needed professional head shots.

'After what happened, I felt so sick at the thought of even trying to go for roles, that somehow it would rear its ugly head and I would just be made out to be another girl willing to do anything to get to the top.

'It crushed me and I gave up on my dreams.'

After leaving the studio the woman 'burst into tears' and told her boyfriend about what had happened.

He called Molliere an 'abhorrent human' and contacted him, telling him to delete all the photographs and to refund the money or he would contact the police.

The money was refunded and the sexual assaults were not reported until 17 January 2019. The victim said she was inspired to report the photographer to police in 2019 after the #MeToo movement gained momentum.

'I have nightmares where my skin crawls and feel physically sick,' she said.

'After it all happened, I felt sick, disgusted with myself. For all these years I have felt guilty and ashamed that I must have done something to make him think it was what I wanted.

'I remember the feeling of fear being locked in that room.'

In late 2021, images from the photoshoot were found on the hard drive of a Toshiba laptop found at Molliere's address, suggesting that he did not destroy them, as promised.

Prosecutor Tyrone Silcott said Molliere was a 'highly renowned and highly regarded photographer of celebrities and actors' who was in 'a position of power' which he 'abused'

There are photographs of the victim in various stages of undress, images of her completely naked and close up shots of her private parts.

Jurors were told, over the years, she shared what happened with some close friends and close partners, explaining that 'she had left feeling dirty, terrified'.

She did not report it because 'she didn't think that the police would believe her or that they could do anything about it', said Mr Silcott.

He said: 'It was not until after the MeToo movement when [she] noted that it was more regular for women to speak out about sexual abuse that they suffered as a result of trying to make it in the industry and being exploited and taken advantage of, that she came forward.'

Molliere was interviewed on 8 May 2019 and gave a prepared statement denying the allegations.

During the trial, Molliere denied all counts against him, claiming the incident 'absolutely' did not happen and the woman left his studio seeming 'elated'.

But he has since admitted his guilt in a pre-sentence report, describing his own actions as 'abhorrent' but saying he acted 'spontaneously'.

Ester Schutzer-Weissmann, defending, asked the judge to 'to treat him with mercy'.

Ms Schutzer-Weissmann said Molliere was not the same man now that he was a decade ago when this incident occurred.

Molliere was also handed a 10-year sexual harm prevention order banning him from working as a photographer without police permission

'He is no longer a photographer.

'He no longer puts himself into the positions...he took advantage of.'

The barrister added that Molliere has made great changes to his life and is now a pillar of his community, running an initiative which distributes locally sourced, seasonal food.

His mother had written to the court describing him as a 'dutiful, caring, loving son'.

The grey-haired photographer, who has taken portraits of screen legends including Dame Judi Dench, Star Trek star Sir Patrick Stewart and Sir Ian McKellen, renamed himself Pascal Gerrard in recent years.

Molliere, who has been involved with sustainable food business StreetCube after closing his photography business, was also handed a 10-year sexual harm prevention order banning him from working as a photographer without police permission.

Judge Bartle said: 'I am sure [the complainant] trusted him.

'I am sure she was telling the truth when she said she did not feel comfortable when asked to take off her clothes but agreed to do so because she thought he was a professional...and because Mr Molliere convinced her that she was safe and that no one was going to see her.

'I am also sure that Mr Molliere planned what he was going to do which is why he told [her] that he wanted to do 'fashion or sexy shots' and told her to bring a variety of outfits.

'He exploited the vulnerability of a trusting young woman who was also a paying customer to satisfy his sexual desires.

'In his pursuit of sexual gratification, he did not consider the harm to the victim.

'His behaviour was predatory in that he kissed and touched her vagina intimately and even kissed her on the lips forcefully.

The judge said the sex attack has been 'life changing' for the victim.

Pauline Curtis, from the CPS, said: 'In his capacity as a professional photographer Pascal Molliere exploited a young woman who had simply wanted a portfolio of images to help her begin an acting career. She did not consent to any sexual activity.

'The victim trusted Molliere as a professional photographer, however that trust was abused whilst she was in her most vulnerable state.

'During the trial Molliere said that he had behaved professionally throughout the photoshoot and denied the allegations. But after hearing all the evidence in this case, the jury did not believe him.

'The prosecution case included strong testimony from the brave victim who came to court and gave evidence against her abuser during the trial.

'Sexual offences are some of the most complex cases that we prosecute. I hope these convictions provide the victim with some closure and encourage other victims of such crimes to come forward and report their attackers. The CPS is committed to bring sexual predators to justice regardless of the time that has passed.'

His conviction comes nearly two and a half years after a jury at the same court cleared him of groping two aspiring actresses.

During separate photoshoots, Molliere was said to have kissed the women and groped the bare breast of one of them after asking them to remove their clothing.

He denied the claims and was cleared of two charges of sexual assault following a retrial in September 2018.
Hammer attacks, feces smearing, fatal shovings and now a smoke bomb-mass shooting have become risks for every tourist and New Yorker who brave the city's harrowing subways.

The attack on Tuesday in the Big Apple's underground transit system is just the latest in a wave of crime that has plagued the city and hobbled its economic comeback after two years of pandemic restrictions.

Transit crime has spiked 46 percent -- with 224 more incidents -- since last year as the city reopened.

Workday ridership on the subway is still at about 60 percent of what it was before the beginning of the pandemic in March of 2020 with 3.3 million riders using the system.

In March alone, the number of crimes in the subway jumped 55 percent, from the same period last year, according to the latest New York City Police Department statistics. There were 180 crimes reported in March of this year compared to 118 crimes for 2021.

January saw the biggest increase, nearly doubling the year before, with 198 crimes reported compared to 113 in the first month last year.

That was the month when Deloitte analyst Michelle Go was pushed to her death under a Times Square train by a homeless man with a history of mental illness.

Prior to her death, Go (pictured) was an executive manager at Deloitte Consulting, according to her LinkedIn. Her death shocked New York City residents and prosecutors from the District Attorney's office previously claimed that Simon was motivated by racial bias against Go, who was Asian American

The suspect Martial Simon, 61, also had a violent criminal history. He served two years for robbing taxi drivers at gunpoint.

After the killing, the newly inaugurated Mayor Eric Adams made safety in the subway system a top priority, holding a press conference in the Times Square station in February. He promised that he would beckon riders back and clear out homeless people using the commuter system for shelter.

Days after his announcement, six people were stabbed in the system, and a city Health Department scientist Nina Rothschild, 58, was pushed down the stairs in a Queens subway station and beaten 13 times in the head with a hammer.

Career criminal William Blount, 57, was arrested for the attack on Rothschild after he was found with the city worker's credit cards and NYC ID. He was charged with attempted murder, robbery and assault.

Rothschild suffered a skull fracture in the attack, but was expected to recover.

Nina Rothchild, 58, spoke out for the first time since she was pushed down a flight of stairs and hit in the head 13 times with a hammer at a subway station in Queens, New York, in February

Also in February, a man upset that his sexual advances had been rebuffed on a Bronx subway platform, defecated in a plastic bag then smeared it on the head and face of the woman he had hit on.

Frank Abrokwa, 37, got away from the scene of that disgusting crime, but he was nabbed later for throwing a dumbbell through the window of a storage facility where he kept his belongings.

It also came to light that Abrokwa had punched a spit at an Orthodox man in Crown Heights on March 2 in an unprovoked attack that prosecutors are considering a hate crime.

A defiant Frank Abrokwa, 37, is pictured showing a rude hand gesture as he is led into Manhattan Criminal Court on Monday for violating the conditions of his release

Later in March, in an echo of the attack on the city health worker, a 29-year-old Asian man was beaten with a hammer in a 14th Street subway

Six-foot-two Christian Jeffers, 48, who identifies as female, pulled the tool from her bag on March 9 and struck the victim in the head, asking 'Why the f---- you hit me?' though it appears the violence was unprovoked.

Another hate crime occurred on a northbound A train on March 19 when an unhinged assailant attacked and beat a gay man, according to cops.

'The suspect began spitting at a 22 Y/O male [victim] before attacking him & ripping out his hair while making anti-gay remarks,' according to the NYPD.

The victim, a man, suffered head injuries in the hammer attack at 14th St station in New York City. He is seen in an ambulance

Criminal justice reforms, like a limit on the discretion of judges to impose pre-trial incarceration have been blamed and a decriminalization of petty crimes like shoplifting, have been blamed for the crime wave.

District Attorney Alvin Bragg, who took office in January, announced in his 'day-one memo' that certain gun crimes would not be prosecuted.

On March 23, a 14-year-old boy was punched repeatedly by a gang of attackers at a Brooklyn train station.

The teen was in the Van Siclen Avenue station in East New York when the gang unleashed a brutal series of head and body blows.

Video of the attack show the youth try to protect himself against the violent mugging.

On April 5, a commuter on a northbound 4 train got into an argument with another man who slashed him in the neck with a boxcutter.

A man had his neck slashed with a boxcutter on the subway on Tuesday morning in the latest frightening act of violence in New York City.

NYPD officials say the victim, in his forties, was traveling on a northbound 4 train when he and another man got into an argument.

Adam's 'holistic' plan for combatting crime, which unveiled in February with Gov. Kathy Hochul at his side, seems to have a limited affect on the chaos.

He proposed 30 'Joint Response Teams' made up of mental health workers, cops and community organizers to address poverty, homelessness and crime. He, with funding from Hochul, promised to increase shelter and mental health beds available.

Under his plan the Metropolitan Transportation Authority would force all subway occupants off the trains at the end of the line for cleaning.
Uber and Lyft promised to refund the droves of New Yorkers met with sky-high surge pricing fares on ridesharing apps as they fled Tuesday's Brooklyn-area subway shooting en masse while the gunman remained at-large in the rail system's tunnels.

After the suspect set off smoke bombs and then shot 10 people on a slow-moving northbound N train at the 36th Street Station around 8:24 a.m., the D, N, R, W and B lines were closed. Although the MTA made shuttle services available, many turned to ridesharing apps to get to work or escape the chaos.

Traffic in the area near the shooting was bumper-to-bumper after the attack, according to The New York Times. As of 4 p.m., the B and W lines were still closed; portions of the D, N and R lines were out of service, F and M trains had been rerouted, and the 6, A, C and E trains were experiencing delays.

One Twitter user said his Uber ride to work in Upper Manhattan, typically about six dollars, cost him $21. Another, who ordered a ride from the area of the shooting in Sunset Park to Hunter's Point in Queens, was charged $68.49 - typically, that ride would cost between $51 and $61.

Some of the fares represented spikes of at least 24%.

In response to an uproar on social media, a spokeswoman for Uber announced that the app would suspend surge pricing throughout the city and reimburse those who were overcharged.

'Our hearts go out to the victims of this mornings terrible shooting in Sunset Park,' Freddi Goldstein wrote on Twitter around noon, four hours after the shooting.

'Uber has capped pricing citywide, and if anyone experienced unintended charges in the area during the emergency, we will work to refund them.'

Rideshare hailers had slammed the earlier move to charge more, and one Twitter user responded: 'What about surge pricing is unintended?'

New Yorkers lie on the platform at 36th Street station after falling out of the southbound R train. They were shot on the train by a gunman who unleashed a smoke bomb and then opened fire before fleeing at around 8.30am

Traffic in the area near the shooting was bumper-to-bumper after the attack, according to The New York Times

'While this is the right decision, you should probably check why your algorithm consistently makes terrible decisions during crises until humans intervene, and then consider whether the algorithm is really worth trusting in any situation,' replied another user.

Goldstein did not share when Uber stopped surge pricing and could not be reached by DailyMail.com for comment.

Lyft made a similar Twitter announcement around 2 p.m., writing that it also suspended surge rates.

'Thank you for making us aware of the situation on the ground,' the ridesharing service posted.

'We've currently suspended prime-time pricing for riders in the area & are working to adjust fares for certain riders who paid prime-time prices when the situation first unfolded.'

This photo provided by Will B Wylde, a person is aided in a subway car in the Brooklyn borough of New York, Tuesday, April 12, 2022. A gunman filled a rush-hour subway train with smoke and shot multiple people Tuesday, leaving wounded commuters bleeding on a Brooklyn platform as others ran screaming, authorities said. Police were still searching for the suspect

'Fare surge after a mass shooting in Brooklyn when subways are shut down,' wrote @harharbinks, sharing the $85, seven-minute ride they ordered. 'Shame on you @Uber.'

That user, Harleigh Tensen, told the New York Post that she needed to order the Uber to get to a doctor's appointment in Manhattan amid subway closures.

Another New Yorker shared a screenshot of their $68.49 Uber ride from Sunset Park to Long Island City, which typically costs between $47 and $57.

'@Uber turn off surges in Sunset Park,' she wrote. 'People are scared, let them get out safely.'

Those who chose Lyft posted screenshots of their inflated ride prices, too, showing 'limited availability' warnings.

One woman's son, who 'just missed being in the Brooklyn shooting,' was charged $55 for a ride that she wrote would typically cost $35 'at most.'

What is surge pricing? Uber and Lyft's apps automatically engage surge pricing, applying a multiplier to fares when more users request rides at once. 'Bad weather, rush hour, and special events, for instance, may cause unusually large numbers of people to want to request a ride with Uber all at the same time,' Uber explains on its website. The app warns users when surge pricing is in play, letting them choose whether to wait for demand to decrease or pay the inflated fare. Uber has a Global Security Center that 'monitors and flags issues' that caps trip pricing after 'a major emergency event may have occurred.' Advertisement

'He's trying to get home, no trains,' the mother wrote on Twitter.

'It's deplorable to upcharge in a crisis! Happened few years ago when escaping the subway bomber.'

Another Lyft rider quipped that he 'didn't see anything about "Shooting Surge Pricing" in @lyft terms of use.'

Some users, however, argued the Uber's surge pricing exists to draw more drivers to otherwise less-attractive trips - for example, driving into a congested crime scene.

'Any Uber drivers wanna drive into an active shooter scene for $15?' quipped one user.

'Yeah as a former Uber driver I don't think people understands how this works,' wrote @MorgBGreat.

'Surge pricing happens to encourage drivers to go out and drive. Uber can't force me to. I'm just a regular person trying to pay rent and bills. I also don't want to go to where an active shooter is.'

This isn't the first time ridesharing apps have been criticized for price-gouging in times of crisis.

In 2020, riders in Seattle reported that their fares tripled and even quadrupled after a woman was killed and seven people were injured in an area shooting, according to KIRO 7.

NYPD units are now scouring the city's empty subway tunnels to find the suspect and a city alert has been issued. but nearly five hours later, police are yet to release a single image of him.

Commissioner Keechant Sewell said at a press conference that she had not yet ruled out terrorism as a motive but that it was not being investigated as an act of terrorism.

She admitted that police still had not yet been able to identify who the gunman was, much less find him.

Police are now going door-to-door in Brooklyn asking store owners and residents in apartment buildings if they have any videos of the scene from around the time of the shooting in an attempt to find the gunman.

'I am not ruling anything out at this point,' she said, as she begged New Yorkers to send photos, videos or any pieces of information that they thought may be relevant to police.

Schools surrounding the subway station were ordered to shelter in place and an amber alert was issued throughout much of the city.

One witness told the New York Post the gunman - who was described as a '5ft 5 black man weighing 170lbs', fired 'too many rounds to count'.

It remains unclear what type of weapon he used - however, according to the Times, a gun was recovered inside the subway station after the shooting.
Teachers are to debate how they can tackle 'dehumanising' pornography and its impact on pupils.

The National Education Union's annual conference will raise concerns over 'the prevalence of pornography which shows the harmful and humiliating treatment of women'.

The conference, held in Bournemouth, will explore whether young people's lack of adequate relationships and sex education could lead them to be 'miseducated' through watching pornography.

The NEU cited a 2021 Ofsted report which found that 90% of girls and 50% of boys had reported that either they or their peers had been sent explicit pictures they did not wish to see 'a lot' or 'sometimes'.

The president of the National Education Union Daniel Kebede represents the teachers union which is set to discuss the impact of pornography on pupils in a Bournemouth conference

The union will discuss evidence that pornography 'predominantly features young women being subjected to acts of violence such as strangulation and choking as well as racialised tropes, all of which dehumanise women'.

A 2019 report from the British Board of Film Classification found that two thirds (66%) of 14 to 15-year-olds had seen porn compared with 51% of 11 to 13-year-olds.

The NEU is set to debate the impact this has on young people given the growth of online pornography as well as the increasingly sexualised nature of social media.

It will call for schools to have high-quality relationships and sex education (RSE), and for schools and colleges to have the time to fully embed this in the curriculum.

Teachers will also discuss whether incidents of sexual harassment, including those online, must be consistently recorded so that worrying patterns can be identified and adults can intervene early to prevent abuse.

Some teachers are expected to discuss why it is right to be worried that so much pornography shows acts of violence or humiliating treatment of women, as well as how there is not enough evidence about the current effects of watching porn on society.

Previous surveys of young people have found that they do not view porn as 'good' or 'bad' but may still be worried by some of its content.

A 2020 survey by Brook found that young people said a lack of information from both schools and parents was leaving them vulnerable, when education could be empowering for them instead.
Champion racing driver Jamie Spence has been fined almost 1,000 for calling a turban-wearing Heathrow Airport worker a 'P**i' during a racist rant over damage to his Range Rover.

Spence, 48, became enraged on September 4 last year after returning from a family trip to Spain and seeing 700 worth of damage to his car while collecting it from the airport's 'Meet & Greet' service.

He attempted to drag Tarvinder Singh Ahluwalia, who was working in the Terminal 5 car park, to his black 4x4 to assess alleged scratches left on the wing mirror and alloy wheels, before branding him a 'P**i' when he refused.

Spence had denied using the slur and claimed he had instead called Mr Ahluwalia a 'pr**k'.

He insisted: 'I'm not racist' after being found guilty of the racially-aggravated assault last Thursday.

The former British Formula Ford and Formula Three champion, of Ingatestone, Essex, told the judge: 'You got it totally wrong', before becoming visibly upset as he was fined 290, with 620 costs and ordered to pay 50 compensation to Mr Ahluwalia, plus a 34 victim surcharge.

'He (Mr Ahluwalia) heard Mr Spence call him a P**i and made a 999 call and was clear in that call he was called a P**i,' announced Ealing Magistrate Subash Ludhra during sentencing.

Jamie Spence (pictured), 48, became enraged on September 4 last year after returning from a family trip to Spain and seeing 700 worth of damage to his car while collecting it from the airport's 'Meet & Greet' service

Spence had returned from a two-week holiday with partner Chantelle McGelligan and their young child and collected the Range Rover from the airport's 'Meet & Greet' parking service.

'Basically I noticed the wing mirror had damage on it and two of the wheels had been curbed,' he told the trial.

'I then asked the complainant if he could acknowledge there was damage before I left.

'He was a little abrupt and said: 'Ring the office. It has got nothing to do with me.'

'I did grab him by the arm, but not very tightly and asked him to come and acknowledge there was damage.'

Spence admitted swearing at Mr Ahluwalia, but insisted he did not use the racial slur.

'I turned around and walked off and called him a: 'F***ing p***k.'

'There was seven hundred pounds of damage and I was a little bit annoyed. I do work hard for what I have got, but I definitely did not attack him, hit his arm or pull his arm.

'It is disappointing when you give your car to a company. They have basically said they are not paying for it.'

'I asked him three times and did hold his arm to guide him towards the car,' explained Spence.

'He changed his story from me running and hitting his hand to grabbing his arm.

'His story has elaborated and grown more and more. I'm not racist.'

However, Mr Ahluwalia, who had a Punjabi interpreter when giving evidence, told the court: 'He checked the car and said there was some scratch on the car.

'He came back to me and pulled my hands with a lot of force and I told him to leave me and take a picture of the scratch and send it in.

'He did not leave me, he was pulling me and I told him to leave me alone because there was a camera there and witnesses.

'He did not hit me, he pulled me,' added Mr Ahluwalia, denying he exaggerated the incident.

'He told me: 'You P**i.' I think he thought I was a muslim.

'This happened for the first time in my life. It made me feel very, very bad.'

Spence's partner Chantelle, who had waited by the Range Rover, did not see any physical contact, but told the trial she heard her fiance's words.

Spence, a former British Formula Ford and Formula Three champion, of Ingatestone, Essex, told the judge: 'You got it totally wrong', before becoming visibly upset as he was fined 290, with 620 costs and ordered to pay 50 compensation to Mr Ahluwalia, plus a 34 victim surcharge. (Pictured: Ealing Magistrates Court)

She said: 'I noticed the wheels and wing mirror was damaged and I could hear Jamie swearing a little bit.

'I heard him swearing, I think he said 'twat'. He was obviously upset there was damage to the car.'

Prosecutor Beata Murphy told the trial it was 4.45pm on a Saturday when Spence collected his vehicle.

She told the court: 'The complainant told him to contact the manager on Monday.

'The defendant took hold of the complainant's right arm and demanded he looked at the damage to the vehicle, but he could not leave his desk, where he kept all the other customers car keys.

'The defendant walked away with a female and a child and the word 'P**i' was heard and the complainant called 999 and reported it to the police straight away.'

Spence's lawyer Natalie De-Merist told the court: 'The defendant has a personality disorder and has difficulty regulating his emotions.

'When he gave evidence he said that he was sorry he grabbed and swore at Mr Ahluwalia in the first place.'

When the magistrates retired to consider their sentence an obviously angry Spence told Ms Murphy: 'You've done me.'

He added: 'This world is so bad. Everybody is out to shaft everybody else. Take, take, take.

'You've got someone who doesn't even speak English who only understands one word. I'm fuming.'

The magistrates heard Spence has previous convictions for threatening behaviour; assault and obstructing police.

'The prosecution have proved their case,' announced Mr Ludhra. 'The assault was racially-aggravated.'
A factory worker who makes sushi for supermarkets including Waitrose, Pret and Costco has claimed bosses threw away his fingertips after they were severed in a pepper slicing machine and told him to order a taxi to the hospital.

Viraj Kakadia, 27, has been left with two of his fingers permanently severed following the incident at the Taiko Foods factory in Acton, west London, in January earlier this year.

General trade union GMB claims he was using one of only two steel gloves available to employees on the day when his fingers became trapped in a machine used to cut peppers for sushi boxes.

Instead of calling an ambulance, though, bosses are alleged to have instead suggested he called a Bolt taxi to get to hospital.

When doctors at St Mary's Hospital in Paddington enquired as to the whereabouts of his fingers, Mr Kakadia said the factory had disposed of them.

The GMB is now filing for compensation over 'negligence' that could be worth up to 20,000 if successful.

One union official said the case was 'harrowing' and said it has put in multiple grievances over the firm's handling of the affair.

Viraj Kakadia says bosses at the factory threw away the tips of two of his fingers after an industrial accident

Mr Kakadia pictured at St Mary's Hospital in Paddington receiving treatment for the injuries earlier this year

Taiko Foods provides sushi (pictured) for major British supermarkets including Waitrose

GMB London organiser Hiten Vaidya said: 'They should have called an ambulance. Its the employers responsibility, and it has been totally unacceptable.'

Mr Kakadia, originally from India, works six days a week at the factory and speaks little English.

He claims there was no sensor or safety guard on the pepper slicing machine and alleges the device had broken down several times in the week before the accident, but it remained in use.

Taiko Foods, which provides sushi for major British supermarkets, says all workers are provided with adequate personal protective equipment, the machine was in working order and the Bolt provided the 'quickest means' of getting to hospital.

Mr Kakadia says he was not provided with sick pay for the two weeks he required off work following the incident, instead having to take the time as holiday.

Speaking through a translator, he told MyLondon: 'The employer is playing games with my life. If they sent the finger tips with ice with me to the hospital, Id still have them intact today.

'They didnt call an ambulance, and they havent offered me any support.

'The employer isnt providing a safe working environment. The standards arent there. The training is not there. And it is not a trade union organised workplace. So we are standing up and protesting for our rights. They dont treat us equally. They dont value our work. And the jobs we do are very hard.

'Since my accident three months ago - the company hasnt said anything about my injuries. Why is the company not helping and supporting me?'

Mr Kakdia is now back working, but says he lost most of the flesh on his two fingers and they remain very painful'.

Mr Kakdia is now back working, but says he lost most of the flesh on his two fingers and they remain very painful'

A spokesperson for Taiko Foods says Mr Kakadia will be reimbursed for the time he required off work.

They added: 'As a national food manufacturing business, Taiko takes its health and safety obligations very seriously. The wellbeing of our colleagues is paramount. We provide each employee with thorough training and a full supply of PPE, and we ensure that all machinery is well-maintained and has the correct safety features in place.

'This was an incident to which the on site team responded swiftly and efficiently, ensuring our colleague reached hospital as quickly as possible.

'Our colleague will be paid in full for his leave of absence and we have reinstated any annual leave he took following this incident.'

A statement from Waitrose added: 'Worker welfare is incredibly important to us and were really concerned to hear about this. We are investigating this as a matter of urgency with Taiko.'
Dozens of riot police tonight descended on a southeast London funfair as three people were arrested amid fears of a stabbing.

Parents around Greenwich Park and in the wider Blackheath area have been told to keep their children away from the scene after chaos began to erupt earlier this evening.

Footage from the scene shows a line of police officers marching through the park as crowds disperse, while a helicopter hovers overhead.

Officers and a number of police vans have also been spotted 'pushing kids down the street away from the heath', according to witnesses, with local politicians taking to social media to urge youngsters to avoid the area.

The Met told MailOnline a stabbing has been reported amid calls of antisocial behaviour, though no injured victim has been found.

Police chiefs added that three people have been arrested for possession of an offensive weapon and related offences.

The disruption took place at the scene of Blackheath Bank Holiday Fun Fair, which has put on a range of rides and attractions during the Easter holidays.

Organisers said on its Facebook page this evening that the festivities were closed 'due to unforeseen circumstances'.

Police are dealing with reports of antisocial behaviour and a number of assaults in the area around Greenwich Park and Blackheath, southeast London (stock image)

A Met spokesman said: 'Police are dealing with reports of antisocial behaviour and a number of assaults at Greenwich Park.

'A stabbing has also been reported; no victim has been found.

'A section 60 has been authorised and is in place until 07:00hrs on Wednesday, 13 April.

'Three people have been arrested for possession of an offensive weapon and related offences.'

Matthew Pennycook, MP for Greenwich and Woolwich, tweeted: 'Im aware of the large-scale disorder taking place on Circus Field, Blackheath.

'The police are deploying extra resource. Please avoid the area. If you believe your child is at the funfair or in the area, please ask them to return home immediately.'

Greenwich Council leader Dan Thorpe added: 'We are aware of serious disorder on #blackheath and @Royal_Greenwich are liaising closely with @MPSGreenwich - there is significant disruption in the area and will continue to be for some time. Please avoid the area and keep checking our socials for updates.

'If your child is in the #blackheath area - or you dont know where they are - please make urgent contact. Make sure they go home asap. This is an urgent message to parents & carers across @Royal_Greenwich - we appreciate your help. #greenwich'
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Daily Covid cases and deaths continued to fall today amid calls from NHS bosses to bring back restrictions and mask mandates following record infection rates in England last week.

According to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), there were 37,819 positive cases recorded today, representing a 27.5 per cent decrease compared to last Tuesday's count (50,202).

Meanwhile, there were 288 deaths within 28 days of a positive test, also down on last week's figure (368) by 21 per cent.

While the numbers seem positive, experts say official case counts are almost meaningless now that free swabbing has been scrapped for the majority of people, while Tory MPs have called on the Government to ditch the updates altogether.

Ministers are now relying on Britain's main testing survey  which swabs random people  to get an accurate picture of the Covid situation. It showed more people were infected than ever a week ago but found the latest wave had peaked.

In another promising sign, today's data suggests Covid pressures on hospitals is easing.

Infections are currently estimated to be at their highest ever level by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), which uses hundreds of thousands of random swabs rather than relying on people coming forward for tests. The ONS data suggested infections may already be peaking, however

The latest stats show that between April 1 and 7, there were 16,036 Covid admissions, a 4.2 per cent drop on the previous seven-day period.

As of April 11, there were 20,032 patients in hospital with coronavirus, with 378 of these needing ventilators - the majority of whom (339) are in England.

Figures from today show there are currently 16,131 patients with Covid in hospitals in England, a drop of 311 compared to yesterday. In Scotland, there are 2,118, representing a daily drop of 30. Daily figures for Wales and Northern Ireland were not immediately available.

It comes after the NHS Confederation Monday night accused ministers of 'abandoning any interest in Covid whatsoever' and called for 'mitigating actions' to tackle record infection rates.

But a No10 spokeswoman yesterday insisted there would be no change to the current rules and 'our living with Covid plan still stands'.

They added the virus is now being managed like any other respiratory illness thanks to vaccines and drugs.

As part of the Government's 'Living With Covid' plan, ministers have already ditched the weekend updates to the statistics dashboard. Figures for Saturday, Sunday and Monday are now lumped together.

England's outbreak has peaked, massive testing survey suggests England's Covid resurgence has finally peaked  even though more people are currently infected than ever, the country's most respected surveillance report suggests. Office for National Statistics (ONS) analysts estimate 4.1million people in England had Covid in the week ending April 2. Although the highest toll recorded since the pandemic began, it's only 0.5 per cent higher than last week. Experts Monday hailed the figures as the 'first sign infections have plateaued'. In the worst-hit parts of the country  Plymouth, Torbay and South Hams  up to one in 10 people were carrying the virus, according to the testing survey. ONS bosses admitted that 'while infections remain high', cases 'may no longer be increasing in some parts of the UK'. Experts say England's latest surge was driven by the more transmissible version of Omicron, scientifically named BA.2. Ministers also admit that ditching the final Covid restrictions last month also fueled the uptick. The ONS figures, based on swabs of 100,000 people, suggest that the downturn seen in the official numbers over the past week is genuine and not entirely down to the end of mass testing. Scientists and Tory MPs want the daily updates scrapped because they are now almost meaningless. Advertisement

Meanwhile, day-to-day coronavirus counts can fluctuate heavily, and the fatality figure relates to people who have died within 28 days of testing positive.

Separate data suggests up to a third of all Covid deaths are now 'with' the virus, as opposed to 'from' it.

A similar situation has emerged in hospitals. More than half of 'Covid' patients in hospital are primarily being treated for other reasons, like a broken leg, other data shows.

Critics say that the rise in so-called 'incidental' figures, driven by the sheer prevalence of the now-dominant BA.2, is skewing the Government's daily coronavirus statistics.

Omicron's milder nature and sky-high immunity rates, from the vaccination drive and repeated waves of infections, have drastically blunted the threat the virus poses. Government data suggests it is now no deadlier than the flu.

But with more than 20,000 Covid-infected patients in hospitals in England, the NHS Confederation, which acts as a representative for hospitals and ambulance trusts in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, wants to reintroduce mask-wearing in crowded spaces and outdoor mixing.

The plea on Monday came just weeks after all Covid restrictions were scrapped or downgraded to guidance in England as part of the Government's hands-off strategy.

A Downing Street spokeswoman said: 'There is no change to our guidance and our living with Covid plan still stands.

'Thanks to a combination of vaccination and treatment and our better understanding of the virus we are now able to manage it as we do with other respiratory infections, so that remains the case with our approach.'

Meanwhile, Sajid Javid yesterday slammed China's 'disturbing' Zero Covid strategy and hailed the UK's approach in what appeared to be a response to the NHS' demands.

The easing of rules in England has coincided with infection rates spiralling to the highest levels seen throughout the pandemic, with one in 13 people estimated to be infected at the start of the month.

Health bosses say the situation  fuelled by rising Covid rates and staff sickness  is impacting its ability to tackle the record backlog of patients needing care.

Millions of patients have already been told to stay away from busy A&E units unless they are genuinely dying, while ambulance services have urged some to make their own way to hospital.

The number of virus-infected patients in hospital last week breached 20,000  the highest since February 2021.

Although, figures also show thousands aren't primarily ill with the virus.

Asked about the NHS Confederation's view that NHS leaders felt abandoned by the Government, No10 said: 'We are incredibly grateful to NHS staff who worked flat out throughout the pandemic and continue to do so in the face of Covid backlogs.'

The NHS 'is clearly under pressure' but the health and care levy will provide additional funding alongside 10billion 'to recover services and relieve Covid pressures', it added.

The graph shows the number of Covid hospital patients in England (blue line), of which there were 16,131 today, and the number in mechanical ventilation beds, which was 339

Sajid Javid yesterday slammed China's 'disturbing' Zero Covid strategy and hailed the UK's approach in what appears to be a response to the NHS' demands. He tweeted a video of residents in Shanghai screaming from high-rise flats in protest of the draconian lockdown there

What IS the current state of play in the NHS? What has been said? The NHS Confederation has said that very high rates of Covid infections are having a 'major impact' on the health service, which is facing pressures it would see in a 'bad winter' well into spring. The membership body, which represents healthcare organisations, called on the Government to reconsider its Living with Covid plan as it said ministers risk 'abandoning' the NHS if they do not take action. So how many patients with Covid are being treated? The number of people in hospital in the UK with Covid looks to have levelled off just above the peak reached at the start of the year. A total of 20,331 patients were recorded on April 7, according to the latest Government figures. This is broadly unchanged on the previous few days and is slightly above the January 2022 peak of 20,050. But it is well below the record high of 39,256 that was reached during the second wave of the virus in January 2021. There is a similar trend in England, where patient numbers stood at 16,366 on April 8  again, largely unchanged on recent days and just below the January 2022 peak of 17,120. Different patterns are evident across the regions, with patient levels rising in the Midlands, falling in south-west England and plateauing elsewhere. But are all of these people being treated for Covid? Nearly three in five hospital patients in England who have tested positive for Covid are being treated primarily for something else  the highest level so far. The proportion of patients who are in hospital 'with' Covid rather than 'for' it has been rising steadily since the end of last year, when the figure stood at around 25 per cent. But all patients who test positive for coronavirus have to be treated separately from other people in hospital, adding to pressures faced by NHS staff who are trying to clear a record backlog of routine treatment. What about the situation elsewhere in hospitals? Many parts of the NHS are feeling the strain of current pressures. As well as dealing with large volumes of Covid patients, there are high rates of staff absences due to the virus, full hospitals and severe demands on emergency care. Too many ambulances are waiting longer than they should to 'hand over' patients at hospital  this leads to queues of ambulances outside hospitals and longer waiting times for people in the community who have called 999 for emergency medical help. In the week commencing March 28, 21,432 delays of half an hour or longer were recorded across all hospital trusts in England. There are troubles inside hospitals too, as many A&E departments struggle to see, treat and admit or discharge patients in their target timeframes. The NHS Confederation said that in the last week alone 20 emergency departments in England have been forced to turn patients away as they issued 'diverts' due to being too full. Meanwhile, the NHS is expected to deal with the backlog of care, with more than six million people waiting for hospital treatment in England alone. The NHS Confederation called into question whether targets to tackle the record backlog are realistic in the current environment. What about NHS workers? Data published on April 7 showed staff absences at NHS hospitals in England due to Covid-19 are at their highest level since late January, with numbers continuing to climb in most regions. Absences averaged 28,560 a day in the previous week  the equivalent of 3 per cent of the workforce  up from 27,571 the week before, though still below the 45,736 (5 per cent of the workforce) reached in early January. What does the NHS Confederation want the Government to do? It called for stronger messages to the public on how to reduce transmission, including wearing the best possible face masks, and urging people to get vaccinated. There also needs to be medium-term plans put into place, including better ventilation in public spaces, it added. The NHS Confederation has also urged ministers to reconsider asking the NHS to foot the bill for Covid tests for staff  estimated to cost the NHS 'several hundred million pounds' which is being taken away from patient care. Advertisement

'But we are alive to the pressures that they are facing,' the spokeswoman said.

It came as the Health Secretary tweeted a video of Chinese residents screaming from high-rise flats after being confined to their homes for days in locked-down Shanghai.

Mr Javid branded China's virus elimination policy as a 'dangerous fallacy' and praised the UK's 'learning to live with Covid' approach.

The tweet, shared yesterday morning, came at the same time as the NHS Confederation's demands for Covid curbs to be reintroduced.

'Disturbing reports from countries still enforcing "Zero Covid" show this dangerous fallacy for what it is,' Mr Javid wrote.

'Proud that the UK has led the world in learning to live with Covid. Freedom, with responsibility, should always be the default.'

China's biggest city today entered its third week of a brutal lockdown. But it has failed to stop or even slow the spread of the Omicron variant in the city.

On Monday morning a record 25,173 new cases were reported by local officials, up from the previous record of 23,937 yesterday.

Infected Shanghai residents are taken to remote quarantine sites and children under seven have been separated from their parents.

Two volunteers per apartment building are allowed to shop outside each day for a maximum of two hours.

Starving locals have also been spotted storming supply points, breaking barriers in the street and scuffling with enforcers.

China is still doggedly trying to eliminate Covid but the ultra-infectious Omicron and BA.2 variants have broken through Beijing's super-strict curbs due to subpar Chinese vaccines and a lack of natural immunity.

Part of the problem is that China's homegrown vaccines have been shown to offer barely 50 per cent protection against falling ill with Covid  compared to up to 90 per cent from Pfizer or Moderna  and are thought to be virtually useless against Omicron.

Beijing has refused to turn to a more effective Western-made vaccines, which are more expensive and difficult to store and distribute than China's own, which use traditional technology.

Mr Javid's defence of the UK approach came hours after Matthew Taylor, chief executive of the NHS Confederation, slammed it.

'The brutal reality for staff and patients is that this Easter in the NHS is as bad as any winter,' Mr Taylor said.

'But instead of the understanding and support NHS staff received during 2020 and 2021, we have a Government that seems to want to wash its hands of responsibility for what is occurring in plain sight in local services up and down the country.

'No10 has seemingly abandoned any interest in Covid whatsoever.

'NHS leaders and their teams feel abandoned by the Government and they deserve better.'

'Mitigating actions'  including not meeting people indoors and wearing masks in crowded spaces  were needed to prevent the spread of the virus, the group said.

It also said the Conservatives needed to have a 'public information campaign' to ask people to stay away from A&E unless they have an emergency.

Overcrowded A&E rooms are suffering from staff shortages, with data showing up to three per cent of staff in the NHS have coronavirus.

And delays to ambulance handovers, which are supposed to take 15 minutes, are at their highest level this year, with a quarter of patients forced to wait for at least 30 minutes to be admitted.

The organisation said that in the last week alone 20 emergency departments in England have been forced to turn patients away as they issued 'diverts' due to being too full.

Trusts across Yorkshire last week claimed the pressures left them with no choice but to prioritise patients in 'genuine, life-threatening situations'.

And Dr Derek Sandeman, chief medical officer at Hampshire and Isle of Wight Integrated Care System, last week pleaded with families to take their Covid-infected relatives home to free up beds as trusts battle a 'perfect storm' of pressures.

The NHS Confederation also questioned whether plans to tackle the record backlog of care are realistic.

One in nine people in England were waiting for routine treatment  such as joint replacement and cataract surgery  or diagnostic tests by the end of January.

Meanwhile, ministers should reconsider asking the NHS to foot the bill for Covid tests for staff  estimated to cost the NHS 'several hundred million pounds' which is being taken away from patient care.
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A judge in Washington D.C. denied on Tuesday federal prosecutors' motion to detain the two men impersonating federal agents because he says he isn't convinced that there are links to Pakistan intelligence.

He also claimed that deleting social media posts wasn't proof that the defendants would tamper with evidence, as federal lawyers argued.

I am going to 'deny the government's request that the two defendants be held pending trial,' Magistrate Judge G. Michael Harvey said during proceedings Tuesday afternoon.

The decision comes after it was revealed in proceedings earlier Tuesday that Arian Taherzadeh, 40, and Haider Sher-Ali, 35, were 'inadvertently tipped off' by Secret Service investigators of the probe.

The prosecution has until 9:00 a.m. on Wednesday to decide whether it will appeal the judge's decision to release the defendants. If such a motion is filed, another judge will make the judgment on whether to continue the stay of Ali and Taherzadeh throughout the appeals process.

Federal prosecutors argued that Ali should be held because he is a flight risk with possible ties to Pakistan intelligence and that Taherzadeh could tamper with evidence or contact witnesses.

'I do not find it reliable that Mr. Ali has ties to the Pakistani intelligence service,' the judge said.

Prosecutors claimed that when speaking to witnesses, it was portrayed that Ali [presented] himself as having ties to the Pakistan Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).

The judge noted that he is not convinced by the government's case that there is a larger issue at hand, noting that Taherzadeh and Ali are only facing charges of impersonation of a law enforcement officer, which has a maximum sentence of three years.

He also classified a lot of Taherzadeh's behavior as 'not good', but said it was mostly 'Sophomoric behavior, not the sort of serious dangerous conduct that require pre-trial detention.'

Magistrate Judge Harvey called a lot of the government's claims 'overblown' and 'overstated', including suggestions that there could be a national security risk if the two defendants are released.

In the initial motion for detention filed on Friday, federal investigators noted following the search of five units own by the defendants: 'Ali's overseas travel to the Middle East, coupled with his claim to one witness that he has a connection to the Pakistani foreign intelligence service, establish that he poses a serious risk of risk of flight and Taherzadeh's efforts to destroy evidence of his involvement in the impersonation scheme after realizing he was under investigation establishes that he poses a serious risk of obstructing justice.'

Ali and Taherzadeh were tipped off on the investigation two days before the FBI raided their apartments, according to federal prosecutors.

An investigator with the United States Secret Service sent an email to Arian Taherzadeh, one of the defendants, at an address ending in 'ussp.us'  supposedly standing for United State Special Police, which is the name of an LLC created by the suspects.

That email, which Taherzadeh, 40, responded to, was the message that inadvertently caused the defendant and his partner, Haider Sher-Ali, 35, to suspect an investigation into their ruse.

When asked for comment on the matter, a communications officer with the Secret Service told DailyMail.com that it wouldn't be appropriate to make comments on a matter still pending adjudication by a federal court.

Taherzadeh and Ali spent their near year-and-a-half living at the luxury Washington apartment building Crossing DC cozying up to Secret Service agents and other federal workers with clearances  showering them with lavish gifts and providing some with free rent, including one instance of a penthouse unit valued at more than $40,000 for the year.

Prosecutors said during a motion for detention hearing Tuesday morning that on April 4, 2022, Taherzadeh received an email from a USSS investigator that led him to believe he was under investigation.

That same day, four Secret Service agents were placed on administrative leave, including at least two on the presidential protective detail for President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden and at least one responsible for guarding Vice President Kamala Harris' residence at One Observatory Circle at the Naval Observatory.

Two days after the email was received and responded to, the FBI, NCIS and USPIS raided five apartment units leased to Ali and Taherzadeh at Crossing DC in the Navy Yard neighborhood of southeast Washington, D.C.

Ali and Taherzadeh were arrested at a restaurant near the apartment where they were meeting with a third individual, which prosecution claims was an attorney.

The two men who posed as federal agents at an apartment building in D.C. will not be held in custody pending trial, a judge decided on Tuesday. It was also revealed they were 'inadvertently tipped off' to the probe by Secret Service investigators. Haider Sher-Ali, 36, (left) and Arian Taherzadeh, 40, (right) were arrested Wednesday, April 6, 2022 for impersonating federal agents with the DHS claiming to be involved in an investigation into the January 6 Capitol attack

During the second motion for detention hearing on Monday afternoon, the lawyers for Taherzadeh and Ali claimed that their clients pose no threat to the community or of flight, despite illegally owning several firearms.

Judge Harvey called a lot of the government's claims 'overblown' and 'overstated', including suggestions that there could be a national security risk if the two defendants are released.

Taherzadeh's lawyer insisted there is no risk that her defendant will obstruct justice or tamper with evidence further, claiming he only deleted law enforcement posts from social media ahead of the arrest because after he was inadvertently tipped off to the investigation he was 'embarrassed'

Ali's representation also claimed he was not a flight risk, as prosecutors said he was in their detention motion.

The attorney also said it was ridiculous to suggest that a man with a 'high school degree' is a Pakistani intelligence contact.

'The real impersonation is impersonating this case as a national security treat,' Ali's attorney Gregory Smith said during the proceedings Monday.

'And impersonating my client as some sort of Pakistani intelligence contact  it is utterly false and preposterous. He is a high school graduate,' he added.

Judge Harvey said that 'there's no way I want him [Ali] to go back to the apartment building. There has to be somewhere else for him to live'

The apartment unit where Taherzadeh was living, 708, was searched by Metro Police Department (MPD) officers on February 26, 2021, but the cops left without taking any action, according to an incident report exclusively obtained by DailyMail.com and reported Monday.

The revelation came just as a second motion for detention filing was released showing more images of items and paraphernalia seized from Ali and Taherzadeh's five units at Crossing DC.

The additional images include more body armor with 'POLICE' lettering as well as a dynamic entry kit, cigars and additional firearms with high-capacity magazines.

MPD's incident report from February of last year states: 'On the listed date and time MPD members responded to 949 First Street SE in reference to a 'person with' call for service.'

A person living adjacent to the Tishman Seyer-owned luxury building in Navy Yard, Crossing DC, noted that they witnessed 'three subjects handling rifle style firearms inside of an apartment building across from his own.'

'RP-1 provided MPD members images of the subjects handling what appeared to be firearms,' the report notes.

While it is clear that Taherzadeh was one of the three individuals involved, it is not clear who the other two people were  although sources claim the other imposter DHS agent Ali was involved.

The police report from MPD notes that all three subjects were 'stopped in the lobby' of Crossing DC and 'were fully cooperative with the investigation.'

'MPD members were given consent to enter SUB-1's apartment and inspect the alleged firearms,' it notes. 'Investigation revealed that the firearms that were seen were airsoft guns.'

Taherzadeh's unit on the seventh floor was the one searched by MPD, DailyMail.com can confirm.

It is now known that while Taherzadeh was in possession and use of airsoft guns, he also had a slew of real firearms in his apartment unit at Crossing DC.

The agency report status is listed on the public incident as 'Pending/Inactive'.

Surveillance footage of the incident was viewed by DailyMail.com.

It showed an extensive 'plain view' search by MPD, ending with the officers walking out of the apartment without anything seized or any action taken against Taherzadeh or the other two subjects of the 911 call.

A Magistrate judge in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia will hear the second part of the federal prosecution's motion for detention on Monday afternoon after the initial hearing was cut short on Friday.

The initial motion for detention of the two men who were arrested last Wednesday for impersonating federal agents includes a slew of damning evidence, including images showing several different passports, visas and IDs.

A police report obtained by DailyMail.com shows that Metro Police Department officers searched last year the apartment of one of the individuals posing as a DHS agent after a resident from an adjacent apartment building in Navy Yard called to report seeing firearms. The police determined that the firearms were airsoft weapons, according to the report

New images released by the U.S. attorney in the District of Columbia shows that the two men impersonating DHS agents had a dynamic entry kit on top of their access to residents' personal information and door access codes

Law enforcement found during their search of Ali and Taherzadeh's five units illegal high capacity magazines for their handguns. They released images in an additional motion for detention filed on Monday ahead of a hearing on holding the two individuals until their hearing

Prosecutors are urging the court to detain Ali and Taherzadeh as they await trial on a case alleging they impersonated Homeland Security agents and used that guise to cozy up to Secret Service agents and others working in government.

Both men's respective counsels filed on Monday motions of opposition to Taherzadeh and Ali's detention.

Ali's representation accused federal prosecutors of 'reckless innuendo' that they claim caused 'immense reputational harm' to the defendant accused of posing as a federal agent with DHS.

They also suggested that the case has nothing to do with some 'wide-ranging plot to infiltrate law enforcement or even the White House.'

One argument by the government is that Ali is a flight risk and has the means and ability to flee to several different countries  further supported by his multiple visas and travel history.

Regarding Taherzadeh, prosecutors are concerned he could intimidate witnesses or tamper with evidence, which he has already admitted to doing.

Social media accounts for Ali are still up, though it appears many images  especially on Facebook  have been removed.

Taherzadeh's accounts, on the other hand, seemed to have been deleted. Several residents were friends with the defendant on Facebook and Instagram and can no longer find his account when they search for it.

Just after an interaction Ali had with a U.S. Postal Inspector at Crossing DC in March, which eventually led to the duo's arrest last week, Taherzadeh started deleting law enforcement material from his social media, he told investigators.

'They are not law enforcement agents, and they are not involved in sanctioned covert activities,' the motion for detention filed Friday claims. '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,' the memorandum added.

Taherzadeh told law enforcement in an interview after being taken into custody on Wednesday that Ali was the one funding their lavish lifestyle and seemingly endless stream of gifts, but claimed he wasn't aware where the money was coming from.

The question remains, however, on what Ali and Taherzadeh's motives were in getting close to people with White House access by impersonating government agents.

FBI agents went floor-to-floor questioning residents of Crossing DC over the weekend. If residents were not home, the above note was left to report any information known on Ali and Taherzadeh

The images of the detention motion also show that cigars were obtained during the search and seizure

Secret Service agents assigned to details for President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris' residence are among those being investigated for accepting lavish gifts and partying with Taherzadeh and Ali, who alleged they were agents with the Department of Homeland Security.

At least one of the U.S. Secret Service (USSS) agents receiving free rent from Taherzadehand Ali was assigned to the detail protecting Harris' residence at Number One Observatory Circle at the Naval Observatory, sources at the building told DailyMail.com.

Another, sources claim, was on the presidential protective detail and regularly traveled with President Biden on Air Force One.

The new information comes after an affidavit released Wednesday revealed that one of the witnesses in the case is a secret service agent that worked on First Lady Jill Biden's protective detail.

Ali, according to Taherzadeh, was the one able to gain access codes and a list of tenants in the Crossing DC apartment complex  owned by upscale real estate firm Tishman Speyer.

'With respect to Ali, Taherzadeh stated that Ali had obtained the electronic access codes and a list of all of the tenants in the apartment complex,' the memorandum notes. 'Taherzadeh further stated that Ali was the individual that funded most of their day-to-day operation but Taherzadeh did not know the source of the funds.'

Just after the interaction with a Postal Inspector in March, which eventually led to the duo's arrest, Taherzadeh said that he started deleting law enforcement material from his social media.

Images from the raid Wednesday of a unit on the 7th floor where Taherzadeh was residing allegedly for free showed agents recovered 'three current copies of Taherzadeh's Washington D.C. driver's license, passport, United States Special Police  Special Investigations Unit business cards, a USSP police badge, and several identification and credit cards.'

'In addition, law enforcement recovered the business card of a USSS Agent referenced in the complaint affidavit,' the motion added.

Images from the raid Wednesday of a unit on the 7th floor where Arian Taherzadeh was residing allegedly for free showed agents recovered 'three current copies of Taherzadeh's Washington D.C. driver's license, passport, United States Special Police  Special Investigations Unit business cards, a USSP police badge, and several identification and credit cards'

A memorandum supporting a motion for detention of Taherzadeh, 40, and Haider Sher-Ali, 35, shows that the men had a slew of garb in their luxury DC apartment units, including fraudulent police garb

Two passports and multiple visas from Ali show that he has traveled to Pakistan, Egypt, Qatar, Iran and Turkey

Images also show a slew of firearms, including rifles, that were stashed around the units

During an arraignment Thursday afternoon, details emerged that there could be connections between Ali and the Pakistani Intelligence Service.

Two of his passports were found during a raid of his unit on the 6th floor of Crossing DC.

'Ali's expired passport contained several visas authorizing foreign travel,' the Friday memorandum notes. 'For instance, this passport contained two visas authorizing travel from the Islamic Republic of Iran.'

'The Government has identified at least four entry/exit stamps from Mashhad International Airport in Mashhad, Razavi Khorasan, Iran.'

It goes on: 'In addition, the Ali's passport contained two thirty-day visas from Pakistan and one visa for travel to Egypt.'

Images of these visas and passports corroborate the claims made in the memorandum for detention of Taherzadeh and Ali.

Customs and Border Protection records show that Ali traveled through Doha, Qatar in November 2016, May 2019 and July 2019. He also went through there in October 2019 and returned from Istanbul, Turkey.

Firearms recovered from unit 708, where Taherzadeh had a three bedroom unit supposedly for free

Taherzadeh validated in an interview with law enforcement that the claim in the affidavit from one witness that 'he did in fact shoot someone, identified in the complaint as Witness 1, with an Airsoft gun' during a 'recruitment' process to his fake agency to test the individuals reaction and pain tolerance. Pictured is a number of airsoft ammunition recovered from Taherzadeh's apartment

Recovered from Ali and Taherzadeh's units in Crossing DC were several articles of clothing with logos and claims of being law enforcement

The two men arrested in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday who attempted to cozy up to Secret Service agents could face conspiracy charges after spending their year-and-a-half living in a luxury apartment building allegedly posing as federal agents.

A regional manager for Tishman Speyer, the owners of the building where Taherzadeh and Ali's apartments were raided on Wednesday, had set up a meeting to speak with DailyMail.com on Friday morning  but the individual pulled out at the last minute.

Just a mile from the Capitol and three miles from the White House, Taherzadeh and Ali were conducting an operation where they posed as agents with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI)  tricking a luxury DC apartment building and its high profile residents as well as appearing to convince Metro Police Department that they were working for the government.

The government request for detention notes that following Taherzadeh's arrest Wednesday, he voluntarily interviewed with law enforcement.

'During he (sic) course of this interview, Taherzadeh admitted, among other things, that: (1) he had falsely identified himself as a member of the Department of Homeland Security; (2) he had falsely identified himself as a former United States Army Ranger.

He also admitted to interviewers that a Sig Sauer 229 found in the raid belonged to him and was in his possession, but said that while the Glock 19 firearm was in his possession, it belonged to Ali.

The memo goes on to note Taherzadeh admitted: '[H]e offered to provide a USSS agent with an assault rifle; he provided free apartments to two USSS agents for approximately one year; he had provided a 'doomsday bag,' generator, flat screen television, two iPhones, a drone, a gun locker, a Pelican case, and a mattress to agents and officers of the USSS.'

Taherzadeh also validated the claim in the affidavit from one of the witnesses that 'he did in fact shoot someone, identified in the complaint as Witness 1, with an Airsoft gun' during a 'recruitment' process to his fake agency to test the individuals reaction and pain tolerance.

Regarding the discovery of several weapons, the memo notes: 'First, Taherzadeh is not permitted to possess a firearm.'

It described that Taherzadehw as charged in July 2013 with Strangulation Resulting in Wounding, which is a Class 6 Felony, and one count of Assault and Battery on a Family Member, a Class 1 Misdemeanor.

The person he faced the assault and battery charge against was his wife, noted only as 'M.H.' in the court document.

The two are said in the affidavit released Wednesday to have successfully ingratiated themselves with Secret Service agents, at least two of whom were reportedly given rent-free in penthouse and multiple-bedroom luxury apartments as well as high-end electronics and policing equipment.

The free rent in several units  valued at a minimum of $40,000 per year for just one of the penthouse apartments  was apparently not paid for at all.

A former representative of Crossing DC who worked at the building since the start of Taherzadeh's lease confirmed that none of the units were being paid for at any time. When asked why they were not paying rent on the units, the individual responded with one word: 'Government'.

One item recovered was a machine to create Personal Identification Verification (PIV) cards and passport photographs

Ali, according to Taherzadeh, was the one able to gain access codes and a list of tenants in the Crossing DC apartment complex  owned by upscale real estate firm Tishman Speyer. Ali was also apparently funding the luxury lifestyle and seemingly endless stream of lavish gifts

Taherzadeh will be held until his 3:30 p.m. detention hearing on Friday after an arraignment on Thursday afternoon revealed there could be connections between Ali and the Pakistani Intelligence Service.

Both Pakistani and Iranian visas were found during the search Wednesday, according to prosecutors, and there will likely be a conspiracy charge.

Potential crimes, according to a Magistrate judge, involves possession and use of a firearm and the destruction of potential evidence after learning an investigation was underway.

Among the firearms being kept in the unit occupied by Taherzadeh, sources claim, were a Glock 19 .9mm with high capacity magazines, a fully automatic suppressed M4-style rifle, an AR pistol and a Sig Sauer handgun. He also showed some residents training weapons, including the airsoft gun used to 'test' so-called 'recruits' on their reaction and pain tolerance.

Among other items found was a binder with information on residents in Crossing DC, which includes many real federal agents, those working for the White House and congressional aides and advisors.

Agents with the FBI, NCIS and USPIS swarmed several floors and units of a luxury apartment building in southeast Washington, D.C.

Taherzadeh (right) and Ali (not pictured) spent a year-and-a-half of residency hanging out with residents and cozying up to people working for government  including at lest four Secret Service agents. Pictured: Ali at Crossing DC's rooftop pool with other residents and guests

One of the Secret Service agents accused of getting gifts from Taherzdeh and Ali worked on First Lady Jill Biden's security detail, according to the affidavit. That agent, as well as three others, have been placed on leave as an investigation continues. Pictured: First Lady Jill Biden speaks during a commissioning ceremony on April 2

White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki had no comment on the matter during her Thursday press briefing, telling reporters: 'I don't have any comment from here. I'd point you to the Secret Service and others investigating.'

During their time living at the building in the Navy Yard neighborhood of D.C., Ali and Taherzadeh spent months wining and dining government workers and contractors, cooking them filet mignon and salmon and inviting them over for beers and hookah in order to work their way into the inner circle.

Management office staff for Crossing DC did not respond to DailyMail.com for a request for comment.

In early 2021, Metro Police did a search of Taherzadeh's unit when a person from a surrounding apartment building made a call reporting a sighting of firearms in his 3-bedroom corner unit through an open window.

Video footage viewed by DailyMail.com showed members of the Metro Police Department and United States Capitol Police searching Taherzadeh's apartment on the 7th floor. They saw firearms in plain sight that are illegal to own in the District of Columbia, but were provided with credentials that seemed to convince them that Taherzadeh was an agent permitted to own such weapons.

MPD told DailyMail.com that the issue has been moved to the FBI and did not provide further statement.

A member of building management, Kelly Cianciola, sent a statement to Crossing DC tenants around 11:30 a.m. Thursday claiming that the 4:00 p.m. raid came after search warrants were presented to front desk staff due to an FBI investigation.

'The building staff fully cooperated with the investigation, while doing our best to minimize disruption to our residents,' the statement, obtained and read by DailyMail.com, reads. 'The FBI concluded its search overnight and is no longer on the premises.'

Much of Ali's Facebook has been deleted, but some images remain

Taherzadeh went on a trip to Nashville with some residents of the building

Arian Taherzadeh, 40, left and right, was one of two men arrested Wednesday for allegedly impersonating Department of Homeland Security officers to infiltrate the Secret Service. He and Haider Ali, 36, allegedly showered the Secret Service officers with gifts

No other details have been shared with residents about the ongoing investigation and who their neighbors really are  and when asked for more information on the matter, no response was given.

Units on at least the 5th, 6th, 7th, 13th and Penthouse levels were raided and carefully combed through by agents with the FBI, NCIS and United States Postal Inspection Service. It is not clear if NCIS and USPIS are still on premises.

Taherzadeh and Ali stand accused of impersonating federal agents and were arraigned in court Thursday afternoon.

Fake websites helped them corroborate their claims to residents that they were members of the 'special police' and the two stand accused of attempting to con an unnamed 'applicant' to join their Homeland Security task force they invented.

The recruitment process included shooting the applicant with an airsoft rifle to supposedly evaluate their pain tolerance, the affidavit lays out and sources confirmed. The individual being 'recruited' was instructed to research an unnamed person who worked as a contractor for the Department of Defense and the intelligence community.

According to sources, the Tishman Speyer-owned and operated building cooperated with Taherzadeh and Ali believing the guise that they were federal agents. Building management, the sources allege, provided the duo with access to surveillance cameras, including codes to access all doors in the building and a list of personal information about a number of residents.

A former security guard for the building, however, said that an overnight concierge would call down Ali and Taherzadeh when things happened in the building to show them surveillance footage.

Ali and Taherzadeh provided the all-access door code to several residents, another source confirms.

The luxury building has at all times a front desk concierge and security guard stationed in the building. The company contracted for the front desk staff is from Classic Concierge and security is provided by Allied Universal, which also staffs some government and corporate buildings.

Crossing DC upper management refused to speak out further on the matter and are not responding to media or tenant requests for more information. Questions regarding why Taherzadeh and Ali were given access to security cameras, door codes and personal information of residents are still going unanswered  and the potential level of complacency of Tishman Speyer's residential property staff is still unknown.

Neither the FBI nor other police or law enforcement have alleged wrongdoing by Tishman Speyer, Crossing DC or Allied Universal  the building's contracted security.

FBI personnel were seen entering the Crossings Apartments in southeast DC on Wednesday

Residents were told in an email obtained by DailyMail.com on Thursday that FBI agents were no longer on the premises. Pictured: Federal officials entered both Taherzadeh and Ali's apartments and began combing through their belongings

A separate unit, leased by Taherzadeh, was raided by U.S. Postal Inspector agents. The case against Taherzadeh and Ali stemmed from a USPIS probe into an alleged assault on a USPS letter carrier that happened in the building, which the impersonators witnessed

The two men's motive for the scheme has yet to emerge, with an investigation into their behavior ongoing

Access to residents' personal identifiable information, like full names and workplaces, allowed Taherzadeh and Ali to target who to get close with  this included at least four members of the United States Secret Service and those working for other federal agencies like the Department of Homeland Security.

Four members of the agency, which includes a member of the first lady's security detail, have been placed on leave. Their identities have still not been revealed, but, according to other tenants, at least two have moved from the building in the last few months.

U.S. Secret Service Media Relations released a statement Thursday morning on the connection of the impersonators and their agents, claiming they have and continue to work with law enforcement in the ongoing investigation.

'All personnel involved in this matter are on administrative leave and are restricted from accessing Secret Service facilities, equipment, and systems,' the statement reads.

'The Secret Service adheres to the highest levels of professional standards and conduct and will remain in active coordination with the Departments of Justice and Homeland Security.'

Residents of the 800-unit building went nearly 20 hours without an update from building management following images of a slew of federal agents occupying the lobby and halls since Wednesday afternoon.

As of 10:30 p.m. Wednesday evening, other occupants of the unit where Ali lives were allowed back in  including at least one woman and a few young children.

A Quora account with the name Ari Taherzadeh shows several posts from two and three years ago talking about firearms and what weapons are used by Secret Service detail to protect members of the executive.

'What is the typical weapon the Secret Service carries when providing close protection for the vice president?' one question on the profile asks.

An answer posted by the account listed to 'Ari Taherzadeh' responded with a detailed description of the firearms used by Secret Service agents, claiming: 'Since 1999, the current standard sidearm issued to Secret Service agents has been the Sig Sauer P229 DAK chambered in the .357 Sig round.'
Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg addresses the media prior to a meeting with his German counterpart Annalena Baerbock at the Foreign Ministry in Berlin, Feb. 16. Reuters-Yonhap





Hungary and Austria questioned an EU decision to blacklist two Russian oligarchs but eventually accepted the move after pressure from other governments, European Union diplomats and officials said Tuesday.







The EU adopted a new package of sanctions against Russia last Friday over its invasion of Ukraine, including the blacklisting of oligarchs close to the Kremlin, among them Moshe Kantor and German Gref.







Hungary and Austria enjoyed relatively cordial relations with Russia before the invasion, and their concerns about blacklisting Kantor and Gref underlines the difficulty the EU faces in presenting a united front against Russia.







The envoys of Estonia and Lithuania successfully urged their partners not to remove the two men from the list, the diplomats said.







Kantor, a large shareholder in Russian fertilizers company Akron, is also a philanthropist who had headed the European Jewish Congress (EJC).







He was sanctioned for having close ties to President Vladimir Putin, the EU sanctions document said. Kantor, a citizen of both Britain and Russia, has already been sanctioned by London and the EJC said Friday he would stand down as its president.







Hungary and Austria had both questioned the move against Kantor at a meeting of EU diplomats last Wednesday, officials who attended the meeting said.







The Hungarian envoy had expressed surprise at the blacklisting of somebody he described as a highly decorated man, they said. Kantor has received awards from several EU states, including Austria, Italy and France.







Spokespersons for Hungary's government and its diplomatic mission in Brussels had no immediate comment.







The Austrian envoy at Wednesday's meeting had asked for more information about why Kantor had been listed, sources said.







"Austria has never objected to or blocked any listings and will of course not do so in the future," a spokeswoman for Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg said.







Blacklisted oligarchs face asset freezes and travel bans in the EU, but not all EU countries have reported enforcement measures.







Out of about 30 billion euros frozen to oligarchs since the start of the Ukraine war, Austria has reported a few hundreds of millions of euros blocked in bank accounts linked to blacklisted individuals. Hungary has so far not publicly reported any measures.







At the meeting, Hungary also questioned the listing of Gref, head of Sberbank, Russia's largest lender.







Sberbank plays a crucial role in energy transactions and has so far been exempted from EU sanctions because of the EU's reliance on Russian gas and oil. (Reuters)






The British national on trial for his alleged role as one of the so-called Islamic State 'Beatles' involved in mass hostage taking and multiple murders, including the deaths of four American hostages three Brits, will not take the stand in his own defense.

El Shafee Elsheikh, 33, informed Judge TS Ellis III of his decision directly after the prosecution rested, ending a case that has lasted more than two weeks and included testimony from a dozen former hostages.

Jurors were not in the room to witness Elsheikh step up to the podium and remove his mask for the first and only time in the day's proceedings.

Thin and bearded, with dark rimmed glasses and his hair neatly slicked back, he wore a blue dress shirt and khaki trousers.

He spoke softly and raised his right hand half-heartedly as he opted to confirm his truthfulness rather than swear his oath on the bible.

He acknowledged that he understood his rights and that he was making his decision having sought guidance from his attorneys.

'Do you wish to testify?' the judge concluded. 'I do not,' Elsheikh replied.

Elsheikh's decision came at the end of lengthy testimony from former hostage, Danish photographer Daniel Rye Otteson.

Danish photographer, Daniel Rye Ottosen became the 12th freed hostage to take the stand at alleged British jihadist El Shafee Elsheikh's trial in Alexandria, Virginia Tuesday. Ottosen (pictured right in captivity) was taken hostage just one day after crossing the Syrian border at Killis on May 17, 2013

Ottosen testified against alleged British jihadist El Shafee Elsheikh, 33, (pictured in a court sketch Monday) who is accused of participating in an ISIS torture cell responsible for the deaths of four Americans

Otteson's testimony concluded with him recalling the moments of his release and how his captors told him to take one last look at the dwindling group of men with whom he had been held.

He told the court: 'I had this strange feeling because I knew how it was to sit there with your hands on the wall and I felt ashamed, and I felt so sorry that we didn't all go together.

'David Haines is a former military guy, and he was a tough guy before all this [but] at that point I saw his hands were shaking [as he held them aloft] and I will never forget this because I know how afraid he was, and he had good reason to be.'

Elsheikh, 33, is standing trial in federal court in Alexandria, Virginia, just outside Washington, on charges including lethal hostage-taking and conspiracy to commit murder

Later, Otteson was sent the now notorious video of Mohammed Emwazi, 'Jihadi John,' beheading American journalist James Foley.

The footage was sent to him by authorities because he had been the last person to see Foley alive and had been asked to identify him.

In a stark admission, Otteson said: 'Seeing James there with his head between his shoulders did not make me angry or sad.

'I remember I felt happy for James that now nobody could hurt him. He somehow found that place and I knew, myself, how it feels when you would rather be dead than alive.'

In fact, Otteson testified, the 'absolute worst thing' that happened to him after his release was seeing the image of Steven Sotloff in the same video and realizing that the American had been forced to witness the awful act and the fate that would be his own.

Moments after Otteson concluded his testimony the defense moved to have the charges against Elsheikh dismissed on the grounds that the government had not produced sufficient evidence to prove that he was indeed one of the Beatles.

Again, with the jury out of the room, Judge Ellis demolished the bid point by point, working his way through each charge and concluding that there was 'a mountain of evidence' by which a 'reasonable jury' could conclude beyond reasonable doubt that he was.

The defense's case lasted barely five minutes and consisted solely of clips of interviews given by Elsheikh before his extradition to the States.

The clips appeared to be an effort to suggest that Elsheikh had only confessed to crimes involving British and American victims to avoid being sent to trial in Iraq where he had been told several ISIS fighters had already been executed.

US Journalist James Wright Foley and ISIS 'Beatle' Mohammed Emwazi, aka 'Jihadi John, are seen in a now notorious video of the hostage's decapitation in 2014

While working as a freelance war correspondent during the Syrian Civil War, Foley was abducted on November 22, 2012, in northwestern Syria

The prosecution's rebuttal case was even shorter  just 30 seconds during which they played an excerpt from one of the same interviews, in which Elsheikh dismissed the notion that Iraq had jurisdiction over him or any crimes 'not committed on their turf.'

Ottosen was the 12th released hostage to take the stand in the trial.

He told a now familiarly harrowing tale of capture, relentless transportation between increasingly brutal locations and the particular brutality of the treatment handed out by British captors known to their victims as 'The Beatles.'

Elsheikh, who sat furiously scribbling notes on pink post-it pads and passing them to his counsel, stands accused of being a member of this infamous group  dubbed Ringo.

Ottosen was taken captive just one day after crossing the Syrian border at Killis on May 17, 2013.

He was taken to a place he knew only as 'The Basement Room' then 'The Farmhouse,' and from there he was moved to 'The Torture Center' a place where the treatment was so bad he attempted suicide.

Asked to recall the worst torture he had been forced to endure Ottosen told of a time when, deprived of water for days he was strung up in a room, his hands tied above his head and simply left there.

Authorities sent footage of Foley's beheading to Ottosen because he had been the last person to see the American journalist alive and was asked to identify him

During his testimony Ottosen recalled the worst torture he had been forced to endure, telling the court he was deprived of water for days, strung up in a room with his hands tied above his head

Cut down after 24 hours he collapsed, and when he regained consciousness he was offered two 'choices' by his captors; confess to being a spy and be executed but suffer no more, or return to the room in which he was strung up.

He chose the latter where, after many desperate hours he realized he could swing his feet to drag a table closer to where he hung.

He stood on the table, wrapped the chain by which he was tethered around his neck and jumped as high as he could  determined, he said, to snap his neck.

He told the court: 'I thought about my mom, my sisters, my girlfriendloved ones [to have them in my head].

'I stood there for some time [then] I jumped as high as I could. I remember I lost consciousness and that was some kind of relief.

'At some point I had the feeling that I was flying. I don't know if that was my soul.'

Then he felt the guards propping him up and cutting him down.

Proof of life pictures taken some time after the attempt and displayed in court show the marks from the chain, still visible on his neck.

Ottosen told how he first heard of the Beatles from fellow hostages Frederico Motka  who testified last week  and David Haines, the murdered British aid worker.

Ottosen holds the door for Marsha Mueller, center, mother of hostage Kayla Mueller who was killed by Islamic State militants, and other family members and friends as they depart the courthouse for a lunch break

Friends and relatives of the slain US hostages have been seen attending trial proceedings in recent weeks. Pictured: Carl Mueller, the father of victim Kayla Mueller

Bethany Haines, left, the daughter of David Haines, who was slain by Islamic State militants

Frida Saide, a Swedish aid worker who was held hostage by jihadists, was seen attending Tuesday's proceedings after taking the stand last week

He said that when he encountered them in a place they called 'The Dungeon' their account of the psychological and physical torture they had endured at the Beatles' hands made him feel 'lucky' to have been in the Torture Center.

He recalled that all the Brits were very careful about shielding their identity  insisting hostages face the wall when they entered the room, wearing masks and telling them that simply looking on their faces would be reason enough to kill them.

Across his time in captivity Ottosen began to know the sound of the car stopping, the tread of the Beatles' boots and even their perfume as it slipped beneath the door preceding the loud knocks that always announced their arrival and that he came to dread.

He said: 'Knocks on doors was one of the biggest traumas that I took from Syria.'

Ottosen rapped the witness stand three times, to demonstrate, telling the jury: 'It was people knocking loudly [that triggered me] because then I knew it was going to get bad.'

Ottosen recalled how the American hostages were singled out for particularly harsh treatment  especially James Foley.

Foley had told him, he said, of a time when he was held with British hostage John Cantlie and had a chance to escape but did not take it.

Ottosen said: 'James managed to open a hatch [in the ceiling] and pull himself out.

'He had the opportunity to flee but I don't know if it was heroic or very stupid, but he decided to jump back into the room with John because there was no one [John] could stand on top of and they were not able to flee together.'

Arthur Sotloff, father of hostage Steven Sotloff who was slain by Islamic State militants, arriving at court Tuesday

Victims: Left: US freelance journalist Steven Sotloff. Right: US aide worker Kayla Mueller, 26. Both were killed in Syria by ISIS

Victims: (From left to right): Slain American James Foley covering the civil war in Aleppo, Syria in 2012 and US aid worker Peter Kassig - otherwise known as Abdul-Rahman Kassig - in Syria

At times the court heard pieces of media interviews given by Elsheikh in which he confesses to treatment described by Ottosen in court.

The defense had sought to prevent jurors from seeing such excerpts.

In one striking moment Ottosen recalled how the Beatles brought in a laptop and showed the hostages a picture  it was of fellow hostage Sergei Gorbunov's head. He had been taken from the cell earlier and told he was being released.

Instead, he was executed  shot through the eye.

Ottosen's captors asked him to critique the photography.

He said: 'The picture was of a man who five days earlier I played chess against and now I could see it was the head of Sergei and a bullet had passed through his eye.'

On another occasion he and five other hostages were transported to a windy landscape where, he said, Elshiekh stood with a camera and urged: 'Don't f*** it up.'

They were forced to hold letters begging for their release and watch as a Syrian prisoner was shot in the back of the head.

Ottosen admitted that, by this stage, he thought that if he was to be executed too, he hoped it would be in the same manner since the man was killed instantly, without suffering.

Elsheikh is pictured, right, with ISIS Beatle Alexander Kotey, left, who struck a plea bargain last year in return for life behind bars

The fourth suspected 'Beatle', Aine Davis, is pictured in 2014. He is currently serving a prison sentence at a Turkish jail

A picture displayed in court showed Ottosen and his fellow hostages, standing in the ditch next to the Syrian prisoner's dead body into which, he testified, the Beatle who had shot him emptied his magazine.

The prosecution is expected to rest this afternoon after calling their two final witnesses.

After two weeks of intense testimony, Judge Ellis on Monday advised Assistant US Attorney Dennis Fitzpatrick that additional witnesses may be cumulative and ill-advised.

Elsheikh is charged with the murders of American freelance journalists James Foley and Steven Sotloff and aid workers Kayla Mueller and Peter Kassig and suspected of the kidnapping of nearly 20 other Westerners.

He has pleaded not guilty, and is not expected to testify at his trial but prosecutors have been using his own words against him.

After his capture, Elsheikh gave interviews to several media outlets and prosecutors have played excerpts from those interviews for the jury.

His lawyers, meanwhile, have seized on the question of identification in mounting his defense.

In opening arguments, they acknowledged he was an IS jihadist but insisted he was not one of the 'Beatles' and it was a case of 'mistaken identity.'
A physical therapist allegedly stabbed his two sons in their Disney town home after they were already dead, according to testimony.

Anthony Todt allegedly knifed Alek, 13, and Tyler, 11, in their abdomens after suffocating them in Celebration, Florida, a medic testified at the murder trial.

Ex-associate medical examiner Jennifer Nara told the court they would have passed away before the wounds were inflicted because they missed vital organs.

Todt, 46, faced jurors for the second day at Osceola County Court on Tuesday over four counts of first-degree murder and one count of animal cruelty.

He is accused of killing his wife Megan, 42, as well as Alek, Tyler, their daughter Zoe, and dog Breezy because he thought the world was ending.

The victims were allegedly drugged with Benadryl, suffocated, stabbed and left to rot for two weeks inside their home near Disney World. Todt has pleaded not guilty.

A physical therapist (pictured in court today) stabbed his two sons in their Disney town home after they were already dead, a court has heard

Todt allegedly killed his wife Megan, 42, as well as Alek, Tyler, their daughter Zoe (pictured together), and dog Breezy because he thought the world was ending

Nara told the court today the lack of hemorrhaging in the non-fatal stab wounds on Alek and Tyler meant they happened after they were dead.

According to the Orlando Sentinel, she told jurors neither of the blows had hit vital organs.

But the court heard the two stab injuries inflicted on Megan were at least eight inches deep in the abdominal cavity and caused hemorrhaging.

She said: 'To me, that indicates that she sustained those injuries antemortem  when she was alive.'

Asked if they were self-inflicted, she said: 'Based on the autopsy, I was not able to determine whether she inflicted it herself or whether it was inflicted on her.'

Nara also told the court the decomposed state of the bodies had made it hard for her to tell if they had died due to suffocation or strangling.

Cops found the victims' decomposing bodies on January 13, 2020, when they went to arrest Todt on insurance fraud charges related to his physical therapy business. Pictured: The family

Ex-associate medical examiner Jennifer Nara told the court they would have passed away before the wounds were inflicted because they missed vital organs. Pictured: The family home

Cops found the victims' decomposing bodies on January 13, 2020, when they went to arrest Todt on insurance fraud charges related to his physical therapy business.

They were first alerted to the family's disappearance just after Christmas 2019 when family members requested a wellness check at the house.

The alleged killer worked in Connecticut but spent his weekends in Florida with his family.

Prosecutors yesterday said the crime was carried out after Todt and Megan made a murder-suicide pact ahead of what they believed was an impending apocalypse.

Assistant State Attorney Danielle Pinnell told jurors: 'Everybody needed to die in order to pass over to the other side together because the apocalypse was coming.'

The court was also played a 911 call of one of Todt's sisters saying he believed the world was ending in late December 2019 as she asked cops to check on the family.

Special Agent Phelps told the court Monday that Todt was mumbling as authorities searched the house, and told police he consumed the Benadryl in an attempt to die by suicide

Special Agent Michael Phelps told the court yesterday how the bodies were found 'discolored, black and blue' when they reached the house.

The victims, who were found wrapped in blankets, were killed by 'unspecified violence' combined with overdoses of Benadryl, medics said.

Emily Seda, a forensics supervisor at the Osceola County Sheriff's Office, testified on Monday a cherry-flavored liquid Benadryl bottle was found in a trash can.

She said the bottle had Todt's fingerprints on it. Boxes and and bottles of Benadryl were also found in the house, prosecutors said.

Special Agent Phelps told the court Todt was mumbling as authorities searched the house and told police he consumed the Benadryl in an attempt to die by suicide.

An arrest affidavit said during the search 'Anthony could barely stand and appeared to be shaking'.

In three police interviews following the murders, Todt confessed to killing his family, which prosecutors reviewed in court on Monday.

Pinnell told jurors Todt said he killed Zoe first while she was sleeping, claiming he 'rolled over on top of her until she suffocated'.

Pinnell said Todt then told investigators he killed his two sons by suffocating them and stabbing them.

Pinnell told jurors yesterday: 'He was afraid that if something didn't go the way that he wanted Tyler Todt would escape.'

He said Todt added that his wife then stabbed herself twice, but when it did not work, he suffocated her with a pillow. Todt then allegedly said he suffocated Breezy.

Six months after confessing to the murders, Todt claimed his wife was responsible for for the grisly crime.

He told his father in a jail letter she was the one who drugged their children with a 'tainted Benadryl pudding pie'.

Todt's defense team deferred their opening statements on Monday. The trial continues.
A Mexico government official fears there will be chaos at the U.S. border unless President Biden's administration comes up with a clear plan on how to handle the onrush of nearly 140,000 migrants seeking asylum once Title 42 is lifted next month.

As many as 4,000 migrants are currently staying at shelters in the border town of Tijuana while about 1,500 are housed in shelters in Mexicali as the clock ticks down toward May 23 - the date when the controversial policy imposed by former President Donald Trump is lifted.

Tens of thousands of additional migrants are in Chiapas near Mexico's southern border city awaiting humanitarian visas from the country.

Enrique Lucero, director of the Direction of Attention to Migrants of the Municipality of Tijuana, told DailyMail.com that the Biden administrations plan to suspend the measure raises many unknown variables on both sides of the border.

'We hope that the United States is very clear about how it will receive all those asylum applications once Title 42 is eliminated because it is not clear whether they will do it in person at the border or if they will do it online,' Lucero said.

'If they do it in person, there will be chaos at the border because everyone will want leave the shelters and arrive at the border and stand in line. So that's going to create chaos for them and us.'

Aerial view of an improvised camp of Ukrainians seeking asylum on the Mexican side of the San Ysidro Crossing port in Tijuana, Mexico, on April 2

Temporary agricultural workers with H-2A work visas wait in line to cross the San Ysidro Port of Entry on their way to seasonal jobs in the United States on March 22

More than 1.6 million migrants  mostly single adults - have been expelled from the United States since March 2020, when Trump enacted Title 42.

The measure, which dates to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention public health law instituted in 1944, provides U.S. Customs and Border Protections U.S. Border Patrol agents the authority to turn back migrants without allowing them the opportunity to apply for asylum because they were deemed a threat to spread COVID-19 in the country.

Dr. Moreno Mena, who is the director of the Coalition for the Defense of Migrants, told DailyMail.com that more than 80 percent of the migrants are Central Americans holding on to the expectations the Biden administration, which has shown an openness to asylum seekers, will consider them for admission into America.

'The hope for Central Americans is still latent despite all the changes that have come, all the restrictions,' he said. 'Well, the hope for them is still latent and also as it is difficult for them to return to their place of origin.'

Migrants and border activists marched along a pedestrian bridge to arrive at the San Ysidro Port of Entry on March 21 protest against the Title 42 policy that was put into place by the former administration of President Donald Trump. Mexican officials and activists says about 5,500 migrants, mostly Central Americans, will seek asylum from the administration of President Joe Biden when the measure is lifted May 23

Haitian migrants and border activists assist a press conference held in protest of the Title 42 in Tijuana, Mexico, on March 21

Enrique Lucero, director of the Direction of Attention to Migrants of the Municipality of Tijuana, told DailyMail.com that the Biden administrations plan to suspend Title 42 raises many unknown variables on both sides of the border because the U.S. government hasn't revealed a plan on how it will handle asylum petitions

Mena said that about 400 people are being returned daily to the Tijuana area under Title 42 for crossing the border without legal documentation.

He doesnt expect the 2,000 migrants who are set to form a caravan in Honduras and depart for the U.S. to do because Title 42 is about to come to an end nor does he believe that the 130,000 plus individuals waiting for the Mexican government to approve their humanitarian visas will bolt from southern Mexico to the countrys border with the U.S. after May 23.

'This has been constant. Every year they form a caravan,' Mena said, recalling smaller caravans of about 300 people who would make it to the Tijuana region before about a fifth of them were granted entry to the U.S. 'Regardless of the program (law) there is, they are formed anyway. The problem is that they arrive and I see more and more (impossible) that these caravans will reach here.'

Russian asylum seekers Nastya (left) and Artem (right) gather with their son Samuil outside the San Ysidro Port of Entry after not being permitted to cross into the United States to seek asylum on March 22

Children play on Saturday at the Movimiento Juventud 2000 shelter where refugee migrants from Central and South American countries, including Honduras and Haiti seeking asylum in the United States, are currently staying

Father Pat Murphy, who operates the Casa Migrante de Tijuana shelter, sees the elimination of Title 42 as a positive because migrants will finally have the chance to file their asylum petitions but the drawback to it is that many will be rejected, especially at a time when the Biden administration is welcoming 100,000 refugees from Ukraine who have been displaced by the Russian invasion.

'Just imagine if Ukrainians are coming from an African country,' Father Murphy said. 'They would be helping them so much? I dont think so. ... In the long run, the U.S. knows most of these people will go back to their home town."

Said Mena: 'They are giving them a very privileged treatment. The United States has even sent emissaries here to this side of the border to facilitate the passage to the United States and then organizations from the United States, NGOs, have crossed over to the Mexican side and are giving them support. Some of those organizations are supported by the US government. We can say that they are a privileged group.'
Johnny Depp's sister took the stand in his defamation trial and described their troubled childhood at the hands of their abusive mother.

Christi Dembrowski, 61, was called by Depp's team to testify Tuesday and told the jury about their upbringing in Lexington, Kentucky by 'high strung' mother Betty Sue Palmer and 'peaceful' dad John Christopher Depp.

'Father was a kind, patient, loving, gentle man. Our mom was the opposite, very high strung, very nervous, anxiety, angry,' she said, adding that their parents were 'two completely different personalities.'

Depp at times looked to the floor as his sister spoke. He appeared to be deeply moved as his older sister recounted their childhood together.

Johnny Depp's sister Christi Dembrowski, 61, took the stand in his defamation trial and described their troubled childhood

Depp at times looked to the floor as his sister spoke. He appeared to be deeply moved as his older sister recounted their childhood together

Christi Dembrowski, 61, was called by Depp's team to testify and told the jury about their upbringing in Kentucky. Pictured together in an undated photo

Asked if there were occasions where Heard was not nice to Depp, Dembrowski said there was one that 'really stayed with me.'

They were at Depp's office and Christian Dior had called saying they were interested in working with Depp.

She said: 'Johnny told Amber they were interested in him.

'Her reaction to that was she was in disbelief and sort of disgust because she said Dior, why would Dior want to do business with you? They're about class and style and you don't have style. It was insulting, kind of taking away that one moment. That insult is there.

'I've seen the insults, multiple times actually.'

Asked what Heard would say about Depp's physical appearance, Dembrowski said she would call him 'an old, fat man.'

Benjamin Chew, Depp's lawyer, began the line of questioning.

Dembrowski admitted that she still works closely with her brother and has been called his 'personal manager' in the past.

'Did mother get angry with father?' Chew asked.

Depp with parents Betty Sue Palmer (second from left) and John Christopher Depp (second from right) and ex Vanessa Paradis when Johnny received a star on the Walk of Fame in 1999

'Yes,' Dembrowski said.

'How?' Chew asked.

'Mom would scream, yell at him, she would hit him, call him names, that kind of thing.' Dembrowski said.

'Did your father hit your mother back?' Chew asked.

'No, dad never reacted when mom hit him or screamed at him.' Dembrowski said. 'Basically he would let her scream and get it out and be done. The way you dealt with my mom, he always tried to keep the peace.'

'How did your mother treat you and your brothers and sisters?' Chew asked.

'Similarly in how she treated dad. She screamed, she yelled, she hit, she threw things, she called us names. We each had our own set of names.

'Some we wouldn't repeat. My name was Violet. Violet was my father's mother and my mom hated my father's mother,' she said.

Like father like son: Johnny and dad John Christopher pose at Depp's Walk of Fame ceremony

Though their relationship was difficult, Johnny does have a tattoo of mom Betty Sue's name

Johnny - full name John Christopher Depp II - talks to his father at a Hollywood luncheon, 2005

John Christopher, a civil engineer, tried to 'keep the peace' in their home, Dembrowski said. Picture taken at Grauman's Chinese Theatre luncheon in 2005, which he attended with his son

Betty Sue and John Depp divorced in 1978 when Johnny was 15 and Christi was 18.

Depp has described their family home as a 'ghost house', which helped turn him into a more 'nurturing person'.

But the chaos was difficult too and Depp began using drugs at just 11 years old.

Betty died of cancer in 2016 aged 81. Depp got a tattoo of his mom's name on his left arm in 1988.

After receiving his first Hollywood paycheck, Depp bought her a small house farm in Kentucky. He used to rub her feet after long days waitressing.

John Depp was Betty's second husband. She married twice more after the divorce, lastly to Bob Palmer, who died in 2000. Johnny described Bob as an 'inspiration'.

John 'Jack' Depp was absent for much of Depp and Dembrowski's childhoods. He is still alive at 84 years of age.

At Betty's funeral, Johnny Depp described his mom as the 'meanest human being I have ever met in my life'. In a 2018 interview with Rolling Stone he also called her a 'b***h on wheels'.

But Depp also said he 'worshipped her' and that she was 'funny'.

Betty even once threw an ashtray at her son.

'Did you mother have special name for Johnny?' Chew asked.

'She had a few, some to not repeat,' Dembrowski said. ''One eye'' was her favorite. Because when he was young the doctors thought had a lazy eye, they put a patch on his good eye to strengthen his other eye.'

'Did Johnny respond?' he asked.

'Those names were just a way of life. We got used to them,' Dembrowski said.

'Did your mother get angry with you?' Chew asked. 'Physical?'

'Yes, she did but I was also very quiet, very shy, I learned early on to step back. I would stay away from trouble,' Dembrowski said. 'She would hit us, threw things, go pick a switch off a tree, that would be what she'd hit us with. One that's nice and green. If it wasn't a nice green twig it wouldn't break.'

Dembrowski added that her mother would get angry at Johnny and hit him as well.

'How if at all did Johnny react when his mother would hit him?', Chew asked.

'He was a typical little boy, when hurt he would cry. For the most part he just wanted to get away from it,' Dembrowski said, adding that he never hit his mother back.

'When he was older even if she hit or threw things he never went to that place he would get away, he would leave the area, go to him room.' Dembrowski said.

Dembrowski told the jury that she booked an extra hotel room for Depp and Heard whenever they traveled because Johnny would need to cool off alone when they got into an argument

Dembrowski said Amber Heard (pictured in court yesterday) would call Depp 'an old, fat man'

Dembrowski told the jury that she booked an extra hotel room for Depp and Heard whenever they traveled.

She said: 'When they were traveling I wanted to make sure there was an extra room because it wasn't unusual for them to have an argument.'

Dembrowski added that Depp would be able to 'leave the room' as he did when he was a boy and his mother became abusive.

She said: 'I saw a repeat happening in life. When we were kids in arguments and fighting would start to happen. Our first thing to do was go and hide and get away from it. I recognized what felt to me a repeat pattern from his childhood. I wanted to make sure there was a place he could do just that'.

When Dembrowski learned Depp was marrying Heard, she felt 'scared', she told the jury.

She said: 'I was devastated actually it was going to happen as quickly as it was being pushed for. I actually tried to talk him into just waiting a little bit longer and not rushing'.

Dembrowski said that Depp's team wanted Heard to sign a prenup to 'protect his children' but she wouldn't do it - they got married without one.

This photo shown in court from May 2016 of Amber Heard with an apparently bruised cheek, which has been referred to as an exhibit

As part of Depp's defamation case against Heard, he included images of his own bruised and battered face (pictured ) following Heard's alleged attacks

Depp and Amber Heard are squaring up over a December 2018 op-ed Heard penned for the Washington Post declaring herself a domestic violence survivor.

The article did not mention Depp by name but the veteran actor sued for $50 million, claiming he was booted from the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise because of the 'clear implication' he was the abuser.

Depp's suit claims Heard presented the world with a 'hoax' account of the infamous May 21, 2016 dust up that brought the couple's tumultuous marriage to an end, complete with faked injuries and crocodile tears.

He further alleges that his ex-wife was the actual 'perpetrator' of the violent bouts that scarred their relationship, including a notorious incident in Australia where she allegedly severed his finger with a vodka bottle.

Heard has countersued for $100 million, claiming vengeful Depp has waged a years-long smear campaign, using media allies and internet trolls to silence her and derail her acting career.

She stands by her claim that Depp hurled a phone in her face and viciously battered her during the fateful 2016 fight despite LAPD officers deciding there was no grounds to investigate.

The officers are among dozens of possible witnesses slated to give evidence either in person or via video link over the next six weeks, including Hollywood actors Paul Bettany, James Franco and Ellen Barkin.

Another intriguing name is Elon Musk whom Depp has accused of having an affair with Heard while they were still married, an accusation the Space X mogul has denied.

But as DailyMail.com revealed last week, the world's richest man will likely swerve proceedings because he's not a Virginia resident and therefore can't be compelled to give evidence.

Depp is fighting an uphill battle to salvage his reputation after Britain's High Court ruled against him last year when he sued The Sun newspaper for calling him a 'wife beater'.

Depp's team will cast doubt on photos of Heard's injuries by calling upon forensic pathologists and computer experts to explain how the wounds don't match up with the abuse described by the Aquaman actress

After weeks of testimony, Mr Justice Nicol concluded that the outlet's 2018 article was 'substantially true' and that the father-of-two had attacked Heard a dozen times, causing her to fear for her life on three occasions.

Amber Heard and Johnny Depp's caustic relationship February 3, 2015 Johnny Depp and Amber Heard marry in a private civil ceremony at their LA home, four years after they met as co-stars on the set of The Rum Diary. The couple celebrate with a lavish reception on an idyllic private island in the Bahamas that Depp bought in 2004 for $3.6 million. April 21, 2015 Heard breaches Australia's biosecurity laws when she and Depp fail to declare their two Yorkshire terriers when they arrive Down Under on a private jet for the filming of Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales. Heard admits falsifying quarantine documents and is placed on a $1,000 one-month good behavior bond. May 23, 2016 Heard files for divorce after 15 months of marriage, citing irreconcilable differences. Four days later a judge issues a temporary restraining order against Depp over domestic violence allegations. Pictures of Heard's alleged injuries hit the tabloids but the LAPD finds no evidence of a crime. August 16, 2016 Depp and Heard reach a $7 million divorce settlement which the actress promises to give to charity. Their marriage was 'intensely passionate and at times volatile, but always bound by love,' the former lovers say in a statement. 'There was never any intent of physical or emotional harm'. December 18, 2018 The Washington Post publishes an op-ed by Heard, an ambassador for women's rights at for the American Civil Liberties Union, urging support for women who suffer domestic violence. 'Two years ago, I became a public figure representing domestic abuse, and I felt the full force of our culture's wrath for women who speak out,' reads the headline. March 1, 2019 Despite not being named in the article, Depp files a $50 million defamation suit in Fairfax Circuit Court, Virginia saying it implied he was an abuser and got him fired from the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise. Depp dismisses Heard's abuse allegations as a 'hoax' and claims he was actually the victim of her violence. August 10, 2020 Heard countersues for $100 million, claiming vengeful Depp and his lawyer Adam Waldman targeted her with a vicious smear campaign, using media allies and internet trolls to amplify false stories about her and derail her acting career. November 1, 2020 Depp faces an uphill battle to save his reputation after he loses a libel battle with a British tabloid that labeled him a 'wife beater'. A judge in London's rules that The Sun's 2018 article was 'substantially true' and that the father-of-two had attacked Heard a dozen times, causing her to fear for her life on three occasions. April 11, 2022 After lengthy delays due to the Covid pandemic, the former flames finally lock horns in Fairfax County, Virginia where the Washington Post servers that published the disputed op-ed are based. The trial is expected to last six to seven weeks and celebrities tipped to give evidence include James Franco, Paul Bettany and Ellen Barkin. Advertisement

The London court also heard a trove of shocking texts Depp had sent to Avengers star Bettany, vowing: 'Lets burn Amber.'

'Let's drown her before we burn her !!!,' he wrote in November 2013. 'I will f**k her burnt corpse afterwards to make sure she's dead.'

Sources close to Depp say he never contemplated settling or dropping the US case and is desperate for a second bite of the cherry in Virginia where the London result will be kept from jurors.

Armed with a battery of highly-paid lawyers - including Kathleen Zellner of Making a Murderer fame - he's confident of tipping the balance with additional evidence that didn't feature in the 'wife beater' case.

DailyMail.com has led the world in revealing much of the material over the past two years, from explosive audio recordings to bombshell depositions and police videos.

The cache includes bodycam footage from LAPD officers who visited the ex-couple's LA apartment on the night of the blowout 2016 fight.

Heard claims that her ex-husband assaulted her before smashing up their $1.5 million home  but his lawyers will argue the videos don't show any trace of damage.

Depp's team will also cast doubt on photos of Heard's injuries by calling upon forensic pathologists and computer experts to explain how the wounds don't match up with the abuse described by the Aquaman actress.

And they may also confront Heard with audio recordings in which she talks about hitting Depp and questions whether anyone would believe he was a domestic violence victim.

'I can't promise I won't get physical again. God I f**king sometimes get so mad I lose it,' she says in one clip, previously published by DailyMail.com.

'Tell the world Johnny Depp, a man, I'm a victim too of domestic violence  see how many believe or side with you,' she adds in a second.

Heard's promise to give away her entire $7 million divorce settlement, splitting it between the ACLU and the Children's Hospital Los Angeles, will also come under the microscope.

DailyMail.com previously revealed that Depp's lawyers subpoenaed both organizations last year to find out if they ever got the money.

They will tell jurors that the hospital got $100,000, rather than the promised $3.5 million, while the ACLU received just $450,000.

Another $500,000 came from someone named 'Elon', who Depp's lawyers will say is Elon Musk.

Heard insists she will honor her pledge - but hasn't been able to do so thus far because of the spiraling cost of her legal war with Depp.

Insiders believe the couple have each spent upwards of $20 million to date.

Depp and Heard met on the set of The Rum Diary in 2011, married four years later  then split in a little over a year amid a slew of blood curdling domestic violence allegations and tabloid headlines.

After finalizing their divorce in early 2017 the feud appeared to have fizzled until Heard published her December 2018 op-ed, headed: 'I became a public figure representing domestic abuse, and I felt the full force of our culture's wrath for women who speak out.'

The article prompted Depp to file for defamation in Virginia, where the Washington Post's servers and several of its offices are based, stating: 'Ms. Heard is not a victim of domestic abuse; she is a perpetrator.'

Heard's counterclaim argues that it's both true that she suffered years of abuse at the hands of her 'monster' ex and that it's her right to talk about it under the First Amendment.

Her lawyers will argue that various media statements made by Depp's longtime ally and lawyer Adam Waldman branding her a liar and calling her claims a hoax were false, defamatory and designed to wreck her career.

She's also accused Depp and Waldman of harassing her on Twitter, promulgating smear stories and using fake accounts and Russian 'bots' to amplify negative coverage, demanding twice as much in damages from her former husband.

According to confidantes it's not about the money, however, it's about Heard 'reclaiming her voice' and her ability to advocate for abuse victims.

If she succeeds, three-times Oscar-nominated Depp, the globally-famous star of more than 50 Hollywood movies grossing $10 billion, could lose his entire fortune as well as what's left of his reputation.

But there's no turning back now, according to his rep.

'This case being brought to trial is proof that the court acknowledges the notable amount of preliminary wins, evidence and witnesses in support of Johnny,' the spokeswoman said.

'To decline the opportunity to clear one's name and allow someone taking advantage of the system to walk away with zero repercussions would be careless and set a dangerous precedent for similar situations in the future.'
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said Tuesday it's 'possible' that the Republicans could screw up their chances of retaking the Senate this fall, pointing to some 'bizarre' candidates of the past.

'This atmosphere for Republicans is better than it was in 1994. So from an atmospheric point of view it's a perfect storm of problems for the Democrats because it's an entirely Democratic government,' McConnell said at a Kentucky Chamber of Commerce event.

In 1994, Republicans won the House of Representatives back after 40 years and took control of the Senate.

'Which leads you to ask the question, how could you screw this up? It's actually possible,' McConnell continued. 'We've had some experience with that in the past.'

'You can't nominate somebody who is just sort of unacceptable to a broader group of people and win,' the Kentucky Republican added.

As an example, McConnell pointed to several examples from 2010 and 2012, including Delaware GOP Senate hopeful Christine O'Donnell, who lost to Democrat Chris Coons in 2010 and Nevada GOP Senate candidate Sharon Angle, who lost the same year to then Democratic leader Harry Reid.

Also Todd Akin, who allowed Democratic Sen. Claire McCaskill to win re-election in 2012, and Tea Party favorite Richard Mourdock of Indiana, who beat incumbent GOP Sen. Dick Lugar in a 2012 primary, only to be bested by Democrat Joe Donnelly in the general election.

McConnell, who has been at odds with former President Donald Trump since the ex-president refused to concede the 2020 election, also criticized Trump for not supporting the bipartisan infrastructure bill.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said Tuesday it's 'possible' that the Republicans could screw up their chances of retaking the Senate this fall, pointing to some 'bizarre' candidates of the past

He called the law a 'good thing to do.'

'Our former president apparently did not want anything to happen during his successors' administration, so he came out against it,' McConnell said. 'I never felt if you don't have the White House you can do nothing.'

McConnell was among 19 GOP senators who voted for passage of the bill.

He explained how the infrastructure bill featured the most popular provisions in a bigger spending bill pitched by the Democrats, while adding that he hoped Biden's social spending Build Back Better bill remained dead.

'I don't know if it's dead or not, but i would like to smother it if I knew how to do it,' McConnell said.

This week, Trump has continued to try to play kingmaker in the 2022 races.

Republicans need to only pick up one seat in order to break the Senate's current 50-50 tie.

Democrats have a majority because Vice President Kamala Harris, in her role as president of the Senate, can cast a tie-breaking vote.

On Saturday night, Trump perturbed Pennsylvania conservatives by endorsing the more moderate Republican candidate, TV personality Dr. Mehmet Oz, for the state's open Senate seat.

That Senate race is one of five that Cook Political Report rates as a 'toss-up.'

The Missouri Senate race has also had some Republicans worried, as the state's former Gov. Eric Greitens has long led the polls.

Greitens left office after a extramarital sex scandal, but has lost ground in the primary recently due to domestic violence allegations from his ex-wife.

This has allowed for Republican Rep. Vicky Hartzler - considered to be more electable state-wide - to surge to the front of the field.

Former President Donald Trump continued to play GOP kingmaker on Saturday, announcing his support for Dr. Mehmet Oz in the Pennsylvania Senate race, annoying some conservative allies

During the interview, McConnell also confirmed that he would be running for majority leader if the GOP is successful in November.

'Yeah,' he replied. 'By the way I've been both - majority leader is better,' McConnell also offered.

Additionally, he affirmed he still has warm relationship with Democratic President Joe Biden, a former Senate colleague.

'Well our personal relationship is just fine. But we've not had a whole lot to talk about because of the path he's chosen,' McConnell said, casting Biden as an uber liberal. 'Which leads me to say if I'm in the majority next year, Biden will be a moderate, he won't have any choice.'

'We can help him keep the commitment he originally made,' the Kentucky Republican added.

McConnell was also read a list of his nicknames by moderator Scott Jennings - including grim reaper, cocaine Mitch and old crow.

'I want to know, when you look in the mirror, which one do you see?' Jennings asked.

McConnell joked that 'old crow' was his favorite.

'It was given to me by the former president, who's apparently not a fan,' he said of Trump. 'And my response was, I wanted to thank him because this was Henry Clay's favorite bourbon.'
The family of a British soldier fighting for the Ukrainian army have told how he phoned them in the middle of the night from the front line to say that he was surrendering to the Russian forces because he had run out of food and ammunition.

Former care worker Aiden Aslin, 28, who moved to Ukraine in 2018 after falling in love with a woman from Mykolaiv, was captured while defending Mariupol against Vladimir Putin's troops.

Speaking exclusively to MailOnline from the family home in Newark, Nottinghamshire, Mr Aslin's younger brother, Nathan Wood, begged the Kremlin to look after him.

We dont have too much information at this stage,' said Mr Wood, 25. 'All we know is that Aidens unit commander has been in communication with his opposite number in the Russia Army negotiating a possible surrender early this morning.

Nathan Wood, (right) begged the Kremlin to look after his brother Aiden Aslin (left) who phoned his family in the middle of the night from the front line to say that he was surrendering to the Russian forces because he had run out of food and ammunition.

'Aiden called me at 3am today and mentioned they were having to lay down arms because of a lack of food and ammunition.

'It was a very brief call as we got cut off but I could tell by the tone of his voice that he wasn't happy.

As a family we don't want to say too much because Aiden's well-being and safety is our prime concern but President Putin has made dire warnings to those Westerners caught fighting for the Ukrainian Army.

'Aiden has been called a mercenary but that isn't true, he enrolled with the Ukrainian Army four years ago and has dual citizenship.

If the Russians do have Aiden captive, we would want to remind them of the Geneva Convention and to treat him and other soldiers in a humane and dignified way.

Aiden Aslin is a former carer who previously fought against Isis in Syria. Now he says his unit will have to surrender to the Russians

Aiden Aslin, 28, moved to Ukraine in 2018 after falling in love with a woman from Mykolaiv , another Black Sea port close to Odessa. He is now in his fourth year with the Ukranian armed forces and was due to get married this Spring and complete his service in September

'This is a worrying time for our family. Russia has a reputation with how it deals with its prisoners. Those soldiers from Snake Island, who told the Russians to 'go f*** yourself', talked about being tortured before they were released.

'Aiden may well become used as a propaganda tool by the Russians and be paraded about. We just hope they don't do anything drastic. We want him to be safe,' he added.

It comes after claims Russia used chemical weapons dropped from a drone over Mariupol last night, as Putin continues his brutal assault on the strategic port city.

Aslin said in a message posted via a contact on Twitter: 'It's been 48 days, we tried our best to defend Mariupol but we have no choice but to surrender to Russian forces.

'We have no food and no ammunition. It's been a pleasure everyone, I hope this war ends soon.'

The post added: 'We're putting this out after direct consultation with his family. Until we're told otherwise we'll continue working on sharing the facts of the war. Hope for a prisoner exchange.'

Aslin, from Newark, Nottinghamshire, is now in his fourth year with the Ukranian armed forces and was due to get married this Spring and complete his service in September.

Aslin previously spent ten months in Iraq fighting Islamic State. But on his return home in 2016 he was arrested.

He was held for 30 hours after officers boarded his plane at Heathrow, where members of his family were eagerly awaiting his arrival.

Authorities escorted him straight to Nottinghamshire Police headquarters for questioning over a suspected terrorism offence.

When Russia launched their brutal invasion, Aslin was stationed in the Donbass region where separatists and the Ukrainian armed forces have been fighting since 2014.

There are an estimated 10,000 civilians who have been killed by Putin's army in Mariupol which has seen some of the worst fighting of the war.

Corpses are now 'carpeted through the streets' of the crucial port city, according to its mayor Vadym Boychenko.

He accused Russian forces of having blocked weeks of attempted humanitarian convoys into the city in part to conceal the carnage. Boychenko said the death toll in Mariupol alone could surpass 20,000.

Service members of pro-Russian troops drive armoured vehicles during Ukraine-Russia conflict on a road outside the southern port city of Mariupol

Boychenko also gave new details of allegations by Ukrainian officials that Russian forces have brought mobile cremation equipment to Mariupol to dispose of the corpses of victims of the siege.

Russian forces have taken many bodies to a huge shopping centre where there are storage facilities and refrigerators, Boychenko said.

'Mobile crematoriums have arrived in the form of trucks: You open it, and there is a pipe inside and these bodies are burned,' he said.

Boychenko spoke from a location in Ukrainian-controlled territory but outside Mariupol.

The mayor said he had several sources for his description of the alleged methodical burning of bodies by Russian forces in the city, but did not further detail the sources of his information.

The discovery of large numbers of apparently executed civilians after Russian forces retreated from cities and towns around the capital, Kyiv, already has prompted widespread condemnation and assertions that Russia is committing war crimes in Ukraine.

The British Ministry of Defence said Russian forces are continuing to pull out of Belarus to support operations in eastern Ukraine, focused on the Donbas region, where Russian-allied separatists have claimed independence.

A view shows the building of a theatre destroyed in the course of Ukraine-Russia conflict in the southern port city of Mariupol

'Fighting in eastern Ukraine will intensify over the next two to three weeks as Russia continues to refocus its efforts there,' the ministry said in a tweet.

'Russian attacks remain focused on Ukrainian positions near Donetsk and Luhansk with further fighting around Kherson and Mykolaiv and a renewed push toward Kramatorsk.'

US officials also point to further signs Russia's military is gearing up for a major offensive in Ukraine's eastern Donbas region, switching its focus after Russian forces failed in their initial drive to capture Kyiv.

Donbas has been torn by fighting between Russian-allied separatists and Ukrainian forces since 2014, and Russia has recognised the separatists' claims of independence.

Military strategists say Russian leaders appear to hope local support, logistics and terrain in Donbas favour Russia's larger and better-armed military, potentially allowing Russian troops to gain more territory and weaken Ukraine's fighting forces.

Russia has appointed a seasoned general to lead its renewed push in the eastern Donbas region.

A senior US defence official on Monday described a long Russian convoy now rolling toward the eastern city of Izyum with artillery, aviation and infantry support, as part of redeployment for what appears to be the looming Russian campaign.

More artillery is being deployed near the city of Donetsk, while ground combat units that withdrew from around the Kyiv and Chernihiv areas appear destined for refitting and resupplying before they position in Donbas, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss internal US military assessments.

There are an estimated 10,000 civilians who have been killed by Putin's army in Mariupol which has seen some of the worst fighting of the war

With their offensive in many parts of the country thwarted, Russian forces have relied increasingly on bombarding cities - a strategy that has flattened many urban areas and killed thousands of people.

The UN childrens agency said nearly two-thirds of all Ukrainian children have fled their homes in the six weeks since Russias invasion began. The United Nations has verified 142 children have been killed and 229 injured, though the actual numbers are likely much higher.

Ukrainian authorities accuse Russian forces of committing atrocities, including a massacre in the town of Bucha, outside Kyiv, airstrikes on hospitals and a missile attack that killed at least 57 people last week at a train station.

In Bucha, the work of exhuming bodies from a mass grave in a churchyard resumed.

Galyna Feoktistova waited for hours in the cold and rain in hopes of identifying her 50-year-old son, who was shot and killed more than a month ago, but eventually she went home for some warmth.

'He's still there,' her surviving son, Andriy, said.

In Mariupol, about 120,000 civilians are in dire need of food, water, warmth and communications, the mayor said.

Only those residents who have passed the Russian 'filtration camps' are released from the city, Boychenko said.

Ukrainian officials say Russian troops are confiscating passports from Ukrainian citizens, then moving them to the camps in Ukraines separatist-controlled east before sending them to distant, economically depressed areas in Russia.

Boychenko said Monday that those who did not pass the 'filtering' have been moved to improvised prisons. He said 33,000 people or more have been taken to Russia or separatist territory in Ukraine.

Russian has denied moving people against their will.

President Volodymyr Zelensky warned Ukrainians that Russia might use chemical weapons in Mariupol. 'We take this as seriously as possible,' Zelensky said in his nightly address Monday.

Western leaders warned even before Russian troops moved into Ukraine that Russia could resort to unconventional weapons there, particularly chemical agents.

A Russia-allied separatist official, Eduard Basurin, appeared to urge their use Monday, telling Russian state TV that Russian-backed forces should seize a giant metals plant in Mariupol from Ukrainian forces by first blocking all the exits out of the factory. 'And then well use chemical troops to smoke them out of there,' he said.

A Ukrainian regiment, without evidence, also claimed Monday that a drone had dropped a poisonous substance in Mariupol. It indicated there were no serious injuries.

Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said in a statement that the U.S. could not confirm the drone report out of Mariupol. But Kirby noted the administrations persistent concerns 'about Russias potential to use a variety of riot control agents, including tear gas mixed with chemical agents, in Ukraine.'

Western military analysts say Russias assault increasingly is focusing on an arc of territory stretching from Kharkiv, Ukraines second-largest city, in the north, to Kherson in the south.

Questions remain about the ability of depleted and demoralised Russian forces to conquer much ground, however, after determined Ukrainian defenders repelled their advance on Kyiv.
Sec. of State Antony Blinken said the U.S. could not confirm whether Russia had used chemical weapons in its attack on Mariupol but reiterated that the U.S. had 'credible information' that Russia could do so.

'We're not in a position to confirm anything. I don't think the Ukrainians are either,' the secretary said, asked about the reports.

'We had credible information that Russian forces may use a variety of riot control agents including tear gas mixed with chemical agents that would cause symptoms to weaken or incapacitate entrenched Ukrainian fighters and civilians as part of the aggressive campaign to take Mariupol.'

The Pentagon is still closely monitoring such reports, according to an official.

'We are aware of social media reports which claim Russian forces deployed a potential chemical munition in Mariupol, Ukraine,' Defense Department press secretary John Kirby said. 'We cannot confirm at this time and will continue to monitor the situation closely.'

'These reports, if true, are deeply concerning and reflective of concerns that we have had about Russia's potential to use a variety of riot control agents, including tear gas mixed with chemical agents, in Ukraine,' said Kirby.

President Joe Biden has previously warned there is a strong possibility that Russia could deploy a chemical arsenal and warned there would be 'severe' consequences if they do so.

'We're not in a position to confirm anything. I don't think the Ukrainians are either,' Sec of State Antony Blinken said, asked about the reports

People walk past a crater from the explosion in Mira Avenue (Avenue of Peace) in Mariupol, Ukraine, Sunday, March 13

The image above shows the aftermath of an attack on Mariupol Hospital in March

Chemical weapons production, use and stockpiling is banned under the 1997 Chemical Weapons Convention. Although condemned by human rights groups, white phosphorous is not banned under the convention.

Russian-backed separatist forces in the east denied using chemical weapons in Mariupol, the Interfax news agency reported.

'There is a theory that these could be phosphorous munitions,' Ukraine's Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Malyar said on Tuesday.

The British government and other western allies are also investigating claims that Vladimir Putin's army deployed a chemical agent that sickened a handful of people in Mariupol as Russian forces try to take control of the city.

Pytor Andryushchenko, an adviser to the city government, said local officials believed that some chemical had been dropped by a drone on the Azovstal steel plant, a stronghold for Ukrainian forces defending the city. They said it was unclear whether it was intended to be lethal.

He said that it might be something like tear gas, but that they could not be certain.

'It is absolutely correct information that yesterday from a drone, something was dropped in that area and some chemical things were in it,' he told The New York Times. 'But we don't know for sure if it was poison or something else.'

Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar said it was possible phosphorus munitions - which cause horrendous burns but are not classed as chemical weapons - were used.

Meanwhile, a senior American defense official told reporters on Tuesday the U.S. can't confirm the reports because they don't have people on the ground in Mariupol.

'The biggest challenge is we're not there,' the official said, adding they have not been able to talk to locals on the ground.

The Pentagon is closely monitoring reports of a possible Russian chemical weapons attack on the besieged southern Ukrainian city of Mariupol

Russian forces are trying to take the city of Mariupol; local officials say more than 10,000 civilians have been killed

Russian President Vladimir Putin said he 'had no other choice' but to launch what he calls a 'special military operation' in the area

Putin, who has not been able to take the capital, has been building up forces for a new offensive in the eastern Donbas region.

On Tuesday he said Russia 'had no other choice' but to launch what he calls a 'special military operation' in the area, claiming it was to protect civilians in the predominantly Russian-speaking Donbas.

Mariupol lies in the Donbas region and has been razed in six weeks of pummeling by Russian troops. Local officials said the bombing has left more than 10,000 civilians dead.

The British government is also looking into the allegations that chemical weapons were used.

Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said Downing Street was working 'urgently' to verify details of the alleged attack and, if it were true, then Putin would be held accountable.

'Reports that Russian forces may have used chemical agents in an attack on the people of Mariupol. We are working urgently with partners to verify details,' she wrote on Twitter.

'Any use of such weapons would be a callous escalation in this conflict and we will hold Putin and his regime to account.'

Concerns were also raised after Eduard Basurin, a spokesman for the Kremlin-backed, separatist Donetsk People's Republic, urged Moscow to bring in 'chemical forces' to use in Mariupol.

He said on Russian television that the remaining Ukrainian forces in Mariupol were dug in at the steel plant and that Russia should encircle it and 'smoke out the moles.'

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky seized on the report and warned his people to prepare for a 'new stage of terror against Ukraine.'

'The occupiers issued a new statement, which testifies to their preparation for a new stage of terror against Ukraine and our defenders. One of the mouthpieces of the occupiers stated that they could use chemical weapons against the defenders of Mariupol. We take this as seriously as possible,' Zelensky said in a video statement posted online Monday night.

'I want to remind the world leaders that the possible use of chemical weapons by the Russian military has already been discussed. And already at that time it meant that it was necessary to react to the Russian aggression much tougher and faster,' he added.

Chemical weapons production, use and stockpiling is banned under the 1997 Chemical Weapons Convention.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned his people to prepare for a 'new stage of terror against Ukraine'

President Joe Biden has previously said there would be 'severe' consequences if Russia used chemical weapons

The governor of the eastern Donetsk region, Pavlo Kyrylenko, said he had seen incident reports on possible chemical weapons use in Mariupol but could not confirm them.

'We know that last night around midnight a drone dropped some so-far unknown explosive device, and the people that were in and around the Mariupol metal plant, there were three people, they began to feel unwell,' he told CNN.

In March, Biden said the use of chemical weapons would not be tolerated. But he did not detail what the consequences would be for Russia if it made such a move.

American officials have expressed concern that Russia could use chemical weapons as it struggles to make progress in the war.

'I'm not going to speak about the intelligence but Russia would pay a severe price if they use chemical weapons,' Biden said.

Biden has also said the U.S. would respond 'in kind' to such an attack. His national security adviser Jake Sullivan said that meant 'we'll respond accordingly' and that Russia would pay a 'severe price.'

Russia has wielded chemical weapons in the past. Moscow used the deadly Novichok poison in 2018 an attempt to assassinate a defector living in Salisbury, England. And it is suspected of using a similar poison against opposition leader Alexei Navalny in 2020.

Russia also offered diplomatic cover to Syrian use of chemical agents. It accused the West of being behind the 2017 attack on Khan Shaykhun with Sarin or similar nerve agent.
Sky News anchor Mark Austin tonight hit back at a Tory MP who claimed nurses had work drinks during lockdown amid a discussion over Boris Johnson and his fine for breaching restrictions.

The Prime Minister, wife Carrie and Chancellor Rishi Sunak were among more than 30 more recipients of fixed-penalty notices dished out by Scotland Yard on Tuesday.

The fines were issued in relation to a Cabinet room afternoon gathering at which cake was served, meaning Mr Johnson became the first sitting PM in history to be penalised for law-breaking in office.

MP Michael Fabricant took to the airwaves this evening to defend his party leader, insisting: 'He was only meeting with people he'd been working with constantly throughout the day anyway.'

In a tense interview, broadcaster Austin then addressed comments the Lichfield MP was reported to have made around doctors and nurses drinking together after shifts at the height of the pandemic.

Mr Fabricant clarified his remarks, saying: 'I said I know of some nurses - quite understandably, and I'm not condemning them - who after a long day on the wards, absolutely exhausted  this is pre vaccination being available, pre the antiviral drugs being available - then going back to the staff room and having a quiet drink.

'Frankly, I can't blame them. Would you call that a party?'

However, the journalist hit back with a firm response, telling the parliamentarian: 'Just for the record, my wife is an A&E doctor and I can assure you there was nothing going on in her hospital like that, they were exhausted, completely exhausted throughout Covid.'

Sky News anchor Mark Austin tonight hit back at a Tory MP who claimed nurses had work drinks during lockdown amid a discussion over Boris Johnson and his fine for breaching restrictions

MP Michael Fabricant took to the airwaves this evening to defend his party leader, but was shot down over claims about health staff drinking together after shifts at the height of the pandemic

Austin told the parliamentarian: 'Just for the record, my wife is an A&E doctor and I can assure you there was nothing going on in her hospital like that, they were exhausted, completely exhausted throughout Covid'

Boris Johnson today became the first serving Prime Minister in history to be penalised for law-breaking as No10 confirmed he will receive a fixed-penalty notice (FPN) for attending a Cabinet room birthday party arranged by his wife.

The Prime Minister, along with his wife and colleague, were sanctioned by Operation Hillman for breaking the law at illicit events that took place while millions of ordinary Britons were showing self-sacrifice and obeying restrictive Covid rules for the good of the country.

But tonight the PM, speaking from Chequers, refused to step down, and insisted that at the time he had not believed he was breaking the rules - rules that he introduced.

Mr Fabricant also leapt to his defence, saying: 'I think what was going through his mind, and we'll have to hear it from him on Tuesday, was that these were people he was working with cheek by jowl, hour after hour in Downing Street at the time, incidentally, trying to find a vaccine programme for the UK, which of course he succeeded in doing.

'We were the first country in the world to introduce the vaccine programme and months ahead of Europe, not that that's an excuse.

'I think he would've thought he wasn't actually breaking the rules because these were people he was working with and therefore he wouldn't have been spreading contagion, which is what the rules were all about.

'You've got to bear in mind there are some 360 or so offices, it's quite a warren, Downing Street, and the flat upstairs for Rishi and the separate flat for the Prime Minister... the doors tend to be open all the time.'

He added: 'If he'd been spreading the disease he'd have been not only breaking the rules  and I'd be calling for his resignation  he'd also been reckless with other people's lives.

'But that wasn't the case, was it? He was only meeting with people he'd been working with constantly throughout the day anyway.'
House Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) is criticizing a fundraising group linked to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi for its endorsement in a crowded Oregon primary race

Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) on Tuesday blasted a fundraising group dedicated to electing more members of his party to the House of Representatives, for backing a white man over a Latina in Oregon's crowded Democratic primary race for the newly-created 6th district.

Sparking the inter-party disarray was House Majority PAC's decision to roll out a $1 million ad campaign for Carrick Flynn, a first-time candidate whose campaign has received millions in cryptocurrency dollars.

It's unusual for the national Democratic fundraiser -- closely linked to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi -- to weigh in so heavily so early in a competitive primary.

Gallego, who chairs the Congressional Hispanic Caucus's (CHC) fundraising arm called Bold PAC, tore into House Majority PAC for not 'doubling-down on their investments to empower Latino and Latina candidates' like state Rep. Andrea Salinas.

'Voters and candidates of color delivered majorities for Democrats in the 2020 elections. Latina women helped lead the charge by mobilizing communities and voting for Democrats up and down the ballot across the country. Their role in the midterms will be no less critical,' Gallego said on behalf of Bold PAC.

'Yet despite this fact, House Majority PAC  the largest spender working to elect Democrats to the House  has deliberately chosen not to endorse Andrea Salinas, a candidate who is among the most qualified Latinas running in a congressional race anywhere in the country.'

He accused the massive operation of failing to hold Republicans accountable and instead spending 'critical resources against a woman who has spent decades fighting for progressive causes and who will excite Democratic voters in November.'

'Right now, Democrats should be doubling-down on their investments to empower Latino and Latina candidates like Andrea who are running strong campaigns focused on issues that matter to communities of color and working families,' the Arizona Democrat said.

Gallego pointed out that the new Congressional district is more than 20 percent Hispanic, and that the state of Oregon has never had a Latino or Latina member of Congress.

Some Democrat lawmakers are outraged over House Majority PAC's decision to spend nearly $1 million in advertising dollars for Ohio 6th Congressional District candidate Carrick Flynn (left), a first-time candidate backed by a cryptocurrency billionaire. The Congressional Hispanic Caucus, which Gallego is a part of, is backing Oregon state legislator Andrea Salinas (right)

'Instead of supporting Andrea, House Majority PAC is spending nearly $1 million to prop up her opponent Carrick Flynn. This stands in contrast to the thinking of a majority of Democrats who know that Latino candidates and voters must be taken seriously for the midterm elections,' he said.

Rep. Sylvia Garcia (D-Texas), another member of the CHC, accused the House Majority PAC of 'trying to tip the scales' for Flynn.

'At a time when reproductive rights are at stake, Democrats should be moving mountains to ensure that there are more women at the table,' Garcia said in a statement.

'Especially women of color  instead of actively trying to tip the scales against an exceptionally experienced Latina. That is precisely what House Majority PAC has done.'

Salinas, a leader in the crowded primary race, has secured key left-wing endorsements aside from the CHC, like the Planned Parenthood Action Fund.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is closely linked with House Majority PAC

Gallego said House Majority PAC's ad buy for Flynn equates to a 'decision to oppose these groups.'

Despite a lack of political experience, Flynn managed to attract a staggering $5 million donation from cryptocurrency billionaire Sam Bankman-Fried through his Protect Our Future PAC.

Six candidates in the nine-way primary, including Salinas, blasted House Majority PAC's ad buy as an 'unprecedented and inappropriate decision.'

They signed onto a statement accusing the Pelosi-aligned group of trying to 'divide Democrats,' according to the Oregon Capital Chronicle.

'This effort by the political arm of the Democratic establishment to buy this race for one candidate is a slap in the face to every Democratic voter and volunteer in Oregon -- and is especially concerning in a year when all resources must go to protecting the Democratic majority,' the searing message read.

Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley, not affiliated with the CHC, said House Majority PAC's endorsement was 'flat-out wrong.'

'I haven't endorsed in this race, but it's flat-out wrong for House Majority PAC to be weighing in when we have multiple strong candidates vying for the nomination,' Merkley wrote on Twitter.

The Democratic leadership-linked fundraising group defended itself and Flynn as a candidate in a statement to Politico.

'House Majority PAC is dedicated to doing whatever it takes to secure a Democratic House Majority in 2022, and we believe supporting Carrick Flynn is a step towards accomplishing that goal,' the group said.

'Flynn is a strong, forward-looking son of Oregon who is dedicated to delivering for families in the 6th District.'

DailyMail.com has reached out to House Majority PAC for comment.

Oregon's primary elections will be held on May 17.
A four-year-old boy with autism was found dead in a Georgia pond after wandering away from a relative's apartment on Monday.

Kyuss Williams vanished around 6:20 p.m. after visiting the East Ponce Village Apartments in Stone Mountain, where a relative had recently moved. He was reported missing just minutes later.

'The family was in the residence when they realized the child had left the residence,' DeKalb County Police Chief Mirtha Ramos told reporters. 'They didnt know where the child was.'

The family searched for the child for about 10 minutes before calling emergency services.

Initially, investigators didn't focus on the retention pond at the complex, a neighbor told FOX 5 Atlanta. After viewing surveillance footage from a nearby convenience store, however, they saw the boy had headed in that direction.

The boy's body was recovered in a pond around 2:30 a.m. on Tuesday, according to the Dekalb County Police Department. The body of water was just feet from the relative's home, according to WSB-TV.

Police do not suspect foul play in the child's death and no criminal charges have been filed, although an investigation is ongoing.

Kyuss Williams, 4, was found dead in a pond just feet away from his relative's home. The boy, who suffered from autism, was reported missing after he wandered away around 6.30 pm on Monday. His body was recovered in the pond around 2.30 am on Tuesday

A rescue team used inflatable boats to scour the retention pond at the East Ponce Village Apartments in Stone Mountain, where they found the boy's body

'We extend our condolences to the Kyuss family during this time and we thank everyone who worked to find him,' the department wrote in a Facebook post.

Neighbors told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that police shut down the surrounding area for several hours while they combed the area

'Fire department, helicopter, you name it  they had it out here,' complex resident William Brown told the outlet on Tuesday. 'They had the dogs, and I think thats how they knew the baby was in the water.'

A rescue team used inflatable boats to scour the pond, Officer Elise Wells said.

Other neighbors told FOX 5 that the community's retention pond should be fenced off to prevent another tragedy.

'Theyve been looking for this baby since earlier yesterday, and for them to just find this baby at like 2:30 in the morning, its downright wrong,' resident Delores Watson said. 'I can just pray for the parents.'

The family searched the area around the East Ponce Village Apartments, pictured, for about 10 minutes before calling police
Security members and police in protective gear stand in a residential community under lockdown in Shanghai, Tuesday. EPA-Yonhap



The United States announced Tuesday it had ordered all non-essential employees at its Shanghai consulate to leave, while voicing concerns for the safety of Americans in China as the government

enforces hard lockdowns to contain COVID-19.



China has stuck tightly to a policy of "zero COVID," aiming to eliminate infections through rigid lockdowns, mass testing and travel restrictions.



But the policy has come under strain since March as more than 100,000 cases in Shanghai have led to a lockdown of the city's 25 million inhabitants, sparking widespread public outcry over food shortages and an inflexible policy of sending anyone who tests positive to quarantine centers.



The U.S. State Department "ordered the departure due to the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak," a spokesperson from its Beijing embassy said in a statement.



American diplomats have also raised "concerns about the safety and welfare of U.S. citizens with People's Republic of China officials," the statement added.



China's largest city reported more than 23,000 new coronavirus infections on Tuesday.



Most of its residents remain under strict lockdown, although some who live in neighborhoods deemed a low virus risk have been allowed outside their homes, sparking scenes of jubilation shared on Chinese social media.



The U.S. embassy said last week it would permit non-essential employees to leave its Shanghai consulate due to the case surge, warning citizens in China they may face "arbitrary enforcement" of virus curbs.



The State Department is now ordering employees to leave, as "it is best for our employees and their families to be reduced in number and our operations to be scaled down as we deal with the changing circumstances on the ground," the spokesperson said in the statement.



China has hit back against U.S. complaints about the Shanghai lockdown, with Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian on Saturday slamming the United States' "groundless accusations" and insisting that China's policy was "scientific and effective." (AFP)




More than 6,000 alleged war crimes committed by Russian troops including mass slaughter of civilians and rape are now under investigation, Ukraine's prosecutor's office revealed yesterday.

The prosecutor general said 186 children are confirmed to have been killed since the war began on February 24 despite Vladimir Putin's repeated denials that civilians have been targeted.

A total of 6,036 potential war crimes have been reported.

More than 6,000 alleged war crimes committed by Russian troops including mass slaughter of civilians and rape are now under investigation, Ukraine's prosecutor's office revealed. Pictured: Gendarmerie IRCGN officers, from France, observe the exhumation of civilians killed during the war with Russia in Bucha, in the outskirts of Kyiv, Ukraine

President Volodymyr Zelensky, addressing Lithuania's parliament yesterday, revealed that investigators had received reports of 'hundreds of cases of rape' in areas previously occupied by Russian troops

President Volodymyr Zelensky, addressing Lithuania's parliament yesterday, revealed that investigators had received reports of 'hundreds of cases of rape' in areas previously occupied by Russian troops.

He also revealed for the first time alleged evidence of Putin's soldiers sexually abusing children. Speaking via videolink from Kyiv, he said: 'In areas freed from the occupiers, the recording and investigation of war crimes committed by Russia continues. Almost every day we find new mass graves.

'Hundreds of cases of rape have been recorded, including those of young girls and very young children, even of a baby.'

President Zelensky also revealed for the first time alleged evidence of Putin's soldiers sexually abusing children. Pictured: Russian President Vladimir Putin signs in the visitor's book at a rocket assembly factory during his visit to the Vostochny cosmodrome outside the city of Tsiolkovsky today

Separately, the UN Security Council was warned again of rape being used by Russian troops to punish and humiliate Ukrainians. Pictured: Members of an international team of war crimes prosecutors and Prosecutor General of Ukraine Iryna Venediktova (C) during a visit to a mass grave in Bucha, Kyiv today

Separately, the UN Security Council was warned again yesterday of rape being used by Russian troops to punish and humiliate Ukrainians.

Kateryna Cherepakha, president of rights group La Strada-Ukraine, told the council via video: 'Violence and rape is used now as a weapon of war by Russian invaders in Ukraine.' Moscow has denied the allegations.

Russia's barbaric tactics have received international condemnation, particularly after troops retreated from the commuter town of Bucha, revealing evidence that civilians had been bound, shot dead and dumped by the side of the road. At least 403 people were killed in the town.

Russia's barbaric tactics have received international condemnation, particularly after troops retreated from the commuter town of Bucha, revealing evidence that civilians had been bound, shot dead and dumped by the side of the road. At least 403 people were killed in the town. Pictured: French forensics investigators, who arrived to Ukraine for the investigation of war crimes amid Russia's invasion, listen as Ukraine's Prosecutor General Iryna Venediktova speaks, in the town of Bucha today

In Kharkiv, Ukraine's second largest city, Ukrainian authorities were desperately trying to remove landmines that had been dropped in the city  some on children's playgrounds. Pictured: Leonid Serdiuchenko, a Ukrainian commander stands next to the remains of a missile outside the village of Barvinkove, as Russia's invasion on Ukraine continues

US President Joe Biden said the evidence warranted a war crime investigation, while Boris Johnson said the killings 'do not look far short of genocide'.

The US embassy in Kyiv condemned the latest child casualty figures, writing in a statement posted to social media yesterday: 'After each death of a child, the life of a mother, father and family is changed for ever.

'Each assassination was committed by a Russian soldier, a commander, and Vladimir Putin, whose crimes will not be forgotten.'

Pictured: Firefighters are seen through the destroyed window of an apartment as they work to extinguish a fire after a Russian attack in Kharkiv, Ukraine today

US President Joe Biden said the evidence warranted a war crime investigation, while Boris Johnson said the killings 'do not look far short of genocide'

Ukrainian prosecutors yesterday announced their war crime investigations were expanding from Bucha into the north-eastern Kyiv suburb of Brovary after troops withdrew to redeploy in eastern Ukraine.

The prosecutor general's office described renewed evidence of alleged massacres, including finding the bodies of six civilians with gunshot wounds in a basement in the village of Shevchenkove, near Brovary.

There is also evidence that Russian forces opened fire on a car convoy of civilians evacuating the nearby village of Peremoha, killing four people including a 13-year-old boy.

Pictured: Prosecutor General of Ukraine Iryna Venediktova speaks to journalists during a visit to a mass grave in Bucha today

Ukrainian prosecutors yesterday announced their war crime investigations were expanding from Bucha into the north-eastern Kyiv suburb of Brovary after troops withdrew to redeploy in eastern Ukraine. Pictured: A damaged private building after shelling in Bohdanivka village near Brovary, Kyiv

In Kharkiv, Ukraine's second largest city, Ukrainian authorities were desperately trying to remove landmines that had been dropped in the city  some on children's playgrounds.

The plastic PTM-1M mines, dropped on residential streets, operate on timers or when touched and are banned by some countries because of the risk of civilian casualties.

In the eastern region of Luhansk, the site of the new Russian offensive, such is the scale of the onslaught that morgues in several cities are full, said Luhansk governor Serhiy Haidai. Some cities have now lost electricity.
Trench warfare has been a feature of conflict in Europe since World War I and Ukrainian troops are ready and waiting for the Russian onslaught coming their way  as these images show.

Ukraines best troops have been dug in around Donbas since Russia invaded the region in 2014, but the weeks ahead will present their biggest challenge.

Tens of thousands of Russian soldiers are heading for eastern Ukraine as the Kremlin gears up for a massive offensive.

The UKs Ministry of Defence today warned that fighting there will intensify over the next two to three weeks, signalling a new phase of the war.

The Ukrainians face being outnumbered by as much as three to one as Vladimir Putin seeks a face-saving victory in the Luhansk and Donetsk regions.

Ground force: Ukraine troops take up defensive positions in Donbas after digging themselves in, protected by a wall of earth and sand bags

In the trenches: A group of frontline fighters appear relaxed as they wait for the most crucial battle of the war so far

Eight miles long: Massive Russian convoy moves towards the battlefield

Locked and loaded: A soldier prepares his rifle for an upcoming clash

Russians: Forgive us - we didn't want this war Retreating Russian soldiers left Ukraine an apology as they pulled out of a school they took over outside Kyiv. Returning villagers found a message scrawled in chalk on a blackboard, pictured, that read: Forgive us, we did not want this war. Troops ransacked and looted the site on their way out. Education is the future, the schools headteacher told CNN. Why steal everything? This is a school. Advertisement

The last eight years of conflict there between Ukrainian troops and pro-Russian separatists have shaped the landscape, which today resembles the Western Front of northern France and Belgium more than a century ago.

Long, narrow trenches dug into the ground snake for miles across Donbas where the decisive battles of the war are expected to be fought.

Footage emerged today of Russian naval infantry riding atop a column of armoured personnel carriers in the Rostov region, which borders eastern Ukraine.

These troops appeared well-equipped and highly-motivated  a far cry from thousands of Putins personnel who have either been killed, fled or surrendered since his special military operation began.

The eight-mile long convoy of military and supply vehicles was moving south today. It will be joined by Russian troops who spent weeks attempting to break through Ukrainian defences around Kyiv.

They were withdrawn by the Kremlin when it became clear they could not penetrate the capital.

Armed Forces Minister James Heappey said that it was quite likely Ukraine could secure victory in the east, telling Times Radio the countrys soldiers had the wind on their back.

Russia is also said to be launching its thrust into the Donbas at the worst time of year because soft ground means tanks and trucks risk getting stuck in the mud if they venture off-road.

If they stick to the highway, columns of armoured vehicles will be vulnerable to attack from Ukrainian drones.

Tonight, UK military officials said they remained confident the Ukrainians seen here would emerge victorious. They insist no aspect of Russias military campaign has gone to plan.

In a tweet, the Ministry of Defence claimed Russia had lost 2,151 vehicles, artillery pieces and aircraft  more than three times the losses suffered by Western-backed Ukrainians.

Over 30,000 Russian troops are said to have been killed, wounded or captured since the conflict began.
More than $77 billion worth of dental care will be covered by Medicare if the Greens hold the balance of power after the next election, leader Adam Bandt says.

The plan will enable Australians to receive Medicare-funded dental care and orthodontic treatment as well as oral surgeries, periodontics and prosthodontics.

Mr Bandt will use a speech to the National Press Club on Wednesday to spruik the party's policy and unveil its cost.

Australians will receive dental care and orthodontic treatment covered by Medicare of the Greens are elected to power (stock image)

The plan will enable Australians to receive Medicare-funded dental care and orthodontic treatment as well as oral surgeries, periodontics and prosthodontics (stock image)

'Last time the Greens were in the balance of power we got dental into Medicare for kids, and now we'll finish the job by getting dental into Medicare for everyone,' Mr Bandt said.

'In balance of power, the Greens will tackle the cost of living by getting dental and mental health into Medicare, fixing the housing affordability crisis and wiping student debt.'

The plan, which will cost $77.6 billion over the decade - or around $8 billion a year - will be funded by taxes on billionaires and large corporations.

It builds on the $5.8 billion pledge the Greens brought to the 2019 election which would have provided Medicare-funded dental care to all young people, aged pensioners, full benefit recipients and concession card holders.

Greens leader Adan Bandt (pictured) will announce more details of the policy on Wednesday

The party is proposing a six per cent tax on the wealth of Australia's more than 130 billionaires and a corporate 'super profits tax', which will force businesses to hand over profits after they make $100 million.'

'The Greens will make Clive Palmer pay more tax so you can fix your teeth,' Mr Bandt said.

At the last election, the Greens scored 10.4 per cent of the national primary vote, retaining Mr Bandt's lower house seat of Melbourne.

They also won Senate seats in NSW, Queensland, Tasmania, Victoria, South Australia and WA.

The latest Morgan poll has the Greens on 12.5 per cent of the primary vote.
The NHS cancelled cancer and hip operations during the pandemic while continuing to perform breast enlargements and nose jobs for private patients.

Figures reveal the health service profited from treating tens of thousands of people who paid for care last year despite claiming to be overwhelmed by coronavirus.

Waiting lists have soared to a record high of 6.1million after the NHS postponed non-urgent treatment and urged Britons to stay away due to the pandemic.

But it still found time to carry out operations including tummy tucks, knee replacements and cataract surgery for patients able to pay.

Meanwhile, others have been forced to wait more than two years for essential treatment.

NHS trusts are allowed to supplement their usual taxpayer-funded income by selling private services on the side.

Guidelines say they should ideally provide private treatment in a separate building  but it could be in a different area of the hospital or after NHS hours.

However, campaigners branded the revelation morally outrageous last night and asked why health service capacity was not being used to tackle the backlog  which could reach 14million by 2024.

The shocking figures come after leaked draft guidance from NHS England last month showed hospitals have been told to expand private patient opportunities to grow more income.

Now, data seen by the Daily Mail shows that a number of trusts  particularly in London  generate substantial income from privately paying patients. Some of this came from patients who travelled from abroad.

The NHS performed 42,380 private procedures from October 1, 2020, to September 30, 2021, figures from the government-mandated Private Healthcare Information Network (PHIN) suggest.

However, the true number could be far higher as reports redact instances of some procedures where there may be a risk of patients being identified.

There were 40,814 such entries across all NHS sites and procedures over this period.

The Royal Marsden, a specialist NHS cancer hospital in London, accounted for a third of the private patients. Moorfields Eye Hospital and St Marys Hospital, both in London, also ranked highly.

The most common private treatments included chemotherapy, cataracts, caesareans and hip replacements.

Professor Pat Price, co-founder of the Catch Up With Cancer campaign, said: It is morally outrageous to see hospitals stripped of NHS capacity for private payers when we face a deadly cancer backlog timebomb.

Private care should be enhancing NHS capacity and reducing waiting lists. We should not be giving up NHS beds to revenue raise right now.

Action that takes away from NHS capacity delays treatment and creates further inequality.

Figures reveal the health service profited from treating tens of thousands of people who paid for care last year despite claiming to be overwhelmed by coronavirus (stock picture)

Sally Gainsbury, of the Nuffield Trust think-tank, said: Record numbers of patients have joined the waiting list for NHS care...With this difficult situation in mind, patients are likely to be asking why  if the health service has the staff and operating theatres available to carry out these private procedures in NHS hospitals  they are not being used to reduce NHS waiting lists and waiting times instead.

Miss Gainsbury added that health officials now seem to be capitalising on the surge in people paying for private treatment.

Patients looking to pay for care at an NHS hospital can ask their GP for a private referral or ask their consultant for more information.

This week, NHS leaders called for the return of masks and social distancing measures, saying high Covid rates were continuing to have a major impact on services.

But Downing Street rejected the demands, citing vaccines effectiveness as a reason not to re-impose further curbs.

The British Medical Association, which advises its members on how to provide private treatment, yesterday claimed patients could face even longer backlogs if the Government does not impose stricter Covid measures.

A spokesman for NHS England said staff had continued to deliver vital routine care during the pandemic and carried out more than 6.3 million procedures in the year from October 2020.

They added that the proportion of private procedures was tiny but offered a way of funding additional care and treatments for NHS patients.
The Metropolitan Police has been accused of politicising Partygate after fining the Prime Minister and Chancellor for attending a birthday gathering lasting only nine minutes.

Scotland Yard today said it had issued 50 fixed penalty notices  up from 20 last month  as part of Operation Hillman.

But it is now expected that as the police continue to examine each event, Mr Johnson could receive more fines.

He is believed to have attended at least six of the 12 parties under investigation.

One senior MP said: It beggars belief that the Met are politicising fines at such a crucial time for our country'

However, Tory MPs have questioned the timing of the fines ahead of the local elections on May 5 and why they had not all been issued in one go.

One senior MP said: It beggars belief that the Met are politicising fines at such a crucial time for our country.

You would hope that Sadiq Khans police force would be focused on tackling crime affecting Londoners in their daily lives.

A Tory former minister added the force should have waited until the election was over as it might look like it is attempting to influence the outcome.

Meanwhile, some backbenchers argued that the timing was positive for the Government as MPs are in recess and not in Westminster for another week.

The senior Metropolitan Police officer in charge of the Downing Street Partygate investigation is deputy assistant commissioner Jane Connors.

Her team has examined CCTV, emails and questioned attendees at the alleged rule-breaking parties. She joined the force in 1993 and gained her current rank last year.

And she previously defended the force over their handling of the vigil on Clapham Common for Sarah Everard.

When asked about the possibility that he may receive further fines, Mr Johnson did not rule it out today.
Maverick former Coalition MP George Christensen will stand for election as a senate candidate for Pauline Hanson's One Nation, just days after he quit Parliament.

The lockdown critic and advocate of unapproved Covid-19 treatment ivermectin had previously said he was leaving Canberra after he was sidelined from the Coalition over his outspoken views.

He had held the Queensland seat of Dawson for the Liberal National Party since 2010 and caucused with the Nationals, but quit the party last week, saying it was 'anything but conservative'.

Maverick former Coalition MP George Christensen will stand for election as a candidate for Pauline Hanson's One Nation, just days after he quit Parliament

He had previously said he wanted to spend more time with his young family, after marrying Filipino April Asuncion in 2019 and the birth of their 21-month-old daughter Margaret.

Mr Christensen will be number three on One Nation's Queensland senate ticket. It is an unwinnable spot but he could help boost support for Senator Hanson to return her to Parliament.

'If the only job that I do is helping Pauline get back in the Senate and maybe take a friend with her then that's a job done,' he said.

Because he is running again for Parliament, Mr Christensen will get a resettlement allowance of $105,625 - six months of his base salary - when he loses.

If he had just retired he would not have got the money.

'Pauline approached me and asked me whether I would re-consider leaving Parliament, whether I would consider continuing on with One Nation.

'I did not want to run again for the seat of Dawson. That decision was made, that decision came and went. And obviously I am not, as Pauline announced.

'But she did ask me if I would join her Senate ticket and I said yes.'

Mr Christensen had previously said he had voted for One Nation.

LNP Senator Matt Canavan said while he understood Mr Christensen might have been upset with some party room decisions, it was better to fight for change from within.

'It is a desertion,' he told Nine Network. 'You don't go off and speak to a minor party.'

It's unclear if Mr Christensen will stand for his old seat of Dawson, with One National already having a candidate, Julie Hall, announced for that seat.

The 2019 election saw a massive 13 per cent swing to One Nation in Dawson, but he comfortably held his seat with a 22 per cent margin over second placed Labor.

However Mr Christensen could instead run for the Senate and challenge Senator Canavan, who said he took nothing for granted.

'Ultimately you don't have job security ... It's up to the voters,' he said. 'But I love a fight, I don't shirk from a fight.'

Mr Christensen - who in 2016 posed in sado-masochistic clothes with a whip for a newspaper feature - gave a valedictory speech attacking Canberra's 'poodles' and hailing 'mongrels' like himself.

The anti-vaxxer advocate of outlawed Covid-19 treatment ivermectin and lockdown critic had previously said he was leaving Canberra after he was sidelined over his marginal views

'When I came to this place, someone told me about two paths that lay ahead: the path of the poodle and the path of the mongrel,' he said.

'They said that the poodles in politics do what they're told, get the accolades and end up sniffing the ministerial leather right up close.

'But nothing changes if it's left up to the poodles. That's where the mongrels come in.

'Political mongrels might be mangy; they might growl when they're grumpy, and they might soil the carpet every so often, but they bark when needed and aren't afraid to nip issues in the bud when needed as well.

'They keep the poodles in the ministerial leather that they're accustomed to but are pretty much put in the 'never to be promoted' column.

'It doesn't need to be said that I took the path of the political mongrel. Political mongrels get things done.

'For my electorate and my people, I've proudly been a political mongrel.'

The backbencher was briefly the Nationals Chief Whip until he resigned from the position in 2017, complaining that he was muzzled by the role in a row with then-PM Malcolm Turnbull.

Mr Christensen came under scrutiny by Australian Federal Police for his repeated visits to the Philippines to visit his now wife and family which saw him dubbed the 'Member for Manila' by Labor.

It was revealed he had spent 294 days in the Philippines between April 2014 and June 2018.

He will announce his political return at a press conference with Pauline Hanson when she will confirm One Nation will stand in all 151 House of Representatives seats on May 21

A statement from Pauline Hanson confirmed the party will aim to be a major force at the 2022 federal election after only a restricted effort in 2019.

She said it was as a result of increased support that had increased substantially as a reaction against the Covid lockdowns during the pandemic.

'It's a significant step up from the 2019 election when we fielded candidates in about a third of Australian electorates,' she said.

Mr Christensen has been a vocal opponent of Covid restrictions, and last year compared the expansion of government power through the pandemic to Nazi Germany and the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia.

'The totalitarian regimes responsible for the most heinous atrocities in the 20th century didn't get there overnight,' Mr Christensen said.

'In 21st century Australia, state premiers are racing down that familiar path, trying to outsmart each other, drunk on power, setting up their own biosecurity, police states completely medical apartheid.'

He added: 'The totalitarian path, the path that we are unquestionably on, has never ended well.

'The solution is a rediscovery of human dignity along with, and I don't say this lightly, civil disobedience.'

The comments were denounced by Prime Minister Scott Morrison.
Nottingham University refused to reverse its decision to withdraw an honorary degree from Dr Tony Sewell, chairman of the Commission on race and ethnic disparities

A university has refused to reverse its decision to deny the Governments race tsar an honorary degree.

The head of Nottingham University claims controversy over the award would overshadow its degree ceremony, upsetting students and their families.

The Daily Mail revealed last month that Nottingham had withdrawn its offer to Tony Sewell after his controversial report concluding there was no evidence that the UK is institutionally racist. The report led to angry outbursts from Labour and the race relations lobby.

A group of 50 Tory MPs wrote to the university to demand a rethink, pointing out that Nottingham had given honorary degrees to Chinese diplomats who deny their countrys Uighur genocide.

Now vice-chancellor Professor Shearer West says that going ahead with the award to Dr Sewell  who won his PhD at Nottingham in 1995  would overshadow its students own graduation ceremonies.

She said that because honorary degrees were conferred at the same events the rules had been changed some years ago to preclude awards to figures who  either consciously or through no fault of their own  become the subject of political controversy, so that a day of celebration for our graduates does not also attract such controversy.

This was to ensure our graduates do not have a potential distraction overshadow their celebration.

Professor West said that if the award had gone ahead it would have left our graduates and their families with a diminished experience for this essential rite of passage, particularly when so many have been denied this very special day by the Covid-19 pandemic and have had to wait.

Tory MP Sir John Hayes, who organised the letter, said: The university are wriggling on the hook.

The excuse that Tony Sewells honorary degree might have disturbed graduating students is about as thin as it could possibly be.

Nottingham withdrew its offer to Tony Sewell after his controversial report concluded there was no evidence the UK is institutionally racist. Other recipients include former Chinese ambassador Liu Xiaoming, who dismissed Uighur re-education camps as fake news

The implication is that the students are such snowflakes and are so unused to robust argument and counter-argument after three years studying at Nottingham that they cant cope with what the university calls controversy.

The MPs letter criticised the decision to rescind Dr Sewells degree simply because he earned the ire of a few frustrated ideologues for his widely welcomed work on the Governments race report.

They added: Dr Sewell is a uniquely distinguished alumnus of your university, having spent years helping thousands of black children from poor backgrounds into higher education.

They pointed out the absurdity of the decision when other recipients of honorary degrees from Nottingham included former Chinese ambassador Liu Xiaoming, who dismissed Uighur re-education camps as fake news, and Najib Razak, the ex-Malaysian PM jailed for 12 years for embezzlement.
Home Office contractors flying abroad to deport migrants paid for prostitutes during the trips, it was claimed yesterday.

Five whistleblowers alleged that colleagues used sex workers during overnight stopovers after accompanying migrants on flights from the UK.

The use of prostitutes is said to have taken place over a ten-year period in Romania, Kenya, South Africa, Vietnam and Brazil.

Home Office permanent secretary Matthew Rycroft is understood to have raised concerns about the allegations with services giant Mitie, which manages deportations.

A Home Office contractor told The Guardian that a colleague 'had a phone which he called his "little black book" specially for jobs abroad to arrange these liaisons.'

Another added: 'The money paid by these Home Office contractors using sex workers while abroad doing deportations goes further than it would in the UK.

'But it is taxpayers' money being used to fly us to these places where sex is being paid for.'

Five whistleblowers alleged that Home Office colleagues used sex workers during overnight stopovers after accompanying migrants on flights from the UK. (stock image)

A third contractor said: 'This practice among Home Office contractors has gone on for as long as I can remember A lot of hotels, especially in places like Nairobi, are full of prostitutes... It's a thing some of the men do because it's there  it's available.'

Bella Sankey, director of charity Detention Action, said the deportation process broke up families in the UK.

She stressed: 'The deportation industry wastes millions of taxpayer pounds to rip loving families apart...

'It is rubbing salt in that wound to learn that the Home Office's contractors may have been engaged in predatory sex tourism while abroad on our hard-earned money.'

Labour's immigration spokesman Stephen Kinnock described the allegations as deeply disturbing and called on the Home Office to investigate immediately.

A department spokesman said: 'We take all reports of sexual exploitation extremely seriously and if these disturbing allegations are proven, we expect Mitie to take swift and robust action.

'We have instructed Mitie to provide us with a full account of their investigation.

Home Office permanent secretary Matthew Rycroft is understood to have raised concerns about the allegations with services giant Mitie, which manages deportations. (stock photo)

'We expect the highest standards of behaviour from our suppliers, both in the UK and overseas, and if we find any wrongdoing has taken place, we will always act in the strongest possible terms.'

Mitie said it was probing the claims and insisted that any employee who broke 'strict professional standards' would face disciplinary action.

However, the firm said it had so far found 'no evidence that this behaviour occurred during our time managing this contract', which it took on in May 2018.

A spokesman said: 'We have not been provided with evidence to substantiate these claims nor have any details of specific instances been shared with us.

'However, given the serious nature of these allegations, we have been conducting an investigation.'
Rishi Sunak apologised last night after he was fined for attending a birthday gathering for the Prime Minister.

The embattled Chancellor previously said he thought he was in the clear as he did not believe he had attended any lockdown-busting parties.

But he was slapped with a 50 fixed penalty notice by the Metropolitan Police for attending the gathering in the Cabinet Room on June 19, 2020.

It is understood the Chancellor ended up attending only because he was due to be in a Covid meeting at the same location.

He issued a statement apologising shortly after 8pm last night  six hours after it emerged he had been fined  with his silence until then fuelling speculation about his future in No11.

Boris Johnson, who also received a fixed penalty notice for the same event, had apologised in a TV clip more than two hours earlier. Labour had insisted the Chancellors failure to comment was bizarre.

Mr Sunak said in his statement: I can confirm I have received a fixed penalty notice from the Metropolitan Police with regards to a gathering held on June 19th in Downing Street. I offer an unreserved apology.

Both Chancellor Rishi Sunak (left) and Prime Minister Boris Johnson (right) have been issued fixed penalty notices

Mr Sunak pictured during a Q&A with employees, local residents and businesses at Darlington College on Monday

I understand that for figures in public office the rules must be applied stringently in order to maintain public confidence.

I respect the decision that has been made and have paid the fine. I know people sacrificed a great deal during Covid and they will find this situation upsetting. I deeply regret the frustration and anger caused and I am sorry.

Like the Prime Minister, I am focused on delivering for the British people at this challenging time.

Mr Sunak had claimed to be in the clear over the Partygate saga.

In February, he said he did not believe he had broken lockdown rules but acknowledged he attended a Covid meeting in the Cabinet Room on June 19, 2020.

In January, following Mr Johnsons apology to MPs over the scandal, he abruptly broke off an interview when pressed if he would give his full support to the Prime Minister.

Downing Streets confirmation yesterday afternoon that Mr Johnson and Mr Sunak were fined came after a torrid week for the Chancellor.

He has faced a backlash over his wife Akshata Murtys former non-dom status.

The Governments ethics chief Lord Geidt will now examine whether Mr Sunak declared all the relevant information about his family finances needed to avoid a potential conflict of interest.

The Chancellor said he was angered by upsetting criticism of his wife and father-in-law over her family firms links to Russia and told people not to come at her.

But he was warned by a former Tory minister yesterday not to resign on principle over Partygate in an attempt to position himself as a future Conservative leader.

Mr Sunak pictured as he leaves Downing Street last month. The Chancellor apologised six hours after it emerged he had been fined, fuelling speculation over his future

The senior MP said such a move would be farcical.

They told the Daily Mail: If Rishi starts machinating now saying I will resign on a matter of principle  knowing full well that it will add pressure on the Prime Minister  then people will not forgive him for creating that very difficult situation.

The ex-minister said Mr Sunak, who was widely tipped as a potential successor to Mr Johnson before his family finances were scrutinised, now couldnt possibly take over in a job where the incumbent has had to resign for the same offence committed at the same time.

If Boris were to go because of this, then it simply isnt feasible that Rishi could succeed him.

Mr Sunak was heavily criticised at the height of Partygate for deserting the Prime Minister as he faced a crunch Question Time in the Commons.

Last night a series of Cabinet colleagues voiced their support for Mr Sunak and the PM.

Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said they have my 100 per cent backing while Justice Secretary Dominic Raab and Housing Secretary Michael Gove declared their full support.
The outcome of the Colston statue trial will be referred to appeal judges, the Governments senior law officer announced last night.

Attorney General Suella Braverman will ask the Court of Appeal to rule on whether protesters can use human rights defences when they are accused of committing criminal damage.

The move follows concern that the verdict could become a vandals charter.

And although it would not affect the not guilty outcome, it could lead to top judges issuing guidance which will influence the way similar cases are heard in the future.

Four people accused of criminal damage after pulling down a statue of slave trader Edward Colston were found not guilty in January, leading Conservative MPs to voice fears that the verdict would set a dangerous precedent

Attorney General Suella Braverman (pictured) will ask the Court of Appeal to rule on whether protesters can use human rights defences when they are accused of committing criminal damage

Miss Braverman said the jurors verdict in January caused confusion by clearing four activists of criminal damage even though they admitted tearing down the 9ft statue and tipping it into Bristol harbour.

Rhian Graham, 30, Milo Ponsford, 26, Sage Willoughby, 22, and Jake Skuse, 33, were prosecuted for pulling down the statue of the 17th century slave trader during a Black Lives Matter protest in 2020.

Their defence teams successfully argued the presence of the statue was a hate crime and it was therefore not an offence to remove it.

But prosecutors said it was a case of straightforward criminal damage.

Rhian Graham, 30, Milo Ponsford, 26, Sage Willoughby, 22, and Jake Skuse, 33, were found not guilty of criminal damage after pulling down the statue of the 17th century slave trader during a Black Lives Matter protest in 2020

The trial judge directed jurors to consider whether convicting the defendants would be a proportionate interference with their right to freedom of expression. They were acquitted by a jury after an 11-day trial.

Last night a government spokesman said the case had led to uncertainty.

Miss Braverman said after careful consideration, she will refer the case to the Court of Appeal.

It will be asked to clarify the law around whether someone can use a defence related to their human rights when they are accused of criminal damage, a spokesman said.

Judges will look at whether such a conviction is a proportionate interference with their human rights, particularly the right to protest and freedom of expression.

Conservative MPs previously voiced fears that the verdict may set a dangerous precedent. There will be no retrial unless fresh evidence emerges.
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A multi-state manhunt is underway for the 'person of interest' suspected of unleashing hell on a Brooklyn subway train during Tuesday's morning commute as a gunman fired more than 20 rounds - leaving 10 riders wounded and 13 others injured in the ensuing chaos - before his automatic weapon jammed.

The NYPD released photos of Frank James, 62, who rented an abandoned U-Haul that is linked to the shooting scene and who has made 'concerning' threats against New York City Mayor Eric Adams and railed against the city's homelessness crisis.

Commuters on the N train Tuesday morning described how a man wearing a construction vest threw a smoke grenade into their subway car when it was in between stations, and then opened fire. Terrified passengers tried to get out into the next carriage, but the door was locked.

When the train pulled into the 36th Street station in Sunset Park, the gunman fled.

James, who rented a U-Haul cargo van in Philadelphia and drove it to Brooklyn, where it was recovered on Tuesday night, is the only person named in connection with the attack so far.

'We are looking to determine if he has any connection to the train,' said NYPD Chief of Detectives James Essig.

'We know Mr James rented that U-Haul truck in Philadelphia.'

The key of the U-Haul van was found at the crime scene in the subway, the official said.

The U-Haul was found five miles from the scene of the shooting.

Keechant Sewell, the NYPD commissioner, said they recovered from the scene a 9mm semi-automatic handgun, extended magazines, a hatchet, gasoline, consumer-grade fireworks and a hobby fuse.

'We still do not know the suspect's motivation,' said Sewell.

Sewell said James made concerning social media posts about homelessness in New York City, and threats to Mayor Eric Adams. Adams's security was stepped up as a result.

'This person of interest in today's subway shooting in Brooklyn has made past comments about @NYCMayor,' said Adams's spokesman, Fabien Levy.

'Out of an abundance of caution, @NYPD will increase Mayor Adams' security presence until this man has been questioned.'

NYPD are hunting for Frank James, described as a 'person of interest' in the Brooklyn subway shooting

A U-Haul cargo van rented by Frank James is pictured being towed away on Tuesday night

The van, with Arizona plates, had been picked up from a U-Haul site in Philadelphia

Keys to the U-Haul cargo van were found at the site of the shooting. The van was rented in Frank James's name, with his credit card

The cargo van, which was found five miles from the site of the shooting, is pictured being investigated by police

New Yorkers lie on the platform at 36th Street station after falling out of the northbound N train. They were shot on the train by a gunman who unleashed a smoke bomb and then opened fire before fleeing at around 8.30am

A mass shooting and possible explosion have rocked a subway train in New York at rush hour

Horror pictures from the scene showed blood strewn across the carriage during the latest attack to rock the city

Keechant Sewell, the NYPD commissioner, is seen on Tuesday night addressing a press conference. Mayor Eric Adams, who has COVID, spoke via video link

Sewell said that the gunman fired 33 rounds, describing it as a miracle that no one was killed

James posted over 450 videos to YouTube in three years - ranting about racism, the homeless, climate change and Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine

His unhinged rants are hard to follow, but he references his PTSD and receiving treatment in mental health facilities in the Bronx and New Jersey

The officials said James has addresses in Philadelphia and Wisconsin, and they are still investigating whether he has ties to New York.

'This is Frank James. He is a person of interest in the shooting that took place on the N train in Brooklyn Tuesday morning,' they tweeted.

BROOKLYN SUBWAY SHOOTING - WHAT WE KNOW SO FAR Unidentified gunman wearing grey hoodie and green construction vest opened fire on northbound N train at 8.24am

Police have described Frank James as 'a person of interest'

A U-Haul was rented by James in Philadelphia and used in connection with the shooting

That U-Haul was found five miles from the scene on King's Highway, Brooklyn

A credit card found on the scene of the shooting matched the credit card used to rent the U-Haul

The suspect put on a gas mask then detonated a smoke bomb that was in his bag before firing the first shots

Panicked c o mmuters tri e d to flee into the next subway car but the door was locked - they were trapped until the train reached 36th street

mmuters tri d to flee into the next subway car but the door was locked - they were trapped until the train reached 36th street The gunman somehow vanished in the chaos - some fear he may have jumped onto the tracks and entered the subway tunnels

Police found a .380 handgun and three extended magazines in backpack at the Brooklyn station

Sixteen people were taken to NYC hospitals - ten were shot, four suffered smoke inhalation and another two were in shock

NYPD is going door-to-door in Brooklyn asking for information, surveillance camera footage and pictures

The gunman is known to the FBI, having been on their radar in New Mexico until he was cleared following 'multiple interviews' in 2019

Anyone with information about the shooting or gunman is urged to call 800 577 TIPS

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'Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to call at 1-800-577-TIPS.'

Police are offering a $50,000 reward for information leading to James's arrest. The MTA and Transport Workers Union (TWU) Local 100 both offered $12,500 each in reward money and the New York City Police Foundation offered $25,000 in reward money to bring the total reward offering to $50,000.

No arrests have been made.

On Tuesday night NYPD published a photo of James taken from his YouTube account, where he posted videos under the name 'Prophet of Truth88.'

His expletive-filled videos feature him ranting about the state of the world as he sees it; airing his grievances; threatening to 'kill everything in sight' and sharing conspiracy theories - such as claiming that the Twin Towers could never have been brought down on 9/11 by planes.

He references psychiatric facilities he has attended in the Bronx and in New Jersey, saying the staff failed to help him and 'made me more dangerous'.

'Mr. Mayor, I'm a victim of your mental health program,' James said in one lengthy video.

'I'm 63 now full of hate, full of anger, and full of bitterness.'

He also criticized the mayor for not doing more to combat homelessness.

'Eric Adams, Eric Adams: What are you doing brother? What's happening with this homeless situation,' he said while referring to the subway.

'Every car I went to was loaded with homeless people. It was so bad I couldn't even stand. I had to keep moving from car to car.'

He continued: 'He can't stop no crime in no subways. He may slow it down but he ain't stopping it.'

'That means you'd have to have police in every station and that's just not possible,' he added.

Police on Tuesday evening said the gunman fired 33 shots.

A federal law enforcement source told Newsweek the suspect was the previously known to the FBI, having been entered into the Guardian Lead system in New Mexico.

The system is the FBI's way of coordinating information from other law enforcement partners about potential terrorism-related threats and suspicious activity reports.

He was cleared after multiple interviews in 2019.

The federal law enforcement source said that he is believed to have driven to New York from New Mexico.

The FBI has now joined the hunt for him and armed police units are patrolling Brooklyn for any clue of his whereabouts.

NYPD has located the U-Haul believed to have been used in Tuesday morning's subway shooting abandoned in the street in Brooklyn, five miles from the scene of the crime.

DailyMail.com obtained an alert that was issued to officers telling them that the suspect is connected to a U-Haul with an Arizona license plate AL31408.

Police sources tell DailyMail.com the van was rented in Philadelphia. U-Haul is now helping with the search.

The U-Haul was located late on Tuesday afternoon near Kings Avenue in Brooklyn, but there is still no sign of the suspect.

Police evacuated people from the immediate area after the van's discovery.

'Police came for the van and told us to clear the store,' said the manager of nearby King's Piano World on Kings Highway.

He told DailyMail.com: 'Police blocked off the area. People were told not to walk in the area. They told us it was dangerous.'

The rental agreement obtained by CNN shows that the U-Haul reservation was made on April 6, and was scheduled to be picked up on April 11 at 2:01 p.m. ET.

The van was supposed to be rented for two days, according to the reservation.

Sebastien Reyes, U-Haul Vice President of Communications, said: 'Law enforcement has alerted us to its search for a rental van and its possible connection to a suspect in today's incident in New York City.

'We are working closely with authorities to ensure they have any and all available information to meet their needs.'

There is a heightened police presence all over the city, particularly on the subway, and some schools in Brooklyn have been told to shelter in place.

Witnesses have described how the gunman calmly put on a gas mask on the slow-moving train this morning at 8.24am then tossed a smoke grenade down the carriage, causing havoc among commuters, before opening fire.

The terrified commuters rushed to the other end of the train to try to get through to the next car but the door was locked. They were trapped on the train until it reached the next station.

Video shows the moment the doors opened and wounded passengers spilled onto the platform, trailing blood.

DailyMail.com can confirm that a .380 handgun was found inside the station, along with three extended magazines; one was empty, one was full and a third was jammed in the gun.

Another bag was discovered that contained a batch of Falcon Rising fireworks and Seismic Wave firecrackers. It's unclear what he intended to do with them.

The gunman then disappeared from 36th St, where no security cameras were in operation.

Eric Adams, the mayor of New York, told WCBS Radio 880 AM that a preliminary review indicates there appeared to be some sort of malfunction with the camera system at the subway station in Tuesday's shooting.

Adams said investigators are trying to determine whether one camera malfunctioned or whether cameras throughout the entire station malfunctioned.

Janno Lieber, the chair and CEO of the Metro Transportation Authority (MTA), told CNN there are almost 10,000 cameras in the system including almost 600 cameras on the Brooklyn section of where the attack happened.

He did not comment on why they were not working.

The U-Haul that police believe is connected to the Brooklyn subway shooter is shown on Tuesday at 1780 West Third Street near King's Highway in Brooklyn, five miles from the subway station where the attack took place. A bomb squad is at the scene

The U-Haul, shown behind police tape, was rented in Philadelphia. It's unclear if there are explosives inside

NYPD officers received this alert on Tuesday alerting them to a U-Haul that the suspect may be driving. NYPD officers received this alert on Tuesday alerting them to a U-Haul that the suspect may be driving. The van was rented in Philadelphia but has Arizona plates

The U-Haul van connected to the suspect is pictured on Tuesday afternoon, five miles from the scene of the subway shooting

U-Haul is helping the FBI and NYPD with their investigations. Police believe to have identified the suspect thanks to a credit card left at the scene, and one given to U-Haul

This bag of fireworks, wire and firecrackers was recovered from the scene of the shooting on Tuesday after the suspect fled

The bag was filled with Falcon Rising fireworks and Seismic Wave Crackers that can easily be purchased online

He may also have jumped onto one of the other trains at the station, or fled into the subway tunnel.

It comes amid a frightening spike in crime across the city, particularly on the subway where crimes are up by more than 60 percent from this time last year.

The worst mass shooting in New York's transit system was in December 1993, when Colin Ferguson opened fire on a Long Island Rail Road commuter train from New York City, killing six and injuring 19.

Other train passengers stopped the perpetrator by tackling and holding him down. Mentally unstable, he fired his lawyers then called for President Bill Clinton to appear at his trial, and was sentenced to six life sentences.

ABC reports that police have obtained a photograph of the suspect from a bystander's phone, but that image has not yet been released anywhere.

The wounded and terrified commuters poured out of the subway doors and onto the platform at 36th Street, where they were filmed writhing on the ground in agony.

The gunman remains at large ten hours after the shooting.

NYPD units are now scouring the city's empty subway tunnels to find the suspect and a city alert has been issued. but ten hours later, police are yet to release a single image of him.

Commissioner Keechant Sewell said at a press conference that she had not yet ruled out terrorism as a motive but that it was not being investigated as an act of terrorism.

She admitted that police still had not yet been able to identify who the gunman was, much less find him.

Police are now going door-to-door in Brooklyn asking store owners and residents in apartment buildings if they have any videos of the scene from around the time of the shooting in an attempt to find the gunman.

Members of the New York Police Department patrol the streets after 14 were injured - 10 of them shot, four affected by smoke - during a rush-hour shooting at a subway station in the New York borough of Brooklyn on April 12, 2022

This is how the horror shooting unfolded on Tuesday morning on the northbound N train at 8.24am as it approached 36th Street station in Sunset Park, Brooklyn

An FBI agent walks along the sidewalk amidst a massive police response on the scene of a reported multiple shooting at a New York City Subway station in Brooklyn on Tuesday

A .38 caliber handgun similar to the type used in today's shooting

'I am not ruling anything out at this point,' she said, as she asked New Yorkers to send photos, videos or any pieces of information that they thought may be relevant to police.

Adams, who is in quarantine after being diagnosed with COVID-19, said in a video message: 'We will not allow New Yorkers to be terrorized.

'The NYPD is searching for the suspect. We will find him.'

Adams asked anyone with information, photos or videos of the suspect to come forward.

Governor Kathy Hochul said: 'This morning ordinary New Yorkers woke up in anticipation of a relatively normal day. They left their homes, went to school, their jobs and to a normal life.

'That was brutally disrupted by an individual so cold hearted and depraved of heart. This individual is still on the loose - this person is dangerous. This is an active shooter situation right now in the city of New York.'

Schools surrounding the subway station were ordered to shelter in place and an amber alert was issued throughout much of the city.

One witness told The New York Post the gunman - who was described as a '5ft 5 black man weighing 170lbs', fired 'too many rounds to count'.

It remains unclear what type of weapon he used.

NYPD officers were checking surveillance cameras around the scene (left) and (right) a cop at 42nd Street station in Manhattan on Tuesday

Police officers patrol in Times Square station after a shooting at a subway station in Brooklyn borough, in New York. There is a heightened police presence all over the city

Police and emergency services are seen near 36 Street subway station after a shooting incident. Brooklyn, New York. April 12 2022

Police and emergency services are seen near 36 Street subway station after a shooting incident on Tuesday afternoon

Terrified passengers run off the train at the 36th Street station on Tuesday morning after the shooting on the train

Horrifying scene photos and videos show people covered in blood, lying on the stained subway platform after being shot

A man on the northbound N train before the doors opened covering his mouth to protect from the smoke from the gunman's grenade

This photo provided by Will B Wylde, a person is aided in a subway car in the Brooklyn borough of New York, Tuesday, April 12, 2022. A gunman filled a rush-hour subway train with smoke and shot multiple people Tuesday, leaving wounded commuters bleeding on a Brooklyn platform as others ran screaming, authorities said. Police were still searching for the suspect

The chaos unfolded at 8.30am on Tuesday morning near the 36th Street subway station in Sunset Park, Brooklyn

This video, taken inside the next car along on the train, shows worried commuters walking away from the door as someone pounded on it , begging to be let in. They tried to open it but the door was locked

Shocked witnesses tell how bullets and smoke bombs triggered horror stampede: Terrified witnesses have told how the shooting triggered a horror stampede - with children trampled on as commuters tried to escape the hail of bullets. Passengers revealed there was a huge surge towards the exit of the subway cars as people screamed 'gun' and 'bomb' before fleeing for their lives. Cemile Toseglu, 17, a student at Brooklyn Tech who was on her way to school, said other riders jumped over her in panic while the gunman continued his rampage. She told DailyMail.com: 'The train carried on to 46th street but then we were told to get on the R train because the N wasn't moving. 'The R was very crowded, the most crowded I've ever seen it and everyone was cramped. On 25th street the train conductor said there would be delays so we were standing still. 'That's when there was like a loud noise and people ran towards me - a large crowd. A woman fell and people just ran over her. 'Someone then scream gun and I ran out of the train, I was near the exit but people were jumping over me to get themselves out too. 'No one really knew what was going on. I didn't see the man because I was closer to the exit in the next carriage. That was definitely the most crowded I've seen the R train.' Speaking from her home, she added: 'I was most scared about the fact that there were a lot of children on the way to school.' Advertisement

One witness, Yav Montano, told CNN that he was on the northbound N train between 59th Street in Brooklyn and 36th Street when a smoke bomb went off inside the carriage.

'I thought he was an MTA worker at first because I was like, I didn't like pay too much attention. You know? You've got the orange on,' he said.

'It was crazy. I take the N train every morning to get to where I need to work. From 59th Street to 36th Street, the N-train is express, is where all the dramatics happened.

'I'm in the third part of the express N train. The smoke grenade went off two minutes before we got to 36th street platform. The train was inching towards. It seemed like it was planned.

'This smoke bomb, and what I thought was fireworks, but I'm hearing it was gunshots. I have no words for what I could see. I was in the car - I was in the front end of the third car. Everything happened at the back end.

'People started migrating to the front of the car. I don't know if people know this, it's one of those old things where they locked the door to stop people traveling between trains.

'There were people in the other car who saw what was happening and they tried to open it but couldn't. There was blood on the floor, a lot of blood trailing on the floor.

'At the time, I didn't think it was a shooting. It sounded like fireworks.

'People trampling over each other, trying to get over each other. Thankfully the train moved to the next stop and everyone filed off the train,' he said.

NYPD units are now scouring the city's empty subway tunnels looking for the gunman, who is feared to have jumped onto the tracks at 36th Street and fled.

Cemil Toseglu, who runs a store opposite the station, told how his terrified 17-year-old daughter was on the train on her way to school when it was attacked.

He told DailyMail.com: 'My daughter was going to school and was on the same train when it happened. She said there was smoke and she was told to get into the other train.

'She's now safe and came to my office before I sent her home. She is okay but is a little surprised. I didn't think it was that serious but she then told me people were yelling that it was a man with a gun and maybe a bomb.'

NYPD Commissioner Keechant Sewell at the scene of the shooting on Tuesday

New York Governor Kathy Hochul speaking at the scene on Tuesday

The chaotic scene at the 36th Street subway station in Sunset Park, Brooklyn, on Tuesday morning

EMTs rush to the subway station on Tuesday morning after ten people were shot and another six were injured

NYPD ESU teams at the scene on Tuesday after a gunman opened fire on the subway at around 8.30am

Police officers work at the scene of a shooting at a subway station in the Brooklyn borough of New York City, New York, U.S., April 12, 2022

FDNY units at the scene on Tuesday morning after a gunman opened fire on a northbound N train that pulled into 36th Street at around 8.30am

Police and emergency responders gather at the site of a reported shooting of multiple people outside of the 36 St subway station on April 12

Police officers work at the scene of a shooting at a subway station in the Brooklyn borough of New York City, New York, U.S., April 12, 2022

Police and emergency responders gather at the site of a reported shooting of multiple people outside of the 36 St subway station on April 12, 2022

A police officer works near the scene of a shooting at a subway station in the Brooklyn borough of New York City, New York, U.S., April 12, 2022

The scene on 36th Street and Fourth Avenue on Tuesday as police, EMT and fire department teams responded to the shooting

NYPD officers at a different subway station on Tuesday looking for the suspect

Members of the New York Police Department and emergency personnel crowd the streets

An FDNY spokesman told DailyMail.com: 'Originally, the call came in as smoke in the subway station. Upon arrival, officers found multiple people shot and undetonated devices.'

Shocking video showed blood-covered victims strewn across the ground at the subway station as smoke billowed out of the train.

One person was seen lying still on the floor with their hands over their face and their legs raised after the terrifying attack.

Others had lost shoes and had their clothes torn as the New York subway's speaker system blared out messages to the passengers.

Commuters were screamed at to get on a different train to safety while the wounded were treated by emergency services.

Eric Adams' spokesman said on Twitter: '@NYCMayor continues to be briefed on the situation. While we gather more information, we ask New Yorkers to stay away from this area for their safety and so that first responders can help those in need and investigate.'

NYPD officers and other city workers at the scene of the shooting on Tuesday morning

Law enforcement gathering at the scene of a shooting in the Brooklyn borough of New York on Tuesday, April 12, 2022. Law enforcement sources say multiple people were shot at a subway station in Brooklyn

As many as 16 people are believed to have been injured during the shooting and possible explosion

Police officers and firefighters work near the scene of a shooting at a subway station in the Brooklyn borough of New York City, New York, U.S., April 12, 2022

New York City Police officials on a roof at the scene of a reported multiple shooting at a New York City Subway station on 36th and 4th Ave in the Brooklyn borough
If you are looking for somewhere more unusual to buy a holiday or retirement home, Sri Lanka might fit the bill.

It was voted the number one country to visit by Lonely Planet just before the pandemic struck in 2019.

It is an island in the Indian Ocean, to the south of India, with tea plantations, ancient temples, and beautiful beaches.

We take a closer look at a new development in the beachside town of Weligama, where a one-bedroom flat can be bought for little more than 110,000.

Southbeach Weligama is a new development of 106 flats in Sri Lanka - but these are computer generated images as the property has yet to be built

The flats are not due to be completed until December 2024 and so buyers have a long wait before they can move in

What's the deal?

Southbeach Weligama is a new development of 106 flats in Sri Lanka by the architects Balmond Studio.

It is in the beachside town of Weligama, with each flat offering either one, two or four bedrooms.

The main appeal of this development is its location on sandy Weligama beach.

Where exactly is it?

Southbeach Weligama is in Weligama, on the south coast of Sri Lanka. It is a couple of hours by car from Sri Lanka's main airport, Bandaranaike International.

Weligama is a fishing town and beach resort, with a sea that attracts surfers as it is one of the best places in Sri Lanka to surf.

What's the asking price?

There are 106 one, two, and four-bedroom apartments for sale at the development, with prices starting at US$150,000, which equates to $206 per sq ft. It is the equivalent starting price of around 114,000.

The top price range is $1,100,000, the equivalent of 832,978 for a four-bedroom flat.

The flats are for sale on a freehold basis only. The one-bedroom flats are 727-763 sq ft, while the first type of two-bedroom flats are 1,137 sq ft, and the second type of two-bedroom flats are an average of 1,094 sq ft. The four-bedroom flats are 3,318 sq ft.

There are 106 one, two, and four-bedroom apartments for sale, with prices starting at US$150,000, the equivalent of around 114,000

Southbeach Weligama has a strong eco-ethic, with the flats furnished using pieces crafted by Sri Lankan artisans

What is special about it?

Southbeach Weligama prides itself on its eco-ethic approach, overseen by the architect's managing director - John Balmond of Balmond Studio - who is a dedicated committee member of the Lanka Environment Fund (LEF).

He worked with local communities to provide them with the education and tools needed to bring about long-term ecological change.

With this commitment to sustainability in mind, for every flat that is sold Southbeach Weligama will donate $1,000 to the LEF.

Southbeach Weligama will also use turbines and solar panels to power the lobby and restaurant areas, while rainwater harvesting systems will be used to conserve water.

In addition, Balmond Studio wants to empower local communities by using local produce in the restaurant, and furnishing the apartments with pieces crafted by Sri Lankan artisans.

Do your homework

Building on the development only started at the beginning of this year. It means that the flats will not be completed - and ready to move into - until December 2024 at the earliest.

It leaves current buyers waiting a considerable amount of time before they can move in and there could be delays.

Buying off-plan can be frought with challenges and risks - especially so when buying overseas in an area you can't simply just visit easily and right-away if you're in Britain.

There is an added layer of difficulty here as you will be buying off-plan overseas. This introduces other issues such as currency fluctuations.

You may also not know anything about the country you are buying in and so it is important to do your homework beforehand and complete a checklist of things you need to do before buying abroad. It is not for the faint-hearted.

Who would live in a house like this?

Buyers are expected to be primarily from overseas, although it is hoped that some Sri Lankans who want to enjoy a holiday home on the beach will also invest.

Southbeach Weligama is expected to appeal to people of all ages from young couples to families, although it is particularly appealing to surfing enthusiasts due to its location.

There is also lots plenty of other water-based activities due to having the Indian Ocean on its doorstep

The development includes a restaurant, poolside bar, gym, and a 35 metre swimming pool

What is the local area like?

Weligama means 'Sandy Village' and is a combination of a lively fishing town and beach resort.

It has seen an influx of boutique hotels, restaurants and spas in recent years. The authorities have been investing heavily in the area, restoring older buildings and landscaping roadsides.

The main strip has boutique shops and restaurants as well as a lively market that attracts tourists and locals.

Weligama is a hotspot for surfing and is home to one of Sri Lanka's swim-friendly beaches.

Visitors to Weligama can also enjoy the style and culture of nearby Galle and its World Heritage-listed Fort. It is also possible to do blue whale watching off the coast of Weligama, or a short drive inland provides access to safaris with leopards and elephants.

There is also an optional furniture package for buyers at the development, available on request

Where's the good place for dinner nearby?

There are a number of top restaurants nearby, including Cape Weligama.

What is there for children?

Weligama offers several activities for children. In particular, it is a great place to learn to surf with several surf schools offering lessons for children.

There is also plenty of other water-based activities, including whale watching.

The construction milestones: Breakdown of the payment terms

What property purchase costs do buyers need to be aware of?

There is a service charge of US $0.15 per sq ft.

This equates to $109 per month on the cheapest flats, and $170 per month on the most expensive flats.

What items are included in the sale of the property?

The development includes a restaurant, poolside bar, gym, 35m swimming pool, an art gallery and a music room.

There is also an optional furniture package available on request.

Flat payment terms include an initial deposit of 5 per cent then a further 15 per cent upon the signing of the sales and purchase agreement. Thereafter the payment is linked to construction milestones (see above).

How long does it take to travel there?

Weligama is accessible via Sri Lanka's main airport, Bandaranaike International - which has direct connections to major British airports.

The flight from London to Colombo is around 10 and a half hours, followed by a three hour drive or train ride from Colombo to Weligama.

Can the properties be rented?

The properties can be bought and then rented out, and the rentals can be done independently.
Members of organised crime gangs (OCGs) are more likely to violently turn on each other if they've previously offended together, a new study has revealed.

Researchers from the University of Cambridge studied 16 years of data from Thames Valley Police in the hopes of understanding any patterns of violence within UK OCGs.

Their analysis revealed cycles of escalating violence  with members who harass other members far more likely to become victims of violence themselves.

'Our work shows the importance of taking relationships into account when developing policing risk factors and "red flags",' said Dr Paolo Campana, who led the study.

Members of organised crime gangs are more likely to violently turn on each other if they've previously offended together, a new study has revealed (stock image)

'DNA spray' can be used to identify moped thieves A 'DNA spray' which clings to fleeing moped raiders is being trialled to clampdown on soaring street crime. The chemical spray can stick to skin and clothes for months - allowing police to arrest 'moped-enabled' thieves weeks after a crime. Each batch of the chemical, which cops spray onto suspects who can't be chased for safety reasons, has a unique DNA code which can link them to the crime. Read more Advertisement

Network analyses have previously been used to help police in cities across the US, including in Chicago and Boston.

However, until now, the technique has not been applied to OCGs in the UK.

In the study, the team analysed anonymised records from Thames Valley Police from 2000 to 2016 across a population of just over two million, including Oxford and Reading.

More than 6,200 people were involved in crime during that time, including 833 longstanding OCG members (93 per cent male, seven per cent female).

Most had been active in drug dealing, while 51 per cent had been involved in a violent act including murder, attempted murder, manslaughter, assault, and actual and grievous bodily harm with and without intent.

Meanwhile, 26 per cent had been a victim of violence, with female members twice as likely than males to be victims.

OCG members who had co-offended or been suspected of co-offending with another OCG member were 56 times more likely to become a victim of violence themselves  typically from their former partner-in-crime.

Members who harassed another member were 243 times more likely to be victimised, while those who had attacked another member were a whopping 479 times more likely to be a victim of violence.

However, simply having a 'rap sheet' of criminal violence or hard drugs offences had no significant effect on the potential for future violence, according to the team.

'It often comes down to tit-for-tat retaliation that generates circuits of violence,' explained Dr Campana.

'In the Thames Valley data we can see how prior co-offending relationships turn sour and become a mechanism for further violence. Harassment within criminal networks also dramatically increases the potential for violence.

In the study, the team studied anonymised records from Thames Valley Police from 2000 to 2016 across a population of just over two million. Pictured, the catchment areas - 1. Cherwell and West Oxfordshire, 2. Aylesbury Vale, 3. Milton Keynes, 4. Oxford, 5. South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse, 6. Wycombe, 7. Chiltern and South Buckinghamshire, 8. Slough, 9. Windsor and Maidenhead, 10. Bracknell and Wokingham, 11. Reading, 12. West Berkshire

OCG members who had co-offended or been suspected of co-offending with another OCG member were 56 times more likely to become a victim of violence themselves  typically from their former partner-in-crime (stock image)

'Violence is like a virus, it spreads through proximity and familiarity. Those within certain social bubbles are most at risk. In some US cities, co-offending bubbles account for over 80 per cent of the violence.

'As we collect more data, we can expect to identify more of the chains and feedback loops that sustain violence and render it endemic within groups and locations.'

The researchers hope the findings could help police in the future.

'These techniques could help police identify at an earlier stage the social networks set to spiral into violence,' Dr Campana added.
Facebook owner Meta has started testing new tools that will enable creators to sell digital assets within its virtual reality social platform Horizon Worlds.

These could include attachable accessories for a fashion world, for example, or paid access to a new part of a world.

The new tools will be available initially to select users of the company's immersive platform, accessible via VR headsets.

Meta said these types of tools are a key step toward its long-term vision for the 'metaverse' where creators can earn a living and people can purchase digital goods, services, and experiences.

However, the company has confirmed it will charge creators fees of up to 47.5 per cent to sell their virtual wares in its metaverse  significantly more than Apple charges developers on its App Store.

The new tools will allow 'Horizon Worlds' creators to charge for in-world purchases, such as paid access to a new part of a world

What is the metaverse? The 'metaverse' is a set of virtual spaces where you can game, work and communicate with other people who aren't in the same physical space as you. Facebook explained: 'You'll be able to hang out with friends, work, play, learn, shop, create and more. 'It's not necessarily about spending more time online  it's about making the time you do spend online more meaningful.' While Facebook is leading the charge with the metaverse, it explained that it isn't a single product one company can build alone. 'Just like the internet, the metaverse exists whether Facebook is there or not,' it added. 'And it won't be built overnight. Many of these products will only be fully realized in the next 10-15 years.' Advertisement

'The metaverse  by nature of its not being limited by physical space  will bring a new level of creativity and open up new opportunities for the next generation of creators and businesses to pursue their passions and create livelihoods,' said Meta in a blog post.

'Creators and entrepreneurs will have more freedom to find a business model that works for them.'

Purchasing items in Horizon Worlds is available to people over the age of 18 in the US and Canada, where the virtual reality platform is currently available.

Creators selling items will see a Commerce tab and gizmo when theyre in Create mode that lets them create purchasable items.

Meta charges a platform fee of 30 per cent for sales made on Meta Quest, its virtual reality system, which was formerly known as Oculus.

On top of that, Horizon Worlds, Meta's metaverse system, will charge 25 per cent of the remainder.

This means Meta will take a cut of up to 47.5 per cent from the sale price, leaving the seller with 52.5 per cent.

'If a creator sells an item for $1.00, then the Meta Quest Store fee would be $0.30 and the Horizon Platform fee would be $0.17 (25% of the remainder), leaving $0.53 for the Creator before any applicable taxes,' a Meta spokesperson confirmed to Insider.

'Over time, we plan to bring Horizon Worlds to more platforms and so the platform fee won't always be going to Meta.

'As Horizon Worlds rolls out to more platforms like mobile, we expect those platforms to charge their own fee. The Horizon Worlds fee which is 25 percent of the remainder would be applied after any relevant hardware platform fee has been applied.'

Vivek Sharma, Meta's VP of Horizon, told The Verge: 'We think it's a pretty competitive rate in the market. We believe in the other platforms being able to have their share.'

Meta and its CEO Mark Zuckerberg have previously criticised Apple for charging developers a 30 per cent fee for in-app purchases via the App Store.

These virtual reality environments aren't at that level yet, he explained, but lots of people already live much of their lives in the digital world - just on 2D screens

You could soon feel PAIN in the metaverse The idea of an armband that can mimic pain in the metaverse may sound like a concept from the latest series of Black Mirror. But thanks to a Japanese start-up, the creepy device has become a reality. H2L, a Sony-backed company based in Tokyo, has developed an armband that uses electrical stimulation to deliver physical pain. It features muscle motion sensors that recognise your hand gestures and position, enabling your avatar in the metaverse to accurately copy your movements. It also uses electrical stimulation to manipulate the arm muscles, mimicking sensations. Advertisement

The social media giant is also testing out a 'creator bonus' programme for select Horizon Worlds users in the United States.

Initially, this will reward creators for building worlds that attract the most time spent.

However, in the longer term, Meta plans to use this programme to encourage creators to adopt new tools or features it rolls out.

'We want there to just be tons of awesome worlds, and in order for that to happen there needs to be a lot of creators who can support themselves and make this their job,' Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg said in a conversation with early adopters, held inside Horizon Worlds using avatars.

The Facebook parent company, which changed its name to Meta last year, has invested heavily in virtual and augmented reality to reflect its new bet on the metaverse, a futuristic idea of a network of virtual environments accessed via different devices where users can work, socialise and play.

Zuckerberg claims humanity will move into the metaverse in the future, leaving reality behind for a world of our own creation, that we completely control.

In an interview with tech podcaster Lex Fridman last month, He said there will be a point where virtual worlds are so immersive, and convenient, that we won't want to leave, and this is the point where it becomes the metaverse.

These virtual reality environments aren't at that level yet, he explained, but lots of people already live much of their lives in the digital world  just on 2D screens.

'A lot of people think that the metaverse is about a place, but one definition of this is it's about a time when basically immersive digital worlds become the primary way that we live our lives and spend our time,' Zuckerberg told Fridman.

Meta plans to spend the next five to 10 years building an immersive virtual world, including scent, touch and sound to allow people to get lost in VR.

The company is competing with up-and-coming virtual world players where land, buildings, avatars and even names can be bought and sold as non-fungible tokens (NFTs), or blockchain-based virtual assets.

The market for these assets exploded last year, with sales sometimes fetching hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Meta's Horizon Worlds, an expansive VR social platform, and Horizon Venues, which is focused on virtual events, are early iterations of metaverse-like spaces.
Experts have confirmed a meteor that hit Earth in January 2014 did come from another solar system and is therefore the first known interstellar object.

In a newly-released memo, US Space Command officials have said that rocky body, measuring just 1.5 feet (0.45 of a metre) across, 'was indeed an interstellar object'.

Their confirmation means the famous interstellar object known as Oumuamua, discovered in 2017, is actually the second interstellar object to visit our solar system.

According to NASA, the meteor lit up skies near Manus Island, Papua New Guinea on January 8, 2014 whilst travelling at more than 100,000 miles per hour.

Scientists believe it may have left interstellar debris in the South Pacific Ocean, which if recovered could reveal more about the rocky object's origin.

6/ I had the pleasure of signing a memo with @ussfspocs Chief Scientist, Dr. Mozer, to confirm that a previously-detected interstellar object was indeed an interstellar object, a confirmation that assisted the broader astronomical community. pic.twitter.com/PGlIOnCSrW  U.S. Space Command (@US_SpaceCom) April 7, 2022

According to NASA, the meteor lit up skies near Manus Island, Papua New Guinea on January 8, 2014 whilst travelling at more than 100,000 miles per hour. It may have showered the ocean with interstellar debris, according to scientists

A lot of the information surrounding the object has until now been classified by the US government.

The memo, dated March 1 and shared on Twitter this month, signs off findings from US Space Command chief scientist Dr Joel Mozer.

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN METEOR, METEOROID AND METEORITE Meteoroids are objects in space that range in size from dust grains to small asteroids. When meteoroids enter Earths atmosphere (or that of another planet, like Mars) at high speed and burn up, the fireballs or 'shooting starss are called meteors. When a meteoroid survives a trip through the atmosphere and hits the ground, its called a meteorite. Advertisement

Dr Mozer 'reviewed analysis of additional data available to the Department of Defense related to this finding,' reads the memo, which is signed by Lt. Gen. John E. Shaw, deputy commander of the US Space Command.

'Dr Mozer confirmed that the velocity estimate reported to NASA is sufficiently accurate to indicate an interstellar trajectory.'

It was back in 2019 that Harvard University researchers posted a study on the preprint server arXiv, acknowledging the meteor's existence and saying it had come from outside our solar system.

The study, which still hasn't been peer reviewed, reported the meteor as originating from interstellar space with '99.999 per cent confidence'.

According to the authors, the study has been awaiting peer review for years so the claim could be confirmed, but it's faced roadblocks from the US government, which was withholding key information from a publicly-available NASA database.

Amir Siraj, one of the study authors, told Vice that he wants to track down fragments from the object that may be at the bottom of the ocean.

'I get a kick out of just thinking about the fact that we have interstellar material that was delivered to Earth, and we know where it is,' he said.

'One thing that I'm going to be checking  and I'm already talking to people about  is whether it is possible to search the ocean floor off the coast of Papua New Guinea and see if we can get any fragments.'

According to NASA, the meteor soared through skies near Papua New Guinea at more than 100,000 miles per hour and impacted near Manus Island on January 8, 2014 (concept image)

The memo, dated March 1 and shared on Twitter this month, signs off findings from US Space Command chief scientist Dr Joel Mozer

'It would be a big undertaking, but we're going to look at it in extreme depth because the possibility of getting the first piece of interstellar material is exciting enough to check this very thoroughly and talk to all the world experts on ocean expeditions to recover meteorites.'

Information about the meteor is scarce, although its details  including its coordinates above Manus Island  are logged in NASA's Center for Near Earth Object Studies (CNEOS) fireball database.

Siraj said he was inspired to investigate the meteor and its impact after noticing its usually high speed  over 100,000 miles per hour  compared to the other entries in the database.

'It was really fast, and so I was like "Oh my God, this could be an interstellar meteor",' Siraj told Vice. 'It was hiding in plain sight.

'It wasn't that we had to dig to find this database  it was more that there hadn't been an interstellar object until 2017.

'As a result, no one had a reason to think that there could be meteors that were from outside of the solar system.'

Its high speed implies 'a possible origin from the deep interior of a planetary system or a star in the thick disk of the Milky Way galaxy', Siraj wrote in his 2019 paper.

This artist's impression shows Oumuamua, discovered in 2017. Until now, it was known as the first-known interstellar object to visit our solar system

A high speed is an indicator of an object that originates from outside our solar system because, if it were bound by an orbit around our sun it would be much slower.

For comparison, Earth orbits the sun at around 66,000 miles per hour.

Siraj's hopes his study, which was submitted The Astrophysical Journal Letters, will now soon be peer-reviewed and published.

It will then assist hopefully the astronomical community and allow research into the implications of the 2014 meteor impact.

The finding does of course mean that Oumuamua has been relegated to be the second interstellar object to be detected, in October 2017.

Originally classified as a comet, Oumuamua was later reclassified as an asteroid as it lacked a coma  a cloud of gases that surrounds the nucleus of a comet.

The third-known interstellar object to be discovered, a comet called 2I/Borisov, was discovered by Crimean amateur astronomer Gennady Borisov with a telescope in August 2019 when it passed by the sun.

2I/Borisov is one of the most 'pristine comets' ever observed, scientists announced last year, meaning it has not been altered or degraded by heat and radiation from stars like our sun.
Lab-grown exotic meat such as tiger steaks and lion burgers could soon be available in Britain as part of ambitious plans by a food tech start-up.

London-based Primeval Foods wants to host tasting sessions at Michelin-starred restaurants in the city to show off its 'cultivated' products, which are grown from animal cells and much less harmful to the environment.

The company's founder, Yilmaz Bora, argues that the reason beef and chicken are so popular is because the animals the meats come from are the 'easiest to domesticate', rather than being chosen for the taste and nutrients they provide.

He said that by extracting the cells of exotic animals such as giraffes, elephants and big cats, meats that most people have previously never tried could soon be on supermarket shelves, pending regulatory approval.

Primeval Foods also concedes that one of the biggest obstacles to the cellular agriculture industry is the cost of producing the meat, although scientists are working on new methods to speed up and lower the cost of this process.

Lab-grown exotic meat such as tiger steaks and lion burgers could soon be available in Britain as part of ambitious plans by food tech start-up Primeval Foods

London-based Primeval Foods wants to host tasting sessions at Michelin-starred restaurants in the city to show off its 'cultivated' products, which are grown from animal cells and much less harmful to the environment

WHAT IS CELLULAR AGRICULTURE? Cellular agriculture is the production of animal- or plant-sourced foods from cell culture. It's often touted as a more sustainable and ethical way of generating animal or plant protein for human consumption. Animal insulin could be considered the first cellular agriculture product, created in 1922 - an achievement that won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine the following year. Source: New Harvest Advertisement

Just last week, Israeli firm Aleph Farms  a market leader in cultivating lab-grown beef steaks  was part of the Axiom Space mission to launch bovine cells to the International Space Station.

Three wealthy businessmen, who became the first ever all-civilian crew to launch to the orbital observatory, will conduct a series of experiments, including trying to grow the animal cells in space to make steak.

Mr Bora said that cultivated meat offers the nutrition and sensory experience of real meat without the negative elements of cholesterol, saturated fats and the 'expense of nature and animals'.

'Cultivated meat will stay and expand because it's not an alternative to traditional meat; it's an upgrade to it,' he added.

'If we want to have a meaningful and long-lasting impact, we need to target carnivores rather than vegans.

'Cultivated meat provides the opportunity to reach a brand new demographic, because some people will never ditch eating meat despite its negative environmental, health, and animal welfare impacts.

'It's a fantastic deal.'

The company's founder, Yilmaz Bora, argues that the reason beef and chicken are so popular is because the animals the meats come from are the 'easiest to domesticate', rather than the taste and nutrients they provide. Primeval Foods also plans to sell zebra sushi rolls (pictured)

HOW WILL ASTRONAUTS GROW STEAK ON THE ISS? Bovine cells from cows have been transported to the International Space Station onboard a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft. It is part of the Axiom Mission 1, NASA's first-ever space tourism mission to the ISS which will see three amateur astronauts spend eight days aboard the orbital observatory. The bovine cells will be inside a credit card-sized chip, embedded into a shoebox-sized system of pumps. They will then undergo a process of multiplying and diversifying in microgravity, with the aim of growing muscle tissue which could then be used to create lab-grown steaks. The company behind the idea is Aleph Farms, a market leader in the technology. Advertisement

Primeval Foods is looking to produce meats from the cultivated cells of Siberian tigers, leopards, black panthers, Bengal tigers and white lions.

It also plans to sell zebra sushi rolls.

With cell biology and tissue engineering, it is possible to grow just muscle and fat tissue, which is what humans eat when they consume meat from an animal.

There is no waste by way of bones or organs.

Scientists provide cells with the same inputs they need to grow, just outside an animal: nutrients, oxygen, moisture and molecular signals from their cell neighbours.

So far researchers have cultivated bunches of cells that can be turned into processed meat like a burger or a sausage.

If Primeval Foods' products pass regulatory approvals the company plans to host tasting sessions at Michelin-starred restaurants in London and New York City.

However, the company has not revealed when this might be.

Scientists say the overall environmental impacts of cultured meat production are likely to be substantially lower than those of conventionally produced meat, despite no direct comparison being possible because cultivated products are not yet being produced on an industrial scale.

One study claimed that cultivated meat involves approximately 745 per cent less energy use than conventionally produced European meat.

Greenhouse gas emissions were also found to be 7896 per cent lower, while land use was cut by 99 per cent and water use by 8296 per cent.
NASA astronauts on board the International Space Station (ISS) are testing new spacesuits with built-in water cooling systems to withstand the heat of space.

In a new video, NASA has shown how its personnel are conducting spacewalks just outside of the ISS while receiving cooled water from an on-board device.

Astronauts are wearing special garments under their spacesuits that feature tubes filled with a constant stream of this circulating water.

The concept of using water as a coolant goes back to Apollo era in the 1970s, but NASA's new system is equipped with pressure sensors, a thermal control loop to maintain a set temperature, and the ability to release warm water vapour into space.

NASA astronauts on board the International Space Station are testing futuristic spacesuits with built-in cooling systems

Cooling technologies are being tested for the upcoming Artemis missions to the Moon, set to take place in 2025, according to NASA.

HEAT ON THE MOON Because the Moon has no significant atmosphere to block some of the Sun's rays or to help trap heat at night, its temperature varies greatly between day and night. According to NASA, temperatures on the lunar surface can reach a blistering 250 degrees Fahrenheit. The average temperature on the Moon (at the equator and mid latitudes) varies from -298 degrees Fahrenheit (-183 degrees Celsius), at night, to 224 degrees Fahrenheit (106 degrees Celsius) during the day. Source: NASA/Caltech Advertisement

Later this decade, Artemis moonwalkers exploring the lunar South Pole will wear spacesuits that withstand temperatures of 250F to keep them safe.

NASA has outlined its upcoming technologies in a new video, entitled 'Keeping Cool in Space'.

'Imagine you are an astronaut on the Moon,' NASA says. 'Your job for the next eight hours will be exploring, collecting science samples, traversing up and down lunar hills, sampling rocks, and setting up equipment as part of the Artemis program.

'Temperatures on the lunar surface can reach a blistering 250 degrees Fahrenheit. How does NASA keep astronauts cool in spacesuits so that they can work on the Moon? Fortunately, each spacesuit includes a personal cooling unit.'

During spacewalks, astronauts need protection from the heat of the sun, as well as heat generated by their own body as they work.

NASA says air cooling is insufficient for this important job, so it's instead turned to water as a coolant.

The centrepiece of NASA's Spacesuit Evaporation Rejection Flight Experiment (SERFE) is an oven sized device that's aboard the ISS. NASA says it's 'all the critical elements of a spacesuit cooling system in one box'.

It is feeding a constant supply of cooled water to astronauts when they do their spacewalks on the ISS.

The centrepiece of NASA's Spacesuit Evaporation Rejection Flight Experiment (SERFE) is an oven sized device that's now aboard the ISS

Astronauts are wearing special garments under their spacesuits that feature tubes filled with a constant stream of cool circulating water

NASA'S SERFE PROJECT Artemis moonwalkers exploring the lunar South Pole will wear revolutionary spacesuits that stand up to the Moons harsh environment and help keep them safe. A critical component of a spacesuit is the life support system, which keeps the astronaut and the spacesuit cool. The Spacesuit Evaporation Rejection Flight Experiment (SERFE) is designed to evaluate and demonstrate this new active thermal control technology in the microgravity environment of the International Space Station. The thermal control loop circulates cooling water throughout the prototype to keep its electronics cool and astronauts comfortable. This technology could play a role in ensuring future spacewalkers will be able to carry out their mission objectives during a spacewalk. Source: NASA Advertisement

Two of these SERFE boxes have actually been built  one aboard the ISS and another at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston.

Engineers have been performing the exact same tests on the ground on their identical SERFE unit as the ones going on aboard the ISS.

However, the box-shaped SERFE device is just a prototype of what astronauts on the moon will eventually have to carry on their backs, so part of the challenge is to shrink it down to make it portable.

Work is already underway to build this cooling backpack, according to NASA.

A key part of NASA's upcoming technology is to remove heat from the water that's circulating through the spacesuit, generated by the astronaut's body.

For this it's designed 'a heat-rejection device' called a spacesuit water membrane evaporator (SWME) inside the SERFE box.

SWMS circulates water from the liquid cooling garment through small hollow, water-repelling tubes.

As the liquid water passes through these tubes, water vapour is exhausted to space, thereby removing heat.

The SERFE boxes run for eight hours at a time  around what a spacewalk might last.

When it's turned off, contaminants can develop in the water that can impact the water's flow, so NASA personnel on the ISS have to take regular water samples.

A spacesuit water membrane evaporator (SWME, pictured) removes heat from the water that's circulating through the spacesuit

Current experiments with SERFE on the ISS act as research for how such a system will perform under high temperatures and low gravity in the Artemis era.

NASA's Artemis programme will land the first woman and the next man on the moon by 2025, specifically at the lunar south pole region.

It is also hoped that establishing a sustainable lunar presence will ultimately be used as a 'stepping stone' for the first human mission to Mars.

NASA's original date for sending humans back to the moon was 2024, but last year it delayed the date, largely blamed on litigation from Amazon founder Jeff Bezos' firm Blue Origin.

Artemis I, NASA's uncrewed flight test of the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion spacecraft, is set to launch later this year after itself being delayed.

The International Space Station (ISS, pictured), which is 357.5 feet wide and 239.4 feet in length, completes an entire orbit around the Earth once every 90 minutes

NASA image from December 10, 1972 showing astronaut Harrison Schmitt collecting lunar rock samples at the Taurus-Littrow landing site on the Moon during the Apollo 17 mission

The original Apollo astronauts remain the only humans to have been sent into deep space.

The celebrated program saw men walk on the moon for the last time in 1972, as part of the Apollo 17 mission.

After returning humans to the Moon in 2024, NASA plans to send astronauts to the moon once per year and establish lunar exploration by 2028.

The program will lay the groundwork in NASA's plans to send crewed missions to the Mars in the 2030s.

In April 2020, NASA released a detailed plan for an 'Artemis Base Camp' that will be home to first woman and next man on the moon in 2024.

The 13-page document highlights elements such as a terrain vehicle for transporting the astronauts around the landing zone, a permanent habit and a mobility platform to travel across the lunar surface.
The notorious hacking group Anonymous has leaked a massive trove of Kremlin files, as it vowed to keep targeting Russia until the country ends its 'aggression' against Ukraine.

Government institutions and Russian companies were breached in the cyber attack, with the data dump including more than 200,000 emails from the Russian Ministry of Culture, a body which has oversight over censorship, archives and art.

The vigilante hackers also hijacked emails and data from the oil and gas company Aerogas as part of ongoing attempts to infiltrate and disrupt the Russian war effort.

Anonymous has already launched a series of cyber attacks in retaliation for Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine, including a data leak of Russian soldiers and takeovers of state-controlled TV.

It has now insisted that it will continue hacking and releasing confidential information until Russia withdraws from its offensive.

In a tweet, the group wrote: 'The hacking will continue until Russia stops their aggression.'

The hacking group Anonymous has leaked a massive trove of Kremlin files, as it vowed to keep targeting Russia until the country ends its 'aggression' against Ukraine (stock image)

Government institutions and Russian companies were breached in the cyber attack, with the data dump including more than 200,000 emails from the Russian Ministry of Culture, a body which has oversight over censorship, archives and art

It first announced it was 'officially in cyber war against the Russian government' on the day Putin invaded Ukraine on February 24.

Since then, the hacking collective has been involved in various attacks in an effort to spread information about what Russia still says is a 'special military operation'.

New press censorship legislation in Russia is severely hampering transparency about what is actually happening within the Kremlin.

The 'fake news' laws mean that anyone found guilty of disseminating 'false information' about the Russian forces can face extreme penalties, including a prison sentence of up to 15 years.

Last month Network Battalion 65 or 'NB65', which is affiliated with Anonymous, claimed to have shut down Russia's space agency so that Putin 'no longer had control over spy satellites'.

The group said it had downloaded and deleted confidential files related to the space agency's satellite imaging and Vehicle Monitoring System.

However, the head of Roscosmos, Dmitry Rogozin, denied the claim and called Anonymous 'scammers and petty swindlers'.

Earlier this month, Anonymous also leaked the personal data of 120,000 Russian soldiers fighting in Ukraine, disclosing personal information such as names, date of birth, addresses, unit affiliation and passport numbers.

'All soldiers participating in the invasion of Ukraine should be subjected to a war crime tribunal,' the hackers wrote on Twitter.

Anonymous also claimed it had targeted Russia's central bank and stole 35,000 files, as well as hacking unsecured printers across Russia to print out 'anti-propaganda' messages about the Ukrainian invasion.

Anonymous has insisted that it will continue hacking and releasing confidential information until Russia withdraws its offensive (pictured)

Anonymous has already launched a series of cyber attacks in retaliation for Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine, including a data leak of Russian soldiers and takeovers of state-controlled TV

A member of the collective, who goes by @DepaixPorteur on Twitter, tweeted: 'We have been printing anti-propaganda and tor installation instructions to printers all over [Russia] for 2 hours, and printed 100,000+ copies so far. 15 people working on this op as we speak.

'We're currently launching a printer attack on 156 [Russian] printers. Already over 40,000+ copies.'

Only last week Anonymous claimed it had also managed to leak more than 900,000 Russian state media emails.

Anonymous has previously targeted groups including the Ku Klux Klan and Islamic extremists.

Members are known as 'Anons' and are distinguished by their Guy Fawkes masks.

In July last year, the collective warned Tesla founder Elon Musk that they planned to target him after saying he wields too much power over the cryptocurrency markets.
The full moon in April, known as the Pink Moon - not for the color but for the phlox flower that blooms in early springtime - will shine bright this Saturday.

Appearing first with a goldish color, it also is known as the Paschal Moon, from which the date of Easter is calculated in the Christian calendar.

This full moon will be brightest Saturday, April 16, at 2:55pm EDT, and will appear full through Monday morning. The best time of day to see the full moon is around dusk.

The moon will rise in London at 7:47pm BST, in New York at 7:44pm EDT and in Los Angeles at 7:41pm PDT on Saturday.

The full moon this month is known as the Pink Moon, not for the color but for the phlox flower that blooms in early springtime, and it will shine bright this Saturday

The April full moon goes by many different names, according to NASA - some derived from Native American cultures - and were gathered together for the first time in the Maine Farmer's Almanac in the 1930s.

The almanac was first to call it the Pink Moon in print, after the herb moss pink, also known as creeping phlox, moss phlox, or mountain phlox.

'This is a plant native to the eastern U.S. that is one of the earliest widespread flowers of spring,' according to NASA.

The Pink Moon also is known as the Sprouting Grass Moon, the Egg Moon, and the Fish Moon, as it appears around the time that shad would swim upstream to spawn.

It will appear a goldish color and is also known as the Paschal Moon, from which the date of Easter is calculated in the Christian calendar

FULL MOON NAMES AND THEIR MEANINGS January: Wolf Moon because wolves were heard more often at this time. February: Snow Moon to coincide with heavy snow. March: Worm Moon as the Sun increasingly warmed the soil and earthworms became active. April: Pink Moon as it heralded the appearance of Phlox subulata or moss pink  one of spring's first flowers. May: Flower Moon because of the abundance of blossoms. June: Strawberry Moon because it appeared when the strawberry harvest first took place. July: Buck Moon as it arrived when a male deer's antlers were in full growth mode. August: Sturgeon Moon after the large fish that was easily caught at this time. September: Corn Moon because this was the time to harvest corn. October: Hunter's Moon after the time to hunt in preparation for winter. November: Beaver Moon because it was the time to set up beaver traps. December: Cold Moon because nights at this time of year were the longest. Source: Old Farmer's Almanac Advertisement

Outside of Native American culture, the moon is also known as the Pesach or Passover Moon, as the Passover begins at sundown on Friday, April 15, and ends at nightfall on Saturday, April 23, 2022.

In the Christian ecclesiastical calendar, the date of Easter is calculated using the Paschal Moon. With western Christianity celebrating Easter on Sunday April 17 - which is the Sunday after this first full moon of spring.

A full moon occurs when the moon is on the opposite side of the Earth to the sun, meaning its face is fully illuminated.

On the morning of a full moon, four of the five visible planets will appear in a line above the east-southeastern horizon.

Saturn will appear in the upper right at 15 degrees above the southeastern horizon, Mars at 12 degrees above the east-southeastern horizon, Venus at 8 degrees above the east-southeastern horizon, and Jupiter to the lower left at 2 degrees above the eastern horizon.

The full moon will appear 11 degrees above the west-southwestern horizon with the bright star, Spica, to the lower left of the Moon.

The bright star appearing closest to overhead will be Vega at 83 degrees above the eastern horizon. Vega is the 5th brightest star in our night sky and the brightest of the three stars in the Summer Triangle.

Vega is about twice as massive as our Sun, 40 times brighter, and about 25 light-years from us.

On the evening of the full moon, Mercury will appear just above the west-northwestern horizon, appearing as a bright dot of light.

The bright stars of the local arm of our home galaxy will appear spread along the west-southwestern horizon. Sirius, the brightest of the stars in our night sky, will appear 24 degrees above the southwestern horizon, according to NASA.

The full moon in May is known as the Flower Moon, and it will also be a Blood Moon as it coincides with a total lunar eclipse, turning a reddish color for 84 minutes.
The supernova explosion that triggered the birth of the solar system, by exciting a cloud of gas and dust, has been recreated in a lab using a laser and foam ball.

Molecular clouds, like the one that contained the building blocks that led to the Sun and planets, can remain in a state of peaceful equilibrium forever, if left alone.

When triggered by an external event, like a shockwave sent from a supernova explosion, it can create pockets of dense material that collapse and form a star.

That is what happened in the case of the solar system, according to researchers from the Polytechnic Institute of Paris in France. These events have never been observed, and mathematical simulations can't measure the complexities involved, so the team turned to more mundane tools.

They used a foam ball to represent a dense area within a molecular cloud, and a high power laser to send a blast wave that can propagate through a chamber of gas and then into the ball - observing the process using X-ray images.

The supernova explosion that triggered the birth of the solar system, by exciting a cloud of gas and dust, has been recreated in a lab using a laser and foam ball. Stock image

The exact origins of the solar system have been subject to debate, theory and discussion for decades, and the new study may open a new way to experiment.

The French team started from the idea that something would have been required to excite the cloud of gas and dust that led to the sun, Earth and other planets.

A nearby giant star exploded, sending shockwaves of high energy particles blasting through space, and these would have crashed into our otherwise peaceful cloud.

The process caused dust and gas surrounding the proto-star, a dense area of dust and gas within the cloud, to spin, enabling planets around the star to form, rather than collapse back into the sun and create a larger star.

Astronomical observations do not have high enough spatial resolution to observe these processes, and numerical simulations cannot handle the complexity of the interaction between clouds and supernova remnants.

Therefore, the triggering and formation of new stars in this way remained mostly shrouded in mystery, until this new work.

Molecular clouds, like the one that contained the building blocks that led to the Sun and planets, can remain in a state of peaceful equilibrium forever, if left alone

When triggered by an external event, like a shockwave sent from a supernova explosion, it can create pockets of dense material that collapse and forms a star. Stock image

A team from multiple institutions modeled the interaction between supernova remnants and molecular clouds using a high-power laser and a foam ball.

The foam ball represents a dense area within a molecular cloud, corresponding to the pro-star that would one day become the Sun.

The high-power laser creates a blast wave, representing the remnants of a supernova explosion, that propagates through a surrounding chamber of gas and into the ball.

HOW DO STARS FORM? Stars form from dense molecular clouds - of dust and gas - in regions of interstellar space known as stellar nurseries. A single molecular cloud, which primarily contains hydrogen atoms, can be thousands of times the mass of the sun. They undergo turbulent motion with the gas and dust moving over time, disturbing the atoms and molecules causing some regions to have more matter than other parts. If enough gas and dust come together in one area then it begins to collapse under the weight of its own gravity. As it begins to collapse it slowly gets hotter and expands outwards, taking in more of the surrounding gas and dust. At this point, when the region is about 900 billion miles across, it becomes a pre-stellar core and the starting process of becoming a star. Then, over the next 50,000 years this will contract 92 billion miles across to become the inner core of a star. The excess material is ejected out towards the poles of the star and a disc of gas and dust is formed around the star, forming a proto-star. This matter is then either incorporated into the star or expelled out into a wider disc that will lead to the formation of planets, moons, comets and asteroids. Advertisement

The experiment revealed that stars form out of blast waves from a supernova that propagate through gas and dust - to create pockets of dense material.

The simple test sheds fresh light on the evolution of the universe, finding that at a certain limit, the debris collapses into a baby star.

Co-author Bruno Albertazzi said: 'Our primitive molecular cloud, where the sun was formed, was probably triggered by supernova remnants.

'It opens a new and promising path for laboratory astrophysics to understand all these major points.'

Remnants of matter ejected from the ancient blast can still be found in samples of primitive meteorites today, according to the team.

The work involved experts from the Free University of Berlin, the Russian Academy of Sciences, the University of Oxford, and Osaka University

It means all the matter that makes up our solar system and planets was once ejected by a supernova - which is the final stage of life for massive stars.

Albertazzi said: 'We are really looking at the beginning of the interaction. In this way, you can see if the average density of the foam increases and if you will begin to form stars more easily.'

The mechanisms impact star formation rate and galaxy evolution, explain existence of the most massive stars - and have consequences in our own solar system.

Some of the foam compressed - while some stretched out. This changed the average density of the material.

Supernovas are the biggest explosions in space. A massive star's pressure drops so low gravity suddenly takes over - and it collapses in just seconds.

The blast is incredibly bright - and powerful enough to create new atomic nuclei.

In future, the researchers will need to account for the stretched mass to truly measure the compressed material and the shockwave's impact on star formation.

They plan to explore the influence of radiation, magnetic field, and turbulence.

Albertazzi added: 'This first paper was really to demonstrate the possibilities of this new platform opening a new topic that could be investigated using high-power lasers.'

The findings have been published in the journal Matter and Radiation at Extremes.
A new feature of the Google-owned Fitbit has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to monitor heart rhythms and identify atrial fibrillation (AFib).

AFib is a type of irregular heart rhythm, it can be hard to detect due to a lack of visible and obvious symptoms, and later detection can increase stroke risk.

Google said its AFib algorithm, available within the Fitbit app, assesses users' heart rhythms while they are sleeping, and alerts them if they suffer from AFib.

According to the firm, it will give sufferers time to notify their health care provider, and increase the chance of survival.

A new feature of the Google-owned Fitbit has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to monitor heart rhythms and identify atrial fibrillation (AFib)

There are about 33.5 million people globally with AFib, and those suffering from the condition are five times more likely to suffer from a stroke than those without.

'With today's FDA clearance of our PPG-based algorithm, Fitbit now provides two ways to detect AFib,' a Google spokesperson said.

The first tool to be given approval was the ECG app, which takes a spot-check approach, allowing users to proactively screen themselves for possible AFib.

Users can record an ECG trace to be reviewed with a doctor for signs of abnormality.

'Additionally, the new PPG-based algorithm allows for long-term heart rhythm assessment that helps identify asymptomatic AFib that could otherwise go undetected,' the spokesperson explained.

The passive AFib monitoring was launched in 2020 as a clinical study, involving 455,699 participants.

Google said the PPG AFib algorithm, available within the Fitbit app, assess users' heart rhythms while they are sleeping, and alert them if they suffer from AFib

It found that the algorithm correctly identified AFib episodes 98 per cent of the time through the participants, who were confirmed by ECG monitors.

When your heart beats, tiny blood vessels throughout your body expand and contract based on changes in blood volume.

Fitbits PPG optical heart-rate sensor can detect these volume changes, and use them to determine your heart rhythm, which the detection algorithm then analyzes for irregularities and potential signs of atrial fibrillation.

Because AFib can be so sporadic, the optimal way to screen for it is through heart rate tracking technology when the body is still or at rest - such as during sleep.

This is something the Fitbit can do, and it has now been approved for that purpose to be used in medical situations.

'We want to make AFib detection as accessible as possible to help reduce the risk of potentially life-threatening events  like stroke  and ultimately improve overall heart health for everyone,' a Google spokesperson said.

The software will be available to US consumers with heart-rate enabled devices 'soon', Google confirmed, adding it will continue to work with BMS-Pfizer Alliance to create educational content for patients and health care providers.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has once again criticised Premier League bosses and television broadcasters for handing Liverpool a Saturday lunchtime kick-off at Newcastle days after a possible Champions League semi-final.

The Reds boss has been vocal on the importance of protecting players amid hectic fixture schedules during his time in England and raised the issue ahead of his side's clash in Europe this week.

The Merseyside giants are still competing on three fronts after winning the Carabao Cup in February but said the focus is only on the next game, given the jam-packed programme.

Jurgen Klopp has once again criticised Premier League bosses and television broadcasters

'The fixture list we have now... we have to get through. I am only concerned about Benfica now. Then City Saturday. United, Everton and maybe a semi,' Klopp said ahead of the Champions League quarter-final second-leg tie against Benfica on Wednesday.

'BT and Premier League gave us Newcastle 12.30... people want to see us on TV as we're hot, I couldn't care less.

'It's unbelievable. We played City, so tough, how could I think about other competitions? We play Benfica, I cannot think of anything else. We just try to make it to the last, final decisive step.

Klopp's Liverpool are trying to reclaim the Premier League title from Pep Guardiola's Man City

LIVERPOOL FIXTURES April 13: Benfica (H) April 16: Manchester City (N) April 19: Manchester United (H) April 24: Everton (H) April 26/27: Possible Champions League semi-final April 30: Newcastle (A) May 3/4: Possible Champions League semi-final May 7: Tottenham (H) May 10: Aston Villa (A) May 15: Southampton (A) May 22: Wolves (H) Advertisement

'If we play a Champions League semi-final, if you find another league in the world and another broadcaster who would put the one team in the semi-final on a 12.30pm kick-off... what are you doing? Why would you do that?'

Klopp reiterated the pressure and demands on his stars when asked about five substitutions, which could be introduced into the top flight next season, adding: 'We have to make these (five) changes. We have to keep our performance level up and that is only possible (with the subs). We've had 50 games in our legs in April.'

Liverpool head into Wednesday's match 3-1 up following a strong performance in Portugal last week, with the European showdown sandwiched in between two games with title rivals Manchester City.

After playing out a 2-2 draw at the Etihad to remain one point behind Pep Guardiola's side at the weekend, the heavyweights meet again on Saturday at Wembley in the FA Cup semi-finals.

The Reds then welcome rivals Manchester United next Tuesday before hosting Merseyside rivals Everton on April 24.

Should Liverpool beat Benfica and progress to the Champions League semi-finals, the first leg will be either on April 26 or April 27 against Villarreal or Bayern Munich, with the Saturday 12.30pm kick-off in Newcastle on April 30.

In the 2020-21 season Klopp claimed clubs were 'alone' in protecting players.

'The Premier League and TV broadcasters gave us a challenge, because they don't care if our players play in Peru on a Wednesday night, they say they can then play again on Saturday,' he said.

'In these moments, clubs we are alone. I really think, here in their own country, Premier League and broadcasters don't care. You have to make sure you brings players home in quickest and most safe way. This is the situation we are in.'
German airline Condor has given some of its planes a striking striped livery that it says is 'inspired by parasols, bath towels and beach chairs'.

Though others may view it as a propaganda coup in the battle of the sunlounger.

Germans are known for being highly efficient at throwing down beach towels to reserve the best spots by the pool and on the beach  and some may see Condors new paint job as broadcasting a statement of intent.

German airline Condor has given some of its planes a striking striped livery that it says is 'inspired by parasols, bath towels and beach chairs'

According to Condor, the new livery is part of its evolution into a distinctive and unique vacation airline

According to Condor, though, its all part of its evolution into a distinctive and unique vacation airline.

Condor is vacation. And vacation is stripes, says the airline.

The five different colours of each candy-cane plane have a unique meaning - green for 'island', yellow for 'sunshine', blue for 'sea', red for 'passion' and beige for 'beach'.

The stripes are also said to stand for 'the diversity of Condor's guests and employees'.

The first repainted plane to be unveiled was a green-and-white striped A330neo, pictured above in Toulouse

Condor is vacation. And vacation is stripes, says the airline

The first striped plane to be unveiled - showcased on the tarmac in Toulouse earlier this month - was a green-and-white striped A330neo, which is set to ferry passengers this autumn.

A yellow-and-white Airbus A321, meanwhile, was the first striped Condor plane to make an 'official flight', flying holidaymakers from Frankfurt to Lanzarote on April 5. This aircraft will be joined by five more repainted planes - Boeing 757, Airbus A320, and Airbus A321 models  in flying Condors summer flight schedule, heading to Mallorca, Greece, the Canary Islands and Egypt.

The charter airline plans to have around 80 per cent of its fleet  which consists of 54 aircraft - repainted by 2024.

According to the airline, as each of the planes is due a fresh coat of paint anyway, its choosing the most sustainable way to redesign its brand identity and fleet.

The five colours of each candy-cane plane have a special meaning - green symbolises 'island'

The Condor logo on the tail of each aircraft has been given a facelift

The colourful stripes arent the only new twist to the Condor livery - the Condor logo on the tail of each aircraft has been given a facelift, a statement explains, with finer and more dynamic lines.

Condors lettering has similarly been revamped  the bold black font has been made to appear more compact.

And change is also afoot inside the cabins. The crew uniforms, and their neckerchiefs, ties and pins, will reflect this new stripy design, as will the cups, blankets and cutlery on board.

Even Condors boarding passes and airport signage will get the stripe treatment.

The makeover definitely packs a punch, but it's not to everyone's tastes.

Willie Walsh, the director general of the International Air Transport Association (Iata) and former BA boss, said that he 'didnt like' the livery when he saw it and wouldn't 'have signed off on it', according to FlightGlobal.

The debate has taken to Twitter, with user 'alexampersander' writing: 'I'm not necessarily a fan of the livery but I'm a huge fan of Condor doing something different. Well done.'

User 'ChrisQuinnNCL' described it as 'rubbish', whereas 'PatWerner74' labelled it 'unique and remarkable'.

And 'realCessnaBroon' weighed in: 'Just seen the new Condor livery in the flesh, and I have to say, it is bonnie.'

Comparisons have also been drawn to 'Where's Wally?' and Twister ice cream lollies, and one Twitter user, aviosAdventurer, joked that Condor's new business class seats might be stripy deck chairs.

This Airbus A321 was the first striped Condor plane to make an 'official flight', flying holidaymakers from Frankfurt to Lanzarote on April 5

Condors lettering has also been revamped  the bold black font has been made to appear more compact'

Commenting on the airlines redesign, Ralf Teckentrup, CEO of Condor, said: Condor has undergone a transformation over the past two and a half years - from a subsidiary of a vertically integrated travel group to an independent airline that looks back proudly on its history and tradition, while at the same time embarking on the path to the future. We want to express this unmistakably through our corporate identity: Condor is vacation and Condor is unmistakable - like our new design, with which we are now launching into the future.

Our new trademark are stripes, our figurative mark stands for our origin and the colours for diversity. This triad is new, what remains is our passion. It has always made Condor unique and is therefore also reflected in our claim - passion is our compass.

Remo Masala, the owner of Berlin-based creative agency Vision Alphabet, which was tasked with the conception of the new brand identity, added: Revising Condor's brand identity with its long tradition is a delicate interplay based on respect for its origins and requirements for the future.

'Our goal was to endow Condor with a special visual independence, the rationale of which is united in Condor's brand essence - the invention of the vacation flight, and the effective vacation code, the stripes of summer, joy and freedom.

For more information visit www.condor.com/eu.
Hilaria Baldwin shared a video with her 959k Instagram followers in which she was seen using an at-home fetal doppler to listen to her baby's heartbeat.

On Monday, the pregnant 38-year-old Yoga Vida founder posted the clip in which she was seen laying in bed as she used the device and explained that monitoring her unborn baby's heartbeat comforted her as she was 'nervous' about her seventh pregnancy following her 2019 miscarriages.

'So much of motherhood is waiting and realizing that there is so much beyond our control,' Hilaria wrote in the lengthy caption.

Monitoring: Hilaria Baldwin shared a video with her 959k Instagram followers in which she was seen using an at-home fetal doppler to listen to her baby's heartbeat

She continued, 'As I approach the time when I lost the second baby in 2019, at 16 weeks, I get more nervous. I get asked all the time how to stay calm and make it through after loss.'

The Boston native shares six children with her husband Alec Baldwin, 64, whom she married in 2012.

They are parents to daughters Maria Lucia Victoria, 13 months, and Carmen Gabriela, eight, and sons Rafael Thomas, six, Leonardo Angel Charles, five, Romeo Alejandro David, three, and Eduardo 'Edu' Pao Lucas, 18 months.

Worried: On Monday, the pregnant 38-year-old Yoga Vida founder posted the clip in which she was seen laying in bed as she used the device and explained that monitoring her unborn baby's heartbeat comforted her as she was 'nervous' about her seventh pregnancy following her 2019 miscarriages

Hilaria suffered two miscarriages in 2019, the first occurring in April and the second in November when she was 16 weeks along.

The entrepreneur revealed that she typically experiences 'intense implantation cramping' in her first trimester and shared her frustration with her mother Kathryn Hayward, 68.

'To be honest, it's hard to stay calm, even if someone hasn't experienced loss. I experience intense implantation cramping in the first tri,' she wrote.

Difficult: The entrepreneur revealed that she typically experiences 'intense implantation cramping' in her first trimester and shared her frustration with her mother Kathryn Hayward, 68

'I expressed my frustration to my mother when I was pregnant with Carmen. I thought at any moment I'd start bleedingshe told me "this is just the beginning, Hilariathis is preparation for an entire lifetime of being a mother and not being able to control so much. You must live and learn to be.''

'Going on 7 children later, and multiple losses, this is so true. Frustrating for my controlling Capricorn mind, but true.

She went on to say, 'Learning to let go and understand we are in a nature system that is not always benevolent, has been a difficult and important lesson for me. One that I have not mastered, but I'm constantly working on it.

Advice: Kathryn told her, 'this is just the beginning, Hilariathis is preparation for an entire lifetime of being a mother and not being able to control so much. You must live and learn to be'

'When I get nervous, I focus on my breath and try to calm muscles of stress in my body. This helps my mind.

'I have this Doppler from when I was pregnant with Edu. I didn't go to as many dr appts because of COVID, so I did little checks on him at home. What a wild time to be having a baby.

'I decided to dig it up this pregnancy, as I can feel my stress level rise, approaching the 4 month mark, interestingly coinciding with the baby I lost due date.'

Giving it some thought: The Mom Brain podcast host advised her followers to weigh the pros and cons as they whether a fetal doppler would be beneficial to relieving their anxieties

Baby news: The Living Clearly Method author and Alec revealed that they were expecting their seventh child last month

The Mom Brain podcast host advised her followers to weigh the pros and cons as they whether a fetal doppler would be beneficial to relieving their anxieties.

She said, 'Do I recommend getting one of these? Perhaps. The question is: is it causing stress or calming? I've read that sometimes women can't find the heartbeat (even tho it's there), because it can be tricky.

'That is an important thing to think about. Also, sometimes people get addicted to it..that's something to consider,' Hilaria added.

'Anyway, as always, I like to pass on my thoughts and experience with you, just in case it's helpful  the one I bought is sonoline b

Doppler: The device used by Hilaria, the Sonoline B Baby Doppler Fetal Monitor, retails for $49.95

The device used by Hilaria, the Sonoline B Baby Doppler Fetal Monitor, retails for $49.95.

The Living Clearly Method author and Alec revealed that they were expecting their seventh child last month.

The pair told People magazine in a statement: 'We have 'somos un buen equipo' engraved on our wedding bands. We say that to each other all the time at home  that we're a good team.

'One of the most beautiful things my children have experienced with a big family is how the heart can grow with every new sibling.

'Our capacity to love continues to expand and we can't wait to embrace our new little one this fall!'
The Australian music industry is in shock after the sudden death of acclaimed Byron Bay DJ Daniel Webber.

Daniel, 37, a pioneer of the thriving dance music scene in Northern NSW, was found dead after earlier being reported missing.

No cause of death has been revealed.

Daniel's mother, Sandra Webber, paid tribute to the dance music pioneer, describing him as having a 'gentle nature'.

Rest in peace: Australian DJ Daniel Webber (pictured), who played an important role in the music industry in Northern NSW, has died at the age of 37

'He was loved by everyone. He never judged and took everyone at face value. If there was an upcoming DJ, he made it his mission to help them,' Mrs Webber told Byron Shire News.

'He had this beautiful, gentle nature. Even his exes still love him,' she said.

Daniel's friend Tessa Shaw said he had an 'epic personality and skills' and 'touched the hearts of everyone he met'.

Tribute: Daniel's mother, Sandra Webber, paid tribute to the dance music pioneer, describing him as having a 'gentle nature'

Fellow DJ Brad King also shared a tribute to Daniel on Facebook.

'R.I.P Daniel Webber. An absolute legend of a human who played a huge part in the underground music scene in Northern NSW,' he wrote.

'Webber helped me out a lot in my early days of DJing around Byron, hooking me up with many gigs including my first set at Rabbits Eat Lettuce.

'Super humble dude and was the life of the party. Going to miss you, man.'

Emotional: Daniel's friend Tessa Shaw said he had an 'epic personality and skills' and 'touched the hearts of everyone he met'

Musician Louis Emile added: 'He was my biggest inspiration when starting out on this journey and booked me for all of my first shows.

'Most of all he became one of my best friends, sharing so much joy along the way.

'In recent years our paths changed but the love will always be there.'
The Veronicas' Lisa and Jessica Origliasso were caught up in the chaos at Sydney Airport on Monday.

The pop twins, 37, were stuck in a long queue before their flight to Melbourne, where they had a concert scheduled for that night.

Jessica revealed on Instagram they'd argued with other passengers in line.

Over it: The Veronicas' Lisa and Jessica Origliasso clashed with 'rude people' at Sydney Airport on Monday as they found themselves caught up in major delays while on tour

Travellers at Sydney Airport are experiencing major delays due to airlines being short-staffed, and an influx of flyers during the Easter holiday rush.

'This is the line into the airport today, trying to get to Melbourne for our show,' Jessica said, filming the long queue to get into the domestic terminal.

She added: 'Lisa has thrown down with two sets of rude people already at the airport this morning... so ya'll better be ready for a fire show.'

The Veronicas, known for their hits Untouched, 4ever and Hook Me Up, eventually made it to Melbourne, where they performed at The Palais.

Aggro: The twins, 37, were stuck in a long queue before their flight to Melbourne, where they had a gig scheduled. Jess revealed on Instagram they'd argued with other passengers in line

Commuter chaos: Travellers at Sydney Airport are experiencing major delays due to airlines being short-staffed, and an influx of flyers during the Easter holiday rush

The sisters are on a national tour with dates all around the country.

It's not the first time the Origliassos have had dramas at the airport.

In 2019, the duo were escorted off a Qantas flight from Sydney to Brisbane after the airline claimed they 'were disruptive and refused to follow crew instructions'.

Doing their thing: The Veronicas, known for their hits Untouched, 4ever and Hook Me Up, eventually made it to Melbourne, where they performed at The Palais (pictured)

The identical twins insisted they were unable to adjust their bags in an overhead locker and asked for help from Qantas staff.

They claimed they were told cabin crew weren't allowed to touch customers' bags and so were assisted by a fellow passenger instead, which escalated the dispute.

At the time, Jess and Lisa tweeted: 'The police were called because we asked for the crew's names, and instead of giving them to us, they told us they were calling "security". We had no idea what was going on.'

They were subsequently reinstated on a later flight.
CNN anchor Anderson Cooper announced on Monday that he had tested positive for COVID-19, but both his sons tested negative.

The 54-year-old native New Yorker - who boasts 14.1M social media followers - captioned his Instastory selfie: 'Hope to get back to work soon.'

Anderson has two very young sons - Wyatt Morgan, turning 2 on April 27; and Sebastian Luke, 8 weeks - whom he co-parents with his 'best friend and former partner' Benjamin Maisani.

'Hope to get back to work soon': CNN anchor Anderson Cooper announced on Monday that he had tested positive for COVID-19, but both his sons tested negative

Cooper and the 49-year-old Frenchman - who reportedly owns four New York night clubs - ended their nine-year romance in 2018.

'Wyatt calls me "Daddy" and Benjamin "Papa,"' the eight-time Emmy winner explained on CNN on February 10.

'We're a family. Benjamin is also in the process of adopting Wyatt, whose last name will be changed to Maisani-Cooper as well.'

Luckily, Anderson can get plenty of quarantine advice from his best friend Andy Cohen, who came down with the coronavirus twice (in December 2021 and March 2020) despite being vaccinated.

Doting dad: The 54-year-old native New Yorker has two very young sons - Wyatt Morgan, turning 2 on April 27; and Sebastian Luke, 8 weeks - whom he co-parents with his 'best friend and former partner' Benjamin Maisani

'We're a family': Anderson and the 49-year-old Frenchman (R) - who reportedly owns four New York night clubs - ended their nine-year romance in 2018

'Uncle' Andy: Luckily, Cooper can get plenty of quarantine advice from his best friend Andy Cohen (pictured with Sebastian on February 12), who came down with the coronavirus twice in December 2021 and March 2020 despite being vaccinated

Cooper appeared to be in great health while appearing on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert last Wednesday where he discussed parenting and his recent trip to Ukraine.

'What's so sweet is every day there's a little bit more advancement for Wyatt,' the Peabody-winning journalist said of his big brother duties.

'So he'll come and hold Sebastian's hand while I'm feeding him.'

Anderson laughed: 'I've started doing this thing with Wyatt where we both sort of make fun of Sebastian. Not in a bad way! When Sebastian is crying, Wyatt will look at me and I'll look at him and go, "Waaa! I'm a baby! I'm crying!" And he really likes it! So now he does it too.'

The eight-time Emmy winner appeared to be in great health while appearing on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert last Wednesday where he discussed parenting and his recent trip to Ukraine

Anderson said of his first born: 'What's so sweet is every day there's a little bit more advancement for Wyatt. So he'll come and hold Sebastian's hand while I'm feeding him'

As an April Fool's joke, the 53-year-old Bravo executive posed little Wyatt and his three-year-old son Benjamin Allen on the set of his boozy talk show, Watch What Happens Live.

'What I love about this photo is it is so exactly like mini-me versions of Andy and I,' Cooper marveled.

'If you look, Ben is just smiling like he's the host just like Andy - always happy and stirring s***. And whenever I'm a guest on Andy's show, I'm staring at him with some confusion. "Why did I agree to be here? What am I doing here?"'

The 60 Minutes correspondent then cracked a joke about the tykes behaving the way they do during New Year's Eve specials: 'And they got really drunk together.'

'It is so exactly like mini-me versions of Andy and I!' As an April Fool's joke, the 53-year-old Bravo executive posed little Wyatt and his three-year-old son Benjamin Allen (L) on the set of his boozy talk show, Watch What Happens Live
Steve Lodge, the former fiance of Real Housewives of Orange County personality Vicki Gunvalson, announced his marriage to teacher Janis Carlson in an Instagram clip on Monday.

Lodge, 63, who ran for governor of California in the state's recall election last year, took to the site with a clip in which he was positioned on a balcony overlooking the ocean alongside Carlson, 37.

'Perfect weather, spectacular view, wonderful guests, memorable ceremony, sensational food and plenty of wine,' Lodge captioned the clip. 'And of course my beautiful wife. All made for an incredible wedding. Thanks to all that helped make it, one of a kind. We are now, Mr & Mrs Steve Chavez Lodge.'

The latest: Steve Lodge, 63, the former fiance of Real Housewives of Orange County personality Vicki Gunvalson, 60, announced his marriage to teacher Janis Carlson, 37, in an Instagram clip on Monday

Lodge was clad in an off-white suit for his nuptials, while Carlson, a third grade teacher, donned a white gown with embellished bodice.

Lodge was also seen in a boomerang clip he posted to Instagram Stories showing the newlyweds sharing an intimate dance, as well as a close-up shot of their wedding cake, which had a topper that read 'Mr & Mrs Lodge.'

The nuptials mark Carlson's first marriage and Lodge's fourth, after the pair got engaged December 20 and revealed they were dating on Christmas.

Lodge confirmed the engagement in a statement to People last year, saying, 'I did ask Janis on December 20th if she would become Mrs. Steve Chavez Lodge, and she happily agreed. We will be married in April 2022. We are both very excited, incredibly happy, totally in love and look forward to our life together.'

Lodge, 63, took to the site with a clip in which he was positioned on a balcony overlooking the ocean alongside Carlson, 37

Lodge made headlines after he ran for governor of California in the state's recall election last year

The nuptials mark Carlson's first marriage and Lodge's fourth

He said last year: 'We are both very excited, incredibly happy, totally in love and look forward to our life together'

Lodge and Gunvalson, 60, began dating in 2015 and were initially engaged in April of 2019. They publicly revealed they had broken up in September 2021 in the wake of his election loss (though Lodge told People they had actually broken up in December of 2020).

'The time has come for Steve and I to move forward or move on and we are . moving on,' Gunvalson said in an Instagram post. 'There is no fault with either person, we are just going in different directions. I wish him the best life has to offer and to be happy, and he has wished the same for me.'

Gunvalson took shots at Lodge while conversing with her one-time RHOC co-star Tamra Judge on Instagram in October of 2021.

She said that Lodge had 'used' her and 'lied to' her, adding, 'He's been dating a 36-year-old and is not what he portrays himself to be. No Christian man would do what he's done.'

Gunvalson said, 'While I was out of town working on a biz trip, he took her to my condo in Mexico! He's been flaunting around my town in OC making out in public places. It's disgusting.'

Lodge was also seen in a boomerang clip he posted to Instagram Stories showing the newlyweds sharing an intimate dance

He shared a a close-up shot of their wedding cake, which had a topper that read 'Mr & Mrs Lodge'

The pair got engaged December 20 and revealed they were dating on Christmas

Lodge delivered his timeline of events in a statement to People following Gunvalson's allegations on social media.

'Vicki and I ended our engagement and relationship in December of 2020. I did this in person verbally and explained it to her in writing,' Lodge told the outlet. 'We had not been in an intimate relationship since September of 2020.

'I have been living in Puerto Vallarta in my own condo, not hers since the beginning of 2021. We remained friends, but it was clear to me Vicki was still wanting more, which I told her was not possible.'

He added: 'The absolute lies she is now spreading on social media is very disappointing and disingenuous, to say the least. But I can not say I'm surprised. She should not be dragging Tamra or anyone else into her lies. With that being said, I still wish her all the best.'

Gunvalson was previously wed to Donn Gunvalson from 1994 to 2014, and to Michael J. Wolfsmith from 1982 to 1991.

Gunvalson took shots at Lodge while conversing with her one-time RHOC co-star Tamra Judge on Instagram in October of 2021, saying he had used her and lied to her
Neil Jones is reportedly moving his new girlfriend Sienna Hollen into his London flat... just a couple of weeks after their first date.

The Strictly pro, 39, only split from his underwear model girlfriend Sophie Lily Kerr in February, but seems to be keen on the former Miss Romania, who is thought to be in her 20s.

A source told The Sun: 'Neil and Sienna are totally smitten and want to spend as much time with each other as possible, so it made sense to move in together.

'They are totally smitten': Strictly's Neil Jones 'is moving Miss Romania girlfriend Sienna Hollen into his flat just WEEKS after their first date'... following split from Sophie Lily Kerr

'Despite their age gap, they have plenty in common and get on really well.

'It's still early days but signs are looking good this relationship may have some legs.'

The lovebirds were recently pictured holding hands during a night out, before the ballroom dancer gave his new partner a piggyback, it has been claimed.

Neil fuelled romance rumours by liking a string of Sienna's sexy Instagram photos earlier this year.

No wonder he's keen! A source said: 'Neil and Sienna are totally smitten and want to spend as much time with each other as possible, so it made sense to move in together'

He has made it clear he likes what he sees when it comes to Sienna's often scantily-clad snaps, with the bombshell even returning the favour by liking Neil's photos.

According to The Sun, the pair started following each other in January and have been 'liking each other's posts ever since'.

Neil liked one of the actress' posts when the model slipped into a clinging dress and 'hearted' a sizzling photo of her wearing a bikini while lapping up the sunshine in Dubai.

Representatives for Neil have been contacted for comment by MailOnline.

Hot stuff: Neil fuelled romance rumours by liking a string of Sienna's sexy Instagram photos earlier this year

Despite his budding relationship with Sienna, Neil was seen getting cosy with fellow Strictly Come Dancing professional Nancy Xu at a Glasgow hotel after a recent performance of the show's live tour.

In a now-deleted video posted on former contestant Sara Davies' Instagram page, Nancy, 30, who is believed to be dating martial arts expert Mikee Michele, is seen sitting on Neil's lap.

The pair appear to be oblivious to the world around them as she sits with her arm around her co-star while deep in conversation.

Whoops! Despite his budding relationship with Sienna, Neil was seen getting cosy with fellow Strictly Come Dancing professional Nancy Xu at a Glasgow hotel after a recent performance of the show's live tour

Strictly Come Dancing - The Live Tour was in the Scottish city, showing at the OVO Hydro Glasgow arena, between Saturday 5 and Monday 7 of February.

The pair are seen at the back of the room, with Nancy sitting on Neil's lap while he perched on a chair, with the cast and crew of the tour around them enjoying food and drinks.

Nancy has been dating partner Mikee for five years and the pair have shared pictures of one another on their social media pages.

Good pals? In a now-removed video posted on star of last year's series Sara Davies' Instagram page, Nancy is seen sitting on Neil's lap

MailOnline contacted representatives for Neil and Nancy for comment.

News Neil had reportedly split from his underwear model girlfriend Sophie broke in February.

The pair hit the headlines when she moved into his London home in October just weeks after they started dating but their romance is said to have has come to an end after three months together.

Coupled-up: Nancy is dating martial arts expert Mikee Michele, with the professional dancer sharing a picture of the pair on social media a month ago

A source told The Sun: 'Neil and Lilys romance started as a whirlwind and it ended just as quickly.

'They made a lovely couple but their schedules made it difficult for them to look to the future.

'Neil became so busy with Strictly Come Dancing before Christmas and now he is out on a nationwide tour.

Whirlwind romance: It comes after Neil reportedly split from his underwear model girlfriend Sophie

'It was impossible to keep that flame alive. There is no bad blood between them however. Sadly their relationship was just not to be.'

Last year, Neil was said to be 'head over heels' with Sophie following his split from his ex Luisa Eusse, 23, in October 2020 after she cheated on him with a woman.

A friend of Neil and Sophie told The Sun last year: 'The speed with which this has all happened mirrors Neils lightning-quick feet across the Strictly dance floor.

'They are moving very quickly.'

Neil was previously married to fellow Strictly professional Katya Jones, 32, for 11 years but they split in 2019 after Katya was seen kissing her celebrity partner on the BBC ballroom show, Seann Walsh, while out in London in October 2018.

The exes have remained close friends since announcing their break-up in August 2019 and often dance together as part of the professional group on Strictly.
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Rebel Wilson is set to relive her high school days as she transforms into a cheerleader in the first trailer for her Netflix comedy Senior Year.

The actress, 42, took to Instagram to unveil the preview for the film, which will be released on May 13, where she plays a woman who awakens from a 20-year coma determined to complete her last year of school.

Donning a cheerleaders uniform, Rebel, who also shared a slew of behind-the-scenes snaps from the film on Instagram, gushed she was 'so excited' for the film's release.

Throwback! Rebel Wilson is set to relive her high school days as she transforms into a cheerleader in the first trailer for her Netflix comedy Senior Year.

In the trailer Rebel's character Stephanie reflects on her perfect life as a high school cheerleader, gushing she had her dream boyfriend and her only goal was to win Prom Queen.

But when a cheer lift takes a disastrous turn, she is left comatose in hospital for 20 years, before suddenly waking up to find she's a grown woman.

In disbelief she asks her parents: 'Madonna's now called Lady Gaga?' before discovering there are 'eight more Fast and Furious movies.

Glimpse: The actress also took to Instagram to share a slew of behind-the-scenes snaps from filming, gushing she was 'so excited' to share the comedy with her fans

A second chance: In the movie, Rebel's character Stephanie (right) wakes from a 20-year coma caused by an accident and wants to complete her last year of high school again

Struggling to adjust to her new life as an adult, Stephanie narrates: 'Everybody else got to go on and live their lives and I just have to jump forward... I want to go back to high school and finish my senior year.'

After vowing to go back to high school and finish her senior year, Stephanie discovers it's not going to be easy to reclaim her Queen Bee title, in a world where social media followings rule and cliques of years-past are non-existant.

She is even outraged to learn that the modern age, striving for inclusivity, no longer has a 'cheer captain' with the team declaring they're 'ALL cheer captains.'

Living the dream! In the trailer Rebel's character Stephanie reflects on her perfect life as cheer captain, gushing she had her dream boyfriend and her only goal was to win Prom Queen.

She's awake? But when a cheer lift takes a disastrous turn, she is left comatose in hospital for 20 years, before suddenly waking up to find she's a grown woman

Bouncing back? After vowing to go back to high school and finish her senior year, Stephanie discovers it's not going to be easy to reclaim her Queen Bee title

As she tries, and fails to regain her popularity, Stephanie decides to do the 'one thing she wished she'd had the confidence to do 20 years ago... be herself.'

Donning a bold pink gown, Stephanie heads to the prom determined to win the Queen title.

Senior Year also stars the likes of Justin Hartley, Alicia Silverstone and Sam Richardson, and is set for release on Netflix on May 13.

Hard time: She discovers it's not going to be easy to reclaim her Queen Bee title, in a world where social media followings rule and cliques of years-past are non-existant.

Confident: As she tries, and fails to regain her popularity, Stephanie decides to do the 'one thing she wished she'd had the confidence to do 20 years ago... be herself'

It comes after Rebel revealed she is moving overseas for the next few years for work, and won't be in Sydney Harbour where she is currently selling her home for a rumoured $9 million.

The Pitch Perfect star recently moved to London, where she has kept busy with several projects and hosted the BAFTAs last month.

'I just won't be using it for the next few years because will be working overseas and would prefer someone else gets to appreciate it,' Rebel said of her decision to sell.

'If you're a serious buyer in Sydney in the $9million-plus range then contact Peter Gordon at CobdenHayson Balmain,' she added.

'Ready? Okay': Rebel also shared a series of behind-the-scenes photos on Instagram from the film's set in Atlanta last year

Playful: She posed in her cheerleader outfit with the film's producer Todd Garner in one image she posted on Instagram Stories

Cheeky: She also shared a fun video of a boomerang while filming with Saturday Night Live star Chris Parnell

'My favourite thing is probably the elevator I put in that gives you views as you go up and down. It's great for a boat owner with its own jetty and moorings.

'Or you can just watch all the boats go by every day - especially at sunset, it's gorgeous. And all the neighbours know what a brilliant street and suburb it is to live in Sydney.'

Rebel, who already has an impressive $16million global property portfolio, revealed to The Sun in March she'd purchased a new home in London.

'I have bought a place here so I'm moving. It's in London. I love it here,' she said.

The Bridesmaids star explained she'd just scored a lead role in a British television series, which was why she'd decided to move.

'It's out later this year. It's serious, like really serious,' she added.
The chemistry between them has been plain for Doctor Who fans to see. Now, in a special Easter episode, Jodie Whittakers Time Lord and her companion Yasmin, played by Mandip Gill, will act on their feelings.

The shows boss Chris Chibnall said conversations between the pair would be developing and taking place during Legend Of The Sea Devils.

The Doctor has often been involved in romantic subplots during the shows 60 years, but this would be the first same-sex relationship with a companion.

Jodie Whittakers Time Lord and her companion Yasmin, played by Mandip Gill, will act on their feelings in the Easter special

The previous special, Eve Of The Daleks, screened on New Years Day and saw Yasmin finally confide her feelings to Dan Lewis, played by John Bishop.

Chibnall said: Dan has cottoned on to the dynamic between the Doctor and Yaz, and from a distance observed what they havent been admitting to themselves.

Both Yaz and the Doctor have hinted that they have feelings that they are suppressing.

'So there are some conversations that need to be had and youll see those conversations developing.

Miss Gill, 34, who has played Yasmin since 2018, said: So the relationship between the Doctor and Yaz has definitely developed further.

Miss Whittaker, 39, who took over as the Doctor in 2017, will leave following the third special, screened towards the end of the year. Her replacement has yet to be confirmed.

Miss Gill added: Theres not an awful lot I can say about it but theres a lot of bravery, theres a lot of emotion and a lot of understanding, and openness.

Conversations are not concluded in this episode, but they still definitely have advanced from where they were at the New Years episode. Theres a lot of open and honest conversations.

Both Yaz and the Doctor have hinted that they have feelings that they are suppressing,' said show boss Chris Chibnall

Miss Gill said the episode, which is set in a coastal village in China and features the return of the classic Sea Devil monsters, would give viewers a sense that something is coming because there always is something coming when the Doctor is around.

She added: Things have not been resolved by the end of the episode and I think that can be said for the relationship between Yaz and the Doctor but also the Doctors history and future.

Chibnall is also set to leave the programme to be replaced by Russell T Davies, who was behind the 2005 revival of the show.

Legend Of The Sea Devils is on BBC1 on Sunday at 7.10pm.
Will Ferrell has joined the cast of the forthcoming romantic comedy movie Barbie.

The news about the 54-year-old performer was confirmed on Monday, and The Hollywood Reporter noted that he is set to portray the CEO of a toy company.

The project, which is based on the best-selling fashion doll line of the same name, has been in the works for several years and it is currently set to be released next year.

On the big screen: Will Ferrell has joined the cast of the forthcoming romantic comedy movie Barbie; he is seen in 2020

The media outlet also reported that Ferrell's character may or may not be the CEO of toy company Mattel, who has manufactured the dolls ever since 1959.

Numerous direct-to-television films based on the toys have been released over the years, with the first, entitled Barbie in the Nutcracker, making its debut in 2001.

Development on the live-action project began in 2014, when a film based on the toy line was greenlit.

Diablo Cody was brought on to provide rewrites for an early screenplay, and Sony executives later tried out three different screenwriters.

Long time coming: The project, which is based on the best-selling fashion doll line of the same name, has been in the works for several years and it is currently set to be released next year

Amy Schumer previously signed on to portray the film's lead character, although she departed the project in 2017.

Anne Hathaway and director Patty Jenkins were also attached to the feature at certain points.

Margot Robbie was eventually brought in to lead the cast of the forthcoming film, in which she will portray the titular doll, in 2019.

The Wolf of Wall Street actress has also been confirmed as one of the project's producers.

Leading lady: Margot Robbie was eventually brought in to lead the cast of the forthcoming film, in which she will portray the titular doll, and she will serve as one of its producers; she is seen in 2020

Greta Gerwig and Noah Baumbach signed on to write the movie's screenplay that same year, and the former was confirmed as its director last year.

Ryan Gosling also entered final negotiation to portray Barbie's love interest, Ken, this past October.

Several other performers, such as Alexandra Shipp, Simu Liu and Kate McKinnon, have joined the project's cast over the past few months.

Plot details are currently being withheld from the public, although The Hollywood Reporter noted that the movie could potentially have a meta aspect.

Ready for his close-up: Ryan Gosling also entered final negotiation to portray Barbie's love interest, Ken, this past October; he is seen in 2018

Physical production on the feature began earlier this month in the United Kingdom.

Robbie spoke about signing on to the project during an interview with British Vogue, where she noted that she was excited about playing the world-famous doll.

She stated that the role 'comes with a lot of baggage! And a lot of nostalgic connections. But with that come a lot of exciting ways to attack it.'

Ready to go: Robbie spoke about signing on to the project during an interview with British Vogue, where she noted that she was excited about playing the world-famous doll

The performer was also confident that the film would catch many of its viewers off-guard with its content.

She said: 'People generally hear "Barbie" and think, "I know what that movie is going to be," and then they hear that Greta Gerwig is writing and directing it, and they're like, "Oh, well, maybe I don't..."

Barbie is currently set to make its public debut at an unspecified date in 2023.
Brynne Edelsten has had drug trafficking charges against her cleared.

The 38-year-old socialite was arrested and charged with trafficking, possessing and using the drug ice in May 2021 after a raid on a Boronia home, 36km southeast of Melbourne's CBD.

They also charged her with dealing with property suspected of being the proceeds of crime after finding a significant quantity of cash in her possession.

Dropped: Pregnant Brynne Edelsten, 38, has been cleared of drug trafficking charges ahead of the birth of her first baby

Edelsten fronted Ringwood Magistrates' Court in February, and four out of the five charges were dropped, the Herald Sun reported.

The only charge proceeding is using ice, which she has applied to be dealt with by the magistrates' court's diversion program.

At the time of her arrest, Edelsten provided a brief statement to the Herald Sun, declaring she would be 'vigorously fighting all charges'.

Charges: The socialite was arrested and charged with trafficking, possessing and using ice in May 2021 after a raid on a Boronia home, 36km southeast of Melbourne's CBD

Daily Mail Australia was told Edelsten had been 'blindsided' by the police sting after attending the Boronia property with a friend.

A 39-year-old man she was accompanying was also charged after police found what is believed to be magic mushrooms, meth, prescription drugs and a stolen electric bike inside the home.

It is understood that man has an extensive criminal history.

Cleared: Edelsten fronted Ringwood Magistrates' Court in February, and four out of the five charges were dropped, the Herald Sun reported

It comes as Edelsten prepares to welcome a baby girl this month with a mystery man.

She admitted she was surprised to discover she was pregnant when she took a test in December, with the doctor telling her she was already five months along.

The news was even more shocking for Brynne, who during her high-profile marriage to Geoffrey Edelsten discovered it was highly unlikely that she could ever conceive naturally.
Married at First Sight Australia is a global phenomenon, having been sold to various territories including Britain, the Netherlands and New Zealand.

But just how many people watch Australia's favourite reality show in the biggest reality TV market of all, the USA?

While our version of the social experiment regularly pulls more than a million viewers for E4 in the UK, it is more of a niche product stateside.

Revealed: How many people really watch Married At First Sight Australia in the USA. (Pictured: MAFS bride Domenica Calarco on her wedding day)

MAFS Australia airs on the Lifetime cable network in the U.S. and its latest season premiered on March 30.

So far the show has been drawing about 300,000 viewers per episode, which is far less than its audience in Australia and the UK.

However, this is still a decent number for a cable show, and practically unheard of for a program made outside the U.S.

Numbers game: While MAFS Australia regularly pulls more than a million viewers for E4 in the UK, it is more of a niche product in the U.S. (Pictured: Brent Vitiello and Tamara Djordjevic)

The March 30 broadcast drew 298,000 viewers, and this grew to 315,000 viewers for the episode on April 6.

To put these numbers into perspective, the best-performing cable shows in the U.S. tend to be Fox News programs, which draw between two and four million viewers.

Meanwhile, a source told Yahoo this week at least one MAFS participant is looking to capitalise on the show's global appeal.

Brent Vitiello, 34, is preparing to travel to America to 'explore possible work opportunities there,' the insider said.

Niche: So far the show has been drawing about 300,000 viewers per episode for America's Lifetime network, which is far less than its audience in Australia and the UK. Despite this, Brent (pictured) reportedly wants to travel to LA and NYC to 'explore possible work opportunities'

'Now their season [of MAFS] is airing in the States, he's slowly gaining an American following and has connections in LA and New York he is planning on meeting with.'

Some aspects of MAFS Australia have been lost in translation in America.

Season nine may only be a few episodes in, but U.S. viewers are already confused by the lack of diversity, ear-splitting music volume and excessive lip filler.

Dividing opinion: Some aspects of MAFS Australia have been lost in translation. Season nine may only be a few episodes in, but U.S. viewers are already confused by the lack of diversity, ear-splitting music volume and excessive lip filler. (Pictured: Domenica Calarco)

The main bugbear for Americans was the mostly white line-up of brides and grooms.

In the U.S., racially diverse casts are common on reality TV, and there are usually several black, Asian or mixed-race couples on MAFS America.

'No POC [people of colour]. I won't be watching,' one American viewer wrote on Instagram after the MAFS Australia season premiere on March 30.

'No POC': The main bugbear for Americans was the mostly white line-up of brides and grooms

Response: One person said 'that's just the demographics' in Australia, but others disagreed, arguing the producers should have made more of an effort

Coming soon: A viewer from Australia said there were more participants to be revealed, including 'a gorgeous Asian girl and a couple of mixed Asians'

Diversity: While there were no black people on MAFS Australia this year, the Asian community was represented by Selina Chhaur, who is half-Cambodian and half-Chinese; Ella Ding (pictured), whose surname suggests she is half-Chinese; and Al Perkins, who is half-Malaysian

'Are there no Spanish, black or Asian people in Australia?' another commented. 'Every season they all look the same.'

'Why is everyone blonde and white?' a third asked.

A fourth viewer added: 'No diversity / inclusion on MAFS Australia. I haven't watched one season yet because of the lack of diversity. Other people do exist.'

One person said 'that's just the demographics' in Australia, but others disagreed, arguing the producers should have made more of an effort.

However, someone noted there were more participants to be revealed, including 'a gorgeous Asian girl and a couple of mixed Asians'.

'Does anyone have real lips?' The Aussie brides' fondness for Botox and lip filler was criticised by Americans, some of whom also said they couldn't understand the stars' thick accents

Lost in translation: One fan said, 'I can't keep up with what they're saying with the accent'

'Love and drama come in waves': Lifetime, which airs the American version of Married At First Sight, has been the U.S. broadcast partner for MAFS Australia for several years now

While there were no black people on MAFS Australia this year, the Asian community was represented by Selina Chhaur, who is half-Cambodian, half-Chinese; Ella Ding, whose surname suggests she is half-Chinese; and Al Perkins, who is half-Malaysian.

Meanwhile, other viewers complained about the background music volume, saying it was so loud they struggled to hear people speaking.

'Please take the background music off. We can't hear what they are even saying,' one disgruntled fan wrote on social media.

Another added: 'What's with the melodramatic songs? It's marriage, not war.'

Can you speak up? Other viewers complained about the background music volume, saying it was so loud they struggled to hear people speaking. (Pictured: Mitch Eynaud and Ella Ding)

Not happy, Jan: 'Please take the background music off. We can't hear what they are even saying,' one disgruntled fan wrote on social media

The Aussie brides' fondness for Botox and lip filler was criticised by Americans, some of whom also said they couldn't understand the stars' thick accents.

'Does anyone in Australia have real lips?' one frustrated viewer asked, to which another replied: 'They're all white with perfect bodies and lip filler.'

One fan said: 'I can't keep up with what they're saying with the accent.'

But despite these criticisms, many viewers agreed MAFS Australia was better than their own version, which is produced by Kinetic Content for the Lifetime network.

Mixed reception: 'They're all white with perfect bodies and lip filler. No diversity whatsoever,' one American viewer said of the casting. (Pictured: Samantha Moitzi and Al Perkins)

'Love this show! The process [is] so much better than the U.S. version,' one fan said.

'So much better than the U.S. one. It's obviously scripted but the drama makes it worth watching. The U.S. one pretends to be "real". Such a bore,' another added.

A third commented: 'Can't wait. This is my favourite show. The Aussie version is by far, 150 per cent better than the U.S. version.'

Success story: Despite these criticisms, many viewers agreed MAFS Australia was better than their own version, which is produced by Kinetic Content for the Lifetime network

Popular: Americans praised the Aussie version for its gripping format and 'scripted' drama

Lifetime, which airs the American version of Married At First Sight, has been the U.S. broadcast partner for MAFS Australia for several years now.

However, it does not air every season of the Aussie edition.

MAFS Australia is also very popular in the United Kingdom, where it airs on E4.
Demi Rose put on a jaw-dropping display as she teased her fans with even more snaps from her French Alps getaway in a Tuesday Instagram post.

The influencer, 27, zipped down her skintight red panelled ski top to expose her very ample cleavage, and stored her essentials in a handbag shaped like a vintage radio.

Strolling through the resort while carrying a teddy bear, she showcased her peachy rear while cutting a coordinating pair of white trousers.

Hot stuff: Demi Rose stunned holidaymakers as she exposed her ample cleavage in an unzipped red panelled ski top during her lavish French Alps getaway on Tuesday

The model styled an oversized pair of cream sunglasses over her blonde-highlighted locks and flashed a peace sign while posing with her friend in a further shot.

In her caption, the Brummie star wrote: 'Just doing bestie things,' followed by a string of emojis.

Demi previously wowed in a skintight Christian Dior ensemble as she poured her curves into one of the designer's knitted jumpers.

Sexy: Strolling through the resort while carrying a teddy bear, she showcased her peachy rear while cutting a coordinating pair of white trousers

Having a blast! The model styled an oversized pair of cream sunglasses over her blonde-highlighted locks and flashed a peace sign while posing with her friend in a further shot

Pals: In her caption, the Brummie star wrote: 'Just doing bestie things,' followed by a string of emojis

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.

Wow! Demi previously wowed in a skintight Christian Dior ensemble as she poured her curves into one of the designer's knitted jumpers

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?'

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.
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Jason Aldean and Carrie Underwood walk away with the first award of the night - and her record-breaking 24th of all time - for Collaborative Video of the Year as the 2022 CMT Music Awards kicks off in Nashville.

They also closed out the night with the last award - Video of the Year, her 10th time winning the honor and 25th CMT Award in total, and Aldean's first in a 17-year career.

Miranda Lambert also took home a top prize, winning Female Video of the Year for her hit song If I Was a Cowboy.

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First winners: Jason Aldean and Carrie Underwood walk away with the first award of the night - and her record-breaking 24th of all time - for Collaborative Video of the Year as the 2022 CMT Music Awards kicks off in Nashville

Last award: They also closed out the night with the last award - Video of the Year, her 10th time winning the honor and 25th CMT Award in total, and Aldean's first in a 17-year career

Miranda wins: Miranda Lambert also took home a top prize, winning Female Video of the Year for her hit song If I Was a Cowboy

Aldean and Underwood took to the stage, with Aldean stating, 'Hey. Thank you. Thank you, thank you guys so much. This song is just kind of been so unbelievable this year. Like how you guys, the fans responded to it, how everybody has. First of all thank you to Carrie for agreeing to do this song.'

He added, 'But this is about the video. And to me the video is Sean Silva, everybody attack el box for shooting an amazing video. Michael Knox for producing this song for us and just kind of making this more than I ever thought it would be or could be,' while thanking Michael Knox for producing.

Underwood stepped to the mic while clutching her record 24th CMT Award, adding, 'Thank you fans so much. For all the support you have given to this song and this video. Everybody, he just thanked, thank you, thank you Jason. Thank you C.M.T.! Whooo!'

Stage: Aldean and Underwood took to the stage, with Aldean stating, 'Hey. Thank you. Thank you, thank you guys so much. This song is just kind of been so unbelievable this year. Like how you guys, the fans responded to it, how everybody has. First of all thank you to Carrie for agreeing to do this song'

Amazing: A heartfelt Aldean added, 'I just have to say 17 years in the game, this is the first time I have ever won video of the year so this is pretty amazing to me'

Aldean and Underwood also won the last - and biggest - award of the night, Music Video of the Year for If I Didn't Love You.

They beat out Brandi Carlile (Right On Time), Cody Johnson ('Til You Can't), Cole Swindell & Lainey Wilson (Never Say Never), Kacey Musgraves (justified), Kane Brown (One Mississippi), Kelsea Ballerini feat. Kenny Chesney (half of my hometown), Luke Combs (Forever After All), Maren Morris (Circles Around This Town), Mickey Guyton (Remember Her Name), Miranda Lambert (If I Was A Cowboy) and Taylor Swift feat. Chris Stapleton (I Bet You Think About Me) (Taylors Version) (From The Vault)

Underwood began, 'Thank you so much. Thank you fans. I mean this longs to belongs to you. We already thanked everybody that works on the video and thanked each other, this one Saul about the fans, so thank you fans, thank you CMT's.'

Biggest: Aldean and Underwood also won the last - and biggest - award of the night, Music Video of the Year for If I Didn't Love You

A heartfelt Aldean added, 'I just have to say 17 years in the game, this is the first time I have ever won video of the year so this is pretty amazing to me!'

'And this the fact that I think Carrie and I hit the scene about the same time and the fact that you still care enough about us, this many years in our career, to vote for us, and care enough about what we are doing to still love the music and listen to it, a vote for us means the world to me,' he added.

'And so thank you so much, Carrie as well. And thank you so much for loving the song like you have. Country radio for playing the song, the fans. Thank you guys for voting. It's been a great night. Great song and I'm pretty sure I picked the perfect partner for this song. So thank you so much. This is great,' he concluded.

What a moment: Carrie looked gorgeous in a purple leopard number

Bond: They closed out the show in the best possible way

2022 CMT Music Awards Winners VIDEO OF THE YEAR Brandi Carlile  Right On Time Cody Johnson  'Til You Can't Cole Swindell & Lainey Wilson  Never Say Never Jason Aldean & Carrie Underwood  If I Didn't Love You - WINNER Kacey Musgraves  justified Kane Brown  One Mississippi Kelsea Ballerini feat. Kenny Chesney  half of my hometown Luke Combs  Forever After All Maren Morris  Circles Around This Town Mickey Guyton  Remember Her Name Miranda Lambert  If I Was A Cowboy Taylor Swift feat. Chris Stapleton  I Bet You Think About Me (Taylors Version) (From The Vault) FEMALE VIDEO OF THE YEAR Brandi Carlile  Right On Time Gabby Barrett  Footprints On The Moon Kacey Musgraves  justified Maren Morris  Circles Around This Town Mickey Guyton  Remember Her Name Miranda Lambert  If I Was A Cowboy - WINNER Tenille Arts  Back Then, Right Now MALE VIDEO OF THE YEAR Cody Johnson  'Til You Can't - WINNER Eric Church  Heart On Fire Kane Brown  One Mississippi Luke Bryan  Waves Luke Combs  Forever After All Thomas Rhett  Country Again Walker Hayes  Fancy Like GROUP/DUO VIDEO OF THE YEAR Brothers Osborne  I'm Not For Everyone Dan + Shay  Steal My Love Maddie & Tae  Woman You Got - WINNER Old Dominion  I Was On a Boat That Day Parmalee  Take My Name Zac Brown Band  Same Boat BREAKTHROUGH VIDEO OF THE YEAR, Presented by SONIC BRELAND  Cross Country Caitlyn Smith feat. Old Dominion  I Can't Elvie Shane  My Boy Parker McCollum  To Be Loved By You - WINNER Priscilla Block  Just About Over You Tenille Arts  Back Then, Right Now COLLABORATIVE VIDEO OF THE YEAR Carly Pearce & Ashley McBryde  Never Wanted To Be That Girl Dustin Lynch feat. MacKenzie Porter  Thinking 'Bout You Nelly & Florida Georgia Line  Lil Bit Jason Aldean & Carrie Underwood  If I Didn't Love You - WINNER Jimmie Allen & Brad Paisley  Freedom Was A Highway Jordan Davis feat. Luke Bryan  Buy Dirt Kelsea Ballerini feat. Kenny Chesney  half of my hometown CMT PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR Brothers Osborne  Muskrat Greene/Dead Man's Curve Medley (from CMT Campfire Sessions) George Strait  Is Anybody Goin' to San Antone (from CMT GIANTS: Charley Pride) - WINNER H.E.R. feat. Chris Stapleton  Hold On (from 2021 CMT Music Awards) Kane Brown  Three Wooden Crosses (from 2021 CMT Artists of the Year) Kelsea Ballerini feat. Paul Klein of LANY  I Quit Drinking (from 2021 CMT Music Awards) Mickey Guyton feat. Gladys Knight & BRELAND  Friendship Train (from 2021 CMT Music Awards) Nelly feat. Kane Brown, Blanco Brown & BRELAND  Ride Wit Me (from CMT Crossroads: Nelly & Friends) CMT DIGITAL-FIRST PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR Brittney Spencer Sober & Skinny (from CMT Campfire Sessions) Carly Pearce  Dear Miss Loretta (from CMT :60 Songs) Cody Johnson  Dear Rodeo (from CMT Campfire Sessions) - WINNER Jon Pardi On The Other Hand / Forever and Ever, Amen (in honor of 2021 CMT Artist of a Lifetime Randy Travis) Josh Turner LIVE (from CMT KickBack) Lainey Wilson  Things A Man Oughta Know (from the CMT Studio) TRENDING COMEBACK SONG OF THE YEAR Alan Jackson - "Freight Train" Brooks & Dunn - "Neon Moon" Dolly Parton - "9 to 5" Reba McEntire - "I'm A Survivor" Sara Evans - "Suds In The Bucket" Shania Twain - "Man! I Feel Like A Woman!" Taylor Swift - "Love Story" - WINNER Advertisement

The second award went to Parker McCollum for Breakthrough Video of the Year for his song To Be Loved By You, presented by last year's winner, Dylan Scott.

Scott took a page from the Masters playbook, starting a new tradition by presenting a green beer coozie to this year's winner McCollum, like how the previous year's winner at the Masters presents the new winner with the iconic green jacket.

He beat out BRELAND (Cross Country), Caitlyn Smith feat. Old Dominion (I Can't), Elvie Shane (My Boy), Priscilla Block (Just About Over You) and Tenille Arts (Back Then, Right Now).

Parker wins: The second award went to Parker McCollum for Breakthrough Video of the Year for his song To Be Loved By You, presented by last year's winner, Dylan Scott

Family: The 29-year-old Texas native started his speech by stating he knew his family was watching at home, adding, ' We've been watching these award shows my whole life and I'm on it right now. And they're at home watching

Never won: 'I never won nothing and had to say anything so I sure think a lot of the songs I write, try to write real country songs from the heart that mean something and appreciate it being recognized. Appreciate y'all,' he concluded

The 29-year-old Texas native started his speech by stating he knew his family was watching at home, adding, 'We've been watching these award shows my whole life and I'm on it right now. And they're at home watching.

'My mom is here tonight, my mother and father in law are here tonight so super cool. Man, I don't know,' he said, seemingly at a loss for words.

'I never won nothing and had to say anything so I sure think a lot of the songs I write, try to write real country songs from the heart that mean something and appreciate it being recognized. Appreciate y'all,' he concluded.

Country music legend George Strait made history with his very first CMT Award, winning CMT Performance of the Year.

First win: Country music legend George Strait made history with his very first CMT Award, winning CMT Performance of the Year

He beat out Brothers Osborne  Muskrat Greene/Dead Man's Curve Medley (from CMT Campfire Sessions), H.E.R. feat. Chris Stapleton  Hold On (from 2021 CMT Music Awards), Kane Brown  Three Wooden Crosses (from 2021 CMT Artists of the Year), Kelsea Ballerini feat. Paul Klein of LANY  I Quit Drinking (from 2021 CMT Music Awards), Mickey Guyton feat. Gladys Knight & BRELAND  Friendship Train (from 2021 CMT Music Awards) and Nelly feat. Kane Brown, Blanco Brown & BRELAND  Ride Wit Me (from CMT Crossroads: Nelly & Friends).



While Strait couldn't accept the award in person, he sent a video message that was shown to everyone in attendance.

'Wow, I can't believe I won. I'm sorry I'm not there tonight but I want to say thank you to all the fans who voted for me. I really appreciate that,' he began.

'And thank you to C.M.T. This was really special for me because it was a tribute song to the late Charley Pride, my friend. And I want to say hi to Charley's family out there. Thank you very much,' Strait concluded.

Martina McBride presented the Female Video of the Year Award to Miranda Lambert, who won for If I Was a Cowboy.

She beat out Brandi Carlile (Right On Time), Gabby Barrett (Footprints On The Moon), Kacey Musgraves  justified, Maren Morris (Circles Around This Town), Mickey Guyton  Remember Her Name and Tenille Arts (Back Then, Right Now).

Lambert thanked McBride for handing her a buckle, adding, 'I'm so happy to be just a part of the women in country music today. We're really starting to kick some ass and I'm so excited about it.'

She also thanked music video director Trey Fanjoy, a female director who she said, 'directed pretty much every music video of my career for the last 20 years so Trey, I love you, this one is for you. We are cowboys and we're going to continue to be.'

Martina: Martina McBride presented the Female Video of the Year Award to Miranda Lambert, who won for If I Was a Cowboy

Martina and Miranda: Lambert thanked McBride for handing her a buckle, adding, ' I'm so happy to be just a part of the women in country music today. We're really starting to kick some ass and I'm so excited about it'

Kiss: Miranda Lambert kisses husband Brendan McLoughlin after winning Female Video of the Year at the CMT Music Awards

Maddie & Tae's Maddie Font delivered the most emotional speech of the night when she won Group/Duo Video of the Year, beating out Brothers Osborne (I'm Not For Everyone), Dan + Shay (Steal My Love), Old Dominion (I Was On a Boat That Day), Parmalee (Take My Name) and Zac Brown Band (Same Boat).

An emotional Maddie took to the stage and began with, 'Damn, let me tell y'all something about the devil. He tried to get you when you doing right. But god loves you. God loves you! Okay. Okay, let's go, baby. Okay.'

Her collaborator Tae Kerr was seen on a video screen with her baby, as Maddie spoke to her, stating, 'Oh, I missed you. I missed you so much. That's my girl. And I've been drinking, I'm so nervous.'

Emotional: Maddie & Tae's Maddie Font delivered the most emotional speech of the night when she won Group/Duo Video of the Year, beating out Brothers Osborne (I'm Not For Everyone), Dan + Shay (Steal My Love) , Old Dominion (I Was On a Boat That Day), Parmalee (Take My Name) and Zac Brown Band (Same Boat)

Tae: Her collaborator Tae Kerr was seen on a video screen with her baby, as Maddie spoke to her, stating, 'Oh, I missed you. I missed you so much. That's my girl. And I've been drinking, I'm so nervous'

She thanked her creative team and her husband, who is her 'muse,' adding, 'I miss you so bad.'

'I want to thank our fans. But most importantly the resilience that god has built in us and other team, the clarity he has given us, the strength he gives us, the vision god gives us and the peace he brings. This is much bigger than a music video award,' she said.

She concluded, 'Thank you Jesus and-- I'm so grateful. Thank you, thank you so, so much.'

Miss: She thanked her creative team and her husband, who is her 'muse,' adding, 'I miss you so bad'

Fans: 'I want to thank our fans. But most importantly the resilience that god has built in us and other team, the clarity he has given us, the strength he gives us, the vision god gives us and the peace he brings. This is much bigger than a music video award,' she said

The Male Video of the Year when to Cody Johnson's Till You Can't, which beat out Eric Church (Heart On Fire), Kane Brown (One Mississippi), Luke Bryan (Waves), Luke Combs (Forever After All), Thomas Rhett (Country Again) and Walker Hayes (Fancy Like).

A surprised Johnson took to the stage and began, 'Well, how about that,' before thanking music video director Dustin Haney and songwriters Matt Rogers and Ben Stennis.

'Dustin made an awesome video, Matt Rogers and Ben Stennis wrote a great song. I'm very proud to be the person that got to get the song,' he said, before asking the crow, 'You guys still believe in country music?'

Male video: The Male Video of the Year when to Cody Johnson's Till You Can't, which beat out Eric Church (Heart On Fire), Kane Brown (One Mississippi), Luke Bryan (Waves), Luke Combs (Forever After All), Thomas Rhett (Country Again) and Walker Hayes (Fancy Like)

Second: 'I'm very proud to be able to stand up here with this award. This is the second CMT award we got tonight and the best part of it is that it is fan voted. So thanks to every single person that got out there and voted. Long live country music. Are you with me?

'I'm very proud to be able to stand up here with this award. This is the second CMT award we got tonight and the best part of it is that it is fan voted. So thanks to every single person that got out there and voted. Long live country music. Are you with me?

Johnson also won the CMT Digital-First Performance of the Year (handed out before the ceremony), for his performance of Dear Rodeo from CMT Campfire Sessions.

He beat out Brittney Spencer's Sober & Skinny (from CMT Campfire Sessions), Carly Pearce's Dear Miss Loretta (from CMT :60 Songs), Jon Pardi's On The Other Hand / Forever and Ever, Amen (in honor of 2021 CMT Artist of a Lifetime Randy Travis), Josh Turner LIVE (from CMT KickBack) and Lainey Wilson's Things A Man Oughta Know (from the CMT Studio).

Meanwhile Carrie Underwood pulled out all the stops when she soared above the audience at the ceremony as she led the performances of the night.

The 39-year-old country music icon had all eyes on her as she levitated above the stage with a troupe of dancers to pull off a delicate aerial dance to her single Ghost Story, from her upcoming album Denim & Rhinestones.

Flying high: Carrie Underwood pulled out all the stops on Monday when she soared above the audience at the 2022 CMT Music Awards ceremony in Nashville. The 39-year-old country music icon had all eyes on her as she levitated above the stage with a troupe of dancers to pull off a delicate aerial dance to her single Ghost Story

Center stage: As massive doors on stage opened to reveal the stage setup, the former American Idol star was seen standing atop a raised platform

Colorful: She was dressed in a sheer lavender bodysuit that left one toned leg exposed, while featuring a voluminous train trailing behind her

Up and away: Halfway through the songs, aerial dancers suspended from white ropes descended from the rafters, showing off their graceful moves while Carrie continued to sing. As Ghost Story reached its powerful climax, another white rope dropped down to the stage behind her, which Carrie tucked under her arms

Powerful pipes: She continued singing just as strongly, even as she twisted her legs in the ropes and was pulled high above the stage, though it wasn't clear if she was singing live or was merely lip syncing to a pre-recorded track

Low key: Keith Urban kicked off the CMT Awards on a high note with his 2021 single Wild Hearts. The country rockers was dressed in a casual black T-shirt and dark ripped jeans

Guitar hero: He strutted down a platform into the middle of the audience halfway through the song to rip a guitar solo in front of adoring fans. He was rocking out on a classic gold top Gibson Les Paul guitar, with some chips in the varnish

Marquee: Behind him, the song's title was spelled out in neon letters, along with illustrations of Johnny Cash, who was referenced in the lyrics

She led a bevy of catchy performances from other country stars, including Keith Urban, Carly Pearce, Maren Morris, Little Big Town and more.

Carrie lit up the CMT's first hour with her purple-bathed performance, which was introduce by co-host Kelsea Ballerini from her home, as she had to present remotely after testing positive for Covid-19.

As massive doors on stage opened to reveal the stage setup, the former American Idol star was seen standing atop a raised platform.

Woman in white: Carly Pearce capped off the first half-hour of the CMT Awards with her song Diamondback, which is the lead track on her 2021 album 29: Written In Stone and was co-written by Kelsea Ballerini

No flash: The singersongwriter skipped the theatrics and let the tune's chugging rhythm get feet tapping and heads bobbing

Woman in white: Carly showcased her legs with her white mini dress, which was serpentine gold designs and featured long gold fringe on the sleeves. She wore her blond locks parted down the middle, with her thick curls cascading down her shoulders

It takes two: Maren Morris got some help on stage by her husband Ryan Hurd, as they performed a duet of her song I Can't Love You Anymore, which was released on her album Humble Quest in March

Stunning: The songstress put on a busty display in a plunging sheer brown dress with a glittering butterfly over her midriff. She added a stylish 1970s feel with her long blond hair and her parted bangs

Complementary: Ryan looked rugged in a denim shirt and paint-splattered gray jeans as she strummed an acoustic guitar

Too cute: As the song concluded, the lovebirds held hands and gazed sweetly into each other's eyes

She was dressed in a sheer lavender bodysuit that left one toned leg exposed, while featuring a voluminous train trailing behind her.

The suit also had only one sleeve, and it featured frilly embellishments on Carrie's collar.

Halfway through the songs, aerial dancers suspended from white ropes descended from the rafters, showing off their graceful moves while Carrie continued to sing.

As Ghost Story reached its powerful climax, another white rope dropped down to the stage behind her, which Carrie tucked under her arms.

All together: Jimmie Allen also got some help with his song Pray. The country singer was joined by the R&B singer Monica, along with Little Big Town. He opened the performance on an upright piano while dressed in an over-the-top white lizard-print suit and matching cowboy hat

Change of pace: The song took off when Monica took over on vocals. She wore a white sweater top with an intriguing harness and billowing slacks, along with a white blazer with feathered sleeves that was draped over her shoulders

Angelic chorus: They were joined by Little Big Town, whose members served as a chorus while Jimmie and Monica sang lead. Kimberly Schlapman wore a frilly plunging white dress, while Karen Fairchild was covered in long white fringe. Jimi Westbrook had on a white suit, but Philip Sweet was more low key with a white denim jacket

Harmonies: Little Big Town also got a chance to shine when they went solo with their new single Hell Yeah. Philip Sweet (R), who wore a black jacket and strummed an acoustic guitar, handled lead vocal duties, while the other three singers provided backing

Leading ladies: Kimberly Schlapman showed off her voluminous blond curls while wearing a glittering silver sequined mini dress highlighting her legs. Karen Fairchild glowed nearly as much in a studded bodysuit, which she covered up with a black blazer

Doing it her way: Miranda Lambert, who won Female Video of the Year at the ceremony, gave a triumphant performance of her single If I Was A Cowboy

Woman in black: The songstress looked as if she was inspired by Elvis Presley black comeback special suit as she wore her own version, which was embroidered with Southwest imagery, including cacti and desert landscapes

Seeing green: She added some color to the playful ensemble with long green fringe on her sleeves, and she covered up her blond locks with a pale pinkandwhite tie-dye cowboy hat

Jeweled: The country star added some extra color to her look with a turquoise necklace

Duet: Following Keith Urban's high-energy opener, Lainey Wilson and Cole Swindell kept things moving along with an outdoor performance

Dramatic weather: The two performed Never Say Never together as rain drops began to pour down on them and the crowd

What a difference: Lainey was dressed in shiny gold paints with a silver-studded top with black fringe, while Cole went low key in a gray jacket with jeans, a white T-shirt and a blue baseball cap

Odd couple: Later in the ceremony, Mickey Guyton took to the stage with the group Black Pumas, who play a psychedelic version of soul

Going blue: She stunned in the royal number

Man in black: Singer and guitarist Eric Burton dressed for the occasion in a black shirt accented with yellow fringe, along with matching black jeans and a wide-brimmed hat covering his braids

Pyrotechnics: The singers climaxed just as fireworks went off behind them, and they gave a quick high-five before taking a bow

She continued singing just as strongly, even as she twisted her legs in the ropes and was pulled high above the stage, though it wasn't clear if she was singing live or was merely lip syncing to a pre-recorded track.

Keith Urban kicked off the CMT Awards on a high note with his 2021 single Wild Hearts.

The country rockers was dressed in a casual black T-shirt and dark ripped jeans as he shredded on his weathered gold top Gibson Les Paul guitar.

He strutted down a platform into the middle of the audience halfway through the song to rip a guitar solo in front of adoring fans.

Making the best of it: She wasn't able to host in person after testing positive for Covid-19, but that didn't stop Kelsea Ballerini from performing at the CMT Awards. The singersongwriter sang at home in her backyard in front of a simple blue sheet, with yellow flowers arranged at her feet

Glowing: She looked lovely in a glittering seafoam mini dress that accented her toned legs and had triangular cutouts over her chest and hips, and she stood tall in a set of white platform heels

Blond beauty: The country star wore her long blond hair swept over one shoulder, and she had on eyeshadow that perfectly matched the shade of her dress. She debuted her new song Heartburst

Back in black: Gabby Barrett gave a more understated performance with her song Pick Me Up. She had all eyes on her in her black sequined suit, which had a cape trailing behind her

Moving on up: At the song's climax, she stepped onto a platform in the middle of the audience that began to raise her up

Belting it out: Back on the outdoor stage, Cody Johnson gave a moving but reserved performance while playing guitar on his tune Til You Can't

Family: Among the most anticipated performances was a reunion of The Judds, the duo of Naomi Judd and her daughter Wynonna Judd

Honor legends: The family duo were introduced by country-crossover star Kacey Musgraves, who glowed in a white dress with a lacy top decorated with beads

Opulent: Wynonna rocked a black sequined suit for their number, while Naomi looked glamorous in a royal blue suit with fabric draped from her sleeves

He's back! Kenny Chesney capped off the CMT Awards with a rollicking performance of his 2005 song Beers In Mexico

Old school: The country hitmaker was dressed casually in a charcoal T-shirt with weathered jeans and dark brown boots, plus a straw cowboy hat. The popular singer was returning to the award show ahead of a massive stadium tour

Playing the clown: Thomas Rhett, who egged on the hosts from the audience, was joined by Riley Green on stage

Brief: Breland was among the performers doing shorter excerpts of songs on the Ram Truck side stage

Crowd pleaser: Walker Hayes had the crowd in his hand as her performed his hit AA

Behind him, the song's title was spelled out in neon letters, along with illustrations of Johnny Cash, who was referenced in the lyrics.

Co-hosts Mackie and Brown revealed that the 12 nominees for Video Of the Year had been narrowed down to three - Cody Johnson ('Til You Can't), Jason Aldean & Carrie Underwood (If I Didn't Love You) and Brown's One Mississippi.

Fans can still vote for the winner throughout the night using hashtags #VoteCodyCMT, #VoteJasonCarrieCMT and #VoteKaneCMT.

Brown leads the way with four nominations this year, vying for the top prize - Video of the Year - along with Male Video of the Year, and two separate nominations for CMT Performance of the Year.

Leading the way: Brown leads the way with four nominations this year, vying for the top prize - Video of the Year - along with Male Video of the Year, and two separate nominations for CMT Performance of the Year

Brown's One Mississippi will go up against Brandi Carlile (Right On Time), Cody Johnson ('Til You Can't), Cole Swindell & Lainey Wilson (Never Say Never), Jason Aldean & Carrie Underwood (If I Didn't Love You), Kacey Musgraves (justified), Kelsea Ballerini feat. Kenny Chesney (half of my hometown), Luke Combs (Forever After All), Maren Morris (Circles Around This Town), Mickey Guyton (Remember Her Name), Miranda Lambert (If I Was A Cowboy) and Taylor Swift feat. Chris Stapleton  I Bet You Think About Me (Taylors Version) (From The Vault) for Video of the Year.

His One Mississippi will vie for Male Video of the Year against Cody Johnson ('Til You Can't), Eric Church (Heart On Fire), Luke Bryan (Waves), Luke Combs (Forever After All), Thomas Rhett (Country Again) and Walker Hayes (Fancy Like).

He is a dual nominee in CMT Performance Of the Year with Three Wooden Crosses (from 2021 CMT Artists of the Year) and Nelly feat. Kane Brown, Blanco Brown & BRELAND  Ride Wit Me (from CMT Crossroads: Nelly & Friends).

Nominee: His One Mississippi will vie for Male Video of the Year against Cody Johnson ('Til You Can't), Eric Church (Heart On Fire), Luke Bryan (Waves), Luke Combs (Forever After All), Thomas Rhett (Country Again) and Walker Hayes (Fancy Like).

He will go up against Brothers Osborne  Muskrat Greene/Dead Man's Curve Medley (from CMT Campfire Sessions), George Strait  Is Anybody Goin' to San Antone (from CMT GIANTS: Charley Pride), H.E.R. feat. Chris Stapleton  Hold On (from 2021 CMT Music Awards), Kelsea Ballerini feat. Paul Klein of LANY  I Quit Drinking (from 2021 CMT Music Awards) and Mickey Guyton feat. Gladys Knight & BRELAND  Friendship Train (from 2021 CMT Music Awards).

The biggest all-time winner in CMT Music Awards history - Carrie Underwood (23 wins) could take home two more awards tonight.

She's up for Video of the Year for her and Jason Aldean's If I Didn't Love You, along with Collaborative Video of the Year as well.

Biggest winner: The biggest all-time winner in CMT Music Awards history - Carrie Underwood (23 wins) could take home two more awards tonight

Country music's only fan-voted awards show is making its debut in network primetime this year, airing on CBS live from Nashville.

The show will also be available to stream live and on demand on the Paramount Plus streaming service.

Fans who want even more can tune into the CMT Awards Extended Cut, featuring 30 minutes of performances and bonus footage, airing Friday, April 15 on CMT.
Her father is an AFL champion and her mother is a successful businesswoman.

But Mia Fevola certainly seems to be making her own way in the world, showing off her model credentials in a sizzling Instagram gallery on Monday.

The influencer and entrepreneur, 22, turned heads in a ribbed halterneck dress that clung tightly to her incredible figure.

Glamazon: Mia Fevola flaunted her sensational figure in a ribbed white dress on Monday

The brunette bombshell looked toned and tanned as she struck a number of poses.

She teamed the dress with a Prada handbag, opted for a glossy makeup palette and styled her hair in a ponytail.

Mia's mother Alex Fevola released her memoir, titled Silver Linings, this month.

White hot: The influencer and entrepreneur, 22, turned heads in a halterneck number that clung tightly to her incredible figure

Alex appeared as a guest on her husband Brendan's radio show, Fifi, Fev and Nick, to discuss the tell-all book, and the conversation soon turned to family matters.

The Fevolas, who married in 2005, divorced in 2014 and became engaged again in 2016, spoke about the fact Brendan, 41, is not the biological father of their eldest daughter Mia.

Alex acknowledged there had been 'a lot of misunderstanding and questions about where Mia's biological father was, because he was never in the picture'.

Designer: The brunette bombshell looked toned and tanned as she struck a number of poses

She said it was also something she wished to address, but she 'wanted to do it when the children were older, and when Mia understood the full story herself'.

'Some people don't realise that Mia's not my child. You know, I'm not her real dad...' interrupted Brendan.

'I'm her real dad now, but I'm not her biological father, who passed away when Mia was really young.'

Candid: It comes after Mia's dad Brendan Fevola (left, with partner Alex) recently addressed the fact he is not her biological father

The former Carlton and Brisbane Lions star said he first met Mia when she was about three years old, describing her as the 'cutest thing ever'.

'I fell in love with Mia before I did with Alex, so we probably wouldn't be together and all those kids probably wouldn't be there if I didn't meet Mia!' he added.

Brendan admitted it was 'tough' entering a relationship with a single mum, and recounted the day Mia called him dad 'out of the blue'.

Bond: The Fevolas, who married in 2005, divorced in 2014 and became engaged again in 2016, spoke about the fact Brendan, 41, is not the biological father of their eldest daughter Mia (left)

'It was really strange, actually. It was like she was longing to have a dad, so she never really knew any different,' added Alex.

'Obviously, it was just her and I, and then when Brendan came into our lives, she took to him immediately. She just adored him, and it was really weird.'

In addition to Mia, Brendan and Alex are also parents to daughters Leni, 15, Lulu, 11, and Tobi, three.
A recent episode of Below Deck Down Under has sparked debate online about the quality of service expected on a superyacht.

Charter guest Karim Gharbi ordered an almond cappuccino, only to send it back after realising the milk had been burned and there was no chocolate dusting on top, which is a cappuccino staple in Australia.

After complaining about the order, Chief Stewardess Aesha Scott admitted she had microwaved the milk and didn't even have a milk frother on board.

You call this service? Below Deck Down Under's Aesha Scott (pictured) served a guest a microwaved cappuccino from a Nespresso machine on a recent episode, sparking debate online about the quality of service expected on a superyacht

'Aesha, are you sure you're the best coffee maker here?' he asked the Kiwi stew after calling her over.

'You could have just told me you are not that good at it,' he added.

'There's not even chocolate on top and you burned the milk. What coffee machine do you have?'

Oh, no! Fan favourite Aesha is seen here putting the milk into the microwave before preparing the coffee in a Nespresso machine

From a glance, the machine appeared to be an affordable Nespresso De'Longhi that uses coffee capsules.

After learning Aesha had microwaved the milk, Karim recoiled in disgust.

He was even more shocked when he discovered Aesha didn't even have a frother around to use, so he demanded she have one brought to the yacht.

Yuck! Karim soon realised the cappuccino hadn't been made to the standards expected on a luxury superyacht charter

Unimpressed: 'There's not even chocolate on top and you burned the milk,' Karim snapped

'I've just never heard of such a thing in 18 years' experience in hospitality,' Karim said in disbelief.

'Can I just have a shot [of coffee]? I'm sure you can get that one right.'

Aesha and the other crew members later complained about Karim and his friends, calling them picky and entitled.

'You could have just told me you are not that good at it!' Karim was frustrated after Aesha claimed to be the best barista on board

The scene caused a stir on social media, with one viewer tweeting: 'It's ridiculous that a yacht doesnt have a proper coffee machine.'

A three-day charter on Below Deck Down Under's Thalassa superyacht costs about $50,000 - and that doesn't include the tip at the end, which is upwards of $19,000.

The coffee wasn't the only issue Karim and his guests had, with Chef Ryan McKeown refusing to consult with the guests about what they wanted to eat.

Expensive taste: A three-day charter on Below Deck Down Under's Thalassa superyacht costs about $50,000 - and that doesn't even include the tip at the end, which is upwards of $19,000

This resulted in a series of mishaps with the food, which included serving seafood even though the guests didn't eat fish.

Guest Eunice Wong eventually became so fed up with the food service she ended up demanding McDonald's and scrambled eggs to eat.

Below Deck Down Under is available to stream exclusively on hayu in Australia
She is an avid Pilates fan.

And on Tuesday, Pip Edwards showed off her impressive physique as she undertook yet another gruelling class.

The P.E Nation designer , 41, was doing stretches and crunches atop a Pilates box, bracing her hard-rock core.

Body goals: On Tuesday, Pip Edwards showed off her impressive physique as she undertook yet another Pilates gruelling class

In a follow-up post, she gave her toned arms a break while enjoying a hamstring extension.

Last week, Pip gave fans a glimpse at some upcoming items from her very own activewear label, P.E Nation.

In a photo posted to her Instagram Stories at the time, Pip flaunted her taut figure in all-black ensemble, made up of a cut-out crop top and flared tights.

Leg up! In a follow-up post, she gave her toned arms a break while enjoying a hamstring extension

Abs-olutely ripped! Last week, Pip spruiked her own activewear brand on Instagram. At teh time, she flaunted her ripped abs in a cut-out crop top and flared pants from her label, P.E Nation

Her abs were on display as she stood in a squatting position as she held two dumbells above her shoulders.

'Routine rules,' she captioned the newest collection of gym wear.

Hours later she shared two more photos of her taut body as she sat posing on a Pilates bed, enjoying a long stretch.

Stretch it out: Hours later she shared two more photos of her taut body as she sat posing on a Pilates bed, enjoying a long stretch

Routine rules: 'Routine rules,' she captioned the newest collection of gym wear

Pip is a regular at Fluidform Pilates, a movement method by Kirsten King that is popular in Sydney thanks to its celebrity clientele.

'I spent a lot of time in my early thirties doing weight training and HIIT workouts. I had a bad injury and kept training with it and then I hit a wall and realised that I needed to look after my body,' Pip once said about her Pilates practice.

'A friend then recommended a really good Pilates instructor who specialises in rehab Pilates.'

'Now I make sure that I fit Pilates classes into my schedule three times a week and it's changed my life,' she added.
She earned the nickname 'The Body' during her career as a supermodel.

And Elle Macpherson looked incredible on Sunday as she joined her son Flynn at the Daytona International Speedway race track in Florida.

The 58-year-old showed off her flawless figure in a grey and white racing suit.

Youthful: Elle Macpherson (right) showed off her age-defying figure in a racing suit as she joined son Flynn (left) at the Daytona International Speedway race track in Florida on Sunday

Elle looked remarkably youthful as she embraced her son, 24, on the race track.

She completed her outfit with black boots and sunglasses, and styled her long blonde hair loosely.

Flynn wore a red and white racing suit as he drove a Ferrari around the famous track.

Proud mum! Elle, 58, looked remarkably youthful as she embraced her son, 24, on the track

Ella shares sons Flynn and Cy, 18, with her ex-partner, French financier Arpad Busson.

In July last year, Flynn debuted his relationship with Miami DJ Anna De Ferran.

Anna is the daughter of Gil de Ferran, a French-born Brazilian race car driver and Formula 1 team manager.

Elle previously said she decided to prioritise her family over her modelling career when she became a mother.

'I was 35 when I had my first [Flynn] and 41 when I had Cy, so I came to children a little later in life, but I made sure they were going to be the priority,' she said in 2019.

Experience: Flynn wore a red and white racing suit as he drove a Ferrari around the track

Parenthood: Ella shares sons Flynn and Cy with her ex-partner, French financier Arpad Busson

'I used to travel a lot and I'd go through that thing that [working] mothers go through,' she added.

'I would always tell them, "Mum loves what she does and I hope in life you find something you love to do so that work doesn't feel like work and you go off and do your thing and while I'm off doing my thing. How cool for you guys to have that time without your helicopter, control-freak mother around."'

Elle also said she was 'moved' to read that one of her sons had said in an interview she made them feel like they were her 'priority' growing up.
Billionaire pub baron Justin Hemmes certainly knows how to throw a party.

The 49-year-old Merivale CEO splashed out $1million to throw a wild rave for his 4500 staff members at his popular Sydney CBD nightclub The Ivy on Monday.

Hemmes shared several videos from the epic bash, aptly named 'Ivy Land', on Monday, with his model girlfriend Madeline Holtznagel, 26, taking centre stage as she danced in a glitzy rhinestone bra to the pumping DJ beats.

Time to party! Justin Hemmes (third left) threw a huge rave for his 4500 Merivale employees over the weekend at his Sydney club The Ivy - which was aptly re-named 'Ivy Land'

Her model sister Simone, who recently appeared on SAS Australia, later shared a video of Madeline hosing down revellers with a steam machine as she danced onstage.

The crowd, which were staff from all of Merivales venues, danced to a banging setlist of club anthems from headline act Flight Facilities.

The majority of attendees wore colourful outfits and props as they fist-pumped to the beat, and enjoyed free-flowing drinks and cuisine all night long.

Stunner: Hemmes' model girlfriend Madeline Holtznagel, 26, took centre stage as she danced in a glitzy rhinestone bra to the pumping DJ beats

Glam: Madeline looked utterly stunning in a sparkly silver bra and pink sunglasses

Glitzy! She teamed her look with a pair of vibrant trousers, and opted for bright green eyeshadow and rhinestones to accentuate her striking features. Picture right, with a pal

According to The Daily Telegraph, the company had to close down most of its locations across the city for the event, with a sign on the door reading: 'Our wonderful team are currently enjoying a well deserve day off for our staff party.'

One employee even had Hemmes' face emblazoned on a poster, which was stuck to an umbrella and raised in the air in honour of the CEO.

Hemmes was seen posing with several staff member at the event, wearing a colourful shirt and glitter on his face as he raised his hands in the air and smiled.

Wild: Her sister Simone, who recently appeared on SAS Australia, also shared a video of Madeline hosing down revellers with a steam machine as she danced onstage

Big fan: One employee even had Hemmes' face plastered on a poster, which was stuck to an umbrella and raised in the air in honour of the CEO

Other attendees included Merivales celebrity chefs Dan Hong and Mike Eggert.

Speaking to the publication about the bash, Hemmes said: 'Weve all faced a challenging two years.

'I want to thank my staff for their unwavering support, for their hard work, for their loyalty and the commitment to the industry and Merivale.'

Meanwhile, Hemmes' girlfriend looked stunning in a sparkly silver bra and pink sunglasses.

She teamed her look with a pair of patterned trousers, and opted for bright green eyeshadow and rhinestones to accentuate her striking features.

Model behaviour: At one stage, Madeline climbed up the bar to take a sultry photo, flaunting her svelte frame and ample assets in the process

Big night! One reveller was seen waltzing across the stage in a bikini and rainbow cape, as the crowd bounced along to the music around her

Epic: Madeline was seen dancing with the poster of her boyfriend onstage

At one stage, Madeline climbed up the bar to take a sultry photo, flaunting her svelte frame and ample assets in the process.

One reveller was seen waltzing across the stage in a bikini and rainbow cape, as the crowd bounced along to the music around her.

Hemmes made his debut on the Financial Review Rich List in 2018 with an estimated net worth of $951million.

Last year, his net worth grew to $1.2billion, making him the 97th richest person in Australia.

The billionaire businessman owns a string of lucrative pubs and establishments across the country, including the Lorne Hotel on Victoria's Great Ocean Road, along with The Quarterdeck, The Inlet and The Whale Inn.

Huge parties for staff have become folklore at Merivale, which is currently facing a class action before the Federal Court for underpayment of workers. Merivale has denied liability and is vigorously fighting the class action.

Madeline and Justin have been dating for some time, and she even spent lockdown at his Vaucluse mansion in 2020.

She now reportedly lives in a Coogee penthouse he owns.
Kylie Minogue's fans are desperate for the pop princess to announce a world tour following the release of her latest album Disco.

The pint-sized megastar, 53, dropped a surprise live album this week - a recording of her recent 'Infinite Disco' livestream - and now fans are waiting on tenterhooks for a tour announcement.

Kylie promoted the live album on Instagram on Monday, prompting her millions of followers to beg the Spinning Around hitmaker to lock in some live dates.

'Next Stop: Galactic Disco World Tour': Kylie Minogue's fans are desperate for the pop princess to announce a world tour following the release of her latest album Disco

'Next Stop: Galactic Disco World Tour,' one fan from South America wrote.

'So... where's the worldwide tour?' another commented.

'TOUR PLEASE,' a third added.

Announce a tour! Kylie, 53, dropped a surprise live album this week - a recording of her recent 'Infinite Disco' livestream - and now fans are waiting on tenterhooks for a tour announcement

The Disco album, which was first released in 2020, has been a slow-burn success for Kylie during the Covid pandemic.

Her 'Infinite Disco' performance was a livestream from the same year to promote the album while lockdowns prevented live shows.

'I absolutely loved seeing all your reactions watching the Infinite Disco streams around the world,' Kylie wrote on Instagram.

Superstar: The Disco album, which was first released in 2020, has been a slow-burn success for Kylie during the Covid pandemic. Her 'Infinite Disco' performance was a livestream from the same year to promote the album while lockdowns prevented live shows

Kylie has remained tight-lipped about a possible world tour following her recent move back home to Australia.

Despite arriving later in her career, Disco has become one of her most popular albums, spawning hits like Real Groove and Magic.

The release, Kylie's fifteenth studio LP, topped the charts in Australia and the UK.

Star: Despite arriving later in her career, Disco has become one of Kylie's most popular albums

Kylie has also released an 'extended remixes' version of the album filled with dancefloor-ready tracks.

She worked on Disco during Covid lockdown at her home studio in London.

The Can't Get You Out of My Head star previously told BBC2 the recording process was rather chaotic.

'If there was a kind of fly-on-the-wall camera, it would've been a comedy,' she said.

Talented: Kylie worked on Disco during Covid lockdown at her home studio in London. Many commentators are praising the the optimistic, dance-ready tracks

'I mean, me trying to wrangle the sound absorber, which bit goes where, lots of googling YouTube tutorials and calling a friend.'

At one point, she even questioned whether all of her efforts were worthwhile.

'There was a point during lockdown and during all of that where I guess maybe the album was kind of finished. And I did question, what does this mean? What's the point? There's so much happening in the world and there's no discos open,' she said.

'But the main question that kind of reassured me to keep going was, 'What will I achieve if I don't release it?' And the answer - that's really easy - was absolutely nothing. So we stuck with Disco.'
Bella Hadid bundled up in black while headed to dinner with boyfriend Marc Kalman on Sunday in New York City.

The 25-year-old model wore a Burberry trench coat along with matching black trousers and Adidas trainers.

She carried a black Chanel bag and accessorized with dangling earrings while adding small pops of color with Missoma jelly rings in mango chalcedony and pink quartz.

Bundled up: Bella Hadid bundled up in black while headed to dinner with boyfriend Marc Kalman on Sunday in New York City

Bella had her black hair pulled back into a ponytail cinched with a black bow.

Marc, 33, kept it casual in a striped shirt over a black undergarment along with loose tan corduroy pants and black shoes.

Bella and art director Marc have been dating since July 2020.

They went public with their relationship in July 2021 while the model was at Paris Fashion Week and the Cannes Film Festival.

Top model: The 25-year-old model wore a Burberry trench coat along with matching black trousers and Adidas trainers while adding small pops of color with Missoma jelly rings in mango chalcedony and pink quartz

Bella and Marc earlier this month were spotted having a romantic dinner together in Rome.

They also were together last month in Paris where top model Bella has been in high demand.

Bella will be breaking into acting with a role on the upcoming third season of the Hulu sitcom Ramy.

Going strong: The couple are shown together last month in Paris where top model Bella has been in high demand

Tender moment: Marc and Bella are seen last month in New York City

The little sister of Gigi, 26, will have a recurring part on the series, according to a recent report in Deadline.

Ramy was co-created by the comedian Ramy Youssef, who stars as a first generation Egyptian American in New Jersey.

Previous recurring guest stars on the show have included Mahershala Ali, who won a best supporting actor Oscar for Moonlight.
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Ben Foster and Peter Sarsgaard and their wives Laura Prepon and Maggie Gyllenhaal, led the myriad stars who attended the premiere of the new movie The Survivor in New York City.

Foster, 41, wore a simple black suit and a white undershirt to the event saturated with celebrities.

He cut his thinning hair short and combed it over to the right. A small mustache covered his upper lip.

Stars coming out: Ben Foster and Peter Sarsgaard, and their wives Laura Prepon and Maggie Gyllenhaal, led the myriad stars who attended the premiere of the new movie The Survivor

The 3:10 to Yuma star was joined by his wife of nearly four years Laura Prepon for the big evening.

The That '70s Show actress, 42, stepped out in a black cocktail dress with spaghetti straps. A black shawl wrapped around her elbows.

She accessorized with a pair of beige high heels, and her dyed-black hair was parted in the middle and swept out of her face.

The pair gazed adoringly at each other and later were joined by Ben's parents, Gillian and Steven, at the event.

Hair-styling: He cut his thinning hair short and combed it over to the right. A small mustache covered his upper lip

A picture of Elegance: The That '70s Show actress, 42, stepped out in a black cocktail dress with spaghetti straps

Lots of love: The pair gazed adoringly at each other as Prepon wrapped her arms around Foster's elbow

Family affair: Later, they were joined by Ben's parents, Gillian (middle) and Steven (far right), at the event

Sarsgaard, 51, wore a black jacket and pants over a loose-fitting white shirt without a tie.

He walked in a pair of black dress shoes, and his thinning hair was swept over to the right. His bushy beard stood out prominently from his face.

His better half Maggie Gyllenhaal, 44, wore a gray blazer with flowers covering it and a long brown skirt.

She wore a low-cut, silver top underneath the fun blazer, and her black hair was cut short and combed to the right.

Letting the hair down: Sarsgaard's thinning hair was swept over to the right. His bushy beard stood out prominently from his face

Intricate pattern: His better half Maggie Gyllenhaal, 44, wore a gray blazer with flowers covering it and a long brown skirt

While the two famous couples grabbed attention on the red carpet, they were joined by a series of other celebrities as well.

Legendary actor Danny DeVito, who also plays a part in the film, arrived in a black blazer and a pair of gray slacks.

He wore his trademark square-framed glasses and threw up a 'peace sign' as he posed.

DeVito and Foster worked closely on the movie together and hugged tightly when reuniting on the carpet.

Living legend: Legendary actor Danny DeVito, who also plays a part in the film, arrived in a black blazer and a pair of gray slacks

Grabbing each other: DeVito and Foster worked closely on the movie together and hugged tightly when reuniting on the carpet

Star power: The Nanny star Fran Drescher also posed with DeVito

The Nanny star Fran Drescher also posed with DeVito. She stepped out in a velvet blazer over a red shirt and a pair of loose-fitting pants that collected in a puddle at her feet.

Her lips were accented with light pink lipstick, and her dark hair was cut at shoulder length.

Ice Age voice actor John Leguizamo wore a brown coat over a gray hooded sweatshirt and tight-fitting gray slacks to the premiere.

He walked in a pair of dress shoes, and his black hair was cut short.

The Encanto star's better half Justin Maurer wore a long-sleeve white shirt and a black skirt that ended at her knees.

She added a pair of high heels, and her blonde hair was parted in the middle and tied back.

Powerful ensemble: Drescher stepped out in a velvet blazer over a red shirt and a pair of loose-fitting pants that collected in a puddle at her feet

Peaceful: Drescher also threw up a peace sign while leaning down to pose with the Taxi actor

Another star: Ice Age voice actor John Leguizamo wore a brown coat over a gray hooded sweatshirt and tight-fitting gray slacks to the premiere alongside his wife Justine Maurer

The Survivor tells the story of Harry Haft, a survivor of Auschwitz who was only able to survive by participating in bare-knuckle brawls with other imprisoned people to entertain their Nazi captors.

Foster plays Haft and DeVito plays his trainer once he is liberated from the camp, Charlie Goldman.

The film also stars Billy Magnussen and Phantom Thread actress Vicky Krieps. It is set for release on April 27.
Kylie Moore-Gilbert was imprisoned in Iran for more than two years before being freed in a prisoner-swap deal brokered by Australia's top spy.

And the 35-year-old academic looked happy to be home on Sunday as she visited a Bunnings Warehouse in Melbourne.

Moore-Gilbert, who spent 804 days behind bars before her release in November 2020, wore a striped shirt and black jeans as she walked through the hardware store.

The taste of freedom: Australian academic Kylie Moore-Gilbert, who spent more than two years in an Iranian prison on trumped-up espionage charges, looked happy to be home on Sunday as she visited a Bunnings Warehouse in Melbourne

She completed her look with black sneakers and a matching-coloured bag, and swept her brunette hair into a ponytail.

After buying some household supplies, the Islamic studies lecturer grabbed a snag from the sausage sizzle outside the store.

Moore-Gilbert was imprisoned in Iran from September 2018 to November 2020 after the country's government falsely accused her of being a 'Zionist spy'.

Ensemble: Moore-Gilbert, who spent 804 days behind bars before her release in November 2020, wore a striped shirt and black jeans as she walked through the hardware store

Laid-back: She completed her look with black sneakers and a matching-coloured bag, and swept her brunette hair into a ponytail

The prisoner-swap deal that secured her release - and also saw the release of three Iranians held in Thailand - was brokered by the former boss of Australia's spy agencies ASIS and the Office of National Intelligence, Nick Warner.

Moore-Gilbert was given a 10-year sentence for espionage but always denied the charges, which reportedly stemmed from the Iranian authorities' belief she was a spy for Israel because of her relationship with her then-husband, an Israeli citizen.

The Australian government rejected the charges as 'baseless and politically motivated'.

Once she arrived home, she discovered her husband Ruslan Hodorov had moved on with another woman - her former colleague at the University of Melbourne.

Lunch on the go: After buying some household supplies, the Islamic studies lecturer grabbed a snag from the sausage sizzle outside the store

Freedom: Moore-Gilbert was imprisoned in Iran from September 2018 to November 2020 after the country's government falsely accused her of being a 'Zionist spy'

Her mother broke the news while she was in quarantine that her Russian-Israeli husband was having an affair with Dr Kylie Baxter, her former PhD supervisor.

Their relationship began while Moore-Gilbert was held captive in two of Iran's most notorious prisons.

An 'upset and disappointed' Moore-Gilbert filed for divorce shortly after returning home, and announced it was finalised on her Twitter account in April last year.

Deal: The prisoner-swap deal that secured her release - and also saw the release of three Iranians held in Thailand - was brokered by the former boss of Australia's spy agencies ASIS and the Office of National Intelligence, Nick Warner
Brian Austin Green's pregnant girlfriend Sharna Burgess gave fans a pregnancy update on Tuesday.

The 36-year-old showed off her baby bump while posing in a crop top at the gym.

Sharna, who is expecting her first child, said she's 28 weeks along and shocked at her weight gain so far.

Bumping along nicely! Brian Austin Green's pregnant girlfriend Sharna Burgess gave fans a pregnancy update on Tuesday. The 36-year-old showed off her baby bump while posing in a crop top at the gym

The Dancing With the Stars pro added that she's suffering pregnancy constipation, is giving up on shaving and is considering a C-section.

'I weigh. drumroll. 152lbs (68kgs). Dead. Positively DUH - CEASED, but embracing it,' she wrote in part of her lengthy post.

'If this kid is gonna pass 9lbs I'm scheduling a freaking C section FR otherwise RIP my vagina.'

Candid: The Dancing With the Stars pro also added that she's suffering pregnancy constipation, is giving up on shaving and is considering a C-section

She added: 'Excuse the TMI but WHAT THE ACTUAL F**K PREGNANCY CONSTIPATION. I genuinely thought I was going to hospital at one point.'

Sharna said she's found that many 'judge pregnant women'.

'It's sad to see and hard to understand. This whole moment is so beautiful and a LEARNING CURVE for everyone during every pregnancy,' she said.

'Because every pregnancy is different. Your journey isn't mine and mine isn't yours. But I love sharing my journey because I think it's beautiful and funny and special.'

'I weigh. drumroll. 152lbs (68kgs). Dead. Positively DUH - CEASED but embracing it,' she wrote in part of her lengthy post

Last month, Sharna revealed her pregnancy was a happy 'accident' and happened when she on birth control.

The Australian dancer, who will welcome her first child in July, said she was on birth control before she found out.

In response to a fan Q&A on Instagram, Sharna explained the couple were thinking of 'trying' later this year before finding out the happy news.

'Universe made her own plan, found a window and went for it,' she said.

Candid: Last month, Sharna revealed her pregnancy was a happy 'accident' and happened when she on birth control

'There was definitely divine timing with this one and we are excited about it, trusting in it. '

Sharna and Brian revealed their happy news back in February during their 'babymoon' to Hawaii.

The Beverly Hills, 90210 actor is already a father to his three children - Journey River, five, Bodhi Ransom, seven, and Noah Shannon, nine, with ex Megan Fox, 35.

He is also a father to son Kassius, 19, from a previous relationship.

Sharna and Brian pair celebrated their one-year anniversary in October last year.

The actor remarked at the time on Instagram: '1 year of accepting me in a way I've never been loved before #damnimlucky.'
Imogen Anthony has claimed she was 'right next to' the fatal stabbing that took place at Sydney's Easter Show on Monday, as she calls for more care to be taken to stop weapons being brought to events in future.

The 31-year-old took to Instagram to share her view on the horror incident a day later, after a 17-year-old - believed to have been a carnival employee - was stabbed in the chest while working and later died in hospital.

In a series of videos, Imogen began: 'I was at the Easter Show last night, where a couple of guys got stabbed pretty much right next to where we were.

Shocked: Imogen Anthony (pictured) has claimed she was 'right next to' the fatal stabbing that took place at the Sydney's Easter Show on Monday, as she calls for more care to be taken to stop weapons being brought to events in future

'Anyway, can I just say what a selfish bunch of f**kwits. The fact that you decide to kill someone at the Easter Show with thousands of people that have just been through some of the worst times of their life, and they just want to have fun.

'Like, these kids are like, seventeen and sixteen and stuff - where the hell are your parents?

'Where is your education? Where is your moral compass and your conscience? Or were you just never brought up with that?'

Paramedics were called to a busy strip inside the Sydney Royal Easter Show on Monday night about 8pm amid reports of a brawl between two groups of young men.

Horrific: In a series of videos, Imogen began: 'I was at the Easter Show last night, where a couple of guys got stabbed pretty much right next to where we were'

At least two teenagers were stabbed; the victim and a 16-year-old boy who remains in hospital in a stable condition with wounds to his leg.

Police confirmed in a press conference on Tuesday morning at least one suspect remains on the run. A strike force has been established to identify any other people involved in the brawl.

Imogen, who is the ex-girlfriend of radio shock jock Kyle Sandilands, continued: 'What is the go? Why is there no kind of weapon screening at the Easter Show?

Event: Imogen shared this photo of the Easter Show on Monday night

'Why is there just a dude standing there with a little f**king ticket machine. Sorry, we need more than that. This is f**king Sydney.

'Bloody underbelly. We've got Melissa Caddick and bikies and all kind of things going on. We need to better. It's a jungle out there.'

Daily Mail Australia revealed on Tuesday that the victim was an employee of the carnival and had been for at least two years.

He was on his break midway through his shift when he reportedly went to meet some friends, including his younger brother, who were attending the show.

Tragic: Daily Mail Australia revealed on Tuesday that the victim was an employee of the carnival and had been for at least two years

Just a day before his death, the victim shared a video at work pouting at the camera with the caption: 'When you wish ur gf worked at the Easter Show again with u'.

He was working a ride inside the adult section of the carnival. The ride is near a thoroughfare which is often congested and brimming with people.

Footage circulated to social media showed two men brawling in the middle of the carnival.

The taller of the pair tried to send his knee into the other's head as he was driven backwards before landing a series of punches in his abdomen.

The smaller man retaliated by driving him backwards into a set of garbage bins before the taller man was joined by another who also began to swing his fists.

The victim's 15-year-old brother has been charged with affray and carrying a knife. He has not been charged relating to his death and will face Parramatta Children's Court on Tuesday afternoon.

The boy was allegedly seen on viral footage sitting on the ground in handcuffs after the melee.

Tragedy: Detectives and forensic officers were at the carnival on Tuesday combing over the scene of the alleged crime. Police have retrieved one knife

Distressed friends and relatives of the victim and 15-year-old have spoken out to clear up false rumours that the teenager has been charged over his brother's death.

Instead, the charges relate to the alleged brawl.

Detectives and forensic officers were at the carnival on Tuesday combing over the scene of the alleged crime. Police have retrieved one knife.

While at least three people have been identified so far, police are certain other people were involved in the melee.

Police believe the two groups of men were known to each other, assuring the public it was not a 'random attack'.

NSW Ambulance Inspector Mark Whittaker said by the time paramedics arrived the victim was already suffering a cardiac arrest as a direct result of the chest wound.

'Paramedics performed CPR and a number of other critical interventions at the scene before loading the patient for transport to Westmead Hospital, unfortunately despite best efforts he couldn't be resuscitated,' he said.

'We're trying to piece it together. It's a tragic, senseless act. This is a family event and the fact that someone has bought a knife into the show is upsetting.'

Showgoers were moved out of the carnival area as officers established a crime scene.
Whoopi Goldberg is taking a hiatus from The View as she works on a new show called Anansi Boys, her co-host Joy Behar announced on Monday.

Behar, 79, said, 'If you're wondering where Whoopi is, the girl's got a movie she's making and she will be back when she finishes whatever she's doing - so she's gone for a while.'

Goldberg, 66, will be filming the series - an adaptation of the 2005 novel by author Neil Gaiman - in Scotland, Variety reported Monday.

The latest: Whoopi Goldberg, 66, is taking a hiatus from The View as she works on a new show called Anansi Boys, her co-host Joy Behar, 79, announced on Monday

'I have been a fan of this book for a very long time and when Neil Gaiman told me it was being brought to the screen, I did everything I could to be part of it to help make people aware of Anansi and all his magic,' Goldberg, who is set to play the role of Bird Woman, told the publication.

Gaiman, 61, told Variety that he had initially had Goldberg in mind when he wrote the novel: 'When I first conceived Anansi Boys, decades ago, I imagined Whoopi Goldberg as Bird Woman.'

He continued: 'I wasnt able to meet her until 2018, when she interviewed me with some of the Good Omens team at New York Comic Con. At which point she mentioned that she had just finished listening to Sir Lenny Henrys reading of Anansi Boys, and that it was one of her favorite books.'

Gaiman said that 'sometimes things feel planned and inevitable,' and the production was 'incredibly lucky' to ink Goldberg, who is 'going to be scary' playing Bird Woman, who brings a danger to the universe as the God of Birds.

Goldberg, who is set to play the role of Bird Woman, was snapped last month in NYC

Upon her return to the ABC show February 14, Goldberg said that the show would not avoid discussions about uncomfortable topics

Goldberg said that 'there is something kind of marvelous about being on a show like this because we are The View and this is what we do'

Anansi Boys, which has been ordered for six episodes, centers around Anansi, the West African trickster god of stories; in the storyline, Charlie Nancy (Malachi Kirby) learns his late dad (Delroy Lindo) was Anansi, and that he has a brother named Spider (Kirby will portray this character as well) who brings a new danger into his world.

Also appearing in the series includes Hakeem Kae-Kazim as Tiger, Emmanuel Ighodaro as Lion, Cecilia Noble as Elephant, Ayanna Witter-Johnson as Snake and Don Gilet as Monkey.

Goldberg's hiatus from the ABC show comes about two months after she came back from a two-week suspension following remarks she made that the 'Holocaust isn't about race' on the show's January 31 broadcast during a chat about the novel Maus.

Goldberg took to Twitter to offer her 'sincerest apologies' about her remarks on The View

ABC News in February announced the decision to suspend the star for two weeks

Goldberg later took to Twitter to offer her 'sincerest apologies' about her statement.

She said, 'On Todays show, I said the Holocaust "is not about race, but about mans inhumanity to man." I should have said it is about both.

'As Jonathan Greenblatt from the Anti-Defamation League shared, "The Holocaust was about the Nazis systematic annihilation of the Jewish people  who they deemed to be an inferior race." I stand corrected.'

Goldberg said 'the Jewish people around the world have always had my support and that will never' waver, adding that she was 'sorry for the hurt [she had] caused.'

Upon her return to the ABC show February 14, she said that the show would not avoid discussions about uncomfortable topics.

'There is something kind of marvelous about being on a show like this because we are The View and this is what we do,' Goldberg said. 'Sometimes we dont do it as elegantly as we could. But its five minutes to get in information about topics and thats what we try to do everyday.'
Fran Drescher hit the red carpet to support her friend Danny DeVito at the premiere for his new HBO film The Survivor.

The 64-year-old actress and writer was all smiles while posing with the 77-year-old DeVito at the premiere, held at Temple Emanu-El in New York City.

The Nanny star was all smiles while hitting the red carpet in a stylish ensemble on Monday evening.

Fran and Danny: Fran Drescher hit the red carpet to support her friend Danny DeVito at the premiere for his new HBO film The Survivor

Drescher stepped out with a stunning maroon velvet pantsuit, with a small gold necklace around her neck.

The actress' dark hair flowed down past her shoulders with a diamond bracelet peeking out from her maroon coat.

She completed her look with matching maroon pumps that almost perfectly blended in with her wide-legged pants.

Fran's look: Drescher stepped out with a stunning maroon velvet pantsuit, with a small gold necklace around her neck

Drescher started her acting career with a small role in Saturday Night Fever in 1977, but she became a household name by starring in The Nanny.

The actress also co-created the hit CBS series with her then-husband Peter Marc Jacobson, who she was married to from 1978 to 1999.

The series ran six seasons before going off the air in 1999, though there had been talk of a reboot in recent years.

Career: Drescher started her acting career with a small role in Saturday Night Fever in 1977, but she became a household name by starring in The Nanny

She also co-created and starred in TV Land's Happily Divorced, which Jacobson also co-created, which ran for two seasons from 2011 to 2013.

The actress also returned to voice Eunice in the fourth installment of the Hotel Transylvania animated franchise, Hotel Transylvania 4: Transformania.

The animated sequel debuted on the Amazon Prime streaming service in mid-January.

Co-creator: She also co-created and starred in TV Land's Happily Divorced, which Jacobson also co-created, which ran for two seasons from 2011 to 2013

Drescher was married to Shiva Ayyadurai from 2014 to 2016, though she recently opened up about living the single life at 64.

The actress spoke with E! News about her appearance in NBC's Mr. Mayor, where she revealed that she tried dating apps for awhile, but many of the men resented her for her success.

''Although I've been with guys who weren't as successful as I am, I've learned the hard way that it's fun for a while but then but then eventually they begin to resent you for paying for everything and for having more than they have and for being more successful than they are,' she said, adding it 'chips away at the male ego.'

Watch the Iconic Series, The Nanny only on Stan in Australia.

Dating: The actress spoke with E! News about her appearance in NBC's Mr. Mayor, where she revealed that she tried dating apps for awhile, but many of the men resented her for her success
Xi stresses boosting national park development in Hainan

Xinhua) 16:49, April 12, 2022

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits a section of a tropical rainforest national park to learn about efforts to protect the environment and biodiversity in Wuzhishan, south China's Hainan Province, April 11, 2022. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)

HAIKOU, April 12 (Xinhua) -- Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, has stressed the importance of boosting national park development in Hainan Province.

Xi made the remarks during his visit to a section of a tropical rainforest national park in the city of Wuzhishan on Monday.

Xi highlighted the need to fully understand the strategic significance of Hainan's national park development to the country, and urged continuous and solid efforts in this regard.

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits a section of a tropical rainforest national park to learn about efforts to protect the environment and biodiversity in Wuzhishan, south China's Hainan Province, April 11, 2022. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)

(Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun)
Do I detect an imminent engagement for Sherlock's Martin Freeman?

I hear The Hobbit star's romance with French actress Rachel Mariam is becoming so serious that he's joined her on a visit to her hometown, Toulouse. The couple have shared this photograph to capture the moment.

Freeman, 50, and Mariam, 30, who had a small part in BBC drama Normal People, have been going out together for two years.

Smitten: Is an imminent engagement on the cards for Martin Freeman and girlfriend Rachel Mariam? The actor recently joined his partner in her hometown of Toulouse (pictured)

It is Freeman's first serious relationship since he split up in 2016 with Amanda Abbington, 48, the mother of his two children, who played his wife in Sherlock.

Engagement rumours follow Abbington's own surprise engagement to America's Got Talent contestant Jonathan Goodwin in October.

Welsh escapologist Goodwin is perhaps best known for falling 40ft after being struck by two exploding cars simultaneously during a rehearsal for America's Got Talent: Extreme.

Close: Freeman, 50, and Mariam, 30, who had a small part in BBC drama Normal People, have been going out together for two years

Screen presence: Mariam played a Trinity College student in BBC drama Normal People, an adaptation of Irish author Sally Rooney's bestselling novel

The 41-year-old Welsh later shared a selfie from hospital with a lengthy caption, in which he thanked loved ones for their support while also confirming his engagement to the English actress.

Rounding of a tribute to friends and family members, he wrote: 'Then most importantly my fiance and the best thing to ever happen to me, Amanda.

'I have been to the very brink and dodged the worst that a human being can, without fearbecause I was protected by love. Love is all you need, so make sure you get some, cos its good s***. '

Old timesL It is Freeman's first serious relationship since he split up in 2016 with Amanda Abbington, 48, the mother of his two children, who played his wife in Sherlock

Moving on: Abbington's own surprise engagement to America's Got Talent contestant Jonathan Goodwin was confirmed last October

There had been rumors of a proposal for weeks after Goodwin added an engagement ring to his Instagram bio, suggesting he had asked Abbington for her hand in marriage.

The actress shared her first picture with Goodwin one week prior to his accident, posting a throwback from a romantic Austrian getaway that she captioned: 'When in Vienna, you hang out at the graveyards. What of it.'

She also confirmed her romance to The Daily Mail, telling columnist Richard Eden: 'Jonathan sets fire to himself and catches bullets for a living, but is also grown up, sensitive, and considerate. I'm completely besotted.'
They may have already said 'I do' on TV, but it seems Married At First Sight's most controversial couple could be about to walk down the aisle for real.

Jackson Lonie and Olivia Frazer went shopping for an expensive diamond ring at House of K'Dor jewellers in Double Bay, Sydney, on Friday.

The sighting has sparked rumours the pair, who live together on the NSW Central Coast, are secretly engaged.

Something to tell us? Married At First Sight's Jackson Lonie (left) and Olivia Frazer (centre) went shopping for an expensive diamond ring at House of K'Dor jewellers in Sydney on Friday

Their televised wedding was not legally binding, and teaching student Olivia, 28, has said she would like to make things official with Jackson.

The outspoken bride couldn't wipe the smile off her face as a shop assistant showed her a 5ct diamond ring believed to cost $100,000.

She marvelled while trying on the expensive sparkler as her plumber boyfriend, 30, watched on.

That was quick! The sighting has sparked rumours the pair, who live together on the NSW Central Coast, are secretly engaged

After spending half an hour inside the store, Jackson used his debit card to make a payment before they both walked out.

'We are both very in love and very happy,' Olivia told Daily Mail Australia on Tuesday when asked if Jackson had popped the question.

'He has said "I love you" many times,' she giggled, but stopped short of confirming whether or not Jackson had proposed.

Is this the one? Olivia marvelled while trying on the expensive sparkler as her plumber boyfriend, 30, watched on

Advice: The outspoken bride, 28, couldn't wipe the smile off her face as a shop assistant showed her a 5ct diamond ring believed to cost $100,000

This one! After staring at the expensive ring for several minutes, Olivia made her selection

Olivia cut a casual figure for the outing in a hot pink sweater, which she teamed with blue jeans and tan boots.

She showed off her natural beauty by going makeup free.

Jackson, meanwhile, paired an orange T-shirt with ripped denim shorts and low-rise Converse sneakers.

Congratulations! After making her decision, the jeweller raced over to give Olivia a hug

Signing the dotted line: Jackson filled out some documents as an excited Olivia watched on

Hey, big spender! Jackson used his debit card to make a payment

Nice! Jackson and Olivia hugged the jeweller goodbye after making their purchase

It comes after the MAFS lovebirds revealed their plans to start a family together.

The divisive couple told New Idea last week they are already thinking about marriage and kids after shacking up together on the Central Coast.

'Babies are definitely on the brain,' Olivia told the magazine.

Mr and Mrs Lonie? Jackson and Olivia kissed as they left the store

'Babies are definitely on the brain': Olivia and Jackson recently revealed their plans to start a family together

However, she said they will go travelling and legally tie the knot before having kids.

'We want to travel, buy a house, and make our marriage legal before we're ready for a bub,' she explained.

Jackson said he already has 'dad jokes' at the ready.

Success story: The couple told New Idea last week they are already thinking about marriage and kids after shacking up together on the Central Coast

He's keen! Jackson said he already has 'dad jokes' at the ready

'Any kids of ours would be welcomed into very wild and loving families, with amazing grandparents, aunties, and uncles,' he added.

The pair announced at the MAFS reunion dinner party they had moved into a 'beach shack' on the Central Coast.

'We've got some pretty big news. We've moved in together. Official as of yesterday,' Jackson told his co-stars.

Love shack: Olivia said she was thrilled when Jackson agreed to leave his home in Melbourne so they could start a new life together on the coast

Olivia said she was thrilled when Jackson agreed to leave his home in Melbourne so they could start a new life together on the coast.

But despite this big move, she said at the time Jackson had yet to 'drop the L-bomb'.

However, she stressed she did not want to scare him off by pressing the issue.

During their final vows that aired last month, an emotional Jackson said he was committed to Olivia but came short of saying 'I love you'.

'Liv, I came into this experience hoping to find someone I could spend the rest of my life with,' he began.

'When I turned around and saw your beautiful smile, I definitely felt like we had an instant connection, to the point we were up all night, chatting each other's ear off.'
Garcelle Beauvais had an LA book signing on Monday and Christine Quinn and Sherri Shepherd showed up to support her.

The 55-year-old new author is set to release her memoir Love Me As I Am on Tuesday, April 12.

Garcelle wore a purple crushed velvet wrap top and wide-leg pants for the event in Culver City.

Encouraging: Garcelle Beauvais had an LA book signing on Monday and Christine Quinn and Sherri Shepherd showed up to support her

The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills personality wore her dark hair in a sleek, bone-straight style that flowed down to her waist.

She adorned her neck in a short gold chain and punctuated the outfit with a pair of cream pumps.

The former actress' makeup was subtle but enhanced her visage by highlighting her high cheekbones and adding shimmer to her eyelids.

She coated her pout in a soft nude color that complemented her smooth, rich complexion.

Grape color: Garcelle wore a purple crushed velvet wrap top and wide-leg pants for the event in Culver City

Fashionista: Christine appeared in a royal blue, suede motorcycle jacket that she layered over a white, scoop neck top

Christine appeared in a royal blue, suede motorcycle jacket that she layered over a white, scoop neck top.

Staying on-trend she added a pair of shredded straight-leg jeans that she wore with a white belt.

She added light blue open-toe heels and wore her platinum blonde bob in a center part and bumped under at the ends.

Proud friend: Shepherd smiled from ear to ear as she wrapped her arm around Garcelle's waist and posed for photo-ops.

Chic: The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills personality wore her dark hair in a sleek, bone-straight style that flowed down to her waist

Sherri joined her friend's milestone event in a plunging tan and black snake print jumpsuit.

The new talk show host highlighted her ample cleavage in the statement-making number, which had long sleeves.

She wore her copper brown hair in a side part with loose-flowing curls that she let fall over her shoulder.

The look was completed with open-toe cream heels, which peeked out slightly under long bottoms.

Shepherd smiled from ear to ear as she wrapped her arm around Garcelle's waist and posed for photo-ops.

Trendy: Staying on-trend, Quinn added a pair of shredded straight-leg jeans that she wore with a white belt

Group shot: The four women - Christine, Nicole E. Smith, Garcelle, and Sherri - joined together for photos at Malik Books.

Also at the literary event was Beauvais' co-author, writer Nicole E. Smith.

She wore her dark hair in braids and was clad in a long, cream, sweater dress that fell down to her ankles.

She paired it with black leather booties, a white camisole layered underneath, and a necklace. with a large gold pendant.

The four women joined together for photos at Malik Books.

A word: Christina held a silver microphone with long, French-manicured nails while she spoke to attendees

Family photo: Garcelle smiled for a photo with co-writer Nicole and her three children

Publishing company Harper Collins describes the forthcoming hardcover as 'frank, funny, and fearless.'

In the literary project the longtime entertainer will discuss her 'life, love, and the pursuit of true happiness.'

Beauvais cut a sharp figure in a white power suit and pumps on the book's bright yellow cover.
Kawakawa Fox-Reo has been forced to apologise after fans took offence at a recent post he shared on Instagram.

The 24-year-old Home and Away actor shared a since-deleted photo of himself at the gym on March 30, captioning it: 'I love steroids'.

According to a report by The Daily Telegraph on Tuesday, the post was deleted after the publication contacted Channel Seven, with Kawakawa then issuing an apology.

Sorry: Kawakawa Fox-Reo (pictured) has been forced to apologise after fans took offence at a recent post he shared on Instagram

'I know I have made a serious error in judgement with this post and I have deleted it,' he told The Daily Telegraph.

'I realise my attempt at humour was misguided and misleading and sincerely apologise.'

The New Zealand-born actor plays Nikau Parata on the hit Channel Seven soap, and has amassed over 53,000 followers on Instagram.

Mistake: The 24-year-old Home and Away actor shared a since-deleted photo of himself at the gym on March 30, captioning it: 'I love steroids'. Pictured on Home and Away

The offending post received over 2,000 likes and 36 comments in the 12 days before it was deleted.

But not everyone saw the humour, with one Instagram user claiming she was unfollowing Kawakawa, while another branded it 'idiotic'.

'Surely this is a joke? Pretty sure your producers wouldn't be a fan of you advertising roids [steroids],' commented one fan.

'I know I have made a serious error in judgement with this post and I have deleted it,' he told The Daily Telegraph

Added another: 'Ur [You're] a cool guy but please don't advertise drugs. Young kids look up to u [you].'

Kawakawa has previously spoken about feeling insecure about his body, admitting he was 'nervous' to film shirtless scenes for Home and Away.

'I have always been a skinny kid. I've always had quite a fast metabolism,' he confessed.

Getting vulnerable: Kawakawa has previously spoken about feeling insecure about his body, admitting he was 'nervous' to film shirtless scenes for Home and Away. Pictured with co-star Ethan Browne (left)

'When I first started I was a bit nervous and self-conscious to be honest. But I have learnt over time just to get over myself and do my job.

'I've learnt to love myself a little bit more in the process of that, too. Right now it is not a big deal at all, whereas it used to be something that I was scared about.

'I was self-conscious about how skinny I was, worried about what people would say. When you love yourself enough though, who cares what anybody else thinks.'
They met on season six of ITV2'S Love Island.

And Molly Smith and Callum Jones are still going strong as they celebrated two years together on Tuesday.

The 27-year-old posted a sweet throwback snap with her beau Callum, 25, from when they were holidaying in Mexico to Instagram - putting on a sizzling display.

Congrats! Love Island's Molly Smith celebrated two years with boyfriend Callum Jones by posting a pulse-racing throwback holiday snap from Mexico

Celebrating: Molly captioned the snap: Happy 2 years @callum_jones'

She looked sensational in the picture, showing off her toned legs in a white corset bustier mini dress, with a feathered hem.

Molly paired the look with gold strapped heels and a matching bag, while her blonde locks fell in a pretty wave.

She had her arm wrapped around her boyfriend of two years, who donned a more casual look in denim shorts - as the pair looked extremely sunkissed.

Going strong: The pair often share loved up snaps to their respective Instagram pages, after meeting in the Love Island villa on season six

Molly captioned the snap: Happy 2 years @callum_jones'

The pair often share loved up snaps to their respective Instagram pages, after meeting in the Love Island villa.

They have gone from strength to strength as they now live together in a home in Manchester.

But it wasn't always smooth sailing for the couple, as their get-together caused a stir on the ITV2 show.

Cute! Callum and Molly now live together in their home in Manchester, as they go from strength to strengh

Awkward: It wasn't always smooth sailing for the couple, who met in Casa Amor and ruffled some feathers on return to the villa

Callum entered the show as one of the original contestants on episode one of the series, and connected with Shaugna Phillips at the beginning.

The couple grew their relationship and continued to blossom until the infamous Casa Amor came along - which saw Molly's arrival to the show.

Molly and Callum hit it off upon meeting, and he decided to return to the villa with her - leaving Shaugna devastated as she was left to fly solo.

She was later dumped from the villa when Luke Mabbott coupled-up with Demi Jones instead of her - while Molly and Callum made it to days before the final, before being dumped by their fellow islanders.
Alex Beresford cut a casual figure on Tuesday as he was seen for the first time since revealing his engagement to Imogen McKay.

The 41-year-old Good Morning Britain weatherman looked in high spirits as he stepped out for a walk in the sun with his pooch Peaches.

He looked low-key in a brown turtleneck top which he wore underneath a black jacket and donned a pair of blue jeans on his bottom half.

Low-key: Alex Beresford cut a casual figure in a black jacket on Tuesday as he was seen for the first time since revealing his engagement to Imogen McKay

Happy news: TV presenter Alex Beresford has revealed he is engaged to his girlfriend Imogen McKay after proposing on New Year's Day while they were on holiday in Majorca

Alex looked smart in a pair of stylish brown boots as he strut along the street with his adorable cream Cavapoo.

The TV presenter sported thick grey stubble and finished off the look with a classic silver watch.

The outing comes after he revealed he is engaged to his girlfriend Imogen McKay after proposing on New Year's Day while they were on holiday in Majorca.

Stylish: The TV presenter looked low-key in a brown turtleneck top which he wore underneath the black jacket and donned a pair of blue jeans on his bottom half

Opening up: Hunky Alex admits he'd bene single 'for a while' and was ready to start dating again when he met Imogen through a mutual friend

Alex and 29-year-old Imogen - who grew up in Australia and works in e-commerce operations for a top London restaurant - have been dating since August 2020 after a mutual friend set them up on a blind date.

He told HELLO! magazine: 'I'd been on my own for a while and was ready for a new relationship. But I was adamant I didn't want to try a dating website.

'I'm of an age where before social media, you met a girl, took her phone number and called to invite her out.'

He explained that he asked a friend if she knew anyone he would get on with, to which she replied: 'I do - but she's way too good for you'.

The presenter said he laughed along and told her "She's the one that I want!"

Reflecting on the beginning of their relationship, he said: 'We hit it off from the start. We talked every day about our shared values and goals, and our love for our families. We've always been on the same page.'

Read all about it: The full interview is available in the latest issue of HELLO!

Imogen grew up in Australia and works in e-commerce operations for a top London restaurant.

She revealed that she had never seen Beresford on television before meeting him and refrained from looking him up beforehand as she wanted to find out for herself what he was like.

Recalling their first date in Bristol, where Beresford lives, she said: 'When we met, it felt as if we'd known each other for ages. Holding hands and laughing together just came naturally.'

The couple have since had a long-distance relationship moving between Bristol and London before their engagement.

Beresford described the "amazing moment" when he popped the question to McKay while they were walking along the beach in Majorica.

He said: 'The weather was sunny and warm, and the sea was crystal clear. "This is it," I thought.

'Imogen's not one for taking photos, but as I persuaded her to pose for a picture overlooking the sea, I kneeled down to take the engagement ring I'd hidden inside my rucksack.

Furry friend: The Good Morning Britain weatherman looked in high spirits as he stepped out for a walk in the sun with his pooch Peaches

'When she turned around, I was on one knee, and asked her the biggest question of my life - and she said yes. It was an amazing moment.'

The couple plan to return to Majorca for their wedding in September, which will have around 100 guests to help them celebrate their big day.

Beresford's 12-year-old son Cruz, from his previous marriage with Natalia Natkaniec, will act as ring bearer and best man.

Read the full article in the latest issue of HELLO! magazine out now.
Laura Anderson flaunted her toned physique in a sparkly co-ord as she shared a sizzling Instagram post on Tuesday.

The Love Island star, 32, dazzled in the citrus-themed ensemble, which put her chiselled abs on full display while she posed on a boat in Dubai.

She donned a glittery crop top from Oceanus, that featured orange slices and gleamed under the city lights.

Stunning: Laura Anderson took to Instagram on Tuesday to flaunt her toned physique in a sparkly co-ord while posing on a boat in Dubai

Bronzed goddess: Drawing attention to her golden glow, she captioned that slew of sizzling snaps: 'Tanning is my hobbie'

She paired it with the coordinating skirt that perfectly accentuated her long lithe legs as she clutched a glass of wine.

Her blonde tresses were styled poker straight and she completed her look with lashings of mascara and a bronzed complexion.

Drawing attention to her golden glow, she captioned that slew of sizzling snaps: 'Tanning is my hobbie [sic]'.

Wow: The Love Island star, 32, dazzled in the citrus-themed ensemble, which put her chiselled abs on full display

Flawless: Her blonde tresses were styled poker straight and she completed her look with lashings of mascara and a bronzed complexion

Teasing: Her musician boyfriend Dane Bowers cheekily commented on the post: 'And how our sheets love it when you tan'

Her musician boyfriend Dane Bowers cheekily commented on the post: 'And how our sheets love it when you tan'.

The shots come as Laura returned to her home in Dubai after visiting London to film a secret project.

She took to her Story last week to share some behind the scenes of the secret project, posting a video as she posed in a dressing room - with full-glam makeup.

BTS: She took to her Story last week to share some behind the scenes of the secret project, posting a video as she posed in a dressing room - with full-glam makeup

She donned a glimmering ensemble with a diamante detailed piece as she pulled a face at the camera, challenging fans to guess what she was filming.

The star rose to fame on season four of Love Island, going home with the runner up nod alongside island beau Paul Knops.

While the reality romance didn't last, Laura has had more luck in the real world -as she moved to Dubai in April last year to be with her Dane, 41.
Schitt's Creek star Dan Levy has revealed he suffered a nasty injury after 'face-planting on the rug' while running to the toilet.

The actor, best known for his role as David Rose in the sitcom, took to Instagram to share a glimpse of the painful scrapes on his arms after 'busting them open.'

Luckily, Dan quickly discovered he wasn't alone in suffering the injury, as both Sharon Stone and Helen Hunt quickly shared her sympathies in the comments.

Ouch! Schitts Creek star Dan Levy has revealed he suffered a nasty injury after 'faceplanting on the rug' while running to the toilet

Dan penned the caption: 'Ever have to pee so bad walking home from dinner that you start to run, then finally get home only to run to the bathroom, slip on the carpet, face plant on the thin rug covering hardwood flooring, bust open both knees, elbows, and forearms before actually making it to the toilet?

'We're doing great, everyone. Wishing you and yours a pleasant evening!'

Dan is not the first Hollywood star to have had an accident whilst rushing to the toilet as Sharon Stone also told of her disasters in the comments section.

That's got to hurt! The actor took to Instagram to share a glimpse of the painful scrapes on his arms after 'busting them open'

We get it! Luckily, Dan quickly discovered he wasn't alone in suffering the injury, as both Sharon Stone and Helen Hunt quickly shared her sympathies in the comments

She said: 'Sadly yes. It's not just you. Sorry you have a boo boo honey.'

Helen Hunt also exclaimed: 'Oh my goodness.'

It comes after Dan previously admitted he had to wear a neck brace while filming Schitts Creek due to severe anxiety, and needed an acupuncturist and a chiropractor on set every day.

Beloved: Dan is best known for his role as David Rose in the acclaimed sitcom, which ended in 2020 after five seasons

By the sixth - and final - series of Schitt's Creek, Dan's stress levels were so extreme that he had to wear a neck brace.

The star - who plays David Rose in the show about an extremely rich family who lose everything overnight - told British GQ: 'Because the anxiety in my neck was so bad I couldn't move it.

'At one point there was an acupuncturist and a chiropractor coming to set every day at lunch to work on my neck so that I could actually perform and not, you know, look like I needed a neck brace.'

Tough time: It comes after Dan previously admitted he had to wear a neck brace while filming due to severe anxiety, and needed an acupuncturist and a chiropractor on set every day

In 2020 Dan also admitted he 'hasn't been out much' due to his severe anxiety, and how he believes it started because of a 'deep-rooted fear' of knowing he 'was gay.'

In an interview with Bustle, he said: 'Over the past six years  I really haven't been outside that much.'

On how his anxiety inhibited him from coming out, Dan said: 'I think that came from a deep-rooted fear of knowing that I was gay and not being able to be free.

'By the time I got to high school, when your brain is starting to catch up to your physical impulses, it led to a very confusing time. Because on the one hand, you are now being introduced to things like self-awareness and anxiety. At the same time, you're becoming more and more savvy when it comes to hiding it.'

Despite his parents, Deborah Divine and Eugene Levy, being supportive of their son's sexuality, the actor still feared he would be 'ridiculed'.

He continued: 'Fear of being ridiculed. Fear of being othered. Fear of exposing something that I think a lot of high school students at the time didn't have the tools to process properly, to make it comfortable for me.'

Eugene admitted he wishes he had talked about what was happening with his son more, but Dan insisted he didn't feel ready to discuss being gay until he did tell his parents.

His father said: 'I would have done things so much differently, you know?

'I would have gotten more involved in talking about what was going on. Not necessarily that we would have gotten any direct answers. You can only get back what you get back.'
She is best known for her time on the soap opera Neighbours, but actress Madeleine West is switching careers to focus on politics.

The 41-year-old appeared on The Project on Tuesday night and shared her reasons for pursing a spot in the NSW State Parliament.

'I believe that politics is for the people and it's about being the voice of the people. You don't need a qualification to be a parliamentarian,' she said.

Here here: Actress Madeleine West (pictured) is switching careers to focus on politics. The 41-year-old appeared on The Project on Tuesday night and shared her reasons for pursing a spot in the NSW State Parliament

'Ostensibly you just need accountability, you need to care about your community, and you need to have a will to make people feel safe.'

The Byron Bay resident says she was inspired to take action after taking part in the flood clean up on the North Coast of NSW.

'Where I live I'm running for the seat of Ballina. We've been hit by floods and bushfires and the pandemic brought my community to its knees,' she went on.

'I believe that politics is for the people and it's about being the voice of the people. You don't need a qualification to be a parliamentarian,' she said

'Ostensibly you just need accountability, you need to care about your community, and you need to have a will to make people feel safe' she added

'I care about sustainability and the future and opportunity and I care about accountability and being answerable for your actions, and I care about my community flourishing and feeling safe,' the star added.

'I'm lucky to have a national platform, yes, but I think that makes me uniquely qualified to bring a spotlight on local issues because what we've been through realistically is a microcosm that the rest of Australia can expect to experience.'

West announced last month she is running for State Parliament at the 2023 NSW elections.

Help: The Byron Bay resident says she was inspired to take action after taking part in the flood clean up on the North Coast of NSW (pictured)

'Where I live I'm running for the seat of Ballina. We've been hit by floods and bushfires and the pandemic brought my community to its knees,' she said

The Byron Bay-based philanthropist, who has spent last month helping flood recovery efforts in Northern NSW, revealed her political aspirations on Studio 10.

The mother of six said she's grown frustrated with how the NSW government has handled the catastrophic floods, and wants to take matters into her own hands.

'I'm not agitating to see change anymore, I want to be change. And so today I'm formally announcing that I intend to run for state parliament at the NSW Elections next year,' she said, as Studio 10 hosts Sarah Harris and Tristan MacManus cheered.

Doing her part to help: In recent years, West has volunteered her time to help provide food for homeless families in her local area

Growing a future: She also volunteers for environmental group ReForest Now, which aims to regenerate northern NSW's subtropical rainforests. She is pictured here with her boyfriend and founder of ReForest Now, Maximo Bottaro

'I want to be the voice for my region. We need a strong voice on the floor, and I want to be it. When I came to my region [from Melbourne] six years ago - of course I love it as everyone does - but I wanted to understand it, I want to understand it better,' West said.

'So I dived in deep. I'm a mum of six. I want to see the region flourish. I want to see my children flourish and everyone's children to flourish there.'

In recent years, West has volunteered her time to help provide food for homeless families in her local area.

Representative: West announced last month she is running for State Parliament at the 2023 NSW elections

'I want to be the voice for my region. We need a strong voice on the floor, and I want to be it,' she said

She also volunteers for environmental group ReForest Now, which aims to regenerate northern NSW's subtropical rainforests.

The actress also told Studio 10 she plans to advocate for gender pay equality.

Madeleine rose to fame playing Dee Bliss on Neighbours between 2000 and 2003, and has also had prominent roles in Underbelly and The Wrong Girl.
Gail Porter will spend Tuesday in hospital after fracturing her skull, but joked it was a positive sign as she's 'still here' after waiting almost six months to get an appointment.

The Scottish presenter suffered the injury in November, and has since been sat on an NHS waiting list as she prepares for a much-needed MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) scan of the affected area.

Taking to her social media feeds on Friday, Gail, 51, revealed a doctor had taken matters into his own hands and arranged the scan - with her hospital appointment scheduled for April 12.

Treatment: Gail Porter will spend Tuesday in hospital after fracturing her skull during a recent fall, but has joked she's grateful 'to still be here' after waiting months to get an appointment

She told followers: 'Well.. slightly weird but I guess good news. A London doctor has arranged an MRI scan for me.6months [sic] after I fractured my skull. Ill take that as a positive as Im still here!'

Sharing a photo of her injured head on Monday evening, Gail - who suffers from alopecia - admitted she was mildly worried about the prospect of having the scan.

She wrote: 'So , eventually I am getting an MRI scan on my fractured skull tomorrow after London doctors gave me a 6 months waiting list. I guess a positive attitude is better than a negative one.'

In a later post, the presenter added: 'Nervous but hoping all is good.'

Finally: Taking to her social media feeds on Friday, Gail revealed a doctor had arranged the scan - with her hospital appointment scheduled for April 12

Gail originally revealed she had fractured her skull while sharing a picture of her badly grazed head in November, telling followers she was struggling to sleep with the injury.

She wrote: 'Sleeping is not too comfortable with a fractured skull!! Dont have the hand book on comfy sore head sleeps! Hope youre all sleeping well.'

The presenter has battled anorexia, post-natal depression, bipolar, and was left bald by alopecia months after her acrimonious divorce from Toploader guitarist Dan Hipgrave in 2004.

EXPLAINED: MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING USED MAGNETIC FIELDS TO SEE INSIDE THE BODY Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a type of scan that uses strong magnetic fields and radio waves to produce detailed images of the inside of the body. An MRI scanner is a large tube that contains powerful magnets. You lie inside the tube during the scan. An MRI scan can be used to examine almost any part of the body, including the brain and spinal cord, bones and joints, breasts, heart and blood vessels and internal organs - such as the liver, womb or prostate gland. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a type of scan that uses strong magnetic fields and radio waves to produce detailed images of the inside of the body. An MRI scanner is a large tube that contains powerful magnets. You lie inside the tube during the scan The results of an MRI scan can be used to help diagnose conditions, plan treatments and assess how effective previous treatment has been. Most of the human body is made up of water molecules, which consist of hydrogen and oxygen atoms. At the centre of each hydrogen atom is an even smaller particle, called a proton. Protons are like tiny magnets and are very sensitive to magnetic fields. When you lie under the powerful scanner magnets, the protons in your body line up in the same direction, in the same way that a magnet can pull the needle of a compass. Short bursts of radio waves are then sent to certain areas of the body, knocking the protons out of alignment. When the radio waves are turned off, the protons realign. This sends out radio signals, which are picked up by receivers. These signals provide information about the exact location of the protons in the body. They also help to distinguish between the various types of tissue in the body, because the protons in different types of tissue realign at different speeds and produce distinct signals. In the same way that millions of pixels on a computer screen can create complex pictures, the signals from the millions of protons in the body are combined to create a detailed image of the inside of the body. Advertisement

Concern: Gail - who suffers from alopecia - admitted she was mildly worried about the prospect of having the scan

Gail was placed under a 28-day sectioned order at the Grove Clinic in 2011 where she was held for almost a month.

She told MailOnline: When you are suffering from depression as badly as I was, you genuinely believe you will never come out of a place like that.

It felt as if I was in the film One Flew Over The Cuckoos Nest. I had been forced into this place with some very, very ill people and we were left to our own devices and to fend for ourselves.

Admission: Gail originally revealed she had fractured her skull in November, telling followers she was struggling to sleep with the injury

Painful: Gail also shared a picture of her badly grazed head following the fall in November

I had no idea how long I had been in there because each day followed exactly the same pattern as the last.

In the morning I was woken at 7am. We would have cereal for breakfast in the common room then the nurses came round with our medication. I was given 5mg of diazepam in a little pot to swallow to keep me calm.

'I didnt even know what it was but there was no point complaining because you had to take what you were prescribed.'

At the height of her fame Gail hosted some of the most popular shows on television, including Top Of The Pops, Channel 4s The Big Breakfast and the BBCs flagship Saturday-morning series Live & Kicking.

Her success led to a relationship with musician Dan, who she married in 2001. The couple had a daughter Honey, now 20, the following year.

Old times: The presenter was at the height of her career in the 90s, hosting shows including Top Of The Pops, Children In Need and The Big Breakfast (pictured in 1999)
Denise Van Outen split from her partner of seven years in January after he was reportedly caught having phone sex with other women.

And Eddie Boxshall took to his Instagram Stories on Monday to share a thinly veiled post appearing to criticise his presenter ex-girlfriend, 47.

The commodities trader posted a photograph of his dinner of pie and mash at London's Manze pie shop, which he shared alongside a cryptic caption where he said 'there ain't no pleasing you'.

Hitting out: Eddie Boxshall took to his Instagram Stories on Monday to share a thinly veiled post appearing to criticise his presenter ex-girlfriend Denise Van Outen

He wrote: Everything I ever did was wrong, I should have known it all along. There ain't no pleasing you! (but this pleases me!)'

But Eddie did not stop there as he went on to share another apparent dig at Denise as he shared an inspirational motto on his Instagram page.

The note read: 'Time is too precious to live someone else's definition of happiness and success.'

On Tuesday, Eddie also shared more cryptic quotes to his Instagram Stories as he posted letters to himself under the hashtag #notestoyourself.

'Should have known it all along': The trader posted a picture of his dinner of pie and mash, which he shared alongside a cryptic caption where he said 'there ain't no pleasing you'

Break-up: Denise Van Outen split from her partner of seven years (pictured in October 2019) in January after he was reportedly caught having phone sex with other women

One read: 'Dear me, I know you are scared but you can handle this. Love, me.'

A second said: 'Dear me, Don't fall back into your old patterns just because they're familiar. Love, me.'

And a third added: 'Dear me, Do what makes you truly f**king happy. Love, me.'

The Celebrity Gogglebox star's comments are the latest in a slew of scathing Instagram posts following his break-up with Denise.

Last month, Eddie posted an expletive-filled message, declaring: 'Unf**k yourself. Be who you were before all the stuff happened that dimmed your f**king shine.'

Cryptic: Eddie did not stop there as he went on to share another apparent dig at Denise as he shared an inspirational motto on his Instagram page

Criticism: On Tuesday, Eddie also shared more cryptic quotes to his Instagram Stories as he posted letters to himself under the hashtag #notestoyourself

While he also shared a number of cryptic quotes, seemingly in reference to Denise's interview where she detailed their break-up.

Eddie shared his 'thought of the day': 'Love is more important than money', and also 'people who live in glass houses should not throw stones'. He also took a snap of a neon light with the saying 'let that s**t go'.

He recently confessed he'd lost over a stone in weight while battling stress and anxiety after their seven year relationship came to an end.

Denise recently revealed she caught Eddie flirting sexually with three women and described his behaviour as 'disrespectful and devastatingly hurtful'.

She claimed that she found pictures and Instagram messages on Eddie's iPad, detailing the ordeal in her new autobiography, A Bit Of Me: From Basildon To Broadway And Back.

Exes: Last month, Eddie shared his 'thought of the day': 'Love is more important than money' in a thinly veiled swipe at his ex-girlfriend

Time to move on? The Celebrity Gogglebox star's comments are his latest in a flood scathing Instagram posts following his break-up with Denise

She said: 'Among photos was a screenshot of a woman's breasts  and they definitely weren't mine!

'Also, there was a flirty text exchange between Eddie and this woman, which, of course, set off alarm bells.'

The star admitted the exchange happened in a week she had booked a Spanish holiday, explaining: 'Eddie decided not to come to Spain because he didn't feel well.

'While sympathetic, I was slightly confused about why he couldn't chill with me beside the pool but could still manage to go to the pub.'

Cheating: Denise revealed she caught Eddie (pictured in January 2020) flirting sexually with three women and described his behaviour as 'disrespectful and devastatingly hurtful'

Denise also discovered selfies of Eddie with a woman in a bar on a day he had told her he was in London for business.

She realised by looking at the outline of the woman's chest she was not the same one in the first photos. She also found messages which suggested 'phone sex' with a third woman called Tracy.

Denise decided to contact Tracy and said: 'They'd never met in person, but she said the conversations had become sexual in nature reasonably quickly  some of the stuff I found on the phone seemed to support that.'

She added: 'To me, sexual chats and continued communication over a long period of time amount to cheating.

'Especially when it's done from a home I'd strived to build for us as a family. A home that Eddie found and I bought for us.

'A home we'd only just moved into when it all started. It was disrespectful and devastatingly hurtful.'

Denise confronted Eddie about the women, but he denied doing anything wrong and she told him to leave.

The star, who has an eight-year-old daughter with ex-husband Lee Mead, insisted: 'The thing I battled with most was that it wasn't just one person, one mistake or drunken night. This was something that had gone on for more than three years. I felt betrayed.'

She 'cried her heart out' to her mother, adding: 'I was in pain and shock. I'd thought we had the perfect life.

'Any relationship has to be built on trust and once that's gone, there's no way forward. If I hadn't found those pictures, I'd be planning a wedding right now. Instead, I've simply got to move on.'

But Denise has insisted there are 'no hard feelings' following the break-up and that she has managed to move forward.

Moving on: But Denise has insisted there are 'no hard feelings' following the break-up and that she has managed to move forward

Speaking on a recent episode of Lorraine, she said: 'I'm feeling really good now because I wasn't in a good place, it was all a bit of a shock.

'These things happen. I'm not the first person it's happened to and I won't be the last, sadly. But it's life, isn't it, Lorraine?

'You just have to get on with it and there are no hard feelings on my side. It's happened and you just accept it. I can't change what's happened.'

Addressing the break up for the first time last month, Denise explained she was 'really proud' of herself for knowing when to walk away.

She said on Radio 2: 'The one thing I'm really proud of myself for is I do know when to walk away and I don't like to be taken advantage of.

'Sometimes it's been to the detriment of my own career or in my own relationships, but I just feel like it's really important as a woman to have self-worth and self-respect.

'I've always tried to maintain that in anything that I do in life, generally. More so now as a mother because I feel like I'm a role model and I've got to set an example.'

Denise went on to the muse that she can see light at the end of the tunnel, noting: 'The bad times are always followed by good times and that's what I always look forward to.

'I think you just ride the wave of the bad times knowing that eventually you will get to a good place.'

Crafty: Despite Eddie's efforts to conceal his infidelities, Denise still found out when she was using his iPad and the messages came up (pictured February 2022)

According to The Sun, Denise asked Eddie to leave their home after discovering he had been swapping messages and calls with women he met online and hooking up with another on secret dates.

Confirming their split in an Instagram post, Denise wrote: 'Over the past couple of months, there has been much speculation regarding my relationship with Eddie.

'It saddens me to confirm that we are no longer a couple. I had to make the difficult decision not to continue in our relationship.

'I will always treasure the good times we spent together, and the memories made. We ask that you please respect our privacy at this time, especially for our children.'
Alexander Skarsgard has spoken about his enduring working relationship with Nicole Kidman after they reunited for the new action movie, The Northman.

In an interview with the Herald Sun on Tuesday, the 45-year-old actor joked that they 'sure can pick 'em' after they teamed up for yet another violence-filled project.

He added that their next project should probably be a 'sweet romantic comedy', and insisted there was no better screen partner than Nicole, 54.

Back together: Alexander Skarsgard has spoken about his enduring working relationship with Nicole Kidman after they reunited for the new action movie, The Northman (pictured)

'It's another very dark, twisted, dysfunctional relationship. But that's kind of where you wanna go with someone like Nicole, because she's so tremendous to work with,' he said of their latest project.

'That relationship on Big Little Lies demanded complete trust between us, 'cos it was so tough to shoot those scenes. I can't imagine a better partner on that journey, and again on The Northman.'

Alexander previously spoke about his friendship with Nicole and the high level of trust between them in an interview with Vanity Fair in March 2017.

History repeats: In an interview with the Herald Sun on Tuesday, the 45-year-old actor joked that they 'sure can pick 'em' after they teamed up for yet another violence-filled project. Pictured with Nicole Kidman at the Emmy Awards in Los Angeles in September 2017

The Swedish actor discussed playing Nicole's abusive husband in the TV series Big Little Lies, and said they'd 'spent time' together 'working on our relationship'.

'It was all about building that trust, finding your connection, jumping off the ledge, and seeing where it takes you,' he explained.

Alexander added that it was 'definitely tough shaking that off', and said they'd always make a point of 'checking in with each other' after a difficult scene.

Ready for a change: He added that their next project should probably be a 'sweet romantic comedy', and insisted there was no better screen partner than Nicole. Pictured together in Big Little Lies

'It was very important to reconnect after shooting those scenes. We made a point of checking in with each other, giving each other a hug,' he said.

'Nicole is an incredible partner because she is so generous and so open and it makes it easier as an actor when you have a partner like that.'

Meanwhile, Nicole also spoke about filming volatile scenes with Alexander in an interview with W Magazine in January 2018.

Kiss and tell: Nicole previously addressed their controversial kiss on the lips at the Emmys (pictured) in September 2017 after Alexander won the award for Best Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie for his role in Big Little Lies

'There were times on that set when it was intense. But he and I communicated. There had to be such safety and such honesty and such raw vulnerability there that we have a different connection,' she said.

She also addressed their controversial kiss on the lips at the Emmys in September 2017 after Alexander won the award for Best Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie for his role in Big Little Lies.

'I'd kissed him many, many times on the set. Much more than that. So that was just my way of going, in the moment - we were both shocked and we were like, "Oh, my gosh, I'm so glad you won." Because I know what he put into that role,' she said.
Gemma Collins grew emotional on stage on Monday night as she discussed her father's battle with Covid.

Alan, 74, was rushed to hospital in December 2020 and 'fought for his life' after being placed on a ventilator.

Proud daughter Gemma, 41, got choked up at her one-woman show - Big Night Out - at Troxy in East London, as she detailed his recovery.

'You should never take life or anyone for granted': Emotional Gemma Collins struggled to hold back tears on stage on Monday as she discussed her father's battle with Covid (pictured with her father and mum Joan)

Revealing her father was in attendance, Gemma admitted it was a moment she never thought would happen as she reflected on his days on a ventilator.

She said: 'I am just so happy. I am not sad guys. I am so happy and you should never take life or anyone for granted because it can go just like that.

'When dad walked in tonight I was like, "thank you god" - this man has been through one hell of a time but he has been able to come to the show tonight. This is the kind of stuff I want to share.'

Gemma's mother Joan also battled the virus in hospital at the same time as her husband and went on to recover.

The Essex-native told Monday night's supportive crowd that she owed her parents 'everything' and called them her 'biggest support'.

Family: Alan, 74, was rushed to hospital in December 2020 and 'fought for his life' after being placed on a ventilator

Brave: Gemma's mother Joan also battled the virus in hospital at the same time as her husband and went on to recover

The former TOWIE star admitted last January it had been a 'terrible start to the new year' as her father fought for his life against Covid, but said he was called 'The Miracle Man' in hospital after defying the odds.

She said during an Instagram Live interview at the time: 'My dad was really unwell  you can see how tired I am. I literally haven't slept. Because he was in hospital I was just so worried all the time.'

'It's only really now that I'm catching up on my sleep,' she continued, before revealing: 'He's out of hospital, I don't need to worry. It's only really now he's home I can start getting everything back together again.

Tribute: The Essex-native told Monday night's supportive crowd that she owed her parents 'everything' and called them her 'biggest support'

'I couldn't ask for any more. I turn 40 on Sunday. Yes, I've got bags under my eyes but my dad is alive. I'm able to eat a piece of cake with him.'

Elsewhere during Monday night's performance, the reality personality labelled Instagram as 'fake' and 'phoney', admitting her online presence is merely one to keep her fans entertained.

She said: 'A lot of what goes on there is just put out there to keep you entertained but what is going on behind the scenes is real life.'

Essex's favourite diva - who was recently snatched up for Chicago on stage - has been touring the country with her dazzling show GC's Big Night Out.
Melanie Clark Pullen has died at the age of 46 after battling cancer.

The EastEnders star, who played Pauline Fowler's niece Mary Flaherty, died on March 29 after undergoing radiotherapy treatment.

Melanie, who leaves behind her husband Simon and three children, was diagnosed with breast cancer in January 2019.

Tragic: EastEnders star Melanie Clark Pullen has died at the age of 46 after battling cancer (pictured on EastEnders in 1998)

She was given the all-clear the following year, telling The Irish News at the time: 'I got the all clear, I'm cancer free, which is great, so now it's all about recovery.'

But in June, she was tragically diagnosed with a brain tumour and kept her fans up to date with her cancer battle online.

She said after her second diagnosis: 'I was only given the all clear from cancer 18 months ago and its a cruel blow to think that I will now be starting into some kind of treatment again and that this time it will be long term and a permanent fixture of my life.'

Melanie starred in EastEnders from 1997 to 1999 as as Mary Flaherty, the long-lost great-niece of Pauline Fowler (Wendy Richard).

Last picture: The mother-of-three was diagnosed with breast cancer in January 2019 and given the all-clear the following year. But in June she was diagnosed with a brain tumour (seen with her father in an Instagram post from March 14)

Famous family: Melanie starred in EastEnders from 1997 to 1999 as as Mary Flaherty, the long-lost great-niece of Pauline Fowler (Wendy Richard who played Pauline is pictured)

Tributes poured in for the actress after her death was reported in The Sun., with the official EastEnders Twitter account sharing: 'Were deeply saddened to hear that Melanie Clark Pullen has passed away. Our love and thoughts are with Melanies family and friends.'

Andrew Lynford, who played Tiffany Mitchell's brother, Simon Raymond on the show, tweeted: 'How sad to hear we have lost one of the gang. RIP dear Melanie. Remembering happy days.'

Shaun Williamson, who played Barry Evans, penned: 'This is horrendous news. RIP Melanie [broken heart emoji, broken heart emoji]

Heartbreaking: Melanie, who leaves behind her husband Simon and three children, was diagnosed with breast cancer in January 2019 (pictured with her family)

Maia Dunphy, the wife of Johnny Vegas, also paid tribute to the 'generous' and 'creative' star.

The Irish broadcaster wrote: 'Our funny, beautiful, eccentric, creative Goddess Melanie Clark Pullen is gone.

'What a force of nature, & most importantly, what a Mama. Your words and your babies live on. Our love and thoughts are with Simon.'

Melanie arrived on EastEnders in a series of episodes set in Ireland, and befriends her cousin Mark Fowler before moving to Walford.

RIP: Tributes poured in for the soap star after her premature death

Mary breaks her pelvis whilst on holiday in Norfolk and later moves to Scotland with her father Conor and his pregnant lover, Mark's wife Ruth Fowler.

Actress Melanie also starred in ITV period drama A Dinner Full of Herbs, and crime drama Inspector George Gently.

She also starred as a doctor in 2019 film Ordinary Love, which sees Liam Neeson and Lesley Manville play married couple Joan and Tom, whose lives are changed with Joan is diagnosed with breast cancer.

As seen on screen: She arrived on the soap opera in a series of episodes set in Ireland before moving to Walford (pictured with co-star Barbara Windsor who plays Peggy Mitchell)

Upsetting: Last June, Melanie was tragically diagnosed with a brain tumour and kept her fans up to date with her cancer battle online

Previously speaking to The Irish Times, Melanie explained that she ended up having to tell Lesley's character Joan that she had breast cancer just days after she had received her own diagnosis in real life.

She told the publication: 'It could've been the same conversation I'd had with the doctors just a few days beforehand.

'I think I was still probably in shock when I did that but I was able to go straight into performance mode.'

Melanie, who ran a coaching business Strut and Bellow, said she found it hard to describe in words what it was like battling cancer, saying she got out her feelings through art therapy.

'It's been brutal, horrific, I'm forever changed,' she added.
Ferne McCann wished her boyfriend Lorri Haines happy birthday on Instagram on Tuesday with a slew of heartfelt throwback videos.

The former TOWIE starlet, 31, and the Dubai based estate agent, 31, went public with their hot new romance at the start of the year during a holiday to the UAE.

She shared several loved-up videos from their last couple of months together and said she felt 'blessed' to have met him.

Love is in the air: Ferne McCann wished her boyfriend Lorri Haines happy birthday on Instagram on Tuesday with a slew of heartfelt throwback videos

The couple could be seen cuddling up and kissing in several exotic locations, while in other snaps Lorri could be seen doting on Ferne's four-year-old daughter Sunday.

Alongside the post, Ferne penned: 'Happy birthday darling. I am so excited to celebrate YOU with you today @lozzahaines Ahh it happens when you least expect it but I am beyond blessed we crossed paths.

'Here's to the first birthday's of many. I love you and I'll never stop loving you. You are the absolute best. We are super lucky to have Lozza!'

Couple goals: The former TOWIE star, 31, and the Dubai based estate agent, 31, went public with their hot new romance at the start of the year during a holiday to the UAE

Cute: She shared several loved-up videos from their past couple of months together with her 2.7 million followers and said she is 'blessed' to have met him

Last month, Ferne revealed she has finally found The One as she admitted that she would 'genuinely marry' her boyfriend Lorri after a string of failed romances.

Speaking to The Sun, Ferne, who is mother to daughter Sunday, four, with jailed ex Arthur Collins, also told how she has learned from her 'mistakes' and would like to expand her brood with Lorrie in the future.

The star confessed that she is ready to spend the rest of her life with Lorri and 'can't wait' to extend her family, just weeks after he was pictured sniffing suspicious white powder.

Alongside the post, Ferne penned: 'Happy birthday darling. I am so excited to celebrate YOU with you today @lozzahaines Ahh it happens when you least expect it but I am beyond blessed we crossed paths.

Adorable: The couple could be seen cuddling up and kissing in several exotic locations, while in other snaps Lorri could be seen doting on Ferne's four-year-old daughter Sunday

Ferne gushed: 'I have met someone that I can see the rest of my future with. I can't wait to extend my family and for Sunday to have siblings.'

'I have never thought about it until now because I have met someone now that I would genuinely marry.'

Ferne made clear that her life has changed a lot since her relationship with Collins, who is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence at Woodhill Prison, Milton Keynes, after carrying out an acid attack at a London nightclub in 2017.

Couple: 'I can't wait to extend my family and for Sunday to have siblings': Ferne has revealed that she would 'marry' her boyfriend Lorri

Saying her life was turned upside down by the incident, Ferne added: 'I am different now  I am older and wiser. I have learned from mistakes.'

The reality TV star described Lorri as a 'loyal man' that she 'respects' and said they have a lot of 'parallels' in their lives.

Lorri is based in the UAE and runs a jewellery firm, an investment business and a software company.
Patrick Duffy admits he found love with Linda Purl during lockdown because they were unable to be physical with each other due to social distancing guidelines.

While many were deprived of romance as COVID-19 forced most of the world indoors, former Dallas star Duffy, 73, somehow found his soulmate in ex-Happy Days actress Purl, 66, after they initially clicked during a group text chat.

The pair soon started FaceTiming, before graduating to video conferencing platform Zoom - where they enjoyed nightly discussions as their feelings for one another slowly developed into something more than platonic friendship.

Opening up: Patrick Duffy admits he found love with Linda Purl during lockdown because they were unable to be physical with each other due to social distancing guidelines

Appearing on Tuesday's edition of Loose Women they revealed the complexion of their relationship changed at a steady pace, with the couple soon finding they shared common ground across a range of subjects.

Purl explained: 'It was gradual, it was very gradual. The conversations would deepen and move into different areas - family, spiritual, mutual friends.'

Duffy also admitted lockdown worked in their favour because they were able to focus on getting to know one another without the usual dating distractions getting in the way - including sex.

Close: While many were deprived of romance as COVID-19 forced most of the world indoors, former Dallas star Duffy somehow found his soulmate in ex-Happy Days actress Purl

'Nothing got in the way of finding out who we were', he added. 'We weren't at dinner, I wasn't going "well, do I kiss her goodnight? Do I go to her house? Or does she come to mine?" None of that, we just found out who we were.'

The pair, currently starring in a new touring production of the classic Broadway thriller Catch Me If You Can, previously admitted they chatted every night for four months before finally meeting in person.

Appearing on This Morning in January, Duffy said: 'Its a COVID romance. We didnt sit in the same room for almost four months but we spoke to each other everyday.'

Discussion: Appearing on Tuesday's edition of Loose Women they revealed the complexion of their relationship changed at a steady pace

Every cloud: Duffy also admitted lockdown worked in their favour because they were able to focus on getting to know one another

Purl, who played Ashley Pfister in season 10 of Happy Days in the early 1980s, also recalled the first time he expressed his feelings, adding 'As we were about to do the end meeting, Patrick says "see you tomorrow love you."

Duffy said: 'The next day we zoomed it was like"hi". I got into my car and drove 23 hours to her door step and weve never been apart.'

Branding Linda 'the most beautiful thing in the world' Patrick said: 'I wasnt looking for (love) but it found me.'

Previously: The pair also discussed their relationship during an appearance on This Morning in January

TV icons: Duffy is best known for his role playing handsome nice guy Bobby Ewing on Dallas (left) while Purl played Fonzie's girlfriend on Happy Days

Lost love: Duffy admitted he had given up on the idea of dating again following the passing of his wife, ballet dancer Carlyn Rosser, who succumbed to cancer in 2017 (pictured 1987)

Describing their relationship in a November 2020 interview, Duffy said he had given up on the idea of dating again following the passing of his wife, ballet dancer Carlyn Rosser, who succumbed to cancer in 2017.

The pair were married for over four decades and had two sons: Padraic, 46, and Conor. 40.

'I wasn't looking for it. I didn't feel I needed it  and then fate just went swoosh! and changed the perspective,' he said of their love.

'We started texting and then FaceTiming and then Zooming  We did a two-to-three-hour Zoom every single night  You get to know somebody really well when you do that.'

Purl is a mother to son Lucius Cary, 26, who she shares with ex husband Alexander Cary.

She has been married four times in total but has no other children.
Justin Hemmes threw a whopping party for his staff on Monday.

The pub baron's shindig, held at his popular Sydney CBD nightclub The Ivy, lasted a whopping 12 hours and cost $1million, with the 49-year-old Merivale CEO pictured joining the fun.

'It was a mini-festival. Thousands of staff all having an amazing time, it was incredible,' Hemmes told The Daily Telegraph on Tuesday.

Time to party! Justin Hemmes (pictured) threw a whopping party for his staff on Monday. The pub baron's shindig, held at his popular Sydney CBD nightclub The Ivy, lasted a whopping 12 hours and cost $1million, with the 49-year-old Merivale CEO pictured joining the fun.

The spend was chump change to the billionaire, who was happy to drop some change on his charges, with 4500 staff members partying all day at The Ivy - which was aptly re-named 'Ivy Land'.

'It is not about spending money, it is about recognition,' he said. 'It is celebrating their hard work and acknowledging them for the great job that they do. Particularly in hospitality, staff are everything.

'Your business is built on your people but also we are a family company and we like to celebrate the good times and celebrate the success, our people and the support they give us.'

'It was a mini-festival. Thousands of staff all having an amazing time, it was incredible,' Hemmes told The Daily Telegraph on Tuesday.

Hemmes shared several videos from the epic bash, aptly named 'Ivy Land', on Monday, with his model girlfriend Madeline Holtznagel, 26, taking centre stage as she danced in a glitzy rhinestone bra to the pumping DJ beats.

Her model sister Simone, who recently appeared on SAS Australia, later shared a video of Madeline hosing down revellers with a steam machine as she danced onstage.

The crowd, which were staff from all of Merivale's venues, danced to a banging setlist of club anthems from headline act Flight Facilities.

The majority of attendees wore colourful outfits and props as they fist-pumped to the beat, and enjoyed free-flowing drinks and cuisine all night long.

Wild day: The spend was chump change to the billionaire, who was happy to drop some change on his charges, with 4500 staff members partying all day at The Ivy - which was aptly re-named 'Ivy Land'. 'It is not about spending money, it is about recognition,' he said

Stunner: Hemmes' model girlfriend Madeline Holtznagel, 26, took centre stage as she danced in a glitzy rhinestone bra to the pumping DJ beats

Glam: Madeline looked utterly stunning in a sparkly silver bra and pink sunglasses

According to The Daily Telegraph, the company had to close down most of its locations across the city for the event, with a sign on the door reading: 'Our wonderful team are currently enjoying a well deserve day off for our staff party.'

One employee even had Hemmes' face emblazoned on a poster, which was stuck to an umbrella and raised in the air in honour of the CEO.

Hemmes was seen posing with several staff member at the event, wearing a colourful shirt and glitter on his face as he raised his hands in the air and smiled.

Glitzy! She teamed her look with a pair of vibrant trousers, and opted for bright green eyeshadow and rhinestones to accentuate her striking features. Picture right, with a pal

Wild: Her sister Simone, who recently appeared on SAS Australia, also shared a video of Madeline hosing down revellers with a steam machine as she danced onstage

Big fan: One employee even had Hemmes' face plastered on a poster, which was stuck to an umbrella and raised in the air in honour of the CEO

Other attendees included Merivale's celebrity chefs Dan Hong and Mike Eggert.

Speaking to the publication about the bash, Hemmes said: 'We've all faced a challenging two years.

'I want to thank my staff for their unwavering support, for their hard work, for their loyalty and the commitment to the industry and Merivale.'

Meanwhile, Hemmes' girlfriend looked stunning in a sparkly silver bra and pink sunglasses.

She teamed her look with a pair of patterned trousers, and opted for bright green eyeshadow and rhinestones to accentuate her striking features.

Model behaviour: At one stage, Madeline climbed up the bar to take a sultry photo, flaunting her svelte frame and ample assets in the process

Big night! One reveller was seen waltzing across the stage in a bikini and rainbow cape, as the crowd bounced along to the music around her

Epic: Madeline was seen dancing with the poster of her boyfriend onstage

At one stage, Madeline climbed up the bar to take a sultry photo, flaunting her svelte frame and ample assets in the process.

One reveller was seen waltzing across the stage in a bikini and rainbow cape, as the crowd bounced along to the music around her.

Hemmes made his debut on the Financial Review Rich List in 2018 with an estimated net worth of $951million.

Last year, his net worth grew to $1.2billion, making him the 97th richest person in Australia.

The billionaire businessman owns a string of lucrative pubs and establishments across the country, including the Lorne Hotel on Victoria's Great Ocean Road, along with The Quarterdeck, The Inlet and The Whale Inn.

Huge parties for staff have become folklore at Merivale, which is currently facing a class action before the Federal Court for underpayment of workers. Merivale has denied liability and is vigorously fighting the class action.

Madeline and Justin have been dating for some time, and she even spent lockdown at his Vaucluse mansion in 2020.

She now reportedly lives in a Coogee penthouse he owns.
She is expecting her third child with husband and former Made In Chelsea star Spencer Matthews.

And, with her due date thought to be this month, Vogue Williams revealed she has spent 'a lot of time in bed' as she grapples with sickness.

The presenter, who is already mum to Theodore, three, and 20-month old Gigi, told new magazine that Instagram, where she has been documenting her pregnancy journey for her almost 1million followers, is very much 'only a snapshot of my life.'

'I've been spending a lot of time in bed': Pregnant Vogue Williams revealed she is grappling with sickness but said 'it will all be worth it' as she nears her due date

The 36-year-old explained: 'None of my pregnancies have been the same. This pregnancy I was sick in the beginning, then it passed and I felt great and now it's back again.

'I've been spending a lot of time in bed the last couple of weeks, but it will all be worth it in the end.'

The soon-to-be mother-of-three was also on hand during the interview to provide her top tips for travelling with young children.

Soon to be five: The presenter, 36, is expecting her third child with husband and former Made In Chelsea star Spencer Matthews (pictured with their children Theodore, three, and 20-month old Gigi)

Among her copious advice included 'taking snacks, snacks, snacks and more snacks', travelling when the little ones are sleeping and taking toys they haven't seen for a while 'so they feel like new toys again.'

Vogue's happy family of four recently enjoyed a magical trip to Disneyland and she gushed that they couldn't wait to go back.

'We're grateful to be able to give our kids these amazing these amazing experiences and we're lucky that they adapt well to travelling, for the most part,' she said.

Honest: The Irishwoman told new magazine that Instagram, where she has been documenting her pregnancy journey for her almost 1million followers, is very much 'only a snapshot of my life' (pictured last month)

Cosy: The Irishwoman has been married to former reality star Spencer, 33, since 2018 and she offered St Barts - where her in-laws live - as their favourite getaway destination

The Irishwoman has been married to former reality star Spencer, 33, since 2018 and she offered St Barts - where her in-laws live - as their favourite getaway destination.

It comes after Vogue exclusively told MailOnline that Spencer would like more children.

She said: 'Spencer would go for four children. I have to be pregnant so he leaves the decision to me, but he would be happy with five or six but no thanks. We won't be doing that!

'I'm not sure this pregnancy will be my last because I have suction bagged all of Gigi's clothes and I thought, "Why am I doing that?"

'My intention with all her clothes was to sell them to charity and I haven't done that, and they are girl's clothes and I'm not having a girl... I will leave it an extra year and then I'll decide.'
Charlotte Crosby has announced she is pregnant with her first child her boyfriend Jake Ankers.

The Geordie Shore star, 31, confirmed the happy news in a heartwarming post she shared with her fans on Instagram on Tuesday.

Charlotte's announcement came just weeks after she hinted that she and Jake could get engaged in the future, after he admitted he may propose soon.

Baby news! Charlotte Crosby is PREGNANT! The reality star has announced she's expecting her first child with boyfriend Jake Ankers just weeks after teasing their engagement

In her social media post, Charlotte shared the news in a video showing her pregnanct test and also filmed herself telling the happy news to her family.

She penned the caption: 'A moment I wasnt sure would ever be mine is here, its mine (and Jake's) and i couldnt be happier to be sharing it with you allI'm having a baby.'

In the video, Charlotte is seen going for a pregnnacy scan where she hears the baby's heartbeat.

She is then seen telling her parents, with her mother Letitia bursting into tears as they hugged.

Scan: The Geordie Shore star, 31, confirmed the happy news in a heartwarming post she shared with her fans on Instagram on Tuesday

Family: In a sweet clip, Charlotte is seen telling her parents, with her mother Letitia bursting into tears as they hugged

Letita then tells Charlotte that she and her father Gary were just discussing how happy there daughter has seemed lately as they sat around the table with Jake.

Letita says: 'You just know when you know, dont you Gary?'

'When you know what?' Charlotte asks.

'That its the right person and youre happy. When we were away this weekend we were talking about, "its so nice that shes happy and shes settled and we know this is probably gonna be the right one."'

Announcement: The video begins with Charlotte sharing her positive pregnancy test

Love: Charlotte's mother Letitia tells her that she and her father Gary were just discussing how happy there daughter has seemed lately as they sat around the table with Jake

Mother-to-be: In another clip from the video, Charlotte is seen looking throughn her sonogram images

Gary then added: 'Ive never known her so happy Jake.'

The rest of the video sees Charlotte and Jake sharing a kiss before she meets members of her extended family on Mother's Day to tell them the good news.

On Tuesday the star gushed she'd finally found 'the One' with Jake after being 'cheated on' and 'used' by a string of exes.

Speaking in a YouTube Q&A, the star said she's avoided sharing photos of Jake on social media because she doesn't want to be abused by trolls.

She said: 'I've enjoyed getting to know someone and falling in love with someone behind closed doors, without people having their opinions.

Romance: Charlotte filmed herself sharing a kiss with Jake on Mother's Day

Exciting: Charlotte documented her scans in the heartwarming announcement video

Congrats: Charlotte told her family the happy news on Mother's Day

'Without ''Sandra Brown'' saying ''oh not another one, not another one!'' which by the way can I just say right, something I don't like about this comment, if someone has had a few boyfriends, don't make that out to be a negative.

'Because at the end of the day it shows that that person would not stand for s**t, and if that person was being disrespected, they respected themselves enough to say 'I'm getting up and I'm off mate, this is not the life I expected.''

Charlotte continued: 'Not all of them, but a lot of men in my life have turned out to be that said person, in it for the wrong reasons, uses you, cheats on you, not the person you want to spend the rest of your life with.

Candid: On Tuesday the star also gushed she'd finally found 'the One' with Jake after being 'cheated on' and 'used' by a string of exes

Open: Speaking in a YouTube Q&A, the star said she's avoided sharing photos of Jake on social media because she doesn't want to be abused by trolls

'So those comments, do you want us to be with Stephen f*****g Bear? Just be with one person who was an absolute s******d. I'm not going to settle until I know that this is perfect.

'Until I meet the man of my dreams who treats me nothing less than amazing. Who will treat me who I've treated everyone else who has been in my life.'

On meeting Jake, she added: 'I can honestly say this, I have never met anyone who has been so amazing. He is everything I've just said there.

'I feel myself getting emotional. Because I've been through all of those s***heads, and all them k*******s and it was all for a reason. It has led me to that happy ever after.'

Expectant: Charlotte (pictured in an Instagram post shared on April 9) had been keeping her relationship with Jake under wraps

Charlotte's pregnancy comes after the star was left with compromised fertility when she suffered an ectopic pregnancy in 2016.

The star previously described the extreme pain she was dealing with in the days leading up to being admitted to hospital - all the while posing for photoshoots and recording her fitness DVD believing the pain and bleeding was just a heavy period.

As a result of the ectopic pregnancy, Charlotte's fallopian tube had ruptured and was releasing toxins into her body.

Emotional: In 2016 Charlotte suffered an ectopic pregnancy, forcing doctors to remove part of her fallopian tube and ovary

The reality star had been keeping her boyfriend under wraps on Instagram, but finally made their romance social media official with a clip where she penned: 'Do you no how hard I had to force him to do this. Late to the trend I knoooowwwwwwwww but being late is kinda my thing.'

She then took to Stories to answer some questions from fans, with one saying they thought she was getting proposed to on the holiday.

While Charlotte confirmed she was not yet engaged, her beau said a proposal was coming in 'due course' as she giggled behind the camera.

She also shared an insight into the details of their relationship, revealing that the pair have been together for around seven months.

Over: Charlotte split from videographer Liam Beaumont in August 2021

She then revealed it 'feels like a year the amount of stuff we've already experienced together'.

The pair went public with their romance last year, and have been keeping the relationship under wraps - after her former relationship with Liam Beaumont ended in August 2021.

It was reported she broke up with the hunk, who she started dating in February last year, following a slew of furious arguments. It was also claimed she booted him out of her Newcastle home.

However, Charlotte later insisted their relationship ended on good terms, with the television personality telling MailOnline: 'Me and Liam shared some amazing memories together and the split is amicable.

'We have just realised we are both two very different people. I have learnt so much in this relationship and am thankful that it happened.

Over: Charlotte previously had a turbulent romance with Stephen Bear in 2017 (pictured) and later Joshua Ritchie in 2019

'Were there furious rows? No. Did I kick him out of the house? No. Its sad to see this negativity put on what was a good relationship. So Id like to take back some control of the narrative, get some truth out there and draw a line under this.'

Suspicions about their split were first sparked among fans when Charlotte removed all images of Liam from her Instagram account.

It was then that reports surfaced regarding the row, with insiders telling publications that a row had descended into chaos and she had ejected him from her home.

Charlotte and Liam started dating in early 2020 after meeting in Dubai during their respective vacations.

The star's colourful love life also included a romance with Geordie Shore co-star Gary Beadle, but the pair split in 2016.

She went onto date Stephen Bear in 2017, and later Joshua Ritchie in 2019.
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Eleven goes to war fighting supernatural enemies in the upcoming fourth season of Stranger Things.

A new trailer for the next installment of the Netflix sensation shows Eleven - played by Millie Bobby Brown - being asked to go to battle following a brief reprieve as a normal teenage girl.

Eleven, now sporting a head full of curly hair and flannel shirt, is later seen back with a shaved head and wearing a blood-stained hospital gown.

Back for more: Eleven goes to war fighting supernatural enemies in the upcoming fourth season of Stranger Things

'I relocated you guys far from Hawkins because I thought you'd be safe,' a man tells Eleven. 'A war is coming. I'm afraid your friends in Hawkins are very much in the eye of the storm.'

'I don't have my powers,' Eleven said.

'I don't know how to say this other than just to say it,' the man continues. 'Without you, we can't win this war.'

The full force of Eleven's abilities are later shown as she flings a group of advancing men off her back, seemingly using the power of her mind.

Don't mess with her: Men are seen flying off Eleven's back after the teen uses the power of her mind to fling them off her

Normal life: After a difficult past, Millie Bobby Brown's character is seen living a life as a normal high schooler

Wheel-y fun: Eleven goes roller skating with Mike Wheeler (Finn Wolfhard)

'Without you, can we can't win this war': Eleven is seen in the back of a van after being asked to take part in the battle

Next, Jim Hopper (David Harbour) is seen imprisoned in Russia wearing a bloodied shirt with his hands placed behind his back.

As men place a mask over his face, Hopper is heard saying, 'I was convinced I was put here for some other reason. Maybe I can still help, even if it's the last thing I do.'

Hopper is seen standing in a snowy prison courtyard, wielding a weapon, before a mysterious creature leaps into the room.

Held captive: Next, Jim Hopper (David Harbour) is seen imprisoned in Russia wearing a bloodied shirt with his hands placed behind his back

'Everything's been a total disaster': The trailer also shows Max Mayfield (Sadie Sink) visiting her brother Billy Hargrove's grave and recounting all that had transpired since his death

'For a while, we tried to be happy. Normal. But it's impossible,' Max tells her brother's grave

The trailer also shows Max Mayfield (Sadie Sink) visiting her brother Billy Hargrove's grave and recounting all that had transpired since his death.

As Max speaks to Billy, fans catch a glimpse of how their favorites had been attempting to move on and live a normal life.

'Dear Billy, I don't know if you can even hear this,' Max says. 'Ever since you left, everything's been a total disaster.

'For a while, we tried to be happy. Normal. But it's impossible.'

'It's been six months since the Battle of Starcourt, which brought terror and destruction to Hawkins,' reads an official description of the next season according to The Hollywood Reporter. 'Struggling with the aftermath, our group of friends are separated for the first time  and navigating the complexities of high school hasn't made things any easier.

'In this most vulnerable time, a new and horrifying supernatural threat surfaces, presenting a gruesome mystery that, if solved, might finally put an end to the horrors of the Upside Down.'

Season four of Stranger Things will premiere on Netflix on May 27.

Scary: Season four of Stranger Things will premiere on Netflix on May 27
Kim Kardashian has revealed that she isn't on speaking terms with her ex-husband Kanye West at the moment.

During Tuesday's episode of Not Skinny But Not Fat podcast with Amanda Hirsch, the reality star, 41, delved into her complicated relationship with the father of her four children: North, eight, Saint, six, Chicago, four, and Psalm, two.

'Right now it's good when things are calm, we don't really communicate, but I think that's okay sometimes,' she admitted. 'We will. We always will. That's just who I am.'

Not on the best of terms: Kim Kardashian revealed that she does not speak with her ex-husband Kanye West at the moment. During Tuesday's episode of Not Skinny But Not Fat podcast with Amanda Hirsch, the reality star, 41, delved into her complicated relationship with the father of her four children

They will be friends down the road: 'Right now is it's good when things are calm, we don't really communicate, but I think that's okay sometimes,' she admitted. 'We will. We always will. That's just who I am' (pictured in 2020)

And she stressed that she cares for the rapper: 'I spent a decade of my life with this person, and I just have so much love for him. So that'll never change, but it doesn't mean that they're the right one for you and that's okay too.'

And she also said that after she filed for divorce a year ago, they went eight months without speaking.

'We went off and on, and we went about eight months without even speaking to each other at the beginning of the divorce,' the KKW Beauty founder claimed.

She continued: 'Then we started talking again, and I went to the Donda premiere. I mean, he would still see the kids and stuff.

The children: Kim and Kanye share eight-year-old North, six-year-old Saint, four-year-old Chicago and two-year-old Psalm; the family pictured in 2019

'Him and I just took a minute of not talking, and I think in relationships it'll be like that. I only hope for  I hope we are the co-parenting goals at the end of the day,' the shapewear mogul added.

The mother-of-four went on to reflect on her own parents Kris Jenner and her late ex-husband Robert Kardashian's divorce.

'I look back and my mom and dad went through their hard time,' she recalled. 'It took people a minute to readjust, and I've seen it all before.'

Despite their strained relationship, Kim made it very clear she and her ex still have 'so much love' for each other and will 'always' be family.

'We're always gonna have so much love, and we love our kids, and we both love the time we spent together,' the Keeping Up with the Kardashians alum stated.

Bombshell interview: Kim spoke with Amanda Hirsch of the podcast Not Skinny Not Fat

She noted: 'I think that we'll always have that and always cherish that, and sometimes it just doesn't work out for whatever reasons.'

Even after a few public back-and-forths on social media about their custody agreement, Kim said she doesn't 'judge' the way he communicates.

'Whether it's the way I would or not, like, I know who he is inside,' she explained to listeners.

Kim pointed out: 'I know what he means to say, and I know what he means to express, and that's the beauty of knowing someone for so many years.'

He moved on: As for him dating women that look like her, she said it didn't bother her because she 'just' wants him 'to be happy.' 'I don't care what it is. I just, I think that it'll reflect in your life.' West with Julia Fox in January

Still, she struggles when their respective fan bases pick apart their every move and fight with each other.

'Just because people aren't together anymore, doesn't mean that now those people have to not and my fan base doesn't have to not like him,' she said.

When asked explicitly where there relationship stands now, Kim gave an honest answer.

As for him dating women that look like her, she said it didn't bother her because she 'just' wants him 'to be happy.'

'I don't care what it is. I just, I think that it'll reflect in your life.

'Everything, you know, and how you are a parent. So I just, as long as he's happy I'm so I'm genuinely just want that truly,' she stated.

Kim is now dating SNL star Pete Davidson. In the podcast, she said that she did not really know him when he kissed her on SNL and their first date was at the Beverly Hills Hotel.

New man: Kim is now dating SNL star Pete Davidson. In the podcast, she said that she did not really know him when he kissed her on SNL and their first date was at the Beverly Hills Hotel

Kanye, who accused Kim of 'parental alienation', and his ex do not have an official custody arrangement in place and have been attempting to figure it out themselves.

The rapper, however, has blasted his former spouse over various issues from allowing their eldest to post on TikTok to Kim's new relationship.

According to Us Weekly, Kim is 'deeply hurt' by how Kanye's posts could impact their children.

'Kim is deeply hurt by the fact that North could come across Kanye's posts and it could affect her,' an insider told the site. 'She's doing her best with the joint custody, but there are certain things that are hard to control.'

Kim 'hopes' things between them will eventually improve.

'Please stop with this narrative': Kim hit back at Kanye over the weekend on social media, asking him to 'stop with this narrative' after he posted a photo of an alien pinned between himself and Kim on North's backpack last month

'She and Kanye don't see eye to eye on a lot of things which is very unfortunate, but it's what she's dealing with,' the source said. 'It's a daily struggle and she hopes they can soon coparent amicably.'

Kim hit back at Kanye over the weekend on social media, asking him to 'stop with this narrative' after he posted a photo of an alien pinned between himself and Kim on North's backpack.

Kanye, who accused his ex of 'parental alienation', shared a photo of the bag and wrote: 'This is what was on my daughter's back pack when I was 'allowed' to see her last week.'

But Kim took umbrage at the suggestion she was holding back from letting Kanye see North, responding in his comments: 'Please stop with this narrative, you were just here this morning picking up the kids for school.'

'She and Kanye don't see eye to eye on a lot of things which is very unfortunate, but it's what she's dealing with,' the source said. 'It's a daily struggle and she hopes they can soon coparent amicably'

It was a bold and rare move for the Hulu reality star, as she finally responded to Kanye for the world to see, and his 15.5million followers on Instagram.

In Kanye's original post, he wrote: 'This was on my daughters back pack when I was 'allowed' to see her last week This is why I go so hard for my family.'

He added: 'I am wired to protect my family at all cost. As the priest of my home Don't worry Northy God is still alive.'

Even Kim's boyfriend Pete wade into the drama as he asked Kanye to meet in person in a bid to stop the endless attacks against himself and Kim.

Peace out: Pete even sent Kanye a selfie he had taken while in bed with Kim

The request was made in a text message the comedian had sent Kanye, and the exchange was posted to comedian Dave Sirus' account.

Pete even sent Kanye a selfie he had taken while in bed with Kim.

West has made his feelings clear about Kim's new beau, including releasing a disturbing music video where he appeared to bury a claymation version of Davidson for new track Eazy.

Kim clone: He is currently is enjoying a romantic holiday with his new girlfriend Chaney Jones at a $5K-a-night luxury resort, after bailing on his

Last week, West pulled out of the music festival Coachella, months after he was banned from the Grammys for his concerning online behavior.

The Gold Digger hitmaker is said to have made the decision himself to bow out from the two weekend event, that kicks off this weekend at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California.

He is currently is enjoying a romantic holiday with his new girlfriend Chaney Jones at a $5K-a-night luxury resort, the Amangiri hotel.
Sienna Miller put on a very glamorous display as she graced the cover of DuJour magazine's Spring issue, which saw her break her silence on her recent split with fiance Lucas Zwirner.

The actress, 40, who certainly knows how to put her modelling skills to use, displayed her toned frame in racy couture outfits for the stunning new shoot.

Having suffered three widely-reported failed engagements, she called off plans to marry Lucas, 30, last year and has now opened up on the matter.

Gorgeous: Sienna Miller put on a very glamorous display as she graced the cover of DuJour magazine, which saw her breaks her silence on her recent split with fiance Lucas Zwirner

Speaking candidly, she began: 'I obviously have a lot of experience of kind of becoming well-known at a time when the tabloids really had all the power and the individual had very little.

'Anybody could really write anything. It was a real frenzy. A fever pitch of craziness.'

The Hollywood star split got engaged to her third husband-to-be, Lucas, in January 2020 after a just year of dating - however things soon went south.

She continued: 'I've dealt with very public heartbreak. I was never somebody who dreamt of getting married. I've been engaged a few times, but I've never been married.'

Legs for days: The actress, 40, who certainly knows how to put her modelling skills to use, displayed her toned frame in racy couture outfits for the stunning new shoot

Candid: Having suffered three widely-reported failed engagements, she called off plans to marry Lucas, 30, last year and has now opened up on the matter

Cleavage: She began: 'I obviously have a lot of experience of kind of becoming well-known at a time when the tabloids really had all the power and the individual had very little'

Showing off her sense of humour, the BAFTA nominee quipped: 'It's better than three divorces, I think.'

Now in a relationship with Burberry model Oli Green, 25, she claimed to be 'quite shy' and not somebody who goes on dates.

Sienna said: 'I'm not a dater. I've never been one. Once I'm in, I'm in. And I'm also quite shy. My life has sort of unfolded in a different way and I'm fine with it. My life was never going to be orthodox.'

Sienna stepped out with her new man back in February at a New York Knicks game, seemingly confirming their romance.

Trendy: 'Anybody could really write anything. It was a real frenzy. A fever pitch of craziness'

Difficult: She continued: 'I've dealt with very public heartbreak. I was never somebody who dreamt of getting married. I've been engaged a few times, but I've never been married'

Out of this world: The photogenic star never fails to put on a jaw-dropping display

Coming soon: DuJour's Spring issue will be released later in April

He has previously dated Adowa Aboah and has had a series of acting roles.

Oli has recently entered the acting world with roles in U.S soap opera The Bold And The Beautiful as well as featuring in a Justin Theroux film, The Mosquito Coast.

The rising star has been modelling for much longer and was the face of a Burberry 2018 campaign and has also modelled for highstreet retailer GAP.

Oli has had formal training at the Lee Strasberg Theatre & Film Institute in New York.

While sources claimed Oli has previously been linked to Adowa, Oli most recently shared snaps with model Paige Reifler on his Instagram page.

Sienna split from her ex-fiance, Lucas, in September 2020 before being spotted looking cosy with her longtime pal Archie Keswick last summer.

Split: Sienna Miller split from her third fiance Lucas in September 2020 (pictured together in May 2019) - it was claimed that it was Sienna's decision to call it a day

Sienna was famously in a relationship with actor Tom Sturridge from 2011 to 2015. The friendly exes co-parent their nine-year-old daughter Marlowe.

She was most recently romantically linked to hotel tycoon Archie as they were seen on multiple outings together in the summer of last year.

Sienna split from her third fiance, Lucas, in September 2020.

Sienna and Lucas, 31, the son of art dealer David Zwirner, got engaged back in January 2020 after a year of dating.

Cute: Now in a relationship with Burberry model Oli Green, 25, she claimed to be 'quite shy' and not somebody who goes on dates (pictured in February)

It was reported at the time that it was the actress who broke it off with Zwirner, though no reason for the break-up was given.

Sienna was previously engaged to actors Jude Law, 49, in 2004 and Tom Sturridge, 36, in 2012.

In a 2017 interview with Harper's Bazaar, Sienna spoke about maintaining a friendship with her ex, saying of Tom, who is now dating actress Maya Hawke: 'We still love each other.'

Ex: Sienna also dated actor Tom Sturridge from 2011 until 2015, becoming engaged in 2012 - the pair share eight-year-old daughter Marlowe Ottoline Layng (pictured together in 2013)

'I think in a break-up somebody has to be a little bit cruel in order for it to be traditional, but it's not been acrimonious in a way where you would choose to not be around that person.'

'We don't live together, as has been reported recently, but we do half the time,' she added. 'Everybody will stay over or we'll all go on holiday and that's because we genuinely want to be around each other.'

'It's great for our daughter that she has two parents who love each other and are friends. He's definitely my best friend in the entire world.'

Interview: Sienna appeared in good spirits as she appeared on BBC's The One Show on Tuesday

Outfit: The actress sported a black blazer along with a pair of hoop earrings

Looking good: The Anatomy Of A Scandal star styled her blonde locks into an updo for the appearance

Show: The actress put on animated display for her appearance alongside her co-star Rupert Friend

Looking good: Following her appearance on The One Show, Sienna enjoyed an evening out at The Ivy in London

Flawless: The sta accentuated her natrual beauty with a light pallet of makeup

Sienna previously got engaged to her Alfie co-star Jude on Christmas day in 2004 - and they were in an on and off relationship until they split for good in 2011.

The pair had struggled with the revelation that Law had an affair with his children's nanny, Daisy Wright, in July 2005, with Sienna calling off their engagement.

They later reconciled, but then in October 2005, Law learned that Miller had had a fling with his close friend, Daniel Craig, aka James Bond.

He reportedly threw her out of their north London home over the discovery.

DuJour's Spring issue will be released later in April.
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Kelly Macdonald and Colin Firth led the stars attending the premiere of Operation Mincemeat at The Curzon Mayfair in London on Tuesday.

Kelly arrived on the blue carpet in a black and silver patterned shirt which she paired with a black skirt.

The star added height to her frame with a pair of black ankle boots and complimented her outfit with matching tights.

Event: Kelly Macdonald and Colin Firth led the stars attending the premiere of Operation Mincemeat at The Curzon Mayfair in London on Tuesday

Cinching her waist with a matching belt, the actress completed her look by styling her locks into an updo.

Colin, who stars as British judge Ewen Montague in the war drama, looked suave for the screening as he wore a black blazer and trousers with a white shirt.

Their co-star Jason Isaacs looked dapper in an all-black look, sporting a matching blazer, trousers and shirt.

Claudia Winkleman looked sensational as she made a rare public appearance with her husband Kris Thykier.

Style: Kelly arrived on the blue carpet in a black and silver patterned shirt which she paired with a black skirt

Couple: Claudia Winkleman looked sensational as she made a rare public appearance with her husband Kris Thykier

Smart: Kelly's co-star Jason Isaacs looked dapper in an all-black look, sporting a matching blazer, trousers and shirt

Film: Kelly, Penelope Wilton, Colin and Jason all appeared in good spirits as they posed for snaps together

Movie: The film had its world premiere at the 2021 British Film Festival in Australia

The Strictly Come Dancing presenter donned a black blazer, pairing it with matching leggings.

Adding height to her frame with a pair of white heels, the broadcaster carried a black handbag and let her tresses fall loose down her shouders.

Kris, who served as a producer on Operation Mincemeat, sported a dark grey blazer, mathching trousers and a white shirt.

Keeley Hawes appeared in good spirits at the event where she signed autographs for fans upon arrival.

Project: (L-R) Johnny Flynn, Matthew Macfadyen, Kelly Macdonald, Dame Penelope Wilton, Colin Firth, Jason Isaacs and Director John Madden celebrate the film's release

In demand: Keeley Hawes appeared in good spirits at the event where she signed autographs for fans upon arrival

Radiant: The star donned a black long-sleeved dress with a sheer detail and styled her blonde locks into a bob

Role: Colin plays Ewen Montagu in the film and posed with some of the judge's real-life family members at the premiere

Star: Colin appeared in good spirits as he signed autographs for fans

The star donned a black long-sleeved dress with a sheer detail and styled her blonde locks into a bob.

Jimmy Carr made his first red carpet appearance since the controversy over his holocaust joke.

The comedian sparked criticism over a clip from his special His Dark Material, which saw him joke that the 'thousands of gypsies killed by the Nazis' was a 'positive' effect of the Holocaust.

However he has since put the controversy behind him and appeared in good spirits at the film premiere where he sported a three-piece blue suit.

Pair: Jason was joined at the premiere by his wife of over 20 years, Emma Hewitt

Appearance: Jimmy Carr made his first red carpet appearance since the controversy over his holocaust joke

Suave: Matthew Macfadyen looked dapper as he posed for a snap alongside Colin

Embrace: Colin was all smiles as he hugged his co-star Penelope Wilton

Drama: Having previously been brought to life on the big screen in 1956, the 1943-set blockbuster will document the real life Operation Mincemeat

Outfit: Johnny Flynn opted for a dark grey blazer and trousers which he wore with a white shirt

Also in attendance was actress Margaret Clunie who donned a black dress and matching ankle boots.

The Victoria star also donned a matching pair of tights and wrapped up in a beige coat, adding to her look with a black handbag.

Charlotte Hamblin opted for a black and yellow midi dress with a patterned print and v-neckline.

The actress sported a pair of gold open-toed heels and added to her outfit with matching earrings.

Flawless: Charlotte Hamblin opted for a black and yellow midi dress with a patterned print and v-neckline

Looking good: Also in attendance was actress Margaret Clunie who donned a black dress and matching ankle boots

Looking good: Claudia styled her brunette locks into loose waves for the premiere where she signed autographs for fans

Style: Strictly Come Dancing presenter Claudia added to her look with a black handbag

Dapper: Lorne MacFayden looked dapper in a classic black suit and matching bow tie

Stunning: Model Eunice Olumide opted for a black velvet long-sleeved dress with a leg split

Having previously been brought to life on the big screen in 1956, the 1943-set blockbuster will document the real life Operation Mincemeat.

The mission was intended to distract the Axis away from an Allied invasion and liberation of Sicily and consisted of making a soldier's corpse appear to be a downed pilot.

He would be carrying documents showing an Allied plan to attack the Axis controlled Greece rather than Sicily.

The corpse would then was ashore near a known Axis base, having been dropped into the ocean, leading Axis forces to defend Greece, which allowed the Allied forces to liberate Sicily.
Claudia Winkleman showed off her chic sense of style as she attended the UK premiere of her film producer husband Kris Thykier's movie Operation Mincemeat in London on Tuesday.

The television presenter and her partner, both 50, made a rare red carpet appearance together, with Claudia opting for a pair of black leggings and a matching jacket with gold statement buttons.

She carried a matching clutch bag and wore a pair of white heels to contrast with the rest of her outfit.

Stepping out:Claudia Winkleman showed off her chic sense of style as she attended the UK premiere of her film producer husband Kris Thykier's movie Operation Mincemeat in London on Tuesday

She wore lashings of make-up to highlight her pretty facial features and added a touch of sparkle to her look by wearing some gold jewellery.

Kris looked smart in a charcoal grey suit which he teamed with a crisp white shirt and a blue tie.

He wore a pair of polished black shoes and stood arm-in-arm with Claudia on arrival.

In style: Claudia opted for a pair of black leggings and a matching jacket with gold statement buttons

Fashion focus: She carried a matching clutch bag and wore a pair of white heels to contrast with the rest of her outfit

Claudia shares her three children with the BAFTA nominated producer who she married in 2000.

Claudia happily greeted fans who waited outside the cinema, signing autographs before she went in.

She could be seen smiling and laughing as she chatted to the movie fans as they waited behind a barrier.

Greeting her public: Claudia happily greeted fans who waited outside the cinema, signing autographs before she went in

Joyous: She could be seen smiling and laughing as she chatted to the movie fans as they waited behind a barrier

Based upon the real-life World War 2 operation of the same name, Operation Mincemeat is directed by Shakespeare in Love's John Madden.

The adaptation of Ewen Montagu's 1953 novel The Man that Never Was began filming in 2019, and stars the likes of Colin Firth, 61, Matthew Macfadyen, 46, and Johnny Flynn, 38.

Having previously been brought to life on the big screen in 1956, the 1943-set blockbuster will document the real life Operation Mincemeat.

Telling the tale: Based upon the real-life World War 2 operation of the same name, Operation Mincemeat is directed by Shakespeare in Love's John Madden

The mission was intended to distract the Axis away from an Allied invasion and liberation of Sicily and consisted of making a soldier's corpse appear to be a downed pilot.

He would be carrying documents showing an Allied plan to attack the Axis controlled Greece rather than Sicily.

The corpse would then was ashore near a known Axis base, having been dropped into the ocean, leading Axis forces to defend Greece, which allowed the Allied forces to liberate Sicily.

Operation Mincemeat is set for release in the UK on 15 April 2022.
Jimmy Carr was in good spirits as he attended the UK premiere of Operation Mincemeat at The Curzon Mayfair in London on Tuesday.

The comedian, 49, cut a dapper figure in a grey three-piece suit and white shirt which he wore open at the collar.

He could be seen smiling as he posed on the red carpet after he was criticised for making a Holocaust joke during Netflix special His Dark Material earlier this year.

Out on the town: Jimmy Carr, 49, was in good spirits as he attended the UK premiere of Operation Mincemeat at The Curzon Mayfair in London on Tuesday

Jimmy appeared his usual jovial self, holding his hands out in front of him and laughing as he posed on the blue carpet for pictures.

He wore a pair of smart black shoes to complete his look before taking his seat inside the cinema.

His outing to the glitzy premiere comes after he caused controversy by joking that the 'thousands of gypsies killed by the Nazis' was a 'positive' effect of the Holocaust on his Netflix special.

Looking good: The comedian cut a dapper figure in a grey three-piece suit and white shirt which he wore open at the collar

In a widely-shared clip from his Netflix show, Jimmy joked about the horror of the Holocaust and 'six million Jewish lives being lost'.

As a punchline, he then made a disparaging remark about the deaths of thousands of gypsies at the hands of the Nazis.

'But they never mention the thousands of gypsies that were killed by the Nazis. No one ever wants to talk about that, because no one ever wants to talk about the positives,' Jimmy quipped to a laughing audience.

All smiles: He could be seen smiling on the red carpet after he was criticised for making a Holocaust joke during Netflix special His Dark Material earlier this year

The joke caused widespread backlash and prompted a debate about racism and free speech.

Jimmy left the joke out of his live comedy show in Cambridge after the council said it would light up the venue in the colours of the Romani flag.

His management was said to have 'assured' Cambridge city councillors that no material from the show would feature at the gig at the Corn Exchange.

Poor taste? Jimmy caused controversy by joking that the 'thousands of gypsies killed by the Nazis' was a 'positive' effect of the Holocaust on his Netflix special

Meanwhile, based upon the real-life World War 2 operation of the same name, Operation Mincemeat, the premiere for which Jimmy was attending, is directed by Shakespeare in Love's John Madden.

The adaptation of Ewen Montagu's 1953 novel The Man that Never Was began filming in 2019, and stars the likes of Colin Firth, 61, Matthew Macfadyen, 46, and Johnny Flynn, 38.

Having previously been brought to life on the big screen in 1956, the 1943-set blockbuster will document the real life Operation Mincemeat.

Discussion: The joke caused widespread backlash and prompted a debate about racism and free speech

The mission was intended to distract the Axis away from an Allied invasion and liberation of Sicily and consisted of making a soldier's corpse appear to be a downed pilot.

He would be carrying documents showing an Allied plan to attack the Axis controlled Greece rather than Sicily.

The corpse would then was ashore near a known Axis base, having been dropped into the ocean, leading Axis forces to defend Greece, which allowed the Allied forces to liberate Sicily.

Operation Mincemeat is set for release in the UK on 15 April 2022.
Raquel Leviss revealed she is slowly beginning to date again after ending her engagement to James Kennedy, after more than five years together.

Just three months after splitting with the British music producer, 30, Vanderpump Rules star, 27, revealed she was asked out by former SUR manager Peter Madrigal, 37.

'It was just a fun little time. And I figured this would be a good opportunity for me just to get back out in the dating world because I haven't had an official date since the breakup,' she said on Katie Maloney's podcast You're Gonna Love.

Looking for love: Raquel Leviss revealed she is slowly beginning to date again after ending her engagement to James Kennedy, after more than five years together; seen in 2018

Just drinks: Just three months after splitting with the British music producer, 30, the 27-year-old Vanderpump Rules star revealed she was asked out by former SUR manager Peter Madrigal

She recalled him asking her to 'grab drinks with him,' to which she replied: 'Hmm, okay sure.'

'This [was] literally the first person that asked me on a date,' Leviss said. 'I said yes because why the hell not? It's good practice after five years. It's scary but it's also invigorating and exciting.'

Leviss and Kennedy announced their unexpected breakup in December due to a 'cumulation of things' that bubbled up over the years.

'It was just a fun little time. And I figured this would be a good opportunity for me just to get back out in the dating world because I haven't had an official date since the breakup,' she said on Katie Maloney's podcast You're Gonna Love; pictured with Kennedy in 2019

For instance, Leviss revealed her former partner 'always felt' like her parents never 'embraced him into the family.'

'My dad said some rude comment to him about him not wearing the hiking shoes he bought him when James asked for my dad's blessing. He couldn't find them, he was looking all over,' she noted during an interview on the Scheananigans with Scheana Shay in January.

She continued: 'James was taken aback. He took it very personally. He took it as a knock to his ego and reacted in a way my sister says was not acceptable. And I agree, it wasn't. Just like very angry and defensive and it go to the point where I was like, "Okay, we need to get out of here, go back to our hotel room and sort it all out."'

The star then said she realized that she'd been 'making excuses' for James and even went as far as to say she was losing 'part of [her] soul.'

Moving on: Meanwhile, Kennedy recently made red carpet debut with his girlfriend Ally at iHeartRadio Music Awards last month, after enjoying a romantic Mexican getaway

'It was getting to the point where my family and him were not meshing well and the future of Thanksgiving and Christmases and holidays was looking like it's either going to be either James or my family,' she said. 'Especially like if we had a baby, I feel like James would make my parents out as like the not good grandparents and kind of put that in their heads. Just foreseeing this future and what it was all coming down to and I was like, "I don't want that."'

Leviss made the decision to break up with Kennedy, but it still took her some time to bring it up to him.

'Because James does have a history of acting out and being angry, my mom and I were both concerned that he wasn't going to have a good reaction when I told him, so I wasn't planning on saying anything until he went out of town,' she said. 'He doesn't even know this.'

Leviss said Kennedy begged her for a second chance multiple times, but she felt she'd already given him quite a few chances in the past and wouldn't off him another.

'He was like, "Okay, I see it in your eyes. It's over,' she said. 'He respected my decision. He was like, "If your heart isn't in it anymore then I understand, we need to go our separate ways."'

Leviss said that now the two 'speak occasionally' and she hopes to maintain her friendship with him moving forward.

Meanwhile, Kennedy recently made red carpet debut with his girlfriend Ally at iHeartRadio Music Awards last month, after enjoying a romantic Mexican getaway.
Lala Kent is taking note of who is - and isn't - being a loyal friend amid her split from ex Randall Emmett.

During an appearance on Watch What Happens Live, Lala, 31, revealed she severed ties Vanderpump Rules co-star Tom Schwartz, 39, after discovering he had recently met up with Randall, 51.

'I learned that Schwartz hung out with that person [Randall] the other day. So, I cut him out,' she said after she was asked who her most and least supportive friends in the break-up had been.

'I cut him out': Lala Kent revealed she severed ties with Tom Schwartz after learning he had hung out with her ex Randall Emmett

Lala also said her co-stars Scheana Shay and Katie Maloney were the 'most supportive' of her after the separation while she also counted Tom Sandoval as her 'least supportive' friend in the split.

'Sandoval has yet to even ask me like, if I'm okay or acknowledge it at all,' she explained.

Andy mentioned that Lisa Vanderpump had admitted to seeing Randall after the split.

'It seemed notable that LVP is still buddies with your ex,' Randall said. 'That kind of came up at the reunion, that she had seen him recently and stuff.'

Keeping track: Lala also said her co-stars Scheana Shay and Katie Maloney were the 'most supportive' of her after the separation while she also counted Tom Sandoval as her 'least supportive' friend in the split

Spilling the tea: Kent did not shy away from disclosing who was the most loyal - and least loyal - of her pals

'I don't know if she's seen him recently, I know when everything was happening, he was trying to reach out to her,' Lala explained.

'And I'm not the type of person to say, like, you have to pick a side. But in this situation, if you don't pick my side or you remain Switzerland, I want nothing to do with you.'

Kent, who shares one-year-old daughter Ocean with Emmett, parted ways with her former fiance in October of 2021 as she said she saw evidence he was unfaithful to her in the relationship.

Calling it quits: Kent, who shares one-year-old daughter Ocean with Emmett, parted ways with her former fiance in October of 2021 as she said she saw evidence he was unfaithful to her in the relationship; pictured 2019

Calling him out: Kent was not happy to learn her Vanderpump Rules co-star had recently met up with Randall; pictured April 2022

In December, she said on her podcast that the engagement ring he presented her with was 'fake' with a 's*** brown' diamond.

The ring was broached on WWHL after Andy asked what was the worst thing she discovered about Randall post breakup.

'There will be a day... the truth will come to the light,' Lala said.

Keeping mum: Kent said Sandoval was one of her least supportive friends in the split and claimed he had yet to ask her about it or 'acknowledge' the separation

'The fact that the big huge engagement ring was a total fake had to be wild,' Andy said.

'No, I laughed,' Lala said. 'Of course. He can't take a breath without telling a lie. Why would my ring really be this amazing ring?'

Lala said he didn't ask about it when she left so she thought something was going on.

'And that was a big clue,' Andy said.

'Yes,' Lala said. 'If someone is not asking for a ring that is like $150,000 something's wrong.'

Andy asked her if she was fighting for full custody of Ocean.

'I'm not going to talk about custody if that's okay,' Lala said.
Kyle Sandilands has added another home to his impressive property portfolio.

The KIIS FM radio host, 50, revealed to Media Week on Wednesday that he has purchased an old mansion in Western Sydney.

'I have just bought some big old mansion on acreage out west. We are going to turn it into a Hamptons style home,' he said.

New family home? Kyle Sandilands revealed he's 'bought a big old mansion out west' where he plans to build a 'Hamptons-style' home with his pregnant fiancee Tegan Kynaston

'I haven't quite managed to get Tegan out of the eastern suburbs yet and away from the synagogue,' he added.

Kyle explained how he previously 'didn't want to lock down anywhere' because he wanted to travel but is now ready to build his 'dream home'.

It comes after the radio host recently bought a rainforest retreat in the tropical town of Port Douglas, Queensland.

'I just bought a house up there, it is that beautiful,' he said on air during an interview with The Amazing Race presenter Beau Ryan.

'I have just bought some big old mansion on acreage out west. We are going to turn it into a Hamptons style home,' he revealed

While it's unclear where exactly Kyle's new property is located, there's no doubt the picturesque coastal town on the Coral Sea is the perfect place for a holiday home.

Port Douglas is known for its exquisite beaches and proximity to the Great Barrier Reef, and is also near to Daintree National Park.

The town itself, which is a one-hour drive north from Cairns, is filled with boutique shops and restaurants and is popular with tourists and backpackers.

It's another home to add to Kyle's property portfolio, which includes a farm in the NSW Southern Highlands - where he previously lived with his ex-partner Imogen Anthony - and a $5million mansion in Los Angeles.

New addition: It comes after the radio host recently bought a rainforest retreat in the tropical town of Port Douglas, Queensland

Meanwhile, Kyle and his fiancee Tegan announced they were set to welcome their first child together live on The Kyle and Jackie O Show in February.

'We're having a baby!' he declared as the entire KIIS FM studio cheered.

Jackie said she was 'so happy' for the pair and told them their lives were about to change forever.

Stunning: Port Douglas is known for its exquisite beaches and proximity to the Great Barrier Reef, and is also near to Daintree National Park
Her whirlwind trip to Europe was eventful to say the least.

And the drama continued for Abbie Chatfield on Tuesday as she jetted into a chaotic Sydney Airport after a 24-hour flight from the UK.

Travellers at the airport are experiencing major delays due to airlines being short-staffed, and an influx of flyers during the Easter holiday rush.

Causing a stir: Abbie Chatfield and Konrad Bien-Stephen returned to Sydney on Tuesday, after her complaint about a 'sexist' restaurant in Venice, Italy, caused an international incident

Fortunately, Abbie seemed to avoid the worst of it as she and boyfriend Konrad Bien-Stephen were fed through the international arrivals section.

She dressed casually for the flight in a white crop top, black trackpants and Velcro slides, and swept her curly blonde hair into a messy bun.

The Hit Network radio presenter, 26, also wore a face mask, which is still a requirement for airline passengers.

Comfort: The radio presenter, 26, dressed casually for her flight from the UK in a white crop top, black trackpants and Velcro slides, and swept her curly blonde hair into a messy bun

Commuter chaos: Travellers at Sydney Airport are experiencing major delays due to airlines being short-staffed and an influx of flyers (pictured). Fortunately, Abbie and Konrad avoided the worst of it as they were fed through the international arrivals section

Carpenter Konrad, 31, also kept things laid-back in a baggy white hoodie, pink cap and beige pants as he pushed the couple's baggage in a trolley.

The pair had spent about two weeks in Europe to attend a friend's wedding in Scotland and go travelling around Italy.

Abbie inadvertently caused an international uproar after complaining on TikTok about her 'sexist' dining experience at a posh restaurant in Venice on April 3.

Masked up: Abbie also wore a face mask, which is still a requirement for airline passengers

She was annoyed because the waiter had handed her a menu without the prices, while her boyfriend was given the full menu including the prices.

The former Bachelor in Paradise star said the situation was ridiculous because she's the 'breadwinner' in her relationship.

Her complaint was soon reported in the local press, which resulted in her being trolled by Italian men who insisted the 'ladies' menu' was just a harmless tradition.

'It may be a tradition, but it is still rooted in patriarchy,' Abbie said.

'I'm allowed to say it's sexist as the tradition is rooted in misogyny and patriarchy,' she added, before confirming she had paid for the meal in question, not Konrad.

Culture clash: Abbie inadvertently caused an international uproar after complaining on TikTok about her 'sexist' dining experience at a posh restaurant in Venice on April 3

'Tradition rooted in patriarchy': She was annoyed because the waiter had handed her a menu without the prices, while her boyfriend was given the full menu including the prices

Abbie said the idea that men pay at restaurants comes from a time when 'women did not have bank accounts' and were assumed to be 'financially dependent'.

She added that the food and service at the restaurant was 'beautiful', but the fact there were separate menus for men and women made her feel 'uncomfortable'.

'Even if he was paying... It's the assumption I cannot or will not pay [that annoys me],' she concluded.
The BBC has confirmed the release date for Conversations With Friends, the TV adaptation of Sally Rooney's 2017 novel.

The show is set to premiere on Sunday, May 15 on BBC Three, with a new teaser clip of the series shared on the channel's Twitter account.

The story follows the two young student women, Frances (Alison Oliver) and Bobbi (Sasha Lane), as they navigate their unusual attraction to the mysterious married couple Nick (Joe Alwyn) and Melissa (Jemima Kirke) after they meet at a poetry night in Dublin.

Release: The BBC has confirmed the release date for Conversations With Friends, the TV adaptation of Sally Rooney's 2017 novel

In the new teaser, Frances and Bobbi are seen going for a swim in the sea with Melissa before they walk back to her house.

Melissa says she's going to have a shower and then tells Frances to relax when she asks if there's anything she can help with.

Nick arrives home and meets Frances for the first time just as Melissa goes upstairs.

The pair appear to make eyes at each other before Bobbi enters the rooma and introduces herself to Nick and asks what's for dinner.

Date: The show is set to premiere on Sunday, May 15 on BBC Three, with a new teaser clip of the series shared on the channel's Twitter account

Conversations With Friends was Sally Rooney's debut novel, published a year before Normal People, which went on to become a global bestseller.

During the course of the novel, Bobbi becomes infatuated with Melissa and openly begins a flirtation with the older woman, who appears flattered by the attention.

Meanwhile, Frances and Nick embark on an elicit affair, with the foursome become more and more entangled with one another.

Nick ultimately reveals the affair to his wife, who accepts the relationship - having had her own affairs - and Nick begins to date Frances openly within the group.

Clip: In a new teaser, characters Frances (Alison Oliver) and Bobbi (Sasha Lane) are seen going for a swim in the sea with Melissa (Jemima Kirke) before they walk back to her house

Adaptation: Conversations With Friends was Sally Rooney's debut novel, published a year before Normal People, which went on to become a global bestseller

Eventually Frances rekindles her romantic relationship with both Bobbi and Nick, with the four continuing their elicit attraction to one another despite the complexities.

Unlike the rest of the cast, little is known about the show's lead role of Frances, who will be played by emerging talent Alison.

She will make her debut in the series having graduated from drama school Lir Academy in Dublin.

Gripping: Frances and Bobbi are ex-girlfriends who become romantically entangled with older couple Nick and Melissa

The new series comes after the success of Rooney's 2018 novel Normal People which was adapted into a ratings smash hit TV series in 2020.

It saw show leads Paul Mescal and Daisy Edgar-Jones, who took on Connell and Marianne's love story, soar to fame after it aired during the first lockdown.

Normal People has been the most watched show on BBC Three ever with more than 23 million downloads globally and over 6.75 million devices watching the first episode. This makes it the most popular programme on the channel ever.

Conversations with Friends will premiere on May 15 2022, airing on BBC Three in the UK and Hulu in the US.
Two-time Oscar nominee Scarlett Johansson has officially denied an old rumor that she once had sex in an elevator with her Avengers: Infinity War castmate Benicio del Toro, but she didn't name him.

'That was a story that followed me for a long time,' the 37-year-old former child star explained on TheSkimm's 9 to 5ish podcast streaming Tuesday at 9pm EST.

'But I always thought that was outrageous. I was always thinking to myself, "That would be tough. It's a very short period, the logistics of that seem so unappealing to me."

Not naming names: Two-time Oscar nominee Scarlett Johansson (R, pictured in 2004) has officially denied an old rumor that she once had sex in an elevator with her Avengers: Infinity War castmate Benicio del Toro (L)

In TheSkimm's 9 to 5ish podcast streaming Tuesday at 9pm EST, the 37-year-old former child star explained: 'That was a story that followed me for a long time. But I always thought that was outrageous'

'I'm a person who's terrified of being caught doing something I'm not supposed to be doing. So that made the story even that much more absurd to me.'

The Chateau Marmont elevator rumor reportedly originated in an Esquire interview where the 55-year-old Oscar winner acted coy.

'Did I ever have sex in an elevator with Scarlett Johansson after an awards show?' Benicio repeated.

'I kind of like, you know, I, well. I don't know. Let's leave that to somebody's imagination. Let's not promote it. I'm sure it has happened before. It might not be the last time either.'

Scarlett (pictured March 16) continued: 'I was always thinking to myself, "That would be tough. It's a very short period, the logistics of that seem so unappealing to me." I'm a person who's terrified of being caught doing something I'm not supposed to be doing. So that made the story even that much more absurd to me'

'The industry has been very welcoming!' Johansson was promoting her eco-conscious skincare company The Outset, which she co-founded earlier this year with former beauty/fashion executive Kate Foster Lengyel (R, pictured March 11)

Scarlett was promoting her eco-conscious skincare company The Outset, which she co-founded earlier this year with former beauty/fashion executive Kate Foster Lengyel.

'The most surprising thing about it has been how welcoming the industry is. I didn't anticipate that,' Johansson gushed.

'It's actually quite transparent and welcoming and warm and inviting...And people have a lot of respect for one another. It's not cutthroat at all. Not in the way that I thought it might be.'

The native New Yorker gushed: 'It's actually quite transparent and welcoming and warm and inviting...And people have a lot of respect for one another. It's not cutthroat at all. Not in the way that I thought it might be'

Using the $54 night cream: The Outset will be available at Sephora stores starting April 26, and the pair are donating 10% of sales - up to $25K - this month to areas devastated by the wildfires in California (pictured Saturday)

The Outset will be available at Sephora stores starting April 26, and the pair are donating 10% of sales (up to $25K) this month to areas devastated by the wildfires in California.

The native New Yorker will next executive produce and co-star with her Avengers castmate Chris Evans in Jason Bateman's space race film Project Artemis, which scored a $100M distribution deal with AppleTV+.

Scarlett also reunited with her Lost in Translation castmate Bill Murray for Wes Anderson's Asteroid City, which wrapped on November 13.

'Very excited!' Scarlett will next executive produce and co-star with her Avengers castmate Chris Evans in Jason Bateman's space race film Project Artemis, which scored a $100M distribution deal with AppleTV+

'That's a wrap!' Johansson also reunited with her Lost in Translation castmate Bill Murray for Wes Anderson's European-set rom-com Asteroid City, which wrapped on November 13

The European-set rom-com also stars Tom Hanks, Tilda Swinton, Margot Robbie, Jeff Goldblum, Adrian Brody, Bryan Cranston, Liev Schreiber, Jeffrey Wright, Jason Schwartzman, Matt Dillon, Hope Davis, Fisher Stevens, and Maya Hawke.

On the personal front, Johansson has two children - daughter Rose Dorothy Dauriac, 7; and son Cosmo Jost, 8 months - from her marriages to ex-husband #2 Romain Dauriac and third husband Colin Jost.

The 39-year-old Emmy nominee serves as co-head writer and Weekend Update co-anchor in the 47th season of Lorne Michaels' long-running sketch show Saturday Night Live, which airs Saturdays on NBC.
Actor Frank Langella is at the center of a sexual harassment probe over his alleged behavior on the set of the Netflix limited series The Fall of the House of Usher.

The Bayonne, New Jersey-born actor, 84, has been accused of multiple instances of inappropriate behavior on the British Columbia, Canada set of the show, production sources told TMZ Wednesday, but hasn't been fired or suspended.

Among the alleged incidents, the source told the outlet, include a joke Langella told that had sexual overtones, and an instance in which he touched the leg of a female actress (during a scripted performance) and joked, 'Did you like that?'

The latest: Actor Frank Langella, 84, is at the center of a sexual harassment probe over his alleged behavior on the set of the Netflix limited series The Fall of the House of Usher. The actor was snapped in 2012 at the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah

The production of the Netflix limited series has not been impacted by the probe, sources told the outlet, as Langella did not have any scenes to film this week.

Police told the outlet that no reports have been filed in connection with the veteran actor. A Netflix rep told the outlet the company doesn't comment on 'active employment matters.'

Langella plays the role of Roderick Usher in the series, which was created by Mike Flanagan.

Other members of the cast include Mark Hamill, Carla Gugino, Willa Fitzgerald, JayR Tinaco, Mary McDonnell, Kate Siegel, Zach Gilford, Henry Thomas, Annabeth Gish and Malcolm Goodwin, according to iMDb.

Langella plays the role of Roderick Usher in the Netflix series, which was created by Mike Flanagan

Langella was seen appearing remotely at the Screen Actors Guild Awards last year

Langella garnered an Oscar nomination in 2009 for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role for his performance as late President Richard Nixon in the 2008 film Frost/Nixon

Langella is an accomplished actor with a prolific resume, having worked steadily in movies and films since 1965.

He garnered an Oscar nomination in 2009 for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role for his performance as late President Richard Nixon in the 2008 film Frost/Nixon.

Among his notable films include the 1979 film Dracula, starring as Count Dracula; 1987's Masters of the Universe, playing the role of the villain Skeletor; 2006's Superman Returns, playing the role of Perry White; and 2012's Robot & Frank, playing Frank.

Langella portrayed the role of Judge Julius Hoffman in 2020's The Trial of the Chicago 7

Langella played the role of Perry White in 2006's Superman Returns

Langella appeared in 1987's Masters of the Universe, playing the role of the villain Skeletor

In recent years, he's been featured in projects including The Trial of the Chicago 7, in which he played Judge Julius Hoffman; the TV show Kidding, in which he portrayed Seb; and the TV show The Americans, playing Gabriel.

The Hollywood veteran opened up about his love life in his 2012 memoir Dropped Names: Famous Men and Women As I Knew Them, according to the New York Post, as he was past linked to late actresses Rita Hayworth and Elizabeth Taylor.

He was romantically linked with Whoopi Goldberg for five years after they worked together on her 1994 movie Eddie, according to a 2000 report from Variety.
Diane Kruger turned heads upon her arrival at the WMF world premiere at Haus der Kunst in Munich on Tuesday.

The actress, 45, put on a leggy display in a white minidress featuring black swirl prints while adding inches to her enviable frame with a pair of blue heels.

Meanwhile, Anna Ermakova commanded attention in pink gown, while elevating her height with yellow heels and wearing her ginger locks behind her shoulders.

What a pair! Diane Kruger (left) flashed her legs in a black-and-white swirl minidress while Anna Ermakova (right) wore an unmissable pink gown at WMF premiere in Munich on Tuesday

Diane, who stars in the advert for the coffee brand, added a pop of colour to her look with a rose clutch while wearing her blonde tresses in damp waves.

Caro Daur oozed elegance in a cream jumpsuit, while Monica Cruz exhibited her pins in a dazzling gold minidress with dangling tassels.

Penelope Cruz's sister went on to pose with Marcel Remus, who put on a dazzling display in a sparkling silver blazer and purple trousers.

Diane recently admitted her fiance Norman Reedus loves to make decisions on the fly, and no purchase is too big or too small for The Walking Dead star.

Chic: Diane, who stars in the advert for the coffee brand, added a pop of colour to her look with a rose clutch

Wow! Anna certainly did not disappoint with her eye-popping display

Hot stuff: The model smouldered up a storm for photographers while wearing her blonde tresses in damp waves

During an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! she revealed that her husband-to-be even bought a house on the west coast without her permission, and despite their solid New York roots.

She went on to say that Norman's impulse purchases happen all the time, and he's known for buying the most random things that sometimes show up at their doorstep in the middle of the night.

'We drove by [the house], he was dropping me off at a table read actually for Swimming With Sharks, and you know, it was a Sundayyou know how those houses are open and you can just walk in,' Diane said. 'We looked at it, it was pretty, but we live in New York, by the way.'

Diane began working on her new Roku series with Kiernan Shipka, Donald Sutherland and Finn Jones in Los Angeles nearly two years ago.

Out of this world: Caro Daur (left) oozed elegance in a cream jumpsuit, while Monica Cruz (right) exhibited her pins in a dazzling gold minidress with dangling tassels

Edgy: Penelope Cruz's sister went on to pose with Marcel Remus, who put on a dazzling display in a sparkling silver blazer and purple trousers

'So, then he drops me off and I come out of my table read and there's like 50 messages that start with, "I love that house. I stayed another hour. What do you think?" she said.

Diane went on: 'Next message, "Should we move to California? I don't know ... I think just for a kid it would be so nice. How bout we make an offer? You know what? I made an offer. We got the house."'

'And you were displeased, as I recall,' Jimmy said.

'No, I mean, it was a beautiful house, you know I don't want to complain too much,' she said. 'I had not considered relocating to California, which then we did, so it was great.'

Hilarious: Diane recently admitted her fiance Norman Reedus loves to make decisions on the fly, and no purchase is too big or too small for The Walking Dead star

The house in question was likely the four-bedroom Hollywood Hills home he bought in March 2020 for $8.25million, only for the couple to put back on the market one year later in June 2021 for $9.25million.

Their incredible 7,732-square-foot Medieval home overlooking the famed Sunset Strip sold in August 2021 for $8.9million, according to property records.

'Is this the sort of thing he does regularly?,' Jimmy asked Kruger

'I call him like a mad midnight shopper because, like the most obscure objects show up the next day  like weird balls to massage his feet, toothbrushes, a house, nine motorcycles ... literally,' she said.

Reed proposed to Kruger in August 2021, with a source telling E! News that the proposal happened 'very privately' in Atlanta and 'they are very excited to solidify their relationship.'

The couple met while filming Sky in 2015 and welcomed their first child, a daughter, in 2018.

She was previously married to actor Guillaume Canet for five years before a 10-year relationship with Joshua Jackson. Norman shares a son, Mingus Lucien Reedus, with his ex, Helena Christensen.
Lincoln, NE (68508)

Today

A mix of clouds and sunshine with gusty winds developing this afternoon. High near 75F. Winds SSE at 20 to 30 mph. Higher wind gusts possible..

Tonight

Windy with thunderstorms overnight. Low around 60F. Winds SSE at 20 to 30 mph. Chance of rain 50%. Higher wind gusts possible.
When was the last time you took a ride in a cable car? Perhaps it was on that vacation in a hill station a few months or years ago... Did it ever occur to you that the cable car ride might be dangerous?

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Of course not. Cable cars are rarely seen as a dangerous ride. Cable cars dont twist and turn in intimidating ways like those rides at an amusement park. It is a comfortable ride up a mountain or across a region with pleasing views. But when the trollies collide or the rope snaps, its a fatal crash or a death trap.

On April 10, 2022, two cable cars on Indias highest ropeway in Jharkhand collided with each other.

Of 12 trolleys (stuck), 8 people rescued. About 40 people who're still stuck, are safe...By late evening it's possible that we complete rescue op. Food being provided as much as possible, though not to all trolleys due to difficulties: Vivek Pandey, PRO, ITBP on Deoghar incident pic.twitter.com/bzqvJe5j2q  ANI (@ANI) April 11, 2022

The accident on the Trikut ropeway has killed at least 2 people and left some 40 people stranded mid-air for nearly an entire day. Rescue operations by the Indian Army, ITBP, IAF and NDRF are currently underway.

#WATCH | A recce was conducted by one of the helicopters in the morning and operations are underway in coordination with the district administration and NDR to rescue people from ropeway site near Trikut in Deoghar, Jharkhand pic.twitter.com/Mum5Tq73nq  ANI (@ANI) April 11, 2022

But the Trikut cable car accident is not a first in India or elsewhere.

Here are 10 bone-chilling cable car accidents from India and around the world (Warning: Its the stuff of nightmares):

1. 2017 GULMARG GONDOLA ACCIDENT

#ActOfGod: say officials on cable car crash in #Gulmarg which had killed 7 persons yesterday, claim all security norms were followed pic.twitter.com/uAiwKDhEAD  Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) June 26, 2017

The horrifying Gulmarg Gondola cable car crash killed 4 of a family and 3 tour guides in 2017. Why and how did the crash happen? It seems like pure bad luck or a script for a Final Destination film; a tree uprooted due to strong winds, fell on the ropeway carrying the trolley and snapped it. The cable car carrying the victims plummeted to the ground from a great height.

A few others were injured and around 150 people were stranded due to the accident. The then Jammu and Kashmir government ordered a high-level inquiry into the accident and to look into why the cable cars were being operated during strong winds.

2. 2021 CHHATTISGARH CABLE CAR CRASH

In 2021, a labourer was killed when the ropeway trolley he was travelling in crashed into a tower in Rajnandgaon district of Chhattisgarh. The man died after falling some 1,300 metres after the crash. The trolley was carrying him down the Bamleshwari Devi temple in Dongargarh. It was reported that the trolley got disbalanced while on the ropeway, resulting in it crashing into a tower.

The trolley the victim was travelling in was not supposed to be ferrying people and was used only to transport construction materials. It is also the same ropeway that had been inaugurated in March 2020 and is open for devotees.

3. 1992 TIMBER TRAIL INCIDENT

#OnThisDayIn a unique aerial operation on 14 & 15 Oct 92, #IAF along with @adgpirescued ten tourists stranded in a suspended cable car at Timber Trail Resorts, Parwanoo. pic.twitter.com/MGCNe4OuJl  Indian Air Force (@IAF_MCC) October 14, 2021

The Timber Trail cable car ride is a popular attraction in Parwanoo, HImachal Pradesh, near Chandigarh. Tourists headed towards the Timber Trail mountain resort often take this 8-minute ride which offers beautiful views. However, in 1992, the cable car ride for 11 tourists became a life-and-death situation. The 11 tourists, along with the ropeway attendant Ghulam Hussain, boarded trolley B on that fateful October day.

Everything was going fine. The cable car was moving up the ropeway, the tourists were savouring every moment of the ride, and it was about to come to a halt at its destination, the attendant had opened the latch of the door, when it happened. Instead of moving up, the trolley went hurtling down at break-neck speed. The attendant and a tourist were either thrown out of the trolley or jumped. The tourist survived, but the attendant did not.

Fortunately, the trolley with 10 people on board including a child got stuck on the ropeway due to a tree. The 10 people were finally rescued by the Indian Air Force and the Army.

4. 2016 VISAKHAPATNAM ACCIDENT

In 2016, seven people were injured and taken to the hospital after the cable car they were travelling in, down the Kailasigiri Hill Park in Visakhapatnam, snapped from the hook and fell down.

5. 2021 ITALY CABLE CAR CRASH

? #Verbania #23maggio, incidente funivia Stresa-Alpino-Mottarone: concluso il lavoro dei 30 #vigilidelfuoco impegnati per l'ispezione della cabina precipitata e per il recupero dei corpi privi di vita delle 13 vittime [20:30 #23maggio] pic.twitter.com/WLbjMVtae8  Vigili del Fuoco (@emergenzavvf) May 23, 2021

The most horrible recent cable car crash was in Italy in 2021, when 14 people were killed. The cable car crash was even captured on CCTV camera. The cable car was operating on the StresaAlpinoMottarone ropeway in northern Italy and crashed to the ground due to a broken traction cable. A 5-year-old survived the fall but lost his parents and sibling in the accident.

6. 2021 CZECH CABLE CAR CRASH

One person was killed in the accident when the trolley detached from the ropeway and plummeted to the ground.

7. 1976 CAVALESE CABLE CAR CRASH

The 1976 cable car remains. Photo: Wikimedia Commons

It remains the deadliest cable car accident in history. In March 1976, a fully occupied cable car was descending from Mt Cermis, near a ski resort in Cavalese, Italy. According to the sole survivor of the accident, then the 14-year-old girl from Milan, Alessandra Piovesana, the cable car was descending normally. Everything was fine. She and her two friends were facing the front of the cabin. It had a panoramic view of the surroundings.

The cable car came to a halt midway. It remained halted for about a minute before it started moving down again. People were laughing and having fun, when suddenly there was a loud noise, the cabin jerked and it crashed. Piovesana said the fall must not have lasted more than 4 seconds. But it killed 43 people on board.

Why did it crash? It was reported that the carrier cable and support cable overlapped causing the crash.

8. 1998 CAVALESE CABLE CAR CRASH

In February 1998, a cable car crashed over 80 metres down when the ropeway snapped. The ropeway, in fact, snapped due to a US aircraft flying too low, defying regulations. The accident killed 20 people.

9. 1990 TBILISI ACCIDENT

In 1990, two cable cars on a ropeway route between Rustaveli Avenue and Mount Mtatsminda, in Tbilisi, capital of the then Soviet Georgia, crashed, killing 19 people and injuring some 42 others. The two cable cars, both moving in opposite directions, were nearing the destination when the hauling rope inside the upper trolley snapped. The lower trolley crashed into a building, while the upper trolley came hurtling down.

10. 1983 SINGAPORE ACCIDENT

In January of 1983, two cabins plunged into the sea from 55 metres after an oil rig passing from underneath the ropeway struck the cable and snapped it. The accident killed 7 people.

To be fair to cable cars, accidents can happen anywhere (and at any time).
India's External Affairs Minister, S Jaishankar, on Monday said that India's total purchase of oil from Russia in a month is probably less than what Europe does in an afternoon. He made the comment in response to a question from a journalist, moments after US Secretary of State Antony Blinken urged India not to buy additional Russian oil, at the India-US 2+2 ministerial dialogue in Washington.

Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the US, the European Union (EU), and the UK placed restrictions on oil and gas imports from Russia, reported the BBC. While the US has completely banned Russian oil, gas and coal imports, the EU is reducing its Russian imports by two-thirds.

India, on the other hand, decided to ramp up its oil imports as Russia, seeking new markets for oil exports, gave a discounted price to its old friend.

As the war in Ukraine continues, the sanctions against Russia from the West are expected to rise. Putin has also threatened to cut gas supplies to "unfriendly" countries if they don't start paying for gas imports in Russian rubles. All these could lead to further rise in oil and gas prices.

Here, we take a look at how dependent the rest of the world is on Russia for oil and gas supply:

RUSSIA IN ENERGY SECTOR

Russia is a major player in the global energy market, and it is one of the worlds top three crude producers, only behind Saudi Arabia and the United States.

Russia is the worlds largest exporter of oil to global markets and the second largest crude oil exporter, only behind Saudi Arabia.

According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), in 2021, Russian crude and condensate output reached 10.5 million barrels per day (bpd), which is 14 per cent of the worlds total supply.

Last year, Russia exported an estimated 4.7 million bpd of crude around the world, with China being the largest importer at 1.6 million bpd.

Europe depends on Russia for about 40 per cent of its natural gas, with most being transported by pipeline. In 2021, Russia has exported 750,000 bpd of diesel to Europe, meeting 10% of its demand.

Photo: Reuters

EUROPES DEPENDENCE ON RUSSIA

According to a report by the Columbia Climate School, in 2020, Europe imported about 185 billion cubic meters (bcm) of Russian gas. This is almost 36 per cent of Europes total gas demand.

The EU imported 155 bcm of Russian gas in 2021, and depends on Russian gas for 45 per cent of its imports and around 40 per cent of its consumption.

About 60 per cent of Russias oil exports go to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Europe. In November, OECD Europe imported a total of 4.5 mb/d of oil from Russia (34% of its total imports), of which 3.1 mb/d was crude oil and feedstocks and 1.3 mb/d oil products, reported the IEA.

Amid the uncertainty over energy supply, European countries are trying to secure supplies from the Middle East and the Mediterranean. According to a report in ANI, Germany and the UK had sent senior representatives to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in last few weeks, asking them to increase energy supplies.

COUNTRIES THAT IMPORT MOST RUSSIAN OIL

Even though EU nations are the largest collective buyer of Russian oil, China is the largest single purchaser from the country. Other major countries to purchase Russian oil and gas are Germany, the Netherlands, the US, Poland and South Korea.

According to a report in The Hill, some eastern European countries are almost completely dependent on Russia for oil and gas supply.

Here's a breakdown of which country imports how much oil from Russia:

Lithuania: 83 per cent

Finland: 80 per cent

Slovakia: 74 per cent

Poland: 58 per cent

Hungary: 43 per cent

Estonia: 34 percent

Bigger European nations are also reliant on Russia for their energy supply:

Germany: 30 per cent

Norway: 25 per cent

Belgium: 23 per cent

Turkey: 21 per cent

Denmark: 15 per cent

Spain: 11 per cent

WHAT ARE THE ALTERNATIVES?

While there are many alternatives to Russia when it comes to energy supply around the world, the situation is very different for Europe. Moving on to power generation from nuclear, hydropower or coal is an option, but setting up these systems will take time and it can't be considered an immediate solution.

For gas supply, many countries are planning to move towards Norway, Azerbaijan, Qatar and the US.

For oil, many European countries are turning towards Saudi Arabia and the UAE.

According to a report in the Euractiv, most southern European countries are trying to reinforce connections with North Africa and the Balkans, with new gas and electricity connections.

The UK imports only 4 per cent of Russian gas. It said that the government will increase investment in North Sea oil and gas exploration and increase renewable energy production. French PM Jean Castex also stressed the need to increase LNG import capacity and the development of renewable energies.

German Vice-Chancellor Robert Habeck recently visited Norway, Qatar, UAE and the US to secure LNG and as much pipeline gas as possible, reported DW News.

INDIA'S OIL SUPPLY FROM RUSSIA

Commenting on India buying more volumes of crude oil from Russia, Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said that trade between both the countries is still less than 1% of the country's total oil imports. The minister made the statement in the Rajya Sabha during question hour, reported Mint.

As per Puri, India purchased about 4,19,000 tonnes of crude oil from Russia in the first 10 months of the fiscal year - accounting for 0.2% of the total import, which was at 175.9 million tonnes.

India imported 6,33,000 tonnes or 0.3% in 2020-21, and 2.93 million tonnes or 1.3% of total imports were bought during 2019-20.
Seattle, WA (98195)

Today

Periods of rain. High 53F. S winds shifting to NW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 80%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch..

Tonight

Overcast with rain showers at times. Low 41F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%.
Seattle, WA (98195)

Today

Rain likely. High 53F. S winds shifting to WNW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 80%. Rainfall around a quarter of an inch..

Tonight

Overcast with rain showers at times. Low 41F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%.
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP)  Tesla CEO Elon Musk's great Twitter turnabout  in which he disclosed his massive stake in the social media company, got a seat on its board, publicly floated drastic changes and then turned down the board role  all happened in a week.

But its aftermath could linger if the mercurial billionaire who now holds a roughly 9% stake in Twitter continues to push forward his ideas for reshaping the business of social media.

WHY DIDN'T MUSK JOIN THE BOARD?

Musk said he informed Twitter on Saturday that he wouldn't be joining its board of directors, after being invited five days earlier, according to a financial disclosure. He didn't explain why but the Saturday decision coincided with a barrage of now-deleted tweets from Musk proposing major changes to the company, such as dropping ads  its chief source of revenue  and transforming its San Francisco headquarters into a homeless shelter. Musk left a few clues on Twitter about his thinking, such as by liking a tweet that summarized the events as Musk going from largest shareholder for Free Speech to being told to play nice and not speak freely.

WHAT IS TWITTER SAYING?

Twitter CEO Parag Agrawal said Musk's not joining was for the best but didnt give explicit reasons in a statement Monday. Agrawal also left some clues, noting that Musk had been awaiting a background check and suggesting that Twitter wanted him on the board  rather than just as a major shareholder  because as a fiduciary hed be legally and ethically bound to act in the best interests of the company and all of our shareholders.

HOW DID MUSK BUILD HIS STAKE?

Musk has been tweeting for a long time, but he began buying Twitter stock in earnest only a few months ago. He started on Jan. 31, when he bought a little more than 620,000 shares at $36.83 apiece. On nearly every single trading day from then through April 1, he bought hundreds of thousands or millions more of shares.

Altogether, Musk was in control of 73.1 million Twitter shares as of the most recent count, or 9.1% of the company. He spent $2.64 billion buying them all on the open market. The market value for all of Twitter, including Musks stake, is roughly $38 billion.

HOW BIG IS MUSKS STAKE COMPARED WITH OTHERS?

Musk seemed to be Twitters biggest shareholder until investment giant Vanguard Group filed a report late last week showing it had supplanted him.

Vanguard controls 10.3% of the company through investments made by its suite of mutual funds and ETFs. Vanguard and other fund giants are often the biggest investors in any company, as money keeps pouring into their index funds from retirement savers and other investors. But these fund giants are typically much more hands-off as owners than activist investors, who can push for new management teams or big changes in strategy.

WHAT COULDNT MUSK DO IF HE HAD JOINED THE BOARD?

Had Musk joined the board, he'd have been only one of several voices in strategy discussions. And he might have chafed at not being able to order the company around.

The responsibility of the board of directors is to represent the shareholders, said Harry Kraemer, clinical professor at Northwestern Universitys Kellogg School of Management and former chairman and CEO of Baxter International. Theyre not there to represent themselves.

By turning down a seat on Twitters board, Musk also gets out of a promise to keep his ownership stake of Twitter at 14.9% or below. Free of that cap, he has the option to build a bigger stake, where he could try to take over the company or help elect a slate of directors more aligned with his thinking.

That 15% is an arbitrary number, said Kraemer. Its not like if you own 15%, you can or cant do something else. Im speculating, but maybe the thought was: If we bring him on as a director, and he cant buy more than 15%, that literally stops him from taking control of the company.

DIDNT MUSK SAY HE WOULD BE JUST A PASSIVE INVESTOR IN TWITTER?

When Musk first unveiled his Twitter stake through a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, he did it with a type of form often used by investors who dont plan to push for big changes at a company. But he has since amended that filing to use a broader type of form, one that doesnt have the same restrictions.

WHAT HAS MUSK SAID HELL DO WITH HIS SHARES?

He said in a filing with regulators on Monday that he owns the shares for investment purposes. He said he may buy more, sell or simply hold the shares, depending on what happens with its price and other factors.

He also said that he may talk with Twitters board and its management team from time to time about strategy, as well as possible mergers, sales or acquisitions, among other things. The widely followed tweeter was sure to note that he may express his views to the company through social media or other channels.

Musk said he has no present plans or intentions, but that his plans could change at any time.

WHAT DOES MUSK REALLY WANT?

Much of Musk's vocal criticism of Twitter over recent weeks has centered around his belief that it falls short on free speech principles. The social media platform has angered followers of Donald Trump and other far-right political figures who've had their accounts suspended for violating its content standards on violence, hate or harmful misinformation. Musk also has a history of his own tweets causing legal problems.

But as long as his attention is sustained, it's unlikely that Musk would make such a big play for Twitter if he didn't also have strategic business interests, said Enrique Abeyta, a former hedge fund manager and editor of Empire Financial Research. It's nearly impossible to start a new social media platform, so Twitter offers the digital equivalent of prime beachfront real estate that just needs some tinkering and fresh ideas, which could range from taking it private to shifting to a subscription-based model with fewer speech restrictions, Abeyta said.

He clearly has shown an interest in combining his philosophical beliefs and interests with his economic ones, he said. I think it would be very dangerous to discount him."

COULD MUSK BE TWITTER CEO?

Probably not. Neither Musk  who already serves as CEO of Tesla and SpaceX and has dabbled in a number of other technology ventures  nor most investors are likely to think that's a good idea.

Hed rather be the chairman, the spirit animal, the man who saved Twitter and also made $10 billion on it, Abeyta said. He's the richest person in the world. Being CEO sucks.

___

Choe reported from New York.
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP)  Farms that rely on irrigation from a depleted, federally managed lake on the California-Oregon border, along with a Native American tribe fighting to protect fragile salmon, will both receive extremely limited amounts of water this summer as a historic drought and record-low reservoir levels drag on in the U.S. West.

More than 1,000 farmers and ranchers who draw water from a 257-mile-long (407-kilometer) river that flows from the Upper Klamath Lake to the Pacific Ocean will have access to roughly one-seventh the amount they could get in a wetter year, a federal agency announced Monday. Downstream salmon will receive about half the water theyd get if the reservoir was full.

It's the third year in a row that severe drought has impacted farmers, fish and tribes in a region where there's not enough water to satisfy competing demands. Last year, no water at all flowed through the Klamath Reclamation Project's main irrigation canal, and thousands of downstream juvenile salmon died without reservoir releases to support the Klamath River's health.

The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, which manages the irrigation project, announced $15 million in relief for affected farmers and $5 million for Native American tribes as a result of its decision and warned farmers not to take water beyond what was ordered or risk further irrigation reductions and legal action. The agency decides the allocations each year, taking into account court rulings that require certain lake levels to support two federally endangered fish species.

Across the American West, a 22-year megadrought deepened so much last year that the region is now in the driest spell in at least 1,200 years  a worst-case climate change scenario playing out in real time, a study found last month.

Inflow to the Upper Klamath Lake is at a record lows, water managers said, and water allocations could drop further if drought conditions worsen this summer.

We wish we had better news today. Obviously there are no winners in this critical year as all interests are suffering  fisheries, farmers tribes and waterfowl alike  but given the current hydrology that we have to work with, we did the best job we could, said Ernest Conant, the bureaus regional director.

Irrigators reacted with shock and anger to the news and said they werent sure they could survive another growing season without adequate water supplies. The amount of water available is less than 15% of what the farmers need, said Ben DuVal, president of the Klamath Water Users Association, who operates a farm in Tulelake, California.

We have 170,000 acres (68,800 hectares) that could be irrigated this year, and were ready to get to work, he said. On a single acre, we can produce over 50,000 pounds (22,700 kilograms) of potatoes, or 6,000 pounds (2,700 kilograms) of wheat. This year, most of that land will not produce any food because the government is denying water for irrigation.

Klamath River water that is dammed in the Upper Klamath Lake is the linchpin of the nearly 200,000-acre (80,940-hectare) Klamath Reclamation Project, a major agricultural powerhouse of more than 1,000 farms and ranches. Today, farmers there grow everything from mint to alfalfa to potatoes that go to In N Out Burger, Frito-Lay and Kettle Foods.

But the reservoir water is also source of conflict among competing demands, and amid historic drought in the carefully managed river basin there hasn't been enough water to go around in recent years. Before 2020, the last time water allocations reached such a boiling point in the Klamath Basin was in 2001, when the U.S. government sent federal marshals to the area during a drought year and farmers threatened to breach the head gates.

Under the law, the lake's water must be kept at a certain level to protect its sucker fish, a key species to the heritage of the Klamath Tribes in southern Oregon. This year's water decision order irrigators to keep the lake's water above a certain level for sucker fish spawning in April and May and then at a different level for the remainder of the summer  but even at those levels, the lake will not meet federally mandated minimums for the spring months.

Farmers can start drawing the limited water on Friday.

But federally threatened coho salmon that live in the lower Klamath River, below the reservoir, also need pulses of water from the lake to keep at bay a deadly parasite that thrives in warm and slow-moving water. The salmon are revered by the Yurok Tribe, Californias second-largest Native American tribe.

One so-called flushing flow of water that's about half the normal amount  and half what farmers will get  will be released Friday also.

Yurok Vice Chairman Frankie Myers said the fact that salmon, sucker fish and waterfowl are competing for the region's water was a direct sign of the ecological collapse brought by water withdrawals." He said the Yurok would never stop working to save the salmon.

Although we are gratified that the river is afforded minimal protections under this plan, it is no time for celebration. Salmon runs will continue to suffer under these conditions, and as climate change intensifies, such protections will become increasingly important, Myers said.

The slashed water allocations to the Klamath Reclamation Project also will impact two national wildlife refuges in the region that are replenished with irrigation runoff. The refuges host tens of thousands of migratory birds along the Pacific Flyway. Last year, environmentalists and farmers used pumps to combine water from two stagnant wetlands into one deeper one to prevent another outbreak of avian botulism like the one that killed 50,000 ducks in 2020.

Hundreds of domestic wells impacted by the increased groundwater pumping have also gone dry since late last summer.
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SANTA FE, N.M. (AP)  New Mexico election regulators are resisting efforts by a conservative-backed foundation to post statewide voter registration information on a public website where it can be searched by names or addresses to view whether people voted in past elections and sometimes their party affiliations. The website does not list details of how people voted regarding candidates or initiatives.

The Voter Reference Foundation, created by Republican former Senate candidate Doug Truax of Illinois, announced in December that it would add registered New Mexico voters to its website database VoteRef.com that was established in the wake of the 2020 election and now includes voter rolls from at least 20 states.

That move has prompted calls for a state investigation into possible misuse of election records and a pre-emptive lawsuit by Voter Reference Foundation to ensure its plans to publish the details about New Mexico voters.

The foundation has said its goal is to usher in a new era of American election transparency.

But New Mexico Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver said in an interview Monday that the foundation's efforts violate state law in New Mexico that restricts the use of voter registration data to political campaigning or noncommercial government purposes.

This is an overtly political purpose and not necessarily towards a particular campaign and in the government interest," Toulouse Oliver said. "Their purpose is to intimidate voters and make folks become concerned about the security of their information, to potentially cause voters to de-register and not participate in our process.

Toulose Oliver in December referred the group's effort for possible prosecution to the state attorney general. Her office traced voter registration data used by Voter Reference Foundation to a person who paid about $5,400 for access on the condition that the information would be used only for governmental, election, research and campaign purposes.

In its March lawsuit, Voter Reference Foundation argued that New Mexico's restrictions on voter registration data violate free-speech guarantees of the U.S. Constitution.

The foundation said its election purposes are to increase voter participation and provide transparency regarding New Mexico elections, both of which strengthen election integrity. A preliminary hearing in U.S. District Court in Albuquerque had been scheduled for Tuesday, but was delayed at the request of state officials.

The foundation's website highlights discrepancies in various states between the number of people listed as having voted on registration rolls and the number of ballots cast according to certified election results.

Election officials have described the methodology as flawed, noting that discrepancies likely surface for legitimate reasons when an election result is compared to state voting registration rolls that are continually updated as people change their addresses, enter and leave the state or die.

VoteRef.com on Tuesday added voter registration data from the District of Columbia.

Open Secrets, a nonpartisan group that tracks political spending, has linked the Voter Reference Foundation to political groups supported by Republican political financing megadonor Richard Uihlein.

Toulouse Oliver and Attorney General Hector Balderas have warned residents of Otero County in southern New Mexico to be wary of intrusive questions and potential intimidation by door-to-door canvassers linked to a review of the 2020 election that was authorized by the Republican-led county commission through a private company.

Toulouse Oliver said that authorities are probing whether the contractor improperly obtained bulk voter records through a third party that she did not identify.
It would be fair to say that when it comes to Africas energy industry, Africa and Europe have been at odds for the last several years.

Europe, which has valid concerns about protecting the climate and moving the world toward net-zero emissions goals, has been urging African oil- and gas-producing states not only to accelerate their transition to green energy sources, but also to send it into overdrive. The general sentiment in the European Union (EU) is that the time for new oil and gas projects in Africa has passed.

African Oil and Gas Producers and the African Energy Chamber (AEC) (www.EnergyChamber.org) have been outspoken in our objection to European environmental groups, leaders, and financial institutions interfering in our energy industry, particularly when it discourages funding for new African petroleum projects. We even called for a boycott last July of European firms that cut off African oil and gas investments.

As you might expect, African countries have been equally frustrated with the EUs interference. They are less than keen about turning their backs on the benefits their fossil fuel resources have to offer, particularly natural gas. When you consider that natural gas can ease the continents widespread energy poverty, help provide reliable electricity for nearly 600 million people in sub-Saharan Africa without reliable electricity, and be monetized to create the funds Africa will need for a successful energy transition, its easy to see why.

Nevertheless, the EU has been relentless in its push to halt Africas natural gas production. Until recently, that is.

A seismic shift began late last summer when Europe was faced with rising commodity prices and low natural gas supplies. Output from renewables wasnt able to fill the gap, making coal use a necessary evil to meet their needs. European leaders started recognizing that the increased use of natural gas, which emits the least carbon dioxide of all fossil fuels, was their best strategy for sustainably protecting Europes energy security in the short term. By early 2022, the EU declared that natural gas (along with nuclear power) can be considered green energy  as long as it emits less than 270 grams of carbon dioxide per kilowatt-hour.

Perspectives evolved further after Russia invaded Ukraine in February. Currently, the European Union relies on Russia for 45% of its imported gas, which totaled about 155 billion cubic meters last year, the International Energy Agency (IEA) estimates. But earlier this month, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the EU would release proposals for phasing out its dependency on Russian fossil fuels by 2027.

Today, the world is starting to recognize the critical role Africas vast natural gas resources could play in meeting Europes needs. The EU is also eying Africas potential for the production of green hydrogen, that is, hydrogen produced with renewable energy sources. Countries like Germany have already determined that they cannot produce the large quantities of green hydrogen theyll need to achieve their zero-emissions goals on their own. As a result, theyve started setting the stage for successful import agreements with African producers by investing in infrastructure and African capacity-building programs. I was in Berlin Last week when Namibian Mines and Energy Minister Tom Alweendo and German Economic Affairs and Climate Action Robert Habeck, signed a Joint Declaration of Intent on cooperation in the field of green hydrogen during the Berlin Energy Transition Dialogue. Namibia has a Green Hydrogen project that has advanced a lot thanks to the work of James Mnyupe, Namibias presidential economic adviser and hydrogen commissioner and his team but more work is needed. Frankfurt based, Emerging Energy Corporation has signed an agreement with the government of Niger to work on Green Hydrogen and also reduce carbon emissions in the oil fields and at the same time seek ways to get gas and hydrogen through pipelines into Europe.

Clearly, Africa has an important role to play in meeting European energy needs today and tomorrow. The question is, can European leaders and organizations let go of the dynamics that have dictated their dealings with Africa in the past  actions that prioritized climate objectives above Africas most pressing needs  and begin embracing the many benefits natural gas has to offer both continents?

Can we forge an alliance of mutual respect and cooperation, a Green Gas Deal of cooperation so to speak? I believe we can, and we must.

If we do, if European governments and businesses start ramping up their investments in African natural gas projects, theyll accelerate the infrastructure development necessary for African countries to start exporting more gas and hydrogen to Europe, freeing countries there from reliance on Russia.

Whats more, European investments in Africa will open the doors to more gas-to-power projects with the potential to ease African energy poverty. The investments will open the door to industrial projects that use gas as a feedstock, such as chemical and fertilizer plants, that will diversify African economies. And theyll foster the revenue generation that African countries will need to grow their energy mix and set the stage for a successful energy transition.

Now Is the Time to Invest in Africa

Besides, investing in African gas is a sound business move.

For one thing, the African Energy Chambers efforts to foster a positive investment environment in Africa have already been productive. African governments like Nigeria, Uganda, and Namibia have been working to create business-friendly policies, from fair local content policies to improved fiscal regimes that enhance international oil companies (IOCs) ability to operate profitably within their borders.

This October, the AEC plans to highlight Africas downstream, midstream, and upstream oil and gas opportunities with our Africa Energy Week (https://bit.ly/3K84PlT), which will take place in Cape Town Oct. 18-21. Its important to remember that Africa remains under-explored and still has vast stores of oil and gas. During the last year alone, there have been major discoveries in South Africa, Namibia, Gabon, and off the coast of Cote dIvoire, to name a few.

Not only do solid investment opportunities for Europe exist in exploration and production, but also in gas infrastructure. European governments, businesses, and organizations can facilitate African natural gas imports to their countries by investing in African gas infrastructure including pipelines, LNG export terminals, and maritime logistics operations. We hope to see businesses join forces, along with the creation of public-private partnerships, to drive these infrastructure projects forward.

Promising Steps

When it comes to a new era of energy cooperation, Europe and Africa are already moving in the right direction.

For example, Im extremely encouraged by the commitment of Frans Timmermans, executive vice president of the European Commission, to participate in the AECs 2022 African Energy Week (AEW) (https://bit.ly/37eKnAV) in Cape Town this October. Timmermans will take part in investor forums, panel discussions, and meetings with African energy ministers, Presidents, Team Energy Africa and Oil and Gas industry stakeholders.

Meanwhile, the African Energy Chamber has met with the European Commission in Brussels and spoken to German leaders in Berlin about the role African hydrogen can play in Europes energy transition with great thanks and credit to the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung and particularly Anja Beretta, the Director of the Energy Security and Climate Change Program for convincing us to be on the table and speak up our views. She never tried to muscle us and it was respectful.

I only hope this pattern of open, respectful communication continues.

To build on this moment, we will need strong leadership. As Ive said more than once,

Africa and the EU need to think about our energy relationship not in terms of a binary choice between oil, natural gas, and coal production and climate change mitigation but rather in the context of energy security and a just energy transition. Rising energy prices and the conflicts underscore the urgency to do both.

That said, after my conversations with EU officials, I believe both Africa and Europe can rise to the challenge.

Africa can help Europe ease its dependence on Russian natural gas and produce the hydrogen it will need to meet its net-zero ambitions. And at the same time, Europe can support Africas goals for a just energy transition on our own timeline, one that allows us to use our oil and gas resources to build renewable energy infrastructure, skills, and technologies. One that will not negate our efforts to alleviate energy poverty.

We can, as allies, create the energy futures we both need and want. Now lets change our mindset and get to work.

By NJ Ayuk

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NEW YORK (AP)  Many New Yorkers just want their city to feel orderly, functional and fun again after two years of plague and social disruption. Their new mayor, Eric Adams, has promised to deliver.

The question is, can the Democrat who pledged to bring back New Yorks swagger gain momentum in the face of repeated setbacks?

Adams' optimism remained high even as he marked his 100th day as mayor Sunday by going into quarantine after testing positive for COVID-19.

A hands-on politician and nightlife enthusiast, Adams, 61, caught the virus after a whirlwind week typical of his persona and time in office: He had attended the Gridiron dinner in Washington, gone to a New York gala, posed with Robert de Niro at a film festival, attended the Yankees opener and a slew of events in the state Capitol.

Im going to continue to try to be as visible as possible as we get through COVID and many of the other crises that were facing, Adams said Monday, promising to resume his busy schedule after recovering from the virus.

In his first 100 days in office, Adams has projected an aggressive confidence as hes implemented policies aimed at combating an image of New York City as hobbled by the pandemic and beset by rising crime.

He dropped many COVID-19 precautions and is reluctant to bring them back, even as virus cases have steadily risen.

Hes ordered homeless encampments removed from public spaces, despite complaints from activists that the sweeps are inhumane.

Over the objection of progressives, Adams, a former police captain, brought back an NYPD anti-gun unit disbanded by the previous mayor, saying that with better oversight it will shed its past reputation for using excessive force.

Critics say Adams is embracing the worst tendencies of previous mayors known for their heavy-handed approaches to policing and social services.

Adams says he doesnt like chaos, as Saturday Night Live noted in his first days in office. Instead, he is seeking to harness the city's tangly dynamism.

That is what I think our failure is in our city ... We have thrown up our hands and said this city is not manageable. That is just not true," he said in an interview with The Associated Press on Thursday, prior to testing positive for COVID-19.

He said he starts every morning poring over a series of spreadsheets filled with data on his key initiatives.

When inspecting his efforts to clear tents and makeshift shelters set up by homeless people, Adams scrolls through hundreds of color-coded rows listing individual encampments reported to the city  some that the mayor has phoned in himself.

He checks to see if the entries are shaded blue by someone in his administration, indicating city workers have posted notices theyre about to clean the area. He checks to see that the blue entries are later turned yellow, coded as a successful cleanup. If too many days pass and the colors dont change, hell make a call to find out why.

At a news conference last month, he said the city cleared 239 encampments in its first 12 days. Although the city didnt offer data about how many people were living at the encampments, only five accepted offers to move to a shelter.

Adams said he thinks the number will grow, as it did with efforts to reach out to homeless people in the subway system.

The mayor also checks daily spreadsheets laying out data on crime, the citys sprawling transit system, affordable and supportive housing units, and hires and promotions in his government.

He likened himself to an airline pilot who sits down and checks his instruments before taking off, calling the city a complex piece of machinery.

You have to constantly inspect what you expect, or its suspect, Adams said, using one of his favored catchphrases.

Adams, a former New York City police captain, state lawmaker and elected borough president of Brooklyn, had to deal with unrelenting crises in his first month in office.

A fire ripped through a high-rise apartment building, killing 17 people; a baby was wounded by gunfire; two police officers were fatally shot while responding to a call; a woman was pushed to her death in front of a subway train by a stranger.

Outside of 9/11, I dont know if another mayor was just inundated with so much at one time, Adams remarked.

Crime, which has risen in cities across the U.S., has become one of his chief concerns.

Its by far the thorniest issue Adams took on, said Jon Reinish, a Democratic political strategist in New York City. But 100 days is still early, Reinish said, and a better barometer of progress would be a year into the administration.

I think that he has navigated that well so far, but Rome wasnt built in a day, he said.

New York Citys elected public advocate Jumaane Williams, a progressive Democrat who serves as a city ombudsman, praised Adams for partnering with him on issues like food insecurity, Black maternal health and summer jobs for young people. But he said hes concerned about too much emphasis on policing and not enough focus on mental health.

Adams, who is Black, points out that he spoke out about racist and unjust practices in the department while he was an officer. He says police can learn from the mistakes of the past while using new tools like body cameras to stay accountable  but the city also cant go back to the days of high rates of violent crime.

I know I dont want to go back to the violence or the abuse. Some people only talk about not going back to the abuse, he said.

Critics have also called Adams' actions to clear homeless encampments short-sighted, especially when some people living on the street say they dont feel safe in the citys shelters and theres not enough affordable housing to provide a long-term solution.

It sounds to me like were doing the last thing first, Williams said.

Adams contends its inhumane to accept that people sleep on the street, and defends his plan by pointing to to a city law guaranteeing a right to space in a shelter for any homeless person who needs it.

But he also notes that when an encampment is cleared, It is just unbelievable how visually, it just changes your mindset of your neighborhood. And that is part of the goal. Because were dealing with an actual problem and the perception of a problem.

Perception, he said is also why hes posting photos and videos on social media of himself shoveling snow during snowstorms or is seen meeting people all over the city and hitting up restaurants, night clubs and glitzy events.

We have to get the city back up and operating and many New Yorkers are starting to do so. And they need to see me in the process, he said. As I deal with the crises, I also have to be on that red carpet. Because Broadway is a major economic driver for our city.
HARTFORD, Conn. (AP)  Connecticut lawmakers have decided to extend four of Democratic Gov. Ned Lamont's remaining pandemic-related executive orders, despite concerns raised by Republicans that it's time to end the practice and get back to normal governing.

The Senate voted 19-13 on Tuesday to prolong orders until June 30 that deal with physical distancing in certain congregate settings; making the patient vaccination database available to medical providers; using temporary nurses aides to help alleviate staffing shortages; and providing more time to send out rental assistance payments to people facing eviction who've already applied to the state's UniteCT program.
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Whats a few million dollars between political opponents?

First-quarter campaign filings released Monday night show that Gov. Ned Lamont wrote two personal checks totaling $1.15 million as a down payment for his reelection.

But Bob Stefanowski, the presumptive Republican nominee from Madison, has loaned $10 million of his own money to the 2022 rematch for governor. His campaign has spent about $2.6 million and has more than $8 million available.

That money inludes about $608,000 in individual contribitions Stefanowski has raised, the filings show. In an earlier release, he said 1,539 people contributed a median amount of about $50.

His largest payout was for $946,346 to the Alexandria, Va-based National Media for TV, radio and digital buys. He also spent tens of thousands of dollars among several consulting firms including about $60,000 for WPA Intelligence, a political researcher; $45,000 for the New Jersey-based Checkmate Strategies; $42,000 to Chris Motolla Consulting Inc. of North Hollywood, Ca.; $24,000 for Spark Op Strategies of Fairfield; and about $20,000 to Go Big Media of Alexandria, Va.

Lamont, the Democratic incumbent whose term in office has been highlighted by the coronavirus pandemic, along with a series of state budget surpluses, reported a total of $1.27 million raised for his reelection, with $639,091 spent and $631,400 on hand at the end of March.

Judging by the $15 million that Lamont paid for his victory in 2018, its just the beginning.

Loaning his campaign the money leaves an eventual avenue for Stefanowski to recoup his investment, while Lamonts checks for the first months of the campaign are not recoverable.

Stefanowski, a former financial services executive, front-loaded his 2018 campaign with $2 million of his own money, but fell short of cash in the fall before his loss to Lamont. In all, Stefanowski spent about $3 million of his personal wealth in his first run for elective office four years ago.

Lamont, a multi-millionaire former cable TV entrepreneur from Greenwich, who has not taken the governors $150,000 annual salary, raised about $14,000 in individual contributions in the first quarter. He announced his intention to run for a second term in November.

Stefanowski declared his candidacy in January but has stayed active in the public realm since losing to Lamont by 44,372 votes, or about 3 percentage points.

To have over 1,500 people invest in our campaign in less than three months shows that our goal of making Connecticut more affordable, safer and making our state government more accountable to the people is gaining momentum and people want to help make a difference, Stefanowski said in a written statement more than 14 hours before he filed the papers.

Stefanowski previously declared hell spend $10 million of his own money in the 2022 rematch for governor.

As the midnight Monday deadline approached, Lamonts team filed their totals at 7 p.m. Stefanowskis documents were posted with the State Elections Enforcement Commission after 11 p.m.

Lamonts major expenses included about $159,000 to the New York-based Global Strategy Group LLC for polling; $132,000 for digital consulting; about $125,000 in TV ad buys; $20,000 to the Democratic Governors Association for research; and $22,500 to Jones Mandel, a Seattle-based strategic consultant firm with close ties to Democrats.

While Lamont has the power of incumbency, Stefanowski has used local conservative talk radio, social media and newspaper op-eds to criticize Lamont, whose administrations school-construction program is under federal investigation. Stefanowski has also attached himself to efforts by minority Republicans and the trucking industry to rail against highway tolls, which the Democrat-dominated legislature rejected in 2020, and a highway user fee for heavy trucks that will take effect in 2023.

Nationally known political forecasters currently predict Lamont is likely to win in November, but at least one prominent prognosticator, the Cook Political Report, downgraded the Democratic incumbents chances from solid to likely.

Stefanowski also has the backing of a political action committee run by David Kelsey, a real estate investor and the former GOP town committee chairman of Old Lyme, whose half-million-dollar contribution to CT Truth PAC has been supplemented by another $500,000 from Thomas McInerney of Westport, the CEO of Bluff Point Associates, a private equity investment firm.

McInerney is also on the board of a conservative think tank called the Manhattan Institute, which has major support from the oil wealth of the Koch family, and opposes the science of climate change.

According to the Federal Election Commission, McInerney this year has already contributed $5.4 million to Republican candidates, including $252,000 to the Republican National Committee. In 2018 McInerney contributed $100,000 to an independent expenditure PAC, FixCT, which supported the unsucessful GOP candidacy of Steve Obsitnik of Westport.

Obsitnik later paid a $90,000 fine to state election regulators over allegations of illegal coordination with a PAC making independent expenditures on his behalf. State Rep. Jason Perillo, R-Westport, was also fined $10,000 in that case.

kdixon@ctpost.com Twitter: @KenDixonCT
Patrick Semansky/AP

SAN FRANCISCO (AP)  Yelp will cover the travel expenses of employees who must travel out of state for abortions, joining the ranks of major employers trying to help workers affected by new restrictions in Texas and other states.

The benefit announced Tuesday covers all 4,000 employees at the online review service, but seems most likely to have its biggest immediate impact on its 200 workers in Texas, which has passed a law banning abortions within the state after six weeks of pregnancy.
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Hyderabad: The Telangana government and Ministry of Commerce, Thailand entered into a Memorandum of Understanding aiming to promote trade and investments between both, an official release said on Tuesday.

Telangana State Industries Minister KT Rama Rao and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Commerce of Thailand Jurin Laksanawisit were virtually present during the MoU signing programme.

The MoU is to kickstart the cooperation in SMEs and startups through the business incubator and innovation ecosystem "T-Hub" and "Thaitrade.com" of Thailand with the "GlobalLinker" of Telangana State, it said.

"Both the governments will explore the possibility of potential trade & investments in several key focus sectors, mainly involving agro-based food processing, wood processing and wood based industry," the release said.

The MoU signing ceremony is also one of the special events to celebrate the milestone of the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between India and Thailand, it added.
Hookah consumption is as harmful as cigarettes and other forms of tobacco. They could lead to lung and oral cancers and severe heart diseases.  Representatoinal image/Pixabay

Hyderabad: Despite the ban on hookah clubs, they have been sprouting in the city as they enjoy tremendous customer-patronage.

On their part, police officials claim that they are under pressure from the state government to give priority to drugs. Given the dearth of staff, it is difficult for officials to keep a tab on hookah clubs and customers.

Meanwhile, there are no restrictions on the sale and purchase of portable electric hookah which is sold even in pan shops. In fact, there is increase in the number of women addicts, including those from posh localities.

Zubin Haq, a hookah addict, said electric hookahs are quite popular with women, who carry them in their handbag and smoke on roads and in restaurants. It has become a fashion statement these days.

Mohammed Sohil who runs Pan Mahal in Srinagar Colony, said they ask for electric hookah, fill the pot with tobacco imported from Turkey, Malaysia and Indonesia in different flavours and are back in their cars.

The top floor of quite a few buildings in posh localities have hookah parlours also called hookah clubs. The customers are limited as it is done clandestinely. Nine flavours of hookah are provided in those places.

Hookah consumption is as harmful as cigarettes and other forms of tobacco. They could lead to lung and oral cancers and severe heart diseases.

Hookah has been integral to Nawabi lifestyle. Many of those families have a collection of priceless hookah, Nawab Taher Ali said.

A senior police official said We have conducted raids several times and made arrests under Cigarettes and other Tobacco Prohibition of Advertisement Act (COTPA). But they immediately shift to another area.

Now with a focus on narcotics, raids on hookah clubs have come down drastically.
David Livingstone Smith is a professor of philosophy and co-founder and director of the Institute for Cognitive Science and Evolutionary Studies at the University of New England. Dehumanization, he writes, is a scourge, and has been for millennia. It acts as a psychological lubricant, dissolving our inhibitions and inflaming our destructive passions. As such, it empowers us to perform acts that would, under other circumstances, be unthinkable.

This mindset, which enables us to see others as subhuman, as vermin, lies behind the Holocaust, Stalins slaughter of his own people, the Armenian genocide, the Cambodian genocide, the Rwandan slaughter, and the extermination of villagers in the Dafur region of the Sudan.

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Naga Chaitanya (in picture) immediately paid the fine of Rs 715 to the traffic police and assured them that the black film would be removed.  DC file image

Hyderabad: Tollywood actor Akkineni Naga Chaitanya on Monday was fined for violating traffic rules at Jubilee Hills check-post.

According to Jubilee Hills traffic inspector K Muttu, Naga Chaitanya was travelling in his Toyota Vellfire (TS09FT 2003) which was stopped by the traffic police as black film was tainted on the glass. They found Chaitanya sitting in the car.

He immediately paid the fine of Rs 715 to the traffic police and assured them that the black film would be removed.
Over 140 men, some of them Sikhs armed with swords barged into Nizam -Ki-davdi at Bogulkunka in king koti. Later some of them were taken into custody by Narayanguda police. (Photo: P.Surendra/DC)

Hyderabad: The famous King Koti palace, where the last Nizam stayed, on Monday turned into a war zone with scores of people, allegedly acting on behalf of jeweller Sukesh Gupta, an accused in several bank and land fraud cases, forcibly trying to gain entry into the palace and take its possession.

The Nazri Bagh Palace Trust, the custodian of the palace, had handed over the possession of the palace and issued delivery certificate to the Mumbai-based Neeharika Infrastructure Pvt Ltd on March 28 after the company completed the sale transaction. The company also got the registered sale deed released in its favour by clearing all the stamp duty arrears.

According to police, about 140 persons, some of them even carrying swords and lathis, tried to enter the palace and break open the gate using an earthmover. The city police acted swiftly and took about 40 people into custody while the others fled.

Assistant commissioner of police K. Venkat Reddy said a case of trespassing was registered against people who tried to enter the palace and an inquiry is on.

The hectic activity was seen at Narayanguda police station where both parties claiming possession of the property were summoned by the police. Interestingly, the representative of Sukesh Gupta at one stage proposed that the police take control of the palace and keep it in their custody till the dispute is resolved.

Significantly, the Enforcement Directorate had registered a case against Sukesh Gupta on charges of money laundering and selling the palace using fraudulent documents and fake sale deeds. A case with similar allegations is also underway in National Company Law Tribunal.

Rajesh Agarwal of Neeharika Infrastructure told this correspondent that Sukesh Gupta and Biyani had initially entered into an agreement with the trust and his company later invested Rs 70 crore, cleared all the arrears including the pending amount to be paid to the Trust and took possession of 28,000 square yards.

Agarwal also alleged that Sukesh Guptas men who were acting as directors had forged board resolutions and sold the property to another company with backdated sale deed. However, the trust after receiving the full sale consideration handed over the possession to us, Agarwal said, adding attempts were being made to project as if we were not in possession.

Agrawal also alleged that a city ruling party MLA had been helping Sukesh Gupta and presence of a confidant of the MLA and his demand to the police to release his men gave credence to these allegations.

I saw a mob first damaged the yellow gate of Nizam-ki-Devdi with a JCB and around 130 to 140 men, one or two of them armed with swords and the others with lathis, barged into the gate, said Mazhar Khan an automobile shop owner who was passing by.

Later after the police arrived and bolted the gate from inside many of them fled while some who were trying were caught and held in the police van, he said.

Meanwhile, Neeharika Infrastructure moved a lunch motion in the Telangana High Court seeking a direction to the police to not interfere in the case as it was a civil dispute. The court will take up the case for hearing on Tuesday.
Hyderabad: The Chief Justice bench of the Telangana High Court on Monday observed that was strange that a single-judge bench had passed an interim order in a case involving Sandhya Conventions managing director Sreedhar Rao and his wife Sandhya.

On December 30 last, the single judge in the interim order had directed the home department and Cyberabad police not to arrest Sreedhar Rao and Sandhya in any crime relating to civil and commercial transactions until further orders.

Aggrieved with the order, one of the complainants, who had said he was cheated in a commercial transaction with Sreedhar Rao, filed an appeal before the division bench.

While hearing the appeal on Monday, the division bench headed by Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma said that it was strange that the interim order was given, and observed that it was a blanket order which also gave protection from arrest to the accused in future cases.

The bench commented that it had never come across with such an order.

The bench asked counsel for Sreedhar Rao to argue the case and justify the interim order. When counsel sought a few days to argue, the court did not agree and adjourned the hearing to Tuesday.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar listens at a news conference during the fourth U.S.-India 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue at the State Department in Washington, Monday, April 11, 2022. (AP)

Washington: India's total purchase of oil from Russia in a month is probably less than what Europe does in an afternoon, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has said.

"I noticed you refer to oil purchases. If you are looking at energy purchases from Russia, I would suggest that your attention should be focused on Europe. We do buy some energy, which is necessary for our energy security. But I suspect looking at the figures, probably our total purchases for the month would be less than what Europe does in an afternoon," Jaishankar told a reporter when asked about India's oil purchase from Russia.

Jaishankar was addressing a joint news conference with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh along with their American counterparts Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin, after the conclusion of the 2+2 Ministerial on Monday.

Jaishankar said India has made a number of statements (on the Russia-Ukraine war) which outline its position in the United Nations, in the Indian Parliament, and in other forums.

"And briefly, what those positions state is that we are against the conflict. We are for dialogue and diplomacy. We are for urgent cessation of violence, and we are prepared to contribute in whatever way to these objectives," he asserted.

The White House too came to India's defence on the issue of oil purchase noting that its total purchase is less than one and two per cent as against 10 per cent from the United States.

"Did the President get a commitment from Prime Minister Modi not to accelerate or increase imports of Russian energy? White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki was asked during her daily news conference.

"I'll let Prime Minister Modi and the Indians speak to that. Again, it's 1 to 2 per cent at this point in time. They import 10 per cent from the United States. It is not a violation of any sanctions or anything along those lines. It was a constructive, direct conversation. But I will let them speak for themselves," she said.

During the virtual summit earlier in the day, President Joe Biden conveyed that the United States is here to help India to diversify its means of importing oil.

"The imports from the United States are already significant -- or much bigger than the imports that they get from Russia. And we, of course -- the President conveyed very clearly that it is not in their interest to increase that. But beyond that, I would let the Indian leaders speak for themselves," she said.

India, Psaki told reporters, is not violating any sanctions by importing oil.

"It's a decision we made from the United States, but we also recognize different countries have their own calculations," she said.

Psaki also praised Indian efforts in Ukraine.

"What India has done to date is they have condemned the killings of civilians in Bucha. They have supported, they've supported calls for an independent investigation. They've provided over 90 tons of humanitarian relief material to Ukraine and its neighbours to include medicine and other essential relief. Earlier in the conflict, they also used its resources to evacuate almost 150 foreign nationals for 18 different countries," she said.

Jaishankar told reporters that now there is an expanding India-US energy relationship that didn't exist some years ago.

The United States is the second-largest LNG supplier to India and the fourth or fifth-largest crude oil supplier. "A big partner in the renewables side," he said.

Echoing Jaishankar, Blinken said the US energy exports to India now total about USD 11 billion a year.

"Ultimately, the most effective way to satisfy this growth, the needs of the Indian people, the Indian economy, is of course to honour the climate goals, the ambitious climate goals that India has set, including particularly the expansion of renewables," he said.

In fact, there's a longstanding strategic clean energy partnership that is co-led by the Department of Energy, the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas in India. That is deepening cooperation on energy efficiency and next-generation fuels, he said. "

We have the Quad. We've got a working group on climate that's partnering on green shipping corridors and on green technology," he said.

Blinken said the State Department's Energy Bureau has done a lot of work including collaborative studies with Indian researchers on the most economical decarbonization pathways.

"Our Development Finance Corporation just announced a USD 500 million loan to First Solar, which will produce solar panel modules in Southern India, furthering climate goals, diversifying the solar supply chain," he said.

"So, in all these ways and more, we are working both to deal with the impact of the Russian aggression on energy, but much more broadly with this combination of helping India meet its energy needs while advancing together the vital climate agenda that we share," the Secretary of State said.
The Water Board had sent samples of water samples from Vaddera Basti, Guttala Begumpet in Madhapur, where the death occurred, to its own quality assurance and testing wing in Mehdipatnam. The lab said there was no issue with the water sample. (Photo: AFP)

Hyderabad: After suspected contaminated water caused the death of a person and resulted in over 80 people being hospitalised, the Water Board, which was under the scanner, investigated the incident and gave itself a clean chit.

The Water Board had sent samples of water samples from Vaddera Basti, Guttala Begumpet in Madhapur, where the death occurred, to its own quality assurance and testing wing in Mehdipatnam. The lab said there was no issue with the water sample.

The health department sent samples to the Institute of Preventive Medicine (IPM), Narayanguda, which is also run by the government. The IPM also declared the water safe.

Meanwhile, on Monday, another person who consumed polluted water in Madhapur died after the contamination aggravated her existing kidney issues.

On Thursday last, at Vaddera Basti, one person died and 60 were hospitalised after drinking water which was being contaminated by drainage for as long as four months. Since then, 24 more people from the slum have been hospitalised.

As per the test results, the water was free of coliform, faecal coliform and E Coli bacteria.

Apart from this, other parameters like pH, turbidity, alkalinity and hardness, as well as level of chemicals such as ammonical nitrogen, nitrite, flouride, chlorides, were found satisfactory in both the tests.

District Medical & Health Officer (DMHO), Ranga Reddy, Dr Swarajya Laxmi said if people continued to get infected, water samples could be sent for testing again to some other facility.

The 75-year-old woman who succumbed on Monday was initially admitted at the Kondapur area hospital. Her condition became critical as she was diabetic and hypertensive, and she was referred to Gandhi Hospital on Friday as the Kondapur hospital did not have the facilities to treat her.

Diabetes is an associated condition which can lead to morbidity, so such patients cant tolerate dehydration. The earlier person who had died was an alcoholic and his liver was compromised, the DMHO said.

On Monday, 10 more people from the Vaddera Basti, Madhapur, were admitted to the Kondapur Hospital, superintendent Dr Varadha Chary said. He said 32 people from the area were admitted at the hospital, of which 11 were
Hyderabad: The Telangana High Court on Tuesday directed the Hyderabad police to not intervene in the civil dispute involving the King Koti palace, Nizam ki Devdi, where the last Nizam had stayed, following an attempt by a gang of persons to forcibly take possession of the property on Monday.

Admitting a writ petition filed by Neeharika Infrastructure Pvt Ltd seeking a direction to the police to not interfere with their possession, Justice Kanneganti Lalita allowed the police to investigate the criminal complaints filed by the rival parties  Neeharika Infrastructrue and the Jammu and Kashmir-based Iris Hospitality Pvt Ltd. Both the parties were asked to file affidavits and the hearing was adjourned.

Meanwhile, the Narayanguda police booked six criminal cases against three persons and issued notices to 37 others who were arrested for barging into the King Koti palace premises. The arrested persons, Ahmed Bin Salam Al Jabri, Lakhan Singh and Kamal Singh, were charged with trespassing, having made preparations with criminal intent for causing hurt and wrongfully restraining any person.

The accused during interrogation revealed the name of one Arjun who had hired them. So far we have no information about Arjun,'' said Narayanguda sub-inspector K. Nagraj. But, Naveen Kumar Agarwal of Neeharika Constructions, in a complaint lodged with the Narayanguda police itself, had alleged that Arjun Amla (of Iris Hospitality) along with his henchmen had attempted to trespass into the property.

During the course of hearing in the High Court, Rammohan, assistant government pleader, said that both sides had filed cases against each other and the police had visited the palace to inquire into the complaints.

Senior counsel Hemendranath Reddy, appearing for Iris Hospitality, pointed out that Neeharika Infrastructure had moved the High Court on Monday morning accusing the police of visiting the property and trying to interfere with their possession. But, by afternoon the company had lodged a complaint with the police that some miscreants were trying to encroach on their property.

Meanwhile, Neeharika Infrastructure submitted several documents to the police in support of their allegation that jeweller Sukesh Guptas men who were acting as directors of Neeharika infra had fraudulently registered a sale deed in favour of Iris Hospitality. While the two directors were removed in February 2019, backdated resolutions were prepared in May 2019 and sale deed was executed in the same month by the two directors.

While one director admitted in a criminal case that he had received a mail in May 2019 to sign on the resolution and sale deed, the Maharastra police which investigated into the forgery case, established that another director, who was a signatory to the resolution, was in Hong Kong on the day the board was purported to have met and passed the resolution.
Hyderabad: The state government may decide on Tuesday to purchase all the paddy grown in the state in the Rabi season, according to sources. To this end, Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao has convened an emergency Cabinet meeting at Pragathi Bhavan on Tuesday.

Sources said the government would purchase the paddy at a minimum support price to rescue farmers, irrespective of whether or not the Centre would procure the output, by opening procurement centres across the state. The CM dropped hints in this regard while addressing a dharna on paddy procurement in Delhi on Monday.

The CM who had camped in Delhi since April 3 returned to Hyderabad on Monday after the dharna in Delhi on the paddy procurement issue.

"Our dharna in Delhi evoked huge response nationally. We are not bothered about whether our dharna will succeed or not in making the Centre procure paddy. Our main purpose was to let people across the country know what the Telangana farmers want. We have succeeded in this, Rao said.

Telangana government is not that weak or so poor that it cannot find a solution to the problem on its own. We will take a final decision on this issue in a day or two," the CM had said, indicating the governments mind.

The Cabinet is also expected to come up with an action plan on future course of agitation programmes against Centre on paddy and other issues concerning the people.

Sources said the CM was of the view that the TRS government was successful in projecting the BJP government at the Centre as guilty in the people's court over paddy procurement, with its series of agitations since November last that culminated in the dharna in Delhi.
Several houses, religious places and shops were gutted in Khargone as the communal violence, after an attack on a Ram Navami procession, spread to different parts of the city by late Sunday night. (Representational Image/PTI)

Bhopal/Ahmedabad/Ranchi: Violence marred the Ram Navami celebrations in several parts of the country, with one person killed and 12 others injured at Lohardaga in Jharkhand, while curfew was clamped in Madhya Pradeshs Khargone city and at least 84 people were arrested there, officials said Monday.

One person was also killed in Khambat town in Gujarats Anand district while there were some reports of violence in West Bengals Howrah district, adjoining Kolkata, after a Ram Navami procession.

Khargones superintendent of police Siddharth Choudhary got a bullet injury and at least 24 other people, including six policemen, were also injured in Sundays arson during the festival that marks the birthday of Lord Ram, they said.

Several houses, religious places and shops were gutted in Khargone as the communal violence, after an attack on a Ram Navami procession, spread to different parts of the city by late Sunday night. Curfew was clamped in three areas of the city, while prohibitory orders under Section 144 CrPC (banning the assembly of four or more people) were imposed in the rest of the district headquarters.

Maintaining a tough posture against the rioters, chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan ordered the bulldozing of illegally acquired properties of the accused in the incident. We have identified 50 houses and shops built in encroached government land by some of the accused. All these properties will be demolished. Five houses have already been bulldozed, a senior police officer said.

Earlier on Monday, Mr Chouhan said: The rioters will not be spared. They will not only be sent to jails but also penalised for vandalising the government and private properties. A claims tribunal is going to be set up soon to penalise the accused, he told reporters. School and college exams in the city were postponed, a notice issued by Khargone district administration said on Monday.

On Sunday night, the rioters also fought pitched battles at several places in the city. This was the second time the city has seen communal violence in a span of six months.

In Gujarat, meanwhile, the police arrested nine people for violence and stone-pelting during a Ram Navami procession at Khambat in Anand district, in which one person was killed on Sunday, while Section 144 CrPC was imposed in Himmatnagar town of Sabarkantha district after a similar incident there.

The situation in Khambhat town is under control. We have already arrested nine suspects and started further investigations, SP Ajit Rajian said. Police sources said those arrested include some local maulvis.

A similar stone-pelting incident was also reported during a Ram Navami procession in Sendhwa town of MPs Barwani district where a police station in-charge and five others were injured. The situation was later brought under control, according to officials.

The Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) alleged that the minority community leaders and Left liberals are to be blamed for attacks across the country on people celebrating Ram Navami and cautioned them against leading their followers on the path of violence.

In a video message, VHP joint general secretary Surendra Jain termed the violence in Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Jharkhand and New Delhis Jawaharlal Nehru University as unfortunate, and said it is everybodys responsibility to ensure such incidents do not happen.

In Lohardaga, one person died and 12 people suffered injuries after the clashes between members of two communities near Hirhi village Sunday evening after a group of miscreants pelted a Ram Navami procession with stones, district officials said. Internet services have been suspended in Lohardaga town and prohibitory orders under Section 144 CrPC imposed in the entire district, SDO Arbind Kumar Lal said.
HYDERABAD: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday claimed victory over the TRS government after Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao announced the state cabinets decision to purchase paddy from farmers in Telangana.

It is a victory for the Telangana BJP, farmers of the state, and our party workers, state BJP president Bandi Sanjay Kumar told reporters.

Addressing a press conference, he said as promised to Telanganas farmers, his party forced the Chief Minister to backtrack on his earlier decision that the state will not purchase paddy this season.

What the BJP launched was a dharma poratam, he said, adding: Justice will always win. Our protest yesterday in the city demanding that the Chief Minister either buy paddy, or step down, received tremendous support. He received inputs from the intelligence wing of the police that the farmers of the state now believe and support the BJP. The Chief Minister now fears that he will lose power with the farmers, and others turning against him, he added.

Sanjay said the paddy purchase decision could have been announced long back.

Many farmers sold their paddy at a lower price because of the delay by the state. Now the state government must identify every farmer who sold paddy at less than MSP of Rs 1,950 per quintal, and make good the difference, Sanjay demanded. He said the next goal of the BJP is to force the state government to roll back the recently announced power tariff hikes. When the electricity bills come on the first of May, they will break the backs of the people. The BJP demands that the CM immediately announce a roll back of the tariff hikes, he said.
As per the political resolution passed at the congress, the CPI-M does not envisage a national political alliance with the Indian National Congress though it looks forward to working with like-minded secular democratic parties at the state level. (PTI )

The 23rd party congress of the Communist party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] ended in Kannur, the red bastion in Kerala, with a call to all secular and democratic forces to join together to fight against what the party calls the communal and divisive agenda of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and its affiliates including the BJP and the government the latter leads at the Centre.

As per the political resolution passed at the congress, the CPI-M does not envisage a national political alliance with the Indian National Congress though it looks forward to working with like-minded secular democratic parties at the state level. The Communists feel the grand old party has messed up on its own agenda and even follows a soft-Hindutwa politics.

The BJP, which the CPI-M identifies as the bete noir, has exhausted the most important items on its agenda including building a Ram temple at Ayodhya and scrapping Article 370, and is now very focused on reworking its agenda and pursuing it, the last being the advice for non-Hindi speaking states to use Hindi as the link language instead of English. The saffron party does not see merit in the argument that India is home to all possible diversities and hence binaries seldom solve issues, rather than create them.

Thus, the BJP and the CPI-M are clear on their agendas but the difference is that while the former has been gaining strength electorally in a steady way, the leftists are losing ground in a similar way. If the CPI-M were to succeed in defeating forces which it thinks would divide India further and compromise the lives and livelihoods of the working class and the poor in favour of the rich, it must gather strength on its own and then create a platform that can put up a joint fight. Given the ground realities of Indian politics, the comrades will have a tough time pursuing their goals.
Comedian John Mulaney comes to Bethlehem's Wind Creek Event Center on July 30. We have the details. (NBC /NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images)

A Netflix favorite is coming to Wind Creek Event Center.

Emmy Award-winning actor/writer/comedian John Mulaney will bring his John Mulaney: From Scratch to Bethlehem on July 30.

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Mulaney began writing for Saturday Night Live in 2008, writing memorable characters such as Stefon with Bill Hader. He also appeared as a Weekend Update correspondent. A fan favorite, Mulaney has hosted Saturday Night Live five times.

He has written for IFCs Documentary Now! and Netflixs Big Mouth, in which he is the voice of Andrew. Mulaney is also lined up to star in the reboot of Chip n Dale: Rescue Rangers on Disney Plus this Spring opposite Andy Samberg.

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Mulaneys also starred on Broadway in the hit Oh, Hello On Broadway  written and performed by Nick Kroll. The duo have since release a Netflix special of the same name, as well as Oh, Hello: The Pdcast, based off their characters Gil Faizon and George St. Geegland.

In 2018, Mulaney traveled the United States with his sold out Kid Gorgeous tour, which was later released as a Netflix stand-up special and won him an Emmy for Outstanding Writing in a Variety Special. In 2015, he released The Comeback Kid on Netflix.

In December 2019, the critically acclaimed and Emmy nominated musical variety special John Mulaney & The Sack Lunch Bunch debuted on Netflix.

Mulaney serves as a co-executive producer, writer, and occasional actor in the IFC mockumentary series Documentary Now! (2015present). He is also known for his voice acting work as Andrew Glouberman in the Netflix original animated show Big Mouth. Mulaney made his film debut in 2018 as the voice of Peter Porker/Spider-Ham in the Academy Award-winning animated feature film Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse.

Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. April 15.

Details: Doors for the July 30 event open at 5 p.m. The show starts at 7 p.m.

Info: windcreekeventcenter.com
Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin during the fourth U.S.-India 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue at the State Department, in Washington, DC. (PTI Photo)

WASHINGTON: U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the United States was monitoring what he described as a rise in human rights abuses in India by some officials, in a rare direct rebuke by Washington of New Delhi.

"We regularly engage with our Indian partners on these shared values (of human rights) and to that end, we are monitoring some recent concerning developments in India including a rise in human rights abuses by some government, police and prison officials," Blinken said on Monday in a joint press briefing with U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and India's Defense Minister Rajnath Singh.

Blinken did not elaborate. Singh and Jaishankar, who spoke after Blinken at the briefing, did not comment on the human rights issue.

Blinken's remarks came days after U.S. Representative Ilhan Omar questioned the alleged reluctance of the U.S. government to criticize Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government on human rights.

"What does Modi need to do to Indias Muslim population before we will stop considering them a partner in peace?" Omar, who belongs to President Joe Biden's Democratic Party, said last week.

Modi's critics say his Hindu nationalist ruling party has fostered religious polarization since coming to power in 2014.

Since Modi came to power, right-wing Hindu groups have launched attacks on minorities claiming they are trying to prevent religious conversions. Several Indian states have passed or are considering anti-conversion laws that challenge the constitutionally protected right to freedom of belief.

In 2019, the government passed a citizenship law that critics said undermined India's secular constitution by excluding Muslim migrants from neighbouring countries. The law was meant to grant Indian nationality to Buddhists, Christians, Hindus, Jains, Parsis and Sikhs who fled Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan before 2015.

In the same year, soon after his 2019 re-election win, Modi's government revoked the special status of Kashmir in a bid to fully integrate the Muslim-majority region with the rest of the country. To keep a lid on protests, the administration detained many Kashmir political leaders and sent many more paramilitary police and soldiers to the Himalayan region also claimed by Pakistan.

The BJP recently banned wearing the hijab in classrooms in Karnataka state. Hardline Hindu groups later demanded such restrictions in more Indian states.
As the incidents of forest fire continue to threaten forest patches across Karnataka, about 3,000 daily wage workers attached to the Karnataka Forest Department (KFD) have gone on strike pressing for various demands affecting the daily conservation work across Karnataka.

Hundreds of daily wage workers on Tuesday boycotted the work and staged a protest in front of Aranya Bhavan  the headquarters of KFD in Malleshwaram. The workers had descended on the Freedom Park and held a rally on Monday. As there was no desired response from the department, the workers decided to storm the Aranya Bhavan. However, the protesting workers were prevented by the City Police.

AM Nagaraj, State President of the KFD Daily Wage Employees Association told DH that workers have not been paid salaries for the last 4 to 5 months in a row. "If there is any crisis inside the forest, it is these daily wage workers who risk their lives to protect the flora and fauna. Yet, they do not get paid for their work. There are more than 3,000 workers and half of them have gone on strike," Nagaraj explained.

Besides the release of pending salaries, the workers demanded the withdrawal of orders on appointing outsourced employees. "Until 2017, we were directly hired by the department. But since then all of us have been attached to an external agency and there is no transparency in the payment. Workers are not provided with PF and ESI facilities. While each of the workers is supposed to get Rs 511 per day, they are actually paid Rs 300. The government must also introduce a shift system in the work," Nagaraju explained.

However, another association of the daily wage workers did not support the protest even though they demanded the state government address their demands. "The problem is at the district level and triggered by the Range Forest Officer (RFO) rank officers. We need to resolve it at the district level and there is no point in protesting in Bengaluru," remarked Hinchavalli Shankarappa HK, President of another organisation.

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Bye-elections to two constituencies in West Bengal, the Ballygunge Assembly constituency in south Kolkata, and the Asansol Lok Sabha constituency, took place on Tuesday amid parties in Opposition raising allegations against Trinamool of false voting, intimidation and violent jostles.

The Kolkata Assembly seat recorded over 41 per cent voting, and around 64 per cent of votes were cast in the Asansol Lok Sabha seat.

Allegations surfaced from the BJP in Asansol, from where veteran film star and politician Shatrughan Sinha contested as a Trinamool candidate. Agnimitra Paul, BJPs MLA from Asansol South who is in the fray against Sinha, tweeted and claimed that one polling agent was beaten up by Trinamool workers. Her vehicle was allegedly vandalised. In one place, it was alleged that media representatives were also obstructed by police.

Also read: Stones hurled at Asansol BJP candidate's vehicle

Trinamool candidate Sinha, however, saw opponents allegations as signs of desperation or frustration because of the expected results (in Trinamools favour).

In south Kolkatas Ballygunge constituency, Opposition candidates raised the issue of false (proxy) voting and alleged that the Trinamool representatives created an uneasy atmosphere.

Congress candidate Kamruzzaman Chowdhury in his complaint to election authorities alleged that he was attacked and assaulted by Trinamool activists, and his car was severely dented.

Complaints were also filed on behalf of BJP candidate Keya Ghosh against local Trinamool representatives and activists for provocations, creating a frightening ambiance and false voting.

CPM candidate Saira Shah Halim, niece of actor Naseeruddin Shah, alleged false voting. In a press statement issued by the CPM, Kolkata committee, the party alleged: Throughout the day the TMC activists terrorised the voters in different ways and directed them not to cast votes. They also invaded many polling stations in groups to cast false votes. A party leader also alleged that a Left worker was slashed with a blade by goons when he tried to counter rigging.

Supriyo, meanwhile, pointed out that the attitude of central forces was improper. Voters were not allowed with phones inside booths and this led to chaos at certain places. The matter will be taken up with the Election Commission. He added that voting machines at some places were replaced as they malfunctioned.

In a press conference, Trinamool leaders Partha Chatterjee and Firhad Hakim questioned the holding of elections in hot weather, when Ramzan and other religious occasions are being observed. The leaders, however, said that the Trinamool candidates will win by strong margins.

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Ali Kashif Jan, the Pakistani handler of the 2016 terror attack on Pathankot air base, has been designated as a terrorist by the government.

Jan alias Jan Ali Kashif is the third terrorist to have been designated as a terrorist by the central government in the last five days.

The Union home ministry said in a notification than Jan was the handler of Punjab's Pathankot air force station terror attack in January 2016 in which seven security personnel and one civilian were killed.

Jan, 42, is the operational commander and part of the core planning committee of the dreaded terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM). He continues to operate from the launching pads located in Pakistan and is involved in recruitment of cadres for their training and coordinate attack plans at targets in India, the home ministry said.

Also Read: 5 policemen killed, 3 injured in terror attack in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

Jan is also accused in various cases registered and being investigated by the National Investigation Agency. He had been declared proclaimed offender in these cases.

After the terror attack at the Pathankot air base, a five-member team of Pakistani investigators had visited the air base and collected evidence for three days and met witnesses and survivors.

However, after the Pakistani team returned home, it put the blame on India for the attack.

Jan was born on January 30, 1982 and a resident of Charsadda, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in Pakistan.

A Red Corner Notice was also issued against him.

Jan is now 34th individual who has been designated as terrorist by the government.

On April 8, the government had designated Hafiz Talha Saeed, a key leader of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and the son of 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks mastermind Hafiz Saeed, a terrorist.

On Monday, Pakistani national Mohiuddin Aurangzeb Alamgir, who was involved in the terror attack on a CRPF bus in Pulwama in Jammu and Kashmir in 2019, was designated as a terrorist.

The JeM 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.

JeM founder Maulana Masood Azhar, who was released by India in exchange for the release of a hijacked Indian Airlines flight from Kandahar in 1999, is one of the most wanted terrorists in India, along with LeT founder Hafiz Saeed and the LeT 'operational commander' Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi.

India has been consistently seeking Azhar's custody but Pakistan has refused to comply.

The JeM is listed as a terrorist organisation under the First Schedule of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, or the UAPA.

The UAPA has been enacted to provide for more effective prevention of certain unlawful activities of associations and individuals and for dealing with terrorist activities and for matters connected therewith.

The act empowers the central government to notify the name of an individual in its Fourth Schedule if it believes that he is involved in terrorism.

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The title is just a variation of the echoes during Jawaharlal Nehru's days when China and India were sworn friends, or so it was claimed until the 1962 revelation of the truth. The difference now is that our current relationship is based on our geographical proximity, our historical identity as part of one nation, and India's close cultural ties with Sri Lanka via the huge Tamil population. Most important is that India has never been a threat to any of its neighbours.

The present Sri Lankan crisis touches India profoundly. It has been caused by bad governance over the years culminating in a virtual takeover of the country by the Rajapaksa brothers, whose portfolios controlled more than 70 per cent of the Sri Lankan economy. Mindless tax cuts for corporates, banning imports, including those of crucial chemical fertilisers, to save foreign exchange and its immediate body-blow effect on its agricultural produce and exports were only a part of the causes. Covid dealt the country another hammer blow with its immediate blockade of the invaluable tourism industry. Sri Lanka is now desperately turning to foreign friends, strangely India and China, both of which, for totally different reasons, have already been funding infrastructure-related projects in the island nation.

China has taken a considerable slice of the infrastructure projects, including a new seaport, a port city and highways funded by long-term loans calculated to keep Sri Lanka indebted long-term. It has now agreed to consider a desperate request for a further US$ 2 billion loan/line of credit after first refusing to dilute any of the terms of earlier loans. With its genuine and existing friendly relations, India has extended massive financial aid in the form of multi-billion dollar loans, currency swaps, lines of credit and extension of a repayment deadline. It has also sent material help, including large tonnages of desperately needed rice plus diesel oil, to salvage Sri Lanka's power supply. As an Indian, I ask, "Is this enough?" In my view, not only are the present commitments inadequate, but also much more long-term support is crucial and urgent for political, diplomatic and humanitarian reasons.

What Sri Lanka needs desperately is administrative and economic expertise to cleanse the existing pollution in the Sri Lankan governance and retrieve good sense and orderliness again. An immediate offer in this direction will raise the sagging morale of the people and the professional administrators. The 1991 miracle performed by the Narasimha Rao-Manmohan Singh duo has left an ever-lasting mark in the field of economic recovery and these credentials can be used to benefit Sri Lanka and us in different ways.

My idea is for India to put together a pool of administrative and economic expertise from our recently retired administrative service officers and economists, including former Reserve Bank of India governors. A team of such experts must be openly offered to Sri Lanka in the hope that the Rajapaksa government has learnt its lesson and will respond positively. This team will be stationed in Sri Lanka for varying periods as required and assist- only assist - the permanent administration in steering the Sri Lankan economy back to a path of recovery. The mutual benefits are obvious.

1. It yet again seals an existing friendship that has tended to waver in recent times. Some of the dips were artificially created by President Rajapaksa as part of his India vs China game. There are geographical and cultural connections between Sri Lanka and India that are difficult to break.

2. It gives immediate comfort to the people when they see visible steps being taken to cleanse the system. Calm and peace will hopefully be restored and repressive measures ended.

3. Our expert in situ support will strengthen Sri Lankan guarantees for loans from the IMF and others who have openly doubted Sri Lanka's reliability where repayment is concerned. India will also be able to establish robust monitoring systems to ensure corrective steps continue without a break and that the guarantees are respected.

4. This kind of intervention will help us deepen our footprints in Sri Lanka and enable us to make and help implement infrastructure and economic plans for the long-term development of Sri Lanka. This may help us prevent excessive Chinese intrusion into the country's economy.

5. A crucial step Sri Lankan people need, particularly after the Rajapaksas' rise to power, is restoring their faith in the electoral process. India has universal recognition of the effectiveness and success of its many successive elections at national, state, and lower levels. India has provided guidance in this area to a few foreign friends. Sri Lanka can benefit from this experience of ours.

The above suggestions are what Sri Lanka and India should seriously consider as unavoidable steps to be taken without delay. Their feasibility and success depend on how the Rajapaksa brothers view the present crisis  as benefiting them personally and therefore to be allowed to continue under repressive measures or worthy of their serious pragmatic attention. Time is of the essence.

(The author retired after 55 years of corporate life, and is a writer with a keen interest in domestic and international current affairs relating to politics, defence, and governance.)

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are the authors' own. They do not necessarily reflect the views of DH
In what could spell trouble for Rural Development & Panchayat Raj Minister K S Eshwarappa, Belagavi-based contractor Santosh Patil was found dead in an Udupi hotel on Tuesday, weeks after accusing the senior BJP leader of corruption.

Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai ordered an impartial probe after the alleged suicide was discovered when the police tracked Patils phone to Udupi. He was missing since Monday.

In a purported suicide note in the form of a WhatsApp message, Patil blamed Eshwarappa for his death. He even appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Bommai and former chief minister B S Yediyurappa to help his family.

Also Read | Karnataka CM promises impartial probe into Santhosh Patil's death

Patils death can make life more difficult for the Bommai administration which is already fire-fighting a complaint by the Karnataka State Contractors Association last year that they are asked to pay a 40% cut in public works.

Eshwarappa said he had no role in Patils death. There is no need for me to resign, he said, responding to Congress demand for his ouster.

Patils body was found in the toilet of a room in the Shambhavi Hotel. While the exact cause of death is not known, the circumstances of suicide are investigated. In March, Patil had complained to Union Rural Development Minister Giriraj Singh saying he was yet to be paid Rs 4 crore for road works in the Hindalga village, accusing Eshwarappas aides of demanding commission for the payment. Eshwarappa had denied the charge and RDPR additional chief secretary L K Atheeq said the department had not sanctioned any work to Patil that warranted releasing funds. A thorough investigation into the death will be conducted.

Also Read | Death of contractor: No question of resigning, says K S Eshwarappa

The government will not interfere in the investigation, Bommai said in Mangaluru.

The authenticity of the letter and WhatsApp messages being circulated on social media will be looked into. The investigation will probe the background and reason for the death as well. The preliminary report will bring out the truth on why Patil took an extreme step to end his life, Bommai said.

Patils family has demanded action against Eshwarappa. Its a murder, his wife Jayashree said, whereas his brother Prashant Patil demanded the ministers arrest.

Patil, a native of Badas village in Belagavi, was a contractor for the past five years. He identified himself as the national secretary of Hindu Vahini, a right-wing group. It is even said that Patil was a BJP worker, which local leaders deny. In fact, BJP Belagavi Rural Block President Dhananjay Jadhav claimed that Patil had cheated other contractors by promising them works on sub-lease.

Eshwarappa pointed out that he had sued Patil for defamation. He may have committed suicide fearing inability to prove his allegations against me. He had received a court notice in the defamation case, the minister said, urging Bommai to have Patils death probed properly.

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Foyle MP, Colum Eastwood, has welcomed reports that the Irish Government is to take further action on the cost of living crisis by reducing VAT on energy and providing an additional three weeks fuel allowance for 370,000 people.

The Republic's Finance Minister, Paschal Donohoe brought forward measures that will see VAT on gas and electricity down south reduced from 13.5 per cent to nine per cent.

SDLP leader Eastwood said that people in the North will rightly be asking why theyre getting a raw deal from Stormont in the face of mounting fuel, food and energy bills as working families face immense strain.

He said: Reports of further action from the Irish Government to address the cost of living crisis are welcome.

In the South, in Scotland and in Wales, families are getting direct support from their government to address the mounting cost fuel, food and energy bills.

Working families in Northern Ireland will rightly feel like theyre getting a raw deal from Stormont as the vast majority receive absolutely nothing while theyre hit again and again by enormous price hikes.

Every day I speak to people who are forced to turn the heating off or put less food on the table for their family.

Many of them are working every hour they can and working more than one job to make ends meet but the truth is theyre being badly let down by parties more interested in themselves than in putting people first.

The SDLP has published an emergency plan that would take 300m out of Stormont bank accounts and get it into the pockets of every household and every family that is being hit by this crisis.

Our plan would provide hundreds of pounds of support for every household and more than one thousand pounds to those most in need.

That is our first priority now and it will be our first priority when the election is over.

While others fight over who holds what title, were fighting for a fairer deal for families across our communities.
Creggan Country Park has launched another new environment initiative thanks to funding from The National Lottery Community Fund Northern Ireland and Department for Communities.

The Park has received 5,000 to grow their environment programme to benefit people and the planet.

Creggan Connected is a community fridge funded by The National Lottery Community Fund, IKEA's 'Places Called Home, and is supported by The Department for Communities.

A community fridge is a social space that brings people together to connect, learn new skills and reduce food waste. In partnership with FareShare Go and Tesco, surplus food is redistributed via a community fridge to local people.

No registration is required, and food is collected and redistributed on the same day. Visitors can go for a walk, bring along a reusable bag and just take what they want from the fridge and shelves during its opening hours.

Community fridges help tackle climate change at a local level as food waste can produce large amounts of greenhouse gases. In just three days, the community fridge has saved 250kg of carbon dioxide and distributed 78kg of surplus food.

Karen Healy, Environmental Officer at Creggan Country Park said: We are excited to grow our environment programme further so that it can help both people, and planet.

We would like to say a huge thank you to the six students from St Josephs Boys School, our volunteers, and our artist Sheila for all their hard work over the past few months.

This is their project, they designed it from scratch, and did all the work themselves. Looking at the amazing transformation of the space just shows how hard they worked, and they should be very proud.

We want to use the space to raise awareness on climate change and biodiversity issues that affects us all, and would like to extend our thanks to everyone who made this possible.

Amanda Doherty, from The National Lottery Community Fund added: Were delighted to see the opening of this new community space at Creggan Country Park.

This has been a massive community effort and Id like to pay tribute to everyone including the pupils from St Josephs Boys School who have made this possible.

It is so inspiring to see local people working together to help each other and take action on climate change. Well done to everyone involved.

Eimear Montague, from the Northern Ireland Resources Network also praised the initiative, describing it as fantastic.

She said: Creggan County Park offers activities which supports the local community as well as promoting environmental projects.

The opening of Creggan Connected by the team at Creggan Country Park with support from volunteers to expand their work and open a Community Fridge is a fantastic initiative.

This project will prevent food being wasted and sent to landfill, tackles climate change at a local level, enables food to be shared, improve lives and strengthens the local community. Many congratulations to all involved.
A hard-hitting series of billboards highlighting the parlous state of the North West economy will be erected in Derry in the run-up to the elections.

The Fifty Years of Failure campaign has erected the first of four billboards, a 17m by 2m billboard demanding a new university for the North West, just three hundred yards from the Magee campus of Ulster University.

This billboard is set to move by the weekend to a new, more prominent spot, situated at the car park at the bottom of Asylum Road.

Several other billboards, all of which challenge Stormont and the main political parties to regenerate the North West, will be installed in the coming weeks.

The non-party campaign is organised by former Derry Chamber president, Garvan ODoherty, and the Derry University Group.

A spokesperson said: Its time to put an end to the cosy complicity pedalling the narrative that Belfasts rising tide will lift all boats. It doesnt; it never has and it never will.

We would encourage anyone considering voting in the coming elections to study the contents of these billboards and start asking direct questions of the canvassers coming to their door.

The North West will never regenerate until it has its own independent university. Anyone talking in terms of expanding UU at this stage is deeply deluded.

"Even if they were interested in helping - which history has taught us is not the case - their money for the next decade and more is pre-spent in Belfast.

We need to commit ourselves to establishing a new cross-border university, as recommended by the Royal Irish Academys expert taskforce, as the way forward."

Derry University Group have campaigned tirelessly with the support from many prominent Derry figures and councillors for a new university in the North West.

They continue to pressure Stormont and Ulster University to fulfill their promise of an additional 10,000 full time students for Magee by 2030 as part of the 'New Decade New Approach' deal.
The Police Service of Northern Irelands commitment to keeping people safe has been given a significant boost with the recruitment of six new four-legged friends.

In addition to the units based at Sprucefield and Clogher, a new Dog Section is now based in Maydown. From here, six new police dog handlers and their canine partners will cover a wide area, from the Ports on the North Coast to Fermanagh and Omagh, where they will respond to calls for service.

Chief Inspector Chris Hamill says Belgian Shepherds Rico, Nico, Poker, Nora, Jax and Kelly are powerful additions to policing.

Their skills include searching for missing persons, tracking suspects and the recovery of recently discarded articles of an evidential nature. They also protect their handler and other officers in dangerous situations.

The new handlers and their dogs are ready for operational duties and, over the coming weeks, theyll be out and about, meeting Local Policing Team officers to introduce them to our dogs and explain how we can help them serve the community better, not only through their operational roles but by engaging with the local communities at various events," says Chief Inspector Hamill.

Being a dog handler is more than just a job, says Chief Inspector Hamill. He says it involves a long term commitment from the officers.

The dogs live with their handlers, he says. Not only are they part of the wider police family but, first and foremost, theyre an integral part of the handlers family.

For the handler they are literally taking their work home, every day, and its the handlers responsibility to make sure their dog is in peak physical condition, and that theyre disciplined and fit for work each day.

Both handlers and dogs are subject to regular and rigorous assessment which is tough, physically and mentally, for both dog and handler.

The handler gets to work and develop their skills along with the dog from when theyre a puppy through to the rest of their working life.

"They get to share so many rewarding experiences along the way, says Chief Inspector Hamill, who added: Theres no doubt being a dog handler is a tough and challenging job, but its unique and extremely rewarding for both the handler and their dog.

Dog handler Jess is excited to join the Dog Section in Maydown with her loyal friend, Police Dog Rico, a cross between a Belgian Shepherd and a Dutch Herder.

"Being a dog handler is the best job in police, without a doubt. The bond you develop with them is something else. I enjoy seeing Rico get out at a call and switch on to whatever task he needs to do.

"He loves his job just as much as I do. Also, seeing how much he progresses and deals with various situations is very rewarding, she says.

Before I became a dog handler I was based in Strand Road in the Local Policing Team so I know first-hand how useful a dog would be.

"There is a large variation in calls within the area and having a dog there to assist would be a great help. Not only that, everyone loves dogs!

Derry City and Strabane Chief Inspector Michael OLoan says having the unit based in Maydown is a wonderful asset for the North West and the wider area.

The public can look forward to seeing mans best friend on duty, across the District and further afield in the North West area, working to detect and prevent crime," says Chief Inspector O'Loan.

"Its great to have a Dog Section based in Maydown and Ive no doubt our talented and intelligent police dogs and their handlers will make a positive contribution to keeping us all safe.
Jake Corman says he is staying in the Republican race for Pennsylvania governor after earlier media reports cited sources saying he was preparing to drop out.

Cormans campaign released a statement Tuesday afternoon saying the state Senate pro tempore decided to stay in the crowded GOP field after speaking with former President Donald Trump.

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He encouraged me to keep fighting, and thats what Im going to do  keep fighting for the people of Pennsylvania, Corman said in a statement.

Corman, R-Centre County, has spent a significant amount of money on television advertising to raise his profile, but recent polls have shown him badly lagging.

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However, Trump on Tuesday blasted one of Cormans opponents in the race, former U.S. Attorney Bill McSwain, who had been seeking the former presidents endorsement.

Trump complained the former prosecutor did absolutely nothing to investigate Trumps false claims of widespread election fraud after Democrat Joe Biden won the state in 2020.

One person in Pennsylvania who I will not be endorsing is Bill McSwain for Governor ... Do not vote for Bill McSwain, a coward, who let our Country down. He knew what was happening and let it go.

When he asked for Trumps endorsement last summer, McSwain criticized the manner in which Pennsylvanias presidential election was run but claimed that Trumps attorney general, Bill Barr, had blocked him from investigating.

Barr disputed McSwains account, saying the order came from a top deputy, not him. He told The Philadelphia Inquirer that McSwain was never told to stand down from investigating.

The winner of the May 17 primary election will take on the presumptive Democratic nominee, state Attorney General Josh Shapiro, who is unopposed for his partys nomination.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
The Frazer Ferry Group, which owns the Lough Foyle Ferry, Carlingford Lough Ferry and Passage East Ferry are partnering up with Adi Roches Chernobyl Children International to raise badly needed funds in response to the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Ukraine.

Over the Easter holiday period, between Good Friday 15th April and Easter Monday 18th April, Lough Foyle Ferry will be hosting local volunteers, who will be taking part in an onboard bucket collection on behalf of Chernobyl Children International to raise vitally needed funds for the Ukrainian crises.

In addition to the bucket collection onboard, the Frazer Ferry Group will be donating 2 for every vehicle ticket sold, across each of its ferries at Lough Foyle, Carlingford Lough, Passage East.

Since the Chernobyl Nuclear Disaster in 1986, Chernobyl Children International (CCI) has cultivated deep, substantive ties in Ukraine, at a personal, professional, and diplomatic level, and as the invasion continues to unfold CCI is providing emergency assistance on the ground to those who need it most.

Commenting on the initiative, Managing Director of the Frazer Ferry Group Paul OSullivan said:

We are delighted to work with such a renowned charity as Chernobyl Children International on this fundraising initiative. The scenes of devastation that we are all seeing in Ukraine are truly heart breaking. We hope this collection will be a great success for all concerned

CCI has been working within the Chernobyl Region for over 35 years and is deeply concerned about children and families who are currently trapped there as the war unfolds.

CCI is working to get humanitarian aid, which includes food, water, and medicines, to children and their families who are in desperate need.

Speaking about the Frazer Ferry Group Collection, voluntary CEO and founder of CCI, Adi Roche, said: We are thrilled to have the support of the Frazer Ferry Group for their Easter Collection this year.

"We are absolutely devastated by the ongoing war, but we remain shoulder to shoulder with the people of Ukraine, most particularly the children whose welfare is our responsibility.

"This collection will help us continue our vital work and we are incredibly grateful for this support.

Lough Foyle Ferry will be sailing daily during the Easter Holiday period between April 13th and 24th. For more information on Easter Sailing times for Lough Foyle Ferry visit www.loughfoyleferry.com.
As part of a diverse range of initiatives designed to move the country from developing to developed status by 2025, Malaysia has enabled and encouraged open competition in its telecommunications market.

The result is very high penetration levels in both the mobile (147%) and mobile broadband (127%) segments, and near-universal coverage of 4G LTE networks. The incumbent landline operator Telekom Malaysia retains an almost monopolistic hold on the fixed-line market as well as a significant lead in fixed broadband. But even here, steady growth is occurring as more fibre optic cable networks are being deployed around the country on top of Telekom Malaysias national backbone.

Consumers are the main beneficiaries of the highly competitive market. They enjoy widespread access to high-speed mobile services as well as attractive offers on bundles to keep data use up but prices low. The downside is that most of Malaysias MNOs and MVNOs have struggled to increase revenue in line with growth in subscriber numbers as well as demand for broadband data. While the operators have been very successful in moving a significant proportion (now over 30%) of customers from prepaid over to higher-value postpaid accounts, ARPU continues to fall year after year as a result of competitive pricing pressures. The mobile market, in particular, has become overcrowded and the government is keen to see further rationalisation and consolidation amongst the operators. To that end, two of the countrys four MNOs  Digi and Celcom  announced plans in November 2021 to merge their Malaysian operations. While customers will no doubt continue to enjoy high quality services at competitive rates, the new entity (to be called Celcom Digi) will be hopeful of squeezing better margins through improved economies of scale.

Meanwhile, all eyes are on the governments next move to encourage the private mobile operators to sign up to the countrys wholesale 5G network being built by Ericsson for the government-owned and operated Digital Nasional Berhad (DNB). This special-purpose vehicle company was established by the Ministry of Finance to undertake the development and deployment of Malaysias 5G infrastructure across the country. The governments stated intent was to avoid duplication of networks and infrastructure, and thus reduce investment costs for the operators. But with DNB being Malaysias single wholesale 5G network provider, the MNOs have been reluctant to commit due to having limited opportunity to differentiate their 5G services and being somewhat at the mercy of the wholesalers pricing. To date, no MNO has agreed to the deal and are instead demanding the development of a dual wholesale network model (one that no doubt offers more flexible terms, at least in the eyes of the MNOs). Malaysias 5G rollout has, in effect, come to a standstill while the government tries to find a way to restart negotiations.

This report includes the regulator's market data to September 2021, telcos' financial and operating data updates to September 2021, Telecom Maturity Index charts and analyses, assessment of the global impact of Covid-19 on the telecoms sector, and other recent market developments.

Key Developments

Malaysias MNOs hold off signing up to the governments wholesale 5G network model.

Digi and Celcom announce plans to merge their Malaysian mobile operations.

The Malaysian government backtracks on its 5G spectrum allocation to Altel, agreeing to revert to an open tender.

Malaysias 3G networks are shut down on December 31, 2021, with the spectrum to be reallocated to 4G use.

Get a Full Copy of this Report

Developing Telecoms market report summaries are produced in partnership with BuddeCom, the worlds largest continually updated online telecommunications research service.

The above article is a summary of the following BuddeCom report:

Report title: Malaysia - Telecoms, Mobile and Broadband - Statistics and Analyses

Edition: February 2022

Analyst: Sebastien De Rosbo

Number of pages: 133

Companies mentioned in the report: Telekom Malaysia, TIME dotCom, Maxis Communications, Celcom Axiata, Digi, U Mobile, Altel

Single User PDF Licence Price: US$1390

For more information or to purchase a copy of the full report please use the following link: https://www.budde.com.au/Research/Malaysia-Telecoms-Mobile-and-Broadband-Statistics-and-Analyses/?r=83
Indias telecommunications sector has struggled for growth over the last five years. The sectors lacklustre performance has been in spite of concerted efforts by the government to bolster the underlying infrastructure in a bid to achieve universal coverage.

Instead, the countrys relatively liberal regulatory environment has encouraged fierce competition and price wars amongst the operators, driving down ARPU to the point where many are now more concerned about their mere survival rather than generating positive returns for their shareholders.

State-owned as well as private operators have been forced to seek redress from the government in order to avoid bankruptcy. One particular area of contention has been the billions owed by the operators to the government in the form of Adjusted Gross Revenue (AGR) dues  usage and licensing fees charged by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT)  that have been the subject of long-standing court battles over what should be counted as revenue.

The government won that battle in the Supreme Court in 2019, but the financial impairment of that decision has pushed a number of telcos  in particular Vodafone Idea  to the brink. Add the impact of the Covid-19 crisis in 2020 and 2021 to the mix, and the government had to come to the industrys rescue by introducing a major reform package in September 2021. Along with changes to the definition of AGR with regard to non-telecom revenue, the package includes a four-year moratorium on AGR dues and spectrum instalments.

Coincidentally, the government has also deferred the spectrum auctions for 5G until later in 2022. Mobile spectrum in India is already in short supply in terms of providing the necessary capacity to reach universal coverage, but the cash-strapped MNOs may not yet be in a sufficiently strong financial position for which to make the 5G spectrum auction viable.

This report includes the regulator's market data to September 2021, telcos' financial and operating data updates to December 2021, Telecom Maturity Index charts and analyses, assessment of the global impact of Covid-19 on the telecoms sector, and other recent market developments.

Key Developments

The government releases a major telecom sector reform package, which includes a four-year moratorium on AGR dues and spectrum instalments.

5G spectrum auctions are postponed from 2021 to 2022.

The target completion date for Indias national broadband program BharatNet (originally scheduled for 2013) is pushed further out to 2025.

Jio develops a 100%-homegrown 5G solution for India, including radios integrated with its own 5G core network as well as Jio 5G smartphones.

BSNL announces plans to make 4G commercial services available in August 2022, following a cash injection from the government.

Bharti Airtels shareholders approve a deal for Google to acquire 1.28% of the company in return for a $700 million equity investment.

Vodafone Group sells a 4.7% stake in tower provider Indus Towers to Bharti Airtel.

Get a Full Copy of this Report

Developing Telecoms market report summaries are produced in partnership with BuddeCom, the worlds largest continually updated online telecommunications research service.

The above article is a summary of the following BuddeCom report:

Report title: India - Telecoms, Mobile and Broadband - Statistics and Analyses

Edition: March 2022

Analyst: Stephen Marshall

Number of pages: 188

Companies mentioned in the report: Bharti Airtel, Vodafone Idea, Reliance Communications, Tata Teleservices, Bharat Sanchar Nigam (BSNL), Mahanagar Telephone Nigam (MTNL), Reliance Jio, Quadrant

Single User PDF Licence Price: US$1790

For more information or to purchase a copy of the full report please use the following link: https://www.budde.com.au/Research/India-Telecoms-Mobile-and-Broadband-Statistics-and-Analyses/?r=83
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) released recommendations on the 'Auction of spectrum in frequency bands identified for IMT/5G'. It recommended a significant cut in the reserve price for the 5G spectrum.

"Telecom Service Providers should be allowed easy payment options including part payment with the flexibility of moratorium," TRAI recommended.

TRAI has recommended slashing the base price of premium 3.3-3.67 GHz airwaves by nearly 36% and cutting the rate of the coveted 700 Mhz spectrum by 40% in a bid to spur India's mobile phone companies to bid aggressively in the upcoming 5G airwaves sale.

With large swathes of spectrum remaining unsold in the last two auctions TRAI recommended to the government for selling airwaves in all existing bands of 700 MHz, 800 MHz, 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 2100 MHz, 2300 MHz, 2500 MHz, and new slots of 600 MHz, 3300-3670 MHz and 24.25-28.5 GHz.

The regulator's latest recommendations will set the groundwork for spectrum auctions in 2022, to facilitate the rollout of 5G mobile services within 2022-23, by private telecom providers.

The market is gearing up for the rollout of 5G services, that will usher in ultra-high speeds and spawn new-age services and business models. "The reserve price of spectrum allocation in case of 30 years should be equal to 1.5 times the reserve price of spectrum allocation for 20 years for the respective band," TRAI said.
Weather Alert

...The Flood Warning continues for the following rivers in Iowa... Wapsipinicon River near De Witt 4S affecting Scott and Clinton Counties. For the Wapsipinicon River...including De Witt 4S...Minor flooding is forecast. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood deaths occur in vehicles. Motorists should not attempt to drive around barricades or drive cars through flooded areas. Additional information is available at www.weather.gov/quadcities. The next statement will be issued Saturday morning. && ...FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL TOMORROW EVENING... * WHAT...Minor flooding is occurring and minor flooding is forecast. * WHERE...Wapsipinicon River near De Witt 4S. * WHEN...Until tomorrow evening. * IMPACTS...At 11.0 feet, Flood Stage. Water affects County Road E63 north of the river near Toronto and affects the lowest roads in Buena Vista. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS... - At 7:30 PM CDT Friday the stage was 11.1 feet. - Forecast...The river is expected to fall below flood stage early tomorrow afternoon and continue falling to 8.6 feet next Friday evening. - Flood stage is 11.0 feet. &&
Minister Coveney opens DFA Heads of Mission Conference

Press release

Today Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney T.D. opened a three-day Conference for the Department of Foreign Affairs Ambassadors, Consuls General, and other senior officials from headquarters and missions abroad.

The Conference is the first in-person gathering of senior management since the onset of COVID-19, and takes place against the backdrop of a devastating war in Ukraine.

Addressing the senior management team, Minister Coveney underlined the seisimic impact of global events since the last Head of Mission Conference in 2020:

"In missions big and small, at home and abroad, the Department has worked tirelessly throughout the pandemic to ensure essential services were provided for Irish citizens in need. Indeed, the pandemic saw the largest ever consular operation undertaken by Ireland, with the repatriation of thousands of our citizens from around the world. It was yet another demonstration of the remarkable service provided by our Consular teams across the globe. Despite the disruptions caused by Covid-19, Irish interests and values were consistently defended and promoted in every multilateral organisation and bilateral capital in which Ireland is present.

These past number of years have been tumultuous in terms of the challenges posed first of all by the pandemic, and now by war on our continent. We have been faced with unprecedented socio-economic, political and security shocks. My hope is that the Conference this week will allow us to reflect on how Ireland tackles these multi-dimensional challenges and how our foreign and security policy can adapt and respond to the challenges that lie ahead."

Days one and two of the Conference are internal departmental consultations which will provide a critical opportunity for staff to discuss topics as diverse as the impacts of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the outworkings of Brexit, developments in Northern Ireland, the operation of Irelands aid programme, and the delivery of key services to Irish citizens including passports and consular support.

On the third day of the Conference, DFA management will be joined by leaders from across Irish life  Government, business, academic, cultural, community and civil society sectors  for the 2022 Global Ireland Summit. The theme of the Summit is Ireland Reconnecting, and will be an expert-led exploration of how Ireland reconnects with the world, delivering on the Global Ireland ambition, with a particular focus on multilateralism, against the backdrop of the current global challenges.

ENDS

Notes to Editors

In addition to this event being an in-person gathering, the Global Ireland Summit will also be live-streamed on www.ireland.ie/globalirelandsummit from 09.00am GMT on 12 April 2022.

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Some of the banned Android apps from the Google Play Store have had over 10 million downloads.

Google has stomped out a bunch of apps from the Android app store owing to some malicious code in them. The list of Apps banned by Google includes a QR code detector, a weather widget, and a program for Muslim prayer times. Before they were removed, some of these new Play Store banned apps were immensely popular with downloads of more than 10 million times. These new findings come from the Wall Street Journal after a lengthy investigation.

All apps on Google Play must comply with our policies, regardless of the developer. When we determine an app violates these policies, we take appropriate action, said a Google spokesperson to BBC.

Although the company hasnt elaborated on the reason, we shall try to understand the cause of this ban in a moment. But for now, heres the list of the top banned apps from the Play Store in this recent purge:

List of banned Android Apps by Google

QR & Barcode Scanner (Developed by AppSource Hub)

Speed Radar Camera

Wi-Fi Mouse (Remote Control PC)

Qibla Compass - Ramadan 2022

Simple Weather & Clock Widget (Developed by Difer)

Al-Moazin Lite (Prayer times)

Handcent Next SMS- Text With MMS

Smart kit 360

Audiosdroid Audio Studio DAW

Full Quran MP3-50 Languages & Translation Audio

If in case you have any of the aforementioned apps on your device, we advise you to uninstall them as soon as possible. You should be able to find better alternatives on the Play Store with a bit of searching.

The alleged reason behind the recent ban of Android Apps from the Play Store

Two software security and privacy researchers named Serge Egelman and Joel Reardon were the ones to spot the harmful SDK (Software Development Kit) in the incriminated apps. They shared their report with the Journal, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), and Google.

According to them, the dangerous code was created by a Panamanian company called Measurement Systems and it is said to have some connection with the US Federal Government through an American firm called Vostrom Holdings Inc.

The two researchers claim the code is present over dozens of Android apps on scores of mobile phones. They could apparently collect the users precise location, personal identifiers like their email, phone numbers, data of nearby computers and mobile devices, clipboard data including passwords, as well as the Android file system, especially the WhatsApp downloads folder.

A database mapping someones actual email and phone number to their precise GPS location history are particularly frightening, as it could easily be used to run a service to look up a persons location history just by knowing their phone number or email, which could be used to target journalists, dissidents, or political rivals, warns Mr Reardon.

Meanwhile, WSJ has learned from the aforementioned app developers that they were told the date is being collected for non-personal information about app users. They were to sign NDAs and were given $100 to $10,000 or higher per month based on the active users and the data the apps could amass.

The Journal has also unearthed the Middle Eastern, Central European, East European, and Asian markets.

In response to the allegations against it, Measurement Systems said, The allegations you make about the companys activities are false. Further, we are not aware of any connections between our company and U.S. defence contractors nor are we aware of a company called Vostrom. We are also unclear about what Packet Forensics is or how it relates to our company.

For other news, reviews, feature stories, buying guides, and everything else tech-related, keep reading Digit.in
OnePlus 10R may come without an alert slider or a 3.5mm headphone jack.

OnePlus has teased the launch of two new smartphones and TWS earbuds in India on April 28 at 7 PM. These are believed to be the OnePlus 10R, OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite, and OnePlus Nord Buds based on the design similarities of the silhouettes on the teaser image to the leaks and rumours we have come across before. We will be referring to the rumour mill for more about all three items. However, a new tidbit we have learned from a recent report on 91Mobiles is that the OnePlus 10R would be powered by MediaTek Dimensity 8100 chipset.

OnePlus India chief Navnit Nakra has revealed that the upcoming OnePlus R series flagship device will be based on the Dimensity 8000 series. And from previous reports, this is assumed to be the Dimensity 8100.

Heres the rest of what is expected from the device:

OnePlus 10R Specs and Features (Rumored)

OnePlus 10R is likely to flaunt a 6.7-inch E4 AMOLED display with FHD+ resolution and up to a 120Hz refresh rate. On the front, it may also seat a 16MP selfie camera within a central punch hole.

The leaked renders show us its rear side has a vertical rectangular island with three camera lenses. The leader of the lot is said to be a 50MP Sony IMX766 sensor (with OIS), and it is backed by an 8MP ultrawide sensor, and a 2MP macro module.

Under the hood, the 10R could be packing a Dimensity 8100 as mentioned initially. The software on top may be Android 12 based Oxygen OS.

The phone is expected to come in 4500mAh+150W as well as 5000mAh+80W battery plus charging speed combinations.

Do take this with a proverbial grain of salt until verified by the company.

In the meantime, for other news, reviews, feature stories, buying guides, and everything else tech-related, keep reading Digit.in.
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GOLDENDALE, Klickitat County - Last week, Washington State Parks celebrated the opening of the upgraded Goldendale Observatory State Park with state and local leaders, parks officials and visitors.

The observatory houses one of the nation's largest permanently mounted public telescopes. The upgrades, which were completed in February 2020, provide for a much larger and more advanced learning center to complement the main observatory dome and newly upgraded telescope.





. . .
At a heated news conference Monday, the Bethlehem NAACP called for the removal of inappropriate avatars some Southern Lehigh School District students are using in Google Classroom.

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The news conference, held in the parking lot of Southern Lehigh Middle School, was organized by the Bethlehem NAACP about students using Black avatars with exaggerated facial features from the video game Fortnite. The avatars are visible in the image that is next to a students name on Google Classroom, an online site used for school communication.

The issues of these images is that, Were not racist,  Bethlehem NAACP President Esther Lee said. Theres no such thing as just a cartoon. Its a feeling, and it comes from inside, and I reject that, and parents should, too.

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Kristen Bruck, a district parent, said other middle school parents contacted her about inappropriate avatars being displayed by students online.

Bruck said by her count about a dozen students from the middle school use the offensive avatars.

People are coming to me and saying, Im really uncomfortable with these avatars that are in there. Can you take a look?  Bruck said. And so I did.

Bruck reached out to the NAACP to ask for Lees opinion on whether the images were offensive.

I certainly dont blame the kids, Bruck said. Theyre kids, so if this is a teachable moment to explain to them, Heres why you shouldnt be using this kind of avatar, I think thats worthwhile.

Nearly three weeks ago, Bruck contacted the middle school about the avatars, she said. Bruck said she was told school leaders would look into the situation and work with Google to view all student images. As of Monday, the avatars were still active on Google Classroom.

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With respect to any issue that involves students, the district of course would not be prepared to discuss those circumstances, Superintendent Michael Mahon said when asked about the avatars.

Mahon said the district was not contacted by the Bethlehem NAACP about the news conference, nor about any concerns the organization has regarding student avatars. However, he said to the extent that they have any concerns, were always happy to engage.

About a dozen parents and students gathered in the school parking lot Monday afternoon.

The issue is, Are they racially motivated, these avatars?  said Doug Durham, a district parent and president of the parent group, Southern Lehigh Grassroots. My son has an avatar for Fortnite. Its a female with red hair, so it doesnt represent him. I didnt think avatars were necessarily representative of who you were.

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The news conference grew heated as some parents argued about LGBT and race issues and the meaning of a sign recently created by Bruck that reads: You Belong. You Matter. We Are All Southern Lehigh.

[ READ MORE: This sign on a classroom wall sparked complaints. Now some want Lehigh Valley school district to restrict what teachers can post ]

Bruck had placed the signs around the school community, and some teachers displayed the sign in their classrooms, she said, prompting a debate within the district about the need for a specific sign policy.

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At the news conference Monday, parents argued whether the sign was partisan, and some opponents brought their own version of signs aimed at inclusion as a replacement for the one created by Bruck.

Some parents have called Brucks signs political. Bruck disagreed, saying she made her sign with positive intentions, and she has been surprised by the backlash.

I think its just really showing we have an issue in this district when it comes to diversity, equity and inclusion, Bruck said.

Morning Call reporter Jenny Roberts can be reached at jroberts@mcall.com.
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SEATTLE  The Nelson Trucking property, at 9747 - 9777 Martin Luther King Jr. Way S., sold for just over $40 million, according to King County records.

The seller was Champion Properties LLC, associated with Elm Street Capital Partners of Rye, New York, which acquired the property in 2017 for $12.5 million.





. . .
Harrisonburg, VA (22801)

Today

Cloudy with periods of rain. High 51F. Winds NNE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 70%. Rainfall around a quarter of an inch..

Tonight

Rain showers early becoming more intermittent overnight. Low around 40F. Winds NNE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 60%.
The United Sates government has imposed sanctions against seven senior members of the notorious Irish Kinahan crime gang as part of a bid to target their financial operations.

Among those sanctioned by the US Department of the Treasurys Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) were its key members, including leaders Christy Kinahan Snr, Daniel Kinahan and Christy Kinahan Jnr.

They were named as being heads of the criminal network, along with their associates Sean McGovern, Ian Dixon, Bernard Clancy and John Morrissey.

A number of businesses were also identified as being associated with the crime gang.

In a statement, the US department said the action is the result of close collaboration between OFAC, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the US Department of State, An Garda Siochana, the UKs National Crime Agency and the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation.

Under secretary for terrorism and financial intelligence, Brian E. Nelson, said, "The Kinahan organised crime group smuggles deadly narcotics, including cocaine, to Europe, and is a threat to the entire licit economy through its role in international money laundering.

Criminal groups like the KOCG (Kinahan organised crime group) prey on the most vulnerable in society and bring drug-related crime and violence, including murder, to the countries in which they operate.

Treasury is proud to have co-ordinated so closely with our international counterparts, and the US government will continue to use every available resource to dismantle these criminal networks.

"Today is a landmark day in the fight against organised crime and in particular the Kinahan organised crime gang" - Garda Commissioner Drew Harris.



An Garda Siochana & international law enforcement partners are today launching an initiative tackling the apex of the Kinahan gang. pic.twitter.com/3zb72XMHOv  Garda Info (@gardainfo) April 12, 2022

As a result of the action, all property and interests in property of the named gang members and their businesses that are in the US or in the possession or control of US people will be blocked and reported to OFAC.

OFACs regulations generally prohibit all transactions by US people or people within, or transiting, the United States that involve any property or interests in property of those who have been sanctioned.

In a lengthy statement, the US treasury office said that the Kinahan crime gang, which operates in Ireland, is also established in the UK, Spain, and the United Arab Emirates.

It described their operations as a significant transnational criminal organisation.

It stated the gang emerged in the late 1990s and early 2000s as the most powerful organised crime group operating in Ireland.

Since then, Irish courts have said that the Kinahan gang is a murderous organisation involved in the international trafficking of drugs and firearms.

Criminal activities include international money laundering, generating proceeds in the UK, which are then pooled together and passed to local criminals before being handed to Irish organised crime group members and laundered out of the UK.

The Kinahans also frequently use Dubai as a facilitation hub for its illicit activities.

Since February 2016, the criminal gang has been involved in a gang war with another group in Ireland and Spain, resulting in numerous murders, including of two innocent bystanders.
ADA, OK -Martha Jane Cooper Hill received her wings on May 5th, 2022 in Oklahoma City. She was born to Ruby Milligan Cooper and Preston Cooper in Ada, OK. Martha married Fred Hill Sr. on Dec. 14th, 1955. Martha and Fred had 5 children. Jackie & husband Robert Buchanan, OKC; Patty & h
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Feature: Chinese firm donates much-needed educational supplies to Ethiopian school children

Xinhua) 16:50, April 12, 2022

ADDIS ABABA, April 12 (Xinhua) -- Yakob Kiros, a seventh grader at Kotari Primary School, in Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa, is optimistic that he will one day be able to help other vulnerable school children to pursue their dreams, just like he was helped by a Chinese firm building the new headquarters of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).

"I often see our families give up their personal and household priorities so as to fulfill our educational needs, such as pens, exercise books and school bags," said 13-year-old Kiros, one of the students receiving educational supplies donated by China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) last Saturday.

In addition to notebooks, pencils and school bags, the donation also included recreational and sporting kits.

Kotari Primary School Principal Ashenafi Wondimu said the support will help ensure students' comprehensive development.

"Today, our students received much-needed educational material, which will certainly play an important role in their future academic performance," he said.

The donation, in addition to helping improve the school children's academic performance, will also boost students' psychological well-being as they witnessed the "great gesture of togetherness showcased by our Chinese partners, which in turn will further propel their education," Wondimu said.

Kiros thanked the Chinese company for the support.

"Their good deeds also inspired us to be successful and be able to help vulnerable school children when we grown older and become successful," he said.

Netsanet Belachew, a fellow seventh grader at Kotari Primary, said the support will boost students' academic and overall life endeavors.

"I want them to know that the support is very helpful since some of us here either have no family to support us or our families are not able to do so," said the 14-year-old girl.

Guo Chongfeng, general manager of CCECC Ethiopian Branch, said education is fundamental to a country's development, which will ultimately shape the future of a country and its people.

"Support in education is a deep reflection of China's 'Belt and Road Initiative' to share the fruits of development," he said. "I hope today's (donation) will boost our children's morale, and encourage more Chinese companies to join this endeavor."

"When I see you, I see hope. I see future," Guo told the school children, urging them to work harder for success in their future development.

Admasu Dechasa, deputy head of Addis Ababa Education Bureau, commended the Chinese company for its critical support to the vulnerable students.

He said that support in the education sector will help cement link between countries and peoples.

Such help will help the Ethiopian government in realizing its "education for all" goal and manage challenges in maintaining educational quality, Dechasa said.

"We appreciate the support that the Chinese government, people, and organizations have done to Ethiopia and the city of Addis Ababa, in particular. We hope that the support will be continued," he added.

(Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun)
The Brass Rail, an iconic Allentown restaurant where generations of families have gathered for cheesesteaks, spaghetti, pot roast sandwiches and more, is set to close in June. (Ryan Kneller/The Morning Call)

The Allentown Planning Commission approved a Royal Farms gas and convenience store to be built at the former Brass Rail restaurant in south Allentown.

But at a meeting Tuesday, commission members also worried about traffic conditions and the lack of trees and landscape in plans.

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The Brass Rail, an Allentown staple for 91 years known for its cheesesteaks, will close this summer.

Owners Mark Sorrentino and Pam Ray signed an agreement of sale for the 3015 Lehigh St. property in 2020. They planned to move the Brass Rail rather than shut down, but announced the restaurant was closing last month.

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[ This was a very difficult decision: Allentowns iconic Brass Rail restaurant to close after 91 years ]

Developers want to consolidate three parcels of land, containing the Brass Rail; Budget Truck Rentals, Batteries and Bulbs store; and Pacific Pride gas station, to build a Royal Farms convenience store with a car wash and gas station with pumps for both cars and trucks. Their plan includes demolishing three structures, including the Brass Rail. Developers will provide 70 parking spaces for customers and employees.

Pennsylvania is home to 20 Royal Farms, but the Lehigh Street location would be the first in the Lehigh Valley. The closest Royal Farms is in Colmar, Montgomery County, 30 miles south of Allentown.

City planning staff wrote in a review letter that they have a favorable view of the project. Planning commission members supported the project but raised concerns about traffic control and a lack of adequate landscaping.

The Royal Farms would have three driveways to enter and exit from: two on Lehigh Street and one on 31st Street. John Wichner, an associate at McMahon Associates representing Royal Farms, said PennDOT requested Royal Farms make the northernmost drive on Lehigh Street full access, meaning both left and right turns are allowed from the point.

Ive made that left turn out of there from the Brass Rail for many, many years, typically on a Friday at peak, commission member Anthony Toth said. I dont like making it, its an existing driveway condition, and now that theres an opportunity to kind of make something better, Im surprised that its going this way, but it is what it is.

Commission member Damien Brown said future Royal Farms customers could learn to exit the Royal Farms out of 31st Street and avoid making the left turn onto busy Lehigh Street.

First Call Daily Leading local stories delivered on weekday mornings >

Commission Chair Christian Brown said he wished Royal Farms plan included more than the minimum number of required trees for a project of its size. Royal Farms plans to plant 16 trees on the site.

For such a large project, high profile business that it is, Im kind of disappointed that were only meeting the minimum requirements when it comes to street trees and parking lot trees, Brown said.

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Tyler Arsenault, director of leasing at Retail Sites, which represents Royal Farms, said developers do not want to block the stores signage.

Brown said the city should adopt more robust landscaping requirements via ordinance to require developers to plant more trees and add landscaping to large projects.

Royal Farms plans are contingent on what happens to Summit Street. Last month, the Planning Commission recommended developers request to vacate the street, a paper street that separates the southern section of Royal Farms property from a separate used car lot. City Council will have the final vote on the vacation.

The commission granted conditional approval to the developers. The developers agreed to the commissions request to build a pedestrian sidewalk with access to the Royal Farms on 31st Street on the east side of the property.

Morning Call reporter Lindsay Weber can be reached at 610-820-6681 and liweber@mcall.com.
Louth councillor John Sheridan has welcomed the news that Louth County Council have applied to the Department of Agriculture & Marine under the Brexit adjustment fund for funding for Annagassan Harbour. Cllr Sheridan had asked the council to apply for funding for Annagassan through a motion he brought forward to the Ardee Municipal District March meeting.

In his motion, Cllr Sheridan requested that "Ardee Municipal District calls on Louth County Council to apply to the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine for funds for Annagassan harbour under the newly announced scheme for piers and harbours as part of the Brexit Adjustment Reserve fund."

In response to Cllr Sheridan's motion, Catherine Duff, Director of Services, Operations said that "the Council is reviewing the terms and conditions of the scheme and will determine whether there are any eligible projects subject to resources and match funding being available to deliver."

In a statement following the meeting, Cllr Sheridan said "I very much welcome the news that Louth County Council have applied to the Department of Agriculture & Marine under the Brexit adjustment fund for funding for Annagassan Harbour." He went on to say, "I understand from the meeting that 209,000 of 594,000 for the county is requested for Annagassan. While there is no confirmation of funding, I very much welcome the Council applying for it.

"If Louth as a border county can't apply for this Brexit adjustment fund, I'm not sure what other counties could! The meeting was told that the application is to fund improvements to railings, lighting and surface at Annagassan Harbour. This would be a huge boost for Annagassan. I will be pursing this matter with Senator Erin McGreehan to lobby the Minister on this funding for Annagassan."

Pointing to the acronym for the Brexit Adjustment: Local Authority Marine Infrastructure (BALAMI) scheme, Cllr Sheridan observed that he hoped the scheme "wouldn't be a load of BALAMI" when the results of the application process are announced.



Pointing to the acronym for the Brexit Adjustment: Local Authority Marine Instrastructure (BALAMI) scheme, Cllr Sheridan observed that he hoped the scheme "wouldn't be a load of BALAMI" when the results of the application process are announced.
There was praise in Leinster House last week for the Dundalk digital hub, conceived by Creative Spark.

Sinn Fein TD Ruairi O Murchu highlighted how Creative Spark Downtown in Clanbrassil Street is a "game changer" for remote working during questions to Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys TD.

The Dundalk deputy said a good example of remote working hubs was Creative Spark Downtown, where the benefits of a workplace can be seen without necessarily the need to undergo long commutes, as might be the case where a business is based in Dublin or further afield.

"That is vital. I have recently had phone calls relating to the connected hubs funding call and people have expressed interest", he continued.

"We need to ensure the correct funding mechanism are in place in order that we can deliver this scheme where it is needed.

"It will be a lifeline for small towns, in particular, and even for larger towns such as Dundalk.

"We have a big issue with vacant sites. They could be used as hubs but, of course, we will also have to consider the wider issue of housing.

"In fairness, County Louth has a number of these hubs and is already seeing successes, as the Minister pointed out in respect of the Mill centre, Drogheda, and beyond.

"Creative Spark has its primary building as well as this new, secondary building, but a considerable number of other businesses are examining the idea too."

He said that the level of funding for hubs needs to be sufficient.

He said: "It is about improving circumstances where there are already remote working hubs or where remote working of some sort exists.

"Do we need to consider other modalities to be able to provide for new, perhaps small remote working hubs in towns such as Dundalk?"

In response, Minister Humphreys said local authorities can apply to her department for funding through the town and village renewal scheme or the rural regeneration scheme for the infrastructure. In terms of the kitting out of the facilities, you can apply to the connected hubs but, if you want to do so, you have to register to use the app.

"We have 223 hubs on board and aim to have 400 on board by 2025.

"I expect us to meet that target way before that. We want to get employers to see the benefits of remote working and we want more people to get involved with it. We have one chance and it is now."
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Chancellor Rishi Sunak have been told they will be fined as part of a police probe into allegations of lockdown parties held at Downing Street.

It comes after the Metropolitan Police announced 30 additional fines on Tuesday in relation to Operation Hillman, which is looking into breaches of Covid-19 regulations at the top of Government.

A No 10 spokeswoman said: The Prime Minister and Chancellor of the Exchequer have today received notification that the Metropolitan police intend to issue them with fixed penalty notices.

We have no further details, but we will update you again when we do.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said both Mr Johnson and Mr Sunak should quit following the confirmation.

Sir Keir said: Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak have broken the law and repeatedly lied to the British public.

They must both resign.

The Conservatives are totally unfit to govern. Britain deserves better.

Police have opted not to name those facing fines, citing traditional practices when dealing with out-of-court matters such as speeding fines, but Downing Street said it would confirm if Mr Johnson was among those being penalised.

Scotland Yard said on Tuesday that it had made at least 50 referrals for fixed-penalty notices (FPNs)  up from 20 at the end of March  to ACRO Criminal Records Office, which is responsible for issuing the fines.

Mr Johnson is understood to have been present at six of the at least 12 events being investigated.
This Monday, Aug. 6, 2012, 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.
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U.S. HOUSE

HR 6968: Suspending Energy Imports from Russia Act

Voting 413 for and 9 against, the house on Thursday passed a bill that prohibits the importation of energy products from Russia. It also permanently authorizes the President to impose visa- and property-blocking sanctions based on violations of human rights, and it revises the Presidents authority to impose these sanctions.

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The bill generally prohibits the importation of Russian products that are classified under chapter 27 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule (which includes mineral fuels, mineral oils and products of their distillation, bituminous substances, and mineral waxes), with an exception for prior contracts or agreements.

The President may waive this prohibition for national interest reasons, subject to congressional approval.

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The bill directs the U.S. Trade Representative to take certain actions, including to consider steps to suspend Russias participation in the World Trade Organization.

Additionally, the bill statutorily authorizes broader coverage of current visa- and property-blocking sanctions for human rights violations to cover persons involved in serious human rights abuses. (Current law imposes these sanctions on persons responsible for gross violations of human rights, a higher standard.)

The bill authorizes the President to impose sanctions on any foreign person who is responsible for serious human rights abuse, is a current or former government official who is responsible for or complicit in corruption, is or has been a leader or official of an entity that has engaged in any of these activities, has provided support for any of these activities, or is owned or controlled by a person subject to these sanctions.

Yes: Brian Fitzpatrick, R-1st (Bucks, parts of Montgomery and Philadelphia); Madeleine Dean, D-4th (Montgomery, parts of Berks); Susan Wild, D-7th (Lehigh, Northampton, parts of Monroe); Matt Cartwright, D-8th (most of Monroe); Dan Meuser, R-9th (Schuylkill, parts of Carbon and Berks).

HR 7108: Suspending Normal Trade Relations with Russia and Belarus Act

Voting 420 for and 3 against, the House on Thursday passed a bill that suspends normal trade relations with Russia and Belarus. It also permanently authorizes the President to impose visa- and property-blocking sanctions based on violations of human rights, and it revises the Presidents authority to impose these sanctions.

Specifically, the bill authorizes the President to proclaim increases in the rates of duty applicable to products of Russia or Belarus. This authority terminates on January 1, 2024.

The President may restore normal trade relations with Russia and Belarus, subject to congressional disapproval.

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The bill directs the U.S. Trade Representative to take certain actions, including to consider steps to suspend Russias participation in the World Trade Organization and seek to halt the accession process of Belarus.

Additionally, the bill statutorily authorizes broader coverage of current visa- and property-blocking sanctions for human rights violations to cover persons involved in serious human rights abuses. (Current law imposes these sanctions on persons responsible for gross violations of human rights, a higher standard.)

The bill authorizes the President to impose sanctions on any foreign person who is responsible for serious human rights abuse, is a current or former government official who is responsible for or complicit in corruption, is or has been a leader or official of an entity that has engaged in any of these activities, has provided support for any of these activities, or is owned or controlled by a person subject to these sanctions.

Yes: Fitzpatrick, Dean, Wild, Cartwright, Meuser

HR 3807: Restaurant Revitalization Fund Replenishment Act of 2021

Voting 223 for and 203 against, the House on Thursday passed a bill that provides an additional $60 billion in FY2021 for the Restaurant Revitalization Fund, which was established to support restaurants and other food and beverage purveyors in response to COVID-19.

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Yes: Fitzpatrick, Dean, Wild, Cartwright,

No: Meuser

HR 7276: To direct the President to submit to Congress a report on United States Government efforts to collect, analyze, and preserve evidence and information related to war crimes and other atrocities committed during the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine since February 24, 2022, and for other purposes.

Voting 418 for and 7 against, the House on Wednesday passed a bill that requires the President to report to Congress on atrocities committed during Russias invasion of Ukraine since Feb. 24.

Specifically, the report must describe in detail U.S. government efforts to collect, analyze, and preserve evidence related to war crimes and other atrocities committed during the invasion; media, public diplomacy, and information operations to make the Russian people, including their military and political leaders, aware of efforts to identify and prosecute those responsible for such atrocities; and the process for a domestic, foreign, or international court or tribunal to obtain information from the U.S. government related to such atrocities.

Yes: Fitzpatrick, Dean, Wild, Cartwright, Meuser

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HRes.1037: Recommending that the House of Representatives find Peter K. Navarro and Daniel Scavino, Jr., in contempt of Congress for refusal to comply with subpoenas duly issued by the Select Committee to investigate the January 6th attack on the United States Capitol.

The House on Wednesday voted 220 for and 203 against.

Yes: Dean, Wild, Cartwright,

No: Fitzpatrick, Meuser

H.Res.831: Calling on the United States Government to uphold the founding democratic principles of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and establish a Center for Democratic Resilience within the headquarters of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

Voting 362 for and 63 against, the House on Tuesday voted on a resolution that reaffirms unequivocal support for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) as an alliance founded on democratic principles.

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The resolution also calls on the President to use the voice and vote of the United States to adopt a new Strategic Concept for NATO that is clear about its support for shared democratic values and committed to enhancing NATOs capacity to strengthen democratic institutions within NATO member, partner, and aspirant countries.

Finally, the resolution calls on the President to use the voice and vote of the United States to establish a Center for Democratic Resilience within NATO headquarters.

Yes: Dean, Wild, Cartwright, Fitzpatrick, Meuser

HR 564: SPEED Recovery Act

Voting 414 for and 11 against, the House on Tuesday passed a bill that increases to $1 million the threshold for eligibility for assistance for what qualifies as a small project under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, thereby allowing more recovery projects to proceed under simplified procedures. The threshold must be reviewed every three years.

Yes: Dean, Wild, Cartwright, Fitzpatrick, Meuser

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HR 5689: Resilient AMERICA Act

Voting 383 for and 41 against, the House on Tuesday passed a bill that addresses the issue of U.S. disaster resilience and expands coverage for hazard mitigation. The bill permits the redistribution of hazard mitigation funds unclaimed or unobligated for a major disaster upon the expiration of 84 months or the closeout of the grant, whichever is sooner; increases from 6% to 15% the estimated aggregate amount of grants made for national public infrastructure pre-disaster mitigation assistance; makes private nonprofit facilities eligible for technical and financial assistance in the implementation of cost-effective pre-disaster hazard mitigation measures; and expands the use of hazard mitigation assistance to cover certain activities pertaining to wildfires, tsunamis, and ice storms.

Additionally, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) must set aside 10% of funds made available for any given year to further the implementation of the latest published editions of relevant consensus-based building codes, and carry out a pilot program through which states and localities award grants to individuals for retrofitting their residences with appropriate hazard mitigation measures.

Yes: Dean, Wild, Cartwright, Fitzpatrick,

Not voting: Meuser

HR.4476: DHS Trade and Economic Security Council Act of 2021

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Voting 348 for and 75 against, the House on Tuesday passed a bill that establishes the DHS Trade and Economic Security Council, which shall provide trade and economic security advice and recommendations to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). This includes identifying concentrated risks and setting priorities for protecting the nations trade and economic security. The bill also establishes the position of Assistant Secretary for Trade and Economic Security within DHSs Office of Strategy, Policy, and Plans.

Yes: Dean, Wild, Cartwright, Fitzpatrick, Meuser

HR 2501: Spectrum Coordination Act

Voting 418 for and 6 against, the House on Tuesday passed a bill that requires the National Telecommunications and Information Administration and the Federal Communications Commission to update the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Spectrum Coordination to improve the process for resolving frequency allocation disputes in shared or adjacent spectrum bands, ensure the efficient use of spectrum, and establish reasonable timelines for information exchanges between the administration and the commission. The MOU formalizes the cooperative relationship between the two parties to ensure that spectrum policy decisions promote efficient use of spectrum consistent with both the economic interests and national security of the nation.

Yes: Dean, Wild, Fitzpatrick, Meuser

Not voting: Cartwright

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HR 1218: Data Mapping to Save Moms Lives Act

Voting 409 for and 11 against, the House on Tuesday passed a bill directs the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to include data on certain maternal health outcomes in its broadband health mapping tool. This is an online platform that allows users to visualize, overlay, and analyze broadband and health data at national, state, and county levels.

The FCC must consult with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to determine which maternal health outcomes should be incorporated.

Yes: Dean, Wild, Fitzpatrick, Meuser, Cartwright

HR 1916: Ensuring Lasting Smiles Act

Voting 310 for and 110 against, the House on Monday, This bill requires private health insurance plans to cover diagnosis and treatment of congenital anomalies and birth defects, such as reconstructive services and items. Coverage must include services and items that functionally improve, repair, or restore any body part that is medically necessary for normal bodily functions or appearance, as determined by the treating physician. Coverage limits and cost-sharing requirements for such services and items may not be more restrictive than those applicable to all medical and surgical benefits under the plan.

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Yes: Dean, Wild, Fitzpatrick, Meuser, Cartwright

HR 5657: Medical Marijuana Research Act

Voting 343 for and 75 against, the House on Monday passed a bill that establishes a new, separate registration process to facilitate medical marijuana research. Specifically, it directs the Drug Enforcement Administration to register practitioners to conduct medical marijuana research, and manufacturers and distributors to supply marijuana for such research.

Additionally, the Department of Health and Human Services must continue to produce marijuana through the National Institute on Drug Abuse Drug Supply Program and implement a specialized process for supplying marijuana products available through state-authorized marijuana programs to researchers until manufacturers and distributors can provide a sufficient supply of marijuana for medical research.

Yes: Dean, Wild, Fitzpatrick, Meuser, Cartwright

U.S. SENATE

Ketanji Brown Jackson, Supreme Court of the United States

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Voting 53 for and 47 against, the Senate on Thursday confirmed Ketanji Brown Jackson, of the District of Columbia, to be an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, vice Stephen G. Breyer, retiring.

Yes: Bob Casey, D

No: Pat Toomey, R

HR 6968: Suspending Energy Imports from Russia Act

Voting 100 for and 0 against, the Senate on Thursday passed a bill that prohibits the importation of energy products from Russia. It also permanently authorizes the President to impose visa- and property-blocking sanctions based on violations of human rights, and it revises the Presidents authority to impose these sanctions.

The bill generally prohibits the importation of Russian products that are classified under chapter 27 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule (which includes mineral fuels, mineral oils and products of their distillation, bituminous substances, and mineral waxes), with an exception for prior contracts or agreements.

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The President may waive this prohibition for national interest reasons, subject to congressional approval.

The bill directs the U.S. Trade Representative to take certain actions, including to consider steps to suspend Russias participation in the World Trade Organization.

Additionally, the bill statutorily authorizes broader coverage of current visa- and property-blocking sanctions for human rights violations to cover persons involved in serious human rights abuses. (Current law imposes these sanctions on persons responsible for gross violations of human rights, a higher standard.)

The bill authorizes the President to impose sanctions on any foreign person who is responsible for serious human rights abuse, is a current or former government official who is responsible for or complicit in corruption, is or has been a leader or official of an entity that has engaged in any of these activities, has provided support for any of these activities, or is owned or controlled by a person subject to these sanctions.

Yes: Casey, Toomey

HR 7108: Suspending Normal Trade Relations with Russia and Belarus Act

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Voting 100 for and 0 against, the Senate on Thursday passed a bill that suspends normal trade relations with Russia and Belarus. It also permanently authorizes the President to impose visa- and property-blocking sanctions based on violations of human rights, and it revises the Presidents authority to impose these sanctions.

Specifically, the bill authorizes the President to proclaim increases in the rates of duty applicable to products of Russia or Belarus. This authority terminates on January 1, 2024.

The President may restore normal trade relations with Russia and Belarus, subject to congressional disapproval.

First Call Daily Leading local stories delivered on weekday mornings >

The bill directs the U.S. Trade Representative to take certain actions, including to consider steps to suspend Russias participation in the World Trade Organization and seek to halt the accession process of Belarus.

Additionally, the bill statutorily authorizes broader coverage of current visa- and property-blocking sanctions for human rights violations to cover persons involved in serious human rights abuses. (Current law imposes these sanctions on persons responsible for gross violations of human rights, a higher standard.)

The bill authorizes the President to impose sanctions on any foreign person who is responsible for serious human rights abuse, is a current or former government official who is responsible for or complicit in corruption, is or has been a leader or official of an entity that has engaged in any of these activities, has provided support for any of these activities, or is owned or controlled by a person subject to these sanctions.

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Yes: Casey, Toomey

James C. OBrien, Department of State

Voting 71 for and 26 against the Senate on Wednesday, confirmed James C. OBrien, of Nebraska, to be Head of the Office of Sanctions Coordination, with the rank of Ambassador. (New Position)

Yes: Casey, Toomey
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HARRISBURG  Ninety percent of fentanyl that contributes to thousands of deaths in the U.S.  including about 700 in the Lehigh Valley region last year  is made in Mexico, often with chemicals produced in China, a top regional law enforcement official said Tuesday.

Jeremiah Daley, executive director of the Liberty Mid-Atlantic High Density Drug Trafficking Area, testified at a House Health Committee hearing.

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The committees chairwoman, Republican Rep. Kathy Rapp of Warren County, said the practice of mixing ultra-deadly fentanyl into heroin, cocaine and other abused drugs made it seem drug traffickers were deliberately killing their own customers.

You are not the first person who has postulated that this is essentially chemical warfare being waged against the United States by drug cartels, Daley told her.

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But the main motive is profit, Daley said.

His organization ties together many government agencies and fights drug trafficking. Its jurisdiction includes the counties of Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia.

Last week, the Morning Call published an analysis  carried out in the absence of timely, publicly available data  that counted about 700 fentanyl-related deaths in 2021 in the region including Lehigh, Northampton, Bucks, Montgomery, Berks, Schuylkill, Carbon and Monroe counties.

In his testimony, Daley said 90% of all fentanyl in the U.S. is being produced in Mexico but often involving precursor chemicals from China but a few other countries as well.

More than 105,000 people in the U.S. died from overdoses in the 12 months that ended Sept. 30, according to a U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate.

In Pennsylvania, the CDC projects over over 5,500 deaths during that same period. This is an enormous loss of life, Daley said.

Fentanyl and fentanyl-related substances accounted for about 75% of the deaths, he said.

Jennifer Smith, secretary of the Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs, said the percentage of overdose deaths in Pennsylvania that involve fentanyl has increased consistently since 2017.

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Criminal groups use fentanyl as an ingredient to mass produce authentic-looking prescription pills that are available to anyone with a smart phone, Smith said.

Fentanyl is undetectable through sight, taste or smell, Smith said. Unless a drug is tested, perhaps with a fentanyl test strip, it is nearly impossible for an individual to know if it has been laced with fentanyl.

At least two bills offered in Harrisburg would make it legal for drug users to possess the test strips that would let them determine whether fentanyl is in a supply of drugs.

Last Call Daily Get top headlines from The Morning Call delivered weekday afternoons. >

One, sponsored by Democratic Sen. Tim Kearney of Delaware County, was approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee and is awaiting action by the full Senate.

The other, from Republican Rep. Jim Struzzi of Indiana County, is awaiting action by the House Judiciary Committee, which heard strong support for the concept at a January hearing.

Daley called for better sharing of real-time data among government agencies on fatal and non-fatal overdoses.

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He spoke favorably of a bill from Republican Sen. Doug Mastriano of Franklin County  a candidate for governor  that would require police and emergency medical personnel to log overdose incidents into a mapping system within 24 hours.

He also said the state should expand programs like the Law Enforcement Treatment Initiative introduced by Attorney General Josh Shapiro  who is nearly certain to be the Democratic nominee for governor  that let police steer low-level offenders with drug problems into treatment, rather than jail.

This story has been updated to reflect the passage of Sen. Kearneys bill by the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Morning Call Capitol correspondent Ford Turner can be reached at fturner@mcall.com
In the week ending 8 April 2022 the net position of the Eurosystem in foreign currency (asset items 2 and 3 minus liability items 7, 8 and 9) decreased by EUR 0.8 billion to EUR 327.7 billion.

As a result of the Eurosystems open market operations and standing facilities, net lending to credit institutions (asset item 5 minus liability items 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 2.5 and 4) increased by EUR 24.5 billion to EUR 1,463.5 billion. This was due primarily to the change in the level of the deposit facility (liability item 2.2).

Claims on non-euro area residents denominated in euro (asset item 4) decreased by EUR 1.3 billion to EUR 10 billion, mainly owing to maturing Eurosystem operations providing euro liquidity to non-euro area central banks (further details can be found on the ECBs website under Central bank liquidity lines).

Base money (liability items 1, 2.1 and 2.2) rose by EUR 79.4 billion to EUR 6,298.9 billion.

The table below provides the detailed breakdown of securities held for monetary policy purposes (asset item 7.1) into the different portfolios. All portfolios are accounted for at amortised cost.
CORK County Council has voted to raise the issue of frontline staff numbers with the Taoiseach.

The issue was raised to the council by Fine Gael councillor Michael Paul Murtagh, who is a firefighter with Cork City Fire Brigade.

The problems are mounting. Ive been involved in meetings where weve discussed the lack of Gardai on the ground, patients waiting over two hours for ambulances in West Cork, issues around recruitment and retention in the retained fire service, and its been well reported that naval ships have been tied up in Haulbowline, unable to go to sea to patrol because of lack of numbers, Mr Murtagh said.

Ive been contacted over recent weeks by people in Kerry, Limerick, and Galway. This is not just about Cork; it really is a problem around the country. Staffing levels must match the growth in our population.

Mr Murtagh said that he believes the Governments moratorium on recruitment in the public service, which was introduced as a control measure following the economic crisis in 2009 and ended in 2015, has left lasting consequences on frontline services.

Im in no doubt that the moratorium on recruitment and the policies that were enacted in the wake of that decision has damaged frontline services, Mr Murtagh said.

Paperwork doesnt pull people out of rivers, nor does it cut patients out of crumbled vehicles; firefighters do. Statistics and percentages don't treat seriously wounded individuals; paramedics do.

Deputy Mayor for the County of Cork, Cllr Cathal Rasmussen, backed Mr Murtaghs request that the council write to the Taoiseach and suggested that the letter also ask that conditions and pay in certain sectors be looked at.

Living in Cobh, I see Navy ships tied up more often than theyre out and I know the numbers are down in the Army. You talk to people in the service and their wages are so poor, Mr Rasmussen said.

West Cork councillor Danny Collins said that he was particularly concerned about staffing issues amongst paramedics.

We dont realise how much we rely on our frontline workers until we need them, said Mr Collins.

It could be hours in some cases before an ambulance arrives for some people in Cork and thats not good enough. Our paramedics are stretched to the very limit.

Councillor Susan McCarthy added: This is something that came up at peoples doors for me during the last election. Numbers have become a huge issue, especially within the Gardai and the Gardai on the ground will tell you that.
If current deforestation rates in the Amazon rainforest continue, the forest could be two years away from the tipping point after which it will no longer be able to sustain itself by making its own rain.

Thats the warning issued by Monica de Bolle, a senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics (PIEE), in a policy brief released this week.

The time for action is now, de Bolle tweeted.

https://twitter.com/bollemdb/statuses/1187072222046904320 Professor Will Steffen explained to News.com.au how human activity and the climate crisis could combine to make such a tipping point possible. A combination of direct human landclearing and climate changeprimarily through changing rainfall regimescan trigger a rapid conversion of much of the forest to savanna or grassland ecosystems, thereby emitting large amounts of carbon to the atmosphere, he said. Deforestation in the Amazon has accelerated since right-wing President Jair Bolsonaro took office, de Bolle found. Between January and August 2019, deforestation more than doubled compared to the same period last year, according to Brazils National Institute for Space Research. This was due to the intentional setting of fires by cattle ranchers and others to clear land, something encouraged by the policies of Bolsonaro, who has weakened environmental regulations and enforcement. De Bolle also warned that the Amazon was a carbon bomb. Setting fire to the forest for deforestation may release as much as 200 million tons of carbon into the atmosphere a year, which would spur climate change at a much faster rate, she wrote. While scientists agreed with de Bolle that protecting the Amazon was urgently important, they did not all agree with her timeline for when the tipping point would occur, The Guardian reported.
A 65-year-old Saylorsburg man died Tuesday after a two-car crash in Salisbury Township, police said.

James Davis, 65, was pronounced dead at Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest, Cpl. Kevin Kress said in a news release. The driver of the other vehicle, a 73-year-old woman, was taken to the hospital for treatment.

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The Lehigh County coroners office ruled that Davis died as a result of blunt force torso injuries, and ruled the manner of death an accident.

Police did not release the womans name or condition.

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The crash occurred in the 1200 block of South 24th Street, according to the release. Davis was transported to the hospital by the Cetronia Ambulance Corps.

The Eastern and Western Salisbury Township fire departments, as well as the Lower Macungie fire department, also responded.

Township police and the Lehigh County coroners office are investigating. Officials asked anyone with information to contact police at 610-797-1447, the coroners office at 610-782-3426 or county dispatch at 610-437-5252.

Morning Call reporter Molly Bilinski can be reached at mbilinski@mcall.com.
The Biden administration has launched America the Beautiful Challenge, a $1 billion conservation program that will make navigating grant funding for new conservation and restoration projects easier. The project is part of a larger goal, called the America the Beautiful Initiative, to conserve 30% of land and water in the U.S. by 2030.

This public-private grant program will fund local restoration and conservation projects, including watershed restoration, equitable access, wildlife corridors and connectivity, workforce development and more.

The Presidents goal of conserving 30 percent of Americas lands and waters by 2030 is more than a number  it is a challenge to build on the nations best conservation traditions, to be faithful to principles that reflect the countrys values, and to improve the quality of Americans lives  now and for decades to come, the U.S. Department of the Interior website reads.

For the America the Beautiful Challenge, funding from multiple federal agencies and private donors are brought into a one-stop-shop with a simplified application process, so Indigenous communities, local groups, NGOs, and states can apply for multiple grants with one application for their conservation and restoration projects.

The America the Beautiful Challenge offers an opportunity to support local efforts led by those who know, love, and have a stake in their surrounding landscapes, Interior Secretary Deb Haaland said, as reported by HuffPost.

According to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, a private nonprofit that will oversee the America the Beautiful Challenge, projects that prioritize uplifting Indigenous-led projects are encouraged, and there will be funding set aside specifically for projects led by Indigenous communities and tribes.

Projects should also meet at least one core area of need, which include 1) conserving and restoring rivers, coasts, wetlands or watersheds, 2) conserving forests, grasslands and other carbon sinks, 3) connecting and reconnecting wildlife corridors, large landscapes, watersheds and seascapes, 4) improving resilience to climate-related threats and 5) expanding access to nature, particularly in underserved communities.

Although the effort to preserve 30% of U.S. land and water by 2030 has been considered a land grab by some opponents, one study found that 80% of registered voters, in a poll of 1,000 people, favor the plan. Most participants said the plan would be good for health, the air, wildlife and the economy.

Protecting 30% of Americas lands and waters by the end of the decade can only be accomplished through partnerships and knowledge on the ground in all 50 states, said Jennifer Rokala, executive director of Center for Western Priorities, a conservation group, as reported by HuffPost. This billion-dollar commitment shows the administration is on the right track to reaching 3030.
Deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon during the first three months of 2022 has increased by 64 percent compared to the same time period last year, Brazils National Institute for Space Research (INPE) said in a new report.

Thats a record increase in deforestation for January through March since data collection began in 2015. The report, released Friday, came the same week that the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change warned that world leaders are currently not doing enough to reduce global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.

Brazil is an example of what the UN climate report is saying when referring to governments not taking the necessary actions, Greenpeace Brazil forest campaigner Cristiane Mazzetti told CNN. We have a government that goes deliberately against the necessary steps to limit climate change.

Tropical forests like the Amazon are essential for combating the impacts of the climate crisis. A study published last month found that the world would be more than one degree hotter than it is now if all the worlds tropical forests were cut down. Further, another recent report found that protecting Indigenous lands in four forest countries including Brazil was essential for helping these countries meet their climate commitments.

However, since gaining office in 2019, right-wing Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has moved in the opposite direction. He has weakened protections for the environment and Indigenous rights, and deforestation in the country is now three times higher than it would need to be if the country wanted to meet its climate commitments under the Paris agreement.

The latest INPE findings follow two months of record deforestation in January and February, Reuters reported at the time. During the first three months of 2022, 363 square miles were cleared, according to CNN. Thats an area almost the size of Dallas, Texas and up from the 221 square miles cleared last year.

The new record is especially worrying because Brazil is currently in its rainy season, when logging is less common and farmers dont clear land with fire, Al Jazeera reported.

The fact that we are already at a record high and actually [seeing] numbers that are usually to be expected mid-year  when its drier and its actually easier to access the forest and do some damage  is indeed worrying, Federal University of Minas Gerais environmental management professor Raoni Rajao told Al Jazeera.

Most of deforestation in Brazil is driven by agriculture, as the country is the worlds leading exporter of beef and soy. Scientists are concerned that, if the deforestation continues, the forest will reach a tipping point after which it loses the ability to generate its own rain and transforms into grassland.

Even in the areas far away from the agricultural frontier, were starting to see the forest drying up and also become more prone to fires, Rajao told Al Jazeera.

The new data indicates that the country may see record deforestation in 2022 overall, AFP reported.

The report comes as Indigenous people are in the middle of a 10-day protest in the capital of Brasilia against new legislation proposed by Bolsonaro that would open Indigenous lands to mining and farming, Al Jazeera reported further.




Illinois, US farm groups request funding to safeguard state's livestock



Leaders from four Illinois, US commodity groups and the Illinois Farm Bureau worked to increase the Illinois State budget request by US$750,000 from the General Assembly's FY2023 budget toward the state's Department of Agriculture (IDOA).

These funds would be used to provide additional field veterinarians and proactive foreign animal disease prevention measures necessary to protect Illinois agriculture in the event of looming foreign animal disease outbreaks.

"With the recent announcement by the United States Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service confirming the presence of highly pathogenic avian influenza in a small backyard flock in Mclean County, the need for these funds is immediate," said Illinois Pork Producer Association's executive director, Jennifer Tirey. "This recent outbreak proves that a foreign animal disease does not discriminate based on the size of a livestock farm. The devastation could impact the smallest backyard hobby farms, farmers that sell their product at a farmers' market, small meat processors or our larger producers.

"We're also concerned about the potential of an African swine fever outbreak in Illinois swine herds. The impact of any of these animal disease outbreaks to Illinois agriculture would be detrimental and being underprepared would only worsen the impact."

Today, IDOA only has one field veterinarian on staff to serve the entire state of Illinois. Adding veterinarians could mean regionally-defined service areas, even allowing field staff to support vet work on specific species-related issues.

"We hope the collaborative response from our five groups will empower our request," said Tirey. "We are incredibly grateful to the legislators who stand for the best interests of Illinois agriculture and Illinois farmers."

Illinois Beef Association's executive vice president, Josh St. Peters, said: "Earlier this winter, the IDOA expressed this issue as a concern to our organisations and we are happy to see the funding secured and look forward to working with the department to protect the ag industry from potential foreign animal disease outbreaks.

"Director Costello, IDOA leadership, Senate Agriculture Committee Chair Patrick Joyce (D-Essex), Senator Scott Bennett (D-Champaign) and Senator Bill Cunningham (D-Chicago) are greatly appreciated by the Illinois ag community for their partnership."



- Illinois Soybean Association




Grain truckers in Argentina begin open-ended strike, affecting grain exports

Grain truckers in Argentina have started an open-ended strike to demand increased rates for grains and livestock transportation, which could result in grain export disruptions during a major time of the harvest, Reuters reported.

Argentina's harvesting for soy and corn has recently begun, which is important for global markets after Russia's invasion into Ukraine pushed grain prices to record highs. Argentina is the biggest soy exporter and second biggest corn exporter in the world.

The strike did not immediately affect grains exports as traders have enough inventory at ports to cover a few days of shipments.

Sector representatives met with Argentina's Transportation Ministry last week, but no new meetings have been planned.

Edgardo Aniceto, a spokesperson for transportation union FETRA, said there are no negotiations happening currently. He said the strike has no end date.

About 85% of grain volume in the country is transported from fields to ports via truck. This results in heavy truck traffic in the second quarter of the year.

The Buenos Aires grains exchange projected the current harvest yield at 42 million tonnes of soybean and 49 million tonnes of corn.

FETRA said soaring diesel prices have made it difficult to work under current conditions. Their statement comes after the government, truckers and farm groups agreed on new rates in early February this year for transporting grains.

- Reuters




EU health and environmental standards to keep agricultural imports in check

Food and agricultural products imported to the European Union may soon have to meet the bloc's health and environmental standards.

Food and agricultural products imported to the EU come primarily from Argentina, Brazil, China, Switzerland, Turkey, Indonesia, Ukraine, Ivory Coast and the United States. These countries would have to comply with the EU standards or see their trade disrupted. Cheyenne McEndaffer, the US Meat Export Federation spokesman, has expressed opposition to the EU's idea.

"Under the World Trade Organization (WTO), applying EU standards or regulations to an importing country just for the sake of applying them without very clear, defined human or animal health risks is not compliant," McEndaffer said.

"We (the US) have some of the highest animal welfare standards in the world, but that's really dictated by voluntary and commercial practices at the farm level, as well as a third party and regulatory standards at the slaughter plant level," he added.

Farmers and ranchers in the US and many European producers and exporters are expressing opposition to the EU's plans. European exporters might face retaliatory duties if the WTO finds forced EU standards are non-compliant with trade agreements.

As for the EU, the 27 European member nations have maintained a trade balance in the agriculture and food sector since 2010.

Ukraine is traditionally one of Europe's largest food and agricultural regions. Trade is currently in turmoil due to the war in Ukraine and EU sanctions against Russia for the invasion.

One example of the tension between US and EU standards involves washing chicken in chlorine and other disinfectants to remove harmful bacteria.

A standard practice in the US, the rinse was banned by the EU in 1997 over food safety concerns. The European Food Safety Authority is not concerned about chorine but the production process as possible compensation for poor hygiene standards, such as dirty or crowded abattoirs.



- Food Safety News




ASF incidence in Philippines tapering, says agriculture department





The incidence of African swine fever (ASF) in the Philippines has substantially waned after the outbreak was first detected in 2019, according to the Department of Agriculture (DA).

Data from the DA showed that, as of March 31, active cases of disease were now reported in only two regions, four provinces, seven municipalities and 20 barangays. This was a significant reduction from a high of 3,657 barangays in 678 cities and municipalities in 51 provinces recorded since 2019.

Reildrin Morales, director of the Bureau of Animal Industry, said over 500 municipalities and cities across the Philippines have not reported new cases of ASF over the "last three to six months and even longer."

Likewise, 64 municipalities received the upgrade of their status from red to pink, meaning these are cleared of the animal disease.

Separately, Philippines Agriculture Secretary William Dar said newly manufactured vaccines against ASF were undergoing testing. He did not disclose the entity that developed the ASF vaccine.

"The first result of the vaccine trials have shown encouraging results," Dar told reporters. He said the agency would recommend to the next administration the massive inoculation of affected hogs if the second part of the vaccine trial yields a positive outcome.

The government has collaborated with private companies in the past to test possible vaccines on commercial hog farms.

- Inquirer.net




Two new appointments for Trouw Nutrition Ireland





Trouw Nutrition Ireland has made two new appointments to its commercial team.

The company has announced that Laurence Kirwan has joined the company as a commercial nutritionist. Kirwan will work closely with Trouw's customer base across the south of Ireland, identifying effective nutritional solutions to meet their needs. He has significant commercial experience in animal feed and agronomy, as well as a degree in animal and crop production from University College Dublin.

Aaron Brown joined Trouw Nutrition Ireland as commercial nutritionist (calves).

The company has said that Brown will drive growth in calf-related products and support farmers across Ireland in the area of sustainable calf rearing, with a particular focus on improving early life performance through nutrition.

He has a BSc agricultural technology degree from Queen's University Belfast and is completing a PhD researching the role of housing and nutrition in dairy calves.



- Agriland
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The aim of the campaign was to raise funding and other types of support to cater for the needs of internally displaced people in Ukraine and refugees. The campaign answered a call for support launched by the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

6.5 million are internally displaced. In addition, the European Union is hosting more than 3.8 million refugees. Poland is hosting more than 2.5 million refugees and plays an important role as a humanitarian hub, dispatching support to Ukraine from all over Europe.

Stand Up For Ukraine mobilised governments, institutions, artists, companies and individuals to raise funding and other types of support.
In recent years, union carpenters have led the charge on wage theft that persists throughout the construction industry.

Dishonest contractors often get away with this illegal practice through a simple, sleight-of-hand trick: they misclassify workers as independent contractors, paying them lower wages, in cash, and failing to contribute to workplace expenses that we take for granted: Social Security, Medicare taxes, unemployment compensation and overtime rates.

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In our effort to highlight this illegal practice, we note the public pays the cost of these unpaid taxes. However, a recent study reveals an even heavier toll taxpayers must absorb and an unfair worker burden.

The UC Berkeley Center for Labor Research and Education recently found that 39% of families of construction workers are enrolled in one or more safety net programs at a cost of almost $28 billion per year. In comparison, 31% of all workers have a family member enrolled in a safety net program. Three times as many construction workers as all workers lack insurance (31% compared to 10%.)

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Cyndie Williams (CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)

These safety net programs include Adult Medicaid, Childrens Medicaid/Childrens Health Insurance Program, earned income tax credit, temporary assistance for needy families and the supplemental nutrition assistance program.

That is particularly striking  and costly to taxpayers  because of the construction industrys size and impact on the economy. The Berkeley report authors note one in 16 workers is employed in construction, accounting for $812 billion in personal income or $1 in every $23 in total national earnings in 2019.

The essence of the problem is the divided nature of the workplace. In the protected tier, you have construction workers who usually belong to a union, make a livable middle-class wage, and have access to skill-raising apprenticeship programs and basic workplace compensation practices.

Its a safety net most Americans possess to some degree. In the unprotected tier, you have workers who make barely sustainable wages, receive minimal or no training, and have no safety net if they suffer an injury or lose their job.

This raises the question: If an employer breaks wage theft laws, why not report the violator? If youre not in the situation, the solution is easy  demand workers stand up and say, This is unfair.

The reality though is that exploited workers need the job to support their family. They fear exposing these illegal practices because of employer retribution, a frequent, growing practice among unprotected workers throughout the United States. They have little room to maneuver economically, and like many Americans, even the middle class, are only a few paychecks away from disaster. They find themselves living paycheck to paycheck and avoid retaliation by remaining silent.

Retaliation is a persistent and urgent problem in American workplaces, said U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Chairwoman Charlotte A. Burrows. Charges alleging retaliation have increased as a percentage of the total number of charges filed with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission every year for the last 20 years.

While wage theft costs American taxpayers and unprotected construction workers, another group bears a burden: legitimate contractors. These business owners will fail to win a bid for a project because of a lowball quote by a contractor skirting the rules.

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Because material costs are relatively similar, the low bidder shaves off the bid price at his most pliable expense: the exploited worker. Contractors who play by the rules and exhibit the best qualities of fairness in the construction market fall prey to a system that allows their disreputable counterparts to flourish.

The way to combat wage theft and retaliation and help shift construction workers from safety net programs is to ensure they receive legitimate wages and allied work protection benefits. According to a National Employment Law Project study, only five states  Arizona, California, Florida, New York and Oregon  have theft-related retaliation protection laws.

We urge legislators to implement and enforce wage and protection laws for all construction workers. With this framework, these exploited workers, legitimate contractors, and the taxpaying public will finally coexist on an equal playing field.

Cyndie Williams is the executive director of the Carpenter Contractor Trust.
Forty-five percent of Catalans believe that the solution to the dispute over Catalonia's political relationship to Spain requires dialogue and negotiation "without limits" - in particular, the limits of the Spanish Constitution. This is stated in the Survey on Polarization in Spain, carried out jointly by the International Catalan Institute for Peace (ICIP) and the business school ESADE, which shows that the option of dialogue without limits has the support of the largest plurality of Catalans - far more than the 12% preferring a unilateral approach and the 25% supporting the Spanish government's current line, limiting any negotiations to the Constitution. The option of unlimited dialogue on Catalonia also receives support from the largest group of Basques, but in the areas surveyed in the rest of the Spanish state (Andalusia, Extremadura, Galicia, Madrid and Valencian Country), the most popular option was by a wide margin to limit negotiation to the current terms of the Constitution - with support from between 43% and 48% of respondents, according to the autonomous community. The second preferred option in the rest of Spain is for the central government to impose its will on Catalonia via a "strong hand", which reaches 30% support in Extremadura.

When asked about the desired form of territorial organization, Catalans surveyed prefer either self-determination (45%) or greater self-government (22%), over those who prefer to leave the situation as at present (10%), reduce Catalan autonomy (6%) or completely eliminate autonomous communities (9%). Once again, the pattern in Catalonia and the Basque Country is very different to the rest of Spain, where the five communities surveyed mostly choose to leave things as they are (24% on average). The abolition of the autonomous communities reaches 19% support for the state as a whole, a reduction of their powers is desired by 18%, while an increase in their powers is sought by 20%.

The poll - conducted through interviews with 7,189 Spanish residents aged 15 or over between October 22nd and November 12th, 2021 - also puts on the table the transition from Francoism to the current democratic regime. For 45.5% of Catalans, the way this transition was carried out is not a "reason for pride", a percentage that contrasts with that of the rest of the Spanish state, where they believe that it is, with percentages between 42.1% and 50.3% that vary according to the territory. A smaller plurality of Catalans are proud of the transition: a total of 19.8%. Again, the only community with attitudes close to those of Catalans in the Basque Country, where 31.6% say they are not proud of the political transition, compared to 21.6% who do take pride in it.

Coexistence among citizens

The aim of the survey was to analyze the polarization and coexistence among Spanish citizens, and the authors do not detect that there is any problem of coexistence in the state. The justification for this conclusion: despite the polarization seen among political parties and the debate on territorial organization, there is still consensus on issues such as gender equality and the perception of coexistence among the people in the places where they live. In fact, 59.7% of Catalans consider coexistence in their municipality or neighbourhood to be good or very good, and 48.2% think the same about the whole of their autonomous community. The Spanish averages for these same coexistence assessments were 68.6% and 63.6% respectively.
Lindsay Sorenson, left, and Kayla Wallace prepare doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine Saturday, Jan. 30, during the vaccination clinic at the Union City Auditorium. An error in data reported to the state health department has resulted in Franklin County's vaccination rate falling from 46.8 percent to 44.2 percent.
Emporia, VA (23847)

Today

A mix of clouds and sun this morning followed by increasing clouds with showers developing this afternoon. Thunder possible. High near 65F. Winds NW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 40%..

Tonight

Cloudy with showers. Low near 45F. Winds N at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 50%.
Ora Mixon's funeral service will be noon, May 7th, at the Round Island Creek Mission Center. Interment will be in the Thatch Mann Cemetery. Visitation was 5-6 p.m. May 6th at Royal Funeral Home in Athens.
If you missed out on your chance to score a Lucid Air Dream Edition last year, youre in luck. Lucid Motors is releasing two versions of its latest all-electric sedan, the 2022 Air Grand Touring. The Air Grand Touring and Air Grand Touring Performance are Lucids first production series after the limited run Dream Edition. Both cars offer speed and mileage that is comparable to their predecessors from 2021. The Air Grand Touring delivers 819 horsepower and can accelerate to 60 mph in three seconds flat. Its faster cousin, the Air Grand Touring Performance, promises 1050 horsepower and can go from 0-60 mph in 2.6 seconds. Both cars are powered by two miniaturized dual motors, one mounted at each axle

Both cars will easily get you from Los Angeles to San Francisco on a single charge, with some battery power to spare. The Air Grand Touring with 19-inch wheels has an EPA-estimated range of 516 miles, with 21-inch wheels its range is 469 miles. The Air Grand Touring Performance has an EPA-estimated range of 446 miles. Both are ahead of the Tesla with the longest driving range, the Model S Long Range , which has a range of 405 miles. Given Elon Musks not-so-secret derision for Lucid, this one has got to hurt.

The two all-electric sedans are packed with the type of premium features youd expect in a car that costs six figures. Both are equipped with a 34-inch floating glass cockpit and a 5K display. They include DreamDrive Pro, Lucids proprietary advanced driver assistance system that includes LIDAR. It also comes with more than 30 semi-autonomous features , including traffic sign recognition, cross-traffic alerts, parking assist and more. They include an ultra-fast 900V charging system that allows drivers to add up to 300 miles in 21 minutes if theyre at a 350 kW DC fast charger.

Customer deliveries for the Air Grand Touring, which starts at $139,000, have started today. The Grand Touring Performance has an MSRP of $179,000, and deliveries are scheduled to begin in June 2022.
The rumors were true. Less than a month after Bloomberg reported that Spotify was mulling a name change for its Clubhouse competitor Greenroom, the company has officially done just that. Starting today, the live audio offering will be known as Spotify Live. Additionally, the company is integrating the live audio inside of its main app, confirming another item in that initial report.

To start, only "select original programming" will be available from Spotify Live in the app alongside music and podcasts. You won't have to wait to check it out though as a live episode of Off the Record with DJ Akademiks will stream today. On Friday (April 15th), the company is hosting a live DJ set from Swedish House Mafia as part of the group's album release party and it will only be available as it happens. Several other events are set for April and May, so there will be ample opportunity for you to see how Spotify Live works inside the Spotify app.

Live events will be available on the artist or show page with green labels so you can easily see them. Don't worry if your favorite shows aren't originals, the standalone Spotify Greenhouse  now Spotify Live  app lives on. The company says you'll still need it if you plan to hop in the chat or join a host onstage. It's not surprising that Spotify would give its originals preference for the new integration given the extent of its investments in programming.

Spotify launched its Clubhouse rival Greenroom last June, a few months after acquiring Betty Labs, the maker of a live audio app called Locker Room. Until now, the company kept its live audio aspirations separate from its core music and podcast streaming. However, it makes a lot of sense to combine the three in one place. If nothing else, it makes things convenient for casual listeners who don't usually participate in show chats and won't be a guest. What's more, it's far more likely someone who's curious will give a Spotify Live session a try if they don't have to download a separate app to check it out.
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Hassler is the digital content coordinator for the Enid News & Eagle.

Have a question about this story? Do you see something we missed? Do you have a story idea for Violet? Send an email to violeth@enidnews.com.
ENID, Okla.  The Enid library board followed through on twin proposals banning sex- and gender-related book displays and library programs with two narrow votes at the tail end of a 2-hour meeting Monday.

The Public Library of Enid and Garfield Countys board of directors voted 3-2 in favor of the two proposals, as questions now linger on how library staff would interpret the policy changes.

As the adopted proposals read, library exhibits no longer would promote books and programs wouldnt promote topics focused on the study of sex, sexual activity, sexual perversion, sex-based classifications, sexual preferences, sexual identity, gender identity or that are of a sexual nature.

The decisions followed another contentious debate at a library board meeting between members of the public for and against book displays and programs at the library largely intended for LGBTQ+ patrons.

Board chair Joseph Fletcher said the policies reflected that sex and sexuality are private topics, but dont ban or limit access to books and materials already in the library.

Fletcher drafted the approved proposals that were considered alongside an alternate pair of policy proposals drafted by library staff.

No public institution should inundate its visitors with issues of sex and sexuality when they walk in, Fletcher said. Frankly, most people just dont want to see it, and especially in a venue so heavily used by children.

Board member Kitty Herbel, a teacher who voted against Fletchers proposals, said she was concerned about including gender identity in the policy.

If we go through with this vote, there is going to be no displays ever, Herbel said. We may really want to reconsider how we word this, or there will be no displays. And if youve been in the library without displays on the shelves, its a tad boring.

The librarys interim director said in accordance with the new exhibit policy, the library no longer would have a display marking national LGBTQ+ Pride Month each June  when policies over the librarys book displays last came before the public eye.

I certainly believe that is the intention of the new policies, interim director Theri Ray said later Monday afternoon.

The Enid librarys director or deputy director is responsible for overseeing and approving any displays, programs or meetings in accordance to the policy, which set by the board.

UPDATED: Library's Pride book display coming down after month ends, not due to anti-LGBTQ complaints ENID, Okla.  The Enid librarys display of a dozen books with LGBTQ themes will come down soon  not because of recent objections to the cont

But what else would be affected at the library is unclear, as Ray said she would have to consider other displays such as Mothers Day and Fathers Day, which are both holidays based on gender and sexual identity.

Im not 100% sure at the moment, Ray said.

Current library programs likely would be left untouched, including an 18-and-older book club on adult romance novels set to begin meeting April 21, called Shameless Book Club, and an all-inclusive teen book club called HomoSapiens United.

It is not necessarily singling out a lifestyle. Its about diversity and inclusion, Ray said about the teen club. Because the subject of the book club is not about sex or sex-based classifications or preference, my interpretation is that the book club can continue to meet.

Board members determined Monday with Enids city attorney that the adult book club and an upcoming program from the YWCA Enid on sexual assault prevention would be allowed.

The library also would still allow organizations such as the Enid LGBTQ Coalition to continue to meet in the building, as the librarys meeting policy was not changed, Ray said.

Fletcher quote No public institution should inundate its visitors with issues of sex and sexuality when they walk in." ~ Enid library board chair Joseph Fletcher

Ray said board chair Fletcher had brought both proposals to discuss at Marchs board meeting, but they were moved to Monday because they werent already on last months agenda, as per state open meeting laws.

She said the language was pulled from the initial draft of Oklahoma Senate Bill 1142, a bill making its way through the state Legislature that would ban the same stated sexual/gender content from schools and school libraries. The bill went through several amended versions to remove phrases such as sexual perversion, gender identity, etc.

During a similarly heated board meeting last July, while discussing the Pride Month display, board members had asked library staff how displays are determined and were told that they could amend library policy in the future.

Upwards of 80 people again crowded the same room Monday, to which board members moved following a vote to change locations from the smaller, nearby Red Earth Room. Several attendees, mostly children, were then asked to leave the room to accommodate fire code occupancy regulations, rather than again moving locations or rescheduling the meeting.

Fletcher and other board members said the policies werent targeting one specific group of people, but over a dozen members of the public said they, their loved ones and others in Enid would feel marginalized as members or allies of the local LGBTQ+ community.

Several attendees also pointed to a study released last week from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that 1 in 4 LGBTQ+ youth  twice the national average  reportedly attempted suicide in the first half of 2021.

Cammeron Kaiser, state director of the advocacy organization Free Mom Hugs, said she expects every book on a display at the Enid library would now use the gender-neutral they/them pronouns.

Id expect if you were to remove books that referred to gender identity, no book would show a child with a woman as a mother or a man as a father, because these are not only referring to gender identity, but sexual identity, Kaiser said. What I believe your actual intention is to erase an entire segment of the population.

Stephanie Ezzell, an Enid resident who identified herself as a bisexual woman with an LGBTQ+ child, said the librarys programs and resources help combat prejudice, stereotype and discrimination in visitors.

Youre coming for my child, and Im not OK with that, she said. Please allow my child and myself the same representation as everybody else.

Members of the community in favor of the proposals also pointed out that books with apparently sexual content werent being outright banned from shelves, but just removed from the eyes of children coming into the library.

Enid family counselor Lacy Crowell pointed to 2019 CDC data showing that STD cases among teens and young adults ages 15-24 accounted for over half of all U.S. cases, which are reaching an all-time high for a sixth year.

You are the social fabric of this society. You are not here to promote an agenda, for or against something. Therefore, it is OK to have parameters, Kristi Orr told board members. I do not believe in banning books. Im here to say that exhibits should be G-rated.

But Mary McDonald, a retired high school English teacher, argued that childrens parents, not the library, should be responsible for what media they consume. (Editors note: McDonald is also a member of the News & Eagles editorial board.)

I know youre not saying youre not banning, its not censorship  it is censorship, she said. Whats the next thing that gets censored?

Attendees such as Tyler Turpin called upon biblical scripture or Christianity as to why the books shouldnt be displayed out of fear of indoctrination.

Let them be kids. Dont try to form their minds into thinking something. Let them be kids, he said, before listing several Bible verses he said stated that homosexuality was a sin.

Fern Boyle, who home-schools her children, said teaching her children their familys conservative Christian values gets harder when they come to the library and see a display they cannot avoid.

Im just asking that this information isnt put out right front and center when we come in to the library, just like Im not gonna say please put out something promoting heterosexuality or conservative Christianity, Boyle said.

Kristin Oney, a youth pastor at First United Methodist Church, said a child unsure about their sexuality or gender identity is going to be uncomfortable asking for a book if displays are banned.

My plea as a Christian and a youth pastor is to fill the gap, where this isnt supported, she told board members. And your programming helps that. Dont take that away from them.

McDonald quote I know youre not saying youre not banning, its not censorship  it is censorship. Whats the next thing that gets censored? ~ Mary McDonald

Representatives from Oklahomas LGBTQ+ advocacy group and the states ACLU spoke out against the policies on Monday, calling them censorship harmful to the youth who visit the library.

Nicole McAfee, executive director of Freedom Oklahoma, said policies wouldnt change that LGBTQ+ people live in or visit Enid, as she does to visit her father.

Libraries did not make me queer, she said. But they were more than once a place of refuge that saved my life.

ACLU Policy Director Cindy Nguyen said the policies were adding to an increasingly negative environment for LGBTQ people in Oklahoma with the recent passages of various legislation.

It is already difficult if not impossible for young 2SLGBTQ+ people to find safety, Nguyen said. These bans are not about sports or books. It is about excluding 2SLGBTQ+ people from every single aspect of public life.

(2S stands for two-spirit, a gender, sexual and spiritual identity often associated with Indigenous people who identify as having both masculine and feminine spirits.)

Nguyen later said the legal organization is continuing to monitor the situation with the Enid library policies.

She said the ACLU of Oklahoma is also currently challenging Oklahoma House Bill 1775, which bans discussions on divisive topics that Nguyen said fall under First Amendment censorship such as gender, sexual orientation and race. That bill was signed into law last year.
EU decision-makers are increasingly worried about how to keep people fed in the months and years to come in the wake of the Russian invasion that has disrupted Ukrainian and Russian wheat and grain production. Wheat production has been massively disrupted due to the blockage of the Black Sea, EU Commissioner for Agriculture Janusz Wojciechowski said during an EU agriculture ministers meeting on Thursday (7 April). The commissioner also called for increased support for Ukraine and other developing and emerging economies around the globe  especially in Africa. One of the issues discussed during the meeting was how to get EU production up to fill the gap of lost exports from the agricultural powerhouse Ukraine. EU grain exports could be 30% higher [this year], and imports 42% lower, Wojciechowski said. 2022 may be very good.

But Ukrainian and Russian wheat exports make up 30% of the worlds supply, and exports through ports on the Black Sea have come to a standstill, causing wheat prices to jump 150%. Prices have soared for wheat, vegetable oil, corn, grains, threatening food shortages and hunger crises. World food prices hit an all-time high in March following Russias invasion of Ukraine and subsequent international sanctions imposed on Russia, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said on Friday (8 April), spurring fears of a global hunger crisis, especially across the Middle East and Africa, where the knock-on effects are already playing out. Ukrainian ports have been blocked by a Russian blockade and there is concern about this years harvest as the war rages on during the sowing season. The United Nations agency said its Food Price Index, which tracks monthly changes in international prices for a basket of commodities, averaged 159.3 points last month, up 12.6% from February, the highest level since its inception in 1990.

Soaring food prices and disruption to supplies coming from Russia and Ukraine have threatened food shortages in countries in the Middle East, Africa and parts of Asia where many people already were not getting enough to eat. Those nations rely on affordable supplies of wheat and other grains from the Black Sea region to feed millions of people who subsist on subsidized bread and bargain noodles, and they now face the possibility of further political instability. In the Sahel region of Central and West Africa, the disruptions from the war have further aggravated an already precarious food situation caused by Covid-19 pandemic, conflicts, poor weather and other structural problems. The World Food Program has appealed for $777m to meet the needs of 22 million people in the Sahel region and Nigeria over six months.

Last month, the European Commission adopted special support measures worth 500m to be sent to Ukrainian and European farmers directly affected by high prices or which have been shut off from global markets. The EU also promised Wednesday (6 April) 554m in 2022, targeted at increasing food security in the region. And the EU commissioner for agriculture has said that similar plans are needed for sub-Saharan Africa, although no details of the plan were given. To increase EU production even further, French Minister for Agriculture Julien Denormandie said the EU needed to have production targets to boost agricultural output and make sure everyone in Europe is fed. Others, however, highlighted that other regions are much more at risk, especially countries in Africa. Africa deserves special care, Wojciechowski said. Many African countries, including Benin, Egypt, Sudan, Madagascar, and Burundi, are almost entirely, or in some cases exclusively, dependent on Ukrainian grain.
The question is no longer whether France will remain militarily involved in Mali, since the constant deterioration of its relationship with the Malian authorities has forced it to leave the country. The question now is whether and how it will be able to remain involved in the Sahel.

ACCUMULATING POLITICAL TENSIONS  The withdrawal became inevitable in light of Malis desperate and unreasonable efforts to decouple French military intervention from both the political context and the diplomatic relationship. In this regard, it is important to remember that although tensions between the French and Malian authorities reached their peak following the second coup detat in May 2021, political differences have in fact continuously accumulated since the beginning of the crisis. Those divisions were initially based on the issue of northern Mali (when the French military did not allow the Malian army to enter the city of Kidal), and later on the implementation of the 2015 Agreement for Peace and Reconciliation by the Malian Government. Major disagreements then focused on the question of opening talks with the leaders of the Al Qaida affiliate JNIM, Iyad Ag Ghali and Amadou Kouffa. The holding of elections in February 2022, in accordance with the commitments made by the new Malian civil-military authorities towards ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States) has been an additional source of tension. Finally, the diplomatic crisis culminated with the alleged arrival of the private military company Wagner as part of the renewed partnership between Mali and Russia. In fact, a profound divergence of strategic perspectives has gradually emerged between the solutions favored by successive Malian leaders on the one hand and by the French authorities on the other.

A DETERIORATED SECURITY SITUATION  These major disagreements, coupled with failure of the the Barkhane Force  the anti-insurgent operation led by the French military against Islamist groups in the region  to convert its tactical successes into a strategic victory, have laid bare the inability of France  and of other Sahelian and international actors  to stem the inexorable deterioration in the security situation in the Sahel. As France has decided to focus primarily on fighting terrorism, its interventions have consequently had a limited impact on the global security context of the Sahel region, which in addition to jihadi insurrections is also deeply destabilized by other equally devastating dynamics that are expected to worsen. These include the proliferation of militias and self-defense groups; the exacerbation of tensions between certain communities; the proliferation of criminal actors; and of course, the deep governance crisis, with two coups in Mali, one in Chad, and most recently one in Burkina Faso in January as only some of the most visible symptoms. This governance crisis is now paralyzing the G5/Sahel. Initially strongly supported by France, this organization now has three out of its five member states governed by military juntas allied to civilians and has proven unable to mobilize sufficient funds to support its Joint Force.

The military withdrawal of France through the departure from Mali of the Barkhane Force and its European partners engaged under its command in the Takuba Task Force will clearly leave a security void, which will weigh on the future of MINUSMA and particularly on its mission to protect civilians. The premature departure of French and European forces will also weaken the tri-border region: the closure of the military bases in Gao, Gossi and Menaka will be a serious matter of concern, especially for Niger. This departure may also have consequences on the increasing influence of the Cadre Strategique Permanent (CSP), which organizes relations between the signatory armed groups of the 2015 Peace Agreement, under the cautious or even unfavorable eye of Bamako. Since March 2022, fierce fighting has seen the CSP  and particularly the MSA-D and the GATIA armed groups  pitted against ISGS (Islamic State in Great Sahara) combatants around the Mali-Niger border, with horrific human abuses perpetrated in Tamalat and Inchinanane.

More broadly, the evolution of the situation in Mali will depend on the following three essential parameters: First, the results achieved by the offensive undertaken by the FAMA (Malian Armed Forces) with the support of their Russian allies (whose ability to show more convincing operational performance than that of other external partners is yet to be demonstrated) whilst international CSOs accumulate charges of massive human rights violations and abuses in central Mali; second, the outcomes of the violent clashes between jihadist groups JNIM and EIGS, which have been fighting one another since 2020; finally, the future of negotiations with jihadi leaders.

FRANCE STILL AIMS AT MAINTAINING A PRESENCE IN THE SAHEL  Although strategic disengagement from Mali has become inevitable, France nevertheless affirms its determination to remain deeply invested in the Sahel, albeit with a lighter footprint. According to French officials, the French military presence in the Sahel as well as in West African coastal countries should be more focused from now on air support, reassurance and intelligence, with as light a footprint as possible. Nevertheless, the scope for maneuverer available to France  and its European partners willing to follow it  to redeploy elsewhere in the Sahel or in the West African region appears to be as small as it is fragile. A redeployment in Niger represents a considerable political risk for President Mohamed Bazoum. A reorganization of the French military presence in Burkina Faso will again raise the question of the untenable inconsistency of Frances diplomatic posture, which endorses the military regime in Chad, while condemning in an ever more virulent way the illegitimacy of the Malian leaders who also emerged from a coup detat. Moreover, the tradition of independence, if not of firm reticence, affirmed by the successive Burkinabe authorities regarding external military assistance will certainly be a brake. Moreover, the leaders of Niger and Burkina Faso have both indicated their willingness to enter in dialogue with some jihadi groups, an option still rejected by France. The increased mobilization of French forces in Senegal and Cote dIvoire may seem logical in a context of worsening security in countries bordering the Gulf of Guinea. However, such an option could also come up with the violent expressions of a rejection of France, as was the case in Cote dIvoire in the 2000s.

LEARNING FROM PAST MISTAKES  In fact, for such a redeployment to be more successful than the Barkhane and Takuba operations, France and its partners will have to draw sincere lessons from their previous nine-year engagement in Mali by seriously considering the four following revenges it has tended to overlook. First is the Revenge of Contexts that shows how the implementation of standardized approaches and imported models in the security, development and social engineering fields has been overwhelmed by the complexity of the formal and informal power relations that structure the Sahelian security environment. Frances mistakes in the Sahel are undeniably due to a lack of knowledge and understanding of the societal, social and anthropological dynamics that characterize the region.

Secondly, the Revenge of Politics. Frances handling of the crisis was essentially treated as an operational issue, largely embodied in the war on terror, thus reducing the enemy to its mode of action and denying it the status of a political actor. No clear political vision was consequently opposed to the conceptions of the state, society and morality promoted by jihadist groups. Moreover, French leaders seem to have underestimated the ability of their Sahelian partners to amplify dissenting voices not systematically aligned with Frances principled positions. Finally, this revenge of politics has manifested itself via the eruption on the Sahelian stage of the military as a fundamentally political actor: the coups in Mali, Chad and Burkina Faso have shown that the military can no longer be seen as an essentially apolitical actor, as postulated by the classical approach of civil-military relations underpinning the French (and international) conceptions of cooperation and intervention in the field of defense.

Thirdly, the Revenge of Geopolitics. France has managed to anticipate the arrival of Russia in Mali and warn about the dangers of such an alliance, which has become even more perilous since the Russian aggression against Ukraine and the massacres against civilians that accompany it. Nevertheless, all the Sahelian countries, and more broadly those of West Africa, are very openly demonstrating their desire to diversify their international partnerships: consequently, a crucial issue for France will be to impose its presence among international actors perceived not as allies or mere competitors but rather as adversaries or as enemies. In this regard, the growing rapprochement between Niger (the pillar of Frances redeployment in the Sahel) and Turkey (one of the countries that France has been confronting in other theaters in the last past years) invites French authorities to rethink their presence and cooperation in a regional environment invested by powers that it considers as competitors or even adversaries in global geopolitics.

Finally, the Revenge of Public Opinion. An increasingly essential parameter of the Sahelian strategic environment, long underestimated or even ignored by the French authorities but proving to be decisive for Frances continued commitment in the region, is public opinion in the Sahel itself  namely the hostility that Sahelian public opinion is showing against Frances African policy. Even if some Sahelian and West African leaders continue to call for support, the French military presence is increasingly seen as a risk or an unnecessary burden by local populations, as opposed to a guarantee of security. Even if a growing number of activist movements is undoubtedly stirring up anti-French feelings, it would be a mistake to regard the animosity of the populations against French foreign policy in the Sahel as essentially manipulated by nationalist political authorities or by external powers such as Russia. It is indeed important to realize that Sahelian populations now oscillate between democratic disillusionment and security exasperation: such a deep anger can easily degenerate into spontaneous and unpredictable explosions, likely to hinder and endanger both the withdrawal of French from Mali but also its future deployments in other countries.

What Went Wrong in Mali? The Future of Frances Presence in the Sahel  Commentary by Niagale Bagayoko  Italian Institute for International Political Studies / ISPI.

(The Commentary can be downloaded here:

https://www.ispionline.it/en/pubblicazione/what-went-wrong-mali-future-frances-presence-sahel-34515)
New Book by Renowned Silicon Valley Lawyer Packs Punches on How to Protect Yourself in Negotiations

Palo Alto, CAWhat does it mean to negotiate like a CEO? How important are employment agreements? How can you learn to protect yourself and your family if the worst does happen? These are all questions that Jotham S. Stein addresses in his book Negotiate Like a CEO, with the goal of equipping individuals with the tools they need to safeguard themselves in business and employment.

A lively, engaging read, Negotiate Like a CEO outlines how employees, executives, and entrepreneurs have protected themselves in the past, and gives readers eye-opening advice on how to make sure they won't get taken advantage of. The book describes best practices, common pitfalls, and sky's-the-limit possibilities at any career stage, whether you're just out of college or you're gunning for that C-suite job.

"Jotham has helped me throughout my career, from setting up strong employment agreements to securing stock compensation to protecting the management team during the sale of my company. Jotham is a guy you want in your corner. His book should be required reading for anyone who thinks 'this could never happen to me'." Andy Cohen, founder and former CEO, Caring.com

"I wrote this book to help the people out there who have no idea how to help themselves in their employment relationships," says Stein. "Too many just don't know how or are too afraid to ask."

A graduate of Stanford Law School and Princeton University, Stein has more than two decades of experience in executive law, representing individuals from all walks of life, including entrepreneurs, C-suite executives, and less senior employees of all size companies. In his career he has negotiated robust employment agreements, separation agreements, M & A agreements, change in control agreements, stock option agreements, restricted stock agreements, management carve out agreements, non-compete agreements, and much more.

"As a hi-tech Silicon Valley attorney Stein is brutally honest in assessing a situation and advising his clients. In Negotiate Like a CEO you'll learn to be aware, to recognize potential employment pitfalls, and how to protect yourself. You'll also learn that you may have more leverage than you might think, either now or as you advance in your career." Grady Harp, Amazon Top 100 Hall of Fame Reviewer

Negotiate Like a CEO isn't afraid to get into the weeds about what you need to do to help your career. Stein peppers each chapter with captivating stories of employees who have found themselves in tight situations with their employerstories that many readers will find familiar. He follows each example with insider insights on how to navigate the situation and save yourself from heartache.

"As a CEO and multi-time Silicon Valley executive, I was very fortunate to learn from Jotham early in my career the great importance of the protective employment offer letter. Employment law is very complex and with this book you can learn from the best." Bonnie Crater, co-founder and CEO, Full Circle Insights; former SVP salesforce.com; former SVP Genesys; former VP Oracle; former VP Netscape

This book isn't just for top executives but is for anyone at any stage of their career. It's never too early or too late to start learning what to look out for, how to negotiate a better deal, and, most importantly, how to protect yourself.

"It is imperative to protect yourself in business and employment," says Stein. "It's essential to understand the dynamics at play in any work situation and how best to use them to protect yourself, your family, and your friends."

Watch the Negotiate Like a CEO book trailer at https://bit.ly/NegotiateLikeaCEOtrailer





About: Jotham S. Stein is the principal of the Law Offices of Jotham S. Stein P.C. He has more than two decades of experience representing entrepreneurs and C-Suite executives, board members, venture capitalists, private equity principals, and investment bankers as well as less senior employees of all size companies.

Stein is a graduate of Stanford Law School and Princeton University. He is admitted to practice in California, Illinois, New York, Colorado, and the District of Columbia as well as the United States Supreme Court, and several United States Courts of Appeals and United States District Courts. He is also a member of multiple bar associations, including the American Bar Association.

Stein is the author of Executive Employment Law: Protecting Executives, Entrepreneurs and Employees, a how-to guide for practitioners.

Stein's new book, Negotiate Like a CEO, is an enthralling look at how top entrepreneurs and executives protect themselves and how you can too. You can find out more about Jotham Stein at NegotiateLikeaCEO.net

Negotiate Like a CEO, ASIN: B09TG125BQ, Published by Political Animal Press Feb. 24, 2022, 294 pages, available on Kindle and paperback on Amazon.

Media Contact: For a review copy of Negotiate Like a CEO or to arrange an interview with Jotham S. Stein, contact Scott Lorenz of Westwind Communications Book Marketing at scottlorenz@westwindcos.com or by phone at 248-705-2214. Reach Lorenz on twitter @abookpublicist
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Jasper, IndianaKevin Schewe won the BEST SCREENWRITER IN A FEATURE FILM award for Bad Love Tigers at the Onyko Film Awards in Ukraine.

"With everything going on with the war in Ukraine, it is quite humbling to be honored with an award from that country. My prayers and hopes are with the Ukrainian people. I love their motto: 'Miracles Around,'" said Schewe.

The main mission at the Onyko Film Awards is to prove that everything is possible, and their motto is: "Miracles Around." OFA provides free entry fee for films that raise issues refugees and asylum seekers, returnees, stateless people and internally displaced persons and other vulnerable groups.

See and Hear Kevin Schewe's Instagram Post at



https://www.instagram.com/tv/Cb3HlE3jYbG/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Kevin L. Schewe, MD (@realkevinschewe)

Bad Love Tigers has now won 21 awards including two screenplay awards at the Golden Wings International Film Awards, BEST THRILLER FEATURE SCREENPLAY and BEST SCREENPLAY OF THE MONTH, Best Feature Screenplay at the Sea of Art International Film Festival in Plock, Poland, Best Feature Screenwriting at the NYCinternational Film Festival, Best Feature Screenwriting at the Medusa Film Festival, Special Achievement Award at World Film Carnival-Singapore, Best Sci-Fi Screenplay at the Open Window International Film Challenge in India, Best Plot Award at the Beyond Earth Film Festival, Best Sci-Fi Feature Screenplay at the Karukrit International Film Festival in India, Best Script for Feature Film at the San Antonio Independent Film Festival in Ecuador, South America, Best Feature Film Screenplay at the Five Continents International Film Festival, Best Original Screenplay at the Naples Film Awards, Best Feature Script at the Cineville Calcutta Global Cinefest in India, Best Feature Screenplay at the Mumbai International Film Festival, Best Feature Screenplay and Best-Sci-Fi Screenplay at the Oniros Film Awards in New York City, Best Sci-Fi Screenplay at the New York International Film Awards, Best Feature Screenplay in London at the BIFF International Film Festival, Best Original Screenplay at the Rome International Movie Awards and Best Feature Screenplay Honorable Mention at the Florence Film Awards.

Bad Love Tigers, book two of twelve planned in the best-selling Bad Love Book Series, is about a dynamic group of young adventurers, known as the Bad Love Gang, who use a time machine to travel back to the World War II era, meet with President Roosevelt and embark on a perilous secret mission to protect an alien spaceship and defeat the Japanese in combat. Keeping America's deepest secret safe at Area-51 hinges on the success of their quest. The Bad Love Tigers Screenplay was just released to the international screenplay circuit at the end of February 2022 and has already won 21 International Awards. It is a feel good, action-adventure, sci-fi blend of Stand by Me meets Raiders of the Lost Ark or Back to the Future meets Goonies. The strong international interest and accolades that it is generating shows its blockbuster potential to attract a global audience of all ages to the big screen.

Schewe's screenplay adapted from the first book, Bad Love Strikes, has won 14 International Awards at prestigious film festivals all over the world. In Bad Love Strikes, the Gang of teens from Oak Ridge, Tennessee, accidently discovers The White Hole Project, a WWII era time machine created by Albert Einstein at the request of President Franklin Roosevelt in case the atomic bomb Manhattan Project failed. They learn how to use the White Hole Project and then design a time-travel mission back to WWII, Nazi-controlled Poland to save a group of Holocaust victims from certain death. The accurate history and edge-of-your-seat action has you rooting for this unlikely gang of misfit teenagers turned heroes!

Bad Love Strikes screenplay awards:



Best Sci-Fi Screenplay at the Los Angeles Film Awards; Hollywood Weekly Magazine Film Festival  Best Screenplay; Best Script at the Rotterdam Independent Film Festival; Best Script in a Feature Film at the Hollywood International Golden Age Film Festival; New York Tri-State Film Festival  Best Sci-Fi Screenplay; Florida Shorts Film Festival  Best Unproduced Script; Tokyo's Genre Celebration Festival  Best Feature Screenplay; Madrid Arthouse Film Festival  Best Unproduced Feature Script; Madrid International Short Film Festival  Best Script; the Seoul International Short Film Festival in Korea  Best Script; and in Munich, Germany at the New Wave Short Film Festival, where it was chosen as a Special Jury Screenplay Selection. It also garnered a Prix Royal Paris Silver Screenplay Award; the South Florida International Film Festival for Best Original Screenplay for Young Adults, and a Gold Script Writing Award for Sci-Fi Adventure from the Depth of Field International Film Festival. Bad Love Strikes screenplay has also finished as a Finalist and Semi-Finalist at 23 other international film festivals.

The recently published fourth installment in the Bad Love Book series, Bad Love Medicine, has just garnered its fourth book award and is available on Amazon's Audible. The popular series, which is time travel sci-fi mixed with science fact and accurate history is now available in hardcover, paperback, e-book, and Audible formats.

Watch the book trailer for Bad Love Tigers at https://bit.ly/BadLoveTigers_Trailer





Each of the Bad Love series audio books are narrated by Alan Carlson, an award-winning narrator with credits in non-fiction, academic, romance fiction and many other categories. You can purchase the audio book at Amazon's Audible.

The entire four book set is available on Amazon at https://www.amazon.com/Bad-Love-Collection-Sci-Fi-Adventure-ebook/dp/B09LPPDBMM/ or www.jancarolpublishing.com.

"If history was taught this way in school, everyone would be a scholar and educating ourselves not only about our accomplishments but the horrors of the past that should awaken and give insight to the path of a better future. A rare gem!" David Holladay, MD, 5-Stars

Watch the book trailer from Bad Love Strikes at https://bit.ly/BadLoveStrikes-Trailer





About Kevin Schewe: Kevin L. Schewe, MD, FACRO, is a board-certified cancer specialist who has been in the private practice of radiation oncology for over 34 years. He is an entrepreneur, having founded Elite Therapeutics and Bad Love Cosmetics Company, LLC.
WASHINGTON  The United States and its allies are pushing ahead with sanctions aimed at forcing Vladimir Putin to spend Russias money propping up its economy rather than sustaining its war machine for the fight in Ukraine, a top Treasury Department official said Tuesday.

Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo, one of the main U.S. coordinators on the Russian sanctions strategy, said in an interview with The Associated Press that the goal is to make Russia less able to project power in the future.

On the same day that inflation notched its steepest increase in decades, Adeyemo said reducing supply chain backlogs and managing the pandemic are key to bringing down soaring prices that he related to the ongoing land war in Ukraine, which has contributed to rising energy costs.

Adeyemo discussed the next steps the U.S. and its allies will take to inflict financial pain on Russia  and the complications the war has on rising costs to Americans back home.

Adeyemo said the U.S. and its allies will next target the supply chains that contribute to the construction of Russias war machine, which includes everything from looking at ways to go after the military devices that have been built to use not only in Ukraine, but to project power elsewhere.

KEY DEVELOPMENTS IN THE RUSSIA-UKRAINE WAR:

 Ukraine probes claim poisonous substance dropped in Mariupol

 A look at Russias military objectives and challenges it faces

 Its not the end: The children who survived Buchas horror

 Russian war worsens fertilizer crunch, risking food supplies

 Czechs provide free shooting training for local Ukrainians

 Go to https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine for more coverage

___

OTHER DEVELOPMENTS:

KYIV, Ukraine  More than 720 people have been killed in Bucha and other Kyiv suburbs that were occupied by Russian troops and more than 200 are considered missing, the Interior Ministry said early Wednesday.

In Bucha alone, Mayor Anatoliy Fedoruk said 403 bodies had been found and the toll could rise as minesweepers comb the area.

Ukraines prosecutor-generals office said Tuesday it was also looking into events in the Brovary district, which lies to the northeast.

Authorities said the bodies of six civilians were found with gunshot wounds in a basement in the village of Shevchenkove and Russian forces are believed to be responsible.

Vladimir Putin vowed Tuesday that Russias bloody offensive in Ukraine would continue until its goals are fulfilled and insisted the campaign was going as planned, despite a major withdrawal in the face of stiff Ukrainian opposition and significant losses.



WASHINGTON  The Biden administration is preparing yet another, more diverse, package of military support possibly totaling $750 million to be announced in coming days, a senior U.S. defense official said Tuesday.

The official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss plans not yet publicly announced.

The additional aid is a sign that the administration intends to continue expanding its support for Ukraines war effort.

Delivery is due to be completed this week of $800 million in military assistance approved by President Joe Biden just one month ago.

 reported by Associated Press writer Robert Burns.



KYIV, Ukraine  Ukrainian officials say fugitive Ukrainian oligarch Viktor Medvedchuk, who is both the former leader of a pro-Russian opposition party and a close associate of Russian leader Vladimir Putin, has been detained in a special operation carried out by the countrys SBU secret service.

In his nightly video address to the nation Tuesday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy proposed that Russia could win Medvedchuks freedom by trading Ukrainians now held in Russian prisons.

Ivan Bakanov, the head of Ukraines national security agency, said on the agencys Telegram channel that Medvedchuk had been detained.

The statement came shortly after Zelenskyy posted on social media a photo of Medvedchuk sitting in handcuffs and wearing a camouflage uniform with a Ukrainian flag patch.

Medvedchuk was the former leader of the pro-Russian party Opposition Platform - For Life. He was being held under house arrest before the war began and disappeared shortly after hostilities broke out.

Putin is the godfather to Medvedchuks youngest daughter.



KYIV, Ukraine  Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy appealed to the world Tuesday to respond to Russias use of a poisonous substance in Mariupol.

Given the repeated threats by Russian propagandists to use chemical weapons against the Mariupol defenders and given the repeated use by the Russian army, for example, of phosphorus munitions in Ukraine, the world must react now, Zelenskyy said in his nightly video address to the nation Tuesday.

Phosphorus munitions cause horrendous burns but are not classed as chemical weapons.

Zelenskyy said experts were still trying to determine what had been used in Mariupol.

Zelenskyy said in addition to the killings in Bucha, more evidence was appearing of the inhuman cruelty of Russian soldiers toward women and children in other Kyiv suburbs and other towns in the north and east.

__

DES MOINES, Iowa President Joe Biden on Tuesday said that Russias war in Ukraine amounted to a genocide, accusing President Vladimir Putin of trying to wipe out the idea of even being a Ukrainian.

Speaking in Iowa shortly before boarding Air Force One to return to Washington, Biden said he meant it when he said at an earlier event that Putin was carrying out a genocide against Ukraine.

Yes, I called it genocide, he told reporters. Its become clearer and clearer that Putin is just trying to wipe out the idea of even being a Ukrainian.

Biden added that it would be up to lawyers to decide if Russias conduct met the international standard for genocide, but said it sure seems that way to me.

More evidence is coming out literally of the horrible things that the Russians have done in Ukraine and were only going to learn more and more about the devastation and let the lawyers decide internationally whether or not it qualifies, Biden said.

Biden had previously said he did not believe Russias actions amounted to genocide, just that they constituted war crimes.

__

MENLO, Iowa  President Joe Biden for the first time referred to Russias invasion in Ukraine as a genocide Tuesday.

Speaking in Iowa at an event about steps his administration is taking to staunch rising fuel costs because of the war, Biden termed the conflict, which has seen Russia carry out atrocities against Ukrainian civilians, as a genocide.

Said Biden: Your family budget, your ability to fill up your tank, none of it should hinge on whether a dictator declares war and commits genocide a half a world away.

Biden has previously stated that he did not believe Russias actions amounted to genocide, as Ukrainian government officials have argued, but rather were war crimes.



WASHINGTON  Members of the U.S. Congress said the Biden administration and its allies will not stand by if chemical weapons were used in the Russian war with Ukraine.

Lawmakers monitoring developments during a trip to Poland said Tuesday that the U.S. is investigating reports that a poisonous substance had been dropped in Mariupol. But they cautioned that determining the nature of the attack in the beleaguered port city could take time.

Were taking those reports seriously and I know the United States government and others are trying to determine if that did indeed occur, said Rep. Jason Crow, D-Colo.

Crow said the administration has been very clear that the use of chemical weapons will not be tolerated.

The Democratic lawmakers, all members of the House Intelligence Committee, are bracing for a potential long war in Ukraine. They said at a press briefing that Congress is looking at next steps in sending additional military and other aid to Ukraine.

In Washington, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken also addressed the reports coming from Mariupol.

Were not in a position to confirm anything, I dont think Ukrainians are either, Blinken told reporters. But let me say that we had credible information that Russian forces may use a variety of riot control agents, including tear gas mixed with chemical agents, that would cause stronger symptoms to weaken, incapacitate ... Ukrainian fighters and civilians, as part of the aggressive campaign in Mariupol.

We share that information with ... Ukraine and other partners, Blinken said. And were in direct conversation with partners to try to determine what what actually is happening.

___

THE HAGUE, Netherlands  The global chemical weapons watchdog says it is concerned by the recent unconfirmed report of chemical weapons use in Mariupol and is closely monitoring the situation in Ukraine.

The spokesperson for the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons says in a statement that the allegations follow reports in the media over the past few weeks of shelling targeted at chemical plants located in Ukraine, together with accusations levelled by both sides around possible misuse of toxic chemicals.

The spokesperson said in Tuesdays statement that the use of chemical weapons anywhere by anyone under any circumstances is reprehensible and wholly contrary to the legal norms established by the international community against such use.

Both Russia and Ukraine are among the organizations 193 member states.

The Nobel Peace Prize-winning organization says that it remains ready to assist any State Party upon its request, in case of use or threat of use of chemical weapons.

___

WARSAW, Poland  Germanys president has called on Russias leader Vladimir Putin to pull out his troops from Ukraine and stop the barbarity there as he stressed that Germany will not restore its previous ties with Russia as long as Putin is in power.

Frank-Walter Steinmeier visited Warsaw on Tuesday to talk with Polands President Andrzej Duda about supporting Ukraines fight and aiding millions of refugees fleeing the war.

This barbarity which we see every day must stop, Steinmeier said at joint news conference.

This can only happen by President Putin ordering his army to stop and I believe that only then (armistice) talks can be successful, Steinmeier said.

One thing is clear: a return to normal is not possible with Russia under Putin, Steinmeier said, adding that war crimes in Ukraine must be investigated and those who committed them and those who are politically responsible must be held accountable.

Steinmeier last week admitted mistakes in policy toward Russia in his previous high-ranking jobs, when Germany pursued dialogue with Putin and cultivated close energy ties.

Steinmeier served as ex-Chancellors Gerhard Schroeders chief of staff and Angela Merkels foreign minister. Schroeder is now head of the board of directors of Russias state oil giant Rosneft.

___

VIENNA  Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer pledged continued political and humanitarian support for Ukraine in a phone conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Tuesday, Nehammer said in a statement.

The call came a day after Nehammer became the first European leader to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow.

Its important to me to immediately inform all key proponents in this conflict about my talks, Nehammer said, according to the statement released Tuesday evening by the Austrian chancellery.

Nehammer said he recounted his meeting in Moscow to Zelenskyy, telling the Ukrainian leader about the most important messages he relayed to Putin.

Among those messages are that the war needs to stop, that those responsible for serious war crimes like those committed in the Ukrainian city of Bucha will be held to account, and that the European Union is as united as its ever been on maintaining its sanctions against Russia.

He also told Zelenskyy he believes the continuation of talks in Istanbul are an important step toward bringing an end to the violence, and that Austria will continue to support all ongoing efforts for peace.

___

KYIV, Ukraine  An adviser to Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy has paid tribute to Ukrainian troops defending the besieged south-eastern port of Mariupol but acknowledged they are running low on supplies.

Adviser Mykhailo Podolyak wrote on Twitter that for more than 1.5 months our defenders protect the city from (Russian) troops, which are 10+ times larger. Theyre fighting under the bombs for each meter of the city. They make (Russia) pay an exorbitant price.

Mariupol was a key target for Russian forces soon after the invasion began in late February. It has symbolic significance as one of the largest cities in eastern Ukraine. It is also strategically valuable as a major harbor and as part of a land corridor between territory held by Russia-backed separatists to the east and the Crimean peninsula, which Russia annexed from Ukraine in 2014.

Our soldiers remain blocked and have issues with supplies, Podolyak wrote, adding that Zelenskyy and the Ukrainian general staff are working to find a solution and help our guys. He did not give details, citing operational reasons.

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KYIV, Ukraine  The mayor of the Ukrainian town of Bucha, where corpses of civilians with bound hands and gunshot wounds to the head were found after Russian forces pulled out, says 403 bodies have been found so far and that he fears the toll will rise.

Today, at 10 a.m. we started unearthing the second mass grave, there are 56 bodies there. Plus, there are four private graves. But Id like to repeat that as of today, we have 403 bodies, Anatoliy Fedoruk told reporters in Kyiv. Taking into account that our armed forces, our minesweepers are working in the forests between villages and settlements in our territorial community, we hope that those who are missing are still alive but most probably we will find their bodies somewhere between the villages, in those forests.

Fedoruk also said 31 multi-story residential buildings had been destroyed or damaged beyond repair during the war, along with 243 private houses.

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BERLIN  Germanys president says his Polish counterpart suggested that they travel to Ukraine together with other leaders to show solidarity, but that proposed visit "apparently wasnt wanted in Kyiv.

President Frank-Walter Steinmeiers comments Tuesday, during a visit to Poland, came after German newspaper Bild quoted an unidentified Ukrainian diplomat as saying that hes not welcome in Kyiv at the moment because he had close relations with Russia in the past.

Steinmeier said Polish President Andrzej Duda had suggested that they travel to the Ukrainian capital with the presidents of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia to send a strong signal of joint European solidarity with Ukraine. He said he had been prepared to do so.

Steinmeier last week admitted mistakes in policy toward Russia in his previous job as foreign minister.

Steinmeier served twice as ex-Chancellor Angela Merkels foreign minister, most recently from 2013 to 2017, and before that as ex-Chancellor Gerhard Schroeders chief of staff. In that time, Germany pursued dialogue with Russian President Vladimir Putin and cultivated close energy ties.

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KHARKIV, Ukraine  A strike hit a what is believed to be a culinary school near the airport in Ukraines second-largest city on Tuesday, destroying the building and damaging others nearby, according to Associated Press journalists at the scene.

It wasnt clear what hit the building in Kharkiv, with witnesses describing a loud whoosh followed by an explosion. There were no immediate reports of fatalities.

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BUCHAREST, Romania  Romanias President Klaus Iohannis used a speech to his countrys delegation of Invictus Games participants on Tuesday to admonish Russian aggression in Ukraine.

The Russian Federation has been waging war against Ukraine for almost 50 days, and shocking evidence of atrocities and horrors is unimaginable day by day, Iohannis told the wounded and injured military personnel, who will compete in the 2022 Invictus Games set to begin in the Netherlands on Saturday.

You know best what destruction and loss of life and the dramas of war mean, how much families and communities are affected forever, he said.

Iohannis said that Russias acts of horrific, unjustified cruelty must be punished by the international justice system.

The Invictus Games, an international sporting event for wounded servicemen and women, was launched in London in 2014.

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KYIV, Ukraine -- Ukrainian prosecutors are expanding their war crimes investigations in northeastern suburbs of Kyiv after Russian forces withdrew.

Reports of killings of civilians have primarily focused so far on the northwestern suburbs such as Bucha, but the Prosecutor-Generals Office said Tuesday it was also looking into events in the Brovary district, which lies to the northeast.

Russian troops advanced into that area last month before retreating to focus on fighting in eastern Ukraine.

The Prosecutor-Generals Office said the bodies of six civilians had been found with gunshot wounds in a basement in the village of Shevchenkove and that Russian forces were believed to be responsible.

Prosecutors are also investigating an incident in which they allege Russian forces fired on a convoy of civilians trying to leave by car from the village of Peremoha in the Brovary district, killing four people including a 13-year-old boy. In another incident near Bucha, five people were killed, including two children, when a car was fired upon, prosecutors said.

Prosecutors did not say when they believed the incidents occurred.

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MOSCOW  President Vladimir Putin says that Russians unity will only grow stronger in the face of Western sanctions and it will be the West that will face instability.

Putin said during a visit to the Vostochny space launch facility in Russias Far East on Tuesday that the West mistakenly expected its sanctions to undermine Russias stability. He said that the Russian people always strengthen their unity in a difficult situation.

He insisted that it will be the West that will be shaken by growing instability, fueled by public dismay over galloping inflation. The Russian leader also lashed out at European leaders, describing them as Washingtons stooges and saying that they are conducting policies harmful to their nations.

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MOSCOW  President Vladimir Putin says that Russia will press on with its military action in Ukraine until its goals are fulfilled.

Putin said Tuesday that the campaign is going according to plan. He said it is not moving faster because Russia wants to minimize losses.

He said during a visit to the Vostochny space launch facility in Russias Far East that the military operation will continue until its full completion and the fulfillment of the tasks that have been set.

Putin claimed that Ukraine backtracked on proposals it made during talks with Russian negotiators in Istanbul, resulting in a deadlock in talks and leaving Moscow no other choice but to press on with its offensive.

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MOSCOW  Russian President Vladimir Putin says the Russian economy has successfully resisted new Western sanctions over Ukraine.

Speaking Tuesday on a visit to the Vostochny space launch facility in Russias Far East, Putin said that Russias economy and financial system withstood the impact of what he called the Western sanctions blitz and the ruble has recovered its losses.

Putin argued that the sanctions will backfire against the West. For example, he said that Western restrictions on fertilizer exports from Russia and ally Belarus will drive up global fertilizer prices, eventually leading to food shortages and increased migration flows.

Putin said that common sense should prevail and added that the West should come back to reason and make well-balanced decisions without losing its face. He contended that they wont be able to shut all the doors and windows.

He argued that new Western restrictions on high-tech exports will encourage Russia to move faster to develop new technologies, opening a new window of opportunities.

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BOSTON  Ukrainian officials say a planned cyberattack by Russian military hackers on the countrys power grid has been foiled.

They say the countrys computer emergency response thwarted an attack planned by hackers from Russias GRU military intelligence agency that intended to knock electrical substations offline last Friday.

The State Service of Special Communications said on its website that malware was discovered designed to destroy data on computers.

There was no immediate explanation of how the attack was defeated, though the Computer Emergency Response Team of Ukraine thanked Microsoft and the cybersecurity firm ESET in a separate bulletin. Nor was the scope immediately explained.

GRU hackers twice successfully attacked Ukraines power grid, in the winters of 2015 and 2016.

Russias use of cyberattacks against Ukrainian infrastructure has been limited compared to experts pre-war expectations. In the early hours of the war, however, an attack Ukraine blames on Russia knocked offline an important satellite communications link that also impacted tens of thousands of Europeans from France to Poland.

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BRATISLAVA, Slovakia  Slovakias government has approved increasing the number of troops in a multinational NATO battlegroup in the country from 2,100 to 3,000.

The first 800 service members have already arrived in Slovakia. The Czech Republic took charge of the battlegroup, with the United States, Germany, the Netherlands, Poland and Slovenia also contributing.

Defense Minister Jaroslav Nad says the increase in the planned troop numbers is related to Patriot air defense systems that the United States, Germany and the Netherlands are deploying in Slovakia.

The move should boost Slovakias defense capabilities after the country donated its Soviet-era S-300 air defense system to Ukraine last week.

The alliance stationed troops in the Baltic countries  Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania  and Poland after the 2014 annexation of Ukraines Crimean Peninsula by Russia. After Russia attacked Ukraine, NATO decided to boost its presence along the entire eastern flank by deploying forces in Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary and Slovakia.

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GENEVA  The World Trade Organization is predicting that trade in goods will grow much less than previously expected this year, saying prospects for the global economy have darkened since the onset of Russias war in Ukraine.

The Geneva-based WTO on Tuesday pointed to multiple uncertainties in its forecast over the next two years because Russian and Ukrainian exports of items like food, oil and fertilizers are under threat from the war. It also cited the lingering impact of the COVID-19 pandemic - notably from lockdowns in China.

Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala described a double whammy from the conflict and the coronavirus. She said the war has caused immense human suffering in the region and its effect has rippled around the world, notably in poorer countries.

The WTO said its projections for world trade take into account factors like the impact of the war, sanctions on Russia, and lower demand around the world from lower business and consumer confidence. It said world merchandise trade volume is expected to grow 3% this year, down from a forecast of 4.7% before the war began.

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MOSCOW  The Russian military says it has hit Ukrainian arsenals with long-range cruise missiles.

Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov said Tuesday that the military used air- and sea-launched missiles to destroy an ammunition depot and a reinforced hangar for warplanes at Starokostiantyniv in the Khmelnytskyi region.

Konashenkov said that another strike destroyed a Ukrainian ammunition depot in Havrylivka, near Kyiv.

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NICOSIA, Cyprus -- The head of Cyprus Orthodox Christian Church is unreservedly" condemning Russias invasion of Ukraine, saying theres no justification for Russian President Vladimir Putin to destroy a country, to raze it to kill.

Archbishop Chrysostomos II told state broadcaster CyBC Tuesday that the invasion is an unacceptable situation and that Putins actions have no logic. The archbishop said hes distraught that people are being killed and questioned whether the Russian leader is in his right mind.

The archbishop added that hed be the first to go and bless a defensive war, but the egotism, if not the stupidity of the Russian leadership knows no bounds.

Chrysostomos also questioned Putins embrace of Orthodox Christianity, including the sincerity of his travels to the site where Christians believe Jesus Christ was baptized.

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The proverb turnabout is fair play may be appropriate for the legal battle heating up between two longtime San Antonio business and romantic partners.

Constance Connie Andrews and Wai Hung Kenneth Lau had a partnership of 40-plus years with such ventures as the Golden Wok and China Rose Chinese restaurants. Their relationship went beyond business, as they lived together and introduced themselves as husband and wife even though they never married.

Those bonds were publicly severed last year when Andrews sued Lau for fraud, alleging he secretly misappropriated assets by using her share of partnership distributions to buy real estate solely in his name. She sought more than $2 million in damages.

More than seven months after that lawsuit was filed, Lau has made his own claim of fraud against Andrews.

Lau, 70, is accusing Andrews, 83, of misappropriating more than $2.8 million from bank accounts they shared as well as from accounts for their restaurants.

On ExpressNews.com: Financial falling out between owners of San Antonios Golden Wok leads to multimillion-dollar lawsuit

Last week, as part his lawsuit, Lau  who said hes authorized to manage the restaurants  obtained a temporary restraining order that prevents Andrews from withdrawing funds from five different business bank accounts.

In an affidavit requesting the order, Lau said the businesses would suffer imminent and irreparable injury if the court didnt intervene. Golden Wok Wurzbach LLC, China Rose Ltd. and two other Andrews and Lau entities also are listed as plaintiffs in the case.

Mike Sutter / Staff

If the businesses are forced to shut down or operate without use of adequate funds, goodwill that the businesses hold in the community will suffer and patrons will be lost permanently, Lau said in the document.

State District Judge Monique Diaz granted the TRO. No one appeared at the hearing for Andrews.

Efforts to reach Andrews for comment were unsuccessful. Two weeks ago, her San Antonio lawyer filed a motion to withdraw from the case, citing a conflict of interest based upon statements she had made about him and fundamental disagreements.

Ms. Andrews has promised Mr. Lau that she will promptly return the money she withdrew which led to him requesting a temporary restraining order, William Ford, Laus San Antonio lawyer, said in an email Tuesday. If the money is returned as promised, we are hopeful to arrange a meeting that will resolve this matter amicably without further court involvement.

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A hearing on turning the TRO into a temporary injunction is set for Monday.

The plan is to extend the TRO and reset the hearing to a future date to accommodate a meeting if the money is returned as promised, Ford said.

Mike Sutter / Staff

San Antonio attorney Oscar Cantu Jr. filed Andrews lawsuit in August. He died in September at the age of 58. Lau was never served with the suit.

Before his death, Cantu obtained a temporary restraining order for Andrews that prevented Lau from transferring property and closing or transferring bank accounts.

The order was obtained ex parte, meaning no one challenged the order application on Laus behalf. Lau wasnt aware of the lawsuit when contacted by the Express-News in September, a representative said at the time.

Andrews suit said Lau had fled to California. His lawsuit, though, said he is living in Bexar County.

A hearing on a preliminary injunction was scheduled for Aug. 31 but never conducted  possibly because Lau was not served with the complaint.

Mike Sutter / Staff

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Andrews opened the first Golden Wok restaurant in 1972. After struggling to operate on a shoestring budget for its first two years, according to its website, the restaurant gained in popularity.

Lau applied for a job at Golden Wok in 1974. He was raised in China and trained as a chef in Hong Kong, according to a 1985 story in Nations Restaurant News.

He became partners with Andrews in 1976, the same year they opened a second Golden Wok location. He was quickly promoted to business manager for all of the entities created from, merged with or created by the Golden Wok partners, according to Andrews lawsuit.

She designated one-half of the business to Lau and he moved in with her, Andrews complaint added.

Besides the San Antonio restaurants, Andrews and Lau have operated a casino and Chinese cafe in Deadwood, S.D. Theyve also done some investing in real estate, buying residential rental properties in San Antonio, Las Vegas-area condominiums and property in California.

pdanner@express-news.net | Twitter: @AlamoPD
Brian Boisvert-Joint Base San Antonio

As of Monday, the Joint Base San Antonio-Camp Bullis wildfire is 70 percent contained, according to JBSA officials.

The fire has burned more than 3,000 acres since Saturday, when the blaze began in a demolition training area near Camp Bullis.
NEW YORK (AP)  A gunman wearing a gas mask set off smoke grenades and fired a barrage of bullets inside a rush-hour subway train in Brooklyn, wounding at least 10 people Tuesday, authorities said. Police were trying to track down the renter of a van possibly connected to the violence.

Chief of Detectives James Essig said investigators weren't sure whether the man, identified as Frank R. James, 62, had any link to the subway attack.

Authorities were looking at the man's apparent social media posts, some of which led officials to tighten security for New York City Mayor Eric Adams. Police Commissioner Keechant Sewell called the posts concerning.

The attack transformed the morning commute into a scene of horror: a smoke-filled underground train, an onslaught of at least 33 bullets, screaming riders running through a station and bloodied people lying on the platform as others administered aid.

Jordan Javier thought the first popping sound he heard was a textbook dropping. Then there was another pop, people started moving toward the front of the car, and he realized there was smoke, he said.

Now Playing: At least five people were shot Tuesday at a New York City subway station during the mormimg rush hour. (April 12) Video: Associated Press

When the train pulled into the station, people ran out and were directed to another train across the platform. Passengers wept and prayed as they rode, Javier said.

Im just grateful to be alive, he said.

Five gunshot victims were in critical condition but expected to survive. At least a dozen people who escaped gunshot wounds were treated for smoke inhalation and other injuries.

Sewell said the attack was not being investigated as terrorism, but that she was not ruling out anything. The shooter's motive was unknown.

Sitting in the back of the train's second car, the gunman tossed two smoke grenades on the floor, pulled out a Glock 9 mm semi-automatic handgun and started firing, Essig said. A riders video shows a person raising an arm and pointing at something as five bangs sound.

Passengers in the smoke-filled car pounded on the door to an adjacent car, seeking to escape, rider Juliana Fonda, who was in that adjoining car, told the news site Gothamist. Fonda is a broadcast engineer for Gothamist's owner, public radio station WNYC.

Investigators believe the shooters gun jammed and kept him from firing more, said two law enforcement officials who werent authorized to discuss the investigation and spoke on condition of anonymity.

Essig said police found the weapon, along with extended magazines, a hatchet, detonated and undetonated smoke grenades, a black garbage can, a rolling cart, gasoline and the key to a U-Haul van.

That key led investigators to James, who has addresses in Philadelphia and Wisconsin, the detective chief said. The van was later found, unoccupied, near a subway station where investigators determined the gunman entered the train system, Essig said.

Rambling, profanity-filled YouTube videos apparently posted by James, who is Black, are replete with Black nationalist rhetoric, violent language and bigoted comments, some of them directed at other Black people. One, posted April 11, criticizes crime against Black people and says drastic action is needed to change things.

Several videos mention New York's subways, and Adams is a recurring theme.

A Feb. 20 video says the mayor and governors plan to address homelessness and safety in New York Citys subway system is doomed for failure and refers to himself as a victim of the mayors mental health program. A Jan. 25 video criticizes Adams plan to end gun violence.

The attack unnerved a city on guard about a rise in gun crimes and the ever-present threat of terrorism. It left some New Yorkers jittery about riding the nation's busiest subway system and prompted officials to increase policing at transportation hubs from Philadelphia to Connecticut.

This individual is still on the loose. This person is dangerous, Gov. Kathy Hochul, a Democrat, warned at a midday news conference.

In Menlo, Iowa, President Joe Biden praised the first responders who jumped in action, including civilians, civilians who didnt hesitate to help their fellow passengers and tried to shield them.

After people streamed out of the train, quick-thinking transit workers ushered passengers to another train across the platform for safety, transit officials said.

High school student John Butsikaris was riding that other train and initially thought the problem was mundane until the next stop, when he heard screams for medical attention and his train was evacuated.

Im definitely shook, the 15-year-old said. "Even though I didnt see what happened, Im still scared, because it was like a few feet away from me, what happened.

New York City has faced a spate of shootings and high-profile bloodshed in recent months, including on the citys subways. One of the most shocking was in January, when a woman was pushed to her death in front of a train by a stranger.

Adams, a Democrat a little over 100 days into his term, has made cracking down on crime  especially in the subways  an early focus of his administration, pledging to send more police officers into stations and platforms for regular patrols. It wasnt immediately clear whether any officers were in the station when the shootings occurred.

The mayor, who is isolating following a positive COVID-19 test on Sunday, said in a video statement that the city will not allow New Yorkers to be terrorized, even by a single individual.

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Balsamo reported from Washington. Associated Press writers Beatrice Dupuy, Karen Matthews, Julie Walker, Deepti Hajela, Michelle L. Price and David Porter in New York contributed to this report, and Michael Kunzelman contributed from College Park, Maryland.
Philadelphia became the first major U.S. city to reinstate its indoor mask mandate on Monday after reporting a sharp increase in coronavirus infections, with the city's top health official saying she wanted to forestall a potential new wave driven by an omicron subvariant.

Confirmed COVID-19 cases have risen more than 50% in 10 days, the threshold at which the citys guidelines call for people to wear masks indoors, said Dr. Cheryl Bettigole, the health commissioner. Health officials believe the recent spike is being driven by the highly transmissible BA.2 subvariant of omicron, which has spread rapidly throughout Europe and Asia, and has become dominant in the U.S. in recent weeks.

If we fail to act now, knowing that every previous wave of infections has been followed by a wave of hospitalizations, and then a wave of deaths, it will be too late for many of our residents, said Bettigole, noting about 750 Philadelphia residents died in the wintertime omicron outbreak. This is our chance to get ahead of the pandemic, to put our masks on until we have more information about the severity of this new variant.

Health inspectors will begin enforcing the mask mandate at city businesses on April 18.

Most states and cities dropped their masking requirements in February and early March following new guidelines from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that put less focus on case counts and more on hospital capacity. The CDC said at that time that with the virus in retreat, most Americans could safely take off their masks.

Philadelphia ended its indoor mask mandate March 2, and Bettigole acknowledged it was wonderful to feel that sense of normalcy again.

Confirmed cases have since risen to more than 140 per day  still a fraction of what Philadelphia saw at the height of the omicron surge  while only 46 patients are in the hospital with COVID-19. The CDC says community spread in Philadelphia remains low, a level at which the agency says that masking can be optional.

The restaurant industry pushed back against the city's reimposed mask mandate, saying workers will bear the brunt of customer anger over the new rules.

This announcement is a major blow to thousands of small businesses and other operators in the city who were hoping this spring would be the start of recovery, said Ben Fileccia, senior director of operations at the Pennsylvania Restaurant & Lodging Association.

PolicyLab at Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia said Friday that while it expects some increased transmission in the northern U.S. over the next several weeks, hospital admissions have remained low and our team advises against required masking given that hospital capacity is good.

Bettigole said requiring people to mask up will help restaurants and other businesses stay open, while a huge new wave of COVID-19 would keep customers at home. She said hospital capacity was just one factor that went into her decision to reinstate the mandate.

I sincerely wish we didnt have to do this again, Bettigole said. But I am very worried about our vulnerable neighbors and loved ones.

In New York City, Mayor Eric Adams has paused his push to unwind many of the citys virus rules as cases have risen, opting for now to keep a mask mandate for 2 to 4-year-olds in city schools and preschools. But Adams, a Democrat who has said New Yorkers should not let the pandemic run their lives, has already lifted most other mask mandates and rules requiring proof of vaccination to dine in restaurants, work out at gyms or attend shows.

Adams was asked at a virtual news conference Monday afternoon if he was considering reimposing the New York City mask mandate in light of Philadelphias decision. The mayor said he would listen to his team of medical doctors for their advice on whether to bring back any restrictions. Adams himself tested positive for COVID-19 on Sunday.

New York City is now averaging around 1,800 new cases per day, about three times higher than in early March when New York began easing rules. That does not include the many home tests that go unreported to health officials.

The latest outbreak has struck many high-profile officials in Washington, including Cabinet members and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and the governors of New Jersey and Connecticut. Some universities have reinstated mask mandates.

D.C. health officials say they have no immediate plans to change virus protocols, but they reserve the right to change course down the road.

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Rubinkam reported from northeastern Pennsylvania. Associated Press reporter Michelle L. Price in New York contributed to this story.
Little Starr County in the Rio Grande Valley has made news over the years.

During the Trump administration, environmentalists fought to protect its 2.6-acre birding sanctuary, Salineno Bird Preserve, against the former presidents pursuit of a border wall.

In 2020, the states longtime climb toward a Latino majority was best seen in U.S. Census figures showing 98 percent of Starr residents self-identified as Hispanic.

In March, Starr County got a minute of fame when Republicans celebrated a remarkable 7193 percent increase in the GOP primary turnout compared to 2018, when only 15 Republicans voted in the primary.

Over the last several tense days, Starr County made more news  becoming a test site not only for the states newest, most restrictive anti-abortion, anti-reproductive health and anti-female law, but as an opening salvo on the landmark Supreme Court ruling Roe vs Wade, the Texas case that made abortion legal.

Senate Bill 8 was signed into law in 2021 and effectively made abortion illegal in Texas after six weeks of pregnancy, when most women are unlikely to know theyre pregnant.

Just as insidiously, it allowed private citizens to file civil lawsuits against abortion providers and others that facilitate abortions.

Under SB8, a pregnant woman who receives an abortion cannot be sued. But thats an empty promise. Women remain the most affected by abortion and its laws.

Men, major drivers of anti-abortion legislation, remain the most unaffected by abortion laws, by their physical and emotional consequences and by unwanted pregnancy and the aftermath of a birth.

Men have not faced penalties for paying for an abortion, encouraging or supporting a womans right to get one, nor have they faced state-sponsored consequences for walking away from a pregnancy or an abortion.

Under the U.S. Constitution, at least for now, abortion remains legal and necessary to womens rights and reproductive rights. Polls show a U.S. majority want abortion to remain legal, too.

But it hasnt been fully legal for a long time.

Republican-led states have chipped away at Roe every legislative session and the conservative-leaning majority on the U.S. Supreme Court seems poised to overturn it, perhaps as soon as this year, or at least to allow states to in effect reverse it.

SB8 calls for civil penalties, not criminal charges such as murder, but last week Starr County charged, arrested and indicted a 26-year-old woman for causing the death of an individual by self-induced abortion in January.

When asked by news reporters, Starr officials were unable to cite the law under which the woman was charged. She was jailed under a $500,000 bond and released Saturday after posting it.

On Sunday, Starr District Attorney G. Allen Ramirez said his office would move to dismiss the charge on Monday.

Its not known whether the woman was inducing her own abortion or that of another woman.

Either way, homicide charges didnt apply, except in some sort of dystopian dream.

In reviewing applicable Texas law, it is clear that (the woman) cannot and should not be prosecuted for the allegation against her, the DAs statement read.

Many details about the case remain unknown, though the statement also said the case was brought to the attention of the sheriffs office by a hospital, whose role in providing that medical information could have violated privacy rules.

Its clear the DA and sheriffs office have much to explain and for which to be held accountable.

Anti-abortion groups dislike comparisons to Margaret Atwoods novel The Handmaids Tale, especially when they apply.

The story plays out in a terrifying place called Gilead, in what was the United States, where a post-apocalyptic environmental disaster has created worldwide infertility.

In the Hulu television series, whose fifth season will air later this year, religious fundamentalists conscript child-bearing women as state-controlled sexual servants.

Handmaidens are disconnected from power over their bodies and robbed of their babies.

Starr County may have another kind of nightmare on its hands.

Its district attorney now says it was not a criminal matter, but that doesnt go far enough in explaining its actions.

Starr County might have taken part in the final assault on Roe vs. Wade.

It deeply affected the life of one South Texas woman, and by extension so many other women whose personal medical records and lives could be exposed.

A lawsuit might be the very least Starr County can expect, and firings may be part of the consequences officials will face.

This could be the first of a nightmare of Margaret Atwood proportions.

eayala@express-news.net
Outdoor burning has been banned as part of a disaster declaration for Bexar County to protect against dangerous fire conditions.

County Judge Nelson Wolff issued the declaration Tuesday, implementing the ban through April 19, which is the next scheduled meeting for the Bexar County Commissioners Court. Anyone who violates the ban could face a fine not to exceed $1,000, officials said.

Wolff made the decision after consulting with Bexar County Fire Marshal Chris Lopez, who is the countys emergency management coordinator.

Lopez said that a burn ban can only be issued once the county has reached a specific drought level index. Once that condition is met, a burn ban proclamation has to be presented to the Commissioners Court for approval.

On ExpressNews.com: More drought, fires are on Texas horizon

But the recent spike in area wildfires combined with a recent lack of significant rainfall  which weather forecasters expect little change for in the near future  prompted county leaders to move sooner.

We cannot sit idly by and hope that everybody does their part, Wolff said in a statement. With conditions like this, we had to step in and do everything within our means to minimize the fire danger.

One such fire sparked Saturday at Joint-Base San Antonio-Camp Bullis. As of Tuesday afternoon, the wildfire engulfed 3,005 acres and was 88 percent contained, according to a JBSA news release.

The fire prompted the evacuation of two neighborhoods that were a couple of miles from the base.

JBSA officials had not yet announced the cause of the blaze as of Tuesday.

On ExpressNews.com: Camp Bullis wildfire 70 percent contained, but critical fire weather conditions continue

The National Weather Service warns that critical fire weather conditions, including low humidity and gusty northwest winds, are forecast Wednesday from the Rio Grande to the Interstate 35 corridor.

Any fires that develop will likely spread fast and be difficult to control, meteorologists said.

We came to recognize that appeals and recommendations are no longer enough, Lopez said in a statement.

The fire marshal will recommend that the Commissioners Court enact a burn ban at the next meeting, officials said.

jbeltran@express-news.net
WATCH LIVE: Meet Jaime Aquino during a live stream with the Express-News Editorial Board at 1:30 p.m. April 12

Capping a search that began last fall, the San Antonio Independent School District board has named Jaime Aquino as its lone finalist for superintendent.

Aquino is the senior vice president of learning innovations and partnerships at Discovery Education, a digital content and curriculum company with a global reach.

I am deeply honored and humbled, Aquino said. I am grateful to the board of trustees for entrusting me with the future of over 45,000 wonderful students.

The vote was unanimous, with one trustee, Alicia Sebastian, absent. Trustees must wait 21 days to take a final vote naming the superintendent and approving an employment contract.

Born in the Dominican Republic, Aquino has held leadership roles in school districts in Los Angeles; Denver; Hartford, Connecticut and Rochester, New York.

He was introduced after the vote near the start of the boards regular meeting, speaking in English and Spanish and saying he goes by Jaime.

He promised to work tirelessly to ensure that every child in every classroom will receive the highest quality education.

I consider myself a teacher first, Aquino said. I lead with a teachers heart, and I am excited to walk back into the classroom with SAISDs kids.

Aquino is the boards choice to replace former Superintendent Pedro Martinez, who announced his departure to become CEO of Chicago Public Schools last September.

Board president Christina Martinez said Aquino began his career as a bilingual teacher more than 30 years ago in Queens, New York City, and has deep experience as a leader in diverse, urban school districts and a record of achieving academic success with children just like ours.

He has been successful by staying closely connected to the classroom and working collaboratively with educators and administrators at every level of a school system, she said.

Robert Jaklich, the retired former superintendent of Harlandale and Victoria ISDs, has led the district since then as interim superintendent.

Aquino, 57, who will be moving from New York City, said he is no stranger to San Antonio and that its familia culture was partly what drew him here, making him believe he wont be alone in facing the challenge he is taking on.

This city feels like a family, Aquino said. I feel I am San Antonio. I feel like the students that attend Lanier, or Jefferson or Brackenridge High School, or Sam Houston, look like me. And our students need to be inspired so I couldnt think of a district better suited for me.

He said hes already thinking about student achievement and retention rates, and ensuring teachers and staff feel supported and see their needs reflected in administrative decisions. The district is on the rise, Aquino said, but he would like to help take it from good to great, and even beyond that.

The districts search firm, JG Consulting, held town hall meetings in January and February and surveyed parents, students and employees to develop a leadership profile that reflected the communitys feedback, James Guerra, president and CEO of JG Consulting, said.

During the town halls, some participants urged officials to search for a local candidate that understands the community, others worried about the direction the district will take under a new leader. Many urged a continuation of Pedro Martinezs heavy emphasis on magnet programs, academic improvement and maximizing resources to reverse years of declining enrollment.

On ExpressNews.com: Steep challenges  but a few advantages  await SAISDs next leader

While Guerra said the search could be a challenge amid the pandemic-related stress on educators, he and the board expressed confidence in finding a good fit for the district.

Trustees said some of their must-haves included listening skills, transparency, and having an experienced educator leading the district, Christina Martinez said, all traits that Aquino demonstrated.

By the time Dr. Aquino had gotten to the interview, he had really listened. He had brought to us so much of the learning that he had, not just in driving (through) the community - he had stopped at Lindas and had a taco. He had stopped by Avenida Guadalupe and walked into Esperanza. she said.

But he had also spent a lot of time listening to board meetings and brought with him some really great innovative ideas and suggestions.

danya.perez@express-news.net | @DanyaPH
A San Antonio man was arrested in connection with the decapitation of a man in 2016, which police said he confessed to after being arrested this month on suspicion of human smuggling.

Jorge Alberto Rivera, 39, was charged with murder Monday in the death of 43-year-old Javier Thomas Soto. He is being held on $300,000 bail.

Rivera was stopped on April 2 by police in Kinney County, who found six undocumented migrants in a vehicle and arrested Rivera on human smuggling charges, according to an affidavit supporting Riveras arrest.

While in custody, Rivera admitted to being involved in Sotos death, police said.

On ExpressNews.com: Murder suspect who jumped bail arrested in Mexico, returned to Bexar County

Soto was reported missing from Houston on Aug. 20, 2016. Three days later, his body was found engulfed in flames in a dumpster at the Marigold Apartments on Goliad Road on the South Side of San Antonio.

Witnesses at the scene helped extinguish the fire, in which Soto was burned beyond recognition, according to a 2016 MySA article. Also, he had been decapitated, and his hands were severed.

When Rivera was questioned by police, he described details regarding how Soto was killed and the condition of the body. The affidavit said Rivera revealed the motive behind the slaying, but the document did not say what the reason was.

Rivera also admitted to being the person in surveillance footage that was captured that night.

taylor.pettaway@express-news.net | @TaylorPettaway
Burley, ID (83318)

Today

Mostly cloudy skies early will become partly cloudy later in the day. High 56F. Winds W at 10 to 20 mph..

Tonight

A few clouds. Low around 35F. Winds WSW at 10 to 20 mph.
Steve Gonzales/Staff photographer

The New Braunfels Buc-ee's will lose its title as the largest convenience store in the world when a larger store opens in Tennessee next year.

There is hope, however, that a proposed Buc-ee's in Texas will at least tie with the Tennessee location.
Commercial traffic at a key South Texas border crossing has stopped after Mexican truckers on Monday blocked north- and southbound lanes on the Mexico side of the Pharr-Reynosa International Bridge in protest of Texas Gov. Greg Abbotts decision to have state troopers inspect northbound commercial vehicles  historically a job done by the federal government.

The bridge connecting Pharr and Reynosa is the busiest trade crossing in the Rio Grande Valley and handles the majority of the produce that crosses into the U.S. from Mexico, including avocados, broccoli, peppers, strawberries and tomatoes. On Monday, with trucks backed up for miles in Reynosa for the fifth day in a row, some produce importers in Texas said they have waited days for their goods to arrive and already had buyers cancel orders.

One of our customers canceled the order because we didnt deliver on time, said Modesto Guerra, sales manager for Sterling Fresh Inc., which imports broccoli from Central Mexico via the Pharr bridge before shipping it to the Midwest and East Coast. Its something beyond our control.

While many companies cross perishable foods in refrigerated trucks, Guerra said the bottlenecks could lead to equipment failures that cause produce and other products to spoil in the heat.

Those refrigerated units are powered by diesel, Guerra said. These trucks are in line and when the diesel runs out they have no way of refueling.

International bridges elsewhere in the Valley, as well as in Eagle Pass, El Paso and Laredo, have also seen delays, with many commercial products produced in Mexico  like electronics, vehicle parts and medical instruments  also held up.

In response to the Biden administrations recent announcement that it plans to end Title 42  a pandemic-era emergency health order that lets federal officials turn away migrants at the border without the chance to request asylum  Abbott on Wednesday ordered the Texas Department of Public Safety to increase its inspections of commercial vehicles, which he said drug cartels use to smuggle humans and drugs into the United States.

At times, DPS troopers appear to be checking every commercial vehicle that crosses select international bridges, with each inspection taking between 45 minutes and an hour.

Mexican news outlets reported that about 500 truckers are blocking southbound traffic into Mexico to prevent the entrance of U.S. trucks. Truckers told El Manana in Reynosa that they had waited three to four days at the international bridge and were running out of fuel while they waited.

One trucker told the news outlet that prior to Abbotts order, he made two crossings into the U.S. a day. Now, hed be lucky to have one or two a week given the long delays at the bridges.

David J. Phillip/AP

We are losing just as much as them, he said. When they start needing more produce, the prices are going to go up.

No one has told us what the reason for this is or asked what solutions we can come up with together, he added, saying the blockade will continue until their issues are resolved. All we know is that its an order from the governor of Texas.

Abbotts office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

U.S. Rep. Vicente Gonzalez, D-McAllen, joined a chorus of elected officials from the border who called on Abbott to rethink his strategy, saying the DPS inspections duplicate inspections already conducted by the federal government at the ports of entry.

Governor Abbotts unnecessary secondary inspections are killing business on the border, Gonzalez said in a written statement to The Texas Tribune. If this continues it will cause further supply line issues impacting America. And we will see prices of produce and other imports rise at the grocery store. He needs to allow the U.S. Customs and Border [Protection] inspection folks to do their job.

Commercial traffic bottlenecks on the Mexican side of the bridge are not unusual. From time to time, disgruntled Mexican farmers have used their tractors to block traffic in the border state of Tamaulipas to protest low government payments. Sometimes their protests disrupt traffic flow within Reynosa, and other times they block bridge traffic.

International bridges across the Texas-Mexico border also saw significant lines in 2019 when former President Donald Trump reassigned hundreds of customs officers from ports of entry to assist Border Patrol in dealing with detaining migrants crossing the border in between the bridges.

Those delays lasted hours or days in some cases. This time, importers and local officials are bracing for an even longer disruption to cross-border trade. Even without state troopers stopping vehicles, inspection times at international bridges have long been a source of delays due to federal staffing shortages as well as technology and infrastructure problems.

Hidalgo County Judge Richard Cortez said he cant remember a Texas governor upending international trade along the border like this.

This is a very serious situation, Cortez said in an interview. Truckers on the Mexican side closed the bridge so nothing can come across. I mean, what has happened is idiotic. It really is.

Edward A. Ornelas, Staff / San Antonio Express-News

The delays are happening during one of the busiest weeks of the year at border crossings. Semana Santa, or Holy Week, started on Sunday and lasts through Saturday, and many families typically cross the border to see relatives, causing long lines at the bridges.

Teclo Garcia, the economic development director for Laredo, said city officials understand there are security issues the state wants to address, but the state didnt contact local officials to discuss the best way to address those issues.

Were dealing with 20,000 truck crossings a day [in Laredo]  there are security issues but thats why our federal partners are there, Garcia said. If [the state] wants to do more we can do more, but lets not impede trade.

Garcia said its too soon to know what economic impact the DPS inspections will have on the city, which has the busiest commercial crossings on the southwest border, but he added that eventually they could affect the entire country.

Of course, this is going to affect Laredo, El Paso and Brownsville, but the real impact is going to be in the supply chain which is already strained and the consumer, Garcia said.

On Saturday, five state senators from the border region asked Abbott in a letter to reconsider his directive, saying the increased inspections were generating delays and stalling the movement of goods at the ports of entry.

On Monday, state Sen. Juan Chuy Hinojosa, D-McAllen, whose district includes the Pharr bridge, called the situation a crisis and a mess that has been created, but it was not necessary.

Many of my constituents are asking Why are we being punished? The Valley supports border security, but this doesnt seem to have much or anything to do with border security, Hinojosa added. This is hurting people in their pocketbook.

Abbott on Monday touted the states increasing border security efforts during a speech at the annual meeting of the Texas Border Sheriffs Coalition in El Paso, saying its been successful in apprehending drug smugglers and people previously convicted of murder. He said the Biden administrations plan to end Title 42 next month could be cataclysmic for border communities because immigration officials are expecting up to 18,000 encounters a day with immigrants once Title 42 removals end. The current average is 6,000 a day.

According to an investigation by The Marshall Project, ProPublica and The Texas Tribune, the state had been including drug seizures and arrests for crimes far from the border to its Operation Lone Star tally  and later revised the arrest numbers.

Abbott didnt comment on the bridge delays Monday.

Last week, Abbott announced the state would be transporting migrants who already have been processed and released by federal immigration officials to Washington, D.C., or other places on buses. Later, he said the bus rides would be voluntary.

On Monday, Abbott said the buses are already available in some border counties and instructed local officials who need a bus to contact their county emergency management coordinator to request one.

He said the state is offering bus rides because some border cities dont have the services or infrastructure to help transport the migrants to their final destination.

If Border Patrol drops people off in your county, you will be able to work with the state to transport people out of your county to a location where they will be immediately connected with either Border Patrol professionals, [Immigration and Customs Enforcement] officials or other appropriate federal authorities, Abbott said.

Typically, when migrants have been released from immigration officials custody, local nonprofit organizations help many of them get in touch with friends and family already in the United States. The migrants usually pay for their own transportation to other parts of the country, then wait for their asylum requests to be resolved in immigration courts.

This article originally appeared in The Texas Tribune.

The Texas Tribune is a member-supported, nonpartisan newsroom informing and engaging Texans on state politics and policy. Learn more at texastribune.org.
It is hard to believe, but now impossible to deny, that the broad framework that kept much of the world stable and prospering since the end of the Cold War has been seriously fractured by Vladimir Putins invasion of Ukraine. In ways we hadnt fully appreciated, a lot of that framework rested on the Wests ability to coexist with Putin as he played bad boy, testing the limits of the world order but never breaching them at scale.

But with Putins unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, his indiscriminate crushing of its cities and mass killings of Ukrainian civilians, he went from bad boy to war criminal. And when the leader of Russia  a country that spans 11 time zones, with vast oil, gas and mineral resources, and more nuclear warheads than anyone else  is a war criminal and must be henceforth treated as a pariah, the world as weve known it is profoundly changed. Nothing can work the same.

How does the world have an effective United Nations with a country led by a war criminal on the Security Council, who can veto every resolution? How does the world have any effective global initiative to combat climate change and not be able to collaborate with the biggest land-mass country on the planet? How does the U.S. work closely with Russia on the Iran nuclear deal when we have no trust with, and barely communicate with, Moscow? How do we isolate and try to weaken a country so big and so powerful, knowing that it could be more dangerous if it disintegrates than if its strong? How do we feed and fuel the world at reasonable prices when a sanctioned Russia is one of the worlds biggest exporters of oil, wheat and fertilizer?

The answer is that we dont know. Which is another way of saying that we are entering a period of geopolitical and geoeconomic uncertainty the likes of which we have not known since 1989  and possibly 1939.

And it promises only to get worse before it gets better, because Putin is now like a cornered animal. He not only got so much wrong in his Ukraine invasion, he produced the opposite of so much he was aiming to achieve, making him desperate for any war achievement, at any price, that can obscure this fact.

Putin said he had to go into Ukraine to push NATO away from Russia, and his war has not only reinvigorated what was a stagnating Western military alliance, it has also guaranteed NATOs solidarity and weapons modernization for as long as Putin is in power  and probably another generation after that.

Putin said he had to go into Ukraine to remove the Nazi clique ruling in Kyiv and bring both the Ukrainian people and their territory back into the arms of Mother Russia, where they naturally belonged and, in his imagination, longed to be. Instead, his invasion has made Ukrainians  even some formerly pro-Russia Ukrainians  bitter enemies of Russia for at least a generation and supercharged Ukraines desire to be independent of Russia and embedded in the European Union.

Putin thought that with a blitzkrieg takeover of Ukraine he would earn the proper respect from the West for Russias military prowess  ending the insults that Russia, with an economy smaller than that of Texas, was just a gas station with nukes. Instead, his army has been exposed as incompetent, barbaric and needing to enlist mercenaries from Syria and Chechnya just to hold its ground.

Having gotten so much wrong and having launched this war on his own initiative, Putin has to be desperate to show that he produced something  at least uncontested control of eastern Ukraine, from the Donbas region, south to Odesa on Ukraines Black Sea coast and connecting with Crimea. And he surely wants it by May 9, for Moscows giant annual Victory Day parade, marking Russias victory over the Nazis in World War II  the day when the Russian military recalls its greatest glory.

So, it appears that Putin is gearing up for a two-pronged strategy. First, hes regrouping his ravaged forces and concentrating them on fully seizing and holding this smaller military prize. Second, hes doubling down on systematic cruelty  the continued pummeling of Ukrainian towns with rockets and artillery to keep creating as many casualties and refugees and as much economic ruin as he can. He clearly hopes that the former will fracture the Ukrainian army, at least in the east, and the latter will fracture NATO, as its member states get overwhelmed by so many refugees and pressure Kyiv to give Putin whatever he wants to get him to stop.

Ukraine and NATO, therefore, need an effective counterstrategy.

It should have three pillars. The first is to support the Ukrainians with diplomacy if they want to negotiate with Putin  its their call  but also to support them with the best weaponry and training if they want to drive the Russian army off every inch of their territory. The second is to broadcast daily and loudly  in every way we can  that the world is at war with Putin and not with the Russian people  just the opposite of what Putin is telling them. And the third is for us to double down on ending our addiction to oil, Putins main source of income.

The hope is that the three together would set in motion forces inside Russia that topple Putin from power.

Yes, that is a high-risk, high-reward proposition. Putins downfall could lead to someone worse at the helm in the Kremlin. It could also lead to prolonged chaos and disintegration.

But if it leads to someone better, someone with just minimal decency and an ambition to rebuild Russias dignity and spheres of influence based on a new generation of Tchaikovskys, Rachmaninoffs, Sakharovs, Dostoyevskys and Sergey Brins  not yacht-owning oligarchs, cyberhackers and polonium-armed assassins  the whole world gets better. So many possibilities for healthy collaborations would be resurrected or forged.

Only the Russian people have the right and ability to change their leader. But it will not be easy because Putin, an ex-KGB officer  surrounded by many other former intelligence officers who are beholden to him  is nearly impossible to dislodge.

But here is one possible scenario: The Russian army is a prideful institution, and if it continues to suffer catastrophic defeats in Ukraine, I can imagine a situation in which either Putin wants to decapitate his armys leadership  to make them the scapegoats for his failure in Ukraine  or the army, knowing this is coming, tries to oust Putin first. There never has been any love lost between the Russian military and the KGB/SVR/FSB security types surrounding Putin.

In sum, having the Russian people produce a better leader is a necessary condition for the world to produce a new, more resilient global order to replace the post-Cold War order, which Putin has now shattered. What is also necessary, though, is that America be a model of democracy and sustainability that others want to emulate.

When Ukrainians are making the ultimate sacrifice to hold onto every inch and ounce of their newly won freedom, is it too much to ask that Americans make the smallest sacrifices and compromises to hold on to our precious democratic inheritance?

Thomas Friedman is a New York Times columnist.
Storming the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, the rioters sought to subvert the democracy they claimed to be defending. And perhaps, given the prevalence of misinformation and the persistence of the Big Lie, they really believed this.

But they were not alone. They had enablers.

President Donald Trump, who now says he wishes he had marched to the Capitol with the insurrectionists, was the main instigator, lying about a stolen election.

But he, too, had help, lieutenants who assisted publicly and privately.

This brings us to Ted Cruz, the junior senator from Texas who embodies one of the most troubling ironies of this polarized era: Sometimes, the biggest enemies of democracy are those who should be its stoutest defenders.

As a U.S. senator, Cruz had a sacred duty to uphold the Constitution. As a Harvard law graduate, he had the expertise to speak up for democracy.

But according to a recent bombshell story from the Washington Post, Cruz instead worked behind the scenes to help Trump overturn the election.

The Post recently recounted a key piece of dialogue in the conspiracy:

Would you be willing to argue the case? Trump asked Cruz, as the senator later recalled it.

Sure, Id be happy to if the court granted a hearing, Cruz said he responded.

An aside: The case, of course, was indicted Texas Attorney General Ken Paxtons bid to overturn the election, which has only resulted in Texas State Bar complaints. Paxton may lose his law license for filing the frivolous suit, and Texans are paying for his defense.

For Cruz, though, that telephone conversation set in motion a series of efforts to deny Joe Biden victory at the polls.

Spurred by these findings, the House Jan. 6 committee is trying to determine if Cruz and John Eastman, a friend and fellow attorney, were working in concert to benefit Trump.

What is self-evident is that the two men followed remarkably similar paths to achieve the same end.

Both men clerked for then-U.S. Appeals Court Judge J. Michael Luttig, and both men crafted plans in which Vice President Mike Pence would decertify the Electoral College results. Again, from the Washington Post:

It was a very dangerous proposal, and, you know, could very easily have put us into territory where we got to the inauguration and there was not a president, Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo., a committee member, said earlier this year on the podcast Honestly.

And I think that Senator Cruz knew exactly what he was doing. I think that Senator Cruz is somebody who knows what the Constitution calls for, knows what his duties and obligations are, and was willing, frankly, to set that aside.

Without these machinations behind the scenes, the Jan. 6 revolt never would have happened.

In a statement to the Post, Luttig said Jan. 6 was all but foreordained, because Cruz was the most influential figure in the Congress willing to force a vote on Trumps claim that the election was stolen.

These sad episodes reflect the real tragedy of the attack on the Capitol. The former president may have been the instigator, but the assault would have been impossible without his enablers. They all conspired to shred the Constitution.

That they failed is a credit to the document they sought to undermine. The Founding Fathers, aware of the dangers embodied in a centralized government, created a system with three co-equal branches. It was that dynamic that, in the end, saved our democracy.

Cruz should remember that he won his Senate seat fair and square. Nobody tried to steal his votes. His victories were victories of democracy.
Fresh produce and other goods were again facing delays in making it across the Texas-Mexico border Tuesday as shipping companies warn that the latest development in Gov. Greg Abbotts security crackdown is adding to supply chain problems that have plagued the nation for months.

Abbott last week stepped up vehicle inspections at Texas ports of entry, delaying each truck by at least 45 minutes to an hour  a move the governor called necessary because of the failure of the Biden administration to secure the border.

Commercial trucks at some bridges in Laredo and El Paso were reporting double or triple the average wait times, stirring concern that shipments to grocery stores could start to become a problem. At one point Tuesday, it was taking trucks in El Paso five hours to get across the Bridge of the Americas into Texas.

On Monday, a border crossing in Hidalgo County was completely shut to commercial traffic as truckers in Mexico set up a blockade to protest the delays, which are affecting their pay. On Tuesday, truckers in Juarez followed suit, blocking all trucks coming from El Paso into Mexico to pressure Abbott to change course, the El Paso Times reported.

Border security is an important element of this region, but so is the trade that keeps millions of Texans employed, Dante Galeazzi, CEO and president of the Texas International Produce Association, wrote in a letter to Abbotts office. The execution of this order has wreaked havoc up and down our supply chain and is likely to leave state store shelves with limited fresh produce supplies.

Marie D. De Jesus, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer

Laredo is a particularly vital point of entry into the United States because it is the beginning of Interstate 35, which runs through the center of the country to Minnesota.

Texans demand and deserve an aggressive, comprehensive strategy to secure our border  not President Bidens lackluster leadership, Abbott said Tuesday during a speech in El Paso, doubling down on the extra round of inspections.

TEXAS TAKE: Get political headlines from across the state sent directly to your inbox

Abbott has also announced plans to deploy more razor wire along the Rio Grande to deter migrants from crossing and has threatened to ship border crossers to Washington, D.C., and drop them off near Capitol Hill. Abbott has noted that migrants would have to agree to take the bus trips and cant be forced to do so against their will.

Abbott explained the need for increased truck safety inspections at the border in a letter to the Texas Department of Public Safety last week in which he said the cartels that smuggle illicit contraband and people across our southern border do not care about the condition of the vehicles they send into Texas any more than they care who overdoses from the deadly fentanyl on board.

Abbott added that the inspections will ensure Texans are not endangered by unsafe vehicles and their unsafe drivers.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection already inspects vehicles coming across the border for illegal drugs or human smuggling. The Abbott-ordered inspections, conducted by state troopers, are in addition to the customs checks.

But the searches by DPS are purely for mechanical issues, to make sure the trucks are safe to travel on Texas roads. They are not intended to spot illegal drugs or stop illegal immigration.

On Monday, DPS officials reported that they had inspected almost 3,400 trucks and found more than 800 with serious safety issues such as defective brakes, bad tires and poor lighting.

It is all putting shipping companies and suppliers in a bind.

ORourke blasts Abbott stunt

The nonprofit Border Trade Alliance issued a statement Sunday as the inspections began to delay traffic. That groups president, Britton Mullen, said the alliance is opposed to the state essentially duplicating inspections already performed by Customs and Border Protection.

While border states like Texas have an important role to play in ensuring truck safety and code compliance, the state should be working in collaboration with CBP, not engaging in a new inspection scheme that will slow the movement of freight, which will only exacerbate the countrys supply chain crisis and put even more upward pressure on consumer prices, Mullen said.

Rafael Tawil, president of TUM Logistics, which specializes in cross-border shipments, said transport companies bring shipments across the border and drop them off in places such as Laredo, where U.S. truckers then take them throughout the nation. He said DPS already had inspectors that flag down the trucks coming from Mexico that have problems before the additional inspections were ordered by the governor.

This isnt making us more secure, Tawil said. Its just adding another obstacle, and I hope it ends soon.

Democrat Beto ORourke, who will compete against Abbott in the Nov. 1 election, is wasting no time seizing on the issue. On Monday, he had a livestream of the trucking delays in Laredo, and on Tuesday, he was in McAllen blasting Abbott for his latest stunt, saying the governor is hurting the economy just to show hes tough on immigration.

When you shut down legitimate travel, traffic and trade and these trucks on the border, you start to shut down the economy of Texas and the United States of America, ORourke said Monday night in Laredo.

Abbotts actions are giving ORourke a rare occasion to go on offense when talking about the border. As border crossings have surged over the past year, Abbott and Republicans have blamed President Joe Biden and his administration for failing to do enough.

In Hidalgo County on Tuesday, ORourke said there are very legitimate concerns at the border about drug smuggling and human trafficking. But he said Abbott is crossing a line with the truck inspections.

He is hurting the state of Texas right now, ORourke said.

Abbotts campaign was quick to fire back at ORourke in a news release to reporters. Delusional Beto ORourke refuses to admit that President Bidens open border policies are disrupting communities along the border and throughout our state, Abbott communications director Mark Miner said.

The Biden administration is planning to end the COVID-19 pandemic restriction, known as Title 42, that had kept migrants in Mexico. With that policy lifting next month, federal officials have begun planning for as many as 18,000 people a day crossing the border.

Abbott on Monday called the expected surge of border crossings cataclysmic for border regions in Texas.
A 26-year-old woman was arrested and jailed in South Texas last week over a self-induced abortion just months after the state banned most abortions and weeks before the U.S. Supreme Court could roll back 50 years of federal abortion protections.

The timing of the now-dropped murder charge amid such seismic policy shifts could be pure coincidence. But on Monday, legal scholars and abortion rights advocates said the implications of Lizelle Herreras ordeal could not be more timely.

Ms. Herreras case is a terrific example of exactly what we expect to happen, said Lynn Paltrow, executive director of National Advocates for Pregnant Women, a group that has defended women in abortion-related criminal cases. You cant continue to say over and over again that abortion is murder and not expect that police and prosecutors are going to not treat it as murder.

Many details of Herreras arrest remained unknown Monday. Prosecutors never publicly released the criminal indictment or the exact allegations, and in a brief statement Sunday, Starr County District Attorney Gocha Allen Ramirez said his office was moving to dismiss the charge  a direct reversal from its previous stance. Ramirez did not respond to a request for comment Monday.

The incident was first reported to police by a local hospital in January.

In reviewing this case, it is clear that Ms. Herrera cannot and should not be prosecuted for the allegation against her, Ramirez said in the statement. Herrera had been arrested Thursday and released from jail Saturday after posting $500,000 bail.

Though Herrera was indicted by a grand jury, Texas homicide law and anti-abortion statutes exempt pregnant women from criminal liability. And the states leading anti-abortion advocates say they oppose arresting pregnant women for abortions they induce themselves.

BACKGROUND: What to know about Texas new abortion law

But abortion researchers warn that as Texas and other states further restrict abortion access, more and more pregnant women will be driven to seek out the procedure themselves, leading to potential criminal investigations. In the past, abortion-related criminal cases have disproportionately affected women of color and poor women.

When you dont have anybody else to punish, do you just punish no one and let the abortion happen? Or do you punish the woman? asked Mary Ziegler, a law professor at Florida State University who has studied the anti-abortion movement. I dont know what the states going to do with that, but thats going to be the scenario sometimes. And I think this is sort of a harbinger of that debate to come.

Texas virtual abortion ban, Senate Bill 8, which was passed last year by Republican lawmakers and prohibits abortions as early as six weeks into a pregnancy, is not enforced using criminal prosecution but rather civil lawsuits filed by citizens. The law also specifically exempts pregnant people and targets instead only those who aid or abet an abortion, such as a doctor or a family member who provides transportation.

Another Texas law passed last year shortening the time frame doctors have to prescribe abortion medications from 10 weeks to seven weeks also focused on punishment of the provider, not the patient.

IN-DEPTH: Women are finding other means to abortion despite Texas crackdown

Throughout Texas history, courts have said abortion criminalization laws cannot be used against pregnant women and instead have focused on those who help facilitate an abortion, said Elizabeth Sepper, a law professor at the University of Texas at Austin.

Part of the understanding in the state of Texas, in the courts from the late 1800s onwards, is both that a pregnant person cant aid and abet their own abortion but also a sort of paternalistic view of women as not really the agents of the abortion and also in some ways the victims of the criminal abortion, Sepper said.

But if Roe v. Wade, the landmark Supreme Court case that legalized abortion in 1973, is overturned by the high courts now conservative majority, Texas and other states would be free to reverse course. Sepper noted that members of the Legislature have proposed laws that would make the penalty for an abortion capital punishment.

Support the woman

There hasnt been much political interest in prosecution of the mother among anti-abortion activists, who generally find that not a productive mechanism, said Joshua Blackman, a professor at the South Texas College of Law.

For many years, the pro-life movement adopted a mantra that you support the woman, and throwing women in jail is not the way to do that, so the focus turned on those providers or those who perform abortions, Blackman said.

John Seago, legislative director for Texas Right to Life, criticized the charges against Herrera.

The Texas Heartbeat Act and other pro-life policies in the state clearly prohibit criminal charges for pregnant women, he said. Texas Right to Life opposes public prosecutors going outside of the bounds of Texas prudent and carefully crafted policies.

Farah Diaz-Tello, senior legal counsel for the abortion rights group If/When/How, which has been involved in Herreras case, said criminal cases such as hers often arise when somebody misunderstands their obligations with respect to patient confidentiality versus mandatory reporting.

I think that frequently they are just not sure whether or not something involving a self-induced abortion falls into a category that they need to report, she said of doctors and other medical staff. And it turns out they do not.

One of the things that we do as an organization is try to help health care providers understand their role in protecting patients private medical information, so that they dont get swept up in the criminalization, Diaz-Tello said.

taylor.goldenstein@chron.com

jeremy.blackman@chron.com
When setting up a company for a real estate transaction, many developers and investors simply use the propertys address or their companys name.

Randy Smith, co-founder and CEO of development firm Weston Urban, takes a different approach.

It usually involves a cocktail and some friends, he admits.

For example, theres All Out of Bubblegum LP, the limited partnership Weston Urban used to buy the Dry Goods building at 107 N. Flores St. downtown. Its taken from a line in the 1988 film They Live, about a man who discovers via magic sunglasses that aliens are running the world and humans have been tricked.

I have come here to chew bubblegum and kick ass. And Im all out of bubblegum, the man, played by wrestler Rowdy Roddy Piper, declares solemnly before a shootout.

Smith said it was probably the first movie with a cuss word he was allowed to watch  When youre 11 and you think you can quote Rowdy Roddy Piper and get away with it, thats a big win.

He contends its also a tribute to the Dry Goods building, his favorite historic building in Weston Urbans portfolio.

Why they do it

Business owners, home buyers, investors and developers often form a limited liability company or limited partnership to buy property. They do so for liability protection, tax benefits or simply to obscure who they are.

On ExpressNews.com: Weston Urban buys properties along river for Milam buildings redevelopment

Smith refused to disclose the origins of WWG Wobmisa Ltd., which Weston Urban used to buy the Milam building at 115 E. Travis St. and adjacent properties.

Its a riddle, he said. Ill tell you its a Texas history reference. Thats it.

Then theres Cabbage Ltd., which the firm used to buy the Savoy building downtown on Houston Street  a reference to the savoy variety of cabbage.

Its just that so much of what we do in our line of work is mundane and stodgy, Smith said. I need to look for these opportunities to be a little less mundane and a little less stodgy.

Using a propertys address for an entitys name can help keep things simple and organized, said Ryan Reiffert, a local business attorney. Using a name that has nothing to do with a property or that involves dummy corporations can make it harder for someone to figure out who a buyer is.

Ive helped a couple of people buy land at still an above market price but they would have gotten charged more if the seller knew who they were, Reiffert said.

Other clients take a different tack.

Ive gotten some that were sufficiently weird that they asked me two or three times, Can I really name it that? said Reiffert, who cited client confidentiality in declining to disclose specific examples.

Some make me hungry

As a real estate reporter I comb through deed records frequently searching for prominent deals and monitoring where companies are buying land and houses.

The LLC and LP names are usually boring, but sometimes I stumble across a standout before my eyes glaze over. I was inspired by a 2010 article titled The Weird World of L.L.C. Names, in which the New York Times highlighted several eye-catching companies, such as the Worm In The Big Apple, and the stories behind the names.

Some of the local companies Ive come across are food-related (Kale Fund LLC, Turkey Pot Pie LLC) or seem to reflect religious beliefs (Primarily Serving God LLC). There are song call-backs (SA Rocking in the Free World LP) and tributes to chemical elements (Fluorine 9 TX LLC).

On ExpressNews.com: County receives state grant to preserve land around Randolph

Others are linked to the nature of a business, such as Washed by the Water LLC, which is affiliated with two car wash locations. Some get straight to the point: Sell Me Dirt LLC and Need a Bigger Boat LP.

Others appear to be references to film or literature, like Mithril Holdings LLC. Mithril is a precious metal in J.R.R. Tolkiens Lord of the Rings series.

Local philanthropist, residential land developer and Morgans Wonderland founder Gordon Hartman uses the names of Scooby-Doo characters for companies hes set up to buy and sell property.

His LLCs include Velma Development, Shaggy Development, Daphne Development, Fred Development, Scooby Investments and Scrappy Development.

The names stem from his daughter Morgans love of Scooby-Doo.

Everything is named after the inspiration of Morgan and her enjoyment of watching Scooby Doo and my many, many hundreds of hours of watching Scooby-Doo with her, Hartman said.

madison.iszler@express-news.net
WFO LAS VEGAS Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Monday, April 11, 2022

_____

DUST STORM WARNING

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED

Dust Storm Warning

National Weather Service Las Vegas NV

1136 AM PDT Mon Apr 11 2022

The National Weather Service in Las Vegas has issued a

* Dust Storm Warning for...

North central San Bernardino County in southern California...

* Until 130 PM PDT.

* At 1133 AM PDT, a dust channel was observed west of Interstate 15

from Baker to Mountain Pass, moving northeast at 50 mph.

HAZARD...Less than a quarter mile visibility with strong wind in

excess of 50 mph.

SOURCE...Detected by satellite observations and reports from local

officials.

IMPACT...Dangerous and sudden reductions in visibility making

driving very hazardous. Very strong cross winds could

also result in blow overs or sudden lane changes for high

profile vehicles.

This includes Interstate 15 in California between mile markers 139

and 158.

Locations impacted include...

Baker.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Motorists should not drive into a dust storm. PULL ASIDE STAY ALIVE!

To report severe weather, contact the National Weather Service, or

your nearest law enforcement agency, who will relay your report to

the National Weather Service office in Las Vegas.

_____

Copyright 2022 AccuWeather
(The Center Square)  The U.S. Supreme Court temporarily reinstated an environmental regulation that expedites pipeline development that had been tossed out by a lower court. President Joe Biden is now expected to rewrite the rule, but critics say that will nix a chance to address rising energy costs.

The court ruled 5-4 in Louisiana v. American Rivers to temporarily allow the rule, which limits the degree to which states can block energy development projects like pipelines via the Clean Water Act.

President Donald Trump enacted the rule, but U.S. District Court Judge William Alsup overturned it in October. The Supreme Court ruling overturns that judges ruling, but the Biden administration is expected to change the rule through the regulatory process rather than through the courts.

The Biden administration is developing a replacement rule, but it is not expected to be finalized this year. Critics say that is bad news for energy prices, which have soared in recent months.

The Supreme Courts decision brings back the Trump administrations Section 401 rule that helps to prevent states from blocking projects for whatever reason they desire, said Daren Bakst, an energy expert at the Heritage Foundation. Under the Clean Water Act, states can ensure that state water quality wont be harmed by federally permitted activities. But some states have abused the law to block critical projects for reasons that have absolutely nothing to do with water quality, from traffic noise to climate change.

More from this section They're Paneling Paradise to Put Up Solar -- a Lot

Bakst argued that expediting domestic oil production will bring relief to Americans struggling with high gas prices.

The Section 401 rule, if left untouched, would help get projects going again, including energy projects, Bakst said. As gas prices skyrocket, this rule would help to rein in the pain being felt by Americans at the pump, with the short-term benefit primarily coming from the important message the rule sends about unleashing domestic energy. Unfortunately, the Biden administration is planning to rewrite this rule and undo the benefits that the rule would provide.

Justice Elena Kagan argued in her dissent that the legal challengers to the recent court ruling overturning the Trump-era law have failed to prove there is real damage being done, likely signaling the debate to come among the justices if they agree to take up the case. If they do not, the stay will expire.

By nonetheless granting relief, the Court goes astray, Kagan wrote. It provides a stay pending appeal, and thus signals its view of the merits, even though the applicants have failed to make the irreparable harm showing we have traditionally required.
Montana State Prison in Deer Lodge. (Provided by the Montana Department of Corrections.)

The National Council on American-Islamic Relations has joined the Montana Human Rights Network in calling on the state Department of Corrections to investigate an employees ties to a white nationalist group.

CAIR, a predominant Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, questioned how Butte resident and state prison correctional officer Kelly Chamberss ties to a white nationalist group might impact his job.

We call on the Montana Department of Corrections to immediately launch a thorough and transparent investigation into whether this individuals reported bigoted views negatively impact inmates from minority communities, CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper said in a statement. Someone who allegedly holds such bigoted, hateful views cannot be trusted to treat all inmates fairly.

The Montana Department of Corrections did not respond Monday to questions sent via email.

Last week, a DOC spokesperson said Chambers has been employed at the prison since October 2018. The spokesperson also said the hospital has a zero-tolerance policy for unlawful discrimination in the workplace but did not say if it was investigating Chamberss white nationalist ties.

A report published last week by the Montana Human Rights Network said Chambers is a loyal follower of Buttes Ron McVan. In 1995, McVan created Wotanism with David Lane, a notorious white nationalist and member of the domestic terrorist group The Order, which was responsible for the 1984 assassination of Jewish radio host Alan Berg.

McVan described Wotanism as an ancestral faith that puts race first.

Wotan is the German name for the Norse god Odin. While MHRN says Wotanism is explicitly racist, it notes not all followers of Odinism and other neo-pagan religions are white supremacists.

Travis McAdam, director of combating white nationalism and defending democracy at MHRN, said the religion was a culmination of McVans and Lanes long-held white nationalist beliefs.

In 2021, Chambers hosted a gathering of white nationalist neo-pagans in Butte, with plans to host another event this summer, according to MHRN.

MHRN said Chamberss employment at the Deer Lodge prison is especially problematic given the religions history of using prisons as a pipeline to recruit new members  according to the organization, 20% of Wotanism followers are incarcerated. In April of 2021, the Human Rights Network sent a letter to the DOC alerting them of Chamberss activity.

The post National org calls on Montana DOC to investigate employee with ties to white nationalist group appeared first on Daily Montanan.
Fairfield, MT (59436)

Today

Mostly cloudy and windy with rain showers early. High 56F. Winds WSW at 20 to 30 mph. Chance of rain 50%. Higher wind gusts possible..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies. Low around 35F. Winds WSW at 15 to 25 mph. Higher wind gusts possible.
The lump sum exit scheme has opened today for farmers wishing to leave the industry, in turn creating opportunities for new entrants.

Farmers in England can now apply to the scheme which will provide a payment so they can exit the sector in a managed way.

In return, they will be expected to either rent or sell their land or surrender their tenancy in order to create opportunities for new entrants.

The exit payment provided will be based on the average direct payments made to the farmer for the 2019 to 2021 Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) years.

This reference figure will be capped at 42,500 and multiplied by 2.35 to calculate the lump sum, meaning that farmers could receive up to around 100,000.

The scheme, which opens for applications today (12 April) until 30 September 2022, follows a public consultation.

It found that some farmers would like to retire or leave the industry but have found it difficult to do so for financial reasons.

Announcing the scheme today, Defra said it wanted to support new entrants coming into the farming industry.

The department added that a further phase of support would be launched in late September and would run until March 2025.

Defra Secretary George Eustice said: The decision to retire or exit the industry can be extremely difficult and is frequently postponed.

"The purpose of the scheme is to assist farmers who want to exit the industry to do so in a planned way that provides them with the means to make a meaningful choice about their future.

"The scheme will also free up land for new entrants to farming, and we will be saying more about our new entrants scheme shortly.

The scheme guidance, including how to apply, can be found on the government's website.

What is the lump sum exit scheme?

The government has today announced the opening of the lump sum exit scheme. Important details include:

 Farmers will surrender their BPS entitlements before they receive the lump sum payment  and, once they have received the lump sum, they wont be able to claim further direct payments

 Farmers will transfer out their agricultural land in England - but they are allowed to keep up to 5 hectares and any agricultural land they plant with tress under certain woodland creation schemes

 It will allow farmers to keep their farmhouse, commercial buildings and non-agricultural land

 The scheme will have more flexible rules for partnerships and limited companies than was proposed in Defra's consultation

 The lump sum payment will be based on the average direct payments made to the farmer for the 2019 to 2021 BPS scheme years capped at 42,500 and multiplied by 2.35 to calculate the sum
Farmers who own or operate electricity generation such as solar and wind have now just four weeks left to apply for funding to help them update their equipment.

The funding can help generator owners become compliant with new mandatory Distribution Code regulations, which they must abide by to connect to the electricity network.

Once the funding ends, farmers and landowners will still need to meet the compliance requirements but will have to pay for the updates themselves.

Generator owners have just four weeks left to apply to the funding, with the deadline set for 10 May 2022.

Part of the Accelerated Loss of Mains Change Programme (ALoMCP), the scheme is operated by National Grid Electricity System Operator (ESO) and the GB Distribution Network Operators.

The new regulations come into effect on 1 September 2022, by which point all electricity generation within the scope of the programme must be compliant, or face Ofgem approved enforcement action.

According to the NFU, in 2019 around 40% of farmers were generating low-carbon energy, encompassing around 70% of UK solar power and 10% of the UKs electricity needs.

Many of these generators will be within the scope of the programme, which include generation that was installed before February 2018, between 11kW and 50MW in capacity and is connected via the G59 engineering requirement of the Distribution Code.

The equipment updates concern the inverters, converters or G59 relays that are responsible for the Loss of Mains protection settings on the generator.

They are an instrumental part of all generation equipment and help protect both the generator and the network from potential faults.

In updating the protection settings, the generation becomes more reliable and therefore embeds the electricity network with more strength and resilience.

Cheng Chen, senior manager for the ALoMCP at National Grid ESO, said: Compliance with Loss of Mains requirements is not optional and so electricity generator owners should take advantage of the funding that is available now to help them make the upgrades.

Non-compliant generation poses a risk to the electricity network and those not compliant from 1 September 2022 could be subject to an enforcement process that could result in the de-energisation of the whole site.

As a result of widespread Loss of Mains compliance, Britains electricity network will be better able to bring more renewable electricity generators online, as a more resilient network can support additional low carbon generation.

Mr Chen added: This is a relatively small change for most generator owners to make, but if we can achieve widespread compliance the combined impact will have a huge benefit to our electricity network.

"By becoming compliant, generator owners will be futureproofing their power and helping to deliver a strong, resilient, and low carbon electricity network to protect our power for future generations.
A dedicated taskforce has been established in Northern Ireland in response to the severe market disruptions the war in Ukraine is having on food production.

The Department of Agriculture (DAERA) has set up the taskforce with farming industry bodies such as the Ulster Farmers' Union (UFU), CAFRE and Dairy UK.

Representatives from banks and supply chain organisations are also included in the new body.

The government said the increased costs of feed, fuel and fertiliser as a result of the conflict in Ukraine "cannot be absorbed by farmers".

It said these costs must be transmitted down the supply chain quickly "if the economic viability of primary production is to be sustained."

DAERA has also created a Ukraine Contingency Director role, which is a temporary post to address these challenges.

The taskforce held its first meeting on Tuesday 5 April at CAFREs Greenmount Campus.

During it, representatives acknowledged the industry needs to be as prepared for further disturbances to supply chains as a result of a prolonged conflict in Ukraine.

The taskforce will aim to jointly deliver technical support to the agri-food sector during this crisis, as well as ensuring farmers have access to advice to ensure they can make decisions now and therefore reduce impacts later.

A DAERA statement says: "The taskforce is now developing an action plan which will help inform the key advisory messages that need to be communicated out to the wider agriculture industry.

"Over the coming weeks and months there will be a series of in-person events as well as webinars and online focussed support."
Less than 5% of sheep farmers receive direct contact from the owners of dogs that have been involved in an attack on their livestock, a new survey says.

The startling figure is included in a survey by the National Sheep Association (NSA), which has called on the public to take responsibility for such attacks.

With almost 60% of respondents finding evidence of an attack having taken place rather than being alerted by the owner, the result suggests sheep are often likely to be left suffering for a period of time.

The survey is completed by farmers, and is run annually to gain an up to date insight on the issue of sheep worrying by dogs continued severity and impact on the sector.

In line with previous years, respondents, located across the UK, once again reported an increase in the incidence of attacks.

Most (76%) believed cases had increased over the past three years with many identifying the increase in dog ownership during the pandemic as a perceived cause of the rise of cases.

NSA chief executive, Phil Stocker admitted that it may be daunting for a dog owner to come forward to a farmer to admit responsibility for an attack.

But he said farmers would rather be informed by the owners themselves rather than finding injured, or even worse, dead sheep in their fields.

Sheep worrying by dogs is a crime but openness from the dog owner can mean a more amicable resolution can hopefully be achieved and it is better than having to explain a failure to report if the dog is able to be traced.

"Often dog owners simply do not realise their pet is capable of doing so much damage, and while we appreciate this crime is not one that any animal lover would set out to commit, taking responsibility is crucial and could help reduce cases for the future.

The sector has worked to raise awareness of the issue of sheep worrying, encouraging farmers to ensure they report each case to their local police force.

It appears this message is working. The majority (81%) of survey respondents said they now report some, most or all of the attacks they experience.

This increased reporting could be driving an improved response from rural police forces with survey contributors rating police response to reports as 6/10, this figure increasing significantly from ratings of 4/10 in 2021 and 3/10 in 2020.

Losses incurred from dog attacks can be a substantial burden on sheep farmers, with the survey results revealing losses of an average of 1,232 per farmer per year.

Yet despite this, and the increase in reporting of cases of sheep worrying, many farmers do not pursue compensation for their losses.

Mr Stocker said: The greatest impact felt for many farmers as a result of sheep worrying is the stress, anger and anxiety that is experienced. A full years hard work by farmers can simply be undone in a matter of minutes.

Of course, the financial impact must not be ignored though. Continued losses due to sheep worrying are not acceptable and could easily be prevented by dog owners simply taking responsibility.

The results have been shared as the NSA launches its week-long sheep worrying campaign for 2022 aiming to increase awareness of the issue amongst the general public.
Parsons, KS (67357)

Today

Abundant sunshine. High around 75F. Winds ESE at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

A few passing clouds, otherwise generally clear. Low 62F. Winds SE at 10 to 20 mph.
Warrenton, VA (20186)

Today

Rain likely. High 49F. Winds NNE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch..

Tonight

Light rain early...then remaining cloudy with showers overnight. Low 38F. Winds NNE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 80%.
Warrenton, VA (20186)

Today

Periods of rain. High 49F. Winds NNE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch..

Tonight

Steady light rain this evening. Showers continuing overnight. Low 38F. Winds NNE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 80%.
The owners of Happy Gillis and Columbus Park Ramen Shop are bidding adios to Kansas City.

With dual culinary careers spanning 16 years in Kansas City working as chefs, restaurant owners and consultants in the local food scene, Abbey-Jo and Josh Eans  along with their three children, Elliot, Henry and Caroline  have announced their plans to move to Valencia, Spain, at the end of April.

Over the course of the last two years, like many others in the restaurant industry, the couple realized there was more to life than trying to both keep their businesses alive and homeschool their kids during a pandemic. So, they decided to put their own great resignation plan in motion.

We realized we were always working way more than we were at home with the kids and each other, and we also saw how easily everything we had been working so hard for could be taken away, Josh says. We realized that maybe it was time to take our family on a new adventure in a new place.

They thought about running a number of culinary businesses before eventually deciding just to rent an apartment in Valencia within walking distance of their children's future school, which is also close to a number of shops and restaurants. As for everything else? They'll figure it out as they go.

We have been working seriously on this relocation plan for over a year, which has included multiple trips to Spain to figure out where we wanted to be, securing visas for the entire family, selling our family home and two cars and finding good homes for our two pet cats, Abbey-Jo says. We have saved enough money to not have to work the first year, so we have time to figure out what comes next for us.
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VIENNA, April 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ --Inviting someone for a coffee or smiling at a stranger could inspire thousands more acts of kindness, according to Julius Meinl - one of Europe's oldest coffee brands.

To mark its 160th anniversary, Julius Meinl is lifting the lid on simple acts of gratitude with a new study into everyday moments that mean the most. 4,000 adults were polled, with responses highlighting that saying 'thank you' is one of the most powerful gestures you can make.

The study revealed that for every 'thank you' received, more thanks are given, creating a chain reaction of gratitude and kindness. And thanking someone goes beyond words: 79% of respondents agree that inviting someone for a coffee is by far one of the most popular ways to express gratitude, followed by a hug, which one in two people believe is an easy gesture you can make.

Across Vienna, Milan, Zagreb and Bucharest, 85% of respondents agreed that a smile from a stranger can brighten their day - proving that simple gestures have a transformative effect.

Christina Meinl, Managing Director of Julius Meinl Austria, said: "The world needs more kindness right now, and this study proves how everyday gestures can make a big impact. As we mark our 160th anniversary, we want to create even more meaningful moments in people's lives. Inspired by Vienna coffeehouse culture, which is globally recognised by UNESCO, the 'Say Thank You' initiative aims to spread gratitude with every cup of our coffee served."

The study also revealed that over a third of respondents are more likely to say 'thank you' now than two years ago, with 26% of those explaining they have chosen to be nicer post-pandemic.

What's more, 63% of people feel taken for granted in the workplace. One of the most impactful ways to show appreciation at work is to take someone for a coffee break, according to over half of respondents (55%).

Julius Meinl is known for serving iconic quality and expert service to its hospitality partners, hence the initiative is designed to support coffee houses worldwide and inspire more than 100,000 'thank yous' this Spring. For every coffee ordered at participating outlets, coffee lovers will receive a voucher to gift someone dear a complimentary cup of Julius Meinl coffee.

SayThankYou launches on April 20th, 2022. Find out more at www.juliusmeinl.com/say-thank-you.

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1687261/Julius_Meinl_Logo.jpg

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1771349/Julius_Meinl_initiative.jpg
Individual investors and professional organisations faced many difficulties with the market's unfavourable movements in the first quarter.

The stock market has just closed the first quarter in which it saw strong fluctuations.

The new year started smoothly, with the VN-Index surpassing the 1,500 point level and reaching a historic peak of 1,534 points. But the impact of the Russia-Ukraine conflict and the US Federal Reserves rate hike meant the market could not keep the upward momentum and fell to nearly 1,420 points.

At the end of the first quarter, the market benchmark stood at 1,492.15 points, a slight decrease of 0.41 per cent compared to the end of 2021.

Meanwhile, the VN30-Index, which tracks the 30 biggest stocks on the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange (HoSE), finished last quarter at 1,508.53 points, a decline of 1.77 per cent.

Individual investors and professional organisations faced many difficulties. Statistics of large funds in the market showed that most recorded negative growth during the period, and some even experienced worse performance than the general market.

Among the list, the duo of long-time foreign exchange-traded funds (ETFs) in Viet Nam - Vaneck Vectors Vietnam ETF (VNM ETF) and FTSE Vietnam ETF - had a poor performance in the first quarter, negative 9.55 per cent and negative 8.93 per cent, respectively.

Premia MSCI Vietnam ETF followed it with a performance of negative 7.88 per cent, followed by JPMorgan Vietnam Opportunities Fund (negative 4.63 per cent), and the Taiwan (China) Fubon FTSE Vietnam ETF (negative 3.85 per cent).

The foreign funds reported relatively poor performance in the first quarter due to their large Vingroup (VIC) and Vinamilk (VNM) holdings.

Meanwhile, foreign funds with more initiative, such as Pyn Elite Fund, LionGlobal Vietnam Fund, and Vietnam Equity Fund, witnessed better performance with a decrease of only 1.69 per cent, 0.57 per cent and 0.5 per cent, respectively, because their portfolio does not hold VIC or VNM stock.

ETF funds generally did not show good performance in the first quarter. Most had negative growth as with VN30 index funds, VN100, and VN50 index funds.

The fund with the best performance in the market during the period was the DCVFM VNDiamond ETF, with its portfolio growing by 7.5 per cent.

Since its establishment in 2020, DCVFM VNDiamond ETF is regularly at the top of the top growth indices. With a portfolio of blue-chip stocks that run out of foreign ownership ratios, such as FPT Corporation (FPT), Mobile World Investment Corporation (MWG), Phu Nhuan Jewelry JSC (PNJ) and MBBank (MBB), the fund outperformed other funds in the market. Currently, the portfolio size of DCVFM VNDiamond ETF is about VN15 trillion (US$656.6 million).

KIM Vietnam Growth Securities Master Investment Trust (KIM Vietnam Korea), with a scale of up to $693 million, also outperformed the market with its net asset value (NAV)/shares growth of 2.81 per cent in the first quarter.

The holding of a large proportion of stocks like Techcombank (TCB), MBB, MWG and FPT positively impacted the funds portfolio.

VEIL Dragon Capital, the largest foreign fund in Viet Nam, with a portfolio of $2.6 billion, also outperformed the market with a growth of 0.49 per cent.

In general, the unfavourable movements of the market in the first quarter of 2022 have caused most investment funds to perform poorly.

The difference among funds mainly comes from holding VIC and VNM. Meanwhile, funds holding many blue chips such as MWG, FPT, VPBank (VPB), PNJ and MBB had a more positive performance. 
Adi Shabrani, left, prepares a sambal sauce for the traditional Malaysian dish Nasi Lemak as his wife, Nathiqa Azira, right, makes Onde Onde, a glutinous rice dessert, in the demo kitchen of the Missoula Public Library on April 9. Shabrani and Azira led the second food demo of the day as part of the World Fest Days hosted by the University of Montana.
WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - PG&E Corp. (PCG) said Monday that it has reached a settlement with the district attorneys representing six Northern California counties over the 2019 Kincade Fire and 2021 Dixie Fire. The settlement requires PG&E to pay about $55 million over five years. As a result of the settlement agreements, no criminal charges will be filed in the Dixie Fire, and the criminal complaint regarding the Kincade Fire will be dismissed. PG&E noted that it has also entered into long-term agreements with Butte, Lassen, Plumas, Shasta, Sonoma and Tehama counties to strengthen wildfire safety and response programs and to work with local organizations affected by the fires to help rebuild impacted communities. PG&E also committed to a five-year monitorship of its vegetation management and system inspection work in the six counties. As part of PG&E's commitment to work with local organizations and communities, most of the money that PG&E will pay as part of the settlements - over $35 million - will go to local non-profit organizations, including Fire Safe Councils, volunteer fire departments, local schools and community groups such as Rotary Clubs, Chambers of Commerce and organizations serving veterans and the homeless. In addition, PG&E will pay a $7.5 million civil penalty to Sonoma County related to the Kincade Fire and a $1 million civil penalty to each of the five North Valley counties related to the Dixie Fire. Copyright(c) 2022 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
Greenland Resources Inc. (NEO:MOLY, FSE:2LF) ("Greenland Resources" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has filed a Definitive Feasibility Study prepared in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 Standards for Disclosure for Mineral Projects (the "Technical Report") prepared by Tetra Tech Canada Inc. for the Company's 100% owned Malmbjerg Molybdenum Project (the "Project"). The Technical Report supports the disclosure set out in the Company's February 23, 2022 news release announcing the results of the feasibility study for the Project located in east central Greenland.

The Technical Report may be found under the Company's profile on SEDAR www.sedar.com, and is available on the Company's website along with the presentation that includes a summary of the Technical Report.

The Company continues discussions with strategic partnerships to advance the project towards production and with potential end buyers of the product.

About Greenland Resources Inc.

Greenland Resources is a Canadian public company with the Ontario Securities Commission as its principal regulator and is focused on the development of its 100% owned world-class Climax type pure molybdenum deposit located in central east Greenland. The Malmbjerg Molybdenum Project is an open pit operation with an environmentally friendly mine design, with Proven and Probable Reserves of 245 million tonnes at 0.176% MoS2, for 571 million pounds of contained molybdenum metal. The Project benefits from a NI 43-101 Definitive Feasibility Study completed by Tetra Tech in 2022 and had a previous exploitation license granted in 2009. With offices in Toronto, the Company is led by a management team with an extensive track record in the mining industry and capital markets. For further details, please refer to our web site (www.greenlandresources.ca) and our Canadian regulatory filings on Greenland Resources' profile at www.sedar.com

About Molybdenum and the European Union

Molybdenum is a critical metal used mainly in steel and chemicals that is needed in all technologies in the upcoming green energy transition (World Bank, 2020; IEA, 2021). When added to steel and cast iron, it enhances strength, hardenability, weldability, toughness, temperature strength, and corrosion resistance. Based on data from the International Molybdenum Association and the European Commission Steel Report, the world produced around 576 million pounds of molybdenum in 2021 where the European Union ("EU") as the second largest steel producer in the world used approximately 25% of global molybdenum supply and has no domestic molybdenum production. To a greater degree, the EU steel dependent industries like the automotive, construction, and engineering, represent around 18% of the EU's US$16 trillion GDP. Greenland Resources strategically located Malmbjerg Molybdenum Project has the potential to supply in and for the EU approximately 25 million pounds per year, of environmentally friendly molybdenum from a responsible EU Associate member country, for decades to come. The high quality of the Malmbjerg ore, having low impurity content, makes it an ideal source of molybdenum for the world leading high performance steel industry in Europe.

Forward Looking Statements

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

This news release contains "forward-looking information" (also referred to as "forward looking statements"), which relate to future events or future performance and reflect management's current expectations and assumptions. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "hopes", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates", or "believes" or variations (including negative variations) of such words and phrases, or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. Such forward-looking statements reflect management's current beliefs and are based on assumptions made by and information currently available to the Company. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements or information. Forward-looking statements or information in this news release relate to, among other things: the Company's objectives, goals or future plans, statements, exploration results, potential mineralization, the estimation of mineral resources and reserves, exploration and mine development plans, timing of the commencement of operations and estimates of market conditions.

These forward-looking statements and information reflect the Company's current views with respect to future events and are necessarily based upon a number of assumptions that, while considered reasonable by the Company, are inherently subject to significant operational, business, economic and regulatory uncertainties and contingencies. These assumptions include: our mineral reserve estimates and the assumptions upon which they are based, including geotechnical and metallurgical characteristics of rock confirming to sampled results and metallurgical performance; tonnage of ore to be mined and processed; ore grades and recoveries; assumptions and discount rates being appropriately applied to the technical studies; success of the Company's projects, including the Malmbjerg Molybdenum Project; prices for molybdenum remaining as estimated; currency exchange rates remaining as estimated; availability of funds for the Company's projects; capital decommissioning and reclamation estimates; mineral reserve and resource estimates and the assumptions upon which they are based; prices for energy inputs, labour, materials, supplies and services (including transportation); no labour-related disruptions; no unplanned delays or interruptions in scheduled construction and production; all necessary permits, licenses and regulatory approvals are received in a timely manner; and the ability to comply with environmental, health and safety laws. The foregoing list of assumptions is not exhaustive.

The Company cautions the reader that forward-looking statements and information include known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results and developments to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or information contained in this news release and the Company has made assumptions and estimates based on or related to many of these factors. Such factors include, without limitation: the projected and actual effects of the COVID-19 coronavirus on the factors relevant to the business of the Corporation, including the effect on supply chains, labour market, currency and commodity prices and global and Canadian capital markets, fluctuations in molybdenum and commodity prices; fluctuations in prices for energy inputs, labour, materials, supplies and services (including transportation); fluctuations in currency markets (such as the Canadian dollar versus the U.S. dollar versus the Euro); operational risks and hazards inherent with the business of mining (including environmental accidents and hazards, industrial accidents, equipment breakdown, unusual or unexpected geological or structure formations, cave-ins, flooding and severe weather); inadequate insurance, or the inability to obtain insurance, to cover these risks and hazards; our ability to obtain all necessary permits, licenses and regulatory approvals in a timely manner; changes in laws, regulations and government practices in Greenland, including environmental, export and import laws and regulations; legal restrictions relating to mining; risks relating to expropriation; increased competition in the mining industry for equipment and qualified personnel; the availability of additional capital; title matters and the additional risks identified in our filings with Canadian securities regulators on SEDAR in Canada (available at www.sedar.com). Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated, described or intended. Investors are cautioned against undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information.

These forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and, except as required by applicable securities regulations, the Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update the forward-looking information.

Neither the NEO Exchange Inc. nor its regulation services provider accepts responsibility for the adequacy of this release. No stock exchange, securities commission or other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained herein.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220411006001/en/

Contacts:

For further information please contact:

Ruben Shiffman, PhD Chairman, President

Keith Minty, P.Eng, MBA Engineering and Project Management

Jim Steel, P.Geo, MBA Exploration and Mining Geology

Nauja Bianco, M.Pol.Sci. Public and Community Relations

Gary Anstey Investor Relations

Eric Grossman, CPA, CGA Chief Financial Officer

Corporate office Suite 1410, 181 University Av. Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5H 3M7

Telephone +1 647 273 9913

Email info@greenlandresourcesinc.com

Web www.greenlandresources.ca
TOKYO (dpa-AFX) - Honda Motor Co. plans to launch 30 electric vehicle models globally by 2030 with production volume of more than 2 million units annually. The company will budget about 8 trillion yen for its research and development expenses over the next 10 years. Of all R&D areas, it plans to invest about 5 trillion yen in the areas of electrification and software. Honda will procure Ultium batteries from GM in North America. It is exploring the possibility of creating a joint venture company for battery production;Honda will further strengthen its collaboration with CATL in China; Honda will procure batteries for mini-EVs from Envision AESC in Japan. Honda noted that it will build a demonstration line for the production of all-solid-state batteries with an investment of about 43 billion yen and further accelerate the research with a goal to start demonstration production in Spring 2024. Copyright(c) 2022 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.


Market image utilizing the newly developed environmental value distribution platform

TOKYO, Apr 12, 2022 - (JCN Newswire) - IHI Corporation (hereinafter IHI) and Fujitsu Limited today announced the launch of a joint project on environmental value trading(1) starting April 1, 2022, with the aim of contributing to the realization of a carbon-neutral society and to revitalize the market of environmental value trading ecosystems.Under this joint project, IHI and Fujitsu will work toward the commercialization and promotion of an environmental value distribution platform by leveraging their business knowledge in blockchain technology and carbon neutrality solutions. The two parties will issue environmental value "tokens"(2) based on data on the reduction of CO2 emissions collected through IHI's IoT platform "ILIPS" (IHI group Lifecycle Partner System)(3) and establish a platform for distributing these tokens to the environmental value trading market by leveraging Fujitsu's "ConnectionChain" security technology to interconnect various blockchains.Through this new platform, the two companies aim to support an efficient distribution of environmental value and the reduction of CO2 emissions generated by companies around the world, and contribute to the realization of the common global goal of a carbon-neutral society.BackgroundThe trading of environmental values such as carbon credits(4) has been gaining increasing attention as it constitutes a cost-efficient means of reducing CO2 emissions and supports various countries and companies in their efforts to contribute to the realization of a carbon neutral society.At the same time, the expansion of the distribution volume of carbon credits on the market represents an urgent issue in efforts to bolster environmental value trading. Currently, international initiatives including TSVCM(5), a taskforce working to scale voluntary carbon markets, are promoting measures to expand the scale of transactions and standardize trading systems for carbon credits.Public and private sectors in Japan are further promoting the use of carbon credits through measures including the "J-Credit Scheme," a system in which the Japanese government certifies the amount of CO2 emissions reduced through measures including the promotion of renewable energy and forest management. These measures shall offer individuals and small and medium sized companies new opportunities to create environmental value, digitize the creation and utilization process of environmental value, create a trading market and ultimately expand the supply and demand of environmental value to improve the institutional environment.Current initiatives of the two companiesAs part of its initiatives to go carbon neutral, IHI is utilizing its IoT platform "ILIPS" to calculate the amount of CO2 emissions and reductions(6) from operation data of its equipment and facilities. It has additionally started deployment of a digital platform for the visualization and creation of environmental value using blockchain technology in February 2022.Fujitsu is providing its "ConnectionChain" blockchain technology to interconnect multiple ecosystems consisting of blockchains and other technologies, that is expected to serve as the basis for environmental value trading. ConnectionChain leverages Hyperledger Cactus, an open source software (OSS) project for secure and reliable integration between multiple blockchain platforms hosted by Hyperledger Foundation. Fujitsu has been contributing to the development efforts for "Hyperledger Cactus"(7) since its inception in 2020. Through these efforts, Fujitsu aims to establish a business platform that enables seamless and efficient commercial transactions of a variety of digital assets including environmental values, as well as crypto assets and STOs(8) which are gaining increased attention.Outline of the joint projectWithin this joint project, IHI and Fujitsu will construct a new system that leverages IHI's ILIPS platform to calculate the amount of CO2 emission reductions and Fujitsu's ConnectionChain blockchain technology to distribute tokens as high-reliable digital assets to the environmental value trading market. In this way, IHI and Fujitsu aim to launch a new platform for the efficient distribution of environmental value on a global scale and will work to expand the market for environmental value trading. At this end, the two companies will promote the application of digital technologies in the process of creating, managing, and trading environmental value tokens, and aim to create a sustainable value chain model in which funds can be reliably delivered to companies that are engaged in environmental contribution initiatives including the use of green energies and measures to reduce their CO2 emissions.Prior to this project, the two companies conducted and completed demonstration trials on linking IHI's ILIPS platform to Fujitsu ConnectionChain to distribute tokens to the environmental value trading market in the end of March 2022.Future PlansMoving forward, the two companies aim to realize an environmental value distribution platform by the end of fiscal 2022 and will further promote discussions and demonstration projects with partner companies, related ministries, agencies, and organizations that support this initiative with the goal to contribute to effective and concrete actions toward a carbon neutral society.(1) Environmental value trading:Measurement and certification of the reduction, absorption, or removal of CO2 and other emissions with the goal to create tradeable values based on decarbonization results.(2) Tokens:Digitized rights and assets issued independently by companies and organizations using blockchain technology.(3) ILIPS:Common platform for IHI Group products that integrates data on equipment and facilities into cloud servers for use in life cycle business with the aim of enhancing IHI Group products and services.(4) Carbon credit:One representative example of environmental value. Tradeable certificates of greenhouse gas reductions.(5) TSVCM:"The Taskforce on Scaling Voluntary Carbon Markets". International initiative led by the private sector to expand the scale of the carbon credit market.(6) Calculation of CO2 emissions/reductions:Calculations are based on fuel consumption, electric power consumption and a smart contract using methodologies of the J-Credit system and emission factors preset by the Japanese Ministry of the Environment.(7) Hyperledger Cactus:OSS development project to integrate different blockchain platforms hosted by Hyperledger Foundation, the open, global ecosystem for enterprise blockchain technologies.(8) STO:"Security Token Offering". Project to raise money mainly on stocks and other bonds; issues and sells its own currency "security token" to qualified investors to raise funds.About FujitsuFujitsu is the leading Japanese information and communication technology (ICT) company offering a full range of technology products, solutions and services. Approximately 126,000 Fujitsu people support customers in more than 100 countries. We use our experience and the power of ICT to shape the future of society with our customers. Fujitsu Limited (TSE:6702) reported consolidated revenues of 3.6 trillion yen (US$34 billion) for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2021. For more information, please see www.fujitsu.com.About IHIIHI Corporation is a Japanese comprehensive heavy-industry manufacturer working to create value for customers in four main areas; Resource, Energy and Environment; Social Infrastructure and Offshore Facilities; Industrial Systems and General-purpose Machinery and Aero Engine, Space and Defense. Under the management philosophy of "Contribute to the development of society through technology," IHI leverages its engineering capabilities centered on "Monozukuri" technology in promoting initiatives to contribute to resolving such social issues as becoming carbon-free, preventing and mitigating disasters, and enriching lives of all people in order to create a world where nature and technology work in unity. For more information, please see https://www.ihi.co.jp/.Source: Fujitsu LtdCopyright 2022 JCN Newswire . All rights reserved.
INFICON Holding AG / Schlagwort(e): Personalie

INFICON: Oliver Wyrsch, Leiter des US-Geschafts von INFICON, ubernimmt per 1. Januar 2023 die CEO-Funktion von Lukas Winkler



12.04.2022 / 07:01 CET/CEST

Veroffentlichung einer Ad-hoc-Mitteilung gemass Art. 53 KR

Fur den Inhalt der Mitteilung ist der Emittent / Herausgeber verantwortlich.



Ansprechpartner Dr. Beat E. Luthi Prasident des Verwaltungsrats INFICON Holding AG Bitte kontaktieren Sie: elisabeth.kuehne@inficon.com; +41 81 300 4980 Der Verwaltungsrat der INFICON Holding AG gibt bekannt, dass Oliver Wyrsch (Jg. 1977), President und General Manager des US-Geschafts von INFICON, per 1. Januar 2023 die Nachfolge von Lukas Winkler als Chief Executive Officer (CEO) der INFICON Holding AG antreten wird. Damit kommt es im Zuge einer umsichtigen und langfristigen Nachfolgeplanung zu einem internen Wechsel an der operativen Spitze von INFICON. Lukas Winkler (Jg. 1962), CEO von INFICON seit 2004, tritt auf eigenen Wunsch altershalber per 1. Januar 2023 zuruck. Dr. Beat E. Luthi, Prasident des Verwaltungsrates der INFICON Holding AG, kommentierte den anstehenden Wechsel: Wir mochten Lukas Winkler fur seine exzellente Arbeit als CEO unseres Unternehmens aufs herzlichste danken. INFICON steht heute als international hervorragend positionierter, technologisch fuhrender und margenstarker Branchen-Leader da. Wir bedauern, respektieren aber auch Lukas Winklers Entscheid, die Verantwortung als CEO nach fast 20 Jahren abzugeben. Gleichzeitig freuen wir uns, mit Oliver Wyrsch intern einen ausgezeichneten Nachfolger prasentieren zu konnen. Oliver Wyrsch leitet seit 2018 erfolgreich die US Aktivitaten von INFICON. Lukas Winkler und Oliver Wyrsch werden nun bis Ende Jahr noch enger zusammenarbeiten und fur einen reibungslosen Wechsel in der operativen Leitung von INFICON sorgen. Oliver Wyrsch ist Schweizer Staatsburger und hat an der ETH Zurich einen Master in Computer Science und Business Administration erworben. Er begann seine berufliche Karriere 2004 in der Management-Beratung bei Accenture und Booz & Co. Bevor er 2018 als President und General Manager des US-Geschafts zu INFICON stiess, war er ab 2011 in unterschiedlichen Funktionen - zuletzt als Head der strategischen Geschaftseinheit Machine Vision Inspection - bei Mettler Toledo in Deutschland und den USA tatig. Informationen per E-Mail Die neusten Informationen von INFICON werden Ihnen automatisch per E-Mail zugestellt, wenn Sie sich im Bereich Investors der INFICON Website unter https://ir.inficon.com/contact-and-information-request/ fur diesen Service anmelden. Hintergrundinformation zu INFICON INFICON ist ein fuhrender Anbieter von innovativen Vakuuminstrumenten, hochpraziser Sensortechnologie und Smart Manufacturing/Industry 4.0 Prozesskontrollsoftware, welche die Produktivitat und Qualitat in hochentwickelten industriellen Vakuumprozessen steigern. Unsere Analyse-, Mess- und Kontrollprodukte sind ein wesentlicher Erfolgsfaktor in der Gaslecksuche der Klima- und Kuhlgerate-Herstellung und der Automobilindustrie, sowie fur Produktionsanlagenhersteller und Endverbraucher bei der komplexen Fabrikation von Halbleitern und Dunnfilmbeschichtungen fur optische Instrumente, Flachbildschirme, Solarzellen und industrielle Vakuumbeschichtungen. Weitere Anwender der Vakuumtechnologie sind: Life Sciences, Forschung, Raum- und Luftfahrt, Verpackungen, Warmebehandlung, Laserschneiden und viele weitere Prozessindustrien. Unsere Expertise in der Vakuumtechnologie kommt zudem in der Entwicklung von einzigartigen Geraten zur Analyse giftiger Gase in der Notfallhilfe, der Sicherheitsuberwachung und im Umweltmonitoring zum Einsatz. Das Unternehmen hat seinen Sitz in der Schweiz, verfugt uber modernste Produktionsstatten in Europa, den USA und China sowie Niederlassungen in China, Danemark, Deutschland, Finnland, Frankreich, Grossbritannien, Italien, Japan, Korea, Liechtenstein, Schweden, der Schweiz, Singapur, Taiwan und den USA. Die Namenaktien von INFICON (IFCN) werden an der SIX Swiss Exchange gehandelt. Weitere Informationen zu INFICON und unseren Produkten finden Sie auf unserer Website www.inficon.com. This press release and oral statements or other written statements made, or to be made by us contain forward-looking statements that do not relate solely to historical or current facts. These forward-looking statements are based on the current plans and expectations of our management and are subject to a number of uncertainties and risks that could significantly affect our current plans and expectations, as well as future results of operations and financial condition. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Ende der Ad-hoc-Mitteilung
German United Robotics Group acquires SoftBank Robotics Europe in Paris

BOCHUM, Germany, PARIS and TOKYO, April 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The United Robotics Group (URG), a subsidiary of the RAG-Stiftung in Essen, has reached an agreement with SoftBank Robotics Group Corp. (SBRG) to acquire their French subsidiary SoftBank Robotics Europe SAS (SBRE). SBRG will acquire a minority stake in URG and the two companies will continue to cooperate in the global marketing of various robots. By acquiring SBRE, URG will become one of the leading service robotics companies in Europe.

With this acquisition, URG is following its strategy of securing a leading position in the robotics market through organic growth and acquisitions. The extensive know-how and experience of SBRE's highly qualified employees not only ideally complement URG's broad product range, but the combined forces will above all accelerate research and development and thus further strengthen the company's innovative power.

Headquartered in Paris, France, SBRE is a leader in humanoid robotics and the developer and manufacturer of the world-renowned Pepper and NAO robots. URG has been the master distributor in the European market since October 2021, responsible for sales, service and maintenance of Pepper and NAO. URG companies such as Humanizing Technologies and ENTRANCE Robotics have already been partners of SBRE since 2017.

URG, SBRG and SBRE will hold a strong partnership to develop and distribute various robots including Pepper and will continue to provide services together to customers around the world.

SBRE will revert to its former name of Aldebaran, a pioneer in interaction robotics and academics market. General Manager of SBRE, Xavier Lacherade, will continue to lead the company. The transaction is subject to merger clearance and is expected to close in the second quarter of 2022.

"We are pleased to welcome SBRE with more than 180 exceptionally motivated robotics specialists," said Thomas Hahn, founder and CEO of United Robotics Group. "This is an important step for us on the way to further internationalizing our company. The future Aldebaran with their strong reputation in the market will help us to further expand our great potential in combining interaction robotics with our knowledge in collaborative industrial robotics."

Fumihide Tomizawa, President & CEO, SoftBank Robotics Group, said: "We are strengthening our strategic partnerships with various robotics leader companies around the world. We are very pleased to form a strong partnership with a successful company, URG. We will leverage this great relationship to develop and market Pepper and a variety of other robots."

Xavier Lacherade, General Manager of SoftBank Robotics Europe, said: "We know URG as a strategic partner in sales, services and software development. I am very excited about the combination of the two companies into one large network. I am firmly convinced that the short management paths, which are also characterized by the German-French friendship, will inspire the work on both sides of the Rhine and lead us to new successes in the near future."

About United Robotics Group

The United Robotics Group is a subsidiary of RSBG SE, a wholly owned investment entity of the RAG-Stiftung, which primarily focuses on technology driven engineering companies. With a long-term oriented buy and build strategy, RSBG SE is a valuable partner for successful mid-sized companies such as the United Robotics Group.

The United Robotics Group (URG), headquartered in Bochum, Germany, unites young service robotics companies into a unique ecosystem. URG bundles hardware and software expertise under one roof, develops customized service robotics solutions with its partners and customers to meet challenges in the medical, care, hospitality and education sectors, and offers Robot as a Service. Customer needs, product quality, data protection and sustainability are the drivers of development at URG.

For more information: https://www.unitedrobotics.group

About SoftBank Robotics Europe

Leader in humanoid robotics, SoftBank Robotics Europe is headquartered in Paris and regroups about 180 employees. Creator of the robots NAO and Pepper, used today in more than 70 countries worldwide, in various fields, such as retail, healthcare, tourism and education, SoftBank Robotics Europe is a subsidiary of SoftBank Robotics Group Corp.

For more information: www.softbankrobotics.com/emea

About SoftBank Robotics Group

SoftBank Robotics is driving technology forward by becoming a worldwide leader in robotics solutions. Rapidly expanding with offices in Tokyo, San Francisco, Boston, London, Paris, Hamburg, Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Singapore, Sydney, Shanghai, and Hong Kong. SoftBank Robotics is constantly exploring and commercializing robotics solutions that help make people's lives easier, safer, more connected, and more extraordinary. SoftBank Robotics' robots are used in more than 70 countries worldwide and we offer innovative applications relevant in the fields of retail, tourism, healthcare, finance, education, facilities management, cleaning, warehouse, and logistics.

For more information: https://www.softbankrobotics.com/

Picture is available at AP Images (http://www.apimages.com)

Press contacts:

Johannes Kober

Corporate Communication, United Robotics Group GmbH

+49 174 61 59 342

+49 69 42 72 60 238

J.Kober@unitedrobotics.group

Nicolas Halftermeyer

Communications & Product Branding Director, SoftBank Robotics Europe SAS

nicolas.halftermeyer@softbankrobotics.com

Kiminari Iwanaga

Public Relations Office, SoftBank Robotics Group Corp.

SBRGRP-PR@g.softbank.co.jp
Multiple targets developed in a potential high grade, multi-element play

TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / April 12, 2022 / AEX Gold Inc. (AIM:AEXG)(TSXV:AEX), an independent mining company with an unrivalled land package of gold and strategic mineral assets covering an area of 4,090km2 in Southern Greenland, is pleased to announce the results of its 2021 exploration campaign at the Sava Project in South Greenland. Sava is a newly recognised Iron Oxide, Copper, Gold (IOCG) project in the South Greenland strategic mineral belt. The 2021 program comprised a multi-faceted exploration program to assess the licence's IOCG as well as porphyry style mineralisation potential.

References to figures and tables relate to the version visible in PDF format on the website by clicking the link below: https://www.aexgold.com/investors/regulatory-news-alerts/tsx-news

Highlights

Historical sampling returned grades of up to 3.4% Copper, 3.7% Zinc, 0.28% Molybdenum, 382 g/t Gold, 100 g/t Silver, 19.9% Niobium, in magnetite and hematite-mineralised granites and breccias.

In the 2021 exploration season, AEX completed remote sensing, airborne geophysics, geological mapping, rock chip and ionic geochemistry studies and hyperspectral imagery across the Sava licence.

AEX's ongoing Mineral System Modelling highlights the potential of the area to host significant strategic metal deposits. AEX believes that Sava sits within an interpreted Laurasian Mineral Belt connecting Eastern Canada through Greenland to Scandinavia that hosts World Class mineral deposits such as Voisey's Bay (Canada), Gardar Province (Greenland), and the Kiruna IOCG belt (Scandinavia).

Grab samples, while not expected to provide economic grades at this stage of exploration, returned up to 0.9% Copper.

Significant and coherent multi element anomalies have been developed, potentially indicative of IOCG mineralisation and are also prospective for porphyry copper mineralisation.

Results define three high priority targets and show that anomalies are open to the North and North East.

Results confirm the Company's belief that the geology of the Sava licence has great potential, opening up the prospect of a new IOCG belt in South Greenland, which warrants further exploration in 2022.

Eldur Olafsson, CEO of AEX, commented:

"Following on from our successful drilling program at Nalunaq, I'm delighted to deliver these excellent results from within our strategic metals portfolio. The Company has long considered the Sava area as holding potential for significant copper, base metal and rare earth element mineralisation. In 2021 AEX employed a wide range of innovative and cutting-edge exploration techniques and our results provide us with significant indications that an IOCG or porphyry mineral system could be present. Our geological models illustrate the region's similarity to world class strategic mineral deposits at Voisey's Bay (Canada), Gardar Province (Greenland), and the Kiruna IOCG belt of Scandinavia.

AEX shareholders now have additional exposure to critical metals from within an OECD country, which are required as part of the global energy transition. We intend to explore and develop these opportunities responsibly, harnessing renewable energy and deploying industry best practices.

We look forward to delivering more of our regional exploration results from 2021 over the next few months and providing the market with our work plan for 2022."

Discussion on Results

After acquiring the Sava licence in early 2021, AEX has been reviewing the prospectivity of this area which is located alongside the significant Ilimaussaq complex (part of the Gardar Province) which hosts the Kvanefjeld and Tanbreez deposits. AEX have been creating their own Mineral Systems model for South Greenland in conjunction with Jon Hronsky of Western Mining Services, to assist with the Company's future exploration targeting. This framework model has highlighted the geodynamic association of the Sava area to the Gardar and Voisey's Bay provinces that host globally significant magmatic sulphide and REE deposits.

This association is further evidenced by the historical grades recorded from within the licence with of up to 3.4% Copper, 3.7% Zinc, 0.28% Molybdenum, 382 g/t Gold, 100 g/t Silver, 19.9% Niobium, in magnetite and hematite-mineralised granites and breccias.

This initial assessment suggest the potential for Iron Ore, Copper, Gold (IOCG) mineralisation.

IOCG mineralisation is best known from the giant Olympic Dam deposit located in Southern Australia (2.95Bt @ 1.2% Copper, 0.5g/t Gold and 6g/t Silver). However, the term IOCG encompasses a widespread and ill-defined group of deposits and end members, with varying characteristics and target commodities. However, IOCG deposits are all generally associated with hot mantle upwellings with most significant examples located adjacent to the margins of Archean cratons.

AEX believe that the Sava area, located close to the Archean craton margin, has historically been misinterpreted and hosts multiple nested intrusions related to the hot igneous upwellings of the nearby Gardar Province and are structurally associated with the Voisey's Bay deposits. As such the Sava/Gardar Province area could exist as IOCG belt extensions of the Central Mineral Belt districts and Kwyjibo deposits of Labrador and the Kiruna belt of Sweden.

Through 2021 AEX conducted the following exploration activities:

Remote Sensing - conducted by SRK Exploration Services, the licence area was assessed through the review of multispectral satellite data in order to develop initial targets for ground exploration

Airbourne Geophysics - 446 km 2 Airborne magnetics and radiometrics flown by New Resolution Geophysics on 100m spaced lines to provide evidence to the host granites and their structure

Airborne magnetics and radiometrics flown by New Resolution Geophysics on 100m spaced lines to provide evidence to the host granites and their structure Geological Mapping - surface geological and alteration mapping conducted over priority targets

Rock Chip Sampling - 225 systematic rock chips collected and assayed at ALS Geochemistry to provide insights to the alteration and mineralisation anomalism

Ionic Geochemistry - 143 soil samples collected and assayed using ionic geochemistry to assess very low detection limit geochemical anomalism

Spectral Imagery - surface spectral images collected over the highest priority targets to provide further insights into the alteration assemblages.

These exploration activities provided a wealth of information on the geological understanding of the licence area and particularly on the alteration of the host rocks, a critical requirement when assessing IOCG potential.

While AEX's geochemical exploration was not targeting obvious surface mineralisation and economic grades were not expected, rock chip samples returned anomalous grades over very wide areas with up to 0.9% Cu recorded, illustrating the potential that a significant mineral system is present.

Key observations from AEX's results include:

Numerous significant and coherent multi element anomalies that provide important insights to the alteration, lithologies present and the style of mineralisation.

Strong correlation between Au/Ag and Cu/U, which are potentially indicative of IOCG mineralisation as well as significant base metal association.

The recognition that the geology is significantly more complex and detailed than originally thought.

Multiple zones of brecciation with hematite/calcite alteration exist as evidence of a significant fluid system being present.

That most host rocks are geochemically classified as Quartz Monzonites that appear to be more depleted than other Gardar rocks.

Alteration assemblages and geochemistry highlight three high priority targets in the licence (North, South and West) with the largest zone (North) remaining open requiring additional sampling.

Anomalism in these three targets appears to be related to sericite dominate alteration.

When assessed the geochemistry results using both the IOCG Index, developed by the Deep Exploration Technologies Cooperative Research Centre, and industry standard porphyry copper potential plots, Sava is shown to be prospective for both and, in particular, that the West target show significant IOCG indices.

AEX continue to review and assess these results both internally and through their external consultants and experts and will look to action the recommendations of this work during the 2022 field season.

Qualified Person Statement

The technical information presented in this press release has been approved by James Gilbertson CGeol, VP Exploration for AEX Gold and a Chartered Geologist with the Geological Society of London, and as such a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101.

Enquiries:

AEX Gold Inc.

Eldur Olafsson, Executive Director and CEO

+354 665 2003

eo@aexgold.com

Eddie Wyvill, Investor Relations

+44 (0)7713 126727

ew@aexgold.com

Stifel Nicolaus Europe Limited (Nominated Adviser and Broker)

Callum Stewart

Simon Mensley

Ashton Clanfield

+44 (0) 20 7710 7600

Panmure Gordon (UK) Limited (Joint Broker)

John Prior

Hugh Rich

Dougie Mcleod

+44 (0) 20 7886 2500

SI Capital Limited (Joint Broker)

Nick Emerson

Charlie Stephenson

+44 (0) 1483 413500

Camarco (Financial PR)

Billy Clegg

Emily Hall

Charlie Dingwall

+44 (0) 20 3757 4980

For Company updates:

Follow @AexGold on Twitter

Follow AEX Gold Inc. on LinkedIn

Further Information:

About AEX

AEX's principal business objectives are the identification, acquisition, exploration and development of gold and strategic metal properties in Greenland. The Corporation's principal asset is a 100% interest in the Nalunaq Project, an advanced exploration stage property with an exploitation license including the previously operating Nalunaq gold mine. The Corporation has a portfolio of gold and strategic metal assets covering 4,090km2, the largest mineral portfolio in Southern Greenland covering the two known gold belts in the region. AEX is incorporated under the Canada Business Corporations Act and wholly owns Nalunaq A/S, incorporated under the Greenland Public Companies Act.

Forward-Looking Information

This press release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities legislation, which reflects the Corporation's current expectations regarding future events and the future growth of the Corporation's business. In this press release there is forward-looking information based on a number of assumptions and subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the Corporation's control, that could cause actual results and events to differ materially from those that are disclosed in or implied by such forward-looking information. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to the factors discussed under "Risk Factors" in the Final Prospectus available under the Corporation's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Any forward-looking information included in this press release is based only on information currently available to the Corporation and speaks only as of the date on which it is made. Except as required by applicable securities laws, the Corporation assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information to reflect new circumstances or events. No securities regulatory authority has either approved or disapproved of the contents of this press release. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Inside Information

The information contained within this announcement is considered to be inside information prior to its release, as defined in Article 7 of the Market Abuse Regulation No. 596/2014, and is disclosed in accordance with the Corporation's obligations under Article 17 of those Regulations. Upon the publication of this announcement, this inside information is now considered to be in the public domain.

Glossary

Ag Silver Au Gold Bt Billion tonne Cu Copper g/t Grams per tonne Mo Molybdenum Nb Niobium U Uranium Zn Zinc

SOURCE: AEX Gold Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/696983/2021-Sava-Exploration-Results-Indicate-Iron-Oxide-Copper-Gold-Style-Mineralisation
Total income for the first quarter of 2022 was EUR 3. 6 million ( first quarter 2021: EUR 3.8 million)

Cash position further improved in the first quarter of 2022

Order book value increased with 16% compared to March 31, 2021





Deventer, April 12,2021 - RoodMicrotec N.V., a leading independent company for semiconductors supply and quality services, today releases its trading update for the first quarter of 2022. The total income for the quarter was EUR 3.6 million, which is 5% lower than the total income in the first quarter of 2021. In the first quarter of 2021, the total income included work in progress of EUR 0.5 million for SCM project preparations. With this adjustment, the total income for the first quarter of 2022 rose by 9% compared to the first quarter of 2021.

"The cash position at the end of the first quarter of 2022 has further improved compared to the end of 2021 thanks to the increased total income and a continued tight control of operational expenses", says Martin Sallenhag, CEO of RoodMicrotec. "The increase of the total income in the first quarter, adjusted for work in progress movements, compared to 2021 also shows that the company is focusing on the right markets, customers and services."

With the forecasted increase of total income in 2022 over last year, it is encouraging to see that the order book value continues to increase. The order book contains orders for both long term contracts and engagements as well as short term orders. The long term contracts and engagements are mainly in the SCM and Test Operations units and the short term orders are mainly in the Failure Analysis & Qualification unit. RoodMicrotec is maintaining a very tight control of all expenses, and only absolutely necessary costs for delivering our high-quality services to the customers are approved. Additional capital investments are also reviewed in detail to make sure they are done to either increase capacity or to add new capabilities to the service portfolio.

Outlook

RoodMicrotec expects the total income in 2022 to be in the range of EUR 15.0 million to EUR 15.6 million with a positive result before tax. The current situation in the world regarding lead-times for wafers and packaging as well as shipment delays may impact the ability to achieve the expected total income. The war in Ukraine could also have an impact on the business but in the short term we don't see any significant impacts. RoodMicrotec is keeping a close eye on the situation and is doing everything possible to mitigate any impact.

Audit

The financial data in this press release have not been audited.

About RoodMicrotec

RoodMicrotec is a leading independent company for semiconductor supply and quality services. With more than 50 years of experience in the semiconductor and electronics industry, RoodMicrotec is well-established as a highly valued partner for many companies worldwide. The Company provides full-turnkey ASIC services for complex microchips that are customized to handle specific applications for individual customers. In cooperation with strong partners, RoodMicrotec manages the entire development and production flow of ASICs in the target volume, ranging from low quantities up to multiple millions per year. The turnkey solution includes project management, wafer test, assembly, final test, qualification, failure analysis and logistics. All services comply with the industrial and quality requirements of the high reliability, aerospace, automotive, healthcare and industrial sectors. RoodMicrotec's headquarters are located in Deventer, Netherlands, with operational units in Nordlingen and Stuttgart, Germany

For more information visit https://www.roodmicrotec.com

Further information

Martin Sallenhag - CEO, Arvid Ladega - CFO

Telephone: +31 570 745623 Email: investor-relations@roodmicrotec.comWeb: www.roodmicrotec.com

This press release is published in English and German. In case of conflict between these versions the English version shall prevail.

This communication contains information that qualifies as inside information within the meaning of Article 7(1) of the EU Market Abuse Regulation.The company's managing director and CEO Martin Sallenhag, is responsible for arranging the release of this document on behalf of RoodMicrotec.

Attachment
The intelligent power management company Eaton, a market leader in solutions for large data centers, announced that it is building a new campus for its critical power systems in Vantaa, Finland, integrating all current activities into a much larger site. Slated for completion by the end of 2023, the 16,500 m site will house research and development, manufacturing, warehousing, sales and service under one roof and will create up to 100 additional jobs.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220412005006/en/

Eaton announces the construction of a state-of-the-art campus for UPS and energy storage manufacturing in Vantaa, Finland. Slated for completion by the end of 2023, the 16,500 m site will house R&D, manufacturing, warehousing, sales and service under one roof and will create up to 100 additional jobs. (Photo: Business Wire)

As one of the world's largest manufacturers of three-phase uninterruptible power supplies (UPS), Eaton's expansion in this area is driven by strong business growth and the demand for systems that ensure business continuity, be it for data centers, commercial and industrial buildings or healthcare and marine applications. Situated in a prime location next to the Helsinki airport, the Vantaa facility will serve as Eaton's Critical Power Solutions headquarters and a center of excellence for data centers.

Eaton has a strong knowledge base in Finland, as its local subsidiary, with 250 employees, has been developing and manufacturing UPSs and power conversion technology since 1962. The decision to expand was prompted by growing demand for the output of Eaton's existing factory in Espoo, including the grid-interactive UPS and energy storage systems that will support the energy transition away from fossil fuels.

The new facility will include a cutting-edge test area that not only supports product development and operations but also showcases Eaton's products in action. For customers, this translates into a best-in-class experience in terms of tours, meetings and factory acceptance testing, which will also require the hiring of new talent. New jobs will be created in operations, research and development, commercial as well as technical support.

Eaton is dedicated to improving sustainability and energy efficiency both in terms of its processes and the products it manufactures and this project is no exception. In fact, the existing Espoo plant has already sent zero waste to landfill since 2015, and the new building will feature various innovative Eaton technologies for reducing the carbon footprint, from power management solutions to electric vehicle chargers.

Karina Rigby, president, Critical Systems, Electrical Sector at Eaton in EMEA, said: "By investing and strengthening our footprint in Finland, we're building on Eaton's strong local heritage while delivering on our commitment to sustainability. Eaton's power quality business is growing, driven by digitalization and the energy transition, and thanks to the new Vantaa campus, we'll be ready to support our customers now and in the future. It's particularly exciting to see how UPS technology has evolved over time today, it not only ensures business continuity for critical applications but also plays a role in the switch to renewables, by acting as a source of flexibility that supports grid stability."

About Eaton

Eaton is an intelligent power management company dedicated to improving the quality of life and protecting the environment for people everywhere. We are guided by our commitment to do business right, to operate sustainably and to help our customers manage power today and well into the future. By capitalizing on the global growth trends of electrification and digitalization, we're accelerating the planet's transition to renewable energy, helping to solve the world's most urgent power management challenges, and doing what's best for our stakeholders and all of society.

Founded in 1911, Eaton has been listed on the NYSE for nearly a century. We reported revenues of $19.6 billion in 2021 and serve customers in more than 170 countries. For more information, visit www.eaton.com. Follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220412005006/en/

Contacts:

Vera Grishchenko

VeraGrishchenko@eaton.com
The company establishes office in Singapore and settles partnership to offer banking software-as-a-service to the highest growing fintech industry in the world 1

BRISTOL, England, April 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Pismo , one of the world's fastest-growing banking software-as-a-Service (SaaS) firms, announces its new office in Singapore and the forging of a strategic partnership with OneConnect Financial Technology Co., Ltd (OneConnect), the leading technology-as-a-service (TaaS) provider and an associate of Ping An Group, in order to expand its operations in Southeast Asia region and the Middle East.

The global core banking software market is expected to reach a US$34.48 billion valuation in 2028, with a compound annual growth rate of 18% between 2021 and 2028, according to Fortune Business Insights2 and Asia plays an important role in this growth. The partnership will allow both companies to tap into this rapidly growing core banking software market in the region, thus extending the reach to a greater range of financial institutions.

"Southeast Asia region and the Middle East are key markets for Pismo, as one of the highest growing economies in the world," says Vishal Dalal, CEO (North America, Europe and Asia) at Pismo. "Our vision is to help banks and fintechs in their journey into BaaS and cloud for core processing. Our presence in Singapore and our partnership with a highly-accomplished institution like OneConnect underlines our deep commitment to this region."

This partnership sees OneConnect's current suite of cutting-edge technological solutions being complemented with Pismo's highly scalable, nimble, and multi-tenant SaaS platform in order to better serve a broader range of financial institutions.

Tan Bin Ru, CEO (Southeast Asia), OneConnect Financial Technology, says: "We are excited by the potential that this partnership brings to both parties. As a financial technology solutions provider, we are constantly looking out for new technologies and ways for us to bring better value to financial institutions."

She adds: "With this partnership with Pismo, we are glad to be able to extend our range of services to now include SaaS, which we envision to be more accessible and implementable for mid-to small-sized banks. This is also where we believe we can bring together the best of the East - best-in-class AI innovations and technology - and the West - a flair in product engineering."

OneConnect chose Pismo as its latest strategic partner due to Pismo's deep experience developing and implementing banking SaaS solutions for financial institutions including digital banks, such as Banco Itau, Latin America's largest bank, BTG Pactual, the largest investment bank in Latin America, and renowned digital bank N26. Together with Pismo, OneConnect will soon be able to offer proven SaaS-based core banking solutions suitable for smaller banks. This potentially allows for integration within OneConnect's existing products, such as its anti-fraud engines and mobile banking applications, which previously targeted top incumbent and large banks looking to digitalise.

The office in Singapore follows the opening of Pismo's US and Europe offices in 2021 and is part of the company's globalization strategy. In time, the office will also become the hub for all Pismo's product support in South-East Asia.

[1] https://www.statista.com/topics/7970/fintech-in-asia-pacific/#:~:text=The%20Asia%2DPacific%20region%20is,China%20and%20smaller%20emerging%20markets .

[2] https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/core-banking-software-market-104392

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1795151/1126936_Pismo.jpg




MOSCOW, April 11 (Xinhua) -- The Ukrainian government said on its website Sunday that the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine supported the decision to impose a full embargo on imports of goods from Russia.





In the face of external sanctions, the Russian government said Sunday that it has raised its reserve fund by 273.4 billion rubles (3.4 billion U.S. dollars) to ensure economic stability.





In a briefing released Sunday, Russian Defense Ministry said Russian armed forces were continuing the special military operation in Ukraine.





It has also released footage of the Russian Ka-52 attack helicopters destroying weapons and military equipment of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

Meanwhile, Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer said Sunday that he would meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow.





Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky tweeted Sunday that he had a phone conversation with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to discuss defense and financial support for Ukraine.





Produced by Xinhua Global Service




- Automobili Pininfarina reveals how it has engineered the unique new 'sound of sustainable luxury' for its pure-electric hyper GT, Battista

- Composed using advanced sound engineering and the 'voice' of its phenomenal pure-electric powertrain, Battista's sound resonates at 54 Hz, a frequency that aims to have a positive influence on the driver's comfort and wellbeing

- Paolo Dellacha`, Chief Product and Engineering Officer for Automobili Pininfarina: "Our sound designers and engineers have crafted a unique, organic EV sound experience for clients. The Battista voice is emotional and authentic for everyone experiencing the vehicle"

- Video on the unique sound of Battista and its frequency displayed in natural elements: youtu.be/E5etYYeFnik

CAMBIANO, Italy and MUNICH, April 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Automobili Pininfarina has revealed 'SUONO PURO' - the sound concept created for the world's first pure electric hyper GT as the Italian brand continues to develop new products and experiences aiming to lead creation of a sustainable new era in luxury.

Creating a unique sound experience presented key challenges, while ensuring an unrivalled ownership and driving experience with exquisite luxury, design heritage and sustainability remain at the core. What does beauty and power sound like in the world of electrification? What voice should this award-winning design masterpiece and the Automobili Pininfarina brand have? How may natural and emotional connection between driver, car and the driving experience be created?

Aural sensations have been carefully crafted to embody the purity of Battista's design and give Automobili Pininfarina a unique voice that aims to resonate positively with the driver. Using advanced technology and following more than 2,000 hours of composition, development and fine-tuning by vehicle and sound designers and engineers, a unique brand experience is played out in exquisite frequencies and tones.

Paolo Dellacha`, Chief Product and Engineering Officer for Automobili Pininfarina, said, "Our sound designers and engineers have crafted a unique, organic EV sound experience, something special and authentic for people experiencing the vehicle. It is a signature for Battista and the Automobili Pininfarina brand that is as recognisable, pure and individual as its design."

SUONO PURO honours the purity of Automobili Pininfarina's design DNA, incorporating wellbeing qualities associated with the 432 Hz frequency. It is warm and uplifting, as found in the positive emotional effect of Tibetan singing bowls and was used by classical music composers such as Mozart or Verdi.

At idle speed, the Battista's sound frequency is 54 Hz (down three octaves from 432 Hz) - a pure and resonant signature base note. The purity of this frequency can be visualised by the way in which it impacts water, creating beautiful, organically symmetrical ripples. The effect of this frequency on the human body, which is in average around 70 percent water, intends to contribute to a sense of wellbeing. Clients will experience this in their own Battista, with deliveries worldwide starting this year.

Interview with the experts who crafted SUONO PURO for Battista

Automobili Pininfarina worked closely with sound designers Novo Sonic to craft a unique voice for the brand and Battista. Automobili Pininfarina NVH & Sound Managing Engineer, Garry Lane, and Novo Sonic Founder and CEO, Tom Huber, formed the core partnership that brought this to life, with a small team of dedicated and passionate sound experts. Here they talk in detail about the project.

What was the initial brief? How did you want to make people feel when they hear the Battista?

Garry Lane: We are bringing a unique hyper GT to the luxury car world. It is a first-of-a-kind reimagination of electric mobility - including its sound. SUONO PURO needed to be authentic and reflective of the brand. We decided to let the four powerful electric motors speak for themselves, combined with a special sound experience delivering a positive effect on the driver's wellbeing.

Tom Huber: We wanted to achieve a natural sound experience, and this comes from the use of frequency. 440 Hz was first introduced to the American music industry in the first half of the 20th century to establish a reference tuning tone for instruments and orchestras. Music tuning worldwide was adapted to this as a result. However, prior to this, 432 Hz was the tuning of the classical music world, including by Verdi. Listening to an orchestra playing in the original tuning, many would agree on a substantial difference in terms of warmth and positive impact.

The sound experience should resonate through all aspects of how the Automobili Pininfarina brand is experienced, not just the product - where a lot of excitement comes from the emotive powertrain sounds. There needs to be an emotion and authenticity to all of it, which is why we took a holistic approach with the use of the 432 Hz frequency throughout the brand experience, with a consistent sound landscape at every point of contact.

What was the biggest challenge?

GL: We had to make sure the Battista is instantly recognisable - we wanted people to be able to hear it and know it was Battista before they could see it, fully embracing and celebrating its pure-electric powertrain. It had to be carefully curated and developed for a truly special car, and an entire brand, in around half the time it takes larger-volume manufacturers, who would typically develop a sonic signature in four to five years of research and engineering. That has been a tremendous challenge.

TH: Beautiful visual design is pure emotion. A beautiful car like the Battista gives you goosebumps. The same goes for music - emotions can come across in different ways and connect with the human body. The challenge was to create a soundscape that emotionalises a sound that many people have not yet experienced - the sound of an electric motor. We tackled this head-on by fully embracing it, showing that the natural, pure-electric sound can be beautiful and uplifting.

How did you achieve the goal of representing design and beauty in the sound of Battista?

TH: The sound is inspired by the signature Design line around the body of Battista. Sound creation in the studio began with the brand's Chief of Design Luca Borgogno, forming a design-inspired 'leitmotif' - a short, recurring musical phrase. This was translated onto a music sheet displaying the brand's design philosophy based on its unique proportions represented by curves, length and harmony - something that has never been done before in this context.

This is transformed into the sound of Automobili Pininfarina and the Battista, using 54 Hz as a unique and organic base note that is always present, creating harmony between performance and wellness - just like the car itself. This is the Automobili Pininfarina 'Sonic Line'.

What was the biggest innovation?

GL: The development of bespoke software, which we call the 'sound heart'. Not only did it have to be created from scratch for Battista, but the way it was implemented was unique, working on a specified software solution to enable the highest quality sound. It is all delivered via the newly engineered, individually tuneable synthesisers that respond to a range of vehicle systems, from the speed and torque profiles of the powertrain to the steering input, and 12 specially developed exterior and interior speakers in harmony with Naim Audio.

The speaker system was meticulously designed to project the 54 Hz tone across the whole frequency spectrum in immense quality. The car creates the sound in real time, a seamless, high-resolution sound experience that encompasses those inside the car, and provides a signature sound graphic on the outside. The sound is seamlessly transmitted to the interior for a natural aural experience. It is low frequency but brings in more of the EV sound experience.

TH: We want to be able to convey the highest quality sonic story to those experiencing it, so ensuring we had the right software and hardware to reproduce what we created in the studio was really important. It is very different from working with ICE (Internal Combustion Engine) vehicles as they develop their own, much wilder sounds. The Battista's inherent futuristic sound is unique, but also interesting and new with a positive natural effect on those experiencing it. In this regard, the Battista can be seen as an exquisitely engineered and finely tuned instrument, played by the conductor and composer behind the wheel, altering the output by the way they drive in real-time.

What is the most special thing about the final sound? What are you most proud of?

GL: Personalised experiences and beautiful design are very important to our clients, and drivers can enjoy as much or as little of the Battista's fine quality sound as they'd like. This results from the extensive engineering and development on the real sound of the electric motors, which develops through the different drive modes.

Ensuring the driver experiences defined differences in sound between the driving modes was a challenge, but very rewarding to have achieved that variation. It's a testament to the team's efforts. High levels of personalisation run through all aspects of Battista, enhancing the luxury experience to new dimensions, ensuring the driver is encompassed not only by the combination of performance from the powertrain and the material quality of the luxurious interior, but also the way in which the car communicates and makes the driver feel.

TH: The purity of the sound, I think, is very special. From the beginning we wanted to tune the sound to 432 Hz. The 54 Hz base frequency conveys the soulful power of the car and is organic, using the vehicle's hardware to provide as unique and authentic base as possible. It resonates with what Automobili Pininfarina stands for: pure design, sustainable luxury and outstanding performance.

The way the sound embodies the Battista's design, as well as the wider brand values is also unique. We haven't just created a sound for a vehicle. We've evaluated in great detail how people experience the entire brand, the way it communicates with people, and what the 'voice' of the vehicle is. The same design and sound themes run through the whole experience. That, to me, is genuine and original, and tells an important story about innovation at Automobili Pininfarina.

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1795203/Automobili_Pininfarina_Battista_Sound_01.jpg

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1795204/Automobili_Pininfarina_Battista_Sound_02.jpg

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1795205/Automobili_Pininfarina_Battista_Sound_03.jpg

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1795206/Automobili_Pininfarina_Battista_Sound_04.jpg

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1795208/Automobili_Pininfarina_Battista_Sound_05.jpg

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1795209/Automobili_Pininfarina_Battista_Sound_06.jpg

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1316779/Automobili_Pininfarina_Logo.jpg
STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN / ACCESSWIRE / April 12, 2022 / Promore Pharma (STO:PROMO)(FRA:8T0)

The Annual General Meeting of Promore Pharma AB (publ) will be held on Tuesday, 17 May 2022 at 2 pm, in the premises of Wennergren Center, Biblioteket, floor 24, Sveavagen 166, in Stockholm. Registration begins at 1 pm.

Unofficial English translation for information purposes only. If there are differences between the English translation and the Swedish original, the Swedish text will take precedence.

RIGHT TO ATTEND AND NOTIFICATION OF THE COMPANY

Anyone wishing to attend the meeting must

(i) be entered as a shareholder in the share register kept by Euroclear Sweden AB as of 9 May 2022, and

(ii) give notice to the company of its intention to attend no later than 11 May 2022.

Notification of attendance may be given in writing to the company by e-mail to shareholders@promorepharma.com or by mail to Promore Pharma AB (publ), "Annual General Meeting", Karolinska Institutet Science Park, Fogdevreten 2, SE-171 65 Solna, Sweden or by telephone on +46-(0)8-124 548 59. When giving notification, please state your name or company name, personal ID or company registration number, address, and daytime telephone number as well as the number of advisors.

NOMINEE REGISTERED SHARES

To be entitled to attend the meeting, holders of nominee registered shares must instruct the nominee to have the shares registered in the holder's own name, so that the holder is entered in the share register kept by Euroclear Sweden AB as of 9 May 2022. Registration in this way may be temporary. Request for such voting rights registration shall be made to the nominee, in accordance with the nominee's routines. Voting rights registration that has been made by the nominee not later than 11 May 2022 will be considered in the preparation of the share register.

PROXY AND PROXY FORM

Anyone who does not attend the meeting in person may exercise its right at the meeting via a proxy in possession of a written, signed and dated form of proxy. The form of proxy may be obtained from the company and it is also available on the company's website: www.promorepharma.com at least three weeks immediately before the meeting. Representatives of a legal person must attach a copy of the registration certificate or equivalent documentary authority. To facilitate entry to the meeting, forms of proxy, registration certificates and other documentary authority must be received by the company at the above-stated address, in good time before the meeting.

PROPOSED AGENDA

Opening of the meeting and election of Chairman of the meeting Preparation and approval of voting list Approval of the agenda Election of one or two people to approve the minutes Examination of whether the meeting has been duly convened Presentation of the annual report and auditor's report, and also the group accounts and auditor's report for the group CEO's address Decisions on: a) adoption of the profit and loss account and balance sheet, and also the consolidated profit and loss account and consolidated balance sheet;

b) allocation of the company's loss in accordance with the adopted balance sheet and

c) discharge from liability towards the company for the directors and the CEO Determination of the number of directors, alternate directors and auditor and alternate auditor Determination of the fees for the directors and for the auditor Election of directors, Chairman of the Board and auditor, and, when applicable, alternate directors and an alternate auditor Decision on new performance targets in incentive program (LTI 2020) Decision on authorisation to issue new shares, convertible instruments and warrants Closure of the meeting

DECISIONS PROPOSED BY THE NOMINATION COMMITTEE

The Nomination Committee for the AGM 2022 comprises the following members: Hans-Peter Ostler, representing "Konsortiet" (Chairman of the Nomination Committee), Henric Rahm, representing PharmaResearch Co. Ltd., David Sundin, representing Corespring New Technology AB and Goran Pettersson, Chairman of the Board in Promore Pharma AB (publ).

Election of Chairman of the meeting (item 1)

The Nomination Committee proposes that Anders Bjornsson, Advokaterna Liman & Partners, be elected to chair the meeting.

Determination of the number of directors, alternate directors and auditor and alternate auditor (item 9)

The Nomination Committee proposes that the Board shall be composed of five directors, with no alternates, for the period until the next AGM. The Nomination Committee proposes that the company will have one auditor and no alternate.

Determination of the fees for the directors and for the auditor (item 10)

The Nomination Committee proposes that the fees for the directors will be paid as follows. The Chairman of the Board will receive SEK 300,000 and the other directors will receive SEK 150,000 each.

Fees will be paid to the auditor in accordance on current accounts.

Election of directors, Chairman of the Board and auditor, and, when applicable, alternate directors and an alternate auditor (item 11)

The Nomination Committee proposes re-election of Marianne Dicander Alexandersson, Hans-Peter Ostler, Goran Linder and Kerstin Valinder Strinnholm. The Nomination Committee proposes a new election of Candice Jung. It is proposed that Marianne Dicander Alexandersson be elected Chairman of the Board. Satyendra Kumar and Goran Pettersson have declined re-election.

Candice Jung was born in 1991 She holds a Ph.D. in Pharmacy from Northeastern University, Boston, USA. Candice Jung has previously held positions in marketing and business development at, amongst others, Johnson & Johnson and the South Korean pharmaceutical company Daewoong Pharmaceutical. She currently works as Head of the American Division of PharmaResearch Co. in Los Angeles. She holds no other board assignments.

Information regarding the proposed directors is available on the company's website: www.promorepharma.com.

The Nomination Committee proposes that the registered audit company Finnhammars Revisionsbyra AB be re-appointed auditor. Finnhammars Revisionsbyra AB has given notice that if the Nomination Committee's proposal for auditor is adopted at the meeting Per-Olov Strand will be the person appointed to have main responsibility for the audit.

DECISIONS PROPOSED BY THE BOARD

Decision on the allocation of the company's loss in accordance with the adopted balance sheet (item 8 b)

The Board proposes that no dividend shall be paid, and that the company's accumulated loss shall be carried forward.

Decision on new performance targets in incentive program (LTI 2020) (item 12)

The Board proposes that the general meeting resolves to replace parts of the performance-based incentive program resolved by the annual general meeting on 26 May 2020, "LTI 2020", regarding three employees and contractors of the company, the "Participants", with respect to certain qualifying terms and conditions as set out below.

After the qualifying period of three years, the Participants will, free of charge, receive allotment of warrants in the company, provided that certain qualifying terms and conditions are met, "Performance Share Rights". The Participants will earn the right to exercise 25 percent of the Performance Share Rights allotted to the Participants for the fulfilment of each of four established performance targets based on the company achieving certain milestones, the "Performance Targets".

The Performance Targets established relating to PXL01 will be replaced with new Performance Targets. The new Performance Targets relating to PXL01 are attributable to the company's recruitment of patients to a clinical trial and the completion of the clinical trial.

Besides the proposed amendments as set out above, it is proposed that LTI 2020 and thereto adhering delivery and hedging measures shall continue to apply unaffected.

The Board's proposal for a resolution

With reference to the above mentioned, the Board proposes that the general meeting resolves on new Performance Targets relating to PXL01 in LTI 2020.

Majority requirement

For a decision in accordance with the Board's proposal on new Performance Targets to be valid, it must be supported by shareholders holding at least nine-tenths of the votes cast as well as of the shares represented at the general meeting.

Decision on authorisation to issue new shares, convertible instruments, and warrants (item 13)

The Board proposes that the general meeting authorises the Board to, for the period to the next AGM and on one or several occasions, issue shares, convertibles and warrants as follows.

The Board will be authorised to decide on issues with or without pre-emption rights for the shareholders and/or with provisions of payment in kind, right of set-off and/or other conditions.

The basis for the determination of the subscription price when disapplying from the shareholders' pre-emption rights will be the share's, the convertible's or the warrant's market value at the time of the respective issue, taking into account rebates in accordance with the market conditions, when applicable.

The number of shares that the Board will be entitled to issue, the number of shares that convertibles may entitle to and the number of shares that may be subscribed for on account of warrants, will totally amount to no more than 12,142,787 new shares, corresponding to a dilution of approximately 20 per cent.

The reason behind the proposal and the possibility of disapplication from the shareholders' pre-emption rights, is to allow flexibility in acquisitions or capital raisings.

The Board, or its appointee, is authorised to make any minor adjustments to this decision deemed necessary to register the decision with the Swedish Companies Registration Office or due to other formal requirements.

For a decision in accordance with the Board's proposal to be valid, it must be supported by shareholders holding at least two-thirds of the votes cast as well as of the shares represented at the general meeting.

DOCUMENTS

The Board's and the Nomination Committee's complete proposals as well as accounting documents and the auditor's report will be available at the company and on the company's website www.promorepharma.com for at least three weeks immediately before the meeting. Copies of these documents will be sent immediately, and at no cost to the recipient, to shareholders who so request and state their postal address. The documents will also be available at the meeting.

NUMBER OF SHARES AND VOTING RIGHTS

The total number of shares in the company as of the date of this notice is 60,713,936 representing a total of 60,713,936 voting rights. As of that date the company does not own any of its own shares.

INFORMATION AT THE MEETING

If any shareholders so request and the Board considers it possible without material harm to the company, the Board and the CEO must provide information at the meeting on any circumstances that may influence determination of an item on the agenda, circumstances that may influence determination of the financial position of the company or its subsidiary, the group accounts and the company's relationship to another group company.

PROCESSING OF PERSONAL DATA

For information on how your personal data is processed, please see

https://www.euroclear.com/dam/ESw/Legal/Privacy-notice-bolagsstammor-engelska.pdf.

_____________________

Solna 12 April 2022

Promore Pharma AB (publ)

Board of Directors

Attachments

NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING PROMORE PHARMA AB (PUBL)

SOURCE: Promore Pharma

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/697045/Notice-of-Annual-General-Meeting-Promore-Pharma-AB-publ
Eckoh (AIM: ECK), the global provider of customer engagement security solutions, has expanded their cloud offering to include Microsoft Azure. A key part of Eckoh's strategy is its commitment to investing in extending their cloud platforms and security capabilities to provide flexibility and alternative options for clients.

Until recently, Eckoh has deployed their global cloud solutions exclusively on Amazon Web Services (AWS), however, it has always been their intention to avoid being single-threaded and offer their clients the ability to choose their preferred cloud platform. To that end, they've launched a new platform in Azure that will enable them to provide the same suite of customer engagement security solutions as they do in AWS. This provides Eckoh customers with flexibility in choosing a cloud provider, which is a sensitive decision for many organisations.

With this new offering, Eckoh is the only provider in their sector to have multiple cloud options, and organisations are already taking notice. A US-headquartered retailer in the Fortune 100 is due to go live on Eckoh's new cloud offering imminently, to secure their contact center payments. The new 3-year contract is expected to expand into other Eckoh security solutions as well as see the services launch in other geographies.

"Our long history of working alongside leading organisations from different industries has taught us that one size does not always fit all, and our decision to deploy and offer an alternative cloud platform is a perfect example of that flexibility," says Eckoh's CEO, Nik Philpot. "We have succeeded in producing market-leading payment security products that are flexible, easy to use, adaptable across any customer contact channel and compliant with the highest security standards. Our latest enhancements and additions provide organisations with even more comprehensive options and ensure that Eckoh's portfolio remains best in class."

About Eckoh

Eckoh is a global provider of customer engagement security solutions, supporting an international client base from its offices in the UK and US.

Their secure payment products help their clients take payments securely from their customers through multiple channels. The products, which include the patented CallGuard solution, can be hosted in the cloud or deployed on the client's site and remove sensitive personal and payment data from contact centers and IT environments. They offer merchants a simple and effective way to reduce the risk of fraud, secure sensitive data, and become compliant with the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards (PCI DSS) and wider data security regulations. Eckoh has been a PCI DSS Level One Service Provider since 2010, securing over $5bn in payments annually.

Eckoh's customer contact solutions enable enquiries and transactions to be performed on whatever device the customer chooses, allowing organisations to increase efficiency, lower operational costs and provide a true Omnichannel experience. Eckoh also assists organizations in transforming the way that they engage with their customers by providing support and transition services as they implement Eckoh's innovative customer contact solutions.

Eckoh's large portfolio of clients come from a broad range of vertical markets and includes retailers, healthcare, government departments, telecoms providers, utility providers, and financial services organisations.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220412005261/en/

Contacts:

Mark Jeffers

Marketing Manager

mark.jeffers@eckoh.com

08000 630 730
Prevalence of Dental Disorders to Push Dental Services Sales by 6.6% by 2032

Fact.MR's latest report on global dental services market offers a 360-degree view of the critical factors such as market drivers, opportunities and challenges promoting the growth in the market. It also covers the latest trends and forecast data affecting the sales of dental services across the various segments including service type, end use, and regions.

NEW YORK, April 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The global dental services market was valued at US$ 326.3 Bn in 2021. According to Fact.MR, the overall sales of dental services are estimated to reach US$ 656.5 Bn in 2032, registering a CAGR of 6.6% during the forecast period (2022-2032).

Growing awareness regarding dental care is projected to increase the demand for dental services in the coming years. Similarly, rise in the number of people opting for dental aesthetics or cosmetic dentistry to improve the symmetry of their teeth will further drive the market.

Subsequently, demand for dental implants among the adult population is surging due to need for oral hygiene, improved speech, and good appearance. According to the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (AAOMS), nearly 70% of the adults aged between 35 and 44 years have lost at least a single tooth.

For more insights into the Market, Request a Sample of this Report

https://www.factmr.com/connectus/sample?flag=S&rep_id=7184

Growing trend of dental tourism in countries such as India, Mexico, Thailand, Indonesia, and others is anticipated to create high prospects for sales within the dental services market.

In addition to this, advancements in healthcare infrastructure and increasing research and development activities will influence manufacturers to invest in dental services. This is likely to create prolific growth opportunities for the market.

Also, the number of dental clinics is increasing owing to the demand for cost efficiency, personal attention and upgradation in technology. Such developments in dental clinics is likely to boost the demand for dental services.

Subsequently, the increasing usage of invisible braces for reshaping the alignment of teeth is likely to provide the dental services market with new opportunities.

Report Attributes Details Base Year Value (2021A) US$ 326.3 Bn Projected Year Value (2032F) US$ 656.5 Bn Global Growth Rate (2022-2032) CAGR 6.6%

Key Takeaways:

By end use, the dental clinics segment is anticipated to register growth at a CAGR of 6.2% during the forecast period (2022-2032).

Based on service type, the dental implants segment is expected to create absolute dollar opportunity US$ 65.3 Bn by 2032.

by 2032. Dental services revenue is expected to grow nearly 2x from 2022 to 2032, reaching nearly US$ 656.5 Bn by 2032.

by 2032. Asia Pacific dental services market is anticipated to record growth at 7% CAGR until 2032.

dental services market is anticipated to record growth at 7% CAGR until 2032. Dentures segment is expected to register growth at 7.5% CAGR during the assessment period

Japan dental services market is projected to witness highest growth at 8% CAGR over the upcoming decade.

Growth Drivers:

Growing trend of smile enhancement treatment is attracting a lot of masses. This is likely to boost the sales in the dental services market.

Increasing government funding in the dental programs is projected to create bankable prospects for the market.

Rising awareness regarding oral care, along with the surging disposable income is likely to contribute to the market growth during the forecast period.

Restraints:

High costs of the dental equipment increase the prices of dental services, thereby discouraging people from availing dental services. This is expected to inhibit the growth in the market.

To Gain In-Depth Insights on Dental Services Market, Request Methodology at

https://www.factmr.com/connectus/sample?flag=RM&rep_id=7184

Competitive Landscape:

Key players are concentrating on improving their manufacturing techniques to expand their business across the healthcare sector. Furthermore, they are also adopting new strategies including acquisitions, collaborations, partnerships, and joint ventures to strengthen their footprint globally. By updating their product line, the companies are trying to gain a competitive edge in the market.

For instance,

August 2021 : Abano Healthcare Group acquired 84% of 1300Smiles, which is Townsville-based dental roll-up. This acquisition provides Abano healthcare an equity value of US $166 Mn .

: Abano Healthcare Group acquired 84% of 1300Smiles, which is Townsville-based dental roll-up. This acquisition provides Abano healthcare an equity value of US . October 2021 : Aspen Dental Management entered into a partnership with SprintRay. According to the deal, SprintRay will have to offer its 3D printing technology to all facilities of Aspen Dental Management present across 45 states in the U.S.

Key Companies Profiled by Fact.MR

Aspen Dental Management Inc.

National Health Service England

InterDent, Inc.

Abano Healthcare Group Limited

Axis Dental

The British United Provident Association Limited

Apollo White Dental

Dental Service Group

Gentle Dental of New England

Coast Dental

Pacific Dental Service

More Valuable Insights on Dental Services Market

In the latest report, Fact.MR, provides a comprehensive and focused view of the market analysis on the global dental services market. It also covers unbiased analysis for the forecast period of 2022 to 2032. This report also provides insights into the critical factors influencing the growth of the dental services market through detailed segmentation as follows:

By Service Type:

Dental Implants

Orthodontics

Periodontics

Endodontics

Cosmetic Dentistry

Laser Dentistry

Dentures

Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery

Other Types

By End Use:

Hospitals

Dental Clinics

By Region:

North America

Latin America

Europe

East Asia

South Asia & Oceania

& Oceania Middle East & Africa

Key Questions Covered in the Dental Services Market Report

At what rate will the global dental services market grow during 2022-2032?

Which are key factors promoting the growth in the global dental services market?

What are the challenges restraining the growth in the dental services market?

Which region is expected to dominate the global dental services market?

Who are the leading players operating in the dental services market?

What is the expected market value of global dental services market during the forecast period?

Explore Fact.MR's Coverage on the Healthcare Domain

Dental Laboratories Market: Growing incidence of dental ailments such as dental caries, gingivitis, and others is estimated to increase the demand for dental laboratories across the globe. Besides this, the growing awareness regarding oral fitness is bolstering the market.

Dental Curing Lights Market: Introduction of innovative cordless curing lights with high quality and long-lasting charging capacity is projected to spur the sales of dental curing lights. In addition to this, the rising demand for light energy to polymerize the adhesive cements, dental adhesives, and resin composites is bolstering the market.

Dental Lasers Market: The dental lasers market is expected to expand owing to the growing prevalence of periodontal diseases such as bleeding gums and untreated dental caries. Besides this, the rising demand for cosmetic dentistry will further augment the sales of dental lasers.

About Fact.MR

Fact.MR is a market research and consulting agency with deep expertise in emerging market intelligence. Spanning a wide range - from automotive & industry 4.0 to healthcare, chemical, and materials, to even the most niche categories. 80% of Fortune 1000's trusts us in critical decision making.

Contact:

Mahendra Singh

US Sales Office

11140 Rockville Pike

Suite 400

Rockville, MD 20852

United States

Tel: +1 (628) 251-1583

E: sales@factmr.com

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/713666/FactMR_Logo.jpg
Completes integration of ThirdSpace, the ID management and security specialist, acquired in 2021

TiG Data Intelligence, the UK-based provider of cyber security, identity, cloud transformation and managed services, today announced it has rebranded as Kocho, signalling a new era and strategy for the company.

The rebrand completes the integration of ThirdSpace, the Cardiff-based identity (ID) management and cyber security specialist, which has been operating under its own brand since it was acquired by TiG in March 2021.

Kocho, the Japanese word for butterfly and a symbol of transformation, will focus on helping UK organisations tackle two often conflicted challenges; how to leverage best-in-class digital and cloud technologies to transform their business models, while ensuring their operations are defended against breaches and cyberattacks.

Kocho is ideally positioned to deliver industry-leading cloud-based services that comply with the UK government's anticipated amendments to the 2018 Network and Information Systems (NIS) regulations. These changes are expected to stipulate stricter rules for third-party IT providers, following an increase in the number and severity of cyberattacks targeted at the digital supply chain.

"I am thrilled to unveil the new Kocho brand and philosophy," said Des Lekerman, CEO of Kocho, formerly TiG Data Intelligence and ThirdSpace. "Our mission is to help UK organisations accelerate their cloud transformation programmes to take advantage of new business opportunities, achieve efficiency gains, and support new ways of working. Crucially, with our identity and cyber security capabilities, we ensure organisations always strike the right balance between innovation and security, allowing them to realise their potential, without fear of compromise."

"Kocho's security team fulfils the role of our CISO, protecting our high value digital assets from attack and ensuring we comply with government legislation as well as stringent financial sector regulations," said Ross Carmichael, Chief Technology Officer at Liontrust Asset Management. "Over recent years, we've been active in the M&A market. Kocho has supported us every step of the way. They ensure that security is baked into everything we do but is never getting in the way of us meeting our wider business objective."

Deep Microsoft expertise

In its history, the company has been winners at the Microsoft Partner of the Year Awards on eight occasions. Kocho will build on this strategic relationship by offering a broad portfolio of secure transformation services built for Microsoft environments. Kocho's comprehensive range of consultancy and managed services comprises best-in-class cyber security, identity and access management and compliance services, coupled with cloud transformation and data analytics.

"The Kocho team has been a long-standing Microsoft Partner and is regarded as one of our highly competent partners with a number of advanced specialisations across identity and cyber security. They are particularly adept at tailoring our technology solutions to meet individual customer requirements to deliver maximum value," said Eleri Gibbon, Director of Services Partners at Microsoft. "The combination of expert identity and security skills combined with cloud transformation and managed services meets a growing and acute market need, we're excited to see the additional benefits Kocho brings to Microsoft customers across the UK."

Growing UK presence

Founded in 2001, Kocho now has annual revenues of 33 million and employs a team of 220 at offices in London, Cardiff and Manilla. The company expects to more than double its revenues through a combination of organic growth and acquisition within the next five years and has plans to significantly grow its headcount, initially at its new Cardiff-based cyber security operations centre which provides managed security services for clients across several different industries, including in the financial, health, manufacturing and professional services sectors.

About Kocho:

Kocho combines the power of Microsoft cloud technology with world-class identity and cyber security expertise, to steer UK organisations on a course to secure cloud transformation.

Founded in 2001 and previously known as TiG Data Intelligence and ThirdSpace, the company rebranded as Kocho in 2022, following the acquisition of security and ID specialist, ThirdSpace in March 2021. Headquartered in London, it also has operations in Cardiff and Manilla. Customers span mid-market organisations up to large enterprises, operating in the financial services, health, manufacturing and professional services sectors. Brands relying on Kocho include BUPA, AVIVA, William Blair and Liontrust Asset Management.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220412005062/en/

Contacts:

Sarah Hankins Hannah Arnold

Eleven Hundred Agency

Kocho@elevenhundredagency.com

T: +44 (0)20 7688 5202
"Choice is at the heart of our design." Clio employees will have total flexibility to work remotely, hybrid, and in-office, as Clio reopens its renewed workspace designed for a new era of work.

VANCOUVER, BC, April 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- As the corporate world marks two years since the pandemic disruption, companies are taking varying approaches and assessing what work model to adopt. Today, Clio , the world's leading provider of cloud-based legal technology, announced a digital-first model, embracing the best of in-person and virtual interactions for connectivity and collaboration.

While trends in hybrid models have demanded specific required days in-office, Clio is leading with trust, respect, and support for its employees. Its fully flexible hybrid and remote approach encourages employees to select the best place to do their job-whether that's their home, the office, or their favorite coffee shop.

A digital-first system means Clio's primary work experience is remote. Its office hubs in Burnaby, Toronto, Calgary, and Dublin are connected virtually for employees to coordinate workflow across locations, time zones, and platforms. With this approach, Clio is creating an inclusive and equitable environment with consideration for employees' workspace preferences.

"We've scaled Clio during an unprecedented time in history. Two pillars have carried us through leading to this moment: the resilience of this team, and the opportunity to rethink the workplace of the future", said Jack Newton, CEO, and Founder of Clio. "Today, we're opening a flexible workplace structure that can adapt to the changing needs of our team, with choice placed firmly at the center of each employee's journey."

Flexibility and Choice

From decreased commute times to increased family times and effective daily schedules, remote work has allowed employees to balance the competing demands of work and personal lives. But it is not a one-size-fits-all. Some employees find access to an office space beneficial, highlighting the need for organic social interactions. Both perspectives compel Clio, and the company is responding to the shifting values of its workforce.

"The events of the past year have redefined our priorities. Employees want a human-centric workplace now more than ever. We are listening and adapting our policies to reflect individual needs," said Jack Newton. "To succeed in this new reality, workplace flexibility and innovation will remain a key draw for talent and staff retention."

Distributed by Design

Headquartered in Burnaby, B.C., Clio has scaled its workforce to more than 800 employees in the last year, hiring in local regions outside its office hubs. Clio's aims to be inclusive and accessible to all employees. The legaltech leader is building inspiring and functional office spaces that facilitate individual work, team connections, and onsite events. The company will continue to provide monthly stipends and digital technologies for those working remotely to create their personal and productive workspace.

"Our flexible hybrid and remote teams in Burnaby, Calgary, Toronto, and Dublin are open to the fullest extent, and we look forward to growing the next chapter of TeamClio," said Jack Newton. "Clio's culture is paramount to our success as we embark on our scale-up journey."

The Future is Here

Clio has redesigned its offices for a changed workforce. Some of its key designs are advancing inclusion through gender-neutral washrooms, dedicated spaces for new parents and low profile counters in kitchens/lounges for accessibility. Other features include upgraded meeting room tech that connects employees regardless of location, an outdoor patio for picnics and barbecues, game areas, fitness studios, virtual call rooms, collaboration zones, hoteling workstations, and quiet rooms for heads-down work.

"We have redesigned a thoughtful office environment to optimize our employees' happiness and productivity," said Sarah Bettencourt, Chief People Officer. The new designs support a physical space for creativity and innovation to flourish while promoting an engaging and diverse connection between in-office and remote employees."

Clio aims to scale its workforce to 1,000 employees in 2022. Visit clio.com/careers to explore open roles across the company.

About Clio

Clio is transforming the legal experience for all by creating the world's leading cloud-based technologies for law firms- to keep lawyers and their clients better connected throughout the legal process. Firms of all sizes and practice areas use Clio products-Clio Manage, Clio Grow, and Lawyaw-to manage firm operations, streamline billing and payments, automate legal documents, and improve client experiences. Following its UA$250M Series D funding, led by TCV and JMI Equity, and its US$110M Series E investment, led by T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. and OMERS Growth Equity, Clio has made history by becoming the first legal practice management unicorn in the world. Learn more at clio.com.

Media Contact, Juliet Mafua, Senior Public Relations Specialist, Clio, 1-800-347-8314, juliet.mafua@clio.com
HELSINKI, April 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Caverion and mechanical engineering company Hauni Maschinenbau are expanding their cooperation for technical maintenance services at production site in Hamburg, Germany. In addition to cooling and ventilation, the new agreement will include also building automation, heating and sanitation.

"With Caverion, we have a partner that supports us in achieving the goals of our sustainability program: to reduce water and energy consumption and, as a result, to reduce CO2 emissions," explains Matthias Wingerath, Head of Facility Management at Hauni Maschinenbau GmbH.

The Hauni Maschinenbau production site, with production and administration buildings, has grown continuously since the 1950s. Six Caverion service technicians work permanently on site and take care of the smooth operation of the facilities. Additionally, Caverion's energy advisors will conduct an energy analysis of the existing facilities. Based on the data collected, measures will be developed to increase the efficiency of the technical facilities and to reduce the energy consumption and costs.

Hauni Maschinenbau GmbH, with its headquarters in Hamburg, is the leading brand of the Hauni Group and synonymous with first class mechanical engineering from Germany. Its product portfolio includes machinery and equipment for the production of paper drinking straws, cigarettes and filters.

For more information, please contact:

Holger Winkelstrater, Head of Marketing and Communication, Caverion Germany, +49 89 374288 117, holger.winkelstraeter@caverion.com

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

https://news.cision.com/caverion/r/caverion-supports-hauni-maschinenbau-to-achieve-its-sustainability-targets-at-production-site-in-ham,c3544943

The following files are available for download:
Lead, South Dakota--(Newsfile Corp. - April 12, 2022) - Dakota Gold Corp. (NYSE American: DC) ("Dakota Gold" or the "Company") is pleased to add a second drill to its Phase 1 exploration program which commenced drilling on March 29, 2022, at the Richmond Hill Gold Project, located approximately 5 miles northwest of Lead, South Dakota, and 2 miles north of Coeur Mining, Inc.'s Wharf mine.

Richmond Hill Exploration Highlights:

Phase 1 exploration program expands drilling to include the Richmond Hill Gold Project in addition to the Maitland Gold Project currently underway.

Hy-Tech Drilling has mobilized a second drill rig to the Homestake District where Dakota Gold will begin exploring for Homestake-type iron formation hosted gold mineralization at the Richmond Hill Property.

The Richmond Hill Property has produced approximately 172,000 ounces of gold from an open pit, heap leach operation that ceased production in the early 1990s.

The Richmond Hill property has the potential to host gold mineralization in Precambrian iron formation, Tertiary breccias, Tertiary altered metabasalt, and Tertiary replacement mineralization in the Deadwood Formation.

The Company has exclusive rights to Barrick Gold Corporation's 145-year data set in the Homestake District which is being utilized to develop and prioritize the Company's exploration work.

Exploration Update:

James M. Berry, Vice President of Exploration of Dakota Gold, said, "We are excited to begin our drill program at Richmond Hill Gold Project. Previous exploration work has identified several prospective targets that we are eager to follow-up on including TT-86-26 at Twin Tunnels which encountered 110 feet of 0.198 ounces per ton gold in Precambrian iron formation (Note that TT-86-26 is a historical drill hole, and the results cannot be verified). The Richmond Hill Gold Project is just one of several opportunities that Dakota Gold has in front of us. We are looking forward to reporting on future exploration results as the program continues to expand through 2022."

Richmond Hill Gold Project

On March 29, 2022, the Company commenced its 23,000 ft (7,000 meter) core drilling program at the Richmond Hill Property, located approximately 5 miles northwest of Lead, South Dakota, and 2 miles north of Coeur Mining, Inc.'s Wharf mine.

Eight hundred eighty historical drill holes have been compiled to identify eight zones of mineralization (see Figure 2) at the Richmond Hill Property. Historically, an open pit/heap leach operation produced gold from a Tertiary breccia body within a Precambrian greenstone at the Richmond Hill deposit. The Twin Tunnels area contains gold mineralization within Precambrian iron formation and Tertiary altered Precambrian greenstone. The Cleveland area contains gold mineralization within Precambrian iron formation. Gold bearing, Precambrian hosted, Tertiary breccias are found at Turnaround. The Cole Creek, MW3, and Chism Gulch are Tertiary replacement gold mineralization hosted within the Deadwood Formation.

The Phase 1 drill program at the Richmond Hill Project is designed to extend areas of iron formation hosted gold at Twin Tunnels and below MW3 Main (see Figure 3). The program will also test for additional iron formation host rock at depth and below cover. Step-out drilling for extensions of Tertiary replacement style mineralization are planned in a Phase 2 drill program like that shown in Figure 4.





Photo above: Dakota Gold's second drill added to its Phase 1 exploration program at the Richmond Hill Gold Project, located approximately 5 miles northwest of Lead, South Dakota, and 2 miles north of Coeur Mining, Inc.'s Wharf mine.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/8218/120140_532e562244d19abb_002full.jpg





Maitland Gold Project Drilling Update

Exploration for the up-plunge extension of the North Drift Homestake-style gold mineralization in the Maitland target area is currently underway.

On January 27, 2022, the Company mobilized the first of two drill rigs and commenced its 103,000 ft / 31,000-meter core drilling program at the Maitland target area located approximately three miles north and contiguous with the Homestake mine. To date, the Company has targeted nine holes at Maitland. Drill results will be provided as the program progresses. Homestake Mining Company carried out several drill programs in this area beginning in 1961 that identified Precambrian aged mineralization and Tertiary aged mineralization at Maitland. Precambrian mineralization is similar to that found at the world class Homestake mine and is hosted in iron-formation associated with quartz-carbonate veins. The alteration assemblage consists of chlorite selvages along vein margins with arsenopyrite and pyrrhotite. The Tertiary aged mineralization is hosted within Tertiary, Paleozoic and Precambrian units.

The Company is planning to add a third drill in May.





Figure 1. Dakota Gold Properties in the Homestake District

To view an enhanced version of Figure 1, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/8218/120140_532e562244d19abb_003full.jpg







Figure 2. Plan view of the Richmond Hill Property area and historical drilling.



To view an enhanced version of Figure 2, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/8218/120140_532e562244d19abb_004full.jpg



Figure 3. Plan view of the Precambrian geology below the Paleozoic and Tertiary cover.

To view an enhanced version of Figure 3, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/8218/120140_532e562244d19abb_005full.jpg



Figure 4. Cross-section view (looking north) of the Richmond Hill Property with general geology and historical drilling.



To view an enhanced version of Figure 4, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/8218/120140_532e562244d19abb_006full.jpg





About Dakota Gold Corp.

Dakota Gold is a South Dakota-based responsible gold exploration and development company with a specific focus on revitalizing the Homestake District in Lead, South Dakota. Dakota Gold has high-caliber gold mineral properties covering over 40 thousand acres surrounding the historic Homestake Mine.

The Dakota Gold team is focused on new gold discoveries and opportunities that build on the legacy of the Homestake District and its 145 years of gold mining history.

Subscribe to Dakota Gold's e-mail list at www.dakotagoldcorp.com to receive the latest news and other Company updates.

Inquiries

Shareholder and Investor Inquiries: For more information, please contact Jonathan Awde at +1 604-761-5251 or JAwde@dakotagoldcorp.com.

Forward Looking Statements

This communication contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and expectations that may not be realized and are inherently subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially from these statements. These risks and uncertainties include, among others, the execution and timing of our planned exploration activities, our use and evaluation of historic data, our ability to achieve our strategic goals, the state of the economy and financial markets generally and the effect on our industry, and the market for our common stock. The foregoing list is not exhaustive. For additional information regarding factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in our forward-looking statements, we refer you to the risk factors included in Item 1A of Dakota Territory Resource Corp.'s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 2021, as amended, as updated by annual, quarterly and other reports and documents that we file with the SEC, including the registration statement on Form S-4 that has been filed with the SEC and Dakota Territory Resource Corp.'s proxy statement filed on Form DEF 14A. We caution investors not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements contained in this communication. These statements speak only as of the date of this communication, and we undertake no obligation to update or revise these statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by law. We do not give any assurance that we will achieve our expectations.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/120140
12 April 2022

BH MACRO LIMITED (the "Company")

(a closed-ended investment company incorporated in Guernsey with registration number 46235)

LEI: 549300ZOFF0Z2CM87C29

Additional disapplication of pre-emption rights

Since the Company's annual general meeting held in September 2021 (the "2021 Annual General Meeting"), the Company has issued or sold from treasury 2,389,852 Sterling shares to satisfy market demand, as a result of which the authority obtained at the 2021 Annual General Meeting to issue or sell from treasury Sterling shares on a non-preemptive basis has been utilised in full.

The Company believes that there is still continuing demand for the issue by the Company of new Sterling shares and that increasing the number of the Company's shares in issue should benefit the Company's shareholders as a whole.

Accordingly, the Company has today despatched to its shareholders a circular (the "Circular") putting forward a special resolution to supplement the authority obtained at the 2021 Annual General Meeting which seeks to disapply the pre-emption rights contained in the Articles so that the Board has authority to allot and issue (or sell from treasury) shares for cash on a non-pre-emptive basis in respect of Sterling shares in the Company equivalent to 10 per cent. of the Sterling shares in issue as at the latest practicable date prior to today's date (excluding Sterling shares held in treasury) (the "Extraordinary General Meeting").

The Extraordinary General Meeting will be held at the offices of Northern Trust International Fund Administration Services (Guernsey) Limited, Trafalgar Court, Les Banques, St Peter Port, Guernsey, GY1 3QL on 5 May 2022 at 9.30 a.m. (London time).

The Circular has been despatched to all Shareholders. An electronic copy of the Circular is available on the Company's website http://www.bhmacro.com/ and will also be submitted to the National Storage Mechanism website at https://data.fca.org.uk/#/nsm/nationalstoragemechanism.



Enquiries:

Company website: www.bhmacro.com

Northern Trust International Fund Administration Services (Guernsey) Limited

Tel: +44 (0) 1481 745001
Babylon (NYSE: BBLN) ("Babylon" or the "Company") will host a conference call on Thursday, May 12, 2022, at 8:00 AM Eastern Time to review the Company's first quarter 2022 financial results. A press release announcing the first quarter results will be issued prior to the conference call on Thursday, May 12, 2022.

To participate in the Company's live conference call and webcast, please dial 877-407-7994 for U.S. participants, 0 800 756 3429 for U.K. participants, or +1 215-268-9868 for international participants. Alternatively, you can visit the "News Events" section of https://ir.babylonhealth.com to access the live webcast. On this page, you can also find a "Call me" link for instant telephone access to the event, which will be made active 15 minutes prior to the scheduled start time. A replay of the call will be available via webcast for on-demand listening shortly after the completion of the call.

About Babylon

Babylon is one of the world's fastest growing digital healthcare companies whose mission is to make high-quality healthcare accessible and affordable for every person on Earth.

Babylon is re-engineering how people engage with their care at every step of the healthcare continuum. By flipping the model from reactive sick care to proactive healthcare through the devices people already own, it offers millions of people globally ongoing, always-on care. Babylon has already shown that in environments as diverse as the developed UK or developing Rwanda, urban New York or rural Missouri, for people of all ages, it is possible to achieve its mission by leveraging its highly scalable, digital-first platform combined with high quality, virtual clinical operations to provide integrated, personalized healthcare.

Founded in 2013, Babylon's technology and clinical services is supporting a global patient network across 15 countries, and is capable of operating in 16 languages. And through a combination of its value-based care model, Babylon 360, and its work in primary care through NHS GP at Hand, Babylon managed over 440k lives globally from the start of 2022. In 2021 alone, Babylon helped a patient every 6 seconds, with approximately 5.2 million consultations and AI interactions. Importantly, this was achieved with a 93% user retention rate and 4 or 5 star ratings from more than 95% of our users.

Babylon is already working with governments, health providers, employers and insurers across the globe in order to provide them with a new infrastructure that any partner can use to deliver high-quality healthcare with lower costs and better outcomes. For more information, please visit www.babylonhealth.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220412005266/en/

Contacts:

Media

Adam Davison

press@babylonhealth.com

Investors

investors@babylonhealth.com
People evacuate in Irpin, Ukraine, March 11, 2022. (Photo by Diego Herrera/Xinhua)

Only by ending the conflict as soon as possible can the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine be fundamentally solved and can women and children be kept away from violence, a Chinese envoy said.

UNITED NATIONS, April 11 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese envoy on Monday called for an early end to the conflict in Ukraine in order to fundamentally solve the humanitarian crisis and spare women and children from violence.

Women and children are the most vulnerable to violence, and should be given priority protection in armed conflicts, said Dai Bing, China's deputy permanent representative to the United Nations.

"We call on parties involved in the situation in Ukraine to strictly abide by international humanitarian law, effectively protect women and children, respect and guarantee the civilian nature and safety of facilities such as schools and hospitals, and provide special care to women and children in evacuation, rescue, and medical assistance," he told a Security Council meeting on Ukraine.

China deplores that dozens of civilians, including women and children, were killed or injured in the attack on Kramatorsk train station. The relevant circumstances and specific cause of the incident must be established and verified, and any claim should be based on facts, he said.

Residents walk near damaged buildings in Mariupol, April 10, 2022. (Photo by Victor/Xinhua)

A large number of Ukrainian women and children have taken refuge in neighboring countries. China appreciates these neighboring countries and other countries for opening their borders and providing shelter and humanitarian assistance. All refugees, regardless of skin color, race, or religion, should receive equal protection under international refugee law, said Dai.

The humanitarian needs of Ukraine and neighboring countries remain immense. Relevant UN agencies should continue to mobilize and coordinate international support for humanitarian assistance for all those in need. The special needs of women and children should be considered, and targeted medical treatment, psychological counseling, and social services should be provided to them. And children's rights to education should be ensured, he said.

"We are deeply concerned about reports that women and children seeking asylum were subjected to abduction, human trafficking and abuse," he said. "We call on international agencies such as UN Women, the UN Children's Fund, the UN Refugee Agency, and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights to strengthen monitoring and support relevant countries to take measures to resolutely prevent this group of people from being harmed a second time."

Dai stressed the need to bring an end to the conflict.

Only by ending the conflict as soon as possible can the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine be fundamentally solved and can women and children be kept away from violence, he said.

Local residents are seen outside the damaged buildings in Mariupol, April 7, 2022. (Photo by Victor/Xinhua)

"Dialogue and negotiation are the only way to peace. We support the parties involved to continue negotiations, strive to overcome difficulties and differences, create conditions for a cease-fire, and make positive efforts so that women and children can see the dawn of peace at an early date. All other parties in the international community should do more to facilitate dialogue and negotiations, and create the necessary environments and conditions for progress in the negotiations," he said.

Simply imposing sanctions and sending weapons will not bring peace. The ever-intensifying extensive and indiscriminate sanctions have triggered food and energy crises and soaring prices for necessities, for which the entire world population is paying a heavy price. Tens of millions of women and children in Afghanistan, Yemen, the Horn of Africa, and the Sahel have been hit the hardest, said Dai.

"China once again calls on all parties to exercise restraint, adopt a responsible attitude, and make constructive efforts to properly resolve the crisis in Ukraine and restore peace at an early date," he said. 
PETALING JAYA, Malaysia, April 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- MY E.G. Services Berhad's ("MYEG") Zetrix blockchain has completed the foundational development for its Layer-1 blockchain functionalities and it will launch its mainnet on 15thApril 2022. This marks the completion of phase 1 of Zetrix's journey towards being a leading platform for decentralized applications, where industrial use cases like supply chain traceability and financing co-exist with the metaverse.

Zetrix is the international extension of Xinghuo BIF, China's largest national-level blockchain network supported by all levels of the Chinese government and running both governmental and commercial applications. It is a collaboration between MYEG and Beijing-based Bubi Technologies which provides the backbone infrastructure and supernodes outside China that integrates with Xinghuo BIF. Zetrix's Layer-1 infrastructure will host applications, protocols and networks to be deployed on top of its proprietary smart contracts and Proof-of-Stake (PoS) consensus mechanisms across a network of validator nodes.

MYEG's recently launched NFT marketplace, NFT Pangolin, will be one of the first applications to be hosted on Zetrix and will introduce Zetrix-minted NFTs on the platform. NFT Pangolin is a global marketplace for creators to issue and sell their unique crypto-secured digital collectibles. Compared to the expensive costs associated with Ethereum, Zetrix will provide lower minting charges and gas fees to reduce the financial barriers to entry for participants which will encourage more artists, traditional and digital alike, to explore the potential of blockchain and a new platform as a means of showcasing and trading their work.

Mr. TS Wong, Group Managing Director of MYEG commented: "This can further educate existing customers and potential users on not only the application of NFTs beyond the creator scene, but also its potential real-world utilization and hopefully to initiate its use for ownership of real-world products. Our aspiration is to be the bridge to enable NFTs or digital collectibles to move freely between China and the rest of the world."

The Zetrix mainnet launch contributes significantly to MYEG's plans of digitalizing all forms of value transfer and asset ownership, and tokenization as well as for the metaverse ecosystem development. Upcoming projects on Zetrix include Zetrix decentralized finance (DeFi), Web 3.0 domain registry and support for DAO (Decentralised Autonomous Organisations).

More information on Zetrix, along with the Software Development Kit (SDK) for third-party developers, is available at zetrix.com.

About MY E.G. Services Bhd ("MYEG")

MYEG is Malaysia's premier digital services company. Having commenced operations in 2000 as the flagship e-government services provider, MYEG continues to play a leading role in driving technological change in Malaysia and elsewhere in the region, bringing a diverse and complete range of innovations spanning the online delivery of major government services to a variety of commercial offerings in the areas of immigration, automotive, healthcare and financial services, among others. Committed to staying firmly at the forefront of the region's digital revolution, MYEG has embraced the potential of blockchain technology to enhance all aspects of life and is actively pioneering its adoption across its main markets. Beyond Malaysia, MYEG has operations in other key regional markets such as the Philippines and Indonesia.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - April 12, 2022) - Tevano Systems Holdings Inc's (CSE: TEVO) (FSE: 7RB) (OTC Pink: TEVNF) ("Tevano", or the "Company") wholly owned subsidiary Illuria Security, Inc. ("Illuria") announces the alpha release of its cyber deception technology, "ProfilerX".

In advance of full commercialization, Illuria is launching an Alpha version of ProfilerX for market testing starting in April 2022. ProfilerX aims to give organizations an upper hand against cybercrime by creating virtual minefields with decoys and lures to break the attacker's decision cycle. illuria's deception technology forces attackers to reveal themselves, enabling organizations to detect an attack in its early stages and respond immediately with actionable intelligence.

This alpha version will contain the three core components of deception technology; deploying decoys and lures at scale, real time event tracing for early detection and threat intelligence feed, open API facility for accelerating incident response and automation of security operations.

As illuria's CTO Zareh Petrossian explains, "Several partners have expressed interest, and an alpha release will allow us to 'white-box' our product in real production environments and get users' feedback into loop ahead of launch time, which is just around the corner."

This product version will be made available to a private group of early users, partners, researchers, and security operators, providing them with the ability to deploy deception technology in live environments, detect and monitor malicious activity, and gain full visibility to respond to the attack accordingly. It will also be deployed in sandboxed environments for testing against recent ransomware campaigns, APT's (Advanced Persistent Threats) simulations and other sophisticated attacks and techniques.

The purpose of the Alpha release is to gather market intelligence and valuable insights to further enhance the product offering and features, and to deliver the highest possible value to customers.

To apply for our private alpha release, visit https://www.illuriasec.com/demo

About Tevano

Tevano Systems Holdings Inc., through its operating subsidiaries, is a technology company with custom and proprietary hardware and software technologies. Its subsidiary, Illuria Security, Inc. is an early-stage software development company whose technology involves active cyber deception to protect critical network systems of enterprise systems of all sizes. Using deception technology, Illuria's software seeks to solve the challenge of cyber-attacks by detecting threats, systematically deceiving attackers, and actively deterring attacks. Its subsidiary Tevano Systems Inc. is the developer of Health Shield, an AI-driven, electronic tablet that video displays a user with their body temperature and other information. It provides detailed reports of all scans done throughout an enterprise.

For more information, please visit www.tevano.com

On behalf of the Board of:

TEVANO SYSTEMS HOLDINGS INC.

David Bajwa, Chief Executive Officer

davidb@tevano.com

778 388 4806

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION: This news release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. These statements relate to future events or future performance. All statements other than statements of historical fact may be forward-looking statements or information. More particularly and without limitation, this news release contains forward-looking statements and matters. The forward-looking statements and information are based on certain key expectations and assumptions made by management of the Company. Although management of the Company believes that the expectations and assumptions on which such forward-looking statements and information are based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking statements and information since no assurance can be given that they will prove to be correct.

Forward-looking statements and information are provided for the purpose of providing information about the current expectations and plans of management of the Company relating to the future. Readers are cautioned that reliance on such statements and information may not be appropriate for other purposes, such as making investment decisions. Since forward-looking statements and information address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated due to several factors and risks. These include, but are not limited to, the Company's ability to raise further capital, the success of the Company's software and product initiatives and the Company's ability to obtain regulatory and exchange approvals. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. The forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release are made as of the date hereof and no undertaking is given to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements or information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless so required by applicable securities laws. The forward-looking statements or information contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.

Neither the CSE nor the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/120143
Cranbrook, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - April 12, 2022) - DLP Resources Inc. (TSXV: DLP) (OTCQB: DLPRF) ("DLP" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that drilling has commenced on the Moby Dick project in SE British Columbia, Canada.

Moby Dick and NZOU Projects (Sullivan-type Zn-Pb-Ag Targets)

Weather conditions have improved on the Moby Dick project and once again we have accessed the drill site which we had to evacuate late last year due to intense rains and heavy snow. Hole MD22-01 has commenced with a target depth of 1500m to 1700m.

A three-to-four-hole drill program of approximately 5400m is planned for the Sullivan-type Zn-Pb-Ag targets on the Moby Dick and NZOU projects (Figures 1 and 2). As highlighted in the DLP press release of November 9, 2021 the extension of the well-developed MT (magnetotelluric) geophysical anomalies to the NE of hole DD21-02 indicate well developed conductive bodies extending over 5000m x 500m. These conductive zones are proposed to be associated with pyrrhotite (iron sulphide) associated with the extension of the Sullivan Horizon intersected in DD21-02 (Figure 2). Both geophysical and geological data support the fact that sufficient "smoke" exists to suggest that a significant mineralized Sullivan-type Zn-Pb-Ag system may be encountered in this phase of drilling. A low resistivity (strong conductive) anomaly extending from approximately 700m to beyond the targeted depth of 1500m to 1700m is well developed on this drill section (Figure 3).





Figure 1: DLP Project areas with Moby Dick, NZOU, Hungry Creek and Copper Creek properties shown.



To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/6456/120146_2ef77cb774976b55_001full.jpg







Figure 2: Titan MT resistivity plan at 0m elevation with the main MT anomaly trending NE from DD21-02 onto the Moby Dick and NZOU properties.



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https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/6456/120146_2ef77cb774976b55_002full.jpg







Figure 3: Titan MT resistivity section along Line 3N showing current drill hole MD22-01



To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/6456/120146_2ef77cb774976b55_003full.jpg

Qualified Person

David L. Pighin, consulting geologist and co-founder of DLP Resources, is the qualified person of the Company as defined by National Instrument 43-101. Mr. Pighin has reviewed and approved the technical contents of this news release.

About DLP Resources Inc.

DLP Resources Inc. is a mineral exploration company operating in Southeastern British Columbia and Peru, exploring for Base Metals and Cobalt. DLP is listed on the TSX-V, trading symbol DLP and on the OTCQB, trading symbol DLPRF. Please refer to our web site www.dlpresourcesinc.com for additional information.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:

DLP RESOURCES INC.

Ian Gendall, CEO & President

Jim Stypula, Executive Chairman

Robin Sudo, Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Secretary

Maxwell Reinhart, Investor Relations

Telephone: 250-426-7808

Email: iangendall@dlpresourcesinc.com

Email: jimstypula@dlpresourcesinc.com

Email: robinsudo@dlpresourcesinc.com

Email: maxreinhart@dlpresourcesinc.com

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This release includes certain statements and information that may constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking statements relate to future events or future performance and reflect the expectations or beliefs of management of the Company regarding future events. Generally, forward-looking statements and information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "intends" or "anticipates", or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "should", "would" or "occur". This information and these statements, referred to herein as "forward-looking statements", are not historical facts, are made as of the date of this news release and include without limitation, statements regarding discussions of future plans, estimates and forecasts and statements as to management's expectations and intentions with respect to drilling on the Moby Dick and NZOU properties.

These forward-looking statements involve numerous risks and uncertainties and actual results might differ materially from results suggested in any forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, among other things, drill results expected from the Moby Dick and NZOU properties.

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 statements or forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and forward-looking information. Readers are cautioned that reliance on such information may not be appropriate for other purposes. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement, forward-looking information or financial out-look that are incorporated by reference herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. We seek safe harbor.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/120146
- Global end-to-end electric vehicle company helping companies like MOKE International transition into revolutionary electric era makes foray into Canada -

TORONTO, April 12, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- EV Technology Group Ltd., (NEO: EVTG) (the "Company"), a global end-to-end electric vehicle company focused on electrifying iconic driving experiences, today announced that it has received final approval to list its common shares on Canada's Neo Exchange. Trading is expected to commence at market open on April 12, 2022 under the symbol "EVTG." The Company also announces the successful closing of its previously announced reverse takeover of EV Technology Group Inc. ("EVT") by Blue Sky Energy Inc. ("BSI") (the "Reverse Takeover").



EV Technology Group is focused on electrifying iconic driving experiences, helping companies like MOKE International Limited ("MIL") transition into the booming electric era. As the largest shareholder of MIL, EVTG is working with MIL to launch the MOKE Electric in summer 2022 and roll out vehicles across Europe and internationally. The release of this ground-breaking electric vehicle aligns with the Company's mission of bringing joy back to motoring by creating sleek, new experiences for drivers, and the Company's core values around supporting greener transportation and a carbon-neutral world.

"EV Technology Group recognizes the unprecedented support Canada is injecting into the uptake of EVs, and given the country's strong existing automotive industry, Canada is a natural fit for EV Technology Group's mission to further accelerate our growth and expand our reach into new jurisdictions and to new customers. This is why we have chosen to list our company on the NEO Exchange," said EVT Group CEO, Wouter Witvoet. "We believe the NEO Exchange to be an innovative leader supporting the technology revolution, focused on tech start-ups and scale-ups that recognize the potential of industries like ours."

The Company is led by a diversified team of entrepreneurs, engineers and motor enthusiasts who are creating full market value by creating the total customer experience - owning emblematic car brands and controlling their manufacturing and distribution. EV Technology Group's strategic focus is on developing and commercializing electric vehicle technologies that have significant growth potential in unique, niche, and underserved markets.

Mr. Witvoet adds, "So much of the focus right now in the EV industry is centered around creating EV brands from scratch. At EV Technology Group, we see value in building a company focused on acquiring existing brands and making them electric, turning them into key EV players. If the world wants to achieve carbon neutrality, we can't forget that the reason people buy EVs isn't simply to go from point A to point B, it's also about enjoying the experience of owning and driving a car. Investing in the luxury electric vehicle market is critical for us to achieve carbon goals in the years to come."

*For more information on the Reverse Takeover, see the formal press release here: https://evtgroup.com/ev-technology-group-announces-closing-of-reverse-takeover-transaction-and-approval-of-listing-on-the-neo-exchange/

About EV Technology Group

EVT Group was founded in 2021 with the mission of accelerating the adoption of electric vehicles and the vision to champion the joy of motoring in an electric world. As passionate investors and operators of EV technology companies, EVT Group believes in three things: electric vehicles are the future; EVs will transform the way people live, work, and have fun, and there is an opportunity to accelerate the adoption of this technology - beginning with a focus on technologies that have growth potential through targeting unique, niche, and underserved markets - by electrifying iconic driving experiences. To learn more visit: https://evtgroup.com/

About Neo Exchange Inc.

The NEO Exchange is Canada's Tier 1 stock exchange for the innovation economy, bringing together investors and capital raisers within a fair, liquid, efficient, and service-oriented environment. Fully operational since June 2015, NEO puts investors first and provides access to trading across all Canadian-listed securities on a level playing field. NEO lists companies and investment products seeking an internationally recognized stock exchange that enables investor trust, quality liquidity, and broad awareness including unfettered access to market data.

Neo Exchange has not reviewed or approved this press release for the adequacy or accuracy of its contents.

Forward - Looking Information

Certain information set forth in this news release may contain forward - looking information that involve substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties. This forward - looking information is subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond the control of the Company, including, but not limited to, the impact of general economic conditions, industry conditions, and dependence upon regulatory approvals. Readers are cautioned that the assumptions used in the preparation of such information, although considered reasonable at the time of preparation, may prove to be imprecise and, as such, undue reliance should not be placed on forward - looking information. The parties undertake no obligation to update forward - looking information except as otherwise may be required by applicable securities law.

Media Contact:

Rachael D'Amore | rachael@talkshopmedia.com | 519-564-9850
WHITE ROCK, BC / ACCESSWIRE / April 12, 2022 / TDG Gold Corp. (TSXV:TDG) (the "Company" or "TDG") is pleased to report preliminary results from five drillholes from its 2021 Shasta diamond drill program including 21.0 metres ("m") of 0.92 grams per tonne ("g/t") gold ("Au") and 44 g/t silver ("Ag") [1.47 g/t AuEq*] from 48.0 m depth in hole SH21-035; 36.0 metres of 0.92 g/t Au and 20 g/t Ag [1.17 g/t AuEq*] from 77.0 m depth in SH21-041; and, 16.0 m of 1.26 g/t Au and 46 g/t Ag [1.84 g/t AuEq*] from 51.5 m depth in hole SH21-044. All results contained within this news release are from holes drilled within the Creek Zone at TDG's former producing Shasta project in the Toodoggone District, B.C. (Figure 1).

Key intercepts for diamond drillholes SH21-035, SH21-041, SH21-044, SH21-046 and SH21-049 are presented in Table 1 and shown in cross-sections (Figures 2-3). Drill results for remaining 2021 drillholes are pending analytical results.

Figure 1. Plan View of Drillholes SH21-035, SH21-041, SH21-044, SH21-046 & SH21-049 in the Creek Zone, Shasta Project, Toodoggone District, B.C.

Table 1. Results from the 2021 Drilling within the Creek Zone.

Drillhole From To Length Au Ag AuEq* (m) (m) (m) (g/t) (g/t) (g/t) SH21-035 6.1 15.0 8.9 1.59 13 1.76 incl 6.1 7.5 1.4 6.67 23 6.96 and 33.0 70.5 37.5 0.59 29 0.96 and 84.5 173.2 88.7 0.38 19 0.62 incl 164.2 167.0 2.8 5.77 215 8.46 SH21-041 77.0 113.0 36.0 0.92 20 1.17 incl 99.0 113.0 14.0 1.96 27 2.29 SH21-044 51.5 133.6 82.1 0.35 17 0.56 incl 51.5 67.5 16.0 1.26 46 1.84 incl 54.6 59.1 4.5 2.57 76 3.52 SH21-046 1.0 4.0 3.0 1.23 18 1.46 and 14.5 38.7 24.2 0.31 17 0.52 incl 18.5 25.5 7.0 0.67 32 1.07 incl 22.5 24.0 1.5 2.05 121 3.56 and 47.7 69.2 21.5 0.19 9 0.31 SH21-049 3.0 102.9 99.9 0.35 15 0.53 incl 10.5 24.0 13.5 1.37 40 1.86 incl 13.5 18.0 4.5 2.78 26 3.10 incl 51.0 69.5 18.5 0.26 9 0.37 *Gold equivalent (AuEq) is used for illustrative purposes, to express the combined value of Au and Ag as a percentage of Au. Calculations are uncut and no allowances have been made to accommodate potential recovery losses that would occur in a mining scenario. AuEq is calculated using 80:1 silver to gold ratio. Composite results were built using a 0.1 g/t AuEq cut-off, although there are intervals within the composites below 0.1g/t AuEq. ** Intervals are core-length weighted. True width is estimated between 75 to 95 % of core length, and core recovery is estimated to be > 90 %. ***Calculated composites are truncated to significant 2 digits for Au/AuEq and the nearest whole number for Ag.

SH21-044 and SH21-035 were designed to test the mineralized target zone in periphery and underneath the historical small-scale workings, in similar concept to SH21-040 and SH21-040B (see TDG News Release March 29, 2022) and SH21-003 (See TDG News Release January 4, 2022). These holes demonstrate gold and silver mineralization that remains in-situ peripheral to the historical small-scale workings and further highlights the potential for continuity of the mineralized target zone at depth and along strike, and having a component that remains open to the west.

Mineralization is similar to that described in previous news releases of Shasta preliminary results: intensity of quartz/carbonate veining and hydrothermal brecciation appears proportionate to proximity to the Shasta Fault; and an alteration assemblage of strong potassic and subordinate chlorite/sericite alteration with quartz/carbonate veins containing potassic vein selvages, hosting pyrite and acanthite sulphide minerals.

All 2021 drillholes were HQ sized drill core, and historical core are NQ/BQ core size. Particulars for 2021 drillholes (location, depth, etc.) are presented in Table 2. Assay results were received from SGS Labs Canada ("SGS"). Internal QA/QC review by TDG, working with Moose Mountain Technical Services ("MMTS"), is ongoing and therefore results are still considered preliminary.

Figure 2. Cross section of Drillholes SH21-035 and SH21-044.

Figure 3. Cross section of Drillholes SH21-041, SH21-046 and SH21-049.

Table 2. 2021 Drillhole Particulars.

HOLE UTME (NAD83) UTMN (NAD83) Azimuth() Dip() Final Depth (m) SH21-035 620,990 6,347,358 240 -71 174 SH21-041 620,869 6,347,395 90 -60 180 SH21-044 620,887 6,347,360 90 -59 137 SH21-046 620,979 6,347,399 60 -67 126 SH21-049 620,979 6,347,399 60 -90 155

QA/QC

Samples for the Shasta 2021 drill program followed chain of custody between collection, processing and delivery to an SGS laboratory in Burnaby, B.C. The drill cores were delivered to the core shack at TDG's Baker Mine site, and processed by geologists who inserted certified reference materials, blanks and duplicates (pulp and coarse) into the sampling sequence. The 2021 drill core was cut in half (1/2 HQ core) and placed in zip-tied polyurethane bags, then in security-sealed rice bags before being delivered directly from the Baker Mine site, to Bandstra Transportation Systems in Prince George, B.C., and ultimately to the SGS laboratory in Burnaby, B.C. Samples were prepared and analyzed following procedures summarized in Table 3, where information about methodology can be found on the SGS Canada Website, in the analytical guide (here).

Table 3. Au and Ag Analytical Methods.

Drillhole Prep Method Au Method Ag Method Au-Overlimit Method Ag-Overlimit SH21-035 PRP89 GO_FAI50V10 GE_IMS40Q12 N/A GO_FAG37V SH21-041 PRP89 GO_FAI50V10 GE_IMS40Q12 N/A N/A SH21-044 PRP89 GO_FAI50V10 GE_IMS40Q12 N/A GO_FAG37V SH21-046 PRP89 GO_FAI50V10 GE_IMS40Q12 N/A GO_FAG37V SH21-049 PRP89 GO_FAI50V10 GE_IMS40Q12 N/A GO_FAG37V

Quality assurance and control ("QAQC") is maintained internally at the lab through rigorous use of internal certified reference materials, blanks, and duplicates. An additional QAQC program was administered by TDG Gold through the use of certified reference materials ("CRMs"), duplicate samples and blank samples that were blindly inserted into the sample batch. If a QAQC sample returns an unacceptable value an investigation into the results is triggered and when deemed necessary, the samples that were tested in the batch with the failed QAQC sample are re-tested. For the purposes of this press release, results are 'preliminary' and thus have not undergone TDG's comprehensive QAQC investigations.

Qualified Person

The technical content of this news release has been reviewed and approved by Steven Kramar, MSc., P.Geo., a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101.

This news release includes historical drilling information that has been reviewed by the Company's geological team. The Company's review of the historical records and information reasonably substantiate the validity of the information presented in this news release; however, the Company cannot directly verify the accuracy of the historical data, including the procedures used for sample collection and analysis. Therefore, the Company encourages investors to exercise appropriate caution when evaluating these results. Further data review is underway, in order to verify the validity of the data for the anticipated NI 43-101 compliant mineral resource estimate.

About TDG Gold Corp.

TDG is a major mineral claim holder in the historical Toodoggone Production Corridor of north-central British Columbia, Canada, with over 23,000 hectares of brownfield and greenfield exploration opportunities under direct ownership or earn-in agreement. TDG's flagship projects are the former producing, high grade gold-silver Shasta, Baker and Mets mines, which are all road accessible, produced intermittently between 1981-2012, and have over 65,000 m of historical drilling. In 2021, TDG advanced the projects through compilation of historical data, new geological mapping, geochemical and geophysical surveys, and, for Shasta, drill testing of the known mineralization occurrences and their extensions. TDG currently has 96,343,142 common shares issued and outstanding.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

Fletcher Morgan

Chief Executive Officer

For further information contact:

TDG Gold Corp.,

Telephone: +1.604.536.2711

Email: info@tdggold.com

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

This news release contains forward-looking statements that are based on the Company's current expectations and estimates. Forward-looking statements are frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate", "suggest", "indicate" and other similar words or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from estimated or anticipated events or results implied or expressed in such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among others: the actual results of current exploration activities; conclusions of economic evaluations; changes in project parameters as plans to continue to be refined; possible variations in ore grade or recovery rates; accidents, labour disputes and other risks of the mining industry; delays in obtaining governmental approvals or financing; and fluctuations in metal prices. There may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made and, except as may be required by applicable securities laws, the Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and accordingly undue reliance should not be put on such statements due to the inherent uncertainty therein.

SOURCE: TDG Gold Corp.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/697034/TDG-Gold-Corp-Intersects-160-metres-of-184-gt-Gold-Equivalent-in-the-Creek-Zone-Shasta-Project-Toodoggone-District-BC
HALIFAX, NS / ACCESSWIRE / April 12, 2022 / Silver Tiger Metals Inc. (TSXV:SLVR)(OTCQX:SLVTF) ("Silver Tiger" or the "Corporation") has intersected 1,380.9 g/t AgEq over 0.5 meters within a broader interval of 23.8 meters grading 113.3 g/t AgEq in the El Tigre Vein.

Highlights from initial 7 drill holes down dip under the El Tigre historic workings at the North end include the following:

Hole ET-21-295: 0.5 meters grading 1,380.9 g/t silver equivalent from 102.0 meters to 102.5 meters, consisting of 1,200.0 g/t silver, 2.12 g/t gold, 0.16% copper, 0.20% lead and 0.05% zinc within 23.8 meters grading 113.3 g/t silver equivalent from 80.0 meters to 103.8 meters, consisting of 94.7 g/t silver, 0.19 g/t gold, 0.02% copper, 0.06% lead and 0.03% zinc

Hole ET-21-285: 1.5 meters grading 844.5 g/t silver equivalent from 300.2 meters to 301.7 meters, consisting of 23.5 g/t silver, 10.70 g/t gold, 0.06% copper, 0.24% lead and 0.21% zinc within 10.2 meters grading 135.9 g/t silver equivalent from 298.7 meters to 308.9 meters, consisting of 6.5 g/t silver, 1.63 g/t gold, 0.01% copper, 0.07% lead and 0.12% zinc

Additional results for the El Tigre Vein are presented in the Drill Hole Results table below along with the details for the calculation of the silver equivalent grades.

Attached is a Plan Map of the El Tigre Veins and Drill Holes. A Plan Map of the 600 meter central portion of the Sooy Vein, El Tigre Vein and Seitz Kelly Vein is also attached.

Silver Tiger's CEO, Glenn Jessome, stated, "The first down dip holes on the El Tigre Vein at the historic mine are delivering high grade silver intercepts within a broad mineralized zone. These first holes are shallow as the mining on the northern end of the El Tigre Vein stopped at level 4 at about 80 meters from surface. Deeper holes are currently being drilled down dip on the El Tigre Vein at the North end of the historic mine."

Underground Rehabilitation at Historic El Tigre Mine Update

As press released on February 22, 2022 Silver Tiger contracted Cominvi, a Mexican underground contract mining and development company to rehabilitate the Historic El Tigre Mine. Cominvi began underground rehabilitation March 21, 2022. Cominvi are progressing very quickly in the underground rehabilitation of the Historic El Tigre Mine and have already completed over 215 meters of rehabilitation in Level 7, which was the main portal to the mine.

Glenn Jessome further stated, "We are extremely satisfied with the first several weeks of Cominvi's underground rehabilitation of the old mine. Their expertise, professionalism and safety profile is exceptional. The first 215 meters of rehabilitation has gone quickly and smoothly which is a testimony to the structural integrity of the workings thus far. We expect to reach the Sooy Vein workings in another 255 meters, which is approximately 470 meters from the Level 7 portal."

Drill Hole Results Table

Hole ID Comment From To Length(1) Gold Silver Copper Lead Zinc AgEq Total (2) m m m g/t g/t % % % g/t ET-21-282 El Tigre Au Zone 64.3 92.1 27.8 0.08 18.3 0.00 0.02 0.04 26.5 Mining VOID 104.2 105.3 1.1 * * * * * * El Tigre Vein 105.3 106.3 1.0 0.09 158.0 0.05 0.76 0.06 189.3 El Tigre Au Zone 128.5 154.5 26.0 0.06 24.7 0.00 0.02 0.01 30.0 ET-21-285 El Tigre Vein 284.6 286.7 2.1 0.23 250.0 0.09 0.19 0.62 300.4 including 284.6 285.2 0.6 0.58 835.0 0.30 0.62 1.96 986.8 El Tigre Vein 298.7 308.9 10.2 1.63 6.5 0.01 0.07 0.12 135.9 including 300.2 301.7 1.5 10.70 23.5 0.06 0.24 0.21 844.5 ET-21-291 El Tigre Vein 232.7 233.9 1.2 0.04 103.9 0.24 0.06 0.55 150.1 El Tigre Vein 251.9 252.4 0.5 0.02 156.9 0.08 0.75 0.22 191.5 El Tigre Vein 265.7 267.1 1.4 0.16 52.6 0.16 0.94 0.11 105.9 ET-21-294 El Tigre Au Zone 83.6 101.3 17.7 0.24 12.3 0.00 0.01 0.04 32.5 including 94.7 95.2 0.5 1.69 101.1 0.02 0.03 0.09 233.5 ET-21-295 El Tigre Au Zone 57.0 73.0 16.0 0.25 11.2 0.00 0.03 0.04 32.0 El Tigre Zone 80.0 103.8 23.8 0.19 94.7 0.02 0.06 0.03 113.3 including 101.5 103.8 2.3 0.94 541.9 0.09 0.15 0.07 626.3 El Tigre Vein 102.0 102.5 0.5 2.12 1,200.0 0.16 0.20 0.05 1,380.9 and 117.7 129.5 11.8 0.06 34.4 0.01 0.02 0.01 40.6 ET-21-296 El Tigre Vein 150.7 151.9 1.2 0.06 97.8 0.09 0.05 0.15 117.4 El Tigre Vein 168.7 170.8 2.1 0.06 83.5 0.08 0.13 0.28 108.2 including 169.5 170.1 0.6 0.09 206.0 0.06 0.09 0.14 225.4 ET-21-297 El Tigre Au Zone 6.1 55.0 48.9 0.27 11.3 0.00 0.01 0.02 32.6 including 14.0 20.5 6.5 0.69 3.6 0.00 0.00 0.01 56.1

Notes:

Not true width. Silver Equivalent ("EqAg") ratios are based on a silver to gold price ratio of 75:1 (Au:Ag). Copper, lead and zinc are converted using $3.66/lb copper, $0.90/lb lead, $1.26/lb zinc at 100% metal recoveries based on a silver price of $26.00/oz.

Drill Hole Location Table

Hole ID Easting Northing Elevation Az Dip Length ET-21-282 670937 3384920 1850.8 105 -40 369.1 ET-21-285 670736 3384878 1864.8 90 -40 396.5 ET-21-291 670791 3385077 1809.3 90 -63 305.0 ET-21-294 670971 3384781 1953.1 90 -30 227.2 ET-21-295 670938 3384920 1850.9 90 -40 384.3 ET-21-296 670780 3385102 1812.7 90 -42 289.8 ET-21-297 671059 3385138 1928.1 90 -50 332.5

Plan Map of the El Tigre Veins and Drill Holes

Plan Map of 600 Meters of the Sooy Vein, El Tigre Vein and Seitz Kelly Vein

El Tigre Resource Estimate

After acquiring El Tigre, Silver Tiger drilled 12,500 meters to define the wide halo of near surface gold mineralization around the mined high-grade veins of the historic El Tigre Mine. This allowed Silver Tiger to deliver a maiden resource estimate for the El Tigre Property to a depth of 150 meters containing indicated resources of 661,000 gold equivalent ounces at 0.77 g/t (21 g/t silver and 0.51 g/t gold) and inferred resources of 341,000 gold equivalent ounces at 1.59 g/t (88 g/t silver and 0.52 g/t gold). The National Instrument 43-101 Technical Report titled "NI 43-101 Technical Report and Updated Mineral Resource Estimate on the El Tigre Project, Sonora, Mexico" effective as of September 7, 2017 and dated October 26, 2017 prepared by David Burga, P.Geo., Yungang Wu, P.Geo., Fred Brown, P.Geo., Jarita Barry, P.Geo., Eugene Puritch, P.Eng., FEC, CET, Alfred Hayden, P.Eng. and Richard H. Sutcliffe, Ph.D., P.Geo. of P&E Mining Consultants Inc. is available on the Corporation's website at www.silvertigermetals.com and on www.sedar.com under the Corporation's profile.

About Silver Tiger and the El Tigre Historic Mine District

Silver Tiger Metals Inc. is a Canadian company whose management has more than 25 years' experience discovering, financing and building large hydrothermal silver projects in Mexico. Silver Tiger's 100% owned 28,414 hectare Historic El Tigre Mining District is located in Sonora, Mexico. Principled environmental, social and governance practices are core priorities at Silver Tiger.

The El Tigre historic mine district is located in Sonora, Mexico and lies at the northern end of the Sierra Madre silver and gold belt which hosts many epithermal silver and gold deposits, including Dolores, Santa Elena and Las Chispas at the northern end. In 1896, gold was first discovered on the property in the Gold Hill area and mining started with the Brown Shaft in 1903. The focus soon changed to mining high-grade silver veins in the area with production coming from 3 parallel veins the El Tigre Vein, the Seitz Kelley Vein and the Sooy Vein. Underground mining on the middle El Tigre vein extended 1,450 meters along strike and was mined on 14 levels to a depth of approximately 450 meters. The Seitz Kelley Vein was mined along strike for 1 kilometer to a depth of approximately 200 meters. The Sooy Vein was only mined along strike for 250 meters to a depth of approximately 150 meters. Mining abruptly stopped on all 3 of these veins when the price of silver collapsed to less than 20 per ounce with the onset of the Great Depression. By the time the mine closed in 1930, it is reported to have produced a total of 353,000 ounces of gold and 67.4 million ounces of silver from 1.87 million tons (Craig, 2012). The average grade mined during this period was over 2 kilograms silver equivalent per ton.

The El Tigre silver and gold deposit is related to a series of high-grade epithermal veins controlled by a north-south trending structure cutting across the andesitic and rhyolitic tuffs of the Sierra Madre Volcanic Complex within a broad silver and gold mineralized prophylitic alteration zone developed in the El Tigre Formation that can be up to 150 meters wide. The veins dip steeply to the west and are typically 0.5 meter wide but locally can be up to 5 meters in width. The veins, structures and mineralized zones outcrop on surface and have been traced for 5.3 kilometers along strike in our brownfield exploration area. Historical mining and exploration activities focused on a 1.6 kilometer portion of the southern end of the deposits, principally on the El Tigre, Seitz Kelly and Sooy veins. The under explored Caleigh, Benjamin, Protectora and the Fundadora exposed veins continue north for more than 3 kilometers. Silver Tiger has delivered its maiden 43-101 compliant resource estimate and is currently drilling to update its resource estimate and publish a PEA.

VRIFY Slide Deck and 3D Presentation - Silver Tiger's El Tigre Project

VRIFY is a platform being used by companies to communicate with investors using 360 virtual tours of remote mining assets, 3D models and interactive presentations. VRIFY can be accessed by website and with the VRIFY iOS and Android apps.

Access the Silver Tiger Metals Inc. Company Profile on VRIFY at: https://vrify.com

The VRIFY Slide Deck and 3D Presentation for Silver Tiger Metals Inc. can be viewed at: https://vrify.com/explore/decks/492 and on the Corporation's website at: www.silvertigermetals.com.

Procedure, Quality Assurance / Quality Control and Data Verification

The diamond drill core (HQ size) is geologically logged, photographed and marked for sampling. When the sample lengths are determined, the full core is sawn with a diamond blade core saw with one half of the core being bagged and tagged for assay. The remaining half portion is returned to the core trays for storage and/or for metallurgical test work.

The sealed and tagged sample bags are transported to the Bureau Veritas facility in Hermosillo, Mexico. Bureau Veritas crushes the samples (Code PRP70-250) and prepares 200-300 gram pulp samples with ninety percent passing Tyler 200 mesh (Code PUL85). The pulps are assayed for gold using a 30-gram charge by fire assay (Code FA630) and over limits greater than 10 grams per tonne are re-assayed using a gravimetric finish (Code FA530). Silver and multi-element analysis is completed using total digestion (Code MA200 Total Digestion ICP). Over limits greater than 100 grams per tonne silver are re-assayed using a gravimetric finish (Code FA530).

Quality assurance and quality control ("QA/QC") procedures monitor the chain-of-custody of the samples and includes the systematic insertion and monitoring of appropriate reference materials (certified standards, blanks and duplicates) into the sample strings. The results of the assaying of the QA/QC material included in each batch are tracked to ensure the integrity of the assay data. All results stated in this announcement have passed Silver Tiger's QA/QC protocols.

Qualified Person

David R. Duncan, P. Geo., V.P. Exploration of the Corporation, is the Qualified Person for Silver Tiger as defined under National Instrument 43-101. Mr. Duncan has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical information in this press release.

For further information, please contact:

Glenn Jessome

President and CEO

902 492 0298

jessome@silvertigermetals.com

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT:

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 includes certain "forward-looking statements". All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this release, including, without limitation, statements regarding potential mineralization, resources and reserves, the ability to convert inferred resources to indicated resources, the ability to complete future drilling programs and infill sampling, the ability to extend resource blocks, the similarity of mineralization at El Tigre to Delores, Santa Elena and Chispas, exploration results, and future plans and objectives of Silver Tiger, are forward-looking statements that involve various risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements are frequently characterized by words such as "may", "is expected to", "anticipates", "estimates", "intends", "plans", "projection", "could", "vision", "goals", "objective" and "outlook" and other similar words. Although Silver Tiger believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, there can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from Silver Tiger's expectations include risks and uncertainties related to exploration, development, operations, commodity prices and global financial volatility, risk and uncertainties of operating in a foreign jurisdiction as well as additional risks described from time to time in the filings made by Silver Tiger with securities regulators.

SOURCE: Silver Tiger Metals Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/697030/Silver-Tiger-Intersects-13809-gt-AgEq-over-05-meters-within-a-Broader-Interval-of-238-meters-Grading-1133-gt-AgEq-in-the-El-Tigre-Vein-and-Provides-Underground-Rehabilitation-Update
GOLETA, CA / ACCESSWIRE / April 12, 2022 / Aeluma, Inc. (the "Company"), a semiconductor company specializing in sensors and communications, announced today that it has named David Field as Vice President of Finance.

Mr. Field was most recently Vice President of Finance for FLIR Systems, the world's largest manufacturer of thermal imaging systems, where he provided financial management leadership to over 2,000 employees worldwide. FLIR Systems was acquired by Teledyne Technologies in 2021 for $8.2 billion. Previously, David spent 15 years with Northrop Grumman Corporation where he was Director, Finance/Business Management, and successfully managed business functions inside a $1.5B division with 5,000 employees. He has over 20 years of financial management and accounting experience in complex global businesses from technology start-ups to Fortune 500 companies, with a demonstrated track record of delivering strong financial performance and enhanced discipline and accountability.

Commenting on the announcement, Aeluma CEO and founder, Jonathan Klamkin, PhD, stated, "David fills a key position in our management team and his experience at both FLIR Systems and Northrop Grumman demonstrates his capabilities. His broad business acumen in operations, mergers and acquisitions, international business, capital formation, and investor relations will be a great asset to our team."

David Field commented, "After an extensive review of Aeluma, its technology and intellectual property, I believe the important pieces are in place to build the Company into a significant and valuable enterprise. I look forward to working with Jonathan and the entire Aeluma team to commercialize its disruptive sensor technology for mobile devices and vehicles."

With its proprietary technology that combines high performance compound semiconductor nanomaterials with mass market silicon manufacturing, Aeluma is developing novel devices for sensors and communications. A primary focus of the Company is on sensors that generate images by detecting light in a manner similar to a digital camera taking pictures. The devices may incorporate additional functionality for 3D image capture when integrated into various system architectures. This technology has the potential to enhance the performance and capability of camera image sensors, LiDAR, augmented reality, facial recognition, and other applications.

About Aeluma, Inc.

Aeluma (www.aeluma.com) develops novel optoelectronic devices for sensing and communications applications. Aeluma has pioneered a technique to manufacture devices using high performance compound semiconductor materials on large diameter silicon wafers that are commonly used to manufacture mass market microelectronics. A primary focus of the Company is on sensors that generate images by detecting light in a manner similar to a digital camera taking pictures. The devices may incorporate additional functionality for 3D image capture when integrated into various system architectures. This technology has the potential to enhance the performance and capability of camera image sensors, LiDAR, augmented reality, facial recognition, and other applications. Aeluma is developing a streamlined business model from its headquarters in Goleta, CA that has a state-of-the-art manufacturing cleanroom.

Forward-Looking Statements

All statements in this press release that are not historical are forward-looking statements, including, among other things, statements relating to the Company's expectations regarding its market position and market opportunity, expectations and plans as to its product development, manufacturing and sales, and relations with its partners and investors. These statements are not historical facts but rather are based on the Company's current expectations, estimates, and projections regarding its business, operations and other similar or related factors. Words such as "may," "will," "could," "would," "should," "anticipate," "predict," "potential," "continue," "expect," "intend," "plan," "project," "believe," "estimate," and other similar or related expressions are used to identify these forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these words. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements because they involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and assumptions that are difficult or impossible to predict and, in some cases, beyond the Company's control. Actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements as a result of a number of factors, including those described in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company undertakes no obligation to revise or update information in this release to reflect events or circumstances in the future, even if new information becomes available.

Contact:

Aeluma, Inc.

(805) 351-2707

info@aeluma.com

The Del Mar Consulting Group, Inc.

Robert B. Prag, President

(858) 794-9500

bprag@delmarconsulting.com

SOURCE: Aeluma, Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/696247/Aeluma-Inc-Names-Former-FLIR-Systems-and-Northrop-Grumman-Executive-David-Field-as-Vice-President-of-Finance
TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / April 12, 2022 / Li-Metal Corp. (the "Company" or "Li-Metal") (CSE:LIM) (OTC PINK:LIMFF) (FSE:5ZO), a leading developer of lithium metal anode and lithium metal technologies critical for next-generation batteries, is pleased to provide a corporate and operational update.

Scale Up of Anode Production Facility

In January 2022, Li-Metal announced the completion and commissioning of its anode production facility in Rochester, New York. This facility, which shipped the Company's first product, is currently operating, providing sample anode materials to prospective customers and supporting Li-Metal's joint-development program with Blue Solutions. The capability to produce lithium metal anode product in the United States enables Li-Metal to provide customers with high performance ultra-thin anode materials quickly and without the need for costly and lengthy international shipping; this accelerates customer qualification processes and shortens the development cycle for next-generation batteries.

Construction of Lithium Metal Production Pilot Plant

Lithium metal production is a key element of the Company's vertically integrated technology. Major equipment installation at Li-Metal's lithium metal pilot facility, located in Markham, Ontario, has been completed, and the Company is preparing to complete hot-commissioning as early as next week, to be followed by initial pilot testing shortly thereafter. Li-Metal expects the plant to achieve initial operating capability in April, as opposed to March 2022 as originally planned.

Currently, lithium metal production is concentrated in China and conventional processes are not environmentally sustainable due to their production of chlorine gas. Li-Metal is developing a cleaner lithium metal production process and the ability to produce this critical material in-house from widely available feedstock (i.e. lithium carbonate) will give Li-Metal a strategic advantage and ensure that the Company can be a reliable local supplier, maintaining a secure supply-chain for customers.

"Li-Metal continues to invest in key capital projects that are important for the Company's long term growth strategy and the future of North America's next-generation battery supply chain," commented Maciej Jastrzebski, CEO and co-founder. "So far this year, we have commissioned our anode production facility in Rochester, which already shipped its first ultra-thin anode products, and recently completed the equipment installation at our lithium metal production facility in Markham. These achievements, along with a strong cash balance, allow us to advance our strategy and take advantage of future growth opportunities as a leading domestic supplier of battery materials."

"We are excited to be in the final stages of commissioning Li-Metal's metal production facility. The team has worked tirelessly to overcome supply chain challenges to get the equipment installed. We have begun our start-up testing and expect to have the metal pilot facility operational in April. This will be a significant step for us and enable Li-Metal to complete its piloting program - a key milestone on the way to becoming a local lithium metal supplier in North America."

IR Services Agreements

Li-Metal announces that, after having received independent legal advice, the marketing and investor relations contract with First Marketing GmbH ("First Marketing") concerning the provision of investor relations and marketing services in the German-speaking region (Germany, Austria and Switzerland) is terminated as of April 11, 2022. As a result, the final payment of 500,000 that was to be paid on April 1, 2022 will not be made.

The Company recently became aware of investigations in Germany implying allegations of securities law breaches involving First Marketing and its principals. The Company is not part of any investigation, but is seeking further information from the relevant authorities, and conducting an internal review of the situation, including the disclosures involving the Company made by First Marketing.

Li-Metal also announces that it has signed a marketing agreement on April 11, 2022, retaining Hybrid Financial Ltd. ("Hybrid") to provide investor relations services (the "Services") to the Company. Hybrid has been engaged to heighten market and brand awareness for the Company and to broaden the Company's reach within the investment community both in Canada and the United States.

Hybrid provides its services directly to the Company. Hybrid is contractually bound to comply with all applicable securities laws and the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange (the "CSE") in providing the Services.

Hybrid has been engaged by the Company for an initial period of six months (the "Initial Term"), which shall be renewed automatically for successive three-month periods thereafter, unless terminated by the Company. Hybrid will be paid a monthly fee of $15,000, plus applicable taxes. None of Hybrid or its principals have an interest, directly or indirectly in the Company or its securities, and act at arm's length to the Company.

About Li-Metal Corp.

Li-Metal is a Canadian-based company developing lithium metal anodes and lithium metal production technologies for use in next-generation batteries. Our production methods are significantly more sustainable than existing products and offer lighter, more energy-dense and safer batteries that are critical to tomorrow's electric vehicles. For more information, visit: www.li-metal.com.

Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws relating to the Company. Any such forward-looking statements may be identified by words such as "expects", "anticipates", "believes", "projects", "plans" and similar expressions. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Statements about, among other things, the Company's strategic plans are forward-looking information. These statements should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results. Such statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those implied by such statements. Although such statements are based on management's reasonable assumptions, there can be no assurance that the development of the business of the Company will be completed as described above. The Company assumes no responsibility to update or revise forward-looking information to reflect new events or circumstances unless required by applicable law.

Li-Metal Investor Contact:

Salisha Ilyas

ir@li-metal.com

Tel: +1 647 795 1653

Li-Metal Media Contact:

Harry Nicholas

Li-MetalPR@icrinc.com

SOURCE: Li-Metal Corp.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/697018/Li-Metal-Provides-Corporate-and-Operational-Update
Miroverse offers the broadest selection of unique and customizable templates sourced from some of the largest companies in the world and everyday Miro users

Miro, the online platform accelerating innovation through visual collaboration, today announced the 1,000th template release in Miroverse, its community-driven template library featuring a variety of ready-made workflows and activities that empower every team to communicate, create, and collaborate in a matter of seconds.

Miroverse, which launched in May 2020, gives Miro users, including enterprise teams, consultants, and product leaders, the opportunity to share their best practices and templates for the benefit of faster and better collaboration within the broader Miro user base. The library offers unique approaches to collaboration and planning sourced from some of the largest companies in the world and insightful tools from everyday Miro users, including product discovery and ideation and design sprints for remote teams.

For example, Salesforce designer Sandra Heinzen's template, "Inclusive Customer Experiences," helps teams prototype the customer journey, while Miro user Mauricio Franzoni contributed a product launch board for effective cross-functional collaboration. Users who are new to Miro, or looking for creative ways to expand their use of Miro, can search for inspiration and ideas and easily use the available templates to get started in a matter of minutes.

Miro's 1,000th Miroverse template is a workshop planner submitted by Dr. Carla Amaral, a lecturer and educator at RMIT University in Melbourne, Australia. As an educator with extensive design experience, Professor Amaral created the template for the purpose of facilitating more dynamic workshops.

"Miro has transformed my practice in a way that enables me to generate tangible outputs of processes that would otherwise be invisible," said Professor Amaral. "Miroverse is truly invaluable because it offers a unique opportunity to tap into the knowledge and creativity of millions of diverse Miro users."

Dr. Amaral's workshop planner includes two sections: one for ideating on workshop details, activities, and strategies, and another for organizing and visualizing the workshop facilitation plan. Professor Amaral's template is just one of hundreds designed with creative and engaging workshops in mind.

"Miroverse is far more than simply templates. It is a destination for unique, community-driven contributions that help showcase the collective superpowers of Miro's visual collaboration community. Miroverse is a helpful starting point for millions of people to be more successful in their own work," said Colleen Curtis, Miro's Head of Community. "Miroverse is only possible with an incredibly creative, passionate and prolific community that is proud to share their most impactful work with others."

In addition to Miroverse, the Miro Community connects in the Miro Community Forum where everyone from first-time creators to enterprise experts share inspiration, meet new connections, host and attend events, solve problems, network, and ideate on what Miro features should come next.

Miro is always creating new and unique ways to connect its community members all around the world. To see the online and in-person events coming to your region, please visit https://community.miro.com/events.

To learn more about Miro Community programs and how you can contribute to Miro's global community of creators please visit: https://miro.com/community/.

About Miro

Miro is an online, visual collaboration platform designed to unlock creativity and accelerate innovation among teams of all kinds. The platform's infinite canvas enables teams to lead engaging workshops and meetings, design products, brainstorm ideas, and more. Miro, co-headquartered in San Francisco and Amsterdam, serves more than 30M users worldwide, including 99% of the Fortune 100. Miro was founded by Andrey Khusid and Oleg Shardin in 2011 and currently has more than 1,400 employees in 10 hubs around the world. To learn more, please visit https://miro.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220412005459/en/

Contacts:

Allison Menozzi

press@miro.com
Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
ALGIERS, April 11 (Xinhua) -- Algeria and Italy are set to boost their energy cooperation after inking two cooperation agreements on Monday here.

The first agreement, signed between Algerian energy giant Sonatrach and Italian company Eni in the presence of Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune and visiting Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi, aims to speed up the development of Algeria's natural gas production projects by increasing gas exports to Italy.

The agreement confirms close cooperation between the two companies in the exploration and production of hydrocarbons, renewable energy such as solar energy, hydrogen, biofuels, as well as the capture, storage and use of carbon dioxide, said a statement from Sonatrach.

It also confirms Eni's desire to continue its investment and strengthen its presence in Algeria, said the statement.

The two side also agreed to further boost energy cooperation under another agreement signed by Algerian Foreign Minister Ramtane Lamamra and his Italian counterpart Luigi Di Maio.

During his visit here, Draghi stressed the "deep and historical" relations that unite the two countries. Algeria is Italy's first trading partner in Africa, and bilateral trade has been growing, he said.

By signing the agreements with Algeria, Italy is seeking to avert the risks of the Ukraine crisis, he added.

The two countries are also striving to enhance relations in other areas, as Algerian president is set to visit Italy in May, among other exchanges, said the prime minister.

Sonatrach and Eni established commercial relationship in 1977. During the last two decades Sonatrach has supplied Italy with a total volume of more than 300 billion cubic meters of natural gas.

Italian Ambassador to Algeria Giovanni Pugliese said that one third of the gas used in Italy comes from Algeria, while more than 200 Italian companies are now operating in Algeria.

During the first quarter of 2021, Italy was the biggest market for Algerian gas exports, with a total volume of 6.4 billion cubic meters, up by 109 percent compared to 2020.

Sonatrach and Eni manage the Trans-Mediterranean gas pipelines "Transmed", which links Algeria to Italy via Tunisia, with an annual export capacity of 32 billion cubic meters of gas.

Last month the two companies announced the discovery of an important oil field containing approximately 140 million barrels of crude oil.

In late 2021 the two companies signed an investment contract worth about 1.4 billion U.S. dollars, with the aim of producing 45,000 barrels of hydrocarbons a day, in addition to a strategic agreement in developing renewable energy.

The two companies are currently working on a total of 12 projects in the exploration and production of hydrocarbons.

Two-way trade between Algeria and Italy in 2020 amounted to about 6 billion U.S. dollars. 
Internet, Everywhere--(Newsfile Corp. - April 12, 2022) - Shopify Inc. (NYSE, TSX: SHOP) ("Shopify" or the "Company"), a provider of essential internet infrastructure for commerce, today announced the filing of a management information circular dated April 11, 2022 (the "Circular") and related meeting and proxy materials in connection with its upcoming Annual and Special Meeting of shareholders to be held on June 7, 2022 (the "Meeting"). At the Meeting, Shopify is seeking shareholder approval to implement proposed amendments to its articles of incorporation. It is expected that the amendments will be implemented by way of a plan of arrangement under the Canada Business Corporations Act (the "Arrangement") if approved by shareholders.

The Arrangement is subject to the approval of (1) at least two-thirds of the votes cast by Class A and Class B shareholders present in person or represented by proxy at the Meeting, voting together as a single class, and (2) at least the majority of the votes cast by Class A and Class B shareholders (excluding the Company's Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Tobi Lutke, and his associates and affiliates) present in person or represented by proxy at the Meeting, voting together as a single class. The Company's Board of Directors, based on the recommendation of the Special Committee of independent directors, unanimously recommends that shareholders vote in favor of the Arrangement.

Shopify also announced today that it was granted an interim order by the Ontario Superior Court of Justice (Commercial List), regarding the Arrangement. The interim order authorizes Shopify, among other things, to proceed with the virtual-only Meeting to consider and vote on the proposed Arrangement. A copy of the interim order is attached to the Circular.

Only shareholders of record as of the close of business on April 19, 2022 will be entitled to vote at the Meeting. The description of the Arrangement in this press release does not purport to be complete and is subject to and qualified in its entirety by reference to the Circular. The Circular is available on Shopify's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and under the Company's profile on EDGAR at sec.gov, and on our website at investors.shopify.com. Shareholders are encouraged to read the Circular including its appendices carefully and in their entirety.

How to Vote

All shareholders are encouraged to vote by proxy and to participate at the Meeting. Details on how to vote and how to participate at the Meeting are contained in the Circular and shareholders will be able to vote as soon as the Circular and accompanying proxies and voting instruction forms are distributed to shareholders in coming weeks.

Shareholder Questions and Assistance

Shopify has retained Innisfree M&A Incorporated ("Innisfree") to act as its proxy solicitation agent in connection with the Arrangement. Shareholders who have questions regarding the Arrangement or require assistance with voting are encouraged to contact Innisfree by telephone at (877) 750-8310.

About Shopify

Shopify is a leading provider of essential internet infrastructure for commerce, offering trusted tools to start, grow, market, and manage a retail business of any size. Shopify makes commerce better for everyone with a platform and services that are engineered for reliability, while delivering a better shopping experience for consumers everywhere. Proudly founded in Ottawa, Shopify powers millions of businesses in more than 175 countries and is trusted by brands such as Allbirds, Gymshark, Heinz, Tupperware, FTD, Netflix, FIGS, and many more. For more information, visit www.Shopify.com.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking information and forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws ("forward-looking statements"). Words such as "expect", "continue", "will", "plan", and "intend" or similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements.

These forward-looking statements are based on Shopify's current expectations about future events and financial trends that management believes might affect its financial condition, results of operations, business strategy and financial needs, and on certain assumptions and analysis made by Shopify in light of the experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments and other factors management believes are appropriate. These projections, expectations, assumptions and analyses are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors that could cause actual results, performance, events and achievements to differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements. Although Shopify believes that the assumptions underlying these forward-looking statements are reasonable, they may prove to be incorrect, and readers cannot be assured that the Arrangement discussed above will be completed on the terms described above. Implementation of the Arrangement is subject to numerous factors, many of which are beyond Shopify's control. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release represent Shopify's expectations as of the date of this press release, or as of the date they are otherwise stated to be made, and subsequent events may cause these expectations to change. Shopify undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by law.

Contact

Andrew Siegel / Scott Bisang / Viveca Tress

Joele Frank, Wilkinson Brimmer Katcher

212-355-4449

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/120129
Biomind Labs Inc. ("Biomind Labs" or the "Company") (NEO: BMND) (OTC: BMNDF) (FSE: 3XI), a leading biotech company developing the next generation of pharmaceuticals to treat patients suffering from neurological and psychiatric disorders by scientifically harnessing the medicinal power of psychedelic molecules, is pleased to announce that it will be participating in the "PSYCH Symposium: London 2022 Unlocking the potential of psychedelic Healthcare" to be held at The National Gallery on Wednesday, May 11, 2022.

Alejandro Antalich, CEO of Biomind Labs commented: "The PSYCH Symposium will be one of the most relevant events in the psychedelic industry in 2022, and this is the reason why we have decided to be part of the debates with the principal leaders of the sector and use this forum to present our future plans.

Last year Prime Minister Boris Johnson said that he will examine the latest advice on the legalization of a psychedelic drug. We must confess that with this statement, Prime Minister Johnson won our respect because as a leader of a nation, he displayed empathy towards millions of patients that suffer from any kind of mental health disorder, and this kind of attitude is what is needed from global leaders.

We support the initiative of Mr. Crispin Blunt that has had a positive impact on Primer Minister Johnson, with the hope of promoting a global analysis and review of psychedelic legalization by government authorities, regulators and the psychiatry community. While more clinical research must be done, time is becoming critical for the almost one billion people that are affected by mental disorders", concluded Mr. Antalich.

The United Kingdom is home to world-leading psychedelic research institutions, which lays the foundation for a flourishing domestic industry, with the PSYCH Symposium championing the emerging ecosystem. The PSYCH Symposium is a unique experience that enables industry leaders to collaborate to expedite access to psychedelic healthcare across Europe. As the industry expands, research briefings, regulatory updates and topical debates can provide the intelligence and insights to navigate this burgeoning landscape, while ensuring a sustainable, patient-first approach to how the industry defines itself in the future.

About Biomind Labs Inc.

Biomind Labs is a biotech research and development company aimed at transforming biomedical sciences knowledge into novel pharmaceutical drugs and innovative nanotech delivery systems for a variety of psychiatric and neurological conditions. Through its acceleration platform, Biomind Labs is developing novel pharmaceutical formulations of the main psychedelic molecules, N, N-dimethyltryptamine, 5-MeO- DMT and mescaline for treating a wide range of therapeutic indications. Biomind Labs' focus is to provide patients access to affordable and modern-day treatments.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains statements that constitute "forward-looking information" ("forward-looking information") within the meaning of the applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking information and are based on expectations, estimates and projections as at the date of this news release. Any statement that discusses predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often but not always

using phrases such as "expects", or "does not expect", "is expected", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", "plans", "budget", "scheduled", "forecasts", "estimates", "believes" or "intends" or variations of such words and phrases or stating that certain actions, events or results "may" or "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken to occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking information. Forward-looking statements in this document include, among others, statements relating to the Company's ability to scientifically harness the medicinal power of psychedelic molecules to treat patients suffering from neurological and psychiatric disorders, the possibility of a global analysis and review of psychedelic legalization by government authorities, regulators and the psychiatry community, any statement regarding the future impact of the PSYCH Symposium, the business plans and growth plans of the Company, the burgeoning landscape of the psychedelic industry, and other statements that are not historical facts.

By their nature, forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements, or other future events, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors and risks include, among others: (a) the Company may require additional financing from time to time in order to continue its operations which may not be available when needed or on acceptable terms and conditions acceptable; (b) compliance with extensive government regulation; (c) domestic and foreign laws and regulations could adversely affect the Company's business and results of operations; (d) the stock markets have experienced volatility that often has been unrelated to the performance of companies and these fluctuations may adversely affect the price of the Company's securities, regardless of its operating peers; (e) adverse changes in the public perception of tryptamine- based treatments and psychedelic-based therapies; (f) the impact of COVID-19; and (g) general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking information contained in this press release.

The Company makes no medical, treatment or health benefit claims about the Company's proposed products. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Health Canada or other similar regulatory authorities have not evaluated claims regarding tryptamine-based treatments, psychedelic-based therapies or other psychedelic compounds. The efficacy of such products has not been confirmed by approved research. There is no assurance that the use of psychedelic tryptamines, tryptamine derivatives or other psychedelic compounds can diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease or condition. Vigorous scientific research and clinical trials are needed. The Company has not yet completed commercial clinical trials for the use of its proposed products. Any references to quality, consistency, efficacy and safety of potential products do not imply that the Company verified such in commercial clinical trials or that the Company will complete such trials. If the Company cannot obtain the approvals or research necessary to commercialize its business, it may have a material adverse effect on the Company's performance and operations.

The forward-looking information contained in this news release represents the expectations of the Company as of the date of this news release and, accordingly, is subject to change after such date. Readers should not place undue importance on forward-looking information and should not rely upon this information as of any other date. The Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements in the event that management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change.

The Neo Exchange Inc. has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release and is not responsible for the adequacy and accuracy of the contents herein.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220412005644/en/

Contacts:

Biomind Labs Inc.

Alejandro Antalich

Chief Executive Officer

Email: info@biomindlabs.com

Tel: 598 97 702500
THIS NEWS RELEASE IS NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES

SARNIA ,ON / ACCESSWIRE / April 12, 2022 / Aduro Clean Technologies Inc. ("Aduro" or the "Company") (CSE:ACT) (OTCQB:ACTHF) (FSE:9D50), a Canadian developer of patented water-based technologies to chemically recycle plastics, and to transform heavy crude and renewable oils into new-era resources and higher-value fuels, is pleased to announce that it has closed the first tranche of its previously announced private placement offering of units (the "Offering"). The Company issued an aggregate of 2,226,036 units (the "Units") at a price of $0.70 per Unit for aggregate gross proceeds of C$1,558,225. The Company may complete additional tranches of the Offering for cumulative gross proceeds of up to $2 million.

"As we continue to deliver on our strategic plan we are pleased to see the positive response from our growing investor base." said Ofer Vicus, the Chief Executive Officer and a director of Aduro. "We also continue to show our strong commitment and alignment with our shareholders with all our board members investing in this current financing round."

Each Unit is comprised of one common share of the Company (each, a "Common Share") and one Common Share purchase warrant (each, a "Warrant"). Each Warrant will entitle the holder to acquire one additional Common Share at a price of $1.00 per share, for a period of two years from the date the Units are issued. If during the exercise period of the Warrants, but after the resale restrictions on the shares have expired, the Company's shares trade at or above a weighted average trading price of $1.25 per share for ten (10) consecutive trading days, the Company may accelerate the expiry time of the Warrants by giving written notice to warrant holders by dissemination of a news release that the Warrants will expire 30 days from the date of providing such notice.

Of the 2,226,036 Units issued, 149,983 Units were issued to directors of the Company for gross proceeds of $104,988. The issuance of the Units to the directors of the Company were "related party transactions" within the meaning of Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"). The Company relied on section 5.5(b) of MI 61- 101 for an exemption from the formal valuation requirements of MI 61- 101 in respect of the Units issued to the directors of the Company as no securities of the Company are listed on a specified market as defined in MI 61- 101. Aduro relied on section 5.7(a) of MI 61-101 for an exemption from the minority approval requirements of MI 61-101 in respect of the Units issued to the directors of the Company as neither the fair market value of the Units issued to the directors of Aduro nor the consideration paid for the Units issued to them, exceeded 25% of the Company's market capitalization. No additional insiders or related parties of the Company participated in the first tranche of the Offering and no new insiders or control persons were created in connection with the closing of the first tranche of the Offering.

In connection with the closing of the first tranche, the Company paid $80,304 in finder's fees, equal to 7% of the gross proceeds raised, and issued 114,720 finder's warrants which entitle the holder thereof to purchase one additional Common Share at a price of $1.00 per Common Share at any time prior to April 8, 2024.

The proceeds of the first tranche of the Offering will be used for general working capital purposes. The securities issued in the first tranche of the Offering are subject to a four month hold period from the date of issuance.

Because of the strong interest shown in the Offering, in addition to other prospectus exemptions commonly relied on in private placements, any further tranches of the current Offering will be available to existing shareholders of the Company who, as of the close of business on [April 11, 2021] (the "Record Date") held Common Shares of the Company (and who continue to hold such Common Shares as of the closing date), pursuant to the prospectus exemption set out in BC Instrument 45-534 - Exemption from prospectus requirement for certain trades to existing securityholders and in similar instruments in other jurisdictions in Canada (the "Existing Shareholder Exemption"). As at the date hereof, the Existing Security Holder Exemption is available in each of the provinces of Canada, with the exception of Newfoundland and Labrador. The Existing Shareholder Exemption limits a shareholder to a maximum investment of $15,000 in a 12-month period unless the shareholder has obtained advice regarding the suitability of the investment and, if the shareholder is resident in a jurisdiction of Canada, that advice has been obtained from a person that is registered as an investment dealer in the jurisdiction. Shareholders that subscribe for Units under the Existing Shareholder Exemption will, among other things, need to represent in writing that they meet applicable requirements of the Existing Shareholder Exemption, including that, on or before the Record Date, such person became and continues to be a shareholder of the Company.

The Company will also make any further tranches of the Offering available to certain subscribers pursuant to BC Instrument 45-536 - Exemption from prospectus requirement for certain distributions through an investment dealer (the "Investment Dealer Exemption"). In accordance with the requirements of the Investment Dealer Exemption, the Company confirms that there is no material fact or material change about the Company that has not been generally disclosed.

The proceeds of any further tranches of the Offering are expected to be used for general working capital purposes.

None of the securities acquired in the Offering will be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act"), and none of them may be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the 1933 Act. This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of the securities in any state where such offer, solicitation, or sale would be unlawful.

About Aduro Clean Technologies

Aduro Clean Technologies is a developer of patented water-based technologies to chemically recycle waste plastics; convert heavy crude and bitumen into lighter, more valuable oil; and transform renewable oils into higher-value fuels or renewable chemicals. The Company's Hydrochemolytic technology activates unique properties of water in a chemistry platform that operates at relatively low temperatures and cost, a game-changing approach that converts low-value feedstocks into 21st-century resources. With funding and support from Bioindustrial Innovation Canada, the company has developed a pre-pilot reactor system to upgrade heavy petroleum into lighter oil.

For further information, please contact:

Ofer Vicus, CEO

ovicus@adurocleantech.com

Abe Dyck, Investor Relations

ir@adurocleantech.com

+1 604-362-7011

Investor Cubed Inc.

Neil Simon, CEO

nsimon@investor3.ca

+1 647 258 3310

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements. All statements, other than statements of historical fact that address activities, events, or developments that the Company believes, expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future, are forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements reflect management's current expectations based on information currently available and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that may cause outcomes to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements. Forward looking statements in this news release include: information with respect to the Offering; statutory hold periods; the principal uses of the proceeds of the Offering; the exemptions available in connection with the Offering; and the plans for commercialization of the Company's technology. Although the Company believes that the assumptions inherent in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and, accordingly, undue reliance should not be put on such statements due to their inherent uncertainty. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's expectations include, but are not limited to, the following: the proposed further tranches of the Offering may not proceed as anticipated or at all; the anticipated prospectus exemptions may not be available or relied upon in the Offering; the intended use of proceeds may not remain in the best interests of the Company; the Company may be unable to achieve commercialization of its technology or business as anticipated or at all; adverse market conditions and other factors beyond the control of the parties. The Company expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law.

Not for distribution to U.S. Newswire Services or for dissemination in the United States. Any failure to comply with this restriction may constitute a violation of U.S. Securities Laws

SOURCE: Aduro Clean Technologies Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/697001/Aduro-Announces-Closing-of-First-Tranche-of-Private-Placement
The UK Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy has published new research showing that hydrogen leaks could have an indirect climate-warming impact, partly offsetting efforts to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.The UK Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) has published a report describing the possible impacts of an emerging international hydrogen economy on the global climate. Scientists from the University of Cambridge and the University of Reading explored the atmospheric impacts caused by hydrogen leakage. They calculated the radiative forcing resulting ...

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
Dr. van der Mooren brings three decades of experience in clinical trials

AMSTERDAM, April 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Freya Pharma Solutions, a late clinical stage company focusing on the development of effective pharmaceutical therapies for women who have been diagnosed with Female Sexual Interest/Arousal Disorder (FSIAD), today announced the appointment of Jan van der Mooren MD, PhD, MSc (picture below) as Chief Medical Officer as per April 2022. Dr. Van der Mooren is a medical doctor with additional education in Gynaecological Endocrinology and Epidemiology. He has been involved in clinical research since 1990. Prior to his appointment he was Senior Director of the Danone Nutricia Research Center in Utrecht, the Netherlands. Jan will be in the lead of Freya's steering committee overseeing the upcoming phase 3 study of Lybrido to confirm its efficacy in women suffering from FSIAD.

Marcel Wijma, Executive Director at Freya Pharma Solutions said:

"We are very pleased to have Jan join our leadership team as we are on the brink of commencing our phase 3 clinical trial with our promising compound Lybrido, against FSIAD. His depth of experience in clinical trials and knowledge in the field of Gynaecological Endocrinology will be especially valuable during this pivotal time at the company."

Dr. Van der Mooren brings to Freya three decades of life sciences experience in clinical development and medical affairs in nutrition, epidemiology, obstetrics and gynaecology. Most recently he served as Senior Director R&I Governance, Communication & Excellence and Senior Director of the Nutricia Research Center in Utrecht. Prior to that he held several leading R&D positions within the Danone and Numico organisations, heading the Clinical Research in early life nutrition, advanced medical nutrition, fresh dairy products and waters since 2005. From 1995 until 2005 he was Associate Professor, Epidemiologist and project leader of "Ageing Women" at the Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology of VU University Medical Center in Amsterdam. In addition to several other functions, he was Senior Researcher and Project Co-ordinator of the "Postmenopause Project" at Radboud University Hospital in Nijmegen, the Netherlands.

Dr. Jan van der Mooren, newly appointed CMO at Freya commented:

"I am excited to be joining Freya and look forward to working with the outstanding leadership team here in the pivotal trial phase of the company's promising solution for millions of women worldwide who are coping with FSIAD, resulting in lower health-related quality of life, including more depressive symptoms, and lower sexual and relationship satisfaction."

Upcoming pivotal phase 3 trial

Freya Pharma Solutions plans to conduct the pivotal phase 3 clinical trial to confirm the efficacy of Lybrido in women suffering from FSIAD. Previous pre-clinical and clinical studies, manufacturing and development of Lybrido were performed according to EU GLP, GMP and GCP regulations.

It is anticipated that a Scientific Advice Meeting with the EMA will be held before commencement of the phase 3 trial. The main objective of that meeting would be to confirm acceptability of the phase 3 clinical trial design, as well as the overall clinical development strategy. The phase 3 clinical trial will be conducted within the European Union in accordance with Good Clinical Practices and the ethical principles stated in the Declaration of Helsinki. It will comply with the EU Clinical Trial Regulation (No. 536/2014), all other applicable laws and regulations, as well as requirements of applicable Member States where the study is undertaken.

About FSIAD

Low sexual desire is consistently reported as the most common sexual complaint in women. As a result, many women are dissatisfied with their sex lives, which often affects their social and emotional wellbeing. FSIAD is a sexual dysfunction that is defined in the 2013 version of the DSM-5 Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, a publication by the American Psychiatric Association, as a persistent lack or significant reduction of sexual interest and/or arousal. Persons can be medically diagnosed after having a well-defined number of symptoms causing clinically significant distress and which have persisted for a minimum of six months. The disorder is specified by severity level and subtyped into lifelong versus acquired, generalized versus situational.

About Lybrido

A total of 20 phase 1 and phase 2a trials and large-scale phase 2b trials in 17 research sites in the US have been conducted to date. These trials have investigated the efficacy and safety of two novel on-demand pharmacological treatments that have been designed to treat two FSIAD subgroups: women with low sensitivity for sexual cues (Lybrido) and women with dysfunctional over-activation of sexual inhibition (Lybridos). Lybrido increases central sexual motivation and physiological sexual responses, such as swelling of vaginal erectile tissue and lubrication. The therapy can be taken 'on demand' and helps to increase central sexual motivation from 3 to 6 hours after intake. This treatment consists of a novel (dual-route, dual-release, fixed-dose) combination tablet consisting of a testosterone coating for sublingual administration and an inner-core component containing the phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE 5) inhibitor, sildenafil. The inner-core component is coated with a delayed-release matrix to ensure that the peak plasma concentration of the PDE 5 inhibitor coincides with the window of increased sexual motivation induced by the sublingual testosterone. Thus, this combination enables an increase in genital arousal through an increase in responsivity to sexual stimuli.

About Freya Pharma Solutions

Freya Pharma Solutions is a late clinical stage company focused on developing effective pharmaceutical therapies for FSIAD, building upon fifteen years of solid research. The company has two compounds in development, Lybrido and Lybridos, to address the range of potential causes of FSIAD. Based in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, Freya aims to offer patients a convenient, personalized 'on demand' solution for this recognized unmet medical need.

Please contact for further information:

Freya Pharma Solutions, Amsterdam

Marcel Wijma, Executive Director

marcel@freyapharmasolutions.com

For media

LifeSpring Life Sciences Communication, Amsterdam

Leon Melens

T: +31 6 538 16 427

E: lmelens@lifespring.nl

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1795329/Dr_Jan_van_der_Mooren.jpg

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1795348/Freya_Pharma_Solutions_Logo.jpg
VERO BEACH, FL / ACCESSWIRE / April 12, 2022 / Nascent Biotech, developer of Pritumumab (PTB), a monoclonal antibody showing promise in the treatment of brain cancer, has partnered with BioTools, Inc to clearly define PTB's higher order molecular structure (HOS).

Nascent is exploring the potential of modifying the antibody to enhance its effectiveness and to broaden its therapeutic application. BioTool's groundbreaking ROA laser-based technology provides detailed and complete structural characterization at all stages of development including formulation and stability. ROA spectrum generates a structural snapshot and unique signature for each product and each modification.

PTB is a natural human IgG1 antibody isolated from a patient with cervical carcinoma. It is a protein molecule comprised of multiple amino acid units linked together into a chain which can then fold into various configurations. Both the folding ("secondary structure") and the more extensive, 3-dimensional results ("tertiary structure") have dramatic impact on the molecule's pharmaceutical effectiveness.

"BioTools is known worldwide for their knowledge and expertise in the field of Raman, ROA, and biologic FTIR. We are very pleased to have had an opportunity to work with their scientists to deliver this refined capability for our monoclonal antibody (mAb) development platform."-Sean Carrick, CEO, Nascent Biotech Inc.

"Nascent's mAb PTB is an ideal match for our instrumentation as well as for our vision of expanding Raman/ROA+FTIR to more widespread, routine use in BioPharma research labs. This suite of techniques, coupled with the accompanying BioTools' databases and software, have powerful application to the characterization of higher order structures for many therapeutics."-BioTools, President & Co-Founder, Dr. Rina Dukor

About Nascent Biotech:

Nascent Biotech, Inc. (OTCQB:NBIO) is a clinical-stage biotech company pioneering the development of monoclonal antibodies to be used in the treatment of various cancers helping millions of people worldwide. Its products are not yet commercially available. The Company's lead candidate, Pritumumab (PTB), is a monoclonal Antibody (Mab) that is being studied in Phase I clinical trials for the treatment of Brain Cancer at Sharp Healthcare and Hoag Presbyterian Hospital.

About BioTools:

BioTools is a life sciences tools company that revolutionized characterization technology for the most important therapeutics of our time - chiral small molecules and biologics. The breakthrough analytical techniques developed by the company provide molecular structure information which governs safety and efficacy - analyzed in a fraction of a time compared to traditional methodology. BioTools product offerings include instrumentation, specialized CRO services, and unique software and accessories. The products are used globally by most of the world's top 100 pharmaceutical companies, renowned academic institutions, and government laboratories, including the US Food & Drug Administration (FDA). Founded in 2000, BioTools has R&D, sales, customer support, contract research lab and manufacturing facilities in Jupiter, Florida, and two international divisions, BioTools Europe, headquartered in the United Kingdom, and BioTools China, headquartered in Dalian. BioTools' co-founders and products have been recognized by numerous International Awards, including the R&D 100 Top Innovation Award. For more information, visit https://biotools.us/ or contact us at info@biotools.us. Follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter

For further information, contact:

Sean Carrick, President | CEO, Nascent Biotech

E: sean.carrick@nascentbiotech.com

W: www.nascentbiotech.com

P: 772.713.0541

SOURCE: Nascent Biotech Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/696930/Nascent-Biotech-and-BioTools-Partner-in-the-Fight-Against-Cancer-Using-ROA-to-Define-the-Higher-Order-Structure-of-PTB-a-Unique-Monoclonal-Antibody
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / April 12, 2022 / Golden Lake Exploration Inc. (CSE:GLM) ("GLM" or the "Company") (GOLXF-OTC) is pleased to announce the acquisition of a three strategically located properties on its Copperview Property located in south-central BC.

The Company also welcomes Mr. Arnie Pollmer P.Geo. to its advisor board. Arnie is a geologist with more than 40 years' experience, including specific knowledge and expertise related to the Company's Copperview South property through his role as mine geologist and exploration manager for 5 years with Brenda Mines Ltd. Other roles include Chief Geologist Boss Mtn. division of Noranda Mines Ltd., acting mine manager, senior geologist supervising up to 20 to 30 personnel at the QR Mine, Quesnel and Quintette Coal Mine and project manager with a Huu-ay-aht First Nations Project.

The lead acquisition is the "Full Monty" property located contiguous to the Company's Copperview South property and comprises 167 hectares and covers three BC Minfile prospects/showings (from north to south, Snowstorm 092HNE032, Siwash Silver 092HNE001, and Mabel 092HNE028). The property covers the south Siwash Creek drainage, which was a historical placer location in the early 1900's, with the southern boundary of the property located 1,100 meters, and on-trend with the Spud Prospect (092HNE320) on the Copperview South property.

Figure 1. Map of newly acquired claims at the Copperview Project

Historic work including development of six adits, completed from 1917 to the late 1920's with additional underground work in 1951-1952. Prospecting, sampling, soil geochemistry and geophysics have been completed by various companies from the 1980's to 2000's. On the current property, a total of 32 percussion or diamond drill holes have been completed, comprising 2,318 meters. The prospects and showing consists of quartz veins and stockworks associated with shear zones in granite of the Middle Jurassic Osprey Lake batholith. The veins and shears are silicified and mineralized with hematite, pyrite, and chalcopyrite, and copper oxides (malachite). Based on government assessment reports and private company data, significant values of gold, silver, copper, lead. and zinc have been returned in historic underground and surface sampling and in drill holes.

Note that the company has not verified the values in government assessment filings, and they are not to be relied upon, and additional sampling, assaying and verification is required.

To acquire a 100% interest in the Full Monty property, the Company will pay make cash payments totaling $30,000 and issue 300,000 shares over a 12-month period. The Company will grant the vendor a 1.5% NSR which can be bought back, in its entirety, for $1,500,000 at any time.

The Company has also acquired two additional claim blocks by staking on the Copperview North property. The Connector claims only comprise 311 hectares, but strategically links the Company's holdings located north of Kodiak Copper Corp, with the claims that are located north and north-east of Gold Mountain Mining Corp. The Company also acquired a single unit comprising 21 hectares that cover the "Buck Showing" (Minfile 092HNE133). Historic sampling in 1991returned 0.69 g/t Au and 3.4 g/t Ag over 0.2 metre from a location sampled earlier (1986-1990) that yielded 0.72 g/t Au and 2.5 g/t Ag (Assessment Report 22259). The Buck showing is on the north side of Buck Lake, approximately 2.3 kilometers north of the Company's Vinson Lake Target, defined by anomalous soil geochemistry and geophysics.

Mike England, CEO, state, "We continue to expand and strengthen our expansive Copperview holdings around the recent copper discovery on Kodiak Copper Corp.'s MPD property, and flanking on three sides, BC newest gold producer, the Elk Mine, owned by Gold Mountain Mining Inc. The Full Monty property aligns well with targets we were already defining at the Spud Prospect. A thorough review of the extensive assessment and private company data and reports has been initiated to fast-track the selection of drill targets, assisted by newest Company advisor, Arnie Pollmer."

Qualified person

Golden Lake Exploration's disclosure of a technical or scientific nature in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Garry Clark, P.Geo., who serves as a qualified person under the definition of National Instrument 43-101.

About Golden Lake Exploration Inc.

Golden Lake Exploration is a junior public mining exploration company engaged in the business of mineral exploration and the acquisition of mineral property assets. Its objective is to acquire, explore and develop economic precious and base metal properties of merit and to aggressively advance its exploration program on the Jewel Ridge property. The Jewel Ridge property is located on the south end of Nevada's prolific Battle Mountain-Eureka trend, along strike and contiguous to Barrick Gold's Archimedes/Ruby Hill gold mine to the north and Timberline Resources' advanced-stage Lookout Mountain project to the south. The Company also owns a large (37.814 hectare) early-stage property in south-central British Columbia, contiguous to Kodiak Copper Corp., and Gold Mountain Mining Inc., that is highly prospective for copper-gold porphyry and mesothermal gold-bearing quartz-vein mineralization.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

"Mike England"

Mike England, CEO & DIRECTOR

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE

CONTACT: Telephone: 1-604-683-3995

TollFree:1-888-945-4770

Neither the Canadian Stock Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS: This news release contains forward-looking statements, which relate to future events or future performance and reflect management's current expectations and assumptions. Such forward-looking statements reflect management's current beliefs and are based on assumptions made by and information currently available to the Company. Investors are cautioned that these forward looking statements are neither promises nor guarantees, and are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause future results to differ materially from those expected. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and, except as required under applicable securities legislation, the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances. All of the forward-looking statements made in this press release are qualified by these cautionary statements and by those made in our filings with SEDAR in Canada (available at WWW.SEDAR.COM).

SOURCE: Golden Lake Exploration Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/697042/Golden-Lake-Acquires-The-Full-Monty-Property-and-Other-Claims-on-The-Copperview-Property-Princeton-BC
LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / April 12, 2022 / Reviv3 Procare Company (OTCQB:RVIV), an emerging global e-commerce brand in the premium hair care products industry, announced its financial and operational results for its third quarter ended February 28, 2022.

Third Quarter Fiscal 2022 Financial Highlights

Revenue increase of 31% to $476,384 for the third quarter as compared to $364,966 in the prior-year quarter, with continued impact from supply chain disruptions of materials and components, offset by revenue increase in our distribution and direct-to-consumer channels.

Gross profit increased to $341,775, or 72% of revenues, compared to gross profit of $271,475 or 74% of revenues, in the prior-year quarter, reflecting increased costs in freight due to supply chain constraints.

Cost of sales as a percentage of net revenues increased to 28%, as compared to 26% for the prior-year period. The increase reflects the increase in freight costs due to the continued constraints in our supply chain.

Operating expenses increased to $439,276, compared to $392,503 primarily as the result of increased marketing and advertising expenses, higher freight costs, and product delivery charges.

Net loss was $99,314 compared to a net loss of $106,460 for the prior-year quarter.

Nine Months Fiscal 2022 Financial Highlights

Revenues increased 42% to $1,809,472 as compared to $1,277,480 for the prior year period.

Gross profit increased to $1,198,167 compared to $799,902 for the prior year period. Gross profit as a percentage of sales increased to 66% as compared to 63% for the same comparable period in the prior year.

Operating expenses increased to $1,315,379 compared to $934,411 reflecting our increased marketing and advertising expenses and operational costs including significant increases in freight and shipping costs as a result of supply chain constraints.

Net loss was $87,152 compared to a net loss of $122,626 for the prior-year period.

Management Commentary

"For the third quarter, we achieved a thirty-one percent increase in our revenues over the same comparable period while maintaining a gross profit of seventy-two percent. Although we continue to experience higher costs, most notably in raw materials and freight, we've made significant efforts in improving our supply chain processes and operational efficiencies," commented Jeff Toghraie, Chairman and CEO of Reviv3 Procare. "We are excited for the progress and opportunities ahead and remain focused on revenue expansion in existing and new markets," concluded Toghraie.

About Reviv3 Procare Company

Reviv3 Procare Company (OTCQB: RVIV) is an emerging global e-commerce brand in the $90 billion hair care products industry. The Company is a predominantly direct-to-consumer marketer of premium hair and skincare products under its in-house Reviv3 Procare brand - selling products in the United States, Canada, the European Union, and throughout Asia. To learn more, please visit the Company's website at www.reviv3.com.

Media Relations:

Reviv3 PR Team

Tel: 888-638-8883

Email: pr@reviv3.com

www.reviv3.com

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains a number of forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. The use of words such as "anticipates," "expects," "intends," "plans," "confident that" and "believes," among others, generally identify forward-looking statements.

These forward-looking statements are based on currently available information, and management's beliefs, projections, and current expectations subject to a number of significant risks and uncertainties. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements include, among other things: (i) Reviv3's ability to grow net sales and adjusted EBITDA, as anticipated; (ii) our ability to fund our operating expenses; (iii) potential difficulties or delays Reviv3 may experience in implementing its cost savings and efficiency initiatives; (iv) Reviv3's ability to compete effectively with other hair and skincare companies; (v) the concentration of our customers, potentially increasing the negative impact to Reviv3 by changing purchasing or selling patterns; (vi) changes in laws or regulations in the United States and/or in other major markets, such as China, in which Reviv3 operates, including, without limitation, with respect to taxes, tariffs, trade policies, or product safety, which may increase Reviv3's product costs and other costs of doing business, and reduce Reviv3's earnings. Current and potential investors are urged to consider these factors carefully in evaluating the forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date hereof. Except as required by law, Reviv3 does not assume any obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements for any reason, even if new information becomes available in the future.

SOURCE: REVIV3 PROCARE COMPANY

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/697017/Reviv3-Procare-Reports-Third-Quarter-2022-Financial-Results
RECALLED Harare mayor Jacob Mafume yesterday won his battle against Local Government minister July Moyo, with the High Court barring both the council and the minister from seeking to replace him.

Moyo had announced the vacancy, claiming that Mafume had been recalled by a faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The order followed an application by Mafume and Mutare mayor Simon Chabuka and Arnold Batirai Dube, a former Bulawayo councillor who challenged their recall by the PDP faction.

High Court judge Justice Munamato Mutevedzi upheld Mafumes application.

Mafume, Chabuka and Dube had challenged their dismissal by Moyo.

The trio sought an order that their recall be declared null and void and unconstitutional.

Moyo said the PDP had notified him of the trios suspension through a letter dated March 28, 2022.

The trio had won the seats under the 2018 MDC Alliance pact, of which PDP was a member.

Moyo had instructed the town clerks of Harare, Mutare and Bulawayo to inform the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission of the vacancies in terms of section 278 of the Constitution, saying they had joined a new political party, the Citizens Coalition for Change.

But Mafume argued that they belonged to the PDP faction led by Tendai Biti, who had not recalled them.

They cited Moyo, the Harare, Bulawayo and the Mutare town clerks as respondents as they sought an interdict declaring the Local Government ministers letters null and void.

They also sought an order on costs on a punitive scale. Newsday
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / April 12, 2022 / Metallic Minerals (TSXV:MMG)(OTCQB:MMNGF) ("Metallic Minerals", or the "Company") is pleased to announce further results from the 2021 field program at the Company's flagship Keno Silver project located in the productive and historic high-grade Keno Hill Silver District of Yukon, Canada.

The 2021 East Keno program focused on drilling, mapping, soil sampling and geophysical surveying with the objective of expanding upon pivotal discoveries made by the Company in 2020 at the East Keno target area where the first drill campaign ever conducted in the area identified high-grade, Keno-style silver veins within broad continuous zones of bulk-tonnage silver mineralization (Figure 1).

Results from the 2021 program have successfully expanded the footprint of known mineralization at East Keno down dip and along trend. Additionally, new mapping has demonstrated the importance of stacked regional scale thrust faulting in the district and identified associated epithermal mineralization, potentially coincident with bulk tonnage type mineralization, providing a new model for the occurrence of silver deposits in a district with over a century of exploration and production.

2021 East Keno Exploration Highlights:

Silver mineralization was encountered in 10 of 12 holes drilled at East Keno in 2021, including 24 separate high-grade intervals exceeding 100 g/t silver equivalent ("Ag Eq") with individual sample grades up to 1,049 g/t Ag Eq.

Seven of the 12 holes at East Keno highlighted broad zones over 15 m widths of continuous mineralization.

Very wide, near-surface, bulk-tonnage style intersects continue to be prevalent in the area (Hole KS21-71 intersected 112.8 m of 36.5 g/t Ag Eq and Hole KS21-72 intersected 88.4 of 28 g/t Ag Eq).

At the UKHM target, Hole KS21-73 intersected 1.53 m of 1,049 g/t Ag Eq of high-grade Keno-style vein mineralization (788 g/t Ag, 3.5% Pb, 2.3% Zn). This hole represents a 30 m step-out from 2020 Reverse Circulation ("RC") Hole KE20-12, which returned 0.76 m of 809 Ag Eq (462 g/t Ag, 2.2% Pb, 5.2% Zn) extending the known length of the high-grade structure.

At the Fox showing, 10 mineralized holes (of 11) have been drilled in the past two seasons defining the mineralized zone over 300 m meters of strike length with 26 intersects over 100 g/t Ag Eq.

Drilling expanded known mineralized zones in all areas that were drilled in 2021 (Fox, UKHM and Zone 2), and mineralization remains open for expansion at depth and on strike at all East Keno target areas.

Five lines totalling 20.3-line-kilometers of Simcoe Geosciences Alpha IPTM system returning Induced Polarization ("IP") and resistivity anomalies identified 35 new conductive features of interest associated with soil and magnetic targets.

Scott Petsel, President, stated: "We are very encouraged with the results from the new RC drilling, and first ever diamond core drilling, at East Keno that is expanding the scope of the target areas and continuing to validate these discoveries as potential future resource areas worthy of continued investigation. What's really exciting for the 2022 field season is our ability to now incorporate the new mapping into an updated geologic understanding of the interplay of the regional-scale structures and the newly recognized broader and lower grade style of epithermal mineralization broader and lower grade with what we already know about the Keno style high-grade veins. This should significantly increase our ability to make new discoveries."

"During the 2022 field season, the Company intends to use core drilling at the Fox, UKHM and Zone 2 discovers with the aim of extending these areas and evaluating resource potential. The potential we see at East Keno cannot be overstated and, with our targeting methodology honed, we expect to make major strides in continuing to advance these top priority targets towards resource definition. We look forward to providing further news including final results from West Keno, as well as an update with respect to our NI 43-101 resource definition at the La Plata silver-gold-copper project in Colorado and our exploration plans for both Keno and La Plata in 2022."

Figure 1. Keno Silver District Geology and Deposits

2021 East Keno Exploration Program

The East Keno Area is represented by 12 multi-kilometer-scale anomalies which indicate potential for large scale mineralization in the least explored part of the district. The largest of the target areas extends up to five kilometers in length and two kilometers in width with values in soil exceeding 100 g/t Ag Eq. The initial drill campaign in the target area was completed in 2020 and returned several significant high-grade Ag-Pb-Zn massive sulphide vein intervals (KE20-01, 0.77 m @ 1,416.9 Ag Eq) and numerous broad potential bulk tonnage scale intervals (KE20-01, 28.2 m @ 70.1 g/t Ag Eq and KE20-02, 22.1 m @ 52.3 g/t Ag Eq).

The 2021 field program at East Keno was designed to conduct follow-up drilling at the new discovery areas identified in 2020 to define the scale of the subsurface mineralization along trend and at depth within these multi-kilometer-scale soil and geophysical targets. Exploration in 2021 consisted of geophysics, soil sampling, mapping and a total of 2,824 m of drilling comprising 1,507 m in four diamond core holes and 1,317 m in eight RC holes. Drilling at the East Keno target area, since the initial drill discovery in 2020, now totals 4,702 m in 31 holes.

Drilling returned new intervals of higher-grade Keno Style Ag-Pb-Zn mineralization within broad intervals of lower grade, bulk-tonnage style mineralization. The highest grades encountered in 2021 were found at the UKHM showing at the southern end of the five-kilometer-long soil anomaly where hole KS21-73 returned 1.53m of 1,049 g/t Ag Eq (778 g/t Ag, 3.54% Pb and 2.3% Zn) (Table 1). Zones of combined higher-grade zinc and lower-grade silver seen in the 2021 drill results are a result of metal zonation in the vein structures and provide information that can be used to direct future exploration efforts towards more silver-rich areas.

At the Fox showing, the most advanced of the East Keno target areas, broad intervals of bulk-tonnage-style mineralization have been returned in 10 of 11 holes drilled to date with 26 intersections greater than 100 g/t Ag Eq. Six holes (1 core, 5 RC) were drilled at Fox in 2021, expanding the total defined strike length to over 300 m. The best intervals, representing both high-grade Keno Style Ag-Pb-Zn veins and broader bulk tonnage mineralization, found at Fox are KE20-01: 0.77 m @ 1,417 g/t Ag Eq (1,145 g/t Ag, 2.2% Pb and 3.7% Zn) and KS21-71: 112.8 m @ 36.5 g/t Ag Eq (9.5 g/t Ag, 0.04% Pb and 0.5% Zn) (Table 1). The Fox target will be a focus of further off-set and expansion drill testing in 2022 as the target area advances towards resource definition.

Zone 2 and the UKHM target also returned similar broad envelopes of mineralization. The intervals are at shallow depths and may represent epithermal mineralization associated with stacked thrust faults as defined by mapping during the 2021 season. A focus on core drilling for 2022, which provides enhanced structural information, should help further characterize these styles of mineralization and their structural setting and associations.

Soil sampling at East Keno extended the existing +3 km silver in soil anomalies at the Fox target and defined a new zone, Fox Northeast, which appears to connect the previously identified Zone 2 and Fox targets. The Fox Northeast zone expands the known extent of anomalous soils 500 m east and 1,100 m to the north. This strong northerly anomaly coincides with observable lineaments from satellite imagery. A second new zone, Fox North, was also delineated as a 600 m by 350 m north-south trending silver in soil anomaly. Additional surface sampling will be a priority during the 2022 season to see if the Fox North anomaly can be linked with the broader 3 km anomaly to the south which encompasses the Fox, Zone 2 and UKHM target zones.

Table 1 - Highlight 2021 and 2020 Drill Results from the East Keno Target Areas

Hole From (m) To (m) Width (m) Ag Eq (g/t) Ag (g/t) Au (g/t) Pb (%) Zn (%) KS21-68 143.26 210.31 67.05 15.2 7.4 0 0.02 0.13 incl 146.3 147.83 1.53 156.1 106 0 0.24 0.83 incl 207.26 208.79 1.53 122.8 36 0.01 0.26 1.6 KS21-69 16.76 38.1 21.34 17 9.2 0 0.05 0.08 KS21-69 83.82 85.34 1.52 233.3 117 0.01 0.94 1.69 KS21-70 19.81 27.43 7.62 25.3 16.2 0 0.1 0.06 KS21-70 57.91 73.15 15.24 21 4.3 0.05 0.02 0.23 KS21-71 12.19 124.97 112.78 36.5 9.5 0.01 0.04 0.5 incl 22.86 24.38 1.52 198.5 123 0.01 0.99 0.74 incl 60.96 64.01 3.05 215 48.9 0.05 0.16 3.24 incl 60.96 70.1 9.14 108.7 22.2 0.02 0.07 1.7 incl 80.77 91.44 10.67 105.3 22.2 0.02 0.04 1.66 incl 86.87 88.39 1.52 448.4 68 0.05 0.04 7.77 incl 100.58 102.11 1.53 218 32 0.18 0.02 3.53 incl 115.82 117.35 1.53 155.6 36 0.01 0.03 2.47 KS21-72 60.96 149.35 88.39 28 10 0.01 0.05 0.31 incl 60.96 62.48 1.52 314.9 162 0.02 0.89 2.44 incl 89.92 91.44 1.52 130.9 84.2 0.01 0.46 0.59 incl 99.06 102.11 3.05 119.7 31.2 0.04 0.05 1.74 incl 117.35 118.87 1.52 97.1 49 0 0.4 0.68 incl 138.68 140.21 1.53 242.9 33 0 0.07 4.34 KS21-73 111.25 115.82 4.57 424.9 305.2 0.12 1.39 1.11 incl 111.25 112.78 1.53 1049.1 788 0.11 3.54 2.3 KS21-73 146.3 147.83 1.53 85.4 64.1 0.03 0.23 0.18 KS21-74 19.81 44.2 24.39 18.4 14.3 0.01 0.07 0.02 incl 38.1 39.62 1.52 103.4 91 0.02 0.25 0.01 KS21-74 108.2 147.83 39.63 18.4 11.9 0.01 0.05 0.07 incl 115.82 117.35 1.53 105.3 69.1 0.07 0.19 0.42 incl 138.68 144.78 6.1 41.2 30.6 0.01 0.12 0.11 KS21-75 39.62 44.2 4.58 54.5 39.6 0.01 0.2 0.1 KS21-75 117.35 131.06 13.71 49.7 40.8 0.01 0.02 0.16 incl 121.92 123.44 1.52 326.8 281 0.03 0.03 0.86 FX21-01 19.8 20.8 1 111.2 71.1 0 0.44 0.49 FX21-01 115.6 116.1 0.5 114.4 9 0.2 0.02 1.78 FX21-01 326.3 326.8 0.5 177.7 15 0 0.02 3.37 Z221-02 137.5 138.4 0.9 135 59.4 0.04 0.68 0.93 KE20-01 41.15 69.34 28.19 70.1 44 0.01 0.14 0.39 incl 67.81 68.58 0.77 1416.9 1145 0.03 2.19 3.72 KE20-02 48 70.1 22.10 52.3 18 0.01 0.05 0.63 incl 62.24 64 0.76 683.5 301 0.13 0.68 7.14 KE20-08 41.91 42.67 0.76 387.2 293 0.01 0.03 1.89 KE20-11 22.86 41.15 18.29 63 54 0.02 0.19 0.01 incl 38.86 39.62 0.76 571.3 493 0.07 1.82 0.02 KE20-12 85.34 89.91 4.57 254.7 139 0.02 0.89 1.63 incl 89/15 89.91 0.76 809 462 0.09 2.18 5.15 KE20-16 64.77 68.58 3.81 594.3 28 0.00 0.52 11.41

1Silver equivalent (Ag Eq) values assume Ag $19/oz, Pb $1.05/lb, Zn $1.30/lb, Au $1,800/oz and 100% metallurgical recovery. Sample intervals are based on measured drill intersect lengths

Figure 2 - East Keno Area Plan Map with 2021 and 2020 Drill Hole Locations

2021 Geophysical Survey

Simcoe Geosciences completed five lines (20.3-line km) of its Alpha IPTM system measuring IP and resistivity on both the Central and East Keno target areas. The survey identified areas of high IP response and 35 conductive features of interest associated with elevated silver in soil and coincident magnetic anomalies. Drilling at Fox North, a new soil anomaly identified in 2021, has provided insight into the potential for a buried intrusive body 500 to 1000 meters below East Keno that may be a driver of mineralizing fluids in the district. The drill hole returned sulphide mineralization and hornfels in association with the edge of the chargeability anomaly, potentially representing alteration by a significant nearby intrusion. The stacked thrusts mapped in 2021 may represent pathways for the epithermal mineralization from these buried intrusive bodies that could be responsible for the wider zones of 20-100 g/t Ag Eq bulk tonnage mineralization seen at East Keno. Further drilling and field work will be required to ground truth the anomalies in 2022.

About Metallic Minerals

Metallic Minerals Corp. is a growth-stage exploration company, focused on high-grade silver and gold projects in underexplored, brownfields mining districts of North America. Our objective is to create shareholder value through a systematic, entrepreneurial approach to exploration in the Keno Hill silver district, La Plata silver-gold-copper district, and Klondike gold district through new discoveries and advancing resources to development. Metallic Minerals has consolidated the second-largest land position in the historic Keno Hill silver district of Canada's Yukon Territory, directly adjacent to Alexco Resource Corp's operations, with nearly 300 million ounces of high-grade silver in past production and current M&I resources. In addition, exploration at the recently acquired La Plata silver-gold-copper project in southwestern Colorado is targeting a silver and gold-enriched copper porphyry and adjacent high-grade silver and gold epithermal systems. The Company also continues to add new production royalty leases on its holdings in the Klondike gold district in the Yukon. All three districts have seen significant mineral production and have existing infrastructure, including power and road access. Metallic Minerals is led by a team with a track record of discovery and exploration success on several major precious and base metal deposits, as well as having large-scale development, permitting and project financing expertise.

About the Metallic Group of Companies

The Metallic Group is a collaboration of leading precious and base metals exploration companies, with a portfolio of large, brownfields assets in established mining districts adjacent to some of the industry's highest-grade producers of silver and gold, platinum and palladium, and copper. Member companies include Metallic Minerals in the Yukon's high-grade Keno Hill silver district and La Plata silver-gold-copper district of Colorado, Group Ten Metals in the Stillwater PGM-nickel-copper district of Montana, and Granite Creek Copper in the Yukon's Minto copper district. The founders and team members of the Metallic Group include highly successful explorationists formerly with some of the industry's leading explorer/developers and major producers. With this expertise, the companies are undertaking a systematic approach to exploration using new models and technologies to facilitate discoveries in these proven, but under-explored, mining districts. The Metallic Group is headquartered in Vancouver, BC, Canada, and its member companies are listed on the Toronto Venture, US OTC, and Frankfurt stock exchanges.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:

Website: mmgsilver.com

Phone: 604-629-7800

Toll Free: 1-888-570-4420

Email: cackerman@mmgsilver.com

Qualified Person

The disclosure in this news release of scientific and technical information regarding exploration projects on Metallic Minerals' mineral properties has been reviewed and approved by Scott Petsel, P.Geo., President, who is a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101").

Quality Assurance / Quality Control

All samples were assayed by 36 Element Aqua Regia Digestion ICP-MS methods at Bureau Veritas labs in Vancouver. with sample preparation in Whitehorse, Yukon and geochemical analysis in Vancouver, British Columbia. Samples with over limit silver and gold were re-analyzed using a 30-gram fire assay fusion with a gravimetric finish. Over-limit lead and zinc samples were analyzed by multi-acid digestion and atomic absorption spectrometry. All results have passed the QAQC screening by the lab and the company utilized a quality control and quality assurance protocol for the project, including blank, duplicate, and standard reference samples.

Forward-Looking Statements

Forward Looking Statements: This news release includes certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements". All statements in this release, other than statements of historical facts including, without limitation, statements regarding potential mineralization, historic production, estimation of mineral resources, the realization of mineral resource estimates, interpretation of prior exploration and potential exploration results, the timing and success of exploration activities generally, the timing and results of future resource estimates, permitting time lines, metal prices and currency exchange rates, availability of capital, government regulation of exploration operations, environmental risks, reclamation, title, and future plans and objectives of the company are forward-looking statements that involve various risks and uncertainties. Although Metallic Minerals believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on a number of material factors and assumptions. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include failure to obtain necessary approvals, unsuccessful exploration results, changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined, results of future resource estimates, future metal prices, availability of capital and financing on acceptable terms, general economic, market or business conditions, risks associated with regulatory changes, defects in title, availability of personnel, materials and equipment on a timely basis, accidents or equipment breakdowns, uninsured risks, delays in receiving government approvals, unanticipated environmental impacts on operations and costs to remedy same, and other exploration or other risks detailed herein and from time to time in the filings made by the companies with securities regulators. Readers are cautioned that mineral resources that are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. Mineral exploration and development of mines is an inherently risky business. Accordingly, the actual events may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. For more information on Metallic Minerals and the risks and challenges of their businesses, investors should review their annual filings that are available at www.sedar.com

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

SOURCE: Metallic Minerals Corp.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/697035/Metallic-Minerals-Expands-Targets-at-East-Keno-with-Multiple-Intersections-of-Broad-Bulk-Tonnage-Silver-Mineralization
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / April 12, 2022 / CopAur Minerals Inc. (TSXV:CPAU) ("CopAur") and New Placer Dome Gold Corp. (TSXV:NGLD) ("New Placer Dome") are pleased to announce that New Placer Dome has filed on SEDAR and commenced sending materials to its shareholders (the "NGLD Shareholders"), including the management information circular of the New Placer Dome dated April 7, 2022 (the "Information Circular"), for the special meeting of NGLD Shareholders (the "Meeting") to be held on May 6, 2022 in connection with the contemplated acquisition by CopAur of all of the issued and outstanding common shares of New Placer Dome ("NGLD Shares") by way of a plan of arrangement under the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia) (the "Arrangement") pursuant to an arrangement agreement dated March 7, 2022, as amended (the "Arrangement Agreement"). Assuming completion of the Arrangement, New Placer Dome will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of CopAur.

Materials for the Meeting, including the Information Circular, are available under New Placer Dome's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and on New Placer Dome's website at www.newplacerdome.com

Under the terms of the Arrangement Agreement, CopAur has agreed to issue to NGLD Shareholders 0.1182 common shares of CopAur for every one (1) outstanding NGLD Share (the "Exchange Ratio") held, pursuant the Arrangement. All outstanding stock options of New Placer Dome will be exchanged for options of CopAur and all warrants of New Placer Dome will become exercisable to acquire common shares of CopAur, in amounts and at exercise prices adjusted in accordance with the Exchange Ratio. Completion of the Arrangement is subject to certain conditions including (i) the approval of the Supreme Court of British Columbia, (ii) the approval of the Arrangement by not less than two-thirds (66?%) of the votes cast by NGLD Shareholders, and (iii) a simple majority of the votes cast by the minority NGLD Shareholders (excluding shareholders whose votes are required to be excluded pursuant to Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions) and (iv) approval by all applicable regulatory authorities, including the TSX Venture Exchange ("TSXV").

Your Vote is Important

Information regarding attending and voting at the Meeting is included in the Information Circular. If you require assistance with voting your NGLD Shares you may contact New Placer Dome by telephone at: 1-604-367-8771.

Benefits of the Arrangement

Experienced Leadership. The senior executive team of CopAur, comprising of directors, advisors and consultants have extensive experience in capital raising. The combined company will be managed by an award-winning team of professionals who stand for technical excellence, painstaking project selection and uncompromising corporate governance; with the proven ability to generate significant shareholder appreciation.

The senior executive team of CopAur, comprising of directors, advisors and consultants have extensive experience in capital raising. The combined company will be managed by an award-winning team of professionals who stand for technical excellence, painstaking project selection and uncompromising corporate governance; with the proven ability to generate significant shareholder appreciation. Liberty Gold Corp. in Favor of Transaction. Liberty Gold Corp. (" Liberty Gold ") is a 14.84% shareholder of New Placer Dome and is in full support of the Arrangement and will be a significant shareholder of the combined company.

Liberty Gold Corp. (" ") is a 14.84% shareholder of New Placer Dome and is in full support of the Arrangement and will be a significant shareholder of the combined company. Enhanced Market Profile. The Arrangement will create a larger, well-funded, gold-copper exploration company with an enhanced market and growth profile that will be well positioned to benefit from exploration success across the combined portfolio of assets.

The Arrangement will create a larger, well-funded, gold-copper exploration company with an enhanced market and growth profile that will be well positioned to benefit from exploration success across the combined portfolio of assets. Geographic Diversification. The combined company will have a diverse, highly prospective portfolio of assets in two of North America's most prolific mining jurisdictions that provide the potential to pursue year round exploration programs.

The combined company will have a diverse, highly prospective portfolio of assets in two of North America's most prolific mining jurisdictions that provide the potential to pursue year round exploration programs. Significant Exploration Upside. Significant upside potential through a combined multi-asset exploration portfolio ranging from resource-development to high-potential exploration, including Carlin-style mineralization at the Kinsley Project (as defined below) and Bolo Project (as defined below) and gold-copper porphyry targets at the Williams Project (as defined below).

Significant upside potential through a combined multi-asset exploration portfolio ranging from resource-development to high-potential exploration, including Carlin-style mineralization at the Kinsley Project (as defined below) and Bolo Project (as defined below) and gold-copper porphyry targets at the Williams Project (as defined below). Negotiated Transaction. The Arrangement Agreement is the result of an arm's length negotiation process and includes terms and conditions that are reasonable in the judgment of the board of directors of New Placer Dome (the " NGLD Board ").

The Arrangement Agreement is the result of an arm's length negotiation process and includes terms and conditions that are reasonable in the judgment of the board of directors of New Placer Dome (the " "). Fairness Opinion. Pursuant to the fairness opinion that the NGLD Board received from PI Financial Corp. (the " Fairness Opinion "), subject to enumerated assumptions and limitations, PI Financial Corp. is of the opinion that the consideration to be received by the NGLD Shareholders pursuant to the Arrangement is fair, from a financial point of view, to such NGLD Shareholders.

Pursuant to the fairness opinion that the NGLD Board received from PI Financial Corp. (the " "), subject to enumerated assumptions and limitations, PI Financial Corp. is of the opinion that the consideration to be received by the NGLD Shareholders pursuant to the Arrangement is fair, from a financial point of view, to such NGLD Shareholders. Strong Balance Sheet. The combined company will be well-capitalized to fund the advancement of the combined portfolio of assets through the combined cash balances of both companies. The Arrangement provides NGLD Shareholders with the opportunity to participate in a combined company with greater access to capital.

The combined company will be well-capitalized to fund the advancement of the combined portfolio of assets through the combined cash balances of both companies. The Arrangement provides NGLD Shareholders with the opportunity to participate in a combined company with greater access to capital. Advancement of Kinsley Project. The Arrangement will result in CopAur being able to make the final cash and share payments to Liberty Gold under the Kinsley Option Agreement (as defined in the Information Circular), which will result in CopAur acquiring Liberty Gold's 79.99% equity interest in Kinsley Gold LLC. The combined company will continue to advance the flagship Kinsley Project.

How to vote your shares

Whether or not you plan to attend the Meeting, we encourage you to vote promptly, but no later than 10:00 a.m. (Vancouver time) on May 4, 2022 or two Business Days prior to any adjournment of the Meeting. Registered and non-registered NGLD Shareholders are instructed to vote as follows:

Voting Method Registered Shareholders If your shares are held in your name and represented by a physical certificate or DRS statement. Non-Registered Shareholders If your shares are held with a broker, bank or other intermediary Internet @ Go to www.investorvote.com . Enter the 15-digit control number printed on the form of proxy and follow the instructions on screen. Go to www.proxyvote.com. Enter the 16-digit control number printed on the voting instruction form ("VIF") and follow the instructions on screen. Telephone North American Toll-Free Number: 1.866.732.8683 Call the phone number listed on the VIF. Enter the 16-digit control number and follow the interactive voice recording instructions to submit your vote. Fax Complete, date and sign the proxy and fax it to 1.416.263.9524 or 1.866.249.7775 Complete, date, and sign the VIF and fax it to the number listed on the VIF. Mail Enter voting instructions, sign and date the form of proxy and return your completed form of proxy in the enclosed postage paid envelope to: Computershare Investor Services Inc. 8th Floor, 100 University Avenue Toronto, Ontario, M5J 2Y1 Enter your voting instructions, sign and date the VIF, and return the completed VIF in the enclosed postage paid envelope.

Read the Information Circular

All NGLD Shareholders are urged to read the Information Circular and related materials for additional and more detailed disclosures of the material information regarding the Arrangement, including risk factors, and tax and securities law considerations. If you have questions or concerns about the impacts of the Arrangement on your personal circumstances, then you should consult your financial and other advisors.

Recommendation of the Board of New Placer Dome

The NGLD Board, based in part on the Fairness Opinion, unanimously recommends that the NGLD Shareholders vote FOR the Arrangement.

About CopAur Minerals

CopAur Minerals is a Canadian based TSXV-listed copper-gold mining company whose primary asset is the 100%-owned Williams Gold-Copper property (the "Williams Project") that spans across 5,159 hectares of land package in Northeastern British Columbia. The Williams Project is a highly prospective exploration property which hosts a large, partially tested 3.0 km by 2.0 km gold-insoil anomaly and an early stage 1.8 km wide copper porphyry target. Historical work on the Williams Project includes 6,759 meters of diamond drilling over 31 holes, rock and soil sampling, trenching and geophysical surveys.

Qualified Person

The scientific and technical information contained in this news release regarding CopAur Minerals Inc. has been reviewed and approved by Alvin Jackson P. Geo, a Director of CopAur Minerals Inc. and a "Qualified Person" as defined in National Instrument 43-101.

For more information, please contact:

CopAur Minerals Inc.

Jeremy Yaseniuk, Chief Executive Officer & Director

Tel: +1 (604) 773-1467

Email: jeremyy@copaur.com

About New Placer Dome Gold Corp.

New Placer Dome Gold Corp. is a gold exploration company focused on acquiring and advancing gold projects in Nevada. New Placer Dome's flagship Kinsley Mountain Gold Project (the "Kinsley Project") located 90 km south of the Long Canyon Mine (currently in production under the Newmont/Barrick Joint Venture, Nevada Gold Mines), hosts Carlin-style gold mineralization, previous run of mine heap leach production, and NI 43-101 indicated resources containing 418,000 ounces of gold grading 2.63 g/t Au (4.95 million tonnes) and inferred resources containing 117,000 ounces of gold averaging 1.51 g/t Au (2.44 million tonnes)[1]. The Bolo Project (the "Bolo Project"), located 90 km northeast of Tonopah, Nevada, is another core asset, similarly hosting Carlin-style gold mineralization. New Placer Dome also owns 100% of the Troy Canyon Project, located 120 km south of Ely, Nevada. New Placer Dome is run by a strong management and technical team consisting of capital markets and mining professionals with the goal of maximizing value for shareholders through new mineral discoveries, committed long-term partnerships, and the advancement of exploration projects in geopolitically favourable jurisdictions.

Qualified Person

The scientific and technical information contained in this news release as it relates to New Placer Dome has been reviewed and approved by Kristopher J. Raffle, P.Geo. (BC), Principal and Consultant of APEX Geoscience Ltd. of Edmonton, AB, a Director of New Placer Dome and a "Qualified Person" as defined in National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. Mr. Raffle has verified the data disclosed which includes a review of the sampling, analytical and test data underlying the information and opinions contained herein.

For more information, please contact:

New Placer Dome Gold Corp.

Maximilian Sali, Chief Executive Officer & Director

Tel: 604 367 8117

Email: msali@newplacerdome.com

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

The information in this news release has been prepared as at April 12, 2022. This news release contains 'forward-looking information' within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation. Forward looking information in this news release includes statements about the completion, timing and potential benefits of the Arrangement. These forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties which could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those anticipated, including, the contemplated business combination not being completed as a result of a number of factors including, without limitation, the shareholders of New Placer Dome not approving the transaction, or required regulatory or court approvals not being obtained; the expected timing for these events being delayed; the possible failure to realize anticipated synergies, combined technical expertise or other benefits of the transaction; and other risks and uncertainties detailed in the Information Circular. Readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking information contained in this news release. Neither CopAur nor New Placer Dome undertakes to update any forward-looking information, except as required by applicable securities laws.

Investors are cautioned that, except as disclosed in the Information Circular, any information released or received with respect to the business combination may not be accurate or complete and should not be relied upon.

[1] Technical Report on the Kinsley Project, Elko County, Nevada, U.S.A., dated June 21, 2021 with an effective date of May 5, 2021 and prepared by Michael M. Gustin, Ph.D., and Gary L. Simmons, MMSA and filed under New Placer Dome Gold Corp.'s Issuer Profile on SEDAR (www.sedar.com)

SOURCE: New Placer Dome Gold Corp.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/696992/New-Placer-Dome-Gold-Corp-Files-Special-Meeting-Materials-for-Arrangement-with-Copaur-Minerals-Inc
Calgary, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - April 12, 2022) - Hemostemix Inc. (TSXV: HEM) (OTCQB: HMTXF) (FSE: 2VFO) ("Hemostemix" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that, further to its March 23, 2022 news release, Hemostemix has completed the audit of its ACP-01 clinical trial data and intellectual property held by Aspire Health Sciences, LLC ("Aspire") and Accudata Solutions, Inc. ("Accudata"), and Hemostemix has confirmed the materials held by Aspire and Accudata are complete and appear to be free of manipulation in any way. If and when the closing of the Settlement Agreement occurs, Hemostemix shall pay Aspire a confidential monetary sum for termination of the license agreement and for providing Hemostemix with all clinical trial data and intellectual property of the Company held by Aspire and other signatories of the Settlement Agreement. While the closing of the Settlement Agreement is subject to several conditions and contingencies, and there can be no assurance that the closing of the Settlement Agreement will be completed, the Parties are contracted to close this transaction in the next 30 to 60 days. Hemostemix's inspection of the materials held by Aspire confirms the underlying disputes were business disputes among the parties and there was no harm to Hemostemix's intellectual property. This settlement resolves these business disputes, and upon closing of the Settlement Agreement, all three lawsuits will be dismissed with prejudice.

"This is a very significant step forward for Hemostemix. It settles three law suits, returns clinical trial data and all intellectual property to the Company, enables the processing of the Phase II clinical trial results, and frees management to move forward with significant business developments that create strategic value for our shareholders," stated Thomas Smeenk, CEO.

Hemostemix will provide further information on the Settlement Agreement and closing as further information becomes available.

ABOUT HEMOSTEMIX

Hemostemix is a publicly traded autologous stem cell therapy company, founded in 2003. A winner of the World Economic Forum Technology Pioneer Award, the Company developed and has published seven peer reviewed articles about the safety and efficacy of its lead product ACP-01 as a treatment of CLI, PAD, Angina, Ischemic Cardiomyopathy, Dilated Cardiomyopathy and other conditions of ischemia. ACP-01 has been used to treat over 300 patients, and it is the subject of a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial of its safety and efficacy in patients with advanced critical limb ischemia who have exhausted all other options to save their limb from amputation.

On October 21, 2019, the Company announced the results from its Phase II CLI trial abstract presentation entitled "Autologous Stem Cell Treatment for CLI Patients with No Revascularization Options: An Update of the Hemostemix ACP-01 Trial With 4.5 Year Follow-up" which noted healing of ulcers and resolution of ischemic rest pain occurred in 83% of patients, with outcomes maintained for up to 4.5 years.

The Company owns 91 patents across five patent families titled: Regulating Stem Cells, In Vitro Techniques for use with Stem Cells, Production from Blood of Cells of Neural Lineage, and Automated Cell Therapy. For more information, please visit www.hemostemix.com.

For further information, please contact:

Thomas Smeenk, President, CEO & Co-Founder

EM: tsmeenk@hemostemix.com

PH: 905-580-4170

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Service Provider (as that term is defined under the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward-Looking Information: This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein are forward-looking information. In particular, this news release contains forward-looking information in relation to: the anticipated closing of the Settlement Agreement including the anticipated closing dates; the anticipated settlement of lawsuits; the return of the ACP-01 Data and Company's intellectual property to Hemostemix; the potential processing of Phase II clinical results; and the potential significant business developments of Hemostemix. There can be no assurance that such forward-looking information will prove to be accurate. Actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking information. This forward-looking information reflects Hemostemix's current beliefs and is based on information currently available to Hemostemix and on assumptions Hemostemix believes are reasonable. These assumptions include, but are not limited to: the successful closing of the Settlement Agreement; the satisfaction or waiver of all conditions and contingencies in the Settlement Agreement, including the satisfactory completion of the Data Audit; all required parties to the Settlement Agreement executing the Settlement Agreement; agreement by all parties to the Settlement Agreement to the closing of the Settlement Agreement; the underlying value of Hemostemix and its Common Shares; the successful resolution of the litigation that Hemostemix is pursuing or defending (the "Litigation"); the results of ACP-01 research, trials, studies and analyses, including the analysis being equivalent to or better than previous research, trials or studies as well as management's expectations of anticipated results; Hemostemix's general and administrative costs remaining constant; the receipt of all required regulatory approvals for research, trials or studies; the level of activity, market acceptance and market trends in the healthcare sector; the economy generally; consumer interest in Hemostemix's services and products; competition and Hemostemix's competitive advantages; and Hemostemix obtaining satisfactory financing to fund Hemostemix's operations including any research, trials or studies, and the Litigation. Forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of Hemostemix to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Such risks and other factors may include, but are not limited to: the ability of Hemostemix to complete its current CLI clinical trial, complete satisfactory analyses of clinical trials and other information and the results of such analyses and future clinical trials; litigation and potential litigation that Hemostemix may face; general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties; general capital market conditions and market prices for securities; delay or failure to receive board or regulatory approvals; the actual results of future operations including the actual results of future research, trials or studies; competition; changes in legislation affecting Hemostemix; the timing and availability of external financing on acceptable terms; long-term capital requirements and future developments in Hemostemix's markets and the markets in which it expects to compete; lack of qualified, skilled labour or loss of key individuals; and risks related to the COVID-19 pandemic including various recommendations, orders and measures of governmental authorities to try to limit the pandemic, including travel restrictions, border closures, non-essential business closures, service disruptions, quarantines, self-isolations, shelters-in-place and social distancing, disruptions to markets, disruptions to economic activity and financings, disruptions to supply chains and sales channels, and a deterioration of general economic conditions including a possible national or global recession or depression; the potential impact that the COVID-19 pandemic may have on Hemostemix which may include a decreased demand for the services that Hemostemix offers; and a deterioration of financial markets that could limit Hemostemix's ability to obtain external financing. A description of additional risk factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from forward-looking information can be found in Hemostemix's disclosure documents on the SEDAR website at www.sedar.com. Although Hemostemix 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. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. Readers are further cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information as there can be no assurance that the plans, intentions or expectations upon which they are placed will occur. Forward-looking information contained in this news release is expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking information contained in this news release represents the expectations of Hemostemix as of the date of this news release and, accordingly, it is subject to change after such date. However, Hemostemix expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as expressly required by applicable securities law.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/120166
TOKYO (dpa-AFX) - Toyota Motor Corp. (TYT.L, TM) announced it will launch the all-new bZ4X Battery Electric Vehicle on May 12 in Japan. The bZ4X will be made available to individual customers through KINTO subscription services. For corporate customers, the vehicles will be leased from Toyota Rent-a-Lease Dealers nationwide and the Toyota Mobility Services Corporation. In Japan, the company will commence the first phase by accepting applications for the first 3,000 units on May 12. It anticipates a second phase of applications in early autumn. A total of 5,000 units for production and sales are planned for the first year. Also, Toyota plans to install rapid chargers at all dealers in Japan by 2025. The bZ4X will go on sale at U.S. dealers this Spring 2022. The 2023 Toyota bZ4X will have a starting MSRP of $42,000. Toyota plans to expand to around 70 electrified models globally by 2025. This lineup will include 15 dedicated BEVs, including seven carrying the Beyond Zero brand moniker. Over the next nine years, Toyota will invest $70+ billion in electrified vehicles as a whole with the target to launch 3.5 million BEVs globally in 2030. Copyright(c) 2022 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - American Airlines disclosed in a regulatory filing that it expects its first quarter total revenue to be down approximately 16% versus the first quarter of 2019, which is better than the company's recent guidance of down approximately 17%. The company flew 59.5 billion total available seat miles in the first quarter, down 10.7% versus the first quarter of 2019. The company expects its first quarter Cost per available seat mile or CASM, excluding fuel and net special items, to be up between 12% and 13% versus the first quarter of 2019, compared to its previous guidance of up between 11% and 13%. The Company expects to end the first quarter with approximately $15.5 billion in total available liquidity. The company expects to report net special items of approximately $160 million in the first quarter before the effect of taxes. Net special items principally include a non-cash impairment charge to write down the carrying value of the company's retired Airbus A330 fleet to the estimated fair value due to current market conditions for certain used aircraft. The company retired its Airbus A330 fleet in 2020 as a result of the decline in demand for air travel due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Copyright(c) 2022 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
Amagi ON-DEMAND enables speed-to-market and cost efficiencies for content owners while allowing platforms to gain access to larger online content libraries.

NEW YORK, April 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Amagi, a global leader in cloud-based SaaS technology for broadcast and connected TV, today announced the general availability of Amagi ON-DEMAND, its robust content management solution for orchestrating Video-On-Demand (VOD) content workflows. The product has already seen successful deployments from early adopters.

The product uses cloud automation to make every stage of the online content lifecycle - ingestion, transcoding, and delivery to multiple vMPVD, OTT, and Free Ad-Supported Streaming TV platforms - simple for the user. Over the years, Amagi has built more than fifty plug-and-play connectors for various platforms.

What makes Amagi ON-DEMAND unique

Amagi ON-DEMAND is a unique product in the market that offers an 'ingest-once-for-multiple-deliveries' option to content owners. Once a content asset is ingested on Amagi ON-DEMAND, it can be stored and normalized for any number of deliveries in the future, considerably reducing the time taken to bring VOD content assets for viewing.

As a preferred platform partner for many OTT/FAST service providers globally, Amagi has extensive knowledge of platform specifications and the capability to customize the delivery accordingly. This capability is further enhanced through Amagi ON-DEMAND, which tailors content formats to suit each platform's unique requirements, removing the burden of managing disparate delivery specs for content owners.

"The product's source conversion feature is a tremendous asset for content owners who wish to take advantage of the opportunities in VOD without having to upgrade their technology", said KA Srinivasan, Co-founder, Amagi. "Add to that the easy access and real time alerts to the workflow metrics that empower content owners to run their operations without any glitches. All these while making their content accessible on all the leading streaming platforms!"

Amagi ON-DEMAND also integrates with Amagi CLOUDPORT, the award-winning broadcast-grade channel playout platform, and Amagi THUNDERSTORM, the dynamic server-side ad insertion platform, providing a unified solution to customers.

Amagi provides a complete suite of solutions for content creation, distribution, and monetization. The company offers wide distribution options with access to over 100 platforms including 50+ FAST platforms. Amagi clients include ABS-CBN, A+E Networks UK, beIN Sports, CuriosityStream, Discovery Networks, Fox Networks, Fremantle, NBCUniversal, Tastemade, Tegna, Vice Media, USA Today, and Warner Media, among others.

Amagi will be showcasing its innovative products at NABSHOW 2022 in Las Vegas. For more information about Amagi and its streaming TV solutions, visit www.amagi.com .

About Amagi

Amagi is a next-generation media technology company that provides cloud broadcast and targeted advertising solutions to broadcast TV and streaming TV platforms. Amagi enables content owners to launch, distribute and monetize live linear channels on Free-Ad-Supported TV and video services platforms. Amagi also offers 24x7 cloud managed services bringing simplicity, advanced automation, and transparency to the entire broadcast operations. Overall, Amagi supports 650+ content brands, 800+ playout chains and over 2000 channel deliveries on its platform in over 40 countries. Amagi has presence in New York, Los Angeles, Toronto, London, Paris, Singapore, broadcast operations in New Delhi, and an innovation center in Bangalore.

Amagi Contact:

Sanjay Kirimanjeshwar

Head of Global Marketing

Email: sanjay@amagi.com

USA PR Contact:

BOCA Communications for Amagi

Email: amagi@bocacommunications.com

India PR Contact:

Gayatri Binu

The PRactice

Email: gayatri@the-practice.net

Europe PR Contact:

AxiCom PR

Email: amagiPR.france@axicom.com
Commercial Vehicle Group (CVG) protects its team and production in Ukraine, while installing backup production in the Czech Republic.

NEW ALBANY, Ohio, April 12, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- CVG had 1,200 employees immediately impacted by the senseless Russian invasion of Ukraine. Despite a complete shut-down initially, CVG is back to 100% pre-invasion output rates. This quick response was possible thanks to brave leadership by its local team, the resolve and creativity of the Ukrainian and neighboring Czech Republic teams, fast-acting customers, and CVG's decision to implement fallback production positions with two new production facilities in the Czech Republic and a supply chain from Mexico.

"As we have all witnessed since this invasion began, the Ukrainian people do not back down, and their resolve, commitment to winning, and bravery is astounding," said CVG President and CEO Harold Bevis. "Our global team quickly assembled itself into daily war calls, and we make on-the-spot decisions to protect our people, continue commerce as best we can, and implement backup plans. Despite the unreal hardship our Ukraine team faces, our employees wanted to keep working, be productive, and contribute to their economy in order to help defeat the Russian army. Our Ukrainian and Czech teams are remarkable, and our 8,000-person global team at CVG is working with them. Two of CVG's core values are make the world a better place through our actions and help each other. This was an easy decision for the CVG leadership team; it is our core values in action. We are all flying the Ukrainian flag - Slava Ukraini."

CVG's local leaders are Jan Chabera, Executive Director of CVG's Operations in Eastern Europe (PEKM), and Yaroslav Pauk, Director of CVG Ukraine.

They have led the implementation of the following actions in response to the invasion:

All employees were initially paid, even if unable to work.

Overtime wages were provided for all employees who went to work.

All employees were issued a spot bonus while the facility was closed.

Upgrades to the bomb shelter near our L'viv facility, fitted with a bathroom and kitchenette, and can house up to 300 people during an air raid/siren.

Modified 24/7 work schedules to reduce the number of people in the facility at one time and maintain output.

Upgraded the IT infrastructure to defend against cyber-attacks.

Workstation modifications will be made for any injured employee wishing to return to work.

Assistance will be provided for any employee who wishes to move to or from the Ukraine.

All shipments to customers in Russia and Belarus have been halted.

Resolve in Ukraine

CVG and its Ukraine team are deeply committed to persevering through this ordeal together. CVG's plant in L'viv, Ukraine, immediately shut down and then reconstituted itself quickly, despite having all eligible male employees called into military service. CVG reestablished a team of more than 1,000 mostly female employees in the facility. They are dedicated to staying in Ukraine, protecting the local GDP, producing products for customers, and maintaining their communities and country.

CVG has moved quickly with its customers who are equally committed to protecting and preserving Ukraine, but additionally need to achieve supply chain certainty. This has required extremely fast customer-supplier decision-making. CVG is thankful to all those that have helped it move fast. CVG will continue to fully support the Ukrainian government, economy and people, and urges other organizations with operations in Ukraine to follow suit in ensuring the safety of its employees in the region, but also to preserve their way of life as best possible.

The "CVG 35"

In order to provide backup production to Ukraine, CVG immediately decided to begin fallback production in the Czech Republic. CVG has an existing team, distribution, plants, and banking in the Czech Republic and was able to open two new plants in parallel within a few weeks.

The "CVG 35" led the way - 35 brave women who traveled from Ukraine through Poland to the Czech Republic to help establish the new facilities, despite not speaking the Czech language or knowing the fate of their homes. CVG provided a moving package, apartments and furnishings to this core group of Ukrainian women to relocate to the Czech Republic. Thanks to these women, a large CVG support team, and the expedient movement of equipment and raw materials, the Czech plants are now operational. They are already producing electrical harnesses for electric vehicles and passenger cars. With this startup success, CVG plans to increase employment to 350 people between the two new locations.

As a leading customer of CVG's business in that region, members of Volkswagen's team from Skoda Auto visited the "CVG 35" at one of the new facilities in the Czech Republic. That visit left a lasting impression on Karsten Schnake, Board Member for Purchasing at SKODA AUTO & Head of Project COMPASS at Volkswagen AG, who posted on LinkedInabout the experience.

About CVG

CVG is a global provider of vehicle solutions, electrical systems, warehouse automation, and aftermarket services. CVG's corporate purpose and values are to make the world a better place through our products and actions; employ a diverse and inclusive workforce; let our results do the talking and hold each other accountable; have fun and help each other. Information about the company and its products is available on the internet at www.cvgrp.com.

Media Contact

Jason Gray

Marketing Manager

CVG

Jason.Gray@cvgrp.com

Related Images











Image 1: One of "CVG 35" who relocated to the Czech Republic from Ukraine to help set up facility.





Woman in foreground assembling wiring at an electrical assembly facility in the Czech Republic, with two other women assembling parts in the background.

















Image 2: Ukrainian woman assembling wire harnesses at Czech facility





One of the CVG 35 women who made the journey from Ukraine to the Czech Republic to help set up electrical manufacturing facilities there.

















Image 3: Ukrainian team at the facility in L'viv





The team at the Ukrainian facility in L'viv prior to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

















Image 4: CVG EV Logo





A blue CVG EV logo









This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com.

Attachment
LONDON, UK / ACCESSWIRE / April 12, 2022 / Midpoint Holdings Ltd. (TSXV:MPT) (Frankfurt: 8MH1) ("Midpoint" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that all matters presented at its annual general and special meeting of shareholders, held on April 8, 2022, were passed. Today, the following management and board changes were enacted.

CEO & President

Domenic Carosa has been appointment as CEO & President of the Company effective immediately. Mr. Carosa has over 25 years of experience combining business and technology. He is Founder and Chairman of TSX Venture Exchange listed Banxa Holdings Inc and has founded and co-founded numerous other blockchain focused companies over the past 8 years. He was the Founder of the recently acquired Blockchain World Ltd (BWL) business which owns a number of premium domain names including Blockchain.eu (Europe) and Blockchain.com.au (Australia).

CFO

Konstantin Lichtenwald has been appointed as CFO and Company Secretary of the Company effective immediately. Mr. Lichtenwald has over 15 years of finance and accounting experience, including public company compliance, corporate finance, accounting and financial management. He currently holds director or officer positions in a number of publicly listed companies. He is a member of the Chartered Professional Accountants of British Columbia, as well as the Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada.

Corbin Comishin steps down as the CFO but remains as non-executive director of Midpoint. "I look forward to supporting Konstantin and Domenic in their new roles". The Board would like to expressly thank Corbin for his years of service as CFO and is pleased to receive his continued participation as a director.

New Director

Justin Rosenberg has been appointed as a non-executive Director of the Company effective immediately. Since working as a Chartered Accountant with Arthur Andersen, Mr. Rosenberg has advised and raised capital for start-ups for over 20 years. These have included companies listed on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) and the TSX Venture Exchange. Justin has also acted as Chairman, Director and Company Secretary for companies on the ASX. Justin's focus has been on SaaS and Fintech (including blockchain) start-ups and recently advised Banxa Holding Inc on its IPO on the TSX Venture exchange and subsequent capital raising. Justin is originally from Sydney, Australia and is now based in Toronto, Canada.

Retirements

Derek Ivany has retired as director, CEO and President of the Company to make way for the above noted changes. In departing, Derek commented, "I would like to thank the entire Midpoint team for their hard work and perseverance along with our stakeholders for their patience and support."

He continued, "During my tenure as CEO, my primary aim was to enhance the financial stability of Midpoint via recapitalization of the treasury. Additionally, focus was placed on identifying synergistic M&A opportunities within the FinTech sector that would build upon the company's core FX platform with a view towards continued growth. Having completed two successful capital raises in addition to the recently consummated transaction with BWL, I feel confident that Midpoint is well positioned for the future. Moreover, Domenic possesses an enviable skill set and expertise within the burgeoning FinTech arena that will surely benefit the Company moving forward." The Company thanks Derek for his significant contribution that has placed Midpoint in a strong growth footing.

Domenic Carosa commented "Our first task at hand is to complete a strategic review of the existing assets which include numerous financial regulatory licenses in the UK, Canada and HK. Furthermore, I am looking forward to building several successful blockchain companies which leverage the existing Midpoint platform combined with our deep knowledge of the blockchain sector."

According to Markets and Markets, from 2020 - 2025 the global blockchain market size is expected to grow at a CAGR of 67.3%, reaching $39.7 billion by 2025. Further, according to Statista, the financial sector currently accounts for more than 60% of blockchain's worldwide market value. In line with these potentially accelerating market trends, Midpoint believes there is an opportunity to capture synergies between its existing foreign exchange platform and the blockchain business of BWL. Midpoint's core competency in the consumer-facing foreign exchange space lends itself to expansion via broadened scope and potential product offerings within the digital asset sector.

About Midpoint

Based in London and Amsterdam, Midpoint operates two business; Blockchain World Limited (BWL) which is incubating a number of blockchain based businesses and www.Midpoint.com which operates an FCA licenced foreign exchange business. Midpoint Holdings Limited is listed on the TSX Venture Exchange and cross-listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange.

For information on Midpoint, please visit: https://www.midpoint.com.

On behalf of the board of directors and for further information please contact:

Domenic Carosa, CEO & President https://twitter.com/dcarosa Midpoint Holdings Limited dom@midpoint.com (+1-888-218-6863)

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange (the "TSXV") nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release and has neither approved nor disapproved of the contents of this news release.

Forward-looking information

This news release contains certain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities law. Forward looking information is frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate", "may", "will", "would", "potential", "proposed" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. These statements are only predictions. Forward-looking information is based on the opinions and estimates of management at the date the information is provided, and is subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking information. For a description of the risks and uncertainties facing Midpoint and its business and affairs, readers should refer to Midpoint's Management's Discussion and Analysis. Midpoint undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking information if circumstances or management's estimates or opinions should change, unless required by law. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information.

SOURCE: Midpoint Holdings Ltd.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/697056/Midpoint-Announces-Appointment-of-New-CEOCFO-and-Results-of-AGM
CRUX Asset Management Ltd. ("CRUX"), the active equity investment manager, announces today that Stephens, one of the largest, privately-held financial services firms in the U.S., will, through a wholly owned subsidiary entity, take a minority ownership stake in CRUX subject to FCA approval. The proposed transaction will result in Stephens holding approximately 20% of CRUX share capital and new Ordinary shares will be issued to support the deal. John Stephens, who is currently a Senior Vice President with Stephens' affiliate Stephens Inc., will join the CRUX board as a Non-Executive Director once FCA approval of the transaction has been obtained

Stephens, which has a strong focus on family investments, private equity, asset management investment banking, wealth management, public finance and insurance brokerage, is based in Little Rock, Arkansas, with additional locations in strategic domestic markets and a European practice in the UK and Germany. Founded in 1933 the firm serves a broad range of clients, with an emphasis on long-term relationships and long-term results.

Commenting on the deal Karen Zachary, CEO at CRUX, said: "This is a very exciting strategic step for CRUX and we are delighted to be partnering with a firm of such a high calibre as Stephens and see clear synergies between our two firms. Over the last five years, we have built a scalable platform at CRUX that has enabled us to expand our investment offering into Asia and the UK with complementary strategies that fit our plans to build a diversified range of active management strategies."

John Stephens at the firm commented: "We are excited to make an investment in CRUX Asset Management which, in our view, is comprised of extremely talented individuals who come together to create a cohesive and exciting team with a bright future. We are looking forward to working with Karen and others in helping the business achieve its goal of becoming a leading, independent asset manager and the platform of choice for high quality PMs with a passion for what they do."

In September 2021, CRUX hired Citywire AAA-rated Ewan Markson-Brown and Damian Taylor, two seasoned Asia equity fund managers, to build out its Asia equity franchise. In March 2022 CRUX formed a strategic partnership with Union Bancaire Privee (UBP) to advise UBP on its Asia equity funds and mandates. In addition, UBP will provide investors in Asia with exclusive access to CRUX's alpha-generating equity products.

Established in 2014, CRUX is an active equity investment manager with 1.7 billion assets under management. The firm's three core equity teams focus on Europe, the UK and Asia to deliver outstanding investment performance through bottom-up, high-conviction stock selection.

Karen Zachary added: "This new relationship strengthens our capital base and enables us to build out and grow our recently acquired UK and Asia strategies, and expand our distribution, widening access to our already well-established European strategy. Our teams are built on an ethos of collaboration, a commitment to fundamental research, and a long-term record of outperformance across equity benchmarks. We look forward to continuing to deliver the scale of performance that can only be achieved by active management with aligned investment aims to our clients globally."

- ENDS -

Notes to Editors:

CRUX Asset Management ("CRUX") is an active equity investment manager with 1.7bn AUM. Established in 2014, the firm's three core equity teams focus on Europe, the UK and Asia to deliver outstanding investment performance through bottom-up, high-conviction stock selection. Each team uses proven valuation methodologies and has intimate knowledge of long-term capital growth opportunities in the specific geographies where they invest. The fund managers align investment aims with those of their global clients by investing meaningful amounts of their own assets in CRUX funds and owning equity in the company. www.cruxam.com

About Stephens

"Stephens" (the company brand name) is a leading family-owned investment firm comprising the businesses of investment banking, advisory, sales and trading, research, insurance and wealth management. Founded in 1933, Stephens' US operations are headquartered in Little Rock, AR, with additional locations in strategic domestic markets and a European practice in the UK and Germany. Stephens is committed to building long-term value for corporations, state and local governments, financial institutions, and institutional and individual investors. Stephens' affiliates include: Stephens Inc. (offers securities products; member NYSE SIPC), Stephens Investment Management Group, Stephens Insurance, LLC, Stephens Capital Partners LLC, and Stephens Europe Limited. 2022 Stephens. For more information, visitwww.stephens.com.

Stephens Inc. is regulated by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (Home Office: 111 Center Street, Little Rock, AR USA, 501-377-2000) and Stephens Europe Limited is authorized and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (Registered office 12 Arthur Street, London, EC4R 9AB, Registered number 8817024).

Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (ref: 623757). CRUX Asset Management Limited is registered in England Wales (company number 08697189). Registered office: 48 Pall Mall, London SW1Y 5JG. This press release is solely for the use of members of the media and should not be relied upon by personal investors, financial advisers or institutional investors.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220412005713/en/

Contacts:

For further information, please contact Peregrine Communications:

Marina Fraser Harris

marina.fraserharris@peregrinecommunications.com

+44 (0)20 3040 0890



Jack Davies

jack.davies@peregrinecommuications.com

+44 (0)20 3040 0877



Media Contacts at Stephens:

Chenoa Taitt, Stephens Inc.

chenoa.taitt@stephens.com

212-891-1742



Laura Stephens, Stephens Inc.

laura.stephens@stephens.com

212-891-1717


THE Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (Zacc) has admitted its books were in a mess when the Auditor-General (AG) Mildred Chiri audited them in 2019.

In her 2020 audit of Zacc accounts, Chiri revealed that the anti-graft body failed to account for millions of United States dollars between 2012 and 2019.

In a statement yesterday, Zacc spokesperson John Makamure said: The Commission takes note of the issues raised in the Auditor-General Mildred Chiris report stating that the commission failed to furnish her office with supporting documentation for payment of goods and services, and other substantial disbursements. The commission would like to state that it is currently studying the document and will issue a comprehensive statement in due course.

Makamure admitted that Zaccs books for the period 2012 to 2019 were not in order owing to legacy issues.

He said since the appointment of the Justice Loice Matanda-Moyo-led Zacc, they had worked tirelessly to enhance professionalism and transparency at the commission.

The commission has introduced a new culture of conducting business guided by robust standard operating procedures, regulatory frameworks and internal policies and procedure manuals, the statement read.

In her audit report, Chiri revealed that in 2012 and 2013 Zacc failed to produce supporting documents, supplier statements and invoices for transactions amounting to US$2 417 374 and US$814 841.

In 2017 there were no supporting documents availed to validate expenditure and payables amounting to US$2 064 864 and US$474 138 respectively presented in the financial statements. I was, therefore, unable to perform alternative procedures to obtain assurance as to the accuracy and completeness of these balances, Chiri said.

Meanwhile, Chiri yesterday told participants at a media engagement workshop in Nyanga that the AGs office will introduce vernacular summaries of audit reports, starting with Ndebele and Shona for easy understanding by citizens.

My office has plans to introduce vernacular summaries of the reports. We intend to start with Ndebele and Shona versions and hope to increase the dialects with time, Chiri said.

She said the media had assisted her office to reach out to millions of people, some of them in remote areas through unravelling inadequacies, excesses and lack of compliance in audits.

Audit reports by nature point out anomalies in an organisation which mainly impinge on financial resources. However, that does not mean that there are no positive developments and success stories in that entity, Chiri said.

The audit report only gives half the story. The other half can be obtained from the organisation or ministry itself. Therefore, assessing the overall performance of a public entity using the findings of the AGs report alone would be myopic and incomplete, she said.

She said the role of her office was to promote public sector transparency and accountability through auditing accounts of ministries, State enterprises and local authorities.

If audit recommendations are implemented, the positive difference that is expected in citizens lives will be realised, Chiri added. Newsday
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / April 12, 2022 / Naturally Splendid Enterprises Ltd. ("Naturally Splendid") (TSX-V:NSP) (OTC PINK:NSPDF) (Frankfurt:50N) is pleased to announce the Company has come to an agreement with Flexitarian Foods Pty. Ltd. (Flexitarian Foods) for the exclusive use of the Plantein trademark in Canada.

The Plantein trademark is owned by Flexitarian Foods, a division of Australia's largest plant-based manufacturer. The popular Plantein brand was first launched in Australia and is now being expanded globally, including the European Union (EU), the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and now in Canada.

The term of the Plantein trademark assignment from Flexitarian Foods correlates with the exclusive manufacturing and distribution agreement that the Companies signed previously for an extensive line of plant-based, meat alternative products. The Definitive Manufacturing and Distribution Agreement executed with Flexitarian Foods to become the exclusive Canadian manufacturer and distributor, as formerly announced on August 17, 2021, is for an initial 10-year term with a 10-year renewable term.

Naturally Splendid initially launched this line of plant-based entrees, under the NATERA brand in Canada. Through strategic discussions with Flexitarian Foods, it's been determined that the opportunity to capitalize on the momentum that the Plantein brand has gained in Australia, provides multiple benefits for both companies including increased exposure for the brand.

Naturally Splendid has launched a website specifically for the Plantein brand that can be found at www.plantein.ca.

Flexitarian Foods Managing Director Mr. Evan Tsioukis states, "We have grown the Plantein brand to be one of Australia's most popular plant-based choices. We are excited to continue expanding our business relationship with Naturally Splendid and will be incorporating many of the same strategies in Canada, that have made the Plantein brand a success in Australia."

The current roster of plant-based entrees that Naturally Splendid will offer is being amended in both SKUs as well as branding. Naturally Splendid will initially stock eight (8) SKUs under the Plantein trademark including a Plant-Based; Burger; Crunchy Burger; Crumbed Tenders; Sweet Chili Tenders; Nuggets; Schnitzel (cutlet); Garlic Kiev; and a Phishy Filet.

These existing SKUs, plus additional plant-based entrees, will be manufactured in Naturally Splendid's existing facility in Pitt Meadows, BC once new manufacturing lines are received and facility upgrades are completed.

As announced in previous news releases, the Company has developed a distribution network covering Canada coast to coast. This network of distributors provides access to thousands of clients across most every distribution channel, including chain and independent retail stores, chain restaurants and individual locations, to which the Plantein brand will be introduced to.

Naturally Splendid CEO Mr. J. Craig Goodwin states: "We are pleased to extend our existing business relationship with Flexitarian Foods to market the Plantein brand here in Canada, building on the growing presence of the Plantein trademark. This latest strategic move to market Plantein in Canada, in addition to being the exclusive manufacturer and distributor, is pivotal for the Company. We look forward to delivering these delicious plant-based offerings to a broad range of foodservice and retail clients through our existing distribution network."

About Naturally Splendid Enterprises Ltd.

Naturally Splendid is a plant-based food manufacturing and technology company that produces and distributes nutritious and delicious plant-based commodity products.

Founded in 2010, the Company operates a Safe Quality Food Level 2 certified food manufacturing facility located just outside Vancouver, BC in Canada, focusing on producing an extensive range of plant-based entrees.

Naturally Splendid has an exclusive 10-year manufacturing and distribution agreement for Canada with a division of Australia's largest plant-based food manufacturer, Flexitarian Foods Pty. Ltd.

In addition to producing the Company's own branded products, Naturally Splendid provides contract manufacturing services and private labeling for a variety of nutritional plant-based food products destined for multiple distribution channels.

The Company has established healthy, functional foods under brands such as Natera Sport, Natera Hemp Foods, CHII, Elevate Me and Woods Wild Bar. The Company launched Natera Plant Based Foods, a line of delicious plant-based meat alternatives for the rapidly growing plant-based market segment.

Naturally Splendid maintains a relationship Plasm Pharmaceutical, a company that has been approved for conducting a phase 2 clinical trial approved by Health Canada for the treatment of COVID-19.

NSE has also developed proprietary technologies for the extraction of healthy omega 3 and 6 oils, as well as a protein concentrate from hemp.



For more information e-mail info@naturallysplendid.com or call Investor Relations at 604-570-0902 x 101

On Behalf of the Board of Directors

Mr. J. Craig Goodwin

CEO, Director

Contact Information

Naturally Splendid Enterprises Ltd.

(NSP - TSX Venture; NSPDF - OTCQB; 50N Frankfurt)

#108-19100 Airport Way

Pitt Meadows, BC, V3Y 0E2

Office: (604) 570-0902

Fax: (604) 465-1128

E-mail: info@naturallysplendid.com

Website: www.naturallysplendid.com

Forward-Looking Statements

Information set forth in this news release contains forward-looking statements that are based on assumptions as of the date of this news release. These statements reflect management's current estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations. They are not guarantees of future performance. Naturally Splendid cautions that all forward looking statements are inherently uncertain and that actual performance may be affected by a number of material factors, many of which are beyond Naturally Splendid's control including, Naturally Splendid's ability to compete with large food and beverage companies; sales of any potential products developed will be profitable; sales of shelled hemp seed will continue at existing rates or increase; the ability to complete the sales of all bulk hemp seed purchase orders; and the risk that any of the potential applications may not receive all required regulatory or legal approval. Accordingly, actual and future events, conditions and results may differ materially from the estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations expressed or implied in the forward-looking information. Except as required under applicable securities legislation, Naturally Splendid undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking information.

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.

SOURCE: Naturally Splendid Enterprises Ltd.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/697076/Naturally-Splendid-Secures-Rights-to-Plantein-Trademark
Firm will bring more than a decade of experience in environmental services, along with an extensive portfolio of products and solutions, to help companies throughout Asia achieve their climate action goals

SINGAPORE, April 12, 2022, the leading provider of market-based sustainability solutions, today announced the opening of its new office in Singapore. Coupled with its Shanghai office, ACT can help more companies in the Asia Pacific region take climate action and achieve their sustainability goals.



Known internationally for its economic importance and proximity to the fast-growing Asian-Pacific markets, Singapore is the ideal location for ACT as it expands across the continent. With five offices around the world, including New York City, Amsterdam and Paris, ACT is uniquely positioned to help companies in Asia navigate the sustainability market and achieve their carbon reduction objectives.

ACT's expansion comes at a critical moment as just this past November, the 21 member countries of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperationclimate change and environmental challenges in the region - where 70 percent of all climate-induced natural disasters occur.

"Climate change is a global problem, and in order to properly address this crisis it is crucial for ACT to continue to expand its global footprint and have a presence in even more regions of the world," said Federico Di Credico, Managing Director, Asia Pacific at ACT. "Throughout Asia, companies are acknowledging climate change and investing the time and resources required to combat it. With the Singapore location, ACT strengthens its position as an important partner in helping fight climate change in this region - which we expect to be one of the biggest sources of carbon reduction in the world."

ACT is active in four key markets, including renewable energy, emissions, energy efficiency and renewable fuels & feedstock. It offers a number of services to help companies reduce their carbon footprint, including:

Client Education and Knowledge Sharing: Strong regulatory advisory capabilities enable ACT to guide clients through selection, execution, and settlement processes based on their specific regional requirements.

Strong regulatory advisory capabilities enable ACT to guide clients through selection, execution, and settlement processes based on their specific regional requirements. Strategic Sourcing and Solution Discovery: With a team of global experts across 40 countries, clients enjoy tailor-made solutions that meet their specific needs.

With a team of global experts across 40 countries, clients enjoy tailor-made solutions that meet their specific needs. Project Development: Through design and development of original carbon credits projects, ACT helps partners accelerate their climate action with new technologies and innovative carbon reduction and removal projects.

Through design and development of original carbon credits projects, ACT helps partners accelerate their climate action with new technologies and innovative carbon reduction and removal projects. Market Research and Transaction Structuring: ACT continuously monitors regulatory trends and developments, customizing market offerings to reflect them. Clients also have access to the latest findings from ACT's research and development team.

ACT continuously monitors regulatory trends and developments, customizing market offerings to reflect them. Clients also have access to the latest findings from ACT's research and development team. Relationship Management and Communication Support : ACT keeps its broad network of clients abreast of relevant trends and market changes, helping them create the best strategies for communicating their efforts and achievements to stakeholders.

: ACT keeps its broad network of clients abreast of relevant trends and market changes, helping them create the best strategies for communicating their efforts and achievements to stakeholders. Ecological Transition Financing: ACT helps its clients reduce energy consumption and supports financing energy savings along with energy efficiency initiatives. It also helps organizations in the French market facilitate their ecological transition.

In each of its global offices, ACT prioritizes hiring locally, and is planning to create several new job opportunities in Singapore by the end of the year.

"Another aspect about Singapore that excites us, and led to our expansion here, is the quality of local talent within the market," said Di Credico. "We pride ourselves on hiring bright, passionate changemakers, and there is no shortage of those in Singapore."

In Asia, ACT aims to replicate the success of recent client engagements with global Fortune 500 companies, including its recently announced carbon reduction work as part of Microsoft's $1 billion climate innovation fund. To date, through carbon credit sourcing, ACT has helped offset 473 million metric tonnes of carbon dioxide - equal to 40% of the yearly carbon removal by the Amazon rainforest. With the energy efficiency certificates sourced, it has saved 217 Terawatt-hours (TWh) of electricity, which is equivalent to the energy usage of 15 million European households in 2019. It has also supplied 720 TWh of renewable electricity, equal to almost 20% of U.S. electricity consumption in 2020.

ACT's Singapore office is located at 5 Shenton Way, UIC Building, #10/11-01, Singapore 068808.



For more information about ACT, visit www.actcommodities.com .

About ACT

ACT is the world's leading provider of market-based sustainability solutions. Since 2009, ACT has been a reliable partner for high-impact carbon projects, energy efficiency projects and certificates, experts in renewable electricity and gas markets, renewable fuels, and emission allowances. ACT delivers tailor-made solutions backed by extensive market knowledge globally. In shaping environmental markets, ACT enables its partners to pursue sustainable futures.

Media Contact: Jon Keller, jon@propllr.com
Further Expands Expertise and Operations in EVs

LAS VEGAS, NV / ACCESSWIRE / April 12, 2022 / Beyond Commerce, Inc. (OTC PINK:BYOC) (the "Company"), a provider of B2B internet marketing analytics, technologies and services, is pleased to announce the signing of a Letter of Intent (LOI) to acquire Electric Built, headquartered in Inglewood, California. The acquisition provides Beyond Commerce exclusive access to Electric Built's commercial business know-how and business connections and operations.

Beyond Commerce will be given right of first refusal to purchase the assets, IP and all other assorted property of Electrogistics, Inc.

Remo Weber will be employed at Beyond Commerce as Chief Operating Officer on terms and conditions to be negotiated.

Geordan Pursglove, Beyond Commerce's Chief Executive Officer, stated, "We are excited to welcome Remo Weber as our Chief Operating Officer and expect to move this from LOI to definitive agreement over the next few weeks. With this acquisition, our Company continues to expand its expertise, operations and interest in the emergence of the electrification of vehicles."

For additional information on Electric Built, please visit: http://www.electricbuilt.com.

About Beyond Commerce, Inc.

Beyond Commerce, Inc. (OTC Pink: BYOC) is focused on business combinations of "big data" companies in global B2B internet marketing analytics, technologies and services. The Company's objective is to develop and deploy disruptive strategic software technology that will build on organic growth potential and to exploit cross-selling opportunities. Beyond Commerce plans to offer a cohesive global digital product and services platform to provide clients with a single point of contact for their big data, marketing and related sales initiatives. For additional information, please visit: https://beyondcommerceinc.com and https://www.service800.com.

Twitter: @incbyoc

Facebook: fb.me/incbyoc

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release 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, which are subject to the "safe harbor" created by those sections for such statements. All statements other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements, which are often indicated by terms such as "anticipate," "believe," "could," "design," "estimate," "except," "forecast," "goal," "intend," "look forward to," "may," "plan," "potential," "predict," "project," "should," "target," "will," "would," or the negatives or other tense of such terms and other similar expressions intended to identify forward-looking statements and similar expressions. We use forward-looking statements relate to future events or future financial performance and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, levels or activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements.

Contact Information:

investors@beyondcommerceinc.com

p702-675-8022

ClearThink

nyc@clearthink.capital

SOURCE: Beyond Commerce, Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/696925/Beyond-Commerce-Signs-Letter-of-Intent-to-Acquire-Electric-Built
New Chat Feature in Cybersixgill's Investigative Portal Harnesses the Expertise, Knowledge, and Insights of Customers and Company Experts as a Force Multiplier for Cyber Success

TEL AVIV, ISRAEL / ACCESSWIRE / April 12, 2022 / Cybersixgill, the premier vendor of real-time and actionable threat intelligence, announced today an innovative approach to user engagement with the introduction of a new community chat feature, creating the industry's first collaborative threat intelligence community. Native to its Investigative Portal, the dedicated, Slack-like chat platform enables information sharing and harnesses the expertise, knowledge, and insights of customers and in-house dark web experts alike, pioneering crowdsourced threat intelligence as a force multiplier for cybersecurity success.

This new Cybersixgill threat intelligence community provides customers a unique platform for peer-to-peer cooperation, breaking down information silos with dedicated channels for users to share their knowledge, findings, and expertise, exchange tips, recommendations, and best practices, and submit feedback, requests, and intel-related queries directly to Cybersixgill's team of threat intelligence experts.

"We believe that our customers are more than just users. They are valuable assets to the cybersecurity community as a whole. This community represents a new age in cybersecurity collaboration, giving security professionals the platform to pool their knowledge, and share their insights to better address the challenges they face," said Gabi Reish, Chief Business Development and Product Officer for Cybersixgill. "Across five public channels, we bring together experts from diverse market sectors, inviting them to share their thoughts and expertise with their industry peers on various topics, helping them maximize the value they derive from deep, dark, and clear web threat intelligence to enhance their cyber resilience against imminent threats."

About Cybersixgill

Cybersixgill brings agility to cyber threat intelligence, with fully automated threat intelligence solutions to help organizations proactively detect and protect against phishing, data leaks, fraud, malware, and vulnerability exploitation - enhancing cyber resilience and minimizing risk exposure in real-time. The company has hundreds of customers in North America, EMEA, and APAC, including global enterprises, financial institutions, MSSPs, government and law enforcement agencies. For more information, visit https://www.cybersixgill.com/ and follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn.

Media Contacts:

Liz Youngs

Trier and Company for Cybersixgill

Mobile: US 1-843-412-6327

Email: lizyoungs@triercompany.com

Laurie Ben-Haim

Cybersixgill

+972-52-7831911

+1-646-300-9549

laurie@cybersixgill.com

SOURCE: Cybersixgill

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/697022/Cybersixgill-Introduces-Crowdsourced-Threat-Intelligence-with-the-Industrys-First-Cybersecurity-Community-Platform
LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / April 12, 2022 / POSTD Merchant Banque (OTC PINK:PMBY) ("the Company '), a mandated lead arranger for corporate-to-bank structured and trade financial transactions, announces that it has acquired a forty-percent (40%) equity stake in Senegalese debit card producer Sewacard Industrie SA, ("SEWA"), an electronic banking platform offering GIM and VISA International prepaid bank cards.

SEWA obtained GIM-UEMOA Certification in August 2020, giving it the authorization for the production and personalization of EMV CPA Bank Cards for members of the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU) which consists of the Interbank Electronic Network of one hundred twenty (120) banks and financial institutions. Members of the Union (also known by its French acronym, UEMOA) include Benin, Burkina Faso, Cote D'Ivoire, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Niger, Senegal, and Togo.

SEWA has designed and developed an electronic transaction platform that resolves financial constraints, while offering personalized responses, in terms of inclusive financial services. These actions will accelerate the banking of populations in Africa to financial maturity.

SEWA's technology uses a purpose made "Mobile Kit" that uses the mobile telephony network to provide transactional services to its customers. This solution decreases their client's dependence on the traditional connectivity methods of the Internet and Electricity. This approach allows SEWA an increased reach into remote areas and hard to reach populations.

The SEWA Mobile Kit can be put into interface mode with Banking Information Systems (BIS) and serve as a multi-transaction and multi-financial institution window.

This allows:

(i) Banks and microfinance institutions to dematerialize their presence in rural areas by making their services available on this shared counter; and

(ii) The creation of a fund collection and transfer service in rural areas without access to traditional connectivity solutions.

Clients include but are not limited to the following: Baysim, Fongad, ONCAV, UNACOIS, highway toll card Effiage, and Senelec, a prepaid electricity card.

From its Diamniadio Industrial Platform, SEWA offers a quick turnaround for delivery of bank cards within 72 hours. SEWA can accomplish this because of its high production capability of one million cards per month, thereby putting an end to the long three-to-four-week delivery times. Since its 2018 inception, SEWA's factory has developed technological infrastructures with ultra-modern payment machines and world-class electronic security equipment.

About Sewacard Industrie SA

Sewacard Industrie SA is a GIM-UEMOA Certified company authorized to produce EMV CPA Bank Cards valid for members of the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU).

The company website can be found at: https://www-sewafs-com.translate.goog/sewacard/?_x_tr_sl=fr&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=sc

About POSTD Merchant Banque

POSTD Merchant Banque (PM Banque) is a non-depository financial institution that offers clients access to growth capital in the private markets through institutional debt or equity, far beyond what traditional banks can and will provide. Combining global reach with personal, bespoke service, we provide our clients with comprehensive corporate finance advisory services tailored to fit our clients needs.

The company website can be found at: www.postdmerchantbanque.com

For more information please contact:

investor.relations@postdmerchantbanque.com

(213) 947-3006

Safe Harbor Statement

This release includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E and/or 27E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are based upon assumptions that in the future may prove not to have been accurate and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties, including statements as to the future performance of the company and the risks and uncertainties detailed from time to time in reports filed by the company with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Statements contained in this release that are not historical facts may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned that forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain. Although the company believes that the expectations reflected in its forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations or any of its forward-looking statements will prove to be correct. Factors that could cause results to differ include, but are not limited to, the company's ability to raise necessary financing, retention of key personnel, timely delivery of inventory from the company's suppliers, timely product development, product acceptance, and the impact of competitive services and products, in addition to general economic risks and uncertainties.

Sources:

https://senego.com/gim-uemoa-swacard-industrie-certifiee-pour-produire-des-cartes-bancaires_1150620.html

https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/SPROLLs/WAEMU-362sort=%40imfdate%20descending

SOURCE: POSTD Merchant Banque

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/697049/POSTD-Merchant-Banque-Acquires-Equity-Stake-in-Debit-Card-Producer
Smart announces appointment of Christina (Tina) Anstett as Senior ERISA Counsel

NASHVILLE, TN / ACCESSWIRE / April 12, 2022 / Smart , a leading global retirement technology provider, today announces that it appointed Christina (Tina) Anstett as Senior ERISA Counsel, who will be working with Lawrence Griffin, General Counsel.

Anstett is an exceptional addition to Smart's US team, having amassed 27 years of ERISA retirement plan industry experience. Most recently, Anstett served at Equitable for nine years, and prior to that spent 18 years at USI Consulting Group.

"Tina is a savvy business leader with extensive knowledge of retirement industry compliance," said Griffin. "We are thrilled to have her aboard to help Smart continue to build out our US business."

Throughout her career, Anstett has worked directly with financial professionals and plan sponsors to design new qualified retirement plans and evaluate existing plans to keep pace with industry standards, business objectives, and to facilitate plan administration. Anstett consults on ERISA fiduciary issues and plan governance, IRS and DOL audits, and ongoing compliance with constantly changing federal laws and regulations.

Anstett will support Smart as it launches as a retirement plan fiduciary through Finhabits , where Smart will integrate its retirement technology into the Finhabits app to help Latino small business owners and their workers gain access to a one-stop location for retirement savings plans. She will also support Stadion Money Management, the independent managed account provider acquired by Smart in March 2022 .

"With deep retirement industry experience from the regulatory, service provider, financial professional and plan sponsor perspectives, Tina is driven to support workplace savings plans and to help workers achieve financial wellness and retirement security - a goal that is aligned with ours," said Jodan Ledford, CEO of Smart.

Anstett holds a BA from New York University, a JD from Western New England University School of Law, and is a member of the Connecticut Bar.

About Smart

Smart is a global savings and investments technology provider. Its mission is to transform retirement, savings and financial well-being, across all generations, around the world.

Smart partners with financial institutions (including broker-dealers, RIAs, retirement providers, insurers, recordkeepers, asset managers, banks) and financial advisers to deliver retirement savings and income solutions that are digital, customized, and cost-efficient.

Smart, founded in the UK, operates in the USA, Europe, Australia, and the Middle East with close to a million savers entrusting over $3 billion in assets on the platform. Smart supports its clients with a 650 strong global team and saw over 2,000% growth in assets on its platform since 2018.

Legal & General, J.P. Morgan, the Link Group, Barclays, Natixis Investment Managers, Chrysalis Investments, and DWS Group are all investors to date in Smart.

For more information, please visit www.smartretire.com .

Media Contact:

Jacqueline Silva

Caliber Corporate Advisers for Smart

Jacqueline@calibercorporate.com

SOURCE: Smart

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/697075/Retirement-Technology-Provider-Smart-Adds-Experienced-ERISA-Counsel-to-its-US-Legal-Team
CINCINNATI, OH / ACCESSWIRE / April 12, 2022 / GoSun, the innovative Solar Energy company, announced that they have raised $1.6 million on StartEngine's Equity Crowdfunding platform. The funds raised will help the company attract talent, scale, and develop new clean tech. products. Learn more at https://www.startengine.com/gosun

Thanks to growing trends in Outdoor Recreation and Emergency Preparedness, in 2020, GoSun saw revenue growth by 109%, with sales of $3.9 million on breakthrough solar products, and they are projecting continued record growth in the future..

"We like to think of it as though we are giving people a chance to own a piece of the future; GoSun provides a unique opportunity to get in on the Solar Boom" Patrick Sherwin, CEO of GoSun says. "Now, thanks to equity crowdfunding on StartEngine, the public can invest and own a part of small, start-up companies they believe in. Since we are a crowdfunded company, it makes a lot of sense to have customers become investors to fuel our rocket ship."

GoSun, a Cincinnati home grown company that literally started in an old garage, has now shipped over 100,000 solar products to customers in over 70 countries. GoSun makes a variety of solar products including breakthrough solar ovens, solar refrigerators, solar power generators, and solar water purification systems.

GoSun's award winning technology has been recognized by the likes of CES, FastCo. and the WhiteHouse for its breakthrough innovations. Recognizing the contribution that GoSun's products make to eliminating global emissions, CES awarded GoSun with its Climate Change Innovation Award in 2019, and an Innovation Honoree Award for its solar water purifier in 2020.

"Many investors are looking for a way to alleviate the problems of climate change, and to join the booming outdoor recreation and solar industries. GoSun provides a unique opportunity because we provide several essential solutions. Our technology can cook, cool, purify, and charge off grid, helping people become energy independent, resilient, reduce emissions, and have more fun," Sherwin stated.

With innovation at its core, in 2018 GoSun launched the first hybrid solar and electric oven, the Fusion through Kickstarter allowing customers to continue to cook at night. In 2020, the company launched a solar-powered water filter and sanitation system, the GoSun Flow , and last year introduced its newest product the Chillest , a solar powered portable refrigerator and freezer that eliminates the need for ice and can be completely powered by the Sun.





Supporting non profits around the world, GoSun also makes solar-powered lights and phone chargers for power outages and emergencies. Whether used in recreation or times of need, all of GoSun's products are designed to meet essential needs like cooking, cooling, light, or power - all available at www.gosun.co To get a deeper look into GoSun and view their StartEngine campaign visit https://www.startengine.com/gosun

About GoSun

Founded in 2016, GoSun has become the first consumer solar appliance manufacturer to break into mainstream markets centered around enjoying power, food, and drink while outdoors. GoSun's breakthrough solar-powered technologies can cook, cool, light, power your electronics and now, purify and deliver water. These affordable products are all portable, more efficient, and free of harmful carbon emissions. Based in Cincinnati, Ohio, has established partnerships with companies and organizations including REI, Home Depot, the UN, GEM and other NGOs.

Contact: support@gosun.co or 888-868-6154

SOURCE: GoSun Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/696914/Solar-Appliance-Company-Raises-16-Million
Dieppe, New Brunswick--(Newsfile Corp. - April 12, 2022) - Colibri Resource Corporation (TSXV: CBI) ("Colibri" or the "Company") reports that an Informe Preventivo has been issued by the Mexican government environmental authority, SEMARNAT, approving a trenching and drilling permit for the Company's Diamante Gold and Silver Project in Sonora Mexico.

The Diamante Gold & Silver Project is a partnership between Colibri and Silver Spruce Resources (TSXV: SSE). For additional details of the partnership view Colibri's news release dated April 29th, 2021.

Silver Spruce Resources Reports : (April 11th, 2022)

"The Company, along with our partner Colibri Resource Corp. ("Colibri" and together with Silver Spruce, the Companies"), will jointly manage and fund the planned 2,000 metre drilling program. Silver Spruce contracted Green & Ceo ("Green"), Asesorio Profesional y Securidad en Ambiente, of Hermosillo, Sonora to manage the environmental permitting process.

"With our permit now in hand, and the initial geological target mapping program at Diamante completed with reporting and assays expected shortly, the Companies are advancing toward a May 2022 drill mobilization. We are receiving quotations from contractors for road and pad preparation, drilling and geochemical analyses, concurrent with ArcGIS compilation for layout and development of access routes, logistics planning and geological staffing," stated Greg Davison, Silver Spruce Vice-President Exploration and Director. "Once again, we are pleased with the quality of the report preparation for SEMARNAT by Saul Ruiz and his team at Green culminating in excellent turnaround from the environmental authorities."





Figure 1. Diamante 1 and 2 Concession Location Map. Note adjacent El Mezquite and Jackie.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/4269/120170_c1a0d89794dd9bd4_001full.jpg

The drill-ready 1,057-ha Diamante gold-silver (Au-Ag) property is located 8 km northwest of the town of Tepoca, and 160 km southeast of the capital city of Hermosillo, eastern Sonora, Mexico (Figure 1). Diamante offers strong precious metal tenor with a polymetallic endowment, multiple quality targets, styles of mineralization, limited artisanal mining and small-scale production, of particular significance for our exploration moving forward, no records of drilling.

Diamante Exploration

Exploration plans were submitted for a minimum 2,000 metre reverse circulation drill program on Diamante 1 and 2 to evaluate four to seven of the principal targets exhibiting high grades of polymetallic Au-Ag-Pb-Zn-Cu mineralization with coincident alteration, shearing and veining. Mineralization is reported visually as pyrite, arsenopyrite, chalcopyrite, sphalerite, argentiferous galena, argentite, hematite and probable metal oxides, carbonates and sulphates, including copper carbonate (malachite), copper sulphates and plumbojarosite.



Figure 2. Diamante 1 Concession showing five targets with proposed pads and traces, Au-Ag geochemistry on high resolution LiDAR shaded topography and regional geological base maps.



To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/4269/120170_c1a0d89794dd9bd4_002full.jpg

The targets under consideration for Phase 1 drilling include La Prieta (see Figures 2 and 3), Aguaje, El Chon-El Chon Oeste, La Olla, Pillado, Calton (see Figures 2 and 4), El Cumbro and Mezquite-Raizudo targets (see SSE Press Release of April 26, 2021 and January 24, 2022).

Disseminated and stockwork mineralization at Anomalia Sur and El Puerto offer two known bulk low-grade targets for subsequent drilling programs.

Figure 2 illustrates multiple target zones within Diamante 1 concession with Au and Ag geochemistry as proportional symbols. The proposed pad location and traces for R/C drilling with Au-Ag geochemistry on La Prieta (Diamante 1) and Calton (Diamante 2), are depicted in Figures 3 and 4, respectively.





Figure 3. Diamante 1 Concession - La Prieta Drill Target showing proposed pads and traces, Au-Ag geochemistry on high resolution LiDAR shaded topography base map. Target location 100-200 metres north from Highway #16 (lower right) between Hermosillo and Chihuahua

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/4269/120170_c1a0d89794dd9bd4_003full.jpg



Figure 4. Diamante 2 Concession Southwest - Calton Drill Target showing proposed pads and traces, and Au-Ag geochemistry on high resolution LiDAR shaded topography base map. Artisanal workings and historical trenches shown by crossed pick symbol.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/4269/120170_c1a0d89794dd9bd4_004full.jpg

Project Background

Silver Spruce can acquire up to 50% interest in four Diamante concessions with a cumulative land position of 1,057 hectares (see Press Release of April 29, 2021).

The Property is very well situated in terms of resource and logistics for exploration and is easily accessible from Mexican Highway #16 which transects Diamante 1 and on several ranch trails and dry river beds to Diamante 2.

The Property is located within the west-central portion of the Sierra Madre Occidental Volcanic Complex within the northwest-trending "Sonora Gold Belt" of northern Mexico. Mining and exploration in the surrounding area is very active with adjacent and nearby properties held by Alamos Gold, Argonaut, Agnico Eagle, Evrim, Newmont, Garibaldi, Kootenay Silver and Penoles among others.

Qualified Person

Greg Davison, PGeo, Silver Spruce VP Exploration and Director, is the Company's internal Qualified Person for the Diamante Project and is responsible for approval of the technical content of this press release within the meaning of National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101"), under TSX guidelines."

ABOUT COLIBRI RESOURCE CORPORATION:

Colibri is a Canadian-based mineral exploration company listed on the TSX-V (CBI) and is focused on acquiring and exploring prospective gold & silver properties in Mexico. The Company has six exploration projects of which five currently have exploration programs being executed in 2022. (1) The flagship Evelyn Gold Project is 100% owned and explored by Colibri, (2) the Pilar Gold & Silver Project (optioned to Tocvan Ventures- CSE: TOC), (3) the El Mezquite Gold & Silver Project , (4) the Jackie Gold & Silver Project, and (5) the Diamante Gold & Silver Project. 3,4, and 5 are subject to earn-in agreements by Silver Spruce Resources - TSXV: SSE).

For more information about all Company projects please visit: www.colibriresource.com.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements:

This news release contains "forward-looking statements". Statements in this press release which are not purely historical are forward-looking statements and include any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions regarding the future. Actual results could differ from those projected in any forward-looking statements due to numerous factors. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release, and the Company assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements, or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that the plans, expectations and intentions contained in this press release are reasonable, there can be no assurance that they will prove to be accurate.

For information contact: Ronald J. Goguen, President, Chairperson and Director, Tel: (506) 383-4274, rongoguen@colibriresource.com

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/120170
MOSCOW (dpa-AFX) - As the war rages in the east of Ukraine, Mariupol deputy mayor alleged that Russian forces have used chemical weapons in the besieged southern port city. The Azov battalion, a pro-far right Ukrainian military unit, said its fighters suffered minor injuries, including suffocation, following the attack on Monday. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned the possibility should be taken seriously, while the United States and Britain said any such attack had not been confirmed. 'Before today, there was credible information available to us that the Russians may have been preparing to use agents, chemical agents, potentially tear gas mixed with other agents, as part of an effort to weaken, to incapacitate the Ukrainian military and civilian elements that are entrenched in Mariupol, using these agents as part of an effort to weaken those defenses,' CNN quoted U.S. State Department spokesperson Ned Price as saying on Monday. 'We shared that information with our Ukrainian partners. We are going to be in direct conversations with them to try and determine what exactly has transpired here, and as soon as we gain additional fidelity, we'll be in a better position to say what this was or what this may have been,' he added. Ukrainian officials claimed to have destroyed a Russian weapons depot in Novoaidar, near a Russian settlement in the Luhansk region. Both sides are reportedly building up their military forces in Donbas as Moscow switches the focus of its offensive to the eastern Ukrainian region. At least 186 children lost their lives and 344 others were injured in the more than one month-old war, the Ukrainian prosecutor-general's office said on Telegram. UNICEF estimates that nearly two-thirds of Ukrainian children - some 4.8 million - have fled their homes so far. Copyright(c) 2022 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
Napanee, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - April 12, 2022) - Lophos Pharmaceuticals Corp. , a biosciences research and development company, will be participating in the Benzinga Psychedelics Capital Conference, which will take place on April 19 at the Fontainebleau Miami Beach.

Claire Stawnyczy, CEO will be speaking at 01:00 PM ET on April 19th. Interested parties can register to attend here.

Members of the Lophos Pharmaceuticals Corp. management will also be holding one-on-one investor meetings throughout the day.

"We're glad to welcome the burgeoning psychedelics industry into Benzinga's growing ecosystem of events. We've seen cannabis businesses raise hundreds of millions of dollars at our Cannabis Capital Conferences and it's our pleasure to open this possibility to businesses working to develop and establish psychedelics as the new paradigm-shift in mental health treatment," said Chief Zinger Jason Raznick.

To register and access please follow this link.

About Lophos Pharmaceuticals Corp.

Lophos is a biosciences company that specializes in Peyote research, cultivation, preservation, and drug development. We develop novel therapies and natural health treatments that aim to restore and improve the quality of life for patients. Through advanced cultivation and harvesting techniques, Lophos Pharmaceuticals will provide our partners with medical grade inputs and our patients with access to safe and effective mescaline-based therapeutics.

About The Benzinga Psychedelics Capital Conference

The premier gathering of psychedelic entrepreneurs and investors in North America is debuting in Miami.

The debut of the Benzinga Psychedelics Capital Conference will gather the biggest players in the psychedelics industry on April 19 in Miami. Attendees can expect a full day of company presentations, insider panels and networking.

The Benzinga Psychedelic Capital Conference is guaranteed to offer participants a chance to connect with the people driving the psychedelics industry forward. Join live in Miami or online anywhere to participate in this Psychedelics industry conference with top industry players.

CEO Backgrounder: Claire Stawnyczy

Claire is the CEO of Lophos Pharmaceuticals Corp., a psychedelic biosciences company focused on exploring Peyote derivatives, and has a strong scientific and regulatory background. She studied Cell & Molecular Biology and Industrial Biotechnology, then gained substantial experience working in large-scale cell culture fermentation, protein purification, and pharmaceutical manufacturing. Claire is also a co-founder of Canalytica Corp., a cannabis industry business management and regulatory consulting firm. From her experience working in the cannabis industry, Claire has supported over 20 licensed producers, leading cannabis process validation for EU-GMP, Health Canada licensing from initial application submissions to audit response, and regulated product development.

For further information:

Alex Krause

519-835-8345

alexkrause.pr@gmail.com

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/120175
A RUSAPE man, who was convicted of raping a minor, has started a church, while serving his sentence.

Robson Bonde (32), is serving his term at Harare Central Prison. He told H-Metro his incarceration opened a way for him to repent and he has since acquired a certificate in Theology and a Class 3 carpentry certificate.

Bonde was sentenced to 15 years, for raping a minor, five years ago.

I started my own church here called New Word of God Apostolic Church and I have quite a number of followers, he said. I hope when I get out I will be able to continue with the ministry.

In this prison I believe I have gained more than I lost, I became a Christian in this place and even studied theology, now I am a pastor.

He said he benefited from the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Service education programme. He completed his Grade One to Seven studies while in prison.

When I was in Rusape, my hometown, I was uneducated, so here I studied my Grade One to Seven, after that I began my carpentry course.

I passed three subjects  joinery, cabinet making and carpentry  and I got my carpentry Class 3 certificate and I am proud of myself, Bonde said

I know that when I go back home I have somewhere to start my life, which will be better than before my conviction.

Bonde was dating a minor and was arrested after the girls parents discovered the illicit affair. H Metro
Combination of HBC's existing and future SaksWorks locations with Convene creates the largest premium flex meeting, event and workplace business globally.

Convene, the leading hybrid meeting, event, and workspace provider, announced today that it has completed its recapitalization plan, led by HBC, a holding company at the intersection of real estate, technology and retail, and a fund managed by the Private Equity Group of Ares Management Corporation ("Ares") (NYSE: ARES), a leading global alternative investment manager.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220412005446/en/

Convene will operate HBC's existing portfolio of flexible work, event, restaurant and meeting spaces, which are expected to be rebranded as Convene and will remain branded as SaksWorks in the interim. HBC will be the majority owner of the combined entity, with 26 facilities under management and dozens more under development, which is expected to be the largest premium flex space operator across the US, Canada and Europe.

"We built Convene with a mission of elevating the workday experience. This strategic investment by HBC and Ares provides instant scale and growth opportunities for our business. We are excited to partner with HBC who is equally focused on delivering premium and flexible experiences to enable today's distributed workforce," said Ryan Simonetti, co-founder and CEO of Convene. "As organizations continue to embrace hybrid work and are demanding higher quality environments in which to gather, we are well-positioned to seize this moment."

Convene combines design, technology, and hospitality to deliver elevated meeting and event spaces that enable business productivity and collaboration. Convene Studio, a proprietary virtual and hybrid events platform, can be added to any Convene or third-party location venue to enable seamless, secure, hybrid, and virtual meetings for up to 10,000 virtual attendees, including full production services.

Convene's signature award-winning hospitality delivers a human touch in both the physical and virtual worlds. A team of dedicated on-site professionals welcome each guest and offer in-house assistance with everything from catering to IT/AV support, to ensure workday experiences are effortless and personalized. Alongside unlimited craft snacks, tea and barista coffee, Convene's Head Chefs develop seasonal menus to replenish creative energy in every one of our locations.

With the investment from HBC and Ares, Convene's future expansion will focus on locations in key urban and suburban markets. As businesses are reimagining their office footprint and hybrid workforce strategies, commercial real estate landlords are also re-thinking what is required to stay competitive in today's dynamic marketplace. Sought-after amenities such as coworking options, on-site culinary offerings, premium and elevated meeting and event venues, and hybrid technology that were once thought of as "nice to have" are now a "must have". Convene is well-poised to bring this fully operationalized solution to a wide variety of commercial real estate partners across the globe.

"Ryan and his management team have a 12-year track record of building world-class destinations for hosting events, meetings, and flexible workspace," said Hamid Hashemi, COO, HBC Properties Investments. "We are looking forward to implementing our shared vision across parts of HBC's real estate portfolio, including the conversion of certain of its assets into Convene locations. With this transaction, Convene will expand its footprint into suburban markets, where people can work and meet closer to home."

"We are proud to support Ryan and the Convene team in their continued growth as they further enable the future of work through innovative spaces and experiences," said Craig Snyder, Partner and Co-Portfolio Manager of Special Opportunities in the Ares Private Equity Group. "We believe that this transaction will help accelerate Convene's leadership position and we look forward to being a partner to them as they execute on future opportunities."

About Convene

Convene is the leading provider of premium meeting and workday experiences with a global network of venues and flexible office locations. Combining design, technology, and hospitality to elevate today's modern work experience, Convene creates the spaces and experiences that help teams succeed. With Studio, an all-in-one solution for digitally-enabled events, and 23 locations across the U.S. London including meeting spaces and flexible workplaces, Convene creates your best day at work, wherever it happens. The company has been named one of America's 100 Most Promising Companies by Forbes and a Best Workplace by both Inc. and Fortune Magazine.

About HBC

HBC is a holding company of investments and businesses at the intersection of technology, retail operations, and real estate.

It is the majority owner of iconic e-commerce companies: Saks, a leading online destination for luxury fashion; The Bay, a Canadian e-commerce marketplace; and Saks OFF 5TH, a premier luxury off-price e-commerce company offering top brands at the best prices. These businesses were established as separate operating companies in 2021. HBC also wholly owns Hudson's Bay, the operating company for Hudson's Bay's brick-and-mortar stores, as well as SFA, the entity that operates Saks Fifth Avenue's physical locations, and O5, the operating company for Saks OFF 5TH stores.

With assets spanning top markets and prime locations across North America, HBC owns or controls-either entirely or with joint venture partners-approximately 40 million square feet of gross leasable area. HBC Properties and Investments, the company's real estate and investments portfolio business manages these assets along with additional real estate offerings, including Streetworks Development, its property development division.

Founded in 1670, HBC is North America's longest continually operating company and is headquartered in New York and Toronto. For more information visit: www.hbc.com.

About Ares Management Corporation

Ares Management Corporation (NYSE: ARES) is a leading global alternative investment manager offering clients complementary primary and secondary investment solutions across the credit, private equity, real estate and infrastructure asset classes. We seek to provide flexible capital to support businesses and create value for our stakeholders and within our communities. By collaborating across our investment groups, we aim to generate consistent and attractive investment returns throughout market cycles. As of December 31, 2021, Ares Management Corporation's global platform had approximately 2,100 employees operating across North America, Europe, Asia Pacific and the Middle East and approximately $314 billion of assets under management, as adjusted for Ares Management's acquisition of AMP Capital's Infrastructure Debt platform which closed February 10, 2022. For more information, please visit www.aresmgmt.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220412005446/en/

Contacts:

HBC

Trenesa Danuser

press@hbc.com

Convene

Anna Feiner

Convene@dkcnews.com

Ares Management Corporation

Brittany Cash

media@aresmgmt.com
munkschool.utoronto.ca/gelber | @gelberprize | GelberPrize

The American War in Afghanistan : A History chosen as this year's top non-fiction book on international affairs

chosen as this year's top non-fiction book on international affairs Lionel Gelber Prize is awarded annually by an international jury, in partnership with University of Toronto's Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy and Foreign Policy Magazine

Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy and Foreign Policy Magazine Photos of the author and book available upon request

TORONTO and WASHINGTON, April 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Judith Gelber, Chair of the Lionel Gelber Prize board, announced today that the winner of the 2022 Lionel Gelber Prize is The American War in Afghanistan: A History by Carter Malkasian, published by Oxford University Press.

The winning book is an account of America's longest war, by one of the world's foremost scholar-practitioners. "Drawing on his extensive knowledge of the country and its people, Carter Malkasian helps us to make sense of the complex political, military and societal forces that shaped the conflict over two decades," said Janice Gross Stein, jury chair. "The American War in Afghanistanprovides a truly comprehensive and compelling history of the U.S. intervention, from the early days of "Operation Enduring Freedom" to the Taliban's resurgence as the U.S. forces pulled out of the country. A beautifully written and critically important book."

The Lionel Gelber Prize is awarded annually to the world's best non-fiction book in English on foreign affairs that seeks to deepen public debate on significant international issues. The prize is presented by the University of Toronto's Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy, in partnership with Foreign Policy Magazine.

The winning book was selected from a shortlist which also included How to End a Plague: America's Fight to Defeat AIDS in Africa by Emily Bass (Public Affairs/Hachette Book Group); The Long Game: China's Grand Strategy to Displace American Order by Rush Doshi (Oxford University Press); Doom: The Politics of Catastrophe by Niall Ferguson (Penguin Press); and In the Midst of Civilized Europe: The Pogroms of 1918-1921 and the Onset of the Holocaust by Jeffrey Veidlinger (HarperCollins).

The 2022 Lionel Gelber Prize was chosen by jury chair Janice Stein (Toronto), Janine di Giovanni (New York), Francis J. Gavin (Washington), James Goldgeier (Washington), and Doug Saunders (Toronto).

About the Author

Carter Malkasian was the Special Assistant for Strategy to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Joseph Dunford, from 2015 to 2019. He has extensive experience working in Afghanistan through multiple deployments throughout the country. The highlight of his work is nearly two years in Garmser district, Helmand province, Afghanistan, as a State Department political officer and the district stabilization team leader. He is the author of War Comes to Garmser: Thirty Years of Conflict on the Afghan Frontier (Oxford University Press) and Illusions of Victory: The Anbar Awakening and the Rise of the Islamic State (Oxford). Malkasian has a doctorate in history from Oxford and is fluent in Pashto.

Event

FP Dialogue with this year's Lionel Gelber Prize Winner

Following the announcement of the 2022 Lionel Gelber Prize, join this year's winning author Carter Malkasian on Tuesday, May 10, 2022 at 10:00 a.m. ET for an online event presented by Foreign Policy Magazine and the University of Toronto's Munk School. The FP Dialogue will feature author Carter Malkasian in conversation with Foreign Policy's Janine di Giovanni and jury chair Janice Stein, as well as an audience Q&A.

Register here: https://foreignpolicy.zoom.us/webinar/register/8016494258339/WN_2-YGMH0aS2unagKeBl9exQ

The Winner

The American War in Afghanistan: A History by Carter Malkasian, published by Oxford University Press

The American war in Afghanistan, which began in 2001, was the longest armed conflict in the nation's history. In The American War in Afghanistan,Carter Malkasian provides the first comprehensive history of the entire conflict. Malkasian is both a leading academic authority on the subject and an experienced practitioner, having spent nearly two years working in the Afghan countryside and going on to serve as the senior advisor to General Joseph Dunford, the U.S. military commander in Afghanistan and later the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff. Drawing from a deep well of local knowledge, understanding of Pashto, and review of primary source documents, Malkasian moves through the war's multiple phases: the 2001 invasion and after; the light American footprint during the 2003 Iraq invasion; the resurgence of the Taliban in 2006, the Obama-era surge, and the various resets in strategy and force allocations that occurred from 2011 onward, culminating in the 2018-2020 peace talks. Malkasian lived through much of it, and draws from his own experiences to provide a unique vantage point on the war. The ultimate outcome after America leaves is inherently unpredictable given the multitude of actors there, but one thing is sure: the war did not go as America had hoped. Although the al-Qa'eda leader Osama bin Laden was killed and no major attack on the American homeland was carried out after 2001, the United States was unable to end the violence or hand off the war to the Afghan authorities, which could not survive without US military backing. The American War in Afghanistan explains why the war had such a disappointing outcome.

Wise and all-encompassing, The American War in Afghanistan provides a truly vivid portrait of the conflict in all of its phases that will remain the authoritative account for years to come.

About the Lionel Gelber Prize

The Lionel Gelber Prize was founded in 1989 by Canadian diplomat Lionel Gelber. A cash prize of $15,000 is awarded to the winner. The award is presented annually by the Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy at the University of Toronto, in partnership with Foreign Policy Magazine.

Lionel Gelber Prize website: https://munkschool.utoronto.ca/gelber/

Follow us on Facebook and Twitter: @gelberprize

Join the conversation: GelberPrize

Media Contact: Lani Krantz, lani.krantz@utoronto.ca, (647) 407-4384 (text preferred)

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Calgary, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - April 12, 2022) - Brane Inc. ("Brane"), a leading fintech company recently named by Canadian Business as one of Canada's 10 Best and Brightest New Innovators, announced today that it will lease a 6,300-square foot office space in downtown Calgary as the headquarters of Brane Trust Company Ltd.

The commercial office space at 635 8th Ave SW, owned by Cadillac Fairview, is a former BMO Bank of Montreal facility equipped with high-security vault infrastructure - enabling Brane Trust, following regulatory approval, to offer state-of-the-art, insured cold storage solutions for digital assets including Bitcoin, Ethereum, and NFTs.

Brane's renovation of this street-level headquarters location will contribute to the revitalization of Calgary's downtown commercial core, in addition to the jobs and investment in Alberta's technology and financial sectors represented by the establishment of Brane Trust.

The agreement between Brane and Cadillac Fairview, brokered by CBRE, includes the option for Brane Trust to expand into additional office space in the building as the company grows. Brane Trust has been supported by Invest Alberta and Calgary Economic Development staff since its inception.

"The Brane team is pleased to be investing in downtown Calgary, and we look forward to contributing to Alberta's economic momentum as an innovative, sustainable enterprise," said Adam Miron, Interim CEO of Brane Inc. and Chairperson for both Brane and Brane Trust's boards of directors. "With the opportunities of Web3 and digital assets growing rapidly, we're proud to have Brane Trust based in Calgary as we help secure the world's transition to blockchain."

Granted letters patent in October 2021, Brane Trust is now progressing toward a certificate of registration from Alberta's Ministry of Treasury Board and Finance that will enable the company to open for business as Canada's first and only independent, carbon neutral, regulated Web3 financial institution.

"Brane's decision to establish this head office in Calgary is a testament to the forward-looking regulatory environment that Alberta is developing to attract innovative financial businesses and empower them to scale," said the Hon. Travis Toews, Alberta's Minister of Treasury Board and Finance. "We welcome this investment by Brane, which is more good news for Alberta's economy."

"As we work to grow and diversify our economy, Alberta is rapidly becoming a global destination for the blockchain and DeFi sectors," said the Hon. Doug Schweitzer, Alberta's Minister of Jobs, Economy and Innovation. "Brane's investment in Calgary is another vote of confidence in our regulatory environment, one that will create well-paying jobs and opportunity for Albertans."

Brane Trust's board of directors includes:

Patricia McCunn-Miller - Lawyer, energy executive and corporate director with extensive experience in regulatory and environmental, social and governance (ESG) matters, President of Blue Bridge Energy, and past member of the National Energy Board and National Roundtable on the Environment and the Economy.

- Lawyer, energy executive and corporate director with extensive experience in regulatory and environmental, social and governance (ESG) matters, President of Blue Bridge Energy, and past member of the National Energy Board and National Roundtable on the Environment and the Economy. Stephen Buffalo - Chair of the Alberta Indigenous Opportunities Corporation, President and CEO of the Indian Resource Council, Governor of the Canadian Energy Executives Association, Senior Fellow of the Macdonald-Laurier Institute, and former Regional Manager, Southern Alberta of Peace Hills Trust.

- Chair of the Alberta Indigenous Opportunities Corporation, President and CEO of the Indian Resource Council, Governor of the Canadian Energy Executives Association, Senior Fellow of the Macdonald-Laurier Institute, and former Regional Manager, Southern Alberta of Peace Hills Trust. Nick Facey - Digital technology solutions expert, Lead, Industry Solutions with Unity Technologies, and Vice Chair of Digital Alberta.

- Digital technology solutions expert, Lead, Industry Solutions with Unity Technologies, and Vice Chair of Digital Alberta. Shree Govindarajan - Community leader and digital marketing expert at Edmonton-based Paper Leaf.

- Community leader and digital marketing expert at Edmonton-based Paper Leaf. Riyaz Virani - Co-founder of acclaimed Calgary-based homebuilding and property management company Sarina Homes.

- Co-founder of acclaimed Calgary-based homebuilding and property management company Sarina Homes. Melanie Pump, CPA, CGA - Financial management and operations executive and Chief Financial Officer for Brane Inc.

- Financial management and operations executive and Chief Financial Officer for Brane Inc. Adam Miron (Chairperson) - Entrepreneur, author, and Interim CEO of Brane Inc.

For more information

www.branetrust.ca

media@brane.ca

About Brane

Founded in 2017, Brane Inc. is a carbon neutral Canadian fintech company, helping institutional clients unlock the opportunities of blockchain and digital assets. Brane Vault, its core digital asset custody technology, is third-party certified to stringent global standards including ISO 27001, ISO 27017, and NIST CSF Tier 4, and insured against theft and crime. Brane has been recognized as one of Canada's Best Workplaces in Financial Services and Start-Ups categories by Great Place to Work, and one of Canada's 10 Best and Brightest New Innovators by Canadian Business magazine.

About Alberta's Financial Services Sector Concierge

Alberta's government is committed to diversifying the economy and bringing more jobs to Alberta by making it easier for financial services companies to develop new products and services and set up shop here in our province. Alberta's Financial Services Concierge works closely with Invest Alberta to save job creators time and money by guiding them through our province's regulatory environment and providing the information needed to operate in Alberta's financial sector. For more information or to connect with the concierge, visit: https://investalberta.ca/financial-services-concierge/.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking information and forward-looking statements (together, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable securities legislation, which reflect Brane's current expectations regarding future events, including statements relating to: the ability of Brane to become carbon neutral, the ability of Brane and other market participants to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. In some cases, but not necessarily in all cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words or phrases such as "create", "continue to", "expand", "accelerate", "enhancing", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" occur. Forward-looking statements are based on a number of assumptions and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond Brane's control, which could cause actual results and events to differ materially from those that are disclosed in or implied by such forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements made in this press release are made as of the date hereof and Brane does not undertake any obligation to update such forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as expressly required by applicable law.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/119719
Leading BPO employs nearly 7,000 on four continents

NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / April 12, 2022 / Ubiquity , the leading business process outsourcer (BPO) for highly complex industries and one of the fastest-growing private companies in the U.S., has just celebrated its 10th anniversary.

Cake Slicing: Ubiquity CEO Matt Nyren cuts the first slice of a celebratory 10th Anniversary cake in Manila, Philippines.

In its first decade, Ubiquity has experienced exceptional growth, expanding from a small staff in a single office to a multinational operation with nearly 7,000 employees in ten offices across four continents. Ubiquity actively supports more than 200 brands, and the company expects to employ 10,000 employees by the end of 2022.

"This 10th anniversary milestone is a testament to the entire Ubiquity team," said Matt Nyren, president, CEO, and co-founder, in a recorded video message . "I attribute our success to our uncommon passion for people - our clients, their customers and, of course, our own team members, all around the globe. Ubiquity was built on the premise that the best customer experiences start with the best employee experiences, which is why so many of us have been here since the beginning."

10th Anniversary: Employees in San Salvador take a break for cake on Ubiquity's 10th Anniversary.

This year, Ubiquity was honored with a Great Place to Work Certification. The recognition was based on employee feedback on the Trust Index Survey. In the survey, 76% of participating Ubiquity employees identified the company as a great place to work, and 85% agreed that when they joined the company, they were made to feel welcome.

"The pace of the digital transformation that is reshaping our world was difficult to imagine when we launched Ubiquity," said Sagar Rajgopal, COO and co-founder. "Remarkably, it's only enhancing the need for authentic and empathetic human connections. In today's digital world, exceptional customer service is a differentiator that brands ignore at their own peril."

Ubiquity's relationship-based outsourcing delivers increased returns for challengers and disruptors by reducing costs and improving customer satisfaction. Ubiquity's end-to-end solutions leverage agile methodologies, AI-enabled technologies, and call center expertise to help brands quickly, efficiently, and cost-effectively grow customer relationships.

"The proliferation of innovative, challenger brands is supplying us with endless opportunities to provide world-class service," said Nyren. "It's been an amazing ten years, but we're just getting started. We can't wait to see what the next decade will bring."

Bacolod: 10th Anniversary celebrations around the globe included Bacolod staff raising the roof in the Philippines.

About Ubiquity

Ubiquity's Relationship-based Outsourcing pioneers next-gen CX, changing how brands interact with customers in an omnichannel world. Our teams of dedicated problem-solvers combine deep industry knowledge with an agile methodology to understand how customer experience supports a brand's objectives and devise plans to accelerate toward them. Ubiquity provides multilingual, end-to-end solutions across industries, including customer experience management services, interactive voice response (IVR) and AI-enabled technologies, and Banking Operations support, incorporating fraud investigation, ID verification, and dispute and chargeback management. Headquartered in New York City and with delivery locations in Europe, Asia, and the Americas, Ubiquity has been recognized as a "Great Place to Work." Visit us at https://ubiquity.com , browse open positions at https://ubiquity.com/career , and connect on LinkedIn or Twitter .

CONTACT:

Ubiquity

Matthew Agronin

matthew.agronin@ubiquity.com

SOURCE: Ubiquity

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/697102/Ubiquity-Celebrates-10th-Anniversary
WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - General Motors Co. (GM) said it has reached a multi-year agreement to buy cobalt from Glencore's Murrin Murrin operation in Australia. Cobalt is an important metal in the production of EV batteries. Cobalt is a metal that makes up only 0.001% of the earth's crust. It is known for its heat-resistant properties and is added to lithium-ion battery cathodes to improve energy density and battery longevity. The companies said that the cobalt processed from Australia will be used in GM's Ultium battery cathodes, which will power electric vehicles such as the Chevrolet Silverado EV, GMC HUMMER EV and Cadillac LYRIQ. GM plans to have capacity to build 1 million electric vehicles in North America, by the end of 2025. Copyright(c) 2022 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
NOIDA, India, April 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- A comprehensive overview of the Global Brushless DC Motor Market is recently added by UnivDatos Market Insights to its humongous database. The report has been aggregated by collecting informative data from various dynamics such as market drivers, restraints, and opportunities. This innovative report makes use of several analyses to get a closer outlook on the Brushless DC Motor Market in the Global context. This report offers a detailed analysis of the latest industry developments and trending factors that are influencing the market growth. Furthermore, this statistical market research repository examines and estimates the Global Brushless DC Motor Market at the regional & country levels. The Global Brushless DC Motor Market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 8% from 2021-2027 to reach USD 28 billion by 2027.

Request Sample Copy of this Report @https://univdatos.com/get-a-free-sample-form-php/?product_id=7962

Market Overview

Brushless DC motors are thermally resistant, require low maintenance, and operate at low temperatures, eliminating any threat of sparks. Furthermore, the market is driven by the rising activity in the Electric Vehicle (EV) industry, globally. The growing popularity of vehicle features, such as motorized seats, adjustable mirrors, and sunroof systems, is driving the demand for BLDC motors. For instance, as per IEA, more than 10 million electric cars were on the world's roads in 2020 and the same is set to grow at an expanded rate over the next 10 years.

COVID-19 Impact

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic is being felt & has negatively impacted the global manufacturing industry and has led to the shutdown of industrial production units in several industries in the last few months. The demand curve for industrial equipment has taken a new shape, mainly in countries where the impact of COVID-19 is high.

The coronavirus pandemic has buffeted manufacturers in every sector. Companies serving industries that are thriving-technology, health care, and home repair and remodeling, among others-have, experienced a sharp increase in demand, while those that manufacture components for underperformers such as aviation, energy, and the automotive industry have languished. Meanwhile, almost all manufacturers have grappled with supply chain disruptions.

Similarly, the automotive industry felt very hard impacts in the early months of the global COVID-19 pandemic. The effects began in China, where sales plunged 71% in February 2020; by April, sales had dropped 47% in the United States and dived 80% in Europe.

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Global Brushless DC Motor Market report is studied thoroughly with several aspects that would help stakeholders in making their decisions more curated.

By Type, the market is primarily bifurcated into:

Inner Rotor

Outer Rotor

The Inner Rotor segment dominated the Brushless DC Motor Market and accounted for 81.5% market share. This segment will witness a considerable CAGR of 8.2% during the forecast period (2021-2027F) owing to its adoption of industrial robots due to a rise in the trend toward automation and technical improvements in industrial robots.

By Power Output, the market is primarily segmented into:

0-750 W

750 W - 3 KW

3 KW - 75 KW

Above 75 KW

Based on Power output type, the market is segmented into 0-750 W, 750 W to 3 kW, 3 kW - 75 kW, & Above 75 kW. In 2020, the 0-750 W segment dominated the Brushless DC Motor Market and accounted for 35.5% market share. This segment will witness a considerable CAGR of 7.9% during the forecast period (2021-2027F) owing to the wide usage of these products in numerous applications, such as fans, pumps, compressors, machine tools, domestic appliances, electric cars, HVAC applications, power tools, and automated robots.

By End User, the market is primarily studied into:

Consumer Electronics

Automotive

Manufacturing

Medical Devices

Others (including HVAC, agricultural, solar pumps, and aerospace & defense applications)

The Automotive segment generated revenue of USD 5.5 billion in 2020. The segment is expected to grow at a CAGR of 8.8% during the forecast period to reach a market valuation of USD 10.4 billion by 2027 as the automobile industry uses motors of different types and specifications for numerous applications.

Global Brushless DC Motor Market Region Segmentation Includes:

North America

Europe

Asia Pacific

Rest of World

Based on the estimation, Asia Pacific dominated the market in 2020 and is expected to maintain its dominance during the forecast period (2021-2027).

Ask for Report Customization @ https://univdatos.com/report/brushless-dc-motor-market/

The major players targeting the market include:

AMETEK, Inc.

Nidec Corporation

Allied Motion Technologies Inc.

Johnson Electric

ABB Ltd.

Buhler Motor GmbH

Maxon Motor

Regal Beloit Corporation

MinebeaMitsumi Inc.

Schneider Electric

Competitive Landscape

The degree of competition among prominent companies has been elaborated by analyzing several leading key players operating in the global context. The specialist team of research analysts sheds light on various traits such as Global market competition, market share, most recent industry advancements, innovative product launches, partnerships, mergers, or acquisitions by leading companies in the Global Brushless DC Motor Market. The major players have been analyzed using different research methodologies for getting insight views on market competition.

Key questions resolved through this analytical market research report include:

What are the latest trends, new patterns, and technological advancements in the Global Brushless DC Motor Market?

Which factors are influencing the Global Brushless DC Motor Market over the forecast period?

What are the global challenges, threats, and risks in the Global Brushless DC Motor Market?

Which factors are propelling and restraining the Global Brushless DC Motor Market?

What are the demanding global regions of the Brushless DC Motor Market?

What will be the market size in the upcoming years?

What are the crucial market acquisition strategies and policies applied by the companies?

We understand the requirement of different businesses, regions, and countries, we offer customized reports as per your requirements of business nature. Please let us know If you have any custom needs.

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Browse Other Related Research Reports from UnivDatos Market Insights

Smart Electric Drive Market: https://univdatos.com/report/smart-electric-drive-market/

Passenger Boarding Bridges Market: https://univdatos.com/report/passenger-boarding-bridges-market/

Recreational Vehicle Market: https://univdatos.com/report/recreational-vehicle-market/

Automotive Keyless Entry System Market: https://univdatos.com/report/automotive-keyless-entry-system-market/

Automotive Chips Market: https://univdatos.com/report/automotive-chips-market/

About UnivDatos Market Insights

UnivDatos Market Insights (UMI) is a passionate market research firm and a subsidiary of Universal Data Solutions. We believe in delivering insights through Market Intelligence Reports, Customized Business Research, and Primary Research. Our research studies are spread across topics across the world, we cover markets in over 100 countries using smart research techniques and agile methodologies. We offer in-depth studies, detailed analysis, and customized reports that help shape winning business strategies for our clients.

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UnivDatos Market Insights

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Director Operations

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Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - April 12, 2022) - Equity Metals Corporation (TSXV: EQTY) ("Equity") reports analyses and initial test work on its 100% controlled La Ronge Silica Project, an historic sand quarry located in central Saskatchewan, approximately 60 kilometers south-southeast of La Ronge, Saskatchewan and 210 kilometers west of Flin Flon, Manitoba.

Preliminary studies indicate the silica deposit may be developed into a simple and profitable, low-cost mining and washing operation to produce high-purity silica (>98% SiO2), a specialty product. The sand can be mined very efficiently due to its unconsolidated nature. High-purity silica can be converted into silicon, which is being tested by the electric-car industry to replace or augment carbon in battery anodes to dramatically extend the time between charging. Other possible conventional uses exist in the ceramics and glass industries.

The Company acquired the lease as possible fracking sand; however, never mined the deposit. Historic mining was minimal and the extent of the silica deposit is open in all directions and at depth. Equity recognized the purity of the silica and its potential use as a low-cost material to produce silicon for the expected increase in demand due to electrification requirements. In October 2021, Equity initiated a sampling program to evaluate the deposit. Ten representative sites were sampled within the quarry, and sufficient material was collected to derive an average purity of the sand - see location of samples on the attached plan map of the quarry.

The samples were first analyzed by whole-rock analysis for SiO2, Al2O3, LOI (loss-on-ignition, organic material) and other elements. Average results of the 10 samples indicated 96.2% SiO2 and over 2% Al2O3. Assuming that much of the Al2O3 was in the form of clay and that LOI represented organics, a process was developed to wash all 10 samples in the lab and then to re-analyze the residual sample by whole-rock analysis. The result produced an average of 98.1% SiO2, with a range of 96.1 - 99.2%, and with 0.98% Al2O3 and less than 0.1% LOI. The washing process lost a relatively minor percentage of the original samples, approximately 12% of the total sample (2% clay + LOI and 10% SiO2 lost). X-ray diffraction (XRD) has determined that 100% of the material identified by XRD is quartz.

President Joe Kizis commented, "Our Silver Queen precious/base-metal property in BC will remain Equity's main focus; however, these results from the La Ronge Silica property are very encouraging and suggest it may become a "third leg" value to Equity, in addition to Silver Queen and the diamond properties.

"The Electric Vehicle industry recognizes the need to reduce frequency of battery charging in order to be widely accepted by the general public, and much progress on that front has been reported recently by adding silicon. High-purity silica is the feedstock to produce silicon, and now that we have this positive test work, we can investigate potential markets and partnerships for this specialty silica product."





Figure 1: Plan Map of showing sample locations, La Ronge Silica Project, Saskatchewan

To view an enhanced version of Figure 1, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/5566/120137_51a23ce354969bf1_002full.jpg





Table 1: Whole-rock analyses of pre- and post-washed samples, La Ronge Silica Quarry



To view an enhanced version of Table 1, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/5566/120137_equitytable1.jpg

Samples were submitted to SRC Geoanalytical Laboratories (SRC) in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. A 100-gram portion of each sample was subjected to a Lithium Metaborate Fusion process and then analyzed for 16 metallic elements and LOI by ICP Whole Rock analytic techniques. 10 metal results were converted to weight percent of the original sample and then calculated to specific and probable mineral form. The remaining 6 metals are expressed as ppm content of the original sample. On receipt of these initial results, a 100-gram portion of each sample was subjected to a wash and screen process. The +63-micron fraction was re-analyzed by ICP Whole Rock analysis for the same 16 metals and LOI, with similar conversions and calculations as above. Four samples were selected analyzed for quartz content by X-Ray Diffraction. An aliquot of each sample was ground and irradiated with Cu Ka radiation in a Bruker D4 Endeavor X-ray diffractometer (XRD) operating at 1.6kW power. The raw diffraction data was processed for mineral identification and quantification. Quartz abundance was calculated using whole-pattern fitting algorithms with peak intensities scaled with internally consistent relative intensity.

About Equity Metals Corporation

Equity Metals Corporation is a Manex Resource Group Company. Manex provides exploration, administration, and corporate development services for Equity Metals' two major mineral properties, the Silver Queen Au-Ag-Zn-Cu project, located in central B.C., and the Monument Diamond project, located in Lac De Gras, NWT. The Company also has a 1% royalty (Greenwood Royalty) and a 100% working interest in the La Ronge Silica Project.

The Company owns 100% interest, with no underlying royalty, in the Silver Queen project, located along the Skeena Arch in the Omineca Mining Division, British Columbia. The property hosts high-grade, precious- and base-metal veins related to a buried porphyry system, which has been only partially delineated. The Company also has a controlling JV interest in the Monument Diamond project, NWT, strategically located in the Lac De Gras district within 40 km of both the Ekati and Diavik diamond mines. The project owners are Equity Metals Corporation (57.49%), Chris and Jeanne Jennings (22.11%); and Archon Minerals Ltd. (20.4%). Equity Metals is the operator of the project.

The 100% controlled La Ronge Silica Project is an historic sand quarry located in central Saskatchewan, approximately 60 kilometers south-southeast of La Ronge, Saskatchewan and 210 kilometers west of Flin Flon, Manitoba. Preliminary studies indicate the silica deposit may be developed into a simple and profitable, low-cost mining and washing operation to produce high-purity silica (>98% SiO2), a specialty product for the EV battery industry.

John R. Kerr, P.Eng, BASc (geology), is a Director of Equity Metals Corporation and a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101. He is responsible for the supervision of the exploration on the La Ronge Silica project, and prepared and approved disclosure of the technical information in this news release.

On behalf of the Board of Directors

"Joseph Anthony Kizis, Jr."

Joseph Anthony Kizis, Jr., P.Geo

President, Director, Equity Metals Corporation

For further information, visit the website at https://www.equitymetalscorporation.com; or contact us at 604.641.2759 or by email at ir@mnxltd.com.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release may contain forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements address future events and conditions and therefore involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward looking statements include the timing and receipt of government and regulatory approvals, and continued availability of capital and financing and general economic, market or business conditions. Equity Metals Corporation does not assume any obligation to update or revise its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except to the extent required by applicable law.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/120137
Enables the publishing of secure, productized APIs with maximum control and visibility

Pliant, a leading provider of advanced API integration, orchestration, and automation solutions, today announced the Pliant API Gateway. This release is the latest in a series of products from Pliant that help companies move to modern solutions for API management. The API Gateway enables companies to build and publish API endpoints, while the Pliant platform handles all underlying management and technical complexities. These include versioning, authentication, usage rules, access rights, reporting, API abstraction, and more.

CEO Vess Bakalov explains, "Companies embracing the widespread use of APIs are growing at a much higher rate than those that don't a fact validated by many third-party studies and analysts. I recently saw a study conducted by top business folks at Chapman, Stanford, and Boston University stating companies that adopted externally facing APIs grew an additional 38% more than peer companies that did not. So API adoption has sustained, data-backed business benefits, and with our API Gateway, we'll help organizations gain even greater benefits. They will be able to limit users to only specific functions within a broader API. They'll be able to make changes to APIs without impacting endpoints that use them. They'll be able to apply rules around API usage and gain insights on performance, consumption, and compliance. Combined, these things will enable organizations to provide APIs 'as-a-service' across their enterprise."

The Pliant API Gateway is built squarely upon the foundation of the Pliant platform and pulls together several of its core functions.

Bakalov elaborates, "Pliant is an API integration, orchestration, and automation solution at its core. So, many of the things accomplished by the API Gateway are derived from native platform capabilities and the ways we already support DevOps and continuous deployment. We added an improved user interface, value-added features and formalized our training and support around the API Gateway product. So, this 'new' product can also be considered an advanced set of capabilities customers have leveraged within the Pliant platform since its inception."

Available now, the Pliant API Gateway supports private and public cloud deployments as well as on-premise deployment models. More information is available at: https://pliant.io/api-gateway.

About Pliant

Headquartered in Boston, Pliant provides advanced API integration, orchestration, and automation solutions to enterprises, managed service providers, and government agencies worldwide. Pliant's solutions simplify and streamline how operations and engineering teams build, deploy, and unify automation within their environments. Using a low-code approach and transforming API code into deployment-ready action blocks, Pliant facilitates, integrates, and secures communication up and down the technology stack between platforms, services, and applications. For more information on the company and its solutions, go to www.pliant.io.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220412005526/en/

Contacts:

Chris Rohter

chris.rohter@pliant.io
DGAP-News: CECONOMY AG / Schlagwort(e): Hauptversammlung/Kapitalmanahme



12.04.2022 / 17:14

Fur den Inhalt der Mitteilung ist der Emittent / Herausgeber verantwortlich.





Extraordinary General Meeting paves the way for successful further development of CECONOMY and MediaMarktSaturn / Simplified shareholder structure offers many advantages

- 98.29% approval for capital measures for the acquisition of Convergenta's minority stake in MediaMarktSaturn by CECONOMY

- CECONOMY to become sole shareholder of MediaMarktSaturn - Convergenta to become anchor shareholder of CECONOMY

- "The simplification of the shareholder structure is a liberating blow. It also creates the organisational conditions for us to make faster and better progress on our way to becoming a leading European omnichannel platform," says Dr Karsten Wildberger, CEO of CECONOMY and MediaMarktSaturn

Dusseldorf, 12 April 2022 - At today's Extraordinary General Meeting, the shareholders of CECONOMY AG approved by a large majority the capital measures associated with CECONOMY's acquisition of Convergenta Invest GmbH's minority shareholding in MediaMarktSaturn. Following the Extraordinary General Meeting, the preference shareholders of CECONOMY AG also approved the conversion of the preference shares into ordinary shares at a separate meeting with an approval rate of 98.79%.

"Following today's resolutions, we are very confident that we will be able to complete the Convergenta transaction by the end of September 2022 at the latest," explains Dr. Karsten Wildberger, CEO of CECONOMY and MediaMarktSaturn. "The associated simplification of the shareholder structure is nothing less than a structural liberation for us." With the completion of the transaction, CECONOMY will become the sole shareholder of MediaMarktSaturn. In return, Convergenta will become an anchor shareholder of CECONOMY. "The shareholder dispute that has burdened CECONOMY and MediaMarktSaturn for almost ten years and cost a lot of money is history," said Wildberger. "All parties involved are pulling in the same direction, all shareholders have a common interest: They want their company to develop successfully."

The simplified shareholder structure offers many advantages: "We will speed up our decision-making processes and become faster and more powerful overall," Wildberger explained. "We will be less concerned with ourselves and put our energy where it belongs: with our customers." The future shareholder structure will enable the use of tax loss carryforwards, reduce administrative costs and further improve the governance of the company.

In view of the planned merger of CECONOMY and MediaMarktSaturn into one company, the management structure was already unified last year. Dr Karsten Wildberger and Florian Wieser have been acting as CEO and CFO respectively for both CECONOMY and MediaMarktSaturn since summer 2021.

"We are now taking the final step on the way to our merger," said Wildberger. "The implementation of the transaction is the door opener for our strategic further development. We are thus also creating the organisational conditions to move forward faster and better on our way to becoming a leading European omnichannel platform."

***

About CECONOMY

CECONOMY AG simplifies life in the digital world. The company is a leader in consumer electronics concepts and brands in Europe. The companies in the CECONOMY portfolio have billions of consumer contacts per year and offer products, services and solutions that make life in the digital world as simple and pleasant as possible. In this way, they create added value for customers as well as for investors.

Contact

CECONOMY AG

Kaistr. 3

40221 Dusseldorf, Germany

Investor Relations

Telephone +49 (0) 211 5408-7222

Email IR@ceconomy.de

Website https://www.ceconomy.de/en/investor-relations/



12.04.2022 Veroffentlichung einer Corporate News/Finanznachricht, ubermittelt durch DGAP - ein Service der EQS Group AG.

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PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwas ruling Zanu PF party purportedly plans to fast-track a controversial law that would punish citizens deemed unpatriotic.

The National Assembly last week adopted a motion calling for the crafting of the Patriotic Bill, whose draft was accepted by government in October 2020.

The proposed law will criminalise and impose stiff penalties on private correspondence by what were termed as self-serving citizens, with foreign governments or any officer or agent.

Activists say the law is targeted at government critics and opposition leaders like Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) leader Nelson Chamisa and his deputy Tendai Biti, whom government claims called for sanctions to be imposed on the country, as the country heads towards the 2023 general elections.

Government information tsars were last week infuriated when journalist-cum-activist Hopewell Chinono addressed a human rights summit in Geneva, Switzerland, where he detailed human rights abuses and failure to invest in public health in the country.

The ruling party has now sponsored a shadowy pro-Mnangagwa organisation called Varakashi4ED to petition Attorney-General Prince Machaya to compel him to expedite the drafting of the Bill.

As Varakashi4ED, we are outraged and concerned that in spite of the destructive effect of the sanctions to Zimbabwe being so obvious and so acknowledged by a majority of the international community, there are some Zimbabweans who have proved to be unpatriotic malcontents, hell bent on begging for the sanctions to stay on, the petition read.

We, therefore, call upon your (Machayas) esteemed office to do its part pronto and assist the Government of Zimbabwe to enact the Patriotic Act, which should be equivalent of the United States of Americas Logan Act, which in essence prohibits and criminalises Zimbabwean citizens and residents from engaging in unauthorised foreign negotiations, parallel diplomacy, foreign lobbying, sanctions incitement and foreign political and economic relations with countries in dispute with Zimbabwe or hostile to Zimbabwe.

To give credence to the controversial Bill, Zanu PF has been using former opposition members who have defected to the ruling party to come up with messages and videos apologising to Zimbabweans for their role in opposition politics and begging for sanctions.

These include National Peace and Reconciliation Commission commissioner Obert Gutu, former MDC legislators Tongai Matutu and Gabriel Chaibva, who have frequently churned out videos accusing the opposition of begging for imposition of sanctions.

During debate on the motion to enact the Bill in Parliament last week, Umzingwane MP Levi Mayihlome (Zanu PF) said calling for sanctions was a threat to national security.

In my view, that is a security threat, and whichever way one looks at it, calling for sanctions is actually a threat to national security. There has to be legislation to guard against the threat to national security, he said.

Zanu PF National Assembly chief whip Pupurai Togarepi yesterday told NewsDay that the Bill would be brought before Parliament as soon as the processes by the Executive were completed.

There have been around 10 motions by MPs agitating for enactment of the Patriotic Act. The recent debate in Parliament was instigated by a petition by an organisation called Zimbabwe Anti Sanctions Trust. The motion was adopted and we expect Justice minister Ziyambi Ziyambi to bring the Bill as soon as possible, Togarepi said.

Observers said the motivation of the proposed law was the desire to target opposition players.

It is clear what the motive of that Bill is, and who the likely would-be victims are. Any legislation that is intended to suppress freedom of speech is undemocratic and counterproductive, Methuseli Moyo, a political analyst said.

It is clear the Bill is meant to curtail criticism of the authorities by opposition agents. Not liking or liking a regime has nothing to do with nationalism. A party in power and its attendant systems and practices are not the nation. Unfortunately, that distinction has been overlooked.

Another political analyst Effie Ncube said: The whole intention is to close down the little that remains of the democratic space and silence dissenting voices in the run up to the 2023 elections. Zanu PF is not assured of victory in a free and fair election where all voices are allowed space. Therefore, the Patriotic Bill is going to be used to undermine the ability of the opposition parties and civil society organisations to function.

Political analyst Farai Maguwu said Mnangagwas administration risked to reverse the progress made since his ascendancy to power in November 2017.

The Bill in its current state has many grey areas that may result in it being misinterpreted and weaponised to stifle civic liberties and mutilate constitutional rights. It will be a huge dent to the new dispensation, whose birth was welcomed as a beginning of a new chapter for human rights in Zimbabwe. Fast-tracking it will create impressions that its meant to further close civic space ahead of 2023 elections, Maguwu said. Newsday
LONDON, April 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Sucden Financial, the global multi-asset execution, clearing and liquidity provider, has hired Michael Bell as a coffee broker to help further expand its soft commodities services.

Bell brings extensive market experience, with previous senior positions at several banks and brokers and as a former LIFFE coffee and cocoa grader. Previous roles include nineteen years with Societe Generale in London as a director and broker in its soft commodities team, ABN Amro, specialising in coffee and cocoa, and Merrill, covering various commodity markets.

"I'm thrilled Mickey has joined us. I have known him for many years; he is highly respected and brings a wealth of knowledge and experience", commented Mark Cooper, Co-Head of Softs at Sucden Financial. "He will focus on increasing our coffee futures and options brokerage business here in London, complementing our existing team."

Kirsty Gillies, Head of Futures and Soft Commodities at Sucden Financial, commented, "Mickey's appointment underlines our continued commitment to soft commodities and the level of experience and expertise our clients require."

About Sucden Financial

With a history and heritage in commodity futures and options trading, Sucden Financial has evolved and diversified to become a leading global multi-asset execution, clearing and liquidity provider across FX, fixed income and commodities.

Sucden Financial has a proven track record of over 45 years in financial markets. Since its foundation in 1973, it has been supported by its parent, Sucden, one of the world's leading soft commodity trading groups, while remaining fully independent in its day-to-day trading operations.

Sucden Financial Limited is authorised and regulated by Financial Conduct Authority

twitter.com/SucdenFinancial

linkedin.com/company/sucden-financial/

sucdenfinancial.com

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1134362/Sucden_Financial_Logo.jpg
Alex AlexanderOslo and Barcelona, 12 April 2022 - Adevinta ASA (ADE) has today announced that Alex Alexander will join Adevinta as Chief Product & Technology Officer (CPTO), effective 19 April 2022. He will report to CEO Rolv Erik Ryssdal and join the Adevinta Executive team.



Alex is an international product and technology executive with a proven track record of leading transformation and innovative product development for some of the world's largest companies, like Walmart, through building diverse, world-class product and technology teams.



With over 20 years' experience in transactional commerce, Alex has helped organisations to gain competitive advantages by using cutting edge digital technologies, enabled by modern, agile operating models. Alex brings a unique blend of innovation and start-up experience from e-commerce companies, such as YOOX Net-a-Porter, as well as experience with large e-commerce retailers, leveraging his passion for customer-centric products to help global companies scale.



Rolv Erik Ryssdal, CEO of Adevinta, said: "We are thrilled to have a Product & Technology leader of Alex's calibre joining Adevinta at such a pivotal time for the company, following our acquisition of eBay Classifieds Group. His deep expertise in digital transformation, cloud-based platform expansion and building diverse global teams will be a strong asset toward achieving our strategy to grow Adevinta at scale. His e-commerce experience and track record in developing pioneering, customer-centric products across three continents and multiple industries, from general consumer goods to travel, will add valuable knowledge across Adevinta's verticals."



Alex Alexander, incoming Chief Product and Technology Officer at Adevinta, said: "The combination of Adevinta's customer focus, the transformation journey and the collaborative culture really excites me. People are the most important consideration in any transformation journey, and I believe Adevinta's culture matches my people-centric style of leadership, driving change through transparency and consensus to create organisational alignment. I am humbled and proud to become an Adevintan at this exciting period in the Company's transformation journey."

Alex graduated from University College London (UCL) and has a Masters of Business Administration.



Rolv Erik Ryssdal concludes: "We would like to thank Renaud Bruyeron who stepped up as interim CPTO in June 2021. Under his leadership, our Product and Technology teams have made huge strides in the integration of the two companies, including designing a proposed new operating model for our Business Technology Services function and defining both our Data and Cloud strategies. We are pleased that Renaud will continue to play an important part at Adevinta, as he has decided to take on a new role as Vice President of Cloud & Infrastructure reporting into Alex."

-end-

Notes to Editors



About Adevinta

Adevinta is a leading online classifieds specialist, operating digital marketplaces in 15 countries. The company provides technology-based services to connect buyers with sellers and to facilitate transactions, from real estate to motors, and consumer goods.



Adevinta's portfolio spans more than 40 digital brands, covering one billion people and attracting approximately three billion average monthly visits. Leading brands include top-ranked leboncoin in France, Germany's leading classifieds sites mobile.de and eBay Kleinanzeigen, Marktplaats in the Netherlands, fotocasa and InfoJobs in Spain, and 50% of fast-growing OLX Brasil. Adevinta employs around 7,500 people committed to supporting users and customers daily. Find out more at Adevinta.com.



Media contacts



Adevinta

Melodie Laroche

Corporate Communications

+33 (0) 6 84 30 52 76

melodie.laroche@adevinta.com

This information is subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant to Section 5-12 the Norwegian Securities Trading Act

Attachment
WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - President Joe Biden has announced new steps to increase fuel supplies, offer more consumer choices, and reduce gasoline prices for Americans. The President announced on Monday that the EPA Administrator is planning to allow E15 gasoline, which uses a 15 percent ethanol blend, to be sold this summer. This is the latest step in expanding Americans' access to affordable fuel supply and bringing relief to the recent price hike at the pump. To make E15 available in the summer, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is planning to issue a national emergency waiver closer to June 1. E15 is currently offered at 2,300 gas stations in the country. As part of the Pandemic Assistance for Producers initiative, USDA will provide up to $700 million in funding through a new Biofuel Producer Program. To expand the infrastructure for renewable fuels derived from U.S. agricultural products, USDA is announcing $5.6 million in grants through the Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program. EPA is proposing a new approval for canola oil that will add new pathways for fuels to participate in the Renewable Fuel Standard program to provide renewable diesel, jet fuel and other fuels. Copyright(c) 2022 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / April 12, 2022 / Silver Phoenix Resources Inc. (CSE:SP) ("SPR" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has entered into a binding memorandum of understanding dated as of April 8, 2022 (the "MOU") with Atlas Biotechnologies Inc. ("Atlas"), AgMedica Bioscience Inc. ("AgMedica") and Cambrosia Ltd. ("Cambrosia") (collectively, the "Target"). The MOU outlines the proposed terms and conditions pursuant to which SPR and the Target will effect a business combination that will result in a reverse takeover of SPR by the securityholders of the Target (the "Proposed Transaction"). The MOU was negotiated at arm's length.

The entity resulting from the Proposed Transaction will be a full vertically integrated, global cannabis company that takes advantage of scale, existing brands and strong distribution. The entity will have operations in Canada and internationally, and distribution across many of the jurisdictions that have a legal framework for medical cannabis.

Terms of the MOU

Subject to satisfactory tax, corporate and securities law advice for both SPR and the Target, the Proposed Transaction will be structured as an amalgamation, arrangement, takeover bid, share purchase or other similar form of transaction or a series of transactions that have a similar effect, and pursuant to which:

(i) SPR will acquire all voting securities of the Target;

(ii) the existing shareholders of the Company as of immediately prior to the completion of the Proposed Transaction will hold common shares of the Company with a value of $3 million (including cash on hand and subject to indebtedness of not more than $250,000); and

(iii) the shareholders of Target will be issued common shares of the Company (the "Consideration Shares"), with an aggregate deemed value of $189 million.

Certain of the Consideration Shares will be subject to escrow and resale restrictions pursuant to the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange (the "Exchange").

The MOU also provides that effective on closing of the Proposed Transaction the Company will, among other things: (i) change its name to a name requested by the Target and acceptable to applicable regulatory authorities; (ii) increase the size of its board of directors to between five and nine, as directed by the Target; and (ii) replace all directors and officers of the Company on closing of the Proposed Transaction with nominees of the Target.

Completion of the Proposed Transaction is subject to a number of conditions, including receipt of all necessary shareholder and regulatory approvals, execution of related transaction documents, approval of the Exchange, disposition of the Company's mining assets, there being no adverse material change in the affairs of the parties and completion of satisfactory due diligence by each of the parties.

The MOU contains representations and warranties of the parties as to the due authorization and enforceability of the MOU, and in respect of the Company, its share and loan capitalization, corporate status and absence of outstanding litigation.

Pursuant to the MOU, each of the Target and the Company agreed to (i) use commercially reasonable efforts to negotiate the terms of a definitive agreement reflecting the terms of the MOU and other representations and warranties, covenants and conditions that are customary for a transaction of this nature for execution on or prior to April 30, 2022; (ii) conduct their respective businesses in the ordinary course; and (iii) not enter into negotiations or solicit any expressions of interest for any transaction competitive to the Proposed Transaction.

The MOU shall terminate upon any party notifying the others that it is not satisfied with the results of its due diligence investigation by April 30, 2022.

It is anticipated that an annual general and special shareholder meeting of the Company to approve, among other matters, all required matters in connection with the Proposed Transaction will take place following entering into of the Definitive Agreement, and closing of the Proposed Transaction will take place in the second or third quarter of 2022 and in any event prior to October 31, 2022.

Further details of the Proposed Transaction will be included in subsequent news releases and disclosure documents (which will include business and financial information in respect of the Target) to be filed by the Company in connection with the Proposed Transaction.

Kronos Capital Partners acted as financial advisor to AgMedica with respect to the Proposed Transaction.

Board and Management

On completion of the Proposed Transaction, the Company's Board of Directors and management team will be reconstituted to include directors and management comprised of individuals from the current Target team, including the individuals listed below. Further details of the full management team will be provided in subsequent press releases.

Sheldon Croome, Chief Executive Officer

Mr. Croome has been the Chief Executive Officer of Atlas Biotechnologies Inc. since 2015. Prior to joining Atlas, Mr. Croome was executive director of Premium Imports Inc., overseeing and negotiating international and domestic branded alcohol product distribution. Mr. Croome has over twelve years of experience in consumer packaged goods industries, primarily in regulated sectors. Mr. Croome is skilled at running large teams, coordinating all business functions, extensive contract negotiation and development experience, and capital raise activities. Mr. Croome holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Alberta.

Jeffrey R. Gossain, President

Mr. Gossain is the President, COO and a director of Atlas Biotechnologies Inc. Since joining Atlas in 2015, Jeffrey has been involved in operations, finance and corporate services and has been instrumental in establishing valuable partnerships for distribution, technology, product formulation and revenue growth. Before joining Atlas, Mr. Gossain spent ten years in construction asset management, responsible for a fleet valued at more than $300M. Mr. Gossain is a professional engineer (P. Eng.) in Alberta, Canada, and a member of the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta (APEGA).

Kevin Mills, Chief Financial Officer

Mr. Mills has been the Vice President Finance and Administration of AgMedica Bioscience Inc. since 2018, and has more than 20 years of corporate finance experience. Prior to joining AgMedica, Mr. Mills was the Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Secretary of Posera Ltd., a TSX-listed technology company until it was privatized in January 2020, and prior to that Mr. Mills was an audit manager at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP. Mr. Mills holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from Queen's University and is a Chartered Professional Accountant.

Description of the Target

Atlas Biotechnologies Inc.

Atlas Biotechnologies Inc. is based in Edmonton, Canada, and its wholly owned subsidiary, Atlas Growers Ltd., is federally licensed in Canada for cultivation and processing of cannabis products, with a focus on health and wellness, and adult use products. Atlas currently produces flower, extracts, topical and edible formulations with medical distribution across Canada and adult-use distribution in seven provinces and territories, accessing over 70% of the Canadian population. Atlas operates under two core brand names, being, Natural History, which is focused on producing cannabis products for adult-use markets, as well as Atlas Thrive, which produces smokeless health and wellness focused products. Atlas oversees multiple cultivation and processing facilities across Canada, providing a high level of consistency and quality in all products created under its oversight.

AgMedica Bioscience Inc.

AgMedica Bioscience Inc. is a vertically integrated licensed producer of cannabis based in Chatham, Canada, that is licensed to cultivate, produce, distribute and sell dried cannabis flower, pre-rolled cannabis, cannabis soft gel capsules, cannabis oil, extracts, edibles and topicals. AgMedica currently supplies the Canadian and Australian medical cannabis markets, and has forged strategic partnerships with various organizations around the globe to support its vision for the future growth of the cannabis industry.

Cambrosia Ltd.

Cambrosia Ltd. is an international holding company, active, through its subsidiaries, across key stages of the cannabis value chain: development of products derived from cannabis extracts, and importation, distribution and retailing of medical cannabis.

The common shares of the Company will remain halted until all necessary filings have been accepted by applicable regulatory authorities.

For more information, please contact Scott Ackerman, at (778) 331-8505 or email: sackerman@emprisecapital.com.

On behalf of the Board,

Silver Phoenix Resources Inc.

Scott Ackerman, Director

All information contained in this news release with respect to the Target was supplied by the Target for inclusion herein and the Company has relied on the accuracy of such information without independent verification.

As noted above, completion of the Proposed Transaction is subject to a number of conditions, including but not limited to, Exchange acceptance of the Proposed Transaction. The Proposed Transaction cannot close until the required shareholder approval is obtained in respect of the applicable matters. There can be no assurance that the Proposed Transaction will be completed as proposed or at all.

Investors are cautioned that, except as disclosed in the management information circular or listing statement of the Company to be prepared in connection with the Proposed Transaction, any information released or received with respect to the Proposed Transaction may not be accurate or complete and should not be relied upon. Trading in the securities of SPR should be considered highly speculative.

The Exchange has in no way passed upon the merits of the Proposed Transaction and has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this press release. Neither the Exchange nor the Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward-Looking Information:

This press release may include "forward-looking information" (as that term is defined by Canadian securities legislation), concerning the Company's business. Forward-looking information in this news release includes, but is not limited to, statements regarding the Proposed Transaction, the description of the Target and information regarding the management, business and operations of the resulting issuer. Forward-looking information is based on certain key expectations and assumptions made by the Company's management, including future plans for the exploration and development of its mineral properties. Although the Company believes that such expectations and assumptions are reasonable, investors should not rely unduly on such forward-looking information as the Company can give no assurance they will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements in this press release are made as of the date of this press release. The Company disclaims any intent or obligation to publicly update any forward-looking information (whether as a result of new information, future events or results, or otherwise) other than as required by applicable securities laws.

SOURCE: Silver Phoenix Resources

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/697165/CORRECTING-and-REPLACING-Silver-Phoenix-Announces-Reverse-Takeover-by-Atlas-Biotechnologies-Cambrosia-and-AgMedica-Bioscience
12 April 2022

Rightmove plc

Share buy-back programme

Rightmove plc - Transaction in own shares

Rightmove plc ('Rightmove') announces that today it purchased 190,000 of its 0.1p ordinary shares at a volume weighted average price paid per share of 641.2183p. The highest price paid per share was 649.000p and the lowest price paid per share was 630.600p. Rightmove purchased these shares through UBS AG London Branch.

The number of shares purchased represented 0.0225% of the voting rights attributable to the total ordinary shares in issue prior to such purchase. The purchased shares will be cancelled.

Since announcing a share buy-back programme on 28 December 2007, Rightmove has purchased in aggregate 463,918,729 ordinary shares.

The total number of ordinary shares in issue (excluding treasury shares) following this announcement is 842,668,177. Rightmove holds 12,467,174 shares in treasury.

In accordance with Article 5(1)(b) of Regulation (EU) No 596/2014 (the Market Abuse Regulation) as amended by The Market Abuse (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (the "UK MAR"), the schedule below contains detailed information about the purchases made by UBS AG London Branch on behalf of the Company as part of the buyback programme.

Contact Michelle Palmer, Assistant Company Secretary CompanySecretary@rightmove.co.uk

Schedule of Purchases - Individual Transactions
Partnership includes sale of limited-edition shirt, Roaming Man release and more

GATLINBURG, TN / ACCESSWIRE / April 12, 2022 / Sugarlands Distilling Co. today announced it has teamed with the Knoxville Medal of Honor Celebration on multiple initiatives to celebrate and benefit Recipients of America's most prestigious military decoration.

First, Sugarlands will release a limited-edition, military-inspired T-shirt with the words "Valor, Honor, Duty" emblazed across the chest. The limited-edition, commemorative Sugarlands shirt is available at both its Gatlinburg distillery (805 Parkway) as well as online at ShopSugarlands.com beginning today through December 31, 2022. Proceeds from the sales of each shirt directly benefit the Medal of Honor Foundation, whose mission is to provide a path of financial support to the Congressional Medal of Honor Society.

In addition to the shirt, Sugarlands announced it will release special edition bottles of its award-winning Roaming Man Tennessee Straight Rye Whiskey in late 2022. This special edition of Roaming Man will be dumped (released from its barrel) in September with Medal of Honor Recipients on hand. It will then be bottled and sold, with proceeds benefitting the Medal of Honor Foundation. Details on how to purchase the special edition of Roaming Man will be available at a later date.

This fall, Knoxville will host the Medal of Honor Convention, an annual event that brings together many living Recipients of the Medal of Honor. In conjunction with the convention, Sugarlands will host Recipients for a special private dinner with its Master Distiller Greg Eidam and other special guests at its facility in Kodak, Tennessee, just outside Knoxville. The Medal of Honor Convention takes place September 6-10, 2022.

"We have the utmost appreciation and respect for all the brave men and women who proudly serve our country in the armed forces," said Ned Vickers, president and founder, Sugarlands Distilling Co. "It's a tremendous privilege to support the Congressional Medal of Honor Society and we're thrilled to welcome all living Recipients of the award to our Kodak distillery this fall."

Sugarlands has a long history of proudly supporting the United States Armed Forces. Last fall, Sugarlands unveiled One-Two Punch, its first ready-to-drink (RTD) canned moonshine cocktail. Proceeds from the sales of One-Two Punch benefit Folds of Honor, a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization that provides educational scholarships to the spouses and children of military members who have fallen or been disabled while serving in the United States Armed Forces. Through its Moonshare Program, Sugarlands has sponsored a different military and first-responder-focused non-profit organization each month with a grant, including the Gary Sinise Foundation, Operation Homefront, Lone Survivor Foundation, OSD Veteran Support Ecosystem and more.

We are grateful to Sugarlands' support of the Medal of Honor Recipients and their commitment to our military and veterans," said Leroy Petry, who received the Medal of Honor for his actions in Afghanistan in 2008 during Operation Enduring Freedom. "Patriotic businesses who implant social responsibility, like Sugerlands Distillery, are the backbone of our nation's economy. My fellow Recipients look forward to meeting with their team during our visit the distillery, learning from Master Distiller Greg Edam as he prepares a limited-run of Roaming Man."

The Congressional Medal of Honor Society is the only organization chartered by Congress to support Recipients of the award. The Society's membership is comprised of those who wear the Medal of Honor, the United States' highest military award for valor. Through the Society's Outreach, Education and History initiatives, the Medal of Honor Recipients continue their service across the nation. Additional details are available at cmohs.org. The Medal of Honor Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit established in 1999 to support and advance the mission of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society.

About Sugarlands Distilling Co.

Sugarlands Distilling Company is a craft distillery located in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. Producers of award-winning moonshine, rum, cream liqueurs and rye whiskey, Sugarland spirits are distributed in 40 states and made available for home delivery via Reserve Bar. Sugarlands hand-crafted cocktails can be sipped on in restaurants, bars, and festivals across the country, as well as on the Back Porch located at the downtown Gatlinburg, Tennessee distillery.

The Sugarlands distillery welcomes more than one million guests each year and is rated as TripAdvisor's number 1 thing to do in Gatlinburg as well as the world's top-rated distillery experience. A proud supporter of the community, Sugarlands Distilling Company has donated over $675,000 to nonprofits across the country through their giveback program, MoonShare.

For more information, please visit www.sugarlands.com and follow Sugarlands on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook @SugarlandsShine

###

CONTACT:

Sammy Eanes

Sugarlands Distilling Co.

pr@sugarlands.com

540-525-0864

SOURCE: Sugarlands Distilling Company

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/696985/Sugarlands-Teams-with-Congressional-Medal-of-Honor-Society
PARIS (dpa-AFX) - Luxury products maker LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton (LVMHF.PK, LVMUY.PK) Tuesday reported first-quarter revenues of 18.00 billion euros, up 29% from 13.96 billion euros last year. On an organic basis, revenues jumped 23%. The company said that it had a 'good start to the year against a backdrop of continued disruption from the health crisis and marked by the dramatic events in Ukraine.' All business groups achieved double-digit revenue growth, except for Wines & Spirits, which 'continued to see supply constraints.' Geographically, the US and Europe achieved double digit revenue growth, while Asia continued to grow over the quarter despite the impact of a tightening of health restrictions in China in March. Copyright(c) 2022 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
BEIJING, April 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- China has entered a stage of high-quality development, and the southern province of Hainan is spearheading the country's efforts to balance environmental protection and development.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has been in Hainan since Sunday, placing ecological conservation, rural revitalization and food security high on the agenda during his inspection.

National park system

When inspecting a section of the Hainan Tropical Rainforest National Park on Monday in the city of Wuzhishan, President Xi stressed the importance of boosting national park development in Hainan.

He also highlighted the need to fully understand the strategic significance of Hainan's national park development to the country, and urged continuous and solid efforts in this regard.

Following the principle of "ecological protection first," China in 2017 unveiled the overall plan for establishing its new national park system in an effort to promote human-nature harmony, biodiversity conservation and sustainable development.

Last year, the Chinese leader announced the official designation of the country's first group of national parks when delivering a keynote speech via video link at the leaders' summit of the 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP15). The Hainan Tropical Rainforest National Park is one of them.

The national park spans nine cities and counties, covering a total area of over 4,000 square km. It is home to the most concentrated and well-preserved tropical rainforests in China and the only habitat for Hainan gibbons, the world's rarest primates.

Unlike ordinary national parks, the designated national parks are part of the country's "red line" strategy for ecological conservation and subject to the strictest possible protection measures.

With the national park system taking shape in the world's most populous country, China has taken a solid step toward a future where all beings can live in harmony and flourish through a system of protected areas with national parks as the mainstay.

Rural revitalization in full swing

During his inspection tours across the country, the Chinese president always stopped to chat with rural families. On Monday, he walked into the homes of local ethnic Li people in Maona, a village in the city of Wuzhishan, and had cordial exchanges with local officials and villagers.

In Maona's public square, the locals extended a warm welcome to Xi.

"We have attained a moderately prosperous society in all respects and are marching toward modernization and promoting common prosperity," Xi said, urging solid efforts to consolidate poverty alleviation achievements and align them with the full advancement of rural revitalization.

China is continuing efforts for rural development, with the Report on the Work of the Government released in March emphasizing boosting agricultural production and promoting all-around rural revitalization in 2022.

Xi also called on Party officials to make "every possible effort" to ensure that people can live happy lives, saying Party officials should not harbor any selfish interests, and they should devote themselves to the improvement of people's lives.

"What the Communist Party of China cares about is how to make sure the lives of Chinese people of all ethnic groups are getting better every day."

'Chinese seeds'

China's food security can only be safeguarded when seed resources are firmly held in our own hands, President Xi said while inspecting the city of Sanya on Sunday, calling for working toward food self-sufficiency and advancing the country's seed sector.

"To ensure that China's seed resources are self-supporting and under better control, self-reliance must be achieved in seed technology," he said.

However, Xi acknowledged that the process would take time. "It takes 10 years to sharpen a sword," said Xi, quoting a Chinese saying.

Highlighting the strategic significance of the related work, he called for carrying forward the spirit of scientists and researchers of the older generations, including Yuan Longping (1930-2021), who was known for developing the first hybrid rice varieties in the 1970s and staving off hunger for millions.

In the newly-unveiled "No. 1 Central Document," the first policy statement released by China's central authorities this year, the country has outlined seed industry development as one of its policy priorities, with specific moves such as implementing an action plan on the seed industry, promoting germplasm collection and enhancing intellectual property protection in the sector.

https://news.cgtn.com/news/2022-04-12/Xi-inspects-Wuzhishan-in-Hainan-19aEjvCVVzG/index.html

Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kh5RJn1AK1A
BOWLING GREEN, KY / ACCESSWIRE / April 12, 2022 / Lee Coleman, founding partner of Hughes & Coleman Injury Lawyers, has been named among America's Top 100 High Stakes Litigators for 2022 - an exclusive designation that identifies the nation's most exceptional trial attorneys in high value, high stakes legal matters.

"I am honored to be named among the Top 100 High Stakes Litigators in the United States and proud of our entire Hughes & Coleman team for their support in helping me achieve this accomplishment," said Coleman. "When people turn to Hughes & Coleman for help, they expect significant results, and this designation is just one example of how our decades of experience in personal injury pays off for our clients."

To be considered for selection to America's Top 100 High Stakes Litigators, an attorney must have litigated (for either plaintiff or defendant) a matter (1) with at least $2,000,000 in alleged damages at stake or (2) with the fate of a business worth at least $2,000,000 at stake. These minimum qualifications are required for initial consideration.

With these extremely high standards for selection to America's Top 100 High Stakes Litigators, less than one-half percent (0.5%) of active attorneys in the United States will receive this honor - it is the most exclusive and elite level of attorneys in the community.

Candidates for this designation are carefully screened through a comprehensive Qualitative Comparative Analysis based on a broad array of criteria, including the candidate's professional experience, litigation experience, significant case results, representative high stakes matters, peer reputation, and community impact in order to rank the candidates throughout the state. Only the top 100 qualifying attorneys in each state receive this honor and are selected for membership among America's Top 100 High Stakes Litigators.

As a founding partner of Hughes & Coleman Injury Lawyers, Lee Coleman has been a practicing attorney for more than 30 years and is one of the region's most pronounced attorneys. Lee began his career as an assistant county attorney and prosecutor in Bowling Green, KY, eventually becoming an associate attorney for a local firm. In 1985, Lee opened Hughes & Coleman Injury Lawyers with Partner J. Marshall Hughes. Every day for the past 35 years, Lee has been able to help thousands of people trade chaos for calm and return their lives to a state of normalcy. Lee is licensed to practice in Kentucky, Tennessee and New Mexico and is a member of the Tennessee Bar Association, Tennessee Trial Lawyers Association, Kentucky Bar Association, Kentucky Justice Association and the Association for Justice.

For more information about this designation, visit www.top100highstakeslitigators.com.

For more information about Hughes & Coleman Injury Lawyers, visit https://www.hughesandcoleman.com/.

About Hughes & Coleman:

Hughes & Coleman was founded in 1985 and has recovered over a billion dollars for our clients in Kentucky and Tennessee injured from auto accidents, big truck wrecks, motorcycle accidents, defective medical products, nursing home abuse, slip and fall accidents, and wrongful death. Hughes & Coleman believes that Control Starts With A Call. Hughes & Coleman operates 10 offices in Kentucky and Tennessee.

###

CONTACT:

Lora Fisher, Client & Community Relations Core Leader

270-782-6003 ext. 147

lfisher@hughesandcoleman.com

SOURCE: Hughes & Coleman

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/696813/Lee-Coleman-Founding-Partner-of-Hughes-Coleman-Injury-Lawyers-Named-One-of-Americas-Top-100-High-Stakes-LitigatorsR
Partnered with SRx Health Solutions and BioScript Solutions to Build Out a Network of NeonMind-branded Specialty Mental Health Clinics Across Canada

OAKVILLE, ON / ACCESSWIRE / April 12, 2022 / NeonMind Biosciences Inc. (CSE:NEON) (OTCQB:NMDBF) (FRA:6UF) ("NeonMind' or the "Company"), an integrated drug development and wellness company focused on bringing innovative psychedelic-based treatments to people suffering from obesity and mental health disorders, announced today plans to launch 10 specialty mental health clinics over the next 3 years through alliances with SRx Health Solutions and BioScript Solutions, leading Canadian specialty healthcare services and medical treatment providers.

Approximately 1 in 10 Canadians use health services annually for mood and anxiety disorders, according to a Canadian government report, Mood and Anxiety Disorders in Canada. Major health care institutions are acknowledging the increasing burden of the crisis and the need to provide support access to treatments, including Ontario Health's Roadmap to Wellness which will invest $3.8 billion into mental health; Veterans Affairs Canada is launching new mental health benefits and insurance companies are providing coverage to new mental health treatments.

New, effective treatments for mood and anxiety disorders have been developed with proven benefits to patients, including intravenous ketamine (IV-Ket) and neurostimulation. These treatments require short visits to a clinic typically lasting 2 hours or less. NeonMind's research reveals there is a lack of available and conveniently located clinics providing these treatments. NeonMind's Specialty Mental Health Clinics division is executing on its strategy to increase availability of these treatments by building out clinic locations with our trusted partners that are leading providers of specialty medical treatments with a network of hundreds of established clinic locations.

"By partnering with SRx Health Solutions and BioScript, we can leverage their established clinic network and operational excellence in specialty medical treatments to introduce our mental health treatments in an expedient and capital efficient manner and importantly, working with an infrastructure that enables scaling" said Rob Tessarolo, President & CEO of NeonMind Biosciences. "With very little upfront costs for each location, we expect to be able to open NeonMind clinics in at least 10 new communities over the next few years and are pleased to offer this referral service to medical doctors and their patients who recognize the benefits of IV-Ket and neurostimulation but are not set up to deliver the treatments in their own clinics."

NeonMind plans to launch its first treatment location this summer in Mississauga, Ontario in 2022. Its innovative business model allows it to launch each location with substantial savings in launch costs by launching within an existing clinic location. The alliances mean NeonMind can avoid high leasehold improvements and overhead and is able to share costs on medical staffing.

Initially NeonMind clinics will offer IV-Ket, a validated treatment that was recently added to the Canadian guidelines. IV-Ket requires a licensed clinic setup and a team of specially trained healthcare professionals which most medical clinics cannot achieve and therefore are not able to provide this treatment. NeonMind is closing the treatment gap by offering medical doctors a trusted referral partner for their patients to get access to IV-Ket.

NeonMind's inaugural specialty mental health clinic will be located at 89 Queensway West, Suite 604, Mississauga, Ontario, L5B 2V2. For more information related to NeonMind's specialty clinics, please email medicalinformation@neonmind.com.

About NeonMind Biosciences Inc.

NeonMind operates two divisions: (i) a pharmaceutical division engaged in drug development of psychedelic compounds with two lead psilocybin-based drug candidates targeting obesity; and (ii) a medical services division focused on launching specialty mental health clinics that integrate psychedelic therapeutics into traditional psychotherapy settings.

In its pharmaceutical division, NeonMind has two distinct psilocybin drug development programs targeting obesity. NeonMind's lead candidate, NEO-001, employs psilocybin as an agonist at the serotonin 5- HT2A receptor, which is involved in the hallucinogenic effect of psychedelics. The Company's second drug candidate, NEO-002, employs low-dose psilocybin as an agonist at the 5-HT2C receptor, which controls appetite.

NeonMind and its strategic partners are building NeonMind-branded specialty mental health clinics in Canada that incorporate evidence-backed innovative treatments to address a variety of mental health needs. For more information on NeonMind, go to www.NeonMindBiosciences.com.

CONTACT:

Rob Tessarolo, President & Chief Executive Officer, NeonMind Biosciences Inc.

rob@neonmind.com

Tel: 416-750-3101

The Canadian Securities Exchange has not reviewed, approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements contained in this press release constitute forward-looking information. These statements relate to future events or NeonMind's future performance. The use of any of the words "could", "expect", "believe", "will", "projected", "estimated" and similar expressions and statements relating to matters that are not historical facts are intended to identify forward-looking information and are based on NeonMind's current belief or assumptions as to the outcome and timing of such future events. Actual future results may differ materially. In particular, NeonMind's drug development plans, its ability to retain key personnel, and its expectation as to the development of its intellectual property and other steps in its preclinical and clinical drug development constitute forward-looking information. Actual results and developments may differ materially from those contemplated by forward-looking information. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The statements made in this press release are made as of the date hereof. NeonMind disclaims any intention or obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be expressly required by applicable securities laws.

SOURCE: NeonMind Biosciences Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/697152/NeonMind-Announces-Plan-to-Launch-10-Clinics-for-Innovative-Treatments-as-Mental-Health-Crisis-Grows
THE embattled Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) is once again entangled in a rigging storm amid allegations by some data experts that the electoral bodys servers are being hosted by Africom, a company believed to be owned by the army.

Fernhaven Investments (Private) Limited, an investment vehicle of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces, is said to be the majority shareholder in Africom.

This has added onto a myriad of other complaints on how Zec is administering elections, with opposition parties recently complaining that they were not given the voters rolls for the March 26 by-elections, while Zanu PF was allegedly given the voters roll which was in colour and with pictures.

Zec dismissed the allegation that Africom, a leading converged communication service provider, was hosting their servers.

However, the electoral management body failed to prove that it has an alternative host. Zec has no server hosted by any external organisation, including Africom, Zec spokesperson Jasper Mangwana told NewsDay yesterday.

But data experts Team Pachedu insisted that there was overwhelming evidence that Zec servers were being hosted by Africom.

When the Zec website was hacked on August 1, 2018, forensic experts investigated. They found that Zec was hosted on an Africom server, IP 41.57.65.19, sharing hosting with other sites like netguardsec.com. Shared hosting means the server was not at Zec, Team Pachedu said.

The website was developed in a rush by Africom and uploaded on the Africom domain zec.org.zw, not the usual governments zec.gov.zw. The code Africom used was recycled and had significant security flaws. This made hacking easy.

The same shared server that Africom hosted the Zec site in 2018, 41.57.65.19 is the same server that was being used by the just deleted sub-domain training.zec.org.zw. This server is currently hosting 54 websites, confirming Zec is not hosting it, but Africom.

Army spokesperson Colonel Alphios Makotore dismissed the allegations saying the army does not run elections.

Talk to Zec, the army does not run elections in Zimbabwe. You have called the wrong place. I do not work at Zec or Africom, Makotore said.

Listed Africom numbers were not getting through yesterday.

Exiled former Information minister Jonathan Moyo, in his book Excelgate: How Zimbabwes 2018 Presidential Election Was Stolen, claimed that the brazen operation to audaciously rig the result was carried out by raiding the Zec election server and inventing an unlawful route, and destination for the collation, compilation, and transmission of the [presidential] result, through operational liaison with Africom for server networking and servicing. Newsday
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / April 12, 2022 / Komo Plant Based Foods Inc. (CSE:YUM) (OTCQB: KOMOF) (FRA:9HB) ("Komo"), a premium plant-based food company, is pleased to announce it's now being carried in 4 out of 7 western Whole Foods Market locations.

Whole Foods Market, Inc. is an American multinational supermarketchain headquartered in Austin, Texas, which sells organic foods and products free from hydrogenated fats and artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives. Whole Foods seeks out the finest natural and organic foods available, maintains the strictest quality standards in the industry, and has an unshakeable commitment to sustainable agriculture. Whole Foods has more than 500 retail and non-retail locations in the US, Canada and the United Kingdom. It has 14 retail locations in Canada, of which 7 are in British Columbia, and 7 are in Ontario. In 2017, Amazon purchased Whole Foods Market for USD$13.7 Billion.

"Adding Whole Foods to our distribution network is a huge accomplishment for Komo and testament to the high quality of our products," says Komo CEO William White. "We are so pleased with the growth in the number of retail stores that are selling Komo products. We have to thank our sales broker, Cornerstone Sales, our distributors, and our dedicated team for this growth. We are very excited about continuing to share the love of plant-based foods through our wholesale expansion"

Komo can now be found on the shelves at Whole Foods Cambie, North Burnaby, Victoria, and North Vancouver.

Komo has a distribution network covering all provinces in Canada, including BRR Logistics, TransCold Distribution and Nationwide Natural Foods. Komo significantly scaled up its production capacity through a co-manufacturing arrangement late last year, setting up Komo for nationwide expansion. Komo is also available in select IGA, Fresh Market, as well as all Choices Markets, all Nesters Market locations, Fairway Markets and Nature's Fare locations. Komo is now also expanding to the United States.

About Komo

Komo Plant Based Foods Inc. is a premium plant-based food company that develops, manufactures and sells a variety of plant-based frozen meals that are always hearty, satisfying, and made with wholesome ingredients. At Komo, our mission is to help make plant-based meals a staple on every dinner table by sharing our love for feel-good food that connects the people to the planet. We believe plant-based eating is the future and - Change can start with a single biteTM. Our experienced plant-based innovation and development team recreates vegan versions of traditionally cheesy and meaty classics, with 100% plants. Komo's products are sold direct-to-consumer through our eCommerce website and a distribution network of online and brick and mortar grocery, convenience and natural retailer channels. Our operating subsidiary Komo Comfort Foods launched in 2021 with our flagship products: plant-based Lasagna, Shepherd's Pie and Chickenless Pot Pie and has recently launched a new line - Komo Plant-Based Meal HelpersTM - versatile meal starters to allow the creation of many dishes at home. All of our products are 100% plant-based, made with wholesome ingredients, free from preservatives, and frozen for freshness. Freezing products is a natural and effective way of keeping food products for longer without having to use any preservatives. Komo's meals have a 1-year frozen shelf life. Komo also sells hot ready-to-eat meals in Metro Vancouver through Uber Eats and Skip the Dishes.

Learn more at: www.komocomfortfoods.com and follow on Instagram: @komocomfortfoods

For further information, please contact:

William White, President & CEO, Komo Plant Based Foods Inc.

will@komoeats.com

1-866-969-0882

The Canadian Securities Exchange has not reviewed, approved or disapproved the contents of this news release.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements contained in this press release constitute forward-looking information. These statements relate to future events or Komo's future performance. The use of any of the words "could", "expect", "believe", "will", "projected", "estimated" and similar expressions and statements relating to matters that are not historical facts are intended to identify forward-looking information and are based on Komo's current belief or assumptions as to the outcome and timing of such future events. Actual future results may differ materially. In particular, Komo's product development plans, its ability to launch its products on food delivery apps, its ability to retain key personnel, its revenues, and its expectation as to the acceptance of its products by retailer stores and consumers constitute forward-looking information. Actual results and developments may differ materially from those contemplated by forward-looking information. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The statements made in this press release are made as of the date hereof. Komo disclaims any intention or obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be expressly required by applicable securities laws.

SOURCE: Komo Plant Based Foods Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/697150/Komo-Plant-Based-Foods-Launches-in-Whole-Foods-Market-Retail-Locations-in-Western-Canada
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / April 12, 2022 / The Power Play by The Market Herald has announced the release of new interviews with Avrupa Minerals, Silver Bullet Mines, Saturn Oil & Gas, and Sprout AI on their latest news.

The Power Play by The Market Herald provides investors with a quick snapshot of what they need to know about the company's latest press release through exclusive insights and interviews with company executives.

Avrupa Minerals (TSXV:AVU) reports on first operations at the Kolima Project

Avrupa Minerals reports on first operations at its recently-acquired Kolima Project in the Pyhasalmi VMS Belt in central Finland. The company announced an agreement with privately-held Akkerman Exploration B.V. to acquire subsidiary Akkerman Finland Oy. The company has completed the first portion of the acquisition of Akkerman Exploration B.V. subsidiary Akkerman Finland Oy. Avrupa Minerals CEO and Director Paul Kuhn sat down with Shoran Devi to discuss the news.

For the full interview with Paul Kuhn and to learn more about Avrupa Minerals' news, click here.

Silver Bullet Mines (TSXV:SBMI) announces OTCQB listing

Common shares of Silver Bullet Mines Corp. (SBMI) will commence trading on the OTCQB under the symbol SBMCF. The company's common shares will continue to trade on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol SBMI. The OTCQB is a premier and established marketplace for entrepreneurial and development stage U.S. and international companies. VP Capital Markets and Director, Peter Clausi sat down with Shoran Devi to discuss the news.

For the full interview with Peter Clausi and to learn more about Silver Bullet Mines' news, click here.

Saturn Oil & Gas (TSXV:SOIL) announces results of an evaluation of the company's crude oil and natural gas assets

Saturn Oil & Gas (SOIL) has announced the results of the independent reserves evaluation of the company's crude oil and natural gas assets. The Reserve Report evaluated the Oxbow Asset and the Viking Asset. Highlights include a 668 per cent year over year increase in Total Proved + Probable (TP+P) reserves. CEO John Jeffrey sat down with Shoran Devi to highlight the results.

For the full interview with John Jeffrey and to learn more about Saturn Oil & Gas' news, click here.

Sprout AI (CSE:BYFM) appoints Toni Rinow to the Board of Directors

Sprout AI (BYFM) has appointed Toni Rinow to the Board of Directors. Dr. Rinow holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) and a Graduate Degree in Accounting and Finance from McGill University. Dr. Rinow has over 20 years of international finance and business leadership experience. Chris Bolton, CEO of Sprout AI sat down with Shoran Devi to discuss Dr. Rinow's appointment.

For the full interview Chris Bolton and to learn more about Sprout AI's news, click here.

Interviews for The Power Play by The Market Herald are released daily. To learn more about the companies featured in The Power Play or to explore our other interviews visit The Power Play by The Market Herald.

About The Market Herald

The Market Herald Canada is the leading source of authoritative breaking stock market news for self-directed investors. Our team of Canadian markets reporters, editors and technologists covers the entire listed company universe in Canada. We cover over 3,985 businesses, their people, their investors, and their customers. We write the stories that move the Canadian capital markets.

DISCLAIMER: Report Card Canada Media Ltd. ("Report Card") is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Market Herald Limited, an Australian company ("Market Herald"). Report Card is not an advisory service, and does not offer, buy, sell, or provide any other rating, analysis or opinion on the securities we discuss. We are retained and compensated by the companies that we provide information on to assist them with making information available to the public. All information available on themarketherald.ca and/or this press release should be considered as commercial advertisement and not an endorsement, offer or recommendation to buy or sell securities. Report Card is not registered with any financial or securities regulatory authority in any province or territory of Canada, will not be performing any registerable activity as defined by the applicable regulatory bodies and do not provide nor claim to provide investment advice or recommendations to any visitor of this site or readers of any content on or originating from themarketherald.ca. Market Herald and/or its affiliates and/or their respective officers, directors or employees may from time to time acquire, hold or sell securities and/or commodities and/or commodity futures contracts in certain underlying companies mentioned in this site and which may also be clients of Market Herald's affiliates. In such instances, Market Herald and/or its affiliates and/or their respective officers, directors or employees will use all reasonable efforts to avoid engaging in activities that would lead to conflicts of interest and Market Herald and/or its affiliates will use all reasonable efforts to comply with conflicts of interest disclosures and regulations to minimize any conflict. All the information on this document and/or the website - themarketherald.ca - is published in good faith and for general information purpose only. Report Card does not make any warranties about the completeness, reliability, and accuracy of this information. Any action you take upon the information you find on this document and/or website (themarketherald.ca) is strictly at your own risk. Report Card will not be liable for any losses and/or damages in connection with the use of our website. From our website, you can visit other websites by following hyperlinks to such external sites. While we strive to provide only quality links to useful and ethical websites, we have no control over the content and nature of these sites. These links to other websites do not imply a recommendation for all the content found on these sites. Site owners and content may change without notice and may occur before we have the opportunity to remove a link which may have gone 'bad'. Please be also aware that when you leave our website, other sites may have different privacy policies and terms which are beyond our control. Please be sure to check the Privacy Policies of these sites as well as their "Terms of Service" before engaging in any business or uploading any information.

CONTACT:

The Market Herald

Brianna Anthony

brianna.anthony@themarketherald.ca

themarketherald.ca

SOURCE: The Market Herald

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/697153/The-Power-Play-by-The-Market-Herald-Releases-Interviews-With-Avrupa-Minerals-Silver-Bullet-Mines-Saturn-Oil-Gas-and-Sprout-AI
WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Oil futures climbed higher and settled at one-week high on Tuesday amid uncertainty about a nuclear deal with Iran anytime in the foreseeable future. Oil's climb was also due to comments by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) that it would be impossible to replace the 7 million barrels per day of Russian oil and other liquid exports likely to be lost in the event of sanctions or voluntary actions. West Texas Intermediate Crude oil futures for May ended higher by $6.31 or about 6.7% at $100.60 a barrel. Brent crude futures were up $6.10 or 6.2% at $104.58 a barrel a little while ago. 'We really don't know if we'll get a deal or not, because the United States hasn't shown the necessary will to reach an agreement,' Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh said on Monday. 'What remains are the decisions of Washington,' he added. According to OPEC's Monthly Oil Market Report, the group raised its oil production by just 57,000 barrels per day in March from February, as African members' struggles to pump more crude partially offset increases at the core OPEC members of the Middle East. All 13 OPEC members including Libya, Iran, and Venezuela, pumped 28.56 million bpd in March, up by just 57,000 bpd from February. Crude oil output increased mainly in the three Arab Gulf producers, namely Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and the UAE. Meanwhile, fears of demand downturn in China eased somewhat after Shanghai eased a draconian two-week lockdown to allow some residents out of their homes. Copyright(c) 2022 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
Providence Journal - As reported by Katie Mulvaney - Investigative Reporter

MMJ BioPharma Cultivation is anticipating the imminent DEA approval for its federal API Bulk Manufacturing Registration

https://vimeo.com/691997596

PROVIDENCE, RI / ACCESSWIRE / April 12, 2022 / A Rhode Island laboratory is asking the federal court to intervene with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration in its quest to grow pharmaceutical-grade marijuana for use in clinical trials into treatments for Multiple Sclerosis and Huntington's Disease.

MMJ BioPharma Cultivation Inc.; MMJ International Holdings Corp.; and MMJ BioPharma Labs Inc. - companies dedicated to developing pharmaceutical cannabinoid-derived medical treatments - wants the court to compel the DEA to act on its applications for bulk manufacturing and importing of specific strains of marijuana, arguing that the government has long passed the deadlines to issue a decision and has delayed its progress from the get-go.

The companies, which operate in Rhode Island, allege that the delays have brought crucial work to produce soft-gel capsules for clinical trials to a standstill.

"Countless patients who have been affected by Multiple Sclerosis and Huntington's Disease and are waiting on the potentially life-restoring treatments associated with the development of these pharmaceuticals," the MMJ entities wrote in federal court papers. "The DEA, however, appears to be dragging their feet despite MMJ's constant and almost overbearing commitment to excellence that exceeds far beyond mere compliance with the DEA's regulations and protocols."

"MMJ has been actively pursuing the path to develop treatments to lessen the impact of these degenerative diseases. The three years that have passed since submitting the initial applications could have been used toward more research and development, working the clinical trials, etc. Instead, however, this time has been used to fight for a determination that should have been made over two years ago under the regulations," the companies say.

While the lab received DEA approval in January 2022 as a Schedule 1 analytical lab research facility, it has not gotten DEA approval for bulk manufacturing and importing of strains that are required to produce botanical pharmaceuticals in keeping with FDA guidelines, according to the filing.

MMJ estimated that 200,000 Americans are diagnosed with Primary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis and another 30,000 with Huntington's Disease.

Duane Boise, president of the companies, said in a phone conversation Monday that they have taken "extreme" efforts to secure the licenses and comply with rigorous Food and Drug Administration guidelines to produce a pharmaceutical-grade soft gel capsules.

"The DEA is inhibiting manufacturing  It's wrong," he said

MMJ names as defendants Attorney General Merrick Garland, DEA Administrator Ann Milgram, Providence DEA Investigator Tom Cook, and the DEA itself.

A spokeswoman for the DEA declined comment because the litigation is pending.

Boise emphasizes interest on a national scale in pharmaceutical drugs derived from marijuana. In 2016, the DEA adopted a new policy that is designed to increase the number of entities licensed under the Controlled Substances Act to grow marijuana to supply legitimate research involving marijuana and its chemical constituents.

Boise says that is exactly what he intends to do, but believes he's been stymied by investigators who are "not advocates" of marijuana.

According to MMJ's federal complaint, MMJ in November 2017 submitted protocols to the FDA to conduct clinical trials on the neurodegenerative diseases, MS and Huntington's disease. The plans won FDA approval, pending the outcome of analyses that needed an OK from the DEA for MMJ to grow particular proprietary strains of marijuana.

MMJ applied in December 2018 to the DEA for licenses to import plants from Canada to grow in bulk at the Rhode Island site. In November 2019 it received DEA approval to import a limited amount of extracts.

MMJ worked with a Pharma Solutions Company to complete a batch of soft-gel capsules, and is in the process of reporting the scientific findings to the FDA to proceed with clinical trials and ultimately win FDA approval for its products, the filing states.

MMJ, however, cannot get there without the DEA licenses that the company says are essential to its ability to conduct FDA-sanctioned clinical trials.

Investigators from DEA visited the lab in June 2021 and again Oct. 24,2021 to inspect the security system and the facility itself, boring into such details as the thickness of concrete under its flooring to prevent diversion. MMJ officials were told in October that the fieldwork portion of the review was complete and that a report would be submitted for final determination.

In response to numerous inquiries, DEA personnel have said that they don't know when a decision will be made. Congressman Jim Langevin reached out to the DEA on MMJ's behalf in February - an inquiry, like others placed by MMJ, that has gone unanswered, MMJ says.

Media Contact:

Sara Parker

media@mmjih.com

203-231-8583

SOURCE: MMJ BioPharma Cultivation

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/697170/MMJ-BioPharma-Cultivation-Sues-DEA-Over-Foot-Dragging-on-Marijuana-Pharmaceutical-Licensing
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - April 12, 2022) - SLANG Worldwide Inc. (CSE: SLNG) (OTCQB: SLGWF) ("SLANG" or the "Company"), a leading global cannabis consumer packaged goods ("CPG") company with a diversified portfolio of popular brands, announced today that it has closed its previously announced acquisition of NS Holdings Inc. ("NSH"), a manufacturing business based in Oregon (the "NSH Acquisition").

The closing of the previously announced NSH Acquisition won't affect the Company's decision to wind down manufacturing operations in the unprofitable Oregon market. This acquisition follows SLANG's newly implemented transformational growth strategy focused on tapering its Core Markets to Vermont and Colorado, supporting the Company's goal of reducing non-profitable operations and achieving greater operating efficiencies.

NSH is the parent company of GNT Oregon, LLC ("GNT"). GNT operates a licensed CO2 extraction and manufacturing facility in Portland, Oregon. The Company issued a non-material amount of common shares as consideration for the NSH Acquisition.

To be added to SLANG's email distribution list, please email SLNG@kcsa.com with "SLNG" in the subject.

About SLANG Worldwide Inc.

SLANG Worldwide Inc. is a global leader in the cannabis CPG sector with a diversified portfolio of popular brands distributed across the United States. SLANG specializes in acquiring and developing market-proven regional brands as well as launching innovative new brands to seize global market opportunities. For more information, please visit www.slangww.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains statements that constitute "forward-looking statements." Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, performance or achievements, or developments in the industry to differ materially from the anticipated results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects", "plans", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "projects", "potential" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "could" or "should" occur.

Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by management of SLANG at this time, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive risks, uncertainties and contingencies that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in such statements. Investors are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Applicable risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to regulatory risks, risks related to the COVID-19 global pandemic, changes in laws, resolutions and guidelines, market risks, concentration risks, operating history, competition, the risks associated with international and foreign operations and the other risks identified under the headings "Risk Factors" in SLANG's annual information form dated April 29, 2021 and other disclosure documents available on the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. SLANG is not under any obligation, and expressly disclaims any intention or obligation, to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as expressly required by applicable law.

Media and Investor inquiries

Investors@SLANGww.com

KCSA Strategic Communications

Phil Carlson

SLANG@kcsa.com

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/119868
WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Phillips 66 (PSX) Tuesday announced that its current President and Chief Operating Officer Mark Lashier has been appointed as President and Chief Executive Officer, effective July 1. Current CEO Greg Garland will step down from the top position after leading the company for 10 years. He will remain as Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors until he retires in 2024. 'Greg's leadership and commitment to Phillips 66, our employees and our investors have been invaluable,' said Glenn Tilton, lead Independent Director on the Phillips 66 Board of Directors and chair of the Board's Nominating and Governance Committee. 'He embodies our values of safety, honor and commitment and our vision to provide energy and improve lives.' Copyright(c) 2022 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
School District Chose ActivePure After Positive Air Quality Testing Results

DALLAS TX / ACCESSWIRE / April 12, 2022 / San Antonio Independent School District recently selected ActivePure Technology for its district-wide indoor air and surface purification needs. Dallas-based ActivePure, the global leader in sustainable indoor surface and air purification technology systems, installed its purification technology in 90 San Antonio Independent School District campuses throughout the district within classrooms, cafeterias, gyms, and auditoriums. ActivePure authorized distributors Mike Jackson of Best America, LLC and C. David Cobb of M7 Solutions, LLC handled the sale.

"After examining the science, ActivePure was determined to best meet our criteria. We felt the air and surface purifiers went beyond the HEPA filter only systems," said Chris E. Salley, senior executive director of facilities services for the San Antonio Independent School District. "The ActivePure units can aggressively combat the microbes in the air as well as handle large amounts of air in our facilities."

The San Antonio Independent School District installed a combination of the Air and Surface Pro and Mid-Range Blaster, both powered by ActivePure Technology, for air quality treatment. Following installation, San Antonio Independent School District staff members began on-site testing at several school campuses to determine the effects on staff, faculty and students in terms of contagion of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which causes COVID-19, and other widespread illnesses. The results showed that the positivity rate was lower than that of the County.

ActivePure Technology decontamination devices are utilized in 90 San Antonio Independent School District campuses and are installed in classrooms, cafeterias, gymnasiums and auditoriums covering approximately 9.5 million square feet.

(L) Mike Jackson, CEO of Best America, LLC

(R) David Cobb, CEO of M7 Solutions, LLC

"We were pleased with the results of the on-site independent testing, which confirmed significant reduction in the airborne and surface contaminants in spaces shared by educators and students," said Salley. "Sharing air and space with others in school must happen. Our job is to make sure that shared air and space is as clean as possible. Our expectations have been met and exceeded with ActivePure. It has proven itself, within our classrooms."

In addition to real-world case studies, ActivePure Technology is proven in an independent laboratory setting at The University of Texas Medical Branch, to inactivate over 99.9% of highly concentrated airborne SARS-CoV-2 virus in just one minute. The testing was performed in triplicate in a chamber with highly concentrated levels of the virus, each showing significant disinfection in a 60-second testing period. ActivePure Technology has successfully adapted what happens naturally outdoors for indoor environments. The surface and air disinfection technology is referred to as Advanced Photocatalysis. Advanced Photocatalysis recreates the sun's power with UVC lights and a catalyst that works with the humidity within ambient air to create the same oxidizing molecules found outdoors - indoors. This unique patented technology is a game-changer as it works 24/7, actively neutralizing surface and airborne pathogens (including SARS-CoV-2) without chemicals, ozone and without the need to trap or filter contaminants. Testing data has proven that ActivePure Technology reduces over 99.9% of indoor airborne SARS-CoV-2 virus, which is the virus that causes COVID-19, as well as mold, bacteria, fungus and volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

The expectations San Antonio Independent School District has set for ActivePure Technology continue to be met and the district plans to continue its use of the technology.

For more information on how ActivePure provides a trusted solution for air and surface purification, visit ActivePure.com or call 888-217-4316.

About ActivePure

Privately held ActivePure has been the global leader in active, continuous surface and air disinfection systems for healthcare and educational institutions, commercial and public facilities, hospitality and residential applications since 1924. Patented ActivePure Technology has been proven in independent university and laboratory testing to effectively control and neutralize indoor contaminants. It is the only product in its class recognized by the Space Foundation as Certified Space Technology and inducted into the Space Foundation Hall of Fame. ActivePure was developed for use in space exploration and has since evolved for use in commercial and consumer products used to reduce exposure to pathogens, including RNA and DNA viruses, bacteria and molds, by up to 99.9% in the air and on surfaces. ActivePure has been committed to providing quality products and technologies to create safe and clean indoor environments worldwide since 1924. ActivePure Technologies' six brands include Aerus, Aerus Enterprise Solutions, ActivePure, Allergy Buyers Club, The Pure Company and Vollara. For more information, please visit ActivePure.com or call 888-217-4316.

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Jo Trizila, TrizCom PR on behalf of ActivePure

Email: Jo@TrizCom.com

Office: 972-247-1369

Cell/Text: 214-232-0078

Kyra Castillo, TrizCom PR on behalf of ActivePure

Email: Kyra@TrizCom.com

Office: 972-247-1369

Cell/Text: 214-695-7080

SOURCE: ActivePure Technology

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/697193/San-Antonio-Independent-School-District-Chooses-ActivePure-as-Its-Primary-Strategy-for-Air-Purification
Choco, a Berlin, Germany-based food technology company, raised $111m in Series B2 funding with a valuation of $1.2 billion.

The internal round was led by U.S.-based growth investor G Squared, alongside Insight Partners.

The company will use the additional funding to drive continued technology innovation, support its growth in the U.S. and Europe, and expand to additional markets.

Founded by serial entrepreneurs Daniel Khachab and Julian Hammer, Choco provides a software platform which digitizes ordering, supply chain operations and communications for suppliers and restaurants.

Choco brings restaurateurs and their suppliers together on a digital platform to optimize purchasing processes and enable customers to save time, money and food. Since its founding in 2018, the company has grown rapidly and is now active in markets such as the U.S., Germany, France, Spain, Austria and Belgium. In February 2022, the total value of goods traded through Choco exceeded $1.2 billion.

FinSMEs

12/04/2022
EQL, a Melbourne, Australia-based hype commerce startup, raised AUSD$25M in funding.

The round was led by Insight Partners and AirTree Ventures with participation from Guillaume Pousazs Zinal Growth, Harry Stebbings investment fund, 20VC; Sam Kroonenburg, Founder of A Cloud Guru; and the family office of Michael Rubin, CEO of Fanatics and Co-Owner of the Philadelphia 76ers.

The company intends to use the funds to strengthen its global sales and customer teams, as well as further develop its infrastructure and AI smarts.



Led by CEO Andrew Lipp, EQL is a hype commerce platform that retailers use to manage high demand product launches. Its hype infrastructure prevents sites from crashing, slows down scammers and bots, and delivers a run fair launch experience. To date, EQL has supported over 1,000 launches, connecting millions of hopeful fans with products they love. While initially focused on the sneaker space, EQL now also supports luxury brands across apparel, alcohol and accessories, and plans to soon expand into gaming, ticketing and the digital collectives space.

Early adopters including Footlocker, Sullivans Cove whisky and Crocs use the platform to manage their limited release product launches. It is currently live in Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, Spain, the UK, America, Singapore, France, Netherlands, Macau, and Hong Kong.

FinSMEs

12/04/2022
Quiq, a Bozeman, Montana-based AI-powered Conversational platform that enables brands to engage customers on the most popular asynchronous text messaging channels, closed a $25m Series C funding round.

The round, which bring total funding to date to $47.5m, was led by Baird Capital with participation from existing investors Venrock, Foundry Group and Next Frontier Capital.

The company intends to use the funds to extend its leadership position in Conversational AI and asynchronous messaging, to invest further in emerging Conversational Commerce solutions, and expand its marketing and sales teams.

Led by Mike Myer, CEO and founder, Quiz provides an AI-powered Conversational Platform enabling businesses to engage with customers across the most popular digital messaging channels. The platform supports SMS/text, Apple Messages for Business, Googles Business Messages, webchat, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, call-to-text, and more. By using its CRM integrations with Salesforce, Zendesk, Microsoft, and Oracle, brands are able to utilize existing processes and customer data while modernizing the ways they communicate with their customers.

The company, which also has an office in New York City, currently works with more than 200 leading brands across many industries  retail/e-commerce, consumer services, travel and hospitality, consumer finance and online gaming.

FinSMEs

12/04/2022
In his allegorical 1943 French novella The Little Prince, Antoine de Saint-Exupery wrote, One sees clearly only with the heart. So why, one might reasonably ask, is the new family-oriented show at the Broadway Theatre such a cold and removed affair?

This is an especially bizarre experience because this stage adaptation of The Little Prince, which opened Monday night, employs circus artists, especially aerial strap specialists and gymnasts, and draws from a palette many people would associate with the Cirque du Soleil. In fact, the hugely talented Lionel Zacharas, who plays the title role, has appeared in several of Cirques Las Vegas shows.

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Circus people invariably feed on an audience. They always know how to draw applause. They know how to ask people, especially children, to see with their heart. Theyre fundamentally reactive artists, always present and conscious of what the audience sees and feels.

"The Little Prince"

But despite a seemingly willing crowd in the seats at Saturdays performance, no one knew when or if to applaud. Reaction was not sought, connection was rarely made and the entire experience was more soporific than emotionally revealing. Young heads began to droop as the evening progressed, despite the work of accomplished artists like narrator Chris Mouron (also librettist and co-director), Antony Cesar and Joan Bertrand.

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The show, which was directed and choreographed by Anne Tournie, arrived in New York after reportedly successful productions in Dubai and Paris. This unusual Broadway attraction certainly was under no obligation to replicate the streets customary habits, but it sure could have learned from the commandment of Jerome Lawrence, an old Broadway playwright: Thou shalt not take the money of the audience without letting it know what is going on.

Scene from "The Little Prince."

Aside from Mouron operating with too much remove, part of the problem here appears to be what to do about the famously melancholic tone of The Little Prince, written from a place of authorial anxiety about the world.

The justly beloved book is not easy to adapt for numerous other reasons. It seems to be about the interplanetary journey of the titular character, but its also imbued with a wish  not just for external exploration  but the cultivation of open-mindedness and self-knowledge.

Plus the trippy trip of the title character is really a metaphor for what de Saint-Exupery saw as the necessity of approaching the world with the imagination of a child: it does not make much logical sense otherwise. Ive seen other attempts to put this book on the stage; they didnt work well, either.

And you know how not to signal that this is a night dedicated to making imaginative leaps as a tool toward tolerance and better global understanding? Have a score by Terry Truck that cannot break out from soundscape and offer up a massive projection screen the size of the proscenium that swallows pretty much all of the human artists operating at the front.

"The Little Prince."

Worse, the visuals on that constant screen are not exciting enough for your average New York kid, already used to high-density metaverses right in the hands, nor are they sufficiently beautiful or enveloping to contribute to the aesthetics of the entire experience.

The screen just lives there, swallowing up humanity, the prince, the planets and this entire show.
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Sustained efforts to develop resources called key to achieving food security

President Xi Jinping has emphasized the importance of independence in seed sources in order to ensure China's food security, calling for sustained efforts in developing the country's seed industry.

He made the remark on Sunday as he inspected Hainan Yazhou Bay Seed Laboratory in Sanya, Hainan province, where a major seed breeding base is located.

Due to Sanya's location at 18 degrees north latitude, the breeding cycle of seeds can be greatly shortened, thus providing superior conditions for agricultural scientific research. Since the 1950s, more than 70 percent of the nation's new crop varieties have been bred at the base there.

China's food security can only be achieved when seed resources are tightly held in Chinese hands, Xi said, adding that the country's seed sources must be independent and controllable, and technologies related to the seed industry must be self-reliant.

This is a matter of strategic significance, he said, calling for efforts to carry forward the spirit of scientists and researchers of the older generations, such as Yuan Longping, the late agronomist known as the "father of hybrid rice".

The president has stressed the importance of food security on many occasions since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China in 2012.

Last month, while meeting national political advisers from the agriculture and welfare and social security sectors in Beijing, he said that food security is among a country's most fundamental interests, and China cannot rely solely on the international market for food.

On Sunday afternoon, Xi also visited a research institute of Ocean University of China to learn about the development of marine science and technology.

It was the third inspection tour that Xi has made in the southern island province since he was elected general secretary of the CPC Central Committee in 2012.




Frank R. James is walked from the 9th Pct. on Wednesday, April 13, 2022, in Manhattan, New York. James was arrested after the NYPD received a tip after he was spotted on First Ave. near St. Marks Place. (Barry Williams for New York Daily News)

Dozens of Brooklyn public schools sheltered in place for hours following Tuesday mornings subway shooting in Sunset Park.

Schools in the immediate vicinity of the 36th St. subway station in Sunset Park  where a gunman opened fire about 8:30 a.m., injuring 16 people  along with schools in surrounding neighborhoods, including Park Slope, were instructed to bar students and staff from leaving and beef up security checks on anyone entering the building, according to the city Education Department.

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Police were still searching for the suspect Tuesday afternoon.

Out of an abundance of caution and for the safety of our students we have placed all schools in the area in a shelter-in-place, city Schools Chancellor David Banks said in a statement Tuesday morning. We are working closely with NYPD and school leadership to ensure that every school has the supports they need as we work to ensure the safety of our school communities.

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NYPD officers at 35th St. and 4th Avenue in Brooklyn Tuesday morning. (Luiz C. Ribeiro/for New York Daily News)

By early Tuesday afternoon, the Education Department lifted the shelter-in-place order for all but the five schools closest to the 36th St. subway station  Public Schools 24 and 371, Sunset Park High School, and two pre-K centers.

Those five schools stayed on shelter-in-place through dismissal, and pickup from school was overseen by the NYPD, according to an Education Department spokesman.

MTA buses were available to transport students at those schools to subway stations, Education Department officials said.

Family members of children in the schools closest to the 36th St. station said they understood the reason for the precautions, but that it was nerve-racking not to be able to talk with their young kids in the hours following the shooting.

Sunset Park grandmother Elsa Velez, 53, was waiting anxiously Tuesday to talk to her two grandkids, ages 6 and 11, who attend schools just blocks away from the station.

Velez said that she showed up to both her grandkids schools in the morning to try to check in with them after she got word of the shooting, but that she wasnt allowed to enter.

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A lot of parents are worried, she said. It is what it is. We just have to wait patiently, I guess.

Velez said she was comforted by a note she received from her youngest granddaughters teacher reassuring her that the kids are safe and having a normal day.

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They heard the sirens outside and I told them police are doing what they do best, which is keep us safe from bad guys,  the teachers note continued.
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Today

Some clouds this morning will give way to generally sunny skies for the afternoon. High 64F. Winds NE at 10 to 20 mph..

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Clear skies. Low near 40F. Winds ENE at 10 to 15 mph.
Students returned to class at University Prep charter high school in the South Bronx Monday still reeling from the shooting Friday afternoon that claimed the life of one of their classmates as she walked home from school.

The gunfire that erupted during an argument in the Melrose neighborhood shortly before 2 p.m. Friday killed 16-year-old Angellyh Yambo and wounded two teens who attended Mott Haven Village Preparatory Academy, a nearby public school, according to school safety sources. The teens were not involved in the dispute and were walking home from school, police added. Over the weekend, cops arrested a 17-year-old in connection with the shooting.

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The bustling South Bronx neighborhood is densely packed with schools, and teens returning to class Monday said they were still grappling with the shooting and its aftermath.

An NYPD School Safety van parked in front of the University Prep Charter High School campus. Four officers stood at the entry gates on Monday, April 11, 2022. (Emma Seiwell for New York Daily News)

It feels weird going to school now, said a freshman at University Prep who shared several classes with Yambo. A lot of people are going to cry in school, especially her friends. Its going to be sad, added the freshman, who declined to give their name.

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For some students, Monday wasnt the first time back in school following the shooting. University Prep Principal Andrew Ayers said he opened up the school on Saturday so kids wouldnt have to wait until Monday to check in with staff and counselors, and to remove some of the sting of starting the week facing the tragedy for the first time. About 100 kids showed up, he said.

Extra counselors and social workers flooded the school Monday, and school staffers tried to be as flexible as they could with kids.

We told them grief is grief  theres no right way or wrong way. Im not going to tell you how I feel, Ayers said, adding that some students were eager to talk openly about the shooting, while others took comfort in focusing on their work and classroom routines.

Part of the challenge, Ayers added, is that students are dealing with two things at once.

An NYPD School Safety van parked in front of the University Prep Charter High School campus. Four officers stood at the entry gates on Monday, April 11, 2022. (Emma Seiwell for New York Daily News)

Theres the grief of losing this community member ... a piece of us is missing, he said.

But theres a whole separate trauma of how this happened. Our students live in this neighborhood, they walk home the same way.

Students on their way into school this morning said the shooting deeply unsettled them and made them worried for their own safety.

I feel very dangerous. I feel like I keep looking back, you know? said the University Prep freshman. Every 10 seconds. Im just trying to make sure my safety is on point.

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That feeling also extended to students in the South Bronx campus  the building down the street from University Prep that houses several public schools, including the one attended by the two students injured in Fridays shooting.

Raquel, an 18-year-old student at University Heights who lives nearby, said she hasnt ventured out to her gym  which is also in the neighborhood  since Fridays shooting because its frightening. I dont feel safe.

But the teen said she doesnt have any choice about whether to attend school.

Its, like, you know I have to keep going. I cant just stop, she said.

Shootings are up citywide this year, and the number of guns confiscated from students at city schools has risen sharply compared with before the pandemic, with 14 guns discovered at schools between July 2021 and Feb. 20, compared with just one during the same period in the 2019-20 school year. More students are also showing up to school carrying pepper spray and Tasers, reporting they feel unsafe on their commutes.

Advocates and school safety agents who gathered outside the South Bronx educational campus Monday argued that dwindling numbers of school police has made it more difficult to address security concerns during and after the school day.

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Our children are in trouble, people. It is a desperate situation, said Quiann Simpkins, a school safety agent and founding member of the school safety coalition. The numbers in school safety are severely depleted, severely low.

The number of unarmed NYPD officers stationed in schools dropped from over 5,000 in June 2020 to under 4,000 last November through attrition and a hiring slowdown. The NYPD recently graduated a new class of safety agents and Schools Chancellor David Banks has said he wants to hire at least 1,000 agents.

Police and school safety agents flanked the entrances to both University Prep and the South Bronx educational campus Monday.

Ayers said hes expecting that students will be grappling with the shooting and its aftermath for a long time, and plans to keep extra mental health resources on hand.

But he said the school is also eventually hoping to help students turn the grief, fear, and anger that came out of Fridays shooting into a tangible way of addressing gun violence.

We have a lot of anger in our student body about having to walk home and be worried about this all the time, he said.

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Part of the schools task now, he said, is to help students take that anger and channel it into something where you make change either for yourself or the world around you.
Story Highlights Inclusive workplaces need a common, unifying language

Employees recognized for their strengths are more committed to their organization

Inclusive cultures thrive when employees know each other's strengths

Wanting an inclusive workplace is one thing. Knowing where to start is a whole other story.

Most leaders realize that fostering an inclusive culture is essential to unleashing the full power of their talent. Inclusive organizations help employees bring their best by providing an environment where employees feel safe being themselves and sharing their ideas.

However, many leaders struggle because the target outcomes of inclusion often appear to be more ambiguous and subjective than the tangible growth targets that many leaders feel more comfortable striving for.

At its core, inclusion is very simple: It starts with valuing your employees for who they are and what they contribute. This is something strengths-based organizations already do, which means they have a monumental head start.

Strengths as a Unifying Force

CliftonStrengths lays a strong foundation for inclusion because it provides a common language for talking about and celebrating what makes people unique -- including their backgrounds, how they approach challenges, what energizes them and more.

Inclusion starts with valuing your employees for who they are and what they contribute.

In a 2021 Gallup survey of U.S. employees who had taken the CliftonStrengths assessment, 82% agreed that being recognized for their strengths makes them feel like their coworkers appreciate them as a person.

In turn, a strengths-based workplace promotes employees' perceptions of inclusion. Employees who strongly agreed their coworkers recognize and appreciate them for their strengths were far more likely to report high levels of inclusion along key dimensions of inclusive cultures, including belonging, fairness and psychological safety -- an overall comfort with bringing what they have to offer to the table.

In fact, employees who strongly agreed that their coworkers recognize and appreciate them for their strengths were:

4x as likely to strongly agree that their organization is fair to everyone

3x as likely to strongly agree they are treated with respect at work

3x as likely to strongly agree they feel like a valued member of the team

3x as likely to strongly agree their organization values diverse ideas and opinions

3x as likely to strongly agree they are comfortable being themselves at work

Further, when employees are consistently seen and valued for their strengths, it helps everyone nurture their strengths for the future and encourage others to do the same. Employees who strongly agreed that they are recognized and appreciated for their strengths were four times as likely to strongly agree that their organization is committed to building the strengths of employees.

This ongoing development is how strengths-based organizations ensure that they are getting the full potential of their employees and that employees feel invested in.

A Return on Investment

Valuing employees for their strengths also builds employees' investment in their organization, which has direct benefits to the organization through improved retention and a more compelling employer brand.

Put simply, employees who are recognized for their strengths are more committed to their organization. They're more likely to report that they are not looking for another job, and they are far more likely to say they would recommend their organization as a great place to work.

Plus, focusing on strengths boosts employee wellbeing: Employees who strongly agreed that they are recognized and appreciated for their strengths were four times as likely to strongly agree that their organization cares about their overall wellbeing.

On the other hand, employees who did not strongly agree that they are recognized and appreciated for their strengths were twice as likely to report being burned out at work very often or always. A strengths-based inclusion strategy can help employees and their employers avoid the perils of burnout.

Ultimately, increased employee commitment and wellbeing, not to mention reduced turnover and burnout, make strengths-based organizations more productive (+19%), more profitable (+29%) and safer (+59%).

Strengths Can Magnify Your DEI Investments

Strengths can also be a great magnifier of other investments your organization is making in diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). In fact, employees who strongly agreed that they are recognized and appreciated for their strengths were twice as likely to strongly agree that their organization cares about DEI.

The benefits of a strengths-based culture are equally powerful for women and men, and may be even more impactful for employees of racial and ethnic minority groups. For example, Black employees who strongly agreed they are recognized and appreciated for their strengths were 32 percentage points more likely than those who did not to say they are comfortable being themselves at work. And Hispanic employees who strongly agreed they are recognized and appreciated for their strengths were 35 points more likely than those who did not to say they feel like a valued team member.

Custom bar chart. Percentage point differences between those who strongly agree they are recognized and appreciated for their strengths and those who do not strongly agree. Male employees who do strongly agree with this statement are 23 points more likely to say they are comfortable being themselves, 21 points more likely to say they are treated with respect, and 27 points more likely to say they are a valued team member. Among females, these percentage point differences are 28, 20, and 26, respectively. Among White employees, they are 25, 18, and 25 points, respectively. Among Black employees, they are 32, 26, and 31 points, respectively. And among Hispanic employees, they are 37, 32, and 35 points, respectively.

Employees who strongly agreed that they are recognized and appreciated for their strengths had more positive views of their organization overall and were twice as likely to strongly agree that their organization cares about racial justice.

One way in which strengths may improve inclusion for people of diverse backgrounds is by providing a framework for sparking and navigating interactions and relationships among employees. For instance, two coworkers from different walks of life can unite around their shared Learner theme and how gaining knowledge excites them. Further, people with complementary strengths can collaborate to achieve groundbreaking innovations -- even when they approach work differently.

Gallup's 2021 survey found that among employees who had taken the CliftonStrengths assessment, 85% agreed or strongly agreed that they can use their own particular strengths to improve their interactions with coworkers, and 88% agreed or strongly agreed that simply understanding their own strengths helps them work better with their coworkers.

Employees who strongly agreed that they are recognized and appreciated for their strengths were twice as likely to strongly agree that their organization cares about DEI.

Inclusive cultures are best facilitated when employees are aware of one another's strengths in addition to their own. Nearly 90% of employees in Gallup's survey agreed or strongly agreed that understanding their coworkers' strengths helps them work more effectively with them.

More Than Knowing: A Strengths-Based Inclusive Culture Is About Doing

Simply buying your employees access to CliftonStrengths is not enough. Awareness is just the starting point -- and surveys of employees who know their CliftonStrengths reveal that organizations have a lot of room for improvement when it comes to building a strengths-based culture.

In fact, only about a third of employees strongly agreed that their coworkers recognize and appreciate their strengths.

33% among Black employees

35% among White employees

38% among Hispanic employees

To make strengths part of "how we do things," leaders and managers need to make strengths central to their actions, conversations and strategic plans -- even when that requires changes to systems and structures. Strengths should be part of everything from performance discussions to how tasks are assigned.

That is, the only way to prove that you see and value employees' strengths -- and improve inclusion as a result -- is by changing what you say and do. Here are four actions to start.

Have regular discussions about strengths. When employees take the CliftonStrengths assessment and discover their top talent themes, you should use this time for meaningful, exploratory discussions. But it can't stop there -- keep having these regular discussions so employees remain curious and open to seeing their strengths at work. This is vital because inclusion requires ongoing dialogue among employees about what they do best and how they can best partner with each other. You can accomplish this by talking with employees about their strengths regularly. Gallup's survey of employees who had taken the CliftonStrengths assessment indicated that only 25% strongly agreed that they have had a meaningful discussion about their strengths with their manager or supervisor in the past three months -- but those who had were three times as likely to strongly agree that their coworkers recognize and appreciate their strengths. Set goals based on strengths. Talking about strengths only gets you so far: When employees put strengths into action, it leads to lasting cultural change. Managers should establish expectations with employee strengths in mind and encourage employees to set goals based on their strengths, including performance and wellbeing goals. Applying strengths in this way is an important foundation for inclusion. Employees who strongly agreed that they set goals and expectations based on their strengths were nearly 2.5 times as likely to strongly agree that their coworkers recognize and appreciate their strengths. Yet, only 16% of employees surveyed strongly agreed that they set goals and expectations based on their strengths each week, which means a lot of organizations are falling short in helping their employees aim their strengths at work. Help employees envision how to use their strengths every day. In a strengths-based culture, employees consistently apply their strengths in their roles. You can encourage employees to capitalize on their strengths routinely by consciously showing employees how they can use their strengths at work. Recognize employees for strengths-related successes, and ask them how they see their strengths come to life at work. What projects or tasks unlock their strengths most? How do their strengths help them excel? Manager accountability and development can powerfully accelerate this process. Leaders should modify roles, expectations and performance metrics as needed to encourage managers to have ongoing strengths-based conversations with their teams. About two in five employees surveyed strongly agreed that they can clearly see opportunities to use their strengths at work -- and those employees were four times as likely to also strongly agree that their coworkers recognize and appreciate their strengths. Use strengths to build productive relationships. Take strengths to the next level by teaching employees how understanding and using their own strengths while being aware of their coworkers' strengths can help improve their interactions at work. Employees who apply their strengths in this way see a return in kind. Those who strongly agreed that understanding their coworkers' strengths helps them work more effectively with them were four times as likely to strongly agree that they are valued for their own strengths. Similarly, employees who strongly agreed that they can use their strengths to improve interactions with coworkers were five times as likely to strongly agree that their coworkers recognize and appreciate their own strengths.

Whether for employee wellbeing and productivity or the organization's bottom line, there are many reasons to build a strengths-based organization or an inclusive culture. But the best workplaces do both in concert. Taking these simple steps to build strengths -- and by extension, inclusion -- is the ultimate win-win scenario.

Interested in building a strengths-based company culture? Check out our page How to Create a Strengths-Based Company Culture to learn how to make your company stand out using strengths.

Take the CliftonStrengths assessment to discover your most powerful strengths, understand how to use them and then point them toward your goals.

To learn more about the importance of inclusive and diverse cultures, check out the Gallup Center on Black Voices.
The disruptions of the COVID pandemic have prompted workers to reconsider how they can be most productive and forced companies to revisit some long-held beliefs. A few organizations are floating a new possibility: a four-day workweek.

In recent months, a diverse collection of employers including Japanese electronics maker Panasonic, fintech startup Bolt and the government of Belgium have recommended giving employees the option to work four days but get paid for five. Spain and Scotland are conducting their own trials of shorter weeks. They join a clutch of firms mainly in the tech sector that gravitated to a four-day format when the pandemic hit, including crowdfunding site Kickstarter, fashion reseller thredUp and venture capital firm Uncharted.

While most companies have always had a handful of workers on alternative schedules, it is unusual for businesses to reconsider the traditional workweek for all employees. A five-day, 40-hour workweek has been the norm for salaried workers since the early 20th century, when labor leaders pushed back against factory bosses who demanded six- or even seven-day schedules and 12- to 14-hour days.

But does a five-day system still make sense?

Companies with a four-day week option tend to trumpet their worker-friendly policies. Yet dig into the details, and four-day week means different things in different places. At some companies, employees might work four 10-hour days (a practice called four tens). At others, employees get Fridays off without working longer on the previous four days. And still others might decide to reduce the overall workload by making the days shorter  so a four-day week is really still a five-day week, but workers call it quits at 4 p.m. instead of at 5 or 6 p.m.

However the days are configured, researchers say, one finding stands out: Working fewer hours is better for workers and their employers.

The most recent significant study of four-day weeks was conducted in Iceland from 2015 to 2019 and involved more than 1% of the population. Organizations enrolled in the study didnt squeeze 40 hours into four days; they shortened the workweek to 35 or 36 hours. And different workplaces chose different approaches  some took every other Friday off, while others shortened the workday by an hour.

Regardless of how the hours were distributed, changing the schedule forced the organizations to rethink how work got done. They discovered ways to spend less time working while maintaining (or even increasing) output, such as holding shorter meetings or setting clearer priorities. Workers said the experiment left them with less confusion about their roles, more autonomy and more support from colleagues and bosses. Managers noticed their employees showing more discipline and focus.

The experiment was hugely popular. For me it is like a gift from the heavens, one manager told the researchers. Employee well-being rose, and workers reported having more time for hobbies, friends and exercise. Another key benefit was improved weekends: Shorter weekly hours meant more errands and chores got done during the week, leaving Saturday and Sunday free for leisure and family activities. And men reported more involvement at home, which reduced womens stress levels. A gift from the heavens, indeed.

Iceland conducted the trial in part because workers were reporting working more than 40 hours a week  44.4, to be precise. That makes Icelanders similar to the average full-time worker in the U.S., who puts in 8.5 hours a day, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. According to Gallup, 45% of Americans work nine hours a day or more for a minimum of 45 hours a week.

We shouldnt be surprised that cutting the length of the workday increased the quality of the work produced in addition to improving employee well-being. We lose energy (and effectiveness) as the day wears on. More than a centurys worth of studies back that up. And thats something companies should remember before they seek a four-day week by cramming a 40-hour schedule into four days.

Long work days are taxing, even if they are followed by long weekends. Many people in health care work four tens, and many nurses work three twelves. While nurses will tell you that the four-day weekends are great, research shows that the long hours are hard. One study found that shifts of 10 hours or more  although often assumed to be necessary for continuity of patient care  are associated with burnout and intent to leave the profession. Mistakes are more likely at the end of a long shift, calling into question whether the practice truly delivers benefits for patients.

Another study in 2021 focused on Japanese consultants found that when people worked overtime they made more errors; shorter days were associated with better results. And a classic study of construction workers in the 1980s conducted by the Business Roundtable found that 60-hour weeks could be maintained for about two months before causing serious delays. Projects would have been completed more quickly, researchers found, had the same crew worked just 40 hours a week.

Yes, there can be benefits to pushing hard in an emergency, like a war. But even there, we run into the limits of the human mind and body. A Stanford study published in 2015 of British munitions workers in World War I found that worker output at 70 hours wasnt much different from worker output at 56 hours.

There is also a long-term health cost to long hours. Studies of people who work more than 50 hours a week have found that overworkers have higher rates of heart disease, diabetes, depression and alcohol use. While I havent yet seen a study that disentangles long days from long weeks, you generally dont get the latter without the former.

The four-day week is a worthy management experiment. But to truly make it successful, companies have to shrink the workweek, not shift it.

Sarah Green Carmichael is an editor with Bloomberg Opinion. She was previously managing editor of ideas and commentary at Barrons, and an executive editor at Harvard Business Review, where she hosted the HBR Ideacast.

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Oregonians broadly support funding educational programs, yet recent statewide survey respondents generally lacked support for their local school boards.

Only 36% of those polled said they feel their school board represents their values and beliefs. Another 38% said they don't feel represented by their local school board and 26% said they were unsure.

Oregon Values & Beliefs Center's latest survey, which polled 1,563 Oregon residents ages 18 and older, found that Democrats are more likely than Republicans to voice support for the school board in their area. Respondents who are higher income  earning $100,000 or more annually  and those who are higher educated are more likely to feel represented by their school boards than those with less income and education.

The 26% of respondents who said they were "unsure" about their local school board indicated a lack of familiarity with the work and decisions of elected education officials, but that isn't the case everywhere.

Last year saw a public rift between school leadership and residents in Newberg, where a school board voted to ban staff from displaying political or controversial flags, apparel and images, such as Black Lives Matter and LGBTQ pride flags, on school district property. A few months after that vote, the school board fired its superintendent without cause.

Fallout from the controversial board decisions led to an unsuccessful but close recall effort against Newberg School Board members Dave Brown and Brian Shannon in January. The election revealed sharp public divide on whether the school board was representing its community, with 52% of voters opposed to the recall and 48% voting in favor.

A large number of respondents cite political influences in their disapproval of their local school board.

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"School boards have become too political," one Yamhill County Republican noted. "They should focus on education, not social justice and political indoctrination."

A Deschutes County Republican respondent said: "The school board is focused on social issues, culture and indoctrination. They do not take the steps to improve education only making supporting programs that fit their agenda. This is done to the detriment of learning."

But another Deschutes County survey taker, a Democrat, said her school board was "not doing enough to support POC & LGBT community. Racism, sexism, & homophobia are rampant in Bend & concerns by parents are ignored.  They talk the talk, but dont walk the walk."

In Clackamas County, Cris Waller said her local school board was "taken over by conservatives" in the last election.

"I've heard from people I know about what a disheartening time it is to be a school board because of the relentless pressure from right-wing groups," Waller said when reached by Pamplin Media Group. She said that the same groups that have been taking over school board meetings have been taking over Clackamas County's board of commissioners.

In Washington County, one woman said voters in her community "managed to keep crazy, fringe characters" off the school board. "However, they are banging at the door to get in with their white-pride, Christian-zealot fervor."

Kwee Heong Tan, also of Washington County, said his local school board "cares about admin and non-education areas like artificial grass, while textbooks are old, and emphasis on AP subjects are reduced due to lack of teachers."

While Oregonians are split on whether they are being served and represented by local school leadership, the survey shows broad support (70% or higher) for an array of taxpayer-funded family support services like tutoring, sports, after-school clubs, children's health care and youth mental health services.

Even those services that garnered the least support, like culturally inclusive learning materials and required cultural awareness and implicit-bias training for school staff, showed 70% of those polled felt they were valuable.

When it comes to supporting childcare and early learning programs, particularly for kids with special needs or disabilities, more than half (56%) of Oregonians say it's "very important" to offer childcare and learning programs. More than 86% of those polled said it's somewhat or very important to fund programs for special needs children.

Similarly, 79% said it was somewhat or very important to make childcare more affordable for families through additional government funding.

"Women are more likely than men to express strong support for using taxpayer funds to bolster early learning and childhood programs and services," the OVBC noted in its summary of survey results. "Lower-income residents are also more supportive."

Still, residents are mixed on how to pay for those services. In Multnomah County, which enacted new tax measures in 2020, and in Portland, specifically, which now has the highest state and local combined income-tax rate in the nation, higher-income earners are feeling the squeeze.

"I currently pay over $500 per month in property tax. I get a little over $1,000 from SS. I am raising my grandchildren. Do the math," one woman in Multnomah County, who identifies as a Democrat with a "somewhat liberal" social ideology, told surveyors. "I cringe at the thought of all these well-meaning projects being proposed, knowing full well it will be property taxes that pay for it. Then all the 20-30 year-olds voting it all in and then whining about high rent."

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President Joe Biden warned China that if it helps Russia in its savagery against Ukraine, the U.S. might apply sanctions to Chinese products. U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman expanded on that thought: Sanctions imposed on Russia should give President Xi Jinping "a pretty good understanding of what might come his way should he, in fact, support (Vladimir) Putin in any material fashion."

Then there is the American consumer whose closets and toy boxes bulge with stuff from China. This may be the most powerful voice as mass disgust over Putin's war crimes sticks to countries that defend him, much less weaken efforts to squeeze Russia's economy.

Over the weekend, yours truly was rustling through the clothing racks when her heart quickened at the sight of a turquoise blouse selling at a freakishly low price. She can report that the "made in China" label quickly extinguished any shopper's lust.

Bill Browder, the former hedge fund manager in Russia who fought corruption and remains a Putin target, speaks of the high moral cost now attached to Chinese products. "China has been very clear that it's not going to join the rest of the world in challenging or punishing Putin for what he's doing," he said. "I think that China has to be careful."

Browder thinks our consumers may start boycotting Chinese products  even before the U.S. government installs any official sanctions. And it's not just things from China.

The owner of Uniqlo, a Japanese fast fashion chain, originally refused to leave Russia as other retailers had. A consumer backlash quickly forced Uniqlo to reconsider. It has since changed course and pulled out of Russia.

The Chinese telecom giant Huawei is now closing its office in Russia, as have other IT companies before it. Russia was a big and growing market for Huawei, but the risks of doing business there, including the prospect of additional sanctions, caused a turnaround.

Early in February, Xi and Putin joined forces at the Beijing Olympics to declare their alliance and enmity toward nonauthoritarian governments supporting freedom of thought. Even now, China is submerging its people in Russian lies  among them, denials that Russians are viciously attacking civilians in Ukraine. Such reports are hoaxes created by the West, says official Chinese media.

China's softening economy and shutdowns over new COVID-19 outbreaks have also rattled the leadership, raising speculation that China would turn its focus on helping Russia out of its economic isolation. For example, as Europeans try to cut their consumption of Russian oil and natural gas, talk grows that China could replace that market. (Europe now spends $1 billion a day for Russian oil and gas.)

And China could fill in Russia's loss of access to Western financial infrastructure and technology. But China's financial systems can't nearly match the Western ones for size. China is certainly behind Europe in internet services. In any event, if China sells it to Russia, its companies face secondary sanctions or consumer boycotts, witness the decision of Huawei to close offices.

Western private equity companies have been getting cold feet about investments in China, according to Bloomberg. Some of it is Xi's crackdowns on the private sector. Some of it is travel restrictions in China. But a lot of it is political disquiet over China's soulless alliance with the cruel leadership in Moscow.

Behind all these flashing red lights stands the mighty and mightily pissed American consumer. If Browder is right, U.S. shoppers may now already be on the case. To which we might add that even before the Russian aggression, American companies were trying to replace Chinese supply chains snarled by the pandemic.

China has to choose: Russia or us. The better bet seems clearer all the time.

Follow Froma Harrop on Twitter @FromaHarrop. She can be reached at fharrop@gmail.com.

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The Manhattan district attorneys office aims to beef up its hate crimes unit amid a spike in unprovoked attacks  and on Monday asked Mayor Adams to devote more resources.

Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg said the unit led by Chief Hannah Yu needs two new deputies and specialized prosecutors to oversee a significant increase in complex hate crime investigations and prosecutions.

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New Yorkers of all backgrounds deserve to feel safe in Manhattan, said Bragg.

My Offices expanded Hate Crimes Unit will not only investigate and prosecute hate crimes, but provide outreach and advocacy that helps victims heal and addresses root causes. Combatting hate crimes is a shared priority for my Office, the New York City Council, and the Mayors Office, and Im hopeful we will receive the funding we need to combat the surge in hate crimes.

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Alvin Bragg outside Gracie Mansion in July 2021. (Barry Williams/for New York Daily News)

Last month, Bragg said his office is prosecuting 160% more hate crimes than a decade ago. Manhattan prosecutors are currently investigating 88 hate crime cases, including 27 against people of Asian descent.

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The office is handling the prosecution of Steven Zajonc, who allegedly punched seven Asian women as he made his way from Midtown to Nolita in late February. A lawyer for Zajonc, who pleaded not guilty to the charges last week, says hes mentally ill.

From March 2020 through December 2021, the group Stop AAPI Hate received 10,905 reports of hate crimes against Asian Americans nationwide. The coalition claims Chinese Americans report the most incidents, making up nearly 43% of those victims.

Bragg told the City Council he needs more than $1.6 million to fund the new management hires, investigative analysts, investigators, and victim services, including an AAPI Counselor and LGBT victims advocate fluent in Mandarin, Cantonese, or Korean.

The DA is recruiting a deputy chief, AAPI counselor, and LGBT victim service advocate. But Bragg said he couldnt fill the other slots until he gets city funding.

State prosecutors in Manhattan are also investigating 25 attacks against LGBT people, another group thats been targeted in increasing numbers.

Too often, trans women, and particularly trans women of color, are the targets of brutal violence. It is critical that we acknowledge the problem and begin to collaboratively address the problem, said Cecilia Gentili, founder of TransEquity Consulting.

The office is also investigating 11 attacks directed at Black New Yorkers and 10 anti-Semitic cases. It reported six attacks on people allegedly targeted because they were white.
Braden Manning, Gettysburg baseball: Braden went 9-for-13 with 2 doubles, 2 triples and 7 RBI over 4 games. He also struck out 11 batters in a win over South Western.

Amy Anderson, Delone Catholic softball: Amy went 5-for-12 with 6 RBI, 3 runs scored and a triple over 3 games. She also struck out 17 batters and went 2-1 in those games.

Parker Sanders, Bermudian Springs Tennis: Parker won 3 matches on his way to a fourth-place finish in the YAIAA Class 2A Singles Tournament.

Andrew Koons, Fairfield baseball: Andrew went 5-for-11 with 8 RBI, 4 runs scored and 2 home runs over 3 games, including a grand slam. He was also the winning pitcher against Biglerville.

Ben Angstadt, Biglerville baseball: Ben went 8-for-17 with 7 RBI, 4 runs scored, a double and a home run over 4 games for the Canners.

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The citys sluggish bus system is keeping CUNY students from reaching their academic potential  and Mayor Adams should do more to speed up commutes, a group of students and transit advocates demanded Monday.

New York City buses average a dismal 8.1 mph pace, Metropolitan Transportation Authority data show  among the slowest speeds of any big city system in the country.

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Any nervousness I have about an exam or presentation I might have one day is just further exacerbated by not knowing if Im going to make it on time, Queens College student Amani Davis, 19, said during a rally outside City Hall hosted by transit advocates.

There have been countless instances in which I was left waiting in the rain or the freezing cold waiting for the bus to show up, only to end up being late to school.

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Transit advocates and CUNY students rally outside City Hall on Monday to call on Mayor Adams to do more to speed up bus service. (Clayton Guse)

And while the MTA operates the buses, its on the city to manage the streets and give transit the right-of-way, the rallygoers argued  urging the mayor to make good on his campaign promise to install 30 miles of new bus lanes in 2022.

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Adams has vowed to build 150 miles of bus lanes before his term ends by 2026. Thats more aggressive than the benchmarks required by the Streets Master Plan, which was passed by the City Council and former Mayor Bill de Blasio in 2019 and mandates the installation of 150 miles of new bus lanes over the next five years.

But some advocates were skeptical Adams intends to make good on that promise. His executive budget proposed in February laid out no specific funds to implement the plan, although the Council this month called for $3.1 billion for the changes, which include more bike lanes and pedestrian-oriented streets.

It shouldnt just be a vote to get 30 miles of additional bus lanes, said City Councilman Christopher Marte (D-Manhattan). That should be the minimum.

Charles Lutvak, a spokesman for Adams, said the mayor has put forward an historic and ambitious plan to tackle the crisis of traffic violence, make our intersections safer, and speed up our buses, and that hed welcome the opportunity to partner with any New Yorker committed to those goals.

At the rally, students also griped that MTA fares can be too expensive for their ramen noodle budgets. They called on Adams to make changes to the citys Fair Fares program that offers half-price MetroCards to low-income New Yorkers.

CUNY students who live below the federal poverty line are currently eligible, but rally participants called for a doubling of that threshold.

Often students like me have to decide whether they should spend their money on transportation or food, said Brooklyn College student David Dugue, 22. Having affordable transit affords us the agency to go to class, study at the library, attend events like this and go home without their feet hurting by the end of the day.
Gillette, WY (82718)

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Overcast skies and windy. High 69F. Winds SW at 25 to 35 mph. Winds could occasionally gust over 40 mph..

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BOSTON, March 30, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- AdMeTech Foundation, jointly with Senate President Pro Tempore William Brownsberger and Representative Gerry Cassidy, is hosting the 13th Annual Prostate Cancer Awareness Day. Faina Shtern, MD, President, AdMeTech Foundation, and Cheryl Bartlett, RN, CEO, Greater New Bedford Community Health Center, and Former Commissioner, Massachusetts Department of Public Health serve as MCs.

AdMeTech Foundation, in partnership with urology experts at the Brigham and Women's Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital and UMass Memorial Health, is announcing a new Prostate Cancer Equity Program in Massachusetts (PCE). The goal of this program is to save lives and deliver high-quality care for any man residing in Massachusetts and aged 40 and older. The program's priority focus is on African American, Hispanic and Latino individuals.

Prostate cancer, striking 1 in 8 men, is the most common and the second most lethal male malignancy. Black (including Hispanic) men are more than 2 times more likely to die compared to White men, even though prostate cancer is curable when detected early.

Governor Baker issued a proclamation, recognizing March 31, 2022 as the Prostate Cancer Awareness Day for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The Massachusetts General Court Resolution recognized prostate cancer as a public health priority and leading health disparity.

This event will feature Senate President Karen Spilka, Speaker of the House Ronald Mariano, Senate Majority Leader Cynthia Creem, Senate Majority Whip Mike Rush, and members of the Black and Latino Caucus, including Representatives Carlos Gonzalez, Jon Santiago, and Bud Williams, and leaders of medicine, advocacy, and community organizations.

Legislators, advocates, and prostate cancer survivors will discuss the impact of prostate cancer on men and their families, our society and public health policy. Leading physicians will review the cutting-edge advances in patient care, including prevention, diagnosis, and treatment.

AdMeTech Foundation organized this event in cooperation with the Prostate Cancer Action Council, including American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, Center for Elimination of Health and Social Inequities and Disparities, Community Health Awareness Network, the Latino Health Insurance Program, Massachusetts Prostate Cancer Coalition, Men of Color Health Awareness, and New England Area Conference of NAACP.

The event is sponsored by Lantheus, Philips, Janssen JnJ, and Sanofi.

Annual Prostate Cancer Awareness Day has been critical for setting up a historic precedent by the Massachusetts General Court in recognizing prostate cancer as a public health priority and a leading health disparity since 2011. This event and PCE are integral components of the broader state-wide prostate cancer program, which established a Massachusetts model of national leadership in public awareness, medical education, research and reducing health disparities since 2013.

WHAT: AdMeTech Foundation's 13th Annual Prostate Cancer Awareness Day

WHEN: Thursday, March 31st, 2022, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

For more information and schedule, please review here.

WHERE: Virtual Event. Join the event by using this link:

https://www.facebook.com/manogram

WHO: Senate President Karen Spilka

Speaker of the House Ronald Mariano

Senate Majority Leader Cynthia Creem

Senate President Pro Tempore, William Brownsberger

Senate Majority Whip Mike Rush

Representative Gerry Cassidy, Vice Chair, Committee on Post Audit and Oversight

Representative Carlos Gonzalez, Chair, Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee

Representative Jon Santiago, Vice Chair, Committee on COVID-19 and Emergency Preparedness and Management

Representative Bud Williams, Chair, Joint Committee on Racial Equity, Civil Rights, and Inclusion

Faina Shtern, MD, President and CEO, AdMeTech Foundation

Cheryl Bartlett, CEO, Greater New Bedford Community Health Center, and Former Commissioner, Massachusetts Department of Public Health

Milagros Abreu, MD, MPH, Founder, President, and CEO, Latino Health Insurance Program

Juan Cofield, President, New England Area Conference of NAACP

Harold Cox, MSSW, Associate Dean for Public Health Practice and Associate Professor of Community Health Sciences at Boston University School of Public Health, and Prostate Cancer Survivor

Kenneth Elmore, M. Ed., JD, Associate Provost and Dean of Students, Boston University, and Prostate Cancer Survivor

Adam Feldman, MD, MPH, Urologist, Massachusetts General Hospital; Assistant Professor of Surgery, Harvard Medical School; and Director, Combined Harvard Urologic Oncology Fellowship

Guy Fish, MD, CEO and President at Greater Lawrence Family Health Center

Ilya Gipp, MD, PhD, Oncology Solutions Subject Matter Expert, Global Strategic Account Executive, Philips

Daneil Kuftinec, MD, Medical Director, Global Medical Affairs, Lantheus

Mitchell Sokoloff, MD, Professor and Chair, Department of Urology, University of Massachusetts School of Medicine and UMass Memorial Medical Center

Quoc-Dien Trinh, MD, Co-Director of Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women's Prostate Cancer Program, Director of Ambulatory Clinical Operations, Division of Urological Surgery, Associate Professor of Surgery at Harvard Medical School

About AdMeTech Foundation: A 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, based in Boston, MA. AdMeTech Foundation established the Manogram Project, providing national and international leadership for groundbreaking programs in research, education and awareness. These programs have been expediting advancement and clinical implementation of precision, individualized approaches to screening, diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer (www.admetech.org).

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Contact: Nancy Petkunas. Email: npetkunas@mpwi.org; Mobile: (508) 353-3357

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The man accused of fatally shooting hip-hop pioneer Jam Master Jay wants to be tried separately from his co-defendant based on statements the other man made in a 2003 Playboy magazine story about the murder, his attorneys wrote Tuesday.

Karl Jordan, 38, broke into the Run-DMC DJs Queens studio on Oct. 30, 2002, and shot Jam Master Jay while Ronald Washington provided cover, prosecutors claimed when they indicted the duo in 2020.

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But 10 months after the shooting, Washington told a Playboy writer that it was Jordan and his father, Darren Jordan, who perpetrated the late-night murder of Jay, whose real name was Jason Mizell.

Washington said he heard three shots fired as he approached the studio at Mizells request  then saw Karl Jordan fleeing the scene via a fire escape.

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Karl Jordan, Jr.

Im positive it was Little D [Karl Jordan]. I looked him right in his face before he ran off, Washington said in Playboy. Little D told me, My pops wasnt supposed to shoot Jay. That wasnt supposed to happen. 

Jordans defense attorneys now say that Washingtons 19-year-old comments mean the duo should be tried separately.

The Daily News Flash Weekdays Catch up on the days top five stories every weekday afternoon. >

It is anticipated that the government will seek to use Washingtons statements to prove its case against both men. There is no question that the statement by Washington accusing Mr. Jordan of being present at the scene of the murder incriminates Mr. Jordan, wrote Michael Hueston in a motion to split Washington and Jordans case in two.

Jam Master Jay (Vince Bucci/HANDOUT)

Hueston also said the two should be tried separately so that Jordan could cross-examine Washington over the statements if necessary.

Washington and Jordan are accused of scheming to shoot the musician in the head in his Queens studio after Mizell allegedly cut the duo out of a large-scale cocaine deal.

Mizell became a star in the early 1980s as part of Run-DMC, along with Joseph Run Simmons and Darryl DMC McDaniels.

Ronald Washington (Susana Bates/New York Daily News)

His murder was a cold case for 18 years until federal prosecutors announced the arrests of Washington and Jordan.

Both men had been suspects since shortly after the murder.

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Washington filed a motion in Brooklyn Federal Court to dismiss the indictment. Jordans Tuesday motion also called for dismissal.
MADISON, N.C., April 11, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- MIDNIGHT MOON - the award-winning moonshine inspired by the family recipe of legendary bootlegger and NASCAR Hall of Famer Junior Johnson - is proud to announce its new partnership with Jeffrey Earnhardt, NASCAR driver and grandson of Dale Earnhardt Sr.

Earnhardt will team up with Midnight Moon as an official brand ambassador, continuing the brand's celebration of Johnson's bootlegging driving skills that led him to become one of the godfathers of NASCAR.

"I'm really excited to be teaming up with Midnight Moon Moonshine," Jeffrey said. "They have Junior Johnson's legacy in their DNA and simply stated, they make the best moonshine in the country." He continued, "I look forward to spending time with the Midnight Moon family and sharing the 'shine with fans around the country. This is gonna be a fun partnership."

"We couldn't think of a better partner to support our Midnight Moon line of moonshines," said Joe Michalek, Founder of Piedmont Distillers. "We are excited about working with Jeffrey because he respects the path paved by his grandfather, but is driven to make his own way."

Michalek continues, "He embodies the same 'old-school racer' values shared by Dale Sr. and Juniorhe's a real, down-to-earth guy with a passion for racing and all things Americana at his core. These shared values are the heart and soul of Midnight Moon and we are thrilled to have Jeffrey on board to continue building our community."

Earnhardt will promote Midnight Moon's family of authentic, handcrafted moonshines to the next generation of race fans and he's super excited about the new ready-to-drink moonshine canned cocktails and 1.75 liter "Party In a Box" size. These new innovations make it easy to enjoy and share Midnight Moon at your next tailgate or wherever your next outdoor adventure takes you.

Race fans can follow Midnight Moon on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok at @midnightmoonusa for more information on the partnership with Jeffrey Earnhardt.

MEDIA CONTACT

Courtney Doss

Piedmont Distillers

(336) 749-1520

courtney@piedmontdistillers.com

ABOUT MIDNIGHT MOON

Introduced by North Carolina's first legal distillery in 2007, Midnight Moon has spent the last 15 years sharing Southern moonshine traditions and celebrating the legacy of The Last American Hero - Junior Johnson. Midnight Moon has stayed true to the tradition of handcrafting its small-batch moonshine with all-natural, 100% real ingredients. The brand likes to say, "We have spent the last 14 years handcrafting spirits before 'craft' became cool." For more information, visit midnightmoonmoonshine.com or get social on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and TikTok at @midnightmoonusa.

ABOUT PIEDMONT DISTILLERS

Since opening its doors in 2005 as North Carolina's first legal distillery since Prohibition, Piedmont Distiller's passion has been handcrafting the best tasting, all-natural spirits. Piedmont's brands include Midnight Moon Moonshine, Catdaddy Spiced Moonshine, Method & Standard Craft Vodka, and The Clover Single-Barrel Whiskey Collection. For more information, visit piedmontdistillers.com.

Related Images











Image 1: NASCAR Driver Jeffrey Earnhardt





Jeffrey Earnhardt enjoying Junior Johnson's Midnight Moon Moonshine.









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ELYRIA, Ohio, April 11, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- First H.E.L.P. (Honor, Educate, Lead and Prevent) and FirstNet, Built with AT&T, are teaming up to provide first responders in communities in and near Lorain County with free world-class mental health training through First H.E.L.P.'s #ResponderReadiness Workshop Series. First responders can register today for trainings scheduled in Elyria on April 19-21.

During the four-hour workshops, First Responders explore the 3Ps of #ResponderReadiness: Performance, Persistence, and Prevention. Through small group discussions, participants explore the impact that operational stress and trauma have on their careers and families and use scenario-based training to practice having difficult conversations about mental health and suicide prevention with friends, family members, and co-workers. First responders practice resilience skills using what First H.E.L.P. refers to as the R.A.N.G.E. of Resilience.

"By providing awareness and practical tools, we can help first responders perform at their best throughout their career, benefiting the responder, their family, their agency, and the community," said Dr. Jeffrey McGill, First H.E.L.P.'s co-founder and CEO.

Since 2016, First H.E.L.P. has tracked law enforcement suicides throughout the nation and in 2021, opened their efforts to include all first responders. The State of Ohio accounts for 43 of the 997 suicides reported to First H.E.L.P. since 2017, with two reported already in 2022.

The trainings are scheduled to take place in Elyria on April 19-21 at Lorain County Community College.

AT&T is working to ease the burden for communities by providing high-quality training to Ohio first responders at no cost. FirstNet is the only nationwide, high-speed broadband communications platform dedicated to and purpose-built for America's first responders and the extended public safety community. Shaped by the vision of Congress and the first responder community following the 9/11 terrorist attacks, FirstNet is built with AT&T in public-private partnership with the First Responder Network Authority, an independent agency within the federal government.

"AT&T's commitment to our public safety community goes beyond our FirstNet network connectivity," said Dr. Anna Courie, DPN, RN, PHNA-BC, Director, Responder Wellness, FirstNet Program at AT&T. "We are dedicated to working with First H.E.L.P. to bring mental health resources to first responders across the country  especially in rural areas with limited access. This program with First H.E.L.P. will better equip first responders mentally and physically and help our public safety community stay safer."

First H.E.L.P.'s #ResponderReadiness workshop series is a unique program that brings together all first responders in a cohesive training program where participants develop skills built around a common set of principles.

The training program reinforces the strategic priorities established by the FirstNet Health and Wellness Coalition (FNHWC) to support first responders and their families. The mission of the FNHWC is to integrate responder, community, industry, and academic capabilities to support the health, wellness, and readiness of American first responders.

The two organizations hope to see this training reach far into local Ohio communities. While the training is open to federal, state, and large municipal responders, priority goes to smaller communities.

First Responders in and around Lorain County can register for this free training on First H.E.L.P.'s website: 1sthelp.org/event/2022elyria/.

CONTACT

First H.E.L.P.

Joseph Willis, CLO

joe@1sthelp.org

Related Images











Image 1: Responder Readiness Class





In San Antonio, Texas, members of 15 agencies discuss mental resource awareness with First H.E.L.P. COO Steven Hough.









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FORT COLLINS, Colo., April 11, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Geocann and Theralogix are proud to announce the successful launch of a cannabidiol (CBD) and beta-caryophyllene (BCP) softgel formulation utilizing the clinically proven VESIsorb delivery system for dramatically improved absorption, bioavailability, and stability. The formulation is marketed under the name TheraHemp and delivers 20 mg of CBD from HempChoice broad spectrum hemp extract in addition to 8 mg of BCP in each softgel. This is the first CBD product utilizing a delivery system technology that has surpassed NSFs rigorous safety testing protocol.



Theralogix has built an iconic reputation for delivering innovative products to its loyal customer base since their inception 20 years ago, said Jesse Lopez, CEO and founder of Geocann. As the cannabinoid and terpene markets continue to evolve, companies like Theralogix are seeking solutions to enter that are validated for both product performance and product safety. We are pleased to meet this need as this product launch provides exceptional credibility to the health benefits and safety profile of cannabinoids and terpenes formulated with VESIsorb.

TheraHemp has set a new industry benchmark for CBD and BCP product safety with the prestigious NSF International certification. The strict standards and rigorous quality that are represented with NSF certification offer significant product differentiation for the hemp marketplace as millions of consumers are actively seeking natural cannabinoid and terpene solutions that have been validated for product safety and performance.

Our longstanding relationship with the Geocann leadership team gave us the confidence to enter the hemp marketplace with a product our customers can trust, said Dr. Mark Ratner, Chief Science Officer at Theralogix. Formulations utilizing VESIsorb ensure that health-conscious consumers receive the maximum benefits from key cannabinoids and terpenes, like CBD and BCP. Better absorption leads to higher plasma concentration levels and allows the body to use more of these active ingredients. Theralogix is incredibly proud to be the first CBD product in the marketplace to offer a formulation with a clinically proven drug delivery system that has passed the rigorous testing to achieve NSF certification.

The peer reviewed journal, Molecules, has published the results of a double-blind, cross-over study comparing the pharmacokinetic (PK) parameters of a broad spectrum hemp extract formulated with VESIsorb to that of the same broad spectrum hemp extract combined with medium chain triglyceride (MCT) oil. The results of the study demonstrated that VESIsorb technology significantly improved PK performance compared to the industry standard practice of combining MCT oil with broad spectrum hemp extract in an effort to improve bioavailability. The VESIsorb formulation delivered a 440% increase in maximal CBD concentration (Cmax,) a 285% improvement in area under the curve (AUC), and a 300% improvement in time to peak absorption (Tmax).

TheraHemp is the second formulation under Theralogix's science-backed product portfolio that utilizes the VESIsorb drug delivery system - after the success of its NeoQ10 Coenzyme Q10 supplement.

About Geocann

Geocann is a global cannabis organization that combines clinically-researched cannabinoids and terpenes with technologically-advanced drug delivery system technologies that increase absorption and bioavailability for maximum health benefits. These product formulations offer novel solutions that address unmet marketplace needs and provide unmatched competitive advantages that are backed by a robust body of clinical studies and proprietary scientific evidence. Geocann owns a robust intellectual property portfolio, including the worldwide exclusivity for cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids formulated with the VESIsorb drug delivery system technology platform. For more information, please visit www.geocann.com.

About Theralogix

Theralogix was founded in 2002 by a team of physicians and scientists committed to developing evidence-based, independently certified micronutrient supplements. Theralogix products have been used in over a dozen clinical trials conducted by esteemed universities and research institutions across the United States. Theralogix has a full line of products for specialty uses including rheumatology, women's health, urology, and fertility health. Each product has been approved by our Medical Advisory Board which is comprised of physicians, nationally reputed scientists, and faculty members from leading U.S. medical schools.

For more information and interview requests, please contact Sam Davidson at + 1 970-657-2479 or sam@geocann.com.





A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/eec8140e-08be-4d03-9115-20777d6997c5
BASEL, Switzerland and NEW YORK, April 12, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Myovant Sciences (NYSE: MYOV) and Pfizer (NYSE: PFE) announced today an update on the Supplemental New Drug Application (sNDA) for MYFEMBREE (relugolix 40 mg, estradiol 1 mg and norethindrone acetate 0.5 mg) for the management of moderate to severe pain associated with endometriosis.



In accordance with the ongoing review of the application, on April 6, 2022, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) provided notice to the companies that the agency identified deficiencies that preclude discussion of labeling and/or post-marketing requirements and commitments at this time. The FDA did not provide additional detail. The FDA noted that the letter does not reflect a final decision on the pending sNDA and that the application is still under review.

Myovant and Pfizer will continue to work with the FDA to determine next steps with the application.

About MYFEMBREE

MYFEMBREE (relugolix, estradiol, and norethindrone acetate) is the first once-daily oral treatment for heavy menstrual bleeding associated with uterine fibroids in premenopausal women approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, with a treatment duration of up to 24 months. MYFEMBREE contains relugolix, which reduces the amount of estrogen (and other hormones) produced by ovaries, estradiol (an estrogen) which may reduce the risk of bone loss, and norethindrone acetate (a progestin) which is necessary when women with a uterus (womb) take estrogen.

For full prescribing information including Boxed Warning and patient information, please click here.

Indications and Usage

MYFEMBREE is indicated for the management of heavy menstrual bleeding associated with uterine leiomyomas (fibroids) in premenopausal women. Limitations of Use: Use of MYFEMBREE should be limited to 24 months due to the risk of continued bone loss which may not be reversible.

Important Safety Information

BOXED WARNING: THROMBOEMBOLIC DISORDERS AND VASCULAR EVENTS

Estrogen and progestin combination products, including MYFEMBREE, increase the risk of thrombotic or thromboembolic disorders including pulmonary embolism, deep vein thrombosis, stroke and myocardial infarction, especially in women at increased risk for these events.

MYFEMBREE is contraindicated in women with current or a history of thrombotic or thromboembolic disorders and in women at increased risk for these events, including women over 35 years of age who smoke or women with uncontrolled hypertension.

CONTRAINDICATIONS

MYFEMBREE is contraindicated in women with any of the following: high risk of arterial, venous thrombotic, or thromboembolic disorder; pregnancy; known osteoporosis; current or history of breast cancer or other hormone-sensitive malignancies; known hepatic impairment or disease; undiagnosed abnormal uterine bleeding; known hypersensitivity to components of MYFEMBREE.



WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS

Thromboembolic Disorders: Discontinue immediately if an arterial or venous thrombotic, cardiovascular, or cerebrovascular event occurs or is suspected. Discontinue at least 4 to 6 weeks before surgery associated with an increased risk of thromboembolism, or during periods of prolonged immobilization, if feasible. Discontinue immediately if there is sudden unexplained partial or complete loss of vision, proptosis, diplopia, papilledema, or retinal vascular lesions and evaluate for retinal vein thrombosis as these have been reported with estrogens and progestins.

Bone Loss: MYFEMBREE may cause a decrease in bone mineral density (BMD) in some patients, which may be greater with increasing duration of use and may not be completely reversible after stopping treatment. Consider the benefits and risks in patients with a history of low trauma fracture or risk factors for osteoporosis or bone loss, including medications that may decrease BMD. Assessment of BMD by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) is recommended at baseline and periodically thereafter. Consider discontinuing MYFEMBREE if the risk of bone loss exceeds the potential benefit.

Hormone-Sensitive Malignancies: Discontinue MYFEMBREE if a hormone-sensitive malignancy is diagnosed. Surveillance measures in accordance with standard of care, such as breast examinations and mammography are recommended. Use of estrogen alone or estrogen plus progestin has resulted in abnormal mammograms requiring further evaluation.

Depression, Mood Disorders, and Suicidal Ideation: Promptly evaluate patients with mood changes and depressive symptoms including shortly after initiating treatment, to determine whether the risks of continued therapy outweigh the benefits. Patients with new or worsening depression, anxiety, or other mood changes should be referred to a mental health professional, as appropriate. Advise patients to seek immediate medical attention for suicidal ideation and behavior and reevaluate the benefits and risks of continuing MYFEMBREE.

Hepatic Impairment and Transaminase Elevations: Steroid hormones may be poorly metabolized in these patients. Instruct women to promptly seek medical attention for symptoms or signs that may reflect liver injury, such as jaundice or right upper abdominal pain. Acute liver test abnormalities may necessitate the discontinuation of MYFEMBREE use until the liver tests return to normal and MYFEMBREE causation has been excluded.

Gallbladder Disease or History of Cholestatic Jaundice: Discontinue MYFEMBREE if signs or symptoms of gallbladder disease or jaundice occur. For women with a history of cholestatic jaundice associated with past estrogen use or with pregnancy, assess the risk-benefit of continuing therapy. Studies among estrogen users suggest a small increased relative risk of developing gallbladder disease.

Elevated Blood Pressure: For women with well-controlled hypertension, monitor blood pressure and stop MYFEMBREE if blood pressure rises significantly.

Change in Menstrual Bleeding Pattern and Reduced Ability to Recognize Pregnancy: Advise women to use non-hormonal contraception during treatment and for one week after discontinuing MYFEMBREE. Avoid concomitant use of hormonal contraceptives. MYFEMBREE may delay the ability to recognize pregnancy because it alters menstrual bleeding. Perform testing if pregnancy is suspected and discontinue MYFEMBREE if pregnancy is confirmed.

Risk of Early Pregnancy Loss: MYFEMBREE can cause early pregnancy loss. Exclude pregnancy before initiating and advise women to use effective non-hormonal contraception.

Uterine Fibroid Prolapse or Expulsion: Advise women with known or suspected submucosal uterine fibroids about the possibility of uterine fibroid prolapse or expulsion and instruct them to contact their physician if severe bleeding and/or cramping occurs.

Alopecia: Alopecia, hair loss, and hair thinning were reported in phase 3 trials with MYFEMBREE. Consider discontinuing MYFEMBREE if hair loss becomes a concern. Whether the hair loss is reversible is unknown.

Effects on Carbohydrate and Lipid Metabolism: More frequent monitoring in MYFEMBREE-treated women with prediabetes and diabetes may be necessary. MYFEMBREE may decrease glucose tolerance and result in increased blood glucose concentrations. Monitor lipid levels and consider discontinuing if hypercholesterolemia or hypertriglyceridemia worsens. In women with pre-existing hypertriglyceridemia, estrogen therapy may be associated with elevations in triglycerides levels leading to pancreatitis. Use of MYFEMBREE is associated with increases in total cholesterol and LDL-C.

Effect on Other Laboratory Results: Patients with hypothyroidism and hypoadrenalism may require higher doses of thyroid hormone or cortisol replacement therapy. Use of estrogen and progestin combinations may raise serum concentrations of binding proteins (e.g., thyroid-binding globulin, corticosteroid-binding globulin), which may reduce free thyroid or corticosteroid hormone levels. Use of estrogen and progestin may also affect the levels of sex hormone-binding globulin, and coagulation factors.

Hypersensitivity Reactions: Immediately discontinue MYFEMBREE if a hypersensitivity reaction occurs.

ADVERSE REACTIONS

Most common adverse reactions for MYFEMBREE (incidence 3% and greater than placebo) were hot flush/hyperhidrosis/night sweats, abnormal uterine bleeding, alopecia, and decreased libido. These are not all the possible side effects of MYFEMBREE.

DRUG INTERACTIONS

P-gp Inhibitors: Avoid use of MYFEMBREE with oral P-gp inhibitors. If use is unavoidable, take MYFEMBREE first, separate dosing by at least 6 hours, and monitor patients for adverse reactions.

Combined P-gp and Strong CYP3A Inducers: Avoid use of MYFEMBREE with combined P-gp and strong CYP3A inducers.

LACTATION

Advise women not to breastfeed while taking MYFEMBREE.

ABOUT MYOVANT SCIENCES

Myovant Sciences aspires to redefine care for women and for men through purpose-driven science, empowering medicines, and transformative advocacy. Founded in 2016, Myovant has executed five successful Phase 3 clinical trials across oncology and womens health leading to two regulatory approvals by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for men with advanced prostate cancer, women with heavy menstrual bleeding associated with uterine fibroids, respectively. The company also has received regulatory approvals by the European Commission (EC) and the United Kingdom (UK) Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency for women with symptomatic uterine fibroids. Additionally, Myovant has two regulatory submissions under review, a Marketing Authorization Application in advanced prostate cancer and a supplemental New Drug Application in endometriosis-associated pain. The Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) of the European Medicines Agency adopted a positive opinion recommending the approval of ORGOVYX (relugolix, 120 mg) for the treatment of adult patients with advanced hormone-sensitive prostate cancer. The CHMP recommendation is under review by the European Commission. Myovant is conducting a Phase 3 study to evaluate the prevention of pregnancy in women with uterine fibroids or endometriosis. Myovant is also developing MVT-602, an investigational oligopeptide kisspeptin-1 receptor agonist, which has completed a Phase 2a study for female infertility as part of assisted reproduction. Sumitovant Biopharma, Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of Sumitomo Pharma Co., Ltd., is Myovants majority shareholder. For more information, please visit www.myovant.com. Follow @Myovant on Twitter and LinkedIn.

ABOUT PFIZER: BREAKTHROUGHS THAT CHANGE PATIENTS LIVES

At Pfizer, we apply science and our global resources to bring therapies to people that extend and significantly improve their lives. We strive to set the standard for quality, safety and value in the discovery, development and manufacture of health care products, including innovative medicines and vaccines. Every day, Pfizer colleagues work across developed and emerging markets to advance wellness, prevention, treatments and cures that challenge the most feared diseases of our time. Consistent with our responsibility as one of the world's premier innovative biopharmaceutical companies, we collaborate with health care providers, governments and local communities to support and expand access to reliable, affordable health care around the world. For more than 170 years, we have worked to make a difference for all who rely on us. We routinely post information that may be important to investors on our website at www.Pfizer.com.

In addition, to learn more, please visit us on www.Pfizer.com and follow us on Twitter at @Pfizer and @Pfizer News, LinkedIn, YouTube and like us on Facebook at Facebook.com/Pfizer.

MYOVANT FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Myovant Sciences forward-looking statements are based on managements current expectations and beliefs and are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties, assumptions, and other factors known and unknown that could cause actual results and the timing of certain events to differ materially from future results expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. In this press release, forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, all statements reflecting Myovant Sciences plans and expectations with respect to its sNDA for MYFEMBREE for the management of moderate to severe pain associated with endometriosis. Risks and uncertainties include, among other things, uncertainties regarding the commercial success of MYFEMBREE; the uncertainties inherent in research and development, including the ability to meet anticipated clinical endpoints, commencement and/or completion dates for clinical trials, regulatory submission dates, regulatory approval dates and/or launch dates, as well as the possibility of unfavorable new clinical data and further analyses of existing clinical data; the risk that clinical trial data are subject to differing interpretations and assessments by regulatory authorities; whether regulatory authorities will be satisfied with the design of and results from the clinical studies; whether and when applications may be filed in any additional jurisdictions for MYFEMBREE for the management of moderate to severe pain associated with endometriosis or in any jurisdictions for any other potential indications for MYFEMBREE; whether and when the FDA may approve the sNDA for MYFEMBREE for the management of moderate to severe pain associated with endometriosis and whether and when regulatory authorities in any jurisdictions may approve any such other applications for MYFEMBREE that may be pending or filed, which will depend on myriad factors, including making a determination as to whether the products benefits outweigh its known risks and determination of the products efficacy and, if approved, whether MYFEMBREE will be commercially successful; decisions by regulatory authorities impacting labeling, manufacturing processes, safety and/or other matters that could affect the availability or commercial potential of MYFEMBREE; whether our collaboration with Pfizer will be successful; uncertainties regarding the impact of COVID-19 and the Ukraine conflict on Myovants business, operations and financial results; and competitive developments.

For a further discussion of factors that could materially affect Myovant Sciences operations and future prospects or which could cause actual results to differ materially from expectations, see the risks and uncertainties listed in Myovant Sciences filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including under the heading Risk Factors in Myovant Sciences Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on January 26, 2022, as such risk factors may be amended, supplemented, or superseded from time to time. These risks are not exhaustive. New risk factors emerge from time to time and it is not possible for Myovant Sciences management to predict all risk factors, nor can Myovant Sciences assess the impact of all factors on its business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements. You should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements in this press release, which speak only as of the date hereof, and, except as required by law, Myovant Sciences undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of such statements.

PFIZER DISCLOSURE NOTICE

The information contained in this release is as of April 12, 2022. Pfizer assumes no obligation to update forward-looking statements contained in this release as the result of new information or future events or developments.

This release contains forward-looking information about MYFEMBREE (relugolix 40 mg, estradiol 1 mg, and norethindrone acetate 0.5 mg), including a potential indication in the U.S. for the management of moderate to severe pain associated with endometriosis, including its potential benefits, that involves substantial risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements. Risks and uncertainties include, among other things, uncertainties regarding the commercial success of MYFEMBREE; the uncertainties inherent in research and development, including the ability to meet anticipated clinical endpoints, commencement and/or completion dates for clinical trials, regulatory submission dates, regulatory approval dates and/or launch dates, as well as the possibility of unfavorable new clinical data and further analyses of existing clinical data; the risk that clinical trial data are subject to differing interpretations and assessments by regulatory authorities; whether regulatory authorities will be satisfied with the design of and results from the clinical studies; whether and when applications may be filed in any additional jurisdictions for MYFEMBREE for the management of moderate to severe pain associated with endometriosis or in any jurisdictions for any other potential indications for MYFEMBREE; whether and when the FDA may approve the supplemental new drug application for the management of moderate to severe pain associated with endometriosis and whether and when regulatory authorities in any jurisdictions may approve any such other applications for MYFEMBREE that may be pending or filed, which will depend on myriad factors, including making a determination as to whether the products benefits outweigh its known risks and determination of the products efficacy and, if approved, whether MYFEMBREE will be commercially successful; decisions by regulatory authorities impacting labeling, manufacturing processes, safety and/or other matters that could affect the availability or commercial potential of MYFEMBREE; whether our collaboration with Myovant Sciences will be successful; uncertainties regarding the impact of COVID-19 on Pfizers business, operations and financial results; and competitive developments.

A further description of risks and uncertainties can be found in Pfizers Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021 and in its subsequent reports on Form 10-Q, including in the sections thereof captioned Risk Factors and Forward-Looking Information and Factors That May Affect Future Results, as well as in its subsequent reports on Form 8-K, all of which are filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and available at www.sec.gov and www.pfizer.com .

Myovant Contacts

Investor Relations

Myovant Sciences, Inc.

investors@myovant.com

Media Relations

Myovant Sciences, Inc.

media@myovant.com

Pfizer Contacts

Media Relations

+1 (212) 733-1226

PfizerMediaRelations@pfizer.com

Investor Relations

+1 (212) 733-4848

IR@pfizer.com
SANTA MONICA, Calif., April 12, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- GumGum , a contextual-first advertising technology company, today announced that it is working with the Ad Council in a new disaster and crisis relief effort that encourages audiences to give financial donations to the Ukraine Crisis Relief Fund through GlobalGiving.



GumGum is providing support to the Ad Council with GumGum Smile , a program that enrolls clients to contribute a portion of every advertising dollar towards the Ad Council. This campaign enables us to get into the market quickly, usually within a few days of a disaster or other crisis, when funds are needed most. All donations will support humanitarian assistance in impacted communities in Ukraine and surrounding regions where Ukrainian refugees have fled.

We stand firmly with the international community in condemning the unjust violence and devastation in Ukraine, said Phil Schraeder, CEO of GumGum. As members of the advertising community and experts in spreading messaging that resonate with people, we believe its our duty to help power important campaigns, like the AdCouncils Ukraine Crisis Relief Fund campaign to drive awareness and donations that will help the Ukrainian people. We hope all advertisers working with GumGum will opt-in to GumGum Smile and help us support this important cause.

GumGum created the GumGum Smile program back in 2020, when there was an immediate need to spread important information regarding COVID safety protocols. The program donates a portion of every direct advertising dollar spent with GumGum to be donated toward creating and distributing messaging that inspires engagement and action around significant public issues. GumGum Smile has supported the AdCouncils campaigns on the COVID, #LoveHasNoLabels, and the #GetMyFluShot and has given up to $700k media valuation and growing.

Our hearts are with everyone whose lives have been unbearably destabilized by the senseless aggression in Ukraine," said Kathy Kayse, Chief Media Strategy and Partnerships Officer at the Ad Council. "In addition to our partnership, GumGum's proactive support in providing humanitarian assistance and sharing crucial resources for others to take action and support people in need.

For more information, please reach out to pr@gumgum.com.

About GumGum

GumGum is a global technology and media company specializing in contextual intelligence. For over a decade, we have applied our proven machine learning expertise to extract value from digital content for the advertising and sports industries. Our proprietary contextual intelligence engine uses computer vision and natural language processing technologies to scan text, images, and videos when evaluating digital content. Combining our contextual advertising intelligence with proprietary high-impact ad formats, GumGums advertising solutions deliver industry-leading efficiency, accuracy, and performance.
New York, April 12, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- PHI Group, Inc. (www.phiglobal.com, PHIL), a diversified holding company currently engaged in PHILUX Global Funds (a group of Luxembourg bank funds) ), the Asia Diamond Exchange project (ADE) in Vietnam, mergers and acquisitions and investing in special situations (www.CO2-1-0.io), is pleased to announce that CO2-1-0 (CARBON) CORP., a subsidiary of the Company, has signed a Listing Agreement with DigiFinex, the Top 10 Volume Crypto Centralized Exchange in the world.



According to the Agreement, CARBON token (symbol: CO2) will be listed in DigiFinex exchange and available for trading on April 22nd 2022. CO2 will be traded together with other 425 listed coins including Bitcoin, Ethereum, etc. Currently, CO2 will be paired with USDT.

Apparently, the listing day of April 22nd is the same day as the Earth Day 2022, where Earth Day, also known as International Mother Earth Day, which the main aim is to raise awareness about the growing concerns of overpopulation, loss of biodiversity, and depleting quality of the environment. The theme for Earth Day 2022 is Invest In Our Planet which expect people to act in a bold way, innovate in a broad way, and implement in an equitable manner. Having CO2 listed in DigiFinex, gives everyone equal opportunity to invest in our planet, with transparent procedures, fast, and hassle free.

Mr. Oscar Or, Chief Commercial Officer of DigiFinex, Ltd, stated: We are very proud and excited to announce the listing of the CARBON (CO2) project, founded by CO2-1-0 (CARBON) CORP and PHI Group, Inc., which are the global key leaders in the Carbon Credit transition solutions and leveraging with latest blockchain technology and cryptocurrency concepts.

ESG and Climate change are the most important topics in recent days. We are looking forward to the success of the Carbon team in bringing more innovative solutions to improve the health of the Earth and become the most impactful leaders in the industry.

Mr. Choky YF Simanjuntak, CEO and Founder of CARBON, added: We are very happy and enthusiastic to be listed in DigiFinex which is the top 10 volume crypto exchange in the world. With a proven exchange systems and strong investor communities (visit by 2.4 million users/ week), we believe it can attract many green investors to the market and participate healing the earth.

Our website https://co2-1-0.io has provided 2 unique modules, i.e. Project Owner module for carbon credits origination, and Carbon Offset module for company/ corporation and individual who wants to offset their carbon footprint. With the CO2 token listed in the DigiFinex will accelerate combating climate change. In general, now we have more effective and efficient way to reach net zero carbon target accordingly.

About CO2-1-0 (CARBON) CORP.

CO2-1-0 (CARBON) CORP. (www.CO2-1-0.io) aims to provide a solution in disruptive new carbon market (voluntary and compliancy market) using blockchain-crypto technology, Internet of Things (IoT), and Six Sigma (6) methodology, which will empower the real environmentally sustainable projects (renewable energy, energy savings, heat recovery, industrial waste, agriculture, forestry, and many other new technologies), which projects have started in the USA, Vietnam, Indonesia, other ASEAN countries, and worldwide. It has a clear and systematic product development roadmap, and the ultimate milestones of the products. The solution, methodology, and improved TACCC (transparent, accurate, consistent, complete, and comparable) business process originally introduced by CO2-1-0 (CARBON) will bring full impact to better environment and life of millions.

CARBON (CO2) is the most environmentally sustainable crypto on earth, developed under BEP-20 (BSC Mainnet) and has passed CertiK audit, which is #1 security audits for blockchain protocols, wallets, DApps, and smart contracts. CO2-1-0 (CARBON) CORP. based in Wyoming, USA, with a fast-growing community named Carbonian" all over the world.

About DigiFinex Ltd.

Digifinex is a global top 15 Exchange (Ranked by Coingecko) founded in 2017, with Headquarter located in Singapore. DigiFinex is providing more than 400 digital currency trading pairs, credit card to crypto channels and crypto-related products such spot trading, margin trading, crypto fund and loans. With in-house developed security system and multiple fail-safe layers design, DigiFinex is giving customers a bank-graded protection and become the best option for one-stop digital management platform in Global.

About PHI Group

PHI Group (www.phiglobal.com, PHIL) primarily focuses on advancing PHILUX Global Funds, a group of Luxembourg bank funds organized as Reserved Alternative Investment Fund (RAIF) (www.philux.eu), and building the Asia Diamond Exchange (ADE) in Vietnam. The Company also engages in mergers and acquisitions and invests in select industries and special situations that may substantially enhance shareholder value.

Safe Harbor Act and Forward-looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements pursuant to the safe-harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements describe future expectations, plans, results, or strategies and are generally preceded by words such as may, future, plan or planned, will or should, expected, anticipates, draft, eventually or projected, which are subject to a multitude of risks and uncertainties that could cause future circumstances, events, or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors.

Contact:

CO2-1-0 (CARBON) CORP.

Email: contact@CO2-1-0.io

Phone: +1-714-642-0571

DIGIFINEX LTD

Email: cooperation@digifinex.com

PHI Group, Inc.

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New York, April 12, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Small Arms Market Report 2022-2032" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p06267771/?utm_source=GNW



The Small Arms Market Report 2022-2032: This report will prove invaluable to leading firms striving for new revenue pockets if they wish to better understand the industry and its underlying dynamics. It will be useful for companies that would like to expand into different industries or to expand their existing operations in a new region.



Small Arms Market is Driven by Multiple Factors



Political unrest, increased participation in shooting and hunting sports, and increased demand for law enforcement and self-defense are all driving the arms market. The introduction of severe rules regulating the possession and procurement of weaponry, as well as the strict enforcement of anti-hunting legislation, are hampering the markets growth. The firm is expected to benefit from increased efforts to combat terrorism. Because of increased demand from civilian uses such as self-defense and sports, the small arms industry is likely to grow. In recent years, the increased prevalence of armed violence and terrorism has driven a significant number of civilians to purchase small weapons in order to protect themselves. The same motivation is driving law enforcement and military forces around the world to invest in cutting-edge weapon systems, such as handguns and rifles. Factors like as rising cross-border disputes, rising wars, rising incidences of terrorism, and rising civilian use are predicted to promote the growth of the small arms market. Increased small arms purchase by law enforcement agencies and armies is being pushed by several fights against terrorist organisations, particularly in the Asia-Pacific and Middle East regions.



The International Threat Of Small Arms Proliferation And Misuse



One of todays most significant security issues is the illicit proliferation and misuse of small arms and light weapons . Each year, tens of thousands of people are killed or injured in battles predominantly waged with these weapons, as well as in crime-ridden neighbourhoods outside of conflict zones. They are also the preferred weapons of many terrorists. Despite its flaws, the PoA has aided international efforts to prevent the uncontrolled proliferation and misuse of these lethal weapons. Increasing the number of signatories to key treaties, establishing best practise standards, removing surplus stockpiles, improving national legislation, and raising awareness about the issue are all part of these activities. In some places, progress has been significant. The global campaign sponsored by the United States to halt the illegal trade in Man-Portable Air Defense Systems is particularly notable (MANPADS).



Russias Invasion Of Ukraine Has Fortuitously Given Several Top Weapon Manufacturers With Lucrative Economic Prospects



Russias invasion of Ukraine has fortuitously given several top weapon manufacturers with lucrative economic prospects, which they have lauded. According to news sources from the United States, Raytheon and Lockheed Martin, two of the worlds most advanced weaponry manufacturers, were publicly assuring their investors that the Ukraine crisis was good for business. Raytheon specialises in air defence systems, particularly guided missiles such as the lethal man-portable FIM-92 Stinger system, which single-handedly accelerated the Soviet militarys withdrawal from Afghanistan in 1989 after the Mujahideen used it to down Russian helicopter gunships with lethal accuracy. Stinger versions  which cost $119,300 per missile without launchers and supporting equipment  were license-built in Germany by the European multinational EADS and would very certainly be part of the EU arms package to Ukraine. Lockheed Martin, on the other hand, produces directed energy weaponry, hypersonic technologies, and integrated air and missile defence systems, in addition to a plethora of other items such as fighters, helicopters, and naval systems.



What Are These Questions You Should Ask Before Buying A Market Research Report?

 How is the small arms market evolving?

 What is driving and restraining the small arms market?

 How will each small arms submarket segment grow over the forecast period and how much revenue will these submarkets account for in 2032?

 How will the market shares for each small arms submarket develop from 2022 to 2032?

 What will be the main driver for the overall market from 2022 to 2032?

 Will leading small arms markets broadly follow the macroeconomic dynamics, or will individual national markets outperform others?

 How will the market shares of the national markets change by 2032 and which geographical region will lead the market in 2032?

 Who are the leading players and what are their prospects over the forecast period?

 What are the small arms projects for these leading companies?

 How will the industry evolve during the period between 2020 and 2032? What are the implication of small arms projects taking place now and over the next 10 years?

 Is there a greater need for product commercialisation to further scale the small arms market?

 Where is the small arms market heading? And how can you ensure you are at the forefront of the market?

 What can be the best investment options for new product and service lines?

 What are the key prospects for moving companies into a new growth path? C-suite?



You need to discover how this will impact the small arms market today, and over the next 10 years:

 Our 705-page report provides 611 tables and 584 charts/graphs exclusively to you.

 The report highlights key lucrative areas in the industry so you can target them  NOW.

 Contains in-depth analyse of global, regional and national sales and growth

 Highlights for you the key successful trends, changes and revenue projections made by your competitors



This report tells you TODAY how the small arms market will develop in the next 10 years, and in-line with the variations in COVID-19 economic recession and bounce. This market is more critical now than at any point over the last 10 years.



Forecasts to 2032 and other analyses reveal the commercial prospects

 In addition to revenue forecasting to 2032, our new study provides you with recent results, growth rates, and market shares.

 You find original analyses, with business outlooks and developments.

 Discover qualitative analyses (including market dynamics, drivers, opportunities, restraints and challenges), cost structure, impact of rising small arms prices and recent developments.



This report includes data analysis and invaluable insight into how COVID-19 will affect the industry and your company. Four COVID-19 recovery patterns and their impact, namely, V, L, W and U are discussed in this report.



Global Small Arms Market (COVID Impact Analysis)

 Market Value (USD Million)

 Market Volume (Cumulative Million Units)



Global Small Arms Market (COVID Impact Analysis) by Ownership

 Civilian

 Military

 Law Enforcement



Global Small Arms Market (COVID Impact Analysis) by Hand Gun Type

 Revolvers

 Pistols

 Derringers

 Machine Pistols

 Other Hand Guns



Global Small Arms Market (COVID Impact Analysis) by Type

 Hand Guns

 Sub-Machine Guns

 Mortars

 Landmines

 Grenades

 Other Type



Global Small Arms Market (COVID Impact Analysis) by Firing System

 Gas-operated

 Recoil-operated

 Manual



Global Small Arms Market (COVID Impact Analysis) by Technology

 Guided

 Unguided



Global Small Arms Market (COVID Impact Analysis) by Action

 Semi-automatic

 Automatic



In addition to the revenue predictions for the overall world market and segments, you will also find revenue forecasts for 4 regional and 20 leading national markets:



North America Small Arms Market, 2022 to 2032 Market Outlook

 U.S. Small Arms Market, 2022 to 2032 Market Forecast & COVID Impact Analysis

 Canada Small Arms Market, 2022 to 2032 Market Forecast & COVID Impact Analysis

 Mexico Small Arms Market, 2022 to 2032 Market Forecast & COVID Impact Analysis



Europe Small Arms Market, 2022 to 2032 Market Outlook

 Russia Small Arms Market, 2022 to 2032 Market Forecast & COVID Impact Analysis

 Germany Small Arms Market, 2022 to 2032 Market Forecast & COVID Impact Analysis

 Ukraine Small Arms Market, 2022 to 2032 Market Forecast & COVID Impact Analysis

 France Small Arms Market, 2022 to 2032 Market Forecast & COVID Impact Analysis

 Italy Small Arms Market, 2022 to 2032 Market Forecast & COVID Impact Analysis

 Rest of Europe Market Forecast & COVID Impact Analysis



Asia Pacific Small Arms Market, 2022 to 2032 Market Outlook

 China Small Arms Market, 2022 to 2032 Market Forecast & COVID Impact Analysis

 Pakistan Small Arms Market, 2022 to 2032 Market Forecast & COVID Impact Analysis

 India Small Arms Market, 2022 to 2032 Market Forecast & COVID Impact Analysis

 Australia Small Arms Market, 2022 to 2032 Market Forecast & COVID Impact Analysis

 Thailand Small Arms Market, 2022 to 2032 Market Forecast & COVID Impact Analysis

 Australia Small Arms Market, 2022 to 2032 Market Forecast & COVID Impact Analysis

 Rest of Asia Pacific Market Forecast & COVID Impact Analysis



Latin America Small Arms Market, 2022 to 2032 Market Outlook

 Brazil Small Arms Market, 2022 to 2032 Market Forecast & COVID Impact Analysis

 Venezuela Small Arms Market, 2022 to 2032 Market Forecast & COVID Impact Analysis

 Colombia Small Arms Market, 2022 to 2032 Market Forecast & COVID Impact Analysis

 Rest of Latin America Small Arms Market, 2022 to 2032 Market Forecast & COVID Impact Analysis



Middle East and Africa Small Arms Market, 2022 to 2032 Market Outlook

 Yemen Small Arms Market, 2022 to 2032 Market Forecast & COVID Impact Analysis

 Turkey Small Arms Market, 2022 to 2032 Market Forecast & COVID Impact Analysis

 Iraq Small Arms Market, 2022 to 2032 Market Forecast & COVID Impact Analysis

 South Africa Small Arms Market, 2022 to 2032 Market Forecast & COVID Impact Analysis

 Nigeria Small Arms Market, 2022 to 2032 Market Forecast & COVID Impact Analysis

 Rest of Middle East and Africa Small Arms Market, 2022 to 2032 Market Forecast & COVID Impact Analysis



The report also includes profiles and for some of the leading companies in the Small Arms Market, 2022 to 2032, with a focus on this segment of these companies operations.



Leading companies and the potential for market growth

 Beretta Holding

 Carl Walther Gmbh

 Colts manufacturing company

 CZG  Ceska zbrojovka Group SE

 FN Herstal

 General Dynamics Corporation

 GLOCK Ges.m.b.H

 Heckler & koch Gmbh

 Israel Weapon Industries

 Kalashnikov Group

 Smith & Wesson

 Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc.

 Taurus Armas SA

 Webley & Scott

 Weihrauch & Weihrauch Sport GmbH & Co. KG.



Overall world revenue for Small Arms Market, 2022 to 2032 in terms of value the market will surpass US$xx million in 2022, our work calculates. We predict strong revenue growth through to 2032. Our work identifies which organizations hold the greatest potential. Discover their capabilities, progress, and commercial prospects, helping you stay ahead.



How the Small Arms Market, 2022 to 2032 Market report helps you?



In summary, our 705-page report provides you with the following knowledge:

 Revenue forecasts to 2032 for Small Arms Market, 2022 to 2032 Market, with forecasts for value, volume, ownership, hand gun type, type, action, firing systems, technology each forecasted at a global and regional level discover the industrys prospects, finding the most lucrative places for investments and revenues

 Revenue forecasts to 2032 for 4 regional and 20 key national markets  See forecasts for the Small Arms Market, 2022 to 2032 market in North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific and LAMEA. Also forecasted is the market in the US, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Germany, France, UK, Italy, China, India, Japan, and Australia among other prominent economies.

 Prospects for established firms and those seeking to enter the market including company profiles for 20 of the major companies involved in the Small Arms Market, 2022 to 2032 Market.

Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p06267771/?utm_source=GNW



About Reportlinker

ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place.



__________________________
Dublin, April 12, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Global Yacht Charter Market (2022-2027) by Charter Type, Source, Size, Type of Contract and Geography, Competitive Analysis and the Impact of Covid-19 with Ansoff Analysis" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



The Global Yacht Charter Market is estimated to be USD 16.1 Bn in 2022 and is expected to reach USD 21.65 Bn by 2027, growing at a CAGR of 6.1%.



Market Dynamics

Market dynamics are forces that impact the prices and behaviors of the Global Yacht Charter Market stakeholders. These forces create pricing signals which result from the changes in the supply and demand curves for a given product or service. Forces of Market Dynamics may be related to macro-economic and micro-economic factors. There are dynamic market forces other than price, demand, and supply. Human emotions can also drive decisions, influence the market, and create price signals.



As the market dynamics impact the supply and demand curves, decision-makers aim to determine the best way to use various financial tools to stem various strategies for speeding the growth and reducing the risks.



Market Segmentation

The Global Yacht Charter Market is segmented based on Charter Type, Source, Size, Type of Contract and Geography.

Charter Type, the market is classified into Bareboat, Cabin, and Crewed.

Source, the market is classified into Sailing Yacht, Motorboat Yacht, and Others.

Size, the market is classified into Up to 20 ft, 20 to 50 ft, and Above 50 ft.

Type of Contract, the market is classified into Bareboat Charter contract and Crew Charter Contract.

Geography, the market is classified into Americas, Europe, Middle-East & Africa and Asia-Pacific.

Company Profiles

The report provides a detailed analysis of the competitors in the market. It covers the financial performance analysis for the publicly listed companies in the market. The report also offers detailed information on the companies' recent development and competitive scenario. Some of the companies covered in this report are Beneteau SA, Sunseeker International Ltd., Sunsail Worldwide Sailing Limited, EDMISTON, CharterWorld LLP, Yachtcharter - Connection, Camper & Nicholsons International Ltd., Kiriacoulis Mediterranean Cruises Shipping S.A, Argo Nautical Limited, Boat International Media Ltd, Fraser Yachts Florida Inc., etc.



Countries Studied

America (Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Peru, United States, Rest of - Americas)

Europe (Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, Rest of - Europe)

Middle-East and Africa (Egypt, Israel, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, United Arab Emirates, Rest of MEA.

Asia-Pacific (Australia, Bangladesh, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Taiwan, Rest of Asia-Pacific)

Competitive Quadrant

The report includes Competitive Quadrant, a proprietary tool to analyze and evaluate the position of companies based on their Industry Position score and Market Performance score. The tool uses various factors for categorizing the players into four categories. Some of these factors considered for analysis are financial performance over the last 3 years, growth strategies, innovation score, new product launches, investments, growth in market share, etc.



Why buy this report?

The report offers a comprehensive evaluation of the Global Yacht Charter Market. The report includes in-depth qualitative analysis, verifiable data from authentic sources, and projections about market size. The projections are calculated using proven research methodologies.

The report has been compiled through extensive primary and secondary research. The primary research is done through interviews, surveys, and observation of renowned personnel in the industry.

The report includes an in-depth market analysis using Porter's 5 forces model and the Ansoff Matrix. In addition, the impact of Covid-19 on the market is also featured in the report.

The report also includes the regulatory scenario in the industry, which will help you make a well-informed decision. The report discusses major regulatory bodies and major rules and regulations imposed on this sector across various geographies.

The report also contains the competitive analysis using Positioning Quadrants, the analyst's competitive positioning tool.

Key Topics Covered:



1 Report Description



2 Research Methodology



3 Executive Summary

3.1 Introduction

3.2 Market Size, Segmentation, and Outlook



4 Market Dynamics

4.1 Drivers

4.1.1 Rise In Number of Private Islands and Cruises

4.1.2 Rising Disposable Income

4.1.3 Shift Toward Alternative Sources of Energy

4.2 Restraints

4.2.1 Rise in Environmental Concerns

4.2.2 High Cost of Yacht Charter

4.3 Opportunities

4.3.1 Technological Updates in Yacht Infrastructure

4.3.2 Raising Yacht Tourism

4.4 Challenges

4.4.1 Lack of Skilled Labor

4.4.2 Natural Calamities



5 Market Analysis

5.1 Regulatory Scenario

5.2 Porter's Five Forces Analysis

5.3 Impact of COVID-19

5.4 Ansoff Matrix Analysis



6 Global Yacht Charter Market, By Charter Type

6.1 Introduction

6.2 Bareboat

6.3 Cabin

6.4 Crewed



7 Global Yacht Charter Market, By Source

7.1 Introduction

7.2 Sailing Yacht

7.3 Motorboat Yacht

7.4 Others



8 Global Yacht Charter Market, By Size

8.1 Introduction

8.2 Up to 20 ft

8.3 20 to 50 ft

8.4 More than 50 ft



9 Global Yacht Charter Market, By Type of Contract

9.1 Introduction

9.2 Bareboat Charter contract

9.3 Crew Charter Contract



10 Americas' Yacht Charter Market



11 Europe's Yacht Charter Market



12 Middle East and Africa's Yacht Charter Market



13 APAC's Yacht Charter Market



14 Competitive Landscape

14.1 Competitive Quadrant

14.2 Market Share Analysis

14.3 Strategic Initiatives

14.3.1 M&A and Investments

14.3.2 Partnerships and Collaborations

14.3.3 Product Developments and Improvements



15 Company Profiles

15.1 Beneteau SA

15.2 Sunseeker International Ltd.

15.3 Sunsail Worldwide Sailing Limited

15.4 EDMISTON

15.5 CharterWorld LLP

15.6 Yachtcharter - Connection

15.7 Camper & Nicholsons International Ltd.

15.8 Kiriacoulis Mediterranean Cruises Shipping S.A

15.9 Argo Nautical Limited

15.10 Boat International Media Ltd

15.11 Fraser Yachts Florida Inc.

15.12 Imperial Yacht

15.13 MarineMax

15.14 Sailogy S.A.

15.15 Yachtico Inc.

15.16 Zizooboats GmbH

15.17 Boatsetter

15.18 Northrop & Johnson

15.19 Nautal

15.20 Princess Yacht limited

15.21 Charter Yachts Australia

15.22 BURGESS

15.23 Super Yacht Logistics

15.24 Yacht Charter Fleet

15.25 West Coast Marine Yacht Services Pvt. Ltd.

15.26 Yatch Zoo

15.27 Click & Boat

15.28 Sailogy

15.29 Burgess Asia

15.30 Imperial Yacht

15.31 ypi Yatch

15.32 Cooling Sailing

15.33 YCO company

15.34 Ocean Yatch Charter



16 Appendix



For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/yo1odh

Attachment
Selbyville, Delaware, April 12, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --



The smart lighting market is expected to surpass USD 20 billion by 2028, as reported in a research study by Global Market Insights Inc . The market growth can be attributed to the increasing popularity of smart homes and supportive government initiatives for energy-efficient lighting adoption. The smart lighting market was negatively impacted in 2020 & 2021 due to considerable transmission of COVID-19 worldwide. However, smart lighting sales were propelled significantly in 2021 owing to a massive decrease in infected patients and the resumption of various business operations.

Based on component type, the market is segmented into hardware, software, and services. Hardware is further divided into smart bulb, luminaire, and light control. Light controls can provide enough light as per user requirements with minimum energy consumption, thus accelerating their adoption across the globe.

Request for a sample of this research report @ https://www.gminsights.com/request-sample/detail/413

The Asia Pacific smart lighting market is experiencing significant growth owing to the proliferation of smart lighting service providers in the region. For instance, in December 2020, VIO, a startup, launched the first smart lighting services on a subscription basis for the residential sector in Singapore.

Smart lighting market leaders are highly emphasizing on expanding their dealer networks to improve their brand presence and customer base. For instance, in May 2021, Cree, Inc. expanded its connected smart home LED light bulbs at Lowes stores in the U.S. Lowes is a hardware store chain in North America. The availability of Cree products in this store will assist Cree, Inc. to increase its consumer base in North America.

Some major findings in the smart lighting market report include:

The rising consumer disposable income is encouraging customers to opt for smart home solutions in North America, driving market growth.





The presence of key market players and their robust focus on new technological innovations in Europe are creating a positive market outlook.





Supportive government regulations on energy-efficient lighting and the availability of various smart lighting distributors are creating robust market opportunities in Asia Pacific.





Significant penetration by global market players and the focus of construction companies on integrating smart lighting solutions in their properties are accelerating the sales of smart lighting in Latin America.





Rising government investments in smart cities are creating a favorable environment for smart lighting in the MEA region.





Market players are focusing on integrating advanced technologies in smart lightings, such as AI, HCl & automation, to improve their efficiency, thus enhancing the market statistics.





Key players operating in the smart lighting market include Acuity Brands Lighting Inc., Hubbell Incorporated, Zumtobel Group AG, Bridgelux Inc., Legrand SA, TVLIGHT B.V., Cooper Industries Inc. (Eaton), Lutron Electronics Co., Inc., Honeywell International Inc., Silver Spring Networks, Cree, Inc., OSRAM Licht Group, SELC Ireland Limited, Echelon Corporation, Signify N.V., and General Electric Company.





Request for customization of this research report at https://www.gminsights.com/roc/413

Partial chapters of report table of contents (TOC):

Chapter 2 Executive Summary

2.1 Smart lighting industry 360 synopsis, 2018  2028

2.2 Business trends

2.3 Component trends

2.4 Technology trends

2.5 Application trends

2.6 Regional trends

Chapter 3 Industry Insights

3.1 Industry segmentation

3.2 Impact of COVID-19 on smart lighting industry landscape

3.3 Industry ecosystem analysis

3.4 Technology & innovation landscape

3.5 Investment landscape

3.6 Regulatory landscape

3.7 Industry impact forces

3.7.1 Growth drivers

3.7.1.1 Shifting consumer focus towards energy efficient lighting

3.7.1.2 Proliferation of smart city projects across the globe

3.7.1.3 Increasing demand for Li-Fi technology equipped products

3.7.1.4 Considerable government investments in smart street lighting system

3.7.2 Industry pitfalls & challenges

3.7.2.1 Challenges related to thermal design, performance, and cost

3.7.2.2 Data security and safety concerns

3.8 Growth potential analysis

3.9 Porter's analysis

3.10 PESTEL analysis

About Global Market Insights

Global Market Insights Inc., headquartered in Delaware, U.S., is a global market research and consulting service provider; offering syndicated and custom research reports along with growth consulting services. Our business intelligence and industry research reports offer clients with penetrative insights and actionable market data specially designed and presented to aid strategic decision making. These exhaustive reports are designed via a proprietary research methodology and are available for key industries such as chemicals, advanced materials, technology, renewable energy and biotechnology.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, April 12, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Riley Gold Corp. (TSX.V: RLYG) (OTCQB: RLYGF) (Riley Gold or the Company) is pleased to announce that an extensive review of data collected on the Pipeline West/Clipper Gold Project (PWC) located in Lander County, Nevada (within the Battle Mountain-Eureka Trend), has identified historical drilling with results of 4.6 meters (m) of 2.594 grams per tonne (gpt) at 324 m including a high value of 3.84 gpt gold at 283 m in rocks of the lower plate of the Roberts Mountain Thrust (RMT). Drill logs also show that the Devonian Wenban (Wenban) was intersected in most of the holes that penetrated to the lower plate. The Wenban is the primary host to gold mineralization in the prolific Cortez District, although the Silurian-Devonian Roberts Mountain Formation is also known to be an economic host rock in the Cortez Trend.



PWC constitutes a very prospective exploration property for Carlin-type, disseminated and replacement gold deposits. PWC consists of a land package totaling approximately 24.7 square kms of unpatented mining claims and patented fee lands adjoining, and surrounded by properties controlled, or subject to earn-in agreements, by the large world-class Nevada Gold Mines JV operated by Barrick Gold Corp. PWC is situated along the Cortez Structural Zone of the exceptionally productive Cortez Trend within the Battle Mountain  Eureka Trend in north central Nevada (Figure 1).

Riley Gold has been re-evaluating the relatively large amount of historic data at PWC, and in particular re-modelling the geophysical data, soil sample grids and historic drill intercepts. We felt that the project demanded a fresh look at the potential for a large, reduced Carlin-type gold deposit in the Wenban and underlying Roberts Mountains formations. The on-going re-interpretation and review has our team very excited about the relatively shallow new targets, within the Wenban, that are emerging and definitely warrant further exploration. As we continue to evaluate historical data, we are getting more and more excited and confident to see similarities (including the interpreted Wenban) within the geology to neighbouring projects said Todd Hilditch, President & CEO of Riley Gold Corp.

Highlights of - Historical Drilling (Non-43-101 compliant):

ORB-02 : (circa 1994 by Uranerz U.S.A Inc. ( Uranerz ) intersected the RMT system as shallow as 275 m as well as the Wenban at 283 m and encountered:

12.2 m of 1.700 gpt gold from 323.1335.3 m; including 4.6 m of 2.594 gpt gold at 324.6 m (within the above intercept), with a high assay of 3.84 gpt at 326 m; and 4.6 m of 1.452 gpt gold at 345.9 m





ORB-09 : (circa:1995 by Uranerz)

15.2 m of 0.639 gpt gold at 323.1 m



Figure 1 - Cortez Trend within the Battle Mountain  Eureka Trend: https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/7981e4ac-78fd-4d5d-915c-e147bb03e49f

Historical Exploration

Previous drilling at PWC stretches as far back as 1994. While many drill holes were targeted at shallow silver occurrences near the historic Utah and Clipper silver mines within the PWC land package, some drilling was aimed at Carlin-style gold mineralization in the lower plate of the RMT system. A few of these earlier holes encountered significant gold mineralization (that appears to be in the Wenban) in the lower plate carbonate facies

Much of the early drilling was either by conventional mud rotary or reverse circulation drill methods. This drilling intersected several intervals of significant gold mineralization. The historical drilling conducted is non-43-101 compliant and the results are for historical reference only.

The targets for these holes were based on anomalous gold and pathfinder elements in soil sampling, mapping and geophysical (air magnetic and gravity) surveys. A CSAMT survey over the southern portion of PWC went largely un-utilized.

Of all the holes drilled in the project area, those that penetrated the lower plate sequence of the Wenban and Roberts Mountain formations concentrated on areas of gold mineralization or were widely spaced, leaving large areas untested (Figure 2).

Figure 2  Historical drilling at PWC: https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/f1bb1cef-031c-450d-b4e4-bcd8889e0111

The red ellipse locates what may be a very prospective target for a Goldrush or Fourmile style structurally controlled, Carlin type of deposit at depths of less than or equal to 500 m.

A FRESH LOOK

Historic CSAMT, gravity, and magnetic geophysical data combined with existing soil grids, covering only a part of PWC, left little doubt that a re-interpretation of the existing data, combined with recently acquired aeromagnetic survey data could lead to new drill target identification with indication of potential structures and targets not previously tested. Additional mapping and sampling field work to fill in data gaps and proof-of-concept of new target interpretation is planned for 2022 prior to an initial drilling campaign.

The Cortez section of this trend has a gold endowment of more than 50 million ounces (past production + current reserves & resources)i. Several multi-million ounce past and currently producing gold mines, including Pipeline, Cortez Hills, Fourmile, and Goldrush are located southeast of PWC along strike of the Cortez Trend. Northwest of PWC, other large mines along the northern portion of the Battle Mountain  Eureka Trend include Copper Canyon, Phoenix, Marigold, and Lone Tree.

About Riley Gold Corp.

Riley Gold is an exploration and development company focused in Nevada, USA. The Companys primary focus is on its two cornerstone assets: the Tokop Gold Project located within the Walker Lane Trend and the Pipeline West/Clipper Project located in the Battle Mountain Eureka Trend. Riley Golds founders and leadership team have a proven track record of maximizing shareholder value during each phase of the mining life cycle: exploration, development, and production.

Qualified Person

This news release has been reviewed and approved by Charles Sulfrian, CPG., Exploration Manager, of Riley Gold and a qualified person, as defined by National Instrument 43-101, Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. The Qualified Person has not completed sufficient work to verify the historic information on PWC, particularly in regards to the historical drill results. However, the Qualified Person believe that drilling and analytical results were completed to industry standard practices. The information provides an indication of the exploration potential of PWC but may not be representative of expected results.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:

Todd Hilditch

Chief Executive Officer

Tel: (604) 443-3831

Or

Mars Investor Relations

Tel: (778) 999-4653

RLYG@marsinvestorrelations.com

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary statement regarding forwardlooking information

Certain disclosures in this release constitute "forward-looking information" within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation (such statements being referred to as "forward-looking statements"). Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by words such as the following: expects, plans, anticipates, believes, intends, estimates, projects, assumes, potential and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results, performance, prospects and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including statements regarding the exploration program at PWC, including results of historical drilling, sampling, geophysics, interpretations and future exploration plans at PWC. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, variations in the nature, quality and quantity of any mineral deposits that may be located, the Company's inability to obtain any necessary permits, consents or authorizations required for its planned activities, and the Company's inability to raise the necessary capital or to be fully able to implement its business strategies. The reader is referred to the Company's public disclosure record which is available on SEDAR (www.sedar.com). Although the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing the forward-looking statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on these statements, which only apply as of the date of this news release, and no assurance can be given that such events will occur in the disclosed time frames or at all. Except as required by securities laws and the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange, the Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

i Technical Report on the Cortez Complex, Lander and Eureka Counties, Nevada; 430-101 Technical Report for Barrick Gold Corp. Effective Date 31 December 2021.
A fight in a homeless shelter in Brooklyn left two men stabbed and a third in police custody Monday, cops said.

The fight started around 5:30 p.m. in a mens shelter on Sackett St. near Third Ave. in Gowanus, and exploded onto the sidewalk, witnesses told the Daily News.

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One man was stabbed in the arm, another in the leg, cops said. Both are expected to recover, police said.

Police respond after two people were stabbed at a homeless shelter at 601 Sackett St. in Brooklyn Monday. (Gardiner Anderson/for New York Daily News)

The melee started after other shelter residents complained about the attacker and accused him of performing a sexual act in front of someones girlfriend, shelter resident Orpheus Golhpin said.

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This guy is known to carry a knife and hes in and out of prison, Golphin charged. But they keep letting him come back here... He was out here saying people were snitches and rats, and he came back out of the building swinging a knife.

Golphin said the man stabbed his roommate.

We jumped on him (to disarm him) and another guy got cut, he said. Then the cops came and he tried running. The police picked him up.

Charges against the assailant were pending. His name has not yet been released.

Golphin said the violence was another reminder why homeless people dont feel safe in the shelter system.

Those people out there in tents scared of coming to shelters are damn right, said Golphin, referring to Mayor Adams efforts to clear homeless encampments from the citys streets. Its crazy out here.
EDMONTON, Alberta and NEW YORK, April 12, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- TSX, NYSE:STN



Stantec, a global leader in sustainable design and engineering, has been awarded a five-year indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity multiple award task order contract with a capacity of US$18 million by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Alaska District to provide architecture and engineering design services for civil works projects.

Under the contract, Stantec will provide a variety of architecture and engineering services for projects throughout Alaska. Project types include small boat harbors, ecosystem restoration projects, flood damage prevention, storm damage reduction, watershed studies, comprehensive relocation plans and comprehensive community plans for rural Alaska villages, as well as other Corps Civil Works activities. These civil works projects may include plan formulation, public meeting engagement/facilitation, design engineering, cost engineering, hydrologic engineering, and environmental documentation. As part of the contract, the firm may also provide services in Alaska for the U.S. Army, U.S. Air Force, and other armed services, including the U.S. Coast Guard.

Our team is excited to support the USACE Alaska District in its mission to provide critical civil works projects and support to stimulus-funded infrastructure projects, said Chris Williams, senior vice president for Stantecs US Federal Program. Alaska faces impacts from climate change, coastal erosion, and is focused on resiliency. Our local team, supported by nationwide subject matter experts, is ready to build on our longstanding 42-year history of contract awards working with the USACE Alaska District to tackle these, and other essential infrastructure projects.

Stantec has a nearly 50-year history in Alaskaand nearly 80 years globallyof successful project delivery for USACE. The company has completed thousands of task orders for civil works projects. In Alaska, one project included the recent Buskin Waterline Replacement on Kodiak Island, which replaced a 70-year-old transmission main for the U.S. Coast Guards Kodiak Station. In the US, the firm provided full design services for the Permanent Canal Closures and Pumps Project for the USACE New Orleans District. In addition to civil works projects, Stantec is actively delivering on task orders for military programs and environmental services with USACE Districts around the world. The firm currently holds contracts for military programs, environmental, and civil works services with 18 USACE Districts.

About Stantec

Communities are fundamental. Whether around the corner or across the globe, they provide a foundation, a sense of place and of belonging. Thats why at Stantec, we always design with community in mind.



We care about the communities we servebecause theyre our communities too. This allows us to assess what's needed and connect our expertise, to appreciate nuances and envision what's never been considered, to bring together diverse perspectives so we can collaborate toward a shared success.

Were designers, engineers, scientists, and project managers, innovating together at the intersection of community, creativity, and client relationships. Balancing these priorities results in projects that advance the quality of life in communities across the globe.

Stantec trades on the TSX and the NYSE under the symbol STN. Visit us at stantec.com or find us on social media.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements regarding the services described above. Forward-looking statements also include any other statements that do not refer to historical facts. By their nature, forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and subject to inherent risks and uncertainties. There is a risk that the services described above may be delayed, cancelled, suspended or terminated. This could cause future results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements made in this news release. Except as may be required by law, Stantec undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are provided herein for the purpose of giving information about the services referred to above and their expected impact. Readers are cautioned that such information may not be appropriate for other purposes.

Media Contact Investor Relations Contact Danny Craig Tanya Finney Stantec Media Relations Stantec Investor Relations Ph (949) 632-6319 Ph (403) 205-5791 danny.craig@stantec.com tanya.finney@stantec.com

To subscribe to Stantecs email news alerts, please fill out the subscription form, which is available on the Contact Information page of the Investors section at Stantec.com.

Design with community in mind
SPRINGDALE, Ark., April 12, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Tyson Foods (NYSE: TSN) has committed more than $1 million to support its many team members who are immigrants to the United States. The companys U.S. based workforce is comprised of team members from more than 160 countries and collectively speak more than 50 languages. The Tyson Immigration Partnership (TIP) helps provide these team members with legal services and acquire U.S. citizenship. The program, which has been supporting seven Tyson facilities over the past year, will now serve 40 company locations in 14 states.

Tyson Foods works with Immigrant Connection and, in the companys home state, Arkansas Immigrant Defense, both of which are non-profit groups that help provide immigrants with legal services, such as employment authorization renewals and petitions for citizenship. In the last year alone, the program has helped more than 500 Tyson team members. Tyson reimburses team members for citizenship application fees, which for an individual can be as much as $725.

We care about our team members and want to help them achieve their goals, including those who have dreams of becoming U.S. citizens and having greater access to opportunities our country has to offer, said John R. Tyson, Executive Vice President and Chief Sustainability Officer, Tyson Foods. Were working hard to help team members who want and need assistance with their lawful immigration status or the complex and expensive process of becoming a citizen. We want to be the most sought-after place to work, and this is one way we hope to do that.

Starting the process to become a citizen was intimidating and scary, but I wanted stability for me and my family. Without the people involved in the programs, I would not have the confidence to pursue citizenship, said Jose Avjix, a Tyson team member in Green Forest, Arkansas. Tyson is a place that keeps you growing and I really appreciate the professional and personal growth the company offers.



Immigrant Connection is hosting monthly informational meetings for Tyson team members at 27 company locations across the country and Arkansas Immigrant Defense is visiting 13 locations in Arkansas.

Tyson Foods has historically attracted immigrants because it provides good-paying entry level jobs with benefits. With average hourly pay of more than $18 plus the value of medical, dental and vision insurance, vacation and other benefits, the average total compensation for hourly team members has increased to more than $24 an hour, or an annual value of more than $50,000.

Tyson Foods has invested more than $500 million in wage increases and bonuses for frontline workers over the past year. In addition, it is piloting subsidized and onsite childcare, as well as seven near-site health centers. An increasing number of Tyson production facilities are also offering more flexible work schedules for frontline workers.

About Tyson Foods, Inc.

Tyson Foods (NYSE: TSN) is one of the worlds largest food companies and a recognized leader in protein. Founded in 1935 by John W. Tyson and grown under four generations of family leadership, the Company has a broad portfolio of products and brands like Tyson, Jimmy Dean, Hillshire Farm, Ball Park, Wright, Aidells, ibp and State Fair. Tyson Foods innovates continually to make protein more sustainable, tailor food for everywhere its available and raise the worlds expectations for how much good food can do. Headquartered in Springdale, Arkansas, the Company had approximately 137,000 team members on October 2, 2021. Through its Core Values, Tyson Foods strives to operate with integrity, create value for its shareholders, customers, communities and team members and serve as a steward of the animals, land and environment entrusted to it. Visit www.tysonfoods.com.

Media Contact: Gary Mickelson, gary.mickelson@tyson.com, 479-236-9022

Category: IR
Radisson Hotel Group debuts in Ghana with the opening of Number One Oxford Street Hotel & Suites, a member of Radisson Individuals



Radisson Hotel Group is proud to announce its debut in Ghana with the opening of Number One Oxford Street Hotel & Suites, a member of Radisson Individuals. In partnership with Belfast City Management, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Kwarleyz Group, the hotel also marks the second Radisson Individuals hotel opening in Africa within the last two weeks.

Number One Oxford Street Hotel & Suites, a member of Radisson Individuals is located on the most prominent street in Accra, in the Osu neighborhood, on the doorstep of the citys financial business district and government ministries. It is conveniently located for both business and leisure travel as it is situated just 4km from Kotoka Accra International Airport, 200m from the Koala Shopping Center, and in close proximity to all the citys great local attractions, including Black Star square and Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park and Museum.





The 108 luxury residential units spanning across 1500m2, create an architectural marvel that has quickly become one of the most iconic structures in Ghana. The outdoor swimming pool, state-of-the-art fitness center, and serene spa provide the ideal activities for guests to unwind in luxury. The terrace offers a welcoming location for midday drinks and light meals, while Restaurant Uno creates memorable and delectable meals with a contemporary a la carte menu and wine selection.





Tim Cordon, Area Senior Vice President, Middle East & Africa at Radisson Hotel Group, says: "We are delighted to mark our official debut in Ghana and maintain the momentum of our new Radisson Individuals brand in Africa with the rebranding of this landmark hotel, Number One Oxford Street Hotel & Suites. Africa presents a key opportunity for Radisson Individuals, as it perfectly responds to the evolving demands of the continents market for both hotel owners and guests. We look forward to guests enjoying this beloved hotel, coupled with our renowned Yes I Can! service and hospitality.

Nana Kwame Bediako, CEO of Kwarleyz Group, Founder of Belfast City Management and Owner of Number One Oxford Street Hotels and Suites says: "When our hotel launched before the global pandemic, we envisioned a product that perfectly landed in a post-pandemic world where social distancing and space would be in high demand for travelers, even without a pandemic. We provide our guests with multiple separate fully functioning spaces, whether they stay for a short while or remain in residence with us for an extended period. This hotel marks our first collaboration with Radisson Hotel Group and it is the intention to continuously serve our guests that has led us to this great partnership. We aim to keep delivering the same high levels of security, comfort, safety and privacy that Number One Oxford Street Hotels & Suites has been known for as we open as the second member of Radisson Individuals on the African continent.

As a member of Radisson Individuals, Number One Oxford Street Hotel & Suites will be integrated into Radisson Hotel Group's global platform, benefitting from its international awareness and experience, while also retaining its own unique identity. Each property in this curated collection is selected for its individual personality and gives travelers the chance to explore new parts of the world in properties that reflect the spirit of their locale, supported by the Group's "Yes I Can" service philosophy. The hotel will also join Radisson Rewards, the Groups industry-leading loyalty program which offers exclusive benefits to millions of guests worldwide.

With the health and safety of guests and team members as its top priority, Number One Oxford Street Hotel & Suites, A Member of Radisson Individuals is implementing the Radisson Hotels Safety Protocol program. The in-depth cleanliness and disinfection protocols were developed in partnership with SGS, the worlds leading inspection, verification, testing and certification company, and are designed to ensure guest safety and peace of mind from check-in to check-out.

***

MEDIA CONTACTS :

SAADIYAH HENDRICKS, Area PR and Social Media Manager, Middle East & Africa, Radisson Hotel Group saadiyah.hendricks@radissonhotels.com

SOPHIE CLARKE, Global Director, Social Media & Consumer PR, Radisson Hotel Group

sophie.clarke@radissonhotels.com



ABOUT RADISSON INDIVIDUALS :

Radisson Individuals is a brand that allows hotel properties to maintain and promote their unique characteristics and personalities by focusing on one-of-a kind locations and experiences, whilst meeting the high standards of quality and service that guests have come to expect from the Radisson Hotel Group. It is a complement brand to the other existing eight brands in the portfolio, and an ideal first step for individual hotels with strong service scores who may be considering transitioning to one of the other successful core brands at a later stage. Guests and professional business partners can enhance their experience with Radisson Individuals by participating in Radisson Rewards, a global loyalty program offering exceptional benefits and rewards.

Radisson Individuals is a part of Radisson Hotel Group, which also includes Radisson Collection, Radisson Blu, Radisson, Radisson RED, Park Plaza, Park Inn by Radisson, Country Inn & Suites by Radisson, and prizeotel brought together under one commercial umbrella brand Radisson Hotels.

For reservations and more information, visit our website. Or connect with Radisson Hotels on:

LinkedIn | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | YouTube



ABOUT RADISSON HOTEL GROUP :

Radisson Hotel Group is one of the world's largest hotel groups with nine distinctive hotel brands, and more than 1,600 hotels in operation and under development in 120 countries. The Groups overarching brand promise is Every Moment Matters with a signature Yes I Can! service ethos.

The Radisson Hotel Group portfolio includes Radisson Collection, Radisson Blu, Radisson, Radisson RED, Radisson Individuals, Park Plaza, Park Inn by Radisson, Country Inn & Suites by Radisson, and prizeotel brought together under one commercial umbrella brand Radisson Hotels.

Radisson Rewards is our international rewards program that delivers unique and personalized ways to create memorable moments that matter to our guests. Radisson Rewards offers an exceptional experience for our guests, meeting planners, and travel agents at over 640 hotels in Europe, Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific.

Radisson Meetings provides tailored solutions for any event or meeting, including hybrid solutions placing guests and their needs at the heart of its offer. Radisson Meetings is built around three strong service commitments: Personal, Professional and Memorable, while delivering on the brilliant basics and being uniquely 100% Carbon Neutral.

The health and safety of guests and team members remain a top priority for Radisson Hotel Group. All properties across the Groups portfolio are subject to stringent health and safety requirements, as outlined in the Radisson Hotels Safety Protocol. The in-depth cleanliness and disinfection protocols were developed in partnership with SGS, the worlds leading inspection, verification, testing and certification company, and are designed to ensure guest safety and peace of mind from check-in to check-out. The Safety Protocol is an integral part of Radisson Hotel Groups Safety and Security program ensuring we always care for our guests and team members.

More than 100,000 team members work at Radisson Hotel Group and at the hotels licensed to operate in its systems. For more information, visit our corporate website. Or connect with Radisson Hotels on:

LinkedIn | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | YouTube

Attachments
Formation of advisory board will accelerate technology development and commercialization for Progressus technology products

Pinakin Patel, world renowned hydrogen expert, named as chairman of advisory board for Progressus Clean Technologies

Mr. Patels appointment will ensure Progressus technology meets development and commercial milestones through deep technology and supply chain expertise

Mr. Patel brings more than 40 years of hydrogen and fuel cell experience to the role along with direct core knowledge of the Progressus technology

TORONTO, April 12, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Aberdeen International Inc. (Aberdeen or the Company) (TSX: AAB) (F: A8H) (OTC: AABVF) is pleased to announce the appointment of Pinakin Patel as Chairman of the Advisory Board of its portfolio company Progressus Clean Technologies (Progressus).

Pinakin Patel has been appointed to the role of chairman of the advisory board. Mr. Patel is a world-renowned hydrogen and fuel cell expert with more than 40 years of directly applicable experience. In addition to his experience, he has an extensive industry network, has contributed to more than 30 patents, and has received awards from prestigious organizations for his many contributions in the hydrogen industry spanning the US Department of Energy, the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, the National Hydrogen Association, the State of Connecticut, the Electrochemical Society, and others. Mr. Patel was also recently elected as a director on the board of the California Hydrogen Business Council, a national level organization consisting of over 140 companies engaged in every aspect of the hydrogen supply chain worldwide as well as advocating for the commercialization of low-carbon and green hydrogen technologies.

Pinakins network in the hydrogen and fuel cell space along with his expertise and direct experience with Progressus technology is second to none, said Channce Fuller, President and CEO of Progressus. His appointment to chair the advisory board for Progressus is a catalyzing opportunity for us to bring more and more experience to the venture.

Mr. Patel has an extensive resume having raised more than $500 million in R&D funding for advanced technology, manufacturing and application development projects in USA, Canada, Japan, Europe and Asia. His experience is in-depth spanning every type of fuel cell and renewable power using a variety of sources including waste-derived biogas, solar, wind and others. Mr. Patel has also supported dozens of venture stage companies in the alternative energy space by arranging supply chain coordination, strategic alliances and funding, which is of direct benefit to Progressus.

As Progressus continues to progress technology development and commercialization, Mr. Patels first initiative will be to fill out the remainder of the advisory board with experts to ensure a successful product launch and market penetration.

Aberdeen will continue to keep the market updated on developments at Progressus.

ABOUT Progressus Clean Technologies

Progress Clean Technologies (formerly AES-100 Inc.) is a venture stage green technology company focused on the development of novel hydrogen generation and separation technologies. Progressus Clean Technologies owns the exclusive rights and intellectual property pertaining to the Advanced Electrolyzer System for the production of hydrogen from dilute syngas.

Progressus Clean Technologies is a private company with majority ownership held by PowerTap Hydrogen Capital Corp. (NEO: MOVE) (FWB:2K6B) (OTC: MOTNF), Aberdeen International (TSX: AAB F: A8H, OTC: AABVF) and minority ownership held by private shareholders.

ABOUT ABERDEEN INTERNATIONAL INC.

Aberdeen International is a global resource investment company and merchant bank focused on small capitalization companies in the rare metals and renewable energy sectors. Progressus Clean Technologies (formerly AES-100 Inc.), an Aberdeen portfolio investment, owns the exclusive rights and all intellectual property pertaining to the Advanced Electrolyzer System for the production of hydrogen from dilute syngas.

For additional information, please visit our website at www.aberdeen.green

For further information, please contact:

Chris Younger

Chief Executive Officer

Aberdeen International Inc.

Chris.Younger@aberdeen.green

(416) 861-1685

This press release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information includes, without limitation, statements regarding the Progressus Clean Technologies Advisory Board and appointments; the Advanced Electrolyzer System; the renewable energies sector and the Companys future plans. Forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including risks inherent in the mining industry and risks described in the public disclosure of the Company which is available under the profile of the Company on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and on the Company's website at www.aberdeen.green. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.
Selbyville, Delaware, April 12, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --



The North America commercial boiler market size is expected to record a valuation of USD 2.2 billion by 2028, according to the most recent study by Global Market Insights Inc . The market growth is attributed to the rising demand for water storage and heating systems coupled with stringent government norms & policies toward environmental protection. Furthermore, government funds toward the growth of cost-effective heating systems in line with a positive outlook toward environmental sustainability will sway the industry trend.

Request for a sample of this research report @ https://www.gminsights.com/request-sample/detail/5237

The coal fueled segment in the North America commercial boiler market is poised to witness significant growth impelled by the rising requirement for water and space heating systems along with the reduced steam consumption. Easy installation and maintenance coupled with the feature to provide a large heating area of these boilers will positively impact the product penetration. In addition, the growing installation of high thermal efficiency boilers for storage and heating requirements across commercial facilities will boost the industry expansion.

North America commercial boiler market for > 50 -  100 MMBtu/hr capacity is estimated to attain a 4.8% growth rate till 2028 on account of the growing awareness toward carbon footprints along with soaring investments in the adoption of renewable technologies. Moreover, reduced maintenance cost, ease of installation, and the ability to offer instantaneous hot water in line with the rising demand for boiler units in the commercial sector will accelerate the business landscape.

The commercial boiler market across educational facilities is predicted to showcase a substantial gain during the forecast period owing to the continuous replacement of conventional systems with high efficiency heating systems. The feature of offering even heat distribution across educational buildings in line with growing concerns toward the expansion of renewable buildings will propel the market demand. Additionally, the rising acceptance of low fuel consumption facilities coupled with an increasing demand for space heating across the commercial sector will positively influence the North America commercial boiler market progression.

The U.S. commercial boiler market is anticipated to register an admirable growth during the forecast timeframe due to stringent government laws pertaining to the development of energy-efficient systems and positive outlook toward the commercial sector. Favorable programs to attain energy related targets including Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP) and Energy Conservation Program that prescribe commercial packaged boiler standards toward energy conservation will positively impact the market expansion. Furthermore, the growing requirements for space heating solutions coupled with considerable growth in infrastructure expansion will drive the industry demand.

The major players operating in the North America commercial boiler market include Babcock and Wilcox Enterprises, Hurst Boiler and Welding, Cleaver-Brooks, Siemens, Viessmann Climate Solutions, The Fulton Companies, Columbia Boiler Company, Miura America, Clayton Industries, PARKER BOILER, Superior Boiler Works, Vapor Power International, A.O. Smith, Burnham Holdings, and Precision Boilers.

Request for customization of this research report @ https://www.gminsights.com/roc/5237

Some of the key findings of the North America commercial boiler market report include:

Growing installation of high-efficient boiler systems in line with a positive outlook toward the service sector will enhance the industry progression.

Rising demand for space heating systems across commercial buildings coupled with continuous innovations toward the advancement of heating systems will stimulate industry growth.

Ongoing shift pertaining to the replacement of conventional heating systems along with favorable government norms & incentives toward the expansion of green buildings will proliferate the market value.

Table of Contents (ToC) of the report

Chapter 3 North America Commercial Boiler Market Insights

3.1 Industry segmentation

3.2 Industry ecosystem analysis

3.3 Innovation & technology landscape

3.4 Regulatory landscape

3.5 COVID- 19 impact on the industry outlook

3.6 Industry impact forces

3.6.1 Growth drivers

3.6.2 Industry pitfalls & challenges

3.7 Growth potential analysis

3.8 Porter's Analysis

3.9 Competitive landscape, 2021

3.10 PESTEL Analysis



Browse Complete Table of Contents (ToC) @ https://www.gminsights.com/toc/detail/north-america-commercial-boiler-market

About Global Market Insights Inc.

Global Market Insights Inc., headquartered in Delaware, U.S., is a global market research and consulting service provider, offering syndicated and custom research reports along with growth consulting services. Our business intelligence and industry research reports offer clients with penetrative insights and actionable market data specially designed and presented to aid strategic decision making. These exhaustive reports are designed via a proprietary research methodology and are available for key industries such as chemicals, advanced materials, technology, renewable energy, and biotechnology.
SHERMAN OAKS, Calif., April 12, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Patch Lending, a private money lender offering real estate developers and entrepreneurs nationwide fast and reliable property financing services, has officially announced the appointment of Glenn Tatham as Chief Executive Officer.

"I am thrilled about the opportunity to lead the continued growth at Patch Lending," said Tatham. "We have the necessary capital resources in place, coupled with a strong team and proprietary technology that will provide our customers access to the loan programs needed to scale their real estate investments."

Tatham brings three decades of financial experience to the Patch Lending team. Prior to joining Patch, Tatham held the position of CFO at Conventus Holdings Corporation, an organization he helped co-found in 2015. He has also held the position of director at LNG Partners, as well as Vice President at JPMorgan Chase & Co. Tatham received his Master's in Business Administration (M.B.A) from Columbia Business School and holds a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration from the University of Southern California.

Patch Lending (formerly known as Patch of Land) has a legacy as an innovative, progressive Fintech company founded on the premise that the JOBS Act of 2012 would create dynamic new opportunities for businesses and ordinary Americans. As a startup created in 2013 with a simple mission to help build wealth and grow communities, Patch began its journey by leveraging leading-edge technology to empower everyday real estate investors. It has since helped fund thousands of properties and over $1.5 billion in private money loans to investors across the country.

To learn more about Patch Lending and the loan programs offered by the company, please visit http://www.patchlending.com.



About Patch Lending

Patch Lending (formerly known as Patch of Land) is a private money lender offering real estate developers and entrepreneurs nationwide fast and reliable financing for Fix & Flip, Multi-Family, Ground-Up, and Long-Term Rental properties.

Contact Information

Robert Greenberg

(424) 903-1436

press@patchlending.com

Related Images











Image 1: Glenn Tatham





Photograph of Glenn Tatham, new CEO of Patch Lending









This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com.

Attachment
Dublin, April 12, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Customer Relationship Management (CRM) Market: Global Industry Trends, Share, Size, Growth, Opportunity and Forecast 2022-2027" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



The global customer relationship management (CRM) market reached a value of US$ 51.4 Billion in 2021. Looking forward, the publisher expects the market to reach a value of US$ 103.1 Billion by 2027 exhibiting a CAGR of 11.80% during 2022-2027. Keeping in mind the uncertainties of COVID-19, we are continuously tracking and evaluating the direct as well as the indirect influence of the pandemic on different end use industries. These insights are included in the report as a major market contributor.



Customer relationship management, or CRM, refers to various solutions and software employed by organizations to manage the external interactions and relationships with customers. It stores the customer data, identify sales opportunities, maintain a record of service issues or complaints, and manage marketing campaigns. It also assists businesses in streamlining sales, accounting, and management by providing real-time access to a centralized database, thus eliminating the need for unnecessary paperwork and speeding up communication. In recent years, CRM solutions have gained immense traction across numerous industries, including banking, financial services and insurance (BFSI), telecommunications, retail, healthcare, government, and education.



Customer Relationship Management (CRM) Market Trends:

CRM solutions help enhance customer service, build stronger brand-customer relationships, and improve customer retention and acquisition. As a result, the escalating demand for automated customer engagement for better customer experience represents the primary factor driving the market growth. Besides this, the growing usage of digital channels like social media platforms by individuals to interact with brands is augmenting the demand for CRM solutions.

Additionally, enterprises are employing efficient tools to handle customer data and utilize actionable insights to make informed business decisions. Along with this, the shifting preferences from push marketing to pull marketing are propelling the market growth.

Furthermore, the widespread adoption of work-from-home (WFH) policies due to the recent coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak is encouraging organizations to adopt CRM solutions to interact with customers effectively in a remote-working environment. Moreover, the increasing integration of CRM software with advanced technologies, such as the Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI), and big data, are catalyzing the product demand. Other factors, including the growing popularity of cloud solutions, rapid digitization, and technological advancements in business intelligence, are also creating a positive market outlook.



Key Market Segmentation:

The publisher provides an analysis of the key trends in each sub-segment of the global customer relationship management (CRM) market, along with forecasts at the global, regional and country level from 2022-2027. Our report has categorized the market based on component, deployment mode, organization size, application and industry vertical

Breakup by Component:

Software

Services

Breakup by Deployment Mode:

On-premises

Cloud-based

Breakup by Organization Size:

Small and Medium-sized Enterprises

Large Enterprises

Breakup by Application:

Customer Service

Customer Experience Management

CRM Analytics

Marketing Automation

Salesforce Automation

Others

Breakup by Industry Vertical:

BFSI

Retail

Healthcare

IT and Telecom

Discrete Manufacturing

Government and Education

Others

Breakup by Region:

North America

United States

Canada

Asia-Pacific

China

Japan

India

South Korea

Australia

Indonesia

Others

Europe

Germany

France

United Kingdom

Italy

Spain

Russia

Others

Latin America

Brazil

Mexico

Others

Middle East and Africa

Competitive Landscape:

The competitive landscape of the industry has also been examined along with the profiles of the key players being Adobe Inc., Cisco Systems Inc., Insightly Inc., International Business Machines Corporation, Microsoft Corporation, Oracle Corporation, Pegasystems Inc., Ramco Systems Limited, Sage Group plc, Salesforce.com Inc., SAP SE, SugarCRM Inc. and Zoho Corporation Private Limited.



Key Questions Answered in This Report:

How has the global customer relationship management (CRM) market performed so far and how will it perform in the coming years?

What has been the impact of COVID-19 on the global customer relationship management (CRM) market?

What are the key regional markets?

What is the breakup of the market based on the component?

What is the breakup of the market based on the deployment mode?

What is the breakup of the market based on the organization size?

What is the breakup of the market based on the application?

What is the breakup of the market based on the industry vertical?

What are the various stages in the value chain of the industry?

What are the key driving factors and challenges in the industry?

What is the structure of the global customer relationship management (CRM) market and who are the key players?

What is the degree of competition in the industry?

Key Topics Covered:



1 Preface



2 Scope and Methodology



3 Executive Summary



4 Introduction

4.1 Overview

4.2 Key Industry Trends



5 Global Customer Relationship Management (CRM) Market

5.1 Market Overview

5.2 Market Performance

5.3 Impact of COVID-19

5.4 Market Forecast



6 Market Breakup by Component

6.1 Software

6.1.1 Market Trends

6.1.2 Market Forecast

6.2 Services

6.2.1 Market Trends

6.2.2 Market Forecast



7 Market Breakup by Deployment Mode

7.1 On-premises

7.1.1 Market Trends

7.1.2 Market Forecast

7.2 Cloud-based

7.2.1 Market Trends

7.2.2 Market Forecast



8 Market Breakup by Organization Size

8.1 Small and Medium-sized Enterprises

8.1.1 Market Trends

8.1.2 Market Forecast

8.2 Large Enterprises

8.2.1 Market Trends

8.2.2 Market Forecast



9 Market Breakup by Application

9.1 Customer Service

9.1.1 Market Trends

9.1.2 Market Forecast

9.2 Customer Experience Management

9.2.1 Market Trends

9.2.2 Market Forecast

9.3 CRM Analytics

9.3.1 Market Trends

9.3.2 Market Forecast

9.4 Marketing Automation

9.4.1 Market Trends

9.4.2 Market Forecast

9.5 Salesforce Automation

9.5.1 Market Trends

9.5.2 Market Forecast

9.6 Others

9.6.1 Market Trends

9.6.2 Market Forecast



10 Market Breakup by Industry Vertical

10.1 BFSI

10.1.1 Market Trends

10.1.2 Market Forecast

10.2 Retail

10.2.1 Market Trends

10.2.2 Market Forecast

10.3 Healthcare

10.3.1 Market Trends

10.3.2 Market Forecast

10.4 IT and Telecommunication

10.4.1 Market Trends

10.4.2 Market Forecast

10.5 Discrete Manufacturing

10.5.1 Market Trends

10.5.2 Market Forecast

10.6 Government and Education

10.6.1 Market Trends

10.6.2 Market Forecast

10.7 Others

10.7.1 Market Trends

10.7.2 Market Forecast



11 Market Breakup by Region



12 SWOT Analysis



13 Value Chain Analysis



14 Porters Five Forces Analysis



15 Price Analysis



16 Competitive Landscape

16.1 Market Structure

16.2 Key Players

16.3 Profiles of Key Players

16.3.1 Adobe Inc.

16.3.1.1 Company Overview

16.3.1.2 Product Portfolio

16.3.1.3 Financials

16.3.1.4 SWOT Analysis

16.3.2 Cisco Systems Inc.

16.3.2.1 Company Overview

16.3.2.2 Product Portfolio

16.3.2.3 Financials

16.3.2.4 SWOT Analysis

16.3.3 Insightly Inc.

16.3.3.1 Company Overview

16.3.3.2 Product Portfolio

16.3.4 International Business Machines Corporation

16.3.4.1 Company Overview

16.3.4.2 Product Portfolio

16.3.4.3 Financials

16.3.4.4 SWOT Analysis

16.3.5 Microsoft Corporation

16.3.5.1 Company Overview

16.3.5.2 Product Portfolio

16.3.5.3 Financials

16.3.5.4 SWOT Analysis

16.3.6 Oracle Corporation

16.3.6.1 Company Overview

16.3.6.2 Product Portfolio

16.3.6.3 Financials

16.3.6.4 SWOT Analysis

16.3.7 Pegasystems Inc.

16.3.7.1 Company Overview

16.3.7.2 Product Portfolio

16.3.7.3 Financials

16.3.7.4 SWOT Analysis

16.3.8 Ramco Systems Limited

16.3.8.1 Company Overview

16.3.8.2 Product Portfolio

16.3.8.3 Financials

16.3.9 Sage Group plc

16.3.9.1 Company Overview

16.3.9.2 Product Portfolio

16.3.9.3 Financials

16.3.9.4 SWOT Analysis

16.3.10 Salesforce.com Inc.

16.3.10.1 Company Overview

16.3.10.2 Product Portfolio

16.3.10.3 Financials

16.3.10.4 SWOT Analysis

16.3.11 SAP SE

16.3.11.1 Company Overview

16.3.11.2 Product Portfolio

16.3.11.3 Financials

16.3.11.4 SWOT Analysis

16.3.12 SugarCRM Inc.

16.3.12.1 Company Overview

16.3.12.2 Product Portfolio

16.3.13 Zoho Corporation Private Limited

16.3.13.1 Company Overview

16.3.13.2 Product Portfolio



For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/yjtoz4

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NEW ALBANY, Ohio, April 12, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- CVG had 1,200 employees immediately impacted by the senseless Russian invasion of Ukraine. Despite a complete shut-down initially, CVG is back to 100% pre-invasion output rates. This quick response was possible thanks to brave leadership by its local team, the resolve and creativity of the Ukrainian and neighboring Czech Republic teams, fast-acting customers, and CVG's decision to implement fallback production positions with two new production facilities in the Czech Republic and a supply chain from Mexico.

"As we have all witnessed since this invasion began, the Ukrainian people do not back down, and their resolve, commitment to winning, and bravery is astounding," said CVG President and CEO Harold Bevis. "Our global team quickly assembled itself into daily war calls, and we make on-the-spot decisions to protect our people, continue commerce as best we can, and implement backup plans. Despite the unreal hardship our Ukraine team faces, our employees wanted to keep working, be productive, and contribute to their economy in order to help defeat the Russian army. Our Ukrainian and Czech teams are remarkable, and our 8,000-person global team at CVG is working with them. Two of CVG's core values are make the world a better place through our actions and help each other. This was an easy decision for the CVG leadership team; it is our core values in action. We are all flying the Ukrainian flag - Slava Ukraini."

CVG's local leaders are Jan Chabera, Executive Director of CVG's Operations in Eastern Europe (PEKM), and Yaroslav Pauk, Director of CVG Ukraine.

They have led the implementation of the following actions in response to the invasion:

All employees were initially paid, even if unable to work.

Overtime wages were provided for all employees who went to work.

All employees were issued a spot bonus while the facility was closed.

Upgrades to the bomb shelter near our L'viv facility, fitted with a bathroom and kitchenette, and can house up to 300 people during an air raid/siren.

Modified 24/7 work schedules to reduce the number of people in the facility at one time and maintain output.

Upgraded the IT infrastructure to defend against cyber-attacks.

Workstation modifications will be made for any injured employee wishing to return to work.

Assistance will be provided for any employee who wishes to move to or from the Ukraine.

All shipments to customers in Russia and Belarus have been halted.

Resolve in Ukraine

CVG and its Ukraine team are deeply committed to persevering through this ordeal together. CVG's plant in L'viv, Ukraine, immediately shut down and then reconstituted itself quickly, despite having all eligible male employees called into military service. CVG reestablished a team of more than 1,000 mostly female employees in the facility. They are dedicated to staying in Ukraine, protecting the local GDP, producing products for customers, and maintaining their communities and country.

CVG has moved quickly with its customers who are equally committed to protecting and preserving Ukraine, but additionally need to achieve supply chain certainty. This has required extremely fast customer-supplier decision-making. CVG is thankful to all those that have helped it move fast. CVG will continue to fully support the Ukrainian government, economy and people, and urges other organizations with operations in Ukraine to follow suit in ensuring the safety of its employees in the region, but also to preserve their way of life as best possible.

The "CVG 35"

In order to provide backup production to Ukraine, CVG immediately decided to begin fallback production in the Czech Republic. CVG has an existing team, distribution, plants, and banking in the Czech Republic and was able to open two new plants in parallel within a few weeks.

The "CVG 35" led the way - 35 brave women who traveled from Ukraine through Poland to the Czech Republic to help establish the new facilities, despite not speaking the Czech language or knowing the fate of their homes. CVG provided a moving package, apartments and furnishings to this core group of Ukrainian women to relocate to the Czech Republic. Thanks to these women, a large CVG support team, and the expedient movement of equipment and raw materials, the Czech plants are now operational. They are already producing electrical harnesses for electric vehicles and passenger cars. With this startup success, CVG plans to increase employment to 350 people between the two new locations.

As a leading customer of CVG's business in that region, members of Volkswagen's team from Skoda Auto visited the "CVG 35" at one of the new facilities in the Czech Republic. That visit left a lasting impression on Karsten Schnake, Board Member for Purchasing at SKODA AUTO & Head of Project COMPASS at Volkswagen AG, who posted on LinkedIn about the experience.

About CVG

CVG is a global provider of vehicle solutions, electrical systems, warehouse automation, and aftermarket services. CVG's corporate purpose and values are to make the world a better place through our products and actions; employ a diverse and inclusive workforce; let our results do the talking and hold each other accountable; have fun and help each other. Information about the company and its products is available on the internet at www.cvgrp.com.

Media Contact

Jason Gray

Marketing Manager

CVG

Jason.Gray@cvgrp.com

Related Images











Image 1: One of "CVG 35" who relocated to the Czech Republic from Ukraine to help set up facility.





Woman in foreground assembling wiring at an electrical assembly facility in the Czech Republic, with two other women assembling parts in the background.

















Image 2: Ukrainian woman assembling wire harnesses at Czech facility





One of the CVG 35 women who made the journey from Ukraine to the Czech Republic to help set up electrical manufacturing facilities there.

















Image 3: Ukrainian team at the facility in L'viv





The team at the Ukrainian facility in L'viv prior to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

















Image 4: CVG EV Logo





A blue CVG EV logo









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SINGAPORE, April 12, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ACT , the leading provider of market-based sustainability solutions, today announced the opening of its new office in Singapore. Coupled with its Shanghai office, ACT can help more companies in the Asia Pacific region take climate action and achieve their sustainability goals.



Known internationally for its economic importance and proximity to the fast-growing Asian-Pacific markets, Singapore is the ideal location for ACT as it expands across the continent. With five offices around the world, including New York City, Amsterdam and Paris, ACT is uniquely positioned to help companies in Asia navigate the sustainability market and achieve their carbon reduction objectives.

ACTs expansion comes at a critical moment as just this past November, the 21 member countries of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) pledged to address climate change and environmental challenges in the region  where 70 percent of all climate-induced natural disasters occur.

Climate change is a global problem, and in order to properly address this crisis it is crucial for ACT to continue to expand its global footprint and have a presence in even more regions of the world, said Federico Di Credico, Managing Director, Asia Pacific at ACT. Throughout Asia, companies are acknowledging climate change and investing the time and resources required to combat it. With the Singapore location, ACT strengthens its position as an important partner in helping fight climate change in this region  which we expect to be one of the biggest sources of carbon reduction in the world.

ACT is active in four key markets, including renewable energy, emissions, energy efficiency and renewable fuels & feedstock. It offers a number of services to help companies reduce their carbon footprint, including:

Client Education and Knowledge Sharing: Strong regulatory advisory capabilities enable ACT to guide clients through selection, execution, and settlement processes based on their specific regional requirements.

Strong regulatory advisory capabilities enable ACT to guide clients through selection, execution, and settlement processes based on their specific regional requirements. Strategic Sourcing and Solution Discovery: With a team of global experts across 40 countries, clients enjoy tailor-made solutions that meet their specific needs.

With a team of global experts across 40 countries, clients enjoy tailor-made solutions that meet their specific needs. Project Development: Through design and development of original carbon credits projects, ACT helps partners accelerate their climate action with new technologies and innovative carbon reduction and removal projects.

Through design and development of original carbon credits projects, ACT helps partners accelerate their climate action with new technologies and innovative carbon reduction and removal projects. Market Research and Transaction Structuring: ACT continuously monitors regulatory trends and developments, customizing market offerings to reflect them. Clients also have access to the latest findings from ACTs research and development team.

ACT continuously monitors regulatory trends and developments, customizing market offerings to reflect them. Clients also have access to the latest findings from ACTs research and development team. Relationship Management and Communication Support : ACT keeps its broad network of clients abreast of relevant trends and market changes, helping them create the best strategies for communicating their efforts and achievements to stakeholders.

: ACT keeps its broad network of clients abreast of relevant trends and market changes, helping them create the best strategies for communicating their efforts and achievements to stakeholders. Ecological Transition Financing: ACT helps its clients reduce energy consumption and supports financing energy savings along with energy efficiency initiatives. It also helps organizations in the French market facilitate their ecological transition.

In each of its global offices, ACT prioritizes hiring locally, and is planning to create several new job opportunities in Singapore by the end of the year.

Another aspect about Singapore that excites us, and led to our expansion here, is the quality of local talent within the market, said Di Credico. We pride ourselves on hiring bright, passionate changemakers, and there is no shortage of those in Singapore.

In Asia, ACT aims to replicate the success of recent client engagements with global Fortune 500 companies, including its recently announced carbon reduction work as part of Microsoft's $1 billion climate innovation fund. To date, through carbon credit sourcing, ACT has helped offset 473 million metric tonnes of carbon dioxide  equal to 40% of the yearly carbon removal by the Amazon rainforest. With the energy efficiency certificates sourced, it has saved 217 Terawatt-hours (TWh) of electricity, which is equivalent to the energy usage of 15 million European households in 2019. It has also supplied 720 TWh of renewable electricity, equal to almost 20% of U.S. electricity consumption in 2020.

ACTs Singapore office is located at 5 Shenton Way, UIC Building, #10/11-01, Singapore 068808.



For more information about ACT, visit www.actcommodities.com .

About ACT

ACT is the worlds leading provider of market-based sustainability solutions. Since 2009, ACT has been a reliable partner for high-impact carbon projects, energy efficiency projects and certificates, experts in renewable electricity and gas markets, renewable fuels, and emission allowances. ACT delivers tailor-made solutions backed by extensive market knowledge globally. In shaping environmental markets, ACT enables its partners to pursue sustainable futures.

Media Contact: Jon Keller, jon@propllr.com
Pune, India, April 12, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The United States mechanical tube & pipe market size was USD 1.95 billion in 2021. The market size is expected to rise from USD 2.05 billion in 2022 to USD 2.98 billion by 2029 at a CAGR of 5.5% during the forecast period. The market is anticipated to expand prominently due to increasing demand for these pipes and tubes in several industries during the forecast period.

Mechanical tube & pipes are utilized in several industries for mechanical and light gauge structural applications. These are used as supporting equipment to ensure effective functioning and operations. Mechanical tube & pipes hold corrosion resistance, durability, strength, workability, and stable mechanical properties. Increasing utilization of these pipes and tubes in the agriculture and the automotive sector is expected to drive the market during the forecast period.

List of Key Players Profiled in Market Report for U.S. Mechanical Tube & Pipe:

Nucor Corporation (U.S.)

Zekelman Industries (U.S.)

TimkenSteel (U.S.)

Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. (U.S.)

Bull Moose Tube (U.S.)

Tenaris S.A. (Luxembourg)

U.S. Steel Corporation (U.S.)

Valmont Tubing (U.S.)

Atkore (U.S.)

Vallourec (France)

Webco Industries Inc (U.S.)

EXLTUBE (U.S.)

Maruichi Leavitt Pipe & Tube (U.S.)

Steel Tube Inc. (U.S.)

Request a Sample PDF Brochure:

https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/request-sample-pdf/u-s-mechanical-tube-pipe-market-106579

Segments:

Seamless Steel Tubes Dominates Market Due to Increasing Demand

By type, the market is segregated into seamless steel tubes, welded steel tubes, and others.

Based on application, the market is segmented into the agricultural industry, automotive parts, HVAC systems, furniture, fitness, and others.

Report Coverage:

The report provides complete information regarding market growth potential and development opportunities in the coming years. Drivers and restraints affecting the market development are highlighted further in this report. Also, the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on market expansion is discussed further, along with recent industrial development. Furthermore, the report sheds light on regional analysis to elaborate on market growth and development during the forecast period. Key market players are listed along with their product launches and business development strategies.

Drivers & Restraints:

Rising Utilization of Tubes & Pipes in HVAC Systems to Propel Growth

The U.S. mechanical tube & pipe market growth is associated with increasing product demand in the agricultural and automotive industries. Also, these tubes and pipes are majorly used in fitness, furniture, HVAC systems, construction, and refinery & petrochemicals industry. The product holds various properties, which increases the products efficiency and durability. These factors are expected to drive the market during the projected period.

However, the availability of low-cost steel pipes and tubes is likely to hamper the market growth.

Browse Detailed Summary of Research Report with TOC:

https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/u-s-mechanical-tube-pipe-market-106579

Regional Insights:

Rising Product Demand in End-Use Industries to Fuel Market Growth

The agricultural and automotive industry in the U.S. is developing at a fast pace. The U.S. mechanical tube & pipe market share is expected to rise during the forecast period due to increasing product demand in the automotive and agriculture sectors. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the U.S. agriculture sector dominates the industry by contributing around 5.2% of total GDP. This factor is expected to drive the market by increasing product demand in emerging industries.

Competitive Landscape:

Innovative Product Development Allow Key Players to Enhance their Product Portfolio

The key market players implement innovative product designing and development strategies to launch new product range according to customer requirement. This allows the key players to adopt new technologies and develop the products accordingly. Also, creating strategic alliances and partnerships with other organizations allows companies to expand their business reach and increase their revenue generation rate.

Industry Development:

December 2021: Atkore Inc. acquired the assets of Four Star Industries, a manufacturer of High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) conduit, primarily serving the telecommunications, utility, infrastructure, and datacom markets. The acquisition of Four Star Industries will help to expand Atkores product portfolio and enable it to serve growing markets such as renewable energy and broadband.

Inquire Before Buying This Report:

https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/queries/u-s-mechanical-tube-pipe-market-106579

Table of Content

STUDY COVERAGE Mechanical Tube & Pipe Product Introduction Market by Type U.S. Mechanical Tube & Pipe Market Size Growth Rate by Type Seamless Steel Tubes Welded Steel Tubes Others Market by Application U.S. Mechanical Tube & Pipe Market Size Growth Rate by Application Agricultural Industry Automotive Parts HVAC Systems Furniture Fitness Others United States Mechanical Tube & Pipe Market Size Estimates and Forecasts U.S. Mechanical Tube & Pipe Sales Estimates and Forecasts 2018-2029 U.S. Mechanical Tube & Pipe Revenue Estimates and Forecasts 2018-2029 Study Objectives Years Considered

COMPETITION BY MANUFACTURER U.S. Mechanical Tube & Pipe Sales by Manufacturer U.S. Mechanical Tube & Pipe Sales by Manufacturer (2018-2022) U.S. Mechanical Tube & Pipe Manufacturers Market Share by Sales (2018-2022) U.S. 3 and Top 5 Companies by Mechanical Tube & Pipe Sales in 2021 U.S. Mechanical Tube & Pipe Revenue by Manufacturer U.S. Mechanical Tube & Pipe Manufacturers by Revenue (2018-2022) U.S. Mechanical Tube & Pipe Manufacturers Market Share by Revenue (2018-2022) U.S. 3 and Top 5 Companies by Mechanical Tube & Pipe Revenue in 2021 U.S. Mechanical Tube & Pipe Sales Price by Manufacturer Analysis of Competitive Landscape Manufacturers Market Concentration Ratio (CR5 and HHI) U.S. Mechanical Tube & Pipe Market Share by Company Type (Tier 1, Tier 2, and Tier 3) U.S. Mechanical Tube & Pipe Manufacturers Geographical Distribution Mergers & Acquisitions, Expansion Plans

MARKET SIZE BY TYPE U.S. Mechanical Tube & Pipe Sales by Type U.S. Mechanical Tube & Pipe Historical Sales by Type (2018-2022) U.S. Mechanical Tube & Pipe Forecasted Sales by Type (2022-2029) U.S. Mechanical Tube & Pipe Sales Market Share by Type (2018-2029) U.S. Mechanical Tube & Pipe Revenue by Type U.S. Mechanical Tube & Pipe Historical Revenue by Type (2018-2022) U.S. Mechanical Tube & Pipe Forecasted Revenue by Type (2022-2029) U.S. Mechanical Tube & Pipe Revenue Market Share by Type (2018-2029) U.S. Mechanical Tube & Pipe Price by Type U.S. Mechanical Tube & Pipe Price by Type (2018-2022) U.S. Mechanical Tube & Pipe Price Forecast by Type (2022-2029)

MARKET SIZE BY APPLICATION U.S. Mechanical Tube & Pipe Sales by Application U.S. Mechanical Tube & Pipe Historical Sales by Application (2018-2022) U.S. Mechanical Tube & Pipe Forecasted Sales by Application (2022-2029) U.S. Mechanical Tube & Pipe Sales Market Share by Application (2018-2029) U.S. Mechanical Tube & Pipe Revenue by Application U.S. Mechanical Tube & Pipe Historical Revenue by Application (2018-2022) U.S. Mechanical Tube & Pipe Forecasted Revenue by Application (2022-2029) U.S. Mechanical Tube & Pipe Revenue Market Share by Application (2018-2029) U.S. Mechanical Tube & Pipe Price by Application U.S. Mechanical Tube & Pipe Price by Application (2018-2022) U.S. Mechanical Tube & Pipe Price Forecast by Application (2022-2029)

CORPORATE PROFILE Nucor Corporation Zekelman Industries TimkenSteel Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. Bull Moose Tube Tenaris S.A. U.S. Steel Corporation Valmont Tubing Atkore Vallourec Webco Industries Inc EXLTUBE Maruichi Leavitt Pipe & Tube Steel Tube Inc. T&B Tube



TOC Continued!

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A young woman has been charged with murder in the killing of a Jamaican immigrant after a bizarre argument in a Bronx Dunkin Donuts last month.

Police released a photo of the female suspect in the shooting. (DCPI)

Santiana Rodriguez, 18, of Brooklyn, was busted Monday and charged in the slaying of 24-year-old Stephaun Stewart.

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NYPD investigate where a Bronx man was shot and killed after a dispute on E. 211th St. and Holland Ave. (GREGG VIGLIOTTI/for New York Daily News)

Police are still looking for a male accomplice, who they believe pulled the trigger during the deadly confrontation.

Stewart  who workers described as a regular at the Dunkin Donuts on E. Gun Hill Road near Mattie Harris Place in Williamsbridge  stood in line on March 18 to buy an iced coffee just before 1:30 p.m.

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Stephaun Stewart, 26 (Obtained by Daily News)

As he approached the register, Rodriguez, who police said was also in line, asked: Why are you coming so close to me? Why are you looking at my face? My boyfriend is outside, workers recounted.

He said nothing, and she left before he did  but two blocks away, a man believed to be Rodriguezs boyfriend shot him in the chest, on Holland Ave. near E. 213th St., police and sources said.

In an interview last month, Stewarts aunt, who didnt give her name, said he dreamed of opening up his own restaurant one day.

Hes like a lively person, he danced a lot, he loves to cook, she said. Cooking is his No. 1 thing. Hes a very good cook.

It makes no sense, she said of his slaying. It could happen to anyone. Anyone going into the coffee shop ... it literally could happen to anyone. It could happen in the train station, it could happen anywhere because people are crazy.

She said shes learned to keep her distance from people. Actually he literally walked away from them. They still followed him. So sometimes you dont know what. You walk away, they will still trail you. Its just an unfortunate situation.

Rodriguez awaits arraignment in Bronx Criminal Court.
BOISE, Idaho, April 12, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- RealTrends reported that Amherst Madison had more than $1.27 billion in sales volume in 2021 and over 2,000 closings. Currently ranked No. 3 among real estate brokerages statewide, Amherst Madison was one of two independent Idaho real estate brokerages to make the RealTrends Top 500 list, officials said.

"For Amherst Madison to achieve this ranking and be recognized on this list only eight years after launching and operating with fewer than 175 total licensees is astounding," said Nick Schlekeway, Founder and CEO of Amherst Madison. "We are particularly and spectacularly proud of the fact that we are one of only two independent brokerages in the state of Idaho to be listed in the 2021 ranking."

"According to the latest available statistics, there are over 120,000 active real estate brokerage firms in the United States. To be a member of the RealTrends 500 means that your firm is a part of the top 0.4% of that group," Schlekeway said.

Indeed, RealTrends heralds the Top 500 real estate brokerages as being among "the nation's elite." The RealTrends brokerage-ranking report, now in its 34th year, is considered to be the most trusted in the industry, officials said.

Amherst Madison brokerage has grown rapidly and currently operates out of four offices located in Boise, Eagle, McCall and Hidden Springs. Since the beginning, Schlekeway has sought to create a unique niche in the real estate marketplace with extensive training, exemplary customer service, close attention to detail and a broad suite of marketing services for real estate clients.

Amherst Madison always puts "people first" and "profits last," while also giving back to the community. "The growth of Amherst Madison is impressive," says Mike Gamblin, owner of the Idaho Real Estate School and a Boise real estate broker/owner. "Nick is one of a new breed of brokers who are re-shaping the industry. It's exciting to watch."

"This is a tremendous moment for all of us to pause and appreciate the work we have minted to date," Schlekeway said. "While numbers pale in comparison to the human impact of our agents' services, it is a worthy benchmark of note and consequence. The focus and dedication of our leadership, our staff, and our agents who serve clients 365 days a year is as sincere, as impactful, and as genuine as it comes. I am proud to be a part of this team."

To view the rankings, go to https://www.realtrends.com/real-trends-500/.

Media contact: Steve Stuebner PR & Marketing, 208-484-0295; steve.stuebner@gmail.com

Amherst Madison contact: Nick Schlekeway, nick@amherst-madison.com

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Image 1: Nation's Best RealTrends 2022





RealTrends Badge for Top 500 Real Estate Brokerages









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New York, New York, April 12, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Inspired by the World Economic Forum, the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC) announces its inaugural Minority Business Economic Forum (the Forum) held May 11-13, 2022, with Honorary Chair, John W. Rogers, Jr., Chairman and Co-CEO of Ariel Investments.

For the last 50 years, NMSDC has been advocating access to the American dream for minority business enterprises (MBEs). Our success is historic and unmatched: over 15,000 MBEs connected to more than 1,500 corporations, resulting in $400 billion in economic output annually, generating $48 billion in tax revenue, and sustaining 2.2 million jobs. We are the nations largest, most impactful, and successful non-profit advocacy organization for MBEs, proving growth for MBEs is growth for all.

As we celebrate our 50th anniversary, we know there is still much more work to be done, comments Ying McGuire, CEO and President of NMSDC. This leading event will tap the top leaders of corporate America, the Administration, and leading thought leaders in academia to re-calibrate the MBE narrative to be an integral part of the American economy and serve as a catalyst towards achieving $1 trillion in MBE annual revenue generation (4.3% of US GDP) to support MBE growth.

The Forum seeks to:

Galvanize a vanguard of chief officers to amplify the impact and influence of MBEs on the American economy.

Generate corporate spend and pledges towards $1 trillion in certified MBE revenue.

Spark actionable solutions to the critical challenges minority businesses face, including access to contracts, capital, and information.

Forge pivotal relationships between MBEs and key C-suite leadership.

Speakers include:

Pete Buttigieg, Secretary at U.S. Department of Transportation

Earvin "Magic" Johnson, founder of NMSDC certified-MBE SodexoMagic

Marc Morial, President and CEO at the National Urban League

Shelley Stewart III, Partner at McKinsey & Company

James (Jim) H. Lowry, Senior Advisor at Boston Consulting Group

Dave Steward, Founder and Chairman of the Board at World Wide Technology

Randal Pinkett, PhD, Founder & Managing Partner at BCT Partners

And many more!

Additionally, the Forum will introduce a new awards program, The Equity Honors, presented to corporate chief officers who have been recognized by their peers as the true leaders at the vanguard of economic equity and minority business integration.

Onsite attendance will be limited to 400 VIP and Premier attendees, with the virtual program and Equity Honors Awards Ceremony on May 12, 2022, streamed live for thousands of virtual participants. For more information about the Forum and Equity Honors, including a tentative agenda, please visit www.theforum.nmsdc.org.

###

About NMSDC

Founded in 1972, NMSDC is the longest-operating business growth engine for the broadest group of systematically excluded communities of color (Asian, Black, Hispanic and Native American), and our impact goes far beyond supply chain. Its about upward mobility for the emerging majority of Americans, an equal shot at participating in the American experiment of free-market capitalism and entrepreneurship. Our work is about correcting the unequal access to wealth-building opportunities. For more information, please visit www.nmsdc.org.
OXFORD, Miss., April 12, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Hunt Marketing, an integrated marketing firm located in Oxford, Miss., has formed a strategic partnership with Sydenstricker Nobbe Partners (SNPartners), a John Deere dealer with 27 locations across Missouri and Illinois.

Hunt Marketing specializes in marketing strategy and full-scale creative campaign development. The agency will provide SNPartners with SEO management services in order to increase the dealer's organic website traffic.

"We're excited about our relationship with Hunt Marketing," said SNPartners Vice President of Marketing Lee Ann Sydenstricker. "We're committed to offering our customers a high level of service. We hope to always be considered a trusted partner. It's clear that that's also important to the Hunt Marketing team."

SNPartners was named the 2021 Farm Equipment Dealership of the Year by Farm Equipment Magazine. The group was awarded this designation across all brands for North America. They also earned the 2021 Aftermarket Achievers Award. John Deere bestows this honor upon dealers who are outstanding in the areas of parts and service.

"Our team couldn't be more thrilled about partnering with SNPartners," said Hunt Marketing CEO and President Will Hunt. "We're passionate about agriculture marketing of all kinds and feel at home in the John Deere dealer space. SNPartners has already been fantastic to work with, and we can't wait to see where the relationship goes."

According to the company's vision statement, Hunt Marketing cultivates connection within their team and with their clients in order to help them grow. They partner with leaders who have a passion for service, excellence and who put relationships above all else.

To learn more about how your business can grow with Hunt Marketing, visit huntmarketingfirm.com.

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Hunt Marketing is located in Oxford, Miss. Through the unity we share as a team, the bonds we forge with our clients and the relationships our clients build with their customers, we help you cultivate connection so you can grow, in every way that matters. Learn more about us today at huntmarketingfirm.com.

Media Contact:

Will Hunt, CEO & President at Hunt Marketing

will@huntmarketingfirm.com

202-436-4350

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London, England, April 12, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Net Savings Link, Inc. (OTC Pink: NSAV), a cryptocurrency, blockchain and digital asset technology company, today announced that the Company has completed major upgrades to its Centralized Cryptocurrency Exchange (CEX), the NSAVCEX https://ex.nsavexchange.com/main . This move further cements NSAVs position in the $14 trillion global centralized cryptocurrency market.

Centralized crypto exchanges reported more than $14 trillion in trading volume in 2021, according to The Block Research. That figure is a massive 689% increase compared to 2020 trading volumes, based on data as of December 24, 2021. In 2020, centralized crypto exchanges facilitated just over $1.8 trillion in trading volumes.

https://www.theblockcrypto.com/linked/128526/centralized-crypto-exchanges-14-trillion-trading-volume-2021

The management of NSAV believes that the Company can capture a significant share of the massive Asian cryptocurrency market, given the expertise of its management and strategic partners. Presently, the Upbit Cryptocurrency Exchange https://sg.upbit.com/home has a 24 hour trading volume of over $4.3 billion. Huobi Cryptocurrency Exchange https://www.huobi.com/en-us/ has a 24-hour trading volume of over $2.7 billion. Industry leader, Binance https://www.binance.com/en , has a 24-hour trading volume of over $23 billion.

The management of NSAV and its partners are pioneers in the Digital Asset and Blockchain industry. NSAV Director, Mr. Yuen Wong, is a Managing Partner at Bitmart Cryptocurrency Exchange https://www.bitmart.com . BitMart is a premier global digital asset trading platform with over 5.5 million users worldwide and ranked among the top crypto exchanges according to CoinGecko. BitMart currently offers 600+ trading pairs, with one of the lowest trading fees in the market. Bitmart's platform supports over 600 cryptocurrencies and has a 24-hour trading volume of approximately $1.7 billion, according to coinmarketcap.com.

https://coinmarketcap.com/exchanges/bitmart/

Dato' Sri Desmond Lim, Interim CEO and Senior Vice President of Cryptocurrency Operations for NSAV and Silverbear Capital partner stated, I am thrilled that the NSAV team has been able to achieve another milestone in the NSAV ECOsystem.

NSAV's vision is the establishment of a fully integrated technology company, which provides turnkey technological solutions to the cryptocurrency, blockchain and digital asset industries. Over time, the Company plans to provide a wide range of services such as software solutions, e-commerce, financial services, advisory services and information technology.

For further information, please contact NSAV at info@nsavholdinginc.com

The NSAV Twitter account can be accessed at https://twitter.com/nsavtech

The NSAV corporate website can be accessed at http://nsavholdinginc.com

The NSAV Centralized Cryptocurrency Exchange (CEX) website can be accessed at https://ex.nsavexchange.com/main

The NSAV CEX Twitter account can be accessed at https://twitter.com/nsavcex

The NSAVDEX 1 Exchange website can be accessed at https://nsavdex.org/#/home

The NSAVDEX 2 Exchange website can be accessed at https://nsavdex.io/

The NSAV NFT Marketplace website can be accessed at https://nsavnft.com/

The NSAV Premium OTC Crypto Trading Desk website can be accessed at https://nsavholdinginc.com/otc-desk/

The NSAV Hong Kong OTC Crypto Trading Desk website can be accessed at https://hkotc.co/

The NSAVDEX Exchange Telegram account can be accessed at https://t.me/NSAVDEXorg

Silverbear Capital Inc. https://www.sbcfinancialgroup.com.hk/ , a leading, global investment banking firm, will be advising NSAV on strategic matters related to this transaction.

Silverbear Capital Inc. (SBC) has a dynamic of disciplines on a broad commercial level and practice. SBC has a strong group of Partners in a wide range of disciplines with seasoned experience in finance, management, and professional practice. https://www.sbcfinancialgroup.com.hk/meet-our-team/ .

Disclaimer: Silverbear Capital Inc. does not constitute investment advice, or an offer or solicitation to sell, or a solicitation to buy, or any other investment product (nor shall any such shares or product be offered or sold to any person) in any jurisdiction in which an offer, solicitation, purchase or sale would be unlawful under the securities law of that jurisdiction.

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, which are intended to be covered by the safe harbors created thereby. Investors are cautioned that, all forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, including without limitation, the ability of Net Savings Link, Inc. to accomplish its stated plan of business. Net Savings Link, Inc. believes that the assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements contained herein are reasonable, any of the assumptions could be inaccurate, and therefore, there can be no assurance that the forward-looking statements included in this press release will prove to be accurate. In light of the significant uncertainties inherent in the forward-looking statements included herein, the inclusion of such information should not be regarded as a representation by Net Savings Link, Inc. or any other person.

Contact

Net Savings Link, Inc.

info@nsavholdinginc.com

Attachments
Luxembourg  12 April 2022  Subsea 7 S.A. (Oslo Brs: SUBC, ADR: SUBCY) today announced that at the 2022 Annual General Meeting (AGM) of shareholders on 12 April 2022 all resolutions were approved.

In addition, at the subsequent Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) of shareholders on the same day, the proposed amendments to the Companys articles of incorporation were all approved, including amendments in relation to the dematerialisation of the Companys shares following the implementation of the Norwegian Central Securities Depository Act, implementing the EUs Central Securities Depositories Regulation.

At the AGM, the payment of a dividend of NOK 1.00 per common share was approved. The last day the shares will be traded including the right to receive a dividend will be 27 April 2022. The first trading date ex-dividend will be 28 April 2022 and holders of common shares and ADRs on record at the close of business on 29 April 2022 will be entitled to the dividend. The date of payment of the dividend will be 6 May 2022 for holders of common shares and ADRs.

As permitted under the Luxembourg law dated 23 September 2020 on measures concerning the holding of meetings in companies and other legal entities, as amended, both meetings took place without any physical presence.

The minutes of both the AGM and EGM which detail the resolutions passed and the result of the votes cast in relation to each resolution, the 2022 Subsea 7 S.A. Long Term Incentive Plan, and the changes to the Companys articles of association are attached. The minutes can also be found on the Companys website www.subsea7.com.

*******************************************************************************

Subsea 7 is a global leader in the delivery of offshore projects and services for the evolving energy industry, creating sustainable value by being the industrys partner and employer of choice in delivering the efficient offshore solutions the world needs.

Subsea 7 is listed on the Oslo Brs (SUBC), ISIN LU0075646355, LEI 222100AIF0CBCY80AH62.

*******************************************************************************

Contact for investment community enquiries:

Katherine Tonks

Investor Relations Director

Tel +44 (0)20 8210 5568

katherine.tonks@subsea7.com

Attachments
Alex AlexanderOslo and Barcelona, 12 April 2022 - Adevinta ASA (ADE) has today announced that Alex Alexander will join Adevinta as Chief Product & Technology Officer (CPTO), effective 19 April 2022. He will report to CEO Rolv Erik Ryssdal and join the Adevinta Executive team.



Alex is an international product and technology executive with a proven track record of leading transformation and innovative product development for some of the worlds largest companies, like Walmart, through building diverse, world-class product and technology teams.



With over 20 years experience in transactional commerce, Alex has helped organisations to gain competitive advantages by using cutting edge digital technologies, enabled by modern, agile operating models. Alex brings a unique blend of innovation and start-up experience from e-commerce companies, such as YOOX Net-a-Porter, as well as experience with large e-commerce retailers, leveraging his passion for customer-centric products to help global companies scale.



Rolv Erik Ryssdal, CEO of Adevinta, said: "We are thrilled to have a Product & Technology leader of Alexs calibre joining Adevinta at such a pivotal time for the company, following our acquisition of eBay Classifieds Group. His deep expertise in digital transformation, cloud-based platform expansion and building diverse global teams will be a strong asset toward achieving our strategy to grow Adevinta at scale. His e-commerce experience and track record in developing pioneering, customer-centric products across three continents and multiple industries, from general consumer goods to travel, will add valuable knowledge across Adevintas verticals.



Alex Alexander, incoming Chief Product and Technology Officer at Adevinta, said: The combination of Adevintas customer focus, the transformation journey and the collaborative culture really excites me. People are the most important consideration in any transformation journey, and I believe Adevintas culture matches my people-centric style of leadership, driving change through transparency and consensus to create organisational alignment. I am humbled and proud to become an Adevintan at this exciting period in the Companys transformation journey.

Alex graduated from University College London (UCL) and has a Masters of Business Administration.



Rolv Erik Ryssdal concludes: We would like to thank Renaud Bruyeron who stepped up as interim CPTO in June 2021. Under his leadership, our Product and Technology teams have made huge strides in the integration of the two companies, including designing a proposed new operating model for our Business Technology Services function and defining both our Data and Cloud strategies. We are pleased that Renaud will continue to play an important part at Adevinta, as he has decided to take on a new role as Vice President of Cloud & Infrastructure reporting into Alex.

-end-

Notes to Editors



About Adevinta

Adevinta is a leading online classifieds specialist, operating digital marketplaces in 15 countries. The company provides technology-based services to connect buyers with sellers and to facilitate transactions, from real estate to motors, and consumer goods.



Adevintas portfolio spans more than 40 digital brands, covering one billion people and attracting approximately three billion average monthly visits. Leading brands include top-ranked leboncoin in France, Germany's leading classifieds sites mobile.de and eBay Kleinanzeigen, Marktplaats in the Netherlands, fotocasa and InfoJobs in Spain, and 50% of fast-growing OLX Brasil. Adevinta employs around 7,500 people committed to supporting users and customers daily. Find out more at Adevinta.com.



Media contacts



Adevinta

Melodie Laroche

Corporate Communications

+33 (0) 6 84 30 52 76

melodie.laroche@adevinta.com





This information is subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant to Section 5-12 the Norwegian Securities Trading Act

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Las Vegas, NV., April 12, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- China Dongsheng International Inc., (OTC Markets: CDSG) (the Company or CDSG) is pleased to announce that it has entered into an agreement with Oliver Geoservices LLC (OGS), a Texas based privately held corporation, whereby CDSG will acquire all of OGSs rights for exploration, development and exploitation related to the drill-ready Walker Ridge Gold Property (Walker Ridge) located in Elko County, Nevada.



The Walker Ridge claims sits in a favorable location near to Elko Nevada just north of the Jerritt Canyon gold mines, currently operated by First Majestic Silver Corp (NYSE: AG), which have produced over 8.5 million ounces of gold.

The Walker Ridge project is road accessible and is located within one of the four major linear Carlin gold structures that cross central and north Nevada and have produced over 90 million ounces and continue to lead gold production and discoveries in Nevada.

Walker Ridge contains the same geologic units that host the Jerritt Canyon gold deposits and previous exploration efforts have delineated very large coincident geochemical and geophysical anomalies indicative of a buried Carlin Type gold occurrence.

Craig Alford, CDSGs President and a Professional Geoscientist, states, We are very excited about prospects at Walker Ridge, which sits in a structure parallel to the Turquoise Ridge Carlin gold trend where local operators have had great success with deep drilling. We have already chosen our main drill targets and hope to rapidly advance this excellent target this year.

About CDSG: CDSG is a diversified holding company whose strategy is to acquire interests in a range of profitable ventures within the Energy and Minerals sector.

Forward-Looking Statements:

This press release may contain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, such as statements relating to financial results and plans for future development activities and are thus prospective. Forward-looking statements include all statements that are not statements of historical fact regarding intent, belief or current expectations of the Company, its directors or its officers. Investors are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the Company's ability to control. Actual results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Among the factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements are risks and uncertainties associated with the Company's business and finances in general, including the ability to continue and manage its growth, competition, global economic conditions and other factors discussed in detail in the Company's periodic filings with the Security and Exchange Commission.
English French

COMBINED GENERAL MEETING OF MAY 3, 2022

AVAILABILITY OF PREPARATORY DOCUMENTS

The Companys shareholders are invited to attend the Combined General Meeting to be held on Tuesday May 3, 2022 at 2:30 p.m. (CET) at Paris Expo Porte de Versailles  1, Place de la Porte de Versailles, Hall 5.1  75015 Paris.

The notice of meeting (avis de reunion), including the agenda and the draft resolutions as well as the terms and conditions for participating and voting in the meeting, was published on the website of the Bulletin des Annonces Legales Obligatoires BALO ( www.journal-officiel.gouv.fr/balo ) on March 25, 2022, bulletin n36.

The notice of meeting (avis de convocation) was published on the website of the Bulletin des Annonces Legales Obligatoires BALO ( www.journal-officiel.gouv.fr/balo ) on April 11, 2022, bulletin n43.

The preparatory documents for this meeting will be made available to the shareholders in accordance with the applicable legal and regulatory provisions.

For registered shareholders, you will receive your notice of the General Meeting directly by post or by e- mail, depending on your choice. To request additional documents, you must complete the document request form on page 57 of the notice of meeting and return it to BNP Paribas Securities Services, Service Assemblees Generales - C.T.O. Assemblee Generales - Les Grands Moulins de Pantin 9, rue du Debarcadere

- 93761 Pantin Cedex, no later than April 28, 2022.

For bearer shareholders, you should contact your financial intermediary.

In accordance with Article R.22-10-23 of the French Commercial Code, the preparatory documents for this

meeting are available on the Companys website: www.sanofi.com/AG2022 .

* * *

Attachment
English Spanish

After a fully digital edition in 2021, which enabled the global automotive industry to meet online last July, Automotive Meetings comes back to basics with a fully on-site edition in Queretaro, Mexico on June 21-23, 2022.







Exhibition floor in 2018

Over the past five editions, Automotive Meetings Queretaro has established itself as the only international matchmaking event dedicated to the automotive industry in Mexico. Unlike traditional trade shows, this unique program is designed to help manufacturers, OEMs and subcontractors of the automotive sector connect and find their next business partners. Strictly reserved to professionals, the concept of the event is unique: registered participants can request one-to-one meetings with the contacts they would like to network with, as well as accept or deny the requests of other companies according to their needs and relevance. A few days before the event, participants receive an approved and tailored meeting schedule considering their requests.

A unique venue to take advantage and contribute to Mexicos expanding automotive industry

Jointly organized with the government of Queretaro, Automotive Meetings Queretaro can count on the support of key stakeholders of the Mexican automotive industry, such as AMIA (Mexican Automotive Industry Association), ANPACT (National Association of Bus, Truck and Tractor Producers) and INA (Auto-Parts National Industry), three national Mexican organizations whose purpose is the promotion of the automotive industry and its development. Two industrial partners, Eaton and Tremec, are also supporting the organization of the event.

Automotive Meetings Queretaro is promoting the local Mexican industry, but also aims to create an international synergy with global stakeholders of the sector. For this 6th edition, more than ten countries have already signed up their participation. America, Asia and Europe will be represented. Obviously, both North and South America will be there, with companies coming from Canada, Colombia, and the USA. Europe is also coming forward as Austria, France, Germany, Portugal, Spain and the Netherlands are sending in a special delegation through national associations and clusters.

In addition to international companies, the Mexican automotive industrial base also comes forward: the Mexican districts of Chihuahua, Laguna, Queretaro, and Guanajuato are taking part in the event through their industrial clusters. Confirmed participants in the 6th edition include Daimler, Ford Motor Company, Volkswagen, Volvo, John Deere, Dana, Vanderhall Motor Works, BOS, Valeo, Borgwarner, Tremec, Bourns, Diehl Controls, Draxlmaier, Eaton, Grammer Automotive, GSM Automotive Mexico, Honda Lock Mexico, Hutchinson, Pirelli, Webasto Roof Systems Inc., Kia and Stellantis.

Registrations are still open, fill in yours at https://bit.ly/autoqrob2b

Experts to learn more about the sector

In addition to the one-to-one meetings, Automotive Meetings Queretaro also includes a full conference day on June 21. This inspiring edition will focus on the application of innovative technologies in manufacturing and vehicle development, with expert speakers talking about Industry 4.0. Other innovation topics such as e-mobility and sustainability will also be at the heart of the discussions. The promotion of the local Mexican automotive industry will of course be one of the key topics, the speakers will also focus on the supply chain and the particular challenges of heavy vehicle production.

Get your access pass to attend the special conference session on June 21: https://bit.ly/autoqroconference





Conference session in 2018

An opportunity towards diversification with Aerospace Meetings Queretaro

For the first time, Automotive Meetings Queretaro is co-located with Aerospace Meetings Queretaro on June 22-23, 2022. Based on the same matchmaking concept, the organization of both events is a unique opportunity for both industries to meet and share their experiences. Aerospace Meetings Queretaro also includes a conference program, which will take place on June 22-23.

# # # # #

About Automotive Meetings Queretaro 2022:

Organized by:

advanced business events

Supported by:

Government of Queretaro

Industrial Partners:

Eaton - They develop more efficient and sustainable energy management solutions that meet the changing needs of the automotive world.

Tremec - It offers traditional mechanical solutions as well as advanced mechatronics for moderate-volume applications. Its technology addresses key market needs for automation, emissions control, fuel efficiency, torque capacity and refinement.

Institutional partners:

AMIA - Civil association formed by the will of the vehicle manufacturing companies established in Mexico, with the purpose of having an exclusive representation for this industrial sector.

ANPACT - Asociacion Nacional de Productores de Autobuses, Camiones y Tractocamiones is an effective representative actor and a key factor in the harmonization, promotion and execution of strategies for the development of the sector.

INA - Industria Nacional de Autopartes (INA) represents the interests of auto parts manufacturers in Mexico, fostering the growth and development of this industry through the promotion of the global market and manufacturing of the guild and the automotive sector.

Silver Sponsors:

Livingstone - We provide clarity in a world of trade complexity so that businesses can grow further, faster, smarter. Every year, we move thousands of cars and other personal vehicles safely and securely.

Michigan Economic Development Council - A public-private partnership agency and economic development corporation dedicated to job creation in the U.S. state of Michigan.

UL - Inspection, advisory services, education and training, testing, auditing and analytics, certification software solutions, and marketing claim verification.

About advanced business events / BCI Aerospace:

advanced business events is a leading European organizer of business conventions, conferences and congresses dedicated to professionals in various industries including automotive and aerospace through its brand BCI Aerospace.

# # # # #

For more information, contact:

Dalia Castillo Andrade, Event Manager - dandrade@advbe.com
MACON, GA, April 12, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via NewMediaWire -- Republican congressional candidate Wayne Johnson of Bibb County said he was looking forward to sponsoring Rep. Sanford Bishops retirement party after the November election. That was one topic among many at a forum hosted by the Macon League of Women Voters on Monday night.



It was a highly educational forum that was professionally administered, and the first time in this election cycle that both Democrat and Republican candidates were on the same stage, said Johnson. The live audience of around 60 attendees as well as the live-stream audience were able to hear our positions on a number of issues. It was important to make it clear to Rep. Bishop that Republicans have a solid candidate who can win in the fall, restore a Republican majority in the U.S. House and Stop The Stupid in Washington.

In addition to Johnson and Rep. Bishop, the forum included Republican candidates Vivian Childs of Houston County, Paul Whitehead of Bibb County and Rich Robertson of Peach County. Jeremey Hunt and Chris West declined the invitation.

While Johnson expressed his disappointment that Hunt and West didnt honor the process of this forum with their involvement, Johnson said he had a good talk with Rep. Bishop prior to the moderated event. The 30-year incumbent congressman called the discussion interesting when he passed Johnson upon leaving Macon City Hall.

It was interesting because we had the chance to show how out of touch Rep. Bishop is with the day-to-day priorities of the 2ndDistrict and how different our views are on the issues voters face, said Johnson.

In their closing comments, Rep. Bishop said he saw his tenure in Congress as a ministry, to which Johnson replied, I believe in public service. I do not want to be the districts pastor, but their hard-working congressman.

Of the issues discussed, one question asked for the top three national security issues facing America. While Bishop listed domestic terrorism as the only issue, Johnson pointed out that China, energy independence and funding of local law enforcement were the key issues.

I was stunned by his answer, since it was clearly just a reference to radical groups, said Johnson. It is hard for Sanford to be more out of touch than that. Everyday citizens understand that China is strangling our economy, that pumping billions of dollars into the pockets of our enemies with oil purchases is just stupid, and that under-funding of paychecks for local law enforcement undermines our day-to-day public safety.

Another topic discussed was climate change. While Rep. Bishop regurgitated the Democratic Green New Deal fear-mongering rhetoric, Johnson explained that climate change mitigation is achieved by regaining energy independence through multiple sources and eventually moving to nuclear energy. He backed up his answer with experience as someone who once built a biodiesel plant to produce clean energy and stated he would take informed and specific actions once in congress.

Under President Trump, America was achieving energy independence, yet Rep. Bishops rubber stamp for Biden and Pelosi policies have torn that down in less than two years, Johnson said. There can be no more defining issue that impacts citizens pocketbooks than what the Democrats have done to our energy policy. The cost of energy affects everything.

Equal pay for women and minorities was also part of the issue debate, and again Johnson and Rep. Bishop offered radically different views.

When Johnson was serving as a senior executive in the Trump Administration as part of the Department of Education, he emphatically broke through the bureaucracy and battled the status quo in Washington by demanding and achieving equal pay for everyone he hired during his tenure.

I didnt just talk about it, as Rep. Bishop does, said Johnson. I did not wait for the bureaucrats to decide; I just used my authority and acted. That is what stopping the stupid in Washington is all about. Lastly, Johnson was asked about the concerns non-Christians have with the focus on bringing Christian values back to government. Treat every person the way we want to be treated, Johnson responded. We will always defend the right of every citizen to his or her religion. As a response, Rep. Bishop acknowledged that he agreed with Johnson.

Johnson is a rock-solid conservative candidate in the Republican Primary in the 2nd Congressional District covering Middle and Southwest Georgia. Johnson served as a Senior Official within the Trump Administration, was an officer in the U.S. Army and is an Eagle Scout.

Johnson obtained his undergraduate and doctoral degrees from Mercer University and his MBA from Emory University. He was born, raised and currently resides in Macon.

www.JohnsonCongress.com

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A home intruder dressed as a nurse was shot to death early Tuesday morning in Houston.

The suspect, who has not been publicly identified, knocked on a 65-year-old womans house around 12:30 a.m. Tuesday, dressed in scrubs and claiming to be a health care worker, according to the Houston Police Department.

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The woman refused to let him in and instead called her son, she told police.

When her 40-year-old son, who was just blocks away, arrived, he found the door broken in, according to police.

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Thats when he shot and killed the intruder.

It doesnt look like theres any relation at all, HPD Lt. J.P. Horelica told KHOU. It was just a random thing.

No charges have been filed yet but a spokesperson for the Houston Police Department told the Daily News that they could be filed pending an investigation.

The report from the Harris County Medical Examiners Office, which would include an identification and cause of death, was still pending as of 4 p.m. Tuesday.
New York, New York, April 12, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Malta, an archipelago located in the heart of the Mediterranean Sea, is a paradise for beach lovers and environmentalists! This hidden gem is perfect for travelers looking for off the beaten path destinations that offer amazing beaches, including 12 Blue Flag beaches. The crystal blue waters of the Maltese islands with breathtaking landscapes, and a year round warm climate, appeal to a diverse group of travelers. With more than 7,000 years of history, Michelin star gastronomy, local wine and year round festivals, there is something for every visitor.

The island of Gozo is prized for its charming rural landscape and idyllic setting. It is the second largest of Maltas three main islands. The coastline consists of long stretches of glorious sandy beaches and hidden coves where the locals go. Visitors can spend the day on a boat in Cominos Blue Lagoon famous for its clear azure waters and enjoy some of the worlds top-rated scuba diving sites.

Blue Flag Beaches

The Blue Flag is one of the worlds most recognized voluntary awards for beaches, marinas, and sustainable boating tourism operators. The Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE), awarded twelve beaches in Malta and Gozo Blue Flag status for 2022. Enjoy some of Maltas most gorgeous and environmentally sustainable beaches, with azure waters in secluded spots along the Mediterranean coastlines.

Top Beaches in the Maltese Islands

Maltas Blue Flag Beaches

Gozos Blue Flag Beaches

Ramla Bay Xaghra managed by Gaia Foundation

Hondoq ir-Rummien Bay Qala managed by the Malta Tourism Authority

Marsalforn Bay Marsalforn managed by the Malta Tourism Authority

And more.

-Ends-

About Malta

The sunny islands of Malta, in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, are home to a most remarkable concentration of intact built heritage, including the highest density of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in any nation-state anywhere. Valletta, built by the proud Knights of St. John, is one of the UNESCO sites and the European Capital of Culture for 2018. Malta's patrimony in stone ranges from the oldest free-standing stone architecture in the world, to one of the British Empire's most formidable defensive systems, and includes a rich mix of domestic, religious and military architecture from the ancient, medieval and early modern periods. With superbly sunny weather, attractive beaches, a thriving nightlife and 7,000 years of intriguing history, there is a great deal to see and do. www.visitmalta.com

MTA US Editorial Contact

The Bradford Group

Gabriela Reyes/Amanda Marconi

Tel: (212) 447-0027

Fax: (212) 725 8253

E-mail: VisitMalta@bradfordglobalmarketing.com

Attachments
MENLO PARK, Calif., April 12, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Mercor.io is a new software development and recruitment agency that connects startups with qualified engineering teams.

Mercor.io was founded in January of 2022 by Brendan Foody, Surya Midha, and Adarsh Hiremath, students at Georgetown and Harvard University. Mercor.io recently won $10,000 and placed first in Georgetown's premier entrepreneurship pitch competition. The company is on track to reach a record-high $40,000 in revenue for the month of April.

The key to Mercor.io's early success has been combining both software development and recruitment.

For development services, startups begin by contracting with one of Mercor.io's teams of product managers and engineers. Clients interface with US-based product management, who then coordinate tasks for the engineers.

If startups are satisfied with the completed software, they then have the option to bring the full team in-house. This allows startups to forgo the complexities of hiring but reap the benefits of qualified in-house engineering teams that constantly iterate on their product.

To meet recruitment demand, Mercor.io leverages institutional partnerships with the best universities globally to tap into qualified pools of talent currently neglected by US companies.

By engaging in both development and recruitment, Mercor.io provides startups with a simple and affordable method to quickly build products and scale teams. Mercor.io engineers have an incentive to exceed expectations because performing well enables them to work directly for US startups.

Past Mercor.io clients include Attend, an education technology startup that streamlines attendance in large lecture halls. Mercor.io, through a team of product managers and engineers, translated a non-technical vision for attendance into a first-of-its-kind revolving QR code technology that students scan to mark their presence. Teachers have access to a dashboard that logs student attendance and Mercor.io is currently developing automatic integration between Attend and popular grade book softwares used by universities.

On April 27th, Mercor.io will sponsor a hackathon at Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, a top computer science university in India with a 2% acceptance rate. The hackathon will be open to students from across the Indian Institutes of Technology and already has an expected 500 people participating. From those students, Mercor.io will interview the most qualified for a spot on an engineering team.

Looking forward, Mercor.io's founders hope to rapidly scale the engineering teams to meet growing development demand. Prospective clients interested in contracting with Mercor.io are encouraged to visit the website for more information and email support@mercor.io for a quote.

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LONDON, April 12, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- SoundOut has revealed the leading sonic logos for 2022 - which it has named the year of the Sonic Boom due to the growing strategic focus on audio assets. These sonic logos rank as the most effective thanks to a combination of appeal, perceived brand value, personality match and brand recognition.

The most effective sonic logo of 2022 is Arby's, followed by Goldfish and Farmers - with all three capitalising on the subconscious power of music to engage with their consumers.

The ranking of sonic logos reflects SoundOut's awareness that sonic branding is increasingly recognised as a powerful and distinctive strategic brand asset, rather than a marketing afterthought.

Arby's boasts an overall score of 80%, based on a combined score of 81% for appeal; 77% for perceived brand value; 77% for personality match; and 85% for brand recognition. By matching their sonic marketing to their overarching brand personality, Arby's sonic logo contributes to building brand recognition and equity with every consumer interaction.

Arby's is followed by Goldfish and Farmers, both with a score of 78%. The top 10 of US sonic logos are:

Rank Brand Score 1 Arby's 80% 2 Goldfish 78% 3 Farmers 78% 4 Chili's 76% 5 Hot Pockets 75% 6 The General 74% 7 State Farm 73% 8 Red Robin 72% 9 Netflix 72% 10 O'Reilly 72%

SoundOut's ranking is underpinned by cold, hard, quantitative data on 114 US sonic logos. This is based on over 500,000 data points captured from 30,000 US consumers.

David Courtier-Dutton, Founder and CEO of SoundOut, said: "Well done to Arby's, Goldfish and Farmers - these are the brands that are really getting strategic with their sonic assets and putting the subconscious power of music to work for their brand. As a result of the shift towards a strategic musical approach for brands, I expect to see a growing value divide between brands that have a sonic strategy and those that do not. Those that ensure their investment in music creates distinctive brand asset status will ultimately supercharge their brand recognition through a consistent sonic approach that resonates with their desired brand personality. Those that do not risk confusing consumers and leaking brand recognition to competitors."

New entrants

Outside the top 10, SoundOut can reveal that 10 new entrants have already hit the full ranking of 114 US sonic brands. The leading newcomer is Colgate, with a sonic logo that has hit the ranking at number 39, thanks to an impressive personality match of 89%. The full ranking from 1-114 of the US sonic logos can be seen here - with the newcomers highlighted in orange.

Methodology

The overall rankings were created by equally weighting four key factors:

Appeal - how much do consumers like the sonic logo? Perceived brand value was assessed using an implicit (subconscious) testing methodology combining audio and imagery. Brand personality match was calculated using SoundOut's BrandMatch technology. Brand recognition is simply a measure of the percentage of consumers who could name the brand from just hearing the sonic logo.

ENDS

About SoundOut

SoundOut is the world leader in strategic sonic branding and audio marketing testing. It has achieved this lead position by combining three powerful capabilities.

Working with world-leading music psychologists and over 500,000 consumers, it has mapped the explicit emotional DNA of sound and used this as the foundation for a suite of tools, such as BrandMatch, that can be used at various stages of sonic branding development to increase the certainty of a return on investment.

The development of a wholly owned consumer panel of over 3.5 million people, which enables brands to test their sonic assets at scale.

The testing and analysis of almost 200 in-market sonic logos (The SoundOut Index) that reveals the key criteria that are essential to audio branding and audio marketing success.

Website: www.soundout.com

For more information about SoundOut, please contact:

Neha Khatwani, Carta Communications, +44 (0)7717 576 297 or neha.khatwani@cartacomms.com

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Montreal, April 12, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Montreal, Quebec -

Frank And Oak, a company based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, has launched their Men Aero Ultra Light Overshirt that is made from recycled nylon and polyester. The nylon is made from recycled textile waste while the recycled polyester is made from waste materials. The lining of the overshirt is also produced using recycled fibres. This aero ultra light overshirt for men is available in various sizes: XS, S, M, L, XL, and XXL. Available colours are black and dark blue. More about the Men Aero Ultra Light Overshirt can be gleaned from https://ca.frankandoak.com/collections/men-outerwear

This Men Aero Ultra Light Overshirt is water-resistant because its dense fabric is capable of preventing the penetration of water to some degree. It is composed of 48 percent recycled polyester and 52 percent recycled nylon. And this overshirt can be washed in a washing machine without getting damaged. It is also wind resistant, allowing the wearer to remain durably sheltered from the wind. And because it is made from ripstop fabric, this overshirt has been made more durable because of the application of a special interlocking reinforcement process.

This Men Aero Ultra Light Overshirt has been provided with modular layers made for every season. The Frank And Oak Smart-Layer collection has become a favourite since its launch in 2019 for a particular reason. Where most coats do not consider the environment and the various weathers throughout the year, their modular outerwear that is fabricated using recycled materials, seamlessly attach together to provide the best possible art of layering. Their snap system connects all base layers and top layers together such that they are able sit appropriately while offering extra warmth. There will be no more friction, lost base layers, or bundling.

As previously announced, this aero ultra-light packable overshirt is most suitable for the in-between weather, which means it is the utility layer for this season. It is water-resistant and has a cire finish. It is packable in a separate pouch and it can easily be paired with the rest of the Frank And Oak Smart-Layer family because of its snap system. It is provided with Kapok as insulation because Kapok offers the advantage of being five times lighter than cotton. Also, it is thermal resistant and it consumes much less water during its production compared to cotton.

Right from the start when it was established in 2012 in Montreal, Frank And Oak was committed to its main goal of developing an apparel brand that would send a message to a new generation of creatives and entrepreneurs. They introduced a store at the Mile End in Montreal and this became a favourite in just a short time and over time the company grew into one of the top lifestyle brands and digital retailers of Canada. At the present, the company has been certified as a B Corp and has been recognised a leader in the sustainable fashion market because of their use of innovative fabrics using materials derived from nature to develop thoughtfully designed fashion wear to help people enjoy more, feel good in everything they wear, and live better.

They want to point out that their goal has always been to enable people to enjoy better living. Their B corp certification serves as an indication of their commitment to aim for compliance with the strictest standards of verified social and environmental responsibility. This means they need to strike the proper balance between gaining profit and public transparency, purpose, and legal accountability for each step they take. Today, 75 percent of their products are made with sustainable processed and eco-friendly materials.

Meanwhile, in 2019, they had launched a series of goals that they had targeted to accomplish in 2022. The first goal was to totally get rid of virgin plastics from their supply chain. The second goal was to 100 percent offset their greenhouse gas emissions. Their third goal was to increase their dependence on renewable energies. Their fourth goal was to have a zero-waste philosophy and a community spirit. They had recently released a report on the status of the accomplishment of these goals.

People who are interested in the environmentally-friendly products available from Frank And Oak, such as the Men Aero Ultra Light Overshirt, can check out their website: https://ca.frankandoak.com/pages/men

###

For more information about Frank And Oak, contact the company here:



Frank And Oak

Anne Gael Plante

+1-514-889-8701

anne-gael.plante@frankandoak.com

702 St-Viateur E, Suite 702,

Montreal, QC H2T 1A8,

Canada
Hong Kong, April 12, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The demand for NFTs is rising due to the growing interest in the gamification finance and decentralized finance industries. Furthermore, with more people expressing interest in blockchain technology and the benefits associated with investing in non-fungible tokens, it's no surprise that millions of people want to invest in these digital assets.

NFTs often represent some of the most incredible artwork, allowing holders to invest in something valuable while supporting the artists behind the designs. Holders who invest in creative designs and digital characters will fully own the non-fungible tokens easily verifiable on the blockchain space. It's one reason millions of people have decided to invest in NFTs. They want to have exclusive ownership rights over something of value and importance to them.

The demand for NFTs continues to grow, with 93,626 NFT sales occurring between March 7th and March 9th, 2022, bringing in roughly $200 million. The increase in sales is no surprise, as many celebrities are getting on board and choosing to get more involved in NFT sales to connect with fans, such as Justin Bieber. In addition, other stars are homing in on the opportunity to have fans support them in new, exciting ways while claiming ownership over images and artwork and having access to exclusive benefits, such as club memberships.

With the growing demand for NFTs, Gummies Gang looks forward to announcing the release of its latest innovative NFTs. After amassing 50,000 followers in one month on Twitter, the traction continues, with Gummies Gang set to launch the latest NFTs in mid-April after collaborating with considerable players known for their massive following. The project plans to continue growing its following while getting more members to join and support the club and its initiatives.

The community-driven project offers 6969 randomly generated, highly chewy NFTs available on Ethereum. Holders of Gummies NFTs will have full access to future releases and exclusive entry to the Gummies Gang club , a supportive and welcoming place for holders to socialize with one another. With more than 169 traits available, each of the Gummies is unique, with something special to offer holders who've invested in them. The fun, feel-good art consists of bold colors and intricate designs sure to leave investors feeling inspired. Holders will also have a chance to claim exclusive merchandise available solely for those in the Gummies Gang. The merchandise is only available to holders who've invested in at least one of the Gummies Gang's NFTs.

With the demand for NFTs rising, there has never been a better time to invest. The digital asset holds value and provides investors with full ownership over something unique and not readily accessible to the public on other platforms. If users like to become the owner of a valuable piece of digital art that offers exclusive benefits, check out the Gummies Gang to learn more and its incredible offerings! Interested investors can quickly build a valuable collection of fun, detailed artwork while supporting an NFT project that genuinely cares about its community.




SAN FRANCISCO, April 12, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Chris George, CEO, President, and founder of CMG Financial, a well-capitalized privately held mortgage banking firm headquartered in San Ramon, CA, has been named the Distinguished Career Award Recipient for the Spring 2022 Mortgage Executive Roundtable. The award recognizes some of the most influential leaders in the mortgage industry. Past recipients have included former Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) President David Stevens, Vice Chairman of Rock Holdings, Inc. - the majority owner of Rocket Mortgage and Quicken Loans - Bill Emerson, and Ellie Mae Founder and Executive Chairman Sigmund Anderman.

Established in 2006, the Executive Roundtable for Mortgage Finance provides an opportunity for industry leaders to gather twice a year to discuss pressing topics, new innovations, and legislative and compliance-based themes. "In addition to our goal of making the process easier, cheaper and faster for borrowers and homeowners to get mortgages, the members of the Executive Roundtable have goals we believe are focused on the right priorities," states the Roundtable's site. "We are focused on expanding the reach and opening the doors for borrowers who have historically not been able to borrow easily or on good terms, as well as making the industry more inclusive and more connected with minorities who are projected to be the largest cohort of future home buyers." Participants at this year's Roundtable include leaders from ICE Mortgage Technology, Corelogic, DocuSign, ATTOM, and the Mortgage Bankers Association.

"What [Chris has] built has been extraordinary," wrote Stevens in a congratulatory statement. "Perhaps what's most unique about [him] as a leader is [his] eagerness to test new approaches to the industry with products, organization structures, growth ideas, and more [...] The side of Chris that many don't know about however is the dedication he brings to charitable causes, something he has generously been active in. From the MBA Opens Doors Foundation, to helping injured Veterans through the Gary Sinise foundation, to supporting the #STEVENSSTRONG campaign, Chris has been a major part of these efforts."

Chris George founded CMG Financial in 1993. Over the past 29 years, he's transformed his seven-person retail mortgage company based in Pleasanton, CA, to an award-winning lender that's paving paths in mortgage innovation, responsible lending practices, and operational efficiency. While expanding his company to span across the nation, Chris developed groundbreaking proprietary products including the All In One Loan and HomeFundIt. In 2011, he established the CMG Foundation, a philanthropic endeavor to support non-profit organizations including the Gary Sinise Foundation's R.I.S.E. program, the MBA Opens Doors Foundation, Homes for Our Troops, and the Cancer Support Community. In addition to serving as the President and CEO of CMG, Chris has served as the Chairman of the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) and received the Broker of the Year 2003 award by the California Association of Mortgage Brokers (CAMB). In 2019, he was presented with the HousingWire Vanguard Award. Throughout his various roles and several decades in the industry, Chris has remained a champion for both the lender and consumer.

"I always admired Chris," wrote Anderman. "He started CMG about the same time I started Ellie Mae. From the time we first met, I was impressed with his vision for not just CMG, but for our industry - his cool and collected management style, his ability to get things done, his ability to innovate and to compete - thrive really - in a challenging environment. And, of course, his commitment to service in our industry is so telling of a man willing to selflessly serve others. My hat's off to Chris, and I heartily congratulate him on this wonderful recognition."

###

About CMG Financial

CMG Financial is a well-capitalized, privately held mortgage banking firm founded in 1993. The company makes its products and services available to the market through three distinct origination channels: retail lending, wholesale lending, and correspondent lending.

CMG Financial currently operates in all states, including the District of Columbia, and holds federal agency lending approvals with HUD, VA, RHS, GNMA, FNMA, and FHLMC. CMG Financial is widely known throughout the mortgage banking and housing markets for responsible lending practices, industry and consumer advocacy, product innovation, and operational efficiency.

Media Contact:

Annaugh Madsen

Phone: (667) 260-6360

Email: amadsen@cmgfi.com

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AUSTIN, Texas, April 12, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Strangeworks, the leading Quantum Service Provider, announced it is the first IBM business partner to offer consumption-based pricing of IBM hardware beginning with two 27-qubit quantum computers, previously only available to those with the IBM Quantum Premium Plan. Earlier today, IBM Quantum announced and launched a new pricing model (Pay-As-You-Go Plan for Qiskit Runtime (Beta)[i] on IBM Cloud) to its broader ecosystem and developer community. Qiskit Runtime is IBM's quantum computing service and programming model for building, optimizing, and executing workloads at scale.

Strangeworks's and IBM's relationship began in July of 2021 with the availability of quantum backends of IBM's Open Plan to Strangeworks users. During the IBM Quantum Summit in November of 2021, Strangeworks joined IBM on stage for their announcement of the expansion of Qiskit Runtime consumption pricing to IBM Cloud. Strangeworks is proud to continue its relationship with IBM by becoming an IBM Embedded Solutions Partner for IBM Cloud access with pay-as-you-go billing for 27-qubit quantum computers.

This collaboration allows Strangeworks customers to focus on their work instead of cloud management and provides access to industry-leading quantum devices with the added flexibility of paying only for resources used. Strangeworks customers can now seamlessly use IBM's higher qubit count quantum computers as backends in combination with Strangeworks services that are supported by the IBM machines.

An additional benefit of having the service available through IBM Cloud is that it opens the door to Strangeworks' ecosystem partners building on top of the Qiskit Runtime API and using IBM Cloud's user-management, billing, and additional ready-made infrastructure.

"We've always seen the consumption model as the winner in quantum computing pricing models," said William Hurley, CEO of Strangeworks. "We are thrilled to support IBM's commitment to this offering, and are excited at the potential of what this new model will open up to Strangeworks' own ecosystem and community."

Qiskit Runtime includes the launch of two primitives, which optimize how code gets sent to the quantum computer: Sampler and Estimator. Sampler generates quasi-probabilities by sampling quantum circuits and Estimator calculates expectation values of quantum operators.

Consumption-based pricing is initially available in Beta for Strangeworks EQ customers with general availability coming soon. To become a Strangeworks EQ customer, contact sales@strangeworks.com.

About Strangeworks

Headquartered in Austin, Texas, Strangeworks is a group of experienced serial entrepreneurs, enterprise software developers, and quantum physicists who seek to humanize quantum computing and make it accessible to everyone. By guiding companies through the confusion of quantum computing, Strangeworks helps accelerate the integration of this new technology in corporations, universities, and enterprises.

To learn more about how Strangeworks can accelerate your quantum journey, visit https://strangeworks.com or start learning for free on Strangeworks QC, available at https://quantumcomputing.com.

Contact: inquiries@strangeworks.com

[i] Qiskit registered trademark of International Business Machines Corporation ("IBM").

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PORTLAND, Ore., April 12, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Though mass shootings may seem senseless and impulsive, they always make sense in the mind of the killer, says therapist and author P. Shavaun Scott of Portland, Oregon, whose new book "The Minds of Mass Killers" explores the psychological factors that motivate random rampage attacks in public places.

A mental health therapist with 30 years of experience in criminal psychology, Scott explains that there is always a "pathway to violence" that goes on for weeks, months, or even years before an incident of mass violence occurs.

Public rampage attacks are increasing in frequency, becoming more deadly over time, and expanding to more locations. Mass killers who use guns, bombs, and even motor vehicles share similar motivations and are typically motivated by hate-filled extremism including racism, religious hatred, and misogyny. Though these individuals usually act alone, they network and recruit online through extremist communities.

Though they share personality traits, they are usually not mentally ill, as Scott discusses the myths and facts about mass killings in her new book The Minds of Mass Killers: Understanding and Interrupting the Pathway to Violence (McFarland & Co, 2021).

Since most mass killers foreshadow or "leak" their plans in advance, the pathway can be interrupted if people understand the signs and know what to do.

Scott is available for lectures and media interviews.

shavaunscott@gmail.com

https://pshavaunscott.com

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Chicago, April 12, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Indonesia's government plans to invest $710 million in hotel and restaurant projects by 2020. In addition, the need for elevators and escalators is being driven by infrastructure development such as cinema halls, shopping malls, airports, and department stores.



Indonesia Elevators & Escalators Market Report Scope

REPORT ATTRIBUTES DETAILS ELEVATORS & ESCALATORS MARKET SIZE BY NEW INSTALLED BASE (2021) 5.1 Million Units ELEVATORS & ESCALATORS MARKET SIZE BY NEW INSTALLATION (2028) 7.2 Million Units ELEVATORS & ESCALATORS MARKET SIZE BY INSTALLED BASE (2028) 66.3 Million Units CAGR (2022-2028) 5.01% ELEVATOR & ESCALATOR MARKET SIZE BY MORDERNIZATION (2028) $12.5 Billion (2028)



HISTORIC YEAR 2019-2020 BASE YEAR 2021 FORECAST YEAR 2022-2028 MACHINE TYPE Hydraulic and Pneumatic, Machine Room Traction, Machine Room Less Traction, and Others CARRAIGE TYPE Passenger and Freight CAPACITY Person (2-15, 16-24, 25-33, and 34 and above) END-USER Commercial, Residential, Industrial and Others

Click Here to Download the Free Sample Report

In 2017, the Indonesian government launched "100 Smart Cities Movement," a digitalization initiative. For $149 million, Mitsubishi Electric added an urban development project to its smart city initiative near Jakarta, picturing residential and commercial zones developed on six hectares around a railway station.

In Indonesia, a series of breakdowns happened on a Hitachi elevator at Monumen Nasional (Monas), such incidents highlight the increasing demand for maintenance in elevators and escalators. The country is also focusing on boosting foreign arrivals to support its economic growth objectives, the country plans to build several new airports, which would fuel the market for moving walkways, escalators, and elevators.

Digitalization to Revolutionize the Elevators & Escalators Market in Indonesia

In many locations around Indonesia, Internet-connected smart elevators are gaining traction. Smart elevators from companies such as Otis and Schindler can detect and foresee any issue immediately. Smart lifts have remote diagnostic and troubleshooting capabilities, which save lot of time and money.

Many manufacturers have also created user-friendly elevator technologies to improve the commuting experience. Smart grouping and destination-based models with current aesthetics are examples of intuitive elevator systems. For instance, passengers going to the same destination are only assigned to elevators serving as those sets of floors or zones, which provides faster and more organized service.

Green elevators aid in the reduction of energy consumption and the recovery of energy. The KONE destination signalization system, for example, uses artificial intelligence (AI) to manage elevator traffic.



To know more info, click: https://www.arizton.com/market-reports/indonesia-elevator-and-escalator-market

Key Offerings

Market Size & Forecast by Revenue | 20222028

Market Dynamics  Leading trends, growth drivers, restraints, and investment opportunities

Market Segmentation  A detailed analysis product type, carriage type, persons, and end-users

Competitive Landscape  10 key vendors and 5 other prominent vendors

Recent Development

In December 2021, Amazon Web Services (AWS) and KONE have established partnership. KONE will benefit from AWS worldwide cloud capabilities, which include IoT and analytics. The firm will also collaborate to create new technologies which will improve KONEs connected services and solutions.

The company has announced the development of a new tech solution that is designed to enable wheelchair users to navigate modern buildings more easily by connecting elevators and wheelchairs.

KONE has already received a business deal of 65 elevators and escalators, which in turn, is creating enormous growth opportunities for the company.

To know more about the report, click: https://www.arizton.com/market-reports/indonesia-elevator-and-escalator-market

Indonesia Elevators & Escalators Market Competitive Landscape

Key Vendors

KONE

Mitsubishi Electric

Hitachi

TK Elevator

Hyundai Elevator

Otis

Fujitec

Schindler

KOHLER Elevator GmbH

CANNY Elevator Co., Ltd

Other Prominent Vendors

Kunshan Hualong Elevator

SJEC

Suzhou Jiude Electrical & Mechanic Technology

Shenyang Yuanda Intellectual Industry

IFE Elevators



Explore our industrial machinery profile to know more about the industry.

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We offer comprehensive market research reports on industries such as consumer goods & retail technology, automotive and mobility, smart tech, healthcare, and life sciences, industrial machinery, chemicals and materials, IT and media, logistics and packaging. These reports contain detailed industry analysis, market size, share, growth drivers, and trend forecasts.

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A 4-year-old Georgia boy with autism drowned in a pond after wandering off from his home.

Kyuss Williams went missing from his Stone Mountain home in the suburbs of Atlanta around 6:20 p.m. on Monday and was found early Tuesday morning in a nearby body of water.

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Dekalb County police began searching for the boy immediately and recovered him around 2:30 a.m.

No foul play is suspected and no charges have been filed. Investigators are operating under the assumption that he accidentally drowned.

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Kyuss Williams was just 4 years old. (DeKalb County Police Dept.)

Its unclear how Kyuss left the house, but police said their investigation is ongoing.

We extend our condolences to the ... family during this time and we thank everyone who worked to find him, police said.
With seal populations rebounding and the sharks that hunt them present, Cape Cod residents, tourists and fishermen are "discovering what it means to share a coastline with these large predators," Northwest Atlantic Seal Research Consortium Co-founder Andrea "Dre" Bogomolni said Monday.
LAGRANGE [mdash] Anna Marie Eash, 71, LaGrange, died at 3:35 a.m., Thursday, May 5, at Parkview LaGrange Hospital. She was born Feb. 20, 1951 in LaGrange, to Chris J. and Mary W. (Lambright) Knepp. On July 13, 1988 in LaGrange, she married Daniel L. Eash. He died April 27, 2014. Surviving ar
Police have identified a suspect in the death of Puerto Rican Olympic rifle shooter Yarimar Mercado Martinezs mother, who was fatally shot in her Connecticut home over the weekend when a stray bullet flew through a second-floor window.

Mabel Martinez, 56, died Sunday after being shot in the head Saturday afternoon, according to Waterbury police.

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Why you? Why this way? You were just sitting in your little house sewing, as you always did, her daughter, 27-year-old Yarimar Mercado Martinez, wrote on Facebook in Spanish on Sunday.

Two days ago you called me with excitement, asking me to save the date and help you prepare to renew your wedding vows with daddy in Puerto Rico. There are so many things I still needed to learn from you. ... I was so far away without being able to do anything, I couldnt even say goodbye to you.

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Mercado Martinez was in Brazil and flew out late Sunday to Connecticut. She plans to bring her mothers body home to Puerto Rico for a proper burial.

You taught me the motto everything happens for a reason and I applied it in every difficult situation in my life, she wrote Monday. But, this time? This time I dont know how to apply it, Mommy, can you help me please? I really need to understand this.

Yarimar Mercado Martinez pictured at the qualifiers for the 2016 Summer Olympics. (Hassan Ammar/AP)

Waterbury Police Chief Fernando Spagnolo told The Associated Press that the shooting appears to be tied to local drug crimes.

Breaking News As it happens Get updates on the coronavirus pandemic and other news as it happens with our free breaking news email alerts. >

This was definitely a random, tragic act of violence, he said. She was in her house. Shes not the intended target.

Ryan Lindsay, 35, was shot in the leg while walking outside Martinezs house, but survived. He is believed to be the intended target.

Police identified a person of interest Tuesday in 34-year-old Levi Brock, a convicted felon out on probation. His car was searched in New Haven and investigators found guns that are now being tested.

Another man, 22-year-old Angel Gonzalez, was brought in for questioning but has not been charged.

This is a story, its a broken record, we hear it time and time again in every urban community in this state, Spagnolo said at a news conference Tuesday.

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Mercado Martinez competed in the womens 10-meter air rifle event at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

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Formula One's ambitions to add a race on the African continent to its calendar have been clear for some time. Eyes then quickly turn to the Kyalami Circuit in South Africa, where Formula One will be welcomed with open arms.

Return of F1 to South Africa

The Formula One calendar in recent years has consisted mainly of races in Europe, America and Asia, but has not had a race in Africa since 1993. This should change, according to Liberty Media. The most obvious candidate for an African Grand Prix is the Kyalami Circuit near Johannesburg in South Africa. At this circuit 21 of the 23 African Grands Prix have been held. The first time was in 1967 and the last time was in 1993.

In the media more and more rumors are circulating that Formula 1 will have an African race in 2024, which should take place at Kiyalami. Inquiries by F1 journalist Junaid Samodien at least reveal that the interest is mutual. "Toby Venter (Kyalami CEO) has officially said that he will be delighted to see Formula 1 return to Kyalami, " Samodien reports on Twitter.

Waiting for official confirmation

We will probably have to wait for an official confirmation, but if we are serious about the ambitions of Formula 1, a return of Formula 1 is imminent. Something that many drivers also welcome. Especially Lewis Hamilton has already expressed his strong support for a Grand Prix in Africa. It seems only a matter of time.
Hong Kong: Job aid scheme funding approved

Chief Executive Carrie Lam welcomed the passage of the Government's funding application by the Legislative Councils Finance Committee today for an injection of $43 billion into the Anti-epidemic Fund (AEF) to implement the 2022 Employment Support Scheme (ESS).

The scheme aims to be open for applications later this month to provide timely financial support for the businesses affected by the fifth wave of the COVID-19 epidemic.

Mrs Lam thanked the LegCo Finance Committee for once again living up to the spirit of co-operating with the executive for the public's benefit and swiftly approving the funding application of $43 billion for the 2022 ESS this afternoon, following its approval of an injection of $27 billion into the AEF in February this year for the sixth round of support measures.

She said the new-term LegCo fully manifests the unity between the executive and the legislature to address the hardship faced by individuals and businesses amid the epidemic.

To curb the spread of the virus, the Government has resolutely implemented stringent border control and social distancing measures, which have unavoidably left many businesses hard hit.

The new round of the ESS aims to support the businesses affected, directly or indirectly, by this wave of the epidemic, particularly those small and medium-sized ones, through providing time-limited, ie May to July 2022, wage subsidies to help them retain their existing staff or even hire more staff to boost their business.

The Government announced the preliminary framework of the 2022 ESS on March 18. After listening to the views of various parties, the Government unveiled on April 7 the scheme's enhancement measures including removing the monthly salary cap for employees eligible for the wage subsidy.

It is estimated that the 2022 ESS as so refined will benefit around 160,000 employers, 1.6 million employees and 140,000 self-employed people.

Mrs Lam stressed that in implementing the 2022 ESS, the Government will steadfastly uphold the principles of simplicity and user-friendliness throughout the application process, aiming to disburse payments to the first batch of successful applicants in early May.

This story has been published on: 2022-04-12. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
BEIJING, April 11 (Xinhua) -- NATO should immediately stop spreading disinformation and provocative remarks targeting China, and abandon the confrontational approach of drawing ideological lines, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said Monday, adding that China has lodged solemn representations with NATO for many times.

Spokesperson Zhao Lijian made the statement at a regular news briefing in response to NATO secretary general's groundless accusations and smearing against China.

Zhao said that, for some time now, in disregard of facts, the head of NATO has been making false remarks on China's foreign policy, hyping up the so-called "China threat" theory and has recently engaged in coercion against China.

"China is strongly dissatisfied and firmly opposed to this, and has lodged solemn representations with NATO for many times," he said.

As the world's largest military alliance and a product of the Cold War, NATO has long adhered to its old-fashioned security concept, engaged in camp confrontation in the old Cold War way, and has become a tool for individual countries to seek hegemony, Zhao said.

NATO claims to be a "defensive organization," but it is, in fact, constantly creating confrontations and disturbances, said the spokesperson, adding that the organization demands that other countries abide by the basic norms of international relations, yet wages war and indiscriminate bombing against sovereign states, killing and displacing innocent civilians.

NATO is clearly a military organization in the North Atlantic, but in recent years it has been throwing its weight around and stirring up conflicts in the Asia-Pacific region, Zhao noted.

"NATO continues to break through geographical and territorial boundaries and advocates a new Cold War of bloc confrontation. The international community should be on high alert and firmly oppose this," he added.

Zhao emphasized that China has always been a builder of world peace, a contributor to global development and a defender of the international order, and will unswervingly follow the path of peaceful development. China's development means opportunities for the world, instead of a threat to anyone, he said.

NATO has disrupted Europe. It should stop trying to destabilize Asia and the whole world, Zhao said.
The gunman accused of unleashing a hail of bullets inside a packed Iowa nightclub, killing two and wounding several others, has been arrested.

As many as 150 people were inside Taboo Nightclub and Lounge on Sunday just before 1:30 a.m., when more than a dozen shots were fired inside the popular spot in Cedar Cedar Rapids. A 90s-themed event was underway at the time, according to a social media post.

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Officers were already nearby responding to a separate incident when the gunfire rang out, sending patrons racing from the building, according to Cedar Rapids Police Chief Wayne Jerman.

A man and woman were fatally struck in the violence and another 10 people were wounded. Jerman said during a press conference on Sunday that their injuries range from life-threatening to minor, with at least one person in critical condition.

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Crime scene tape blocks off the Taboo Nightclub and Lounge in Cedar Rapids, Iowa on Sunday, April 10, 2022. (Savannah Blake/AP)

Those killed were identified as Michael Valentine, 25, and Nicole Owens, 35.

Authorities said the suspected gunman, or gunmen, were able to escape the scene amid the chaotic aftermath of the shooting. Its not clear exactly how many shooters were involved.

In a statement on Monday, police said they arrested Timothy Ladell Rush in connection with the incident. Hes facing charges including second-degree murder, willful injury causing serious injury, intimidation with a dangerous weapon, reckless use of a firearm causing serious injury and possession of a firearm as a felon.

While a motive in the shooting remained unclear, Jerman said investigators suspect it was a targeted attack.
An emotional day inside a Florida courtroom ended with the judge dismissing an entire panel of 60 potential jurors, including eight people who burst into tears at the thought of deciding the fate of school shooter Nikolas Cruz.

One man and seven women became visibly distraught on Monday when they learned they were being considered to serve in the penalty phase of Cruzs capital case. He has already pleaded guilty to murdering 17 people at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in 2018.

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Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooter Nikolas Cruz is seated at the defense table during jury pre-selection in the penalty phase of his trial at the Broward County Courthouse in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. on Monday, April 11, 2022. (Amy Beth Bennett/AP)

The first person to become emotional, with Cruz sitting just feet away, was a woman who explained that her son was a victim of gun violence.

He was shot at 15 year old, she said, according to video obtained by WPLG. My spirit is so disturbed.

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Judge Elizabeth Scherer agreed to her dismissal and continued on with the selection, only to again be interrupted by those trying to stifle their tears.

The ladies and gentlemen that have been taken out so far are people that are just so upset that they cant sit here without getting emotional, and we dont want to cause trauma for anyone, she told the pool. If you absolutely cannot sit here without breaking down or getting emotional you can raise your hand.

Judge Elizabeth Scherer speaks to prospective jurors during the third day of preliminary jury screening in the penalty phase of Nikolas Cruz's trial, Wednesday, April 6, 2022, at the Broward County Courthouse in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (Amy Beth Bennett/AP)

In the end, Scherer dismissed the full 60-person panel, concluding that the emotional outbursts were enough to taint their opinions on the matter. A new panel was brought in about an hour later and the fourth day of jury selection resumed without further issue.

In all, 12 jurors and eight alternates will be selected. Theyll be tasked with deciding whether Cruz will receive the death penalty or spend the rest of his life behind bars without the possibility for parole.

Cruz has already confessed to bursting into Marjory Stoneman Douglas on Valentines Day four years ago and opening fire on students and teachers inside the building. A total of 17 people, 14 students and three staff members, died inside the school in Parkland, Fla., where Cruz himself was once a student.

The self-confessed gunman, now 24, pleaded guilty in October 2021 to 17 counts of premeditated murder and 17 counts of attempted murder.

Scherer previously said she expects the trial to be underway by the end of May.
There are now more than 29,000 electric vehicles registered in New York City and Westchester, including 1,262 added in February, the most recent month for which data are available, according to Con Edison, the electricity, gas and steam utility for New York CIty and Westchester County, NY. To keep those EVs powered up, there are 2,065 Level 2 chargers and 260 DC fast chargers in Con Edisons service territory, more than 400 of them added in 2021.

Customer interest is growing quickly in Con Edisons PowerReady program, which offers incentives covering up to 100% of the infrastructure costs of installing new chargers. So, too, are enrollments in the companys managed charging program, SmartCharge NY, which offers financial rewards for charging during off-peak hours.

Less than a year after the first PowerReady project reached completion in a Manhattan apartment building, the program has supported the installation of more than 340 Level 2 chargers and 45 DC fast chargersincluding the largest publicly accessible universal charging hub in the Americas, operated by Revel in Brooklyn.

Level 2 chargers provide 240 volts, offering up to 20 miles of range for every hour a vehicle is plugged in. DC fast chargers provide 480 volts, offering 180 miles or more per hour of charging.

Through PowerReady, Con Edison aims to support installation of around 19,000 charging plugs by 2025, helping to ease range anxiety in the early days of New Yorks EV market. Over the longer term, Con Edisons Clean Energy Commitment includes a target to support 400,000 plugs by 2035, and 1 million by 2050.

Curbside Charging. While most EV drivers nationally do the majority of their charging at home or the office, New York City is a uniquely challenging environment, where half of all drivers park on the street.

To better understand and meet the needs of those drivers, Con Edison partnered last year with the NYC Department of Transportation and charging network operator FLO to install 100 curbside chargers open to the public across the citys five boroughs.

Those chargers are in operation and Con Edison is monitoring their usage. Since their introduction last summer, the curbside chargers have delivered 238,000 kWh of electricityenough for 746,000 miles of travel in a typical EV, or three one-way trips to the Moon. The curbside chargers have eliminated the need for consumption of nearly 30,000 gallons of gasoline, with more than 295 tons of avoided CO 2 emissions compared to gasoline-powered vehicles.

NYC DOT aims to create a network of 1,000 curbside chargers by 2025, and 10,000 by 2030. In addition to the practical benefits, each new public charger is a symbol of the EV markets progress and a nod of encouragement to drivers considering going electric.

Electrifying Con Edisons Fleet of Vehicles. Leading by example, Con Edison is purchasing only electric vehicles for its light-duty fleet, with 199 EVs in its fleet today, representing more than 10% of the total light-duty fleet. As its gasoline-powered vehicles are retired, the company plans to reach 80% electrification of its light-duty fleet by 2030 and 100% by 2035.

SmartCharge Registrations on the Rise. The rise of electric vehicles running on increasingly renewable power will bring big environmental benefits to New York, reducing air pollution locally and carbon emissions that feed global climate change. However, the prospect of hundreds of thousands of EVs on New York Citys streets requires careful planning to ensure future grid reliability.

With that in mind, Con Edison encourages EV drivers to sign up for its SmartCharge NY program. SmartCharge NY has become one of the most successful managed charging programs in the country, with more than 6,000 passenger cars currently enrolled.

Managed well, EV charging could bring many benefits for the electric grid. Con Edison and partners recently completed a demonstration project in White Plains, NY, that saw electric school buses sending power back onto the grid at strategic times, using so-called vehicle-to-grid technology. Con Edison will share results from its V2G demo later this week.
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NYPD officers patrol the subway platform at the Atlantic Avenue subway station on April 13, 2022, in the Sunset Park neighborhood of Brooklyn in New York City. A manhunt is underway for a gunman who shot 10 people, critically injuring five on the N train during Tuesday's morning rush hour. The suspect, wearing a gas mask, tossed smoke grenades on the floor and fired 33 shots before leaving the scene. At least 13 other commuters suffered injuries due to smoke inhalation, falls and panic attacks. The police on Tuesday evening named a "person of interest" in the mass shooting and believe that they have found his personal belongings left on the train, including a Glock 9-millimeter handgun and a key to a U-Haul van. Mayor Eric Adams this morning announced that Frank James, the "person of interest," is now considered a suspect. (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)
BISMARCK, N.D. (AP)  A blizzard has led to the closure of the North Dakota Capitol and other state facilities in the Bismarck area, as well as scores of schools. colleges, government offices and highways Tuesday.

The National Weather Service issued a blizzard warning for most of western and central North Dakota where up to 2 feet (60 centimeters) of snow is forecast through Thursday. Locally higher amounts up to 30 inches (80 centimeters) are possible.

This is nutso, Karley Gosch, of Mandan, said as she braved the strong winds and pelting snow while walking across the city's Main Street.

No travel was advised in the southwest and south central regions and authorities closed Interstate 94 from the Montana border to Jamestown, a distance of about 260 miles (418.43 kilometers). A 50-mile stretch of U.S. Highway 52 was shut down from Jamestown to Carrington. Officials said the conditions were life-threatening.

This is going to be historic for some areas, said Jason Anglin, lead meteorologist for the weather services Bismarck office. Its going to be tough to travel, the impact to the ranching community is going to be big, even the impact to the power community  theres going to be a lot of water in this snow; it could bring down trees and bring down power lines.

Gov. Doug Burgum directed the state closures, noting that the Emergency Operations Center has been activated and is coordinating with partners and local emergency managers statewide to ensure that resources, including search and rescue, are available.

Bismarck and Mandan public schools were among those closed Tuesday. Schools sent students home with laptops in preparation for several snowbound days of virtual instruction, the Bismarck Tribune reported.

Bismarck State College and United Tribes Technical College in Bismarck canceled classes through Thursday. Dickinson State University will move to virtual instruction Tuesday through Thursday. Williston State College will close for the week at midday Tuesday.

Not everyone in the Capital City was deterred by conditions. The Bismarck City Commission held its regularly scheduled meeting at downtown building Tuesday evening despite numerous vehicles becoming stuck in the streets, including a semi-trailer truck.

The nasty weather moved into northeastern North Dakota late in the day, where the Highway Patrol said a 46-year-old man suffered moderate injuries when he rear-ended a snowplow in Grand Forks, near the Minnesota border. The patrol reported blizzard conditions at the time.

The University of North Dakota in Grand Forks called off classes for Wednesday.

A sliver of southeastern North Dakota, including the state's largest city, Fargo, was expected to avoid heavy snow, the National Weather Service said. Flights at the city's airport were arriving and departing mostly at scheduled times.

The blizzard warning extended into eastern Montana and the northwestern corner of South Dakota. Several schools were closed in both states. The storm's timing couldn't be worse for ranchers in all three states worried about spring calving.
GREENWICH  Police officers and other emergency-responders rushed to the scene of a collision between a school bus and a motor vehicle in Glenville early Tuesday afternoon, police said.

No serious injuries were reported in the crash, according to police Capt. Mark Zuccerella.

A bus was traveling west on Glenville Road when a car pulled out of the Wells Fargo parking lot, colliding with the bus, Zuccerella said.

The bus was carrying 32 children and three teachers, according to Zuccerella. Following an evaluation, no passengers on the bus were found to injured, he said.

The driver of the car was taken to the hospital for what what were reported to be minor injuries, police said.

Glenville School was notified of the nearby accident, which occurred at about 12:25 p.m. Tuesday, according to a letter sent by Glenville principal Klara Monaco to fourth-grade parents.

The bus was heading back to Glenville School with fourth-grade students who were on a music trip to Greenwich High School, Monaco said.

She characterized the accident as a minor fender-bender.

It was reported to me by a teacher on the bus that there was barely any impact, all students were safe and there were no injuries, said Monaco, who went to the scene.

Some of the students on the bus were startled and/or worried about the driver of the car, Monaco said. However, she had no visible injuries and walked herself to the waiting ambulance.

The police arrived to conduct an investigation, she said. The students returned to school on the same bus by 12:56 p.m., Monaco said.

The police investigation concluded that the bus driver had the right of way, and the driver of the car has been ticketed, according to the school district.
GREENWICH  The State Elections Enforcement Commission recently fined the treasurer for Rep. Harry Aroras campaign $800 after Aroras wife allegedly inappropriately formed an LLC and the campaign used office space owned by the state representative without paying for the opportunity.

Greenwich resident Lucy von Brachel, a member of the Greenwich Democratic Town Committee who said she was acting as an individual, previously filed a complaint regarding the matter with the SEEC in March.

In the complaint, she alleged that Arora, R-Greenwich, and his campaign violated regulations for candidates using the states Citizens Elections Program by making payments to a family members business, reporting a reimbursement to a family member for services they provided, failing to report expenditures relating to use of the candidates business office as a campaign office and coordinating expenses with the state Republican Party.

James Talbert-Slagle, staff attorney with the SEEC, said during an April 6 meeting that the commission determined Aroras wife formed the business, RedStrat LLC, which then paid for expenditures on behalf of the candidate committee and was reimbursed by the committee.

Talbert-Slalge described the move as something that is not contemplated within the statutes during the April 6 meeting, saying it does represent a violation.

The candidate committee also used office space owned by Arora, Talbert-Slagle said, but did not pay for the privilege.

In a statement, Arora described the fine as stemming from technical disclosure errors.

After over a year of review, the SEEC dismissed all allegations against both me and my campaign and found no fault with my conduct or my actions. My campaigns treasurer, a graduate student, was fined a nominal $800 for technical disclosure errors. The treasurer admitted to no fault and maintained he did everything in good faith and sound judgment, said Arora.

Arora said he believes this complaint, focusing on nominal items, was politically motivated and frivolous.

I have and will continue to serve my community with all my heart, said Arora. I am fully focused on my candidacy for Connecticut State Treasurer.

On Monday, von Brachel said she did not believe the size of the fine was particularly meaningful.

These are still serious violations of rules that are clearly laid out in the SEEC guidance for campaigns using public funding and Arora was an experienced candidate who should have known better, Von Brachel said. Now Representative Arora is running for state treasurer, which is a role in which compliance is of the utmost importance and I think these violations are very relevant.

She said she was disappointed that there is still no explanation as to why a campaign would need to set up a business to pay vendors from instead of paying the vendors directly like other campaigns do, including Aroras previous campaigns.

Although I did not include them in my complaint, there were two other state representative campaigns in Stamford that also paid Nisha Aroras LLC and all three campaigns shared the same treasurer. It is very unusual to manage a Citizens Election Program campaign in this manner and raises some questions I hope voters will eventually get answers to, said von Brachel.

Von Brachel also expressed disappointment in Aroras statements that her complaint was frivolous and politically motivated.

I believe that all candidates, regardless of party, should be held to the same high standards, particularly when participating in the CEP program, von Brachel said. The CEP program bolsters the public trust by providing funds to run clean elections and candidates should do their best to comply.

william.lambert@hearstmediact.com
GREENWiCH  Residents of The Nathaniel Witherell senior care facility in Greenwich enjoyed a sweet treat, thanks to the Greenwich Rotary Club.

Club members visited the Witherell on Saturday to host an ice cream social. The special event was part of its Day of Service for Connecticut and Western Massachusetts.
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ALBANY, N.Y. (AP)  New York Lt. Gov. Brian Benjamin resigned Tuesday in the wake of his arrest in a federal corruption investigation, creating a political crisis for Gov. Kathy Hochul seven months after she selected Benjamin as a partner to make a fresh start in an office already rocked by scandal.

Benjamin, a Democrat, was accused in an indictment of participating in a scheme to obtain campaign contributions from a real estate developer in exchange for Benjamins agreement to use his influence as a state senator to get a $50,000 grant of state funds for a nonprofit organization the developer controlled.

Facing charges including bribery, fraud, conspiracy and falsification of records, Benjamin pleaded not guilty Tuesday at an initial appearance in Manhattan federal court. He was released and bail was set at $250,000. The terms of his release call for his travel to be restricted and bar him from returning to the state capitol in Albany.

He submitted his resignation to Hochul hours later.

I have accepted Brian Benjamins resignation effective immediately. While the legal process plays out, it is clear to both of us that he cannot continue to serve as Lieutenant Governor. New Yorkers deserve absolute confidence in their government, and I will continue working every day to deliver for them," Hochul said in a statement.

Two lawyers representing Benjamin said he was suspending his campaign to focus on defending his actions in court and said the grant in question was used to buy school supplies.

There was nothing inappropriate about this grant. He will focus his energies on explaining in court why his actions were laudable  not criminal. He looks forward to when this case is finished so he can rededicate himself to public service, the statement said.

Hochul in September plucked Benjamin, then a state lawmaker, to serve as second-in-command when she became governor, taking over for Democrat Andrew Cuomo, who resigned amid allegations he sexually harassed 11 women, which he denied.

Hochul, also a Democrat, was Cuomos lieutenant governor. She is now running in this years election to try to remain governor. Benjamin had been her running mate.

Hochul's office and campaign did not respond to messages Tuesday evening about her plans moving forward for a new lieutenant governor and running mate.

Benjamin was the states second Black lieutenant governor. During his state Legislature career, he emphasized criminal justice reform and affordable housing. His district included most of central Harlem, where he was born and raised by Caribbean immigrant parents.

New York law makes it tough to remove Benjamin from the June primary ballot: He could move out of New York to disqualify himself from running for state office, or the state Democratic party could let him run for a down ballot office.

Democratic Party Chair Jay Jacobs said the party is exploring its options.

Im not ready at this time to outline what we are considering, suffice it to say we will look at the options expeditiously, Jacobs said.

Two months after Benjamin became lieutenant governor, a real estate developer who steered campaign contributions toward Benjamins failed bid for New York City comptroller was indicted. Federal authorities accused Gerald Migdol of wire fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and aggravated identity theft in illegally giving donations to Benjamins campaign.

The indictment said Benjamin and others acting at his direction or on his behalf also engaged in a series of lies and deceptions to cover up the scheme that stretched from 2019 to 2021.

They falsified campaign donor forms, misled municipal regulators and provided false information in vetting forms Benjamin submitted while he was being considered to be appointed as lieutenant governor, the indictment said.

Prosecutors had previously not made any accusations against Benjamin, and his campaign said at the time of Migdols arrest that it had forfeited any improper donations as soon as they were discovered.

More recently, reports came out saying subpoenas had been issued to Benjamin regarding the financial issues even before Hochul picked him as lieutenant governor.

Before Benjamins arrest and resignation, Hochul had defended him, saying last week she had the utmost confidence in him. She said last week that she didnt know of the subpoenas when she tapped Benjamin to be her No. 2.

Top Republicans and at least a dozen of Benjamins fellow Democrats in the Legislature called on him to resign by Tuesday afternoon.

Senate Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, a Democrat, is taking on the duties of lieutenant governor  a role she took before Benjamins appointment last year when Hochul became governor.

Two candidates for governor, Democratic U.S. Rep. Thomas Suozzi and Republican U.S. Rep. Lee Zeldin, blasted Hochuls judgment for selecting Benjamin in the first place despite longstanding concerns about his potential campaign finance violations.

Immigration advocate Ana Maria Archila, a Democrat running for lieutenant governor alongside New York City public advocate and gubernatorial candidate Jumaane Williams, said Albany politicians have traded favors for money for too long.

Today is a dark day, with Albany at its worst on display for all New Yorkers to see, Archila said.

The scandal is the latest in a long history of lawmakers and other Albany leaders whove been engulfed in allegations of wrongdoing.

Cuomos resignation as governor came not only amid allegations of sexual harassment but that his administration misrepresented the number of New Yorkers who died in nursing homes from COVID-19.

In 2008, then-Gov. Eliot Spitzer resigned amid a prostitution investigation.

Former New York Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, one of the most powerful figures in state government, resigned in 2015 after he was arrested on federal corruption charges.

Former Republican state Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos, who for a time shared power with Silver, was convicted of extortion, wire fraud and bribery.

___

Hays reported from New York. Associated Press writers Deepti Hajela, Michelle L. Price and Larry Neumeister contributed from New York and Michael Hill contributed from Albany.
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Were all obsessed with at least one crime doc or miniseries, and now Hulu is premiering a three-part documentary focused on the lives of Merceds famous Steven and Cary Stayner. The documentary, titled Captive Audience: A Real American Horror Story, premieres on Hulu on April 21  and each of the trio of episodes drops the same day, so you can either binge-watch away or dole out one episode at a time.

Documentary focused on the lives of Merceds famous Steven and Cary Stayner hulu.com $14.00 Shop Now

The documentary tells the story of then 7-year-old Steven Stayners kidnapping in 1972 by a convicted sex offender, Kenneth Parnell, who would go on to pose as Stayners father as he held him captive. In 1980, Parnell abducted a second child, then five-year-old Timmy White, and Stayner and White were able to break out of the remote cabin Parnell had held them in and hitchhiked to Ukiah. The return was seen as nothing short of a miracle after years of national media attention, and the boys case spawned a book, made-for-TV movie, and way down the line in 2019, a 20/20 episode.
Editors note: The Pacific Daily News publishes free listings of fundraisers, calls for volunteers and donations requests for Guams charitable organizations. Submit your information to life@guampdn.com and include details such as date, time, registration, cost and contact information.

Volunteers needed for Island Girl Power

Island Girl Power is seeing volunteers to help with inventory, organization, packing and customer service in its thrift store. Call 671-688-4752 for more information.

Island Girl Power seeking donations

Donations are needed at Island Girl Power. The donations will be used to empower and maintain programs throughout the year. Donations are accepted noon-12:30 p.m. every Saturday. For more information, call 671-688-4752.

Donate designer items to Paws for PetsGently used designer bags and accessories donations are needed for Guahan Paws for Pets second annual Mothers Day auction. Donations will be accepted until May 1. For more information, contact Tina Guzman via WhatsApp at 671-747-2107.

Join Conservation Corps in cleanups

Guam Green Growth Conservation Corps is seeking volunteers for cleanups around the island in Barrigada on April 15, Mongmong-Toto-Maite on April 22, Mangilao on April 29 and Sinajana on May 6. The cleanups begin at 8 a.m.; locations will be announced later. Visit guamgreengrowth.org or follow Guam Green Growth on Facebook for updates and cleanup location announcements.

Dededo prayer service, concert to help UkraineA prayer service and benefit concert for Ukraine will take place at 6:30 p.m. Saturday at Santa Barbara Catholic Schools Petrie Gymnasium in Dededo. Admission is free but donations are being accepted. Performers at the concert include: MAGIS, a community chorus composed of Ateneo de Manila Glee Club alumni; the schools honor choir; and St. Johns School glee club. MAGIS will be performing the Guam premiere of A Ukrainian Prayer, an a capella piece by British composer John Rutter. Proceeds will be given to Catholic Relief Services for aid to Ukraine. For more information, go to support.crs.org/ukraine. For more information about the event, contact Mervin Tamayo at tamayopapa@yahoo.com or 671-632-5668.
Frank R. James is walked from the 9th Pct. on Wednesday, April 13, 2022, in Manhattan, New York. James was arrested after the NYPD received a tip after he was spotted on First Ave. near St. Marks Place. (Barry Williams for New York Daily News)

New York elected officials ranging from U.S. senators to New York City Council members called on Brooklyn to stay strong and keep safe after the Tuesday subway shooting in which 10 people were shot and at least 16 people were injured, according to the FDNY.

Praying for the people injured in the shocking Brooklyn subway attack, Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-Brooklyn, Queens) tweeted. We will get through this together #BrooklynStrong.

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[ New York Lt. Gov. Brian Benjamin arrested on campaign finance charges in Manhattan federal court ]

Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said he is closely monitoring the situation after the rush-hour carnage erupted in the 36th St. subway station in Sunset Park.

NYPD Officers are seen at 25th Street and 4th Avenue in Brooklyn, New York on Tuesday, April 12, 2022. (Luiz C. Ribeiro/for New York Daily News)

Im praying for all the victims, their families, all those impacted, Schumer tweeted. To everyone in New York: Stay safe.

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Council Speaker Adrienne Adams (D-Queens) said on MSNBC that her main focus is Restoring confidence in New York, in the safety of New York, which we know right now, its in peril.

New York City Police Department personnel gather at the entrance of a subway stop in Brooklyn, New York on Tuesday, April 12, 2022. (John Minchillo/AP)

Rep. Nydia Velazquez (D-Brooklyn) represents the Sunset Park neighborhood where the gunfire erupted.

Stay safe if you are nearby this horrific emergency in Sunset Park, she wrote on Twitter.

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) said she was still waiting for more details about the shocking crime.

My prayers are with the victims, their families and our emergency personnel and law enforcement responding to this situation, Gillibrand said in a statement.

Today we saw fear but we also saw mortals we call first responders running towards danger & everyday New Yorkers helping each other. There are no borders. We are 1 city connected by neighborhoods, sidewalks & subways. Let's not turn on each other now when we need each other most.  Justin Brannan (@JustinBrannan) April 12, 2022

Representing parts of Bay Ridge, Councilman Justin Brennan (D-Brooklyn) thanked neighbors and first responders who ran to help the victims. There are no borders. We are one city connected by neighborhoods, sidewalks and subways. Lets not turn on each other now when we need each other most, he posted on social media.

Like fellow Empire State Democrats, Rep. Mondaire Jones (D-Westchester, Rockland) has been a strong advocate for tighter gun restrictions.

Im outraged that these tragic mass shootings continue, he tweeted.

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The subway shooting in Brooklyn this morning is devastating and I'm outraged that these tragic mass shootings continue. I am monitoring the situation closely and I am keeping the victims and first responders in my prayers. https://t.co/SV7XNa7Ik0  Mondaire Jones (@MondaireJones) April 12, 2022

Id like to live in a world where shootings on subways, in schools and on our streets would be considered unfathomable, Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-Bronx, Westchester) said in a tweet. Another world is possible.
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Bernadette Bernie Valencia was sworn in as the newest University of Guam regent.
Jovan Bradbury will spend 16 more months in federal prison for dealing methamphetamine while on probation for a previous drug conviction.

Bradbury appeared in the District Court of Guam to be sentenced after pleading guilty to having 14.55 grams of methamphetamine and $5,750 that came from drug sales last year. Bradbury, a citizen of the Philippines, was on probation at the time for a 2018 drug conviction, which made him a removable alien, according to court documents.

Bradbury faced 37-46 months in prison. However, both the prosecuting attorney and the probation office suggested he receive 30 months. Bradburys attorney asked the court for the lowest sentence possible.

Chief Judge Frances Tydingco-Gatewood decided to give Bradbury 30 months. With credit for time already served, 16 months remain on the sentence.

Deportation

Bradbury was also given a five-year supervised release term that could be spent in the United States before he gets deported to the Philippines.

Bradburys lawyer, Randal Cunliffe, mentioned although his client is a citizen of the Philippines, he spent most of his life in Guam and if deported would have no connections.

Tydingco-Gatewood gave Bradbury a five-year period of supervised release to allow Bradbury to get his life together.

Dont blow it, Tydingco-Gatewood said. Youll probably get shipped off to the Philippines where you dont know anyone.

Prior arrest

In 2018, Bradbury was arrested and charged in connection with leaving drug paraphernalia in a hotel room safe, according to PDN files.

After the items were found by housekeeping staff, Bradbury was stopped by police. A glass pipe with suspected methamphetamine residue was found. Bradbury admitted to owning the pipe and paraphernalia in the hotel room, PDN files state.
A project involving the Sablan House, which was built around 1955. Diego Salas Sablan, grandfather of Johnny Sablan, received a grant to plan for its inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places.
A federal judge this week adopted the evidence-gathering rules for the government of Guams lawsuit against the Navy, rejecting the federal governments proposed rules and accepting GovGuams version.

GovGuam sued the Navy in 2017, seeking fair and equitable compensation from the Navy because it is a potentially responsible party for the environmentally hazardous dump, which opened before World War II, while the island still was under a naval government. The military used the dump for decades, even after it was turned over to the civilian government, the lawsuit states.

The local government already has spent $69.05 million to close the dump. Long-term monitoring and maintenance of the site is expected to cost $15 million more.

Guam solid waste operations still are under partial court-ordered receivership, with receiver Gershman, Brickner & Bratton being paid to complete the dump post-closure plan for Ordot, including securing environmental permits. Chief Judge Frances Tydingco-Gatewood last month approved the most recent payment to the receiver  $27,043.33.

Superfund Act case

Guams lawsuit, which is being heard in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, now is in the evidence-gathering phase, which is scheduled to last until the summer of 2023.

Guam plans to prove its Superfund Act case against the Navy primarily through federal records and eyewitness accounts of military disposal activity at the dump, according to the Office of the Attorney General.

The attorney generals office late last month launched a web page and phone line aimed at finding people who might have witnessed military activity at Ordot and can testify to what they saw.

GovGuam and federal attorneys disagreed over the evidence-gathering process, in part because the federal government didnt want to track down evidence if it would be prohibitively expensive or pose an undue burden.

The rules adopted Monday by District Judge Jia Cobb dont contain that restriction, but note that some types of electronically stored information  such as data stored on older formats  arent reasonably accessible and dont have to be provided.
What does it take to be Guams Teacher of the Year?

Salvador Avila, one of the judges, is looking for an educator who can not only teach global current events to students but have them grasp the content and apply what theyve learned outside of the classroom.

The Guam Department of Education and the Foundation for Public Education announced the finalists for the 2023 Guam Teacher of the Year on Tuesday.

The annual program honors educators who have not only done their own required teaching duties but have made an exceptional, positive impact on Guams public schools.

Benjamin Benjie Santiago, current Guam 2021-2022 Teacher of the Year, revealed the names of the six finalists during a press conference held in the Cars Plus Showroom in Maite Tuesday.

The finalists will go on to the final phase of the selection process where the judges, who are made up of previous winners, will conduct classroom observations for each of the finalists.

For retired teacher and 2015 winner Avila, the 2023 candidate should teach students to not just know, but understand issues.

I look for how they were able to relate what theyre doing now, what they used to do, and how basically, are they measuring learning? Because its a very difficult thing during the situation, he said. Have the students really achieved what they should have achieved by this point in time, not just hands-on but mentally?

The finalists for the 2023 title:

Joy Lynn J. Ada from George Washington High School.

Joyce A. Berry from John F. Kennedy High School.

Stephane C. Concepcion from Talofofo Elementary School.

Ceferino A. Duarosan Jr. from Adacao Elementary School.

Kaiana R. Mendiola from Upi Elementary School.

Taniya Santos-Billany Anderson from Agueda I. Johnston Middle School.

The winner will be announced at a virtual gala on May 15.
Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero signed a bill into law allowing the construction of a new generator at Cabras but vetoed a bill that would prohibit government workers from being rehired if they resigned to avoid a drug test.

The governor also signed a law aimed at streamlining home studies for child placements but vetoed a bill that would impose new licensing requirements for adoption agencies.

The bills were among those passed by the Legislature April 1.

Guam law prohibits the construction of a fossil fuel power generator within 1,500 feet of a school, but the Guam Power Authority asked for an exemption to build a 41-megawatt diesel plant within 1,200 feet of Jose Rios Middle School.

Originally, the generator was supposed to be part of the larger Ukkudu power station, but permitting problems caused the plant to be split into separate locations.

In approving the project, the governor wrote she has the responsibility to protect the health of our children and the community at large, while engaging in efforts that ensure our people have access to reliable electricity.

She said the administration will be working with regulatory agencies to monitor the new plant.

Drug test bill

Bill 123 would have prohibited the rehiring of government of Guam employees who resigned to avoid a drug test. During a hearing on the bill, Sen. Joanne Brown explained how some workers skirt drug testing.

When there is a designated testing, including law enforcement, you have individuals, all of a sudden that particular day, that are resigning because they dont want to be tested or choose not to be tested, she said. And then they wait out their time. They wait out the political process.

The governor said she vetoed the bill because government employers, under the U.S. Constitution, dont have the power to announce random drug testing within a department. The U.S. Supreme Court has held that random tests only are allowed for certain testing-designated positions. Other employees may be tested if there is a workplace accident or reasonable suspicion they are using drugs. The bill, as written, wouldnt be enforceable, according to the governor.

Further, a person attempting to use their re-employment rights is already required to pass a pre-employment drug test. This pre-employment test is more effective in protecting the people of Guam than a provision of a statute that is unenforceable without violating the ... Constitution, she wrote.

Sen. Tony Ada, who introduced the bill, was disappointed by the veto.

He said the bill would have closed the legal loophole that allowed employees to resign from their jobs rather than take a random drug test and then invoke their right to be re-employed. Drug abuse by GovGuam workers is unacceptable and I intend to move for an override of the governors veto during the next legislative session.

Adoption bills

The governor signed into law a bill that empowers the administrator of the Division of Childrens Wellness to use workers from other agencies, retirees and private contractors to conduct home studies needed for adoptions.

This measure promises to alleviate the strain on bureau social workers and allows them to address other equally important tasks without compromising the expedient placement of our adoptees in loving homes, the governor wrote.

The governor vetoed another measure related to adoptions. The bill would have required the Department of Revenue and Taxation to create a new business license category for adoption agencies and the Department of Public Health and Social Services would have had to endorse adoption agencies.

The governor said Public Health approval already is required for adoption agencies and the bill would not impose any requirement on a prospective adoption agency that does not already exist in Guam law.
The founding president of Air America Radio is asking a federal judge to imprison Evan Montvel-Cohen for the longest term allowable.

In a letter to Chief Judge Frances Tydingco-Gatewood, Jon Sinton explained he met Montvel-Cohen in 2003 when Montvel-Cohen offered to help fund Sintons Air America Radio.

His story was a compelling one: brain cancer and the subsequent treatments had nearly killed him and, after this existential crisis, he was devoting his life and his fortune to making the world a better place, Sinton wrote.

However, Sinton wrote he had no idea Montvel-Cohen had funded the radio show with money stolen from the nonprofit Gloria Wise Boys and Girls Club, which caused Air America to file for bankruptcy and find investors who would pay back the stolen money.

Additionally, Montvel-Cohen leased radio stations to carry out the program but was unable to pay the owners.

The owners wanted their lease payments and, suddenly, relying on his now-well-known sympathy ploy of a health crisis, Montvel-Cohen said a recurrence of the brain cancer had made him too sick to meet his obligations, said Sinton.

Guilty

Montvel-Cohen pleaded guilty to charges connected to assuming the identity of an individual known to him and attempting to acquire real estate, PDN files state.

He is set to be sentenced in May for use of a means of identification in furtherance of fraud, which has a 15-year maximum penalty, and bank fraud, which has a 30-year maximum penalty.

Sinton joins Montvel-Cohens family members and former colleagues to ask Tydingco-Gatewood for the maximum sentence.

I am glad to add my voice to those of his ex-wife, son, Charles Rosen and others to whom he has done harm  sometimes irreparably  in the hope that you will imprison him for the longest term allowable and thus remove him from the general population and ability to bilk others.
Zachary David Salas Palomo and Jude Donovan Santos were charged after they were accused of breaking into a womans Tumon home and business.

Early Monday morning, the woman was asleep when she heard noises and saw two unknown men trying to enter the doors of her business. Out of fear, she ran to another room to hide. She called a man who called the police, according to a magistrates complaint filed in the Superior Court of Guam.

Police arrived to find Palomo and Santos on the second floor before taking them into custody. Police found six dollar bills folded in an origami shape and a Fossil brand watch in Santoss possession. Palomo had two gold necklaces, two silver keys, two silver earrings and a headphone set, according to the complaint.

The stolen items belonged to the owners of the business, the complaint stated.

Palomo and Santos were charged with home invasion as a first-degree felony and burglary as a second-degree felony.

Previous crimes

Both Palomo and Santos have had previous run-ins with the law.

In January, Palomo was charged with burglary after he was accused of breaking into American Medical Center in Upper Tumon, court documents stated.

Palomo told officers he broke into the building to use the shower, documents stated.

In 2019, Palomo and another man were charged with forgery and theft after cashing at least five stolen checks, according to PDN files.

Santos in 2017 pleaded guilty to harassment as a misdemeanor after being charged with terrorizing for making threatening comments on Instagram. He was sentenced to 60 days in jail, PDN files state.
Lt. Gov. Brian Benjamin resigned Tuesday following his arrest on federal corruption charges related to his role in an alleged scheme to steer $50,000 in state funds to a nonprofit in exchange for fraudulent contributions to his failed city comptroller campaign.

Gov. Hochul announced her hand-picked second-in-command was stepping down hours after he pleaded not guilty to the charges during a brief appearance in Manhattan Federal Court.

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While the legal process plays out, it is clear to both of us that he cannot continue to serve as lieutenant governor, Hochul said in a statement. New Yorkers deserve absolute confidence in their government, and I will continue working every day to deliver for them.

Earlier in the day, prosecutors with the Southern District of New York unsealed a 23-page indictment charging Benjamin with bribery, fraud, conspiracy and falsification of records.

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This is a simple story of corruption, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District Damian Williams said during an afternoon press conference. Taxpayers money for campaign contributions. Quid pro quo. Thats bribery, plain and simple.

The indictment accuses Benjamin, 45, of conspiring to direct $50,000 in state funds to Friends of Public School Harlem, a nonprofit run by longtime political ally Gerald Migdol, who in turn steered thousands of dollars in illegal campaign contributions to the then-state senators 2021 comptroller campaign.

New York Lt. Gov. Brian Benjamin leaving court in Manhattan on Tuesday, April 12, 2022. (Shawn Inglima/for New York Daily News)

Benjamin was ordered to hand over his passport and told to limit his travel as Magistrate Judge Ona Wang set bail at $250,000.

Neither Benjamin nor his attorney said anything as they exited the courthouse amid a maelstrom of reporters and photographers. Later, his lawyers issued a statement arguing that Benjamins actions were laudable  not criminal.

There has never been a federal case like this in America, attorneys James Gatta and William Harrington said. Brian supported a $50,000 grant to Friends of Public School Harlem. Every dollar was to buy supplies for public school students in Harlem.

Hochul initially declined to address the arrest while speaking at a press conference following a Brooklyn subway shooting earlier in the day.

I have not had a chance to speak with him. ... This is not the place, but I will be addressing it very shortly, she said.

The governor later announced Benjamins resignation in an emailed statement.

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The charges come weeks after the Daily News first reported that federal investigators had issued subpoenas seeking information about grants Benjamin doled out as a senator. He was still serving in the Senate representing Harlem last year when his campaign for New York City comptroller drew the attention of investigators.

The FBI and the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York arrested the lawmakers longtime ally Migdol in November, accusing him of facilitating phony donations intended to boost Benjamins campaign war chest to receive public matching funds.

According to the indictment, Benjamin first approached Migdol about raising money for his future run for office during a meeting at the developers Harlem home in March 2019.

Migdol said it would be hard for him to get Benjamin small contributions because he needed to solicit money from the same donor pool for his nonprofit, according to the indictment.

Let me see what I can do, Benjamin told Migdol, according to court papers.

A smiling Benjamin was photographed alongside Migdol in September 2019 at a Friends of Public School Harlem event, holding the novelty check for $50,000 in a picture provided by a source. Williams said Tuesday that those funds were never distributed.

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According to the indictment, Benjamin also promised to help Migdol obtain a zoning variance approval for a project in return for contributions.

Benjamin abused his authority as a New York State senator, engaging in a bribery scheme using public funds for his own corrupt purposes, the charging document alleges.

Migdols lawyer did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Brian Benjamin with Gerald Migdol in this undated photo. (Obtained by the Daily News)

According to federal prosecutors, Benjamin also engaged in a series of lies to cover up his misdeeds that included falsifying campaign donor forms and providing false information in vetting forms he submitted while under consideration to be appointed the next lieutenant governor of New York State.

Following The News disclosures about the investigation, Benjamin admitted last week that he did not tell Hochul that he was aware his 2021 comptroller campaign had been subpoenaed before his appointment to his current post. Breaking his silence for the first time since The News first reported that federal investigators were probing his past grants, Benjamin maintained his innocence and said he was cooperating with authorities.

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Hochul chose Benjamin to serve as her right-hand man last summer when she replaced disgraced former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who resigned following multiple allegations of sexual harassment.

The scandal could spell major trouble as Hochul seeks a full term in office. Benjamins name is likely to remain on the ballot for the June 28 primary as the window to withdraw his candidacy closed in February.

Benjamins resignation Tuesday marks the latest chapter in a string of ongoing issues in the arena of campaign financing.

New York Lt. Gov. Brian Benjamin (left) and New York Gov. Kathy Hochul in Manhattan on Sept. 17, 2021. (Richard Drew/AP)

As first reported by The News, Benjamin faced criticism after providing incorrect information on a background check submitted to the governors office and state police as part of the vetting process for his current position.

On his initial background form, signed and dated Aug. 16, Benjamin reported he hadnt been contacted by law enforcement or a regulatory body concerning any possible legal, regulatory, ethical, or campaign finance, infraction or violation or investigation.

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He had, in fact, been contacted by the state Elections Board over his use of campaign funds, and was aware that the Manhattan district attorneys office and federal prosecutors were already looking at donations made to his comptroller campaign.

Benjamin told The News last week that he had done nothing wrong and followed the process.

Additionally, in January, financial disclosure reports revealed that Benjamin quietly coughed up roughly $25,000 to cover car loan payments and other personal expenses initially charged to his old Senate campaign account.

He also reimbursed the account for a non-fund-raising event held at Mintons Playhouse in 2018 that Benjamin has oscillated between describing as a wedding celebration and a purely political event.

Hochul was one of several top Democrats who attended the function at the Harlem nightclub, a month after Benjamin and his wife tied the knot in Virginia.
Metal panel sidings are missing on the exterior of the building that houses power-producing generators at the Guam Power Authoritys Cabras Power Plant in Piti on Feb. 7, 2022.
Frank R. James is walked from the 9th Pct. on Wednesday, April 13, 2022, in Manhattan, New York. James was arrested after the NYPD received a tip after he was spotted on First Ave. near St. Marks Place. (Barry Williams for New York Daily News)

Mayor Adams urged New Yorkers to come forward with tips about the Brooklyn shooting on Tuesday and pledged the Police Department will find the vest-clad gunman who authorities said unleashed a smoke bomb and shot at least 10 people at a Sunset Park subway station.

We will not allow New Yorkers to be terrorized, even by a single individual, the mayor said in a brief virtual video address from Gracie Mansion, where he is isolating after testing positive for COVID on Sunday. The NYPD is searching for the suspect at large  and we will find him.

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[ NYC crime spiked 44% in first months of 2022  and NYPD brass say repeat offenders big factor ]

At least 16 people were receiving medical care  10 with gunshot wounds  after a gunman in a green construction vest, a gray hoodie and a gas mask opened a canister, apparently releasing smoke, and fired on passengers on an inbound N train arriving at the 36th Street stop in Brooklyn, according to authorities.

My statement on this morning's shooting in Brooklyn: pic.twitter.com/TbLfCZa7WW  Mayor Eric Adams (@NYCMayor) April 12, 2022

Adams said he had been in constant communication with the police and fire departments, and other city agencies, as well as state and federal officials, after the attack.

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The shooters motive was not immediately clear, and a manhunt was underway. Police Commissioner Keechant Sewell said in a briefing in Sunset Park that officials had not labeled the attack  which took place around 8:24 a.m.  as terrorism.

Five patients were in critical but stable condition, said Laura Kavanagh, the Fire Departments acting commissioner. None of the wounds were believed to be life-threatening.

[ 100 Days of Eric: Heres how NYC Mayor Adams is doing three months into the role ]

We ask the public to come forward with any information that may help us in this investigation, Adams said in his 106-second video address, reading the NYPD tip line phone number: 800-577-TIPS. We need your assistance.

The mayor told WCBS-AM that a preliminary review indicated the camera system at the 36th Street stop had malfunctioned. He said the city had not yet confirmed whether the problem was with a single camera or multiple in the station. That is still under investigation, he said.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams at a presser at One Police Plaza in Manhattan, New York on Jan. 14, 2022. (Theodore Parisienne/for New York Daily News)

No live explosives had been found across the subway system, Adams said. The MTA said D/N/R service was frozen in Brooklyn and parts of Manhattan.

Adams said the city would extend transit cops day tours, doubling the number of officers in the transit system.

Were going to make sure that we actively and aggressively identify the person and go after the person who was responsible, Adams told CNN. Together, were going to navigate this crisis that hit our subway system.

Asked about the Police Departments decision not to immediately identify the attack as an act of terrorism, Adams said the investigation remained in its preliminary stages.

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New York City Police Department personnel gather at the entrance of a subway stop in the Brooklyn borough of New York on Tuesday, April 12, 2022. (John Minchillo/AP)

This is terror  someone attempted to terrorize our system, Adams said, but added that it was too early to determine whether the attack amounted to terrorism.

At this time, the investigators are going to do their due diligence to properly identify what happened here, said the mayor, a former police captain.

Adams said he had been in communication with Gov. Hochul, who headed to the site of the attack, and the White House, which provided President Biden with a briefing on the situation.

Cops were seeking a U-Haul van with an Arizona license plate, number AL31408, thought to be linked to the suspect in the shooting.

Hochul called on New Yorkers to remain very vigilant and alert.

This is an active shooter situation right now in the City of New York, the governor said in the news conference in Sunset Park. We ask everyone to be careful, be cautious, report what you see.

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NYPD seen at 25th Street and 4th Avenue in Brooklyn, New York on Tuesday morning, April 12, 2022. (Luiz C. Ribeiro/for New York Daily News)

The mayor told WCBS-AM that he was disappointed COVID prevented him from showing up at the scene, but that he was confident in the work of the NYPD and that the city needed the coordination and support that has come from the governor, the State Police, the federal authorities.

I am in communication with them, continuously updated, Adams said. I must make sure that I continue to coordinate the efforts. And were doing so from here at Gracie Mansion.

Adams also repeatedly offered his gratitude to first responders who rushed to the scene of the rush-hour attack, which sent terrified straphangers scrambling off the subway, according to videos published on social media.

The mayor said videos filmed by bystanders helped investigators as they pieced together what had happened. And he said he believed lives were saved by heroic actions of passengers, transit officials and first responders.

In his address, he told the emergency workers who rushed to the station and hospitals to help: You are what makes New York the greatest city in the world, and I thank you for supporting your fellow New Yorkers.




Haiti - USA: Kenneth Merten at the end of the mission, disappointed with the refusal to dialogue with political actors





Monday April 11, 2022 at a press conference at his official residence in Bourdon, Kenneth Merten the American Charge d'affaires a.i. announced the end of his mission in Haiti (started in October 2021 https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34978-haiti-diplomacy-american-ambassador-kenneth-merten-back-in-haiti.html ) and declared "[...] Haiti has missed a good moment of attracting foreign investment, because of the political instability, the problem of insecurity including kidnapping, among others..."



The American diplomat said he was disappointed with the actors of the various crisis resolution agreements who refuse to dialogue together to find a consensus to resolve the crisis.



Also disappointed not to have succeeded in bringing together around the same table the protagonists of the crisis and criticized the behavior of the Haitian Executive which, according to him, does not have a precise vision to move forward towards the elections and resolve the political crisis.



Regarding insecurity, Kenneth Merten said "The United States has not turned its back on Haiti [...] We are very sensitive to the problem of insecurity", recalling the efforts already made by the United States to provide the National Police of Haiti with appropriate materials and equipment to eradicate gangs, ensuring "By the month of May, additional American aid to the PNH in this area will be effective. Canada and France will also support Haiti as part of this process."



See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-36370-haiti-news-zapping.html

https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-36143-icihaiti-security-important-meeting-of-the-pnh-high-command-with-american-officials.html

https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-36143-icihaiti-security-important-meeting-of-the-pnh-high-command-with-american-officials.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34978-haiti-diplomacy-american-ambassador-kenneth-merten-back-in-haiti.html



TB/ HaitiLibre






















Haiti - Diaspora Covid-19 : Daily Bulletin #753





GLOBAL SITUATION 2019-2022:

Epidemiological situation:

Tuesday April 12, 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 500,070,515 cases (+857,186 in 24 hours ), the day before (+550.881)



Number of infected countries: 225



*Healings: 449,949,834 people have been cured of Covid-19 worldwide (+1,155,223 in 24 hours), the day before (+5,119,264 impact adjustment American health authority)

*Deaths: 6,206,180 people have died of Covid-19 worldwide since the start of the pandemic (+2,719 in 24 hours), the day before (+1,240)

*Active cases (less deaths and recoveries) in the world is currently 43,914,501 cases (-300,756 in 24 hours), the day before (-4,569,623 impact adjustment American health authority)



Average cure rate in the world: 89.97% (+)



Average mortality rate in the world: 1.24% (=)



World: Active cases trend: (minus recoveries and deaths)





(Day-1)



Vaccination: 11.47 billion doses of vaccine injected (+10 million doses injected. Updated April 11, 2022 (latest data available).



HAITI:

Warning: The Ministry of Public Health and Population (MSPP) did not make available after April 6, 2022 daily data on the Covid-19 situation in Haiti. As a result, the data below on the situation in Haiti is the latest available.



According to the Ministry of Public Health, +10 new cases of Covid-19 and its variants have been confirmed in Haiti as of April 6, 2022 (latest partial data available ) for a total of 30,585 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 (+8 cases as of April 2, 2022).



Healings: 29,082 (+107)



Cure rate: 95.08% (+)



Deaths: 835 deaths (+2) (West +2)



Death rate: 2.73% (+)



5th Wave (Omicron Dominant):

Total of the 5th wave (beginning of December 27, 2021) 4,591 confirmed cases and 69 deaths



Screening since the start of the pandemic: 191,478 tests (+1,242 in 4 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: 744 (+3); Petion-ville 624 (+0); Port-au-Prince 407 (+0); Tabarre 288 (+0); Cross-Bouquets 242 (+1)



Confirmed cases by department (2022 / 2021 / 2020):

West: 2022: 2,563 cases; (2021: 9.890); (2020: 6,945 cases)

North: 2022: 269 cases; (2021: 664); (2020: 677 cases)

Center: 2022: 230 cases; (2021: 1.001); (2020: 508 cases)

Artibonitis: 2022: 188 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: 216 cases; (2021: 891); (2020: 262 cases)

North West: 2022: 263 cases; (2021: 383); (2020: 229 cases)

Grand'Anse: 2022: 176 cases; (2021: 861); (2020: 176 cases)

Nippes: 2022: 39 cases; (2021: 249) (2020: 149 cases)



Cumulative deaths by department (2022-2021):

West: 296 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: 135 deaths (+1)

60-69 years: 187 deaths

70-79 years: 184 deaths (+1)

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): 82,103,067 cases (+40,078 in 24 hours), the day before (+9,747)

*Healings: 79,959,456 healings (+50,936 in 24 hours), the day before (+4,256,839 US health authority adjustment)

National Cure Rate: 97.38% (+)

*Deaths: 1,012,461 deaths (+310 in 24 hours), the day before (+200)

National death rate: 1.23% (=)

*Active cases (minus deaths and recoveries): 1,131,150 (-11,168 in 24 hours), the day before (-4,247,112 US health authority adjustment)



USA: Trend active cases: (minus recoveries and deaths)





(Day-1)



Vaccination: 566.38 million doses of vaccine injected since December 14, 2020, date of the first injection in the United States (+920,000). Update April 11 (latest data available).



DOMINICAN REPUBLIC:

Confirmed cases since March 1, 2020: 578,556 cases (+25 in 24 hours) the day before (+68 in 24 hours). First case (March 1, 2020)

Healings: 574,110 healings (+75 in 24h), the day before (+67)

National Cure Rate: 99.23% (+)

Deaths: 4,375 deaths (+0), previous (+0)

Death rate: 0.75% (=)

Positive rate over 4 epidemiological weeks: 0.78% (-)

Active cases: (excluding deaths and recoveries) 71 cases (-50 in 24 hours) the day before (+1)



Dominican Republic: Trend of active cases: (minus recoveries and deaths)





(Day-1)



TOP 5 Provinces with the most new cases in the last 24 hours:

Distrito Nacional: +9 new cases in 24 hours (-)

Santo Domingo: +6 new cases in 24 hours (-)

Santiago: + 5 new cases in 24 hours (-)

San Cristobal: + 2 new cases in 24 hours ()

La Altagracia: + 1 new cases in 24 hours (-)



Vaccination: 15.55 million doses of vaccine injected since February 16, 2021, date of the first injection in the Dominican Republic (+10,000 doses injected). Updated April 10, 2022 (latest data available).



QUEBEC:

Confirmed cases since the first case (February 27, 2020): 1,000,895 (+8,246 in 72h), previous (+3,572 in 24h)

Healings: 956,080 people (+9,064 in 72 hours) previous (+3,161 in 24 hours)

Cure rate: 95.52% (=)

Deaths: 14,544 (+32 in 72h) previous (+30 in 24h)

Death rate: 1.45% (-)

Active cases: (excluding death and recovery) 30,271 cases (-85 in 72 hours), previous (+381 in 24 hours)



Quebec: Trend of daily confirmed cases





(average weekly trend)



Vaccination: 18,897,267 doses of vaccine injected since December 14, 2020, date of the first injection (+78,271 doses in 72 hours), latest data available - MSSS as of April 11, 2022)



FRANCE:

*Confirmed cases since the first case (January 24, 2020): 26,972,867 cases (+133,146 cases in 24 hours), previous (+107,654)

*Heals: 24,198,650 heals (+180,599), previous (+24,134)

National Cure Rate: 89.71% (+)

Deaths: 143,466 (+178 in 24h), previous (+45)

Death rate: 0.53% (=)

Active Cases: 2,630,751 (-155,285 in 24h), previous (+83,475)



France: Trend of active cases: (minus recoveries and deaths)





(Day-1)



Vaccination: 142.23 million doses of vaccine injected since December 27, 2020, date of the first injection in France (+60,000 doses injected). Update April 11, 2022 (latest data available)



Previous bulletin : https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-36401-haiti-diaspora-covid-19-daily-bulletin-752.html



See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-30319-haiti-health-origin-of-the-first-2-cases-of-covid-19-in-haiti.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-30165-haiti-flash-first-case-of-covid-19-in-the-dominican-republic.html



HL/ HaitiLibre






















Haiti - News : Zapping...





3 OAVCT employees kidnapped

Monday, April 11 in the town of Croix-des-Bouquets, 3 employees of the Counter-Tiers Vehicle Insurance Office, who were driving to their place of work, were intercepted and abducted by armed individuals probably a member of the "400 Mawozo" gang.



J-C Moise demands the departure of the PM

Faced with the inability of Prime Minister ai Ariel Henry to take measures against insecurity and the lack of will to set up the new Provisional Electoral Council, Jean-Charles Moise, leader of the radical opposition party "Pitit Desalin" demands the departure of Ariel Henry and says he is ready to organize anti-government mobilization movements if necessary.



4 deputies of Haitian origin sit in the Parliament of Quebec

The election of Shirley Dorismond last night brings to 4 the number of deputies of Haitian origin currently sitting in the National Assembly of Quebec : 3 out of 4 are women, 2 are ministers and one is Leader of the Official Opposition.



New allegations from Pierre Esperance

According to Pierre Esperance Executive Director of the National Network for the Defense of Human Rights (RNDDH), about thirty investigators from the Central Directorate of Judicial Police (DCPJ) who worked on the case of the assassination of Jovenel Moise have left the country since 2021 due to persecution He also claims that the DCPJ report on the assassination of President Moise contains only 20% of the information. According to him, the final report of the judicial police is blocked by members of the power in place...



Orlando : Consulate closing

The Consulate of Haiti in Orlando informs the Haitian Community of Central Florida that the Consular Post will be closed on Thursday April 14 and Friday April 15, 2022 due to the "Easter Day". Consulate activities will normally resume on Monday, April 18, 2022 from 9:30 a.m.



New boat with Haitian Boat-People reported

After repatriating 88 Haitian migrants on Sunday, the Coast Guard American reported Monday, April 11 around 8:45 a.m., another sailboat overloaded with Haitians about 15 miles southeast of Anguilla Cay (Bahamas).



HL/ HaitiLibre


















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WASHINGTON (AP)  A federal jury convicted a former Virginia police officer of storming the U.S. Capitol with another off-duty officer to obstruct Congress from certifying President Joe Bidens 2020 electoral victory.

Jurors on Monday convicted former Rocky Mount police officer Thomas Robertson of all six counts he faced stemming from Jan. 6, 2021, including charges that he interfered with police officers at the Capitol and that he entered a restricted area with a dangerous weapon, a large wooden stick.

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His sentencing hearing wasnt immediately scheduled.

Robertsons jury trial was 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.

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Violent insurrectionists loyal to President Donald Trump, storm the Capitol, Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington. (John Minchillo/AP)

Robertson didnt testify at his trial, which started last Tuesday. Jurors deliberated for several hours over two days before reaching their unanimous verdict.

One juror, who spoke to The Associated Press only on condition of anonymity, said as she left the courthouse, I think the government made a really compelling case and the evidence was fairly overwhelming.

Defense attorney Mark Rollins said Robertson will appeal the jurys verdict. While Mr. Robertson disagrees with the jurys decision, he respects the rule of law, Rollins said in a statement.

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 authorities. Fracker testified Thursday that he had hoped the mob that attacked the Capitol could overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election.

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 while carrying a dangerous weapon, 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.

Pro-Trump protesters gather in front of the U.S. Capitol Building on January 6, 2021 in Washington, DC. (bstirton/Getty Images)

During the trials closing arguments Friday, 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.

Rollins conceded that Robertson broke the law when he entered the Capitol during the riot. He encouraged jurors to convict Robertson of misdemeanor offenses but urged them to acquit Robertson of felony charges that he used the stick as a dangerous weapon and that he intended to stop Congress from certifying the Electoral College vote.

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There were no plans to go down there and say, Im going to stop Congress from doing this vote, Rollins said.

Fracker testified 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 Congress.

Under cross-examination by Rollins, Fracker said he didnt have a verbal agreement with anybody to obstruct the joint session of Congress. Fracker said he believed everybody in the mob pretty much had the same goal and didnt need for it to be said out loud.

Pro-Trump protesters gather in front of the U.S. Capitol Building on January 6, 2021 in Washington, DC. (brent stirton/Getty Images)

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 told jurors that Robertson only went into the Capitol because he wanted to retrieve Fracker, who entered the Capitol a few minutes before Robertson. Wagner said the U.S. Army veteran was using the stick to help him walk because he 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.

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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.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Aloi told jurors that Robertson was charged for his actions, not his political beliefs. Wagner also said Robertson should be judged by his actions, not his words.

The town fired Robertson and Fracker after the riot. Rocky Mount is about 25 miles south of Roanoke and has roughly 5,000 residents.

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 250 of them have pleaded guilty, mostly to misdemeanors.

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Robertsons 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.
Editor: Well, Im not happy with any government leaks especially from the US Supre
Henderson, NC (27536)

Today

Partly cloudy skies this morning will give way to occasional showers during the afternoon. Thunder possible. High 67F. Winds NW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 40%..

Tonight

Showers this evening becoming less numerous overnight. Low 44F. Winds N at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 40%.
A MAN from Henley has helped equip Ukrainian fighters trying to quell the Russian invasion.

Ben Hargreaves and his friend Dave Stewart completed a

66-hour round trip to the Ukraine/Poland border in two vans packed with military equipment for resistance men in Kyiv.

He said: Within 24 hours of it being dropped off it was on its way to Kyiv and within 48 hours it was being used on the ground and making a difference. It was the right kit going to the right people at the right time, which was confirmed to us at the border. That made the return journey home 100 per cent easier.

Mr Hargreaves, 42, of Harpsden Road, volunteered to make the trip after Mr Stewart, a former Royal Marine, appealed for help with transport.

He wouldnt reveal exactly what equipment they had carried but said it had gone through all the relevant checks beforehand.

Mr Hargreaves said: We left Henley on Saturday, March 12 and went to France via the Channel Tunnel and from there on to Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands before reaching Poland.

We drove to the other side of Warsaw where we dropped off the military equipment with their equivalent of the Territorial Army. In all we did 38 hours of driving and the trip was relatively straightforward because it had all been well organised.

The equipment we were carrying had all been counted and weighed in advance and we had all the right paperwork, so it was a pretty uneventful journey.

The target was to get to Poland by the Saturday night. We stayed at a roadside motel and had a bit of food and a few hours sleep before doing the final leg to the other side of Warsaw, which took about five hours.

Where we dropped off the equipment was about five hours from Lviv so we didnt see what was happening in Ukraine and it appeared to be business as usual.

Mr Hargreaves, who runs computer design company In8, was loaned a van for the trip by Julian Glasspole, of Shiplake, who runs Vehicle Weighing Solutions in Caversham.

He said: It was quite surreal because if you drove to the Alps it would take 15 to 16 hours and we were doing more than double that in three days. We had great feedback from people along the way. We met taxi drivers using up their holiday to ferry people to the borders and others who were offering their spare rooms and so on.

It was a humbling experience knowing that we were making a difference but it was also nice to come back and get some sleep.

Mr Hargreaves kept the trip a secret until he had returned.

He said: My friend is an ex-Royal Marine so I wanted to help but didnt tell anybody about it until I got back. I wasnt going to say anything but the response Ive had from people who have wanted to do something but couldnt and felt a bit helpless gave me a little bit more of a connection.

Mr Hargreaves said he would be happy to do more trips but would prefer the war to be over soon. Things are going in the right direction, he said.

Mr Glasspole brought the van down from Chesterfield and had intended to go on the trip but tested positive for covid-19 the day before departure.

He said: Ben didnt flinch and said he was happy to do the whole journey on his own.

In my opinion, he is a real hero, a pretty amazing chap.

Henley town councillor Will Hamilton said: Ben has always helped out with community initiatives. I have known him for the best part of 10 years through his company and the work that he does for the council and also the Henley Wombles initiative.

He is a strong soul in the

community.
HAMBLEDEN was given the appearance of a fairytale village for the shooting of a new Disney movie, writes Albert Tait.

Cottages were covered in fake flowers and prop stalls selling candles and chocolates lined the main street.

Many of the buildings had signs over their doors, such as Lumiere Candle Works and Fairytale Fondants.

The village was being used to shoot Disenchanted, a sequel to the 2007 hit film Enchanted.

The film stars multiple Oscar nominee Amy Adams, who was in American Hustle and Arrival, and Patrick Dempsey, who was in Greys Anatomy and Bridget Joness Baby (2016).

The production crew spent six days in the village, which has been used as a TV and film location many times previously. Muffin Hurst, who lives in Hambleden, said: As a village, we were quite nervous because we had had some filming a few weeks previously and it can disrupt the village quite a bit.

However, they made every effort to accommodate all the locals and once they started putting up all the flowers it just looked so pretty. You couldnt help but drive through and smile  it was just gorgeous.

Ruby Smith, who works in the village post office, said: The whole village was turned into a magical Disney-land with flowers everywhere.

Quite a lot of the walkers and cyclists coming through the village thought that spring had come early.
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Oklahoma governor signs near-total ban on abortion into law

Oklahoma Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt signed a bill into law that makes performing an abortion illegal in the state, with an exception only in the case of a medical emergency.

Senate Bill 612, which cleared the state Senate last year and the House earlier this month, will make performing an abortion or attempting to perform one a felony punishable by a maximum fine of $100,000 or a maximum of 10 years in state prison, or both. The law does not provide exceptions in cases of rape and incest.

Recommended for you +11 Jockeys with the most Kentucky Derby wins No one ever knows wholl make history at the Kentucky Derby, but citing data from the Kentucky Derby and other sources, Stacker features 10 jockeys with the most Derby wins. Click for more.

Under the measure, the woman would not be criminally charged or convicted for the death of her unborn child. The legislation does not prohibit the use, sale, prescription or administration of contraceptives.

Stitt will be joined at the signing ceremony Tuesday by members of the state legislature, faith leaders and a number of anti-abortion groups in support of protecting lives of unborn children in Oklahoma, the governors office said in a statement.

Stitts signature on the legislation will make Oklahoma the latest Republican-led state to approve new restrictions on abortion access in recent weeks. Last month, Arizona Republican Gov. Doug Ducey signed into law a ban on most abortions in the state after 15 weeks, similar to a Mississippi law thats before the US Supreme Court, and South Dakota Republican Gov. Kristi Noem has signed legislation that further restricts access to medication abortions in the state.

In Idaho, the state Supreme Court temporarily blocked legislation recently signed by Republican Gov. Brad Little that was modeled after Texas law that bans abortions after about six weeks. Idaho had become the first state to follow the controversial Texas statute that allows private citizens to enforce the restrictions with lawsuits.

Oklahoma Republican state Rep. Jim Olsen, SB 612s principal House author, previously told CNN that he believes rape and incest is a horrible crime and though the baby is conceived in a horrible situation that it still has a right to life.

The baby should not be liable for the sins of the father, he said. Its still a life.

The bill was decried by abortion rights proponents throughout the legislative process, including the Planned Parenthood Action Fund, which said last week that the law would be devastating for Oklahomans and also Texans, who make up nearly half of the patients who seek abortion care in Oklahoma.

Former Virginia police officer who stormed US Capitol found guilty on all charges

A jury in Washington, DC, on Monday found an ex-Virginia police officer guilty on all six charges he faced for his actions around the US Capitol attack on January 6, 2021.

Thomas Robertson, a former sergeant of the Rocky Mount police in Virginia, faced charges including impeding law enforcement officers, obstructing an official proceeding, entering and remaining in restricted grounds and tampering with evidence.

The jury heard from multiple witness during the trial last week, including Washington police officers who were there during the attack, federal agents and Robertsons former police colleague and co-defendant who testified as part of a plea deal with the government.

One juror told CNN that there was debate on every charge while the jury deliberated for around 13 hours.

I was encouraged, the juror told CNN following the verdict. Being a jury of Washingtonians in a January 6 case, it would be natural to wonder what bias is in the jury. And I really feel like it was so thorough, thoughtful and painstaking.

A sentencing date has not been set.

During the trial, a DC Metropolitan Police officer testified that a man carrying a stick, who prosecutors say was Robertson, hit him and another officer as they tried to pass through the mob of rioters during the attack. Prosecutors played several clips of the incident, including footage from police body cameras worn that day.

Prosecutors cited online posts Robertson allegedly wrote a month before the attack where he called for an opened armed rebellion.

The defendant made good on that promise, assistant US attorney Elizabeth Aloi told the jury during opening arguments, saying that Robertson used a large stick to impede officers who were called in as back up during the riot.

 From wire reports
Dr. Oz put out a new ad touting the endorsement of former President Trump on Tuesday in a heated Pennsylvania Senate race, but the TV doc was quickly slammed by rivals who say hes got some very un-MAGA views in his closet.

Trump knows who is the real conservative who will shake up Washington, Oz says in the new ad. Its Dr. Oz...the conservative fighter Pennsylvania needs.

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Dr. Mehmet Oz (left) and former President Donald Trump (right) (Getty Images)

The Oz for Senate ad also reprised Trumps endorsement announcement at a weekend rally in North Carolina.

Oz is battling so-so poll numbers in a crowded May 17 GOP primary for the Senate seat held by Sen. Pat Toomey (R-Pa.), who is retiring. The winner will face off in one of the marquee swing states matches up against the winner of a Democratic primary race that Lt. Gov. John Fetterman is leading.

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The celebrity physician hopes Trumps coveted nod gives him a burst of much-needed political momentum with just five weeks to go before primary day.

But Trumps backing is being panned by Ozs rivals in the crowded field and prominent figures in his far right-wing MAGA movement.

Hedge fund titan David McCormick, who edged ahead of Oz in one recent poll of GOP voters, praised Trump but said he believes he only endorsed Oz because they are fellow celebrities and neighbors in Palm Beach, Florida.

(Oz) is not viewed as a conservative and for good reason, McCormick said Monday in a radio interview.

Other Republican candidates include Jeff Bartos, a one-time failed candidate for lieutenant governor; Carla Sands, Trumps former ambassador to Denmark; and Kathy Barnette, a Black conservative commentator.

They reminded conservative voters that Oz has supported abortion rights and taken some stands to which gun rights advocates object. He has spoken favorably of allowing transgender kids to make their own decisions about their gender identity, a position that the far right-wing virulently opposes.

A former congressional candidate, Sean Parnell, had Trumps endorsement before he quit the race amid domestic abuse allegations during a messy divorce.

Parnell accused Oz of being a liberal in disguise and a carpet-bagger. Oz has lived mainly in New Jersey in recent years, although he went to school in Philadelphia.

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Hes pro-abortion & hes pro-illegal immigration, Parnell tweeted. Hes not even close to conservative or America First.
A 10-year-old Ghislaine Maxwell told house guests her father beat her with objects of her choosing  and Jeffrey Epstein referred to Prince Andrew as his useful idiot, according to an explosive upcoming book about the British royal family.

Excerpts from author Tina Browns The Palace Papers: Inside the House of Windsor  the Truth and the Turmoil, published Monday in the Daily Telegraph, tell how Epstein, a New York financier, used his relationship with the prince to open doors in international circles and further enrich himself.

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The book, on shelves in two weeks, also explores how Maxwells unorthodox upbringing as the privileged daughter of media mogul and fraudster Robert Maxwell helped shape her twisted relationship with the convicted sex predator.

The child abuse claims in The Palace Papers are attributed to a British newspaper heiress who knew Maxwell as a girl.

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(Eleanor) Berry noticed an odd-shaped hairbrush, a strap, a slipper and other implements laid out on the childs dressing room table. Ghislaine said, rather proudly, (This) is what daddy uses to beat me with. But he always allows me to choose which one I want, reads the excerpt.

In the sadistic offering of power to the powerless, asking her, in essence, to procure herself for her father, one can better understand how Ghislaine fell under the spell of a man like Epstein.

Ghislaine Maxwell in 2013 in New York City. (Laura Cavanaugh/Getty Images)

Browns book describes Maxwell, who started dating the multimillionaire Epstein when she was 30 after moving to New York City, as madly in love with the late serial pedophile.

Their relationship quickly turned transactional: Epstein made the money, and Ghislaine made the introductions, an excerpt reads.

Unable to hold his sexual attention, she found a way to keep him at her side by recruiting nubiles (as she called them) to service his insatiable needs.

A jury convicted Maxwell on Dec. 29 of aiding Epsteins sex trafficking scheme from 1994 to 2002. She faces up to 65 years in prison when sentenced in June.

The former socialites lawyers argued at trial that she was a victim of Epsteins manipulation and that prosecutors scapegoated her after his 2019 suicide.

An undated photo released as a government exhibit in the 2021 trial of Ghislaine Maxwell, showing her close relationship with Jeffrey Epstein. (Court Evidence)

The Queens second son was Maxwells biggest catch for Epstein, Brown writes, and his relationship with the royal was also transactional.

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Privately, Epstein told people that Andrew was an idiot, but  to him  a useful one. A senior royal, even if tainted, is always a potent magnet abroad. Epstein confided to a friend that he used to fly the Duke of York to obscure foreign markets, where governments were obliged to receive him, and Epstein went along as [his] investment adviser, reads an excerpt.

With Andrew as frontman, Epstein could negotiate deals with these (often) shady players.

Britain's Prince Andrew in a 2019 photo. (Sakchai Lalit/AP)

Andrew, who was accused in a civil case of having sex with one of Epsteins alleged underage sex trafficking victims, visited the multimillionaire in New York with such regularity that Epstein gave him a grandly decorated Upper East Side guest suite nicknamed the Britannica Suite, according to Brown, founder of the Daily Beast and a former Vanity Fair editor in chief.

Epstein made Andrew feel he had joined the big time  the deals, the girls, the plane, the glittering New York world, where he wasnt seen as a full-grown man still dependent on his mothers Privy Purse strings or on the harsh pecking order of the Palace Brown wrote. The Duke was always as oversexed as a boob-ogling adolescent.

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A spokesperson for the Maxwell family did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Jimmy McMinn, Sr., 85, of Greenville, passed away peacefully in his home on May 5, 2022. Jimmy was born on July 17, 1936, to Thomas J. and Mary McMinn. Jimmy was a Christian man who loved to play golf and fish. He met and married the love of his life, Elizabeth Burkhart, on March 2, 1958. He
Throughout the coronavirus pandemic, we've all known individuals who have done more than their share to help their neighbors and communities with food, comfort, care, companionship and dozens of other needs. If you know of such a person, you can nominate them to be featured in our upcoming H
White House press secretary Jen Psaki speaks during a press briefing at the White House in Washington on March 9, 2022, left, and then White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney addresses the media at the White House on Oct. 17, 2019. The hiring of non-journalists as contributors to television news organizations isn't new. Far less common is seeing pushback from the journalists working there, as has happened recently at CBS and NBC News. CBS is hiring Mulvaney, a former Trump administration official and MSNBC is in discussions to hire Psaki when her time in the Biden administration is through.
Uniontown, PA (15401)

Today

A steady rain early...then remaining cloudy with a few showers. High near 55F. Winds ENE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near a half an inch..

Tonight

Cloudy early with some clearing expected late. Slight chance of a rain shower. Low 41F. Winds ENE at 10 to 15 mph.
Lt. Gov. Brian Benjamin leaving court at 500 Pearl Street after being arrested and indicted in the connection of campaign finance scheme on charges including bribery and falsification of records, Manhattan, New York, Tuesday April 12, 2022. (Shawn Inglima/for New York Daily News)

Brian Benjamin should resign today as lieutenant governor, marking the end of his term at seven months and three days, the third shortest tenure in state history. His arrest this morning by the FBI on federal felony charges for bribery, honest services wire fraud, conspiracy and falsification of records was not a surprise, since the Daily News two-and-a-half weeks ago exposed that he was in the sights of the Manhattan U.S. attorney.

As U.S. Attorney Damian Williams explained in unveiling the grand jury indictment, this is a simple story of corruption. As a state senator in 2019, Benjamin sent a $50,000 member item to his pal Jerry Migdols charity in order to then have Migdol illegally contribute money to Benjamins Senate campaign and also his failed 2021 city comptroller bid, cheating the public matching funds program.

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Despite allegedly engaging in these acts, Benjamin brazenly put in his name for Kathy Hochul to select him as the new LG when she ascended to the governors office in August. He lied again and again to Hochul that he was not under investigation and she believed him, elevating him on Sept. 9.

Benjamin has the presumption of innocence, but he doesnt have the presumption of being the next in line to the governorship. If he doesnt quit immediately, he must be rapidly impeached and removed from office. As for being on the ticket with Hochul, thats a political problem of her own making. A governor who moved up from being LG shouldve been far more careful in picking her replacement.

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There are many who must also answer for this mess. Who is checking on Senate member items? Did Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins approve of it? Did Comptroller Tom DiNapoli authorize it? (Apparently not, because his office was stripped of that role by the Legislature.) Did Attorney General Tish James certify it?

And when Benjamins troubles were printed in this newspaper, did James or anyone else examine if he lied on state vetting forms, which he did? And why did Hochul stand by him just five days ago? And why did Stewart-Cousins let him preside over the Senate just three days ago?
BEIJING, April 12 -- China's recent dispatch of its air force transport planes to Serbia aimed to deliver regular military supplies, the project is part of the bilateral cooperation plan and not targeted at any third party, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said on April 11.

Spokesperson Zhao Lijian made the remarks at a daily press briefing, when asked by a foreign reporter whether the move was related to the current situation in Ukraine.

"To follow through on the bilateral cooperation plan, China has recently sent air force transport planes to deliver regular military supplies to Serbia. This is a cooperation project that falls under our annual plan," the spokesperson said, adding that the project is not targeted at any third party, nor does it have anything to do with the current situation.

When further asked if the delivery could harm regional peace, Zhao replied, "Did you ever care whether regional peace and stability is threatened when the US sold arms to Europe and Taiwan? Why do you think it's so when China sells some conventional military supplies to Serbia? "

"We hope relevant media can avoid reading too much into it," the spokesperson noted.
In early March, two citywide elected officials, Public Advocate Jumaane Williams and Comptroller Brad Lander called for Mayor Eric Adams to require full vaccination for students to return to school next fall. From both a practical and a moral standpoint, this policy would be a disaster. It would be next to impossible to implement, and would further widen the gulf between rich students and lower-income kids. Mayor Adams should ignore them and continue the progress he has made in returning kids to normalcy.

Given the number of other vaccinations public schools require for enrollment, at first glance, it wouldnt seem like a big deal to add one more, especially given how effective the COVID vaccine is in preventing serious illness and death. But those vaccines have a long history of use, and extremely high voluntary uptake. Most parents, knowing how severe diseases like polio, measles or pertussis are, are eager to get their children vaccinated according to long-established schedules. By contrast, currently only 53% of DOE students are fully vaccinated against COVID.

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Its going to be hard to make a dent in those numbers. Many adults who were eager to get vaccinated themselves were hesitant about vaccinating their kids against a disease that, thankfully, is mild for most children. That skepticism was reinforced by recent evidence that the vaccine was much less effective in preventing infection among children 5-11 than in those over 12 (though, crucially, it prevented severe illness). The bottom line is that a student mandate would start from a much weaker position than any other student vaccine requirement.

For a vaccine mandate to be effective, it requires both high voluntary compliance and a credible threat for those who fail to acquiesce. In the rare case where students might miss school because their parents wont vaccinate them against polio, the city can, if necessary, involve the Administration for Childrens Services. But were not going to sic child welfare on 47% of the population.

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This means that if Williams and Lander have their way, the only alternative for unvaccinated students  besides leaving the state, if this comes down as a state mandate  would be remote school, the inferiority of which is well-documented. Nationally, remote instruction set K-12 students back four months behind in reading and five months behind in math. Childhood obesity rates soared, and remote learning negatively impacted kids mental health in a variety of ways.

It is also widely acknowledged that remote learning exacerbated already existing inequality. Students attending majority-Black schools dropped 33% farther behind their peers who attended majority-white schools. In schools where the average family income was less than $25,000 students fell seven months behind in math. One study showed that in California, English Language Learners fell further behind their native English-speaking peers. Nobody serious is denying the existence of learning loss any more.

The students who suffered the most from remote learning are also the least likely to be vaccinated. In the district that contains East New York, Ocean Hill and Brownsville, 30% of the students are fully vaccinated and 91% are considered economically disadvantaged. In the district that contains far wealthier Gramercy Park and the Upper East Side, by contrast, 74% of kids are fully vaccinated.

You dont need a crystal ball to see what would happen if this scheme gets implemented. A disproportionate number of low-income kids would be shut out of school and shunted to an inferior remote option. The already yawning gap between rich and poor would widen even further. The impact would be disastrous. Other districts that contemplated vaccine mandates have seen this and stepped back from the brink. Los Angeles delayed imposing a student vaccine mandate once it became clear it would mean assigning 30,000 students to remote learning. In New York, that number would be hundreds of thousands.

At the charter school I co-founded, 84% of students are fully vaccinated, which is nearly double the percentage in our district. We have done this through a combination of increasing vaccine access, rewarding students who submit completed vaccine cards, and making vaccination a condition of participation in some extracurricular activities. Still, dozens of students remain unvaccinated for a variety of reasons; in some cases, kids want the jab but parents are skeptical. It has never occurred to us to deny them their basic education. They get much more out of being in person, and our school is infinitely richer for their presence.

It is inevitable that there will be more COVID waves; it is equally inevitable that there will be calls to ostracize our vaccine-hesitant families. To his credit, Mayor Adams (and Mayor de Blasio before him) has held steadfast in ensuring that every child has access to in-person learning. We need not add to the disproportionate burden our children have borne. Lets let everyone go to school next year.

Samuels is the co-founder and co-executive director of MESA Charter High School in Brooklyn
Community

OCC hosts conference on political assassinations of the 1960s

Photos By Chip Barche/Regional Editor, The Hometown Register Professor David Denton open the conference discussing political assassinations of the 1960s. Photo By Chip Barche Regional Editor, The Hometown Register Mal Hyman spoke on Inherited a legacy of ashes at the conference. Photo By Chip Barche Regional Editor, The Hometown Register Casey Quinlan lectured on the Lancelot Project, how people from WWII were involved and the Skorzeny Papers. Quinlan spoke of the book where the author reveals post-WWII activities of SS Commando Otto Skorzeny, known as the most dangerous man in Europe and Hitlers right-hand man.

OLNEY  Political assassinations of the 1960s was a two-day conference at Olney Central College April 8-9 in the Dr. John D. Stull Performing Arts Center.

Professors, teachers and historians discussed research of conspiracy involving the assassinations of President John F. Kennedy, Senator Robert F. Kennedy, and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

The program featured Professor David Denton from Olney, Mal Hyman-associate professor of sociology at Coker College in Hartsville, South Carolina, Casey Quinlan-Teacher of American History and Government for over 40 years, publications of Beyond the Fence Line; The Ed Hoffman Story; The Eyewitness Testimony of Ed Hoffman; and co-author Project JFK/CSI Dallas; as well as many lectures on the Cold War; Cold Warriors; and Faciliating the Autopsy of President Kennedy and Institutionalizing its cover-up; the Executive Action Program; and QJ/WIN Project. Historian Ryan Jones on the MLK Assassination: Unpacking the Conspiracy at the Lorraine Motel. Pete Hymans, official photographer for several conferences, interviewed and photographed Bobby Kennedy two days before his murder. Robert Groden has been researching the assassination of President Kennedy since 1964 as a leading critic of the Warren Commission and was invited to the U.S. House of Representatives to present the case for conspiracy. He has written eight books on the assassination. Gary Shaw, a retired architect from Cleburne, Texas, who has been researching and studying the case since Nov. 22, 1963, wrote several articles for The Midlothian Mirror, met Parkland Hospital Doctor Charles Crenshaw in 1992 and co-authored a book, JFK: Conspiracy of Silence, which is a New York Times best seller.

Ed Tatro, a teacher of 38 years in high school English in Quincy, Massachusetts, authored more than 30 mystery and horror short stories, research articles pertaining to JFK and RFK assassination conspiracies. Tatro edited articles for the Garrison magazine, the Unqualified Soldier by Jim Manning and What the JFK Files Tell U by Professor David Denton.

Saturdays program featured Chana Willis-Navy Master Chief F.P Spainhouer ONI/CIA, who spoke on Before, During and After, Her Fathers Life Story; Larry Rivera discussed the Pea-deBrueys War and is the author of the book-The JFK Horsemen; Ed Tatro presented Jack Ruby tried to snitch and Brian Edwards presented The Warren Whitewash and An Examination of the Methods and Failures of the Warren Commission, and JFK Revisited; John Newman, an adjunct professor of Political Science at James Madison University, discussed his upcoming works Uncovering Popovs mole and Volume V: Armageddon, and David Knight, spoke on the key conspiracy and cover-up factors and has produced nine documentary film with Project JFK/CSI Dallas; Randy Benson, a director, producer and editor of The Searchers and most notably an Academy Award for Best Student Documentary from the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Science. Benson has been an instructor of film and video at the Center for Documentary Studies at Duke University for over a decade. Brooks LaPlante, a former Indiana state legislator spoke on Math Matters: The Origins of the Frontal Shots that struck JFK.

Denton opened the two-day event discussing searching declassified documents, arguing the JFK assassination is not resolved. He pointed to statements he said were made by Jack Ruby to an FBI informant and detailed other information that he said shows the case is not resolved.

Mal Hyman spoke on Inherited a legacy of ashes, detailing threats to Kennedy from government and private sectors.

Casey Quinlan spoke on the Lancelot Project, describing the post-WWII activities of SS Commando Otto Skorzeny and discussed a secret organization and people linked to the events in the assassination of President Kennedy.

Quinlan spoke of Operation Paperclip which was a United States Intelligence program that more than 1,600 Nazi German scientists, engineers, and technicians were taken from former Nazi Germany to the U.S. for government employment after the end of WWII between 1945 and 1959 for their knowledge for Cold War initiatives. He also explained that Skorzeny and his wife Ilse had assassination schools and were involved in worldwide Black Operations.
Jimmy Kimmel wished fellow funnyman a happy 75th birthday Tuesday  and recognized the fellow host as the best in the business.

Happy 75th birthday to David Dave Letterman, Kimmel tweeted. The best and funniest talk show host ever, whether he likes it or not, and my favorite new YouTuber.

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David Letterman speaks onstage during the taping of the "Vax Live" fundraising concert in Inglewood, California, on May 2, 2021. (VALERIE MACON/AFP via Getty Images)

Kimmel was referring to recently posted audio clips on YouTube featuring Letterman making crank phone calls during rehearsals for Late Night with David Letterman.

Letterman, who was born in Indianapolis on April 12, 1947, hosted Late Night With David Letterman on NBC from 1982 to 1993, then jumped over to CBS to do Late Show With David Letterman from 1993 to 2015. He currently interviews celebrities and newsmakers for Netflix on My Next Guest Needs No Introduction.

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[ John Oliver takes joy in OANs decline, mocks the embattled network one more time ]

Kimmel, a 54-year-old Brooklyn native, started hosting Jimmy Kimmel Live! on ABC in 2003. He cites Letterman as one of his biggest showbiz influences.
Johnny Depp and Amber Heards lawyers called each other liars during sniping opening statements Tuesday for Depps libel lawsuit against Heard.

Heards attorneys said the jury would hear a soap opera and that Depp, 58, physically and sexually assaulted Heard, in addition to emotionally abusing her, while they were married from 2015 to 2017.

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Depps legal team claimed that Heard, 35, invented the abuse reports to ruin her ex-husbands reputation and tank his career.

Johnny Depp walks inside the Fairfax County courtroom on Tuesday. (Brendan Smialowski/AP)

The trial is centered on an opinion piece Heard wrote in the Washington Post in 2018, in which she said: Then two years ago, I became a public figure representing domestic abuse, and I felt the full force of our cultures wrath for women who speak out.

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As part of divorce proceedings in 2016, Heard spoke in court about being abused by Depp. The Pirates of the Caribbean star denied the allegations, and the two reached a $7 million divorce settlement.

Heards opinion piece two years later did not mention Depp by name. But he said the implication was clear and responded with the libel suit, which was filed in Fairfax County, Va., because thats where the Washington Posts servers are.

During their public battle since then, Depp has accused Heard of attacking him. She responded by filing her own defamation lawsuit, which was rolled into the initial case.

In 2020, Depp lost a libel lawsuit against a British publisher that called him a wife beater. The judge ruled the great majority of alleged assaults of Ms. Heard by Mr. Depp have been proved to the civil standard.

Amber Heard, right, and her lawyer Elaine Bredehoft, sit inside the Fairfax County courtroom on Tuesday. (Brendan Smialowski/AP)

Its tougher to prove libel in the U.S. than in the U.K., making Depps latest court contest an uphill battle. The trial opened Monday when seven jurors and four alternates were selected to hear the arguments.

Youre going to see who the real Johnny Depp is  behind the fame, behind the pirate costumes, Heards lawyer J. Benjamin Rottenborn told the jury.

Heards attorneys laid out the case on two fronts. First, they said that Depp abused and assaulted Heard on multiple occasions during their relationship. But they also said Heard was simply exercising her First Amendment rights by penning the op-ed, noting that the abuse allegations against Depp had already been public for two years.

Rottenborn said Depp himself was responsible for his declining career.

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This mans poor choices have brought him to this point, he said. Stop blaming other people for your own self-created problems.

Depps legal team, running a similar playbook to the actors previous public statements, claimed Heard was faking her physical injuries.

Heard was famously photographed with a facial bruise and cut lip in 2016 when she said in court that Depp had been abusing her. Depp said the bruise was fabricated.

Police had responded to the couples home six days prior to the court date and claimed at the time that they didnt observe any injuries to Heard.

This follows a pattern of her elaborate, erroneous claims which have continued to change and evolve over time for the purpose of Hollywood shock value of which Amber has mastered and used to exploit a serious social movement, a Depp spokesperson told the Daily News.

In addition to the circus-like atmosphere outside the courtroom, James Franco, Paul Bettany and Elon Musk are expected to testify at the weeks-long trial.

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Omni Hotels & Resorts is pleased to announce that Kurt Alexander has been appointed president of the company, replacing Peter Strebel, who will now take on the role of chairman of Omni Hotels & Resorts.

Alexander will assume his new role on May 1, 2022, after spending the last five years as the company's CFO. As Chairman, Strebel will provide strategic counsel to the company. Both Alexander and Strebel will report to Blake Rowling, president of TRT Holdings, the parent company of Omni Hotels & Resorts.

Since joining Omni Hotels & Resorts in 2014, Alexander has worked with all disciplines of the company to address strategic priorities, while also overseeing shared services, corporate accounting, capital finance, procurement, risk management, property tax and financial reporting. He has held a number of positions within the company, including vice president of finance, director of strategic planning & asset management and he participated in the company's Executive in Development (EID) program when he joined the company, which allowed him to work across functions at the hotel level. Prior to his work at Omni Hotels & Resorts, Alexander spent a decade working in professional services, including public accounting and investment banking, both of which involved work in the travel and hospitality space.

Alexander attended Duke University where he earned a bachelor's degree in economics. He also received a master's degree in accounting from the University of Virginia and an MBA from Northwestern University. Alexander resides in Dallas with his wife, Melissa, and their two children.
WTTC's annual Global Summit is the most influential Travel & Tourism event in the calendar, and this year, industry leaders will gather with key government representatives to continue aligning efforts to support the sector's recovery and move beyond to a safer, more resilient, inclusive, and sustainable future.

Following its hugely successful event in Cancun Mexico last year, the Summit will be hosted in Metro Manila in-person, with a global audience joining virtually.

More information such as the Summit's theme and key speakers will be announced shortly.

The Cancun Global Summit was the world's first major in-person gathering of Travel & Tourism leaders since the outbreak of the pandemic following months of meticulous planning. More than 20 Ministerial and 600+ International delegates from over 40 countries attended in-person whilst 30,000+ watched virtually. It showed the world how major live corporate events, conferences, and indeed international travel, can take place safely by observing the latest Health & Safety protocols.

Watch our highlight video below.

This virtual event is organized by WTTC
Weave Living and its Partner Jointly Acquire Rosedale Hotel, Kowloon for HKD1.37 Billion

Hong Kong-based Weave Living (WL) and US-based PGIM Real Estate (PGIM) are acquiring Rosedale Hotel in Kowloon, Hong Kong, for HKD1.37 billion from Hong Kong-based ITC Properties Group Limited and Hong Kong-based Shaw Trustee (Private) Limited . The USD200 million joint venture between WL and PGIM will see that the 435-key Rosedale Hotel features 15,000 square feet of shared spaces, 4,000 square feet of rooftop terraces and a restaurant after renovation. The built up of the property will be 111,000 square feet. WL will act as the asset manager, development manager and operations manager for the joint venture as well as retaining 10 percent stake in the joint venture. The renovation will be completed mid-2023, marking WLs fourth hotel conversion and expanding their room count by 40%.

The Assembly Place to Acquire Co-living Peer Operator Commontown Singapore

Singapore-based co-living start-up company The Assembly Place ("TAP") is set to an agreement with Singapore-based Liberto Pte Ltd, the operator of Commontown Singapores co-living spaces, to acquire all company assets through a share swap agreement at an undisclosed sum. The deal includes acquiring all Commontown Singapores assets of 120 rooms across ten locations as well as head leases and subleases. The brand's co-living space is currently fully leased out throughout the country. TAP plans to launch a 181-key co-living hostel and a four-storey residential block in April. The serviced apartment assets are currently in the planning and construction phase across three locations. TAP was founded in 2019, and since, the company has amassed more than SGD250 million in asset under management.

Vietnamese Co-living Start-up Secures USD1.7 Million Venture Capital Funding

Vietnam-based Mvillage Joint Stock Company ("MV"), an accommodation start-up in co-living spaces, has received funding of USD1.7 million led by Vietnam-based venture fund Simple Tech Investment. The fund will expand the number of rooms MV has in Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) from the current 300 to 1,000 this year. MV was founded in October 2020 and operates five locations in HCMC, with their occupancy rates exceeding 90 percent. The founder, Nguyen Hai Ninh, is also the founder and ex chief executive officer of The Coffee House, a HCMC-based coffee chain with more than 140 stores across Vietnam. MV has also received funding from Singapore-based Vulpes Venture, Japan-based Genesia Ventures, Inc., and some other angel investors.

Joint Hospitality Group Vista launched in a partnership between Pro-invest and Next Story

Australia-based Pro-invest Group (PI) and Singapore-based Next Story Group (NSG) have come together to establish a new management company, Vista Hospitality Group Australasia (Vista). Vista will offer a one stop shop combining the expertise and capabilities of each company and will include everything from development planning, asset management to tailored hotel operations. Vista will have a dynamic range of brands from mid-market to luxury segments. The new group is currently launching with 1,500 rooms and plans to expand this to 5,000 rooms across Australia and New Zealand over the next five years.

About HVS

HVS is the world's leading consulting and valuation services organization focused on the hotel, restaurant, shared ownership, gaming, and leisure industries. Established in 1980, the company performs more than 4,500 assignments per year for virtually every major industry participant. HVS principals are regarded as the leading professionals in their respective regions of the globe. Through a worldwide network of over 50 offices staffed by 300 experienced industry professionals, HVS provides an unparalleled range of complementary services for the hospitality industry. For further information regarding our expertise and specifics about our services, please visit www.hvs.com.
Tristan Capital Partners with Queensway acquire majority shareholding in Point A Hotels

London-based Tristan Capital Partners, through their latest opportunistic fund, European Property Investors Special Opportunities 6 (EPISO 6), has, along with London-based Queensway Group, acquired the majority shareholding in Raag Hotels for 420 million. Raag Hotels is the parent company to Point A Hotels, which has a hotel portfolio encompassing 1,520 rooms across 10 budget boutique hotels in the UK and Ireland, of which seven are in London. Under the new partnership between Tristan and Queensway, Queensway will co-invest and act as hotel operator, asset manager and development partner for future sites. The new shareholders have committed significant additional equity to expand Point A Hotels, aiming to double the portfolios size over the medium term.

Eiendomsspar acquires the Hotel Christiania Teater in Olso from Strawberry Group

Oslo-based real estate investment company Eiendomsspar AS has acquired the four-star Hotel Cristiania Teater from Oslo-based real estate investors Strawberry Group for an undisclosed sum. The new owners, who also have a 25.8% stake (voting share of 36.6%) in the Swedish listed hotel real estate company Pandox AB, acquired the asset with the intention to refurbish the hotel. The property features 102 guest rooms and suites, a theatre and event hall with a capacity for 400 people, as well as a restaurant and a wine bar. The listed building was built in 1917, originally serving as both offices and a theatre, and was later, in 2010, converted into a hotel, retaining the theatre as a conference and event venue. Nordic Hotels & Resorts, owned by Strawberry Group, will continue to operate the hotel.

Pandox sells Mora Hotel & Spa in Sweden to Cibola Holding

Swedish hotel investor Cibola Holding AB has acquired the Mora Hotel & Spa from Swedish owner-operator Pandox AB for a reported SEK 114m, which converts to approximately 11.1m (79,000 per room). The asset features 140 guest rooms, meeting rooms, a restaurant and spa, and will continue to be operated by the Lund family, who have run the hotel since 2018. The four-star hotel, located 270km northwest of Stockholm, in central Sweden, is situated in the very heart of the town, fronting a park and one of Swedens largest lakes, Siljan.

SomnOO acquires four hotels in France

French owner operator SomnOO has acquired the minority ownership of a 230-room portfolio of four properties in France, with details of the transactions not disclosed. The assets include the four-star, 38-room Hotel de L'Univers Arras in northern France, as well as three hotels in Provence: the four-star, 48-room Hotel Best Western Plus Le Lavarin in Avignon, the three-star, 80-room ibis styles Arles Palais des Congres and two-star, 64-room ibis budget Arles Palais des Congres, both located within the same building complex in Arles.

JPI Hospitality acquires Hotel Rotterdam in the Netherlands

Vienna based JPI Hospitality Investor Club, part of JP Immobilien, has acquired the Hotel Rotterdam in its namesake city for an undisclosed sum. The 115-room hotel is housed in two connecting buildings, built in 1940 and last renovated in 2008. The property features a brasserie, lobby lounge and a breakfast area. This is JPI Hospitalitys second acquisition within a month, following the recently reported acquisition of the Hotel Tres Playas in Mallorca, Spain. The group now owns more than 10 assets in five countries spanning Austria, Italy, Spain, Switzerland and now, the Netherlands.

About HVS

HVS is the world's leading consulting and valuation services organization focused on the hotel, restaurant, shared ownership, gaming, and leisure industries. Established in 1980, the company performs more than 4,500 assignments per year for virtually every major industry participant. HVS principals are regarded as the leading professionals in their respective regions of the globe. Through a worldwide network of over 50 offices staffed by 300 experienced industry professionals, HVS provides an unparalleled range of complementary services for the hospitality industry. For further information regarding our expertise and specifics about our services, please visit www.hvs.com.
SAN FRANCISCO  Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants, part of IHG Hotels & Resorts Luxury & Lifestyle Collection, was named to the FORTUNE 100 Best Companies to Work For list, which is based on employee feedback of their workplace culture. This workplace honor is a testament not only to Kimptons continued innovation and commitment to guest service, but in the same spirit, emphasizes the brands unique benefits and support of employees to meet their evolving needs.

At Kimpton, we are proud of the empowering culture and open environment we have built over the past 40 years that encourages our employees to come as they are, said Mike DeFrino, CEO of Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants. Employees are encouraged to act with heart and bring their own unique and original selves to the job every day, without which we would not be the brand we are today. After the effects of the last few years on our industry, our people-first culture and growth opportunities make us not only a great place to work but also a great place to stay.

Particularly after the trials of the last two years, Kimpton has further embraced its brand mantra of stay human by adapting to new challenges and creating additional employee benefits that focus on mental health and work/life balance, including a yearlong complimentary Talkspace subscription for all of its employees. Delivering real heartfelt care to Kimpton guests is only possible if employees are empowered to make thoughtful human decisions and provided with the support and guidance they need to excel.

Kimpton is also recognized consistently for its continued career growth and mentorship opportunities, including a mentor program aimed at elevating and honing the skills of more junior employees through cross-department and cross-country pairings with seasoned Kimpton leaders. Additional competitive long-term benefits include perks like sabbaticals and meaningful offerings such as child and elder back-up care, parental leave and tuition reimbursement. In addition, Kimpton continues to support important social issues that are core to the brands mission including supporting LGBTQ+ rights, fighting childhood hunger and championing diversity within the workforce. Kimpton has multiple internal advocacy employee groups to attract, recruit, empower, develop and retain employees, making Kimpton a company that employees continue to be proud to work for.

The Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For list, is one of a series of rankings by Great Place to Work and Fortune based on employee feedback from Great Place to Work-Certified organizations. In addition to the honor of 13 years in a row on the FORTUNE Best Companies to Work For list, Kimpton is also proud to be recognized on numerous other lists including:

Fortunes 50 Best Workplaces for Parents (2016-2019)

Fortunes Best Workplaces in the Bay Area (2017-2021)

Fortunes Best Workplaces in Chicago (2019)

Fortunes 100 Best Companies to Work For (2009, 2011-2020)

Fortunes Best Workplaces for Millennials (2015-2021)

Fortunes Best Places to Work for Women (2017-2020)

Fortunes Best Workplaces for Diversity (2016-2019)

Human Rights Campaigns Corporate Equality Index (2004-2022)

Glassdoors Best Places to Work (2018-2020)

Forbes The Best Employers for Diversity (2019)

Great Place to Works Best Workplaces for Parents (2016-2020)

To see the full list of the 2022 FORTUNE 100 Best Companies to Work For, click here. There are currently more than 700 job openings at Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants in the Americas for positions at all levels. For more information on career opportunities at Kimpton, visit www.kimptonhotels.com/careers.

ABOUT KIMPTON HOTELS & RESTAURANTS

San Francisco-based Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants, part of IHG Hotels & Resorts Luxury & Lifestyle Collection, is the original boutique hotel company, which pioneered the concept of unique, distinctive, design-forward hotels in the United States in 1981. Anchored in one-of-a-kind experiences, Kimpton now operates more than 60 hotels and 80 restaurants, bars and lounges across urban locations, resort destinations and up-and-coming markets in the United States, Canada, Europe, Caribbean and Greater China. Kimpton spaces and experiences center on its guests, offering inspiring design that evokes curiosity to forward-thinking flavors that feed the soul. Every detail is thoughtfully curated and artfully delivered, so that guest experiences remain meaningful, unscripted and ridiculously personal.

Kimptons employees, empowered to provide heartfelt service and experiences, have built a highly regarded workplace culture that appears consistently on FORTUNE magazines 100 Best Companies to Work For list. As a result, Kimpton has been awarded, Highest in Guest Satisfaction Among Upper Upscale Hotel Chains by J.D. Power three times.

ABOUT THE FORTUNE 100 BEST COMPANIES TO WORK FOR LIST

Great Place to Work based its ranking on a data-driven methodology applied to anonymous Trust Index survey responses from more than 650,000 employees at Great Place to Work-Certified organizations across the country. To learn more about Great Place to Work Certification and recognition on Best Workplaces lists published with Fortune, visit Greatplacetowork.com.

ABOUT GREAT PLACE TO WORK

Great Place to Work is the global authority on workplace culture. They help organizations quantify their culture and produce better business results by creating a high-trust work experience for all employees. Emprising, their culture management platform, empowers leaders with the surveys, real-time reporting, and insights they need to make data-driven people decisions. They use their unparalleled benchmark data to recognize Great Place to Work-Certified companies and the Best Workplaces in the US and more than 60 countries, including the 100 Best Companies to Work For list published annually in Fortune.

To learn more, visit greatplacetowork.com, listen to the podcast Better by Great Place to Work, and read A Great Place to Work for All. Join the community on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram.

From Fortune 2022 Fortune Media IP Limited. All rights reserved. Used under license.

About IHG

IHG Hotels & Resorts [LON:IHG, NYSE:IHG (ADRs)] is a global hospitality company, with a purpose to provide True Hospitality for Good.

With a family of 17 hotel brands and IHG Rewards, one of the world's largest hotel loyalty programmes, IHG has over 6,000 open hotels in more than 100 countries, and a further 1,800 in the development pipeline.

InterContinental Hotels Group PLC is the Group's holding company and is incorporated and registered in England and Wales. Approximately 350,000 people work across IHG's hotels and corporate offices globally.

Visit us online for more about our hotels and reservations and IHG Rewards. For our latest news, visit our Newsroom and follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter.
PRAGUE & PARIS  Mews, the leading cloud-based property management system (PMS), has been chosen by The Pichet Group as the exclusive hospitality cloud for their All Suites Appart Hotel brand.

The Pichet Group is one of the largest real estate groups in France, and their 20 All Suites properties are located all around France. The aparthotels combine the amenities of apartment living with the comforts and excellent service of a hotel, and over the course of 2022 each property will migrated to Mews in a staggered rollout.

Were really excited to be working with Mews, said Olivier Jacquet, CEO Hotels Division. It was vital for us to move to a cloud-native solution that gave us the power and agility to adapt to modern hospitality and guest behavior, and Mews was the best option.

All Suites Appart Hotels welcome a big proportion of long stay leisure guests and students, which was an important factor in choosing Mews. Mews has developed new long stay timeline and billing features that make managing reservations and payments faster and simpler, saving valuable time for All Suites team.

Mews is such a great fit for aparthotel and long stay properties, and Im really excited to welcome such a great brand, said Matt Welle, Mews CEO. Our technology not only gives guests the freedom to decide their own journey, but it will give All Suites the ability to customize their journey and run operations even more efficiently. Im sure this will be a strong partnership for many years to come.

Mews Open API was another key factor in the decision making. All Suites plan to develop their own app in the future, and an open API with great connectivity gives them the freedom to build and connect the app in the way that suits them best.

Guests will also benefit immediately from an improved user journey, including tools like online check-in and check-out, which are especially popular and important with a younger, student demographic. Moreover, they also see the move as important to their sustainability program, thanks to Mews participation in schemes such as Hotels for Trees.

Its set to be an exciting few years for The Pichet Group and All Suites Appart Hotels, with an ambitious property expansion program and plans to embrace innovative, tech-driven hospitality.

About Mews

Founded by ex-hoteliers, Mews is a next-generation hospitality cloud for hotels, hostels, apartments and more. Mews gives hoteliers the power to provide a remarkable guest experience while improving the operations and performance of their property, thanks to smart automation and an innovative, user-friendly set of products and features.

Mews serves over 2,500 properties across more than 70 countries in all five continents and works with a huge number of hospitality tech companies to provide hoteliers with an unbeatable platform  no other PMS offers as many integrations. At the 2020 HotelTechAwards, Mews was voted Best PMS by industry peers, was a Finalist in 2021 and 2022, and won Best Place to Work in Hotel Tech in 2021 and 2022.

Customers include Accor Group, Machefert Group, Privilodges Appart-hotels, The Student Hotel and Generator-Freehand.

For more information, please visit mews.com.

About The Pichet Group

For 30 years, the Pichet group has been able to extend its skills to all real estate trades: design, development, engineering, construction, marketing and management. A key player in real estate in France, it has left its mark on the entire territory in cities such as Paris, Lille, Bordeaux, Bayonne, Pau, Nantes, Besancon, La Rochelle, Lyon, Marseille, Toulouse...

A privileged partner of local and regional authorities, the group carries out many urban development projects, promoting the diversity of housing (housing lots, individual and collective housing, service residences, business and commercial real estate) alongside social and environmental responsibility. Because each project is unique, because understanding the expectations of its customers and partners is essential, and because lifestyles are constantly changing, the Pichet Group bases its development on listening and proximity. Throughout France, its employees participate in the construction of the living environments of tomorrow, taking into account local specificities.

Drawing on its experience, the group is continuing its development in the hotel market under the All Suites brand with a total capacity of 3,200 rooms, with 1,000 under construction and 2,000 in development by 2024. The Group is expanding its positioning in high-end hotels  in particular the opening in 2022 of two high profile projects: the Radisson Blu Grand Hotel & Spa, Malo-les-Bains and a 5* hotel in Bordeaux.

A volume of activity of 1.3 billion euros

504 million euros in capital

5,630 reservations

125,000m of rental space managed (offices, shops, residential)

50,600 lots under management (management and syndic)

3,200 rooms (hotel capacity)

12 regional offices: Bordeaux, Ile-de-France North, Ile-de-France West, Ile-de-France South, Ile-de-France East, Bayonne, Nantes, Rennes, Lille, Lyon, Marseille, Toulouse

1,300 employees

40ha of vineyards in Pessac-Leognan: Chateau les Carmes Haut-Brion

George Barker

Director of Communications
Geneva  This year sees a major milestone in the history of Kempinski Hotels as the company prepares to celebrate its 125th birthday. After its humble beginnings as a family-run wine merchant and restaurant business in 1897, Kempinski is today proud to manage a collection of 80 elegant hotels, resorts and residences in 34 countries around the world, with another 26 projects under development from Brazil to Beijing.

To commemorate the occasion, the company will launch a dedicated website on 5 April that will introduce the 125 Anniversary Special: a collection of generous offers that include discounts of up to 25% on hotel stays until 30 September with a flexible cancellation policy. The website will also shine a light on some of the key chapters in the Kempinski story and introduce the cast of characters who continue to write it today.

Ever since our earliest beginnings, Kempinski has had a reputation for excellence. After 125 years in the hospitality business, this reputation shines through in all our people, who come from more than 130 nationalities and tirelessly deliver highest service quality, says Bernold Schroeder, Chief Executive Officer of Kempinski Group and Chairman of the Management Board of Kempinski AG. It is thanks to these dedicated individuals that we are able to continue creating beautiful performances for our guests, and it is their passion that will define our story for another 125 years.

Kempinski: A Brief History

When the company was founded in 1897, wine merchant and restaurateur Berthold Kempinski was already committed to delivering exemplary customer service. His restaurants in Berlin were among the most popular in the city and when the company entered the hotel business, the Kempinski name already carried a reputation for excellence. Kempinski grew steadily over the next few decades, firstly in Germany with new hotels in Munich, Hamburg and Frankfurt, and then onward into key European destinations. In 1992, the company achieved several significant signings further afield and opened its first hotel in China, Kempinski Hotel Beijing Lufthansa Center. Since then, the company has grown rapidly in China, where its European heritage and reputation for first-class service and quality helped secure management agreements for some of the most iconic properties in the country, including two hotels at the recently opened Universal Beijing Resort.

At the same time, Kempinski has grown steadily in the wider Asia-Pacific region, Africa and the Middle East, where it was among the first international companies to open hotels in key destinations. In 2017, Kempinski made its debut in the Americas with the first luxury five-star hotel in Cuba, Gran Hotel Manzana Kempinski La Habana, and has since expanded with a second resort in Cuba and one in Dominica. The recent signing of Kempinski Laje de Pedra Hotel & Residences, a landmark property in Brazil scheduled to open in 2024, indicates the companys long-term commitment to the region.

Our constellation of beautiful havens continues to grow. Over the last six months alone we signed 10 new management agreements for hotels and residences in destinations such as Lombok, Dubai, Saudi-Arabia and Istanbul, which demonstrates the appetite among owners to tap into our long history of management expertise. We are proud to note that the Kempinski name is so highly esteemed around the world, says Schroeder. For our guests, Kempinski today offers a reassuring combination of modern elegance and classic European luxury, embellished with local touches in each of the destinations we call home. As we continue to grow around the world, the focus will always be on quality over quantity. We strive to make sure that each new opportunity that comes our way is a good fit for the Kempinski family: one in which we can uphold the values that have come to define the brand after 125 years of excellence.

In 1897, Berthold Kempinski delighted his customers with innovations not seen before in the hospitality industry: small touches such as serving wine by the glass and offering half-portions and fixed-price menus. Today, his legacy lives on as Kempinski continues to innovate around the world.

The relaunch of the KEMPINSKI DISCOVERY loyalty programme in collaboration with the Global Hotel Alliance as well as recent initiatives such as the introduction of Kempinski Fit-Room or the new Titan Tikes Kids Club demonstrate that the company has never stopped innovating.

125 anniversary website: https://www.kempinski-125.com/.

About Kempinski

Created in 1897, Kempinski Hotels is Europe's oldest luxury hotel group. Kempinski's rich heritage of impeccable personal service and superb hospitality is complemented by the exclusivity and individuality of its properties. Kempinski now comprises a portfolio of 80 five-star hotels and residences in 34 countries and continues to add new properties in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia and the Americas. Each one reflects the strength and success of the Kempinski brand without losing sight of its heritage. The portfolio comprises historic landmark properties, award-winning urban lifestyle hotels, outstanding resorts and prestigious residences. Each one imbues the quality guests have come to expect from Kempinski while embracing the cultural traditions of its location. Kempinski is a founding member of the Global Hotel Alliance (GHA), the world's largest alliance of independent hotel brands. kempinski.com discoveryloyalty.com www.kempinski.com  www.ghadiscovery.com

Eva-Maria Panzer

Senior Director Corporate Public Relations

+41 79 309 8252

Kempinski
WASHINGTON  Texas and its large technology and defense sectors face particular risk as global supplies for computer chips become increasingly tight, Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said Monday.

The Biden administration is making a public push for Republicans and Democrats in Congress to come together on legislation that would pump more than $50 billion into expanding U.S. manufacturing of computer chips, also known as semiconductors, as global demand rises and manufacturers struggle to lock down supplies.

"All states would be impacted but Texas would be disproportionately effected (if the legislation doesn't pass)," Raimondo said. "You have a number of defense contractors in Texas that are utterly dependent on chips... You have the tech industry around Austin, Houston and Dallas. And you have a number of companies in the chip industry."

RELATED: Biden urges action on semiconductor bill, as Texas looks to ramp industry

On Friday, Republicans and Democrats announced they had agreed to set up a conference committee to work out the differences between the House and Senate versions of the United States Innovation and Competition Act, in which Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, and Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson, D-Dallas, have emerged as leaders.

A sprawling piece of legislation designed to spur innovation across the U.S.economy, the bill would give the Commerce Department $52 billion to expand domestic chip manufacturing. A recent survey by the Commerce Department found that U.S. chip inventories had fallen almost 90 percent over the past two years, as demand rises globally.

"Chip companies are going to have to expand. The question is do they do it in the U.S. or in Europe or Asia," Raimondo said. "If congress doesn't move now, were going to lose out forever."

Democrats and Republicans have largely come to agreement on the funding for chip manufacturing. But other components of the legislation are driving discord.

Earlier this year, Cornyn railed against provisions within the House version of the legislation that included money for a United Nations fund to aid nations battling climate change, as well as creating new visas for immigrants.

"The House bill also includes additional handouts to favored political constituencies," Cornyn said on the senate floor. "The Senate bill needs to be the template for what is ultimately done by the conference committee and what is ultimately passed by the United States Congress.
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WASHINGTON (AP)  With Congress voting to suspend normal trade relations with Russia and ban the importation of its oil, President Joe Biden's action to tighten the U.S. squeeze on Russia's economy now can intensify.

The action Thursday by the U.S. House and Senate to revoke Moscow's most favored nation" trade status and ban oil imports intensifies the U.S. response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine amid mounting reports of atrocities. Lawmakers showed overwhelming support for action striking at Russias economy, with the two separate bills each passing the Senate 100-0 and garnering near-unanimity in the House.

Last month Biden moved, with European and other key allies, to revoke Moscows normal trade status. He also has taken executive action to ban U.S. imports of Russian oil, liquefied natural gas and coal. Also banned are imports of Russian seafood, alcohol and diamonds.

Biden can now sign the new legislation into law. The bill to end normal trade relations with Russia opens the way for Biden to impose higher tariffs on various imports, such as certain steel and aluminum products, further weakening the Russian economy under President Vladimir Putin. It also ensures that Moscow ally Belarus receives less favorable tariff treatment.

And the U.S. is cutting the flow the other way, too: It has barred the export of expensive watches, cars, clothing and other luxury American products to Russia.

The U.S. revocation of Russia's long-standing most favored trade status was one in a series of economic and financial sanctions that have been leveled against Russia in response to its brutal war against Ukraine that began Feb. 24.

By itself, the downgrade of its trade status won't have an immediate far-reaching effect on the Russian economy. But combined with the other sanctions the U.S. and its allies have imposed, the goal is to intensify the pressure on Putin and force a pullback of his Russian forces.

A closer look:

___

WHAT IS MOST FAVORED NATION STATUS?

The idea behind MFN status is to equalize the trade treatment in tariffs and import quotas for all of a countrys trading partners. Say, for example, that the U.S. levies a 13% tariff on imported leather gloves. MFN status means that gloves imported from France, China, Brazil and Russia would all be taxed at that same rate.

MFN status has been a baseline for global trade, ensuring that countries within the World Trade Organization are treated on a similar footing, with some exceptions that allow, for example, preferential treatment for developing countries.

Over the years, the U.S. has revoked the MFN status of more than two dozen countries  generally for political reasons, with the Cold War bringing the sanction against the then-Soviet Union and other communist countries, for example.

With the exception of Cuba and North Korea, the preferred status of those nations was eventually restored. This was done, for example, after the thaw of the Cold War in Eastern Europe and the opening of U.S.-China relations after the visit of President Richard Nixon. With these latest moves, Russia joins the ranks of those two communist countries in lacking MFN status with the U.S.

___

WHAT ABOUT REAL IMPACT VS SYMBOLISM?

For the U.S. at least, removing most favored nation status is a mostly symbolic gesture. The U.S. ban that was announced last month on imports of Russian oil, gas and coal already eliminated about 60% of all U.S. imports from Russia. The import bans against alcohol, seafood and diamonds add up to only about $1 billion in revenue, according to White House figures.

Russia provided less than 1% of all U.S. vodka imports in December, according to the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States, and less than 2% of U.S. seafood imports by volume, according to federal statistics.

But symbolism can be important in war.

In debate on the legislation Thursday, Rep. Richard Neal, D-Mass., said innocent Ukrainians were being slaughtered even as lawmakers were meeting.

We have no time to waste and must immediately further punish Vladimir Putin," Neal said.

Russia's 6-week-old invasion failed to take Ukraine's capital Kyiv quickly, and in the wake of that failure and heavy losses, Russia has shifted its focus to the Donbas, a mostly Russian-speaking, industrial region in eastern Ukraine. Ukraine's foreign minister begged again Thursday for weapons from NATO  and the western alliance agreed, spurred into action by atrocities revealed in the wake of the Russian withdrawal from areas around Kyiv.

Ukrainian officials said hundreds of bodies of civilians were found, many lying in the street, in towns around Kyiv.

___

DIAMONDS, VODKA, KING CRAB. WHAT ELSE DOES THE U.S. IMPORT FROM RUSSIA?

The U.S. buys mostly natural resources from Russia for which existing tariffs are mostly low or zero  oil and metals such as palladium, rhodium, uranium and silver bullion. Imports also include chemical products and semi-finished steel products, plywood and, paradoxically, bullets and cartridge shells.

Because the imports from Russia are mostly natural resources, they generally will face little to no increase in tariffs as a result of the lost MFN status, Ed Gresser, director for trade and global markets at the left-leaning Progressive Policy Institute, noted in an online posting.

To replace the current tariff rates, U.S. buyers of Russian goods would pay import taxes established under a 1930 U.S. law that disrupted trade during the Great Depression. It would still be zero for the metals. But the rates would soar  to levels considered punitive  for unwrought aluminum, plywood and semi-finished steel, among other products.
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DALLAS (AP)  The federal requirement to wear face masks on airplanes and public transportation is scheduled to expire next week, and airline executives and Republican lawmakers are urging the Biden administration to let the mandate die.

The fate of the rule  and consideration of an alternate framework of moves to limit the spread of COVID-19  was under discussion Monday within the U.S. Centers for Disease Control. Officials described it as a close call.

This is a decision that the CDC Director Dr. (Rochelle) Walensky is going to make," White House coronavirus-policy adviser Dr. Ashish Jha said Monday. I know the CDC is working on developing a scientific framework for how to answer that. We are going to see that framework come out I think in the next few days.

Jha said that extending mask mandate again is on the table.

MASK MANDATE: Masks again required in Rice classrooms after sudden uptick in COVID cases

The administration gave the rule a one-month reprieve in March so that public-health officials would have time to develop alternative methods of limiting the transmission of COVID-19 during travel.

The mask mandate is the most visible vestige of government restrictions to control the pandemic, and possibly the most controversial. A surge of abusive and sometimes violent incidents on airplanes has been attributed mostly to disputes over mask-wearing.

Critics have seized on the fact that states have rolled back rules requiring masks in restaurants, stores and other indoor settings, and yet COVID-19 cases have fallen sharply since the omicron variant peaked in mid-January.

The American people have seen through the false logic that COVID-19 only exists on airplanes and public transportation, Republicans on the House and Senate transportation committees said Friday in a letter to the administration.

MORE ON MASKS: Airline CEOs urge Biden to drop mask, foreign-traveler mandates

However, a recent uptick in cases could provide reason for the CDC to keep the mask rule a bit longer.

After a steep, two-month decline, the seven-day rolling U.S. average of new reported COVID-19 cases has turned slightly higher in recent days, although from relatively low levels.

Several prominent officials have contracted the virus, including the 82-year-old House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., who tested positive for the virus last week after appearing  without a mask  at a White House event with President Joe Biden. Also last week, Attorney General Merrick Garland and Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo disclosed that they had tested positive after a gathering that was quickly dubbed a super-spreader event.

Airlines began requiring masks in 2020, months before the government mandate was issued days after President Joe Biden's inauguration. Airlines faced financial ruin because of the pandemic, and the masks and other measures such as blocking middle seats were meant to reassure frightened passengers that flying was safe from the virus.

In December, the CEO of Southwest Airlines was forced to walk back a comment that masks didnt do much to improve health safety in the cabin because planes have strong air filters.

Travelers have returned  the number of Americans getting on planes surged past 2 million a day in March  and airlines think they can sell plenty of seats without the mask rule.

HOUSTON IMPACT: As COVID funding stalls and masks come off, some of Houston's at-risk patients feel left behind

My flight attendants are begging us to stop this, Frontier Airlines CEO Barry Biffle said. Every day its causing all of these incidents on board, and its frustrating and its dangerous. Youre asking a 24-year-old flight attendant to explain it to someone who is mad about the rule.

Unions that represent flight attendants once supported the mask rule but are now neutral. Union officials say their members are divided.

Executives of 10 airlines including American, Delta, United and Southwest wrote to Biden last month, urging the White House to drop the mask rule and a requirement that international travelers test negative for COVID-19 before flying to the U.S. Much has changed since these measures were imposed and they no longer make sense in the current public health context, the executives said.

Airlines for America, a trade group representing those big airlines, and three other industry organizations made a similar appeal to Dr. Jha on Friday. They pointed to recent CDC guidance which found that the most Americans no longer need to wear masks indoors because hospitalization rates in their communities are relatively low.

Savanthi Syth, an airline analyst for Raymond James & Associates, said there are some people who will feel uncomfortable flying with fellow passengers who aren't wearing masks, but there could be others who have avoided flying because they're not comfortable wearing one for a long flight.

OMICRON XE: 7 things to know about the new COVID variant

I expect the vast majority of passengers and flight attendants will welcome the change (if the rule is dropped), given that it is consistent with most other areas of everyday life, Syth said. She said any impact on travel demand will be small, and that airlines would get a much bigger boost from elimination of the testing requirement on inbound international travelers.

Chris Lopinto, co-founder of travel site ExpertFlyer.com, said that because of the recent uptick in COVID-19 cases, it might be wise to keep the mask mandate until cases subside again.

I don't think there would be a material effect on demand either way, considering airlines can barely keep up with the demand they already have, he said.

Most congressional Democrats continue to support the mask mandate. A leading liberal, Sen. Edward Markey, D-Mass, urged the CDC and the Transportation Security Administration to keep the rule in place, saying that the virus and variants remain a threat to seniors and people with weakened immune systems or disabilities.

The political calculus could be shifting, however. Last month, eight Democrats broke with the White House and joined Senate Republicans in a symbolic vote against the mask mandate. Four of those Democrats face difficult re-election races in November, and the party is unlikely to keep control of the Senate if any of them lose.

Associated Press White House reporter Zeke Miller contributed to this report.
The guitar Kurt Cobain played in Nirvanas iconic Smells Like Teen Spirit music video over 30 years ago is headed to the auction block.

Juliens Auction will put the 1969 left-handed Fender Mustang guitar up for bidding during its Music Icons event, commencing both online and live at New York Citys Hard Rock Cafe from May 20 to 22.

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The blue 1969 Mustang Fender guitar used by rock icon Kurt Cobain in the 1991 Nirvana music video "Smells Like Teen Spirit" is displayed at the media preview of the "Music Icons" auction, at Julien's Auctions in Beverly Hills, California, on April 11, 2022. (ROBYN BECK/AFP via Getty Images)

Im left-handed, and its not very easy to find reasonably priced, high-quality left-handed guitars, Cobain had said during final interview with Guitar World in 1991. But out of all the guitars in the whole world, the Fender Mustang is my favorite. Ive only owned two of them.

For the past 12 years, the guitar was displayed at Seattles Experience Music Project, now named MoPOP Museum of Pop Culture.

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The Beverly Hills based auction house is hoping the Competition Lake Placid blue-colored string instrument could fetch $800,000.

The auction of Cobains guitar will also include an NFT (Non Fungible Token) of his longtime guitar tech Earnie Bailey discussing its importance. Cobains 1964 Dodge Dart automobile, his painting of Michael Jackson, a personally drawn 1985 Iron Maiden Killers skateboard and his United Airlines boarding pass are also up for grabs.

And its all for a good cause.

A portion of the proceeds for the three-day event will be donated to the Indianapolis Colts and the Jim Irsay familys national mental health charitys Kicking the Stigma campaign in honor of Mental Health Awareness Month in May.

The Daily News Flash Weekdays Catch up on the days top five stories every weekday afternoon. >

Irsay, owner & CEO of the Indianapolis Colts, owns an eponymous collection of artifacts from music, pop culture and American history.

Cobain, who referenced suicide, religion and drugs in song lyrics, died by suicide on April 5, 1994, at age 27.

Kurt Cobain (Mark J. Terrill/AP)

Juliens Auction chief Darren Julien told the Daily News that the Cobain family was impressed with what Kicking the Stigma represents and what the campaign has accomplished.

They felt it was the appropriate organization and cause to benefit from the sale of Kurts items and to bring awareness to mental health, he added.

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Martin Nolan, Juliens executive director, said the company is proud to present this remarkable collection of items synonymous with the life and career of the late grunge rock trailblazer.

These precious items represent the touchstones of Kurts legacy as one of the most influential and most admired artists of all time which endures today long after his untimely passing with his music more popular than ever evidenced by their Smells Like Teen Spirit video viewed by billions and counting on YouTube and other channels, he said.

Considered Nirvanas biggest hit, Smells Like Teen Spirit was ranked No. 5 on Rolling Stones list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. He was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2017.
Be it through taste, aroma or touch, food is one of the most visceral ways our brain stores happy memories. The mere smell of chickpea fritters frying in a big vat of oil reminds me of monsoons in India, when pakoras instantly become snack du jour. And despite not having much of a sweet tooth, chickpea flour roasting with ghee to make mithai, an Indian fudgelike sweet, makes me salivate.

On a recent trip to India with my daughter, Ajna, we had one such experience that I will forever cherish. Late into the night after two long flights, we arrived in our hotel in New Delhi, hungry and tired. The only food available was limited room service. We ordered the staple, dal, and rice.

Dal, being a lentil stew popular in virtually every home and restaurant across India, can be made a thousand different ways. That night, the dal was a simple yellow nourishing moong dal flecked with fresh tomatoes and cumin but with a sharp delicious bite of ginger in every spoonful. It was very similar to a dal my mother would make that is native to the province of Sindh, but the copious amount of ginger changed everything about it. Even for a seasoned cook like me, the dal made me tingle with excitement, and we happily licked every drop knowing that it was going to become a staple in my cooking when I returned to Texas.

This dal is currently on my restaurants menu, and here is a recipe for it  I urge you to fearlessly put this much ginger.

SINDHI DAL

1 cup yellow moong dal

1 teaspoon ground dried turmeric

2 tablespoons unpeeled ginger puree (see note)

1 teaspoon salt

4+ tablespoons olive oil or ghee

1 teaspoon cumin seeds

1/2 cup minced white or yellow onion

1 teaspoon minced garlic

1 teaspoon red chile powder

2 cups of diced ripe tomatoes

2 tablespoons finely diced unpeeled ginger

1 teaspoon grated jaggery

Juice of a lemon

Herbs for garnish

Instructions: Rinse the moong dal lentils 2 to 3 times in water then soak for at least an hour and up to 4 hours. If soaking for longer, refrigerate the soaked lentils. Drain.

Combine the lentils with 3 cups of water and bring to a boil. Foam or scum may rise to the top; using a slotted spoon, discard it. These are the impurities that often lead to stomach upsets while consuming lentils. Alternately, discard the water from the first boil and add fresh water to cook the lentils. At this point, add the turmeric, ginger puree and salt. After the mixture comes to a boil, cover and simmer the lentils for 20 to 30 minutes or until completely soft and dissolved.

In a separate frying pan over high heat, warm the olive oil or ghee and pop the cumin seeds. Immediately add the minced onion and fry it on low to medium heat until they are soft and translucent and have a little bit of color. Next add the garlic, red chile powder and tomatoes and braise on low heat for 10 to 12 minutes until the tomatoes have cooked down. Pour this mixture into the lentils along with the jaggery and slowly simmer the dal for another 10 minutes or more. The consistency should be thick so cook it longer if needed. Turn the heat off and add the minced ginger reserving a little for garnish. Let the dal rest for 10 to 15 minutes. Stir in the juice from a lemon and drizzle more olive oil or ghee on top if desired. Finish with minced ginger, herbs and serve.

Notes & variations

* To make ginger puree, combine 2 cups of rough chopped unpeeled ginger with 1/2 to 1 cup of water (just enough to cover the top of the ginger) and puree in a blender until smooth. Use the ginger with the water in the dal.

* In lieu of fresh tomatoes, use 1 cup of canned crushed tomatoes  Mutti is a brand I prefer.

* This dal can be made with masoor (orange) lentils or with channa dal, however, the cooking time will increase.

Serves 4 to 6



From chef Anita Jaisinghani

Anita Jaisinghani is the chef-owner of Pondicheri restaurant in Houston. Her website is india1948.com. Her first cookbook, Masala (Ten Speed Press), publishes in August. Email: anita@pondicheri.com.
A record number of Texans enrolled in Affordable Care Act health insurance in 2022 largely because of federal financial assistance provided as part of pandemic relief initiatives, according to an analysis released Tuesday.

More than 1.8 million Texans signed up for ACA marketplace health insurance in 2022, up 42 percent from 2021, according to the analysis by Episcopal Health Foundation, a Houston nonprofit that studies health and health care. That means more than 500,000 additional Texans have marketplace health insurance coverage compared to last year.

This the largest jump in Texas ACA enrollment since Congress passed the law in 2013.

On HoustonChronicle.com: More Texans than ever get health insurance through the ACA as enrollment surges 42 percent

The gains, however, are unlikely to last. The health insurance subsidies are set to expire with the American Rescue Plan Act at the end of the year unless Congress enacts new legislation.

Increased financial assistance from the American Rescue Plan Act spurred the record sign-ups across Texas, said Shao-Chee Sim, EHFs vice president for Research, Innovation and Evaluation and author of the report. But that will be temporary if federal funding for financial assistance expires as planned at the end of the year.

EHFs analysis found that a record 94 percent of Texans who signed up for 2022 ACA plans received financial help that dropped average premiums to just $86 from $557. More Texans in a wider range of income levels received federal financial assistance to help pay ACA insurance premiums than ever before

Most counties in the state had more than 90 percent of people enrolled in ACA plans using subsidies. For instance, in Harris County, 95 percent of ACA enrolles used subsidies. In rural Nacogdoches County, 96 percent of people with ACA plans used the subsidies.

Urban places may be where people residing, but the ACA marketplace is helping people across 254 counties, Sim said. The major takeaway here is that there is a need for affordable health coverage for low income Texans.

During COVID-19, Congress passed the American Rescue Plan Act that expanded the eligibility requirements of the ACA health insurance marketplace for two years. It increased financial help to those already eligible for federal subsidies and expanded subsidies to people earning incomes above $54,000 for individuals and $111,000 for a family of four.

Sixty nine percent of those who signed up for ACA plans earn annual incomes less than $34,000 a year for individuals and $70,000 for a family of four.

These record numbers clearly show that Texans - especially low-income Texans - want and value health insurance, Sim said. And when its actually affordable to them, huge numbers will sign up for coverage and become repeat customers.

On HoustonChronicle.com: A legacy of racism in the health care system is hurting patients, new research shows

These programs were much needed in Texas, where lawmakers have opted not to expand Medicaid or create a similar program, said Sim. Texas remains the state with the highest uninsured rate in the nation and the most uninsured residents. About one in six Texans are without health insurance, according to Census data.

becca.carballo@chron.com
Dr. Peter Hotez is celebrating a few milestones: Corbevax, a COVID-19 vaccine developed by a team he and Dr. Maria Elena Bottazzi led, has reached 20 million children in India. Indonesia and Botswana also approved the protein-based vaccine last week.

Hotez dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine and co-director of the Center for Vaccine Development at Texas Childrens Hospital  made the announcements in his typically understated way, via Twitter.

The Houston-based Hotez continues to track the pandemic near and far, charting infection rates in the U.S. as well as Texas, while reminding people that global vaccination is crucial to stopping the variants that have marched through the States.

Hotez took time to field questions about Corbevax, the BA.2 variant and what two years of COVID-19 may mean for summer 2022.

Q: I feel like we always start with Texas. But for a change of pace, could you talk about how the Corbevax rollout is going in India?

A: Corbevax is going to have multifacted uses. It can be used both as a pediatric vaccine, an adult vaccine and also as a booster vaccine for both populations. Thats the way I break it down. But weve worked with Biological E in India and got emergency authorization last year. The first population it is going into as of March was kids 12 to 14. And so far the Ministry of Health estimates about 20 million kids in India age 12 to 14 across the country have gotten their first dose of Corbevax. So thats exciting.

There are other things happening. As those numbers start to climb, there are clinical studies confirming safety and efficacy in five to 11 year olds that are rolling out. So we hope that happens in the next few weeks as well. So we should see kids in India from 5 to 14 vaccinated.

You might ask why its not going to adults there. The reason is because so many adults in India have gotten the AstraZeneca or the Chinese inactivated virus vaccines. Those have been used for adults, and our vaccine could be used as a booster to improve protection because the effectiveness of those vaccines against the variants has not been very strong.  All of this has relevance globally. It should feed into other global approvals. In the meantime the government in Botswana approved Corbevax as a vialed vaccine or in bulk. Theyre looking at 100 million doses. You might ask why a country with 2 million people, which is what Botswana is, needs that many doses. Thats because they want to be purveyors and providers of the COVID vaccine for that part of the continent. Not only Botswana, but also Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe, the list goes on.

Q: Youve long maintained Asia and Africa need the vaccines to halt variants that keep reaching here. How do you feel about future variants with these rollouts?

A: I think when I look at the new variants that are a threat to the United States, I break them into two components. Component 1 are brand new variants totally unrelated to things weve seen before. We have a track record of this with alpha and then delta and then omicron. I still worry about more of those emerging in lower- and middle-class countries. We may see something like that this summer in Texas and Southern states. We saw big epidemics in the summer in Texas in 2020 and 2021 into the fall. So I worry about that.

The other side of this is the fact that BA.2 arose out of the same town where omicron arose. So Im concerned we may see down the road some spinoffs of BA.2. And BA.2 has been partially successful infecting some individuals with omicron previously. So we may see new fronts. But the first is brand new variants unrelated to previous ones. The others are those that might step out of the initial omicron wave: from omicron to BA.2 to BA.X or some type of combination. My colleague Trevor Bedford at the University of Washington does modeling on this front. And he wrote about sub-subvariants of BA.2 that we may have to think about as well.

Q: That said, mask mandates are going away, events are taking place again. If you look at those maps of the U.S., the states in crimson are gone. How do you feel about that going forward with BA.2?

A: So a few things about BA.2: BA.2 is not necessarily behaving in the same way the other variants of concern did. We saw the alpha variant and the delta variant go up as a percentage of total virus isolates in the U.K. followed immediately by a wave. Then the wave subsequently hit the U.S. BA.2 in western European countries, its not as straightforward. In some countries BA.2 is becoming a dominant variant and cases are up. In others its not dominant and cases are not going up. Or cases are going up, but its not BA.2. Its a messier picture. But theres no question BA.2  if you look at wastewater or virus isolates  theres no question its becoming the dominant variant in the U.S. How much that could translate into another big wave is the big unknown. It does look now like its translating into case numbers going up in New York state and New York City; Washington, D.C. Nancy Pelosi just got infected. Whether thats a consequence of BA.2 going up or becoming a full-blown wave, we dont know. Maybe its more a bump that goes up and then down. Thats unknown. How it could reach different part of the country is unknown. For example the alpha variant, we saw it hang up there in Michigan for a while. And it had less impact in other places. We could see something along those lines.

MORE FROM PETER HOTEZ: Omicron isn't the end of the pandemic; another Texas wave may come this summer

Q: School is winding down and travel and camps are about to start back up. What do you think about summer? Two years ago we heard the suggestion that summer would kill this thing. And here we are.

A: The thinking was that upper respiratory coronaviruses pre-pandemic showed winter spikes, but they werent big players in the summer. But summer 2020 was a rude wake-up call for Texans, who were devastated. The vaccine wasnt out yet. So it was devastating for Hispanic populations, essential workers and some low-income communities that got hit hard. Essential workers didnt have the option of staying home and doing things through Zoom. But in multi-generational households, a 22-year-old construction worker could come home and infect parents and grandparents. The following summer was a different scenario altogether. In 2021, Texas had another huge wave, but it was different after the vaccine became widely available. Those going into hospitals and ICUs were largely those defying the vaccine. The demographics were quite different, with a lot of groups in Texas being hesitant and defying the vaccine because of political allegiance, as self-defeating as that was.

Q: Ive had several parents and parents-to-be asking about the vaccine for kids 5 and under. Do you think thatll be here soon? And what do you expect it do do?

A: Well, I think even for a pediatric vaccine, what we saw with both Pfizer and Moderna was that the dose of the vaccine was greatly reduced, the dose of the mRNA component. As a consequence, the immune responses were not as strong. We may have underdosed a bit too much. Whether it meets the immunological criteria to say the immune response is adequate to release them for emergency use is the big question. So they may wait for a third dose before they go and greenlight it. I think thats what were waiting for.

Q: This is anecdotal based on friends, family and colleagues, but I feel like Im hearing about more breakthrough cases among those who have received three doses. Am I reading too much into this?

A: Well a few things: We thought once you got that third immunization  based on what the data from alpha and delta looked like  once you got that booster, that third dose, we thought you were done. You had a big bump in virus-neutralizing antibodies, and it looked like the protection was holding up well. It wasnt one-and-done or two-and-done. But we thought three, youre done. Weve had this conversation.

But clearly with omicron and BA.2, something else is happening. That protection is neither as durable nor as strong as wed thought. Against the third dose vs. omicron, four months after you got it, protection against hospitalization went down to 78 percent. And protection against ER visits went to 66 percent. Still pretty good, but not as good as it was. Even against infection, you were still 3.6 times less likely to get omicron if you were fully vaccinated and boosted compared to an unvaccinated individual. So there were more breakthrough infections, but not as many and certainly with less severity. But those declines were sufficient to make people concerned about maybe needing a second booster, a fourth immunization. Im a big proponent of that. I think it will help a lot  data from Israel suggests that.

The big unknown now with omicron and BA.2 is the durability of protection not holding up as well. That means what? They started those conversations at the FDA advisory committee meetings yesterday, but I was a bit disappointed that they didnt come up with much in the way of conclusions. I think the situation is this: the mRNA vaccine  every vaccine has its strengths and weaknesses, including ours, and including the mRNA vaccines. It may be with mRNA vaccines, until we fix the technology, that the durability wont be as strong as wed like. Therefore, whats the plan? Lets say for now, we try to convince a lot of American people to get a second booster. I got my second booster. Four or five months from now, will we need a fifth booster? Or do we try to think outside the box and bring in another vaccine technology that might give you longer lasting and more enduring protection?

Q: What might that look like?

A: I think it could be a protein-based vaccine like ours. The problem is that were not seeing that higher-ordered thinking coming from the federal government right now. In public statements, were not seeing any movement toward trying to convene experts to say, Hey, maybe giving mRNA vaccines in perpetuity may not be the best strategy. Maybe its the only choice, but were not seeing that discussion yet. Thats the next big thing Im looking for: convening experts, which isnt something thats happening in the FDA advisory meetings to inform us what else we need to do assuming this pandemic continues.

MORE FROM ANDREW DANSBY: Saying goodbye to Steve, the reader who commented on everything I wrote for 17 years

Q: I feel like each time we talk, wed have better information if we waited two weeks. But I guess thats the nature of this.

A: And the answer is we do, actually. But its still not complete. The omicron variant and BA.2 are disappointing. We thought we had this thing figured out with a third dose lasting, giving five- or six-year protection; we thought that would buy us more time to think about this. Now now were already thinking about what happens this fall. Do you ask the American people to get a fifth dose? Do you ask immunocompromised people to get a fifth dose? Will they accept that? If you look at the numbers, fewer than half of Americans eligible for the first booster got it. For a second booster, therell probably be further drop off. Youre going start seeing people getting more fed up.

Q: Have you observed that sort of fatigue elsewhere in the world?

A: Israel seems to have buy-in. But again, one problem is that a country doesnt speak with one voice. Theres one part of our country that is very much in tune with what the CDC says. And theres a part of the country that completely tuned out and wants no part of it  people who wont get a booster or who arent even vaccinated at all. This is part of the problem I see coming from the White House. And thats a challenge for the new coordinator, Ashish Jha, will have. Because trying to speak to the whole country with one voice is really problematic. It has been in the past. It comes out as babytalk. If you try to reach all parts of the country with one message, you wind up serving nobody.

Q: What are your thoughts on the XE variant?

A: By XE, I think you mean the sort of hybrid. I think were going to see recombination hybrid variants coming along. Thats what I mean when I talk about the next generation BA.2. I call it BA.X. Which  then the question is going to be do we finally get around to making an omicron booster? I dont know the answer to that. Theres some evidence that there are these recombinant variants like XE, so should we make an omicron-specific booster?

On the other hand, there was an important paper in the medical journal Cell that suggested if youre getting vaccinated and boosted with a vaccine connected to the original lineage, you may not respond robustly to a booster made up of the variant. Theres a phenomenon in our field called original antigenic sin, which means whatever you started with, thats basically driven the immune system in one direction. And its hard to bring it back to a new variant through boosting. Theres both data for and against that. And that could be a bigger problem. In the past Ive said  even in the recent past  theres no point in making an omicron-specific booster. But if we continue to see bumps if not waves of omicron  things like BA.2 and XE  there may be logic to that.

andrew.dansby@chron.com
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When Diana Markuson steps into the forest, she feels better.

Its just my happy place, the Conroe resident said.

The retired psychiatric nurse wanted to share that feeling with others. After reading articles about forest bathing, she was convinced shed found a means to do just that.

It was outdoors. It was health and wellness, Markuson said. And it also had that meditative type quality. It just made sense to me.

Forest bathing is a literal translation from shinrin-yoku, the Japanese practice of spending time among the trees and taking in all of the sights and sounds in the woods.

Its basically a mix between a walk in nature and a mindfulness practice. Think yoga without the poses or guided meditation with the addition of scenery, chirping birds and the scent of pines.

Markuson said forest bathing is synonymous with forest therapy. Both describe a means to develop emotional and mental healing through immersion in the woods.

WELLNESS TREND: Forest bathing may be the next best wellness practice you never heard of

In the Houston area, there are a number of forest therapists certified through the global training organization, the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy. The organization has certified more than 2,000 guides, practicing now in 60 countries.

Markuson is one. She started Natures Embrace after receiving her certification during the pandemic. She now leads groups regularly, even a few that welcome canine companions.

Markuson also hosts a free session each month, and asks participants to donate to an environmental association in exchange.

Gabriela Guedez, a resident of The Woodlands, is also certified with the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy. She runs Houston Forest Therapy, with sessions in Spanish, and even offers to guide groups on kayaks.

Other forest therapists include Lisa Lyerly, owner of These Roots Run Deep, who guides near Kingwood, and Jammie Schmunk, owner of Recovery Untamed, who leads sessions in W. Goodrich Jones State Forest in Conroe, near her home in The Woodlands.

The forest is the therapist, Schmunk said.

She said the role of the forest therapists is to act as guides, and let Mother Nature take care of the rest.

A walk in the woods

Forest therapy is not at all like traditional therapy, Schmunk said.

Its a slow, sensory walk through the forest, she said. When our body slows down, our mind can too.

Before gaining her certification, Schmunk noticed that she depended on nature to deal with challenges in life. She would return to certain spots and spend time in the forest.

Now, Schmunk passes that on to others in her group sessions, which start with a walk into Jones Forest and a brief discussion about the land.

Then, Schmunk then invites the group to awaken their senses.

I help guide you into your body, she said. We get comfortable, close our eyes and go through every sense.

Then participants find a spot in nature to sit down and take it all in.

We do it solo and then we come back and gather in a circle, Schmunk said. We take turns sharing.

She ends the session with a tea service. Its just a fun way to bring it to a close, she said.

Markuson also makes tea for participants on her walks, using plants that grow on the trails. She mainly guides in Spring Creek Nature Preserve and Montgomery County Nature Preserve.

Therapists work in various areas. There are also spots in Houston that offer sessions.

For instance, the Houston Arboretum and Nature Center, 4501 Woodway Drive offers a Mindful Mornings series facilitated by Heather Sullivan, a certified mindfulness instructor. The events are scheduled for 9:30 a.m. on Thursday mornings through April 28.

At the Nature Discovery Center, 7112 Newcastle Street in Bellaire, executive director DeAndra Ramsey said that while there are no forest bathing programs, guests can immerse themselves in the wilderness at the Nature Discovery Center without having to leave the city.

Our mission is to connect people to nature, Ramsey said.

Healing happens in the forest

The tangible health benefits of forest bathing can include improved cardiovascular and respiratory health, as well as better immune function and reduction in depression, according to the nature and forest therapy association.

Markuson said being in the forest can do wonders for lowering stress and blood pressure.

Its all about slowing down, she said.

Schmunk agreed. Weve forgotten how to just be. Its always do, do, do, she said. We live in a culture and a time, where were all stressed so much of the time. Its the phone, the emails and the texts.

Nature can serve as a teacher for how to reprioritize and take time for self-care, Schmunk said.

Forest bathing also fits with spiritual practice, according to Lisa Brenskelle, member of Christ the King Evangelical Lutheran Church.

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She is organizing an event, open to the public, at 9 a.m. on Saturday, April 16 at the Spring Creek Greenway and Nature Center, 709 Riley Fuzzel Road.

Markuson will first lead the forest bathing experience, followed by Brenskelle delving into the Christian spiritual discipline of the Earth Examen, a contemplative practice of prayer.

Its prayer with your eyes open, Brenskelle said. Its really about using all of your senses to engage with the world around you. The idea is to be fully engaged.

Nature is a demonstration of the glory of God, she said.

Forest bathing leads to conservation

There are two purposes of forest bathing  to heal people and to heal the planet, Guedez, owner of Houston Forest Therapy, said.

The practice is meant to promote a love for the Earth, she said, and that leads to conservation.

We only protect what we love, she said.

Environmental Protection Agency data says U.S. residents spend an average of 93 percent of their lives indoors.

Were part of nature, but weve lost our relationship with the web of life, Markuson said.

Schmunk added that the innate connection with the Earth is a fact that is sometimes forgotten.

We are nature. We cannot disconnect from nature, she said. Its a remembering, when we walk in the forest. Its a reminder that Im where Im supposed to be.

Guedez recommends finding a guide to help reawaken that call of the wild. She remembers spending her childhood weekends on a ranch in Venezuela.

I would walk barefoot, climb the mango trees, go to the river, she recalled. You get a lot from that kind of deep connection with nature.

Getting certified in forest therapy two years ago has equipped her to help people manage trauma from the pandmeic through walks in the woods  or on guided kayaking trips.

It was perfect timing, she said. People are dealing with anxiety and stress. Just to disconnect with the day-to-day issues and connect to a higher purpose through the senses, its just awesome.

Anyone can start forest therapy on their own, Guedez added, whether that means heading to the backyard or looking out the window.

Cultivate your love for Earth, she said. Pay more attention to the leaves, the trees. Go for a walk and leave your cell phone. You can take pictures later. Connect and rebuild your relationship.

Markuson said that forest bathing is a practice, just like yoga or meditation. It takes time and commitment to make it happen.

Start with five minutes and go as often as you can, she said. Then, increase it and increase it. Youll find, sitting in that spot, just doing nothing, youll just become immersed.

Schmunk added that each therapy session in the forest is different,

The forest is a mirror, she said. It reflects back to you, whatever is going on with you.

And each time is an opportunity for more growth and to find greater peace, Schmunk said.

Do yourself a favor and sit in nature, she said.

Peyton is a freelance writer based in Houston.
WASHINGTON (AP)  Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg so liked the caricature that accompanied an article about her that she got a copy from the artist and hung it in her Supreme Court office.

That signed and inscribed print by artist Eleanor Davis is among 150 items from Ginsburg's office and home at the Watergate in an online auction to benefit opera in Washington that will end in late April.

An earthenware plate by Pablo Picasso that hung in Ginsburg's dining room, a black mink coat with her name sewn in a pocket and a souvenir vase from the Capitol luncheon following former President Barack Obama's first inaugural also are up for auction.

The sale could raise $50,000 to $80,000 for the Washington National Opera, one of the late justices passions. She took part in at least three productions over the years, including a speaking, but non-singing, role for one night in 2016.

Ginsburgs family selected the Potomack Company to handle the auction.

Its an opportunity to own something personal of hers and support the opera, said Elizabeth Haynie Wainstein, the auction houses owner.

Bidding for some items begins as low as $25, though the opening bid on the Picasso plate is $4,000, Haynie Wainstein said. Three other Picasso pieces also are in the auction.

The natural black mink coat, made by the Gartenhaus fur company in the Washington area, is going for a starting bid of $250.

Ginsburg died of cancer at age 87 in September 2020. Appreciation for the Supreme Court's second female justice and liberal icon, dubbed the Notorious RBG in her later years, has continued well after her death.

The Navy recently announced it would name a ship after her in the John Lewis-class of replenishment oilers. The ships are named in honor of people who fought for civil and human rights, the Navy said.

Last month, the Smithsonian also posthumously honored Ginsburg with the National Museum of American History's Great Americans Medal. Her children, Jane and James Ginsburg, have donated other of their mother's possessions to the museum, including Ginsburg's Paris-made judicial robe and a collection of collars she wore over it.

In January, an online auction of Ginsburg's books brought in $2.3 million, almost 30 times the pre-sale estimate, according to Bonhams, the company that conducted the auction.

The April auction includes a print of the artist Josef Albers' Red Orange Wall that hung above Ginsburg's bed. Albers was among Ginsburg's favorite artists. An original Albers work that was on loan from the National Gallery of Art was prominently displayed in her office at the court.

Six works by the sculptor Glenna Goodacre that Ginsburg acquired during her regular summer trips to Santa Fe, New Mexico for an opera festival are for sale, along with a silver tea set and a pair of Saint Louis Crystal eagle bookends.

One of Ginsburg's grandchildren, Paul Spera, also has an original piece of art among the items being auctioned. His Bubbie of Liberty, using the Yiddish word for grandma, has Ginsburg's likeness atop the Statue of Liberty.
WICHITA, Kan. (AP)  A Wichita man who was facing life in prison for a 2016 killing has been resentenced to a total of 13 years in prison after his murder conviction was reversed.

Casimiro Nunez, 65, was convicted of first-degree murder in 2019 for the death of Antonio Guzman, 46, in October 2019 in south Wichita.
A woman was fatally shot Monday night in a family violence incident in northwest Houston, police said.



The woman was shot about 8 p.m. in an apartment in the 7700 block of West Gulf Bank, near Hollister.

On HoustonChronicle.com: 3 Hidalgo aides face criminal charges as COVID contract investigation continues

She and her boyfriend had argued, police told Metro Video, and then he shot her and fled. Other family members were inside the apartment.

No further information was immediately available.
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Two staffers of Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo and one former aide who were indicted in connection to a controversial and since-canceled vaccine outreach contract can continue working together  but they cannot discuss the case among themselves, a judge on Tuesday ordered.

The judge outlined the bail conditions as Alex Triantaphyllis, Hidalgos chief of staff, policy director Wallis Nader and former aide Aaron Dunn answered to the court on a felony charge each of misuse of official information and tampering with a governmental record. They are accused of steering the outreach contract to a politically connected vendor by giving her early access.

The three went before visiting Judge Vanessa Velasquez in the 351st District Court and were handed a combined bail of $3,500 and a laundry list of release conditions tailored to the accusations.

After the court appearances, Hidalgo, a Democrat in her first term, cast the legal proceedings as a politically calculated effort to prevent her from winning re-election in November. She earlier vowed to the Chronicle that her embattled staffers would not be fired.

In earlier remarks, Hidalgo maintained that the investigation behind the charges was based on a serious misunderstanding of the facts.

Im very confident that, when the facts are known, my team will be cleared, she said Tuesday in a defiant and lengthy statement.

Hidalgo, who has not been accused of any legal wrongdoing herself but was named in one of the search warrants related to the investigation, sought to defend her own ethics in the statement, noting that she has refused political donations from county contractors since taking office in 2019.

Ive held myself to the highest ethical standards and that's reflected in my unprecedented commitment not to accept money from anybody who does business with the county, said Hidalgo. The people I choose to serve in my office understand that code of ethics.

The investigation and subsequent indictments handed down Monday threaten to upend the 31-year-old Hidalgos re-election bid as she seeks a second four-year term as the countys top elected official. In November, she will face one of two Republicans vying in a May 24 runoff elevtion: attorney Vidal Martinez or former Army captain Alexandra del Moral Mealer.

The bail conditions for Hidalgo aides prohibit them from accessing or attempting to access the countys Criminal Justice Information System, as well as participating in contract or procurement committees.

Communicating with Elevate Strategies, the vendor at the center of the investigation, is also prohibited, Judge Velasquez continued.

The defendants returned to their seats, with Triantaphyllis sitting alongside his pregnant wife in the courtroom. Outside the courtroom, Triantaphyllis and Dunns lawyers reiterated their clients' innocence. Dunn now works for another county agency.

"There's been no wrongdoing here," said Marla Poirot, Triantaphyllis' lawyer. "We're glad to be in a fair and objective forum finally."

Nader and her lawyer, David Adler, left the courtroom without commenting.

As prosecutor Michael Levine left the courtroom, he maintained that he would follow the law in pursing the case. The grand jury convened for five months and heard from a lot of witnesses, Levine and officials said.

The indictments accuse the three of aiding Felicity Pereyra, the owner of Elevate Strategies, to acquire a pecuniary interest in any property, transaction, or enterprise that may be affected by the information in regard to the misuse-of-official information charge, according to court records. The other charge, of tampering, stems from an allegation that the aides signed a document assuring that the purchasing code of ethics had been followed.

Court records list the Department of Public Safety as the investigating agency.

The Texas Rangers  at the request of Harris County District Attorney Kim Oggs office  investigated communications within Hidalgos office and found that the three may have inappropriately communicated with Pereyra weeks before she submitted a bid on the outreach project. Last June, county commissioners court voted 4-1 to award the $11 million contract to Pereyras firm.

In September, Hidalgo canceled the contract after Republican commissioners accused her of steering the work toward a Democratic firm with no public health expertise. Pereyra had assisted Democrat Adrian Garcia when he ran for mayor in 2015; he is now the Precinct 2 commssioner. She also worked on Democrat Hillary Clintons 2016 presidential campaign.

The office of Ogg, a Democrat issued a statement on the indictments Tuesday.

Since the State of Texas disbanded the Public Integrity Unit, which was housed at Travis County District Attorneys Office, the responsibility for such work has landed exclusively with district attorneys across the state, said Dane Schiller, spokesman for the office. Prosecutors presented the evidence to a Harris County grand jury, which determined there was sufficient evidence for criminal charges. We will follow the evidence wherever it leads and apply the law equally to all; our work continues.

Copies of the indictments were made public Tuesday following an earlier filing on Monday that displayed records of the charges soon after the grand jurys decision. The Harris County District Clerks Office later removed the folders associated with each defendant from its website.

A spokesman for the district clerk later acknowledged the removal and blamed a recent system outage that allowed the files to be visible on their website.

In the process of recovering from the JWEB outage of March 24, the DCOs IT team missed an indicator that would have marked the cases as grand jury indictments, which would have kept them from being displayed, said the spokesman, Al Ortiz, in an email.

We immediately removed them from the website when we discovered the issue and we have corrected the issue, he continued.

Jasper Scherer contributed to this report.

nicole.hensley@chron.com
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A man possibly disguised as a healthcare worker was fatally shot after trying to break into a woman's home Monday in southeast Houston, police said.

The man, who was dressed in scrubs, attempted to talk his way into the woman's home about 11:30 p.m. in the 12500 block of Cooperstown Drive, according to Houston Police Lt. J.P. Horelica.
A teenager's 16th birthday party ended in gunfire at an Airbnb rental in Brazoria County over the weekend.

Deputies first received a loud noise complaint Saturday at a Manvel home near the 4400 block of Hickory Ridge Lane, said Sergeant Anthony Hurse II of the Brazoria County Sheriff's Office.

Now Playing: A teen's 16th birthday party descended into chaos at an Airbnb in Manvel on Saturday, April 9, 2022. Video: Brazoria County Sheriff's Office

Shortly after, deputies got another at 10:41 p.m. that shots were fired in the area, he said.

Cars and homes were damaged, but there were no reported deaths, according to ABC 13. One teen was shot in the foot.

Video shows people running and hiding behind cars while shots from at least three different weapons fired for roughly 23 seconds.

"There were so many shots, I just can't believe more weren't wounded, killed, more damage," resident Robin V. told ABC 13. "You know it could have (been) so much worse."

Robin returned home late Saturday night with her daughter, right in the middle of the fiasco.

"Lots of very young kids. It just got out of hand very quickly," she said. "I know it could happen anywhere but it just feels like this could have been avoided."

OnHoustonChronicle.com: New Texas Airbnb hosts made a total of $170 million in 2021, ranking third in nation

"It was supposed to be a small gathering maybe but it was put out on social media as a party," said Hurse II. "Once you do that on social media anybody is going to show up."

BCSO lead investigator Robert Gonzalez said the department is trying to get info from the public after struggling to learn much from partygoers.

"A fight ensued and people started to run," he said to ABC 13. "That's all I've got."

He asks anyone with information to contact him.

Several residents told the station that the neighborhood HOA does not allow short-term rentals and it's not the first time that home was rented through the Airbnb app.

OnHoustonChronicle.com: Airbnb wants to crack down on New Years Eve parties in Houston

An Airbnb spokesperson confirmed via email Tuesday that the listing has been temporarily deactivated and the booking guest has been removed from its platform as they investigate further.

"Airbnb bans parties, and we condemn this senseless gun violence," the spokesperson said. "We have reached out to the Brazoria County Sheriff's Office and stand ready to support their investigation."

Airbnb also has a "party house" ban enacted in 2019 that forbids "open-invite" parties, as well as large disruptive gatherings in apartment or condo buildings.
The Florida Chamber of Commerce predicts Floridas population will hit 26 million by 2030, an increase of more than 3.5 million residents. And as the people pour in, so, too, does their money.

Theyre literally making cash registers ring, said Chamber president and CEO Mark Wilson. That puts dollars in local governments. Our tax collection is hitting record revenues.

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But as competition for housing grows and more pressure is put on schools, the environment and infrastructure, some experts worry that sprawling development will lead to more crowded classrooms and roads and polluted waterways.

TALLAHASSEE, FLA. 8/12/15-Mark Wilson is President and CEO of the Florida Chamber of Commerce in Tallahassee. COLIN HACKLEY PHOTO User Upload Caption: Mark Wilson - Original Credit: Courtesy photo - Original Source: COLIN HACKLEY (COLIN HACKLEY / Courtesy photo / Handout)

The thing about growth, if it isnt properly planned, its not going to pay for itself, said Paul Owens, president of 1000 Friends of Florida, a not-for-profit organization that advocates for growth management, and a former Orlando Sentinel editorial page editor.

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How should the growth of Florida be managed? And who should shape the future of the state?

These questions sit at the heart of the Florida 2030 Blueprint, a research project by the Chamber meant to guide Floridas development over the next decade. The blueprint calls on businesses, local governments and private organizations to tackle 39 goals from job training to environmental protection.

According to the Chamber, Florida will take on an additional 50 million visitors each year by 2030, on top of the already 130+ million tourists that visit annually. Florida will need an additional 1.6 million jobs, and roads will have to handle 3 million more cars.

The Chamber breaks down its forecast by county on its website thefloridascorecard.com. Orange, for example, is expected to gain more than 400,000 new residents by 2030 and will require 262,667 new jobs, it says.

Owens says the condition of Floridas roads today should be enough to raise concern. There are very few communities in Florida where traffic hasnt gotten worse, he said.

Water quality is another realm where Owens sees the conflicts with growth.

Its pretty easy to connect the dots between doing a poor job on managing growth and water quality problems, he said, referring to issues such as blue-green algae blooms and red tides that have plagued the states rivers and coastlines.

While social and environmental advocates often talk about growth in terms of impacts, Wilson sees the influx as an opportunity. I fundamentally reject the idea that [growth] is a bad thing, he said.

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Wilson points to Floridas economy, which just since the blueprint was written four years ago, has gone from the 17th largest economy in the world (if Florida were an independent nation) to the 15th.

Were bigger than Mexico now, Wilson said.

Thats ahead of schedule for the blueprint, which aims to see Florida become the 10th largest economy, putting it ahead of South Korea.

Owens says proper growth management shouldnt get in the way of economic development; it should enhance it.

Reasonable controls on growth are not bad for the economy, Owens said. They limit the costs we incur when we dont properly control growth.

Wilson agrees that growth needs direction. As we unite the business community, we want to make sure we grow the right way and that we do it with purpose, he said.

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The blueprint looks to do this without the typical state controls public policy advocates often call for, such as tighter environmental regulations or higher impact fees. Wilson points to the fact that the top five states people move to Florida from are New York, Illinois, New Jersey, California and Pennsylvania, all states with strong regulations and an income tax.

Paul Owens is president of the environmental group 1000 Friends of Florida. - Original Credit: - Original Source: (Courtesy)

Were gaining $2 million in income every hour, Wilson said. He said California and New York lose $1 million in income per hour.

The blueprint instead looks to the private sector to step up on issues such as children in poverty.

The way were going to cut childhood poverty isnt going to be through some federal mandate, Wilson said. Its through businesses adopting a zip code.

The Chamber works with businesses, local governments and other organizations to identify and adopt zip codes high in child poverty and work for localized solutions.

Florida Blue, for example, has adopted five zip codes throughout the state, including 32805 in Orlando.

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Owens supports the idea of private investment in public issues, but he is skeptical of a system without public supervision.

Its the trust but verify approach, he said. If you want to empower local groups or private groups to take the initiative, thats terrific. But there should be some sort of oversight to make sure that they follow through.

For Owens, issues such as childhood poverty or reading levels (another benchmark for the blueprint) can be traced to Floridas history of sprawling development, which he says stretches the ability of public services. The more you stretch services, the less efficient they are, and the more expensive they are, he said.

Wilson acknowledged that some metrics, such bringing up childrens reading levels, should have been handled before now.

We failed the plan, he said. Why did the voters allow that to happen?

1000 Friends of Florida also issued an outlook with a horizon of 2070. The report sees dire consequences if development isnt reined in, such as one-third of the state becoming paved. Thats going to create all kinds of problems for water quality and flooding, Owens said.

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If properly planned, we could certainly reduce the impact of 3.5 million more Floridians, Owens added. It requires steering that growth toward already developed areas that have the infrastructure in place to handle it, rather than a hands-off attitude that you see in a lot of parts of Florida.

Wilson agrees that planning is key, just not controlled by government.

If people think that politicians over the next 10 years are going to do the right thing, and businesses and residents dont need to focus on early learning or water or infrastructure, then were going to end up like Illinois or New York, he said.

Want to reach out? Email tfraser@orlandosentinel.com. Follow TIFraserOS on Twitter.
Houston ISD overestimated its spending needs by nearly $300 million over the last five years only to end that same period with more than $300 million in additional surplus funds even as the district moved to eliminate teaching positions, teacher compensation ranked below other districts in the region and administrators urged tighter spending, according to an outside audit of the districts finances.

The surpluses nearly doubled HISDs unassigned general fund balances during the last half-decade, putting the districts reserves well in excess of standards the auditors wrote in their draft report last November. The districts total fund balance has increased by $258 million since 2016  with $170 million in its unassigned fund balance, HISD Chief Financial Officer Glenn Reed said.

Auditors at the New York-based management firm Alvarez & Marsal wrote  budgeting processes are overly cautious with a scarcity mindset which generates reserves rather than putting funding to work for kids.

The audit, one of several outside reviews undertaken since the arrival of Superintendent Millard House II last July, also found HISD had not properly resourced the planning and execution of federal COVID-19 relief dollars or established a system of oversight, implementation and accountability for the federal money, according to a copy of the draft obtained by the Houston Chronicle through a public records request. Since then, district officials have said they are creating a portal, expected to go live within weeks, for the public to track the use of that money.

House addressed the audit at Thursdays board of trustees meeting, saying the intent of the review was to get to the root of the districts budget issues and to help develop more efficient processes and systems. After arriving, he said, he wanted to understand how the district had about $300 million available beyond its rainy day fund.

He called the auditors support since then vital in ensuring every dollar is being used strategically to improve student outcomes.

We want to ensure the public that moving forward, that our budgeting process will strike the correct balance between fiscal responsibility and maximizing use of taxpayer dollars to promote academic outcomes, House said.

A final audit report was never completed, according to HISD.

The district regularly overestimated payroll expenses, HISDs largest spending category, and some non-payroll areas such as operating expenses and the cost of supplies and materials, the auditors wrote. All spending categories were overestimated in the two latest budgets, although the auditors said it was likely the COVID-19 pandemic had an impact on that.

The districts fiscal year runs through June. The current budget is $2.7 billion.

We have engaged Alvarez and Marsal to continue working with the district on continuing to review and improve the districts financial landscape, Reed said in a statement. HISD is currently working with our outside consulting group to address the expenditures.

A representative from the firm has been in the HISD boardroom during recent budget workshops.

On HoustonChronicle.com: Texas schools don't have enough mental health providers. As leaders fail to fix it, kids suffer.

With his five-year strategic plan, House had proposed centralizing the funding of specific positions and programs, which would have been a change from HISDs prized decentralized organization that grants principals wide discretion in using funds given to campuses.

After several trustees had raised concerns in recent weeks, it was not clear whether he had a majority supporting the changes.

Last week, House said he had asked his administrators to come up with a plan that would let campus principals maintain control over their budgets while requiring they staff key positions and provide critical services.

He occasionally has spoken about the districts finances, most recently in a Chronicle op-ed and at his State of the Schools address where he said the system had been plagued by waste, short-term budget gimmicks and fraud.

The audit report, which was shared with trustees, also found HISD has completed or is on track to complete most financial-related recommendations in a review of district operations conducted by the state that was released in 2019.

The state review identified operational shortcomings that were shortchanging students and taxpayers, focusing in part on how the districts decentralization had led to the delivery of inconsistent resources to students and poor monitoring of spending. In that review, the states Legislative Budget Board made 94 recommendations to improve operations.

On HoustonChronicle.com: Houston ISD to host virtual LGBTQ+ summit on Saturday

The Alvarez & Marsal report from last fall found HISD has completed, partially completed, or is in process of addressing 10 of 11 findings that were related to the districts finances. The one finding HISD had not started tackling as of November was tying campus spending to individual school improvement plans, the auditors wrote.

Performance based budgeting, or budgeting aligned specifically with school improvement plans cannot be implemented within the current decentralized budgeting process, the auditors wrote. Doing so, they said, would require an overhaul of HISDs budgeting process.

It remains unclear how Houses announced compromise on decentralized budgeting would affect that effort. In addition to requiring every school to staff key positions, Houses announcement said, We will set clear expectations and hold each campus accountable for improving educational outcomes and eliminating achievement gaps for all students they serve.

More HISD news: Feds add tax charges against indicted ex-Houston ISD chief operating officer and vendor

Board President Judith Cruz said the Alvarez & Marsal findings did not surprise her, considering the most recent budget cycles she has experienced. She said it appeared the auditors recommended the district have better training and tools for principals to enhance budget forecasting because imprecise predictions ultimately can affect kids.

When you look at it over an aggregate over five years, that is a lot of money. I just think of the difference that money could have made for educating our students. That is ultimately why we exist as a school district, Cruz said. If we are not allocating all the resources we can closest to the students  or at all  then we are going to fall short of our mission.

The draft report almost accused HISD of having a big bank account and being crummy at planning, which has affected its planning for using one-time federal COVID relief money, said Dr. Steven Craig, a professor of economics at the University of Houston, who reviewed the reports executive summary.

None of this is easy. But the idea is you want to be able to maintain your programs even if the state gives you a budget cut but at the same time you want to be accomplishing your educational objectives, Craig said. If you put money in the bank in good times and bad times, then youre just putting money in the bank.  You are not exhibiting that you are operating your institution  your school district  with a purpose.

Former Trustee Anne Sung noted HISD maintains a reserve of three months worth of operating expenses in accordance with board policy and school systems have dealt with a lot of uncertainty recently, which would make having more money stocked than required not unreasonable.

She agreed with the auditors that HISD habitually over budgets and under-executes, adding that as a board member she started paying attention to the districts unrestricted fund balance since she couldnt depend on a deficit really being a deficit.

HISDs conservative budgeting makes it hard to see where the line between a balanced budget and a deficit budget actually was, with real consequences, Sung said. Trustees and administration might understand that fallout would mean the budget would yield a surplus, but the public sees the word deficit and lose trust in the district. The appearance of HISD running deficits (when really we ran surpluses) decreases public confidence in the district.

alejandro.serrano@chron.com
Sampson Collins said he would be hobbling on the street with a boot covering his injured ankle, looking for a place to sleep or doing something stupid, if he had not found Open Door Mission.

After the 58-year-old underwent surgery at Ben Taub Hospital to repair his fractured right ankle, Collins became one of four homeless men to be admitted to Open Doors new Respite and Recuperative Care Center since it opened in January.

This place is a blessing to me, he said.

Open Door, a recovery and rehabilitation facility in Houstons East End, created the center in collaboration with the Harris Health System to address the lack of space for Houstons homeless population to prepare for, or recover from, major surgeries or medical procedures.

Harris Health President and CEO Dr. Esmaeil Porsa said it was the perfect opportunity to fill a pressing need among its mostly uninsured patient population at Ben Taub and Lyndon B. Johnson hospitals.

We were holding the patients in the hospital just because we cant release them to the street, he said. Before having access to this, their stay would have lasted as long as needed.

The coronavirus highlights the importance of having an option to free up bed space in a hospital system that routinely hits capacity, Porsa said. The new space offers 28 beds on the Open Door campus, nine of which are designated for COVID isolation.

Admission to the new center is voluntary, and uptake has been slow. But the need is strong. In the last 12 months, Harris Health discharged 807 homeless patients from Ben Taub and LBJ hospitals, the agency said.

Not everyone in the homeless population will qualify. The Open Door campus, which offers education and career guidance as well as addiction recovery programs, is only equipped to serve men. As part of the admission criteria for the recuperative care center, patients must be medically stable and capable of completing daily activities and managing their medication regime. They also must be psychiatrically stable enough to accept and receive care and not interrupt the care of others, according to Harris Health.

In addition to major surgeries, patients can also use the space to recover from chemotherapy or radiation treatment, as well as procedures like colonoscopies. The new center will share staff with the Harris Health outpatient clinic that opened in 2015 on the campus.

Conversations about opening a respite care center at Open Door started in 2020.

Tommy Thompson, the organizations president and CEO, approached Porsa after securing about $100,000 in annual funding from the Cullen Trust for Health Care. Harris Health had already donated the beds. Open Door just needed the patients to fill them.

All along, we knew that there was a need for medical respite in Harris County, Thompson said.

The benefits of the center extend beyond the beds.

Patients will have access to the dining area on campus and can transition into Open Doors substance abuse treatment program. Patients also have more time to wait while case managers connect them to permanent housing and long-term medical resources. People can stay as long as they need, Thompson said.

For Collins, the center offers more than a place to heal physically.

He moved to Houston from Louisiana in 1995. Drug addiction and repeated run-ins with the law consumed his life on the street. He lost touch with his family and slept in abandoned houses, he said.

Collins said he was inside an abandoned house in late February  doing something I had no business doing  when he fell off the top of a staircase. His ankle seared with pain.

After the surgery, while recovering at Open Door, his head cleared. He reconnected with his faith and his daughter, whom he had not seen for 19 years.

She still loves me, he said. She wants to build a bond with me. And right now thats the most important thing to me. She motivates me to do better.

julian.gill@chron.com
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Spring Valley Village leaders on Tuesday morning reached an agreement with Police Chief Loyd Evans to part ways after he apparently approved nearly $300,000 in overtime pay for himself over a two-year period.

Evans has been accused of approving $189,038 in overtime for himself over nine months in 2020 and another $96,040 in overtime in 2021.

The Spring Valley Village City Council discussed the matter with Evans attorneys Tuesday morning during a closed session at the councils biweekly meeting. The two sides reached an agreement in principle in which Chief Evans will be leaving his position as chief of police, said Mayor Marcus Vajdos.

The details of the agreement have not been made public, and it will not become official until the next city council meeting in two weeks. Evans will remain on paid administrative leave until that time.

Evans, who sat in the council chambers for two hours while his attorneys deliberated with the council in another room, declined to comment.

Lawyer Amanda Bolin, who represents the chief, said that he denies any wrongdoing but is happy (with the outcome) and ready to move on.

At an April 1 special meeting, city leaders said they found an "exempt employee" had received substantial amounts of overtime pay in both 2020 and 2021, according to an audio recording of the meeting provided by the city secretary. That employee, according to the meeting's agenda, is chief of police for the city of about 4,300 nestled between Blalock and Wirt roads north of the Katy Freeway.

At that meeting, city attorney Loren Smith read from a statement that questioned the chiefs judgment and trust, criticized him on several levels and outlined the accusations.

"This single exempt employee over the course of a nine-month period in 2020 received $189,038 in overtime, plus his base salary, Smith is heard saying on the recording, reading from the statement. In 2021, these overtime payments continued for an additional $96,040 plus base salary.

Though the council chambers were mostly empty for the duration of Tuesdays meeting, one resident questioned why it took village leaders so long to notice the discrepancy in the first place, considering the budget for the police department was under $4 million in both 2020 and 2021.

Weve got a city council, weve got a mayor, they presumably oversee the budgets and look at these things on a regular basis. How on earth could that have slid by? said Janet Nussbaum, 66. You look at this budget and you realize that somebody dropped the ball, somebody was asleep at the wheel.

Vajdos declined to comment further, but said that the council would be discussing their oversight policies moving forward. Police Captain Mark Schulze will serve as acting chief until a replacement for Evans is hired.
In a consequential ruling that legal experts say will give Texas sexual abuse survivors more power to sue attackers and the institutions that protect them, the Texas Supreme Court has allowed a lawsuit to go forward in which a Houston man alleges he was repeatedly raped by influential Southern Baptist figure and former Texas Appeals Court judge Paul Pressler.

At issue is Texas civil statute of limitations, the time period that victims have to file a lawsuit. In 2017, Duane Rollins sued Pressler in Harris County, claiming the longtime conservative political and religious leader first began to molest him when Rollins was a member of Presslers youth group at various Houston churches in the early 1980s. Pressler and his lawyers denied the allegations and moved to have the case thrown out of court, arguing that Rollins had filed his claims too late.

Rollins, however, said in court papers that trauma from the assaults led him to develop drug and alcohol addictions and suppress those memories until 2016, when they were revealed while undergoing psychiatric treatment in prison, where he was serving a sentence for driving while intoxicated. He argued that the statute of limitations should begin from when he realized he was the victim of the alleged sexual assault, not from when the alleged assault took place.

The states high court agreed last week and ordered the case be sent back to Harris County district court. Legal experts said the ruling is significant because it opens the door in Texas for people who were sexually abused as children to sue both attackers and institutions that mishandled or concealed the abuses years or decades later.

Its a massive and important step forward, said Rachael Denhollander, a lawyer and expert on child sexual abuse who was the first person to publicly accused now-imprisoned USA Gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar of abuse. It shows a willingness to bring our justice system in line with what we know about sexual assault.

Lawyers for Pressler did not respond to a request for comment.

Decades of neuroscience research show that about one in three child sex abuse victims suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder, and that many  particularly those abused by clergy  can develop a sort of Stockholm syndrome that prevents them from recognizing themselves as victims for years, if not decades. The average child abuse victim does not come forward until after their 50th birthday, long after its possible to file a lawsuit, according to research by ChildUSA, an advocacy group for statute of limitations reforms.

One thing we now know about sexual assault is that the PTSD and mental neurobiological injury often make it impossible for survivors to fully remember whats taken place or to even be in the position where theyre healthy enough to come forward, said Denhollander, who has advised the Southern Baptist Convention and other religious groups on sexual abuse policies. And that closes the halls of justice to many survivors.

Reforms

For decades, experts and abuse survivors have called on state legislatures to reform civil statutes of limitations for child sexual abuse, saying awards or settlements from lawsuits often are the only way for survivors to afford adequate medical care for their attacks. Moreover, experts say, lawsuits can shed light on institutional failures and force scrutiny and settlements that prompt change.

This is the only way weve been learning the facts about institutions that conceal abuse, said Marci Hamilton, a longtime first amendment scholar and founder of ChildUSA. Its not just about one individual getting money  this is the only way the public really knows where children are at-risk because parents are often denied that information.

In recent years, many states have broadened victims rights in criminal courts. But attempts to give them the same rights in civil courts have faced well-funded opposition from groups such as the Catholic Church and Boy Scouts of America, both of which have paid hundreds of millions of dollars in abuse lawsuits. They and other opponents claim such reforms would spark a flood of litigation for decades-old abuses that they say cant be proven or disproven.

Research from ChildUSA, however, shows that states that have relaxed civil statutes of limitation have not seen notable upticks in lawsuits. Thats because pursuing lawsuits is often expensive and require survivors to be re-victimized, with no guarantee of a winning outcome, Hamilton said. Most abuse lawsuits end long before depositions and document requests are even possible.

In his suit, Rollins also accused the Southern Baptist Convention, prominent SBC churches in Houston and other prominent religious and political figures - including former Harris County GOP Chairman Jared Woodfill - of helping conceal the alleged abuses, which they deny. Lawyers for the other defendants declined or did not respond to requests for comment.

A 2019 investigation by the Houston Chronicle and San Antonio Express-News, prompted by Rollins lawsuit against Pressler, found nearly 400 Southern Baptist church leaders and volunteers were criminally charged with sex crimes since 1998. They left behind more than 700 victims, nearly all of them children at the time of their attacks.

Since then, the SBC has passed numerous reforms, vowed to work with state legislatures to reform statues of limitations and, last year, commissioned a third-party investigation into two decades of allegations that top leaders mishandled and concealed abuses. That report will become public next month.

robert.downen@chron.com
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Commercial traffic at a key South Texas border crossing has stopped after Mexican truckers on Monday blocked north- and southbound lanes on the Mexico side of the Pharr-Reynosa International Bridge in protest of Texas Gov. Greg Abbotts decision to have state troopers inspect northbound commercial vehicles  historically a job done by the federal government.

The bridge connecting Pharr and Reynosa is the busiest trade crossing in the Rio Grande Valley and handles the majority of the produce that crosses into the U.S. from Mexico, including avocados, broccoli, peppers, strawberries and tomatoes. On Monday, with trucks backed up for miles in Reynosa for the fifth day in a row, some produce importers in Texas said they have waited days for their goods to arrive and already had buyers cancel orders.

One of our customers canceled the order because we didnt deliver on time, said Modesto Guerra, sales manager for Sterling Fresh Inc., which imports broccoli from Central Mexico via the Pharr bridge before shipping it to the Midwest and East Coast. Its something beyond our control.

While many companies cross perishable foods in refrigerated trucks, Guerra said the bottlenecks could lead to equipment failures that cause produce and other products to spoil in the heat.

Those refrigerated units are powered by diesel, Guerra said. These trucks are in line and when the diesel runs out they have no way of refueling.

International bridges elsewhere in the Valley, as well as in Eagle Pass, El Paso and Laredo, have also seen delays, with many commercial products produced in Mexico  like electronics, vehicle parts and medical instruments  also held up.

In response to the Biden administrations recent announcement that it plans to end Title 42  a pandemic-era emergency health order that lets federal officials turn away migrants at the border without the chance to request asylum  Abbott on Wednesday ordered the Texas Department of Public Safety to increase its inspections of commercial vehicles, which he said drug cartels use to smuggle humans and drugs into the United States.

At times, DPS troopers appear to be checking every commercial vehicle that crosses select international bridges, with each inspection taking between 45 minutes and an hour.

Mexican news outlets reported that about 500 truckers are blocking southbound traffic into Mexico to prevent the entrance of U.S. trucks. Truckers told El Manana in Reynosa that they had waited three to four days at the international bridge and were running out of fuel while they waited.

One trucker told the news outlet that prior to Abbotts order, he made two crossings into the U.S. a day. Now, hed be lucky to have one or two a week given the long delays at the bridges.

We are losing just as much as them, he said. When they start needing more produce, the prices are going to go up.

No one has told us what the reason for this is or asked what solutions we can come up with together, he added, saying the blockade will continue until their issues are resolved. All we know is that its an order from the governor of Texas.

Abbotts office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

U.S. Rep. Vicente Gonzalez, D-McAllen, joined a chorus of elected officials from the border who called on Abbott to rethink his strategy, saying the DPS inspections duplicate inspections already conducted by the federal government at the ports of entry.

Governor Abbotts unnecessary secondary inspections are killing business on the border, Gonzalez said in a written statement to The Texas Tribune. If this continues it will cause further supply line issues impacting America. And we will see prices of produce and other imports rise at the grocery store. He needs to allow the U.S. Customs and Border [Protection] inspection folks to do their job.

Commercial traffic bottlenecks on the Mexican side of the bridge are not unusual. From time to time, disgruntled Mexican farmers have used their tractors to block traffic in the border state of Tamaulipas to protest low government payments. Sometimes their protests disrupt traffic flow within Reynosa, and other times they block bridge traffic.

International bridges across the Texas-Mexico border also saw significant lines in 2019 when former President Donald Trump reassigned hundreds of customs officers from ports of entry to assist Border Patrol in dealing with detaining migrants crossing the border in between the bridges.

Those delays lasted hours or days in some cases. This time, importers and local officials are bracing for an even longer disruption to cross-border trade. Even without state troopers stopping vehicles, inspection times at international bridges have long been a source of delays due to federal staffing shortages as well as technology and infrastructure problems.

Hidalgo County Judge Richard Cortez said he cant remember a Texas governor upending international trade along the border like this.

This is a very serious situation, Cortez said in an interview. Truckers on the Mexican side closed the bridge so nothing can come across. I mean, what has happened is idiotic. It really is.

The delays are happening during one of the busiest weeks of the year at border crossings. Semana Santa, or Holy Week, started on Sunday and lasts through Saturday, and many families typically cross the border to see relatives, causing long lines at the bridges.

Teclo Garcia, the economic development director for Laredo, said city officials understand there are security issues the state wants to address, but the state didnt contact local officials to discuss the best way to address those issues.

Were dealing with 20,000 truck crossings a day [in Laredo]  there are security issues but thats why our federal partners are there, Garcia said. If [the state] wants to do more we can do more, but lets not impede trade.

Garcia said its too soon to know what economic impact the DPS inspections will have on the city, which has the busiest commercial crossings on the southwest border, but he added that eventually they could affect the entire country.

Of course, this is going to affect Laredo, El Paso and Brownsville, but the real impact is going to be in the supply chain which is already strained and the consumer, Garcia said.

On Saturday, five state senators from the border region asked Abbott in a letter to reconsider his directive, saying the increased inspections were generating delays and stalling the movement of goods at the ports of entry.

On Monday, state Sen. Juan Chuy Hinojosa, D-McAllen, whose district includes the Pharr bridge, called the situation a crisis and a mess that has been created, but it was not necessary.

Many of my constituents are asking Why are we being punished? The Valley supports border security, but this doesnt seem to have much or anything to do with border security, Hinojosa added. This is hurting people in their pocketbook.

State Rep. Terry Canales, D-Edinburg, said a group of state House members from border communities also plans to send a letter to the governor. He said the governor's announcement last week appeared to be purely political and the new inspections will have little effect on border security.

"All the stated goals of border security are not working and they don't have a practical aspect other than [being] red meat," he said. "I'm a big fan of beef for dinner but enough red steak and red meat will kill you."

Abbott on Monday touted the states increasing border security efforts during a speech at the annual meeting of the Texas Border Sheriffs Coalition in El Paso, saying its been successful in apprehending drug smugglers and people previously convicted of murder. He said the Biden administrations plan to end Title 42 next month could be cataclysmic for border communities because immigration officials are expecting up to 18,000 encounters a day with immigrants once Title 42 removals end. The current average is 6,000 a day.

According to an investigation by The Marshall Project, ProPublica and The Texas Tribune, the state had been including drug seizures and arrests for crimes far from the border to its Operation Lone Star tally  and later revised the arrest numbers.

Abbott didnt comment on the bridge delays Monday.

Last week, Abbott announced the state would be transporting migrants who already have been processed and released by federal immigration officials to Washington, D.C., or other places on buses. Later, he said the bus rides would be voluntary.

On Monday, Abbott said the buses are already available in some border counties and instructed local officials who need a bus to contact their county emergency management coordinator to request one.

He said the state is offering bus rides because some border cities dont have the services or infrastructure to help transport the migrants to their final destination.

If Border Patrol drops people off in your county, you will be able to work with the state to transport people out of your county to a location where they will be immediately connected with either Border Patrol professionals, [Immigration and Customs Enforcement] officials or other appropriate federal authorities, Abbott said.

Typically, when migrants have been released from immigration officials custody, local nonprofit organizations help many of them get in touch with friends and family already in the United States. The migrants usually pay for their own transportation to other parts of the country, then wait for their asylum requests to be resolved in immigration courts.

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/2022/04/11/texas-border-inspections-truckers-protest/.

The Texas Tribune is a member-supported, nonpartisan newsroom informing and engaging Texans on state politics and policy. Learn more at texastribune.org.
Police have identified 27-year-old Amber Jane Butler as the woman who was found dead in a car last week in southwest Houston.

Butler was found dead with a gunshot wound in her car as it was parked in the middle of traffic Friday morning on the 3600 block of Willowbend Blvd, police said. She was nine months pregnant,
Regarding Editorial: Memorial for Joe Campos Torres is not the end of the story, (April 10): I've just finished re-reading your inspiring editorial. I was in Houston on a business trip with my husband when Joe Campos Torres was murdered and tortured by members of the Houston police force. I read about it in both the Post and the Chronicle. At the time, it brought back memories of a young boy, Emmett Till, who was murdered in Mississippi; and the banging on my door, the day JFK was shot in Dallas, by a neighbor in New Orleans who was joyful and prayed the president, whom I loved, would die.

On May 7, 1978, we were in Houston on our house hunting trip. I read about the gathering to remember Joe Campos Torres and protest the cruelty of his murder a year earlier when, again, the actions of the police and political leaders of that time turned it into a riot.

In the late 70s and into the 80s we joined a Catholic Church that had an outreach program. The women's group gathered with a local community of Hispanic women to cook food and learn different customs. I most remember the day we learned to make tamales. When it came time to place the meat filling on the masa (dough) the Hispanic women would scoop or pinch away some of our overload saying, Too much. Not good.

Too much filling makes for mushy tamales that fall apart. Too much fear of learning something new is bad for the intellect. Too much rejection of the other is bad for the soul. Too much anger can make us blind to the good and the needs of those we call our enemies. I know this from experience.

Jere Pfister, Houston

Justice Jackson

Regarding As Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson makes history, Ted Cruz and John Cornyn call her a threat to freedom, (April 7): Congratulations to Ketanji Jackson for breaking barriers to become another racial icon. Her historic appointment marks another benchmark in the long slog towards true equality.

Its too bad that the Republicans, including Sens. Ted Cruz and John Cornyn, insist on remaining on the spiteful, petty side of history. Its not just the right, the Democrats also turned the hearings into a circus, tainting the whole idea of an objective Supreme Court.

I hope Justice Jackson can get some much-needed rest now.

Bob Gayle, Houston

Regarding 'A moment like this': Senate history in Supreme Court vote, (April 7): Sen. Mitt Romney of Utah was the only Republican to join a standing ovation for newly-confirmed Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson on April 7.

Perhaps the senators faith as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints inspired his support. After its founding in the 19th century, the new church suffered persecution. Its founder Joseph Smith was shot. Church members scattered across the country, finding refuge in Utah.

Prejudice can take many forms, and the damage it inflicts can linger in memory. Whenever and however its overcome, everyone can rejoice.

Nancy Perich Daly, Houston
Elon Musk wants to buy Twitter. Elon Musk wants to influence Twitter. Elon Musk wants to poke Twitter with a stick until he gets bored. It is hard to know what is inside the head of Tesla Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk, who became Twitters biggest shareholder and then rejected a seat on the board in an about-face on Saturday. The most realistic prediction about his future actions came from Twitter CEO Parag Agrawal on Sunday night: There will be distractions ahead.

Keeping Musk on the board meant the billionaire could only make trouble from inside Twitter and within strict constraints: Musks 9 percent stake could go no higher than 14.9 percent. Hed be a class II director until 2024, preventing him from taking over the companys board. Not only would Musk be unable to take over Twitter, he likely wouldnt have much impact on the service either, as influencing product decisions from the board is notoriously difficult.

Snubbing a board seat runs counter to how activist shareholders normally operate. Elliott Management, which owns a large stake in Twitter, pushed to replace CEO Jack Dorsey in 2020 and nominated four directors for the board to give it more sway.

But Musk doesnt go down conventional routes. He can simply tweet a product idea to his 80 million followers over a weekend and get Twitter to speed up changes that may or may not have been in the pipeline.

If buying 9 percent of Twitter was a capitalist power play, rejecting a board seat was a nuclear dropkick for the social media era. Musk has put himself in a position where he can now buy significantly more stock. He can push the company on product ideas with the backing of millions of Twitter users. Hes free to bring his stake up to 51 percent and become majority shareholder. He could launch a hostile bid.

So why were Twitters shares trading 7 percent lower on Monday morning, wiping out gains from the excitement of Musks investment? Most likely because investors dont buy it. Neither do I.

The one thing we know for sure about Elon Musk is that he is unpredictable. But Ill go out on a limb and make a prediction anyway: Musk probably wont acquire Twitter. Influencing a company is way more fun for someone like Musk than being responsible for it as a majority owner. History also shows that Musk doesnt buy companies. He builds them from the ground up.

When it comes to assets already on the market  think Dogecoin, Bitcoin, GameStop or Etsy  he tends to talk them up and inflate their value, before losing interest and moving on.

When Musk tweeted that he kinda loves Etsy in January last year, the stock jumped by 9 percent. That same day he tweeted Gamestonk!! and GameStops shares went up by 60 percent. By the following month, Etsy had slid by 17 percent, GameStop by around 87 percent.

Musk is great at attracting attention to tradeable assets, sprinkling them with his unique brand of fairy dust that draws in legions of new fans. But he is not great at imbuing those assets with long-term value.

Twitter is admittedly a different story. Musk has spent close to $3 billion to become the social-media firms biggest shareholder, and he appears to have had serious discussions with its management. But as someone who has repeatedly thumbed his nose at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, he is badly suited to guiding a social-media business, which increasingly involves heeding new rules from policy makers in Europe and elsewhere.

Judging by his tweets, Musks interest in Twitter seems more geared toward influencing the company in a direction that suits his ideological worldview, which, despite his brilliant engineering mind, includes a warped understanding of what free speech means.

He has, for instance, wrongly propagated the notion that Twitter is a public square obligated to protect free speech. As a private company, it is not. In his own business, he has conflated free speech with offensive speech, telling Black workers to be thick-skinned about racist language in Teslas California factory. He tweeted a meme comparing Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau with Adolf Hitler last February.

In March, as he was quietly amassing shares in Twitter, Musk polled his followers with a loaded question about free speech. That kind of discussion is important in its own way, but none of it is helpful to Twitter as a company. Posting inane polls to millions of fans is a distraction, as Agrawal rightly said, not a smart way to steer an online product.

At best, Musk is trolling Twitters management. At worst, he wants to push the company to loosen its moderation standards, giving him more leeway to tweet about whatever topic  from GameStop to Tesla and SpaceX has or needs his attention. Somewhere in the middle, hes turning Twitter into a volatile meme stock that could jump or slide in tandem with his state of mind. If history suggests anything, Musk is more likely to make trouble for the company than put up a bid.

Parmy Olson is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering technology.
Cameron County District Attorney Luis Saenz, the only person besides the governor with the ability to immediately stop the scheduled April 27 execution of Melissa Lucio, refused to do so on Tuesday, although he said he does not believe the execution will go forward as scheduled.

During an afternoon hearing of the Texas House Criminal Justice Reform committee, led by Rep. Jeff Leach, a Dallas Republican, lawmakers pressed Saenz to intervene. More than half of the 150 members of the House signed onto a letter last month calling for a reprieve, as Lucios application for clemency awaits a recommendation from the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles to Gov. Greg Abbott. Abbott could grant a 30-day stay of execution, but cannot issue a pardon or commute Lucios death sentence to life without a recommendation from the board.

IN-DEPTH: Melissa Lucio could be the first Latina executed in Texas. Family members say her crime was a tragic accident

I would just beg you, urge you on behalf of Melissa and her attorneys but also the Legislature and a sense of justice  to push the pause button, Leach said at the hearing. Make no mistake: Washing your hands of the ability to make this decision yourself is very, very shocking and disappointing.

Growing increasingly more agitated throughout his testimony, Saenz refused to pull back the execution warrant. At one point, he said it would be unfair to the hundreds of others on death row who by the way, are also innocent, with a note of sarcasm that drew gasps from the crowd in the hearing room. He said there was no reason to delay Lucios execution.

Then Saenz clarified: I do not believe that this execution is going to go through on April 27, as he believes the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals will issue a stay. Pressed by members of the committee, Saenz finally said he would delay the execution date if a court does not do so. Lawmakers were speechless for a moment, and one asked him to repeat himself.

A jury sentenced Lucio, a resident of Harlingen, to death in 2008 for the murder of her 2-year-old daughter, Mariah. The evidence against her largely consisted of bruising on the girls body and Lucios tearful admission that I guess I did it. Im responsible, after hours of aggressive interrogation.

Lucio has since maintained her innocence, and experts have raised serious doubts about her statement to investigators, saying her history as a survivor of physical and sexual abuse put her at increased risk of making a false confession.

BACKGROUND: 9 things to know about Melissa Lucio, the Texas mom who could be the first Latina executed in the modern era

During her trial, Lucios defense lawyers did not present evidence that would have supported their contention that Mariah had fallen down a flight of stairs two days earlier. Attorneys helping her challenge her conviction, as well as medical experts they have found to support them, say such a fall could have also caused her fatal injury and the bruising.

Five jurors from the original trial have since expressed regret for their decision to sentence Lucio to death. The original prosecutor was convicted on corruption charges in 2014.

One of the jurors testified at Tuesdays hearing: The idea that my vote to take a persons life was not based on complete and accurate information is horrifying  I was wrong to sentence Melissa Lucio to death.

Saenz, the DA, was unmoved.

You keep saying youre not going to relitigate it, but thats what youre doing  Im not going to get into it, he said. At this point, Im telling you that even if I have that authority, I will not do that. Even if I have that authority, I dont intend to do that.

He added later that he would withdraw the execution if a court does not do so before April 27, as there are pending legal matters.

Back in Harlingen

Lucio's sister Sonya Valencia Alvarez watched with tears in her eyes as Saenz said he did not believe Lucio's execution would go forward as scheduled on April 27, despite declining to withdraw her death warrant amid pleas from Texas lawmakers.

Flanked by her mother, Hope, and Melissa's five-year-old grandson, Elijah, Alvarez watched the hearing over Zoom from their home in Harlingen. The family said they were disappointed Saenz refused to intervene, but are still hopeful.

LUCIO CASE: Melissa Lucio's lawyers file petition with new evidence they say proves the mother of 14's innocence

"We were so scared, we are still scared, but we see God moving mountains for Melissa, for us, for her kids," Alvarez said. "It's just overwhelming because -- (her voice breaks) this is April. I believe she is coming home. I know that Melissa will be here soon."

Alvarez said overall, she was disappointed with the outcome of the hearing and that Saenz repeatedly stated he does not plan to make any unilateral moves in the case.

"He has the power to stop it now, but he refuses to," Alvarez said. "We are praying and hoping that he does the right thing...he is playing god (and) he is putting Melissas life in his hands."

"The DA was very much pressured, he felt a lot of pressure," another family member, Diane Cerda, said. "I think he is going to do the right thing. It might not have been today but I think that he will."

Landmark cases

The death penalty in Texas has taken on increased attention of late due to several landmark cases, including Lucios.

Lucios execution is scheduled for April 27, and Rodney Reed  a Black man convicted in Bastrop County of murdering a white woman by an all-white jury in 1996  awaits a decision from the Texas Criminal Court of Appeals on his death sentence.

Reality TV star Kim Kardashian, who advocates against the death penalty, has called for clemency for both Reed and Lucio.

Since 1973, the modern era of the death penalty in the United States, there has been about one exoneration for a person on death row for every eight executions that have occurred, according to the Death Penalty Information Center. In addition, Texas has executed 10 people since 1989 despite strong evidence of innocence, the group estimates.

False confessions to the crime have led to 30 exonerations in death penalty cases over that time.

The group also identifies child deaths as a common source of wrongful convictions due to faulty medical evidence and emotional jurors.

edward.mckinley@chron.com
WFO LAS VEGAS Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Monday, April 11, 2022

_____

DUST STORM WARNING

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED

Dust Storm Warning

National Weather Service Las Vegas NV

324 PM PDT Mon Apr 11 2022

The National Weather Service in Las Vegas has issued a

* Dust Storm Warning for...

Central San Bernardino County in southern California...

* Until 515 PM PDT.

* At 322 PM PDT, a dust channel was occurring in the Mojave River

Valley east of Barstow, moving east at 50 mph. The visibility has

dropped to a half a mile at the Barstow-Daggett Airport.

HAZARD...Less than a quarter mile visibility with damaging wind in

excess of 60 mph.

SOURCE...Detected by National Weather Service meteorologists.

IMPACT...Dangerous life-threatening travel.

This includes the following highways...

Interstate 15 in California between mile markers 81 and 98.

Interstate 40 in California between mile markers 4 and 87.

Locations impacted include...

Daggett, Ludlow, Newberry Springs and Nebo Center.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Dust storms lead to dangerous driving conditions with visibility

reduced to near zero. If driving, avoid dust storms if possible. If

caught in one, pull off the road, turn off your lights and keep your

foot off the brake.

Motorists should not drive into a dust storm. PULL ASIDE STAY ALIVE!

_____

Copyright 2022 AccuWeather
High Point, NC (27260)

Today

Rain showers early will evolve into a more steady rain for the afternoon. High 68F. Winds WNW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch..

Tonight

Rain showers this evening with overcast skies overnight. Low 46F. Winds NNE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 30%.
Paul Deziel said a choked-up goodbye and thank you at the Monday, April 11, Hudson Common Council meeting.

Quick hits... Hudson Common Council April 11 2022 marks the 150th anniversary of Arbor Day in the United States. Mayor OConnor proclaimed Friday, April 29, and Saturday, April 30, as Arbor Days in the city of Hudson, calling on residents to participate in the celebration, continuing to support and protect trees and woodlands.

$125,000 ARPA funding was approved to be spent on turnout gear and helmets for the fire department.

Deziel apologized in advance of his point of personal privilege, saying this may sound like the Academy Awards. He gave gracious thank yous to his family, city staff and predecessors.

It was when it came time to thank his fellow council members that he took a moment, becoming emotional.

The Monday meeting was filled with shared laughs and a sense of camaraderie.

Your passion has served the city well, Alderperson Randy Morrissette II said. His comment was echoed by Mayor Rich OConnor and Alderpeople Joyce Hall and Sarah Bruch.

Deziel was elected for two terms to serve on the council. He congratulated Joy Knudson as she will take his place in representing District 3 on Tuesday, April 19. Bill Alms and Mike Kennedy also will take the oath of office at the annual organizational meeting next week.

Appointments to committees will be made at this meeting as well as the nomination of council president.

Annual storm water report

Mike Mroz, director of public works and parks, provided the council with the annual MS4, or stormwater management, report.

The city has to report back to the DNR on various aspects of stormwater management like pollution control, public education and outreach, public participation, etc.

The MS4 report is required for communities of 10,000 or more people, which Hudson became a part of in 2014.

In 2017, the city reported having 400,000 feet of sewer pipes and 118 stormwater facilities (like ponds).

Funding for stormwater management was established in the city in 2012. Each quarter, single family homes and duplexes are charged $12 on utility bills to help support the requirements from the DNR. In 2021, the city raised $531,880 for the fund.

Downtown development

The Common Council approved the final development plan and subsequent compliances for 106 Buckeye St.

The plans were submitted to the city and the proposal includes removing the existing building and developing a new, four-story structure with office and condominium space just southeast of Lakefront Park.

A neighborhood meeting was held on Feb. 27, 2020, which was followed by 12 letters of support from neighboring businesses and property owners.

The condominium units will range from 1,350-1,650 square feet and are proposed to be on the second, third and fourth floors, with an interior automated parking garage.
Gilbert Gottfried, the comedian, Aladdin star and owner of one of the most iconic voices in Hollywood, has died after battling a long illness, his family announced Tuesday. He was 67.

His publicist told the Washington Post that he died due to complications from muscular dystrophy.

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We are heartbroken to announce the passing of our beloved Gilbert Gottfried after a long illness. In addition to being the most iconic voice in comedy, Gilbert was a wonderful husband, brother, friend and father to his two young children. Although today is a sad day for all of us, please keep laughing as loud as possible in Gilberts honor, his family wrote on Twitter.

Many people in Hollywood, including comedians Jason Alexander, Dane Cook and more, paid tribute to Gottfried after the shocking news of his death. Gilbert Gottfried was never not funny, wrote Cook. He was a lovely guy, always friendly and made many people happy.

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Gottfried was known for his crude humor, political incorrectness and shrill voice, which helped give life to a number of animated characters, such as Iago the parrot in Disneys Aladdin, the robotic bird Digit in PBS Kids Cyberchase and the Aflac duck in commercials for the insurance company.

He was born in Brooklyn, N.Y., on Feb. 28, 1955, and started performing stand-up comedy at just 15. Gottfried had a short, 12-episode stint on Saturday Night Live during Season 6 in 1980, and he reunited with his SNL colleague Eddie Murphy on Beverly Hills Cop II, one of his first major film roles. Howard Stern frequently invited Gottfried on his radio show in the 80s, where he impersonated people like Andrew Dice Clay, Groucho Marx and Bela Lugosi as Dracula.

By the 90s, Gottfried landed roles in films like Problem Child movies, Highway to Hell and Looks Whos Talking Too, before landing his most recognizable voice role as Iago the parrot in 1992s Aladdin. Iago was the annoying but funny comic relief who accompanied the villain Jafar, and Gottfried reprised the role in two direct-to-video sequels, a TV series and the Kingdom Hearts video games.

His other major voice roles included Kraang Subprime in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Mr. Mxyzptlk in Superman: The Animated Series, Dr. Bender and his son Wendell in The Fairly OddParents, plus SpongeBob Squarepants, The Ren & Stimpy Show, Duckman, Disneys House of Mouse and countless more.

In the 2000s and 2010s, Gottfried became a regular on celebrity roasts and game shows. He appeared in Comedy Central roasts of Bob Saget, Joan Rivers, David Hasselhoff, Donald Trump and Roseanne Barr, plus game shows like Hollywood Squares and Pyramid.

He was frequent contributor at Chicago clubs over the years.

Gottfried spoke to the Tribune in 2007 before appearances at the suburban and Wells Street Zanies comedy clubs, the conversation was soon before his marriage to Dara Kravitz, who he met at a Grammy Awards party, and the birth of the first of their two children together: daughter, Lily and son, Max.

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My hope is I dont turn into one of those comics with cutesy stuff all about their kids, he said. My feeling is, once you give up drugs and alcohol youre never quite the same. So with that in mind, Im planning on taking up drinking and hard drugs.

Speaking offstage over the phone, his voice lost the signature brash Brooklyn accent hes known for and became softer. But he need not have worried about that edge, his comedic material never lost it.

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Gottfried had his share of controversial moments. At a New York Friars Club Roast of Hugh Hefner in 2001, three weeks after the Sept. 11 attacks, he joked he was trying to catch a plane but could not get a direct flight because they said they have to stop at the Empire State Building first. The audience gasped. Someone yelled out, Too soon! Gottfried abandoned his prepared remarks and launched into the Aristocrats, the venerable dirty joke about a traveling family act performing obscene acts on one another. The bit killed. It became the center of the 2005 film The Aristocrats.

He talked about the moment over lunch in Chicago in 2009. After the Aristocrats thing, he said, I was known for dirty jokes. Its not like I havent told my share of dirty jokes before.

Later, in March 2011, Gottfried made jokes on his Twitter account about the earthquake and tsunami in Japan. Insurance company Aflac dismissed Gottfried from voicing its duck mascot.

Bad taste jokes have their own apology built into them because you laugh and cringe at the same time, Gottfried told the Post-Tribune before a 2019 show in Hobart, Indiana. People need jokes like that to touch the sore area. About being fired, I lost some money, but I was just doing my job, he recalled. Its like eating a bowl of corn flakes every morning, and then one day you eat another bowl and all hell breaks loose. Its a ridiculous concept.

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Gottfried said growing up, he looked up to comics such as Henny Youngman, who favored clean, short one-liners, often followed by a violin flourish.It was not particularly clever or witty, Gottfried said. It was funny because his jokes were stupid.

He had been expected back in Illinois next week to headline 2022 Ebertfest, according to the News-Gazette of Champaign, an annual Roger Ebert film festival organized by the College of Media at the University of Illinois. A 2017 documentary about his life and career is part of the lineup. Gilbert is still scheduled to be screened at the Virginia Theatre (203 W. Park Ave., Champaign) at 4 p.m. April 21.

The Tribune contributed to this report.
Hudson, NY (12534)

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Cloudy skies. Slight chance of a rain shower. High 56F. Winds NE at 10 to 15 mph..

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Considerable cloudiness. Low near 40F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph.
BCC Foundation Introduces Richard J. Melluzzo Scholarship

PITTSFIELD, Mass.  The Berkshire Community College (BCC) Foundation announced the creation of the Richard J. Melluzzo Scholarship, made possible by an anonymous donor in honor of the late psychologist and public health administrator.

Melluzzo, who died in December 2021, was a resident of Great Barrington for more 45 years and was an active member of the community.

The scholarship, intended to honor Melluzzo's passion for mental health, will be presented to incoming students at BCC who are enrolled in the human services field of study.

Awards will range from $1,000 to full tuition and fees. Eligible students can apply by visiting www.berkshirecc.edu/scholarships by Aug. 5, 2022. Students in need of financial aid not covered by grants, scholarships or other funds are encouraged to apply.

"Scholarships at BCC can make college a possibility for people who never thought they would be able to attain a degree," said BCC President Ellen Kennedy. "Richard Melluzzo was a special person who cared deeply about the mental health and wellbeing of his clients and his community, and we can't think of a better way to honor his memory than this important scholarship."

Melluzzo's career in mental health spanned 42 years. He was a psychologist at the Wassaic Developmental Center in Wassaic, New York; program director of Inpatient Psychiatric Units at Berkshire Medical Center; administrator of Family Care of the Berkshires at Berkshire Medical Center; and program director of Greylock Pavilion, a 20-bed inpatient psychiatric unit at North Adams Regional Hospital. Most recently, he was a marriage and family therapist and social worker at RJM Consulting, an outpatient mental health clinic and healthcare consultation service in Great Barrington.

Melluzzo earned an undergraduate degree in psychology from Ohio Wesleyan University, a master's degree in guidance and counseling from University of Hartford and a master of public administration degree from Russell Sage College. He also served on the Great Barrington Board of Selectman and Finance Committee collectively for 10 years.

In a letter shared by his wife of 48 years, Patrice, Melluzzo wrote: "I knew from early elementary school that a career in the mental health field was the vocation for me. My clients were an inspiration in my life and I recall, with great pride, the many successes they experienced. Their hard work and bravery in facing lifelong issues was a great point of pride."

The Human Services Department at BCC encompasses certificate programs in addiction recovery, mental health and human services, as well as a social work associate degree program for students planning to transfer into a four-year institution to earn a bachelor's degree.

For more information about the Human Services Department or about the Richard J. Melluzzo Scholarship, email
Clark Art Lecture on Depictions of Motherhood In Late 18th Century French Art

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass.  Sarah Grandin, the Clark-Getty Curatorial Fellow, will host a talk exploring depictions of motherhood in French art from the second half of the eighteenth century.

Grandin's lecture, "Maternal Absence and Pictorial Presence," is presented live in the Clark's auditorium and broadcast simultaneously on Zoom and Facebook Live (@clarkartinstitute) on Wednesday, April 13 at 6 pm.

Grandin focuses on Etienne Aubry's "Farewell to the Wet Nurse" (177677)to decipher what was expected of mothers in the Enlightenment era. She will also consider art's role in shaping social mores and investigate artists' commitment to portraying female subjectivity.




iciHaiti - Weekly road report : Sharp increase in deaths on our roads





The Haitian organization Technical and Operational Services to Stop Accidents (STOP-Accidents), informs us that for the period from April 4 to 10, 2022, 42 accidents on national territory (+44.8% compared to the previous week https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-36350-icihaiti-weekly-road-report-reduction-in-fatal-accidents.html made at least 212 victims (+48.2%): 19 dead (+72.7% ) and 193 injured (+46.2%) including several seriously...



Road of Solon Menos, Cabaret, Delmas 33, Haut Maribarou (Ouanaminthe), Pignon, Jacmel, Petion ville, Petit-Goave, Haut Fournau (Port de Paix), Aquin, Duchity and Gonaives are the main municipalities and areas where these accidents have been recorded.



Let's recall that this assessment was carried out in partnership with the National Ambulance Center (CAN) and the Haitian Red Cross (CRH).



However, due to a lack of sufficient financial resources, STOP-Accident is unable to monitor the state of health of the injured, some of whom die as a result of their injuries and are not counted.



STOP-Accidents reiterates its call for caution on our roads and urges the Government to strengthen prevention measures and set up a systematic vehicle inspection service. In addition, the Organization invites road users to behave responsibly to reduce the risk of accidents.



See also :

https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-36350-icihaiti-weekly-road-report-reduction-in-fatal-accidents.html



IH/ iciHaiti


















After the Rev. Charles Jackson retired from his ministry with the AME Church in September, he filed a written request to cash in on his pension that he had contributed to throughout his 24-year career. But that request was denied.

It turned out the church paused payments to him and thousands of other retired ministers who contributed to that fund throughout their decades-long careers. On October 7, the churchs Department of Retirement Services, which manages the fund, announced a comprehensive audit after it had reported a material loss in the value of one or more of its departmental investments.

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Jackson, who served the AME Church for 24 years, is now one of several Orlando-area pastors joining in a class-action lawsuit against the church and its financial partners, which reportedly lost as much as $90 million from that fund, which also helped pay for hardship requests.

The lawsuit was filed March 22 in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Tennessee, where the AME Church is headquartered.

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I lost my best friend, said Jackson, formerly of Mt. Tabor AME Church in Altamonte Springs. I thought the church would take care of us and whatever they promised us they would hold fast to. We found that was not the case.

A dancer performs during the opening worship service at the African Methodist Episcopal Church conference, Tuesday, July 6, 2021, in Orlando, Fla. (John Raoux/AP)

According to the federal complaint, the fund was managed by the Rev. Dr. Jerome Harris, who held that position from 2000 until his retirement in July. The value of the fund was worth approximately $125 million by the end of Harris tenure, but the Rev. James Miller discovered the Fund shortfall shortly after Harris stepped down.

The lawsuit also claims the losses are believed to exceed 60% of the Fund because of irresponsible investments, which led to the churchs governing body discussing borrowing $45 million or selling church property to replace at least some of the missing money.

It is our intention with this lawsuit to use the power of discovery to understand exactly how much money was lost, who was involved and how they were involved, said Greg Francis of Boca Raton-based law firm Osborne & Francis, which represents Jackson. These pastors have worked all their lives dedicated to their respective communities and now at the age of retirement theyre not being afforded those funds.

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Lawyers for the AME Church did not immediately respond to a request seeking comment.

Jacksons lawsuit was filed at the same time as other lawsuits in Maryland in Virginia, with other retired ministers making similar allegations.

Church officials called the missing retirement funds a possible financial crime after a report by the Wall Street Journal in March about the investigation.

We continue to actively work with federal authorities who are investigating this matter and recover any misappropriated funds, the AME Church said in a March 30 statement, which added that it is committed to making every fund participant whole by restoring their full investment plus interest.

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Among the allegations are breach of contract and unjust enrichment after pension savings belonging to Jackson and others werent disbursed, according to the complaint. It also accuses the church and others of having intentionally lied and misled ministers about how the money was being spent, knowing full well [they] would lose their investments, be left penniless and as a result suffer severe emotional distress.

According to court records, Harris had been sued in July 2006 over claims of mismanaged annuity but that case was later dismissed.

creyes-rios@orlandosentinel.com
Wekiva High School student chefs Travis Grider, left, Nicholas Eberle, middle, and Erick Hendrickson, right, prepare food in the culinary arts kitchen at Wekiva High School in Apopka on Thursday, April 7, 2022. The students in the culinary arts program are going to Houston, Texas, to compete in a NASA contest to come up for new food for astronauts. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)

The final test before the big cooking competition came down to packing. Could the team from Wekiva High School stuff into their suitcases most of the equipment needed to cook a three-course meal?

Yes, they could, and Monday the three 11th graders, along with their teacher and a chaperone, flew to Houston to compete in the finals of NASA-sponsored student culinary contest. Each student took two suitcases, one packed with an assortment of bowls, cake molds, cutting boards, knives, measuring cups, mixers and saute pans.

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They will shop for their ingredients Tuesday and compete Wednesday as a Top 10 finalist. The three teenagers will cook tandoori chicken, curried vegetables and a lemon dream cake for NASAs judges, hoping their spread is tasty and meets all the strict nutritional requirements of a pre-flight, quarantine meal for astronauts.

Wekiva High School student chefs, from left: Erick Hendrickson, Travis Grider, and Nicholas Eberle are pictured in the culinary arts kitchen at Wekiva High School in Apopka on Thursday, April 7, 2022. The students in the culinary arts program are going to Houston, Texas, to compete in a NASA contest to come up for new food for astronauts. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel) (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)

I think its really fun, honestly, said Erick Hendrickson, 17, as the Wekiva trio did a final practice run of their meal after school Friday. We like food, and we like NASA because its cool.

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Erick, Nicholas Eberle, 17, and Travis Grider, 18, all expect to be nervous when they start prepping their food Wednesday morning.

Im worried about messing up a step, said Travis, who is in charge of the curry.

Nicholas, in charge of dessert, said he worried the centers of individual cakes might fall once taken from the oven but quickly reminded himself that if they do, Its fixable.

Erick said they were nervous during the preliminary competition, too, but those feelings eased as they focused on cooking. He expects that will happen Wednesday. After a while, you calm down, he said.

The NASA Hunch Culinary Challenge initially involved about 90 high school teams from across the country tasked with creating three recipes that met the agencys nutritional guidelines, tasted good and could be cooked in two-and-a-half hours. The Wekiva team won its regional competition, then earned one of 10 spots in the finals after regional winners recipes were judged by experts at NASAs Johnson Space Center.

Chris Bates, director of the magnet academy of culinary arts at Wekiva, said the three teenagers first won an in-school competition to form Wekivas team for the NASA contest.

All are very, very passionate about honing their culinary skills, he said.

Its amazing what theyre doing. They should be really proud, said Rheanna Schaffer, a pastry sous chef at Walt Disney World, who mentors students in Wekivas program.

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Schaffer and another Disney chef were on campus Friday afternoon helping the team in its final practice. Each student had one dish he was chiefly responsible for but all helped out as needed.

Youre an hour in, Bates said, looking at a time.

By then, the chicken was marinating and the vegetables were cooking.

Youll have to get the cake in the oven fast, Bates added.

Wekiva High School student chefs prepare food in the culinary arts kitchen at Wekiva High School in Apopka on Thursday, April 7, 2022. The students in culinary arts program are going to Houston, Texas, to compete in a NASA contest to come up for new food for astronauts. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel) (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)

Culinary competitions build enthusiasm for the academic program, just as school competitions in other fields do, said Bates, a former executive chef now in his eighth year at the Orange County high school.

And the culinary arts program, with more than 320 students enrolled, provides teenagers with academics coupled with hands-on skills, valuable even if they do not pursue a culinary career.

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The world of culinary arts is a catalyst, a laboratory if you will, for teaching life skills, Bates added.

His students, he said, must learn to be organized, hold to a schedule and deal with customers and co-workers.

The NASA contest required learning about the nutrition of pre-flight meals, writing a report and calculating whether theyd kept to the required calories, fat grams and sodium levels.

And the sodium levels proved tricky, Bates said, as they were very low.

The students settled on Indian dishes thinking the strong flavors would help make up for a lack of salt.

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They tried and abandoned a fish dish. That didnt work, Erick said with a shake of his head.

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All three students said they signed up for a culinary class as an elective in ninth grade because they needed something to fill out their schedules.

I like doing food, Nicholas said, with a laugh. A lot of kids think like that.

But all got hooked, and Nicholas now wants to become a pastry chef.

A win at the NASA competition could mean a scholarship to a culinary school. But if they dont win, theyll still enjoy a tour of some NASA facilities and the chance to once again show what they can do in a kitchen.

Its been a really cool experience, Bates said.

lpostal@orlandosentinel.com
This is a contributed piece by Neil Stobart, VP of Global System Engineering for Cloudian.

With data volumes increasing, its now common for data to be shared and stored across multiple jurisdictions. Though this can accelerate innovation and improve how we work, it also brings fresh concerns surrounding data sovereignty  a topic thats come into the spotlight as weve become more aware of how organisations collect and store customer data.

In laymans terms, data sovereignty is a legal principle which says that data is subject to the laws of the country in which its stored. It should be a key consideration for organisations that use the public cloud, as hyperscalers data centres can be located anywhere in the world.

A sovereign cloud, on the other hand, is cloud infrastructure thats architected and built to comply with local laws on data privacy, access, and control  and to avoid any conflicting regulatory demands. In practice, this means storing data in the country it was collected or using virtual data spaces to enable cross-border data sovereignty.

Building a sovereign cloud can be an effective way for organisations to comply with often conflicting data regulations.

Which data protection regulations apply to your organisation?

When an organisation operates across borders, complying with ever-changing data privacy regulations can prove challenging, as demonstrated by the current regulatory landscape in the UK, EU, and US.

Cloudian

Schrems II (EU and UK)

Until mid-2020, the US and EU participated in a joint Privacy Shield Agreement. This allowed US companies to receive personal data from the EU if they adhered to EU standards on data protection and privacy. However, in July 2020, the Court of Justice of the European Union invalidated this agreement due to concerns about surveillance by US law enforcement agencies. This landmark ruling is known as Schrems II.

Schrems II requires EU companies to conduct individual assessments of each data transfer to a non-EU country. Although the UK has left the EU, Schrems II currently still applies in this jurisdiction. This compels UK companies to find alternative safeguards to the invalidated Data Protection Shield to protect data flows between the UK and US.

GDPR (EU) and The DPA 2018 (UK)

The EUs General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the UKs Data Protection Act (DPA) 2018 are both designed to ensure transparency and security around customer data. As a result, these regulations have implications for data sovereignty.

For example, under GDPR cloud providers must commit to only disclosing personal data based on legal requests made under EU law. For US-based hyperscalers, this creates a clear conflict with the US CLOUD Act (see below). Although hyperscalers can assure customers that their data will be stored within their chosen jurisdiction, they cant guarantee complete protection from US law enforcement.

The CLOUD Act (USA)

In 2018, the US Clarifying Lawful Overseas Use of Data (CLOUD) Act came into force. This legislation compels US cloud providers to hand over data to government or law enforcement agencies if requested via a warrant, subpoena, or court order  even if the data in question is stored in another country.

The COPO Act 2019 (UK) and Article 49 of GDPR (EU)

It's worth noting that the UK and EU both have equivalent legislation to the CLOUD Act in place. In the UK, this is the Crime (Overseas Production Orders) (COPO) Act 2019, and in the EU its Article 49 of GDPR.

The UK's COPO Act contains similar principles to the CLOUD Act. However, it goes even further by enabling authorities to compel any cloud provider operating outside the UK to release data to them  provided that the UK has signed a Designated International Cooperation Agreement (DICA) with the country in question.

Its likely more countries will enact similar legislation, with international organisations potentially having to juggle conflicting legal obligations.

GAIA-X (EU)

Currently in its implementation phase, the GAIA-X Framework has been developed by businesses, government officials, and scientists across Europe. It provides the foundation for a networked system that links many cloud services providers together, in which data is decentralised and federated using next-generation infrastructure and security standards.

Implementing sovereign cloud

Given this complex regulatory landscape, its no surprise that organisations interest in sovereign cloud is growing. There are two routes available to them  either turning to a regional storage provider that operates within specific national borders or building their own sovereign cloud using on-premises private cloud storage. However, this doesnt mean organisations need to give up on hyperscalers. Often a hybrid, multi-cloud strategy  combining private and public clouds  is the best approach. This way, organisations can leverage the right cloud for the right workload and take advantage of the breadth of services offered by different cloud providers.

For organisations that still need to move data between countries, so-called virtual data spaces are emerging to enable cross-border data sovereignty. These depend on data relationships between trusted partners  data providers, users, intermediaries, etc.  with the same high standards for storing and sharing data. Crucially, the data in question is stored at its source and is only moved between locations when strictly necessary.

The role of object storage in creating a sovereign cloud

Whether organisations build their own sovereign cloud or work with service providers that can offer this, the key enabler for these clouds remains the same  object storage.

Why? First and foremost, object storage is significantly more scalable and cost-effective than block or file storage.

Whats more, object storage provides S3 API compatibility. Because the S3 API has become the de-facto cloud standard, sovereign clouds with S3-compatible storage infrastructure can speak the same language as the public cloud, enabling easy data mobility.

Object storage also features automated data protection and, increasingly, protection against ransomware through data immutability and encryption. Data immutability prevents cybercriminals from altering or deleting data, enabling quick recovery of that data in the event of a ransomware attack, without having to pay ransom. Encryption prevents hackers from reading data or making it public in any intelligible way, eliminating the other form of ransomware extortion.

The bottom line? As the data economy flourishes, organisations must keep up with laws and regulations impacting data sovereignty and ensure they stay in compliance. Sovereign clouds with an object storage foundation are the best way to do so. If an organisation lacks the expertise to create its own sovereign cloud, local service providers can fill the gap.

Neil Stobart is VP of Global System Engineering for Cloudian. Stobart has held several senior consulting and leadership roles working with some of the largest technology companies in the industry and providing guidance and advice to major commercial organisations globally, on best practises and economic considerations of data storage technology deployment. Stobart has experience in all aspects of data storage and management technologies including; SAN, NAS, object, business continuity, disaster recovery, backup, storage networking, capacity planning and performance analysis as well as cloud computing, open systems computing, thin client, data networking and application infrastructure design.
President Joe Biden speaks to reporters before boarding Air Force One at Des Moines International Airport, in Des Moines Iowa, Tuesday, April 12, 2022, en route to Washington. Biden said that Russia's war in Ukraine amounted to a "genocide," accusing President Vladimir Putin of trying to "wipe out the idea of even being a Ukrainian."
A cryptocurrency expert has been sentenced to more than five years in federal prison for helping North Korea evade U.S. sanctions
Vietnamese journalist Nguyen Hoai Nam was sentenced to three years and six months in prison by The People's Court of Ho Chi Minh City on April 5 for a report he published that allegedly criticised the state. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) condemns Nguyen Hoai Nams sentence and calls on the court to immediately revoke all charges against him.

On April 5, The People's Court of Ho Chi Minh City sentenced Nguyen Hoai Nam to three-and-a-half years in prison after finding him guilty of violating Article 331 of Vietnams Penal Code.

According to the BBC, the court indictment stated that in 2018, Nam, a local reporter for Ho Chi Minh City Law newspaper, published an investigative piece concerning the Vietnam Inland Waterway Administration and reported on alleged corrupt activities connected with the department.

On his Facebook account, the journalist proceeded to accuse Lieutenant General Tran Van Ve and several investigators from the Ministry of Public Security's Investigation Agency of corruption and bribery.

Nam was arrested for his social media posts on April 3, 2021. The journalist pleaded not guilty in court.

"Facebook is a tool to inform the public. I fought for the state, not for any person. I wrote articles with evidence, so it cannot be said that I lied or fabricated things, Nam said in a statement.

Prosecutors, however, argued that Nams reports negatively affected social security and order, justifying his sentencing under Article 331. According to VnExpress, prosecutors recommended a jail term of four to five years but the court gave Nam leniency for his many merits and awards as a journalist.

Article 331 has been heavily criticised as an anti-state provision that works to penalise those who abuse the rights to freedom and democracy violate the States interests and the legitimate rights and interests of organizations and individuals.

The IFJ said: The sentencing of Nguyen Hoai Nam is concerning and another effort by Vietnamese authorities to stifle independent journalism and legitimate reportage. The IFJ calls on the government to immediately release the journalist and repeal Article 331 of the Vietnamese Penal Code so that journalists can continue to work without fear of persecution.
The state of Texas has one of the biggest economies in the U.S. and a growing population. But there's a new issue to consider for companies doing business in the Lone Star State: It holds one of the nation's most restrictive reproductive rights laws, which can be tricky to navigate for companies with female employees.

It's now one of many. Since Texas became the first in the union to pass a statewide ban on abortions after six weeks of pregnancy in September of 2021, more states have followed suit. In March this year, Florida lawmakers banned abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy, and Idaho approved a law based on the model in Texas that will halt abortions after six weeks of pregnancy starting in September. Then this week, Oklahoma's Republican governor, Kevin Stitt, signed a bill into law that makes performing an abortion illegal in the state, with an exception only in the case of a medical emergency. Twenty-two states currently have some form of abortion restrictions on their books and 18 states have near-total bans.

As a result, some companies are opting to expand the benefit to include more states, in the hopes that their female employees will get access to reproductive care, should they need it. Online search and review platform, Yelp, which is based in San Francisco and has more than 4,000 workers, will today start covering expenses for its employees and their spouses who must travel out of state for abortion care, according to The New York Times. While the company only has roughly 200 employees in Texas, the benefit extends to employees in other states who might be affected by "current or future action that restricts access to covered reproductive health care," a company representative said.

Last month, Citigroup, which has over 8,000 workers in Texas, became the first major bank to disclose that it will provide travel benefits to employees seeking abortions outside their state, "in response to changes in reproductive health care laws in certain states," the company stated in a filing in March. Texas State Representative Briscoe Cain blasted the company for the policy, threatening to introduce a bill to prevent the bank from underwriting municipal bonds in the state unless it rescinded its expense policy, which the company hasn't done.

Offering reproductive services that include abortions to employees, in a state with restrictions, isn't easy. While most health insurance plans cover the cost of abortions, in 10 states--including Oklahoma, Michigan, and Utah--lawmakers have prohibited all comprehensive plans from covering abortion. In those states, companies must create an infrastructure to ensure employees' access to those procedures, which includes protecting workers' privacy, and fending off legal actions brought by states looking to block any workarounds to their laws, according to reporting from The Los Angeles Times.
Tri-Rail and Brightline, South Floridas regional passenger railroads, said Tuesday they enhanced their security efforts after a gunman shot multiple people at a New York subway station during the morning rush hour.

A spokesman for the South Florida Regional Transportation Authority, which operates Tri-Rail, said the notification was a result of this recent incident, as per normal safety protocol.

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This includes increasing their presence and performing frequent inspections at stations and onboard trains, said spokesman Victor Garcia. Security personnel and train crews have been alerted. We are in communication with local law enforcement and will be looking for any potential additional instructions from TSA (Transportation Security Administration).

Garcia added that announcements will be shared with passengers to remember to contact Tri-Rail if they see something suspicious.

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Tri-Rail serves 18 stations between Palm Beach County and Miami International Airport.

[ RELATED: Burglary suspect arrested after shooting in Fort Lauderdale parking garage ]

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Brightlines trains serve the downtowns of Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach and Miami. We have amplified our security and safety measures, said spokeswoman Vanessa Alfonso. She declined to say how.

But since its inception, the company has screened passengers with airport-styled checkpoints at its train stations. We screen 100% of our guests and bags, she said. We have a layered approach and we have amplified that.

Broward County Transit, which operates a countywide bus system, did not respond to an email seeking comment. Last month, a gunman shot and killed two people and wounded two others aboard a Broward County Transit bus in Fort Lauderdale.

Within the last several months, shooting incidents were reported in garages used by Tri-Rail in Pompano Beach and Brightline in Fort Lauderdale.

Both the county and Brightline maintain security staffs in their public facilities such as stations and garages as evidenced by the presence of uniformed personnel.

In late 2020, a series of physical assaults aboard cars along Miamis county-operated Metromover system caused severe injuries for several passengers.

The incidents resulted in increased police patrols and prompted Miami-Dade County to move the management of a security contract for Metromover and Metro Rail to the police department.
We list the various incentives announced under the Gujarat IT/ITeS Policy 2022-27, which aims to make Gujarat a leading IT hub in India. The Gujarat government has set an export target of INR 250 billion over the next five years and hopes to produce over 100,000 direct jobs as an outcome of its IT/ITeS Policy.

Recently, the Gujarat state in India unveiled its new IT/ITeS Policy 2022-27, replacing the old IT & ITeS Policy 2016-21. The new policy offers both capital (CAPEX) and operational (OPEX) support to information technology (IT) firms making investments in Gujarat and promises to generate 100,000 direct jobs. Additionally, the new policy has also introduced a special employment generation incentive to encourage IT and IT-enabled services (ITeS) firms for hiring local talent.

The policy, which covers a five-year period until March 31, 2027, intends to place Gujarat among the top five performing states in India in the IT sector. Consequently, it intends to propel an eight-fold increase in IT exports from the state to reach INR 250 billion (US$3.28 billion), from the existing INR 31 billion (US$401 million).

Gujarat IT/ITeS Policy 2022-27 snapshot  key targets

The Gujarat IT/ITeS Policy 2022-27 intends to transform Gujarats IT landscape by enabling the build of world-class IT infrastructure, attracting highly skilled resources, and promoting innovation in emerging technologies.

Key Objectives and Targets of Gujarats IT/ITeS Policy 2022-27 Policy objectives Policy targets Act as a catalyst in the growth of the IT/ITeS ecosystem. Place Gujarat among the top five performing Indian states in IT sector. Establish Gujarat as a hub for innovation in emerging and advanced technologies. Increase Gujarats annual IT exports from INR 31 billion to over INR 250 billion. Encourage large-scale investment in the IT/ITeS sector through special provisions for mega IT/ITeS projects. Become the national leader in terms of world-class IT infrastructure, data centers and innovation centers in emerging technologies. Enable the stakeholders of the IT/ITeS sector to create state-of-the-art IT infrastructure in the form of ready to occupy co-working office spaces. Generate more than 1,00,000 new IT/ITeS jobs in Gujarat. Enable the creation of high-skilled IT human resources in Gujarat.

Key growth drivers of the policy include:

Incentives to develop IT City/Township to facilitate the walk-to-work culture.

Fostering research and development (R&D) in emerging technologies.

Establishment of an advanced research center (AI school as a center of excellence) as a special mega project.

Enabling cloud computing by encouraging technologically advanced data centers and supporting establishment of cable landing station (CLS).

CAPEX-OPEX model: A simplified model towards the scheme of assistance.

Fiscal incentives for skill upgradation courses for upskilling state-wide talent.

Enhancing digital literacy at grassroots level.

Special employment generation incentives for boosting local employment

Incentives offered under Gujarat IT/ITeS Policy 2022-27

CAPEX-OPEX Model

The various fiscal incentives described under this section fall under CAPEX and OPEX measures. A unique incentive structure is specifically designed to ease the complexity involved in claiming the fiscal incentives. Furthermore, these fiscal incentives are tailored as per the need of the various categories of projects/investments. The fiscal incentive support for IT/ITeS units are as follows:

Fiscal Incentives Under the CAPEX-OPEX Model Investment category Description of support Category 1: Gross Fixed Capital Investment (GFCI) less than INR 2500 million  CAPEX support: All eligible IT/ITeS units are entitled to one-time CAPEX support of up to 25 percent of the eligible CAPEX expenditure, subject to a maximum ceiling of INR 500 million. The disbursement will be done in 20 equal quarterly installments.  OPEX support: All eligible IT/ITeS units are entitled to OPEX support of up to 15 percent of the annual eligible OPEX expenditure, subject to a maximum ceiling of INR 200 million per year for a period of five years from the date of eligibility. The disbursement will be done in quarterly installments. Category II (mega projects)  GFCI more than or equal to INR 2500 million or project generating more than or equal to 2,000 direct IT employment on its payroll  CAPEX support: All eligible projects are entitled to one-time CAPEX support of up to 25 percent of the eligible CAPEX expenditure subject to a maximum ceiling of INR 2000 million. The disbursement will be done in 20 equal quarterly installments.  OPEX Support: All eligible projects are entitled to OPEX support of up to 15 per cent of the annual eligible OPEX expenditure, subject to a maximum ceiling of INR 400 million per year for a period of five years from the date of eligibility. The disbursement will be done in quarterly installments.  Early mover advantage: To stimulate growth in the sector, the Gujarat government has introduced a special provision in this Policy. Through this initiative, the government aims to provide strategic advantage to first movers in the IT/ITeS sector by relaxing the minimum investment criteria for mega projects. The first three (and only) eligible IT/ITeS projects with investment in GFCI of more than or equal to INR 1000 million will be considered as mega projects. Thereafter, the investment criteria will be increase to the specified minimum investment in GFCI of INR 2500 million  Enhanced incentive components: The High Powered Committee (HPC) may include other incentive categories or relax any of the conditions mentioned under this Policy based on the scale of investment, employment generation, high-value addition, and potential for attracting further investments. Such an incentive package will be tailored in consultation with the stakeholders involved. HPC will be the final decision-making authority in all such cases.

Special incentives for IT/ITeS units under Gujarat IT/ITeS Policy

Apart from the above-mentioned incentives, the Gujarat state government shall provide impetus to the growth of IT/ITeS units by incentivizing the major operational expenditure heads.

Special Incentives for IT/ITeS Units Investment category Description of support Employment Generation Incentive (EGI) Eligible IT/ITeS units shall be entitled to one-time support for every new and unique job created in Gujarat. It is applicable for new local employees hired and will be retained for a minimum period of one year at 50 percent of one months CTC up to INR 50,000 per male and INR 60,000 per female employee for eligible IT / ITeS units. Note: The EGI assistance is tied to each individual IT employee and can only be claimed once for each individual IT employee in their lifetime. Therefore, if an IT/ITeS unit claims this incentive for any individual IT/ITeS employee, and thereafter the same individual IT/ITeS employee moves to another IT/ITeS unit, the subsequent IT/ITeS unit cannot claim the EGI assistance for the same. The applicable rules to implement the EGI assistance shall be formulated by the SLEC and released separately. Interest assistance Eligible IT/ITeS units will be entitled to interest subsidy at seven percent on term loan or the actual interest paid, whichever is lower with a ceiling of INR 10 million per annum. Such IT/ITeS units shall be able to claim this incentive on an annual basis for a maximum period of five years from the date of start of actual interest repayment . Such eligible IT/ITeS units will be entitled to interest assistance on actual interest repayment (excluding principal repayment) on a term loan acquired from an Indian financial institution approved by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) (excluding NBFC). However, to avail this component, the loan shall be availed from the Indian branch of the Indian financial institution and the interest repayment period should begin during the operative period of the Policy Atmanirbhar Gujarat Rojgar Sahay Eligible IT/ITeS units will be eligible to claim reimbursement on the employers statutory contribution under Employees Provident Fund (EPF) made by them for their employees working in the offices situated within Gujarat for a period of five years. This reimbursement would be made subject to the following criteria:  100 percent of employer  s statutory contribution under EPF amount paid in case of female employees  75 per cent of the employers statutory contribution under EPF amount paid in case of male employees  The ceiling of incentive amount per employee will be 12 percent of the employees basic salary plus applicable Dearness Allowance (DA) and retaining allowance  For eligible expansion units, the assistance will be available for incremental employee count beyond the count that existed before undertaking expansion, occurring during the Policy period for a period of five years for each of such projects. For this purpose, the average employee count of the previous year before the commencement of operations from new set- up/expansion shall be treated as base employee count and incremental count, which will be computed over such base count, happening every year during the Policy period shall be entitled to such benefit for the duration of five years. Electricity Duty Incentive (EDI) Eligible IT/ITeS units can claim the entire amount of electricity duty paid by them to the Gujarat state government for a period of five years from the date of start of commercial operations or in-principle approval, whichever is later.

Incentive for supporting work-from-home

The Gujarat state government shall support the eligible IT/ITeS units with Gujarat-based employees in availing the work-from-home option when such employees operate from within Gujarat. Such eligible IT/ITeS units can avail EGI and Atmanirbhar Gujarat Rojgar Sahay for all such employees. Such benefits will be available for incremental employees only.

Incentives for development of IT City/Township

The Gujarat state government intends to develop a dedicated state-of-the-art IT township or IT city that will have all the modern amenities in line with the prevailing global standards. The government shall incentivize the developer/consortium of developers for the creation of such IT township or city through following sops:

Fiscal Incentives for Development of IT City/Township Incentive category Description of support CAPEX Support All eligible applicants are entitled to one-time CAPEX support of up to 25 percent of the eligible CAPEX expenditure, subject to a maximum ceiling of INR 1000 million. Such support shall be provided as a reimbursement towards actual expenditure incurred for creating IT office space (co-working space, IT/ITeS park) in the IT city/ township. The disbursement will be done in 20 equal quarterly installments.

Non-Fiscal Incentives for Development of IT City/Township Relaxation in zoning and land use laws, such as permission for mixed land use (residential, commercial and industrial) Assistance in obtaining other necessary statutory clearances Relaxation in Floor Space Index (FSI) norms for IT office space Doorstep support for utilities/infrastructure

Infrastructure facilitation under the new Gujarat IT/ITeS Policy

The Gujarat state government shall provide impetus to the IT ecosystem by supporting the development of ready to occupy co-working spaces at an easy-to-commute location to allow IT/ITeS units to immediately start their operations within the state. The state government aims to achieve this objective by implementing the following models:

Government-facilitated model

The Gujarat government envisages building/leasing state-of-the-art co-working IT office spaces on PPP/EPC mode with modern interiors, high-speed internet connection, and other services and facilities as per prevailing industry standards .

Empanelment model

The Gujarat government shall empanel state-of-the-art co-working IT office spaces that are run by private companies/developers.

The eligible IT/ITeS units opting to start their operations in co-working IT office spaces under the government facilitated/empanelment model shall be eligible for the following fiscal support for a period of five years from the date of start of commercial operations or in-principle approval, whichever is later:

Fiscal Support to IT/ITeS Units Under Empanelment Model Monthly rental support to IT/ ITeS units (per seat basis) Period Fiscal incentive limit per seat per month (INR) 50 percent of monthly rental First two years 10,000 25 percent of monthly rental Three to five years 5,000

Incentives for development of cloud ecosystem

Incentives for Establishment of Cable Landing Station (CLS) Incentive category Description of support CAPEX Support One-time CAPEX support of up to 25 percent of the eligible CAPEX expenditure subject to a maximum ceiling of INR 200 million. The disbursement will be done in 20 equal quarterly installments. Note: Only expenditure incurred on civil works for constructing the building of CLS along with network hardware (excluding expenditure towards cable laying and network cables) shall be admissible under GFCI. OPEX Support Power tariff subsidy of INR 1/unit for a period of five years

Incentives for Establishment of Data Centers Incentive category Description of support CAPEX Support All eligible Data Centers are entitled to one-time CAPEX support of up to 25 percent of the eligible CAPEX expenditure subject to a maximum ceiling of INR 150 Cr. The disbursement will be done in twenty (20) equal quarterly installments. OPEX Support Power tariff subsidy of INR 1/unit for a period of five years

Impetus to research and development

Fiscal Incentives to Support R&D under Gujarat IT/ITeS Policy Incentive category Description of support Support to R&D institutes/R&D Centers established by educational institutes recognized by AICTE All eligible R&D institutes can avail one-time CAPEX support for the purchase of equipment for setting up of R&D Center/laboratory at 60 percent of the cost for machinery and equipment, hardware and software (COTS/license) required for research for the R&D activities subject to a maximum of INR 50 million, provided that the R&D institute is acknowledged by Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR) I Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR) for conducting research into the desired field.
Indias agri exports crossed USD 50 billion for the year 2021-22, notwithstanding logistical challenges posed by COVID-19 pandemic in the form of high freight rates, container shortages, etc. Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), which works under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, has scripted a new history by exporting agricultural and processed food products to the tune of USD 25.6 billion, which is 51 per cent of the Indias total agriculture exports of USD 50 billion.



Besides, the APEDA has also surpassed its own export target of USD 23.7 billion for the financial year 2021-22 by registering shipment of USD 25.6 billion.



As per the provisional figures released by DGCI&S, the agricultural exports have grown by 19.92 per cent during 2021-22 to touch USD 50.21 billion. The growth rate is remarkable as it is over and above the growth of 17.66 per cent at USD 41.87 billion achieved in 2020-21 and has been achieved in spite of unprecedented logistical challenges in the form of high freight rates, container shortages, etc. It depicts the comparative export of APEDA products for the current year, 2021-22 and previous year 2020-21. Cereal sector in APEDA exports contributes more than 52 per cent share in 2021-22. Livestock products and other processed foods contributes 17 and 15 per cent in APEDA export respectively in 2021-22.



The historic achievement over past two years will go a long way in realising the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modis vision of enhancing farmers income.



Compared to total agricultural export, APEDAs exports registered 16 per cent growth when it touched USD 25.6 billion in 2021-22 from USD 22.03 billion in 2020-21. The highest growth rate recorded by APEDA products (more than 30 per cent) in 2021-22 corresponding to previous year.



According to the DGCI&S data, export of rice was the top forex earner at USD 9654 million during 2021-22, growing 9.35 per cent from previous year when it touched USD 8829 million.



The export of wheat touched an all time high at USD 2118 million in 2021-22, growing 273 per cent from 2020-21 when it touched USD 567 million, while other cereals registered a growth of 53 per cent by fetching USD 1083 million in 2021-22 in compare to the previous financial year when it touched USD 705 million.



Export of pulses reported a growth of 34 per cent touching USD 358 million in 2021-22 from USD 265 million in 2020-21.



Dairy products grew over by 96 per cent standing at USD 634 million in 2021-22 from USD 323 million in 2020-21, while buffalo meat registered a growth of just 4 per cent as export of bovine meat increased from USD 3171 million in 2020-21 to USD 3303 million in 2021-22.



Export of poultry products rose to USD 71 million in 2021-22 from USD 58 million in the previous year and sheep/goat meat export is up by 34 per cent at USD 60 million in 2021-22 from USD 44 million in the previous year.



Fruits and vegetables exports were up by 12 per cent to touch USD 1676 million in 2021-22 against USD 1492 million in 2020-21, while processed fruits and vegetables exports were up by 7 per cent to reach USD 1202 million in 2021-22 against USD 1120 million in the previous year.



Exports of other processed food items grew by 34 per cent during 2021-22 to touch USD 1164 million against USD 866 million in 2020-21. The cashew exports also grew by 7 per cent to USD 452 million in 2021-22 from USD 420 million in the previous year. Floriculture products reported a rise of 33 per cent when it touched USD 103 million in 2021-22 from USD 77 million in 2020-21.



APEDA's major exporting destination as per 2021-22 data are Bangladesh, UAE, Vietnam, USA, Nepal, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Iran and Egypt.



The significant rise in agri-exports is seen as a testimony of the governments commitment to enhance farmers income through giving thrust on boosting exports of agricultural and processed food products.



The rise in export of agricultural and processed food products has been largely due to the various initiatives taken by Centre through APEDA such as organizing B2B exhibitions in different countries, exploring new potential markets through product specific and general marketing campaigns by active involvement of Indian Embassies.



The government organized more than 300 outreach programmes in collaboration with state governments for enhancing the exports of agricultural produce.



We have also created products matrix for 50 agricultural products which have good scope for expanding our exports portfolios, said Dr M Angamuthu, Chairman, APEDA.



Centre has also taken several initiatives to promote geographical indications (GI) registered with agricultural and processed food products in India by organizing virtual Buyer Seller Meets on agricultural and food products with the major importing countries across the world.



In order to ensure seamless quality certification of products to be exported, government has recognized 220 labs across India to provide services of testing to a wide range of products to exporters.



Centre, through APEDA also assists in upgradation and strengthening of recognized laboratories for export testing and residue monitoring plans. APEDA also provides assistance under the financial assistance schemes of infrastructure development, quality improvement and market development for boosting export of agricultural products.



The participation of exporters in the International Trade Fairs was organized, which provides a platform to the exporters to market their food products in the global marketplace. National events like AAHAR, Organic World Congress, BioFach India etc. were organized to promote agri-exports.



Government, through the aegis of APEDA also initiates registration of pack-houses for horticulture products for meeting the quality requirements of the international market. Registration of export units for peanut shelling, grading and processing units, for instance, is to ensure quality adherence for the EU and non-EU countries.



APEDA also carries out registration of meat processing plants and abattoirs for ensuring compliance with global food safety and quality requirements. Another key initiative includes development and implementation of traceability systems which ensure the food safety and quality compliances of the importing countries.



For boosting exports, APEDA compiles and disseminates various international trade analytical information, market access information amongst exporters and address trade enquiries.



As part of the PM Gati Shakti - National Master Plan, APEDA is collaborating with various ministries including railways and roadways for enhancing connectivity through faster transportation of agricultural products, as they are perishable in nature so it requires immediate and fast delivery to its destination from the production points.



The government has been focussing on boosting exports from Purvanchal, Himalayan, NER states, J&K and Ladakh, Dr Angamuthu, said.


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Gilbert Gottfried, the comedian, and 'Aladdin star' has died after battling a long illness, his family announced Tuesday. The 67 was a popular name in the Hollywood circuit, owing to his distinctive voice.



Agencies

His publicist confirmed the news, who spoke to Washington Post and said that he died due to complications from muscular dystrophy.

We are heartbroken to announce the passing of our beloved Gilbert Gottfried after a long illness. In addition to being the most iconic voice in comedy, Gilbert was a wonderful husband, brother, friend, and father to his two young children. Although today is a sad day for all of us, please keep laughing as loud as possible in Gilberts honor, his family wrote on Twitter.







Hollywood is heartbroken by the news. Tributes have started pouring in for Gottfried.

Agencies

Comedians Jason Alexander and Dane Cook were among the first ones to pay their condolences to their friend Gottfried.



Gilbert Gottfried was never not funny, wrote Cook. He was a lovely guy, always friendly, and made many people happy.

Gilbert Gottfried made me laugh at times when laughter did not come easily. What a gift. I did not know him well but I loved what he shared with me. My best wishes and sympathy to his family. #ripGilbertGottfried  jason alexander (@IJasonAlexander) April 12, 2022

I am so sad to read about the passing of Gilbert Gottfried. Funny, politically incorrect but a softie on the inside. We met many times; he even pranked me on a plane, replacing my intepreter @655jack(they're like twins). Sending love to Dara & his children. RIP #gilbertgottfried pic.twitter.com/R4mxWBRsNo  Marlee Matlin (@MarleeMatlin) April 12, 2022

Sending love to @RealGilberts wife Dara, his family & fans. Gilbert Gottfried was never not funny. He was a lovely guy, always friendly & made many people happy.  Dane Cook (@DaneCook) April 12, 2022

Rest In Peace Gilbert Gottfried! First time I saw him live he did his Jackie Kennedy bit: Jackie do you remember where you were in front of drunk Bruins fans at Nicks. #RIPGilbertGottfried https://t.co/9w0offZEZG  Bill Burr (@billburr) April 12, 2022

Gilbert would be the first one to make a joke about this picture today. The first. And he would not hold back. https://t.co/B8hszsDGcI  Kathy Griffin (@kathygriffin) April 12, 2022

Damn. Gilbert Gottfried. Not sure theres a more iconic voice and seemed like such a genuinely nice guy. RIP. pic.twitter.com/5X1t8ow3nh  Luke Barnett (@LukeBarnett) April 12, 2022

RIP Gilbert. Opening for Gilbert Gottfried at Carolines and Princeton Catch was one of the great thrills of my early stand up life. He could leave you gasping for breathjust indescribably unusually hilariousDamn.  Jon Stewart (@jonstewart) April 12, 2022

Gottfried became a popular name for his comedy films. As Iago in Disney's 1992 classic Aladdin, he became instantly recognizable, thanks to his over-the-top voice.

Agencies

A standup comic with a podcast called Gilbert Gottfried's Amazing Colossal Podcast!  the last new episode of which aired on April 4  he was also loved and known for his work on the popular PBS Kids show Cyberchase.



(To get the latest updates from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment.)






The 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks of 2008 shook the world. Hundreds of innocent people were killed by terrorists including our security personnel. After this attack, the National Security Guard (NSG) and the Army projected the corner shot weapons and how it would be helpful for security forces involved in armed conflicts.



The army suggested that troops equipped with the Corner-shot Weapon System would especially benefit in urban warfare in locating terrorists.

What is a Corner-Shot Weapon System (CSWS)?

BYJU/Representational image

A corner-shot weapon system is a special-purpose weapon having the capability of engaging targets located around the corners as it bends and captures video feed.



The system is indigenously designed and developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) will save soldiers from any surprise counter-attack. The DRDO is a Research & Development wing of Ministry of Defence, Govt of India.

The Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE), Pune designed the weapon and is at an advanced stage of being inducted by the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and the Jammu and Kashmir police.

The weapon is best suited for urban, close-quarter situations.

Features of the system

According to a document available on the CRPF website, the portable system enables the user to see, aim and fire around corners. This would help users in detecting and engaging targets effectively, using reverse firing, which works day and night.



Defense update/Representational image

The System comprises two joint sections in which the forward section holds pistols along with a camera, tactical LED light, LASER device, infrared illuminator and torch etc. and the rear section with foldable butt has a display, electronics, battery and swivelling mechanism to monitor and control the system.



The highgrade aluminium alloy is used in the body of the system to make it lighter and more durable.

Effective in counter insurgency and counter terror

As the government document introduces the weapon as Special Forces would use the system in hostile situations and counter-insurgency operations. It allows its user to see and attack target, without exposing himself to any counterattack.

With having spectacular features like high power battery, hotkeys, colour displays are best suited for soldiers engaged in Counter Insurgency and Counter Terror operations.

In order to accommodate in service 9 mm pistol and 40 mm Under Barrel Grenade Launcher, it is developed in 2 variants.

Technology transferred to companies

Wikipedia/Representational image

According to a report published in The Hindu, a defence minister said The development was completed in March 2019 and has since cleared user trials with various Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF). Procurement by CRPF and J&K police is under the advanced stage.



In July 2020, the DRDO transferred the technology to Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), Pune and Zen Technologies Limited, Hyderabad, for production for further production of the system.

What Is DRDO?

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) works under the Ministry of Defence, Govt of India. It is a Research and Development wing and aims to empower India with cutting-edge defence technologies and to achieve self-reliance in critical defence technologies and systems. DRDO has developed systems like Agni and Prithvi series of missiles; light combat aircraft, Tejas; multi-barrel rocket launcher, Pinaka; air defence system, Akash etc.

As stated on the website of DRDO, It was established in 1958 from the combination of the then already functioning Technical Development Establishment (TDEs) of the Indian Army and the Directorate of Technical Development & Production (DTDP) with the Defence Science Organisation (DSO).

Presently, It is a network of more than 50 laboratories focused on developing defence technologies, like aeronautics, armaments, electronics, combat vehicles, engineering systems, instrumentation, missiles etc.





For more on news and current affairs from around the world please visit Indiatimes News.
BEIJING, April 12 -- Unmanned equipment, featuring flexibility, efficiency and safety, will play an irreplaceable role in future wars. Recently, the Chinese PLA Joint Logistic Support Force held some seminars, exchanges and equipment demonstrations to promote the research, development and application of unmanned intelligent equipment.
A kitten was stuck in the wheel of a car and rescued on April 8, 2022 in Palatka, Florida. (Putnam County Sheriff's Office)

A calico kitten survived a scary ride stuck in a car wheel in Florida.

Palatka police officers were flagged down by a motorist on April 8 after the driver heard a weird noise coming from the car, according to a post on the Putnam County Sheriffs Office Facebook page.

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Images show the scaredy cat shoehorned into the inside wheel well that was too petrified to come out.

This rescued calico kitten was nicknamed "Trooper" by Putnam County officials. (Putnam County Sheriff's Office)

The sheriffs office fleet manager arrived on scene and was able to pull the tire off the car safely to pull the cat out, the post said.

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Sheriffs deputies then brought the kitten to county animal control, where officials gave the cat the nickname, Trooper.
(Trigger Warning: The story contains graphic details and photographs of violence and rape which could be triggering for some readers.)



Russian soldiers may have withdrawn from Kyiv, Ukraine, but the trauma that the people had to go through will stay forever.

Details of horrific crimes have come to the forefront in Ukraine. Multiple war crime investigators have revealed the monstrous details of crimes committed by Russian soldiers.



Reuters

According to new details that have been uncovered, Ukrainian women and girls were kept in a Bucha basement for 25 days.

Agencies

Ukraines official ombudsman for human rights, Lyudmyla Denisova, has confirmed that nine are now pregnant. Sharing details of multiple cases of rape, abuse, and torture by Russian troops, Denisova said affected areas are Bucha, outside Kyiv, and several other Ukrainian towns.



Reuters

After Moscow withdrew from northern Ukraine, several pieces of evidence give us a closer look at atrocities committed while Russian troops when they had held the town.

Agencies

Indiscriminate killings, torture, and other violence against civilians have been their most notorious crimes.

In unverified claims, Denisova claimed about 25 girls and women aged 14 to 24 were systematically raped. They were held hostage in the basement of one house in Bucha, leaving nine of them pregnant.

Reuters

In a conversation with BBC, she said, Russian soldiers told them they would rape them to the point where they wouldnt want sexual contact with any man, to prevent them from having Ukrainian children."



A 14-year-old girl was pregnant after being raped by five men, and an 11-year-old boy was raped in front of his mother as she was tied to a chair.

Reuters

She shared another incident where a 20-year-old woman was raped by three occupiers in all possible ways at once in the Kyiv suburb of Irpin, which Russian forces partially occupied.



The level of brutality of the army of terrorists and executioners of the Russian Federation knows no bounds  raped children, she wrote on Facebook. There is no place on earth or in hell where racist criminals can hide from retribution!

She appealed to the UN Human Rights Commission to take into account these facts of Russian war crimes in Ukraine.

Ukraine's Bucha killing | AFP

In another heartbreaking incident, in a quaint rural neighborhood 70km (45miles) west of Kyiv, Anna (name changed to protect identity), who is 50, shared that on 7 March, she was at home with her husband when a foreign soldier barged in.

BBC quoted her as saying,

Reuters

"At gunpoint, he took me to a house nearby. He ordered me: 'Take your clothes off, or I'll shoot you.' He kept threatening to kill me if I didn't do as he said. Then he started raping me."

Describing her attacker as a young, thin, Chechen fighter allied with Russia, Anna added,

"While he was raping me, four more soldiers entered. I thought I was done for. But they took him away. I never saw him again," she said. She believes a 'separate unit of Russian soldiers saved her.' After Anna returned home, she found that her husband had been shot in the abdomen.

On Monday, a senior UN official Sima Bahous told the Security Council that while all allegations must be independently investigated, the brutality displayed against Ukrainian civilians has raised all red flags.

Reuters

We are increasingly hearing of rape and sexual violence, she said.



Russias deputy UN ambassador Gennady Kuzmin denied the allegations and accused Ukraine and its allies of a clear intention to present Russian soldiers as sadists and rapists.

Agencies

Last week Russia became just the second-ever nation to be suspended from the United Nations Human Rights Council. The suspension was a step taken after images showing bodies of civilians lying in the streets with bound hands, close-range gunshot wounds, and signs of torture were released.

(For more on news and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News.)


Stones were hurled at a Ram Navami procession in Madhya Pradeshs Khargone city on Sunday triggering incidents of arson wherein some vehicles were set on fire, prompting authorities to clamp curfew in three areas and section 144 of CrPC in the entire city. Police fired tear gas shells to control the situation.

Some police personnel and people were injured during stone-pelting as per the preliminary information.

Khargone District Collector Anugrah P said section 144 of CrPC (banning assembly of four or more people) has been imposed in the entire city.

After pelting stones at Ram Navami procession, radicals also vandalized a Temple in Khargone, Madhya Pradesh. pic.twitter.com/rGGkilNEQU  Anshul Saxena (@AskAnshul) April 11, 2022

This is from Khargone, Madhya Pradesh.



Radicals pelted stones at Ram Navami procession & tried to enter into the house of a Hindu community. pic.twitter.com/kw8DeGNMx5  Anshul Saxena (@AskAnshul) April 11, 2022





Curfew has been clamped in three areas including Talab Chowk and Tavdi in the city, he said, adding that incidents of minor arson occurred following the pelting of stones.

Hindu extremists set fire to a mosque in Khargone, India - while police stand idly by. pic.twitter.com/UY2RLbLnO3  CJ Werleman (@cjwerleman) April 11, 2022

When Hindus attack Muslims, they call the police, who arrive to help the Hindu perpetrators dish out more violence against the Muslim victims.



This happened in Khargone on Sunday night. pic.twitter.com/04oCtLv1aC  CJ Werleman (@cjwerleman) April 11, 2022





When the Ram Navami procession started from the Talab Chowk area near the district headquarters stones were pelted at the gathering, prompting the police to fire tear gas shells to control the situation. Some policemen and people were injured, said Khargone Additional Collector Sumersingh Mujalde.

Some miscreants also set fire to a mosque in the city while police remained a mute spectator.

The procession was supposed to take a round of Khargone city but it was abandoned midway after the violence, the collector added.

Bulldozers raze houses of Muslims

On Monday, the Madhya Pradesh government on Monday demolished homes and shops belonging to Muslims in Khargone.

Flames from a Mosque in Khargone. The camera moves for a second, and one can see policeman silently watching. pic.twitter.com/BdEqZJenbF  Sharjeel Usmani (@SharjeelUsmani) April 10, 2022

Deputy Inspector General of Police Khargone Range, Tilak Singh, on Monday claimed that the homes that were demolished belonged to those who had thrown stones during the procession.

Speaking about the violence earlier in the day, Madhya Pradesh Home Minister Narottam Mishra had said that houses from where stones were hurled will be turned into rubble.

More houses belonging to poor Muslims being demolished in Khargone. #IndianMuslimsUnderAttack pic.twitter.com/uAoNpnt2TC    (@Asmaparveen77) April 11, 2022

Following this, the district administration has started demolishing the houses belonging to the accused persons.

Singh said that Mishra should investigate the Sunday violence for intelligence failure and inadequate police deployment.

Why were police arrangements not made when people were participating in the (Ram Navami procession) on Sunday and why the state intelligence failedthis should be investigated, the Congress MP asked. The Madhya Pradesh Congress has said that the five-member fact-finding panel will submit its report to MP Congress chief Kamal Nath.

So far, 84 people have been arrested in connection with the violence.

For more on news and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News.
Ride-hailing service Uber India has hiked trip fares by 12 per cent in Delhi-NCR (National Capital Region) as the fuel prices have skyrocketed in the last couple of weeks.

The app-based cab aggregator, in an official statement released on Monday, stated that the rise in fuel rate "is causing concern" and it "will take further steps as needed."

"We listen to feedback from drivers and understand that the current rise in fuel prices is causing concern. To help cushion drivers from the impact of a spike in fuel prices, Uber has raised trip fares in Delhi-NCR by 12 per cent," said Nitish Bhushan, Head of Central Operations, Uber India and South Asia.

Representational Image

"Over the coming weeks, we will continue to track fuel price movements and will take further steps as needed," said Bhushan.

Protests over CNG prices

On April 7, CNG rates in the national capital were hiked for the tenth time in a month.

CNG in Delhi now costs Rs 69.11 per kg. The price has risen by Rs 13.1 per kg since March 7 this year.

In Greater Noida and Ghaziabad, CNG is sold at Rs 71.67 per kg and Rs 77.44 per kg in Gurugram and some other cities adjoining Delhi.

Many auto and cab drivers have staged protests in Delhi demanding a subsidy on CNG (Compressed natural gas) prices.

Price hike in Mumbai

Earlier in April, Uber raised cab fares by 15% for travel in Mumbai to offset the impact of rising fuel prices.

BCCL

"Uber is raising trip fares in Mumbai by 15%," Bhushan had said in a statement.

The online taxi-hailing service in the statement also said over the coming weeks, it will continue to track fuel price movements and take further steps as "needed."

Fuel prices, including petrol, diesel and CNG have seen an upward tick almost everyday over the last couple of weeks, putting pressure on the pockets of people who are still reeling under the effects of the coronavirus pandemic.

For more on news and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News.
Florida is like the Uttar Pradesh of the west because of all the bizarre things that happen there - a fishing charter company Fin and Fly said Ian Atherton hitched a ride early Saturday with the hopes of catching a shark.

According to reports, the boat was in about 35 feet of water, when they cast a line out that was baited with a chunk of oily blue fish.

Captain Jon Cangianella was at the helm of the charter when Mr Atherton reeled in something extremely rare: a nearly 13-foot Sawfish. A video of the incident has now gone viral.

It was the catch of a lifetime for him, Captain Jamie Glasner told News 6. We have only caught two sawfish in the last 17 years of business, and the last one was back in August, so its pretty rare."

According to NOAA, sawfish live in tropical seas and estuaries (semi-enclosed areas where rivers meet the sea) of the Atlantic Ocean. They are most at home in shallow, coastal waters and sometimes enter the lower reaches of freshwater river systems. In the USA, they can be found in Floridas coastal waters. Sawfish are also an endangered species under the Endangered Species Act.

We used a special dehooking tool and the sawfish never left the water, said Glasner. They released him and he swam away with no problems.

It was a successful trip for Mr Atherton as he caught some mackerel as well.

Fin & Fly Fishing Charters

Fin & Fly Fishing Charters offers inshore, deep-sea fishing, shark fishing and more from the Cocoa Beach and Port Canaveral areas.

Sawfish, also known as carpenter sharks, are a family of rays characterised by a long, narrow, flattened rostrum, or nose extension, lined with sharp transverse teeth, arranged in a way that resembles a saw. They are among the largest fish with some species reaching lengths of about 77.6 m. Despite their shark-like form and manner of swimming, they are rays.



Animals

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As many as 20 electric scooters from Jitendra EV caught fire near the company's factory in Maharashtra's Nashik on Saturday

According to reports, the two-wheelers were being transported to Bengaluru in a container when the fire broke out.

ET

The company has launched an investigation to determine the cause of the fire. Luckily, no casualties were reported.

The container held 40 scooters in total, according to media reports, all 40 pieces have been damaged in the fire.

ET

"An unfortunate incident took place on 9th April near our factory gate in a scooter transport container. The situation was immediately brought under control by timely intervention from our team. Safety being of prime importance, we are investigating the root cause and we will come up with the findings in coming days," said a spokesperson of Jitendra EV.

WATCH | Biggest ever EV fire incident in the country! 20 electric scooters from Jitendra EV catch fire in Nashik | https://t.co/Xb6dS17UTa pic.twitter.com/esw2TqGgTr  Economic Times (@EconomicTimes) April 11, 2022

This is the fifth incident involving electric two-wheelers catching fire over the past three weeks - on March 26, 2022, an Ola S1 Pro electric scooter was the first victim in Pune, followed by another fire-related incident of an Okinawa electric scooter in Vellore, Tamil Nadu.

On March 28, 2022, another fire was reported from Trichy in Tamil Nadu, and a fourth incident was reported on March 29, 2022 when a Pure EV electric scooter caught fire in Chennai.

The Government of India has ordered an inquiry into the increasing numbers of fire-related incidents in electric scooters. The main concern is the quality of these EVs since the demand for the vehicles is very high.

The quality of batteries and battery management systems (BMS) these electric scooters are using are under observation. Companies have been told to regulate safety and quality of EVS in a segment which has witnessed a spike in demand recently.

YouTube

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A teenager from Nepal is being dubbed as a reincarnation of God after he went viral for growing a hairy tail from his body.

This 16-year-old teen, named Deshant Adhikari, stunned people and got quite famous after showing his plaited 70 cm tail which is growing on his back.

This tail which is located from his coccyx which is at the bottom of the vertebral column was first spotted by his parents days after his birth.

YouTube

According to The Mirror, after spotting the tail, Deshant's parents took him to several local hospitals and got information and recommendations from overseas in a bid to find treatment until a priest told them something completely different about the tail.

The local priest told the parents that Deshant is a reincarnation of Lord Hanuman, who is the Hindu God of Monkeys. This made the parents quite happy.

Now, Deshant showed his tail to the world saying he's completely okay with it. The teenager did mention that in the beginning he was embarrassed by his unusual tail.

Youtube

He said in a YouTube video: My parents used to now show the tail and I agreed, now I dont feel any discomfort showing it. A video of me went viral on Tik Tok and now a lot of people know me as the boy with a tail, and I feel good about it."

"People call me Hanuman (God of Monkeys) and even Shivaji (Hindu God)."





Medical marvels occur all the time. People with different genetic abnormalities, growth restrictions, and mechanical forces affect the baby in the uterus during development so some people are born with unique features.

One such instance occurred in Ratlam, Madhya Pradesh. A child was born with two heads and three hands, where the third hand is towards the back between the two heads.

According to pediatric surgeon Dr Brijesh Lahoti, this condition is called dicephalic parapagus. It is a rare form of partial twinning with two heads side by side on one torso. The child was admitted to the ICU of MY Hospital, Indore. Even though the doctors have been doing their best, they did mention that in 60-70 per cent of cases, the children, unfortunately, don't make it.

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A woman saw two strange burning objects zooming through the sky. Now, she is convinced those two objects were UFOs.

According to The Mirror, Lynn Murphy saw these two objects over her house in Connah's Quay, North Wales, at approximately 6 pm on 16 March. She filmed those white objects in the sky before they disappeared.

Representational Image/iStock

The 62-year-old grandmother believes that this is not the first time an unusual appearance like this has occurred in North Wales.

Lynn is also a paranormal investigator, with an interest in UFOs and alien abductions. She told The Mirror, "I was in my room and it was quite a clear day. For some reason, I pick up on energy and I could just feel something. I looked through the window just to see if there was anything that was causing this energy."

Lynn Murphy SWNS/THE MIRROR

"Over towards the Irish Sea, near to where I live, I could see two really unusual objects. I don't know how far apart they were. They were long and white. Both of the objects were flying upwards with tails on them. I don't know if it was vapour, but whatever it was looked like a fishtail.



She then mentioned how one of the objects had already hidden behind the cloud but she could capture the second one on the phone. Apparently, two other people saw it as well.

Representational Image/iStock

According to her, it wasn't a plane. She thought it could rocket but didn't think rockets would be seen over the Irish sky.

Apparently, unusual objects have been noticed in North Wales a lot.

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Woodbridge, VA (22192)

Today

Rain. High 53F. Winds NNE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch..

Tonight

A steady rain this evening. Showers continuing overnight. Low 42F. Winds NNE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 90%.
Florida can be dangerous in many ways, but from mid-April to early May, health officials warn people in the state to avoid touching a fuzzy caterpillar.

The white-marked tussock moth caterpillar can cause skin irritation if touched. It has been reported to be issues at Florida day-care centers and elementary schools in the state in the past, according to a report from Donald W. Hall and Lyle Buss with the Entomology and Nematology Department at the University of Florida.

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The white-marked tussock moth caterpillar can cause skin rashes if touched. (David Atrubin, Florida Department of Health)

Touching the cocoons can cause irritation as well.

Its one of three tussock moth species found in Florida, with the most common being the fir tussock moth caterpillar, which can most often be either dark gray or light gray to light yellow in color.

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Fir tussock moth caterpillar. Adults emerge from mid-April to early May. They can most often be either dark gray or light gray to light yellow. (Donald W. Hall, University of Florida.)

The caterpillars become prevalent as they drop from trees and search for a place to make their cocoons, according to the report. And even though they are most prevalent during this spring stretch, the cocoons can retain their ability to cause rashes in skin for up to a year or longer.

The hairs of the white-marked caterpillars have a venom gland in their bases while the fir tussock moth caterpillar has hairs with barbs that can also be difficult to remove from the skin.

If stung by tussock moth caterpillar, health officials say to put tape over the area of the skin and remove the spines, wash the area with soap and water and apply and ice pack to ease stings while using baking soda and water to reduce itching.

The skin irritation can appear within minutes and last for a day or longer.
At their March Board Meeting, downtown development district Rio Nuevo announced plans to fund and advance multiple real estate projects. The announcements come as Rio Nuevo reports it is back to pre-pandemic sales tax revenue and is seeing strong requests for new construction downtown.
Maryland lawmakers enter the last day of their legislative session on Monday with most high-profile measures already passed into law, including tax relief, a paid family leave program and an extensive measure aimed at slowing climate change.

Democrats, who control the legislature, and Republican Gov. Larry Hogan already have signed a bipartisan budget deal with nearly $1.86 billion in tax relief over five years for Maryland retirees, small businesses and low-income families in a year of enormous budget surplus for the states $58.5 billion budget.

The deal included a tax credit as an incentive for employers and businesses to hire and retain workers from underserved communities and sales tax exemptions for child care products such as diapers, car seats, and baby bottles, and health products for dental hygiene, diabetic care and medical devices.

I think weve gotten some remarkable work done, Senate President Bill Ferguson, a Baltimore Democrat, said after session on Saturday. Weve passed an incredible budget that invests in Maryland, gives money back to taxpayers, invests in seniors and working families.

They also agreed on a one-month gas tax suspension to provide about $100 million in additional relief from high prices at the pump. Lawmakers decided against extending the suspension, which expires at the end of the week.

Democrats still had their disagreements with the term-limited governor, who is in his last year in office. They needed to get priority bills to him early in order to override them while still in session  a strong incentive for getting the bulk of their priorities already passed. Since this is the last year of the term before elections, bills vetoed by the governor after the legislature adjourns cant be overridden next year.

Lawmakers overrode Hogans veto on Saturday to create a paid family leave insurance program that has been discussed for years in the state. 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.

They also overrode the governors veto of legislation to expand access to abortion in the state. Maryland will end a restriction that only physicians perform abortions, enabling nurse practitioners, nurse midwives and physician assistants with training to perform them.

Lawmakers passed a broad measure aimed at slowing climate change. Hogan said Friday he would let the bill go into law without his signature. The Climate Solutions Now Act of 2022 speeds up Marylands current goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions from 40% of 2006 levels to 60% by 2031. It also sets a goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2045 in the state.

Lawmakers also approved a constitutional amendment to legalize recreational marijuana in July 2023, giving the final decision to voters in November. A measure lawmakers passed to take initial steps toward implementation went into law without Hogans signature. Licensing and taxing issues will be taken up next year, if voters approve.

Legislators and the governor also agreed to a new congressional map for the state, after a judge struck down the map approved by lawmakers over Hogans veto in December as a product of extreme gerrymandering. The General Assembly redrew the states eight U.S. House districts to be more compact, and Hogan signed the measure last week.

A measure to ban so-called ghost guns, which do not have serial numbers, is going into law without Hogans signature. Lawmakers overrode Hogans veto of a bill to require firearms dealers to have certain security measures in place as stores.

The General Assembly also approved juvenile justice reforms. Lawmakers overrode the governors veto of a bill that prohibits a law enforcement officer conducting custodial interrogation of a child, unless the child has consulted with an attorney.

Lawmakers are still working on details related to enhancing the states cybersecurity defenses.

We have to finish out cyber on Monday, but I think theres large agreement so thats probably one of the biggest issues thats outstanding, Ferguson said Saturday.

Photo: Maryland State House, in Annapolis, at dusk.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Cyber Cannabis Maryland
AXA SA is in early-stage talks to buy a controlling stake in Banco BPM SpAs insurance businesses valued at about 1.5 billion euros ($1.6 billion), according to people with knowledge of the matter.

AXA is considering a deal once Banco BPM has taken full ownership of several insurance businesses where it has partners, the people said, asking not to be identified as the plans arent public. Still, the talks may falter after Credit Agricole SA last week bought a stake in Banco BPM, some of the people said.

Banco BPM, which declined as much as 6.3% in Milan trading [on Monday, April 11], pared some losses after the Bloomberg report, and was down 2.2% as of 4:40 p.m.

Banco BPM, Italys third largest bank, is at the center of speculation that it may be a takeover target for larger peers. Credit Agricole has built a 9.18% stake in the lender, aimed at expanding the scope of strategic partnerships. In February, UniCredit SpA said it was evaluating all strategic options in response to queries about a report that it is interested in acquiring Banco BPM.

The insurance business also attracted interest from Credit Agricole, which had informal contacts with Banco BPM earlier this year over the units. The units were one reason why Credit Agricole decided to buy a minority stake in Banco BPM, as it seeks to discourage possible competitors, some of the people said.

Representatives for Banco BPM, AXA, Credit Agricole declined to comment.

Since Banco BPM was formed in a 2017 merger, CEO Giuseppe Castagna has revamped the asset management, insurance and consumer-credit businesses to eliminate duplication and increase profitability. Banco BPM has been accelerating the process of acquiring full ownership of local insurance partnerships to try and gain greater value from them, CFO Edoardo Ginevra said last month.

Photograph: A Banco BPM SpA bank branch in Milan, Italy. Photo credit: Camilla Cerea/Bloomberg

Copyright 2022 Bloomberg.

Topics Mergers & Acquisitions AXA XL
Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Founded in 1974, Churchills International Consulting offers comprehensive employee benefits programs to corporate clients, with a focus on the technology sector. Offerings include critical illness, death-in-service, group pension, income protection, private dental and medical, health & wellness, discount & affinity, and travel insurance. Peter Meagher and his team will remain in their current location under the direction of Nick Burns, head of Gallaghers UK benefit consulting and brokerage operations.

Churchills is a leading employee benefits consultancy that will expand Gallaghers existing UK rewards and benefits offerings in the attractive technology sector, said J. Patrick Gallagher Jr., chairman, president and CEO.

Headquartered in Rolling Meadows, Ill., Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. has operations in 68 countries and offers client service capabilities in more than 150 countries around the world through a network of correspondent brokers and consultants.

Source:

Topics Mergers & Acquisitions A.J. Gallagher
This edition of International People Moves details appointments at Aon, Fidelis Insurance and MGA DUAL Group.

A summary of these appointments follows here.

Aon Names Ferreira as LatAm CEO of Reinsurance Solutions, Munoz Becomes Chair

Insurance broker Aon plc announced Paula Ferreira as chief executive officer of Latin America in the firms Reinsurance Solutions.

Reporting to Andy Marcell, global CEO of Reinsurance Solutions, Ferreira was previously Aons Reinsurance Solutions growth leader and president for Latin America, with 13 years at the firm and 26 years in the reinsurance industry. In her new role, she will have full P&L responsibility, leading and managing regional resources while formulating client growth strategies for the region and fostering innovative products and services that help clients to make better business decisions.

Meanwhile, Pablo Munoz, former CEO of Latin America in Reinsurance Solutions, has been named strategic growth leader of Global Facultative Reinsurance and chairman of Aons Reinsurance Solutions in Latin America, also reporting to Marcell. In his 23 years of re/insurance industry experience, he has held senior roles within Aon and the wider industry, including as the firms global chief broking officer of Facultative Reinsurance.

In his new role, Munoz will work closely with Andrew Laing, CEO of Global Facultative Reinsurance, and Aons global geographic leaders in driving the global facultative growth strategy to maximise client value worldwide. He will remain a member of the Reinsurance Solutions global executive committee and will support the leadership transition in Latin America.

Pablos industry experience and leadership influence will be invaluable to the wider Facultative Reinsurance leadership team as we continue to implement its model and capabilities globally to help clients navigate volatility. A vital focus will be on developing integrated broking capabilities and enhanced specialty products to serve client needs in an even more comprehensive way, increasing their access to capital and improving their resilience.

With these promotions, it is clear that Pablo has overseen tremendous growth during his tenure as CEO and previously as Latin America growth leader, and has built a robust platform for further growth and innovation. We are excited to welcome Pablo into the new role, and see his contributions in this new position.

***

Fidelis Promotes Herget to Deputy Group Head of D&F Property

Fidelis Insurance announced the promotion of Mark Herget to the position of deputy group head of Direct & Facultative (D&F) Property.

Herget joined Fidelis in April 2020 as a D&F Property underwriter in its London office, transferring to Bermuda in November 2020. In his new role, Herget will continue to work alongside Michael Davern, who is co-deputy chief underwriting officer for Fidelis Underwriting Ltd. (FUL), and group head of D&F Property.

Herget will be responsible for leading the growth of Fidelis D&F writing in Bermuda.

Herget began his career at Commonwealth Insurance Co. in Vancouver, Canada in 2004, becoming the senior underwriter for production and marketing throughout the U.S., according to his Fidelis biography.

In 2012 he moved to London to work in the Lloyds of London marketplace where he helped build the Navigators and Vibe property portfolios.

Herget has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Education from the University of Alberta.

***

MGA DUAL Europe Names Ghilosso as Chair

Howdens DUAL Group, the London-based managing general agent, announced that Maurizio Ghilosso has been named executive chair, DUAL Europe, which encompasses all of the European businesses of DUAL.

Ghilosso, who joined DUAL in 2005, will take on the chairmanship role in addition to his existing role as managing director, DUAL Italia.

There are tremendous opportunities for DUAL to significantly grow its European businesses. Our existing teams already write just under $300 million GWP in the region, but we have ambitions to grow the business to greater than $750 million GWP by 2027, commented Kieran Sweeney, executive chairman, DUAL Group.

Under Maurizios leadership, we will successfully execute a hire and acquire strategy that will materially broaden our product offering to our distribution partners and clients in Europe. Maurizio will lever a global underwriting platform that invests heavily in people and technology to deliver a value proposition to our capacity partners and European clients that is truly market leading, Sweeney said. Europe will be a key contributor as we work to achieve our broader goal for DUAL Group, to create a significant international underwriting business.

The specialist underwriting arm of Howden Group Holdings, DUAL Group is one of the worlds largest international underwriting agencies with US$2.3 billion of GWP. Established in 1998, DUAL now has over 1,000 people in 19 countries across the Americas, Europe and Asia Pacific, and is Lloyds largest international coverholder. DUAL Europe operates from 14 locations in 10 countries.

Topics Reinsurance Europe Insurance Wholesale Aon Property
A wildfire in southern Nebraska that destroyed some homes and produced thick smoke that led to the traffic death of an area fire chief is about half contained, state officials said.

The Nebraska Emergency Management Agency said in a Facebook post Sunday that the fire, which consumed some 35,000 acres, was 50% contained. The agency said there will be a decrease in the number of firefighters over the coming days as containment of the fire progresses and to monitor for hot spots.

The blaze started April 7 after a dead tree was blown into a power line, with strong winds and dry conditions fueling its spread in Gosper and Furnas counties.

A red flag warning issued by the National Weather Service remained in effect Monday, with low humidity and sustained south winds of 15 to 20 mph and gusts of up to 30 mph greatly increasing the fire threat in the region. Stronger sustained winds of up to 30 mph and gusts nearing 50 mph were expected Tuesday, the weather service said.

Elwood Volunteer Fire Chief Darren Krull, 54, died after the emergency SUV he was a passenger in collided with a water tanker Thursday afternoon as smoke from the fire cut visibility to zero. The SUVs driver, 40-year-old Phelps County Emergency Manager Justin Norris, suffered serious injuries in the crash.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Catastrophe Natural Disasters Wildfire Nebraska
Indianapolis and several other Indiana cities are joining an estimated $507 million statewide opioid settlement after previously opting out of the states lawsuits against opioid manufacturers and distributors.

The states capital city, the suburbs of Noblesville and Fishers and other cities, including Muncie and Franklin, decided to join the statewide settlement after it was made more attractive by a new state law that gives local governments more direct funding and flexibility, The Indianapolis Star reported.

Indianas estimated $507 million share is part of a roughly $26 billion payout opioid distributors Cardinal Health, McKesson and AmerisourceBergen and drugmaker Johnson and Johnson are expected to make nationwide to settle lawsuits filed in response to the nations opioid epidemic.

Indiana law requires that the majority of the money be used for opioid remediation.

Under Indianas previous distribution plan for opioid settlements, local governments would have received 15% of the settlement funds, and 15% would have gone to the state. The remaining 70% would have gone to the states Family and Social Services Administration to distribute statewide.

Participating cities were also barred from pursuing their own litigation for separate opioid settlements. Many local governments decided to opt out of Indianas settlement deal to continue pursuing their own lawsuits, reasoning that their litigation would likely net them more cash.

State Attorney General Todd Rokita urged cities and towns to opt back in to the agreement or risk losing settlement funds. At one point, Indianas share of the settlement dwindled from a potential $507 million to $269 million due to local governments opting out.

But a new law Gov. Eric Holcomb signed in March allows cities to receive the latest settlement funding while continuing to pursue litigation against other opioid companies.

The new law also funnels more funding directly to municipalities, which will now get 35% of the settlement, which must be spent on drug treatment and prevention programs. On top of that, local governments will also receive another 15% of settlement funds.

For Indianapolis, the proposed settlement could provide the city with an estimated $40.2 million, according to city officials and outside legal counsel the city has retained.

That money would be paid out over a number of years, with the payments possibly beginning as early as May. But the final amount depends on how many cities, counties and towns opt back in to the statewide settlement agreement.

Indiana also has two pending lawsuits against OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma and members of the Sackler family, which owned Purdue Pharma.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Indiana
Black people deserve the freedom to have joyful, affirming pregnancies with the right to carry out their pregnancies in safe and healthy ways, whether that means choosing to have an abortion or carrying to term. Safe, quality, and unbiased health care is the bare minimum.

Were in the middle of Black Maternal Health Week, a week of awareness, activism, and community-building aimed at amplifying the voices of Black Mamas and centering the values and traditions of the reproductive and birth justice movements. This activism is much needed: In 2020, Black women had a maternal mortality rate nearly three times higher than that of white and Hispanic women. Nationally, Black mothers face some of the highest rates of maternal morbidity and are considerably more likely to suffer from perinatal mood disorders such as postpartum depression, often without clinical help.

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Kamia Brown (Courtesy photo)

Here in Florida, we have much to be proud of in terms of passing legislation aimed at ending maternal mortality. With bipartisan support, the Florida Legislature has passed several progressive bills to promote Black maternal health while securing a record amount of funding for organizations like Healthy Start and the Office of Minority Health & Health Equity. However, there is much more work to do. We need to keep pushing for a comprehensive set of policies. One policy alone isnt going to solve this maternal health crisis.

While access to care is a critical component to advancing Black maternal health outcomes, access alone is not enough. Research shows that 22% of Black women seeking care receive lower-quality care than their white counterparts and face discrimination while accessing health-care services. A true commitment to reproductive justice requires acknowledging and addressing disparities in Black maternal health and their root causes.

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Becoming a mother in 2020 has fueled my passion to do everything necessary to pass meaningful Black maternal-health policies in Florida.

I proudly led in the passage of a bipartisan postpartum Medicaid extension bill that extends Medicaid coverage for pregnant people up to one year after delivery. Medicaid coverage for one year fills a major coverage gap in Black maternal health. One-third of pregnancy-related deaths occur between one week and one year postpartum, with 12 percent of pregnancy-related deaths occurring after six weeks postpartum. I personally know of so many women who were not able to come home with their baby or who experienced complications weeks after birth. With access to health care, mothers can now receive regular checkups and be informed of warning signs.

Political Pulse Weekly Get latest updates political news from Central Florida and across the state. >

Being pregnant at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, with little support and less than adequate care, prompted me to introduce legislation that created a telehealth program currently running as a pilot program in Orlando and Jacksonville. This bill requires doctors offices to create tool kits specific to individual mothers in order to provide high-quality telehealth care during pregnancy.

Black maternal health was previously one of a multitude of health concerns covered by the Office of Minority Health and is becoming a key issue in the Florida state Legislature. Stressing the importance of unbiased community-based care alongside a record amount of funding, a number of improvements were made from restructuring the Office of Minority Health and pushing for increased federal funding to creating a donor milk bill for Medicaid moms.

While we have moved the needle on advancing Black maternal health in Florida, we still have a ways to go toward ensuring the health and wellbeing of Black mothers and babies.

Not long ago, a Florida perinatal group reviewed and determined causes of infant and maternal mortality in order to develop a toolkit to aid hospitals in addressing these disparities. However, since it was not a requirement for hospitals to adopt any pieces of those toolkits, of the more than 300 hospitals within the state doing labor and delivery, only about four had adopted at least one piece of the toolkit. In an effort to hold hospitals accountable and push for better health outcomes, we must mandate the adoption of these toolkits in Florida hospitals.

Florida legislators recently passed their most restrictive abortion ban yet, a 15-week ban with no exceptions. Abortion bans disproportionately impact communities of color, hitting low-income people the hardest. Attacks on abortion and the dismal state of Black maternal health both stem from systemic, historical racism and a continued effort to control Black women and birth givers bodies. The disparities we see in maternal mortality and morbidity among Black communities across the United States cannot be separated from barriers to abortion care. Liberating abortion is a fundamental step toward improving maternal health outcomes.

Black moms have always been the guide and bridge for families, communities, movements, and waves of change. The time is now to invest in the advancement of racial and birth justice.

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Rep. Kamia Brown, a Democrat, has represented the 45th district in the Florida House since 2016. She has registered for the state Senate Democratic primary in the 11th district.
The new CEO of Hertz says hes working to fix a glitch in the rental-car giants systems that has led to some of its customers being wrongly accused of stealing cars they had rented.

Stephen Scherr, who took over as CEO on Feb. 28, said the company has changed its practices to fix problems that have occurred when cars were reported stolen but the transaction was improperly recorded in Hertzs system.

This is among the first things that I have started to look to take care of and deal with in the first 30 days Ive been at the company, Scherr told CNBC on Monday. It is not acceptable to Hertz to have any customer  caught up in some of what has happened.

Some Hertz customers have said they were arrested and jailed because the company accused them of stealing cars that they had paid to rent and in some cases had returned long before their arrest.

Its not clear how many people are affected. More than 200 customers asked a federal judge in Delaware to Hertz to disclose records about erroneous theft reports, and the judge ruled in the renters favor in February.

Scherr said the false reports involve several hundred customers out of Hertzs 15 million annual transactions, but lawyers for the customers say the number is more like 8,000.

We have changed our policies to avoid the possibility of this happening again, Scherr said. No one customer should be put through that.

Scherr said that in some cases, vehicles have been reported as stolen, the report was withdrawn when the vehicle was found, but that rescission wasnt recognized.

The CEO of Hertz Global Holdings Inc. appeared on CNBC to tout a plan to buy up to 65,000 electric vehicles over five years. The Estero, Florida-based company filed for bankruptcy protection in 2020, as it struggled under heavy debt and a drop in travel caused by the pandemic. It operates Hertz, Dollar and Thrifty car-rental brands.

Related:

Hertz Customers Who Claim They Were Falsely Arrested Score Win in Court

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Fraud
Its 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 doesnt 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.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Fraud
Floridas 5th District Court of Appeal has affirmed a trial courts dismissal of a suit brought by bar owners in Orlando who were shut down during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Orlando Bar Group and its three establishments had sued Gov. Ron DeSantis, the state Department of Business and Professional Regulation, and county officials after bars and restaurants were ordered to close to help prevent the spread of the virus in 2020.

The bars complaint has been seen as somewhat ironic, given DeSantis and other Republican state leaders assertions that Florida is the freest state, and that mandates about the virus were inappropriate. Floridas shut-down orders were shorter-lived than many other states.

Nonetheless, the nightclub owners claimed that the closures and other restrictions constituted government takings and inverse condemnation, which entitled them to compensation. The trial court in Orange County and the 5th DCA did not agree, citing previous court rulings on government takings and regulations.

Appellants raise multiple issues on appeal; several merit discussion, whereas others do not, the appeals court held.

The governments pandemic emergency orders amounted to a prohibition on the sale of alcoholic beverages for only 17 days, after which the businesses were incrementally permitted to return to limited operation, the court explained. The COVID orders also represented a valid use of the states police power to protect the general welfare, the judges noted.

If the state can use its police power to temporarily prohibit the sale of fireworks to prevent wildfires during an exceptionally dry period in Florida, it stands to reason that the state can also use its police powers in an effort to limit the spread of a highly infectious and deadly virus, the April 8 opinion reads.

The court also noted that the bar owners had not correctly preserved the issue for appellate review.

Topics COVID-19 Florida Restaurant
Six months after the Florida Supreme Court held that insurance companies financial connections to expert witnesses can be revealed in litigation, a state appeals court wont force discovery of similar information about one of Floridas largest plaintiffs firms.

Although the ruling was largely procedural in nature, attorneys said it points up continuing issues in Floridas tort system: Some plaintiffs firms may enjoy cozy relationships with certain doctors  but that information is often kept away from jurors.

Floridas 5th District Court of Appeal late last week dismissed a petition from Publix Super Markets Inc., asking the court to intervene and review an order from the circuit court in Orlando. In the personal injury case, Publix had requested information about the financial relationships between treating doctors and the injury victims law firm, Morgan & Morgan, hoping to show potential bias by the doctors.

Tania Molina was injured in 2018 when a Publix vehicle, driven by a Publix employee, crashed into Molinas car. Attorneys for Molina had objected to Publix discovery request, and the trial court upheld the objection. Publix asked the appeals court to step in.

The 5th DCA panel of judges said its too soon  Publix did not show why it wouldnt have adequate remedy during the regular appeals process.

We do not reach the merits of Molinas objections or the trial courts rulings as we are dismissing the petition based on a lack of jurisdiction, the panel noted in the April 8 opinion.

Publix attorneys in the case declined to comment on the ruling. But one Florida insurance defense attorney said the dismissal could now give Publix and corporations in similar situations more incentive to settle cases rather than go through drawn-out appeals if they dont have confidence that the financial connections would eventually be exposed.

The case also underlines what some attorneys and judges have called a disparity in the information that insurance companies must disclose about how much they pay expert witnesses, and what plaintiffs firms must provide about their connections to treating physicians. In October, the Florida Supreme Court held in two decisions that insurance companies must divulge payments to expert witnesses. In earlier rulings, the court had found that plaintiffs firms connections were protected by attorney-client privilege, which the Molina attorneys asserted in the Publix case.

But the October rulings sidestepped the disparity question, and other cases are now pending before the high court, asking it to provide further clarification.

This decision is a big deal, William Large, president of the Florida Justice Reform Institute, said about the Publix case. It points to some very fundamental problems with the civil justice system.

In the Publix case, the appellate court noted that none of the health care providers objected to the discovery request. The plaintiffs attorneys also did not offer proof that the disclosure would create a financial burden, nor that it would divulge trade secrets, the court explained.

Despite that, the court ruled against Publix intervention request, at least for now.

Here, Publix has failed to demonstrate irreparable harm because any error in the trial courts discovery order can be addressed on plenary appeal, subject to the harmless error test, the appeals court wrote. The court said it rejected Publixs argument that the trial court order denying discovery effectively eviscerates the grocers defense on the bias issue.

The trial court did permit some discovery of certain financial relationships, including a letter of protection provided to the plaintiff. But it wasnt clear from the court documents how much that disclosure revealed.

Letters of protection, or LOPs, have become widely used in personal injury claims and are a growing concern for corporations and insurance companies. With the letters, plaintiffs agree to pay the health care providers once the injury suit is settled or adjudicated. Plaintiffs lawyers have said they allow people of little means to receive medical care when the victim doesnt have adequate health insurance.

But business defense attorneys have said that some personal injury lawyers ask plaintiffs to sign the letters of protection immediately after an injury, and to refrain from using their own medical insurance when they seek treatment. The idea is to work with cooperative doctors who will charge more, which can lead to larger settlements and higher future medical costs for patients who need follow-up care, Large and others said.

At a Florida legislative hearing in 2019, a lawyer for Publix, Lauren McBride, testified: The sole purpose of the LOP, why it exists, is to drive up verdicts and settlements, according to a Kaiser Health News report.

McBride said that nearly two-thirds of slip-and-fall injury claims in Publix stores involve letters of protection.

With decisions like the 5th DCAs, though, full information about LOPs, the prices charged by the doctors, the number of referrals by law firms to the treating physicians, and compensation from Morgan & Morgan to the doctors may not be revealed until deep into the years-long appeals process, if at all, Large said.

If the doctor is referred by the plaintiffs attorney and they used an LOP and charged a higher price than what health insurance pays, is that something the jury should know? Large asked.

In her petition to the DCA, the appellate attorney for Publix, Diane DeWolf, argued that a witness bias, including that of a treating physician, is relevant in every case. Limiting discovery will cause irreparable harm that cannot be remedied on appeal because the appellate court will not be able to determine how the requested discovery, had it been permitted, would have affected the outcome of this case, DeWolf wrote.

Attorneys for the plaintiff could not be reached for comment Monday. But in response to the Publix petition, attorney Kristin Norse argued that asking the appeals court to intervene on discovery was extraordinary, and that Publix was not irreparably harmed by the denial.
Georgia authorities were searching for a South Georgia insurance agent who allegedly absconded with thousands of dollars in premium payments but never provided insurance policies.

Georgias insurance commissioners office said Monday that arrest warrants had been issued for Richard Burrell, 54, of Sylvester, in connection with a Cook County case.

The suspect took $32,100 from customers and never delivered the intended product, said Commissioner John King. Mr. Burrell received money for a life insurance policy and for a mutual fund, then in turn converted that into an account for his personal use.

Anyone with information on Burrell is asked to call the Criminal Investigations Divisions warrant line at 404-463-6363.

Topics Agencies Georgia
Palomar Expands with New Faces in Transportation, Cosmetic Surgery Insurance

Palomar Insurance Corp., based in Montgomery, Alabama, has moved into South Carolina, the company announced.

The Greenville, South Carolina, office will expand the corporations Palomar Hart Group Transportation Division and Palomars aesthetisure and AI2 cosmetic surgery complication insurance program, Palomar officials said in a news release.

Rick Hawks also joined the firm as vice president of the Palomar Hart Group. He has 17 years of experience in commercial risk management and transportaion.

Palomar also announced that Jill Nicholson-Houston was named an account executive for the transportation industry.

Account executive Paige Hawks will continue to provide consulting to plastic surgeons, and is based in Greenville.

Palomar was founded in 1954, the company said.

Alabama DOI Names Travis Chief Examiner

The Alabama Department of Insurance announced that Sheila Travis has been named chief examiner.

Travis, a 22-year veteran of the departments examination division, succeeds Richard Ford, who recently retired from the role of chief examiner, the DOI said in a bulletin. The division oversees insurance company solvency and market conduct through regular analysis, in keeping with national standards, the agency noted.

Travis hails from Forest Home, Alabama, and earned her bachelors degree in accounting from Troy University at Montgomery.

Topics Alabama
Austin, TX., April, 12, 2022  The National Alliance of Insurance Education & Research welcomes Noelle Codispoti as Director of CISR High School Program. The Certified Insurance Service Representative (CISR) High School Program allows students to earn a nationally recognized industry designation before they graduate, equipping them with vital pre-career exposure and technical industry training and providing a significant advantage as they enter the workforce.

An accomplished leader in the early talent space, Codispoti will develop and implement the national growth strategy and comprehensive program supports to ensure student success. In pursuing key goals of expanding program reach and engaging an under-represented demographic to bolster a richly diverse talent pipeline, particular focus will be placed on the student experience to improve delivery; and developing meaningful partnerships to further support students with early industry networks and career opportunities.

Prior to joining The National Alliance, Codispoti spent 10 years at the helm of Gamma Iota Sigma. There, she conceived and led a successful growth strategy resulting in a 400+% increase in student membership and double the active chapters.

Codispoti has been deeply committed to the diversification of the insurance industry talent pipeline, bringing the Global Dive In Festival to North America in 2016 at the GIS Annual Conference and pioneering ground-breaking initiatives like the GammaSAID Council, a student-led group fostering understanding and solutions around DEI.

I am excited to work with such a talented and passionate team, remarked Codispoti. This program provides a much-needed avenue to bring awareness and exposure to the exciting career opportunities within the industry while diversifying the talent pipeline at the earliest juncture of career exposure.

We are thrilled to have Noelle join us, said President and CEO, William Hold. With her significant track record in the early talent space and proven success in growing early-stage programs, Noelle is uniquely capable of expanding the programs footprint and distinction.

About The National Alliance: The National Alliance for Insurance Education and Research, a registered 501(c)(3), is an insurance education provider, recognized throughout the industry as a preeminent resource for technical training, designations, and continuing education in risk management and insurance. Boasting over 150,000 program participants, the National Alliance has set the standard for industry education since its inception in 1969.

Media Contact:

Griselda Castillo

The National Alliance for Insurance Education & Research

512-349-3303

gcastillo@scic.com

Topics Education K-12
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Read our full Opinion Policies here. Updated on 10/7/2020
We dont need more unity.

Apologies to Sean Penn, who last week made an earnest case for that virtue in an appearance with  of all people  Sean Hannity on Fox News. The actor was discussing what I experienced emotionally in Ukraine, where he had been filming a documentary when Russia invaded.

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We all talk about how divided things are here, he said, but when you step into a country of such incredible unity, you realize what weve all been missing.

Its a seductive argument. Penn is hardly alone in sensing that something important has gone missing from America. And when you consider the besieged people of Ukraine, all pulling together, striking as a single fist against a common foe, its natural to identify the missing thing as unity.

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But what we are seeing in Ukraine is the predictable byproduct of an immediate existential threat. Take away the threat and the unity will go with it. This is not to demean the stubborn, inspiring heroism of the Ukrainian people. It is only to say that it reflects the exigency of the crisis  not some essential nobility of character that this country lacks. If you doubt that, recall how unified Americans were after September 11 and December 7. Then recall how quickly we returned to our bickersome ways.

Leonard Pitts.

So, the view from this pew is that what has gone missing from this country is not some idealized unity. Rather, it is something more profound. We no longer share a narrative. We no longer have a common thread.

A poll released last week by Economist/YouGov testifies eloquently to this. The survey, which asked 1,500 Americans which news organizations they trust the most, came back with a truly stunning result:

Republicans trust almost nothing.

Even Fox is trusted only by a bare majority (53%). And the rankings go downhill from there.

PBS? Twenty percent.

The Washington Post? Sixteen percent.

CNN? Eleven percent.

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It turns out The Wall Street Journal, widely considered the most reputable conservative-leaning news organization in the country, is trusted by more Democrats (52%) than Republicans (27%).

On its website, YouGovAmerica represents these results with a graphic of dots on a grid. Its a simple illustration, but the gaping distances between red dots and blue ones makes for an arresting visual. Its a map of national dysfunction, of a people pulling away from themselves.

So no, unity is not the problem. Let some international enemy bomb these shores and youll have all the unity you can stand.

What Americans have lost  to be painfully accurate, what Republicans have trashed in pursuit of power  is the willingness and ability to share a common national identity. The average Republican trusts almost no mainstream source of information. As a result, Americans no longer proceed from the same baseline assumptions, are no longer driven by the same national aspirations, no longer understand the meaning and mission of their country in the same way.

Thats the state of this union. America is a nation in stasis, getting nowhere because it is simultaneously being pulled in opposite directions toward fundamentally different visions. The need to fix this  better education in civics, history, critical thinking and media literacy along with improved policing of social media  could hardly be more urgent. After all, if you pull a thing in different directions at the same time, it cant move.

But it can break.

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Leonard Pitts is a columnist with the Miami Herald.
Today, 600 people have their lives on hold as they wait for that one call.

For this group and their families, social distancing, mask wearing, and handwashing was all part of the routine long before Covid was ever mentioned.

Some of this group really only get a four-day week as three days are set aside for long car journeys and dialysis. Add medication, check-ups, oxygen and hospital stays, constant clinic appointments, blood tests, and ever-present worry to the mix, and you get a fair idea of the limits put on their existence.

When you are on the organ transplant list, that call becomes your life.

Tomas ODowd, a kidney patient from Dunquine in Co Kerry, at the launch of the Irish Kidney Associations Christmas organ donor awareness campaign in 2020.

This column could have been copied and pasted from last year, because as we approach Organ Donation Awareness Week, yet another year has gone by with no action taken on a bill that would introduce a soft opt-out system of organ donation in this country.

Ireland was to the fore when it first committed to soft opt-out, an approach that automatically assumes a person is in favour of donating their organs unless they state otherwise, but which also gives families the right to have the final say in the matter.

It's a system that would make another difficult decision easier for families at a time of extreme pain, but as other countries have shown, it would also increase the number of people who receive lifesaving heart, lung, liver, kidney, and pancreas transplants each year.

It's something that has apparently been a "priority" for Government for many years now, and yet other countries have pressed ahead to announce and enact the opt-out system in the intervening period.

Back in May 2019, when then Heath Minister Simon Harris published general scheme of a Human Tissue (Transplantation, Post-Mortem, Anatomical Examination, and Public Display) Bill, he referenced the late senator Fergal Quinn who had introduced a similar Private Members Bill more than a decade before.

"Senator Quinn was a committed advocate for organ donation. While it has taken some time, I think that the publication of the Human Tissue (Transplantation, Post-Mortem, Anatomical Examination, and Public Display) Bill and the commencement of drafting work, is a fitting tribute to him at this time," Mr Harris noted in citing the 2008 bill.

Former Health Minister Simon Harris. Picture: Brian Lawless/PA Wire

This time last year, this column highlighted the estimated 240 people, or an average of 30 each year, who have died waiting for an organ transplant since the then government launched a consultation process with the view to introducing soft opt-out organ donation.

Taking averages, that figure now stands at 270 people  mothers, fathers, sons, daughters, aunties, uncles, friends, and colleagues  who never made it to the top of the list.

Like other areas, Covid has had a severe impact on the number of transplants carried out. There were 63 deceased donors in 2020 and 64 in 2021, this was down from a yearly average of 85 in the five years up to 2019.

There were also 35 living donors, down from a pre-pandemic five-year average of 43. These generous donations translated into 203 transplants last year, but again this is a reduction from the five-year average of 284 between 2015 and 2019.

The pandemic has simply exposed the vulnerability of the national organ donation and transplant programmes, according to the Irish Kidney Association.

The fragility of the transplant service hit home in November of last year when a patient was called for a transplant, but this operation did not proceed at the Mater Hospital, due to the unavailability of an intensive care unit (ICU) bed.

The pressure on ICU capacity has been described as "substantial" by Professor Jim Egan, director of Organ Donation Transplant Ireland (ODTI), who wrote in his 2020 annual report that "the demands around organ donation underscored the ICU bed capacity infrastructure deficit".

"Furthermore, the provision of specialised transplant surgical services was under threat from unscheduled acute care in the three major acute hospitals providing transplant services," he stated.

This underpins the need to ringfence national transplant programmes to sustain them during waves of unexpected unscheduled care demands."

Campaigners, including Irish Donor Network chairperson and Cystic Fibrosis Ireland CEO Philip Watt have also been calling for ringfenced ICU beds and a dedicated theatre for lung and heart transplants, which, unlike the passing of legislation, could be rolled out relatively quickly with the proper resources and staffing.

Cystic Fibrosis Ireland CEO Philip Watt. Picture: Billy Higgins

"When an organ becomes available, they can call seven or eight people for the one organ to see who the best match is, people can often be called several times," said Mr Watt.

They have to be ill enough to need it and well enough to survive the operation, so we only have a narrow window really.

"There is no doubt that there are people now dying on the waiting list waiting for an organ transplant. I think one of things that certainly could help with that is a dedicated operating theatre in the Mater, for example, for heart and lung transplants."

Of course, it's difficult to improve any service when you don't know where your starting point is.

The introduction of an annual audit that would provide detailed data and analysis of donations across individual hospitals nationwide would provide invaluable information on where improvements could be made.

We need more clarity about the reasons why more transplant operations are not taking place in Ireland," said Irish Kidney Association Carol Moore.

For example, was the decline in 2020 and 2021 due to a lack of ICU beds in the donor or transplant centres, or were all suitable donor families approached?"

It can be tough conversation to have, but the reality is you are three times more likely to need a transplant than to be an organ donor.

In the absence of legislation for a soft opt-out system, campaigners will yet again be encouraging the public to have 'the chat' with their families as national organ donation week kicks off on April 23.

Someday the long-awaited Human Tissue Bill will hopefully be signed into law. Until then, the 600 people on the list are reliant on #ShareYourWishes hashtags and the generosity of grieving families.

Politics headlines through history

1912

April 14: The Belfast-built Titanic sank. As word of the disaster began to reach land, the Cork Examiner reported that "news received shortly before going to press makes it only too probable that one of the most appalling disasters in the history of the sea has to be recorded". The article detailed conflicting reports that the ship had sank and other indications that her watertight compartments held so well that she was able to make for Halifax, accompanied by several liners.

1972

April 12: The country ground to a halt on the first day of an ESB strike. In Leinster House, politicians were forced to work by candlelight. "Some people, [not me] of course, subscribe to the popular belief that Dail deputies are mostly 'in the dark' anyway," wrote Anthony Ring in the Examiner as he reported on how candles were drafted in to Leinster House.

1980

April 17: In a short single-column piece on the front page, it was reported that Ireland's search for alternative energy was taking a "significant step forward" with "the simple planting of a tress at Bord na Mona's Clonsast peat works". "It will mark the beginning of a major Irish-EEC experiment in producing electricity from biomass," it stated. The report also plugged a four-part Cork Examiner series that aimed to examine "how Ireland plans to generate energy from nature's alternative power supplies  the wind, waves, the sun, and plants".

2004

April 17: The author of the Hanly Report on reform of the health system said "all sorts of politics" were being played ahead of the local elections. David Hanly had recommended that emergency department and acute services at both Ennis and Nenagh hospitals should be transferred to Limerick Regional Hospital. However, with Fianna Fail under pressure ahead of local and EU elections, it was announced that eight doctors would be appointed to the emergency departments in both hospitals.

What to look out for

The Dail and Seanad are on Easter recess this week and next, with TDs resuming business on April 26. However, there will still be some business happening in Leinster House this week as a number of committees are scheduled to meet.

Tuesday

After attending a meeting of EU foreign ministers where sanctions were discussed yesterday on Monday, Minister Simon Coveney will be at Foreign Affairs and Defence Committee to discuss the Defence Forces (Evidence) Bill 2019 which is at committee stage.

Wednesday

With the Dail on recess, the weekly Cabinet meeting has been pushed out by a day. It is expected that ministers will sign off on a cost-of-living package brought by Green Party leader Eamon Ryan, which will include the scrapping of the current PSO levy on energy bills.

Green Party leader Eamon Ryan. Picture: Damien Storan.

The agriculture committee has a full day scheduled where members will discuss afforestation and the forestry sector with minister of State Pippa Hackett and a number of interested groups in the morning. After lunch, the committee will turn its attention to the challenges facing the pig industry before members discuss fixed-price milk contracts with representatives from the Irish Co-operative Organisation Society (ICOS) in the evening.

Comhchoiste na Gaeilge will also meet on Wednesday to explore how to further promote publishing and reading in the Irish language.

Thursday

The three Government leaders and Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney will be in Dublin Castle for the 2022 Global Ireland Summit.

Back in Leinster House, the Joint Committee on International Surrogacy will hear from Dr Andrea Mulligan, assistant professor of Law at Trinity College Dublin, and Professor Mary Wingfield, clinical director at the Merrion Fertility Clinic.

Irish ExaminerOn The Plinth' appears each week in Tuesday's HERE (in print and online). Make sure you are up to speed on the major political stories by signing up for the On The Plinth politics newsletter .
The late French president, soldier, and statesman Charles de Gaulle once asked: How can you govern a country which has 246 varieties of cheese?

This is a pertinent question, especially so following Sundays first round of the countrys presidential election, which left the incumbent, Emmanuel Macron, and longstanding far-right candidate Marine Le Pen once again facing each other in a run-off for the keys to the Elysee Palace on April 24.

Sundays vote left Macron with a 28% share of the vote, against the 23% recorded by Le Pen. That five-point margin is regarded by many as dangerously close and realistic enough for Le Pen to narrow, if not compress completely.

French far-right candidate Marine Le Pen. Picture: Francois Mori/AP

The feeling in France is that this is an election Macron will find considerably more difficult to win than that of five years ago, when he trounced Le Pen by more than 30 percentage points.

Sundays poll suggests that, were he to win this time, it would be by a considerably reduced margin of somewhere between four and six points.

Le Pen said the vote later this month would be a choice of society, a choice of civilization, but the prospect of her winning the election is once more sending shockwaves around Europe and France.

For Macron, he wants the public to rally behind a France that is a strong part of Europe and not a France which will see decline for everyone.

Many of the defeated candidates on Sunday asked their voters to back Macron. Included among them were leftist candidates Fabien Roussel, Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo, and Yannick Jadot, but also centre-right contender Valerie Pecresse, whose voters have appeared in the polls to be especially inclined to vote for Le Pen.

The next two weeks are guaranteed to see some brutally rancorous politicking across France.

So far, the contest has strayed from the predictable remake expectation into a thriller. Many are fearful the coming 13 days will see it end up as a horror story.

Cheese might be the least of their problems.
Trinity, TX (77320)

Today

Mostly cloudy early, then sunshine for the afternoon. Record high temperatures expected. High 93F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Clear to partly cloudy. Low 74F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph.


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Smart Parking (ASX:SPZ) says the acquisition adds 517 manual sites to its portfolio, while also providing opportunities to upgrade suitable sites to Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR technology) - and is a compelling strategic fit that allows it to continue to build scale in its UK Managed Services business.

Smart Parking says the settlement of 100% of NE Parking for $0.52m comes after several weeks of negotiation and due diligence, and the General Manager of NEP will assist with the transition of the business for 6 months post-settlement.

Smart Parking CEO, Paul Gillespie commented: We are excited to welcome the NE Parking business and customers to the Smart Parking Group. NE Parking has built a well-respected company in recent years with a strong portfolio of sites under management across the North West of England.

With offices in Australia, New Zealand, Germany and the UK, along with a rapidly growing global network of expert partners, Smart Parking says its aim is to bring its intelligent parking sensors and integrated smart parking services to the world.

Each year, we install thousands of sensors in a range of environments including shopping centres, supermarkets, airports, commercial parking sites, universities and large scale municipal street environments.

To date, our advanced real-time vehicle parking sensor solution, known as SmartPark, has been adopted globally.

Alongside the technology products division, our managed services division operates and manages thousands of car park spaces across the UK, New Zealand and Australia using complementary Automatic Number Plate Recognition/License Plate Recognition (ANPR/LPR) technology.

This can be used as a single solution or with the option to be combined with Pay & Display or integrated with sensing technology.

More detail can be found on the ASX.
Senator Rex Patrick: "There must be accountability for this disgraceful failure to defend an Australian citizen, journalist and publisher.

Independent Senator Rex Patrick has urged Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese to promise they will make new efforts to seek freedom for WikiLeaks founder and publisher Julian Assange.

Senator Patrick, who is from South Australia, issued a statement on Tuesday, calling on both Morrison and Albanese to make a diplomatic push to urge the US Government to drop its push to extradite Assange. His call comes ahead of the federal election which is scheduled for 21 May.

The WikiLeaks founder has been jailed in the UK for the last three years in a maximum-security prison. Prior to that, he had been taking refuge in the Ecuadorian embassy in London since 2012.

He faces criminal charges in the US for for publishing classified information that was leaked to WikiLeaks by an American soldier, then known as Bradley Manning, but now, after gender reassignment surgery, known as Chelsea Manning.

Senator Patrick said he would seek a Senate Committee inquiry into the government's failure to provide adequate support for Assange during his detention.

I was honored tonight to speak in support of Julian Assange along with the great @marwilliamson, @medeabenjamin, @LeeCamp, @CredicoRandy, and @kthalps. We have a lot of work to do in support of civil rights, civil liberties, and human rights versus the federal Espionage Court.  John Kiriakou (@JohnKiriakou) April 11, 2022

Three years on from his arrest for claimed espionage offences against the US, the prosecution of Julian Assange poses a major threat to press freedom around the world, he said.

Whoever serves as prime minister following Australias federal election... they must urge US President Joe Biden to drop the espionage prosecution.

Senator Patrick said if Assange was deported from the UK and prosecuted in the US for what amounted to investigative journalism, "it will precisely send the wrong message at a time when freedom of the press is under threat in many countries around the world".

Dictators and authoritarians jailing journalists are already able to respond to their critics with an easy line: What about Julian Assange? Freedom of the press will be further diminished if Assange stands shackled in an American court before disappearing into the horror of a US maximum security prison," he said.

How many times @ScottMorrisonMP have you asked US to drop extradition of Assange? Australian people are interested in that number? #auspol https://t.co/9rDuqPnhRu  Christine Milne AO (@ChristineMilne) April 11, 2022

Senator Patrick, who has served in the Australian navy, said Assange's case was now at a critical juncture.

"The next court hearing is expected on 20 April after which an extradition order will be sent to the British Home Secretary Priti Patel for approval," he said.

"While Assange has further limited opportunities for appeal, the Australian Government should heed the earlier concern expressed by Judge Vanessa Baraitser over Assanges precarious health situation and ask the Home Secretary to deny the US extradition request.

Even more importantly, the Australian prime minister should pick up the phone to Biden to press for a presidential pardon for Assange.

Senator Patrick noted that "a high-profile and controversial trial" of an Australian journalist on espionage charges would be of no help to "the very important relationship we have with the US".

"Indeed, it would be quite poisonous. A pardon would end the US prosecution and extradition process and Assange would be free after three years of imprisonment and another eight years of confinement," he added.

The performance of successive Australian Governments to date in failing to provide proper support for an Australian citizen and publisher reflects no credit on successive foreign ministers and the diplomats of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

At no point have they been prepared to see this prosecution for what it always has been  a direct assault on the freedom of the press.

If re-elected to the Australian Senate, I will be seeking a comprehensive Senate Committee inquiry to thoroughly probe every aspect of the handling of Assanges case by Australian authorities. There must be accountability for this disgraceful failure to defend an Australian citizen, journalist and publisher.
Australian fintech Slyp has appointed experienced brand marketing and corporate communications strategist Jude Blankfield as chief of staff in addition to her current role as head of marketing.

Slyp, the Australian retail-fintech backed by all four big banks, says in her new role the Sydney-based Blankfield is focused on creating efficiencies in decision making for its executive committee, supporting business strategy and ensuring leadership decisions are consistent with the goals of the broader organisation.

Slyp will continue to execute her previous responsibilities as head of marketing under her new title, chief of staff and head of marketing.

Im thrilled to have been appointed Slyps first Chief of Staff and to be working directly with our executive team to get Slyp Smart Receipts into the hands of one in two Australians by the end of this year, said Blankfield.

Our proprietary Smart Receipt technology is the logical next step in customer experience transformation and Im excited to have greater involvement in curating the gold standard in frictionless and personalised shopping experiences for Australians as we scale in 2022 and beyond.

Blankfield has been in her role as head of marketing at Slyp since October 2020.

Prior to this she was vice president of marketing (brand and communications) at ecommerce technology company Rokt, before which she spent ten years working in PR, marketing and events in Australia, New Zealand and the UK across clients including PlayStation, Procter & Gamble, V8 Supercars and MasterChef.

Slyp CEO and co-founder Paul Weingarth said, We are so pleased to have a strategist of Judes calibre on board at Slyp and it gives me great pleasure to see her remit expanded to chief of staff.

Since joining the team, Judes counsel has been instrumental in driving Slyps credibility and growth in key markets. Her experience in the startup ecosystem and entrepreneurial mindset is makes Jude a natural fit for the chief of staff role, and I look forward to working closely together as we take Slyps growth strategy to the next level.
Honda introduces its progress toward electrification and business transformation for the future during April 2022 media conference

Honda Motor Company plans to launch 30 electric vehicle models by 2030, with more than two million units being produced monthly, the company has announced.

The company said on Tuesday it would budget eight trillion yen (about US$64 billion, A$85.8 billion) for R&D in the next 10 years, with five trillion yen of that set aside for electrification and software.

The announcements were made during a media briefing in Tokyo on Tuesday, addressed by Toshihiro Mibe, director, president and representative executive officer; Kohei Takeuchi, director, executive vice-president and representative executive officer; and Shinji Aoyama, senior managing executive officer.

The company also said it would build a demonstration line for production of all-solid-state batteries, investing 43 billion yen, and step up research to start production in spring 2024.

Honda said it would ensure stable procurement of liquid lithium-ion batteries by strengthening external partnerships as under:

North America: Honda will procure Ultium batteries from GM. Separately, aside from GM, Honda is exploring the possibility of creating a joint venture company for battery production.

China: Honda will further strengthen collaboration with CATL.

Japan: Honda will procure batteries for mini-EVs from Envision AESC.

In the second half of this decade, the Japanese auto giant said would introduce products specifically aimed at each region:

North America: In 2024, Honda will introduce two mid- to large-size EV models currently being developed jointly with GM. (Honda brand: All-new Prologue SUV, Acura brand: an EV SUV model.)

China: Honda will introduce a total of 10 new EV models by 2027.

Japan: In early 2024, Honda will first introduce a commercial-use mini-EV model at the 1-million-yen price range. Then, Honda is planning to make the timely introduction of personal-use mini-EVs and EV SUVs.

But Honda also pledged to continue producing hybrid models. "By no means is this the end of hybrids and the replacement of all hybrids with EVs," Mibe said. "We will develop our current hybrids and use them as a weapon in our business."
Gaetzs words werent worth reading

Id like to comment on the April 10 guest column by Congressman Matt Gaetz (Close tax loophole that benefits Disney, others) by saying that I did not read the April 10 guest column by Congressman Matt Gaetz. He has chosen to become a clown as a political strategy, and I do not take clowns or their views seriously. As soon as I saw his name, I moved on.

Ill keep listening to legitimate conservatives (the few that remain), but the Republicans should know that even if they have a strong argument to make on a serious issue, they no longer have standing with serious, intelligent adults.

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Cal Massey Flagler Beach

Pitts is wrong: GOP media mistrust is warranted

In his National Viewpoint column (Americans have lost the will to share a common identity, April 11), Leonard Pitts blames Republicans who no longer understand the meaning and mission of their country. Further he claims the average Republican trusts no mainstream source of information.

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Could it be that Republicans do not agree with liberal views on the meaning or mission of the country? Or do not trust liberal-leaning mainstream media such as CNN or the Washington Post? Perhaps it is because of a two-year suppression of the Hunter Biden story, now finally having to be reported as true. Or maybe it was the reporting of a successful withdrawal from Afghanistan that was, in reality, a debacle. All of these stories falsely reported by Pitts mainstream media.

Political Pulse Weekly Get latest updates political news from Central Florida and across the state. >

Evidently, Pitts wants everyone to fall in line and follow his partys meaning and mission of the country by accepting the false narratives of his mainstream media without scrutiny. I certainly agree with Pitts call for better education in civics and his call for media literacy. Just maybe he can call upon his mainstream media to start the process.

Mark W. Needham Clermont

Unanimous confirmation votes are impossible

We all have opinions. The Orlando Sentinel and South Florida Sun Sentinel editorial boards opined Saturday that the Senate vote to confirm Ketanji Brown Jackson as a Supreme Court justice should have been in favor unanimously (Lessons learned from Ketanji Brown Jackson). That is their opinion.

Is it not possible that the 53-47 vote had more to do with whether or not the Senate voters believed she could be unbiased politically? Isnt that the real reason for similar votes for Amy Coney Barrett (52-48), Brett Kavanaugh (50-48) and Neil Gorsuch (54-45)?

Its just that simple. In this day and age, most Republican senators will vote against a nominee of a Democratic president, and most Democratic senators will vote against a nominee of a Republican president. Because they doubt that the nominee would be politically unbiased when on the court.

Unanimous votes? Not likely. Is it wrong? Probably. But the editorial boards are entitled to their opinions  as we all are.

Robert Coleman Longwood
GUEST OPINION: Businesses that havent yet reached digital maturity will be challenged to meet rising customer expectations in an always-on digital world.

With expectations intrinsically tied to instant gratification, moments like experiencing the infamous "spinning wheel of death" on a computer screen have far-reaching consequences. Customer experience can be regarded as the new competitive battleground for business, where service uptime and reliability are now some of the most important measures of success.

Companies that are not digitally mature wont keep up.

But why do digital operations matter? Cost and reputation are two major factors why.

Within seconds of digital downtime, a business can be impacted, leading to millions in lost revenue. Australian businesses need an accurate way to assess and progress the maturity of their digital operations.

An accurate measure of digital maturity can help benchmark teams against best practices, revealing key areas for improvement. This can allow technical leaders to better identify the metrics with which to build more ambitious but still achievable strategic goals.

This is the logic that drives the digital operations, maturity model. But times have changed. Customer experiences and expectations and the emergence of automation, machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI) mean the goalposts have moved and so must your business.

As digital transformation came of age, it was clear that IT organisations had to transition from a queued and reactive IT service management (ITSM) model to a more agile DevOps approach. The journey includes culture, technology and people changes, but one thing remains constant: needing to handle unplanned incidents.

In the past, most organisations were simply not capable of dealing with this type of real-time work in a streamlined, seamless manner. Processes were designed around queued work, and employees tasked with responding to incidents had neither the tools nor the knowledge to do so effectively. For every minute teams spend troubleshooting, compounding financial impacts, developers arent developing and there is less innovation. With regard to those financial impacts? Just one hour of downtime caused by such incidents can cost between $1 and $5 million for one-third of organisations.

When improving their DevOps processes, first, organisations need to look at their current technology solutions. Beyond the cultural aspect, some organisations may be in such a hurry to hop on the DevOps" train that they forget to understand where they are today and identify the right first investments to drive the outcomes they hope to achieve.

At PagerDuty, we have identified four stages of digital operations maturity based on industry experience and observations across nearly 20,000 customers: reactive, responsive, proactive and preventative.

Some companies are still in reactive mode, discovering issues only when customers report them. Compounding the impact, employees lacked the skills, knowledge or authority to solve them and customer experience dove.

Today, we classify most organisations as responsive. Thanks to new processes along with instrumentation and monitoring, most teams can see when things are going wrong. But although employees today are more capable, they often still lack the right information and authority/authentication to make quick and effective decisions.

We believe that about one-third of organisations are in the more mature proactive mode, surfacing and resolving most issues before customers notice, empowering employees with knowledge and authority and automatically documenting learnings from past incidents. Only about a tenth of organisations belong to our top-tier preventative group, characterised by a culture of continuous learning and highly automated real-time response.

The time is now

The digital world in Australia is rapidly changing. COVID-19 and consumer demands meant businesses needed to accelerate their digital transformation, fast.

New research by the Federal Government on the Digital Economy suggests that Australia jumped forward five years in consumer and business digital adoption in around two months. Almost 9 in 10 Australian businesses adopted new technologies during COVID-19 to support business continuity while Australians took to online shopping, working from home and social engagement.

Taking the first step

To move forward, we recommend taking a step back. The PagerDuty digital operations maturity model adds a first stage: manual. This was necessary to define those organisations that haven't yet leveraged automation to their advantage.

Many organisations have operational processes designed mainly for legacy environments, with incidents  almost always spotted first by customers  resolved manually and the response team using queued workflows to do so, such as support tickets. Urgent issues are also manually escalated and there are usually just a few ways to reach experts when escalating unplanned work.

The model has also evolved with more nuance to reflect the reality of modern operations. Many organisations classed as reactive have invested in tech for visibility and real-time mobilisation as they mature and migrate to the cloud. They're shifting from centralised to distributed technical teams and have documented processes for alerts, but major incidents are still managed ad hoc.

Responsive organisations are now starting to use machine learning to identify issues and reduce false positives and noise. Teams have more visibility into these issues, which can be automatically identified and then actioned by experts.

Meanwhile, proactive organisations are advancing machine learning into "AIOps" (machine learning tightly integrated with automation), finding issues before their customers and seamlessly  potentially automatically  responding to them. When a human is needed, the right information can be delivered to the right people in a timely manner. And those people can be armed with automated routines that provide them with access and authority to act without risk.

A high degree of automation can reduce responder toil and escalations and usually saves time. We regularly see 90%+ noise reduction and 50% less escalations leveraging these technologies. This, in turn, can help create a more agile, resilient organisation capable of predicting and mitigating the impact of incidents through continuous learning, leading to becoming a preventative company. And developers can keep developing.

Whats the solution?

As hinted above, a big requirement is AIOps. Its positioned to change the world of real-time work.

In digital operations, it can help teams reduce manual tasks and human error, increase knowledge sharing and drive continuous improvement. But the road to maturity is ever-changing as technology advances and market dynamics rapidly evolve. Those organisations moving through the gears to reach digital operations maturity today havent just transformed their technology investments. Theyve modernised their entire enterprise by reinventing their culture and processes.
Today

Partly cloudy early. Mostly sunny skies with gusty winds developing later in the day. High 101F. SW winds at 5 to 10 mph, increasing to 20 to 30 mph. Higher wind gusts possible.

Tonight

A few clouds from time to time. Gusty winds diminishing after midnight. Low 68F. Winds W at 20 to 30 mph. Higher wind gusts possible.

Tomorrow

Sunny. Becoming windy late. High around 90F. Winds W at 25 to 35 mph. Winds could occasionally gust over 40 mph.
Covid-19 'superspreading' can still happen, but now we have the tools to slow it
No one ever knows wholl make history at the Kentucky Derby, but citing data from the Kentucky Derby and other sources, Stacker features 10 jockeys with the most Derby wins. Click for more.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis bristled in response to questions from journalists and legal experts about the unconstitutional flaws in his "Big tech" crackdown. But a federal judge didn't care about the governor's feelings. He ruled the law clearly unconstitutional. Taxpayers are paying lawyers as much as $675-an-hour to defend bad laws - and repeatedly lose. (Carl Juste/AP)

Florida lawmakers keep getting smacked around by federal judges who say the politicians in Tallahassee treat toilet paper with more respect than the United States Constitution.

Judges from both sides of the aisle have shot down the governors and Legislatures attempts to manipulate election laws, take control of privately funded social media operations and imprison citizens who donate to political causes the politicians dislike. Yes, imprison.

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In some of these cases, GOP lawmakers knew what they were doing was illegal. Their own staffers warned them. So did fellow Republicans. But they didnt care. Not about the Constitution they took oaths to uphold. Nor about how many of your tax dollars they spent defending this garbage.

Theyve tried to hide that last part. (Im still waiting for copies of legal bills I requested last July.) Fortunately, the Orlando Sentinel isnt scared to fight for public records. Neither is the First Amendment Foundation, a legal advocacy group for open government and Florida media.

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And records the First Amendment Foundation obtained show Florida has paid lawyers $425 an hour and as much as $675 an hour  more than some Floridians make in a week.

Some of those big bills were paid in the case where Gov. Ron DeSantis and GOP legislators tried to make it illegal for you to donate more than $3,000 to any grassroots efforts to get an amendment proposal on the Florida ballot. If you gave $3,001 to a campaign to raise the minimum wage or shrink class sizes, for instance, they wanted the ability to imprison you.

Now, these politicians knew they couldnt do such a thing. The U.S. Supreme Court had already ruled it unconstitutional. But they tried anyway.

In striking down the law, conservative federal Judge Allen Winsor  a Donald Trump appointee  described it as wholly foreign to the First Amendment.

Again, lawmakers knew that before they passed the law and started paying lawyers with the Shutts & Bowen firm to defend it. They just didnt care. Because it was your money they were wasting.

In fact, theyre trying again this year with a similar contribution cap that once again applies only to amendment efforts. Judicial rulings be damned.

Invoices provided to the First Amendment Foundation showed Shutts billed the state as much as $745 an hour for its services. But Shutts attorney George Meros said Tuesday night that invoice was a mistake  that he and his partner were paid only $425 an hour.

Thats less than the $675 an hour Florida paid other lawyers to defend the Legislatures attempts to regulate social media, only to suffer a similarly expected judicial beatdown.

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The legislators own staffers had warned them. One GOP senator described it as so obviously un-American that it seemed seemed better suited for Cuba.

But Republicans legislators passed it anyway  after carving out a special theme-park exemption for their donor buddies at Disney  and then used your tax dollars to defend that junk law.

The judge in that case noted the Republicans favoritism for Disney but said the constitutional problem was that government was trying to control speech on privately funded platforms.

None of this was about serious policy. It was about pandering to a red-meat base that doesnt care about true conservatism any more than it does constitutionalism.

It was taxpayer-funded demagoguery  and a windfall for Florida lawyers.

Keep in mind: All these legal bills were in addition to the armada of full-time, taxpayer-funded staff attorneys the state already has on the payroll.

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The state claims its in-house lawyers lack the necessary legal experience to defend this legislation. But really, how much experience do you need to get your tail whupped in court over and over?

Some partisan defenders may say: Well, any governor is going to face some legal challenges. And thats true. In fact, I sometimes roll my eyes at DeSantis critics who immediately claim that anything they dislike is unconstitutional.

But lets be clear: These specific cases were different. They all involved laws that legal scholars  and even the Legislatures own staffers  warned them about.

Political Pulse Weekly Get latest updates political news from Central Florida and across the state. >

Think about it. Do you need a law degree to know that politicians cant throw you in freakin jail for donating $3,001 to a campaign for the environment while the politicians take checks of up to $5 million apiece?

Do you really need a federal judge to tell you that government cant force a private business to allow a child predator or Klan member to use that companys privately funded media platform to spread filth?

Or that a governor cant appoint a lawyer with nine years of legal experience to the Supreme Court when the state constitution says he or she must have 10? (That was one of DeSantis earlier, clearly unconstitutional actions  one rebuffed by his own hand-picked members of the Florida Supreme Court.)

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You dont need a J.D. to know that stuff. You just need half a brain and an ounce of integrity ... which is apparently more than most Florida politicians have to offer.

The elected officials who support this clearly unconstitutional crud should be voted out of office. But as long as theyre still there, they should be the ones paying all these ridiculous legal bills. Not you.

Taxpayers work way too hard to see their money flushed right down the toilet, especially at a flush rate of $675  or even a measly $425  an hour.

smaxwell@orlandosentinel.com
Johnson City, TN (37604)

Today

Cloudy with periods of light rain. High 58F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%..

Tonight

Cloudy with light rain this evening. Low 47F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%.
This photo provided by Will B Wylde, a person is aided outside a subway car in the Brooklyn borough of New York, Tuesday, April 12, 2022. A gunman filled a rush-hour subway train with smoke and shot multiple people Tuesday, leaving wounded commuters bleeding on a Brooklyn platform as others ran screaming, authorities said. Police were still searching for the suspect.
The Jonesborough Board of Mayor and Aldermen has appointed former Town Mayor Kelly Wolfe to serve the remainder of Alderman Stephen Callahans term after he resigned from the board earlier this month.

This is one of those things you didnt know you wanted to do until youre asked to do it, Wolfe said during the meeting, and when home calls, and Jonesborough is certainly home, you respond to the call.

Wolfe served a decade as mayor before surprisingly resigning during a meeting in March 2018, citing business, family and personal concerns as his reasons for stepping down. Current Mayor Chuck Vest, at the time an alderman, was appointed mayor in the wake of Wolfes resignation.

Alderwoman Virginia Causey made the motion to appoint Wolfe, saying she felt the town needed somebody that could come in and hit the ground running. Alderman Adam Dickson seconded her motion.

This is a very crucial time for the BMA, Causey said. Were starting on our budget, weve got so many projects going on, and I felt that someone that can step in and move forward without going through a learning curve would be a great asset.

Wolfe was in attendance for Mondays meeting, and was sworn in shortly after the three-member board approved his nomination. Wolfe said after the meeting that when Causey asked him if hed consider serving the remainder of Callahans term he took a week to think and pray on it  noting that the fact he was asked by Causey was a big factor in his decision.

When Virginia asks you, you better think about it, Wolfe said, and I did, and the answer was yes.

While Callahans term is set to expire in November, Wolfe said he hopes to use the next seven months of his time on the board to have the town look at ways to retain and compete for employees in a tight job market, and expand the towns water service to accommodate a growing population.

Vest said the move to appoint Wolfe as alderman was a win for the town of Jonesborough.

With budget coming up in June, July, it was important to have somebody that understands the challenges of the town of Jonesborough, but its also important in my opinion to have somebody with a business background like Alderman Callahan had, Vest said. With Kelly we get both, and so thats why, again, I say its a win for the town of Jonesborough.

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The board had to fill the position after Callahan  founder and president of Tennessee Hills Distillery  resigned earlier this month to allow he and his wife to follow our dreams of building a national brand. Callahan said they were moving out of Jonesborough, and thus he would be ineligible to serve as an alderman.

This move is a very painful decision to make, but a necessary one to open the next chapter of our lives and make the most out of our opportunities at hand  for both Tennessee Hills and its great employees, Callahan wrote in his resignation letter.

Callahan was in his first term as an alderman after being elected in 2018, garnering the most votes among candidates in that election. His resignation also opened a position on the towns planning committee, a position Josh Conger was appointed to fill.

Rice appointed interim police chief

Jonesboroughs governing body made another important appointment on Monday, naming Jonesborough Police Maj. Matt Rice as interim police chief  taking over, likely permanently, for outgoing Chief Ron Street who is set to retire on April 30.

Rice joined the Jonesborough Police Department as a major in 2004, and has a lengthy career in law enforcement. He will have three months to develop a written plan for the department, with the town aiming to have him take over as permanent chief after 90 days.

That should always be our first priority, Vest said of hiring from within. I think our public safety officers are supportive of this as well, and thats important to us, but anytime you can promote from within its a plus for your organization and we need to do that more often.

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A state judge has given the green light to a 24-hour waiting period for abortions, effective immediately, in what advocates called yet another blow to reproductive rights in Florida.

The 2015 law that created the waiting period, signed by Gov. Rick Scott, had been in limbo for seven years as its constitutionality was debated in the courts.

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The law requires women to show up in person for one appointment and then return no sooner than 24 hours later to undergo the abortion.

In a ruling issued Friday, Leon Circuit Court Judge Angela Dempsey upheld the law and rejected requests from the plaintiffs, clinic operator Gainesville Woman Care LLC, and the group Medical Students for Choice, to hold off on a decision or delay its implementation until April 30 to allow time to reschedule appointments.

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This courts ruling merely puts the people of Florida in the same position as the people of a majority of States, Dempsey wrote. This is hardly the sort of irreparable harm that would justify the extraordinary remedy [the] plaintiffs seek.

The decision continued high-profile victories for abortion opponents in Florida, including a law passed during this years legislative session that would prevent most abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy. Other changes in recent years have included requiring parental consent before minors can have abortions.

In her ruling, Dempsey, a Gov. Jeb Bush appointee, added, plaintiffs can point to no evidence that these laws have prevented any women  let alone all women  who desire an abortion from obtaining one.

State Rep. Anna Eskamani, D-Orlando, disagreed.

This is incredibly damaging for women in Florida, said Eskamani, formerly of Planned Parenthood. You have to remember that many Florida counties do not have an abortion provider.

If you live in Brevard County, for example, you are driving upwards of an hour, if not more to get to a clinic, she said. Theyre going to have to find additional transportation if they dont have a car, time off work, more child care coverage if they already have children. And you couple that with a 15-week abortion ban, and this is going to be one of the most dangerous years for womens health in the state of Florida in our history.

Eskamani also criticized the assumption of the ruling that women who make the decision to end the pregnancy have not thought hard about it.

Again, thats not the case, since its a very intimate and personal decision, she said. Just the harm and trauma that these women experience where theyre being told that, Youre not ready to make this decision, you have to go home and think about it, when theres no medical evidence to support that claim.

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While the Legislature and Scott approved the law, it immediately drew a legal challenge. Leon Circuit Judge Charles Francis issued a temporary injunction against it, a move that was later backed by the Supreme Court.

That prevented the law from being enforced as the legal fight continued in circuit court and the 1st District Court of Appeal.

In 2018, Circuit Judge Terry Lewis issued a summary judgment that said the law was unconstitutional. But that decision was overturned in 2019 by a panel of the Tallahassee-based appeals court, sending the dispute back to circuit court.

Dempsey issued her summary judgment ruling Friday in favor of the state, after calling off a trial that had been scheduled this month.

The plaintiffs could not be reached for comment on whether they would appeal the decision.

While the state Supreme Court in 2017 backed the temporary injunction against the law, the high court has become far more conservative during the past three years because of appointments made by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis.

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News Service of Florida contributed to this report.
Weather Alert

...The Flood Warning is extended for the following rivers in Missouri...Kansas... Elk River near Tiff City affecting McDonald County. Spring River near Waco affecting Jasper County. Spring River at Carthage affecting Jasper County. Spring River above Baxter Springs affecting Cherokee County. ...The Flood Warning continues for the following rivers in Missouri... Shoal Creek near Joplin affecting Newton and Jasper Counties. For the Spring River Basin...including Baxter Springs, Waco, Carthage...Moderate flooding is forecast. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Motorists should not attempt to drive around barricades or drive cars through flooded areas. Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Many flood deaths occur in vehicles. Additional information is available at www.weather.gov. The next statement will be issued Saturday evening at 845 PM CDT. && ...FLOOD WARNING NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL EARLY SUNDAY AFTERNOON... * WHAT...Moderate flooding is occurring and minor flooding is forecast. * WHERE...Spring River at Carthage. * WHEN...Until early Sunday afternoon. * IMPACTS...At 14.0 feet, moderate flooding occurs at the gage site. The levee system closes due to flood waters affecting the north central industrial section of Carthage. Flood waters affect low lying areas and country roads north and west of Carthage along the river. Kellogg Lake Park floods and is closed. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS... - At 7:45 PM CDT Friday the stage was 14.2 feet. - Forecast...The river is expected to fall below flood stage early tomorrow afternoon and continue falling to 5.0 feet Wednesday evening. - Flood stage is 10.0 feet. - http://www.weather.gov/safety/flood &&
TALLAHASSEE  A three-judge panel has scheduled a trial to start May 12 in the federal lawsuit filed against Floridas proposed congressional district lines and rejected a motion by Secretary of State Laurel Lee for a delay in the case.

The legal moves came as Florida lawmakers prepare to hold a special session next week to try to agree on a congressional map as part of the once-a-decade reapportionment process. Gov. Ron DeSantis called the special session, which will start April 19, after vetoing a redistricting plan passed by the Legislature.

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The lawsuit, filed March 11, argued that an impasse between DeSantis and lawmakers jeopardized the chances of reaching agreement on a map and that judges should step in to make sure revamped districts are set before this years elections. A similar case filed in state court was dropped after some of the plaintiffs were allowed to join the federal suit.

The three-judge panels order Monday setting a trial in the federal case acknowledged that lawmakers could approve a congressional map that meets DeSantis approval.

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But the Legislature and the governor have so far not seen eye-to-eye on this issue, so no one can predict with any certainty what will happen in the special session. And if the political process does not result in a new congressional map, a court will have to step in and draw the map, Judge Adalberto Jordan of the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals wrote. For now, we need to put ourselves in a position to draw a new congressional map if the Florida Legislature and Gov. DeSantis fail to agree on a new one.

Jordan, U.S. District Judge M. Casey Rogers and U.S. District Judge Allen Winsor have been assigned to the case.

DeSantis on Tuesday reaffirmed that his proposal will include redrawing a sprawling North Florida congressional district that has elected a Black Democrat. DeSantis proposal would create a more compact district in the Jacksonville area.

Congressional District 5 currently stretches from Jacksonville to west of Tallahassee and is held by U.S. Rep. Al Lawson, a Black Democrat.

I think that what theyll produce will be something that will be acceptable to folks and obviously would get my signature if were proposing it, DeSantis said during an appearance at Miami Dade College.
Pictured, from left to right, in the back row are Jackson Allen, Arabella Cole, Thu Harding, Brandon Stuart, Freyja B. Dreflak, Bailey Summers and DAR Janet Younkin. In the front row are Victoria Knapp, Rebecca Par and Noah Harding
Today

A mix of clouds and sun this morning followed by some light rain this afternoon. High 67F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%.

Tonight

Rain showers this evening with overcast skies overnight. Low 47F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%.

Tomorrow

Mostly cloudy skies. High around 65F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph.
Nairobi, Kenya (PANA) - Kenya has committed to the expansion of healthcare for all under its universal health plan, emphasising the need for better utilisation of digital technology to enable more people to access treatment and care
JUSTICE INFO: Ukraine has deployed a full-scale legal strategy to denounce Russias aggression war. Has it proven successful in your opinion?

MYKOLA GNATOVSKY: From the outset, Ukraine decided to use every possible avenue to bring the matters related to Russias aggression to the international courts. This is a consistent strategy since 2014. Ukraine made extensive use of interstate applications, at the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR); theres the case that we jointly have with the Netherlands versus the Russian Federation. Then, of course, Ukraine also looked for ways of activating the International Court of Justice (ICJ); hence the case on the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination and the one on the financing of terrorism.

In both cases, I think things were moving fairly OK for Ukraine, but also very, very slowly, of course, in the best, so to say, traditions of international justice  at least before 2022.

And on international criminal responsibility?

In terms of international criminal responsibility, when the Russian aggression started  and one has to be very clear that it was in 2014, of course  Ukraine found itself in a situation where it wanted to bring the matter to the International Criminal Court (ICC). But it wasnt a state party to the Rome Statute because it had not overcome the obstacle that was created by an unfortunate opinion of the Constitutional Court from 2001.

Why had Ukraine not fixed that issue, and gone for membership of the ICC?

Because no one thought it was a priority. It wasnt really on anyones mind that that might be so urgently needed. There was a general consensus that this has to be addressed in due course, but it never happened. This is why there were two declarations under the Rome Statute, the one in 2015 giving the ICC the full possibility to look into crimes within its jurisdiction since the beginning of the international conflict between Russia and Ukraine. So, this is where we stood at the beginning of this new phase of the aggression, the full-scale war which started on the February 24 this year.

And you turned again to the ICJ?

We found out ourselves in a situation where some urgent action was desperately needed. And that explains the application to the ICJ in the genocide case.

How do you see ICJs decision to apply provisional measures?

I think one can fairly and safely say that at the preliminary stage this application has completely attained its goals. In the European Court of Human Rights, there was yet another request for interim measures. The ECHR was actually the quickest to grant these measures. The ICJ followed.

With all this going on, why the need for a tribunal on aggression?

This whole architecture has an obvious gap. And this is the crime of aggression. Of course, even if Ukraine manages to finally ratify the Rome Statute  now we have created all the constitutional preconditions, so basically it is just the decision of the parliament  its also clear that Russia has no intention to ratify the Rome Statute.

But you can prosecute domestically, cant you?

It can certainly be addressed at the domestic level, absolutely, but with the limitations pertaining to the domestic level, the issue of immunities in particular. However, this is not excluded, and Im not saying that this is not an option. In fact, the issue of immunity for the crime of aggression could potentially be addressed, even domestically. But thats a little more complicated.

These concerns are why you think it must be an international tribunal  because it has the potential then to get over the immunity for a head of state?

Yes. And also the bigger issue, that of legitimacy.

Some people are suggesting that a special international aggression tribunal could be perceived to come from one side in a conflict.

Well, lets look at the options. Something that is done domestically is certainly narrower than something that can come from, at least, a group of states. In this respect, I think the proposal that was made by Philippe Sands in The Financial Times on the February 28 made sense, because theres a clear historical precedent: Nuremberg came from one part of the conflict. And thats the closest analogy in terms of a multinational tribunal. Of course, formalistically speaking, the ICC is also a kind of a multinational effort with roughly two thirds of all of the existing states as parties to its statute. Which leaves us with a big part of the world not covered by the ICCs jurisdiction. There isnt a perfect solution, I mean, unless some aliens come from outer space and do it for us. This has to be done by those who are able and those who are willing. This is frequently the case in international relations and international law, that the able, the willing are actually acting.

Youve seen also other proposals for an aggression chamber that Ukraine could request to be formed by the Council of Europe  a regional option. How do you assess those?

Im actually very, very much surprised in a positive sense that the idea of the Council of Europe has emerged at all. Ive worked with the Council of Europe for many years. I spent 12 years on the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture, being its president for six years. I think its a very interesting idea and it remains to be seen whether it is ready to do this and what exactly the legal mechanism would be. But in any case, it can be the Council of Europe or the European Union. These options are fine, even though in both cases we are talking about a regional method. One can claim that a war of aggression of this scale is certainly an international matter. It has the global sort of outreach, the global significance, not just for Europe, but of course Europe in the first place.

What about the concern that you might be diluting efforts by having so many different things going on?

Yes indeed, theres this criticism as well. First of all, theres a glaring gap in the jurisdiction. The crime of aggression is fairly well established in international law. I understand that not every state has even the relevant provisions in their criminal code, but the logic that was already used in the Nuremberg Tribunal in its judgment  that this crime contains the accumulated evil of the whole  is a valid logic. And what we see now in Ukraine is precisely this. We see all these multiple atrocities that are now increasingly more difficult to qualify as just war crimes. One would certainly be looking into crimes against humanity and even unfortunately, genocide, even though Im very reserved about the whole notion [of genocide]. But once this large-scale invasion in Ukraine took place, this gap needs to be addressed substantively.

The whole idea is to complement the ICC, to emphasise the importance of it, to support it in every possible way, but to have a separate track for the crime of aggression. Because, interestingly enough, it is not very costly. The investigation proving this crime, writing a sound indictment for the crime of aggression is a much more straightforward business than proving war crimes and crimes against humanity. You have to prove much less. Theres no technical detail that has to be investigated with thoroughness. There are no concrete victims that have to be interviewed and all the evidence gathered. Theres no need to establish all those causal links.

But you do have to get the leadership in the dock, dont you?

You have to establish the exact roles of each particular individual in the hierarchy. This is a leadership crime. The task would be to see who has which role, who can actually influence the decisions in Russia, who actually takes the decision? The court will have to establish, for example, even for Vladimir Putin, that its him who took the decision, and not that he was in the meantime held hostage by Sergei Shoigu [Minister of Defence], for example. The crime of aggression is a continuing crime. Its not just one decision on the February 21, or on February 20 of 2014. But still, you dont need a huge team in the office of the prosecutor. And you dont need too many judges to deal with this, either. So there can be mechanisms that can actually be used to make it resource friendly.

I fully recognise the concerns that the ICC prosecutor might have, that they actually need more resources and they dont want other structures to be financed at their expense. But I believe that these are not really comparable things, and that this can be done fairly quickly. On top of this, it can actually help the ICC because it might establish a background on which the ICC can proceed. With all our energy and with all the determination to resolve these issues quickly, its clear that the investigation into war crimes and crimes against humanity will take years. It doesnt have to be the case for aggression.

How quickly would you like to see such a tribunal happen?

Well, I personally think that the momentum is there. The response from the international community has to be rather concentrated, and not so much spread in time. My opinions do not represent the opinion of the Ukrainian foreign ministry, but I would like to see the political decisions taken in the coming weeks, to see the indictment in a few months.

Are you saying that Ukraine would delegate its jurisdiction to such a tribunal?

Clearly, there should at least be partly a delegation by Ukraine of its jurisdiction over the crime of aggression to this international structure, but perhaps it can also be based on general international law. Then, there needs to be a decision taken on the possibility of in absentia trials. Lawyers will have their arguments. Im not very much different from the mainstream who do not like in absentia trials and who do not like the experience of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon [the only international tribunal that could try individuals in absentia]. But on the other hand, I think there are weighty arguments to leave such a tribunal with the possibility to hold in absentia trials. In this case that should be considered. I would just leave it open. But in general, I think that this must advance seriously this year, for sure.

Interviewed by Janet H. Anderson
Britain is trying to verify reports that Russia has used chemical weapons in an attack on the besieged Ukrainian city of Mariupol, Londons top diplomat said on Monday.

Reports that Russian forces may have used chemical agents in an attack on the people of Mariupol. We are working urgently with partners to verify details, Foreign Secretary Liz Truss wrote on Twitter.

Any use of such weapons would be a callous escalation in this conflict and we will hold Putin and his regime to account.

Ukrainian lawmaker Ivanna Klympush said Russia had used an unknown substance in Mariupol and that people were suffering from respiratory failure. Most likely chem.weapons! she tweeted.

Ukraines Azov battalion in a Telegram message earlier on Monday had claimed a Russian drone dropped a poisonous substance on Ukrainian troops and civilians in Mariupol.

The force also claimed that people were experiencing respiratory failure and neurological problems.

The battalions founder, Andrei Biletsky, said that three people were suffering effects from an unknown toxic substance.

Three people have clear signs of poisoning by warfare chemicals, but without catastrophic consequences, he said in a video address on Telegram.

AFP was unable to verify the claims.

Senior Donetsk separatist official Eduard Basurin had spoken of the possibility of using chemical weapons against the southern port city that has resisted Russian bombardment for weeks.

Basurin said the besieging forces could turn to chemical troops who will find a way to smoke the moles out of their holes, Russian news agency RIA Novosti quoted him as saying on Monday.

Russia has denied committing any war crimes during its offensive in Ukraine.
Britain is trying to verify reports that Russia has used chemical weapons in an attack in the besieged Ukrainian city of Mariupol, Londons top diplomat said on Monday.

Western officials have previously expressed concerns that Russia, finding its February 24 invasion of its neighbour grinding into a protracted conflict, could resort to more extreme measures, including chemical weapons.

Reports that Russian forces may have used chemical agents in an attack on the people of Mariupol. We are working urgently with partners to verify details, UK Foreign Secretary Liz Truss wrote on Twitter.

Any use of such weapons would be a callous escalation in this conflict and we will hold Putin and his regime to account.

Ukrainian lawmaker Ivanna Klympush said Russia had used an unknown substance in Mariupol and that people were suffering from respiratory failure. Most likely chem.weapons! she tweeted.

On messaging app Telegram, an aide to the Mariupol mayor wrote that a chemical attack is not currently confirmed.

We are waiting for official information from the military, Petro Andryushchenko wrote.

Earlier on Monday, Ukraines Azov battalion claimed a Russian drone had dropped a poisonous substance on troops and civilians in Mariupol.

The force also claimed that people were experiencing respiratory failure and neurological problems.

Three people have clear signs of poisoning by warfare chemicals, but without catastrophic consequences, battalion leader Andrei Biletsky later said in a video message on his own Telegram channel. He accused the Russians of using the chemical weapons during a strike on the citys large Azovstal metallurgical plant.

AFP was unable to verify the claims.

A strategic port located along the Sea of Azov, Mariupol has been besieged for weeks and Ukrainian forces are warning of its imminent fall.

US Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby said on Monday night that Washington was aware of reports of a chemical attack in the strategic city, but could not confirm them.

These reports, if true, are deeply concerning and reflective of concerns that we have had about Russias potential to use a variety of riot control agents, including tear gas mixed with chemical agents, in Ukraine, he said.

Senior Donetsk separatist official Eduard Basurin had spoken of the possibility of using chemical weapons against the southern port.

Basurin said the besieging forces could turn to chemical troops who will find a way to smoke the moles out of their holes, Russian news agency RIA Novosti quoted him as saying on Monday.

Russia has denied committing any war crimes during its military operations in Ukraine.
Syrians are mobilising to support Ukrainians, sharing hard-earned knowledge gleaned from years of war involving Russian forces, such as surviving shelling, helping refugees and responding to chemical attacks.

With both Ukrainians and Syrians seeking accountability for the ravages inflicted by Russian forces in their countries, they feel a unique bond is growing between them.

Syrian President Bashar al-Assads grip on power had appeared to be hanging by a thread after the civil war erupted in 2011, until Russian forces stepped in four years later turning the conflict in the regimes favour.

From our experiences in Syria, we might be among those most able of understanding the pain of the people of Ukraine, said Raed al-Saleh, head of the Syria Civil Defence force, known as the White Helmets.

Syrians have lived the shelling, killing, and displacement brought on them by Russian forces.

The time and place have changed, but the victim is the same  civilians  and the killer is the same  the Russian regime, he told AFP.

During the fighting in Syria, which has claimed over 500,000 lives, the White Helmets have worked as first responders, rescuing thousands from under the rubble of homes shelled by Russian and regime forces in rebel-held areas of Syria.

The fate of Ukraines besieged southeastern port of Mariupol, the scene of some of Moscows fiercest assaults, has drawn comparisons with the eastern districts of Syrias northwestern city of Aleppo.

The former rebel stronghold was levelled by air strikes in 2016, during a months-long siege.

Look at the city of Mariupol. This is exactly what weve seen in the city of Aleppo in Syria, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told an international forum last month.

He wanted to convey a message that Russia was always a bad actor, Aleppo is proof of that and now it is our turn to suffer, Emile Hokayem, analyst at the London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies, told AFP.

 We warned you 

This shared suffering has prompted a series of initiatives.

A coalition of groups has launched the Syria Ukraine Network (SUN) that has helped Syrian doctors travel to Ukraine, said coordinator Olga Lautman, a Ukrainian living in Washington.

We will be coordinating (with) Syrian experts on war crimes documentation and chemical attacks, Lautman told AFP.

It came from the desire of Syrians to use their expertise to help, she said, describing the bond forming between the two peoples.

In northwestern Idlib, one of the last remaining rebel areas in Syria, doctors at the Academy of Health Sciences are training Ukrainian doctors and nurses online, its president Abdullah Abdulaziz Alhaji said.

Ukrainians are mainly asking to learn about chemical attacks, he said. They want to benefit from our experience.

Although no chemical weapons use has been confirmed in Ukraine, chlorine or sulphur gas attacks were recorded during the Syrian conflict, according to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons.

White Helmets rescuers are also filming tutorial videos for Ukrainians on treating casualties.

On the Ukrainian-Romanian border, Syrian Omar Alshakal, founder of Refugee4Refugees association, has been assisting Ukrainians fleeing war.

And Ukrainian and Syrian activists will Wednesday launch a Freedom and Justice Convoy from Paris to the Ukrainian-Polish border to show the Syrian peoples solidarity.

Syrians are keen to embrace the cause of Ukraine because it helps revive fading international attention to their own tragedy and to tell Westerners: We warned you but you preferred to look away, said Hokayem.

 Accountability 

Charles Lister, from the Middle East Institute, noted Syrian activists have sought to ride this wave of anti-Russian sentiment, to bolster the Syrian cause, but also to foster new, meaningful geopolitical relationships in Ukraine.

Syrian opposition leaders had met Ukrainian leaders on the sidelines of international gatherings, and their shared experiences have been clear cause for unity, he told AFP.

The most important question for both is whether Moscow  and in Syria the Kremlin-backed President Assad  will ever be held accountable.

If Putin was held accountable for his crimes in Ukraine, this means that he will be held accountable for his crimes in Syria as well. But if Putin gets away with it, then the next crime will only be a matter of time, said the White Helmets Saleh.

Last month, Amnesty Internationals Agnes Callamard noted the situation in Ukraine is a repetition of what we have seen in Syria.

Many have pointed to similarities in Russian tactics in Syria and Ukraine  from targeting infrastructure to establishing so-called safe corridors and truces aiming to empty cities.

Moscow had shown a lack of moral principles  whether in its actions in Syria or Ukraine, said Ivan Cherevychny, 71, a resident of the Ukrainian town of Zaporizhzhia.

He also slammed the irresponsible attitude of the United Nations and world leaders faced with the two crises.

Others alleged that several commanders now playing leading roles in the Russian invasion had been involved in the Syrian war, naming among others Alexander Lapin and Alexander Dvornikov, commander of Russias forces in Syria in 2016.

Russia used Syria as a training ground for testing the effectiveness of strikes against the residential, social, and economic infrastructure, said a prominent Ukrainian lawyer-turned-fighter from Kyiv, who only wanted to be identified as Oleg.

Destroying the infrastructure makes the country unsuitable for life, he added.
Russian troops were aiming to take control of the city of Mariupol on Tuesday, part of an anticipated massive onslaught across eastern Ukraine, as defending forces tried desperately to hold them back.

Russia is believed to be trying to connect occupied Crimea with Moscow-backed separatist territories Donetsk and Lugansk in Donbas, and has laid siege to the strategically located city, once home to more than 400,000 people.

It is likely that in the future the enemy will try to take control of the city of Mariupol, capture Popasna and launch an offensive in the direction of Kurakhove in order to reach the administrative borders of Donetsk region, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said on Facebook.

In Mariupol itself, Ukrainian forces were surrounded and blocked, according to Myhaylo Podolyak, an official from President Volodymyr Zelenskys office.

But on Monday the army insisted that the defence of Mariupol continues.

The connection with the units of the defence forces that heroically hold the city is stable and maintained, the Land Forces of Ukraine wrote on Telegram.

In his nightly address, Zelensky made another plea to his allies for more weapons to boost the defence of the city.

We are not getting as much as we need to end this war sooner. To completely destroy the enemy on our land in particular, to unblock Mariupol, he said.

He made a similar appeal for military assistance to South Koreas National Assembly earlier in the day, telling lawmakers Russia had completely destroyed Mariupol and burned it to ashes.

At least tens of thousands of Mariupol citizens must have been killed, he added.

 Chemical weapons allegations 

Late Monday, Britain said it was trying to verify reports that Russia had also used chemical weapons in the city.

Western officials have previously expressed concerns that as the conflict drags into its seventh week, Russia could resort to such extreme measures.

Ukrainian lawmaker Ivanna Klympush said Russia had used an unknown substance and that people were suffering from respiratory failure.

But on messaging app Telegram, Petro Andryushchenko, an aide to the citys mayor, wrote that a chemical attack was not confirmed and that they were waiting for official information from the military.

Elsewhere in the east, heavy bombardment continued as civilians were urged to flee ahead of an expected Russian troop surge in the region.

Eight people were killed by shelling in the northeastern city of Kharkiv, the head of the regional state administration Oleg Synegubov said.

Russian forces are reinforcing around the Donbas region, notably near the town of Izyum, but have not yet launched a full offensive, Pentagon officials said Monday.

They reported a Russian convoy had been observed heading for Izyum, an hours drive north of Kramatorsk, saying it appeared to be a mix of personnel-carriers, armoured vehicles and possible artillery.

Ukraines defence ministry said it believed a major assault would happen soon.

We dont know precisely when, but the preparation is almost over, spokesman Oleksandr Motuzyanyk told a briefing on Monday.

 Logic of war 

Such signs of a build-up in Donbas suggest hopes of an imminent diplomatic solution remain slim.

After a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday, Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer said he was rather pessimistic of such efforts succeeding as Putin had massively entered into a logic of war.

Ukraines allies are trying instead to increase economic and diplomatic pressure on Moscow  but EU foreign ministers discussions on a sixth round of sanctions on Monday ended without a consensus.

Nothing is off the table, including sanctions on oil and gas, Josep Borrell, the European Unions top diplomat, told reporters after the meeting. But today, no decision was taken.

In an effort to shore up wider international support for Kyiv, US President Joe Biden held virtual talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi just weeks after saying New Delhi had been shaky in its response to the invasion.

And the UN Security Council  which on Monday held a session on the plight of women and children in Ukraine  will hold another meeting next week on the humanitarian situation there, in a bid to keep pressure on Russia despite its veto power over the body, diplomats said.

 Rape and sexual violence 

At Mondays UNSC meeting, officials called for an investigation into violence against women during the conflict.

This war must stop. Now, Sima Bahous, director of the UN womens agency, told the Council.

We are increasingly hearing of rape and sexual violence. These allegations must be independently investigated to ensure justice and accountability.

More than 4.5 million Ukrainian refugees have now fled their country, the United Nations refugee agency said  90 percent of them women and children.

The war has displaced more than 10 million people overall.

One of those was Tatyana Kaftan, just weeks away from giving birth to her first child, who spoke to AFP at an aid distribution point in the western city of Lviv.

Her husband, who is waiting to be called up to the army, stood by her side.

We left everything at home, said the 35-year-old travel agent, who drove with her husband all the way from Mykolaiv to escape Russian shelling.

We have nothing.

 No words 

Russian troops have been accused of widespread atrocities across the country, particularly in areas around Kyiv from which they have now withdrawn, allegations Moscow categorically denies.

Ukraine says more than 1,200 bodies have been found around the capital.

Seven bodies were found Monday under the rubble of two multi-storey buildings in the town of Borodianka, the state emergency service said, bringing the total to 19.

Lithuanias prime minister, who was touring the town, said she had no words to describe the devastation and accused Russia of war crimes.

The images of the ruined Ukrainian towns and cities, and the testimonies of the survivors, reveal the real face of Russia, Ingrida Simonyte said.

French investigators have arrived in Ukraine to help probe suspected war crimes, and the European Union has earmarked 2.5 million euros ($2.7 million) to the International Criminal Court for future Ukraine cases.

The global consequences of the war were evident Monday as the World Trade Organization projected world trade growth could almost halve this year.

The WTO said the conflict was a severe blow to the worlds economy which in the longer term could even spark a disintegration of the global economy into separate blocs.

Russia was also blamed for an escalating global food crisis by the EUs Borrell, because of its bombing of wheat stocks and preventing ships from carrying grain abroad.

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Meta
Russian troops on Tuesday intensified their campaign to take the port city of Mariupol, part of an anticipated massive onslaught across eastern Ukraine, as President Vladimir Putin made a defiant case for the war on Russias neighbour.

Moscow is believed to be trying to connect occupied Crimea with Russian-backed separatist territories Donetsk and Lugansk in Donbas, and has laid siege to the strategically located city, once home to more than 400,000 people.

Civilians were struggling to flee targeted zones, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky condemning alleged mass rapes in areas previously occupied by Russian troops, including sexual assaults of small children.

As the fighting dragged toward its seventh week, the Ukrainian army fought desperately to defend Mariupol against the Russian offensive.

The connection with the units of the defence forces that heroically hold the city is stable and maintained, the Land Forces of Ukraine wrote on Telegram.

However, the Russian defence ministry said its army had thwarted an attempt to break the siege with airstrikes and artillery fire at a factory in a northern district of the city.

AFP journalists in Mariupol, as part of a Russian military embed, witnessed the charred remains of the city, including the theatre where 300 people were feared killed in Russian bombardment last month.

In his nightly address, Zelensky on Monday made another plea to his allies for more weapons to boost the defence of the city.

Zelensky has also said he believes Russia has killed at least tens of thousands of people in the city.

 Shocking 

With little hope of a quick end to fighting, Putin pledged Moscow would proceed on its own timetable with its military operation, rebuffing repeated international calls for a ceasefire.

Our task is to fulfil and achieve all the goals set, minimising losses. And we will act rhythmically, calmly, according to the plan originally proposed by the General Staff, Putin said during a televised press conference with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko.

He also dismissed as fake reports of the discovery of hundreds of dead civilian bodies in the town of Bucha outside the Ukrainian capital Kyiv after the withdrawal of Moscows forces.

Images taken by journalists on the ground, including AFP reporters, of bodies littering the streets of Bucha sparked worldwide outrage and calls for an investigation into possible war crimes.

Bucha Mayor Anatoly Fedoruk said on Tuesday that more than 400 people had been found dead so far and 25 women reported being raped, as the town prepares for the return of residents who fled the fighting.

What people will find in their homes is shocking, and they will remember the Russian occupiers for a very long time, he said.

Around 400 civilians were buried in the town of Severodonetsk near the frontline in eastern Ukraine since the conflict began, the governor of the Lugansk region, Sergiy Gaiday, said on Tuesday.

 Helping people 

However, heavy bombardment continued in the east as civilians were urged to flee ahead of an expected Russian troop surge in the region.

Russian forces are reinforcing around the Donbas region, notably near the town of Izyum, but have not yet launched a full offensive, US Pentagon officials said Monday.

They reported a Russian convoy had been observed heading for Izyum, an hours drive north of Kramatorsk, saying it appeared to be a mix of personnel carriers, armoured vehicles and possible artillery.

Putin has insisted that Russias own security was at stake in Donbas.

What we are doing is helping people  rescuing them on the one hand and on the other taking measures to assure Russias security, he said.

Putin accused Ukraine of inconsistency on fundamental points which he said was slowing down talks on ending the war.

Kyiv admitted that ongoing talks with Russia to end the war were extremely difficult.

The Russian side adheres to its traditional tactics of public pressure on the negotiation process, including through certain public statements, Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhaylo Podolyak said in written comments to reporters.

In the war-torn eastern Ukrainian town of Volnovakha, now under Moscows control, a school reopened with children listening to a recording of the Russian anthem, watched by armed soldiers.

After two weeks of bombardment, many houses, shops and public buildings are now semi-ruined, windowless or burnt-out.

Meanwhile, the toll on towns previously occupied by Russian forces during their month-long offensive to take Kyiv was still coming to light.

Ukrainian prosecutors said on Tuesday six people had been found shot dead in the basement of a building outside the capital, the latest discovery fuelling allegations of Russian atrocities.

The UN Security Council  which on Monday held a session on the plight of women and children in Ukraine  will hold another meeting next week on the humanitarian situation there, in a bid to keep pressure on Russia despite its veto power over the body, diplomats said.

 Rape and sexual violence 

Officials called for a probe into assaults against women during the conflict.

We are increasingly hearing of rape and sexual violence, Sima Bahous, director of the UN womens agency, told the Security Council. These allegations must be independently investigated to ensure justice and accountability.

Zelensky on Tuesday voiced anger about the repeated accounts of sexual violence against Ukrainians.

Hundreds of cases of rape have been recorded, including those of young girls and very young children. Even of a baby! he told Lithuanian lawmakers via video link.

More than 4.6 million Ukrainian refugees have now fled their country, the UN refugee agency said  90 percent of them women and children.

The war has displaced more than 10 million people overall.

Ukraines border force said on Tuesday that more than 870,000 people who fled abroad since the start of the war had returned to the country, including a growing number of women and children.

One of those was Tatyana Kaftan, just weeks away from giving birth to her first child, who spoke to AFP at an aid distribution point in the western city of Lviv.

Her husband, who is waiting to be called up to the army, stood by her side.

We left everything at home, said the 35-year-old travel agent, who drove with her husband all the way from Mykolaiv to escape Russian shelling.

We have nothing.

As the war sent energy and food prices soaring, Oxfam warned that fallout from the conflict, growing inequality and Covid could force more than a quarter of a billion people into extreme poverty this year.
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier said Tuesday that he had offered to visit Ukraine with other EU leaders, but Kyiv had told him his trip was not wanted.

The snub comes as Steinmeier, a former foreign minister, is facing criticism at home and abroad for his years-long detente policy towards Moscow, which he has since admitted was a mistake.

Speaking during a visit to Warsaw, Steinmeier said he had planned to travel to Kyiv with the presidents of Poland, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania this week to send a strong signal of joint European solidarity with Ukraine.

I was prepared to do this, but apparently, and I must take note of this, this was not wanted in Kyiv, he told reporters.

Germanys topselling Bild newspaper quoted an unnamed Ukrainian diplomat as saying: We all know of Steinmeiers close relations with Russia here He is not welcome in Kyiv at the moment. We will see whether that changes.

The embarrassing rejection comes as Chancellor Olaf Scholz is under fire for not having travelled to Ukraine himself so far, unlike British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and EU leader Ursula von der Leyen.

Steinmeier, a Social Democrat serving his second stint as German president, was a foreign minister in two of former chancellor Angela Merkels governments. He has long been known for his Moscow-friendly stance.

He has been a leading advocate of the Wandel durch Handel (Change through Trade) concept, which argues that fostering close commercial ties can help spur democratic reforms.

Steinmeier also championed the controversial Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline between Russia and Germany, which has now been halted over Moscows aggression in Ukraine.

Steinmeier recently admitted that his rapprochement approach towards President Vladimir Putin had been misguided.

I still hoped that Vladimir Putin possessed a remnant of rationality, he told Der Spiegel weekly in an interview.

I did not think that the Russian president would risk his countrys complete political, economic and moral ruin in the pursuit of an imperial delusion.

He added that his own support for Nord Stream 2 was a mistake, clearly.

But he said there can be no return to normal with Putins Russia in Warsaw Tuesday alongside Polish counterpart Andrzej Duda, adding that the West would have to accept the costs of the conflict.

He accused Russia of committing war crimes in Ukraine and called on Moscow to make it possible to evacuate residents from the besieged Ukrainian port city of Mariupol.

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Russian troops intensified their campaign to take the port city of Mariupol on Tuesday as part of an anticipated massive onslaught across eastern Ukraine that the United States warned might include the use of chemical weapons.

Moscow is believed to be trying to connect occupied Crimea with Russian-backed separatist territories Donetsk and Lugansk in Donbas, and has laid siege to the strategically located city, once home to more than 400,000 people.

Reports emerged on Monday from Ukraines Azov battalion that a Russian drone had dropped a poisonous substance in the area, with people experiencing respiratory failure and neurological problems.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said he was unable to confirm the allegations, but that Washington had credible information Russia might use tear gas mixed with chemical agents in the besieged port.

The United States sounded the alarm as civilians were struggling to flee, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky condemning alleged mass rapes in areas previously occupied by Russian troops.

The last time chemical weapons were unleashed during a conflict was in Syria where a civil war erupted in 2011 as rebels sought to oust President Bashar al-Assad.

The worlds chemical weapons watchdog said it was concerned by the unconfirmed reports coming from Mariupol, and was monitoring closely.

Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said the use of such weapons by Moscow would elicit a response not just from the United States, but from the international community, without elaborating.

We have had justified reason to be concerned that this could be a tactic they might employ, which is to try to mask a potential more serious chemical attack with the riot control agents, he told reporters.

As the fighting dragged toward its seventh week, the Ukrainian army fought desperately to defend Mariupol against the Russian offensive.

 They will remember 

AFP journalists in Mariupol, as part of a Russian military embed, witnessed the charred remains of the city, including the theatre where 300 people were feared killed in Russian bombardment last month.

In his nightly address, Zelensky said he believed Russia had killed at least tens of thousands of people in the city.

With little hope of a quick end to fighting, President Vladimir Putin pledged Moscow would proceed on its own timetable, rebuffing repeated international calls for a ceasefire.

Our task is to fulfil and achieve all the goals set, minimising losses. And we will act rhythmically, calmly, according to the plan originally proposed by the General Staff, Putin told a news conference with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko.

He dismissed as fake claims that hundreds of civilians were killed in the town of Bucha outside the Ukrainian capital Kyiv after the withdrawal of Moscows forces.

Images taken by journalists on the ground, including AFP reporters, of bodies littering the streets of Bucha sparked worldwide outrage and calls for an investigation into possible war crimes.

Bucha Mayor Anatoly Fedoruk said more than 400 people had been found dead and 25 women reported being raped, as the town prepares for the return of residents who fled the fighting.

What people will find in their homes is shocking, and they will remember the Russian occupiers for a very long time, he said.

 Devil incarnate 

Heavy bombardment continued in the east as civilians were urged to flee ahead of an expected Russian troop surge around the Donbas region, notably near the town of Izyum.

What we are doing is helping people  rescuing them on the one hand and on the other taking measures to assure Russias security, Putin said.

In the war-torn eastern town of Volnovakha, now under Moscows control, a school reopened with children listening to a recording of the Russian anthem, watched by armed soldiers.

After two weeks of bombardment, many houses, shops and public buildings are now semi-ruined, windowless or burnt out.

A steady stream of residents fled by bus and train from Kramatorsk  the Ukrainian militarys main hub for its operations in the east  and neighbouring Sloviansk as fears grew that the cities would be key targets.

What is happening is inhuman, (Putin) is a fascist. I dont know what to call him  a devil incarnate, said 82-year-old Valentina Oleynikova, who was fleeing Kramatorsk with her husband.

Meanwhile, the toll on towns previously occupied by Russian forces during their month-long offensive to take Kyiv is still coming to light.

Ukrainian prosecutors said six people had been found shot dead in the basement of a building outside the capital, the latest discovery fuelling allegations of Russian atrocities.

 We have nothing 

UN officials called for a probe into repeated accounts of rapes and sexual assaults against women that have angered Zelensky.

Hundreds of cases of rape have been recorded, including those of young girls and very young children. Even of a baby! the Ukrainian leader told Lithuanian lawmakers via video link.

More than 4.6 million Ukrainian refugees have now fled the country, the UN refugee agency said  90 percent of them women and children.

The war has displaced more than 10 million people overall.

One of them was Tatyana Kaftan, just weeks away from giving birth to her first child, who spoke to AFP at an aid distribution point in the western city of Lviv.

Her husband, who is waiting to be called up to the army, stood by her side.

We left everything at home, said the 35-year-old travel agent, who drove with her husband all the way from Mykolaiv to escape Russian shelling.

We have nothing.
South Sudans government announced on Tuesday the creation of a unified armed forces command, implementing a key provision of the 2018 peace deal that observers hope will ease the countrys recovery from years of war.

The worlds newest nation has struggled to draw a line under a five-year civil war between forces loyal to President Salva Kiir and his rival, Vice President Riek Machar, that left nearly 400,000 dead before the pair agreed to a truce in 2018.

Since then, frequent explosions of violence have raised fears of a return to full-blown conflict, as the two sides remained deadlocked over major issues including the unification of their forces  a key provision of the 2018 pact.

But earlier this month, the duo sealed a deal on the division of top positions within the unified structure, agreeing to a 60-40 distribution in favour of Kiirs side of leadership posts in the army, police and national security forces.

Late Tuesday, the national broadcaster SSBC read out a series of presidential decrees announcing Kiirs decision to replace senior officials in the military, police and security services with members of Machars Sudan Peoples Liberation Movement in Opposition.

The decrees come into force on the date (April 12, 2022) of its signature by the President, the broadcaster said.

Under the terms of the deal signed on April 3, the graduation of the unified forces should be completed within two months.

Despite the agreement, violence continues to roil the country, with fresh clashes on Friday between pro-Kiir and pro-Machar forces prompting thousands to flee their homes in oil-rich Unity state.

Since achieving its independence from Sudan in 2011, the young nation has lurched from crisis to crisis, battling flooding, hunger, interethnic violence and political instability.

Last month, the UN Security Council voted to prolong its peacekeeping mission in South Sudan another year.

The UN has repeatedly criticised South Sudans leadership for its role in stoking violence and has accused the government of rights violations amounting to war crimes over deadly attacks in the countrys southwest last year.
US President Joe Biden has for the first time accused Vladimir Putins forces of committing genocide in Ukraine, where Russia is intensifying its campaign to take the strategic port city of Mariupol.

Bidens accusation comes as Moscow  already accused by the West of widespread atrocities against civilians  is feared to be readying a massive onslaught across Ukraines east that Washington warned might involve chemical weapons.

Yes, I called it genocide, Biden told reporters on Tuesday, hours after employing the term during a speech in Iowa  its first use by a member of his administration.

Well let the lawyers decide internationally whether or not it qualifies, but it sure seems that way to me, Biden said. Its become clearer and clearer that Putin is just trying to wipe out the idea of even being able to be a Ukrainian.

President Volodymyr Zelensky  who has repeatedly accused Moscow of attempted genocide  swiftly responded by tweeting at Biden: True words of a true leader.

Calling things by their names is essential to stand up to evil, Zelensky wrote  renewing his appeal for more heavy weapons to prevent further Russian atrocities.

Biden had previously described Putin as a war criminal as the discovery of hundreds of civilians reportedly killed in Bucha, outside Kyiv, sparked global revulsion.

But he had stopped short of using the term genocide, in line with longstanding US protocol, because of its strict legal definition and the heavy implication the accusation carries.

 Tunnel warriors 

While the toll on towns occupied during the month-long offensive to take Kyiv like Bucha is still coming to light, the heaviest civilian toll is feared to be in Mariupol, where Zelensky said he believed Russia had killed tens of thousands.

Moscow is believed to be trying to connect occupied Crimea with Russian-backed separatist territories Donetsk and Lugansk in Donbas, and has laid siege to the strategically located city.

Experts say its fall is inevitable, but as fighting drags toward its seventh week, the Ukrainian army is still clinging on.

On Wednesday the Land Forces of Ukraine said on Telegram that air strikes on the city continued, particularly targeting its port and the huge Azovstal iron and steel works.

The latter maze-like complex has been a focus of urban resistance in Mariupol, with fighters using a tunnel system below the vast industrial site to slow Russian forces down.

Its a city within a city, said Eduard Basurin, a representative for pro-Russian separatists in the eastern Donetsk region.

There are several underground levels that date back to Soviet times which you cant bombard from above. You have to go underground to clean them out, and that will take time.

Above ground, AFP journalists in Mariupol as part of a Russian military embed saw the charred remains of the city, including the theatre where 300 people were feared killed in Russian bombardment last month.

Reports emerged on Monday from Ukraines Azov battalion that a Russian drone had dropped a poisonous substance in the area, with people experiencing respiratory failure and neurological problems.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said he was unable to confirm the allegations, but that Washington had credible information Russia might use tear gas mixed with chemical agents in the besieged port.

The worlds chemical weapons watchdog said it was concerned by the unconfirmed reports coming from Mariupol, and was monitoring closely.

Pentagon spokesman John Kirby warned the use of such weapons by Moscow would elicit a response not just from the United States, but from the international community, without elaborating.

 Devil incarnate 

Heavy bombardment continued across the east as civilians were urged to flee ahead of an expected Russian troop surge around the Donbas region, notably near the town of Izyum.

US private satellite firm Maxar Technologies published images it said showed ground forces moving towards Russias border with Ukraine, likely in preparation for an offensive.

In Ukraine, Maxar said it had noted convoys of military equipment travelling in and near the Donbas region  adding they comprised of around 200 vehicles including tanks, artillery and armoured personnel carriers.

Heeding the calls from authorities to flee, a steady stream of residents left by bus and train from the cities of Kramatorsk and neighbouring Sloviansk.

Kramatorsk is the Ukrainian militarys main hub for its operations in the east, and so potentially a key target.

What is happening is inhuman, (Putin) is a fascist. I dont know what to call him  a devil incarnate, said 82-year-old Valentina Oleynikova, who was fleeing the city with her husband.

With little hope of a quick end to fighting, Putin pledged Moscow would proceed on its own timetable, rebuffing repeated international calls for a ceasefire.

Our task is to fulfil and achieve all the goals set, minimising losses. And we will act rhythmically, calmly, according to the plan originally proposed by the General Staff, he told a news conference with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko.

 They will remember 

Putin also dismissed as fake claims that hundreds of civilians were killed in Bucha under Russian occupation.

Bucha Mayor Anatoly Fedoruk said more than 400 people had been found dead after Moscows forces withdrew, and 25 women reported being raped, as the town prepares for the return of residents who fled the fighting.

What people will find in their homes is shocking, and they will remember the Russian occupiers for a very long time, he said.

In nearby Gostomel, war crimes investigators were beginning a grim probe, exhuming bodies to document the cause of death.

One of those was that of the mayor, who the council said was handing out bread to the hungry when he was shot by Russian forces.

His is among the fates that are known.

The town council has counted the number of missing at up to 400, said regional prosecutor Andriy Tkach. Perhaps not all the bodies are found.

Zelensky sounded the alarm Tuesday about snowballing allegations of rape and sexual assault by Russian forces.

Hundreds of cases of rape have been recorded, including those of young girls and very young children. Even of a baby, the Ukrainian leader told Lithuanian lawmakers via video link.

 Tycoon swap 

In a separate development, Zelensky has offered to swap a pro-Kremlin tycoon  arrested after escaping from house arrest  for Ukrainians captured by Russia.

Zelensky posted a picture of a dishevelled-looking Viktor Medvedchuk  one of the richest people in Ukraine, who counts Putin among his personal friends  with his hands in cuffs and dressed in a Ukrainian army uniform.

I propose to the Russian Federation to exchange this guy of yours for our boys and our girls who are now in Russian captivity, Zelensky said in a video address on Telegram.

Medvedchuk, a hugely controversial figure in Ukraine, was under house arrest over accusations of attempting to steal natural resources from Russia-annexed Crimea and of handing Ukrainian military secrets to Moscow.
Acca, Ghana, Switzerland (PANA) - The Worrld Health Organization (WHO)Tuesday welcomed the establishment of a new Heads of State and Government Group to accelerate progress towards the SDG target for noncommunicable diseases
The Department of Health and Human Services will soon require more than 2,000 suppliers to provide medical debtthe White House announced Monday.

Providers may be asked to submit information about their medical bills collect Practices, lawsuits against patients, financial assistance, financial product offerings, and third-party contracts or debt purchases.

HHS will use this information in making grant decisions. The department will also make some data public and share potential breaches with law enforcement agencies.

The federal government pays the healthcare system approximately $1.5 trillion annually to provide quality care and services to patients. Providers receiving this funding should make it easier for eligible patients to access the financial assistance they are entitled to, not directly or indirectly subject patients to unlawful and harassing debt collection practices, the announcement said.

The announcement follows an executive order from President Joe Biden earlier this month aimed at making health insurance more affordable and high-quality.The order specifically directs federal agencies to reduce medical debt burdenwhich disproportionately affects Black and Hispanic families.

HHS will hold hearings with providers, consumers and others on how to deal with medical debt, a spokesperson said in an email. HHS did not answer questions about the programs timeline, how the department will select providers to request data, or what guidelines the department will use to incorporate information into grant decisions.

Rick Kes, an audit partner at consulting firm RSM and senior industry analyst for healthcare, said healthcare systems that have issued financial aid policies should not be shocked by the announcement.

But, Kes said, the announcement was delayed a bit by HHSs inclusion of collection-related information into grant decisions. He added, however, that guidance is needed on how HHS uses this information for grant decisions.

Its a whole new twist that didnt exist before, he said, adding that he didnt think HHS would be too subjective in its decision-making.

Executive Vice President Stacey Hughes said in an email that the American Hospital Association looks forward to hearing more about the initiative. Hughes said hospitals already provide billions of dollars in unpaid care to those who cant pay, but the system needs to be funded enough so the hospitals can stay open.

consumer credit report Showing $88 billion According to a recent report from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, as of last June, 58% of third-party collections were for medical debt in the second quarter of 2021. The three major U.S. credit reporting agencies  Equifax, TransUnion and Experian  announced last month that they would forgo medical debt payments from reports.
Rising actor Jung Ga Ram is finally returning to acting following his military discharge. He is already scheduled to make a drama comeback!

Jung Ga Ram To Join the Lead Cast of 'Interest of Love'

Based on a published report on April 12, Jung Ga Ram, who just finished his military service, is confirmed to star in the forthcoming series "Interest of Love" also known as "Understanding Love." The actor is expected to resume his acting career in earnest.

The new drama "Understanding of Love" is to be directed by Cho Young Min and to be penned by Lee Seo Hyun and Lee Hyun Jung. It is a video of a novel originally written by Lee Hyuk Jin. It will follow the story of a snobbish and realistic love between four men and women.

Jung Ga Ram will take the role of Jung Jong Hyun, a student who dreams of becoming a police officer and meets Soo Young while working as a security guard at a bank. He is a young adult who endured a bad life but is ready to make a change and be successful in the future.

Moon Ga Young and Yoo Yeon Seok were Also Courted to Star in the Drama

In March, Moon Ga Young and Yoo Yeon Seok are rumored to also join the lead cast of the said drama. However, there are no official statements yet whether they confirmed their participation in the series.

Furthermore, "Interest of Love" marks Jung Ga Ram's small screen comeback following his romance drama "Love Alarm 2" in 2021.

In addition to the report, the "When the Camellia Blooms" star officially left the military on April 11.

He has shown stable acting and a strong presence on screen through his previous dramas. Now many are excited about his return. The filming production is expected to start this year.

Jung Ga Ram made his acting debut in MBC's famous sitcom "High Kick" in 2011. Since then, he has continuously received good scripts and established strong branding as one of the most promising Korean actors today.

Apart from "Love Alarm," the young actor also starred in the series "Mistress" (2018) and "Heard It Through the Grapevine" (2015). He even made his big-screen debut in 2016 with "Fourth Place." His latest movie was "Beasts Clawing At Straws" in 2020.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Moon Ga Young To Possibly Join Yoo Yeon Seok in New Romance Drama 'Interests of Love'

What are your thoughts about Jung Ga Ram's new drama? 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.

Shai Collins wrote this.
Kim Woo Bin and Shin Min Ah are one of the few long-term couples in the industry. Curious about the latest news about the two? Keep on reading to know more!

The Start of Kim Woo Bin, Shin Min Ah's Against-All-Odds Love

Actors Kim Woo Bin and Shin Min Ah began their beautiful friendship in 2015 after meeting as co-workers for a campaign photoshoot.

Thanks to the brief time they spent together, it was revealed that the two showed interest in each other after a month and confirmed their relationship in July of the same year.

In December, the two appeared in separate dramas at the same time, "Oh My Venus" and "Uncontrollably Fond." The actors' agencies assured the public that Kim Woo Bin and Shin Min Ah are both going strong despite busy schedules.

They both showed immense support to one another by sending food trucks and watching each other's works without fail.

In May 2017, the two faced life's biggest hurdle, especially for the actor. Kim Woo Bin, who was 27-year-old at the time, was diagnosed with nasopharyngeal cancer.

With the help of Shin Min Ah, Kimn Woo Bin underwent a series of treatment and recovery therapies.

Kim Woo Bin Relationship Status 2022: Love Conquers All

Thankfully, Kim Woo Bin won the battle with cancer. In 2019, he and Shin Min Ah welcomed the new year with overflowing love and new hopes together in Australia.

Despite having no works and new projects together, Kim Woo Bin and Shin Min Ah's relationship is going stronger than ever.

To reassure and tease the fans at the same time, the two lovers randomly post photos of them together on their personal social media accounts.

Sometimes, they post individual photos of themselves being in the same place together.

This 2022, Kim Woo Bin and Shin Min Ah join Noh Hee Kyung's newest work "Our Blues" with other big names such as Lee Byung Hun, Han Ji Min, Lee Jung Eun, Cha Seung Won, Uhm Jung Hwa and more.

Kim Woo Bin, Shin Min Ah Work Together for the First Time in 'Our Blues'

Real life couple Kim Woo Bin and Shin Min Ah meet new onscreen partners in Noh Hee Kyung's newest work "Our Blues."

According to the writer, she knew that Kim Woo Bin and Shin Min Ah wouldn't accept the project if she gave them a couple roles.

In the drama, Kim Woo Bin plays the role of a Jeju ship captain Park Jeong Joon while Shin Min Ah takes on the role of Min Seon Ah, a mother who returns to Seoul for work.

"Our Blues" is an omnibus work that depicts the bittersweet reality of life, dreams, and hopes. It also marks Kim Woo Bin's comeback drama after his hiatus.

Don't miss Kim Woo Bin and Shin Min Ah's newest work! "Our Blues" airs every Saturday and Sunday at 9:10 p.m. KST on tvN.

Watch the drama's teaser here, in case you missed it:





KDramaStars owns this article.

Written by Elijah Mully.
Follow Action News Now on Facebook and Twitter for the latest news, weather and sports in Northern California.
This undated electron microscope image made available by the U.S. National Institutes of Health in February 2020 shows the virus that causes COVID-19. The sample was isolated from a patient in the U.S. THE CANADIAN PRESS/NIAID-RML via AP
A person stands outside a truck at a greenhouse supply store and nursery surrounded by flooded farmland in Abbotsford, B.C., Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2021. British Columbia mayors whose communities were devastated by last year's flooding and wildfires want the federal government to deliver billions of dollars in promised funding. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
An editorial from the

South Florida Sun Sentinel:

Lacking any valid reason to reject Supreme Court nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson, some Senate Republicans chose an utterly pointless pretext: her refusal to say whether she supports packing the court with more justices, as some of its critics advocate.

Her answer was the only right one.

Judges should not be speaking to political issues, Jackson said, adding that I am so committed to staying in my lane of the system.

That is what true conservatives used to like to hear judges say. But few remain in the radicalized Republican caucus.

One of its goals under minority leader Mitch McConnell is to turn the entire judiciary into an instrument of the Republican Party and its policies. If they havent succeeded in destroying the constitutional separation of powers, they want their voter base and big contributors to see how hard theyre trying. Thats what the indecent opposition to Jackson was about. It also played well with the racist element.

Should have been unanimous

Jackson endured their mudslinging to be confirmed, 53-47. The three Republicans who supported her  Susan Collins of Maine, Mitt Romney of Utah and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska  expressed concern about how partisan confirmation hearings have become. That trend is unhealthy for the court and for the country. The shame of it is that Jackson deserved a unanimous vote.

To their disgrace and, we trust, the disgust of most Floridians, senators Marco Rubio and Rick Scott chose their party line and the wrong side of history rather than honor a deserving daughter of Florida with the highest rank yet earned by anyone from this state.

Scotts vote was expected, given his habitual partisanship and his chairmanship of the Republican Senatorial Campaign Committee. Rubio, facing a re-election bid in November, must have exhausted his good instincts the week before, when he belatedly helped break the GOPs eight-month boycott of Holocaust historian Deborah Lipstadts confirmation as President Joe Bidens special envoy against antisemitism.

Polls show sharply rising public disapproval of the court, so it matters that Jackson is the most popular nominee since Chief Justice John Roberts in 2005. In a Pew Research Center report issued before the hearings, more than twice as many people favored her as were opposed.

The hearings did not damage her. According to a Morning Consult/Politico poll conducted April 1-4, the public favored her 49% to 26% (with the rest undecided), making her more popular than President Donald Trumps three nominees.

The Republicans harping on the court-packing issue are, of course, up to their nostrils in hypocrisy. They set an example of packing with their nearly year-long refusal to even allow hearings on Merrick Garlands nomination by President Barack Obama. That kept the late Justice Antonin Scalias seat open for a Republican president to fill, preserving the conservative majority on the court.

In contrast, McConnell hastily got Amy Coney Barrett confirmed barely a week before the 2020 election, enlarging the majority and casting Roberts, the occasional moderate, into the unfamiliar role of occasional dissenter.

McConnell and Sen. Lindsey Graham, who might chair the Judiciary Committee in a Republican Senate, left no doubt this week that they would use that power to block any more Biden nominees. That would be court-packing on steroids.

A red herring

The Republican static over Jacksons demurral on the packing question was a red herring, a distraction. Because it appears impossible to amend the Constitution in todays political climate, enlarging the court is a nonstarter. Its also a bad idea, especially for the precedent it would set.

A better idea is the 18-year term limit proposal that Bidens study commission praised without exactly recommending it. It would reduce the political pressure that comes with each presently lifetime appointment and encourage presidents to appoint older candidates. But it too lacks traction.

It bears remembering that before McConnells court-packing, Supreme Court confirmation votes were only infrequently partisan and often unanimous. Among nine from 1975 through Obamas term, only three were partisan. Of Ronald Reagans five nominees, three were confirmed unanimously, including Sandra Day OConnor, the first woman, and only the outlier Robert Bork was rejected, with six Republicans opposing him.

For most of the nations history, confirmations were by voice vote. They were not subject to hearings until President Woodrow Wilson nominated the first Jewish justice, Louis D. Brandeis.

Other than the Republican disrespect for an independent judiciary, the greater present danger to the court is internal. Oklahomas legislature is only the latest to effectively ban abortion on the assumption that the conservative justices will erase rather than erode Roe v. Wade. Nearly two-thirds of the American people oppose that, polls show, meaning that such a result would be devastating to public opinion on the court itself and to its legitimacy.

In a democracy, trust is the judiciarys only armor.

There is also the matter of Justice Clarence Thomass wife, Virginia, and her involvement in the events culminating in the Jan. 6, 2021 insurrection.

He is not responsible for her political extremism and conspiracy theories, as revealed in a volley of emails between her and Trumps chief of staff, Mark Meadows. But he is responsible for insulating himself and the court from any potential conflict of interest related to her.

She was advocating for the vice president and Congress to defy the Constitution and overturn Bidens election. Justice Thomas has already participated in one relevant case, casting the only dissent to turning over some White House records to the Jan. 6 investigating committee.

What if the court should be closely split on another case?

In the technical sense, Virginia Thomas has no known financial stake in the probe, so neither does her husband. But that is a distinction without a difference. He should recuse.

Jackson already has set the proper example. The most pertinent question asked of her during the Judiciary Committee hearings concerned the pending Supreme Court case over Harvard Universitys affirmative action policy. Shes a Harvard alumna and a member of its Board of Overseers. She said she would recuse herself.

Again, it was the right answer  and the right example for sitting justices like Thomas to follow.

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Peacekeepers from the 20th Chinese peacekeeping engineering detachment to Lebanon are seen operating the crane to hoist a concrete structure at the air defense shelter construction site on April 7, 2022.

By Zhuang Xiaohao and Wang Zhehao

BEIRUT, April 12 -- At the request of the Engineering Division of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), the 20th Chinese peacekeeping engineering detachment to Lebanon dispatched a crane operation team to assist the construction of concrete air defense shelters on April 7, local time.

The 14 concrete air defense shelters to be hoisted were distributed at 7 places in the camp of the Irish-Polish Battalion. Leader of the crane operation team Zeng Minhui said: " It is a great test for the crane operators to hoist the concrete structure weighing 14 tons each in such a narrow area, the security risk is high."

"You are very professional and attentive", the director of the Engineering Division of the UNIFIL said upon the completion of the operation.

It is learned that since being deployed to the mission area in Lebanon in August 2021, the 20th Chinese peacekeeping engineering detachment has completed 29 annual construction tasks and 19 temporary tasks with high standards.
If you were looking for the Charlestown Democratic Town Committee website and ended up here, try this





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News

District 8 State Representative candidates talk local priorities

Republican candidates for District 8 State Representative met in the Hopkinsville City Council Chambers on Monday night to discuss their priorities should they be elected during the Hopkinsville League of Women Voters Candidate Forum.

Incumbent Walker Thomas and Caldwell County Judge-Executive Larry Curling shared differing beliefs on what their priorities would be should they be elected with Curling sharing three priorities: public safety, access to internet and obtaining additional road funding; while Thomas main focus regarded tax reform.

Curling shared that if he is elected, he will be pushing the state to provide additional road funding for District 8.

Id definitely push for more road money, especially in our discretionary road funds, he said. Thats very important to counties. I handed in about 12 discretionary road funds this year and of course, only two were approved and there needs to be more in that discretionary fund.

Curling continued to note that he intends to push to get better, faster internet into the rural areas of the counties District 8 covers.

Finally, he shared that District 8 is struggling with 9-1-1 services.

Several priorities fall under that infrastructure, so infrastructure improvement benefits the whole county, not just a special group, Curling said.

Thomas, on the other hand, felt tax reform, specifically eliminating the states income tax, is of more importance and would be his top priority.

I hope were in the process of doing it now  we just passed legislation for tax reform and we think Kentucky has had an antiquated tax system for many years now, Thomas said. So, our push is to slowly reduce the state income tax. I feel we dont need to penalize people for working.

Thomas continued to state that the whole region would benefit if the state reduced its income tax to zero as he said Kentuckys income tax prevents Fort Campbell soldiers and their families from moving into Kentucky and retiring in the area.

Ive been a big advocator for tax exempt and military pensions also, he said. So, if we can get the retirees here, they usually end up raising their families here, their kids stay and their grandkids stay.

Both candidates also shared their opinions on what current state priorities they would change if they were to be elected.

Thomas reiterated that the states tax system is one of the current priorities he would like to change, but tax reform aside, Thomas stated that protecting Kentuckians Second Amendment rights and restricting abortions in the state should be bigger priorities at this time.

Weve been protecting our Second Amendment rights this year we passed, in the state of Kentucky, where if the federal government gets a little overreach on Second Amendment rights that we dont have to honor some of those things, he said.

Protecting life is (another priority for me)  I would love for abortions to be kind of banned, if we can, but at least we are protecting the life of the unborn slowly by putting some restrictions on, so thats also legislation thats in the works right now.

Curling, however, simply reiterated that he would change the House of Representatives priorities on the discretionary road fund.

Weve struggled for years to get these roads black-topped and we depend on the state to help us with that process, Curling said.

Curling continued to share that the discretionary road fund is going to take a hit in the future as electric vehicles are gaining popularity. He explained that in Kentucky, a small percentage of the money spent at gas pumps is put into that discretionary road fund.

Whats going to happen when all those cars eventually turn over to electric cars, he said. That needs to be changed. The tax needs to go on those electric cars before people start buying them.

To view the full candidate forum, you can visit the League of Women Voters  Hopkinsville, KY Facebook page.
SUCEAVA, Romania  You are safe. These were the words a Ukrainian woman, her daughter and an elderly woman needed to hear while waiting for 
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St Patricks Festival Kilkenny has presented cheques to two local charities at a ceremony in County Hall.

The Medieval Mile Museum Music Series, funded by the Local Live Public Performance Scheme 3 in association with Kilkenny County Councils Arts Office raised 12,000 for Amber Womens Refuge.

Amber Womens Refuge is a local not- for-profit organisation supporting women and children affected by domestic violence and abusive relationships across Carlow and Kilkenny. These funds will support them in the provision of their services.

Some 2,500 people attended these special traditional music concerts in the stunning setting of the Medieval Mile Museum as part of Kilkenny Tradfest.

The highly-successful Rogu Fireshow and Fireworks Display over Kilkenny Castle, funded by the Local Live public Performance Scheme 3 in association with Kilkenny Arts Office raised 8,500 for St Vincent De Paul Kilkenny. The Society of St Vincent de Paul fundraises to assist those in need.

Over 3,000 tickets were sold for these events that took place as part of St Patricks Festival Kilkenny 2022.

Its fantastic to be able to give back to two very worthy charities, Fidelis Doherty, Cathaoirleach of Kilkenny County Council said.

These events were enjoyed by so many people and now the money will work to help more members of our community. Amber Womens Refuge and the St Vincent De Paul are vital services to Kilkenny.
Inistioge has been nominated in the 2022 Irelands Best Kept Towns competition.

The popular and picture-pretty riverside village had previously been nominated in 2020 but the competition was cancelled that year due to Covid restrictions.

This is an all island competition with entries from Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

The national Tidy Towns office works with the Northern Ireland Amenity Council in the adjudication process and the judging will take place in May.

Inistioge Tidy Towns Chairperson Tony Noble commented: "With the Tidy Towns and Entente Florale gold medals in the back pocket its full steam ahead to represent the village at its best for this competition as well.

"Inistioge Tidy Towns wants to thank the whole community for the support which has brought such success in the past  but we begin again!

"Any help, from individual households, residential areas or business will contribute to the overall impression of the well-kept village. Ar scath a cheile a mhaireann na daoine!"

Inistioge Tidy Towns also added that they are always ready to welcome new volunteers.

They meet regularly on Saturday morning at 10.30 youll find them on the Square.

"The cuppa and the chat afterwards is (nearly) as important and enjoyable as the litter picks, the weeding, the painting, the planting, the mulching, the watering," a spokesperson added.

"Beidh failte romhat!"
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British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, seen here on February 25, and the Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak have been told they will be fined by the Metropolitan Police for breaching Covid-19 rules with lockdown-breaking parties on UK government premises.
Miya Ponsetto attorney, Paul D'Emilia, said his client is grateful for the plea deal, and she has been "leading an exemplary life" since the incident.
Posted by Liam on at 08:54 AM CST



While he didnt make an appearance until Star Wars Battlefront: Elite Squadron , X2 and his brother X1 were originally concepts from the canceled Battlefront III from Free Radical Design.







, X2 and his brother X1 were originally concepts from the canceled from Free Radical Design. The Battlefront story isnt just available for gamers, as readers can also get in on the action. The first Battlefront novel Twilight Company by Alexander Freed was inspired by the 2015 version and told the story of an elite group of humans and aliens alike that served throughout the Galactic Civil War.







story isnt just available for gamers, as readers can also get in on the action. The first novel by Alexander Freed was inspired by the 2015 version and told the story of an elite group of humans and aliens alike that served throughout the Galactic Civil War. The 2017 sequel Battlefront II: Inferno Squad by Christie Golden adapted events by the new Battlefront II in a story that followed an Imperial legion that hunts down Saw Gerraras rebels, and later even Luke Skywalker and Jyn Erso.







by Christie Golden adapted events by the new in a story that followed an Imperial legion that hunts down Saw Gerraras rebels, and later even Luke Skywalker and Jyn Erso. Frontwire studios had planned to make a version of Battlefront without LucasArts called Galaxy in Turmoil , but in 2016 Lucasfilm sent in a request to end development and all plans were ceased.







without LucasArts called , but in 2016 Lucasfilm sent in a request to end development and all plans were ceased. December 2019 saw the release of a special Celebration Edition of Star Wars: Battlefront II .







. The 2015 game included four DLC packs that included the new locations of the Outer Rim, Bespin, the Death Star, and finally Scarif following the release of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story . The Scarif expansion pack included characters like Jyn Erso and Orson Krennic.







. The Scarif expansion pack included characters like Jyn Erso and Orson Krennic. Fans scoured the Internet for any information about a potential Battlefront III . One loyal fan looked through the archives of Resident Evil: Operation Racoon City and found Star Wars concepts and models for the canceled Slant Six Battlefront sequel.







. One loyal fan looked through the archives of and found concepts and models for the canceled Slant Six sequel. In addition to Battlefront III , plans for a story-based fourth installment were also developed. The alternate reality version of events was said to adapt a version of the saga where both Obi-Wan Kenobi and Luke Skywalker turn to the Dark side.







, plans for a story-based fourth installment were also developed. The alternate reality version of events was said to adapt a version of the saga where both Obi-Wan Kenobi and Luke Skywalker turn to the Dark side. One of the most fun options in the original two games was available by a DLC downloaded from LucasArts that gave players access to expanded factions, including Jawas, Tusken Raiders, Ewoks, and Gungans.







Asajj Ventress made her first gaming appearance in the Xbox Live version of Battlefront II released in 2006.

Hello there,fans! This week on the site were tackling the entireseries, which may be the most belovedgaming franchise of all-time. Make sure to read our  Expand Your Mind  article first to read the guide to all the different games, but stay tuned throughout the week for more content. Well be including articles, insights, videos, and information on the coolest merchandise you need to put on your wishlist.Its crazy to think that it's been almost two decades since the originalwas released. The series has been beloved byfans and the gaming community alike, and theres truly no other experience like it. Were excited to see where the series goes next, and how the new entries toWars canon are incorporated. Here are some-centric Force Facts:What do you think, Rebelscum fans? Would you like to see a futuregame that includes locations from the entire saga? What about, and the Disney+ shows? Let us know in the forums , and as always, may the Force be with you!Check out Rebelscum.com merch!Be sure to follow us on all of our social media platforms:
Lee Ka-jin's "Eternity" (2022) is one of 13 pieces to be shown at the "Hidden Colours: Korean Contemporary Ceramic Art" exhibition in Belgium and France from May to September. Courtesy of Korea Ceramic Foundation





By Kim Rahn







An exhibition of Korea's ceramics will be held in Europe starting in May to showcase the nation's contemporary ceramic art, according to the Korea Ceramic Foundation, Monday.







The foundation said it will hold the traveling exhibition titled "Hidden Colours: Korean Contemporary Ceramic Art" from May 14 to June 12 in Belgium and from June 25 to Sept. 4 in France.







Jeong Kwan's "What to Value" (2022) / Courtesy of Korea Ceramic Foundation

Eleven artists' works with a modern interpretation of traditional ceramics and techniques will be on display.







The Belgium event will be held as a part of the Ceramic Art Andenne, with Korea being selected as the guest country of the 2022 show to mark the 120th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Korea and Belgium in 2021.







The triennial, launched in 1988, has become a renowned international contemporary ceramic art event.







In the guest country section, 10 Korean artists  Lee Eun-bum, Park Sung-wook, Ahn Ji-in, Jang Seok-hyun, Yoo Eui-jeong, Kim Sun, Jeong Kwan, Ju Se-kyun, Lee Ka-jin and Park Jong-jin  will exhibit 13 pieces, while Oh Jei-sung, who participated in the "artist in residence" program, will have a separate event.







After the exhibition in Belgium finishes, the ceramic works will be moved to another show in La Piscine museum in Paris.







"We expect the traveling exhibition will provide an opportunity for Korean artists to advance into the overseas art market and for the country to promote its ceramic art across the world," the foundation said in a statement.


U.S. Special Representative for North Korea, Sung Kim, speaks after a meeting with South Korea's Special Representative for Korean Peninsula Peace and Security Affairs Noh Kyu-duk, Oct. 18, 2021, at the U.S. State Department in Washington. Kim will visit South Korea next week to coordinate policy ahead of the launch of the new administration of President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol. AP-Yonhap





U.S. Special Representative for North Korea Sung Kim will visit South Korea next week to coordinate policy ahead of the launch of the new administration of President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol, sources said Tuesday.







Kim is expected to arrive in Seoul around Monday and stay for four days to hold talks with his South Korean counterpart, Noh Kyu-duk, and other officials of the outgoing and incoming administrations. Kim's deputy, Jung Pak, is also expected to visit Seoul during the same period.







Kim's visit comes amid concern North Korea could test a nuclear weapon around the birth anniversary of its late founding leader Kim Il-sung on Friday. His trip also coincides with annual joint military exercises between South Korea and the U.S. that Pyongyang has angrily reacted to.







In Washington last week, Kim held talks with Noh and also met with a policy consultation delegation sent by President-elect Yoon.







Kim is expected to use his upcoming meetings in Seoul to coordinate the allies' response to potential North Korean provocations during the government transition.







A meeting with Yoon is not being planned for now, according to a source with knowledge of the president-elect's schedule.







Kim could still discuss preparations for Yoon's first summit with U.S. President Joe Biden, which has yet to be scheduled but could coincide with a possible Biden visit to Japan in late May. (Yonhap)






South Korea and the United States kicked off preliminary military drills on Tuesday ahead of their major springtime combined training later this month, Seoul officials said.







The allies began the four-day South Korea-led crisis management staff training (CMST) in the run-up to their command post training (CCPT) set to run from next Monday through April 28, according to the officials.







Led by South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff, the CMST is designed to practice a set of procedures to respond to possible pre-war crisis scenarios. The CCPT is a computer simulation training based on the allies' wartime contingency plans.







Observers said that the allies could consider staging field training as well amid concerns that North Korea could engage in provocative acts, such as the launch of another intercontinental ballistic missile or a nuclear test, in time for its major political events later this month.







The North is set to celebrate the 110th birth anniversary of its late founding leader Kim Il-sung on Friday and the founding anniversary of the North Korean People's Revolutionary Army on April 25.







The springtime training was initially planned for March but has been postponed to April due to last month's presidential election, the COVID-19 pandemic and other reasons. (Yonhap)


By Andrew Hammond





Far-right, pro-Russia and anti-NATO leader Marine Le Pen emerged in a strong second place on Sunday and will face off against incumbent Emmanuel Macron for the French presidency on April 24 in what could be a nailbiter election.



While Macron emerged in first place on Sunday with around 28 percent of the vote, it wasn't the overwhelming victory that polls as late as last month projected. Le Pen scored her highest percentage of the vote among any of the three presidential campaigns she has been involved in, with approximately 23.5 percent.



It is almost certain that Macron won't win close to the 66 percent of the second-round vote he secured in 2017. Indeed, a poll on Sunday night from Ifop Fiducial indicated that the second round ballot could be a lot closer, with a 51-49 percent win for Macron. This figure is similar to a Harris poll last week that put Macron at 51.5 percent to Le Pen's 48.5 percent.



To be sure, Macron remains the favorite to beat her in the second-round, two-way run-off, and to become the first re-elected president for some two decades. But French politics is volatile, even without the impact of the Ukraine conflict.



Support for the far right in Sunday's first round was at its highest point yet: Le Pen and her extreme-right rival Eric Zemmour won around 33 percent of support between them. It seems likely that most of Zemmour's voters will opt for Le Pen in two weeks.



Macron has been endorsed by the center-left Socialists, who secured a historic low of 2 percent on Sunday, and the center-right Republicans, who won only 5 percent too.



What will now help determine the outcome of the April 24 ballot is where the supporters of hard-leftist Jean-Luc Melenchon go. He secured around 20 percent of the vote and, while he has urged his supporters not to vote for Le Pen, he stopped short of endorsing Macron.



So, while Macron may appear in the home straight, French politics may still have a surprise or two in store in the next two weeks. The unusual political times are highlighted by the fact that, with Macron and Le Pen facing off against each other, this election is only the second time in the country's modern history that neither of the parties of the center-right Republicans or center-left Socialists, which have governed for almost all of the post-war era, have qualified for the final round.



Further unexpected twists and turns cannot be ruled out, especially in a context of distrust of the political class, and of rising economic inequality for many. Small wonder that financial markets have been jittery.



So, with Europe in its most volatile period in years  if not decades  post-Ukraine invasion, Macron is by no means guaranteed re-election. There remains widespread discontent against the wealthy urban elite and establishment, including by the yellow-vest protests, fueled by financial difficulties in rural or peripheral urban areas, which will likely now be intensified following the sanctions against Russia, and significantly higher gas, electricity and food prices are likely.



Le Pen will seek to double down now on tapping into this economic pain, including by proposing cutting taxes on fuel, presenting herself as an anti-globalization champion, including opposition to international trade and NATO. Her wider platform is centered on an anti-immigration project to prioritize native French people over non-French for housing, jobs and benefits, and to ban the Muslim headscarf from all public spaces.



The fact that she did so well on Sunday will dismay many in France  as well as internationally too. Should she pull off a victory in two weeks, it would be a severe blow for Brussels, given her well-publicized euroskepticism and the fact that  alongside Germany  the country has traditionally been the "twin engine" of EU integration.



Macron will hope to recapture the mood of last month when he was surging in the polls, styling himself as a war-time leader following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The fact that he slipped in opinion surveys since then has been attributed to him devoting so much time to diplomatic talks with world leaders.



Aware of this critique, he is going after Le Pen hard in the last phase of the campaign, including on Russia, and she has had to distance herself from President Vladimir Putin. His main goal, now that he has filled the vacuum of power in the political center ground created by the collapse in support for the Socialists and Republicans, will be to make a pitch for the 26 percent of voters who abstained, plus other non-mainstream voters, especially the approximately 20 percent who voted for Melenchon.



Nevertheless, markets will continue to be on edge for another two weeks as Macron and Le Pen seek to build broader coalitions of voters in their one-on-one standoff. The yield on France's 10-year bonds rose to a seven-year high last week on concerns Le Pen may take power in the middle of the Ukraine war.



Taken together, such a possibility would make for a highly unpredictable finish to the campaign. While Macron has an edge, his lead is not insurmountable in what is a shifting sands socio-economic context.





Andrew Hammond ((andrewkorea@outlook.com) is an associate at LSE IDEAS at the London School of Economics.






By Park Jae-hyuk







Hyundai Glovis signed a long-term contract with Woodside, an Australian energy company, to ship liquefied natural gas (LNG) produced in Australia to Northeast Asia and other regions for up to 15 years, the Korean firm said Tuesday.







The online signing ceremony was attended by representatives from both companies, including Hyundai Glovis CEO Kim Jung-hoon and Woodside CEO Meg O'Neill.







Their contract period is 10 years with an additional five-year extension option.







The logistics arm of Hyundai Motor Group plans to start delivering LNG from Australia in the second half of 2024, once it receives a new LNG ship to be built for the project from a local shipbuilder.







"We will play an important role as a global shipping company in line with the trend of energy conversion," a Hyundai Glovis official said. "We will show global competitiveness in the area of gas shipping."







Hyundai Glovis is the first Asian shipping company to join hands with Woodside.







Based on the latest deal, the Korean firm aims to expand its presence in gas shipping, so that it can gain a competitive edge over its rivals in delivering hydrogen to the global market.







Given that Woodside is the only overseas investor in Korea's Hydrogen Energy Network (Hynet) consortium organized for the construction of hydrogen refueling infrastructure, Hyundai Glovis is considering signing another contract with the Australian company to ship hydrogen by sea.







In addition, Hyundai Glovis seeks to accelerate its efforts to establish a global hydrogen supply chain by shipping ammonia and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) by sea starting in 2024, in accordance with its contract signed last year with Switzerland's Trafigura, the world's third-largest raw materials trading company.


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Gov. Eric Holcomb has selected a Valparaiso University Law School graduate to lead the state agency in charge of licensing Hoosier drivers and registering their vehicles.

Joe Hoage, currently head of the Indiana Department of Labor, will take over as the new Bureau of Motor Vehicles commissioner May 28, Holcomb announced Tuesday.

It's a homecoming of sorts for Hoage who served as general counsel for the BMV from 2017 to 2020 prior to being appointed Indiana's labor agency chief.

"It's been an honor to lead a hard-working group at the Department of Labor," Hoage said. "I am humbled to be selected to serve as commissioner of the BMV and excited for the opportunity to build on the successes the agency has achieved under Governor Holcomb's leadership."

Holcomb said he selected Hoage for the BMV job in part because Hoage's Department of Labor capably responded to eight times the usual volume of workplace concerns amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

"The Indiana BMV is one of the most innovative motor vehicle agencies in the nation, and I know that progress will continue under Joes leadership," Holcomb said. "He brings experience from across state government and is well respected."

The Valpo law grad earned his bachelor's degree at Franklin College. He previously served as Indiana's public access counselor, general counsel for the Department of Natural Resources, an attorney with the Gaming Commission and deputy prosecutor in Marion County.

Hoage is succeeding BMV Commissioner Peter Lacy. He's led the driver services agency since 2017 after previously spending two years as BMV chief of staff.

"Commissioner Lacy has delivered outstanding service to Hoosiers by investing in new technology and empowering employees to drive change," Holcomb said.

"The result is an agency that provides Hoosiers with great customer service and more choices about how they interact with the agency. Peter has prioritized efficiency in operations and always focused on quality."

The governor said he'll name a new state labor department leader at a later date.
Many don't know of the sacrifices that have been made
IVE member Jang Wonyoung reveals just how tall she is now.

Keep on reading for all the details.

How Tall is IVE Jang Wonyoung?

IVE member Jang Wonyoung shocked viewers by revealing just how tall she is.

On April 10, Jang Wonyoung appeared on KBS's "The Boss Has Donkey Ears." During the episode, the 2004-liner revealed the secret about her height.

Choi Eun Ho, who is an event agency CEO, commented that Jang Wonyoung would be the first person he would invite if they were to do an event for a designer fashion brand. He noted that it would be great to do a runway event with the IVE member.

In response, Jang Wonyoung revealed that she has experience modeling and has walked a runway before.

In September 2019, Jang Wonyoung made her runway debut at the 2019 Tokyo Girls Collection A/W. The idol walked alongside former co-IZ*ONE member Miyawaki Sakura (LE SSERAFIM).

During the episode, Jang Wonyoung confessed she once thought of becoming a fashion model.

Kim Sook, who is a panelist on the show, asked Jang Wonyoung, "You were over 170cm tall last year. How much have you grown?"

Jang Wonyoung then revealed she actually grew taller, stating she is 173cm tall now!

This left the panel shocked.

The idol has always been known for her tall beauty, but her reputation rose tremendously after her debut with IVE. Jang Wonyoung quickly became one of the top beauties of the fourth generation and is considered one of the most influential idols. She is already the face of Innisfree and has been dubbed as the human "MiuMiu."

What do you think of the situation? Tell us in the comments below!

IVE Recent Activities

On April 5, IVE released their second single album, "LOVE DIVE," and a title track of the same name. "LOVE DIVE" is described as a "dark modern" pop song. The song has an addictive chorus and percussion sound. Lyrically, "LOVE DIVE" reinterprets the cupid of the new era planning to shine on stage.

To celebrate the release of the single album, IVE held a comeback showcase. The girls were able to communicate with their fans during the event.

For more K-Pop news, always keep your tabs open on KpopStarz.

KpopStarz owns this article.

Written by Alexa Lewis
One male ARMY who attended BTS' Las Vegas concert lifted up his shirt for Jungkook, and the idol has the best response!

Keep on reading to know more.

BTS Jungkook Responds to Male ARMY Lifting His Shirt Up at 'Permission to Dance On Stage' Las Vegas Concert

Recently on April 9, superstar group BTS held the second night of their four night "Permission to Dance On Stage" concert at the Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, United States.

Just like BTS' past concerts, the group brought the heat and excited thousands of fans with their incredible performances, stunning stage sets, and amazing interactions between the members and fans, ARMYs.

Along with their concert, BTS became a trending topic on several social media platforms, such as Twiiter, where fans shared photos and videos of moments that happened at the event.

While there was numerous interactions between BTS and ARMYs that are surely memorable, one in particular caught the eye of fans.

As part of their concert, BTS boarded a movable cart as they traveled around the stadium and sang their songs, which also allowed both the group and fans to be closer to each other.

However, as the members were going around the stadium, one male ARMY decided to tease Jungkook by lifting his own shirt up, in reference to the several times the idol had done the same during performances.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Jungkook Reveals If He Wants to be Reborn as BTS or ARMY - His Answer is Heartwarming

In the photo shared, the fan can be seen smiling widely and having the time of his life as he lifts his shirt up as Jungkook passes by.

ARMYs Praise Fanboy for Funny Moment with Jungkook

Upon seeing this, Jungkook did what "Jungkook" would do - lift his shirt up as well!

Although Jungkook only lifted up his shirt to expose enough of his abs, it was definitely enough to make the crowd in front of him go wild.

Fans who saw the small interaction couldn't help but find it rather cute, and even brought out the famous phrase, "Jungkook see, Jungkook do," which references to the youngest BTS member copying actions done by his fellow members.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: ARMYs Criticize Fellow Fans After Nearly Injuring BTS at Las Vegas Concert

Some also expressed their gratitude to the male ARMY for doing that, as it resulted in a memorable moment from Jungkook!

Some fans comments read, "Jungkook gotta do what Jungkook sees and that guy clearly knows this and took the opportunity," "This makes the whole thing even more cute and funny. Kudos to the other dude who created this funny moment," "Fanboys be winning a lot! And I'm happy for them," and "Fanboys keep on winning like one of them got hobi (J-Hope) to complete their heart, now this. I'm disguising as a guy to flirt."

What do you think about the interaction?

For more K-Pop news and updates, always keep your tabs open here on KpopStarz.

KpopStarz owns this article.

Written by Robyn Joan
slide 2 of 6

With BTS holding their second concert in Las Vegas, RM paid tribute to Las Vegas' Army.

On April 9 at 7:30 pm (local time), the second day of 'BTS PERMISSION TO DANCE ON STAGE - LAS VEGAS' was held at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, USA.
IVE's "LOVE DIVE" has achieved an outstanding first-week sales amount. It earned a spot on the top 10 list of the highest first-week sales by K-pop girl groups in the history of the Hanteo Chart.

Keep on reading to know how big their sales figure is this time.

IVE's "LOVE DIVE" Doubles Previous First-Week Sales on Hanteo

On April 5, IVE made their very first comeback since their debut with a new single album entitled "LOVE DIVE."

The group's new release comes with two new songs called "LOVE DIVE" and "Royal," with the first song serving as the title track.

On April 11, the official first-week sales of IVE's "LOVE DIVE" came to an end. It impressively surpassed 300,000 copies. To be precise, it sold a total of 338,130 copies.

To compare, the new girl group's debut single album "ELEVEN" only sold 152,229 copies in the first week of its release. This means the first-week sales amount of "LOVE DIVE" is more than twice.

Other than that, IVE's "LOVE DIVE" has now claimed the No. 6 spot on the top 10 list of highest first-week sales by K-pop girl groups in Hanteo history. It has dethroned TWICE's "MORE & MORE," which only sold 332,416 copies.

The sextet now joins aespa as the only fourth-generation girl group in the top 10. The other spots on the list are held by BLACKPINK, Red Velvet, IZ*ONE, and TWICE.

Furthermore, IVE's "LOVE DIVE" now sits at No. 66 on the Top 100 list of highest first-week sales by K-pop groups in Hanteo history. The rookie girl group becomes the seventh female K-pop artist to land inside the top 70, following LISA, BLACKPINK, ROSE, Red Velvet, IZ*ONE, and TWICE.

Congratulations to IVE on their continuous success with their new single album "LOVE DIVE"!

IVE's "LOVE DIVE" Soars High on iTunes Charts Around the World

At the time IVE's "LOVE DIVE" came out, it immediately went up the iTunes charts across the globe.

Shortly after its release, the title track "LOVE DIVE" debuted at No. 6 on the Worldwide iTunes Song Chart - the new girl group's highest peak to date. The single album also entered at No. 17 on the European iTunes Song Chart.

On April 11, the song came in at No. 32 on the Worldwide iTunes Album Chart - the third-highest position of a K-pop album on that day.

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE: IVE Liz Gains Attention After Past Video Resurfaces - Here's Why

What's more, the single album landed inside the top 10 on iTunes Album charts in various countries, including Hong Kong, Thailand, Japan, the Philippines, Indonesia, Singapore, and more, as of April 6.

In South Korea, IVE's "LOVE DIVE" is charting high on charts as well. The song sits at No. 2 on Bugs, No. 3 on FLO, and No. 4 on both Genie and MelOn, as of 9 a.m. KST on April 12. It has earned more than 370,000 unique listeners on MelOn, as of this writing.

In Japan, the title track ranked second on the LINE MUSIC real-time chart as of 8 a.m. JST on the 12th.

For more K-Pop news and updates, keep your tabs open here at KpopStarz.

KpopStarz owns this article

Written by Maria Scott
Curious about where Jennie got the pieces for her latest airport fashion? Keep on reading for all the details.

BLACKPINK Jennie Spotted Heading to Los Angeles

On the afternoon of April 11, BLACKPINK member Jennie was seen departing for Los Angeles through Incheon International Airport.

Jennie, who is known for her black hair, arrived at the airport with an intense new orang hairstyle that day. On April 10, Jennie shared several photos on her Instagram debuting the new hairstyle with the caption, "Don't talk about me or my new hair."

Jennie captured attention with her stylish airport fashion by matching a yellow cropped cardigan with a black t-shirt and skinny black jeans.

Jennie has made several hints concerning BLACKPINK's potential group comeback. Because of that, many are expecting that her schedule in Los Angeles may have something to do with BLACKPINK's activities as a whole. The group's last release was their first full-length album, "THE ALBUM," in October 2020.

Here are the Piece & Final Price of BLACKPINK Jennie's Airport Look

First, let us start with the most eye-catching part of her look  the bright yellow cardigan! The garment is from the brand RECTO, and it is their Chunky Curved-Neck Cardigan. The cardigan has a cropped fit, concealed closure, side flap pockets and a unique cutaway at the front.

The cardigan costs $415.

For her jeans, Jennie wore FRAME's Ali High-Rise Skinny Jeans. The jeans feature super-stretch denim. On the website, the jeans cost $220.

Jennie is wearing three pieces from Chanel, a brand she is the global ambassador for. First, she is wearing Chanel's Pearl Belt around her waist. On the website, the belt costs $1,400.

Jennie is seen rocking the Chanel Black Quilted Caviar Leather Affinity Backpack for her bag. Unfortunately, the item is out of stock on the Chanel, but it reportedly costs $7,400.

On her feet, Jennie is seen wearing Chanel's Open Toe Mules. On the website, these shoes cost $975.

While inside the airport, Jennie was seen ditching her yellow cardigan for an oversized sweatshirt. This is from the brand NIEEH and is their Fireworks Sweatshirt in navy. The sweatshirt features the brand's signature logo and a firework graphic on the back.

The sweatshirt costs 87,000KRW, which is approximately $70.32.

Jennie was also seen ditching her jeans for comfy sweatpants. Jennie was seen wearing VANCE's Upsetter Sweatpants, which cost $180. Sadly, the product is sold out on their website.

Overall, Jennie's outfit costs $10,660.32!

Would you buy any of these pieces? 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
WOLF POINT, MONTANA - 'Montana Murder Mysteries' first brought the unsolved murder of a 19-year-old Wolf Point, Montana man two weeks ago.

Russell Turcotte's father has been tortured with the unknowing of who murdered his son for the past two decades.

In the summer of 2002, Russell's body was found naked with a blow to the back of the head.

And his remains were found no where near his home, but 350-miles to the east in North Dakota.

Three years would pass before Russell's family would receive their first clue into who could have been responsible in his killing.

It's name many of you are sure to recognize now-deceased sex offender and murderer, Joseph Duncan.

"Now, Angela, I have no proof that Joseph Duncan killed my son. But this is where I've been with it since the day they told me that they could place Joseph Duncan at the same place as my son on the night my son disappeared," William Turcotte, Russell's father, told Podcast Host Angela Marshall. "What are the odds, mathematical odds of two killers being at the same truck stop at the same time?"

But very few answers would come to William and his family from law enforcement.

And it's in this episode that Angela speaks with William about how they found themselves embroiled in the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons crisis years before the movement began.

Part 2 of "Who Killed Russell Turcotte?" is available here now, or wherever you subscribe and download your podcasts.
HELENA, Mont. - Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen released a statement Monday after President Joe Biden's administration's revision of the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives outlawing "ghost guns".

AG Knudsen said the following statement in a release from the attorney general's office:

Assembling firearms for their own use is a tradition and right that Americans have exercised since the founding of our nation. This new rule will not make Montanans safer as criminals will continue to ignore the law. It will shut down firearm companies, allow the government to end online sales of parts, and expand federal access to gun owner data  all by executive decree. I will continue to stand with my fellow Montana gun owners and fight against President Bidens attacks on our rights.
NEW YORK (AP)  A gunman wearing a gas mask set off smoke grenades and fired a barrage of bullets inside a rush-hour subway train in Brooklyn, wounding at least 10 people Tuesday, authorities said. Police were trying to track down the renter of a van possibly connected to the violence.

Chief of Detectives James Essig said investigators weren't sure whether the man, identified as Frank R. James, 62, had any link to the subway attack.

Authorities were looking at the man's apparent social media posts, some of which led officials to tighten security for New York City Mayor Eric Adams. Police Commissioner Keechant Sewell called the posts concerning.

The attack transformed the morning commute into a scene of horror: a smoke-filled underground train, an onslaught of at least 33 bullets, screaming riders running through a station and bloodied people lying on the platform as others administered aid.

Jordan Javier thought the first popping sound he heard was a textbook dropping. Then there was another pop, people started moving toward the front of the car, and he realized there was smoke, he said.

When the train pulled into the station, people ran out and were directed to another train across the platform. Passengers wept and prayed as they rode, Javier said.

Im just grateful to be alive, he said.

Five gunshot victims were in critical condition but expected to survive. At least a dozen people who escaped gunshot wounds were treated for smoke inhalation and other injuries.

Sewell said the attack was not being investigated as terrorism, but that she was not ruling out anything. The shooter's motive was unknown.

Sitting in the back of the train's second car, the gunman tossed two smoke grenades on the floor, pulled out a Glock 9 mm semi-automatic handgun and started firing, Essig said. A riders video shows a person raising an arm and pointing at something as five bangs sound.

Passengers in the smoke-filled car pounded on the door to an adjacent car, seeking to escape, rider Juliana Fonda, who was in that adjoining car, told the news site Gothamist. Fonda is a broadcast engineer for Gothamist's owner, public radio station WNYC.

Investigators believe the shooters gun jammed and kept him from firing more, said two law enforcement officials who werent authorized to discuss the investigation and spoke on condition of anonymity.

Essig said police found the weapon, along with extended magazines, a hatchet, detonated and undetonated smoke grenades, a black garbage can, a rolling cart, gasoline and the key to a U-Haul van.

That key led investigators to James, who has addresses in Philadelphia and Wisconsin, the detective chief said. The van was later found, unoccupied, near a subway station where investigators determined the gunman entered the train system, Essig said.

Rambling, profanity-filled YouTube videos apparently posted by James, who is Black, are replete with Black nationalist rhetoric, violent language and bigoted comments, some of them directed at other Black people. One, posted April 11, criticizes crime against Black people and says drastic action is needed to change things.

Several videos mention New York's subways, and Adams is a recurring theme.

A Feb. 20 video says the mayor and governors plan to address homelessness and safety in New York Citys subway system is doomed for failure and refers to himself as a victim of the mayors mental health program. A Jan. 25 video criticizes Adams plan to end gun violence.

The attack unnerved a city on guard about a rise in gun crimes and the ever-present threat of terrorism. It left some New Yorkers jittery about riding the nation's busiest subway system and prompted officials to increase policing at transportation hubs from Philadelphia to Connecticut.

This individual is still on the loose. This person is dangerous, Gov. Kathy Hochul, a Democrat, warned at a midday news conference.

In Menlo, Iowa, President Joe Biden praised the first responders who jumped in action, including civilians, civilians who didnt hesitate to help their fellow passengers and tried to shield them.

After people streamed out of the train, quick-thinking transit workers ushered passengers to another train across the platform for safety, transit officials said.

High school student John Butsikaris was riding that other train and initially thought the problem was mundane until the next stop, when he heard screams for medical attention and his train was evacuated.

Im definitely shook, the 15-year-old said. "Even though I didnt see what happened, Im still scared, because it was like a few feet away from me, what happened.

New York City has faced a spate of shootings and high-profile bloodshed in recent months, including on the citys subways. One of the most shocking was in January, when a woman was pushed to her death in front of a train by a stranger.

Adams, a Democrat a little over 100 days into his term, has made cracking down on crime  especially in the subways  an early focus of his administration, pledging to send more police officers into stations and platforms for regular patrols. It wasnt immediately clear whether any officers were in the station when the shootings occurred.

The mayor, who is isolating following a positive COVID-19 test on Sunday, said in a video statement that the city will not allow New Yorkers to be terrorized, even by a single individual.



Balsamo reported from Washington. Associated Press writers Beatrice Dupuy, Karen Matthews, Julie Walker, Deepti Hajela, Michelle L. Price and David Porter in New York contributed to this report, and Michael Kunzelman contributed from College Park, Maryland.
BILLINGS, Mont. (AP)  Federal officials say they'll no longer pay for services at Montana's state psychiatric hospital following staffing shortages and other problems that were blamed in patient deaths and a violent assault last month involving unsupervised patients.

The U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services notified Montana State Hospital administrator Kyle Fouts that after Tuesday it will end Medicare and Medicaid reimbursements for all new patients admitted to the facility in Warm Springs. Payments for services to patients admitted prior to Tuesday will continue for 30 days.

Federal officials said in a Friday letter to Fouts that the facility repeatedly put patients in jeopardy and failed to correct problems, even after being notified the hospital was at risk of losing funding.

The hospital is reimbursed on average $7 million annually through Medicaid and Medicare, out of about $47 million annually appropriated to the facility by the Legislature, state officials said.

Four patients died from October through February  three because of COVID-19 and another after frequent falls.

Another patient died in August 2021 after staff ignored her complaints that she couldnt catch her breath. Federal officials found the hospital did not properly investigate her death, and later notified the state that it was at risk of losing federal payments.

Federal investigators returned last month following an assault that left a female patient with severe injuries. In Friday's letter, they faulted the state over the assault for not protecting patients from abuse. They also said said previously identified problems still had not been fixed.

The move to end reimbursements was first reported by the Montana State News Bureau.

The hospital overseen by the state Department of Public Health and Human Services treats adults with serious mental illness and is located in a town of about 600 people about 23 miles (37 kilometers) northwest of Butte. It had about 142 patients as of early April.

Health department Director Adam Meier said in response to the loss of funding that the administration of Gov. Greg Gianforte has brought in outside experts to help address the issues raised by federal officials. But he added "there are no quick fixes for the hospital's problems.

State officials recently reported the hospital was more than $7 million over budget, largely because its relying on contract workers to fill staffing shortages.

It took many years for MSH (Montana State Hospital) to get to this point, and its going to take significant time to truly fix the problem, Meier said.

No patients will be relocated due to the loss of federal funds, health department spokesperson Jon Ebelt said. He added that the agency does not expect disruptions to patient care and the state will reapply in the future to receive federal money.

But patients and their family members were alarmed by the federal move, said Bernie Franks-Ongoy, Executive Director of Disability Rights Montana, an advocacy group. Theyre worried the state is not doing enough to improve conditions at the hospital, she said.

You need to do more than talk about these contractors coming in to help. That's not helping us today, and that didn't help a couple weeks ago when that male patient assaulted the female patient, Franks-Ongoy said.

Democratic lawmakers said Gianfortes administration was slow to respond to the crisis at the hospital and the deaths that occurred there were preventable.

The costs of that inaction are hitting home, and its the most vulnerable Montanans who will bear the worst of those burdens, state Rep. Sara Novack, a Democrat from Anaconda said in a statement.
RED LODGE, Mont- Red Lodge Mountain saw 27 inches of snow fall overnight and it doesn't seem to be stopping anytime soon.

Spencer Weimar with Red Lodge Mountain said by the time lifts began spinning at 9:15, they had received another three inches.

"The grooming crew was helping get lift Maintenace and the lift operators to all the lifts, patrol where they needed to go so it was a deep morning. 27 inches overnight it's still snowing right now," Weimar said.

Operation crews were busy all Tuesday morning trying to prepare the parking lot and chairlifts, which were buried with the fresh snow. Triple Chair was the first to open at approximately 9:15 AM after crews were able to clear snow and prepare the chair for operation. Weimar said with winds around 20 mph, there were snow drifts around the base area as deep as four feet.

By noon, Red Lodge had Triple Chair, Miami Beach and Grizzly Peak in operation. Other areas like Cole Creek were still being patrolled by ski patrols.

Weimar said the largest snowfall in a 24-hour period at Red Lodge Mountain was 35 inches on March 30, 2016.

Weimar said the mountain is expecting another six to eight inches of snow through the night, but you never know what the storm could do.

"I mean you never know what the weather will do but if it's less than today we should be operational at the normal start time of 9:00 for Triple and Miami and then we will still have some patrol work to do in Cole Creek and Grizzly but we should be normal operations tomorrow unless it just keeps snowing," said Weimer.

Weimer said despite the largest snowfall of the year, the current plan is still for the ski season to end on Sunday, April 17.
BILLINGS, Mont. - Due to slick road conditions and low visibility from the winter storm, the slick street policy is in effect in Billings Tuesday.

The slick street policy if no one is injured, you can still drive the cars, all parties have insurance and there isnt a possible DUI, officers may not respond to the crash.
NEW CLOSURES: The following schools have also closed down for Tuesday:

Elder Grove Schools

Huntley Project Schools

Shepherd Public Schools

Lockwood Schools

Geyser School District

All extracurricular activities are also canceled.

Lockwood Schools says the Boys and Girls Club will also be closed tomorrow.

School is expected to resume for each district on Wednesday, April 13th.

UPDATE: Elysian School District has closed schools for Tuesday, April 12th due to the incoming storm.

BILLINGS - After consulting with local meteorologists, Superintendent Greg Upham has opted to close Billings Public Schools Tuesday due to the incoming snow storm.

Per Upham:

"The forecast is severe weather with heavy snowfall accompanied by strong winds, causing extreme-to-no-travel conditions with limited visibility. Due to the strength of the storm, they are listing this as "unique" and one that occurs only periodically.

We are planning on resuming normal school operations on Wednesday, April 13, 2022, with the holiday break beginning Thursday, April 14, 2022. Any additional updates will be available on the district website."
NANNING, April 12 (Xinhua) -- At the Nanning International Railway Port in south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, containers of mini tillers are loaded onto the China-Vietnam freight trains, ready for their cross-border journey.

The owner of these China-made mini tillers is Vu Quang Hai, who runs a farm machinery company in Vietnam. He has imported over 2,800 mini tillers from China since the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreement took effect on Jan. 1, 2022.

The RCEP, the world's largest free trade deal to date, covers 10 member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and its five free trade agreement partners, namely China, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Australia, and New Zealand.

The RCEP countries account for roughly 30 percent of the world's gross domestic product and population. Over 90 percent of trade in goods among approved member states will gradually be tariff-free.

"The RCEP has brought tangible benefits to merchants engaging in cross-border trade like me. Those tillers are rather popular in Vietnam, and my business is doing better than ever," said Vu Quang Hai.

The convenient and affordable cross-border rail transport has also facilitated the business, said Vu Quang Hai.

Qin Yufang, who works with the China Railway Nanning Group Co., Ltd., told Xinhua that the demand for cross-border railway freight transportation between China and ASEAN countries has been booming this year.

"A total of 57 Vietnam-bound freight trains departed from China in the first quarter of the year, registering a sharp increase of 128 percent. And over 20 new types of goods, including glass, farm machinery, and biscuits, have joined the trip," said Qin.

Besides tariff reduction, the free trade pact also plays a positive role in expanding market access for investment, harmonizing rules and regulations, streamlining customs procedures, and setting standard rules concerning the development of e-commerce and small and medium-sized enterprises.

Malaysian Tong Kui Boon, a wine dealer in China, was excited to hear about the implementation of the RCEP in Malaysia.

"I have lived in China for nine years, and I believe the RCEP not only facilitates trade exchanges but also offers wider cultural exchanges. More and more of my friends in Malaysia are now considering joining cross-border trade with China," said Tong.

China released a guideline in January to push for the high-quality implementation of the RCEP pact and deepen reform via high-level opening up.

It stated that China will further improve trade and investment facilitation, boost the role of RMB settlement in supporting trade and investment, and strengthen cooperation in high-end industrial chain and manufacturing projects to foster a diversified global supply chain network.

"We have, since this year, exported nearly 5 million yuan (about 785,600 U.S. dollars) of goods to Malaysia. And the total export volume to RCEP countries has exceeded 50 million yuan," said Zheng Zuguo, manager of a color-liquid crystal displays manufacturer in Beihai, China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.

Zheng said the company has been exporting products to Malaysia for many years. With the implementation of the RCEP in Malaysia, the company is expected to receive millions of yuan in tariff reduction for its products sold to Malaysia every year.

"Orders from Malaysia have risen about 20 percent year on year so far this year," said Zheng.

Comprehensive and high-level plurilateral e-commerce rules have taken shape in the Asia-Pacific region after the RCEP took effect. It has led to a more convenient and orderly development environment.

Benjamas Tanvetyanont, Thai Consul-General in Nanning, Guangxi's capital, in late March joined a livestreaming sale to promote products.

Events like livestreaming sales help promote economic and trade relations between Thailand and China, she said, noting e-commerce can help increase income in rural areas of both countries. 
Republican Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt is set to sign a near-total ban on abortion into law on April 12.
Weather Alert

...LONG DURATION RED FLAG WARNING NOW IN EFFECT FOR THE NORTHEAST HIGHLANDS FROM 11 AM SATURDAY TO 10 PM MDT SUNDAY EVENING DUE TO STRONG WINDS, LOW HUMIDITY, ABOVE AVERAGE WARMTH AND A VERY UNSTABLE ATMOSPHERE... ...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT MOST AREAS FROM 11 AM TO 10 PM MDT SATURDAY AND AGAIN 10 AM TO 10 PM MDT SUNDAY DUE TO STRONG WINDS, LOW HUMIDITY, NEAR RECORD WARMTH AND A VERY UNSTABLE ATMOSPHERE... ...FIRE WEATHER WATCH IS IN EFFECT AREA WIDE FROM MONDAY MORNING THROUGH MONDAY EVENING DUE TO STRONG WINDS, LOW HUMIDITY, ABOVE AVERAGE WARMTH AND A VERY UNSTABLE ATMOSPHERE... .A dangerous and likely historic stretch of critical fire weather is on tap beginning Saturday and lasting each day at least to the middle of next week. Widespread strong west-southwest winds, above normal warmth, six to fifteen hours of single-digit humidities, and an unstable atmosphere will exist tomorrow. Wind speeds look to persist and even increase in strength Saturday night through Sunday morning through the Northeast Highlands warranting a continuation of that Red Flag Warning through the night while other areas see a break in winds that night. Winds turn southwest areawide during the mid to late mornings of Sunday and Monday, with more above normal warmth, and unstable conditions by the afternoon producing more widespread critical fire weather conditions. ...RED FLAG WARNING NOW IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM SATURDAY TO 10 PM MDT SUNDAY... ...FIRE WEATHER WATCH IN EFFECT FROM MONDAY MORNING THROUGH MONDAY EVENING... The National Weather Service in Albuquerque has issued a Fire Weather Watch...which is in effect from Monday morning through Monday evening. The Fire Weather Watch has been cancelled. * AREA AND TIMING...Northeast Highlands from 11 AM MDT Saturday through 10 PM MDT Sunday evening for the Red Flag Warning. Monday morning through Monday evening for the Fire Weather Watch. * 20 FOOT WINDS...Southwest 20 to 35 mph with gusts of 40 to 45 mph on Saturday. West-southwest winds 20 to 25 mph with potential gusts of 40 to 60 mph Saturday night. Southwest winds of 25 to 40 mph with occasional gusts of 45 to 55 mph on Sunday. Southwest winds 20 to 30 mph with gusts to 45 to 50 mph Monday. * RELATIVE HUMIDITY...Ranging from 4 to 15 percent each day. About 6 to 12 hours of single digit humidities, 3 to 8 hours on Sunday, and 4 to 12 hours on Monday. * IMPACTS...Any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly and will be hard to control. Long range spotting and dangerous fire behavior will be possible. Outdoor burning should not be done. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Please advise the appropriate officials or fire crews in the field of this Red Flag Warning. Please advise the appropriate officials or fire crews in the field of this Fire Weather Watch. &&

...LONG DURATION RED FLAG WARNING NOW IN EFFECT FOR THE NORTHEAST HIGHLANDS FROM 11 AM SATURDAY TO 10 PM MDT SUNDAY EVENING DUE TO STRONG WINDS, LOW HUMIDITY, ABOVE AVERAGE WARMTH AND A VERY UNSTABLE ATMOSPHERE... ...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT MOST AREAS FROM 11 AM TO 10 PM MDT SATURDAY AND AGAIN 10 AM TO 10 PM MDT SUNDAY DUE TO STRONG WINDS, LOW HUMIDITY, NEAR RECORD WARMTH AND A VERY UNSTABLE ATMOSPHERE... ...FIRE WEATHER WATCH IS IN EFFECT AREA WIDE FROM MONDAY MORNING THROUGH MONDAY EVENING DUE TO STRONG WINDS, LOW HUMIDITY, ABOVE AVERAGE WARMTH AND A VERY UNSTABLE ATMOSPHERE... .A dangerous and likely historic stretch of critical fire weather is on tap beginning Saturday and lasting each day at least to the middle of next week. Widespread strong west-southwest winds, above normal warmth, six to fifteen hours of single-digit humidities, and an unstable atmosphere will exist tomorrow. Wind speeds look to persist and even increase in strength Saturday night through Sunday morning through the Northeast Highlands warranting a continuation of that Red Flag Warning through the night while other areas see a break in winds that night. Winds turn southwest areawide during the mid to late mornings of Sunday and Monday, with more above normal warmth, and unstable conditions by the afternoon producing more widespread critical fire weather conditions. ...RED FLAG WARNING NOW IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM SATURDAY TO 10 PM MDT SUNDAY... ...FIRE WEATHER WATCH IN EFFECT FROM MONDAY MORNING THROUGH MONDAY EVENING... The National Weather Service in Albuquerque has issued a Fire Weather Watch...which is in effect from Monday morning through Monday evening. The Fire Weather Watch has been cancelled. * AREA AND TIMING...Northeast Highlands from 11 AM MDT Saturday through 10 PM MDT Sunday evening for the Red Flag Warning. Monday morning through Monday evening for the Fire Weather Watch. * 20 FOOT WINDS...Southwest 20 to 35 mph with gusts of 40 to 45 mph on Saturday. West-southwest winds 20 to 25 mph with potential gusts of 40 to 60 mph Saturday night. Southwest winds of 25 to 40 mph with occasional gusts of 45 to 55 mph on Sunday. Southwest winds 20 to 30 mph with gusts to 45 to 50 mph Monday. * RELATIVE HUMIDITY...Ranging from 4 to 15 percent each day. About 6 to 12 hours of single digit humidities, 3 to 8 hours on Sunday, and 4 to 12 hours on Monday. * IMPACTS...Any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly and will be hard to control. Long range spotting and dangerous fire behavior will be possible. Outdoor burning should not be done. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Please advise the appropriate officials or fire crews in the field of this Red Flag Warning. Please advise the appropriate officials or fire crews in the field of this Fire Weather Watch. &&

...AIR QUALITY ALERT... The following message is transmitted at the request of the New Mexico Departments of Health and Environment. * WHAT....Transport winds from the northwest and west through this evening will gradually shift from the west southwest on Friday. As a result, smoke transport that has generally been toward the southeast over the past 12 hours or so will begin to shift more toward the east and northeast on Friday. Diminishing winds and nighttime inversions tonight will focus the greatest overnight impacts close to and down-drainage of the large fires. * WHERE....Smoke will continue to significantly impact areas across much of Los Alamos, Mora, southeast Rio Arriba, Sandoval, San Miguel and Santa Fe counties during the next 24 hours. This includes, but is not limited to, the following communities: Espanola, Kewa Pueblo, La Cueva, Las Vegas, Los Alamos, Mora, Ocate, Ohkay Owingeh, Pojoaque, Pueblo of Cochiti, Pueblo of San Felipe, Pueblo of Santa Clara, Pueblo of Santa Ana, Santa Fe, Sapello and White Rock. * WHEN...Remainder of this afternoon through noon MDT Saturday. * IMPACTS...Those with conditions such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, interstitial lung disease, lung cancer, and heart disease will be especially vulnerable to impacts from poor air quality, as will adults over age 65, young children, and pregnant women if smoke concentrations become unhealthy. * HEALTH INFORMATION...Remember, your eyes are your best tools to determine if it is safe to be outside. Use the 5-3-1 Method available at https://nmtracking.org/environment/air/FireAndSmoke.html. If visibility is: Under 5 miles, the air quality is unhealthy for young children, adults over age 65, pregnant women, and people with heart and/or lung disease, asthma or other respiratory illness. Outdoor activity should be minimized. Around 3 miles, young children, adults over age 65, pregnant women, and people with heart and/or lung disease, asthma or other respiratory illness should avoid all outdoor activities. Around 1 mile, the air quality is unhealthy for everyone. People should remain indoors and avoid all outdoor activities including running errands. Unless an evacuation has been issued, stay inside your home, indoor workplace, or in a safe shelter. With the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic affecting New Mexico and with the wildfire season underway, New Mexicans will need to take extra precautions. Smoke from wildfires may cause people to have more severe reactions if they are infected COVID-19. The best way to protect against the potentially harmful effects of wildfire smoke and to reduce the spread of COVID-19 is to stay home and create a clean indoor air space. NMDOH offers tips here: https://nmtracking.org/environment/air/IndoorQuality.html and https://cv.nmhealth.org New Mexicans will also need to take steps to keep their homes cool to avoid heat-related illnesses. NMDOH offers tips here: https://nmtracking.org/health/heatstress/Heat.html. For smoke forecast outlooks from the Interagency Wildland Fire Air Quality Response Program please visit: https://outlooks.wildlandfiresmoke.net.
While Alia Bhatt is busy shooting amid rumours of her wedding with boyfriend Ranbir Kapoor, the Gangubai Kathiawadi star has been receiving congratulatory messages for the big day. While in Boston, filmmaker Farah Khan, who was surrounded by fans, FaceTimed Karan Johar and they ended up having a quick chat with Alia and Ranveer Singh, who were shooting for their film Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani. Ranbir Kapoor-Alia Bhatt Wedding: Rakhi Sawant Sings Mehndi Laga Ke Rakhna for the Bride-to-Be (Watch Video).

Fans got excited and congratulated Alia for her rumoured wedding. The actor blushed and smiled and replied, "for what?" "Alia was in shock with all of our excitement too," wrote a fan who shared the clip of the moment on social media. Sources suggest that Ranbir and Alia's wedding will be a 4-day-long affair at the RK house. The functions will start from April 13 onwards with the Mehendi ceremony followed by a Sangeet ceremony on the next day and finally the wedding on April 15. Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatts Wedding Postponed Due to Security Reasons?  Reports.

Earlier, on Monday, a car was spotted at Ranbir's house and it was loaded with Sabyasachi outfits apparently for the bride and groom. Ranbir's Krishna Raj bungalow and the Kapoor family's RK Studio have also been decorated with bright lights ahead of the couple's speculated wedding. Ranbir and Alia, fondly called by fans as RanAlia, had fallen in love with each other on the sets of their upcoming film 'Brahmastra'. The two made their first appearance as a couple at Sonam Kapoor's wedding reception in 2018.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Asansol, April 12: With the voting underway for the by-poll to the Asansol Lok Sabha seat, BJP candidate Agnimitra Paul on Tuesday alleged that TMC workers thrashed her security personnel and pelted stones at her convoy.

"TMC people thrashed our security with bamboo sticks. They pelted stones on my car and ransacked it. No matter how hard Mamata Banerjee tries, BJP is winning here," says BJP's Agnimitra Paul. A quick response team of central forces and the police arrived at the spot and controlled the situation, authorities said.

"They (police) are attempting to influence voting, attacking us, not allowing media, nor are they letting polling agents sit. The DM has ordered that the media will not accompany me. They all work for Mamata Banerjee", she added. Bihar By Poll 2022: Polling Underway For By-Election in Bochahan.

She also claimed that BJP's polling agent is not being allowed inside the polling centre at the behest of the West Bengal police. She said, "A West Bengal police personnel is standing there and was not letting him enter. TMC is trying to ensure that the polling agent does not enter the booth. After coming here, I ensured that the polling agent is given entry. I will go wherever a complaint is received".

Paul is pitted against actor-turned-politician Shatrughan Sinha of TMC.

Speaking on the Nadia minor rape and murder case, Paul said, "I'm ashamed that being a woman and CM of the state Mamata Banerjee made shameful comments that it has to be seen if the rape victim had a love affair or that she was pregnant."

Polling began at 7 am and will continue till 6.30 pm. The by-poll was necessitated after former Union Minister Babul Supriyo resigned as the Lok Sabha MP of Asansol after resigning from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

The counting of votes will take place on Saturday, April 16.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Chandigarh (Punjab) [India], April 12 (ANI): Opposition parties on Tuesday slammed Arvind Kejriwal for meeting with Punjab government officials allegedly in the absence of Punjab chief minister Bhagwat Mann and alleged that the Delhi CM was ruling Punjab through "remote control."

They also termed Bhagwant Mann as a "rubber stamp" chief minister.

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"This (Punjab) government is running from Delhi and not from Chandigarh. Two days ago Arvind Kejriwal called Punjab's Chief Secretary, Power Secretary (to Delhi). He held a meeting in the absence of the Punjab CM. This is unconstitutional and is indirect control on Punjab," said Punjab Congress Legislative Party leader Pratap Singh Bajwa.

Former Punjab Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu termed the meeting a clear breach of federalism and insult to Punjabi pride.

Also Read | Mumbai Shocker: Six-Year-Old Boy Gets Fresh Lease of Life After Doctors Remove Tooth From His Lungs.

Taking to Twitter to slam AAP leaders, Sidhu posted "Chalane do aandhiyaan hakeekat kee, na jaane kaun se jhonke se baharoopiyon ke mukhaute ud jaen" (The winds of reality will blow away the masks of deceivers)

"Punjab IAS officers summoned by Arvind Kejriwal in CM Bhagwant Mann's absence. This exposes the Defacto CM and Delhi remote control. A clear breach of federalism, an insult to Punjabi pride. Both must clarify," Sidhu wrote.

Former CM of Punjab and Punjab Lok Congress chief Amarinder Singh alleged that the worst fear has come true and Arvind Kejriwal has taken over Punjab long before expected.

"Worst was feared, worst happened. Arvind Kejriwal has taken over Punjab much before it was expected to happen. That Bhagwant Mann is a rubber stamp was a foregone conclusion already, now Kejriwal has proved it right by chairing Punjab officers' meeting in Delhi," said Singh.

Meanwhile, Bhagwant Mann on Tuesday called on Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal.

He is expected to hold discussions over the implementation of 300 units of free electricity in Punjab. (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 12 (ANI): The cultural shows being organised by Jammu and Kashmir's Tourism Department are giving a delightful experience to tourists during the spring season in the Kashmir.

The latest folk music show was held on the banks of the Dal Lake in Srinagar to acquaint tourists with Kashmir's rich musical heritage along with providing a platform for young artists.

Also Read | Current Heat Wave Second Longest for April 2022 in Delhi in Over Decade, Says IMD.

Speaking to ANI, the Director of Tourism Kashmir, Dr GN Itoo said, "Our folk music has a beauty of its own. Tourists both domestic as well as international like it a lot. We want to promote our handicrafts, cuisines, heritage and especially our culture as a tourism product."

He further said that the cultural shows attract the new generation and the audience also feels delighted.

Also Read | PM Narendra Modi Named for First Lata Deenanath Mangeshkar Memorial Award.

"Whenever we organise such tourism promotional events, we provide an opportunity to youngsters. They have their own version which attracts the new generation and the audience also feels delighted. Along with that, we also give an opportunity to our legendary artists like in this event we have Noor Mohammad Shah, so that by clubbing both of them, we can promote our culture as well as tourism," he further added.

The folk music show saw both the young and legendary artists entertaining the spectators with their melodious renditions.

Praising the initiative, a local visitor, Rafi said, "The winter is over and the new season is knocking on our doors, so to welcome it Jammu and Kashmir Tourism is organising a number of activities. Among them, the main focus is on 'Folk Music', whose legacy we are carrying forward for the last many years. If someone wants to know about Kashmir in-depth then it is important to listen to its folk music. Such events are being organised at the various places (in the valley) and we are getting to listen to the folk music of Kashmir there."

"This year as the tourist influx is quite good, so when these tourists pass through any such place where Kashmiri music is being played, they stop there for some time and listen to it as it is something new for them. So, here we see a great scope for cultural exchange. And secondly, the young artists here who used to play the guitar before are now shifting towards 'Rabab'," he added.

Besides music, tourists also enjoyed the Kashmiri cuisines especially the tea and bread at the event.

The tourist praised the folk music of the Valley and also the hospitability of locals.

One of the tourists, Niha said, "The Kashmiri folk music is quite a heart touching. We felt as if we have lost in its beats. Though we could only understand a bit, but the overall impact is good. We should encourage such activities so that the young generation gets to know about its importance."

She said that the people here are also very hospitable and they treat everyone with great care and love. "They are as beautiful as this place is," she 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 12: Ali Kashif Jan, the Pakistani handler of the 2016 terror attack on Pathankot air base, has been designated as a terrorist by the government. Jan alias Jan Ali Kashif is the third terrorist to have been designated as a terrorist by the central government in last five days.

The Union home ministry said in a notification than Jan was the handler of Punjab's Pathankot air force station terror attack in January 2016 in which seven security personnel and one civilian were killed. Jan is also accused in various cases registered and being investigated by the National Investigation Agency. He had been declared proclaimed offender in these cases. India Declares Pulwama Attack Accused Mohiuddin Aurangzeb Alamgir As Designated Terrorist.

Jan continues to operate from the Jaish-e-Mohammed launching pads located in Pakistan and is involved in recruitment of cadres for their training and coordinate attack plans at targets in India, the home ministry said.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Ranchi (Jharkhand) [India], April 12 (ANI): Jharkhand Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) President and Rajya Sabha MP Deepak Prakash on Tuesday said that the 'negligence' of the state government is responsible for the cable-car mishap near the Trikut Hills close to the Baba Baidyanath Temple in Deodhar district where two persons were killed, and several others were injured.

Speaking to ANI, Prakash said that the Government of Jharkhand, the Art Culture Department and the administrative officers are completely "guilty" for all the people who faced the trouble in the ropeway collision.

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"I demand that FIR should be registered against the guilty people and the family members of those who died in this accident should get government jobs and financial help," the Jharkhand BJP chief said.

BJP Chief of Jharkhand further said that the maintenance of ropeway at the Trikut Hills close to the Baba Baidyanath Temple at Deodhar district was not taken care of from the last two years and the procedure which should have been followed for the operation of the ropeway was not being done.

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"The people who were operating should have been controlled, the rules should have been strictly followed, but the state government did not pay any attention to all these things, the result came in the form of an accident," he stated.

Prakash also thanked the Central government for providing help to NDRF immediately to save many lives.

"Thankfully, the central government sent a team of NDRF to provide relief to the people and the relief and rescue work accelerated, but in this accident, the Jharkhand government and its machinery appeared to be a complete failure, especially the disaster management of Jharkhand. the state government and the system were nowhere to be seen during the whole accident," he added.

The incident took place on Sunday afternoon after two cable cars collided with each other due to a technical glitch on the ropeway at Trikut Hills close to Baba Baidyanath Temple. Rescue operations by the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and ITBP saved many lives. The rescue operation is still underway in Deoghar.

During the incident, two people were killed and several others were injured and 48 people were rescued so far. (ANI)

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Ranchi, Apr 12 (PTI) The High Court of Jharkhand on Tuesday took suo motu congnisance of the Deoghar ropeway accident and asked the state government to submit a report by April 25.

The court sought an affidavit on reasons for the accident, details of the rescue operation and the inquiry conducted by the authorities.

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A division bench of Chief Justice Dr Ravi Ranjan and Justice Sujit Narayan Prasad directed the advocate general Rajeev Ranjan to furnish a report on the accident before the court by April 25.

Attempts to rescue passengers trapped in cable cars on a ropeway for over 46 hours in Deoghar district ended on Tuesday afternoon with a tragedy as a 60-year-old woman fell to her death while she was being winched up by a helicopter, raising the death toll to three.

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All other 60 tourists, stranded since Sunday 4 pm, after a ropeway malfunction resulted in trolleys colliding at Trikut hills, around 20 kms from famous Baba Baidyanath temple, were safely evacuated with the help of Indian Air Force (IAF) helicopters since Monday.

Fourteen of the last remaining 15 tourists, who were trapped mid-air for more than 40 hours, were rescued during the day.

The bench also asked the advocate general about media reports claiming that some technical institutes had earlier raised issues with the operation of the ropeway.

Twelve injured people in the accident are undergoing treatment at hospitals.

The rescue operation was conducted jointly by the IAF, Army, Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and the district administration.

The Trikut ropeway, according to the Jharkhand tourism department, is India's highest vertical ropeway. It is around 766-metre long.

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New Delhi, April 12: The Union education ministry on Tuesday sought a report from the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) regarding violence on its campus on Ram Navami, even as the varsity's students' union demanded an independent judicial inquiry into the matter.

Two student groups clashed at the university's Kaveri Hostel on Sunday allegedly over serving of non-vegetarian food in its mess of the festive day, with police saying 20 students were injured. Former JNU vice-chancellor M Jagadesh Kumar, who is currently the chairman of the University Grants Commission (UGC), said that violence of any kind on university campuses should be avoided.

The groups have lodged police complaints against each other, while JNU authorities claimed the violence occurred after some students objected to a 'hawan', an assertion also made by RSS-affiliate Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP). JNU Violence: ABVP Attacks Students Eating Non-Veg Food in Canteen During Navratri.

However, the JNU Students Union (JNUSU), which is led by Left-affiliated outfits, has alleged that ABVP members attacked students while opposing the serving of non-vegetarian food in the mess. Police will be recording the statements of the victims once the situation calms down, a senior officer said.

Student bodies protested outside the Jamia Millia Islamia against what transpired at JNU and to demand that food choices cannot be imposed on people in the name of Ram Navami.

"Not only in JNU but there was violence on Ram Navami in states like Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh. You cannot dictate what people should eat and impose your food choices on them," said a protester. At JNU, its student's union led a delegation to meet the university's vice-chancellor Shantishree Dhulipudi Pandit to put forth its demands but could not meet her. Security officials have asked it to put in a formal request for an appointment with the vice-chancellor.

The delegation demanded that the university withdraw its statement issued on April 11 (Monday) in which it said that the clash broke out on Sunday after some students objected to a 'hawan' conducted "peacefully" on the occasion of Ram Navami.

Claiming that the violence at the Kaveri Hostel has its beginnings in the arbitrary demand of prohibition of non-vegetarian meals at the hostel mess by a group of students, the delegation said that it has been corroborated by the relevant hostel committee and mess committee members.

"However, the same students who raised this demand and violently disrupted the functioning of the mess, who are also associated with the ABVP, have resorted to spreading a narrative of disruption of havan in the hostel premises, a claim that is neither supported by the hostel or mess committee," read a statement by the JNUSU.

It said that "it is extremely shameful" that the press statement released by the JNU administration on Monday endorsed the version of the ABVP "without the conduct of any official enquiry".

"Such partisan support of a single narrative is becoming of a university administration and therefore, we demand that the the press statement released by the JNU administration on April 11 be rescinded forthwith," the statement said.

The students' body demanded that the JNU administration take swift action on the issue and take view of the matter in a free and fair manner. "However, it is with extreme regret that we must note that the actions of the JNU administration have either fallen short of the expectations of the student community or been partisan in nature," it said.

Noting that there are justified doubts regarding the competency of an internal enquiry in the matter, they demand that the JNU administration either pursue for the conduct of an judicial inquiry into the matter or constitute a committee with a serving or retired judge of the high court as the chair for investigation. JNU Scuffle: Sentiments of All Communities Must Be Respected, Says Ramdas Athawale.

"The committee should give a call to collect all testimonies and evidence, meet with the aggrieved parties, and release the report and recommendations to the public in a time-bound manner. It has been increasingly observed that the prevalence of politically motivated violence in the campus is becoming a norm rather than the exception," the JNUSU said.

Meanwhile, Afzal Ahmed, a meat vendor, who has been supplying meat to the university's hostels' mess for the last 25-30 years claimed that he had received a call on Sunday morning asking him not to supply meat to the Kaveri Hostel on the occasion of Ram Navami.

Ahmed said, "On the morning of April 10, I got a call from some JNU students asking me not to supply meat to the Kaveri Hostel. I told them that I had received the order on April 9."

"But they threatened me saying if I supplied meat to the hostel, they would ensure that I am not able to supply meat to other JNU hostels. I told them I will come down and speak to them," he told PTI.

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New Delhi, Apr 12 (PTI) In a major operation, the CBI has got deported from Egypt, Subhash Shankar Parab, a key accused in the Rs 7,000 crore Nirav Modi bank fraud case.

Parab was the Deputy General Manager (Finance) in Firestar Diamond, officials said on Tuesday.

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Parab, who was allegedly hiding in Cairo, landed in Mumbai early on Tuesday after "deportation", they said.

According to the officials, he was absconding ever since the case involving diamantaire Nirav Modi and his uncle Mehul Choksi came to light.

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Kochi (Kerala) [India], April 12 (ANI): Following Congress issuing a showcause notice to senior party leader KV Thomas, Kerala state Congress chief K Sudhakaran on Monday said Thomas' action is tantamount to betraying the party.

The Congress Disciplinary Committee on Monday had sent notice to KV Thomas for his public conduct against the party lines in recent times.

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"He has been given a week to reply. I was the one who tried to bring him back and prevent him from going to the seminar. I had even spoken to him the day before he was going to the seminar. I had requested him not to go. Can he obey everything the CPIM says? He is a man who does not obey what the party says," Sudhakaran told mediapersons here.

"The CPIM is a fascist political movement that is leading Kerala to collapse. The position of Congress party is that its (CPIM) platform should not be used by Congressmen. That is why the party blocked him. Thomas's action is tantamount to betraying the party. He can now be seen as the man who betrayed the party," added the Kerala Congress chief.

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KV Thomas, defying the party's decision, attended a seminar organised by the CPI-M in Kannur over which Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee President K Sudhakaran wrote to Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi demanding "strict and befitting disciplinary action" against him.

Congress MP from Thiruvananthapuram Shashi Tharoor, who was also invited for the seminar obeyed the order of the party leadership and declined the invitation to the seminar. Congress reconstituted this committee in view of the cases of "indiscipline" coming to the fore in the party. The grand old party has appointed senior leader and former Defence Minister AK Antony as its president of the committee. (ANI)

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Allahabad, Apr 12 (PTI) The Allahabad High Court has observed that learner's driving licence and voter identity card should not be taken into consideration while determining the age of a juvenile in conflict with law.

Justice Rahul Chaturvedi made the observation while quashing an order of a special court in Bulandshahr which rejected an application moved on behalf of one Naushad Ali, booked for rape under the POCSO Act, for declaring him to be a juvenile.

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Ali's counsel argued in the high court that the trial court had relied upon his voter ID according to which his date of birth was April 7, 1994, thus making him a major during the commission of the crime.

The counsel submitted that he had passed the high school examination in 2015 and in the certificate his date of birth is mentioned as March 4, 2001, but the special court did not considered it.

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After hearing the counsels for the parties on Friday, the high court observed, "The learned Special Judge, POCSO Act has grossly erred in law while relying upon the learning (driving) licence of the revisionist (Ali) and voter ID card, because none of these documents should be taken into account while determining the age of a juvenile."

"When in the high school certificate the age of the revisionist is mentioned, which is available before the learned Special Judge, POCSO Act, he has to determine the age of the revisionist after taking into account the high school certificate alone, but he has not done so and has wrongly rejected the claim of juvenality relying upon the documents which are not categorized in the Juvenile Justice Act," the high court observed.

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New Delhi, Apr 12 (PTI) A 45-year-old employee of a massage parlour was arrested for allegedly molesting a woman in northwest Delhi, police said on Tuesday.

The Delhi Commission For Women (DCW) has issued notices to the city police and the MCD over an alleged sex racket being run from the massage parlour.

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DCW Chairperson Swati Maliwal has sought a detailed action-taken report, along with a copy of the FIR registered in the matter. The commission has also sought the details of the accused arrested and the women rescued from the massage parlour. It has asked police and the MCD to seal the premises of the parlour.

The DCW has also asked the MCD to provide the details of the licence granted to the massage parlour and the details of the inspection undertaken by the MCD at the premises.

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Police said they received a PCR call at Adarsh Nagar regarding the alleged molestation of a 27-year-old woman at a massage parlour located near Nikita Tower.

A police team immediately reached the spot, where the woman was found with a male employee of the parlour.

"No client was present there. No board was found at the entrance of the parlour," a police official said.

The woman made a complaint of sexual assault against one Paramjeet Singh, alleging that she went to the parlour for a job as a receptionist, where she was not only inappropriately touched by the accused but he also suggested that she would have to cater to the physical desires of the clients, police said.

A counsellor of the DCW was called by police and the woman was subjected to counselling as well as medical examination.

A case was registered and Singh was arrested.

"It was found that the spa centre or the massage parlour was functioning without a licence. An intimation in this regard has been sent to the MCD for necessary action," a police official said.

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New Delhi, Apr 12 (PTI) The railways on Tuesday issued a notice for the second stage computer-based test (CBT-2) for recruitment to various NTPC graduate and undergraduate posts, the process of which triggered protests by candidates in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.

The CBT-2 for the candidates who get shortlisted for Pay Levels 4 and 6 in CBT-1 is tentatively scheduled to be held on May 9 and 10 this year, subject to prevailing conditions.

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The stage one CBT was held in seven phases from December 28, 2020 to July 31, 2021.

The result of CBT-1 was published in the official websites of RRBs between March 30 and April 1 this year.

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The exam schedule for Pay Levels 2, 3 and 5 will be announced later.

In view of the protests by candidates who alleged irregularities in the process of recruitment to Non Technical Popular Categories (NTPC) posts, the railways had advised candidates to refer only to the official websites of RRBs for latest updates on the recruitment process.

"Please do not be misled by unauthenticated sources. Beware of touts who try to misguide candidates with fake promises of appointment for jobs on illegal consideration. RRB selections are based on Computer Based Test (CBT) and recruitment is based only on the merit of the candidates," it said.

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Hyderabad (Telangana) [India], April 12 (ANI): Amid the row over paddy procurement by the Centre, Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao said on Tuesday said the Telangana government has decided to purchase paddy from farmers within 3 to 4 days.

Rao requested all the farmers in the state to not sell their crops at a rate lesser than the Minimum Support Price (MSP).

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Addressing a press conference here today, the Chief Minister said, "Telangana Cabinet has decided to purchase the Yasangi crop (Paddy). Within 3 to 4 days, we will buy the paddy. I request the farmers not to sell their crops at a rate lesser than MSP. Even if the central government is against us, we will not stop."

Amid the row of paddy procurement, the Centre on Monday had said the procurement in Telangana under the central pool has increased tremendously over the last five to six years.

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"In order to fulfil the requirements of the National Food Security Act allocation in the deficit states, the Food Corporation of India (FCI) moves stocks from surplus states. However, due to increased production in parboiled consuming states, the volume of movement has decreased over a period. Currently, about 20 LMT par-boiled rice is consumed annually from FCI stocks for fulfilling the requirements under NFSA in par-boiled deficit States," said the central government statement on Monday.

Telangana Government has been demanding the Centre to 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)

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Coimbatore (TN), Apr 12 (PTI) A newborn baby and an ambulance driver were killed when the vehicle they were travelling in toppled near Malumichampatti on the outskirts here on Tuesday, police said.

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According to police, the ambulance was bringing the child to the Government Hospital here from Udumalpet in nearby Tiruppur district. When the vehicle was nearing Malumichampatti, the driver lost control of the vehicle and it overturned.

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Under the impact, the child and driver died on the spot.

The bodies were sent to the Government Hospital here for post-mortem. Further investigations are on, police said.

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Colombo [Sri Lanka], April 12 (ANI): Ahead of the new year celebrations in Sri Lanka, 11,000 MT of rice from India reached Colombo on Tuesday.

According to the Indian embassy in Sri Lanka, the rice reached Colombo on board the ship Chen Glory.

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New year in Sri Lanka is generally celebrated on April 13 or April 14 and traditionally begins at the sighting of the new moon.

Over 16,000 MT of rice has been supplied by India under its multi-pronged support to Sri Lanka in the past week alone, said the embassy, adding that the supplies mark the special bond between India and the island nation.

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Notably, amid the economic crisis in Sri Lanka, India has stepped forward to help the country by supplying fuel, vegetables, daily ration items and medicines.

India has already supplied over 270,000 MT of fuel to Sri Lanka till now and has earlier announced another USD 1 billion as a credit to help shore up the sinking economy of the island nation.

The USD 1 billion Line of Credit to Colombo will help in keeping their food prices and fuel costs under check.

Since January this year, support from India to Sri Lanka has exceeded USD 2.5 billion. In February, New Delhi provided a short-term loan of USD 500 million to Colombo for the purchase of petroleum products through the Ministry of Energy and the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation on behalf of the Government of Sri Lanka. In November 2021, India had given 100 tonnes of nano nitrogen liquid fertilizers to Sri Lanka as their government stopped the import of chemical fertilizers.

Besides, the Reserve Bank of India has extended a currency swap of USD 400 million and deferred payments owed by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka under the Asian Clearance Union worth several hundred million dollars.

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 crush of tourism.

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)

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Joe Biden discussed Ukraine during the virtual meet on Monday.

The two leaders had an extensive exchange of views on several regional and global issues, such as the Covid-19 pandemic, global economic recovery, climate action, recent developments in South Asia and the Indo-Pacific region, and the situation in Ukraine, the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement.

The ministry said they also took stock of the significant progress made in bilateral relations in recent years.

Both leaders have agreed that further strengthen the India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership which would be of tremendous benefit to the two countries, and would also contribute to global peace, prosperity and stability.
Putrajaya [Malaysia], April 12 (ANI): India and Malaysia held their fifth Foreign Office Consultations in Putrajaya, Malaysia on Tuesday where both sides reviewed the entire gamut of their bilateral relations and exchanged views on contemporary regional and global issues of mutual interest.

"Reviewing the multi-faceted relations between India and Malaysia during the Foreign Office Consultations, both sides expressed their desire to advance the overall bilateral relations within the framework of the Enhanced Strategic Partnership of 2015. The Foreign Office Consultations provided an opportunity to review the entire gamut of bilateral relations and exchange views on contemporary regional and global issues of mutual interest," said the Ministry of External Affairs in its statement.

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Saurabh Kumar, Secretary (East), Ministry of External Affairs, India together with Dato' Amran Bin Mohamed Zin, Deputy Secretary-General for Bilateral Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Malaysia co-chaired the 5th Foreign Office Consultations (bilateral consultations) between India and Malaysia on April 12 at Putrajaya, Malaysia.

During the visit, Secretary (East) also paid a courtesy call on Dato' Sri Saifuddin Abdullah, Foreign Minister of Malaysia and exchanged views on India-Malaysia bilateral ties.

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Both sides expressed satisfaction with the growing economic and commercial ties and expressed the hope for a faster revival of relations in the post-Covid period taking into account the shared commitment of both sides to further intensify cooperation in a wide range of areas.

The two sides agreed to work on reactivating the bilateral mechanisms in different sectors, and for presenting the results to the next ministerial-level Joint Commission Meeting to be held on mutually convenient dates, the statement read.

As this year marks 65 years of the establishment of diplomatic relations, both sides agreed to hold commemorative events in a befitting manner both in India and Malaysia. It was agreed to hold the next FOC at a mutually convenient date in New Delhi. (ANI)

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Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, EAM Dr S Jaishankar, Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin (from left to right) (Photo: Twitter/Jaishankar)

Washington [US], April 12 (ANI): India and the US on Monday (local time) called on the Taliban to abide by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolution to ensure that the Afghan territory does not become a breeding ground for terrorists to launch attacks against any country.

In a joint statement issued on the India-US 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue between External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin held on April 11 in Washington, the two sides called on the Taliban adhere to the UNSC Resolution 2593 (2021) that demands that Afghan territory must never again be used to threaten or attack any country or shelter or train terrorists or plan or finance terrorist attacks.

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The ministers also urged the Taliban to adhere to these and all other commitments with respect to the human rights of all Afghans, including women, children, and members of minority groups, and uphold freedom of travel.

They also emphasized the importance of an inclusive Afghan government and unhindered access for the United Nations and its implementing partners to deliver humanitarian assistance. The minister reiterated their commitment to close consultations on Afghanistan to help facilitate an inclusive and peaceful future for all Afghans.

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India and US also called for the cessation of violence in Myanmar, the release of all those arbitrarily detained, and a swift return to the path of democracy and inclusive governance. They also called for urgent implementation of the "ASEAN Five Point Consensus".

Acknowledging India's distinguished history of leading peacekeeping missions, the US welcomed India's commitment to participate in multilateral peacekeeping training in 2022, expand joint-capacity building efforts with third-country partners, and launch a new joint National Investigation Officers Training of trainers course in partnership with the United Nations.

Notably, during the India-US 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue, the defence and foreign ministers of the two countries forged new and deeper cooperation across the breadth of the US-India partnership, including defence, science and technology, trade, climate, public health, and people-to-people ties. (ANI)

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Defence and Foreign ministers of India and US held fourth India-USA 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue on April 11 in Washington DC.

Washington [US], April 12 (ANI): India and the US on Monday finalized signing of a new Space Situational Awareness arrangement forging the way to more advanced cooperation at 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue.

"Productive U.S. - India 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue today where we finalized major defence initiatives including the signing of a new Space Situational Awareness arrangement forging the way to more advanced cooperation," Ely Ratner, the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs tweeted.

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Pentagon said in a statement said defence and foreign ministers of the two countries forged new and deeper cooperation across the breadth of the U.S.-India partnership, including defence, science and technology, trade, climate, public health, and people-to-people ties.

US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin co-chaired the fourth US-India 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue alongside Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Minister of Defense Rajnath Singh, and Minister of External Affairs S Jaishankar, on April 11 in Washington, D.C.

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The US Department of Defence said Secretary Austin and his counterparts exchanged views on a range of regional security priorities--spanning the Indian Ocean region to East and Southeast Asia to Europe.

They agreed to maintain close consultations on the ongoing crisis in Ukraine, including on humanitarian assistance efforts, and echoed support for an independent investigation into the brutal violence deployed against civilians in Bucha. In support of India's leading role as a net security provider, the leaders discussed new opportunities to coordinate more closely together to ensure that the United States and India's shared vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific region continues to thrive.

As the Indian military emerges as a more jointly integrated force, the 2+2 Ministerial advanced initiatives that will allow the U.S. and Indian militaries to work more seamlessly together across all domains of potential conflict--from the seas to cyberspace.

The release said the United States and India finalized major bilateral initiatives on information-sharing, liaison exchanges, and joint service engagements to support high-end, combined operations.

"The four leaders committed to deepening cooperation in new defense domains, such as space and cyberspace, as the U.S. and Indian militaries jointly meet the challenges of this century. The United States and India signed a Space Situational Awareness arrangement, which lays the groundwork for more advanced cooperation in space. They also agreed to launch an inaugural Defense Artificial Intelligence Dialogue, while expanding joint cyber training and exercises," Pentagon said.

The leaders discussed ways to coordinate more closely with like-minded nations--including Australia, Japan, and European partners--to ensure that our shared principles of the rule of law, freedom of the seas, and respect for the territorial integrity of sovereign states prevail today and far into the future.

"Today's 2+2 Ministerial reaffirmed that the United States and India will continue stand shoulder-to-shoulder, rooted in common democratic values, as two pillars of a free and open Indo-Pacific," the statement added. (ANI)

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Islamabad [Pakistan], April 12 (ANI): Even after Shehbaz Sharif took oath as 23rd Prime Minister of Pakistan, PML-N has ruled out the possibility of the immediate return of Nawaz Sharif to Islamabad from London.

The PML-N leaders are excited after the junior Sharif became the country's PM, hoping that the party's supreme leader will soon be among them. However, there are a number of factors that may not allow former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to take a flight back to Pakistan, reported Dawn.

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Talking to Dawn, a couple of senior PML-N leaders said the party functionaries and workers were very happy to see Sharif junior as the Pakistan PM while looking forward to seeing Nawaz Sharif among them in the coming days.

"Nawaz Sharif has no immediate plans to return. The Sharif family thinks that his early return will establish the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf's (PTI) propaganda that he does not have serious health issues," a senior PML-N leader from Punjab said. He further added, "The other factor Nawaz will weigh before deciding to return is how the 11-party coalition government functions in the coming months in the face of the growing PTI pressure for early elections."

Also Read | India-US 2+2 Dialogue: EAM S Jaishankar, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh Hold Separate Bilateral Talks with US Counterparts.

However, in reply to a question about the tentative date for Nawaz's return, another leader close to the former premier, said: "Either just before the next polls or right after... If Nawaz gets some relief in the corruption cases ahead of the next elections, the party will press him to return to spearhead the PML-N's election campaign. To match Imran Khan's canvassing, the PML-N needs Nawaz around."

Meanwhile, PML-N Punjab spokesperson Azma Bokhari told Dawn, "Mian Sahib (Nawaz Sharif) will return to Pakistan once his consultants allow him to travel."

She also stated that after Shehbaz Sharif's election as the PM, the party workers have become emotional and they want Nawaz Sharif to return soon, but the decision has to be taken on the advice of his doctors. "He will be here at an appropriate time," she added.

An "ailing" Nawaz Sharif has been living in London since November 2019 for medical treatment after the High Court allowed him a four-week reprieve. He was serving seven-year imprisonment in the Kot Lakhpat Jail in Lahore in the Al-Azizia corruption case before his departure. In August last year, Nawaz Sharif filed an appeal with the British Immigration Tribunal after the Home Department refused to extend his stay in the country any further, citing his medical conditions. Prior to his exit, Shehbaz Sharif had submitted an undertaking to the Lahore High Court that his elder brother would return "within four weeks or on certification by doctors that he has regained his health and is fit to return back to Pakistan", reported Dawn.

In a survey conducted earlier by The News International, Pak's former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's popularity has always been on the rise across the country's many provinces as compared to Imran Khan. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Washington, Apr 12 (PTI) Ahead of the Quad in-person leadership summit in Japan next month, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday said the informal grouping of Australia, India, Japan and the United States has emerged as a powerful force of global good.

Jaishankar told reporters that challenges in the Indo-Pacific were a particular focus of the discussions during the India US 2+2 ministerial that were held at the Foggy Bottom headquarters of the State Department.

Also Read | India-US 2+2 Dialogue: EAM S Jaishankar, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh Hold Separate Bilateral Talks with US Counterparts.

"We appreciate the attention and energy devoted by the United States to the Quad. Its elevation and intensification in the last year benefits the entire Indo-Pacific," he said.

"Indeed, the Quad has emerged as a powerful force of global good," Jaishankar said.

Also Read | Russia-Ukraine War: Eight South Korean Drug Firms To Donate $2.43 Million Worth of Medicine to Ukraine.

Earlier in the day, US President Joe Biden indicated that the next Quad summit would be held in Japan on May 24.

The White House Press Secretary, however, refrained from disclosing a precise date.

"The President is looking forward to going to Asia at some point, but I don't have any more details at this point in time. Clearly, he's excited since he talked about it today," Psaki said in response to a question during her daily news conference.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Colombo, April 12: Amid the growing economic crisis in Sri Lanka, Colombo has requested Islamabad to expedite the pending financial assistance offered by the country, according to a media report. The proposed financial facilities include grant assistance of Pakistan Rupees 5.2 crores for sports, a credit line of USD 10 million for procurement of defence equipment, a new defence credit facility worth USD 50 million and a credit line of USD 200 million for procurement of mutually agreed items.

Notably, the proposal was made by Pakistan in February 2021 during the two-day official visit of former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan and former Foreign Minister Shal Mahmood Qureshi to Colombo.

Sri Lanka is battling a severe economic crisis with food and fuel scarcity affecting a large number of the people in the island nation resulting in massive protests over the government's handling of the situation. The economy has been in a free-fall since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, affecting tourism. Sri Lanka Economic Crisis: PM Mahinda Rajapaksa Says, 'Government Will Take All Possible Steps To Resolve the Crisis'.

Sri Lanka is also facing a foreign exchange shortage, which has affected its capacity to import food and fuel. The shortage of essential goods forced Sri Lanka to seek assistance from friendly countries. The economic situation has led to huge protests with demands for the resignation of Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Lhasa [Tibet], April 12 (ANI): Human Rights Violation continues to take place in Tibet despite the Chinese Communist Party's promise to improve it on many occasions, a Canada-based think tank, International Forum for Rights and Security (IFFRAS).

The infringements on religious practice like demolitions of Buddha and Padmasambhava Statues, absurd claims of selecting the next Dalia Lama, and detaining people from sharing the demolition videos are the recent examples of the human rights violation.

Also Read | India-US 2+2 Dialogue: EAM S Jaishankar, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh Hold Separate Bilateral Talks with US Counterparts.

Apart from that Chinese authorities have also put restrictions on usage of the Tibetan language all over the region. Notably, Tibetans inside Tibet constantly face injustices in terms of getting jobs. The exams for civil services being only conducted in Chinese deprives a section of Tibetans who are more comfortable in their own language and can excel in Tibetan.

With all these injustices and violations of basic human rights in Tibet sickens Tibetan People., the think tank said.

Also Read | Russia-Ukraine War: Eight South Korean Drug Firms To Donate $2.43 Million Worth of Medicine to Ukraine.

Chinese authority posed heavy restrictions on communication into and out of Tibetan areas, with particularly harsh treatment for those who associate with Tibetan living in India as a refuge.

Citing a Freedom House Report, IFFRAS said that yet again Tibet came off as the second least free country after Syria, and South Sudan.

In March 2021, Chinese authorities deployed around 2,000 people to inspect Tibetan rural communities and enforce tighter travel restrictions, mainly near international borders in the South.

According to a recent media report, the Chinese government has increased their restriction on the Tibetan Language on various online platforms and video streaming services.

"China-based language learning app Talkmate and video streaming service Bilibili have now removed the Tibetan and Uyghur languages from their sites," Phayul reported citing Radio Free Asia's (RFA) sources.

It is further reported that the Chinese government ordered in December last year that from March 1, foreign organizations or individuals can't share online religious content videos in China or Tibet without proper license.

Recently, Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy reported that Kunchok Tsepal, 52, a prominent Tibetan writer, teacher and environmentalist who was sentenced to 15 years in 2009 by the Chinese authorities was released on March 18 after serving 13 years in prison, IFFRAS said.

Chinese troops occupied Tibet in 1950 and later annexed it. The 1959 Tibetan uprising saw violent clashes between Tibetan residents and Chinese forces. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Washington [US], April 12 (ANI): The United States supports India as a defence industry leader in the Indo-Pacific and a net provider of security in the region, said US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin on Monday.

Addressing a press conference after India-US 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue, he said that the US has identified a new opportunity (India) to extend the operational reach of our military to coordinate more closely together across the expanse of the Indo-Pacific.

Also Read | India-US 2+2 Dialogue: EAM S Jaishankar, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh Hold Separate Bilateral Talks with US Counterparts.

"We all understand the challenges that we are facing. The People's Republic of China is seeking to refashion the region in the international system more broadly. In ways that serve its interest," said.

"So we have identified a new opportunity to extend the operational reach of our military to coordinate more closely together across the expanse of the Indo-Pacific. We walked on the Indian Navy's decision to join the combined maritime forces in Moraine Bahrain and we have also committed to more high-end exercises together," Austin said.

Also Read | Russia-Ukraine War: Eight South Korean Drug Firms To Donate $2.43 Million Worth of Medicine to Ukraine.

"We made a commitment today to reinforce our ties with like-minded countries including Japan Australia and our European allies and partners," he said.

Speaking further, Austin said that it has been really two decades since we signed our first bilateral defence framework, our partnership has grown immensely since then.

"We made important commitments today that we will drive technological innovation and cooperation in emerging different domains including space and cyberspace. We are committed to launch in new defence space exchange later this year between our space command and Indian defence space agency," the US Defence Secretary said.

"We are also deeping our ties in cyberspace including through training and exercises later this year. and we are expanding our information sharing partnerships across all who are fighting domains," he added.

While Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said that an agreement on Defence Space and Defence Artificial Intelligence dialogues has been reached.

"Many other initiatives and agreements which are in the discussion phase have been agreed to be expanded for progress in the scope and depth of our military engagements," he said.

He further informed that India and the US also discussed further cooperation in the defence cyber and special forces field; including LEMOA (Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement). "Both the parties are confident in moving forward toward the close agreement on special op forces."

US-India 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue between Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin and External Affairs Minister Dr Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh held today at Washington.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, today held a virtual meeting with United States President Joe Biden wherein both the leaders had an extensive exchange of views on several regional and global issues, such as the Ukraine situation, the Indo-Pacific region. (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 12 (IANS) The Centre on Tuesday told the Supreme Court that gangster Abu Salem is a convict in Mumbai serial blasts case and he cannot dictate terms either to the court or the government.

Earlier during the day, advocate Rishi Malhotra, representing Abu Salem, had submitted that the home secretary does not have time to file an affidavit in the case, pointing at no response from the government in the matter. A bench comprising Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and M.M. Sundresh asked the government lawyer present in the courtroom to check whether the home secretary would make an oral statement. Pune Shocker: Man Sedates, Kills Woman After Watching TV Crime Drama; Arrested.

The matter came for hearing again in the afternoon. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Centre, objected to Salem's lawyer's submissions saying: "Lordship please ask him no to insist like this. He (Salem) is a convict in Mumbai serial blasts. He cannot dictate terms to the court or the government".

Justice Kaul said the court is not on this individual case, but ramifications of it. "It can impede other processes", said the bench. Mehta submitted: "Lordship please do not make such comments. It should not become a cause of concern for you in other cases. The press may report it..". The bench replied, "Let them report it, we are not bothered".

The Union home secretary failed to file an affidavit before the Supreme Court on whether India will honour the commitment, made by its deputy PM to Portugal, on limiting Abu Salem's jail term to 25 years.

After hearing arguments, the top court gave more time to Centre to file its response in the matter and scheduled it for further hearing on April 21.

On March 8, the Supreme Court asked the Union home secretary to file an affidavit, whether the Centre is committed to adhere to the assurance given by the then deputy Prime Minister L.K. Advani to Portugal authorities, to not incarcerate gangster Abu Salem for more than 25 years while seeking his extradition.

The top court asked the Centre to make its stand clear on the issue. It emphasised that not abiding by the assurance made to the Portugal authorities, could have wider ramifications and it may create problems while seeking extradition of fugitives from other countries. The top court said it is not happy with the CBI's reply in the matter and sought a response from the home secretary in three weeks.

The CBI, in its affidavit, has told the top court that an Indian court is not bound by the assurance given in 2002 by the then deputy prime minister to the courts in Portugal that gangster Abu Salem would not be imprisoned beyond 25 years after his extradition to India.

Malhotra, representing Salem, argued before the bench that as per the principle of reciprocity in Portugal the courts cannot award a sentence for more than 25 years. He added that based on the principle of reciprocity, the government of India had given a solemn sovereign assurance to the Portugal courts that in case Salem is permitted to be extradited back to India, he will not be given punishment for more than 25 years.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Apr 12, 2022 03:40 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
"What India and the US do together will make a difference", External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has said at the start of the 2+2 Dialogue between the two countries laying out the meeting's broad agenda.

The sentiment was echoed by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin, the other participants in Monday's 2+2 meeting of the defence and diplomatic leaders.

Jaishankar said that their discussions of contemporary developments will include Ukraine, Afghanistan, the Gulf and the subcontinent.

There will be a significant focus on the Indo-Pacific, where "we have seen particularly over the last year, both an elevation and an intensification of the Quad" he said referring to the four-member group of India, the US, Australia and Japan.

Austin, who said that "the Indian partnership is a critical building block and a more resilient regional security architecture", spoke of standing up to China as it tries to refashion the regional and international system to serve its "authoritarian interest."

"Today we are positioning the US and Indian militaries to operate and coordinate closely together across all domains, and increasingly across the wider Indo-Pacific all in support of a rule of law, freedom of the seas, and regional peace and security", he said.

"And now more than ever, democracies must stand together to defend and preserve our values", he said.

He said that they will be discussing "a range of bilateral defence priorities including deeper information sharing and industrial cooperation. All this will help to ensure that our militaries are ready to meet any challenge".

Singh said, "Our Major Defense Partnership is one of the most important pillars of India's strategic relations as the largest country and central in Indian Ocean".

"As a democracy. India has a critical role to play in the Indian Ocean region and in the wider Indo-Pacific to the east and the neighbourhood", he said.

He added, "We are working with us to develop capabilities across conventional and emerging defence domains. We have made good progress in a number of defence cooperation activities".

Given the crippling dependence on Russia for India's defence needs, Singh invited US defence manufacturers to invest in India and support the "Make in India" programme.

He said that US defence purchases from the US have grown "from negligible way to in the latest round to over $20 billion".

Blinken said that they would also discuss strengthening cooperation on counter-terrorism.
San Francisco: Meta on Tuesday announced it is testing new features in Horizon Worlds, its social virtual reality (VR) app, that will help creators sell virtual items and make money. In a conversation with Vidyuu Studios, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg said that creator monetisation and metaverse economy is really important. Meta Planning To Launch Digital Currency Zuck Bucks After Its Cryptocurrency Project Fails To Take Off.

"There are two new things that I wanted to talk about. One is in-world purchases -- basically the ability to sell virtual items and access things inside Horizon Worlds which is part of the commerce equation," Zuckerberg said in a video posted by Vidyuu Studios on YouTube. "I'm also really excited about the creator bonus programme that we're rolling out for people who are building awesome worlds in Horizon to compensate and reward them," Zuckerberg announced.

The company is rolling this out with a handful of creators at the moment. Horizon Worlds was rolled out to Oculus Quest VR headset users in the US and Canada in early December. It reached 300,000 monthly users within no time. According to Zuckerberg, all users with access to Horizon Worlds will be able to make in-world purchases.

"Creator monetisation is really important, because you all need to be able to support yourself and make a good living building these awesome experiences," Zuckerberg added.

VR and Quest are key parts of the company's metaverse vision, but it sees the metaverse as an interconnected digital world, one that bridges VR and AR, in addition to more familiar platforms like phone and computer. The company recently announced 'Personal Boundary' for Horizon Worlds and Horizon Venues.

'Personal Boundary' prevents avatars from coming within a set distance of each other, creating more personal space for people and making it easier to avoid unwanted interactions. 'Personal Boundary' will by default make it feel like there is an almost 4-foot distance between your avatar and others.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Apr 12, 2022 10:27 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
As a boy, Francisco Ramirez Cruz loved hiking with his grandfather up into the mountains of central Mexico. While the old man grazed sheep or hunted for wild mushrooms, Ramirez would play amid the throngs of monarch butterflies that migrated 3,000 miles to this forest each autumn, turning the blue sky into a sea of orange.

Ramirez is 75 now, himself a great-grandfather, and each winter he still goes looking for butterflies. But these days, he might spend hours searching the forest without catching sight of a single one.

The world is losing monarch butterflies at a startling rate, as logging, herbicides and other human activities destroy natural habitats. But the biggest threat yet has only recently come into focus. Climate change, with its extreme storms, prolonged droughts and warming temperatures, is poised to eradicate the forest that serves as the butterflys winter refuge.

To help his beloved butterflies, Ramirez has partnered with scientists on a monumental experiment: They are trying to move an entire forest 1,000 feet up a mountain.

On one of the scientists early scouting trips to the region several years ago, locals suggested they meet Ramirez, a respected farmer with graying sideburns and a thin mustache who lives on a windswept hillside in Ejido La Mesa, a community that overlaps with the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve  a national park 70 miles west of Mexico City.

Known by the honorific Don Pancho, Ramirez is a former elected leader of La Mesa and is hailed as a hero for helping to bring electricity to the area in the late 1980s. Most importantly, he knows the forest intimately, thanks to the time he spent there, starting in the 1950s.

Ramirez has seen the effects of climate change firsthand  parched fields in the winter, violent thunderstorms in the summer  and felt a calling to protect the butterflies, whose annual arrival and departure have long helped the community mark the passage of time.

Each fall, when the butterflies arrive as if by magic from Canada and the eastern United States, gliding by the millions down over the rolling hills of La Mesa, locals stop what they are doing and look up to admire them. They do the same each spring, when the butterflies depart.

Francisco Ramirez Cruz with an empty water collector on his family's ranch in Ejido La Mesa, Mexico. Climate change has meant the wet season is shorter and more brutal than in previous years, with a drier season that is even more dry. Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times

In the early days, we didnt know where they came from, said Ramirez, who talks the way he moves  slowly and deliberately. But we have always been so happy to see them.

He believes that protecting the butterfly and its habitat will also help protect his pueblo, which depends on timber from the forest and the tourists that flock to the region to see the monarchs.

He agrees with Cuauhtemoc Saenz-Romero, a forest geneticist who has hired Ramirez to help with the project, that it is necessary to create an ecosystem where the butterflies will be able to survive.

Its an idea that may sound radical, said Saenz-Romero. But by the end of the century it may be absolutely needed.

The butterflies that winter here, known as eastern monarchs, seek sanctuary in the oyamel firs that tower in and around the reserve.

The trees, known as sacred firs because their conical shape calls to mind hands clasped in prayer, offer a dense canopy that acts as an umbrella for the butterflies that cluster by the thousands on their trunks and branches. The oyamel protects the butterflies from chilly winter rains and creates a microclimate cold enough to keep the butterflies in a state of hibernation but not so frosty as to kill them.

Saenz-Romero, a forest geneticist at the Michoacan University of St. Nicholas of Hidalgo, in the lush mountain forest in Mexico that the monarch butterfly has historically called home. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) A monarch butterfly on the ground in the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve, a national park near La Mesa, Mexico. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) Thousands of monarch butterflies cluster on the oyamel firs that tower in and around the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve in Mexico. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) Cuauhtemoc Saenz-Romero, top, is a forest geneticist trying to move an entire forest 1,000 feet up a mountain to help preserve the habitat of monarch butterflies that gather each year in Mexico's Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve, above. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

Scientists fear that climate change may kill off these firs altogether. A 2012 research paper coauthored by Saenz-Romero and published in the journal Forest Ecology and Management found that the area suitable for the oyamel is likely to diminish by 96% by 2090, and disappear completely within the reserve.

The region is warming at such an accelerated pace that the trees wont be able to adapt, scientists say, and will need help migrating to areas where the climate is predicted to be suitable for them in future years.

Over the last several years, the team of researchers has overseen the relocation of about 1,000 fir saplings that were growing at lower altitudes up to higher  and cooler  elevations.

We have to assist them, said Saenz-Romero, a professor at the Michoacan University of St. Nicholas of Hidalgo. They cannot do this themselves.

The world is losing monarch butterflies at a startling rate, as logging, herbicides and other human activities destroy natural habitats.

Ramirez and the scientists have become fast friends. When he helped them search for the right location to plant the first round of saplings, he insisted that the researchers stay on his farm, which offers modest accommodations (the toilet is flushed with a bucket) but heart-stopping vistas of snow-covered peaks.

In the middle of Ramirezs orchard of apple and plum trees, the scientists helped him construct a small greenhouse, where he tends to several dozen saplings that were taken from the forest and will eventually be replanted. On a recent blustery morning, he watered the trees with a hose while listening to the sentimental ranchera songs drifting from the house of a nearby neighbor. Then he slowly folded himself into the passenger seat of Saenz-Romeros silver pickup truck, and they headed up the mountain to check on the trees that had already been planted.

They made an unlikely pair  the farmer in a straw cowboy hat and the city-dwelling scientist in a jaunty black beret  but on the 45-minute drive on a rutted dirt road, Ramirez and Saenz-Romero made easy conversation. They talked about a mudslide years earlier that had killed several people and taken down many fir trees, and they discussed the rain (there hadnt been any recently).

At one point, Ramirez gestured with a roughened hand toward a vast pine tree at a bend in the road; he remembered it from his youth. Saenz-Romero slowed the car and they paused to admire it.

Up the mountain, they parked and hiked a few minutes to the first of two planting sites, a clearing that had been created by a forest fire three decades before. Rows of small trees were growing, each marked by a pink plastic spoon stuck in the dirt. In the 3  years since the scientists hired locals to help plant these saplings, the trees have grown from 7 inches to a stately 4 feet.

As Ramirez showed off the plants, he grinned proudly.

Beautiful, he said.

Cuauhtemoc Saenz-Romero inspects an oyamel fir that was planted under the shade of nearby plants several years ago near La Mesa, Mexico. Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times

Ramirez and the scientists are learning what the trees need to survive. They have found, for example, that trees are more likely to live if planted under the shade of nearby nurse plants. They hope to expand the project and establish the trees at even higher altitudes on other nearby mountains  seeding ecosystems now that monarchs could potentially use later if temperatures continue to rise.

So-called assisted migration is happening in other parts of the world, including Canada, where commercial forestry operations have begun replacing dead lodgepole pines with a species of larch that grows at lower and drier elevations. Plant moving is controversial among some scientists, who warn of unintended consequences when humans intervene in natures course, but it is increasingly seen as a needed response to a rapidly changing climate.

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There's no doubt that things are going to change, said Chip Taylor, a retired ecology professor in Kansas and the director of Monarch Watch, which runs a butterfly tagging program. The experiment in Mexico, if successful, is a short-term solution, he said. But its an important one.

What these measures do is give us time to address climate change, he said. If we don't do something eventually about CO2s, eventually the new trees will be pushed off the mountain too.

La Mesa and the surrounding areas havent contributed many of the greenhouse gases that are transforming the climate. In fact, in many ways the region feels stuck in a previous century, with dusty burros that trudge up the pocked two-lane highway, firewood piled on their backs, and shepherds reclining in green pastures, one eye on their flocks. Ramirezs wife, Petra, whom he met half a century ago at a Day of the Dead celebration in a nearby town, still cooks her chicken mole in a pan over an open fire.

But La Mesa is clearly suffering the effects of an altered climate.

When Ramirez was growing up, it used to rain from June to November. Now the rains arrive in July and end in October. Not only is the wet season shorter, but it is also more brutal; the drier season is even more dry.

Cuauhtemoc Saenz-Romero, left, and Francisco Ramirez Cruz check out an empty water container on Cruz's ranch in La Mesa, Mexico. Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times

Over the last couple of decades, the areas agriculture industry suffered, partly because of warming and partly because of competition brought about by the North American Free Trade Agreement. Family-run corn and potato farms, which used to blanket the hillsides, couldnt compete with U.S. agribusiness. Ramirez stopped planting corn because it became cheaper to buy it. For many years, he lived in Mexico City and worked in construction.

As jobs dried up, many locals had to migrate, just like the monarchs do. That included two of Ramirezs sons, who toiled for a time in the United States, and several other family members who still live there. In a small chapel his father built on the farm, Ramirez and his wife keep fresh flowers and a framed picture of Toribio Romo Gonzalez, a Catholic saint known as a protector of immigrants. The money sent back from north of the border has funded construction of opulent  if architecturally discordant  homes in La Mesa, their archways and turrets standing out amid the typical adobe and concrete shacks.

Ramirez has helped win support for the tree-moving project from community members, some of whom tend to be suspicious of the scientists, journalists and tourists who have converged on the region since the 1980s.

Although tourism has provided some jobs for La Mesa, the community sees fewer visitors than nearby towns that have done more to promote themselves as easy access points to the reserve. Some locals grumble about the reserve itself, which sets limits on how much wood residents can chop from the forest.

Scientists predict that it will be many years before the nascent tree-moving experiment has any effect on the population of butterflies in the region.

Francisco Ramirez Cruz waters Oyamel fir saplings maturing in a greenhouse on his family's ranch in La Mesa, Mexico. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) Doctoral student Erika Gomez sorts through oyamel fir saplings maturing in a greenhouse on Francisco Ramirez Cruz's ranch. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) Francisco Ramirez Cruz holds an oyamel fir seedling maturing in a greenhouse on his family's ranch. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) Francisco Ramirez Cruz, clockwise from top, and doctoral student Erika Gomez care for oyamel fir saplings maturing in a greenhouse on his family's ranch in La Mesa, Mexico. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

Monarchs are measured by the total area in which they are observed. In January, Mexican officials said butterflies had been spotted in a region 144% larger than last year. But many researchers have pointed out that hibernating colonies are less dense than usual, and have cautioned that any increase is probably due to favorable weather conditions in recent months, not conservation efforts. In the longer term, the news has been dire.

In the last two decades, the population of monarchs overwintering in Mexico has declined from an estimated 1 billion to fewer than 100 million. If they go extinct, it would mark the loss of one of the worlds few migratory insects. In the United States, conservationists have petitioned to have the monarch protected under the Endangered Species Act; a ruling is expected this year.

After checking on the trees, Ramirez went off to look for the butterflies. Following the advice of a friend who had heard where they had last been spotted, he trudged down a needle-covered path, leaning on a machete as a cane.

Firs loomed around him, ringed by pastel-colored flowers. He stopped to pluck a pink thistle and smiled when he tasted its petals. Eating wild plants reminded him of his youth, and the quesadillas his grandmother would cook with the mushrooms, potatoes and leafy herbs his grandfather found in this forest.

He spotted a few butterflies flitting in the sun, then a few more. He followed them. Then he saw it: a colony of tens of thousands of butterflies, some fluttering about and others resting in massive clumps on the firs, their bodies obscuring the branches and trunks.

There werent as many as he remembered from his childhood, but it was still a sight to behold. Ramirez eased himself down to sit on the soft forest floor and watched in silence. The only sound was the whistle of the wind and the gentle flapping of their wings.

Thousands of monarch butterflies cluster on the oyamel firs that tower in and around the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve in Mexico. Each fall, the butterflies arrive from Canada and the eastern United States, gliding en masse down over the rolling hills of La Mesa. Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times

Produced by Denise Florez.
Panama is known for being a Spanish colony with a mixed population of Creoles, mestizos, European immigrants, Africans, and indigenous Indians.

It is bordered by Costa Rica to the northwest, Colombia to the southwest, the Caribbean sea to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the south, according to Adventure Life.

Panama is known for being a transit country due to the Panama Canal. It is popular for its natural tourist attractions such as birding, whitewater rafting, and snorkeling tours.

Panama's biodiversity is reportedly three times higher than the United States, Canada, and Europe combined, ensuring that there is a lot to see when you visit the Central American country. However, before deciding to travel to Panama, here are some safety guidelines one needs to know.

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Panama: Travel Safety Guidelines



The U.S. State Department has issued a "Level 3" travel alert for Panama, advising travelers to reconsider traveling to the Central American country. The agency also advised American tourists in Panama to exercise increased caution due to crime.

The State Department urged travelers to avoid going to parts of the Mosquito Gulf and the Darien Region because of crime. The agency noted that the Mosquito Gulf is an extremely remote and inaccessible area along part of the north Caribbean coast.

It also advised travelers not to travel within the 10 miles of the coastline, from Boca de Rio, Chiriqui, to Cocle del Norte due to drug trafficking and other illicit activities.

Criminal elements and drug and human trafficking networks also operate in the areas of the Darien Region, including all areas south of the Jaque to Manene to Yaviza to Lajas Blancas cities to the Colombian border.

Tourist Attractions in Panama

The Panama Canal should be on the list of every traveler planning to visit Panama, being it is one of the features the country is best known for.

According to Planet Ware, visitors can see the canal from the five-story visitor center, complete with a small museum, a restaurant, and an IMAX theater in a separate building.

Pearl Islands could be your next destination in Panama, with its lush forests surrounded by white sandy beaches. It was populated with indigenous peoples until Spanish Conquistadors discovered the island's wealth of pearls in the 1500s.

Contador Island is the most developed part of the Pearl Islands. It features several resorts and an airstrip. Visitors can also charter private yachts to cruise and explore the islands.

Hiking and nature trips are also available in Panama with Boquete. It is located in a small valley and shadowed by Volcan Baru. It caters to tourists every year, with the town alive with the colors of local flowers, trees, and shrubs.

Boquete also features some of the best dining experiences in Panama. There are small hotels, hostels, and bed and breakfasts around the area. The area is known for being a hot spot for nature and wildlife, especially hiking and birdwatching.

READ MORE: Cuba Travel Guide: Here's What You Need to Know Before Visiting the Caribbean Country

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WATCH: Fun and Cool Things to do in Panama City - From The Planet D






Queen Elizabeth II opened up about how she felt after testing positive for COVID-19.

The British royal shared her experience getting the disease during a virtual visit last week to the Royal London Hospital, claiming that she felt really tired after encountering the disease, New York Post reported.

The Queen made her comments while speaking to a former COVID-19 patient, Asef Hussain, who also detailed his experience. Hussain told Queen Elizabeth II that he stuck his head out of the window just to breathe and get extra oxygen.

"I'm glad that you're getting better, and It does leave one very tired and exhausted, doesn't it? This horrible pandemic. It's not a nice result," Queen Elizabeth II said to Hussain in reply.

The Queen then pointed out that having COVID is a "very frightening experience."

The Queen had a royal visit to the hospital due to the opening of the Queen Elizabeth Unit.

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Queen Elizabeth II's COVID

Queen Elizabeth II has diagnosed with COVID-19 in February after she received three jabs of the COVID vaccine. A Buckingham Palace spokesperson confirmed the Queen's diagnosis.

During that time, Queen Elizabeth II experienced mild cold-like symptoms. Despite that, the Queen still performed light duties in Windsor castle while receiving medication.

The Queen also granted Prime Minister Boris Johnson her weekly audience while battling the disease. However, the two British officials talked over the phone.

During that time, Prince Charles and Duchess Camilla both tested positive for the disease. Several people from the Windsor Castle team were also diagnosed with COVID-19.

In the light of contracting COVID, a death hoax report from Hollywood Unlocked about Queen Elizabeth went viral. The said report claimed that their sources were from the "royal kingdom."

Buckingham Palace did not comment on the rumor, saying that it would not entertain commenting on such a story.

Prince Phillip Death Anniversary: Queen Elizabeth II Remembers Late Duke Through Poem

The Queen opened up about what she experienced in having COVID a day after she shared an emotional tribute to her husband, Prince Phillip, during his first year's death anniversary.

Remembering His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh on the first anniversary of his death.



Find out more about his life and legacy at: https://t.co/6tFq2vjyNk



Words: The Patriarchs  An Elegy by Poet Laureate Simon Armitage pic.twitter.com/WpB2L6D75K  The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) April 9, 2022

"Remembering His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh on the first anniversary of his death," the caption reads in Queen Elizabeth II's tribute on Twitter.

Queen Elizabeth shared a heartwarming poem written by United Kingdom's Poet Laureate Simon Armitage, per People. The poem was accompanied by a slideshow of photos of Prince Phillip, and their life together.

Their royal wedding was also included in the slideshow, as well as the arrival of their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

The poem the Queen posted on her social media account was entitled "The Patriarchs: An Elegy."

Last week, a larger memorial service was held at the Westminster Abbey that allowed the representatives of every charity Prince Phillip worked with to pay tribute to him.

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Written By: Joshua Summers

WATCH: After 70 Years on the Throne, Britain's Queen Elizabeth II is Longest-Reigning Monarch in History - From CBS Mornings
Mexico's President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador (AMLO) on Sunday received overwhelming support in the recall elections after the majority of Mexicans voted for him to stay in power.

According to Reuters, 90 percent of Mexicans who voted in the unprecedented elections still want AMLO to stay in office and serve as Mexico's president.

AFP reported that the official preliminary vote count by the National Electoral Institute showed that around 90.3 percent to 91.9 percent want him to remain mounted in the post until 2024, per The Straits Times.

However, Reuters mentioned that the turnout of the recall elections was forecast to be between 17 percent and 18.2 percent, a value which is much lower than the 40 percent threshold that is needed to make a result binding.

President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador then took to Twitter to express gratitude to his supporters.

Acabo de terminar de grabar un mensaje sobre los resultados de la consulta del dia de hoy. En unos minutos mas estara disponible. Adelanto: les quiero mucho.  Andres Manuel (@lopezobrador_) April 11, 2022

"I just finished recording a message about the results of today's consultation. In a few more minutes it will be available. Advance: I love you very much," AMLO underscored.

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Mexico Recall Elections: Mexicans Express Thoughts on AMLO as President

On Sunday, Mexicans expressed how they feel about President Manuel Andres Lopez Obrador in the light of the recall elections.

Speaking to Reuters, Tlaxcala voter Guillermina Gomez said that she wants AMLO to continue in power.

"Thanks to him we've received benefits that no one else has given us," Gomez added.

Another voter, Carmen Sobrino, told AFP that she hopes Lopez Obrador would continue in power, claiming that she is happy with the current president of Mexico, per The Straits Times.

Meanwhile, Maribel Rosas said that she voted for AMLO to be removed from the presidency, contending that Lopez Obrador failed to help the middle class in Mexico. Rosas added that the president also encourages social polarization.

The recall elections in Mexico came as Lopez Obrador received an approval rating of 58 percent in March. However, that approval rating is much lower than the one he received in February 2019 amounting to 81 percent, The Straits Times reported, citing a poll from Oraculus firm.

Critics on Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador's Mexico Recall Elections

Critics blasted AMLO's recall election, calling it expensive propaganda and a distraction from the challenges that are being faced by Mexico.

Retired teacher Laura Gonzales called the move a useless exercise where the money of Mexico's government was thrown away.

Conservative opposition party PAN member, Marko Cortes, said that the recall election promoted by AMLO was filed with manipulation, lies, illegality, and diversion of public resources.

Mario Delgado, the leader of the ruling party Morena, lauded Lopez Obrador for making himself a subject of recall elections.

"Only an indomitable, unwavering democrat like him can subject himself to a recall process," Delgado said per The Straits Times.

In Mexico, presidents only serve a single six-year term in office. However, BBC reported that President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador promised to give voters a chance to unmount him from the presidency halfway through his term, sicne he assumed the role in 2018.

READ NEXT: Joe Biden to Announce New Ghost Gun Rule and Recommend New ATF Director

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WATCH: Mexican President Casts His Vote in Recall Referendum - From TeleSUR ENglish
The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) suspended its deliveries in a neighborhood in Santa Monica, California on Monday, after several of its mail carriers have been attacked in the area.

According to the New York Post, the California neighborhood affected by the agency's move was the stretch of 14th Street near the Santa Monica Boulevard.

"For the safety of our employees, we have had to temporarily suspend delivery of mail to these customers." USPS Spokesperson Natashi Garvins said.

Garvins added that the move taken by the USPS was unusual. However, the spokesperson pointed out that it was a necessary step to protect their employees.

KTLA 5 reported that parcel owners can pick up their packages at a nearby USPS facility located at 7th Street in Santa Monica, California.

The Post noted that residents from the 14th Street were notified about the agency's measure through a letter that was posted in their mailboxes on April 7.

It was unclear how long the mail delivery suspension will last in the California neighborhood.

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USPS Says Multiple Mail Carriers Assaulted in a Neighborhood in Santa Monica, California

In a letter posted in the Santa Monica neighborhood, USPS mentioned that multiple carriers experienced assaults and threats of assault from an individual who has not been apprehended nor located by law enforcement, per KTLA 5.

Garvins mentioned that the U.S. Postal Inspection Service investigated at least three incidents.

Santa Monica Police claimed that only one incident, dated January 19, was reported to them.

"If there were other incidents of USPS mail carriers being attacked, we were unable to locate additional reports," Sergeant Erika Aklufi from Santa Monica Police told the Post on Monday.

Aklufi added that it will be challenging to find out the extent of the matter without talking directly to the postmaster.

According to the Santa Monica sergeant, the incident they responded involved a man who allegedly attacked a mail carrier with a broomstick.

Newsweek noted that the carrier did not press charges against the man, and the USPS employee received minor care for an arm injury.

Reports also claimed that the attacker was not arrested because the carrier did not file charges.

Aklufi also pointed out that the attacker was known to the officers and the carrier he attacked.

The Santa Monica sergeant also shared that officers who responded at the scene immediately contacted the U.S. Postal Inspection Service on the day of the incident to provide information should they wish to follow up. However, Aklufi said that they do not know if the agency reached out to them after that.

U.S. Postal Inspection Service issued a statement, saying that they are aware of the carrier attack in Santa Monica, California and that investigation into the incidents are underway.

California: Santa Monica Neighborhood Residents on the Delivery Suspension

Several residents of the Santa Monica neighborhood expressed what they feel after the USPS suspended the delivery service due to attacks on their carriers.

Resident Michael Fan shared his annoyance to KTLA 5, claiming that the measure the agency took does not make sense.

"Why do I have to drive to the post office, pay for parking, for mail that should be delivered," Fan pointed out.

Another resident, Teddy Canner, blamed the man who attacked the carrier, claiming that if a gentleman lives a few doors down that is making their neighborhood unsafe, then that individual should be removed.

Meanwhile, resident Courtney Smith felt both compassion for the carriers and the attacker.

"I feel a lot of compassion for the mail carriers... They shouldn't have to deal with that. Likewise, I feel compassion for the people that are instigating these things because who knows what's going on," Smith underscored.

READ NEXT: Mexico's Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador Wins Recall Election; Mexicans Vote AMLO to Stay in Power

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WATCH: Why the U.S. Postal Service is Experiencing Delays - From PBS NewsHour
Texas agencies are preparing for the upcoming influx of migrants on the southern border, that is expected to take place after the Title 42 expulsion meets the end of its effectivity.

According to Fox News, members of the Texas National Guard will undergo training exercises for the next six weeks at the U.S.-Mexico border.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott ordered the first training in the Rio Grande Valley.

Southwest border Operation Chief of Staff Colonel Patrick Nolan said that traditionally, the Rio Grande Valley has the highest illegal immigration activity. However, with more personnel on the ground, planes in the sky, Texas National Guard, and other agencies from the state, they are hoping to deter and stop the illegal crossings, Nolan said.

"We have to look at the real possibility that we might have to respond to more than one event at more than one place," Nolan added.

Colonel Nolan added that Texas will be the frontline of defense when the mass migration occurs, contending that the state is located 1900 miles from the border.

Nolan further noted that illegal crossing also poses a security threat not only for Texas but the entire United States, emphasizing that criminals will be looking to cross the borders.

READ NEXT: California: USPS Suspends Delivery Service in Santa Monica Neighborhood Over Carrier Attacks | Here's What the Residents are Saying

Texas Governor Greg Abbott Urges Local Authorities to Prepare as Title 42 Expulsion Nears Its End

The training of the Texas National Guard members and other agencies came as Governor Greg Abbott encouraged the local authorities of the lone star state to prepare for the upcoming influx of migrants.

"The time to prepare is now. If you wait until May, it may be too late. If you wait until May 23, it's going to be too late because you're going to be completely overwhelmed," Abbott underscored while speaking to a Texas Border Sherriff's Coalition meeting in El Paso, per FOX 46.

Abbott issued his plea to the Texas counties from El Paso to Brownsville to utilize the state resources over the 18,000 expected illegal immigrants that will come to the borders when the Title 42 expulsion ends.

The Texas governor also pointed out that what the people are seeing in the borders today is nothing compared to what will be seen in the area in about a month.

"What we're going to be seeing based upon the prognostications of the Biden administration itself is going to be cataclysmic," Abbott emphasized.

Expert Says Migrants Influx Caused by the Ending of Title 42 Expulsion Will Not Last "Forever"

On Monday, an associate professor from the American University and the director of Immigration Lab, Ernesto Castaneda, explained to NBC 24 the upcoming influx of migrants in the borders when Title 42 ends.

Castaneda said that the influx is going to happen because there are a lot of immigrants who could not legally apply for asylum because the border was closed.

"So, it's not that there's going to be the floodgates and more people are going to come, but people that were not allowed to apply, they're going to finally be able to apply so this is going to increase encounters of the border. And this is not going to go on forever," Castaneda stressed.

Castaneda added that the White House can do things regarding the issue. However, resources, personnel, and staff to process the asylum cases will not be enough.

READ NEXT: Chris Rock Won't Talk About Will Smith's Oscars 2022 Slap Unless He Gets Paid, Says His Hearing Is Back

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WATCH: A Migrant Influx is Expected as Title 42 Ends - From KVUE
A Texas judge has ruled to drop a murder charge against a woman who was arrested in connection with a "self-induced abortion."

The court ruling was issued on Monday after a district attorney filed a motion to dismiss the murder charge, citing insufficient evidence on the case, according to USA Today.

The Texas woman identified as 26-year-old Lizelle Herrera was arrested in "the death of an individual by self-induced abortion" by the Starr County Sheriff's Office Thursday, which was met by several protests from abortion rights advocates.

In a news release on Sunday, County District Attorney Gocha Allen Ramirez said Herrera "cannot and should not be prosecuted" for the allegation against her after reviewing applicable Texas law.

"It is my hope that with the dismissal of this case it is made clear that Ms. Herrera did not commit a criminal act under the laws of the state of Texas," he added.

READ NEXT: California Gov. Gavin Newsom OKs New Bill Allowing Residents to Sue Gun Makers, Citing Texas Abortion Law As Its Blueprint

Texas Judge Dismisses Murder Charge Against the Texas Woman

Abortion rights organization Frontera Fund said Lizelle Herrera was released on a $500,000 bail on Saturday, according to The New York Times.

In a statement to The Associated Press, the sheriff's office said the Texas woman was indicted on the murder charge after she "intentionally and knowingly" caused the death of an individual due to "self-induced abortion."

However, it was never made clear whether she was accused of giving herself an abortion or assisting in someone else's self-induced abortion.

Self-induced abortion is a practice of abortion outside of medical care. It includes the use of abortion pills, supplements, herbs or vitamins, multiple contraceptive pills or emergency contraception pills, or physical trauma.

Ramirez said the sheriff's office did their "duty in investigating the incident" that was brought to their attention by the reporting hospital, Sky News reported.

He added that it was clear to him that the events that led to the indictment had taken a toll on Herrera and her family despite the dismissal.

"To ignore this fact would be short-sighted," Ramirez noted, adding that the issues relating to Herrera's case "are clearly contentious" but "not a criminal matter."

A small group of activists had demonstrated outside the jail where Herrera was held on Saturday, bringing attention to the role class plays in Texas' abortion restrictions.

Domingo Garcia, national president of the League of United Latin American Citizens, described the incident as "public shaming and criminal persecution" of a Latina "under the guise" of the law.

Garcia noted that it shows the situation some women in Texas are facing if they cannot access legal abortion services due to being unable to afford the travel costs.

Texas Abortion Law

In September, Texas passed a law known as Senate Bill 8 or S.B. 8., which prohibits abortion when a fetal heartbeat can be detected in a fetus, occurring six weeks during a woman's pregnancy.

Unlike other anti-abortion laws from other states, it allows lawsuits against abortion providers rather than through the state government.

Apart from banning abortion for women during their six-week pregnancy, anyone who successfully sued an abortion provider can be awarded up to $10,000.

The Texas Legislature also enacted another law that makes it illegal for clinics and doctors to prescribe abortion-inducing medications after seven weeks and prohibits the delivery of the pills by mail. It is a state felony punishable by a $10,000 fine and up to two years in prison but exempts pregnant women from prosecution.

One section of the penal code in Texas exempts expectant mothers from being charged with murder in connection with an unborn child's death.

READ MORE: Supreme Court Declines to Block Texas Abortion Law; Abortion Providers Can Challenge Ban in Lower Courts

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WATCH: Woman Faces Texas Murder Charge After Self-Induced Abortion - From Fox 4 Dallas-Fort Worth






Armed men broke into a home in the municipality of Tultepec in the central State of Mexico and killed eight members of a family, including four children.

Prosecutors in the State of Mexico said the gunmen forcibly entered the home located in the La Canada neighborhood in Tultepec and shot the victims between late Sunday and early Monday.

According to Reforma, the armed men immediately escaped from the site before the arrival of the municipal police. Seven people - a woman, two men, and four minors - died at the scene.

Paramedics found one woman alive. She was brought to a hospital, where she later died. There was no immediate information on a possible motive.

READ NEXT: Mexico: Lopez Obrador Denies 'Falsifying' Investigation on 2014 Disappearance of 43 Students

Eight Family Members in Mexico Shot Dead

According to El Universal, neighbors called 911 after hearing the gunshots and decided to stay in their homes until the authorities arrived at the scene. One neighbor told the outlet that they only heard gunshots but did not go out because they were scared.

"That's why we asked for the support of the police," the neighbor said.

The Attorney General's Office of the State of Mexico said the massacre of eight family members is currently under investigation. It noted that the Edomex Prosecutor's Office would handle the probe "to clarify the facts of the case."

Murders in Mexico

In 2021, murders in Mexico had slightly dropped from 3.6 percent from the previous year. However, femicide rates have increased, according to the preliminary government data released in January.

Reuters reported that the drop in murder rates is a victory for Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, who took office in late 2018, promising to bring down record levels of violence in the country.

The decline in murder rates to 33,308 was the lowest total under Lopez Obrador's administration. It was just below the 33,739 logged in 2018, according to numbers presented by Security Minister Rosa Icela Rodriguez.

The Mexican president argued that violence is a product of historic inequality and corruption. However, his detractors noted that his strategy of "hugs not bullets" had worsened the ongoing impunity in the country.

Many of the murder cases in Mexico were attributed to the turf war between drug cartels seeking dominance in a certain area and the sale of drugs.

Currently, the most dominant criminal groups operating in Mexico are the Sinaloa Cartel and the Jalisco New Generation Cartel.

Meanwhile, femicides or murders of women resulting from gender-based violence increased to 1,004 or by 2.7 percent in 2021 from the previous year. The toll is more than double the number registered in 2015.

Lopez Obrador's response to violence against women has drawn criticism, and he has frequently responded by targeting feminist movements in Mexico.

In 2019 or during Lopez Obrador's first full year in office, murder rates in Mexico reached a record of 34,690. The numbers somewhat improved in 2020, when murders were down to 34,554 or by 0.4 percent from 2019.

READ MORE: Mexico: 90,000 People Have Disappeared Without a Trace Amid Drug War

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WATCH: Mexico Homicide Rate: 127 Deaths Reported in Single Day - From Al Jazeera English






Authorities in Mexico announced the arrest of a man allegedly involved in the murder of former Jalisco governor Aristoteles Sandoval.

The Jalisco Attorney General's Office announced the capture of Jose Manuel "S" on Monday. According to El Universal, the suspect was a manager of Distrito 5 restaurant in Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, where the former governor was murdered.

In a joint operation during the weekend, Jalisco and Mexico City authorities arrested Jose Manuel "S" in the country's capital. State prosecutor Joaquin Mendez Ruiz said the suspect would be transferred to Puerto Vallarta to make him available to the judge who would handle the case.

State authorities have yet to explain the degree of his participation in this crime. However, the two arrest warrants issued against him cited the crimes of qualified homicide and cover-up.

READ NEXT: California: USPS Suspends Delivery Service in Santa Monica Neighborhood Over Carrier Attacks | Here's What the Residents are Saying

The Murder of Ex-Jalisco Governor Aristoteles Sandoval in Mexico

According to the New York Times, Aristoteles Sandoval was shot in the back inside the restroom of the Distrito 5 restaurant on December 18, 2020. It was reportedly one of the highest-profile political killings in Mexico recently.

There was no immediate information about the suspects and a possible motive at the time. However, security experts claimed that the Jalisco New Generation Cartel might be behind the murder of the former Jalisco governor, the New York Times reported.

"The Jalisco cartel has a complete dominion over Puerto Vallarta... No other group has the reach of these guys to assassinate a former governor. They are a cartel of great audacity, that isn't intimidated," Eduardo Guerrero, a security analyst at Lantia Consultores in Mexico City, told The Times.

The Jalisco cartel reportedly rose to power during Sandoval's term between 2013 and 2018, and it now controls much of the Jalisco state.

Falko Ernst, a senior Mexico analyst for the global think tank International Crisis Group, said the former governor's murder also highlights the rising presence of powerful drug cartels in local politics.

The death of Sandoval came just months after an assassination attempt on Mexico City's police chief, which was tied to the Jalisco cartel.

According to The Times, more than 31,000 murders were recorded in Mexico in 2020. Ricardo Mejia Berdeja, Mexico's deputy director of public security at the time, noted the country's murders that year were concentrated in six of 31 states, including Jalisco.

Mexico's Former Jalisco Governor Aristoteles Sandoval

The Guardian reported that Aristoteles Sandoval was dining with four others when he got up from the table and went to the toilet, where the killer shot him in the back.

The former Jalisco governor did not die immediately. However, when his bodyguards tried to evacuate him from the restaurant, gunmen in the street outside the restaurant opened fire, seriously injuring one of the two bodyguards. Sandoval later died at a hospital.

State attorney general Gerardo Octavio Solis earlier said that the restaurant staff had cleaned the crime scene, removing bullet casings and blood and erasing video of the attack.

So far, 13 restaurant employees have reportedly been sentenced for the crime of concealment. However, they were all freed after paying the fines imposed on them.

According to the Jalisco governor Enrique Alfaro, the matter has been resolved because authorities now know who murdered Sandoval. He noted that all that remains was to capture them since they were hiding.

Sandoval was a rising star of the Institutional Revolutionary Party, or P.R.I., which governed Mexico for most of the 20th century. However, his term was reportedly overshadowed by the rise of the Jalisco cartel.

The former Jalisco governor made headlines in October 2020, when he announced his resignation from the party's executive committee.

READ MORE: Texas Agencies Buckle Up for the Influx of Migrants When Title 42 Expulsion Ends in May

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Written by: Joshua Summers

WATCH: Mexico: Ex-Governor of Troubled Jalisco State Shot Dead - From Al Jazeera English
Despite Shehbaz Sharif finally taking over as the chief executive of Pakistan, his elder brother Nawaz Sharif's immediate return from London has been ruled out by his party, the PML-N, Dawn reported.

"Nawaz Sharif has no immediate plans to return. The Sharif family thinks that his early return will establish the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf's (PTI) propaganda that he does not have serious health issues," a senior PML-N leader.

"The other factor Nawaz will weigh before deciding to return is how the 11-party coalition government functions in the coming months in the face of the growing PTI pressure for early elections."

In reply to a question about a tentative date for Nawaz's return, another leader close to the former premier said: "Either just before the next polls or right after. If Nawaz gets some relief in the corruption cases ahead of the next elections, the party will press him to return to spearhead the PML-N's election campaign. To match Imran Khan's canvassing, the PML-N needs Nawaz around."

He claimed that since the new Shehbaz-led government would most likely pursue the cases against Nawaz aggressively to secure relief for him, Imran Khan's party had rolled up its sleeves to 'orchestrate propaganda' over the plausible development.
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The first ever Festival of Flight held to celebrate the rich history of aviation and exploration in Laois has been a resounding success, say the organisers.

The events, which ran from April 7th to 10th included school and family science and arts workshops, a music and poetry event, aircraft technical networking events, tours, films and a commemoration ceremony and drew visitors to the county from across Ireland.

The Festival of Flight was run by the Col Fitzmaurice Commemoration Committee in partnership with Laois County Council, Laois Heritage Society, Music Generation Laois, the Dunamaise Arts Centre and Midlands Science, supported by the Heritage Council, Creative Ireland Laois as part of the Creative Ireland Programme 2017-2022, The Decade of Centenaries Programme of the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media.



The Impossible Dream

A special performance of the Impossible Dream, the piece composed by Martin Tourish and the young musicians of the Music Generation Laois Trad Orchestra to celebrate the life and achievements of the Portlaoise Aviator James Fitzmaurice was held at St Peters Church of Ireland Church in Portlaoise on Saturday April 9.

The event featured gripping talks on the first east west transatlantic flight in April 1928, by the Chair of the Col Fitzmaurice Commemoration Committee Teddy Fennelly and former General Officer in Command of the Irish Air Corps, Ralph James. Poet Laura Murphy performed her moving piece inspired by her home county, In Laois I Fly Free accompanied by Dale McKay on the bodhran, to great acclaim. MORE BELOW PICTURE.





First East West Transatlantic Flight

On Sunday April 10th a special ceremony was held at Fitzmaurice Place in Portlaoise to mark the 94th anniversary of the first east west transatlantic flight in April 1928, including a parade from the Irish Air Corps and the Irish United Nations Veterans Association Post 27 Portlaoise Branch, and a fly over by members of Lime Tree Airfield and the Irish Historic Flight Foundation. Wreaths were laid in memory of the three aviators by representatives of Laois County Council, the Irish Air Corps, the Col Fitzmaurice Committee, Laois Heritage Society and the United Nations Veterans Association.



The Portlaoise Plane, the 100 year old artefact built in Portlaoise which was one of the first planes to fly in Ireland, was on public display for the event, in the public square named for James Fitzmaurice, in memory of his great achievement. MORE BELOW PICTURE.



Teddy Fennelly is Chair of the Colonel James Fitzmaurice Commemoration Committee which organised the festival.

We are delighted that the Portlaoise Plane was on display for the public again during the Festival of Flight. As well as being a valuable artefact on its own right, the Portlaoise Plane is linked to Portlaoises other major aviation story: A young James Fitzmaurice records in his memoirs that he witnessed the construction of the plane and was also present when it made its first short experimental flight.

"This early exposure to the excitement of flight was credited by Fitzmaurice with inspiring him in his career as a pioneering aviator. This links the Portlaoise Plane directly with the first east-west transatlantic flight of the Bremen in 1928  elevating the story and confirming the place of Portlaoise as the centre of Irish aviation history, he said.



Cllr Conor Bergin, Cathaoirleach of Laois County Council spoke at the commemoration.

Laois is very proud of our native son Colonel James Fitzmaurice. His achievements have been celebrated and commemorated over the years through ceremonies, sculptures, artworks and new music compositions and I am proud that Laois County Council has led the way in supporting all of these celebrations.



This Festival of Flight is another project brought about by the collaborative approach taken by the Laois County Council Culture Team with the support of Creative Ireland and the Heritage Council and I am very proud of how the Festival of Flight showcases how our culture Team members from the Heritage, Libraries, Arts, Music and Archives sections work together through the Creative Ireland programme, to become more than the sum of their parts, and producing really imaginative, ground breaking work, he said. MORE BELOW PICTURE.





The commemoration was also addressed by the General Officer in Command of the Irish Air Corps, Brigadier General Rory OConnor.

I am delighted to be present here today to celebrate Col James Fitzmaurice and what he has given to aviation, not only in Ireland, but also around the world. I would like to thank the organising committee who have and continue to remember this great pioneer in aviation. As Alan mentioned yesterday, this celebration will continue for the years ahead, all the way up to the Centenary of this historic flight, which we will have to celebrate in style in 2028!



Ive no doubt thoughts have begun to form as to how that celebration could take place, which should be celebrated on a national level, given the significance of this flight and the importance of aviation to Ireland. And for those of us who were fortunate enough to experience yesterdays suite of music, the Impossible Dream by Martin Tourish in collaboration with the Music Generation Laois Trad Orchestra, all I can say is, that for my part, I found it a truly inspirational and engaging piece of music, he said.



Brig Gen OConnor also spoke about the centenary of the foundation of the Air Corps which occurs in 2022.

In celebrating our centenary, were able to look back on what has come before, celebrate what we have now, and look forward to inspiring a new generation to get involved in aviation for the future. So, we commemorate, educate & inspire! Which is what events like the Laois Festival of flight are all about, he said.





Aircraft Technical Forum

The Festival of Flight also hosted a networking meeting of senior aircraft technical professionals in the field of aircraft leasing at Bloom HQ in Mountrath, drawing together the history of aviation in Ireland with its bright future.



Col Fitzmaurice Commemoration Committee

The Festival of Flight is led by the Col Fitzmaurice Commemoration Committee, which is made up of Teddy Fennelly, Alan Phelan, Michael Parsons, Louise Fennelly, PJ Kavanagh, Sean Murray and Catherine Casey. The event was run in partnership with Laois County Council, Laois Heritage Society, Music Generation Laois, the Dunamaise Arts Centre and Midlands Science, supported by the Heritage Council, Creative Ireland Laois as part of the Creative Ireland Programme 2017-2022, The Decade of Centenaries Programme of the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media.



For details of the Festival and future aviation events, see www.laois.ie/festivalofflight
Laois Offaly TD Charlie Flanagan has praised gardai in the battle against organised crime and said the $5 million reward on the Kinihans will have a devastating impact on the Irish gang.

The former Minister for Justice issued a joint statement with with MEP Frances Fitzgerald who is also a former justice minister in backing the Gardai in ensuring the Kinahans are held to account.

They made the statement after the US put up a $5 million reward for key information leading to the notorious Kinahan gang being dismantled.

Deputy Flanagan and MEP Fitzgerald said todays announcement by joint Irish, American, UK and EU police and security forces will have an absolute devastating effect on the Kinahan Organised Crime Group.

Deputy Flanagan said: Todays announcement from authorities across the world highlights years of work by An Garda Siochana in their ongoing operation to bring some of the most prolific members of the international crime world to justice.

The strength of this joint action from organisations on three separate continents will go a long way in tackling the activities of the Kinahan gang. The sanctions placed on the group will greatly limit their ability to continue to operate internationally by prohibiting banks and financial institutions from trading with members of the group and their affiliated businesses.

MEP Fitzgerald said: Organised crime gangs exploit some of the most vulnerable members of society. They are a scourge on communities and economies across the world, and todays actions demonstrate the international communitys commitment to curb their influence and impact.

They brought death, murder and mayhem to Irish streets  most notably in our capital city which I am proud to represent. We will always stand against them and stand with our State.

Fine Gael is the party of law and order, committed to creating stronger and safer communities through continued investment in our police force. Budget 2022 provided an unprecedented 2 billion in funding to An Garda Siochana, allowing for the recruitment of an extra 800 Gardai and 400 Garda staff this year.

Todays developments show our commitment to An Garda Siochana has paid off, and I look forward to seeing the Kinahan group being held to account and brought to justice, MEP Fitzgerald said.

The former ministers added that the Gardai have and always will receive investment and full support from Fine Gael when it comes to tackling organised crime and criminal gangs. It said Fine Gael is committed to building stronger, safer communities.

The two Fine Gael politicians also praised their successor, Minister Helen McEntee for her work.
Hundreds of job seekers descended on Laois in search of a fresh start at the second annual Laois Jobs Fair which according to the President of Laois Chamber is a chance to showcase Laois to people who want to live and work in the county.

Hosted by Laois Chamber, the event on Tuesday, April 12 saw many businesses, training and education brothers meet with people seeking new jobs and training opportunities in Laois.

The event has proven to be as successful than the first edition in 2020. A queue formed at the Midlands Park Hotel before the doors opened at 12pm at the Fair venue in the Midlands Park Hotel. The event was due to run until 8pm with another large attendance due to attend between 6pm and 8pm.

"It has been a great showcase for the county with so many companies exhibiting," said Caroline Hofman, CEO of Laois Chamber.

She said upwards of 1,000 job seekers had registered with Laois Chamber in advance. She added that the venue had reached capacity in terms of companies that could be accommodated. Laois Chamber said before the event that 100s of jobs were on offer.

By 3pm, Ms Hofman said a lot of CVs had already been left with exhibitors. She said a substantial attendance was also due after 6pm especially from commuters. She said the event showed that there are many opportunities close to home for people who leave the county each day for work.

Already looking forward, the CEO expected that expansion is on the cards for the 2023 Fair with the possibility that it could run over two days.

She said there has been huge interest from Ukrainian nationals in jobs and training. A hub for Ukraine refugees with translators present was set up at the Fair. MORE BELOW PICTURE.

Alison Browne, President of Laois Chamber, was really pleased with the event.

"It has gone better than expected. There has been a great flow of people. We staggered people coming for Covid reasons but there has been a constant flow and a lot of people were booked in for after 6pm to allow people attend without having to take time out from work," she said.

She said the event showcases the variety of jobs in Laois.

"There is an amazing amount of jobs from all kinds of companies. It is ideal for people for people who want to have a work life balance and live after work," she said.

She agreed that the popularity of the event confirms a change in the position of Laois as a place to find work that was first revealed at the 2020 Fair.

"It is as busy if not more busy than it was two years ago with more companies in Laois. We are really looking for more companies to believe in Laois. We are thrilled to say that the ones that are here are here to stay and thriving," she said.

She said the big aim and message the Fair sends out is to the commuters leaving Laois each day for work.

"There's 12,000 people going out of Laois each day for work and we are trying to give them options. It is an employees market and we as Laois Chamber believe it is our job to showcase what is on offer in Laois. Each business at the Fair is living proof that you can live an work successfully in Laois and can showcase that," she said.

Like the Chamber's CEO, she was happy with the decision to have a Ukrainian hub on the Laois Chamber stand on the way into the Fair thanking the translators who have stepped in to help.

"They are highly skilled mainly females which is sad of course but they are lovely friendly people but very employable. Any firm that attends the fair will be very luck to have them as an employee," she said.

The President had special thanks for local agencies.

"It would not have been possible for us to run this without the Laois Offaly Education and Training Board and the Laois Local Enterprise Office. We greatly appreciate their support. It is well worth exploring what they have on offer. They are a huge support to the Chamber and workforce in Laois. We are honoured to have them," he said. MORE BELOW PICTURE

Laois County Council's Chief Executive, John Mulholland, was among those in attendance. He also attended the first jobs fair in February 20 just before the Covid-19 pandemic hit so the holding of the 2022 edition was a sign of a reset. From meeting companies at the fair he felt skill workers in many areas are being recruited.

"There are people looking for all kinds of talents and those positions are here in Laois," he said.

He said he was impressed by preparedness of companies at the fair to brief potential employees. Mr Mulholland described as remarkable and really positive the number of opportunities there are available in companies.

"It is an endorsement of Laois and the efforts that have gone in over many years that is beginning to bear fruit," he said.

He agreed that the new J15 National Enterprise Park which has been developed by Laois County Council has acted as a magnet to companies. Apart form this he he said established companies are growing in the county while new firms are also setting up which in turn creates new jobs in the services sector.

He felt evidence that there is now momentum growing business in Laois that will create jobs. He added that more improvement can be made.

"I think we are in a good position to develop enterprise and industry further," he said.

He acknowledged that another challenge is making sure that there are new homes for people who wish to work local and make Laois their home.

"It is great to be in that position. You go back the years the pressure release valve was people going away and that is now different," he said.

The CEO concluded by praising the leadership of the business community in pushing the agenda to grow Laois. MORE BELOW PICTURE.

Cllr Conor Bergin, Laois County Council Cathaoirleach, said he was delighted to attend.

"It is great to see all the Laois based companies. It is clear that there is a real need for skills in the county and there are plenty of jobs on offer," he said.

He said this is a sign that fortunes have changed.

"Compared to 10 years ago when we were losing jobs in Laois we now have jobs to offer," he said.

He said there was something for everyone at the fair.
A woman who claimed to have mistakenly used a bank card she found has been given the probation act at Portlaoise District Court.

Dazsrina Bucinskaite 34 of Buttercup Avenue, Esker Hills, Portlaoise had intended to do the right thing when she found the AIB bank card on the Borris Road in Portlaoise on December 4, 2021, the court was told.

Solicitor Philip Meagher said his client was going to act as a good Samaritan but unfortunately she placed it in the front of her wallet and during the course of the day she tapped it as she would her own card.

The card was used at Tesco for 8.98, Lloyds Pharmacy 11.42, Bookmark 23.98 and on three occasions at Dealz for sums of 11.32, 25.98 and 9.71.

Mr Meagher said when his client discovered the error she panicked and sought advice from a friend about the situation before destroying the card. She has paid compensation of 150 and she has written a letter of apology, he said.

There was some confusion in court when two women unrelated to the case stood up as it was being heard. The defendant, it transpired, had been in court earlier in the day but had since left building.

The court sat till after 8pm and Mr Meagher said I think the woman in question, she must have left because of her child. He said she was here until six at least.

Of the two women who had stood, Mr Meagher said, when I sensed a presence on my shoulder I felt I was accompanied but it appears I was dancing on my own.

Mr Meagher said his client was originally from Lithuania but has been living here since 2006. The court heard she had no previous convictions.

On hearing the evidence, Judge Patricia Cronin said she would apply the probation act.
A man who became abusive on St Patricks Night had a lowered alcohol tolerance in the wake of Covid restrictions, a sitting of Portlaoise District Court was told.

Craig Smart 20 of 25 Rossvale, Mountmellick Road, Portlaoise was arrested for public order offences at Market Square in Portlaoise on March 18 last.

Sgt JJ Kirby said he was highly intoxicated and became abusive and aggressive to gardai. He said the defendant had no previous convictions.

Solicitor Aonghus McCarthy said his client had drunk too much on the night and wouldnt have been used to going out due to covid restrictions. I would say that the tolerance level had diminished, he explained.

Mr McCarthy said a female had been assaulted on the night and his client had become involved in an altercation with those he believed responsible.

The defendant is a hard working apprentice at a garage and is very embarrassed over the incident, Mr McCarthy said.

Judge Patricia Cronin told the man to pay 250 to the Red Cross Ukraine appeal. She said she would strike out the charges but warned the man he wont get the benefit of that on another occasion.
Some of the Ukraine war refugees living in Laois have shared their feelings as they adjust to a strange country having fled possible death in their own country from the continued Russian invasion.

A teenage Ukraine student was in tears last weekend in Portlaoise as she interpreted to locals at the opening of a shop filled with donations for Ukraine war refugees staying in Laois.

Polena Filatova, 19, arrived in Laois almost three weeks ago, from Zaporizhzhya, where she had been studying Philology and English interpreting.

"I came here with my mother and younger sister, we wanted to find a safe place. We ran away on March 8, International Women's Day.

"We are staying with an aunt in Newpark, we were lucky we had someone here," she said.

She is volunteering her interpreting skills to help her countrypeople in Portlaoise. At the opening of a Zero Cost Shop in Bull Lane Portlaoise, she interpreted for Kharkiv businesswoman Alexsandra who had unexpectedly come forward from the small crowd to thank Laois for its welcome, with tears rolling down her face.

Back home are her two grandmothers, great grandmother, an aunt and uncle and their three children.

"We hope we can bring them here.

"We had the 24 hours news on when it all started, I couldn't believe it.

"Now I try to do study, walk, anything. It is hard to think about. It's scary, I don't know what to do. We are trying to build a wall in our minds, it's hard to think of what is happening all the time. This is not about the Russian race, this happens to Russia too. I am really sorry," she said.

"The Irish welcome is amazing. I have never been out of Ukraine in my life. It's amazing all the support," she said.

Below: Polena (left) intrepreting to Ukraine people at the opening of the Zero Cost Shop in Portlaoise. Photo: Michael Scully

Marina Molnikova, 24, from Dnipro is staying in the Killeshin Hotel with her two children aged almost 2 and 4, her mother and her sister, her sister's two children and two friends, one of whom also has two children.

Her husband remains back in Ukraine, where is working in Chernobyl, but ready to volunteer and fight.

Speaking with the help of Polena interpretating, she told the Leinster Express of their tough journey to Laois.

"We were in Poland and then Germany. It was hard to go out of Ukraine. We were a long time in Poland, it was hard with the kids. I am really thankful for the people who are here helping. Only when we came here we could relax.

"It is a very cute, friendly town, with very warm people. We are really thankful," Marina said.

Polish war journalist and now Portlaoise resident Renata Metelicka volunteers with Laois Integration Network (LIN).

"A lot of the refugees have post traumatic stress, it is very important that they talk with counsellors. I had it before, I understand," she said.

Colleen Wall is secretary with LIN, and also the Director of Operations with social housing body Didean. Their houses in Portlaoise that are waiting for Government legislation to take Direct Provision residents, are in the meantime housing the refugees.

"What has been done here with this shop is absolutely fantastic. These people have come with so little, women and children on their own, it's very sad. Everyone deserves a chance to build their lives," she said.

The shop will offer goods donated by Laois people and businesses, from toy, books and clothes to food and sanitary products.

Anyone who wishes to help or to donate to the Zero-Cost Shop, can call to the shop at the following times: Saturdays from 12-4.00pm, Mondays from 2-4.00pm, Fridays from 2-4.00pm.
Transition Year students from Clongowes Wood College, Clane undertook the challenge of swimming for 24 hours in aid of Crumlin Childrens Hospital last week. The 50 students swam in relay teams from 4pm Wednesday April 6 to 4pm Thursday April 7. The fundraiser was part of the annual Clongowes Duck Push initiative for Crumlin and raised 8,000  a significant boost to their overall goal this year of 30,000. The swim took place in the Clongowes 25m indoor pool, a facility that is used by the students and local groups.

The Duck Push at Clongowes is a tradition that first started in 1993 and since then has raised over 2.2 million for the purchase of vital equipment in the childrens hospital. Each year, transition year students at the Clane boarding school undertake to come up with creative mini companies and fundraising events throughout the school year before taking to the road to push the 3 meter high, bright yellow duck in June from Crumlin to Limerick, shaking buckets to raise funds along the route.

Some 50 students took part in the swim last week where they aimed to cover the length of the river Shannon, some 360km. The overall distance covered by the swimmers exceeded the goal as they achieved over 406km.

The Duck Push holds a special place in the transition year programme at Clongowes and under the banner of kids helping kids, the school community and others are to be commended for their ongoing support of the fundraising efforts. The GoFundMe page for the Duck Push is https://gofund.me/e36ad712

This first ever, 24-hour swim event was organised by four students: Matthew Kelly (Enniscorthy, Co Wexford), Ned Williams (Tinahealy, Co Wicklow), Osian Kileen (Clontarf, Dublin) and James Gilheany (Fenagh, Co Leitrim).

The students explained the importance of the Duck Push to the students: The whole ethos of our school is to be a man for others  this means if we can help those in need, then we should, and we are really happy to be able to do this fundraiser for the sick children in Crumlin. Swimming for 24 hours was pretty tough but worth it to try to achieve our goal of purchasing vital equipment for sick children from all over Ireland that are being cared for in Crumlin Childrens Hospital.

Mr Chris Lumb, Headmaster at Clongowes Wood College said: Were all very proud of the transition year boys who have come together to ensure those children in most need of our support will get equipment that they need to allow them to get the best possible care in Crumlin Childrens Hospital.

In recent years, the Clongowes Duck Push has provided 3 Resuscitaire beds for ICU at the hospital, a Luminex MagPix Respiratory Machine and a PCR testing machine.

Members of the public are encouraged to contribute to the Clongowes 2022 Duck Push for Crumlin Childrens Hospital at www.gofundme.com/duck-push-2022-clongowes. All donations are very gratefully appreciated.
Naas General Hospital can no longer host a weekly maternity services clinic in partnership with the Coombe Hospital as the space used for the facility is now needed to care for Covid-19 patients, it has emerged.

Previously, local expectant mothers could book appointments to receive check-ups, scans and blood tests in Naas without having to travel all the way to the Coombe in Dublin. However the clinic in the Outpatients Department, which was in operation for around 20 years, was suspended at the start of the pandemic.

The Leader has now learned that the service will not be returning to Naas Hospital and will instead be transferred to another location in the HSE's Dublin Midlands Hospital Group catchment area which covers parts of Dublin as well as Kildare, Laois and Offaly.

Pandemic

A spokesperson for the Dublin Midlands Hospital Group said: In April 2020, the Coombe Women and Infants University Hospital centralized their clinics in response to the Covid pandemic.

Unfortunately Naas General Hospital is not in a position for these clinics to return onsite at this time given the increasingly high numbers of Covid-19 cases onsite and active outbreaks, as well as our lack of clinical space to ensure social distancing guidelines.

The statement added: The Coombe Women and Infants University Hospital are working with the Dublin Midland Hospital Group to find a long-term alternative location.

We would hope that this will be achieved in the second half of 2022.

Covid-19

Naas Hospital saw the number of patients with Covid-19 rise above 60 last month putting it among the top 10 highest hospitals in the country.

However the number of cases had reduced to under 30 in recent days.

The Naas Local Electoral Area, which has a population of around 30,000 people, also continues to have one of the highest incident rates of the virus per 100,000 people in the country.

It is understood that expectant mothers in the Kildare area have been contacting the Coombe Hospital in recent weeks to inquire about the Naas clinic.

The clinic was usually held on a Thursday afternoon and evening and saw up to 100 women every week, who availed of services such as consultant visits and reviews, scans, midwife reviews and blood tests.

A source said: Most Kildare women had all their care in Naas Hospital and only came to the Coombe to deliver their baby.

Due to Kildares large population, up to 1,500 babies from the county were born in the Coombe every years.

This gives you an idea of the number of women who are really losing out on not having maternity services in Naas available to them.

A spokesperson for the Coombe Hospital said: We are working with the Dublin Midlands Hospital Group to find a long-term solution to the relocation of this service within the Midlands area.

We would hope that this will be achieved in the second half of 2022.

The issue has been raised with local TD and Minister of State Martin Heydon and Sinn Fein TD Reada Cronin.



Cllr Peggy O'Dwyer told the Leader that having the clinic in Naas provided enormous benefits for expectant Kildare mothers and their families and added that relocating it to an area such as Portlaoise would not be beneficial for these patients.



Cllr O'Dwyer said:

"Kildare needs this service to be recommenced back in the county. I will be submitting a question to the Regional Health Forum of which I am a member. We are moving out of the pandemic and my fear is that it may be lost to the people of Kildare which would be a step backwards considering it was identified many years ago."

In a statment the politician added:

"While the service was in Naas Hospital it was welcomed by both the hospital and the mothers that attended there.There was a mutual respect for the services and staff from both hospitals had an excellent relationship working side by side.

"Most importantly, the mothers that accessed the clinic appreciated it most.

"The benefits were enormous from being able to attend a clinic in their county, a family-friendly service, reduced waiting time as the clinics are smaller and returning to work on the day of appointment.

"The close proximity and excellent parking facilities were the positive factors. Many mums requested to attend this clinic.

"For student midwives there was the learning opportunity to practice supervised outside of their teaching hospital which many valued."
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Kildare County Council (KCC) has unveiled a poster displaying notable events in the Irish Civil War.

The Civil War lasted for just eleven months between 1922 and 1923, and followed shortly after the War of Independence, which lasted from 1919 to 1921.

When the highly-controversial Anglo-Irish Treaty came into being in 1921, the country was divided into two main groups: members of the government who agreed with the Treaty, and the anti-treaty opposition, who saw it as a betrayal of the idea of an Irish Republic.

Many of those on both sides in the conflict had previously been members of the Irish Republican Army during the War of Independence.

An illustrated poster of the timeline of the Civil War relating to County Kildare has been produced as part of KCC's Decade of Commemorations programme, which will mark the 100th anniversary of its outbreak in June 1922.

KCC also pointed to the following quote from chief of staff of the Anti-Treaty IRA, Frank Aiken, which was said in August 1922: "War with the foreigner brings to the fore all that is best and noblest in a nation  civil war brings out all that is mean and base."

The council said: "For anyone curious about the history of County Kildare at this time, particularly secondary school students studying this era of history, the poster will be of great interest.

"In addition to the events which took place in Kildare, some of the main incidents which occurred on the national stage are also included to give context."

Copies of the poster are available for free via KCCs public library network.
A man broke into the home of his ex-girlfriend, it was claimed at a Naas District Court sitting.

The man is being prosecuted for an alleged breach of the Theft and Fraud Offences Act.

Sgt Jim Kelly told the court that he smashed a pane of glass in a door at 5.55am at west Kildare on February 20 last.

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He added that a file is with the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions and he asked that the case be put off for two weeks.

Defending solicitor David Powderly said on April 6 the defendant is in custody because an application for bail in the High Court was refused.

He said the case should be proceeded with as quickly as possible.

Judge Desmond Zaidan adjourned the matter until April 6 when the defendant appeared by videolink.

The case was adjourned for a week with the defendant remanded in custody.
If you are one of the seemingly thousands of Leitrim fans journeying across the Irish sea next weekend for Leitrim's Connacht SFC first round clash with London, you best make sure that you have your ticket bought early with London GAA reporting that tickets are selling fast for the eagerly anticipated clash in McGovern Emerald Park.

Both Connacht GAA and London GAA have stressed that admission to Sunday's game is by advance ticket sales only with no sales at the gate.

You can purchase tickets for the game in McGovern Emerald Park via the GAA's link HERE. Stand tickets for Sunday's are 30 each with terrace tickets costing 25 each, U16s go free.

REMINDER that this weekends Connacht clash between London and Leitrim is advance tickets ONLY



Don't miss out and buy yours in plenty of time here:https://t.co/FEIgrhQW3N pic.twitter.com/WpWnEzlK0c  Official London GAA (@LondainGAA) April 12, 2022

London GAA are reporting that tickets are selling fast so if you are making the journey to Ruislip, make sure you don't get left without the all important match ticket!

Connacht SFC Leitrim v London - Match Ticket Details - https://t.co/4UXZVqijEk pic.twitter.com/xwqAxYT5bP  Leitrim GAA (@LeitrimGAA) April 8, 2022

St Kiernan's GAA Club in London also urged their members to make sure they got their tickets in advance!
 LE MONDE  DAPRES ISTOCK

In France, blank and spoiled votes are counted and made public, but they are not considered votes cast. In other words, voters who go to the polls to cast a blank ballot, an empty envelope or a spoiled ballot do not carry any more weight than abstainers.

And yet, the volume of these is consistent and even broke records in 2017: 11.5% of voters cast a blank or spoiled ballot in the second round of the presidential election (4 million people); 9.9% of voters in the second round of legislative elections a month later (3.4 million). Their number fell slightly in the following elections  European, municipal, departmental and regional  which were, however, marked by a high abstention rate .

What is the difference between a blank vote and a spoiled vote?

According to the Electoral Code, a blank ballot is an empty envelope or blank ballot paper that must have the same characteristics (size, color, weight) as ballots with the candidates' name on it.

It differs from a spoiled vote, which is declared as such when the ballot paper is annotated, torn, marked with several different votes, presented without an envelope or if it is considered as not in order.

What does the legislation state?

Since the law of February 21, 2014, blank and spoiled votes are no longer counted together: "Blank ballots are counted separately and annexed to the minutes. They shall not be taken into account in determining the votes cast but special mention shall be made of them in the ballot results."

However, when the ballot boxes are counted, many blank votes end up being counted as spoiled. This is the case when voters do not manage to get a blank ballot paper that meets the electoral code standards (they are not distributed in polling stations), or do not dare to deposit an empty envelope, worried about being noticed.

"This law divides two categories of ballots that are difficult to distinguish in reality, so it further understates the results," said Jeremie Moualek, lecturer at the Universite d'Evry (Essonne, Paris region) and an expert in blank votes. The researcher publishes photographs of ballots from archives on his blog and Twitter feed daily  in total, he has collected more than 20,000 between 1992 and 2012. "As blank and spoiled votes are completely ignored, I wanted to show how this electoral behavior really materializes, which takes very diverse forms at the ballot box," he explained. Sometimes disinterested, sometimes carrying a real message, some express their utter dismay faced with the proposed politics on offer.

Voting station volunteers count ballots in the first round of the French presidential election, in Strasbourg, eastern France, Sunday, April 10, 2022. JEAN-FRANCOIS BADIAS / AP

What do the candidates propose to do about the blank vote?

In their programs for the presidential election, Nicolas Dupont-Aignan, Jean-Luc Melenchon, Yannick Jadot, Nathalie Arthaud, Jean Lassalle and Anne Hidalgo are in favor of counting blank votes as votes cast. The positions of Eric Zemmour, Fabien Roussel, Valerie Pecresse, Marine Le Pen and Philippe Poutou are not clear. As for the incumbent president, Emmanuel Macron dismissed the idea when it was proposed by the "Yellow Vests" in 2019, although he had previously appeared open to it.

"It is a subject that is constantly used in politics without being seriously analyzed," said Jeremie Moualek. Most of the candidates' proposals are vague. Should it be taken into account in the votes cast in all elections? Only in the first round, as advocated by the Parti du Vote Blanc? Be accompanied by a power of sanction, such as the invalidation of elections, to really put pressure on the political offering ?

What difference could recognition of the blank vote make?

The "Make Democracy Win" campaign, spearheaded by the Democratie Ouverte organization, advocates, among other things, for blank ballots to be available at polling stations and counted as votes cast. If the results show a majority of blank votes, then the elections should be invalidated and new candidates should run. "Although considered useless today, the blank vote could be much more used to express defiance or rejection of the political offering if tomorrow it could force reorganization of an election," said Armel Le Coz, co-founder of Democratie Ouverte.

Counting the scores of the "winners" of an election by including blank and spoiled votes, and abstentions, would also put the actual legitimacy of representatives into perspective. If the blank and spoiled vote  at 11.5% in 2017  had been taken into account, Emmanuel Macron's victory would have been smaller: his score would have fallen from 66.1% to 58.5%; and for Marine Le Pen, from 33.9% to 30% .

A person takes ballots before voting for the first round of the presidential election, Sunday, April 10, 2022 in Le Touquet, northern France. THIBAULT CAMUS / AP

How is the blank vote viewed elsewhere in the world?

In Europe, the Netherlands and Spain count the blank vote as part of the votes cast in each election and it is included in the percentages used for defining electoral thresholds. However, it is not taken into account in parliamentary elections for the distribution of seats in Parliament.

Sweden recognizes the blank vote in some elections and in referendums. Greece also counts it but reallocates it to the winner of the election.

In Switzerland, the blank vote is taken into account in the first round to reach an absolute majority, but not in the second round.

The blank vote is taken more into account in the votes cast in South America. It even has an invalidating power in Colombia and Peru.

In 2017, Mongolia nearly held new elections after the blank vote reached 8%. A 2015 Mongolian election law states that if the blank vote reaches more than 10%, and no candidate obtains an absolute majority, new elections must be held with new candidates.

Pascaline David Translation of an original article published in French on lemonde.fr; the publisher may only be liable for the French version.
A CALL out has been issues for community groups across Limerick which are interested in taking part in this year's Pride of Place competition.

The annual all-island competition is run in conjunction with local authorities and aims to recognise improvements made by local communities to create civic pride in their area.

The competition celebrates the efforts and endeavours of communities throughout Ireland, to make their place the best place to live. The focus is about people coming together to shape, change and improve the daily lives of people in their communities.

Limerick has an impressive track record of success and previous winners have included Rathkeale Pre-Social Cohesion Project, Abbeyfeale Community Council, The Childrens Grief Centre, Limerick Civic Trust and Kilmeedy.

The local authority is now seeking expressions of interests and is looking for groups to take part in this years competition.

Groups interested in being considered for nomination are asked to complete the required Expression of Interest form which can be downloaded from the Pride of Place section at limerick.ie.

Limerick City and County Council may nominate one group only per category and a maximum of five groups overall.

For further information, email prideofplace@limerick.ie.
THE PLANNING regulator has dealt a blow to the University of Limericks plans to expand into Clare  at least in the short term.

As revealed by the Limerick Leader earlier this year, the college is seeking to develop a huge new economic zone on its north campus over the Living Bridge.

In February, its president, Prof Kerstin Mey and Clare Council boss Pat Dowling sought permission for the project from the minister responsible Darragh OBrien.

Here, they outlined the plans, which they want included in the Banner County's new development plan.

They pointed out the ambitious proposals could deliver more than 3,500 jobs, and an economic spin-off of 1.795bn, with the move paving the way for the opening of an innovation district.

But the Office of the Planning Regulator (OPR) has now stepped in to tell Clare Council it feels the development is inappropriate in the context of the countys proposed strategy.

It has recommended Clare Council removes the reference to the University of Limerick (UL) project from its strategy.

The full reference on the report states: "The office acknowledges the general ambition of the planning authority to establish an economic SDZ for South Clare/University of Limerick consistent with the Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy, to be developed over the long term, and notes the making of an application to the Minister in this regard. However for reasons outlined below, it is considered inappropriate at this stage to take account of the future SDZ in the Core Strategy."

Crucially, if the plans are not included in the councils blueprint - this "core strategy"- it means it would be unlikely to go ahead unless an amendment is sought. Any amendment would need to be in line with government policy, which prioritises any major development within existing town and city centres at the expense of rural locations.

While the OPR has no formal role in the designation of zones for projects like the UL one, the body is considered influential, with a spokesperson saying since 2019, 400 of its recommendations had been made to councils, with the vast majority implemented.

The recommendation to leave out ULs plans could ultimately place Clare County Councils members on a collision course with the OPR.

Sources have indicated the Housing Minister  who ultimately has the final say  could be asked by Clare councillors to take the unusual step of intervening to allow the scheme to progress.

A Clare Council spokesperson said its chief executive Mr Dowling will formally provide a response to the OPRs submission by July.

Ahead of this, they added its not appropriate to comment.

A UL spokesperson said both itself and Clare Council: believe the designation of lands would be a very significant step toward achieving effective regional development, enterprise and investment and would contribute significantly to the achievement of the objectives of the National Planning Framework  Project Ireland 2040 and the Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy.
AT LEAST 567 refugees from war-torn Ukraine have arrived in Limerick, the local authority has confirmed.

Figures presented to councillors at this months community and leisure committee revealed the vast majority of these  397  are staying in hotels across Limericks metropolitan district.

A further 40 are at Mount Trenchard near Foynes, and 94 were located at Cahermoyle near Ardagh in West Limerick as of Friday.

Some 14 are in Pallaskenry, while here in the city, 22 refugees have arrived at the old St Lelias in Kileely, with this number set to increase further.

A spokesperson for the council said these numbers should carry a note of caution, however.

They said: This is the number we have been informed about. There are understood to be many others who have come to Limerick who are being supported by family and friends.

The Irish Red Cross is providing information on how local people can support Ukrainian refugees, whether it be through donations to one of the emergency accommodation centres, or the letting of your spare room to an individual or family fleeing the violence.

For more information, please telephone 01-6424600 or visit its web site at redcross.ie.
ILLEGAL dumping at a suburban bring centre has been described as a scourge on the local community by a Limerick Aontu activist.

Party representative Eric Nelligan has said he sees rubbish piled high around the various collection banks on a weekly basis at Milford bring centre in Castletroy.

He stressed that despite a biweekly collection by the council, individuals are leaving the boxes they use to carry the bottles on the ground for someone else to dispose of.

What is needed immediately is legislation to underpin the use of CCTV, drones and number plate technology to help in the fight against despicable illegal dumping and fly tipping, he said.

Mr Nelligan believes that the Aontu supported bill on Local Authority Prosecutions through CCTV, would ensure the use of cameras for surveillance only, to help catch those dumping illegally.

The Surveillance Powers in Relation to Certain Offences Bill would allow local authorities to use new technologies such as mobile CCTV, drones and number plate recognition to tackle illegal dumping.

This type of legislation will not fall foul to the law that affected the recordings amassed by Limerick City and County that landed them with a 110,000 fine from the Data Protection Commission.

Mr Nelligan stated that his party also want a waste management system paid through a form of central taxation, with a central system for household collection and free bring centres.

He also hopes that this system would take items like mattresses, sofas and other household pieces.

Unfortunately, a small minority of individuals who have no civic pride will engage in some form of illegal dumping, the only way to catch them is via camera technology.

I just cant get my head around people who plonk their rubbish in our community and let it lie there for others to clean up, he stated.
A photograph of Free State soldiers on the eve of the Irish Civil War nearly a century ago is expected to fetch 800 euro at auction.

The original black and white photograph, dated June 1922, shows soldiers entering a building on Baggot Street, Dublin, a scene of dramatic events that month.

On June 26, rival anti-Treaty forces, led by Leo Henderson, commandeered 15 cars imported in defiance of the Belfast Boycott from Fergusons Garage in Lower Baggott Street.

Henderson was arrested by Government troops, led by Frank Thornton, and in retaliation an anti-Treaty unit arrested General Mulcahys deputy chief of staff, General JJ Ginger OConnell in nearby Leeson Street.

OConnell was subsequently held by anti-Treaty forces in the Four Courts pending Hendersons release.

Arthur Griffith and Mulcahy later claimed the decision to attack the Four Courts was close to being taken that afternoon, but was deferred until the following morning.

Mulcahy  who succeeded Michael Collins as chief of staff of the National Army  claimed that many such photographs depicting organised military activity were taken to both create the impression of Government troops control of the impending situation and depict superior equipment and organised activity.

The photo, published in Field Day Review 2006 on page 144 as part of a piece by NL Hogan with the caption Free State Troops searching a building, was owned by General Richard Mulcahy before being gifted to a vendor who sold it at auction in April 2010.

It is estimated to bring in between 400  800 when it goes up for auction at Victor Mee Auctions, Cavan, this month.

Mr Mee commented: We are honoured to have been given the opportunity to find a new home for this rare piece of Irish history and heritage.

It is not often that we see such a well-preserved artefact which is both well-documented in the annals of Irish history but also comes with a known provenance, making it a great piece for the collection of an Irish history enthusiast.

For more information on the Decorative Interiors sale at Victor Mee on April 19-20, online registration, or catalogue viewing, visit www.victormeeauctions.ie.
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Today

Scattered thunderstorms this morning, then partly cloudy during the afternoon hours. Gusty winds and small hail are possible. High around 90F. Winds WSW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 40%..

Tonight

Mostly clear skies this evening will give way to occasional showers overnight. Low 73F. Winds W at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 50%.
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Indias telecom regulator has recommended cuts in the base price of 5G spectrum band versus what it suggested in 2018. The industrys financial health is still weak and the recommendations, on the face of it, appear positive. But are they? Mint takes a look:

What are Trais recommendations?

Trai has recommended base prices of all spectrum bands that will be put up for auction and a near 36% cut in the base price for 5G bands. It has also introduced a new band 600 Mhzfor 5G and kept the base price the same as 700 Mhz. Spectrum prices will be 1.5 times if airwaves are taken for 30 years instead of 20 years. The use cases to be developed on 5G make the availability of these airwaves that much more significant. The telecom regulator has suggested that captive enterprise networks can be set up by taking spectrum from the government directly or on lease from telecom operators.

Why are the proposals important?

The base price is critical for telcos. These proposals can help the companies firm up their plans on participation in the upcoming auctions, on the quantum of bandwidth they want to bid for. The pricing assumes significance also because buying spectrum and investing in infrastructure would require billions of dollars. Given that the financial health of the carriers is still weak, experts suggest that more reforms are needed. Nevertheless, the fifth generation of cellular technology is crucial. Besides the ability to provide high speed internet access, 5G can enable new services and business models.

View Full Image Photo: Mint

What has been the trend in spectrum prices earlier?

India has traditionally kept base prices on the higher side versus global peers. According to an EY analysis, even after the cut, 5G spectrum in India is still several times costlier than in the UK, Germany, and South Korea. Telecom operators had stayed away from 5G spectrum in the previous auctions of 2018 and 2021 since they found the prices exorbitant.

Will it help telecom companies?

Carriers and industry bodies have said the cut is not enough, asking for at least 90% cut from the last auction price of 492 crore per Mhz for pan-India 5G airwaves for 20 years in the 3300-3670 Mhz band, which would have come to 49,200 crore for each carrier. While there are three 5G bands, most of the deployments are expected to take place in the 3300-3670 Mhz band. Industry has slammed the suggestions on the grounds that Trai has not given any relief to the carriers, despite the long consultation process.

So, what happens next?

The regulator has to send the recommendations to the department of telecommunications (DoT) for approval. The government can refer this set of recommendations back to the regulator if it feels that all or some of the suggestions need to be reconsidered. Traditionally, Trai has neither reversed nor watered down its suggestions at the stage of recommendations. The DoT can, however, propose changes in the recommendations when they get approval from the Digital Communications Commission.

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky launched a fresh appeal for military aid as the country prepares for what are expected to become the wars biggest battles in eastern Ukraine, while refugees continued to flee westward to escape an expanding war zone.

In a virtual address to lawmakers in South Korea on Monday, Mr. Zelensky asked for military equipment, pressing the country to deliver more than the humanitarian assistance and nonlethal aid it has given so far. We thank South Korea for the help you have provided, but in order to survive from the war with Russia we need more help," Mr. Zelensky said during the roughly 15-minute address.

Ukraine has stepped up its pleas for heavy military equipment to fight the conventional tank and artillery battles that are expected in the Donbas area of eastern Ukraine. Both Ukraine and Russia are moving troops and materiel into the region. Ukrainian combat units from areas of northern Ukraine that it recovered following a Russian withdrawal there have started moving toward Donbas.

Russias main objective now is to seize the parts of Donbas not yet controlled by Moscow. Skirmishes along the contact line in Donbas and nearby regions continue daily, with Russian forces trying to push south of Izyum. The timing of a major campaign, Western and Ukrainian officials said, is up to Moscow, which may press the offensive imminently with available forces, or wait a few weeks to reconstitute units that suffered losses in northern Ukraine.

The Russian Defense Ministry said Monday that air-based missiles destroyed a weapons and military equipment repair base of the Ukrainian air-defense forces overnight, as well as two ammunition depots. Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov said that the strikes targeted a repair base near Velyka Novosilka in the Donetsk region, and that the ammunition depots near Mykolayiv, in southern Ukraine, and Zhovtneve, west of Kharkiv in Ukraines northeast, were also destroyed. Those claims couldnt be independently verified.

Gen. Konashenkov also said that Kalibr missiles on Sunday had destroyed parts of an S-300 antiaircraft missile system that was supplied to Ukraine by a European country."

That claim was denied by Slovak Prime Minister Eduard Heger, whose government last week said it had delivered an S-300 to Ukraine. The S-300 is one of many kinds of advanced weaponry that Ukraine has been urging its Western allies to deliver and would be effective against military aircraft and short-range ballistic missiles.

In Moscow, Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer was expected to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin, marking the first time a leader from a European Union country has visited since the start of Russias war on Ukraine.

The trip comes a day after Mr. Nehammer met with Mr. Zelensky in Kyiv at the weekend. The Austrian chancellor has faced criticism at home for his Moscow trip as it comes just a week after reports first appeared about atrocities allegedly committed by Russian troops against civilians during their occupation of the Kyiv region.

Mr. Nehammer said the trip was a risky mission" but that diplomacy was now needed to end hostilities. Everything that can be done to help the people of Ukraine and stop the war must be done," he told reporters Sunday.

Austria has traditionally close ties with Russia but has condemned alleged Russian war crimes in Ukraine.

Austrian officials said that the trip was coordinated with the leaders of EU institutions, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who has hosted recent Russia-Ukraine peace talks, and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

More Western companies announced sales or suspensions of their Russian operations on Monday in the wake of sanctions imposed by the European Union and the U.S.

French bank Societe Generale SA said it would cease its banking and insurance activities in Russia, including selling Rosbank, while Swedish telecommunications company Ericsson AB said Monday that it was suspending its business in Russia indefinitely.

Societe Generale said it was selling its entire stake in Rosbank and its Russian insurance units to Interros, a conglomerate controlled by metals billionaire Vladimir Potanin.

The war is having a devastating economic impact on Ukraine. The World Bank said the countrys economy is expected to shrink by 45.1% this year, though the depth of the decline may vary depending on the duration of the war.

The Russian invasion is delivering a massive blow to Ukraines economy and it has inflicted enormous damage to infrastructure," said Anna Bjerde, World Bank vice president for the Europe and Central Asia region.

Bojan Pancevski, Yuka Hayashi and Ed Frankl contributed to this article.
Boudica was queen of the Iceni tribe, based in what is now Norfolk, in Eastern England in the 1st century A.D.

Boudica (also spelled Boudicca or Boudicea) was the queen of the Iceni, a small but powerful tribe based in modern day Norfolk, in eastern England. In A.D. 60, she led a revolt against the Romans that resulted in the destruction of at least two Roman settlements, including Londinium (modern London) and almost drove Rome's imperial occupation forces off the island.

The revolt began after the death of her husband, Prasutagus, around A.D. 60. According to Publius Cornelius Tacitus, who along with Cassius Dio is one of two ancient historians who record the life and revolt of Boudica, the Romans seized Iceni property, flogged Boudica and raped her two daughters. Dio differs on these last elements and does not mention the flogging of Boudica or the rape of her daughters, and claims the uprising was over a Roman loan. In either case, Boudica raised an army and led a rebellion against the Romans which, after initial success, was crushed at the Battle of Watling Street.

In the deeply patriarchal society of imperial Rome, the fact that a woman had succeeded in killing so many Romans was considered a huge blow. "Two cities were sacked, eighty thousand of the Romans and of their allies perished, and the island was lost to Rome . Moreover, all this ruin was brought upon the Romans by a woman, a fact which in itself caused them the greatest shame," wrote Dio in "Roman History" (translation by Earnest Cary, through The University of Chicago).

The only physical description of Boudica that survives comes from Dio. Although it may not be accurate, it leaves readers with the impression that Boudica was a determined war leader. "In stature she was very tall, in appearance most terrifying, in the glance of her eye most fierce, and her voice was harsh; a great mass of the tawniest hair fell to her hips; around her neck was a large golden necklace; and she wore a tunic of divers colours over which a thick mantle was fastened with a brooch. This was her invariable attire " wrote Dio, who added that she clutched a spear when she spoke to her people.

Roman Britain before the rebellion

A reconstruction of a village at Chysauster in Cornwall, England around the time of Rome's early occupation of Britain. (Image credit: Heritage Images / Contributor via Getty Images)

The Roman Empire , under Emperor Claudius, launched a successful invasion of Britain in A.D. 43 with an army estimated by Joan P. Alcock in " A Brief History of Roman Britain " (Robinson Publishing, 2011) to be around 40,000 men. Military campaigns had been launched by earlier Roman leaders against the Brits (one notably led by Julius Caesar ) but this time the Romans were here to stay.

"I think that Roman Britain was always the wild northwest of the empire, a place of difference given the far north was never fully conquered, requiring a huge military presence to maintain the northern border. I estimate this at around 12 percent of the entire military establishment in what was only four percent of the geographic area of the empire," said Simon Elliott, author of " Roman Conquests: Britain " (Pen and Sword Military, 2021), in an interview with All About History. "On a number of occasions I think Roman emperors considered abandoning their occupation here, one certainly in the context of the Boudiccan Revolt when Nero must surely have wondered if the province was worth the effort of holding."

Force wasn't the only tactic used to hold Britain, however. Several leaders offered to make their kingdoms "client-states" of Rome. This basically meant that as long as their leaders lived, and did Rome's bidding when asked, they could maintain some level of sovereignty within the Roman Empire. The Iceni were one of the tribes who agreed to this arrangement and they remained a client state of Rome up until the death of Prasutagus around A.D. 60.

The Iceni, at the time of the Roman invasion, were a wealthy people, as evidenced by hoards of precious metals that have been found, such as a gold coin hoard reported by the BBC in 2011. Its leaders had been minting coins for nearly a century.

Even before Boudica, the Iceni's client-state relationship with Rome was problematic. In A.D. 47, a short-lived unsuccessful revolt was launched by the Iceni against Rome. This rebellion may have led to the elevation of Prasutagus to the leadership of the tribe, perhaps being seen by the Romans as a leader who could keep the Iceni in line.

Even in his will, Prasutagus tried to strike a balance between the Iceni and the Romans. In it he left his kingdom to his two daughters and the Roman emperor Nero. The exclusion of Boudica in his will has led historians to speculate that, even when her husband was still alive, the Iceni queen held strong anti-Roman views.

This client-state arrangement came crashing down upon the death of Prasutagus, however, with the Romans treating the Iceni, Boudica and her daughters terribly. His "kingdom was plundered by centurions, his house by slaves, as if they were the spoils of war. First, his wife Boudicea was scourged (flogged), and his daughters outraged. All the chief men of the Iceni, as if Rome had received the whole country as a gift, were stripped of their ancestral possessions, and the king's relatives were made slaves..." wrote Tacitus in " The Annals " (Translation by Alfred John Church, through Perseus Digital Library)

Boudica's rebellion

Boudica's daring assault on the Roman town of Londinium, now London, took Roman leaders by surprise. (Image credit: Heritage Images / Contributor via Getty Images)

With her kingdom's independence lost, her daughters raped, and herself having been personally flogged, Boudica had had enough. She raised an army, gaining support from another aggrieved tribe known as the Trinovantes.

"It seems as soon as a realistic opportunity presented itself to throw off the yoke of Rome the leading regional aristocrats did so, aligning their fate (fatally as it turned out) to that of Boudica and the Iceni. The really interesting question here actually is why did the Cantiaci [another powerful tribe] not join the revolt, with the answer perhaps that they were at that time the most Romanised of the British tribes given their proximity to the continent?" said Elliott.

Boudica focused her wrath on the Roman settlements of Camulodunum (modern-day Colchester) and Londinium (London), burning both of them to the ground. Archaeologists have found evidence of the fires her forces lit.

"At Camulodunum and Londinium the results of the Boudican revolt may be compared, on a smaller scale, with those of the volcanic eruptions that smothered Pompeii and Herculaneum," write researchers Richard Hingley and Christina Unwin in their book, " Boudica: Iron Age Warrior Queen " (Bloomsbury Academic, 2006). The towns were destroyed. In addition, Tacitus claims that " also destroyed the town of Verulamium, although the archaeological evidence for this is less clear.

Boudica was helped by the fact that at the time her rebellion was launched much of the Roman army in Britain was on the Isle of Anglesey, in Wales, destroying a Druid site at Mona. This meant that, for a while, the rebels would only encounter small numbers of Roman troops. After her successes, Dio records, Boudica's army had swelled to 230,000 people, a figure that was probably exaggerated.

"[The revolt] caught the Romans cold given the far away deployment of their legions, with legio XIV Gemina and legio XX Valeria Victrix with Paulinus, legio II Augusta in Exeter and legio IX Hispana in southern Lincolnshire. In short, the Romans completely overplayed their hand in terms of civil government when trying to incorporate the territory of the Iceni into the province, and then when things went badly for them didn't have the available military resources to deal with the fall out," said Elliott.

Battle of Watling Street

Boudica not only convinced her own tribe to rebel against Rome, but also brought neighboring tribes together under her leadership. (Image credit: Culture Club / Contributor via Getty Images)

According to David Mattingly, a professor at the University of Leicester, the Roman commander on the island, Gaius Suetonius Paulinus, amassed what forces he could, numbering perhaps only 10,000 men. He gave battle to Boudica somewhere near Watling Street, an ancient road on the island. While Paulinus was heavily outnumbered, he did have several other advantages. His legionnaires were well trained, equipped and probably battle hardened. Boudica's forces on the other hand were anything but.

In "a fast-moving rebellion there was neither time to fabricate large numbers of arms, nor, evidently, was there the opportunity for rebel forces to pillage major stockpiles of Roman weaponry," wrote Mattingly in " An Imperial Possession: Britain in the Roman Empire " (Penguin Books, 2008). He notes that while a "core" of Boudica's army was properly armed "many of the rebels will have had no body armour and will have been provided with makeshift weapons, such as agricultural tools."

Additionally, while scholars don't know precisely where Paulinus engaged Boudica, we know from Tacitus that it was in a "narrow defile" with a forest at the rear. This meant that Boudica could not bring her superior numbers to bear on the Roman forces. Also, Tacitus notes that Boudica made a tactical mistake in placing her supply wagons close to the front lines, blocking her troops when they had to retreat.

The Roman legions started the battle by launching spears at the British. These spears would have killed some Brits and hit the shields of others, possibly sticking to them and rendering them useless. Then the Roman troops "rushed out in a wedge-like column. Similar was the onset of the auxiliaries, while the cavalry with extended lances broke through all who offered a strong resistance." The rebels tried to flee but "flight proved difficult, because the surrounding wagons had blocked retreat," wrote Tacitus. The Romans massacred all who they could, even killing the animals which the rebels used to move their supplies.

The battle over, Tacitus said that Boudica took poison to avoid being captured, while Dio said that she died of illness (possibly from a wound). According to Mattingly Paulinus then "set about re-subjugating the implicated areas by 'fire and sword' and this extended not only to the most hostile peoples, but also even to those who had simply wavered in their loyalty." Britain would remain part of the Roman Empire until the fifth century A.D. when the western half of the empire collapsed.

"The emperor, Roman political establishment and Roman military all knew that the Boudiccan revolt was a close-run thing. They all knew that the great Augustus' lowest moment had been the loss of Varus' three legions to the Germans in the Teutoburg Forest in AD 9. The jeopardy in Britain in AD 60/61 were even greater, with four legions in danger, and with an emperor far less secure in his position. In short, the Romans knew that any overall loss to Boudica would have been disastrous. Indeed, you can see this in their response after Paulinus final victory. This included drafting in 2,000 more legionaries from Germany together with 1,000 auxiliary cavalry and eight units of auxiliary foot to help stamp out the last flames of resistance. This was then carried out with such vigor in the Iceni homelands of north Norfolk that the region remained for many years under-developed compared to the rest of the province," said Elliott.

The legacy of Boudica

A statue of Boudica stands near Westminster Bridge in London. (Image credit: paulafrench via Getty Images)

While Boudica's rebellion failed to drive the Romans out of Britain, the Iceni queen has become something of a modern-day heroine.

"Boudica has become an icon of British national history and is now a symbol not only of British freedom but also of women's power," wrote University of Newcastle classics professor Marguerite Johnson in " Boudicca " (Bristol Classical Press, 2012). "She has been painted and sculpted; she has 'starred' in films and has been the protagonist of numerous books, both of an academic and fictional nature."

In 1902, not long after the death of Queen Victoria a statue of Boudica was unveiled next to Westminster Bridge in London. Standing in her war chariot, and clutching a spear, it shows the Iceni queen ready to take on the might of Rome.

Additional resources

Want to learn about some of the incredible women from within Rome? Then we have 8 powerful female figures for you to read about.

Boudica's rebellion didn't bring down the Roman Empire, but it scared Rome enough to react. So, what did bring down the Roman Empire in the end?
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Bel Powley, Liev Schreiber, and Joe Cole are set to lead the limited drama series A Small Light at Disney Plus, Variety has learned.

The eight-episode National Geographic series tells the true story of Miep Gies (Powley), who played a critical role in hiding Anne Frank and her family from the Nazis.

20-something secretary Gies didnt hesitate when her boss Otto Frank (Schreiber) asked her to hide him and his family during World War II. For the next two years, Miep, her husband Jan (Cole) and several other everyday heroes watched over the eight souls hiding in the secret annex. It was Miep who found Annes diary and preserved it so that she and Otto could later share it with the world.

The series title comes from a quote by Gies late in her life: I dont like being called a hero because no one should ever think you have to be special to help others. Even an ordinary secretary or a housewife or a teenager can turn on a small light in a dark room.

Powley most recently appeared in the Apple drama series The Morning Show and will also star in the upcoming Apple World War II drama Masters of the Air. She is also known for her roes in films like Diary of a Teenage Girl, The King of Staten Island, and Carrie Pilby.

She is repped by Curtis Brown, UTA and Jackoway Austen Tyerman.

Schreiber led the Showtime series Ray Donovan for seven seasons in the title role. The series officially concluded with Ray Donovan: The Movie in January 2022. Schreiber also previously starred in the World War II film Defiance, which told the true story of the Bielski brothers, Polish Jews who helped save other Jews and fight the Nazis. His other film roles include X-Men Origins: Wolverine, The Sum of All Fears, The Manchurian Candidate, and Spotlight.

He is repped by Untitled and UTA.

Cole recently had a memorable turn in the first season of Gangs of London and is also known for his role in Peaky Blinders. He previously starred in an episode of Black Mirror and starred in films such as A Prayer Before Dawn, Green Room, and Thank You for Your Service.

He is repped by B-Side Management and WME.

The series will begin production this summer in Prague and Amsterdam. Joan Rater and Tony Phelan serve as wrtiers, executive producers, and showrunners. Susanna Fogel will direct multiple episodes, including the pilot, and executive produce. Peter Traugott of Keshet Studios will also executive produce. ABC Signature will produce in partnership with Keshet Studios.

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Trevor Noah came home to The Daily Show studio at 733 11th Avenue in Manhattan on Monday, just over two years after he last taped an episode of the Comedy Central late-night series there in front of an in-studio audience.

For his first show back, Noah, who hosted the Grammys just over a week ago, brought in a vaccinated, masked-up crowd to give him the comedian-audience exchange hed been sorely lacking in his many, many at-home Daily Show tapings. Of course, the COVID-19 pandemic has changed everything, including how Noah interacts with his in-person viewers.

I feel like youre all robbing me, Noah joked while chatting with the audience, where Variety was in attendance, from his desk during a commercial break. Noah encouraged The Daily Show-goers to ask him whatever they wanted, saying this part of the making a late-night show  the human-to-human, back-and-forth element  is what hed missed most.

One audience member asked him if he had been wearing pants while taping his at-home shows, to which Noah responded Yes  and then launched into a story about how a time he was left freezing outside in his boxers because of a fire alarm prompted him to always at least be wearing a sweatshirt and pants at all times. And for loyal Daily Show viewers, that will be a wardrobe they are very familiar with seeing Noah in over the past two years of shows.

With the exceptions of some planned hiatuses, The Daily Show hasnt stopped making new episodes during the COVID-19 pandemic. But those were made by Noah remotely, and dubbed The Daily Social Distancing Show in the early days of COVID. As things got slowly safer, Noah brought in his production team, some better decor and several in-person guests. But he hadnt come back to the studio or invited a live audience to sit in until today, a show that featured Severance director and executive producer Ben Stiller as guest.

Oh man, Ive missed you guys, Noah said at the top of his monologue Monday. And Im so sorry that we were separated for two years. In hindsight, I shouldnt have left that Tupperware open in Wuhan. My bad, guys. The important part is, were all here together again, and the reunion sex is gonna be amazing.

Noah spoke at length about the spiking COVID cases among politicians in Washington, D.C., quickly bringing the jokes back around as a way to play with his audience. And this just shows that unfortunately we cannot let our guard down when it comes to COVID, Noah said. And I hope each and every one of you in this packed indoor audience remembers that. In fact, tell the person next to you. Pull down your mask so they can hear you clearly and tell them to stay safe.

The Daily Show has been on hiatus since March 18, so this was Noahs first time to address several big headlines within the context of the show, including Ketanji Brown Jacksons Supreme Court appointment, which he covered with pride in a segment alongside Daily Show correspondent Dulce Sloan, and Will Smiths 10-year ban from the Oscars following his slap of Chris Rock at the ceremony last month.

When I first saw the headline, I thought this was the worst punishment ever, but then I heard he still gets to keep his Oscar and he can still win Oscars! So in many ways, this isnt a punishment. This is a favor! Noah joked. Will Smith doesnt have to go to the ceremony. He doesnt have to get dressed up, he doesnt have to sit through a bunch of boring awards he doesnt care about He doesnt have to pretend to be happy when he loses. I wish I could get banned from the Emmys. Every year I have to go and act like I might beat John Oliver, its a nightmare. Put on my hopeful face. It could be me! Its not gonna be me. I know its not, its not gonna be any of us. Its always John Oliver.

Noah added: I do think they shouldve at least consulted Chris Rock about this, because if Will was still going to the Oscars thats at least four hours when Chris Rock knows where he is. Now he could be anywhere!

The Daily Show host then came up with what he believes would be an even better idea for the Academy to have made. Honestly, I dont think they should have banned Will Smith at all. I actually think they should hire Will Smith to replace the wrap it up music they play at award shows, Noah said. Do you know how quickly winners will finish their speeches when they see Will Smith watching them on the side of the stage?

Noah brought correspondent Roy Wood Jr. into the studio for a traffic update that went predictably awry before Stiller emerged to talk about Severance, the Apple TV Plus workplace thriller that Noah feels is the perfect show for the COVID era and was very excited to pick Stillers brain about. Stiller also got in on the fun of having a live crowd, by faking that he had tripped on the way to his seat, something he had heard Noah joking about with the audience from his dressing room. You know, the kind of bit that can only work in a studio, with a live audience.

He ended the taping by thanking his studio audience, and making this TikTok video with them. While Noah said he was very happy to have such an enthusiastic, engaging crowd on Day 1 back, hes worried theyve ruined him for Daily Show audiences to come.

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SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP)  Sherri Papini, the Northern California woman charged last month with faking her kidnapping in 2016, accepted a plea bargain with prosecutors Tuesday and acknowledged she made up the story that prompted a frantic search and international headlines.

Defense attorney William Portanova said his client will plead guilty to charges of lying to a federal officer and mail fraud.

I am deeply ashamed of myself for my behavior and so very sorry for the pain Ive caused my family, my friends, all the good people who needlessly suffered because of my story and those who worked so hard to try to help me, she said in a statement released through Portanova. I will work the rest of my life to make amends for what I have done.

The search for Papini, 39, of Redding, set off a three-week search across California and several nearby states until she resurfaced on Thanksgiving Day in 2016.

She had bindings on her body and injuries including a blurred brand on her right shoulder and a swollen nose. She had other bruises and rashes on many parts of her body, ligature marks on her wrists and ankles, and burns on her left forearm.

Federal prosecutors alleged in early March that she actually was staying with a former boyfriend nearly 600 miles (966 kilometers) away in Southern Californias Orange County and injured herself to back up her false statements.

Portanova told The Associated Press he's not sure why his client did what she did.

Honestly I dont know if anybody does. I dont know if she knows, he said.

In my opinion it is a very complicated mental health situation, but one that has to be confronted and dealt with  and that includes admission and acceptance and punishment, Portanova said. He said treatment is not required under the plea deal, but counseling is part of her daily life and will continue to be.

The plea agreement calls for Papini to pay restitution topping $300,000.

That includes $30,694 to the California Victims Compensation Board, which reimbursed her for things including visits to her therapist for treatment for anxiety and PTSD and for the ambulance ride to the hospital after she surfaced near Sacramento.

She also will pay the Shasta County Sheriffs Office nearly $149,000 and the FBI more than $2,500 for their expenses during the investigation. She also owes the Social Security Administration at least $127,568.

The Sacramento Bee first reported that Papini had reached a plea deal.

The charges carry penalties of up to five years in federal prison for lying to a federal law enforcement officer and up to 20 years for mail fraud. Prosecutors agreed as part of the plea bargain to recommend a sentence on the low end of the sentencing range, estimated for Papini to be between eight and 14 months in custody.

The U.S. Attorneys Office in Sacramento filed amended charges Tuesday of 34 counts of mail fraud and one count of making false statements. But Papini agreed to plead guilty to a single count of mail fraud and one count of making false statements.

She is scheduled to be arraigned on those charges Wednesday and will likely enter the guilty pleas next week, Portanova said.

Papini was reported missing Nov. 2, 2016. She was found alongside Interstate 5 nearly 150 miles (240 kilometers) from her home, battered and with remnants of bindings on her wrists and ankles.

She told authorities at the time that she had been kidnapped at gunpoint by two Hispanic women, and provided descriptions to an FBI sketch artist along with extensive details of her purported abduction.

She was still making false statements as recently as August 2020, when prosecutors said a federal agent and a Shasta County sheriffs detective showed her evidence indicating she had not been abducted and warned her that it was a crime to lie to a federal agent.

A GoFundMe campaign raised more than $49,000 to help the family, which the couple used to pay off bills and for other expenses, according to a court filing by investigators.

She was a stay-at-home mom at the time and her husband worked at Best Buy. The family wasnt wealthy and there was never a ransom demand, officials said at the time.

She had gone jogging that day near her home about 215 miles (350 kilometers) north of San Francisco. Her husband, Keith Papini, found only her cellphone and earphones when he went searching after she failed to pick up their children at day care. She left her purse and jewelry behind.

He passed a lie detector test, investigators said.

Papini had both male and female DNA on her body and clothing when she was found, and the DNA eventually led to the former boyfriend, prosecutors say.

The former boyfriend told investigators that Papini stayed with him while she was gone, and that she had asked him to come to Redding to pick her up. Authorities verified his account by tracking two prepaid cellphones that they had been using to secretly talk to one another as early as December 2015, according to the court filing.

A cousin of the former boyfriend also told investigators that he saw Papini, unrestrained, in the mans apartment twice. Records also backed the ex-boyfriends story that he rented a car and drove Papini back to Northern California about three weeks later.
A man who wanted to smuggle two .50 caliber rifles for the Cartel Del Noreste has been sentenced to prison, according to court documents.

Manuel Dominguez, 30, of Laredo, had pleaded guilty on Aug. 12 to felon in possession of a firearm. On Monday, U.S. District Judge Diana Saldana sentenced Dominguez to 87 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release.

At the hearing, the judge noted Dominguezs violent criminal history, the cache of weapons and ammunition in his home and the fact he was attempting to smuggle high-powered rifles into Mexico, the U.S. Attorneys Office said in a statement.

Dominguez was arrested following an undercover operation that took place on May 25. A buyer in Mexico had sent Dominguez to pick up two Barrett .50 caliber rifles at the Home Depot on 5710 San Bernardo Ave. Dominguez arrived at the location driving a Ford Mustang.

He parked next to the undercover agents vehicle. Dominguez inspected the firearms and provided three stacks of $9,900, wrapped in rubber bands. Dominguez was detained after loading the first firearm into the back seat of his car. A search of his residence yielded more firearms and over 6,000 rounds of ammunition.

The rifles were intended to go to members of the Cartel De (Noreste), a violent drug cartel in Mexico, the U.S. Attorneys Office said in a statement.

Dominguez was convicted of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon on Dec. 16, 2010, in the 406th District Court in Webb County. He was prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition per federal law. Dominguez was allowed to remain out on bond and voluntarily report to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Homeland Security Investigations and the Laredo Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Anthony J. Evans and Brandon Bowling prosecuted the case.

This successful case is a result of the steadfast efforts of HSI special agents to prevent firearms from falling into the hands of transnational criminal organizations that pose a threat to public safety both here and abroad, said Special Agent in Charge Shane Folden, HSI-San Antonio. We will continue working with our domestic and international law enforcement partners in this effort."
Three people were arrested in relation to the seizure of more than 34,000 rounds of ammo from a west Laredo home.

On April 6 and April 7, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Drug Enforcement Administration conducted surveillance on two properties in the 2500 block of Madison Street in west Laredo.

ATF special agents received information that Jorge Eliud Martinez was a Mexican citizen illegally in the United States and that he manufactured privately made firearms. During the Surveillance, special agents observed multiple people in different vehicles at various times deliver boxes of ammunition to Jorge Eliud Martinez at both properties on Madison.

Martinezs brother, Jose Alejandro Martinez, was one of the people who delivered multiple boxes of ammunition in his white pickup. On April 7, authorities obtained two search warrants. Prior to executing the search warrants, authorities noticed Jorge Eliud Martinez exiting the residence on Madison and getting into the passenger side of a silver pickup. The vehicle was driven by Erika Alvarez.

Laredo police officers pulled over the pickup near the intersection of San Dario Avenue and Alamo Street. Alvarez and Jorge Eliud Martinez were taken to LPD headquarters for questioning. Jose Alejandro Martinez also left the properties before the execution of the search warrants and drove away in the same white pickup that he delivered ammunition earlier. Police also detained him after a traffic stop and took him to LPD headquarters for questioning.

After the execution of the search warrants, ATF special agents seized over 34,000 rounds of Monarch 7.62mm ammunition and a 7.62mm ROMARM/CUGIR, model Draco, firearm.

In a post-arrest statement, Jorge Eliud Martinez stated he was born in Nuevo Laredo, Mexico nd could not purchase firearms and ammunition because he is an undocumented Mexican illegally in the United States. Jorge Eliud Martinez admitted to buying the DRACO about four months ago. He also admitted that Alvarez bought the ammo for him because of his immigrations status.

Alvarez admitted to previously receiving money from (Jorge Eliud) Martinez to purchase ammunition on or about March 30, 2022 and delivered the ammunition to (Jorge Eliud) Martinez. Jose (Alejandro Martinez) admitted to previously receiving money from (Jorge Eliud) Martinez on or about March 25, 2022 and on or about April 2, 2022 to purchase 7.62mm ammunition and delivered the ammunition to (Jorge Eliud) Martinez on both occasions, states the affidavit.

Alvarez and Jose Alejandro Martinez stated that they knew Jorge Eliud Martinez could not purchase or possess firearms and ammo due to him being in the United States illegally. The trio is facing conspiracy and weapons violations charges.
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TOKYO (AP)  Honda is investing 5 trillion yen ($40 billion) over the next decade in research, especially to realize a major shift to ecological electric vehicles, the Japanese automaker said Tuesday.

The products and services in the works will account for more than half of its 8 trillion yen ($64 billion) research and development budget in that time and will be tailored for each major market, the U.S., China and Japan.

Efforts in North America will focus on the collaboration with General Motors Co., under which Honda Motor Co. is jointly developing two midsize to large EV models, set for sale in 2024.

By 2027, also under its alliance with GM, Honda plans to offer an affordable electric vehicle thats competitive with gas-powered models in performance and pricing.

Top automakers are accelerating electric car offerings amid pressing concerns about climate change, while also employing new kinds of fuel, such as biofuel and hydrogen-powered fuel cells.

Honda will launch 30 EV models globally by 2030, targeting production of more than 2 million vehicles a year, according to the maker of the Accord sedan, Asimo robot and Gold Wing motorcycles.

They will span the whole range of models, from tiny vans to muscular sportscars.

We will continue to deliver the kind of fun in driving that our customers have come to expect from Honda, said Chief Executive Toshihiro Mibe.

In China, where the move to electric vehicles is especially bullish, Honda is introducing 10 new EV models by 2027.

In Japan, a market dominated by gas-electric hybrids, Honda will start with small commercial vehicles, such as delivery vans.

Businesses are likely to be more open to such investment because of the Japanese governments sustainability goals, officials said.

A commercial-use mini-EV model at the 1 million yen ($8,000) price range will go on sale in Japan in 2024, while other EVs, including sport-utility models, for regular consumers will follow, they said.

By the late 2020s, Honda hopes to have a breakthrough on next-generation batteries.

It also will develop related software since electric vehicles need recharging infrastructure and could add features such as robotics and avatars.

Like other automakers, Honda lost business during the coronavirus pandemic. But its forecasting an operating profit of 800 billion yen ($6.4 billion) for the fiscal year ended in March.

___

Yuri Kageyama is on Twitter https://twitter.com/yurikageyama
NEW YORK (AP)  A gunman wearing a gas mask set off smoke grenades and fired a barrage of bullets inside a rush-hour subway train in Brooklyn, wounding at least 10 people Tuesday, authorities said. Police were trying to track down the renter of a van possibly connected to the violence.

Chief of Detectives James Essig said investigators weren't sure whether the man, identified as Frank R. James, 62, had any link to the subway attack.

Authorities were looking at the man's apparent social media posts, some of which led officials to tighten security for New York City Mayor Eric Adams. Police Commissioner Keechant Sewell called the posts concerning.

The attack transformed the morning commute into a scene of horror: a smoke-filled underground train, an onslaught of at least 33 bullets, screaming riders running through a station and bloodied people lying on the platform as others administered aid.

Jordan Javier thought the first popping sound he heard was a textbook dropping. Then there was another pop, people started moving toward the front of the car, and he realized there was smoke, he said.

When the train pulled into the station, people ran out and were directed to another train across the platform. Passengers wept and prayed as they rode, Javier said.

Im just grateful to be alive, he said.

Five gunshot victims were in critical condition but expected to survive. At least a dozen people who escaped gunshot wounds were treated for smoke inhalation and other injuries.

Sewell said the attack was not being investigated as terrorism, but that she was not ruling out anything. The shooter's motive was unknown.

Sitting in the back of the train's second car, the gunman tossed two smoke grenades on the floor, pulled out a Glock 9 mm semi-automatic handgun and started firing, Essig said. A riders video shows a person raising an arm and pointing at something as five bangs sound.

Passengers in the smoke-filled car pounded on the door to an adjacent car, seeking to escape, rider Juliana Fonda, who was in that adjoining car, told the news site Gothamist. Fonda is a broadcast engineer for Gothamist's owner, public radio station WNYC.

Investigators believe the shooters gun jammed and kept him from firing more, said two law enforcement officials who werent authorized to discuss the investigation and spoke on condition of anonymity.

Essig said police found the weapon, along with extended magazines, a hatchet, detonated and undetonated smoke grenades, a black garbage can, a rolling cart, gasoline and the key to a U-Haul van.

That key led investigators to James, who has addresses in Philadelphia and Wisconsin, the detective chief said. The van was later found, unoccupied, near a subway station where investigators determined the gunman entered the train system, Essig said.

Rambling, profanity-filled YouTube videos apparently posted by James, who is Black, are replete with Black nationalist rhetoric, violent language and bigoted comments, some of them directed at other Black people. One, posted April 11, criticizes crime against Black people and says drastic action is needed to change things.

Several videos mention New York's subways, and Adams is a recurring theme.

A Feb. 20 video says the mayor and governors plan to address homelessness and safety in New York Citys subway system is doomed for failure and refers to himself as a victim of the mayors mental health program. A Jan. 25 video criticizes Adams plan to end gun violence.

The attack unnerved a city on guard about a rise in gun crimes and the ever-present threat of terrorism. It left some New Yorkers jittery about riding the nation's busiest subway system and prompted officials to increase policing at transportation hubs from Philadelphia to Connecticut.

This individual is still on the loose. This person is dangerous, Gov. Kathy Hochul, a Democrat, warned at a midday news conference.

In Menlo, Iowa, President Joe Biden praised the first responders who jumped in action, including civilians, civilians who didnt hesitate to help their fellow passengers and tried to shield them.

After people streamed out of the train, quick-thinking transit workers ushered passengers to another train across the platform for safety, transit officials said.

High school student John Butsikaris was riding that other train and initially thought the problem was mundane until the next stop, when he heard screams for medical attention and his train was evacuated.

Im definitely shook, the 15-year-old said. "Even though I didnt see what happened, Im still scared, because it was like a few feet away from me, what happened.

New York City has faced a spate of shootings and high-profile bloodshed in recent months, including on the citys subways. One of the most shocking was in January, when a woman was pushed to her death in front of a train by a stranger.

Adams, a Democrat a little over 100 days into his term, has made cracking down on crime  especially in the subways  an early focus of his administration, pledging to send more police officers into stations and platforms for regular patrols. It wasnt immediately clear whether any officers were in the station when the shootings occurred.

The mayor, who is isolating following a positive COVID-19 test on Sunday, said in a video statement that the city will not allow New Yorkers to be terrorized, even by a single individual.

___

Balsamo reported from Washington. Associated Press writers Beatrice Dupuy, Karen Matthews, Julie Walker, Deepti Hajela, Michelle L. Price and David Porter in New York contributed to this report, and Michael Kunzelman contributed from College Park, Maryland.
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LONDON (AP)  Prime Minister Boris Johnson said Tuesday he paid a fine from police for attending a lockdown-breaching birthday party in his official residence, making him the first British leader to be sanctioned for breaking the law while in office.

The fines for Johnson, his wife, Carrie, and Treasury chief Rishi Sunak brought a simmering crisis for the prime minister back to full boil, with opposition politicians immediately calling for his resignation.

Johnson and his Conservative government have faced growing outrage since allegations surfaced late last year that he and his staff flouted Britain's pandemic restrictions and held office parties in 2020 and 2021 when millions in the country were barred from meeting with friends and family  or even attending funerals for their loved ones.

I have paid the fine and want to offer a full apology, Johnson said. I understand the anger many will feel that I myself fell short when it came to observing the very rules which the government I lead had introduced to protect the public. I accept in all sincerity that people had the right to expect better.

Downing Street said Johnson was being sanctioned for attending a gathering of two or more people indoors in the Cabinet Room at 10 Downing Street on June 19, 2020. The event was a surprise birthday party for the prime minister.

Johnson said the gathering lasted less than 10 minutes, and at that time, it did not occur to me this might have been a breach of the rules.

London's Metropolitan Police force said it had issued at least 50 fines after investigating a dozen events held in 10 Downing St. and and other government buildings. They reportedly included bring your own booze office parties and wine time Fridays organized by Johnsons staff.

The force did not identify the recipients or the size of the fines. But Johnson's office confirmed shortly after that the prime minister and Sunak each received notice Tuesday that they would be issued with fines for an undisclosed amount. If paid promptly, such fines do not result in a criminal record.

Opponents, and some members of the governing Conservative Party, say Johnson should resign.

Thousands of people were fined between 60 pounds ($79) and 10,000 pounds ($13,200) by police for rule-breaking social gatherings during the pandemic.

Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak have broken the law and repeatedly lied to the British public, said Keir Starmer, leader of the opposition Labour Party. The Conservatives are totally unfit to govern. Britain deserves better.

Opposition parties called for lawmakers to be recalled from their Easter break for a vote of no-confidence in Johnson.

The COVID-19 Bereaved Families for Justice group said there is simply no way that Johnson or Sunak can remain in their jobs.

Its still unbelievably painful to know that the Prime Minister was partying and breaking his own lockdown rules  while we were unable to be at our loved ones sides in their dying moments, said the groups spokesman Lobby Akinnola.

A total of 16 parties were investigated by a senior civil servant, Sue Gray, with a dozen of them also under investigation by the Metropolitan Police.

In January, Gray published a report into some of the gatherings, the ones not under criminal investigation. She said failures of leadership and judgment in Johnsons government allowed events to occur that should not have happened.

The report said some of the gatherings showed a serious failure to observe standards for government, and some behavior at the parties were difficult to justify given how the public were asked to restrict their lives.

Johnsons grip on power had appeared to be on a knife-edge earlier this year because of the scandal and the departure of several top aides. Allies feared partygate could become a tipping point for a leader who has weathered a series of other storms over his expenses, and his moral judgment.

Some Conservative lawmakers were openly calling for a no-confidence vote in their leader  something that can happen if 15% of Conservative lawmakers demand it.

But Johnson has hung on, partly because Russias invasion of Ukraine distracted public and political attention.

Johnsons international image, battered by Britains messy exit from the European Union under his leadership, has been revived by his firm military, political and moral support for Ukraine. Johnson traveled to Kyiv last weekend to meet with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Johnson might also benefit from the woes afflicting Sunak, the 41-year-old Treasury chief who has been seen as a potential rival and successor. The fine for Sunak comes as he also faces a backlash over the spiraling cost of living and questions about his financial arrangements and the tax status of his wealthy wife.

Jill Rutter, a senior fellow at the Institute for Government think-tank, said partygate had damaged the reputation of both the government and the civil service.

The line, Its one rule for them and another law for the rest of us really does resonate, she said.

Rutter said Johnson was probably safe for now, but could face fresh peril if the Conservatives take a hammering in next month's local elections.

And with the prime minister, theres always a possibility that something else comes out, she said. "So you wouldnt say that its guaranteed plain sailing through to the 2023-2024 election. But I think we definitely premature to write him off now.

___

Associated Press Writer Danica Kirka contributed.

-

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Important role of radio hams in emergency preparedness Hawaii Public Radio KHPR report amateur radio operators will participate in a statewide emergency communications drill on April 16



The exercise simulates a 4-day period of catastrophic weather that knocks out power, internet, and cell towers from Kauai to the Big Island.



It's an opportunity for the group Amateur Radio Emergency Service Hawaii to train members and non-members in radio operations and procedures.



The Conversation took a trip out to Kapolei to meet up with longtime amateur radio operator Stacy Holbrook to learn more about Hawaiis "hams."



Listen to the KHPR broadcast at

https://www.hawaiipublicradio.org/the-conversation/2022-04-07/these-amateur-radio-operators-can-provide-emergency-communication-during-catastrophic-weather



Learn more about the April 16 training exercise

https://hawaiiares.net/
The shooting is just the latest gun violence incident to plague the school, which has already lost four students in the last few months.
Louis J. Valery entered into eternal life on May 5, 2022 in his home in Venice, Florida. Born September 14, 1932, in Lockport, NY, Louis was the son of Joseph (Casey) and Frances (Enzinna) Valery Louis spent most of his life in Lockport, NY. He was a member of the first graduating class at t
UNITED NATIONS, April 12 (Xinhua) -- An estimated 7.7 million people in South Sudan, about 63 percent of the total population, are likely to face crisis or worse levels of food insecurity through July, UN Humanitarians said on Tuesday.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), citing the latest Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) report, said 2.9 million people in South Sudan are likely to be just one step away from catastrophic levels of food insecurity during this period.

It said 87,000 people are likely to face catastrophic food insecurity, that's phase 5 of the official IPC ranking, in parts of Jonglei in the Pibor administrative area, and parts of Lakes and Unity states. An immediate scale-up of humanitarian assistance from food to livelihood support is needed to save people's lives and protect their livelihoods.

The humanitarians said 5.3 million people received food, health, water and sanitation, education, livelihoods, nutrition assistance and other critical protection services last year.

South Sudan's humanitarian response plan, which seeks 1.7 billion U.S. dollars to help almost 7 million people, is only 8 percent funded, said OCHA.

The east-central part of the country has been suffering heavy flooding in the rainy season and dryer than usual in dry seasons, which experts say is a reflection of climate change. In addition, South Sudan has been suffering from inter-communal fighting, adding to the threat to food production.

The UN peacekeeping mission in the country has stepped up patrols. The mission is working closely with communities in Leer, Unity state, to ease tensions following a surge of inter-communal violence, said Stephane Dujarric, the chief spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

"This includes disturbing reports of sexual violence, looting and destruction of property, with thousands of people potentially having fled their homes," he told a regular press briefing. "Peacekeepers are protecting displaced families and working with local authorities to ensure their security, as well as access to clean water and basic health care."

The spokesman said the South Sudanese army has also reportedly deployed to the area to restore order. Given the surge in conflict, worsening the already dire humanitarian situation, their presence remains critical.

He said the UN mission reinforces the number of peacekeepers to increase assistance to displaced people, especially women and children. The mission is also looking into possible human rights violations. 
Inficon Holding AG / Key word(s): Personnel

INFICON: Oliver Wyrsch, Head of the US Business of INFICON, succeeds Lukas Winkler in the position as CEO on January 1, 2023



12-Apr-2022 / 07:01 CET/CEST

Release of an ad hoc announcement pursuant to Art. 53 LR

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.



Corporate Contact Dr. Beat E. Luthi Prasident des Verwaltungsrats INFICON Holding AG Please contact: elisabeth.kuehne@inficon.com; +41 81 300 4980 The Board of Directors of INFICON Holding AG announces that Oliver Wyrsch (1977), President and General Manager of the US Business at INFICON, will succeed Lukas Winkler as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of INFICON Holding AG. Based on its long-term and deliberate succession planning, INFICON can appoint an internal candidate for the top executive position. With a view to his age, Lukas Winkler (1962) wishes to step down from his current position as per January 1, 2023; he served as CEO since 2004. Dr. Beat E. Luthi, Chairman of the Board of Directors of INFICON Holding AG, comments on the upcoming change at the helm: 'We would like to sincerely thank Lukas Winkler for his exceptional work as CEO of our company. Today, INFICON holds an outstanding position as global industry technology leader with strong financials. We regret, yet respect Lukas Winkler's decision to pass on the responsibility as CEO after almost 20 years. At the same time, we are proud to present Oliver Wyrsch as an excellent internal successor. Oliver Wyrsch holds the position of President and General Manager of INFICON's US Business since 2018. Lukas Winkler and Oliver Wyrsch will work closely together to assure a smooth and seamless transition at the top of INFICON . Oliver Wyrsch is a Swiss Citizen. He holds a master's degree in Computer Science and Business Administration from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich (ETH). He started his professional career in 2004 as management consultant with Accenture and Booz & Co. Before joining INFICON in 2018 as President and General Manager of the US Business, he served seven years in various functions at Mettler Toledo in Germany and the USA - last as Head of the Strategic Business Unit Machine Vision Inspection. E-Mail Alerts To automatically receive notification via e-mail of the latest financial information from INFICON, sign-up for e-mail Alerts in the Investors section of the INFICON website at https://ir.inficon.com/contact-and-information-request/ About INFICON INFICON is a leading provider of innovative instrumentation, critical sensor technologies, and Smart Manufacturing/Industry 4.0 software solutions that enhance productivity and quality of tools, processes and complete factories. These analysis, measurement and control products are essential for gas leak detection in air conditioning/refrigeration, and automotive manufacturing. They are vital to equipment manufacturers and end-users in the complex fabrication of semiconductors and thin film coatings for optics, flat panel displays, solar cells and industrial vacuum coating applications. Other users of vacuum based processes include the life sciences, research, aerospace, packaging, heat treatment, laser cutting and many other industrial processes. We also leverage our expertise in vacuum technology to provide unique, toxic chemical analysis products for emergency response, security, and environmental monitoring. INFICON is headquartered in Switzerland and has world-class manufacturing facilities in Europe, the United States and China, as well as subsidiaries in China, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Korea, Liechtenstein, Singapore, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, the United Kingdom and the United States. INFICON registered shares (IFCN) are listed on SIX Swiss Exchange. For more information about INFICON and its products, please visit www.inficon.com. This press release and oral statements or other written statements made, or to be made by us contain forward-looking statements that do not relate solely to historical or current facts. These forward-looking statements are based on the current plans and expectations of our management and are subject to a number of uncertainties and risks that could significantly affect our current plans and expectations, as well as future results of operations and financial condition. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

End of ad hoc announcement
A Longford based Fine Gael Senator has said there is a sense of disbelief and anger within rural communities following confirmation that the sale and marketing of turf could soon be prohibited.

Ballinalee's Micheal Carrigy was speaking after the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, Eamon Ryan, confirmed to Fine Gael TD Brendan Griffin, that a regulatory provision will be made to prohibit the marketing, sale or distribution of sod peat from this coming September.

Senator Carrigy remarked, "The decision by Minister Eamon Ryan to stop the sale or distribution of turf is only going to make things more difficult for our most vulnerable citizens."

Senator Carrigy continued, As we know, in rural Ireland, our older people still rely on solid fuel and especially turf. Anyone that has reared turf know that its not an easy job and many older people rely on buying a load or two of turf to get them through the winter and to even make matters worse the Minister is saying that you cant give turf away for free either.

"I know lots of people who have bogs and look after their neighbours with a couple of loads of turf. Are we saying this cant be done either? This is just nonsensical."

Senator Carrigy accused the Minister of going a step too far. "Older people have been burning turf for many years now and this is one practice that defines people in rural communities especially our elderly. They would have grown up with the practice of cutting and saving the turf for themselves and neighbours Whist the Minister did not grow up in rural Ireland he needs to understand the importance of this practise and particularly at time when we are in the midst of a cost-of-living crisis. I do understand measures are required to reduce the emissions, but this is a step too far.
The man who was brutally killed in Sligo last night has been named locally as Aidan Moffitt, an auctioneer and former secretary for the Fine Gael party in the Sligo/Leitrim constituency.

Mr Moffitt, who its thought to be in his mid-to-late 30s, was originally from Lisacul, near Ballaghadereen in Co Roscommon and was well-known in the area. As well as being a Fine Gael activist he was also a peace commissioner.

Gardai were alerted to his home in Cartron Heights, an estate just outside Sligo town, at about 8.30pm on Monday. They immediately sealed off the house and preserved the scene where his body still remains.

According to media reports it is believed he suffered several brutal injuries. Mr Moffitt lived alone and had just returned from a holiday in Spain last weekend.

A team from the Garda Technical Bureau arrived at the scene at 11am and a State pathologist was due later this afternoon.

Gardai said the results of a post-mortem examination would determine the course of their investigation.

Speaking to the Irish Examiner former Fine Gael TD Tony McLoughlin, who along with and Fine Gael local election contender Blaine Gaffney laid flowers at the scene said "We were close personal friends for years."

"He was a big supporter within the party, both for Blaine and I for many, many years. He was a good worker within the party and a successful businessman in Sligo in the auctioneering business as well. Its a terrible tragedy altogether."

He described the deceased as a "wonderful person business-wise" who held some senior positions within the Fine Gael party in the Sligo-Leitrim constituency over the years.

"He was secretary, he was treasurer, he was at a very high level over the years. He was a very honest, honourable person. He was that type of fellow youd go to for advice, hed see things from a different perspective," added Mr McLoughlin.

"Everybody who knew him here in Sligo is in total shock, totally numb about whats allegedly happened here in the town, said Blaine Gaffney, a close friend of Mr Moffitt.

"Im deeply troubled by the whole thing. He was a local businessman, a very popular person for people who knew him, very outgoing, extremely intelligent. He would have worked very hard with both my election campaigns and that of the recently elected Frank Feighan [Fine Gael candidate for Sligo-Leitrim] down through the years.

"But more than that, a really, really good man with a good heart and to think that something like this could happen is just shocking. I just cant comprehend whats happening."

Deputy Frank Feighan, also speaking at the scene, where he said a prayer said this came "as a huge shock and everyone is numb".

He described Mr Moffitt as "a great ally and friend" and also a great worker. He also stated that he hopes that whoever carried out this "senseless killing" is brought to justice swiftly,.

He added that his thoughts and prayers are with Mr Moffitt's family.
125 Longford local projects are to receive 264,769 under the Community Activities Fund.

Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys TD, and Minister of State with responsibility for Community Development and Charities, Joe OBrien TD, announced on Monday the successful projects in Longford under the 2021 Community Activities Fund.

BREAKING: Man (30s) appears in court following stand off at Longford service station A man in his 30s has appeared in court this afternoon in connection to a stand off at a Longford service station yesterday afternoon.

The 2021 Community Activities Fund was launched in November 2021 with funding of 9m available. Longford received an allocation of 264,769 from the Department under the fund. The key theme of the fund is to support groups, particularly in disadvantaged areas, with their running costs such as utility or insurance bills, as well as with improvements to their facilities.

The Community Activities Fund is a once off fund provided by the Department of Rural and Community Development and administered by Local Community Development Committees, with support from the Local Authority, in each area.

Minister Humphreys said, I am delighted to announce almost 265,000 in funding for 125 local projects across County Longford today as part of my Departments Community Activities Fund. Through Our Rural Future, I want to support locally led, ground-up projects in local communities across the country. This funding is all about giving a helping hand to our local groups and clubs, which have continued to serve their community during COVID-19. While these grants are small in nature, they can make a big difference by allowing local community organisations to carry out much needed works in their area.

Minister Humphreys added, As we make our way out of the pandemic I hope this funding will allow these community groups to continue their great work. This funding also builds on the over 8,000 projects already supported under my Departments Community Enhancement Programme over the last number of years. I would like to thank Longford County Council and Local Community Development Committee for their assistance in administering this fund.

The successful projects in Longford are listed below;
Local News, Health & Wellness

By Long Island Published: April 12 2022

Historic Consent Judgment with US Navy and Northrop Grumman Protects Water Supplies

After years of claims and negotiations over water contamination emanating in part from US Navy and Northrop Grumman properties in Bethpage, NY, the Bethpage Water District (BWD), the United States, and the Northrop Grumman Corporation today filed a proposed Consent Judgment in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York resolving the matter. As a result, Bethpage Water District will receive $49 million from the United States and Northrop Grumman to treat contamination from plumes tied to the Naval Weapons Industrial Reserve Plant Bethpage and the Former Grumman Site.

"We appreciate the good faith negotiations on all sides that led to this historic settlement, said John F. Coumatos, Chair of BWD Board of Commissioners. This is a big win for the Bethpage community, ensuring our ability to protect the quality of our drinking water. And an even bigger win for our residents, empowering us to build and operate the best water treatment technologies available without placing those costs on them.

The Consent Judgment calls for a split in the payment terms, with $20 million to come from the United States and $29 million from Northrop Grumman. The Consent Judgment resolves all of BWDs claims against the Navy and Northrop Grumman, and it directs that the funds will pay a significant portion of the costs for the wellhead treatment systems at BWD Plants 5 and 6.

This is a strong settlement worth celebrating, said Mike Boufis, BWD Superintendent. It does not solve all our challenges with contaminants threatening our water supply, but it does provide real relief to a budget strained by the enormous costs associated with removing contaminants found in the plumes. Thanks to everyone who helped us arrive at this day.

As part of the settlement, Northrop Grumman will use Plant 4 to continue to do its part of the remediation of the plumes by operating Plant 4, and BWD will be able to use the funds to pay for Advanced Oxidation Process treatment for 1,4-dioxane at Plants 5 and 6, and to develop a replacement well outside the plume for Plant 4.

This is how it is supposed to work, said Matt Edling and Katie Jones of Sher Edling LLP, who represented Bethpage Water District on this matter. The Bethpage community stood up for itself and demanded accountability. That led to tough, honest, and well-intentioned collaboration and negotiation. And that brought us to this announcement. Congratulations to Bethpage Water District, and thanks to all parties for putting in the work to get here.

Once the court reviews the filing and enters the judgment, BWD will be able to receive settlement funds according to payment terms laid out in the agreement.
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(Alliance News) - Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Chancellor Rishi Sunak have been told they will be fined as part of a police probe into allegations of lockdown parties held at Downing Street.

Carrie Johnson, the wife of the prime minister, has also been told to expect a fixed-penalty notice (FPN), her spokesperson confirmed.

It comes after the Metropolitan Police announced 30 additional fines on Tuesday in relation to Operation Hillman, which is looking into breaches of Covid-19 regulations at the top of government.

A No 10 spokesperson said: "The prime minister and chancellor of the exchequer have today received notification that the Metropolitan Police intend to issue them with fixed penalty notices.

"We have no further details, but we will update you again when we do."

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said both Johnson and Sunak should quit following the confirmation, which has come while MPs are away from Westminster on a two-week Easter recess.

Sir Keir said: "Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak have broken the law and repeatedly lied to the British public.

"They must both resign.

"The Conservatives are totally unfit to govern. Britain deserves better."

Police have opted not to name those facing fines, citing traditional practices when dealing with out-of-court matters such as speeding fines, but Downing Street said it would confirm if Boris Johnson was among those being penalised.

Scotland Yard said on Tuesday that it had made at least 50 referrals for fixed-penalty notices  up from 20 at the end of March  to ACRO Criminal Records Office, which is responsible for issuing the fines.

Boris Johnson is understood to have been present at six of the at least 12 events being investigated.

The prime minister, speaking in the Commons in December after allegations about parties in Downing Street first emerged, said that "all guidance was followed completely in No 10".

However, since the police probe commenced, the Conservative Party leader has looked to deflect from answering questions until the inquiry has concluded and has poured his efforts into dealing with the Ukraine crisis.

In his response to the prime minister being told to expect a fine, Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey called for the Commons' Easter break to be cut short in order to hold a no-confidence vote on the Prime Minister's leadership.

Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon also joined the chorus of critics urging Johnson to resign, along with London Mayor Sadiq Khan.

The chancellor, who was in the Cabinet Room at No 10 for Johnson's birthday on June 19 2020 when up to 30 people are said to have gathered with a cake, had initially dismissed suggestions that he would have to fill out a police questionnaire.

However, he was later sent a legal form to complete and has been told to expect an FPN.

Sturgeon tweeted that the prime minister should resign after breaking the law and "repeatedly lying to parliament about it", adding: "And he should take his out of touch Chancellor with him."

Carrie Johnson, an environmentalist and former director of communications for the Tories, has also been confirmed as one of those facing a fine.

She reportedly held a so-called Abba flat party on November 13 2020, apparently to celebrate the PM's former chief aide Dominic Cummings being ousted.

The mother-of-two was also said to have been one of those present at Johnson's birthday bash five months beforehand.

A spokesperson for Carrie Johnson said: "In the interests of transparency, Mrs Johnson can confirm she has been notified that she will receive a fixed penalty notice.

"She has not yet received any further details about the nature of the FPN."

Bereaved families have said there is "simply no way" the prime minister and chancellor can continue in post.

Lobby Akinnola, spokesperson for Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice, said the pair "broke the law" and "took us all for mugs".

"If they had any decency they would be gone by tonight," he said.

Veteran Tory MP Roger Gale, a vocal critic of the Prime Minister, said now was not the time to "unseat" Johnson, with Russia's attack on Ukraine to deal with.

The North Thanet MP told the PA news agency there was an "international crisis" and that nothing should be done to "destabilise the coalition" against Russian President Vladimir Putin.

He added: "The prime minister has said categorically no rules were broken and nothing untoward took place.

"That is patently wrong and he now has to acknowledge that it's wrong."

By Patrick Daly, PA Political Correspondent

source: PA

Copyright 2022 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved.
Vanishing luxury cars. Multimillion-dollar fraud allegations. And multiple lawsuits involving people and companies with enough money to buy and sell exotic autos worth hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Theyre all elements of a bizarre saga unfolding around a luxury car dealership in Boca Raton that just declared bankruptcy.

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Excell Auto Group Inc., a luxury car dealership owned by husband and wife Scott and Kristen Zankl, is being sued by their landlords, Moshe Farache and his wife, Lisa, who own the property at 1001 Clint Moore Road and are one of the dealerships major creditors.

With numerous cars allegedly stashed away and inaccessible to creditors, Excell filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy protection on April 8 as it faces eviction from its place of business in Boca Raton, and multiple lawsuits alleging fraudulent activities.

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The company filed a petition for bankruptcy in U.S. District Court in West Palm Beach. The petition estimates that it owes between $10 million and $50 million to as many as 49 creditors. Estimated assets available for distribution to unsecured creditors range from $0 to $50,000, the filing states.

[ RELATED: How much cheaper is it to run an electric or hybrid vehicle vs. gas? We did the math ]

The companys website is no longer accessible. Clicking on the link from a Google search page yields a white screen with the words, Website Under Construction.

Excells Facebook page showcases a long list of high-end carriages that were the companys stock in trade, including a 2018 Lamborghini Huracan, listed for $360,000, a 2020 Mclaren 720S, listed for $369,000, and a 2017 Rolls-Royce Ghost, listed for $249,000.

None of those cars remain at the Boca Raton dealership, according to a report on April 8 that appeared on the website BocaNewsNow.com.

Several customers have filed reports with the Boca Raton Police Department alleging that the dealership failed to transfer titles or cars that they paid for, an attorney for the landlord said.

A Boca Raton police spokesman confirmed that the agency is investigating multiple complaints filed in recent days. Due to it being an open investigation we cannot provide any other details at this time, the spokesman said.

An additional lawsuit by a business partner claims that on April 5, Scott and Kristen Zankl moved their vehicles to a business they control in Fort Lauderdale in an effort to evade creditors.

Owners of Excell Auto Group in Boca Raton have filed for bankruptcy as lawsuits pour in from angry lenders who say they stand to lose millions of dollars that the dealership hasn't paid back. Its website is gone. Its Facebook page advertised dozens of luxury vehicles available for hundreds of thousands of dollars. (South Florida Sun Sentinel)

Yet another lawsuit filed on Monday by a New York-based enterprise fund claims that the Zankls said they transferred more than $7 million in automobiles to Moshe Farache because he threatened to kill Scott Zankl.

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In an interview, Faraches attorney said his client never threatened Zankl. An attorney representing the Zankls could not immediately be reached for comment.

On April 9, the Zankls landlord, doing business as 1001 Clint Moore LLC, a holding company managed by Moshe Faraches wife, Lisa Farache, filed an eviction case against Excell, claiming it had defaulted its obligations under terms of $7.1 million in loans to Excell that were part of the lease agreement.

In addition, the eviction suit states, beginning on April 1, several individuals began showing up to the leased premises claiming that they had been defrauded by the Tenant, including allegations that theyre owed millions of dollars, and that Tenant has failed to deliver cars and/or transfer of titles of cars to them that they claim they purchase, prompting the police to have to be contacted on at least one occasion.

Unlawful activity violates a section of the lease stating that no part of the premises shall be used for immoral, unlawful or objectionable purposes, the complaint states.

[ RELATED: The truth about gasoline: Does the brand you buy really make a difference? ]

On April 7, Prestige Luxury Cars LLC, a Delray Beach-based company that lists Eddie Dovner as its managing member, filed a lawsuit in Palm Beach County Circuit Court claiming that Excell and the Zankls breached terms of a joint venture formed by the two companies in 2020.

Prestige agreed to front the money for Excell to acquire exotic cars that would be sold in Excells showroom. When one of the cars would sell, Excell agreed to return the purchase price and the two entities would split the profit from the sale, the suit states.

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By Jan. 7, Prestige had provided $1.32 million, but Excell failed to remit the purchase price and half of the profit from completed transactions, other than tendering two worthless checks  one for $400,000 and the other for $120,000, the suit states.

Prestige claims that rather than allow Prestige to recover vehicles that could have been used to pay the debt, the Zankls transferred them from the Boca Raton location to another dealership they controlled in Fort Lauderdale.

The Zankls are also listed in state records as managing members of two companies, Karma of Palm Beach and Karma of Broward, that were licensed to sell vehicles made by Karma Automotive, a luxury electric vehicle manufacturer.

Karma Automotives website lists the Boca Raton location at 1001 Clint Moore Road, and another on Southeast 17th Street in Fort Lauderdale as two of its South Florida retailers.

In addition to the cash that Prestige says it is owed, its lawsuit seeks to take possession of the couples Delray Beach home, which Prestige said was put up as collateral in the joint venture.

The 5,529-square-foot, five-bedroom, 6.5-bath home on Pierre Circle is estimated by the real estate website Zillow to be worth $2.9 million.

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On Monday, the Zankls, the Faraches, and several companies controlled by them were served in Broward County with a lawsuit by a New York-based venture debt fund, FVP Opportunity Fund III, which claims to have loaned Excell $7.5 million.

The $7.5 million was intended to be used to purchase expensive exotic vehicles and be paid back with the proceeds of their sales, the complaint states. The cars, it said, would serve as collateral for the loan.

The investment fund transferred the $7.5 million to the Zankls on Feb. 18, but incredibly, by April 1, 2022, the money and all the collateral intended to secure it was gone, the suit states.

[ RELATED: Your FPL bill helps fund charging stations for 58,000 electric vehicle owners. Two lawmakers say it shouldnt ]

The suit claims that the Zankls conspired with Moshe Farache in an outright and bold scheme to use the loan not to buy and sell exotic vehicles but to transfer the ... automobiles outright to Farache and his companies to satisfy a fabricated or otherwise hidden [earlier] debt.

FVP claims in the suit that Moshe Farache has been co-owner of Excell Auto Group since 2016. According to the state Division of Corporations online database, the Faraches control a company, Auto Wholesale of Boca, LLC, named as co-defendant in the FVP suit.

The Zankls, the FVP suit states, said they transferred to Farache the vehicles that served as collateral for the $7.5 million loan because Farache threatened to kill Scott Zankl, (specifically, to make him disappear.)

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Marc Brandes, an Aventura-based attorney representing the Faraches, on Monday disputed FVPs allegations, saying the Zankls willfully turned over to the Faraches eight to 10 vehicles that were purchased with the Faraches loans and for which Excell had clear titles.

There was zero physicality, extortion or assertion of power as alleged by the [KVP] suit, Brandes said.

On April 8, a week after Farache took the vehicles, the Zankls filed a complaint with the Boca Raton Police Department alleging that Farache stole the vehicles by extortion, the suit states.

That was the same day that Farache filed a lawsuit of his own against the Zankls, the FVP suit states, claiming that he was entitled to the vehicles as collateral for millions of dollars owed him by the Zankls.

[ RELATED: Boynton Beach man bought Tesla storage batteries for his solar system and pays almost nothing to FPL. Is this the future of solar? ]

Faraches suit claims that the Zankls committed fraud by signing over the title of a 2019 Lamborghini Aventador, worth $435,000 but owned by another company, in an effort to reduce its debt.

Faraches suit seeks appointment of a receiver to protect vehicles that the Zankls still possess but havent paid for. Brandes estimated that the Zankls had about 50 to 60 vehicles before transferring eight to 10 to Farache.

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He said the Zankls got in trouble by selling cars out of trust, an auto industry term that refers to when lenders are not repaid by dealers who sell vehicles with borrowed money.

Brandes said that in his experience, When dealers go out of trust, especially with high-end cars, things go downhill fast. He said hes been contacted by eight or nine of Excells clients who havent been able to secure their titles even though they can prove they bought the cars.

Under Florida law, many will be able to get their titles even if lenders are unable to get their money back from Excell, Brandes said.

The truthfulness of the allegations in the dueling lawsuits might never come out. Most litigation, including debt collection lawsuits, is automatically put on hold when an entity files for bankruptcy. That sets up the bankruptcy court as the arbiter of claims over who owes what.

Brandes expects more creditors to emerge. So many people are coming out of the woodwork with complaints, he said. Altogether, theyre owed several million dollars.

Ron Hurtibise covers business and consumer issues for the South Florida Sun Sentinel. He can be reached by phone at 954-356-4071, on Twitter @ronhurtibise or by email at rhurtibise@sunsentinel.com.
THIS ANNOUNCEMENT CONTAINS INSIDE INFORMATION FOR THE PURPOSES OF REGULATION 11 OF THE MARKET ABUSE (AMENDMENT) (EU EXIT) REGULATIONS 2019/310.

12 April 2022

SulNOx Group Plc (the "Company" or "SulNOx")

New Distribution Agreement in Chile

(Aquis Stock Exchange: SNOX)

The board of directors of the Company ("the Board") is pleased to announce that COMERCIAL NEO ENERGY SPA ("Neo Energy") has agreed to become an Independent Sales Organisation ("ISO") for SulNOx.

Based in Chile, Neo Energy and its associated companies have been long established providers of energy efficiency solutions across multiple commercial sectors.

Chile is a resource rich country with the largest lithium reserves in the world and a top copper producer with 28% of global production. The mining sector accounts for 11% GDP with significant contributions from other heavy industries and transportation.

With environment and climate change issues central to Chile's new government, there is a strong drive to reduce emissions and air pollution across its industries providing a timely and significant opportunity for SulNOx.

Jorge Arancibia, Commercial Director at Neo Energy commented, "Over the years, we have explored numerous technologies to increase fuel efficiencies across mining, power generation, transportation and other heavy industries alongside reducing their environmental impact. We have struggled to find products that have worked or been consistently effective, however SulNOx can finally provide a solution. It is important that the economy in Chile continues to grow at a fast pace, but it is exciting that SulNOx technology can reduce emissions and improve air quality in the process."

Jimmy Redman, SulNOx inventor and MD of SulNOx Fuel Fusions commented, "It is now being increasingly recognised that SulNOx provide new, effective and vital solutions to worldwide problems and we are pleased to expand our sales capability across the globe particularly in key markets such as Chile. Neo Energy, with extensive technical insight, understand how SulNOx could help their clients' operations and we look forward to a highly successful partnership."

- Ends -

For further information please contact:
Weather Alert

...The Flood Warning continues for the following rivers in Louisiana... Mississippi River At Red River Landing affecting West Feliciana, East Baton Rouge and Pointe Coupee Parishes. For the Lower Mississippi River...including Red River Landing... Minor flooding is forecast. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Motorists should not attempt to drive around barricades or drive cars through flooded areas. Caution is urged when walking near riverbanks. Additional information is available at www.weather.gov/lix. Click on the Rivers and Lakes menu for forecasts and observations. The next statement will be issued when updates are needed. && ...FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL FRIDAY, MAY 27... * WHAT...Minor flooding is occurring and minor flooding is forecast. * WHERE...Mississippi River At Red River Landing. * WHEN...Until Friday, May 27. * IMPACTS...At 51.0 feet, All river islands along the reach from Red River Landing to Baton Rouge will be inundated. Recreational camps and river bottom farm land will be under water. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS... - At 7:00 PM CDT Friday the stage was 48.5 feet. - Forecast...The river is expected to drop briefly below flood stage this weekend before rising above flood stage Tuesday. The river will crest near 51.0 feet Friday, May 20. - Flood stage is 48.0 feet. - Flood History...This crest compares to a previous crest of 52.4 feet on 02/14/2010. - http://www.weather.gov/safety/flood &&
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The Lycoming College music department announces its 7th annual Music Gala, showcasing select ensembles from the College, on Saturday, April 23, at 7 p.m., at the Community Arts Center in downtown Williamsport. The event is free and open to the public.

Included in this years Gala will be the Lycoming College Concert Choir and Chamber Choir, performing works by Brahms, Schubert, Sweelinck, Stroope, Gjeilo, and more, under the direction of Daniel J. Hall, assistant professor of music at Lycoming. Under the direction of William Ciabattari, associate professor of music and chair of the department, the Lycoming College Community Orchestra, featuring students, faculty and other professional musicians from the region, will perform Symphony in D minor by Cesar Franck. The Colleges band will perform works by Markowski, Leemans, and others.

Our annual Music Gala celebrates the culmination of a years worth of hard work by every member of our choirs, orchestra, and band, said Ciabattari. Its a wonderful opportunity for the community to listen to outstanding musical performances and take advantage of what the College has to offer.

The Lycoming College music program offers an enriching curriculum that is bolstered by numerous performance and professional opportunities, and a flexible course structure allows students to design their own path to match their career goals and interests. More information on music for majors and non-majors is available at https://www.lycoming.edu/music/.
The Manistee County 4-H Appreciation Banquet held at the Sail Inn Restaurant in Benzonia, was not only an awards ceremony but a recognition of the organization, its services to the youth and the fact that it's been around for a century, Debra Laws, 4-H program associate and event coordinator said.

40 YEARS AGO

Joint school trip

Disney World is todays destination for about 75 young adults participating in the joint Manistee High School and Manistee Catholic Central senior trip to Florida. Ron Cowden, MHS principal said it is believed that this is the first such joint senior trip.

60 YEARS AGO

Very high danger

The burning index computed at the Wellston fire tower operated by the U.S. Forest Service was 25 today, in the very high category and persons visiting the woods this weekend should use caution with cigarettes, matches and camp fires.

Choral program

The Manistee Choral Society presents The Crucifixion by John Strainer on April 15 at 4 p.m.. The concert will take place at the First Congregational Church.
Mankato, MN (56001)

Today

Sunshine early followed by partly cloudy skies and gusty winds this afternoon. High 71F. Winds SSE at 20 to 30 mph. Higher wind gusts possible..

Tonight

Cloudy skies. Windy this evening. Low 53F. Winds SSE at 20 to 30 mph. Higher wind gusts possible.
Even though Will Smith has been hit with a 10-year ban from attending The Oscars, following his slap of Chris Rock at the ceremony held two weeks ago, Harry Lennix doesn't think that this punishment is severe enough. He has even called for Will Smith to return the Best Actor prize he won for his performance in 'King Richard'.

Lennix is a member of the Motion Picture Academy and Television Academy and is best known for his roles in 'The Five Heartbeats', 'Dollhouse', 'Batman vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice' and 'Man of Steel'.

In an opinion piece for Variety, Lennix explained why he is still angry at Will Smith's slap and why he thinks the punishment should have been greater.

What did Harry Lennix say about Will Smith's slap?

"It is little more than an extended time out for a playground bully, a toothless penalty that lays bare the shallowness of Hollywood morals," Lennix wrote.

"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.

"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'."

Can Will Smith keep his Best Actor Oscar?

Despite Lennix's plea, it seems that Will Smith will be able to keep his prize. The Academy didn't want to set a precedent of taking awards away from actors and directors for extracurricular behaviour and instead believed the decade-long ban from attending the ceremony would suffice.

For some, such as Harry Lennix, that just isn't enough of a punishment based on the 53-year-old's actions.
Los Angeles County in California, United States, has announced the implementation of their new guaranteed income program, which will see 1,000 dollars a month sent out over the next three years to 1,000 randomly selected residents.

The Universal Basic Income Program (UBI) payments will be part of the Fiscal Year 2021/22 budget, which was approved by both California's Governor and the Legislature.

"The financial uncertainty and varying depths of poverty that millions of our constituents experience day to day cannot be addressed with a one-size-fits-all approach,'' said Holly Mitchell, Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Chair.

"Now is our opportunity to invest in support that directly reaches our residents. It's time that we trust that our residents know how best to meet their needs when given the resources to do so.

"Across the country, guaranteed income has already proven to reduce poverty, improve the long-term well-being of families, and give residents living on the edge of a fiscal cliff the support to breathe a bit easier.''

Supervisor Sheila Kuehl is confident that the newly introduced Universal Basic Income scheme will offer residents who are in financial need a significant boost for the next few years.

"The course of this pandemic has revealed the large number of county residents who are living on the brink of financial crisis, with insufficient savings to weather a job loss, a medical emergency or a major car repair,'' said Kuehl.

"This guaranteed income program will help give residents the breathing room they need to better weather those crises.

"There is ample evidence from guaranteed income projects around the country that financial support, coupled with the freedom to make their own decisions about how best to spend their money, offers families the flexibility they need to establish stability and invest in a more prosperous future for themselves.''

Who qualifies for California UBI payments?

To be eligible for the UBI payments you must be over 18 years old and have a household income of less than 56,000 dollars for a single person or 96,000 dollars for a family, as well as having experienced hardship following the COVID-19 pandemic.
Weather Alert

...FLOOD WARNING NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 5 PM CDT SATURDAY... * WHAT...Flooding caused by excessive rainfall continues. * WHERE...Portions of east central Oklahoma, northeast Oklahoma and southeast Oklahoma, including the following counties, in east central Oklahoma, Muskogee and Okfuskee. In northeast Oklahoma, Creek, Mayes, Okmulgee, Rogers, Tulsa and Wagoner. In southeast Oklahoma, Haskell, McIntosh and Pittsburg. * WHEN...Until 500 PM CDT Saturday. * IMPACTS...Flooding of rivers, creeks, streams, and other low-lying and flood-prone locations is imminent or occurring. Numerous roads remain closed due to flooding. Low-water crossings are inundated with water and may not be passable. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS... - At 451 PM CDT, The rain has ended. Doppler radar and automated rain gauges indicated heavy rain due to thunderstorms. Flooding is already occurring in the warned area. Widespread rain estimates between 4 and 7 inches of rain fell Wednesday and Wednesday night with 7 to 11 inches estimated in several locations. - Some locations that will experience flooding include... Tulsa... Broken Arrow... Muskogee... Okmulgee... Wagoner... Bristow... Okemah... Eufaula... Bixby... Sapulpa... Jenks... Okfuskee... Glenpool... Coweta... Henryetta... Fort Gibson... Checotah... Drumright... Chouteau... Haskell... - http://www.weather.gov/safety/flood PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood deaths occur in vehicles. &&
NYPD officers patrol platforms at the 36th Street subway station where a shooting attack occurred the previous day during the morning commute, April 13, 2022, in New York. Police continued to hunt Wednesday for the gunman who opened fire on a subway train in Brooklyn, an attack that left multiple people shot and once again interrupted New York City's long journey to post-pandemic normalcy. (John Minchillo / AP)

NEW YORK  A gunman in a gas mask and construction vest set off smoke grenades and fired a barrage of bullets in a rush-hour subway train in Brooklyn, wounding at least 10 people Tuesday, authorities said. Police were trying to track down the renter of a van possibly connected to the violence.

Chief of Detectives James Essig said investigators werent sure whether the man, identified as Frank R. James, 62, had any link to the subway attack.

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Authorities were looking at his apparent social media posts, some of which led officials to tighten New York Mayor Eric Adams security detail. Police Commissioner Keechant Sewell called the posts concerning.

The attack turned the morning commute into a scene of horror: a smoke-filled underground car, an onslaught of at least 33 bullets, screaming riders running through a station, bloodied people lying on the platform as others tended to them.

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In the train, Jordan Javier thought the first popping sound he heard was a textbook dropping. Then there was another pop, people started moving toward the front of the car, and he realized there was smoke, he said.

When the train pulled into the station, people ran out and were directed to another train across the platform. Passengers wept and prayed as they rode, Javier said.

Im just grateful to be alive, he said.

Five gunshot victims were in critical condition but expected to survive. At least a dozen people who escaped gunshot wounds were treated for smoke inhalation and other injuries.

Sewell said the attack was not being investigated as terrorism, but that she was not ruling out anything. The shooters motive was unknown.

Sitting in the back of the trains second car, the gunman tossed two smoke grenades on the floor, pulled out a Glock 9 mm semi-automatic handgun and started firing, Essig said. He said police later found the weapon, along with extended magazines, a hatchet, detonated and undetonated smoke grenades, a black garbage can, a rolling cart, gasoline and the key to a U-Haul van.

That key led investigators to James, who has addresses in Philadelphia and Wisconsin, the detective chief said. The van was later found, unoccupied, near a subway station where investigators determined the gunman had entered the train system, Essig said.

Rambling, profanity-filled YouTube videos apparently posted by James, who is Black, are replete with Black nationalist rhetoric, violent language and bigoted comments, some of them directed at other Black people.

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One, posted April 11, rails against crime against Black people and says drastic action is needed to change things. Another, from March 20, says the nation was born in violence, its kept alive by violence or the threat thereof and its going to die a violent death.

A Feb. 20 video says the mayor and governors plan to improve safety in New York Citys subway system is doomed for failure and refers to himself as a victim of the mayors mental health program. A Jan. 25 video  called Dear Mr. Mayor  is somewhat critical of Adams plan to end gun violence.

Investigators believe the shooters gun jammed, preventing the suspect from continuing to fire, said two law enforcement officials who werent authorized to discuss the investigation and spoke on condition of anonymity.

This photo provided by Will B Wylde, shows a person aided outside a subway car in the Brooklyn borough of New York, Tuesday, April 12, 2022. A gunman filled a rush-hour subway train with smoke and shot multiple people Tuesday, leaving wounded commuters bleeding on a Brooklyn platform as others ran screaming, authorities said. Police were still searching for the suspect. (Will B. Wylde/AP)

The officials said authorities zeroed in on a person of interest after the credit card used to rent the van was found at the shooting scene.

The attack unnerved a city on guard about a rise in gun violence and the ever-present threat of terrorism. It left some New Yorkers jittery about riding the nations busiest subway system and prompted officials to increase policing at transportation hubs from Philadelphia to Connecticut.

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority announced last fall that it had put security cameras in all 472 subway stations citywide, saying they would put criminals on an express track to justice. But at the station where the train arrived, the cameras apparently werent working.

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MTA system chief Janno Lieber told TV interviewers he didnt know why the cameras malfunctioned. But he said police had a lot of different options from cameras elsewhere on the subway line to get a glimpse of the shooter.

One riders video, shot through a closed door between subway cars, shows a person in a hooded sweatshirt raising an arm and pointing at something as five bangs sound. In another video, smoke and people pour out of a subway car, some limping.

Someone call 911! a person shouts.

Other video and photos from the scene show people tending to bloodied passengers lying on the platform  some amid what appear to be small puddles of blood  and another person on the floor of a subway car.

Rider Juliana Fonda, a broadcast engineer at WNYC-FM, told its news site Gothamist that passengers from the car behind hers started banging on the connecting door.

There was a lot of loud pops, and there was smoke in the other car, she said. And people were trying to get in and they couldnt, they were pounding on the door to get into our car.

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As police searched for the shooter, Gov. Kathy Hochul warned New Yorkers to be vigilant.

This individual is still on the loose. This person is dangerous, the Democrat said at a news conference just after noon. This is an active shooter situation right now in the city of New York.

Fire and police officials had responded to reports of an explosion, but Sewell said at the press conference that there were no known explosive devices. Multiple smoke devices were found on the scene, mayoral spokesperson Fabien Levy said.

After people streamed out of the train, quick-thinking transit workers ushered passengers to another train across the platform for safety, Lieber, the MTA chairman, noted.

High school student John Butsikaris was riding the other train when he saw a conductor urging everyone to get in. He thought it might be a mundane problem until the next stop, when he heard screams for medical attention and his train was evacuated.

Im definitely shook, the 15-year-old told The Associated Press. Even though I didnt see what happened, Im still scared, because it was like a few feet away from me, what happened.

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No transit workers were physically hurt, according to their union.

In Menlo, Iowa, President Joe Biden praised the first responders who jumped in action, including civilians, civilians, who didnt hesitate to help their fellow passengers and tried to shield them.

Adams, who is isolating following a positive COVID-19 test on Sunday, said in a video statement that the city will not allow New Yorkers to be terrorized, even by a single individual.

New York City has faced a spate of shootings and high-profile bloodshed in recent months, including on the citys subways. One of the most shocking was in January, when a woman was pushed to her death in front of a train by a stranger.

Adams, a Democrat a little over 100 days into his term, has made cracking down on crime  especially on the subways  a focus of his early administration, pledging to send more police officers into stations and platforms for regular patrols. It wasnt immediately clear whether officers were already inside the station when the shootings occurred.

Danny Mastrogiorgio of Brooklyn had just dropped his son off at school when he saw a crush of panicked passengers, some wounded, running up the stairway at the 25th Street station. At least two had visible leg injuries, he said.

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It was insane, he told the AP. No one knew exactly what was going on.

Balsamo reported from Washington. Associated Press writers Karen Matthews, Julie Walker, Deepti Hajela, Michelle L. Price and David Porter in New York contributed to this report.
The Democrats in the Florida congressional delegation sent a letter to Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday urging him to add condominium reform to the agenda of next weeks special legislative session.

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They said no more time should pass before changing rules governing condominiums in light of the June 2021 partial collapse of Champlain Towers South, in which 98 people were killed.

The letter to DeSantis originated with U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, a Broward/Miami-Dade County Democrat whose district includes Surfside, where the tragedy occurred.

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[ RELATED: Lawmakers failure to pass condo safety bill leaves residents, buyers in limbo ]

It was signed by all the Democrats from Florida and none of the Republicans.

At least two condominiums have been evacuated because they were deemed unsafe for residents since the Champlain Towers South Collapse, the letter said. Ensuring the safety of condominium residents cannot wait another year. Lives are at stake.

The House and Senate failed to agree on a package of safety reforms that would have required inspections of older buildings, mandated financial reserves for condo associations and provided more public transparency for maintenance and inspection reports.

Before Surfside, Broward and Miami-Dade counties were the only counties statewide to require condo associations in buildings 40 years old or older to conduct inspections of their buildings. And Florida law makes it easy for condo owners to take a pass on funding reserves for future repairs on their buildings.

[ RELATED: Congressional redistricting focuses on north Florida, but new maps could shake up Broward, Palm Beach counties ]

The letter attempted to shame DeSantis with his own words: In the aftermath of the tragedy, you made a commitment that Florida would take action. On July 8, you stated if there is something identified that would have implications broader than Champlain Towers, then obviously were [going to] take that and act as appropriate.

No reforms were approved during the annual legislative session, which ended March 14, after three days of overtime.

The session was dominated by hot-button social issues  abortion restrictions, limits on discussions of racism in schools and in employer training, and limits on discussions of LGBT+ issues in schools. Undone were property insurance issues and condominium changes.

DeSantis has already called a special session, beginning April 19, to come up with a congressional redistricting plan. The Legislature passed redistricting maps, but they were vetoed by DeSantis.

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Its become common since DeSantis took office for congressional Democrats to send him letters demanding that he take a particular action. The Republican governor typically ignores the letters.

Information from Sun Sentinel archives was used in this report.

Anthony Man can be reached at aman@sunsentinel.com or on Twitter @browardpolitics
Gov. Ron DeSantis holds a roundtable discussion at C.W. Ruckel Middle School in Niceville, on Monday, Sept. 20, 2021. The panel discussion addressed replacing Florida Statewide Assessment testing in schools with a new plan that would end high-stakes testing like the FSA. But legislation passed by the Florida Legislature continues tests under a different name.

Last fall, Gov. Ron DeSantis promised to help public education, not hurt it. He broke that promise.

Seven months ago, DeSantis claimed that he would end high-stakes school tests. Last month, he signed Senate Bill 1048, the vehicle to supposedly overhaul the system.

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In fact, nothing important will change. A standardized test still will determine promotion from third grade and graduation from high school.

Test scores still will determine school grades, which will resume in 2023-24 under the new tests. Those grades will continue to determine everything from teacher bonuses to home prices.

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Randy Schultz is a Sun Sentinel columnist. (Mike Slaughter / Sun Sentinel/South Florida Sun-Sentinel)

Bob Schaeffer is director of FairTest. It was founded in 1985 to counter what the group considers the misuse of standardized tests. Schaeffer moved to Florida two decades ago, just as the states testing obsession began under former Gov. Jeb Bush.

Recent headlines that proclaim the end of standardized testing, Schaeffer vented, are a total fabrication. SB 1048, which DeSantis called groundbreaking, is simply rearranging the deck chairs.

The legislation ends the Florida Standards Assessments, which began as the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test, or FCAT. The new acronym is BEST  Benchmark for Excellent Student Thinking. But schools still must give two interim tests before the end-of-year exam.

By simply raising the bar, Schaeffer said, politicians think that teachers and students will magically jump higher.

Marie-Claire Lemans children attend school in Leon County. Writing in the Tallahassee Democrat, Leman said legislators could keep up the pretense of less testing because a previous change  never implemented  would have required even more testing.

FairTest, Schaeffer said, doesnt oppose standardized tests when states use them to promote education and testing. In Florida, however, the tests carry what he called high-stakes consequences.

Thats because testing is more about politics than education. The FCAT went through several iterations. One year, the Legislature gamed the system to avoid a dramatic drop in A-rated schools.

Florida has had four Republican governors since the testing obsession began. Not one has had children who took the FCAT or its successors.

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The underwhelming effect of SB 1048 further reinforces the notion that Republicans want to undermine public education in Florida. In its place would arise a supposedly free-market system, whatever that is, Schaeffer said.

Consider that Florida does not require schools that receive corporate-financed vouchers to operate under the same testing regimen as traditional public schools. At those schools, Republicans say, parents can determine whether their children are succeeding.

Heres a more likely explanation: State-ordered test results might show that those students actually arent performing better than their public-school peers.

Consider also that the voucher program began as a supposed lifeline for low-income families whose children were trapped in failing schools. The emphasis was on minority students.

Last year, however, DeSantis and the Legislature again expanded voucher eligibility. Families of four earning almost $100,000 can qualify. Thats a long way from poverty.

Oh, and private voucher schools also will get less oversight of how they spend money that otherwise would have gone to public schools. Republicans required a state audit every three years, not annually.

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Meanwhile, the Legislature has raised accountability for public schools based on falsehoods.

Teachers cant discuss gender identity or sexual orientation through third grade, which they arent doing now. They cant teach critical race theory, which they arent doing now.

Two new bills, though, could allow parents to sue teachers and school districts over the tiniest rumor about discussions of gender or race. According to the teachers unions attorney, taxpayers would have to pay the parents legal fees even the district won.

Continued harassment  testing is part of that  drives teachers out of the profession. If it continues, the exodus will further hurt the reputation of Floridas public schools.

Eleven years ago, Georgia ended its mandatory test for high school graduation. According to the states education department, the graduation rate has since risen 14 points.

The state now uses other methods to determine graduation. Sending someone off without a high diploma, Schaeffer said, is not good for the child or society.

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Last fall, the union backed DeSantis when he claimed to want testing reform. As Leman wrote, however, SB 1048 amounted to bait and switch. Another year, another hurt on public education.

Contact Randy Schultz at randy@bocamag.com.
Meadville, PA (16335)

Today

Cloudy with light rain this morning...then becoming partly cloudy. High 63F. Winds ENE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 90%..

Tonight

Mainly clear skies. Low near 40F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph.
Male models on your Instagram feed seem to be blessed with full, leonine hair but to youa man whos trying to keep up with his thinning hairthe world of style feels somewhat inhospitable.

The size of your paycheck and the size of your penis are also keeping some of you up at night. But are you sure thats what your girl is thinking about? Just to clear your doubts, we asked five women what they feel about some of the most common insecurities men have. 1. Muscles, baby. A good portion of us doesnt give a shit about that. - Sunakshi Sehgal, Media Professional I respected my exs passion for his muscles but hated the fact that everything elseour relationship, work, emotions, homecould never become his priority. I like maintaining a balance between healthy and fried food but I shied away from eating it in front of him. I felt alienated. I didnt fall for him because of his muscles. It was his willingness to commit that got me hooked. I ended up marrying a guy with a personality that complemented my entire life not just my body.

2. I never noticed his penis size until my boyfriend asked me about it. - Ritu Sachdev, Senior Product Manager By the age of 28, I had dated a few guys and one thing that was common in everyone was their concern about the penis size. I tried to tell them that as long as I am emotionally involved with you, I will always have fun in bed. It doesnt have much to do with the size. I enjoyed the closeness. They still felt insecure so I clearly failed at convincing them but I hope I am conveying it clearly enough that its not the size of your penis, its the level of intimacy and technique that makes a difference. If a girl feels free to do and say anything to you when youre in bed, youre golden

3. I still dont understand the whole alpha male situation. - Sonali Sharma, Finance Manager I like guys who tell me about their feelings, their problems. It makes me feel involved. Being a part of my boys life, thats all I want. I dont care who pays the bills. Sure, I want to feel safe when Im with my man but overprotectiveness, stubbornness and insecurity are the enemies of a long term relationship.

4. When I fell for him, I didnt think about his skin tone even for a split second. - Kanupriya Mehta, Senior Analyst My husband often jokes about the fact that I must have wanted to end up with a fair guy. But sometimes I worry he might be seriously thinking about it. Might sound cheesy but I just felt like he was my home when I met him the first time. I saw a future with him. I could picture myself having kids with this man. I never, ever thought about his colour. I can see that he feels insecure but its not what girls are noticing, trust me.

5. My husband is shorter than me and it bothers him. Not me. - Arushi Kashyap, Talent Acquisition Im a tall woman and I have been blessed enough to not experience any uninvited comments because of that. My, now husband, then boss and boyfriend, was so uncomfortable that he was shorter than me. It's not like he wanted me to stop wearing heels or anything but I could see it bothered him. Right before our wedding, he gave me the last chance to break up and all I could say was that I love him more than that. I didnt care how people saw us. I saw him as mine. The first thing I noticed about him was his leadership skills. He cared for his team. It was never the height.
BUTLER [ndash] Funeral services for Mary Shirley Cooper of the Snell Community will be Saturday, May 7, 2022, at 11 a.m., at the Chapel of Bumpers Funeral Home in Butler, Ala. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service. Burial will be at Rest Haven Memorial Gardens in Butler, Alabama. 
Florida Sen. Jeff Brandes watches during a legislative session, Tuesday, Jan. 11, 2022, in Tallahassee, Fla. With lawmakers due back in Tallahassee for a special session on redistricting, Brandes has called for taking up property insurance as well. (Phelan M. Ebenhack/AP)

Will his Republican colleagues listen to state Sen. Jeff Brandes?

As the Legislature prepares for a special session next week on congressional redistricting, the St. Petersburg Republican wants the agenda to include property insurance. Gov. Ron DeSantis has lent words of support, but Senate President Wilton Simpson and House Speaker Chris Sprowls have shown no similar interest  a troubling sign.

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So Brandes is using the levers of power to force insurance onto the agenda.

Today I sent out a call to my fellow legislators asking them to join me in sending certification to the Secretary of State as required under FS 11.011(2). I encourage you to call your local legislator and ask them for their prompt response for the benefit of all Floridians. pic.twitter.com/95V58uo5u9  Jeff Brandes (@JeffreyBrandes) April 8, 2022

It first would mean getting at least one-fifth of the Legislature  32 members of the House and/or Senate  to put their support on record with the Department of State. Since almost every Democrat agrees, getting that was almost certain, and Brandes announced on Twitter he had reached that goal within 24 hours of contacting his fellow lawmakers.

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Senate Democrats call on @GovRonDeSantis to address Floridas property insurance crisis during the upcoming special session. Failure to act will only create devastating long-term effects and harm. Deliberate and prompt legislative action is needed to protect our constituents. pic.twitter.com/xHw9TJxPMp  Florida Senate Democrats (@FLSenateDems) April 11, 2022

The department must now poll all 160 members. Including property insurance would require a three-fifths vote of each chamber, or 72 House members and 24 senators  a much heavier lift.

A tight deadline

To succeed, Brandes needs considerable GOP support. He also faces an imposing deadline. The poll must be completed within seven days and the session starts Tuesday, April 19.

Theres another practical problem. History shows that, for a special session to succeed, legislators must be fairly close to a deal before the session begins. On insurance, legislators would be starting at zero.

In his letter, Brandes correctly noted that Floridians are suffering from skyrocketing rate increases. State-run Citizens, supposedly the insurer of last resort, wants an 11% increase  the highest it can seek.

Agents are telling policyholders to be grateful for those higher rates because at least they have coverage. Some carriers are dropping policies and other carriers are folding.

As the Sun Sentinel reported, the president of the company that rates insurers finances asked Simpson and Sprowls to call a special session. Otherwise, he said, many ratings downgrades could follow.

Sprowls apparently is in denial. We passed one of the most expansive reforms to the insurance industry thats ever been done in Florida, he said, citing a bill passed last year. It will take another six months, he said, to measure the legislations effectiveness.

A weak argument

There are two problems with Sprowls argument.

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[ RELATED: Grim new developments reveal more trouble in Florida home insurance market ]

First, the Legislature did try to pass a follow-up bill this year. Second, last years bill is unlikely to provide rate relief at any point, and a federal judge has blocked a key portion of it.

For years, the property insurance debate in Tallahassee has been the same. Carriers allege massive fraud by lawyers and public adjusters, who in turn allege that carriers are greedy and regularly try to shortchange policyholders.

So in 2021, responding to the insurance industry, the Legislature approved a new fee structure for lawyers who sue companies and required policyholders to file claims no longer than two years after an incident.

The goal was to reduce fraud, which even lawyers and public adjusters acknowledge is happening. They just disagree on how prevalent it is.

But even if the legislation reduces fraud, it does not require insurers to pass savings to customers. In addition, U.S. District Judge Mark Walker  on free speech grounds  blocked the provision that prevented roofing contractors from advertising to homeowners about filing claims.

[ RELATED: Insurers can now offer reduced levels of roof replacement coverage. What this means to you ]

Another sideshow

As scheduled, this special session is needless. Its all about DeSantis presidential aspirations.

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The Republican-led House and Senate approved a map for Floridas 28 congressional districts. Unlike past years, the process was surprisingly bipartisan. The maps made minimal changes to current districts while adding a new one from the 2020 census.

But DeSantis vetoed the map. He wants a version that could shift as many as four seats to the Republicans. Such a map surely would draw a legal challenge that likely would succeed.

Its another glaring example of Tallahassee prioritizing non-problems while ignoring real ones. Florida now has banned what the governor calls race and gender indoctrination that doesnt exist. Florida has suppressed the vote to address imaginary election fraud while ignoring real cases of fraudulent ghost candidates.

And for good measure, Republicans have made it harder for anyone but the Legislature to amend the Constitution.

Meanwhile, Floridians continue to pay more and more for coverage that will pay out less and less in the event of a claim. Brandes, a term-limited lawmaker in his final session whos considered an authority on insurance, wants the Legislature to create a sustainable market for homeowners.

On Twitter this week, DeSantis said, I absolutely support what Sen. Brandes is doing. I think we will get there. Stay tuned. But he also has suggested that a special session on insurance could wait until after the election, when hes on the ballot for a second term.

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Brandes doesnt want to wait. Neither should those who control Tallahassee.

The Sun Sentinel Editorial Board consists of Editorial Page Editor Steve Bousquet, Deputy Editorial Page Editor Dan Sweeney, and Editor-in-Chief Julie Anderson. Editorials are the opinion of the Board and written by one of its members or a designee. To contact us, email at letters@sun-sentinel.com.
FRANKFORT  After scrutinizing the Republican legislature's budget work, Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear's biggest complaints Monday were about K-12 education funding, saying lawmakers failed to meet the moment during a time of unprecedented revenue surpluses.

The governor praised several priorities in the two-year state spending plan crafted by the GOP-dominated legislature. He pointed to pay raises for state workers and bolstered funding for infrastructure projects, higher education, economic development and workforce training.

His sharpest criticisms were aimed at the levels of K-12 education funding  or what was left out  as he revealed his line-item budget vetoes. Beshear's targeted vetoes included proposed pay raises for lawmakers and statewide constitutional officers, including himself.

While we make some great investments in our future, the budget certainly doesnt meet the moment when it comes to K-12 education. Beshear said at a news conference.

He said lawmakers should have steered more money into the states main funding formula  known as SEEK  for K-12 schools. The governor said the budget approved by the legislature contained about $680 million less for SEEK than the spending plan he submitted in January.

And the governor faulted lawmakers for refusing to fund universal pre-K for every 4-year-old in Kentucky, or to include pay raises for teachers and other school staff  two of his budget priorities.

Republicans promptly fired back, saying the budget they passed last month funds full-day kindergarten, pours money into teacher pensions and increases SEEK funding while downplaying Beshear's role in the budget process.

Once again, Gov. Beshear stands at a podium painting a picture of his leadership that doesnt match reality, state Republican Party spokesman Sean Southard said in a statement issued during the governors news conference.

Told of the GOP response as his hourlong news conference continued, Beshear replied that the criticism was about politics. The debate about budget and tax policies will likely continue into next year, when the governor seeks reelection to a second term in Republican-trending Kentucky.

Republican lawmakers have said they left it up to local school districts to decide whether to use additional state funding to award pay raises to teachers and other school staff. And GOP critics of Beshear's pre-K proposal say it would threaten the state's child-care industry.

Republican lawmakers also capitalized on the state's massive revenue surpluses to pass tax legislation aimed at gradually phasing out the state individual income tax. Beshear vetoed the tax measure, which also would extend the state sales tax to more services.

Lawmakers will reconvene Wednesday for the final two days of this year's 60-day session. Taking up the governor's raft of vetoes while lawmakers were away will be among their top priorities.

Despite his critique that elementary and secondary education should have received significantly more money, Beshear said overall there's a lot of good components in the spending plan.

We have a lot to celebrate in this budget," he said. "Its one of the better in modern history.

Beshear praised the 8% pay raises awarded state employees in the coming fiscal year. State police troopers and social workers are among those in line for even bigger pay raises.

The budget sets aside enough money for a 12% salary boost in the second year. Specific raises for state workers in the second year would be based on a Personnel Cabinet study factoring in cost of living, job duties and other variables.

The governor said the budget includes hundreds of millions of additional dollars for projects extending broadband access and providing clean drinking water and sewer systems.

The budget measure allocates $250 million from the state General Fund to support high-profile transportation projects. Specifically, the appropriation targets three projects  the Brent Spence companion bridge project in northern Kentucky, the Interstate 69 Ohio River crossing at Henderson and the completion of the Mountain Parkway expansion project.

The two-year spending plan aims to boost economic development by including $50 million each year to prepare so-called megasites to try to land major employers. Last year, Kentucky clinched such a project when Ford and its battery partner selected a site outside Glendale in Hardin County to build twin battery plants for the next generation of the automaker's electric vehicles.
Daviess Fiscal Courts meeting Monday night was open to the public for the first time in 25 months.

Thats a little more than half the term of the current members.

It was sad, really, sitting in here by ourselves, Commissioner George Warren said.

The meetings have been streamed live on the countys Facebook page and in recent weeks a small number of people have been allowed in.

But with the pandemic waning, the meetings are back to normal.

Its always nice to let people come in, Judge-Executive Al Mattingly said. But other than when we have some hot-button issue, few people come.

Monday, the Apollo High Dance team was honored for winning a national title.

That brought in a number of students and parents.

In other business, the court voted to spend $52,660 to buy 175,000 shotgun shells for the Daviess County Gun Club.

The money will be recovered when the shells are sold to people shooting on the range.

Jordan Johnson, assistant county treasurer, said the club generally uses 150,000 shells a year.

But its going to take six to 12 months to get more shells in.

We are confident we have enough ammunition inventory on hand to accommodate shooters until the new bulk delivery is received, Johnson said.

Ross Leigh, county parks director, said, It is imperative for the county to maintain ammunition inventory and be proactive in procuring the product for ongoing operations. Shotgun ammunition is very hard to purchase at local retailers and we only sell what is actually shot while visiting the gun club.

The court voted to rename a segment of Old Kentucky 144 Nannie Belle Loop for the late Nannie Belle Camp.

Gene Lanham, who presented the petition to the court said the name change will honor Camp, who died in 1978 at age 82, and make it easier for emergency vehicles to find addresses.

There are four sections of Old Kentucky 144, which can cause confusion.

The court set salaries for county commissioners for the next four years at $60,998.42 a year plus $300 a month allowance for serving on various boards.

The salaries have to be set before the primary election.

The court learned that it will receive $142,500 from the federal government to partially reimburse the $346,031 it spent on new voting machines.

And the court approved its annual payment to Daviess County Public Schools for transporting private school students.

Treasurer Jim Hendrix said the county usually spends between $150,000 and $180,000 on the program  and the state reimburses 80% to 90% of that.

Keith Lawrence, 270-691-7301, klawrence@messenger-inquirer.com
The search for a McLean County man who was considered armed and dangerous ended Sunday night.

David Tyler Conrad, 37, of Rumsey was apprehended after a weekend-long search.

Corey King, Kentucky State Polices public affairs officer, announced Saturday morning that KSP were searching for Conrad stemming from an incident that occurred on April 7.

Conrad was issued general warrant out for his arrest for two counts of attempted murder, two counts of strangulation in the first-degree, unlawful imprisonment in the first-degree, wanton endangerment in the second-degree, assault  second-degree domestic violence and second-degree terroristic threatening.

According to the complaint warrant, Conrad allegedly caused serious physical injury to a female by striking her in the facial area and body with his fists causing the female to fall to the ground; impeded normal breathing or circulation of the blood of the female by applying pressure on her throat or neck and began squeezing hard enough that the female blacked out twice and placed his foot on the females throat in an attempt to hold the female down.

Additionally, the warrant states that Conrad allegedly made the statement that he was going to kill the female if she didnt start talking; attempted to impeded the normal breathing by strangulation until the female blacked out; held a gun to the females head and restrained her movements; fired a handgun in the home while Conrads foot was pressed on the females neck while on the female was on the ground; and fired a handgun at the female when she was driving away from the scene in a pick-up truck.

McLean County Sheriff Kenneth Frizzell said that police attempted to make an arrest at Conrads residence in the 1600 block of Kentucky Highway 138 E. Thursday night but he was not present and that Conrad was an acquaintance of the female.

Conrads vehicle was found in the Rumsey area on Kentucky Highway 138 but was nowhere to be found, which prompted KSP to urge the public to contact the authorities if they had seen Conrad.

It really stems on, at least the perception, that he was fleeing and that prompted a community concern, King said. We did not know where he was at and, furthermore, there could have been a friend of his that was letting him stay at their house and may not have been completely aware of what was going on.

Frizzell said that the sheriffs office received tips throughout the weekend about Conrads whereabouts but to no avail.

KSP and Frizzell confirmed Sunday that Conrad was arrested by Frizzell at approximately 9:15 p.m.

I was able to get communication to (Conrad) through a third-party back and forth, Frizzell said. Through that third-party communication, I convinced him that it was in his best interest to come peacefully and turn himself in.

Frizzell said that Conrad requested Frizzell to come out to Conrads residence to arrest him.

Conrad was arrested without incident, according to Frizzell.

Conrad was then transported to the Muhlenberg County Detention Center in Greenville by Jailer Chris Ellis where Conrad is currently in custody as of April 10.

Freddie Bourne, fbourne@mcleannews.com
Alyssa Zombirt said the experience she gained from her Kentucky Wesleyan College zoology class at Mesker Park Zoo helped her to secure an internship opportunity this summer.

Zombirt, who will be graduating in a few weeks from KWC with a zoology degree, said the class, Science Outreach and Presentation Techniques, helped her to gain skills necessary for the internship at the Cincinnati Zoo she recently acquired.

It also helped affirm her ultimate goal of working as an interpreter at a zoo, or potentially assisting with research at one in the future.

KWC has collaborated with the zoo this semester to provide the hands-on learning opportunity for nine students enrolled in the zoology class. Included in the coursework were guiding principles on developing and delivering interpretive presentations; a chance for students to give interactive presentations to guests at the zoo; as well as an internship opportunity of more than 50 volunteer hours.

An education interpreter at the zoo shares entertaining information with guests. They create meaningful connections between people and a park or a zoo. Sometimes that is through what Zombirt called bio facts, or animals pelts, skulls or other manipulatives. Other times its through actual presentations with live animals.

Zombirt primarily focused on the Mexican Gray Wolf in her presentations for the class at the zoo. Throughout the course, she set up several hours a week outside of the wolfs habitat to present information to visitors. Many students also incorporated conservation and climate change in their presentations.

I was able to talk one-on-one with zoo visitors, and educate them, but also entertain them and provoke them into action, she said.

Like several students, Zombirt came to KWC specifically for its zoology program.

There are few colleges and universities that offer a zoology program, in fact KWC is one of the only ones to offer a bachelors degree of zoology. Other schools do offer animal science programming, like the University of Kentuckys college of agriculture programs, and Eastern Kentucky Universitys biology degrees that offer specializations within animal studies, according to theclassroom.com, a website that gathers and distributes college content for potential students.

Jeremy Gibson, KWC assistant professor of zoology and zoology program coordinator, said KWC is one of two higher education institutions within 200 miles of Owensboro that offers a four-year bachelors degree in zoology.

Gibson said the partnership with Mesker Park Zoo and KWC has been successful, and that students, zoo staff, and other zoo volunteers have been impressed with the colleges students.

Some long-time volunteers at the zoo have said our students have helped them learn about animals they have been working with for years, he said.

This is the first time the zoo has worked with the college to formulate a course around volunteerism and interpretation. The collaboration began as a way for students to gain experience working at an operational zoo, as well as increase KWCs footprint in community outreach, Gibson said.

A number of KWC students have aspirations of working in a zoo, like Zombirt, but regardless of whether or not a student wants to work in a zoo, providing them with the chance to discuss science with the public is invaluable, Gibson said.

Our students are bringing a lot of content knowledge about conservation, ecology, and other big topics to the general public, he said. I think its a really nice, synergistic collaboration.

Students are also helping take part in the zoos Earth Day celebration that will take place April 23. The event, which will take place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the zoo, is called Party on the Planet, and will include student presentations to the public that range from climate change to the exotic pet trade. The party also will include interactive activities for students and visitors.

Bobbie Hayse, bhayse@messenger-inquirer.com, 270-691-7315
An Owensboro nursing home was fined nearly $100,000 in August, after a federal agency found the facility hadnt done enough to protect residents from aggressive patients.

Chautauqua Health and Rehabilitation, 1205 Leitchfield Road, was fined $99,967 in August, after an investigation by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Servies. The agency is part of the Department of Health and Human Services.

The full report can be found on the Medicare.gov website.

A summary of the report says investigators cited the facility for five instances of freedom of abuse, neglect and exploitation deficiencies, seven quality of life and care deficiencies, and two resident rights deficiencies.

In particular, the August report says investigators found the facility received a 5 on a 1-5 harm scale, determining the facility had failed to timely report suspected abuse, neglect or theft and report the results to the proper authorities; failed to protect each resident from all types of abuse, such as physical, mental, sexual abuse, physical punishment and neglect by anybody; and had failed to respond appropriately to all alleged violations.

The report says the violations were corrected by November, through staff training. Officials with the facility, and with the facilitys owners and management, did not return multiple calls.

The investigation was conducted by interviewing nursing home staff members. The report only identified residents by number, but documents several instances where a resident verbally harassed others, issued threats and made sexually inappropriate gestures, and where a second resident caused two residents to fall, where one suffered a broken thigh bone.

The report documents incidents with going back to March 26 of last year. The report documents incidents where Resident 6 yelled at, cursed or threatened other residents, but also includes reports of the resident kicking, exposing themselves, throwing things, engaging in appropriate sexual acts in public and threatening to kill other residents.

The report say there were more than 20 incidents documented involving Resident 6 between March and August.

In an interview, one staff member said, It was just a matter of time before the resident hurt another resident.

The staff member said the facilitys administration was aware of the residents aggressive behavior. The report says in many of the complaints, there was no evidence provided that this incident was investigated.

A second resident, Resident 85, had incidents of physical or verbal altercations with other residents in May, June and July of last year. The report says Resident 85 was observed by staff grabbing another resident by the shirt on Aug. 21. As the victim attempted to pull way, the resident let go, causing the victim to fall. That resident did not suffer an injury. Resident 85 was taken to his room, the report says.

The next day, Aug. 22, Resident 85 pushed another resident down, and the victim suffered a fracture femur which required surgery.

Nursing assistants who were interviewed after the incident told investigators the Resident 85 usually got into an altercation with another resident at least one of (every) three days the CNAs were working.

Another staff member told investigators he had seen the resident trying to push other residents down, grabbing other residents, and grabbing other residents food and drink. The staff member said the director of nursing had been told about the incidents, but nothing had been done.

The director of nursing, who was interviewed more than once after the Aug. 22 incident where the victim suffered a fractured femur, said she was unaware of Resident 85s history of aggression toward other residents, and that interventions should have put in place after Aug. 21. The director of nursing also aid she was unsure interventions would have prevented the incident the next day.

After the Aug. 22 incident, the Resident 85 was put on 15-minute checks, the report says.

The administrative staff all underwent education on how to identify and prevent abuse, and when to report it, on Aug. 26. Other staff members were prohibited from working before also undergoing abuse education.

Interventions and care plans for all residents with behaviors affecting others were put in place on Aug. 27, the report says.

Chautauqua Health and Rehabilitation was formerly known as Owensboro Place Care and Rehabilitation. The facility is managed by Clearview Healthcare Management of Kentucky and owned by Owensboro OPCO KY LLC, which has a New Jersey address.

Officials from Chautauqua Health did not return a call made two weeks ago, or a call made Monday. The person who answered the phone at Clearview Healthcare Monday said the COO was out of town and not available. A previous call to Clearview was not returned.

The New Jersey address is for the Portopiccolo Group. The company could not be reached for comment Monday.

The facility has been fined previously. The facility was fined $608,228 in March, 2019, after a resident choked on eggs and died after being removed from life support.

The investigation found that some staff knew the resident was at risk of choking due to having a cognitive issue and needed assistance and observation while dining, but found other staff members were unaware there was an issue.

The report says when the resident was found unresponsive, a nurse began chest compressions. The reports said there was no documentation of trying to ventilate the resident. A paramedic responding to the 911 call removed a large piece of egg from the residents windpipe, the report says.

A review of the facilities emergency cart after the incident found the cart did not have a suction machine. A staff member who responded to the emergency said the suction machine was not assembled and she had to look through different drawers on the cart to find the parts, the report says.

James Mayse, 270-691-7303, jmayse@messenger-inquirer.com, Twitter: @JamesMayse
Mrs. Rosa Fulkerson used a revolver to persuade her husband, George, his place was by her side in their home at Cherry and Walnut streets instead of guiding some fair damsel about a dance hall at Ninth and Hall streets. Mrs. Fulkerson, when asked at police headquarters why she shot her husband, replied, Well, I thought he was where he ought to be. They have four small children. George was active in his own defense when his wife shoved the gun at him he grabbed the barrel with his hand and the charge merely penetrated the fleshy part of his hand.

 April 11, 1922, James Z. Wayne died shortly at the police station yesterday afternoon, having been picked up about a half an hour earlier in an unconscious condition about one block north of the Catholic cemetery. Chief Lyons and officer Jack Long responded to a call from that neighborhood and found Wayne lying at the side of the road near his horse and buggy. Waynes shoes and lot of groceries were in the vehicle.

 April 12, Army reorganization plans will reduce to three the number of Owensboro High School R.O.T.C. members who may attend the Citizens Military Training Camp this year. Information to that effect was received by Captain James Kennedy, corps commander. More than 30 students from Owensboro attended the camp last year. It is expected that the camp, which is to be located at Camp Knox, will open about July 15 and close Aug. 15.

 April 13, Dr. Lee Nallow, a physician of Henderson County, was arrested by Deputy Marshal C. C. Bates, of Owensboro, on a federal warrant charging the issue of prescription to persons who did not apply for them and for refusing to submit his narcotic record to inspection of government inspectors. When arraigned before Commissioner James R. Higdon, the physician furnished bond for his appearance May 1 in the sum of $300.

 April 14, Drury Smeathers and J A. Crump will establish at an early date a ferry crossing a short distance east of the city at the head of Whiteley Island. The landing on the Kentucky side will be just north of the Hardinsburg Road and on a tract of land belonging to Mr. Smeathers who recently purchase the farm from Capt. W. T. Ellis. A graveled road will be constructed down the landing on the Kentucky side and one on the Indiana side to give a quick connection between Owensboro and Rockport.

 April 15, Jim Leachman shot Sam Talbot while he was showing him a pistol at the formers home at 606 Vine Street and Talbot is now in the city hospital with a wound in the upper part of his right leg. As Talbot made no charge against Leachman, both stating that the shooting was an accident, no warrant has been issued. Leachman was tried several years ago on a charge of having killed his wife by cutting her throat.

50 Years Ago

 April 11, 1972, the appointment of four local attorneys to the 1972 Law Day observance committee for Owensboro and Daviess County was announced by Mrs. Louise G. Kirtley, president of the Daviess County Bar Association. Marvin P. Nunley was named chairman of the committee and members include John H. Helmers, Stewart B. Elliott and William L. Wilson jr. The local bar association will present its seventh Liberty Bell award during the Law Day banquet on April 28.

 April 12, district detectives in counties containing a second class city fared well during the 1972 session of the state legislature. Daviess is one of these counties. The pay range of these officers was raised from a minimum of $4,000 and maximum of $6,000 a year to a minimum of $7,200 and a maximum of $9,600. Charles Porter is the district detective for Daviess County.

 April 13, the Owensboro Police Department (OPD) and Cliff Hagan Boys Club were recipients of Kentucky Crime Commission (KCC) grants officially announced by Gov. Ford. The police department received two grants totaling $48,054 while the Boys Club got $11,990 to hire a full time professional counselor who will assist delinquent boys referred to the club by courts. The KCC money awarded to OPD included $45,941 for creation of a mobile crime laboratory and evidence team specialist.

 April 14, Tom Ewell may be on the brink of putting stage productions at Kentucky state parks into competition with Broadway. The appointment of Ewell as the man who will be in charge of outdoor dramas, dinner theaters and light plays at the state parks was announced by Gov. Ford. His new job will not sever his connections with the stage and screen. He will have some days off to meet any professional obligations such as doing cameos in Hollywood.
131 E Palmetto Park Road building on Thursday, April 7, 2022. One of Several historical buildings in Boca's downtown set to be demolished to make way for the proposed Aletto Square high rise project. (Carline Jean / South Florida Sun Sentinel)

Re: As more old buildings vanish from Boca Raton, will downtown lose its charm?

I read reporter Austen Erblats article, Demolition coming for downtown Boca Raton, with interest, and want to thank you for citing the resident hesitancy to over-develop downtown Boca, threatening the areas charm. Although an important issue, I feel the larger question is, are we stuffing 10 pounds of stuff into a five-pound bag?

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The developer obviously is in business to make money in spite of any altruistic goals that are represented to the city. If a proposed Carvana parking garage works perfectly as the developer states, there could still be a shortfall of as many as 150 parking spaces. In fact, it was noted that residents will not be guaranteed a spot.

[ RELATED: Debate rages over downtown Boca Ratons traffic and other growth concerns ]

If this garage needs repairs, breaks down, gets bogged down with handicapped parking or doesnt actually work as hoped for on a very small street, Boca Raton Road, we could have as many as 500 cars looking to find spots in an overcrowded downtown.

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Please sign the petition, change.org/alettosquare, so we can hit the pause button and allow some due diligence from the city and from opponents of the Manhattanization of Downtown Boca.

Alan Slootsky, Boca Raton

Remember in November

Gov. Ron DeSantis flies around Florida in his taxpayer-funded private jet handing out infrastructure checks to cities while spewing his messages of hate and division and calling for a Cold War between Florida and Georgia if Stacey Abrams win the governors race in Georgia.

[ RELATED: A Florida-Georgia Cold War? DeSantis was making a lighthearted remark, spokeswoman says ]

Lets remember where the money for those infrastructure checks comes from. Its Democrats, the ones who passed the infrastructure package without the backing of DeSantis, his buddies Matt Gaetz and Brian Mast, as well as Florida Sens. Marco Rubio and Rick Scott. That money went back into the economy to fix roads and bridges, clean up waterways, protect the Everglades and make our lives better here in Florida.

All the while, DeSantis wants us to think this is his creation. Well, its not. He didnt support an infrastructure plan for Florida or the nation. His best ideas are the ones attacking minorities, banning books in schools and libraries, making it more difficult to vote and calling people woke if they dont share his views. Lets all remember this in November when his re-election, and Rubios, are in our hands.

Mark Walker, Boca Raton

The dawn of DeSantis-ism?

Will someone tell Gov. DeSantis that Miguel Diaz-Canel is the head of Cuba now? He seems to think Castro is still in charge. At least thats what he said when he told his minions about the perceived relationship between Florida and Georgia should Stacey Abrams get elected governor there. Using veiled allusions to Castro to the south and " Cold War, DeSantis might as well have called Abrams a Commie Pinko.

Are we about to suffer through the 2022 version of McCarthyism?

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Marcia DeFren, West Palm Beach

Misguided in L.A.

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors last week voted to bar staffers from all official travel to Florida. Not only are these woke bloated bureaucrats acting like a dictatorship, but we dont want any of these spinmeisters in Florida who are in favor of teaching sex and gender identity to five-year-olds and spinning the newly-passed bill as anti-gay.

How many of these misguided clowns want their own children schooled by their teachers on masturbation? How many five-year-olds have gender ambiguity and need these mature topics drilled into their minds? I would expect pedophiles to be against DeSantis excellent bill, not anyone whos rational and guards their tykes against forced sexual orientation while playing in sandboxes. Wake up. Vote these Democratic grandstanders out of office. Tell them to focus instead on your crime and homelessness issues.

Marcus Gordon, Boca Raton
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LAS VEGAS (AP)  A defense attorney raised doubt Tuesday about the competency of a 16-year-old student to face sex assault and attempted murder charges in a violent after-school attack that left a Las Vegas high school teacher injured and unconscious in her classroom last week.

In a police report, investigators said the boy's mother said he had no known medical or mental disabilities but recently seemed depressed and disconnected.

A local judge confirmed with the teen's lawyer and a prosecutor that state law calls for him to be prosecuted as an adult if the case moves forward on those charges and others including first-degree kidnapping, which could put him in prison for the rest of his life.

Defense attorney Paul Adras told Justice of the Peace Joe M. Bonaventure hell seek a mental evaluation for his client ahead of a May 6 competency hearing in state court.

The Associated Press is not naming the teen, pending a competency determination. He is being held as an adult on $500,000 bail at the Clark County Detention Center in Las Vegas.

Additional charges including more counts of sexual assault and battery by strangulation were added Monday, bringing to 15 the number of felonies he faces. He has not been asked to enter a plea.

A Las Vegas police arrest report obtained Tuesday provided new details of the alleged attack at Eldorado High School. It said the student, a junior, went to the teacher's classroom last Thursday afternoon to talk about his grades.

The female teacher told investigators the teen is physically larger than her, approached her as she sat at her desk and choked her from behind with a rope or cord before pulling a bookcase and filing cabinet down upon her.

The teacher asked ... repeatedly why he was doing this to her, before she lost consciousness, police said. She recalled (him) telling her he had something like multiple personalities,' and ... he didnt like teachers' and was getting revenge.' "

The teacher said she tried to fight her attacker and scratched his arms. When she awoke, she had blood in her hair and her clothes were disheveled.

I don't know why I attacked her, she was good to me, the arrest report quotes the student telling detectives. It said he admitted taking the teacher's keys before he fled the campus.

He attends ROTC and was with his mother driving him back to school about two hours later for an award ceremony when they were stopped and he was arrested by school police.

His mother described her son as a good student who was "not diagnosed with any medical or mental disabilities. She told police that in recent months he seemed depressed and disconnected but would not talk about what was wrong.

Officials said the teacher was hospitalized. Neither her name or the extent of her injuries were immediately made public. The police report said the teen described removing her clothes, and said DNA evidence was collected.

Outside court, Adras called it too early in the case to comment on his client's behalf, and acknowledged intense public interest since his arrest.

I know theres a lot of information going out on social media, the attorney told The Associated Press. Were asking everyone to respect the process.

Adras added that prosecutor Lindsey Moors informed him the case may be presented to a grand jury behind closed doors.

Clark County District Attorney Steve Wolfson, outside court, expressed frustration with escalating violence in Clark County schools, the nations fifth-largest district, and told reporters that he spoke Tuesday with school Superintendent Jesus Jara.

This is an example of the kind of behavior that will not be tolerated, Wolfson said of the allegations against the teen.

Wolfson, Jara and other officials convened a news conference two weeks ago to call for calm in the sprawling school district, which has more than 300,000 students and 18,000 teachers at about 336 campuses. Wolfson, the top prosecutor in Las Vegas since 2012, is running for reelection this year.

Jara blamed incidents on the "stress, anxieties and isolation of the (coronavirus) pandemic.

The same day the news conference was held, a campus police officer fired three gunshots at a moving car that had struck a girl amid a report of an after-school fight in a parking lot at a downtown Las Vegas high school. Among four teenage non-students in the car, the driver and a passenger received minor wounds, authorities said. The girl struck by the car was not seriously hurt.

Classrooms are empty this week during spring break.

Since schools opened in August, campus police have reported 3,000 assaults and fights, and confiscated more than 25 guns. Brawls at some schools have involved non-students, adults and parents. The mothers of two students have been accused in separate cases of using their vehicles as weapons to defend their children from schoolmates.
The Harbor Beach Knights of Columbus, who operate out of Our Lady of Lake Huron Catholic Church, recently made a donation to Harbor Beach Community Schools to help disadvantaged students. This donation comes to the school annually during the spring, according to Harbor Beach Schools Superintendent Shawn Bishop.

"They drop off the check and ask us to do good things with it for the kids in our school system," he said.

The donation money goes to helping students who need special help, services, or are otherwise on unequal footing with the rest of their class.

"If we have kids who need extra services and otherwise can't afford it, we have an avenue to help them out," Bishop explained.

The money is only used for any needs that go above and beyond what the school can normally provide. This not only includes providing resources for students with learning disabilities, but also for financial cases. For example, if a student doesn't have the money to go on a field trip with the rest of their class or even if they don't have good winter boots, the school taps into the donation money to help provide.

Specifically, though, the money is reserved for students in the school's special education program. According to Harbor Beach Elementary School Principal and Special Education Supervisor Matthew Quintano, the funds go to anything that helps special education students. This can include sensory or focus items like stress balls or wiggle seats, as well as special interest materials like books that cater to a topic that one or more students are especially invested in. It all depends on the needs of the teacher, Quintano said.

According to Bishop, donations like the ones from Knights of Columbus are needed now more than ever, as the percentage of kids coming to school with inadequate supplies is increasing.

"The number of kids who have needs every year as a percentage grows and the depth of those needs also gets bigger and bigger," he said. "So, the school has taken on more and more to fill the gap."

With donations like the recent one from Knights of Columbus, Harbor Beach Schools can fill that gap and help their students who are struggling the most, whether that be with learning disabilities or lack of quality school supplies.

"We really thank the Knights of Columbus for all that they do to support this funding for us," Quintano said.
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Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II toured Sanford on Monday to see the progress made since the dam failure two years ago and talk to the local officials about the "Building Michigan Together Plan" that resulted in $200 million in state support for the area.

It was Gilchrists seventh visit to Sanford. He talked about on one visit having water up to his neck after the dam breach and he is six-foot-five-inches tall. He also recalled digging out a bathroom with his hands.

During this visit he started at Porte Park and walked a distance to the Sanford Dam.

Gilchrist said he was impressed with how far Sanford has come in its recovery so far, with activities taking place in Porte Park, businesses re-opening and new business making a home in the village.

We call it Sanford Strong for a reason, Gilchrist said.

The bipartisan "Building Michigan Together Plan" includes some of the largest infrastructure investments in Michigan history, including $200 million to repair dams in Midland and Gladwin counties, $3 million to Midland County to create a water management plan related to flooding, and $6.8 million for lake dredging and dam emergency spillway project in Clare County, according to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.

Gilchrist stated he is also looking forward to how far the village will advance with the addition of the recent bipartisan funding.

Sanford Village President is thankful Midland and Gladwin counties received the funding. She said it was also important to note that there was bipartisan support to help Sanford.

I was really important we got the money, Porte said. When both parties are diligent in supporting the recovery, thats the thing we need. We need the unified work to support the recovery.

Four Lake Task Force Communications Consultant Stacy Trapani noted how thankful the area was to be included in the "Building Michigan Together Plan."

Were fortunate to have someone of his caliber here representing the governors office, taking a keen interest in the dams in our community, Trapani said. Were looking forward to collaborating with him as we rebuild the dams.

The $200 million was a game changer for the community, Trapani said. That funding allows construction to continue as scheduled and makes removes some of the financial burden from the local community.

The plan also includes another $40 million to address the repair, renovation, or elimination of dams statewide. The plan will protect clean drinking water and begin dozens of new road and bridge projects, build more affordable housing, expand high-speed internet, improve state and local parks to enhance tourism, and support tens of thousands of jobs.

The Building Michigan Together Plan makes bold, bipartisan investments in the kitchen-table issues that matter most to Michigan families, including clean water, smooth roads, fast internet, and beautiful parks, said Whitmer in a press release. This bill will make a real difference in our communities, support tens of thousands of good-paying jobs, and set up Michigans economy for decades of success. It is a testament to what is possible when we put Michiganders first.

Smallwood and Secord Lakes are expected to return in 2024, Sanford Lake in 2025 and Wixom Lake in 2026.
Two northwestern Michigan men were reportedly caught with methamphetamine after Cadillac Troopers pulled them over for a traffic stop on Sunday night.

The traffic stop was made around 12:55 a.m. on Mitchell Street near Bell Avenue in Haring Township, according to a Monday press release by Michigan State Police.

The driver, Collin Thomas Williams, 23, did not have a driver's license and was unable to provide proof of insurance for the vehicle, according to the release.

Troopers asked Williams to exit the vehicle and he was handcuffed. During a search of Williams, a trooper found two empty plastic baggies in his pockets and a syringe cap. Troopers then told Williams the car was going to be towed from the scene, according to the release.

The trooper then took inventory of the car and found another clear plastic baggie on the driver-side floor, this time containing roughly 10 grams of methamphetamine.

The passenger, John Henry Staats, 24, was also found to have a plastic baggie in his possession containing roughly one gram of methamphetamine. He also had a bag containing a syringe, a pipe used for smoking methamphetamine, a mirror and a torch.

Both men were lodged in the Wexford County Jail.

Williams was arraigned Monday in the 84th District Court in Wexford County on one count of possession of methamphetamine, one count of second or subsequent offense notice and one count for driving with a suspended license and being a habitual offender with this as his third offense. His bond was set at $10,000. His next scheduled court appearance is on April 26, 2022, at 2:00 p.m.

Staats was also arraigned Monday in the 84th District Court in Wexford County on one count of possession of methamphetamine, one count of second or subsequent offense notice and for being a habitual offender with this as his second offense. His bond was set at $5,000. His next scheduled court appearance is on April 26, 2022, at 2:00 p.m.
UNITED NATIONS (AP)  Nearly two-thirds of all Ukrainian children have fled their homes in the six weeks since Russias invasion, and the United Nations has verified the deaths of 142 youngsters, though the number is almost certainly much higher, the U.N. childrens agency said Monday.

Manuel Fontaine, UNICEFs emergency programs director who just returned from Ukraine, said having 4.8 million of Ukraines 7.5 million children displaced in such a short time is quite incredible. He said it is something he hadnt before seen happen so quickly in 31 years of humanitarian work.

They have been forced to leave everything behind  their homes, their schools and, often, their family members, he told the U.N. Security Council. I have heard stories of the desperate steps parents are taking to get their children to safety, and children saddened that they are unable to get back to school.

Ukraines U.N. ambassador, Sergiy Kyslytsya, claimed Russia has taken more than 121,000 children out of Ukraine and reportedly drafted a bill to simplify and accelerate adoption procedures for orphans and even those who have parents and other relatives. He said most of the children were removed from the besieged southern port city of Mariupol and taken to eastern Donetsk and then to the Russian city of Taganrog.

Fontaine said UNICEF has heard the same reports, but added that we dont have yet the access that we need to have to be able to look and verify and see if we can assist.

He said that of Ukraine's displaced children, 2.8 million are in Ukraine and 2 million more are in other countries. At the same time, he said, nearly half the estimated 3.2 million children still in their homes in Ukraine may be at risk of not having enough food, with those in besieged cities like Mariupol facing the most dire situation.

Fontaine said school closings are affecting the education of 5.7 million younger children and 1.5 million students in higher education.

Hundreds of schools and educational facilities have been attacked or used for military purposes, he said. Others are serving as shelters for civilians.

The council also heard from Sima Bahous, the executive director of the UN Women agency, who recently returned from Moldova, which is hosting an estimated 95,000 Ukrainian refugees.

Bahous said her agency is increasingly hearing allegations of rape and sexual violence. She said Moldovas government and border police are also very concerned at the risk of human trafficking, especially of young women and unaccompanied teenagers.

The combination of mass displacement with the large presence of conscripts and mercenaries, and the brutality displayed against Ukrainian civilians, has raised all red flags, she said.

Ukraines ambassador said his country's prosecutors office is now investigating a case in the Kyiv region in which a Russia soldier is alleged to have killed a local resident and then repeatedly raped his wife in their home. He said the alleged perpetrator has been identified.

Kyslytsya said the Prosecutor Generals Office, in cooperation with investigation agencies and health facilities, is also installing a special mechanism to document cases of sexual violence by Russian soldiers.

The Security Council meeting on the impact of the war on women and children was convened by the U.S. and Albania during Britains presidency of the body.

The three countries, Ukraine and other council members attacked Russia for creating the dire situation for women and children, which Russian deputy ambassador Dmitry Polyansky vehemently denied.

U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield said that when men like Russian President Vladimir Putin start wars, women and children get displaced, hurt, raped and abused, and they die.

Since the start of Russias unprovoked war against Ukraine, Russia has bombed orphanages and maternity hospitals, she said. Weve seen mass graves with dead children stacked on top of each other.

Albanian Ambassador Ferit Hoxha accused Russia of committing unspeakable crimes every day, including burning civilians, throwing bodies in mass graves, shooting into playgrounds, attacking schools on purpose, and leaving all Ukrainians suffering, especially women and children.

In their normal life, children draw parents, houses and trees. Russia's war has made Ukraine kids draw bombs, tanks and weapons, Hoxha said.

Both the U.S. and Albanian ambassadors, and many others, pointed to the discovery of bodies, some with hands tied behind their backs, in the town of Bucha on the outskirts of Kyiv following the withdrawal of Russian troops, and the missile that killed at least 52 mainly women and children at the train station in eastern Kramatorsk. Hoxha noted that the missile had a vicious signature, `for our children.

Russia's Polyansky blamed Ukrainian Nazis for civilian killings in Bucha and the bombing at the Kramatorsk station, which he called a classic false flag operation.

He accused Ukraine and its public relations experts, along with the West, of promoting fakes and propaganda as part of the information war unleashed against Russia.

That war is as intense as the military operations on the ground, he said.

Lord Tariq Ahmad, Britain's minister of state for the U.N. who presided over the meeting, countered that Russia again was trying to deflect from the reality on the ground by what can only be described as quite extraordinary statements, and even lies.

Yet, what is true, what is fact, is that Russian attacks on civilians and residential areas have been truly barbaric, he said.
Tom Brady's surprise return to the football field may have stunned sports fans, but perhaps they should have seen it coming. The superstar quarterback's latest move seems to be part of a broader, nationwide play.

Unretirement,' that is, retiring and then rejoining the labor force, is catching on among older Americans.

Around 2.6 million Americans left the workforce earlier than expected during the pandemic.

Now many of them are wading back into the labor pool.

The portion of retirees taking up work again hit roughly 3% in February, the highest rate since the pandemic first struck in early March 2020.

Economists see several factors at work.' One pull factor is the labor crunch, with desperate employers offering higher hourly pay rates. On the push side, the recent downturn on Wall Street could be hitting retirees' savings.

Improving public health amid higher vaccination rates is another bonus. There is also the widespread availability of remote-work positions. Returning to the office' is much easier without the daily commute, especially if you are past your physical prime.

Yet there is more going on with unretirement. Less new fad than market correction, it could unmask a more profound reality about what the pandemic's Great Resignation' really meant for many older workers.

Forced Retirement: Most senior workers did not choose to retire early during the pandemic but were forced from their jobs, according to a recent study by the Schwartz Center for Economic Policy Analysis.

"While the above-trend retirement rate has fueled the narrative of a great resignation' among older workers, our research indicates that most of these retirements occurred after periods of unemployment rather than directly from employment," said Barbara Schuster, a research associate at the think tank.

Almost 11% of mature-aged employees lost their jobs between March and April 2020. Yet, according to data cited in the report, the national retirement rate hardly rose during that period.

Many stayed jobless. There was a tenfold increase in the number of people who retired involuntarily one year after losing their job compared to pre-pandemic levels.

"We are seeing lots of evidence that employers used the pandemic as a once-in-a-lifetime way to get rid of those expensive older workers," said the Schwartz Center's director Teresa Ghilarducci.

Ageism: It points to the pernicious growth of ageism in the American workplace. According to AARP Research, the problem only got worse during the pandemic, with 78% of older workers reporting having witnessed or experienced age discrimination at work in 2020, a significant jump from 61% in 2018.

Bonnie Rubin is a retired journalist who recently unretired by taking up part-time work as a florist. She said she feels highly valued in her new job after years of marginalization by younger media colleagues. In fact, she finds her analog skills and old-fashioned spelling and handwriting give her an edge in her new low-tech workplace.

"Age discrimination is usually rampant in the workforce - especially against women and most particularly, against women of color," said Julia Pollock, chief economist at ZipRecruiter. "Retirees who return to the workforce now, however, are finding employers desperate for their skills and experience."

Matter of Choice: Choosing to come out of retirement can be empowering, but being forced back to the grindstone to cover rising costs amid dwindling savings is certainly not.

Retirees need a sizeable nest egg. Those who don't have one could be better off padding their social security checks with extra income from part-time jobs.

Which begs the question, how does a fleeting retirement impact one's social security benefits?

"Taking a year or two off may impact your social security payments if you take a job with a lower salary or have trouble increasing your salary in the future," Danielle Miura, a financial planner and founder of Spark Financials, told Wealth of Geeks.

"For those who plan to retire early, I suggest making sure you meet the minimum requirement to receive social security payments," Miura added. "If you take your social security benefits at age 62, your benefit amount will be lower. However, you will be able to receive payments for a longer time frame."

Dr. Brandon Renfro, a financial planner at Belonging Wealth Management, crunched some numbers on this.

"Filing then (at 62) will reduce your benefit by up to 30%. To put that into dollars, that means for every $1,000 you would be getting, you'll only get $700," Renfro told Wealth of Geeks.

"For every year you wait after your full retirement age, your benefit goes up by 8%," he said. "Using this example, the difference between filing at 62 vs. 70 is $700 vs. $1,240. That's a 77% increase!"

Yet social security and employees' 401(k) plans might get a lot better thanks to the new Secure Act 2.0, which the federal government is currently reviewing.

The updated act will change how much older workers can contribute to their 401(k) as they approach retirement. The ceiling for catch-up contributions will be raised from $6,500 to $10,000 for those aged between 62 and 64.

It will also increase the starting age for required minimum distributions (i.e., the minimum annualized amount that must be withdrawn) up from 72 to 73 in 2022, 74 in 2029, and 75 by 2032.

Could the Secure Act 2.0 nudge those sitting on the fence back into retirement?

It's too early to tell, but as the unretirement phenomenon shows, predicting the pandemic's after-effects on the labor market is no mean task. Moreover, with so much still in flux, the new normal' is certainly not the same for everyone.
NEW YORK (AP)  The Yankees are getting a new star  chef.

Marcus Samuelsson is expanding to Yankee Stadium this season, opening a Streetbird food stand behind section 112 in the right-field area of the lower deck, partnering with the team and Legends Hospitality.

Offerings include a hot bird sandwich, chicken and waffles and cornbread.

I feel like its such a privilege to be part of the most famous team and the most famous stadium in the world, he said Tuesday.

Born in Ethiopia and raised in Sweden, Samuelsson was hired at 23 as executive chef of New York's Aquavit and gained fame from a three-star review by The New York Times' Ruth Reichl in September 1995. He left in 2010 after reducing his role for several years, and opened Red Rooster in Manhattan's Harlem neighborhood later that year.

Samuelsson has expanded to more than a dozen restaurants in New York, New Jersey, Las Vegas, the Bahamas, Canada and Scandinavia.

New York City restaurants were closed to indoor dining on March 16, 2020, and weren't allowed to reopen until the following Feb. 12, and then at only 25% capacity. Capacity was raised to 35% on Feb. 26, 50% on March 19, 75% on May 7 and did not reach 100% until May 19.

I feel like Im really proud about what we as an industry as a whole accomplished in the very toughest time weve ever had," he said. I feel very positive about present and future because people want to come back into the restaurant, people want to be around people."

Samuelsson said New York City's outdoor dining has been key to financial survival at Red Rooster, which seats 90 in the dining room, 20 at the bar plus 50 on the heated patio.

Outdoors saved restaurants. Its that simple," he said. It really saved jobs during the toughest times we all went through in New York and customers in New York stayed with us: They bought home delivery, they bought T-shirts, they supported restaurants and we created a very thick bond between the restaurants, the neighborhood restaurants, and our audience."

___

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BEIJING (AP)  The U.S. has ordered non-emergency government staff to leave Shanghai, which is under a tight lockdown to contain a COVID-19 surge.

Many residents in the city of 26 million have been confined to their homes for up to three weeks as China maintains its zero-COVID strategy of handling outbreaks with strict isolation and mass testing.

But people living under the restrictions have described an increasingly desperate situation, with families unable to leave their homes or obtain food and daily necessities, while people who test positive for the coronavirus have been forced into mass quarantine centers where conditions at times have been called crowded and unsanitary.

Authorities on Tuesday said another 23,342 people in Shanghai tested positive for the virus over the previous day, just 994 of whom displayed symptoms. Total infections have topped more than 200,000 in the latest wave, although no additional deaths have been reported.

The State Department said the order announced late Monday is an upgrade from the authorized departure advisory last week that made the decision voluntary. The order covers non-emergency U.S. government employees at the consulate in Shanghai and their family members. Consular officers will remain on duty at the consulate.

Our change in posture reflects our assessment that it is best for our employees and their families to be reduced in number and our operations to be scaled down as we deal with the changing circumstances on the ground," the announcement said.

The State Department also issued a series of advisories for Americans in Shanghai, including that they ensure they have a sufficient supply of money, medication, food, and other necessities for your family in the event of sudden restrictions or quarantine."

Chinas government and the entirely state-controlled media are growing increasingly defensive about complaints over the COVID-19 prevention measures.

Beijing responded angrily to last week's voluntary departure advisory, with Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian saying China was strongly dissatisfied with and firmly opposed to the U.S. sides groundless accusation against Chinas epidemic response.

In that announcement, the State Department advised Americans to reconsider traveling to China due to arbitrary enforcement of local laws and COVID-19 restrictions, particularly in Hong Kong, Jilin province and Shanghai. U.S. officials cited a risk of parents and children being separated.

Despite that, and indications the hardline policy is being dictated by head of the ruling Communist Party Xi Jinping, China has rejected any notion that its response is political in nature. Xi has demanded social stability above all else in the runup to a key party congress later this year at which he is expected to bestow on himself an unprecedented third-term as party leader.

Shanghai authorities also say they have secured daily supplies for residents, following complaints about deliveries of food and other necessities being unavailable or inadequate to demand.

Shanghai says it will gradually lift some restrictions on neighborhoods where no new infections have been reported over the past two weeks. Residents will be able to travel around their districts but not meet in groups. Others will be restricted to their immediate neighborhoods.
Jatzael Alvarado Perez began struggling with life aboard the destroyer USS Farragut last year. The ship was in the process of getting ready to deploy, and a combination of the conditions aboard the Mayport, Florida-based ship and long stretches at sea were taking a toll on the 23-year-old sailor.

"It's just not a good environment at all, it's not a healthy one for sure," Perez told Military.com in a phone conversation.

After a couple of false starts, Perez would take the advice of a chaplain and seek help for the growing strains on his mental health, eventually receiving a diagnosis of a mood disorder. Instead of getting that help, though, he's faced repeated disciplinary actions, a positive drug test that suddenly wasn't, allegations of making it all up and, finally, confinement to the ship and a reduction in rank. Eventually, the situation drove his wife to spill everything in a post on Facebook.

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Carli Alvarado, Perez's wife and a former sailor herself, said that her husband has changed in recent months. "He was just down," she said, adding that he told her "the ship is just not good for his mental state."

"He used to be all smiley, and now he's gained a lot of weight. He's just not interested in his health anymore," she said.

Both have spoken with Military.com and provided various records to substantiate their experiences and allegations.

Their story comes just months after legislation was passed addressing another high-profile failure of the Navy to look after struggling sailors -- the suicide of Brandon Caserta in 2018.

After Caserta's suicide while stationed at Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 28 in Norfolk, Virginia, a command investigation found that the climate, specifically the young sailor's lead petty officer, was a major part of the problem.

The new legislation makes it easier for troops to trigger a mental health evaluation and requires that commanders make it happen.

When reached for a comment, the Navy confirmed that they were aware of the allegations made by a spouse of a Farragut sailor regarding her spouses status and care aboard the ship.

Lt. Cmdr. Jason S. Fischer, a spokesman for the Commander, Naval Surface Force Atlantic, said that the two-star Admiral is aware of the comments and the command is looking into the matter.

Fischer added that our Sailors health and well-being is critical to our mission success.

Traditionally, the military branches are hesitant to address allegations where an individual's medical records or private information is involved out of respect for privacy concerns and regulations.

Perez, who at the time was a petty officer second class, turned late last year to the ship's chaplain, who eventually told him he could go to the emergency room to get help.

So, on Feb. 6, 2022, that's what Perez did. He went to the ER at the base hospital. Out of that visit came an appointment with a Navy psychologist, but Perez says that she told him "that I was OK.  There's nothing wrong with me."

The Navy had been pushing sailors to seek help when facing mental health ailments. In last year's message for Mental Health Month, the service's top officer, Adm. Mike Gilday, said "all of our leaders out there, no matter your rank, let me be clear: Talk to your people, listen to them, be available, and encourage them to seek help if they need it.

"No matter your situation, there are shipmates ready to do whatever they can to help you find hope," Gilday said in a two-minute recorded message.

In addition to the referral for a Navy psychiatrist during his ER visit, Perez was tested for drugs and, according to medical records provided by Alvarado, those results showed he was positive for cannabinoids -- the family of drugs associated with marijuana. The ship found out about the results because the psychologist emailed the ship's medical staff directly, according to a copy of the email.

The husband and wife dispute that result. Still, Navy doctors ordered another drug test, which was also positive, according to disciplinary records.

Although disputed in this case, medical studies have shown that it is common for some to turn to drugs and alcohol as a way of self-medicating when coping with mental health issues. Recent lawsuits have forced the Navy, Marine Corps and Army to review thousands of general and other-than-honorable discharges awarded to troops over the past decade for problems that may have stemmed from a military-related mental health condition or sexual assault, often with service members dismissed for using substances when not receiving adequate care.

The lawsuit against the Navy was brought by Marine Cpl. Tyson Manker, who was dismissed with an other-than-honorable discharge after he was caught using marijuana. He told The New York Times it helped him deal with the traumatic experiences he encountered in Iraq in 2003.

Perez's enlisted supervisors called the sailor "a valuable asset" and someone who "has so much potential" as part of their recommendations for how his case should be handled. Meanwhile, his division officer simply wrote "Zero Tolerance Policy," while the department head called the case "cut and dry." All four recommended he go to captain's mast, a less formal reprimand process in which a ship's commander hears evidence and metes out punishment -- in contrast to a more formal court-martial.

Perez went to captain's mast on March 22. Legal forms list both the Navy psychologist he saw after his ER visit, as well as the ship's corpsman, as witnesses. The ship's commanding officer reduced Perez in rank, took away half his pay for two months, and confined him to the ship for 45 days before he was to be separated from the Navy.

Frustrated, Alvarado reached out to the ship's legal officer to get her husband's paperwork in an effort to appeal the conviction. She noticed some of the drug test results were missing.

"We only have the first from the ER," the ship's legal officer replied to her in an email on March 25. Alvarado pressed the ensign on why the second test result was not with the rest of the documents she was given but said she never heard back.

Instead, several hours later "they called my husband up to the [executive officer's] room and basically ... told him everything was dropped because they had received the test results, and they were negative," Alvarado wrote in a Facebook post and confirmed to Military.com.

A letter on Navy letterhead from the Farragut's commanding officer posted alongside Alvarado's story on Facebook, dated March 25, simply says, "I have determined to vacate all punishments awarded" at Perez's March 22 captain's mast.

A discharge form from a naval hospital provided by Alvarado to Military.com shows that Perez was seen by the psychiatry department while on restriction for the drug charge, between March 23 and March 25, and was diagnosed with "adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood."

The statement ends with the phrase "r/o malingering." R/O is a common medical abbreviation for the phrase "ruled out."

Despite the diagnosis, Perez was standing before his commanding officer two weeks later at another mast. This time, he said his command accused him of malingering -- feigning his mental health issues in order to escape duty. Perez said the commander again restricted him to the ship for 45 days and again reduced him in rank to petty officer third class.

Perez is clear: He sees all of this as retaliation for trying to get mental health treatment.

Alvarado had enough. Her husband had been trying to get some mental help but instead his command had punished him. Twice.

Exasperated and hoping to get accountability, she wrote the Facebook post in the late hours of Friday, April 8, charging her husband's command with retaliation and a disregard for his mental health. As of Monday, the post has been shared about 2,500 times and has more than 1,400 comments.

At one point, Perez wanted to leave the service over his health issues. A second Navy psychiatrist -- not the one who flagged his drug results to the ship -- told him that would be possible, only to later say that the Farragut denied the request.

Perez said he talked to the ship's corpsman, who told him he never got a request from the psychiatrist.

Teri Caserta, Brandon's mother and one of the key advocates for that law, replied to Alvarado's Facebook post on Sunday to offer her support. "Carli please contact me if there is anything I can help you with," she wrote.

If you or someone you know needs help, the Veterans Crisis Hotline is staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week, at 800-273-8255, press 1. Services also are available online at www.veteranscrisisline.net or by text, 838255.

-- Konstantin Toropin can be reached at konstantin.toropin@military.com. Follow him on Twitter @ktoropin.

Related: Mental Health Visits Up, Suicidal Behavior Down for Vets Given iPads During Pandemic, Study Finds
A bipartisan group of senators wants the military's health insurance to extend coverage for binge eating, anorexia, bulimia and other eating disorders to retirees and their families.

In a letter last week, the senators also called on defense health officials to ensure the implementation of a provision in last year's defense policy bill expanding Tricare's coverage of eating disorders for active-duty service members and their families.

"Eating disorders are a serious mental illness that affect almost 30 million Americans and have the second-highest mortality rate of any psychiatric condition, accounting for one death every 52 minutes," the senators wrote in a letter released Friday to David Smith, acting assistant secretary of defense for health affairs, and Lt. Gen. Ronald Place, director of the Defense Health Agency.

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"As you know, servicemembers and military families are affected by eating disorders at elevated rates compared to the civilian population due to risk factors unique to their military experience," the senators added.

The letter was organized by Sens. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., and Thom Tillis, R-N.C., and co-signed by Sens. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif.; Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va.; Patty Murray, D-Wash.; Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn.; Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis.; and Tina Smith, D-Minn.

Amid studies showing eating disorders were on the rise among service members, Congress included provisions to expand Tricare's coverage of eating disorders for service members and their families in last year's National Defense Authorization Act, or NDAA,.

Previously, Tricare has covered only partial hospitalization and intensive outpatient treatment for eating disorders for dependents up to age 20. Under the NDAA, those restrictions for dependents will be gone, and dependents of any age will be able to have inpatient and outpatient care covered.

The bill also requires the Pentagon to "prescribe regulations, implement procedures using each practical and available method, and provide necessary facilities to identify, treat and rehabilitate members of the armed forces who have an eating disorder."

Under the law, the new coverage is supposed to take effect Oct. 1.

The NDAA did not extend eating disorder coverage to military retirees and their families. But the senators' letter argues that defense health officials have the authority to extend that coverage themselves.

"Therefore, we ask you to use your existing authorities to expand eating disorder coverage to retiree families and improve DOD's infrastructure around eating disorders accordingly," they wrote.

A spokesperson for Shaheen's office said the request was prompted by wanting "equity among all TRICARE recipients" rather than any specific data on the extent of eating disorders among retiree families.

The letter cites several studies about rates of eating disorders among service members, including a study published in 2018 in the Defense Health Agency's Medical Surveillance Monthly Report that found eating disorder diagnoses had increased by 26% from 2013 to 2016.

"Moreover, 21 percent of children and 26 percent of spouses of servicemembers are symptomatic of an eating disorder," the senators wrote. "The problem is accelerating as recent studies have shown that 16 percent of female veterans have an eating disorder, and a 2020 report from the Defense Health Board revealed that active-duty servicewomen are disproportionately affected by eating disorders, impacting their readiness and health."

Shaheen and Tillis previously introduced a bill, called the SERVE Act, that would more broadly extend Tricare coverage of eating disorders for both military and retiree families. The Congressional Budget Office estimated their bill would cost $2 million over 10 years.

-- Rebecca Kheel can be reached at rebecca.kheel@military.com. Follow her on Twitter @reporterkheel.

Related: Congress Wants the Pentagon to Expand Coverage for Troops' Eating Disorder Treatments
The Air Force announced Monday it is offering hefty bonuses -- some up to $50,000 -- for recruits to join the ranks and ship off to training quickly as the service faces lingering recruiting shortfalls from the pandemic.

Just four months ago, the head of Air Force recruiting raised the alarm in a letter about how the spread of COVID-19 caused serious headwinds, likening the declining number of airmen joining the service to decreased revenue in a business.

"Not two years into a pandemic, and we have warning lights flashing," Maj. Gen. Ed Thomas, Air Force Recruiting Service commander, wrote in a memo that leaked in January. "If we were a company, we would still be in the black, we would still be making a profit, but our profit margins and our available capital, those numbers are trending down right now."

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To fill this void, the service is offering $8,000 for qualified recruits who can sign and ship off to training for certain careers "within five days or less," the service said in a press release.

In total, there are 16 career fields that are offering bonuses for enlistees.

Four-year contracts for career fields such as assembling and packaging ammunition, bomber aircraft maintainance and radio transmissions repair have bonuses ranging from $3,000 to nearly $10,000.

But most of the hefty bonuses will require a six-year contract and are for jobs with a lot of training or that are some of the most dangerous roles in the Air Force.

There is a $40,000 bonus available for a career as a survival, evasion, resistance and escape specialist -- which involves training airmen how to survive behind enemy lines -- and there are two $50,000 bonuses for special warfare operators and bomb technicians, two of the most dangerous jobs in the service.

"As we roll up our sleeves in the battle for talent, we've got to remain competitive as we go after our next generation of Airmen," Thomas said in the press release. "While we've got an unmatched value proposition, we also have a record-high level of competition for America's best and brightest."

A recent Rand Corp. study showed that, while the pandemic made it harder for the military services to recruit new personnel, the Army, Navy and Air Force all managed to increase the number of troops in their ranks in 2020 compared to the year before. And in 2021, the Air Force said it hit its recruiting targets for the first time in five years.

The increase was due, in part, to all three branches urging service members -- especially those in medical fields -- to delay retirements during the pandemic. They also welcomed back recently separated active-duty personnel.

But all the branches have recently announced new waves of bonuses to boost numbers.

The Army started offering up to $50,000 in January, though its website notes that a recruit would need to combine several bonuses on offer for "shipping out quickly, having in-demand skills or following certain career paths" to hit that top figure.

Just last week, the Navy announced that it was offering a $25,000 signing bonus to recruits for any rate as long as they are willing to ship off to boot camp before this summer.

-- Konstantin Toropin contributed to this report.

-- Thomas Novelly can be reached at thomas.novelly@military.com. Follow him on Twitter @TomNovelly.

Related: Air Force Will Employ 'Influencers' to Boost Recruitment in 2021
KYIV, Ukraine  President Vladimir Putin vowed Tuesday that Russia's bloody offensive in Ukraine would continue until its goals are fulfilled, and insisted the campaign was going as planned, despite a major withdrawal in the face of stiff Ukrainian opposition and significant losses.

Russian troops, thwarted in their push toward Ukraine's capital, are now focusing on the eastern Donbas region, where Ukraine said Tuesday it was investigating a claim that a poisonous substance had been dropped on its troops. It was not clear what the substance might be, but Western officials warned that any use of chemical weapons by Russia would be a serious escalation of the already devastating war.

Russia invaded on Feb. 24, with the goal, according to Western officials, of taking Kyiv, toppling the government and installing a Moscow-friendly one. In the six weeks since, Russias ground campaign stalled, its forces suffered losses that may number in the thousands and it stands accused of killing civilians and other atrocities.

Origin APNews

Putin insisted Tuesday that his military action aimed to protect people in areas in eastern Ukraine controlled by Moscow-backed rebels and to ensure Russias own security.

He said Russia had no other choice but to launch what he calls a special military operation, and vowed it would continue until its full completion and the fulfillment of the tasks that have been set.

For now, Putin's forces are gearing up for a major offensive in the Donbas. which has been torn by fighting between Russian-allied separatists and Ukrainian forces since 2014, and where Russia has recognized the separatists claims of independence. Military strategists say Russian leaders appear to hope local support, logistics and terrain in the region favor Russias larger and better-armed military, potentially allowing its troops to finally turn the tide in their favor.

In Mariupol, a strategic port city in the Donbas, a Ukrainian regiment defending a steel mill claimed a drone had dropped a poisonous substance on the city. It indicated there were no serious injuries. The assertion by the Azov Regiment, a far-right group now part of the Ukrainian military, could not be independently verified.

It came after a Russia-allied separatist official appeared to urge the use of chemical weapons, telling Russian state TV on Monday that separatist forces should seize the plant by first blocking all the exits. And then well use chemical troops to smoke them out of there, the official, Eduard Basurin, said. He denied Tuesday that separatist forces had used chemical weapons in Mariupol.

Ukraine's Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar said officials were investigating, and it was possible phosphorus munitions  which cause horrendous burns but are not classed as chemical weapons  had been used in Mariupol.

That city has been razed in six weeks of pummeling by Russian troops that the mayor said Monday has left more than 10,000 civilians dead, their corpses carpeted through the streets. Mayor Vadym Boychenko said the death toll in Mariupol alone could surpass 20,000 and gave new details of allegations by Ukrainian officials that Russian forces have brought mobile cremation equipment to dispose of the corpses.

British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said use of chemical weapons would be a callous escalation in this conflict, while Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne said it would be a wholesale breach of international law.

Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said in a statement that the U.S. could not confirm the drone report. But he noted the administrations persistent concerns about Russias potential to use a variety of riot control agents, including tear gas mixed with chemical agents, in Ukraine.

Britain, meanwhile, has warned that Russia may use phosphorus bombs  whose use in civilian areas is banned under international law  in Mariupol.

In the face of stiff resistance by Ukrainian forces bolstered by Western weapons, Russian forces have increasingly relied on bombarding cities, flattening many urban areas and leaving thousands of people dead. The war has also driven more than 10 million Ukrainians from their homes  including nearly two-thirds of all children.

Moscow's retreat from cities and towns around the capital, Kyiv, led to the discovery of large numbers of apparently massacred civilians, prompting widespread condemnation and accusations that Russia is committing war crimes in Ukraine.

Putin falsely claimed Tuesday that Ukraine's accusation that hundreds of civilians were killed by Russian troops in the town of Bucha were fake. Associated Press reporters saw dozens of bodies in and around the town, some with hands bound who appeared to have been shot at close range.

The Russian leader spoke at the Vostochny space launch facility in the country's Far East, during his first known foray outside Moscow since the war began. He also said that foreign powers wouldnt succeed in isolating Russia.

He said that Russias economy and financial system withstood the blow from what he called the Western sanctions blitz and claimed they would backfire by driving up prices for essentials such as fertilizer, leading to food shortages and increase migration flows to the West.

Addressing the pace of the campaign, Putin said Russia was proceeding calmly and rhythmically because it wanted to achieve the planned goals while minimizing the losses.

While building up forces in the east, Russia continued to strike targets across Ukraine in a bid to wear down the countrys defenses. Russias defense ministry said Tuesday that it used used air- and sea-launched missiles to destroy an ammunition depot and airplane hangar at Starokostiantyniv in the western Khmelnytskyi region and an ammunition depot near Kyiv.

Karmanau reported from Lviv, Ukraine. Associated Press writer Robert Burns in Washington, and AP journalists around the world contributed to this report.
Pictured are the Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority Inc., at Savannah State University. The event took place on Friday, April 8 at the Tiger Arena Stadium. Pictured is Victoria Clark (in white). (The ladies in blue pants): Olivia Christian, Anaya Smith, Ty'Keria Jones, Cameron Jones, Deneige Bonaparte, Kadaja Greene, Teagan Williams, Aminah Knight and Ta'Mya Dorsey. Photo courtesy of Victoria Clark
A prominent Sikh Marine officer, as well as several Sikh Marine recruits, filed a federal lawsuit Monday that they hope will get the service to let them serve openly with their turban and beards at all times.

Capt. Sukhbir Singh Toor, one of the four plaintiffs in the lawsuit, has been trying since last year to get the Marine Corps to let him serve while wearing a turban, beard and uncut hair. The service has made some concessions: Last August, Toor was told he could wear his turban and beard but not when deployed and receiving hostile-fire or imminent-danger pay.

Graham West, a spokesman for the Sikh Coalition, an advocacy group for those of the faith, argued that the restriction "constitutes a significant portion of the world -- and many essential deployment locations for an artillery officer with Capt Toor's expertise" in a statement on the lawsuit.

Read Next: A Sailor With Diagnosed Mental Health Issues Says He's Being Targeted for Seeking Help

Meanwhile, the three Sikh recruits who are part of the suit "are subject to the same restrictions, with the added limitation that they must sacrifice all of their articles of faith for the duration of their time at boot camp," West noted.

The lawsuit itself takes the Marine Corps, which has a reputation and history for being one of the least accommodating in the Department of Defense when it comes to grooming standards and overall inclusion, to task over what it argues is an inconsistent application of policy.

"It is perverse to claim that respecting 'the individual desires of Marines' to have full-body tattoos ... is consistent with the Marine Corps' image, but that respecting [the four Sikhs'] desires to be faithful to God is somehow antithetical to the idea of cohesiveness and uniformity within the service," the complaint argues.

The complaint goes on to note that Marine Corps' action "belies its claims" that the lack of accommodation is over uniformity since the branch recently expanded protection for Marines with pseudofolliculitis barbae, a condition caused by frequent shaving that leads to bumps and scarring and is most common among African Americans, by allowing indefinite shaving waivers.

"These Marines face no limitations going into 'combat zones,'" the legal filing notes.

"Neither do Marines with beards worn during special operations," it adds before showing a picture of a Marine Corps special-operations staff sergeant in Afghanistan wearing a full mustache and beard.

Military.com reached out to the Marine Corps for a comment on the lawsuit but was directed to the Justice Department, which did not immediately respond.

The lawsuit pointedly noted that the Army "now has a five-year history of fully accommodating Sikh soldiers" and the Air Force also recently allowed Sikhs to serve without restriction. In April, 2021, a federal judge forced the Navy to let a sailor who is a Hasidic Jew keep his beard while aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt.

West noted in his statement that "all told, there are now roughly 100 Sikh Soldiers and Airmen serving with religious accommodations -- proving that their articles of faith pose no barrier to service."

Meanwhile, the Marine Corps has a history of being last to accommodate minority groups. Its own history page notes that a presidential order "forced the Corps, despite objections from its leadership, to begin recruiting African American Marines in 1942." The service was also the last to fully integrate its boot camps for men and women. The first female Marine graduated from Marine Corps boot camp in San Diego less than a year ago  in May 2021.

The Sikh Coalition spokesman explained that the lawsuit comes "after more than a year of attempts to engage the USMC in direct conversation."

"Our team intends to argue that the USMC must update its policies to be in line with the U.S. Army, U.S. Air Force, and allied forces around the world whose forces already operate with beards," he said.

The lawsuit also comes amid renewed legal scrutiny of the overall religious accommodation process. Refusers of the COVID-19 vaccine have cited the same law as the Sikhs to argue for their right to be exempt from the mandate. They have met some success in the lower courts, with one judge ordering the Navy to halt the discharge of any refusing sailors.

-- Konstantin Toropin can be reached at konstantin.toropin@military.com. Follow him on Twitter @ktoropin.

Related: Navy Halts Discharges of Sailors with COVID-19 Religious Exemption Requests
A Virginia National Guardsman who pleaded guilty on charges related to his role in storming the U.S. Capitol with the pro-Trump mob on Jan. 6, 2021, is being removed from the service component.

Jacob Fracker pleaded guilty in March to a federal conspiracy charge, according to the Department of Justice. He served as an infantryman, assigned to the 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 29th Infantry Division.

Fracker was arrested on several charges a week after the attack on the Capitol, which was aimed at preventing the largely ceremonial certification of President Joe Biden's 2020 victory. In the 15 months since, Fracker has not been allowed to perform any military duties but remained serving, a National Guard spokesperson said.

Read Next: Sikhs Sue Marine Corps for Right to Wear Turban, Beards at All Times

"Now that his civilian charges have been adjudicated, the process has started for an administrative separation from the Virginia Army National Guard," Alfred Puryear, a spokesperson for the Virginia Guard, told Military.com in an emailed statement.

Fracker, who was a corporal, is awaiting sentencing. It is unclear what discharge status he will be given or whether he'll have any access to military benefits.

Fracker admitted in court that he sought to keep former President Donald Trump in power.

"I felt like we had maybe been heard by whoever it was we needed to be heard by," Fracker testified Thursday, according to reporting from NBC. "Maybe, possibly, have the election results overturned."

Fracker and co-defendant Thomas Robertson were both police officers in Rocky Mount, Virginia. They were both fired almost immediately after their arrest on Jan. 13, 2021. While Fracker pleaded guilty to lesser charges, Robertson, who is an Army vet, chose to go to trial, with proceedings beginning earlier this month.

During the assault, Fracker made multiple social media posts, including a selfie with Robertson in the Capitol. In one post, Fracker wrote, "sorry I hate freedom?...Not like I did anything illegal...y'all do what you feel you need to..."

Right before their arrest, Robertson destroyed his and Fracker's phones, hoping to erase evidence. Fracker also deleted his social media posts.

Court documents say the two brought their police badges and firearms to Washington, D.C., on Jan. 6, but left their weapons in their car. Instead, Robertson carried a large wooden stick into the Capitol and threatened police. The pair attended the rally held by Trump ahead of the attack, in which he encouraged the crowd to march on lawmakers, peddling conspiracy theories that the election had been stolen.

Robertson, who served as a cavalry scout, was wounded in 2011 in Afghanistan, suffering several gunshot and shrapnel wounds. He was found guilty on six federal charges and faces up to 20 years in prison for each offense, including entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds while carrying a dangerous weapon and obstructing a civil proceeding.

While the Virginia Guard is taking action against Fracker, Pfc. Abram Markofski is still serving in the Wisconsin National Guard's Delta Company, 1st Battalion, 128th Infantry Regiment.

Markofski pleaded guilty to one charge in September as part of an agreement with prosecutors. He was sentenced to two years' probation and a $1,500 fine, despite prosecutors seeking prison time.

Some in Markofski's unit quickly came to his defense. His platoon leader, 2nd Lt. Joel Stevenson, penned a letter to the court saying Markofski is "an asset to the United States Army." In October 2020, before the Capitol siege, Markofski flunked out of Special Forces Selection for failing to pass the Army's physical fitness test.

"This remains an ongoing personnel matter, so it would be inappropriate to comment further at this time," Maj. Joe Trovato, a spokesperson for the Wisconsin National Guard, told Military.com in March.

Veteran advocates and some lawmakers are becoming increasingly concerned over radicalization among troops and the veteran community. There's little evidence to suggest current or former service members are more susceptible to falling into extremist ideology, but advocates warn that the inherent social credibility those groups bring and their military training, even if that training is limited, are attractive to radical groups.

Since the Capitol assault, about 800 individuals have been arrested in nearly all 50 states, according to the Justice Department. That includes more than 250 individuals charged with assault or impeding law enforcement.

-- Steve Beynon can be reached at Steve.Beynon@military.com. Follow him on Twitter @StevenBeynon.

Related: Fellow Guardsmen Push for Soldier in Jan. 6 Mob to Be Allowed to Continue Serving
Answers

Frontrunner Vaccine Will Affact the Price of Lead(II) acetate trihydrate (Pb(OOCCH3)2 3H2O)-Granules - 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.

If coronavirus vaccinations are rolled out widely, life could return to normal by next winter, one of the scientists behind the front-running coronavirus vaccine told British television on Sunday.

Ugur Sahin, the Turkish co-founder of the German firm BioNTech, told the BBCs The Andrew Marr Show that this winter will be hard, without any major impact from vaccinations.

Together with US giant Pfizer, BioNTech is developing the leading candidate in the worldwide chase for a vaccine. Israel has ordered millions of units of the vaccine, hoping that the first deliveries will arrive in the country by January.

Affected by the new coronary pneumonia epidemic, the Lead(II) acetate trihydrate (Pb(OOCCH3)2 3H2O)-Granules market is changing rapidly. These changes are indicators of market growth. This year-on-year upward trend in the market indicates that the next November 2020-2026 will show an oval but steady growth.

The price of Lead(II) acetate trihydrate (Pb(OOCCH3)2 3H2O)-Granules continues to be affected by factors such as market growth momentum, various opportunities and challenges. However, during the forecast period from 2020 to 2026, the global Lead(II) acetate trihydrate (Pb(OOCCH3)2 3H2O)-Granules sales market is expected to continue to be above average. The growth rate will continue to increase. It is expected that from today to next week, the price of Lead(II) acetate trihydrate (Pb(OOCCH3)2 3H2O)-Granules will increase to a certain extent.

Due to changes in consumer demand, import and export conditions, and various investigations on the development of Lead(II) acetate trihydrate (Pb(OOCCH3)2 3H2O)-Granules, the cost of Lead(II) acetate trihydrate (Pb(OOCCH3)2 3H2O)-Granules is constantly changing. Taking into account the current market macroeconomic parameters, value chain analysis, channel partners, demand and supply, the cost of Lead(II) acetate trihydrate (Pb(OOCCH3)2 3H2O)-Granules will also be affected to a certain extent. It is estimated that the cost of Lead(II) acetate trihydrate (Pb(OOCCH3)2 3H2O)-Granules will increase slightly from today to next week.

The market trend of Lead(II) acetate trihydrate (Pb(OOCCH3)2 3H2O)-Granules?

The global Lead(II) acetate trihydrate (Pb(OOCCH3)2 3H2O)-Granulesmarket is constantly changing. The latest Global Market Report provides clear and accurate statistics and market estimates of the global Lead(II) acetate trihydrate (Pb(OOCCH3)2 3H2O)-Granules target market. The report includes an analysis of the different factors driving the market growth. It includes market drivers, constraints, opportunities and trends. This report is written by experienced and knowledgeable market analysts and researchers. It is an amazing compilation of important research that explores the competitive landscape, segmentation, geographic expansion, and revenue, production and consumption growth of the global Lead(II) acetate trihydrate (Pb(OOCCH3)2 3H2O)-Granules target market. In addition, the report provides a series of different market segments and applications that can promote market development during the forecast period. In-depth information is based on historical milestones and current trends. In addition, the Lead(II) acetate trihydrate (Pb(OOCCH3)2 3H2O)-Granules market report also covers development policies and plans, manufacturing processes and cost structures, marketing strategies, and then analyzes top Lead(II) acetate trihydrate (Pb(OOCCH3)2 3H2O)-Granules producers, distributors, marketing channels of Lead(II) acetate trihydrate (Pb(OOCCH3)2 3H2O)-Granules, potential buyers and Lead(II) acetate trihydrate (Pb(OOCCH3)2 3H2O)-Granules History of development. The report also lists import and export, supply and consumption data as well as costs, prices, revenue and gross margins by region.

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TRUNNANO (aka. Luoyang Tongrun Nano Technology Co. Ltd.) is a trusted global chemical material supplier & manufacturer with over 12 years experience in providing super high-quality chemicals and Nanomaterials. As a leading nanotechnology development and Lead(II) acetate trihydrate (Pb(OOCCH3)2 3H2O)-Granules manufacturer, Luoyang Tongrun dominates the market. Our professional work team provides perfect solutions to help improve the efficiency of various industries, create value, and easily cope with various challenges. Please send an inquiry as needed.

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Frontrunner Vaccine Will Affact the Price of Manganese Niobate (MnNb2O6)-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.

If coronavirus vaccinations are rolled out widely, life could return to normal by next winter, one of the scientists behind the front-running coronavirus vaccine told British television on Sunday.

Ugur Sahin, the Turkish co-founder of the German firm BioNTech, told the BBCs The Andrew Marr Show that this winter will be hard, without any major impact from vaccinations.

Together with US giant Pfizer, BioNTech is developing the leading candidate in the worldwide chase for a vaccine. Israel has ordered millions of units of the vaccine, hoping that the first deliveries will arrive in the country by January.

Affected by the new coronary pneumonia epidemic, the Manganese Niobate (MnNb2O6)-Powder market is changing rapidly. These changes are indicators of market growth. This year-on-year upward trend in the market indicates that the next November 2020-2026 will show an oval but steady growth.

The price of Manganese Niobate (MnNb2O6)-Powder continues to be affected by factors such as market growth momentum, various opportunities and challenges. However, during the forecast period from 2020 to 2026, the global Manganese Niobate (MnNb2O6)-Powder sales market is expected to continue to be above average. The growth rate will continue to increase. It is expected that from today to next week, the price of Manganese Niobate (MnNb2O6)-Powder will increase to a certain extent.

Due to changes in consumer demand, import and export conditions, and various investigations on the development of Manganese Niobate (MnNb2O6)-Powder, the cost of Manganese Niobate (MnNb2O6)-Powder is constantly changing. Taking into account the current market macroeconomic parameters, value chain analysis, channel partners, demand and supply, the cost of Manganese Niobate (MnNb2O6)-Powder will also be affected to a certain extent. It is estimated that the cost of Manganese Niobate (MnNb2O6)-Powder will increase slightly from today to next week.

The market trend of Manganese Niobate (MnNb2O6)-Powder?

The global Manganese Niobate (MnNb2O6)-Powdermarket is constantly changing. The latest Global Market Report provides clear and accurate statistics and market estimates of the global Manganese Niobate (MnNb2O6)-Powder target market. The report includes an analysis of the different factors driving the market growth. It includes market drivers, constraints, opportunities and trends. This report is written by experienced and knowledgeable market analysts and researchers. It is an amazing compilation of important research that explores the competitive landscape, segmentation, geographic expansion, and revenue, production and consumption growth of the global Manganese Niobate (MnNb2O6)-Powder target market. In addition, the report provides a series of different market segments and applications that can promote market development during the forecast period. In-depth information is based on historical milestones and current trends. In addition, the Manganese Niobate (MnNb2O6)-Powder market report also covers development policies and plans, manufacturing processes and cost structures, marketing strategies, and then analyzes top Manganese Niobate (MnNb2O6)-Powder producers, distributors, marketing channels of Manganese Niobate (MnNb2O6)-Powder, potential buyers and Manganese Niobate (MnNb2O6)-Powder History of development. The report also lists import and export, supply and consumption data as well as costs, prices, revenue and gross margins by region.

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The world's leading Manganese Niobate (MnNb2O6)-Powder target market report contains research on competitive dynamics. It also has a specific awareness that can help you choose the right business execution and steps. Market reports systematically display information in the form of organizational charts, facts, charts, statistics and graphs, which represent the status of related transactions on global and regional platforms. In addition, the report also includes the entire business chain, through which the growth rate and decline rate of specific industries in the market can be analyzed. The report also describes the total cost of manufacturing the product and analyzing its assembly process. In addition, the report also includes major developments in the market. The report involves value chain analysis and represents the workflow in the market. In addition, the market is classified by category, process, end-use industry and region. The report divides the market based on geographic location.

TRUNNANO (aka. Luoyang Tongrun Nano Technology Co. Ltd.) is a trusted global chemical material supplier & manufacturer with over 12 years experience in providing super high-quality chemicals and Nanomaterials. As a leading nanotechnology development and Manganese Niobate (MnNb2O6)-Powder manufacturer, Luoyang Tongrun dominates the market. Our professional work team provides perfect solutions to help improve the efficiency of various industries, create value, and easily cope with various challenges. Please send an inquiry as needed.

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Global concrete superplasticizer market trend 2025-2030 Differences between several kinds of Water Reducing Agents by Newsmis-asia

Following the progress in Russia-Ukraine peace talks, the gold price fell more than 1% the next day, hitting its lowest in a month, and palladium prices briefly tumbled by nearly 9%.

"We have seen metal prices going into free fall when the Russia-Ukraine situation is likely to see a major detente, which spurred people's risk preference and optimism that the war could end at a time," said OANDA senior market analyst.

A Russian deputy defense minister says Moscow has decided to sharply curtail its military activities around Kyiv and Chernikov in Ukraine, following talks between Russian and Ukrainian representatives in Istanbul.

Where the prices of metals, natural gas, and commodities like the concrete superplasticizer will go in the future, is still very uncertain.

Introduction to Superplasticizer:

Superplasticizer, or high-efficient water reducing agent, has the functions of high efficient water reduction, slow coagulation, slump, and enhancement. It has strong adaptability to cement, less dosage, is easy to use, especially suitable for high-efficient water reduction and slow coagulation requirements of concrete engineering. The water reduction rate is 18% to 25%.

Differences between several kinds of Water Reducing Agent

Lignosulfonate:

It is a common water-reducing agent made of lignin. Most of its raw materials are extracted from coniferous trees and other species of material. This water reducing agent mixed with mortar can improve the fluidity of mortar, and enhance the solidification force of mortar. Its water reduction rate is about five to ten percent.

Naphthalene sulfonate water reducing agent:

It is a special water reducing agent. It is the product of naphthalene reacting with sulfuric acid and then fusing with formaldehyde. This water-reducing agent presents different colors from light to deep. It has strong water solubility and a good dispersion effect for a series of powdery building materials like cement. Its water reduction rate is about 10 percent higher than lignin.

Polycarboxylate-based high-performance water reducing agent:

It is a newly developed kind of reducing water agent using high technology. It is based on polycarboxylate as the main body of a variety of polymer organic compounds, graft copolymerization generated, with strong water reduction performance, is the world's leading technology environmental protection concrete admixture.

Its compatibility with all kinds of cement is good, the slump of concrete keeps the performance good, can prolong the construction time of concrete. It has a high water reduction rate with a low dosage. It can greatly improve the early and late strength of concrete. It has a low content of chloride ions and alkali, which is beneficial to the durability of concrete. It is a green environmental protection product with a pollution-free production process and without formaldehyde. It is suitable for precast and cast-in-place concrete, reinforced concrete, and prestressed concrete for high-speed railway, passenger dedicated lines, industrial and civil buildings, roads, bridges, ports and docks, airports, and other engineering construction. It is especially suitable for construction projects with long construction time and high requirements for concrete slumps, such as nuclear power projects.

Properties and Advantages of Polycarboxylate-based High-performance Superplasticizer:

1, low dosage, high water reduction rate, water reduction rate can be up to 45%;

2, the slump loss is small, the slump loss rate of ready-mixed concrete is less than 5% per hour, 10% per two hours;

3, the strengthening effect is significant, concrete 3d compressive strength increased by 50 ~ 110%, 28d compressive strength increased by 40 ~ 80%, 90d compressive strength increased by 30 ~ 60%;

4, good workability of concrete, no segregation, bleeding phenomenon, uniform appearance of concrete color. When used to prepare high grade concrete, the concrete has good cohesion and is easy to mix.

5, moderate gas content, no adverse effect on the elastic modulus of concrete, good frost resistance durability;

6, can reduce the early hydration heat of cement, is conducive to mass concrete and summer construction;

7, excellent adaptability, cement, admixture compatibility is good, good temperature adaptability, and different varieties of cement and admixture has a good compatibility, to solve the problem of poor compatibility between other water-reducing agent and cementing materials;

8, low shrinkage, can significantly reduce the shrinkage of concrete, freeze-thaw resistance and carbonization resistance is significantly better than ordinary concrete; Significantly improve concrete volume stability and long-term durability;

9, alkali content is very low, alkali content 0.2%, can effectively prevent the occurrence of alkali aggregate reaction

10, the product has good stability, long-term storage without stratification, precipitation phenomenon, no crystallization precipitation at low temperature;

11, the product green environmental protection, formaldehyde-free, environmentally friendly products;

12, good economic benefits, the comprehensive cost of the project is lower than the use of other types of products, the same strength conditions can save cement 15-25%.





Suppliers of Superplasticizer

TRUNNANO is a reliable superplasticizer supplier with over 12-year experience in nano-building energy conservation and nanotechnology development. If you are looking for a high-quality concrete superplasticizer, please feel free to contact us and send an inquiry. (sales@cabr-concrete.com)

We accept payment via Credit Card, T/T, West Union and Paypal. Trunnano will ship the goods to customers overseas through FedEx, DHL, by air, or by sea.





Researchers at the University of Warwick in the UK have developed a lithium battery technology innovation. Adding graphene beams doubles battery life. By strengthening the structure of the anode with graphene beams, they have found an effective way to replace the graphite in the anode with silicon. Thereby increasing the capacity of the lithium-ion battery and more than doubling the lifespan.As a supplier of anode materials for lithium batteries, we also provide concrete superplasticizer. We will continue to provide concrete superplasticizer for the global market, please feel free to contact us.



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12.04.2022 LISTEN

Ghanaian celebrated actor Van Vicker says the hardship in the country is unbearable.

Speaking in an interview with Ghanaian Blogger Attractive Mustapha, the iconic actor said there have been astronomical increases in prices making life very difficult.

Van Vicker explained that he cannot brag about enjoying life and speak as if everything is fine in the country when the economic situation is not favourable.

Using his Vantastic restaurant as an example, Van Vicker said he has been operating his restaurant for a year and the prices of ingredients are too high at the moment.

Back in the days when we go to the market on weekly basis, we spend about Ghc500 to Ghc700 depending on shortage but now we spend about Ghc1,000 to Ghc1,500 weekly, and all this is happening just within one year," he stated.
Rapper Black Sherif has paid a surprise visit to his hometown after a long while of being in Accra.

The rapper who hasnt visited his town of origin Konongo in the Ashanti Region after his new found glory in the music industry got the town in a frenzy when he visited.

Some are seen running to him while others are heard screaming his name from afar.

The rapper with a smile on his face exchanges pleasantries with some members of his community.

Black Sherifs career despite being hit with a few controversies has seen a massive success.

For weeks, his song 'Kwaku The Traveller' has chalked so much success and he has topped charts in both Ghana and Nigeria.

The song was adjudged the most searched song on renowned music searching and streaming app, Shazam.
12.04.2022 LISTEN

African celebrated actor Van Vicker has said he is not happy about the current state of the Ghana movie industry.

The actor in an interview with Ghanaian Blogger Attractive Mustapha said he knows a lot of his friends shoot films for the love of it but afterwards the movie stays in the room.

Van Vicker revealed that he was happy when he heard about the establishment of a National Film Authority to fully give prominence to the industry.

He added that he knows the authority is working but output has been too slow.

I think they are doing great things, but at the end of the day, the film producers say they are not getting the outlets to market their movies and actors will say producers are not producing much and they are not being paid well so we are all not happy, he stated.

Talking about the online streaming platforms, he said they do not give the producers better offers which generally cost much to produce but the returns are low.

According to him, it is high time the industry returns to the cinema halls which are more lucrative for movie premiers.
Renowned Ghanaian gospel musician, Brother Sammy caused a massive stir amongst netizens and music lovers when he released a song titled Allahu Akbar.

The song which translates as God is Great was released on April 7, 2022.

As expected, the song was met with several mixed reactions from netizens and music lovers with some saying the musician was only making a mockery of the Muslim faith while others loved it.

In a recent interview, Brother Sammy indicated that the song was set to foster unity between Muslims and Christians and create awareness that they are the same God.

Speaking to Doreen Avio, he described Christians who have complained about the song as hypocrites.

It is a unity song. Christians are sometimes are sometimes hypocrites. Unity is what we need in Ghana. It doesnt mean I am a gospel artiste so a Muslim is my enemy. It is their time, they are in Ramadan so I have to do something.

"I stand for all Christians, I want to show that we love them (Muslims). We are one, the same human being. Muslims pass through Mohammed to get to God and Christians pass through Jesus Christ to God. We are all going to God, he said.

So far, the music video has recorded over five thousand views on YouTube.

Reacting to trolls about his costume choice in the video, the self-acclaimed Nations Worshipper said, I wasnt playing, the attire I wore wasnt for jokes, I am serious.

"The music video for Allahu Akbar was beautiful and it is doing well. We all have to support it because they are our brothers and we are all serving one God.
The typical Easter movie is about the crucifixion, burial, resurrection and sometimes ascension of Jesus Christ. But what if Mary, the mother of Jesus decides to sue God on behalf of her son Jesus Christ - what reason would she have to file such a bizarre lawsuit? The answer lies in the ultimate Easter movie with the most innovative twist - MARY AT THE COURT OF LAW.

The movie, MARY AT THE COURT OF LAW, written and produced by author and playwright, Lady Pastor Nora Osei-Bonsu of the Qodesh Family Church, is an unusual story where a mere mortal like the Virgin Mary, takes God to court accusing the Supreme Being of "hypnotising" her son Jesus to his grave.

Yes, Mary drags God to court to explain the reason for Jesus's untimely death at a very young age of 33, when He (God) had actual told her that her son will live forever.

The twist to the story gets even more interesting as the Almighty God, the creator of the universe and giver of life, actually honoured the invitation to appear before a court where a mere mortal was the judge. But can any human being stand God's presence, much less put Him on trial?

Mary lawsuit against God may be bizarre, but it is also sensational enough to attract massive media coverage, and the news went viral. The result is that the courtroom banter was replicated on the airwaves and on the streets and gave rise to the celebration of the risen Lord everywhere.

This is an Easter titled Movie where the resurrection of Jesus Christ is heightened - the reason for the redemption of the world and the celebration of Easter.

The producer, LP Nora said her personal study of the Biblical character, Mary inspired the story behind the movie.

She noted that Mary was a young woman who had a pleasant encounter with Angel Gabriel, earned an ugly reputation for getting pregnant out of wedlock, almost lost the love of her life and then witnessed the painful death of her son Jesus.

"I thought to myself that as Mary watched her son give up the ghost, she probably might have asked this question - God, what about what Angel Gabriel told me: thou are blessed amongst women - and what about your promise that my son will grow to become a mighty God...is that what I just witnessed? he could not even defend himself."

Set mainly in a courtroom and TV studio, the 100-minute-long movie features a cast made up of some very experienced stage actors drawn from the Qodesh Family Church, Makarios Church, Calvary Baptist Church and International Central Gospel Church.

The maiden Trading Talents Pictures production, directed by Dickson Dzakpasu and Patrick Collins, is slated for premiering on Tuesday, April 19, 2022 at the Jesus Cathedral of the Qodesh Family Church.

Regarding what audience should expect, LP Nora simply said "Well, Hollywood just came to the Qodesh. We are 'putting our swag on - we are dressing up for the Red Carpet - we expect media to be present in their numbers and there will be an after party for the cast and invited guests."

The playwright, poet and serial stage play director said after Mary in the Court of Law, "another unusual story will be released next year."
Actor Nana Tornado has jumped to the defense of songstress Mzbel following recent hate comments by socialite Afia Schwarzenegger.

His reactions come after Afia Schwarzenegger in a recent interview with blogger Zionfelix expressed hatred for Mzbel indicating that she will rejoice to hear of her death.

I hate her. Thats the word. I hardly used such a word at human beings but I hate her with a passion. I hate her for blackmailing John Mahama. I hate her with a passion and Ill throw a party if she dies, she said.

Taking to his Instagram, an unhappy Nana Tornado launched an attack on his one-time good friend.

You said you hate who? You hate Mzbel with passion? B**tch, we dont hate anyone but we dont want you. You hate Mzbel with passion for what exactly? What do you want from her? It seems you miss her but Im sorry its over means its over. Mzbel is busy attending to her flourishing playground and pub business.

"You are roaming around Europe prostituting. Sometimes when you open your mouth to talk, you dont think first. You talk stupidly and dont think you are smarter than anybody. B**tch you are full of hatred. You said if Mzbel dies, youll throw a party? Even you, Ghanaians havent made such a statement about you, he fumed.

During the interview, Afia Schwar had accused Mzbel of blackmailing former President John Mahama.

This Nana Tornado said was Afia Schwarzeneggers well-calculated plans to return to the National Democratic Congress, NDC.

After betraying the NDC party and John Mahama, you want to mention Mahamas name to regain empathy? Even if Mzbel blackmails Mahama, hows that your business? Because Mahama is not your friend, he added.
The Minority in Parliament wants First Deputy Speaker of Parliament to recuse himself from the proceedings of the Privileges Committee which is set to probe Dome Kwabenya MP, Sarah Adwoa Safo for breaching the rules on absenteeism in parliament.

The Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin, on April 5, 2022, referred three Members of Parliament, namely Sarah Adwoa Safo, Henry Quartey, and Kennedy Agyepong to the Privileges Committee for absenting themselves from over fifteen sittings of the House.

According to the Speaker, the absence of the MPs without his permission constitutes a breach of the rules of the house.

But the Minority side says Joseph Osei Owusu, who doubles as the Chair of the Committee, has already made comments prejudicial to the conduct of Adwoa Safo, and as such, is not fit to preside over a matter concerning her.

The Speaker referred three MPs including Adwoa Safo to the Privileges Committee for exceeding the absenteeism threshold.

Speaking to Citi News, Deputy Minority Chief Whip, Ahmed Ibrahim, said the Minority will raise the matter when proceedings commence.

Will Joe Wise be qualified to chair the meetings of the Privileges Committee? He has already concluded that he does not classify Adwoa Safo as part of the Majority, the Majority Chief Whip has also said the same thing.

Meanwhile, Majority Chief Whip, Frank Annoh, Dompreh has expressed shock about the inclusion of Kennedy Agyapong and Henry Quartey in the list of absentee MPs referred to the Privileges Committee.

He says the records show that the two have been attending Parliament.

I was only surprised about the two. I was not surprised about Adwoa Safo, he said.

A former Member of Parliament for Kumbumgu Constituency, Ras Mubarak, petitioned the Speaker of Parliament to deal with the matter of absenteeism in the House.

He cited Dome-Kwabenya MP, Sarah Adwoa Safo; Henry Quartey, the MP for Ayawaso Central, and Ebenezer Kojo Kum, the MP for Ahanta West and Ken Ohene Agyapong, MP for Assin Central as MPs who he said had flouted provisions of Article 97(1)(c) of the Constitution and Parliament's Standing Order 16(1) which frowns on Members absenting themselves for 15 sitting days without permission from the speaker.

Per Article 97(1)(c) of the 1992 Constitution, a Member of Parliament shall vacate his seat if he is absent, without the permission in writing of the Speaker, and he is unable to offer a reasonable explanation to the Parliamentary Committee on Privileges from fifteen sittings of a meeting of Parliament during any period that Parliament has been summoned to meet and continues to meet.

The petition copied the leadership of both sides of the House. Mubarak said according to Parliament's Hansard, four New Patriotic Party (NPP) MPs have flouted the rule on absenteeism and should be made to appear before the Privileges Committee of the House.

---citinewsroom
The Ministry of Finance is collaborating with Public Procurement Authority (PPA) to link the Ghana Integrated Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS) to the public sector procurement processes.

This is to be done using the Ghana Electronic Procurement System (GHANEPS), an electronic procurement platform, designed to automate procurement within the public sector.

This would ensure commitment control such that without budget, no one, no entity will be able to commit to any form of procurement without budget, said Mr. Hayford Amoh, a Senior Technical Advisor, and a Director of Internal Audit at the Ministry of Finance.

Representing the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta at the recent launch of the Public Financial Management Compliance League Table (PFMCLT), he observed that the major fiscal challenge facing public institutions was commitment control where agencies could commit government without the appropriate budgetary allocation.

He said the Ministry would ensure value for money on all government projects especially those conducted under sole source procurement.

The Ministry wants to go all out to resource internal auditors to ensure the prevention of corruption or any form of expenditure malfeasance rather than detecting them through the audit of the Auditor General, he said.

In a separate interview with the Ghana News Agency, (GNA) Mr Amoh indicated that the deadline for complete integration has been set from the end of first quarter to the end of second quarter thus June, this year.

Upon completion, he said, public institutions would also be compelled to use only the e-procurement platform for procurement activities since budgeting and payments were done through the GIFMIS.

According to the Public Procurement Authority (PPA), 76 per cent of 430 entities rolled onto the electronic procurement system do not the use the system that was launched in 2019.

The e-procurement system was implemented under the e-transform project of the Ministry of Communication with funding from the World Bank.

GNA
Ghana is set to host the maiden edition of the ECOWAS Finance Award (EFA) on Friday, May 13, 2022, at Alisa Hotel in Ghanas capital and commercial city, Accra at 6:00pm.

The ECOWAS Finance Awards recognise industry talent, leadership skills, industry net worth and capability. After careful consideration of nominations by a qualified research team, winners will be felicitated at a glittering awards gala, to be held at the premium four-star Alisa Hotel in Ghanas capital.

The event, which is being organised by the African Consolidated Analytical Limited, a leading consultancy firm in Nigeria, in collaboration with Business Day Media under the auspices of Ecowas Ventures, is under the theme: The Roles of Africas Banking & Financial Services Sector in Delivering Expectations of African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement.

EFA will feature a keynote presentation and a panel discussion that will focus on the key roles, synergies, collaborations, and partnerships required from West Africas banking and financial institutions to deliver on the gains of AfCFTA.

The keynote is expected to be delivered by Pierre Frank Laporte, Country Director, World Bank, Ghana. Other dignitaries that are expected to attend the event include Dr. Joseph Siaw Agyepong, Executive Director of Jospong Group of Companies, Ken Ofori-Atta, Finance Minister, Togbe Afede XIV among others.

EFA is created to provide a platform of engagement for players in the banking and financial services sector, policy makers in government and investors alike. The awards event would recognise, reward, and celebrate organisations, institutions and individuals that are contributing to the innovation, achievements, progressive and inspirational changes taking place within the banking and financial sector and the general economy in West Africa, Mr. Iheukwumere Amadi, Awards Director, has stated.

There are nine broad award categories comprising of Banking, Insurance, Pension Funds, Investment Finance, Development Finance, Microfinance Banking and Mortgage finance, Regulatory and fintech as well as individual/recognition awards. Each broad award category, except the Regulatory Award, would feature four award categories namely: the ECOWAS CEO of the Year, ECOWAS Company of the Year; ECOWAS Most innovative company of the year and the ECOWAS fastest growing company of the year. Apart from that there shall also be ECOWAS Financial Reporter of the Year (Radio, TV, and Print Categories).

West Africas combined annual gross domestic product and gross domestic product per capita stand at $683.772m and $1, 721 respectively. It is pertinent to note that the growth and development of every economy  national or regional depends on the performance of various sectors of her economy. The impact of the banking and financial services sectors in the growth and development of the economy of the sub-region cannot be glossed over.

In the past two decades, this sector has contributed hugely to closing known gaps in unemployment, funding startups, MSMEs and industries that have continued to employ hundreds of previously unemployed persons, especially, the youths.

Even though the pandemic decimated the economy of nations globally and post-pandemic recovery have been slow for many nations, this sector have continued to provide efficient access to financial services and products, flow of funds, which drives investment and consumption, thereby, increasing employment opportunities, lifting individuals and families out of poverty, increase in the level of domestic savings and boosting the effectiveness of monetary policies in their respective countries of operation.

The Banking and financial services sector is also the gateway to remittances and inflows of foreign direct investments (FDIs). Even though financial sector development in the ECOWAS region is low, when compared to South Africa and Egypt, there are visible increase in domestic credit to private sector, bank credit to bank deposit, broad money supply, regulatory environment, leading to financial stability and more of financial inclusion initiatives, leading to access to financial services by the unbanked in the sub-region.

Mr. Amadi said the vision, courage, passion, and determination some of the managers of the banking and financial sector in the sub-region have demonstrated in the face of daunting task, harsh business climate makes the ECOWAS Finance Award more compelling.

Highlighting the criteria for selection, Mr. Amadi disclosed that the Award Committee employed a mix of qualitative and quantitative parameters to select the nominees for different categories of awards. The qualitative parameters include the prompt release of audited annual reports within the stipulated time, presence of the analysts presentation on banks official websites among others.

The quantitative parameters, he noted, include profit after tax growth, capital adequacy ratio, return on average equity (ROAE), return on average assets (ROAA), non-performing loans (NPL), net interest margin (NIM), penalties paid to the regulator, complaints resolution, cost to income ratio and dividend growth.

Others include number of subsidiaries in subSaharan Africa (SSA), contributions to bottom line from SSA, promotion of non-interest banking and financial inclusion products and services, and the number of deals executed across the African continent. The list of nominees is expected to be released in the first week of May 2022.
Security Analyst, Adib Saani has said it is about time Ghana set up a special institution to look into police brutality against civilians.

He opined creation and operation of such institutions should be independent.

Speaking on Joy News AM show, he indicated that allowing the police to handle brutality cases amounts to conflict of interest.

We need to have a robust institutionalized regime to look into this. We shouldnt leave it in the hands of the police because it almost would not be progressive if you are asked to investigate your father or your mother so if you ask the police to investigate the police what do you expect?

He continued we need to have a body made up of representatives of the police, from multi-disciplinary body of some sort so we look into some of these issues independently if not we always have an attempt in some cases by the police to cover up on two major reasons: one, because they dont want to drag themselves into disrepute and two, morale.

Two persons are feared dead at Akatsi in the Volta Region following clashes between Akatsi police and the youth yesterday morning.

According to reports, the rampaging youth massed up at the police station to demand the release of a motorcycle impounded by the Akatsi police last Friday.

The report indicated that the police allegedly run down three persons on a motorcycle with their riot van, near the Akatsi Training College, resulting in the death of one of the riders.

The development resulted in an altercation that led to the police allegedly firing shots at the youth.
The Police in the Ashanti Region have begun investigations into the alleged killing of a Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly security guard on duty at the Kejetia Bus terminal on Sunday.

The deceased is said to have been stabbed by a commercial bus driver after a misunderstanding ensued between the two.

Both persons sustained injuries and were rushed to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, where the security guard was pronounced dead on arrival.

The driver, who was treated and discharged, is in police custody.

ASP Godwin Ahianyo, the Public Relations Officer of the Ashanti Regional Police Command, said our preliminary investigations indicated that the fight ensured between the victim and the suspect, Kingsley Amoah, who is a commercial bus driver at the bus terminal.

Per our investigations, it is alleged that he stabbed the suspect in the head and when he was rushed to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital at the emergency unit, he was pronounced dead on arrival.

The suspect who was also injured was also taken to the same hospital where he was treated and discharged and as we speak, he is in our custody assisting investigations, ASP Godwin Ahianyo added.

---Citi Newsroom
12.04.2022 LISTEN

Government has restricted the exportation of two commodities, soya bean, and maize from the country.

This according to the Food and Agric Ministry, forms part of measures to ensure food security and increase local poultry and livestock production.

The Plant Protection and Regulatory Services Directorate (PPRSD), has stopped issuing phytosanitary certificates for the export of both commodities.

This follows a directive from the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MoTI) to restrict their export to ensure the availability of the product, whose production is subsidized.

The Press Secretary to the Food and Agriculture Minister, Issah Alhassan, spoke to Citi News about the decision.

Over the past two years, since the advent of Covid-19, we had to endure a lot of challenges so, in order to ensure that the local demand is met, there was the need to promulgate a law to ensure that any individual that wants to export soybeans from this country has to come for a permit.

Apart from recent data from the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) indicating the increasing cost of foodstuff, there have been concerns over a possible food shortage in Ghana.

The Ministry of Food and Agriculture has however downplayed these claims.
MBABANE  Judge Thomas Masuku should brace himself for another fight with government.

This is so because government is set to review the decision made by the African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights, which recommended that the State should compensate Masuku for unfair dismissal. The African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights found that Masukus dismissal violated Articles 1, 7 and 26 of the African Charter. However, it should be noted that the recommendations of the African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights are not legally binding, but can become binding if they are adopted by the African Union Assembly of Head of States and Government pursuant to Article 59 of the African Charter.

Asked about governments position following the recommendations, Attorney General Mafelenkhosini Sifiso Mashampu Khumalo, said government was in the process of reviewing the decision of the African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights. Khumalo said government would file for the review within the time prescribed and stipulations of the rules and procedure. Judge Masuku was removed with immediate effect in September 2011, after he was slapped with seven charges of impeachment by the late and former Chief Justice, Michael Ramodibedi.

His dismissal came after he appeared before the Judicial Service Commission, which was chaired by Ramodibedi on August 11, 2011. Worth noting was that Ramodibedi dismissed an application to have Masukus impeachment publicly heard. The judge was accused, among other things, of insulting the King in a judgment he delivered on January 2011 and also touting himself as the chief justice. He was also accused of defying Ramodibedis directive to prepare and submit a monthly schedule of pending judgments and for absenting himself from work.
A political science lecturer at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) has described Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Attas endorsement of Vice-President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia as a capable leader of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), as worrying for the party going into the 2024 general elections.

Dr Amakye Boateng stressed that the statement by Mr Ofori-Atta is problematic.

Dr Amakye Boateng is of the view that these early endorsements from some stalwarts of the party are not good for party cohesion.

He said these actions, if not checked, will destroy the fabric of the party.

He said the attempt to buy the partys 2024 slot for the Vice-President is the highest level of lawlessness.

He noted that the party has a tradition that ought to be respected by all to ensure party cohesion.

What is going on in the party will spell the downfall of the party, he noted, adding: Ghanaians will not allow the political patronage playing up in the party. I believe Ghanaians will not let this happen in the body politics of the country.

Dr Boateng said these on Accra-based Neat FM today, Monday, 11 April 2022.

Source: Classfmonline.com
US-based Ghanaian law Professor Kwaku Asare disagrees with Chief Justice(CJ) Kwasi Anin Yeboahs assertion that cases in the trial courts should be called based on seniority of the lawyer.

In a circular issued by the CJ, trial Judges were admonished to adhere to the tradition of calling the cases of senior lawyers first.

According to the CJ, the age-long tradition of calling the cases of senior lawyers first during trials, will afford junior lawyers the opportunity to learn from their seniors.

Reacting to the directive from the CJ in a Facebook post on Monday, 11 April 2022, the US-based law professor noted that: Parties must be treated equally in our courts.

He emphasised that: The practice of giving preferences to senior lawyers, by calling their cases first, can quickly degenerate into giving more weight to what they say, giving them more time, paying less attention to junior lawyers, etc.

Furthermore, it sends a signal to clients that if you want your case to move quickly in our courts, then you better hire a senior lawyer.

He further noted that: I do not accept that junior lawyers should go to the court room to learn from senior lawyers. They go there to defend their clients and judges are to presume that they know what they are doing once they have been called to the Bar

He added that good governance does not agree with the CJ that trial courts should call cases based on the seniority of the lawyer.

That idea is as bad as requiring all prospective lawyers to go to the same government school to learn evidence and family law.

Source: classfmonline.com
A trade mission between Brazil and Ghana to increase export to and from both countries has been held in Ghana on Monday, April 11.

The week long activity is expected to see a boost in trade relations between both countries through new business partnerships and existence of old ones.

Speaking to participants at the opening ceremony, the Deputy CEO of the Ghana Investments and Promotion Centre (GIPC), Yaw Amoateng Afriyie stated that, the missions was important as it would allow participants explore business opportunities and build networks of buyers, suppliers and others.

According to him, Brazil was a strategic market that offers an array of opportunities to the Ghanaian market.

He encouraged the participating businesses to take advantage of some of the prospects the Brazilian missions bring to Ghana.

In an interview with Modern Ghana News, he said we are welcoming Brazilian companies to Ghana, not just to come and dump their products, but those products will find joint venture partnerships.

We are looking to ensure that Ghanaian companies understand what we are doing here today and they come and meet one on one with these Brazilian companies.

The Brazilian companies are here for one week, they are looking to establish partnerships, theyre looking to bring their products into the market which means that theres a business partnership, and a joint venture is formed so its not a one way street.

In the near term, we cant speak for companies and their business strategies, but we at GIPC encourage that companies establish here, that is where the investment drive comes in so in as much as we are looking for Ghanaians to partner, we also want Brazilian companies to be able to establish in Ghana and do proper business under correct joint venture structures that we will regulate.

The trade mission from Brazil to Ghana is the third so far.

Participants have the opportunity to network and engage one on one with their Brazil counterparts.

The mission will last from today, April 11, to Friday April, 15.
Africa Child Rights and Youth Empowerment Foundation (ACRAYEF), a Non-Governmental Organization established in Damongo in the Savannah Region, has come to the rescue of an ailing woman with a cash donation to help foot her medical bills at the Tamale Teaching Hospital.

The patient who has been identified as Madam Memuna Mbonwura is suffering from Malignant Neoplasm Overlapping Lesion of the Skin.

This unusual overlapping lesion of the skin has made it difficult to carry out her daily activities to fend for her children.

The woman believed to be in her early 70's is a petty trader from a low income earning family in the Savannah Region. She is unable to raise an amount of three thousand four hundred Ghana cedis (Gh3,400) to cater for the medical bill.

Her predicament which went viral prompted Africa Child Rights and Youth Empowerment Foundation to come to her rescue with an initial donation of an amount of one thousand five hundred Ghana cedis (Gh1,500) to settle her histopathology treatment.

The gesture according to the NGO was part of its support to pay for the first stage of treatment of the woman whose condition is deteriorating each day.

Project Coordinator for ACRAYEF, Mr. Karimu Samiwu who did the presentation, said ACRAYEF will foot the remaining bills for her treatment.

Speaking to this reporter on the sidelines of the cash donation, Mr. Samiwu said the NGO had over the years supported several people in health and education.

He furthered that the NGO which is dedicated to positively changing the lives of the disadvantaged especially stigmatized children and the youth has advanced plans to empower five girls living with disability to generate regular income for themselves.

According to him, the beneficiaries will be trained as seamstresses for a period of one year. He added that all the machines and other tools needed would be provided by ACRAYEF at a cost of eight thousand Ghana cedis (Gh8,000.00).

He said some projects undertaken by ACRAYEF included the campaign soothsayers in West Gonja against the killing of perceived spirit children which has yielded the desired results.

He also noted that the organization had provided support in the form of registering children under the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), coordinating and facilitating the medical treatment of a nine-year-old Jacqueline Anthony and a host of other success stories.

He however bemoaned that the lack of funds to care for children with complicated illnesses is a great challenge to the organization.

He, therefore, appealed to the general public and individuals for support and partnership to help better the lives of the needy in their operational zones.

The Head of the Medical Social Works Department of the Tamale Teaching Hospital, Alhaji Braimah Saaka who received the money on behalf of the family of the patient, conveyed words of appreciation to the NGO for the gesture.

He implored them and their partners not to renege in their craving to put smile on the faces of the needy in society.
The CEO of NABCO Dr Ibrahim Anyars said the 3-year NABCO initiative bridges the gap between academia and industry by providing opportunities for young people after tertiary education to gain more experience and become attractive to the demand side of the industry.

He indicated that young people after graduation from school did not adequately have the required skills and values for the job market.

Dr Anyars said this on a panel discussion at a Consultative Breakfast Meeting on 'Harmonizing Policies and Programmes on Youth Development in Ghana" organized by The National Youth Authority (NYA) on Friday, April 8, 2022, at Alisa Hotel, North Ridge-Accra.

The meeting brought together The Nation Builders Corps (NABCO), National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Plan (NEIP), Youth Employment Agency (YEA), National Service Scheme (NSS), Ghana Enterprise Agency (GEA), National Alternative Employment and Livelihood Programme (NAELP), Ghana Scholarship Secretariat (SCHOLSEC) among others who discussed the core objectives of their agencies and how to synergize to create greater impact.

The Minister of Finance, Hon. Ken Ofori-Atta who was the special guest of honor reemphasized that entrepreneurship must be at the centre stage of job creation for Ghanas youth and the YouStart under the Ghana CARES Programme will be the platform to provide the needed capacity, technology, required skills set and capital.

The Minister for Public Enterprises, Hon. Joseph Cudjoe stated that entrepreneurship create jobs therefore youth programmes should prioritize entrepreneurship.

Dr Kodjo Esseim Mensah-Abrampa, Director General of the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC) who chaired the meeting noted that the current older generation must stop pushing the youth to hunt for public sector jobs.

Citing the entrepreneurship initiative under the YouStart Dr Anyars hinted that the now 66,648 trainees from the NABCO Scheme are capable of meeting YouStart initiative. This is in the light of their exit arrangements, but even more imperative is the quantum of investment that has been made already in these tertiary graduates.

To conclude the consultative meeting, the youth-focused agencies agreed on the need for convergence, harmonisation and the coordination of their respective mandates for greater impact.

Representatives of The United Nations (UN) Systems in Ghana, Development Partners and Civil Society Organizations, other youth development organs were part of this meeting.
The Asokwa District Court has directed parties in the case involving the locking up of the Subin Constituency office of the ruling New Patriotic Party to use the Alternative Dispute Resolution channel to help settle the matter.

This was after the Ashanti Regional Council of Elders of the NPP sought an out-of-court settlement.

The accused persons locked up the partys office to protest what they said were infractions in the recently held polling station elections in the constituency.

Counsel for the 13 accused persons, Annis Moghtar Mohayideen, tells Citi News the Council of Elders can still pursue their request for an out-of-court settlement.

The court asked that the parties settle their differences through the Alternative Dispute Resolution channel. The Council of Elders, can, however, still pursue their request for the matter to be settled out of court.

Meanwhile, the Ashanti Regional Chairperson of the NPPs Council of Elders, Reverend Mark Adu Gyamfi says party members should always use internal processes in resolving their grievances.

We don't have that right to go to court without the permission of the council of elders to settle it out of court. As a party, we should be able to settle our issues out of court. So, henceforth, we are giving them the notice that they should never go to any court for resolutions without our permission, if they have to, we will recommend the court to them. We want all our party issues settled by ourselves.

citinewsroom
US-based Ghanaian Lawyer, Prof. Stephen Kwaku Asare, popularly known as Kwaku Azar has kicked against a circular charging Judges in trial courts to call cases of senior lawyers before calling that of junior lawyers.

A circular signed by Ghanas Chief Justice Kwasi Anin-Yeboah has reportedly urged Judges in trial courts to call cases in a manner that will have junior lawyers sitting back and learning from senior lawyers.

Reacting to the circular, Prof. Kwaku Azar, has stressed that giving preference to senior lawyers can quickly degenerate into giving more weight to what they say, giving them more time, and paying less attention to junior lawyers.

In a post on his Facebook page, he argues that justice will be meaningless should it become a respecter of senior lawyers.

Judges swear to truly and faithfully perform the functions of their office without fear or favour, affection or ill-will, and MUST not favour senior lawyers, thereby showing ill-will to junior lawyers.

The judge who believes that junior lawyers and their clients should spend their time watching senior lawyers, is likely to be biased, even if unconsciously, by that belief, parts of the post on Prof. Kwaku Azars Facebook reads.

According to Prof. Azar, the instruction from the Chief Justice will send a signal to clients that if they want their cases to move quickly in courts, they should hire a senior lawyer.

He stresses that the idea to call cases of senior lawyers first is bad and must not be supported.
Even though many of the NPP politicians were against the approval of the controversial fraudulent E-Levy, they never identified themselves, just to prevent being called traitors, while others think they have to defend the president, Nana Akufo Addo.

One of them is Ken Agyapong, the Member of Parliament for Assin Central, who appeared in one of the videos on Youtube, explaining why the E-Levy must be approved but his unreasonable explanation that justifies the need for the E-Levy to be passed prompted this article.

According to Ken Agyapong, Ghanaians are willing to pay GHc2 to MTN against Ghc1.50 For Our Development. I dont know what development he is talking about because if he does care, he should be the first person to ask Akufo Addo why he has cut so many sods yet no projects available.

Kennedy Agyapong, the Member of Parliament for Assin Central, has disappointed Ghanaians with his failure to fight against corruption but rather by supporting the thievery of the NPP government.

Again, if Ken Agyapong cares about development, why couldnt he demand accountability from the Ghanaian president for the reason his government has incurred such a huge debt on Ghana, yet the country is at the same place.

More importantly, the common Ghanaians Agyapong is criticizing paying GHc2 to the MTN but are not willing to pay GHc1,50, how many of their children are receiving education in America or any foreign country? Has any of the poor people appeared on TV to tell Ghanaians the cost of a wristwatch as he did?

Even if Ghanaians are willing to pay GHc3 to MTN, it is worth doing so because technology has made it possible for them to remit and communicate with their families where ever they are in Ghana, without traveling on these hazardous roads to give them money.

Sometimes, I hate people who arent reasonable. As a Member of Parliament, you have boasted enough of your riches on air, yet I strongly believe that most of the people at Assin Central are finding things extremely difficult, therefore, many will not be interested in the E-Levy.

Without politics, Ken Agyapong, you would have been like the common Ghanaian. 335 million dollars is a lot of money that can develop Ghana. That part of the COVID funds given by the World Bank has disappeared without a trace, why dont you make effort to trace that missing money?

Above all, why should the incompetence of your government become the common Ghanaians burden by imposing a fraudulent E-Levy on them? In Ghana, Ken Agyapong, you have broken the law many times with impunity, if its any of the poor people, they should have been in prison by now.

Therefore, Agyapong, if its hard for you to accept that for over five years in power, your government has failed in everything, including, the fight against corruption, cutting taxation, job creation, and turning Ghana into Dubai, dont be so proud to support the thievery of an incompetent government.

Ken Agyapong, if Ghana is not a corrupt country together with its judiciary system, people like you, Akufo Addo, Ken Ofori-Atta, Eugene Arhin, Kwasi Anin-Yeboah, Paul Adom-Otchere, and a host of many others, should have resigned or in prison, for breaking the law with impunity.

How I wish you, Kwasi-Anin Yeboah, Akufo Addo, etc; would learn something important from what the security analyst said. According to Kan Dapaah, If the interpretation of the law is tilted in our favor all the time, people will start accusing the judiciary and will not have the confidence that they need.

He is right, a word to the wise is enough.
The embattled Convenor of the #Fixthecountry movement, Oliver Barker-Vormawor, says he was manhandled by security officials while in detention for allegedly threatening a coup on social media.

On Friday, 11 February 2022, I was unlawfully detained by security officials of this regime, tortured, and subsequently held without just cause for 35 days, he said in his first public statement since his release.

Mr. Barker-Vormawor said he spent 35 days in a cell that was designed for four people but ultimately filled with nearly 30 detainees.

He recalled that these cells were without ventilation and had bed bugs, cockroaches and rats crawling inside.

Police had said the Cambridge Ph.D. student's arrest was as a result of a post he had made on Facebook threatening to stage a coup if the controversial Electronic Transaction Levy (E-levy) is passed.

He was subsequently granted a GH2 million bail by the Tema High Court after being charged with treason felony.

Mr. Barker-Vormawor clarified that his social movement has no intentions of inciting violence in the country, as some have suggested.

Fix the country abides by the law and it will forever abide by the tenets of democracy, he insisted.

He urged Ghanaians to refrain from giving up their quest to hold those in power accountable.

Perseverance in the course of justice seduces even the most stubborn members of our community, so do not lose faith.

---citinewsroom
French police officers and forensic doctors arrived in Ukraine Monday to help investigate alleged Russian war crimes after hundreds of civilian bodies were discovered in towns around Kyiv.

The French interior and justice ministries said they had sent the team to "prevent the impunity of acts constituting war crimes" following the killings that shocked the world.

The ministries said the detectives would "provide concrete support" to Ukrainian and international jurisdictions to probe the killings.

"In agreement with the Ukrainian authorities, it may also contribute to the International Criminal Court investigation."

The experts will help in "identification and collection of evidence," they said.

France's ambassador to Ukraine posted a photograph on Twitter of the uniformed officers standing by a mobile laboratory van in the western city of Lviv.

"Proud to welcome to Lviv the detachment of technical and scientific gendarmes who came to assist their comrades in investigations of war crimes committed near Kyiv," Etienne de Poncins said.

"France is the first to provide such help. They will start work tomorrow."

Ukraine says it found 1,222 bodies in areas in the Kyiv region from where the Russian army recently retreated.

It has vowed to find and identify those behind civilian killings and has called for international help in doing so.

Forensic doctors, DNA laboratory

The ministries said the team is made up of "two forensic doctors and about 15 gendarmes from the National Gendarmerie Criminal Research Institute (IRCGN), experts in crime scene and victim identification."

The officers are skilled in "DNA sampling and processing fingerprints" and will "set up a chain of examination and identification of bodies."

They are equipped with a DNA lab that will allow them to do "rapid genetic analysis."

Paris also aims to "coordinate contributions of EU member states and agencies" to investigate possible war crimes in Ukraine, the ministries said.

Ukraine's prosecutor general Iryna Venediktova said Sunday that Kyiv is probing 5,600 alleged war crimes in towns like Bucha and Irpin involving "500 suspects" from Russia's government and military.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said he created a special mechanism to investigate Russian "crimes" in Ukraine, which includes "national and international experts."

France's President Emmanuel Macron has said there are "clear indications" of Russian war crimes near Kyiv.

Moscow denies this, with President Vladimir Putin accusing Ukraine of staging the civilian deaths.

(with AFP)
MANZINI - Women who invested in the defunct Swaziland Women Economic Empowerment Trust (SWEET) Microfinance smell a rat in terms of getting answers and justice.

This comes four months after members of SWEET were told that there were criminal activities which took place in the organisation and further assured that the police would be tasked with bringing the culprits to book, but nothing fruitful had happened. In fact, they were specific that no arrests had been made so far, yet evidence was allegedly documented. SWEET Microfinance (PTY) LTD is an organisation which was established in April 2015 and registered under certificate of incorporation No. 2235/2014. It is a company under SWEET and its Patron was Her Majesty the Queen Mother. It was established as one of the national economic empowerment initiatives that emanated from the Eswatini Womens Decade Plan of Action of 2010.

Savings

Members were saving at least E100 per month and were supposed to borrow money based on their savings. They were also promised that they would get dividends annually. However, early in 2019, some felt that there was nothing sweet with the organisation as they did not get anything from it. As such, some of the aggrieved members flocked the organisations offices in Manzini, where they demanded their monies they had invested over the past years - since 2011. In 2020, some members of SWEET from Mkhiweni Constituency approached their Member of Parliament (MP) Michael Masuku. Later on, the MP tried to move a motion about the status of SWEET in Parliament and he was allegedly told to stop because utsintsa sikhehle sabomanyovu (inviting trouble). It is said that some constituents from Mkhiweni Inkhundla had invested over E5 000 each.

Later on, some SWEET members launched an online petition where they demanded that the people responsible for taking their monies should be taken to task. Following the online petition, the Central Bank of Eswatini conducted investigations into the organisation together with the Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA). It was reported that there was about E27 million at Swaziland Building Society, which had the SWEET members names on it. On November 24, 2021, the CBE and FSRA issued a joint statement where they informed the nation that the investigation of SWEET and Sweet Micro Finance (SMF) had been completed. It said the findings and conclusions showed that there were signs of criminal activities, dishonesty and deliberate non-observance of corporate governance among the Board, management and agents of the organisation and related stakeholders.

The statement also said the investigation report and all relevant supporting documents would be handed over to the relevant law enforcement agencies for consideration and further appropriate action with regard to the elements of criminality observed during the investigation. In December 2021, the bank said it had recommended that individuals who were identified to have participated in or benefitted from fraudulent activities should be referred to the relevant law enforcement agencies for criminal investigation and/or prosecution. CBE Senior Communications and Internal Relations Officer Lindokuhle Sithole said the findings, which were specific to elements of criminal activities, had been handed over to the relevant law enforcement agencies. However, Chief Police Information and Communications Officer Superintendent Phindile Vilakati, who was asked how far the police investigations on the matter had gone, said she would not disclosed developments of an investigation. She added that they could not say how much time it would take for the police to conclude the investigation as such cases differed.
The Students Representative Council (SRC) President of the Ghana School of Law, Wonder Victor Kutor, says he will not step down over allegations of the GHS70,000 bus procurement scandal.

The Executive Council of the SRC in a letter to the embattled president who is under fire for corruption and underhand dealings to enrich himself in the bus purchase asked Wonder Kutor to step aside for investigations into the procurement of the vehicle to commence.

Mr Kutor, however, in a counter letter questioned the constitutionality of the request.

He in the letter said he would not step down as the Executive Council has suggested.

Source: Classfmonline.com
The last four members of a team that went to northeast DR Congo to mediate with an armed group who then took them hostage are now free, their spokesman said Tuesday.

The eight-member team had travelled to Ituri province in mid-February with the government's blessing, seeking to persuade an armed group called CODECO to end a bloody campaign of ethnic violence.

But the mediators -- who included three former warlords -- were themselves seized by CODECO, who accused the army of using the reconciliation trip as a cover to shell their positions.

One hostage was released on March 21 and three others, including the team's driver, on April 4.

On Tuesday, Pitchout Mbodina Iribi, a spokesman for the mediators, said "all the remaining members of the delegation... have been released."

But another source within his organisation, speaking on condition of anonymity, told AFP that the final four had "escaped" from their captors and had arrived in the provincial capital Bunia early Tuesday.

The team sent to meet CODECO included former warlords Thomas Lubanga, Germain Katanga and Floribert Ndjabu, with an escort that included Congolese army colonels.

Lubanga and Katanga respectively served 14- and 12-year prison sentences handed down by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for crimes committed in Ituri in the early 2000s. Ndjabu was jailed for 15 years over the killing of nine UN peacekeepers.

Their mediation mission had been approved by President Felix Tshisekedi, who is struggling with a surge of violence by armed groups in Ituri and neighbouring North Kivu.

CODECO -- the name for the Cooperative for the Development of the Congo -- is a political-religious sect that claims to represent the interests of the Lendu ethnic group.

The Lendu and Hema communities have a long-standing feud that led to thousands of deaths between 1999 and 2003 before intervention by a European peacekeeping force.

Violence then resumed in 2017, blamed on the emergence of CODECO.

CODECO attacks since then have caused hundreds of deaths and prompted more than 1.5 million people to flee their homes, while half of the region's population faces food insecurity, according to the Danish Refugee Council.

The group used the detention of the mediators to demand the release of CODECO fighters and members of the Lendu community who had been "arbitrarily arrested."

They also called for an end to army operations against them and the end to a so-called state of siege in which civilian officials in the two troubled provinces have been replaced by armed officers.

The last four of the team to recover their freedom were Lubanga and Ndjabu, and two army colonels, Justin and Desire Lobho.
Many people know or have heard of the story that over 2000 years ago, there lived on earth an individual called Jesus Christ who was crucified on the cross at Golgotha by the Jews. His followers who are called Christians instituted certain events and rites in commemoration of his birth, death, resurrection and ascension to heaven. Even as his devotees have no consensus on the veracity of the phases of his life (especially his birth on a wintry Christmas Day whilst shepherds watched their flocks grazing in the night), generally, they all agree on his death except the backslider. Their disagreement and even agreement is on the historical or theological Jesus Christ. If they should know and look deeper they would have seen that Christmas and Easter are not fashioned along the personality of Jesus Christ but the exceptional annual cosmic event in which the Christ Spirit descends into the Earth Planet and ascends to the home of the Father.

The Bible has been originally written (prior to the translation) by highly spiritual people in a manner such that the unenlightened person runs the risk of taking its shadow for its substance. To start with, the Christ never belonged to the human race but is the highest developed being among the class of Archangels who are above the Angels, just as the Angels are above the human race. He is the second aspect of the God of our solar system and can NEVER BE BORN by any human being. Jesus, as holy as he is, belongs to the human race. His parents, Joseph and Mary were not ordinary but very developed spiritual people. They made the great sacrifice to provide the physical condition for the birth of Jesus. At a certain height of spiritual development, celibacy becomes the norm and very developed people had no need to go through the natural process of conception and birth. They can materialize another physical body and continue to live. But for the sake of humanity, the Immaculate Conception took place and Jesus was born. He had a singular mission  to make his body available for the Christ Spirit to use and have entry into the Earth Planet in order to save the planet and humanity.

Hitherto, the low desires and wickedness of humanity has enveloped the spiritual atmosphere of the planet like a dark cloud. The low desires are exemplified by adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, wrath, strife, envying, murders, drunkenness, and reveling. The natural order is to gather the wrongdoers to the equator and together with the portion of the planet that they have crystallised, be thrown off by centrifugal force to become a satellite orbiting the parent planet. This situation prevails until the backward spirits in those bodies (people) live aright to return to the parent planet or fail to do so and be sent back to Chaos, the primordial source. The earth was to suffer such a second destruction hence the call in heaven, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me (Isaiah 6:8).

Our Lord Jesus was prepared for his mission by the Essenes in the Wilderness of the Dead Sea just like John the Baptist who served as his forerunner. At the Baptism, the spirit of Jesus relinquished his body for the Christ Spirit to take over. This is not possession in which an opportunistic entity diabolically seizes control of the body of a victim without permission. Our Lord Jesus knew his mission in life and willingly fulfilled it for the sake of humanity. By so doing, he assumed the compound name, Jesus Christ. The Christ Spirit functioned in the body of Jesus for 3 years and on Golgotha, when the spear pierced His side, and the blood flowed, He had entry into the Earth Planet. From there, the Christ cleared the dark spiritual atmosphere surrounding the planet to give humanity a fresh start. He became the indwelling spirit of the planet whose spiritual body has enveloped the globe, holding it in space and orbit. Part of Him (like ether) is in everything that humanity takes; food, drink, breathe, etc. It is written in John 6:53 that, Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. He continues to give humanity a new impetus to love, to forgive, to offer selfless service and be kind one to another.

As already said, the Christ Spirit is from the home of the Father and the spiritual people who know this fact, arranged the calendar of the world including religious rites to correspond to the big cosmic events in the lives of the Seven Spirits before the Throne including the Earth Planet. In actual fact, the crucifixion and resurrection mark the annual ascent of the Christ Spirit from the Earth back to the home of the Father. His journey to earth actually begins by September 21 and touches the planet by December 25. He stays for 3 days and begins to ascend which is completed by the first Friday after/during full moon. This is the cosmic crossover which is denoted by the Jewish festival of Nisan in March/April to mark the beginning of the year in the Gregorian calendar. There are two crossovers each year; one leading to Christmas and the other leading to Easter.

The wise or spiritual people can behold the star of the Christ when it is descending especially in December. They know that the physical manifestation of the Christ is the Sun and the Father is behind the Sun just as the spirit is unseen in the body of a human being. They denote the crossover by the movement of the sun. By March (after the Spring Equinox) the sun crosses the equator, towards the northern hemisphere and by September, crosses again to the southern hemisphere. The physical sun sustains life activities of humanity, and without it nothing can live. Winter will have doused the life out of people in the northern part of the planet whilst severe weather conditions will have burnt out life in the southern part. How much more without the Spiritual Sun?

Easter marks the liberation of the Christ Spirit from the limiting environment of the earth, after He descended in December to reenergize it in order to give humanity more impetus to pursue higher desires of love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance. This annual sacrifice has been going on for many years at a great cost to the Christ Spirit. It is the responsibility of humanity to develop spiritually, to build the spiritual body that is required to keep the planet spinning in space. Our good deeds will eventually free the Christ Spirit from this annual sacrifice. As said in Roman 8:22-23, For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.

For those who may want to know, Jesus resurrected with a spiritualized physical body having overcome the four elements, known as INRI which are the Jewish alphabets (Iam, Nour, Ruach, Iabeshah) for water, fire, air and earth. For whatever reason, it is translated in English as Jesus, King of the Jews. At such an advanced spiritual stage, our Lord Jesus has the authority to materialize flesh and also dematerialised it. This type of body is splendid and defies all physical scientific laws. It can go through anything, air, fire, water, solids, darkness, and so on. Importantly, death has no power over it. Our Lord Jesus is still alive and functioning in the spiritual worlds, guiding humanity especially those who are more faith-based than mentally-inclined, to do good and live the chaste and loving life.

The earth will one day be transformed into its spiritual body where gravity, water, air, physical food, parties, marriages, stock exchanges, cars and buildings, and even death will no longer exist. It is those who live by (not those who profess) the teachings and principles of Jesus Christ, of selfless service, purity, love and sacrifice who can be with the Lord on His final return to establish the Kingdom of Heaven. They by their service to humanity, will be privileged to be born again in the soma psuchicon, the spiritual body which will be used by Gods people in the future.

By Simon Bokor  0243688792

[email protected]
The Deputy Majority Chief Whip, Habib Iddrisu has rubbished Minoritys call for the First Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Joe Osei-Owusu to recuse himself from the proceedings of the Privileges Committee.

The Deputy Minority Chief Whip, Ahmed Ibrahim, had said Joseph Osei-Owusu, who doubles as the Chair of the Committee, has already made comments prejudicial to the conduct of one of the MPs who had been referred to the committee, Adwoa Safo, and as such, is not fit to preside over a matter concerning her.

However, Habib Iddrisu said the standing orders of Parliament make it compulsory for Joe Osei-Owusu to serve as the Chairman of the committee.

The Tolon legislator said Ahmed Ibrahims call is thus unfounded.

The call by my colleague is completely unfounded, and it has no basis. What he is asking for is that we should amend our standing orders. Joe Wise being the Chairman of the Privileges Committee is the creation of our standing orders. It says that the committee of privilege, consists of the First Deputy Speaker as the Chairman so if you want him to go out, who is the Deputy Speaker of Parliament? He is not there because he is just a Member of Parliament and has been chosen by the Majority Caucus. That is not the case, he explained on Eyewitness News.

The Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin, on April 5, 2022, referred three Members of Parliament, namely Sarah Adwoa Safo, Henry Quartey, and Kennedy Agyepong to the Privileges Committee for absenting themselves from over fifteen sittings of the House.

According to the Speaker, the absence of the MPs without his permission constitutes a breach of the rules of the house.

---citinewsroom
Screenshot of freelance online journalist Abdisalan Ahmed Awad speaking to Horn Cable TV, in a video posted March 19, 2022. Somaliland intelligence officers attacked Abdisalan and two other journalists on March 18, and Abdisalan was detained April 3 after speaking out about the attack. YouTubeHorn Cable TV

12.04.2022 LISTEN

Nairobi, April 11, 2022  Authorities in the breakaway region of Somaliland should unconditionally release freelance online journalist Abdisalan Ahmed Awad and hold the intelligence officers who harassed and assaulted him and two other journalists responsible, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Monday.

On the night of March 18, Abdisalan was riding in a car with freelance journalist Ali Mahdi Jibril and privately owned Saab TV reporter Shafic Mohamed Ibrahim in the capital, Hargeisa, when five men allegedly dragged them out of the car and beat Abdisalan and Ali, according to Ali, who spoke with CPJ via messaging app; media reports that quoted Abdisalan and Shafic; and separate statements by the Human Rights Center (HRC), an advocacy group, as well as the Somaliland Journalists Association and the Somali Journalists Syndicate, two press rights organization. Ali said that he and Abdisalan recognized the men as intelligence officers; the HRC statement said the attackers were members of the Somaliland Intelligence Agency. The men fired several shots during the attack, Ali and Shafic said.

The men focused their assault on Abdisalan, who they accused of writing critically about Somaliland President Muse Bihi Abdi on Facebook, warning the journalist to leave our president alone, according to Ali; Shafic, who also spoke to CPJ via messaging app; and the media reports.

Ali told CPJ that on the evening of April 3, intelligence officers in Hargeisa arrested Abdisalan shortly after he broke his fast for Ramadan at a local restaurant. Ali told CPJ he learned of the April 3 arrest after speaking to an eyewitness. Abdisalan remained detained at an undisclosed location, according to Ali and an April 9 joint statement from the Somali Journalists Syndicate and the Somali Media Association, both based in Mogadishu, which cited an unnamed local human rights defender. Abdisalan is believed to have been detained in retaliation for speaking out about the March 18 attack, according to these same sources and another journalist familiar with the case, who spoke to CPJ on condition of anonymity for fear of retaliation. CPJ was not able to independently verify the details of Abdisalans April 3 arrest at the restaurant, or his current whereabouts in detention.

It is shocking that security agents in Hargeisa are shooting at and beating up journalists whose Facebook posts they do not like. Authorities should be spending their time investigating this attack, and ensuring justice, rather than throwing a journalist behind bars, said CPJ sub-Saharan Africa representative Muthoki Mumo. Authorities in Somaliland should unconditionally release Abdisalan Ahmed Awad and investigate the March 18 attack in which intelligence officers shot at three journalists.

Abdisalan, who is also known by his nickname Germany, publishes original reporting, commentary, and shares news from other outlets on his Facebook page, where he has over 220,000 followers. In the days leading up to the March 18 attack, Abdisalan published several posts of his own and shared other outlets reports about President Muse Bihis recent visit to the United States and the implications of the visit amid Somalilands bid for international recognition of its self-declared sovereignty, according to CPJs review of this page.

He also published footage of people allegedly protesting the presidents visit and holding the flag of Somalia, of which Mogadishu is the capital and from which Somaliland broke away in 1991, and alleged that a woman seen in a picture with the president, said to be a U.S. government official, was in fact a hotel IT manager. Several reports have been published on the Facebook page since Abdisalans arrest; Ali told CPJ that the page had more than one administrator.

Ali and Abdisalan were outspoken about the March 18 attack, including in media interviews, Facebook posts, and by speaking to local civil society and press rights groups.

Ali, who worked as a reporter for a local broadcaster until about a month ago, publishes reporting and commentary on his Facebook page where he has over 76,000 followers, but he told CPJ that he does not believe any of his work precipitated the March 18 attack. However, he added that he is concerned for his safety since Abdisalans arrest.

On the night of March 18 in Hargeisa, Abdisalan was riding in a car with Ali and Shafic when two other vehicles ambushed them, according to Ali and those media reports and statements. Ali was driving and told CPJ that the assailants blocked their car from moving forward or backwards.

One shot fired by the assailants went into the vehicle the journalists were driving. Several of the five assailants were kicking and punching Abdisalan all over his body when a second shot went off.

One of the officers also hit Ali on the head with the butt of a pistol and when he ran away, one of the men shot at him. Ali said that the men left the scene of the attack shortly after he escaped. Both Ali and Abdisalan received treatment at a local hospital for minor injuries to their arms and heads.

CPJs emails and messages sent via Facebook and Twitter to the office of the Somaliland president, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Ministry of Information were either unanswered or returned error messages. Phone calls to these ministries either rang without answer or did not connect.

An individual who identified himself as Ministry of Interior official Mohamed Ismail, and who said he was returning one of CPJs phone calls, said he would review queries sent via WhatsApp. When CPJ sent those queries on April 7, this individual said he would review the communication as soon as he was at home, but had not responded by publication time.

CPJ phone calls to Somaliland Police Commissioner General Mohamed Adan Saqadhi did not connect, and he did not respond to messages delivered to his WhatsApp. Calls to the head of intelligence Mohamed Salebaan Hasan were unanswered and he did not respond to messages from CPJ requesting comment.
12.04.2022 LISTEN

The leadership of the Colleges of Education Non-Teaching Staff Association of Ghana (CENTSAG) says the ongoing strike of its members will only end if they receive positive feedback from government.

Members of the union began the indefinite strike Monday, April 11, 2022.

The strike follows what the union terms as the hesitancy of the appropriate authorities to act on their demand for better conditions of service.

Already, the association has declined an invitation by Ghana Tertiary Education Commission due to the non-availability of some of its leaders.

Speaking to Citi News, the National Secretary of CENTSAG, Samuel Opoku, said the association will meet the appropriate authorities in due course.

The strike is on in about 46 colleges of education across the country. We will not cook for the students, we will not open the labs, clean the environment, and any other thing. This will continue indefinitely until something positive comes up. We can say that as of today, we have not received anything nor heard any information from the authorities.

We could not attend the meeting after receipt on Wednesday, April 6, 2022, due to how scattered our members are. So, we replied, stating reasons why we could not be at the meeting on Friday, April 8, 2022, he said.

---citinewsroom
GhanaPA Logo

12.04.2022 LISTEN

A group calling itself the Alcohol Policy Alliance Ghana (GhanAPA) has backed the call by the Chief Executive Officer of GIHOC and former Member of Parliament Hon. Maxwell Kofi Dwumah for government to impose heavy taxes on the alcohol industry in Ghana.

In a press release issued in Accra on Monday and signed by Mr. Benjamin Anabila, the group's President, GhanaPA was of the view that the call made by the former Parliamentarian will help curtail or limit the importation, production and consumption of alcoholic drinks in the country.

This call couldnt have come at a better time than this, considering the COVID 19 cases and mortality rates recorded in Ghana. While COVID-19 had initially been considered as respiratory infective condition that causes harm primarily through inflammatory and immunological processes in the respiratory track.

The statement observed that emerging evidence points out that, patients living with Non Communicable Diseases (NCDs) are at high risk of contacting COVID-19 and suffering more. These findings were confirmed by the President of Ghana; Nana Addo Danquah Akufo-Addo during his 24th Update of Covid-19 to the country. President Akufo-Addo categorically stated that people living with underlining health conditions such as NCDs are at a larger risk to contact COVID-19.

According to WHO, NCDs kill 41 million people every year which is equivalent to 74% of all deaths globally. 77% of all NCD deaths are in low and middle-income countries where Ghana falls. WHO also states that harmful use of alcohol causes detrimental health and social consequences for the drinker, the people around and the society at large. Alcohol use is one of the worlds leading risk factors for illness, disability and death.

Alcohol accounts for 3.3 million deaths each year than HIV/AIDS, violence and Tuberculosis. 4.8% of all global burdens of diseases and injuries are attributed to alcohol consumption. It is estimated that alcohol consumption alone causes more than 10% of burdens of Non Communicable Diseases globally, the press release added.

Mr. Anabila pointed out that based on the information above, GhanAPA believes that there is no benefit associated with the consumption of alcohol. He added that the poor are most vulnerable to alcohol-related diseases and its negative impact.

According to him, these vulnerable groups are the ones who cannot afford their hospital bills. "So increasing alcohol tax or imposing a new levy on alcohol will help limit the intake of alcohol by the vulnerable and also the levy could be used to fund the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA)."
UNITY  Since January, people in Leer, a county in South Sudans Unity state have been caught up in spiralling conflict, leading to loss of lives, displacement, and a dire humanitarian situation.

Things got worse over the past week with numerous villages south of Leer town being looted and burnt. Critically, Adok port, the second-largest economic hub in the state, is reportedly destroyed, and violence against women is said to be rising. This latest spate of violent attacks resulted in an estimated 1,000 displaced families seeking refuge at the South Sudan Peoples Defence Forces (SSPDF) training center in Muon, a location some 17 kilometers from the main town.

In response, Ghanaian peacekeepers from the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) have stepped up patrols and are engaging with communities to restore calm and stability.

According to Hiroko Hirahara, the Head of the UN Peacekeeping missions Field Office in Bentiu, the situation on the ground, while relatively peaceful now, remains critical. When conflict first broke out in the beginning of the year, we saw a massive influx of displaced persons flocking to Leer, revealed Ms. Hirahara.

Our Ghanaian peacekeepers have been doing all they can to protect and sustain these newcomers, working with local authorities to ensure their security and providing emergency humanitarian services such as clean drinking water, she continued.

With latest instances of violence leading to fresh displacement, peacekeepers are redoubling efforts to build community confidence and bolster the security situation but the humanitarian situation in and around Leer is more alarming than ever, cautioned the high-ranking UNMISS official.

For Paulino Kuch Mawich, Coordinator, Relief and Rehabilitation Commission, the plight of the newly displaced in Muon is deeply worrying.

Community members gathered at the SSPDF training center are in a state of shock. They need food, shelter, water, and medical care but it is hard to estimate when much-needed humanitarian assistance will reach them. UNMISS peacekeepers are providing emergency first aid and drinking water but its not enough, said Mr. Mawich.

Major Frederick Ganfaa, a peacekeeper from Ghana leading the mission's response on the ground confirms Mr. Mawichs testimony. I have just returned from a patrol to Muon and people there need aid beyond which we, as peacekeepers, can provide. However, we will continue to make sure they are safe and meet their urgent requirements as best as we can, stated the Major.

Regular services and humanitarian aid in Leer have been disrupted because humanitarian workers were recently evacuated for their own safety.

UNMISS troops managed to evacuate humanitarian workers stranded in violence-affected areas last week, Ms. Hirahara added. Ghanaian peacekeepers brought some 150 humanitarian partners into their own base in Leer to protect them effectively. We are now sending reinforcements to strengthen Blue Helmets on the ground so that they can intensify ongoing efforts to protect civilians, she added.

Unity state is beleaguered by the worst flooding in 60 years and these conflicts have exacerbated already pressing humanitarian needs.
Assembly Members at the Korle Klottey Municipal Assembly ( KoKMA) in the Greater Accra Region have voted unanimously to retain hon. Francis Ebo Mensah as the Assembly's Presiding Member (PM).

The voting has to be conducted for the second time after the sole candidate failed to secure the agreed two-thirds of votes of the Assembly members present. However, after further consultation, all the seventeen Assembly Members present voted Yes to endorse Mr. Francis Ebo Mensah's candidature.

In his address, the PM elect expressed his profound gratitude to the Assembly Members for the hope and confidence reposed in him. He promised to justify the trust they have in him by working diligently without fear, favour and discrimination.

He promised to ensure the collaboration of members of the Assembly for the betterment of the people they are serving. "KoKMA has achieved a lot in just three years of its establishment which means we have good Assembly Members that understand the work and have the Municipality at heart."

He continued, "We have chalked these successes in just a short period of our existence because we have competent Assembly Member who know their work and are determined to make the Municipality the best within the Greater Accra Region and Ghana at large."

Mr. Ebo Mensah also commended the KoKMA MCE, hon. Samuel Nii Adjei Tawiah for his support to the Assembly Members over the years. "The MCE is also a down to earth leader who listens to the cry and advice of the Assembly Members without any discrimination."

He added, "I as the Presiding Member also make sure whatever has been discussed and agreed at the executive committee level is endorsed and put to action. We shall continue to collaborate and work together in a separation of powers, checks and balances manner so as to make our Municipality, the envy of all."

He described his endorsement as a time for reflection and focus on the battle ahead of them which is to help President Akufo-Addo achieve his agenda of making Accra the cleanest city in Africa.

"This is not the time to celebrate but to keep our composure and focus on the work ahead of us. The work belongs to us all and we must work hard, effectively and collaboratively as a team with unity of purpose to achieve our goals," Mr. Ebo Mensah indicated.

On his part, the Greater Accra Regional Minister, Mr. Henry Quartey praised the MCE and Assembly Members for the unison and peaceful election. He also commended the Assembly for the great job they have done over the three year period of its existence.

The Regional Minister thanked all Assembly Members for endorsing the candidature of the PM for the second time. "I expressed my gratitude to Assembly Members for their continues support to the MCE and the PM as well as for the wonderful work done so far in the Municipality."

He appealed to the Assembly Members to continue to support the MCE and the Assembly to execute their mandate without fear or favour.

He said the MCE and his staff needed to be encouraged to do more than what they have done. To that end urged other Municipalities in the region to emulate the good examples of the KoKMA MCE and his team. "Ghana belongs to all of us and we all have roles to play in making the country and our respective communities better."

He used the opportunity to advise the people of the Municipality to abide by the operation clean your frontage campaign. "I must commend you people for helping our agenda of making Accra better works perfectly. We all owe a duty to mother Ghana to ensure that we have a healthy living environment."
Global Pharmaceutical Company, Bliss GVS Ghana, under its ACT for Africa campaign, over the weekend visited Kumasi, where the company donated antimalarial and other essential medicines to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) and the Manhyia District Hospital.

The donation brings to three, the number of hospitals in three different regions that have benefited from the global pharmaceutical companys campaign against malaria.

Hospitals and institutions that have already received antimalarial and other essential medicines are the Koforidua Regional Hospital, St. Martins Senior High School in Nsawam, Tamale Teaching Hospital and the Nurses and Midwives Training College in Tamale.

Aside the donations, Bliss GVS Ghana also engaged the schools in health talks to educate them on preventive measures against malaria.

The Act for Africa campaign is an initiative of Bliss GVS Ghana aimed at bringing awareness and empowering healthcare providers to be able to reduce the malaria burden in Ghana and Africa.

Presenting the medicines to the management of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital and Manhyia, Ashanti Regional Medical Representative of Bliss GVS Ghana, Mr. David Kofi Boakye Abubear said the company is providing an opportunity for people who cannot afford anti-malarial and other essential medicines when diagnosed with the disease to receive free medicines.

Mr. Boakye Abubear indicated that the medicines presented to the two hospitals is worth a total of GHS45,000. He further advised the general public not to self-medicate when they show symptoms of malaria but rather get tested and diagnosed before they begin any form of treatment.

Receiving the medicines on behalf of the hospital, Acting Director of Pharmacy at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Dr. Abena Nyarko Barnieh, thanked the team from Bliss GVS Ghana for the donation and said the drugs will be used to treat needy patients who cannot afford to pay for medications.

She indicated further that the donation will also ease the financial burden imposed on the hospital by patients who are not on the national health insurance scheme and are unable to afford treatment.

We realized there is anti-malarial, antibiotics and anesthesia which are frequently used in this hospital so we are very grateful for the donation, she added.

For his part, Deputy Director of Pharmacy for the Manhyia District Hospital, Mr. Douglas Damptey who received the medicines on behalf of the hospital expressed profound gratitude to Bliss GVS Ghana for the donation and said the donation will enhance health delivery at the hospital.

He advised the public to desist from self-medication without diagnosis from a hospital.

Symptoms of malaria are similar to symptoms of other diseases including bacterial infections. The Ghana Health Service, the World Health Organization and other health organizations recommend that whenever you have symptoms and you suspect it is malaria, you should go and get tested before the anti-malarial drug is administered, he advised.

Expressing appreciation to the two hospitals for the warm reception, Mr. Boakye Abubear said Bliss GVS Ghana will continue in the fight against malaria to ensure that Africa becomes a malaria free continent.
PIGGS PEAK  It appears that some of the parents whose children at Ntsinini High School had travelled with the Head teacher, Jeremiah Kunene, to pray on a mountain, do not want him back at the school.

Yesterday, several parents had gathered outside the school, demanding to know why he had returned. Some of the parents said they would forcefully go into the school to remove the head teacher. As the head teacher was spotted at the school yesterday morning by some of the parents, residents informed the parents and they began to group up near the school gate. However, they did not take any action and instead waited for the Hhohho Regional Education Officer (REO), Thuli Langwenya, to arrive at the school as they had been expecting her. We are waiting for the REO to come to the school, said some parents.

There were also fears that the residents would become violent and police officers were called. About seven police officers arrived to ensure that the situation was peaceful. Later on, an official representing the REO, arrived as well as police officers from Buhleni and Piggs Peak. A meeting was then held where the parents vented out their grievances. Some of the parents also asked what would happen to the head teacher since he had been away from the school for more than three days.

Absence

However, they were advised that his absence from work was a matter that could only be discussed by the Ministry of Education and Training. The parents also said they did not feel safe anymore as they were not consulted when some of their children were taken away to pray on the mountain. Kunene confirmed that there were parents gathered outside his school. He said they had called and asked him how he managed to get back to the school. They are complaining that I had left with their children, said Kunene. He said there was no reason to fear that anything would happen to their children. He said the situation would normalise because none of the children got hurt during the time they were away to the mountains. Kunene also claimed that some of the parents had been calling to ask that their children should return to school because they were supposed to be learning. He said not all the children who went along with him were pupils as some are said to have failed.

Meanwhile, residents were also divided on who should be arrested. While some of them wanted the church leadership to be held accountable for taking the children to the mountain, others blamed the parents. Why did the parents allow children to accompany him? asked a resident. He said it was an offence for parents to take their children with them to the mountains yet they were supposed to be in school. Meanwhile, when the REO Langwenya was reached for comment, she said she had not been at work as she was unwell.
The General Secretary of the Private Health Facilities Association of Ghana, Frank-Torblu Richard has called for the decentralization of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).

He told Alfred Ocansey in an interview on 3FM Sunrise Morning Show on Tuesday that there have been challenges with payment of capitation to private health facilities for their services to the scheme by the government due to the centralized system.

Frank-Torbu again expressed displeasure with the pricing regime for medicines and services under the NHIS.

We buy our medicines at market price but we are obliged to sell them at the set price by the government. Government is to facilitate the procurement of drugs for us but that hasn't been the case, he said.

Unlike government medical facilities that procure directly from the central or regional medical stores, Private Health Care Providers buy from the open market or even pay cash when they buy from the central store.

The Private Health Facilities Association of Ghana warned of a partial withdrawal of their services. To this end, they are going to stop selling generic drugs which are on the NHIS drugs list.

In order for us to be in business, instead of stocking the generic medicines which are on the NHIS list, we will rather stock the branded ones and sell them at the market price to the patients, and nothing prohibits us from that. Government has become insensitive to the plight of Private Health Care Facilities, Frank-Torbu reiterated.

Government should post some of the trained medical officers to us. Even if we have to pay part of their salaries, we are ready to meet government halfway, says Frank-Torbu.

Most of the hospitals will have to reduce our operations to clinics because the quality and quantity of the health workers needed to run our facilities are not available since we are losing them to the search for greener pastures, he added.

---3news.com
The food giant that owns the Cadbury brand is embroiled in fresh allegations of employing child labour after an investigation obtained footage of children working with machetes on cocoa farms in its supply chain.

Children as young as 10 have allegedly been found working in Ghana to harvest cocoa pods to supply Mondelez International, which owns Cadbury. Campaigners say the farmers are being paid less than 2 a day and cant afford to hire adult workers.

The Channel 4 Dispatches investigation, broadcast on Monday, comes more than two decades after the chocolate industry pledged to eliminate child labour.

Ayn Riggs, founder of Slave Free Chocolate, which campaigns against child labour in cocoa farms, said: Its horrifying to see these children using these long machetes, which are sometimes half their height. Chocolate companies promised to clean this up over 20 years ago. They knew they were profiting from child labour and have shirked their promises.

The Cadbury revelations come as this weekend millions of pounds will be spent on chocolate treats for Easter. More than 300m is spent on Easter eggs and novelties each year, including more than 80m boxed eggs. The chocolate market is worth 5.6bn in the UK, according to the market research firm Mintel. It includes about 330m Cadbury Creme eggs which are eaten every year.

More than 300m is spent on Easter eggs each year. Photograph: Katherine Anne Rose/The Observer

Mondelez, which made global profits last year of more than 3.3bn, has a sustainability programme, Cocoa Life. Its logo is marked on its products, including Cadbury Dairy Milk, and its website states: No amount of child labour in the cocoa supply chain should be acceptable.

Under the Cocoa Life programme, Mondelez had, by the end of 2020, mapped about 167,800 cocoa farms that supply its businesses in Ghana, Cote dIvoire, Indonesia, the Dominican Republic and Brazil.

On one of the farms alleged to be supplying Mondelez, two children with machetes were filmed by the documentary team weeding the plantations. Children were also filmed using sharp knives to open cocoa pods and swinging long sticks with blades tied to them to harvest the pods from the cocoa trees. None of the children were wearing protective clothing. The daughter of one farmer, claimed to be supplying Mondelez, said she had sliced her foot open while using a long machete.

On one of the smallholdings, a niece of the farmer said she thought she was going to her uncles farm to help with childcare but claims she was being forced to work long hours on the farm and not allowed to go to school. When asked why she did not speak out, she said she was afraid.

Under Ghanaian law, it is illegal for children under 13 to work on cocoa farms. There is also a ban on anyone under 18 being involved in hazardous labour.

Ghana is the worlds second biggest cocoa producer after Cote dIvoire, and the crop, along with gold, is one of its most valuable exports. A cocoa farmer will typically receive 7p from a milk chocolate bar costing 1 in the UK, and 11p from a dark chocolate bar.

Children as young as 10 are allegedly being forced to work long hours on cocoa farms. Photograph: Channel 4

It means many live in extreme poverty while facing rising costs from the impacts of climate change, because of unpredictable weather patterns and changes in crop-threatening pests and diseases. Ninety percent of the worlds cocoa beans are harvested on small, family farms with less than two hectares of land.

In 2001, a cocoa industry agreement agreed to eliminate child labour. It was backed by the World Cocoa Foundation, a trade group whose members include the worlds biggest cocoa and chocolate companies, Nestle, Mars Wrigley and Mondelez.

But the protocols targets were postponed and adjusted in 2005 and 2008. A revised target in 2010, to reduce the worst forms of child labour in the cocoa sector in west Africa by 70% by 2020, has been missed. Campaigners say child labour is still endemic in the chocolate industry.

A study by the social research group NORC at the University of Chicago in 2020 found 1.56 million children were involved in the cocoa industry in Ghana and Cote dIvoire.

The report found prevalence rate of child labor in cocoa production among agricultural households in cocoa growing areas of Cote dIvoire and Ghana increased between 2008/09 and 2018/19. There was a 62 percent increase in cocoa production in the two countries during this period.

Joanna Ewart-James, executive director of Freedom United, an international organisation campaigning against child labour in the cocoa supply chain, said: Child slavery and child labour have plagued the industry in Cote dIvoire and Ghana  which produce 60% of the worlds cocoa  for decades. Cocoa farmers are not earning an income that enables them to recruit the labour they need.

On Friday, Freedom United will publish a scorecard rating global chocolate firms on their labour and environmental practices. The campaign group says Mondelez has invested in community initiatives to combat child labour but, along with other leading companies, needs to pay farmers more money for its cocoa.

Slave Free Chocolate compiles a list of chocolate companies that use ethically grown chocolate.

Martin Short, president of the World Cocoa Foundation, said: Dealing with child labour abuses as a standalone issue will never work until we deal with the root cause of child labour, which is farmer poverty.

Cadbury, one of Britains most famous companies, was controversially taken over by the US food firm Kraft Foods in January 2010. The American food giant changed its name to Mondelez International in October 2012.

Mondelez considers a wide range of measures are required to combat child labour. The company has been involved in research which shows that increasing the price of cocoa will not on its own lift many farmers out of poverty, because they are farming on small amounts of land.

A Mondelez International spokesperson said: Were deeply concerned by the incidents documented in the Dispatches programme. We explicitly prohibit child labour in our operations and have been working relentlessly to take a stand against this, making significant efforts through our Cocoa Life programme to improve the protection of children in the communities where we source cocoa, including in Ghana.

The welfare of the children and families featured is our primary concern and we commit to investigating further so we can provide any support needed. As part of our Cocoa Life programme, we have child labour monitoring and remediation systems in place in Ghana, which means community members and NGO partners are trained to provide assistance to vulnerable children, and once identified, we can help to address any cases of child labour. The company said it had requested additional information from the Dispatches team so it could investigate.

Originating at www.theguardian.com
Millions of people in Somalia are at risk of famine, with young children the most vulnerable to the worsening drought, UN agencies said Tuesday, warning that the troubled nation is on the brink of a humanitarian catastrophe.

Many parts of Somalia are being ravaged by an extreme months-long drought that has also taken hold in other countries in the region including Ethiopia and Kenya, destroying crops and livestock and driving huge numbers of people from their homes.

"Somalia is facing famine conditions as a perfect storm of poor rain, skyrocketing food prices and huge funding shortfalls leaves almost 40 percent of Somalis on the brink," the World Food Programme, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), humanitarian agency OCHA and the United Nations Children's Fund said in a joint statement.

"We are literally about to start taking food from the hungry to feed the starving," WFP Somalia country director El-Khidir Daloum said in the statement, describing the nation as "on the cusp of a humanitarian catastrophe".

Map of Somalia. By Vincent LEFAI AFPFile

Six million Somalis or 40 percent of the population are now facing extreme levels of food insecurity, according to a new report by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, almost a two-fold increase since the beginning of the year, the agencies said.

About 1.4 million children face acute malnutrition through the end of the year, with around one quarter facing severe acute malnutrition, they said.

Children under the age of five are the most vulnerable, with access to food and milk scarce because of rising commodity prices and livestock issues.

Must 'act now'

Six areas have been identified as "at risk of famine, that are at risk of going down that route of 2011 if we don't act now", Lara Fossi, deputy country director for WFP Somalia, told a press conference in Geneva.

She was referring to Somalia's devastating 2011 famine, which saw 260,000 people -- half of them children under the age of six -- die of hunger or hunger-related disorders.

Fossi said there were "huge surges" of people moving across the country in search of humanitarian assistance.

The Norwegian Refugee Agency said 745,000 people had been forced from their homes because of the drought that followed three failed rainy seasons, citing figures from the UN refugee agency.

Six million Somalis are facing extreme levels of food insecurity. By YASUYOSHI CHIBA AFPFile

The UN statement said that together, humanitarian agencies had been able to reach almost two million people but warned of a "critical gap" in donor funding, with a 2022 plan seeking $1.5 billion reaching only 4.4 percent of the target.

Etienne Peterschmitt, the FAO representative in Somalia, said attention had been diverted by the war in Ukraine that has also driven up prices of food and fuel.

The NRC noted that almost all of Somalia's wheat comes from Ukraine or Russia, with prices already spiking for wheat, sugar and oil in parts of the country.

Natural disasters -- not conflict -- have in recent years been the main drivers of displacement in Somalia, a war-torn nation that ranks among the world's most vulnerable to climate change.

The country is also in the grip of a political crisis over long-delayed elections and has been battling an insurgency by the Al-Shabaab Islamist extremist group for more than a decade.
At least 45 people have died in floods and mudslides after rainstorms struck the South African port city of Durban and surrounding KwaZulu-Natal province, the authorities said on Tuesday.

The country's meteorologists forecasted more "extreme" rains on the way Tuesday night accompanied by "widespread flooding".

"The latest reports indicate that over 45 people have lost their lives as a result of the heavy rains, this number could possibly increase as more reports come in," the province's Department of Cooperative Governance announced in a statement.

Days of pounding rain flooded several areas, tore houses apart and ravaged infrastructure across the southeastern city, while landslips caused train services across KwaZulu-Natal province to be suspended.

A huge crack opened up in this road after its foundations were washed away. By PHILL MAGAKOE AFP

The rains have flooded city highways, torn apart bridges, submerged cars and collapsed houses. A fuel tank was floating in the sea after being tossed off the road.

Several shipping containers that were stacked high atop of each other, fell like dominoes and lay strewn on a yard, while some spiled over into a main road in the city, one of southern Africa's largest regional gateways to the sea.

"At around 3am (0100 GMT), I felt the truck shaking and I thought maybe someone bumped it and when I tried to open the curtain I saw the water level... was very high," said truck driver Mthunzi Ngcobo.

The disaster management department in KwaZulu-Natal province, of which Durban is the largest city, urged people to stay at home and ordered those residing in low-lying areas to move to higher ground.

More than 2,000 houses and 4,000 "informal" homes, or shacks, have been damaged, provincial premier Sihle Zikalala, told journalists.

Rescue operations, aided by the military, are underway to evacuate people trapped in affected areas, the provincial Department of Cooperative Governance said.

Those trapped include teachers and students at a Durban secondary school, it said.

'It's an absolute nightmare'

Durban mayor Mxolisi Kaunda earlier told reporters that power stations had been flooded and water supplies disrupted -- and that even graveyards had not been spared the devastation.

One picture posted on Twitter by an anti-theft vehicle-tracking agency showed what looked like a human skull that had been washed to the surface of a cemetery.

High winds and lashing rain caused containers at a storage facility to topple over. By PHILL MAGAKOE AFP

The city had only just recovered from deadly riots last July in which shopping malls were looted and warehouses set on fire, in South Africa's worst unrest since the end of apartheid.

A local humanitarian agency, Gift of the Givers, said in a statement: "The need of the hour is huge."

The country's rail service PRASA said landslips and rubble on the tracks had forced it to suspend all train services in the province.

"It's an absolute nightmare. Plenty of mudslides, people (dying)," Garrith Jamieson, director of Durban-based ALS Paramedics Medical Services, told AFP as he predicted "more fatalities".

Southern parts of the continent's most industrialised country are bearing the brunt of climate change -- suffering recurrent and worsening torrential rains and flooding.

Floods killed around 70 people in April 2019.

"We know it's climate change getting worse, it's moved from 2017 with extreme storms to supposedly having record floods in 2019, and now 2022 clearly exceeding that," University of Johannesburg development studies professor Mary Galvin said.

"Droughts and floods will become more frequent and more intense and that's what we are seeing" she said, frustrated at government's lack of preparedness.

"It's not surprising, it's absolutely devastating but equally devastating is the fact that we haven't done anything to get ready for it," she lamented.

The South African Weather Service admitted in a statement that "the exceptionally heavy rainfall overnight (Monday) and (Tuesday) morning exceeded even the expectations of the southern African meteorological community at large".
On February 24, as Russia began its air and missile assaults in Ukraine's Donbas area, it escalated into a full-fledged war. Most western countries condemned the attack, and economic measures were imposed. Following the failure of economic sanctions to persuade Russia to withdraw its soldiers, United Nations convened an emergency meeting of the UN General Assembly (UNGA), the first such meeting in 40 years.

On March 2, the UNGA in New York voted on a resolution calling for the withdrawal of the Russian military from Ukraine; 141 countries out of 193 voted in favour of the resolution criticising Russia during the summit. However, 24 out of 55 African countries declined to join the resounding vote denouncing Russian aggression, indicating a lack of unanimity among African countries. Ghana, Kenya, and Gabon holding the rotating UN Security Council (UNSC) seats, all voted in favour of the proposal. Out of 23, 17 African countries abstained. Six more African countries have decided to be absent from voting. And Eritrea was the only African country to vote against the resolution, joining Russia and three other firm Russian supporters: Belarus, Syria, and North Korea. A similar text has previously been submitted in the UNSC, with 11 countries supporting it, but it was rejected due to Russia's veto.

Most African countries abstained or opposed the resolution, citing inadequate diplomatic mechanisms and calling for direct involvement among stakeholders. The reasons for this egregious silence against Russia, on the other hand, are numerous. The historic relationship between Russia and Africa may be traced back to the Cold War days' connection with the erstwhile soviet Union. The Soviet Union was a prominent actor in Africa for the entirety of the Cold War. In order to obtain an ideological advantage over the West, the Soviet Union financed many post-colonial African movements demanding self-determination and freedom. Many countries received technical, educational, and financial help as well as military assistance from the Soviet Union after they attained independence.

Notwithstanding the Soviet Union's legacy, Russia's outreach to Africa has remained abysmally low ever since Soviet Union's collapse. This was owing to mostly Russia's faltering economy and international sanctions imposed by the United States and Europe. However, in recent years, Russia has bolstered its influence in Africa by employing an unusual mix of diplomacy, weaponry, and mercenaries. In reality, Russia's latest admission could be linked to its necessity in the aftermath of the tough sanctions imposed during the 2014 annexation of Crimea. Putin's administration increased its involvement in Africa as it sought new markets and diplomatic aid as part of this strategy.

It was in this backdrop Russia hosted the first-ever Russia-Africa Summit in 2019. The event, which took place in the Russian city of Sochi, drew 50 African countries and 43 African heads of State, making it a tremendous diplomatic success. President Putin signed off $ 20 billion in debt due to Russia by African countries after the 2019 Russia-Africa Summit, along with intentions to raise Russia's commerce with Africa to $40 billion per year. A second Russia-Africa summit is planned for late 2022 in St. Petersburg.

Russia is a crucial arms supplier and one of the most effective defence purchase partners. According to SIPRI data, Russia delivered 30% of weaponry imports by countries in Sub-Saharan Africa between 2016 and 2020. Compared to that, China contributed only 20%, France 9.5%, and the United States 5.4%. Ethiopia, Uganda, and Angola are African countries that significantly rely on Russian military weapons. Both Ethiopia and Uganda are currently fighting ongoing military battles and are highly reliant on Russia to help them defeat rebel forces. Other nations, including Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eritrea, Kenya, and Rwanda, also rely on Russian weapons to varying degrees.

An increasing number of African countries have engaged with Russian mercenaries and purchased ever-larger quantities of Russian armaments in addition to arms imports. The Wagner Group, a corporation tied to Yevgeny Prigozhin, a close confidant of Putin, is the leading employer of Russian mercenaries in Africa.

The Wagner Group provides counterinsurgency and counterterrorism training as well as military hardware to African countries. In return, Russia gains mineral resource concessions, commercial contracts, and access to ports and airbases. In recent years, Wagner mercenaries have participated in civil wars in Libya and Mozambique. They are currently providing protection to the president of the Central African Republic. In January, Wagner fighters first appeared in Mali as part of a pact to confront Islamist terrorists, which enraged France, the former colonial ruler. Officials from France have stated unequivocally that cooperation with the Wagner Group is incompatible, and France declared its decision to remove its forces from Malian land in February 2022.

Africans make up about 20% of international students in Ukraine. Several reports emerged of Ukrainian border guards refusing African students their right to leave the country. The accusation of racism and prejudice against the Ukrainian soldiers have drastically reduced African sympathy for Ukraine.

Following the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the US and European nations imposed a slew of sanctions on Russia. Despite being geographically distant from the conflict, the African continent is concerned about the spill-over effect and subsequent economic sanctions, which will significantly impact different African countries. The surge in oil, gas, and wheat prices is the war's most visible and tangible result.

Price increases have different consequences depending on whether a country is a net exporter or importer. As Europe becomes less reliant on Russian gas, it may turn to African countries searching for alternative energy sources. Algeria, Nigeria, Angola, Gabon, Libya are among the oil-producing countries that will benefit from increasing oil prices. Similarly, gas-producing countries will also gain, particularly if their output can be increased.

The Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline route countries of Nigeria, Niger, and Algeria resolved to cooperate shortly before the war. They signed the 'Declaration of Niamey' on February 16 to enhance their natural gas exports to European markets. However, most African countries do not produce oil and are net importers. The worldwide oil price increase will result in rising prices of petroleum and associated products, as well as a significant increase in transportation costs in these countries.

Similarly, the war will compound the woes of most African economies, which are already struggling from the pandemic's effects. Because both Russia and Ukraine are essential suppliers of wheat and fertiliser in Africa, the war will undoubtedly impact food security across the continent.

Last but not least, Africa is concerned about its energy and power supplies, with electricity pricing and reliability being major factors restricting the region's industrial productivity. On the continent, companies such as Gazprom, Lukoil, Rostec, and Rosatom provide options for reliable electricity and power delivery via nuclear energy development. These projects may be postponed or abandoned entirely due to the present crisis, generating severe concerns about the continent's energy security.

As the world scrambles for a way to stop the war, Africa's position remains divided, with some criticising the Russian aggression and others implicitly supporting Russia. Furthermore, the way several African countries acted in the Ukraine crisis to keep the balance between Russia and the West surprised the West. In the Russia-Ukraine crisis, African countries appear to be treading carefully in order to protect their national interests while also defending the rights of Africans stranded in conflict zones. Despite their differences in opposing Russian aggression, they were unanimous in condemning discrimination against African individuals requesting humanitarian assistance. Russia's isolation from the rest of the world is expected to bring it closer to African countries in the future.

(Samir Bhattacharya, research associate at Vivekanada International Foundation, New Delhi)
After a rigorous one week apprenticeship based vocational training in sewing and beads making, 52 low income and vulnerable women from communities across the East Gonja district of the Savannah region graduated successfully.

Presenting certificates, graduation parcels and start-up kits to the beneficiaries, Mr. Richard Broni, Municipal Chief Executive of the East Gonja District, congratulated the participants and advised them to put into practice the skills they have received through the training.

Programs Manager for Food for All Africa, Mr. Ibrahim Shehu Babangida reiterated Food for All Africa's commitment in creating efficient and sustainable means of healthy nutrition for communities through advocacy, food recovery and redistribution in cooperation with credible and potential partners in all sectors.

"Food for All Africa offers all year round feeding programs to over 100,000 beneficiaries and vocational training to at-risk youth across Ghana.

"Major programs include Daily Hot meals for Homeless, Monthly food box/food bag distribution to vulnerable and incapable of working, Lunch Box School Feeding program, Food Recovery, Vocational training and job recommendation for unskilled youth," he stated.

He expressed his organization's profound gratitude to partners such as Mothers Alliance Network-BusiMoms, Food Banking Regional Network, Mohammed bin Rashid Global Initiatives, Wipe-Away Foundation and East Gonja Municipal Assembly for making it possible for successful training.

He indicated their willingness to keep up with the beneficiaries on their progress.
Its terrifying living in Ghana now. The President of the republic has made life in the country terrifying than Boko Harams operations in the Northern part of Nigeria . The economic situation in the country now has sophisticated the lives of Ghanaians except for the political class who continue to loot, steal, and enrich themselves at the expense of the poor, supervised by the President. Nana Addo with his security appointees continue to execute their plans of arresting any Ghanaian-citizen, who criticizes some of his bad policies.

Democracy is being threatened already under the President who prides himself to uphold the rule of law. And my biggest surprise is that the US has refused this act of government terrorizing happening in Ghana. Perhaps, they want to wait like usual when the situation has worsened before they fly their planes here to evacuate Ghanaians. All international bodies, the UN, EU, are quiet about the treatment the Nana Addo government is taking Ghanaians through. I am careful not to mention any of such unions in Africa since they have in the past shown to be failures. We wait to see you roll your tongue to say a word when we try to figure out solutions for ourselves. You have refused to see the following:

CORRUPTION The injustices happening in the courts The Police brutalities The Parliamentary fights The MPs use of V8s and long convoys The Presidents insensitive expenses The lack of stable educational system The lack of infrastructures The lack of enough hospitals The continuous lies from the Vice President The fact that prices of goods and services continue to gallop every moment The fact that government continues to waste national monies The fact that government cannot account to the nation The fact that parliament refuses to hold people accountable to the nation The fact that galamsey is ongoing and government has done less to help the situation The fact that water bodies in the country have been destroyed The fact that a sachet of what is averagely sold at 30 peswas The fact that government are starving government workers The fact that there is poor conditions of service for many government workers The fact that the ex-gracia for MPs and others are abnormal The fact that the constitution of Ghana needs to be reviewed The fact that the President has so much power to do whatever he wills even when he has to supervise stealing And the fact that media men are being taught to shut up with those arrests And the fact that only State-owned media present what is happening in the country; as colorful as the President wants it And the fact that the President is always ordering the arrest of anyone who speaks against some of his bad policies. CORRUPTION

You international observers, when things are going your way, you do not observe anything. Pray it bounces back, and then you will observe. What more do you need to to call Nana Addo and his ruling friends in Ghana  Tyrants, very insensitive with his licensed Vice President Bawumia the liar? Or perhaps, your definition of who a terrorist is has changed. Or is it that the President has not started using machine-guns as is happening in Ukraine that is why you dont see there have been a terrorist attack on Ghanaians? Already, people are getting arrested for speaking against the President and some of his bad policies. If you did not like the ruling of Idi Ami, then, be quick about capturing his incarnate in Ghana . Or Ghanaians will adopt new ways to Karl Marxs methods to provide solutions. GHANA  IS IN A STAE OF EMERGENCY AND J. J. RAWLINGS SHOULD HAVE LIVED TO SEE THIS. This letter was served to Joe Biden by Emmanuel Graham Nyameke-a citizen, required by my president not to be a spectator. Sincerely yours.
12.04.2022 LISTEN

Even before the NDC compiles a new membership data to trigger a series of political activities for the commencement of yet another four-year life-cycle of the party, the real McCoy of the reorganisation exercise has already emerged. Conducted interviews of both the general public and party faithfuls within the Navrongo Central Constituency, revealed the favourite as HE John Dramani Mahama, JM for short. His name dropped effortlessly from the lips of those interviewed in the constituency.

The same people interviewed, also endorsed the NDC, and promised their votes for candidate Mahama, if he finally accepts nomination to contest in the forthcoming internal and national elections. HE John Dramani Mahama was the NDC presidential candidate for 2020 elections, which results were marred with electoral irregularities and declared six different times by the Chairman of the Electoral Commission. HE John Dramani Mahama contested the results at the Supreme Court, where, after a frustrating legal tussle with counsels of the petitioner, Akufo-Addo was declared winner of the said elections.

According to provisions of the Constitution of the NDC, compilation of membership data is the first leg of due processes required to conduct branch elections to elect delegates for constituency executive elections, who also have additional responsibilities to elect the parliamentary candidate and a flagbearer of the party, much as constitute delegates of the National Congress, the highest decision body of the party. The party is currently undergoing a reorganisation exercise in strict adherence to the party's rigorous regime of a transparent elections for vacant elective positions at different levels of the party structure, and much later elect a flagbearer.

HE John Dramani Mahama hasn't officially come out to express interest to contest for the flagbearership of the NDC. But public opinion, including voices from some leading members of the NPP, put his name ahead of his likely contestants, if he finally accepts nomination from party faithfuls who rout for his candidature.

Thus far, Kojo Bonsu, the former mayor of Kumasi, in reports, has expressed interest to contest when nominations open. Another leading member of the party, Dr Kwabena Duffour, owner of the collapsed indigenous bank, UniBank, also the onetime Governor of Bank of Ghana and former Minister of Finance, is seen on the fringes making skirmishes to enter the fray, when official assent by the party is granted to file nominations to contest the NDC flagbearership race.

Meanwhile, the intense rivalry in the Navrongo Central Constituency between the NDC and the NPP continually traded in the past, seems headed to its wits end with significant defections tilted in favour of the NDC. Two recent major events in the constituency have set the tone for a significant split in the NPP as the party heads to elect polling executives to represent the party, with a corresponding devastating effect in elections 2024.

The first major event affecting the NPP in the constituency took shape recently, when stalwart of the NPP in the constituency, Joseph Kofi Addah, died. His staunch supporters have accused her bitterest rival, Paulina Tangoba Abayage, as rsponsible for his death. To add salt to injury, President Akufo-Addo did not attend the burial and funeral service of a former cabinet minister of his government, which natives in the community deem as an insult on Kasena people.

The late Joseph Kofi Addah first became a Member of Parliament for Navrongo Central Constituency and served from March 2003 to January 7, 2013. He staged a comeback and won the Navrongo Central Constituency seat, again, as an MP on December 7, 2016. Under HE John Agyekum Kuffour, he was first appointed the Minister of Manpower Development and Empowerment in 2005. He was later made the Minister of Energy on April 28, 2006 to 2008. Under President Akufo-Addo, Joseph Kofi Addah was initially appointed the Minister of Sanitation and Water Resources. In a reshuffle, he was moved to the Ministry of Aviation to become its substantive Minister.

Before his death, he contested the NPP parliamentary primaries with Paulina Tangoba Abayage, and lost to her. Paulina Tangoba Abayage, on the other hand, was made Ghana's Ambassador to Italy from July 2017 to August 2018. She was subsequently appointed the Upper East Regional Minister, after her return from Italy in August 2018. After her successful election as the NPP parliamentary candidate for Navrongo Central Constituency in Elections 2020, she was paradoxically heavily beaten by the NDC parliamentary candidate, Sampson Tangombu Chiragia. The NDC parliamentary candidate won by 26,947 votes, representing 62.27% of total valid cast votes. His closest rival, Paulina Tangoba Abayage, who represented the NPP, came next with 15,821 votes, representing 36.56% of total votes cast. In the third position came Kubirizegah Susana Agoriba wth 503 votes representing 1.16% of total valid cast votes.

Supporters of Paulina Tangoba Abayage accused the late Joseph Kofi Addah, long before his untimely death, as the one responsible for her poor showing in the 2020 Navrongo Central Constituency parliamentary elections, thereby deepening an existing rivalry between the two. According to them, he instigated his supporters to cast their votes in favour of the NDC parliamentary candidate, Sampson Tangombu Chiragia. As a result, in the recent NPP Polling Station Executive elections, most suspected Joseph Kofi Addah loyalists were targeted and their names dropped, or they were not served forms to apply to contest the elections. It is a matter of time for some of them to make public their resignation from the party or announce their defection to the NDC.

To catch a glimpse into the rivalry between the NDC and the NPP in Navrongo Central Constituency, this is how it all started. The late Godfrey Abulu, who stood on the ticket of the NDC in 1992, became the first MP in the Fourth Republic. The NPP boycotted those elections, making Godfrey Abulu the outright winner. However his death led to a by-elections in 1995, which was won by an independent candidate, the late John Setuni Achuliwor with 6,995 votes, representing 49.3% of total valid cast votes. His closest rival, Clement Tumfuga Bugase, who represented the NDC got 6,799 votes, representing 47.9% of total valid cast votes. Coleman E Mambisi, who stood on the ticket of the EAGLE party, came in third position with 394 votes, representing 2.8% of total valid cast votes.

In parliament, Hon Achuliwor took sides and represented the opposition NPP, together with another independent candidate from Bawku Central Constituency, the late Hawa Ogede Yakubu. But the reign of John Setuni Achuliwor in Navrongo Central Constituency as a Member of Parliament, was shortlived, when he contested as the NPP parliamentary candidate for the 1996 elections which was won, this time round, by Clement Tumfuga Bugase. He won by 16,811 votes, representing 51.9% of total valid cast votes.

He stood again in Elections 2000 as the NPP candidate, and won the seat with 11,246 votes, representing 41.5%. His closest rival, Clement Tumfuga Bugase, NDC, cane second with 11,103 votes, representing 40.9%. But he [John Setuni Achuliwor] died in a ghastly motor accident in 2003, which by-elections gave the NPP parliamentary candidate, Joseph Kofi Addah, a first time taste of national politics as winner of those elections. Hon Addah won the by-elections with 12,200 votes, representing 57.9%, placing his closest NDC rival, Clement Tumfuga Bugase, second. He got 4,929 representing 23.4%.

The following year in 2004, Hon Addah won the elections with 12,444 votes, representing 39.3 % of total valid cast votes. The NDC parliamentary candidate, Emmanuel Andema also placed third with 6,201 votes, representing 19.6% of total valid cast votes. Hon Addah repeated it in 2008, increasing his vote tally to 14,354, representing 45.2% of total valid cast votes. Mark Owen Woyongo, who stood on the ticket of the NDC, also garnered 13,224 votes, representing 41.7% of total valid cast votes.

However he [Hon Addah] lost it in the 2012 elections paving way for Mark Owen Woyongo, the NDC candidate, to make it the first time to parliament, bagging 17,907 votes, representing 53.16% of total valid cast votes.Joseph Kofi Addah got 15,443 votes, representing 45.84% of total valid cast votes. He later lost the parliamentary slot to Paulina Tangoba Abayage in the NPP parliamentary primaries, who inturn lost the seat to Sampson Tangombu Chiragia, who polled 26,947 of total valid cast votes, whilst she polled 15,821. Madam Susan Agoriba Kubirizegah polled 503 votes.

On the other hand, this is how the presidential elections in Navrongo Central Constituency look. HE John Dramani Mahama in Elections 2020 won 26,099 of total valid cast votes, representing 61.37%. His closest rival, HE Addo-Dankwa Akufo-Addo came second with 15,537 of total valid cast votes, representing 36.54%. The total votes of the two leading presidential candidates representing the NDC and the NPP, respectively, in percentage makes 97.91; with the rest shared among the 10 contestants.

In the 2016 elections, HE John Dramani Mahama won with 18,810 votes, representing 48.4% of total valid cast votes; and Addo-Dankwa Akufo-Addo came second with 18,759 votes, also representing 48.3% of total valid cast votes. Also in the 2012 elections, HE John Dramani Mahama made 59.8%, whilst Addo-Dankwa Akufo-Addo came next with 38 4%. In Elections 2008, Prof Mills, the NDC presidential candidate, scored 45.9%%. Addo-Dankwa Akufo-Addo won with 44.8%.

The trend however, didn't show strongly for the NDC in 2004, 37.7%. The NPP made gains with 42.6%, retaining HE JA Kuffour. However, in Elections 2000, the NPP made 43.2% with JA Kuffour as president-elect, and the NDC trailed with 41.4%. In 1996, the NDC candidate, HE Flt Lt JJ Rawlings won with 53.0% as the NPP presidential candidate, JA Kuffour came second with 38.8%.
Africa is a continent that is known for its massive borrowing of funds from other nations especially the Western powers (Dambisa, 2010; Boone, 1996; Haden, 2011). Since the 1960s, foreign aid has been a vital tool for the socio-economic development of developing countries. It has been disapproved for some numerous reasons, some are: that it does not acknowledge what it claims it is. These include the promotion of economic growth and development in developing countries. Actually, added to the above, many research point to or criticized foreign aid, by saying it is not entirely true about what it does such as: less poverty and investment but what it should not, such as more government (Dambisa, 2010; Boone, 1996; Haden, 2011). The whole notion about foreign aid does not seek to promote democracy rather evidence shows that corrupt governments tend to receive more than non-corrupt governments (Dambisa, 2010; Alberto Alesina & Weder, 1999).

According to Ayhan, Farah, Onder, (2018) they state that, right after the end of the Second World War, development assistance, also referred to as 'foreign aid,' began to be seen as an essential tool for growth and poverty reduction. There is a history of documents that have viewed aid as a negotiating channel where donors provide finances as a way of encouraging recipients to follow specific policies. Since Robert Cassen asked (1994), Does Aid Work? , most documents focused on the "effect" of the implementation of goals that Donors and beneficiaries are supposed to share, such as poverty reduction and human rights promotion, the building of democratic institutions (Sachs,2005). A co-operative relationship is not even taken seriously between donor and recipient (Fraser &Whitfield, 2010, p. 342).

ARGUMENT AGAINST FOREIGN AID IN AFRICA.

Since the 1960s, foreign assistance has been an important resource for socio-economic growth in developing countries. This is the financial, technical and commodity flow of the DAC (Development Assistance Committee. Since the 1960s, the African continent has received a large amount of foreign aid and more than $600 billion has been transferred as foreign aid to the continent. Despite the continued and increasing amount of aid for more than half a century, little progress has been made on the continents development. Foreign assistance does not have a major effect on GDP growth, but it has a major impact on African foreign direct investment and unemployment. Nevertheless, it is noted that the levels of democracy and corruption was negative for foreign aid in countries. A clear example can be seen when Ethiopia remains one of the most corrupt and authoritarian African countries, with associated indices despite a steady increase in foreign aid.

One recommendation, these authors may give is therefore to update foreign aid in order to encourage and reward recipient countries for supporting their democracy and of corruption in the light of the recent theory and definition of inclusive governance for long-term growth (Ali Farah, Emrah Ayhan, Ankara Yildirim Beyazit University). During the first decades of aid for Africa in the 1960s and 1970s, the process of negotiating aid was given limited attention. This topic only became relevant following the policy-based lending in the 1980s. Research has increasingly focused on the effectiveness of donor policies in promoting the economic (and later political) reform of beneficiary governments. The main work on the African political reform system is based on the theory of rational choice (Bates 1981; Hyden 1983; Callaghy & Ravenhill 1993) and the theory of neo-patrimonial structures (Van de Walle 2001). Master-agent modeling (Kil-lick 1998; Dijkstra 2002) and the dominant texts on aid negotiations are new institutional approaches (Mosley et al. 1991). This does not incorporate a new donor relationship model that can forecast the outcomes of the aid negotiations but instead provides a way to address the under-theoretical problems in the aid political economy. The method, which has been developed here, differs from the existing texts in three ways;

Firstly, rational choice and game-theoretical models place 'participants' rather than being partly shaped as packages of desires and negotiating capabilities by political agents in the ideas and memories of the groups they come from. On the other hand, this approach assumes that politicians and bureaucrats, as well as more complex corporate bodies such as ministries, cabinets and political parties, identify their preferences not simply in terms of their own interests and not simply in terms of rational calculations. During previous studies, these factors typically affect negotiation approaches of donors and beneficiaries. They consider them, above all, as outside factors restricting the predictive ability of the models adopted. These are however intimate, individualistic and 'provided by each actor's position in the incentive system.

Secondly, a lot of literature is ancient. Identifying the significance of each package of agreements not only means identifying the existing aid program, but also the theoretical and institutional legacy of the innovative systems. Mosley et al. (1991) and Killick (1998) discussed the lending practices of the World Bank and the IMF and the effectiveness of conditionality in the 1980s and early 1990s. As Mosley et al. pointed out, any negotiating game can change dramatically, not least because, after years of experience, both sides find ways to neutralize each other's tactics. In fact, since they wrote, a lot has changed. Developments in the aid system, including the recent focus on debt reduction, regional and participatory preparation, and institutional capacity building, have both changed the negotiating mechanism and the content as well as the participants.

Thirdly, neo-patrimonial and reasonable choices accept that conflicts of interest are at the heart of aid negotiations and recipients' inability to enforce such negotiations' outcomes. They also recognize that these conflicts exist between different groups within the recipient government as well as within the recipient society. However, these conflicts are rarely discussed as a result of compromises, trade-offs and consensus building within both society and government, and thus the legitimate and normal nature of politics. Instead, they are seen as deviations from the supposed rational-bureaucratic norm. The resistance of recipient governments to donor policies is seen in much neo-patrimonial literature as a "policy failure" reflecting the bleak intentions of the elite network whose interests is under attack. Our research did not begin with this assumption but challenges the idea of a technocratic 'best policy.' Instead, our nation's research aimed at defining the rationale and purpose of their negotiating tactics for recipient policy preferences. (L. Whitfield and A. Fraser / International Negotiation 15 (2010) 341366 345).

ARGUMENTS PUT FORTH FOR THE MOTION FOR FOREIGN AID IN AFRICA.

POSITIVE SIDES TO FOREIGN AID IN AFRICA

However, foreign aid has a strong impact on growth and development in developing countries and attracts foreign investment, as reported by Steven Radelet, the objective of international aid is to stimulate economic growth, promote food and other commodities consumption, improve education, health, the environment or politics, and help to stabilize the economy following economic shocks. Also, Sachs (2014) still holds foreign aid as relevant to economic development. Nonetheless, within the United States of America, people with varied opinions, ideology all tend to make aid a topic up for discussion. Foreign aid can therefore boost the economy and boost growth by providing foreign direct investment space. The International Monetary Fund and the World Bank believe that foreign direct investment (FDI) can play a key role in the fight against poverty in developing countries. For example, in 1988, the World Bank established a Multilateral Innovation Guarantee Agency (MIGA) to enhance capital and technology flows to developing countries for productive purposes on the basis of fair and stable foreign investment management requirements under conditions consistent with their development needs, policies and objectives.

Foreign aid is a source of wealth for Elizabeth Asseidu and Yi Jin as it generates jobs, raises wages and encourages economic development. As a result, aid recipient countries which tend to reduce poverty and unemployment should make the necessary arrangements for FDI. In the case of foreign aid proponents, credit shortages faced by governments can be eased. This will enable them to invest in the development of public infrastructure and human capital, which will increase their growth. Recipient countries use foreign aid resources to bridge the "savings gap" and the "foreign exchange gap."

CONTINUATION OF POSTIVE EFFECTS OF FOREIGN AID IN AFRICA.

In addition, if the effect of the aid on domestic savings is positive, it can be argued that the aid will stimulate growth. Otherwise, aid is likely to be detrimental to the economic growth of developing countries. As a result, in the case of recipient countries, the aid takes the place of savings in this model, and these savings lead to investment, which ultimately leads to growth.

CONCLUSION.

To conclude, the implementation of good policy by the recipient country is necessary in order to have effective foreign aid. Many scholars argue that foreign aid is working better in countries with good policies. This means that foreign aid promotes growth and development in countries with good fiscal, monetary, institutional quality and trade policies. Likewise, the Canadian International Development Agency suggests that good policies make foreign aid effective ( Steven Radelet, A Premier on Foreign Aid, Centre for Global Development, Working Paper 92, July 2006, p.7.)
The Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA) has launched an endowment fund to support student scholarships and expand the infrastructure of the institute to global standards.

Known as the GIMPA Endowment Fund, the fund will offer support to research and innovation, support activities that seek to improve the quality of undergraduate education through programmes such as international engagements, student exchanges and global student competitions, among others.

The Rector of the Institute, Prof Samuel Kwaku Bonsu in his address in Accra said an amount of GH1 billion is expected to be raised as seed capital.

He said the fund is intended to be a perpetual source of support for GIMPA and is mandated to provide capacity building for Ghanas development.

The fund will support faculty and students, including professorships and scholarships for student life and activities, Prof Kwaku Bonsu stated.

He said the fund is backed by a policy, which provides the framework for operating the fund.

Prof Kwaku Bonsu mentioned that the fund shall consist of three types, namely, permanent fund, restricted funds and unrestricted fund.

Explaining the structure of the fund, he said the permanent fund shall consist of funds whose capital components are in perpetuity and only earnings from the invested assets are expended per the spending policy of the endowment.

He noted that the restricted funds will have usage limitations as expressed by the donor(s), while the unrestricted funds are assets, used at the discretion of the trustees for general purposes or restricted to a particular use.

The Council Chair for GIMPA Governing Board, Mr. Piesie Darko Asante stated that donation to the fund could also be in the form of bequests.

He assured donors of the many arrangements put in place to ensure that the fund is protected from indiscriminate spending.

At the fund raising ceremony, various organizations, companies and individuals made contributions and pledges to support the endowment fund.
PIGGS PEAK  There is nothing to worry about. We are all safe.

This was the response Pastor Jeremiah Kunene gave when called yesterday. Kunene is the pastor of EL Tabernacle Holy Ghost Ministries Church situated at a place known as KaZinyane under Mhlangatane Inkhundla. Kunene is also the Head teacher of Ntsinini High School. The church members, including children and the pastor, had unceremoniously left for prayer on the mountains. However, parents of the children attending the church expressed concern that they were not informed about this. They rushed to Buhleni Police Post to report that their children were missing. There were many theories on why the pastor had left with his congregants, with some of his church members claiming that the clergyman had travelled with the congregants to a peaceful land, to flee from a civil war that was brewing in the country.

Travel

Some claimed the pastor informed them that he would travel to Madagascar for peaces sake. This raised suspicions among some of the congregants on the reasons behind the trip by the pastor and his followers, with many stating that it would be impossible for him to enter another country without proper documentation. Since last Thursday, residents, as well as police officers, had been searching for the church members. It turned out that the members were camping on a mountain around a place known as Mafucula near Shewula, in the Lubombo Region. Though the location of the church members was discovered on Friday, police officers and some of the residents only managed to get to the mountain where they were camping on Saturday. Despite efforts to get some of the church members to descend the mountain and return home, particularly the elderly and children, most of them refused to go with the police officers. Instead, the church members had said they would return on Sunday.

Out of the 52 who are said to have been on the mountain, only 13 returned to their homes on Sunday. This was confirmed by some of the residents who had also gone to the police earlier in the week to report that their children were missing. When reached for comment yesterday, Pastor Kunene said all the people who had gone to pray with him were fine. He confirmed that not everyone returned on Sunday. Kunene also said he was surprised that parents were complaining this time around about their children going to pray with him, yet it was not the first time church members had gone with the minors. He said all the people who had gone had returned and were in good health. Kunene also claimed that all the people were expected to return on Sunday but residents prevented this. He said when he dropped off the first group of members, some residents blocked the vehicle. He said for this reason, the vehicle was not able to return to fetch the members who had remained behind on the mountain. He said some returned yesterday.
12.04.2022 LISTEN

The NCD Alliance said todays announcement of a new Presidential Council on Noncommunicable Diseases (NCDs) and a Global Compact on NCDs at a high-level meeting in Ghana today could be a turning point in the fight against chronic diseases, which is responsible for 74 per cent of deaths annually.

Cancer, cardiovascular disease, chronic lung disease, diabetes, and mental health and neurological disorders account for the majority of noncommunicable illness and mortality.

Heads of State, Ministers of Health, WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, and Global NCD Ambassador Michael Bloomberg today addressed the International Strategic Dialogue on NCDs and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The meeting sought to raise the priority of NCDs within national and global SDG responses, spotlight strong national leadership on NCDs, and facilitate sharing of knowledge around what it would take to reach SDG 3.4  reducing by one-third premature mortality from NCDs through prevention and treatment and promoting mental health and well-being by 2030.

Two years into the global COVID-19 pandemic, there can no longer be any doubt about the case for investing in NCDs, said Katie Dain, CEO of the NCD Alliance.

COVID-19 has upended health systems, drained economies and disproportionately affected people living with NCDs. This pandemic must be a wake-up call for governments and political leaders to value, prioritise and invest in healthy societies, NCD prevention and strong and resilient health systems.

The good news is that progress on NCDs is possible, and the returns on investment far outweigh the cost of inaction. 39 million lives could be saved before 2030 with an additional $US18 billion spent annually on implementing packages of cost-effective NCD interventions, tailored to local disease burden and risk factors. This would also generate an average net economic benefit of $2.7 trillion, or $390 per capita, equal to a 19 to one return on investment.

This data comes from a recent Lancet NCD Countdown 2030 paper, and also shows that nearly all countries  especially low and middle-income countries (LMICs)  can still reach SDG target 3.4 to reduce premature mortality from NCDs like cancer, cardiovascular disease and stroke, chronic respiratory diseases and diabetes by one third by 2030 through the implementation of a cost-effective package of NCD prevention and treatment interventions.

Notably, policies to reduce behavioural risks, such as tobacco use, harmful use of alcohol, and excess sodium intake, would be relevant in nearly every country. These NCD interventions represent a good use of money and yield high returns in terms of lives saved and economic gains.

The Presidential Council on NCDs (NCD Presidential Group) announced today will be a platform for exchange, collaboration and action on NCDs among interested Heads of State and Government. It could be a game-changer for the global NCD response, given NCDs are a whole-of-government issue demanding the highest level of political leadership, said Dain.

The President of Ghana will chair the first meeting of the Council which will take place in September during the 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

The International NCD Compact 2022-2030 contains strategic priorities to accelerate action and encourage countries to reach SDG targets 3.4 and 3.8 by 2030.

41 million people die every year due to an NCD and annual deaths from NCDs are projected to escalate to 52 million by 2030. To put these figures into perspective, in 2020 annual deaths from tuberculosis, malaria and HIV/AIDS reached 1.5 million, 627,000, and 680,000 respectively.

Deaths attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic, from its beginning in 2019 to April 2022, are nearing six million. Around 60-90 per cent of COVID-19 deaths are among people living with one or more NCD.

Although the NCD burden is universal, low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) are hit the hardest, with over three-quarters of all NCD deaths and over 85 per cent of premature deaths between the ages of 30-70 from NCDs occurring in poorer countries.
1. Brief overview of the history of judicial reform

Establishment of an independent regulator in the area of judiciary was one of the most important steps in the reform designed by the international community (OHR) in BiH, after a comprehensive analysis of the functioning of the judicial system.[2] The process commenced with the imposing of the law on three high judicial and prosecutorial councils, which functioned as a single body consisting of national and international members[3]. The main goal was to eliminate the powerful political influence from the election of judicial office-holders and establishment of independent judiciary. The next step was the signing of the Agreement on the transfer of competences in the area of judiciary from the entity to the state level[4] and establishment of the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council of Bosnia and Herzegovina (hereinafter the HJPC). These measures laid the foundation for an independent national judicial system.

Under the HJPC mandate, in the first period of the reform, the process of reappointment of all holders of judicial offices in line with the best European standards and procedures was completed. The process included interviews with candidates, the system of initial and regular education, rationalization of the network of courts, informatization and connecting of judicial institutions into a network, refurbishing of existing and construction of new premises for the courts and offices of the prosecutor, reform of the system of magistrates courts, establishment of the center for court documentation, as well as a number of projects in the area of cooperation with the social community and users of court services.

The eighteen years of the functioning of the HJPC were marked by inconceivable controversies: impressive successes on the redesign, personnel and technical development of the judicial system, on one side, and enormous mistrust of the public in the capability of the regulator to manage the judiciary, on the other.[5]

Since its very inception, the judiciary was exposed to strong criticism by the ruling political actors and the public. From the public perspective (nongovernmental organizations, media) the independent regulator was perceived as a center of alienated power and an institution that has no accountability for the reform of the judicial system[6]. The political sphere strongly criticized the policy of processing of war crimes, judicial ineffectiveness and controversial judicial decisions. The HJPC did not find a way to respond and reduce the tensions between the judiciary and the public. This undermined the public trust in the judiciary and provided additional arguments for perceiving the HJPC as a center of alienated power.

Serious problems in the functioning of the judiciary emerged in 2014. Not only that new members of the HJPC were appointed, but a president and a deputy from the lowest level of the judicial system (basic and municipal court) came to the helm of the institution. The institution was transformed into a range for mutual contentions and conflicts in the communication with the public. A number of controversial decisions triggered strong responses of both the international community and the public (Conclusions of the investigation into war background of judges and prosecutors, election of judges at the Municipal Court in Capljina, election of the HJPC member from Brcko District, renewal of mandate of HJPC members, scandalous election of the President of the BiH Court and BiH Chief Prosecutor, decision on rejection of cooperation with the parliamentary commission for oversight). The scandal related to corruption in the judiciary, which involved the HJPC President Milan Tegeltija (the greasing affair), including the support extended to the President by all HJPC members and the decisions of the disciplinary commissions that conveyed to the pubic the message that the HJPC President cannot be subject to disciplinary action, definitely shattered the image of the institution and the trust in the judiciary. It became evident that the independent regulator was not able to manage the judiciary and implement the necessary reforms.

For quite some time already, regular reports of international institutions, as well as the reports of nongovernmental organizations, highlighted the limited progress achieved in specific areas (money laundry, human trafficking drug abuse, organized crime) and lack of response (corruption).[7] The prospects for an independent judiciary were uncertain. Lack of interest of political actors in the stabilization of the system and evident penetration of politics into the judiciary by using the levers of the HJPC, distanced the BiH society from the rule of law. The then HJPC President resigned in December 2020, after prolonged pressures by the public and the international community. It was expected that the new convocation of the HJPC will make clear and radical steps to stabilize the institution and the system. Although more than a year has passed since the establishment of the new convocation of the HJPC, there are still no results!

In mid-2021 came a fierce and unexpected political attack on the judicial system. Namely, in response to the imposed decision of High Representative Valentin Inzko on prohibition of genocide denial Milorad Dodik, political leader from Republika Srpska and member of the BiH Presidency, announced boycott of the work of state level institutions and return of entity competences that had been transferred to the state level.[8] The announced process of return of competences was opened at the session of the Republika Srpska National Assembly on 10 December 2021, at which a set of conclusions was adopted. One of the conclusions tasked the RS Government to refer within six months to the RS National Assembly a Law on High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council of the RS for consideration and adoption[9]. With the adoption of this law, the Law on HJPC would no longer be applied on the territory of the RS. If this Dodik's political plan is implemented, the judiciary will be returned to the pre-reform phase and the HJPC will cease to exist as an independent state institution that manages the judiciary in BiH.

The BiH HJPC did not respond to such a destruction of the judicial system and undermining of its independence. The impression was that nobody took the political threats from the RS seriously. Nowadays, it is clear to all that the threats are serious and that Dodik has caused a crisis with the intent to create an edge for the negotiations within the process of resolution of accumulated problems in the functioning of different levels of the government, calculating that in the negotiations he would return the judicial competences to the RS.

It is difficult to forecast how this political crisis will be resolved. Its escalation threatens to completely destroy the judicial system. The brief analysis below is aimed to highlight the basic causes of the judicial crisis and its key problems, so that a public and professional dialogue on the priorities in its resolution could be initiated.

2. Shortcomings in the reform concept

2.1. Problem of joint regulator

A large part of the problems in the judiciary stems from the concept of the independent regulator. The HJPC is a single regulator of the judicial and prosecutorial system. Such a model opened the problem of substantial judicial independence, which is linked to the court. Namely the question to be asked is why are judges and prosecutors made equal in the level of independence when it is common knowledge that a prosecutor is a party in a criminal procedure, as well as that by the nature of their mandate prosecutors belong to the executive branch structure? Can parties to a procedure decide on status issues of judges and is that the best possible way for establishment of an independent judicial system?

The HJPC has 15 members, 11 elected among judges and prosecutors, two elected among attorneys at law by the entity Bar Association, one member elected by the House of Representatives of the BiH Parliamentary Assembly and one by the BiH Council of Ministers.[10] This leads to a conclusion that such a structure discredits the independence of the regulator. On the other side, bringing prosecutors to the same level as judges undermines the principle of equality of parties in a court proceeding. Usually five judges and five prosecutors are elected as HJPC members. The exception is the Judicial Commission of the Brcko District[11], which can elected either a judge or a prosecutor. Therefore, because of such an arrangement the HJPC can include more prosecutors (6) than judges (5). In fact, this happened in the first convocation of the HJPC (2004-2008). The preponderance of prosecutors in the regulatory body directly brings into question the standard and the guarantees of independence of judges.

As the HJPC makes decisions by a majority vote of the present members[12] that make a quorum (11), this means that it is possible to have a decision on status issues of judges made by a majority consisting of prosecutors, or prosecutors and external members of the HJPC. In fact, such a situation was common. The President of the BiH Court was elected by a majority of 6 members including only two judges.

This problem needs to be resolved urgently. A possible solution would be to separate the single regulator into a judicial and a prosecutorial council, as some countries in the region have done (Slovenia, Croatia and Serbia).

The draft law on modifications to the Law on HJPC still envisages the model of a single regulator including two independent sub-councils (judicial and prosecutorial), which would elect judges and prosecutors (statutory issues), but would decide on other issues together. Such a model may have a financial justification, but does not resolve the essential problem of autonomy and independence. Socializing of judges and prosecutors in no way contributes to the objective standard of substantial independence and autonomy and therefore should not be considered at all. Furthermore, such a model would open a number of other internal problems of financial and personnel nature. One should not lose from sight the fact that dominance of individuals is always a determining factor of real power, which is why such a model entails the potential for inappropriate and unallowable influence on independence and autonomy.

In addition to the above, a single collective body implies full equality of all members, which would mean that a prosecutor can be elected and appointed president of the HJPC. Prosecutors and external members of the HJPC can provide the majority support for such an election, which would be an absurdity. Anyway, what explanation could possibly be provided for having a prosecutor head an independent institution that elects judges and guarantees independence of the judiciary?

2.2. Accountability of members of the regulatory body

The existing Law on HJPC does not sufficiently specify the mechanism for effective accountability of HJPC members for performance of the duties of members of the regulatory body. Not a single provision of the law defines the obligations of members that could be used as the basis for accountability in case of non-performance of duties. In example, there is no obligation to justify absence from sessions, nor an obligation to act in line with the adopted decision. As a result, it is very difficult to conclude when an action of a member of the regulatory body can be qualified as non-performance of duties, which requires deliberation at the level of the regulatory body and initiation of the accountability mechanism.

Provisions on accountability can be derived from Article 6, paragraph 1, item d), which envisages termination of the mandate if a member perform duties improperly, ineffectively and in a biased manner. Truth be told, this provision of the law leaves room for broad interpretation, but also gives the basis for narrow and manipulative interpretation. The conduct of the HJPC President in the case of the greasing scandal is an illustration of how the conduct of the President is not treated as problematic or irregular, despite the fact that it is obviously contrary to the law.[13] The provision that regulates that a member will be relieved of duty if he/she commits an act that would make him/her unworthy to perform duties in the Council (item f) is rather unclear and problematic. What specific act could that be? Or, to be more specific, is it acceptable at all that a member of a regulatory judicial body commits a criminal act? There is no practice of regulatory bodies that could help in this respect and provide some guidance. Furthermore, the provisions laid down in item g), which specifies that the mandate of the member against whom a criminal procedure has been initiated shall be automatically terminated if he is sentenced to imprisonment, but only once the sentence is final and binding, also make little sense. This practically means that the mandate continues all until the criminal procedure is underway, which is contrary to the provisions laid down in item d).

Such confusions require a new approach to the issue of accountability of members of the regulatory body and a precise definition of obligations, forms of responsibilities and procedures for establishment of accountability, including termination of mandate.

The question to be asked is to whom members of the regulatory body should be accountable? Only to the institution or also to those who had elected them? The existing concept recognizes only the accountability to the regulator, which can render a decision on the basis of a two-third majority of members and only if there is a proposal of one third of members. Hence, a proposal requires support by five members, and decision by ten members. It remains unclear why does a decision on termination of mandate require a two-third majority support, while a decision on election of judges and prosecutors or a decision at the third level with respect to disciplinary responsibility of judges and prosecutors requires a simple majority of the quorum, which consists of 11 members (six members)!? It appears that it would be more acceptable to envisage a simple majority support for accountability of a member of the regulatory body as well.

The issue of accountability to the bodies that elected the members could be limited to a proposal for initiation of the accountability procedure, which would include the description of the conduct, qualification of the misconduct and proposal of the sanction.

3. Negative trends (practical level)

3.1. Independence as a point of misunderstanding in the dialogue between judiciary and political level

The conflict between the judiciary and the executive branch emerged from the mutual misunderstanding of the principle of independence, which implies noninterference in individual and specific cases. Such independence is basically applied to both the judicial and prosecutorial system. The executive and legislative branches cannot reach an understanding that they have the same goals and bear the same responsibility for development of an independent judiciary. It is often not understood that independence is not a privilege of judges and prosecutors, or judicial institutions, but a right of citizens! All three branches of the government are responsible to ensure respect of that right of citizens.

Independence with respect to actions in specific cases (judicial and prosecutorial decisions), in practice is often expanded also on the performance of administrative authorities and case management.[14] Several years ago, BiH Chief Prosecutor was exposed to strong criticism by politicians for refusing to appear at the session of the parliamentary board for security in relation to the case of blockade of the Parliament. In his response the Prosecutor referred to the principle of independence and qualified the invitation to the Parliament as political pressure on the Office of the Prosecutor.[15]

This relation between the management of judicial institutions, the executive and legislative branch could be more clearly defined in the Law on HJPC and laws on courts, in order to avoid misunderstandings and conflicts.

The basic complaints by politicians were related to the complete marginalization of the executive branch of the government (ministries of justice), which adopted the imposed model of the independent regulator. Politicians obviously could not understand why the HJPC has been given such broad competences and why the ministries of justice were left with almost no competence with respect to the organization and functioning of the judiciary, not even those related to judicial administration[16]. The Law on HJPC attributed to the ministries of justice only some minor, shared competences.[17]. On the other side, the executive branch has a decisive role in the funding of the judiciary[18]. This raises a legitimate question for the executive branch and politicians: how to manage a system and launch legislative initiatives if they have no role or influence on the judicial system and how to fund something they do not control?

This controversy has major political potential. In our legal tradition, the ministries of justice played a key role in the organization of the judiciary, and particularly the judicial administration. Transfer of almost all competences on the independent regulator has marginalized to a significant extent the role of the ministry of justice and its accountability for the results of the judiciary. Such a radical solution required strong arguments and clear explanations. Absence of constructive public dialogue with the executive branch (ministries of justice) deepened the tensions between the judiciary and the political level.

The executive branch will always have a decisive role in the funding of the judiciary and creation of the judicial budget. There is no country that had given up this axis of government. The question to be asked is to what extent will specific competences for management of the system be transferred to the regulator of the judicial system, that is what shared competences will look like. Shared competences mean shared responsibility, which is why ministers of justice should have an active partner role in the reform processes. Of course, it would be desirable that the judicial system develops in the direction of complete transfer of competences for organization and functioning of the judicial system to independent bodies[19], but that has to be the political strategy. To move in that direction, it would be necessary that the judicial and executive branches engage in a dialogue and find a common language.

The US Embassy responded to a misunderstanding between the legislative branch and the HJPC with a release that read: Healthy democracies need checks and balances. It is not just parliaments right, but its obligation to hold the judiciary accountable to citizens of BiH.

It is clear that the judiciary is a part of the society and cannot stay out of any control. It is necessary to also legislatively regulate that relation.

3.2. Corruption in the judiciary

Over the past years the judicial system topped the lists of the level of corruption. Several criminal procedures initiated against judges and prosecutors, controversial appointments and several judicial scandals contributed to such an image. In the last couple of years, criminal procedures were conducted against a number of judges and prosecutors, and several of them were relieved of duty. Incriminations of judges and prosecutors were predominantly related to abuse of office and violation of the law by judges for the purposes of financial or other gain for themselves or others.

The scandals that attracted the most public attention and informed negative public perception included the greasing[20] case, involving the HJPC President, and the case of the judge of the Municipal Court in Sarajevo[21], who is suspected of violating the law for the purposes of financial gain of another person and who fled BiH during the investigation (an arrest warrant was issued against her). The greasing case led to a number of dubious procedures in the HJPC with respect to the responsibility of the HJPC President.

Although some cases resulted in pressing of charges against judges and prosecutors, there was no effective trial that would return the public trust in the judiciary. The case of the female judge of the BiH Court lasted six years and was ended with the final decision of acquittal. The case of the BiH Chief Prosecutor has been going on for five years already and has still not been finalized.

The media reported daily on the scandals related to the judiciary, thus creating a perception of crime of unimaginable scale. One investigating journalism text read that the HJPC President was a member of three ad hoc arbitration panels in the lawsuits of two public companies and that he earned an annual salary of a judge from such an engagement. The President publicly admitted this and explained that the HJPC had previously adopted a decision that engagement on an arbitration panel was not incompatible with holding a judicial position. The respective decision was not presented to the public. Even if it existed, according to the Book of Rules on conflict of interest, annual honorariums of a judge should not exceed 20% of the annual salary of the judge.

Media also reported that the mandate of a judge in the Cantonal Court of Sarajevo was extended despite the fact that a disciplinary procedure had been initiated against him. Namely, when he applied for a position in the judiciary he omitted to mention that he had been convicted two times, once for an attempt of rape. Individual members of the HJPC publicly presented different information, which is impermissible for such an institution. After the media report, the European Commission required an urgent response[22] and suspension of the judge, if the information is proven correct. After a couple of days the HJPC adopted a decision on suspension of the judge. The Delegation of the European Commission in BIH also had to respond in the case of the prosecutor who had omitted to mention that he had been convicted for the criminal offence of violation of copyrights.[23]

Recently the media reported that 20,000 BAM, seized in the course of a criminal procedure as evidence of commission of a criminal offence, went missing from the safe of the Una-Sana Canton Office of the Prosecutor. In fact, similar things have happened several times in relation to the seized items in criminal procedures. In the Basic Court in Banja Luka fire broke out in the premises where items seized in the course of criminal procedure were stored. The cause of the fire has never been established.

The European Commission and international organization were forced a number of times to publicly respond to the decisions of the HJPC (case of the Conclusions on investigation of war background of judges and prosecutors). Due to all the controversial decisions and actions, the work of the institutions is constantly monitored by the Delegation of the European Commission in BiH and some embassies.

Individual and uncoordinated public appearances of specific members of the HJPC also informed the bad public perception of the judiciary. Furthermore, the HJPC President and his two deputies initiated several private lawsuits for defamation against a number of reporters, politicians and their colleagues who had criticized them, which the public regarded as an abuse of power and undermining of the standard of impartial court.

3.3. Penetration of political influence

Politician have always had an interest to influence and control the judiciary. They did that through police services, which are under their direct control, as well as through the election and appointment of judicial-office holders.

When the political level lost the possibility to influence the election and appointment of judges and prosecutors, this interest became even more prominent. In our conditions, it is particularly profound because the entity political level cannot always influence police and other services that work for the judiciary at the state level.

When it comes to the BiH Office of the Prosecutor and the BiH Court, the story about political influence on the judiciary has been long present in the political and media space. Politicians, primarily from Republika Srpska, publicly stated that these two institutions were under the control of the international community and Bosniak politics[24]. Media published assertions that interests of two Bosniak political parties (SDA and SDP) were intertwined in the BiH Office of the Prosecutor.

A number of investigations and court proceedings were conducted by the BiH Office of the Prosecutor and BiH Court against high ranking politicians.[25] Majority of them ended in decisions of acquittal. In some of them, the BiH Court issued final suspended sentences for criminal offenses within the purview of the entity level (negligent performance of a service!).[26] Trials in such cases were given special priority. In some cases the political background of the process was rather conspicuous.[27] All the above informed the belief of the public that politics has strong influence on the judiciary.

The situation escalated in the recent years with the renewal of the mandate of the HJPC President and election firstly of the BiH Court President, and then the BiH Chief Prosecutor. There was a plethora of media reports that the appointments were a result of an agreement of three political leaders. Such assertions published in the media cannot be proven, but also cannot be absolutely excluded. Both elections were followed with an array of controversies regarding the criteria used in the process, and particularly with respect to the managerial experience and professional qualifications of the elected candidates. Interestingly enough, disciplinary procedures were conducted against the BiH Chief Prosecutor and the BiH Court President. The Chief Prosecutor was relieved of duty, and the BiH Court President was acquitted of charges.

4. Messages of traumatic experience

The brief analysis of the reform process and temptations of independence lead to an educated conclusion that the ruling political structures have successfully conducted the operation of destruction of the judiciary from within using the weaknesses in the concept of the independent regulator. In essence, the operation boiled down to corruption of individuals and interest groups within the HJPC with the aim of bringing to managerial positions in the judiciary judicial-office holders close to political structures. As the worst and least competent are always close to political structures, the judiciary became a system of incompetent and irresponsible individuals. In such a way, room was created for internal corruption, violation of the law and the code of ethics, abuse of process-related authorities and simulating performance through good statistics, but poor results.

Today, there is no doubt that for six years HJPC President Milan Tegeltija implemented a political project of internal undermining of the judicial system and the HJPC institution. After resigning from the position of a member and the President of the HJPC, Tegeltija went to the position of the legal advisor in the Office of the Member of the BiH Presidency Milorad Dodik. A year after the transfer, Milorad Dodik organized boycott of state institutions and announced return of the transferred judicial competences back to the RS. It would be naive to believe that Milan Tegeltija was the only man whom political structures had installed in the HJPC to work on a special task. How was it possible that 15 members of the HJPC participated in this destructive project for six years? There is no reasonable answer to this question. The only conclusion that can be made is that there is a serious problem with their integrity, as well as the effective and responsible functioning of collective independent bodies. Accountability of HJPC members to the institution, accountability of the independent regulator to the legislative branch and the accountability of the judiciary to the society must be the backbone of the future reform process. This problem in the judiciary requires special attention.

The personnel structure of the HJPC includes people of different backgrounds and interests. By the nature of things, the judges and prosecutors do not have many common interests. Neither do attorneys at law have common interests with prosecutors and judges. The members elected by the legislative and executive branch have an interest to transmit political influence. Their common interests can be related only to corruption and trade in influence, which, apparently, was the rule. This problem cannot be easily resolved in a society that is left without a moral basis. An option is to start moving in the direction of separation of the judicial and prosecutorial regulator and elimination of members coming from the attorney-at-law community.

It seems that the structure of an independent regulator in which judges, or prosecutors, would form a majority, and the rest would be just representatives of the legislative and executive branch should be seriously considered. Narrowing down the circle of interested groups and having only members that are representatives of the three branches of the government would facilitate the decision-making process, provide for mutual control of the legality of exercise of authorities and divide social accountability among the key factors of the state government. This would also establish the necessary dialogue of the three branches on judicial reforms and problems, as well the system of accountability to the society. Today, the public regards the HJPC as an alienated center of judicial power, and the entire judiciary as a system without social control or accountability.

About the author:

Branko Peric has served in many positions in the judiciary: judge, president of the court, prosecutor and attorney at law. From 2001 to 2003 he was a member of the BiH Central Election Commission. Since 2003 he has served as a Judge of the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and from 2004 to 2008 he was a member and president of the BiH High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council (HJPC).

The author's stances presented in the article do not necessarily reflect the stance of the IFIMES Institute.

Ljubljana/Sarajevo, 12 April 2022

Footnotes:

[1] IFIMES  The International Institute for Middle East and Balkan Studies (IFIMES) from Ljubljana, Slovenia, has a special consultative status with the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)/UN since 2018.

[2] The document is available on the www.ohr.int website.

[3] Law on High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH Official Gazette, no. 15/02, 35/02, 42/03), Law on High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina , (FBiH Official Gazette, no. 22/02, 41/02, 67/03 and 17/04), Law on High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council of Republika Srpska (RS Official Gazette, no. 31/02, 55/02, 114/03 and 30/04).

[4] The agreement was separately initialed on behalf of the entity governments and the Council of Ministers in March ( FBiH Official Gazette, no. 16/04)

[5] For more information see: Branko Peric, BiH Judiciary: Situation and perspectives, https://ti-bih.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Pravosudje-u-BIH_Stanje-i-perspektive-2019.pdf

[6] Sran Blagovcanin, Executive Director, Transparency International BiH in an interview with the Dani (3 December 2010) stated that the reform had not yielded significant results and that the judiciary has become an alienated center of power.

[7] For more information see: 2011 Progress Report for Bosnia and Herzegovina, Accompanying the document Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council, Enlargement Strategy and Main Challenges 2011-2012, SEC(2011)1206 of 12 October 2011.

[8] RS parties boycott BiH institutions because of genocide denial ban, 26 July 2021, https://www.slobodnaevropa.org/a/inzko-zakon-negiranje-genocida-bih-dodik/31377554.html

[9] https://www.slobodnaevropa.org/a/skupstina-republika-srpska-dodik-nadleznosti--zakljucak-/31603077.html, 14 March 2022.

[10] Article 4, Law on HJPC.

[11] The Brcko District judiciary is a sui generis structure, which does not follow the judicial structure of the entities. It does not have the third-level jurisdiction (Supreme Court). Furthermore, the BiH HJPC member elected among prosecutors and judges in the Brcko District is not elected by judges and prosecutors but by the Judicial Commission, as an administrative judicial body.

[12] Article 14, paragraph 2, Law on HJPC.

[13] For more information see: Greasing affair: Tegeltija violated the law and code at least 300 times, https://analiziraj.ba/2019/06/01/afera-potkivanje-tegeltija-krsio-zakon-i-kodeks-bar-300-puta/, 18 September 2019.

[14] The HJPC discussed this problem in mid-2006, at the request of the BiH Court President and in relation to the intervention by the UK Ambassador M. Rycroft regarding the extension of the mandate of Judge Malcom Simmons. The President believed that by requesting an explanation from the Court President the UK Ambassador undermined the judicial independence. The HJPC concluded that the issues related to managerial powers of the Court President do not have the character of judicial deliberation.

[15] See: Dnevni avaz daily, 28 August 2013.

[16] RS President Milorad Dodik stated that teh HJPC was an informal center of power, without any legitimacy (Vijesti.ba portal, 28 December 2012).

[17] Shared competences are related to establishment of the number of judges and prosecutors and the budgets (Article 17, item 25 and Article 20, paragraph 2, Law on BiH HJPC).

[18] The HJHPC adopts the budget proposal for all levels of the judiciary and can directly elaborate the proposals before the parliaments (Article 20, paragraph 2, Law on HJPC).

[19] In Norway, the Government transferred the competences for judicial administration to an independent body, Norwegian Courts Administration, seated in Trondheim.

[20] See: Greasing affair: Western embassies, OHR and OSCE alarmed by the developments in HJPC, https://ba.voanews.com, 17 September 2019.

[21] See: Details of the Justice /Pravda/ Case: Reincarnation of the dead in the files of Judge Fazlagic, https://zurnal.info/20199/reinkarnacija-mrtvih-u-spisima-sutkinje-fazlagic, 17 September 2019.

[22] See: Wigemark writes again to Tegeltija: Delalic Case not lonely, check others as well https://klix.ba/vijesti/wigemark-ponovo-pisao-tegeltiji-slucaj-delalic-nije usamljen-provjerite-i-ostale/190822117

[23] See: Omitted to say he had been convicted: Sasa Labotic relieved of duty, https://oslobodjenje.ba/vijesti/precutao-da-je-ranije-osudjivan-sasa-labotic-razrijesen-duznosti-489378

[24] See: Dodik complains to Ban Ki-Moon: BiH Office of the Prosecutor under enormous influence of Bosniak leaders,

https://slobodnabosna.ba/vijesti/31098/dodik_se_zalio_ban_ki_moonu_tuzilastvo_bih_je_pod_ogromnim_uticajem_bosnjackih_lidera.html, 17 September 2019.

[25] See: SOA affair: SDS condemns investigation against Mektic, https://slobodna-bosna.ba/vijesti/110945/afera-soa-sds-osudio-istragu-protiv-mektica.html.

[26] Judgment of the Court of BiH, no.S1015527 of 5 March 2015.

[27] See: Judgement of the Court of BiH, no.S1 2K 020433 16K of 16 May 2018.
The Prosecution in the Coup Plotters case on Monday, April 11 laid WhatsApp communication among some of the accused persons to the Court.

The 11th Prosecution Witness, Kabral Mohammed Ayembila, is a Cybersecurity and Digital Forensic Officer with 12 years of working experience at the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB).

He told the court in his evidence in chief, led by a Prosecutor, Winifred Sarpong that he received a written request attached to a Court order, from the investigation department of the NIB through its Director on October 14, 2019, to extract information from 10 mobile phones and 3 tablets.

These devices, he told the Court, had the names of the accused persons and others on them, including; Bright Debrah, Callister Ziaba, Col. Gameli, Ezor Kafui, and Dr. Frederick MacPalm.

The Witness told the 3-panel Court he and his team successfully extracted material/data from 11 of the 13 devices. Two devices, a Samsung notebook 2 and an iPad mini were not accessible to the extraction device, he said.

According to Kabral Mohammed Ayembila, they extracted call logs, contacts, pdf files, word files, audio, video, and WhatsApp chats. All of these extracted data was put in an external hard drive and returned to the investigation department of NIB through the Director of National Intelligence Bureau.

The Witness said the investigation team again reached out to him and his team after analysing the extracted data, to print out some data from the hard drive.

The printed data all came from a Samsung Galaxy S7 belonging to Dr. Frederick Mac Palm which was the only phone that had data relevant to the investigation.

It was WhatsApp chats between Dr. Frederick MacPalm and some numbers saved as ACP Dr. Benjamin, Dr. Sam, Zikpi Gam, and a WhatsApp group by name Take Action Ghana Executive platform. The extraction team went ahead to print out the chats without media because they requested for only chat and per the extraction device media files are separated from chats.

The witness later told the Court under cross-examination that though a very simple and modern computer could be used to extract the data, an extraction device was used, to ensure the integrity of the data for the purposes of investigation.

---citinewsroom
The Deputy Minister for Transport, Hon. Alhassan Tampuli has advised motorists to drive cautiously when travelling or transporting commuters to Kwahu in the Eastern Region during this Easter period.

Known for being a hot zone at this time of the year, Kwahu and its environs in the next week is expected to be fun-packed with many events.

On the back of this, the National Road Safety Authority has today intensified its Stay Alive campaign, calling for safe driving on the country's roads.

Delivering a keynote address at the National Safety Authority event held at the Neoplan Station at Circle, Hon. Alhassan Tampuli had a specific message for motorists that will be plying the Nkawkaw-Kwahu road.

He urged motorists and commuters to be each others keepers to ensure accident-free Easter.

We need to be very careful when we are driving. It is the expectation of the Ministry that road users and all Ghanaians particularly commuters heading towards Nkawkaw and the Kwahu environs for the Easter festivities act responsibly.

Let me also take this opportunity to advise drivers to minimize their speed and overtake with due caution when the need arises, Deputy Transport Minister Hon. Alhassan Tampuli.

He advised motorists to avoid drunk driving and take the mandatory rest even when they are not tired.

Todays launch of the Eater 2022 Road Safety Campaign was highlighted by the unveiling of the new Road Safety Information Centre.

Members of the public are urged to dial 194 to file complaints against indiscipline drivers or incidents they come across.
Mr Peter Anomah  Kordieh, Programme Advisor, Disability Inclusion, Ghana Somubi Dwumadie, has called on the government to ensure that the agenda 111 project is accessible for all persons with disabilities.

He said even though Ghana enacted the Disability Act 715 in 2006, many buildings in Ghana, even new ones coming up remained largely inaccessible

Mr Anomah-Kordieh therefore urged the government to consult with the Ghana Federation of Disability Organizations (GFD) and other stakeholders to ensure that the agenda 111 projects are accessible to persons with all kinds of disability.

He made the call at the end of a two-day disability inclusion retreat for selected members of parliament.

The two-day retreat organized by Ghana Somubi Dwumadie, a four-year disability programme with a specific focus on mental health and Sight Savers Ghana, a non-governmental organization with support from UK-Aid and the Ghana Federation of Disability Organizations (GFD), discussed the disability concept and context in Ghana, accessibility on the built environment and access to services.

The retreat brought together selected members of parliament and civil society players in the disability sector as well as officials from the National Council on Persons with Disability

Mr Anomah-Kordieh said that most hospitals in Ghana remained largely inaccessible for persons with disabilities, preventing many persons with disabilities from accessing quality healthcare.

The governments agenda 111 project is aimed at building a total of 111 hospitals in every district and region in Ghana so that people all over the country can have access to quality healthcare

President Akufo-Addo had earlier announced that each of the 111-hospital project will be a quality, standard-design, one hundred bed hospital, with accommodation for doctors, nurses and other health workers.
The Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana (PCG), Rt. Reverend Professor Joy Obiri Yeboah Mante, has called on stakeholders to ensure a reduction in man-made disasters crippling Ghana's development.

He mentioned discipline as one of the values of the Presbyterian Church, which should be instilled in the citizens, especially those entrusted into positions to contribute to the accelerated development of the country.

The Rt. Rev. Mante noted that the nation must insist on training the people, especially the youth, to do the right thing, using praise and sanctions as and when appropriate.

"The nation should, therefore, meticulously enforce disaster management code of conduct meant to discipline the mind and actions of the citizens," he said.

Rt. Rev. Mantle said this in a message read on his behalf by the National Director for Ecumenical and Social Relations, Rev. E. N. Armah Ashitey, during a joint handing over of relief items worth thousands of Ghana cedis to the victims of the Appiatse Community explosion.

The gesture was a collaboration between the Hungarian Government and the PRESED, a statement signed by Mr Emmanuel Nyarko Ankamah, the Coordinator of PRESED, and copied the GNA, said.

It said the donation was an act of benevolence from the two bodies to commiserate with the families of the victims and the entire community of Appiatse.

The items included 40 bags of 50kg maize, 15 bags of 50kg Gari, 20 bags of 50kg beans, 120 gallons of palm oil, 100 buckets of groundnut paste, 40 boxes of tin fish, 60 boxes of tin tomatoes, 50 pieces each of baby mattress and mosquito nets and quantities of medical supplies.

Leading the team, the National Director for Development and Social Services at the PCG Head Office, Mrs Teiko Sarbah, said they were in the community to lend a helping hand to the residents to bounce back from the unfortunate incidence.

The PCG, through its social witnessing, had significantly contributed to the growth and development of Ghana, she said.

She mentioned social interventions such as Presbyterian schools, health facilities, agricultural stations, livelihood initiatives, and disaster management programmes spread across the country to empower the people, especially women and the youth.

On behalf of the Church, she prayed that God comforts the Chief and people and help them to overcome the situation.

The Hungarian Ambassador to Ghana, Mr Tamas Feher, said the Hungarian Help was to provide humanitarian support to the disadvantaged to improve their standards of living.

"The Hungarian Help, therefore, sees this as an opportunity to show compassion to alleviate the plight of the people," he said.

He outlined some of the projects that the Hungarian Government had undertaken in Ghana including provision of health facilities, water systems, and agriculture projects.

"The Embassy is ever ready to support the victims to enable them to bounce back to normal life. We pray the almighty God helps the community to rebuild a new Appiatse that is strong to stand on its feet to change the narrative," he said.

The Municipal Chief Executive of Prestea Huni Valley, Dr Isaac Dasmani, who received the items, expressed the community's profound gratitude to the PCG and Hungarian Government for the support.

He said the Lord has been good to the victims of the Appiatse explosion because loads of people continued to support through donations, both in kind and cash, and pledged to distribute the items equitably.

The MCE appealed for a vehicle to convey the children to school saying out of a population of 964, about 40 per cent were school children whose education must be prioritised.

A truck carrying explosives detonated at Appiatse, a predominantly farming community in the Prestea Huni-Valley Municipality of the Western Region, killing at least 13 people and injuring hundreds, while many including children, were displaced.

GNA
The Ashanti Regional Police Command is investigating the circumstances under which a Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) city guard was stabbed to death on Monday, April 11.

The deceased, Thomas Amakye Yankey, 50, popularly known as Congo Soldier, was allegedly stabbed multiple times with a knife on the neck and stomach at the Kejetia Lorry Terminal by a driver of vehicle, popularly called trotro. driver.

He sustained various injuries and later died on arrival at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) upon referral from a clinic at Adum.

Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Godwin Ahianyo, in-charge of the Regional Police Public Affairs Unit, briefing the media in Kumasi, said the police were alerted that the deceased had been stabbed resulting to his death.

According to the police, the deceased attempted to prevent the driver from loading passengers at an unauthorised place and this led to the brawl.

He said the driver together with his mate were in Police custody assisting in investigations.

The Police spokesperson said the suspect claimed the deceased first hit him with an object on his head, resulting in the unfortunate situation and gave assurance that his outfit would get to the bottom of the matter.

ASP Ahianyo assured the family of the deceased that the police would leave no stone unturned in its investigations to bring the perpetrators to book.

I am thereby assuring the family, colleagues, and friends of the deceased that the police will gather the necessary evidence and then push it to the AG's office for advice, and then we continue with the prosecution, he said.

GNA
12.04.2022 LISTEN

The flag of Ghana has been raised high in the top educational echelons in the U.S. as the star performers of the three competing schools in the 2021 National Science and Maths Quiz (NSMQ), gear up for their next challenges.

Eden Nana Obeng Kyei of team Prempeh College, Prince Debrah Jnr of team PRESEC, and Francisca Lamini of team KETASCO are now set to pursue undergraduate studies at top universities in the world.

With admission rates of 5% for Harvard, 6.7% for CalTech, and 4.1% for MIT, these three have consistently been acclaimed as some of the most prestigious and premier schools in the world.

While the acceptance rates of these Ivy League schools continue to drop in each admission cycle, the competition grows fiercer, but that proved to be a little hindrance to these NSMQ finalists, who received admission, with scholarships, from multiple Ivy League and highly selective universities and colleges.

Francisca Lamini got into not just Harvard University, but also Stanford University. Prince Debrah was admitted into both the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Stanford University. Eden Nana Kyei Obeng got into the California Institute of Technology (CalTech) and New York University (Abu Dhabi).

Eden heads to CalTech, which holds a formidable reputation as one of the most difficult schools to gain admission into. With an application pool of over 8,367 applicants in the 2022 window, CalTech only accepted 235 representing 6.7%. Eden set himself apart from the lot through his stellar character and excellent academic performance.

He is the first student from a public Ghanaian high school to gain admission into this highly selective university in years.

Prince also stands apart for being the only student from a public Ghanaian high school to make it into not one or two, but fourteen U.S. universities in one application cycle, including Columbia University, Cornell University, and the University of Pennsylvania, as well as the notable Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the best technological university in the world (as one of the 1,365 admitted out of 33,240), and the equally prestigious Stanford University. Come Fall 2022, Prince will be calling one of these stellar institutions his home.

Francisca also made her mark, making history of her own. It has been over twenty years since a student from a public Ghanaian high school got into both Harvard and Stanford University in the same application cycle. Harvard University accepted a mere 2,320 out of the 57,786 applications received, while Stanford University also accepted 2,190 out of a pool of 55,471 applicants. Knowing this, the success of Francisca Lamini is even more impressive.

The tireless efforts of AFEX Hub Limited, the premier Educational Enhancement Agency located in East Legon, Accra, which specialises in test preparation, and college application services, in preparing these students for this marvelous step of their journey are recognised and appreciated.

Mr. John Peter Amewu, Minister for Railways Development in Ghana, is also applauded for his more than generous contributions that made this endeavour a great success.

Source: AFEX Hub Limited
The Students Representative Council (SRC) President of the Ghana School of Law, Wonder Victor Kutor has rubbished all allegations levelled against him by the Executive Council including claims that he has employed his girlfriend to operate the councils Mobile Money (MoMo) business.

In a letter from the Executive Council of the SRC, the President has been advised to step aside for investigations into accusations of financial misappropriation.

Wonder Victory Kutor is allegedly involved in shady dealings to enrich himself during the process to acquire a Toyota Camry for the SRC.

Responding to the allegations in an interview with Citi News on Tuesday evening, the SRC President denied ever engaging in acts that amount to a conflict of interest and insisted that he also never diverted funds from the Mobile Money Business into his personal account.

He explained that his only crime is that he generously donated his merchant SIM Card to the SRC to be used for the MoMo Business.

When we took over, the SRC business centre you as virtually counterproductive. The place was a bush. Students move from the school to the market to do mobile money. So when we took over we did the renovation and constructed a business centre over there. The SRC didnt have a merchant sim but I had one so I donated it to the SRC to run the Mobile Money business. What have I done wrong?

Me myself as Im here I dont even know the password [on the SIM], Wonder Kutor who is currently in the US said.

Reacting to the allegation that he has employed his girlfriend for the SRC MoMo Business, President Kutor described it as petty, emphasising that it is a falsehood.

This pettiness, it should stop. Everybody knows my girlfriend at the law school. I wont mention her name but shes not the one doing MoMo at the SRC Business School."

According to Wonder Victor Kutor, he suspects there is a plot by the Registrar and the Deputy Registrar of the Ghana School of Law to oust him.

He alleges that the Registrar and the Deputy Registrar have threatened members of the Executive Council of the SRC that they will not be called to the bar unless they disassociate themselves with him.

When I come back things will unfold, he added.
Mr. Nartey Akweteh, the Assembly Member for Dawhenya South Electoral Area in the Ningo-Prampram District has called for immediate support from the Assembly and Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) to redeem the community from the severe water shortage residents are experiencing for weeks now.

Mr. Akweteh stated that for some weeks now water supply to the various homes has been stalled affecting both domestic and commercial activities; stressing that the situation has not only affected Dawhenya South but all its adjoining communities including Prampram the district capital.

Mr. Akweteh also called on the District Assembly to as a matter of urgency put in some measures through the tanker services to provide water to the residents in the interim whilst the water company worked assiduously to fix the challenge confronting the district as far as the water supply was concerned.

The Dawhenya South Assembly Member however advised residents to be law-abiding citizens saying residents must desist from dumping refuse indiscriminately in the community as information gathered by the Communication for Development and Advocacy Consult (CDA Consult) indicates.

He said filth has become a national canker but needed all hands on deck to keep

the various communities free from filth, he again called on the District Assembly to provide skip containers at vantage places to prevent indiscriminate dumping of refuse in the communities.
Mr. Ebenezer Teye, 63-year-old Fantastic Coffin Designer based in Dawhenya, a community in the Ningo-Prampram District in the Greater Accra Region has appealed to the government for support to expand the business.

He said the artisan work remained the surest prospect for artists to showcase their creative works and also create employment for the teaming professionals in the imaginative arts industry as monitored by the Communication for Development and Advocacy Consult (CDA Consult) at Dwahenya.

Mr. Teye noted that well-fashioned artisan projects can be a valuable form of grassroots development for indigenous people, simultaneously serving economic and social goals.

Mr. Teye who has been in the coffin design trade over the past 40 years explained that they provide income that complements subsistence agriculture while reinforcing ethnic identity and cultural pride. Programmes can vitalize local craftsmanship by allowing artisans to reach their maximum potential.

He noted that the government through the District Assembly could support artisans through the district assemblies with a financial package and capacity training to inject professionalism in the trade to prevent it from collapsing.

Mr. Teye explained that the work of craft men can give a tremendous impetus to the tourism sector as tourists are fascinated with creative works.

He said tourists take interest in ethnic arts and crafts, we need the government to support artisan with development programmes to increase productivity and income among indigenous peoples to expand the local and foreign market for handicrafts.

Mr Teye whose artwork has received both local and foreign endorsements has created an international market where customers from overseas patronize his wood design work or specialized casket to bury their beloved once.

Mr. Teye who is known in his trade as Capunu added that he featured in the famous Thierry Secretan Historic Magazine Going into Darkness Fantastic Coffins from Africa in 1991 which was sold in countries like the United Kingdom, the United States of America (USA) Germany and some countries on the African continent.

He added that he wanted to impact the knowledge he has acquired over the years into the youth to reduce the unemployment rate within the various communities in Dawhenya but was faced with financial constraints.
The Ghana Optometric Association (GOA) has warned that not paying attention to the eyes could lead to total blindness and cause economic hardship for people and the country.

Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Dr. Remi Ninkpe, who is the GOA National President emphasized that everyone can lose their eyesight so, we all should endeavour to pay attention to our eyes and access eye care to ensure effective productivity.

He urged Ghanaians to take their visual health seriously, there is a need for people to access proper eye care, in order not to lose ones sight or have problems with the sight.

The GOA National President explained that most people in Ghana have eye problems that can be solved but because of a lack of education on how to keep one's eyesight healthy, they do not access eye health care.

DSP Ninkpe who is also an Optometrist at the Police Hospital in Accra stated at the GNA-GOA: My Eye! My Vision! The programme is a collaborative public education advocacy campaign between the Association and the Ghana News Agency Tema Regional Office to promote the need for people to access eye care and also to draw attention to vision health.

The event which was monitored by Communication for Development and Advocacy Consult (CDA Consult) revealed that GNA-GOA: My Eyes! My Vision! The initiative also seeks to challenge the public and policymakers to focus on vision as a health issue, which forms a critical component of mankinds wellbeing but is often neglected.

DSP Ninkpe explained that the need for public education formed the foundation for the Ghana Optometric Association to partner with GNA to help Ghanaians understand the need to check their eyesight regularly.

He stressed that unlike a toothache or a stomach ache that as a result of the pain one attains to it immediately and rush you to the hospital, sometimes eye problems are not that hurtful that would ignite an urgent rush to the hospital, so most people turn to ignore challenges with the eyes.

Dr. Ninkpe stated if an eye problem is not discovered on time can disable an individual or can lead to permanent visual impairment.

He said that mostly in Africa, people do not take eye care seriously but rather think of what they will eat than eye care.

Dr. Ninkpe advised that people should get eye care to avoid visual impairment in the future which also affects society and the economy at large.

Dr. Kwame Oben-Nyarko, Chief Executive Officer, Third Eyecare and Vision Centre quoting from the World report on vision by the World Health Organisation (WHO) explained that eye conditions and vision impairment play a critical role in every facet and stage of our lives.

We take vision for granted, but without vision, we struggle to learn to walk, to read, to participate in school, and to work, he said.

Dr Oben-Nyarko explained that vision impairment occurs when an eye condition affects the visual system and one or more of its vision functions, which was collaborated by Dr Alfred Gardemor, GOA Public Relations Officer and Optometrist at Nsawam Government Hospital.

He said vision impairment has serious consequences for the individual across the life course; many of these consequences can, however, be mitigated by timely access to quality eye care and rehabilitation.

Eye conditions that can cause vision impairment and blindness  such as cataract, trachoma, and refractive error  are, for good reasons, the main focus of prevention and other eye care strategies; nevertheless, the importance of eye conditions that do not typically cause vision impairment  such as dry eye and conjunctivitis  must not be overlooked, he said.

Dr. Oben-Nyarko explained that these conditions are frequently among the leading reasons for presentation to eye health care services in all countries and called for urgent attention to vision issues in the country.

Mr. Francis Ameyibor, GNA-Tema Regional Manager explained that the two professional bodies have agreed to work together on a public sensitization campaign dubbed: GNA-GOA: My Eyes! My Vision to draw attention to vision health.

We are combining the forces of our professional calling as Optometric Physicians and Communication Experts to reach out to the public with a well-coordinated message.

We believe such collaboration would serve as a major platform to educate the public on vision health and also serves as a critical stage for the association to reach out to the world, Mr. Ameyibor noted.
Mohammed VI Foundation of African Oulema - Ghana Branch have presented foodstuff to residents in flood-prone areas in Ashaiman to support them during the period of Ramadan.

The donation forms part of the foundation's annual Ramadan package for the less privileged in society and people living with disability.

A member of the Foundation - Ghana Branch .Dr. Nasiba Tahir led a team to donate the items which include bags of rice, corn flour, beans, teabags, spaghetti cartons of milk, tin tomatoes and cooking oil.

According to her, the foundation has identified the area as a flood-prone and therefore the need to visit the residents and share with them some items.

According to her, the Ghana Branch of the foundation has so far distributed over thousand items to various Muslim Communities and still distributing to ensure that King Mohammed VI puts smiles in the faces of the vulnerable in society.

She revealed that despite the economic challenges worldwide, the foundation has ensured that it provides support for the needy more than it provided over the years adding that some items will also be distributed to patients at Nima Polyclinic.

Dr. Nasiba Tahir appealed to the women in the area to send their daughters to school and not to engage them in petty trading.

The residents expressed their profound gratitude to the Foundation for their kind gesture and prayed for Allah's blessings, long life and prosperity for King Mohammed VI and the members of the foundation.
Lawyers for Assin North MP, James Gyakye Quayson, have urged the Supreme Court not to deny the people of Assin North a member of Parliament even on an interim basis.

The legal team, comprising Tsatsu Tsikata and Justin Teriwajah, say forum shopping and manipulation of judicial process cannot be a justification for the ousting of an individual who contested and won an election after gaining 54.19% of valid votes cast.

This is contained in documents filed on behalf of the MP at the Supreme Court.

The court will on Wednesday, April 13 deliver a major ruling.

It is a ruling on an application filed by a resident of the constituency, Michael Ankomah Nimfah, urging the court to restrain the legislator from performing parliamentary duties.

A Cape Coast High Court in July, 2021, nullified the election of Mr. Quayson after it found that he owed allegiance to Canada at the time of filing his nomination forms to contest the polls.

Mr. Nimfah, who filed this election petition, in January, 2022 initiated another action at the Supreme Court.

He urged the court to give effect to the Cape Coast High Court Judgement and prevent a further breach of the Constitution by restraining the MP.

But lawyers for the MP disagree.

They contend that prior to the election, the eligibility of Mr. Quayson was challenged.

The Electoral Commission, they continue, cleared the MP to contest the polls.

They recount that the matter ended up at the High Court with the court nullifying the polls.

They, however, say that the Cape Coast High Court erred in reaching this conclusion as it should have referred relevant portions of the Constitution to the Supreme Court for interpretation.

The lawyers say that at each stage of the case, be it at the High Court or the subsequent Appeal at the Court of Appeal, Mr. Nimfahs lawyers insisted no issues of interpretation arise.

They argue that in the substantive case accompanying the request to restrain the legislator, Mr. Nimfahs lawyers nonetheless concede that an issue of interpretation arises.

This they say will mean the Supreme Court would have to speak on the matter after which the case will be sent back to the High Court.

That the Supreme Court cannot proceed with the reliefs sought by the Plaintiff based on mere and unverified allegations of his owing allegiance to a country other than Ghana.

That it would be denying the people of Assin North their right of representation in the 8th Parliament of the Fourth Republic if the Supreme Court were to grant the reliefs sought by the Plaintiff even on an interim basis.

The Plaintiff ought not to be allowed in forum shopping and sheer manipulation of judicial process to turn justice on its head.

---myjoyonline
Once again, our judges are in the news for the wrong reasons.

Speaking at a sensitization workshop on National Security strategy for judges, Hon. Kan Dapaah echoed concerns about public confidence in the judiciary. He said, "Injustice occasioned as a result of the absence of an effective justice delivery system or delayed justice or biased justice is certainly a threat to national security. Indeed, when Injustice occurs, particularly in situations where the bench which is considered the final arbiter of justice is deemed biased, citizens tend to take the law into their own hands most of the time without recourse to established systems of justice delivery. If the interpretation of the law is tilted in our favour all the time, people will start accusing the judiciary and will not have the confidence that they need."

Following these commonsense remarks, Mr. Dapaah has faced a barrage of criticisms, mostly from the governing NPP. The most detailed of these criticisms was from former Attorney General Ayikoi Otoo. The former Attorney General said, "I am sorry to say that I don't think he sought legal advice (before commenting) because judges have taken an oath to do justice to all manner of persons without fear or favour, ill-will or affection. He was saying that if someone brings a bad case, the Supreme Court must give a decision to favour that person because a ruling for you will make people feel there is something wrong."

Now before commenting on these matters, let me confess my ignorance of the "I-put-it-to-you" procedures. I am NOT one of Ayikoi Otoo's learned friends and I have not sought legal advice. But it shouldn't matter. Our constitution recognizes the interest of laypeople in the law by making it possible for us to petition the Supreme.

Our President implored us, admiringly, "to be citizens, not spectators" and a National Security Minister who has been in charge of both Defense and Interior is not just a citizen--he is a leader. And if my memory serves me right in the contempt case involving then NPP General Secretary, "Sir John", one Ayikoi Otoo, steeped the law, invoked a defense rooted in commonsense and culture. He told the Supreme Court that Sir John had committed "contempt of court" because of "Gbesi"! Now, I am ignorant of the law, but I am sure a defense based on "Gbesi", until Ayikoi invoked it, was not a legal principle!

To return to Kan Dapaah, he wasn't warning against theoretical dangers. We are already seeing the effects of waning public and political confidence in our courts. Former President Mahama has served notice that the next elections will be settled, not at the Supreme Court but "at the polling stations" and that they would be a "do or die" affair.

And it does not help the public's confidence in the courts that the NPP has become its reflexive defender-- a practice of defending independent state agencies that is unfortunately bipartisan and in evidence when the NDC is also in power.

Now, unanimous opinions have their place--as was demonstrated to positive effect in Brown vs Board of Education in 1954 and the case and the case of the Nixon tapes in 1974 in the US. But they are uncommon for a good reason. Courts must reflect honestly the differences in a society to earn the public's confidence. That is why, according to ABC News analysis, the US Supreme Court ruled unanimously only 48% in the last decade and Canada's Supreme Court did so only 40% in 2019. And knowledge of the law is no insurance against wrong and even bad Court decisions. That is why courts reverse themselves. The Dredd Scott and Plessy vs Ferguson decisions in the US, as well as re:Akoto decision in Ghana were delivered by learned judges. And as Atuguba warned about politics and Anas demonstrated with goats and cash, our courts can be influenced by more than the law.

Kan Dapaah was right and we must heed his wise and patriotic counsel.

Courts that are seen as biased cease to ensure justice and become, as he said, a threat to national security.

Long live Ghana.

Arthur Kobina Kennedy (April 12th, 2022)
A Malian army helicopter fired several rockets "close to" British members of a UN peacekeeping force in the country, the UK defence ministry and UN said Tuesday in the first such incident of its nature.

The incident was the first of its kind between Mali, newly backed by Russian forces, and UN peacekeepers, a UN source told AFP on condition of anonymity.

"We are aware of a recent incident in Mali in which rockets were fired by a Malian Armed Forces (FAMa) helicopter close to a detachment of UK personnel," a defence ministry spokesman said in a message to AFP.

"All UK personnel are safe and accounted for, and the circumstances surrounding this incident are being investigated," he added.

The incident took place in the area of Tessit, near Gao city in the east of the country.

According to a diplomatic document seen by AFP, the Malian army fired six rockets from its helicopter.

The document says almost all Malian helicopters are flown by Russians assisted by Malian co-pilots.

The statement questioned whether several MINUSMA contingents could remain in place if Russian troops were involved.

Last week Richard Mills, the US deputy ambassador to the UN, denounced an "unacceptable" incident, which took place on March 22 when a Malian helicopter "fired rockets near peacekeepers in eastern Mali".

United Nations spokesman Stephane Dujarric on Tuesday said a UN investigation into the events was underway.

A team from the UN peacekeeping mission in Sudan is ready to go to Moura in central Mali as soon as the Malian authorities give air access to the area, he added.

According to a diplomat who spoke anonymously, paramilitaries from the Russian company Wagner are suspected to have been involved in this incident alongside the Malian army.

France and other Western nations have denounced the Malian authorities' alleged use of the controversial Russian private security group. The Malian authorities have said they do not use mercenaries.

Moura 'atrocity'

Mali is the epicentre of a jihadist insurgency that began in the north of the country in 2012 and spread three years later to neighbouring Niger and Burkina Faso.

Thousands of people across the region have died, and around two million have been displaced.

Attacks have been carried out by militants affiliated to Al-Qaeda or the Islamic State group, but many civilian casualties have also been caused by so-called self-defence forces.

MINUSMA -- the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali -- began its deployment to the troubled Sahel state in 2013.

It has 16,500 personnel, including mostly troops, plus police and civilians, according to its website.

The United Nations says the mission has suffered the most fatalities of any of its peacekeeping operations in the world, with hostile acts causing 159 deaths as of October 31.

Mali's army has been accused of carrying out a massacre in the central town of Moura in late March, with the participation of Wagner mercenaries.

Human Rights Watch has said Malian forces and foreign fighters killed 300 civilians in Moura, in what it called "the worst single atrocity reported in Mali's decade-long armed conflict".

MINUSMA's mandate runs out in June. Several troop-contributing countries are already reviewing their participation in the light of recent developments in Mali.

The EU on Monday decided to halt its military training missions in Mali but will keep a presence in the Sahel, the bloc's top diplomat said.
As many as 22 non-banking financial companies (NBFCs) and one housing finance company (HFC) have surrendered their certificates of registration (CoR) granted to them by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). The RBI, in exercise of powers conferred on it under Section 45-IA (6) of the RBI Act, 1934, has therefore cancelled their CoR . The central bank also cancelled CoR of Gujarat-based NBFC Karnawati Capital Market Ltd.

Out of the 22 NBFCs that surrendered their CoR, a maximum of 10 are from Maharashtra. Even the lone HFC, Essel Finance Home Loans Ltd, is from the state.

The NBFCs from Maharashtra include Anjali Technology Holdings Pvt Ltd, India Debt Management Pvt Ltd, Dipul Sales and Marketing Pvt Ltd, Redworth Equifin Pvt Ltd, BNP Paribas India Finance Pvt Ltd (presently known as BNP Paribas India Consultancy Pvt Ltd), Rashe Finstocks Pvt Ltd, Prudential Management and Services Pvt Ltd, Sunvest Capital Pvt Ltd, and Pedder's Investment Holdings Pvt Ltd.

While RBI has not given any reason for the surrender of CoR by these entities, it says, as per the RBI Act, these 22 NBFCs and one HFC are not allowed to carry out any business henceforth.

Two NBFCs from Tamil Nadu, Mardia Sons Holdings Pvt Ltd (presently known as GVN Enterprises Pvt Ltd) and Pluris Global Holding (India) Ltd, have also submitted their CoR to RBI. Mardia Sons Holdings is the oldest among the 22 NBFC, which had received its CoR on 4 March 1998.

Andheri, Mumbai-based Sunvest Capital, received its registration certificate on 16 January 2019 and decided to surrender it within three years on 25 February 2022.

Two NBFCs each from Telangana (Raj Kamal Leasing and Investments Pvt Ltd and NCC Infrastructure Holdings Ltd), New Delhi (Swiss Leasing and Finance Pvt Ltd and Allied Portfolios Pvt Ltd) and Madhya Pradesh (Available Finance Ltd and Hara Commercials Pvt Ltd) have surrendered their CoR to RBI.

Four states have one NBFC each that surrendered their registration certification to RBI. It includes Karnataka (Dr BR Ambedkar Development Corp Ltd), Orissa (Carnex Sales Agencies Pvt Ltd), Punjab (Deepak Deposit and Advances Ltd) and West Bengal (Acme Credit Pvt Ltd).
On 1st April, IFB Agro Industries Ltd notified stock exchanges that its board of directors had approved a contribution of up to Rs40 crore to electoral bonds for 2022-23 when its last reported annual profit was Rs47 crore in 2020-21. Why was it giving away so much money? It appears that, to avoid harassment by the state excise department, it has decided to pay off through the bonds.

This is obvious because the disclosure mentions excise-related issues faced by the company and that its decision about political contribution was in the context of such issues.

The problem has been festering for several years. On 26 June 2020 and again on 22 December 2020, IFB Agro disclosed that its distillery was attacked by armed goons who beat up employees, held them hostage and shut down the distillery. Nobody was punished and a complaint to the chief minister had no impact.

IFB Agro charged that it was singled out by certain excise officials for not succumbing to their illegal demands.

In October 2021, it announced a board decision to subscribe to Rs25 crore worth of electoral bonds. Its annual report of that year details the hardship faced due to illegal demands by the state excise department leading to the closure of its factories for several days. It would appear that the state and the party are working together in a coordinated fashion.

Extortion by goons of the ruling party is rampant in certain parts of India. West Bengal is notorious for it, for decades now. It started when the state was ruled by the Communist Party of India (Marxist). Everything is controlled by the local party office.

For instance, building materials such as sand, bricks, steel and cement have to be procured from a list of suppliers maintained at the party office. If you get supplies from anyone else, your project will be shut down. If you complain to the police, they will promptly inform the party office and advise you to settle it.

The continuous and steady decline of West Bengal, which was one of the most prosperous states in India, can be attributed first to the unreasonable demands of the organised labour and then to unbridled extortion by political parties.

Social media was shocked by IFB Agros accusations and there were articles for a day in the mainstream media. But the government, regulators, investigation agencies and even business associations were largely silent and have ignored this episode.

This is perhaps because businesses in Bengaluru, Gurugram, Noida, Mumbai, Pune and Gujarat do not face unreasonable demands, followed by violence.

In many parts of India, businesses regularly fund politicians, but under a policy of 'live and let live'. In Bengal, it quickly gets adversarial and violent.

Kill the Job Creators

What happens to businesses in Bengal may be extreme but there are a variety of ways by which the state has been extorting from businesses for decades. From the 1950s to the mid-1980s, the government was directly involved in running industries and crowded out serious enterprises that create productive jobs.

Relentless state expansion into hotels, airlines and even bread-making happened under the specious logic that Indian industry is not mature enough to run large enterprises.

The summary nationalisation of businesses was even worse than extortion. It was pure theft. Over the years, we have heard politicians sometimes say that the government has no business being in business. Progress on changing this has been slow.

Meanwhile, the state has found another way to strip businesses of cash  the mandatory corporate social responsibility (CSR) spending of 2% of post-tax profit. This legislation was not even imposed by a socialist government of the 1970s.

It got introduced in 2013 by the United Progressive Alliance 2 (UPA-2) and continued by the so-called right-wing government of Narendra Modi.

The third way businesses get extorted is through piles of red tape.

Rajiv Bajaj has alleged, It is overregulation that is killing the industry.

Tata Sons chairman N Chandrasekaran says, India is fraught with micromanagement and suspicion.

No wonder, despite ranking eighth among 140 countries under cultural resources and business travel, India ranks 109 in tourist service infrastructure in a study by the World Economic Forum.

A restaurant needs up to 15 licences in India compared to four in Singapore and two in Turkey. For the babus, each licence is an opportunity to make money.

Finally, look at the extortive power of the state, when it comes to paying tax dues or when it loses a major legal battle. Successive governments have made unjust tax demands, lost in court and then promptly changed the law! Businessmen and citizens must always lose.

In infrastructure projects, subsidies and arbitration awards are withheld, causing a cash crunch and bad loans, but no one is held accountable.

When Narendra Modi asked thousands of assembled youngsters in election rally Apko naurki chahiye ki nahin chahiye? (do you want jobs or dont you?), he was surely not promising them government jobs.

From small restaurants to mighty software companies, it is businesses that create jobs, not the government. Yet, in a cruel irony, they have to fight extortive and brutal state power every step of the way.
Mads Mikkelsen has described method acting as "bulls***".

The 'Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore' star - who replaced Johnny Depp as Grindelwald in the film - has insisted the practice - which has seen the likes of Lady Gaga, Jared Leto and Daniel Day-Lewis stay in character at all times, even when the cameras aren't rolling - is "pretentious".

He told GQ UK: "Its bulls***. But preparation, you can take into insanity.

"What if its a s*** film  what do you think you achieved? Am I impressed that you didnt drop character?

"You should have dropped it from the beginning! How do you prepare for a serial killer? You gonna spend two years checking it out?

In a mocking tone, he quipped: "Im having a cigarette? This is from 2020, its not from 1870  can you live with it?

Mikkelsen put the blame on film critics for heaping praise on method actors, and suggested the practice doesn't always equate to talent.

He added: "The media goes, Oh my god, he took it so seriously, therefore he must be fantastic; lets give him an award'.

Then thats the talk, and everybody knows about it, and it becomes a thing.

Mikkelsen - who has appeared in a number of blockbusters including roles in the 'Star Wars' and 'James Bond' franchises, as well as the Marvel Cinematic Universe - also insisted he would love to act with the likes of Day-Lewis and try to get him out of the zone.

He joked: "I would have the time of my life [with him], just breaking down the character constantly.

Daniel Day-Lewis is a great actor. But [Method acting has] got nothing to do with this.
Sean Penn is thinking about "taking up arms against Russia".

The 61-year-old actor has considered the option of returning to Ukraine to fight amid Vladimir Putin's invasion after spending time in the country documenting the war.

Speaking to Hollywood Authentic, he said: "If you've been in Ukraine [fighting] has to cross your mind.

"And you kind of think what century is this? Because I was at the gas station in Brentwood the other day and I'm now thinking about taking up arms against Russia? What the f*** is going on?"

The Oscar-winning star admitted the "only possible reason" he'd have remained in Ukraine would have been to join the war effort on the frontline.

He added: "The only possible reason for me staying in Ukraine longer last time would've been for me to be holding a rifle, probably without body armor, because as a foreigner, you would want to give that body armor to one of the civilian fighters who doesn't have it or to a fighter with more skills than I have, or to a younger man or woman who could fight for longer or whatever."

Sean also reflected on meeting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy "the day before the invasion".

He said: "It struck me that I was now looking at a guy who knew that he had to rise to the ultimate level of human courage and leadership. I think he found out that he was born to do that."

Last month, Sean confessed to being startled by what he witnessed on the border between Poland and Ukraine.

He shared: "We had the luxury of being able to abandon a rented vehicle on the side of the road.

"This was a startling thing to me; it was mostly women and children, some in groups and some just a mother and her child, in almost all of those cars.

"In some cases, the father was dropping them off and returning, because we know that from 18 to 60, men are not to leave, they're to stay in the resistance against Russia."
Standard Chartered Bank has officially launched its $40 million new head office building in Zambia



President of the Republic of Zambia, Hakainde Hichilema officiated at the event and unveiled the plaque of this iconic, energy efficient building located in the new business district of Lusaka, Zambia.



Speaking during the event, Sunil Kaushal, Regional CEO Africa and Middle East region for Standard Chartered Bank, re-affirmed the Banks continued commitment to Zambia as a key market and thanked the Zambian government for their partnership in key sectors of the economy.



He said: Standard Chartered remains firmly committed to Zambia  a commitment which is clearly demonstrated through our investment in a new head office building, as well as further investments into digital banking capabilities and key infrastructure projects. We also continue to invest in community initiatives such as Women in Tech, our flagship Futuremakers programme, which aims to lift participation of women by enabling them to grow their businesses through technology.



Herman Kasekende, CEO of Standard Chartered Bank Zambia, said: Standard Chartered Bank has a long history in Zambia dating back to 1906, when the first branch opened in Kalomo. We remain firmly committed to Zambia and the time came for us to consider a new location for our brand. It was also the right time for us to re-affirm our long-term commitment to Zambia and that is why we chose this new location in the emerging business district of Lusaka. He added, That is why in my recent interactions with the key ministries, I have spoken about this new building with passion and pride.



Hichilema, said that the new head office was an immovable asset which becomes an integral part of the national balance sheet, and underscores Standard Chartered Banks endurance, commitment and desire to building a better Zambia.



Standard Chartered was the first bank to open in Zambia in 1906. 115 years on, the Bank shared its pride in being a pioneer in banking through various innovations. These include the first-ever  and only  end-to-end digital bank in Zambia where clients can open an account through the SC Mobile Banking App, without the need to physically visit a branch. The banks new head office building, as it is the first ever EDGE certified building in Zambia, a Standard Chartered statement said.  TradeArabia News Service
The Duchess of Sussex is going on her first overseas trip since moving to California.

Meghan Markle, 40, is excited to join her husband Prince Harry, 37, at the Invictus Games - which sees injured veterans compete against each other - in The Hague next week, which will make it her first trip outside of America after moving away from the Royal Family to a 11 million mansion in Montecito.

An insider told the Mirror: Meghan is excited to travel with Harry for the event, which is certainly close to his heart.

The trip will be documented for their Netflix documentary series Heart of Invictus, which is being produced by their production company, Archewell Productions.

The series - which follows the competition - is billed on their website as a multi-episode production that will spotlight a group of extraordinary Invictus Games competitors from around the globe - members of the military community who have experienced life-changing injuries or illnesses - on their road to Invictus Games.

The royal couple - who share two-year-old son Archie and 10 -month-old daughter Lilibet - are currently embroiled in a legal battle with the UKs Home Office after they said they would not provide him with the same degree of protection as they previously had, which is believed to be why Harry missed the memorial service for his grandfather Prince Philip, who died, aged 99, last year.

This dispute comes after the pair sat down for a bombshell interview - with Oprah Winfrey in March 2021 - where they outlined a series of serious allegations about their time living at Buckingham Palace, such as racism and inaction of Meghan experiencing suicidal thoughts.
MISSOULA, Mont. - On National Pet Day, one Missoula teacher shared her story of adopting a pet from a local shelter, through a recently released children's book.

'A Place to Call Home' tells the story of author Lisa Lang's experience adopting a dog from the Humane Society of Western Montana and inside, the book is filled with beautiful illustrations by an artist from Kyiv, Ukraine.

Lang wrote the first draft of the book over a decade ago, shortly after adopting their dog Murphy, who passed away a few years ago.

She said she didn't have the confidence to publish it back then, but after a few years of teaching, that all changed.

"Getting more experience with teaching and reading just countless children's stories, I gained more confidence in it and thought that maybe I could turn it into something that people could enjoy and was relatable," Lang said.

She picked the project back up last summer and hired Illustrator, Diana Bezukh, who, by coincidence happens to be from Ukraine.

"She's a wonderful artist, and she's been wonderful to work with," Lang said. "Sad though the struggle they're having to go through right now and I hope that maybe other people with see her work and want to work with her as well."

Bezukh is currently living in a hostel in Poland but plans to go to Canada. Her parents, however, are still in Ukraine. She's continuing to work on her art in the and said she feels more strength to continue her career because she's trying to draw support for her country.

In addition to supporting Bezukh, a portion of the book's proceeds will go to the Humane Society of Western Montana.

The Humane Society's Executive Director, Marta Pierpoint, said she's grateful Lang included the things the Humane Society does to help the animals have the best life they can while they're at the shelter.

"We always love follow-up stories, any follow-up story," Pierpoint said. "But when someone goes the extra mile and says, 'I had such a good experience that I want to pay it forward,' that just makes us doubly happy."

Lisa Lang has read books to her students before, so they know it's about her. And like Murphy, they're grateful she brought him home.

"When I'm reading and [the book] says, 'but they didn't,' like I didn't bring him back, they say 'thank you, Miss Lisa,' because they're thanking me for not bringing him back to the Humane Society."

Click here to purchase a copy of Lang's book.
NEW YORK (AP)  Many New Yorkers just want their city to feel orderly, functional and fun again after two years of plague and social disruption. Their new mayor, Eric Adams, has promised to deliver.

The question is, can the Democrat who pledged to bring back New Yorks swagger gain momentum in the face of repeated setbacks?

Adams' optimism remained high even as he marked his 100th day as mayor Sunday by going into quarantine after testing positive for COVID-19.

A hands-on politician and nightlife enthusiast, Adams, 61, caught the virus after a whirlwind week typical of his persona and time in office: He had attended the Gridiron dinner in Washington, gone to a New York gala, posed with Robert de Niro at a film festival, attended the Yankees opener and a slew of events in the state Capitol.

Im going to continue to try to be as visible as possible as we get through COVID and many of the other crises that were facing, Adams said Monday, promising to resume his busy schedule after recovering from the virus.

In his first 100 days in office, Adams has projected an aggressive confidence as hes implemented policies aimed at combating an image of New York City as hobbled by the pandemic and beset by rising crime.

He dropped many COVID-19 precautions and is reluctant to bring them back, even as virus cases have steadily risen.

Hes ordered homeless encampments removed from public spaces, despite complaints from activists that the sweeps are inhumane.

Over the objection of progressives, Adams, a former police captain, brought back an NYPD anti-gun unit disbanded by the previous mayor, saying that with better oversight it will shed its past reputation for using excessive force.

Critics say Adams is embracing the worst tendencies of previous mayors known for their heavy-handed approaches to policing and social services.

Adams says he doesnt like chaos, as Saturday Night Live noted in his first days in office. Instead, he is seeking to harness the city's tangly dynamism.

That is what I think our failure is in our city ... We have thrown up our hands and said this city is not manageable. That is just not true," he said in an interview with The Associated Press on Thursday, prior to testing positive for COVID-19.

He said he starts every morning poring over a series of spreadsheets filled with data on his key initiatives.

When inspecting his efforts to clear tents and makeshift shelters set up by homeless people, Adams scrolls through hundreds of color-coded rows listing individual encampments reported to the city  some that the mayor has phoned in himself.

He checks to see if the entries are shaded blue by someone in his administration, indicating city workers have posted notices theyre about to clean the area. He checks to see that the blue entries are later turned yellow, coded as a successful cleanup. If too many days pass and the colors dont change, hell make a call to find out why.

At a news conference last month, he said the city cleared 239 encampments in its first 12 days. Although the city didnt offer data about how many people were living at the encampments, only five accepted offers to move to a shelter.

Adams said he thinks the number will grow, as it did with efforts to reach out to homeless people in the subway system.

The mayor also checks daily spreadsheets laying out data on crime, the citys sprawling transit system, affordable and supportive housing units, and hires and promotions in his government.

He likened himself to an airline pilot who sits down and checks his instruments before taking off, calling the city a complex piece of machinery.

You have to constantly inspect what you expect, or its suspect, Adams said, using one of his favored catchphrases.

Adams, a former New York City police captain, state lawmaker and elected borough president of Brooklyn, had to deal with unrelenting crises in his first month in office.

A fire ripped through a high-rise apartment building, killing 17 people; a baby was wounded by gunfire; two police officers were fatally shot while responding to a call; a woman was pushed to her death in front of a subway train by a stranger.

Outside of 9/11, I dont know if another mayor was just inundated with so much at one time, Adams remarked.

Crime, which has risen in cities across the U.S., has become one of his chief concerns.

Its by far the thorniest issue Adams took on, said Jon Reinish, a Democratic political strategist in New York City. But 100 days is still early, Reinish said, and a better barometer of progress would be a year into the administration.

I think that he has navigated that well so far, but Rome wasnt built in a day, he said.

New York Citys elected public advocate Jumaane Williams, a progressive Democrat who serves as a city ombudsman, praised Adams for partnering with him on issues like food insecurity, Black maternal health and summer jobs for young people. But he said hes concerned about too much emphasis on policing and not enough focus on mental health.

Adams, who is Black, points out that he spoke out about racist and unjust practices in the department while he was an officer. He says police can learn from the mistakes of the past while using new tools like body cameras to stay accountable  but the city also cant go back to the days of high rates of violent crime.

I know I dont want to go back to the violence or the abuse. Some people only talk about not going back to the abuse, he said.

Critics have also called Adams' actions to clear homeless encampments short-sighted, especially when some people living on the street say they dont feel safe in the citys shelters and theres not enough affordable housing to provide a long-term solution.

It sounds to me like were doing the last thing first, Williams said.

Adams contends its inhumane to accept that people sleep on the street, and defends his plan by pointing to to a city law guaranteeing a right to space in a shelter for any homeless person who needs it.

But he also notes that when an encampment is cleared, It is just unbelievable how visually, it just changes your mindset of your neighborhood. And that is part of the goal. Because were dealing with an actual problem and the perception of a problem.

Perception, he said is also why hes posting photos and videos on social media of himself shoveling snow during snowstorms or is seen meeting people all over the city and hitting up restaurants, night clubs and glitzy events.

We have to get the city back up and operating and many New Yorkers are starting to do so. And they need to see me in the process, he said. As I deal with the crises, I also have to be on that red carpet. Because Broadway is a major economic driver for our city.
ALBANY, N.Y. (AP)  New York Lt. Gov. Brian Benjamin resigned Tuesday in the wake of his arrest in a federal corruption investigation, creating a political crisis for Gov. Kathy Hochul seven months after she selected Benjamin as a partner to make a fresh start in an office already rocked by scandal.

Benjamin, a Democrat, was accused in an indictment of participating in a scheme to obtain campaign contributions from a real estate developer in exchange for Benjamins agreement to use his influence as a state senator to get a $50,000 grant of state funds for a nonprofit organization the developer controlled.

Facing charges including bribery, fraud, conspiracy and falsification of records, Benjamin pleaded not guilty Tuesday at an initial appearance in Manhattan federal court. He was released and bail was set at $250,000. The terms of his release call for his travel to be restricted and bar him from returning to the state capitol in Albany.

He submitted his resignation to Hochul hours later.

I have accepted Brian Benjamins resignation effective immediately. While the legal process plays out, it is clear to both of us that he cannot continue to serve as Lieutenant Governor. New Yorkers deserve absolute confidence in their government, and I will continue working every day to deliver for them," Hochul said in a statement.

Two lawyers representing Benjamin said he was suspending his campaign to focus on defending his actions in court and said the grant in question was used to buy school supplies.

There was nothing inappropriate about this grant. He will focus his energies on explaining in court why his actions were laudable  not criminal. He looks forward to when this case is finished so he can rededicate himself to public service, the statement said.

Hochul in September plucked Benjamin, then a state lawmaker, to serve as second-in-command when she became governor, taking over for Democrat Andrew Cuomo, who resigned amid allegations he sexually harassed 11 women, which he denied.

Hochul, also a Democrat, was Cuomos lieutenant governor. She is now running in this years election to try to remain governor. Benjamin had been her running mate.

Hochul's office and campaign did not respond to messages Tuesday evening about her plans moving forward for a new lieutenant governor and running mate.

Benjamin was the states second Black lieutenant governor. During his state Legislature career, he emphasized criminal justice reform and affordable housing. His district included most of central Harlem, where he was born and raised by Caribbean immigrant parents.

New York law makes it tough to remove Benjamin from the June primary ballot: He could move out of New York to disqualify himself from running for state office, or the state Democratic party could let him run for a down ballot office.

Democratic Party Chair Jay Jacobs said the party is exploring its options.

Im not ready at this time to outline what we are considering, suffice it to say we will look at the options expeditiously, Jacobs said.

Two months after Benjamin became lieutenant governor, a real estate developer who steered campaign contributions toward Benjamins failed bid for New York City comptroller was indicted. Federal authorities accused Gerald Migdol of wire fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and aggravated identity theft in illegally giving donations to Benjamins campaign.

The indictment said Benjamin and others acting at his direction or on his behalf also engaged in a series of lies and deceptions to cover up the scheme that stretched from 2019 to 2021.

They falsified campaign donor forms, misled municipal regulators and provided false information in vetting forms Benjamin submitted while he was being considered to be appointed as lieutenant governor, the indictment said.

Prosecutors had previously not made any accusations against Benjamin, and his campaign said at the time of Migdols arrest that it had forfeited any improper donations as soon as they were discovered.

More recently, reports came out saying subpoenas had been issued to Benjamin regarding the financial issues even before Hochul picked him as lieutenant governor.

Before Benjamins arrest and resignation, Hochul had defended him, saying last week she had the utmost confidence in him. She said last week that she didnt know of the subpoenas when she tapped Benjamin to be her No. 2.

Top Republicans and at least a dozen of Benjamins fellow Democrats in the Legislature called on him to resign by Tuesday afternoon.

Senate Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, a Democrat, is taking on the duties of lieutenant governor  a role she took before Benjamins appointment last year when Hochul became governor.

Two candidates for governor, Democratic U.S. Rep. Thomas Suozzi and Republican U.S. Rep. Lee Zeldin, blasted Hochuls judgment for selecting Benjamin in the first place despite longstanding concerns about his potential campaign finance violations.

Immigration advocate Ana Maria Archila, a Democrat running for lieutenant governor alongside New York City public advocate and gubernatorial candidate Jumaane Williams, said Albany politicians have traded favors for money for too long.

Today is a dark day, with Albany at its worst on display for all New Yorkers to see, Archila said.

The scandal is the latest in a long history of lawmakers and other Albany leaders whove been engulfed in allegations of wrongdoing.

Cuomos resignation as governor came not only amid allegations of sexual harassment but that his administration misrepresented the number of New Yorkers who died in nursing homes from COVID-19.

In 2008, then-Gov. Eliot Spitzer resigned amid a prostitution investigation.

Former New York Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, one of the most powerful figures in state government, resigned in 2015 after he was arrested on federal corruption charges.

Former Republican state Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos, who for a time shared power with Silver, was convicted of extortion, wire fraud and bribery.



Hays reported from New York. Associated Press writers Deepti Hajela, Michelle L. Price and Larry Neumeister contributed from New York and Michael Hill contributed from Albany.
(NewsUSA) - By Carrie Goux For NewsUSA, With the final bell of the 2021-2022 school year fast approaching, now is the time for families to reflect upon their child's year. Whether it be the formation of new friendships, celebrating academic breakthroughs, or navigating the emotions of another pandemic year, no two families' experiences are the same.

That's why GreatSchools.org, the nation's leading provider of school information for K-12 families, wants to make sure your experience is captured -- in your own words. In only a few minutes, parents can leave an anonymous review on their school's GreatSchools profile to share their thoughts on family engagement, teachers, learning, physical and emotional safety, and more!

We know that parents wear many hats, and finding even just a few extra moments in the day can be challenging. But sharing your school experience matters, and can really make a difference for others in your community. Here's why:

1. Helps fellow parents

When you write a review of your child's school, you're offering other parents something that numbers alone can't provide: your personal experience as a member of a community. When Ronnie Hines, a Black mother in Los Angeles, was searching for a middle school for her daughter in a community where few others looked like her, she wanted to find a school climate that would be welcoming. Reading reviews from parents of shared identities helped Ronnie visualize what peer-to-peer and parent-to-staff interactions might be like at different schools, and whether those environments would help her daughter succeed.

2. Elevates your voice

Your experience can be powerful -- if given the right opportunity to share it. Leaving a review provides a platform to share your thoughts with the K-12 schools, K-12, in a respectful way. Does the school's curriculum affirm your child's culture and identity? Are your child's special education needs being met? Are you a military family that has attended many different schools across the country? Your unique story could be the catalyst for improvements that will benefit other students for years to come.

3. Fosters trust between home and school

Principals and administrators use their GreatSchools.org profiles to share details about their school culture, programs, and policies. The reviews section is an important part of the overall story of the school, offering a safe, trusted way for parents to anonymously share feedback with the school. Whether it's highlighting an experience with caring, hard-working teachers or providing honest feedback that will help make the school better for all children, reviews foster a deeper home-school connection as leaders can incorporate key learnings into their school celebrations and improvement plans.

According to the National PTA and Learning Heroes, 67 percent of parents feel more connected to their child's day-to-day education than ever before. Now is the perfect time to leverage that connection and share your experience with others in your community. We've compiled some of our best tips to support you in writing a review that is honest, transparent, and thorough. Make your voice heard today!

Carrie Goux is the Executive Vice President, Strategy and External Affairs at GreatSchools.org.
Pam Marino here, thinking that as rotten as this pandemic has beenand continues to bethere are some positives that have come out of it.

On a global scale, the emergence of Covid-19 spurred an enormous amount of medical research and speedy development of vaccines and treatments unlike anything weve seen before. That R&D data will likely lead to more breakthroughs that will provide great benefits to our health.

The cracks and disparities in society were laid bare and while that can feel painful, I think of a quote attributed to Neil DeGrasse Tyson, All information is good even when its bad. We can address that which is in the light and hopefully improve the disparities for better outcomes in the future.

Locally, new partnerships and coalitions were formed or strengthened, which weve written about extensively. The Monterey County community came together in an unprecedented way to keep people safe and save lives.

One such partnership throughout the pandemic was the one between the four hospitals in the county: Natividad, Salinas Valley Memorial, Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula and Mee Memorial. I remember back at the start of the pandemic in 2020 reporting on how hospital officials were meeting and sharing information on how to handle a potential deluge of patients. That partnership only grew stronger as they dealt with pandemic spikes, testing operations and vaccine rollouts, as well as collaborating on public education campaigns.

As a result of working together over the past two years, those four hospitals and two more agencies they interacted with consistentlythe Monterey County Health Department and United Way Monterey Countyhave officially formed the Monterey County Health Needs Collaborative, announced on April 6.

The goal of the collaborative is to more effectively identify, address, and improve the health and well-being of the local community, according to a press release. It was a natural next step to continue these alliances to better coordinate resources and efforts moving forward for the greater good of the community.

One of the tasks of the collaborative is to assess the health of the community. Nonprofit hospitals are already required to complete a community health needs assessment every three years, and health departments are required to do a health assessment every five years.

Usually each institution and agency does these in their own silos, even though their service areas overlap. Now theyve launched a joint effort to do an assessment, using the firm Professional Research Consultants and the California Hospital Association. A confidential and anonymous online survey was launched on April 6, and phone calls are also being made in both English and Spanish.

You make our work happen. The article youre about to read is from our reporters doing their important work  investigating, researching, and writing their stories. We want to provide informative and inspirational stories that connect you to the people, issues and opportunities within our community. Journalism takes a lot of resources. Today, our business model has been interrupted by the pandemic; the vast majority of our advertisers businesses have been impacted. Thats why the Weekly is now turning to you for financial support. Learn more about our new Insiders program here. Thank you. JOIN NOW

The data they collect will be used to identify the most pressing health needs of the community, as well as identify trends and major health concerns. The data will be made public and will be available to community organizations to use when creating initiatives or writing grant requests. It could mean more funding flowing into the county to tackle health issues in the future.

I completed the online survey earlier today and found it took me around 15 minutes to fill out. I liked the fact that they asked me what I thought the biggest health issue facing the community is and how it could be addressed. It also asked questions about my own health, as well as my mental health, and how easy or hard it has been for me to find and afford treatment.

Among those questions: If I needed emergency medical treatment and I needed $400 immediately to pay for it, would I be able to come up with the cash?

Why $400? Thats the amount that gets bandied about by some experts as the unexpected expense that could create economic havoc for many Americans. As in a $400 medical expense or car repair bill that prevents them from being able to cover the rent that month.

Collecting this kind of data will be hugely beneficial to better understanding where we stand as a community and what needs to be done moving forward to improve individuals and our collective health. Its an important survey for the future health of the community and I hope you will make the time to fill it out or answer the call if it comes to your phone. You can take the survey right now at healthymontereycounty.org.

And while youre at it, feel free to share your answer to what the greatest health need is in our community and what we should do about it with meIm always interested in hearing what you think.

Read full newsletter here.
Improving economic conditions observed as an accelerated V-shaped recovery in the past year have boosted premium levels in the insurance sector, with 83 listed insurers in the GCC region posting topline growth of 7.6% in aggregate in 2021, the highest for the last three years, said a report.

Higher hydrocarbon prices, increased global mobility given a broader population immunity, the ongoing infrastructure spending, increasing reinsurance rates and new mandatory covers in Oman, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia have supported premium growth in the region, according to UAE market research firm Insurance Monitor.

However, aggressive price wars and normalised claims activity have weakened the Net Combined Ratio (NCR) by 2.9 percentage points reaching 100% in FY2021 compared to 97.1% in FY2020, well surpassing the pre-pandemic ratio of FY2019 by 1.3 percentage points, stated the "FY2021: GCC Performance Periodical" compiled by Insurance Monitor in association with Lux Actuaries and Consultants.

Underwriting performance has been particularly weaker in Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Oman, it added.

According to the report, the sector has benefitted from capital market gains during the period leading to an increase of 17.9% in investment income.

This has largely cushioned the sector's earnings. The sector showed a total net profit of $1,080mn in 2021 after a decline of 11.9% from $1,226mn in the previous year.

The sectors return on equity averages at a modest 6.3% for FY2021, lowered by weaker returns in Saudi Arabia and select insurers in Oman and Qatar, stated the report by Insurance Monitor.

A total of 33 insurers have proposed dividends for FY2021, with an average payout ratio of 55% with the highest payout proposed by Ascana in the UAE at 375%. Overall, insurance indices across the region have averaged positive returns apart from Saudi Arabia, it noted.
April 12, 2022 How The U.S. Does 'Diplomacy' The U.S. doesn't do diplomacy. Every country has its own interests. But the U.S. and its pricks in the State Department insist that its interests must have priority over all others. Any country that disagrees with that will be called out on this or that issue or will even get sanctioned. March 19 2022: President Xi Jinping Has a Video Call with US President Joe Biden The two sides exchanged views on the situation in Ukraine. President Biden expounded on the US position, and expressed readiness for communication with China to prevent the situation from exacerbating. President Xi pointed out that China does not want to see the situation in Ukraine to come to this. China stands for peace and opposes war. This is embedded in Chinas history and culture. China makes a conclusion independently based on the merits of each matter. China advocates upholding international law and universally recognized norms governing international relations. China adheres to the UN Charter and promotes the vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security. These are the major principles that underpin Chinas approach to the Ukraine crisis. March 21 2022: US announces new sanctions on Chinese officials over repressive acts The State Department said it would impose visa restrictions on Chinese officials it said are believed to be responsible for policies or actions aimed at repressing religious and spiritual practitioners, members of ethnic minority groups, dissidents, human rights defenders, journalists, labor organizers, civil society organizers, and peaceful protestors in China and beyond. April 11 2022: Ukraine dominates Modi-Biden talks Mr. Modi, who spoke via videolink to Mr Biden, described the situation in Ukraine as very worrying and said he had spoken, several times, with both Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin and had not just urged peace, but also direct talks between them. Indias unwillingness to call out Russia by name for its attack on Ukraine has not gone down well in Washington, but U.S. officials have also said that they hoped countries that have relationships with Moscow might leverage them to bring about a resolution to the situation. April 12 2022: US Monitoring "Rise In Human Rights Abuses" In India: Antony Blinken US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the United States was monitoring what he described as a rise in "human rights abuses" in India by some officials, in a rare direct rebuke by Washington of New Delhi. "We regularly engage with our Indian partners on these shared values (of human rights) and to that end, we are monitoring some recent concerning developments in India including a rise in human rights abuses by some government, police and prison officials," Mr Blinken said on Monday in a joint press briefing with US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and Defense Minister Rajnath Singh. January 10 2022: Chas Freeman - Diplomacy as an Instrument of Statecraft: A Practicum What distinguishes diplomats from courtiers, securocrats, and other bureaucrats in a national capital is a reliance on empathy: the ability to see the world through other eyes and to use this insight to induce others to see their interests the way the diplomat wants them to see them. It takes more than a diplomatic passport, position, or title to make someone a diplomat. Diplomacy, like other skilled work, requires knowhow gained through training, mentoring, on-the-job experience, and awareness of historical precedents. It is a calling and a role, not a job title. Yet diplomacy remains at best a proto-profession in the United States, thanks to the uniquely American reliance on the political spoils system to staff even key national security functions. This makes diplomatic appointments to benefit appointees and their political parties rather than the country. It thereby enshrines amateurism and incompetence. As the New York Herald-Tribune put it in 1857, in the United States diplomacy is the sewer through which flows the scum and refuse of the political puddle. A man not fit to stay at home is just the man to send abroad. Only one thing has changed about this in the last 165 years. Female campaign donors and celebrities now compete with men for appointments to what they imagine are ambassadorial sinecures in plummy places abroad, leaving seedy and dangerous places to lifers. Posted by b on April 12, 2022 at 10:42 UTC | Permalink Comments next page  next page 
At the Georgia Capitol, pictured, Republicans attempted to push through Senate Bill 456, a proposal to ban the mailing of abortion pills by doctors via telemedicine.

The Republican dominated Senate voted in favor of the bill March 1, but the bill did not make it to the House floor before the end of the session April 4.
TEHRAN, Iran (AP)  Iran on Tuesday summoned Afghanistans envoy in Tehran over attacks the previous day on Iranian diplomatic missions in the neighboring country, state media in Iran reported.

According to the reports, Irans foreign ministry summoned the Afghan charge daffaires in protest over Mondays attacks on the Iranian Embassy in Kabul and the Iranian Consulate in Herat, where protests had turned aggressive. In Herat, angry Afghan protesters pelted the consulate with rocks.
The worlds largest International Dark Sky Reserve is now in West Texas backyard.

The University of Texas at Austins McDonald Observatory, The Nature Conservancy -- Davis Mountain Preserve and the International Dark-Sky Association (IDA) have announced the certification of the Greater Big Bend International Dark Sky Reserve.

The designation, granted by the International Dark-Sky Association, recognizes the commitment of organizations, governments, businesses and residents in the region to maintain dark skies, according to a press release. Protecting this resource benefits wildlife, ecology and tourism alongside astronomical research.

The new Greater Big Ben International Dark Sky Reserve is more than 15,000 square miles and is the largest certified International Dark Sky Place to date. Moreover, this is the only reserve to incorporate portions of West Texas and protected lands in Coahuila and Chihuahua, northern Mexico.

The core of the reserve, where the protection for dark skies is the strongest, is formed by the lands of McDonald Observatory and the Nature Conservancys Davis Mountain Preserve.

The Nature Conservancy (TNC) is one of the major partners that helped make the reserve a reality. The reserve will protect numerous nocturnal wildlife habitats and migration corridors passing through the Big Bend region.

The full range of the reserve spans the Rio Grande, from the Davis Mountains of West Texas to the Sierra del Carmen of northern Mexico. In the US, it includes the Texas counties of Jeff Davis, Brewster, Presidio and a small section of Reeves County. Participating protected lands also include several certified International Dark Sky places, such as Big Bend National Park, the Big Bend Ranch State Park Complex and Black Gap Wildlife Management Area. South of the Rio Grande in Mexico, the reserve includes privately managed lands in Maderas del Carmen, Ocampo and Canon de Santa Elena.

Four countries and five municipalities within the proposed reserve periphery or the area surrounding the dark core area, updated their existing lighting ordinances with relevant language to ensure their lighting reflects best practices and supports the efforts of protecting the cores dark skies.
Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources has announced an auction for 13 mining licences in the limestone blocks complex in Hufairat Nisah, Riyadh region.

The auction process and documentation will be via Tadeen platform. It will start with a qualification round based on the conditions laid in the main auction document, reported SPA.

The ministry has invited applicants to submit their official qualification documents through Tadeen from April 13.

By holding a public auction process, the ministry aims to create a fair environment for bidders, reach out to a high number of mining investors and promote national industries in line with the Saudi Vision 2030 objectives, stated the report, citing the ministry.

The ministry has put regulations and procedures that take into account environmental and social impacts of mining activities and rehabilitation of the environment in and surrounding mining sites after termination of activities. Existing regulations ought to be in line with international standards and practices, it added.
Bahrains Information & eGovernment Authority (iGA) and the Ministry of Transportation and Telecommunications (MTT) have signed an agreement for the delivery of identity cards processed through the national portal.



The three-year agreement aims to improve government ID card services customer experience by simplifying and speeding up procedures.



The memorandum of understanding (MoU0 was signed by iGA Chief Executive, Mohammed Ali Al Qaed and Assistant Undersecretary for Bahrain Post, Shaikh Bader bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, in the presence of concerned officials from both sides.



Al Qaed said that the renewal of the agreement with Bahrain Post is in line with the iGAs efforts to enhance cooperation and partnerships with both the public and private sectors, to improve the quality of government services offered to citizens and residents and raise customer satisfaction.



The iGA has been focused on automating most of its operations and services, and providing them electronically, with customers now able to conduct ID card transactions online through the National Portal and have them delivered to their homes, eliminating the need for service center visits. This was achieved through the efforts of the iGAs team with the cooperation of other government entities.



Al-Qaed added that the move towards automation of ID card services comes with the support of the Minister of Interior, Lt. Gen. Rashid bin Abdulla Al Khalifa, who has always guided the iGA to ensure that government services are accessible to all segments of society through online channels.



Shaikh Bader said: "We are pleased to sign this agreement with the iGA, to help achieve Bahrain Posts high-level objectives of strengthening cooperation with the Kingdom's ministries and government agencies, raising the quality of services, and identifying areas for further joint projects that serve the public, in line with the Kingdoms economic vision, which is aimed at enhancing the overall level of quality and excellence and supporting Bahrains various economic activities.



He said that this fruitful partnership with the iGA, which supports the electronic delivery of ID cards through Bahrain Posts express mail service, is being carried out by post offices located in all governorates.



The MoU renews the partnership between the iGA and Bahrain Post, which was initially signed in 2015, and renewed in 2018. The aim is to enhance cooperation between the two parties and offer the service of postal delivery of ID cards to addresses specified by beneficiaries, following their electronic processing via the National Portal, bahrain.bh.



The automated service saves citizens and residents, time, effort and money. The system is able to process multiple requests at the same time and in the event that the delivery item cannot be received by its owners, they will be notified to consult the post office to receive it.  TradeArabia News Service
Nearly 18,000 women have received contraceptive care at Little River Medical Center locations over the last five years thanks to grants totaling $1.8 million through South Carolina nonprofit New Morning.

The care  which includes birth control, family planning education and counseling  helps women who are uninsured, underinsured or low income.

Pam Davis, CEO of Little River Medical Center, said the medical center reaches women ages 15 to 44, with most women between the ages of 20 and 30.

Its been exciting, Davis said. The funding has been able to assist us in adding an additional nurse practitioneras well as expand our program.

LRMC has conducted training, provided contraceptive counseling for men and women, and has been able to reach women who are becoming sexually active or thinking about becoming pregnant. The grants have also helped fund long-term contraceptive methods that are more costly than the birth control pill.

In the first year of the program, 993 women benefited from contraceptive services at LRMC. And last year, about 6,800 women benefited from the services.

Thats tremendous growth, said Bonnie Kapp, president and CEO of New Morning. They can get prenatal care, plan their pregnancies and space their pregnancies between children so they can have healthy outcomes for their infants.

Kapp said Little River Medical Center has a mission to serve all patients regardless of their insurance status or economic status. Costs average about $100 per patient, Kapp said.

They reach women that have been historically underserved in our state, Kapp said. Little River was an early adopter. So they came in and have been a really strong performer as far as their adaptability

In total, about 340,000 women across South Carolina have benefited from contraceptive services since 2017 through these grants.

Kapp said the program is for all women in South Carolina and New Morning works with community-focused clinics and hospitals that serve those who have been underserved.
The Myrtle Beach Mall is facing a foreclosure lawsuit and hasnt paid last years property taxes that were due Jan. 15, according to court records and the Horry County Treasurers Office.

The real estate investment trust Westridge Lending REIT, LLC, filed a foreclosure lawsuit last month against the Myrtle Beach Mall after another company, MB Development Holdings, LLC, failed to pay back a $12.5 million loan, according to court records.

Myrtle Beach Mall, LLC, took out a mortgage in December 2018, and later assigned it the Westridge Lending REIT to secure repayment of the loaned money to Westridge Lending REIT, the suit says.

MB Development Holdings is the borrower on the loan, but Myrtle Beach Mall pledged the Mall property to secure that loan, said attorney Douglas Zayicek, whos representing Westridge Lending REIT, the plaintiffs in the case. The mall property subject to foreclosure does not include the Bass Pro Shops, the AMC Classic movie theater, Chick-fil-A and a lift station owned by the city of Myrtle Beach, Zayicek added in an email.

According to the complaint and loan documents included with the lawsuit, MB Development Holdings owed $6.5 million on the loan with a maturity date of Jan. 1, 2022, but as of March 8, the company still owed more than $6.3 million.

The suit also says MB Development Holdings had breached other provisions in the Loan Documents, to include but not be limited to failure to pay real property taxes and failure to maintain insurance.

Online property tax records show the treasurers office hasnt received the 2021 property taxes for the mall property. Property taxes are due on Jan. 15 of the following year, according to the treasurers office. Records also showed unpaid taxes for several other parcels owned by Myrtle Beach Mall, LLC.

For just the mall property, the treasurers office says the county is owed $181,860.63 in county property taxes and $28,325.06 in fees. The mall also owes $31,527.85 in penalties for the late payment, equating to 15% of the amount due, for a total bill of $241,713.54 that remains unpaid.
Landlords in Illinois have expressed concerns about a bill they claim gives more choices for residents in public housing, but provides less autonomy for landlords.

The measure, which amends the Homelessness Prevention Act, passed both chambers of the General Assembly last week and now awaits being sent to Gov. J.B. Pritzker.

The legislation mandates that landlords participate in Section 8, a federal rental assistance program for low income individuals where monthly rent is determined by income. Section 8 is a voluntary program in Illinois for landlords who opt-in to participate.

Paul Arena, director of legislative affairs at the Illinois Rental Property Association, said landlords will lose control if the bill is signed into law.

It's a blank check for government to further control rental property moving forward, and that is why it is so dangerous, Arena said.

Under the measure, landlords would continue to be able to screen tenants. However, if those tenants meet the landlords criteria, and the tenants use Section 8 subsidies, landlords would be required to sign Section 8 contracts and abide by Section 8 rules and restrictions.

The legislation also mandates that housing providers who require tenants or prospective tenants to have a certain threshold level of income must subtract any subsidies the tenant receives from the monthly rent before calculating if the income criteria have been met.

The bills sponsor, state Rep. LaShawn Ford, D-Chicago, said the law has been enacted in 19 other states with success.

No one across the country that has this law has repealed it, Ford said. It is the right thing to do, and it was great negotiations because even the realtors decided to be in support.

State Sen. Jason Barickman, R-Bloomington, said the bill will harm the state.

"I would say that this is a dramatic shift in public policy in Illinois," Barickman said. "It's going to have a detrimental effect on the very people the legislation is intended to serve and for those reasons, I would encourage a no vote."

The Illinois Rental Property Owners Association, Illinois Realtors, and Illinois Manufactured Housing Association all opposed the bill.
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KYIV, Ukraine (AP)  Vladimir Putin vowed Tuesday that Russia's bloody offensive in Ukraine would continue until its goals are fulfilled and insisted the campaign was going as planned, despite a major withdrawal in the face of stiff Ukrainian opposition and significant losses.

Russian troops, thwarted in their push toward Ukraine's capital, are now focusing on the eastern Donbas region, where Ukraine said Tuesday it was investigating a claim that a poisonous substance had been dropped on its troops. It was not clear what the substance might be, but Western officials warned that any use of chemical weapons by Russia would be a serious escalation of the already devastating war.

Russia invaded on Feb. 24, with the goal, according to Western officials, of taking Kyiv, the capital, toppling the government and installing a Moscow-friendly regime. In the six weeks since, the ground advance stalled and Russian forces lost potentially thousands of fighters and were accused of killing civilians and other atrocities.

Putin insisted Tuesday that his invasion aimed to protect people in parts of eastern Ukraine controlled by Moscow-backed rebels and to ensure Russias own security.

He said Russia had no other choice but to launch what he calls a special military operation, and vowed it would continue until its full completion and the fulfillment of the tasks that have been set.

For now, Putin's forces are gearing up for a major offensive in the Donbas, which has been torn by fighting between Russian-allied separatists and Ukrainian forces since 2014, and where Russia has recognized the separatists claims of independence. Military strategists say Moscow appears to hope that local support, logistics and the terrain in the region favor its larger, better-armed military, potentially allowing Russia to finally turn the tide in its favor.

In Mariupol, a strategic port city in the Donbas, a Ukrainian regiment defending a steel mill claimed a drone dropped a poisonous substance on the city. It indicated there were no serious injuries. The assertion by the Azov Regiment, a far-right group now part of the Ukrainian military, could not be independently verified.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that while experts try to determine what the substance might be, The world must react now. Evidence of inhuman cruelty toward women and children in Bucha and other suburbs of Kyiv continued to surface, he added, including of alleged rapes.

Not all serial rapists reach the cruelty of Russian soldiers, Zelenskyy said.

The claims came after a Russia-allied separatist official appeared to urge the use of chemical weapons, telling Russian state TV on Monday that separatist forces should seize the plant by first blocking all the exits. And then well use chemical troops to smoke them out of there, the official, Eduard Basurin, said. He denied Tuesday that separatist forces had used chemical weapons in Mariupol.

Ukraine's Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar said officials were investigating, and it was possible phosphorus munitions  which cause horrendous burns but are not classed as chemical weapons  had been used in Mariupol.

Much of the city has been leveled in weeks of pummeling by Russian troops. The mayor said Monday that the siege has left more than 10,000 civilians dead, their bodies carpeted through the streets. Mayor Vadym Boychenko said the death toll in Mariupol alone could surpass 20,000.

Zelenskyy adviser Mykhailo Podolyak acknowledged the challenges Ukrainian troops face in Mariupol. He said via Twitter that they remain blocked and are having issues with supplies, while Ukraine's president and generals do everything possible (and impossible) to find a solution.

For more than 1.5 months our defenders protect the city from (Russian) troops, which are 10+ times larger," Podolyak tweeted. Theyre fighting under the bombs for each meter of the city. They make (Russia) pay an exorbitant price.

British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said the use of chemical weapons would be a callous escalation in this conflict, while Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne said it would be a wholesale breach of international law.

U.S. President Joe Biden for the first time referred to Russias invasion as a genocide. He was even blunter later Tuesday, repeating the term and saying: It's become clearer and clearer that Putin is just trying to wipe out the idea of even being a Ukrainian.

Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said in a statement that the U.S. could not confirm the drone report. But he noted the administrations persistent concerns about Russias potential to use a variety of riot control agents, including tear gas mixed with chemical agents.

Britain, meanwhile, has warned that Russia may resort to phosphorus bombs, which are banned in civilian areas under international law, in Mariupol.

Most armies use phosphorus munitions to illuminate targets or to produce smoke screens. Deliberately firing them into an enclosed space to expose people to fumes could breach the Chemical Weapons Convention, said Marc-Michael Blum, a former laboratory head at the Netherlands-based Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons.

Once you start using the properties of white phosphorus, toxic properties, specifically and deliberately, then it becomes banned, he said.

In Washington, a senior U.S. defense official said the Biden administration was preparing yet another package of military aid for Ukraine possibly totaling $750 million to be announced in the coming days. The official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss plans not yet publicly announced. Delivery is due to be completed this week of $800 million in military assistance approved by Biden a month ago.

In the face of stiff resistance by Ukrainian forces bolstered by Western weapons, Russian forces have increasingly relied on bombarding cities, flattening many urban areas and killing thousands. The war has driven more than 10 million Ukrainians from their homes  including nearly two-thirds of the country's children.

Moscow's retreat from cities and towns around Kyiv led to the discovery of large numbers of apparently massacred civilians, prompting widespread condemnation and accusations of war crimes.

More than 720 people were killed in Kyiv suburbs that had been occupied by Russian troops and over 200 were considered missing, the Interior Ministry said early Wednesday.

In Bucha alone, Mayor Anatoliy Fedoruk said 403 bodies had been found and the toll could rise as minesweepers comb the area.

Ukraines prosecutor-generals office said Tuesday it was also looking into events in the Brovary district, which lies to the northeast.

It said the bodies of six civilians were found with gunshot wounds in a basement in the village of Shevchenkove and Russian forces were believed to be responsible.

Prosecutors are also investigating allegations that Russian forces fired on a convoy of civilians trying to leave by car from the village of Peremoha in the Brovary district, killing four people including a 13-year-old boy. In another attack near Bucha, five people were killed including two children when a car was fired upon, prosecutors said.

Putin falsely claimed Tuesday that Ukraine's accusation that hundreds of civilians were killed by Russian troops in the town of Bucha were fake. Associated Press journalists saw dozens of bodies in and around the town, some of whom had their hands bound and appeared to have been shot at close range.

Speaking at the Vostochny space launch facility in Russia's far east, in his first known foray outside Moscow since the war began, Putin also said the West would fail to isolate Russia and its economy has withstood a blitz of sanctions.

Addressing the pace of the campaign, he said Moscow was proceeding calmly and rhythmically to achieve the planned goals while minimizing the losses.

The Russian defense ministry said Tuesday that it used used air- and sea-launched missiles to destroy an ammunition depot and airplane hangar at Starokostiantyniv in the western Khmelnytskyi region and an ammunition depot near Kyiv.

___

Karmanau reported from Lviv, Ukraine. Associated Press writer Robert Burns in Washington, and AP journalists around the world contributed to this report.

___

Follow the APs coverage of the war at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP)  The mother of a teenage boy who was killed by police in his Tennessee high school has filed a federal lawsuit over the shooting.

Chanada Robinson filed suit Monday against the city of Knoxville, the Knoxville Police Department and the Knox County Board of Education in the death of her 17-year-old son, Anthony Thompson Jr., last year at Austin-East High School, news outlets reported.

The suit alleges officers didn't follow proper training and procedures, didn't provide appropriate medical care and weren't properly trained on de-escalation tactics.

Robinson is seeking damages that include the cost of burial for her son and additional training for the Knoxville Police Department.

We need to get to the heart of what happened to Anthony. We need to see some policy changes so that this never happens again, (so that) theres never another mother sitting in my position, Robinson said.

Knox County District Attorney General Charme Allen determined the shooting was justifiable under Tennessees self-defense law last year.

Video footage of the April 12, 2021, shooting shows four officers responded to the school after a domestic abuse call from the mother of Thompsons former girlfriend. The officers went into a bathroom where they believed Thompson was, but Allens office said the officers did not know the teen was carrying a handgun.

The video shows the officers locating and then attempting to handcuff Thompson. One officer grabbed Thompsons right arm, but Thompsons left arm was in his sweatshirt pocket, where the video shows he was holding a handgun. The barrel of the weapon could be seen peaking through the pocket. Thompsons weapon went off, hitting a trash can but not any of the officers.

The shot confused the officers into thinking their lives were in danger and one of them was potentially injured, Allen said  pointing to the various statements they later gave investigators.

Officer Jonathon Clabough can be seen removing his weapon and shooting Thompson in the shoulder. Allen said the officers did not know Thompson had been shot until two minutes after handcuffing him and turning over his body. Thats when they saw the large amounts of blood and called the school nurse for medical assistance.

Knoxville police, the city and Knox County Schools declined to comment, citing the pending litigation.
ANKARA, Turkey (AP)  Turkish authorities have detained 46 people, including former local officials from a pro-Kurdish political party, who are suspected of having financial links to Kurdish militants, the state-run news agency reported on Tuesday.

The detained are among 91 suspects sought by a chief prosecutor for allegedly providing financial resources on behalf of the banned Kurdistan Workers Party, or PKK, Anadolu Agency reported. They are accused of being a part of the PKKs economic structure, of money-laundering and of taking instructions from PKK commander Murat Karayilan, it said.
It has been two decades since we had Ukrainian guests in our home. My wife and I hosted many former Soviet Union guests as part of a State Department program to enhance understanding and nation building. Russias invasion of Ukraine has brought those visitors to mind.

Our impression was that our visitors from Russia and Ukraine were like us  white, with a history of Christianity. Their clothes may have been different styles, but most were educated, cordial and sought similar life goals. We had no hesitation in having them stay in our home for several weeks while they met with business counterparts during the day. Our dinner conversations flowed easily and were interesting. We saw no barriers to having them as friends.

The dominant themes were concern about employment, family and their childrens future. Our curiosity about politics was evident but no more prevalent than discussing the simple navigation of the trials and inconveniences of life.

Ukrainians were among many visitors from the former Soviet Union. Most of our guests have morphed into a sameness in our memories, except for one notable feature. Each non-Russian adamantly wished to differentiate their country from the former Soviet Union. Home loyalty was local and robust, whether in Ukraine, Georgia, Azerbaijan and other countries. Confusing them with Russians was met with a vigorous negative response.



We have lost contact with our Ukrainian friends, but they are in our hearts. We hope they remember us, the stories, laughter and food we shared. We hope, too, they recall our decency and the principles we shared as Americans who believed in freedom and the rights of all people.



Our Russian guests are also out of contact. We hope they, too, recall our belief in freedom and the rights of all people. We hope these memories deflect the lies and propaganda they are most likely to hear and that they will share with others what they saw face to face when they were with us.



We believe this is Vladimir Putins war, not the war of all Russian people. No doubt there are significant numbers (probably an overwhelming majority at this time) who have bought into Putins lies, and we must temporarily consider those who act aggressively our enemies. In a sense, they, too, are victims.



Yet, it is often hard to hold opposing thoughts. One thought is to believe that all Russians are our enemies since Russia invaded Ukraine. Alternatively, we can assume that under the leadership of Putin, Russians are both victims and aggressors. The latter view is more difficult to accept, but it is more accurate than viewing all Russians darkly.



It is difficult to separate a nations people from its leaders when at war. We hated the Germans during World War II and the Japanese, demonizing them in every way possible. More than 70 years later, we now visit their countries, admire their culture, and welcome their citizens as immigrants to the United States.



We understand the atrocities they committed were not inborn but resulted from vile, evil leaders who stood to dominate other countries for their benefit. They manipulated their citizens by suppressing information and distorted reality, the same traits evident in Putin.



Confronting aggression with strength is wise. But it is important not to become barbaric in our attitude against people who will, in time, be seen as humane once again.



There are reasons we are a member of the Geneva Conventions and their Additional Protocols. They commit us to standards of behavior that we aspire to meet. Our purpose is to strive toward the better angels of our nature and act humanely when faced with cruelty and barbarity. It is these intentions that it is hoped differentiate us from Vladimir Putin.



The idealized view of our country is civilized, fair and caring. An attitude separating Putins war from all Russian citizens is a worthy goal to move toward that ideal.
Shrimp Nation, the largest seafood restaurant chain in Saudi Arabia, plans to open its first branches in the UAE with an investment value of AED10 million ($2.72 million).



Further strengthening its portfolio in KSA and expanding all over the Middle East, Shrimp Nation is currently in the process of opening new branches in the UAE, Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, Jordan, and Egypt, in addition to two branches in KSAs Abha and Al Taif that will be added to its existing 18 branches.



Commenting on the expansion of the seafood restaurant chain, Mohammed Belal Abualizz, CEO at Shrimp Nation, said: We are delighted to expand and open branches in the UAE as well as other countries in the Middle East, as part of our short-term expansion plan. We believe that the UAE offers one of the best and most dynamic economic environments where we will be able to prosper and open more branches over the few coming years.



Abualizz added: As a rapidly-growing seafood chain in the region, the main force behind our success is our experienced and passionate employees who continuously strive to provide our customers with fresh and tasty seafood delights while ensuring exceptional customer experiences.



Shrimp Nation is a Saudi Arabian chain that specialises in seafood recipes. Upholding its motto Deep from the Sea, the restaurant chain offers seafood dishes inspired from a number of cuisines including the French, Spanish, west African and American.



The up-and-coming seafood restaurant chain adopts an open-kitchen concept and serves fresh and high-quality seafood delights while ensuring a distinguished customer experience that ensures satisfaction and happiness.



Shrimp Nation also strives to become an internationally acclaimed business and a successful chain of restaurant operating all over the world, a company statement said.  TradeArabia News Service
he South Dakota House voted thirty six to thirty one to impeach Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg.

During debate of the Articles of Impeachment, Representative Nancy York of Watertown said everyone has to be treated equally.

York says she believe law enforcement has lost confidence in the Attorney General.

Representative Oren Lesmeister of Parade says the Attorney General is clearly responsible for hitting and killing Joe Boever.

A trial will now be held in front of the Senate, starting no sooner than May second. It will take a two thirds majority of the Senate to convict Ravnsborg.

Click below to check out Gov. Kristi Noem's tweet in response to the impeachment.
UPDATE: Eureka Police officer injured, two suspects in custody, two on run following string of thefts in Eureka subdivision
Senator Mitch McConnell View Photo

U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) delivered remarks on the Senate floor regarding the crisis at our southern border.

McConnell was Tuesdays KVML Newsmaker of the Day. Here are his words:

Heres a quote from Candidate Bidens campaign website in 2020: The U.S. has a right and a duty to secure our borders and protect our people against threats.

That was then. This is now.

The Biden Administrations weak border policies set a new record in 2021. Customs and Border Protection had to make two million arrests.

And it doesnt appear that new record will last long. 2022 is already trending even worse.

CBP is currently seeing about 7,000 encounters every single day and they fear they could soon see as many as 18,000 per day. A staggering figure.

To put this in perspective, President Obamas former DHS Secretary Jeh Johnson has reflected that a daily count above one thousand was, a relatively bad number, and I was gonna be in a bad mood the whole day.

Now were at seven times that figure and climbing.

Its a Presidents responsibility to fix this crisis. But this President is taking major steps to make it even worse.

The Biden Administration has announced they will cancel legal authorities that have helped CBP contend with these massive surges.

A group of states led by Arizona have explained in court that Title 42 is, the only safety valve preventing this Administrations disastrous border policies from devolving into an unmitigated catastrophe.

The Administrations attempts to explain why theyre caving to the far left and throwing our borders open make no sense whatsoever.

The White House keeps claiming this is a public health decision and they cannot keep Title 42. Why?

Democrats dont act like they think COVID is finished. They give speeches daily about the need for more funding. They say we should be sending health assistance around the world. The only place on the planet where Democrats say COVID is over is on our southern border.

A growing number of House and Senate Democrats have expressed concern and anger over President Bidens awful decision. But press releases are one thing. What matters is how people vote.

Senate Democrats have taken every meaningful opportunity to back the Biden Administrations border policies and vote down Republican efforts to improve security. Their votes have helped create this crisis.

Well see if they finally change course and begin voting to help Republicans end the crisis instead.

The Newsmaker of the Day is heard every weekday morning at 6:45, 7:45 and 8:45 on AM 1450 and FM 102.7 KVML.
Funding Will Help Projects In Stanislaus National Forest View Photo

Sonora, CA  10 areas in the western states will receive a combined $131-million from the federal government for forest thinning and other wildfire prevention efforts.

The Stanislaus National Forest will receive $21.8-million to treat 8,500 acres this fiscal year, and then an additional $34-million in the following two years to bring the total acreage to 32,500.

The funding will allow for increased mastication, biomass removal, machine piling for burning, timber harvesting, fuel break construction and prescribed burning.

The money is from the federal infrastructure bill. Only two areas of California were selected for this initial round of funding, and the other is North Yuba. Other projects are in Arizona, Washington, Colorado, Idaho, Montana and Oregon.

Forest Service Chief Randy Moore says, The first-year investments are a part of a 10-year strategy to reduce the exposure of communities and infrastructure to the risk of catastrophic wildfire. With each successive year we will plan and implement more, continuing to reduce the risks associated with extreme wildfire for communities in these vulnerable areas.

Expected outcomes: Per Information from the US Forest Service

Outcomes include reduced fire risk to several foothill communities (Sonora, Columbia, Cedar Ridge, Twain Harte, Strawberry, Pinecrest, Long Barn); protection of power infrastructure (hydropower facilities and transmission and distribution lines); reduced risk to multiple communication sites and facilities both on private and public lands; and road improvements (to provide access for various treatments, as well as improved public recreation and access for emergency response).

The South and Middle Forks of the Stanislaus River are the primary water sources for Tuolumne County and provide potable water for other municipalities throughout the Central Valley, as well. Additional outcomes include less risk to community infrastructure (beyond homes), including the watershed, water reservoirs (Pinecrest Lake, Lyons Lake) and the historic wooden flume that provides 90 percent of the water to the local area. These watersheds provide substantial water for agricultural uses and habitat for several species of conservation concern.
Iran summons Afghan envoy over attack on diplomatic missions View Photo

TEHRAN, Iran (AP)  Iran on Tuesday summoned Afghanistans envoy in Tehran over attacks the previous day on Iranian diplomatic missions in the neighboring country, state media in Iran reported.

According to the reports, Irans foreign ministry summoned the Afghan charge daffaires in protest over Mondays attacks on the Iranian Embassy in Kabul and the Iranian Consulate in Herat, where protests had turned aggressive. In Herat, angry Afghan protesters pelted the consulate with rocks.

The ministry demanded that Afghanistans new Taliban rulers provide the missions with full security and said they stopped working until further notice. On Monday, ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh said more needed to be done by the Taliban to ensure security to Iranian missions.

Later on Tuesday, Iran said the missions had reopened.

An Associated Press video showed the protesters setting the consulates gates on fire and chanting Death to Iran! as police were trying to disperse them by shooting into air. The video also showed protesters gathering at the Iranian Embassy in Kabul.

In recent weeks, unverified videos purporting to show Afghan refugees being tortured in Iran have been published on social media, angering many Afghans. Iran has denied the accusations.

Iran hosts millions of Afghan refugees. Last week, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian said the number of Afghans in Iran has jumped to 5 million, from nearly 4 million before the Taliban took power last August.
Hillary Levin/AP

CARLYLE, Ill. (AP)  A Kentucky man jailed in connection with the fatal shooting of an Illinois deputy and a subsequent carjacking in neighboring Missouri last year failed in an escape attempt, authorities said.

Ray Tate, 40, of Hopkinsville, Kentucky, escaped from his cell at the Jefferson County Justice Center early Sunday morning but was captured by Mount Vernon police, who had established a perimeter around the lockup, the Jefferson County Sheriffs Office said.
Associated Press Writer

Sometime in the coming months the phone is going to ring at Ryan Newhall's house in a quiet San Antonio neighborhood. It'll be Dave Shoemaker calling from Seattle to say, "C'mon, time to go fishing."

And for the first time since becoming a commercial fisherman six years ago, Newhall doesn't know if he'll want to go.

Still fresh in his mind is what happened the last time out _ leaping off a burning boat and then bobbing in the frigid Bering Sea for more than two hours, struggling to just stay afloat in 15-foot swells and to keep a crewmate from drifting away to certain death.

The memories torment his dreams _ the despair of going unseen by three rescue boats and a helicopter, and then resigning himself to perishing in the middle of nowhere. Of thinking of his parents, his fiance and his baby daughter, and pleading to the heavens to be spared.

"I just remember begging him, 'Please God, please don't let me go out like this. Don't let me die like this,'" recalled Newhall, a wiry, red-haired 29-year-old who grew up in suburban San Antonio. "It was by the grace of God that we were saved."

Three others aboard the Seattle-based fishing boat Galaxy weren't so lucky when the 180-foot vessel inexplicably exploded while chasing cod far off the Alaska coast in late October.

Twenty-three people were rescued _ 15 from a life raft and six more from the Galaxy before it sank dozens of miles from the nearest land.

Newhall and Ann Weckback were the final two survivors, and in Weckback's case, only because Newhall boosted her up each time her near-limp body slipped down through the life ring that kept them afloat.

"He saved my life  He was a very good boy," said Weckback, a 24-year-old federal fisheries monitor who boarded the Galaxy only four days earlier. "He could have left me and tried to get to the raft, but he didn't."

Newhall, a deck foreman, plays down the incident, saying anybody would have done the same thing. Shoemaker, the boat's captain, isn't so sure.

"He wasn't thinking of himself _ he was thinking of her," said Shoemaker, whose forearms were badly burned while he radioed a desperate mayday as flames consumed the Galaxy's wheelhouse. "You won't find many folks in the world today who would do that."

Newhall's tale begins before he jumped off the Galaxy's stern with Weckback to escape the wind-stoked flames that were melting the deck beneath their feet.

Some minutes earlier, the engine-room explosion that ignited the fire blew Newhall and two other crewmen through a hatchway and into the churning sea.

"I knew I wasn't standing up any more," Newhall said, remembering only hearing a dull pop. "The next thing that I actually realized is that I was looking up and seeing light, but I'm underwater."

Clad in heavy cotton sweats, he swam up to the surface and caught hold of a line thrown down by crewmate while the Galaxy pitched violently in the swells.

After being dashed hard against the hull a few times, he swung back through the same hatchway that he was blown out of. Moments later he was standing outside the wheelhouse, three decks higher, though he has no memory of getting there.

Weckback says Newhall was dazed and wobbly, and that she and others helped him into a "survival suit" that would give him more buoyancy and protection from the cold water. Weckback had a survival suit as well, but she gave it to another crewmen pulled back onto the boat after the explosion.

She says she was told to jump overboard so she could escape in the canopied life raft.

"I was like, 'I can't, somebody's got to watch Ryan,'" she said. "He wasn't really focused at that point. I was really worried about leaving him on the boat _ he couldn't even stand up.

"Somebody was like, 'I'll watch him, I'll watch him.' So I climbed over (the guard rail) and I was getting ready to jump. Then the guy who said he'd watch (Newhall) was totally in the water, like 5 seconds later."

Weckback says she decided to stay to take care of Newhall and hope they wouldn't have to abandon the Galaxy. Someone aboard the life raft soon cut the line that tethered it to the boat and it began to drift away.

But the fire continued to burn closer to them at the stern. Newhall says his first memory after swinging back onto the Galaxy was Weckback calling him by his nickname.

"She was screaming at me, 'Red, we've got to jump. We've got to jump,'" Newhall said. "She jumps right into darkness  I turn around for one more last look, to make sure maybe I don't have to jump, and the fire is right at my feet."

He grabbed a life ring, went over the rail and splashed 30 feet below. He swam to Weckback, who was clinging to a buoy dressed only in her pajamas, a pair of rain pants and hiking boots that she quickly kicked off.

The life raft, equipped with a tent-like canopy, was still in sight near the Galaxy's bow, and the pair tried to catch up to it, but their arms and legs seized up in the sloshing, 48-degree water.

"I'm starting to actually panic now," Newhall said. "I'm yelling at her, 'We are going to die if we don't make it over there. You have got to swim, you have got to swim.' She keeps telling me, 'I'm trying, Red, I'm trying.'"

The raft soon disappeared around the bow, and Newhall and Weckback were being carried by the current in the opposite direction.

The blazing Galaxy was hundreds of yards away when Newhall saw the lights of a boat on the horizon.

"I just got this feeling of joy, like 'Here we go, we're rescued right here,'" he said. "I said, 'You owe me a cup of coffee for this. You are buying, and we are going to be drinking this in 15 minutes on that boat right there.' And she's happy and we're laughing now. Well, that boat goes right past us, doesn't see us."

A second boat appeared and motored right by. And a third. Then a Coast Guard helicopter buzzed overhead. By then the flat light of late afternoon was giving way to dusk, and soon it would be dark.

Weckback says she doesn't remember a lot of the time adrift, but she does recall the moment their spirits hit bottom.

"(Newhall) said, 'Ann, we're going to die out here,'" she said. "And I said, 'Yeah, we totally are.'"

The Galaxy was so far away it looked no bigger than a rowboat when a fourth set of lights came into sight, but Newhall didn't get too excited.

"At that point I was thinking, 'These guys aren't going to find us. They're going to come right past us, they're not going to see us,'" he said. "I realized how small we were and that we were not going to be found."

The boat got closer and closer, and when it was within 300 yards, Newhall shook off his pessimism. He pulled the flashlight loose from his survival suit, turned it on with his teeth and started waving it for all he was worth.

But the boat began to turn away. Newhall fumbled for a whistle attached to the suit, and before he could get it to his trembling lips, the vessel came back around. They had been spotted by a searcher high on the forward mast.

He dropped the flashlight and began kicking toward the boat, named the Clipper Express. He also roused Weckback, who he said was purple and babbling incoherently.

"At that point I said, 'I told you we weren't going to die,' and she looks at the boat and she just starts laughing," he said. "I mean, it was just like the best feeling of my life. It's like, 'We are rescued!'"

Newhall has made several trips to the Pacific Northwest for the funerals of his three crewmates, one of whom was never found. He'll be going up again in early December to testify at a Coast Guard hearing on the Galaxy fire.

But mostly he's been keeping warm and dry in San Antonio, laying low with his parents, fiancee Ashley Petteway and his daughter Anika, who's almost 2.

Still, he hears the sea beckoning, not to mention the lucrative pay, and he's torn.

"This is what pays for my house and my car, this is what my daughter's going to college on," Newhall said. "This is something where I've gotten very accustomed to the money I make. But I'm still undecided."

Shoemaker, recovering from his injuries in a small town near Seattle, knows he'll be going back out, and that he wants Newhall by his side.

"I'd give my left leg to have him there with me," said Shoemaker, a fishing-boat captain for more than two decades. "I said, 'Red, when I get back on the water, I'm calling you.' And he said, 'Call me.'"

Weckback thinks she'll go back to sea as well, though not before she has a few months on solid ground.

"I might go to warmer water," she mused, "though maybe sharks are worse than cold, I don't know."
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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.
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Gilbert Gottfried, the comedian, Aladdin star and owner of the most recognizable voice in Hollywood, has died after battling a long illness, his family announced Tuesday. He was 67.

His publicist told the Washington Post that he died of myotonic dystrophy type 2, a form of muscular dystrophy.

We are heartbroken to announce the passing of our beloved Gilbert Gottfried after a long illness. In addition to being the most iconic voice in comedy, Gilbert was a wonderful husband, brother, friend and father to his two young children. Although today is a sad day for all of us, please keep laughing as loud as possible in Gilberts honor, his family wrote on Twitter.

Many people in Hollywood, including comedians Jason Alexander, Dane Cook and more, paid tribute to Gottfried after the shocking news of his death. Gilbert Gottfried was never not funny, wrote Cook. He was a lovely guy, always friendly and made many people happy.

Gottfried was known for his crude humor, political incorrectness and shrill voice, which helped give life to a number of animated characters, such as Iago the parrot in Disneys Aladdin, the robotic bird Digit in PBS Kids Cyberchase and the Aflac duck in commercials for the insurance company.

He was born in Brooklyn, N.Y., on Feb. 28, 1955, and started performing stand-up comedy at just 15. Gottfried had a short, 12-episode stint on Saturday Night Live during Season 6 in 1980, and he reunited with his SNL colleague Eddie Murphy on Beverly Hills Cop II, one of his first major film roles. Howard Stern frequently invited Gottfried on his radio show in the 80s, where he impersonated people like Andrew Dice Clay, Groucho Marx and Bela Lugosi as Dracula.

By the 90s, Gottfried landed roles in films like the Problem Child movies, Highway to Hell and Looks Whos Talking Too, before landing his most recognizable voice role as Iago the parrot in 1992s Aladdin. Iago was the annoying but funny comic relief who accompanied the villain Jafar, and Gottfried reprised the role in two direct-to-video sequels, a TV series and the Kingdom Hearts video games.

His other major voice roles included Kraang Subprime in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Mr. Mxyzptlk in Superman: The Animated Series, Dr. Bender and his son Wendell in The Fairly OddParents, plus SpongeBob Squarepants, The Ren & Stimpy Show, Duckman, Disneys House of Mouse and countless more.

Read more: Celebrity Deaths in 2022

In the 2000s and 2010s, Gottfried became a regular on celebrity roasts and game shows. He appeared in Comedy Central roasts of Bob Saget, Joan Rivers, David Hasselhoff, Donald Trump and Roseanne Barr, plus game shows like Hollywood Squares and Pyramid.

His edgy and crude humor, however, got him into trouble on several occasions. Three weeks after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, Gottfried joked that he couldnt catch a direct flight from New York to California because they said they have to stop at the Empire State Building first. The crowd gasped and decried too soon, but Gottfried was able to win the audience over and quickly made headlines by telling one of the first 9/11 jokes.

Live at the 1991 Emmy Awards, Gottfried made several masturbation jokes about Paul Reubens recent arrest for masturbating in an adult movie theater, which resulted in Gottfried being blacklisted by producers. The comedian also lost his job of voicing the Aflac duck after tweeting jokes about the 2011 Tohoku Japanese earthquake disaster, which was the fourth most powerful earthquake to ever hit Japan.

Director Neil Berkeley created a documentary, titled Gilbert, about the comedians career and personal life in 2017. In his review for Variety, film critic Owen Gleiberman wrote: Gottfried displays no regrets; he has the courage of his abrasive conviction. The most offensive joke we see him tell is one in which he compares his own daughter to Mackenzie Phillips  but if the joke, on some level, is indefensible, its really one designed to mock his own insecurities. He is full of fear, but fearless. Hes just kidding, but totally means it. Hes a man who puts on his entire stand-up personality like a moth-balled old suit, but once hes in character he is never more himself. You may or may not walk away from Gilbert a Gilbert Gottfried fan, but either way the movie makes you glad he exists.

Gottfried is survived by his wife, Dara Kravitz, and two children, Lily and Max.

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It looked like disaster struck during one of Fiesta's final events over the weekend. Fiesta royalty Sandra Cortez thought she had lost a significantly personal item during the King William Parade on Saturday, April 9. A ring that holds sentimental value.

My heart dropped," Cortez says. "It started racing. I started panicking.

The ring was gifted to her by none other than the late and well-respected Larry Benson Sr., the owner of Ingram Park Auto Center who held the San Antonio distinguished honor of El Rey Feo LXV during Fiesta 2013.

I was Larry Benson Sr.s prime minister in 2012, Cortez says. Mr. Benson gifted me a beautiful necklace and ring, thanking me for helping make his reign successful.

Cortez tells MySA she has worked for the Benson family for more than 30 years and considers them kindred.

Queen Cortez and her husband, reigning El Rey Feo 73 Augustine Cortez Jr., were riding on top a vintage convertible, waving at the thousands of spectators lining the streets during the parade. During the festivities, the ring disappeared.

I noticed I had my ring on and then didnt have my ring. The only reason I wore it was to honor Mr. Benson and acknowledge him in a sense, Cortez explained. I truly thought it fell off my finger, and it was on the ground somewhere, and I thought Id never see it again.

As soon as she realized her precious gem was missing, Cortez began retracing her steps and enlisted the help of the court, friends, family, and associates.

She asked me to put (a message about losing the ring) on social media, and I said 'Of course', KABB TV anchor Ernie Zuniga says. Zuniga was also a member of El Rey Feo 73's court as the public relations minister. I immediately put it out there on three different (social media) pages."

More than 48 hours had raced by with no sign of the ring until the morning of Monday, April 11. When the dust and fanfare of Fiesta had settled, Cortez decided to comb through her belongings one more time. At the bottom of a VIP medals bag was a shiny object that resembled what she had lost: her ring.

I just yelled at the top of my lungs, Thank you, Lord! Cortez said.

Courtesy, Gabe Redondo, Sandra Cortez, and Jon Alonzo

Cortez thanked the community for their tremendous and unwavering support and prayers for going out of their way to make sure her ring was safely home.
PUEBLO, Colo. (AP)  State and local firefighters have established a perimeter around a 20-acre (7.8-hectare) grassland fire in Pueblo that briefly forced people to evacuate a neighborhood next to City Park, a fire official said.

About 30 personnel were working the edges of the fire, which erupted Sunday in a wooded area with heavy brush and quickly spread in high winds along the north bank of the Arkansas River, said Pueblo Fire Capt. Woody Percival. An evacuation order for the Aberdeen neighborhood in west Pueblo was rescinded late Sunday.
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TEHRAN, Iran (AP)  Iran's supreme leader on Tuesday insisted negotiations over Tehran's tattered nuclear deal are going ahead properly, even after repeated comments by American officials that an agreement to restore the accord may not happen.

The comments by Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, during a meeting with hard-line President Ebrahim Raisi's administration marking the holy Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, offered his endorsement of their faithful and diligent efforts.

But restoring the deal remains in question, apparently over Iran's demand that its paramilitary Revolutionary Guard be delisted by America as a terrorist group.

Khamenei made a point to praise the country's foreign minister and negotiating team, something that he had grown sour on under the government of previous President Hassan Rouhani, who attended the event Tuesday night in Tehran as well.

There is nothing wrong with criticizing and commenting on their performance, as long as it is free from suspicion and pessimism and, as I have said many times, does not weaken the elements of the field and disappoint the people, Khamenei said, according to the state-run IRNA news agency.

Khamenei and other officials have referred to the Guard and its expeditionary Quds Force as the field in the past.

He added that the West had faced a deadlock since then-President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew from the nuclear deal in 2018.

So far our negotiation team has resisted before the other partys excessive demands and, God willing, (that resistance) will continue, Khamenei said.

However, lead U.S. negotiator Rob Malley has said in recent days that a deal is not just around the corner and is not inevitable." That's been repeated by other American officials since the talks in Vienna went on a pause a month ago.

There's been no immediate sign of them resuming, despite Iranian media in recent days suggesting a prisoner swap could see billions of dollars in Iranian assets unfrozen in South Korea.

The U.S. State Department on Tuesday said no deals had been reached on either a prisoner swap or on the nuclear accord.

Any reports otherwise, including reports that Iranian funds held in restricted accounts in third countries will be transferred, are false, the State Department said. Our partners have not released these restricted funds to Iran, nor has the United States authorized or approved any such transfer of restricted funds to Iran.

The 2015 nuclear deal saw Iran put advanced centrifuges into storage under the watch of the International Atomic Energy Agency, while keeping its enrichment at 3.67% purity and its stockpile at only 300 kilograms (661 pounds) of uranium.

As of Feb. 19, the IAEA says Irans stockpile of all enriched uranium was nearly 3,200 kilograms (7,055 pounds). Some has been enriched up to 60% purity  a short technical step from weapons-grade levels of 90%. Meanwhile, Iran has stopped the IAEA from accessing its surveillance camera footage.

That has worried nuclear nonproliferation experts. While Iran insists its program is peaceful, the IAEA and Western governments say Iran had an organized military nuclear program up until the end of 2003.

But having Iran able to sell its crude oil and natural gas on the global market could also push down energy prices. Americans have been paying some of the highest-ever prices at the pump for gasoline, fueled by Russias war on Ukraine.

Meanwhile, Khamenei also praised Palestinians for attacks against Israelis that killed and wounded several people in recent days.

"These moves showed that Palestine is alive despite efforts by the U.S. and its followers and through the current moves the final victory will be with the Palestinian people, he said.

Iran does not recognize Israel and supports anti-Israeli militant groups like the Palestinian group Hamas and Lebanon's Shiite militia group Hezbollah.

In Yemen, where Iran supports the Houthi rebels against Irans regional rival Saudi Arabia, Khamenei urged the kingdom to bring an end to the war. A temporary truce is ongoing there amid Ramadan.

Why do you continue a war when you do not have the possibility of victory in it?" Khamenei asked. "Find a way and pull yourself out of the trouble.

___

Gambrell reported from Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
Almost seven months after Pedro Martinez left for Chicago, San Antonio ISD selected an educator on Monday, April 11, with 35 years of experience as the lone finalist for superintendent. The board of trustees selected Jaime Aquino, who worked in various educator and academic leadership positions in Denver, Los Angeles, and New York, as the lone finalist.

Aquino will replace Interim Superintendent Robert Jaklich. State law requires a 21-day waiting period before superintendent finalists can be hired. Details of Aquino's contract were not immediately available.

"What really appealed to me about the district is the city. The city feels like a family," Aquino said at the board meeting. I felt that San Antonio could and should be my new home. This is home. Im not here to lead. Im here to serve

Aquino says that when he looks at the students who attend SAISD, he notices that they look like him.

An immigrant from the Dominican Republic, Aquino received his bachelors degree in psychology at the Instituto Tecnologico de Santo Domingo. He was hired as a bilingual teacher in New York and in 1990 was selected as the New York State Bilingual Teacher of the Year.

"This district is nowhere near where it needs to be," Aquino said. "We can take this district to the next level. We can take this district from good to great."

He says the district already has a blueprint to excellence. Aquino wants to hear from the community to help determine the best steps to take to achieve that excellence in student achievement, especially among SAISD's underprivileged children. He also wants to face the challenge of providing the teachers the resources and support that they need. That starts with listening and transparency, he says.

Board President Christina Martinez the community, who had involvement in selecting the next superintendent, wanted someone who listened.

"We could tell that he was a great listener and that really rose to the top of the profile," Christina Martinez said.

"Is it going to be tough? Yes. But I am not afraid," Aquino said.

John Davenport, Staff / San Antonio Express-News

The San Antonio Alliance said in September 2021, when Pedro Martinez left, that he left behind a legacy of "authoritarianism."Alejandra Lopez, president of the San Antonio Alliance, told Aquino at the meeting that multiple teachers have told her that teachers are planning on leaving. She asked him what he would tell teachers who planned on leaving.

"I would ask them, 'What ideas do you have that can make this more rewarding for you?" Aquino said. "I know what that feels like."

Aquino wants to start a council of teachers to help inform those decisions that way every choice is made with the input from teachers in the classroom.

Here is some other news you might have missed.

Hill Country teens injured in Luling car crash

Navarro ISD confirmed that four teens who were former and current students were involved in an accident a 1800 block of West Pierce, US Highway 90 on the west side of town.

Read more here.

Smoke bringing out T.I. and Baby Bash

Smoke, the downtown barbecue spot, is having a massive party featuring your middle school faves T.I. and Baby Bash.

Read more here.

Easter camp parking is back

All the parks that your tia and tio camp out at the night before Easter are letting families back in to claim their spot.

Read more here.

H-E-B's beginnings remembered

The Texas Historical Commission looks back at the history of the San Antonio grocery giant as it praised the gave praise to how H-E-B got its start.

Read more here.
Courtesy, Texas State University

A Muslim student was the target of a reported hate crime and assault on the Texas State University campus in late March. The Austin chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations spoke out against the person who committed the alleged incident on Monday, April 11, according to a CAIR-Austin news release.

The incident happened on March 31, but wasn't reported to campus police until April 6, according to San Marcos Corridor News. The woman was approached by an unknown man during her jog, where the man allegedly tried to remove her hijab or head scarf. The man also reportedly made derogatory remarks about the woman's assumed nationality and religion, according to the CAIR-Austin news release.
Courtesy of Seguin Police Department

Officials have apprehended a Seguin man with a active arrest warrant in connection with the murder of an 18-year-old woman. Seguin resident Draven Rene Reyes, 20, was arrested on Tuesday, April 12 at approximately 11:20 a.m. The U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force arrested Reyes on the Eastside of San Antonio, according to a news release.

Reyes was arrested with a warrant for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and murder. Reyes was transported to Guadalupe County Jail with bond set at $2 million, according to the release
Douglas Sacha/Getty Images

Four Seguin teenagers were seriously injured when the truck they were in hit a tree late Saturday, April 9 outside of Luling, according to a Seguin Gazette report. Luling Police Chief Bill Sala told the Seguin Gazette the collision was reported by another motorist on Saturday at around 10:55 p.m. in the 1800 block of West Pierce, US Highway 90 on the west side of town.

Preliminary investigation disclosed that a 2019 silver Ford F250 operated by a 17-year-old male was traveling west on US 90 when the vehicle crossed over the eastbound lane leaving the roadway, traveled approximately 201 feet through the bar ditch and collided with a tree on the south side of the highway, Sala said in a news release.
ImagePatch/Getty Images

Update April 12: As of 4:30 p.m., a Tornado Watch has been issued for Blanco, Burnet, Hays, Travis and Williamson Counties until 11 p.m. The National Weather Service reports counties made be added to the list as the threat evolves. There's still a chance for severe storms possible between now and about 10 p.m., mainly along and east of the I-35 corridor. Fire weather concerns continue out west through this evening and Wednesday along and west of I-35.

Update, April 12: Just after 3 p.m., the National Weather Service said there was a "high likelihood" of a tornado watch being issued for the Interstate 35 corridor counties in the next 60 to 90 minutes. A Tornado Watch for San Marcos has ended. NWS reports chances for severe weather still linger in San Antonio. According to a map from the NWS Storm Prediction Center, about half of the Bexar County from I-35 east would be affected.
Yves here. Im using an OilPrice post, Indias Russian Dealings Have Left Bidens Geopolitical Oil Strategy In Tatters, as a point of departure for a mini-rant about the arrogance and rank incompetence of Americas elites, as demonstrated by our predictably unsuccessful efforts to bully both China and India into saying bad things about Russias invasion of Ukraine and backing the US, most importantly by joining its sanctions war.

I am at a loss to understand why the US thinks throwing more force behind a clearly failed diplomatic strategy is a bright idea. Pushing China has simply made it more obvious and easier to explain to interested audiences (many!) why the US needs to stop trying to dictate the policies of other countries, most of all really big ones with nukes.

As for India, the US has been at best a fair weather friend. It is particularly insulting for the US to carry on to India about democratic values when we engage in nation-breaking and have counted autocrats like the Saudi royals and a very long revolving door list of authoritarians (past stars include Manuel Noreiga, Honsai Mubarak, Rwandas Paul Kagame, Ethiopias Hailemariam Desalegn) as allies.

With both countries, the US has tried at least twice (three times with China if you count the recent China-EU teleconference with Xi) to get China to side with the West against Russia, pushing China into What about no dont you understand? terrain. Rather than hewing to the convention of having summits only after groundwork was laid so that at least nothing visibly bad happens, Team Biden set out to pick a fight with China at their first get together, in Alaska in March 2021, with the US springing new sanctions on China the day before the session.

This humble blog was featuring at least once a week examples of Biden Administration continuing its eyepoking of China in our Links before the war broke out.

Then in March, Jake Sullivan was set to meet with Yang Jiechi in Rome and threatened China with sanctions. The pretext was disinformation in the form of a Financial Times story claiming that Russia had asked to buy weapons from China (this was clearly absurd because by the time the war had started would be way too late; Russia would have needed to procure and integrate equipment months prior).1 Needless to say, Yang didnt give any ground.

So not taking no as an answer, Biden had the cheek to call Xi that very same week and ask for Chinas help. Xi effectively said this wasnt his problem: He who puts the bell on the tiger is the one to take it off. Biden also said he very much wanted better relations with China and gave lip service to the one-China policy in the chat. That allowed Xi to say he took that statement very seriously: What about all these American officials who were promoting a wrong understanding about Taiwan?

EU leaders and Xi then had a regularly scheduled EU-China teleconference. Chinese officials had signaled before the meeting that Xi was interested in EU-China relations, not Ukraine, so of course the EU officials started the conversation off with Ukraine. Xi again deflected the Western pressure.

Im not double checking the dates, but my recollection is that it was shortly after the EU-Xi talk that the US announced new sanctions against China, mainly against officials accused of oppressing Uighurs. And weve just had the off the charts provocation of Nancy Pelosi, third in line to become President, going to Taiwan. Recall that trip has been postponed rather than cancelled. China has stated that there will be consequences if that trip happens.

And we expect them to side with us? Its not the most important form of payback, but China has taken to stating regularly in official media that the war in Ukraine is Americas fault.

As an aside, if I am China, I do not want that Pelosi visit to occur, since it is de facto recognition of Taiwan. Could China stop it with a pre-emptive air strike, talking out all of Taiwans air traffic control and putting nice big holes in all the runways international planes use? Is it possible for China to jam air traffic control in Taiwan and the handoff towers next out on her route? Or would Chinese planes dare to dog Pelosis and prevent it from landing as planned?

With India, the US keep acting as if they need us when India clearly needs Russian fertilizer and fuel more. And as a sometimes ally, we in theory should at least make a show of being respectful to India, when we instead keep bludgeoning and bullying them. Thats hard to take generally, but even more so given the presumed and probably actual colonial/racist attitudes.

The big slap was last year, when the US entered into the AUKUS deal, which will give Australia nuclear submarines that can prowl the Indian Sea. Indias foreign minister gave an unusually blunt reaction, which amounted to Well have to rethink who our friends are.

After India refused to criticize Russia for its invasion of Ukraine, a whole raft of foreign officials descended on India: the UKs Liz Truss, Russias Sergei Lavrov, and the USs Deputy National Security Advisor Daleep Singh (notice less senior than a foreign minister). Lavrov was the only emissary to meet with Prime Minister Modi. Truss said that while the UK wasnt happy with India buying Russian energy, it would respect the decision. Singh, by contrast, issued a threat. Last week, Brian Deese, head of the National Economic Council, doubled down. From the Hindustan Times:

There are certainly areas where we have been disappointed by both China and Indias decisions, in the context of the invasion.The US has told India that the consequences of a more explicit strategic alignment with Moscow would be significant and long-term, he [Deese] said.

The US insulted India again by just adding hypersonic missiles to the AUKUS deal rather than pursuing that thought the Quad alliance. And yesterday, Anthony Blinken slapped India once more by accusing it of human rights abuses. That can be seen as a sighting shot, that if India does not fall in line, it will be sanctioned for them just as China just was.

Now it turns out the immediate pretext for the rebuke may have been Ilhan Omar complaining about how Muslims are treated in India. But who are we kidding? Since when does the Secretary of State take up whinge by a single, pretty junior Congresscritter? From The Wire:

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the United States was monitoring what he described as a rise in human rights abuses in India by some officials, in a rare direct rebuke by Washington of the Asian nations rights record. We regularly engage with our Indian partners on these shared values (of human rights) and to that end, we are monitoring some recent concerning developments in India including a rise in human rights abuses by some government, police and prison officials, Blinken said on Monday in a joint press briefing with US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, Indian external affairs minister S. Jaishankar and Indias defence minister Rajnath Singh.

I dont like pathologizing the behavior of our putative leaders, since they are unduly fond of demonization presented as armchair analysis. But its hard to think of a historical example of such arrogant, short-sighted, and self-defeating foreign policy. Were managing the difficult task of making Kaiser Wilhelm II look good.

In the meantime, since the US is clearly not getting the message, maybe Chinese and Indian officials should start playing American Woman at rock concert ear-splitting volumes to visiting American counterparts before their meetings:

By Simon Watkins, a former senior FX trader and salesman, financial journalist, and best-selling author. He was Head of Forex Institutional Sales and Trading for Credit Lyonnais, and later Director of Forex at Bank of Montreal. He was then Head of Weekly Publications and Chief Writer for Business Monitor International, Head of Fuel Oil Products for Platts, and Global Managing Editor of Research for Renaissance Capital in Moscow. He has written extensively on oil and gas, Forex, equities, bonds, economics and geopolitics for many leading publications, and has worked as a geopolitical risk consultant for a number of major hedge funds in London, Moscow, and Dubai. Originally published at OilPrice

India ramped up crude oil purchases from Russia despite warnings from Washington not to do so.

Indias relations with the U.S. seemed to have improved during a brief struggle with this China last summer.

Besides oil, India also signed defence and industrial deals with Russia at the end of 2021.

Up until recently, Washington thought India could finally and definitively be brought on to its side in the evolving power struggle between the U.S. and its allies on the one hand, and China and its allies (including Russia) on the other. However, a series of quick-fire developments have derailed this optimism, leaving a key part of the U.S. broader Middle Eastern and Asia Pacific military, economic, and hydrocarbons strategy in tatters.

The latest example of India not playing the vital role that had been envisioned for it by the U.S. are the plethora of oil deals being done by India with Russia, despite the obvious opposition to such activities from Washington.

When the U.S. unilaterally withdrew from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA, nuclear deal) with Iran in May 2018, a key concept in the White House was to use this hard-line stance on Iran to parlay into broader and deeper relationships with other Arab states that had become increasingly alarmed by Irans efforts to destabilise the region, as analysed in depth in my new book on the global oil markets. This was to be achieved in large part through a series of bilateral agreements  later formalised into the relationship normalisation deals  to be done between Israel (a power more than equal to Iran in the region, tacitly backed up by the even bigger power of the U.S.) and those Arab states that Washington believed were open to becoming unequivocal allies of the U.S. These included the UAE, in which the U.S. has its Al-Dhafra Air Base, plus Patriot missiles, to help intercept any air assaults by the Iranian-backed Houthis or anyone else. They also included Bahrain (as a proxy for Saudi Arabia, and home to U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, and the Fifth Fleet), and Morocco (a crucially-positioned ally to the U.S. in its counterterrorism efforts, so much so that Washington designated it a Major Non-NATO Ally in 2004) and Sudan (also regarded as a potentially important centre for counterterrorism activities by the U.S.).

For the Middle Eastern contingent in these deals there was the added incentive for the U.S. that oil flows from these countries could be used in the short-term to counterbalance the net loss of oil to the markets that resulted from new sanctions on Iranian oil flows.

Medium-term as well, thought Washington, by investing more money into both the UAE and Bahrain  with more oil-rich countries then encouraged to also sign relationship normalisation deals  they would see significant boosts in their oil production to allow the U.S. to reduce its relationship with non-cooperative Middle Eastern countries.

Longer-term, the U.S. planned to be so self-sufficient in oil and gas that it only has to deal with countries that also offer it political allegiance in its struggle to retain its number one global superpower spot in the face of Chinas advances. In any event, all of this was to be done whilst ensuring that the price of oil did not stay for any extended periods above the US$75-80 per barrel level at which it starts to cause economic trouble for the U.S. and political trouble for the sitting president at the time, as also analysed in depth in my new book on the global oil markets.

The only potential problem with this plan was that as its aim was essentially to undermine the global power that China could wield through its position as the number one backstop bid in the worlds oil market, the Middle Eastern oil producing countries that the U.S. wanted to tie in to its new world order would need the assurance of a replacement huge backstop bid for their oil. For Washington, India looked like the obvious choice.

First, politically, there appeared to be a new willingness on Indias part to stand up to its dominant and domineering neighbour, China, with a clash on 15 June 2020 between the two great Asian powers in the Galwan Valley being instructive in this respect. It marked a new push back strategy from India against Chinas policy of seeking to increase its economic and military alliances from Asia through the Middle East and into Southern Europe, in line with its multi-layered multi-generational One Belt, One Road power-grab project. China dramatically upped the tempo of this OBOR-related policy at around the same time as the U.S. signalled its lack of interest in continuing its own large-scale activities in the Middle East through its withdrawal from the JCPOA and its withdrawal from much of Syria, Afghanistan, and Iraq.

At the same time, coinciding closely to the signing of the first Israel-Arab state relationship normalisation deal (that with the UAE), India began to shift from its previous policy of trying to contain China to advancing its own Neighbourhood First policy alternative to Chinas OBOR initiative.

Economically as well  and with direct positive implications for Middle Eastern oil producers looking for a global backstop bid for their hydrocarbons products  India appeared well-positioned to take over that mantle from China. According to data released in the first quarter of 2021by the International Energy Agency (IEA), India will make up the biggest share of energy demand growth at 25 percent over the next two decades, as it overtakes the European Union as the worlds third-biggest energy consumer by 2030. More specifically, Indias energy consumption is expected to nearly double as the nations GDP expands to an estimated US$8.6 trillion by 2040 under its current national policy scenario. This will be underpinned by a rate of GDP growth that adds the equivalent of another Japan to the world economy by 2040, according to the IEA. The agency added that the countrys growing energy needs will make it more reliant on fossil fuel imports.

Warning signs for the U.S. plan came as countries it had identified as being ripe for cultivation did not play their role as envisaged, but rather asserted their own intention to deal with both the U.S. and China as they saw fit. News emerged, for example, that the U.S. discovered that China was in the process of building a secret military facility in the UAE port of Khalifa.

Then there was the high-profile snub by Saudi Arabia and the UAE to U.S. President Joe Biden in not taking a phone call to discuss rising oil prices. Perhaps the most far-reaching was the series of meetings in Beijing between senior officials from the Chinese government and foreign ministers from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain, and the secretary-general of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). At these meetings, the principal topics of conversation, according to local news reports, were to finally seal a China-GCC Free Trade Agreement and deeper strategic cooperation in a region where U.S. dominance is showing signs of retreat.

Unbeknownst to Washington, India was also about to even more dramatically buck its intended role in the U.S.s new grand scheme of things, and at the worst possible time for Washington, with 28 investment deals signed during the very recent visit of Putin himself to Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi just before Christmas. These covered a broad range of subjects, including not just oil, gas, and petrochemicals, steel, and shipbuilding, but also military matters. These latter deals included India producing at least 600,000 Kalashnikov assault rifles and, even more disturbing for the U.S., Indias Foreign Secretary, Harsh Vardhan Shringla, stated that a 2018 contract for the S-400 air defence missile systems is now being implemented. Following on from this, India  and the UAE  along with just China  failed to vote in favour of the UN Security Councils resolution to condemn Russias aggression against Ukraine and to demand the immediate, complete, and unconditional withdrawal of Russian forces from the neighbouring country.

It is little wonder, then, that India has not introduced sanctions against Russia and that its Finance Minister, Nirmala Sitharaman, said at the beginning of April that: If there is, first of all, fuel available at a discount [Russian Urals grade has been trading at a discount of around US$30 per barrel to the Dated Brent benchmark], why shouldnt I buy it? I need it for my people so we have already started purchasing. He added: We have started buying, we have received quite a number of barrels  I would think three to four days supply  and this will continue. These views were restated following the high-level meetings in New Delhi at the beginning of this month between Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and senior Indian government officials. These meetings, in turn, occurred even after the U.S. warned at the end of March that any significant increase in Russian oil imports by India could expose New Delhi to a great risk as Washington prepares to step up enforcement of sanctions against Moscow for its invasion of Ukraine.

______

1 The plan as best I can guess was that having China agree not to ship weapons it had never been asked by Russia to send in the first place would still look like a big Biden win in DC at supposedly no cost to China. Plus any no to Russia, even a completely fabricated one, would set the stage for creating more daylight between China and Russia. China instead expressed its extreme displeasure at this bullshit rumor having been floated.
By embracing biometric surveillance, governments across the West are hurtling down a path that could lead us all to a very dark place.

The Chinese Communist Partys widespread use of facial recognition programs and other forms of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to track, monitor and, where possible, evaluate the behavior of members of the public has received ample attention from Western media in the past few years. Myriad reports, some overblown, have been published on Chinas creeping introduction of a Social Credit System. By contrast, far less attention has been paid to the increasing use of many of the same highly intrusive technologies by so-called liberal democracies in the West.

In 2019, IHS Markit released a report showing that while China may be leading the way when it comes to using surveillance cameras to monitor its population, it is far from an outlier. According to the report, the United States had almost as many surveillance cameras as China, with roughly one for every 4.6 people (compared with Chinas one for every 4.1). The UK was not far behind with one for every 6.5. The report also forecast that by 2021 there would be more than one billion surveillance cameras on the planet watching us.

EU Plays Catch Up

Now the EU is on the verge of building one of the largest facial recognition systems on planet Earth, as reports the recent Wired UK article, Europe Is Building a Huge, International Facial Recognition System:

The expansion of facial recognition across Europe is included in wider plans to modernize policing across the continent, and it comes under the Prum II data-sharing proposals. The details were first announced in December, but criticism from European data regulators has gotten louder in recent weeks, as the full impact of the plans have been understood. What you are creating is the most extensive biometric surveillance infrastructure that I think we will ever have seen in the world, says Ella Jakubowska, a policy adviser at the civil rights NGO European Digital Rights (EDRi). Documents obtained by EDRi under freedom of information laws and shared with WIRED reveal how nations pushed for facial recognition to be included in the international policing agreement. The first iteration of Prum was signed by seven European countriesBelgium, Germany, Spain, France, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and Austriaback in 2005 and allows nations to share data to tackle international crime. Since Prum was introduced, take-up by Europes 27 countries has been mixed. Prum II plans to significantly expand the amount of information that can be shared, potentially including photos and information from driving licenses. The proposals from the European Commission also say police will have greater automated access to information thats shared. Lawmakers say this means police across Europe will be able to cooperate closely, and the European law enforcement agency Europol will have a stronger role.

Targeting Children

The UK, while no longer part of the EU, is hurtling down a similar path. And it is targeting the most vulnerable and impressionable members of society: school children. As I reported in October, nine schools in the Scottish region of North Ayrshire started using facial recognition systems as a form of contactless payment in cashless canteens (cafeterias in the US), until a public outcry put paid to the pilot scheme.

But the Tory government is doubling down. According to a new report in the Daily Mail, almost 70 schools have signed up for a system that scans childrens faces to take contactless payments for canteen lunches while others are reportedly planning to use the controversial technology to monitor children in exam rooms. This time round, however, the government didnt even bother informing the UK Biometrics and Surveillance Camera Commissioner Fraser Sampson of the plans being drafted by the Department for Education (DfE):

Professor Fraser Sampson, the independent Biometrics and Surveillance Camera Commissioner, said his office was unaware the DfE was drafting new surveillance advice in response to the growing trend for cameras in schools. I find out completely by accident a couple of weeks ago by going to a meeting that the Department for Education has drafted a code of practice for surveillance in schools which they are about to put out to the world to consult, he told The Mail on Sunday. And they [DfE] said. What do you think of it? And I say, What code? We had no idea about it. And having seen it, it would have benefited from some earlier sharing.

Similar facial recognition systems have been used in the US, though usually as a security measure.

Privacy advocates have warned that the growing use of facial recognition systems in school settings could have a much more goal: to condition children to the widespread use of facial recognition systems and other biometric technologies. In my book Scanned I cite Stephanie Hare, author of Technology Ethics, who argues that it is about normalizing children to understand their bodies as something they use to transact. Thats how you condition an entire society to use facial recognition.

The Battle for Privacy

As the EU prepares to pass its own long-awaited AI Bill, which will set out the rules for the development, commodification and use of AI-driven products, services and systems across the 27-member bloc, a battle has broken out between proponents of the technologies and privacy advocates. The former, which include intelligence agencies, law enforcement bodies and tech companies, argue that emerging biometric technology such as facial recognition programs are necessary to catch criminals. The latter have called for an outright ban on the technologies due to the threat they pose to civil liberties.

They include Wojtek Wiewiorowski, who leads the EUs in-house data protection agency, EPDS, which is supposed to ensure the EU is complying with its own strict privacy rules. In November 2021 Wiewiorowski told Politico that European society is not ready for facial recognition technology: the use of the technology, he said, would turn society, turn our citizens, turn the places we live, into places where we are permanently recognizable  Im not sure if we are really as a society ready for that.

In a paper published in March, the EPDS raised a number of concerns and objections about Prum II:

The Prum II framework does not make clear what sort of circumstances will warrant the exchange of biometric data such as DNA or the scope of subjects affected by the automatic exchange of data.

The automated searching of DNA profiles and facial images should only be possible in the context of individual investigations of serious crimes and not of any criminal offense, as provided for in the proposal.

The alignment of the Prum framework with the interoperability framework of the EU information systems in the area of justice and home affairs requires careful analysis of its implications for fundamental rights.

The EPDS considers that the necessity of the proposed automated searching and exchange of police records data is not sufficiently demonstrated.

Flaws in the System

The problem is not just about privacy; it is about the inherent flaws within facial recognition systems. The systems are notoriously inaccurate on women and those with darker skin, and may also be inaccurate on children whose facial features change rapidly. Wired magazine reported in 2019 that US government tests find even top-performing facial recognition systems misidentify blacks at rates five to ten times higher than they do whites.

There are also concerns about who the data will end up being shared with or managed by and just how safe it will be in their hands. In December 2021, the civil liberties group Statewatch reported that the Council of the EU, where the senior ministers of the 27 Member States sit, not only intends to extend the purposes for which biometric systems can be used under the EUs proposed Artificial Intelligence Act but is also seeking to allow private actors to operate mass biometric surveillance systems on behalf of police forces.

In February Statewatch published another report titled Building the Biometric State: Police Powers and Discrimination. In it the group warned that the EUs rapid expansion of biometric profiling at borders and identity checks within the 27-member bloc risk is likely to lead to increased racial profiling of ethnic minority citizens and non-citizens.

The report comes at a time when the EUs interoperability initiative and border policies are placing a renewed impetus on the biometric registration of foreign nationals and an increase in identity checks within the EU, in the hope of detecting individuals lacking the correct documentation. It argues that the treatment of skin colour as a proxy for immigration status, the existence of a huge database holding data solely on foreign nationals (the Common Identity Repository, currently under construction) and explicit policy instructions to step up identity checks to enact removals are likely to exacerbate the racist policing and ethnic profiling that are endemic across the EU.

Mission Creep

Meanwhile, UK and US police forces have been piloting live facial recognition systems, which allow authorities to compare live images of passersby on a street with those on a specific watch list. Some jurisdictions, also including the U.S. and the UK and soon the EU if Prism II becomes reality, are using retrospective facial recognition, which is arguably even more controversial since it enables police to check against a far broader range of sources, including CCTV feeds and images from social media.

Those deploying it can in effect turn back the clock to see who you are, where youve been, what youve done and with whom, over many months or even years, Jakubowska, told Wired magazine, adding that the technology can suppress peoples free expression, assembly and ability to live without fear.

One major problem, as with the application of many surveillance technologies, is mission creep. As Sky News reported last week, police in the UK have been cautioned for employing live facial recognition technology not only to identify suspects but also potential witnesses and victims to a crime.

Fraser Sampson, the biometrics and surveillance camera commissioner, has described the idea as a somewhat sinister development. It treats everyone like walk-on extras on a police film set rather than as individual citizens free to travel, meet and talk, he warned. The commissioner was responding to guidance from the College of Policing which suggested victims of crimes and potential witnesses could be placed on police watchlists. How commonplace will it become to be stopped in our cities, transport hubs, outside arenas or school grounds and required to prove our identity? asked Mr Samspon. The former officer for West Yorkshire Police and the British Transport Police said: The ramifications for our constitutional freedoms in that future are profound. Is the status of the UK citizen shifting from our jealously guarded presumption of innocence to that of suspected until we have proved our identity to the satisfaction of the examining officer?

The public backlash against facial recognition software is growing. As the Wired UK article notes, dozens of cities across in the US have even banned police forces from using the technology. The European Parliament is debating whether to ban the police use of facial recognition in public places as part of its AI Act, even as the Commission lays the ground for more automated access to biometric data. In the UK, the civil liberties group Big Brother Watch warns that Police and private companies have been quietly rolling out facial recognition surveillance cameras, taking faceprints of millions of people  often without you knowing about it.

The U.S. company Clearview, which received seed funding from Palantir founder and CEO Peter Thiel, is facing several lawsuits in the United States for scraping peoples photos from the Internet without their permission. At least 600 law-enforcement agencies in the U.S. have used Clearviews services but the companys use of peoples photos without their consent has been declared illegal in Britain, Canada, France, Australia and Italy. It was also recently fined 20 million by Italys data protection agency and instructed to delete any data on Italians it holds and banned from any further processing of citizens facial biometrics.

Another Avenue of Opportunity: War

But Clearview has found a whole new avenue of opportunity: the war in Ukraine, as the New York Times recently reported:

In the weeks after Russia invaded Ukraine and images of the devastation wrought there flooded the news, Hoan Ton-That, the chief executive of the facial recognition company Clearview AI, began thinking about how he could get involved. He believed his companys technology could offer clarity in complex situations in the war. I remember seeing videos of captured Russian soldiers and Russia claiming they were actors, Mr. Ton-That said. I thought if Ukrainians could use Clearview, they could get more information to verify their identities. In early March, he reached out to people who might help him contact the Ukrainian government. One of Clearviews advisory board members, Lee Wolosky, a lawyer who has worked for the Biden administration, was meeting with Ukrainian officials and offered to deliver a message. Mr. Ton-That drafted a letter explaining that his app can instantly identify someone just from a photo and that the police and federal agencies in the United States used it to solve crimes. That feature has brought Clearview scrutiny over concerns about privacy and questions about racism and other biases within artificial-intelligence systems.

When the use of Clearview by Ukraines government was first announced, the company said it had scraped more than 2 billion images from Russian social media platform VKontakte. According to a Reuters report, Ukrainian soldiers could use the technology not only to identify fallen Russian soldiers but also weed out Russian operatives at checkpoints. Privacy campaigners are rightly up in arms. One of their biggest concerns is that facial recognition technologies are prone to making mistakes. And in war mistakes can have deadly consequences.
Thanks to the efforts of Dave our Tech Guy, we are closing in on a new and offshore host. Of the various offshore legal regimes that would protect us from interference by the usual suspects, Iceland seems to offer the strongest protection. But we cannot find a host in Iceland to provide us with a managed dedicated server and 24/7 voice support (not chat, which is laggy). Can any readers confirm that Iceland has a robust legal regime as far as press protections are concerned? Can any readers suggest a host in Iceland? We have found only one so far who will talk to us. They seem very professional but sadly a bit underpowered for our needs

If so, please provide contact information  ideally, a phone number  to Yves in mail (yves-at-nakedcapitalism-dot-com).

* * *

Lambert and I, and many readers, agree that Ukraine has prompted the worst informational environment ever. We hope readers will collaborate in mitigating the fog of war  both real fog and stage fog  in comments. None of us need more cheerleading and link-free repetition of memes; there are platforms for that. Low-value, link-free pom pom-wavers will be summarily whacked.

And for those who are new here, this is not a mere polite request. We have written site Policies and those who comment have accepted those terms. To prevent having to resort to the nuclear option of shutting comments down entirely until more sanity prevails, as we did during the 2015 Greek bailout negotiations and shortly after the 2020 election, we are going to be ruthless about moderating and blacklisting offenders.

Yves

P.S. Also, before further stressing our already stressed moderators, read our site policies:

Please do not write us to ask why a comment has not appeared. We do not have the bandwidth to investigate and reply. Using the comments section to complain about moderation decisions/tripwires earns that commenter troll points. Please dont do it. Those comments will also be removed if we encounter them.

* * *

Lasers from space create unique new map of Earths forests FreeThink (David L)

55-year study reveals an overlooked but critical desert symbiote is disappearing Inverse (David L)

Collapse Wont Reset Society Palladium (Robert M). Theres an obvious logical gap here. The reason past societies continued to function was that records were intact and so legal and government processes could continue. But what happens if chips stop being manufactured?

#COVID-19

Climate/Environment

China?

CHINESE FDI IN EUROPE 2020 UPDATE RGH. PlutoniumKun: Interesting big picture overview. No breakdown per population, but note a huge drop in investment in the UK. Also, not huge dominance of mergers/takeovers vs greenfield investments. The Chinese also clearly favour northern Europe over the south.

India

Frances presidential election rematch is no replay as Macron, Le Pen eye suspenseful final duel France24 (furzy)

Brittle Win for Macron in French Election 1st Round Points to Tough Race for 2nd Round Alexander Mercouris, YouTube

New Not-So-Cold War

Syraqistan

Imperial Collapse Watch

A bill to allow recruits with previous mental health treatment is on the way Military Times. Kevin W:Long Covid cutting recruit numbers availabilities?

Trump

Trumpworld Figures Go Into Meltdown After Donald Trump Endorses Dr. Oz in Pennsylvania Senate Race Daily Beast

Biden

Marjorie Taylor Greene: judge mulls move to bar Republican from Congress Guardian. BC:

While not being a supporter of any of the parties involved, I am troubled by using the color of defending the Constitution to preclude the will of potential voters while ignoring due process. How can someone be declared to be engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof when not a single person has been convicted of insurrection, or even conspiracy to attempt insurrection? How is engaging or supporting insurrection possible without insurrectionists?

The Democrats America Is Leaving Behind Atlantic

Groundhog Day: Are we doomed to a Trump v. Biden time loop? Matt Labash (resilc)

Psaki warns price rises will be extraordinarily elevated because of the war in Ukraine Daily Mail (J-LS). Yours truly continues to stockpile

Stratospheric Airfares American Prospect (Randy K)

Our Famously Free Press

From earlier this year, still germane (dk): [Thread] Twitter is partnering with a crazy, hawkish, US-govt & arms industry funded think tank to regulate false info online. This should be alarming to anyone who cares about truth, free speech or peace, as my new @MintPressNews investigation explains:https://t.co/8Wi11qfpf3  Alan MacLeod (@AlanRMacLeod) January 20, 2022

Gotta get off this plane: JetBlue passengers plead with crew after aborted landings at JFK New York Post (J-LS)

Once a retail giant, Kmart nears extinction after closure WNDU (resilc)

Class Warfare

Antidote du jour (Maggie K, embarrassingly sitting in my inbox for a VERY long time!):

And a bonus (guurst). !!!!

See yesterdays Links and Antidote du Jour here.
Yves here. The headline of this story masks the real issue: scarcity of walkers, crutches, and other assistive devices thanks to aluminum shortages. We warned this was coming in late 2021. IM Docs hospital was already having trouble getting aluminum crutches and his contacts warned it would get worse. And this was way before anyone thought a war with major aluminum supplier Russia was in the offing.

By Kate Ruder. Originally published at Kaiser Health News

Michele Lujan needed a wheelchair for her 52-year-old husband who had been hospitalized with covid-19. But she had lost her job, and money was tight. Insurance wouldnt cover the cost, and she didnt see the use in buying something to meet a temporary need. So she turned to a loan closet not far from her home in the Denver suburb of Highlands Ranch.

At South Metro Medical Equipment Loan Closet, crutches hung from the walls, knee scooters lined the floor, and shower seats and toilet risers overflowed from the shelves. She found a wheelchair she could borrow for free.

I didnt realize all the other medical items they have, Lujan said.

Medical equipment reuse programs like these collect, clean, and lend devices  often at no cost to the borrower. They vary in size from small outposts at community churches to large statewide programs like the Foundation for Rehabilitation Equipment and Endowment, or FREE, which provided nearly 5,000 devices to thousands of low-income adults and seniors in Virginia last year.

Such programs save low-income and uninsured patients money, and by refurbishing used medical equipment, they keep it out of landfills. During the pandemic, the programs have also helped soften the impact of supply chain-related shortages and are helping meet increased demand as delayed elective surgeries resume.

Once hospitals started elective surgeries again, there was a huge increase in need, said Donna Ralston, who founded the South Metro Medical Equipment Loan Closet six years ago in a 10-feet-by-10-feet shed at her church.

Today, the volunteer-run organization opens its warehouse doors by appointment to anyone who is in need and recovering from surgery, illness, or injury. Oftentimes, were loaning equipment to patients who would otherwise have to wait two months to get it from their insurance providers, said the organizations president, Pat Benhmida. We fill in these cracks quite often.

Besides insurance delays, hospitals across the U.S. have reported not having enough walkers, crutches, canes, and wheelchairs. Supplies are limited because of shortages of raw materials such as aluminum, said Alok Baveja, a professor of supply chain management at Rutgers Business School in New Jersey.

The availability, not just the cost, has an impact on the durable medical equipment industry, Baveja said.

The crunch may be made worse by disruptions caused by Russias invasion of Ukraine, said American Hospital Association spokesperson Colin Milligan.

Aluminum prices have more than doubled in the past two years, including more than 20% over the past six months on the London Metal Exchange. A bill that passed Congress April 7 to suspend normal trade relations with Russia will allow President Joe Biden to raise tariffs on aluminum and other imports from that country, increasing aluminum prices even more.

Baveja said one silver lining of the pandemic is that reused medical equipment has gained greater acceptance and use.

Last September and again in January, southwestern Virginia hospitals delayed discharging patients because of shortages of walkers and bedside commodes, and they experienced backlogs of patients in the emergency room because of a shortage of hospital beds, said Robin Ramsey, executive director of FREE, a nonprofit organization.

Ramsey said that for weeks, FREE was the only provider that had walkers and bedside commodes readily on hand. During the shortage, we found that even people with insurance, who could have purchased a walker, just couldnt find one, Ramsey said.

Each state receives money to provide technology to help people with disabilities as part of the federal Assistive Technology Act of 1998. That can include reusable technology and equipment. Reuse programs rely on cash and equipment donations, and often an army of volunteers who inspect, sanitize, and repair wheels, brakes, casters, batteries, and other parts.

AT FREE, more than 100 volunteers and 12 staffers last year received 10,000 pieces of donated equipment, and refurbished 6,500 to put back into use, Ramsey said.

Elliot Sloyer, founder of a Stamford, Connecticut, nonprofit called Wheel It Forward, said patients and their families often pay out-of-pocket for durable medical equipment, especially with high-deductible health insurance plans. Medicare, insurance dont cover a lot of stuff. They make it difficult, he said.

Medical equipment reuse programs provide significant, practical value to communities, said Ramsey. But, she said, some people have no idea these programs exist until they need them.

Regional directories such as the Great Lakes Loan Closets list reuse programs in Michigan, Wisconsin, northern Indiana, and northern Illinois. Wheel It Forward plans to launch the first nationwide directory of about 700 medical equipment reuse programs.

For now, reuse programs like FREE will continue to stockpile and repair donated medical equipment.

There are times, especially with all thats gone on in the last two years, that equipment comes in and goes out the same day, Ramsey said. The need has been so great.
Yves here. With its profits dependent on crushing labor, and having the deepest imaginable pockets, its no surprise that Amazon is throwing as many spanners as it can into the epoch-making pro-union vote in its Staten Island warehouse.

By Josefa Velazquez. Originally published at THE CITY on April 11, 2022. Additional reporting by Claudia Irizarry Aponte

Fresh off their historic win against online retailer Amazon, Staten Island warehouse workers who voted to form a union earlier this month are loading up their arsenal as the internet behemoth ratchets up its defenses against the upstart group.

Amazon has filed more than two dozen objections with the National Labor Relations Board and seeks to overturn the Amazon Labor Union victory at the Staten Island JFK8 warehouse. The company argues that the union intimidated workers into voting in favor of organizing and alleges that the federal agency gave the ALU preferential treatment by filing a lawsuit against the internet retailer ahead of the vote.

And thats not even the toughest battle the self-organized workers face.

Amazon Labor Union leaders are readying themselves for what they consider the real fight  winning a collective bargaining agreement against Amazon, one of the worlds biggest and best-resourced companies. Company lawyers have tools at their disposal to delay or head off contract bargaining by burying the union in bureaucratic tape or stalling negotiations.

Solidarity is now the theme for union leaders, who are holding out an olive branch to employees who voted no amid a fierce anti-union corporate campaign that included mandatory worker meetings that the NLRBs top lawyer is seeking to abolish.

I want to thank all of the workers who voted yes, and even the ones that are misinformed. Were here to inform you that this is not a war between us. Lets unify and lets bargain the contract of our dreams, said Angelika Maldonado, a packer at JFK8 and chair of the ALUs Workers Committee, during a news conference Friday afternoon at Amazons warehouse complex on Staten Island.

I thought I was fighting a fight from October to April, but this is the real fight now. And if we fight together, we can defeat the beast, said Maldonado.

With roughly $100,000 raised through donations via a GoFundMe and some volunteer assistance, the independent group of current and former Amazon workers at the Staten Island warehouse pulled off the unthinkable and defeated the internet giant by more than 500 votes.

The underdog win is emboldening workers across the country. Amazon employees around the nation have been reaching out to the ALU for tips on how to replicate their success, according to organizers. And a major Democratic-tied political consulting firm is dropping its work for Amazon following news of their involvement.

Meanwhile, the ALUs GoFundMe is now up to $225,000 toward a $500,000 goal, money that organizers are using to ready for a second Amazon worker vote on Staten Island, starting April 25.

That warehouse, called LDJ5, is smaller than JFK8 across the street, with just 1,500 workers compared to over 8,000. How urgently the LDJ5 workers will feel the need to join a union remains untested  and theres no guarantee that theyll follow their neighbors and vote yes.

Look Out for Each Other

Derrick Palmer, vice president of organizing for the Amazon Labor Union and a worker at JFK8, told THE CITY that the LDJ5 sorting center jobs there are less grueling than those at his order-fulfillment facility.

The workers have different schedules so they dont work the brutal 10 hours like they do at JFK8, Palmer said. He called organizing them a little more of a challenge because theyre not going through what these workers went through. JFK8 workers like himself, he noted, dont have access to enter LDJ5 to engage workers and answer their questions.

At JFK8, the break rooms proved to be a lifeline for worker-organizers, who set up tables with literature and food where they were able to engage colleagues directly on the job. Workers at JFK8 make up the bulk of the current Amazon employees in the union leadership team.

Working in the unions favor now, on the other hand, is the LDJ5s distribution centers more compact layout, in contrast to JFK8s sprawling four stories where workers sift through items to pick and pack customers orders. With only one floor and a fraction of the staff, itll be easier to organize LDJ5, said Palmer.

Because we work at one of the warehouses, doesnt mean we can go into all of them, Maldonado told THE CITY Friday, minutes before her 12-hour shift was slated to begin. So we would have to work from the outside.

The ALU is planning on deploying already-proven tactics  hosting barbecues outside of the warehouse, offering homemade food to workers heading in and out of their shifts, and hosting events, said Palmer. Organizers continue to connect with workers at the MTA bus stop serving the facilities  where 33-year-old union president Chris Smalls, a former Amazon supervisor fired by the company, spent months talking up potential members and where plans to spend the days leading up to the next vote.

The unionization drive was sparked by Smalls termination in the spring of 2020 for allegedly breaking safety guidelines after organizing a protest over what workers alleged were inadequate COVID-protection measures.

The Amazon Labor Union demands remain the same at LDJ5: a $30 an hour minimum wage, better working conditions, including two paid 30-minute breaks and an hour-long paid lunch break, better medical leave, additional paid time off and eliminating productivity rates that require workers to pick a certain number of items an hour.

Thats just a building. When its family, we still have to look out for each other. So of course well be there supporting them, giving strategies that worked for us at JFK8. Luckily they dont have 8,000 workers, Maldonado added.

Phone Ringing Off the Hook

In the week since the ALU pulled off the history-making upset, the once-long shot organizers have been catapulted into the spotlight.

President Joe Biden last week offered his support for the union. The bus stop has been buzzing with cameras and reporters seeking to talk to Smalls and other workers.

Dozens of journalists from major national outlets and from abroad flocked to 5th Street, the bucolic road that separates JFK8 and LDJ5 for the ALUs Friday press conference as cars and trucks drove by honking in support. The day before, leading organizers for the union were in Washington, D.C., meeting with elected officials and union leaders, which they chronicled on their TikTok.

On Saturday, the ALU received a heros welcome at the Labor Lunch in Albany for the Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic and Asian Legislators Caucus Weekend, a yearly gathering of lawmakers of color.

Workers from more than 100 Amazon warehouses throughout the 50 states have already reached out to the ALU for help in organizing their facilities, Smalls said, as have workers from Walmart, Target and Dollar General.

Its great that theyre watching us because we want to get it done and we want to motivate them to organize and if they need our help, advice, whatever we can offer, were gonna do so, Smalls said.

These workers never thought about joining a union. They thought we were crazy for doing this shit and now look. Theyre contacting us through Twitter, Instagram, email, Facebook, everything. We woke up the world and we shook up the union movement, Palmer said.As they set their eyes toward the future and scaling up their operations, the union is beginning to interview lawyers, contract negotiators and communications staff if theyre going to go to war with Amazon.

They also plan to work with other more established unions, like the Teamsters who have offered to assist their efforts, Smalls added.

A Redo

With Amazon challenging the outcome of the vote, delaying the NLRBs certification process until later this month, it could be several more weeks, even months, until the company and the ALU start negotiating their first contract  an outcome Amazon is seeking to avoid by objecting to the vote results.

Weve always said that we want our employees to have their voices heard, and in this case, that didnt happen  fewer than a third of the employees at the site voted for the union, and overall turnout was unusually low, said Amazon spokesperson Kelly Nantel.

Roughly half of the eligible 8,300 JFK8 workers voted in the union election, with 2,654 voting in favor of a union versus 2,131 who voted against.

Nantel added 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.

The NLRB reiterated its previous statement decrying Amazons allegations, telling the Washington Post that the agency is an independent federal agency that Congress has charged with enforcing the National Labor Relations Act, said Kayla Blado. All NLRB enforcement actions against Amazon have been consistent with that congressional mandate.

Amazon did not answer specific questions on how it contends the union swayed the vote or if the company planned on deploying different tactics with the upcoming election at LDJ5.

Unlimited Resources

With unlimited resources, the multi-billion-dollar company could continuously delay and fight the union, said State Sen. Diane Savino, whose Staten Island district borders the Amazon warehouses.

Thats what Im most concerned about. They have unlimited resources, obviously, and the concern is that theyre not going to take this lying down. And so how they decide to treat their low-wage workforce should send a message to all their consumers around the world, Savino said.

Already, organizations that Amazon hired to help dissuade workers from unionizing are getting blowback.

Global Strategy Group, a Democratic polling and consulting firm hired by Amazon to provide guidance over employee communications and benefits at JFK8, told THE CITY it is no longer working with Amazon following a CNBC report that the firm was assisting Amazons efforts.

While there were inaccuracies in the description of our work, we regret being involved in any way and have resigned this work with Amazon, said Tanya Meck, a partner and managing director at Global Strategy Group.

The withdrawal came after the Nevada Democratic Party announced it would absolutely not be working with Global Strategy Group, which also has ties to the New York Democratic Party, Gov. Kathy Hochul and former Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

The head of the New York Democratic Party, Jay Jacobs, did not respond to messages asking if the party would continue to work with the company. Hochuls campaign declined to comment on whether it would continue working with GSG, instead pointing to a tweet of the governor congratulating the Amazon Labor Union.

The Cavalry Has Come

The protracted road ahead points to the weakness of the countrys labor laws, said Sharon Block, professor at Harvard Law School and executive director of the schools Labor & Worklife Program.

Aside from Amazons objections to the vote, it could be a long road to getting the company and the ALU to agree on a contract. While the NLRB requires employers to bargain in good faith once the results conclude, theres no requirement that workers and their bosses reach a deal on a contract  a point that Amazon officials drilled into during a so-called captive audience meeting at JFK8.

The company and the union must bargain in good faith. That means that they must agree to meet at a reasonable time in private and try to reach an agreement. The law does not say that they have to reach an agreement. They just have to try to, an Amazon workforce staffing manager said at a meeting obtained by THE CITY.

Amazon, I think, has demonstrated that they are willing to go to great lengths to prevent their workers from having a union, Block said. And because the incentives in the law are to play this out as long as possible, if youre a company that mistakenly but nevertheless believes that you want to keep the union out of your workplace, the law provides a path for you that is essentially costless to push the date out as much as possible.

The leaders of the Amazon Labor Union say theyre not afraid of whats coming down the pike.

The cavalry has come, said Smalls on Friday. It is still coming. So Amazon, be prepared because were coming.

This is not just an opportunity. This is not just a moment. This is history right now, right now. We gotta make sure we bust our ass and we make sure that we get a union for LDJ5, Palmer told the crowd Friday. Like I said, were gonna whoop Amazons ass. Were gonna win this. Were gonna win.
KateLynn White graduated from Tennessee State University, where she was an editor of the student newspaper. She interned for The Tennessean and The Tennessee Tribune before joining the Nashville Post in 2022. She also contributes to the Nashville Scene.

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(Natural News) A coalition of priests and deacons in Austria denounced the countrys Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine mandate. The group made up of 120 clergymen slammed the mandate in a statement, arguing that the church cannot remain silent [on] illegal compulsory vaccination.

The April 7 statement from the coalition noted that the clergymen feel compelled to take a stand in the current crisis and defend the estimated two million Austrians who refuse to get injected with the COVID-19 vaccine.

We know and care about people who are still under massive pressure [and] are facing the end of their education or career because of compulsory vaccination. These people are not isolated cases, the coalition stated.

The clergymen pointed out that the COVID-19 vaccines are linked to abortion through their use of fetal cell lines as an ingredient or a component for testing.

The pro-life movement  has repeatedly emphasized that anyone using these vaccines is benefiting from, and at least implicitly supporting, a structure of evil. The continued development of such cell lines and all other  and increasingly common  uses of fetal tissue to date are proving [the movement] right, they wrote.

It is now an undisputed fact that the mRNA vaccines are not a suitable means for containing the serious pathogen. They do no prevent infection or transmission of the virus, and the vaccine manufacturers have never even claimed that they would do so. The only benefit of vaccination, consumers are told, is the likelihood of mitigating the severity of an infection. [But this] is now being disputed by a growing number of hospital staff, since the intensive care units are increasingly treating severe cases among the fully vaccinated. (Related: Austria suffers record number of COVID infections days after locking down the unvaccinated.)

The coalition also mentioned the climate of suspicion and denunciation [that] has developed within a very short time. Under this climate, any well-considered opposition to compulsory vaccination is equated, against all reason, with a lack of solidarity. It ultimately warned that the divisions within society, which obviously exist, will not be resolved by labeling those who oppose vaccination as selfish idiots.'

Clergymen: Suspension of vaccine mandate makes no difference

The April 7 statement from the coalition of clergymen targeted Viennas vaccine mandate for the countrys population. Under the measure, people refusing to get injected with the COVID-19 vaccine would face exorbitant fines every month  which would only stop if they present proof of vaccination. It was initially announced in December 2021 and subsequently passed in the Austrian Parliament. However, Vienna suspended the measure six days before it was set to take effect on March 15.

During a March 9 press conference, Austrian Minister for the European Union and the Constitution Karoline Edtstadler said the vaccine mandate will no longer take effect on its original date. She added that the compulsory vaccination law is an encroachment of fundamental rights that can no longer be justified.

After consultations with the health minister, we have decided that we will, of course, follow what the [expert] commission has said. We see no need to actually implement this compulsory vaccination due to the [B11529 omicron] variant that we are predominantly experiencing here, she said. Edtstadler added that the aforementioned commission, composed of health experts, will review the situation and the law in mid-June 2022.

She said the vaccine mandate may still be reimplemented in the future, saying: I dont think I need a crystal ball to tell you that today isnt the last chapter we will write regarding the vaccination mandate.

Edtstadlers announcement of the vaccine mandates suspension failed to mollify the coalition of clergymen. The fact that the so-called compulsory vaccination law is currently suspended until June 2022 makes no difference in terms of its content and [its] continued existence, they wrote.

MedicalTyranny.com has more stories about Austrias COVID-19 vaccine mandate.

Watch below as Tammy Cuthbert Garcia of Naturally Inspired talks about Austria deploying vaccine inspectors to look for unvaccinated people.

This video is from the Tammy Cuthbert Garcia channel on Brighteon.com.

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Sources include:

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(Natural News) Countless reports and many studies have shown that the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccines are linked to adverse effects, from minor ones like pain at the site of injection to more serious side effects like heart inflammation.

David Gortler, a former senior adviser to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) commissioner, warned that the agency is ignoring its requirement to disclose clear safety and efficacy problems with the COVID-19 vaccines.

Gortler is a pharmacologist, pharmacist and an FDA and health policy fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center (EPPC). He was an FDA medical officer before being appointed by former president Donald Trumps White House as senior adviser to the FDA commissioner for drug safety, FDA science policy and FDA regulatory affairs.

Americans remain uninformed about COVID vaccine side effects

Late in March, Gortler wrote a column where he warned that the FDA, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Pfizer and Moderna have all known from the beginning about myocarditis and pericarditis risks from the COVID-19 mRNA vaccines.

Throughout the coronavirus pandemic, many adverse events have been reported using the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS), the tracking system run by the FDA and the CDC. But Gortler pointed out that Americans have received no formal warnings, such as labeling and letters to warn physicians, pharmacists or the public.

He thinks that it is because it would dispel the narrative that getting vaccines and boosters is the patriotic duty of Americans. Usually, notifying consumers and prescribers of updates in safety and efficacy is the responsibility of manufacturers.

Gortler also noted that the meager 107-page FDA review document obviously excluded clinically important serious adverse reactions like anaphylaxis (severe allergic reactions), myocarditis and pericarditis.

Myocarditis and pericarditis involve inflammation of the heart and the sac containing the heart, respectively. (Related: Pfizer sweeps in to control the FDA and facilitate sweeping redactions of the court-ordered disclosure of their vaccine injury data.)

Meanwhile, Modernas review only had 30 pages but presented reports of myocarditis and pericarditis in the initial study. Theres no denying that there are many safety and efficacy issues with coronavirus vaccines and boosters, warned Gortler.

Since the FDAs 18,000-plus employees had access to the same drug safety data, this emphasizes the fact that there is still no updated COVID-19 labeling reflecting the latest safety and efficacy findings in VAERS.

Scrutinizing the COVID-19 vaccine

Gortler has these questions for the FDA:

Where are the FDA Dear Doctor letters with updated safety guidance?

Where are the Dear Pharmacist letters to pharmacists who are still inoculating and giving boosters to thousands of kids and other young healthy people daily?

Why isnt the FDA recommending follow-up symptom tracking to avoid further inflammatory cardiovascular, neurologic or thrombotic events?

Why isnt the FDA convening and dedicating a Data Safety Monitoring Board to monitor all post-marketing effects and others?

Gortler also advised that for any physician, pharmacist or other health professional working for the FDA, CDC or another agency, the failure to warn patients about the potential dangers of any drug would place their professional licenses at risk. He added that more evidence of clear malfeasance will be revealed, but probably under a Republican administration.

If that happens, all the licensed practitioners and scientists who withheld crucial information about the side effects of the COVID-19 vaccines from the public should be thoroughly investigated by their academic boards and licensing authorities.

Despite the many reported cases of adverse reactions, FDA officials are still pushing the potentially risky vaccine by hiding data from the public. Even the FDA website shows images of children and young adults getting boosters. However, the latest CDC data has revealed that there is no known benefit of coronavirus vaccination for those low-risk groups.

Watch the video below to hear an airline pilot speak up against coronavirus vaccine mandates.

This video is from the InfoWars channel on Brighteon.com.

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The Ben Armstrong Show: Vaccines more dangerous than COVID  Brighteon.com.

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Dr. Sherri Tenpenny: mRNA COVID vaccines increase hospitalization and death rates  Brighteon.TV.

Sources include:

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(Natural News) Derek Paul, executive director of the Transformation Ministers Alliance (TMA), believes Floridas newly signed Parental Rights in Education Bill (PREB) will benefit parents.

First, that bill has nothing to do with gay. Its actually a bill that allows full transparency for the students and the parents, Paul told Byline Anew host Fior Hernandez during the April 7 episode of the program on Brighteon.TV.

The TMA executive director, who lives in Floridas Alachua County, noted that the bills detractors launched a campaign to rebrand the proposal as the Dont Say Gay bill. It was discovered that gender indoctrination [was] happening as young as kindergarten. Those in charge of the curriculum were not happy and knew that they would be outed. [So they] tried to get ahead of that by calling it the Dont Say Gay bill and rebranding it  but it did not work out for them. (Related: Its OK to say gay but please dont use offensive words like boy or girl.)

Despite the criticism lobbed against the PREB, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis eventually signed it into law on March 28. We will make sure that parents can send their kids to school to get an education, not an indoctrination, he said as he signed the bill during a ceremony held at the Classical Preparatory School in Spring Hill, Florida.

Paul praised the Sunshine States Republican governor for signing it into law and shared a story of how the new law affects him as a parent. He told Hernandez that his five-year-old son in kindergarten was read an LGBT propaganda book two months in.

He had a wonderful Christian teacher [and] an incredible principal, but this happened without them knowing it was happening. Ive heard other leaders in our community say there is nothing like this going on. Let me tell you as a parent of a [child] two months into kindergarten: It is absolutely happening here.

Parents, not teachers, should be the ones to open the topic of sexuality

I definitely want people to know that its important not to expose people to identities and lifestyles before theyre developmentally able to comprehend what [those entail]  especially at kindergarten age and a little above that, said Paul, who was formerly part of the LGBT community himself.

They actually believe that parents dont have an idea as to what is in their childs best interest. We are the ones who are the first teachers of these children. We are the ones who care for them 24/7 [and] who are responsible [for them] even in a court of law  up until theyre adults. This is the way that the human race has been.

Hernandez agreed with him, pointing out that teachers believing that they can take away the rights and the authority that parents have over their children is an outrageous prospect. She also mentioned a passage from the book of Proverbs that said: Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old, he will not depart from it. (Proverbs 22:6)

Paul also denounced Alachua County Commissioner Marihelen Wheeler, who was a teacher for more than three decades.

[Wheeler] said that if we didnt understand what these kindergarteners already knew, we should listen to them. I thought she was a teacher for more than 30 years, and here [she is] lecturing parents on not knowing or having the wisdom to deal with a kindergartener. It was a little bit absurd to hear that.

He added that Wheeler and other county officials were bringing up that we should just accept that there are good teachers out there and trust these teachers. But what about all the good parents out there? They should trust the parents.

Visit IdentityPolitics.news for more news about LGBT teachings in classrooms that the PREB seeks to address.

Watch the full April 7 episode of Byline Anew below, featuring Fior Hernandez and TMA Executive Director Derek Paul. Tune in to Byline Anew every Sunday at 9:30-10 a.m. and Thursday at 10:30-11 a.m. on Brighteon.TV.

This video is from the BrighteonTV channel on Brighteon.com.

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(Natural News) They have talked about the controversial Hunter Biden laptop before, but felt that theres a lot more information to be shared. So they did a part two in the April 4 episode of their Matrixxx Grooove show on Brighteon.TV.

Jeffrey InTheMatrixxx Pedersen and Shannon ShadyGrooove Townsend invited Attorney Kash Patel to do the talking on the same subject they tackled on March 17. (Related: Matrixxx Grooove: Jeff and Shady talk about Hunter Bidens LAPTOP FROM HELL  Brighteon.TV.)

Patel, the former chief-of-staff to then-Defense Secretary Christopher Miller, did not disappoint. He detested the supposed intelligence pundits who went along with the narrative that Bidens laptop story from hell was nothing but a Russian concoction.

And then you have cowards, like these 51 intelligence officials who dont help the political narrative in this country because they politicize the national security apparatus, said Patel, who served as deputy assistant to former President Donald Trump and as senior director for counterterrorism at the National Security Council.

These guys, three former directors of the CIA [Central Intelligence Agency], a former director of the NSA [National Security Agency] and a former secretary of Defense come out and inform the American public, lying that Hunter Bidens laptop is Russian disinformation, because [it] is a presidential election cycle, said Patel, who worked in the government for 16 years under multiple administrations, including Barack Obamas Department of Justice and Department of Defense.

That is the epitome of politicizing national security. And our spy chief John Ratcliffe, great American, came out and did the right thing. He said, Look, I cant get into the details, but Ive reviewed every cable. This is not Russian disinformation, he told the American public. Bill Barr could have done the same as the attorney general. He failed because hes as much of a political animal as the rest of them. So these are the individuals you have to call out, but what hurts the most is they let down America.

Not only that, they refused to own their misdeeds, even when it has been proven that the contents of Hunters MacBook, which was brought to a computer repair shop in Delaware in April 2019, were authentic.

And now, a year and a half, two years later, its the same rinse, repeat cycle that we went through with Russiagate. You know, the former CIA heads and the former DoD heads, were not going to apologize. Were going to say we were right to warn you about Russia.

The Russiagate being alluded to was Trumps alleged collusion with Russia in trying to influence the 2016 U.S. presidential election, which Trump won over Hillary Clinton.

After 22 months of investigation, special counsel Robert Mueller concluded in a report submitted to Barr on March 22 that he did not find sufficient evidence that Trump colluded with Russia. That led Trump to sue Clinton and other FBI officers over the collusion allegations.

Patel accused the intelligence officials of cozying up with the media to just corrupt so many American belief systems.

Pedersen, noting that he has experienced being defamed, agreed. We looked into a lot of the different things that the Bidens have. Weve got metadata, [which] we broke that on February 25. Weve got Rosemont Seneca, weve got the lithium batteries, hence the pull out of Afghanistan stand to make them trillions with the Chinese business. Theyve got businesses, Kazakhstan, Iraq.

Going back to the 2020 presidential election, wherein Joe Biden bested Trump, Patel said the results hardly mattered as I cant go back in time and change that.

But it doesnt mean either that Patel would just let the sleight pulled off by conspirators pass.

What we can do is use these lawsuits like Michigans doing and some other states are leading out with I think Georgia to maybe even have judicial opinions rendered on whether or not there was fraud. Because thats the only thing a guy like me could take out to the public and be like, look, it happened, a court said so, a judge said so.

Judicial opinions carry more weight

Being a former federal prosecutor, Patel believes judicial opinions carry more weight than the one the media is spinning and feels the Americans are realizing voting for Joe Biden wasnt the right decision and listening to the media was an even worse decision.

Patel then reverted to the 51 intel officials.

Im gonna just call out the people that I think got in the way of the Trump administration and they were like, yeah, brilliant. And so I called out names that I dont think people have heard. And I wasnt just slinging arrows  I based it on facts. Rod Rosenstein Chris Ray, Gina Haspel, Mark Milley, these guys failed and broke their oath of office during the Trump administration.

As for the mainstream media outlets, which ignored Hunters laptop story when the New York Post broke it out, they were compelled to admit its legitimacy in March. After all, the facts can no longer be hidden as the laptops contents are now entered into congressional records and would soon be made available to the public.

It will be up to the Americans to discern the truth. And their decision on the Bidens fate will be known in the midterm elections on November 8.

Visit BidenCrimeFamily.news for more news related to the corrupt ways of the Biden family.

Watch the full April 4 episode of the Matrixxx Grooove featuring Kash Patel. Catch new episodes of the program every Monday at 12-1 p.m. on Brighteon.TV.

This video is from the BrighteonTV channel on Brighteon.com.

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See the full list of 51 deep state intelligence officials who lied about Hunter Bidens laptop to try to defeat Trump in 2020.

GOPs Matt Gaetz pushes to strip security clearances from all 51 intel officials who signed letter claiming Hunter Bidens laptop was Russian disinformation.

Hunter Bidens controversial laptop contents will soon be made available to the public.

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Brighteon.com

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BBC.com
(Natural News) A January 6 riot defendant was acquitted by the court on all charges. The federal judge was convinced that the defendant was let into the Capitol building freely by police officers.

The defendant, Matthew Martin, was an engineer from New Mexico, and was charged with four misdemeanors: disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building; entering and remaining in a restricted building; violent entry and disorderly conduct in a Capitol building; and parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building.

Meanwhile, over 770 people have been charged with related federal crimes for the January 6 riots, with over 240 pleading guilty and 140 already sentenced. Martin was the first to argue that the Capitol Police allowed him to enter the building, and was the first recipient of an outright acquittal. (Related: Judicial Watch sues U.S. Capitol Police in pursuit of emails and videos pertaining to Jan. 6 riots.)

According to Martins testimony, he was inside the Capitol on January 6 after briefly attending former President Donald Trumps rally, and then went back to his hotel. He returned to the Capitol for what he thought would be another rally, saying that he was let in by the police and that he didnt notice any security barriers.

Martin testified that upon entering the Capitol building, he made his way through the Rotunda and left.

U.S. District Court Judge Trevor McFadden ruled that Martins claims were plausible because police officers werent making any attempt to stop him or those around him from entering the premises.

People were streaming by and the officers made no attempt to stop the people. I do think the defendant reasonably believed the officers allowed him into the Capitol, the judge said, adding that Martins conduct for the mere 10 minutes he was inside, was about as minimal and not serious as I can imagine.

CBS News also noted that video evidence backed his claims. With Martins movements documented using CCTV footage from inside the Capitol, he was not charged in connection with any of the violence seen during the riots. He was also not found to be a member of any extremist group.

The video played at the trial also appeared to show an officer moving his arm in a waving motion inside the building as the rioters moved past them.

Martin went on to say that when he returned to his hotel a second time, he exchanged text messages with his then-supervisor from work, stating: It was beautiful. I will remember today for the rest of my life.

However, he did not tell his boss about his entry into the Capitol. He did, however, tell her that there was not as much security as youd think, and that they were not prepared.

During his cross-examination, Martin said he called January 6 a magical day because of the spirit he saw in the streets and the many Trump supporters that he encountered.

DOJ tramples rights of riot defendants

Federal prosecutors also described a rare mistake when they admitted to violating the rights of another Capitol riot defendant and asked the judge to dismiss the criminal charges against him.

In the middle of this issue was Lucas Denney of Texas, and lawyers from the U.S. Attorneys Office admitted that they have violated his right to a speedy trial as he was put behind bars for weeks without being formally indicted, although they said that there was nothing intentional or nefarious about the delay.

Denneys charges were more egregious than those of Martins and he was detained in December without bail. However, he was not transferred to Washington for six weeks. Once there, nobody contacted the D.C. court to get him a hearing for over three weeks.

A federal judge slammed the Department of Justice (DOJ) for trampling Denneys rights, who later pleaded guilty to a felony assault charge.

Of the over 775 people charged in the Capitol riot, at least two other defendants are still held without bond.

Nicholas James Brockhoff was arrested in May 2021 and pleaded not guilty in early September. Ryan Samsel was arrested on January 30, 2021 but wasnt indicted until August. (Related: Maxine Waters wont be punished for inciting riots. Thats why Republicans keep losing.)

Meanwhile, other judges are not bound by McFaddens analysis of Martins claims about the police. However, the latest ruling allows other defendants to consider going to trial to test the government cases against them instead of simply pleading guilty to misdemeanors in an attempt to move forward.

Follow Rioting.news for more updates regarding the January 6 riots.

Watch the video below to know more about the verdicts concerning the January 6 riots, and how this can affect the political establishment.

This video is from the SecureLife channel on Brighteon.com.

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Yes, the deep state ran the capitol riots as yet more evidence emerges the bureau is thoroughly corrupt.

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Brighteon.com
(Natural News) As promised, fake president Joe Biden is loading up the government ranks with LGBTQ perverts in order to create a more diverse leadership structure in the United States.

His latest proposed appointment is Brenda Sue Fulton, whom he nominated to become the assistant secretary of Defense for Manpower and Reserve Affairs at the Pentagon. Meanwhile, check out what Bidens Supreme Court nominee had to say about what a woman is.

Fulton also worked as the Global Project Lead at Pfizer, one of the big players in the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine scheme.

It turns out that Fulton is also one of the leading proponents of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender representation in the U.S. military, according to the National Pulse.

On May 14, 2014, the 63-year-old extremist tweeted anti-Vladimir Putin sentiment that bashed conservatives for falling in love with a dictatorship.

Bound to happen: right-wing anti-everyone nutjobs falling in love with a dictatorship. #FoxLovesPutin #madeforeachother, Fulton wrote at the time.

This was right during Fultons roughly six-year tenure at Pfizer, where she pushed the companys consumer health products on the world from 2012 to 2017. On her LinkedIn profile, Fulton described her position at the company as:

 expanding consumer access to Pfizer consumer brands in new channels, all regions.

Biden is turning Americas government gayer and trans-er than ever

From 2012 to 2016, Fulton was a director, and later a franchise lead, for Pfizers Prescription to Over-the-Counter (OTC) Switch program. As its name suggests, the purpose of this program was to convert prescription drugs to OTC drugs, making them easier for consumers to buy, thus generating more profits for Pfizer.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which oversaw the Fauci Flu injections emergency use authorization (EUA) process, is actually responsible for administering the very drug review process that Fulton previously led, exposing a major conflict of interest.

Not only did Fulton work for Pfizer, but she also hired legions of politically connected lobbyists to push Wuhan Flu shot mandates on the world.

She also wants to increase diversity in the military by bringing in more transgenders and other sexual malcontents to occupy its ranks. Part of this process also involves pushing critical race theory (CRT) in combat readiness training materials.

As Fultons foray of endeavors expanded, so did her LinkedIn profile. At various times, it included the following blurbs about her activities-for-pay:

Developed messaging and trained active-duty transgender military members for media interviews; secured high-level meetings and brought transgender service members to D.C. to meet with senior civilians and flag officers in Defense Department; and drove changed attitudes within the Pentagon resulting in significant policy change.

Fulton also played a critical role in altering public opinion in favor of repealing the militarys Dont Ask, Dont Tell policy. For whatever reason, Fulton seems to want as few straight people in the military as possible, and she helped accomplish that by occupying the board of the OutServe-Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (OutServe-SLDN). Fulton also worked as executive director at Knights Out, which is comprised of various LGBTQ U.S. Military Academy alumni.

Built organization from the founding to include hundreds of LGBT West Point graduates, Fultons LinkedIn profile states, along with, built [a] network of dozens of LGBT cadets to provide support and counsel prior to repeal of DADT; post-repeal, helped gain approval for SPECTRUM, a cadet LGBT and allies resource group.

Barack Hussein Obama was of course involved in Fultons budding career as an LGBTQ-pusher in the U.S. government. He appointed her to the U.S. Military Academy Board of Visitors where she became the first openly lesbian member of the board.

Not long after that, Fulton married her first wife, Penelope Gnesin, at West Points Chapel, which was the institutions first same-sex marriage.

More related news can be found at Collapse.news.

Sources include:

TheNationalPulse.com

NaturalNews.com
(Natural News) In order to handle the deluge of adverse event reports following the release of its Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19) vaccine, pharmaceutical giant Pfizer hired an army of new full-time employees, says Brian Hooker, chief science officer at Childrens Health Defense (CHD).

Information disclosed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on April 1 in response to an expedited Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request revealed that Pfizer brought in 1,800 new human resources to process the onslaught of injury and death reports stemming from its mRNA (messenger RNA) jab.

A Cumulative analysis of post-authorization adverse event reports  received through 28-Feb-2021 explains that Pfizer took multiple actions to alleviate the large increase of adverse event reports.

This includes significant technology enhancements, and process and workflow solutions, as well as increasing the number of data entry and case processing colleagues, that section of the document further reads.

To date, Pfizer has onboarded approximately 600 additional fulltime employees (FTEs). More are joining each month with an expected total of more than 1,800 additional resources by the end of June 2021.

Pfizer lied about adverse events; pretended they didnt exist while calling its injections safe

Between Dec. 11, 2020, when Pfizers injections were first granted Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) under Donald Trump through Operation Warp Speed, and February 2021 when the program was in full swing, Pfizer hired 600 new full-time employees.

At the time, the company anticipated having to bring in another 1,200 more, bringing the total to 1,800, due to what was already obviously a serious problem for the company.

158,000 adverse events in the first two-plus months of the rollout means that the rate of reported AE [adverse events] was approximately 1:1000, with many of the AEs graded as serious, said Hooker about the unprecedented number of side effects caused by Pfizers shots. (Related: At least 1,291 different side effects are linked to Pfizers mRNA injections.)

None of this was publicly disclosed by Pfizer, naturally. In fact, the company continued to lie about the safety and effectiveness of its shots, which is how it gained full FDA licensure last summer.

In its May 2021 Request for Priority Review, Pfizer maintained that its mRNA injections are safe and well-tolerated in healthy adults, as well as in younger and older participants. Pfizer falsely claimed that it had no unanticipated safety findings.

The newly released documents via FOIA tell a much different story. Pfizer lied to the FDA, and the FDA lied to the American people. And lots of money was made in the process.

This all explains why Pfizer and the FDA fought tooth and nail to keep a lid on the Pfizer documents for the next 75 years. They thought they could pass through the current generation and release them later when all the people currently affected by this abomination are long gone.

That plan is failing, though, as the truth trickles out a little more each day. Pfizers evil is being brought from darkness to light. The question that remains is: Will anything actually happen to punish the company, its CEO Albert Bourla, and everyone else involved with the scam?

I have a feeling that over the next several years we will witness a global catastrophe as vast numbers of people sicken and die from these poisonous jabs, wrote someone at The New American.

The next major health crisis will be the debilitating and lethal effects of the so-called COVID vaccine, someone else responded. Never fear, big pharma will develop a vaccine to protect people from these adverse effects.

No doubt as it is already taking place, said yet another about the global catastrophe currently in motion.

More related news about Pfizer can be found at Evil.news.

Sources for this article include:

TheNewAmerican.com

NaturalNews.com
(Natural News) The West has sown the wind in sanctioning Russia; Russia will not reap the whirlwind, says Scott Ritter in an interview with the Strategic Culture Foundation.

(Article by Finian Cunningham republished from Strategic-Culture.org)

Scott Ritter is a former U.S. Marine Corps intelligence officer who has gained international respect for his independence and integrity as a commentator on conflicts and foreign relations. This week, he was banned on the Twitter social media platform for challenging Western claims of a massacre in Bucha, Ukraine, allegedly carried out by Russian troops. Moscow denies the claims, as have other independent analysts who point to evidence that the incident was a false-flag provocation perpetrated by NATO-backed Ukrainian Nazi regiments to undermine Russia internationally and bolster Western objectives. It is a foreboding sign of the times that Ritter should be banned for daring to question dubious narratives. (He was later reinstated following a public outcry against censorship.)

In the following interview for Strategic Culture Foundation, he makes the crucial point that Russias intervention in Ukraine is exposing the involvement of the U.S. and NATO in the training and weaponizing of that countrys dominant Nazi regiments. That is why Western media have been so vehement in trying to distort the conflict and blame Russia. The truth about Western dirty involvement in Ukraine would be too much to bear for the Western public.

When Ritter served as a UN weapons inspector in Iraq during the 1990s he later challenged Western media and government claims that Iraq was harboring WMDs. Those claims were used as a pretext for the U.S.-British war on Iraq launched in 1993 that cost over one million lives, destroyed a nation, created millions of displaced and millions of casualties, as well as spawned international terrorism. It later turned out that the WMD claims were based on deliberate lies for which no Western leader has been held accountable. Scott Ritter was vindicated in his warnings against that war and it is one reason why he is widely respected among international public opinion.

Ritter is a critical commentator on U.S. conflicts and foreign relations. He is a former Marine Corps intelligence officer who served in the Soviet Union implementing nuclear arms control treaties, in the Persian Gulf during Operation Desert Storm, and as a UN inspector in Iraq (1991-98) overseeing the disarmament of weapons of mass destruction. He is the author of Scorpion King: Americas Suicidal Embrace of Nuclear Weapons from FDR to Trump (Clarity Press, 2020).

Interview

Question: Do you think that Russia has a just cause in launching its special military operation in Ukraine on February 24?

Scott Ritter: I believe Russia has articulated a cognizable claim of preemptive collective self-defense under Article 51 of the UN Charter. The threat posed by NATO expansion, and Ukraines eight-year bombardment of the civilians of the Donbass fall under this umbrella.

Question: Do you think Russia has legitimate concerns about the Pentagon sponsoring biological weapons programs in laboratories in Ukraine?

Scott Ritter: The Pentagon denies any biological weapons program, but admits biological research programs on Ukrainian soil. Documents captured by Russia have allegedly uncovered the existence of programs the components of which could be construed as having offensive biological warfare applications. The U.S. should be required to explain the purpose of these programs.

Question: What do you make of allegations in Western media that Russian troops committed war crimes in Bucha and other Ukrainian cities? It is claimed that Russian forces summarily executed civilians.

Scott Ritter: All claims of war crimes must be thoroughly investigated, including Ukrainian allegations that Russia killed Ukrainian civilians in Bucha. However, the data available about the Bucha incident does not sustain the Ukrainian claims, and as such, the media should refrain from echoing these claims as fact until a proper investigation of the evidence is conducted, either by the media, or unbiased authorities.

Question: Do you think the alleged Russian bombing of a hospital and an art theater in Mariupol were false-flag provocations?

Scott Ritter: Both locations are available for detailed forensic examination that would either confirm or refute Ukrainian allegations that these locations were struck by Russian aerial bombs. Other data, such as the existence of any NATO radar data that would put Russian aircraft over these two locations at the time of the alleged attack, should be collected. A detailed forensic examination of each site would go a long way in proving or disproving the Ukrainian claims through the collection of weapons fragments and the evaluation of environmental samples which would show the chemical composition of any explosive used, thereby allowing a better idea of what weapon or explosive was used to destroy the sites.

Question: Western governments and mainstream media have denigrated Russian objectives to demilitarize and deNazify Ukraine. The West says Russia has invented or grossly exaggerated these problems as a pretext for invasion. Do you think this Western denialism is because it doesnt want to acknowledge that Russia may indeed have legitimate concerns, and secondly that to acknowledge would mean admitting that the West is part of the problem in the current war?

Scott Ritter: The irony is that the West had thoroughly documented the extent of the Nazi ideology in Ukraines civil, political, and military structures during and after the 2014 Maidan coup. This documented reality was deliberately obscured by the same sources that had previously documented its existence once the Russian invasion occurred. To acknowledge the existence of this odious ideology by NATO would require NATO to acknowledge the role it played in training and equipping Azov regiment personnel since 2015. The Russian documentation of its ongoing de-Nazification effort in Ukraine is a source of continual embarrassment to NATO, as it exposes the scope and scale of NATOs role in empowering the militarization of Nazi ideology in Ukraine.

Question: For about four months before the Russian intervention in Ukraine, the Biden administration was asserting non-stop that Moscow was planning an invasion. Do you think this is a case of great intelligence on the part of Washington or the culmination of provocation by Washington resulting in Russian military action in Ukraine?

Scott Ritter: We now know that the U.S. intelligence community under the Biden administration is committed to a policy of haphazardly declassifying intelligence for the purpose of shaping public opinion (so-called getting ahead of the story). There is no evidence that the intelligence regarding potential Russian military action was based upon anything other than politicized speculation derived from a crude analysis of Russian military dispositions void of any context. Any genuine intelligence assessment regarding the timing of any Russian military action would have incorporated the domestic political imperative of getting Duma [Russian parliamentary] approval for the deployment of Russian forces outside the borders of Russia, which carries with it the requirement of a cognizable justification for this military action under the UN Charter. This required political steps such as Donetsk and Lugansk declaring independence, and then petitioning the Russian parliament to recognize this independence, so that Russia could legitimately invoke Article 51. None of these factors was knowable when the Biden administration was issuing its warnings of imminent attack, thereby certifying the intelligence as being derived from fact-free speculation, and not intelligence at all.

Question: The Western media are reporting that the Russian military operation in Ukraine is floundering because it has not over-run Ukraine entirely. As a military expert, how do you see the Russian operation proceeding?

Scott Ritter: Russia is fighting a very difficult campaign hampered by its own constraint designed to limit civilian casualties and damage to infrastructure and the fact that Ukraine possesses a very well-trained military that is well led and equipped. Russia deployed some 200,000 troops in support of this operation. They are facing some 600,000 Ukrainian forces. The first phase of the Russian operation was designed to shape the battlefield to Russias advantage while diminishing the size and capacity of the Ukrainian ability to wage large-scale conflict. The second phase is focused on destroying the main Ukrainian force concentration in eastern Ukraine. Russia is well on its way to accomplishing this task.

Question: Do you see danger from Ukraine being turned into a proxy war by the United States and NATO partners against Russia in a way that attempts to repeat the Wests covert war in Syria or the Afghanistan war (1979-89) with the Soviet Union? There are reports of foreign legions being sent to Ukraine via NATO countries. Do you think there is a Western plan to embroil Russia in a proxy war that is aimed at sapping Russia politically, economically, and militarily?

Scott Ritter: The Ukrainian conflict is a proxy war, but one which Russia is poised to win decisively. While there appears to be a NATO/western plan to embroil Russia in a new Afghanistan, I dont see any risk of this conflict dragging on for more than a few more weeks at the most before Russia accomplishes a strategic victory over Ukraine.

Question: There is an arrogant assumption among Western governments that they can impose crippling economic sanctions on Russia in a similar way to what they did on Iran, Venezuela, and North Korea among others. But would you agree that if Russia begins to impose its own counter-sanctions by restricting oil and gas exports then the Western states may end up reaping a whirlwind that is devastating to their societies?

Scott Ritter: Russia was warned well in advance about the scope and scale of U.S.-led sanctions that would be imposed if Russia were to invade Ukraine. Russia has prepared its own counter-sanction strategy which will not only defeat the Western sanctions but further strengthen Russias economy by decoupling it from the West and Western control/influence. We see evidence of the effectiveness of this counter-campaign as the Russian ruble is strengthened, the Russian stock market enjoys positive traction, and Europe and the U.S. flounder economically. The West has sown the wind in sanctioning Russia; Russia will not reap the whirlwind.

Read more at: Strategic-Culture.org
(Natural News) A captain of the United States Army was forcibly admitted to a mental hospital after filing criminal charges against his commanding officer, who ordered troops to take non-licensed Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccines.

The captain in question, stationed at Fort Benning in Georgia, filed charges against the bases commander, Maj. Gen. Patrick J. Donahoe. (Related: Air Force to WASTE millions in taxpayer money by discharging trained, experienced, pilots over COVID-19 vaccines.)

On April 4, the captain spoke with the Armys Criminal Investigation Division (CID) to file a criminal complaint against Donahoe. He alleged that the general was ordering his troops to take COVID-19 vaccines that have not been licensed for domestic use by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

According to federal law, the military can mandate vaccinations for its troops only with vaccines that have been licensed by the FDA. The militarys current claim is that its soldiers in Fort Benning are receiving Pfizers mRNA COVID-19 vaccines, which are FDA-approved.

The officer at the CID who received the criminal complaint consulted their supervisor and left the captain to wait in a room for an hour and a half. Upon the investigators return, he informed the captain that the CID is choosing not to open an investigation against Donahoe.

Instead, the division contacted the captains commanders, picked him up from CID and escorted him back to his brigade. Upon his return to his unit, the captain was immediately informed by his deputy commanding officer that he was being sent for emergency evaluation with the bases behavioral health center.

Supposedly, the emergency evaluation had to be conducted to ensure the captain wasnt a danger to himself or others.

The army doctor that evaluated the captain claimed that due to this incident and a prior traumatic brain injury that the captain endured during his service, she believed the captain was having a health crisis and had to be admitted to the hospital for monitoring and treatment.

As part of this evaluation, the captain was asked his opinion on the January 6 incident in Washington, D.C. and the validity of the 2020 presidential election. The doctor also kept trying to claim that the captain was part of an extremist organization and that he is an extremist.

Donahoe likely retaliating against the captain for whistleblowing

The captain is still being held in a mental ward at the fort. His friends and family are concerned that Donahoe confined him to the armys mental hospital in Fort Benning for standing up against the COVID-19 vaccine mandate.

Someone who knows the captain said: The captain is of sound mind, and he has complied and not been violent in any way. The chain of command, all the way from the commanding general Maj. Gen. Patric Donahoe on down, has weaponized the mental health system on Fort Benning to remove this captain from his family and silence him in his pursuit of accountability for the criminal behavior of the installations commanding general.

This is not the first time Donahoe has retaliated against people opposed to his views. In July 2021, he used his personal Twitter account to claim that people who are opposed to his views regarding the COVID-19 pandemic and vaccinations are trolls who are part of the disinformation tinfoil hat team.

Later that month, he attacked a marine who had spoken out on Twitter against the COVID-19 vaccines, egging people on to harass him by writing come get your boy.

Donahoe has also been accused of inappropriate interactions with young female officers on social media. He has used his significant following on social media to harass anybody who speaks out against him online, including the members of the military who made the accusations.

Learn more about the COVID-19 vaccines at Vaccines.news.

Watch this video as researcher and investigative journalist Dustin Nemos of the Nemos News Network talks about the Fort Benning captain, who he said was medically kidnapped for opposing the vaccine mandate.

This video is from the Nemos News Network channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Military doctor says she was ordered to cover up wave of COVID vaccine injuries in servicemen.

DoD document proves that militarys purge of unvaccinated servicemen putting country at risk.

Cover up: DOD silent after whistleblowers expose COVID vaccine injuries in military.

Viral video shows increasing number of illnesses in US military following COVID vaccines.

Leaked DoD database shows U.S. military illnesses skyrocketing due to COVID jabs.

Sources include:

TheNewAmerican.com

TheGatewayPundit.com

RedVoiceMedia.com

Brighteon.com
The WCO conducted a mission from 14-17 and 23 March 2022 under the auspices of the by the United Kingdoms Her Majestys Revenue & Customs (HMRC) supported Trade Facilitation Capacity Building Programme to further strengthen capacity within South African Revenue Authority (SARS) The WCO team zoomed in primarily on capacity building to conduct a Time Release Study (TRS) at the seaport in Durban and to implement the WCO Immediate Release Guidelines at the Johannesburg airport cargo area in order to align with the Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) Article 7.8 on expedited shipments. The mission built on virtual capacity building provided to SARS in these two areas under the Trade Facilitation for Middle Income Countries (TFMICs) programme  previously supported by the United Kingdoms Foreign Commonwealth & Development Office.

The WCO delegation met with Mr. Beyers Theron, Director Customs Border Operations, Ports of Entry and Customs Compliance, and the Customs senior executive team. Deliberations focused on progress made in relation to technical assistance and organizational development provided to SARS under the by the UK government sponsored trade facilitation programmes. The SARS leadership formally welcomed the opportunity to continue the partnership with the WCO for technical assistance and capacity building under the next phase of the HMRC Programme Accelerate Trade Facilitation (2022-2025). It was noted that trade facilitation initiatives would not only benefit the South African economy but the entire southern region of Africa  also considering that other partner countries of the Programme include Zambia, Eswatini and Lesotho.

In Johannesburg, the WCO mission met with the SARS team that is implementing the WCO Immediate Release Guidelines and visited the DHL gateway at the Johannesburg airport, which has been piloting the re-engineered clearance process for the four categories of shipments listed under the Guidelines. The DHL Gateway management expressed its appreciation to SARS and the WCO for this very important initiative that would greatly benefit the courier industry at a time when eCommerce and digital trade are growing fast. Moreover, while emergency measures had been put in place to accommodate the swift entry of COVID-19 vaccines, the streamlining of the process would ensure a more sustainable approach.

A key focus area of the mission were the technical discussions on the cargo clearance process at the seaport of Durban  the largest port in Africa and a vital gateway for supply chains in the region. Accompanied by members of the TRS working group, the WCO met with private sector stakeholders from the cargo depots, freight stations and other governmental agencies, such as South African Police Service and the Regulatory Agencies. Furthermore, the preliminary findings of the TRS conducted at the Durban port were discussed and next steps determined.

Under the HMRC Accelerate Trade Facilitation programme, the WCO looks forward to further work with SARS under its strategic multi-year partnership as part of the Mercator approach. This comprehensive approach brings together technical border management measures as well as fundamental cross-cutting enablers related to SARS organizational development, such as competency based human resource management, leadership and integrity.
(Natural News) Hundreds of Canadian businesses, including mainstream media outlets, fast-food chains, banks and Big Pharma companies, were responsible for funding and spreading Canadas Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine propaganda campaign called This Is Our Shot.

This Is Our Shot lists around 280 donor organizations in its documentation, both in the private and the public sector. This includes some of the worlds largest and most influential corporations, including Walmart, YouTube, McDonalds and Amazon. (Related: Trudeaus COVID-19 vaccine mandate violates Canadas Charter of Rights and Freedom, says charter signatory.)

Canadas largest media companies have also supported this vaccination campaign, including Telus Communications, Shaw Communications, Rogers Communications, Quebecor and Postmedia Network.

Some government organizations are even known to support this vaccination campaign, including many Canadian health authorities such as Alberta Health Services.

The campaign claims that all the approved COVID-19 vaccines in Canada were not rushed and that no steps were skipped, and all safety procedures were followed. The campaign also created a series of so-called myth-busting videos supposedly proving the vaccines are safe and effective.

This Is Our Shot further claims that all of the information listed on its website was compiled by medical professionals and public health experts using Canadian government and other scientific and medical sources.

But the COVID-19 vaccines approved for use in Canada have all been associated with severe side effects, including blood clots, rashes, miscarriages and heart attacks, especially in young and otherwise healthy men.

The COVID-19 vaccines are also more likely to cause very deadly side effects in children.

This Is Our Shot campaign targets Canadas ethnic minorities

Launched in late April of 2021, This Is Our Shot was made to rally Canadians and encourage each other to replace vaccine hesitancy with confidence so that we can end the pandemic  together, according to its website.

Many COVID-19 task forces and healthcare workers who joined the This Is Our Shot campaign even made it their job to make sure that racialized and ethnic communities across Canada, which may sometimes have higher rates of vaccine hesitancy, get vaccinated.

We had this perspective of using our community connections, our knowledge of our cultures to help get the prevailing public health message out, both through traditional media, cultural ethnic mediums and through digital mediums that we know that our communities partake in, said This Is Our Shot campaigner Dr. Dashminder Singh Sehdev. For example, the use of WhatsApp as the information medium is prevalent among South Asians.

The campaign organizers added that they wanted to target non-White Canadians. These communities were more likely to be frontline workers and people who cannot work from home because they are critical to the infrastructure of their communities and the country.

The campaign even signed up some of Canadas most famous personalities to help promote the experimental and deadly vaccine, including astronaut Dr. Roberta Bondar, Olympic athletes Clara Hughes and Hayley Wickenheiser, musicians Bif Naked and Michael Buble and actor Ryan Reynolds.

Learn the truth about the COVID-19 vaccines at Vaccines.news.

Watch this video from The New American as journalist Ben Armstrong talks about how data proves 90 percent of COVID-19 deaths in Canada are vaccinated.

This video is from the The New American channel on Brighteon.com.

More related articles:

Canadas Justice Center: Trudeaus travel ban on unvaccinated citizens is egregious.

Data: Canada and Israel are suffering from a pandemic of the fully vaccinated.

Canadian authorities find they are unable to seize Bitcoin donations made to Freedom Convoy protesters.

PRE-CRIME IS HERE: Proposed Canadian bill criminalizes merely THINKING about posting hate speech.

Canadian cyberterrorist takes credit for hacking GiveSendGo and doxxing thousands of Freedom Convoy donors.

Sources include:

LifeSiteNews.com

CTVNews.ca

iHeartRadio.ca

Brighteon.com
(Natural News) Colorado Governor Jared Polis has signed a bill into law that codifies the right to abortion in the state. Although this doesnt change much in the sense that abortions were already permitted there, it is getting attention for the fact that it explicitly declares that embryos, fetuses and fertilized eggs do not have any independent rights. This declaration is a response to past ballot initiatives that aim to restrict abortion by providing embryos with the rights of born humans.

With the bill, Colorado joins a handful of other states in codifying womens right to abortion in a statute as efforts are underway elsewhere in the country to limit access to abortions in anticipation of an upcoming U.S. Supreme Court ruling that challenges Roe v Wade, a 1973 decision that banned all states from outlawing abortion.

No matter what the Supreme Court does in the future, people in Colorado will be able to choose when and if they have children, the governor said.

The Reproductive Health Equity Act passed in the states democratic-led legislature following dozens of hours of testimony as well as some fierce opposition. It also bans local governments from putting their own restrictions on abortions.

The Colorado Catholic Conference has warned that the bills language codifies a right to abortion throughout the full 40 weeks of pregnancy, as it states: Every pregnant individual has a fundamental right to continue the pregnancy and give birth or to have an abortion.

Colorado has become a regional abortion hub

Although the bill makes this official, it is already easy to access abortions in Colorado. There is no waiting period and no residency requirement, and while the state does require minors to inform one parent in writing 48 hours before getting an abortion, parents cannot legally stop their daughters from getting an abortion.

It is one of the few states in the nation with no gestational limit written into its abortion law, which means abortion is available up until birth. In 2020, a constitutional amendment was proposed there that would have banned abortion following the 22nd week of pregnancy, unless the mothers life was in danger, but it ultimately failed to pass.

Defenders of the new law insist that most abortions take place in the earliest stages of pregnancy. However, according to the Catholic News Agency, there were more than 170 babies aborted past 21 weeks of gestation in Colorado in 2019 alone. In the second trimester of pregnancy, abortions are usually carried out via dilation and evacuation, which results in crushing the childs head and dismembering it.

In 1967, Colorado was the first state in the nation to decriminalize abortion in most cases, and although it has allowed access to abortion since then, there was nothing in the states laws expressly guaranteeing it. This bill accomplishes that, but it is worth noting that other legislation and ballot measures could still be introduced to reverse this new law. Some lawmakers are already working to have abortion protections added to the states constitution through a ballot measure to make it more difficult to overturn.

Colorado has become somewhat of a regional abortion hub that those living in other states with more restrictive laws flock to in order to terminate their pregnancies. Several of the states closest neighbors, including Oklahoma, Arizona, Utah and Nebraska, have abortion restrictions already in place that will go into effect should Roe v Wade be overturned. For example, Oklahoma lawmakers recently passed one of the countrys toughest anti-abortion laws that bans abortion throughout the state, even in cases of rape or incest.

Sources for this article include:

CatholicNewsAgency.com

CBSNews.com
(Natural News) Dan McKnight, founder of Bring Our Troops Home, has issued a challenge to members of the legislature when he appeared in the Keep the Republic program of Daniel Bobinski.

If they want the National Guard to go fight and win Americas wars, Congress  they need to put their name on the line before our boots are on the ground, he said.

McKnight, his fellow veterans from the global war on terror and dozens of lawmakers crossing party lines are pushing for a state-based legislation that would prohibit National Guards from being deployed into active combat without a declaration of war by Congress. This is in contrast to the present setup, where the president can call them in and throw them into the fray.

Weve got Republican sponsors in over 40 states, weve got democratic sponsors of our legislation. Weve got a libertarian sponsor in Wyoming, said McKnight.

Were trying to be very politically neutral because our message is not about one party or the other. Its about restoring constitutional principles, that Congress only has the enumerated power in the Constitution to declare war. And theyve abdicated that responsibility. Theyve castrated themselves and allowed the president for 70 years to take us into endless and undeclared wars over and over again. (Related: For decades, U.S. Presidents have signed Executive Orders that activate a DICTATORSHIP during a national emergency.)

Bobinski pointed out that the last declared war is World War II. So every combat that our soldiers have engaged in since World War II have all been just the decision of a president, he said.

That includes the war in Afghanistan, where McKnight took part in 2005 as part of the Idaho Army National Guard.

McKnight said: We give him an authorization of use of military force, which is a violation of the Constitution. Really, all were doing is giving the president a blank check to take the military anywhere in the world, for any length of time for any amount of money for as long as he or she wants, based on his decision on who our enemy is.

No wonder, the U.S. has taken part in so many wars, including the Vietnam War, the Korean War, the U.S.-led intervention in Iraq, Syria and the Yemen civil war. Thus far, nearly 800 guardsmen have died since the September 11, 2001 attack in support of the U.S. wars on terror.

Remember that the National Guard is not the active military. These are the people who have a weekend warrior position. They go one weekend, a month, and then two weeks in the summertime to train, said Bobinski, a behavioral analyst, corporate trainer and best-selling author.

Fight to bring all the troops home from endless, undeclared wars

According to McKnight, they have tried to advocate for bringing all the troops home from these endless and undeclared wars. [We] tried to get Congress to reclaim their authority. And they were polite, and they listened to us. And then they basically turned around and did just the opposite of what we asked,  said McKnight, a 13-year veteran of the military, including stints in the United States Marine Corps and the United States Army.

From that experience, we said we cant take the fight to the swamp, we have to take it back to the States, where we have more control [and are] more able to talk to our state legislators, our state representatives, our governors. And so we designed this piece of legislation called defend the guard.

It essentially says that the National Guards shall not be released into the federal service to fight in an overseas undeclared war unless Congress has first done their job and declared war as required by Article One, Section Eight of the Constitution.

Among the reasons cited by guardsmen for their reluctance to leave home, apart from being separated from their families, is that theyre going to have a pay cut from their regular jobs such as barbers, police officers, teachers, doctors, nurses, first responders and the likes.

Also since theyre deployed many times, chances are some of them would come home injured or dead.

The measure, however, is meeting opposition from certain quarters, especially committee chairmen who used parliamentary procedures or their power to kill the bill. Also, there are generals who testified against the bill using the argument that the states will lose federal funds if the bill were to pass.

So, basically, the issue is still money  federal funding  in exchange for the lives of the people who put on the uniform and go.

McKnight stressed that under the Constitution, the National Guard can only be called into federal service for three purposes, to enforce the laws of the Union, to repel an invasion and to put down an insurrection.

Its clear therefore that going to an overseas undeclared and unauthorized war like the Russia-Ukraine conflict is not the role of the National Guard. Whats happening in Europe isnt our fight, said McKnight. Ukraine isnt our fight.

Unless, of course, Congress declares war against Russia. Then it becomes the National Guards fight, too. And they will comply.

Watch Dr. Daniel Bobinskis interview with Dan McKnight in the video below.

This video is from the BrighteonTV channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Sen. Tom Cotton wants the National Guard stationed in Washington to be sent home.

Biden considers activating National Guard to assist with worsening supply chain crisis.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott to file suit to protect National Guard troops from Bidens vaccine mandate.

Sources include:

Brighteon.com

Brennancenter.org
(Natural News) We are far closer to a potential global cataclysm than most people would dare to imagine. Right now, leaders from all across the political spectrum are openly warning us that a worldwide food crisis is coming. But when people in the western world hear of such warnings, most of them assume that it will just be something that affects poor people in Africa or Asia. Unfortunately, that will not be the case this time around. We truly are in unprecedented territory, and we are going to see things happen in the months ahead that once would have been absolutely unthinkable.

(Article republished from TheEconomicCollapseBlog.com)

Global hunger had already been steadily rising for the past couple of years due to the COVID pandemic, and now a confluence of events here in 2022 threatens to create a true global nightmare.

At this moment, we are still eating food that was previously grown, but it is the food that will not be grown in the months ahead that will be the real problem.

Because the truth is that we do not have much of a buffer to work with at all.

David Friedberg is an early Google executive who started the farming insurance company Climate Corporation, and he just told the All-In podcast that the Earth operates on a 90-day food supply

The whole planet Earth operates a 90-day food supply, that means that once we stop making food, humans run out of food in 90 days.

It is estimated that approximately 7.9 billion people currently live on the planet, and feeding everyone is a real challenge even if everything goes perfectly.

Unfortunately, global conditions have been much less than perfect for the past couple of years, and Friedberg says that the new global energy crisis has pushed the cost of key fertilizer components to levels that are absolutely insane

The price of nitrogen has gone from $200 to $1,000, the price in potassium has gone from $200 to $700, and the price of phosphorus has gone from $250 to $700. So now it is so expensive to grow a crop, that a lot of farmers around the world are pulling acres out of production. So theyre going to grow less this year than they would have otherwise because it is so expensive and they can not access fertilizer, he explained. Food supplies are going to go down and it is going to be catastrophic.

Many farmers all over the world will try to grow food without fertilizer this year, but that will result in a whole lot less food being grown.

In one of his latest videos, Chris Martenson compared rice plants that were grown with phosphorus to rice plants that were not given any phosphorus.

I was absolutely blown away by the difference.

As global food production drops precipitously, there simply will not be enough food for everyone in the months ahead.

Of course the wealthy nations will buy up what is available, driving up prices in the process, and the poorer nations will be left out in the cold.

In fact, this is already starting to happen. In March, the global price of food rose at the fastest monthly pace ever recorded

Marchs food price index from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) printed 159.3 points in March, up 19.15 points from February, when it had already reached record highs. The index was up 33.6% from the same time last year. The March rise in food prices is a stunning 12.64% MoM  almost double the previous record monthly surge

If you are looking for red flags, you just found one.

Food riots have already begun in some parts of the globe. For example, you can see a clip from the rioting in Peru right here.

In the months ahead, it is only going to get worse.

Thanks to the war in Ukraine, the price of wheat was up almost 20 percent last month alone

The war has helped push cereal prices up 17% over the past month with the closure of ports throttling wheat and maize exports from Ukraine. Russian exports have also been slowed by financial and shipping problems. World wheat prices soared by 19.7% during March, while maize prices posted a 19.1% month-on-month increase, hitting a record high along with those of barley and sorghum.

As I have discussed perviously, Russia and Ukraine normally export enormous amounts of food to the rest of the planet.

But that wont be the case this year.

Sadly, it is being projected that corn production in Ukraine will be cut by more than half in 2022

Ukraine is one of the worlds top exporters of corn, sunflower oil, and wheat. Disruptions stemming from Russias invasion of Ukraine have stoked fears the war-torn country could experience a 50% decline in crop output this year, according to Bloomberg. Forecast data from ag expert UkrAgroConsult show Ukraines corn output could be as low as 19 million tons, about half of last years 41 million tons.

And the Ukrainians have already announced that they wont be exporting any of their production at all this year because they need it to feed their own population during the war.

Here in the United States, the bird flu pandemic continues to escalate, and as a result the price of eggs has more than doubled in recent weeks

A deadly and highly infectious avian flu is forcing US farmers to kill millions of egg-laying hens, reducing the countrys egg supply and driving up prices. On Thursday, retailers paid between $2.80 and $2.89 for a dozen large grade A white eggs in the Midwest, according to the USDAs daily Midwest regional egg report. Thats more than double the roughly $1.25 they cost in March, according to data compiled by Brian Earnest, lead protein industry analyst at Cobank, which provides financial services to agribusiness.

That is extremely alarming.

So what is going to happen if this pandemic continues to wipe out millions of chickens every month?

Meanwhile, certain shortages that have been simmering for a long time are now reaching critical levels. For example, Walgreens has announced that it is going to start rationing baby formula

A national shortage of baby formula brought on by pandemic-related supply-chain issues has forced US retailers such as Walgreens to ration the all-important product. The company  the second-largest pharmacy store chain in the United States behind CVS  said Friday that amid the supply-chain crunch, it is limiting customers to three infant and toddler formula product purchases at a time, at its 9,021 US locations.

This wasnt supposed to happen.

According to the optimists, things were supposed to be getting back to normal by this point.

But instead things are getting even worse.

According to the Daily Mail, 29 percent of all top-selling formulas are out of stock at stores across the nation right now.

Unfortunately, this is just the beginning.

Everyone agrees that the global food crisis is going to intensify in the months ahead, and David Friedberg is trying to warn us about what could happen if widespread panic sets in

I dont know about death, there will be famine. Famine is to be short of calories. There will be strategic reserves released, but it wont be enough. We wont have enough. The way supply chains are set up, there will not be enough, he said. As you know with any market, when there is scarcity, people come in and buy at a faster pace. So this is a market dynamic. It is not like people are physically hoarding loaves of bread, but commodity traders, countries, strategic reserves start buying up what they can get to prepare for the famine prices go even higher and it kicks other people out of the market. The whole thing gets ugly fast.

We have been warned over and over again that this was coming, and now it is here.

You may have noticed that my articles have been longer than usual lately, and that is because there is so much more information that I need to share with you each day.

We truly are entering a full-blown planetary emergency, and I am trying to do my best to sound the alarm.

Unfortunately, most of the population is still not taking this crisis seriously.

So many people out there are fully convinced that they will always be able to rely on the system, and a lot of them will continue to believe that even as the system literally collapses all around them.

Read more at: TheEconomicCollapseBlog.com
(Natural News) The Czech Republic has become the first NATO country to provide heavy weaponry to besieged Ukraine after the eastern European nation was invaded by Russian troops on February 24.

The Czechs have provided Ukraines military with Soviet-era T-72 tanks after the U.S. and other NATO countries had only given light weapons, anti-tank and anti-air weapons to Ukrainian troops.

Also, according to The Daily Mail, several BVP-1 infantry fighting vehicles, howitzer artillery pieces and more than a dozen T-72 tanks were yesterday loaded on a train bound for Slovakia where they are expected to head on to Ukraine, footage run by public broadcaster Czech Television showed.

The transfer was reportedly approved by NATO high command, though it does raise fears among some member nations that the security bloc could eventually be dragged into direct conflict with Russian forces.

The outlet noted further:

NATO leaders have so far given Ukraine anti-tank and anti-craft missiles as well as small arms and protective equipment, but have not offered any heavy armour or fighter jets. Pragues decision to supply tanks to Kyiv will pile pressure on NATO allies to follow suit.

It comes as Russian artillery continued to pound the Ukrainian cities of Mariupol and Kharkiv today as the West prepared more sanctions against Moscow in response to civilian killings that Kyiv and its allies have called war crimes.

The delivery of heavy weapons comes as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy continues to beg the West for weapons and munitions  but not troops  in his fight to repel the Russian invaders.

In an address to the Czech Parliament on Wednesday, Defense Minister Jana Cernochova said, I will only assure you that the Czech Republic is helping Ukraine as much as it can and will continue to help by [supplying] military equipment, both light and heavy.

She did not provide lawmakers with any further details about the weapons transfer but it comes amid Zelenskyys ongoing pleas for tanks, fighter planes and other heavy military equipment. He also made similar demands during a video summit meeting with NATO members in Brussels March 24.

The Wall Street Journal reported that Ukraine is burning through in a single day the same amount of weaponry the country takes in during a week, quoting a senior Polish official. That has left Ukraines neighbors concerned they wont be able to keep up with the demand for weapons while still maintaining enough for their own defense.

Reports noted that the Czech weapons delivery was funded in part by the government and partly by private donors who have put up funds via crowdsourcing campaigns in order to keep the arms flowing to Ukraine.

Meanwhile, the U.S. Senate has voted to resurrect the World War II-era Lend-Lease program, which enabled the U.S. to ship weapons to Britain and other allies before America was attacked by Japan and actually got into the war.

The Ukraine Democracy Defense Lend-Lease Act of 2022, S.3522, passed the Senate by voice vote late Wednesday, Fox News reported. The bill aims to provide enhanced authority for the President to enter into agreements with the Government of Ukraine to lend or lease defense articles to that Government to protect civilian populations in Ukraine from Russian military invasion, it says.

Dmytro Kuleba, Ukraines minister of foreign affairs, noted on Twitter that he is grateful to the U.S. Senate for passing the Ukraine Democracy Defense Lend-Lease Act. He called it an important first step towards a lend-lease program to expedite the delivery of military equipment to Ukraine. Looking forward to its swift passage in the House and signing by the U.S. President.

Grateful to the U.S. Senate for passing the Ukraine Democracy Defense Lend-Lease Act. Important first step towards a lend-lease program to expedite the delivery of military equipment to Ukraine. Looking forward to its swift passage in the House and signing by the U.S. President.  Dmytro Kuleba (@DmytroKuleba) April 7, 2022

Sources include:

FoxNews.com

DailyMail.co.uk
(Natural News) Gennady Gatilov, Russias permanent representative at the United Nations office in Geneva, says that dangerous military biological weapons funded by Germany have been discovered in Ukraine.

According to Gatilov, the German Foreign Ministry and the German Armed Forces were funding a project to investigate the potential of deadly diseases such as Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever to spread among humans, though the public knew nothing about it.

At the plenary session of the Disarmament Conference in Geneva on March 31, Gatilov demanded that this program, along with many others funded by the United States, be fully investigated. Georgia and Great Britain, he added, are also involved.

Ukraine appears to be the place where NATO countries outsource much of their biological weapons research programs. Ukraine is a playground, of sorts, where the elites have been engaged in all sorts of criminal activity that they might not have been able to get away with in other countries.

We now know that the German Institute for Tropical Medicine was conspiring with the Ministry of Health in Ukraine to conduct experiments using blood samples collected from various Slavic ethnic groups. German specialists would regularly visit Ukrainian hospitals in Kiev, Kharkov, Odessa and Lemberg to engage in questionable research using these samples.

In many cases, diseases appear to have been released within the local population and studied for transmissibility and severity. U.S.-run biolabs were also involved, and so was the Friedrich Loffler Institute for Animal Health.

Are the U.S. and NATO engaged in ethnic warfare, using Ukraine as their testing grounds?

According to Gatilov, more than 30 U.S.-led biolabs in Ukraine participated in the research, which was heavily funded by U.S. taxpayers via the Pentagon. Other parties involved include Black and Veach, Metabiota and CH2M Hill.

Hunter Biden of the Biden crime family cartel also played a central role in this research. He and his dad, Joe, appear to have generated large profits for themselves in the process, as did other American politicians.

The main point of the U.S. research was the possibility of spreading particularly dangerous infections caused by highly pathogenic influenza H5N1, pathogens for hemorrhagic fever, [coronaviruses, etc., reported Newspunch.

Six virus families and three types of pathogenic bacteria have been isolated. These are characterized by resistance to drugs and rapid spread from animal to humans. Also, they have natural sources in both Ukraine and Russia, and their deployment can be disguised as a natural outbreak, Gatilov said.

Gatilov further warned that bioweapons research in Ukraine appears to have been custom-tailored to target certain ethnic groups. This is evident in the Slavic-centric blood samples that were sent off to the Walter Reed Army Research Institute in Maryland under the pretext of testing drugs and treatments for coronavirus.

For good money, Ukraine allowed the United States to turn its own country into a testing ground for extremely dangerous bioweapons research, Newspunch adds.

Gatilov told the United States that this was not noble help, but the cynical use of foreign territory and its people for dangerous research that Washington does not want to conduct on its own soil.

These projects were reportedly launched in 2016, though neither the U.S. nor Ukraine has ever mentioned them in any of their reports on confidence-building measures under the Biological Weapons Convention (BTWC). This strongly suggests that violations occurred, hence the secrecy.

Russia for years has been calling on the BTWC regime to be strengthened so as to stop this kind of activity from occurring. However, the U.S. has been fighting against Russias efforts for the past 20 years.

One has to ask oneself whether the United States has something to hide, writes Sean Adl-Tabatabi.

The latest news about the conflict in Ukraine can be found at WWIII.news.

Sources for this article include:

Newspunch.com

NaturalNews.com
(Natural News) The discovery of a foreign body inside the vials of Modernas Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccines has led to a widespread recall of the vials throughout Europe.

According to reports, the affected lots were distributed in Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain and Sweden back in January, but Moderna said the foreign body poses no safety issues.

Even so, the company announced on April 8 that it is recalling 764,900 doses of Fauci Flu injections containing experimental mRNA (messenger RNA) technology that were produced by contract manufacturer Rovi.

Just one vial, Moderna insists, was found to contain the foreign body. However, out of an abundance of caution, the company is pulling back all of these other possibly affected vials. Moderna did not disclose what the foreign body is that was found in the vial.

Remember when Japanese authorities discovered black substances in Moderna vials?

There is a possibility that the foreign body discovered in the European vial is the same black substances that were found in Japanese vials of Moderna last summer.

Modernas contract partner in that fiasco was Takeda, and many suspected that perhaps the black substances found in those vials were toxic graphene oxide. Moderna claimed following an investigation that the mysterious black substances were just stainless steel and no big deal.

The two companies at that time blamed a manufacturing issue at a production plant in Spain for the stainless steel contamination, but that is all that was revealed publicly about it, leaving everyone in the dark as to how it might have happened.

In this latest case with European vials of Moderna, the company is once again being secretive and pretending as though the issue is no big deal. It claims that the foreign body is harmless, though it will not say what it is, and that the rest of its injections are free from it.

So far, Moderna has distributed more than 900 million doses of its mRNA injection around the world, generating massive profits while boosting its stock price. To lose this cash cow would cost Moderna billions, so naturally the company is downplaying the contamination issue.

The United States, meanwhile, has yet to say anything about the contamination issue, almost as if it does not exist. Japan was quick to identify the problem and find a solution for its people, as was Scandinavia and other areas of the world when problems arose there.

But the U.S. continues to push the shots as if there is nothing at all to worry about  except maintaining Big Pharma profits, of course. Public health is the last concern, if it is even a concern at all, for American bureaucrats and politicians.

Its obvious whats in the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines: they are 95 percent graphene oxide, wrote a commenter at Natural News about the issue. This was proven by two independent teams of scientists, one in Spain and the other in Argentina.

An unknown Swiss company makes whatever is in the Moderna vaccine, suggested another. The mystery concoction is put into vials by a company called Laboratorios Farmaceuticos Rovi SA in Madrid Spain.

No one knows whats in the vaccines, and yet the jabs are mandatory, and vaccine makers face no liability for deaths and injuries caused by their vaccines. What could go wrong?

Someone else pointed out, as this writer also did above, that the globalists in charge of the U.S. are usually reluctant to pull potentially dangerous drugs and vaccines from the market because that would cut into the profit margins of pharmaceutical companies.

The latest news about Fauci Flu shots can be found at ChemicalViolence.com.

Sources include:

Zeenews.India.com

NaturalNews.com
(Natural News) Theologian Dr. John Diamond has called on American parents to get their children out of public schools during the April 6 episode of America Unhinged on Brighteon.TV.

Do whatever you can to get your children out of public schools because they went from teaching the Bible and prayer in schools to neutrality. And now everything that is coming out of the public schools is basically Satanic filth and they have an agenda. They are trying to convert your children. They are trying to convert them to atheists. They are trying to convert them to homosexuality, pedophilia, Marxism and socialism, Diamond said.

It is active and we know it. Now there is no denying it, theres no getting away with it.

The Brighteon.TV host pointed out that the American public education system is too broken to fix, citing as an example the Pilgrims who tried to reform the Church of England until they realized it was irreparable.

The only way that we can give our children and the next generation the education that they need and deserve is to remove them from that wicked evil system, Diamond said.

Diamond also shared a Scripture verse from Proverbs 9:10 that said: The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. He also mentioned his testimony and conversion to Christ at the age of 27 years old, as well as the time he studied the messages and sermons that came out of the Great Awakening, a series of Christian and religious revival that occurred during the 18th and 20th century.

Parents are there to teach their children

The theologian was joined in the program by Dr. Diane Davis of Aletheia Christian College. Davis has been training teachers for over 40 years and equipping them to teach the truth.

And thats what our college means. Aletheia means truth. And we do not forget what God has done. So we are equipping them to teach truth in the home, the church and the school. We started to wonder if school movement is a way to equip every community with quality education, said Davis, who has taught as a substitute in both Christian and public schools before she and her husband Randall started a Christian school in 1990.

Davis cited Scripture verses from Deuteronomy 11:18-19 and said that it was Gods intention for parents to teach their children every day and all the time about Gods law and the goodness of His law. She added that the Holy Bible commands the teaching of Gods law not only to children or Gods people, but also to other people or to other nations.

She also mentioned that there is a need for every parish to educate every child, quoting a book authored by Indian Christian intellectual Vishal Mangalwadi that says there is a reason for the Christian church to start a school no matter how big or small it is. (Related: Book author Vishal Mangalwadi: Church should be at the center of education.)

The teacher and administrator of various Christian schools also talked about the one-room school, which she said could address the problem of parents teaching their children.

Single parents cannot educate their child alone or parents that have two children. They both must work. They cannot educate their children at home. And some parents dont feel qualified to teach, Davis explained.

So one of the strengths of the one-room school is that a qualified teacher can reach out to those who need their children educated in a Christian curriculum. Another strength is that teachers can charge however much those people can pay. And so they dont have to charge a large amount.

Follow EducationSystem.news to know more about Americas education system.

Watch the full April 6 episode of America Unhinged below. You can catch America Unhinged with Dr. John Diamond every weekday from 9-10 a.m. on Brighteon.TV.

More related stories:

Faulty education system, abandonment of traditional Western values, causing U.S. collapse, says expert.

NASA scientists: People are born creative geniuses but get dumbed down by the U.S. education system.

Parents united! Anti-critical race theory candidates for school board win big around the country in rejection of Marxist curriculum.

Sources include:

Brighteon.com

WorldAtlas.com

AletheiaChristian.org
(Natural News) Data from a follow-up study conducted at the Seattle Childrens Hospital (SCH) among young patients who developed myocarditis after getting their second dose of Pfizers Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine was published in the Journal of Pediatrics on March 25.

For the study, researchers followed up on 16 male children with an average age of 15 years three to eight months after their initial diagnosis with myocarditis shortly after vaccination. The researchers have seen persistent heart abnormalities in most of the patients.

Vaccines and heart abnormalities

The study authors used electrocardiograms and cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) to examine abnormalities in the heart of the young patients like fibrosis, myocardial scarring, strain and reduced ventricular muscle extension, which is often linked to the reduced capacity to pump blood and an increased risk of a heart attack.

The researchers said that while the symptoms were resolved after three to eight months, most of the young participants had some persistent abnormalities. Initial symptoms like chest pain and exercise intolerance were temporary and most of the patients recovered after using non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen.

Results also showed persistence of abnormal findings on CMR after following up on most of the patients. The research team added that there was an improvement in the patients LGE or the measure of the hearts capacity to pump efficiently.

The presence of LGE is an indicator of cardiac injury and fibrosis and has been strongly associated with worse prognosis in patients with classical acute myocarditis. A meta-analysis involving eight studies found that presence of LGE is a predictor of all-cause death, cardiovascular death, cardiac transplant, rehospitalization, recurrent acute myocarditis and requirement for mechanical circulatory support, concluded the researchers.

Vaccine injuries also reported in New Zealand

Heart issues have also been reported in people who have received the COVID-19 vaccine in New Zealand.

According to the latest Medsafe Adverse Effects Report #41, at least 12,000 people have experienced chest discomfort while 6,000 people of all ages reported shortness of breath after mRNA vaccination. Both are alarming and classic symptoms of myocarditis.

Researchers who conducted the small SCH study warned that they recorded many instances of persistent LGE abnormalities in children and that the COVID-19 vaccine-related cases of myopericarditis should be studied further to identify any concerns for potential longer-term effects. To date, little has been done in New Zealand to follow up on the children suffering from vaccine-related adverse effects.

Many patients who reported that they have been experiencing symptoms like chest pain, shortness of breath or tachycardia (a heart rate thats much faster than normal) were simply sent away after being told that they dont require clinical assessment. Most cases of these symptoms werent registered with the Center for Adverse Reactions Monitoring (CARM), New Zealands national monitoring center for adverse reactions.

Vaccine injuries may cause subsequent cardiac events

The SCH study only had a handful of participants, but the researchers warned that the recorded heart abnormalities hint at the possibility of subsequent cardiac events.

The findings also suggest that subclinical adverse effects of mRNA vaccination may have more severe and longer-term impacts on health. As of writing, these cases have been classified as non-serious in New Zealand.

Despite persistent reports of cardiac events in the weeks and months following COVID-19 vaccination among healthy people of all ages and genders, particularly men, healthcare staff continues to ignore these patients who require care when they should be investigated. (Related: Florida surgeon general: COVID vaccine risks OUTWEIGH benefits for healthy children.)

This apathy highlights the fact that the Pfizer mRNA vaccination roll-out has been sanctioned even without the necessary long-term follow-up testing, which usually requires the use of sophisticated equipment such as CMR and MRI.

Additionally, heart disease is not the serious illness whose incidence may be increased by mRNA vaccination, as evidenced by other recent studies. Possible long-term adverse effects of COVID-19 vaccines include cancer, kidney and liver disease and neurological conditions.

A recent court-ordered document has been released, and the data means Pfizer and the American government were aware of these alarming cases. Yet Big Pharma and the government continue to insist that the coronavirus vaccines are safe.

In New Zealand, the government was already aware of the risks, yet it greenlighted mass vaccination programs across the country.

An internal document released under Official Information Act (OIA) request on February 10 and signed by Director General of Health Ashley Bloomfield and COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins detailed provisions for the vaccination of border workers.

According to point 57, current data suggests severe adverse reactions are less than 1.1 percent. After administering at least 10 million injections, there could have been more than 100,000 adverse reactions. The figure is not inconsistent with the grossly under-reported 55,000 adverse reactions registered with CARM.

But Bloomfield, Hipkins and New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said nothing to the public about the potential dangers of the COVID-19 vaccine. Ardern even deleted the 33,000 reports of adverse effects posted on her FaceBook page.

Visit VaccineDamage.news to learn more about the adverse effects of COVID-19 vaccines.

Watch the video below to learn why children are at great risk from the COVID-19 vaccine.

This video is from the Follow the crumbs channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

COVID vaccines killing more children than the virus, but the government does not care.

Truth will set you free: Danish newspaper apologizes for failing to report the truth about COVID pandemic.

Vaccine expert: Giving COVID-19 vaccines to children is an unforgivable sin because they destroy childrens innate immune systems.

Male teen deaths skyrocket 53% following mass covid vaccination.

Sources include:

GlobalResearch.ca

MedSafe.govt.nz

Heart.org

Brighteon.com
(Natural News) Many people do not understand the difference between viral vector vaccines and mRNA injections, and therefore would not understand why Russian President Vladimir Putin would never risk injecting his military with the mRNA jabs, but is not afraid to use the viral vector option. This article aims to simplify the explanation of the difference, and thus make sense of why the Biden Regime does not mind putting our entire military forces at high risk of myocarditis, rubbery blood clots and central nervous system disorders by force-injecting nearly all of them with deadly messenger-RNA (mRNA) COVID jabs.

One reason vaccines are so dangerous to the human race is because the science of it all is beyond simple comprehension, thus the doctors, scientists and immunologists can talk in complex terms and intimidate patients into compliance and submission. Vaccines are mostly fear-based, not evidence-based, treatments as the CDC, FDA and WHO would have us all believe. Yes, it takes scientists in laboratories to design them, but the results are not safe and effective, but rather dangerous and ineffective, as actual science reveals. This goes especially for mRNA gene-mutation injections. Heres why.

All gene therapy injections are dangerous because the risks far outweigh any benefits

Viral vector and mRNA injections are barely helpful in fighting off COVID because neither contain the real virus. After vaccination, the body has trouble building immunity because it has ZERO exposure to the actual virus, in this case, SARS-CoV-2.

Both injections are involved in recreating the spike proteins found on the outer layer of adenoviruses, commonly associated with the common cold, bronchitis and pneumonia. Thats one reason the PCR tests return 97 percent false-positives  because if youre sick with any adenovirus, or even just have the genetically modified spike proteins in your system, the PCR test will say you have COVID-19.

Sputnik V is a gene therapy injection that contains 2 adenovirus vectors (rAd26 and rAd5), that are genetically manipulated to resemble the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. These attempt to enter human cells so they can recreate the spike proteins, supposedly helping the cells create antibodies to fight COVID. In other words, Sputnik uses inactivated viruses called vectors to elicit an immune system response, like the Janssen/Johnson & Johnson jabs and the ones made by AstraZeneca.

These are also known as spike protein payload injections. This is very dangerous to the human body, but not even close to inflicting the kind of health detriment of mRNA technology.

Pfizer and Moderna injections use mRNA to trick human cells into producing spike proteins constantly and forever

Did you know the human body can believe that it is sick FOREVER due to mRNA vaccine technology? Though viral vector injections deliver spike proteins directly into the cells, they do not trick the human cells into perpetually creating toxic spike proteins that resemble adenoviruses. Thats right, mRNA enters the cells and creates spike proteins directly using genetically modified materials.

With mRNA, there is no point where the cells or immune system instruct the body to STOP producing the SARS-CoV-2 spike proteins, and the long-term health detriment of mRNA is now becoming blatantly obvious. This is what Putin understands. He does not want to kill off his own military.

On the other side of the world though, over here, Resident Biden and his globalist cohorts want nothing more than the collapse of America, so the mRNA vaccine is perfect for a quickened ending of the Republic.

Vladimir Putin and his military forces are getting vaccinated with Sputnik V, none will be receiving mRNA jabs

The tolerability of Sputnik is comparable to other protein payload injections, like from J&J and AstraZeneca, meaning some antibody levels are noticeable, beyond the damage thats done to the body from the injection effects, even though the efficacy wanes within just a few months.

Sputnik may be worth the tradeoff, per Putins protocol, to protect himself and his troops in the short run, but hes obviously not willing to take the chance of burying his military in the long run just to fight COVID by using dirty vaccines like the biological warfare kind known as mRNA.

Why would a General or Commander-in-Chief want to risk nearly every military members life with an experimental gene therapy jab that instructs your cells to incessantly produce toxic prions that mimic deadly adenoviruses? That wouldnt make any sense at all, which brings us to the now-Communist-run Washington DC and their pharma-bought-and-sold regulatory agencies, the CDC and FDA.

Pfizer and Moderna all but OWN the CDC and FDA

Who would ever trust companies and corporations with a track record of fraud and criminal activity? Who would ever trust their dirty vaccines? Dirty mRNA technology involves the decoding of instructions, a.k.a. mRNA transcriptions. This technology is manipulating encoded protein molecules and permanently manipulating natural genetic code with new MUTATED genetic code. This has massive impact on cellular functioning, which explains so many DEADLY side effects, like blood clots, blindness, deafness, intolerable nerve pain and death.

Pfizer and Moderna know all of this. The Biden Regime knows this. The globalists and eugenicists all know this. A reduction or elimination of most US military members will be helpful for the communist takeover of America, especially if the destruction comes from within (without ever firing a weapon or dropping a bomb).

Thats why mRNA creates the ultimate chemical blueprint for wiping out a couple hundred million people in the USA, including military members, in order to propagate the New World Order. Its biological warfare chalked up as science-based medicine thats safe and effective. Its all a con. Its really nano-technology that causes blood clots, cancer and dementia  and in the short run.

This is the control the Democrats want. This is the socialist hell-hole, like Venezuela, that the CCP in Washington DC is pushing so hard to accomplish. This is why the Biden Regime wants every military member injected with mRNA technology, and its the SAME reason Putin will NOT allow his troops or himself to be injected with permanent gene mutation jabs. Its that simple. Think long and hard about it. This is worth careful consideration.

Bookmark Vaccines.news to your favorite independent websites for updates on experimental scamdemic Covid vaccines and boosters that cause blood clots and other horrific side effects.

Sources for this article include:

Sputnikvaccine.com

Healthline.com

Pandemic.news
Recognizing the strategic importance of human capital in the process of improving operational efficiency, revenue collection, and stakeholder engagement, the Lesotho Revenue Authority (LRA) is set, and ready to modernize its human resource management system. To achieve this milestone, WCO through the HRMC-WCO-UNCTAD Programme, successfully delivered a five-day workshop on competency-based HRM under its flagship programme Executive and Professional Competency-Based HRM Programme (EPCB-HRMP) to the Human Capital Management (HCM) staff and representatives from various divisions. The workshop was delivered from April 04 -08, 2022 by an HRMD accredited expert from Liberia in order to encourage south- south collaboration.

The event was organized to further enhance the skills of the Modernization Working Group following a virtual capacity-building support missions delivered during 2020. The training focused on providing the HCM staff and the Working Group (thirty-four participants) with the required competencies to play the role of a strategic partner and credible activist within the LRA and to develop and implement the competency-based HRM tools. The training covered topics that included: Human resources at the service of customs performance, principles of strategic HRM, the roles of the HRD, competency-based HRM principles, HR project management, and HR leadership.

During the sessions, members of the team led by the Head of Human Capital Management (HHCM), Mr. Khopotso Liphoto participated actively and exhibited a high level of commitment to developing and implementing the competency-based HRM tools. The team developed an action plan to guide the development, implementation, and validation of the tools.

The HCM department and members of the Executive Management Team pledged their commitment to continuously provide the necessary means needed to help the project succeed. Meanwhile, WCO has committed to providing continuous capacity development support to help the LRA implement a transparent and competency-based HRM system and achieve the LRA modernization goals.

For more information on this activity and the WCO people development programme, please, contact capacity.building@wcoomd.org.
(Natural News) If you really want to know what the far-left Democratic agenda for America is, look no further than the Marxists who are being elected or placed into positions of authority regarding who gets prison time and who doesnt in blue states.

The agenda is to create so much chaos, death and mayhem in as much of the country as possible so Americans will beg for a new system that wipes away our Constitution and all of its protections in lieu of an authoritarian model that will be used to crush dissent.

The Agenda 21 plan is well on its way, too, as evidenced by the growing waves of very preventable violent crime in all major cities, where far-left, George Soros-financed district attorneys and prosecutors are literally refusing to enforce duly-passed laws which is allowing a growing criminal element to prey upon citizens.

Case in point: A 27-year-old shooter in Sacramento who allegedly opened fire on a crowd and killed six people was a career violent criminal who was let out of prison six years early for no good reason (other than to cause chaos).

The Daily Mail reports:

One of the men who opened fire on a crowd of people in Sacramento early Sunday morning, killing six, was a career criminal who was released from prison in February just four years into a 10-year sentence for felony gun and robbery convictions.

The decision, made by Californias Department of Corrections, was even made over the strenuous objections of the Sacramento County District Attorneys Office, which submitted a letter saying that the man displayed a pattern of criminal behavior and posed a significant danger to the community.

The alleged shooter, Smiley Martin, was arrested earlier this week at a hospital where he is still recovering from gunshot wounds received during the incident. He faces charges of illegally possessing a machine gun as well as possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, as well as murder, of course.

Two others were also taken into custody including Martins brother, Dandrae Martin, 26, who himself has an extensive criminal record, having been charged with domestic violence, aggravated assault, criminal damage and marijuana violations.

Smiley and Dandrae are believed to be the two who fired the guns. Smiley posted a live Facebook video of himself brandishing a handgun hours before the shooting. Authorities are trying to determine whether the weapon seen in the video was used in the shooting, the Daily Mail reported.

Smiley had been serving a 10-year sentence after being convicted of domestic violence and assault with great bodily injury, according to the Sacramento Bee.

According to a letter from the Sacramento County District Attorneys Office to the Board of Parole Hearings on April 29, 2021, Danielle Abildgaard, the deputy district attorney, asked for the California Department of Corrections to deny Smileys request for early release due to her belief that he poses a significant, unreasonable risk to the safety of the community. She also stated that Smiley clearly has little regard for human life and the law, as he had demonstrated a clear pattern of criminal behavior throughout his adult life, having committed several felonies.

The letter also noted that Smiley had a number of prior felony convictions for robbery and firearms possession, as well as a previous misdemeanor conviction for providing false information to police.

Inmate Martin has demonstrated repeatedly that he cannot follow the laws, or conditions the court places on him, said the letter. His history indicates that he will pursue his own personal agenda regardless of the consequences and regulatory restraints placed upon him.

If he is released early, he will continue to break the law, it added.

But none of that mattered to the left-wing sycophants on the state DOC. They agreed to Smileys request and now a half-dozen more Californians are dead. Shouldnt they be responsible for those deaths, considering this thug had another six years left on a prison sentence?

Sources include:

DailyMail.co.uk

SacBee.com
(Natural News) The Biden regimes plan to completely wreck America, begun in earnest under Barack Obama, is moving forward, as evidenced by the discovery of a secret plan being implemented by Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.

According to Breitbart News, at the behest of Obamas people who are really running Bidens White House, Mayorkas has directed his agency to ensure that economic migrants are provided with every opportunity to stay illegally in America after Title 42 is lifted in early May, regardless of the massive harm he will cause American citizens.

Mayorkas plans were laid out in a February strategy document that was leaked to Breitbart Texas this week. The strategy is called, DHS Southwest Border Mass Irregular Migration Contingency Plan, and on page 16 of the document it says:

A. Secretarys Intent.

1 ) Purpose: The purpose of this plan is to describe a proactive approach that humanely prevents and responds to surges in irregular migration across the U.S. [southern border]. This will be done while ensuring that migrants can apply for any form of relief or protection [emphasis added] for which they may be eligible, including asylum, withholding of removal, and protection from removal under the regulations implementing United States obligations under the Convention Against Torture.

To guarantee the maximum U.S. taxpayer-funded benefits for illegal aliens, the DHS chief is calling for minimal detention and deportation, though federal law generally denies entry of foreign workers and economic migrants to the country. His play is providing authority for border agents to ensure as many illegal migrants as possible can be legally allowed to stay:

Current pathways to removal [deportations] will be limited. Component use of broadscale release mechanisms (i.e., Own Recognizance (OR) with issuance of a Notice to Appear (NTA), or parole and Alternatives to Detention (ATD) with administrative tools are necessary to ensure humane and efficient treatment of migrants.

What about humane treatment of American citizens?

According to Breitbart News, the parole side-door is a very limited authority that Congress has given for exceptional situations including a sick airline passenger, Andrew Arthur, a former immigration judge, told the outlet last year. It is very narrowly written [for small numbers of people], but the administration has blown right past the limitations, he said, noting that the Obama-Biden-Harris regime simply doesnt care about U.S. law because they know that no one is going to hold them responsible.

In February, up to 165,000 migrants arrived at the border, and Mayorkas admitted 74,000 under various legal claims. Very few of the arrivals were detained, and few prior arrivals were deported, despite the federal law, Breitbart News reported, adding:

The Cuban-born Mayorkas is a pro-migration zealot who argued in 2013 that Americans homeland always has been, and forever will remain a nation of immigrants. Only about one-third of Americans accept the nation of immigrants narrative, according to a survey by a pro-migration group.

So his plan ignores the reasonable and rational economic concerns of roughly at least 100 million citizens of the United States.

As the sworn top official within the Department of Homeland Security, Mayorkas is legally bound to protect the economic interests of American citizens from illegal aliens and unscrupulous U.S.-based employers who hire them. Americans concerns include the ability to earn liveable wages within a labor market that is increasingly tight due to the country being at near full employment; flooding the market with illegal workers who will work for less will depress wages, not keep them higher.

The people running Bidens regime are criminals, pure and simple. They are America-last sycophants who are doing everything they can to destroy our country as founded. If Republicans win big in November and dont hold these people responsible, then the country we grew up in will have already ceased to exist.

Sources include:

Breitbart.com

InvasionUSA.news
(Natural News) A whistleblower who turned over a hard drive copy of Hunter Bidens infamous laptop to several lawmakers and media outlets including The Daily Mail fears for his safety now and has fled to Switzerland.

However, Jack Maxey now says that he has more than 450 gigabytes of deleted materials as well as 80,000 images and videos as well as some 120,000 emails that he plans to release in batches soon that will fully expose the depth of Hunter Bidens depravity as well as the criminal corruption engulfing his entire family  including President Joe Biden.

Maxey first gave copies of the laptops hard drive to the media and lawmakers roughly a year ago. In addition to providing one to The Daily Mail, he gave copies and material from it to the Washington Post, New York Times, and Senator Chuck Grassley in his role as ranking Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee  but he claims they all sat on it for months, the outlet reported this week.

The paper added:

For the past two weeks, Maxey has been in hiding in Zurich, working with IT experts to dig out more data from the laptop from hell.

He said he intends to post them all online in a searchable database in the coming weeks.

Hunters laptop is brimming with evidence of apparent criminal activity by him and his associates including drug trafficking and prostitution.

Hunter abandoned his laptop at a Delaware computer store in 2019. The owner, John Mac Isaac, gave a copy to Trumps lawyer Rudy Giuliani, who passed it on to Maxey.

The FBI obtained the laptop in December 2019.

I came here so that we could do a forensic examination of Hunters laptop safely in a country that still respects human liberty and the ideals of liberal democratic principles, Maxey told The Daily Mail.

I do not believe this would have been possible inside the United States. We had numerous attempts on us from trying to do things like this there, he added.

He went on to say that last year, after giving out copies of the hard drive to media and lawmakers, black SUVs appeared outside his home. He also said that U.S. intelligence officials, who are friends of his that he said he shared the hard drive with, told him they received strange phone calls.

I showed this to a friend of mine in desperation in February [2021] because nobody would listen to me. No news organizations would take it. In fact, the very first major news organization to take it was the Daily Mail, he said. Very dear friends of mine, the sharp tip of the spear, were making welfare calls to me every day, basically to see if I was still alive.

He went on to say that a senior intelligence official who is a friend told him shortly after Maxey first obtained the hard drive in the fall of 2020: If you dont release enough of this so that they know you can release all of it, Im telling you, brother, youre a dead man.

He took that advice, in fact, and began posting materials to various file-share sites. But, he said, within a few hours, they were removed. He also said he believes the U.S. government was searching for the files and when they were discovered, flagged them to the companies that hosted them.

There were five drop boxes: two in the United States, one in New Zealand, two in the UK. All the same drop boxes in which they tell us child pornography is shared around the globe without any consequence because they cant look at it, said Maxey.

These are all Five Eyes countries, English-speaking countries in an intelligence-sharing agreement. And they were all ripped down, he added. So this means that our intelligence services, who still have not even acknowledged that they have Hunter Bidens laptop, were obviously diligently doing cache searches across the internet to find out if any of this stuff was being released.

That should terrify every single decent person in the West.

He said he chose to flee to Switzerland because the only files that were not taken down were posted to file-sharing sites in the politically neutral country.

WATCH:

Sources include:

DailyMail.co.uk

NaturalNews.com
A genetic analysis of ancient bones found in a Bulgarian cave last year provides the earliest known evidence of the modern humans in Europe, 45,000 years ago. The remains, whoever it belonged to, was potentially more closely related to present-day East Asian populations of their day than with today's Europeans.

Recently, researchers from the Universities of Padova and Bologna in Italy presented in the simplest explanation the "unexpected kink" in the family tree using genetic relationships and shifts in ancient technology that once again append the story of broader expansion of modern humans outside Africa, according to LiveScience.

The emergence of modern humans in Europe has been difficult to retrace due to insufficient ancient remains identified in the fossil and genetic record. A 2021 study published in the journal Nature provides evidence that there was at least some continuity between the earliest modern humans in Europe and later people in Eurasia.

Migration of Modern Humans "Seeding a Cultural Revolution"





After Homo sapiens left Africa and migrated to what we now call the Eurasian soil, more distant cousins ventured out numerous times and settled before disappearing in the face of the Earth. With the migration of modern humans, there seeds a cultural evolution that eventually changed the planet.

Researchers had pieced together this "monumental journey" from scant surviving artifacts and genome-wide data. The bone fragments recovered from the Bacho Kiro Cave in central Bulgaria in 2015 is the kind of evidence "archaeologists dream of". Dated to around 45,000 years ago, the ancient bones have officially become the oldest Upper Paleolithic hominin bones ever found in Europe.

"By taking archaeological records into account, we can tell they had descended from a larger community on a 15,000-year-long hiatus in their travels east," according to the authors. They conclude that these communities represent "some kind of stepping stone between a future in Asia and a past set in Europe."

In a study led by the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Germany, it was found that three of the preserved bodies different genetic origin, and all had Neanderthal ancestors a few generations back in their family history. This confirms that the first European modern humans are mixed with Neanderthals and that such mixing could have been common.

Also read: Mysteries of the Pyramids: How Were These Structures So Perfectly Aligned?

Generous Dose of Neanderthal blood

Neanderthals had disappeared by about 40,000 years and the extent of their relationship with modern humans had been poorly understood.

According to genetic records, a 'generous dose of Neanderthal blood' had recently been introduced into their family tree, causing more confusion on how our ancestors might have moved and interacted. However, the authors are considering one possibility.

"Then, around 45 thousand years ago, a new expansion emanated from the hub and colonized a wide area spanning from Europe to East Asia and Oceania and is associated with a mode of producing stone tools known as Initial Upper Paleolithic," says University of Padua molecular anthropologist, Leonardo Vallini. "Those who branched into Asia thrived, traces of their bloodlines persisting to this day."

However, a second study last year provides a clue on the temporary end to the human experiment in Europe.

Like a "fresh wave of human emigration" some 7,000 years later, we owe most of the rich array of cultures we see today from the west and seed lineages.

Related article: Remains of 66 Individuals Uncovered from Avar Reveal Descendants of a Central Asian Culture Migration
nsects play an important role in our daily lives. Although they are specialists at pollination, pest management, and the decomposition of corpses, humans do not appear to spend much time thinking about them.

What would our world be like without them, with numbers declining due to habitat loss, pesticides, and the climate crisis?

Scientists warn that we risk ignoring these species if we do nothing. They've seen a significant decrease in the number of insects in recent decades.

Michael Safi discusses the intriguing world of insects with environment reporter Oliver Milman, author of The Insect Crisis: The Fall of the Tiny Empires That Run the World. Oliver explains to Michael how these little animals, generally considered an inconvenience, perform an important function in keeping the Earth habitable.

Also Read: Urban Expansion May Spell Extinction to More than 850 Species

Worsening Problem

The new study suggests that while less severe, large-scale insect losses are far from over-and that insects may be more fragile than previously assumed. According to research published recently in the journal Biological Conservation, 40 percent of all insect species are in decline and may become extinct in the next decades.

"There are reasons to be concerned," main author Francisco Sanchez-Bayo, an Australian researcher at the University of Sydney, said. "If we don't do something, entire ecosystems will perish from famine."

The paper, which is the first worldwide analysis of studies on insect populations throughout the world, highlights a few species that are especially vulnerable: moths and butterflies, pollinators like bees, and dung beetles, as well as other insects that help digest excrement and debris.

The research comes after a series of high-profile articles on insect decreases that surprised even specialists in the subject. In October 2017, European researchers discovered that insect abundance (as assessed by biomass) has decreased by more than 75% in 63 German protected areas in just 27 years.

A year later, two researchers released a report in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences claiming that the biomass of insects and other arthropods like spiders had decreased 10- to 60-fold in a relatively virgin jungle in Puerto Rico since the 1970s.

Extracting Data

The majority of relevant data comes from Europe and the United States to a lesser degree. Still, the rest of the globe is chronically understudied, according to David Wagner, an ecologist at the University of Connecticut who was not involved.

Half of the moth and butterfly species investigated decline, with one-third of them, threatened with extinction, whereas beetle populations are nearly identical. Meanwhile, over half of the bees and ants studied are endangered. Caddisflies are among the most endangered insects, with 63 percent of species facing extinction, partly because they deposit their eggs in water, making them more sensitive to pollution and development.

According to Wagner, there are many reasons why these creatures are in jeopardy, and there is no single smoking gun. "I'm afraid the answer is death by a thousand cuts," says the author.

Various Factors

Human-caused habitat changes, such as deforestation and conversion of natural habitats for agriculture, are among the factors contributing to the reduction. The collapse of small family farms in Europe and North America, which are known for wide pastures, hedgerows, and other areas where "weedy" plants like wildflowers may grow-areas that are ideal for insects-has undoubtedly had a role, as has the draining of marshes and swamps, according to Wagner.

Chemicals such as herbicides, fungicides, and insecticides are used in agriculture. Insecticides harm Non-target species, and neonicotinoids have been linked to the global collapse of bees. Pesticides might be to blame for one-eighth of the study's species reductions.

According to Wagner, climate change is a factor, particularly in extreme weather events like droughts, which are expected to rise in severity, length, and frequency in the future. Invasive species, parasites, and illnesses are among the other reasons.

Related Article: One of the World Largest Mass Extinctions May Have Been Triggered by Volcanic Winter

For similar news, don't forget to follow Nature World News!
Scientists recently discovered a dinosaur fossil from 66 million years ago, when a fatal asteroid hit Earth and wiped out their entire species.

A perfectly preserved leg of a Thescelosaurus dinosaur killed on the day of the mass extinction event was found at the Tanis site in North Dakota, including a slew of fossils and skin of a triceratops, ScienceAlert reported. Scientists say that the Thescelosaurus fossil was "complete with scaly skin".

Along with the limb are fishes that rained down from the sky, a fossil turtle skewered by a wooden stake, and even the embryo of a flying pterosaur encased in an egg. While there has been a series of studies conducted regarding the extinction asteroid from 66 million years ago, it was an "extraordinary" opportunity to have a specimen from the cataclysm particularly.

"We've got so many details with this site that tell us what happened moment by moment, it's almost like watching it play out in the movies. You look at the rock column, you look at the fossils there, and it brings you back to that day," Robert DePalma, the University of Manchester, UK, graduate student and led the Tanis dig told BBC.

The glass-like particles of molten rock lodged in the gills of fish fossils also suggest that the site was kicked up by the asteroid's explosive impact.

A Discovery that is "Absolutely Bonkers"

According to Professor Phil Manning, DePalma's PhD supervisor at Manchester, the find was something he "never dreamt of" in his entire career. "The time resolution we can achieve at this site is beyond our wildest dreams. This really should not exist, and it's absolutely gobsmackingly beautiful," Manning said.

A BBC documentary narrated by David Attenborough filmed Tanis for a show to be broadcast on 15 April to review the discoveries.

The paleontological site, Tanis, was the last resting place of the Ark of the Covenant in the 1981 film Raiders of the Lost Ark, per The New Yorker. Over the years, Tanis has become relatively unknown among Egypt's wealth of historical sites, though it yielded one of the greatest archeological troves ever found, according to National Geographics.

Also read: There are Now 50,000 Known Species of Spiders Crawling the Earth

Findings from the Site Attracted 'Skepticism'

Robert DePalma, a relative of film director Brian De Palma and christened Tanis and his works have received "good deal of skepticism from the paleontology community," said Kate Wong, science editor of Scientific American.

It was believed that DePalma insists on contractual clauses that give him oversight over the specimens, instead of ceding the rights and curation of the fossils to institutions. However, BBC said that outside consultants are called to verify the specimens.

According to Professor Paul Barrett from London's Natural History Museum, the leg of the Thescelosaurus was from one which died instantly, "from a group that we didn't have any previous record of what its skin looked like."

"It shows very conclusively that these animals were very scaly like lizards. They weren't feathered like their meat-eating contemporaries," Barrett said.

Moreover, Professor Steve Brusatte, an outside consultant on the documentary, added that some of the fossils discovered may have come from animals that died before the asteroid strike and were buried again during the impact.

Related article: Megamaser: Power Space Laser's Light Spotted 5 Billion Light-Years from the Earth
Florida's freshwater springs were one of the area's principal attractions even before amusement parks sprung from the marshes around Orlando.

Creating the Springs

Before the arrival of Spanish conquistadors in the 1500s, indigenous Americans had been using the springs for thousands of years. The conquistadors' accounts of clean water streaming from enormous holes in forest floors fed legends about the Fountain of Youth's existence.

On the banks of the Suwannee River, White Sulfur Springs became one of Florida's earliest commercial tourist attractions a few hundred years later, when sulfur springs were thought to have curative benefits. The introduction of glass-bottomed boats in the early 1900s provided tourists with a fish's-eye view of Florida's springs and the immaculate underwater vistas drew early filmmakers.

Several movies and television episodes, including "Sea Hunt" and "The Creature From the Black Lagoon," were filmed underwater in Silver Springs, a set of springs in Marion County.

Also Read: Evidences of "Modern Culture" Dating 40,000 Years Discovered in China

Florida Waters

Florida contains the world's densest concentration of freshwater springs. Every day, billions of gallons of groundwater are discharged to the surface from the state's more than 1,000 freshwater springs. Springs support Florida's inland water-based recreation economy and provide crucial habitat for aquatic wildlife such as the famed Florida manatee.

Fishing, kayaking, tubing, swimming, and scuba diving via the miles of underwater caverns that connect springs to the aquifer and pipe water to the surface attract visitors from all over the globe to Florida's springs. Springs tourism contributes to the state's rural economies.

Despite its importance to the state's tourism business, Florida's springs are in the midst of a slow-motion environmental disaster.

Development, population increase, climate change, over-pumping of the aquifer, and pollution from agriculture and sewage have all wreaked havoc on Florida's springs over the last several decades. Many springs have seen a dramatic reduction in water flow. Others have entirely ceased pouring.

One of the earliest known victims was Kissengen Spring. Kissengen Spring originally discharged more than 20 million gallons of water per day into the Peace River. During World War II, military personnel utilized the spring as a resort, including dive platforms and bathhouses.

Water Conditions

Water flows from the spring steadily decreased to a trickle between the 1930s and the 1950s. The spring ceased flowing entirely in the early 1960s. According to a survey by the United States Geological Survey, between the 1950s and 1975, groundwater levels were reduced by 60 feet. The water ceased flowing when the water level in the aquifer feeding the spring fell below the elevation of the spring vent.

The water supply to White Sulphur Springs, one of Florida's oldest tourist attractions, was likewise cut off by steadily dropping water tables, which stopped flowing for the first time in 1977.

Pollution from septic tanks, sewage, farm fertilizers, and restricted animal feeding operations filled springs with surplus nutrients when aquifers were being drained, fuelling algal blooms in springs across the state. Thick mats of green, hairy algae coat all underwater surfaces, replacing the white, sandy bottoms and waving thickets of eelgrass shown in films from the 1940s and 1950s. The springs' ecosystems are collapsing without eelgrass, which is the cornerstone of healthy springs.

There are so many algae at Silver Springs that volunteer scuba divers have to clear them by hand. Members of the Silver Springs Professional Dive Team descend once a month to brush algae off the bottoms of the glass bottom boats so that guests can see the ancient underwater movie sets, which the divers must also clean.

When Jeb Bush, then-governor of Florida, signed legislation forming the Florida Springs Initiative in 2001, the state of Florida formally acknowledged that the majority of the state's springs were in peril. The initiative offered the first of numerous funds for research, monitoring, teaching, and landowner aid to reduce sewage and fertilizer flow into springs and address diminishing spring flows.

Attempts to Restore

While many springs are in decline, current restoration efforts along Florida's Gulf Coast's spring-fed Crystal River indicate that some harm may be undone. Crystal River is the state of Florida's second-largest spring group. Decades ago, Crystal River's gin-clear clarity made it a popular fishing and scuba diving destination.

However, in the 1960s and 1970s, urbanization, dredging of canals for boat-based communities, and pollution initiated a chain of events that resulted in the river's eelgrass beds collapsing and being replaced by algal blankets in later decades. The remarkable visibility of Crystal River diminished to the point where it seldom topped 10 feet.

Using a combination of state and federal funds, the community organization Save Crystal River and the aquatic restoration company Sea & Shoreline have removed more than a quarter-billion pounds of algae and nutrient-rich muck from the bottom of Crystal River and planted more than 350,000 eelgrass plants over the last six years.

With the expansion of the replanted eelgrass beds, visibility has increased, and the area now supports a year-round population of Florida's most renowned vegetarians: manatees.

Effects

Although it didn't cure all of Crystal River's difficulties, the eelgrass replanting initiative was a success. The flow of water to Crystal River's springs is being reduced by sea level rise and groundwater pumping, and the water that comes out is becoming saltier.

While more work is to be done, steady improvements in water clarity and a growing manatee population support a thriving ecotourism industry and demonstrate what can be accomplished when state governments and local communities work together to save their springs and use the scientific data.

Related Article: Turkmenistan President Plans to Close 'Gates of Hell' Due to Economic Concerns

For similar news, don't forget to follow Nature World News!
South Africa's province of KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) has been battered by several days of torrential rain, causing massive flooding and mudslides.

The record-breaking rainfall was caused by severe weather that struck the country after several months of relative calm.

A number of residents took to social media to depict the horrific impact of the weather event, causing widespread disruption and damage.

Although the downpour has decreased compared to its onset during the weekend, the threat of further rainfall still remains.

Severe Weather

Flash floods have swept away multiple vehicles and caused the overflow of rivers in the province.

Heavy rain also damaged properties in the city of Durban and the Amanzimtoti central business district (CBD) area, as per South Africa's media outlet News 24.

In Amanzimtoti, some schools have closed due to inclement weather conditions.

Meanwhile, emergency personnel has been deployed into the area to unblock drains and decrease the flooding.

In Umdloti Beach, people have evacuated a residential building after water pressure led the walls to crack. This is after emergency services issued a warning of the pending infrastructural threat.

However, the latest report suggested that one family still remains and refuses to leave the establishment.

The extreme weather has also caused large-scale power outages in some infrastructure across the province. This is likely due to the damaged or destroyed power lines due to the continuous rainfall over recent days.

Also Read: Cyclone Gombe Kills Multiple People in Mozambique Upon Landfall

Flood Warning

Prior to the incident, the South African Weather Service (SAWS) issued a flood warning for parts of South Africa with cold conditions due to a cut-off low from Friday to Monday, April 8 to April 11.

The SAWS also issued several flood warnings for KZN, including in Dannhauser, Dundee, Dundee, and Hluhluwe.

Under the warning, localized flooding may be at the greatest risk for both formal and informal settlements in low-lying areas, as cited by News 24.

Landslides

The authorities also said that driving conditions can be hampered along dirt roads due to localized damages caused by mudslides.

Houses are also susceptible to being hit by a landslide.

According to the South African Police Service (SAPS), a mudslide triggered by the rain has killed a man in Umlazi township, located southwest of Durban, on Sunday, April 10, as per the natural disaster monitoring site Floodlist.com.

Search-and-rescue teams have been sent into the area as several dwellings were believed to have been buried.

Measures and Other Incidents

Rescue and evacuation efforts are ongoing and members of the disaster management and emergency control unit are on high alert across the province.

The KwaZulu-Natal Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Department (KZN COGTA) and disaster management teams have reportedly responded to other related incidents, including the landslides in the areas of KwaDukuza and flash floods in Ladysmith, as per Floodlist.com.

Moreover, coastal flooding has been reported in Kingsburg. On Monday, the city of Durban recorded 91 mm. of rainfall in the span of only 24 hours.

Furthermore, the ongoing weather warnings by the SAWS for heavy rain and flooding are still in place as of Monday.

This will likely continue in the coming hours or days.

Related Article: Storm Alert: Tropical Cyclone Emnati Threatens Madagascar with Heavy Rain, Flooding, and Landslides
Awe-inspiring moments await skywatchers in two years.

The Great North American Solar Eclipse, which will occur in 2024, will be spectacular.

On April 8, 2024, it will travel throughout the country, encompassing a large area of territory from Mexico to Canada and turning daylight into nighttime darkness.

In 2017, the United States witnessed its first total solar eclipse in 40 years, which was a sight to behold for everyone.

Another complete solar eclipse is about to occur in North America.

Two years isn't a long time. Total solar eclipses have long been popular, prompting people to come from all over the world to see them.

Total solar eclipse in America

The Great North American Solar Eclipse will virtually split the country two years from now, on April 8, 2024, plunging a 124-mile-wide swath of territory reaching from Mexico to Canada into night-like darkness.

Despite the fact that two years may seem like a long time, given the popularity of total solar eclipses, it's about time to start making plans for watching, especially if you intend on visiting to see the event.

What is a total eclipse?

When the Earth, sun, and moon are aligned, one heavenly body casts a shadow on the other, and an eclipse occurs, as per Space.

Whenever the moon moves between both the sun and the Earth, it casts its shadow across the Earth's surface, making the sun appear to darken in certain locations.

When the moon is at precisely the proper distance from the Earth, it blocks the entire sun in a total solar eclipse.

On the other hand, an annular eclipse occurs when the moon is farther away from the Earth and so does not completely hide the sun.

As previously stated, the Great North American Total Solar Eclipse will begin at 10:51 a.m. on April 8, 2024, near Mazatlan, Mexico.

The partial eclipse will begin at sunrise, and the finest view of the eclipse will occur when the moon covers the sun at sunset, as per the Hindustan Times.

Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Kentucky, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine will be affected by the solar eclipse.

However, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) recommends that you only observe the solar eclipse while using special ISO-approved glasses.

Read more: Total Solar Eclipse, Christmas Comet: More Celestial Events to Watch Out This December 2021

Why is it a big deal?

Total eclipses aren't all that uncommon, occurring every 18 months on average.

However, because the moon's shadow is so minuscule when projected onto the Earth, only a small portion of the world is affected by anyone's eclipse.

On average, a total solar eclipse occurs once every 375 years in a certain region.

It is not only uncommon for the United States to witness a total solar eclipse (just 21 have happened ever since the nation's inception in 1776), but it's also exceptional for the United States to witness a full eclipse for a total solar eclipse to travel such a long path through such a large part of the country.

The previous cross-country total solar eclipse occurred in 1918, before the 2017 eclipse.

When observing solar eclipses, the most crucial regulation is to use special glasses authorized by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO).

Without proper eye protection, never gaze directly at the sun, since this can cause irreversible damage to your eyes.

When the moon hides the sun during totality, however, it is safe to stare at the sun without glasses.

Related article: Great American Total Solar Eclipse 2017: When and Where to See It?
The Darvaza gas crater in the Karakum Desert of Turkmenistan has been a site of the ongoing fire for approximately five decades.

Recent developments showed that scientists have joined Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov's order in putting out the fire from the gateway to hell.

Drilling Holes

Drilling holes into the Darvaza gas crater can be tricky due to certain geological hazards posed by the proposed operation.

These threats may include the depth, the extreme environment, and the operational risks that can be encountered once people are underneath the surface.

In January, President Berdymukhamedov issued an order to close the site and instructed experts to find a way to extinguish the fire due to economic and environmental concerns, as per CNN.

The president cited that the country is losing valuable natural resources, which could be a potential profit.

Also Read: Experts Uncover Massive Crater in Wyoming, Where Dinosaur-Killing Asteroid Likely Hit

Darvaza Crater: Origins

Officially known as the "Darvaza Crater" and internationally recognized as the "Gates of Hell", the site reportedly formed in the early 1970s when a Soviet Union gas drilling expedition led to the collapse of a ground, resulting in a massive hole that exposed methane underground, as per CNN.

Soviet scientists then blocked the gigantic crater with fire to prevent the spread of harmful natural gas.

It has continued to burn ever since.

Unlike other holes, the 230-foot-wide "door to hell" is no ordinary crater since the flames are reportedly fueled by flammable methane gas from underground reservoirs.

Tourist Site

Despite the hazardous risks, the crater in the Central Asian country has become a tourist site for both locals and international visitors.

No more than 10,000 tourists a year visit the site, according to Marek Grzegorczyk, as cited by the Smithsonian Magazine.

Closure of the Crater

Concerns raised by Berdymukhamedov the blaze of the crater may affect people living nearby.

However, Gianluca Pardelli, the founder of Soviet Tours, reportedly told Atlas Obscura that there are no people living near the crater.

Furthermore, other Turkmenistan officials supported the president, claiming that there are environmental benefits once the crater has been closed.

They reportedly explained that since the crater leaks methane gas, it damages the atmosphere and causes a waste of natural resources.

Natural Gas Deposits

Turkmenistan sits above one of the world's largest natural gas deposits and the resources are the main source of its economic revenue.

The country holds significant proven gas reserves.

Aside from methane, little is known about what lies underneath the crater, with unverified claims suggested it may contain gold and other mineral resources.

According to Turkmenistan's International Trade Administration, the country is rich in hydrocarbon resources and has a resource base of around 71.64 billion tons of oil in the Caspian Sea.

If methane is to be released from the crater, it can plausibly contribute to climate change and global warming by accelerating the natural process of the greenhouse gas effect.

The said gas is one of the primary greenhouse gases (GHG), along with carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide.

Related Article: Proposed Method for Extracting Liquid Gas Would Trap CO2 Deep Underground
The World Customs Organization (WCO), with the support of the Customs Cooperation Fund of Germany (CCF-Germany), successfully conducted a national Time Release Study (TRS) Workshop held from 28 March to 1 April 2022 in Yerevan, Armenia.

The core objective of the mission was to support the Customs Administration of Armenia in building capacities to conduct a TRS in collaboration with other trade stakeholders. Approximately 40 participants attended the event which gathered different stakeholders involved in the clearance process of goods in Armenia.

During the workshop, it was highlighted that TRS is a key instrument for Countries to measure relevant aspects of the effectiveness of operational procedures that are carried out by Customs and other regulatory actors concerned with the international movement of cargo. Important aspects concerning the WCO TRS Guide were presented to the participants, who were informed about TRS objectives, challenges, opportunities and ways forward for Armenia to conduct a TRS with the involvement of Customs and other key stakeholders that intervene in the national clearance process.

At the Workshop, participants jointly drafted a summary report of the meeting and a concrete Action Plan, both to be circulated to all the participants by the Armenia Customs Administration. The Action Plan will guide the implementation of various actions that will have to take place in order for Armenia to conduct a TRS within one year. Carrying out its TRS will also enable this Country to comply with the requirements of Article 7.6 of the WTO TFA. This article encourages WTO Members to measure and publish their average release time of goods periodically and in a consistent manner, using tools such as the Time Release Study of the World Customs Organization (WCO).

The workshop also allowed the WCO Secretariat to provide a training to the Customs officers from Armenia on how to use the WCO TRS software, to design TRS survey forms, store the data and generate statistical information related to the time spent between the arrival of the goods and their physical release.

For more information, please, contact capacity.building@wcoomd.org.
National Pet Day is celebrated in the US every April 11.

Primarily dedicated to pets who provide companionship and attention, the day is also a period of acknowledging the importance of our pets and the joy they bring to their owner and other people's lives.

National Pet Day

From dogs to cats, fish to reptiles, and rabbits to rats, the National Pet Day has been a symbol of the relationship between animals and pet owners.

Over the decades, pet owners in the US usually use their time during the national event by posting photos and social media or spending their time with their pets outdoors, including grooming.

However, the question remains as to what are the most popular pets across the country?

Also Read: Having Pets For Years Can Slow Down Cognitive Skill Decline of Petowners

Most Popular Pets Per State

The USA Today has compiled the following states with the most searched (non-cat or non-dog) below:

Alabama - Bearded dragon

Alaska - Guinea pig

Arizona - Guinea pig

Arkansas - Bearded dragon

California - Guinea pig

Colorado - Sugar glider

Connecticut - Chinchilla

Delaware - Chinchilla

Florida - Bearded dragon

Georgia - Bearded dragon

Hawaii - Guinea pig

Idaho - Chinchilla

Illinois - Chinchilla

Indiana - Bearded dragon

Iowa - Chinchilla

Kansas - Guinea pig

Kentucky - Guinea pig

Louisiana - Bearded dragon

Maine - Chinchilla

Maryland - Guinea pig

Massachusetts - Guinea pig

Michigan - Guinea pig

Minnesota - Chinchilla

Mississippi - Bearded dragon

Missouri - Bearded dragon

Montana - Sugar glider

Nebraska - Guinea pig

Nevada - Chinchilla

New Hampshire - Chinchilla

New Jersey - Guinea pig

New Mexico - Hamster

New York - Guinea pig

North Carolina - Bearded dragon

North Dakota - Chinchilla

Ohio - Chinchilla

Oklahoma - Guinea pig

Oregon - Chinchilla

Pennsylvania - Guinea pig

Rhode Island - Chinchilla

South Carolina - Bearded dragon

South Dakota - Guinea pig

Tennessee - Bearded dragon

Texas - Guinea pig

Utah - Chinchilla

Vermont - Guinea pig

Virginia - Guinea pig

Washington - Guinea pig

West Virginia - Chinchilla

Wisconsin - Guinea pig

Wyoming - Guinea pig

Based on the list, guinea pigs are the most popular pets aside from cats and dogs.

The top contender is followed by bearded dragons.

However, this does not entail that a homeowner cannot have multiple pets. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) stated most households in the US have at least one pet.

Pet Ownership: Global Statistics

Most of us can claim that our pets are our vanguards throughout rough times. Characterized by their unconditional love, domestic pets have been part of modern history.

According to Germany-based data and analytics company GfK, 33.3% of households worldwide have a dog, making it officially man's best friend.

Cats are the second most popular pets accounting for 23% of pet ownership globally.

They are then followed by fish as the third most popular pet with 12% of reported ownership across all countries.

Meanwhile, the company said 43% of their respondents said they do not have pets in their household.

Health Benefits of Pets

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) stated owning a pet can yield health benefits, notably in cardiovascular health.

These findings are based on the correlation between the positive psychological stimulus brought about by pets to their owners.

In relation to heart health, positive stimuli received from pets result in the reduction of stress, as well as improvement in overall emotional health.

In the US, 68% of households have a pet, as per the NIH.

Related Article: Dogs are More Than Just Pets - Here's the Proof
Amber Heard and Johnny Depp at the 27th Palm Springs International Film Festival Gala at the Convention Center on Jan. 2, 2016, in Palm Springs, Calif. Depp has sued Heard for defamation regarding statements Heard made in an op-ed in the Washington Post.
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WINDHOEK, March 17 (Xinhua) -- Namibia's President Hage Geingob on Wednesday declared three days of national mourning to pay respects to the late former President of Zambia Rupiah Bwezani Banda.

The Republic of Namibia and African Union flags will fly at half-mast until Friday, when Banda's body will be buried in the Zambian capital Lusaka.

"Indeed, with his passing, Namibia has lost a dependable friend," Geingob has said previously. "But, we are comforted by his indelible contributions to the liberation movements of our region and the socio-economic development of its people."

Geingob extended sympathies to Banda's wife and children and the "fraternal people of Zambia." "May his soul rest in peace," he added.

Banda, who served as the fourth president of Zambia from 2008 to 2011, passed away at his home on March 11 at the age of 85 after more than a year battling colon cancer. 
Elise Amendola/AP

BOSTON (AP)  The Boston Symphony Orchestra has canceled its European tour that had been scheduled for next month because of an increase in positive coronavirus cases among orchestra members as well as concerns about the rising number of cases on both sides of the Atlantic.

Despite health and safety protocols that include mandatory vaccinations for all musicians and daily testing for woodwind and brass instrumentalists, as well as members of the Tanglewood Festival Chorus, there were 31 cases among onstage musicians and chorus members following recent performances, the BSO said in a statement Monday.
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DALLAS (AP)  The federal requirement to wear face masks on airplanes and public transportation is scheduled to expire next week, and airline executives and Republican lawmakers are urging the Biden administration to let the mandate die.

The fate of the rule  and consideration of an alternate framework of moves to limit the spread of COVID-19  was under discussion Monday within the U.S. Centers for Disease Control. Officials described it as a close call.

This is a decision that the CDC Director Dr. (Rochelle) Walensky is going to make," White House coronavirus-policy adviser Dr. Ashish Jha said Monday. I know the CDC is working on developing a scientific framework for how to answer that. We are going to see that framework come out I think in the next few days.

Jha said that extending mask mandate again is on the table.

The administration gave the rule a one-month reprieve in March so that public-health officials would have time to develop alternative methods of limiting the transmission of COVID-19 during travel.

The mask mandate is the most visible vestige of government restrictions to control the pandemic, and possibly the most controversial. A surge of abusive and sometimes violent incidents on airplanes has been attributed mostly to disputes over mask-wearing.

Critics have seized on the fact that states have rolled back rules requiring masks in restaurants, stores and other indoor settings, and yet COVID-19 cases have fallen sharply since the omicron variant peaked in mid-January.

The American people have seen through the false logic that COVID-19 only exists on airplanes and public transportation, Republicans on the House and Senate transportation committees said Friday in a letter to the administration.

However, a recent uptick in cases could provide reason for the CDC to keep the mask rule a bit longer.

After a steep, two-month decline, the seven-day rolling U.S. average of new reported COVID-19 cases has turned slightly higher in recent days, although from relatively low levels.

Several prominent officials have contracted the virus, including the 82-year-old House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., who tested positive for the virus last week after appearing  without a mask  at a White House event with President Joe Biden. Also last week, Attorney General Merrick Garland and Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo disclosed that they had tested positive after a gathering that was quickly dubbed a super-spreader event.

Eric Feigl-Ding, an epidemiologist at the New England Complex Systems Institute in Cambridge, Massachusetts, believes that if the mandate is dropped, more air travelers and airline crew members will get sick. He said the CDC made a mistake by linking mask guidance to hospitalization rates because less-severe but highly transmissible variants can still kill large numbers of people.

In public health we try to prevent crashes. Medicine is basically mechanics who try to fix cars after they have already crashed, he said. Do you say, Oh, you dont need to buckle your seat belt today, hospital beds are not full?' Who does that?

Airlines began requiring masks in 2020, months before the government mandate was issued days after President Joe Biden's inauguration. Airlines faced financial ruin because of the pandemic, and the masks and other measures such as blocking middle seats were meant to reassure frightened passengers that flying was safe from the virus.

In December, the CEO of Southwest Airlines was forced to walk back a comment that masks didnt do much to improve health safety in the cabin because planes have strong air filters.

Travelers have returned  the number of Americans getting on planes surged past 2 million a day in March  and airlines think they can sell plenty of seats without the mask rule.

My flight attendants are begging us to stop this, Frontier Airlines CEO Barry Biffle said. Every day its causing all of these incidents on board, and its frustrating and its dangerous. Youre asking a 24-year-old flight attendant to explain it to someone who is mad about the rule.

Unions that represent flight attendants once supported the mask rule but are now neutral. Officials say their members are divided, which could explain why the two largest U.S. flight-attendant unions declined to comment on the issue this week.

Executives of 10 airlines including American, Delta, United and Southwest wrote to Biden last month, urging the White House to drop the mask rule and a requirement that international travelers test negative for COVID-19 before flying to the U.S. Much has changed since these measures were imposed and they no longer make sense in the current public health context, the executives said.

Airlines for America, a trade group representing those big airlines, and three other industry organizations made a similar appeal to Dr. Jha on Friday. They pointed to recent CDC guidance which found that the most Americans no longer need to wear masks indoors because hospitalization rates in their communities are relatively low.

Savanthi Syth, an airline analyst for Raymond James & Associates, said there are some people who will feel uncomfortable flying with fellow passengers who aren't wearing masks, but there could be others who have avoided flying because they're not comfortable wearing one for a long flight.

I expect the vast majority of passengers and flight attendants will welcome the change (if the rule is dropped), given that it is consistent with most other areas of everyday life, Syth said. She said any impact on travel demand will be small, and that airlines would get a much bigger boost from elimination of the testing requirement on inbound international travelers.

Chris Lopinto, co-founder of travel site ExpertFlyer.com, said that because of the recent uptick in COVID-19 cases, it might be wise to keep the mask mandate until cases subside again.

I don't think there would be a material effect on demand either way, considering airlines can barely keep up with the demand they already have, he said.

Most congressional Democrats continue to support the mask mandate. A leading liberal, Sen. Edward Markey, D-Mass, urged the CDC and the Transportation Security Administration to keep the rule in place, saying that the virus and variants remain a threat to seniors and people with weakened immune systems or disabilities.

The political calculus could be shifting, however. Last month, eight Democrats broke with the White House and joined Senate Republicans in a symbolic vote against the mask mandate. Four of those Democrats face difficult re-election races in November, and the party is unlikely to keep control of the Senate if any of them lose.

___

Associated Press White House reporter Zeke Miller contributed to this report.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP)  Strong spring winds fueled wildfires burning around New Mexico on Monday, prompting evacuations south of Albuquerque where authorities said some structures have burned and more are threatened.

About 100 firefighters were battling the latest blaze, which was burning out of control and sent up a large plume of smoke that could be seen for miles in the Rio Grande Valley.
New Castle, PA (16103)

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Cloudy with rain ending for the afternoon. High 58F. Winds ENE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 90%..

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Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low 38F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph.
Photo released by Pakistan's Press Information Department (PID) shows Shahbaz Sharif (R) taking the oath as the 23rd Prime Minister of Pakistan during a ceremony held at the President House in Islamabad, capital of Pakistan on April 11, 2022. (PID/Handout via Xinhua)

ISLAMABAD, April 12 (Xinhua) -- Shahbaz Sharif took the oath as the 23rd Prime Minister of Pakistan during a ceremony held at the President House Monday night.

Chairman of Pakistan's Senate Sadiq Sanjrani administered the oath of office to the newly-elected prime minister as Pakistani President Arif Alvi "complained of discomfort," according to the president's official Twitter account.

During the National Assembly session to conduct the election for the Asian country's new prime minister Monday afternoon, Shahbaz, president of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, won 174 votes in the 342-member house.

Shahbaz came to power after former Prime Minister Imran Khan was ousted through a no-confidence motion moved by an opposition alliance.

In his maiden address to the National Assembly after being elected as the prime minister, Shahbaz said he is looking forward to having friendly relations with all neighboring countries and Western countries.

He also said that during his term, he will work on the completion of the projects under the framework of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.

As a brother of former Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Shahbaz served as the chief minister of the country's eastern Punjab province three times. 
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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)

It was a life-changing event for many Cambodian students when Hello Inc. donated some of the company's previously shared bikes to rural schools. The bikes make it easier for these kids to come to school and relieve their family's worries.

TAKEO, Cambodia, April 12 (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."

A primary school student washes her bike donated by Hello Inc. in Takeo province, Cambodia on March 23, 2022. (Photo by Van Pov/Xinhua)

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.

Primary school students ride bikes donated by Hello Inc. to school in Takeo province, Cambodia, on March 23, 2022. (Photo by Van Pov/Xinhua)

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." 
Pikeville, KY (41501)

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Periods of rain. High 59F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%..

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Rain showers this evening with clearing overnight. Low 48F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%.
One of Editor & Publishers 10 That Do It Right 2021
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New York Lt. Gov. Brian Benjamin has resigned in the wake of his arrest in a federal corruption investigation, creating a political crisis for Gov. Kathy Hochul seven months after she selected Benjamin as a partner to make a fresh start in an office already rocked by scandal
Ethan Simmons is a reporter at The News-Gazette covering the University of Illinois. His email is esimmons@news-gazette.com, and you can follow him on Twitter (@ethancsimmons).
Longview, TX (75601)

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Scientists estimated that around 6 to 7 million people worldwide are infected with a protozoan parasite, namely, Trypanosoma cruzi, which causes Chagas disease. This life-threatening disease is also known as American trypanosomiasis. The annual celebration of International Chagas Day on the 14th of April highlights the impact of this disease on the global health scenario and also raises awareness of the same.

The International Federation of Associations of People Affected by Chagas Disease (FINDECHAGAS) aims to increase awareness to end the silent Chagas pandemic. Amidst the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, which has affected the healthcare system massively, patients with Chagas disease and other neglected diseases have been ignored and have been provided with reduced services.

Image Credit: Kateryna Kon/Shutterstock.com

Thereby, World Chagas Day presents an important opportunity to increase the attention paid to the disease, such that the affected group is not neglected. The main goal is to eliminate the disease as a public health problem by 2030. This initiative has been supported by the World Health Organization (WHO).

Chagas Disease-A Brief Overview

Carlos Ribeiro Justiniano Chagas, a Brazilian physician, and researcher, discovered Chagas disease in 1909. Chagas disease is predominantly found in Latin American countries, where it is transmitted to humans and other mammals via contact with urine or feces of blood-sucking triatomine bugs, which is the vector that carries T. cruzi. Interestingly, depending on the geographical area, triatomine bugs are known by various names, such as kissing bugs.

Typically, triatomine bugs live in the wall or roof cracks of chicken coops, pens, and warehouses, in rural or suburban areas. These bugs are normally active during the night when they feed on humans and animals blood. Other modes of transmission of the harmful T. cruzi pathogen include consumption of food contaminated with T. cruzi, transfusion of blood or blood product from an infected person to a healthy individual, and from an infected mother to her newborn during pregnancy.

Importance of Raising Awareness of Chagas Disease

More awareness concerning Chagas prevention, diagnosis, control, treatment, and the importance of regular surveillance of the disease, is required. In addition, extensive training must be provided to the professionals associated with healthcare facilities that are closest to the areas most affected by the disease in its diverse form. If Chagas disease is not diagnosed and treated early, the patient can face severe consequences. If left untreated, the disease can affect the professional, social, and family life of the patient.

Researchers have highlighted that Chagas disease patients are extremely susceptible to severe form of COVID-19 infection, which has been caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). Hence, they must be considered a priority group for COVID-19 vaccination.

What You Must Know About Chagas Disease?

There is a need for awareness of various aspects of Chagas disease. Some of the key issues are discussed below.

Key Symptoms

Clinicians have divided Chagas disease into two phases, i.e., the initial acute phase and the chronic phase. The initial acute phase lasts for about two months after infection and during this phase, a high number of parasites circulate in the blood without manifesting any specific symptom. Some infected individuals exhibit mild or no symptoms during this phase.

Fewer than 50% of people bitten by an infected triatomine bug display characteristic skin lesions or a purplish swelling of the lids of one eye. Some other symptoms, such as headache, fever, enlarged lymph glands, muscle pain, pallor, trouble in breathing, swelling, and abdominal or chest pain, might develop.

During the chronic phase, the parasite reaches the heart and digestive muscle. According to a report, up to 30% of patients experience cardiac problems and 10% suffer digestion-related issues that include enlargement of the esophagus or colon. The later phase of infection can lead to sudden death due to progressive heart failure.

Image Credit: schlyx/Shutterstock.com

Treatment

Chagas disease can be treated with benznidazole and nifurtimox. These medicines have proved to be 100% effective in curing the disease if administered during the onset of the acute phase. However, reduced efficacy and adverse reaction have been found when administered to older aged patients.

Several treatments are available for girls and women of childbearing age to prevent congenital transmission. Several studies have indicated that both benznidazole and nifurtimox should not be given to pregnant women or those with kidney and liver complications.

Control and prevention

To date, there is no vaccine for Chagas disease. As T. cruzi can infect many species of triatomine bugs, vector control strategies have been the most effective preventive measure. It is imperative to screen donated blood to prevent transfusion of infected blood to a healthy individual. WHO has recommended some prevention and control strategies, based on the geographical region. Some of the measures include spraying of insecticides in appropriate areas, house cleanliness to prevent vector infestation, use of bednets, and good hygiene practices in food preparation and consumption.

Additionally, WHO strongly advocates the development of contextualized information, communication activities, and education about preventive measures. Raising awareness about the disease and easy access to medical facilities, is essential, particularly, for children and women of child-bearing age.

Continue Reading: What is Chagas Disease?

Resources:

Chagas disease (also known as American trypanosomiasis). World Health Organization. (2021) [Online] Available at: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/chagas-disease-(american-trypanosomiasis)

All we need is your attention: People affected by Chagas disease call for increased action and awareness. (2021) [Online] Available at: https://dndi.org/news/2021/all-we-need-is-your-attention-people-affected-by-chagas-disease-call-for-increased-action-and-awareness/

Stigler, G. et al. (2020) Assessing the effectiveness of Chagas disease education for healthcare providers in the United States. BMC infectious diseases. 20(1). 743.

https://doi.org/10.1186/s12879-020-05474-w

International Chagas Day. Global Health. (2017) [Online] Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/globalhealth/stories/international-chagas-day.htm

Petherick, A. (2010) Campaigning for Chagas disease. Nature. 465. S21S22. https://doi.org/10.1038/nature09227

Further Reading
People who are organized, with high levels of self-discipline, may be less likely to develop mild cognitive impairment as they age, while people who are moody or emotionally unstable are more likely to experience cognitive decline late in life, according to research published by the American Psychological Association.

The research, published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, focused on the role three of the so-called "Big Five" personality traits (conscientiousness, neuroticism and extraversion) play in cognitive functioning later in life.

Personality traits reflect relatively enduring patterns of thinking and behaving, which may cumulatively affect engagement in healthy and unhealthy behaviors and thought patterns across the lifespan. The accumulation of lifelong experiences may then contribute to susceptibility of particular diseases or disorders, such as mild cognitive impairment, or contribute to individual differences in the ability to withstand age-related neurological changes." Tomiko Yoneda, PhD, Lead Author, University of Victoria

Individuals who score high in conscientiousness tend to be responsible, organized, hard-working and goal-directed. Those who score high on neuroticism have low emotional stability and have a tendency toward mood swings, anxiety, depression, self-doubt and other negative feelings. Extraverts draw energy from being around others and directing their energies toward people and the outside world. They tend to be enthusiastic, gregarious, talkative and assertive, according to Yoneda.

To better understand the relationship between personality traits and cognitive impairment later in life, researchers analyzed data from 1,954 participants in the Rush Memory and Aging Project, a longitudinal study of older adults living in the greater Chicago metropolitan region and northeastern Illinois. Participants without a formal diagnosis of dementia were recruited from retirement communities, church groups, and subsidized senior housing facilities beginning in 1997 and continuing to the present. Participants received a personality assessment and agreed to annual assessments of their cognitive abilities. The study included participants who had received at least two annual cognitive assessments or one assessment prior to death.

Participants who scored either high on conscientiousness or low in neuroticism were significantly less likely to progress from normal cognition to mild cognitive impairment over the course of the study.

"Scoring approximately six more points on a conscientiousness scale ranging 0 to 48 was associated with a 22% decreased risk of transitioning from normal cognitive functioning to mild cognitive impairment," said Yoneda. "Additionally, scoring approximately seven more points on a neuroticism scale of 0 to 48 was associated with a 12% increased risk of transition."

Researchers found no association between extraversion and ultimate development of mild cognitive impairment, but they did find that participants who scored high on extraversion  along with those who scored either high on conscientiousness or low in neuroticism  tended to maintain normal cognitive functioning longer than others.

For example, 80-year-old participants who were high in conscientiousness were estimated to live nearly two years longer without cognitive impairment compared with individuals who were low in conscientiousness. Participants high in extraversion were estimated to maintain healthy cognition for approximately a year longer. In contrast, high neuroticism was associated with at least one less year of healthy cognitive functioning, highlighting the harms associated with the long-term experience of perceived stress and emotional instability, according to Yoneda.

Additionally, individuals lower in neuroticism and higher in extraversion were more likely to recover to normal cognitive function after receiving a previous diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment, suggesting that these traits may be protective even after an individual starts to progress to dementia. In the case of extraversion, this finding may be indicative of the benefits of social interaction for improving cognitive outcomes, according to Yoneda.

There was no association between any of the personality traits and total life expectancy.

Yoneda noted that the findings are limited due to the primarily white (87%) and female (74%) makeup of the participants. Participants were also highly educated, with nearly 15 years of education on average. Future research is necessary on more diverse samples of older adults and should include the other two of the big five personality traits (agreeableness and openness) to be more generalizable and provide a broader understanding of the impact of personality traits on cognitive processes and mortality later in life, she said.
Aerial photo taken on March 30, 2022 shows a bridge built by the China State Construction Engineering Corporation (CSCEC) in Hulhumale, Maldives. It all started a few years ago with the China-Maldives Friendship Bridge. Built with support from China, the opening of the bridge meant that for the first time, people could walk from capital Male to the neighboring island of Hulhumale. (CSCEC/Handout via Xinhua)

MALE, April 11 (Xinhua) -- It all started a few years ago with the China-Maldives Friendship Bridge. Built with support from China, the opening of the bridge meant that for the first time, people could walk from capital Male to the neighboring island of Hulhumale.

Today, five beautiful bridges built by the China State Construction Engineering Corporation (CSCEC) have transformed communications in the tropical island paradise. While the Friendship Bridge made the Maldivians' dream of a bridge across the sea come true, the five bridges in Hulhumale are described in local media as "opening a new chapter for the city."

"The China-Maldives Friendship Bridge has ended the history of having to travel by boat from Male to Hulhumale, while the newly opened five bridges have solved my commuting problem between Hulhumale phase I and phase II," said Uzair Abdulla Uwais, a fashion designer.

"I feel very glad to see that this small but beautiful project has brought so much happiness to local people. I expect the bridges will drive the flourishing development of business, culture, tourism and economy in the surrounding area," said Zhang Tao, general manager of the CSCEC branch in the Maldives.

Hulhumale, northeast of Male, is a man-made island constructed by pumping sand from the seabed and built partly as a response to rising sea levels. The first settlement on the island was inaugurated in 2004.

The five bridges are on the waterway between Hulhumale Phases I and II. Four small bridges rise like rainbows above the waves connecting the busiest parts of town, while a fifth bridge has a more sightseeing function, joining the tourism section of Phase II with other areas.

Hulhumale is the most important emerging city in the country, with 7,000 housing units built in Phase II.

Saeed Ahmed, who has worked in Phase I for many years, was lucky enough to become a resident of the housing project last year and his housing conditions greatly improved.

"The traffic between Hulhumale Phase I and Phase II used to be difficult, I had to run to work every day, and for usual shopping, merchants are not very willing to offer home delivery service."

"It was difficult to get from Phase I to Phase II and back, a trip I made at least once a day," Ahmed said, before the bridges opened, he had to cross every day on wooden planks, which were slippery in rainy days.

In order to improve local commute as soon as possible, the CSCEC overcame the adverse effects of high temperature, high humidity and the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure that the project was completed and delivered on schedule. The five bridges have been opened one after another since the end of last year, greatly facilitating the travel of local people.

To Uwais, the bridges are already a popular destination even for wedding photographs. Known locally as the "dream bridges to happiness," they provide something new for visitors exploring the islands. "With these five bridges, Phase II has become more popular," he said. 

Aerial photo taken on March 24, 2022 shows bridges built by the China State Construction Engineering Corporation (CSCEC) in Hulhumale, Maldives. It all started a few years ago with the China-Maldives Friendship Bridge. Built with support from China, the opening of the bridge meant that for the first time, people could walk from capital Male to the neighboring island of Hulhumale. (CSCEC/Handout via Xinhua)

Aerial photo taken on March 24, 2022 shows bridges built by the China State Construction Engineering Corporation (CSCEC) in Hulhumale, Maldives. It all started a few years ago with the China-Maldives Friendship Bridge. Built with support from China, the opening of the bridge meant that for the first time, people could walk from capital Male to the neighboring island of Hulhumale. (CSCEC/Handout via Xinhua)

Aerial photo taken on March 24, 2022 shows a bridge built by the China State Construction Engineering Corporation (CSCEC) in Hulhumale, Maldives. It all started a few years ago with the China-Maldives Friendship Bridge. Built with support from China, the opening of the bridge meant that for the first time, people could walk from capital Male to the neighboring island of Hulhumale. (CSCEC/Handout via Xinhua)

People pass through a bridge built by the China State Construction Engineering Corporation (CSCEC) in Hulhumale, Maldives, Jan. 7, 2022. It all started a few years ago with the China-Maldives Friendship Bridge. Built with support from China, the opening of the bridge meant that for the first time, people could walk from capital Male to the neighboring island of Hulhumale. (Xinhua/Tang Lu)

Aerial photo taken on March 24, 2022 shows a bridge built by the China State Construction Engineering Corporation (CSCEC) in Hulhumale, Maldives. It all started a few years ago with the China-Maldives Friendship Bridge. Built with support from China, the opening of the bridge meant that for the first time, people could walk from capital Male to the neighboring island of Hulhumale. (CSCEC/Handout via Xinhua)

People enjoy view on a bridge built by the China State Construction Engineering Corporation (CSCEC) in Hulhumale, Maldives, Jan. 7, 2022. It all started a few years ago with the China-Maldives Friendship Bridge. Built with support from China, the opening of the bridge meant that for the first time, people could walk from capital Male to the neighboring island of Hulhumale. (Xinhua/Tang Lu)
What makes some people predisposed to live and remain healthy much longer than others? That some persons reach an exceptional age has been recorded throughout history. It's tempting to write down such outliers as only the result of environment and behavior: for example, better-than-average nutrition, medical care, childcare practices, and hygiene, not to mention luck. But as average life expectancy continues to increase worldwide due to overall improvements in these and other factors, it's becoming clear that exceptional longevity and healthy aging tends to run in families. This suggests that genetic differences also play a role in assuring lifespan and life-long good health.

In a new study, we show that the children of exceptionally long-lived parents, as well as their spouses, have a similar reduced risk for developing type II diabetes compared to the general population." Prof Iva Miljkovic, School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, US

Exceptionally long-lived families

The study, published in Frontiers in Clinical Diabetes and Healthcare, is part of the Long Life Family Study (LLFS) of the US National Institute on Aging-National Institutes of Health (NIA-NIH). The LLFS focuses on families in the US and Denmark with multiple exceptionally long-lived members. It identifies, across two generations, which genetic, epigenetic, and other biological processes are associated with long life and healthy aging.

Miljkovic and colleagues show that children born in exceptionally long-lived families differ from peers in their blood levels of biomarkers affecting the risk of type II diabetes: their genetic and epigenetic make-up help their body to remain responsive to insulin, even in old age. Their spouses  typically not born to exceptionally long-lived parents  tend to share these health- and lifespan-boosting biomarker levels. This implies that such family-specific beneficial biomarker levels aren't always inherited  you might also develop them if married to the right partner.

"While this latter finding may not be intuitive, also previous studies have reported marked survival and health advantages among spouses to offspring of long-lived families," said Miljkovic.

Miljkovic and colleagues followed the health of 4559 long-lived (above 90 years of age at enrollment) focal women and men, 1445 of their siblings (themselves above 80 years), 2329 children (between 32 and 88 years old) of the focal person or of their sibling, and 785 of those children's spouses, from 2006 until 2017. By comparing health-related traits of the children to those of their spouses, rather than to those of people drawn randomly from the population, they ensured that both had a similar lifestyle and environment in adulthood.

Lower risk of diabetes II

Among the children and their spouses, respectively 3.7% and 3.8% developed type II diabetes over the course of the study. This corresponds to a rate of 4.6 to 4.7 new cases of type II diabetes per 1000 person-years, about 53% lower than the rate among people between 45 and 64 years in the general US population. This implies that both the children and their spouses had a reduced risk of developing type II diabetes: one of the health and longevity benefits of being part of a long-lived family, either through descent or marriage.

Traits that seemed to protect against developing diabetes II included low BMI, low waist circumference, high levels of HDL cholesterol and the hormones adiponectin and sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) in the blood, and low levels of triglycerides, insulin-like growth factor 1, and pro-inflammatory interleukin 6 (IL-6) in the blood.

Same genetic effects in spouses  but stronger

"We found that pro-inflammatory and growth-factor-signaling biomarkers seem to have stronger positive and negative effects on the risk of diabetes in the spouses of offspring of exceptional survivors than in those offspring themselves. This suggests that different biological risk factors affect this risk in the two groups," said Miljkovic.

Does this mean that spouses grow to resemble each other in their biomarker blood levels simply by sharing a household and lifestyle, irrespective of their genetic background in early life? Not necessarily always, warns Miljkovic.

Assortative mating is possible explanation

"It's also possible that people unconsciously tend to pick their partners through so-called "assortative mating"  that is, tending to match their phenotypes and the underlying genotypes. Including those that affect diabetes risk and longevity," explained Miljkovic.

Miljkovic looked ahead: "Further LLFS studies to identify the mechanisms and pathways  genetic, epigenetic, molecular, health trajectories and behaviors, and lifestyle patterns  are required to understand why being married to a member of a long-lived family also comes with a metabolic health and survival advantage, similar to that of their spouse."
Psilocybin, the psychedelic compound found in magic mushrooms, helps to "open up" depressed people's brains, even after use, enabling brain regions to talk more freely to one another.

These are the findings of a new analysis of brain scans from close to 60 people receiving treatment for depression, led by Imperial College London's Centre for Psychedelic Research. The team behind the study believes it may have untangled how psilocybin exerts its therapeutic effects on the brain.

Psilocybin is one of a number of psychedelics being explored as a potential therapy for psychiatric disorders. Several studies have trialed a synthesized form of the drug to treat patients with depression and anxiety, with promising results.

The new results, taken from two combined studies, reveal that people who responded to psilocybin-assisted therapy showed increased brain connectivity not just during their treatment, but up to three weeks afterwards. This "opening up" effect was associated with self-reported improvements in their depression. However, similar changes in brain connectivity were not seen in those treated with a conventional antidepressant (called escitalopram), suggesting the psychedelic works differently in treating depression.

According to the team, the findings, published today in the journal Nature Medicine, are a promising advance for psilocybin therapy, with the effects replicated across two studies. They explain that patterns of brain activity in depression can become rigid and restricted, and that psilocybin could potentially help the brain to break out of this rut in a way that traditional therapies cannot.

The paper's senior author Professor Robin Carhart-Harris, former Head of the Imperial Centre for Psychedelic Research who is now based at University of California, San Francisco, said: "The effect seen with psilocybin is consistent across two studies, related to people getting better, and was not seen with a conventional antidepressant.

"In previous studies we had seen a similar effect in the brain when people were scanned whilst on a psychedelic, but here we're seeing it weeks after treatment for depression, which suggests a 'carry over' of the acute drug action."

Initial findings from two studies carried out at Imperial reported a reduction in measures of depression, but the mechanism underpinning how the treatment exerts these effects has been unclear.

In the latest study, a team led by Imperial's Centre for Psychedelic Research analysed fMRI scans of participants from these two trials, which included almost 60 participants: an open label trial in treatment-resistant depression  where all participants received psilocybin; and a randomised control trial in more general depression that compared psilocybin with the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) escitalopram. All participants also received talking therapies with registered mental health professionals and brain scans were taken before, and then one day or three weeks after participants received psilocybin therapy.

Both trials found improvements with psilocybin therapy, as measured by improved participant scores on clinical questionnaires. Analysis of the brain scans revealed altered communication or connectivity between brain regions.

More specifically, they found an increase in communication between those brain regions that are more segregated in depressed patients. They found a correlation between this effect and symptom improvement in both trials  while the strength and duration of effect varied between participants, it was strongest in those who reported an improvement in symptoms. The researchers added that while follow-up data is still being analyzed for participants, initial changes in brain activity one day following treatment were a good predictor of whether a person would still show improvement at six months.

We don't yet know how long the changes in brain activity seen with psilocybin therapy last and we need to do more research to understand this. We do know that some people relapse, and it may be that after a while their brains revert to the rigid patterns of activity we see in depression." Professor Robin Carhart-Harris, Senior Author

The authors caution that while these findings are encouraging, previous trials assessing psilocybin for depression took place under controlled, clinical conditions, using a regulated dose formulated in a laboratory, and involved extensive psychological support before, during and after dosing, provided by mental health professionals.

Patients with depression should not attempt to self-medicate with psilocybin, as taking magic mushrooms or psilocybin in the absence of these careful safeguards may not have a positive outcome.

Professor David Nutt, Head of the Imperial Centre for Psychedelic Research, said: "These findings are important because for the first time we find that psilocybin works differently from conventional antidepressants  making the brain more flexible and fluid, and less entrenched in the negative thinking patterns associated with depression. This supports our initial predictions and confirms psilocybin could be a real alternative approach to depression treatments."

Professor Carhart-Harris said: "One exciting implication of our findings is that we have discovered a fundamental mechanism via which psychedelic therapy works not just for depression  but other mental illnesses, such as anorexia or addiction. We now need to test if this is the case, and if it is, then we have found something important."

The research was supported by funding from the Alex Mosley Charitable Trust and founding donors of the Imperial Centre for Psychedelic Research. First author Dr Richard Daws, who is now based at King's College London, was supported by the Imperial College London EPSRC Centre London for Doctoral Training (CDT) in Neurotechnology.
Depending on where some people live in the UK could mean they are denied an NHS treatment which helps patients with medical needs, such as cancer and transgender issues, become parents in the future.

That's according to a new study, which audited UK healthcare commissioner fertility preservation policies, to find that funding across the NHS is "variable".

The results, published in the peer-reviewed journal Human Fertility, mean that millions of people potentially face a postcode lottery to access treatments such as the freezing of reproductive tissue, eggs, sperm, or embryos.

The research  carried out by experts from leading institutions across the UK, such as University College London Hospital, Oxford University Hospital and Ninewells Hospital and Medical School in Dundee  shows that the postcode lottery is most evident for transgender people, and those with non-malignant diseases that can affect the ability to conceive  such as recurrent endometriosis and autoimmune conditions.

Their findings highlight that less than half (42%) of English-based clinical commissioning groups (CCGs)  which assign the funding to the NHS health trusts  specify any provision for transgender patients.

Ovarian tissue freezing is the only option for prepubescent girls to preserve their fertility in advance of chemotherapy, and for women who can't delay cancer treatment. Yet this new data also shows fewer than one in ten (seven per cent) NHS commissioners in England fund this type of fertility preservation, although they all do in Scotland.

The authors say some CCGs do not follow NICE (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) guidelines for fertility preservation and that standardization of policies is needed.

Our study highlights the disparity in fertility preservation provision across the UK. Variation in provision creates a lack of parity between patients and affects the holistic care of the pathology being treated. Notably, funding for those undergoing treatment for gender incongruence and ovarian tissue cryopreservation is inconsistent and needs to be addressed. This national audit serves as a tool for all stakeholders to appeal to their local commissioners for uniformity of policy, equal access to care for patients and implementation of standardized fertility preservation provision in the UK." Sania Latif, Reproductive Medicine Unit, University College London Hospital, England

Over the last few years, referrals have risen considerably for fertility preservation. These procedures where reproductive cells (gametes) are extracted, frozen and stored offer people the hope of having a family one day.

The aim of this study was to investigate whether variation exists in funding for patients and the extent of any disparity.

The authors analyzed 155 fertility preservation policies in the UK between December 2020 and February 2021. All NHS health trusts and boards responsible for providing treatment in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland were included, and 129 (out of 135) CCGs in England.

They looked at funding for all aspects of fertility preservation. This included type of cryopreservation procedure, number of ejaculation/ovarian stimulation cycles, number of years for storing gametes (eggs, sperm etc), and treatment to replace gametes. Eligibility criteria such as male/female age and patient body mass index (BMI) were also investigated

In England, all CCGs that responded fund gamete and embryo freezing for cancer. Nine out of ten (89%) fund fertility preservation treatments for both cancer and non-malignant conditions, whereas one in ten (11%) fund fertility preservation treatments for cancer only. The majority of CCGs fund storage of gametes for a decade, a third have a 5-year limit.

Restrictive policies also exist in Wales and Northern Ireland where policies do not specify funding for ovarian tissue freezing.

In Scotland, the situation is by far the most inclusive according to the data. A national policy exists to provide funding for freezing of all reproductive material including ovarian tissue, and for most patients. Storage of gametes is funded for at least ten years.

The authors offer several reasons for the significant differences in provision across the UK. They say one factor could be that fertility preservation is considered part of fertility treatment such as IVF 'which is notoriously underfunded'.
As an assistant teaching professor in the MU Sinclair School of Nursing, Stefanie Birk knows there are nursing students unsure of how to talk with people hesitant about getting a COVID-19 vaccine. Being a public health nurse herself, Birk has been in similar situations and is passionate about equipping the next generation of nurses with the knowledge and confidence they need to have conversations that ultimately promote public health.

To help increase knowledge and confidence about the COVID-19 vaccine among nurses and the communities they serve, Birk and an interdisciplinary team of educators and researchers at the University of Missouri have earned a grant from the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) with funding through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

"We want to prepare our nursing students as they get ready to graduate and go on to become nurses serving our communities," said Birk, who teaches public health classes to hundreds of undergraduate and graduate students in the MU Sinclair School of Nursing. "By incorporating these lessons into their current curriculum, they will be better prepared going forward to have effective conversations with people who may be feeling hesitant about the COVID-19 vaccine."

The content will be incorporated into Birk's current 'nursing in communities' course for the spring 2022 semester as well as future semesters. The updated course content will cover topics including vaccine development, safety and efficacy, vaccine hesitancy, differentiating between factual, evidence-based information and misinformation related to COVID-19 vaccines, motivational interviewing, health communication and social media marketing.

We want our students to not only have knowledge about the COVID-19 vaccine, but also to feel empowered and confident to engage with members of local communities who might feel hesitant about it, and to target key rural and underserved populations in Missouri where vaccine hesitancy may be more common and the vaccination rates might be lower." Stefanie Birk, MU Sinclair School of Nursing

Birk also will work with faculty and students from the Missouri School of Journalism to identify effective communication strategies, including print advertisements, billboard advertisements, radio advertisements and social media marketing strategies. The project will end in June, when the students, some of whom may be graduating in May, will earn a certificate signaling they have completed the curriculum. Resources from the curriculum will be shared with nursing programs at Lincoln University and Central Methodist University.

"When having these conversations, part of our health promotion strategy is to acknowledge people's feelings, listen to what their reservations are, and then use encouragement and motivational approaches," Birk said. "Whether it is in a clinical setting or with family and friends, we want to offer support and promote public health outcomes."

Birk is collaborating with Mary Fete, Valerie Bader, Deidre Wipke-Tevis and Malaika Gallimore of the MU Sinclair School of Nursing, and Jon Stemmle and Kathleen Rose of the Missouri School of Journalism.
A new paper by an Oregon State University-led research team provides a scientific framework to help shape the rollout of a program in Oregon that will legally permit the use of psilocybin for therapeutic reasons.

Oregon voters approved a ballot measure in 2020 to allow use of psilocybin, the hallucinogenic compound found in some magic mushrooms, in therapeutic settings, becoming the first state to do so. Preliminary clinical trial data has shown psilocybin has potential to address mental health issues including depression, anxiety and PTSD.

The state created an advisory board to recommend how to roll out a safe and equitable system for psilocybin use. The Oregon Health Authority in February released draft rules crafted by the advisory board. They are expected to be finalized in the next year.

Jessie Uehling, a mycologist at Oregon State University who studies fungi and their applications that benefit humanity, was appointed last year by Gov. Kate Brown to the advisory board. Her involvement with the board made her realize the need for the recently published paper in the journal Fungal Biology.

"There was not a synthesis of all the information about psilocybin that an entity like the advisory board or any other state- or federal-level group would need to make decisions that are informed by science," said Uehling, an assistant professor who has a doctoral degree in genetics and genomics and a master's in mycology.

She, along with researchers in Mexico and several universities in the U.S., set out to change that. The paper they just published provides an overview of the biology, diversity and history of psilocybin-containing fungi.

The authors detail that there are hundreds of fungal species belonging to at least seven genera that are capable of producing psilocybin. Further, they discuss how many psilocybin-producing fungi have deadly poisonous lookalikes which grow in similar locations in natural habitats.

They also focus on how Indigenous people around the world have historically used the compound for sacred traditions in part because they say these cross-disciplinary insights need to be published, citable and publicly available.

While indirect evidence of hallucinogenic mushroom rituals dates back thousands of years in Northern Africa and Spain; its use, for hundreds of years, still persists in Mexico. Rules governing how these mushrooms are used among Indigenous Mexican groups has resulted in safe consumption for centuries, the researchers note. These rules include being guided by an elder or shaman, not mixing alcohol, medicine or drugs and discouraging travel for a week after the ceremony.

These mushrooms and their traditions constitute a unique biocultural heritage whose use by Western society must be based on their respect and conservation." Roberto Garibay-Orijel, researcher, Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico and co-author of the paper

He said it's important that the paper emphasizes that the species of mushroom only found in Mexico, and strains from Indigenous territories in Mexico, are protected by the Nagoya protocol, an international agreement that prohibits their use for commercial purposes without the consent of their ancestral owners.

Recent Western, medicalized psilocybin trials have been designed to mirror the guided experience used by Indigenous groups. The trials have confirmed the importance of preparation and setting when using psilocybin-producing fungi.\

There are currently more than 60 psilocybin clinical trials overseen by the National Institutes of Health. Preliminary data suggest psilocybin therapies are effective in treating major depressive disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, smoking cessation and alcoholism.

Results of psilocybin ingestion outside of clinical trials have found an increased connection to nature, enhanced creativity, greater enjoyment of music and increased positive mood.

Meanwhile, cities across the U.S. are decriminalizing psilocybin and Washington is considering a measure similar to Oregon's that would legalize psilocybin for therapeutic reasons.

"Society is having this moment right now where fungi are being appreciated for being really cool," Uehling said. "But they are also really powerful and some can be deadly. So we really need to better understand them through scientific research and proceed with safety as a first priority."
Rates of depression and loneliness have increased among older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic, prompting a need for more coordinated efforts to address the issue going forward, according to a new report on social isolation among older Canadians.

Researchers Laura Kadowaki and Andrew Wister from Simon Fraser University's Gerontology Research Centre (GRC) prepared the report for the Federal/Provincial/Territorial Ministers Responsible for Seniors Forum. Survey data was collected from participants in the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA) a national, long-term study following approximately 50,000 individuals from across Canada between the ages of 45 and 85 for at least 20 years.

Older women were most impacted, with those aged 65 to 74 experiencing a 67 per cent increase in loneliness and a rise in depression from 19 per cent pre-pandemic (2011-2015) to 23 per cent in 2020.

The survey data also shows that loneliness increased by 45 per cent among men aged 65 to 74 with a rise in depression from 12 to 14 per cent. Women and men in the older age group, from 75 to 84, reported a notable but smaller increase in loneliness of 37 and 33 per cent respectively and depression.

The CLSA COVID-19 research also revealed that about two-thirds of women over the age of 65 felt separated from their family during the pandemic, compared to slightly over half of the older men that age. Among all ages and gender groups about 22 per cent felt they were unable to access health care.

Older adults living alone are particularly at risk of experiencing loneliness during the pandemic. Low-income older adults living in social housing or assisted living settings are more vulnerable to social isolation as well. Other high-risk groups include those living with dementia or in rural and remote areas, Indigenous peoples, ethnic minority and immigrant older adults, LGBTQ2 identified individuals and informal caregivers.

Wister and Kadowaki note that portrayals of older adults as a homogenous, vulnerable group during the pandemic has intensified ageist views and intergenerational tensions, given the reduced opportunities for older adults to safely interact with younger generations.

Effective interventions to reduce social isolation among older adults are needed

Programs should also be tailored to meet linguistic and cultural needs and delivered via a range of formats, such as in-person, virtual or over the phone, including support for those at risk of elder abuse. Interventions to reduce social isolation require ongoing collaboration, since they involve partnerships between a range of stakeholders from government to non-profit organizations, academic institutions and the private sector.

There is a need for digital technology education and training programs for older adults to address the existing digital divide. Participation in virtual group fitness classes can help reduce social isolation and help keep older adults healthy. Ensuring all Canadians have access to low-cost home internet and free internet in public spaces should be a priority." Andrew Wister, GRC director

Social activities, educational sessions and befriending programs can also be offered by phone along with access to help and information lines.

Expanding outreach and befriending programs between youth and older adults can reduce social isolation and combat ageist views and behaviours that have worsened during the pandemic, Wister noted. Organizations can also support older adults in safely returning to volunteering.

Systemic issues of staffing levels and capacity were identified as having implications for supporting social connections for residents in long-term care. Adequate staff support and training is required for screening visitors, setting up technology for virtual visits and providing social activities for residents.

The researchers note that many successful interventions are currently being supported by short-term or emergency funding. Potential roles identified for governmental organizations in their efforts to reduce older adult social isolation include funding, supporting coordinated responses and knowledge sharing, and policy-making.
The Mount Sinai Hospital has announced the completion of a full renovation of its children's Emergency Department (ED), and a newly redesigned area for walk-in, low acuity adult patients. These are the first two phases of a five phase redesign project that will double the footprint of the entire ED. The project is slated for final completion in 2024.

Part of the hospital's $70 million transformation was made possible by generous donations. The facility features innovative, state-of-the-art assessment and treatment rooms to enhance access to life-saving, high-quality care and an improved experience for the 100,000 patients who visit the ED each year.

We have used input from patients and staff alike to design a new Emergency Department and to build an approach that is centered both on delivering high-quality care and on making the experience of receiving care at Mount Sinai patient-centered. We are excited that this investment has created opportunities for us to advance emergency care in ways that significantly enhance our commitment to learn, grow, and elevate our ability to meet the acute care needs of our community." Brendan G. Carr, MD, MS, Chair of Emergency Medicine, Mount Sinai Health System

The new Mount Sinai Children's Emergency Department at The Mount Sinai Hospital is tailored to the needs of children and their families, with a separate space from the adult ED and is connected to all services within Mount Sinai Kravis Children's Hospital. It is nearly double the size of the previous space and has increased bed capacity. The design elements used throughout the environment, including colorful lighting and an interactive video feature wall, provide a calming atmosphere to put the youngest and most vulnerable patients at ease and help them feel comfortable. The location also houses a newly established special "resuscitation space" for critical care cases to enhance treatment for the sickest children and a low-stimulation room-;a quieter and calmer area for children with autism or other sensory challenges-;which is unique among New York-area emergency departments.

"We are excited to offer a more comfortable experience for pediatric patients," says Christopher Strother, MD, Director of Pediatric Emergency Medicine at The Mount Sinai Hospital. "This new space allows us to treat and care for low-acuity patients more quickly and effectively, as well as provide advanced care for critically ill and injured patients. The modern and functional design will allow our pediatric patients to get exceptional care when they are feeling their worst."

"The opening of our new children's emergency department is the first of many exciting changes planned to ensure that we continue to provide the best and most compassionate care to children in our region," explains Fernando Ferrer, MD, FACS, FAAP, Chief Operating Officer of Mount Sinai Kravis Children's Hospital. "This innovative facility, dedicated solely to children, will allow our talented teams of pediatric emergency medicine professionals and child life specialists to provide care in an environment designed to comfort both patients and their families. As our emergency department is often a starting point in a child's health journey at Mount Sinai, our new facilities will ensure a best-in-class care experience."

This adult section of the emergency department has an expanded space for triage and treatment, as well as new protocols for expedited care. As soon as patients get registered at the front desk, staff will assess their condition and take them back to the triage area to limit their time in the waiting room. Within minutes, a doctor or physician assistant will assess patients, gather medical history, and then immediately order any lab work or X-rays. The newly designed space allows for better workflow, enabling rapid diagnosis and treatment.

"The Mount Sinai Hospital is taking an important step in streamlining the process of patient care in the Emergency Department," explains David Reich, MD, President and Chief Operating Officer of The Mount Sinai Hospital. "It is designed to expedite the start of patient care, and move patients more quickly through the system to the point of hospital discharge. We expect to see improved outcomes as a result of these efforts, but this redesign and the clinical care principles we have put in place are just the beginning of our journey to transform emergency care at Mount Sinai, and we are excited for the continued evolution of these key facility upgrades."

The Emergency Department of the Mount Sinai Health System has more than 200 faculty members in seven hospitals across the New York metropolitan region. The next phases of renovations are the geriatric emergency department, main emergency room, critical care area, and observation area.
The stunning climb in homicide rates in recent years in California and big cities across the nation obscures a remarkably good-news trend involving young children: The number of child homicide victims fell dramatically in California over the past decade, the latest death certificate data shows, a pattern mirrored to a lesser extent nationwide.

In 1991, California's coroners officially classified 133 deaths of children ages 9 and younger as homicides. By 2011, that figure had fallen to 81.

In 2020, it stood at 40.

Adjusted for population changes, the state's child homicide rate  the number of homicides per 100,000 children ages 0 to 9  dropped about 50% from 2011 to 2020 and is down about 70% from three decades earlier, according to data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the California Department of Public Health.

Nationwide, the child homicide rate fell 14% over the past decade and 28% from three decades earlier.

Most child homicides involve newborns, infants, and young toddlers. Deanne Tilton Durfee, executive director of the Los Angeles County Inter-Agency Council on Child Abuse and Neglect, noted that "safe surrender" laws came online in California and many other states around 2001. Enacted in response to a spate of infant abandonments, these laws allow parents to confidentially surrender an infant 3 days old or younger without fear of prosecution.

More than 1,000 California infants have been safely surrendered since the law went into effect, according to the California Department of Social Services. The number of infants found recklessly abandoned statewide fell from an average of 18 a year from 2001 through 2005 to an average of two a year from 2015 through 2019. And the number of abandoned babies who died went from 52 in 2001-05 to zero in 2015-19.

"Safe surrender has clearly made a difference," Tilton Durfee said. "We show an absolute correlation between the declining number of child homicides and the rising number of safe surrenders. I mean, it's not equal, it's not exact, but clearly since we started, we saw the number of child homicides by abandonment decline."

Better access to family planning services may also play a role in the decline of child homicides as people give birth to fewer unwanted babies. The birth rate  births per 1,000 women  in California and nationwide has plummeted over the past three decades, and women are, on average, waiting until they are older and more mature to give birth. Although fathers or boyfriends kill children significantly more often than mothers, Tilton Durfee said data collected in Los Angeles County shows a correlation between the age of the mother and child homicides: Older mothers kill children less often.

Some child welfare experts pointed to studies that show an association between declining child homicide rates and increased access to abortion.

Although news coverage is painfully rife with stories of child victims who fell through the cracks of overwhelmed social service agencies, experts interviewed by KHN said that the social safety net is stronger overall in California now than it was in earlier decades and that early intervention with at-risk families has made a difference.

Various agencies  law enforcement, social services, hospitals, nonprofit community groups  seek to prevent child homicides. Child safety advocates said many California counties have worked in recent years to improve communication among those groups so they know when a child may be at risk for homicide.

"They are more apt to do something with what they know and involve each other," said Dr. Michael Durfee, who helped start the nation's first multiagency "child death review team" in Los Angeles County in 1978.

Organizations like First 5 California and state agencies like the Department of Social Services have also started several home-visitation programs for parents of newborns. "I think home visitation has made a big difference," said Tilton Durfee. She said the programs provide "some eyes and ears and support inside the home to see how safe the child is or to help the stressed parent."

Other advocates credited advances in early diagnoses and support services for children with disabilities, who historically have been more likely than other children to be victimized.

"We're screening, and so now we're starting to identify those things and make changes early on," said Sheila Boxley, president and CEO of the statewide Child Abuse Prevention Center.

The decline in California's child homicide rates held true across race and ethnicity  but didn't erase disturbing disparities. The rate of homicides involving young Black children from 2011 through 2020 was more than three times as high as the rate for white and Hispanic children and about seven times as high as the rate for Asian children.

Tilton Durfee blamed long-standing systemic racism. She said the factors often at play in families in which a young child is killed  unemployment, substance misuse, mental illness, domestic violence  are statistically more likely in the African American community.

Determining when a child's death is a homicide is often difficult. Several datasets try to capture the extent of the problem. The death certificate data used for this story is based on coroners' cause-of-death determinations.

Kimberly Gin, the Sacramento County coroner and president of the California State Coroners Association, said coroners have used the same standard for decades when determining whether a death is the result of homicide. A homicide occurs as a result of a willful act "committed by another person to cause fear, harm, or death," according to the National Association of Medical Examiners.

"Some are easy: If a child is shot, it's a homicide," Gin said. "The drug overdoses or if it looks like it may be an accident  sometimes it isn't as clear."

A separate dataset from the California Department of Justice collects information directly from law enforcement agencies about deaths designated by those agencies as homicides, including the age of victims. For most age groups, the information reported by law enforcement investigators matches a coroner's final cause-of-death determination. But when the victims are very young, records show broader discrepancies between the initial assessment by law enforcement agencies and the coroner's final determination.

The state DOJ dataset consistently shows more California homicides for children ages 0 to 9 than the death certificate data does: 13 more homicides in 2020, for instance. However, like the death certificate data, it shows a significant decline in the child homicide rate: a 70% decline since 1991 and a 28% decline since 2011.

The decline in child homicides continued during the first year of the pandemic, even as homicides surged for many other age groups, according to both death certificate and state DOJ figures. Preliminary figures show further declines in 2021, but Gin, the Sacramento County coroner, called those numbers "iffy" because investigations into child deaths from last year may be ongoing.

Tilton Durfee supports several measures that she says would keep the child homicide rate falling. She called for improvements to mental health care for parents of newborns. She said more programs are needed to prepare pregnant parents for the challenges they will face. She expressed support for pending legislation that would reestablish a state child death review council to identify trends and disparities in child deaths. And she said insurance companies and public agencies should start covering the costs of home visits to support new parents.

"We are very shy of having the level of home visitation that could make the dent that is possible," she said, "particularly with these young children."

Phillip Reese is a data reporting specialist and an assistant professor of journalism at California State University-Sacramento.

This story was produced by KHN, which publishes California Healthline, an editorially independent service of the California Health Care Foundation.
On a Sunday morning in March 2020, right at the start of the pandemic, an article in Popular Mechanics caught engineer Pieter Van Ry's eye. It had a catchy title: "How Poop Offers Hints About the Spread of Coronavirus."

This story is part of a partnership that includes Colorado Public Radio, NPR and KHN. It can be republished for free.

At the end of that article, it said, If you have a wastewater facility and youre interested in participating in this study, please contact us,' he said.

As a matter of fact, Van Ry did have a wastewater facility. He is the director of South Platte Renew, a wastewater treatment plant in Englewood, Colorado, that serves 300,000 people. He filled out the form, and South Platte joined the first facilities in the nation to start testing wastewater for covid-19.

Now, as the federal government expands its wastewater testing effort, Colorado has begun to extend its surveillance project to the entire state. The state's public health agency is now working with 47 wastewater utilities that serve about 60% of Colorados population.

People infected with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes covid-19, shed viral RNA  genetic material from the virus  in their feces. In wastewater tests, scientists use that RNA to tell whats there.

Rachel Jervis, an epidemiologist with the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, noted that wastewater testing can offer an early warning sign about where covid spread is highest. We found that up to 50% of people will shed covid virus in their stool regardless of whether or not they have symptoms, she said.

The state compiles the data from a variety of sites on a public dashboard. It also shares its numbers with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About $9.4 million in federal funds is paying for the states wastewater testing project from January 2021 through at least July 2023. The total includes personnel, supplies, equipment, and contracts.

From the start, lab results from the South Platte plant's samples showed exactly what the virus was doing, Van Ry said: It was spreading rapidly through the community. He showed a slide of data from samples. All the surges were clear: alpha, delta, and then a spectacular spike driven by the omicron variant in early 2022.

The South Platte team sends the wastewater samples it collects to a Massachusetts company called Biobot Analytics. Its mission: population health analytics powered by sewage.

The technique caught on around Colorado and the country. Colorado Mesa University, in collaboration with the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, was another early adopter in the state.

Emily Travanty, director of the state lab in Denver, said Colorado's public health agency started testing wastewater five years ago for foodborne illnesses like salmonella. We were able to pivot that expertise toward covid-19 as the pandemic emerged, and build upon that expertise within the laboratory, she said.

While the approach is groundbreaking in the U.S., its been used overseas for decades in polio eradication efforts. They use it essentially the same way we do  to look for communities where polio is circulating and then use that as a trigger for additional clinical surveillance in those communities," Amy Kirby, CDC microbiologist and team lead for the National Wastewater Surveillance System, said during a recent conference call.

In fall 2020, during the first weeks of the school year, a response team at the University of Denver started pulling samples from pipes on campus.

Corinne Lengsfeld, a mechanical engineer who oversees the campus's saliva testing lab, said a wastewater sample taken at one dorm early in the semester showed high concentrations of the virus. It was a million virus units per one liter, she said. Holy Toledo!

School officials had the dorm's residents undergo rapid nasal testing. The wastewater data, followed up with quick testing, allowed school officials to quickly identify and isolate 10 infectious students.

Without that, Lengsfeld said, perhaps 100 more students in the dorm of 300 might have caught it. It works," she said. "It definitely is a case study, I think, of exactly how to control spread."

Jude Bayham, an assistant professor at Colorado State University and the Colorado School of Public Health, said that as overall covid trends improve and Colorado pivots to the next phase  and maybe scales down other testing  still-evolving wastewater analysis promises to step up. Wastewater surveillance is a relatively cheap alternative that can provide a lot of information, said Bayham, who is also a member of the state's covid modeling team.

That kind of information can guide coronavirus response.

We are really excited about this new tool, said state epidemiologist Dr. Rachel Herlihy. It will help us understand regional differences. Its also been incredibly useful for us in understanding the emergence of new variants.

Were still really figuring out how to best put it to use, Herlihy added.

Kirby, of the National Wastewater Surveillance System team, said the CDC anticipates using the system to monitor infectious diseases, as well as other public health issues, like substance use disorders.

One of the strengths of wastewater surveillance is that it is very flexible, Kirby said. So once we have built this infrastructure to collect the samples, get them to a laboratory, get the data to CDC, we can add tests for new pathogens fairly quickly.

Should a new pathogen of interest pop up, she said, they could ramp up this system within a few weeks to start gathering community-level data on it.

This story is part of a partnership that includes Colorado Public Radio, NPR and KHN.
A recent study posted to the medRxiv* preprint server assessed the impact of face masks on coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) incidence among children aged between 10 and 12 years.

Background

During the period of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Delta variant predominance in Finland, the use of face masks was recommended across the country in schools. However, there is insignificant data related to the impact of face masks in the prevention of COVID-19 transmission.

About the study

In the present study, the researchers compared the incidence of COVID-19 among children aged between 10 to 12 years, residing in different Finnish cities, with different recommendations regarding the usage of face masks in schools.

The team obtained the total number of COVID-19 cases from the National Infectious Disease Registry (NIDR) of the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare. They also collected demographic information including the patients date of birth, sex, and residential area. The moving averages of 14-day case incidences were employed as a dependent variable. Furthermore, the team calculated the average percent changes (APC) occurring over one month.

The cities of Helsinki with a population of 6,61,887 and Turku with a population of 1,95,818 were compared for the present study since their baseline incidence of COVID-19 was comparable in August and September 2021. Helsinki had implemented face mask usage at schools while Turku had recommended face mask usage for individuals aged 10 years and above.

The team compared the 14-day incidences of COVID-19 among individuals aged seven to nine, 10 to 12, and 30 to 49 years.

Results

The study results showed that there were no significant differences in APC values in August between Helinski and Turku. However, the APC value was higher in Turku in September and November while the APC value was higher in Helsinki in October.

Notably, the incidence of COVID-19 in children aged seven to nine years was similar to that in children aged 10 to 12 years, while no such similarity was observed for adults aged 30 to 49 years in the two cities.

Overall, the study findings showed that there were no substantial differences in the incidence of COVID-19 after wearing face masks in children aged between 10 to 12 years and residing in Helsinki and Turku.

*Important notice

medRxiv publishes preliminary scientific reports that are not peer-reviewed and, therefore, should not be regarded as conclusive, guide clinical practice/health-related behavior, or treated as established information.
Researchers at University of California San Diego School of Medicine and Moores Cancer Center at UC San Diego Health, with collaborators at La Jolla Institute for Immunology and elsewhere, have further elucidated how ovarian cancer tumors defy immunotherapy, identifying new molecular targets that might boost immune response.

The findings will publish in the April 11, 2022 online issue of PNAS.

Ovarian cancer is the fifth leading cause of cancer deaths among women and the majority of these cases are high-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC) tumors, according to the American Cancer Society.

HGSOC is lethal in part because it is often resistant to chemotherapy. Immunotherapy, a therapeutic approach that uses a person's immune system to fight disease, has been promising in many cancers, but approaches to use immunotherapy have not yet shown success in HGSOC.

One approach to immunotherapy targets proteins called checkpoint receptors that act as brakes on immune system activation. Inhibitors of checkpoint receptors release this brake, allowing the immune system to attack cancer cells. However, for immunotherapy to work effectively against HGSOC, treatments need to also disable the protective environment created by the cancer cells.

In the study led by Duygu Ozmadenci, PhD, postdoc scholar, and senior author David D. Schlaepfer, PhD, professor in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences at UC San Diego School of Medicine, they provide new insights into the molecular details of tumor and immune cell communication and resulting dysfunction in HGSOC.

Ovarian cancer is one of oncology's greatest challenges. Tumors can develop without obvious symptoms. The most common sign of ovarian cancer is abdominal swelling when the disease is advanced, which is when most women are diagnosed." David D. Schlaepfer, PhD, Professor, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, UC San Diego School of Medicine

Ozmadenci and colleagues found that activation of a key signaling protein within tumors called focal adhesion kinase (FAK) regulated expression of a protein called CD155 that binds to the checkpoint receptor called TIGIT on immune cells. In effect, the tumor is building a safe environment for the cancer cells to grow and evade immune detection in part by maintaining high levels of CD155 as a shield against immune attack.

In a preclinical model of aggressive ovarian cancer, the researchers found that an oral anti-FAK drug reduced CD155 and other checkpoint proteins. When used together with an immunotherapy blocking TIGIT, an elevated immune response was observed against the ovarian cancer cells. This, in turn resulted in smaller tumors and longer survival.

"Several companies are testing inhibitors to FAK and others have inhibitory antibodies to the TIGIT checkpoint receptor in clinical trials," said Schlaepfer. "In HGSOC tumors, where high levels of CD155 and active FAK are common, our results provide compelling support for targeting FAK and TIGIT as part of a new immune-boosting therapeutic strategy."
Kent McCoskey was brutally beaten inside of his New Albany home on Sunday evening. A GoFundMe page has been set up to help the family pay for expenses related to the incident.
(Newser)  Acting on a tip from a contractor in 2017, auto mechanic Jared Whipple retrieved a bunch of dirt-covered artworks from a dumpster, which was filled with materials from an abandoned barn in nearby Watertown. The haul included hundreds of pieces, including paintings, sculptures, and small drawings. Whipple later learned they were by abstract expressionist Francis Hines, who had died in 2016 and stored his work in the barn. Hines was renowned for his "wrapping" pieces, in which fabric is wrapped around an object. He wrapped more than 10 buildings in New York, including the Washington Square Arch, JFK Airport, and the Port Authority Bus Terminal.

Art curator and historian Peter Hastings Falk estimates the "wrapped" paintings that were found can be sold at around $22,000 apiece and the drawings at around $4,500. The haul could be worth millions. Whipple showed some of the pieces at a gallery in Waterbury last year, and he recently decided to sell some of the art. He is collaborating with the Hollis Taggart gallery on exhibits in New York and Connecticut beginning next month. Since finding the treasure trove, Whipple has researched Hines' work and contacted the artist's family, whohe saidhave allowed him to keep and sell the art. "I pulled it out of this dumpster and I fell in love with it," Whipple told the New Haven Register. "I made a connection with it. My purpose is to get Hines into the history books."

(Read more treasure stories.)
(Newser)  With polls showing public support for the move has nearly doubled in both countries since the invasion of Ukraine, Sweden and Finland are talking about joining NATO. Don't do that, Russia warned Monday. "The alliance remains a tool geared towards confrontation," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters, the BBC reports. NATO growing to 32 members would "not bring stability" to Europe, he said. Russia also has insisted Ukraine stay out of NATO, and President Volodymyr Zelensky acknowledged his country will not be invited.

Representatives from Sweden and Finland attended a NATO meeting of foreign ministers last week, where the possibility of their membership was a subject of discussion, per Reuters. When the war began, Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson said that military non-alignment had "served Sweden's interests well." But now she's ready to reassess. "When Russia invaded Ukraine, Sweden's security position changed fundamentally," her party, the Social Democrats, said in a statement Monday. The party said it's conducting a security review that will be finished by summer.

Finland is especially unnerved by Russia's attack on Ukraine because it has an 830-mile border with Russia. After dropping its strict neutrality years ago, Finland now is a NATO partner. The government expects to decide on becoming a member no later than midsummer; a former prime minister said Finland probably will apply in time to attend the NATO summit in Madrid in June. Last week, Pescov said Russia will "rebalance the situation" if the two nations join NATO. US officials have said Russia's invasion was a blunder that probably will result in NATO growing. (Read more NATO stories.)
(Newser)  An heir to the Walt Disney Co. has come out as transgender, announcing a family effort to support LGBTQ rights and oppose new legislation that threatens them. Charlee Disney came out publicly last month at the Human Rights Campaign's annual gala after coming out privately four years ago, NBC News reports. Disney announced at the Los Angeles event that the family would match up to $250,000 in donations to the organization, the largest LGBTQ advocacy group in the US. Disney's mother, Sheri, told the Los Angeles Times that the Disneys were disappointed the company at first didn't oppose Florida's new "Dont Say Gay" law, officially called the Parental Rights in Education Act.

Last week, Disney's father, Roy P. Disney, increased the match maximum to $500,000 last week; he's the grandson of the late Walt Disney. "Equality matters deeply to us," Roy P. Disney said in a statement, "especially because our child, Charlee, is transgender and a proud member of the LGBTQ+ community." Charlee Disney, 30, a high school teacher, wants to fight the Florida law and similar measures but is new to political advocacy. "I feel like I don't do very much to help," Disney said. "I don't call senators or take action. I felt like I could be doing more."

Sheri Disney said she wasn't surprised by Charlee's revelation, per the Times; she remembers Charlee telling her at age 2 or 3, when they were shopping for girls' shoes, "But mom, Im a boy on the inside." Charlee Disney said despite the family support, it's been a struggle at times. "I had very few openly gay role models," Disney said. And I certainly didnt have any trans or nonbinary role models. I didn't see myself reflected in anyone, and that made me feel like there was something wrong with me." Their mother said the donation matching is intended to remind people of the support LGBTQ children need. "I have a trans kid, and I love my kid no matter what," she said. (Read more Walt Disney Co. stories.)
(Newser)  If Republicans win control of the House in this year's midterm elections, GOP Leader Kevin McCarthy has plans. His members will concentrate on "holding this administration accountable," he told Maria Bartiromo of Fox Business on Sunday. But McCarthy cautioned Republicans against a politically motivated impeachment of President Biden, the Hill reports. "One thing we learned that the Democrats did is theythey used impeachment for political reason," he said.

If he becomes speaker of the House, McCarthy has promised his party will investigate President Biden's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, border issues, the withdrawal from Afghanistan, and other matters. Several Republicans have introduced articles of impeachment against Biden, but Democratswho led the impeachment of former President Donald Trump twicecontrol the House. McCarthy didn't completely rule out impeachment, per the Hill. "At any time, if someone breaks the law and the ramification becomes impeachment, we would move towards that," he said. "But we're not going to use it for political purposes." (Read more impeachment stories.)
UNITED NATIONS, April 11 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese envoy on Monday called for the practice of true multilateralism in the global fight against the COVID-19 pandemic and in post-pandemic recovery.

During the pandemic in the past two years, over 6 million people have lost their lives. The lesson is profound and deserves serious reflection, said Zhang Jun, China's permanent representative to the United Nations.

"Nothing is more valuable in this world than human lives. A people-centered approach is the most important tenet that guides all our decisions," he told a Security Council meeting on COVID-19 and vaccines.

"At the global level, cooperation in solidarity is the most powerful weapon to defeat the pandemic, and is as effective in tackling other global challenges. Under these unprecedented circumstances, we must work together to build back better with a conviction stronger than ever that we are in a global community with a shared future," he said.

The world is still confronted with multiple challenges. A scant few countries are still holding on to their Cold War mentality, drawing lines of distinction based on ideology, provoking renewed bloc confrontation, imposing unilateral sanctions without scruple, weaponizing economic interdependence, and forcing countries to choose sides, he noted.

"This is plunging the international community into division and pushing the world into the quicksand of grave risks and uncertainties. These irresponsible actions are harmful to others as they are to those countries themselves, and must be categorically rejected," Zhang said.

The need for true multilateralism is even greater in today's world. In the post-pandemic period, all countries should strengthen their solidarity under the banner of the United Nations, respect one another, trust others and be trustworthy, show goodwill, cooperate for mutual benefit, and work together for a better future, he said.

The world is now in the third year of the COVID-19 pandemic. Humanity is beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel. But the pandemic is not over yet, and the world must not lower its guard, he said.

Countries must work hard and work together to build immunological barriers. Globally, the target of 70 percent vaccination coverage is far from being achieved. It is imperative to scale up vaccine assistance and supply to leave no country behind and no one forgotten, said Zhang.

The public health systems in developing countries must be strengthened, he said.

The root cause of the bottlenecks in the last mile of vaccine access in developing countries is the long-standing problem of inadequate public health systems. In order to better prevent and respond to the next pandemic when it arrives, the international community should look far ahead, and help developing countries vigorously strengthen their public health systems. The Security Council should work with other bodies and take a pragmatic approach and tangible measures to bring hope to the countries in conflict, he said.

There is also a need to inject fresh momentum into post-pandemic recovery and socio-economic development. The pandemic is responsible for a slowdown or even recession in many economies, and the implementation of the 2030 Agenda faces even more daunting challenges. The global political and security upheaval of late, the soaring prices of energy, food and other commodities, and a new upsurge in trade protectionism have added to the woes of many developing countries that were already struggling to cope, said Zhang.

"The more challenging external environment highlights the importance and the urgency of development for developing countries. This is something that the international community must take very seriously. And the United Nations should act swiftly and take solid and effective measures to both address the current crisis and explore long-term solutions so that the world can see new hope on the horizon," he said. 
(Newser)  A woman who attacked a Black teenager in New York City after falsely accusing him of stealing her iPhone has reached a deal that will keep her out of prisonif she stays out of trouble. Under a plea deal announced Monday, Miya Ponsetto, who was seen on camera shouting at and tackling the 14-year-old, has pleaded to false imprisonment as a hate crime, NBC reports. Prosecutors say she can re-plead and have the charge reduced to misdemeanor aggravated harassment if she lives "a law-abiding life" for the next two years.

Ponsetto, 23, will be required to abide by the terms of her probation in an unrelated case in California. Failure to do so could result in her being sentenced to four years in prison in the New York case, TMZ reports. Ponsetto was nicknamed "SoHo Karen" after the December 2020 incident in Manhattan's Arlo Hotel. She confronted the boy while he was with his father, jazz trumpeter Keyon Harrold. It later emerged that she had left her phone in an Uber.

Ponsetto "displayed outrageous behavior," Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said in a statement Monday, per ABC7. "As a Black man, I have personally experienced racial profiling countless times in my life and I sympathize with the young man victimized in this incident." The plea, he said, "ensures appropriate accountability for Ms. Ponsetto by addressing underlying causes for her behavior and ensuring this conduct does not reoccur." (Read more racial profiling stories.)
(Newser)  In an extensive article on what it calls "Bucha's month of terror," the New York Times reports on the horrors experienced in the Ukraine city as Russian troops occupied it. Among those: unimaginable sexual violence. In one case reported by Ukraines official ombudswoman for human rights, women and girls were held captive in the basement of a house for 25 daysand nine of them were impregnated. She says the girls and women ages 14 to 24 were "systematically" raped. "Russian soldiers told them they would rape them to the point where they wouldnt want sexual contact with any man, to prevent them from having Ukrainian children," she tells the BBC.

The Times' piece includes many more horrifying stories, including a man whose son was shot on the street as they walked together and suffered the whole night before dying the following morning, and the bodies of five members of a family found burned. Read the full piece here.

The BBC piece is similarly difficult to read, including the story of a husband shot dead as he tried to protect his wife, who was raped repeatedly under threat that her young son would be harmed if she resisted. When the troops finally left, they burned the family's home down and shot their dogs. Read the full piece here.

(Read more Russia-Ukraine conflict stories.)
(Newser)  A federal jury on Monday convicted a former Virginia police officer of storming the US Capitol with another off-duty officer to obstruct Congress from certifying President Bidens 2020 electoral victory, the AP reports. Jurors convicted former Rocky Mount police officer Thomas Robertson of all six counts he faced stemming from the Jan. 6, 2021, riot, including charges that he interfered with police officers at the Capitol and that he entered a restricted area with a dangerous weapon, a large wooden stick. His sentencing hearing wasn't immediately scheduled. Robertsons jury trial was 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. (Two others have gone to bench trial; one was convicted, the other acquitted.) Robertson was fired following the Jan. 6 attack.

Robertson didnt testify at his trial, which started last Tuesday. Jurors deliberated for several hours over two days before reaching their unanimous verdict. One juror, who spoke to the AP only on condition of anonymity, said as she left the courthouse, I think the government made a really compelling case and the evidence was fairly overwhelming. 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 authorities. Fracker testified Thursday that he had hoped the mob that attacked the Capitol could overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election.

Fracker testified 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 Congress. Under cross-examination, Fracker said he didnt have a verbal agreement with anybody to obstruct the joint session of Congress. Fracker said he believed everybody in the mob pretty much had the same goal and didnt need for it to be said out loud. 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 while carrying a dangerous weapon, 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.

(Read more Capitol riot stories.)
(Newser)  Two YouTubers have been issued a temporary restraining order to stay away from the University of Southern California campus after they allegedly pranked classes at the Los Angeles school. Ernest "Eric" Kanevsky and Yuguo Bai, who are being sued by USC, most recently disrupted a lecture on the Holocaust on March 29, according to the university's Annenberg Media. Bai pretended to be a student (in reality, neither man attends the school), and Kanevsky walked in pretending to be a member of the Russian mafia. He asked if Hugo Boss was in the room (Boss, a fashion designer, was a Nazi supporter and made uniforms for the Nazis, the Guardian reports) and Bai claimed to be Boss. Kanevsky said Bai owed him money and they got in a verbal altercation at the front of the classroom, causing students to panic and run from the room.

Kanevsky and Bai were arrested by LAPD officers, and now USC is suing to keep them off campus and to be reimbursed for damages and attorney fees. Two other "panic-inducing takeovers" were also allegedly carried out by the men at USC last year, the Daily Trojan reports, and Cal State University Long Beach reported a similar incident in 2020. "The defendants conduct has caused University students to experience emotional distress and genuine fear for their personal wellbeing; against the national background of active shooter concerns on college campuses," the school says in its suit. An April 28 hearing will determine whether a preliminary injunction should be issued against the men, the Los Angeles Daily News reports. (Read more University of Southern California stories.)
(Newser)  Nearly 100 animals died last week in a Florida house fire in what media reports are describing as a possible animal hoarding situation. None of the Jacksonville home's human residents were there when the fire broke out Friday afternoon, but 91 cats, five dogs, and one bird were, and all perished, First Coast News reports. A source tells the Florida Times-Union the residence was an animal rescue, but authorities have not confirmed that. Jacksonville's Animal Care and Protective Services had previously received animal cruelty complaints about the home in the past, but the animals reportedly seemed healthy each time an officer visited.

A veterinarian confirmed to authorities, per a complaint report from one of those incidents, "They always do everything I recommend. They get all the animals required vet care ... they will find sick animals and bring them in for treatment. Thats not the issue. Collecting them is the issue, not inadequate care." The city has no limit on the number of animals allowed in one residence, as long as they are spayed, neutered, or otherwise sterilized, which most of these animals were. The Red Cross is helping the two adults who lived in the home, News4Jax reports. The cause of the fire is under investigation. (Read more Florida stories.)
(Newser)  The Pentagon is confirming it is concerned about a report on Telegram that Russia used chemical weapons in Mariupol, Ukraine. "We are aware of social media reports which claim Russian forces deployed a potential chemical munition," Defense Department press secretary John Kirby said in a Monday night statement. "We cannot confirm at this time and will continue to monitor the situation closely." The UK's foreign secretary made a similar statement. As Shawna Chen observes at Axios, "Moscow has a long history of using chemical weapons," and the Biden administration has been warning recently that Russia could be planning to deploy chemical or biological weapons in Ukraine.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has not confirmed the report, which was made by Azov Regiment, a far-right, ultra-nationalist portion of Ukraine's national guard, CNBC reports. He did, however, warn Monday night that, per the Guardian, "today, the occupiers issued a new statement, which testifies to their preparation for a new stage of terror against Ukraine and our defenders. One of the mouthpieces of the occupiers stated that they could use chemical weapons against the defenders of Mariupol. We take this as seriously as possible."

Earlier Monday, Ukrainian authorities had also claimed a drone carrying a toxic substance was dropped by Russia on Mariupol, and that the substance was probably chemical weapons, but that had not been confirmed. "These reports, if true, are deeply concerning and reflective of concerns that we have had about Russias potential to use a variety of riot control agents, including tear gas mixed with chemical agents, in Ukraine," Kirby's statement continues. Says the British foreign secretary, Liz Truss, "Any use of such weapons would be a callous escalation in this conflict and we will hold Putin and his regime to account." (Read more Russia-Ukraine conflict stories.)
(Newser)  As stories of unimaginable horror continue to emerge out of Ukraine, another story is also being told, via scribblings on the nation's children. Last week, Anastasiia Lapatina, a journalist with the Kyiv Independent media outlet, posted a photo of a toddler, naked save for the diaper she was wearing, and the image soon went viralnot because of the little girl's cuteness (she was seen only from behind), but because on her bare back, in permanent marker, was scrawled contact information in case her parents became separated from her or killed during the Russian invasion. Mom Oleksandra "Sasha" Makoviy said she wrote the info on 2-year-old Vira "with my hands trembling very much," noting in her original Instagram post that she'd taken the photo on the first day of the war in February.

Worried that no one would know who Vira was if something happened to herself or her husband, she inked the little girl's name, along with her date of birth and the family's phone numbers, on Vira's skin, with the toddler thinking the whole time they were playing a game, reports the New York Times. Today notes that Makoviy also created a card with contact info for her daughter's grandparents. After hundreds of thousands of people saw Makoviy's photo, some accused her of staging it, per the Times. But Makoviy, a 33-year-old painter and art teacher, says she felt it necessary to share the "madness" that Ukrainian families are enduring, and other Ukrainian parents reached out after seeing her picture to say they'd done the same with their kids.

The plight of these families and their crude contact-info lists have even caught the attention of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who spoke of it while addressing Spanish lawmakers last week. "Just imagine this: Mothers in Ukraine write on the backs of their young children," he said. As for Makoviy and her family, who lived in Kyiv before the invasion, they found safety in the south of France after a perilous journey west. But while she says she's happy Vira is too young to really know what's going on, she thinks she's still picking up on the family's anxiety. "The first week of the war, every day she asked if she could go home," Makoviy tells Today. "She doesn't talk much because she's little and just learning how to speak, but she would ask, 'Home? Home?' when we first left. It was heartbreaking." Makoviy says she doesn't know when, or even if, they'll return to Kyiv. (Read more Ukraine stories.)
(Newser)  Vladimir Putin used the anniversary of a Soviet space milestone to strike a defiant tone about his war in Ukraine on Tuesday. The Russian leader traveled to a space facility 61 years to the day after Yuri Gagarin became the first man in space, reports Reuters. "The sanctions were total, the isolation was complete but the Soviet Union was still first in space," Putin said. "We don't intend to be isolated," he added, referring to the modern sanctions imposed on his nation. "It is impossible to severely isolate anyone in the modern worldespecially such a vast country as Russia." In regard to the war, which he refers to as a "special military operation," Putin declared that "theres no doubt that the goals and objectives in operation in Ukraine will be fulfilled," per CNBC.

Putin again said Russia invaded Ukraine because his nation's security was at stake, given Ukraine's drift toward the West. "Its goals are absolutely clear and noble," Putin said of the war. "It's clear that we didn't have a choice. It was the right decision." Russian troops, having failed to take Kyiv and other major cities, appear to have begun a more focused assault on the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine, reports CNN. Reports differed on that, with the BBC saying a major assault was at least imminent. Earlier, a large column of Russian military vehicles was spotted headed toward the region. Meanwhile, reports of atrocities committed against Ukraine civilians continued to surface in Kyiv and elsewhere, and the US is looking into reports that Russia has deployed chemical weapons. (Read more Russia-Ukraine conflict stories.)
(Newser)  A Christian school headmaster accused of taping shut the mouths of seventh-graders says he was only "building character." The parents of three of five students at Lakeside Christian Academy in Slidell, La., opted to press charges, meaning Pastor John Raymond is now facing three counts of cruelty to children. In a statement defending his actions, shared Sunday, the school's founder and headmaster described his March 18 meeting with five students whose teacher complained that they talked during lessons, per the Washington Post. Raymond, 60, said he gave the students a choice between suspension or getting tape over their mouths so they could "learn how to be quiet during class."

They chose the latter option, according to Raymonda former Survivor contestant who unsuccessfully ran for the state House in 2018, leaning "heavily on his support of President Donald Trump and his opposition to gay marriage," per NOLA.com. He said he proceeded to cover each of their mouths with pieces of clear packing tape. "I told them, 'I love you, but this has been going on all year and it has to stop immediately,'" Raymond wrote. He said the boys confirmed they were not in pain and could breathe normally, adding the tape was "gently" removed after no more than 10 minutes. Police disagree, saying the 13-year-olds described breathing trouble over 45 minutes spent with tape wrapped around their heads, WIAT reports.

Building character in teenage boys can be difficult," Raymond continued, noting he'd repeatedly addressed the class in response to "behavioral problems, particularly with three of the five students involved in this incident who consistently showed complete disregard for the teacher's authority." He added the teacher came to him on March 17 with "her eyes swollen from crying and her voice trembling" and was on the verge of resigning. "We love all of our students at Lakeside and strive to maintain a safe and effective learning environment," he added, noting two sets of parents "are completely supportive of the discipline that took place." Raymond turned himself in on Thursday. (Read more child cruelty stories.)
(Newser)  Santa Ana city councilman Johnathan Hernandez was at home around 11pm on a recent Monday when he heard the song Youve Got a Friend in Me blaring through his residential neighborhood. That was followed by We Dont Talk About Bruno and Reflection. One thing the songs all had in common: they were tunes from Disney movies. Hernandez went to investigate and learned the noise was being broadcast from the PA system of nearby police cruiser. "It was eerie, and it was discomforting," Hernandez later told local ABC7 News.

According to the Washington Post, when Hernandez asked why they were playing Disney music, an officer cited "copyright infringement and pointed to a nearby citizen who was recording the scene in which police were investigating a car theft. The implication was that officers hoped playing the copyrighted showtunes would somehow keep the video off social media. After being confronted by Hernandez and other agitated, confused residents, the Santa Ana officer apologized to Hernandez at the scene. The citizenwho is known to local policewas conducting a police audit, in which an activist records police activity to provide accountability in case of civil rights violations.

Per local CBS4, the increasingly common practice is legal, but can sometimes be antagonistic toward police, and [is] generally unpopular among officers. Also, per the Post, this is not the first example of the police strategy. Last summer, an officer in Oakland blasted a Taylor Swift single hoping to thwart nearby activists. That clip ended up going viral; the latest Disney-themed attempt might also, as it is still on YouTube. In a statement, Santa Ana Police Chief David Valentin said the department is investigating the officers' conduct in the April 4 incident. "My expectation is that all police department employees perform their duties with dignity and respect in the community we are hired to serve." (Read more police audit stories.)
LUSAKA, April 12 (Xinhua) -- Zambia will start exporting an additional 80 MW of electricity to Namibia following an agreement signed by the utility companies of the two countries on Tuesday in Lusaka.

Zambia's Zesco Limited and Namibia's Nampower signed a power supply agreement for the export of an additional 80 MW in addition to 100 MW being exported after the first agreement was signed in 2020.

Victor Mapani, the Managing Director of Zesco Limited, said the signing of the agreement demonstrated the continued cooperation and trust between the two utilities.

According to him, being a member of the Southern African Power Pool has created opportunities for Zesco to play a major role in trade in the regional power blocks.

Kahenge Haulofu, the Managing Director of Nampower said the agreement demonstrated the relationship that exists between the two companies over the years.

He said such collaboration will make a meaningful contribution to the economies of the two countries. 
(Newser)  This story has been updated with new developments. New York Lt. Gov. Brian Benjamin has stepped down after eight months in office that were overshadowed by allegations of campaign finance fraudand then by his arrest Tuesday. Gov. Kathy Hochul said hours after the arrest that she had accepted Benjamin's resignation, the Albany Times Union reports. "While the legal process plays out, it is clear to both of us that he cannot continue to serve as Lieutenant Governor," she said. "New Yorkers deserve absolute confidence in their government."

The 45-year-old Democrat surrendered to authorities early Tuesday to face a five-count indictment charging him with bribery, fraud, and falsification of records, per the New York Times and WNBC. He pleaded not guilty and bail was set at $250,000. Benjamin was appointed lieutenant governor in August 2021 shortly after losing a primary bid for New York City comptroller as a state senator. Through that campaign, authorities say he conspired to direct a $50,000 state grant to a non-profit controlled by a Harlem real estate investor in exchange for thousands of dollars in illegal campaign contributions beginning in 2019, per CNN.

"Benjamin abused his authority as a New York State senator, engaging in a bribery scheme using public funds for his own corrupt purposes," prosecutors say. They also claim he "engaged in a series of lies and deceptions to cover up the scheme." That allegedly included lying during a background check before becoming lieutenant governor. Last month, media reports indicated subpoenas had been issued as part of an investigation into the claims, prompted by the November indictment charging Benjamin's fundraiser, Gerald Migdol, with wire fraud, aggravated identity theft, and other crimes.

Prosecutors said Migdol orchestrated thousands of dollars in straw donationsincluding one in the name of his 2-year-old grandchildto Benjamin. "The two men were close and traded accolades at a series of charitable and political functions over the years in Harlem," per the Times. "As soon as the campaign discovered that these contributions were improperly sourced, they donated them to the Campaign Finance Board, pursuant to guidance obtained from the CFB," the lieutenant governor's office said in a Nov. 19 statement. The Times notes Benjamin met with prosecutors last week "and his top aides were reassuring allies in private that he expected to be cleared of any wrongdoing in the case." (Read more New York stories.)
(Newser)  Two California lawmakers might put their state on the leading edge of a major shift toward a better work-life balance for all. "Weve had a five-day workweek since the Industrial Revolution," state assemblywoman Cristina Garcia tells the Los Angeles Times, "But weve had a lot of progress in society ... I think the pandemic right now allows us the opportunity to rethink things, to reimagine things." Garcia says the push for a four-day workweek reflects a broad shift toward remote work andeven more importantlythe mass flight of some 47 million workers who up and quit their jobs in search of something better.

Garcia and coauthor Evan Low, both Democrats, introduced AB2932 earlier this month. The bill would change the official workweek from 40 to 32 hours for companies with at least 500 employees. Per The Times, the workday will still be 8 hours, but the bill includes thresholds for overtime pay over 32 and 40 hours. It also prevents employers from cutting pay rates to make up for gaps. The bill does not apply to collective bargaining agreements (most of which already have better benefits), and Garcia adds that "conversations are ongoing" about how to handle salaried workers. In DC., Democratic Rep. Mark Takano has proposed similar changes to the Fair Labor Standards Act.

Californias Chamber of Commerce put the bill on its job killer list, saying it will "significantly increases labor costs by imposing an overtime pay requirement after 32 hours and other requirements that are impossible to comply with." However, as USA Today reports, the idea is backed by a pile of emerging research. After years of nationwide trials, 86% of Icelanders now have a right to a shorter workweek. The Japanese government recommends the policy but has not taken steps to codify it. Per Investopedia, large companies around the globe have experimented and found that an emphasis on results rather than hours improves morale, decreases burnout and turnover, and increases sales and productivity. (Read more The 4 Hour Workweek stories.)
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Eight Shamokin electors submit letters of interest for vacant council seat

SHAMOKIN  Eight city electors have submitted letters of interest for an open seat on council, including a former councilman who was recently removed from office, according to City Hall.

Former Mayors John Brown and William Milbrand, Joseph Rudy, Richard Knovich, Rose Searls, Michael Deitz Jr., Tonya Leschinskie and her husband, Joseph Leschinskie Jr., the latter who was unseated March 30 due to prior felony convictions, submitted correspondence to City Hall by Fridays 4 p.m. deadline.

Council at their regularly scheduled public meeting Monday night did not discuss or take action on the matter. They have 30 days from the moment the vacancy occurred to fill the seat.

Northumberland County President Judge Charles H. Saylor ordered Joseph Leschinskie removed from office after ruling that it is unconstitutional for a convicted felon to hold public office.

Leschinskie, who pleaded guilty in 2009 to two felony counts of possession with intent to deliver, was elected to city council Nov. 2 and served in that capacity for three months.

Article II, Section 7 of the Pennsylvania Constitution states that no person convicted of embezzlement of public moneys, bribery, perjury or other infamous crime shall be eligible to the General Assembly or capable of holding any office of trust of profit.

Although the term infamous crime as contained in the constitution is not defined, in the Commonwealth against Shaver of 1842, the state Supreme Court suggested that all felonies are subsumed within the category of infamous crimes.

In the years since Shaver was decided, the state Supreme Court has consistently adhered to an interpretation in which felonies and crimen falsi offenses are distinct, albeit overlapping categories, both of which contribute to the definition of infamous crimes.

In what could be construed as an act of deviance of a court order, Leschinskie wrote to city council asking them to appoint him to the open position and also submitted a letter of interest.

Mayor Rick Ulrich previously told The News-Item that council is not considering Leschinskie due to legal concerns, causing the former councilman to scold the mayor, his former running mate, in social media posts.
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The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

The case of an Asian man who attempted to conceal 96 heroin capsules inside his luggage at Bahrain International Airport by stuffing the drugs inside date balls is being heard by the High Criminal Court. The Court agreed to reschedule the matter for review and response by the defence on April 17, 2022.

The accused is charged with possessing the narcotic drug with the purpose to sell and consume it. When the accused arrived at Bahrain International Airport, he was transferred to the red lane. This was after he showed signs of anxiety during the baggage inspection when the x-ray machine discovered the presence of condensate inside the pelleted materials. The bag was examined, and 96 capsules weighing around 794 grams containing the suspected heroin were discovered, artfully encased within date balls, nuts, and cosmetics.

The accused denied knowing about the drugs and claimed that they were hidden in his baggage by a friend in his native country without his consent or knowledge. Security investigations, however, revealed that the accused was aware of the existence of narcotic drugs in his luggage and had carried them with the intention of distributing them in Bahrain to make profit.
The Cabinet on Tuesday approved additional sanctions against Russia, freezing assets of 398 Russian individuals, including President Vladimir Putin's daughters and the wife of Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.

The Cabinet also approved an import ban on 38 items, including vodka and other liquors, electric machinery and lumber, effective April 19. The latest annual imports of these items add up to 16 billion, accounting for about 1.1% of total imports from Russia, according to the government.

The fresh sanctions that are in step with punitive measures taken by the United States and the European Union include freezing assets of 28 more Russian organizations such as those related to military business and two more lenders Sberbank and Alfa Bank. The measure for the banks will be implemented on May 12.

The Japanese government will also prohibit Japanese individuals and companies to make any new investments to the country.
LAGOS, April 11 (Xinhua) -- South African telecommunications giant MTN has received final approval to operate a mobile payment service, called MoMo Payment Service Bank (MoMo PSB) in Nigeria, a company official said Monday.

"MTN Nigeria Communications PIc (MTN Nigeria) announces the receipt of a letter dated April 8, 2022, from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) addressed to Momo PSB conveying final approval to commence operations," said Uro Ukpanah, the company's secretary, in a statement.

"MTN Nigeria affirms its commitment towards the financial inclusion agenda of the CBN and the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and we are excited about this opportunity to support its fulfillment," Ukpanah added.

Mobile payment service operators provide financial services through digital means to low-income earners and people who do not use banks or banking institutions for transactions. They are expected to operate in rural regions and areas where people do not have bank accounts, according to market observers quoted by local media.

Digital payments in Nigeria have witnessed fast growth in recent years, with mobile pay platforms popping up to serve the large unbanked population in the most populous African country.

Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari in October 2021 launched the eNaira, the country's central bank digital currency (CBDC), becoming the first African nation to introduce an official digital currency. Buhari said at the launch that the adoption of the CBDC and its underlying technology can increase Nigeria's gross domestic product by 29 billion U.S. dollars over the next 10 years. 
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NEW HAVEN  Former U.S. Sen. Chris Dodd will serve as a special adviser to the administration of President Joe Biden for the upcoming Summit of the Americas diplomatic gathering, according to the White House.

Dodd will be joined by former U.S. Representative Debbie Mucarsel-Powell, D-Florida, as part of the administration's delegation for the summit, which brings together the leaders of North, South, and Central America and the Caribbean, Jen Psaki, the White House press secretary, said in an email.

Psaki said the summit will play a central role in shaping the future of the Americas at a critical time in our history, noting that Dodd and Mucarsel-Powell are confident that President Biden will renew and strengthen the collaboration and respect essential for a bright future for the Americas as part of the gathering.

The regions governments, civil society, and private sector will work to develop a shared vision built around the theme for this years meeting, Building a Sustainable, Resilient, and Equitable Future, Psaki said. The United States looks forward to welcoming the hemisphere to Los Angeles to work together on strengthening our democracies, building more prosperous and inclusive economies, and better protecting the human rights, health, dignity, and security of our people. The United States previously hosted the inaugural Summit of the Americas in Miami, Florida, in 1994.

Dodd previously served as a member and Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere for over three decades, including working with Biden on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee for over 28 years, according to the White House.

Senator Dodds interest in Latin America began years before his election to the U.S. Congress. In the 1960s, Dodd joined President John Kennedys Peace Corps, serving for two years as a volunteer in the Dominican Republic. During his service in the Peace Corps and in the Senate, he traveled extensively and on numerous occasions throughout the hemisphere, Psaki said in the release.

Mucarsel-Powell was the first and only Latina Democrat to ever represent a Congressional district in Florida, and the first-ever member of Congress born in Ecuador, according to the email.

Congresswoman Mucarsel-Powell was a leading voice in the charge to support Venezuelans fleeing their country through securing Temporary Protected Status in the United States and providing humanitarian and other aid to the Venezuelan people and neighboring countries. She served as chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Womens Task Force and also sponsored environmental and public health legislation, said Psaki.

william.lambert@hearstmediact.com
BROOKFIELD  Center Elementary School Principal Mary Rose Dymond announced plans to resign after 13 years as a leader in the schools community.

Superintendent John Barile recognized Dymonds service to the Brookfield Public Schools at a Board of Education meeting, calling the principal a beautiful person and an incredible contributor to the towns school system.

We are all sad to see her go but also very happy for her and the family, Barile said. I know the Center School staff is still reeling at this time. We are certainly working on a replacement plan.

Dymond, who is leaving the district to take a new principal position in Fairfield, was principal of Huckleberry Hill Elementary School prior to her current role, became emotional as she thanked Barile and the town officials for their support, calling the experiences gained in working with her colleagues, hundreds of families, and, most importantly, the thousands of students an honor of her career.

From central office to the board, and from my colleagues and from the families and students  mostly the students, probably, they are certainly our best teachers  its just been a real pleasure and an honor and I am grateful for everything, Dymond said.

The principals resignation is yet another announced by a Brookfield school leaders and faculty members so far this year: Huckleberry Hill Elementary School Principal Melissa Labrosciano, Assistant Superintendent Maureen Ruby, and Director of Special Education Gina Wygonik have announced their plans to leave the school district to accept new roles in Waterford, Redding, and at Sacred Heart University, respectively. Wygonik has been replaced with an educator from Greenwich.

The period of administrative turnover seen in Brookfield is part of a trend seen across the state, according Board of Education Chairman Bob Belden. Belden said while the loss of these school leaders hurts, its not surprising.

Theres a lot of senior educator rotation going on in the state of Connecticut, and so that means opportunities show up, he told The News-Times.

We love Mary Rose and I think she has really enjoyed being principal here in Brookfield, he added. She just got one of those jobs.

Retirements and teacher shortages statewide

Brookfields hunt for new administrators comes amid statewide a wave of teacher turnovers and retirements leaving shortages in key educational positions.

The Connecticut State Department of Education identifies teacher shortage areas based on enrollment figures and the vacancies reported by public school districts.

The states list for the 2021-22 designates eight areas of teacher shortages areas for unfilled positions requiring certifications for mathematics, special education, science and world languages.

Other categories include shortages for speech and language pathologists, school psychologists, and bilingual education instructors.

Non-administrative staff resignations received by the Brookfield Board of Education last week were special educator Katharine DeZerga, whose last day is May 5 and para-educator Austin Baird, who resigned effective April 8. But Barile noted some progress in the districts hiring process

The superintendent announced Amy DeNicola-Hickman as the schools new director of special services, replacing Wygonik, and starting on May 2. He said the districts hiring committee is ready for the first round of interviews on April 14 for a good number of candidates who have applied for the districts assistant superintendent position.

The boards agenda also signaled the April 6 hiring of a new level-one para-educator at Huckleberry Hill to fill a position left open with an earlier departure. According to the schools hiring process, committees are formed to oversee each positions recruitment, conduct interviews, collect parental feedback and set a list of guiding principals for the process.

A lot of work goes into hiring anyone, whether we start at the building level with faculty, or paraprofessionals professionals, custodial, all the way up to the administration, Barile said.

To provide incentives for districts to fill the targeted shortage positions and help districts fill positions, the states education agency promotes state laws that allow retired educators to return to an in-demand teaching position for a period of up to two years while they continue to receive retirement benefits.

On Jan. 1, Gov. Ned Lamont signed an executive order modifying the rules in order to provide school districts with greater flexibility to address the current teacher shortage caused by the recent spike in COVID-19 infections by relaxing certain statutory limits on the availability of retired teachers, according to a press release.

The action excluded the period between July 1, 2021 and Feb. 15, 2022, from counting toward the two-year window for retired teachers to return to the classroom, allowing school boards to reemploy or continue to employ retired teachers, even if they reached the maximum limit permitted under state law while receiving retirement benefits
ACCRA, April 11 (Xinhua) -- Wildlife officials arrested two poachers for allegedly killing a buffalo in the Mole National Park in the Savannah Region of Ghana, an official confirmed Monday.

According to Ernestina Anie, the spokesperson for the wildlife division of the Forestry Commission, the two were among four suspected intruders who entered the park and shot at the protected species.

"Two of them managed to escape, but two of the intruders were arrested by rangers of the park who pursued them after hearing the gunshots," she said.

She said the poachers were from Larabanga, a community close to the Mole Park, adding that officials of the park are processing the suspects for court. 
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Connecticut State Police say they are monitoring the situation in New York City, but no local threat has been identified, after a shooting at a Brooklyn subway station left at least 29 people injured.

Gov. Ned Lamont on Tuesday said he was committing state police to have a presence at three stations along Metro-Norths New Haven Line into New York City. The three stations are Stamford, Bridgeport and New Haven.

Theyre going to be there. They are going to be visible at those three train stations for reasons I think you understand, Lamont said, noting he had spoken with Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection Commissioner James Rovella following the incident.

The Associated Press reported a gunman in a gas mask unleashed 33 bullets in a subway train Tuesday, shooting at least 10 people, according to reporting by the Associated Press. Five people were reported to be in critical condition but expected to survive. At least 29 were treated in hospitals for gunshot wounds, smoke inhalation and other conditions, the Associated Press reported.

Lamont called the shooting extreme behavior that is being seen in cities and towns across the country. It just reminds you that its still a very complicated time, he said.

Brian Foley, a spokesman for the state police, said: We are closely working with (our) state, local, federal resources, and that the agency has troopers assigned to federal task forces to include New York City.

While there is no specific threat identified in CT, CSP resources have been dispatched to several locations, including train stations in our state to ensure safety for all passengers, Foleys statement continued. CSP will continue to follow the incident and be proactive in protecting our citizens.

Police in New York were reported to be searching for a male suspect wearing a construction vest and gas mask, according to the latest report from the Associated Press. Police had recovered a 9 mm semi-automatic handgun, extended magazines, a hatchet, both detonated and undetonated smoke grenades, a black garbage can, a rolling cart, gasoline and keys to a U-Haul van, Chief of Detectives James Essig told AP.

Police later said they were trying to track down the renter of a van possibly connected to the violence.

Police Chief of Detectives James Essig said investigators werent sure whether the man, identified as Frank R. James, 62, had any link to the subway attack.

Authorities also were looking into social media posts by someone with the same name that mentioned homelessness, New York and Mayor Eric Adams, leading officials to tighten the mayors security detail, Essig and Police Commissioner Keechant Sewell said. She said the posts were concerning.

.

This individual is still on the loose. This person is dangerous. Were asking individuals to be very vigilant and alert. You will get more reports on specificity as the day goes on, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said during a briefing on the shooting Tuesday.

So this is an active shooter situation right now in the city of New York, Hochul continued, according to a rush transcript of the briefing provided by her office.

New York City Police Commissioner Keechant Sewell said the attack was not being investigated as terrorism, but she was not ruling out anything, the AP reported. The shooters motive was unknown.

The shooting was reported at the 36th Street Station in Brooklyns Sunset Park neighborhood, AP reported. Firefighters responded to reports of smoke at the station where they found at least 13 injured, five of whom had been shot.

My subway door opened into calamity. It was smoke and blood and people screaming, a witness, Sam Carcamo, told the radio station 1010 WINS, saying he saw a gigantic billow of smoke pouring out of the N train once the door opened.

Video from another bystander showed people lying on the platform with apparent puddles of blood, the Associated Press reported, while a loudspeaker told people to get on a train. A police officer ordered people to get out of the way.

Staff writer Liz Hardaway contributed to this report.
DENVER (AP)  The nonprofit that distributed most of the $350 million in donations from Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg to election offices in 2020 said Monday that it wont disburse similar donations this year after backlash from conservatives suspicious that the contributions tilted the outcome of the presidential race toward Joe Biden.

Instead, the Center for Technology and Civic Life is launching a different program. Dubbed the U.S. Alliance for Election Excellence, the $80-million, five-year effort is intended to create a network for the nations thousands of local election officials, who can apply for aid to improve their technology and processes.

Unfortunately, years of underinvestment means many local election departments often have limited capacity and training. The U.S. Alliance for Election Excellence is bringing together world-class partners so that local election officials no longer have to go it alone, said Tiana Epps-Johnson, CTCLs executive director, who announced the new program at the TED2022 conference.

The 2020 effort by Zuckerberg and his wife, Priscilla Chan, amid the COVID-19 pandemic fueled conservative anger and distrust of the presidential election outcome. At least eight GOP-controlled states passed laws last year banning private donations to election offices in reaction to Zuckerberg's donations. Suspicion that the contributions  routinely referred to as Zuckerbucks by conservatives  helped Biden, a Democrat, has become a staple among those who believe in former President Donald Trump's election lies.

Several Republican election officials have said the program was vital and nonpartisan and dismissed criticism of it as conspiracy theories.

A spokesperson for Zuckerberg and Chan confirmed that the couple is not funding election offices this year.

As Mark and Priscilla made clear previously, their election infrastructure donation to help ensure that Americans could vote during the height of the pandemic was a one-time donation given the unprecedented nature of the crisis, Ben LaBolt said. They have no plans to repeat that donation.

Epps-Johnson said the group saw in 2020 just how woefully underfunded many local election offices are. Elections in the U.S. are run at the local level, sometimes by a small staff of city or county workers and volunteers. One New England office, Epps-Johnson said, used its 2020 grant to replace century-old election tabulation equipment, and many struggled to maintain usable websites that could provide voters information on mobile devices.

The network will work with technology experts at Stanford University and elsewhere, Epps-Johnson said. Local election offices will be able to apply for assistance, but things will work differently than two years ago.

In 2020, election offices were scrambling to switch to mail voting as the pandemic made traditional polling places harder to maintain. Negotiations over additional money for election offices collapsed amid partisan acrimony in Washington. In late August of that year, Zuckerberg announced his donations, and CTCL swiftly distributed the funds to 2,500 election offices for a wide range of expenses, including new ballot counting equipment, pickup trucks to haul voting machines and public relations campaigns advertising new ways to cast ballots.

Conservatives were immediately skeptical. Many have long distrusted Zuckerberg, believing he uses his social media platform to help Democrats. CTCL is a nonpartisan group respected by election administrators of both parties, but its founders have roots in liberal politics. And although the grants went to conservative and liberal areas, Democratic-leaning counties received a disproportionate share of the money in battleground states like Florida and Pennsylvania.

CTCL has spent much of the time since the 2020 contests pushing for greater government funding of election offices, saying that would be better than another round of private donations. The nonprofit was encouraged by Biden's request for $10 billion in election funding in the federal budget he released last month.

Still, the movement fueled by Trump's false claims of widespread voter fraud has latched onto the 2020 donations as one of its many grievances over how the election was conducted. For example, at Colorado's GOP Assembly on Saturday, candidate after candidate referred to Zuckerberg and Zuckerbucks as they claimed the election was stolen from Republicans.

Mark Zuckerberg and his shadow forces should never be in charge of our elections, said Tina Peters, a county clerk under indictment for her role in the illegal download of voting software last year that was provided to Trump supporters. She made the comments to the crowd in Colorado Springs as she advanced to the partys primary ballot for the states top elections office, secretary of state.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday made controversial statements regarding the Hanskhali minor rape case in the state where the accused is a local TMC leaders 21-year-old son. CM Mamata Banerjee questioned if the girl was actually pregnant or if it was a pregnancy caused by a love affair between the accused and the victim. Mamata asked, How do you know if she was raped? The police are yet to ascertain the cause of the death. I had asked them. Was she pregnant or had a love affair or was sick? She further alleged that the victims family knew about the affair. Mamata stated, Even family knew it was a love affair.

Mamata Banerjee further trivialized the matter by saying that she cannot control love affairs going on in the state. If a couple is in a relationship, how can I stop them?, asked the West Bengal CM. Attacking the BJP-ruled Central government, Mamata also said, How many CBI probes have been done in Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Assam and Bihar over murders of people? How many leaders were arrested? No matter how many conspiracies you do by using CBI, ED. Do not think that we are weak.

West Bengal Leader of Opposition (LoP) Suvendu Adhikary met Governor Jagdeep Dhankar met on Monday. the two discussed the rape-murder case and attacks on devotees carrying out Ram Navami processions. Dhankar said after the interaction, Urgent response of Chief Secretary be sought on alleged gang rape, death of 14-year-old girl in Nadia as also atrocities on Ram Bhakts on Ram Navami. Both these issues have been raised today by Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari who called on the undersigned and sought a thorough probe. He added, According to LOP, both incidents highlight the worrisome state of crime against women and nose-diving law and order scenario in the state. CS be called upon to render his report on both counts earliest, latest by April 13, 2022.

According to the police, a case has been registered in the rape and murder of the 14-year-old girl under sections of gangrape, murder, and relevant sections of the POSCO Act. The state police also informed the media that the girls body was cremated without autopsy. Moreover, the police also said that the victims parents approached the police seven days after the alleged crime.
MOGADISHU, April 11 (Xinhua) -- Somali National Army (SNA) backed by the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) killed seven al-Shabab terrorists in a foiled attack on Monday in the southern part of the country.

The SNA commanders who led the operation told Radio Mogadishu that the militants had attempted to launch an attack on an army base in Dinsoor, a town in the southern region of Bay.

"Somali National Army and ATMIS forces in Dinsoor town of Bay region on Monday repulsed an attack on Army base by al-Shabab and killed seven terrorists," the state-owned radio reported.

The militants often carry out attacks against government and AU bases in southern and central Somalia despite heavy security and army presence in those areas.

The latest onslaught against the terror group comes as government forces have intensified operations against al-Shabab extremists across the country during the electioneering period, but the militants are still hiding in the rural areas of those regions, conducting ambushes and planting land mines. 
Shehbaz Sharif on Monday took the dais at the National Assembly to address the nation for the first time after taking oath as the 23rd Prime Minister of Pakistan. During his inaugural address as PM, Sharif raised the so-called Kashmir issue. The new Pakistani PM said that his country will continue to provide diplomatic and moral support to Kashmiris.

Sharif said about relations with India, Neighbours are not a matter of choice, it is something we have to live with. Unfortunately, our relations with India could not improve in the past. Sharif added that there cannot be peace with India without the resolution of the Kashmir issue. He stated, We want good relations with India, but peace can not be discussed without resolution of the Kashmir issue. Sharif also called for the resolution to be in accordance with the UN resolution.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Shehbaz Sharif on assuming the post of Pak PM. PM Modi tweeted, Congratulations to H. E. Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on his election as the Prime Minister of Pakistan. India desires peace and stability in a region free of terror, so that we can focus on our development challenges and ensure the well-being and prosperity of our people.




Notably, India's annual merchandise exports hit $400 billion for the first time during FY 2021-22. India Inc managed to achieve the target set by the Central govt nine days ahead of the deadline.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will meet US Trade Representative (USTR) Katherine Tai today. On Monday, Jaishankar and Rajnath Singh held 2+2 ministerial dialogue with their US counterparts. Notably, Indias annual merchandise exports hit $400 billion for the first time during FY 2021-22. India Inc managed to achieve the target set by the Central govt nine days ahead of the deadline.

Katherine Tai paid her first visit to India for two days after she assumed office in March last year and held discussions with Indian officials on enhancing trade and economic ties between India and US. She was accompanied by Deputy US Trade Representative Sarah Bianchi.

During the visit, the US had marked its support to Indias ambitious goal of reaching 20% ethanol blending country in the next five year and expressed an interest in supplying ethanol to India for fuel purposes. The United States noted its support for Indias ambitious goal of reaching 20 percent ethanol blending with petrol by 2025 and expressed an interest in supplying ethanol to India for fuel purposes, a joint statement from the countries informed.
US is monitoring instances of human rights abuse in India, said US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in a joint press briefing after the 2+2 India-US Ministerial Dialogue.

India and US reiterated several usual bilateral commitments during the 2+2 India-US Ministerial Dialogue. However, some friction points emerged during the otherwise flawless diplomatic engagement. The 2+2 bilateral talks took place after the virtual meeting between Prime Minister Modi and US President Joe Biden.

Monitoring rights abuse in India

US is monitoring instances of human rights abuse in India, said US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in a joint press briefing after the 2+2 India-US Ministerial Dialogue. Blinken informed the press, We are monitoring some recent concerning developments in India including a rise in human rights abuses by some government, police and prison officials. This remark by the US side during the wider India-US summit came off as the lone thorn in a bed strewn with rose petals of diplomatic statements. Rajnath Singh and S Jaishankar chose to not comment on the remarks by Blinken.

Jaishankars repartee on purchase of Russian oil

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday (IST) reiterated Indias stand on purchase of Russian oil. Jaishankar stated, If youre looking at (Indias)energy purchases from Russia, Id suggest your attention should be on Europe. We buy some energy necessary for our energy security. But I suspect, looking at figures, our purchases for the month would be less than what Europe does in an afternoon.

US: Avoid defense deals with Russia

After the 2+2 ministerial dialogue between India and US on Monday (IST), US Secretary of State Antony Blinken urged all countries to avoid purchasing weapon systems from Russia. He remarked, We continue to urge all countries to avoid major new transactions for Russian weapons systems, particularly in light of what Russia is doing to Ukraine.

India the net security provider in Indo-Pacific

The delegation-level talks between Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and US Secretary of Defense Llyod Austin also touched upon the subject of Chinese hostility in the Indo-Pacific region. The US side stressed upon Indias role as the net provider of security in the region. Austin stated, We have identified a new opportunity to extend the operational reach of our military to coordinate more closely together across the expanse of the Indo-Pacific. We walked on the Indian Navys decision to join the combined maritime forces in Moraine Bahrain and we have also committed to more high-end exercises together.

Path to global economies passes through strong India-US ties: Rajnath

Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said that cooperation between India and US is vital for peace and security that is a prerequisite for access to global economies. Todays defence bilateral and 2+2 meeting between India and the US is very important to strengthen the strategic defence engagement. This meeting will make us more capable to work in areas of mutual interest. Our increasing cooperation will be important to accessing global economies and maintaining peace and security, stated Singh.
Tyler Sizemore / Hearst Connecticut Media

Steve Cohens purchase of the New York Mets last year was not enough to move him to the top of the lineup of Connecticut billionaires, according to Forbes latest rankings, with his fellow Greenwich resident Ray Dalio remaining the states lone $20 billion man.

Tesla and SpaceX founder Elon Musk bumped Jeff Bezos from the top of the annual Forbes Billionaires List, with estimated assets of $219 billion to $171 billion for Bezos, the Amazon and Blue Origin founder.
WASHINGTON (AP)  Mentions of Donald Trump have been rare at the first few trials for people charged with storming the U.S. Capitol, but that changed Tuesday: The latest Capitol riot defendant to go on trial is blaming his actions on the former president and his false claims about a stolen election.

Dustin Byron Thompson, an Ohio man charged with stealing a coat rack from the Capitol, doesn't deny that he joined the mob on Jan. 6, 2021. But his lawyer vowed to show that Trump abused his power to authorize the attack.

Describing Trump as a man without scruples or integrity, defense attorney Samuel Shamansky said the former president engaged in a sinister plot to encourage Thompson and other supporters to do his dirty work.

Its Donald Trump himself spewing the lies and using his position to authorize this assault, Shamansky told jurors Tuesday during the trial's opening statements.

Justice Department prosecutor Jennifer Rozzoni said Thompson knew he was breaking the law that day.

He chose to be a part of the mayhem and chaos, she said.

Thompson's lawyer sought subpoenas to call Trump and former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani as witnesses at his trial this week. A judge rejected that request but ruled that jurors can hear recordings of speeches that Trump and Giuliani delivered at a rally before the riot.

Thompsons jury trial is the third among hundreds of Capitol riot prosecutions. The first two ended with jurors convicting both defendants on all counts with which they were charged.

In a February court filing, Shamansky said he wanted to argue at trial that Thompson was acting at the direction of Trump and his various conspirators. The lawyer asked to subpoena others from Trump's inner circle, including former White House strategist Steve Bannon, former White House senior adviser Stephen Miller and former Trump lawyers John Eastman and Sidney Powell.

Prosecutors said Thompson can't show that Trump or Giuliani had the authority to empower him to break the law. They also noted that video of the rally speeches perfectly captures the tone, delivery and context of the statements to the extent they are marginally relevant" to proof of Thompson's intent on Jan. 6.

Thompson's lawyer argued that Trump would testify that he and others  orchestrated a carefully crafted plot to call into question the integrity of the 2020 presidential election. Shamansky claimed that Giuliani incited rioters by encouraging them to engage in trial by combat and that Trump provoked the mob by saying that if you dont fight like hell, youre not going to have a country anymore.

Shamansky said Thompson, who lost his job during the COVID-19 pandemic, became an avid consumer of the conspiracy theories and lies about a stolen election.

This is the garbage that Dustin Thompson is listening to day after day after day, Shamansky said. He goes down this rabbit hole. He listens to this echo chamber. And he acts accordingly.

U.S. District Judge Reggie Walton ruled in March that any in-person testimony by Trump or Giuliani could confuse and mislead jurors.

More than 770 people have been charged with federal crimes arising from Jan. 6. Over 250 of them have pleaded guilty, mostly to misdemeanors. Thompson is the fifth person to be tried on riot-related charges.

On Monday, a jury convicted a former Virginia police officer, Thomas Robertson, of storming the Capitol with another off-duty officer to obstruct Congress from certifying President Joe Bidens 2020 electoral victory. Last month, a jury convicted a Texas man, Guy Reffitt, of storming the Capitol with a holstered handgun.

A judge hearing testimony without a jury decided cases against two other Capitol riot defendants at separate bench trials. U.S. District Judge Trevor McFadden acquitted one of them of all charges and partially acquitted the other.

Thompson has a co-defendant, Robert Lyon, who pleaded guilty to riot-related charges in March.

Thompson, then 36, and Lyon, then 27, drove from Columbus, Ohio, to Silver Spring, Maryland, stayed overnight at a hotel and then took an Uber ride into Washington, D.C., on the morning of Jan. 6. After then-President Donald Trumps speech, Thompson and Lyon headed over to the Capitol.

Thompson was wearing a Trump 2020 winter hat and a bulletproof vest when he entered the Capitol and went to the Senate Parliamentarians Office, where he stole two bottles of liquor and a coat rack worth up to $500, according to prosecutors.

Thompson and Lyon traded text messages during the riot.

Some girl died already, Lyon said in one text, an apparent reference to a law enforcement officer's fatal shooting of a rioter, Ashli Babbitt

Was it Pelosi? Thompson replied.

Im taking our country back," Thompson later texted Lyon.

Around 6 p.m. on Jan. 6, Thompson and Lyon were sitting on a sidewalk and waiting for an Uber driver to pick them up when Capitol police officers approached and warned them that they were in a restricted area. As they started to leave, Thompson picked up a coat rack that appeared to be from the Capitol, the FBI said. Thompson ran away when the officers told him to put down the rack, dropping it as he fled. Lyon stayed behind and identified himself and Thompson to police.

That night, Thompson received a text from his wife that said, I will not post bail.

The FBI said agents later searched Lyons cellphone and found a video that showed a ransacked office and Thompson yelling: Wooooo! Merica Hey! This is our house! A surveillance video also captured Thompson leaving a Capitol office with a bottle of bourbon, the FBI said.

Thompson is charged with six counts: obstructing Congress' joint session to certify the Electoral College vote, theft of government property, entering or remaining in a restricted building or grounds, disorderly or disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds, disorderly or disruptive conduct in a Capitol building, and parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building.

Lyon pleaded guilty to theft of government property and disorderly conduct. Both counts are misdemeanors punishable by a maximum of 1 year imprisonment. Walton is scheduled to sentence Lyon on June 3.
Congresswoman Liz Cheney raised almost $3 million in campaign contributions over the first three months of the midterm election year, continuing her record-breaking fundraising streak as she attempts to defend her seat against a Trump-backed challenger.

The third-term Wyoming Republican began April with $6.8 million cash on-hand, while her opponent Harriet Hageman began the final four-month stretch leading up to Wyoming's Aug. 16 Republican primary with more than $1 million in her campaign coffers.

Though deep-red Wyoming traditionally draws significantly less in campaign contributions than more populous battleground states, Cheney's unrelenting criticism of former President Donald Trump and statements blaming him for the violence at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6 have transformed the race for the state's lone U.S. House seat into one of the most closely watched contests of the 2022 midterms.

Cheney, who chaired the Republican House Conference before being ousted from her post last year, has broken her personal fundraising records in five consecutive quarters and has raised more than $10 million throughout the election cycle, her campaign said in a statement.

Cheney's criticisms of Trump have alienated her from many of her colleagues in the U.S. House and the Wyoming Republican Party and made her among the most endangered Republican incumbents facing reelection this year. But they've also expanded her profile and allowed her to build a nationwide fundraising network.

Given her vote to impeach him and her position on the Jan. 6 House Select Committee, Cheneys seat is among Trumps top 2022 targets. Hageman has received endorsements from Trump, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy and Rep. Elise Stefanik, Cheneys replacement as House Republican Conference Chair.

Hageman, a Cheyenne attorney, raised $1.3 million over the first three months of 2022, her campaign said in a news release Monday. Though her haul pales in comparison to Cheney's, it is roughly triple what she raised in the final three months of 2021 and a comparatively large sum for a Wyoming candidate.

Political parties typically do not campaign against their incumbent members. But the Republican National Committee censured Cheney in February, effectively opening the door for them to throw their support behind Hageman's challenge.

The Federal Election Commission is scheduled to publish campaign finance reports for the first quarter of 2022 on Friday, which will detail campaign spending and the sources of each candidates' contributions.

Other Republicans running include state Sen. Anthony Bouchard and retired Army Col. Denton Knapp. No Democrat has announced plans to challenge Cheney, and her candidacy could benefit from Democratic crossover voters, who in Wyoming can change their party affiliation from now until the day of the August primary.
In a rare move, the state Supreme Court has ordered an investigation into Superior Court Judge Alice Brunos more than two-year absence from the bench while collecting upwards of $400,000 in salary.

The order, issued Tuesday, comes after an hourslong hearing last week in which Brunos attorney argued that she had not violated the judicial code of conduct, but was kept from returning to the bench because the Judicial Branch failed to accommodate her medical disability.

The three-page order states, this court shall commence an expedited investigation to determine whether there exist grounds for removal or suspension of Judge Bruno from her judicial office in accordance with the statute.

The court has appointed attorney Robert Devlin, a former judge serving as the states first inspector general, to conduct the investigation.

Devlin will be given wide access to materials and personnel, including the chief court administrator, all judges and any judicial staff, according to the order. He will also have unfettered access to Brunos medical records. Devlin may also seek to have an independent medical evaluation of Bruno conducted as part of the investigation, the order shows.

Bruno, who has been on leave since November 2019, is accused of violating the judicial code of conduct as it relates to promoting confidence in the judiciary, giving precedence to office and competence, records show.

In last weeks show-cause hearing, Bruno described the whole process as extremely difficult.

Theres nothing I want more than to serve the people of Connecticut fairly and appropriately, Bruno said.

During the hearing and in filings, Brunos attorney, Jacques Parenteau, argued there was no basis to investigate his clients absence from her work as a judge. He told the Supreme Court justices that she had tried to return to work in December 2020 with certain accommodations, but that was not granted.

Judge Bruno wanted to be back at work in a judicial district where she had a supportive environment since 2020, so theres no cause to commence an investigation to determine whether or not she violated these judicial rules, the code of conduct, Parenteau said.

In a statement Tuesday, Parenteau said: As we stated to the Supreme Court last week, Judge Bruno should have been back to work with an accommodation for her disability starting in October of 2020, and certainly by December 11, 2020. Judge Bruno intends to cooperate fully with this investigation and will demonstrate she has not engaged in any conduct that would violate any rule of the judicial code by seeking an accommodation for her disability as provided by law.

In a filing ahead of the hearing, Bruno alleged that a hostile work environment had worsened preexisting conditions and eventually accommodations for those conditions were needed. She first went on medical leave in 2019 after she was hospitalized for cardiac testing related to the stress of her job, according to a court filing.

While on leave, Bruno continued to collect her more than $170,000 annual salary.

Youve indicated that over the last two-plus years, Judge Bruno has not performed any services on behalf of the people of Connecticut in exchange for the $400,000 she has received. Is that correct? Justice Andrew J. McDonald asked Parenteau during the hearing.

Parenteau said he was not certain that she had received $400,000, but acknowledged the pay was an accommodation for her condition.

A medical leave is a form of accommodations. She had every right to believe she was being accommodated by the Judicial Branch while we were trying to find a solution. And that solution was there to be had. We couldve had that solution if only there was good faith on the other side, Parenteau said at the time.

It was not immediately clear the last time the state Supreme Court ordered a similar investigation.
CLINTON,  Connecticut Water recently announced the recipients of its 2022 School Water Bottle Filling Station and Firefighter Support Grant programs.

The programs, launched in 2020, provide touch-free water bottle filling stations to schools served by Connecticut Water and financial support for equipment or training for fire departments within Connecticut Waters service communities, according to a statement.

Each program includes a minimum funding commitment of $15,000 from Connecticut Water, part of its annual $120,000 commitment to support community and charitable organizations. Connecticut Waters charitable giving programs are funded by the company and not recovered in customer rates.

In addition to supporting the needs of Connecticut Waters service communities, the School Water Bottle Filling Station Grant Program also aims to support Connecticut Waters commitment to the environment by promoting the use of reusable bottles.

Schools awarded with water stations include Broad Brook Elementary, East Windsor, Ellington High School, Ellington, Center Elementary School, Ellington, Prudence Crandall School, Enfield, Pomperaug Elementary, Middlebury/Southbury, Cross St. Intermediate School, Naugatuck, Hillside Intermediate School, Naugatuck, Hop Brook Elementary School, Naugatuck, Baldwin Middle School, Guilford and Maple St. School, Vernon.

More than $15,000 was awarded to area fire departments by Connecticut Water through the 2022 Fire Department Support Grant Program. Those departments include Burlington Volunteer Fire Department, Burlington; Danielson Dire Department, Danielson; Essex Fire Engine Co #1, Essex; Thomaston Volunteer Fire Department, Thomaston; Old Saybrook Fire Department, Old Saybrook; Atwood Hose Fire Company, Wauregan; Beacon Host Co.1, Beacon Falls; Middlebury Volunteer Fire Department, Middlebury; Willington Fire Department Inc. #1, Willington; Deep River Volunteer Fire Department, Deep River; and Warehouse Point Fire Department, East Windsor
WASHINGTON (AP)  Shirley Troutman, a judge on New York's highest court, was working last week when her daughter texted messages that included a clapping hands emoji. Soon, her phone was buzzing with other celebratory messages. The applause and the excitement was for Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, who last week was confirmed to the U.S. Supreme Court and will become its first Black female justice.

Jackson will become the court's 116th member. That's special for Troutman, who is the 116th member of her court too.

As a judge, as a Black woman, I am extremely proud and wish her the best, said Troutman, who took her seat earlier this year and is the second Black woman to serve on her court. She said she cried tears of joy Thursday when Jackson was confirmed.

Troutman is among 17 Black women and 14 Black men currently serving on their state's highest court, according to the Brennan Center for Justice in New York, which has tracked diversity on those courts. A majority of the women joined the bench within the last five years and, like Jackson, shattered a barrier, becoming the first Black woman on their state's high court. In interviews, some of those women described not only their own delight at Jackson's confirmation but also suggested there's more work to be done to make America's courts more reflective of its citizens.

I am so proud and optimistic about her accomplishment and what this means, said Justice Melissa Long of Rhode Island's Supreme Court.

Long, who joined her state's high court in 2021, also feels a great sense of connection to Jackson. They were born 10 days apart in 1970 in Washington, D.C. Long's parents had married in the city because laws against interracial marriage, struck down by the Supreme Court in 1967, prohibited them from getting married in Virginia.

Being the first Black woman and first person of color on her state's five-member court feels like a responsibility, Long said. It's an important responsibility, but it does feel like a responsibility.

That's in part because diversity overall on state courts is lacking. People of color make up 17% of the judges on state supreme courts, but as of last year, 22 states had high courts where no member identified as a person of color, according to the Brennan Center. In 11 of those states, minorities make up at least 20% of the population, according to the Brennan Center. About 30% of all federal judges, meanwhile, identify as people of color.

Those numbers help explain why the Brennan Center's Madiba Dennie says shes wary of people thinking that Jackson's confirmation means: We did it. We have a Black woman on the Supreme Court now. Theres more work to be done, she said, with huge disparities throughout the rest of the federal judiciary and at the state judiciary as well.

The history of Black women serving on their state's highest court goes back to 1988 when Juanita Kidd Stout joined Pennsylvania's highest court. That was seven years after Justice Sandra Day O'Connor became the first woman on the U.S. Supreme Court. Stout served for a year before she reached the mandatory age of retirement. Today, the four men and three women on Pennsylvania's highest court are all white.

Other state high courts are more diverse. Maryland has two Black women on its highest court, the Court of Appeals, where members wear red robes with white collars and are called judge, not justice. Judge Shirley M. Watts joined the seven-member court in 2013 and Judge Michele D. Hotten in 2015.

In California, Justice Leondra Kruger was among the women President Joe Biden considered nominating to fulfill his campaign pledge to put a Black woman on the Supreme Court, if given the opportunity. In Ohio, Justice Melody Stewart was a classically trained pianist before making the switch to a career in law. And in Washington, Justice G. Helen Whitener is one of two gay justices and one of seven women on state's nine-member high court.

In Massachusetts, Kimberly Budd serves as her court's chief justice, a position she has held since 2020. North Carolina's Cheri Beasley served as the chief justice of that state's Supreme Court and is now a leading candidate in the Democratic primary for the 2022 U.S. Senate election.

Louisiana also until recently had a Black woman leading its highest court. Bernette Johnson was elected to the court in 1994 and served as its chief from 2013 to her 2020 retirement. Today, Justice Piper D. Griffin is the second Black woman and third Black person to serve on that court.

Griffin called Jackson's confirmation surreal" and humbling. It was one of those things that you never think you'd see in your lifetime. You know, it's kind of like you, you're hopeful, but you're never expecting it," said Griffin, who was elected to her position in 2020.

Griffin said her phone blew up Thursday afternoon when Jackson was confirmed. I got lots of exclamation points," she said. One friend, knowing Griffin couldn't watch Vice President Kamala Harris announce live that Jackson had been confirmed, recorded the moment on her phone and texted it to her. Over and over and over again friends texted one word: Yes!

Troutman, the judge on New York's highest court, said one of the things her daughter sent her that day was a picture of Jackson and the president hugging. It's important that Jackson is the first Black woman on the Supreme Court, Troutman said, but: "It is most important that she shall not be the last.
KHARTOUM, April 11 (Xinhua) -- Sudan's capital Khartoum and other big cities ramped up security measures on Monday ahead of mass demonstrations scheduled for the day.

Security authorities closed two major bridges linking Khartoum with the cities of Omdurman and Bahri, and dispatched military, police, and rapid support forces to guard the external perimeter of public buildings such as the Republican Palace and the Army headquarters.

The measures came before a single-day protest called by the resistance committees and other opposition political groups to mark the anniversary of the ousting of former Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir on April 11, 2019.

The resistance committees said in a statement that the protest, the second of its kind in Ramadan, aims to block the return of the former ruling National Congress Party and to demand the return to civilian rule.

Khartoum State's security committee vowed to protect peaceful marches but banned gatherings in central Khartoum.

Sudan has been suffering a political crisis since the general commander of the Sudanese Armed Forces Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan declared a state of emergency on Oct. 25, 2021 and dissolved the Sovereign Council and the government.

Since then, Khartoum and other cities have been witnessing continued protests demanding a return to civilian rule. 
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NEW HAVEN  The voices coming from the audience couldnt be clearer.

Many if not most of the more than 100 people who turned out this week to tell the Board of Alders how the city should spend the $53 million Phase 3 of federal American Rescue Plan Act funds believe New Haven should prioritize using the funds to promote affordable housing, access to jobs, affordable child care and youth services in the citys neighborhoods.

The youth of Newhallville have been abandoned by the city, resident Flordia Baskin told the Board of Alders Finance Committee during Mondays public hearing. Our young people have nothing to do and nowhere to go, except to hang out in the streets.

Newhallville needs a safe place for our youths, Baskin said.

Finance Committee Chairman Adam Marchand said alders will hold additional meetings on the proposal before making any decision.

Many of the things people called for already are included in City Halls proposal: $10 million for youth engagement and early childhood programs; $10 million for the Im Home Initiatives related to supporting home ownership and affordable rentals; $10 million to support wealth creation and the citys economy; and $8 million for vocational and technical initiatives.

The proposal also includes $5 million to mitigate climate change, $6 million for public health and infrastructure and $4 million to create and seed a New Haven Land Bank to buy open space.

Mayor Justin Elicker said Tuesday that theres significant alignment between what we heard last night, what we have heard during many listening sessions and what the proposal before the Board of Alders includes.

The plan in its current form includes significant investment in youth through youth engagement, the expansion of community centers and investment in early child care program, Elicker said.

It also includes support for housing through the Im Home Initiative and, on the jobs front, we have a wealth creation component that promotes business ownership, with a focus on Black and brown business owners, he said.

Economic Development Administrator Michael Piscitelli said that some of the concerns people expressed called for measures that already have been included in past rounds, such as creation of the citys new Community Resilience Department.

Many of the speakers were connected in some way to New Haven Rising, a community organization with ties to Yales unions that seeks economic, racial, and social justice  and did its own survey to gauge the communitys priorities.

Newhallville has been chronically underfunded for decades, said Claudine Wilkins Chambers, a North Carolina native and former president of the Board of Educations paraprofessionals union who lives on Starr Street. She said it was no surprise that it looks the way it looks today.

You have a chance to invest in neighborhoods that have been ignored for far too long, Chambers said.

Rebecca Moore, program director for the Arts Council of Greater New Haven, made a pitch for more community arts funding, saying, Arts is one of the reasons why weve been able to survive the pandemic.

Nicole Neely, who lives on Francis Hunter Drive off Dixwell Avenue and is affiliated with New Haven Rising, said, I think its important for New Haven residents to have a say when it comes to how the funds are spent.

She said housing is the top issue because purchasing a home is out of reach for most poor people.

Dixwell residents also want to see more childrens programs, she said.

Camilla Chavez of Chestnut Street said 57 percent of New Haven residents are burdened by housing costs  and was one of several speakers who urged the city to spend $50 million to buy housing within the city and preserve it as affordable housing.

Scott Marks Jr., whose father, the Rev. Scott Marks, is New Haven Risings director, said youths and safety were among the top priorities in the organizations survey.

All Im asking from our elected officials is to stand by our community, Marks said. Stand by us and stand with us.

Pond Street resident Barbara Vereen, organizing director for Yales Local 34, said, Providing youth with more opportunities will keep our neighborhoods safe. ... We worked hard to construct a Cherry Ann Street park so our children would have a place to go.

She also said jobs are always a major concern in Newhallville.

Walnut Street resident Charlie Taylor, who works with New Haven Risings job campaign, said people already were squeezed by the pandemic and now are being squeezed further by rising prices. He ranked adequate, affordable housing, good transportation and child care among the highest priorities.

Several speakers mentioned climate change as a concern.

Exchange Street resident Abby Feldman, who works with New Haven Rising, said its important to ensure that this funding benefits New Haven neighborhoods.

The top priorities, according to the survey, were affordable housing, jobs and youth programs. Those are the top three priorities in all city neighborhoods, except for West Rock, where safety also made the top three, she said.

Correction: An earlier version of this article misspelled resident Nicole Neelys last name.

mark.zaretsky@hearstmediact.com
NEW HAVEN  Students and staff in the New Haven Public Schools will continue to operate under a mask mandate, with no clear end date, the Board of Education agreed.

The school board opted to stay the course after a presentation from City Health Director Maritza Bond, who reported that infection rates in the district were climbing upward and student vaccination rates remained relatively low in a district where 40 percent of the student population have health conditions that put them at high risk.

We are asking that we maintain our mask mandate and reassess after April spring break, Bond said.

Mask-wearing in public schools in Connecticut became a local decision as of the end of February, and New Haven at the time chose to require students and staff to continue wearing masks.

At the time, Hamden, Waterbury, Bridgeport and Hartford also opted to keep the mandate to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. All but New Haven since have gone mask optional.

Mayor Justin Elicker, who also sits on the school board, previously had instituted an executive order requiring masks be worn in schools as well as City Hall and other municipal buildings. It remains in effect.

Elicker Monday said he had confidence in Bonds recommendations and called it premature to name an end date for the mandate.

It would be nice to say we are keeping the mask mandate until the end of the year, Elicker said. That would give people some predictability. In reality, every two weeks things change.

Last week, there were 26 cases of COVID reported in the district, Superintendent of Schools Iline Tracey said.

Just today, 7 cases, Tracey said Monday.

The current variant of concern is Ba2, what Bond called a cousin of the omicron variant.

Board of Education member Darnell Goldson said it made sense to keep the mandate until the end of the year, but sought better guidance from health officials on what the metrics have to be in order to shift to mask-optional.

Some metrics wont change, he noted.

The percentage of students in the district with asthma, diabetes and food allergies is steady from year to year.

Goldson said he is not anti-mask and continues to wear one himself, but he wanted the public to know where we are going and how we get there.

What does it take to get to point we wont have mask? he asked.

Bond said a recent National Institutes of Health study comparing more than 1.1 million students across nine states showed schools with mandatory masking during the surge of the delta variant had about 72 percent fewer school transmission cases.

She also cited recent incidents in which there were increases in COVID cases in schools where masks became optional, and lower incidents of COVID where there was universal masking.

Bond told the board that masks continue to be part of a multi-component approach to COVID, which also includes social distancing, cohorting, limiting outside visitors and encouraging vaccination.

About 42 percent of New Haven students ages 5 to 17 have received two vaccine shots.

I agree this is a constantly evolving situation that we continue to monitor, Bond said. Our goal is to protect the health of staff of the district and our children.

Board member Edward Joyner agreed the board should follow the science.

Its clear we cant take off masks, Joyner said. Decisions to take them off have been political decisions, he added.

Board Vice Chair Matt Wilcox said masks will remain until the board votes otherwise.

That was welcome news to teachers who addressed the board Monday.

Melody Gallagher, a Wilbur Cross High School teacher, said the mask mandate has enabled her to continue teaching despite being immunocompromised.

I will be the first to tell you I am sick of wearing a mask and also sick of being immunocompromised, Gallagher said. Yet, she said she hasnt gotten sick in two years, she said, and credited masks.

Kirsten Hope McFadden, another city teacher, encouraged the board to stay the course regardless of what other districts are doing.

Its working, McFadden said.
UNITED NATIONS (AP)  The top U.N. envoy in Mali demanded Thursday that the countrys military leaders allow U.N. peacekeepers to visit a town where Human Rights Watch says the Malian army and foreign soldiers suspected to be Russian recently killed an estimated 300 men, one of several alleged rights abuses denounced by the U.S., Britain and France.

According to Human Rights Watch, the killings in Moura were the worst single atrocity reported in Malis 10-year armed conflict against Islamic extremists. Britain and France alleged that Russian mercenaries from the Kremlin-linked Wagner Group were involved.

U.N. special representative El-Ghassim Wane told the U.N. Security Council that the government asserted in an April 1 communique that it had neutralized scores of terrorist elements in the Moura area in central Mali south of Mopti.

But he said the U.N. peacekeeping mission known as MINUSMA received reports of serious human rights abuses committed against large numbers of civilians during this operation. It sought access to the area which has so far been denied, except for a reconnaissance flight on April 3, he said.

Frances U.N. Ambassador Nicolas De Riviere cited reports of human rights violations in Moura by elements of the Malian armed forces accompanied by Russian mercenaries from the Wagner Group that could constitute war crimes. He called for national and international investigations to be opened quickly and for MINUSMA to conduct its own unhindered investigation to establish the facts and report to the Security Council.

Mali has struggled to contain an Islamic extremist insurgency since 2012. Extremist rebels were forced from power in Malis northern cities with the help of a French-led military operation, but they regrouped in the desert and began launching attacks on the Malian army and its allies. Insecurity has worsened with attacks on civilians and U.N. peacekeepers.

In August 2020, Malian President Boubacar Ibrahim Keita, who died in January, was overthrown in a coup that included Assimi Goita, then an army colonel. Last June, Goita was sworn in as president of a transitional government after carrying out his second coup in nine months and later in the year it reportedly decided to allow the deployment of the Wagner group.

The killings in Moura are part of a spike in violence in recent months by extremists linked to Al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb and the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara and by Malian government security forces. Extremists have also killed scores of Malian security force personnel since the beginning of 2022.

U.S. deputy ambassador Richard Mills said the first three month of the year have been marked by alarming accounts of human rights abuses against civilians by terrorist groups and Malian armed forces with individuals linked to the Kremlin-backed Wagner group, and he demanded investigations so those responsible can be held accountable.

Mills noted that Malian authorities have announced an investigation into events in Moura during the week of March 28, and urged the government to also grant immediate access to MINUSMA. He also called for an investigation into the March 2 execution-style killing of over 35 people in the Segou region in central Mali.

This increase in reports of human rights abuses is exactly why the United States continues to warn countries against partnering with the Kremlin-linked Wagner group, Mills said. Wagner forces have been implicated in human rights abuses, including execution-style killings, in the Central African Republic and elsewhere.

Britains deputy U.N. ambassador James Kariuki told the council the United Kingdom is horrified by a surge of human rights abuses since the deployment of the Wagner group to Mali," and by the killings during the army''s counterterrorism operation in Moura with the alleged involvement of the Wagner Group."

He said the latest reports from Moura underline the extent of Russias malign activity which is damaging efforts to address peace and security beyond Ukraine, and demanded that MINUSMA carry out its human rights mandate and investigate all allegations.

We know that, as of early 2022, around 1,000 Russian mercenary personnel have been stationed across Mali, Kariuki said. Just as the presence of Russian mercenaries drove an increase in human rights violations and abuses in the Central African Republic last year, we fear we are now seeing the same in Mali.

Russias deputy U.N. ambassador Anna Evstigneeva countered that Russia has a long history of cooperation with Mali and is working to improve the training and capabilities of its military and law enforcement. Currently, she said, 200 servicemen and nine police officers are being trained in Russia.

As for the information campaign about so-called Russian mercenaries, we regard it as part of a malevolent geopolitical game, Evstigneeva said.

Wane, the U.N. envoy, painted a grim picture of the last three months, not only on the security front but telling the Security Council there was no tangible progress in the peace process.

The regional group ECOWAS imposed tougher economic sanctions on Mali in response to the militarys failure to make progress toward elections.

Wane said that at an ECOWAS summit on March 25 in Accra, Ghana that included the African Union and MINUSMA Malis military requested an additional 24 months to end the transition due to the deteriorating security and humanitarian situation. 

But this was deemed to still be too long and the summit endorsed 12 to 18 months as a basis for negotiation, he said.
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WEST HAVEN  The City Council took a unanimous vote of no confidence in Mayor Nancy Rossi Monday in its first public meeting since the release of an audit of the citys Coronavirus Relief Funds found showed a lack of controls and overall fiscal management in City Hall.

Rossi, who campaigned on her experience as a certified public accountant when she first took office in 2017 while the city was millions of dollars in the red, was not present at the meeting. Chairman Peter Massaro said Rossi was out of the city for the week because of an appointment she made many months ago related to continuing learning in accounting. Rossi did not respond to a request for comment Monday.

With its unanimous vote of no confidence, the council also approved an investigation into the citys finances. According to the citys charter, only nine of the councils 13 members were required to approve an investigation into any officer. The council, comprised of 10 Democrats and three Republicans, approved the investigation.

Prior to the vote, the council heard about 2.5 hours of public comment, with multiple residents requesting either Rossis resignation or a vote of no confidence from the City Council.

Paul Frosolone, former chairman of the Republican Town Committee, noted that the city charter does not allow for the recall of a mayor, although an ill-fated charter revision that would incorporate a town manager model narrowly failed in 2020. To demonstrate for the council the urgency of a no confidence vote, he urged the roughly 150 residents in the City Hall meeting room to raise their hands if they wanted to see such a vote take place  virtually every hand in the crowd went up.

Former Board of Education Chairwoman Rosemary Russo, who volunteered on the campaign of Rossis Democratic primary challenger John Lewis in 2021, said she thinks the city is a sinking ship without a captain.

I feel like right now we are all aboard the Titanic and were going down, and as its going down the mayor is playing the piano, she said.

Five members of the public who testified ran against Rossi for her job at some point in the last three elections  besides Lewis, former Mayor Ed OBrien and mayoral candidates Barry Lee Cohen, Michele Gregorio and Steven Mullins all testified to express their displeasure with Rossi and the findings of the audit, which claimed roughly $900,000 in federal pandemic funding was either in violation of spending parameters or was lacking the proper documentation.

Weve all experienced the blame games, weve all experienced no contrition, and weve all experienced no shame, Cohen said.

Mullins said he was angry to not see Rossi at the meeting so she could instead receive additional training for her former profession.

If the mayor should be enrolled in any school, it is Mayor School, he said, listing other Connecticut mayors who he believes would be adequate deans or chancellors and for whom Rossi should model herself after. Among those mayors is Orange First Selectman Jim Zeoli, Mullins said, the chief executive of the town West Haven seceded from 101 years ago.

Maybe we shouldnt have left 101 years ago, Mullins said.

On Thursday, the state Municipal Accountability Review Board is expected to take a vote on whether West Haven should be the first municipality under the board in its history to receive a Tier IV designation, which would grant the Office of Policy and Management board more management authority over the city.

Since 2017, West Haven has been under state supervision after deficit bonding under OBriens leadership automatically triggered oversight from the state Municipal Accountability Review Board.

brian.zahn@hearstmediact.com
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WEST HAVEN  Following the release of an audit report earlier this month that found systemic deficiencies in the citys financial processes that led to the apparent mismanagement of hundreds of thousands of dollars in federal pandemic grant funding, incensed residents spent a week mobilizing to confront the City Council and Mayor Nancy Rossi with their grievances at a Monday council meeting.

Where Rossi usually sits, there was an empty chair.

The mayors not here. She wont be here for a week, said City Council Chairman Peter Massaro at the start of Mondays meeting, explaining Rossis absence to the crowd, which erupted into laughter. She made an appointment many months ago to go to a [training] for her continuing education for her job. She wont be back until Friday.

Shortly before the conclusion of the meeting, the City Council voted unanimously to conduct its own investigation of the audit report and to express no confidence in Rossi. During public comment, some residents expressed disappointment and anger that the mayor was absent.

Massaro did not provide more details on Rossis absence. On Tuesday, Rossi told the Register she is out-of-state and Im going to leave it at that.

Rossi declined to say where she was or the nature of the training, but it has nothing to do with taxpayer dollars or the city of West Haven paying for anything.

I am away. I am at a conference. This was booked several months ago. I did make the council aware of it long before I left that I was not going to be able to be there, she said.

The city charter states that in the case of a temporary vacancy, the chairman of the City Council assumes the office of mayor. Rossi said she is in continued contact with her office and is continuing to carry out her duties this week. A representative of the mayors office declined Tuesday to share details of Rossis calendar.

Rossi said she knew of this conference ahead of time, which was why a planned budget meeting was scheduled for next week instead of this week. She said it is a once-a-year conference, so she was unable to reschedule.

On Thursday, the city will meet with the Municipal Accountability Review Board, which will take a vote on whether West Haven will be the first city to enter Tier IV under that board  the maximum authority granted to the Office of Policy and Management under state statute to manage a citys finances, giving the state powers such as appointing a finance manager and approving all bonding ordinances.

At that meeting, Rossi and city Councilman Mitchell Gallignano, D-4, will be given votes as to whether the city should be recommended for a Tier IV designation. Rossi said she will call in to express her opposition to being a Tier IV municipality.

Its important to have due process for this Tier IV designation, Rossi said. If we are put in Tier IV, I know there will be additional positions that will be funded and I dont know whats going to happen to the mill rate.

Members of the public who attended Mondays City Council meeting to demonstrate their displeasure with Rossis job performance testified for 21/2 hours; among those testifying were five former mayoral candidates, including Rossis Republican challenger in the 2021 election, Barry Lee Cohen. Rossi, a Democrat, was certified as the victor by a margin of 32 votes, but a lawsuit filed by Cohen challenging whether absentee ballots were counted properly on Election Day continues.

I was so disappointed that she did not have the courage and the dignity to stand before her fellow residents to hear and understand their frustration, their embarrassment and their total dismay of what she and her administration have done to this city, Cohen said Tuesday. Unfortunately, this is not surprising because whenever the heat is on Nancy Rossi she is missing in action.

Cohen cited an incident earlier this year in which the city ordered an HVAC system for the Police Department that had not been properly budgeted; Rossi did not attend a meeting when the issue was discussed, he said.

Rossi said she takes her position seriously and does much of her work out of the view of the public, including putting in hours on weekends.

I take this position very seriously, she said.

She continued to resist calls from some in the community to resign and said she does not agree with the councils unanimous vote of no confidence.

I constantly am worried about and working on that city and the record shows that, she said.

Rossi said it was she who discovered and reported alleged theft of federal pandemic funds to federal investigators  an investigation that has led to the arrest of four people so far, including former Democratic state Rep. Michael DiMassa  as evidence of her attention to detail and work ethic.

If the mayor should be enrolled in any school, it is Mayor School, said Steven Mullins, a Planning and Zoning commissioner who has sought the office of mayor as a Republican during the Rossi administration, listing other Connecticut mayors who he believes would be adequate deans or chancellors and for whom Rossi should model herself after. Among those mayors was Orange First Selectman Jim Zeoli, Mullins said, the chief executive of the town from which West Haven seceded 101 years ago.

Maybe we shouldnt have left 101 years ago, Mullins said.

Many who spoke requested the vote of no confidence from the council, asking that they take a roll call vote so every council member was on record.

Paul Frosolone, former chairman of the Republican Town Committee, noted the city charter does not allow for the recall of a mayor, although a proposed charter revision that would have incorporated a town manager model narrowly failed in 2020.

To demonstrate for the council the urgency of a no-confidence vote, he urged the roughly 150 residents in the City Hall meeting room to raise their hands if they wanted to see such a vote take place; virtually every hand in the crowd went up.

Former Board of Education Chairwoman Rosemary Russo, who volunteered on the campaign of Rossis Democratic primary challenger John Lewis in 2021, said she thinks the city is a sinking ship without a captain.

I feel like right now we are all aboard the Titanic and were going down, and as its going down the mayor is playing the piano, she said.

Former councilman Aaron Charney said he does not believe Rossi can recover from the audit, and that her remaining in office would greatly damage the state delegations ability to seek state bonding.

Do you think the governor is going to allow the city to get any more money for anything with the current mayor in place? he said.

Gov. Ned Lamont addressed the controversy surrounding West Haven and Rossi specifically in a virtual news conference Tuesday.

We talked five days ago, or something like that. I said this has been an ongoing problem under municipal oversight and its not getting better, Lamont said, adding that he told Rossi she could make her case to the MARB to prevent the city from being escalated to Tier IV.

Lamont said he would reserve judgment before Thursdays vote on whether the city comes under Tier IV, but the state is going to take that place over, I believe. Although he noted Rossi was democratically elected to a third term by a majority of voters last November, (m)y feeling is that West Haven should probably be looking at a fresh start. The governor did not call for Rossis resignation.

Ken Dixon contributed reporting. brian.zahn@hearstmediact.com
Nancy Jean Kohler Fundinger, 82, formerly of North Tonawanda, NY, passed away April 30, 2022. More information at kygers.com.
Judges from the American Culinary Federation will be serving as judges for a competition to be held at the Niagara Falls Culinary Institute. From left are Stafford DeCambra, Michael Morgan and Albert Imming (Submitted photo)
JOHANNESBURG, April 11 (Xinhua) -- South Africa is tackling 56 cases of the Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD), involving farms and communal areas in various parts of the country, said a senior government official on Monday.

The Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development Thoko Didiza made the remarks while giving an update about the FMD outbreak in the country.

She said the disease was detected in farms and communal areas in the Free State, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, North West and Gauteng Provinces. The outbreaks were caused by illegal movements of animals out of the FMD controlled zones in Limpopo.

"It is important that everyone commits and respects all imposed control measures and collectively find a sustainable solution. I call on all citizens of South Africa to stop the illegal movement of animals out of FMD affected areas. The damages caused by continued foot and mouth disease outbreaks have a severe negative impact on the economy of the country, as well as the individual animal owners," said Didiza.

She urged farmers to report suspicions of FMD to state veterinary services.

South Africa lost its World Organization for Animal Health-recognized FMD free zone status in 2019. Despite this fact, the permanent movement restrictions remain in place in the FMD protection zones in Limpopo and Mpumalanga and it is illegal to move cloven-hoofed animals and their products out of the FMD protection zone without permission. 
Former President of the Senate, BukolaSaraki; Sokoto State Governor and Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party Governors Forum, Aminu T...

Former President of the Senate, BukolaSaraki; Sokoto State Governor and Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party Governors Forum, Aminu Tambuwal; and his Bauchi State counterpart, Bala Mohammed, on Monday, held a consultative meeting with the Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri.

Saraki while speaking with journalists at the end of the meeting in Government House, Yenagoa, confirmed the consensus-building on who will emerge as the partys flag bearer for the 2023 presidential election was working.

The immediate past Senate president who is a presidential aspirant on the platform of the PDP said they were also working to hold consultations with other aspirants from the party.

He said, The consensus is working. We are prepared to meet all of the (presidential) aspirants; all of the aspirants are going to meet as a body.

I know that there are moves already, some of the aspirants are also meeting amongst themselves. But the eventual thing is for all of the aspirants to meet. I think its easier when you are trying to reach consensus to start in blocs.

Saraki noted that Nigeria is in terrible shape despite the propaganda of the ruling All Progressives Congress and it is only the PDP that could rescue the country and provide the right direction for citizens.

He, however, stressed that the PDP needed to be united in presenting a common front to wrest power from the APC in 2023.

The former Kwara State governor said he, Tambuwal and Bala Mohammed, believed that although they had individual interests, the interest of Nigeria is far greater than individual interest.

Saraki said the consultative meeting with Diri and other critical stakeholders of the party was geared towards consolidating the consensus-building and strengthening the unity of the party.

We have come to seek his (Diris) support in this approach to the 2023 presidential elections and 2022 presidential primaries of the PDP. He has spoken very well and we feel very encouraged by his words.

Our belief now is all about fixing and repairing this country. The job is enormous, a herculean task that not one person can do. Let us start now by building consensus to ensure the PDP will make Nigeria a better place.

Also speaking, Governor Diri commended Saraki, Tambuwal and Bala Mohammed for the move, adding that there is no other way forward than the unity of purpose of the PDP.

Diri said, We must realise that, first, we are an opposition party. We are not a party in government and we cannot afford to factionalise and fractionalise our party by way of individual ambitions.

The Bayelsa Governor said the state chapter of the PDP was prepared to work assiduously for the unity of the party and its quest to take over the reins of governance to give Nigerians quality leadership and dividends of democracy.
Watertown, NY (13601)

Today

A mix of clouds and sun. High around 60F. Winds NE at 10 to 20 mph..

Tonight

Clear skies. Low 36F. Winds ENE at 10 to 20 mph.
Shoppers wearing masks make their way through Reading Terminal Market in Center City. Indoor masking will be required in Philadelphia again next week, the city health department announced Monday. Alejandro A. Alvarez/The Philadelphia Inquirer/TNS
NAIROBI, April 11 (Xinhua) -- More than 29 million people are facing food insecurity in the Eastern African region, a regional bloc said in a new report launched in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, Monday.

The Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) said eastern Africa is facing the very real prospect that the rains will fail for a fourth consecutive season, placing Ethiopia, Kenya, and Somalia into a drought of a length not experienced in the last four decades.

Workneh Gebeyehu, executive secretary of IGAD told journalists that about 16 million are in need of immediate food assistance due to the prolonged drought caused by failed rain seasons.

"The rest are facing food insecurity due to other stress factors such as conflict in both our region and in Europe, the impact of COVID-19, and macro-economic challenges," Gebeyehu told journalists in Nairobi.

Gebeyehu said 6 to 6.5 million in Ethiopia, 3.5 million in Kenya and 6 million in Somalia have been affected by drought conditions.

He added that in the southern-central part of Somalia, the situation is catastrophic, with 81,000 people at risk of famine.

"We are facing the very real prospect that the rains will fail for a fourth consecutive season, and this is resulting in a prolonged drought," Gebeyehu noted.

He revealed that the drought has also led to severe shortages in water and pasture leading to reduced food production, significant losses in livestock and wildlife, as well as a rise in resource-based conflict in the Eastern Africa region.

IGAD called on member states, donors, and humanitarian partners to increase their emergency response in the affected countries immediately in order to avoid further worsening of the humanitarian crisis.

"We have to act now on the basis of a 'no regrets' approach," said Gebeyehu, noting that livelihood programs must be scaled up to protect the lives and livelihoods of the farmers, agro-pastoralists, and pastoralists.

This, he said, will help support their recovery and self-reliance in the immediate and medium-term.

Alessandra Casazza, manager of the UNDP Resilience Hub for Africa appealed to the respective governments, humanitarian partners, and international donors to direct efforts to prevent further worsening of the humanitarian crisis in the Eastern African region.

Casazza added that the food insecurity situation is not new and is becoming cyclical with greater intensity.

"It is imperative that we develop long-term solutions that halt the crisis from coming back," Casazza added. 
Plans for an event called the Cannabis Festival Mississippi have raised some eyebrows on the Coast.

Natalie Bonner, one of the festival organizers, says people commonly react along the lines of, You cant have a marijuana festival in Mississippi  thats illegal!

So what are they missing?

While the events name may conjure images of Woodstock, there wont be any consumption of illegal substances there  although youll still have to be 21+ to attend.

The festival will take place at the District Green, a downtown Biloxi outdoor event space opened last year, on April 23. Tickets are $35.

Bonner, owner of a boutique CBD shop in Biloxi, which the Sun Herald profiled last year, described the festival as an educational opportunity for the merely canna-curious and regular aficionados alike, timed just a few months before Mississippis legalization of medical marijuana goes into effect.

There will be panels discussing subjects as disparate as science, business, politics, medicine, social equity and cooking  but all as they relate to cannabis. Among the speakers will be state legislators and advocates for marijuana legalization.

In an info session titled Cooking with Cannabis, a chef will provide attendees with samples of hemp-infused culinary dishes, said Lauren Lee, another festival organizer.

The event could be particularly useful for business owners and small farmers interested in learning about the entirely new job market thats being formed here in our state by the legalization bill, Bonner said.

Bonner first had the idea for the festival two years ago, she says, but she and the other organizers plans were stymied by the coronavirus pandemic.

This years event inaugurates what organizers hope will be a yearly tradition. Plans for 2023 are already in the works, Bonner said.

Twenty percent of all profits generated by the event will go to a fund for the legal defense of people with marijuana-related charges, Bonner told the Sun Herald.

There will also be attorneys on site who can assist people seeking to get such charges expunged from their records.

The proceedings will begin at 1 p.m. and take place in three large tents thematically named Indica, Sativa and Hybrid.

After the panels, a lineup of local bands will play until midnight.

Legal cannabis products like CBD, Delta-8 THC and hemp will be sold at the event.
Louisiana spends more than a million dollars annually funding anti-abortion centers that spread propaganda and misinformation about abortion and birth control, according to a new report.

The report by Lift Louisiana, an advocacy group for women and children, found that since 2011, $11.3 million in federal funds meant to help poor people in the state have instead gone to 19 crisis pregnancy centers. These centers often pose as abortion clinics or legitimate medical clinics by popping up near them, when in reality they dont provide medical services and give out false information.

Investing in a network of fake clinics that are providing no medical services and especially oftentimes providing false or misleading medical information to people is just unconscionable, said Michelle Erenberg, executive director of Lift Louisiana.

Crisis pregnancy centers far outnumber abortion clinics in the state. Louisiana has at least 35 crisis pregnancy centers but only three abortion clinics  Womens Health Care Center in New Orleans, Delta Clinic of Baton Rouge and Hope Medical Group for Women in Shreveport.

The money the state is giving to these centers is part of the approximately $163 million Louisiana gets from the federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program. TANF is supposed to help low-income people by funding things like early childhood education, child protective services, housing the unhoused and services for people with addiction  areas where the need far outweighs the resources.

TANF dollars are really supposed to be giving direct assistance to help struggling families with children pay for essential needs, like rent and food and child care, Erenberg said. These are not the services that these crisis pregnancy centers are providing.

The Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) gives the money to two groups, Caring to Love Ministries and Family Values Resource Institute, which then dole it out to various crisis pregnancy centers across the state.

Since the 90s, state governments have gotten to decide how to spend TANF funds, and many have opted to put that money toward government programs rather than direct cash assistance to families. The money is supposed to go toward providing assistance to needy families, promoting job preparation and work, preventing and reducing out-of-wedlock pregnancies or encouraging marriage and two-parent families.

But as Lift points out in its report, giving misinformation about contraception is counterproductive to TANF's purpose of preventing and reducing out-of-wedlock pregnancies. For example, the TANF-funded website knowforsure.me, which appears to be a legitimate health website, says Plan B is possibly carcinogenic to humans and cites the World Health Organization (WHO), even though the WHO has published articles debunking this false claim.

Caring to Love and Family Values dont reimburse crisis pregnancy centers at the same rates either. Because of the way Family Values reimburses centers, a center could theoretically get $1,200 from the state for providing one pregnancy test in a month.

And although according to DCFS, services TANF funds shouldnt have more than 10% of its funds go toward administrative funds, both Caring to Love and Family Values are spending way more on operating costs and overhead.

Caring to Love received about $730,000 through DCFS between July 2017 and June 2018, and 38% of that money went toward operating costs and overhead, including $143,271 for salaries and benefits and $34,176 for public relations and media expenses.

Despite the general lack of oversight of the program through which the state gives money to crisis pregnancy centers and proof that the federal money is going to help people, at least one lawmaker is looking to expand it.

Rep. Rick Edmonds, a Baton Rouge Republican, has a bill that would expand the program and potentially funnel additional state and federal funds to it, though the details of that expansion are still unclear. The bill is expected to be heard in the House Health and Welfare committee this week.

Rep. Aimee Adatto Freeman, a New Orleans Democrat, is working with Lift on a resolution to have DCFS look into the program more closely to determine whether it is accomplishing its intended goals.

Reproductive rights attorney Ellie Schilling said although many Louisiana legislators are anti-abortion, she hopes there will be bipartisan support for oversight of the program and an evaluation of its effectiveness.

What there should be bipartisan support for is government accountability and oversight to make sure the taxpayer money is being spent in a way that is effective in terms of achieving the goals of this program and how much government money is being spent on that, she said. So I would hope that there will be bipartisan support for that.
Voters across St. Tammany can begin casting early ballots April 16 on the proposal to levy a 17-cent sales tax to fund the District Attorneys Office. The tax would generate an estimated $7.9 million annually and DA Warren Montgomery said the money would be dedicated exclusively to criminal prosecutions.

Montgomery and his staff have spent the past few months pitching to would-be voters. The proposal comes on the heels of voters rejecting in November the parishs request for a 4/10th-cent sales tax to fund the parish jail, courthouse and DAs office.

The original tax supporting those entities expired in 2018, and the election marked the fourth time that voters turned down such a tax.

The DAs office asked St. Tammany Parish Government for $6.4 million to operate the agency in 2022 but is slated to receive only $3.1 million of that request due to failure of previous parish tax proposals.

The proposed 1/7-cent sales tax would go only to the DAs office.

Early voting for the April 30 general election will be held April 16-23 from 8:30 a.m. until 6 p.m. daily at local Registrar of Voters offices, with the exception of Sunday, April 17, when voting locations are closed.

Early votes can be cast at 601 N. Jefferson Ave. in Covington, at 520 Old Spanish Trail in Slidell and at 21490 Koop Drive, Building A near Mandeville. Identification is required to vote.

For more information on early voting, call (985) 809-5500 or (985) 646-4125.

Governor names Mary Lee to state arts council

Mary Lee, of Mandeville, was appointed to the Louisiana State Arts Council recently by Gov. John Bel Edwards.

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Lee is the CEO of Lee Financial Partners LLC. She was nominated by Partnership for the Arts and will represent the 1st Congressional District and the 1st Planning District.

The Louisiana State Arts Council receives applications for matching federal funds available from the National Endowment for the Arts and such other funds made available to the council. The Council reviews and approves or rejects those grant applications from other governmental units, community arts councils, and other private, nonprofit, and tax-exempt groups.

Bogue Chitto turnaround closes temporarily

The Pearl River turnaround area of Bogue Chitto National Wildlife Refuge is now closes as U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service employees and volunteers prepare the area for the annual Youth Fishing Rodeo, which will be held this year on June 11.

The public-use site at the turnaround (just off I-59 near the Mississippi/Louisiana border) will reopen following the fishing rodeo.

For more information, go online to www.fws.gov/refuge/bogue-chitto]www.fws.gov/refuge/bogue-chitto or call (985) 882-2000.

Go online with St. Tammany Parish Assessors office

Residents can apply for a homestead exemption, veterans double homestead exemption, disability freeze, senior freeze, and veterans disability freeze all by ZOOM with the St. Tammany Parish Assessor's Office.

To learn if you qualify, go to stpao.org or send email to assessor@stpao.org.
About two weeks after he was indicted by a grand jury in connection with the shooting death of an 18-year-old Edna Karr High School student, Tyrese Carter pleaded not guilty in court.

Carter, 19, appeared Tuesday in Orleans Parish Criminal District Court Judge Karen Hermans courtroom via Zoom, pleading not guilty to charges of second-degree murder and obstruction of justice.

New Orleans police allege that Carter shot Keyron Ross on Jan. 26 in the 3800 block of Texas Drive in Algiers. Ross, a popular student-athlete at Edna Karr, was brought by paramedics to a hospital where he died of his wounds.

Carter has remained in the New Orleans jail since he turned himself in to police on Feb. 7, about two weeks after Ross slaying.

On March 28, Carter's bail was set at $1 million. He is represented by defense attorney Gregory Carter.

Ross is one of at least two Edna Karr students who have been gunned down in the last year: Caleb Johnson was shot and killed on March 28, 2021, just 21 days before he was scheduled to graduate from the Algiers high school.

Orleans Parish District Attorney Jason Williams last week called the slaying senseless violence, and a tough moment for our community.
JOHANNESBURG, April 12 (Xinhua) -- A total of 20 people were killed by flood in South Africa's KwaZulu-Natal Province following heavy rains, said a senior provincial government official on Tuesday.

Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs spokesperson Nonala Ndlovu told local media on Tuesday morning that so far, 20 lives have been lost. She said police had not yet been to some scenes, and the number of deaths and missing people is likely to change as the day progresses.

Kwazulu-Natal Member of the Executive Council for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Sipho Hlomuka said the heavy rains have affected power lines in many municipalities.

"Our teams are still collating the extent of the damage so far. Disaster management teams have been evacuating people in areas that have experienced mudslides, flooding, and structural collapses of buildings and roads," he said.

He said soldiers have been invited to assist in evacuating those marooned by the water.

"Residents in areas that are on higher ground are urged to open up their homes for their neighbors who are stranded as a result of the flooding caused by the heavy rains. Many roads are blocked and residents are requested to avoid unnecessary journeys," he added.

Hlomuka urged people staying in low-lying areas to move to areas on higher ground. 
A federal judge on Monday jettisoned a prominent defense attorney and his law firm from the blockbuster fraud case against former First NBC Bank founder Ashton Ryan Jr. and four co-defendants, ruling they failed to reveal a conflict.

The decision by U.S. District Judge Eldon Fallon promises a months-long delay for a trial that was slated to start June 6.

The five defendants face a 49-count indictment charging them in a conspiracy to commit bank fraud and related charges in connection with the epic collapse of First NBC five years ago. The banks implosion cost the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. almost $1 billion  the worst U.S. bank failure since the 2008 financial crisis.

Only last month, Fallon wrote in a 42-page ruling, did prosecutors learn that Michael Magner, who represents former bank executive Robert Calloway, had previously represented Gary Gibbs, a bank borrower who has since pleaded guilty and agreed to testify as a key witness in the case.

The order disqualifies Magner, a former federal prosecutor, and his law firm, Jones Walker, from representing Calloway. Magner declined to comment Monday after the ruling.

Fallon said he recognized the decision would prompt a delay, but that he had no choice: Ignoring the conflict would risk exposing the proceeding to a germ that could infect the whole case, he wrote in the order, making an eventual retrial inevitable.

He added that in addition to the delay, disqualifying Magner and Jones Walker also frustrates the publics interest in the speedy administration of justice. However, he said the trial will hopefully still launch before the end of the year, after Calloway has the opportunity to secure a new attorney.

Defendants William Burnell, Frank Adolph, Fred Beebe, Ryan and Calloway were indicted in July 2020, and all face a maximum sentence of 30 years if convicted.

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Magner and his firm represented Gibbs on multiple occasions, including during a federal probe into an affordable housing venture in Lake Charles, on which Gibbs had consulted. The firm also represented Gibbs as recently as 2017, while he sought to restructure loans with First NBC.

Fallon wrote that the government alerted him to the potential conflict on March 15, when Gibbs revealed it to prosecutors. In his ruling, Fallon found an actual conflict created by the law firms repeated representation of Gibbs.

Magner and Jones Walker downplayed the conflict as they sought to stay on the case. Calloway suggested that Magner could be barred from cross-examining Gibbs on the witness stand.

The court does not believe this is a workable proposal, Fallon wrote.

Fallon also said he recognized the burden his order places on Calloway, calling his need to hire a new lawyer deeply regrettable. Calloway has also testified that he has limited financial resources for a new attorney. If he cant afford one, Fallon wrote, the court will appoint him a lawyer.

The situation is, no doubt, doubly difficult for Mr. Calloway: Not only must he seek new representation but he is simultaneously losing excellent counsel whose judgment he has relied upon over years and with whom he has presumably shared many confidences, Fallon wrote.

But, he added, the courts judicial hands are tied. Paramount to the courts empathy to any particular party is its obligation to apply the law evenhandedly and enforce ethical lawyering.
A federal judge set a July 18 trial date for Orleans Parish District Attorney Jason Williams and law partner Nicole Burdett to face a jury over an 11-count indictment alleging they conspired to cheat on Williams taxes over five years.

U.S. District Judge Lance Africk set the new trial date Monday during a closed-door meeting in his chambers, according to attorneys for Williams and Burdett.

A scheduled Jan. 24 trial start was delayed when prosecutors lodged an unsuccessful appeal of a pre-trial ruling that barred them from digging into the weeds of Williams past run-ins with the IRS, including tax liens, that predated the alleged fraud.

That ruling was issued by U.S. District Judge Martin Feldman, who died on Jan. 26 at age 87. The case against Williams and Burdett was reassigned to Africk, who was nominated to the bench by President George W. Bush.

Williams and Burdett are accused of conspiring to inflate Williams business deductions by more than $700,000 over the five tax years ending in 2017, with the help of Henry Timothy, a Westwego tax preparer who has since pleaded guilty to lying on his own taxes.

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Williams and Burdett also are accused of failing to file the proper tax forms for large cash receipts.

If it sticks, the trial date Africk set on Monday will come two years after Williams qualified to run for the District Attorney's Office while under indictment.

Williams, who has pleaded not guilty, beat former Orleans Parish Criminal Court Judge Keva Landrum handily in a December 2020 runoff. He took office in January 2021, elected to a six-year term.

Most of the alleged tax fraud came during Williams' two terms as an at-large member of the City Council.

Williams, who campaigned as a criminal justice reformer, has alleged a political motive behind the indictment while claiming that Timothy, the tax preparer, acted on his own to bloat Williams write-offs. Burdett has claimed she is collateral damage, and has also pleaded not guilty. Their attorneys said the trial is expected to run two weeks.
A school bus wended through sun-dappled streets of Algiers and a rooster crowed as several dozen people assembled a block from L.B. Landry High School, some embracing one another, others speaking in low voices on cell phones: Oh my God. Its him. Oh my God, oh my God. Behind yellow crime-scene tape, technicians placed evidence markers by the supine body of Kenneth Faggin, 63, who had been a fixture in the once-quiet neighborhood for about a year before he was shot dead on the sidewalk midday Friday in the 1200 block of Sumner Street.

A resident of the violence-plagued Fischer public housing complex in the 1990s, Faggin was friendly and quick to laugh, according to a longtime friend. She asked not to be identified because she feared retaliation. As she lingered at the scene of Faggins slaying, another woman was shot dead two miles away in the 2200 block of Cobblestone Lane, near the troubled Oakmont apartment complex.

Their deaths kicked off New Orleans bloodiest weekend in a decade. By sunrise Monday, 18 people would be shot, six fatally. A 14-year-old was among the wounded.

New Orleans police had made no arrests in any of the 15 shooting incidents as of late Monday.

The violence was concentrated in Algiers, where four of the six homicides occurred. In addition to the two killings Friday, Algiers saw a drive-by shooting at 8:13 p.m. Friday in the 800 block of Lamarque Street, which sent a man to a hospital. His condition was not immediately available.

Saturday brought two more homicides to the west bank. At around 4 a.m., a man was shot to death in the 3700 block of Herschel Street. Eight hours later, another man was shot dead in the 2100 block of Cobblestone, also near the Oakmont Apartment Complex.

These senseless slayings have left the community reeling, said former Orleans Parish School Board member Leslie Ellison, who serves on the Algiers Neighborhood Presidents Council and is a lifelong resident of the area.

Its like a war-zone experience," Ellison said. "It's devastating. It hurts families on both sides. Whether you are on the victims side or the perpetrators side  it hurts both sides.

Ellison knows some of the victims families. Because of the communitys tight-knit nature, victims and suspects often worship and study alongside one another at church and school, she said.

Sometimes family members know the suspect who killed their family members, so it is revenge, street revenge, Ellison said. It's a circle. Prayerfully, that circle will be broken.

There's no indication that any of the Algiers shootings are connected, but they all remain under investigation, NOPD spokesman Aaron Looney said Monday.

The crush of shootings were reported by police in a 72-hour-period from 7 a.m. Friday to 7 a.m. Monday. In total, there were 15 calls for service related to shootings during the period, which is tied for the most shooting incidents in the last 10 years, according to an analysis of NOPD's call log. The other busiest periods were in April 2021 and May 2021.

Looney acknowledged there was a "high call volume" over the weekend, but declined to comment about what might be causing the increased violence.

"We're actively investigating these shooting incidents and working very hard to find those responsible and bring them to justice," he said.

Can't see this map? Click here.

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Here's a neighborhood-by-neighborhood breakdown of the weekend's violence.

New Orleans East

A man was killed in a shooting Friday night in the West Lake Forest area of the city, police said. Darren Deal was 28, according to the coroner. The shooting was reported to police at 10:27 p.m. in the 6800 block of Tara Lane, police said. Deal had been shot multiple times and died at the scene.

A 25-year-old woman was shot early Sunday in the Little Woods area, New Orleans police said. The shooting was reported to police around 3 a.m. Sunday at Bullard Avenue and Hayne Boulevard. The woman was riding in the area when she heard gunshots and realized she had been shot, police said. Authorities didn't say if she was in a vehicle or on a bike. She went to a hospital for treatment, and her condition was not available Monday.

A 37-year-old man was shot early Monday at the edge of the Village de l'Est area, police said. The shooting was reported to police around 1:30 a.m. in the 4600 block of Alcee Fortier Boulevard. Two unidentified men approached the 37-year-old and opened fire, police said, hitting the man. The two shooters fled and the injured man was taken to a hospital. His condition was not available Monday.

7th Ward

A 28-year-old man was injured Friday in a shooting, New Orleans police said. The shooting was reported just after noon at the intersection of Touro and North Prieur street, authorities said. The man went in a private vehicle to a hospital, where his condition was not available Monday.

A 31-year-old woman was shot while riding in a vehicle at around 9 p.m. Sunday night, police said. The woman was in the vehicle with her friends in the 1600 block of North Claiborne Avenue, police said, when they heard gunshots. She was shot at least once and taken to a hospital; her condition was not immediately available.

Desire area

A 14-year-old was injured in a shooting Saturday night, police said. The shooting was reported to police just before midnight near the intersection of Morrice Duncan Drive and Abundance Street. The teen was in a vehicle with two other people when police say an unidentified man approached and opened fire. The teen was hit and taken by paramedics to a hospital. His condition was not available Monday.

Gert Town

Two men were injured in a shooting in the 8100 block of Palmetto Street at around 7:39 p.m. Saturday, police said. The men were shot multiple times and taken by paramedics to a hospital. Their conditions were not available Monday.

Central City

Ronnell Owney, 31, was slain in a double shooting at about 9:25 p.m. Friday. Owney and the other victim were wounded at the intersection of South Claiborne Avenue and First Street. In 2015, Owney pleaded guilty in Criminal District Court to being a member of 3-N-G, a gang linked to murders of 10 people, including toddler Keira Holmes and rapper Renatta "Magnolia Shorty" Lowe.

Two men, ages 36 and 38, were injured in a shooting at 5:07 p.m. Saturday near the intersection of South Prieur Street and Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. Four unidentified people drove up and started shooting, police said. The two men ran, but the vehicle followed, with the people inside opening fire again. This time, police said, they hit the two men.

Gentilly

A man was injured in a shooting that was reported to police at 7:21 p.m Friday, police said. The man was walking near the intersection of Paris Avenue and Senate Street when he heard gunfire. He realized he had been shot and went in a private vehicle to a hospital. His condition was not available Monday.

Anyone with information about any of these crimes is asked to call Crimestoppers at (504) 822-1111.

John Simerman contributed to this report.
An Arizona man was sentenced to five years in prison Friday for fatally strangling his boss during a confrontation inside a Kenner hotel room in 2020, the Jefferson Parish District Attorney's Office said.

Heading into trial, Vincent Medearis, 58, of Phoenix, faced up to 40 years in prison had a jury convicted him, as charged, with manslaughter in the death of his roofing foreman, Isaias Fino, 39.

But after a two-day trial in Gretna, the jury voted to convict Medearis on the lesser charge of negligent homicide, which carries a maximum sentence of five years.

Medearis and Fino, of Goodyear, Arizona, were part of a company doing roofing work in the New Orleans area in the spring of 2020, Kenner police said. The crew was staying at the La Quinta Inn & Suites in the 2600 block of Williams Boulevard. Medearis was rooming with an unidentified co-worker.

On the night of the March, 5, 2020, homicide, Fino had a 0.29%-blood alcohol level, more than triple the 0.08%-legal limit to operate a vehicle, authorities said.

Fino went to Medearis' room and argued and scuffled with the roommate, police said. He then began fighting with Medearis.

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Medearis put Fino in a chokehold. The roommate told Medearis to let go after Fino began wheezing and coughing, the District Attorney's Office said. But Medearis told the man to go notify their supervisor of Fino's behavior, according to authorities.

When the roommate returned, Fino was dead, the District Attorney's Office said. An autopsy determined Fino died of asphyxia due to manual strangulation.

Attorneys representing Medearis argued that he had been acting in self-defense and noted that Fino's high blood alcohol content likely contributed to the death, according to the District Attorney's Office.

Prosecutors, however, argued that Medearis acted in sudden, uncontrollable anger and had specific intent to harm Fino.

The jury convicted Medearis of the lesser charge after about 2 hours of deliberation, the District Attorney's Office said.

Before sentencing Friday, the court heart a victim-impact letter written by Fino's sisters, who described him as a "kindhearted" father who leaves behind a 5-year-old daughter, according to the District Attorney's Office.

In sentencing Medearis to the maximum punishment for negligent homicide, Judge Ellen Shirer Kovach of the 24th Judicial District Court said, "You held him long enough that you choked the life out him."
A month after the Orleans Parish School Board selected Avis Williams as the next superintendent of NOLA Public Schools, the board is scheduled to discuss and possibly vote this week on a contract that will pay her $300,000 annually.

Williams' proposed contract is on the board's committee of the whole meeting agenda for today. The meeting begins at 1 p.m.

If approved, Williams' contract would run through July 2026.

The board voted last month to name Williams as the new superintendent. It is unclear precisely when Williams, who has been superintendent of Selma City Schools in Selma, Alabama, for the past five years, would step into her new role. The current superintendent Henderson Lewis, Jr.'s contract ends in June.

At the time Williams was named superintendent, board members said they planned to begin negotiating a contract with her.

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At $300,000, Williams' contract would be higher than some other leaders of big school districts across the region. St. Tammany Parish schools Superintendent Frank Jabbia was hired in 2020 with a four-year, $215,000 contract. And Jefferson Parish schools Superintendent James Gray was hired in 2020 at a starting base salary of $265,000. Sito Narcisse, superintendent of the East Baton Rouge School System, was hired in 2021 with a base salary of $255,000.

In the contract, Williams will be eligible for a 3% annual increase if she receives a "satisfactory" or higher evaluation from the School Board. For her first year, the evaluation will be based on several criteria, including developing a plan for a tax renewal for school facilities, developing a plan to evaluate schools and students after the impacts of the pandemic, and adequately addressing truancy.

Check back for more on this story later today.
Contending that previous meetings had turned into attacks from the public and St. Tammany Parish Council members, no one from St. Tammany Parish President Mike Cooper's administration attended a council committee meeting Monday to discuss a troubled Slidell area water system.

"Until we can be assured that the Council will show support for our endeavors, we will provide any documentation or information requested, but no one from Administration will be attending tonight's meeting," Cooper told the council's Utility Committee in a memo.

But the boycott didn't stop a barrage of criticism over Cooper's handling of complaints about Tammany Utilities. In fact, it appeared to stoke the flames.

The meeting became as much about Cooper's absence as the problems with the water system.

'Crying shame'

"It's a crying shame that we have no one here, no one from this administration," said Council member Mike Lorino, who chairs the committee.

Council member Jerry Binder angrily denounced suggestions that the Parish Council had not been willing to work with Cooper's administration, saying the council has been working on issues with the water system for years and that residents live with them every day.

Cooper, by contrast, has not attended any recent utility working group meetings, Binder said.

"It is a disgrace. It is cowardly. It is hiding," he said.

A half-dozen residents from Cross Gates and other eastern St. Tammany subdivisions served by Tammany Utilities East joined in the criticism.

"I don't know whether to be angry or sad today that no one is here to hear my complaint," said Ashley Schenck, a Cross Gates resident who said she and her family, as well as a neighbor, are still having health issues that began last year after she said a sewage leak contaminated the water system.

'Distracting and undermining'

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But Cooper said Tuesday that he doesn't understand the purpose of the utility committee, which formed when Pat Brister was parish president, and doesn't appreciate what he sees as interference in the management of a department.

"We're doing everything we can to govern. It seems that the council committee and its members are not just giving input, they're making demands. ... It's more distracting and undermining than helpful," he said.

Cooper said that he wasn't invited to the meeting, although some of his department heads were. "I welcome input and suggestions, but I don't appreciate the demands, and I really don't appreciate the public remarks that are unwelcome toward this administration and myself."

Residents who attended the meeting said that they remain angry that no boil water advisory was issued last year during the sewer leak. Schenck said that a Louisiana Department of Health official told her recently that water systems are on the honor system when it comes to the advisories.

Cooper last week announced a 60-day "chlorine burn," for the system serving Cross Gates and other subdivisions in the area, beginning April 28. The chlorine burn will significantly increase the use of chlorine in the system, a step he that the administration said was being done to restore public confidence. A news release said that there is no contamination in the drinking water.

Some residents have criticized the parish for not taking this step sooner.

'We will not take blame'

Cooper said Tuesday that there is no correlation proving illnesses were caused by the sewer leak. "We will not take blame for causing any illness, sickness or rashes ... that is speculation," he said.

Committee members said that they have had to push the administration for every bit of remediation that has been done, including the chlorine burn. But they said there's little that they have the power to do. For example, they want a third party operator to run the system, but can't compel Cooper to make that step.

Cooper says that he has had meetings with companies, and his administration is still evaluating the best move.

But committee members said that they will submit a report to the full Parish Council and draft an emergency ordinance that will address when boil water advisories must be issued.

Lorino urged residents to attend Parish Council meetings, where he said Cooper would certainly be in attendance.
Wind-whipped flames are marching across more of New Mexicos tinder-dry mountainsides, forcing the evacuation of area residents and dozens of patients from the state's psychiatric hospital as firefighters scramble to keep new wildfires from growing. The big blaze burning near the community of Las Vegas has charred more than 217 square miles. Residents in neighborhoods on the edge of Las Vegas were told to be ready to leave their homes. It's the biggest wildfire in the U.S. and is moving quickly through groves of ponderosa pine because of hot, dry and windy conditions that make for extreme wildfire danger. Forecasters are warning of extreme fire danger across New Mexico and in western Texas.
Williamsport, Pa.  A Vietnam War veteran visited and spoke during a Lycoming College class this week, offering a first-hand account of the war to students who have been studying the conflict all semester.

Walter T. Steinbacher, a Vietnam War veteran from the Williamsport area, was the guest speaker in the course "Vietnam War at Home and Abroad."

Sarah Silkey, Ph.D., professor of history and department chair, invited him to speak after connecting with him in 2019 when she helped to publish his memoir, "Point Man Up: One Marine's Memories of Vietnam."

Throughout the semester, my students have been reading firsthand accounts of the conflict in Vietnam, said Silkey. Mr. Steinbachers visit provided an invaluable opportunity for my students to meet someone who served in the war, and more importantly, ask questions.

Steinbacher left home and joined the Marines in 1965 where he was then assigned to the 1st Battalion, 26th Marines, 5th Marine Division, a division that had been disbanded after World War II. He left the following year for Vietnam where he served for 15 months as a point man and radio operator for patrols from September 1966 to June 1967. His experience and testimony of the war gave students one perspective of what a war without a front looked like.

Students in the course read excerpts from Steinbachers memoir and were encouraged to bring questions, such as how his experience shaped him. Vietnam cemented my love for the human race, he responded.

Apart from working on his farm, Steinbacher enjoys humanitarian work. After being wounded in action and sent home, he worked with the Veterans of Foreign Wars, served as a union leader, and built a career with the Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry. While earning his associates degree in forestry, Steinbacher began writing about his love of nature and his experiences in Vietnam.

After drafting his memoir, Steinbacher found Silkey, who connected him with student Sarah Bain 20, a history major. She served as a copy editor, helping to reorganize book chapters and conducting research to verify dates, names, and locations. Silkey then formatted the manuscript and connected him to a publishing company.

As we near the 50th anniversary of the American withdrawal from Vietnam, there remains a lot of interest in understanding the Vietnam War, said Silkey.

There are a limited number of veterans, activists, and leaders from the period who are available to speak to their experiences. As an educator, I believe it is important to provide a space for their voices to be shared with the next generation.

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Mill Hall, Pa. Two Central Mountain High School Students are hosting a mental health awareness walk on Wednesday for their school's Spirit Week.

The idea for the walk came about when juniors Ashton Peters and Lela Vanartsdalen saw a report about another school in Scranton that held a similar event.

We thought it would be an awesome idea to bring awareness to mental health in our school district too, Peters said.

The pair proposed the event to teachers and administrators as their senior project.

It was definitely a unique experience, Peters said. It was a different type of project then what the principals have heard of, and they really loved the idea of it.

He said the administration has even shown interest in doing the event annually even after the two students graduate.

Peters said working with Vanartsdalen in planning the event has worked because of their shared experiences watching people around them struggle.

Shes had experiences within her family, Peters said. Ive lost a best friend [from suicide].

Peters said his friends father later took his own life as well.

This led him to holding two previous mental health awareness walks in their honor in connection with the Boy Scouts.

Our main purpose was to address the importance of mental health within our school, Peters said. Suicide deaths in teenagers have been high lately.

Peters said they have also partnered with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP).

The AFSP will have a table at the event and will also be talking to the students.

Students and faculty will walk a path around the school campus lined with signs created by students with mental health statistics and messages of support.

Peters said that after the mental health walk, students will participate in CMHS Spring Carnival that will feature a color war between all the grades and school staff. Each color represents a different facet of mental health awareness.

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NAIROBI, April 12 (Xinhua) -- Kenyan prosecutors on Tuesday launched guidelines on international cooperation in combating terrorism and terrorism financing.

Noordin Haji, the director of Public Prosecutions, told journalists in Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, that the procedures allow local agencies to engage in mutual international cooperation to procure evidence, extradite suspects and secure witnesses in order to conduct terrorism investigations.

"Local agencies shall ensure that the sharing of information with foreign agencies and authorities is consistent with the interests of Kenya and, in particular, national security interests," Haji said.

He observed that the guidelines permit law enforcement bodies to conduct cross-border capacity building initiatives with the aim of facilitating knowledge transfer and strengthening relationships.

"Whenever deemed appropriate by the local agencies, a joint investigative team shall be formed in consultation with foreign agencies and authorities to assist in investigations into transnational cases of terrorism and terrorism financing," he said.

Haji revealed that international cooperation in addressing terrorism and terrorism financing may be formal or informal through partnerships with competent authorities in other jurisdictions.

Patrick Njoroge, governor of the Central Bank of Kenya, said that the guidelines provide for the establishment of a strict legal regime that recognizes the cross border of nature of most terrorism financing, adding Kenya's position as a regional financial hub renders the country at an elevated risk of emerging as a terror financing center given its geographical proximity to terror hotspots. 
Williamsport, Pa.  All a Columbia County man could do was put his hands over his face as tears streamed down on Friday afternoon in Middle District Court in Williamsport.

Cody Drumheller is facing five felony counts stemming from the discovery of three firearms on July 20, 2021 in Columbia County. Drumhellers trial is set for later this year, but Friday he requested an early release to take care of his five kids.

Drumheller was on probation for drug paraphernalia charges when authorities discovered two shotguns and a pistol.

According to Assistant United States Attorney Geoffrey MacArthur, who argued for Drumheller to remain incarcerated, the weapons were not for hunting and recreation purposes. The shotguns barrels were sawed off with swastikas carved into them.

Related reading: Men from Lycoming, Columbia counties indicted on firearms charges

Drumhellers defense attorney Kyle Rude argued for his release, stating he would have supervision and agree to an ankle monitor.

Im going to be a productive citizen, Drumheller stated to the court.

Drumheller was asked to remain quiet when Judge William Arbuckle denied his motion for bail.

Drumheller will remained incarcerated at the Columbia County Prison until a trial at a later date.

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Harrisburg, Pa.  A death warrant was signed last week for a man convicted of killing a police officer in 2005.

Department of Corrections Acting Secretary George Little signed a Notice of Execution for the May 27 execution of Robert Anthony Flor, who was sentenced to death in Bucks County.

According to several news outlets in Buck County, Flor was picked up for a suspected DUI in September 2005.

Two officers were guarding Flor at the hospital where he was undergoing blood and urine tests. Authorities said he was able to gain control of an officer's weapon before he fired several shots that ultimately killed Newtown Borough Police Officer Brian Gregg, who was 46.

According to a memorial on the Officer Down Memorial website, Flor also shot a second officer in the chest and wounded a hospital technician.

After the shootings, Flor fled the emergency room and was located approximately one hour later hiding in a car in the hospital's parking garage.

Flor was found guilty on one count of capital murder and two counts of attempted murder and sentenced to death on November 17, 2006.

Former Gov. Tom Corbett signed Flor's first execution notice in 2011, then again in 2014. When Gov. Tom Wolf took office in 2015, he issued a moratorium on executions.

"This moratorium is in no way an expression of sympathy for the guilty on death row, all of whom have been convicted of committing heinous crimes," Wolf said at the time. "This decision is based on a flawed system that has been proven to be an endless cycle of court proceedings as well as ineffective, unjust, and expensive."

State law requires the governor or the secretary of corrections "prematurely" sign a new death warrant following an appeal, according to the Death Penalty Information Center.

When the governor doesn't sign the warrant, the secretary of corrections has 30 days to issue the notice. Wolf has not signed an execution notice since taking office.

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2:20 p.m. update: Two adult victims are currently hospitalized after the fire on Monday, May 11. According to police, Michelle and Charles Erway are currently at Strong Memorial Hospital Burn Unit.

Michelle Erway is in the burn unit intensive care and Charles Erway is in the inpatient unit, according to police.

12:15 p.m. update: According to the Potter County Coroner, the victims of the fire were three males, ages 14, 16 and 17; two females, both 16 years of age. The deaths are being ruled accidental.

Police said that due to extensive damage to the home, the cause of the fire is being ruled undetermined. After a thorough investigation of the fire damage, it appears there was a possible issue with a woodstove or its chimney, which may have been the cause.

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Genesee, Pa.  The Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) is investigating a fatal residential fire that took the lives of five children and injured two adults in the early morning on Monday, April 11.

At 3:30 a.m., Genesse Volunteer Fire Company, along with multiple other fire companies from New York and Pennsylvania, were dispatched to a residential fire on Slingerland Road in Genesee Township, Potter County.

Upon arrival, the fire department found the house engulfed in flames, according to PSP reports.

The five juveniles were unable to escape the residence. According to First News Now, they were trapped in the basement, where the fire is thought to have started from a wood stove.

The parents of three of the children made it out safely, and attempted to save the children, but suffered serious injuries in the process, according to PSP reports.

The adults were both flown from the scene to Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester, New York.

Preliminary information indicates there is nothing suspicious involved with the fire and that the fire started in the basement.

The investigation is still active and ongoing. The names of the victims have not been released.

The Northern Potter School District issued a letter following the tragedy.

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Mariupol teeters as Russia readies eastern Ukraine onslaught

Sergey Bobok/AFP/Getty Images North America/TNS An elderly woman gestures toward a partially destroyed five-story building in the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv on Sunday, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Joe Raedle/Getty Images North America/TNS People wait on the train to Poland at the central train station on April 11, 2022, in Lviv, Ukraine. Many people are heading west as Russia's military is anticipated to conduct renewed attacks in the east. Lviv has served as a stopover and shelter for the millions of Ukrainians fleeing the Russian invasion, either to the safety of nearby countries or the relative security of western Ukraine. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images/TNS) Genya Savilov/AFP/Getty Images North America/TNS A Doctors Without Borders (MSF) nurse cares for Evhen Perepelytsia, right, a patient on a medical evacuation train on its way to the western Ukrainian city of Lviv on Sunday. Doctors Without Borders, in cooperation with the Ukrainian railways and the Ministry of Health, has just completed a new medical train referral of 48 patients, coming from hospitals close to the front line in the war-affected east of the country.

MYKOLAIV, Ukraine  With Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy telling compatriots to brace for a fateful week, Western military officials warned Monday that Russian forces will likely resort to even more brutal tactics against civilians in a looming offensive in the countrys south and east.

Nearly seven weeks into the war, Russian forces, whose campaign has been marked by strategic stumbles, appeared poised to achieve a major objective: capturing the port city of Mariupol. A Ukrainian marine brigade that described itself as among the last holdouts posted on Facebook that the unit had suffered a mountain of wounded and was running out of ammunition.

For some, death, and for some, captivity, said the post, which criticized Ukrainian military higher-ups for not providing more weaponry and resources for the fight.

Hours earlier, Zelenskyy said the city, the scene of one of the wars most sustained and savage Russian offensives, had been destroyed and that tens of thousands of its residents were dead.

Ukrainian soldiers are surrounded and blocked, Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak wrote Monday on Twitter. From the beginning, weve been asking our partners for a chance  for tanks and jets. The world remains silent and watches genocide online.

Amid the carnage and rising atrocities in Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin held his first face-to-face talks since the Feb. 24 invasion with a European leader, Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer. Nehammer was criticized in some quarters for handing the Kremlin a potential propaganda opportunity, but said afterward he had delivered a tough message to Putin that the war must end and Russian troops responsible for war crimes would be held to account.

Austria is a member of the 27-nation European Union, which has imposed stringent sanctions against Russia, but is militarily neutral and not a member of NATO  a status that in the past has allowed it to maintain closer links with Moscow. Nehammer, who met over the weekend with Zelenskyy, has demanded a war crimes investigation against Russia, which denies its troops have committed atrocities against civilians.

European leaders, meanwhile, signaled that more sanctions against Moscow may be in the works. But the bloc is running out of ways to try to force Putin to break off the biggest ground war in Europe in decades, which has triggered the continents largest refugee crisis since World War II. More than 4.5 million Ukrainians have fled the country, according to the latest United Nations figures, and around another 7 million are internally displaced. Nearly two-thirds of all Ukrainian children have fled their homes, the U.N. childrens agency said Monday.

In my 31 years as a humanitarian, I have rarely seen so much damage caused in so little time, Manuel Fontaine, the director of the United Nations agency for children, told the U.N. Security Council.

Sanctions are always on the table, the EUs top diplomat, Josep Borrell, told reporters as he headed into a meeting Monday with the blocs foreign ministers in Luxembourg.

The U.S., for its part, was stepping up diplomatic efforts to bring more countries into the anti-Russia coalition. President Joe Biden held a virtual meeting Monday with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. India is a U.S. ally, but has not imposed any sanctions against Russia. Among a four-nation group of allies known colloquially as the Quad  the U.S., Japan, Australia and India  Biden has previously described India as the only somewhat shaky country regarding Ukraine.

With a ferocious new phase of the war considered all but certain, Ukrainian civilians continued to try to escape from what is expected to become the next main battleground, the countrys eastern industrial heartland and its southern seacoasts.

Even with nearly another 3,000 people fleeing those areas Sunday, according to Ukrainian officials, the pace of the exodus has been slowed by fear of more attacks like the one on a railway station last week in the eastern city of Kramatorsk, which killed at least 57, including five children.

After the rocket strike on the railway station, the evacuation of the Donetsk region will be carried out from the neighboring towns of Sloviansk and Povrovsk, said Oleksandr Honcharenko, the mayor of Kramatorsk. About 160,000 residents had already fled his city, he said, and about 45,000 remain, most of whom had endured the hostilities in 2014 and would likely remain if there is no heavy shelling.

Honchanenko stressed that any resident who wanted to get out of the city could leave.

The experience of other cities, such as Mariupol and Chernihiv, shows that the occupants are trying to use residents as hostages for their hostilities, he said. Therefore, the task of the city authorities, every mayor, is to keep the number of people, especially women and children, in the cities as small as possible.

Zelenskyys account of death and destruction in Mariupol came in a video-link speech to South Koreas parliament  the latest in a series of virtual addresses to lawmakers around the world to drum up support and plead for more weaponry for his beleaguered country.

Since the start of the war, Moscows forces have sought to capture Mariupol to establish a land corridor between Russian-controlled areas of the east and the Crimean Peninsula, which Russia seized eight years ago.

On Monday, the head of the separatist rebel government in Donetsk said Ukrainian forces had suffered significant defeats in Mariupol.

The port of Mariupol, it is already under our control, Denis Pushilin, president of the Donetsk Peoples Republic, told Russian state television, according to Russian news outlets. His claim could not immediately be verified.

Mariupols mayor, Vadym Boychenko, said in an interview with The Associated Press that more than 10,000 civilians had died in his city and the death toll could exceed 20,000. Russian forces, he said, were attempting to conceal war crimes by bringing in mobile cremation equipment to dispose of the bodies.

Mobile crematoriums have arrived in the form of trucks: You open it, and there is a pipe inside and these bodies are burned, he said.

Analysts at the Washington-based Institute for the Study of War noted in a report Monday that Russian forces had made significant territorial gains in Mariupol, bisecting the besieged city from the city center to the coast on Sunday and isolating the remaining Ukrainian troops in the Azovstal steel plant in the east and the main port of Mariupol in the southwest.

A British military intelligence assessment Monday warned that Russia might resort to the use of phosphorus weapons in its bid to finally secure control of the city, and said civilians in many areas were imperiled by the invaders use of indiscriminate firepower.

Russias continued reliance on unguided bombs decreases their ability to discriminate when targeting and conducting strikes, while greatly increasing the risk of further civilian casualties, the assessment said.

Artillery strikes rocked several eastern cities early Monday. Air-raid sirens also wailed in the southern city of Mykolaiv, near the Black Sea, where a massive blast reverberated late Sunday. The regional governor, Vitaliy Kim, said in a video posted Monday that it was a missile strike that caused no deaths.

In his overnight video address, Zelenskyy said Russia was trying to evade responsibility for war crimes such as the reign of terror visited on areas outside Kyiv during a monthlong occupation before abandoning the bid to swiftly seize the capital city and topple the Ukrainian government.

Investigators and Ukrainian forces have been in satellite towns outside Kyiv, recovering bodies of civilians, many killed execution-style and thrown into mass graves. Forensic specialists from France arrived Monday to help with the preservation of evidence. Ukrainian officials say the count of fatalities in those outlying areas has surpassed 1,200.

We are doing everything we can to bring to justice every bastard who came to our land under the Russian flag and killed our people, who tortured our people, destroyed our cities, looted and tormented, Zelenskyy said.

He added that the coming week will be as tense as any in the course of the war, as Russian forces prepare to stage even larger operations in the east of our state.

In laying groundwork for that offensive, Russian missile strikes destroyed the central city of Dnipros airport in a missile strike Sunday, Ukrainian officials acknowledged. But Ukrainian forces have also repulsed several assaults in eastern regions, resulting in the destruction of Russian tanks, vehicles and artillery equipment, the British military assessment said.

Col. Oleksandr Motuzyanyk, spokesman for Ukraines ministry of defense, said at a Monday briefing that Ukrainian troops had repulsed seven Russian attacks in Luhansk and Donetsk regions in the last 24 hours.

The enemy is finalizing the restoring of its units and redeploying them to the territory of Luhansk and Donetsk oblasts, Motuzyanyk said. We predict that active combat operations will begin any time soon. The Ukrainian army is ready for it.

Russian forces also kept up unrelenting strikes near the seaport of Mariupol and the northeastern city of Kharkiv, Ukraines second-largest. Kharkivs regional governor, Oleh Sinegubov, wrote on Facebook that eight people, including a 13-year-old child, died in bombardment Monday and 19 people were injured.

These are military crimes against peaceful Ukrainians who will never forgive Russians! Sinegubov wrote.

Fears over the fate of Ukrainian civilians were heightened with word over the weekend that Russia has appointed a military chief known for atrocities in Syria to oversee the Kremlins war effort. The appointment of Gen. Aleksandr Dvornikov, Western officials say, suggests that the deliberate targeting of civilians, a hallmark of Russias war strategy, is likely to continue.

Adding to the sense of menace, the notorious Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov, who has been leading fighters in Ukraine from his Russian republic, declared Monday that he was a loyal foot soldier to Putin and suggested that Ukrainian cities faced devastation if resistance to the Russian assault continues.

Dont let Kyiv be destroyed, Kharkiv and other cities, Kadyrov, who has been sanctioned for human rights abuses, wrote in a Telegram post that also mentioned Mariupol, Luhansk and Donetsk.

Russias military setbacks since the start of the invasion have been plainly visible, but more detail is emerging about the nature of its losses. The British Broadcasting Corp. reported more than 20% of the military personnel confirmed dead and identified by name were officers, including specialists like fighter pilots and veteran commanders.

____

(Bulos reported from Mykolaiv, King from Warsaw and Jarvie from Atlanta. Times staff writer Patrick McDonnell in Kyiv contributed to this report.)
CAIRO, April 12 (Xinhua) -- The Abu Dhabi Developmental Holding Company (ADQ) invested about 1.8 billion U.S. dollars to acquire shares of five Egyptian companies on Tuesday, the Egyptian Exchange said in a statement.

The ADQ, one of Abu Dhabi's sovereign funds, bought shares of e-payment platform Fawry, the state-owned Alexandria Container and Cargo Handling Company, Abu Qir Fertilizers, the Commercial International Bank and Misr Fertilizers Production Company, according to the statement.

On April 4, Abu Dhabi sovereign fund agreed to purchase two billion dollars' worth of stakes in some Egypt's state-owned businesses, including large listed banks.

Gamal Bayoumi, head of the Cairo-based Arab Investors Union (AIU), said the move is "a quick help for Egypt to bridge the decline of foreign cash reserve and also an opportunity for the Gulf company to invest in successful companies in the North African country."

Such deals are better than asking for high-interest loans to close the gap between demand and supply for U.S. dollars, Bayoumi told Xinhua. 
FILE - In this Oct. 15, 2015, file photo, vehicles pass a highway construction site near Sacramento, Calif. A former California Department of Transportation contract manager has pleaded guilty in what federal prosecutors say is an ongoing investigation in to a bid rigging and bribery scam. Choon Foo "Keith" Yong agreed Monday, April 11, 2022, to cooperate with an investigation into what prosecutors say was a conspiracy to rig the competitive bidding process for improvements and repair contracts.
The mayor of the Ukrainian port city of Mariupol says more than 10,000 civilians have died in the Russian siege of his city and the full death toll could surpass twice that number
YAOUNDE, April 12 (Xinhua) -- Four prison officers were killed on Tuesday in Cameroon's restive Anglophone region of Northwest after their convoy was attacked by gunmen, local and security sources said.

Gunmen ambushed the convoy of the prison officers in Bui, a division of the region Tuesday afternoon and killed all of them.

"They were returning from installing a new prison superintendent in another village of the region. Theodore Kiga, who is the chief prison superintendent of the region, and three other prison officers were killed in the attack," a senior army official who asked not to be named told Xinhua by phone.

It is unclear who organized the ambush, but separatist fighters are known to be operating in the locality, the source said.

The army was in pursuit of the gunmen who escaped to the bush after the attack, according to officials in the region.

Separatist fighters have been clashing with government forces in Cameroon's English-speaking regions of Northwest and Southwest since 2017 in a bid to create an independent nation in the regions they called "Ambazonia." 
EAST CHICAGO  The steel industry remains the engine that drives the Northwest Indiana economy and must be preserved, U.S. Rep. Frank Mrvan, D-Highland, told steelworkers at North America's largest steelmaking complex in Indiana Harbor.

Mrvan and Cleveland-Cliffs Chairman, President and CEO Lourenco Goncalves toured the Indiana Harbor Works steel mill in East Chicago on Monday. More than 3,600 steelworkers work at the massive mill on the Lake Michigan lakefront that produces metal for cars, appliances and countless other products.

They touted the importance of shortening supply chains with American-made goods after the coronavirus pandemic resulted in worldwide shortages that continue to ripple throughout the economy, leading to higher prices, half-empty car dealership lots and difficulty obtaining some consumer goods like bicycles.

"As co-chair of the Steel Caucus, it's my mission every single day to ensure that we are providing an environment for us to thrive," Mrvan said. "Your philosophy of being No. 1 in the world in producing steel and having great pride in the American worker and American steel is something that transcends throughout our Region and throughout our nation."

Protecting the domestic steel industry is a matter of national security, Mrvan told the assembled United Steelworkers union members. Congress needs to preserve tariffs, he said.

"What we have learned during the pandemic and the conflict that is going on in Ukraine is how important it is to be self-sufficient in producing our steel, how important it is that we're investing in this industry and that we're investing in the American steelworker and all the contractors that are providing the support necessary to be the top-producing steel region in the world," he said. "When we talk about the pig iron and we talk about being environmentally friendly, the one message I want to make to clear is what Cleveland-Cliffs is doing for this Region is that it's providing for families. It's providing for families to be able to put food on the table and have college educations."

The recently passed infrastructure bill and its Buy American provisions will mean more job security for steelworkers in the Calumet Region, Mrvan said.

"We're investing in our roads and our bridges and our waterways," he said. "When families are traveling across a bridge and it's safe, that's a sense of pride but also a sense of economic retention that our steelworkers will continue to work for generations. That's important as we face the future."

Cleveland-Cliffs is trying to help restore the Midwest as an economic powerhouse after the ravages of globalization over the last 25 or 30 years, Goncalves said.

"The big lie of globalization was shipping jobs to countries that cost less with the excuse of efficiency, using the word efficiency to basically exploit people to benefit a few," he said. "I do not agree with that. I believe it made us as a country weaker."

It's not something that can be fixed in days or weeks, Goncalves said. It will take decades.

But the pandemic and resulting supply chain shortages have exposed the folly of outsourcing so many jobs and operations overseas, Goncalves said.

"Right now we're seeing so many companies that have been benefiting from the destruction of wealth of the American worker to suffer the consequences of what they did," he said. "I can't help myself but to like that. Even though I'm a good Catholic, I can't help myself but to like that. It will make them learn in a way that they'll never forget. Produce right here in America with American workers with a short supply chain. Then we're a powerhouse. Then we're a true power. Other than that you are just at the mercy of capital. Capital will move where it's cheaper, not where it's more efficient."

Goncalves said the company, which acquired most of ArcelorMittal USA's operations in Northwest in late 2020, valued its people over shareholders.

"I do not work for the shareholders," he said. "I work for my people. I work for my company. If shareholders want to come for the ride, be my guest. Jump on the bandwagon. But that's not how we work. I work for my people and we work with the unions. We work well with USW. We pursue the same goals. We ultimately want the same things."

Mrvan said he was trying to help shorten supply chains by co-sponsoring the America Competes Acts. It levels the playing field so that semiconductors could again be manufactured in the United States of America, which would help both the automotive industry and the steel sector that supplies it, he said.

"I had a conversation that the reason they were being made in other countries was that it was the cheapest way it could be made," he said. "If we shorten that supply chain and they're able to produce semiconductors and chips here, as they plan to do in the next four to five years in Ohio, we're creating jobs and shortening those supply chain. In Northwest Indiana, when Ford shut down because they didn't have the chips and semiconductors, people stopped working there. When they stopped working there, that affected my district and the amount of steel you're producing. When we shorten that supply chain, we again say to ourselves and to the nation that we are supporting ourselves and investing in ourselves and will be able to produce things at a quicker pace."

But Congress can only do so much, Goncalves said. Companies also need to step up such as by buying pig iron made at Indiana Harbor Works in East Chicago or other Cleveland-Cliffs sites instead of buying the $1.2 billion worth of Russian pig iron the United States imported last year, Goncalves said.

"We will continue to tell our clients we're responsible for own actions," he said. "They can continue to partner with us if they want a shorter supply chain instead of a longer supply chain. These things don't happen because of an act of law. They need to do our part and we need to do ours as well. We don't have steel for everybody, and we have to be selective. That's what makes the price go up."

Higher steel prices, which rose to record levels last year, have benefited steelworkers, Goncalves said. They reaped thousands of dollars worth of profit-sharing bonuses in 2021.

"The workers do well. The union understands what I'm talking about," he said. "They're in the same boat as us. They want what we want. Some companies are pro-union. Other companies are anti-union. We're pro-union. We are pro-middle class. We're pro-worker. We're pro-capitalism. Think about what happened here in the Midwest over the past 25 years and you understand the picture."

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Indiana workplaces can take advantage of a new mental health support program.

The Indiana Chamber of Commerces Wellness Council of Indiana has launched the Mental Health First Aid training series, which offers virtual training.

The past two years have really brought mental health concerns and needs to the forefront, and this program is a timely and convenient vehicle for employers to assist their workers in this area, Wellness Council of Indiana Executive Director Jennifer Pferrer said.

Certified Mental Health First Aid instructors will teach companies how to identify risk factors and warning signs of mental illnesses. They will guide businesses on how to direct affected workers to get the appropriate care they need.

This training takes the fear and hesitation out of starting conversations about mental health and substance use problems by improving understanding and providing an action plan that teaches people how to safely and responsibly identify and address a potential mental illness or substance use disorder," Pferrer said.

Virtual group sessions will be offered via Zoom this Wednesday, July 21 or November 9. Participants also must take a two-hour, self-paced online course to get certified. Employers also can arrange to bring the Mental Health First Aid instructors on-site if they need private or more individualized training.

For more information or to sign up, visit www.wellnessindiana.org/programs/mhfa.

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Vox Media's flagship show "Today, Explained" just debuted on Lakeshore Public Radio, airing in Chicagoland for the first time.

Sean Rameswaram and Noel King host the award-winning explainer show at 6 p.m. Central time on weekdays on WLPR-FM 89.1. It's explanatory journalism that elucidates a single news story or cultural phenomenon.

The show just launched on more than 50 public radio stations across the country, including in Philadelphia, New Orleans, Cincinnati, Ann Arbor, Gainesville, Florida, Burlington, Vermont and Portland, Oregon.

Broadcasting this podcast on public radio stations across the country has been a dream of mine since we launched back in early 2018, Rameswaram said. From the jump, the show has tackled the news by interrogating all perspectives and angles while appealing to the broadest audience imaginable. We champion journalism from our colleagues at Vox Media, but also local papers, member stations, well-known entities, and international outlets that fly under the radar. Sharing our work with public radio stations is the ultimate fulfillment of our mission to help as many listeners as possible understand the news.

Rameswaram worked at WNYC Studios Radiolab, WNYC and PRIs Studio 360 before co-creating the show. He co-hosts with King, who previously hosted NPR's "Morning Edition" and "Up First" and also served as a producer on WNYC's "The Takeaway."

I am thrilled to be returning to public radio stations across the country with 'Today, Explained,' King said. Public radio airwaves are a valuable, limited resource, and for stations to choose our show is both an honor and a testament to the work our team does every day. I'm so glad we're finding a home in the public media ecosystem that we have known and loved since the start of our careers.

It's put out by Vox and WNYC Studios, which also distributes "Radiolab," "On the Media," "The New Yorker Radio Hour," "Death, Sex & Money," "Dolly Partons America," "The Experiment" and "The United States of Anxiety." Vox now has 150 different shows.

Lakeshore Public Radio just extensively shook up its midday lineup, also adding the shows "On Point," "The Takeaway" and "The World."

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CROWN POINT  A multijurisdictional police effort aimed at vehicle thefts, drugs and violent crimes resulted in the arrests of 19 people, Lake County Sheriff Oscar Martinez Jr. said.

Offices with more than a half dozen agencies carried out the overnight crackdown April 5.

"Indiana State Police arrested two juveniles, who were accused of carjacking a driver in Chicago less than an hour before their arrest in Indiana," Martinez said.

Lake County Sheriffs Department officers arrested seven Indiana residents on charges including drugs, a weapon offense, a traffic offense and outstanding warrants, he said. A vehicle stolen from Illinois was recovered as part of the effort.

Officers with the Schererville Police Department arrested an Indiana resident and confiscated 2 grams of suspected cocaine, Martinez said.

Two Indiana residents were arrested by Hobart police on weapon and drug charges, the sheriff said. One Illinois resident was also arrested for a drug offense.

Merrillville police officers arrested three Indiana residents  two on outstanding warrants and one on a drug offense.

An Indiana resident was picked up by St. John police on an outstanding warrant, Martinez said.

Hammond police arrested two on non-extraditable warrants, one on an outstanding warrant and aided Illinois State Police in pursuit of the two juvenile carjacking suspects, the sheriff said. Indiana State Police later joined in on the pursuit and the suspects were taken into custody.

"I am extremely proud of the cooperative effort of officers from each agency that participated in this enforcement," Martinez said. "Together, we are truly making a difference by keeping our Lake County community safe."

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CROWN POINT  A judge ended a more than five-year-old civil lawsuit against Family Christian Center and its pastors, Stephan and Melodye Munsey, linked to the drowning death of a woman hired to babysit their grandchild in 2015.

Vicki Walker, also known as Vicki Olds, accused the pastors and their megachurch of negligence, alleging they failed to adequately watch over her 18-year-old daughter Domonique "Nikki" Smith and protect her from injury while she was in their home.

Melodye Munsey found Smith facedown in the deep end of her 20-by-45-foot swimming pool May 29, 2015, after her then-5-year-old granddaughter entered her second-story bedroom wet and crying and asked her to look outside, according to court records.

Melodye Munsey saw Smith in the pool, went outside and found Smith to be unresponsive, and returned inside to call 911.

Smith died June 1, 2015, after she was taken off life support, records state. Olds chose to forgo an autopsy because Smith's organs were donated.

Smith, who was Olds' only child, graduated with honors from Merrillville High School in 2014 and was a sophomore at Valparaiso University.

Hundreds of people turned out for a vigil for Smith days after her death, remembering her as an old soul who spread joy and friendship wherever she went.

She was a certified lifeguard and began attending the Family Christian Center in late 2014, court records state.

Melodye Munsey told attorneys in depositions that she could not swim and was unable to reach Smith as Smith floated in about 8 1/2 feet of water. After calling 911, Melodye Munsey ran to a neighbor's house to get help, court records state.

Smith remained facedown in the water for at least 12 minutes before medics arrived and placed her in an ambulance.

Stephan Munsey, who had been away from home for several days on a fishing trip in the Bahamas, arrived home after Smith was in the ambulance, records state.

Attorneys for the Munseys and their church hired a medical doctor, who reviewed video recordings of the pool area and police, medical and coroner's records and determined Smith suffered an irreversible brain injury due to lack of oxygen. The Lake County coroner's office determined she died from accidental drowning.

The parties disagreed about whether Smith and the Munseys' granddaughter went swimming against Melodye Munsey's wishes.

Melodye Munsey said in her deposition she told her granddaughter she could not go swimming that day. She told attorneys she went to a doctor's office because she had an earache and did not think Smith and her granddaughter would be in the pool upon her return home.

Olds' attorneys said evidence was presented that Melodye Munsey forbid Smith and her granddaughter from swimming that morning because it was raining, but she gave them permission to go in the pool later in the day.

Olds' attorneys also argued the Munseys had life jackets and a pool cover but lacked other safety equipment such as a pole with a hook on it.

Attorneys for Olds argued Smith was an invitee at the Munseys' home, which required the pastors to "exercise reasonable care" for Smith's protection while she was on their property.

Senior Judge Michael Bergerson noted an earlier ruling in the case in which Smith was found to be an independent contractor while visiting the Munseys' home.

The previous ruling was issued after attorneys for Family Christian Center and the Munseys asked a judge to dismiss the lawsuit. They claimed Smith was their employee, which would have limited Olds to seeking damages for her daughter's death only through the state's Worker's Compensation Board.

The judge denied the Munsey's motion to dismiss in 2017, and the Indiana Court of Appeals affirmed the lower court's decision in 2018. Attorneys for the pastors and their church filed a motion for summary judgment in June, and a hearing was held Feb. 9.

Bergerson wrote that Olds alleged a failure to supervise and rescue, but her attorneys never brought a premises liability claim. Such a claim cannot be raised for the first time in response to a motion for summary judgment, he wrote.

Melodye Munsey had no duty to supervise Smith, a competent adult and trained lifeguard, while Smith was babysitting, the judge said.

Bergerson agreed with the pastors and found Smith did not have permission to use their swimming pool, which meant the Munseys' only duty was to refrain from "willfully or wantonly" injuring Smith or increasing her risk of harm.

Indiana law does not require an individual to aid or protect another person, even if the individual knows the other person needs assistance, Bergerson wrote.

Even if an exception to that law were to apply to Smith, Melodye Munsey did what was required by calling 911 and seeking help from neighbors, he said.

It was undisputed that Melodye Munsey could not swim, and "there is never a duty to endanger oneself in order to attempt to render aid," the judge wrote.

Bergerson concluded there were no genuine issues of material fact in the case and ordered all of Olds' claims against Stephan and Melodye Munster dismissed.

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HAMMOND  A 20-year-old man was killed in a shooting Saturday night in an alley in the 800 block of Drackert Street, officials said.

Amarion Holmes, who had addresses in Gary and Hammond, was flown to the University of Chicago Medical Center after he was found slumped over inside a vehicle, according to the Cook County medical examiner's office and Hammond police.

Officers were dispatched to the area about 4:30 p.m. after a 911 caller reported hearing one shot in the alley, Lt. Steve Kellogg said.

Holmes was found inside a white vehicle suffering from gunshot wounds, authorities said.

Holmes was pronounced dead about 6 p.m. at the Chicago hospital. The death was ruled a homicide.

Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Sgt. James Onohan at 219-852-2997.

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LAPORTE  A $30 million residential and retail development near downtown LaPorte is a hotbed of employee misclassification and other unlawful construction practices, according to charging documents filed Monday.

LaPorte County Prosecutor John Lake is accusing two Goshen-based businesses, Pro Paint and Finish LLC and Drywall Hanging Services LLC, and their agents, Adeeb Kupty and Fadi Kupty, both of Goshen, of numerous felonies in connection with their work at The Banks.

According to court records, the Goshen entities were drywall subcontractors for The Banks' general contractor, Indianapolis-based Flaherty and Collins.

In that role, the subcontractors hired employees without checking any documentation, classified them as independent contractors despite directing their work, failed to pay the prevailing wage for drywall work, paid groups of employees by a single check without withholding payroll taxes, insurance or workers compensation, and did not keep track of hours worked or overtime earned, records show.

According to court records, the Kuptys and their two businesses each are charged with fraud greater than $50,000, money laundering, obstruction of justice and corrupt business influence. Adeeb Kupty is additionally charged with forgery.

LaPorte Circuit Judge Thomas Alevizos has issued warrants for the arrest of each of the Kuptys, records show.

Brian Moore, Flaherty and Collins vice president for marketing and communications, said the company has no comment at this time.

In Merrillville, meanwhile, leaders of Carpenters Union Local 1005, which shared information about the alleged misdeeds at The Banks with prosecutors, had plenty to say about the damaging effects of employee misclassification on Hoosier workers and Indiana as a whole.

John Carr, senior representative for the Indiana/Kentucky/Ohio Regional Council of Carpenters, said the LaPorte case is just the beginning of stepped-up enforcement throughout the construction industry.

"We're out there every day beating the streets, hitting job sites. If there's a contractor out there misclassifying workers and paying cash, let this be their warning: We're coming for you," Carr said.

"We're going to investigate, we're going to dig up the dirt, we're going to work with the prosecutors and we're going to take them down. The buck stops here, and going forward, tax fraud is going to be dealt with in every municipality in Northwest Indiana."

Carr explained that businesses who land construction jobs through unlawful underbidding are responsible for some $405 million a year in state and local tax fraud, including unpaid income taxes, unemployment insurance and workers' compensation premiums.

He said that money could pay for 8,741 additional state troopers, or 7,937 elementary and high school teachers, or 325 miles of resurfaced highways, or 112 miles of expanded highways, or 783 small business loans.

"The amount of revenue lost each year to tax fraud is staggering," Carr said. "On the surface, nobody can tell tax fraud is happening when you drive by a project. But it's rampant. It's rampant in the construction industry, and it's really rampant in the wood framing and the drywall industry."

Jeremy Rivas, president of the Porter County Council and business manager for the bricklayers union, said companies that pay their workers in cash, or fail to withhold payroll taxes, have a direct and immediate impact on the ability of counties and other local governments to pay for essential services.

"My role is to set budgets for the county. We set the sheriff's budget. We set all the judges' budgets. We set the prosecutor's budget," Rivas said. "So these bad actors, whatever you want to call them, they're really defunding our local government and defunding our public safety too."

State Sen. Mike Bohacek, R-Michiana Shores, and state Sen. Rodney Pol, D-Chesterton, said they're both working at the Statehouse to enact new laws aimed at stamping out employee misclassification and making sure everyone pays their fair share.

"We're coming up on a budget year, so when we're looking at a teacher shortage in Indiana and we're looking at municipalities that are having a hard time being able to hire and keep police and fire, that's a problem for us in this state," Pol said.

Bohacek said he takes special exception to cheating at projects that already are tax-advantaged since that undermines the entire point of the state or local governments providing tax incentives for new developments.

"The goal is to create local jobs where people are going to be paying local taxes," Bohacek said. "To see these projects start, and I just watched one recently where every license plate was from out-of-state, and then the van shows up with 15 Amish workers from Elkhart County  they're not paying taxes. They're not paying anything. And when they get hurt, what happens? Well, they're going to go to the hospital, they're going to sit on Medicaid and we're all going to pay for it."

U.S. Rep. Frank J. Mrvan, D-Highland, said he's grateful ending worker misclassification is a bipartisan issue, and he's similarly taking steps at the federal level to ensure Northwest Indiana workers aren't being abused by independent contractors who ignore the law.

"To the working men and women of Northwest Indiana, I want you to know I will have your back," Mrvan said. "I will continue to advocate, as I have in the steel industry, to make sure bad actors don't circumvent the rules for their competitive advantage."

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GARY  Roman Catholics have a reason for calling it Holy Week.

This is the center of the year, the holiest of weeks, said the Rev. Martin J. Dobrzynski, pastor at St. Michael the Archangel Parish in Schererville and director of the Office of Worship for the Catholic Diocese of Gary.

The three days making up the Sacred Triduum  Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday  represent the whole essence of our faith, the essence of our salvation. Jesus suffering, death, and resurrection are the whole basis of our faith, Dobrzynski said.

The four-county Gary diocese has an estimated 170,000 Catholics in 66 parishes. This week, those parishes prepare for diocesan and local events that reflect different cultures and go back to the early Christians.

Starting with Palm Sunday, the faithful received palms and heard the passion of Jesus Christ in the Gospel. Bishop Robert J. McClory led a procession Sunday from SS. Monica and Luke Parish down Seventh Avenue to Holy Angels Cathedral.

While at SS. Monica and Luke, the Rev. Michael Surufka, a Franciscan friar who serves there and at the cathedral, said the faithful are joining our journey with Jesus today. We literally walk with Jesus today ... all the way to the tomb.

At the cathedral, McClory said that Palm Sunday shows Jesus as true God and true man, from his welcome in Jerusalem to his suffering and death.

This duality, McClory noted, provides a place for ones suffering. When people are hurting, the bishop said, Jesus is right there with us.

The bishop stated that he is eager to welcome the entire faith community to Holy Week and Easter services. McClory said parishes are reporting a substantial increase in attendance and participation at Mass during Lent, coming off the pandemic.

This is a hopeful and encouraging sign, McClory said, that people are reconnecting in person with their faith community.

The tradition of processing and distributing palms, Dobrzynski said, dates back to St. Cyril of Jerusalem, a fourth-century bishop who introduced the practice to recall Jesus triumphant entry into Jerusalem.

In another centuries-old custom, churches on Holy Thursday may observe a washing of the feet at the evening Mass of the Lords Supper. Again, Dobrzynski said, the intent was to follow what Jesus did, when he commanded his followers to wash one anothers feet in this notion of service.

According to the bishop, Holy Week provides the faithful with an opportunity for a mini-retreat through various liturgies to prepare for Easter.

I encourage people to attend as many of these services as they can and set aside some intentional time with the Lord, in prayer and service, he said.

McClory will join with his fellow clergy and the community Thursday for the Chrism Mass at the cathedral. The 10:30 a.m. Mass, which will be livestreamed, features the blessing of the oil of the sick and oil of the catechumens and consecration of sacred chrism. Also at that Mass, diocesan priests renew their priestly promises.

Later that evening, churches around the diocese hold the Mass of the Lords Supper.

This leads into Good Friday, a commemoration of Jesus death on the cross. While Catholics traditionally mark Fridays in Lent through the Stations of the Cross, this Friday takes on a more special meaning, marked by veneration of relics of the true cross.

McClory will lead the Stations, 14 episodes in Jesus suffering and death, at noon at the Shrine of Christs Passion in St. John. Dobrzynski's parish will pray the Stations outdoors at the church cemetery.

The Hispanic community marks Good Friday with the Via Crucis Viviente, Living Way of the Cross. Church members reenact each station during a prayerful procession through local streets.

Among local churches holding a Via Crucis are Our Lady of Guadalupe in East Chicago, St. Francis Xavier in Lake Station, both at 1 p.m., and St. Paul in Valparaiso, beginning at 5:30 p.m.

The Holy Saturday or Easter vigil service begins with the outdoor lighting of the holy fire, symbolic of Jesus light, Dobrzynski said.

Holy Saturday also welcomes those entering the Catholic faith as they receive the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation and the Eucharist.

Dobrzynski noted that early Christians treated the Triduum as one day. People came to church, went home, then returned to church. For those unable to attend Holy Week services, the priest suggested the following:

 Remember the Last Supper at the Thursday meal.

 Maintain silence, including technology, from noon to 3 p.m. on Good Friday.

 Prepare for Easter by fasting on Good Friday and Holy Saturday until the Easter vigil.

There are many ways to bring your faith home, Dobrzynski said. It is, after all, a faith that has endured through the ages.

McClory encourages Catholics to prepare our hearts to have a great conclusion to Lent through a wonderful Holy Week that guides us into our joyous celebration of Easter.

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HAMMOND  A 54-year-old man was killed after an April 7 apartment fire at the Renaissance Towers at 524 Michigan St. in Hammond.

The Lake County coroner used dental records to identify Sean D. Rockett, a resident of Renaissance Towers, as the victim.

The Hammond Fire Department responded to the fire on the ninth floor of the apartment building at about 2:45 a.m. The blaze caused peripheral damage to the building and three people were treated for smoke inhalation.

Rockett's cause of death is pending, according to the Lake County coroner.

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PHNOM PENH, April 7 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia had expelled 3,594 illegal immigrants in more than 40 nationalities to their birth countries in 2021, according to a report released by the General Department of Immigration (GDI) on Thursday.

Some 2,899, or 80 percent, of the deportees are Thais, the report said.

GDI Director General Kirth Chantharith said on Wednesday that any alien living in the country without valid documents such as passports and visas and foreign fugitives are subject to deportation.

"Despite challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the GDI has worked actively to administer foreigners living in Cambodia, aiming to maintain security, public order and safety as well as social development," he said during the GDI's annual conference.

According to the report, from 2014 to 2021, Cambodia had expelled a total of 20,824 illegal aliens in 107 nationalities to their birth countries.

Apart from deportations, last year, the Southeast Asian nation had also arrested 4,311 foreigners for committing various crimes in 896 cases, the report said. 
HOBART  The city is focused on plans for this year, but officials took time to reflect on what was completed in 2021.

We are excited as to what was accomplished in 2021 and what is now occurring in 2022, Mayor Brian Snedecor said in a video State of the City address presented during Wednesdays City Council meeting.

He said collaboration is key to making progress in city endeavors.

This doesnt happen without a unified front of the council, Board of Works and department leaders and their staffs with vision and execution of plans to move our city forward in positive ways for our community to be a place where residents can live, work and play, Snedecor said.

Director of Development Beth Jacobson said that a 308,000-square-foot light manufacturing facility and a 280,000-square-foot manufacturing and distribution building being constructed on 69th Avenue have a combined investment of $91 million and that they can create about 155 full-time jobs.

The projects can elevate the citys assessed value, which can help keep taxes lower for residents, she said.

She said a new roundabout was completed at 69th Avenue and Colorado Street. The citys Redevelopment Commission pursued the project with a grant from the Northwest Indiana Regional Development Authority and contributions from the Merrillville Conservancy District.

Building Code Official Karen Hansen said 2021 was a record year for construction.

The city issued 2,651 building permits for projects. The total construction value was around $81 million, she said.

Hobart is continuing to experience growth both in residential and commercial sectors, Hansen said.

That includes the Eagle Creek subdivision and the latest Albanese expansion, she said.

City Engineer Phil Gralik said there are several projects planned for this year.

A federal road project will reconstruct Colorado Street at U.S. 30 to correct sight distance issues and alter commercial drives and signals to enhance safety.

Delaware and Third streets will both be reconstructed through the states Community Crossings Matching Grant program.

The first phase of the Duck Creek restoration project near County Line Road will start this year. Design work continues for the Stinky Creek/Cressmoor storm sewer initiative.

Gralik said major projects are expected to start in 2023. That includes a roundabout at Marcella Boulevard and 61st Avenue. The Indiana Department of Transportation also is expected to install a roundabout next year at Ind. 130 and Ind. 51, Gralik said.

Hobart Police Chief Garrett Ciszewski said the Police Department had a great year in 2021.

Our partnership with the community and our officers hard work shows with a 5% increase in calls for service, Ciszewski said. Crime was down in almost all areas.

He said the citys reserve officers log about 6,000 hours of free work each year, and that service helps free up officers to do more work.

Fire Chief Randy Smith said firefighters responded to 5,136 emergency calls last year. He said 3,530 of those were EMS-related. He said firefighters also completed 6,045 man-hours of training.

Smith said that 2021 was a challenge because of COVID and an increasing call volume and that the city started peer support and employee assistance programs to help employees.

Aimee Schallenkamp, executive director of Hobarts Maria Reiner Center, (MRC)said the senior center closed the first few months of 2021 because of COVID.

It reopened in March last year, and several events took place with precautions.

Overall, 2021 was a great year to open back up at the MRC, Schallenkamp said. The members enjoyed the companionship and friendship they had lost in the previous year.

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WASHINGTON (AP)  A COVID-19 patient was in respiratory distress. The Army nurse knew she had to act quickly.

It was the peak of this years omicron surge and an Army medical team was helping in a Michigan hospital. Regular patient beds were full. So was the intensive care. But the nurse heard of an open spot in an overflow treatment area, so she and another team member raced the gurney across the hospital to claim the space first, denting a wall in their rush.

When she saw the dent, Lt. Col. Suzanne Cobleigh, the leader of the Army team, knew the nurse had done her job. Shes going to damage the wall on the way there because hes going to get that bed," Cobleigh said. "He's going to get the treatment he needs. That was the mission.

That nurse's mission was to get urgent care for her patient. Now, the U.S. military mission is to use the experiences of Cobleigh's team and other units pressed into service against the coronavirus pandemic to prepare for the next crisis threatening a large population, whatever its nature.

Their experiences, said Gen. Glen VanHerck, will help shape the size and staffing of the militarys medical response so the Pentagon can provide the right types and numbers of forces needed for another pandemic, global crisis or conflict.

One of the key lessons learned was the value of small military teams over mass movements of personnel and facilities in a crisis like the one wrought by COVID-19.

In the early days of the pandemic, the Pentagon steamed hospital ships to New York City and Los Angeles, and set up massive hospital facilities in convention centers and parking lots, in response to pleas from state government leaders. The idea was to use them to treat non-COVID-19 patients, allowing hospitals to focus on the more acute pandemic cases. But while images of the military ships were powerful, too often many beds went unused. Fewer patients needed non-coronavirus care than expected, and hospitals were still overwhelmed by the pandemic.

A more agile approach emerged: having military medical personnel step in for exhausted hospital staff members or work alongside them or in additional treatment areas in unused spaces.

It morphed over time, VanHerck, who heads U.S. Northern Command and is responsible for homeland defense, said of the response.

Overall, about 24,000 U.S. troops were deployed for the pandemic, including nearly 6,000 medical personnel to hospitals and 5,000 to help administer vaccines. Many did multiple tours. That mission is over, at least for now.

Cobleigh and her team members were deployed to two hospitals in Grand Rapids from December to February, as part of the U.S. militarys effort to relieve civilian medical workers. And just last week the last military medical team that had been deployed for the pandemic finished its stint at the University of Utah Hospital and headed home.

VanHerck told The Associated Press his command is rewriting pandemic and infectious disease plans, and planning wargames and other exercises to determine if the U.S. has the right balance of military medical staff in the active duty and reserves.

During the pandemic, he said, the teams make-up and equipment needs evolved. Now, he's put about 10 teams of physicians, nurses and other staff  or about 200 troops  on prepare-to-deploy orders through the end of May in case infections shoot up again. The size of the teams ranges from small to medium.

Dr. Kencee Graves, inpatient chief medical officer at the University of Utah Hospital, said the facility finally decided to seek help this year because it was postponing surgeries to care for all the COVID-19 patients and closing off beds because of staff shortages.

Some patients had surgery postponed more than once, Graves said, because of critically ill patients or critical needs by others. So before the military came, we were looking at a surgical backlog of hundreds of cases and we were low on staff. We had fatigued staff.

Her mantra became, All I can do is show up and hope its helpful." She added, "And I just did that day after day after day for two years.

Then in came a 25-member Navy medical team.

A number of staff were overwhelmed," said Cdr. Arriel Atienza, chief medical officer for the Navy team. "They were burnt out. They couldnt call in sick. Were able to fill some gaps and needed shifts that would otherwise have remained unmanned, and the patient load would have been very demanding for the existing staff to match.

Atienza, a family physician whos been in the military for 21 years, spent the Christmas holiday deployed to a hospital in New Mexico, then went to Salt Lake City in March. Over time, he said, the military has evolved from things like pop-up hospitals and now knows how to integrate seamlessly into local health facilities in just a couple days.

That integration helped the hospital staff recover and catch up.

We have gotten through about a quarter of our surgical backlog, Graves said. We did not call a backup physician this month for the hospital team ... thats the first time thats happened in several months. And then we havent called a patient and asked them to reschedule their surgery for the majority of the last few weeks.

VanHerck said the pandemic also underscored the need to review the nations supply chain to ensure that the right equipment and medications were being stockpiled, or to see if they were coming from foreign distributors.

If were relying on getting those from a foreign manufacturer and supplier, then that may be something that is a national security vulnerability that we have to address, he said.

VanHerck said the U.S. is also working to better analyze trends in order to predict the needs for personnel, equipment and protective gear. Military and other government experts watched the progress of COVID-19 infections moving across the country and used that data to predict where the next outbreak might be so that staff could be prepared to go there.

The need for mental health care for the military personnel also became apparent. Team members coming off difficult shifts often needed someone to talk to.

Cobleigh said military medical personnel were not accustomed to caring for so many people with multiple health problems, as are more apt to be found in a civilian population than in military ranks. "The level of sickness and death in the civilian sector was scores more than what anyone had experienced back in the Army, said Cobleigh, who is stationed now at Fort Riley, Kansas, but will soon move to Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland.

She said she found that her staff needed her and wanted to talk through their stresses and strains before theyd go back on shift.

For the civilian hospitals, the lesson was knowing when to call for help.

It was the bridge to help us get out of omicron and in a position where we can take good care of our patients," Graves said. I am not sure how we would have done that without them.

Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

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Considering antivirals

When Eric Adams announced his positive Covid test Sunday, he quickly took the opportunity to spread the word about antiviral medications.

Adams, who has a history of diabetes, is one of millions of Americans who qualify for the drugs Paxlovid and molnupiravir. When taken within days of a positive test, they can drastically reduce an at-risk patients chances of being hospitalized.

But often, patients dont hear of antiviral options, writes our colleague Anne Barnard, an environment and climate reporter for the Metro desk who had Covid last week. Annes doctors office didnt mention them. Only after hearing that the mayor was on antivirals did she realize she might be eligible. When Anne checked out a New York City-administered antiviral program, she received a prescription easily.

We also talked to our colleague Knvul Sheikh, who has written extensively about Covid and antivirals. She said antivirals caught on slowly, both because initial supply was low and because even doctors were confused about access. But under President Bidens test to treat program, the drugs are increasingly obtainable free after a diagnosis. Those over 65, pregnant women and those with diabetes, cancer, kidney disease and other conditions are eligible.

To start the process, call your primary-care doctor after testing positive or use a website like this one, this one or this one. At designated test to treat locations, you can be prescribed immediately. Antivirals can interact with other medications, so discuss that with your prescriber.

Knvul told us that one of the most important things she learned was that those in antiviral eligible groups should move quickly: After youve crossed the five day mark, you can no longer get these medicines, Knvul said. You might pass sniffles off as allergies when it could be Covid. If you test sooner rather than later it will give you more time to act.

She added, If youre living in an area starting to see a rise in cases, maybe be proactive and find the closest dispensing location near you, in case you get sick.
The Pentagon confirmed that Russia is sending hundreds of military vehicles, including infantry and combat helicopter support units, and artillery to eastern Ukraine. New satellite images showed a long column of Russian military vehicles moving through the town of Velykyi Burluk toward the city of Izium, which could serve as the staging ground for the offensive.

Following its retreat from Kyiv, the Ukrainian capital, Russia is focusing its military campaign on the eastern Donbas region, aiming to seize territory to create a land corridor to Crimea, which it annexed in 2014.

Zelensky said in a 60 Minutes interview last night that the West should make the rapid delivery of weapons its No. 1 priority to help Ukraine.

They have to supply weapons to Ukraine as if they were defending themselves and their own people. They need to understand this; if they dont speed up, it will be very hard for us to hold on against this pressure, he said.

Senior U.S. military officials and some analysts have said this next phase of the war will be fought on terrain more favorable to Russias tanks and infantry units.
10. And finally, how a myth about starlings took flight.

In 1890, an eccentric named Eugene Schieffelin released a few dozen European starlings into Central Park, hoping to introduce all the bird species mentioned in Shakespeares plays to America. They now number about 85 million.

But two researchers recently concluded that crucial parts of the tale are false. Schieffelins portrayal as a Shakespeare superfan was a nature writers error, and records exist of earlier European starling introductions. So what else have scientists and naturalists gotten wrong about the much-reviled bird?

Have a lofty evening.

Eve Edelheit compiled photos for this briefing.

Your Evening Briefing is posted at 6 p.m. Eastern.

Want to catch up on past briefings? You can browse them here.

What did you like? What do you want to see here? Let us know at briefing@nytimes.com.

Here are todays Mini Crossword, Spelling Bee and Wordle. If youre in the mood to play more, find all our games here.
Climate scientists, policy experts and environmental justice advocates on Monday announced a major project to better understand the contribution of thawing permafrost to global warming and to help Arctic communities cope with its effects.

Led by the Massachusetts-based Woodwell Climate Research Center, the 6-year, $41 million project will fill in gaps in monitoring across the Arctic of greenhouse gas emissions from thawing permafrost, currently a source of uncertainty in climate models. The project is financed by private donors, among them the billionaire philanthropist Mackenzie Scott.

With the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs at Harvard University and the Alaska Institute of Justice, the project will also develop policies to help mitigate the global impact of permafrost emissions and, locally in Alaska, assist Native communities that are struggling with thawing ground and problems that arise from it.

A good part of this is science, said Sue Natali, a permafrost researcher, director of the Arctic program at Woodwell and one of the leaders of the new project, called Permafrost Pathways. But really, its important to us to be making sure that our science is actually useful and usable where its needed.
A California woman who tackled a Black teenager at a SoHo hotel after falsely accusing him of stealing her cellphone pleaded guilty on Monday to a felony hate crime charge stemming from the altercation. Parts of it were captured in a widely seen video.

Under the terms of her plea, the woman, Miya Ponsetto, 23, avoided jail time and can enter a new plea to a lesser, misdemeanor charge if she completes her probation in a case of driving while intoxicated in California. She must also continue counseling and have no encounters with the criminal justice system for the next two years, officials said.

The hotel episode was a high-profile example of the kind of false accusation Black people routinely confront in New York and elsewhere. It came several months after a white woman called 911 to falsely claim that a Black bird-watcher in Central Park was threatening her life. (Last year, a lawyer for Ms. Ponsetto said that she is of Puerto Rican and Vietnamese descent.)

In a statement announcing Ms. Ponsettos plea, Alvin Bragg, the Manhattan district attorney, highlighted what he said was her outrageous behavior in tackling Keyon Harrold Jr., the 14-year-old son of a prominent jazz musician, in the lobby of the Arlo Hotel in December 2020.
Americas attempt to vaccinate the world against Covid is about to come to an end.

We are at a point now where without additional funding we are going to have to start winding down our programming, said Jeremy Konyndyk, the leader of the United States Agency for International Developments Covid-19 task force. Such funding does not appear to be forthcoming. Our gruesomely dysfunctional politics are going to lead to more illness and death across the globe, and were increasing the odds that a new viral mutation will once again upend American life. If it does, we might call it the filibuster variant.

Even for a body as broken and ineffectual as Congress, this level of self-sabotage is hard to fathom. The biggest risk we face domestically and globally is more new variants, said Konyndyk. Such variants, he said, are most likely to emerge in chronically immunocompromised populations, including people living with diseases like AIDS and tuberculosis; because they have trouble clearing the coronavirus, it lingers and has more opportunities to evolve.

Thats likely where Omicron came from, quite possibly where Delta came from, Konyndyk said. So making sure that we are targeting those populations for vaccination and then targeting them with the rollout of antivirals is the best insurance policy we have against new variants. Its not foolproof, but its the best we can do.

But it seems we are not going to do it. Part of the blame for this lies with House Democrats. Far more belongs to Senate Republicans.
On April 12, 1861, rebel artillery opened fire on Fort Sumter, beginning the U.S. Civil War. The war eventually became a catastrophe for the South, which lost more than a fifth of its young men. But why did the secessionists believe they could pull it off?

One reason was they believed themselves to be in possession of a powerful economic weapon. The economy of Britain, the worlds leading power at the time, was deeply dependent on Southern cotton, and they thought a cutoff of that supply would force Britain to intervene on the side of the Confederacy. Indeed, the Civil War initially created a cotton famine that threw thousands of Britons out of work.

In the end, of course, Britain stayed neutral  in part because British workers saw the Civil War as a moral crusade against slavery and rallied to the Union cause despite their suffering.

Why recount this old history? Because it has obvious relevance to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. It seems fairly clear that Vladimir Putin saw the reliance of Europe, and Germany in particular, on Russian natural gas the same way slave owners saw Britains reliance on King Cotton: a form of economic dependence that would coerce these nations into enabling his military ambitions.
PHNOM PENH, April 12 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen said here on Tuesday that the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines has helped revive all socio-economic activities in the Southeast Asian nation.

Cambodia launched a national vaccination campaign in February 2021, with China being the key vaccine supplier and most of the jabs used in the country's immunization program are Sinovac and Sinopharm vaccines.

According to the prime minister, the southeast Asian nation achieved strong COVID-19 herd immunity in just about eight months after its launch of the inoculation drive.

Hun Sen said this brilliant achievement has enabled Cambodia to reopen the country in all sectors since November 2021, and maintain normal socio-economic activities up until now, despite continued threats from the spread of COVID-19, especially the Omicron variant of the virus.

"This reflects the effectiveness of vaccines, which have allowed Cambodia to live with COVID-19 in a new normal, in a resilient and safe manner," he said during a handover ceremony of 325,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine donated from India.

"As a result, recently, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) has forecasted that Cambodia's economy will likely grow by 5.3 percent and 6.5 percent in 2022 and in 2023, respectively," he added.

Meanwhile, Hun Sen also called on people to continue to strictly take health measures, especially in celebrating the Khmer New Year on April 14 to 16.

World Health Organization (WHO) representative to Cambodia Li Ailan on Sunday praised Cambodia for achieving the impressively high COVID-19 vaccination coverage.

"The successful vaccine rollout helped save many lives, protect health and contribute to economic recovery," she wrote on social media.

Cambodia has so far administered one dose of COVID-19 vaccines to 14.84 million people, or 92.8 percent of its 16 million population, the health ministry said, adding that of them, 14.1 million, or 88.1 percent, have been fully vaccinated with two required shots.

The kingdom reported 17 new COVID-19 cases on Tuesday, all being infections with the Omicron variant, with no new fatalities, the health ministry said, adding that to date, the country has recorded a total of 135,980 cases with 132,666 recoveries and 3,055 deaths. 
Jason Weiner, a lawyer for Mr. Johnson, did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Monday.

In a sentencing memorandum, Mr. Weiner said that Mr. Johnsons health problems after decades spent performing manual labor, along with pandemic-related heightened turmoil and isolation, had contributed to his behavior.

Between the prescribed narcotics, pain, and self-medicating, Mr. Johnson was not himself, Mr. Weiner wrote in the memorandum, dated April 1, adding that his client had learned from this experience. His actions did not take place in a vacuum.

Senators Murkowski and Sullivan did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Monday.

In September 2021, Mr. Johnson called Ms. Murkowski at least two times, according to court documents. In one message, he said: I will find out everything, where youre at. 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. He also asked her if shed ever seen what a .50-caliber shell does to a human head.

He left Mr. Sullivan 13 voicemails, stating in one that he would get his .50 caliber out and then hold an online fund-raiser for the shells.
The government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been under pressure to make the vaccines more affordable. But critics said that the governments decision to require Indians to pay for booster doses would place poorer people at a disadvantage, especially in rural areas, where there are fewer private health facilities.

The central feature of this new policy is discrimination by design, Abhishek Singhvi of the Indian National Congress, the main opposition party, said on Sunday. Are you suggesting that you do not care for the rural population? Are you suggesting that you do not bother about the less privileged?

Indias leading health experts have also raised questions about the policy. What happens to poor persons who are under 60 and may have fading immunity? We do not know how many of them are at risk at present or will be in the near future, Dr. K. Srinath Reddy, the president of the Public Health Foundation of India, wrote in an opinion article on Saturday.

Both the Serum Institute, the worlds largest vaccine maker, and the government of India have long faced criticism about the pricing and availability of vaccines. During a devastating second wave of Covid-19 last April, Mr. Poonawalla and his company were castigated by politicians and the public for raising the price of doses.

Last June, Mr. Modis government said it would take over procurement of vaccines, ending its heavily criticized policy of leaving individual states to negotiate directly with vaccine manufacturers over prices, at a time when shots were in short supply globally.
Austrias chancellor visited President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia on Monday  the first Western leader to see him in person since the Ukraine invasion  and said he came away feeling not only pessimistic about peace prospects but fearing that Mr. Putin intended to drastically intensify the brutality of the war.

Describing Mr. Putin as dismissive of atrocities in Ukraine, the visiting chancellor, Karl Nehammer, said it was clear that Russian forces were mobilizing for a large-scale assault in eastern Ukraines Donbas region, the next phase of a war now in its seventh week.

The battle being threatened cannot be underestimated in its violence, Mr. Nehammer said in a news conference after the 75-minute meeting at Mr. Putins residence outside Moscow that the visitor described as blunt and direct.

The Austrian chancellor said he had told the Russian president that as long as people were dying in Ukraine, the sanctions against Russia will stay in place and will be toughened further.
LVIV, Ukraine  When war came to Ukraine in February, Helen Polishchuk made some adjustments in the six-story bar she manages in central Lviv.

The Mad Bars House in Lvivs historic central square stayed open, but served coffee and hot food instead of alcoholic drinks. They turned off the rock music. And as displaced Ukrainians began pouring into the city from places devastated by Russian attacks hundreds of miles away, she had instructions for the wait staff.

When guests leave the restaurant we normally say, Have a nice day, she said. Instead she told them they could say something else, like Glory to Ukraine, or We wish you blue skies.

Because to say have a nice day in this period is stupid, said Ms. Polishchuk, 33.

Before the Russian invasion of Ukraine at the end of February, Lviv, a historic city just 40 miles from Poland, was a popular European tourist destination, with 2.5 million visitors a year and the biggest jazz festival in Eastern Europe.
The spokesman declined to say where the works were being held, for obvious security reasons.

Until Apr. 3, the two paintings had been on display at the Louis Vuitton Foundation in Paris as part of The Morozov Collection: Icons of Modern Art, a huge exhibition of works that once belonged to the Russian textile magnates Ivan and Mikhail Morozov. Their collection, which includes works by Gauguin, Van Gogh and Picasso, was expropriated about a century ago, after the October Revolution, and became state property.

Most of the paintings in the show came from Russian state museums, including the State Hermitage Museum, in St. Petersburg, and the Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts, in Moscow. Under a 1994 French law designed to encourage international art loans, those works cannot be seized by French authorities, because they were lent by a foreign government, said Freda Matassa, an art consultant who has helped develop a similar anti-seizure law in Britain.

But, Ms. Matassa said, the French law does not apply to works owned by private individuals.

Representatives of Mr. Aven and the Museum of Avant-Garde Mastery did not respond to requests for comment. A spokeswoman for the Louis Vuitton Foundation said it would not comment, either.

Even before the seizures, some art shipment firms expected Morozov Collection works to experience difficulties returning to Russia, because the war in Ukraine has interrupted traditional routes for air and road freight. The most direct route into Russia from Western Europe is now via Finland, yet last week, Finnish customs officials impounded three shipments of fine art at the border between the two countries, suspecting that the cargo breached European Union sanctions. The works were swiftly released when it became apparent they fell outside the sanctions scope.

The French culture ministry said it was also keeping a third painting from The Morozov Collection in Paris for safety reasons. That work, Portrait of Margarita Kirillovna Morozova (1910), by Serov, belongs to the Dnipropetrovsk Art Museum, in the eastern Ukraine city of Dnipro, which is expected to soon be the subject of a Russian assault. Ukrainian authorities requested the painting remain in Paris until it is safe for it to be returned, the culture ministry spokesman said.
In between these events, something extraordinary happened. An article shed written that appeared in The New York Times on her difficulties getting her late husbands landline disconnected inspired a letter from a Jungian psychotherapist in Marin County, Calif., to whom shed been introduced, at age 18, by her late sister. Hed recently lost his wife. They started a correspondence. The psychotherapist  his name is Peter  turned out to be kind, smart, handsome, sexy, fit (he had just climbed in and out of the Grand Canyon, twice in a row), endlessly supportive and (even when not on the clock) a great listener. He and Delia fell madly in love.

How could any writer, having lived this story, resist the urge to turn it into a memoir?

As a person who has survived her own cancer experience  as partner, not patient  and one who shares the authors dislike for the word widow, Im well acquainted with the literature of husband-loss. Joan Didion documented hers, as did Joyce Carol Oates and many others including myself.

I read with a stab of recognition Delia Ephrons descriptions of the early days after her husbands death. She preserves his message on their answering service, her only record of his voice. Late afternoons are the hardest. I took the sun setting personally, she writes. Every day there are things I wish I could share with him. And, The silence in the apartment is loud.

Yes. Yes. And yes.

But Left on Tenth  though it opens with Jerrys death  is less the story of a woman losing a husband than it is that of a woman falling in love again at age 72. Delia doesnt forget her first husband along the way, any more than Peter forgets his first wife, and it is their love affair more than the grieving of their respective losses that propels the story. These appear to be two people who, having learned the art of making a marriage, possessed the gift for doing it again, well. A few months after meeting, they spoke their vows in a New York City hospital room where Delia was receiving treatment. They understand commitment. We cheer them on.

Theirs is not the story of comfy, late-life companionship. Ephron presents a moving and heartfelt portrait of romance  also of passion. She doesnt tell us much about the sex part, but we gather its very good  restoring all the madness and thrill of falling in love at the stage in our lives when all that was supposed to be over.
The novel is a bizarre mise en abyme in which a painter keeps painting the same scene: a woman under a cypress by a stream, alongside an old man. The woman appears to him as an angelic beloved, but when he tries to pour a flask of wine into her mouth, he realizes that her teeth are clenched and she is dead. All of it reads like an opium-induced sendup of the tropes of old Persian poetry  wine, the mysteries of the beloved, almond-shaped eyes, even the titles deathly owl, which takes the place of the sweet nightingales of tradition. (This iconoclasm finds its echo in Hedayats letters to Chahid-Nourai: He mocks the cant of poets, declares he cant stand the droning of Persian music and sarcastically calls Iran the country of roses and nightingales, though it is mired in poverty.)

Blind Owl ends with the narrator murdering his wife in a final hallucinatory act. Throughout, he is haunted by the figure of the old man, who appears to take the form of a peddler, a butcher, a gravedigger and the narrator himself, who chops up and buries the figure of his angelic beloved. That woman too is the shattered, shape-shifting reflection of his mother, a temple dancer from India. Hedayats fiction often carried the pattern of arabesques that drew the form of one character into that of another, but for its sheer and confounded strangeness, Blind Owl stands apart.

In his introduction, the translator of this edition cites the misogyny of the narrator while withholding judgment on the author, unlike an earlier wave of criticism that denounced Hedayat for the novels violence against women. Many of those objections in the Iranian yellow press were rolled into accusations that Hedayat, like his narrator, was addicted to opium, though his nephew later countered that no one in their quiet, patrician family dared to touch drugs, let alone smoke a cigarette in front of his mother or father.

There isnt any easy explanation for the violence of Blind Owl, but certainly its women are not characters in the conventional sense but figments of the narrators sick mind and his ugly hatred for his wife. Shams, my tutor, pointed out that the novels brutishness could be read in terms of European Surrealist paintings of the 1930s, which used violence against the body to shock and disrupt old conventions  pour epater les bourgeois, as Hedayat and many avant-garde French artists before him said. Still, like those paintings, the novel stands on its own aesthetic merits  as does the classical Persian poetry of which Blind Owl is a Baudelaire-like inversion. In a way, Hedayat was both a French and an Iranian writer; perhaps thats why hes been so often lost in between.

In 2005, Islamic Republic functionaries banned Blind Owl. Before the monarchys overthrow, revolutionaries like Al-e-Ahmad wanted to rewrite Hedayat as a dissident intellectual, but unlike them he didnt reduce his art to political pamphleteering. His fiction, like that of the best writers, eschewed any clear conclusions and gave off endless reflections, like a mirror turned on a mirror. Perhaps that is, and will remain, the difficulty of Blind Owl: The novel takes on the form of a myth and a wild allegory, while the flickering hatreds of the narrator retain a verisimilitude and appear anchored in a disturbing reality.

Chahid-Nourais daughter later remembered Hedayat as a somber and sad man with a funny little mustache but faultless manners, who would visit with gifts of Wedgwood ashtrays and old Persian hats. Its odd to think of this man as the author of Blind Owl, but it was Hedayats trick to turn his despair into a view of the human condition, as his letters show. Adieu, you cows, pigs! he wrote to another friend in Paris. All the better! At least therell be no more illusions. All is as clear as day.
The Forever Prisoner is a comprehensive and at times excruciatingly detailed narrative about Abu Zubaydah and the people who ordered and oversaw his interrogation. The authors managed the extraordinary feat of communicating with him through a circuitous route that they dont describe, presumably because it violated the rules of his confinement. They also spoke at length with the military psychologists who tried on Abu Zubaydah the C.I.A.s enhanced interrogation techniques  a revolting euphemism for beatings, sleep deprivation, near-drownings and other forms of torture.

The broad outlines of this story are now depressingly familiar. The Bush administration, under immense pressure after the Sept. 11 attacks, gave the C.I.A. lead authority to capture and detain terrorism suspects; the gloves are off became a mantra. The agency had never run a prison or done interrogations, so it began shopping around. They had already decided they wanted to hurt people, and they were looking for psychologists willing to approve it, according to one researcher who was consulted early on.

The C.I.A. found their man in James Mitchell, who with his partner, Bruce Jessen, had spent decades teaching American service members how to behave after being captured by the enemy, in a program called Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape, or SERE. Mitchell and Jessen had done only mock interrogations, and they knew nothing about the Middle East. But they agreed to reverse-engineer their survival-training courses, with the goal of frightening terror suspects into a state of learned helplessness that would encourage them to reveal all their secrets.

The C.I.A. was still assembling its interrogation plans when Abu Zubaydah was captured, so the first people to speak to him were two F.B.I. agents, one of them a Lebanese-born man named Ali Soufan, who was fluent in Arabic. They quickly built a rapport with the badly wounded Abu Zubaydah, helping to care for him and eliciting some very valuable information, including the identity of Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the mastermind of the 9/11 attacks. When George Tenet, who was then the C.I.A. director, found out the F.B.I. was asking the questions, he was furious. Mitchell and the rest of the C.I.A. team were sent to Thailand to take over.

Cathy Scott-Clark and Adrian Levy  who have published several previous books on similar themes  interweave the stories of captive and interrogator, showing how fatally unprepared they were to understand each other. It wasnt just that most of what the Americans knew about Abu Zubaydah was wrong. Mitchells SERE training led him to interpret everything his prisoner said as a sign of devious and calculated resistance. What do you want to know? Abu Zubaydah said pleadingly after the first session. The interrogators werent listening. They insisted on believing he was hiding the key to the imagined second wave of terrorist attacks. They chained him up, threw him against walls and ultimately waterboarded him 83 times. Many people, inside and outside the C.I.A., saw this disaster for what it was. They were all overruled.
What we are doing is helping people and saving people, on the one hand, and, on the other hand, we are simply taking measures to ensure the security of Russia itself, Putin said. It is obvious that we had no other choice.

He claimed, without evidence, that the atrocities documented in the Kyiv suburb of Bucha were fake.

The remarks, delivered during a visit to the Vostochny spaceport in the Russian Far East, appeared calculated to show Russians that their country would still be capable of innovating despite Western sanctions. The spaceport has been plagued by construction delays and remains unfinished.

We are not going to isolate ourselves, Putin added, speaking alongside President Aleksandr Lukashenko of Belarus, an ally. It is generally impossible to isolate anyone in the modern world, and most certainly not as huge a country as Russia.

Russia is now focused on the battle for the eastern Donbas region as the next stage of the war. Satellite images have shown a large column of Russian military vehicles headed toward Izium, a city in the east that is expected to be the staging ground for the new offensive.
Russia prepares for a new assault

After meeting with Vladimir Putin yesterday, Karl Nehammer, the Austrian chancellor, said he feared that the Russian president intended to drastically intensify the brutality of the war. The battle being threatened cannot be underestimated in its violence, Nehammer said.

The meeting came as Russia was moving thousands of troops and vehicles eastward  including infantry, combat-helicopter support units and artillery  in preparation for an assault on the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine, according to the Pentagon. Civilians, meanwhile, fled westward.

Satellite images showed Russian military vehicles moving toward the Ukrainian city of Izium, which could serve as the staging ground for the offensive. The next phase of the war will look very different from the battles fought in and around Ukrainian cities. The flatter, more open countryside of Donbas may favor Russias armored units and air superiority.

Related: The Biden administration wants to see Putin held accountable for war crimes. But U.S. policy has long opposed cooperating with The Hague for fear of Americans being charged there.
Civic groups and local residents take to the streets to protest against the U.S. biological labs near a U.S. military base in Busan, South Korea, April 5, 2022.(Photo by James Lee/Xinhua)

by Yoo Seungki

SEOUL, April 12 (Xinhua) -- South Korea has been gripped with rising fear over U.S. biological weapons laboratories operated by the U.S. Forces Korea (USFK), aiming to transform the Asian country into its "overseas hub" for biological warfare experiments.

The United States has flouted international conventions by steadily advancing its germ warfare program here. It sees South Korea as a country "friendly" enough to let the U.S. military test lethal toxins without institutional hurdles.

Enraged at the opaqueness of the U.S. biological labs, civic groups and local residents have taken to the streets to demand the U.S. military take its hazardous weapons and vacate the country.

WHY SOUTH KOREA

The U.S. military has secretly run its biological weapons program in South Korea since at least 2009.

It was made known to the general public here in 2015 when live anthrax samples were sent from a U.S. military lab through postal service FedEx to the Osan Air Base in Pyeongtaek, about 70 km south of the capital Seoul.

The USFK initially said it was the first time it experimented with deadly biological agents. But a joint panel investigation showed that the USFK brought in and tested dead anthrax samples 15 times at the Yongsan Garrison in central Seoul between 2009 and 2014.

In addition to the live anthrax samples delivered in 2015, one milliliter of inactivated plague samples was sent to the Osan Air Base, revealing the USFK's false explanation.

Article 9 of the South Korea-U.S. Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) stipulates that a custom's examination "shall not be made" in case of "military cargo consigned to the U.S. armed forces," according to a document posted by the South Korean Foreign Ministry.

"According to the SOFA, the U.S. military cargo is exempt from customs inspection, allowing (the USFK) to bring in whatever it wants ... (South) Korea is a very friendly country for the United States to import germs and conduct tests," Lee Jang-hie, emeritus professor at law school of Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, told Xinhua.

The law professor said the delivery of anthrax samples to South Korea violated the Biological Weapons Convention, signed by over 180 nations, including South Korea and the United States, to ban the development, production, stockpiling, acquisition or retention of biological agents or toxins.

The violation of the 1975 convention requires the UN Security Council's official investigation at the request of the country concerned.

"Lax regulations and the Korean government's reluctance to protest against it created an easy, favorable environment (for the U.S. military) to carry out experiments with germs here," Lee noted.

OVERSEAS HUB OF U.S. BIOWEAPONS EXPERIMENTS

The U.S. biological weapons program in South Korea has evolved over the past decade under the Joint USFK Portal and Integrated Threat Recognition (Jupitr) and the Capabilities to Enable NBC (nuclear, biological, chemical) Threat Awareness, Understanding and Response (Centaur) projects.

"Figuratively speaking, Jupitr installed in the central headquarters serves as the brain. The Centaur, which operates in each regional military unit, constitutes the hands and feet of Jupitr to detect and send biochemical samples to it," Woo Hee-jong, professor at the College of Veterinary Medicine at Seoul National University, told Xinhua.

The Jupitr program was established between 2013 and 2018 after former U.S. President Barack Obama issued an executive order in July 2010 that read "a robust and productive scientific enterprise that utilizes biological select agents and toxins is essential to national security," according to the professor.

According to the U.S. Army website, the U.S. military touted Jupitr as its flagship program, saying in 2014 that Jupitr's presence on the Korean Peninsula aligns with its "strategy to rebalance military efforts toward the Asia-Pacific region."

The Centaur's basic framework was completed between 2019 and 2020. The U.S. military planned to run relevant experiments here by 2026 to advance Centaur and create an integrated system with Jupitr, Woo said, citing the U.S. Department of Defense budget estimates.

"The projects represent an overseas hub of information on the U.S. biological weapons experiments" as information on biochemical pathogens and samples, collected in South Korea for analysis from U.S. biological labs worldwide, is shared with the U.S. mainland and overseas military units, Woo said.

It was disclosed that the USFK had continuously conducted military biological activities here between 2017 and 2019 by bringing hundreds of vials of deadly biological samples, including botulinum, ricin and staphylococcal enterotoxin, into Camp Humphreys in Pyeongtaek, Kunsan Air Base, Osan Air Base and Busan Port's Pier 8.

The USFK claimed that the samples were rendered inactive and not dangerous as they were toxoids, or toxins whose toxicity is inactivated, according to the USFK report submitted to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, obtained by Rep. Lee Jae-jung of the ruling Democratic Party.

Each vial contained 2 nanograms of the biological agents. The division of the samples into 2 nanograms, equivalent to 2 billionths of a gram, indicated that the samples were lethal because there was no need to divide them into an infinitesimal amount if they were not toxic, Woo said.

Furthermore, the USFK delivery list included botulinum, widely seen as the deadliest toxin on the planet.

The professor said the UN Security Council should launch an investigation into biological labs here, considering the evidence that South Korea has been used as a test site to develop U.S. biological weapons.

STRUGGLE TO EXPEL

Despite the 2015 incident of live anthrax samples delivery, the USFK expanded biological labs into Busan Port's Pier 8 in 2016, Jeon Wi-bong, director of the Association to Push for Shutdown of U.S. Biochemical Experiments in Busan Port Pier 8, told Xinhua.

Faced with public protest, the USFK said no experiments with biological agent samples would be conducted. Still, the claim proved false, as seen in the USFK report, where the importation of deadly inactivated toxins, including botulinum, into the Busan Port lab continued from 2017 to 2019, said Jeon.

Citing the Pentagon's fiscal year 2019 budget estimates, the local daily Busan Ilbo reported that 3.5 million U.S. dollars were earmarked for the Jupitr project in Busan Port's Pier 8 alone that involves "live agent" tests.

The USFK claimed that the live agent tests were conducted in the United States, not South Korea. But civic groups and residents have raised doubts about the claim because of the project's repeated false explanations and opaqueness.

"Since 2015, the U.S. military was supposed to give a prior notification to (South) Korea when carrying in germ samples, but there was no advance notification as Korea has no right to do a customs inspection on USFK goods," said Jeon.

"Highly toxic agents had been brought in for three years since 2017, but the Korean government did not carry out any investigation. Korea is the only country in the world to do such a thing," Jeon noted.

A group of civic activists and citizens toured the country for a week through Sunday to inform the public of the deployment of U.S. biological weapons labs and other war weapons in South Korea.

"A person in charge of U.S. military biological labs said Korea is friendly to operate such labs. I got infuriated when I heard that because it belittles my country severely," Choi Won-seok, who joined the tour, told Xinhua near the Busan Port's Pier 8.

"(The USFK) gave no prior notification and carried out no discussion with Busan residents to build these dangerous biological labs," said the 28-year-old college student, who expressed fear over the impact a slight leak could have on the city's inhabitants.

Protesters against the USFK's biological lab in Busan have had enough. "This land is our land," they shouted. "Leave this land with your extremely dangerous germ weapons" at once. 

Civic groups and local residents take to the streets to protest against the U.S. biological labs near a U.S. military base in Busan, South Korea, April 5, 2022.(Photo by James Lee/Xinhua)
WASHINGTON  President Biden announced on Tuesday a plan to suspend a ban on summertime sales of higher-ethanol gasoline blends, a move that White House officials said was aimed at reducing gas prices but that energy experts predicted would have only a marginal impact at the pump.

The Environmental Protection Agency will issue a waiver that would allow the blend known as E15  which is made of 15 percent ethanol  to be used between June 1 and Sept. 15. The White House estimated that approximately 2,300 stations in the country offer the blend and cast the decision as a move toward energy independence.

E15 is about 10 cents a gallon cheaper, Mr. Biden said, speaking after taking a tour of a production facility that produces 150 million gallons of bioethanol annually. And some gas stations offer an even bigger discount than that.

When you have a choice, you have competition, Mr. Biden added. When you have competition, you have better prices.
In a first for the tech giant, Google filed a consumer protection lawsuit to shield the vulnerable and unsuspecting from what it called a nefarious scheme: the sale of adorable, but imaginary, puppies.

The lawsuit, filed Monday in U.S. District Court in San Jose, Calif., claims that Nche Noel Ntse, a Cameroon man, defrauded would-be puppy buyers using a range of Google services, including Gmail accounts, Google Voice numbers and advertisements.

Mr. Ntse lured his victims with adorable and alluring photographs of purebred puppies, together with compelling testimonials from supposedly satisfied customers that exploited the high demand for puppies in the United States during the coronavirus pandemic, according to court documents.

Google says it spent more than $75,000 to investigate and remediate Mr. Ntses activities, and is suing him for financial damages, citing harm to the companys relationship with its users and damage to its reputation.
Yelp announced on Tuesday that it would cover expenses for its employees and their spouses who must travel out of state for abortion care, becoming the latest company to respond to a Texas law that bans the procedure after about six weeks of pregnancy.

The online search and review platform, which is based in San Francisco and has more than 4,000 workers, employs just over 200 in Texas, but the benefit extends to employees in other states who might be affected by current or future action that restricts access to covered reproductive health care, a company representative said.

Last month, Citigroup became the first major bank to disclose that it will pay travel costs for employees affected by the law in Texas, where it has over 8,000 workers. Other companies that have announced policies aimed at mitigating the impact of the law include Uber and Lyft, which offered to pay legal fees for Texas drivers who could be sued for taking someone to an abortion clinic.

A Texas legislator warned Citigroup that he would introduce a bill to prevent the bank from underwriting municipal bonds in the state unless it rescinded its expense policy. While backlash gets a lot more attention, Yelp is not concerned about how its program, which starts next month, will be received, said Miriam Warren, the companys chief diversity officer. She and other executives have received many personal notes thanking Yelp for taking a stand on abortion, she said.
There used to be dozens of Spanish restaurants around Chelsea and the Village, and while it was possible to argue over which had the best paella there was no serious debate about which was the grandest. It was El Quijote, in the Hotel Chelsea.

When El Quijote opened in 1930, the Depression had begun but the nightclub era was still rolling along. An awning, stretching from the curb on West 23rd Street to the red neon sign above the door, protected felt hats and fur coats from the elements. Inside, captains dressed in scarlet blazers and runners wore black vests over white shirts. Murals and framed paintings inspired by Don Quixote, bullfights or some other idea of old Spain looked down on everyone.

As the years extracted their price, El Quijotes original glamour had to contend with drop ceilings, scuffed checkerboard linoleum and dusty sculptures. The paella could have the consistency of yesterdays oatmeal. The taste of the sangria, served by the pitcher under several inches of fruit salad, might be best described as purple. But faded splendor is still splendor. The critic Craig Claiborne, no fan of kitsch, allowed in a capsule review in the Times in 1967 that El Quijote had a certain tawdry appeal. No doubt some of its tawdriness was dragged along in the wake of the hotels guests and residents, who could enter through a door in the lobby.
The church serves only a small portion of El Pasos needy. El Pasoans Fighting Hunger, the areas only food bank, feeds about 200,000 food-insecure people. Almost 18 percent of the countys residents are in poverty, about six percentage points higher than the national average, according to census data. In 2020, the average median household income here was only about $48,000, about $19,000 less than the national number.

The areas proximity to Ciudad Juarez make El Paso a largely immigrant community. Almost 83 percent of the countys residents are Hispanic or Latino, and a language other than English is spoken in nearly 70 percent of households here.

Maintaining human dignity, especially for the poor, is Sacred Hearts mission, said Father Garcia, the churchs pastor. Because of this, Mr. Martinez isnt afraid to prioritize quality. If donated produce is rotting, hell apologize and turn it away.

For Mr. Martinez, a good meal is one with texture, and he seeks to preserve that as he cooks  keeping tomatoes and onions chunky in the pico de gallo and retaining crunch with the peanuts in the capirotada. He wants the people receiving his food to know exactly what theyre getting.
To see it from your parents point of view, imagine that you have two kids. Your son wants to get treated by a traditional healer who serves a god your religion believes it is sinful to honor, and his big sister, who worships that god, too, arranges for this. She has provided a treatment for your son that served no purpose. Worse, she led him to betray his faith. It would be natural for you to feel resentment.

The point is that for some people, opposing what we know to be sensible public-health measures is central to their identities, in the way religion can be. Thats deeply unfortunate. But its important in understanding your parents reaction. If you had helped your brother get a fake ID, I suspect, your father might have been mad, but youd be back on speaking terms. In this instance, you showed not only that you disagreed with your parents about their views but also, more wounding, that you didnt trust them to look after your brother  to fulfill the basic responsibilities of parenting.

Many people are drawn to a bookkeeping model of morality: Tot up a row of numbers, determine whether theres a plus or a minus in front of the sum and proceed with no regrets. Suppose that, owing to personal or public obligations, you have to tell a lie. The moral bookkeepers would assure you: The math works out, your conscience is clean, dont give it a second thought. The greater wisdom is in both regretting the deception and understanding why it was justified. With hard choices, theres no option thats best in every way. We can, coherently, feel bad about actions we would not undo. It speaks well of you, as a loving child and as a caring sibling, that youre uneasy.

I can see why you didnt simply start by trying to persuade your parents to let your brother get vaccinated. Youve plainly had unrewarding conversations with them about these issues and found that they are firmly in the grip of their delusions. Telling them about your intentions in advance would have been respectful but surely futile; indeed, they may have taken steps to keep your brother out of your hands. Still, if you hadnt had a conversation in advance, it would, I agree, have been more respectful to come clean once it was done.

So tell your parents that you acted out of love and concern for your brother but that you understand and are sorry that you betrayed their trust. Of course, youre sorry too that your parents have these gravely mistaken views  but you dont need to say so, because they know it already.

Often we face choices where we can reason our way to one clear answer. We can then say that were complying with what moral reason dictates. But sometimes complexity swamps compliance: We simply have to turn inward for guidance and own our decisions. In fact, Chang argues, its when were making hard choices that we become the authors of our own lives. We decide what were for  we decide who we are. Helping your younger brother get vaccinated and setting out to repair your relations with your parents arent self-canceling impulses; theyre self-defining ones.

Im writing from a nonprofit Zen center, technically a church in the eyes of the I.R.S. Weve been holding monthly board meetings by Zoom, and one member has been attending in a state of inebriation. The meetings start midmorning and last up to two hours. During that time, the officer drinks from a cup, and her speech becomes increasingly slurred. All of the board members, including the officer in question, are members of our church, and all are highly regarded. Our ethics policy discourages intoxication at the center, but doesnt refer to Zoom meetings.
Ms. Hochul can select a new lieutenant governor in the coming weeks, but it will be far more difficult to replace Mr. Benjamin on the Democratic primary ballot in June. Because he was designated as the Democratic Partys nominee for lieutenant governor, election rules stipulate that his name can only be removed at this point if he were to move out of the state, die or seek another office.

Mr. Benjamin said last week that he had been cooperating with investigators, after news outlets, including The New York Times, reported details of the investigation. Accompanied by his lawyers, he met with prosecutors last week, according to a person who was briefed on the meeting and not authorized to discuss it, and his top aides were privately reassuring allies that he expected to be cleared of any wrongdoing.

Lawyers for Mr. Benjamin, James D. Gatta and William J. Harrington, said in a statement that their client was resigning and suspending his campaign to focus his energies on explaining in court why his actions were laudable, not criminal.

They said that there was nothing inappropriate about the $50,000 grant, and that Mr. Benjamin looks forward to when this case is finished so he can rededicate himself to public service.

Mr. Williams  who announced the charges with Michael J. Driscoll, the assistant director in charge of the New York F.B.I. office, and Jocelyn E. Strauber, the commissioner of the citys Department of Investigation  laid out the details of the indictment. It accused Mr. Benjamin of bribing Mr. Migdol to help secure small contributions for his comptroller race that could be used to obtain tens of thousands of dollars in public matching funds through a city program.

Prosecutors said Mr. Benjamin had first approached Mr. Migdol for help in March 2019, months before announcing a campaign for comptroller. In a meeting at Mr. Migdols home, prosecutors said, the developer told Mr. Benjamin that he was wary of pressuring his network of donors to give beyond what they already contributed to his charity, Friends of Public School Harlem, a group that organized giveaways of school supplies and groceries to needy families.

Let me see what I can do, Mr. Benjamin replied, according to the indictment.

In the months that followed, prosecutors said, Mr. Benjamin used his State Senate office to secure a $50,000 taxpayer-funded education grant for the charity that Mr. Migdol never requested, and used it as leverage to press Mr. Migdol to gather contributions.
It was about 11:40 a.m. when a few cellphones on a Brooklyn-bound F train wailed with an emergency alert on Tuesday morning, warning New Yorkers to steer clear of the area where a man had shot 10 people in the subway in the Sunset Park neighborhood hours earlier. Two men passed the phone to each other, wondering how to get to their stop. Elsewhere on the sparsely filled car, people read books, listened to music, watched videos or texted on their phones.

Many commuters late Tuesday morning riding the trains through Brooklyn and Manhattan said they had no choice but to take the subway; it is their lifeline to get to work, school, run errands or see friends.

Marjorie Michelle, 50, lives in Brooklyn and takes the subway every day to her job as a nurse technician. Its very scary, she said while navigating the Atlantic Avenue-Barclays Center station with grocery bags in tow. But we still got to survive and live and go where you got to go. You cant live in fear.

Lucy Gonzalez was among those heading into work from East Harlem to the Soho area of Manhattan. Sometimes she gets out as late as 11 p.m. Lately, I have been asking instead of leaving so late, to leave early because at nighttime it can be so dangerous, Ms. Gonzalez, 21, said.
The investigation into Mr. Benjamins activities had begun to dog Ms. Hochul weeks ago, just as she was negotiating the state budget, where she secured many of her favored policies related to public safety with his help.

The governor had indicated just last week that Mr. Benjamin had her unwavering support, even as it became public that he had not told her while being vetted for the lieutenant governor post that his comptroller campaign had received subpoenas.

I have utmost confidence in my lieutenant governor, Ms. Hochul said at an April 7 news conference at the State Capitol where Mr. Benjamin sat by her side as she announced the budget deal. This is an independent investigation related to other people and he is fully cooperating. He is my running mate.

On Tuesday, Mr. Benjamin pleaded not guilty to five counts of bribery and fraud in Federal District Court in Manhattan.

Most immediately, Mr. Benjamins arrest and resignation could upend the race for lieutenant governor. Under state law, neither arrest nor conviction prompt the removal of a candidate from a New York State ballot. Mr. Benjamins lawyers said on Tuesday that he had suspended his campaign, but it is too late for Mr. Benjamin to be easily removed from the ballot; the only way it could happen is if he were to leave the state, die or be nominated for a different office.

Mr. Benjamin could be nominated for another office, but since petitioning deadlines have now passed for most positions, another elected official would most likely need to resign to create a vacancy for him. It is unclear whether Mr. Benjamin could sidestep that by running as an independent candidate.

The primary contests for governor and lieutenant governor are conducted separately, raising the possibility that Mr. Benjamin could remain on the ballot and lose even if Ms. Hochul wins. That could force Ms. Hochul to run in the November general election with a Democratic running mate she had not chosen.
The expiration of the child tax credit expansion late last year sent an estimated 3.7 million children back into poverty and undermined the financial security of millions more. With the rising cost of living squeezing family budgets, the expiration of the credit could not have been more poorly timed.

Research has shown that the program, which provided families with monthly payments worth $250 to $300 per child, led to dramatic declines in food insecurity and helped parents offset the costs of school closures.

Democrats tried to extend the program on their own, but the effort fell to an intraparty squabble. There is the possibility of a new approach  and one that has a surprisingly strong chance of working. Democrats can work with Republicans on a bipartisan child tax credit expansion as the most viable path forward. A similar approach worked for infrastructure, and there are plenty of reasons to believe it can work again.

A key obstacle to the Democrats attempt to expand the child tax credit alone was Senator Joe Manchins insistence that the monthly child benefit include a work requirement. Democrats chose not to compromise on that condition; they also ignored the option of expanding the program on a bipartisan basis. If persuading Mr. Manchin was hard, the thinking was, then convincing 10 or more Republicans to cross the aisle would surely be impossible.
ANKARA, April 12 (Xinhua) -- Turkish authorities on Tuesday issued an arrest warrant for 91 people, including members of the pro-Kurdish opposition Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP).

The capital Ankara's chief prosecutor's office said an arrest warrant was issued for 91 suspects for joining the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) and being affiliated with acts of "financing terror."

Bank account transactions and historical traffic searches on cell phone records were examined, along with the witness testimonies, as part of an investigation into the financial network of the PKK, said the statement.

The suspects are accused of "providing financial resources" for the group and for the families of the PKK members who were killed or injured, said the prosecutor's office.

Among the suspects are the HDP's former deputy mayors, former party treasurers and assistants, and former city council members, semi-official Anadolu Agency reported.

The PKK members received armed training and the members abroad were also among the suspects, the agency reported. At least 46 of them were detained as part of police raids across 13 provinces of Turkey.

The Turkish government blames the HDP for being a political front for the outlawed PKK. The HDP, which has 55 seats in the 600-member parliament, denies any links to the group.

The PKK, listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the United States and the European Union, has been rebelling against the Turkish government for more than three decades. 
[MUSIC PLAYING]

ezra klein

Im Ezra Klein. This is The Ezra Klein Show. [MUSIC PLAYING] Before we begin today, were going to do another Ask Me Anything episode in a couple of weeks. So if you have anything youd like to ask me, anything youd like to hear me answer, please send a question to ezrakleinshow@nytimes.com. Again, ezrakleinshow@nytimes.com, and put AMA in the subject line. For today, though, weve done a lot of shows at this point on the context for Vladimir Putins decision to invade Ukraine. The historic miss he drew on, the strategic logic for Russia he revealed, the economics of the invasion, the energy dimension of the invasion, the Russian media control that made it possible for him. Weve done less on the context for Ukraines remarkable resistance to Russias brutal decision-making here. What has it felt like to not just be in Ukraine during this period, but to be Ukrainian? And when I say this period, I mean more than the last few months. This is not Putins first invasion of Ukraine. He invaded Crimea in 2014, and the world just shrugged. And this is not Ukraines first remarkable act of resistance. The two recent revolutions in 2004 and 2014 set the stage for everything were seeing today. Volodymyr Yermolenko is a Ukrainian philosopher and the editor of the 2019 book, Ukraine in Histories and Stories, which is a collection of essays by Ukrainian intellectuals that I highly, highly recommend reading right now. And I recommend it not just because of the insights it offers on Ukraines deep past going back to the Middle Ages and the Cossack era of the 16th and 17th centuries, but on its recent past. 2019  when this book was published  it wasnt that long ago, but it already reads like a foreign country. The deep disinterest of Europe and the West toward Ukraine. The sense that President Zelenskys election was evidence that Ukraine would largely capitulate to Russia. The view of Ukraine as not a beacon for the west, but as a country caught between the past and the future in a way that left it precariously positioned in the present, that gave it no real home. Reading it today is a humbling confrontation with the way we are always living through a history we do not yet know. Yermolenko is also the editor of the English-language publication Ukraine World, which I do want to note is funded in part by grants from western nonprofits and even government agencies. His position has always been that Ukraine is much more western than the world realized, that its identity is much more distinct from Russia than the world realized. And I would say that position has really proven out in recent months. Hes been in Kyiv during much of the invasion, and so that is where we begin. As always, my email, ezrakleinshow@nytimes.com. [MUSIC PLAYING] Volodymyr Yermolenko, thank you so much for being on the show.

volodymyr yermolenko

Thank you so much for having me.

ezra klein

Youve been in Kyiv for much of the war. Tell me how youre doing and what it has felt like.

volodymyr yermolenko

We have been watching Kyiv under missile attack several times, where basically the war has started for us as people living in the Kyiv suburbs probably at 5 oclock in the morning at the 24th of February. So we didnt need to go to the news to understand that the war has begun. We just woke up from a huge explosion in our surroundings, and then we took our phones and watched this notorious Putins address declaring a war on Ukraine. And understanding that then people were saying in the chats everywhere that it was a missile strike. And this is, of course, was horrible, because we didnt expect that they will start with missiles, you know? And then as I have three kids  three daughters  we were trying basically to think how to make them safe. And finally, we have relocated them to the western Ukraine. Then I was moving from western Ukraine to Kyiv, bringing humanitarian aid, and then working here, making a lot of information in English about Ukraine. I can tell you that initially from the very beginning Kyiv was constructing itself as a fortress city. Many people have joined territorial defense. That means that many, for example, streets have been barricaded against tanks. Many people just took their Kalashnikov and patrolled the city. They joined territorial defense. And of course, many of the people also, after these missile strikes and after the news that Russians are going to surround the city, many people have left, primarily the women and children. And this kind of emptied the city a little bit, making surreal, tense, but at the same time very proud city, I would say  the city fortress. And now in the coming days, I would say that people have started to return to the city, and its slightly moving in the more lively direction. And some cafes are open. Some restaurants are open. And I have the impression that there are more cars and more people.

ezra klein

This is a strange question to know how to ask correctly. Youre a philosopher. Youre a news editor. Ive read the essay collection that you edited on Ukraine and its history and its identity. And what is it like to go from living in a city that is peaceful, where youre working and doing your writing and shopping for groceries and checking your Facebook page and tweeting, all of a sudden to a city that is being shelled? What of your life before remains? What doesnt? What does passing through that barrier from normalcy to emergency feel like?

volodymyr yermolenko

Well, a lot of things have changed very quickly in our understanding. Things have changed their meaning. For example, a window is no longer a window because youd better not approach to the windows, people say, because if there is a shelling, you can be wounded by the glass of the window. The light is no longer the light because the light can be dangerous if there are airstrikes. So you better switch off the lights when you are  in the evening, for example. Therefore, when youre traveling through Kyiv right now on car  and I do it regularly  you are traveling in the dark streets. So the lights from the streets are switched off. So you are in a very dark place, which never, never happened before, of course. And if you enter  I several times took some families to volunteer to get them out of the city, and then we went to other villages, for example, and when there is dark, the villages are completely dark. There are no lights in the houses, because people are very careful enough not to give signs to artillery or to airstrikes, to jets  the Russian jets  that there are villages. So the meaning of things have changed. Of course, your understanding of your house, of your home. For example, I relocated my family. I spent some time with my relatives in western Ukraine. Its very hard, actually, to lose your home. So I have an impression that your home, your house, your apartment is like the dearest person to you. So you want to come back. You want to write letters to your city, for example. You want to hug it, et cetera. But what I experienced so far is nothing compared to what many other people experienced. So the war experience is different. You cant say that the war experience is everywhere the same, because its different for a person who is on the front line. Its different for a person who is a refugee. Its different for a person who left his house or her house, but its still having a place to come back. I have several friends who are basically not sure if their houses are still there. And of course, this is very hard, too, to survive.

ezra klein

You wrote recently that the war changes the perception of time. Tell me how.

volodymyr yermolenko

Time is no longer a menu where you can select, you know, dishes. Its not like you are saying, OK, well do this tomorrow, and maybe I will do this the day after tomorrow, and maybe I will shift this in the calendar. If you take wrong decision, you can be dead. For example, my friends from the northern suburbs of Kyiv, on the first day, there were attacks on the suburbs. They just took their kids, everything they had, and they just left. And they did the right thing. If they delayed their decision by half a day, they could be dead, because these cities will be heavily shelled, surrounded, et cetera. So the time is no longer linear or uniform time. You no longer have this uniform time. You really have time when you need to take very quick decisions. Second thing is that you no longer count days. You dont make a difference between working days or weekends. The weekends no longer exist. And each day can bring absolutely different things. The same with space. So our usual roads, were used, for example, for traveling, they are no longer available. And you cant go on GPS, really. Neither in this city, because many roads are blocked, nor when you travel in Ukraine, because you can end up going on the road where there are fights and where you can see Russian tanks or where there is a heavy shelling. So this really changes the perception of space. Space is not uniform anymore. Its just divided between a space where youre safe and the space where you are not safe.

ezra klein

I suspect that we all implicitly or explicitly have some theory of what we would be like under this kind of emergency, what we would do, how we would feel, how our neighbors would act, what they would be like. And I suspect its wrong. What has surprised you about how you or your city has acted or how the mood or the sentiment has felt during this period?

volodymyr yermolenko

Well, many people remain the same, even during these circumstances. But some people really did fantastic things, which I never expected them. For example, tiny people, poets, writers, go into the territorial defense, taking arms or doing something. Or as you can see, this became a meme about Ukrainian farmers on the tractors who are taking the Russian tanks. But even if you ask about our President Volodymyr Zelensky, many people were afraid that he will not be on the top, he will not lead the defense. But that was not true. And I think even its not because of him, but because of the spirit in the country that we have seen before the invasion, that the spirit of decisiveness, that everybody is prepared to defend your country with any means, with any possible tools that you have, either with arms, or as a volunteer, as somebody else.

ezra klein

Its really interesting, speaking of President Zelensky  when I was reading your book, the book you edited  and this book comes out in 2019, so not a million years ago. His election is taken by some of the people writing in that book as a kind of defeat. The novelist Yurii Andrukhovych in an interview with you says that hes been talking to Europeans, and he would tell them, you will never understand when an 18-year-old child goes to war to die. And they would say to him, if I were 18 years old and the war came to my country, I would simply flee the country. You have to run away. You have to live. And Andrukhovych goes on to say, about the 2019 election that brings Zelensky into power, that, oh, the Europeans are right. Ukraine is like the rest of Europe. People wont fight. But not only are they fighting, but Zelensky has become this remarkable wartime leader. Tell me a bit about why you think that happened, how different maybe the impression of him was then to what it is now.

volodymyr yermolenko

I think this happened because of an enlargement of Ukrainian identity. So Zelensky, if you will, is a self-made man. But at the same time, hes a person who made himself on the Russian-speaking audience, including in Russia, but also in Ukraine and other countries from the former Soviet Union. So he probably would qualify to what Russians are calling the Russian world, meaning that there is some Russian cultural political space which goes beyond Russian Federation and that Russia needs to reconquer. But miraculously, this was not true. All those people from Eastern Ukraine, Russian-speaking, from many different backgrounds  Zelensky has Jewish background. Hes a Russian-speaking person initially, right? All those people  after the 2014, they understood, I think, gradually, increasingly understood that Russia is something terrible, that its trying to expand itself and grab for the territories of other countries. I think the occupation of Crimea was a watershed for many people who were sympathetic to Russia before. And now, of course, when Russia is starting to bomb, to shell Russian-speaking cities like Kharkiv or Mariupol, I think the remnants of these people who were sympathetic to Russia, they no longer exist in Ukraine. So even very hardcore pro-Russian institutions in Ukraine, like Orthodox Church  what we call Orthodox Church of Moscow Patriarchate  dependent on Moscow. Even in this church, we see many people, many communities cutting their ties from Moscow. And in this situation, the transformation of Volodymyr Zelensky from this kind of a latent Russian world to Ukrainian patriot, I think its also a symptom of a transformation of many, many people in Ukraine.

ezra klein

One thing that is striking to me about that is how many people from different directions misunderstood or wrongly projected how this would go. So we were just talking about some of the views of what Zelensky represented in 2019. But you go to early February, Americas Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, Mark Milley  he tells Congress that Kyiv could fall within 72 hours of a Russian invasion. If you look at how Putin created his supply lines and seems to have planned the beginning phases of his invasion, he seemed to think this would be quick. It would just be a lightning rush to Kyiv. It would decapitate the government, and maybe that would be that. It seems like a lot of the world, and maybe even some in Ukraine, didnt see what would happen when Russia actually turned an invasion from theory to fact. Why do you think so many people got it so wrong?

volodymyr yermolenko

This is history. History is unpredictable. So you can see transformations, incredible transformations of many people and many countries, many situations. So this is what basically makes history so interesting. And some people knew better, some people knew worse. I think Russia miscalculated everything about Ukraine, because to a certain extent, Russia has become a victim of its own illusion, of its own disinformation. So many of us  Ukrainians, Americans  have perceived Russian information warfare as a threat to Americans, to Ukrainians. But it was also a threat to Russians, because it cut them from real fact-checking, from real facts, from reality. And, well, if an illusion and reality fight against each other, very often reality wins. So this is what happened in Ukraine, for example.

ezra klein

One thing that youve gestured towards is that both in 2014, with the invasion of Crimea and then certainly now, Putin himself has played a role in changing, reshaping both Ukrainian identity, but perhaps even more so Ukrainian sentiment towards Russia. And its a little ironic because he keeps justifying everything hes doing as an effort to unite what wants to be united. But he certainly appears to be deeply dividing what he wants to unite. How do you say Putin has changed either how Ukrainians understand Ukraine or how they understand him and Russia?

volodymyr yermolenko

Well, in a sense, he, with his action, of course, he provoked a counteraction. And Ukrainian identity became much more inclusive. So as I said, for example, his idea that Russian speakers would sympathize with Russia, would align themselves with Russia, proved to be totally wrong. And that means that Ukrainian identity  thats what I tried to explain in my op-ed for The Economist or some other newspapers recently  Ukrainian identity goes beyond these differences, linguistic differences, cultural differences. It doesnt mean that culture does not matter. I think culture matters a lot, and Ukrainian cultural traditions are very different from Russian cultural traditions. Ukrainian language is different from the Russian language. Ukrainian music is different from Russian music. But Ukraine currently encompasses not only ethnic Ukrainian culture, it encompasses Jewish culture, for example. We have increased interest right now to the Crimean Tatar culture, to the Muslim culture. So you see how around these Ukrainian political identities, civic identity, you have different ethnicities, different religions aligning themselves. And I think this is what actually is going on. Its not about only Ukrainian as a nation or Russians as a nation. Its a question about values. Its a question about whether you can build a anti-tyrannical politics in Eastern Europe, whether you can build a Democratic and Republican, in the political sense of the term, political system, political culture in Eastern Europe. And Ukrainians always was saying that yes, this is possible. This was Ukrainian dream in the 20th century, in the 19th century, in the 17th century, et cetera. And with Putins aggression, I think Ukrainians have started to dig deeper in our origins and bring them to the surface even more.

ezra klein

What do you wish people outside Ukraine understood about either Ukrainian origins or the nature of Ukrainian society?

volodymyr yermolenko

Ukrainian society is first focused on the values of freedom. And sometimes its very good, sometimes its not very good. If Russian society is very monarchic  so society depends on its czar, on a leader, on Putin, whatever. So the leader shapes the nation. In Ukraine, its totally different. Its always society that shapes politics. Its always the nation, the public opinion that shapes the presidents, et cetera. Therefore, Ukrainian presidents find it very difficult to be very long in power recently. This willingness of freedom, both of freedom of your community, but also a freedom of individual, is very important for Ukrainians. And sometimes its too important, and therefore Ukrainian usual politics is a little bit anarchic, I would say. Although not that anarchic as Russians are presenting it. And this tradition, as I said, it goes very deep in this century. So I think its important to understand that Ukraine did not come out of the blue. We have our special political tradition. We have people in the 19th century, like Shevchenko, Dragomanov, Lesya Ukrainka, Kostomarov, others who are formulating this anti-tyrannical vision of society. They called it the fight against autocracy. [UKRAINIAN] But you can go deeper. You can go to the 18th century. You can go to the Cossack Don, the Ukrainian warriors, free warriors, Cossacks of the 17th century. You will find the same. You will find the willingness of freedom and special relations between the, for example, the Cossack leader and his army. This was contractual relations. So the relations of a contract, not relations between slaves and the master. And I think this is very important. So basically by taking over Ukrainian lands in 17th century, Russians were  or Muscovites, at the time  were expanding this tyrannical vision of politics to Eastern Europe. Now we have the reverse process increasingly, not only in Ukraine, but in other countries of the Eastern Europe, even in Belarus, which is now under dictatorship, but Im sure it will get free from it. So the extension, expansion of the values of freedom, and anti-tyrannical politics, Democratic politics to the East.

ezra klein

One argument youve made is that even behind the idea of freedom is a preference for certain kinds of social organization. And youve argued that Russia is top-down, very centered around very strong leaders  a Putin, a Stalin, a czar  and that Ukraine has been traditionally very bottom-up, which, as you suggest, can create difficulties for politics, for structures, but also creates certain kinds of organization that make a place like Ukraine very difficult to be conquered, but also just distinctive unto itself. Can you talk a bit about how that vision creates a different approach to organization and hierarchy?

volodymyr yermolenko

Exactly. So one of the leading Ukrainian concepts, also dating from the 19th century, is the concept of community. In Ukrainian, its called [UKRAINIAN]. So [UKRAINIAN] means that you form a community of people. And then there is a community of communities called the state. And then there is a community of community of communities called  I dont know  an international organization or federation of states, et cetera. This was the dreams of many European liberals in the 19th century, what was called the Republic of Nations. And this was very natural for Ukrainians, for Ukrainian dissidents in the 19th century. But now it has very practical consequences, because Ukraine is now going through  was going, before the war  through the self-governance reform where communities, cities, towns, villages got more and more powers. And this is what we are witnessing even now, because very important is not only how Zelensky is resisting, but how the territorial defense of a particular village is resisting or how certain cities and their mayors are resisting. We see an incredible now a harmony between the local patriotism, the city patriotism of, I dont know, Mykolaiv, or Kharkiv, or Odessa, or Mariupol, or Chernihiv, and national patriotism. And now we have some mayors, like the mayor of Mykolaiv, Mr. Kim, who also became a star in Ukraine by the way he organizes the defense of his city to the south of Ukraine, and, by the way, how he organizes communication, for example. And I think this is the nature of this bottom-up politics. [MUSIC PLAYING]

ezra klein

How has Ukraines success, on the one hand, at repelling the Russian invasion  been counterattacks now, territory recaptured. Russias talked about moving some of its efforts away from Kyiv and towards the east, and it rallying international opinion, particularly European and American opinion. How has that changed the feeling around this war in Ukraine?

volodymyr yermolenko

I think there are two mistakes to be made. The first mistake was to underestimate Ukrainian capacity. And you mentioned that there was this underestimation in February, even in America, that Ukraine will  Kyiv will fall in 48 hours or 72 hours. That was one mistake. The second mistake is going on now, both in Ukraine and inside Ukraine. Saying, OK, we are counterattacking. Good. Then Ukraine will be victorious. Its all OK. Its all fine. I think this is also a mistake because we should understand that, well, Russian army, poorly prepared, maybe with poor equipment it appears, not that strong as everybody believed, but still, its a big army. And if theyre retreating from Kyiv, that means that they are regrouping their army to get some other successes. So Ukrainians, we have missile strikes against our military depots every day. We dont know how many resources  we ordinary citizens dont know how long we have military resources. So that means that Ukraine should be supplied from the international partners more and more with defensive weapons, with air defense systems, with antimissile systems. Of course, the spirit is huge. The willingness to fight is huge. But we need equipment for that. So I would call not to be in this mood that sometimes this war is turned into international media into a kind of a tragic comic picture when Ukrainian farmers on their tractors pick up Russian tanks. Its all  of course, it exists, but its not the full reality. The full reality is cruelty of Russian army, shelling the civilians, destruction of the whole cities, artillery war, missiles war. And in this case, Ukraine, which is very strong in spirit, but which needs more material support.

ezra klein

I want to talk a bit about Ukraines relationship with Europe. And this was something that was very powerful for me in reading your book, Ukraine in Histories and Stories, reading from the vantage point of this moment, where Ukraine has become this great cause in the West. The frustration towards the West of even a couple of years ago. And maybe one place to start is I had mentioned a quote earlier from the novelist Yurii Andrukhovych. But he wrote in that same essay  or said in that same interview, I guess it is, quote, We Ukrainians are in love with Europe. Europe is in love with Russia, while Russia hates both us and Europe. Tell me about how that stood three or four years ago and how you see it as having potentially changed now.

volodymyr yermolenko

Well, what is definite is that Russia hates both Ukraine and Europe. And I think Europe is kind of  in these particular years, in recent years, Europe was reluctant to understand that. We were spending so much time to explaining to Europeans, look at Russian TV channels, what theyre saying about Europe, what theyre saying about America. This is a constant dehumanization rhetoric. They are dehumanizing Ukrainians, saying theyre Nazis. Theyre dehumanizing Americans, saying theyre imperialists or whatever. They are dehumanizing Europeans by saying that they are abusing children and reject family values and support only gay marriages, whatever absurdities Russians are saying. And this was the reality of the past decade. And Europe was blind to it. Europe was still thinking that you can be friends with Russia. You can still love Russian culture, et cetera. This was a mistake. This was the blindness. The question is whether Europe is in love in Russia, with Russia increasingly less, I hope. I mean, Europe is still thinking  or some parts of Europe are still thinking that you need to give something to Russians. You need to give something to Putin. You need to find compromises, even at the cost of human lives, et cetera. And I think this is wrong. This is already the wrong logic, and we should go away from it. As for Ukrainian attitude to Europe, Ukrainians are feeling that theyre a front line. We are a front line, where there is a fight not only for Ukrainian national identity, but also for European values, for universal values. And basically that European values are not only defendable, but defendable heroically. Because in Europe, among many European intellectuals before the war, many European politicians have found this kind of a feeling of a decadence, feeling of frustration, feeling that those values on which Europe has been built or America has been built  the values of democracy, the values of pluralism, media freedom, freedom of speech  these values are going against, right now, Europe or America. And I was telling them, look, dont be that radical. European values are OK. Democratic values are OK. There are nations willing to fight for them. There are nations which are not really going to this decadent mood. And this is what is happening right now in Ukraine.

ezra klein

One of the striking things about the book is I would describe a number of the essays as being about or at least relaying the experience of feeling that Europe viewed Ukraine with something between disinterest and condescension. Its a very sort of tragic but also somewhat comic story from a woman whos trying to give European bankers a tour of Ukraine and try to show them parts of it they might like. Others talk about trying to convince Europeans to just even know where things in Ukraine are. And at the same time, theres this idea of a decadent West, of liberalism that has exhausted itself. Heres a country that in many ways wanted to become more liberal, wanted to become more part of the West, and seemed to feel, from what I can read and tell, that it was having trouble getting noticed, having trouble getting people to care. Can you talk a bit about that? Because now there is such an outpouring of support and you see Ukrainian flags all around and polling shows this huge rise in support for adding Ukraine to the EU. But what was Europe missing before? What had gone wrong in that relationship before, from your perspective?

volodymyr yermolenko

I think what has got wrong, I tried to explain as early in 2014, when I wrote an essay, Dreams of Europe, when I tried to assert that Europe does not believe in itself. And that is the problem. There is no faith in Europe  the faith in itself. I was describing this Europe as Europe of rules, where you have certain rules to follow, but you dont really believe in the initial idea. Ukrainians are not ideal Europeans, because they probably have this faith in Europe, but they are not necessarily following the European rules, for example. And the Ukrainians have to make a big road as well to align themselves with the truly European civilization. But I still think that the best thing you should read is going back to the times and read the classics. And people like Aristotle or Polybius have explained whats happening with these democratic societies when they forgot that the values they are based upon need protection, need defense, and you need to fight for them. So as long as you take these values for granted, you no longer believe in them. You no longer consider them seriously. And I think this is what started to be happening in Europe. And by the way, in Ukraine, before the war, as well. So today we are living in a time when you understand that these values are in big danger, that you have to defend them, that you have protect them. And what Ukrainians were saying to Europe that this is not only Ukrainian fight. I think that gradually, Europe partially starts to understand it.

ezra klein

A moment ago, you mentioned a Europe of rules. And I always think thats a very evocative phrase, and it gets at something important in the difficulties in sustaining a belief or an aspiration in liberalism for many of us who live comfortably within it, which is these ideas, these ideals, these modes of governance, this approach to being in the world. When youre fighting for it when it hasnt happened yet, its very aspirational. I mean, when the other option is Putinism or totalitarianism, then you really see the value of liberalism. When you live under it, you begin to focus on its contradictions, its rules. Its about harmonizing trade regulations. And in America, the filibuster, and nothing passes. And everything is so slow and bureaucratic. And people begin to get exhausted by the reality of trying to live under what if it is in fear of being ripped away, becomes very inspiring. How do you think about that tension between the way its easy to take something for granted once you are in the kind of banal implementation of it, and then what it begins to look like when you realize you could really lose it or never have it?

volodymyr yermolenko

The experience of the war shows us again and again that you cherish life, you value life, in the point of when its very close to death. At that point, you really understand what life means. This is a very important feeling. This is a very deep experience from which philosophy, art, culture grows, I think. Its not accidental that the first big works of European culture, like Iliad is a poem about the war, about the loss. The most striking elements when Priamos goes to Achaeans camp to get the body of his son, right? So this is very important feeling, when you face the loss, when you face something that you lose, when you understand that something will disappear, can disappear. Your life can disappear. The life of your children can disappear. Your house can disappear. Your freedom can disappear, you know. And this is what makes you strong. This kind of facing up with mortality, facing the mortality of humans. Maybe this is something that Ukrainians are now going through. It doesnt make them any better people than any other nations. But its important to understand that there is something going on in Ukrainian society which will probably, after that, produce big culture, big literary works, big philosophical works. Because this is really facing on this border experience, a liminal experience. Its very important. Coming back to Europe, there is a good French philosopher, Remi Brague, who said that Europe has always been eccentrical. So basically, the most paradoxical thing about Europe is that certain values are born in some territories but then they move to others. They kind of expand into other territories, like the values of Greek democracy. And then Romans came and they took these values for Roman Republic or they took Greek aesthetics for their aesthetics. So Europe in a sense doesnt have borders. Its this culture of expanding values. So I think this is whats now happening in Ukraine. Because Ukrainians are feeling right now that they are on this brink, where these European values are here in the minds of people, but somehow there is a big enemy that tries to remove these values, in a sense. And therefore, our lives are in danger. [MUSIC PLAYING]

ezra klein

I want to be careful in this question not to assume an end to a war that is very much not over and that we dont know how it will play out. But in more hopeful scenarios where there is a whole Ukraine on the other end of this conflict, how do you think about some of the rebuilding that will have to happen? I mean, there have been millions of refugees. Do you think most of them will come back? There were very deep problems in Ukrainian governance and economics before this, just a huge amount of the economy happening outside of normal channels. Or maybe actually in that world, the shadow economy is the normal channel. How do you think about what kind of Ukraine you could have demographically and politically, if it survives this period?

volodymyr yermolenko

Ukrainians are definitely thinking in terms of European values, democracy, republican values, anti-tyrannical values, human rights, et cetera. But I think the model of society that we need to develop should be different from, for example, the model of society in Germany or France or whatever. Because their models are based upon minimum security, because security is provided by NATO, by the United States, et cetera, in some countries. And big welfare state. The presence of the state in the redistribution, et cetera. I think Ukrainians will be building in another model. And the fact that there is a shadow economy is showing that these are signs of this model, because shadow economy is just trying to avoid bureaucracy, trying to avoid taxation, et cetera. So I think the model of Ukrainian society will be kind of a reverse pyramid, compared to European society. It should be a very big presence of the state in security because we dont have guarantees that well be NATO or well have security guarantees from other countries. We will be obliged to have our army very strong. But when it comes to the economy, probably the more liberal or libertarian even it becomes, the more it cherishes individual initiative, the better. So this will probably happen, this kind of an interesting balance between big presence of state in the security sector, defense sector, and very little presence of the state in the economic sector. And probably this will make Ukraine kind of similar to America, in many aspects. These bottom-up politics also can be compared to American politics. To a certain extent, Ukraine is a kind of America close to Europe, or European America. You can think of it in that way as well. What is also important is that we should make Russia pay. We should make Russia pay for all this destruction. This is what didnt happen in Syria. This is what didnt happen in other countries. Russia is saying, I will destroy, you will pay. And this is incredibly wrong. One of the light motifs of Russian culture, by the way, is the motif of Crime and Punishment, as we all know. The novel of Dostoyevsky. But actually, what we have in Russian political culture, in Stalinism, for example, is crime without punishment and punishment without crime. All those people who were sent to gulags without any trials or were exterminated, killed, they were punished without a crime. And I think this is the most dangerous thing when were looking for  when somebody is looking for compromises with Putin, something that we need to avoid. Because if Russia is not punished, is not kept responsible for its crimes, obviously it will continue them.

ezra klein

Youve described Russia as, quote, a wounded empire. And this very much has a potential to wound it further. Do you worry that as Russia becomes more internationally isolated, as its more ambitious aims for a quick victory and a total victory become more unrealistic, vanish completely, even, that it also becomes more dangerous? Because for Putin, to back down might become unthinkable, that he needs somehow to be able to say he won.

volodymyr yermolenko

Of course, the risk exists. But to which conclusions it should lead us. If it leads us to the conclusions that we should give something to Putin, I think this is a wrong conclusion. I know such thinking is present in many countries. Its certainly present in Germany, in France and in some other countries. Were still in this logic where we still believe that we can enter into a win-win situation with Putin, with Russians. My point is that Russians are not thinking in this win-win logic or positive sum game logic. They are thinking in the negative sum game logic, meaning that they are prepared that in a given transaction, in a given conflict, everybody will lose. But they hope they will lose less than others. For example, they know they will lose in this war, but Ukraine will lose more, because Ukraine will lose a big part of its economy, cities destroyed, et cetera. Maybe this is the game. And if we give something to Putin when he understands it, well, everybody lost, and he lost less than others. Yes, he will consider this to be his victory. So I think time has come to understand that  and Ukrainians are understanding that already  that you should be intransigent with Putin. You should really want Putin to have a military defeat in Ukraine and to have an economic defeat as a result of sanctions. The more compromises you have, the more victims you will produce.

ezra klein

If you had an audience today with President Joe Biden, what would you tell him?

volodymyr yermolenko

To be stronger. To look at his predecessors, probably other American presidents, who were also facing much stronger enemy. And to understand that Russia is not that strong as it feels, as it likes to show itself. It is a colossus with very weak body, with very weak legs. And even Ukrainians who are much less in number, who are much more, I would say, freedom loving and a bit anarchic, as we have seen, are able to defeat this Russian colossus. So we should not be afraid of Putin.

ezra klein

We always end the show by asking for three books you would recommend to the audience. And Id ask the same of you, but with an emphasis on books that you think would help those of us who have not lived in or spent much time in Ukraine to understand it.

volodymyr yermolenko

Well, I would start with the book that you mentioned already, Ukraine in Histories and Stories that I edited a few years ago. It was published by [INAUDIBLE] Ukraine and was republished then by Ibidem-Verlag and Columbia University Press. Its available on Amazon. Other is, of course, the works by Serhii Plokhii, who is a Harvard University professor of Ukrainian history and director of Harvard Ukrainian Studies Research Institute. His history of Ukraine, The Gates of Europe, but also his history of Russia, Lost Kingdom, history of Chernobyl disaster. Many other books. Hes very prolific. And I also have in this book, Ukrainian Histories and Stories, I also have an interview with him. I also advise you to read Ukrainian literature, in particular our great poet right now, our classic Serhiy Zhadan. So you can read his poetry. You can read his prose. Recently, the poles have nominated Serhiy Zhadan. For Nobel Prize. I think its time for a Ukrainian writer to get a Nobel Prize in Literature. And there are lots of good scholars, not necessarily Ukrainian scholars, in the United States, in Canada, in Germany, in France, in Britain. Many of them are my friends. I also can recommend, for example, from Cambridge, Rory Finnan who published recently a book about Crimea and about deportation of Crimean Tatars and about Stalin and about Crimean Tatar literature. I think its really time to get more knowledge about Ukraine, about Eastern Europe, not only focusing on Russia.

ezra klein

Volodymyr Yermolenko, I hope you stay safe. Thank you so much for giving us this time today.

volodymyr yermolenko

Thank you very much. Its a great honor for me.

ezra klein
Complicating matters further, the coming runoff election may prove to be the closest since the victory of our longest-serving president, the socialist Francois Mitterrand, over the conservative Valery Giscard dEstaing in 1981. It would be tempting to see the elections of 2022 as a distorted mirror of that fateful year. But 1981 was the triumph of hope bringing the socialists to power, which was, until then, an unheard-of possibility. Should Ms. Le Pen succeed, it would be a victory of anger.

Such an outcome is not impossible. The voices of the extreme-right and extreme-left candidates together now add up to more than 50 percent of the vote. Those strengthening extremes signal that one in two French people no longer believes in classical liberal democracy as this country once knew it or in the future of the European project in which France has played an integral part.

After all, Ms. Le Pen has long expressed her disdain for the European Union, once suggested leaving the common currency and still hopes France might all but abandon NATO.

Then theres the backdrop of the war in Ukraine. Initially the prospect of war worked in favor of the incumbent president. Mr. Macrons early efforts at diplomacy and meeting with Vladimir Putin gave him an early advantage with voters. Then he found himself facing the economic consequences of the conflict, including the steep rise in the cost of living across France, the very subject chosen by Ms. Le Pen as her core campaign topic.

Yet it is unclear whether the reality of the war so close to France will discredit Ms. Le Pen (who, despite having denounced the invasion, had close ties with Russia in the past and whose party received loans from a Russian bank). In the end, as they say, all politics is local. The French will not be voting for Ukraine, and a majority of them may not care that much about the future of Europe, either.

For Mr. Macron, however, his fortunes are bound up with Europes, and his challenge is energizing the electorate to care enough about both him and the continent. In the coming days, he is likely to try to convince more French voters that a victory for Ms. Le Pen is a victory for Mr. Putin and that Ukraine and democracy will only suffer if she takes up residence in the Elysee Palace. Whether he can do so will be a test of Frances deep polarization. The haves  those with more wealth and education  skew disproportionately toward Mr. Macron, while the have-nots lean toward Ms. Le Pen. But even this doesnt give the full picture: Beyond anger, we are also seeing a profound disillusionment with politics. More than 26 percent of voters abstained in the first round of elections, the lowest turnout for a presidential election since 2002.

In 2017, after the triumph of Brexit in Britain and the election of Donald Trump in America, the election of Mr. Macron appeared as an oasis of hope in a desert of Anglo-Saxon despair. Now, in 2022, the West is right to remain concerned about the political future of France.
There are reports that Russia may be planning to use  or, according to unverified reports from local officials in Mariupol, might have already used  chemical weapons as part of its offensive in eastern Ukraine. The Biden administration has set up a Tiger Team of national security officials to consider options in the event this happens; now is the time for these discussions to become more public.

Weve traveled this road before, badly. In August 2012, Barack Obama publicly warned the Bashar al-Assad regime in Syria against employing chemical weapons. A red line for us is we start seeing a whole bunch of chemical weapons moving around or being utilized, he said. That would change my calculus.

It didnt. The following year, reports emerged that al-Assad had begun using chemical weapons, culminating in a sarin gas attack in a suburb of Damascus. Obama hesitated, fearing a wider war. The British Parliament voted against taking military action in Syria. Congressional Republicans switched overnight from hawkish interventionists to skeptical isolationists. Vladimir Putin intervened with a face-saving offer to get al-Assad to voluntarily divest himself of his chemical arsenal.

The Obama administration crowed that it had achieved the best possible result. But it later came to light that al-Assad had not given up his full arsenal, and he continued to use chlorine gas against his adversaries without consequence. Putin consolidated his alliance with al-Assad, eventually leading to the introduction of Russian forces in Syria in 2015.
Greene is an example of why it matters that we get that diagnosis right. She operates like a classic disinformation artist. She elides feelings of shame with the moral clarion of stigmatization. She suggests that being a pro-white American conservative politician makes others treat her like an immoral or unserious person. She calls that being shamed, but her rhetoric argues that she has been pushed from feeling shame and into the realm of stigmatization. Of course, Greene navigates public life with a trail of shame in her wake, but if she were to change her behavior tomorrow or next year, history suggests that her life would not be ruined. Bad-faith actors want the moral superiority of being stigmatized. But some behavior is, well, shameful. Being ashamed is not cause for alarm in these circumstances.

Not everyone is a bad actor when it comes to concerns about shame. There absolutely is an online outrage machine that targets people, exploits the way internet platforms work and causes psychological terror in the process. Much has been said about Justine Sacco, arguably the first person to lose her job because of the internet outrage machine, in 2013. She told a bad joke on Twitter, boarded an international flight and was fired soon after she landed. It was harsh. Sacco took a hit professionally. But today she is working in the profession for which she trained. If she was ever truly stigmatized, her very public shaming does not appear to have erased her from society.

Meanwhile, Black professionals without a hint of shame chemtrails are stigmatized for their hair, their names, their complexions and their speech patterns. Stigma  appropriately levied or not  may cause shame, but shame is not the reason Black professionals experience discrimination in the labor market. Sacco was shamed. Black workers are stigmatized. Both of those situations may feel like a public problem, but no one can credibly argue that they involve the same stakes. When we elevate shame from psychological state to social problem, we value systems of oppression that stigmatize those with the least power.

No matter what some would say about shame, public life is more plural and diverse and democratic than it has ever been. What we took for consensus in a smaller public square was really domination of those who could not afford the price of entry by those who could. The internet has lowered the cost of participation and weakened institutions control over what constitutes legitimate discourse. This comes with some trade-offs that are not always worth it. But shame, alone, is not evidence of a bad trade. As a secondary emotion, it matters what accompanies the shame. If a bigger public square with more equal access is the primary condition, then shame is evidence of a democratic society operating democratically.

Times Opinion and Siena College commissioned a poll in February in an appeal to consider shame a public problem. The poll found that 55 percent of people have held their tongue at least once over the past year for fear of retaliation or harsh criticism. I am a social scientist. I respect what surveys and polls can tell us about the world  and what they cannot. An older poll from a different time comes to mind. It is from 1964. By all historical accounts, public life in 1964 was fraught, dangerous and ultimately important to every debate we have today. The feminist movement was meeting the Black civil rights movement and the progressive left movement against a dangerous global geopolitical backdrop. White backlash to the end of legal segregation was violent, coercive  and normal. The fight to maintain those norms, no matter how violently oppressive they were for some, made a lot of people feel shamed.
Tribal members led the excavations of the burials, which was an emotionally challenging task. Its unfortunate that we had to move them, Ms. Arellano said. But if anybody has to do it, we take that responsibility very seriously and with as much care and love as possible. The burials were most likely prepared for people of high lineage, as many were interred with precious shells, such as abalone pendants, Ms. Arellano said.

Occasionally when burials were discovered, the excavators gathered under a big tree and talked through the process to ensure everyone was heard, according to Dr. Byrd. Trust has often been something that isnt the first step these days for archaeology and native communities, he said.

The Muwekma Ohlone tribal council wanted to know if the burials at the sites could help prove their peoples ancient presence in the Bay Area, said Alan Leventhal, the tribes archaeologist and an emeritus lecturer at San Jose State University.

Ripan Malhi, an anthropologist at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and Noah Rosenberg, a population geneticist at Stanford University, joined the project to lead the ancient DNA analysis. The researchers presented all additional tests to the tribal council for approval. The council gave the researchers the go-ahead to study dental plaque for signs of inhalants such as tobacco, as well as to conduct tests to determine the sexes of the buried children, Dr. Byrd said. We were able to identify a few samples from ancestors that had really good preservation, Dr. Malhi said.

After extracting DNA at the two sites from 12 individuals who lived between several hundred and 1,900 years ago, the researchers compared their genomes with publicly available genetic information about other Indigenous communities in the Americas and ancient individuals worldwide. The oldest and most recent burials shared distinctive combinations of genetic variants, suggesting they were from related groups.

The analysis identified a shared component of ancestry linking people at the two ancient sites to modern-day members of the Muwekma. This ancestry can be found in other modern communities, but it is present in a much higher proportion in the Muwekma.
While using a QR code was an answer to a practical problem, she also likes what it symbolizes. Passover tells the story of us leaving slavery behind and heading the heck out of Egypt to move to freedom. We were leaving the old school place behind and moving forward, she said. I think the QR code Haggadah integrates this idea. Its cool to me that we are taking the next technological step for Passover.

It can already feel like QR codes are everywhere. You scan them at restaurants to get menus; at events to register; at stores to pay; at museums to get more information about the work on display. And now they are even part of the Seder, an ancient Jewish tradition.

Jewish leaders are using QR codes as an easy way to get people the material they need to participate in the Seder or to enrich their experience with supplemental materials.

And while some Seder-goers like them, others feel that phones should play no role in this tradition, where the focus has always been on in-person sharing and discussion. (Many at Seders will not even use their phones, so a QR code Haggadah is not an option.)

Even Rabbi Levy is keeping a few old books around for those who object to the modern technology. We have some paper copies, because theyve been around for years and years, and they have wine dripped on them and brisket juice, and some people like that, she said. That group includes her own daughter, Rebekka Levy, 38, who attends the Lawrenceville Seder with her own three children, ages 9, 6 and 1.
The naming of federal buildings is among the more mundane tasks that Congress undertakes, and it is usually a consensus matter. In the Senate, it is often accomplished without debate or even a recorded vote, which is how that chamber passed the measure to honor Judge Hatchett in December. In the House, it is typically considered under a fast-track process reserved for uncontroversial matters that limits debate and requires a two-thirds majority for passage.

But Mr. Clydes late objection turned the routine ritual into a conservative litmus test for Republicans, who quickly joined him in turning against Judge Hatchett.

The bill failed on a vote of 238 to 187, falling short of the two-thirds threshold, with 89 percent of Republicans opposed.

I was appalled, said Representative Kathy Castor, Democrat of Florida, who grew up hearing about Judge Hatchett from her father, a former county court judge. I was looking around, saying, What is happening?

A legal legend in his state, Justice Hatchett could not stay in the hotel where the Florida bar exam was being administered when he took it in 1959 because of Jim Crow laws segregating the South. When he was nominated by President Jimmy Carter to the United States Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit, Judge Hatchett was the first Black man to serve on a circuit that covered the Deep South.

Senator Marco Rubio, Republican of Florida and one of the bills sponsors, said the judge, an Army veteran who died last year at 88, had lived an inspiring life of service.

Senator Rick Scott of Florida, a Republican who co-sponsored the measure, said in a statement after the Senate passed the bill in December that Judge Hatchett broke barriers that have inspired countless others in the legal profession.
Mr. Sullivans remarks during the call appeared to be an effort to motivate a group of people aggrieved by the election to take direct action against members of Congress on Jan. 6, presaging what Mr. Trump himself would say in a speech that day. While it remains unclear whether anyone on Mr. Sullivans call went on to join the mob that breached the Capitol, he seemed to be exhorting his listeners to apply unusual pressure on lawmakers just as they were overseeing the final count of Electoral College votes.

In a statement provided by his lawyer, Mr. Sullivan played down the nature of the call, saying he had merely shared some encouragement with what he described as people who all felt their votes had been disenfranchised in the 2020 elections. Mr. Sullivan said he had been asked to participate in the call by a group of anti-vaccine activists  or what he called health freedom advocate moms  who were hosting a small, permitted event at the Capitol on Jan. 6.

I only promoted peaceful solutions where Americans could raise their voices and be heard as expressed in our First Amendment, Mr. Sullivan said in the statement. I in no way condone the violence of any protesters.

Still, in the recording of the call, Mr. Sullivan can be heard telling his listeners that the lawmakers inside the Capitol need to feel pressure.

If we make the people inside that building sweat and they understand that they may not be able to walk in the streets any longer if they do the wrong thing, then maybe theyll do the right thing, he said. We have to put that pressure there.

As the Justice Department widens its inquiry, federal prosecutors are using a grand jury in Washington to gather information on political organizers, speakers and so-called V.I.P.s connected to a series of pro-Trump rallies after the 2020 election. One prominent planner of those rallies, Ali Alexander, received a subpoena from the grand jury and said last week that he intended to comply with its requests.

In the run-up to Jan. 6, Mr. Alexander publicly discussed a pressure campaign against lawmakers that was meant to stop the final electoral count, saying he was working with Representative Mo Brooks of Alabama and Representatives Andy Biggs and Paul Gosar of Arizona, all Republicans.
It also sowed seeds of mistrust among supporters of former President Donald J. Trump. Critics referred to the grants as Zuckerbucks and some frequently claimed, without evidence, that the money was used to help secure Joseph R. Biden Jr.s victory. Several states controlled by Republicans banned private donations to election offices in response.

As Mark and Priscilla made clear previously, their election infrastructure donation to help ensure that Americans could vote during the height of the pandemic was a one-time donation given the unprecedented nature of the crisis, Mr. LaBolt said in an email on Tuesday. They have no plans to repeat that donation.

The Center for Tech and Civic Life, a nonprofit group with liberal ties that became a vessel for $350 million of the contributions from Mr. Zuckerberg and Dr. Chan in 2020, announced on Monday that it was shifting to a different model for supporting the work of local election administrators.

During an appearance on Monday at the TED2022 conference in Vancouver, Tiana Epps-Johnson, the centers executive director, said that the organization would begin a five-year, $80 million program to help meet the needs of election departments across the country.

Called the U.S. Alliance for Election Excellence, the program will draw funding through the Audacious Project, a philanthropic collective housed at the TED organization, the center said. Mr. Zuckerberg and Dr. Chan are not involved in the new initiative, Mr. LaBolt said.
WASHINGTON  Ukrainian officials said on Tuesday that they had thwarted a Russian cyberattack on Ukraines power grid that could have knocked out power to two million people, raising fears that Moscow will increase its use of digital weapons in a country already pummeled by war.

Ukraines power grid has been knocked offline twice before, in 2015 and 2016, causing widespread blackouts. Russia has long used online attacks alongside traditional warfare; just days before the Russian invasion began on Feb. 24, Ukraine said a cyberattack hit its Defense Ministry, its army and two of its banks.

But experts said the latest hacking  while unsuccessful  was among the most sophisticated cyberattacks they have seen in the war so far. It used a complex chain of malware, including some custom-built to control utility systems, suggesting that Russia had planned the attack over several weeks and intended to maximize the damage by sabotaging computer systems that would be needed to restore the electrical grid.

The attack was scheduled to begin on the evening of April 8 as civilians returned home from work, Ukrainian officials said, and could have made it impossible for them to go about their daily lives or gain access to information about the war. The breach targeted several electrical substations in the country, and had it been successful, it would have deprived roughly two million people of electricity and made it difficult to restore power.
An elderly man takes a second booster dose against COVID-19 at an retirement home in Marsa, Malta, on April 13, 2022. Malta has begun vaccinating around 4,000 elderly people in retirement homes with a second booster dose, Health Minister Chris Fearne said on Monday. (Photo by Jonathan Borg/Xinhua)

VALLETTA, April 11 (Xinhua) -- Malta has begun vaccinating around 4,000 elderly people in retirement homes with a second booster dose, Health Minister Chris Fearne said on Monday.

The island country's health authorities were also inviting some 17,000 people aged over 80 who live in the community to get the booster dose, as well as around 6,000 people who are immunocompromised.

In a statement issued after a visit to Malta's largest state-run home for the elderly, Fearne said that a further 2,000 elderly people who live in the community but are bedbound will be vaccinated at home.

Expectant mothers who test positive for the virus will be allowed one other person in the ward during childbirth, he added.

Malta registered 433 new COVID-19 cases on Monday, according to data from health authorities. Two COVID-19 patients died, bringing the total number of deaths to 664. 

An elderly woman takes a second booster dose against COVID-19 at an retirement home in Marsa, Malta, on April 13, 2022. Malta has begun vaccinating around 4,000 elderly people in retirement homes with a second booster dose, Health Minister Chris Fearne said on Monday. (Photo by Jonathan Borg/Xinhua)

An elderly man takes a second booster dose against COVID-19 at an retirement home in Marsa, Malta, on April 13, 2022. Malta has begun vaccinating around 4,000 elderly people in retirement homes with a second booster dose, Health Minister Chris Fearne said on Monday. (Photo by Jonathan Borg/Xinhua)
WASHINGTON  Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken said on Tuesday that governments around the world, including in Russia and China, grew more repressive last year, as the State Department released its annual report on global human rights.

The departments 2021 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices echoes President Bidens warnings that authoritarianism is on the rise worldwide. Its introduction cites continued democratic backsliding on several continents, and creeping authoritarianism that threatens both human rights and democracy  most notably, at present, with Russias unprovoked attack on Ukraine.

The report covers the past year and thus does not include details about Russias invasion of Ukraine in February. But it singled out Russias government as a leading rights abuser, citing reports of extrajudicial killings, arbitrary arrests, physical abuse of suspects by the police and other offenses, along with frequent impunity for accused security officials.

Among the trends Mr. Blinken highlighted was the increasingly brazen way governments were reaching across borders to threaten and attack critics. He described a plot to kidnap a journalist in New York that prosecutors said was orchestrated by an intelligence network in Iran, and the Belarusian governments decision to force a Ryanair passenger flight to land so that security forces could arrest a journalist on board.
In a statement, the university said the temporary restraining order served as a warning that such behavior would not be tolerated and underscores the need to provide a sense of stability and comfort in an in-person learning environment, particularly in light of safety concerns on campuses across the country.

In a statement on Tuesday, Mr. Kanevsky said, The whole lawsuit and what everyone is reporting is very deceiving. Mr. Bai did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The most recent disturbance took place on March 29 when the men interrupted the lecture about the Holocaust, according to court documents. One of the men pretended to be a member of the Russian Mafia wearing a black, skintight muscle shirt and carrying a silver briefcase. The other man answered to Hugo Boss, the lawsuit said.

Mr. Kanevsky said that he walked in and asked if Hugo Boss was inside. He said the incident was part of a dare that was supposed to be a harmless, funny scene. He added, The whole notion that we targeted a Holocaust class is absurd.

Mr. Kanevsky said, Hugo Boss is literally the name that Yuguo goes by.

But the lawsuit said that the apparent reference to the German fashion designer Hugo Boss was particularly frightening for the professor, because the designer, who died in 1948, had manufactured Nazi uniforms during World War II and had been a member of the party until the wars end. The professor believed that Mr. Kanevsky had targeted his class because of its subject matter, the lawsuit stated.
Before boarding his flight from Los Angeles to the Chinese city of Guangzhou, Xue Liangquan, a California-based lawyer, knew he was in for a bit of a headache.

To visit his parents in eastern Shandong Province in January, for the first time since the coronavirus pandemic began, Mr. Xue, 37, had already shelled out $7,600 for airfare. He had submitted negative test results to the Chinese authorities, as required for entry. Upon arrival, he would have to do three weeks of quarantine.

Even so, he never could have foreseen just how much of an ordeal he was about to suffer. Mr. Xue, through a Kafka-esque streak of bad luck and run-ins with Chinas unbending virus rules, would spend the next three months in quarantine, bouncing between hospitals and hotel rooms.

Released from one round of isolation, he would immediately find himself ordered into another. By the time of his return flight, he would have had about two days of freedom in China. He would not have seen his parents at all.
We are getting paid the same as we did before, but everything costs a lot more now, said 28-year-old Lozaine Pereira, a freelance filmmaker who was among a noisy crowd pushing against the barricades at a protest outside the prime ministers residence this month. Just living day to day has become a struggle.

As the protests gain steam across the country, the Rajapaksas are increasingly vulnerable.

Many of the presidents relatives resigned en masse from their government posts last week, in a seeming effort to appease the protesters. But the demonstrators have continued to gather, setting up tents and portable latrines along an oceanside park in Colombo in preparation for the long haul.

The Rajapaksas usual hard-line tactics  denouncing opponents and jailing critics  are proving less effective against a spontaneous wave of discontent among a public that is harder to silence.

The same people who voted him into power are on the streets asking him to get out, said Brandon Ingram, a creative director at an ad agency in Colombo who has joined the protests. So, is he going to leave?
LONDON  In recent weeks Prime Minister Boris Johnson of Britain has revived his fortunes at home by becoming Europes most aggressive supporter of Ukraines fierce fight against Russian invasion.

But on Tuesday Mr. Johnson was battling for his own survival again, after police fined him for attending a lockdown party in Downing Street that broke coronavirus laws made in the very same building.

Mr. Johnson said on Tuesday night that he had paid the fine, though he did not say how much it was, insisting that he would continue in his job despite calls for his resignation, including from the opposition Labour leader. He added: I once again offer a full apology.

The announcement earlier Tuesday by Londons Metropolitan Police made Mr. Johnson the first holder of his office in living memory to be found in breach of the law, and provoked anger from Britons who obeyed strict coronavirus rules that sometimes even forbade contact with dying relatives.
The United States, Britain and other Western allies, along with Ukraines government, are examining claims that Russia deployed a chemical agent that sickened a handful of people in Moscows unrelenting bid to gain complete control over the ruined Ukrainian city of Mariupol.

Pytor Andryushchenko, an adviser to the city government, said local officials believed that some chemical had been dropped by a drone on the citys sprawling Azovstal steel plant, one of the last redoubts of the Ukrainian forces defending the city. They said it was unclear whether it was intended to be lethal.

He said that it might be something like tear gas, but that they could not be certain.

It is absolutely correct information that yesterday from a drone, something was dropped in that area and some chemical things were in it, he said. But we dont know for sure if it was poison or something else.

Ukrainian military commanders in the city said that Russian forces had used a drone on Monday to deploy a poisonous substance of unknown origin that caused respiratory difficulties and neurological symptoms that can be associated with chemical agents in a handful of soldiers and civilians.
BERLIN  Chancellor Olaf Scholz surprised the world, and his own country, when he responded to Russias invasion of Ukraine with a 100-billion-euro plan to arm Germany, send weapons to Ukraine and end his nations deep dependence on Russian energy.

It was Germanys biggest foreign policy shift since the Cold War, what Mr. Scholz called a Zeitenwende  an epochal change  that won applause for his leadership at home and abroad.

But six weeks later, the applause has largely ceased. Even as images of atrocities emerge from Ukraine since the invasion by President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia, Mr. Scholz has ruled out an immediate oil and gas embargo, saying it would be too costly. He is dragging his feet on sending 100 armored vehicles to Ukraine, saying that Germany must not rush ahead. There are new debates in the ruling coalition about just how to go forward with the massive task Mr. Scholz has laid out, let alone how fast.

Already doubts are building as to the German governments commitment to its own radical plans. Zeitenwende is real, but the country is the same, said Thomas Bagger, a senior German diplomat who will be the next ambassador to Poland. Not everyone likes it.
PARIS  Frances presidential election entered a new, intense phase on Tuesday as President Emmanuel Macron and Marine Le Pen, the far-right candidate trying to unseat him, traded barbs from afar and rubbed shoulders with voters in hopes of widening their appeal, especially on the left.

Mr. Macron, who spent the day in eastern France, and Ms. Le Pen, who was campaigning in Normandy, are competing in the second round of voting in the elections, a rematch of their 2017 face-off that will be held on April 24.

In the first round of voting on Sunday, both attracted a bigger share of voters than they did five years ago  Mr. Macron with 27.85 percent of the vote, up from 24.01 in 2017, and Ms. Le Pen, of the National Rally party, with 23.15 percent. It was the largest proportion ever gained by a far-right candidate in the first round of voting, and almost 2 percentage points more than in 2017.

The latest polls predict a very close runoff, and put Mr. Macron only slightly ahead.

With less than two weeks to go before the vote, Mr. Macron has picked up the pace, seeking to dispel criticism that his campaign ahead of the first round was unfocused and that he appeared distracted by his diplomatic efforts to end the war in Ukraine.
The film did not depict Mrs. Reinhard directly; rather, it showed Schindler hiring every person who auditioned for him, with his business manager, Itzhak Stern, portrayed by Ben Kingsley, performing many secretarial functions.

Mrs. Reinhard was never secretive about her role, but it did not come to light publicly until 2007, when she was 92 and moving to Israel from New York, where she had settled after the war. She told of her Schindler connection to the Jewish Agency for Israel, a nonprofit Israeli group that was helping her resettle. When she landed in Israel, she was mobbed by the news media and became an instant celebrity.

She was born Carmen Koppel on Jan. 15, 1915, in Wiener Neustadt, Austria. Her mother, Frieda (Klein) was a homemaker and her father, Emil Koppel, was a businessman. He was also an opera fan and named her for Bizets Carmen, but she never liked it. Her father later agreed to change it to Mimi, the heroine of Puccinis opera La Boheme.

Before enrolling at the University of Vienna to study languages and literature, she took stenography so that she could take lecture notes in shorthand.

I never learned to type, she told The New York Times in 2007, though on Schindlers list she categorized herself as a schreibkraft, or typist.

By 1936 she had married Joseph Weitmann (the original spelling of his surname) and lived in Krakow, where they had their son, Sasha, who was originally named Alexander. In 1939, when Hitler invaded Poland, they smuggled the toddler to Hungary to live with relatives. She and her husband were confined to Krakows Jewish ghetto. Mr. Weitmann was shot to death when he tried to escape, and she was sent to the Plaszow forced-labor camp in 1942.

With the Red Army bearing down on Krakow in 1944, the Germans were in retreat and planned to send many of the remaining Jews to Auschwitz, where they almost certainly faced liquidation. At this point, Schindler stepped in and persuaded the Nazis that his essential workers  of whom Ms. Reinhard was one  should be moved instead to a camp in Czechoslovakia, where they could produce munitions for the German war machine.
Ukraines security service said on Tuesday that officers had detained Viktor Medvedchuk, a politician and oligarch seen as the Kremlins main agent of influence in Ukraine in recent years.

Mr. Medvedchuk disappeared shortly after the start of the war and the Ukrainian authorities were searching for him.

Ivan Bakanov, the head of the Security Service of Ukraine, said on Facebook that officers had conducted a lightning-fast and dangerous multilevel special operation to detain Mr. Medvedchuk.

Dmitri S. Peskov, the Kremlins spokesman, said he could not confirm that Mr. Medvedchuk had been arrested, according to Russian state media. President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine posted a photo on Telegram that appeared to show Mr. Medvedchuk in handcuffs.
BEIJING, April 12 (Xinhua) -- U.S.-led biological laboratories in Ukraine have carried out secret research for a long time, posing potential threats to the people of Ukraine and beyond, while local people were not aware of this, Vasily Prozorov, a self-proclaimed ex-officer of the Security Service of Ukraine (SSU), has said.

Prozorov's remarks on U.S. biolabs in Ukraine have been widely reported by the Russian news outlets, and Xinhua reporters recently conducted a video interview with him.

"I am very concerned about the possibility of a leakage of virus out of those biolabs, which would be catastrophic not only for Ukraine, but at least for Europe," Prozorov said, suggesting that international experts should be sent to the biolabs in Ukraine for verification.

Xinhua was unable to verify what Prozorov had revealed.

UKRAINIAN SCIENTISTS CANNOT ENTER

Prozorov said that he had worked for the SSU for a long time, and that he had worked in the anti-terrorist center of the SSU in Kiev for four years after 2014.

During his work, he said, he had access to documents about U.S. biolabs in Ukraine. "I am convinced that the activities of these laboratories in Ukraine pose potential threats to the Ukrainian people and to the people of other countries."

Under a bio-security agreement reached in 2005 between the U.S. Department of Defense and the Ministry of Health of Ukraine, the U.S. side firstly modernized some biolabs in Ukraine and then took full control of their activities, said Prozorov.

"Since 2005, the United States has been working with Ukraine, actively lobbying the latter for the establishment of a central reference laboratory, where the most active strains and particularly dangerous infectious pathogens would be collected," said the ex-officer.

After 2014, the United States successfully lobbied Ukraine to create a repository for pathogens and extremely dangerous materials, said Prozorov.

"In fact, a large number of infectious pathogen samples have been kept there since Soviet times. The infectious disease samples were valued at 2 billion U.S. dollars in 2010, and the most valuable samples have been brought to the United States since 2014," he said.

"Subsequently, representatives of the Ukrainian scientific community were not able to enter the facilities, and could not ensure that prohibited research activities were not taking place," said Prozorov. "They were not allowed to enter there at all, on the grounds that the labs were highly dangerous and highly classified, while U.S. representatives and contractors have regular access to the labs for research and development."

He said that he had some related documents, among which were called "UP-4" and "UP-5," and that the names of the leaders of the projects were clearly listed.

"These people are not Ukrainian citizens, but are U.S. researchers, specifically doctors from the University of Louisville in the United States, the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases and other medical institutions," said Prozorov.

DANGERS NEAR ORDINARY PEOPLE

The Ukrainian people had had no inkling of the U.S. biolabs in their country for a long time, Prozorov said, adding that "ordinary Ukrainians, who live next door to these biolabs, are unaware of the dangerous pathogens like plague, cholera and anthrax, which have been studied in their neighborhoods."

Speaking about the safety of the biolabs, Prozorov said that although there was no clear written record of leaks due to strict secrecy, there had been a surge in the number of infectious disease outbreaks in Ukraine since 2014.

"Measles, for example, is a disease that has been gone for a long time, but in 2018 and 2019, tens or hundreds of thousands of people fell ill and some even died. By a coincidence, the largest number of infected people lived in the area where U.S. biolabs were located," he continued.

According to Prozorov, the programs of U.S. laboratories in Ukraine are so vast that only partial information about their activities is available.

"However, the information we have clearly indicates that U.S. military scientists, representatives of the U.S. Department of Defense and contractors have been engaged in research of biological weapons in Ukraine," he said.

In his view, the objects affected by biological weapons can be roughly divided into human, animal and plant categories, and thus producing biological weapons does not necessarily need the creation of pathogens lethal to humans, but rather pathogens that can kill animals and plants in large numbers.

An attack with biological weapons would require enormous efforts to control the source of infection and contain the spread of the epidemic, as well as enormous resources to acquire medicines, manpower, and medical facilities, all of which would erode a country's economic and defense strength, said Prozorov.

"So I think biological weapons are first and foremost an offensive and aggressive weapon. Moreover, biological weapons are, of course, weapons for carrying out acts of terrorism," he said.

CALL FOR VERIFICATION

At the end of March 2019, Prozorov held a press conference in Moscow and revealed some confidential information on Ukraine. On the same day, the press service of the SSU was quoted by Ukrainian media as saying that Prozorov had been fired for regularly drinking at work.

Prozorov said he stopped working at the SSU in 2018, but still has access to the documents via his sources.

"For example, I managed to get in touch with officials at the Ministry of Health, who provided me with relevant documents on this issue," he said. "The documents I have include those I obtained during my time at the SSU and those from my sources after 2018. I have confidence in the reliability of these documents and sources, and thus I am willing to testify in court."

During the Second World War, Unit 731 was set up in China by Imperial Japanese Army to conduct biological and chemical weapons research. Prozorov said such Japanese biological weapons research resulted in the deaths of many Chinese prisoners of war and civilians, with thousands of victims being experimented on by Japanese researchers in virology and biology.

"After the war, officers of Japanese Unit 731 were brought before the court, but the United States took them all away. As far as I know, from declassified material, they started new jobs at Fort Detrick," where the United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Disease is located, he said, adding that "no wonder that some Americans are now retracing the footsteps of the Japanese invaders."

Prozorov said the international community should demand that the United States provide full information on the activities of biolabs in Ukraine and in the former Soviet republics, and teams of international experts should be sent to verify those laboratories.

"It cannot be limited to the official response from the United States, but an international commission with foreign representatives should be set up to verify these labs," he said. "If it turns out that the United States has carried out research and development of new biological weapons, the international community should impose the strongest sanctions against it, because the move is explicitly prohibited by the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC)."

"As far as I know, the U.S. side has shipped all the research results, strains and samples of pathogens out of Ukraine. We should ask the United States and its people," said Prozorov.

Experts should be sent to U.S.-led labs in Central Asia, and local governments and guardians should allow international experts to verify the labs, as experts from the International Atomic Energy Agency can inspect nuclear facilities around the world, and experts from the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons can go to countries suspected of owning chemical weapons or engaging in chemical research and development facilities for verification, he added.

"The BWC should also have a group of international experts and a supervisory body. Unfortunately, such body could not be set up due to U.S. opposition, and that is the reality. We have no choice but to send a team of international experts to verify the labs," said Prozorov. 
The mothers hands were shaking when she started writing on her 2-year-olds body. They trembled so much that she couldnt write correctly on her first try, even though the information was second nature: Her daughters name, Vira, along with her birth date and their family phone numbers.

I thought that if my husband and I died, Vira could find who she is, the mother, Oleksandra Makoviy, recalled.

For Vira, standing in a diaper in their house in Kyiv, the writing on her back was a game. She didnt know that the bombing had begun.

Ms. Makoviys desperate attempt to prepare her daughter for the possibility of being orphaned as the family attempted to escape the Ukrainian capital during the Russian invasion has become a wrenching symbol of the anguish of a nation of parents.
Opinion The Taliban Promised Them Amnesty. Then They Executed Them. The Taliban Promised Them Amnesty. Then They Executed Them. An Opinion Video investigation reveals the Taliban have been on a campaign of revenge killings against former U.S. allies. An Opinion Video investigation reveals the Taliban have been on a campaign of revenge killings against former U.S. allies.

By Barbara Marcolini, Sanjar Sohail and Alexander Stockton Ms. Marcolini is an investigative journalist. Mr. Sohail is the founder of the Afghan newspaper Hasht e Subh Daily. Mr. Stockton is a producer with Opinion Video.

When the Taliban swept into Kabul last year and reasserted control over Afghanistan, they suggested that their rule would be kinder, less extreme and more forgiving than it had been the last time they were in power.

Taliban leaders insisted they would be merciful toward those who had opposed them, declaring a general amnesty for former government workers and members of the nations security forces. For some, they even wrote letters of guarantee that they would not seek revenge against their old adversaries.

We are assuring the safety of all those who have worked with the United States and allied forces, the Talibans spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, said during the groups first news conference after retaking control of the country last August.

But in the Opinion video above, we show that the Talibans promises were hollow, with grave import. The video, the product of a seven-month investigation by the Opinion Video team of The New York Times, reveals that nearly 500 former government officials and members of the Afghan security forces were killed or forcibly disappeared during the Talibans first six months in power.

Confirmed killings and forced disappearances by the Taliban Forced disappearance Killing 150 MILES AFGHANISTAN PAKISTAN We have identified 114 people who are missing in Kandahar Province. Confirmed killings and forced disappearances by the Taliban Killing Forced disappearance UZBEK. TAJIK. TURKMEN. We have confirmed 86 killings in Baghlan Province. AFGHANISTAN Kabul PAKISTAN IRAN We have identified 114 people who are missing in Kandahar Province. 100 MILES Confirmed killings and forced disappearances by the Taliban Killing Forced disappearance UZBEK. TAJIKISTAN TURKMENISTAN We have confirmed 86 killings in Baghlan Province, the location of many former Afghan special forces. AFGHANISTAN Kabul PAKISTAN IRAN We have identified 114 people who are missing in Kandahar Province. 100 MILES Confirmed killings and forced disappearances by the Taliban Killing Forced disappearance UZBEK. TAJIKISTAN TURKMENISTAN We have confirmed 86 killings in Baghlan Province, the location of many former Afghan special forces. AFGHANISTAN Kabul PAKISTAN IRAN We have identified 114 people who are missing in Kandahar Province. 50 MILES

We built the most extensive database of revenge killings in Afghanistan to date using a variety of verification methods that included conducting forensic video research, confirming local news reports, collaborating with human rights organizations and interviewing survivors and family members.

The revenge killings were widespread, touching every region of the country, shattering families and communities, and giving a lie to the Talibans promises of tolerance and moderation.

After initially denying that such killings were occurring, the Taliban leadership has come to acknowledge some of them, though has insisted that those acts were the work of rogue commanders and not an authorized campaign.

But the number of killings, and their ubiquity, might suggest otherwise. So would their ruthlessness, including summary executions that were captured on video and are included in our short documentary above. We argue that the United States can still do a lot more to help its former allies  many of whom remain in hiding  find a way to escape the country.

Be forewarned: These are deeply disturbing images to watch. But they also provide key insight into the character of the Taliban and highlight the dangers that the groups critics still face.
An English millionaire who notoriously built the UKs biggest man cave in his backyard without planning permission, is now trying to prevent it from being torn down by buying up properties around it.

After an eight-year battle, millionaire businessman Graham Wildin was ordered to tear down the enormous man-cave complex on his property in Gloucestershire, but he has failed to do that. The 10,000sq/ft facility, which included a cinema, squash court, small casino and bowling alley, has now become the center of a fortress created by acquiring the properties around it, in an alleged attempt to stop the council from forcefully tearing it down. Although the deadline to level the luxurious man cave passed a month ago, the entire complex still stands.

Widin, who made most of his fortune in accountancy, made national news headlines in 2014, when he unveiled what was then referred to as the biggest man cave in Britain. However it was soon revealed that he had built the whole place without planning permission, and he spent the last eight years fighting the Council to prevent it from tearing down his property.

After losing the long legal battle, Graham Wildin apparently came up with more ingenious strategies to keep his backyard man-cave standing, including buying up the properties around it in order to prevent bulldozers from coming anywhere near it. Documents show that at least two neighboring properties have been transferred to a company run by Wildins children.

The council cant now knock it down, as legally they have to have permission of the land owner to cross the land to get to the building, one neighbor told the Daily Mail. He has given ownership of that land, to his children, who arent going to allow that permission. They cant force them. Like it or loathe it, its clever.

Still, while some of Wildins neighbors praise his tenacity and ingenuity, some say that the days of his enormous man cave are numbered, as the Council will seek a court order to reach it and tear it down.

He thinks he has now outsmarted the authorities, by surrounding his property, with land that is the ownership of his family members, so the council cannot get to the man cave to demolish it, another neighbor said. All the council has to do is seek a court order to gain access to neighboring land and they will then have access to the man cave, to demolish it.

Despite all the negative publicity in the press and being ordered to tear down his unique man cave in Cinderford, Gloucestershire, Graham Wildin continues to defy his neighbors and the authorities. The deadline to tear down the fun complex has passed, but no one really knows if bulldozers can actually reach the property to tear it down, now that the Wildins own the neighboring properties.
Scott Bartnick

2021 was a huge year for cryptocurrency. Bitcoin, the markets biggest coin, surpassed the $1 trillion mark. In El Salvador, Bitcoin was adopted as a form of legal tender, and the first futures-based crypto ETF appeared on the New York Stock Exchange.

Still, it may be too early to say that crypto has gone mainstream. As 2022 began, less than 5 percent of the global population held any form of crypto. Crypto-related fraud and a lack of regulations to address it continue to keep many hesitant from buying in. For those who want to get involved, problems with usability are often a barrier that seems insurmountable.

As crypto companies seek to address these issues and grow their communities and their value, many are finding that public relations firms have the experience and connections necessary to open the doors to mainstream adoption of cryptocurrency. By leveraging media relations and advanced PR tactics, public relations can increase exposure, establish credibility, and educate potential users on the benefits of using crypto.

An effective PR media strategy separates the credible from the incredible, says Mark Kaley, a publicist with Otter PR. And that is very important for crypto, blockchain, and NFT companies.

Mark has more than 15 years of experience assisting businesses of all sizes with the public relations process. Otter PR is experienced with crypto and blockchain companies.

When crypto and other blockchain companies launch their first project, they often have a lot of passion and a lot of expectations. What they lack is credibility, explains Mark. Public relations specialize in helping brands establish credibility.

Identifying sound investments in crypto markets can feel overwhelming for those who are just getting started. As of March 2022, investors have more than 18,000 crypto brands from which to choose, and a recent count identified nearly 1,700 of them as dead coins. In addition, finding information about the founders of coins and their tokenomics can often be impossible.

It is important that any PR or media efforts not focus on the currency or token itself, Mark says. To be effective, the campaign must focus on educating the public about the project as a whole, building the brand, and establishing the founders or owner operators as authorities in the field. Brands that have a philanthropic mission, for example, should look to establish their execs as experts on the topic of philanthropy as well as crypto or blockchain.

One brand that Mark has helped is AXIA Coin. By positioning the projects founder as a thought leader in the industry who could discuss not just crypto but also data privacy and internet security risks, Mark was able to secure more than 300 media placements for AXIA that reached an estimated 1.4 billion online readers.

For brands that have a token with utility, highlighting that utility is critical for attracting and growing a supportive community around the project. The concept of token utility, which crypto insiders know to be a key component of the technology, has received little attention outside of industry-related publications and sites.

Credibility for both brands and the crypto movement at large can also be established when the people behind the brand make themselves known and share their vision. While many are drawn to crypto because of its lack of transparency, mainstream adoption will benefit from providing the curious with adequate information.

So many crypto projects focus on building community through social media, discord servers, or other communication channels. Providing information about founders or owners as well as information about the project is a great way to build that community, says Mark. An active community promotes engagement, and more engagement means more sharing and likes, resulting in additional exposure for the token.

As long as the majority of news about crypto is news about volatility, scams, and bans, crypto brands can expect resistance from those with even the smallest degree of skepticism. Real progress toward mainstream adoption will only be made when brands are willing to put the industry as a whole in front of their brands.

Crypto founders need to realize the token will take care of itself, Mark says. The business has to be viable for the token to have any worth. It's like a traditional equity based company: a high market cap means nothing if the company can't support that with revenues and some appropriate multiples in the business. Companies built on a house of cards will crumble. Build your business on a solid foundation and effectively use PR to demonstrate that the business and the concept behind it are solid.

***

Scott Bartnick is the co-founder of Otter PR. He is an eCommerce expert and author of The Five Day Startup and has been featured in Forbes, Entrepreneur, IBTimes and Yahoo.
Plus Communications is working with the Ukrainian Volunteer Journalist Initiative, a community of reporters, business owners, lawyers and students, to assist foreign journalists covering the Russian invasion of the country.

The volunteer organization wants to make sure the Ukrainian perspective is presented in the global media. UVJI produces a daily news digest of translated news from military, civilian and support fronts.

It will help jounalists report about political and cultural developments in Ukraine and work to counter Russian disinformation and propaganda.

Launched Feb. 27, three days after the Russian invasion, UVJI also will connect foreign reporters with members of the Ukraine government and help research potential stories.

It also will send story pitches and find guests for radio, TV and online reports.

Based in Arlington, VA, Plus will book interviews for US media outlets with UVJI staffers in Ukraine and with members of parliament, former government leaders and citizens impacted by the war.

The public affairs shop is working on a pro bono basis.
Propel, an earned media management platform, is making its software available to users for free. The company says that in addition to facilitating contact management and pitch tracking, its database offers access to more than a million journalists, three billion articles, and 50 million Twitter influencers. It also lets users tap into over 100 news, forums, blogs and other web sources, as well as more than a billion accounts across Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. We are changing earned media and bridging the gap between PR professionals and journalists, said Propel CEO and founder Zach Cutler. With customers including Real Chemistry, Textron and Insurify, Propel is headquartered in Tel Aviv and has teams based in New York, London and Miami.

The Greater Kansas City Public Relations of America Chapter names the 2022 class of scholars for the Inez Y. Kaiser GKC-PRSA Memorial Scholarship Fund. The fund of $25,000 was established to award annual scholarships in memory of Inez Y. Kaiser, a Kansas City public relations business owner who was the first Black woman in the country to join PRSA. This years scholarships went to Sirah Diallo of the University of Texas at Austin, Ladazhia Taylor from the University of Kansas and MyAun Boyd of Evangel University. All three are junior honors students. Award recipients are expected to follow Kaisers commitment to leadership, public relations excellence and community volunteerism. Moving the field of public relations forward means supporting and mentoring tomorrows PR leaders, said GKC-PRSA 2022 president Bridget Koan. We are proud to support these amazing students by providing financial support for their education. Applications for the next class of scholars will be accepted beginning Jan. 1, 2023.

280blue, a Boulder, CO-based agency focusing on venture-backed B2B technology companies, changes its name to Outside Labs as part of an overall rebranding. The agency says the new name more accurately reflects its goal of providing an outside perspective to B2B technology founders, CEOs, marketers and the venture capital community. The rebrand includes a new visual identity and website. Founded in 2015 by a group of Silicon Valley marketing leaders led by CEO Kim Kaputska, the agency has helped more than 50 companies, including 10 that were acquired or filed for IPO. Our combined experience and deep tech knowledge in areas like IT infrastructure, networking, security, cloud computing and AI/ML is what enables us to give our clients an outside perspective, said Kaputska.
CAOIMHE Spain, a student at Colaiste Naomh Cormac Kilcormac, has been chosen as runner up in the ActionTalks final this year, which is national speech writing competition run by ActionAid, open to all students aged 14 to 17 year olds.

After being chosen from over 130 entrants, and then winning the regional finals, six students delivered their speeches in historic Woodquay Dublin last week to a panel of expert judges. It was the first in person final of the competition since 2019.

Caoimhe displayed great skill and clarity in conveying their message across to the audience, and their passion for Vaccine Inequity was something to be admired. Caoimhe was awarded with the prize of 50 One4All voucher as runner up.

Judges on the day were: CEO of AkiDwA, which is a national network of migrant women living in Ireland, Dr Salome Mbugua; former MEP and Lord Mayor of Dublin and current Policy & Advocacy Manager with the Irish Development Education Association Emer Costello; Assistant General Secretary with the Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland and Board Member with ActionAid Ireland Moira Leydon; and Programme Coordinator with ActionAid Ireland Erick Onduru from Kenya.

The competition, now in its eighth year, aims to engage young people with global issues, including gender equality and sustainable development, and challenging them to use their voice to create positive change. This year the competition focused on vaccine inequity globally, unpaid care work and violence against women.

ActionAid provides long term support and focuses on the human rights of women and children in developing countries, so they can overcome the obstacles holding them back. The approach is to empower local women to take control over their own lives. Irish Aid, Department of Foreign Affairs, funds an ActionAid Womens Rights programme in Kenya, Nepal and Ethiopia. They use this funding to work with marginalised communities in an effort to prevent gender-based violence and support women gain an independent income.

CEO of ActionAid Ireland Karole Balfe said: The standard and quality of the speeches submitted in this years competition was incredible. We were delighted to see so many students across the country take part this year and share their views on global issues so articulately, and with such passion. It was truly inspiring, and I can safely say, I feel hopeful for the future with these young people!

You can read more about the ActionAid Womens Rights programme at https://actionaid.ie/womens-rights-programme/
Irish Water is replacing 4km of old water mains in Pullough. The new pipes are expected to eliminate existing leaks and reduce outages, they will also put a stop to the loss of clean drinking water into the ground.

Works to replace the water mains are due to begin early next week and the road closures will be in place for the six-week duration of the project.

Joe Carroll, Leakage Reduction Programme Regional Lead with Irish Water, said he is looking forward to ensuring customers in Pullough experience fewer disruptions to their water supply from this summer on.

Working in partnership with Offaly County Council, we have prioritised leakage reduction works to those areas which need it most. Replacing this old water main in Pullough will reduce the number of bursts and outages.

The works will safeguard the supply in Offaly now and into the future and support growth and development in the area.

The works will run from the junction of the Pullough Road and Derrycooly to Rahan Road before continuing northbound towards the Grand Canal. On reaching Pulloughs Community Shop, the section of mains replacement will loop back towards the Pullough Junction at Heathfield and continue southbound along the Back Road to the first junction at Island Lower.

In order to carry out these vital works a road closure is necessary. The closure will take place from the junction of the R357 and Rahan Road, heading towards Rahan, before continuing Northbound to Pullough Village. It will continue across the Grand Canal, via Pullough Community Centre, finishing at the Ballycumber road opposite St. Manchans Church.

Northbound traffic to Pullough village will be diverted westbound along the R357 to Cloghan Village before taking the N62 to Ferbane village and continuing eastbound along the Ballycumber Road (R436) to St. Manchans Church. Local residents have been notified of the road closure and the diversion.

We understand that this type of work can be inconvenient but work crews will make every effort to minimise disruptions. Access for local and emergency traffic will always be maintained, said Joe Carroll.

Ward and Burke Construction Ltd, who are carrying out the works on behalf of Irish Water, are expected to be finished on site by the end of July.
MENTAL health campaigner, James O'Connor was presented with the prestigious 2021 Offaly Person of the Year award at a ceremony in Tullamore on Saturday night last.

The third annual Unsung Hero of Offaly award was presented to the Pullough Community Shop at the ceremony.

The awards were organised by a special sub-committee of the Offaly Association (Dublin) and presented to the recipients by the Association's chairperson, Jennifer Gleeson.

Also present were other members of the Association, the Cathaoirleach of Offaly County Council, Cllr Declan Harvey, the Cathaoirleach of Tullamore Municipal District Council, Cllr Tony McCormack, the Chief Executive of Offaly County Council, Anna Marie Delaney, Cllr Neil Feighery, past winners of the awards and chief sponsor, Coolderry native Noel Tynan of the Celt lounge and bar, Dublin.

In a brief address, Jennifer Guinan congratulated the award winners and extended thanks to the organising committee, the sponsors and the Bridge House Hotel.

Cllr. Declan Harvey said he was delighted to be present on behalf of the people of Offaly and he congratulated James O'Connor on winning the 33rd Offaly Person of the Year award.

"I know James a long time and I want to acknowledge the great work he is doing in Tullamore and to congratulate him and Lisa (his partner) on all that they have achieved, he stressed.

"I would also like to congratulate those involved in the Pullough Community Shop on winning the Unsung Hero award. It has shown the great community spirit that exists in the area.

Following the presentation of the awards, the recipient of the 2019 Offaly Person of the Year award, Brendan Martin proposed a toast to this year's winners.

Speaking immediately after James O'Connor's acceptance speech, Mr Martin said "after what I have just heard from James there is very little I can say.

"James O'Connor is a man in a million. At 42 years of age, he is half my age and he has packed more into his life than I have in mine," outlined Mr Martin.

He added, "he spoke of having bouts of depression. After the economic crash I had bouts of depression having to deal with an American vulture company, but with the support of my wife, my kids and my friends I got to pay them off in 2012 and since then I have not had a sleepless night. It is wonderful to have people like James O'Connor starting up ACT to help people who have depression.

"James O'Connor, you deserve this award. What you have done is more than what any other Offaly Person of the Year has ever done," said Mr Martin to rousing applause.

The proceedings came to a conclusion with a wonderful rendition of The Offaly Rover by Mick Scully.
President praises hospital for successful liver transplantation for 9-month-old child

President Nguyen Xuan Phuc has praised the Vietnam National Childrens Hospital for their successful liver transplantation operation on a nine-month-old child, who is discharged from the facility on April 11.















President Nguyen Xuan Phuc praises the hospital for successful liver transplantation for 9-month-old child (Photo: The Vietnam National Childrens Hospital )

Weighing 8.2 kilogrammes, the young boy was at the end-stage of a liver disease caused by advanced biliary cirrhosis. It was a result of a rare disease of the liver and biliary tract called congenital biliary atresia.



He then underwent a nine-hour surgery to receive a transplant from his father at the Vietnam National Childrens Hospital on March 14.



This was the 25th successful liver transplant at the hospital, and was entirely conducted by native doctors with no help from foreign experts.



Acknowledging that the operation requires the most advanced techniques in organ transplantation, President Phuc praised the doctors for their thorough preparations to be fully in control of the preliminary examinations, as well as the techniques in the transplantation, anesthesia and recovery process, with their relentless efforts in improving their medical knowledge and skills.



The successful operation has given new hopes to families whose children suffered from end-stage liver failure diseases, said the President.



As of current, the Vietnam National Childrens Hospital has conducted the largest number of children's liver transplants in the country, many of which are of complicated nature and require advanced skills. These include cases of different blood groups, children with liver cancer or genetic disease, and underweight child patients.



President Phuc sent his wishes that the doctors and medical staff at the hospital continue with their spirit of Dedication  Excellence for Vietnamese childrens health, to bring a new life to more children with severe illnesses./
LONDON, April 12 (Xinhua) -- British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Chancellor Rishi Sunak will be fined by the police for attending parties during the country's COVID lockdown, British media reported on Tuesday.

More than 50 related fines have been issued by the police over breaches of coronavirus lockdown rules at gatherings in Johnson's offices and residence at Downing Street. 
MENTAL health campaigner and successful businessman James O'Connor received the prestigious 2021 Offaly Person of the Year award at a function in the Bridge House Hotel, Tullamore on Saturday night last.

A citation charting his achievements as a campaigner and businessman was read by Pat Teehan, a member of the Offaly Person of the Year organising committee and Leinster Council President of the GAA.

The citation is as follows: It gives me great pleasure to present to you this evening the 2021 Offaly Person of the Year Award recipient.

The award goes to a successful and hard-working business man who is a leading mental health campaigner in Offaly and the surrounding counties.

Born in Tullamore 42 years ago he was educated locally in St Joseph's NS and Tullamore Vocational School.

But as he confesses himself he didnt like school and spent most of the time having the craic and messing with class mates. It was only in later life that he realised the benefit of a good education!

He excelled at wood work and metal work and his thirst to work with his hands and the opportunity to make money saw him leave school after his Junior Cert.

The 2021 Offaly Person of the Year first went to work in Harpscreen where he earned what he thought was a fortune.

After that he went on to work with Joe Keyes and Sons and it was here he gained valuable knowledge and skills in the building and carpentry industry and this was where his real love of the job began. With Joe he worked on some great projects including Texas Dept. Store, Pats Bar and Capital Cars and he loved to see these old buildings changed and brought back to life.

He left Joe to go and work in Texas for a time. The shop was constantly changing and the owner travelled the world coming back with new ideas for displays etc.

The 2021 Offaly Person of the Year was carrying out the general construction work but he noticed that all the shop fitters were coming down from Dublin or the North and were charging a fortune. It was here he saw an opportunity to step in and offer value to the owner of Texas while making a few pounds himself.

He set up his own business at the tender age of 17 and by the age of 19 the business was on the up and he and a team of five were working on projects around the Midlands.

It was then that tragedy struck and in February 1999 his baby daughter Leah Victoria died. This turned his world upside down. He threw himself into his work as a way of coping and subsequently his relationship with Leahs mother broke down.

In June of the same year he attempted to take his own life and ended up on life support and then in psychiatric care.

But as soon as he was able, he characteristically went straight back to work.

Not long after this he met Lisa and he got stronger and his business grew from strength to strength.

At the age of 24 he carried out the fit out of the then Days Hotel  now Central Hotel in Main Street - it was a huge undertaking with the entire project completed in 12 weeks at a cost of 1.5 million.

This was a turning point and he began to take on larger projects, He had five crews on the road working all over the country for Government bodies, multi-national companies, department stores, office blocks and shopping centres.

When the crash came he made the tough decision to let everyone go  this included some of his best friends.

Then followed a tough few years  dealing with banks on various properties he had bought and making sacrifices and tough decisions. He took this time to work on the business and rebranded to fititout.

He went to college part time and completed a degree in construction management.

The Offaly 2021 Person of the Year and his team are now working almost exclusively in the midlands where their work is instantly recognised for the thoughtful design and meticulous attention to detail.

In 2015 after two young men, he was close to, took their own lives in quick succession he made the decision to share his own story  he posted it to Facebook with the hope of helping just one person. The response was huge with hundreds of people messaging him to say that they were struggling and were ashamed or embarrassed to tell anyone.

It was this that prompted him to become an Ambassador for See Change  the national stigma reduction programme.

In 2018 he and Lisa started the Tullamore Goes Green Initiative as part of the national Green Ribbon campaign in the hopes of encouraging people to talk about mental health.

To date they have given out over 40,000 green ribbons and over 280 local businesses and community and sports groups have become involved  posting pictures on social media and holding events.

It was through this that he was approached about getting involved in a local counselling centre with the view of helping to turn it around. His view was a new broom sweeps cleans and he thought he could draw on his own experience and provide the community with a purpose-built counselling centre that would be accessible to everyone  regardless of their means.

It took over 18 months of planning and getting governance and policies and procedures in place as well as recruiting a Board, a manager and counsellors to get Accessible Counselling Tullamore (ACT) established.

The centre is managed by Dympna Summerville who is assisted by Lisa, who does all the reception and administration work, and it is down to these two ladies, as well as the ten volunteer counsellors, that he credits the success of the centre.

This week saw the centre pass 1,000 clients who have come from all over the Midlands. They come from all walks of life and range in age from 16 to 88 and get help for issues ranging from anxiety, grief, stress, addiction, anger and relationship issues to name but a few.

ACT provides a place for people who may not know how to access counselling or be in a position to afford private counselling to avail of a professional and confidential service that is literally saving peoples lives.

Offaly is very proud of his achievements in business and as a mental health advocate.

Tonight we salute the 33rd recipient of the Offaly Person of the Year award.

Ladies and gentlemen please be upstanding for the 2021 Offaly Person of the Year, James O'Connor.

See pages 41 and 42
MORE than 15,000 has been sent to Ukrainian refugees in Romania after financial donations were requested through Tullamore parish.

Tullamore parish is one of many around the diocese of Meath where an appeal was made to aid the diocese of Iasi in Romania, a location to which many fleeing the Russian invasion have fled.

Tullamore parish revealed in its bulletin at the weekend that the total sent to the Romanian diocese to date was 15,548.

Sincere thank you for your generosity, parishioners were told.

The financial donation came about through a relationship the Catholic diocese of Meath has with its counterpart in Iasi.

Three priests from Iasi are currently working in the diocese of Meath, including one in Mullingar.

The bishop of Iasi, Iosif Paulet, wrote a letter of thanks to the bishop of Meath, Tom Deenihan.

Bishop Paulet said: We are all deeply saddened and worried by this crisis and human failure, which is so close to our country, but also by the other conflicts or wars around the world, which have been going on for years or decades.

All this situation gives us the impression that human society is plagued by a widespread cancer triggered by the forces of evil. How good it is when brothers in God love each other and live in love and peace in the world, are the words of a song from our culture.

He added: We all want to live in the love and peace for which Christ, the Son of God, died on the cross and left us as an inheritance. I strongly believe that this living heritage has given birth to the beautiful connection we have between the dioceses of Meath and lasi.

I would like to thank you for the noble gesture of charity and generosity that you have made in the name of faith, that of supporting the Ukrainian refugees fleeing the war, but also all those who are in the front line to embrace the refugees with their human, spiritual and material support.

The financial support you sent us has been redirected to our diocesan association Caritas, which is present day and night on the border with Ukraine, and to all our parishes, which are close to the border with Ukraine and which offer unconditional support to all refugees.

Those wishing to make donations can do so by leaving the offering into a church sacristy or into the Parish Centre.
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(The Center Square)  Twenty-two state attorneys general, led by AGs from Montana and West Virginia, have petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court over a Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) rule they argue would immediately transform hundreds of thousands of law-abiding gun owners into criminals.

Through its rulemaking, the ATF is attempting to regulate bump-stock accessories by claiming that they transform the firearms they attach to into machine guns as defined by the National Firearms Act of 1934.

The AGs filed an amicus brief in support of Gun Owners of America, Inc., which sued U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland, and are asking the court to hear the case after the full Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals was evenly split on the issue.

The ATFs rule is a way for the federal agency to circumvent Congress and rewrite law that only Congress has the authority to do, the AGs argue.

The Final Rule effectively transforms commonly owned firearms into banned machine guns simply because of the use of non-mechanical bump-stock accessories. This interpretation categorically expands the text of the criminal statute in a way that Congress couldnt possibly have intended, they argue in their brief. And it expands criminal liability at the expense of Second Amendment rights, diminishing the latter absent a sufficient and compelling justification. When the ATF  or any agency  invades protected rights by interpreting statutes too broadly, this Court should step in.

A bump stock isn't a weapon. Bump stocks assist the shooter in bump firing, which increases the rate of fire. "They do not transform semi-automatic rifles into automatic machine guns," West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey said.

The significance of this case goes beyond any firearm accessory and gun rights. No federal agency should be able to create criminal code without Congressional authorization, Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen said. The Supreme Court must take up this important case to uphold the rights guaranteed by the Second Amendment and affirm this important check on the federal executives power.

Morrisey said the ATF doesnt get to overrule the Constitutional rights of firearm owners across the nation.

Morrisey also points out that the ATF has recognized that bump firing has been around for as long as there have been semi-automatic firearms, and common items like rubber bands, belt loops, and shoestrings can all be used to the same effect as bump stocks, which the ATF is attempting to criminalize.

Tom McHale at the U.S. Concealed Carry Association said "a bump stock doesnt make any modification to the firing components of a rifle. Theres no impact on the trigger or receiver internals. Nothing changes the design of the hammer or sear. All a bump stock does is make it easier for the user to create a careful balancing act between recoil and forward pressure against the rifle ..."

"Bump stocks arent a new thing. Bump fire is a process, not a device. In fact, you can bump fire a firearm using nothing more than a belt loop. No stock, no banned devices, no nothing other than your blue jeans. So, should we outlaw belt loops? Probably not, because like a bump stock, a belt loop is just a tool that aids the bump-fire process."

In their petition, the attorneys general argue that ATF's administrative actions threaten Americans' rights.

Actions like the ATFs do not just violate important principles of administrative law. They also illustrate how the government can endanger fundamental rights through creeping, incremental, and seemingly benign regulatory depredations, the AGs argue in their brief. If Congress had wanted to categorically expand the NFA to cover semiautomatic firearms that use a bump-stock accessory, it would  and must  have done so explicitly.

Judges on a Sixth Circuit panel ruled against ATF last March, concluding that bump stocks dont transform commonly used semi-automatic firearms into machine guns. However, when brought before the full Sixth Circuit Court, the judges were evenly split, resulting in the lower district courts ruling being upheld, allowing the ATFs rule to stand.

Attorneys general from West Virginia, Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, and Wyoming signed the amicus brief.

Their petition comes after Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and more than 140 Republican members of Congress last June took issue with the ATFs rule change, arguing it violates federal law, contradicts longstanding ATF policy and is unconstitutional. They also argue ATFs rule change wrongly targets veterans and hurts law-abiding gun owners.

Paxton said in a statement that a federal agency cannot, through the administrative interpretation of law, criminalize conduct that will send people to prison. Federal criminal laws must be enacted democratically, with the approval of both houses of Congress and the president.

According to a recent Congressional Research Service report, there are between 10 and 40 million stabilizing braces and similar components already in civilian hands, and [a]ltering the classification of firearms equipped with stabilizing braces would likely affect millions of owners.
Reprinted with permission from PA Environmental Digest.

On March 31, Philadelphia-based Comcast announced an agreement to purchase 250 megawatts (MW) of solar electricity from Constellation that will power approximately 12 percent of its U.S. operations and the vast majority of its Mid-Atlantic operations with clean, renewable energy.

The agreement will support construction of the Blue Sky Solar Project, currently being developed by Scout Clean Energy in Illinois, creating local jobs and bringing additional clean electricity to the U.S. power grid.

This marks the first of many major green investments that are already underway or on the immediate horizon which demonstrate our commitment to sustainable, responsible business. said Peter Kiriacoulacos, Executive Vice President and Chief Procurement Officer at Comcast.

Comcast is committed to being carbon neutral by 2035 for Scope 1 and 2 emissions, or the direct and indirect emissions it owns and controls, across its global operations.

With purchased electricity accounting for the majority of these emissions, sourcing renewable energy is critical to meeting this goal.

Comcasts renewable energy strategy will prioritize securing green tariffs, direct power purchase agreements (PPAs), and virtual PPAs through contracts that bring new renewable capacity to the grid.

It will also include building onsite renewable energy capacity and supplementing electricity needs with purchases from existing clean energy projects or renewable energy certificates (RECs).

We commend Comcast on its carbon neutral commitment and are pleased that our offsite renewable solution will serve as a significant stepping stone toward achieving that goal, said Jim McHugh, Chief Commercial Officer, Constellation. As our nation transitions to a clean energy future, Constellation is dedicated to offering the products, services and expertise that help our customers strategically manage their energy use and reduce their carbon footprints.

Project Highlights

Comcast will source 250 MW of carbon-free solar electricity from the 300 MW Blue Sky project  a majority share of the projects total output. Blue Sky is one of the largest solar projects approved to date in the PJM power grid, which spans the U.S. Mid-Atlantic region and portions of the Midwest, and Comcast is currently the sole customer.

The agreement will allow Comcast to reduce the carbon dioxide emissions associated with its energy use by nearly 360,000 metric tons annually  equivalent to avoiding the emissions from more than 65,000 homes electricity use for a year.

The project will create up to 400 construction jobs and 20 new local long-term jobs, and generate $36.3 million in tax revenue over the life of the project, including $25.4 million slated to go directly to local schools.

Blue Sky is expected to reach commercial operation by December 2024. Comcast has signed a corresponding 15-year agreement with Constellation beginning in 2025 to receive energy and RECs from Blue Sky as part of its retail electric supply contract.

We are pleased to work with Comcast and Constellation to deliver carbon-free solar energy and invest $400 million into the local community, creating new sustained jobs and tax revenue for local schools, Michael Rucker, founder and CEO of Scout Clean Energy. Comcasts commitment made this possible.

For more information on Comcasts environmental efforts, visit the Environment webpage on Comcast's Corporate website.
Washington, D.C.  The agency tasked with overseeing food safety delayed investigating claims of tainted infant formula for months, according to two US senators.

The formula is believed to have caused the death of two infants, according to the Food and Drug Administration.

Powdered infant formula manufactured at Abbott Nutritions facility in Sturgis, Michigan was recalled in February due to reports of possible bacterial contamination affecting Similac, Alimentum and EleCare powdered formulas.

The FDA says five infants were sickened after being fed formula manufactured at the Sturgis facility. All five illnesses, which included four Cronobacter infections and one Salmonella Newport infection, resulted in hospitalization and Cronobacter may have contributed to death in two patients.

Following multiple reports of illness and death linked to recalled formula manufactured by Abbott Nutrition, U.S. Senators Bob Casey (D-PA) and Sherrod Brown (D-OH) sent a letter to FDA Commissioner Robert Califf to request information on the FDAs actions and plans to investigate these reports and to prevent other infants from falling ill.

Related reading: Public advised not to use contaminated Similac, Alimentum, or EleCare infant formulas

Because of this recall, parents are now facing shortages of baby formula. The Senators requested information on the current status of the FDAs investigation into the contaminated infant formula, steps the agency is taking to make sure there is enough infant formula on the shelves despite the shortage and work the FDA is doing to provide information to families and caregivers affected by the recall and contaminated products.

They are also seeking information about the FDAs interactions with Abbott Nutrition prior to the recall and pressing the FDA to explain the apparent delay in their response following initial reports of infant illness.

As you are aware, the FDA is responsible for overseeing manufacturers of infant formulas," the Senators wrote. "Parents, caregivers, and the greater public rely upon the FDA to ensure infant formula on the shelves in our grocery stores and food pantries is safe to consume and supports healthy growth.

"It is unacceptable that FDA was made aware of complaints and positive cases related to the Abbott Nutrition facility months before Abbott finally issued its voluntary recall of potentially contaminated infant formula, yet failed to alert the public, immediately initiate an inspection, or demand Abbott issue an immediate recall of these infant formula products."

The pandemic halted in-person inspections in 2020, the Senators noted.

Although the FDA typically inspects infant formula manufacturing sites annually, we understand that no such inspection of Abbott Nutritions Sturgis facility was conducted in 2020," they wrote. "How has the COVID-19 pandemic and public health emergency impacted the FDAs ability to oversee and ensure the safety of infant formula? Did you make a remote records request? Would any authorities have enabled more effective FDA oversight and facilitated the FDAs ability to meet its obligations?

Parents and caregivers who want to check if their powdered formula is part of the recall can do so at the companys website here, and can learn more about the recall at the FDAs website here.
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As Russian diplomats tweet vicious lies from their embassy in Canberra, the Irish remind us of a word they gave to the world in 1880: boycott.
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Its the first time the Russian leader has addressed the conflict since Moscow withdrew its forces from northern Ukraine.
Western countries are probing unconfirmed claims that chemical weapons were allegedly used in the southern besieged city of Mariupol. DW has the latest.
Romanian President Klaus Iohannis speaks at a joint press conference with Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo (not in the picture) in Bucharest, capital of Romania, on April 12, 2022. Romanian President Klaus Iohannis said on Tuesday that his country has decided to extend the capacity of nuclear energy by building small and modular nuclear power plants in a relatively short time. (Photo by Cristian Cristel/Xinhua)

BUCHAREST, April 12 (Xinhua) -- Romanian President Klaus Iohannis said on Tuesday that his country has decided to extend the capacity of nuclear energy by building small and modular nuclear power plants in a relatively short time.

"We, in Romania, have decided to invest also in renewable energy, but also in civilian nuclear energy," Iohannis told a joint press conference with visiting Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo.

"We will extend the capacity of the Cernavoda Power Plant, probably in a relatively short time frame. We will have small, modular nuclear plants which can be used to fulfill the needs of the energy grid," Iohannis said.

According to him, the country will also finance and develop green energy, "we will have renewables and certainly we will have a higher and higher production in hydrogen."

"It is important to have a powerful European energy market, to have energy available at prices established in an intelligent and transparent manner," he added.

The Belgian prime minister said that his country took the decision to extend the functioning of nuclear power plants, as the nuclear energy factor is not ignored at the European level, but part of its energy mix.

On Monday, European Union foreign ministers failed to reach an agreement on sanctions targeting Russia's oil and gas.

EU's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell said on Monday that these sanctions would cause an "asymmetric shock" between EU countries since central and eastern European member states are "heavily dependent" on Russian energy imports. 

Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo speaks at a joint press conference with Romanian President Klaus Iohannis (not in the picture) in Bucharest, capital of Romania, on April 12, 2022. Romanian President Klaus Iohannis said on Tuesday that his country has decided to extend the capacity of nuclear energy by building small and modular nuclear power plants in a relatively short time. (Photo by Cristian Cristel/Xinhua)

Romanian President Klaus Iohannis (R) and Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo attend a joint press conference in Bucharest, capital of Romania, on April 12, 2022. Romanian President Klaus Iohannis said on Tuesday that his country has decided to extend the capacity of nuclear energy by building small and modular nuclear power plants in a relatively short time. (Photo by Cristian Cristel/Xinhua)
Borodyanka was hit particularly hard by Russian attacks, suffering the most massive destruction of any town in the Kyiv region. The situation in the liberated city is utterly devastating.
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Referring to the Ukraine crisis, US President Joe Biden nudged PM Modi in the direction to stop the purchase of Russian oil soon.
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New York Lt. Gov. Brian Benjamin has resigned in the wake of his arrest in a federal corruption investigation, creating a political crisis for Gov. Kathy Hochul seven months after she selected Benjamin as a partner to make a fresh start in an office already rocked by scandal
The last of four people involved in a fatal shooting at a New Year's Eve party in Sioux City has been sentenced to prison
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MOUNT PLEASANT  Two Manistee High School band students competed Friday at the annual Michigan School Band and Orchestra Association Concerto Competition at Central Michigan University in Mount Pleasant.

Emily Sullivan, a junior, and Seth Thompson, a senior, were nominated to participate in the MSBOA Spring Honors Festival for their clarinet performances at the State Solo and Ensemble Festival, which was held virtually March 14-19.
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DES MOINES, Iowa (AP)  President Joe Biden on Tuesday said Russia's war in Ukraine amounted to "genocide, accusing President Vladimir Putin of trying to wipe out the idea of even being a Ukrainian."

Yes, I called it genocide," he told reporters in Iowa shortly before boarding Air Force One to return to Washington. Its become clearer and clearer that Putin is just trying to wipe out the idea of even being a Ukrainian."

At an earlier event in Menlo, Iowa, addressing spiking energy prices resulting from the war, Biden had implied that he thought Putin was carrying out genocide against Ukraine, but offered no details. Neither he nor his administration announced new consequences for Russia or assistance to Ukraine following Biden's public assessment.

Biden's comments drew praise from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who had encouraged Western leaders to use the term to describe Russia's invasion of his country.

True words of a true leader @POTUS," he tweeted. "Calling things by their names is essential to stand up to evil. We are grateful for US assistance provided so far and we urgently need more heavy weapons to prevent further Russian atrocities.

A United Nations treaty, to which the U.S. is a party, defines genocide as actions taken with the intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group.

Past American leaders often have dodged formally declaring bloody campaigns such as Russias in Ukraine as genocide, hesitating to trigger an obligation that under international convention requires signing countries to intervene once genocide is formally identified. That obligation was seen as blocking President Bill Clinton from declaring Rwandan Hutus killing of 800,000 ethnic Tutsis in 1994 as genocide, for example.

Biden said it would be up to lawyers to decide if Russia's conduct met the international standard for genocide, as Ukrainian officials have claimed, but said it sure seems that way to me.

More evidence is coming out literally of the horrible things that the Russians have done in Ukraine, and were only going to learn more and more about the devastation and let the lawyers decide internationally whether or not it qualifies, he said.

Just last week Biden had he did not believe Russia's actions amounted to genocide, just that they constituted war crimes.

During a trip to Europe last month, Biden faced controversy for a nine-word statement seemingly supporting regime change in Moscow, which would have represented a dramatic shift toward direct confrontation with another nuclear-armed country. For Gods sake, this man cannot remain in power," Biden said.

He clarified the comments days later, saying: I was expressing the moral outrage that I felt toward this man. I wasnt articulating a policy change.



Miller reported from Washington. AP writer Ellen Knickmeyer contributed.
Midland is working towards installing new sidewalk segments, per citizen requests.

On Monday, the City Council discussed prioritizing sidewalk projects. Cost and creating special assessment districts were also a part of the discussion.

Council was presented a resolution by City Engineer Matt Lemon, who spoke about City Manager Brad Kayes report for sidewalk improvement. The city received requests from residents regarding where they would like to see sidewalks installed.

Five projects to be prioritized are:

West side of Dublin Avenue from Saginaw Road to south of Amberwood Court.

North side of E. Ashman St. at 3545 E. Ashman St. (residence).

West side of West Main St. at 4525 W. Main St. (residence).

West side of Dublin Avenue at 6003 Dublin Ave. (residence).

East side of Waldo Avenue from East Patrick Road to south of Eastlawn Drive.

Two other projects on the east side of North Jefferson Avenue from Joseph Drive to Julie Ann Drive, and the south side of Saginaw Road from Dublin Avenue to H.H. Dow High School, were considered by the city, but it was recommended to council not to move forward with the requests.

With these five segments of sidewalk, the estimated cost is about $153,000 with the city's portion being about $53,700. The roughly $99,800 remaining would be the property owner's responsibility to pay through a special assessment, Lemon said. The cost to each property owner is determined by the property frontage where sidewalks are constructed, multiplied by the assessment rate. The assessment rate for the sidewalks would be $24.58 per foot of frontage.

The resolution at the meeting was to receive and accept the city managers report with the cost share estimates for the recommended sidewalk requests and to schedule and set a hearing of necessity for the prioritized projects on May 9, Lemon said.

The resolution passed in a 5-0 vote. Kaye said the city will reach out to residents a part of the special assessment district. At the hearing, residents will tell council if they think this is necessary for the city to move forward with these projects or if they object to them. Council would then have to vote on the projects.

If council does decide to move forward with the projects, Kaye said property owners will have the opportunity to build the sidewalks themselves, as long as they meet the citys standards.
NEW YORK (AP)  A cryptocurrency expert was sentenced Tuesday to more than five years in federal prison for helping North Korea evade U.S. sanctions.

Virgil Griffith, 39, pleaded guilty last year to conspiracy, admitting he presented at a cryptocurrency conference in Pyongyang in 2019 even after the U.S. government denied his request to travel there.

A well-known hacker, Griffith also developed cryptocurrency infrastructure and equipment inside North Korea," prosecutors wrote in court papers. At the 2019 conference, he advised more than 100 people  including several who appeared to work for the North Korean government  on how to use cryptocurrency to evade sanctions and achieve independence from the global banking system.

The U.S. and the U.N. Security Council have imposed increasingly tight sanctions on North Korea in recent years to try to rein in its nuclear and ballistic missile programs. The U.S. government amended sanctions against North Korea in 2018 to prohibit a U.S. person, wherever located from exporting technology to North Korea.

Prosecutors said Griffith acknowledged his presentation amounted to a transfer of technical knowledge to conference attendees.

Griffith is an American citizen who chose to evade the sanctions of his own country to provide services to a hostile foreign power, prosecutors wrote. He did so knowing that power  North Korea  was guilty of atrocities against its own people and has made threats against the United States citing its nuclear capabilities.

Defense attorney Brian Klein described Griffith as a brilliant Caltech-trained scientist who developed a curiosity bordering on obsession with North Korea. He viewed himself  albeit arrogantly and naively  as acting in the interest of peace, Klein said. He loves his country and never set out to do any harm.

Klein added that he was disappointed with the 63-month prison sentence but pleased the judge acknowledged Virgils commitment to moving forward with his life productively, and that he is a talented person who has a lot to contribute.

A self-described disruptive technologist, Griffith became something of a tech-world enfant terrible in the early 2000s. In 2007, he created WikiScanner, a tool that aimed to unmask people who anonymously edited entries in Wikipedia, the crowdsourced online encyclopedia.

WikiScanner essentially could determine the business, institutions or government agencies that owned the computers from which some edits were made. It quickly identified businesses that had sabotaged competitors entries and government agencies that had rewritten history, among other findings.

I am quite pleased to see the mainstream media enjoying the public-relations disaster fireworks as I am, Griffith told The Associated Press in 2007.

Klein previously said Griffith cooperated with the FBI and helped educate law enforcement about the so-called dark web, a network of encrypted internet sites that allow users to remain anonymous.
The following list includes recent reports from the Midland County Sheriffs Office and the Midland Police Department. Compiled by reporter Collin Periatt.

Sunday, April 10

11:40 p.m.  A deputy was dispatched to a Lincoln Township location for a vehicle that was traveling all over the roadway. The deputy initiated a traffic stop on the vehicle at a Jerome Township location and made contact with the 22-year-old Beaverton driver. The man wasn't intoxicated. He was on his way home from work.

9:43 p.m.  Deputies were dispatched to a Jerome Township residence regarding a 58-year-old woman advising that her neighbors have been entering her house and stealing her keys. She advised that they also did something to her surveillance cameras. She had no evidence or reason to believe it happened. Deputies noted that the woman has a history of reporting unsupported complaints.

8:52 p.m.  Officers investigated a hit and run on Waldo Avenue.

1:58 p.m.  Officers investigated a felony assault and domestic violence on Farnsworth Drive.

1:40 a.m.  Deputies were dispatched to a Lee Township residence regarding a verbal argument between a 35-year-old woman and her 40-year-old friend. No assault occurred. The parties agreed to remain separated for the evening.

Saturday, April 9

9:07 p.m.  A deputy was dispatched to a Mount Haley Township residence regarding a suicidal 15-year-old. Richland Township and a Midland County Deputy made contact with the boy and his mother. He advised he wasn't suicidal. His mother didn't believe he was suicidal either and they declined a mental health exam.

8:45 p.m.  Deputies were dispatched to a Jerome Township business regarding a 47-year-old woman who had previous altercations with the staff and was not wanted on the property. Deputies spoke with the woman and she was issued a trespass warning. The woman agreed to stay off the property.

7:37 p.m.  A deputy was contacted by a 58-year-old Jerome Township woman while on another complaint. The woman wanted to report that neighbors have been entering her house and stealing her e-mail address. She advised that they also did something to her padlock because it wouldn't open. She had no evidence or reason to believe it happened. Deputies again noted the woman has a long history of unsubstantiated complaints.

5:32 p.m.  A deputy was dispatched to an Oil City location to pick up a 40-year-old man who was arrested in Isabella County on a bond violation. The man was transported to the Midland County Jail without incident.

12:10 p.m.  Deputies were dispatched to a parking lot in Sanford for a verbal dispute. Deputies spoke with the 34-year-old woman who denied any assault between her and her 49-year-old husband. The couple was advised this was called in by other drivers because of their erratic driving. Both subjects agreed to stop arguing and left together to go to a birthday party in Midland.

11:01 a.m.  Deputies responded to a Jasper Township location reference a vehicle that was taken without permission. Deputies spoke to the 40-year-old Jasper Township man. The man stated someone took his vehicle without his permission. The vehicle was ultimately located and returned.

7:26 a.m.  A deputy was dispatched to Warren Township after a 71-year-old Warren Township woman reported that her live-in 95-year-old father, who suffers from dementia and Alzheimer's, walked out of the house and refused to come back inside. The deputy was disregarded prior to his arrival after the man agreed to come back indoors. The deputy spoke with the woman and discussed possible plans for the future, such as assisted living for her father.

3:20 a.m.  Deputies were dispatched to a Midland roadway regarding an erratic driver. The suspect vehicle was stopped in the city and the 46-year-old driver was subsequently arrested for operating while intoxicated and other traffic offenses.

Friday, April 8

11:20 p.m.  Deputies were dispatched to a Lee Township roadway regarding an erratic driver. The suspect vehicle was stopped in the Midland and the 43-year-old man driver was subsequently arrested for operating while intoxicated and other traffic offenses.

7:47 p.m.  A deputy responded to a Lee Township residence for a report of a stolen handgun out of an unlocked vehicle. The total value of the stolen property was roughly $350.

7:49 p.m.  Officers investigated a drug overdose on Redwood Circle.

2:43 a.m.  Deputies conducted a traffic stop at a Greendale Township location. Deputies made contact with the 37-year-old driver and a 35-year-old passenger. Upon further investigation, it was discovered that the driver didn't have a valid driver's license or insurance on the vehicle. Deputies also located weapons and drugs in the vehicle. The driver was issued a citation and arrested and lodged at the MCJ without incident.

1:45 a.m.  Deputies responded to a Mt. Haley Township residence for a 29-year-old Mt. Haley Township man who was having a mental episode. The man was transported to MidMichigan Medical Center and a mental petition was completed.

Thursday, April 7

9:24 p.m.  A 34-year-old Jerome Township man reported that his trash and recycle bin was stolen. The trash company requested a report in order to replace the can. There are no suspects. The two cans are valued at $100 a piece.

5:55 a.m.  Deputies were dispatched to a Jerome Township residence regarding two unknown juveniles knocking at the door asking for a ride. Upon further investigation, it was discovered that the 14-year-old boy had a warrant. The boy was arrested on his warrant and lodged without incident. The boy and 15-year-old girl were issued citations.
WASHINGTON (AP)  A federal jury convicted a former Virginia police officer of storming the U.S. Capitol with another off-duty officer to obstruct Congress from certifying President Joe Bidens 2020 electoral victory.

Jurors on Monday convicted former Rocky Mount police officer Thomas Robertson of all six counts he faced stemming from the Jan. 6, 2021, riot, including charges that he interfered with police officers at the Capitol and that he entered a restricted area with a dangerous weapon, a large wooden stick.

His sentencing hearing wasn't immediately scheduled.

Robertsons jury trial was 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.

Robertson didnt testify at his trial, which started last Tuesday. Jurors deliberated for several hours over two days before reaching their unanimous verdict.

One juror, who spoke to The Associated Press only on condition of anonymity, said as she left the courthouse, I think the government made a really compelling case and the evidence was fairly overwhelming.

Defense attorney Mark Rollins said Robertson will appeal the jury's verdict. "While Mr. Robertson disagrees with the jurys decision, he respects the rule of law," Rollins said in a statement.

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 authorities. Fracker testified Thursday that he had hoped the mob that attacked the Capitol could overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election.

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 while carrying a dangerous weapon, 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.

During the trials closing arguments Friday, 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.

Rollins conceded that Robertson broke the law when he entered the Capitol during the riot. He encouraged jurors to convict Robertson of misdemeanor offenses but urged them to acquit Robertson of felony charges that he used the stick as a dangerous weapon and that he intended to stop Congress from certifying the Electoral College vote.

There were no plans to go down there and say, Im going to stop Congress from doing this vote, Rollins said.

Fracker testified 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 Congress.

Under cross-examination by Rollins, Fracker said he didnt have a verbal agreement with anybody to obstruct the joint session of Congress. Fracker said he believed everybody in the mob pretty much had the same goal and didnt need for it to be said out loud.

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 told jurors that Robertson only went into the Capitol because he wanted to retrieve Fracker, who entered the Capitol a few minutes before Robertson. Wagner said the U.S. Army veteran was using the stick to help him walk because he 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.

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.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Aloi told jurors that Robertson was charged for his actions, not his political beliefs. Wagner also said Robertson should be judged by his actions, not his words.

The town fired Robertson and Fracker after the riot. Rocky Mount is about 25 miles south of Roanoke and has roughly 5,000 residents.

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 250 of them have pleaded guilty, mostly to misdemeanors.

Robertsons 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.
Star of MTV's "Catfish" has been seen in Bay City and was last spotted at a bar downtown on Monday, April 11.

Old City Hall restaurant in downtown Bay City shared images of the show's creator Nev Schulman on its Instagram page.

"Big shoutout to Nev Schulman from MTVs 'Catfish' for visiting our establishment this evening!" The restaurant stated in the post. "But the real question isWhos getting catfished?"

This isn't the first time the creator of the series, who brings together couples who've interacted solely through their screens, has visited Michigan.

Nev's catfish journey began in the Mitten. The 2010 documentary on which the show is based featured Nev's online relationship with a woman from Ishpeming.

Recently, season six of the show featured 26-year-old Saginaw resident Alante Shelby.

Nev seemed to enjoy his visit to "small-town America" according to a Facebook post on his page Monday.

He was also seen riding Bird scooters around Bay City in a video posted on his Instagram story.

According to Facebook comments, the producers of the show were looking for someone in the community to offer their home as a filming location. It is unclear who was chosen.

Season eight of MTV's "Catfish" began in January 2022. New episodes air on Wednesday at 8 p.m. ET.

According to the show's Facebook page, to catfish means "to pretend to be someone youre not online by posting false information, such as someone elses pictures, on social media sites usually with the intention of getting someone to fall in love with you."

Nev and Kamie Crawford, the new co-host, are casting for the show. If you think it's time to find out if your online relationship is true, you can apply on MTV's website here.
ASHEVILLE, N.C. (AP)  Officials in a North Carolina city have settled a federal discrimination lawsuit with a former female firefighter who said she had endured a hostile work environment in which the fire chief and others inflicted emotional distress.

John Hunter, the attorney representing former Asheville firefighter Joy Ponder, confirmed Tuesday that his client will get $155,000 in compensatory damages. She also voluntarily dismissed her claim in U.S. District Court, Hunter said.

I believe and hope that this settlement makes a statement that women will not just stand and be silent when treated unjustly, Ponder said in an email. The settlement allows me to move forward with my life. I am eager to put this experience behind me and look forward to continuing my work for firefighters dealing with PTSD, as well as other future positive endeavors.

Hunter told the Asheville Citizen-Times that it was unusual for a gender discrimination case to survive summary judgment.

"The city didnt come forward with settlement offers until that happened, he said.

A federal judge ruled in March that the discrimination lawsuit filed by Ponder, one of the highest ranking women in a North Carolina fire department, could proceed based on a claim of disparate treatment.

Attorneys for the city of Asheville and Fire Chief Scott Burnette had asked U.S. District Court Judge Martin Reidinger for a pre-trial summary judgment throwing out all claims by Ponder.

Reidinger dismissed claims against Burnette, writing in his order that he could not be held responsible under the 1964 Civil Rights Act's Title VII against employment discrimination because the U.S. Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals said supervisors are not liable in their individual capacities for Title VII violations.

But the city, as the chiefs employer, could be held liable for his actions, which may have amounted to disparate treatment of Ponder based on her gender, the judge wrote.

In a statement Monday, Burnette focused on the direct claims against him that were dismissed, saying they had been deemed unjustified in prior reviews, including by the citys Civil Service Board.

This is the fifth, and now thankfully final, time that her unfair allegations have been reviewed and dismissed, the chief said. I am happy that this is finally behind us and that we can move on.

A trial had been scheduled for May 9.

Ponder, who resigned from her post as Asheville Fire Department division chief in September 2020, said she faced years of harassment and gender discrimination from Burnette after she led outside research on the prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder among city firefighters.

Ponder, who became division chief in 2014, took a leave of absence in early 2019 because of breast cancer. She said that when she returned at the end of the year, Burnette and the deputy chief designed and executed an effective demotion and campaign to display me as a poor performer and divisive employee.

She was placed under her bosses close supervision  effectively surveillance, she said  told to stay away from the firefighters under her command and moved to an isolated corner office from which she said she was afraid to even walk to the restroom or copier.

The continued harassment and abrupt disruption of my schedule and life that I had maintained successfully for many years led to a deterioration in my physical and mental health, and I was forced to leave, Ponder told The Associated Press in 2021.
BIG RAPIDS  Officers with the Big Rapids Department of Public Safety responded to the following calls. All calls may not be reported. All suspects are assumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

A report was made in the 200 block of North State Street. A student requested to speak with an officer regarding an issue at his fathers residence.

Officers received a traffic complaint near Maple and Warren.

A possible violation of controlled substance act was reported in the 200 block of North State Street. Caller requested assistance with possible violation of controlled substance act located in a students locker. According to police reports, residue of marijuana was located inside of a case for glasses. It was decided to be handled through school code of conduct given the extremely small amount located. The school conducted a search of the students property locating no additional drugs or paraphernalia.

Officers assisted Osceola Probation with the arrest of female, per the request of agent on scene. A female was transported to dispatch and turned over to Osceola County.

Officers responded to a property damage crash near Maple and Ives. Officers located a vehicle that reportedly had jumped the curb and struck a tree. Upon investigation of the crash, police allege the driver, from Indiana, was operating while intoxicate. The vehicle was impounded by BR Tow.

Saturday, April 9

A domestic situation was reported in the 1700 block of South State. A 911 hang-up stated that a female was beating up the caller. Officers arrived on scene to find an open hotel door. Officers cleared the hotel room, and subjects were not there. Police reported that footage showed a male and a female walking together from the room to their van and leaving the hotel together. Subjects were not located. Follow up was conducted, and the female was found in violation of her probation out of Mason County, according to police.

Male was cited for tampering with property after he was caught allegedly stealing a flag in the 700 block of Maple.

A resident called police after she heard glass breaking and believed vehicles were being broken into in the 600 block Bjornson. Officers canvassed the area and spoke with a neighbor who was awake who didn't hear anything.

A suspicious situation was reported in the 700 block Fuller Avenue. Originally dispatched to a breaking and entering in progress, officers arrived on scene to a trashed room and a screen pushed out on a room. An investigation revealed the suite mate entered her suite mates room and tried to escape the facility through the window.

Sunday, April 10

A suspicious situation was reported in the 800 block of Perry. A male called stating he was in danger and being chased. Officers spoke with the male. He had seen someone in a nearby apartment complex walking two dogs who said something to him. Then a car came in and the driver stared at him. He didnt feel safe and ran. Nothing suspicious was observed by officers.

A request for an area check was made in the 600 block of Maple. Officers checked the area for a male that was trespassed from callers residence. He was visiting a neighbor next door.

Officers conducted an warrant attempt in the 700 block of Perry Avenue. Officers contacted a male who had a warrant for civil child neglect out of Kent County. He was arrested and lodged.

Officers contacted a female after a friend reported that she walked to her bedroom with knives, stating she wanted to kill herself, and then barricaded the door. Multiple attempts were made to contact her at the door. An officer contacted her by partially climbing through her bedroom window. She was placed in emergency custody and transported to the ER for an evaluation.

A felonious assault was reported near Winter and Locust. A male allegedly pointed a handgun at another male over a disagreement. Suspect was not located. A shotgun was located in the vehicle and collected for safekeeping.

Resident issued a written warning for noise in the 800 block of Colburn.
TO THE EDITOR:

Upon returning to Michigan from a recent trip, seeing the "Welcome to Michigan" sign on US-23 North gave me the familiar warm thoughts of being home.

These fleeting thoughts were bombarded over miles upon miles of countless marijuana billboards, a hideous junkyard directly adjacent to the highway and a roadway that was beyond the worst I have driven from Florida to Michigan!

As a born-and-raised Michigander, I am appalled and mortified at the first impression we are giving our visitors and tourists.

Great job to all, Michigan politicians!

Democrats and Republicans alike should all be fired!

With all the unique tourist towns relying on tourist revenue, breathtaking attractions to be seen and enjoyed, and the Pure Michigan tourism industry as a whole, we must address this issue because what we are advertising and what tourists are seeing is in conflict.

All marijuana advertisement (including, but not limited to billboards) must be restricted just like liquor and cigarettes. State money must be used to clean up or erect a visually-pleasing barrier between the junkyard and freeway. Lastly, fixing the roads with federal stimulus money must be done.

DAVID G. RAPANOS

Midland
MIDLAND, Texas (AP)  A Texas woman found guilty of drug possession has sued over the decades-old conviction, claiming her case was one of more than 300 tainted by a prosecutor who was simultaneously doing legal work for the judges hearing those cases.

The federal lawsuit filed Monday by Erma Wilson is part of the continued fallout from Weldon Petty's years working for the Midland County District Attorneys Office while also being paid as a law clerk for judges before whom he argued criminal cases.

Wilson was charged with drug possession in 2000 and maintained her innocence through a trial and unsuccessful appeal of her conviction. In the lawsuit, she alleges that Petty drafted important decisions for the judge overseeing her case while also advising his fellow prosecutors on it, violating her civil rights.

Wilson, who now lives in Austin with her family, said the felony conviction scuttled her dreams of becoming a nurse and made it more difficult to support her children. She is seeking compensatory and punitive damages.

Petty, who retired as a prosecutor in 2019, declined to comment, saying over the phone that he was not aware of the lawsuit. A lawyer for Midland County, which is 330 miles (351 kilometers) west of Dallas, said they have not been served with the suit and don't comment on pending litigation.

Pettys dual roles were brought to light last year in reporting by USA Today, which showed that the cases in which he worked for both prosecutors and judges included that of death-row prisoner Clinton Young.

Texas' top criminal court threw out Young's murder conviction last year and the state's high civil court disbarred Petty.

Court records state that during an evidentiary hearing in Youngs appeal, Petty refused to testify about his paid work for the judge, citing a constitutional privilege against self-incrimination.
The bandit and his accomplice have been described as white men between 5 feet 7 inches and 6 feet 1 inches with medium builds.
After throwing a bowl, it must sit and take shape during the drying process. Michael Terra and Tammara Tracy trim stoneware clay bowls Monday to help prepare for the Empty Bowls Project event on Aug. 26 at the Paducah-McCracken Convention Center. The Throwathon event Saturday was well-attended, Terra told The Sun. Kids and adults had many opportunities to work at a station, learn techniques and throw a bowl.
Funeral service for Rodger Duncan, 79, of Forest Hill passed away on Mon., April 25, 2022 in Forest Hill. Viewing will be held on Fri., May 6 at Emanuel Funeral Home of Palestine from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Funeral will be held on Sat., May 7 at Providence Baptist Church in Montalba at 11 a.m. wi
Photo: (Photo : Mario Tama/Getty Images)

California has launched a new program that will allow some residents to access state parks for free. Under a new pilot program in conjunction with the city libraries, more than 200 state parks will not be charging the usual fees for locals to enjoy the facilities.

The California State Library Parks Pass was years in the making with Gov. Gavin Newsom's partner, Jennifer Seibel Newsom, per CalParks.Org. It will extend the privilege for residents to visit the parks if they hold public library cards. California Secretary for Natural Resources Wade Crowfoot said that this should encourage more residents to experience the "incredible State Parks system" and gain "equitable access to nature and the outdoors."

Calling all Californians! You can check out a FREE vehicle day-use pass! The California State Library Parks Pass gives you the chance to "check out" 200+ state parks w/family & friends. Visit your local library for availability. Learn more at https://t.co/nLXviNkac4. pic.twitter.com/qVEGr0jVO5  CA State Parks (@CAStateParks) April 5, 2022

Read Also: New California Bill Will Let Parents Sue Snapchat, TikTok, or Meta for Social Media Addiction

How to Use California Library Card to Access State Parks

Some 1,184 public libraries across California are taking part in the program. They will be providing special passes to access state parks for free. The passes cover one passer vehicle of up to nine individuals or one person for a licensed motorcycle.

Californians may use the passes any day, including the holidays unless the state parks have closure notices. However, parks operated in line with private agencies or concessionaires and federal units may not honor the passes. Locals may check the free parks via KQED.Org before planning their trips to ensure that they won't be turned away.

For instance, Pacifica State Beach, Angel Island, and San Bruno Mountain State Park are not offering the passes due to the nature of their operation. The Big Basin Redwoods State Park, on the other hand, is included in the program, but some areas will still be inaccessible to visitors because of the wildfire.

Visit Your Local Library to Learn More

Every California library has its own system for checking out the free passes; thus, it's best to visit the site in-person to inquire about their process. Since this is the pilot phase, the passes are limited, but Oakland and San Francisco libraries expect more distribution by April. There will also be more time to get the passes as the pilot is expected to last for three years.

As with books borrowed from the library, the passes are supposed to be returned on specific dates. Passes for Oakland or San Francisco are good for at least one week. You may visit as many eligible state parks as possible during that period. The libraries may also hold the pass so you can carefully plan your park trips.

Fees across California state parks vary and could cost more during peak season or the holidays. The free access to state parks does not cover other potential expenses such as camping, boating, and other activities, per Sacramento Bee.

Those without a library card may easily apply by providing a government-issued identification card with a photo to prove that they are residents. Applications may be made online or in person.

Related Article: Rare Cancer in Kids Remains Serious Concern in California Community After a 1959 Nuclear Accident
Photo: (Photo : Yana Paskova/Getty Images)

Starr County officials announced on Sunday, April 10, that they would change course and move to dismiss the case of Lizelle Herrera after charging her with murder over a self-induced abortion, according to a report by ABC13.

Herrera, a 26-year-old woman, living in Texas, grabbed the headlines after authorities announced she caused "the death of an individual by self-induced abortion" and that a murder charge would be filed against her.

Sheriff Major Carlos Delgado issued a statement regarding the charges filed, saying, "Herrera was arrested and served with an indictment on the charge of murder." Delgado said that she did then and there intentionally and knowingly cause the death of an individual by self-induced abortion.

Herrera spends days in jail after arrest due to self-induced abortion

She was arrested on Thursday, April 7, and remained jailed on Saturday, April 9. Herrera was held on a $500,000 bond in the Starr County jail in Rio Grande City, located on the U.S.-Mexico border.

Delgado did not reveal under what law Herrera has been charged in his statement. Delgado told reporters that no other information will be released regarding the matter until Monday, April 11, because Herrera's case remains under investigation.

University of Texas law professor Stephen Vladeck told the Associated Press that the law in Texas exempts Herrera from a criminal homicide charge for aborting her own pregnancy. Vladeck said that homicide does not apply to the murder of an unborn child if the conduct charged is committed by the unborn child's mother.

A state law introduced in 2021 that bans abortions in Texas for women as early as six weeks pregnant has greatly reduced the number of abortions done in the state. This law leaves enforcement to private citizens in Texas, who can sue doctors or anyone who helps a woman get an abortion.

Read Also: Miracle Baby: Woman Gives Birth After 13 Miscarriages and Lupus Diagnosis

Self-induced abortion still criminalized in some parts of the U.S.

The woman receiving the abortion, however, is exempted from the law. Vladeck said some states still have laws that criminalize self-induced abortions, with a handful of prosecutions happening here and there over the past years.

Vladeck added that it is considered murder in Texas when a person takes steps to terminate a fetus. However, it cannot be prosecuted when a medical provider does it because of rulings by the United States Supreme Court upholding abortion's constitutionality.

CBS News reported that another law in Texas prohibits clinics and doctors from prescribing abortion-inducing medications to patients after the seventh week of pregnancy. The law also prohibits the delivery of abortion pills by mail. Vladeck said that medication abortions are not considered self-induced under federal regulations by the Food and Drug Administration.

Vladeck said that a person could only receive the medication under medical supervision. He said this might sound weird because the person is taking the pill herself, but it is considered under a providers' at least theoretical care.

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Photo: (Photo : Jim Vondruska/Getty Images)

Lyons police officials announced on Thursday, April 7, that Michael Lelko, a 45-year-old man suspected of concealing the deaths of his sister and mother nearly a year after their bodies were found buried in the backyard of their suburban Chicago home, has been arrested on felony charges.

Lyons Police Chief Thomas Herion said that Lelko would be formally charged with two felony counts of concealment of a death. Herion told the Associated Press that a federal investigation is also ongoing that could lead to Lelko facing federal charges connected to his alleged cashing of his mom's monthly $1,000 Social Security checks for years after her death.

According to Herion, Lelko was not charged with the deaths of his 79-year-old mother, Jean Lelko, and 44-year-old sister Jennifer Lelko since the medical examiner's office could not determine how either one of them passed away.

John Lelko could also face obstruction charges

Herion also told reporters that Michael's 41-year-old brother remains the subject of a police investigation, but he had not been charged as of Thursday afternoon. Both Lelko brothers remained in custody on Thursday, and Herion said that if John Lelko was not charged within the next 48 hours, he would be released from custody.

Herion said John could face obstruction charges. He initially told the police that his mother and sister were both alive and living elsewhere, even though he knew they were already dead.

According to the New York Post, the shocking announcement comes about eight months after police discovered the bodies of Jean and Jennifer in the backyard during a well-being check at the Lelko residence. Both of their bodies were buried in plastic tubs sealed with duct tape.

When asked about the deaths, Michael Lelko told police that his mother Jean had died in 2015 after his sister Jennifer pushed her down the stairs. Regarding his sister, Michael said he buried her in the yard in 2019 after she became ill and died.

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Michael Lelko's COVID-19 story does not add up regarding his sister's death

Police knew something was amiss with Lelko's story after saying that his sister had died of COVID-19. Herion said he did not believe COVID-19 existed in 2019 and that Illinois officials have said they believe the first death in Illinois due to COVID-19 happened in March 2020.

Herion said that when he interviewed Michael, he admitted that he buried his mother and sister in the yard, but he did not give any statements about whether he participated.

Herion said charges were not filed against Lelko for several months because the bodies found in the residence were not positively identified until this year. Both Lelko brothers were taken into custody when the bodies were discovered, but they were released without being charged.

CNN reported that the charges filed against Lelko mark the last chapter in a story that began with a check of the house after it was determined there was no running water in the residence. Lelko's home is located in Lyons, about 14 miles southwest of Chicago.

Related Article: Texas Child Welfare System Under Scrutiny: Over 100 Children Have Died While Under the State's Care Since 2020
Photo: (Photo : Thomas COEX / AFP) (Photo by THOMAS COEX/AFP via Getty Images)

A court has sentenced the Mapson sisters from Oklahoma to 60 months and 120 months in prison after they were found guilty of plotting to kill a child's dad and his new wife.

The child's dad was the ex-partner of Tierzah Mapson, 29, who tricked him into meeting up halfway in Alabama over their custody arrangement. Instead, the father and his wife, based in Florida, were ambushed while waiting at the meet-up place.

According to the New York Daily News, the ambush happened in June 2018. The father and his wife waited for Tierzah to arrive with the child, but she texted to say they would be running a little late because the child was sick and vomiting.

After 20 minutes of her text, the father and his wife were gunned down. They attempted to take shelter inside a store. He sustained a gunshot to his shoulder, and the bullet was lodged in his chest. Fortunately, he was taken to a hospital in Tuscaloosa, where doctors assessed that his wounds were non-life-threatening.

Read Also: Ukrainian Mom Lives with Horror of Seeing Daughter, 12, Violently Killed By Russian Soldiers

Mapson Sisters Were Near the Scene of the Ambush

Tierzah and her ex-partner had a child in 2013 and lived in North Carolina. After their divorce, Tierzah moved back to Oklahoma while her ex headed south to Florida, where he met and married his second wife.

According to The Fresno Bee, the mother was granted primary custody of their child while the father had a visitation schedule that could be modified between the exes. The child was passed between parents for some time, but the arrangement was apparently no longer working well for Tierzah.

She wanted to change the terms of the custody and thought that killing the father and his new wife was the solution. So, she conspired with her sisters to carry out a plan. Investigators told the court that the Mapson sisters prepared elaborately, including disguising Tierzah's Ford pickup truck.

On the day of the ambush, investigators said that a Ford pickup truck was seen near the scene before disappearing past a church and the woods. They also found a to-do list of the murder plot on Tierzah's phone and a schedule of when they will carry out the kill. The Mapson sisters also had more than 150 calls and texts with each other on the day of the crime.

Indicted, Arrest, and Conviction of the Mapson Sisters

While it initially looked like a random shooting, the investigators were able to pierce what happened. The Mapson sisters were indicted by August, but their arrest didn't happen until September 2019 as the sisters evaded the authorities. They were convicted in June 2021 and then sentenced Wednesday, April 6, 2022.

According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Tierzah will be staying in prison for 60 months, while her sisters got 120 months each because they were the ones who fired the shots. Though they could not pinpoint the trigger person, the investigators knew that Charis served in the U.S. Marine Corps for five years and was a skilled marksman.

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Photo: (Photo : Diego Fedele/Getty Images)

A 3-year-old Pennsylvania girl died late on Sunday, April 10, after falling down a waterfall in North Carolina. Nevaeh Jade Newswanger was killed after being swept down Whitewater Falls and out with the current.

According to the Jackson County Sheriff's Office, the toddler's body was found around 1 a.m. on Monday after getting trapped in an area by the waterfall that the child was visiting with her family. In the news release, the Sheriff's Office said that the victim was swept away in the water at the top of Whitewater falls, and the current pushed Newswanger over the falls.

According to the Jackson County Emergency Management 911 Center, they received a call about the missing child at 5:50 p.m. on Sunday. Emergency responders from multiple counties immediately responded to the scene and attempted to locate Newswanger. According to the New York Daily News, crews from Transylvania, Haywood, Henderson, Oconee, and Jackson counties rushed to the falls to help in the search.

Nevaeh Jade found trapped in an area of Whitewater Falls

Unfortunately for the responders and the victim's family, the search had a tragic ending. "Just prior to nightfall on Sunday, rescuers located the child deceased and entrapped in an area of the waterfall," per the sheriff's office statement.

Authorities said that recovery operations continued throughout the night into the early morning until Nevaeh Jade was recovered around 1 a.m. on Monday. Officials noted that Nevaeh and her family lived in Oconee County, South Carolina while working in the area. Oconee County is located about 25 miles south of Whitewater Falls, where the incident occurred.

Whitewater Falls is located near the border of North Carolina and South Carolina. According to the U.S. Forest Service, it is the highest waterfall east of the Rockies, with a plunge of 411 feet. The Lower Whitewater Falls, located nearby in South Carolina, also drops 400 feet.

Read Also: South Korea and China Top List of Most Expensive Places For Child Care

Jackson County Sheriff offers condolences to Newswanger Family

It is not known at the moment how far Neveah fell from the top of Whitewater Falls. Jackson County Sheriff Chip Hall offered his condolences to the victim's family, saying, "First and foremost, our prayers are with the Newswanger family as they grieve the loss of this precious young child."

Hall told NBC News in a statement that with the onset of spring weather, people need to be reminded of the dangers associated with many scenic areas of the region, such as waterfalls. He said that while the falls are beautiful to view from a safe distance, venturing out closer to them for any reason brings tremendous danger.

Hall reminded people to always remain at a distance and follow safety precautions and warnings that are in place in these areas. Hall pleaded with people to view the waterfalls from designated viewing areas to avoid unnecessary danger.

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Some say this is due to a deficiency in the Zen tradition, but in my view thats not where the deficiency lies. One cause of this myth is how essential aspects of our liturgy practice have been lost in the transition from Japan to the global culture. Another aspect is a profound misunderstanding regarding what zazen is about in our tradition.

For this second aspect, Ill turn in a moment to the teaching of Tiantong Rujing (; Heavenly Child Pure Suchness; J. Tendo Nyojo; 11631228). As part of this myth-busting series, Im exploring the teaching of some of the buddhas and ancestors in the lineage of Dogen to demonstrate how they taught the buddhadharma (spoiler alert: not limited to the modern construction known as Soto Zen, let alone the Post-Meiji Soto Orthodoxy or PMSO as I lovingly call it).

So in this post, Im doing two things. First, clarifying the practice of Great Compassion, and second, offering an example of the teaching of Rujing.

First things first

In Japanese Soto Zen, every morning in almost every Soto monastery the liturgy begins with either the prose or the verse recitation from The Lotus Sutra , Chapter 25: The Universal Gateway of Kanzeon Bodhisattva. Heres Taigen Leightons translation of the verse:

And in the interest in brevity, there are also the Four Great Bodhisattva Vows and the Ten Line Life Prolonging Kannon Sutra (Enmei Jukku Kannon Gyo). Heres my translation of the later.

Kanzeon Namo Buddha One with Buddha cause One with Buddha affinity Buddha, Dharma, Sangha affinity Constancy, joy, self, purity Mornings nen Kanzeon Evenings nen Kanzeon Nen nen through arising mind Nen nen not apart from this mind (1)

If you are interested in Ten Line sutra, you are welcome to join me for a detailed work-through of it on Saturday, April 30, 2pmET-5pmET, hosted by the Buddhist Temple of Toledo. The workshop is titled, Disclosing the Hidden Teaching of the Ten Line Kannon Sutra and is part of their Celebrating Women in Buddhism series. Click here for more information.

Now, you or some other nice person might say regarding the compassion sutras in Zen liturgy, Yeah, well, those are just things that we chant, what does that have to do with practicing or feeling compassion?

Then Id say, Zen liturgy is not just a bunch of cool things we chant. The point is to become the sutra. In this case, Kanzeon, observing world sounds (as well as the sights, tastes, touches, smells, thoughts, and cries, even)  and not just while chanting. The recitation is intended to be the practice and to teach the practice.

And then that above someone might say, Do you mean that chanting is a samadhi/absorption practice?

And Id say, It is an absorption-wisdom (samadhi-prajna) practice not apart from sitting, standing, walking, and lying down.

In the case of Kanzeon, their name is composed of three characters, , and the first, , meanings observing. That character, , is also the character that is used to translate the Sanskrit vipasyana (insight). So Kan/observing means much more than sitting back and observing perceptions of the world from a divided subject-object perspective. Chanting with witness consciousness just isnt it. Instead, the point is to embody the sutra, to become one with the sounds of the world, to practice Great Compassion, before, during, and after the recitation.

So to drop these sutras from our practice, in my view, is a big mistake. The Ten Line is especially ideal for householders and has been practiced with passion by millions of regular folks for more than fifteen hundred years.

However, even without regular recitation of a Great Compassion sutra, there is zazen as Great Compassion. You might notice that in this post Ive been using both compassion and Great Compassion. And not interchangeably. Before we get to Rujings teaching on the true heart of zazen as Great Compassion, it seems necessary to first unpack the difference between compassion and Great Compassion.

Another myth common today

is that compassion is a particular feeling. Its not that this is wrong, but just that its limited to compassion as , or karuna in Sanskrit, not Great Compassion. Great Compassion, , is the compassion specific to bodhisattvas and bodhisattva wannabes like us. Great Compassion is distinguished from compassion ( karuna ) both by its scope (all beings) and its agency (one wishes oneself to remove all the suffering of all ).

So although it is possible and beneficial to generate the feeling of compassion through specific practices, our zazen instead cultivates Great Compassion, observing/being one with all the cries of all the beings. So it simply isnt a nice feeling that you want so that your identity center is reinforced. Great Compassion is not necessarily syntonic with the identity center. That is, the cries of all living beings are simply not limited to how you want to feel at any given time.

With that in mind, lets now turn to the teaching of Rujing.

The Great Compassion teaching of Rujing

Rujing, as you may know, was Dogens teacher. See Punning, Toileting, and Purifying: the Awakening of Rujing , for more about Rujing. For the remainder of this post, Ill focus on one of his short talks, one that Dogen includes in his Hokyoki, a record of his conversations with Rujing.

Here it is in full:

Although arhats and self-enlightened sages (Sanskrit, pratyekabuddha) do not become attached to their experience in zazen, they lack Great Compassion; therefore they are not the same as the buddhas and ancestors, who considered Great Compassion foremost and practice zazen with the vow to save all living beings.

The outsiders in India also sat in meditation, but they always had three problems; attachment to the experience, false views, and conceit. Therefore, it is always different from the zazen of the buddhas and ancestors.

Buddhas disciples, sravakas, also had sitting meditation, but their compassion was weak; they did not penetrate the real character of all things with incisive wisdom, only improving themselves, they cut off the lineage of buddhas. Therefore theirs was always different from the zazen of buddhas and ancestors.

What I mean to say is that buddhas and ancestors, from their very first inspiration, practice zazen with the vow to gather together all the qualities of buddhahood. Therefore, in their zazen they do not forget sentient beings, do not forsake living beings. They always have loving thoughts even for insects, and vow to liberate them.

Whatever virtues they have, they dedicate to all. Therefore, buddhas and ancestors are always in the world of desire practicing zazen and working on the way. In the world of desire, only this world provides the best situation. Cultivating all virtues life after life, one attains to gentility and ease of mind. (2)

A few points about Rujings teaching

Rujing can really sing the song of the Universal Mahayana. For Rujing, our zazen practice IS the practice of Great Compassion, that is, gathering together the qualities of buddhahood to liberate beings, but not waiting for buddhahood. From ones initial aspiration, the zazen of buddhas and ancestors is about being one with the cries of the world, liberating living beings. In their zazen, says Rujing, they do not forget sentient beings, do not forsake living beings. How? Our zazen is to constantly BE the cries of the world.

And if Rujings view of zazen was like his Japanese student, Dogen, and Id bet the farm that it was, then it had nothing to do with sitting or lying down. L ike Dogens zazen, it really isnt possible to do Rujings zazen without dropping body-mind and realizing who hears, that is, kensho-ing.

Another point is how the old Buddha Rujing distinguished the bodhisattva path from the paths of those attached to the Buddhas words, those interested in only benefiting themselves, and those who havent yet come into the Buddhas house and are attached to experience, false views, and conceit.

That applies to all of us any time we are not doing the practice Rujing describes  gathering the factors of buddhahood and doing our practice, specifically zazen, so that it is the practice of Great Compassion. And for the practice of Great Compassion, this world of desire is the ideal place. Just because it can be so difficult. And so incredibly sublime.

Thats why Compassion Ocean Great Patience (Jikai Dainin) Roshi used to say, Before I die, I will put my hands in gassho and vow to be reborn in the human world. Because I love it.

All that said,

you may read respected Zen teachers asserting that Zen has no compassion practice and that therefore we should import practices from other traditions. I dont have a problem with importing practices (given that the importer has deeply studied the method with a teacher and isnt just getting it from written sources), because Zen, after all, as Thich Nhat Hanh often said, is made up of nonZen elements.

However, the notion that the Soto Zen tradition and transmission lacks the practice of Great Compassion is simply and verifiably incorrect. It may be the result of a partial transmission suggestive of what Meido Moore Roshi calls zombie lineages  the walking dead. And if a Mahayana practice lacks both Great Compassion and a focus on awakening, it sure seems likely that the body of practice may be wandering aimlessly about, while the innards rot.

At the very least, it suggests that some essential elements of the Zen way have been lost in transition from Japan to the global culture. But maybe its not too late! Lets reinvigorate the Zen Way with the Great Compassion practice of Rujing!

(1) Translation by Dosho Port.

(2) Translated by Thomas Cleary in Timeless Spring, A Soto Zen Anthology. Modified.

Dosho Port began practicing Zen in 1977 and now co-teaches with his wife, Tetsugan Zummach Sensei, with the Vine of Obstacles: Online Support for Zen Training, an internet-based Zen community. Dosho received dharma transmission from Dainin Katagiri Roshi and inka shomei from James Myoun Ford Roshi in the Harada-Yasutani lineage. Doshos translation and commentary on The Record of Empty Hall: One Hundred Classic Koans, is now available (Shambhala). He is also the author of Keep Me In Your Heart a While: The Haunting Zen of Dainin Katagiri. Click here to support the teaching practice of Tetsugan Sensei and Dosho Roshi.
Zenith Bank Ghana has introduced its mobile banking app, the Z-Mobile Ghana App, with new and enhanced features to give customers and users an unforgettable experience.



The Z-Mobile Ghana App has been improved with best-in-class biometric authentication (fingerprint and facial recognition) and other user-friendly, convenient, and secure features, which affords customers the opportunity to enjoy a custom dashboard, with an overview of their bank account(s), daily forex rates, initiation of cash withdrawals at any Zenith Bank ATM, without a card, find Zenith Bank branches around them, schedule fund transfers, purchase of airtime and data bundles and set travel notifications.



In addition, the enhanced Z-Mobile Ghana App, enables non-Zenith customers to open an instant account.



These additional features complement the existing basic features the App provides such as balance enquiry, account-to-card transfers, card-to-card transfers, viewing transaction history (last five transactions), effect bill payments, transfer funds between users accounts and third-party accounts, PIN and password change.



Speaking about the new Z-Mobile Ghana App, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Zenith Bank Ghana, Mr. Anthony Akindele Ogunranti, said the enhancement of the Z-Mobile Ghana App is testament to Zenith Banks vision to be a reference point in the provision of prompt, flawless and innovative banking services in the Ghanaian Banking industry.



He said As a forward-thinking Bank, Zenith continues to explore innovative ways of improving its product and service offerings, to create greater convenience for its customers. The banks forward-thinking approach has been evidenced by its continued investment in digital solutions and consistent upgrades to existing infrastructure, resulting in a well-rounded and robust suite of products that interact seamlessly with the Zenith Digital ecosystem. Indeed, the enhanced Z-Mobile Ghana app lends credence to the expression: the new Bank Branch is in the palm of customers hands.



In addition to the Z-Mobile Ghana App, Zenith Bank has provided several financial solutions that cater to the needs of its diverse range of customers, most notably the Zenith Internet Banking platform (Individuals and Corporates), as well as *966#, the Banks USSD code for EazyBanking. Fully cognizant of its responsibilities to safeguard customer assets, adhere to regulatory compliance requirements and preserve its business, Zenith Bank has invested heavily in Information Security, and continuously acquires all PCI DSS, ISO certifications and other security measures to protect and safeguard customer information and interests, Mr. Ogunranti added.



Over the course of the last decade and a half, and more especially in the last five years, the narrative has changed, as Banks sought to increase operational efficiency, coupled with the intensified financial inclusion efforts by Governments and a high demand for innovative means of payments by financial market participants.

The biggest catalyst for the rapid transition, however, has been the speedy uptick in mobile phone penetration globally and in Ghana, specifically.



According to data from the National Communications Authority, (NCA) as at the second quarter of 2021, there were 22.7million smartphone users in Ghana which equates to 73% of the population. The implication is that a vast number of people can now be served through digital services, positively impacting the growth of the digital economy.The local digital banking landscape has experienced tremendous change over the last half-decade, due to the aforementioned factors, from internet banking to the use of Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) codes, to mobile apps and other services.



Zenith Bank, since its entry into the Ghanaian banking landscape in September 2005, has differentiated itself from its peers in the areas of product innovation and service offerings, multiple channels for electronic banking and a consistent delivery of exceptional customer service. The Bank remains committed to its quest to be the best in all parameters and a market leader in the next three years. It will continue to stay engaged with customers and provide innovative solutions that cater to the unique needs of its customers.





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.

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The Road Safety Enhancement Works to be undertaken on the London market street at Jamestown, a suburb of Accra, as part of efforts to reduce road crashes and its related fatalities have commenced.



The enhancement works are undertaken by the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) in collaboration with the Bloomberg Philanthropies Initiative for Global Road Safety (BIGRS) with support from the World Resources Institute (WRI) through its Tactical Urbanism Programme and is expected to be completed in May this year.



The works include marking of road lines and pedestrian crossing to delineate travel lanes, installation of 30km/hr speed limit sign, speed ramps, rumble strips as well as the narrowing of wider lanes.



A visit to the site by the Director of Projects at Bloomberg Philanthropies, Kelly Larson, on Friday saw the construction of speed ramps close to the Sacred HEART Technical Institute and the Adedenkpo 1&2 school.



The intervention follows the findings of a report on road traffic deaths for the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (2018-2020) which identified the Nii Adja Kwao Road/ London Market Street in James Town as one of the hotspots in AMA.



The assessment conducted on the corridor revealed high pedestrian activities on the stretch due to the presence of schools, religious bodies and other land uses along the stretch with no posted speed limit signs, pedestrian crossing and road line-markings.



Vehicles, on the other hand, were also observed to be travelling beyond 60km/h within the zone with vehicular volumes high during peak periods.



Speaking to the media after the familiarization tour, Kelly Larson said the overall goal of the project was to help the city of Accra reduce road crashes, injuries and fatalities, beat speed, redesign the street as well as increase awareness on road safety to promote the wearing of seat belt, manage speed, obey traffic regulations among others.



Earlier Kelly Larson met with the Board Chair of NRSA, Germain Nkrumah where they discussed various interventions being undertaken to reduce road crashes in the country.



Chief Executive of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA), Elizabeth Kwatsoe Tawiah Sackey, before the beginning of the enhancement works, embarked on an inspection tour on the stretch to break the ground.

Source: Gladys Boakye/Peace FM News









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Nigerian vice president Yemi Osinbajo said on Monday he wanted to run for president next February on the ruling All Progressives Party ticket but faces a challenge from another party stalwart who said he also wanted to join the race.



Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari will step down after serving two four-year terms following a Feb. 23, 2023 ballot.



The country's political parties are due to pick presidential candidates by June 3. Official campaigning will begin in September, according to the country's electoral commission.



Osinbajo said in a statement he wanted to complete the job of "radically transforming" Africa's biggest economy.



But hours after his declaration, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, a southern Muslim and wealthy power broker who governed Lagos from 1999-2007 met ruling party governors to canvass their support to become the presidential candidate for the All Progressives Party (APC).



"My mission is to seek the collaboration, encouragement and support of my party for my ambition and mission to become the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria," Tinubu told reporters after meeting the governors, who wield influence in selecting party candidates.



Transport minister and former two-time governor of oil-producing Rivers state Rotimi Amaechi also declared his intention at the weekend to join the race to be the APC's presidential candidate.



In Nigeria, power shifts between Nigeria's oil-rich, largely Christian south and the poorer, mostly Muslim north. Buhari is from northern Katsina state and the APC has agreed its next candidate would come from the south.



Osinbajo, a southern Christian, would need to build a strong coalition of supporters with deep pockets to take on the political machinery of Tinubu, who helped to campaign and deliver victory for Buhari during elections in 2015 and 2019.



Supporters tout Osinbajo as a safe pair of hands who would provide stability and pursue a more liberal economic policy, including easing of forex rules. He has previously criticized the central bank for maintaining foreign currency controls.



Osinbajo served as Lagos justice commissioner and attorney general under Tinubu.

Source: Reuters









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Ethiopia has allowed Boeing 737 Max airplanes back to its airspace, the aviation regulator has said, three years after one of its national carrier jets crashed shortly after take-off from Addis Ababa.



All 149 passengers and eight crew members aboard the Ethiopian Airlines flight from the Ethiopian capital to Nairobi in Kenya died.



The Ethiopian Civil Aviation Authority (ECAA) said it lifted the ban after being satisfied with improvements in the planes design and the airlines pilot training programme.



The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) cleared the planes to resume flights in November 2020, but ordered mandatory pilot training and modification of flight computer.

Source: BBC









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Chief Executive Officer of the State Transport Corporation (STC), Nana Akomea, has charged the Inspector General of Police (IGP) George Akuffo to beef up security on the highways across the nation.



Contributing to Peace FM's morning show 'Kokrokoo', Nana Akomea bemoaned the rise of armed robbery on the highways.



His submission came after former Head of Monitoring at Forestry Commission, Charles Owusu, a panel member on the show, gave an account of an STC bus driver saving the lives of his passengers when he drove into an armed robbery scene on his way from Takoradi to Accra.



He recounted that the driver stopped his engine, switched off front, rear and inside lights of the bus and directed all passengers to hide in a nearby bush before the robbers came to inspect the empty bus.



In view of this, Nana Akomea proposed that the IGP and the Police Service should adopt technological ways to curb the situation and clamp down on the criminals.



''Those roads should be permanently on a satellite and being fed to Police stations on the way," he cited.





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.

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The Police in Kumasi are investigating the circumstances under which a 50-year-old City Guard of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) was reportedly stabbed to death.



Thomas Amakye Yankey commonly called Congo Soldier was reportedly stabbed with a knife by a commercial driver.



The Public Relations Officer (PRO) to the KMA, Henrietta Afia Konadu Aboagye confirmed this to OTEC FM that the deceased attempted to prevent the driver and his mate from loading at an unauthorized place which resulted in a misunderstanding.



According to her, the driver during the misunderstanding, got a knife from nowhere and stabbed the City guard on the neck, stomach severally resulting in serious degrees of injury.



Congo soldier was rushed to the Ahwiam Clinic in Adum but was referred to the Komfo Anokye Teaching hospital where is reportedly died later.



Ms Henrietta Konadu said the driver and his mate are both being held in police custody,

assisting with investigation.



Meanwhile, officials from the KMA led by the Mayor, Sam Pyne called on the Ashanti Regional Police Command to formally lodge a complaint and also visit family of the late city guard to console them.

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.

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Gunmen have attacked villages in Nigerias central Plateau state killing at least 26 people, with more feared dead.



The attackers on motorbikes stormed at least four remote villages on Sunday in Kanam area in the state, shooting people dead.



Most of the victims were children.



The gunmen also stole cattle and burnt down homes.



Residents say at least 20 bodies have been found in the village of Gyambau while at least six have been recovered in the village of Kyaram.



More killings were reported in the villages of Dungur and Kukawa.



A number of people are still missing and hundreds have been displaced.



The authorities say more security forces are being deployed to the area.



The latest attack comes as Nigeria grapples with a wave of violence by armed gangs who frequently carry out killings and kidnappings for ransom.

Source: bbc









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Dr Joseph Siaw Agyepong, the Founder and Execute Chairman of Jospong Group of Companies, has urged graduates of the University of Health and Allied Sciences in Ho to seize opportunities around them to make positive strides.



He said making good use of available opportunities was crucial in achieving greater heights in life, adding:



Leverage and treasure opportunities you have now and those that will come your way as you enter the world of work.



Dr Agyepong, speaking at the second session of the Sixth Congregation of the University as the Guest Speaker, asked the graduands to put God first in all endeavours and allow Him to steer the affairs of their lives.



He urged them to challenge themselves, achieve greater heights and put to good use the knowledge acquired for the development of their communities and the country as a whole.



Have a double eye to perceive things from afar, have a deeper eye to see several kilometres ahead of you and let that translate into prospects and opportunities, he said.



Dr Agyepong donated 100,000 US dollars to support research work of the University, especially in sanitation.



He underscored the importance of research in accelerating national development and dealing effectively with sanitation issues, saying: Research is very critical in waste management to avoid causing advert issues."



Professor John O. Gyapong, the Vice-Chancellor of the University, said research continued to experience steady growth in the institution, which was gaining global recognition for the cutting edge and innovative research being carried out here at UHAS."



The Universitys research had helped to influence national policy and equipped faculty with the requisite knowledge and skills to compete in the international arena, he said.



On COVID-19, the Vice Chancellor said the Public Affairs Directorate of the University worked diligently to mitigate potential risk to the institution's internal and external communities by managing the frequency of interaction between the UHAS and its external audiences.



He urged the graduands to exhibit high level of professionalism in their field of work and make meaningful contribution to societal development.



Prof Gyapong charged them to serve as ambassadors of the University, work with humility and passion and uphold the interest of the country in the discharge of their duties.



Togbe Kotoku XI, the Paramount Chief of Kpenoe Traditional Area, who deputised for Togbe Afede XIV, Agbogbomefia of Asogli State, asked the graduates to be dedicated and committed to their profession.



He advised them to accept posting to any part of the country to serve those who need their services the most and strictly adhere to the rules and regulations governing their profession.



A total of 692 students graduated with honours in Bachelor of Nursing and Midwifery, and Public Health, among other fields.





Source: GNA









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The Agona West Municipal Assembly, in collaboration with the Education Directorate, has banned churches and other bodies from using classrooms as worship centers.



The move is to ensure that school infrastructure, including classroom furniture, were not mishandled by church members as damages caused became a burden on the Assembly, which had to spend money for their repair to prolong their lifespan.



Mr Evans Onomah Coleman, the Agona West Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), said it was regrettable to observe that most of the tables and chairs in the classrooms, provided by the Assembly, got broken early due to their constant usage by the churches.



The MCE said this when he presented 245 furniture to 29 selected schools during a ceremony at the Agona West Assembly premises at Swedru in the Central Region.



The furniture included teachers tables, single and dual desks, library chairs, book shelves, drawer cabinets, visitors chairs, notice boards, and tables and chairs for the lower and upper primary.



The Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) handed over the furniture to the Assembly to be distributed to the schools for quality teaching and learning.



Mr Coleman said the Assembly and the Ghana Education Service (GES) were not trying to subvert the preaching of the Word of God.



He said the Government, under the leadership of President Akufo-Addo, had prioritised education to become one of the best to promote human resource development in the country.



The introduction of the Free Senior High School, one of the pro-poor government policies, was to help break the barrier between the poor and rich in gaining access to secondary education, he noted.



Government would continue to pursue good policies and programmes to ensure quality education for the youth, Mr Coleman said.



The maintenance culture had become a major problem in state institutions, he said, and cautioned school heads to ensure that furniture i were well maintained.



Mr Ishmael Nana Ogyefo, the Agona West Municipal Coordinating Director, said the Assembly was determined to ensure that schools in the area were equipped with the best resources to assist in teaching and learning for the best results.



Mr Bismark Ofei, the Agona West Director of Education, who received the items on behalf of the GES, commended the Assembly for the presentation and called on the churches to refrain from using the classrooms as the GES had, since the COVID-19 pandemic, banned their use as places for worship.



He said the deficit in tables and chairs at the lower and upper primary level was about 1,600 and that the 245 pieces of furniture donated would go a long way to minimise the problem with the assurance that they would be distributed equitably to the selected schools.





Source: GNA









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The Akatsi Chapter of the Colleges of Education Non-Teaching Staff Association of Ghana (CENTSAG) has joined the nationwide strike of the Association on grounds of welfare issues affecting members.



The issues include wrong placement of first-degree holders, non-payment of migration arrears, exclusion of payment of generic allowances, partial payment of office holding allowances, and non-payment of Interim Market Premium Arrears.



A visit by the Ghana News Agency Monday morning to the Akatsi College of Education (Akatsico) saw offices such as the Administration, General Office, Procurement, Accounts, and Internal Audit, among others under lock and key with red bands fixed on their doors.



Workers in those various departments were also not seen carrying out their usual mandatory duties including drivers and kitchen staff.



Mr Frank Asare, the Akatsico Chapter President of CENTSAG, told the GNA that government should address their concerns without delay since "the issues raised have lingered for quite some time."



"These could have some legal implications if not addressed immediately," he said.



He appealed to the authorities of the 46 colleges of education to desist from engaging new workers from outside to work while the strike action continued.



He apologised to the entire student body for the inconveniences the strike action had brought to them.



Some members of the CENTSAG, who spoke on condition of anonymity, expressed their dissatisfaction over governments disregard for their concerns.



Mr Dotse Bright Kekeli, President, Students Representative Council, Akatsico, said the situation was having dire effects on the students since feeding is becoming a big issue now."



The action would affect the Level 100 students who commenced their end of semester examination on Monday, April 11.



"We now resort to buying food from the canteen on campus and some also move to the town to buy it, which would affect our academic and safety concerns," he said.



Mr Kekeli appealed to the Government to expedite work on solutions to the Association members concerns so that the College, which had a total student population of 1,607, would continue to run effectively.



A statement jointly signed by Mr Frederick Forkuo Yeboah, the National President of CENTSAG, and Mr Samuel Opoku, National Secretary, on April 4, served notice to embark on an indefinite strike starting April 11 to press home their demands for better conditions of service.



"The decision to embark on strike has been necessitated by the continuous disregard for the issues raised affecting the welfare of our members and we are, by this release, informing all our members with exception of the security class to stay away from the colleges until otherwise instructed," the statement said.





Source: GNA









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The President of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), Mr Roland Affail Monney has challenged the media to promote global peace through peace journalism.



He said as catalysts of peace, the time had come for the media to accord topmost priority to conflict solution journalism in the discharge of their professional responsibilities.



He was speaking at the fourth public lecture and the launch of a five-year action plan by the Centre of Awareness Global Peace Mission (ACOA-GPM) to "bring peace to the world" in Cape Coast.



The lecture was on the theme: "Targeting leadership across the globe to achieve global peace and assembled hundreds of people, including diplomats, traditional leaders, professors in the academia, students, religious and political leaders and security services.



Mr Monneys call comes in the wake of the Russia-Ukraine war, which has claimed hundreds of lives, displaced thousands and destroyed properties worth millions.



We want to see the media tilt their stories, shape their programmes and tailor their discussions more and more towards tractable, non- violent ways.



Furthermore, media practitioners should saturate all online and offline platforms with peace, peace, peace, Mr Monney stressed.



He said the admonition was not intended to gag journalists from being objective on issues of critical concern, but to carry out duties cautiously in the interest of peace.



As you interrogate issues, expose dark spots and hold duty bearers to account, you should not imperil the peace nor endanger our stability, he emphasised.



The GJA President, further called on world leaders to take practical steps towards ending the Russia-Ukraine war, adding that it was not enough to bemoan the awful spectacle in Ukraine and other places of conflict.



He also tasked politicians and their supporters to be guided by the importance of peace in national development, saying peace building is the responsibility of all.



Mr Monney commended the President General of COA-GPM, Professor Samuel Ato Duncan, for his resolve and efforts at ensuring that the world lived together peacefully.



In the face of the seemingly impossible task, stands a man with divinely ordained wisdom and boundless strength, surfing a wave of optimism, which is predicated on the belief that with God all things are possible.



Professor Duncan deserves the support of all, especially the media, to nourish his peace efforts and forge a semblance of sanity in the world, he added.



Prof Duncan, during the launch, said the vision of the Centre was to see a peaceful world free of all forms of injustice and terrorism.



He rallied leaders to join the peace crusade and create an enabling environment for the world to live in peace.





Source: GNA









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LAGOS: The Lagos state police command has arrested a young man identified as Ifeanyi Njoku for allegedly killing his girlfriend, Precious Okeke, 24, in an estate at Badore, in the Ajah area of Lagos State.



The live-in lovers stayed on Oke Street and it was alleged that Njoku killed his girlfriend for ritual purposes.



It was also alleged that a native doctor who was assisting the suspect, instructed him to have sex with Okekes corpse.



The suspect carried out the bizarre act for six days but was busted after the stench emanating from his apartment prompted his neighbours to inform the management of the estate.



An eyewitness told Punch;



The boy killed his girlfriend about six days ago, and he confessed that he wanted to use the girl for money rituals. He said he was told that he should have sex with his girlfriends corpse for seven days, but he was caught on the sixth day. Today (Monday) is supposed to make it the seventh day.



The smell of the corpse had been disturbing neighbours in the compound and other residents. So, they called the estate chairman to help in confirming what was going on in the apartment and while searching the apartment, they found the girls body.



The boy was arrested and taken to the Lamgbasa Police Station and during interrogation, he confessed that he killed his girlfriend six days ago.



We learnt that the boy offered N6m to kill the case; we also learnt that he brought the girlfriend from the village and they just moved into the estate.



The state police spokesperson, Benjamin Hundeyin confirmed the incident, adding that the deceased and the suspect were lovers.



Hundeyin said;



Two suspects, Ifeanyi Njoku and Mbam Atunmufor, 36, have been arrested. They have been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, Yaba, for further investigation. Njoku was the one that rented the apartment.

Source: LIB









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The NPP Loyal Ladies an all women volunteer group affiliated to the New Patriotic Party (NPP) as part of its 6th Anniversary Celebration donated and fixed streetlights for the people of Afasiebon in the Atwima Kwanwoma District.



The NPP Ladies after presenting the streetlights to the community also fixed the lights at areas that were lacking .

The ladies recalled how on their campaign rounds in the community during the 2020 elections they experienced first hand the activities of hooligans who attacked members who plied that stretch in the dark or at dawn.



The gesture, according to the Ashanti Regional Captain, Lucy Afia Aseiduwaa Obeng is part of fulfilling a promise made to the chief in the event the community voted massively for the NPP.

She also added that, this donation shows the welfare of the ordinary Ghanaian is of great interest to the New Patriotic Party and the NPP Loyal Ladies.



Hon. Prince Kakari, the DCE of Atwima Kwanwoma added that, even though they have been trying their best with fixing streetlights in the district, they alone cant do all and therefore the help of the NPP Loyal ladies came in at the right time.



The chief of the area Nana Kofi Sika Awere 2, who accepted the donation on behalf of his community showed his appreciation to the group for their kind gesture and entreated them to continue with their good works. He also added that, it shouldnt be a nine day wonder and he hopes the group continues to have his community at heart.

In attendance for the commission of the streetlights were Kwabena Ampofo Appiah (CEO State Housing Com. Ltd) Kofi Tonto, Richmond Mensah (NPP Milton Keynes Chapter chairman) and some party executives in the constituency.



The group marked its 6th Anniversary in Kumasi from the 25th to the 27th of March.

Source: Peacefmonline.com









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A lawyer, Justice Abdulai, has filed a review urging the Supreme Court to set aside its judgment that gave Deputy Speakers presiding over proceedings in Parliament the right to vote and be part of the quorum for decision making in the House.



Mr Abdulai, who was the plaintiff in the suit, is of the view that the court committed certain errors of law in its March 9, 2022 decision which led to a grave miscarriage of justice on the people of the Republic of Ghana.



Judgment



In a unanimous decision on March 9, 2022, a seven-member panel of the apex court held that a Deputy Speaker of Parliament presiding over proceedings in the House has the right to vote on matters for determination, and also be counted as part of the quorum for decision-making.



Consequently, it ruled as valid the passage of the 2022 budget by Parliament on November 30, 2021 during which the First Deputy Speaker, Mr Joseph Osei-Owusu, who was presiding, counted himself as part of the quorum that made that decision.



Also, the Supreme Court declared as unconstitutional, Order 109 (3) of the Standing Orders of Parliament which barred a Deputy Speaker, who is presiding over proceedings, from voting on any issue for determination.



It was the considered view of the court that Deputy Speakers were Members of Parliament (MPs) elected as representatives of constituencies, and, therefore, causing them to lose their casting vote would amount to disenfranchising their constituents in Parliament.



It held that whereas Article 102 prevented any person presiding, either Speaker or Deputy Speaker, from being part of the quorum for business of the House, Article 104(1) prevented only the person elected as Speaker and not the Deputies from forming part of that quorum.



Reasons for review



In his review application, Mr Abdulai is of the contention that the court failed to fully take into consideration Articles 295(2) and 297 (h) of the 1992 Constitution in its judgment.



Article 295 (2) stipulates that any reference to an office holder, shall, unless the context otherwise requires include anybody acting or performing the function of that office, while Article 297(h) provides that powers allowing a public officer to do something or in relation to him also apply to  his successors in office and all his deputies or other assistants.



Based on the above constitutional provisions, the applicant is of the view that since the Speaker is barred from voting and being part of the quorum, his Deputies are also disqualified from doing same.



Mr Abdulai also argues that the court failed to fully appreciate the saving clause except as otherwise provided in this constitution in Article 104 (1) of the 1992 Constitution, the provision which the court interpreted to mean Deputy Speakers presiding over proceedings can vote and be part of the quorum for decision.



It is his contention that the court should have applied the saving clause in Article 104(1) to Article 102 of the 1992 Constitution and concluded that Deputy Speakers when presiding cannot be part of the quorum for decision making.



Again, he contends that the 1992 Constitution did not expressly make provision for a Deputy Speaker to vote or be part of a quorum when presiding over proceedings in Parliament.



In view of that he is arguing that it was wrong for the court to have struck out Order 109 (3) of the Standing Orders of Parliament as unconstitutional, when Article 298 of the 1992 constitution stipulates that Parliament can, without breaching the constitution, make laws to fill gaps in the constitution.







Source: graphiconline.com









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Ghanas Dancing Pallbearers have pledged to donate $250,000 of the proceeds from the Coffin Dance meme recently auctioned to Ukraine.



On Saturday, April 9, 3F Music came out on top in the bidding round, purchasing the 10-second meme for $1,046,079.54 (327.00ETH) in one of the historic Non-Fungible Token (NFT) auctions.



This was after the video meme was minted by the dancing pallbearers team on April 7.



According to the leader of the pallbearers, Benjamin Aidoo, the money will be donated to Ukrainian charities to help mitigate the hardship brought about by the ongoing war with Russia.



Taking to social media, Benjamin Aidoo also congratulated the Dubai-based music production company on winning the bid.



The Foundation, Come Back Alive, is said to receive the donation from the Ghanaian group.



In 2020, the group of young men managed to turn funerals into rather hearty transitions.



Videos went viral depicting the men demonstrating their casket-carrying skills by orchestrating a choreographed routine, lifting and lowering the casket, and even sitting on the floor if need be.



The $1,046,079.54 bid places the meme among some of the most valuable NFTs to have crossed the million-dollar mark worldwide.

Source: Eugene Osafo-Nkansah/Peacefmonline.com









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Paramedics from B.C. Ambulance respond to a drug overdose in downtown Vancouver, on June 23, 2021. British Columbia's coroner says over 9,400 people in the province have died of an overdose since the government declared a public health emergency six years ago. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward
A firefighter on a ladder truck directs water on a four-alarm fire burning at a single room occupancy hotel, in Vancouver, B.C., Monday, April 11, 2022. Vancouver's fire chief says some people remained unaccounted for as crews fought a fire inside a four-storey residential building in the city's Gastown neighbourhood. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
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Arends Leads the Latest Super MILLION$; Astedt Hunting For Title No. 6

April 12, 2022 Matthew Pitt Editor

This weeks GGPoker Super MILLION$ started with 182 players exchanging $10,300 for the chance to become this tournaments champion. Only nine of those entrants remain and they return to the action from 7:00 p.m. BST on April 12 where they will fight it out for the $369,934 top prize.

Jans Arends is the man to catch going into the final table but all eyes will be on Niklas Astedt who has reached yet another Super MILLION$ final table and is hunting for what would be a record sixth title. If you get the chance, tune into the GGPoker stream of the final table because you will get an incredible insight into the minds of some of pokers greats.

Super MILLION$ Season 2 Episode 38 Final Table

Place Player Country Chips Big Blinds 1 Jans Arends Austria 4,578,849 91.6 2 Pablo Silva Brazil 3,726,590 74.5 3 Dalton "morgota" Hobold Brazil 2,506,915 50.1 4 Niklas Astedt Norway 1,960,727 39.2 5 Sebastian "Weizen" Gaehl Austria 1,395,191 27.9 6 Aniket "lockstock" Waghmare India 1,326,188 26.5 7 Andras Nemeth Hungary 986,812 19.7 8 Beriuzy Canada 888,996 17.8 9 spaise411 Russia 829,732 16.6

Watch All The Final Table Action Here Click here!

Jans Arends sits down with 4,578,849 chips (91.6 big blinds) and should see this as his best chance to become a Super MILLION$ champions. The Austria-based Dutchman has accumulated more than $5.8 million in winnings at GGPoker with $630,000 stemming from the Super MILLION$. This is the fourth Super MILLION$ title Arends has graced his presence with, will this be the first time he comes away as champion?

Pablo Brito Silva

Some players go through purple patches of form and Pablo Silva is one of those. The Brazilian has reached back-to-back-to-back final tables, what a guy. Silva returns with 3,726,590 chips (74.5 big blinds) and will be hoping it is a case of third time lucky when it comes to becoming this tournaments champion.

Third place at the restart belongs to another Brazilian in Dalton "morgota" Holbold who is not a regular in the Super MILLION$ but has reached this stage on merit. Hobold has one final table appearance on his record in addition to $116,854 in Super MILLION$ winnings. Finishing fifth or better, which is likely because of his 2,506,915 stack (50.1 big blinds) would see Hobold double his Super MILLION$ winnings.

Super MILLION$ Season 2 Episode 38 Final Table Payouts

1st - $369,934

2nd - $290,059

3rd - $227,431

4th - $178,325

5th - $139,822

6th - $109,632

7th - $85,960

8th - $67,400

9th - $52,847

Niklas Astedt has won this tournament five times, tying him with Michael Addamo, having won this event seven days ago. The legendary Swede has 1,960,727 chips (39.2 big blinds), placing him fourth when play resumes, but it would take a brave person to bet against Astedt walking away with Super MILLION$ title number six.

Sebastian "Weizen" Gaehl has reached one Super MILLION$ final table from the six events hed played previously and now has the chance to break through two earnings milestones. Victory tonight would see Gaehls Super MILLION$ winnings break through $1 million while his GGPoker earnings would surpass $2 million. His 1,395,191 stack (27.9 big blinds) place him fifth when the cards are back in the air.

India has never had a Super MILLION$ champion but Aniket "lockstock" Waghmare is looking to change that fact on April 12. Waghmare, a WSOP Circuit ring winner, has locked up both his first Super MILLION$ cash and final table. He sits down in sixth place with 1,326,188 chips (26.5 big blinds), so has a bit of work to do but is more than capable. Should Waghmare navigate his way to third place or better he will double his GGPoker lifetime winnings.

Andras Nemeth

Hungarian superstar Andras Nemeth is one to watch when play resumes not least because he is in fantastic form. The two-time Super MILLION$ champion won two high roller events at the recent EPT Prague festival before taking down a Triton Poker Special Edition event. Now he is at his seventh Super MILLION$ final table armed with 986,812 chips (19.7 big blinds). Even if the unthinkable happens and Nemeth busts in ninth, his GGPoker winnings will move past an impressive $12 million.

Last second 525$ satellite =10k seat win & now I'm playing for 369,000$ in @GGPoker SUPER MILLIONS on Tuesday! Been https://t.co/V8fVfyAjPs  Beriuzy (@beriuzy)

Canadas "Beriuzy" is loving life despite occupying eighth place at the restart with 888,996 chips (17.8 big blinds). The Canadian entered a last minute $525 satellite into the Super MILLION$, won a seat, and has now turned that $525 investment into at least $52,847. It would be a fantastic story is Beriuzy walked away with this weeks title.

Russias "spaise411" brings up the rear with an 829,732 stack (16.6 big blinds). Their Super MILLION$ earnings are guaranteed to break through the $1 million barrier tonight. This is the fifth time spaise411 has reached this stage but a victory still eludes them. Perhaps this is the night to go from zero to hero?
bestbet Jacksonville Spring Series Features Mystery Bounty Main Event

April 12, 2022 Jon Sofen Senior Editor U.S.

The bestbet Jacksonville Spring Series, which runs April 21 to May 1, is highlighted by a $1,680 buy-in Main Event that has a Mystery Bounty component.

In total, the mini-series includes seven poker tournaments, all of the no-limit hold'em variety. Northern Florida will play host to some exciting poker later this month, and PokerNews will be in the house providing exclusive live reporting.

Big Events in Northern Florida

Play begins April 21 with a $560 NLH tournament. Each player will start with 20,000 chips (30-minute blind levels), and unlimited re-entries are available until registration closes at the start of Level 9. There are three Day 1 starting flights, one daily April 21-23. The final table, on April 24, will be live-streamed on bestbetLIVE.

Free to Play Slots in the US

Five of the seven tournaments will conclude within one day of play. Only Event #1 and the Main Event will run for multiple days. Speaking of the Main Event, the tournament runs from April 28-May 1, with a Day 1 flight the first three days. PokerNews' live reporting team will cover the entire event.

The Main Event features a Mystery Bounty element, with bounties ranging from $500 to $50,000. Upon busting a player starting on Day 2, the player with the winning hand will go select a mystery envelope that has a hidden cash value inside.

Over the past year, Mystery Bounty tournaments have become the new craze in poker thanks to the Wynn Las Vegas. Players rave about the excitement of opening a mystery bounty, and now rooms such as bestbet Jacksonville are joining in on the fun.

Full bestbet Jacksonville Spring Series Schedule

Dates Buy-in Event Apr 21-24 $560 No-Limit Hold'em Apr 24 $460 No-Limit Hold'em w/$100 Bounties Apr 25 $260 No-Limit Hold'em Apr 26 $360 No-Limit Hold'em Monster Stack Apr 27 $660 No-Limit Hold'em Apr 28-May 1 $1,680 NLH Main Event w/Mystery Bounty May 1 $500 No-Limit Hold'em The 500

Large Fields Anticipated

The bestbet Jacksonville poker rooms is one of the top places to play poker out East. In the state of Florida, tournament poker's popularity is at an all-time high.

PokerNews live reported the bestbet Winter Open Main Event in February, a $2,000 buy-in tournament that attracted 387 runners. Tyler Payne, who hails from North Carolina, won it for $140,058.

During that same winter series, nearly 800 players entered the $560 no-limit hold'em opener, won by Daniel Kusnerak for $62,223.

The popular Sunshine State casino has played host to a number of major poker events over the years, including the bestbet Bounty Scramble, perhaps the most famous bounty tournament in history.

Visit bestbetjax.com for more information!

Sharelines Find out details of the upcoming @bestbet_jax Spring Series that runs April 21-May 1.
A new solvent and a new team could increase the capacity at the Savannah River Site's Salt Waste Processing Facility to 9 million gallons per year.

Thomas Johnson, senior deputy manager of the U.S. Department of Energy's Environmental Management operations at SRS, said during the Nuclear Advisory Council meeting Monday that the Salt Waste Processing Facility completed its first year of operations on Jan. 17 and had processed around 2 million gallons.

The Salt Waste Processing Facility is one of the plants used to dispose of nuclear waste that is currently stored in secure tanks on the site. Basically, it separates the waste into two forms: a highly radioactive sludge that's sent to the Defense Waste Processing Facility and a decontaminated salt solution that's sent to the Saltstone Production Facility.

The highly radioactive sludge is combined with a glass-like substance and very high temperatures and then poured into safe storage containers that can be transported to a national nuclear waste storage area whenever it is created. The Saltstone Production Facility turns the decontaminated salt solution into saltstone and puts it into large safe storage containers called Saltstone Disposal Units.

Johnson said the 2 million gallons processed represents a site record. He added that the old disposal system could only process around 1 million gallons per year. Johnson said the amount processed falls short of the 6 million gallons capacity.

"It's still good production for the first year," Johnson said. "With our new team that's on site, we will expect to get it up to its anticipated capacity. We also have a next-generation solvent into that process that should get us in the 9 million gallon per year range."

Johnson added the next-generation solvent would initially bring production to 7.2 million gallons per year but eventually allow for production to get to the 9 million range.

Johnson said the site had completed construction on the seventh Saltstone Disposal Unit. He added the seventh unit is the second mega-sized unit on the site for the collection of saltstone. Johnson said this project was completed eight months ahead of schedule and $32 million under budget.

"Eight months and $32 million under budget, I repeat it because you don't hear that too often on the site," Johnson said. "We have been pretty successful in getting the SDU [Saltstone Disposal Unit] completed on schedule and under budget."

Johnson said the department doesn't plan to reduce the budget for the units because it has its own challenges as far as site preparation and construction. He said the building of units eight and nine are currently ongoing, and approval has been granted for the construction of units 10-12 of the 12 that are planned to be built.

Construction of the units at once is necessary, Johnson said, because once the Salt Waste Processing Facility is running at full capacity, the units will fill up in around 18 months, and construction time on the units is around two years.

"Our desire is to have them built so that it will not be a hinderance to the operations once we're able to go full bore with the SWPF [Salt Waste Processing Facility]," Johnson said.

The Saltstone Production Facility has produced around 3 million gallons of saltstone to be disposed of in the units, which Johnson said was another site record.

Johnson added the department was able to deactivate and decommission five buildings in D area. He added a yard cleanup project was completed in D area. Johnson said the cleanup project worked to excavate soil and combine it with ground limestone to lower the acidity of the soil.

He said WIPP characterization activities had been initiated in K area, which will ultimately allow downblended material to be sent to the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant in New Mexico.

Johnson also said testing had been completed to allow a higher level of radioactive material into the Defense Waste Processing Facility canisters. He said the facility should produce around 225 canisters per year.

He said the 2023 budget requested by President Joe Biden will allow for work on the Advanced Manufacturing Collaborative at USC Aiken. He said preliminary design had been completed and final design was expected to be completed this summer. Johnson said groundbreaking for the facility is set for April 19 and construction is set to be completed in the first quarter of 2024.

Johnson said funding had been requested for the decommissioning of building 235-F. He said deactivation work was ongoing.

The Department of Energy has funding to employ 259 people on the site, Johnson said. He added there are currently 211 employees on board including two people who began working there on Monday.
COLUMBIA  South Carolina senators are expected to fast-track a number of wide-ranging election reforms ahead of the 2022 elections after a nudge by Gov. Henry McMaster, who said he would support the bill.

The measure containing those reforms, which passed the House unanimously earlier this year, implements a number of changes to the way South Carolina does elections, including an identification requirement for absentee ballots, a guaranteed number of voting sites in every precinct and an expanded early voting period.

The bill would also implement processes for state employees to audit the results of elections and create new enforcement mechanisms for possible voter fraud.

"This much-needed oversight would enhance accountability at the state Election Commission and safeguard the voting process against the threat of fraud, which  if left unchecked  could do permanent damage to our republican form of government," McMaster wrote of the reforms in a Post and Courier Op-Ed endorsing the legislation published April 9.

"It's certainly been a priority of the governor's," Brian Symmes, a spokesperson for the governor, said in an interview.

The bill comes in the wake of widespread difficulties counting ballots during the 2020 election, where delays in tallying results and unproven rhetoric from President Donald Trump about rampant fraud led to a swath of election reforms introduced in states around the country.

The S.C. Senate could propose a number of amendments to the bill. Some discussed during an April 12 subcommittee hearing on the bill including one cutting the maximum number of early voting locations per county from seven to five and reducing the number of no-excuse early voting days from the 14 proposed by the House to 11.

Other possible changes included limits on how many absentee ballots a qualified elector can request on someone else's behalf  a change Republicans said was designed to mitigate the practice of "ballot harvesting" in places like retirement homes.

"I expect we're gonna have a pretty robust conversation on the floor about this," Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey, R-Edgefield, told reporters at the Statehouse April 12. "My guess is we'll take a lot of what the House proposed, but I think there will also be some things added from the Senate side."

The subcommittee did accept several amendments during the April 12 hearing. These included an amendment to bar private companies and individuals from making contributions to individual county election boards and instead, distributing those funds on a pro rata basis. The proposal came after revelations companies like Facebook pumped millions into election offices located in swing states such as Florida and Pennsylvania.

The bill still needs to be heard by the full Judiciary Committee. However, Massey said on the Senate floor the offering would likely be heard on the floor for the first time April 19, with a second-reading vote expected the following day. The 2022 session concludes May 12.

While the bill was initially proposed to take effect upon the governors signature, Massey said he believed it would be difficult to implement the reforms before the 2022 primaries. Election officials did testify during the April 12 hearing they are prepared to implement the proposed changes before voters go to the polls in June.
Not always a dog or cat! Animal Control officer Michael Strauss has wrangled snakes, lizards, birds of prey, cows, one baboon and one emu.
Boeing Co. has closed out another quarter without delivering or booking any new orders for its South Carolina-made 787.

The U.S. planemaker delivered 95 commercial aircraft in the first three months of 2022, including 41 last month, according to figures released April 12.

The total didn't include a single Dreamliner, as a lengthy government-imposed freeze on deliveries lingers into the spring.

Some customers and analysts have speculated about an April restart, but the company hasn't indicated when it will be allowed to hand over 787s that have been reworked for production flaws.

The delivery schedule will largely be dictated by the Federal Aviation Administration, which also has said it is taking over all final flight inspections for the North Charleston-built widebody.

This last quarter was the second in a row that Boeing didn't receive any new 787 orders and the third consecutive quarter with zero 787 deliveries. The company hasn't secured a Dreamliner order since August.

By the numbers The number of Boeing jets ordered so far in 2022: Total gross orders: 167

167 787 orders: 0 The number of Boeing jets delivered so far in 2022: Total planes: 95

95 787 deliveries: 0 Source: Boeing Co.

The languishing 787 program is hurting Boeing's delivery numbers. The Chicago-based planemaker lagged behind European competitor Airbus, which delivered 142 jets in the first quarter.

Net of cancellations, Boeing secured 145 orders for the January-March period. But it also cut 141 aircraft from its backlog last month, a figure that accounts for other factors, including the war in Ukraine, which prompted economic sanctions against Russia.

Orders removed from the backlog still have contracts behind them, but other factors being considered make them less certain to result in actual deliveries.

The Ukraine invasion also prompted Boeing to stop buying titanium from Russia  a major source of the critical manufacturing material. The durable, corrosion-resistant and lightweight metal makes up about 14 percent of the 787 airframe. But Boeing has said it didn't expect its decision to disrupt production because it had enough titanium in stock and had been working to diversify its supply sources.

The company will be releasing its first quarter financial results April 27, when CEO Dave Calhoun will provide an update to investors and analysts.
A South Florida restaurant won't be setting up shop in downtown Charleston after the owners paid nearly $6 million for the property last year.

The three-story building at 438 King St., where the owners of Miami-based dining establishment Le Chick paid $5.985 million in August, is on the market and has a sale pending.

When Le Chick, founded by Coco Coig and Jorge Sanchez, announced it was coming to Charleston last fall, the owners had planned to be open by the end of this year. That's not happening.

"The deal fell apart," said Joe Keenan with Palmetto Commercial Properties, which is listing the 8,675-square-foot property for $6.45 million.

A representative of Le Chick did not immediately respond for comment.

The structure, a couple of doors north of Halls Chophouse, includes a high-end retail suite that is move-in ready on the first floor with office space on the upper levels, according to the listing.

Keenan said the pending sale could close in a couple of months, after clearing regulatory approval through the city. The bottom floor could include a food-and-beverage business, but he said it's too early to say what the prospective buyer will do with the historic structure.

The listing says the upper floors "consist of office space that is beautifully crafted with hardwood floors, high ceilings, abundant natural light, original fireplaces and wrap around porches."

The building, with its recently restored interior, could serve a mix of uses, Keenan said.

The property includes 18 parking spaces behind the building, with two separate entrances for the second floor from the front and back.
A Mount Pleasant office property that once served as a dining destination on Shem Creek recently changed hands for nearly twice the price from its last sale four years ago.

The two-building site at 410 Mill St. sold April 8 for $6.825 million, according to Charleston County land records. In 2018, the property changed hands for $3.5 million.

The new owner is an affiliate of WRS Inc. Real Estate Investments of East Cooper.

The seller was Up Shem Creek LLC, which was owned evenly by two companies. The sale followed a legal dispute between them that was settled last year, according to court records.

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The purchase includes 19,961 square feet, including a two-story building on the marsh and a three-story structure closer to Mill Street with parking on the bottom level, according to Pat Marr with WRS, who represented the firm in the purchase.

Public real estate records show that the first improvements were made to the property in the mid-1970s. It then became the site of several restaurants over the next two decades, including LaBrasca's East, Western Sizzlin' Steak House, The Crab Net, A.W. Shuck's and Bailey's by the Creek, before being converted to office space.

Down the street from the roughly 3-acre Shem Creek property that juts out into the marsh sits The Shelter restaurant and bar on the corner of Coleman Boulevard. It sold in March for $3.2 million.

The property beside the office buildings, where outdoors retailer Rivers & Glen Trading Co. opened earlier this year, changed hands in April 2021 for $2.625 million.
COLUMBIA  A North Carolina man was charged with sending about 65 social media messages containing racist threats to Bakari Sellers, a Black civil rights attorney, national cable news political analyst and former state lawmaker.

Grant Edward Olson Jr., of Asheville, N.C., was charged April 8 by the State Law Enforcement Division with stalking  a felony. Olson, 48, also faces a misdemeanor charge of assaulting or intimidating a person based on their political opinions or the exercise of their civil rights, according to arrest warrant affidavits in the case.

SLED agents wrote in the affidavits that Olson admitted to sending a slew of Instagram messages to Sellers, which threatened him and his family. The communication included racial slurs and messages connected to the killings of Black Americans, according to the affidavits.

Olson also claimed he was armed in the messages, the affidavits said.

The messages, sent between Feb. 25 and March 24, were intended to intimidate Sellers because of his political opinions and role as a civil rights attorney, according to the affidavits.

Sellers, a CNN pundit who ran for lieutenant governor in 2014, said in a statement April 11 he took any threats made against his family very seriously.

They shouldnt be subject to threats and intimidation like this," he said. "No one should. This isnt political debate. This isnt the new normal. Its a crime, pure and simple.

If convicted of stalking, Olson could face up to five years in prison. He could face up to two years in prison if convicted of intimidation.

Olson was booked in the Richland County jail. The case will be prosecuted by the 5th Circuit Solicitors Office.
COLUMBIA  Staff shortages at the Richland County jail require employees be saddled with overtime and still leave the site understaffed, the most recent state inspection found.

Some 65 percent of the correctional officer positions at Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center were unfilled as of its most recent annual inspection by the state Department of Corrections, which came after the county had agreed to raise pay and freeze dozens of open positions at the facility. The September inspection also found some units housed more inmates than the rated capacity and that other areas of the jail didn't include enough toilets to meet state jail standards.

It's unclear whether the county has directly addressed the issues raised in the report. Questions for county administrators and County Council Chairman Overture Walker weren't immediately returned April 11.

County Administrator Leonardo Brown has previously declined to comment on jail operations amid ongoing legal issues related to the facility. The jail's staffing has been at the center of a case involving the death of a man being held at the jail in February.

The Corrections Department is awaiting a response as to whether issues raised in the report have been addressed and the status of the jail's leadership in the wake of the departure of interim Director Shane Kitchen in April, agency spokeswoman Chrysti Shain said.

Richland County Council met privately during a meeting April 5 to talk about the jail, later emerging for a public vote directing the county attorney to proceed as discussed behind closed doors without specifying the action being authorized. A three-member council committee that meets as needed about jail issues hasn't convened since the report, meeting calendars show.

The jail had 172 vacant positions when the state state inspection occurred. That's out of 264 budgeted positions, though the county had decided in the months before the inspection to indefinitely freeze 50 of those vacant jobs.

Four units of the jail had been closed due to inability to staff the areas, the report said.

County officials before the inspection had begun what they said was a multistep process in addressing staff levels and security issues at the jail. Starting pay for corrections officers was raised to $36,500 effective in August, up from $32,210.

After a riot at the jail in September injured two officers, council members agreed to spend $3.3 million of federal COVID-19 relief money on security upgrades at the facility.

The state inspection later that month determined County Council needed to do more to increase incentive pay for employees and the county needed to better recruit for and fund open positions.

The jail director at the time of the inspection, Ronaldo Myers, was already set the retire the same month and was replaced by Kitchen. With Kitchen's departure, the jail's acting director is Capt. Washava Moye, Brown said.

County officials have been hesitant to talk about operations at the facility amid pending legal issues after an Orangeburg man died while being held in the jail in February. The death was ruled a homicide April 6 by County Coroner Naida Rutherford, who said the jail staff's inaction led to Lason Butler dying due to acute dehydration.

"With litigation against the County being imminent, I'm not at liberty to discuss this matter," Walker, the council chairman, said in a statement April 6. "But it's imperative for the public to know that the health and safety of all individuals at the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center are paramount to Richland County. Moreover, the County remains committed to taking actions that promote and enhance the health and safety of every individual at the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center."

Attorneys for Butler's family have said he was neglected due to the staffing shortage at the jail and that they plan to file state and federal lawsuits.

Alvin S. Glenn is rated to hold 1,116 inmates, a number that state prison officials could reconsider if multiple housing units remain closed.

The average jail population in the months leading up to the inspection was 701  657 men and 44 women. Those detainees are overseen by 21 to 25 officers each shift, the inspection report shows.

The state Corrections Department conducts inspections at least annually, according to guidelines in state law. The governing body of the jail, in this case Richland County Council, is to meet "promptly" to address the findings of an inspection and is required to begin correcting any problems within 90 days.

County Council also has the option of voluntarily closing the jail. The Corrections Department director also has the authority under state law to close the jail if appropriate action hasn't been taken in response to a report.

The state agency hasn't considered closing the facility, Shain said.
Restaurants serving house-made tortillas are a dime a dozen in regions across the country, including Arizona, California, Texas and even parts of Atlanta.

But recently opened and upcoming Charleston restaurants show early signs of a house-made tortilla trend coming to the Lowcountry.

Chef-made flour and corn tortillas will be on the menu at Minero when it opens on Johns Island this spring. Lewis Barbecue pitmaster John Lewis forthcoming restaurant Rancho Lewis will be outfitted with an in-house tortilleria that will churn out fresh corn and flour tortillas daily.

Two miles south on King Street, the Indigo Road Hospitality Groups new Mexican concept Maya boasts an in-house masa program and corn sourced from Mexico, which chef Brett Riley is using to make fresh chips, tortillas and even waffles.

While these high-profile Charleston area eateries are bringing more attention to the impact fresh tortillas can have on the final product, two lesser known local businesses have been working for months to bring fresh tortillas to Charleston.

Making masa

Ken and Seana Corona were both born in Los Angeles, a city filled with establishments serving fresh tortillas. When Kens job brought the couple to Charleston, they had trouble finding the traditional tortillas that have always been a Corona kitchen table staple.

Missing this taste of home, Ken and Seana, a culinary school graduate who has worked in restaurants in California and Hawaii, launched Nixtate, a pop-up focused on using time-tested technique to make fresh tortillas for monthly meals at places like Cannonborough-Elliotborough dive bar Cuttys.

In the future, they hope to turn Nixtate into their very own brick-and-mortar tortilleria.

When we moved here, we had a really hard time finding the flavors and the kind of preparations we were looking for, so we ended up having to do it ourselves, Seana said, describing the Nixtate pop-up. We obviously love the food and love the flavors, and we hope other people would like it too, since we havent found anything like it here.

Kens parents were born in Mexico, and his dad taught him everything there was to know about nixtamalization. To Ken, this complex-sounding process has always been simply making Mexican tortillas, an everyday occurrence in the Corona household.

My father is known in the neighborhood as being the guy that makes menudo really well, Ken said, describing the traditional Mexican soup. Theres a handful of dishes that folks really specialize in, and my dad was one of those guys with making menudo. And in menudo is the nixtamalized corn.

Nixtamalization is a term used to describe the process of cooking dried corn kernels in water and lime to create nixtamal, or cooked corn. The nixtamal then soaks in its cooking liquid, called nejayote. Around eight hours is a normal steeping time for most corn varietals. After this, the Coronas grind it up using a mill.

It comes out looking like soft Corn Flakes, and once its hydrated with water in a mixer, you have masa.

Its a labor-intensive process, as John Lewis explained to The Post and Courier when discussing Rancho Lewis.

According to Ken, its important to keep the water between 70 and 90 degrees Celsius, and the cooking time varies depending on the type. For their pop-ups, the Coronas are sourcing corn from local South Carolina farms.

So, for example, if youre cooking something like Jimmy Red, (it) takes a little bit longer. Its a harder, slightly more crystal corn, said Ken, comparing Jimmy Red to Cocke's Prolific, a South Carolina heirloom corn, which is a little bit softer, a little bit starchier, and it absorbs the lime.

The tortilleria

A tortilleria is a place offering scratch-made tortillas  similar to a bakery selling house-baked bread.

One of the reasons Lewis decided to build his own tortilleria inside Rancho Lewis is because he could not find a tortilleria in the Charleston area. Plans for the restaurant were finalized a little over six months ago, just before El Molino Supermarket at 1610 Sam Rittenberg Blvd. in West Ashley ordered machines from Mexico and added a tortilleria.

Restaurants in the Charleston area like Taco Boy and Santis, among others, now place weekly orders for fresh tortillas from El Molino, which translates to the mill in English  meaning the mill thats used to process corn and make tortillas.

According to El Molino manager Carol Saucedo, they fire up the machine each morning at 4 a.m. and make three types of corn tortillas: white, yellow and blue.

The tortilleria originally comes from Mexico, obviously. We have factories that dedicate their services to making handmade tortillas, Saucedo said. It was something big for our store.

El Molino is one of the only places in the Charleston area making house-made tortillas that are available for pickup.

The Coronas have a brick-and-mortar tortilleria in their sights, although finding space for it has been a challenge. Their dream tortilla shop might include a kitchen component serving lunch, but the focus would be on selling a variety of masa products like oval-shaped tlacoyos or sopes  thick corn cakes that are often fried and served as a Mexican street snack.

The ultimate goal would be to be able to provide good, high-quality, fresh tortillas and the masa products, Ken Corona said. So the masa products would be sopes and things like tlacoyos and gordita.

The tortilla

In addition to its selection of Mexican pantry items, produce and beverages, El Molino operates a scratch kitchen serving made-to-order tacos, tamales, burritos and more  dishes that are enhanced by the tortilleria.

Visit El Molino during lunch and youll quickly realize theres an appetite for scratch-made Mexican and fresh tortillas in Charleston.

Nixtate is slowly building a following, too.

At a March 17 pop-up at Cuttys, the Coronas served two savory dishes and two sweets to customers craving house-made tortillas, which were made with corn from Cotton Hills Farm in Chester.

Melted cheese and braised beef were sandwiched between two tortillas to make mulita, similar to a quesadilla, and a vegan taco combined roasted chayote-spiced red lentils with toasted chile oil, vegan queso fresco, radishes and cilantro inside that same sturdy tortilla.

The earthy corn tortillas stood up to the bold flavors found inside the perfectly proportioned handhelds. Its like eating a sandwich made with freshly baked bread; with a toothsome texture, Nixtates tortillas added complexity and depth.

If youre going to have grits, you should have good grits, Ken said. If youre going to have a tortilla, you should have a good tortilla. Especially if its available and its at a good price.

El Molino is open from 9 a.m.-9 p.m. daily, and Nixtates next pop-up will take place on April 20 at Cuttys. Rancho Lewis will open April 16.

Read more of our latest food and dining news in our food section.
The Medical University of South Carolina and UnitedHealthcare are in the midst of contract negotiations that could place thousands of patients out of the network if an agreement is not reached.

MUSC spokeswoman Heather Woolwine said at least 54,000 patients across the hospital system, including expectant mothers and those with chronic and severe illnesses, are at risk of lessened coverage.

The contract is set to expire September 14 but representatives of MUSC and United are hopeful they can reach an agreement before that date.

MUSC notified patients covered by United in November 2021 about the possibility of being out-of-network, and some patients say they have not received any contact from the hospital since then.

"We are still in discussions with United," Woolwine said in a statement to The Post and Courier. "We hope to reach an amicable conclusion in these negotiations."

Cole Manbeck, a spokesperson for United, said the group is engaged in discussions with MUSC "and continues to make progress toward an agreement that would ensure uninterrupted access to its facilities and its physicians."

Patients like Joel McKellar and his wife, Cynthia, say they are are uneasy. The couple is expecting their first child, but two months after the contract is supposed to expire.

"It's just a little frustrating," Joel McKellar said. "We realize it could have serious ramifications just for the cost of delivery and the cost out of pocket."

McKellar said he and his wife's employer-sponsored health care programs are both with United, meaning they would have to switch providers at a pivotal moment in his wife's pregnancy if the contract expires.

"(We're) stressed," McKellar said. "When we're going through a pregnancy, this is one additional layer of stress that seems like it could be avoided."

Reed Tinsley, former president and current co-chair for the Society of Health Care Consultants, said contract negotiations like these are common, but noted it's rare for a provider like MUSC to notify patients several months before the contract is set to expire.

They also rarely occur within the public realm of discussion, as to not provoke panic and anxiety for patients, he said.

"As that date approaches both parties are vigorously negotiating a new contract," Tinsley said. "Rarely does the provider shoot across the bow that early."

Manbeck said United negotiates at least 2,000 provider contracts every year and the vast majority of those negotiations result in renewed contracts with little to no disruption to members, and also "no external noise as the negotiations are handled professionally and behind closed doors."

Manbeck said United offers some qualifying members continuity of care, which allows those in the midst of treatment for a serious condition to continue receiving covered services for a period of time after a hospital or physician leaves the network.

Qualifying patients include pregnant women, patients with newly diagnosed or relapsed cancer and patients in active cancer treatment.

McKellar said he plans to call United about his coverage options.

Other UnitedHealthcare members who believe they may qualify for continuity of care or have questions should call the number on their health plan ID card.
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NORTH CHARLESTON  Fingerprints collected from a burglary arrest helped detectives catch a 35-year-old man accused of gunning down two people last year in what authorities described as random attacks.

Detectives detailed their homicide investigations during an April 12 preliminary hearing for Michael Anthony Parker II. He faces a total of five charges stemming from three separate crimes.

Parker is charged with two counts each of murder and possession of a weapon in the Sept. 19, 2021, deaths of Anthony Merida and Lauren Bishop. He also faces one count of first-degree burglary in an Oct. 4 break in.

Judge James B. Gosnell Jr. sided with the state on each of the three cases, saying prosecutors had sufficient probable cause to proceed to trial on the charges.

North Charleston police officers responded around 9 p.m. Sept. 19 to the Econo Lodge on Northside Drive for reports of a possible deceased male. They found Merida dead from two gunshot wounds to his head.

The 27-year-old father and electrician, who was from Kentucky, had checked into the motel Sept. 17. He was in the Charleston area to work a contracting job, detectives said.

Meridas girlfriend had called the front desk early Sept. 19 to request a welfare check on the man. She knew Merida, who had mental health issues, carried a gun with him. In their final phone call, Merida had asked her to tell the kids I love them, detectives said.

Econo Lodge employees didnt check on Merida until later that evening. They forced open his door and found the man dead by the bathroom, blood pooling around his head, detectives said.

Responding officers initially believed his death was a suicide, but their suspicions changed after noticing Merida was shot twice. They also couldn't find the gun.

Police collected DNA evidence at the crime scene and sent it to the State Law Enforcement Division for testing, but results have not yet come back.

Video footage from the motel shows Parker  who is also known by the street name Baby Boy  entering Meridas room that morning. He changed his clothing and shoes, but wore the same black backpack, detectives said.

Police dont believe Parker and Merida knew one another. While detectives arent sure how Parker entered the motel room, they interviewed Econo Lodge staff members who said the defendant is notorious for knocking on guests doors to ask for help, and becoming violent once invited inside.

Meridas family filed a lawsuit April 5 against the motel, accusing its staff of negligence.

Parker "has a history" at the Econo Lodge  he'd been removed for trespassing at the property only a few months prior, the lawsuit states. Parker was known to loiter at the motel, harass guests on the property and even threaten employees and guests, according to the lawsuit, which cites witness statements provided to police.

Motel staff members failed to protect Merida "from known, dangerous persons on the premises," the suit states.

On Sept. 20, as detectives interviewed witnesses in connection with Meridas death, police received reports of another homicide just a half-mile away, this time at the Red Roof Inn off Northwoods Boulevard.

Staff members called 911 after they discovered Lauren Bishop dead inside a room. The 44-year-old woman suffered a single gunshot wound to the left side of her face and appeared to have been dead for several hours, detectives said.

Officers found a shell casing and projectile near Bishops body, which matched the same ballistics recovered from Meridas motel room, detectives said.

Investigators interviewed two people who were inside the room when the shooting occurred. The unidentified eyewitnesses told detectives they saw Baby Boy pull out a pistol and shoot Bishop once before fleeing.

Video footage taken from the Red Roof Inn confirms Parker left the Econo Lodge the morning of Sept. 19. He was seen walking across Interstate 26, which separates the two motels, and spoke with one of the eyewitnesses, detectives said.

Parker and the eyewitness then went inside the motel room to meet up with Bishop and the second eyewitness, they added.

Both people told detectives the shooting was completely unprovoked. Bishop had asked one of them for drink money as Parker was doing drugs. He then stood up and shot her in the face, detectives said.

Police believe Bishop, Parker and the other two witnesses are fellow homeless drug users who knew the particular motel room was unoccupied with a door that didnt latch, allowing them to freely enter.

While North Charleston detectives were investigating the homicides, Charleston police arrested Parker on a burglary charge.

Police were dispatched just before midnight Oct. 4 to the Bridgeview Village Apartments off North Romney Street for a reported break in, an officer testified during the hearing.

A woman and her friend told officers they were sitting at the dinner table when they thought they heard someone break in. They saw a man  later identified as Parker  standing in the living room. The women told police he looked apologetic.

Parker used his shirt to close the door as he left, hopping over a second-story balcony before running off, the officer said. He did not take anything from the home.

Police quickly located Parker about a block away from the apartment complex. The victims positively identified him, the officer said.

Parker was taken early Oct. 5 to the Charleston County jail, where his fingerprints were collected as part of the booking process. This forensic evidence helped lead North Charleston detectives to their suspect in the Sept. 19 homicides.

Parker was arrested and charged Oct. 6 with the murders of Merida and Bishop, court records show. He remains incarcerated pending trial.
GOOSE CREEK  A former day care employee was arrested this week on allegations she smacked, spanked and roughly pulled toddlers by their arms at the site.

Jala Fordham was arrested April 4 by Goose Creek police on 25 counts of cruelty to children, a misdemeanor offense punishable by 30 days in jail and a $200 fine per count.

Fordham, 20, was allegedly recorded by surveillance cameras striking or roughly handling 15 children at the Londonderry Christian Montessori School, 152 Red Bank Road, according to an incident report. The children's ages ranged between 1 and 3 years old.

Fordham could not be reached for comment.

A mother raised concerns March 9 with Kellie Malcolm, director of the school, about a conversation the father of her child had with Fordham.

The father appeared to give the day care employee permission in text messages to "pop" his toddler, the report states.

Fordham allegedly told the father in a text message she did "pop" the child, but afterward "she'll just look at me and scream louder," according to the report.

Malcolm told the mother that employees were prohibited from using corporal punishment, the report states.

The school reported the allegations to the S.C. Department of Child Services and fired Fordham that day.

Londonderry purchased the day care, formerly We-R-Kids, in January, Malcolm told The Post and Courier. Due to the change in ownership, the school did not have immediate access to the day care's surveillance cameras.

Fordham was hired by We-R-Kids in June, according to Goose Creek Police Chief LJ Roscoe.

Malcolm said she was later able to review surveillance footage from Feb. 14 to March 2. The videos allegedly showed Fordham engaged in abusive behavior involving multiple children, the report states.

Day care officials reported the alleged abuse to police March 24.

An investigator reviewed 33 videos, identifying 15 children who were struck or roughly handled by Fordham, the report states.

Police contacted parents for 14 of the children. Parents for 12 of them said they wished to pursue charges. One mother was uncertain, while another refused to cooperate with police, the report states.

Police could not locate the mother of the last child, who no longer attended the school, the report states.

Fordham was arrested April 4 outside a North Charleston day care, where she was working after being fired from Londonderry, according to the report.

Fordham was booked into the Berkeley County jail but she was released later that day after Magistrate O'tis Prioleau granted the woman a $232 public recognizance bond, according to a bond clerk.

A personal recognizance bond means a defendant does not have to post any money to be freed from jail while awaiting trial.

Roscoe said officers had never dispatched to any complaints at the day care before this investigation.

She said the day care's director deserved "kudos" for immediately reporting the allegations to police.

Malcolm told The Post and Courier all school employees hired by Londonderry must undergo a background check.

She said Londonderry had been in business for almost 33 years, most recently operating out of a church in the Crowfield area.

"We've never dealt with anything like this," she said.
SUMMERVILLE  A man out on bond in two criminal cases, including a murder, has been arrested again  and released  after police officers discovered ecstasy, hydrocodone pills and over 4 pounds of marijuana inside an apartment.

Ishmal Rashad Weston was charged in Dorchester County with trafficking MDMA, or ecstasy; possession with intent to distribute marijuana; possession with intent to distribute a Schedule II narcotic; and two charges of possessing a firearm while committing a violent crime.

Weston, 26, posted bail in the case April 10, despite awaiting trial in two other criminal cases filed in the tri-county area, court records show.

Weston's most recent arrest came after Summerville police officers and deputies from the Dorchester County Sheriff's Office narcotics unit executed a search warrant April 8 on Old Bridge Lane, part of the Bridge Pointe Apartments off Old Trolley Road.

A Crime Stoppers tip about drug activity in the area led to the warrant, Lt. Chris Hirsch wrote in a news release. Investigators determined Weston was distributing illegal drugs, he added.

Officers recovered two guns, 250 units of ecstasy, 4.33 pounds of marijuana and 866 Hydrocodone pills.

Hydrocodone is a prescription opioid more commonly known by the trade name Vicodin.

Weston was booked into the Dorchester County jail after his arrest, but he was released two days later after posting a $130,000 bail set by Summerville Magistrate Gregory Hyland, court records show.

Weston also faces drug and weapons charges in Berkeley County stemming from a March 2021 arrest. He is charged in that case with possessing a weapon, possessing 15 doses of ecstasy, and two counts of possessing other controlled substances.

Berkeley Magistrate Martin Housand set his bail at $42,000, records show.

In addition to the drug and weapons charges, Weston is charged with murder in a March 2019 fatal drive-by shooting.

Weston is accused of killing 25-year-old Damien Marquise Stokes in the parking lot of Cummins Turbo Technologies off Palmetto Commerce Parkway in Ladson.

Witnesses told North Charleston police detectives Stokes exited a nearby warehouse when a blue Honda CRV approached. A man got out of the car and began firing what appeared to be a TEC-9 semiautomatic pistol at Stokes, according to 911 call audio.

Surveillance video of the shooting showed the gunman drop a T-shirt as he fired his weapon. It had a photo of a Town of Lincolnville gang member who was killed that January in Dorchester County, a detective wrote in the affidavit.

Authorities said in the affidavit the homicide was gang-related.

Two other men were arrested in connection with Stokes death.

In September 2019, Judge R. Markley Dennis set Westons bail as split between a $25,000 cash surety bond and $275,000 personal recognizance bond, meaning he did not have to post the larger sum to be freed from jail while awaiting trial.

The 9th Circuit Solicitor's Office filed a motion to revoke Westons bail in March 2021 following his arrest on the drug and weapons charges in Berkeley County.

Dennis opted to instead amend the conditions, giving him a $140,000 bond. Weston was also placed on strict house arrest and given a GPS ankle monitor, records show.

A motion to amend the conditions of bond was filed in October. Solicitor Scarlett Wilson said Judge Deadra Jefferson held a hearing on the motion in December and took it under advisement. She said her office had no information that the motion was granted or the bail terms changed.
You can spend a lot of money buying expensive video and audio equipment and wiring a space and hiring special audio-visual professionals to livestream meetings. Or you can do it for practically nothing.

For a couple of hundred dollars, you can get a tripod to mount your phone on and an audio adapter that fits the output of a public address system. If the building doesnt have internet access, you can run the livestream off the hot spot on your phone. And pretty much anyone who knows how to operate a cellphone can stream the whole thing to a Facebook page for free  as hundreds of churches across our state discovered when COVID-19 suddenly forced them to take their worship services online.

Livestream on the cheap might not get you the professional quality of C-SPAN, or even of S.C. ETVs livestreams of the Legislature, but itll be more than adequate to let voters keep up with what their government is doing.

Its so easy and cheap, in fact, that the main difference between governments that allow voters to watch their meetings online in real time or later at their convenience and those that dont is the willingness to do so.

The S.C. Senate has wisely adopted a plan to eliminate that difference, at least when it comes to school boards. Last week, senators voted 39-0 to require all school boards to livestream their full meetings, beginning next year.

Although we still have grave concerns about governing boards conducting their meetings remotely, because of the limitations this inherently places on interactions between board members and between members of the board and members of the public who choose to participate in person, there are no such problems with allowing remote public viewing.

Under S.945, districts with limited or no broadband access could apply for an extra year to begin livestreaming; the number shouldn't be large, as the S.C. Association of School Boards reports that two-thirds of districts already livestream meetings. A district that experiences technical problems during the livestream and isnt able to restore it in real time would have up to 48 hours to post a complete video online.

The legislation requires the state Education Department to develop best practices for the livestreams. That will be mostly a how-to guide, to help officials who just dont have any idea how to proceed, but it also would include escalating penalties the agency could impose for any districts that refuse to comply.

Its a modest but positive step in the right direction, and one we hope the House will at least adopt, and possibly expand.

H.945 doesnt cover committee or subcommittee meetings or work sessions, even though on many school boards, the important discussions and debate occur in committee, including a committee of the whole that is made up of all the members of the board. Its hard to understand why those committee meetings would be exempt. Thats sort of like the Freedom of Information Act saying full school board meetings have to be open to the public but committee meetings dont.

Beyond that, wed like to see the provisions applied to city and county councils, and to state governing boards  including the Legislature itself.

Many of these governments already stream their meetings, and many more started doing so early in the pandemic, when they temporarily switched to remote meetings and realized that giving the public access to those meetings not only was required by law but also was so easy to do. Weve been encouraged that so many continued offering online access after they returned to in-person meetings, but the fact is that its by choice, not by law. Theres nothing in S.C. law to stop them from suddenly stopping.

And while longtime livestreamers consistently record those whole-body meetings that S.945 would require of school boards, the chance of seeing a committee or subcommittee meeting is much more hit and miss. Even in the Legislature, you can never be sure youll be able to watch a meeting from home  or later. Several meeting rooms at the Statehouse lack the sophisticated equipment normally used to livestream, so the only way to see meetings scheduled in those rooms is to attend in person, and there's no option at all for going back later and checking to see what was said and done.

There's always a danger that expanding a good bill to include related topics will generate opposition that kills that original bill, particularly this late in the legislative session, and we'd rather get S.945 passed as written than not. But we don't know how much we can expand it until we try. The House should at least give it a try, and pull back if that doesn't work. With today's technology, there's simply no good excuse for everybody to have to attend meetings in person in order to find out what their government is doing.
COLUMBIA  Lowcountry congressional candidate Katie Arrington has roughly $750,000 in her bid to unseat incumbent U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace in this year's Republican primary, her campaign announced April 11.

But the one-time state representative still has a long way to go to catch up with her chief rival in the race.

Despite committing a half-million dollars of her own fortune to the cause, Arrington lags behind Mace, of Charleston, in fundraising, even after former President Donald Trump traveled to the state to campaign on her behalf.

Arrington, like many of the candidates Trump has endorsed, benefited immediately, raising $307,000 to launch her campaign through a mix of donors in the short window since she entered the race Feb. 8.

By comparison, Mace's campaign told The Associated Press on April 5 it has raised $1.17 million in the first three months of 2022, with more than 80 percent of that coming after Trump endorsed her opponent  Arrington.

This included an estimated $300,000 haul from a March 2022 fundraiser headlined by former governor and Trump administration alum Nikki Haley, who has been speculated to be weighing her own run for the White House in 2024.

"We've got a lot going on in South Carolina, there's a lot going on in the world right now, and we've got a lot of issues going on in the country," Haley said at the time. "But that's why moments like this matter. That's why people like Nancy Mace matters. That's why I'm going around the country, fighting for really good people that get it."

Though Trump's Save America PAC has donated significant sums to candidates he has endorsed in competitive Republican primaries, the former president has not contributed any money to Arrington, the Arrington campaign said.

The quarterly fund-raising numbers for congressional candidates are being reported this month. Across the aisle, 1st Congressional District Democratic candidate Annie Andrews has more than a half-million dollars in cash to spend after raising more than $300,000 this quarter, according to her campaign.

Arrington, of Summerville, is not deterred.

"Our campaign is well funded and has the necessary resources to ensure voters know Nancy Mace stabbed President Trump in the back and sold them out," Arrington said in a statement April 11. "The voters of South Carolina's 1st District deserve a servant leader who will prioritize them and not make misguided decisions to serve themself."

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She added that, in addition to the financial support she had received from donors, she decided to put $500,000 into her campaign as a "demonstration of my commitment to ensuring our district is represented by someone who will advance the America First Agenda."

More cash assistance could be coming: over the weekend, the former president's son, Donald Trump Jr., was featured in a fundraising email urging his father's fans to donate to Arrington's campaign.

"Candidates like Katie Arrington can turn this country around," he wrote in a statement. "As a Trump-endorsed candidate, she believes and fights for what America First is all about: your personal freedoms."

The Mace campaign criticized Arrington's numbers and, in particular, the degree to which she had funded her own campaign.

"I guess now we know why Katie Arrington made taxpayers pay her attorneys fees when her security clearance was revoked  she needed her own money to prop up a losing campaign," said her campaign manager, Austin McCubbin. Lets get real, Republicans arent financially supporting someone who lost this seat in 2018. They know Nancy (Mace) as the fighter who will keep this seat in conservative hands, and her numbers reflect that.

Arrington has donated large sums of money to her efforts before. During her unsuccessful bid for Congress in 2018, she committed more than $408,000 of her own money to her campaign, which ended in a losing effort to Democrat Joe Cunningham.

While Arrington was able to defeat former Gov. Mark Sanford and his substantial war chest in that year's crowded Republican primary, Arrington could not muster enough donor support to offset her own spending, leaving her with an unpaid debt to herself of more than $213,000.

"There isn't any limit on how much an individual can give to her or his own campaign," Christian Hilland, a spokesperson for the Federal Elections Commission, told The Post and Courier. "They can raise money to extinguish those loans. But, if for whatever reason they can't seem to do that, they can simply forgive those loans."

Arrington will also have to compete for votes with another candidate on Mace's right flank, Lynz Piper-Loomis, who had raised nearly $80,000 total to close 2021. However, the candidate had also spent most of it, reporting less than $1,000 in funds in the bank in her year-ending campaign finance report.
Jovan Dollete Bradbury will have to spend another 16 months in a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility after he admitted to dealing methamphetamine in the District Court of Guam.

Bradbury, 36, who pleaded guilty to possession of methamphetamine hydrochloride with intent to distribute, was sentenced to a total of 30 months or 2 1/2 years in prison with credit for the 14 months he already spent locked up.

It was recommended that he serve his time at Federal Correctional Institution Petersburg in Virginia so he could be close to family and undergo drug treatment.

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He will also be placed on four years of supervised release, which he would be allowed to serve in the states.

It was said in court that Bradbury is a citizen of the Philippines and faces being deported after serving his time.

Defense attorney Randall Cunliffe told the court that Bradbury no longer had any living relatives in his home country and could be left living on the streets after he gets off the plane in Manila.

"No one knows the difficulty that he may have when he doesn't have family and when there are a lot of drugs there," said Cunliffe.

Bradbury was told that if he is deported he would not be allowed to return to the U.S. without permission from the court.

Drug arrest

According to Post files, Bradbury was also arrested on local drug possession charges in 2018.

In January 2020, federal agents tracked him down and arrested him because he had a prior drug conviction making him a removable alien, court documents state.

Department of Homeland Security agents found him inside a parked car in Tamuning where he was seen throwing a bag of meth onto the floor of the front passenger seat.

During a search, agents found 14.55 grams of meth and $5,750.

Bradbury admitted the money was proceeds from drug sales and that he was engaged in the business of trafficking meth, documents state.

Chief Judge Frances Tydingco-Gatewood warned Bradbury following his sentencing.

"When you get out you will be on supervised released and probation will be checking on you. You will take a drug test 15 days after you are released. Every month you will take it to make sure you are clean. It's your price for freedom," said Tydingco-Gatewood. "You really have a chance to get your life in order. Stay out of trouble. Don't blow it."
This post is a footnote to the adjacent post on Daniel Schmidts close encounter with Anne Applebaum last week. Reading Anne Applebaums 2020 Atlantic essay on the Hunter Biden controversy, I infer that the reporter whom Schmidt credits with breaking the Hunter Biden Files is Matthew Tyrmand. Applebaum links to Laura Ingraham tweets touting Tyrmand at the top of her essay.

I called author and Biden family business expert Peter Schweizer for help in understanding Applebaums essay. Tyrmand had received a set of 26,000 emails from Bevan Cooney, an imprisoned former associate of Hunter Biden. Applebaum proceeds to trash Tyrmand.

Peter was also given access to Bevan Cooneys gmail account  the same 26,000 emails  around the same time. Applebaum describes Peter as Tyrmands collaborator. She doesnt appear to know who Peter is, but she does her best to trash him as well.

Applebaum describes Peter as having followed the well-trod path by which acolytes of Reaganism become accessories to [political sabotage and dirty tricks].He co-edited a book, published in 1988, called Grinning With the Gipper: The Wit, Wisdom, and Wisecracks of Ronald Reagan; later, he wrote a book with former Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger. Now he is focused on Cooney, Archer, and the other characters in the Foxworld universe. This is pathetic.

Speaking with Peter today I was given to understand that Peter and Tyrmand were each separately given access to Cooneys gmail account. You would never know from reading Appleabaums essay, but Peter has been on the case of the Biden family business since his 2018 book Secret Empires and his early 2020 book Profiles in Corruption. She somehow omits any mention of those books in her essay.

Peter drew on the Cooney emails for his October 2020 Breitbart column This is China, Inc.: Emails Reveal Hunter Bidens Associates Helped Communist-Aligned Chinese Elites Secure White House Meetings. Peter mentions the Cooney emails in his October 2020 New York Post column on the Biden family business:

We gain further insight into the operations of Biden Inc. in emails provided to us by Bevan Cooney, a former business associate of Hunter Biden. Cooney, who is currently in prison for his role in the Indian Bond Scheme that is sending Hunter Biden business partner Devon Archer also to jail, shared 26,000 emails that show what Hunters role was in their business ventures. The Biden name was considered currency for their foreign business ventures, and was a direct  pipeline to the Obama-Biden administration. Deals involving Hunter benefited from the Biden lift, the help that the name would provide in overseas dealings.

Peters New York Post column is accessible here.
Elon Musk has 81 million Twitter followers, and he has used the platform to, among other things, criticize Twitters left-wing, anti-free speech practices. So the news that he had become Twitters largest shareholder with a 9 percent stake was seismic. It was soon followed by an invitation to join Twitters board of directors, which he initially seemed to accept. But on Saturday Musk announced that he was declining the offer of a board seat.

Why did he do that? As a member of Twitters board of directors, he would have had a fiduciary duty to the company that likely would have barred him from publicly criticizing ite.g., on Twitter. Also, as a board member his ownership stake would have been limited to 14.9% of the companys outstanding shares. By remaining an outsider, Elon preserves the opportunity for a hostile takeover, or, less dramatically, a controlling influence on the board.

All of which bodes well for those of us who fear that the dominant platforms, like Twitter and Facebook, may be natural monopolies due to network effects, and who care about diversity in what has become the de facto public square.
Hawaiis Second Congressional District is the one that includes everything but Honolulu and the surrounding area on Oahu. It has been represented by Democrats since Hawaii was granted statehood. The amazin Mazie Hirono rose up from the district to display her idiocy to a national audience, but Tulsi Gabbard showed that idiocy was not a prerequisite for the position.

Kai Kahele has succeeded Tulsi Gabbard in the seat. However, it appears that Kahele has left it mostly unoccupied. The Honolulu Civil Beat reports that Kahele hasnt been to Washington much this year. Instead, hes voted by proxy since January. Ah, the benefits of the Pelosi Coronavirus regime.

Punchbowl News highlights a nugget buried in the story:

Kahele, a commercial pilot, is still working for Hawaiian Airlines. Kahele is licensed to fly the Airbus A330, Boeing 767 and Boeing 757, according to the FAA  all long-haul aircraft. Hawaiian Airlines flies between Hawaiis islands, in addition to multiple destinations in Japan, South Korea and Australia. In addition, the airline services multiple airports on the West Coast, New York, Austin, Orlando and Boston. Kaheles office says that he is earning less than $29,595, the maximum amount allowed in outside income for members of Congress and some senior staff. Hawiian Airlines says its first officers make $81 per hour and they fly a minimum of 1,500 flight hours a year, for a total of $121,500. But in the years weve been covering Congress and congressional ethics, weve never seen an arrangement quite like this before.

Punchbowl appends these points:

 First of all, we asked Kaheles office for any documentation from the Ethics Committee that shows that they approved this arrangement, whereby Kahele serves as a member of Congress but moonlights part-time for an airline. They didnt produce it.  Kahele has only voted five times in person in 2022 because of the coronavirus pandemic, according to the Civil Beat story. This is permitted, of course, under the Democrats proxy voting rules. We asked Kaheles office if he has been flying for Hawaiian Airlines while voting by proxy. They didnt answer this either.  Hawaiian Airlines has business in front of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, on which Kahele sits. The airline lobbies the federal government. So this means that Kahele is collecting a salary from a company that is trying to lobby the federal government, and more specifically the committee on which he serves.  Kahele has, on one occasion, talked about Hawaiian Airlines in a congressional hearing, expressing dismay about furloughs.

Punchbowl reiterated that theyd never seen anything quite like it, but not before dredging up this quotable quote from Kahele: I have decided to sit here through almost 3 hours of this hearing because I not only sit here representing the Second Congressional District in Hawaii, but I also sit here representing 810 Hawaiian Airlines employees who all received warning involuntary furlough notices just a few days ago, of which 647 flight attendants and their families and 99 pilots and their families both received those same involuntary notices. American Airlines will be issuing 13,000 involuntary furlough notices beginning tomorrow. And so this is something that I am deeply concerned about.
How many people have died, or will die, as a result of the Lefts green fantasies? To begin with, who has taken responsibility for the hundreds of thousandsmaybe millionsof Africans who have died because of the Lefts insane banning of DDT? No one, of course. Will there ever be an accounting?

Currently, the war between Russia and Ukraine dominates the headlines. We all know that global petroleum supplies have been disrupted by the war, but perhaps more significant is the wars impact on agriculture. Ukraine and Russia are two of the top grain-exporting countries in the world. Ukraine has been selling grain to the West since ancient times. With those supplies disrupted, a global food shortage impends, and many are predicting that populations in some vulnerable areas that cant produce enough food for themselves will starve.

So where are the environmentalists in all this? They are doing their best to reduce agricultural output. In Sri Lanka, the government mandated organic farming, with the result that yields declined catastrophically, prices skyrocketed, and, no doubt, many died.

In the U.K., carbon offset schemes are causing hedge funds to buy up farm land and turn it to a less productive use:

A growing number of farms in Wales are being bought by companies to generate carbon credits.

***

The Times revealed in February that a tenant farmer with a young family had been prevented from achieving his dream of owning his own sheep farm when he was gazumped by a company planning to plant trees and sell carbon credits. Ian OConnor, 36, had had an offer accepted for Frongoch, a 270-acre farm in Cwrt-y-Cadno, Carmarthenshire. Two weeks later the estate agent told him the Foresight Group, a private equity company incorporated in Guernsey, had offered 10 per cent more.

***

Foresight has bought six farms in Wales and estate agents acting for similar companies have been cold-calling Welsh farmers to ask if they want to sell.

Trees are great, but what is happening in the U.K. has nothing to do with either free markets or national interest. The exorbitant demand for carbon credits is government-created as a result of global warming hysteria, and reduced food production is collateral damage.

How about the U.S.? Our farmers produce more food than anyone. But here, too, environmentalist fantasies are reducing food production. Countless acres of productive farm land are being taken over for wind and solar installations. Wisconsin Congressman Tom Tiffany and my colleague Isaac Orr collaborated on this piece in the Washington Examiner. It advocates for Tiffanys proposed FARM Act:

By strangling U.S. energy producers, the White House has fueled skyrocketing oil prices and enriched Russias rulers. An added consequence: Americans are now grappling with the highest gas prices ever recorded. And the pain doesnt stop at the pump. Food prices, in particular wheat, have soared to record-breaking levels as well. Thats why our response to Moscows aggression must be to maximize our ability to produce the energy and food the world desperately needs right here at home. That starts with preserving farmland for future generations. Thanks to the dizzying array of renewable energy carve-outs that litter our tax code, taxpayers are forced to underwrite generous green energy giveaways, allowing power companies to effectively tap the public treasury to subsidize unreliable wind and solar farms. As a result, prime agricultural land is often taken out of production, posing a long-term threat to Americas ability to feed the world. Industrial solar and wind facilities are land-hungry ways to generate electricity that often fail to show up when we need them most. It takes approximately 8 acres of land per megawatt of installed solar capacity and an average of 106 acres per megawatt of wind energy. While it is possible to farm around wind turbines, this is not possible with solar panels. This means increasing our reliance on unreliable wind and solar energy will consume enormous quantities of land while paradoxically making us more reliant on foreign countries for the power we need to heat our homes and run our factories.

The amount of land needed for unreliable, intermittent wind and solar installations (which always must be backed up by natural gas plants that supply electricity most of the time, when wind and solar are idle) is immense. Robert Bryce, in a paper written for American Experiment, calculated that it would require an area more than twice the size of California to meet Americas existing electricity needs (not all energy needs) with wind turbines. Of course that isnt going to happen. But as the destructive Green Machine rolls on, the land devoted to turbines and solar panels wont be in cities or suburbs. It will be farm land.

Congressman Tiffany has proposed legislation to prevent government subsidies from destroying farm land:

Thats why we are working to enact the Future Agriculture Retention and Management or FARM Act, which would get taxpayers out of the business of transforming actual farms into wind and solar farms. Some critics have argued that this bill is anti-wind and anti-solar. But that simply isnt true. If electric companies want to build wind turbines or solar panels, nothing in the bill prevents them from doing so. But it does prevent taxpayer funds from tipping the scales in favor of wind and solar development at the expense of food production.

Wind and solar are not remotely competitive. They exist only because of government subsidies and, worse, mandates. The FARM act would at least ensure that we, the taxpayers, are not paying to destroy farm land at a time when the world needs all of the food America can produce.
Telecoms equipment maker Nokia has announced that it is pulling out of the Russian market.

Pekka Lundmark, the companys CEO, told Reuters that the decision to quit Russia was the only option.

The company is going a step further than rival Ericsson which said on Monday it was indefinitely suspending its business in the country.

Hundreds of foreign companies are cutting ties with Russia following its Feb. 24 invasion of Ukraine and after Western sanctions against Moscow.

We just simply do not see any possibilities to continue in the country under the current circumstances, Mr Lundmark said in an interview.

He added that Nokia would continue to support customers during its exit, and it was not possible to say at this stage how long the withdrawal would take.

Customer Support

Nokia is applying for the relevant licences to support customers in compliance with current sanctions, the company said in a statement.

Reuters reports that both Nokia and Ericsson made a low single-digit percentage of sales in Russia, where Chinese companies such as Huawei (HWT.UL) and ZTE (000063.SZ) have a bigger share.

The company says it does not expect this decision to impact its 2022 outlook but it would lead to a provision in the first quarter of about 100 million euros ($109 million).

Apart from its war with Ukraine, Russia is also at loggerheads with Finland and Sweden, the home countries of Nokia and Ericsson respectively, over their interest in joining the NATO military alliance.

Mr Lundmark said Nokia would not implement a plan announced in November to set up a joint venture with Russias YADRO to build 4G and 5G telecom base stations.

With about 90,000 employees globally, the decision to leave Russia is expected to affect about 2,000 workers, and some of them might be offered work in other parts of the world, the CEO said.
The South African President, Cyril Ramaphosa, has criticized vigilante groups for harassing and attacking migrants, likening their behaviour to strategies adopted by the apartheid regime to target Black people, Al Jazeera reported.

Last week, a 43-year-old Zimbabwean man, Elvis Nyathi, was attacked by a mob and set alight by a group of vigilantes searching for foreign nationals in Diepsloot, a township near Johannesburg.

The vigilantes had gone door to door demanding to see peoples identity documents after seven people in the township had been murdered the previous weekend.

On Wednesday, hundreds of residents protested against rising crime rates in Diepsloot, accusing police of failing to contain crime, which they blamed on undocumented immigrants.

We have seen people being stopped on the street by private citizens and being forced to produce identification to verify their immigration status, Al Jazeera quoted Mr Ramaphosa as saying in his weekly newsletter on Monday.

This was how the apartheid oppressors operated.

Under apartheid, black people were deemed suspects by default and stopped by police when found in so-called white areas, he said, referring to the system of oppressive white-minority rule that was abolished in 1994.

Black people were forced to produce a dompas (a passport-like document that restricted their movements) and if they could not do so, they were jailed.

Mr Ramaphosa warned that neither the vigilante groups nor politicians inciting local communities to attack foreigners would be tolerated. We cannot allow such injustices to happen again, he said.

The murder of the seven South Africans in Diepsloot was a tragedy, he said.

This loss of life is deplorable, as is the killing of a fellow African from Zimbabwe allegedly at the hands of vigilantes, Mr Ramaphosa said.

Today, our anger may be directed at nationals from Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Nigeria or Pakistan. Tomorrow, our anger may be directed at each other, he warned.

The president warned that scapegoating migrants for poor service delivery, unemployment and crime could ignite xenophobic violence.

Attacking those we suspect of wrongdoing merely because they are a foreign national is  immoral, racist and criminal. In the end, it will lead to xenophobia, he said.

Competition for jobs, especially in low-skilled sectors, is also a factor in sharpening anti-immigrant resentment.

South Africa, one of the most unequal countries in the world, is buckling under one of the worlds highest joblessness rates  more than 35 per cent of the workforce is unemployed.

Although unrelated to this weeks protests, dozens of protesters in Johannesburg have in recent months been staging demonstrations against undocumented migrants in what they have dubbed Operation Dudula.

Dudula translates to force out or knock down in the Zulu language, and expresses the common purpose of organisations like it  to force out immigrants from other African countries including Nigeria.

In September 2019, PREMIUM TIMES reported how about 400 Nigerians indicated interest to be evacuated from South Africa following xenophobic attacks.

Over the years, violent attacks on Nigerians and other Africans have regularly erupted in South Africa, mostly because South Africans accuse foreigners of dealing in drugs or taking their jobs.

At least 10 deaths were recorded in 2019, including two foreigners, and many businesses destroyed, prompting Nigeria to recall its ambassador while President Muhammadu Buhari sent a special envoy to South Africa.

According to Operation Dudula, its campaign is driven by the burden placed on public health services, job opportunities and social grants due to an influx of illegal immigrants.
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo early Monday morning declared his intention to bid for the ticket of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) for the 2023 presidential election, ending months of speculations on the development.

Mr Osinbajos declaration, made through a broadcast he posted on his Twitter handle, put him in the APC presidential primary for which his former boss as Lagos governor, Bola Tinubu; the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi; the Ebonyi State Governor, Dave Umahi; and Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State, had earlier declared interest.

Meanwhile, Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi; the Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, and the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, also continue to be linked to the race.

The APC has not fixed a date for that contest. But since the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has set June 3 as the deadline for the submission of presidential candidates by political parties, the ruling party has just over six weeks to nominate its own.

Mr Osinbajos ambition had long seemed obvious but his office had been quick to dispel every rumour that he was going to declare. However, it has now been confirmed that he had all the while been setting the stage and conducting rehearsals for the declaration.

PREMIUM TIMES, in a report on Sunday that stated Mr Osinabjo would declare the following day, revealed that his team had conducted a series of opinion polls to guide his decision. In one of such polls, which asked participants whether they would vote for Mr Osinbajo if he were a candidate in the 2023 presidential election, sources said the response was a massive 63 per cent yes.

Taking encouragement from the polls, Mr Osinbajo was said to have gone on consultations across the country, including informing President Muhammadu Buhari and Enoch Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), where Mr Osinbajo is also a pastor.

Mr Osinbajo concluded his consultations on Sunday night with a meeting with APC governors at the Akinola Aguda House, his official residence.

A newspaper reported that the meeting lasted for about three hours and was attended by 12 governors, led by Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi State who is the Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF).

Ahead of the declaration, the vice president had also opened a campaign office at 15B, Buchanan Crescent, Wuse 2 in the Central Area of Abuja, with staff and state of the art equipment already installed.

A heartbeat away from the presidency

Americans describe the office of the vice president as a heartbeat away from the presidency. This is in reference to the fact that the vice president automatically succeeds the president in the event of the latters death, incapacitation or removal from office. Nigeria experienced that scenario in 2010 following the death of President Umaru Yaradua and the inauguration of President Goodluck Jonathan to complete their term.

In some advanced democracies too, especially in the United States, the vice president is usually the front runner to succeed a term-barred president. Given the foregoing, why are there speculations about Mr Osinbajos ambition?

At 65, he is not considered too old to run for the office. He is also not known to have a health challenge, at least not since he came to Abuja in 2015. When early in their first term Mr Buhari was away in London for medical treatment, he transferred power to Mr Osinbajo as acting president.

Unique relationship

Mr Osinbajo is widely seen as a loyal and competent vice president. There is no record in the public domain of a dispute between him and the president, which is a remarkable development given the recent history of power relations at that level in Nigeria.

President Obasanjo once remarked that not even a woman could get between him and Vice President Atiku Abubakar. But their relationship had soured by 2003 to the extent that the vice president only decided at the last hour against challenging his re-nomination. Their second term in office was ruined by each trying to run the other out of office, with the court coming to the rescue of Mr Abubakar. He was eventually expelled from their Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and ran for president in 2007 on the ticket of an opposition party, the defunct Action Congress, while Mr Obasanjo handed the ruling partys ticket to a sick state governor, Mr YarAdua.

Patience Jonathan also once publicly recalled the humiliation her husband allegedly suffered as a vice to President Umaru Yaradua, before the National Assembly made him the acting president through the Doctrine of Necessity following the infirmity of the president. She said Mr Jonathan was only going to his office to read newspapers, as he had been sidelined by a cabal that allegedly ran Mr YarAduas presidency.

No rancour was publicly reported between President Jonathan and his vice, Namadi Sambo, who stood by the president when their party imploded over Mr Jonathans reelection bid in 2004. But they never got to the point together where My Sambo would have expected a payback.

Buharis preferred candidate

Mr Osinbajo is at that point now. Is he running on the encouragement of the president?

This question is appropriate because unlike Mr Tinubu and the state governors in the race, the vice president does not have a structure in the party that he can rely on for votes at the primary.

Mr Osinbajo was first appointed into a political office as Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice in Lagos by Mr Tinubu in 1999. His membership of Mr Tinubus camp led him into the APC and to his nomination as running mate to Mr Buhari as the partys flag bearer in 2015, even though a recent revision has suggested that the nomination was in spite, rather than due to the support, of Mr Tinubu.

As vice president, Mr Osinbajo has not exercised any obvious influence on the politics of Lagos, where partisan politics all began for him, or of his ancestral Ogun State. His former boss, Mr Tinubu, continues to be influential in the two states as in other states in the South-west, even in the state where the governor is speculated to be preparing to join the presidential race.

With Mr Tinubu also running for the APC ticket, Mr Osinbajo obviously now has to keep a different lane, the first time he would be doing so since he joined partisan politics.

Mr Osinbajos best source of fuel for his bid is his current boss, who is yet to show his hand in this race.

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Asked during an interview with Channels Television in January who his preferred candidate was, President Buhari replied: It is (a) secret.

No, I wouldnt say because he may be eliminated if I mention. I better keep it, he had stated with a smile.

Is that candidate Mr Osinbajo? In his declaration speech, the vice president presented himself as the candidate for continuity.

He said: In the past seven years, I have served as Vice President under a true Nigerian patriot, a servant of the nation in war and peace, and a man of integrity, President Muhammadu Buhari.

We have, together, worked through some of the most difficult times in the history of our Nation, but we have remained focused on securing the country, providing infrastructure and growing our economy.

In this period of seven years, I have served the government in several capacities, and have, at the direction of Mr. President, represented our country in sensitive high level international engagements. I have been to practically all local governments in Nigeria.

While he has genuine reasons to hope for the endorsement of the president, another close associate of the president, Mr Amaechi, has also thrown his hat into the ring. Another, Mr Ngige, is also said to be preparing to do so. And Mr Fayemi, the Ekiti governor who is also the Chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum, was also a minister under Mr Buhari. Each of them would also have informed the president of their ambitions and sought his blessing.

Unless the president is playing a game of subterfuge by having all of them in the race to protect the preferred candidate from the fury of the rejected, it appears the president may not have a horse in the race.

Osinbajo and governors

If Mr Osinbajo does not enjoy the anointment of his current boss, the next best source of support are the governors. According to a Thisday newspaper report on Monday, Mr Osinbajo expects the support of the governors, the reason he informed them at the meeting the night before his declaration.

Quoting an unnamed source, the newspaper said: Professor Osinbajo has a special relationship with the APC governors as well as governors of other parties, most of whom he has built fraternal bond with in the last seven years as the chairman of the National Economic Council of which all the governors are statutory members.

The VP felt being his key allies, he needed to formally inform them (governors) and seek their cooperation in the political journey ahead. Besides, many of the governors (APC) are also members or directors of some FG-owned agencies, where the VP is Chairman and their relationships in these agencies have also been deepened over the years.

Governors are powerful in party politics. They are essentially responsible for selecting the delegates who vote in indirect primaries, meaning that the state governors can determine who emerges as the presidential candidate of the party if they agree among themselves.

According to some media reports, 12 governors attended the meeting with Mr Osinbajo on Sunday. Aside from Mr Bagudu of Kebbi, the others include Nasir El-RufaI of Kaduna, Dapo Abiodun of Ogun, Hope Uzodinma of Imo, Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos and Gboyega Oyetola of Osun. It was not stated why the 10 other state governors did not attend the meeting. However, it is clear that not all those who attended did so to demonstrate support for Mr Osinbajos bid. Some of them, like Messrs Sanwo-Olu and Oyetola, are close associates of Mr Tinubu.

Electability

Mr Osinbajos greatest asset in this race is his seeming good standing with voters across the country, at least from the findings of the polls conducted by his team and his popularity on social media where he seems to connect with young Nigerians.

On Monday, a supporter, Richard Akinola, reported an enthusiastic response to his declaration on Twitter.

Record breaking Twitter response 345,000 views. 27,000 likes. 18,000 retweets Over 3 million impressions. In less than 6 hours

Over 150,000 views on Facebook and over 15,000 views on YouTube within six hours, Mr Akinnola posted on his Facebook page.

As a pentecostal Christian, Mr Osinbajo is also popular with the entire Christian community, which leading organisation, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), had demanded that the next president should be a southern Christian.

But that support has come with potential danger. An article by a popular columnist, Farooq Kperogi, warning that an Osinbajo presidency would trigger a religious war in Nigeria, trended for many weeks and has been translated into Hausa for circulation in Northern Nigeria. The article followed a report that Mr Osinbajos church had set up units across the country to mobilise support for members of the church running for political offices.

An Islamic organisation, MURIC, responded by urging Muslims to beware of Mr Osinbajo. With the possibility of the PDP nominating a northern Muslim, Mr Osinbajos candidature faces the danger of seeming less appealing to APC leaders in that region.

If Mr Osinbajo is presented to INEC in June as the flag bearer of the ruling party for next years election, he stands the chance of becoming the first sitting vice president in Nigeria to be elected president. Mr Jonathan won his election in 2011 as a sitting president, his principal having died several months before the election. Mr Abubakar ran unsuccessfully for the top job in 2007 from the exile of an opposition party. Alex Ekwueme did not even have the opportunity to bid for the ticket of the National Party of Nigeria before the soldiers sacked the Second Republic in 1983.
Abdullahi Adamu, the new national chairman of Nigerias ruling party, APC, has officially resigned from the Senate.

In a letter to the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, he said his decision to resign is consequent upon his election as the chairman of the APC.

Although the letter was read at the start of the plenary on Tuesday, Mr Adamu, who represented Nasarawa West, said his resignation is to take effect from April 1.

I am, with utmost respect and appreciation, informing you that consequent to my victory as National Chairman in the just concluded APC convention, I hereby formally resign as a senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria representing Nasarawa West senatorial district with effect from April 1, 2022, part of the letter read.

Mr Adamu also applauded the Senate President for his style of leadership in the ninth Senate and for being non-partisan.

Similarly, Abubakar Kyari also communicated his decision to resign from the Senate.

Mr Kyari, who represented Borno North in the Senate, was elected the Deputy National Chairman of the APC (North) in the national convention held in March.

His decision to resign was conveyed in a separate letter read out by Mr Lawan.

Like his colleague, Mr Kyari said his resignation was to enable him to assume duty in his new position.

He thanked his constituents and the Senate for the opportunity to serve as well as the Senate President for his leadership style.

The duo were elected as chairman and deputy of the APC on March 26.

Mr Adamu officially assumed office on March 30 by receiving instruments of office from the immediate-past interim chairman of the party and Governor of Yobe State, Mala Buni, at the partys national headquarters in Abuja.

While he disclosed that he had no knowledge he would be the party chairman 30 days before the convention, he expressed determination to live up to President Muhammadu Buharis trust.

Having resigned as senators, the Senate President is expected to declare their seats vacant and send a communication to Nigerias electoral umpire, INEC.

INEC is thereafter expected to conduct by-elections within 30 days of the notice.
The Senate has passed the Peace Corps bill.

The bill, sponsored by Borno senator, Ali Ndume, seeks to give legal backing to the establishment of the Peace Corps as a government parastatal and allow its members to be absorbed into the proposed organisation at commencement.

The bill was passed by the eighth Senate in late 2017 but President Muhammadu Buhari declined assent to the legislation in February 2018, citing security concerns as one of the reasons for his decision.

He had also cited paucity of funds and duplication of duties of existing security agencies by the proposed corps as his main reasons.

Mr Ndume reintroduced the bill to the ninth Senate on December 17, 2019.

And during the second reading of the bill in December 2020, the lawmaker said the core mandate of the corps is to develop, empower, and provide gainful employment for the youth to facilitate peace, volunteerism, community services, neighbourhood watch and nation-building.

The legislation, if passed, would give statutory backing to the existing Peace Corps of Nigeria, which currently has over 187,000 members, comprising regular staff and volunteers, he had told his colleagues.

The lawmaker also said all the issues raised by Mr Buhari for withholding assent to the bill in the eighth Senate had been addressed in the new bill.

Passage

The passage of the bill was a sequel to the consideration of a report of the Senate Committee on Interior.

The committee was asked to conduct public hearings and other legislative works on the bill.

Presenting the report, the committee chairman, Sadiq Umar, echoed the objectives of the bill.

He said the panel received hundreds of memoranda and many stakeholders supported the bill.

He added that the legislation will be a great benefit to Nigeria and urged his colleagues to support the bill.

In a committee of the whole, the Senate considered all 40 clauses of the bill and passed it afterwards.

The House of Representatives is expected to concur with the Senate on the legislation after which it will be transmitted to the president for assent.

In the past years, the Peace Corps was widely anticipated by many Nigerians who believed the corps will partly address the nations unemployment and insecurity crisis.

Many others, however, opposed the bill, saying it creates a new bureaucracy at a time existing security agencies are underfunded.

In 2017, lawmakers had planned to veto the presidents rejection. But an attempt to override the presidents veto of the bill failed in the House of Representatives in May 2018.
The Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) has detailed how three senators from Kebbi, Taraba, and Jigawa States allegedly abused their office and converted the public property to personal use in executing some multi-million-naira worth of constituency projects.

According to the anti-graft agency, the lawmakers manipulatively awarded contracts for the execution of some constituency projects nominated by them to companies in which they, their family members or associates had substantial interest directly or indirectly.

In what raises issues of conflict of interest, the lawmakers allegedly applied subtle influence on the executing agencies to award the contract to companies owned by the legislators, their families or associates, ICPC said in a report of its constituency project tracking exercise.

Incidents of abuse of office by some sponsors and officers of the executing agencies have been observed in many cases, the report which captures the preliminary findings of the second phase of ICPCs Constituency and Executive Projects Tracking Initiative (CEPTi), read in part.

The report also cited cases of conversion of public projects to personal use with vehicles and water machines recovered from the premises belonging to the senators or their relations.

According to the report, 490 Zonal Intervention Projects (ZIP), also known as constituency projects, were tracked in the second phase of CEPTi, which revealed a series of violations allegedly committed by federal lawmakers with the complicity of some officials of the executing ministries, departments, and agencies of the federal government.

The report also uncovered wide-ranging forms of violations in some of the 232 executive projects tracked during the second phase of CEPTi which began in June 2020, coming close on the heels of the first phase of the exercise which took place in 2019.

PREMIUM TIMES obtained a copy of the interim report of the second phase of the tracking exercise which focused on a total of 722 funded constituency and executive projects selected from the 2015 to 2020 appropriations in 16 states.

Each of the 490 ZIP projects tracked, according to ICPC, cost N100 million and above.

ICPC said while an estimated N2 trillion has been budgeted for ZIPs since 2000, citizens continue to lament shoddy completion, non-completion or outright non-existence of these projects in their locale.

The commission also revealed how some lawmakers conduct in handling some of the projects denied the public due and legitimate service of the projects.

Senators identities

In the Phase II CEPTi interim report obtained by PREMIUM TIMES, ICPC uncovered three cases of abuse of office with senators awarding the contracts for the execution of constituency projects they sponsored to companies owned either by them or their family members.

The projects, ranging from supplies of vehicles and hundreds of pumping machines to building construction, were meant for Kebbi Central, Jigawa South-West, and Taraba South senatorial districts.

Names of the lawmakers whose constituency projects were flagged by the ICPC were not mentioned in the report.

But our reporter identified the lawmakers based on the hints of the names of the relevant constituencies and the period of the appropriations of the controversial projects (2015 to 2020) provided in the report.

The lawmakers, based on our reporters findings, are Kebbi Central senator, Adamu Aliero; Jigawa South-West senator, Sabo Nakudu Mohammed, and Taraba South senator, Emmanuel Bwacha.

Senator Adamu Aliero, Kebbi Central

ICPC accused Mr Aliero of abusing his office by allegedly awarding a contract for the supply of water pumping machines for his Kebbi Central Senatorial District to a company owned by his children, Voltricity Nig. Ltd.

It also alleged that Mr Aliero, who was Kebbi State governor from 1999 to 2007, applied subtle influence on the executing agencies to award the contracts to companies owned by his children.

Various other projects were awarded and executed in Kebbi Central Senatorial District by three other companies, Alliance Trading Co. Ltd, Hummingbird Projects and Services International Ltd and Puranova Nig. Ltd, all owned and operated by the biological children of the sponsor (Mr Aliero), the report revealed.

ICPC said its Constituency and Executive Projects Tracking Group (CEPTG) would later discover and recover over 1,000 pumping machines kept on premises in Kebbi State.

CEPTG officers in Kebbi State sealed off the premises where over a thousand water pumping machines procured since March 2019 were kept undistributed, the report says.

The former governor was first elected into the Nigerian Senate in 2007 but was appointed the minister of the Federal Capital Territory in December 2008.

Mr Aliero made a comeback to the Senate in 2015 on the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and was re-elected in 2019.

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Senator Emmanuel Bwacha, Taraba South

Another federal lawmaker, Emmanuel Bwacha, who represents Taraba South Senatorial District, also allegedly awarded a contract for the construction and renovation of blocks of classrooms at the Federal University Staff School in Wukari, to his company.

According to the ICPC, Mr Bwacha awarded the contract to Eloheem Educational Management and Schools Ltd, a firm owned and operated directly by him.

In a case of misappropriation, the report said Mr Bwacha also deceived the federal government to fund a personal project of building a secondary school for the Federal University of Wukari as a constituency project.

In another instance, the Taraba senator allegedly cornered a contract for the supplies of water rigs to his constituency.

The contract was initially awarded to S.A. Kadiri Ltd. Curiously, the ICPC report says, just two days after the award, S.A. Kadiri wrote the executing agency, Lower Benue River Basin Development Authority informing it that its sister company, Eloheem Ltd, a company owned by Mr Bwacha, would now execute the project.

In respect of the execution of the contract, S.A. Kadiri requested that the contract sum should be paid into the bank account of Eloheem Ltd, a company owned and operated by the sponsor (Mr Bwacha), the commissions findings state.

Alleging conversion of public projects to personal use, the ICPCs findings state that Mr Bwacha who sponsored the procurement of water rigs to his constituency in Taraba South Senatorial District converted the same items to his personal use.

The rigs which were never distributed before the commissions intervention, were procured and supplied to the sponsor (Mr Bwacha), and were found in the custody of the sponsor; commercialised and the proceeds paid into the sponsors bank account, the ICPC report says.

The report adds that CEPTG officers would later recover the two water rigs with supporting equipment and one water tanker that had been converted to personal use by the sponsor from the senator.

Mr Bwacha, a former Commissioner for Agriculture in Taraba State between 1999 and 2003, is a veteran lawmaker.

He was elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to represent the Donga/Ussa/Takum federal constituency of Taraba State in the House of Representatives in 2003. He failed to secure reelection in 2007.

But he staged a comeback in 2011 to become the senator representing Taraba South Senatorial District. Mr Bwaha was re-elected to the Senate in 2015, and subsequently in 2019.

As a senator elected on the platform of the PDP, Mr Bwacha emerged as the Deputy Senate Minority Leader at the inception of the current 9th National Assembly but relinquished the position after defecting to the majority APC in February.

Senator Mohammed, Jigawa South-West

The ICPC similarly accused Sabo Mohammed representing Jigawa South-West Senatorial District, of cornering a contract for the supplies of water rigs to his constituency.

It said the senator awarded the contracts for the construction of hand-pump boreholes and supplies of water pumps, motorcycles and two Toyota Hilux trucks in Jigawa South-West Senatorial District to Schramm Global Services Ltd, a company owned and operated by two of his siblings.

The two trucks, the ICPC report adds, procured as constituency projects since 2016 would later be discovered and recovered from the contractor who is also a younger brother of the sponsor.

Mr Mohammed is a former member of the House of Representatives, first elected in 2011 and re-elected in 2015.

A member of the APC, Mr Mohammed was elected to the Senate to represent Jigawa South-West Senatorial District in 2015.

A current member of the 9th Senate, he won re-election to the upper legislative chamber in 2019.

Lawmakers keep mum

Several phone calls and text messages sent to Messrs Aliero and Bwacha by this reporter were neither answered nor replied to.

For over weeks, the lawmakers declined to respond to this papers enquiries.

Our reporter also visited Mr Bwachas office at the National Assembly, where one of his aides was requested to respond on behalf of the senator to the issues raised against him in the ICPC report, saying he was not authorised to do.

Recently, Mr Bwacha defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), where he has been rewarded with the Chairmanship of the Senate Committee on Public Procurement, a legal framework, which the ICPC indicted the lawmaker for its abuse.

For Mr Nakudu, his phone line was switched off as of the time of filing this report.
The Special Offences Court in Ikeja, Lagos, on Monday, ordered the remand of an alleged fake army general, Bolarinwa Abiodun, over charges involving N266.5 million fraud.

The judge, Oluwatoyin Taiwo, ordered Mr Abioduns remand following his arraignment by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on 13 counts of fraud, forgery and other charges.

The judge ordered his detention at the Ikoyi Correctional Centre, Lagos, pending the hearing of his bail application scheduled for April 14.

EFCCs spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren, said in a statement that the commission charged Mr Abiodun with obtaining money by false pretence, forgery of documents and possession of documents containing false pretence among other charges.

The commission said the alleged fraud, involving about N266,500,000, was reported by a firm, Kodef Clearing Resources.

The alleged offences are said to be contrary to section 1 (3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Related Offences Act 2006; section 363 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015 and Section 6 of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Related Offences Act No 14 of 2006, respectively.

The defendant pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

How alleged fraud was perpetrated

EFCC said Mr Bolarinwa perpetrated the alleged fraud by posing as a General in the Nigerian Army.

It said the defendant made false representations to the complainant, Kodef Clearing Resources, that President Muhammadu Buhari had short-listed him and one other to be appointed as the Chief of Army Staff, COAS.

He had allegedly told the complainant that he needed a short grant to press and process the appointment.

Mr Abiodun, who was arrested at his house in the Alagbado area of Lagos State on Wednesday, January 12, 2022, also allegedly forged a letter of appointment as COAS purportedly signed by the president and showed the same to the victim to further prove his claim.

In the said letter, he claimed that he needed to pay a certain amount of money into the coffers of the Federal Government of Nigeria, as part of the requirements for the appointment as COAS.

Mr Abiodun is also alleged to have, in May 2020, forged a Nigeria Army Identity Card with serial number 387140, claiming the same to have been issued to him from the Nigerian Army.

He also allegedly forged a Letter of Recommendation purportedly signed by former President Olusegun Obasanjo recommending one Adebayo Rasaq Adebola, with recruitment No 77RRI/OG/556/0032555 and Adeogun Emmanuel Adesola with recruitment No 77RRI/OG/352/0123751 for employment into the Nigeria Army.

He is also accused of being in possession of a forged certificate of confirmation dated November 7, 2018, purporting the same to have emanated from the Nigerian Army Headquarters.

EFCC also accused him of being in possession of a forged document titled, Letter of Authorisation, purportedly signed by Mr Obasanjo permitting one Bamidele Olusegun Safiriyu of De-Rock Maritime Resource L.T.D. to enter Apapa Port freely and load their truck.

The commission also said six pump action guns, three cartridge bullets, a swagger stick, and several forged documents were recovered from him when he was arrested.

Following the defendants not guilty plea, the prosecuting counsel, A.O. Muhammed, urged the court to fix a date for trial and remand him at the facility of the Nigerian Correctional Service.

But the defence counsel, Kayode Lawal, informed the court that he had filed an application for his clients bail.

The prosecution acknowledged receipt on April 8, 2022, noting that we are still within time to respond and we intend to respond.

Mr Lawal urged the court to grant a short adjournment of the case.

The judge, Oluwatoyin Taiwo, adjourned till Thursday, April 14, and ordered that the defendant be remanded at Ikoyi Correctional Centre, Lagos.

Charges

One of the counts reads: Bolarinwa Oluwasegun Abiodun, between 15th June, 2020 and 31st December 2020 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to defraud and whilst holding yourself out as a General in the Nigerian Army, obtained the sum of N111,400,000 from Kodef Clearing Resources Limited, under the pretence that the sum represented part of the amount expended to press and process your incoming appointment by the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, as the CHIEF OF ARMY STAFF of the Nigerian Army, which pretence you knew to be false.

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Another count reads: Bolarinwa Oluwasegun Abiodun, sometime in May 2020 in Lagos within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, knowingly forged LETTER OF APPOINTMENT AS CHIEF OF ARMY STAFF dated 20th May 2020 and purported the said document to have emanated from the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which document you know to be false.
Some associates and supporters of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo took to the streets of Abeokuta, Ogun State, to celebrate his formal declaration to contest for president in 2023.

Mr Osinbajo, who is from Ogun State, officially announced his intention to join the race to Aso Rock on Monday morning.

The vice president made the declaration about two months after his political leader and former Lagos State governor, Bola Tinubu, declared his intention to run for the same seat.

While Mr Tinubu was consulting with stakeholders including traditional rulers; support groups of the vice president kept pushing him to throw his hat into the ring.

One of the groups in Ogun, led by a three-time gubernatorial candidate in the state, Gboyega Isiaka, marched through the streets of Abeokuta, expressing their satisfaction that Mr Osinbajo had finally heeded the call.

The politicians walked from the popular Panseke market to the NUJ Secretariat, in Iwe-Iroyin, Abeokuta.

Those who took part in the walk included Joju Fadairo, former Ogun State chairman of PDP; Fatai Sowemimo, former commissioner for sports; Kehinde Sogunle, former commissioner for finance; Samson Oderinde, convener, Integrated Support Organization for Osinbajo; Femi Adebanjo, state convener, Believe Movement for Osinbajo; and Ayomikun Adeola, coordinator PYO Volunteers, among others.

Speaking with journalists, Mr Isiaka, who is a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), said the walk is in solidarity and approval of the declaration earlier today by Professor Yemi Osinbajo to run for the President of Nigeria in the 2023 elections which was broadcasted earlier this morning.

This is being repeated in quite a number of other states from the reports Im hearing and I think what it says is the approval of people for his candidacy and if you notice, this has been on for quite a while by various support groups.

So what the support groups have done is just to come together and show appreciation for the declaration and also the readiness to work for him towards winning the election.

From the speech that he delivered, I think everything is contained therein. He spoke about his capacity, his capability even before coming into government, he spoke about his experience in government in the last seven years, marshaling the various challenges that we have and he also mentioned the various things that need to be done.

On the claims that by Mr Osinbajos declaration, he had betrayed Mr Tinubu, Mr Isiaka said he holds a contrary view, appealing to both parties to sort their issues if there is any.

I dont see his declaration as a betrayal to Tinubu. I think it is a clarion call that he has heeded. If there are issues that need to be sorted out, I think there are better ways of sorting that out aside from the fate and the future of 200 million Nigerians.
An official of the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals (OSSAP-SDGs), Wednesday, described as shameful the level of women participation in Nigerias politics.

Yahaya Umar, Chief Administrative Officer in OSSAP-SDGs, who said that governments have not done anything to improve women participation in politics, challenged the authority to show evidence if they have done otherwise.

Mr Umar described the situation as terrible and added that womens participation has never gone beyond six per cent across the three tiers of governments.

Government has not done anything to improve womens participation in politics, if they have, let them show evidence, Mr Umar disclosed at a two-day training of journalists on SDGs and Developing a Network of Sustainability Reporters in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

The training was organised by the United Nations Information Centre (UNIC), Lagos, in collaboration with Media Awareness and Information for All Network (MAIN) for media practitioners in the South-south zone of the country.

Mr Umar, who represented the Head Technical, Bala Yunusa, was speaking while presenting a paper entitled: Implementing Agenda 2030 and the SDGs in Nigeria: Progress and Challenges.

He said for Goal 2 of the SDGs to be achieved, it means massive investment in agriculture and large scale production of food to take care of the populace.

If theres no hunger in 2030, it means massive investment in agriculture, production of food in large quantities to take care of the populace.

He further reminded the journalists that all efforts aimed at implementing the SDGs could be hampered by insecurity and called on the authority to address the menace.

Media, paramount in achieving SDGs

Speaking while declaring the event open, Oluseyi Soremekun, the National Information Officer at the United Nations Information Commission (UNIC), said the role of the media in the effective implementation of SDGs in Nigeria cannot be overemphasized.

Mr Soremekun noted that the training first started in Maiduguri, Borno State, two months ago, before moving to Kano, Abuja, Uyo after which it will be held in Enugu State for the South-east and finally in Abuja.

Mr Soremekun noted that all the 17 SDGs are mutually dependent on each other and said that the training was done to equip journalists on strategies needed in reporting SDGs.

In his closing remarks at the event, the Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Information, Ini Ememobong, thanked the organisers of the event and called for synergy between the United Nations Information Centre and Ministries of Information at state level to help in information dissemination on SDGs.

Other discussants at the event include, Lai Oso, a professor of Mass Communication at Lagos State University (LASU), Peter Esuh, a professor of Marketing Communication and Dean, faculty of Media Studies, University of Uyo; ;Ekaete Akpabio, a gender expert and lecturer at the University of Uyo and Jide Jimoh of School of Communication, LASU.

The Akwa Ibom State SDGs Desk Officer, Ime David, also made a presentation at the event.

The chairman of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Akwa Ibom State, Amos Etuk, was among the over 40 media practitioners who attended the training.
Eni, the Italian parent company of Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC), says the breach of its 24-inch gas line at Okaka in Yenagoa has temporarily crippled its gas export.

The firm said that it declared a Force Majeure on its gas export feed to the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) in Bonny.

Force Majeure is a legal clause inserted in contracts to protect suppliers from liabilities due to circumstances beyond their control.

According to a statement by Eni, the incident on the gas pipeline operated by its Nigerian unit, NAOC, has cut gas export feed to NLNG by five Million Standard Cubic Meter per day (MMSCM/d).

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) had reported that the facility had suffered a second attack within a few days on April 5 when it went up in flames.

The Director-General and Chief Executive of the National Oil Spills Detection and Response Agency, Idris Musa, told NAN that investigations by the agency traced the two leak incidents to sabotage by vandals.

According to the statement issued by an Eni spokesman, the firm shut in all gas wells that feed the line to douse pressure and pave way for repairs which were completed on April 8.

A gas leak incident due to third-party interference occurred on 5th April along 24 Ogbainbiri to Obiafu/Obrikom Gas pipeline at Okaka in Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.

All wells conferring in that pipeline was immediately shut-in and line depressurised whilst the area was cordoned off for safety reasons.

The relevant government regulatory agencies and the community were promptly notified.

A joint investigation visit confirmed sabotage.

Deferred production is estimated at about 5 MSm3/d of gas and the repair job was completed on 8th April.

Production ramp-up will take some days.

Force majeure has been declares at Bonny NLNG.

This is the second hacksaw cut in the area within few days, following a previous event that occurred on the same pipeline on 28th March, Eni stated.

(NAN)
The FCT Police Command has arrested 98 scavengers popularly called Baban Bola in Nigerian parlance.

The police paraded the suspects whom they accused of stealing, on Monday.

They also said the suspects would be moved to their states of origin.

Deputy Police Commissioner, Ben Igwe, said some strange persons had been trooping into the nations capital, pointing out that the command was working towards sending away such personalities from Abuja.

Abuja is not for everybody. We have asked them to go to where they are supposed to be.

We are working towards clearing them from the FCT. We will keep doing that and we will not relent, he said.

The commissioner said many items that are not to be scavenged were recovered from them.

We have asked them to relocate. Many people have been trooping into the FCT, and some of them are coming with evil intentions. Whenever you see them, let us know.

We are taking them to court to make sure that justice is given. We have a serious issue now because of threats from so many places.

Illegality?

The action by the police could be a breach of Section 41 of the Constitution, which guarantees citizens freedom of movement.

That part of the document also says no citizen shall be expelled from Nigeria.

Reacting to the development, a legal practitioner, Abduljalil Musa, described the planned relocation as illegal.

He said every Nigerian has the right to live and move around freely wherever he so wishes.

The intended action of the FCT Police Command to deport arrested 98 scavengers to their various states of origin will be unconstitutional and a fundamental breach of the inalienable right of affected persons to free movement.

Every Nigerian notwithstanding his station or standing in life is free to move around the country and live anywhere that suits him or her.

This much has been well captured in the 1999 Constitution (as amended) particularly Chapter 4 Section 41 which provides thus Right to freedom of movement. (1) Every citizen of Nigeria is entitled to move freely throughout Nigeria and to reside in any part thereof, and no citizen of Nigeria shall be expelled from Nigeria or refused entry thereby or exit therefrom, he said.
For the first time since he was reported to have collapsed and rushed to hospital, the Mudir (spiritual and administrative leader and rector) of the popular Markaz Arabic and Islamic Training Centre, Agege, Lagos, Habeebullah Adam Al-Ilory, has narrated his experience, even as he thanked God for his recovery.

The Islamic scholar, who spoke to a large audience in Lagos, on the first day of the ongoing 2022 Ramadan, also debunked speculations that he was flown abroad after he fell ill.

He, however, announced his withdrawal from the daily tafsir (lecture) of his mosque throughout the ongoing fasting period, saying he would need to recover fully.

Sickness

The news of Mr Habeebullahs sudden collapse had circulated in early February without verifiable details.

But while giving his own account on Sunday, April 3, the scholar confirmed that the incident happened in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, during a wedding ceremony of one of the children of a former Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Salhiu Belgore.

The event reportedly held on Thursday, February 3, 2022.

PREMIUM TIMES learnt that the scholar, who arrived at the venue and exchanged pleasantries with other guests and fellow Islamic scholars, religious and political leaders, suddenly collapsed as soon as he began to deliver his sermon.

Narrating the experience in Yoruba language, Mr Habeebullah said the near-death experience was harrowing and that he could have been dead but for the mercy of Allah and the help of some individuals who rallied round him.

He said when the incident occurred, the only thing he could remember was that he was in Ilorin and at the venue of the wedding event.

I had planned to attend the event and to move from there to another programme, he said. But the last thing I could remember was that I arrived at the event, and every other thing that followed could only be confirmed by witnesses.

The preacher, who said he never knew what being stressed felt like until the event of February, noted that his sudden illness was a big lesson for him to further appreciate the greatness of God and the privilege of being alive and healthy.

He said; I never knew stress. I had always believed that one only needed to work as long as there was energy. But those who understand what stress is and how to manage it, have been lucky to know when to relax and when to continue.

But this is the reason we should always be grateful to God almighty for granting us His mercy. The experience was tough but God also pushed many people my way to support and nurture me to recovery.

He said he was moved from the hospital where he was managed in Ilorin to Abuja, Nigerias federal capital, and that he remained in the city until he substantially recovered and was discharged.

He, however, did not disclose the hospitals where he was managed in Ilorin and Abuja, but unconfirmed reports had suggested that the scholar was initially rushed to the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH).

And to those saying I went to India or China for treatment, I was not flown abroad. I was only transferred from Ilorin to Abuja. And here I am today to give glory to God almighty and appreciate you all for your support and prayers, he added.

Appreciation

While underlining his inability to mention everyone who stood by him during his ordeal by name, the renowned scholar, however, listed some individuals and groups, who he thanked profusely for showing him love, care and support.

He thanked the Belgores family and listed Messrs Alfa, Ahmad and Saad, while also commending the Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazak. He also thanked two senators, Ibrahim Oloriegbe and Abdulfatai Buhari, who currently represent Kwara Central and Oyo North senatorial districts.

He further said; We cannot also forget the registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Professor Is-haq Oloyede. He is our alumnus (Markaz Agege) here and he has never left us. He tried very well too.

We must acknowledge the Niqabbat- Dr Yusuff Jumai, Professors Yisa Alabi, Lanre Bidmus and Bidmus Murtadoh; Abdullateef Ajeigbe, Alhaji Ebiti and Architect Nurudeen, among others.

I didnt see Tinubu but

Mr Habeebullah said although the former governor of Lagos State and presidential aspirant under the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, did not physically visit him in hospital, he (Habeebullah) received significant message from him.

I thank former governor Bola Ahmad Tinubu, the scholar said. Though I did not see him, his breeze hit me. Yes, it touched me.

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He also thanked the former Lagos State deputy governor and now senior special assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, among others.

He thanked the teachers and students of Markaz for what he described as their staunch support, and for sustaining the centre even in his absence.

Response to naysayers

Meanwhile, Mr Habeebulah disagreed with his aides when they said he appreciated everybody. He responded by saying not everybody deserved his appreciation, and particularly those he described as naysayers, critics and those who he said wished him evil.

It is not everybody that we would appreciate. Yes! There are people that we saw and there are those who wished themselves bad things, he said.

He said whatever evil they wished him should also go to them.

He also taunted his critics saying they should be sure that he was the one addressing the gathering and that God had restored his health against their wish.

See me now before you come out tomorrow that it was only my car that you saw and that I was being kept somewhere. I am here today and I thank God for the protection, he added.

Advice against visits

The scholar pleaded with his admirers and followers to understand his current situation and stop visiting him so he could recover fully, and very soon too.

He also urged Muslims to attend the daily lecture that will be anchored by those he said would be selected by him.

Sometimes, I will be here in the office but may not attend the tafsir. Just listen to the lecture and go home. Sometimes I may be home and not come at all. I want to relax this year and I need your understanding and cooperation, Mr Habeebullah said.

About Habeebullah

Popularly known as Mudir, otherwise known as rector or leader of the Markaz Arabic and Islamic Training Centre, Agege, Lagos, Habeebullah Adam Al-Ilory, is one of the sons of the late founder of the centre and widely respected scholarly preacher, Sheikh Adam Abdullah Al-ilory.

Mr Habeebulllah, who was born in 1958, took over the running of the centre after the death of his father.

Like his father, Mr Habeebullah has authored many books and is especially popular for his lecture titled; Science in the Holy Quran.

He is said to belong to many local and international organisations including the National Moonsighting Committee and the Islamic Crescents Observation Project (ICOP).

Mr Habeebullah is, however, seen as a controversial scholar, as his preachings are sometimes found politically or historically offensive by other Islamic scholars.

Islamic scholars under various umbrellas, including The Muslim Congress, had in the past addressed the press to publicly condemn certain comments credited to Mr Habeebullah, especially over the sayings and teachings of Prophet Muhammed (PBUH).
An Ikeja Special Offences Court on Tuesday dismissed a no-case- submission filed by a pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Ayodeji Oluokun, standing trial for alleged issuance of dud cheques of $1.6 million.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the judge, Oluwatoyin Taiwo, in her ruling, held that the prosecution had established a sufficient prima facie case against the defendant.

After carefully considering the submissions of the prosecution and the defence, the court at this stage is not to review the evidence of the prosecution but to see whether the prosecution has put enough evidence before the court to warrant the defendant to defend his case.

The prosecution called seven witnesses and tendered several documents. The evidence of the prosecution shows that the prosecution has sufficiently proven a prima facie case against the defendant.

I hereby dismiss the application of the defence and order that the defendant to open his defence, Taiwo ruled.

NAN reports that at the last proceedings, the defence counsel, Edoka Onyeke, had argued that the prosecution failed to establish a prima facie case against the defendant.

He had, therefore, asked the court to dismiss the charge against his client.

However, Samuel Daaji, counsel to the Economic and Financial Commission (EFCC), had asked the court to determine whether the evidence adduced by the prosecution sufficiently linked the defendant to the offences to warrant him to be called upon to open his defence.

NAN reports that the prosecution had closed its case in October 2021 after calling the seventh witness.

The EFCC had charged the defendant, an oil marketer and an assistant pastor of RCCG, City of David Parish, Victoria Island, Lagos, alongside his oil firm, Peak Petroleum Industry Nigeria Ltd, before the court.

The defendant and his company were first arraigned before the court on January 21, 2019, on a six-count amended charge bordering on obtaining money by false pretence, stealing and issuance of dud cheques.

The defendant had pleaded not guilty to the charge and was admitted to bail.

The EFCC, in a charge, marked ID/8509c/19, alleged that the defendant and his company, had in 2014, approached the management of GOSL Nigeria Limited for a loan of $1.6 million to enable him to carry out operational activities in his companys oil field in Bayelsa State.

The prosecution alleged that the defendant had assured the complainant that he would repay the money within 60 days.

Following the defendants failure to repay the loan as promised, he allegedly issued two post-dated Standard Chartered Bank Nigeria Limited cheques dated June 26, 2014, for the sum of $1.6 million.

The EFCC stated that upon presentation of the cheques to the bank for withdrawal by the complainant on several occasions, they were returned because of insufficient funds.

According to the prosecution, the alleged offences contravened Section 1(1) (b) of the Dishonoured Cheques (Offences) Act, Cap, D 11 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

Mrs Taiwo adjourned the case until June 10 for the defendant to open defence.

(NAN)
The Federal Government has restated its commitment to the renegotiation of the conditions of service of all workers in public universities across the country.

The Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, said this when he received members of the government side of the 2009 Federal Government/University based unions agreement re-negotiation committee led by its Chairman, Nimi Briggs, on Monday in Abuja.

Mr Ngige said this in a statement signed by Patience Onuobia, the Acting Head, Press and Public Relations, in the ministry.

The minister was speaking against the backdrop of the ongoing strike embarked upon by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

He said that as the conciliator, he has been pushing to see that everything contained in the 2020 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed by the government and the union was done, including the implementation of the renegotiated positions.

He recalled that the renegotiation commenced in 2017 when the Federal Government inaugurated a committee headed by Wale Babalakin who was later replaced by Munzali Jibril, but COVID-19 struck in 2020.

The minister said that in the December 2020 agreement, he gave the government side a timeline to return to the university unions who are their employees to sort everything out.

I started pushing to see that things were done. What the Munzali committee came up with is a proposal. Both Munzali and ASUU did not sign. At our last meeting in February before ASUU proceeded on strike, we said everyone should go back to his principal.

I asked Education several times what they had done with the document. We later got information on areas of disagreement. There is nothing wrong with that. It is bound to happen. I told ASUU to put up a committee, they said Munzali committee had expired.

As a conciliator, I have to make use of the labour instruments at my disposal. The bosses in the Federal Ministry of Education do not feel the strike. There are things that are above me. I am not Minister of Education.

I cannot go to the Education Minister and dictate to him how to run his place. But I told ASUU that you should be bombarding them at the Federal Ministry of Education for this to be moved forward. There are many ways to do so, he said.

According to him, if you go to the labour act there is something called picketing. You can picket, strike is an ultimate thing.

Picketing means that you can stay at the corridor, clapping or singing. Workers are permitted to do so. But everytime there is a disagreement, it is strike.

It is the children and some of us parents that have our children in public schools. I have my children in public universities, including those on my foundations scholarship and sponsorship.

So, I am a parent. I feel it. I didnt send my children to Igbinedion or Afe Babalola or Cambridge, he said.

He said the Nigerian university system produced him and he remains proud of it.

Why wont I support if ASUU and their unions now want a renegotiation of their conditions of service, which is the main thing in the proposal by previous Munzali committee.

Also speaking, Mr Briggs, who is also the Pro Chancellor of Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndifu Alike, Ebonyi State, said the renegotiation committee was consulting all stakeholders with a view to finding a lasting solution to issues in dispute.

(NAN)
At least 4.1 million are at the risk of facing a severe pain of food and nutrition crisis in the North-east region soon, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) has warned.

The humanitarian organisation said this number represents about 51.19 per cent of the larger population of 8.4 million in need of humanitarian assistance in the terrorism-torn region.

The UN humanitarian coordinator for Nigeria, Matthias Schmale, said this last Friday in Abuja at an advocacy event on behalf of the food security and nutrition task force in North-east Nigeria, according to a statements and excerpts sent to PREMIUM TIMES by a spokesperson to the Public Information Officer, OCHA Nigeria, Christina Powell, on Tuesday.

Across north-east Nigeria today, 8.4 million people need humanitarian assistance. Alarmingly, almost half of these crisis-affected people  4.1 million  are expected to face the severe pain of food insecurity in the approaching lean season, Mr Schmale said.

In 2021, the gap between people in need and people supported by food and nutrition assistance was 1.8 million. Due to reduced funding, that number is projected to dramatically increase to 2.9 million this lean season.

Unless resources are urgently mobilised, almost three million people in dire need of food and nutrition support will go unassisted.

For more than a decade, the North-east has come under relentless attacks by deadly groups such as Boko Haram and the Islamic States West Africa Province (ISWAP). The violence in the region has wreaked havoc on agricultural output and other livelihoods, cutting off crucial services, and adding to number of displaced persons.

About 8.4 million people, mostly in Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe (BAY) states, are said to be in need of humanitarian aid in the year 2022, according to UN data.

Malnutrition in children

The humanitarian coordinator said malnutrition is threatening the lives of 1.74 million children in the region as a result of the crisis.

Both Borno and Yobe states, he noted, have experienced the highest levels of violence since 2016.

Mr Schmale said up to $351 million is required to give humanitarian supplies to residents in Nigerias northeast.

This multi-sector plan has a financial requirement of $351 million and is part of the overall request of $1.1 billion for the 2022 humanitarian response plan, he said.

Without food assistance, desperation may compel extremely vulnerable people into transactional sex, child labour, and selling their few possessions.

I have heard stories from last years lean season of people in the north-east eating grass to stay alive, and I fear the recurrence of this tragedy if we fail to act quickly, Mr Schmale said.

On his part, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Ernest Umakhihe, said the situation of armed bandits and kidnapping in some North-western and North-central states are key drivers and limiting factors that have impacted food security in the country.

He said, Some key drivers and limiting factors that impacted food security in the country situation in Nigeria include the Covid-19 pandemic, likewise insecurity; especially insurgency in the North-east, armed banditry and kidnapping in North-west states as well as North Central states.

The UK high commissioner to Nigeria, Catriona Laing, remarked about her countrys commitment to providing humanitarian aid to Nigeria and the Lake Chad Basin.

I am speaking on behalf of the UK but also as the charity northeast ambassador among the 14 ambassadors who are particularly engaged in the terrible crises not only in the northeast in Nigeria but also in the wider lake chad basin.

The life-saving humanitarian crisis remains a central pillar. We need urgent action on investment to improve food security and nutrition.

As the scale of complexity of this challenge, the risk of not acting is much higher, we would see much terrible or harmed coping strategies if we dont act, including mass migration as while loss generation of children.

Also, aside from increased funding, we need increased attention on this crisis in the lake chad basin. This is a crisis that generally has received less attention and less funding than others. And of course, we need to be realistic as the humanitarian emergency is gripping the worlds attention, she said.

Ms Laing noted that, although the long-running conflict between Russia and Ukraine has put a burden on global humanitarian resources, the UK government is committed to ensuring that humanitarian relief for Ukraine does not come at the expense of other crises.

The French Ambassadress to Nigeria, Emmanuelle Blatmann, reiterated her governments commitment to address food insecurity through joint large-scale programmes with WFP, FAO and the European Union (EU).

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She noted that the government is providing 166 million for food aid globally, including 50 per cent of that to Africa. Ms Blatmann also indicated that France is to support the Economic Community of West African States with funding for food aid in situations of drought.

The EU body, in its remarks, reinforced its political and financial commitment to partner countries in Africa. About 554 million in 2022 will be targeted at increasing food security in Sahel and Lake Chad.
The federal government has declared Friday, April 15 and Monday, April 18, as public holidays to mark the 2022 Easter celebration, a statement by the interior ministry said.

The Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, who made the declaration on behalf of the federal government, felicitated with Christians and Nigerians at home and in the Diaspora on this years Easter celebration.

He advised Christians to emulate the attributes of sacrifice, togetherness, forgiveness, kindness, love, peace and patience, which were the attributes and practices of Jesus Christ, as exemplified by His ministry on earth.

Aregbesola, therefore, called on Christians and all Nigerians alike to use the occasion of this years Easter Celebration to pray for an end to all security challenges bedevilling every part of the country, the statement signed by the ministrys permanent secretary, Shuaib Belgore, said.

He assured Nigerians that the federal government will leave no stone unturned to ensure that the recent attacks by undesirable elements on the highways, airport and the railway are timely brought to an end.

READ ALSO: Federal High Court announces Easter vacation

Security is everybodys business. I, therefore, urge Nigerians and foreigners resident in our country to display a high sense of citizenship and public spiritedness at this critical time in the history of our country, by supporting the efforts of all security agencies in bringing peace and security of lives and property of the citizenry, he said.

He enjoined Nigerians to join hands with the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration in its determination to bring sustainable development and usher in prosperity for all.

There will surely be light at the end of the tunnel, he said.
The family of the Nigerian female doctor, Chinelo Megafu, who was killed in the Abuja-Kaduna train attack, has announced their daughters funeral arrangement.

On March 28, bandits attacked a Kaduna-bound train in central Nigeria carrying about 970 passengers. The train was said to have been attacked at night, about 89 km from Abuja station.

PREMIUM TIMES reported that the assailants used explosives to blow up the rail track before firing at commuters, forcing the train travelling from Kaduna to Abuja to stop.

At least eight people were killed in the attack, while over 100 people are believed to have been abducted.

Ms Megafu, 29, a University of Port Harcourt-trained dental surgeon, was among the 970 passengers aboard the ill-fated train.

The young doctor was bound to leave Nigeria the following Friday before the terrorists attacked the train, reports said.

Ms Megafu will be buried at Ebony Private Cemetery, Ikoyi, Lagos, on April 21, the deceased doctors family has said.

According to a burial poster seen by PREMIUM TIMES which has gone viral, the dental surgeon will be laid to rest after a burial service at Shepherdhill Baptist Church, at Mile seven, Ikorodu road, Obanikoro area of Lagos State on the stated date.

Details on the burial poster show that the funeral ceremony will be streamed live on a popular cloud-based video-conferencing platform, Zoom, as well as a popular video-sharing social media channel, YouTube.

Ms Megafu, whose family members are based in the South-western state, hails from Onitsha, Onitsha North Local Government Area of Anambra State, Nigerias South-east.

How she died

Ms Megafu tweeted at about 09:43 p.m. on March 28, when the news about the attacked train surfaced, notifying her followers that she had been shot in the train while also asking for prayers.

Im in the train. I have been shot please pray for me, she tweeted.

While some Twitter users were empathising with Ms Megafu, most hurled vile comments at her, implying she was lying.

The young doctor was said to have bled to death, hours after she made the post on the micro-blogging site.

Ms Megafu served at Kaduna State Dental Centre and worked with St. Gerards Hospital, Kakuri, before her untimely death, Anaiekwe Uwah, spokesperson of the Nigerian Medical Association said, in a statement.
The Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, will meet with the caucus of the APC in the House of Representatives on Wednesday.

The vice president, in a letter read by the deputy speaker, Idris Wase (APC, Plateau) on Tuesday, invited both Muslim and non-muslim APC lawmakers to iftarbreaking of fast.

Mr Osinbajo, who declared his intention to run for the 2023 presidential ticket of the ruling APC on Monday,, is the seventh aspirant to officially declared interest for the ticket of the ruling party. .

According to the letter, the lawmakers will be hosted at the State House Banquet Hall.

On Sunday, before announcing his aspiration, Mr Osinbajo also hosted some governors of the APC to Iftar at Akinola Aguda House, his official residence.

The declaration by Mr Osinbajo is setting up a possible battle with his former boss, Bola Tinubu.

PREMIUM TIMES had in an analysis detailed the chances of Mr Osinbajo against some of the candidates in the race.

Others in the race under the APC are: Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi; the Ebonyi State Governor, Dave Umahi; and Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State, former Imo governor and serving senator, Rochas Okorocha, who had earlier declared an interest.

Meanwhile, Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi; the Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, and the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, have continued to be linked to the race but are yet to officially make their intentions known

Meanwhile, Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa-Ibom will also meet with the PDP Caucus of the House on Tuesday.

Mr Udom, an aspirant of the PDP for the 2023 presidential ticket, will meet with the lawmakers at the House of the minority leader, Ndudi Elumelu, in Abuja.
Nigerias Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, will meet with senators of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Tuesday evening.

He will host the lawmakers for Iftar, the Islamic breaking of fast).

This was contained in a letter of the invitation read by the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, during plenary on Tuesday.

Although details of the meeting were not contained in the letter, the Vice Presidents invitation is not unrelated to his recent announcement to run for the office of the president in the 2023 election.

Mr Osinbajo had on Monday declared his presidential ambition.

In his declaration speech posted on his social media handles, he said he had, in the past seven years as vice president, traversed every part of our country, meeting Nigerians of every cadre, class, tribe and walks of life, both young and old.

He said the reason he is privileged to have these experiences, insights, and opportunities, is that they must be put to the use by our country and its great people.

He had also vowed to finish what President Muhammadu Buhari has started.

Mr Osinbajo will contend for the ticket of the ruling party, APC, with others who have declared their intentions; including ex-Lagos governor Bola Tinubu, and transportation minister Rotimi Amaechi, among others.

Before Mr Osinbajo, Mr Tinubu had met with APC lawmakers to solicit support for his ambition.
Armed persons, on Monday, invaded a mosque at the Maisamari community in Sardauna Local Government Area of Taraba State, killing its District Head, Abdulkadir Sufiyanu.

Residents said the assailants stormed the area at around 8 p.m. after the breaking of the Ramadan fast and shot dead the traditional ruler while he was performing night prayers.

Maisamari is in the larger part of Mambilla Plateau, the site of controversial Nigerias $5.9 billion federal hydro-power project. The project has an estimated 3,050-megawatt generating capacity.

In 2017, ethnoreligious violence erupted in the area between ethnic Fulanis and other ethnic groups in the area. Several people died in the clashes that ensued.

On social media, residents of the area recounted the last moment of the traditional ruler. About nine days ago, Mr Safiyanu was filmed discussing boundary demarcation between the Sadauna council and neighbouring Gashaka with officials of the state government.

The police spokesperson in Taraba command, Usman Abdullahi, could not be immediately reached.

The attack in Maisamari town comes days after gunmen raided several villages in Gassol and Karim Lamidos local government areas in the North-east region.

Unlike the neighbouring Adamawa, Taraba has been insulated from Boko Haram attacks

But there has been an uptick in kidnap-for-ransom in the state capital, Jalingo. Residents have blamed gunmen, known as bandits in the Nigerian media, for the attacks.
The House of Representatives has repealed the Customs and Excise Management Act and re-enacted new legislation in its place.

The bill seeks to make it mandatory for the Comptroller General of the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) to be appointed within the ranks of the officers of the agency.

This will end the appointment of non-custom officers to that position if the bill eventually becomes law.

The current CGC, Hameed Ali, a retired army colonel, was appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari in 2015.

Mr Alis relationship with the federal parliament has been frosty, and it peaked during the controversy over uniforms.

The 8th Senate had asked Mr Ali to wear the uniform of the NSC to appear before the lawmakers but he declined with the argument that the invitation did not indicate that he should wear a uniform.

My not wearing a uniform does not breach any law. No law, to my knowledge, compels me to wear a uniform. No law says in doing my service, I have to wear a uniform.

The lawmakers, therefore, ejected Mr Ali from the chamber following a motion to that effect.

On Tuesday, the Committee of the Whole of the House considered the report on the bill and passed it.

Consideration of the bill

The sponsor of the bill, Leke Abejide (ADC, Kogi), who is also the Chairman of the House Committee on Customs, while speaking on the report, said this is the first major reform of the law in 63 years.

He noted that the existing act is obsolete and cannot meet the needs of customs in the digital age. He added that the language used in crafting the law is also obsolete.

On the appointment of a CGC, Mr Abejide said there is a need for legislative input into the appointment of Comptroller General of Customs similar to other organisations like Inspector-General of Police, Nigeria Immigration Service, and the Service Chiefs. He argued that the move is a matter of national security.

He explained that all laws relating to customs and excise will be collated into a single legislation.

In addition, the bill seeks to eradicate the seven per cent cost of collection used to fund the budget of customs. In its place, the bill is seeking four per cent of Free on Board for funding of the agency.

Explaining the rationale for the changes to the funding of the agency, Mr Abejide said the existing seven per cent cost of collection is not sufficient to fund the salaries and benefits of officers, explaining that the four per cent FOB is international best practice.

The lawmaker further explained that the lack of financial autonomy has made it hard for customs to recruit sufficient personnel.

He added that Nigeria Customs Service currently has 15,349 Officers instead of 30,000 Officers needed for the Service to function optimally.

All the clauses in the bill were taken without objection from the members.

Passage of 2022 NCS budget

The House also approved N369 billion as the budget of the NSC for 2022.

The report of Mr Abejides committee was considered by the Committee of Supply chaired by the Deputy Speaker, Idris Wase (APC, Plateau).

A total of N214.3 billion was approved for capital expenditure, N108.8 billion for personal costs and N45.8 billion for overhead.

The funds are to be sourced as follows; N151.8 billion from seven per cent cost of collection, N14.9 billion from NSC VAT share and N60.1billion from 60 per cent share of the comprehensive Import Supervision Scheme (CISS).

Other sources are N114.2 billion from retained earnings and N27.8 billion of share of excess target.

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The House also directed NCS to improve on its corporate social responsibilities in the communities it is operating.
The barred GSM lines should be opened up for another reason: the cost to the economy and the effect on the mental health of the people. I suggest that the government should meet the people half-way, encourage them, and show a little more empathy. The people should also meet the government half-way by simply obeying the directive that every barred SIM card should be registered and thereby get unbarred.

Last week, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), a government agency under the Ministry of Communications, currently led by Minister Isa Pantami, took the decision and made this public that any user of a GSM phone who is yet to link his or her National Identification Number (NIN) to a Subscriber Identification Module, that is SIM cards, would be barred from making any further calls on the countrys telecommunication network. The telecommunication operators were ordered to effect the directive and so by April 4, over 48 million phones had been barred from making any calls. The idea of having mobile telephone lines in Nigeria linked to NIN was first mooted in 2020. Ten times so far, the Ministry of Communications and its subsidiary agency, have extended the deadline for compliance. In December 2020, over 72 million lines were barred from making calls. Following appeals to government, the deadline was again extended the tenth time.

The original reason given for the registration of SIM cards was national security. Too many persons, the government observed, commit crime through mobile telephony, from the use of the lines to kidnap persons, collect ransom, lure persons into ritual killings, rape, murder, extortion, advance fee fraud and all kinds of criminal activities. In a country of over 200 million people, it made sense to use mobile telephony penetration to track the people and gather data. The linkage between the Nigerian Communications Commission and the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) in this regard made sense. Data is the biggest problem in Nigeria. Nigeria plans without data. Nigerians do no respect data. They are more likely to operate on the basis of faith and superstition. Nigerians dont even know how many they are. With the increasing penetration of mobile telephony, a veritable tool of inclusion and democratisation there is no doubting the quality of data that can be mined from such a strategic and accessible public and open resource for development planning and national security reasons. This makes me think that the NCC/NIMC intervention was useful and advisable, absolutely in principle. Indeed at a point, the Nigerian regulator fined MTN, the biggest telecommunications company in the country, $3.9 billion for failing to disconnect unregistered SIM cards.

But where are we at this moment and why? In the last week, many Nigerians whose phones are not yet linked to the NIN, are busy agonising. They cannot make direct calls. They can only receive calls through their WhatsApp applications. Over 48 million Nigerians have been shut down. I can no longer count on my finger tips or the strands of hair on my head, the number of Nigerians who are literally weeping and gnashing their teeth that living without their mobile phones is like a trip to purgatory. Businesses have been affected. Love lives and relationships as well. This reminds me of an essay I once wrote wondering how we used to live before the advent of mobile telephony. I recall those days when every Femi, Chuka and Musa used to go to NITEL offices to make phone calls, only to get lucky or unlucky after many hours on the queue. Few persons had phones at home at the time, and for those who were privileged, what kind of phones did they have? Early 20th Century grandfather phones that left your fingers bruised after every call and after a usually annoying encounter with the disrespectful staff at the telephone exchange, who could be heard often times eavesdropping on your conversation and giggling at your expense.

The revolution in the telecommunication industry in Africa put an end to all that. It brought the people more than anything else, freedom. It shattered one aspect of the illusion of elite privilege and superiority. Telephone exchange staff became irrelevant  nobody needed them any longer and the gossip that they enjoyed ended. For a while there was something called Thuraya Satellite phones! All those women who got carried away by men who wielded those bulky phones, just before the democratisation of telephony, must now be wondering why they got carried away so easily by something that became nothing within such a short space of technological advancement and innovation. Today, Femi, Musa and Chuka can hold a phone, and call anywhere in the world without anyones assistance.

The only problem I see here are those Nigerians, the annoying ones who dont load credit on their own phones, that is the Oga, Oga, I dont have credit, please call me back crowd. When you call back, the same person who has no credit on his or her phone wants to beg for money from you, but he or she would never think of borrowing credit to even borrow from you. This is why my favourite feature on mobile telephony is True Caller. Once you can memorise the list of time wasters and the greedy crowd, it is easy to just ignore their calls, except they are willing, of course, to make the call, before that usual line: Brother mi, please I need your help oh. The danger is that every request is a matter of life and death, and the response is expected immediately. Nobody cares about your own circumstances. When you tell them you dont do this thing they call bank transfer, they would even offer to travel down to set it up for you, so that any time they need a handout from you, there will be no delay  Nigerians and their terrible sense of entitlements and the discontents of mobile telephony!

But why would Nigerians refuse to obtain the NIN and link their phones to it after ten postponements by the National Communications Commission (NCC), over a period of two years? The first thing is that the people do not trust their governments. We have reached a sad point in this country, whereby the people consider government their Number One Enemy. They doubt anything that is related to government.

If people suffer this much in the hands of extended family stalkers, extortionists and abusers, I have no problem with the state qua state saying that it needs to have a record of everyone who makes a call, or owns a phone. A mobile phone looks good. It is a tool of communication. It is also a status symbol. Indeed, when some Nigerians step out of their homes in the morning, they do not hold one phone, they carry about three, and in terms of cost, those three phones are more than enough to buy a plot of land and start the foundation of a building. Some people are so vain, despite the poverty in the land, that when you move beyond the value of their many phones and assess the cost of their jewelry, and apparel, the total combo would be enough to build a house! With such display of insensitivity and the crime level in the country, the Nigerian government is right to seek to know what people do with their phones. And who owns which phone? These small gadgets that people hold in their hands and call mobile phones can be used for good and ill. It is the same instrument that is used to announce good news, that terrorists use to deliver messages of evil. Freedom is a good concept in human societies, but it is not an absolute proposition.

But why would Nigerians refuse to obtain the NIN and link their phones to it after ten postponements by the National Communications Commission (NCC), over a period of two years? The first thing is that the people do not trust their governments. We have reached a sad point in this country, whereby the people consider government their Number One Enemy. They doubt anything that is related to government. Whatever government proposes, the people are likely to think that the primary interest is not theirs but the selfish interests of government officials. Without any deep reflection, they reject any government initiative almost instinctively: The fact that religion, ethnicity and ego are often thrown into the mix makes everything worse. Nigerians are also the most superstitious human beings in the world. They read meanings into everything. When this whole drama about the NIN/SIM started, Nigerians were naturally suspicious. Nobody allayed their fears and so the conspiracy theories grew wings. Do they want to monitor our phone calls? What do they need NIN for? Do they want to use this as an excuse to bring in people from Niger and Chad to manipulate 2023 general elections? Even if we take the numbers, who will protect privacy and guarantee integrity?

As is typically Nigerian, nobody could offer any clarification. The approach adopted by government was to bully the people and issue threats. That worked. People trooped to the registration centres. The centres were chaotic. Long queues; abusive staff. There were reports of extortion to get just a number. NCC addressed that by getting the telecommunication companies involved and setting up new centres at some point. It was at that point that I got involved. I had to get to the service centre at 6 a.m., alongside Ms Ijeoma Nwogwugwu and Mr Adibua Okwesa. Still, we met a queue. It is so strange that in Nigeria, you cannot get certain things, including visas to foreign countries, or a National Identification Number (NIN), except you go through a night vigil or its equivalent. The Federal Government of Nigeria may insist on its policy choices in this context, but the point is that it was a terribly managed process. The repeated extensions were also in part due to failures on the part of government and its agents. The NCC and the Federal Ministry of Communications jumped into the process without any clear thinking, completely without preparation and without enough public enlightenment.

The second thing is that the people dont really care. Why should the NIN/SIM card alignment be a priority when Nigerian borders are so porous and there is so much poverty in the land?

What I cannot understand is the chaos and confusion that people have been subjected to in the last few days. Suddenly and after a fashion, many NIN registration points are no longer working in parts of the country. Persons who had even obtained the NIN and who may have forgotten to link the NIN to their phone lines are being told to wait. They are asked to wait either because their numbers cannot be traced or that the electronic system in these places is down. People are desperate. They have learnt to rely on their mobile phones. Losing a phone is like being castrated; holding a phone and not being able to make a regular call with it is like mental torture. People around me have been screaming. They are losing it because they cant make calls without their phones. They shout on top of their voices when I tell them that we once lived in this same country where a certain military chief, a minister of Communications, who later became a prominent politician and chairman of the countrys legislature, boasted, one of those days, that telephones are not meant for the poor! They think I am talking fiction, but it is the truth, even if the mans media handlers have tried to water down the statement over the years. These days the poor own the phones and they are very assertive about their right to also make phone calls.

I want to appeal to the Federal Ministry of Communications and the National Communications Commission to take a second look at the latest deadline. When the queues built up and the people complained, the government was helpless. I commend the agencies, however, for the decision to extend the deadline further until now.

I want to appeal to the Federal Ministry of Communications and the National Communications Commission to take a second look at the latest deadline. When the queues built up and the people complained, the government was helpless. I commend the agencies, however, for the decision to extend the deadline further until now.

I also admit that the Federal Government had given so many earlier warnings. But that is Nigeria for you. The people do not obey directives by government until they are convinced that it is something deserving of their concern. But by now, it must be clear to Nigerians that government means business with the registration of NIN and SIM cards. Their reluctance to comply is more of a comment on people-government relations than the people themselves, or perhaps both, to be fair.

I recommend a more cautious approach. Even those who had their NIN cannot link up. The NCC must look at their back-end operations. It is either the operating system is overwhelmed or there is a need to look at whatever is happening at that back-end. Phone users have been told to go quickly and sort out their NIN/SIM registration and many are out there in compliance but the confusion is enormous. It would be wrong to project the typical Nigerian attitude that the people deserve to be punished. No. Many are actually innocent offenders. It seems to me that the alignment of the NIN and SIM cards should be a permanent, on-going process. There must be more creative ways of making sure that the people comply. What are those other options? Candidly, I have no technical ideas, beyond common sense, but I think mounting additional pressure on a population that is already under the weather as a result of existential uncertainties is most unkind: a national currency that is heavily devalued, the cost of diesel going up so badly even the rich now ration electricity supply, no jobs, no water, no electricity and yet in the midst of it all, some people are beginning to show up talking about 2023 general elections and promises that they do not intend to keep.

The barred GSM lines should be opened up for another reason: the cost to the economy and the effect on the mental health of the people. I suggest that the government should meet the people half-way, encourage them, and show a little more empathy. The people should also meet the government half-way by simply obeying the directive that every barred SIM card should be registered and thereby get unbarred.

Reuben Abati, a former presidential spokesperson, writes from Lagos.
To run for a governorship position in any state in the US in 2022, your political partys primary filing and nomination fee can range from as low as $0 (yes, zero) to $3,750 (or N1.8m). The average fee is thus circa $2,000 (or N980,000). These charges cover what is labeled in Nigeria as nomination and expression of interest forms fees. The earlier higher figure of $3,750 is applicable in the state of Texas, one of the largest states in the US. Other than advert and coordinating logistics for the campaigns that are personal to each aspirant, there are no additional obligatory fees to run for the position of a governor in the US general elections.

To run for the US House of Representatives (Congress), the party filing and nomination fee can range from $0 to $3,125 with the average in most states being $1,760 (about N850,000). The US State House of Representatives (we call this House of Assembly in Nigeria) can range from $0 to $750 with the average being $200 (less than N100,000), depending on the state.

Yet, you can bypass these fees altogether by opting to submit a Petition in place of a Filing Fee. That is, your application for a place on the primary ballot is expected to be accompanied by either a filing fee or a petition in lieu of a filing fee signed by a certain number of qualified voters in your constituency or district. For governorship, most of the states require you to submit signatures from just 5,000 voters. For the Federal House of Representatives or State House of Assembly, you may need signatures from just 500 voters.

I contested the governorship position in Ondo State in 2016. Our filling fee for the party (APC national and state) at the time was around N7 million (N5 million national + N2 million state). Thats like four times what a governorship aspirant in the U.S. would pay in 2022! I recently learned that the gubernatorial nomination fee of the leading political parties in Nigeria is likely to increase to N30 million in the 2022/2023 election. The PDP has fixed the nomination fees of its presidential aspirants at N40 million in the 2022/2023 election.

The USs GDP per capita trends around $62,000 in 2022 while Nigerias GDP per capita hovers at $2,400. The GDP per capita measures the economic output of a nation per person. Put in street lingo, it represents the average wealth of the average person in that country. The average monthly income in the US is about $3,000 per month (about N1.5 million) while minimum wage earners in most states make about $1,600 per month (about N780,000). An American with an average job and monthly income can therefore afford to pay for the governorship filing and nomination fee with one months salary. More remarkable is that even an individual on monthly minimum wage could afford to run for the U.S. House of Representatives or State House of Assembly by simply saving up ONE months salary!

In contrast, the minimum wage in Nigeria today is N35,000 per month. Outside of reliable data, we all know the real truth about the average job and average monthly income on the streets. A professor in Nigeria earns between N381,695 and N501,680 per month. A tenured university professor at the bar in Nigeria can starve and save up all salaries paid for the job in four years combined, yet, that university professor would still be unable to afford the approximately N30 million filing fee required of governorship aspirants by the political parties in Nigeria in 2022. This applies to most legitimate jobs in Nigeria. Inherently, the best earning Nigerians cannot on the weight of their legitimate earnings, contest for states and federal positions as aspirants in Nigerian political parties.

Nonetheless, without prejudice to the mighty significance of the lower and affordable fees payable by those seeking to be part of the U.S. political process in contrast with Nigerians, it is more astounding the thematic realisation that these fees are no limiting factors at all because the U.S. democratic system made a generous allowance for the complete bypass of payment subject to having enough signature endorsement from the people.

Does this have implications? Does this tell us anything about the type of democracy we are incubating? Why is this important? Does it not look like our democracy is different from the U.S. democracy  in nature, character, and essence? Does it not look like one democracy is determined by the people and depends on the will of the average citizens while the other democracy is not determined by the people or dependent on the will of the people? The most important question however is whether the outputs of both democracies can be the same  in terms of accountability, transparency, and responsible use of state power for the benefit of the people.

Nigeria is a nation of 207 million people. There is over two decades of awareness campaigns to get the Nigerian public to actively participate as voters in general elections. Participation as voters in the general election as the sole thrust of this campaign effectively leads to the conclusion that voting at the general election represents the only important civic duty of the Nigerian in the electoral process. But that is misleading. Whilst it is indeed true that the Nigerian political system has made substantial efforts to get the public to vote on D-day of elections, it is equally true that the Nigerian political system has left no stone unturned to ensure the Nigerian public is not able to participate in other most important aspects of the Nigerian electoral processes. These include unencumbered party membership, equitable access to party leadership positions as well as level-playing grounds to aspire to and become flag-bearers of political parties in elections. This is what this succinct comparison between the United States and Nigeria has affirmed. By monetizing the process, the Nigerian political system partitions the political divides into the haves and the have not and excludes the majority in clear violation of the provision of Section 14(2)(a) of the 1999 Constitution which stipulates that Sovereignty belongs to the people of Nigeria from whom government derives all its powers and authority.

What makes a country like the U.S.A the envy of all is in the very strength of her democracy, whereby the validity and legitimacy of the countrys political process inhere in the people of America, their preferences and choices. This is why you see the typical American politician pandering to his base. This is why clear ideological firmaments can be identified. Regardless of the extent of its sterling finesse or outright ludicrousness, you can see the typical U.S. politician walking a tightrope to stay with the overarching ideology of his base and ensure he projects the aspirations of that base so that he can continue to poll well with them. Overall, the U.S. politician, the British politician, the Canadian politician, etc is subliminally primed by his nations political system to seek to apply power to secure the endorsement of his base. In essence, the seeming accountable use of political power for the benefit of their people is a direct product of the respective political processes deferring to their citizens.

Conversely, that the average Nigerian public officer appears to perpetually hold the Nigerian people in utter contempt, is a direct consequence of Nigerias restrictive political processes. By limiting peoples participation to only voting on election day, the Nigerian ruling class reduces the public to rubber stamp electorates required only to give a veneer of democratic legitimacy to what is in truth the antithesis of democracy. The frustration with fair and equitable access to the political process is principally responsible for the mushrooming of political parties by citizens in Nigeria. In a display that is contemptuous of egalitarian participation by the people, even political parties have now been known to impose heavy fees for members willing to aspire to leadership positions within Nigerian political parties! It cost N20 million to obtain the form for APC National Chairmanship position at its last convention. The lowest leadership rung at the convention, such as an Assistant Publicity Secretary, cost N5 million  that is about three times what it cost to run for governorship in the U.S.A.

There are litanies of other issues that continually erode the very fabrics of genuine democracy in Nigeria. This essay has only dealt with one. I put this information out here because we do not know which reader, whether now or among future generations, would come to possess the kind of power that can make true change happen. Remember this essay when that time comes and do your best to introduce real democracy.

Tunji Ariyomo is a Fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers and the National Coordinator of the Nigeria Focus Group.

Credits and data sources:

Official Websites of:

Texas Secretary of State

North Carolina State Board of Elections

Kansas Secretary of State

Vermont Secretary of State

Kentucky Board of Elections

Bunmi Oladunjoye.
Gunmen have reportedly killed at least 142 persons in fresh attacks on some communities in Kanam and Wase Local Government Areas of Plateau State, North-central Nigeria.

The attacks, which happened on Sunday, were carried out in Kukawa, Gyambawu, Dungur, Kyaram, Yelwa, Dadda, Wanka, Shuwaka, Gwammadaji, and Dadin Kowa communities of the state.

The two local governments share boundaries but are not in the same senatorial districts.

Ishaku Takwa, the media officer of Operation Safe Haven (OPSH), a military task force maintaining peace in Plateau State and environs, confirmed the attacks to journalists on Sunday in Jos.

The spokesperson of the Plateau State governor, Makut Macham, did not respond to enquiries on the exact figure when contacted by PREMIUM TIMES.

This newspaper could not also reach the police spokesperson in the state, Gabriel Ubah, as he did not respond to telephone calls and SMS sent to him.

However, an online medium, Peoples Gazette, reported that the governors spokesperson confirmed the figure.

BBC Hausa also quoted a traditional ruler as saying that at least 135 people were killed during the attacks.

The traditional ruler, whose name was not given, also said 54 people were killed in Kukawa while 34 were killed in Gyambawu villages.

The latest attacks come less than a month after 10 persons were killed in Teegbe village of Bassa Local government. Many people were also injured and at least 30 houses were burnt in the attack, a statement by the police said.

Before that attack, Irigwe, another community in Bassa, was also embroiled in communal crises where at least 10 persons were killed.

Plateau State has seen more communal and religious crises in the last decade than any other state in Nigeria.

Hundreds of persons were killed in the crises which have reoccurred countless times.

Governor reacts

Reacting to the sad incident, Plateau State governor, Simon Lalong, in a statement, ordered security operatives in the state to fish out culprits of the mayhem.

In the statement signed by his spokesperson, Mr Macham, Mr Lalong vowed to make it difficult for terrorists and other criminals to set their bases in any part of the state and use same to launch attacks on innocent citizens.

He said security agents have also been charged to dominate the area after their initial response which he said put a stop to the carnage.

According to the governor, Plateau State will never be used as a haven for terrorists to set up camps and use same to wreak havoc on communities and innocent citizens in the State and elsewhere.

Governor Lalong said the State Security Council has adopted far-reaching measures to strengthen all security measures and enhance the capacity of the security agencies to respond to all situations that cause a breach of the peace in any part of the State.

Lalong who sympathised with the communities affected promised them justice as those behind the attacks will not be allowed to go without punishment. He also directed the State Emergency Management Agency and the Peace Building Agency to immediately visit the areas, assess the situation and provide relief as well as trauma management, the statement said.

The statement further said the state has already approached the federal government for collaboration to deal with the terrorists hibernating in the area once and for all to enable people to go about their legitimate businesses without molestation and harassment.
Kano State Police Command on Monday announced the suspension of the centuries-old traditional annual pantomime performance, known as Tashe in Kano, over concerns that it may cause an increase in criminality in the state.

The Tashe pantomime is usually celebrated on the tenth day of Ramadan. The event often involved men dressed in masks and other comical attires satirising events and persons around them.

The spokesperson of the police in the state, Abdullahi Kiyawa, said the suspension was necessary because in previous celebrations, criminals disguised as Tashe performers freely indulged in the use of banned substances, thuggery, and robbery.

The Commissioner of Police, Kano State Command, Samaila Dikko, called on the good people of Kano state, especially parents and guardians to warn their children not to involve in any act of breaking law and order.

Anyone caught will be dealt with according to provisions of the law, the official threatened.
Rivers State governorship aspirants on the platform of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in the 2023 election have resolved to zone the seat to the Riverine-Ijaw area of the state.

The aspirants stated this in a communique they issued after their meeting on Monday in Port Harcourt, the state capital.

The 10-point communique was endorsed by 10 aspirants.

The Rivers Ijaw are spread across the coastlines in the over 10 local government areas of Andoni, Opobo Nkoro, Bonny, Okrika, Ogu-Bolo, Port Harcourt (South), Asari-Toru, Degema, Akuku-Toru and Abua-Odual, making them over one-third in the state.

The aspirants said they will further consult other relevant people and key politicians in the state to support power rotation to the zone for the sake of justice and fairness in the distribution of political offices in the state.

The progressives aspirants agreed to consult other stakeholders, elder statesmen; opinion leaders and key politicians in the state to support power rotation to the Riverine Ijaw come 2023 as a way of ensuring equity, justice and fairness in the distribution of political offices, they said.

To ensure the victory of the APC in the coming election, the aspirants also resolved to collapse their campaign structures to support whoever emerges the party flagbearer after primaries.

The aspirants also agreed to avoid name calling, insults and pulling down others to gain attention and to caution their supporters against attacking other aspirants on social media.

As a way of respecting the party supremacy, the aspirants resolved that immediately a candidate emerges, all aspirants will put self and ego aside and collapse their various campaign structures into the party structure to support the flag bearer to win the 2023 elections for APC in Rivers State.

The progressives aspirants also agreed to work in unity and support whoever emerges at the party primaries either by way of consensus or election as exemplified by the party leadership at the just concluded national convention.

The group called on members of the party in the state to seek reconciliation, close ranks and work with the leadership of the party to ensure victory at all levels in the 2023 election.

Rivers State with 23 local government areas has had four governors since 1999, all from upland part of the state.

They are Peter Odili from Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni LGA, who was governor from 1999 to 2007; Celestine Omehia from Ikwere LGA, who governed the state from May 2007 to October 2007 when he was sacked by the Supreme Court: Rotimi Amaechi, also from from Ikwere LGA, who ruled from October 2007 to 2015; and the incumbent, Nyesom Wike, from Obio Akpor (also from Ikwere ethnic nationality as Mr Amaechi).

Mr Wike, who is currently in his second term, was elected governor in 2015 and will end his tenure in 2023.

All four, including Mr Amaechi who later defected to the APC, were elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
A group, Policy Alert, has accused the Akwa Ibom State Government and security agencies in the state of planning to launch an attack on its office and staff over scathing revelations relating to poor fiscal governance in the state.

Policy Alert, a non-governmental organisation which focuses on promoting economic and ecological justice in the Niger Delta, disclosed this in a statement by its Executive Director,Tijah Bolton-Akpan, in Uyo on Thursday.

Mr Akpan said staff members of the organisation have been verbally harassed by agents of the state government, adding that they have also noticed a Hilux van with shielded number plate parked near their office, apparently to monitor their activities.

In the recent past, our staff members have repeatedly been stalked and verbally harassed on the streets of Uyo by persons believed to be on the employ of the state government, but we found no reason to raise an alarm.

However, in the last two days, we have witnessed suspicious activity around our Uyo head office and we are constrained to call the attention of the authorities to it.

Our staff reported seeing a White Toyota Hilux pick-up truck with tinted windows and shielded number plate parked for an extended period not far from our office on Wednesday.

The matter was discussed on the organisations platform and team members were advised to be vigilant. Curiously, the same vehicle was spotted again today (Thursday) around the same spot. When a staff member made to approach the vehicle in order to find out the mission of its occupants, it sped off, he said.

Mr Bolton-Akpan, who described the incidents as disturbing, said it came a few days after the group was alerted of the displeasure of its activities by the state government and plans to launch an attack on them.

This is even more disturbing coming just a few days after we were tipped off that some top people in government who are displeased with our transparency and accountability watchdog role, especially in recent times, were planning to use media hirelings, security agencies, and political thugs to launch a series of attacks on Policy Alert and some other civil society and labour organisations in the state.

The group advised the state government to seek legal address or respond with superior argument if they are not pleased with its action, adding that the organisation will not be deterred in holding duty bearers accountable.

Policy Alert called on security agents in the state to resist being used by politicians to target anti-corruption campaigners and human rights defenders.

Attack, not in our character  Govt

The Commissioner for Information in the state, Ini Ememobong, when contacted, said the state government is committed to the highest level of accountability and transparency in governance.

Mr Ememobong, who denied knowledge of plans by the state government to attack anybody or group, said it is not in the character of the current administration to do so.

The state government does not have any history of attacking people either emotionally, physically or spiritually. The governor is committed to the highest level of accountability and transparency.

I am not aware of any planned attack on any person let alone a group like Policy Alert and it is not in the character of the current administration to do so, the commissioner said.

The state police spokesperson, Odiko Macdon, did not respond to requests seeking his comments on the matter.

Concerns earlier raised by Policy Alert

Policy Alert has on different occasions raised concerns over the fiscal discipline of the Akwa Ibom State Government among other issues.

The group, in March, demanded that the State Assembly subjects the 2022 Supplementary budget of N45 billion to public scrutiny. About 91.1 per cent of the budget is for recurrent expenditure while a paltry 8.9 per cent is for capital expenditure.

The group said the haste employed by the legislators to get the budget passed was suspicious as the Committee on Finance and Appropriation was asked to report back within 24 hours after second reading.

Governor Udom Emmanuel had forwarded a supplementary budget of N45 billion to augment the initial N586.88 billion, bringing the total revised budget to N631.38 billion after it was approved to the state legislature.

We urge the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly allow sufficient time for thorough legislative scrutiny of this controversial supplementary appropriation bill and to subject the proposal to public hearing in line with the traditional procedure of the legislature on bills and the principle of fiscal transparency and accountability, Faith Paulinus, Policy Alert Programme Officer, said in a statement in March.

The state lawmakers, however, passed the budget without subjecting it to public scrutiny as canvassed by the group.
Two lawmakers in the Anambra State House of Assembly have announced their defection from All Progressives Congress (APC) to Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), ahead of the 2023 general elections.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the lawmakers, Douglas Egbuna (Onitsha North I) and John Nwokoye (Awka North), announced their defection at plenary in Awka on Tuesday.

Im pleased to announce my defection from APC to PDP over reasons best known to me, Mr Egbuna, who used to be a PDP member and Deputy Minority Whip of the assembly, told his colleagues.

Also speaking, Mr Nwokoye said: I want to also officially announce my defection to PDP for personal reasons. Im no longer a member of APGA and neither am I a member of APC.

The Minority Leader, Onyebuchi Offor (Ekwusigo), welcomed the lawmakers to PDP, even as he commended them for their decision.

I thank you for deciding to join our accommodating party. We welcome you into our midst as members of PDP in the House of Assembly, he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the defection has increased the number of PDP members in the assembly from six to eight.

Meanwhile, the assembly has confirmed the last commissioner-nominee from Governor Charles Soludo, after adopting the report of the House Committee on Screening, headed by Pascal Agbodike.

The Speaker, Uche Okafor, gave the name of the commissioner-nominee as Sylvester Ezeokenwa, who would superintend over the Ministry of Special Duties.

NAN reports that the confirmation of the nominee took place through a vote conducted during the plenary.

NAN also recalls that the governor had, in a letter to the assembly, dated April 6, submitted the name of the last commissioner-nominee for screening, thus increasing the number of commissioners to 21.

The House, thereafter, adjourned till April 26.

(NAN)
Francis Nwaze, the media aide to the governor of Ebonyi State, Dave Umahi, has dismissed claims that the governor has dropped his 2023 presidential ambition.

Mr Umahi had declared his intention to contest for president in 2023 on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in January, this year.

He made his intention public shortly after a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the State House in Abuja.

His declaration came just a day after a former governor of Lagos State, Bola Tinubu, revealed his plan to run for the office on the ticket of the APC.

Mr Umahi, in an interview with State House correspondents, said he had told the president about his ambition to contest for the seat if the party zones the ticket to the Southern region.

On Tuesday, reports in the local media claimed the governor had pulled out of the 2023 presidential race and, instead, declared his intention to run for Ebonyi South Senatorial seat in the forthcoming general elections.

But, when contacted, Mr Nwaze, Gov nor government media aide, told PREMIUM TIMES that the governor never pulled out of the presidential race.

Tththehe governors spokesperson described the report as a propaganda sponsored by Mr Umahis political enemies.

Governor Umahi is very much in the (presidential) race. It (the report) is mere propaganda and it is being sponsored, Mr Nwaze told PREMIUM TIMES, Tuesday night.

The spokesperson expressed confidence that Mr Umahi would emerge victorious in the APC primaries to become the partys flag bearer in the 2023 presidential election.

Umahis legal battles

Mr Umahi, aside from the latest rumour of dropping his presidential ambition, has been in a legal battle to remain in power as governor following a court judgment sacking his administration.

The Federal High Court in Abuja had, last month, sacked Mr Umahi, the Deputy Governor, Kelechi Igwe, along with 16 lawmakers in the state over their defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC.

The judge, Inyang Ekwo, ruled that by defecting from the party on which they were sponsored and elected, they had resigned or deemed to have resigned from office.

However, in a different judgement, the Court of Appeal, Enugu Division, earlier this month, struck out a suit seeking the sack of the governor and his deputy from office. were

The suit was instituted by the candidate of the APC in the 2019 governorship election, Sonni Ogbuoji, and his deputy, Justin Mbam, who had challenged the defection of the governed from the PDP to the APC.
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The myriad scents of flowering trees and plants.

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Robert Frost, who died in 1963, was a frequent visitor to Plattsburgh when he would come to see his friend, Dr. Edward Doc Redcay, who served as dean of students.
The site features a detailed overview of 20/20's unique executive search capabilities as well as robust consulting practice including Compensation Consulting, Executive Coaching, Career Coaching, Leadership Assessments, Litigation Consulting, and Succession Planning. It enables clients to better understand 20/20's sophisticated technology platform and data-centric process. The site also features 20/20's new CLEAR score, a proprietary method for evaluating candidates.

"This new site reflects our relentless drive for innovation and our commitment to our clients to provide a transparent, thoughtful, and streamlined search process," commented Bob Cavoto, Founder and Managing Director Emeritus.

Robert Peck, Managing Principal, added, "Over the last two years, 20/20 has grown  strategically hiring professionals to strengthen our internal organization, adding additional offices to expand our market presence, and investing in technology to enhance our capabilities. We felt it was important to redesign our site to reflect this growth and continuing commitment to client experience."

20/20 Foresight Executive Search invites visitors to explore the website and learn more about its focused expertise in real estate, financial services, and professional services. Users will also have the opportunity to review hundreds of recently completed searches so that they can see for themselves how 20/20 Foresight has helped companies around the country find leaders who have taken their organizations to the next level.

About 20/20 Foresight Executive Search 20/20 Foresight Executive Search was founded in 1994 to provide an unparalleled recruitment experience. The company's team features career consultants who are experts in real estate, financial services, and professional services. 20/20 Foresight leverages a proven recruitment process, proprietary tools and techniques, and the industry's best database, resulting in a 95 percent success rate in placements. 20/20 Foresight Executive Search was ranked by Forbes as one of "America's Best Executive Recruiting Firms 2021," an honor it has held for the last five years.

SOURCE 20/20 Foresight Executive Search
Nearly $6M in Funding Results in 90,000 Pet Adoptions, Expanded Veterinary Clinic & Valley's First-Ever Pet Resource Center

PHOENIX, April 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Arizona Humane Society (AHS) and Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust (Trust) are celebrating 20 years of lifesaving efforts devoted to saving Arizona's homeless pets and providing affordable resources for pet owners in our community.

Beginning in 2001, the Trust was a leading funder of AHS' Nina Mason Pulliam South Mountain Campus located at 15th Avenue and Dobbins Road in South Phoenix. Since then, the campus  located on 20 acres of land donated by the Bisgrove Family  has been home to nearly 90,000 pet adoptions.

Arizona Humane Society Arizona Humane Society Nina Mason Pulliam South Mountain Campus

Additionally, the Trust was critical in establishing AHS' expanded Margaret McAllister Brock Veterinary Clinic at its South Mountain Campus in 2011 for pet owners in need. Today, AHS' Veterinary Clinic serves low-income pet owners and cares for more than 6,500 pets annually. With a continued focus on helping people in need and protecting animals, along with the Trust's backing, AHS established Arizona's first-ever Pet Resource Center  a call center devoted to keeping pets and people together. AHS' Pet Resource Center fields upwards of 100,000 calls each year, providing resources for thousands of pet owners.

"Our 20-year partnership with the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust has allowed us to focus our efforts on both ends of the leash," said Arizona Humane Society President and CEO Dr. Steven Hansen. "By implementing programs for both pets and their owners, we are better able to address the root of pet ownership problems in our community as opposed to simply putting a Band-Aid on it. In doing so, tens of thousands of pets and owners have benefited."

The overall result has been a 61 percent decrease in animal intake and an 83 percent decrease in euthanasia, taking Maricopa County from one of the worst places to be a homeless pet to one of the best.

Now, 20 years later, the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust is once again a leading funder in Maricopa County's companion animal transformation as AHS begins construction on its Rob and Melani Walton Papago Park Campus. Scheduled to open in early 2023, the 72,000 square-foot campus will be located at the juncture of the 202 and 143 freeways in the Papago Park Buttes. It will feature two main buildings: the Nina Mason Pulliam P.E.T. Center and the Watts Family Medical Complex, anchored by the Lazin Animal Foundation Trauma Hospital.

The complex will offer medical and behavioral interventions, treatment, and care at a level not yet seen in the United States. Additionally, the Campus will serve as a full teaching hospital for emerging veterinary students at a time when the veterinary profession is experiencing an extreme shortage. Additionally, the trauma hospital's expanded triage area will enable AHS to treat thousands more homeless pet patients than AHS' current Sunnyslope Campus, which first opened in 1957.

"Nina Mason Pulliam loved animals of every kind and had a strong understanding of the human-animal connection. She would be thrilled to know this campus that bears her name has contributed to nearly 100,000 pet adoptions, as well as kept animals with their human families during challenging times," said Lisa Shover Kackley, trustee of the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust. "We're proud of the work that continues to be accomplished at the South Mountain Campus and to be stepping with Arizona Humane Society into a new era of animal care."

The new campus, along with AHS' Nina Mason Pulliam South Mountain Campus and mobile veterinary clinics, will allow AHS to expand its lifesaving services to meet the region's rapidly growing populationa population currently experiencing the highest growth rate in the country. Those critical medical services and an unwavering commitment to keeping pets and people together will ensure that the pets and people of Maricopa County and beyond will get the care, resources, and support they need for decades to come.

To learn more about AHS' Rob & Melani Walton Papago Park Campus, please visit www.azhumane.org/new. Additional renderings of the Papago Park Campus can be accessed here.

Since 1957, the Arizona Humane Society (AHS) has been saving the lives of the Valley's most vulnerable pets. Guided by our Ethical No-Kill Philosophy, we save thousands of pets every year through a system of care that includes AHS' trauma hospital and intensive care units, comprehensive medical and foster programs and behavior intervention programs. Our community-based model comprised of a Pet Resource Center, affordable veterinary services, proactive outreach, community support and partner collaboration, keeps pets in loving homes where they belong. Our visionary approach to animal welfare has transformed the Valley from being the second-worst place to be a homeless pet to one of the best. And coming early 2023, our new Rob & Melani Walton Papago Park Campus will expand our lifesaving efforts by the thousands. Learn more at azhumane.org.

Visit our website, follow us on Twitter and Instagram, or like us on Facebook.

Contact Information:

Bretta Nelson, Public Relations Manager

Cell: 480.748.8640

SOURCE Arizona Humane Society
48-Unit Transaction in Washington Suburb Totals 52,557 Square Feet In Size

BETHESDA, Md., April 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Alex Bensahel, the director of the Investment Sales Division for the Mid-Atlantic Group of Eastern Union, has arranged the $7.9-million sale of a 48-unit apartment portfolio in Takoma Park, MD, a city located about six-and-a-half miles northeast of Washington, DC.

The Mid-Atlantic Group is based in the Bethesda, MD office of Eastern Union, a national commercial real estate firm that provides both capital markets advisory services and financing services.

Alex Bensahel, who leads the Investment Sales Division for Eastern Union's Bethesda-based Mid-Atlantic Group, recently closed on the $7.9-million sale of a 48-unit apartment portfolio in Takoma Park, MD. The Investment Sales Division for the Mid-Atlantic Group of Eastern Union recently arranged for the $7.9-million sale of a 48-unit apartment portfolio in Takoma Park, MD. Among the properties sold was this six-unit apartment house at 8507 Flower Avenue.

The Takoma Park apartments are in a range of sizes, and also have varying bed/bath counts. The gross square footage across the entire portfolio is 42,557 square feet, which equates to an average size of about 887 square feet per unit. The average price per apartment is $164,584.

The 48 units are distributed among these five addresses: 22 units at 702 Chaney Drive, and four at 8501, six at 8503, four at 8505, six at 8507, and three units at both 8609 and 8611 Flower Avenue.

Mr. Bensahel said that the portfolio sold at one of the highest prices per unit in the Takoma Park area. The seller was not identified.

"Reflecting Eastern Union's commitment to superior customer service, we sold these properties at a price that aligns with the highest prices now being commanded in Takoma Park," said Mr. Bensahel.

Mr. Bensahel was assisted in the transaction by Rahmaan Streater, vice president of operations for Eastern Union's Investment Sales Division. Mr. Bensahel also gave special acknowledgement to two colleagues in the firm's Mid-Atlantic office: senior managing director Marc Tropp and managing director David Merkin.

About Eastern Union

Founded in 2001, Eastern Union is a leading, national commercial mortgage brokerage firm. It employs more than 90 real estate professionals and closes an average of $4 billion in transactions annually. Eastern Union leverages its relationships with lenders and its marketplace knowledge to secure the best available rates and terms.

Headquartered in New York, Eastern Union secures financing for transactions of all sizes across the United States. Transactions, which can include multi-state and multi-site portfolios, encompass conventional commercial mortgages, structured debt, healthcare, hospitality, mobile home parks, single-family rentals, investment sales, and -- handled in conjunction with company affiliate Eastern Equity Advisors -- equity placement.

For more information, visit www.easternunion.com.

Media contact:

Steve Vitoff

Eastern Union

516 652 0785

[email protected]

SOURCE Eastern Union
CENTENNIAL, Colo., April 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- AlloSource, one of the largest allograft providers in the U.S., creating innovative cellular and tissue products to help surgeons heal their patients, has been recognized as 2022 Bioscience Manufacturer of the Year by CompanyWeek's Colorado Manufacturing Awards (CMA) program. Since 2016, the CMA program has been recognizing industry leaders for their critical roles in shaping American manufacturing across an array of sectors.

"Each year, selecting the CMA Bioscience Manufacturer of the Year is a difficult task, given the quality of companies and finalists. This year was no different, but recognizing the work and contributions of AlloSource has never seemed so important. Congratulations to the men and women of this incredible company," stated Bart Taylor, CompanyWeek founder and co-presenter of the CMAs.

Taylor featured AlloSource CEO Tom Cycyota in a session with the group of finalists and alumni at the March 10 luncheon about steering a mission-driven organization through the turbulence of the pandemic.

"As the largest homegrown biotech company in Colorado, it's an honor to win this prestigious award and to be ranked among these top organizations in our great state," stated Cycyota. "Though the nature of processing donor tissue into transplantable allografts involves unique manufacturing methods, our mission remains at the forefront, keeping us constantly striving for more effective ways to maximize the gift of donation while improving patient outcomes."

This is the first time AlloSource has won this prestigious award. The only program of its kind in the United States, the CMA program brings together business leaders in a celebration of the modern manufacturing economy, focusing on highlighting the importance of manufacturing for Colorado.

About AlloSource

Founded in 1994, AlloSource is a nonprofit leader in providing allografts that maximize tissue donation to help surgeons heal their patients. The company has grown into one of the largest tissue networks in the country creating more than 200 types of precise bone, skin and soft-tissue allografts for use in an array of life-saving and life-enhancing medical procedures. As a leading manufacturer of cartilage tissue for joint repair and skin allografts to help heal severe burns, AlloSource's products bridge the proven science of allografts with the advanced technology of cells. The company is accredited by the American Association of Tissue Banks and is headquartered in Centennial, CO. For more information, please visit allosource.org.

Media Contact

Colton Ostrander

AlloSource

720. 317. 2936

[email protected]

SOURCE AlloSource
Baryalay Razi's Personal and Professional Accomplishments Recognized by Multi-Unit Franchising Conference Organizers

CHICAGO, April 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Aloha Poke Co., the nation's premier fast-casual poke restaurant concept, is proud to announce that Baryalay Razi, the brand's 10-store Houston-based franchisee, was honored with "The American Dream Award" during this year's MUFC (Multi-Unit Franchising Conference). In receiving this recognition, conference organizers celebrated his truly unique and humbling story. More than 25 years ago, Razi was granted political asylum in the US and almost immediately started his career managing a fast-casual burger restaurant in Texas.

"Aloha Poke Co. is excited and extremely proud of Razi for being recognized with the American Dream Award," said Paul Tripodes, VP Franchise Development, Aloha Poke Co. "Razi's story, from walking the halls of the United Nations to managing a Dallas Whataburger, reads like a Hollywood movie script. His professional dedication, work ethic, and love for his family make Razi a true inspiration, and we are thrilled to have him as an Aloha Poke Co. franchisee." (PRNewsfoto/Aloha Poke Co.) Aloha Poke Co. is actively seeking to grow its exciting, health-forward, fast-casual concept with qualified entrepreneurs and experienced restaurant franchisees who share the brand's same passion and energy for life. Ideal Aloha Poke Co. franchisees have restaurant operations or business management experience and share the desire to positively impact the country's need for quick, beautiful, sustainable poke bowls. (PRNewsfoto/Aloha Poke Co.)

"Aloha Poke Co. is excited and extremely proud of Razi for being recognized with the American Dream Award," said Paul Tripodes, VP Franchise Development, Aloha Poke Co. "Razi's story, from walking the halls of the United Nations to managing a Dallas Whataburger, reads like a Hollywood movie script. His professional dedication, work ethic, and love for his family make Razi a true inspiration, and we are thrilled to have him as an Aloha Poke Co. franchisee."

With a three-unit deal in Maryland, Baryalay Razi was Aloha Poke Co.'s first franchisee, but he didn't start in the fast-casual restaurant business. Razi's story begins with a career at the United Nations as a delegate from Afghanistan. When Razi was ordered back to his country, he sought political asylum in the United States. After his application was approved, he packed up his family and moved to Texas to build a new life. Needing to support his family and unable to remain in international foreign relations, Razi started working as a shift manager at a Dallas-Fort Worth Whataburger.

Through a belief in the opportunities afforded by living in the US and plain hard work, Razi rose through the ranks of the restaurant industry. Over the years, he invested his hard-earned money into building a portfolio of restaurant brands across Texas and Maryland.

"I am very proud and honored to be recognized for the American Dream Award," said Razi. "Everything I have done is for the safety and opportunity of my children. I wanted them to grow up in a country where hard work and dedication can lead to success, and we have done that. I am humbled by this recognition and am eternally grateful for every opportunity this country has provided me."

Razi plans to make good on a promise made to his three young children made more than 25 years ago: to offer them a better life than he had growing up. Today, each child is intimately involved in the multi-unit, multi-brand franchising family business. Razi currently owns and operates 5 Bojangles locations in Maryland and has signed on to open 13 Aloha Poke Co. locations: 10 in his adopted hometown of Houston and three in Maryland.

Fast-Casual Portfolio Simplification Trends

With the pandemic sharply accelerating convenience trends, restaurateurs and brands must anticipate customers' needs post-COVID. As multi-unit, multi-brand franchisees seek to craft the most profitable franchise portfolio, many have turned to diversification to maximize returns. Since the pandemic, this diversification strategy has often turned to simplification, especially for restaurateurs faced with ongoing challenges associated with untenable shortages of line cooks, servers, and kitchen staff and an unpredictable, upside-down supply chain.

Based in Chicago, Aloha Poke Co. operates 18 locations in Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Texas, Florida, and Washington, D.C. In addition to the brand's responsibly sourced menu and simple, efficient operations, franchise restaurant investors are drawn to Aloha Poke Co.'s attractive initial capital requirements, unit economics, and appealing sales-to-investment figures.

Aloha Poke Co. is actively seeking to grow its exciting, health-forward, fast-casual concept with qualified entrepreneurs and experienced restaurant franchisees who share the brand's same passion and energy for life. Ideal Aloha Poke Co. franchisees have restaurant operations or business management experience and share the desire to positively impact the country's need for quick, beautiful, sustainable poke bowls.

To learn more about Aloha Poke Co. Franchise opportunities, visit https://alohapokefranchising.com and for more information about the brand, visit the company website at https://www.alohapokeco.com.

About Aloha Poke Co.

Proudly reimagining the idea of fast food, Aloha Poke Co. quickly packs pole-and-line caught ahi tuna, Patagonian salmon raised without antibiotics, and other clean, simple, responsibly sourced ingredients into beautiful, delicious bowls. Founded in 2016 at downtown Chicago's French Market, Aloha Poke Co. and its franchisees have grown to 18 locations throughout the Midwest, Southeast, Southwest, and Mid-Atlantic.

Press Contact: Perry Athanason/TopFireMedia/[email protected]/917.319.2126

SOURCE Aloha Poke Co.
"I'm looking forward to working with Andrew to build the future of Cox," said Dallas Clement, president and CFO, Cox Enterprises. "Cox has ambitious growth aspirations and Andrew's experience will be invaluable in helping us to hit these aggressive goals."

Davis joins Cox from T. Rowe Price Associates where he was the director of private placements in the U.S. equity division. There, he was responsible for management of sourcing, due diligence, ongoing analysis and external relationships for T. Rowe Price's private growth equity investments. Davis also spent time as a manager in the business valuation group at Deloitte Financial Advisory Services.

"Cox is a company dedicated to building for the future," said Davis. "Even though they have many well-established businesses, they continue to explore outside opportunities in other areas, including a big focus on sustainability. I'm excited and honored to join a company with a long-lasting legacy that's also focused on the future."

Davis has an MBA in Economics and Finance from The University of Chicago Booth School of Business and earned his bachelor's degree from Berry College in Business Administration, Finance.

About Cox Enterprises

Cox Enterprises is dedicated to building a better future through our leading communications, automotive and media companies. Our major operating subsidiaries include Cox Communications and Cox Automotive, and we are strategically investing in new industries and emerging technologies, with sizeable interests in clean technology and health care. Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, Cox is a global company with nearly $20 billion in annual revenues and brands that include Autotrader, Kelley Blue Book and Cox Homelife. Founded in 1898 by Ohio Governor James M. Cox, the company is a family-owned business committed to its people, communities and planet. To learn more about Cox, visit coxenterprises.com, view our collective impact report at coxcsrreport.com, or follow us on Twitter via @CoxEnterprises or @AlexTaylor_Cox.

SOURCE Cox Enterprises
Leaders of major faiths to hold high-level program in Ukraine to encourage solidarity with those touched by war. Event to be live streamed at 10:00AM ET/3:00PM London/5:00PM Ukraine.

LONDON, April 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- In a historic first, a high-level delegation of religious leaders representing the world's major faiths will join forces to visit to a country impacted by war. Participants include the emeritus Archbishop of Canterbury, the Archbishop of the Orthodox Church of the UK, the emeritus Grand Mufti of Bosnia, and other representatives of Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism and Christianity. They will visit refugee camps and the city of Chernivtsi, Ukraine on 12th April. Click here for the full list of participating religious leaders.

During the visit, a public event will be held in the city's main theater, where the faith leaders will address refugees and other citizens impacted by war. Additionally, a poignant letter from HH Pope Francis will be read at the event and a video message will be shared by Metropolitan Epiphanios, the head of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

The event can be accessed via live video streaming on Tuesday, April 12th, at 5PM Ukraine time/10AM ET at www.FaithinUkraine.com/Stream. Footage and quotes will be available afterwards.

The event is the co-initiative of James Sternlicht, founder of the Peace Department and Rabbi Alon Goshen-Gottstein, Founder and Executive Director of the Elijah Interfaith Institute. Its messages are inspired by Glocalities, which released a study this month on the shared values of the people of Ukraine, Russia and the EU.

Said James Sternlicht, "In this moment, in a world gripped by profound darkness, we must unite to heal humanity."

Said Rabbi Goshen-Gottstein, "This is the first time ever that an interfaith delegation has undertaken a mission of friendship in entering a country at war. This is all the more remarkable considering the high level of the religious representatives who are combining forces to provide solidarity and comfort in this time of conflict."

About the Peace Department: The Peace Department is a US based non-profit that pulls from deep networks across the realms of business, impact investment, public policy, science, faith, and philanthropy. For more information, visit https://peacedepartment.global.

About the Elijah Interfaith Institute: Founded 26 years ago, the Elijah Interfaith Institute is a nonprofit, international, UNESCO-sponsored interfaith organization which is renowned for bringing together world religious leaders and renowned scholars from across the world. For more information, visit www.elijah-interfaith.org.

About Glocalities: Glocalities is an Amsterdam-based international research agency that specializes in global insights based on values, lifestyle and culture. For more information, visit www.glocalities.com.

Contacts:

Swamini Adityananda Saraswati

Associate Executive Director

Elijah Interfaith Institute

Phone/WhatsApp: +1-630-362-5305

email: [email protected]

Catherine Povalitis

Vice President

Chartwell Agency

Phone: +1-815-282-9976

email: [email protected]

Katerina Toffoloni

Director of Communications

The Peace Department

Phone/WhatsApp: +1-339-204-7614

email: [email protected]

SOURCE The Elijah Interfaith Institute
NEW YORK, April 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Atento S.A. (NYSE: ATTO, "Atento" or the "Company"), one of the world's five largest providers of customer relationship and business process outsourcing (CRM / BPO) services and sector leader in Latin America, announced today that it will release its fiscal first quarter 2022 financial and operating results after the market close of the New York Stock Exchange on Wednesday, April 27, 2022. Atento's senior management team will host a conference call and webcast to discuss the Company's fiscal first quarter financial and operating results on Thursday, April 28, 2022 at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time.

Dial In Info:

USA: +1-866-807-9684

Brazil: +55 11 4933-0682

Spain: +34 80 030-0687

UK: +44 20 3514-3188

International: +1-412-317-5415

Webcast: click here

A replay of the webcast will be available in the Events & Presentations section of Atento's website at http://investors.atento.com.

About Atento

Atento is one of the five largest global providers for client relationship management and business process outsourcing services nearshoring for companies that carry out their activities in the United States. Since 1999, the company has developed its business model in 13 countries with a workforce of 150,000 employees. Atento has over 400 clients for which it provides a wide range of CRM/BPO services through multiple channels. Its clients are leading multinational companies in the technology, digital, telecommunications, finance, health, consumer and public administration sectors, amongst others. Atento trades under ATTO on the New York Stock Exchange. In 2019 Atento was recognized by Great Place to Work as one of the 25 World's Best Multinational Workplaces and as one of the Best Places to Work in Latin America. For more information www.atento.com

Media Relations

[email protected]

Investor and analyst inquiries

Hernan van Waveren

+1 979-633-9539

[email protected]

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "may," "should," "expects," "plans," "anticipates," "believes," "estimates," "predicts," "intends," "continue" or similar terminology. These statements reflect only Atento's current expectations and are not guarantees of future performance or results. These statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. In particular, the COVID-19 pandemic, and governments' extraordinary measures to limit the spread of the virus, are disrupting the global economy and Atento's industry, and consequently adversely affecting the Company's business, results of operation and cash flows and, as conditions are recent, uncertain and changing rapidly, it is difficult to predict the full extent of the impact that the pandemic will have. Risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, competition in Atento's highly competitive industries; increases in the cost of voice and data services or significant interruptions in these services; Atento's ability to keep pace with its clients' needs for rapid technological change and systems availability; the continued deployment and adoption of emerging technologies; the loss, financial difficulties or bankruptcy of any key clients; the effects of global economic trends on the businesses of Atento's clients; the non-exclusive nature of Atento's client contracts and the absence of revenue commitments; security and privacy breaches of the systems Atento uses to protect personal data; the cost of pending and future litigation; the cost of defending Atento against intellectual property infringement claims; extensive regulation affecting many of Atento's businesses; Atento's ability to protect its proprietary information or technology; service interruptions to Atento's data and operation centers; Atento's ability to retain key personnel and attract a sufficient number of qualified employees; increases in labor costs and turnover rates; the political, economic and other conditions in the countries where Atento operates; changes in foreign exchange rates; Atento's ability to complete future acquisitions and integrate or achieve the objectives of its recent and future acquisitions; future impairments of our substantial goodwill, intangible assets, or other long-lived assets; and Atento's ability to recover consumer receivables on behalf of its clients. In addition, Atento is subject to risks related to its level of indebtedness. Such risks include Atento's ability to generate sufficient cash to service its indebtedness and fund its other liquidity needs; Atento's ability to comply with covenants contained in its debt instruments; the ability to obtain additional financing; the incurrence of significant additional indebtedness by Atento and its subsidiaries; and the ability of Atento's lenders to fulfill their lending commitments. Atento is also subject to other risk factors described in documents filed by the comp any with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which the statements were made. Atento undertakes no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

SOURCE Atento S.A.
SAN FRANCISCO, April 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Automotive Grade Linux (AGL), a collaborative cross-industry effort developing an open source automotive platform for all connected car technologies, has announced the latest code release of the AGL platform, UCB 13, also known under the codename "Magic Marlin."

Developed through a joint effort by AGL member companies, the Unified Code Base (UCB) is an open source software platform that can serve as the de facto industry standard for infotainment, telematics and instrument cluster applications.

"The AGL community is continuously evaluating open source technologies for automotive use cases to ensure that we are integrating best-in-class software into the platform," said Dan Cauchy, Executive Director of Automotive Grade Linux at the Linux Foundation. "2022 will be a big year for the AGL platform as we transition to some of these newer technologies including Flutter, VirtIO, Containers and V2C applications. We are also expanding the development options available to the community by adding support for the latest automotive hardware as well as cloud-based virtual platforms."

UCB 13/Magic Marlin includes an operating system, board support package, middleware, application framework and application APIs. Notable updates to the AGL platform include:

New Application Framework with more upstream components

IVI technology demonstrator based on Toyota's Base System contributions

Chromium-based HTML5 Image updated to Chromium 87 with WAM (Web Application Manager)

Virtualization updates including VirtIO enhancements

Initial integration of Toyota's open-source embedded automotive Flutter solution

LXC-based container demonstration (IVI container and IC container)

Yocto Long Term Support version upgraded to Dunfell 3.1.14 along with Pipewire and Wireplumber updates

along with Pipewire and Wireplumber updates Board Support Package updates including Renesas R-Car BSP v5.9 with Kernel 5.10, AGL Reference Hardware, NXP i.MX8 and new support for Jacinto7 (j7)

The full list of additions and enhancements to UCB 13 can be found here .

Demonstrations of the AGL software platform will be available at upcoming events including:

AGL Tech Day!

On April 13, 2022, AGL will host a one-day virtual event for the AGL community to discuss the most recent technology updates and connect with other community members. The event takes place from 15:00 - 18:00 Japan Standard Time (JST)/ 08:00 - 11:00 Central European Summer Time (CEST). Additional information and registration is available at https://events.linuxfoundation.org/agl-linux-tech-day/ .

All Member Meeting (AMM)

The AGL All Member Meeting takes place bi-annually and brings the community together to learn about the latest developments, share best practices and collaborate to drive rapid innovation across the industry. The next AMM will be in-person on July 12-13 in Honolulu, Hawaii. To register or submit a speaking proposal, visit https://events.linuxfoundation.org/agl-amm-summer/ .

About Automotive Grade Linux (AGL)

Automotive Grade Linux is a collaborative open source project that is bringing together automakers, suppliers and technology companies to accelerate the development and adoption of a fully open software stack for the connected car. With Linux at its core, AGL is developing an open platform from the ground up that can serve as the de facto industry standard to enable rapid development of new features and technologies. Although initially focused on In-Vehicle-Infotainment (IVI), AGL is the only organization planning to address all software in the vehicle, including instrument cluster, heads up display, telematics, advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and autonomous driving. The AGL platform is available to all, and anyone can participate in its development. Automotive Grade Linux is hosted at the Linux Foundation. Learn more at automotivelinux.org.

About the Linux Foundation

Founded in 2000, the Linux Foundation is supported by more than 1,000 members and is the world's leading home for collaboration on open source software, open standards, open data, and open hardware. Linux Foundation's projects are critical to the world's infrastructure, including Linux, Kubernetes, Node.js and more. The Linux Foundation's methodology focuses on leveraging best practices and addressing the needs of contributors, users, and solution providers to create sustainable models for open collaboration. For more information, please visit us at LinuxFoundation.org.

Media Inquiries

Emily Olin

Automotive Grade Linux, the Linux Foundation

[email protected]

SOURCE Automotive Grade Linux
Bayer AG's MagicTrap automatically detects pest infestations and provides optimum crop protection

automatically detects pest infestations and provides optimum crop protection 1NCE provides global connectivity for smart monitoring systems

COLOGNE, Germany , April 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- To help farmers detect pests early and protect critical agriculture, Bayer AG's Crop Protection Innovation Lab developed the MagicTrap  a yellow trap that catches and counts potential pests in canola fields automatically and provides data for developing an efficient crop protection system. For communication between the yellow trap and the app used by farmers, Bayer AG relies on 1NCE, the only provider of connectivity and software for IoT with a global flat rate.

"Farmers should not have to worry about SIM cards and contracts," said Fabian Born, product manager at Bayer. "The device must be ready to use anywhere, immediately, and without technical preparation. 1NCE convinced us with its unique offer of worldwide availability and a simple pricing model over the entire lifecycle of a device."

Alexander P. Sator, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of 1NCE GmbH added: "Classic mobile contracts with long term lengths or volume tariffs are a showstopper for the development of smart and scalable IoT solutions, and worldwide accessibility at a fixed price over the entire lifecycle of a device is a must-have. We are pleased to work with Bayer AG on this important concept to protect the world's crops."

Full press release: https://1nce.com/en/news/

Project details: https://1nce.com/en/blog/

About Bayer and 1NCE

Bayer is a global enterprise with core competencies in the life science fields of health care and nutrition: www.bayer.com. 1NCE is the only provider of connectivity and software for IoT with a global flat. rate: www.1nce.com

Media Contact

Dennis Knake, 1NCE

E-Mail: [email protected]

SOURCE 1NCE
CHICAGO, April 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Brown Gibbons Lang & Company (BGL), a leading independent investment bank and financial advisory firm, is pleased to announce the appointment of Jonathan Bluth to Managing Director within its Healthcare & Life Sciences industry team. Jonathan is based in Los Angeles and will help expand BGL's reach to an even broader national network of clients across Healthcare Provider Services and Outsourcing & Healthcare Information Technology, focusing on physician practices, outpatient services, and outsourced services.

Bluth will help expand BGL's reach to an even broader national network of clients. Tweet this Brown Gibbons Lang & Company (BGL), a leading independent investment bank and financial advisory firm, is pleased to announce the appointment of Jonathan Bluth to Managing Director within its Healthcare & Life Sciences industry team. Jonathan will help expand BGLs reach to an even broader national network of clients across Healthcare Provider Services and Outsourcing & Healthcare Information Technology, focusing on physician practices, outpatient services, and outsourced services.

"BGL continues to build out our team across all of our coverage sectors in healthcare and life sciences. Jonathan's experience and relationships will support our growth trajectory," said John Riddle, Head of BGL's Healthcare & Life Sciences vertical. "Jonathan's multidisciplinary background provides him with a unique perspective, enabling him to leverage his consulting, corporate finance, and investment banking experience to advise clients regarding their strategic growth objectives. Our clients will benefit tremendously from his insight and extensive network, and we are thrilled to have him on board."

Jonathan has more than 22 years of professional experience in the healthcare industry, advising physician groups, revenue cycle companies, diagnostics businesses, and various other specialty service providers through a variety of strategic M&A and capital market transactions. He is a frequent speaker on healthcare M&A and was recognized by the Los Angeles Business Journal as a "Trusted Healthcare Advisor" in 2021 and an "Influential Investment Banker" in 2018.

Prior to joining BGL, Jonathan was the co-head of healthcare at Intrepid Investment Bankers LLC, and held investment banking positions at Deloitte Corporate Finance LLC and Cowen and Company. Jonathan was a member of the revenue cycle consulting practices at Cap Gemini Ernst & Young and Navigant, where he was a subject matter specialist in patient access redesign and process improvement. He also held senior corporate finance positions with Vantage Oncology, Inc. and Alliance HealthCare Services.

"I am very excited to join the strong healthcare practice at BGL," said Bluth. "I look forward to bringing BGL's sophistication, breadth, and depth to future healthcare clients to help them find strong partners, unlock maximum values for their businesses, and exceed their strategic objectives."

Jonathan received his MBA from the UCLA School of Management and has a B.A. in history and sociology of science (with a concentration in healthcare systems) from the University of Pennsylvania.

About Brown Gibbons Lang & Company

Brown Gibbons Lang & Company (BGL) is a leading independent investment bank and financial advisory firm focused on the global middle market. The firm advises private and public corporations and private equity groups on mergers and acquisitions, capital markets, financial restructurings, business valuations and opinions, and other strategic matters. BGL has investment banking offices in Chicago, Cleveland, and Philadelphia, and real estate offices in Chicago, Cleveland, and San Antonio. The firm is also a founding member of Global M&A Partners, enabling BGL to service clients in more than 30 countries around the world. Securities transactions are conducted through Brown, Gibbons, Lang & Company Securities, Inc., an affiliate of Brown Gibbons Lang & Company LLC and a registered broker-dealer and member of FINRA and SIPC. For more information, please visit www.bglco.com.

SOURCE Brown Gibbons Lang & Company
NORWICH, England, April 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- BizClik Media Group, the UK's fastest-growing publishing company, has published the April editions of seven of its popular business-to-business titles.

New digital issues of Technology Magazine, FinTech Magazine, Sustainability Magazine, Supply Chain Digital Magazine, AI Magazine, Energy Digital Magazine, and Data Centre Magazine are now available to read for free on each publication's website.

Technology Magazine Features An Extensive Lead Interview With Wesley Rhodes And Dan Whitacre Of Kroger Technology, About The Technology And Values That Set The Kroger Customer Experience Apart. It Also Contains Exciting Features With Companies Such As Ey, Samsung, Tata Consultancy Services, Dxc Technology, And Ntt.

FinTech Magazine, which also releases monthly, features a lead interview with Olwyn DePutron, Director of the Step IT Up programme at UST, as well as profiles of Ikano Bank, Qonto, State Street Global Advisors, Flowe, and Empire Life.

BMG's other monthly publications Sustainability and Supply Chain Digital also contain a whole host of fascinating interviews and features. This issue of Sustainability includes an interview with Glenn Steinberg of EY, as well as thoughts from leaders at SAP, KDDI Corporation, The First Mile, PwC and DHL.

Supply Chain Digital contains profiles on Rolls-Royce, Snam S.p.A, Ikano Bank, Tealbook, EY, WeWork & Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust.

Meanwhile, our February edition of AI Magazine features exciting profiles from the likes of Spark Compass, Samsung SDS and Deloitte. Fellow bi-monthly publication, Data Centre Magazine, contains exclusive interviews with NTT Global Data Centers EMEA, KDDI Telehouse, Wyoming Hyperscale, ClusterPower, Telehouse France, and Neterra.

Last but not least, Energy Digital includes exclusive interviews with IMI, Snam S.p.A, and Meralco.

Media Contact:

Kathryn Webb

[email protected]

SOURCE BizClik Media
TSAFF is programmed via a competitive selection process, and Tasveer awards an Emerald Award (Recognition for Contributing to South Asian Cinema), 3 Audience Choice Awards and a Jury Award. Tasveer Film Fund (supported by Netflix in 2021) winners will be announced on the Closing Day of the Festival. Festival film submission forms must be completed online; submission fees range from $20 to $75 and film submissions are due by June 1st. Waivers are available.

Tasveer's South Asian Film Festival is the largest South Asian film festival in the United States. Seeking to provide a counterpoint to the images and stories prevalent in Bollywood, the festival encourages an atmosphere of thoughtful dialogue and creative inquiry, where filmmakers and audiences engage in lively discussions, forums, and other collaborative interactive formats. In 2021, the festival screened 88 films from 11 countries and welcomed 7,500 attendees over 10 days.

Tasveer invites submission of films on themes related to South Asia and its diaspora in its entirety: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and the various diasporas across the world. Shorts, experimental films, documentaries, and narratives of any length will be accepted in any digital format. Films with a focus on issues of human rights and social justice are particularly sought.

Further questions about the festival and submissions can be directed to [email protected] . Filmmakers can submit films here: https://filmfreeway.com/TSAFF

Founded in 2002, Tasveer is a Seattle-based non-profit whose mission is to inspire social change through thought-provoking South Asian films, art and stories.

SOURCE Tasveer
The Marine Serre's community can now discover some pieces of the Fichu pour Fichu collection on the House's website in an interactive 3D format thanks to the partnership with Cappasity.

SANTA CLARA, Calif., April 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- In September 2021, Marine Serre presented her collection Fichu pour Fichu . Inspired by the ongoing state of flux the world is experiencing, the collection focuses on reconnecting with others and our surroundings and leading a life without the feeling of loneliness that comes with isolation. The Fichu pour Fichu collection sources daily life materials to create regenerated pieces, such as household linen tablecloth featuring Dutch embroidery techniques originally from the 70s onwards; linen tea towels, terry torchons [alias kitchen towels], and pop-corn pleated fabric amongst others.

To allow the House's community to appreciate the pieces in detail, Marine Serre reached out to Cappasity , the company providing solutions for creating immersive shopping experiences. Cappasity helps brands create 3D/AR content to blur the line between online and offline shopping. With the Cappasity platform, Marine Serre digitized some designs from the new collection into an interactive 3D View format and embedded them into the brand's website. Now Marine Serre's online customers can examine the pieces as they would in brick-and-mortar stores: rotate them, zoom in, explore them from different angles.

Marine Serre website demo: https://youtu.be/hFG50U58cnM

"Cappasity's mission is to become the standard for creating immersive content for online projects and in particular for the fashion industry. We have developed the first scalable solution that allows brands to 3D digitize items quickly and efficiently. We're extremely pleased to work with Marine Serre, a house that equally prioritizes values and aesthetics," comments Kosta Popov, Cappasity CEO.

To appreciate the Fichu pour Fichu collection in 3D, visit the Marine Serre website .

About Marine Serre

From the outset, Marine Serre's critically acclaimed collections garnered a cult following. A radically independent brand has emerged with a hybrid mixture of classic French couture shapes, sportswear references and fabrics. The House pioneers the production of new garments based on end-of-life materials, a practice Serre labels as Regenerated, and that has been fundamental to her ethos

since her debut collection in 2016. The Regeneration practice marks a revolutionary commitment to circularity in the fashion industry's global network that encompasses the sourcing of fabrics, production, and the design process as a whole. These values are melded with a combination of cultural and epochal references, that experiment with the idea of inventing new cultures  a new mode, a new way of living.

Marine Serre website: https://www.marineserre.com/en-int

About Cappasity Inc.

Cappasity is a comprehensive solution for the interactive visualization of products in 3D, which creates an immersive shopping experience for e-commerce.

Cappasity lets companies create & deliver 3D/AR experiences to blur the line between online and in-store shopping. It is the first scalable and easy-to-adopt solution for complex e-commerce projects that only takes 3 minutes/SKU to create a 3D and embed it into a store.

Our clients see higher conversion rates (10-30% increase), higher time on the product page, less returns, and less customer inquiries when their products have interactive 3D images. The platform also provides unique 3D analytics tool based on AI to track customers' online behavior and ensure the best product presentation online.

Press Contact

Rachel Madsen

+1 415 8002844

https://www.cappasity.com

SOURCE Cappasity Inc.
JACKSON, Mich., April 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- CMS Energy announced today it will provide 2022 first quarter results along with a business and financial outlook at 9:00 a.m. EDT on Tuesday, May 3, 2022.

A webcast of the presentation will be available on CMS Energy's website, cmsenergy.com. An audio replay will be available approximately three hours after the webcast and will be archived for 30 days on CMS Energy's website in the "Investor Relations" section.

CMS Energy (NYSE: CMS) is a Michigan-based energy company featuring Consumers Energy as its primary business. It also owns and operates independent power generation businesses.

For more information on CMS Energy, please visit our website at cmsenergy.com. To sign up for email alert notifications, please visit the Investor Relations section of our website.

Check out Consumers Energy on Social Media

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/consumersenergymichigan

Twitter: https://twitter.com/consumersenergy

LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/consumersenergy

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/consumersenergy

SOURCE CMS Energy
"I could not be more excited to announce our new partnership with Reuveni LLC. Shlomi, in addition to being the consummate new development professional, is a dear friend and colleague, and I cannot wait to see the value we add to our businesses by working together," said Frederick Warburg Peters, president of Coldwell Banker Warburg.

Coldwell Banker Warburg, created in October of 2021 by the acquisition of Warburg Realty, became the first firm ever to be fully-branded Coldwell Banker Global Luxury, a high-value operation of the famed brokerage, which, during, 2021 closed more than $267 million in luxury sales every day. Going forward, Coldwell Banker Warburg will manage Reuveni LLC's growing resale and leasing businesses. Additionally, Shlomi Reuveni, Reuveni LLC's founder, president, and CEO, will work hand-in-hand with Coldwell Banker Warburg's agent recruitment efforts. The two brands will also combine business development strategies, marketing, public relations, branding, and social media initiatives to expand their reach and influence with New York City's brokerage community, developers and industry professionals.

By allying with Reuveni LLC, which specializes in the new development sector, the two firms are now able to leverage their stellar reputations and collective market expertise. This presents both firms with a unique opportunity for substantial business growth, broker recruitments, and client services, while continuing to work as separate, aligned brands, focused on their individual and independent strengths.

"I am very excited about my partnership with Coldwell Banker Warburg. Fred is the ultimate real estate broker, he is an iconic industry leader with an impeccable reputation and a four-decades, encyclopedic knowledge of our industry. He has built an amazing brokerage company with top notch agents and management. On a personal level, I love the man, he is a true mensch, and I can't wait to start working closely with him," said Shlomi Reuveni. "Coldwell Banker is a legendary firm with a vast and deep national and international presence and exposure. I am very impressed with their powerful new branding, marketing and technology tools which we will be soon utilizing with our developers, brokers, and projects. I am a 35-year veteran of our industry, and I truly believe that our new partnership and collective leadership is now the most unique brokerage and sales platform for New York City brokers and developers alike."

The partnership goes into effect on April 12, 2022. Coldwell Banker Warburg will now leverage its 240 years of real estate expertise with Reuveni's industry-leading resources to leave their mark on the new development market.

Read more about the partnership here: cbwarburg.com/reuveni

About Coldwell Banker Warburg

Coldwell Banker Warburg, formerly Warburg Realty, is a leading residential real estate brokerage in Manhattan. In 2021, it became the first company to be fully branded under Coldwell Banker Global Luxury, part of Coldwell Banker, one of the oldest and most established residential real estate leaders in North America. The legacy firms boast over two centuries of collective experience, offering agents and their clients a global network of resources, marketing power, and international presence. Coldwell Banker Warburg is led by President Frederick Warburg Peters, who previously spent more than 30 years as Warburg Realty's CEO. The brokerage is owned by a subsidiary of Realogy Holdings Corp (NYSE: RLGY), the largest full-service residential real estate services company in the United States.

About Reuveni LLC

Reuveni LLC is a privately owned and operated brokerage company founded by industry expert Shlomi Reuveni. The firm focuses on the sales and marketing of conversion and ground up new development projects. With more than 30 years of real estate experience and an impeccable reputation, President/CEO Reuveni has successfully collaborated with the New York City real estate brokerage community, developer clients, and industry professionals. Reuveni is known industry-wide for his hands-on approach, and has been the driving force behind the design, pre-development planning, marketing and sales process of over $3 billion of conversion and ground up new development projects.

Reuveni LLC's development services include research and analytics, pre-development planning and design, marketing and branding, brokerage and sales, and advisory services.

SOURCE Coldwell Banker Warburg
Proximity to home is a top factor in college choice. Students should be empowered by knowing the best colleges by them. Tweet this

"It's an exciting time for many students and families," says College Consensus founder Jeremy Alder. "The hard work they've put in for years has paid offand new doors are opening."

The next step, after celebrating this well-deserved accomplishment, is choosing which college to attend.

"And when it comes to college choice, proximity to home is a top factor. That's why it's important for students to have, and know, the great college options in their region." continues Jeremy Alder.

To determine the Best Colleges in the North, South, Midwest, and West, College Consensus combined the results of the most respected college ranking systems with the averaged ratings of thousands of real student reviews to provide the most comprehensive picture of the college landscape in each U.S. region.

The Top 3 Best Colleges in the North are:

Massachusetts Institute of Technology Princeton University Yale University

The Top 3 Best Colleges in the South are:

Duke University Vanderbilt University Rice University

The Top 3 Best Colleges in the Midwest are:

University of Michigan-Ann Arbor University of Notre Dame Washington University in St. Louis

The Top 3 Best Colleges in the West are:

Stanford University Pomona College University of California-Los Angeles

View the full rankings of the Best Colleges in the North , South , Midwest , and West for 2022 here.

In addition to offering an innovative approach to college and graduate school rankings, College Consensus also offers expert advice and guidance on all aspects of college life, from finding the perfect college, to getting accepted, paying for it, applying to and attending graduate school, and finding a professional path after graduation.

This list is a feature of our 2022 Consensus Rankings. For information on leveraging this award, winners may contact College Consensus' licensing partner, Wright's Media, at [email protected].

Facebook

LinkedIn

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SOURCE College Consensus
SKANES FAGERHULT, Sweden, April 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Concentric AB has received a new development contract to supply high voltage electric coolant pumps for a battery electric mining machine. The customer, a global construction OEM, will use our e-pumps for cooling the batteries and power electronics on a large fully electric mining machine.

Battery electric powertrains will be one of the key technology enablers for zero emissions from off-highway machines. Mining machines are one of the early adopters of this technology as construction OEM's expect their customers will enjoy a reduction in the total cost of ownership as well as enabling zero emissions.

The electric coolant pump has the following key benefits:

Enables the use of high voltage supply, eliminating the need for a low voltage DC converter;

Robust design which includes a wet rotor eliminating the possibility of a dynamic seal failure;

Long service life aided by liquid cooled electronics and DC brushless design giving service life >50,000 hours;

Integrated diagnostics and utilising sensors for temperature and pressure; and

Compact and low noise characteristics.

Martin Kunz, President and CEO of Concentric AB commented: "This new agreement is another innovation milestone in the development of Concentric's e-pumps. We already supply e-pumps to many global OEMs for their hybrid and battery electric vehicles, this important contract will enable the development of a high voltage pump in the expected growth area of battery electric off-highway machines."

For additional information please contact

Martin Kunz,

telephone +44-121-445 6545

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

https://news.cision.com/concentric-ab/r/concentric-receives-a-development-contract-from-a-global-oem-for-a-high-voltage-electric-coolant-pum,c3544442

The following files are available for download:

https://mb.cision.com/Main/1643/3544442/1563016.pdf Release https://news.cision.com/concentric-ab/i/concentrics-high-voltage-coolant-pump,c3037164 Concentrics High Voltage Coolant Pump

SOURCE Concentric AB
SAN FRANCISCO, April 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The University of San Francisco (USF) has announced that accomplished scholar, teacher, and leader Dr. Otgontsetseg "Otgo" Erhemjamts has been appointed to the role of dean of the School of Management (SOM). Dr. Erhemjamts will begin her time at USF on July 1, 2022 following the departure of current Dean Charles T. Moses.

Incoming Dean Erhemjamts joins USF from Bentley University, a business-focused private university in Massachusetts, where she has served as associate dean of business, associate vice president and associate provost for strategic initiatives, and a professor of finance. With more than two decades in higher education, Dr. Erhemjamts has amassed extensive knowledge of the higher education landscape, and management education in particular, and has demonstrated a commitment to key values USF has outlined in its own strategic plan: innovation, diversity, environmental sustainability, experiential learning, student-centered outcomes, and interdisciplinary approaches.

"For all of her accomplishments, the qualities that stand out the most about Otgo are her collaborative leadership, her compassionate candor, commitment to positive social impact, her ability to empower those around her to generate innovative solutions, and her desire to advance equity and justice," said Dr. Chinyere Oparah, USF provost and vice president of academic affairs. "I am delighted that Otgo will be joining our community at such an important time, and I look forward to partnering with her to advance an exciting era of new developments for the school."

During Dr. Erhemjamts's time at Bentley, her major accomplishments include: launching 10 graduate certificate programs that grew enrollment by more than 500 percent; addressing gender inequities in tenure and promotion policies; serving as co-lead of the Racial Justice Task Force Assessment Committee to launch the institution's first Inclusive Excellence Dashboard; creating hands-on, immersive courses on sustainable investing; creating a minor and a finance concentration in sustainable investing; working both inside and outside of academe to recruit and retain women in STEM and finance; mentoring students who launched the first student-led sustainable investment fund at Bentley that currently manages $660,000 of the institution's endowment funds; and collaborating with an extensive array of internal and external partners to contribute to the university's strategic plan. These experiences have prepared her for the many leadership opportunities at the USF School of Management  from new partnerships and academic program redesign to growing international and domestic enrollments.

"I am thrilled and honored to be joining the University of San Francisco, and I am impressed with its explicit commitment to social justice, betterment of the community, and to educating students to be socially and morally responsible," stated Dr. Erhemjamts. "I very much look forward to collaborating with faculty, students, librarians, staff, administrators, alumni, and community partners within the School of Management and across the university."

Passionate about educational access and equity, Dr. Erhemjamts has a deep understanding of the obstacles and opportunities faced by many USF students. A first-generation immigrant and an international student, she was the first Mongolian to earn a doctorate in finance in the U.S. She holds a doctorate in finance from Georgia State University, an MS in economics from the University of Idaho, and an MS in information technology from the Mongolian University of Science and Technology.

As a widely published scholar with an active research agenda and research interests in banking, corporate finance, risk management and insurance, sustainable investing, and corporate social responsibility, Dr. Erhemjamts is listed in the top 10 percent of authors on SSRN with respect to downloads of her scholarly works, is a co-author on two leading finance textbooks, and is a co-principal investigator on a $2.4 million grant from the National Science Foundation that supports the development of transdisciplinary teaching modules in sustainability.

About the USF School of Management

Founded in 1925, University of San Francisco's School of Management is on the forefront of educating the next generation of conscious, mindful business leaders. Each year those students join the over 40,000 School of Management alumni around the world to create ethical and innovative change in the private, public, and non-profit management sectors. The School of Management is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC) and the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB).

About the University of San Francisco

The University of San Francisco is a private, Jesuit Catholic university that reflects the diversity, optimism, and opportunities of the city that surrounds it. USF offers more than 230 undergraduate, graduate, professional, and certificate programs in the arts and sciences, business, law, education, and nursing and health professions. At USF, each course is an intimate learning community in which top professors encourage students to turn learning into positive action, so the students graduate equipped to do well in the world  and inspired to change it for the better. For more information, visit usfca.edu.

SOURCE University of San Francisco
MINNEAPOLIS and SAINT PAUL, Minn., April 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- U.S. Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development Alejandra Y. Castillo will tour the University of Minnesota and conduct a roundtable discussion about the Greater MSP region's efforts to promote inclusive economic growth.

This morning, Assistant Secretary Castillo will conduct a tour of the University of Minnesota, led by University President Joan Gabel. The tour will include visits to labs that are central to the region's growing bio-innovation cluster.

Assistant Secretary Castillo will then moderate a 'Coalition Conversation' with elected officials and leaders of public, nonprofit and civic organizations, including:

Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan

Saint Paul Mayor Melvin Carter

Mayor Christophe Beck , CEO of Ecolab

, CEO of Ecolab Tawanna Black , Founder & Chief Executive Officer of the Center for Economic Inclusion

, Founder & Chief Executive Officer of the Center for Economic Inclusion Dr. Paul Campbell , Managing Partner of Brown Venture Group

, Managing Partner of Brown Venture Group Roberta Antoine Dressen , President & CEO of Medical Alley Association

, President & CEO of Medical Alley Association Peter Frosch , President and CEO of GREATER MSP

, President and CEO of GREATER MSP Alfredo Martel , President, CEO of Meda

, President, CEO of Meda Adair Mosley , President & CEO of Pillsbury United Communities

, President & CEO of Pillsbury United Communities Laysha Ward , Executive Vice President and Chief External Engagement Officer at Target

, Executive Vice President and Chief External Engagement Officer at Target Miriam Williams , Chief Administrative Officer of Summit Academy OIC

The conversation is a learning opportunity for EDA to understand how the finalists built their coalition and created a collective vision for their region.

"We are delighted to host Assistant Secretary Castillo for a conversation with leaders who are working to transform our region with a new model of inclusive economic growth," said GREATER MSP President and CEO Peter Frosch. "The Assistant Secretary is interested to learn about the bold actions we are taking in the Greater MSP region to accelerate our economy through innovation and inclusion."

The Greater MSP region was selected for the Assistant Secretary's visit because it is one of the 60 finalist regions in the EDA's $1 billion Build Back Better Regional Challenge, an American Rescue Plan program that invests in projects to catalyze a region's high-growth economic sectors.

The Greater MSP region submitted its application to the EDA competition on March 15, 2022. The application describes plans for the "Bold North BioInnovation Cluster," a detailed plan for investing in Minnesota's next globally leading economic sector. Bio-innovation builds on two existing sectors of strength in human health and food and agriculture. New opportunities for growth exist in adjacent domains, including sustainability, data and computing, and advanced manufacturing.

The application submitted by the GREATER MSP Partnership is focused on creating a vibrant economic sector that addresses historic inequities and racial disparities, with a stated vision to build America's most inclusive bio-innovation cluster. The project has the potential to accelerate growth of the state's bio-innovation sector generating up to 27,000 additional jobs and $30 billion in new economic output over ten years.

About GREATER MSP

GREATER MSP is the economic development partnership for the 15-county Minneapolis Saint Paul region. Over 300 leading businesses, universities, cities, counties, philanthropies, and others are working together to accelerate the competitiveness of the regional economy and drive inclusive economic growth through job creation, capital investment and the execution of strategic initiatives. For more information go to greatermsp.org.

About the American Rescue Plan Programs

The Build Back Better Regional Challenge is one of many EDA programs aimed at building strong regional economies and supporting community-led economic development. Under the American Rescue Plan, EDA was allocated $3 billion in supplemental funding to assist communities nationwide in their efforts to build back better by accelerating the economic recovery from the coronavirus pandemic and building local economies that will be resilient to future economic shocks.

American Rescue Plan funding enables EDA to provide larger, more transformational investments across the nation while utilizing its greatest strengths, including flexible funding to support community-led economic development. With an emphasis on equity, EDA investments made under the American Rescue Plan will directly benefit previously underserved communities impacted by COVID-19. For more information about EDA's American Rescue Plan programs, visit eda.gov/ARPA.

About the U.S. Economic Development Administration

The mission of the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) is to lead the federal economic development agenda by promoting competitiveness and preparing the nation's regions for growth and success in the worldwide economy. An agency within the U.S. Department of Commerce, EDA invests in communities and supports regional collaboration in order to create jobs for U.S. workers, promote American innovation, and accelerate long-term sustainable economic growth. For more information about EDA, visit eda.gov.

SOURCE GREATER MSP
New Disclosures Demonstrate Strong Momentum Across Company's Stated ESG Priorities of Security, Workforce Diversity, Environmental Stewardship and Financial Inclusion

ATLANTA, April 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Equifax  (NYSE: EFX) continues to further its commitment to Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) priorities and has issued its annual ESG letter to shareholders and stakeholders and made new disclosures available on Equifax.com . These disclosures, which include the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) report, the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) report, Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO-1) report, the 2021 Equifax Security Annual Report, and financial inclusion initiatives, illustrate the company's strong momentum across its ESG priorities, including continued leadership in security, driving greater workforce diversity, reducing environmental impact and increasing financial inclusion.

"We are a New Equifax  a global, diversified data, analytics, and technology company that has expanded well beyond a traditional consumer credit bureau. Through our unique combination of differentiated data assets, innovative analytics and industry leading technology, we play a critical role in the global economy and in the lives of individual consumers each day," said Mark W. Begor, CEO of Equifax. "As part of our commitment to creating a more inclusive global economy, we are making a strong investment in ESG priorities in a way that is aligned with our company purpose  to help people live their financial best. This purpose drives our 13,000 global employees every day."

Equifax recognizes that data, analytics and technology is a powerful force in addressing pressing issues facing the world around us. Last year, the company accelerated its commitment to ESG priorities, announcing an important sustainability commitment to reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2040 enabled by the Equifax Cloud. In 2021, Equifax made significant progress against its ESG priorities  all of which are integrated into the company's core business strategy. The measurable, positive ESG outcomes seen by Equifax over the last year are outlined in an open letter from CEO Mark W. Begor and include:

Continued Leadership In Security

Equifax launched its inaugural Security Annual Report in 2021, detailing the steps the company has taken toward embedding security across its enterprise  from technology infrastructure, data fabric, and product development, to mergers and acquisition strategies and employee training. Now in its second year, the latest Security Annual Report highlights Equifax's significant advances in several key areas, including cloud security, digital supply chain security, employee security training, and global risk management. Because of these efforts and beyond, the company's security maturity and posture today exceed every major industry benchmark as measured by independent third parties.

Driving Greater Workforce Diversity

In 2021, 77% of the Equifax senior leadership team (defined as direct reports of the CEO and certain other key executives) reflected gender, racial or ethnic diversity; 38% of the senior leadership team identified as female; and women comprised 44% of the Equifax global workforce. During that same time, 41% of Equifax U.S. employees identified with diverse racial and ethnic groups. Equifax shares diversity data and details regarding its inclusion and diversity initiatives through annual EEO-1 and SASB reports and discussion on its ESG website.

Reducing Environmental Impact

Equifax's initial TCFD report provides transparency into the company's environmental sustainability practices. It shows that Equifax's combined scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions have decreased each year since 2019, with an approximate 13.5% decrease between 2019 and 2021 and an approximate 3% decrease between 2020 and 2021. The move to the Equifax Cloud is expected to propel the company on its journey to net-zero by significantly reducing the footprint of onsite technology and data centers, leveraging the enhanced energy efficiency of cloud service providers.

Increasing Financial Inclusion

Equifax strives to create and empower economically healthy individuals and communities everywhere the company does business. In 2021, Equifax delivered two big "firsts"  announcing the availability of the industry's first and only U.S. credit report in Spanish , as well as being the first to include Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) tradelines in its U.S. consumer credit files. Most recently, Equifax, in a joint measure with its industry peers, announced significant changes to medical collection debt reporting in an effort to better support consumers facing unexpected medical bills.

"We are energized by the significant progress made by Equifax in 2021, but we recognize that there is more to do," continued Begor. "We are committed to transparency in our ESG journey and will keep sharing our progress along the way. It is our hope that our focus on ESG will serve as an example for other financial institutions, as we continue to show how we are better positioning Equifax for long-term sustainability, and, in turn, building shareholder value."

For more information on Equifax ESG initiatives, visit our website .

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This release contains information that may constitute "forward-looking statements." Generally, the words "believe," "expect," "intend," "estimate," "anticipate," "project," "will," "may" and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements, which generally are not historical in nature. All statements that address operating or environmental performance and events or developments that we expect or anticipate will occur in the future, including statements relating to future operating results and plans for reducing our environmental footprint and greenhouse gas emissions and making improvements in our IT and data security infrastructure, are forward-looking statements. We believe these forward-looking statements are reasonable as and when made. However, forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from our historical experience and our present expectations or projections. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, those described in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. As a result of such risks and uncertainties, we urge you not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date when made. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

ABOUT EQUIFAX

At Equifax (NYSE: EFX), we believe knowledge drives progress. As a global data, analytics, and technology company, we play an essential role in the global economy by helping financial institutions, companies, employers, and government agencies make critical decisions with greater confidence. Our unique blend of differentiated data, analytics, and cloud technology drives insights to power decisions to move people forward. Headquartered in Atlanta and supported by more than 13,000 employees worldwide, Equifax operates or has investments in 25 countries in North America, Central and South America, Europe, and the Asia Pacific region. For more information, visit Equifax.com .

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Kate Walker for Equifax

[email protected]

SOURCE Equifax Inc.
"At Farmers, we recognize the importance of creating an inclusive environment that champions and empowers people to thrive in their roles," said Mark Welch, chief people & diversity officer for Farmers Insurance. "As a leading national employer, we're honored our efforts have been recognized by Fortune and Great Place to Work as we continue to foster an engaging and rewarding workplace."

Great Place to Work, the global authority on workplace culture, selected the list using rigorous analytics and employee feedback. Companies were only considered if they are a Great Place to Work-Certified organization.

Great Place to Work is the only company culture award in America that selects winners based on how employees are treated. Companies are assessed on how well they are creating a great employee experience regardless of role.

Farmers employees can enjoy a variety of benefits, including:

Competitive 401(k) : Eligible employees can plan for the future by participating in Farmers 401(k) Savings Plan immediately. The organization matches contributions dollar for dollar, up to 6% of employees' eligible pay, and the Farmers match is vested immediately. Additionally, Farmers makes an automatic 4% base contribution to the 401(k) Savings Plan based on eligible pay, which has a three-year vesting period and is in addition to Farmers match amount.

: Eligible employees can plan for the future by participating in Farmers 401(k) Savings Plan immediately. The organization matches contributions dollar for dollar, up to 6% of employees' eligible pay, and the Farmers match is vested immediately. Additionally, Farmers makes an automatic 4% base contribution to the 401(k) Savings Plan based on eligible pay, which has a three-year vesting period and is in addition to Farmers match amount. Family-friendly benefits: Farmers provides 10 weeks of 100 percent paid leave for parents to care for and bond with a new child. The policy extends to eligible employees who become a parent following a birth, surrogacy, or legal adoption (17 or younger).

Farmers provides 10 weeks of 100 percent paid leave for parents to care for and bond with a new child. The policy extends to eligible employees who become a parent following a birth, surrogacy, or legal adoption (17 or younger). Time to recharge: Farmers promotes a healthy work/life balance allowing for time to relax, recharge and spend time with family and friends. Eligible employees are provided 19-34 paid days off per year depending on their tenure with the organization.

Farmers promotes a healthy work/life balance allowing for time to relax, recharge and spend time with family and friends. Eligible employees are provided 19-34 paid days off per year depending on their tenure with the organization. Focus on health and wellbeing : Farmers offers a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, vision, health savings and flexible spending accounts, life and AD&D insurance, short- and long-term disability, and wellness programs. All employees have access to telemedicine services for general and behavior health concerns and free counseling sessions and other mental health resources through the Employee Assistance Program. Farmers provides employees with a subscription to Headspace, a guided meditation app that provides tools to improve mental health, address parenting concerns, promote financial wellness and provide information to employees on other relevant topics.

: Farmers offers a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, vision, health savings and flexible spending accounts, life and AD&D insurance, short- and long-term disability, and wellness programs. All employees have access to telemedicine services for general and behavior health concerns and free counseling sessions and other mental health resources through the Employee Assistance Program. Farmers provides employees with a subscription to Headspace, a guided meditation app that provides tools to improve mental health, address parenting concerns, promote financial wellness and provide information to employees on other relevant topics. Ways to give back : Farmers helps employees make a difference through Farmers-sponsored volunteer activities. The Farmers Family Fund, which is funded through employee donations, is a resource for Farmers employees who experience significant financial hardship.

: Farmers helps employees make a difference through Farmers-sponsored volunteer activities. The Farmers Family Fund, which is funded through employee donations, is a resource for Farmers employees who experience significant financial hardship. Opportunities to grow professionally : Farmers invests in employees' professional development with training opportunities through the University of Farmers, and on-the-job learning and mentorship opportunities. The Farmers Tuition Assistance program can help eligible employees reach educational goals.

: Farmers invests in employees' professional development with training opportunities through the University of Farmers, and on-the-job learning and mentorship opportunities. The Farmers Tuition Assistance program can help eligible employees reach educational goals. Annual employee bonus: Eligible employees can receive a bonus for their work linked to individual and business performance.

"Best Companies' leadership has never been more necessary," says Michael C. Bush, CEO of Great Place to Work. "As workers struggle with the Great Resignation, burnout and covid disruptions, these exceptional companies offer workplace experiences as strong as prior to the pandemic. These companies get that 'place' is wherever their employees are sitting or standing, and they are committed to make that place equitable, safe and productive. Their commitment to genuinely care for their people through trust, inclusion, purpose and meaningful flexibility for life circumstances goes beyond surface-level perks and is a model for the market to follow."

For more information or to explore open positions at Farmers Insurance, please visit farmers.com/careers/corporate/.

About Farmers Insurance

"Farmers Insurance" and "Farmers" are tradenames for a group of insurers providing insurance for automobiles, homes and small businesses and a wide range of other insurance and financial services products. For more information about Farmers Insurance, visit Farmers.com, follow on Twitter @WeAreFarmers, Instagram @ThisIsFarmers and @WeAreFarmers or follow on Facebook.com/FarmersInsurance.

About the Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For

Great Place to Work selected the 100 Best Companies to Work For by gathering and analyzing confidential survey responses from more than 4.5 million U.S. employees at Great Place to Work-Certified organizations that have at least 1,000 U.S. employees. Company rankings are derived from 60 employee experience questions within the Great Place to Work Trust Index survey. Read the full methodology.

To get on this list next year, start here.

About Great Place to Work

Great Place to Work is the global authority on workplace culture. Since 1992, they have surveyed more than 100 million employees worldwide and used those deep insights to define what makes a great workplace: trust. Their employee survey platform empowers leaders with the feedback, real-time reporting and insights they need to make data-driven people decisions. Everything they do is driven by the mission to build a better world by helping every organization become a great place to work For All.

Learn more at greatplacetowork.com and on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

Contact: External Communications

Farmers Insurance

818-965-0007

[email protected]

SOURCE Farmers Insurance
"Rett's extensive background and experience in commercial banking, combined with his role as Chief Credit Officer at his previous bank, are assets that will contribute to First Financial Bank's lending success," Longhofer said. "His achievements and expertise will add immediate value to our lending team as we continue to be one of the nation's best community banks."

Everett will be a valued member of credit administration with the daily responsibility of lending oversight of the Dallas/Fort Worth regions. His oversight of these regions' lending efforts will encompass all aspects of lending, including credit underwriting, loan decisioning, portfolio risk management, and compliance with bank policy and regulatory requirements. Everett will also serve as a voting member on the corporate loan committee that evaluates the largest loan relationships in the bank.

Everett arrived at First Financial Bank after serving as EVP, Chief Credit Officer at The National Bank of Texas in Fort Worth since June 2020. He had an extensive 14-year tenure at Capital One Bank in Fort Worth and Dallas, where he held the positions of Assistant Vice President, Corporate Portfolio Manager and Senior Vice President (SVP), Managing Underwriter in the Commercial Lending Group. In 2019, he was named SVP, Corporate Relationship Manager, before accepting his most recent position at The National Bank of Texas.

A native of Stephenville, Texas, Everett received a Bachelor of Business Administration in finance from Tarelton State University and a Master of Business Administration in General Business from Texas Tech University. He holds a Credit Risk Certification from the Risk Management Association and a Graduate Certificate in Leadership from Texas Tech's Institute for Leadership Research.

About First Financial Bankshares, Inc.

Headquartered in Abilene, Texas, First Financial Bankshares is a financial holding company that through its wholly-owned subsidiary, First Financial Bank, N.A., operates multiple banking regions with 78 locations in Texas, including Abilene, Acton, Albany, Aledo, Alvarado, Beaumont, Boyd, Bridgeport, Brock, Bryan, Burleson, College Station, Cisco, Cleburne, Clyde, Conroe, Cut and Shoot, Decatur, Eastland, El Campo, Fort Worth, Fulshear, Glen Rose, Granbury, Grapevine, Hereford, Huntsville, Keller, Kingwood, Magnolia, Mauriceville, Merkel, Midlothian, Mineral Wells, Montgomery, Moran, New Waverly, Newton, Odessa, Orange, Palacios, Port Arthur, Ranger, Rising Star, Roby, San Angelo, Southlake, Stephenville, Sweetwater, Tomball, Trent, Trophy Club, Vidor, Waxahachie, Weatherford, Willis, and Willow Park. The Company also operates First Financial Trust & Asset Management Company, N.A., with ten locations and First Technology Services, Inc., a technology operating company. The Company is listed on The NASDAQ Global Select Market under the trading symbol FFIN. For more information about First Financial, please visit our website at http://www.ffin.com.

SOURCE First Financial Bankshares, Inc.
ALEXANDRIA, Va., April 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- NATSO, representing truckstops, travel plazas and off-highway fuel retailers, and SIGMA: America's Leading Fuel Marketers commended the Biden Administration for permitting year-round sales of gasoline containing 15 percent ethanol (E15). The industry cautioned, however, that ongoing impediments related to infrastructure compatibility could limit market penetration of higher blends of ethanol being sold in the United States.

The fuel retail industry advocated for year-round E15 sales to help lower fuel prices for consumers while enhancing the industry's fuel options and improving the carbon intensity of those fuels.

"We support removing unnecessary regulatory barriers to the sale of higher ethanol blends. E15 offers retailers an opportunity to diversify fuel options and improve gasoline's emissions characteristics while lowering costs for consumers and enhancing America's energy security," said David Fialkov, Executive Vice President of Government Affairs for NATSO, speaking on behalf of NATSO and SIGMA. "Fuel retailers will continue to face obstacles to investing in E15, primarily in the form of infrastructure compatibility concerns and associated liability exposure. While today's announcement is positive, until these obstacles are removed, they will impede the sale of higher ethanol blends."

Specifically, fuel retailers must grapple with a state-by-state patchwork of expensive infrastructure compatibility requirements. Fuel retailers also face liability concerns if consumers misfuel their vehicles, potentially voiding their manufacturer's vehicle warranty.

The industry looks forward to working with the Administration, lawmakers and all industry stakeholders to address these outstanding concerns.

About NATSO and SIGMA

NATSO is the trade association of America's travel plaza and truckstop industry. Founded in 1960, NATSO represents the industry on legislative and regulatory matters; serves as the official source of information on the diverse travel plaza and truckstop industry; provides education to its members; conducts an annual convention and trade show; and supports efforts to generally improve the business climate in which its members operate. For more information, visit NATSO.com. Contact: Tiffany Wlazlowski Neuman, Vice President, Public Affairs.

SIGMA: AMERICA'S LEADING FUEL MARKETERS represents a diverse membership of approximately 260 independent chain retailers and marketers of motor fuel. While 67 percent are involved in gasoline retailing, 83 percent are involved in wholesaling, 56 percent transport product, 39 percent have bulk plant operations, and 20 percent operate terminals. Member retail outlets come in many forms including truckstops, traditional "gas stations," convenience stores with gas pumps, cardlocks, and unattended public fueling locations.

Contact: Tiffany Wlazlowski Neuman

Vice President, Public Affairs

SOURCE NATSO, Inc.
2021 Results at a Glance

Record revenue up 109% from 2020

Record number of transactions in 2021, both completed transactions and pieces of equipment sold

Record number of new platform participants

0 TRIR since inception in 2013

Exited 2021 with a Net Promoter Score (NPS) of 79

The company continues to be proud that it has never raised outside equity

Raj Singh, CEO of Fuelled Family of Companies commented, "We are very pleased with our performance in 2021 which was a pivotal year for us. I would like to thank all Fuelled employees for their efforts and our customers around the world who continue to choose Fuelled." Singh added "I am especially excited to leverage our focus on culture and customer experience to see Fuelled's platforms cross verticals, providing a source of liquidity to equipment owners in industries that are digitally underserved."

2021 Strategic Direction and Successes

Brand consolidation and alignment

Consolidated all brands under Fuelled Family of Companies www.fuelledinc.com

CRM and process improvement

Full integration of CRM across all brands and full integration with cloud-based accounting system

Successful increase in market penetration and adoption in USA

Equipment moving within the US as well as overseas

Diversification into new verticals

Verticals served now include energy, agriculture, crypto, cannabis/industrials, high voltage electrical and mining

Community

Raised over $25,000 for charity through Fuelled Fit 13 and other charitable initiatives

for charity through Fuelled Fit 13 and other charitable initiatives

Collaborated with "DKDC" a brand for mental health and wellness

Environment  Circular Economy

The company built out a proprietary calculator to quantify CO2 emissions saved when redeploying equipment via the Fuelled.com platform

"A company growing at our pace and with the future vision that we have, requires strategically investing in processes and people," said Austin Fraser, Vice President Finance and Operations. "Our strategic direction includes the adoption of technologies and other initiatives that will create efficiencies and allow us to easily scale to our future goals."

Key Engagements

Fuelled was chosen to act for TC Energy as part of their disposal of equipment previously slated for the Keystone XL Pipeline ("KXL")- follow this link to see the equipment available Fuelled Link to KXL Surplus Equipment

Fuelled was chosen to market a highly engineered containerized slop oil centrifuge capable of treating ~1000bbl/day  follow this link to see the equipment available Fuelled Link to Slop Oil Centrifuge

Fuelled was chosen to market a highly engineered suite of production testing equipment capable of tying in 8 wells at the same time  follow this link to see the equipment available Fuelled Link to Production Testing Equipment

Fuelled added industrial equipment suited for Cannabis, Plastics, Food Stuffs  follow this link to see the equipment available - Fuelled Link to Industrial Equipment

Fuelled was engaged by a leading audit and consulting firm in their capacity as receiver

This marks the 3rd time this firm has engaged Fuelled

Outlook

"Our operations team has been very busy in Q1 of 2022 both in Canada and the USA", commented Fraser "I would like to thank the team for their focus on safety while maintaining our goal of delivering the best possible customer experience. Making sure our people and stakeholders make it home safe is my number one priority and in line with our core value of Family."

High energy prices have had a significant increase in demand for surplus energy equipment and the company has seen an increase in pricing in all energy equipment categories. "The other side of this coin is that some energy companies are less focused on generating cash from the sale of equipment due to supply chain constraints and new equipment deliveries." said Fraser. As a result, Fuelled expects to see a potential slowdown in onboarding new sell side energy clients. "To address market concerns and cycles, Fuelled has and will continue to explore new verticals where we can add value," continued Fraser.

Q1 2022 Highlights

Record quarterly revenue

Record quarterly number of transactions

Fuelled Auctions

Launched new digital auction platform and held first successful auction

Fuelled Logistics

Formalized and staffed our logistics division

Launched improved Fuelled Consignment website www.fuelled.com

Launched improved ARMOUREE app for cataloging equipment online and offline

Completed the company's largest single ticket online sale of CAD$3,000,000

"Fuelled will always be a customer-centric organization that is looking for ways to better serve our buyers and sellers around the world," said Raj Singh. "While we are extremely proud of our results and how far we have come, we will continue to improve the customer experience by focusing on culture and living our values of Family, Integrity, Transparency and Fun. I would again like to thank our people and our customers around the world for trusting and supporting Fuelled."

About Fuelled Family of Companies

Fuelled's purpose is "Having Fun Connecting the World" and operates multiple online platforms, a logistics business and a data-driven appraisal business. Fuelled was named as a Globe and Mail, Top Growing Company in Canada in 2020 and 2021.

Fuelled LinkedIn: Link to Fuelled LinkedIn Channel

Fuelled Instagram: Link to Fuelled Instagram Feed

SOURCE Fuelled Family of Companies
SAO PAULO, April 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- GOL Linhas Aereas Inteligentes S.A. (NYSE: GOL and B3: GOLL4), ("GOL" or "Company"), Brazil's largest airline, today provides an Investor Update on its expectations for the first quarter of 2022. The information below is preliminary and unaudited . The Company will discuss its 1Q22 results in a conference call on April 28, 2022.

Overall Commentary



GOL expects a Loss per Share (EPS) and a Loss Per American Depositary Share (EPADS) for 1Q22 of approximately R$1.98 1 and US$0.78 1 , respectively.

EBITDA margin for the quarter is expected to be approximately 11% 2 , an increase compared to the quarter ended in March 2021 (-15.9%).

Passenger unit revenue (PRASK) expected for the first quarter is expected to be up approximately 45% year over year.

Non-fuel unit costs (CASK Ex-Fuel) are expected to decrease approximately 4% 2 compared to the first quarter of the prior year, primarily due to increased productivity (increased in ASKs, aircraft utilization and operating efficiency) and the appreciation of the Brazilian Real versus the U.S. Dollar. Fuel unit costs (CASK Fuel) are expected to increase by approximately 48% year-over-year, driven by a 60% the increase in the average jet fuel price which was partially offset by a more fuel efficient fleet resulting in an 3.7% reduction e fuel consumption per flight hour.

GOL's financial leverage, as measured by the Net Debt3/EBITDA2,4 ratio was approximately 10.7x at the end of the March 2022 quarter (10.0x in IFRS-16). Total liquidity at quarter-end is expected to be at R$3.3 billion5.

























































Preliminary and Unaudited Projection







March Quarter 2022 EBITDA Margin2

~11%

EBIT Margin2

~ -5%

Other Revenue (cargo, loyalty, other) ~7% of total revenues Average fuel price per liter

R$ 4.62

Average exchange rate

R$ 5.26

























March Quarter 2022 vs.

March Quarter 2021







Passenger unit revenue (PRASK)

Up ~45%

CASK Ex-fuel2

Down ~4%

Total Demand - RPK

Up 46%

Total Capacity - ASK

Up 44%

Total Capacity - Seats

Up 49%



















1. Excluding gains and losses on currency and Exchangeable Senior Notes.

2. Recurring operating results; excludes non-recurring maintenance costs related to fleet transformation of approximately R$92 million in 1Q22 and R$114 million in 1Q21.

3. Including 7x annual aircraft lease payments and excluding perpetual bonds.

4. Last twelve months.

5. Cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, accounts receivable and deposits.

Investor Relations

[email protected]

www.voegol.com.br/ir

+55(11) 2128-4700

About GOL Linhas Aereas Inteligentes S.A.

GOL is the largest airline in Brazil, leader in the corporate and leisure segments. Since founded in 2001, the Company has the lowest unit cost in Latin America, thus democratizing air transportation. The Company has alliances with American Airlines and Air FranceKLM, besides several codeshare and interline agreements available to Customers, bringing more convenience and simple connections to any place served by these partnerships. With the purpose of "Being the First for All", GOL offers the best travel experience to its passengers, including: the largest number of seats and more space between seats; the greatest platform with internet, movies and live TV; and the best frequent-flyer program, SMILES. In cargo transportation, GOLLOG delivers orders to different regions in Brazil and abroad. The Company has a team of 15,000 highly qualified aviation professionals focused on Safety, GOL's #1 value, and operates a standardized fleet of 135 Boeing 737 aircraft. The Company's shares are traded on the NYSE (GOL) and the B3 (GOLL4). For further information, visit www.voegol.com.br/ri.

Disclaimer

The information contained in this press release has not been subject to any independent audit or review and contains "forward-looking" statements, estimates and projections that relate to future events, which are, by their nature, subject to significant risks and uncertainties. All statements other than statements of historical fact contained in this press release including, without limitation, those regarding GOL's future financial position and results of operations, strategy, plans, objectives, goals and targets, future developments in the markets in which GOL operates or is seeking to operate, and any statements preceded by, followed by or that include the words "believe", "expect", "aim", "intend", "will", "may", "project", "estimate", "anticipate", "predict", "seek", "should" or similar words or expressions, are forward-looking statements. The future events referred to in these forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, contingencies and other factors, many of which are beyond GOL's control, that may cause actual results, performance or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied in these statements. These forward-looking statements are based on numerous assumptions regarding GOL's present and future business strategies and the environment in which GOL will operate in the future and are not a guarantee of future performance. Such forward-looking statements speak only as at the date on which they are made. None of GOL or any of its affiliates, officers, directors, employees and agents undertakes any duty or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except to the extent required by law. None of GOL or any of its affiliates, officers, directors, employees, professional advisors and agents make any representation, warranty or prediction that the results anticipated by such forward-looking statements will be achieved, and such forward-looking statements represent, in each case, only one of many possible scenarios and should not be viewed as the most likely or standard scenario. Although GOL believes that the estimates and projections in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, they may prove materially incorrect and actual results may materially differ. As a result, you should not rely on these forward-looking statements.

Non-GAAP Measures

To be consistent with industry practice, GOL discloses so-called non-GAAP financial measures which are not recognized under IFRS or U.S. GAAP, including "Net Debt", "Adjusted Net Debt", "total liquidity" and "EBITDA". The Company's management believes that disclosure of non-GAAP measures provides useful information to investors, financial analysts and the public in their review of its operating performance and their comparison of its operating performance to the operating performance of other companies in the same industry and other industries. However, these non-GAAP items do not have standardized meanings and may not be directly comparable to similarly-titled items adopted by other companies. Potential investors should not rely on information not recognized under IFRS as a substitute for the GAAP measures of earnings or liquidity in making an investment decision.

SOURCE GOL Linhas Aereas Inteligentes S.A.
As owner, Grammy-Nominated Music Video Director Colin Tilley gives NFT holders the added value of opportunities to be on the sets of his upcoming music videos as well as be a part of his next film! The community of owners have the option to be involved in every stage of the film-making process. These benefits range from voting on creative direction, enjoying opportunities to work on various parts of the film, qualifying for profit sharing, to receiving producer credit for all holders as well as additional profit sharing from the community vault.

These benefits are reinforced with Web3 educational resources to help onboard those new to the NFT and Web3 spaces. The company even takes the education a step further by providing one-on-one support, from researching to purchasing one of their popular NFTs via support on the project's Discord channel .

When asked about what makes Castle Kid NFT special, Tilley responded, "Our utilization of Web3 gives power to the individual and the community. Castle Kid gives rising creators and filmmakers the chance to not only be a part of the filmmaking process, but to drive it. We will ensure those who want to be involved are safely onboarded into the Web3 space. My team has the resources and knowledge required to educate those new to NFTs so there are virtually no limits or restrictions to joining the NFT movement!".

As a result of Tilley's network, the brand has achieved an extensive celebrity following with notable Castle Kid holders including: J Balvin, DJ Khaled, KSHMR, Pia Mia, Tyga, Kygo, Kehlani and more!

With all the buzz around investing in NFTs there has never been a better time to share the benefits of holding a Castle Kid NFT, which include:

Royalty Free use of your Castle Kid IP for personal or commercial use

Music Video Set Giveaways (chance to be on video sets with A-list stars)

Producer Credit on the upcoming Castle Kid film for all holders

Creative Input on the upcoming Castle Kid film

Access to exclusive Film and Directing MasterClass with Colin Tilley

Input on company spending through the Castle Kid Vault; all funds in the Vault belong to the community and expenses/distributions are voted on. This fund is made up of:

 20% of film profits

 2.5% of project royalties

 100% of merchandise profits

 20% of film profits  2.5% of project royalties  100% of merchandise profits Key contributors on the Castle Kid film will be compensated

Web3 Benefits

 Castle Kid Alpha Group (Access to Allow Lists for Trending Communities)

 Web3 Educational Sessions and Material

The Castle Kid Team understands that many consumers are interested in NFTs but do not know where to start. To address this, the company offers one-on-one support through Web3 and their dedicated discord channel where their leadership will actually walk interested parties through the process from start to finish. This combination of Web3 educational assets and one-on-one support is unmatched anywhere else in the industry.

To learn more about Castle Kid NFT and how you can become a holder please visit: www.castlekidnft.com

ABOUT COLIN TILLEY

Colin Tilley is an American music video director, commercial director and filmmaker. Tilley is the CEO and owner of Boy in the Castle Productions. He has directed more than 300 music videos and worked with artists such as Justin Bieber, Kid Laroi, Halsey, J Balvin, and many more. He has also directed and produced multiple films including Mr. Happy, starring Chance the Rapper, and If I Can't Have Love I Want Power, starring Halsey.

ABOUT CASTLE KID

Castle Kid by Colin Tilley is a generative art NFT project composed of 10,000 hand-drawn combinations of Castle Kid with different traits, as well as rare 1/1s. Benefits of holding a Castle Kid include profit share and producer credit on the Castle Kid film, Web3 and film making education, exclusive music video set access, giveaways, access to Colin, and the opportunity to help shape the future of the Castle Kid story!

For more information or to request an interview please contact:

[email protected]

SOURCE Castle Kid NFT
April 18 is National Lineworker Appreciation Day  a celebration of the men and women who power the lives of millions of people across the U.S.

is National Lineworker Appreciation Day  a celebration of the men and women who power the lives of millions of people across the U.S. Duke Energy line technicians play a key role in modernizing the grid, lighting the path for a clean energy future.

CHARLOTTE, N.C., April 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- When severe weather rolls in or the lights go out, lineworkers mobilize. Their jobs are unlike any other  chasing storms, climbing poles, understanding the intricacies of the energy grid  and being prepared no matter the circumstances.

On April 18, Duke Energy celebrates National Lineworker Appreciation Day and the work these men and women do every day to keep the power flowing to millions of customers in communities across the country.

Line technicians are essential to providing and maintaining reliable electric service every day. They're also lighting the way on our path to a clean energy future.

"Whether power is impacted by winter storms, hurricanes, traffic accidents or any other cause, lineworkers are our first line of defense and they stand ready to respond when our customers need us most," said Scott Batson, senior vice president and chief distribution officer at Duke Energy. "Powering communities is the heart of our business. Lineworkers are heroes who come to work never knowing what they'll face in a given day  and I'm proud of their steadfast commitment to serving our customers."

In celebration of National Lineworker Appreciation Day, here are 9 facts you might not know about lineworkers:

They wrestle wild weather. All lineworkers are trained to respond to major outages. Working in the aftermath of extreme weather such as severe storms, hurricanes and ice comes with the territory. Vital infrastructure is in their hands. Besides working to power homes, lineworkers are responsible for keeping energy flowing to hospitals, schools, water treatment facilities, businesses and industries. Clothes matter. While on the job, line technicians wear specific safety gear known as personal protection equipment (PPE). PPE can include hard hats, rubber sleeves and gloves (made to protect 30,000 volts of electricity), steel-toed boots, climbers for scaling poles, and climbing belts that can weigh up to 30 pounds each. It's natural to aim high. Lineworkers frequently work perched on a 40-foot pole, sky high in an elevated bucket truck or on transmission towers at heights of up to 120 feet  often in challenging or hazardous conditions such as rain, winter weather or sweltering heat. But no matter how extreme the situation  strict safety procedures are always in place. Technology is part of the toolkit. Lineworkers install self-healing smart technology that automatically detects power outages and quickly reroutes power when outages occur  which can help reduce the number of outages and the duration of an outage. Slang is standard. Have a knuckle-buster handy? What about a lobster claw, kettle or booger wire? Lineworkers frequently use lingo for tools and tasks  it's passed down from one generation of lineworkers to the next. Animals come with the job. A common cause of power outages is animal interference  especially squirrels and snakes. The tally is tremendous. More than 7,800 Duke Energy and contract lineworkers make up the team. They are responsible for constructing, operating and maintaining equipment and more than 300,000 miles of power lines in Duke Energy's service territories  enough to wrap around the Earth 12 times. They're shaping the grid of the future. Lineworkers are building a stronger, better protected and smarter electric infrastructure, improving reliability and resiliency, and preparing the grid for cleaner energy options and a lower carbon future.





Bright days ahead for the lineworking field

As Duke Energy modernizes the grid and integrates new technologies to better serve customers, the need for a skilled workforce is rapidly growing. Lineworkers play an integral role in a more efficient, more reliable digital grid.

"People remain our most important asset, and we can't move forward with our progressive smart grid plans without our lineworkers," said Batson. "Electric utility work is a rewarding career path that also provides a valuable service to our communities."

Graduates of lineworker training programs at local community colleges are ideal candidates for roles at Duke Energy. These new professionals possess a desirable skill set and knowledge to set them up for success in their new career. While the program costs may vary from school to school, many programs offer state or local funding to cover some or all tuition costs.

Individuals interested in a career as an electric Lineworker with Duke Energy should contact community colleges directly for more information on their specific lineworker training programs, including available funding for tuition.

Aglow with appreciation

The week of April 18, Duke Energy will be sharing special stories in appreciation of lineworkers. Make sure to follow @DukeEnergy and visit facebook.com/DukeEnergy.

Those who wish to honor lineworkers and their families for National Lineworker Appreciation Day are encouraged to use the hashtag #ThankALineworker on social media.

Lineworker b-roll and photography:

B-roll video of storm prep and winter storm power restoration efforts

High-resolution photos of winter storm power restoration work

Lineworker soundbites:

Florida

Carolinas

Indiana

Duke Energy

Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), a Fortune 150 company headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., is one of America's largest energy holding companies. Its electric utilities serve 8.2 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky, and collectively own 50,000 megawatts of energy capacity. Its natural gas unit serves 1.6 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Ohio and Kentucky. The company employs 28,000 people.

Duke Energy is executing an aggressive clean energy transition to achieve its goals of net-zero methane emissions from its natural gas business and at least a 50% carbon reduction from electric generation by 2030 and net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. The 2050 net-zero goals also include Scope 2 and certain Scope 3 emissions. In addition, the company is investing in major electric grid enhancements and energy storage, and exploring zero-emission power generation technologies such as hydrogen and advanced nuclear.

Duke Energy was named to Fortune's 2022 "World's Most Admired Companies" list and Forbes' "America's Best Employers" list. More information is available at duke-energy.com. The Duke Energy News Center contains news releases, fact sheets, photos and videos. Duke Energy's illumination features stories about people, innovations, community topics and environmental issues. Follow Duke Energy on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook.

Media contact: Logan Kureczka

800.559.3853

SOURCE Duke Energy
Boise was named 4th in Promising Housing Markets for Homebuyers by Daily Magazine and it's no mystery that the Boise housing market is booming. The area has seen three national home builders join in the past year and this local Idaho builder, after 30 years, is still dominating.

CBH Homes is staying more competitive than ever before and bringing cutting edge technology to the industry. From home buying tools such as being able to tour a home without an agent with Tour Now to buying a home online with the click of a button, CBH is on the forefront in the homebuilding industry working to provide homeownership on every level.

"This is a new era of CBH. We're bringing not only homes to Idaho, but rentals, commercial spaces and more," said Corey. "These are places meant for families to grow, work, and play. We're investing in schools and organizations that are improving our community. Thirty years has been fun, but we're excited for what's to come and to watch this place we love continue to grow and thrive."

What does 30 years of building in Idaho look like? What started with one man, a hammer, and a tool belt, has grown to a high-energy team of 300 people, a Best Place to Work, a community supporter, and an award winning home builder. As a privately held company building solely in Southern Idaho, CBH is a force to be reckoned with. Welcoming over 23,000 happy homeowners and counting, CBH is proud to be a local and proud to be supporting Idaho.

The 30 year celebrations are just getting started. CBH has big plans throughout the year from rodeos, parades, and even a hot air balloon in the works. "This is a big year for us and we want to celebrate with the community that has given us so much," said Ronda Conger, Vice President of CBH Homes.

Join in on the party and see where CBH is headed here .

About CBH Homes : CBH Homes has been building dreams for Idahoans for over 30 years, and for 19 of those, CBH Homes is Idaho's #1 Builder, an Idaho Best Place to Work, now ranked #36 in the nation and proudly working with over 23,000 happy homeowners. Cbhhomes.com RCE-923

SOURCE CBH Homes
Increase in government spending on infrastructure projects and implementation of robotics for improving productivity in different industries drive the growth of the global industrial brakes market

PORTLAND, Ore., April 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Allied Market Research published a report, titled, "Industrial Brakes Market by Type (Mechanical, Hydraulic, Pneumatic, Electrical, Others), by Application (Holding Brakes, Dynamic & Emergency Brakes, Tension Brakes), by End User Industry (Manufacturing, Metal & Mining, Construction, Marine & Shipping, Others): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2020-2030." According to the report, the global industrial brakes industry generated $1.29 billion in 2020, and is expected to reach $1.95 billion by 2030, witnessing a CAGR of 4.1% from 2021 to 2030.

Drivers, restraints, and opportunities:

Increase in government spending on infrastructure projects, rise in demand for commercial and residential segments, and implementation of robotics for improving productivity in different industries drive the growth of the global industrial brakes market. However, usage of servo motors as alternatives to industrial brakes restrains the market growth. On the other hand, surge in the manufacturing of electric and autonomous vehicles presents new opportunities in the coming years.



Download Sample PDF: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-sample/4460

Covid-19 Scenario:

Manufacturing activities of industrial brakes were halted due to lockdown measures implemented in many countries. Moreover, disruptions in the supply chain and shortage of raw materials presented challenges in carrying out manufacturing at full capacity.

The demand from end-use industries such as manufacturing, metal & mining, construction, marine & shipping, and others reduced significantly due to halt in daily operations during the lockdown. However, the demand would grow steadily post-lockdown.

The electrical segment to continue its lead position during the forecast period

Based on type, the electrical segment accounted for the highest share in 2020, contributing to more than one-fourth of the global industrial brakes market, and is expected to continue its lead position during the forecast period. This is attributed to wide application of electrical brakes. However, the pneumatic segment is estimated to manifest the highest CAGR of 5.0% from 2021 to 2030. This is due to its simple operating system of braking.

Get detailed COVID-19 impact analysis on the Industrial Brakes Market: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-for-customization/4460

The manufacturing segment to continue its lead position during the forecast period

Based on application, the manufacturing segment held the largest share in 2020, accounting for more than one-third of the global industrial brakes market, and is projected to continue its lead position during the forecast period. This is due to usage of brakes in machines that are used for production purposes. However, the marine & shipping segment is projected to witness the largest CAGR of 4.5% from 2021 to 2030.

Asia-Pacific, followed by Europe and North America, to continue its lead in terms of revenue by 2030

Based on region, Asia-Pacific, followed by Europe and North America, contributed to the highest market share in 2020, holding more than two-fifths of the global industrial brakes market, and is projected to continue its lead in terms of revenue by 2030. This is attributed to presence of large-scale production facilities in China and India. However, LAMEA is expected to manifest the fastest CAGR of 5.0% during the forecast period. This is due to rapid industrialization in developing countries of the region.

Leading Market Players

Akebono Brake Industry Co., Ltd.

Altra Motion

Antec Group

Carlisle Brake & Friction

& Friction Comer Industries Spa (Walterscheid Powertrain Group)

Coremo Ocmea S.p.A.

Dellner Bubenzer

Eaton

Ringspann GmbH

SIBRE

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About Allied Market Research:

Allied Market Research (AMR) is a full-service market research and business-consulting wing of Allied Analytics LLP based in Portland, Oregon. Allied Market Research provides global enterprises as well as medium and small businesses with unmatched quality of "Market Research Reports" and "Business Intelligence Solutions." AMR has a targeted view to provide business insights and consulting to assist its clients to make strategic business decisions and achieve sustainable growth in their respective market domain.

We are in professional corporate relations with various companies and this helps us in digging out market data that helps us generate accurate research data tables and confirms utmost accuracy in our market forecasting. Allied Market Research CEO Pawan Kumar is instrumental in inspiring and encouraging everyone associated with the company to maintain high quality of data and help clients in every way possible to achieve success. Each and every data presented in the reports published by us is extracted through primary interviews with top officials from leading companies of domain concerned. Our secondary data procurement methodology includes deep online and offline research and discussion with knowledgeable professionals and analysts in the industry.

Contact us:

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#205, Portland, OR 97220

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SOURCE Allied Market Research
Significant cash proceeds of USD$271M

HOUSTON, April 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- KBR (NYSE: KBR) announced that JKC Australia LNG Pty Ltd ("JKC") joint venture, in which KBR has a 30% ownership interest, and Kellogg Brown & Root Pty Ltd have entered into a conditional settlement agreement (the "Settlement Agreement") to resolve outstanding claims and disputes between JKC and its power plant subcontractor, the consortium comprising: (i) the unincorporated joint venture between CH2M Hill Australia Pty Limited and UGL Infrastructure Pty Limited, (ii) General Electric Company, and (iii) General Electric International, Inc. (the "Consortium").

"We are pleased to announce the resolution of this dispute between JKC and the Consortium. This resolution removes significant uncertainty, distraction and legal costs," said Stuart Bradie, KBR President and CEO.

As a result of the Settlement Agreement, KBR expects to receive approximately $271 million of cash in two payments: $203 million in April 2022 and $68 million in March 2023, at prevailing exchange rates. KBR expects to report a non-cash loss of approximately $140M in its 1st quarter 2022 results for the period ended March 31, 2022. Additional details will be provided in connection with our 1st quarter 2022 earnings report.

The Settlement Agreement remains conditional and the outstanding arbitration between JKC and the Consortium is proceeding until the conditions are satisfied. If any member of the Consortium fails to take the actions necessary to satisfy the conditions to the Settlement Agreement, the Settlement Agreement will become void.

Should the conditions of the Settlement Agreement be satisfied, the parties agree to withdraw all claims and terminate the ongoing arbitration between the parties.

About KBR

We deliver science, technology and engineering solutions to governments and companies around the world. KBR employs approximately 28,000 people performing diverse, complex and mission critical roles in 34 countries.

KBR is proud to work with its customers across the globe to provide technology, value-added services, and long- term operations and maintenance services to ensure consistent delivery with predictable results. At KBR, We Deliver.

Visit www.kbr.com

Forward Looking Statement

The statements in this press release that are not historical statements, including statements regarding future financial performance, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. These statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the company's control that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results expressed or implied by the statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: the significant adverse impacts on economic and market conditions of the COVID-19 pandemic and the company's ability to respond to the resulting challenges and business disruption; the recent dislocation of the global energy market; the company's ability to manage its liquidity; the outcome of and the publicity surrounding audits and investigations by domestic and foreign government agencies and legislative bodies; potential adverse proceedings by such agencies and potential adverse results and consequences from such proceedings; changes in capital spending by the company's customers; the company's ability to obtain contracts from existing and new customers and perform under those contracts; structural changes in the industries in which the company operates; escalating costs associated with and the performance of fixed-fee projects and the company's ability to control its cost under its contracts; claims negotiations and contract disputes with the company's customers; changes in the demand for or price of oil and/or natural gas; protection of intellectual property rights; compliance with environmental laws; changes in government regulations and regulatory requirements; compliance with laws related to income taxes; unsettled political conditions, war and the effects of terrorism; foreign operations and foreign exchange rates and controls; the development and installation of financial systems; the possibility of cyber and malware attacks; increased competition for employees; the ability to successfully complete and integrate acquisitions; and operations of joint ventures, including joint ventures that are not controlled by the company.

The company's most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K, any subsequent Form 10-Qs and 8-Ks, and other U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filings discuss some of the important risk factors that the company has identified that may affect its business, results of operations and financial condition. Except as required by law, the company undertakes no obligation to revise or update publicly any forward-looking statements for any reason.

SOURCE KBR, Inc.
Northouse counsels technology, telecommunications, healthcare, and other companies on cybersecurity, incident response, consumer privacy, surveillance and information sharing, and regulatory compliance in domestic and international contexts. He has particular experience helping companies navigate complex global privacy and cybersecurity requirements, and working on cross-border transactional matters.

"Clay has significant experience advising on cutting-edge transactional, regulatory, and litigation matters in the data privacy and cybersecurity space, and we are delighted to welcome him," said Dan Lennon, Office Managing Partner of Latham & Watkins' Washington, D.C., office. "Data privacy and security are top priorities of our clients, particularly in an environment of heightened regulatory scrutiny and enforcement. Clay's arrival further demonstrates our commitment to being the go-to firm advising on these issues."

Gail Crawford, Global Chair of Latham's Data & Technology Transactions Practice, said: "Clay has his finger on the pulse of complex and precedent-defining data privacy and security matters. His versatile practice is a natural fit for our privacy & cyber group that advises clients on the full range of privacy & cyber issues from litigation, through regulatory enquiries, counselling to transactional matters."

"Latham handles the largest and most sophisticated cross-border matters, with particular prowess serving technology companies facing a growing need for privacy and cyber diligence," said Northouse. "I'm thrilled to join the Latham team and look forward to working across disciplines to help our clients achieve their business objectives."

Northouse joins Latham from Sidley Austin LLP. He received his JD from Georgetown University Law Center and clerked on the US Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.

About Latham & Watkins (lw.com)

Latham & Watkins delivers innovative solutions to complex legal and business challenges around the world. From a global platform, our lawyers advise clients on market-shaping transactions, high-stakes litigation and trials, and sophisticated regulatory matters. Latham is one of the world's largest providers of pro bono services, steadfastly supports initiatives designed to advance diversity within the firm and the legal profession, and is committed to exploring and promoting environmental sustainability.

Notes to Editors

1. Latham & Watkins operates worldwide as a limited liability partnership organized under the laws of the State of Delaware (USA) with affiliated limited liability partnerships conducting the practice in France, Hong Kong, Italy, Singapore, and the United Kingdom and as an affiliated partnership conducting the practice in Japan. Latham & Watkins operates in Israel through a limited liability company. Latham & Watkins operates in South Korea as a Foreign Legal Consultant Office. Latham & Watkins works in cooperation with the Law Office of Salman M. Al-Sudairi in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Contacts

Dan Lennon, Managing Partner of the Washington, D.C. office of Latham & Watkins, +1.202.637.2200

Gail Crawford, Global Chair of Latham & Watkins' Data & Technology Transactions Practice , +44.20.7710.3001

SOURCE Latham & Watkins
Provides Notice of Release of First Quarter Financial Results and Annual Meeting of Shareholders

(All amounts are in U.S. dollars unless otherwise indicated)

TORONTO, April 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - New Gold Inc. ("New Gold" or the "Company") (TSX: NGD) and (NYSE American: NGD) reports first quarter operational results for the Company as of March 31, 2022. The Company is also providing notice that it will be releasing its first quarter 2022 financial results before markets open on Monday, May 2, 2022.

"The first quarter saw both of our operations deliver total gold equivalent production of 87,696 ounces as we begin a year focused on operational excellence and optimization at both assets," stated Renaud Adams, President & CEO. "At Rainy River, we achieved quarter over quarter production growth despite lower tonnes mined as a result of an increase in COVID-19 cases at site in the first part of the quarter, which impacted equipment utilization, and the cold weather affecting drilling productivity. The milling rate was also impacted during the quarter due to mechanical maintenance on the SAG mill and crusher, and weather conditions impacting stockpile movement. At New Afton, the planned closure of the Lift 1 cave was completed with the exception of the recovery level, commissioning of the thickened and amended tailings facility was completed, and we continued to advance the B3 ramp-up and C-Zone development. Lastly, we released an updated Rainy River technical report where Rainy River's mine life has extended to 2031 with the conversion of an additional 569,000 gold ounces in the underground main zones."

Consolidated Operational Highlights



Q1 2022 Q1 2021 Gold eq. production (ounces)1 87,696 96,026 Gold production (ounces) 68,101 66,650 Copper production (Mlbs) 8.2 13.8

Rainy River Mine

Rainy River Mine (Open Pit Mine only) Q1 2022 Q1 2021 Tonnes mined per day (ore and waste) 118,657 150,767 Ore tonnes mined per day 20,019 35,681 Operating waste tonnes per day 35,199 65,643 Capitalized waste tonnes per day 63,438 49,442 Total waste tonnes per day 98,637 115,085 Strip ratio (waste:ore) 4.93 3.23 Tonnes milled per calendar day 24,318 26,301 Gold grade milled (g/t) 0.92 0.80 Gold recovery (%) 91 89 Mill availability (%) 93 89 Gold eq. production (ounces)1 59,895 56,513 Gold production (ounces) 58,834 54,656

New Afton Mine

New Afton Mine Q1 2022 Q1 2021 Tonnes mined per day (ore and waste) 7,028 11,395 Tonnes milled per calendar day 10,299 13,564 Gold grade milled (g/t) 0.38 0.39 Gold recovery (%) 83 79 Copper grade milled (%) 0.49 0.64 Copper recovery (%) 81 80 Mill availability (%) 97 96 Gold eq. production (ounces)1 27,800 39,512 Gold production (ounces) 9,267 11,994 Copper production (Mlbs) 8.2 13.8

First Quarter 2022 Conference Call and Webcast

The Company will release its first quarter 2022 financial results before markets open on Monday, May 2, 2022. A conference call and webcast will follow at 8:30 am Eastern Time.

Participants may listen to the webcast by registering on our website at www.newgold.com or via the following link https://produceredition.webcasts.com/starthere.jsp?ei=1536194&tp_key=0e2e702de9





Participants may also listen to the conference call by calling North American toll free 1-888-664-6383, or 1-416-764-8650 outside of the U.S. and Canada , passcode 93425158





, passcode 93425158 A recorded playback of the conference call will be available until June 2, 2022 by calling North American toll free 1-888-390-0541, or 1-416-764-8677 outside of the U.S. and Canada , passcode 425158. An archived webcast will also be available at www.newgold.com.

2022 Annual Meeting of Shareholders

The Company will hold its annual general meeting of shareholders on Tuesday, May 3, 2022 at 4:00 pm Eastern Time. The meeting will not include a formal presentation by management.

Due to the continuing public health impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and having regard to the health and safety of the Company's employees and shareholders, the meeting will be held virtually at https://web.lumiagm.com/453499456.

At the virtual meeting, registered shareholders, non-registered (or beneficial) shareholders, and their duly appointed proxyholders will be able to ask questions and otherwise participate in "real time" through an online portal. Non-registered shareholders must carefully follow the procedures set out in the Company's management information circular in order to ask questions and otherwise participate in the meeting through the live webcast. Non-registered shareholders who do not follow these procedures will nonetheless be able to view a live webcast of the meeting but will not be able to ask questions or vote. New Gold firmly believes that a virtual meeting gives all shareholders an equal opportunity to participate regardless of their geographic location or the particular constraints, circumstances or risks that they may be facing as a result of COVID-19.

New Gold's management information circular, as well as a virtual annual general meeting user guide, may be found on New Gold's website at https://newgold.com/news-events/annual-meeting-of-shareholders/default.aspx or under New Gold's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and on EDGAR at www.sec.gov.

About New Gold

New Gold is a Canadian-focused intermediate mining Company with a portfolio of two core producing assets in Canada, the Rainy River gold mine and the New Afton copper-gold mine. The Company also holds a 5% equity stake in Artemis Gold Inc. and other Canadian-focused investments. New Gold's vision is to build a leading diversified intermediate gold company based in Canada that is committed to the environment and social responsibility. For further information on the Company, visit www.newgold.com .

Endnotes

1. Total gold eq. ounces include silver and copper produced/sold converted to a gold equivalent. All copper is produced/sold by the New Afton Mine. Gold eq. ounces for Rainy River in Q1 2022 includes production of 79,621 ounces of silver (78,640 ounces sold) converted to a gold eq. based on a ratio of $1,800 per gold ounce and $24.00 per silver ounce used for 2022 guidance estimates. Gold eq. ounces for New Afton in Q1 2022 includes 8.2 million pounds of copper produced (9.2 million pounds sold) and 29,890 ounces of silver produced (32,575 ounces of silver sold) converted to a gold eq. based on a ratio of $1,800 per gold ounce, 4.00 per copper pound and $24.00 per silver ounce used for 2022 guidance estimates.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Certain information contained in this news release, including any information relating to New Gold's future financial or operating performance are "forward-looking". All statements in this news release, other than statements of historical fact, which address events, results, outcomes or developments that New Gold expects to occur are "forward-looking statements". Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "targeted", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates", "projects", "potential", "believes" or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "should", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved" or the negative connotation of such terms. Forward-looking statements in this news release include, among others, statements with respect to: the anticipated timing with respect to the release of its first quarter 2022 financial results and the associated conference call and webcast; and the Company's upcoming annual general meeting of shareholders.

All forward-looking statements in this news release are based on the opinions and estimates of management that, while considered reasonable as at the date of this news release in light of management's experience and perception of current conditions and expected developments, are inherently subject to important risk factors and uncertainties, many of which are beyond New Gold's ability to control or predict. Certain material assumptions regarding such forward-looking statements are discussed in this news release, New Gold's latest annual management's discussion and analysis ("MD&A"), its most recent annual information form and technical reports on the Rainy River Mine and New Afton Mine filed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and on EDGAR at www.sec.gov. In addition to, and subject to, such assumptions discussed in more detail elsewhere, the forward-looking statements in this news release are also subject to the following assumptions: (1) there being no significant disruptions affecting New Gold's operations other than as set out herein; and (2) political and legal developments in jurisdictions where New Gold operates, or may in the future operate, being consistent with New Gold's current expectations.

Forward-looking statements are necessarily based on estimates and assumptions that are inherently subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, without limitation: significant capital requirements and the availability and management of capital resources; additional funding requirements; price volatility in the spot and forward markets for metals and other commodities; fluctuations in the international currency markets and in the rates of exchange of the currencies of Canada, the United States and, to a lesser extent, Mexico; volatility in the market price of the Company's securities; hedging and investment related risks; dependence on the Rainy River Mine and New Afton Mine; discrepancies between actual and estimated production, between actual and estimated mineral reserves and mineral resources and between actual and estimated metallurgical recoveries; risks related to early production at the Rainy River Mine, including failure of equipment, machinery, the process circuit or other processes to perform as designed or intended; risks related to construction, including changing costs and timelines; adequate infrastructure; fluctuation in treatment and refining charges; changes in national and local government legislation in Canada, the United States and, to a lesser extent, Mexico or any other country in which New Gold currently or may in the future carry on business; global economic and financial conditions; risks relating to New Gold's debt and liquidity; the adequacy of internal and disclosure controls; taxation; impairment; conflicts of interest; risks relating to climate change; controls, regulations and political or economic developments in the countries in which New Gold does or may carry on business; the speculative nature of mineral exploration and development, including the risks of obtaining and maintaining the validity and enforceability of the necessary licenses and permits and complying with the permitting requirements of each jurisdiction in which New Gold operates; the lack of certainty with respect to foreign legal systems, which may not be immune from the influence of political pressure, corruption or other factors that are inconsistent with the rule of law; the uncertainties inherent to current and future legal challenges New Gold is or may become a party to; risks relating to proposed acquisitions and the integration thereof; information systems security threats; diminishing quantities or grades of mineral reserves and mineral resources; competition; loss of, or inability to attract, key employees; rising costs of labour, supplies, fuel and equipment; actual results of current exploration or reclamation activities; uncertainties inherent to mining economic studies; changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined; accidents; labour disputes; defective title to mineral claims or property or contests over claims to mineral properties; unexpected delays and costs inherent to consulting and accommodating rights of Indigenous groups; risks, uncertainties and unanticipated delays associated with obtaining and maintaining necessary licenses, permits and authorizations and complying with permitting requirements; disruptions to the Company's workforce at either the Rainy River Mine or the New Afton Mine, or both, due to cases of COVID-19 or any required self-isolation (due to cross-border travel, exposure to a case of COVID-19 or otherwise); the responses of the relevant governments to the COVID-19 outbreak not being sufficient to contain the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak; disruptions to the Company's supply chain and workforce due to the COVID-19 outbreak; an economic recession or downturn as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak that materially adversely affects the Company's operations or liquidity position; there being further shutdowns at the Rainy River or New Afton Mines; the Company not being able to complete its construction projects at the Rainy River Mine or the New Afton Mines on the anticipated timeline or at all; and the Company not being able to complete the exploration drilling program to be launched at the Rainy River Mine and Cherry Creek on the anticipated timeline or at all. In addition, there are risks and hazards associated with the business of mineral exploration, development and mining, including environmental events and hazards, industrial accidents, unusual or unexpected formations, pressures, cave-ins, flooding and gold bullion losses (and the risk of inadequate insurance or inability to obtain insurance to cover these risks) as well as "Risk Factors" included in New Gold's most recent annual information form, MD&A and other disclosure documents filed on and available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and on EDGAR at www.sec.gov. Forward looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, and actual results and future events could materially differ from those anticipated in such statements. All forward-looking statements contained in this news release are qualified by these cautionary statements. New Gold expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, events or otherwise, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.

Technical Information

The scientific and technical information contained in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Eric Vinet, Senior Vice President, Operations of New Gold. Mr. Vinet is a Professional Engineer and member of the Ordre des ingenieurs du Quebec. He is a "Qualified Person" for the purposes of National Instrument 43-101  Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.

SOURCE New Gold Inc.
AUSTIN, Texas, April 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Alliance of Insurance Education & Research welcomes Noelle Codispoti as Director of CISR High School Program. The Certified Insurance Service Representative (CISR) High School Program allows students to earn a nationally recognized industry designation before they graduate, equipping them with vital pre-career exposure and technical industry training and providing a significant advantage as they enter the workforce.

An accomplished leader in the early talent space, Codispoti will develop and implement the national growth strategy and comprehensive program supports to ensure student success. In pursuing key goals of expanding program reach and engaging an under-represented demographic to bolster a richly diverse talent pipeline, particular focus will be placed on the student experience to improve delivery; and developing meaningful partnerships to further support students with early industry networks and career opportunities.

Prior to joining The National Alliance, Codispoti spent 10 years at the helm of Gamma Iota Sigma. There, she conceived and led a successful growth strategy resulting in a 400+% increase in student membership and double the active chapters.

Codispoti has been deeply committed to the diversification of the insurance industry talent pipeline, bringing the Global Dive In Festival to North America in 2016 at the GIS Annual Conference and pioneering ground-breaking initiatives like the GammaSAID Council, a student-led group fostering understanding and solutions around DEI.

"I am excited to work with such a talented and passionate team," remarked Codispoti. "This program provides a much-needed avenue to bring awareness and exposure to the exciting career opportunities within the industry while diversifying the talent pipeline at the earliest juncture of career exposure."

"We are thrilled to have Noelle join us," said President and CEO, William Hold. "With her significant track record in the early talent space and proven success in growing early-stage programs, Noelle is uniquely capable of expanding the program's footprint and distinction."

About The National Alliance: The National Alliance for Insurance Education and Research, a registered 501(c)(3), is an insurance education provider, recognized throughout the industry as a preeminent resource for technical training, designations, and continuing education in risk management and insurance. Boasting over 150,000 program participants, the National Alliance has set the standard for industry education since its inception in 1969.

Media Contact:

Griselda Castillo

The National Alliance for Insurance Education & Research

512-349-3303

[email protected]

SOURCE The National Alliance of Insurance Education & Research
STORRS, Conn., April 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- On Tuesday April 12, 2022, the Iranian Professionals' Ad Hoc Committee on Iran Policy sent an open letter signed by more than 500 prominent Iranian Americans to President Biden asking the administration to maintain the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) on the State Department's list of Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTO).

The letter underscores that the IRGC is Tehran's instrument for terrorism abroad and repression of people on the streets of Iran. Prominent Iranian-American scientists, scholars, professors, physicians, industry executives professionals and successful entrepreneurs, stressed that "removing IRGC from the FTO list will project blatant disregard for the hope and legitimate struggle of Iranians for freedom and dignity." The signatories emphasized, "For over a century, the people of Iran have struggled for freedom from the tyranny of the Shah (and his predecessors) and the mullahs currently ruling in Iran." The letter calls on the Biden Administration to stand with the Iranian people and their struggle for peace, freedom, and a non-nuclear republic Iran.

Professor Kazem Kazerounian, one of the main organizers of the letter and leading coordinator of the Iranian Professionals' Ad Hoc Committee on Iran Policy, said, "While we welcome President Biden's opposition to remove IRGC from the FTO list, we remain vigilant and concerned about any concession toward Tehran's terrorist regime. There is no distinction between the IRGC or the Quds force. They operate as one unit to fund, promote and implement Khamenei's agenda. The current designation is justified and should remain intact."

Information Technology leader and inventor, Ms. Sima Yazdani, stated,: "The letter reflects the views of many Iranian Americans who are in contact with their family members in Iran, many of whom are victims of IRGC's brutal repression at home."

Dr. Shahin Toutounchi, Distinguished Engineer from Lattice Semiconductor Corporation, added, "The Vienna talks only legitimize a brutal and terrorist regime in Tehran. No concessions should be offered to the mullahs, IRGC, or their murderous president Ebrahim Raisi. If anything, America must verifiably hold mullah's regime accountable for its human rights abuses at home, terrorism abroad, and destructive support for terrorist proxies in the region."

Since February 2021, the Committee has sent other open letters to President Biden, each signed by several hundreds of prominent Iranian Americans.

SOURCE Iranian Professionals' Ad Hoc Committee on Iran Policy
NEW YORK and LONDON, April 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Paxos, the leading regulated blockchain infrastructure platform, has introduced the Paxos Settlement Hub for Commodities. This additional feature to the Paxos Settlement Service solution streamlines the settlement process to handle all settlements for market participants across gold, silver, platinum and palladium. This functionality allows for a centralized operational process for settlements with counterparties that are both on and off the Paxos network.

The Paxos Settlement Hub delivers efficient, cost-effective, safer settlement with full transparency on the movement of both metals and cash in a single user interface. The Paxos Settlement Hub is now an all-encompassing network that offers streamlined settlement with the options of simultaneous settlement with other Paxos Settlement customers and safe settlement for trading counterparties that are not yet Paxos customers. By connecting the London Precious Metals Clearing Limited and the cash-based correspondent banking network, Paxos allows customers to pre-fund and multilateral net settlements, creating a single platform where settlement occurs for both metals and cash. The Paxos Settlement Hub delivers efficient, cost-effective, safer settlement with full transparency on the movement of both metals and cash in a single user interface.

Anoushka Rayner, Paxos' Head of Commodities Growth, commented, "Settlement has always been a pain point causing significant risk for commodities market participants. The Paxos Settlement Hub for Commodities makes it possible for financial institutions to significantly minimize risk. This is the first time metal and cash settlement networks are connected, allowing for simultaneous and netted settlement. We've reduced the amount of assets needed to make settlement, giving the market a never seen before level of efficiency. Because a Paxos Trust bankruptcy-remote account underpins settlement, payments are easily managed, errors are minimized and funds are securely held and fully segregated."

Rayner added, "We've unblocked network-limiting challenges by managing settlement for both on and off network customers, which delivers immediate value for all precious metals market participants. Standardization, automation and efficiency are beneficial for all in the market."

In the next year, Paxos will further improve precious metals settlement by using regulated tokenized assets. Tokenized precious metals will increase the velocity of these assets, free capital trapped in slow settlement and safely broaden access to the market, all while further reducing costs.

About Paxos

Paxos is the leading regulated blockchain infrastructure platform. Its products are the foundation for a new, open financial system that can operate faster and more efficiently. Today, trillions of dollars are locked in inefficient, outdated financial plumbing that is inaccessible to millions of people. Paxos is replatforming the financial system to enable assets to instantaneously move anywhere in the world, at any time, in a trustworthy way.

Paxos uses technology to tokenize, custody, trade and settle assets. It builds enterprise blockchain solutions for institutions like PayPal, Interactive Brokers, Meta, Mastercard, MercadoLibre, Bank of America, Credit Suisse, Societe Generale and Revolut. Paxos is a top-funded fintech company with more than $540 million raised from leading investors including Oak HC/FT, Declaration Partners, Founders Fund, Mithril Capital and PayPal Ventures. With offices in New York, London and Singapore, Paxos takes a global approach to modernizing the financial system.

Media Contact:

Becky McClain

[email protected]

SOURCE Paxos
RIO DE JANEIRO, April 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Petroleo Brasileiro S.A.  Petrobras (" Petrobras ") (NYSE: PBR) today announced the expiration and expiration date results of the previously announced cash tender offers (each, an " Offer " and collectively, the " Offers ") by its wholly-owned subsidiary, Petrobras Global Finance B.V. (" PGF "), with respect to any and all of (i) its notes of the series set forth in the table below under the heading " Tender Group 1 " and (ii) its notes of the series set forth in the table below under the heading " Tender Group 2 ." Tender Group 1 and Tender Group 2 are referred to herein individually as a " Tender Group " and collectively as the " Tender Groups ." The notes for each Tender Group are referred to herein collectively as the " Notes ."

The following tables set forth certain information about the Offers for each Tender Group, including the aggregate principal amount of Notes validly tendered and accepted in such Offers, and the aggregate principal amount of Notes reflected in notices of guaranteed delivery delivered at or prior to the Expiration Date (as defined below):

Tender Group 1

Title of

Security CUSIP/ISIN Acceptance

Priority Level Principal Amount

Outstanding(1) Consideration(2) Principal Amount

Tendered Principal Amount

Accepted Principal

Amount

Reflected in

Notices of

Guaranteed

Delivery 6.250% Global Notes Due

March 2024 71647NAM1 /

US71647NAM11 1 US$678,649,000 US$1,056.16 US$58,159,000 US$58,159,000 - 4.750% Global Notes Due

January 2025 - / XS0982711714 2 446,148,000 1,068.34 135,488,000 135,488,000 - 5.299% Global Notes Due

January 2025 71647NAT6, 71647NAV1, N6945AAJ6 / US71647NAT63, US71647NAV10, USN6945AAJ62 3 US$809,711,000 US$1,048.58 US$77,659,000 US$77,659,000 - 8.750% Global Notes Due

May 2026 71647NAQ2 /

US71647NAQ25 4 US$548,009,000 US$1,170.89 US$101,804,000 US$101,804,000 US$236,000 6.250% Global Notes Due

December 2026 - / XS0718502007 5 582,539,000 1,043.41 16,429,000 16,429,000 - 7.375% Global Notes Due

January 2027 71647NAS8 /

US71647NAS80 6 US$1,224,805,000 US$1,111.06 US$223,973,000 US$223,973,000 US$1,460,000 5.999% Global Notes Due

January 2028 71647NAW9,

N6945AAK3,

71647NAY5 /

US71647NAW92,

USN6945AAK36,

US71647NAY58 7 US$1,510,525,000 US$1,044.06 US$201,581,000 US$201,581,000 US$680,000 5.750% Global Notes Due

February 2029 71647NAZ2 /

US71647NAZ24 8 US$694,659,000 US$1,026.52 US$35,314,000 US$35,314,000 - 5.375% Global Notes Due

October 2029 - / XS0835891838 9 356,598,000 963.96 10,633,000 10,633,000 - 5.093% Global Notes Due

January 2030 71647NBE8,

71647NBF5, N6945AAL1 /

US71647NBE85,

US71647NBF50,

USN6945AAL19 10 US$1,553,169,000 US$982.60 US$670,341,000 US$670,341,000 US$22,209,000























(1) Including Notes held by Petrobras or its affiliates.



(2) Per each US$1,000, 1,000 or 1,000, as applicable, principal amount of each series of Notes validly tendered and accepted for purchase. The applicable consideration does not include accrued and unpaid interest on the Notes accepted for purchase through the Settlement Date (as defined below), which will be payable in cash.

Tender Group 2

Title of

Security CUSIP/ISIN Acceptance

Priority Level Principal Amount

Outstanding(1) Consideration(2) Principal Amount

Tendered Principal Amount

Accepted Principal Amount

Reflected in

Notices of

Guaranteed

Delivery 5.500% Global Notes

Due June 2051 71647NBJ7 /

US71647NBJ72 1 US$1,234,620,000 US$839.90 US$53,549,000 US$53,549,000 US$1,693,000 5.625% Global Notes

Due May 2043 71647NAA7 /

US71647NAA72 2 US$409,167,000 US$906.60 US$8,414,000 US$8,414,000 US$424,000 6.750% Global Notes

Due June 2050 71647NBG3 /

US71647NBG34 3 US$692,398,000 US$950.07 US$47,682,000 US$47,682,000 - 6.900% Global Notes

Due March 2049 71647NBD0 /

US71647NBD03 4 US$1,070,033,000 US$973.26 US$36,521,000 US$36,521,000 - 5.600% Global Notes

Due January 2031 71647NBH1 /

US71647NBH17 5 US$1,767,676,000 US$993.85 US$172,745,000 US$172,745,000 US$38,720,000 6.625% Global Notes

Due January 2034 - / XS0982711474 6 441,746,000 997.06 4,987,000 4,987,000 - 6.750% Global Notes

Due January 2041 71645WAS0 /

US71645WAS08 7 US$849,827,000 US$996.70 US$49,694,000 US$49,694,000 - 6.875% Global Notes

Due January 2040 71645WAQ4 /

US71645WAQ42 8 US$815,464,000 US$1,010.62 US$8,821,000 US$8,821,000 US$13,000 7.250% Global Notes

Due March 2044 71647NAK5 /

US71647NAK54 9 US$1,055,039,000 US$1,019.83 US$10,182,000 US$10,182,000 -























(1) Including Notes held by Petrobras or its affiliates.



(2) Per each US$1,000 or 1,000, as applicable, principal amount of each series of Notes validly tendered and accepted for purchase. The applicable consideration does not include accrued and unpaid interest on the Notes accepted for purchase through the Settlement Date, which will be payable in cash.

The Offers were made pursuant to the terms and conditions set forth in the offer to purchase dated April 5, 2022 (the " Offer to Purchase " and, together with the accompanying notice of guaranteed delivery, the " Offer Documents ").

The Offers expired at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on April 11, 2022 (the " Expiration Date "). The settlement date with respect to the Offers is expected to occur on April 14, 2022 (the " Settlement Date ").

In order to be eligible to participate in the Offers, holders of Notes reflected in notices of guaranteed delivery received by PGF prior to the Expiration Date must deliver such Notes to PGF by 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on April 13, 2022 (the " Guaranteed Delivery Date ").

The purchase of all Notes validly tendered in the Offers with respect to Tender Group 1 would cause PGF to purchase an aggregate principal amount of Notes of Tender Group 1 that would result in an aggregate amount to be paid by PGF in excess of the maximum consideration for Tender Group 1 described in the Offer to Purchase. In order to accept for purchase all of the Notes in Tender Group 1 validly tendered, and all of the Notes reflected in notices of guaranteed delivery received by PGF, in each case on or prior to the Expiration Date, PGF is increasing the maximum consideration amount for Tender Group 1 set forth in the Offer to Purchase from U.S.$1.0 billion to U.S.$1,634,162,597.01. As a result, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Offer to Purchase, PGF has accepted for purchase all of the Notes in Tender Group 1 validly tendered, and expects to accept all of the Notes in Tender Group 1 for which PGF has received notices of guaranteed delivery and that are delivered on or prior to the Guaranteed Delivery Date.

On the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Offer to Purchase, PGF has accepted for purchase all of the Notes in Tender Group 2 validly tendered, and expects to accept all of the Notes in Tender Group 2 for which PGF has received notices of guaranteed delivery and that are delivered on or prior to the Guaranteed Delivery Date.

The principal amount of Notes that will be purchased by PGF on the Settlement Date is subject to change based on deliveries of Notes pursuant to the guaranteed delivery procedures described in the Offer to Purchase. A press release announcing the final results of the Offers is expected to be issued on or promptly after the Settlement Date.

The total cash payment to purchase Notes accepted and expected to be accepted in the Offers , excluding accrued and unpaid interest, will be approximately US$2.0 billion.

The exchange rates used to calculate the maximum consideration payable for each Tender Group were 1.3040 per US$1.00 and 1.0896 per US$1.00, the applicable exchange rates as of 11:00 a.m., New York City time on the Expiration Date, as reported on Bloomberg screen page "FXIP" under the heading "FX Rate vs. USD."

All conditions described in the Offer to Purchase that were to be satisfied or waived on or prior to the Expiration Date have been satisfied.

PGF engaged BNP Paribas Securities Corp. (" BNP PARIBAS "), Citigroup Global Markets Inc. (" Citigroup "), HSBC Securities (USA) Inc. (" HSBC "), Mizuho Securities USA LLC (" Mizuho Securities "), Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC (" Morgan Stanley "), and Scotia Capital (USA) Inc. (" Scotiabank " and together with BNP, Citi, HSBC, Mizuho and Morgan Stanley, the " Dealer Managers ") to act as dealer managers with respect to the Offers. Global Bondholder Services Corporation acted as the depositary and information agent (the " Depositary ") for the Offers.

This announcement is for informational purposes only, and does not constitute an offer to purchase or a solicitation of an offer to sell any securities.

Any questions or requests for assistance regarding the Offers may be directed to BNP PARIBAS confirmation No. at +1 (212) 841-3059 or toll-free at +1 (888) 210-4358, Citigroup collect at +1 (212) 723-6106 or toll free at +1 (800) 558-3745, HSBC collect at +1 (212) 525-5552 or toll free at +1 (888) HSBC-4LM, Mizuho Securities collect at +1 (212) 205-7736 or toll free at +1 (866) 271-7403, Morgan Stanley collect at +1 (212) 761-1057 or toll free at +1 (800) 624-1808 and Scotiabank collect at +1 (212) 225-5501 or toll free at +1 (833) 498-1660. Requests for additional copies of the Offer Documents may be directed to Global Bondholder Services Corporation at +1 (855) 654-2015 (toll-free) or +1 (212) 430-3774 (banks and brokers call). The Offer Documents can be accessed at the following link: https://www.gbsc-usa.com/Petrobras/.

The Offers were made solely pursuant to the Offer Documents. The Offer Documents have not been filed with, and have not been approved or reviewed by any federal or state securities commission or regulatory authority of any country. No authority has passed upon the accuracy or adequacy of the Offer Documents or any other documents related to the Offers, and it is unlawful and may be a criminal offense to make any representation to the contrary.

Notice to Prospective Investors in the United Kingdom

The communication of this announcement and any other documents or materials relating to the Offers is not being made and such documents and/or materials have not been approved by an authorized person for the purposes of Section 21 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000. This announcement and any such related documents and/or materials are for distribution only to persons who (i) have professional experience in matters relating to investments falling within Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (the " Order "), (ii) are persons falling within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) ("high net worth companies, unincorporated associations, etc.") of the Order, (iii) are outside the United Kingdom, (iv) are members or creditors of certain bodies corporate as defined by or within Article 43(2) of the Order, or (v) are persons to whom an invitation or inducement to engage in investment activity (within the meaning of section 21 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000) in connection with the offer to purchase any securities may otherwise lawfully be communicated (all such persons together being referred to as "relevant persons"). This announcement and any such related documents and/or materials are directed only at relevant persons and must not be acted on or relied on by persons who are not relevant persons. Any investment or investment activity to which this press release and any such related documents and/or materials are available only to and will be engaged in only with relevant persons.

Forward-Looking Statements

This announcement contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are information of a non-historical nature or which relate to future events and are subject to risks and uncertainties. No assurance can be given that the transactions described herein will be consummated or as to the ultimate terms of any such transactions. Petrobras undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information or future events or for any other reason.

SOURCE Petroleo Brasileiro S.A. - Petrobras
"Susan is an excellent addition to our Boston office and we are thrilled to welcome her to the firm," said Kristen Grannis, Global Vice Chair of Latham & Watkins' Private Equity Practice and a partner in the Boston office. "Her focus on middle-market transactions is highly synergistic with our private equity client base in Boston. She is also a valuable addition to the firm's global Private Equity Finance Practice, having the capabilities and skillsets needed to support clients on the full range of highly-complex financing needs."

Manu Gayatrinath, Global Chair of Latham's Private Equity Finance Practice, added, "The expansion of our global Private Equity Finance Practice is a strategic priority for the firm as private equity clients remain focused on M&A. Susan has an outstanding reputation, and her arrival is another important milestone in our continued ambition to serve as a one-stop financing shop to private equity clients throughout their entire lifecycle."

"Latham has a large and diverse private equity bench that is unrivaled by other firms," said Parker. "I look forward to tapping into the firm's integrated global platform that will enable me to take a holistic view and approach to serving my clients."

Parker is the second partner to join Latham's Private Equity Finance Practice this year. The firm announced in February the arrival of Stephanie Teicher to the New York office.

Parker received her JD from The George Washington University Law School, her MTS from Harvard Divinity School, and her BA from Wesleyan University. Parker joins Latham from Choate, Hall & Stewart LLP in Boston.

About Latham & Watkins (lw.com)

Latham & Watkins delivers innovative solutions to complex legal and business challenges around the world. From a global platform, our lawyers advise clients on market-shaping transactions, high-stakes litigation and trials, and sophisticated regulatory matters. Latham is one of the world's largest providers of pro bono services, steadfastly supports initiatives designed to advance diversity within the firm and the legal profession, and is committed to exploring and promoting environmental sustainability.

Notes to Editors

1 Latham & Watkins operates worldwide as a limited liability partnership organized under the laws of the State of Delaware (USA) with affiliated limited liability partnerships conducting the practice in France, Hong Kong, Italy, Singapore, and the United Kingdom and as an affiliated partnership conducting the practice in Japan. Latham & Watkins operates in Israel through a limited liability company. Latham & Watkins operates in South Korea as a Foreign Legal Consultant Office. Latham & Watkins works in cooperation with the Law Office of Salman M. Al-Sudairi in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Contacts

Kristen Grannis, Global Vice Chair, Private Equity Practice, +1.617.948.6056

Manu Gayatrinath, Global Chair, Private Equity Finance Practice, +1.202.637.2342

SOURCE Latham & Watkins LLP
Call for entrepreneur applications will run from April 12th to April 26th, 2022, apply at rga.com/culture/make-good Tweet this

Make/Good for Businesses welcomes Black, Indigenous, Latine, Asian and underrepresented entrepreneurs in Argentina, Brazil, Germany, the U.K. and U.S. to apply to the program. Call for applications will run from April 12th, 2022, to April 26th, 2022. The final selection will be announced in June. R/GA will provide the selected applicants with the company's innovative thinking and access to R/GA's creatives, strategists, technologists, designers, and consultants to help them develop and scale their businesses over a twelve-month period.

"Owning a business is one of the most effective tools for closing the racial wealth gap for Black, Indigenous, and people of color. While it takes many barriers to grow a business, BIPOC entrepreneurs still lack substantial access to services and resources and need more help to overcome these disparities. R/GA'ers from our global network have committed to providing their time and support to BIPOC entrepreneurs to have the best opportunity to build sustainable, long-term wealth. We will offer the group entrepreneurs in our communities the same services and resources we offer our clients while embedding sustainable practices and solutions internally and externally," said Bayyina Black, Global Sustainability and Impact Director.

Last year, Make/Good for Businesses conducted a pilot program over the course of 18 months, and provided creative and operational services to 10 BIPOC businesses in Austin, Berlin, London, and New York. As one significant result of the pilot, Berlin-based nonprofit Founderland was awarded a $700K+ grant from Google, which ultimately led the organization to hire 10 new employees, and scale operations.

For more information about Make/Good For Businesses, please visit: Make/Good .

About R/GA

R/GA is a global digital product, and marketing innovation company, part of The Interpublic Group of Companies (NYSE:IPG), with 15 offices across the United States, Europe, South America, and Asia-Pacific. We help brands and businesses define, connect with and create more human futures. We offer services across brand design and consulting, communication, experience, health, media, relationship design and ventures. For more information about R/GA, please visit rga.com .

SOURCE R/GA
SAN FRANCISCO, April 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Rich Talent Group (RTG), executive recruiting firm known for its track record of building diverse leadership teams and boards, announced the appointment of Nicole Reboe as President, effective immediately.

As President, Reboe will partner closely with Founder and CEO, Jana Rich and team to guide the firm towards further impact around its mission of building diverse leadership teams and boards.

Reboe has spent more than 20 years as a senior executive recruiter. "She brings an impressive depth of experience, having worked in-house in talent acquisition and in global executive search firms. Plus, her passion and expertise around DE&I make her a truly special fit for our team," said Rich, "Every day, our clients entrust us with helping them build some of the most innovative leadership teams and boards in business. With Nicole, we look forward to expanding this important work."

Reboe joins RTG from Brunswick Group, a leading global strategic communications advisory firm, where she led Partner hiring in the US, across Corporate Communications and Public Affairs. She was also appointed the firm's first Global Head of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, with oversight for all firmwide actions to advance DE&I. Previously, she held positions at executive search firms, Spencer Stuart and Heidrick & Struggles.

"I am honored to be joining Rich Talent Group, a firm that has been at the forefront of pushing boundaries and building transformational leadership teams," said Reboe, "I'm passionate about how the firm challenges typical exclusionary hiring models, which allows us to unlock greater potential for clients and candidates. I believe executive search can be a force for good. And RTG has the track record of making this belief a reality."

About Rich Talent Group

Rich Talent Group partners with today's visionary companies to build transformative leadership teams and boards that help change the world. Since its founding in 2014, the firm has become a leader in advocating for diversity and creating more diverse and inclusive teams across the country. In 2021, 90% of the candidates RTG recruited into operating roles added diversity as women, People of Color, and/or LGBTQ+. And that was 100% for boards. With offices in San Francisco and New York, RTG works with both early-stage companies and larger established organizations in consumer and technology spaces. In 2021, RTG joined kyu a global collective of best-in-class creative companies.

www.richtalentgroup.com

SOURCE Rich Talent Group
NEW YORK, April 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Pomerantz LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against C3.ai, Inc. ("C3.ai" or the "Company") (NYSE: AI) and certain of its officers. The class action, filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, and docketed under 22-cv-01413, is on behalf of a class consisting of all persons and entities other than Defendants that purchased or otherwise acquired: (a) C3.ai Class A common stock pursuant and/or traceable to the Offering Documents issued in connection with the Company's initial public offering conducted on or about December 9, 2020 (the "IPO" or "Offering"); and/or (b) C3.ai securities between December 9, 2020 and February 15, 2022, both dates inclusive (the "Class Period"). Plaintiff pursues claims against the Defendants under the Securities Act of 1933 (the "Securities Act") and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act").

If you are a shareholder who purchased or otherwise acquired C3.ai Class A common stock pursuant and/or traceable to the IPO; and/or securities during the class period, you have until May 3, 2022 to ask the Court to appoint you as Lead Plaintiff for the class. A copy of the Complaint can be obtained at www.pomerantzlaw.com. To discuss this action, contact Robert S. Willoughby at [email protected] or 888.476.6529 (or 888.4-POMLAW), toll-free, Ext. 7980. Those who inquire by e-mail are encouraged to include their mailing address, telephone number, and the number of shares purchased.

[Click here for information about joining the class action]

C3.ai operates as an enterprise artificial intelligence ("AI") software company. The Company offers a variety of software-as-a-service applications for enterprises and software solutions and integrated turnkey enterprise AI applications for oil and gas, chemicals, utilities, manufacturing, financial services, defense, intelligence, aerospace, healthcare, and telecommunications market segments. The Company also purports to have strategic partnerships with Baker Hughes related to oil and gas markets; FIS related to financial services markets; Raytheon; and AWS, Intel, and Microsoft.

The complaint alleges that the Offering Documents were negligently prepared and, as a result, contained untrue statements of material fact or omitted to state other facts necessary to make the statements made not misleading and were not prepared in accordance with the rules and regulations governing their preparation. Additionally, throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and misleading statements regarding the Company's business, operations, and compliance policies. Specifically, the Offering Documents and Defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (i) C3.ai's partnership with Baker Hughes was deteriorating; (ii) C3.ai's was employing a flawed accounting methodology to conceal the deterioration of its Baker Hughes partnership; (iii) C3.ai faced challenges in product adoption and significant salesforce turnover; (iv) the Company overstated, inter alia, the extent of its investment in technology, description of its customers, its total addressable market, the pace of its market growth, and the scale of alliances with its major business partners; and (v) as a result, the Company's public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times.

On February 16, 2022, during pre-market hours, Spruce Point Capital Management ("Spruce Point") issued a report and strong sell research opinion regarding C3.ai (the "Spruce Point Report"). Specifically, Spruce Point alleged that it had uncovered, inter alia, "[e]vidence of a severely challenged partnership with Baker Hughes, a related-party and C3.ai's largest customer"; "[s]igns of problematic financial reporting and accounting regarding the Baker Hughes joint venture and a revolving door in C3.ai's Chief Financial Officer position"; that "[c]hallenges in product adoption and significant salesforce turnover make it unlikely that C3.ai will meet aggressive analyst estimates"; "[e]vidence of exaggerated or irreconcilable claims made by C3.ai[,]" including "numerous discrepancies" regarding "the value of and cumulative investment made by C3.ai in its technology, description of its customers, its total addressable market, the pace of its market growth and the scale of alliances with companies such as Microsoft, Hewlett Packard Enterprises, Google Cloud, Intel and Amazon Web Services"; and "[w]orrisome corporate governance practices and insider enrichment." As a result, Spruce Point "conservatively estimate[d] 40% - 50% downside risk to C3.ai's share price."

Following publication of the Spruce Point Report, C3.ai's stock price fell $1.01 per share, or 3.93%, to close at $24.70 per share on February 16, 2022.

As of the time this Complaint was filed, the price of C3.ai Class A common stock continues to trade below the $42.00 per share Offering price, damaging investors.

Pomerantz LLP, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Paris, and Tel Aviv, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, Pomerantz pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 85 years later, Pomerantz continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomlaw.com

CONTACT:

Robert S. Willoughby

Pomerantz LLP

[email protected]

888-476-6529 ext. 7980

SOURCE Pomerantz LLP
"BMI is thrilled to be honoring two iconic songwriters, Carole Bayer Sager and Mike Stoller, alongside the creators of some of today's most-performed songs," said Cane. "As we commemorate BMI's 70 th Pop Awards, we pay homage to the craft of these two musical legends and their timeless contributions to BMI and the great American songbook. We're proud to present them with the BMI Icon Award for their lasting impression on fans worldwide and on the songwriters following the path they've laid out to musical greatness, which is second to none."

With a career spanning over five decades, GRAMMY and Academy Award-winning songwriter Carole Bayer Sager is responsible for lyrics to some of the most popular songs of our time, including "Nobody Does It Better," "A Groovy Kind of Love," "Don't Cry Out Loud," and the Oscar-winning theme from the movie Arthur, "Best That You Can Do." She's written more than 400 songs that transcend generations and has worked with some of the biggest stars in music, such as Ray Charles, Celine Dion, Bob Dylan, Neil Diamond, Kenny "Babyface" Edmonds, Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston, Michael Jackson, Carole King, Melissa Manchester, Reba McEntire, Bette Midler, Dolly Parton, Carly Simon, Frank Sinatra, Barbra Streisand and many more.

Sager has received many accolades and honors throughout her illustrious career, including 26 BMI Awards, and she was named BMI's Pop Songwriter of the Year in 1977. She's also received an Oscar, two Golden Globe Awards, a GRAMMY win for Song of the Year for "That What Friends Are For," and a combined 15 nominations. Adding to her collection of prestigious awards, Sager has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and in 2019, she was the recipient of the Johnny Mercer Award, the highest honor bestowed by the Songwriters Hall of Fame.

World-renowned songwriter Mike Stoller is one-half of the legendary team of Leiber & Stoller, whose iconic partnership spanned decades with countless chart-topping songs among their hugely successful repertoire. Together, they wrote over 20 songs for Elvis Presley, including "Hound Dog," "Love Me," and "Jailhouse Rock," and wrote and produced all the hit songs performed by The Coasters, such as "Searchin'," "Yakety Yak," "Charlie Brown," and "Poison Ivy" to name a few. Other timeless classics written by the pair include "Love Potion Number 9," "I'm A Woman," and "Is That All There Is?" as well as "On Broadway" co-written with Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil and "Stand by Me" co-written with Ben E. King. The hit musical Smokey Joe's Cafe: The Songs of Leiber & Stoller won a GRAMMY Award in 1995, was nominated for seven Tony Awards and is the longest-running musical revue in Broadway history.

Other accolades for Stoller include being inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame (1985) and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame (1987). He received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame (1994) and his handprints are embedded at the Hollywood RockWalk on Sunset Boulevard (1994). Over his acclaimed career, Stoller has also been honored with a Trustee GRAMMY Award (1999), Johnny Mercer Award by the National Academy of Popular Music/Songwriters Hall of Fame (2000), an Ivor Novello International Songwriters Award (2000) and an impressive 57 BMI Awards, among others.

As the newest BMI Icon honorees, Carole Bayer Sager and Mike Stoller join an elite group of songwriters who have received BMI's highest honor for their "unique and indelible influence on generations of music makers." Previous recipients include Barry Manilow, The Bee Gees, Brian Wilson, Carlos Santana, Carole King, Crosby, Stills & Nash, David Foster, Dolly Parton, the Jacksons, John Fogerty, Kris Kristofferson, Mann & Weil, Merle Haggard, Nile Rodgers, Paul Simon, Stevie Nicks, Sting and Willie Nelson, among others.

BMI's family of songwriters and publishers will also be celebrated throughout the evening with the revealing of the 50 most-performed pop songs in the United States from BMI's repertoire of more than 18.7 million musical works.

To join the conversation on social media, follow us @BMI and use #BMIPopAwards.

PRESS CREDENTIALS: To request press credentials, visit https://www.bmi.com/press/credential/2022-bmi-pop-awards. Press credentials will be for red-carpet arrivals only.

ABOUT BMI:

Celebrating over 80 years of service to songwriters, composers, music publishers and businesses, Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI) is a global leader in music rights management, serving as an advocate for the value of music. BMI represents the public performance rights in over 18.7 million musical works created and owned by more than 1.2 million songwriters, composers, and music publishers. The Company negotiates music license agreements and distributes the fees it generates as royalties to its affiliated writers and publishers when their songs are performed in public. In 1939, BMI created a groundbreaking open-door policy becoming the only performing rights organization to welcome and represent the creators of blues, jazz, country, and American roots music. Today, the musical compositions in BMI's repertoire, from chart toppers to perennial favorites, span all genres of music and are consistently among the most-performed hits of the year. For additional information and the latest BMI news, visit bmi.com, follow us on Twitter and Instagram @BMI or stay connected through Broadcast Music, Inc.'s Facebook page. Sign up for BMI's The Weekly and receive our e-newsletter every week to stay up to date on all things music.

SOURCE Broadcast Music, Inc.
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., April 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Special Needs Group/Special Needs at Sea (SNG), a medical equipment and supply company, and the leading global provider of wheelchair, scooter, oxygen and other special needs equipment rentals, will now offer a new category of wheelchairs  the World's Lightest Wheelchairs.

Special Needs Group Ultra-Light Heavy Duty Wheelchair Back View Special Needs Group Ultra-Light Standard Wheelchair Side View

Recommended by the world's major cruise lines for superior service and value, SNG also delivers to hotels, resorts, and convention centers. SNG has always prided itself in being a leader in the industry and being on the cutting-edge in offering transcendent services, and equipment. The announcement of the new edition of the World's Lightest Wheelchairs is the first in a new line of ultralightweight equipment.

Two ultra-light models will be offered  Ultra-Light Standard supports an individual up to 220 lbs., and the Ultra-Light XL has a capacity of 350 lbs. The frame of the standard wheelchair weighs only 13.5lbs, while the XL's frame is just over 15lbs. The seat widths of the Standard and XL are 18" and 22" wide respectively. The ultra-light models, made of unique luxurious materials, offer pop-off wheels, which allow each of the wheelchairs to be easily transported in any vehicle, while also being able to easily propel and push.

In addition to being ultra-light, the wheelchairs feature wheel locks, located in the front of the frame allowing accessibility by the individual in the seat. This prevents the wheelchair from rolling forward or backward. The handbrakes are highlighted by an integrated braking system which provide the family member, friend, and/or caregiver control, security, and convenience. Individuals renting or purchasing will also have different seat and back cushion options.

"As a full-fledged medical equipment and supply company with a global reach, we are always looking for innovative products for use at home or while vacationing," stated Andrew J. Garnett, founder, president and CEO of Special Needs Group/Special Needs at Sea. "We are extremely excited about our new line of ultra-light mobility equipment with the first in the new category being the Standard and XL wheelchairs."

SNG will first offer the ultra-light wheelchairs for rent to those cruising round-trip or on land-based vacations in the Fort Lauderdale and Miami area. The new additions to SNG's fleet of equipment will also be sold on SNG's online shop, www.shopspecialneedsgroup.com. Over time, the ultra-light wheelchairs will be available at additional destinations and SNG will add new products to its Ultra-Light category.

For more information, please contact Special Needs Group at 800.513.4515 or email [email protected].

Editor's note: a Dropbox link of images can be accessed here: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/gdjy6fxuy2wlq56/AAD8G-KEdqLFwvdW-6TQ2d3ta?dl=0

About Special Needs Group / Special Needs at Sea

Special Needs Group / Special Needs at Sea, a medical equipment and supply company, is the leading global provider of wheelchair rentals, scooter rentals, oxygen rentals and other special needs equipment rentals. It also offers a broad range of special needs equipment for purchase. Recommended by the world's major cruise lines for superior service and value, Special Needs Group also services guests visiting hotels, resorts, and convention centers. Special Needs Group is the travel industry's only total special needs travel solution. Special Needs Group provides service in 217 metropolitan areas and cities located in 70 countries. It is located at 302 NW 1st Street, Dania Beach, FL 33004. For more information, visit www.specialneedsgroup.com or call 1-800-513-4515.

Media Contact

Duree & Company, Inc.

954-723-9350 / [email protected]

SOURCE Special Needs Group
GILBERT, Ariz., April 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- As part of its mission to meet the growing demand for artificial turf nationwide, Synthetic Grass Warehouse has opened a new facility in Gilbert, Ariz. SGW's new Gilbert warehouse will stock all SGW products and accessories to service the growth in the Southeast part of the county.

As Arizona enters the 27th year of its current drought, the need for sustainable, water-friendly landscaping is more significant than ever. In the past 10 years, advances in synthetic grass have made it the preferred choice for property owners nationwide, thanks to its longevity, curb appeal and minimal maintenance requirements. By opening a distribution center serving southeast Maricopa County, SGW continues to place itself at the forefront of the artificial turf market with a dedication to providing superior synthetic turf products throughout the Valley of the Sun.

Joe Ayoub, SGW President, said, "Maricopa County is the largest county in Arizona, and it was important for us to have distribution and provide service and convenience to such a significant part of the state. Our Gilbert warehouse is one of our largest locations to date and expands our capacity to meet the demand of Arizonians' synthetic grass needs.

About Synthetic Grass Warehouse, Inc:

Synthetic Grass Warehouse is the exclusive national distributor for TigerTurf and Everlast brands of synthetic grass products. Founded in 2003, Synthetic Grass Warehouse specializes in turf products designed for landscapes, pets, putting greens and playgrounds. SGW provides same-day shipping on all turf orders, and each product is backed by the best warranty in the industry.

For more information, call SGW at (888) 580-2853 or visit http://www.syntheticgrasswarehouse.com .

SOURCE Synthetic Grass Warehouse, Inc.
The event was joined by more than 120 officials and business professionals, including Chu Shijia, Secretary General and Vice President of Canton Fair, Director-General of China Foreign Trade Centre, Han Xiaodong, Economic and Commercial Counsellor of the Chinese Embassy in Sweden, Simon, CEO of Sweden Bugge Group, Guo Zhiyao, Deputy General Manager of Bank of China (Europe) S.A.

Buyers at the event have had the opportunity to directly meet Chinese home appliance industry bases and leading companies from Shunde, Guangdong and Hefei, Anhui. Shunde, which specializes in white appliances such as refrigerators, washing machines and stoves, is one of the largest home appliance manufacturing bases and export bases in China. Companies in Anhui, on the other hand, present a comprehensive industrial chain from research and development, production, sales, and logistics to supporting businesses.

Chu Shijia noted that the 131st Canton Fair, which will be held from April 15 to 24, gathers 25,000 quality companies from China and abroad, including 5,300 time-honored brands, national technology centers, and award-winning companies that focus on innovation, development and pioneering technology.

Canton Fair continues its effort in promoting international trade

The trade volume between China and the EU reached a record high at 828.1 billion USD in 2021 and 137.1 billion USD in the first two months of 2022. Last year, the trade volume between China and Sweden also reached a record high at 20.9 billion US dollars, an increase of 17 percent.

Han Xiaodong valued the Canton Fair as one of China's important trade platforms, with efforts contributing to promoting bilateral trade. He encouraged Nordic companies to seize the business opportunities at the Canton Fair and through its matchmaking events.

Simon noted that he has witnessed more Nordic companies exploring the Chinese market, and more Chinese smart manufacturers entering Nordic countries. He spoke highly of the innovative approach of hosting the Canton Fair online and believed that this move provided a high-quality platform to help boost trade and tide over the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Trade Bridge" virtual promotion boosts business efficiency

Canton Fair set up one-on-one negotiations based on needs and sectors for buyers from leading international companies and Chinese suppliers to reduce sourcing costs and improve efficiency. Finnish Kesko Group buyers said that they have effectively found suppliers and new products through extended channels.

Moving forward, this Canton Fair will host 50 matchmaking events in its key markets, inviting companies and industry buyers to connect with Chinese industrial clusters, so that companies around the world can share business opportunities and promote high-quality development of international trade.

Visit https://www.cantonfair.org.cn/en-US/register/index#/foreign-email for more opportunities.

SOURCE Canton Fair
New Open Source Project at the Linux Foundation brings Cloud, Telecom and Network functions providers together in a Kubernetes world

SAN FRANCISCO, April 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the Linux Foundation , the nonprofit organization enabling mass innovation through open source, announced the formation of project Nephio in partnership with Google Cloud and leaders across the telecommunications industry. The Linux Foundation provides a venue for continued ecosystem, developer growth and diversity, as well as collaboration across the open source ecosystems.

Building, managing and deploying scalable 5G networks across multiple edge locations is complex. The Telco industry needs true cloud-native automation to be faster, simpler and easier, while achieving agility and optimization in cloud based deployments. To address these challenges, Google Cloud and the Linux Foundation have founded "Nephio." The project has support from several founding organizations including Service providers: Airtel, Bell Canada, Elisa, Equinix, Jio, Orange, Rakuten Mobile, TIM, TELUS, Vapor IO, Virgin Media O2, WINDTRE as well as Network Function, Service and Infrastructure Vendors: Aarna Networks, ARM, Casa-systems, DZS, Ericsson, F5, Intel, Juniper, Mavenir, Nokia, Parallel Wireless, VMware.

Cloud Native Principles have come a long way and as we see Cloud Service Providers collaborating with Telecom Service Providers and Enterprises, a new way of simplifying automation of network functions is emerging.

Nephio aims to deliver carrier-grade, simple, open, Kubernetes-based cloud native intent automation and common automation templates that materially simplify the deployment and management of multi-vendor cloud infrastructure and network functions across large scale edge deployments.

Additionally, Nephio will enable faster onboarding of network functions to production including provisioning of underlying cloud infrastructure with a true cloud native approach, and reduce costs of adoption of cloud and network infrastructure.

Google Cloud

"Telecommunication companies are looking for new solutions for managing their cloud ready and cloud native infrastructures as well as their 5G networks to achieve the scale, efficiency, and high reliability needed to operate more cost effectively," said Amol Phadke, managing director, Telecom Industry Products & Solutions, Google Cloud. "We look forward to working alongside The Linux Foundation, and our partners, in the creation of Nephio to set an industry open standard for Kubernetes-based intent automation that will result in faster and better connected cloud-native networks of the future."

Linux Foundation

"Collaboration across Telecom and Cloud Service Providers is accelerating and we are excited to bring Nephio to the open source community," said Arpit Joshipura, GM Networking, Edge & IOT, The Linux Foundation, "As end users demand end to end open source solutions, projects like Nephio complement the innovation across LFN, CNCF, LF Edge for faster deployment of telecom network functions in a cloud-native world."

More information about Nephio is available at www.nephio.org .

Service Providers

Airtel

"Zero touch deployment, configuration and operations of network functions predominantly on the edge of the network and in multi-cloud and multi-vendor scenarios is a significant challenge for all operators across the globe. A cloud-native orchestration and automation approach is the absolute need of the hour. Airtel is looking forward to being part of the LF and Google initiative to develop innovative solutions to simplify network operations," said Manish Gangey, SVP and Head  R&D, Bharti Airtel.

Bell

"Similar to our early participation in the Linux Foundation ONAP initiative, Bell Canada is thrilled to collaborate in this next chapter of Telco softwarization," said Petri Lyytikainen, VP Network, Bell Canada. "With innovations like 5G, ORAN and a new era of distributed cloud computing, Nephio and its community will be key in accelerating network and infrastructure automation towards a true cloud-native and intent-driven approach. This important work will help drive the evolution of network technology that will benefit Bell customers and the telecoms industry in Canada for years to come."

Elisa

"Elisa has a long history of network automation and cloud services. That has been utilized by the leading network analytics and automation solution provider Elisa Polystar," said Anssi Okkonen, CEO of Elisa Polystar. "We are looking forward to working together with Linux Foundation, Google Cloud and Nephio community to enable new cloud-native automation solutions for building the tools for self-driving networks."

Equinix

"We believe in innovation through collaboration and are pleased to join the Nephio project to help build advanced digital infrastructure orchestration capabilities for telco (5G) cloud native network functions," said Justin Dustzadeh, CTO at Equinix. "We look forward to collaborating with the developer community and members of the Nephio project to make it easier for developers to manage distributed infrastructure and help businesses drive digital transformation."

Jio

"Jio is excited to be part of the Nephio initiative. At a time when 5G Standalone deployments are rapidly coming on-stream globally, Nephio will play a pivotal role in the journey of telcos towards adopting a cloud native 5G Network," said Aayush Bhatnagar, SVP, Jio.

Orange

"For telecom operators, Cloud Native technologies will unleash many new opportunities. By providing a cloud native intent automation framework, Nephio should play a key role in the telecommunications ecosystem by enabling on-demand connectivity and zero touch operator capabilities, thus benefiting the entire industry, developers, vendors, integrators, operators," said Laurent Leboucher, group CTO and SVP, Orange Innovation Networks.

Rakuten Mobile

"The telecommunications industry is undergoing transformative change, with cloud native technologies bringing the industry into the modern era. When building Rakuten Mobile's cloud native network in Japan, we understood the challenges of an open ecosystem and also realized the many benefits of cloud architecture, including automation, zero-touch provisioning and unprecedented agility. We're excited to join Nephio in working to reimagine what telecommunications can be in the cloud era," commented Sharad Sriwastawa, CTO, Rakuten Mobile.

TIM

"We believe that the adoption of Cloud Native technology and philosophy will represent a cornerstone for the future of telecommunications, merging the world of cloud services and the world of telco services into one single digital platform. The automation framework is probably the most sensitive and strategic part of this platform that will be able to stimulate innovation during coming years," said Crescenzo Micheli, VP Technology & Innovation at Telecom Italia (TIM). "We believe the Nephio project could play a fundamental role to speed up this process."

TELUS

"TELUS is excited to be contributing to this Linux Foundation project. Innovation and collaboration have been a life-long journey for us; accelerating the adoption of Cloud Native technologies is a must to meet our customers' ever-changing expectations," said Ibrahim Gedeon, CTO at TELUS. "We are excited to build on our 10-year strategic partnership with Google Cloud and collaborate with the Linux Foundation. Together we will maximize the scalability and agility of our global-leading network, simplifying and rethinking the operating digital models of our customers while building a better future for all Canadians and globally. This cannot be more true than with 5G and fiberizing the world as we enter a new era of hyper-connectivity. Combining high speeds, bandwidth and reliability with cloud computing and automation will transform the way we operate, enabling solutions like smart cities and connected cars and transforming key verticals across agriculture, healthcare and manufacturing."

Vapor IO

"Nephio depends on critical underlying infrastructure like Vapor IO's Kinetic Grid to automate the deployment of carrier-grade network functions," said Cole Crawford, founder & CEO of Vapor IO. "Automating at-scale operations across multiple clouds is a complicated task. We applaud Google for selecting the Linux Foundation for bringing these capabilities to market via an open source platform. This could be a watershed moment in the telecom industry, transforming historically complicated network deployments and operations into cloud-native workflows with high degrees of automation. This will lower the cost of 5G deployments and increase the overall competitiveness of the telecom industry."

Virgin Media O2

"We are continually looking at improving and evolving our automation strategies, especially around Kubernetes. We are incredibly motivated to work closely with the Linux Foundation and Nephio toward network automation and the process of using software to automate network and security provisioning and management to maximize network efficiency and functionality continuously," said Paul Greaves, head of Automation and Orchestration Virgin Media O2.

WINDTRE

"Cloudnative platforms are an essential offering for accelerating the enterprises' digitization journey plans over the next few years. Nephio, the new automation model based on Kubernetes, is the step to support the evolution of 5G networks and the edge infrastructures for dynamic services. We are pleased to be part of the Nephio community," said Massimo Motta, Architecture and governance director of WINDTRE.

Network Function, Service and Infrastructure Vendors

Aarna Networks

"We actively utilize and contribute back to Linux Foundation Networking projects to help customers simplify the orchestration, lifecycle management, and automated service assurance of 5G networks and edge computing applications," said Amar Kapadia, co-founder and CEO, Aarna Networks. "Similarly, we look forward to collaborating on the Nephio project to simplify numerous platform, infrastructure, and network pain points of 5G and edge deployments."

Arm

"5G is expected to be the fastest-deployed mobile technology in history, but only if we can remove the barriers to efficient large-scale deployment. The founding of Nephio brings the benefits of cloud native technology to 5G networks, improving operational agility and reducing deployment costs so that we can economically meet the surge in connectivity demand," said Eddie Ramirez, VP, Infrastructure Line of Business, Arm.

Casa Systems

"Next-generation networks require the flexibility and agility of the cloud at the network edge. We are pleased to be working with the Linux Foundation, Google and the broader community of partners on the Nephio initiative to develop industry standards for cloud-native, Kubernetes-based automation and orchestration solutions that will enable tomorrow's all-connected world," said Gibson Ang, vice president of Technology and Product Management, Casa Systems.

DZS

"As an advocate of open standards-based solutions for the network edge, DZS enthusiastically supports this joint initiative with the Linux Foundation and Google. We look forward to collaborating with global converged carrier customers of DZS and other ecosystem partners on the Nephio project as we usher in a new era of connectivity by addressing the industry demand for multi-domain, software-driven automation and orchestration across distributed cloud-native networks for 5G and beyond," said Andrew Bender, CTO, DZS.

Ericsson

"The openness and flexibility of the 5G cloud native architecture brings significant opportunities for CSPs to expand existing business as well as building new business for enterprise customers. For CSPs to scale the business, simplification and automation of lifecycle and workload management across hybrid and multi cloud environments is key," said Anders Vestergren, head of strategy portfolio and technology, Business Area Digital Services, Ericsson. "We look forward to collaborating with other industry leaders as part of the Nephio project to enhance Kubernetes with an industry-standard automation framework for cloud native deployments."

F5

"F5 has been partnering with many service providers in their transformation journey building and operating cloud-native infrastructure for 5G, with special focus on scaling and securing telco protocols and workloads. We are excited to join the Linux Foundation and the Nephio project to help accelerate our customers' digital initiatives," said Ankur Singla, SVP, GM, Distributed Cloud Services, F5.

Intel

"Innovation at the edge is the next frontier of business opportunity. Nephio is a ground-breaking step to provide Cloud Service Providers with a carrier-grade, open, and extensible Kubernetes-based cloud-native automation framework, and common automation templates that simplify large scale edge deployment. We are pleased to be working in collaboration with the Linux Foundation and broader Nephio community to help simplify edge automation," said Rajesh Gadiyar, VP and CTO, Network Platforms Group at Intel.

Juniper

"Kubernetes-centric automation, leveraging cloud native principles, is an integral part of Juniper Networks' experience-first networking strategy. We are therefore excited to join the Nephio project at the Linux Foundation as a founding partner, continuing Juniper's long-standing tradition as a major supporter of and active contributor to the open source community. We look forward to working with other leading technology companies and mobile operators, as well as the broader Kubernetes open source community, to ensure that Nephio helps to advance cloud native automation at scale, for the benefit of all." Constantine Polychronopoulos, VP of 5G & Telco Cloud at Juniper Networks.

Mavenir

"Network automation is a key driver for Telco network cloudification. A Kubernetes native automation framework with proven success in other vertical applications automation is promising for the Telco space. We are pleased to be part of the Google/Linux Foundation initiative to accelerate this move on the public cloud and look forward to collaborating with the Nephio community," said Bejoy Pankajakshan, CTSO of Mavenir.

Nokia

"Nokia has always led in the drive to deliver open cloud-based networks and services that usher new value and possibilities of customer experience that fuel revenue growth for everyone. Automation of deployment, configuration and operations of network functions, that work seamlessly in a complex multi-cloud and multi-vendor network environment, are key to achieving the above goals. Nokia is pleased to join its customers and partners in a collaboration to co-innovate on the 'democratic' building blocks for the right tools of tomorrow's networks." Jitin Bhandari, CTO, Cloud and Network Services, Nokia

Parallel Wireless

Steve Papa, CEO, Parallel Wireless, said, "Parallel Wireless is cloudifying 2G 3G 4G and 5G Open RAN and the Google/Linux Foundation initiative cloud-native architecture will allow fast deployment of RAN services on site, fast and fault-proofed upgrades and scalability -- where resources can be scaled in an instant based on the end-user needs. Parallel Wireless is proud to join this initiative to help mobile operators modernize their networks via cloudification and bring innovation and cost savings."

VMware

Lakshmi Mandyam, vice president of product management and partner ecosystems, Service Provider & Edge, VMware, said, "CSPs are embracing multi-cloud to create revenue-accelerating services, reduce operational costs and simplify network operations. VMware's vision for CSPs enables a cloud-first approach to management and orchestration across the core, RAN and edge, aligning with the goals of the Linux Foundation and Nephio project. We look forward to contributing to this initiative that will foster a multi-vendor ecosystem and support faster on-boarding, automation and life-cycle management for cloud-native networks."

About Nephio

Nephio's goal is to deliver carrier-grade, simple, open, Kubernetes-based cloud-native intent automation and common automation templates that materially simplify the deployment and management of multi-vendor cloud infrastructure and network functions across large scale edge deployments. Nephio enables faster onboarding of network functions to production including provisioning of underlying cloud infrastructure with a true cloud native approach, and reduces costs of adoption of cloud and network infrastructure. More information can be found at www.nephio.org.

About the Linux Foundation

The Linux Foundation is the organization of choice for the world's top developers and companies to build ecosystems that accelerate open technology development and commercial adoption. Together with the worldwide open source community, it is solving the hardest technology problems by creating the largest shared technology investment in history. Founded in 2000, The Linux Foundation today provides tools, training and events to scale any open source project, which together deliver an economic impact not achievable by any one company. More information can be found at www.linuxfoundation.org .

Media Contact

Jill Lovato

The Linux Foundation

[email protected]

SOURCE The Linux Foundation
President of Americas, Tom Tucker, Joins Panel to Discuss Next Gen Payment Systems and Key Industry Innovations

LAS VEGAS, April 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Global payments fintech disruptor, Till Payments, today marks its official North American debut at this week's TRANSACT conference, powered by ETA. Till Payments' presence comes on the heels of a momentous six months for the company, which includes a successful Series C raise and top-up funding round in late 2021, followed by its first market acquisition of ZIPS, the payment processing business unit of the hospitality technology platform company, Ziosk, this past January.

Following the acquisition of ZIPS, Till now serves over 1000 merchants and 35 partners across North America, supported by an in-country team of 60 that is expected to double in the next quarter.

"After an exciting year of unprecedented growth, we're thrilled to officially debut Till Payments in North America and further expand our global footprint," said Till Payments' President of Americas, Tom Tucker. "We are excited to be at the forefront of the transformational change the payments industry is experiencing and look forward to bringing our powerful payments solutions to a growing customer base so they can truly start to transform and scale their businesses from day one."

At the core of Till Payments' offering in North America is its unique global payments ecosystem. Built around four key pillars - global 24/7 support, unlimited integration opportunities, personalized solutions, and faster time to market - Till Payments' ecosystem provides a seamless payment experience for its customers, regardless of payment method. Till works with each partner individually to assess their individual needs to provide a powerful framework on which to build. It also ensures that all terminals and legacy systems integrate seamlessly into the ecosystem so clients do not experience any lag time in accepting payments. To schedule a meeting with the team at TRANSACT, ask questions, and learn more about the featured technologies and solutions, visit Booth 657 and reserve time with the Till Payments team here.

Tom Tucker is also honored to participate in an innovative industry panel during TRANSACT's PAYFAC Day titled "Embedded Finance is the Future - And It Starts with Embedded Payments." The panel, which will take place on Thursday, April 14th at the PAYFAC Day Stage from 9:55 - 10:30 a.m.. Tucker will be joined by co-founder and CTO of ACME Technologies, Echeyde Cubillo, and Head of Payment Facilitation for Silicon Valley Bank, Jeff Chen, for a robust discussion around the revolutionary changes happening within the financial services industry today and the impact to the consumer experience long-term.

"Showcasing at TRANSACT is just the first step for Till," shares Till Payments CEO, Shadi Haddad. "With teams across North America, and offices in New York, Colorado, Arizona and Canada, Till is set for continued growth throughout 2022 and we're determined to bring about much-needed industry innovation quickly and efficiently so that we can continue to meet - and exceed the needs of our clients on a global scale."

To learn more about Till's robust suite of payment products and solutions, visit TillPayments.com.

About Till Payments

Till is the fast-moving, Aussie-born, global fintech disruptor opening up a world of possibilities for businesses seeking simple, seamless, all-in-one payments. We take the complexity out of getting paid with single-source solutions that ensure merchants can accept any payment wherever and whenever their customers shop, be it online, in-store, or a combination of both.

Organizations across a range of sectors, including FMCG, automotive, parking & transit, retail and hospitality, use our end-to-end smart and seamless payments experiences to support growth and enhance customer experiences.

Founded in 2012, Till's team of 250 staff is rapidly growing and headquartered in Australia, with teams in London, Manila and across the US. Till currently serves merchants across 12 countries and over 500 cities.

Media Contacts:

James Lambert

North 6th Agency

[email protected]

SOURCE Till Payments
NEW YORK, April 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- From an estimated $625.4 million in 2021, the U.A.E. packaged drinking water market revenue will increase to $948.2 million by 2030, at a 4.7% CAGR. This will open up numerous growth opportunities for companies producing and supplying the product, including Agthia Group PJSC, Mai Dubai LLC, Danone S.A., Masafi Co LLC, Nestle Waters Factory H&O LLC, National Food Product Company, AL Ghadeer Drinking Water LLC, Awafi Mineral Water CO. LLC, and AL Furat Drinking Water LLC.

This is why many of them are launching this product in newer packaging and using innovative strategies to market them. For instance, Masafi Co LLC introduced SOURCE, a sustainable bottled drinking water brand, in the U.A.E. in October 2021. It is targeted at those who focus strongly on health, sustainability, wellbeing, and community. Similarly, Agthia Group PJSC launched a plant-based plastic bottle in the country in February 2020.

Get the sample pages of this report at: https://www.psmarketresearch.com/market-analysis/uae-packaged-drinking-water-market/report-sample

Key Findings of U.A.E. Packaged Drinking Water Market Report

The key factor that drives the demand for bulk packaged water is the convenience such packaging offers by allowing people to eliminate the usage of hundreds of smaller bottles each day.

Moreover, the U.A.E. packaged drinking water market is driven by the public health benefits associated with it. Loose water is often contaminated, thereby causing diarrhea, dysentery, hepatitis, and typhoid.

B2B is the larger distribution channel for this product in the country, primarily because water in bulk is usually purchased by entities that need to quench the thirst of a large number of people at once, such as corporate offices, hospitals, hotels, and educational institutions.

This is consistent with the fact that the highest volume of bulk water in the U.A.E. is procured by workplaces. This is attributed to the rapid corporatization of the country's work culture, combined with its perpetually hot weather.

As a result, COVID-19 impacted the U.A.E. packaged drinking water market negatively. The lockdowns imposed by the Emirati government to control the disease spread led to the closure of the corporate, educational, and hospitality sectors, thereby driving down the need for bulk potable water.

Moreover, due to the shift in the buying behavior brought about by the pandemic, most B2B customers are expected to procure the product via the mobile apps and websites of manufacturers and distributors in the years to come.

Additionally, the massive increase in the awareness on health and hygiene during the pandemic may provide opportunities for bulk water suppliers and producers to target residential users as well. It is now well known that immunity plays a key role on how an infection affects someone, and immunity itself can be strengthened by an adequate intake of minerals and vitamins. Thus, the rise in people's concerns for their health could push up the demand for packaged fortified water in the residential sector of the U.A.E.

Browse detailed report on U.A.E. Packaged Drinking Water Market Growth and Forecast Report, 2030

Moreover, a key opportunity for U.A.E. packaged drinking water market players, as before the pandemic, would be its growing hospitality sector. The country is not only a major tourist hub, but also a rapidly emerging business destination for people around the world. This brings in hordes to the country each year, which has been helping its hospitality sector grow. Hence, with more people coming in and hotels being constructed, the demand for packaged drinking water will rise.

U.A.E. Packaged Drinking Water Market Segmentation Analysis

By Distribution Channel

Business to Business (B2B)

Business to Consumer (B2C)

By End Use

Accommodation

Complementary Services

Education

Healthcare

Leisure

Military & Civil Defence

Pub, Club & Bar

Restaurant

Retail

Travel

Welfare & Services

Workplace

Catering

Browse Other Report Published by P&S Intelligence

Saudi Arabia Color Cosmetics Market Growth Forecast Report

U.A.E. Color Cosmetics Market Growth Forecast Report

About P&S Intelligence

P&S Intelligence is a provider of market research and consulting services catering to the market information needs of burgeoning industries across the world. Providing the plinth of market intelligence, P&S as an enterprising research and consulting company, believes in providing thorough landscape analyses on the ever-changing market scenario, to empower companies to make informed decisions and base their business strategies with astuteness.

Contact:

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P&S Intelligence

Phone: +1-347-960-6455

Email: [email protected]

Web: https://www.psmarketresearch.com

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SOURCE P&S Intelligence
BLUE BELL, Pa., April 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Unisys Corporation (NYSE: UIS) said today that it will release its first-quarter 2022 financial results on Wednesday, April 27, 2022 after the close of trading on the New York Stock Exchange. Unisys will host a conference call with the financial community on Thursday, April 28 at 8:00 a.m. Eastern Time to discuss the results.

The company will offer a live, listen-only Webcast of the conference call on the Unisys Investor Website at www.unisys.com/investor. A replay of the Webcast will be available on the Unisys Investor Website shortly following the conference call.

About Unisys

Unisys is a global IT solutions company that delivers successful outcomes for the most demanding businesses and governments. Unisys offerings include digital workplace solutions, cloud and infrastructure solutions, enterprise computing solutions and business process solutions. For more information on how Unisys delivers for its clients across the commercial, financial services and government sectors, visit www.unisys.com.

Follow Unisys on Twitter and LinkedIn.

RELEASE NO.: 0412/9867

Unisys and other Unisys products and services mentioned herein, as well as their respective logos, are trademarks or registered trademarks of Unisys Corporation. Any other brand or product referenced herein is acknowledged to be a trademark or registered trademark of its respective holder.

UIS-Q

SOURCE Unisys Corporation
Save the Children has been working in Ukraine since the start of this escalating conflict in 2014. The organization is now scaling up their operations to support children and families impacted by this devastating crisis, distributing critical emergency supplies and establishing safe spaces for children where possible. Save the Children staff and volunteers are distributing food, water, and hygiene kits to refugees arriving at the Romania-Ukraine border and in reception centers.

Up to six million children trapped inside Ukraine are in imminent danger as an increasing number of hospitals and schools come under attack. The situation is changing by the hour, with all children in Ukraine now at grave risk of physical harm and severe emotional distress. At least 1.5 million children have left the country.

"As a company that provides housing options for families, the thought of this many people suddenly being without a home, food or security is hard for us to imagine. Our thoughts and prayers go out to those affected," said Venterra CEO, John Foresi. "We are very grateful for the outpouring of care and concern about this crisis by Venterra team members. The response was clearly represented in the number of generous contributions our employees made to raise funds for Save the Children. While we cannot deliver help personally, we trust this donation will support those who are already on the ground delivering aid to children and families directly impacted by this devastating conflict," said Venterra Chairman, Andrew Stewart.

Learn more about Save the Children's efforts in Ukraine and contribute here: https://www.savethechildren.org/us/where-we-work/ukraine

About Venterra:

Founded in 2001, Venterra Realty owns and manages 66 communities and more than 19,000 apartment units across 13 major US cities that provide housing to over 38,000 people and 12,000 pets. The organization has completed $7.4 billion in real estate transactions and currently manages a portfolio of multi-family real estate assets valued at approximately $4.0 billion. Venterra is committed to improving the lives of its residents by delivering industry-leading customer experience. Find out more about Venterra Realty and its award-winning company culture at Venterra.com.

About Save the Children:

Save the Children believes every child deserves a future. Since our founding more than 100 years ago, we've changed the lives of more than 1 billion children. In the United States and around the world, we give children a healthy start in life, the opportunity to learn and protection from harm. We do whatever it takes for children  every day and in times of crisis  transforming their lives and the future we share. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube.

Contact: Allie Foard, Communications Manager & Brand Specialist

[email protected]

SOURCE Venterra Realty
New additions signify the center's continuous growth and evolution as a North Shore destination

CHICAGO, April 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Westfield Old Orchard , Chicagoland's premier shopping center and lifestyle destination, today announced the addition of 10 new restaurant and retail partners to its ever evolving and growing roster. The new lineup signifies the center's commitment to bringing new, exciting retailers and experiences to Chicago's North Shore community and beyond.

Forthcoming restaurants and businesses lineup include:

Westfield Old Orchard

Bar Siena : The first suburban location of the West Loop hotspot is set to open in early summer, with a menu that pays homage to various regions of Italy and two massive patios for outdoor seating.

The first suburban location of the West Loop hotspot is set to open in early summer, with a menu that pays homage to various regions of and two massive patios for outdoor seating. Alo Yoga : Shop performance-engineered leggings, bras and more looks for practice to the pavement with the popular yoga and lifestyle clothing brand that will open its Illinois' first location this spring.

: Shop performance-engineered leggings, bras and more looks for practice to the pavement with the popular yoga and lifestyle clothing brand that will open its first location this spring. Capital Grille : A fine dining restaurant and steakhouse known for its artfully prepared dishes with the freshest ingredients has broken ground with plans to open by the end of the year.

: A fine dining restaurant and steakhouse known for its artfully prepared dishes with the freshest ingredients has broken ground with plans to open by the end of the year. Reset by Therabody : A global pioneer in wellness technology, Therabody's whole-body wellness center is set to open this spring featuring cutting-edge treatments including cryotherapy, lymphatic massage, hydrate infusions, and more.

: A global pioneer in wellness technology, Therabody's whole-body wellness center is set to open this spring featuring cutting-edge treatments including cryotherapy, lymphatic massage, hydrate infusions, and more. Molly's Cupcakes : Award-winning bakery founded in Chicago that offers a variety of fresh and made from scratch cupcakes, ice cream and more is set to open its first North Shore outpost this fall.

: Award-winning bakery founded in that offers a variety of fresh and made from scratch cupcakes, ice cream and more is set to open its first North Shore outpost this fall. Tory Burch : An American luxury brand known for its beautiful, timeless pieces and rich storytelling that evokes optimism and joy will open this fall.

New stores now open at Old Orchard include:

Marine Layer : A San Francisco -based premium casual apparel brand that designs and manufactures all of its clothing in California is now open and marks the retailer's first suburban store in Illinois .

A -based premium casual apparel brand that designs and manufactures all of its clothing in is now open and marks the retailer's first suburban store in . Rodd & Gunn: A premium New Zealand -based men's clothing brand offering timeless garments made to last is now open as the first standalone store in the state.

A premium -based men's clothing brand offering timeless garments made to last is now open as the first standalone store in the state. Pie Five : A fast-casual pizza concept featuring fresh cut veggies, homemade dough, and baked when you order is now open for dine in and takeout.

"These new retail and restaurant additions are key in engaging our loyal Old Orchard shoppers. We are thrilled to welcome our new partners," said Orchard general manager Serge Khalimsky. "The center is reinvesting in customer amenities, overall ambiance, and upgrades to infrastructure. As a result, the shopping center will outpace the competition, welcome a whole new generation of customers, and continue to deliver the jobs and revenues Skokie needs to thrive."

As the warm weather approaches, the center's participating patios will also open their doors for reservations throughout the coming months as weather permits. The increase in warmer month foot traffic will also pave the way for the addition of elevated design principles such as enhancements to common area seating, beautiful botanical additions, and other various upgrades to the center.

To learn more visit https://www.westfield.com/oldorchard

About Westfield Old Orchard

Westfield Old Orchard is Chicagoland's premier shopping center and lifestyle destination. With an incredible wealth of retailers, dining options and event spaces, and an exciting lineup of new initiatives and programming in the coming year, the center is transforming the in-person shopping experience for Chicago's North Shore and beyond. Learn more about Westfield Old Orchard, its retailers, upcoming events and initiatives at https://www.westfield.com/oldorchard , or visit the center at 4905 Old Orchard Center at the intersection of Skokie Blvd and Old Orchard Road in Skokie, Ill.

MEDIA CONTACT

Rachel Shaykin

Mekky Media Relations

847-331-5861

[email protected]

WWW.WESTFIELD.COM/OLDORCHARD

SOURCE Westfield Old Orchard
DUBLIN, April 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Military Power Solutions Market: Global Industry Trends, Share, Size, Growth, Opportunity and Forecast 2022-2027" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The global military power solutions market reached a value of US$ 8.18 Billion in 2021. Looking forward, the publisher expects the market to reach a value of US$ 12.01 Billion by 2027 exhibiting a CAGR of 6.30% during 2022-2027. Keeping in mind the uncertainties of COVID-19, we are continuously tracking and evaluating the direct as well as the indirect influence of the pandemic. These insights are included in the report as a major market contributor.

Military power solutions are devices used to power military machinery and equipment, ranging from small electronic gadgets to large military vehicles across air, land, and sea. They comprise batteries, fuel cells, energy harvesters, generators, and solar power cells to support higher voltages and lower input signals as compared to commercial power supplies used by military hospitals and air traffic control facilities. They assist specific and standard voltage ranges for power continuity, control and effective operations. In addition, they handle vibration and shock caused by tracked and wheeled military vehicles with the impact of artillery fire.



Military Power Solutions Market Trends:

Due to the deployment of troops at isolated regions, there is a rise in the demand for durable military power solutions across the globe. This, along with the growing demand for maintenance-free power solutions to reduce operating costs, represents one of the key factors driving the market.

Moreover, there is an increase in the demand for portable power solutions for being used at any location. This, coupled with the rising defense budget to facilitate the military troops and machinery, is propelling the growth of the market. In addition, the escalating demand for military drones to carry out counterterrorism strikes and surveillance is positively influencing the market. Besides this, the increasing utilization of soundless power solutions to power electronics and drones without revealing the area of the outposts is offering lucrative growth opportunities to manufacturers.

Additionally, governments of several countries are taking initiatives for upgrading defense equipment. This, coupled with extensive investment in research and development (R&D) activities to develop innovative military power products by leading players, is projected to augment the overall sales

Competitive Landscape:

The competitive landscape of the industry has also been examined along with the profiles of the key players being Arotech Corporation, Concorde Battery Corporation, Cummins Inc., Denchi Group Ltd., EaglePicher Technologies, EnerSys Inc., Eniquest, Himoinsa S.L. (Yanmar Co. Ltd.), Raytheon Technologies Corporation, Saft (TotalEnergies SE) and SFC Energy AG.



Key Questions Answered in This Report:

How has the global military power solutions market performed so far and how will it perform in the coming years?

What has been the impact of COVID-19 on the global military power solutions market?

What are the key regional markets?

What is the breakup of the market based on the type?

What is the breakup of the market based on the source?

What is the breakup of the market based on the wattage?

What is the breakup of the market based on the application?

What are the various stages in the value chain of the industry?

What are the key driving factors and challenges in the industry?

What is the structure of the global military power solutions market and who are the key players?

What is the degree of competition in the industry?

Key Topics Covered:



1 Preface



2 Scope and Methodology



3 Executive Summary



4 Introduction

4.1 Overview

4.2 Key Industry Trends



5 Global Military Power Solutions Market

5.1 Market Overview

5.2 Market Performance

5.3 Impact of COVID-19

5.4 Market Forecast



6 Market Breakup by Type

6.1 Portable

6.1.1 Market Trends

6.1.2 Market Forecast

6.2 Non-Portable

6.2.1 Market Trends

6.2.2 Market Forecast



7 Market Breakup by Source

7.1 Batteries

7.1.1 Market Trends

7.1.2 Market Forecast

7.2 Generators

7.2.1 Market Trends

7.2.2 Market Forecast

7.3 Others

7.3.1 Market Trends

7.3.2 Market Forecast



8 Market Breakup by Wattage

8.1 Low Power

8.1.1 Market Trends

8.1.2 Market Forecast

8.2 Medium Power

8.2.1 Market Trends

8.2.2 Market Forecast

8.3 High Power

8.3.1 Market Trends

8.3.2 Market Forecast



9 Market Breakup by Application

9.1 Air

9.1.1 Market Trends

9.1.2 Market Forecast

9.2 Land

9.2.1 Market Trends

9.2.2 Market Forecast

9.3 Naval

9.3.1 Market Trends

9.3.2 Market Forecast



10 Market Breakup by Region



11 SWOT Analysis



12 Value Chain Analysis



13 Porters Five Forces Analysis



14 Price Analysis



15 Competitive Landscape

15.1 Market Structure

15.2 Key Players

15.3 Profiles of Key Players

15.3.1 Arotech Corporation

15.3.1.1 Company Overview

15.3.1.2 Product Portfolio

15.3.2 Concorde Battery Corporation

15.3.2.1 Company Overview

15.3.2.2 Product Portfolio

15.3.3 Cummins Inc.

15.3.3.1 Company Overview

15.3.3.2 Product Portfolio

15.3.3.3 Financials

15.3.3.4 SWOT Analysis

15.3.4 Denchi Group Ltd.

15.3.4.1 Company Overview

15.3.4.2 Product Portfolio

15.3.5 EaglePicher Technologies

15.3.5.1 Company Overview

15.3.5.2 Product Portfolio

15.3.5.3 SWOT Analysis

15.3.6 EnerSys Inc.

15.3.6.1 Company Overview

15.3.6.2 Product Portfolio

15.3.6.3 Financials

15.3.6.4 SWOT Analysis

15.3.7 Eniquest

15.3.7.1 Company Overview

15.3.7.2 Product Portfolio

15.3.8 Himoinsa S.L. (Yanmar Co. Ltd.)

15.3.8.1 Company Overview

15.3.8.2 Product Portfolio

15.3.9 Raytheon Technologies Corporation

15.3.9.1 Company Overview

15.3.9.2 Product Portfolio

15.3.9.3 Financials

15.3.9.4 SWOT Analysis

15.3.10 Saft (TotalEnergies SE)

15.3.10.1 Company Overview

15.3.10.2 Product Portfolio

15.3.11 SFC Energy AG

15.3.11.1 Company Overview

15.3.11.2 Product Portfolio

15.3.11.3 Financials

15.3.11.4 SWOT Analysis



For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/cfe2eu

Media Contact:

Research and Markets

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

[email protected]

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SOURCE Research and Markets
Access to curriculum and resources specific to character and service-based learning

COLUMBIA FALLS, Maine, April 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- This year's theme for Wreaths Across America (WAA) is "Find a Way to Serve." In keeping with this, and the organization's commitment to teach the next generation the value of freedom through stories of courage and character, we are proud to announce the launch of our revamped TEACH program. The program, which both shares established curriculum from like-minded organizations, and introduces new educational materials, focuses on character development and service projects for young people of all ages.

The expanded TEACH program will help serve as a conduit to share the established curriculum materials from partner organizations like The Unites States of America Vietnam War Commemoration, the American Rosie MovementTM, Random Acts of Kindness Foundation, The Congressional Media of Honor Society, and IKEducation at the Eisenhower Foundation. Additionally, WAA has developed a Veterans' Oral History Project for youth from 4th -12th grades that encourages young people to interview a veteran, service member, or Gold Star Family member to learn about the sacrifices our military make on behalf of our country.

To learn more and download WAA's TEACH materials, please visit www.wreathsacrossamerica.org/teach

"As Executive Director, founding family member, and mother of six kids whose lives have been greatly impacted by the opportunity to meet so many in the military community, I know that the teaching aspect of our mission is the most important," said Karen Worcester, executive director, Wreaths Across America. "Last year, this long-standing desire to develop a more robust education program took a giant step forward when past President of American Gold Star Mothers, Inc. and retired teacher, Cindy Tatum, stepped forward to help us achieve this dream."

Lesson plans for all grade levels and learning abilities have been designed by WAA's new Curriculum Developer, Cindy Tatum. "Being a part of helping Wreaths Across America teach younger generations about the value of freedom and the importance of honoring those who sacrificed so much to protect those freedoms, is something I know I am supposed to be doing and I know my son Daniel would want me to do," said Tatum. "I want America's youth to learn that as citizens of this world, there are things they can do to lift the human spirit, things that are easy, things that are free, things that they can do every day."

This year, National Wreaths Across America Day is Saturday, December 17, 2022. It is a free event and open to all people. For more information on how to volunteer locally or sponsor a wreath for an American hero, please visit www.wreathsacrossamerica.org. To follow stories throughout the year from across the country focused on this theme, please use the hashtag #FindAWay2022

About Wreaths Across America

Wreaths Across America is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded to continue and expand the annual wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery begun by Maine businessman Morrill Worcester in 1992. The organization's mission  Remember, Honor, Teach  is carried out in part each year by coordinating wreath-laying ceremonies in December at Arlington, as well as at thousands of veterans' cemeteries and other locations in all 50 states and beyond.

Press contacts:

Amber Caron

(207) 513-6457

[email protected]

Sean Sullivan

(207) 230-4599

[email protected]

SOURCE Wreaths Across America
The Lionel Gelber Prize is awarded annually to the world's best non-fiction book in English on foreign affairs that seeks to deepen public debate on significant international issues. The prize is presented by the University of Toronto's Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy, in partnership with Foreign Policy Magazine.

The winning book was selected from a shortlist which also included How to End a Plague: America's Fight to Defeat AIDS in Africa by Emily Bass (Public Affairs/Hachette Book Group); The Long Game: China's Grand Strategy to Displace American Order by Rush Doshi (Oxford University Press); Doom: The Politics of Catastrophe by Niall Ferguson (Penguin Press); and In the Midst of Civilized Europe: The Pogroms of 1918-1921 and the Onset of the Holocaust by Jeffrey Veidlinger (HarperCollins).

The 2022 Lionel Gelber Prize was chosen by jury chair Janice Stein (Toronto), Janine di Giovanni (New York), Francis J. Gavin (Washington), James Goldgeier (Washington), and Doug Saunders (Toronto).

About the Author

Carter Malkasian was the Special Assistant for Strategy to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Joseph Dunford, from 2015 to 2019. He has extensive experience working in Afghanistan through multiple deployments throughout the country. The highlight of his work is nearly two years in Garmser district, Helmand province, Afghanistan, as a State Department political officer and the district stabilization team leader. He is the author of War Comes to Garmser: Thirty Years of Conflict on the Afghan Frontier (Oxford University Press) and Illusions of Victory: The Anbar Awakening and the Rise of the Islamic State (Oxford). Malkasian has a doctorate in history from Oxford and is fluent in Pashto.

Event

FP Dialogue with this year's Lionel Gelber Prize Winner

Following the announcement of the 2022 Lionel Gelber Prize, join this year's winning author Carter Malkasian on Tuesday, May 10, 2022 at 10:00 a.m. ET for an online event presented by Foreign Policy Magazine and the University of Toronto's Munk School. The FP Dialogue will feature author Carter Malkasian in conversation with Foreign Policy's Janine di Giovanni and jury chair Janice Stein, as well as an audience Q&A.

Register here: https://foreignpolicy.zoom.us/webinar/register/8016494258339/WN_2-YGMH0aS2unagKeBl9exQ

The Winner

The American War in Afghanistan: A History by Carter Malkasian, published by Oxford University Press

The American war in Afghanistan, which began in 2001, was the longest armed conflict in the nation's history. In The American War in Afghanistan, Carter Malkasian provides the first comprehensive history of the entire conflict. Malkasian is both a leading academic authority on the subject and an experienced practitioner, having spent nearly two years working in the Afghan countryside and going on to serve as the senior advisor to General Joseph Dunford, the U.S. military commander in Afghanistan and later the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff. Drawing from a deep well of local knowledge, understanding of Pashto, and review of primary source documents, Malkasian moves through the war's multiple phases: the 2001 invasion and after; the light American footprint during the 2003 Iraq invasion; the resurgence of the Taliban in 2006, the Obama-era surge, and the various resets in strategy and force allocations that occurred from 2011 onward, culminating in the 2018-2020 peace talks. Malkasian lived through much of it, and draws from his own experiences to provide a unique vantage point on the war. The ultimate outcome after America leaves is inherently unpredictable given the multitude of actors there, but one thing is sure: the war did not go as America had hoped. Although the al-Qa'eda leader Osama bin Laden was killed and no major attack on the American homeland was carried out after 2001, the United States was unable to end the violence or hand off the war to the Afghan authorities, which could not survive without US military backing. The American War in Afghanistan explains why the war had such a disappointing outcome.

Wise and all-encompassing, The American War in Afghanistan provides a truly vivid portrait of the conflict in all of its phases that will remain the authoritative account for years to come.

About the Lionel Gelber Prize

The Lionel Gelber Prize was founded in 1989 by Canadian diplomat Lionel Gelber. A cash prize of $15,000 is awarded to the winner. The award is presented annually by the Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy at the University of Toronto, in partnership with Foreign Policy Magazine.

Lionel Gelber Prize website: https://munkschool.utoronto.ca/gelber/

Follow us on Facebook and Twitter: @gelberprize

Join the conversation: #GelberPrize

SOURCE The Lionel Gelber Prize
"The University of St. Thomas is committed to cultivating and catalyzing opportunities to nourish substantive growth, particularly for those in most need," Dr. Beena George, UST's Chief Innovation Officer, said. "We are very pleased to be partnering with at both local and global levels to bring the Cisco Networking Academy to Houston's foster care community."

Project lead for the Pilot Program, Dr. Brandon Green, said, "Relationships are essential for teams, organizations, and individuals to succeed. The development process was a learning and networking experience. We had to research and educate ourselves on the Cisco Networking Academy and the foster care system. Once we pulled together all of our personal and professional resources, we were able to hit the ground running for the development of Cisco Networking Academy Program at UST".

One of the members of the cohort is 24-year-old Ronald Smith. He believes this is the opportunity that will give his life direction. Until now, Smith had only found employment at dead-end, low paid jobs in the fast-food industry. He knew he wanted to work with computers from an early age.

"At home, before my mom passed away, she used to fix the computer. I would see her and follow her steps, and I realized I liked solving equations and problems, "said Smith.

Through its Networking Academy, Cisco is donating the curriculum that will allow for students will develop a working knowledge of IP addressing schemes and foundational network security. The positions in this field include network administrator and network designer with a potential yearly salary of up to $78,000.

According to Cisco, education should not be limited only to those who can pay for it.

"As community leaders it is our collective responsibility to power an inclusive future for all  where no one is left behind," said Guy Diedrich, Cisco's SVP & Global Innovation Officer. "We are proud to partner with UST and St. John Methodist Church to offer this opportunity for disadvantaged members of our community to receive training in high-quality digital skills that are desperately needed in today's labor market."

Rudy Rasmus, a pastor at one of the partners of this program, St. John Methodist Church leads three non-profit organizations that empower foster care youth. These organizations will connect these youngsters to be enrolled in the program.

"All these students want is an opportunity. They have been discouraged and disappointed so much in their lives. There is a lower expectation in terms of what life has to offer. We find that the moment an opportunity is presented, a step is taken by the students. They are really ready," said Rasmus.

"UST is always looking for ways to advance the human potential," UST President Richard Ludwick added, "Guided by an imperative to honor the dignity of each human person, we are eager to enter into this pilot. It combines teaching the latest technological skills to students with our impulse for Catholic social teaching. That's a win for the student, society, and all involved."

If you want to learn more about the program, visit: https://www.stthom.edu/Academics/Cisco

About University of St. Thomas

University of St. Thomas is a comprehensive university, grounded in the liberal arts. Committed to the unity of all knowledge, UST offers programs in the traditional liberal arts, professional, and skilled-based disciplines. Graduates of the University of St. Thomas think critically, communicate effectively, succeed professionally, and lead ethically.

SOURCE University of St. Thomas-Houston
DUBLIN, April 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- AerCap Holdings N.V. ("AerCap") (NYSE: AER) has announced its major business transactions during the first quarter 2022:

Signed 102 lease agreements, including 14 widebody aircraft, 62 narrowbody aircraft, 2 regional jets, 8 engines and 16 helicopters.



including 14 widebody aircraft, 62 narrowbody aircraft, 2 regional jets, 8 engines and 16 helicopters. Completed 25 purchases for 23 aircraft (including 15 Airbus A320neo Family aircraft, 1 Airbus A220 aircraft and 4 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft for AerCap's owned aircraft portfolio and 3 aircraft for AerCap's managed aircraft portfolio) and 2 engines.



for 23 aircraft (including 15 Airbus A320neo Family aircraft, 1 Airbus A220 aircraft and 4 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft for AerCap's owned aircraft portfolio and 3 aircraft for AerCap's managed aircraft portfolio) and 2 engines. Executed 30 sale transactions for 26 aircraft (including 2 Airbus A320 Family aircraft, 3 Airbus A320neo Family aircraft, 2 Airbus A330s, 3 Boeing 737NGs, 1 Boeing 767-300ER, 2 Boeing 777-200ERs, 1 Boeing 737-300SF, 5 Embraer E190 E2s and 1 Embraer E190 from AerCap's owned aircraft portfolio and 6 aircraft from AerCap's managed aircraft portfolio), 2 engines and 2 helicopters.



for 26 aircraft (including 2 Airbus A320 Family aircraft, 3 Airbus A320neo Family aircraft, 2 Airbus A330s, 3 Boeing 737NGs, 1 Boeing 767-300ER, 2 Boeing 777-200ERs, 1 Boeing 737-300SF, 5 Embraer E190 E2s and 1 Embraer E190 from AerCap's owned aircraft portfolio and 6 aircraft from AerCap's managed aircraft portfolio), 2 engines and 2 helicopters. Signed financing transactions for approximately $2.1 billion .

About AerCap

AerCap is the global leader in aviation leasing with one of the most attractive order books in the industry. AerCap serves approximately 300 customers around the world with comprehensive fleet solutions. AerCap is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (AER) and is based in Dublin with offices in Shannon, Miami, Singapore, Amsterdam, Shanghai, Abu Dhabi, Seattle, Toulouse and other locations around the world.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains certain statements, estimates and forecasts with respect to future performance and events. These statements, estimates and forecasts are "forward-looking statements". In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "may," "might," "should," "expect," "plan," "intend," "will," "aim," "estimate," "anticipate," "believe," "predict," "potential" or "continue" or the negatives thereof or variations thereon or similar terminology. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this press release are forward-looking statements and are based on various underlying assumptions and expectations and are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and assumptions, and may include projections of our future financial performance based on our growth strategies and anticipated trends in our business. These statements are only predictions based on our current expectations and projections about future events. There are important factors, including the impacts of, and associated responses to: the Covid-19 pandemic, our ability to successfully integrate GECAS' operations and employees and realize anticipated synergies and cost savings; and the potential impact of the consummation of the GECAS transaction on relationships, including with employees, suppliers, customers and competitors, that could cause our actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements to differ materially from the results, level of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. As a result, we cannot assure you that the forward-looking statements included in this press release will prove to be accurate or correct. In light of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, the future performance or events described in the forward-looking statements in this press release might not occur. Accordingly, you should not rely upon forward-looking statements as a prediction of actual results and we do not assume any responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of any of these forward-looking statements. Except as required by applicable law, we do not undertake any obligation to, and will not, update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

For more information regarding AerCap and to be added to our email distribution list, please visit www.aercap.com and follow us on Twitter www.twitter.com/aercapnv .

SOURCE AerCap Holdings N.V.
Acquisition integrates two nationally recognized, Michigan-based specialty insurance carriers

LANSING, Mich., April 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- AF Group, a nationally recognized holding company whose affiliated brands provide specialty and workers' compensation insurance solutions across the United States, has entered into a definitive agreement through its subsidiary Accident Fund Insurance Company of America to purchase AmeriTrust Group from Fosun. Headquartered in Southfield, Mich., AmeriTrust offers specialty insurance programs and products including workers' compensation, commercial package and automotive business coverages, and comprehensive product offerings in various industry segments. AmeriTrust is a financially strong company rated "A-" (Excellent) by A.M. Best. The acquisition is expected to be completed after obtaining regulatory approvals.

"This exciting acquisition aligns two world-class organizations toward a common goal of providing exceptional, customer-focused insurance products and services through our valued agents," said Lisa Corless, president and CEO of AF Group. "The reputation and performance of AmeriTrust is proven in the marketplace, and we're excited to welcome their exceptional team to our award-winning organization as we work together toward even greater success."

With this acquisition, AF Group welcomes AmeriTrust's expertise in the property and casualty space to its enterprise and further enhances its successful specialty and workers' compensation products and its capabilities in other lines of insurance. The investment also reinforces AF Group's increasingly prominent position and reputation in the property and casualty insurance market, which has grown significantly over the last decade. AF Group is recognized for its financial strength as a Ward's 50 company and has earned an "A" (Excellent) rating by A.M. Best.

Stonybrook Capital acted as advisors to AF Group and Deutsche Bank were advisors to Fosun.

About AF Group

AF Group is a nationally recognized holding company whose affiliated insurance brands are premier providers of innovative, specialty insurance solutions offered through independent agents nationwide. All policies are underwritten by a licensed insurer subsidiary. Accident Fund Insurance Company of America. For more information, visit afgroup.com.  AF Group.

About Fosun

Founded in 1992, Fosun is a global innovation-driven consumer group dedicated to providing high-quality products and services for families around the world in health, happiness, wealth and intelligent manufacturing segments. In 2007, Fosun International Limited was listed on the main board of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (stock code: 00656.HK). In 2021, Fosun International's total revenue was RMB161.29 billion and total assets amounted to RMB806.4 billion. Fosun International ranks No.459 on the 2021 Forbes Global 2000 List, with a MSCI ESG rating of AA, and it is the only comprehensive enterprise in Greater China with a MSCI ESG rating of AA.

About AmeriTrust Group, Inc.

Founded in 1955, AmeriTrust Group, Inc. is a nationally recognized commercial insurance underwriter and insurance administration services provider in the commercial property and casualty insurance industry. AmeriTrust is comprised of four distribution segments of the insurance marketplace: admitted carrier operations, excess & surplus lines carrier operations, wholesale MGU/MGA and third-party administration operations, and retail insurance agency operations. AmeriTrust offers a broad range of insurance solutions, including specialty products to independent agencies, governmental entities, select industry, trade and professional associations, and affinity partners. Carrier operations include five insurance companies which are licensed on both an admitted and non-admitted basis. For more detail, visit ameritrustgroup.com.

SOURCE Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan
NEW YORK, April 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Klein Law Firm announces that a class action complaint has been filed on behalf of shareholders of C3.ai, Inc. (NYSE: AI) alleging that the Company violated federal securities laws.

This lawsuit is on behalf of a class consisting of all persons and entities other than Defendants that purchased or otherwise acquired: (a) C3.ai Class A common stock pursuant and/or traceable to the documents issued in connection with the Company's initial public offering conducted on or about December 9, 2020; and/or (b) C3.ai securities between December 9, 2020 and February 15, 2022, both dates inclusive.

Lead Plaintiff Deadline: May 3, 2022

No obligation or cost to you.

Learn more about your recoverable losses in AI:

https://www.kleinstocklaw.com/pslra-1/c3-ai-inc-loss-submission-form?id=25792&from=4

C3.ai, Inc. NEWS - AI NEWS

CLASS ACTION CASE DETAILS: The filed complaint alleges that C3.ai, Inc. made materially false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (i) C3.ai's partnership with Baker Hughes was deteriorating; (ii) C3.ai was employing a flawed accounting methodology to conceal the deterioration of its Baker Hughes partnership; (iii) C3.ai faced challenges in product adoption and significant salesforce turnover; (iv) the Company overstated, inter alia, the extent of its investment in technology, description of its customers, its total addressable market, the pace of its market growth, and the scale of alliances with its major business partners; and (v) as a result, the Company's public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times.

WHAT THIS MEANS TO YOU AS A SHAREHOLDER: If you have suffered a loss in C3.ai, Inc. you have until May 3, 2022 to petition the court for lead plaintiff status. Your ability to share in any recovery doesn't require that you serve as a lead plaintiff.

NO COST TO YOU: If you purchased C3.ai, Inc. securities during the relevant period, you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out-of-pocket fees.

HOW TO PROTECT YOUR FINANCIAL INTERESTS: For additional information about the AI lawsuit, please contact J. Klein, Esq. by telephone at 212-616-4899 or click this link: https://www.kleinstocklaw.com/pslra-1/c3-ai-inc-loss-submission-form?id=25792&from=4.

ABOUT KLEIN LAW FIRM

J. Klein, Esq. represents investors and participates in securities litigations involving financial fraud throughout the nation. The Klein Law Firm is a boutique litigation firm with experience in a wide range of areas including securities law, corporate finance and commercial litigation. Since 2011, our experienced attorneys have achieved superior results for our clients with a personalized focus. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.

CONTACT:

J. Klein, Esq.

Empire State Building

350 Fifth Avenue

59th Floor

New York, NY 10118

[email protected]

Telephone: (212) 616-4899

www.kleinstocklaw.com

SOURCE The Klein Law Firm
OAKVILLE, ON, April 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp. ("AQN") (TSX: AQN) (NYSE: AQN) today announced plans to release its first quarter 2022 financial results on Thursday, May 12, 2022, after market close. AQN will hold an earnings conference call at 10:00 a.m. eastern time on Friday, May 13, 2022, hosted by President and Chief Executive Officer, Arun Banskota, and Chief Financial Officer, Arthur Kacprzak.

Conference call details are as follows:

Date: Friday, May 13, 2022 Time: 10:00 a.m. ET Conference Call: Toll Free Dial-In Number (888) 330-2454

Toll Dial-In Number (240) 789-2714

Event Passcode 5079453 Webcast: https://event.on24.com/wcc/r/3730565/B0D9DC01E26134ED73A4E3E39A879DBE

Presentation also available at: www.algonquinpowerandutilities.com

About Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp. and Liberty

Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp., parent company of Liberty, is a diversified international generation, transmission, and distribution utility with over $16 billion of total assets. Through its two business groups, the Regulated Services Group and the Renewable Energy Group, AQN is committed to providing safe, secure, reliable, cost-effective, and sustainable energy and water solutions through its portfolio of electric generation, transmission, and distribution utility investments to over one million customer connections, largely in the United States and Canada. AQN is a global leader in renewable energy through its portfolio of long-term contracted wind, solar, and hydroelectric generating facilities. AQN owns, operates, and/or has net interests in over 4 GW of installed renewable energy capacity.

AQN is committed to delivering growth and the pursuit of operational excellence in a sustainable manner through an expanding global pipeline of renewable energy and electric transmission development projects, organic growth within its rate-regulated generation, distribution, and transmission businesses, and the pursuit of accretive acquisitions.

AQN's common shares, Series A preferred shares, and Series D preferred shares are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbols AQN, AQN.PR.A, and AQN.PR.D, respectively. AQN's common shares, Series 2018-A subordinated notes, Series 2019-A subordinated notes and equity units are listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbols AQN, AQNA, AQNB, and AQNU, respectively.

Visit AQN at www.algonquinpowerandutilities.com and follow us on Twitter @AQN_Utilities.

SOURCE Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp.
Keep It Legal features experts discussing current events and trending litigation matters

DALLAS, April 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Androvett Legal Media & Marketing is pleased to announce the launch of Keep It Legal, a podcast dedicated to current events in the legal industry broken down by experts in the law.

The podcast features guest attorneys and legal experts discussing current events, news and trends in the legal industry with host Mark Annick.

"I am thrilled to engage in more conversations with our legal partners that can be heard by a broader audience," said Mr. Annick, Androvett's senior vice president of news and public relations. "This project is a long-time coming, and we believe this content will serve a great purpose in providing in-depth analysis on our topics."

The first episode, Court is in Session, features U.S. Magistrate Judge Derek Gilliland in a conversation recorded the day before he was sworn in to his new position on the bench of the U.S. District Court for the Western District in Waco.

A now-former trial lawyer, Judge Gilliland discusses what he will expect from attorneys appearing in his court, what his appointment means for the growing intellectual property litigation docket in the Western District, advice for lawyers early in their careers and more.

The podcast can be heard on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, iHeartRadio, YouTube and most other major platforms.

About Androvett

Androvett is an award-winning, full-service marketing and public relations agency with unparalleled experience serving the communications needs of businesses and organizations across the U.S. Now in its 26th year, Androvett has offices in Dallas, Houston and Austin.

For a complete listing of agency services, visit www.androvett.com.

Media Contact:

Alyssa Woulfe

800-559-4534

[email protected]

SOURCE Androvett Legal Media & Marketing
HYDERABAD, India, April 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- According to ReAnIn, the global anti-aging cosmetics products market was valued at USD 52,386.26 million in the year 2021 and is projected to reach USD 80,343.40 million by the year 2028, registering a CAGR of 6.3% during the forecast period. North America accounted for the highest share in the global anti-aging products market, owing to the higher percentage of the older population, increasing awareness about the anti-aging products, and the presence of leading players. However, Asia Pacific is expected to witness the highest growth rate during the forecast period.

Download free sample: Global Anti-Aging Cosmetics Products Market Growth, Share, Size, Trends and Forecast (2022 - 2028)

Anti-aging Products Market: Emerging Technology

The microbiome has gained attraction as a material for next-generation skincare cosmetics. The majority of the companies are focusing on the balance of the microbiome to enhance skin and slow the aging process. For instance, Cosmax, a South Korea-based company has developed an anti-aging cosmetics material called "Strain CX" using microbiome. Moreover, Dermala, a US-based company has received a patent for use of the human microbiome to reverse skin aging in 2021. The company's patented technology uses novel microbiome formulations to restore biologically "younger" skin and gut microbiomes in older adults.

Cell therapy for anti-aging is another disruptive technology in this space and has attracted significant investment across the globe. One such example is Altos Labs, an anti-aging research company, which has received funding from Amazon founder Jeff Bezos in 2021. The company is focused on reprogramming human cells to reverse disease, injury, and disabilities that can occur throughout life.

In devices, Pico laser is the trending technology that is expected to drive the growth of the anti-aging products market. Pico laser produces laser energy 10 times shorter than the traditional Q-switched Ng Yag lasers and is more effective in shattering pigmentation. Some of the leading pico-lasers are  PicoSure (Cynosure) and PiQo4 (Lumenis).

Key Highlights of the Report:

Skincare products accounted for the highest market share (more than 60%) in 2021 and are expected to maintain their dominance throughout the forecast period. COVID-19 pandemic had a drastic impact on the overall cosmetic industry including anti-aging products. However, the market has seen some recovery in 2021 and it is expected to witness rapid growth in 2022.

COVID-19 has completely changed the way consumers used to procure cosmetic products with a significant tilt towards online channels. Currently, offline channels such as hypermarkets, supermarkets, and other retail stores account for the majority of the market share, however, online channels are expected to witness the highest growth rate in the near future.

While anti-aging products for women represent the majority of the market share, men's products have grown significantly higher than women's products in the recent past. Responding to increasing demand from men, leading companies such as L'Oreal S.A. has launched multiple products for men.

Access the report description on: Global Anti-Aging Cosmetics Products Market

Market Segmentation:

ReAnIn has segmented the global anti-aging cosmetics products market by:

Product Type

Skincare



Anti-wrinkles





Anti-pigmentation





Anti-sagging and Anti-stretch





Other Skincare Products



Haircare



Anti-thinning





Anti-damage





Other Haircare Products

Type

Conventional



Natural

Distribution Channel

Hypermarkets and Supermarkets



Specialty Stores



Pharmacy & Drug stores



Online Channel

Region

North America



Latin America



Europe



Asia Pacific



Middle East & Africa

Competitive Landscape

The anti-aging products market is highly competitive due to the presence of international and domestic players. Few leading players in the market are Abbvie Inc. (Allergan), L'Oreal S.A., Procter & Gamble Company, Unilever PLC, Estee Lauder Companies Inc., Beiersdorf AG, Shiseido Company, Limited, Merck KGaA, Lumenis, Bausch & Lomb, and Cynosure.

Know more about this report: Global Anti-Aging Cosmetics Products Market

About ReAnIn

ReAnIn provides end-to-end market research services which span across different support areas such as syndicated market research reports, custom market research reports, consulting, long-term engagement, and flash delivery. We are proud to have more than 100 Fortune 500 companies in our clientele. We are a client-first organization and we are known not just for meeting our client expectations but for exceeding them.

Media Contact:

Name: Deepak Kumar

Email: [email protected]

Phone: +1 469-730-0260

SOURCE Reanin Research & Consulting Private Limited
All amounts in US dollars, unless otherwise indicated

VANCOUVER, BC, April 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - Aris Gold Corporation (Aris Gold or the Company) (TSX: ARIS) (OTCQX: ALLXF) announces that, further to the Company's news release of March 21, 2022, it has closed the acquisition of a 20% joint venture interest in the Soto Norte gold project in Colombia, with the option to acquire a further 30% interest. Aris Gold has also upsized the existing precious metals stream at the 100%-owned Marmato Mine by $65 million and arranged a $35 million debenture (the Debenture) that is convertible into common shares of Aris Gold at a conversion price of US$1.75 (approximately C$2.211).

Aris Gold CEO Neil Woodyer stated: "Soto Norte is a large-scale gold project that is well-aligned with our core strengths as mine operators in Colombia. The construction of Soto Norte is expected to follow the expansion of our 100%-owned Marmato gold mine in Colombia. We look forward to engaging with the Soto Norte communities and developing a mine that implements sustainable mining practices to ensure protection of the environment and the local ecosystem."

Soto Norte Highlights

Soto Norte hosts Indicated mineral resources of 8.5 million ounces (Moz) of gold and Inferred mineral resources of 3.6 Moz of gold





Indicated mineral resources of 48.1 million tonnes (Mt) at 5.47 grams per tonne (g/t) of gold, 35.8 g/t of silver, and 0.18% copper containing 8.5 Moz of gold, 55.3 Moz of silver, and 193 million pounds (Mlb) of copper, inclusive of mineral reserves







Inferred mineral resources of 27.3 Mt at 4.06 g/t of gold, 25.9 g/t of silver, and 0.18% copper containing 3.6 Moz of gold, 22.8 Moz of silver, and 107 Mlb of copper





Soto Norte Feasibility Study 2 demonstrates production of over 450,000 gold ounces per year at average AISC of $471 /oz from 5.0 Moz Mineral Reserve





14-year mine life, based on Probable mineral reserves of 24.8 Mt at 6.22 g/t of gold, 34.4 g/t of silver, and 0.19% copper, containing 5.0 Moz of gold, 27.4 Moz of silver, and 103 Mlb of copper







Project NPV 5% is $1.5 billion and IRR is 20.8%, at base case gold price of $1,675 per ounce





is and IRR is 20.8%, at base case gold price of per ounce

Project NPV 5% is $2.0 billion and IRR is 24.4%, at gold price of $1,925 per ounce





is and IRR is 24.4%, at gold price of per ounce Aris Gold will provide a new and informed approach to environmental permitting: Following detailed technical feedback from the Colombian environmental regulatory authority (ANLA) in 2021, drafting of a new Environment and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) commenced and will include a robust Quality Assurance and Quality Control process for regulatory compliance. As operator, Aris Gold's team will contribute its knowledge and experience as well as provide a respectful licensing process with its local stakeholders.





Following detailed technical feedback from the Colombian environmental regulatory authority (ANLA) in 2021, drafting of a new Environment and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) commenced and will include a robust Quality Assurance and Quality Control process for regulatory compliance. As operator, Aris Gold's team will contribute its knowledge and experience as well as provide a respectful licensing process with its local stakeholders. Social development opportunities: Soto Norte will be a significant project for the local and regional communities, providing employment and skills training for up to 1,800 construction contractors and up to 940 full time operations personnel, and a strategy to procure goods and services from the regional community.



_____________________________

1 Based on a US$/C$ exchange rate of 1.2621 USD:CAD as published on the Bank of Canada website as of April 11, 2022.





2 NI 43-101 Technical Report Feasibility Study of the Soto Norte Gold Project, Santander, Colombia with an effective date of January 1, 2021 prepared by SRK Consulting (UK) Limited, SNC Lavalin, and Minesa (the Feasibility Study). The Technical Report is available on SEDAR under Aris Gold's profile and on Aris Gold's website at www.arisgold.com.

Aris Gold Corporate Finance Update

To strengthen its financial position, Aris Gold has amended the existing $110 million precious metals stream at the Marmato mine with Wheaton Precious Metals International to increase the aggregate total funding amount by $65 million to $175 million, with $15 million received by Aris Gold at closing of the transaction and (ii) $50 million payable during the construction and development of the new Lower Mine.

In addition, Aris Gold has issued, through its wholly owned subsidiary Aris Gold Acquisition Corp., a $35 million convertible senior unsecured Debenture to GCM Mining Corp. (GCM Mining - TSX:GCM) (the Issuance). At any time after 12 months from closing, the Debenture is convertible, in whole or in part, into 20,000,000 common shares of Aris Gold (Aris Common Shares) at a conversion price of US$1.75 per Aris Common Share. The Debenture pays interest monthly with an annualized coupon of 7.5%. The ability of GCM Mining to fully execute its conversion rights under the Debenture is subject to disinterested Aris Gold shareholder approval at the next annual meeting of shareholders, which will be held on June 3, 2022.

Soto Norte Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves

Table 1: Soto Norte Mineral Resources, inclusive of Mineral Reserves, effective May 22, 2019.3 Classification Tonnes Grade Contained Metal

(kt) Gold

(g/t) Silver

(g/t) Copper

(%) Gold

(koz) Silver

(koz) Copper

(klb) Indicated Mineral Resources 48,062 5.47 35.8 0.18 8,454 55,324 193,422 Inferred Mineral Resources 27,343 4.06 25.9 0.18 3,571 22,754 107,281

Notes:

1) Mineral resources are not mineral reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability. 2) Indicated mineral resources are presented inclusive of probable mineral reserves. 3) The mineral resource estimate was prepared by Benjamin Parsons, MSc, MAusIMM (CP) of SRK Consulting, who is a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101  Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects (NI 43-101). Mr. Parsons has reviewed and verified the drilling, sampling, assaying, and QAQC protocols and results, and is of the opinion that the sample recovery, preparation, analyses, and security protocols use for the mineral resource estimate are reliable for that purpose. 4) Totals may not add up due to rounding. 5) Mineral Resources are reported above a cut-off value of $47 per tonne, which considers metal price assumptions of $1,300 per ounce of gold, $18 per ounce of silver, and $6,800 per tonne of copper, metallurgical recovery assumptions of 92% for gold and silver and 76% for copper, marginal mining costs, processing costs, general and administrative costs, and other factors. 6) Aside from the requirements to amend and extend the Soto Norte 0095-68 mining license and to prepare, submit, and receive approval of a new ESIA from ANLA, there are no known legal, political, environmental, or other risks that could materially affect the potential development of the mineral resources and mineral reserves.



__________________________________

3 For full details on the Soto Norte Mineral Resources Estimates, see the Feasibility Study.

Table 2: Soto Norte Mineral Reserves, effective January 1, 2021.4 Classification Tonnes Grade Contained Metal

(kt) Gold

(g/t) Silver

(g/t) Copper

(%) Gold

(koz) Silver

(koz) Copper

(klb) Probable Mineral

Reserves 24,767 6.22 34.4 0.19 4,950 27,386 102,868

Notes:

1) The mineral reserve estimate has been approved by Chris Bray, BEng, MAusIMM (CP) of SRK Consulting, who is a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101. 2) Totals may not add up due to rounding. 3) Mineral Reserves are reported above a cut-off value of $120 per tonne, which was selected based on a hill of value study to optimize value, and which considers metal price assumptions of $1,300 per ounce of gold, $18 per ounce of silver, and $7,000 per tonne of copper, metallurgical recovery assumptions of 92.5% for gold, 92% for silver, and 76% for copper, mining costs, processing costs, general and administrative costs, and other factors. 4) Aside from the requirements to amend and extend the Soto Norte 0095-68 mining license and to prepare, submit, and receive approval of a new ESIA from ANLA, there are no known legal, political, environmental, or other risks that could materially affect the potential development of the mineral resources and mineral reserves.

Qualified Persons

The technical information in this news release was reviewed and approved by Pamela De Mark, P.Geo, Vice President Exploration of Aris Gold, who is a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101.

About Aris Gold

Aris Gold is a Canadian mining company listed on the TSX under the symbol ARIS and on the OTCQX under the symbol ALLXF. The Company is led by an executive team with a demonstrated track record of creating value through building globally relevant gold mining companies. In Colombia, Aris Gold operates the 100%-owned Marmato mine, where a modernization and expansion program is under way, and operates the Soto Norte joint venture, where environmental licensing is advancing to develop a new gold mine. Aris Gold plans to pursue acquisition and other growth opportunities to unlock value creation from scale and diversification.

Additional information on Aris Gold, including the Soto Norte feasibility study, can be found at www.arisgold.com and www.sedar.com.



______________________________________

4 For full details on the Soto Norte Mineral Reserve Estimates, see the Feasibility Study.

Forward-looking Information

This news release contains "forward-looking information" or "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation. All statements included herein, other than statements of historical fact, including without limitation statements relating to: the Soto Norte project; Aris Gold's relationship with local communities and the protection of the Soto Norte project's ecosystem; the new ESIA; the Company's next annual meeting of shareholders; the Feasibility Study; all-in sustaining costs; and statements related to the potential of the Soto Norte project are forward-looking. Generally, the forward-looking information and forward- looking statements can be identified by the use of forward looking terminology such as "advancing", "become", "believe", "estimate", "expect", "forward", "intend", "plan", "potential" or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "could", "may", "might" or "will" or "would" be taken, "occur" or "be achieved".

Forward looking information and forward looking statements, while based on management's best estimates and assumptions, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of Aris Gold to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information or forward looking statements, including but not limited to: the ability of the Aris Gold management team to successfully integrate with the current operations, successful completion of the ESIA and receipt of approval from ANLA (including the Soto Norte 0095-68 mining license amendment and extension from the ANM), receipt of securities regulatory and stock exchange approvals, risks related to international operations, risks related to general economic conditions, uncertainties relating to operations during the COVID-19 pandemic, actual results of current exploration activities, availability of quality assets that will add scale, diversification and complement Aris Gold's growth trajectory; changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined; fluctuations in prices of metals including gold; the ability to convert mineral resources to mineral reserves; fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates, increases in market prices of mining consumables, risks associated with holding derivative instruments (such as credit risks, market liquidity risk and mark-to-market risk), possible variations in mineral reserves, grade or recovery rates; failure of plant, equipment or processes to operate as anticipated; changes in national and local government legislation, taxation, controls, regulations, regulations and political or economic developments in Canada or Colombia, accidents and operations, labour disputes, title disputes, claims and limitations on insurance coverage and other risks of the mining industry; delays in obtaining governmental approvals including obtaining required environmental and other licenses, or in the completion of development or construction activities, changes in national and local government regulation of mining operations, tax rules and regulations, and political and economic developments in countries in which the Company operates, as well as those factors discussed in the section entitled "Risk Factors" in Aris Gold's most recent AIF available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

Although Aris Gold has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information and forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such information or statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information or statements. The Company has and continues to disclose in its Management's Discussion and Analysis and other publicly filed documents, changes to material factors or assumptions underlying the forward-looking information and forward-looking statements and to the validity of the information, in the period the changes occur. The forward-looking statements and forward-looking information are made as of the date hereof and Aris Gold disclaims any obligation to update any such factors or to publicly announce the result of any revisions to any of the forward-looking statements or forward-looking information contained herein to reflect future results. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and information.

SOURCE Aris Gold Corporation
Arkose Labs was among the evaluation of the 15 solution providers that matter the most in bot management. Forrester analysts assessed the companies across 25 discrete criteria. Arkose Labs was designated as a Strong Performer, based on strategy and current offering. It received the highest score possible in the innovation roadmap criterion.

"We are pleased to be named a Strong Performer in bot management by Forrester." Kevin Gosschalk, CEO, Arkose Labs

"We are pleased to be named a Strong Performer in bot management by Forrester. We believe that stopping automated attacks is crucial to securing the digital economy and ensuring that consumers are kept safe online," said Arkose Labs founder and CEO Kevin Gosschalk . "We invest heavily in research and development so that as the threat landscape shifts and fraudsters move from creating trained bots to intelligent bots, our technology can deter them by making it more expensive for fraudsters to attack our customers."

The new Forrester report advises enterprises to look for providers that:

Detect and deter the most sophisticated bots.

Demonstrate continued research and innovation on bot threats.

Support the full range of stakeholders impacted by bots.

The report says, "While Arkose's strategy is sound across the board, the standout area is innovation. The company follows a structured innovation plan, has significant R&D investment, owns a large patent portfolio, and has 'graduated' several research projects into the product.

"Look for Arkose to continue to invest in its already strong attack response and to provide a unified view of bot and human fraud." The report continues to say, "Attack response is one of Arkose's strengths  customers can configure granular response strategies in the UI but also benefit from automated rule management. Arkose provides a native library of over 200 visual and behavioral puzzles along with frictionless 'proof of action' challenges and basics like blocking and misdirection."

Its assessment of Arkose Labs concludes by saying, "Those facing account and identity fraud and seeking tailored attack responses should engage with Arkose Labs."

You can read more about the bot management report here .

About Arkose Labs

Arkose Labs' mission is to create an online environment where all consumers are protected from malicious activity. Recognized by Gartner as a "Cool Vendor in Fraud and Authentication," the company offers the world's first $1 million credential stuffing warranty. Its AI-powered platform combines powerful risk assessments with dynamic attack response that undermines the ROI behind attacks while improving good user throughput. Headquartered in San Mateo, CA with offices in Brisbane and Sydney, Australia, Tokyo, Japan, San Jose, Costa Rica, and London, UK, the company debuted as the 83rd fastest-growing company in North America on the 2021 Deloitte Fast500 ranking.

Contacts

Jean Creech Avent

Global Head of Brand and Communications

Arkose Labs

[email protected]

+1 843-986-8229

SOURCE Arkose Labs
Arrive and Thrive brings together the lived experience of the three co-authors and their insights from rich careers in business and academia, as well as research and advice from some of the nation's top leaders, including: Albert Bourla, Chairman & CEO of Pfizer; Anne Chow, CEO of AT&T Business; Carla Harris, Vice Chairman, Managing Director, & Senior Client Advisor, Morgan Stanley; Linda Henry, CEO of the Boston Globe; Natalie Martinez, CEO of Strong Women, Strong Girls; Dr. Richard Safeer, Chief Medical Director of Employee Health and Well-Being, Johns Hopkins Medicine; and Amy Weaver, President and CFO of Salesforce, among others. The guide showcases the power of courage, resilience, and authenticity and highlights seven practices to empower leaders in any stage of their career.

"As a women's centered institution whose mission is to educate the next generation of leaders, Simmons understands the unique challenges women face as they grow and progress in their careers," said President Wooten. "The strategies outlined in this book will not only help leaders hone their own skills, but enable them to create a more inclusive workplace and encourage leadership within every level of an organization."

Women currently comprise less than a quarter of middle managers, and that number declines even further each rung up on the corporate ladder. Even women who rise to the level of chief executive often experience higher turnover than their male counterparts do. Arrive and Thrive aims to address these challenges by providing women with the resources, advice, and support they need to not only arrive, but truly thrive as leaders.

"While it's important to help women get their foot in the door, it's crucial that they also have access to the resources and support they need to continue to grow in their careers," said Brady. "This book provides practical advice to help individuals invest in their best selves, develop resiliency, build strong teams, and inspire a bold vision  practices that enable leaders to achieve a greater impact on their colleagues, their organizations, and the world."

Research shows that organizations of all types benefit when women are empowered to lead, as teams become stronger, discussions get richer, and solutions get more creative.

"Today's leaders are faced with and growing through diverse challenges and Arrive and Thrive is designed to help leaders practice the strength, courage, and resilience to lead in this increasingly complex environment," said Foutty. "There is no one path to success, and this book includes advice and personal stories from a variety of leaders. The goal is to enable individuals to learn from one another, because when women are empowered to lead, the benefits extend throughout an organization."

For more information on the Arrive and Thrive movement, please visit https://www.arriveandthrive.com/.

About Simmons University

Located in the heart of Boston, Simmons is a respected private university offering more than 50 majors and programs for undergraduate women and graduate programs open to all on campus, in blended formats, or entirely online in nursing and health sciences, liberal arts, business, communications, social work, public health, and library and information science. Founded in 1899, Simmons has established a model of higher education that other colleges and universities are only recently beginning to adapt: the combination of education for leadership in high-demand professional fields with the intellectual foundation of the liberal arts. The result is a Simmons graduate prepared not only to work, but to lead in professional, civic, and personal life  a vision of empowerment that Simmons calls preparation for life's work. Follow Simmons on Twitter at @SimmonsUniv , and on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/school/simmons-university/ .

Please see www.deloitte.com/us/about for a detailed description of our legal structure.

Media Contact

Laura Wareck

[email protected] | c: 978-660-9587

SOURCE Simmons University
Terry Booth, AUDACIOUS CEO, commented, "Our commercial operations in Thailand continue to accelerate. By entering into multiple sales and distribution arrangements, expansion of our clinics business, vertical integration and access to further commercial partners and stakeholders, we are building a rapidly growing, profitable foundation for our operations in Asia as cannabis regulations evolve in the region. Through our material control of GTH, we will be able to consolidate revenues, which we believe will grow rapidly to become a material contributor to our top and bottom lines."

He added, "Our collaboration with Tom and the GTH team is exceptionally positive, and through their deep connections in the region to business and political decision makers, we believe we have what it takes for AUDACIOUS and GTH to become a dominant operator in the region and beyond."

Tom Kruesopon, co-founder of GTH, added, "Our partnership with AUDACIOUS is already paying dividends. Through our access to the AUDACIOUS brain trust and their operational excellence, we are now in a position rapidly to expand our cultivation and other operations to help meet growing demand for our products and services. The partnership also sets us up for further international expansion."

Distribution

The Company's business plan includes the sale of both CBD isolate to major producers and distributors, as well as branded goods, to be sold through retail channels, including its Herbidus clinics and Hemp House franchise chain. Expected to drive significant revenue growth for GTH, the Company, through its parent company NRF, is entering into multiple distribution agreements with major partners.

7-Eleven Supermarkets

With around 10,000 stores, Thailand has the second largest number of 7-Eleven stores after Japan. The arrangement will include the supply of CBD isolate and manufactured products to the 7-Eleven Pharmacy Division.

Loxley Public Company Ltd.

Loxley, a $200M publicly listed company active in the distribution of consumer-packaged goods (CPG), as well as with divisions active in technology and energy, is entering into an exclusive arrangement with GTH for the supply of CBD isolate. Loxley intends to manufacture and distribute CBD-based products through its domestic channels, which include over 30,000 points of sale locations, from convenience stores through to major department stores.

King Power International Group

King Power International is the leading tax and duty-free operator in Thailand, with revenues of approximately $2 billion. GTH intends to supply King Power with CBD isolate [and branded consumer goods] to be sold through its retail outlets and online channels.

Dentiste Oral Care

Dentiste is a leader in premium oral care solutions and products, selling in 20 countries across 6 continents. Under the contemplated agreement, GTH will supply Dentiste with CBD isolate for the manufacture of a line of CBD-infused oral care products.

Smoothe Company Ltd

A major manufacturer of body care and beauty products for the Thai market, has engaged with GTH for the supply of CBD isolate for the development of a new line of CBD-infused products. Smoothe products are sold through a variety of retail pharmacies and online.

Terry Booth, AUDACIOUS CEO, commented, "Having great products at a compelling price point, as we do, is a fundamental requirement to develop a thriving business, but access to distribution is what drives growth. With these agreements, GTH is exceptionally well positioned to be the dominant force in CBD based products across Thailand, with its products to be sold across thousands of retail outlets and major online channels.

Board Appointments GTH  Revenue Consolidation

A team from AUDACIOUS recently visited its counterparts in Thailand. During the trip, the composition of the board of GTH was completed with the appointment of Dr. Duke Fu (AUDACIOUS COO), Hanoz Kapadia (AUDACIOUS Chairman of the Board) and Maximilian Weinberg (AUDACIOUS Director of International Regulatory Affairs). AUDACIOUS now holds three of five board seats. With its 25% stake, this means the Company exerts material control over GTH and will be able to consolidate all revenues generated through GTH.

During the trip, the team met with multiple business partners, including its distribution partners and university representatives. The team also met with the Right Honorable Mr. Anutin Charnvirakul, Minster of Public Health. During the meeting, the team discussed the current state and future development of the medical cannabis industry in Thailand, as well as GTH's plans and objectives.

Maximilian Weinberg, Director of International Regulatory Affairs at AUDACIOUS and board member for GTH, stated, "This trip cemented a number of important relationships that will help AUDACIOUS and GTH to forge ahead in the burgeoning Thai cannabis market and lead development of the industry in this market with nearly 70 million people."

Herbidus a Hit

The Company's first cannabis clinic, Herbidus, is going from strength to strength. Currently the clinic is serving some 200 patients per day. The Company intends opening a further five clinics throughout the country in the coming months, further expanding its brand and revenue generating base.

Furthermore, GTH will be selling its CBD-infused line of products through both its Herbidus clinics and Hemp House franchise stores.

Vertical Integration

During its trip to Thailand, the AUDACIOUS and GTH teams finalized their agreement with Khon Kaen University. Through this agreement, the Company has access to considerable land for the cultivation of hemp. The Company will also have access to the university's extraction lab for the manufacture of CBD isolate. Cultivation operations at the university will be expanded with the assistance of AUDACIOUS' majority owned subsidiary ALPS. A first trial harvest was successfully completed, with the next crop to be planted in early April. While building up its own cultivation operation, the Company has secured access to biomass to meet existing demand.

Through its partnership with the university, the Company also has access to further R&D capabilities that will help in furthering the development of medical and consumer products.

Dr. Duke Fu, AUDACIOUS COO, added, "Our partnership with the university creates a low-cost platform for us to grow our Thai business from. By transferring SOPs related to extraction, we ensure optimized product safety and quality, while providing ample capacity for the venture to expand rapidly."

Housekeeping

Pursuant to the agreement and as part of the consideration to acquire a 25% interest in GTH, the Company issued 17,369,317 shares.

Pursuant to a settlement agreement entered into with a former senior executive, the Company has issued 3,750,000 units in Australis, each composed of one common share and one share purchase warrant, exchangeable at a price of $0.35 for one warrant share in the Company (the "Warrants"). The Warrants are redeemable until February 9, 2024.

Finally, the Company has agreed to settle certain outstanding employee compensation with shares. Pursuant to this agreement, the Company will issue 189,642 shares to certain employees, directors and officers. Accordingly, shares were issued.

About AUDACIOUS

AUDACIOUS is a next-generation MSO growing the cannabis industry of tomorrow from the ground up, led by industry pioneer Terry Booth and an accomplished management team with proven industry track records. With operations that range from providing industry-leading sustainable cultivation design and optimization to retail storefronts, growing flower in-house, and manufacturing award-winning brands, AUDACIOUS has products and solutions for everyone. Quickly expanding through innovative partnerships and collaborations, AUDACIOUS is forging the inclusive cannabis community of tomorrow, today. Learn more about AUDACIOUS here .

AUDACIOUS common shares trade on the CSE under the symbol "AUSA" and on the OTCQB under the symbol "AUSAF."

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its regulation services provider accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS:

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements: This release includes certain statements and information that may constitute "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. All statements in this news release, other than statements of historical facts, including statements regarding future estimates, plans, objectives, timing, assumptions or expectations of future performance, are forward-looking statements and contain forward-looking information. Generally, forward-looking statements and information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "intends" or "anticipates", or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "should", "would" or "occur". Forward-looking statements are based on certain material assumptions and analysis made by the Company and the opinions and estimates of management as of the date of this news release. These forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or forward-looking information. 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 statements or forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and forward-looking information. Readers are cautioned that reliance on such information may not be appropriate for other purposes. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement, forward-looking information or financial out-look that are incorporated by reference herein, except as required by applicable securities laws.

SOURCE Australis Capital Inc.
"The New York Auto Show is elevating electric vehicles to new heights." Tweet this

WHO : Hear from the experts on product innovation, infrastructure developments, consumer marketing initiatives and incentives, and plans from franchise dealers to 'electrify' America.

Alliance for Automotive Innovation - John Bozzella, President & CEO

Con Edison  Leonard Singh, Senior Vice President, Customer Energy Solutions

J.D. Power - Elizabeth Krear, Vice President, Electric Vehicle Practice

National Auto Dealers Association - Mike Stanton, President & CEO

New York International Auto Show - Mark Schienberg, President

New York Power Authority  Justin E. Driscoll, President & CEO

"Electrification of personal transportation has come to the United States. It is a shift that is well underway. There are more than 70 electrified models on the market  expected to grow to 130 models by 2025. On a global scale, automakers are planning to spend $515 billion on electrification by the end of the decade," said Alliance for Automotive Innovation President and CEO John Bozzella. "The future is electric, but to increase this momentum and get us where we want to be, it is going to take collaboration, coordination and a range of government policies that span energy, transportation, the environment and the overall industrial base."

"New York is investing in EV infrastructure, building charging stations across the state, and implementing programs to make EVs more affordable for all New Yorkers," said Justin E. Driscoll, Interim President & CEO, New York Power Authority. "NYPA is building a high-speed EVolve NY charging network along key travel corridors and installing chargers at our government and ReCharge NY customers making charging more accessible for more New Yorkers every day. To continue advancing New York's aggressive e-mobility goals, Governor Hochul has committed to a $1 billion investment to further support EV infrastructure and ensure that New York continues to lead the transportation sector's transformation to electrification."

"Dealers are absolutely essential to widespread consumer EV adoption," said Mike Stanton, President & CEO of NADA. "We estimate that nationwide dealers will spend between $2-3 billion on installing electric chargers, purchasing special equipment, parts and tools, and investing in training sales and service staff in order to prepare for selling and servicing of this wave of EVs."

"We see a notable year-over-year increase in the mix of shoppers who say they're considering EVsin particular, trucks and SUVs," said Elizabeth Krear, Vice President, Electric Vehicle Practice, J.D. Power. "In fact, many of the new trucks and SUVs achieve higher consideration than some of the more familiar Tesla models that have been on the market for many years."

"This year, more than ever before, the New York Auto Show is elevating electric vehicles to new heights by dedicating nearly an entire floor to EVs, charging solutions, and consumer awareness programs," said New York Auto Show president Mark Schienberg. "As automakers develop innovative new products and dealers prepare to distribute EVs to the masses, events like the New York Auto Show play a key role in engaging millions of buyers across the country by giving them the opportunity to experience these amazing new vehicles in-person."

"Con Edison is the chief sponsor of the New York Auto Show's EV Test Track, driving people to join the rapid expansion of EV ownership," said Leonard Singh, senior vice president, Customer Energy Solutions. "New York's largest electric utility is at the Show to highlight its SmartCharge program which offers financial rewards for EV charging during off-peak hours. Matched with SmartCharge is Con Edison's PowerReady program which offers incentives covering up to 100% of the infrastructure costs of installing new chargers."

WHEN : Wednesday, April 13 - 12:40 pm (press conference & lunch)

WHERE : New York International Auto Show, Javits Center

The New York Auto Show's indoor EV Test Track features seven new EV models driven by professional drivers. Members of the media and Show attendees will have the opportunity to take a ride in a range of EVs from Chevrolet, Kia, Nissan, Volkswagen, Volvo, INDI EV and VinFast. In addition to the multi-brand EV Test Track, Ford and Hyundai will each feature indoor EV tracks as part of their main Level 3 Auto Show exhibits.

SOURCE The New York International Automobile Show
For over two decades, Avatier has demonstrated leadership in delivering enterprise Identity and Access Management (IAM) solutions

PLEASANTON, Calif., April 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Avatier Corporation, the pioneer of work from anywhere (WFA) Identity Governance & Administration (IGA) cloud service, is celebrating its 25th anniversary. Over the last decade and a half, Avatier has evolved from supporting Windows NT to delivering the foremost cloud-based identity access management and governance platform, Avatier Identity Anywhere.

Avatier, founded in 1997 by Nelson Cicchitto, created the market's first delegated administration solution for Windows NT. The company has since developed several enterprise security innovations, including the first patented Identity Access IT Store with automatic workflow and the only access management integrated ITIL-based business services catalog.

Over the past 25 years, Avatier has signed hundreds of customers in various industries, including healthcare, financial services, education, consumer goods, manufacturing, technology, hospitality, media, energy, and the government and military. The company's current product offering spans password management, single sign-on, lifecycle management, and access governance. Marquee customers include Build-a-Bear, Cox, Cosmo, CVS Health, DriveTime, Fox News, Intercontinental Hotels Group, Legal Shield, Lockheed Martin, Nordstrom, Ochsner Health System, Rust-Oleum Corporation, San Diego Padres, Stanley Black & Decker, Volkswagen Group UK, Welch Foods Inc. to name only a few.

"We are proud of our leadership in identity management and security over the past 25 years," said Cicchitto. "We have always been committed to promoting enterprise applications and assets security through better identity management. Avatier also continues to lead the market with innovative solutions to meet any organizations' immediate needs. For example, our current IAM platform is ideal for today's growing remote workforce."

Avatier has developed an Identity as a Container (IDaaC) framework to power the Avatier Identity Anywhere platform in recent years. By using Docker container technology, Avatier can deploy IAM support for cloud solution providers, delivering maximum security and flexibility with greater control over user identities and a lower cost of ownership. Thanks to the portability of Docker containers, Identity Anywhere now provides a common user experience from within various collaboration platforms, including ServiceNow, Microsoft Teams, Google Chrome, iOS, Android, and Slack, to name a few.

About Avatier Corporation

Avatier is the Identity Management company of the future with innovative solutions for today. Avatier develops a "state of the art" identity management platform enabling workforce collaboration resulting in better customer experiences and increased revenue. The company's Identity Anywhere platform uses container technology, providing maximum flexibility, scalability, and security, in a platform-independent and portable solution that futureproofs your investment. Avatier's identity management and access governance solutions make the world's largest organizations more secure and productive in the shortest time at the lowest costs. Avatier brings all of your back-office business applications and employee assets together and manages them as one.

For more information, visit www.avatier.com.

Media Contact:

Katy Beach

Firecracker PR

(888) 317-4687

[email protected]

SOURCE Avatier
AWH is among the first 7 New Jersey operators to serve adult-use consumers

NEW YORK, April 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - Ascend Wellness Holdings, Inc. ("AWH" or the "Company") (CSE: AAWH.U) (OTCQX: AAWH), a multi-state, vertically integrated cannabis operator focused on bettering lives through cannabis, today announced it has been approved to serve adult-use consumers in New Jersey.

AWH is one of the first operators in the state to commence adult-use sales in the coming weeks starting with its flagship Ascend Rochelle Park dispensary located at 174 NJ-17 N. The Company currently operates two of the state's 23 medical dispensaries and expects to sell adult-use cannabis products at its Montclair retail location at 395 Bloomfield Ave. and open a third dispensary, located in Fort Lee, later this year.

AWH is also approved by the New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission ("CRC") to begin adult-use cultivation and manufacturing operations at its Franklin facility, which includes 16,000 square feet of canopy that will reach 100,000 square feet by year-end 2023. Recently, the Company scaled its cultivation capabilities to keep pace with the growing total addressable market projected to exceed $2 billion by 2025. In anticipation of growing consumer demand, AWH has enhanced local hiring initiatives and plans to create new jobs throughout New Jersey.

"It is an honor to be part of the inaugural group of cannabis businesses building the foundation for New Jersey's adult-use market," said Abner Kurtin, founder and CEO of AWH. "This is a tremendous milestone in our Company growth, and we look forward to expanding cannabis access to more residents across the state while continuing to provide our patients with top care."

"AWH has served thousands of patients since entering New Jersey's medical market in May 2021, and we are equipped to offer the same affordable and safe cannabis experiences to our growing community of adult-use consumers," said Frank Perullo, president of AWH. "Our knowledgeable retail team at Ascend Rochelle Park is prepared to welcome consumers at every stage of their cannabis journeys and provide personalized guidance for all lifestyles and preferences."

About AWH:

AWH is a vertically integrated operator with assets in Illinois, Michigan, Ohio, Massachusetts, and New Jersey. AWH owns and operates state-of-the-art cultivation facilities, growing award-winning strains and producing a curated selection of products. AWH produces and distributes Ozone branded products. For more information, visit www.awholdings.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release includes forward-looking information and statements, which may include, but are not limited to, information and statements regarding the plans, intentions, expectations, estimates, and beliefs of the Company. Words such as "expects", "continue", "will", "anticipates" and "intends" or similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on the Company's current projections and expectations about future events and financial trends, and on certain assumptions and analysis made by the Company in light of experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments and other factors management believes are appropriate.

Forward-looking information and statements involve and are subject to assumptions and known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause actual events, results, performance, or achievements of the Company to be materially different from future events, results, performance, and achievements expressed or implied by forward-looking information and statements herein. Such factors include, among others: the risks and uncertainties identified in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021, and in the Company's other reports and filings with the applicable Canadian securities regulators and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Although the Company believes that any forward-looking information and statements herein are reasonable, in light of the use of assumptions and the significant risks and uncertainties inherent in such information and statements, there can be no assurance that any such forward-looking information and statements will prove to be accurate, and accordingly, readers are advised to rely on their own evaluation of such risks and uncertainties and should not place undue reliance upon such forward-looking information and statements. Any forward-looking information and statements herein are made as of the date hereof, and except as required by applicable laws, the Company assumes no obligation and disclaims any intention to update or revise any forward-looking information and statements herein or to update the reasons that actual events or results could or do differ from those projected in any forward-looking information and statements herein, whether as a result of new information, future events or results, or otherwise, except as required by applicable laws.

The CSE has not reviewed, approved or disapproved the content of this news release.

SOURCE Ascend Wellness Holdings, Inc.
BUENOS AIRES, April 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Banco BBVA Argentina S.A. (NYSE; BYMA; MAE: BBAR; LATIBEX: XBBAR), today announced the filing of its Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year 2021

Banco BBVA Argentina S.A. informs that it has filed its Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year 2021 with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

This document is also available in the company's Investor Relations website: ir.bbva.com.ar, in the 20-F section under Financial Information.

Hard copies of the company's Audited Consolidated Financial Statements and Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year 2021, are available upon request, free of charge, by contacting Ines Lanusse in the Investor Relations Department.

CONTACT DETAILS

Ines Lanusse

Investor Relations Officer

(+54) 11 4341 5040

[email protected]

About BBVA in Argentina

Banco BBVA Argentina (NYSE, BYMA, MAE: BBAR; LATIBEX: XBBAR) is a subsidiary of the BBVA Group, its principal shareholder since 1996. In Argentina, it is one of the leading private financial institutions since 1886. Nationwide, Banco BBVA Argentina offers retail and corporate banking to a broad customer base, including: individuals, SMEs, and large-sized companies.

Banco BBVA Argentina's purpose is to bring the age of opportunities to everyone, based on our customers' real needs, providing the best solutions, and helping them make the best financial decisions, through an easy and convenient experience. The institution rests in solid values: "Customer comes first, we think big and we are one team". At the same time, its responsible banking model aspires to achieve a more inclusive and sustainable society.

SOURCE Banco BBVA Argentina S.A.
Founded in 1993, the luxury brand created by artists Viktor Horsting and Rolf Snoeren is one of the most famous in the world of haute couture due to its distinctive avant-garde DNA, characterised by the spectacular fusion of art and design. The company will present the world's first fashion show of its Viktor&Rolf Mariage line, dedicated exclusively to brides. The show will include the creations of the spring/summer 2023 season and a carefully chosen selection of iconic pieces from its haute couture collections and dresses from its bridal line.

For the Barcelona Bridal Night show, Viktor&Rolf are preparing a presentation inspired by haute couture influences with a surreal and signature touch, resulting in a bold take on their striking bridal range of sculptural and romantic designs, complemented by avant-garde haute couture pieces and others endowed with large, light volumes that reflect the designers' perspective, always in search of the limits of transformation. On their upcoming participation in the event, the designers have stated: "We are delighted to be part of BBFW and to present our first bridal fashion show in Barcelona."

Organised by Fira de Barcelona, it will celebrate its next edition between the 20th and 24th of April 2022 at the Plaza de Espana venue with large companies and young designers from all over the world among the exhibitors. In addition to the catwalk, which will host the fashion shows of 33 designers between the 20th and 23rd of April, the organisation will have participation from over 320 firms, 80% being international from 27 countries at the trade fair, which from the 22nd to 24th of April will connect exhibitors with buyers, promoting business and networking in the international sphere.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1794366/Fira_de_Barcelona.jpg

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/659718/Fira_Barcelona_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Fira de Barcelona
Bristol Global Mobility is a full-service relocation management company. Their relationship centered philosophy provides mobility solutions for domestic and international relocating employees. Each year they recognize key partners who play an integral role in relocation services across the country.

"It is such an honor for our company to receive this award," said Dan Forsman, President, and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Georgia Properties. "Relocation has long been a focus of our company and I would like to congratulate Kathy Connelly, Senior Vice President of Corporate Services, Janet Mauldin, Vice President of Relocation Services, our relocation team, and each of our associates who have worked with Bristol Global Mobility this past year. Under the leadership of Kathy Connelly, our team has a commitment to providing exemplary service and support to our valued clients. That pledge is further evidenced by Kathy's position on the Worldwide ERC board of directors and her recent appointment to serve on their executive committee as Vice Chair of the Talent Community."

"Having had the honor and pleasure of working with Berkshire Hathaway Home Services Georgia Properties for more than two decades, it is especially gratifying to see such a fine organization receive Bristol's Real Estate Partner of The Year award. The most meaningful and effective relationships are first and foremost, situated on a firm foundation of trust. Needless to say, BHHS Georgia Properties has earned the highest levels of trust throughout Bristol Global Mobility." said Joe Cardini, President of Bristol Global Mobility. "On behalf of the entire Bristol enterprise, we extend our most sincere appreciation to BHHS Georgia, for their full embrace of our company mission, which is the Connect with, versus Control people."

About Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Georgia Properties

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Georgia Properties has over 1,500 associates and 29 locations across the Greater Metro Atlanta and North Georgia area. The company ranked No. 1 by TrendGraphix has generated over $5.2 billion in sales volume in 2021. Equal Housing Opportunity. Visit www.BHHSGA.com.

Media Contact: Ta'Tisha Gibbs, [email protected]

SOURCE Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Georgia Properties
Acquisition expands the company's wine and olive oil offering

MILAN, April 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Berlin Packaging, the world's largest Hybrid Packaging Supplier, announced today the acquisition of Panvetri, a family-owned supplier of glass and metal packaging for the wine and olive oil industries.

Founded in 1998 and headquartered in Modugno (Bari) in southern Italy, Panvetri serves a wide range of wine estates, cooperative wineries, oil mills, and food manufacturers, mainly in the Apulia and Basilicata regions. In addition to wine and olive oil bottles, Panvetri's portfolio includes beer, spirits, and sparkling wine bottles, olive oil cans, food jars, and closures. With its strong local presence and established sales team, Berlin Packaging can help Panvetri expand its product offerings.

"Italy is a key country for the wine and olive oil industries, and Panvetri enriches our presence and expands our coverage of southern Italy," said Paolo Recrosio, CEO of Berlin Packaging EMEA.

"We are proud to join Berlin Packaging and bring our experience in southern Italy to the rest of the company. We are also keen to expand our product portfolio with Berlin Packaging's unique shapes and sizes that will now be available to our customers," said Alessandro Pantaleo, CEO of Panvetri.

"This acquisition is another testament to our commitment to growth in Europe. Panvetri strengthens our already robust presence in Italy and furthers our position as a leader in Italian food and beverage packaging," said Bill Hayes, Global CEO of Berlin Packaging.

This is the 20th acquisition that Berlin Packaging has completed in EMEA (Europe, Middle East, and Africa) since 2016 and its 1st acquisition in EMEA in 2022.

All employees and locations for this acquisition will be retained.

About Berlin Packaging

Berlin Packaging is the world's largest Hybrid Packaging Supplier of glass, plastic, and metal containers and closures. The company supplies billions of items annually along with package design, financing, consulting, warehousing, and logistics services for customers across all industries. Berlin Packaging brings together the best of manufacturing, distribution, and income-adding service providers. Its mission is to increase the net income of its customers through packaging products and services.

Please visit BerlinPackaging.com and BerlinPackaging.eu for more information.

Press contacts:

Press Office  Omnicom PR Group Italy

Barbara Papini, [email protected], +39 335 6113555

Ilaria Sala, [email protected], +39 335 8112968

Berlin Packaging

Elena Franzetti, [email protected], +39 02 48436611, +39 3401204145 for EMEA

Celeste Osborne, [email protected], +1 708 272 7046 for North America

SOURCE Berlin Packaging
Research findings from two studies demonstrate the antimicrobial effectiveness of STIMULAN and genex, when mixed with antibiotics

KEELE, England, April 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Biocomposites, an international medical devices company that engineers, manufactures and markets world leading products for use in infection management in bone and soft tissue, today announces the acceptance of two posters at the 32nd European Congress of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases (ECCMID) being held in Lisbon, Portugal on 23-26 April 2022. The company's in-vitro research findings demonstrate the antimicrobial effectiveness of both STIMULAN and genex when mixed with antibiotics.

The first abstract demonstrates that STIMULAN beads containing vancomycin and gentamicin were able to inhibit bacterial growth, when applied to tissue taken from diabetic foot infections, with zone of inhibition diameters ranging from 12-40mm.

The second abstract demonstrates the ability of genex when mixed with combinations of vancomycin/gentamicin and vancomycin/tobramycin to prevent the formation of bacterial biofilms by MRSA, S. epidermidis and P. aeruginosa for up to 7 days on orthopaedic implant materials.

Both studies were co-authored by Julie Fletcher from the University of Exeter whom Biocomposites first funded in 2017 through the Daphne Jackson Trust, the UK's leading organisation and independent registered charity dedicated to realising the potential of returners to research careers following a career break.

Dr Julie Fletcher, Research Fellow, The University of Exeter, said: "This research highlights the potential to use STIMULAN to achieve high local concentrations of antibiotic within poorly vascularised tissue to inhibit bacterial growth at a wound site, with the possibility of facilitating clearance of bacterial infection and improving wound outcomes. The genex research shows the potential to use genex as a carrier of antibiotics to prevent the formation of bacterial biofilm for up to 7 days on orthopaedic implants."

Michael Harris, Chief Executive Officer of Biocomposites, added: "By presenting this new data at this important annual congress, we are pleased to further support the vital research being carried out by leading scientists. STIMULAN and genex are valuable tools for a surgeon and together help over 65,000 patients every year."

Details of the posters are listed below:

Poster 607: The effect of antibiotic loaded calcium sulfate beads on bacterial growth from infected diabetic food ulcer tissue  an in-vitro analysis

Authors: Julie Fletcher1, Rob Porter2, Sean Aiken2, Craig Delury3, Stephen Michell1

1 Biosciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom

2 Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust, Exeter, United Kingdom

3 Biocomposites Ltd, Technical Research, Keele, United Kingdom

Date & Time: 24 April, 12:00pm  13:00pm WEST

Session: 9. Experimental microbiology, microbial pathogenesis & biofilm.

Poster Session 9c. Preclinical biofilm studies



Poster 612: In-vitro effect of antibiotic loaded bone void filler beads on the prevention of biofilm formation on implant surfaces

Authors: Julie Fletcher1, Stephen Michell1, Corin Liddle2, Christian Hacker2, Sean Aiken3, Rebecca Wilson-van Os3, Craig Delury3

1 Biosciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom

2 Bioimaging Centre, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom

3 Biocomposites Ltd, Technical Research, Keele, United Kingdom

Date & Time: 24 April, 12:00pm  13:00pm WEST

Session: 9. Experimental microbiology, microbial pathogenesis & biofilm.

Poster Session 9c. Preclinical biofilm studies



STIMULAN is the only calcium matrix antibiotic carrier approved to treat bacterial infection in surrounding soft tissue in Canada and for use in bone and soft tissue in EU, UK, and Saudi Arabia. STIMULAN offers surgeons the flexibility to apply broad spectrum 'off-the-shelf' antibiotics at concentrations that will support their patient-specific treatment plans - dramatically improving patient outcomes and redefining standard of care.

genex is a biphasic composite of exceptional purity that is specifically formulated to balance osteoconductive scaffold strength and persistence in the body to enable the optimal remodelling of bone architecture.

About Biocomposites

Biocomposites is an international medical device company that engineers, manufactures and markets world leading products for use in infection management in bone and soft tissue. Based in Keele, UK, it has global operations across Europe, USA, Canada, China and India. Biocomposites is a world leader in the development of innovative calcium compounds for surgical use. Its products target a broad spectrum of infection risks across a variety of specialties, including musculoskeletal infection, orthopaedics, trauma, spine, foot and ankle and podiatry. Biocomposites products are now used in over 120,000 procedures per annum and sold in more than 40 countries around the world. Please visit biocomposites.com to learn more.

SOURCE Biocomposites
EBCE is providing $1.4M in financing and incentives to low- and moderate-income single-family homes bridging the gap for equitable access to clean energy.

OAKLAND, Calif., April 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- East Bay Community Energy (EBCE), the clean power community choice aggregation agency, has partnered with BlocPower , the Brooklyn-based climate technology company rapidly greening American cities, to elevate ratepayers' roles in combating the climate crisis from their own homes. Following an initial pilot upgrading and electrifying 12 Oakland homes, the two companies will electrify 60 additional homes throughout EBCE's service territory. EBCE is providing $1M in project financing and $400,000 in incentives to fund this first-of-its-kind project for low- to moderate-income (LMI) single-family households.

This partnership couples BlocPower's unique, full-service approach to electrifying buildings with financing from EBCE's Local Development program to help homeowners in frontline communities access healthy and resilient home retrofits. Together, with their local community partners, the two companies will install affordable and clean heating, cooling, and hot water systems, and electric appliances. They will deliver weatherization and remediation and upgrade infrastructureall to help reduce indoor air pollution, improve health outcomes, and increase home values and resiliency during extreme weather events. BlocPower and EBCE work with independent community partners, including Revalue.io and an ecosystem of local minority and women-owned businesses, to provide quality installation and safeguard customer interests.

"From coast to coast, BlocPower is making it easier to achieve greener cities, healthier homes, and a greater quality of life for the communities that need it most," said Grace Park-Bradbury, general manager of BlocPower in the West. "Upgrading homes in the East Bay to modern and all-electric is the best way for homeowners to affordably protect the health of our families and our planet."

This first-of-its-kind partnership with any Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) programthe companies predict saving their customers an average of nearly $1,000 in annual energy bills, an estimated 40 percent savings.

"Though we face a long road ahead, we're taking the next step forward in reaching climate equity nationwide by putting the power into homeowners' hands," said Nick Chaset, CEO of East Bay Community Energy. "By carving new, holistic ways to invest in our communities, we're mapping a blueprint to create healthier, cleaner cities across the country."

This partnership marks EBCE's latest initiative in its broader mission to invest in local communities and bring all its customers 100 percent carbon-free electricity by 203015 years ahead of California's target 2045 date. Since 2014, BlocPower has completed energy projects in more than 1,200 buildings in 26 American cities. Last year, BlocPower announced the first large-scale, city-wide electrification initiative in the U.S. with Ithaca, New Yorka major step forward in the city's plan to become carbon-neutral by 2030. In 2022, BlocPower ranked #4 on Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies list and was recognized among TIME's 100 Most Influential Companies .

About EBCE

EBCE is a not-for-profit public agency that operates a Community Choice Energy program for Alameda County and fourteen incorporated cities , serving more than 1.7 million residential and commercial customers. EBCE initiated service in June 2018 and expanded to Tracy in neighboring San Joaquin County in 2021. As one of 19 community choice aggregation (CCA) programs operating in California, EBCE is part of the movement to expedite the climate action goals of their communities and those of California. EBCE is committed to providing clean power at competitive rates while reinvesting in its local communities. For more information about East Bay Community Energy, visit ebce.org .

About BlocPower

BlocPower is a Brooklyn-based climate technology company that is making American cities smarter, greener, and healthier. Since its founding in 2014, the company has retrofitted more than 1,200 buildings in disadvantaged communities in New York City, with projects underway in 25+ cities, including Philadelphia, Milwaukee, Baltimore, Oakland and more. BlocPower uses proprietary software for analysis, leasing, project management, and monitoring of clean energy projects that save customers between 20-70 percent on annual energy costs. For more information about BlocPower, visit https://blocpower.io .

Media Contacts

Mission Control for EBCE

[email protected]

BlocPower

[email protected]

SOURCE East Bay Community Energy
Acquisition integrates two nationally recognized, Michigan-based specialty insurance carriers

DETROIT, April 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- AF Group, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and a nationally-recognized holding company whose affiliated brands provide specialty and workers' compensation insurance solutions across the United States, has entered into a definitive agreement through its subsidiary Accident Fund Insurance Company of America to purchase AmeriTrust Group from Fosun. Headquartered in Southfield, Mich., AmeriTrust offers specialty insurance programs and products including workers' compensation, commercial package and automotive business coverages, and comprehensive product offerings in various industry segments. AmeriTrust is a financially strong company rated "A-" (Excellent) by A.M. Best. The acquisition is expected to be completed after obtaining regulatory approvals.

"With the acquisition of AmeriTrust, AF Group and its subsidiary brands continue to elevate their growth trajectory in the specialty insurance and workers' compensation market, while Blue Cross accelerates our efforts toward greater diversification beyond our traditional core health insurance offerings," said Daniel J. Loepp, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan president and CEO. "Our evolution into a multi-business enterprise with national scale supports our efforts to provide affordable health insurance to our customers and members, by making Blue Cross less reliant on their premiums and administrative fees for our revenue."

BCBSM's diversification efforts are benefiting health insurance members substantially  most recently in the company's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Because of more than $900 million generated from BCBSM's investment portfolio and non-health lines of business in 2021, Blue Cross was able to absorb $860 million in COVID-19 costs for treatment, testing and vaccine administration without passing those costs through to fully-insured members' and customers' premiums in either 2021 or 2022.

With this acquisition, AF Group welcomes AmeriTrust's proven expertise in the property and casualty space to the Blue Cross enterprise and further enhances its successful specialty and workers' compensation products and its capabilities in other lines of insurance. The investment also reinforces AF Group's increasingly prominent position and reputation in the property and casualty insurance market, which has grown significantly over the last decade. AF Group is recognized for its financial strength as a Ward's 50 company and has earned an "A" (Excellent) rating by A.M. Best.

"This exciting acquisition aligns two world-class organizations toward a common goal of providing exceptional, customer-focused insurance products and services through our valued agents," said Lisa Corless, president and CEO of AF Group. "The reputation and performance of AmeriTrust is proven in the marketplace, and we're excited to welcome their exceptional team to our award-winning organization as we work together toward even greater success."

As private companies, BCBSM and AF Group do not disclose price associated with transactions of this nature. AF Group is using the strong balance sheet of Accident Fund Insurance Company of America to finance this transaction without other financial support provided by BCBSM.

About Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, a nonprofit mutual insurance company, is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. BCBSM provides health benefits to more than 4.6 million members residing in Michigan in addition to employees of Michigan-headquartered companies residing outside the state. The company has been committed to delivering affordable health care products through a broad variety of plans for businesses, individuals and seniors for more than 80 years. Beyond health care coverage, BCBSM supports impactful community initiatives and provides leadership in improving health care. For more information, visit bcbsm.com and MiBluesPerspectives.com.

About AF Group

AF Group is a nationally recognized holding company whose affiliated insurance brands are premier providers of innovative, specialty insurance solutions offered through independent agents nationwide. All policies are underwritten by a licensed insurer subsidiary. Accident Fund Insurance Company of America is a division of AF Group. For more information, visit afgroup.com.  AF Group.

About Fosun

Founded in 1992, Fosun is a global innovation-driven consumer group dedicated to providing high-quality products and services for families around the world in Health, Happiness, Wealth and Intelligent Manufacturing segments. In 2007, Fosun International Limited was listed on the main board of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (stock code: 00656.HK). In 2021, Fosun International's total revenue was RMB161.3 billion and total assets amounted to RMB806.4 billion. Fosun International ranks No.459 on the 2021 Forbes Global 2000 List, with a MSCI ESG rating of AA.

About AmeriTrust Group, Inc.

Founded in 1955, AmeriTrust Group, Inc. is a nationally recognized commercial insurance underwriter and insurance administration services provider in the commercial property and casualty insurance industry. AmeriTrust is comprised of four distribution segments of the insurance marketplace: admitted carrier operations, excess & surplus lines carrier operations, wholesale MGU/MGA and third-party administration operations, and retail insurance agency operations. AmeriTrust offers a broad range of insurance solutions, including specialty products to independent agencies, governmental entities, select industry, trade and professional associations, and affinity partners. Carrier operations include five insurance companies which are licensed on both an admitted and non-admitted basis. For more detail, visit www.ameritrustgroup.com.

SOURCE Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan
Nonprofit health plan ranked 66th in national list with nearly 90% of employees reporting the company as a great place to work

OAKLAND, Calif., April 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Great Place to Work and Fortune today announced Blue Shield of California as one of the 100 Best Companies to Work For in 2022. This is the nonprofit health plan's first recognition on this prestigious list, ranking 66th.

To be considered for the recognition, companies already have to be named a Great Place to Work-Certified organization. Great Place to Work, the global authority on workplace culture, determines the top 100 companies using rigorous analytics and confidential employee feedback. For this year's list, 88% of Blue Shield of California's employees said the company is a great place to work, which is 31 points higher than the average U.S. company.

"Creating a healthcare system that is worthy of our family and friends and sustainably affordable starts with our people and making this a great place to do meaningful work," said Paul Markovich, President & CEO of Blue Shield of California. "Every day, we strive to develop leaders at all levels and create an environment where all employees can be their authentic selves. We are honored that our efforts are being recognized by Fortune and Great Place to Work."

This year's survey focused on overall employee experience as well as company response to the COVID-19 pandemic. During the largest public health crisis in American history, Blue Shield stepped up to lead and protect the health and safety of all Californians, starting with its own employees. The company developed policies to support working families and caregivers, including flexible work hours and personalized schedules around family needs. Blue Shield also created a caregiver reimbursement program to provide additional financial support to employees managing the burden of in-home care of their loved ones. Today, many of the pandemic-related policies have become permanent, ensuring that employees have personal and mental health support.

Great Place to Work is the only company culture award in America that selects winners based on how fairly employees are treated. Companies are assessed on how well they create a great employee experience that is inclusive of race, gender, age, disability status, or any aspect of an employee or their role within the organization.

"Best Companies' leadership has never been more necessary," said Michael C. Bush, CEO of Great Place to Work. "As workers struggle with the Great Resignation, burnout, and COVID-19 disruptions, these exceptional companies offer workplace experiences as strong as prior to the pandemic. These companies get that 'place' is wherever their employees are sitting or standing, and they are committed to making that place equitable, safe, and productive. Their commitment to genuinely care for their people through trust, inclusion, purpose and meaningful flexibility for life circumstances goes beyond surface-level perks and is a model for the market to follow."

The full list of Blue Shield of California's previous achievements can be found here.

About Blue Shield of California

Blue Shield of California strives to create a healthcare system worthy of its family and friends that is sustainably affordable. Blue Shield of California is a tax paying, nonprofit, independent member of the Blue Shield Association with over 4.5 million members, over 7,500 employees and more than $21 billion in annual revenue. Founded in 1939 in San Francisco and now headquartered in Oakland, Blue Shield of California and its affiliates provide health, dental, vision, Medicaid, and Medicare healthcare service plans in California. The company has contributed more than $192 million to Blue Shield of California Foundation in the last five years to have an impact on California communities.

For more news about Blue Shield of California, please visit news.blueshieldca.com .

Or follow us on LinkedIn , Twitter , or Facebook .

About the Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For

Great Place to Work selected the Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For by gathering and analyzing confidential survey responses from more than 4.5 million current U.S. employees at Great Place to Work-Certified organizations. Company rankings are derived from 75 employee experience questions within the Great Place to Work Trust Index survey.

Disclaimer: From Fortune 2022 Fortune Media IP Limited. All rights reserved. Used under license. Fortune and Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For are registered trademarks of Fortune Media IP Limited and are used under license. Fortune and Fortune Media IP Limited are not affiliated with, and do not endorse products or services of, Blue Shield of California.

About Great Place to Work

Great Place to Work is the global authority on workplace culture. Since 1992, they have surveyed more than 100 million employees worldwide and used those deep insights to define what makes a great workplace: trust. Their employee survey platform empowers leaders with the feedback, real-time reporting, and insights they need to make data-driven people decisions. Everything they do is driven by the mission to build a better world by helping every organization become a great place to work For All.

Learn more at greatplacetowork.com and on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

CONTACT: Mark Seelig

Blue Shield of California

510-607-2359

[email protected]

SOURCE Blue Shield of California
CHICAGO, April 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] announced today major program deliveries across its commercial and defense operations for the first quarter of 2022.

The company will provide detailed first quarter financial results on April 27. Major program deliveries during the first quarter were as follows:

Major Programs 1st Quarter

2022









Commercial Airplanes Programs







737 86





747 1





767 5





777 3





787 

Total 95











Defense, Space & Security Programs







AH-64 Apache (New) 7





AH-64 Apache (Remanufactured) 15





CH-47 Chinook (New) 4





CH-47 Chinook (Renewed) 3





F-15 Models 1





F/A-18 Models 4





KC-46 Tanker 4





P-8 Models 3





Note: Delivery information is not considered final until quarterly financial results are issued.

Contact: Matt Welch (312) 544-2140 (Investor Relations)

Keely Moos (312) 544-2140 (Investor Relations)

Michael Friedman [email protected] (Communications)

Bernard Choi [email protected] (Communications)

SOURCE Boeing
BriefCatch is the tool of choice to help lawyers, judges, and students jumpstart their legal writing. Tweet this

"BriefCatch is the tool of choice to help lawyers, judges, and students jumpstart their legal writing, and we're thrilled to launch BriefCatch 3 with game-changing improvements that users have been requesting, including availability for Macs," said Ross Guberman, founder of BriefCatch. "BriefCatch spots mistakes before clients and judges do, empowering users to write first-rate, confident first drafts. This new version instantly spots and fixes lawyer-specific typos and mechanical errors, cleans up citations, cuts through legalese, spices up word choice, trims sentences, and makes your analysis come alive."

New features in BriefCatch 3:

Mac compatibility. Now available for Mac users.

Now available for Mac users. Real-time editing. Instantly rescans a passage after you accept an editing suggestion or respond to a consistency check.

Instantly rescans a passage after you accept an editing suggestion or respond to a consistency check. Next-generation edits. More than 11,000 suggestions are constantly being updated, expanded, and fine-tuned. BriefCatch 3 also provides thousands of unique explanations and examples from top lawyers, judges, contracts, and memos.

More than 11,000 suggestions are constantly being updated, expanded, and fine-tuned. BriefCatch 3 also provides thousands of unique explanations and examples from top lawyers, judges, contracts, and memos. Enhanced AI. Uses the latest in NLP to finesse editing rules and scoring algorithms.

Uses the latest in NLP to finesse editing rules and scoring algorithms. Next-generation engine. A rebuilt rules engine now scans your documents faster than ever.

A rebuilt rules engine now scans your documents faster than ever. Easier implementation. Now available through Microsoft AppSource as a Microsoft Word Add-in.

Now available through Microsoft AppSource as a Microsoft Word Add-in. Support for Microsoft Word 365 Online. Now available via Microsoft Word online on any compatible browser.

BriefCatch 3 can pinpoint your strengths, weaknesses, and recurring edits. It also provides five custom AI-derived writing scores that can serve as an objective third-party expert during legal language disputes traditionally based on subjective opinion. BriefCatch 3 is built as a Microsoft Word Add-in, making it easy to access directly from your Microsoft Word document.

"BriefCatch is one of my favorite tools for assessing and improving the quality of our written arguments," said Matt Fitzgerald, appellate partner at McGuireWoods and former Supreme Court clerk.

BriefCatch users include legal writers of all levels, from lawyers and law school students to Supreme Court Justices and the Department of Justice. It is the tool of choice to improve legal writing, deliver best-in-class work product, win more disputes, and deliver stronger opinions through succinct, proven prose. The product originated from Legal Writing Pro's worldwide workshops. For more information or a demo, please visit briefcatch.com.

About BriefCatch: BriefCatch is the recognized market leader at providing the highest impact of any legal writing solution. The patented technology and expert suggestions let lawyers focus on what matters most: clients and their content. BriefCatch was created by Ross Guberman, a former lawyer at a top firm and founder of Legal Writing Pro. Ross is the judiciary's choice to train new federal judges, an expert witness, a former law-school adjunct professor, a best-selling author, a popular conference speaker, and a frequent commentator for The New York Times and other news outlets. For more information, visit briefcatch.com.

Media Contact:

Jessi Adler, Plat4orm PR

[email protected]

517-230-9923

SOURCE BriefCatch
CARLISLE, Pa., April 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Bullet Liner (www.BulletLiner.com) is pleased to announce that Phoenix Protective Coatings, a national leader in protective coatings solutions, has joined its exclusive North American distribution network. With its reputation for high product quality, excellent customer service, and consistency, Bullet Liner, a global pioneer in the elastomer sealant category, has long attracted entrepreneurs and qualified operators looking to establish independent, fully owned businesses in the highly lucrative spray-on truck bedliner marketplace.

Phoenix Protective Coatings will be an ideal complement to Bullet Liner's growing distributor network, helping to recruit new qualified dealer-operators. With its significant expertise in the pure and hybrid polyurea space, Phoenix will help to substantially expand the brand's domestic footprint. Specifically, the company, which has multiple locations across the mid and southern U.S., will offer commercial and original equipment (OE) growth opportunities for new dealer entities looking to enter the high-quality chemical protective spray coatings arenawhile also helping to provide training for technicians, applicators, and upfitters.

"Bullet Liner, the industry's 'Un-Franchised Alternative', is a true pioneer in the protective elastomer sealant category," said Steve Lucka, National Sales Manager, Specialty Polyurethanes. "Potential dealer-operator candidates have long been drawn to Bullet Liner's role as a heritage player in the market space, working for more than three decades to grow the overall spray-on truck bedliner industry. We are now pleased to welcome Phoenix Protective Coatings as an integral new part of our operation, working in tandem with Bullet Liner Corporate to help expand our new dealer presence throughout the U.S. and market our premium fourth-generation technology."

Bullet Liner is presently one of the only players in the market to offer prospective dealers a non-franchised alternative. Free from the financial constraints of the traditional franchise model, Bullet Liner's owner-operator formula offers prospects greater Freedom to Perform. This model offers managerial independence for automotive aftermarket accessory shop operators, auto repair shops, automotive dealerships, and other qualified candidates looking to add to their revenue stream. Along with a robust warranty, Bullet Liner dealers benefit from a nationally recognized brand name and series of support tools including spray equipment, onsite training and certification, access to a personalized retail website, qualified corporate leads, and integrated branded promotional opportunities to help them grow their business.

For more information, please visit www.BulletLiner.com.

Please follow Bullet Liner:

Facebook/BulletLiner

Instagram/BulletLiner

Twitter/BulletLinerUSA

SOURCE Bullet Liner
NGLCC the exclusive certifying body of LGBT-owned businesses welcomes WeedTube to their growing list of cannabis industry members

WASHINGTON, April 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- WeedTube , the social media platform designed to combat online cannabis content censorship, has certified with the NGLCC as a LGBT-Owned business as part of their ongoing efforts to increase LGBTQ+ visibility in the cannabis industry . WeedTube joins other prominent cannabis industry members of the NGLCC including Valkyrie Cannabis, ProVerde Laboratories, and New England Craft Cultivators.

Over 50% of WeedTube's staff identify as members of the LGBTQ+ community, including Creative Director Arend Richard who was formerly known as "The Gay Stoner" on YouTube before being deleted at over 180,000 subscribers for educating viewers about cannabis. "We're so proud to join other trailblazing cannabis businesses by having WeedTube certified nationally with the NGLCC. It's important to remember the intersection of the queer community and the cannabis plant as it grows into a multi-billion dollar industry" said Richard. "Considering the years of cyber bullying I experienced on YouTube for my sexuality, it is such an honor to host an online safe space that is owned and operated by members of the LGBTQ+ community." Richard concluded.

About WeedTube

WeedTube was launched in 2018 by a like-minded community of influential content creators who had been affected by YouTube's cannabis marketing purge , when accounts were shut down at an unprecedented rate. The group of co-founders banded together to effectively create an entirely new, adults-only, video-based social network that embraces rather than condemns cannabis. Since then, the site has hosted over 6 million unique visitors and become a safehouse for the cannabis community founded on inclusivity and diversity. WeedTube's other social initiatives include an annual Pride Month fundraiser for The Trevor Project; and Canna4Climate which encourages environmental sustainability in the cannabis industry while changing the perception of what it means to be a "stoner".

About NGLCC

The National LGBT Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC) started in 2002 when co-founders Justin Nelson and Chance Mitchell realized that the impact of LGBT people on the American economy had gone largely unnoticed. NGLCC is now the voice for the nation's 1.4 million LGBT business owners and has the support and participation of more than 190 corporate partners, as well as prominent executive leadership in striving to promote pro-business and LGBT-inclusive policies.

Contact: Julia Ruiz

[email protected]

SOURCE WeedTube
Saray, Elise, Marcela, Emma, and Mireya are conquering their fears, their insecurities and life's daily challenges, both big and small. Saray Khumalo, is the First Black Woman from Africa to summit Mt. Everest and the first Black woman set to achieve the Explorer Grand Slam. She hails from South Africa and will be traveling to Denali, Alaska and the Carstensz Pyramid, New Guinea this year. Elise Wortley, from London, is bringing to life the incredible stories of history's forgotten female adventurers, by literally walking in their footsteps, using only tools that were available to them at the time. Through her project, "Woman with Altitude" she is traveling with an all-female team to Scotland's Ben Nevis this summer, recreating Jane Inglis Clarke's historic climb from the early 1900's. Marcela Maranon, originally from Peru, is the first Latin woman with a disability to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro, an accessibility advocate, and recently traveled to and skied the French Alps. Emma Svensson is the first to lead an-all female team to climb every 4,000-meter peak in the European Alps. She will partner with 30-40 women along the way with the full mission taking the next 1-2 years. Dr. Mireya Mayor is a primatologist who has been nominated for two Emmy Awards, authored a book, and is the first female and first Latina national correspondent for National Geographic. She is the only female scientist on "Expedition Bigfoot" which is currently airing on the Travel Channel and Discovery+.

They chose their adventures based on their passions and fueled with dedication and focus on their journeys. They are the boldest, the bravest, the ones who see things differently. As their skin is exposed to extreme levels of daily dehydrators, Clinique is proudly supporting their journeys and arming them with Moisture Surge 100 Hour. Moisture Surge 100 Hour provides hydration that stabilizes skin from the drying effects of everyday aggressors. It's formulated with fermented aloe and hyaluronic acid complex for deeply hydrated, glowing skin. It boosts hydration in 3 seconds and stabilizes skin with 100 hours of hydration. Auto Replenishing technology helps skin create its own internal water source to continually rehydrate itself. Skin's barrier is also strengthened to help keep in hydration. Join Clinique as we invite consumers to hear their stories, raise their voices and follow them to the ends of the earth.

To watch "The Face of Adventure", please visit Clinique.com or follow @Clinique on social media - Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, Tik Tok, Pinterest.

Contact:

Dorota Sekulska

[email protected]

SOURCE Clinique
CHICAGO, April 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Conagra Brands, Inc. (NYSE: CAG) today announced the departure of independent director Scott Ostfeld from its board of directors. Mr. Ostfeld, a partner of JANA Partners LLC and member of the board since February 2019, has stepped down to assume a board seat at another company in the packaged food industry. JANA continues to hold a significant investment in Conagra Brands.

"We thank Scott for his highly constructive service to the board," said Rick Lenny, non-executive chair of the Conagra Brands board. "His talent and expertise have made a significant contribution to the success of our company and its potential for the future."

Sean Connolly, chief executive officer of Conagra Brands, said, "Scott has been a great partner in helping create value for our shareholders. The company has benefited from his valuable perspective as a shareholder, and his deep understanding of our industry and business."

"Having been an investor in Conagra Brands for over seven years and a director for over three, I am proud of the work Sean, Rick and the rest of the board and management team have done to reposition the company and put it on the path to delivering long-term value for shareholders," Ostfeld said. "I am confident that with their leadership and guidance, together with the outstanding work of all of the company's employees, Conagra can continue to build on the success of its proven brand-building and innovation playbook."

Mr. Ostfeld's departure from the board is effective as of April 12, 2022. With his departure, the board will be reduced from 13 members to 12.

About Conagra Brands

Conagra Brands, Inc. (NYSE: CAG), headquartered in Chicago, is one of North America's leading branded food companies. Guided by an entrepreneurial spirit, Conagra Brands combines a rich heritage of making great food with a sharpened focus on innovation. The company's portfolio is evolving to satisfy people's changing food preferences. Conagra's iconic brands, such as Birds Eye, Marie Callender's, Banquet, Healthy Choice, Slim Jim, Reddi-wip, and Vlasic, as well as emerging brands, including Angie's BOOMCHICKAPOP, Duke's, Earth Balance, Gardein, and Frontera, offer choices for every occasion. For more information, visit www.conagrabrands.com.

For more information, please contact:

MEDIA: Mike Cummins

312-549-5257

[email protected]

INVESTORS: Bayle Ellis

312-549-5958

[email protected]

SOURCE Conagra Brands, Inc.
CHICAGO, April 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Citizens Utility Board (CUB) on Tuesday joined Illinois officials in praising the state General Assembly for unanimously passing legislation that prevents a misleading marketing tactic that has tricked consumers for years and in some cases caused them to pay hundreds of dollars in extra costs.

Last week, the Illinois House passed House Bill 4281 by a vote of 110-0 and the Senate by a vote of 58-0. The bill now goes to Gov. J.B. Pritzker for his signature.

HB 4281 would prevent "non-utility entities from using the name or logo of the utility to sell, solicit, market, or bill for home insurance, maintenance, or warranty products." CUB has found such maintenance and warranty plans to be needlessly expensive for consumers and big money-makers for non-utility companies, offering "protection" that is most likely not needed.

"I appreciate the General Assembly's action to protect consumers from being deceived by companies that use utilities' names and logos to sell unnecessary and costly products, particularly as many consumers already struggle to pay their utility bills," Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul said. "This measure will help residents more easily differentiate essential utility costs from discretionary charges, empowering them to make more informed decisions about their utility bills. I would like to thank CUB for its partnership as we work to protect residents from high utility rates and unnecessary fees."

"It is imperative that Illinois consumers, especially those who struggle to pay their monthly bills, have protection from predatory companies that use deceptive practices to confuse consumers about unnecessary services," said state Rep. Anne Stava-Murray, the chief House sponsor of the bill. "I am proud to have sponsored a bill that helps consumers more easily determine who they should pay for essential services."

"Too many working people are tricked into paying extra costs on their utilities by these misleading marketing schemes," said state Sen. Ann Gillespie, the chief Senate sponsor of the legislation. "Consumers deserve the peace of mind in knowing that they are being billed for services provided, not unnecessary add-ons by third-party bad actors."

"We thank the Illinois General Assembly for standing up for utility customers. Consumers should not have to 'read the fine print' to figure out if they are dealing with the utility company or not," said Bryan McDaniel, CUB's director of governmental affairs and a champion of the years-long campaign to pass the legislation. "Illinois has a sad history of allowing utility company affiliates to use the utility name and logo, but this legislation solves the problem."

Over the years, as CUB spoke with thousands of consumers through the watchdog's hotline and statewide utility bill clinics, the consumer group heard from utility customers who had unknowingly paid extra for products or services from third-party companies. That's because the name of the third party was so similar to the utility that consumers didn't realize the line item on their bills was a voluntary product or service not associated with a regulated utility, such as Nicor Gas.

Some customers ended up paying hundreds of dollars extra before discovering that the line item was not a required utility charge.

Pointing to one example, McDaniel said a home warranty company formerly called Nicor Home Solutions started as a sister company of the regulated utility Nicor Gas, but in 2018 was sold to American Water Works, a private water utility, for $363.7 million. Until recently, the company was still known as Nicor Home Solutions even after being purchased by American Water.

For years, CUB has tried to stop affiliates of the regulated utility from confusing customers by using the Nicor name and logo to market their products. A 2016 state regulatory settlement that included Attorney General Lisa Madigan and CUB required two other companies to change their names: Nicor Advanced Energy became Illinois Energy, and Nicor Solutions became Illinois Energy Solutions.

Nicor Home Solutions was not included in the settlement because it was not, technically, an energy company and not under the purview of the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC). However, the company recently announced it was changing its name to "Pivotal Home Solutions."

HB 4281 will ensure that such misleading utility name and logo tactics connected to home insurance, maintenance and warranty plans never occur in Illinois again.

CUB is Illinois' leading nonprofit utility watchdog. Created by the Illinois Legislature, CUB opened its doors in 1984 to represent the interests of residential and small-business utility customers. Since then, it has saved consumers more than $20 billion by helping block rate hikes, secure refunds and fight for clean, low-cost energy. For more information, call CUB's Consumer Hotline, 1-800-669-5556, or visit its website, www.CitizensUtilityBoard.org.

SOURCE Citizens Utility Board
"Cosmoprof North America is excited to continue its tradition of hosting a powerful, world class platform for domestic and international retailers, distributors, beauty brands and suppliers to network, share their visionary ideas and foster relationships in an exceptional new arena, now held in a convenient mid-week format," said Enrico Zannini, General Manager of BolognaFiere Cosmoprof . "The newly designed Two-Hall format will provide attendees with an increased focus on their specific needs to make the most of their time at the show, as well as newly designed features to ignite inspiration."

"Cosmoprof North America continues to be a driver for growth, innovation, trends, and thought leadership in the beauty industry," shares Nina Daily, Executive Director of the Professional Beauty Association. "Reconnection with partners and creating new relationships is more important than ever, and we are confident the new format and venue will lead to a successful Cosmoprof North America 2022 and allow attendees to facilitate valuable connections."

The award-winning event has now moved from Sunday - Tuesday, to Tuesday - Thursday and introducing a NEW two hall format.

For the first time, Cosmopack North America, the only event in the Americas fully dedicated to the entire beauty supply chain, will have its own dedicated North Hall. At Cosmopack, buyers can discover innovative ingredients, raw materials, packaging, cutting-edge components, technological advances and more to take brands from concept to creation. Having its own location will make it easier to find supply chain solutions. Also featured is a dedicated Cosmopack Buyer Lounge, special activations, and on the floor education complimentary to exhibitors and attendees. Dedicated to finished products, The Cosmoprof North America West Hall will feature four macro sectors including Hair Care, Skin Care & Makeup, Nails, and Natural Products. Country Pavilions will showcase authentic elements and innovations from countries recognized for their strong heritage in beauty.

CPNA is excited to share a new 2022 initiative:

Discover Black-Owned Beauty: This personalized curated display area is specially created for Black-owned beauty brands seeking access to market opportunities, educational resources, retail distribution, and brand exposure. Curators Adrienne Mason and Maria Torres created the Beauty International Group with the intention to ensure Black-owned beauty brands have access to investment capital, retail distribution, logistics, and valuable industry know-how. This area facilitates retailers' commitment to the "fifteen percent pledge," which asks businesses to dedicate 15% of their shelf space to Black-owned brands.

Returning this year are special areas dedicated to curated exhibitors including Discover Beauty, Discover Beauty Spotlights, Discover Green, and The Beauty Vanities. Also returning are CPNA special projects including Boutique, a one-of-a-kind beauty sampling bar, the Buyer Program, which encourages networking between exhibitors and top buyers, Cosmoprof & Cosmopack North America Awards, CosmoTrends, Mentorship Program, and Press Zone. CosmoTalks' wide-ranging seminars and workshops that combine creativity, inspiration and business will be hosted by powerhouses such as NPD, FIT, Spate, Insider's Guide to Spas, and BEAUTYSTREAMS, amongst others. With more than 20 seminars and workshops, it aims to be the widest ranging series of conferences and in-depth talks in the beauty industry.

Register now at www.cosmoprofnorthamerica.com .

Plan your visit: https://cosmoprofnorthamerica.com/plan-your-visit/

Organizer: Cosmoprof North America is organized by North American Beauty Events LLC, a joint-venture company between BolognaFiere Group and the Professional Beauty Association.

BolognaFiere Group, the world's leading trade show organizer in the cosmetics, fashion, architecture, building, art and culture sectors, features in its portfolio more than 80 exhibitions, both domestic and international. BolognaFiere Cosmoprof S.p.a., a company of BolognaFiere Group, is the organizer of Cosmoprof, an international platform, with events in Bologna (established 1967), Hong Kong (established 1996) and Las Vegas (established 2003). Please visit www.bolognafiere.com.

The Professional Beauty Association (PBA) is the largest and most inclusive trade organization representing the entire beauty industry. PBA exists to elevate, unite and serve the beauty industry and the professionals who improve people's lives and is the only national organization to represent the entire beauty industry. PBA is dedicated to advocating and fighting for the rights of the beauty industry, enhancing professionalism, and committed to the long-term success of the stylist and the businesses that employ and support them. For more information on membership, please visit: www.probeauty.org/join .

cosmoprofnorthamerica.com

SOURCE Cosmoprof North America
HOUSTON, April 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Coterra Energy Inc. ("Coterra" or the "Company") (NYSE: CTRA) today announced it will host a conference call on Tuesday, May 3, 2022, at 9:00 AM CT (10:00 AM ET) to discuss first-quarter 2022 financial and operating results. The Company plans to announce first-quarter 2022 results after the market closes on Monday, May 2.

Conference Call Information

Date: Tuesday, May 3, 2022

Time: 10:00 AM ET / 9:00 AM CT

Dial-in (for callers in the U.S. and Canada): (888) 550-5424

Int'l dial-in: (646) 960-0819

Conference ID: 3813676

To access the live webcast, visit the "Events & Presentations" page under the "Investors" section of the Company's website at www.coterra.com. The replay will be archived and available at the same location after the conclusion of the live event.

About Coterra Energy

Coterra is a premier exploration and production company based in Houston, Texas with focused operations in the Permian Basin, Marcellus Shale and Anadarko Basin. We strive to be a leading producer, delivering returns with a commitment to sustainability leadership. Learn more about us at www.coterra.com.

SOURCE Coterra Energy Inc.
Through CPower's Building Management System-as-a-Service, Commercial Real Estate Owners and Managers Can Implement Smart Building Technology to Optimize Energy Capabilities and Meet Decarbonization Goals, While Feeding Capacity to the Grid

NEW YORK, April 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Leading, national energy solutions provider CPower Energy Management ("CPower") today announced the launch of CPower's Building Management System-as-a-Service (BMS-aaS) to enable grid-interactive efficient buildings in New York City. The solution provides commercial property owners and managers a $0 out-of-pocket intelligent building management system to better manage and control their energy use and lower their carbon emissions, while providing demand flexibility to the grid.

Faced with record high vacancy rates, commercial building owners in New York City are looking for ways to modernize as workers return to the office. Additionally, decarbonization regulation such as New York City's Local Law 97 and New York State's Climate Leadership and Protection Act require buildings throughout New York to reduce their carbon emissions. Through its partner ecosystem, CPower's BMS-aaS offers advanced analytics and tenant-by-tenant, floor-by-floor control to ensure energy efficiency and reduce energy bills. CPower's BMS-aaS can also help maximize demand response participation to create additional revenue streams and respond to Time of Use calls for Local Law 97 compliance.

"Our discussions with buildings owners and property managers across the City show that they understand the value in these smart building systems but are daunted by occupancy shortfalls to make such an investment. Moreover, roughly 24,000 buildings in New York City are expected to be affected by Local Law 97, with many in the commercial sector currently above the law's emissions limits. Our goal through this solution is to find new ways to help our customers meet their business and carbon neutrality goals using new smart building technology," said Pat McChesney, Vice President and General Manager  New York, CPower.

Charles Hoppenstein, owner and property manager of RH Realty 39, praised CPower for its BMS-aaS offering that has been implemented at his 230 W 39th Street Garment District property.

"This offer from CPower provides a creative, cost-neutral way for me to stay competitive. I have been impressed by how simple they have made this offering. I appreciate the market and technology expertise they have provided while delivering a hands-on and dedicated focus on my property," Hoppenstein said.

A market leader enabling NYISO and utility demand response programs, CPower helps its customers in New York maximize the value of their electric loads, facility assets, and distributed energy resources (DERs). Across the U.S., CPower manages more than 5.3 GW of DER capacity, with nearly 2,000 customers at more than 12,000 sites, to guide its customers toward a clean and dependable energy future.

For more on CPower's BMS-aaS, visit: bit.ly/3Lu7h6i.

About CPower Energy Management

CPower Energy Management is a leading, national energy solutions provider guiding customers towards a clean and dependable energy future. We manage more than 5.3 GW of customer capacity across the U.S., forming virtual power plants that are good for the grid and great for the community. CPower maximizes the value of our customers' electricity loads, facility assets and distributed energy resources while delivering flexibility, capacity and other ancillary services to the grid. With more than two decades of experience, we've grown to offer more than 55 local energy programs, partnering with grid operators and utilities to serve more than 12,000 sites, delivering approximately 7,000 metric tons of CO 2 reductions in 2020 alone. CPower is based in Baltimore, Maryland and is owned by LS Power, a development, investment and operating company focused on the power and energy infrastructure sector. For more information, visit: www.cpowerenergymanagement.com.

SOURCE CPower Energy Management
The annual Partner Program Guide provides a definitive list of the most notable partner programs from industry-leading technology vendors that provide innovative products and flexible services through the IT channel. CRN only awards the 5-star rating to select vendors who deliver the best of the best, going above and beyond in their partner programs to help push growth and positive change.

"CRN's Partner Program Guide delves into the strengths of each organization's partner program in order to honor those that consistently support and promote good change within the IT channel," said Blaine Raddon, CEO of The Channel Company. "As innovation fuels the speed and complexity of technology today, solution providers want partners that can keep up with and assist their growing business."

Boomi made significant enhancements to its partner program over the past year with the expansion of its Partner Resource Center , which provides insightful content as well as opportunities for partners to further promote their brand and value proposition to end-users through the Partner Finder. Additionally, Boomi simplified program requirements and the way partners do business by providing a clear partner onboarding path and streamlining partner learning for accreditations and certifications.

"Boomi's world-class network of partners brings a diverse array of skills and cutting-edge solutions to customers," said Chris Port, chief operating officer, Boomi. "A 5-star rating in the CRN Partner Program Guide emphasizes our commitment to providing holistic strategies for connecting, orchestrating, and managing complex architectures in the age of data-centric businesses. Thank you to our valued partners for helping our joint customers keep pace with an evolving digital landscape."

The Partner Program Guide provides the channel community with a deep dive into the partner programs offered by IT vendors, service providers, and distributors. CRN scores companies based on their investments in program offerings, partner profitability, partner training, education and support, marketing programs and resources, and sales support and communication. A 5-star rating helps narrow the field to find the best fit, identifying the most rewarding partner programs and providing crucial insight into their strengths.

To learn more about partnering with Boomi or to find a partner from Boomi's ecosystem of more than 800 global partners, visit https://boomi.com/partners/ .

CRN featured the 2022 Partner Program Guide in its April 2022 issue and online at www.CRN.com/PPG .

Additional Resources

About Boomi

Boomi instantly connects everyone to everything, anywhere with its cloud-native, unified, open, and intelligent platform. Boomi's integration platform as a service (iPaaS) is trusted by more than 18,000 customers globally for its speed, ease-of-use, and lower total cost of ownership. As the pioneer at fueling intelligent use of data, Boomi's vision is to make it quick and easy for customers and partners to discover, manage, and orchestrate data, while connecting applications, processes, and people for better, faster outcomes.

 2022 Boomi, LP. Boomi, the 'B' logo, Boomiverse, and AtomSphere are trademarks of Boomi, LP or its subsidiaries or affiliates. All rights reserved. Other names or marks may be the trademarks of their respective owners.

About The Channel Company

The Channel Company enables breakthrough IT channel performance with our dominant media, engaging events, expert consulting and education, and innovative marketing services and platforms. As the channel catalyst, we connect and empower technology suppliers, solution providers and end users. Backed by nearly 40 years of unequalled channel experience, we draw from our deep knowledge to envision innovative new solutions for ever-evolving challenges in the technology marketplace. www.thechannelcompany.com

Follow The Channel Company: Twitter , LinkedIn and Facebook .

 2022 The Channel Company, LLC. CRN is a registered trademark of The Channel Company, LLC. All rights reserved.

Boomi Contact:

Kristen Walker

[email protected]

+1-415-613-8320

The Channel Company Contact:

Jennifer Hogan

The Channel Company

[email protected]

SOURCE Boomi
New coalition will work with government and industry to advocate for vendor-neutral, interoperable, standards-based cybersecurity solutions.

WASHINGTON, April 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, a diverse group of cybersecurity leaders joined together to launch the Operational Technology Cybersecurity Coalition (OT Cyber Coalition). Founding members include Claroty, Forescout, Honeywell, Nozomi Networks, and Tenable, each with decades of experience in building, protecting, and defending our nation's industrial control systems and critical infrastructure assets.

The OT Cyber Coalition advocates for vendor-neutral, interoperable, and standards-based cybersecurity solutions and works collaboratively with industry and government stakeholders on how to best deploy data-sharing solutions that enhance our country's collective defense. Its efforts support the notion that competitive solutions promote innovation and strengthen our national security.

The OT Cyber Coalition represents a broad spectrum of people, processes, and technology, and offers a unique and crucial perspective on the best practices applicable across the entire OT lifecycle.

Through its direct engagements with the US Government, the OT Cyber Coalition will encourage the adoption of interoperability and vendor-neutral cybersecurity characteristics, provide industry expertise, share feedback on public policy proposals, and advocate for increased funding for federal OT cybersecurity.

"Given the significant exposure, a more dangerous set of threat actors, and the risks to national security and society, the government needs to leverage all cyber capabilities at its disposal to protect critical infrastructure," said Grant Geyer, Chief Product Officer & CISO, Claroty. "No one entity or provider has a monopoly on protecting critical infrastructure, and a vendor-neutral and open standards approach can ensure that we're all working in concert to keep the country safe."

"Our combined customer base represents the largest and most impactful organizations in critical infrastructure," said Shawn Taylor, VP of Threat Defense, Forescout. "We have the potential to collect asset information, vulnerability data, threats and security incidents, and risk status to provide real time insight and data to help support the US government, asset owners and operators as part of our collective defense mission."

"Although we may be a group of competitive OT cybersecurity companies, we also are extremely passionate about working collaboratively to improve the cybersecurity of these sometimes fragile OT environments," said Jeff Zindel, Vice President and General Manager of OT Cyber Security for Honeywell Connected Enterprise. "This work is essential to protect our country's critical infrastructure."

"To combat the growing number of threats against our critical infrastructure, it is essential that the cybersecurity industry embrace competitive innovation and open information sharing to collectively strengthen defenses," said Andrea Carcano, Nozomi Networks Co-founder and CPO. "As a founding member of the coalition, we look forward to helping advance these key priorities to fortify the security of our nation's most critical infrastructure."

"Our companies represent the entire OT lifecycle, and can be leveraged strategically by the U.S. Government in an advisory capacity and by critical infrastructure operators to protect themselves and improve our national preparedness," said Marty Edwards, vice president, Operational Technology Security, Tenable. "We look forward to working together to promote these goals."

About the OT Cyber Coalition

The Operational Technology Cybersecurity Coalition is a diverse group of leading cybersecurity vendors, founded by Claroty, Forescout, Honeywell, Nozomi Networks, and Tenable. Representing the entire OT lifecycle, the OT Cyber Coalition believes that the strongest, most effective approach to securing our nation's critical infrastructure is one that is open, vendor-neutral, and allows for diverse solutions and information sharing without compromising cybersecurity defenses. For more information, visit http://otcybercoalition.org/.

SOURCE Operational Technology Cybersecurity Coalition
The new brand offers a curated selection of made-in-Italy designs, including modern kitchens, bathrooms, closets, and interior doors.

LOS ANGELES, April 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Announced today, MandiCasa is a new initiative launched by Dario Snaidero and his corporate team that will offer first-to-market exclusive collections, as well as top-quality products from a range of premium Italian suppliers. The new brand combines Dario Snaidero's Italian family heritage, a deep-rooted dedication to improving the quality of life at home, and more than 45 years of experience and success in the North American market.

Dario Snaidero, Founder of MandiCasa MandiCasa Modern Luxury Kitchen

"I am extremely proud and excited to launch MandiCasa," said Dario Snaidero, Founder of MandiCasa. "The design industry is ever-evolving and the time is right for our family in America to begin a new venture that focuses on the needs of the North American luxury market. We've spent the last few years meeting with manufacturers across Italy so that we can expand our offering of top quality designs. Most importantly, MandiCasa will continue our mission to offer the personalized service that our family-run business has always been known for."

MandiCasa is launching with seven kitchen designs ranging from modern to transitional, all with a sophisticated aesthetic that defines the new brand. Each design is fully customizable through a wide variety of accessories and materials that empowers designers and homeowners to create bespoke solutions that fit their every need.

In addition to MandiCasa's exclusive kitchen designs, the brand will also distribute a variety of home essentials from top-tier Italian suppliers. This includes unique and innovative designs for the bathroom, closet, and brand-new interior door designs for 2022, all complete with an extensive range of customizable finishes and accessories to ensure every room in the home is as functional as it is beautiful.

MandiCasa will be supported by the same dedicated team of trusted professionals at their corporate headquarters in Los Angeles, and in newly renovated showrooms in major markets including New York City, Los Angeles, and Miami.

About MandiCasa

MandiCasa is a new entrepreneurial initiative by Dario Snaidero and his corporate team that offers a curated selection of made-in-Italy designs, first-to-market exclusive collections, and top quality products from a range of premium Italian suppliers. By combining Italian heritage with more than 45 years of experience in the North American market, MandiCasa delivers best-in-class service and style. The MandiCasa team has a strong foundation in the North American luxury residential market, as well as extensive experience with multi-family projects. Led by Dario Snaidero, the group has supported more than 215 projects across America, with a significant footprint in the US and Canada working with top developers.

Visit MandiCasa at showrooms in New York City, Los Angeles and Miami, and learn more about the brand at www.mandicasa.com .

SOURCE MandiCasa
RADNOR, Pa., April 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The law firm of Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP (www.ktmc.com) informs investors that a securities class action lawsuit has been filed against Gatos Silver, Inc. ("Gatos") (NYSE: GATO). The action charges Gatos with violations of the federal securities laws, including omissions and fraudulent misrepresentations relating to the company's business, operations, and prospects. As a result of Gatos' materially misleading statements to the public, Gatos' investors have suffered significant losses.

Kessler Topaz is one of the world's foremost advocates in protecting the public against corporate fraud and other wrongdoing. Our securities fraud litigators are regularly recognized as leaders in the field individually and our firm is both feared and respected among the defense bar and the insurance bar. We are proud to have recovered billions of dollars for our clients and the classes of shareholders we represent.

TO VIEW OUR VIDEO, PLEASE CLICK HERE

CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT YOUR GATOS LOSSES. YOU CAN ALSO CLICK ON THE

FOLLOWING LINK OR COPY AND PASTE IN YOUR BROWSER:

https://www.ktmc.com/gato-class-action-

lawsuit?utm_source=PR&utm_medium=link&utm_campaign=gato

LEAD PLAINTIFF DEADLINE: APRIL 25, 2022

CLASS PERIOD: OCTOBER 28, 2020 THROUGH JANUARY 25, 2022

CONTACT AN ATTORNEY TO DISCUSS YOUR RIGHTS:

James Maro, Esq. at (484) 270-1453 or via email at [email protected]

GATOS' ALLEGED MISCONDUCT

Gatos focuses on the production, development and exploration of silver and zincrich mineral deposits. On October 29, 2020, Gatos conducted its initial public offering ("IPO"), selling approximately 24,644,500 shares of common stock at a price of $7.00 per share, and received net proceeds of approximately $156.1 million from the offering.

On January 25, 2022, after the market closed, Gatos revealed in a press release that "there were 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." On a preliminary basis, Gatos estimated a potential reduction of the metal content of the mineral reserve ranging from 30% to 50% of the metal content remaining after depletion.

Following this news, Gatos' stock price fell $7.02, or 69%, to close at $3.17 per share on January 26, 2022. As of the date the initial complaint was filed, Gatos shares were trading as low as $3.20 per share, a nearly 54% decline from the $7.00 per share IPO price.

WHAT CAN I DO?

Gatos investors may, no later than April 25, 2022 seek to be appointed as a lead plaintiff representative of the class through Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP or other counsel, or may choose to do nothing and remain an absent class member. Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP encourages Gatos investors who have suffered significant losses to contact the firm directly to acquire more information.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE CASE

WHO CAN BE A LEAD PLAINTIFF?

A lead plaintiff is a representative party who acts on behalf of all class members in directing the litigation. The lead plaintiff is usually the investor or small group of investors who have the largest financial interest and who are also adequate and typical of the proposed class of investors. The lead plaintiff selects counsel to represent the lead plaintiff and the class and these attorneys, if approved by the court, are lead or class counsel. Your ability to share in any recovery is not affected by the decision of whether or not to serve as a lead plaintiff.

ABOUT KESSLER TOPAZ MELTZER & CHECK, LLP

Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP prosecutes class actions in state and federal courts throughout the country and around the world. The firm has developed a global reputation for excellence and has recovered billions of dollars for victims of fraud and other corporate misconduct. All of our work is driven by a common goal: to protect investors, consumers, employees and others from fraud, abuse, misconduct and negligence by businesses and fiduciaries. The complaint in this action was not filed by Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP. For more information about Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP please visit www.ktmc.com.

CONTACT:

Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP

James Maro, Jr., Esq.

280 King of Prussia Road

Radnor, PA 19087

(484) 270-1453

[email protected]

SOURCE Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP
Soliai has more than 15 years' experience implementing employee relations-based business solutions in multi-state, start-up, legacy healthcare and hospitality organizations. Prior to joining DBH, she successfully developed at Care1st Health Plan employee resources for underrepresented groups, resulting in a 35 percent increase in diverse hiring, promotion and mentorship. At St. Francis Medical Center, she established a program to address health inequities and to develop a medical staff that looked like the communities served. At St. Joseph Heritage HealthCare, she spearheaded the Patient and Employee Diversity Committee, which provided transformational patient-focused cultural sensitivity training to more than 6,000 employees.

"Shalaura's experience and vision in her new executive role at DBH cements our organization's dual commitments to diversity and inclusion within our own staff, and to providing greater access to those traditionally under served by behavioral healthcare."

"The focus of my new position at DBH will be to promote cultural competency, fill-in gaps of shared experience, use data to equalize patient access to healthcare and use data to promote a workforce representative of the community at large," she says.

Her areas of expertise include executing diversity and equity strategies through meaningful engagement with historically marginalized communities, leading complex initiatives and managing difficult conversations. She holds MBA and Bachelor of Organizational Development degrees from the University of La Verne in Southern California.

Peloquin states, "Shalaura's experience and vision in her new executive role at DBH cements our organization's dual commitments to diversity and inclusion within our own staff, and to providing greater access to those traditionally under served by behavioral healthcare."

About Discovery Behavioral Health

Everyone deserves a happy, rewarding life. That's why Discovery Behavioral Health has worked to make evidence-based, outcome driven healthcare accessible and affordable since inception. With a full continuum of care  detoxification, medical residences, residential treatment centers, partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient, outpatient, psychiatric and addiction medicine, TMS, virtual and telehealth services, we strive to offer the right care at the right time for adults or teens struggling with mental health, substance use or eating disorders. We are a contracted provider with 100 payers and other managed care organizations. Our portfolio of more than 130 treatment centers includes service lines in successful operation since 1985. When treatment is complete, our patients become part of Discovery's growing family of alumni, connected through free aftercare programs, support groups, activities, and a caring community. Because when quality behavioral healthcare is within reach, so is happiness.

Press Contact:

Greg Ptacek

Communications

Discovery Behavioral Health, Inc.

323-841-8002 mobile

[email protected]

SOURCE Discovery Behavioral Health
TORONTO, April 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - Talisker Resources Ltd. ("Talisker" or the "Company") (TSX: TSK) (OTCQX: TSKFF) is issuing this press release pursuant to National Instrument 62-103  The Early Warning System and Related Take-Over Bid and Insider Reporting Issuers in connection with the filing of an Early Warning Report in respect of the disposition of common shares ("Shares") of TDG Gold Corp. ("TDG").

On April 7, 2022, the Company sold 2,846,000 Shares at a price of $0.45 per Share and on April 11, 2022, the Company sold 55 Shares at a price of $0.475 resulting in aggregate gross proceeds of $1,280,726. The sales were facilitated through the facilities of the TSX Venture Exchange. Prior to such sales, the Company held 14,230,278 Shares, representing approximately 14.8% of the issued and outstanding Shares. Following such sales, the Company holds a total of 11,384,215 Shares, representing approximately 11.8% of the 96,343,142 issued and outstanding Shares as of the date of this press release.

The sales of Shares were undertaken as a monetization strategy of the Company. The Company will evaluate its investment in TDG from time to time and may, based on such evaluation, market conditions and other circumstances, increase or decrease its shareholdings through market transactions, private agreements, or otherwise, subject to and in accordance with the terms of the investor rights agreement dated December 11, 2020 (the "Investor Rights Agreement") between the Company and the Issuer. Other than exercising its board nomination rights in accordance with the Investor Rights Agreement, it currently has no other plans or intentions with respect to TDG's board of directors.

An Early Warning Report in respect of the disposition of Shares will be filed under TDG's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com, and may also be obtained by contacting Charlotte May at 416 471 3366. The Company's head office is located at 350 Bay Street, Suite 400, Toronto, Ontario M5H 2S6. TDG's head office is located at Unit 1  15782 Marine Drive, White Rock, British Columbia V4B 1E6.

About Talisker Resources Ltd.

Talisker (taliskerresources.com) is a junior resource company involved in the exploration of gold projects in British Columbia, Canada. Talisker's projects include two advanced stage projects, the Bralorne Gold Complex and the Ladner Gold Project, both advanced stage projects with significant exploration potential from historical high-grade producing gold mines, as well as its Spences Bridge Project where the Company holds ~85% of the emerging Spences Bridge Gold Belt and several other early-stage Greenfields projects. With its properties comprising 299,789 hectares over 484 claims, three leases and 197 crown grant claims, Talisker is a dominant exploration player in the south-central British Columbia. The Company is well funded to advance its aggressive systematic exploration program at its projects.

Caution Regarding Forward Looking Statements

Certain statements contained in this press release constitute forward-looking information. These statements relate to future events or future performance. The use of any of the words "could", "intend", "expect", "believe", "will", "projected", "estimated" and similar expressions and statements relating to matters that are not historical facts are intended to identify forward-looking information and are based on Talisker's current belief or assumptions as to the outcome and timing of such future events. Actual future results may differ materially. In particular, this release contains forward-looking information relating to, among other things, the Company's plans and future intentions with respect to its investment in TDG and exercise of its board nomination rights. Various assumptions or factors are typically applied in drawing conclusions or making the forecasts or projections set out in forward-looking information. Those assumptions and factors are based on information currently available to Talisker. Although such statements are based on reasonable assumptions of Talisker's management, there can be no assurance that any conclusions or forecasts will prove to be accurate.

Forward looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. Such factors include risks inherent in the exploration and development of mineral deposits, including risks relating to changes in project parameters as plans continue to be redefined, risks relating to variations in grade or recovery rates, risks relating to changes in mineral prices and the worldwide demand for and supply of minerals, risks related to increased competition and current global financial conditions, access and supply risks, reliance on key personnel, operational risks regulatory risks, including risks relating to the acquisition of the necessary licenses and permits, financing, capitalization and liquidity risks, title and environmental risks and risks relating to the failure to receive all requisite shareholder and regulatory approvals.

The forward-looking information contained in this release is made as of the date hereof, and Talisker is not obligated to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws. Because of the risks, uncertainties and assumptions contained herein, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The foregoing statements expressly qualify any forward-looking information contained herein.

SOURCE Talisker Resources Ltd
We believe that criminalizing providers for unintended harm will hinder rather than improve healthcare in the future. Tweet this

While some may hope that the conviction of a single individual for an unintended error will forcefully incent providers and organizations to do better, for the majority of the healthcare community, criminalization of providers could wipe out the years of progress that organizations have made in creating a culture of safety and transparency to talk about patient safety events and work towards improvements.

"We firmly believe that criminalizing providers for unintended harm will hinder rather than improve healthcare in the future," says Marcus Schabacker, MD, PhD, president and CEO of ECRI.

This culture of safety, and the federal legislation that supports patient safety organizations, motivates providers to voluntarily report medical errors to create a national community of learning. Patients, healthcare organizations, and providers all benefit from a culture that supports ongoing reporting and learning.

In effect, criminalizing clinicians will eliminate the open dialogue that is needed to understand the root causes of errors and apply solutions to those problems. Prosecuting even one provider ultimately punishes all providers and patients by driving patient safety efforts underground and reversing years of progress to bring patient safety to the forefront.

"While our legal system allows for the criminalization of human error even in the absence of any intent to cause harm, ISMP, along with other professional and patient safety organizations, believe the criminal charges and the guilty verdict set a dangerous precedent and have worrisome implications for safety, particularly for one of the key pillars of a culture of safetyreporting of medical errors," says Rita K. Jew, PharmD, MBA, BCPPS, FASHP, president of ISMP.

To learn more, we invite you to read in-depth coverage and analysis in the ISMP Medication Safety Alert! newsletter article Criminalization of Human Error and A Guilty Verdict: A Travesty of Justice that Threatens Patient Safety. A list of ISMP and other resources on preventing errors with neuromuscular blockers and automated dispensing cabinets is available at this link on the website.

Social Sharing

@ECRI_Org @ISMP_Org speak out against criminal conviction of nurse involved in fatal medication error

Criminalizing fatal medication error poses threats to patient safety says @ECRI_Org @ISMP_Org in public statement

About ECRI

ECRI is an independent, nonprofit organization improving the safety, quality, and cost-effectiveness of care across all healthcare settings. With a focus on patient safety, evidence-based medicine, and health technology decision solutions, ECRI is respected and trusted by healthcare leaders and agencies worldwide. Over the past fifty years, ECRI has built its reputation on integrity and disciplined rigor, with an unwavering commitment to independence and strict conflict-of-interest rules.

ECRI is the only organization worldwide to conduct independent medical device evaluations, with labs located in North America and Asia Pacific. ECRI is designated an Evidence-based Practice Center by the U.S. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. ECRI and the Institute for Safe Medication Practices PSO is a federally certified Patient Safety Organization as designated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP) formally became an ECRI Affiliate in 2020. Marcus Schabacker, MD, PhD, President and CEO of ECRI, has been recognized by the Philadelphia Business Journal as a Healthcare Leader in 2021. Visit www.ecri.org and follow @ECRI_Org.

About the Institute for Safe Medication Practices

The Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP) is the only 501c (3) nonprofit organization devoted entirely to preventing medication errors. ISMP is known and respected as the gold standard for medication safety information. For more than 30 years, it also has served as a vital force for progress. ISMP's advocacy work alone has resulted in numerous necessary changes in clinical practice, public policy, and drug labeling and packaging. Among its many initiatives, ISMP runs the only national voluntary practitioner medication error reporting program, publishes newsletters with real-time error information read and trusted throughout the global healthcare community, and offers a wide range of unique educational programs, tools, and guidelines. In 2020, ISMP formally affiliated with ECRI to create one of the largest healthcare quality and safety institutions in the world. As a watchdog organization, ISMP receives no advertising revenue and depends entirely on charitable donations, educational grants, newsletter subscriptions, and volunteer efforts to pursue its life-saving work. Learn more at www.ismp.org.

SOURCE ECRI
World-class research and data analytics will enable higher education leaders to improve equitable student outcomes

RESTON, Va. and BOSTON, April 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Ellucian, the leading higher education technology solutions provider, and The Burning Glass Institute (BGI), a non-profit center advancing data-driven research and practice on the future of work and of workers, today announced a new collaboration to harness the power of data to deliver new insights on what makes students successful.

The higher education landscape is increasingly competitive and demands a data-driven approach to decision making. The use of advanced data analysis can help to illuminate the best pathways for student success, improve student retention, graduation rates, and employability, as well as optimize the use of institutional resources.

Ellucian will partner with BGI's world-class data scientists to analyze data from Ellucian higher education customers who opt-in to the research. The analysis has the potential to inform critical questions related to student outcomes, including the level of alignment between what students are studying and where opportunity lies, and the factors in the student journey that have the greatest impact on post-graduation trajectory.

The insights generated could help improve student enrollment and retention, and employment outcomes for students of all backgrounds. A long-term objective of the collaboration is to inform new key performance indicators and dashboards that would help Ellucian customers track their progress against student success factors identified by the research.

"Data has the power to transform student success and we look forward to working with The Burning Glass Institute to gain valuable insights that will guide how our solutions support the future of higher education," said Laura Ipsen, President and CEO, Ellucian. "BGI is uniquely positioned at the intersection of learning and work and their expertise and analysis will equip our customers to meet the needs of tomorrow's workforce. Working with BGI would enable us to create pathways to ensure students graduate with employability opportunities."

"Ellucian serves millions of learners each year at over 2,700 institutions across the student lifecycle," said Matt Sigelman, President of The Burning Glass Institute. "We are looking forward to collaborating closely with Ellucian for unprecedented insight on the factors that drive student outcomes. Ultimately, we believe that the research that The Burning Glass Institute and Ellucian will do together can help colleges and universities deliver a more effective academic experience and help enable better results for their students over the arc of their careers."

All insights will be shared with the higher education community at large.

About Ellucian

Ellucian is the market leader charting the digital future of higher education with a portfolio of cloud-ready technology solutions and services. From student recruitment to workforce analytics; from fundraising opportunities to alumni engagement; Ellucian's comprehensive suite of data-rich tools gives colleges and universities the information they need to lead with confidence.

Working with a community of more than 2,700 customers in over 50 countries, Ellucian keeps innovating as higher education keeps evolving. Drawing on its comprehensive higher education business acumen and suite of services, Ellucian guides its customers through manageable, sustainable digital transformationso that every type of institution and student can thrive in today's fast-changing landscape. To find out what's next in higher education solutions and services, visit Ellucian at www.ellucian.com.

About The Burning Glass Institute

Situated at the intersection of learning and work, The Burning Glass Institute is a fully independent non-profit advancing data-driven research and practice on the future of work and of workers. We work with educators, employers, and policymakers to develop solutions that build mobility, opportunity, and equity through skills. Through our expertise in mining new datasets for actionable insight, The Burning Glass Institute's discourse-shaping research draws attention to pressing problems and frames the potential for new approaches. Through project-based engagement and collectives, we put ideas into practice, bringing forward solutions that are high-impact and replicable.

Building on a legacy of breakthrough innovation in labor market analytics, the Institute serves as a trusted source bridging industry, educators, policy makers, and workers. As rapid change increasingly challenges employers and workers alike, the Institute delivers insightful analysis of labor market trends and develops innovative models for economic mobility and workforce equity.

Media Contact

Lindsay Stanley

[email protected]

SOURCE Ellucian
Scholarship Program Partners with Higher Education Institutions to Support Students Facing Economic Hardships and Educational Disruptions Globally, with Focus in the U.S. on HBCUs and Minority Serving Institutions

RESTON, Va., April 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Ellucian Foundation, established in 2020 by Ellucian, the leading higher education technology solutions provider, today announced that the 2022 Progress, Accomplishment, Thriving, Hope (PATH) Scholarship Program is open for applications. The PATH Scholarship provides grants to higher education institutions globally to support students facing economic hardship and educational disruptions. For 2022, the PATH Scholarship Program will focus on providing grants to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and all Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) in the U.S, and eligible higher education institutions in Australia, Canada, Columbia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Ireland, Lebanon, New Zealand, and United Kingdom.

"HBCUs and Minority Serving Institutions in the U.S. play an important role in providing historically underserved students with the opportunity to achieve their educational goals," said Laura Ipsen, President and CEO, Ellucian. "Feedback from PATH Scholarship recipients underscores additional support is essential as students strive to stay in school and continue their education amidst financial challenges. We are pleased to continue this program to help more students stay on track."

"Now more than ever students need access to quality programs and opportunities like those made possible by gifts such as Ellucian Foundation's PATH Scholarship." -- Erica Marks , Executive Director, SUNY New Paltz Foundation

"Receiving this scholarship allows me to be one step closer to reaching my dream."  2021 PATH Scholarship Recipient, University of Houston

"Receiving this scholarship relieves a tremendous amount of stress and pressure from our family" -- 2021 PATH Scholarship Recipient, Tiffin University

In 2020, Ellucian partnered with the Business-Higher Education Forum and pledged an initial $1 million to create the PATH Scholarship. Since its creation, the program has distributed over $1 Million in scholarships to 1,100+ students. Once again, The Ellucian Foundation will award block grants to higher education institutions that range between $10,000 and $25,000 (USD), with a maximum award of $1,500 (USD) per student. Students can use these funds to help cover items such as housing, tuition and food.

For 2022, all HBCUs and MSIs, as defined by U.S. federal statute, as well as not-for-profit higher education institutions in Australia, Canada, Columbia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Ireland, Lebanon, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom are invited to apply. Higher education institutions outside the U.S. must be approved by the country's ministry of higher education (or other national government ministry) to provide associate's or bachelor's degrees to be eligible for a scholarship award.

An independent judging committee will select the institutions chosen to receive a PATH Scholarship award. Recipient institutions in the U.S. will be notified in mid-July and those outside the U.S. in early August.

In 2020, Ellucian partnered with the Business-Higher Education Forum and pledged an initial $1 million to create the PATH Scholarship. Since its creation, the program has distributed over $1 Million in scholarships to 1,100+ students.

For more details and application access, visit: https://stayonpath.org/.

ABOUT ELLUCIAN

Ellucian is the market leader charting the digital future of higher education with a portfolio of cloud-ready technology solutions and services. From student recruitment to workforce analytics; from fundraising opportunities to alumni engagement; Ellucian's comprehensive suite of data-rich tools gives colleges and universities the information they need to lead with confidence.

Working with a community of more than 2,700 customers in over 50 countries, Ellucian keeps innovating as higher education keeps evolving. Drawing on its comprehensive higher education business acumen and suite of services, Ellucian guides its customers through manageable, sustainable digital transformationso that every type of institution and student can thrive in today's fast-changing landscape. To find out what's next in higher education solutions and services, visit Ellucian at www.ellucian.com.

Media Contact

Lindsay Stanley

[email protected]

SOURCE Ellucian
Empowerly's expanded suite of services offers students highly customized opportunities based on personal interests and career ambitions

SAN FRANCISCO, April 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Empowerly , a data-driven education technology company that provides personalized college admissions counseling and career guidance to students and their families, is now accepting applications for its Summer and Fall Student Internship Program and Research Scholar Program. Both programs are offered as an extension to Empowerly's college admissions counseling services, focused on building the skill sets and real-world work experience that help strengthen college applications and resumes.

With Empowerly's virtual Student Internship Program, high school students are matched and connected with up to three cutting-edge Bay Area startups to gain first-hand, project-based experience. Internship fields include artificial intelligence, engineering, consumer products and services, social media marketing, and more. Regardless of the field, each internship allows students to enhance their extracurricular resume, explore careers and develop lasting connections.

Bumo , which provides technology-enabled on-demand and fixed child care solutions for families and employers, is just one of the many Bay Area startups that Empowerly works with. "Empowerly interns provided Bumo with new ideas and fresh perspectives; in fact, they were a goldmine of innovation and new approaches that our team hadn't considered," said Joan Nguyen Tran, co-founder and CEO of Bumo. "They also showed up with a level of humility, eagerness, and excitement that was contagious to the rest of our team."

"The convenience and value of these remote internships widens the playing field and allows more students access to prominent career opportunities," said Gelyna Price, lead Empowerly counselor. "For the most selective colleges, some sort of internship is extremely important for being on par with competitive applicants. Having more than just academic experience in an area of interest that you can discuss deeply will be impressive for admissions committees."

For those interested in pursuing research and writing over a startup internship, Empowerly also offers a new Research Scholar Program that pairs students with a Ph.D. candidate to produce an independently developed research project. Subject matter ranges from data science, biology, math, computer science, medicine, architecture, environmental studies, and more. By the end of the program, students also have the option to work on a research paper with the specific goal of being published in a peer-reviewed publication.

"The recent launch of Empowerly's Research Scholar Program came at a particularly welcome time, since many of our science and pre-medical students were looking for ways to pursue research projects but no longer had access to labs due to COVID-19," said Brooke Vittimberga, lead Empowerly counselor. "With the Research Scholar Program, students now have an invaluable opportunity to learn college-level research skills and be exposed to top-tier academics in their field of study. It also encourages a deeper discovery into what motivates them, where they excel, and areas of improvement  all before college starts."

Empowerly's team of college admission counselors, advisors, researchers, and editors supports students through each step of the admissions process. Whether a student wants help in discovering their passion, applying to internships, or getting accepted to their best match college, Empowerly provides the services to meet them at every stage. To date, 94 percent of Empowerly students with above a 3.6 GPA have been accepted into a top 50 school, including all eight Ivy League colleges plus Stanford, MIT, UChicago, Duke, Northwestern, Carnegie Mellon, UC Berkeley, and many others.

To apply or learn more about Empowerly's Startup Internship Program, visit here and for Empowerly's Research Scholar Program, visit here . Applications are now open, with both summer programs beginning on June 6.

About Empowerly:

Empowerly is a data-driven education technology company that provides personalized college and career guidance to students and their families. The company's mission is to empower students to become the most successful version of themselves. From college preparation, landing internships, and beyond, we support students in achieving their academic goals.

Media Contact:

BAM for Empowerly

[email protected]

SOURCE Empowerly
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina, April 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Empresa Distribuidora y Comercializadora Norte S.A. ("Edenor" or the "Company") hereby announces the commencement of its offer to exchange (the "Offer" or the "Exchange Offer") any and all of its outstanding 9.75% Senior Notes due 2022 (the "Existing Notes") for the applicable amount of newly issued 9.75% Senior Notes due 2025 (the "New Notes") and cash, as applicable, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the exchange offer memorandum, dated April 12, 2022 (the "Exchange Offer Memorandum"). Capitalized terms not defined herein shall have the meaning ascribed to them in the Exchange Offer Memorandum.

The Offer is only available to holders of Existing Notes who are (1) "Qualified Institutional Buyers" ("QIBs") as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), in a private transaction in reliance upon the exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act provided by Section 4(a)(2) thereof, or (2) persons other than "U.S. persons" (as defined in Rule 902 under Regulation S under the Securities Act, "U.S. Persons") outside the United States who are not acquiring New Notes for the account or benefit of a U.S. Person, in offshore transactions in reliance on Regulation S under the Securities Act, and who are non-U.S. Qualified Offerees (as defined in the Exchange Offer Memorandum), in each case, whose receipt and review of the Exchange Offer Memorandum, and participation in the Offer, is otherwise permitted under the laws and regulations of any jurisdiction applicable to them. Eligible Holders in Argentina are urged to read, must follow the procedures set forth in, and must rely exclusively on, the Argentine Exchange Offer Memorandum. Holders who desire to obtain and complete an electronic Eligibility Letter should visit the following website: https://bonds.morrowsodali.com/EdenorEligibility.

The following table sets forth certain information relating to the Exchange Offer:





or Option B(2)(3)







Option A

Existing

Notes ISINs and CUSIPs

(144A and Reg S) Aggregate Principal

Amount of Existing

Notes Outstanding Early Exchange

Consideration(2)

(Principal

Amount of New

Notes) Late Exchange

Consideration(2)

(Principal

Amount of New

Notes) Early Exchange

Consideration

(Principal Amount

of New Notes) Late Exchange

Consideration

(Principal Amount of

New Notes) Cash Consideration

9.75%

Senior

Notes due

2022(1)

ISINs:

US29244AAK88 /

USP3710FAJ32



CUSIPs:

29244A AK8 /

P3710F AJ3 U.S.$98,057,000 U.S.$1,050 U.S.$1,030 1.04 times the

difference between

U.S.$1,000 and the

Pro-Rata Cash

Consideration(4) 1.02 times the

difference between

U.S.$1,000 and the

Pro-Rata Cash

Consideration Aggregate amount

equivalent to the lesser of

(x) 30% of the principal

amount of Existing Notes

that are validly tendered

and accepted for exchange

in the Offer and (y) the

principal amount of the

Existing Notes accepted

for exchange under

Option B

(1) The Existing Notes are currently listed on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange and traded on its Euro MTF Market, are listed and traded on the BYMA (as defined below), through BCBA (as defined below) acting in accordance with the authority delegated by the BYMA to the BCBA, and are traded on the MAE (as defined below).

(2) Per U.S.$1,000 principal amount of Existing Notes validly tendered and accepted for exchange. The Exchange Consideration (as defined below) does not include the Accrued Interest Payment (as defined below).

(3) Holders of Existing Notes validly submitting Tender Orders in exchange for the Exchange Consideration (as defined below) under Option B will receive a combination of the Applicable Cash Consideration (as defined below) and the applicable Early New Notes Consideration or Late New Notes Consideration, as applicable. At the Expiration Date, the actual Early B Consideration or Late B Consideration, as applicable, to be received by each Eligible Holder whose Existing Notes are accepted in the Exchange Offer under Option B will be determined on the basis of the actual participation by Eligible Holders in the Exchange Offer and their selection between Option A and Option B.

(4) The Pro-Rata Cash Consideration that will be equivalent to the Cash Consideration divided by the principal amount of Existing Notes accepted under Option B times 1,000.

The Offer will expire at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on May 9, 2022, unless extended by us in our sole discretion (such date and time, as the same may be extended, the "Expiration Date"). In order to be eligible to receive the Early Tender Consideration (as defined below), Eligible Holders of Existing Notes must submit their Tender Orders (as defined below) at or prior to 5:00 p.m. New York City time on April 28, 2022, unless extended by us in our sole discretion (such date and time, as the same may be extended, the "Early Tender Date"). Eligible Holders of Existing Notes who validly submit their Tender Orders after the Early Tender Date, but on or prior to the Expiration Date will be eligible to receive the Late Tender Consideration (as defined below). Tender Orders may be validly revoked at any time prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time on May 9, 2022 unless extended by us in our sole discretion (such date and time, as the same may be extended, the "Withdrawal Date"), but not thereafter. The deadlines set by any intermediary or relevant clearing system may be earlier than these deadlines.

The terms and conditions of this Offer incorporate the helpful feedback received from select holders of Existing Notes.

Exchange Consideration

Eligible Holders of Existing Notes, for their Tender Orders validly submitted at or prior to the Expiration Date, may choose between two, mutually exclusive, consideration options, detailed in the table above, in the columns under the headings "Option A" and "Option B".

Tenders of Existing Notes under Option A

Tender Orders of Existing Notes submitted under Option A at or prior to the Early Tender Date will receive U.S.$1,050 principal amount of New Notes per U.S.$1,000 principal amount of Existing Notes validly tendered and accepted for exchange (the "Early A Consideration").

Eligible Holders of Existing Notes who validly submit a Tender Order under Option A after the Early Tender Date but at or prior to the Expiration Date will be eligible to receive, for each U.S.$1,000 principal amount of Existing Notes, U.S.$1,030 of New Notes (the "Late A Consideration").

Tenders of Existing Notes under Option B

Tender Orders of Existing Notes submitted under Option B at or prior to the Early Tender Date will receive a portion of the Cash Consideration (as defined below) (such portion, the "Early Cash Consideration"), plus the applicable Early New Notes Consideration (as defined below) (together with the Early Cash Consideration, the "Early B Consideration"). Tender Orders of Existing Notes submitted under Option B after the Early Tender Date but on or prior to the Expiration Date will receive a portion of the Cash Consideration (such portion, the "Late Cash Consideration"), plus the applicable Late New Notes Consideration (as defined below) (together with the Late Cash Consideration, the "Late B Consideration" and the Early Cash Consideration or the Late Cash Consideration, as the case may be, the "Applicable Cash Consideration").

The Cash Consideration is an aggregate amount equivalent to the lesser of (x) 30% of the principal amount of Existing Notes that are validly tendered and accepted for exchange in the Offer and (y) the principal amount of the Existing Notes accepted for exchange under Option B (the "Cash Consideration"). The Pro-Rata Cash Consideration that will be payable to Eligible Holders whose Existing Notes are accepted for exchange in this Option B will be equivalent to the Cash Consideration divided by the principal amount of Existing Notes accepted under Option B times 1,000 (the "Pro-Rata Cash Consideration").

The Early New Notes Consideration for each Eligible Holder whose Existing Notes are accepted for exchange under Option B will be equal to 1.04 times the difference between U.S.$1,000 and the Pro-Rata Cash Consideration received by each such Eligible Holder. The Late New Notes Consideration for each Eligible Holder whose Existing Notes are accepted for exchange under Option B will be equal to 1.02 times the difference between U.S.$1,000 and the Pro-Rata Cash Consideration received by each such Eligible Holder. Accordingly, the actual amounts of Early New Notes Consideration or Late New Notes Consideration and Applicable Cash Consideration comprising the Early B Consideration or the Late B Consideration, respectively, to be received by each Eligible Holder whose Existing Notes are accepted in the Offer under Option B, will depend on the actual participation by Eligible Holders in the Offer and their selection between Option A and Option B.

The composition of the Early B Consideration or Late B Consideration between Cash Consideration and Early New Notes Consideration or Late New Notes Consideration will be determined on the Expiration Date.

A separate Tender Order must be submitted on behalf of each beneficial owner.

Accrued Interest

In addition to the Exchange Consideration, Eligible Holders whose Existing Notes are accepted for exchange in the Exchange Offer will also receive all accrued and unpaid interest (rounded to the nearest cent U.S.$0.01) from the last interest payment date to, but not including, the Settlement Date (as defined below) (such payment, the "Accrued Interest Payment"), to be paid in cash on the Settlement Date.

The Settlement Date is expected to be May 12, 2022.

New Notes

Principal of the New Notes will mature on May 12, 2025. The New Notes will bear interest at 9.75% per year, payable semi-annually in arrears on May 12 and November 12 of each year, commencing on November 12, 2022.

The Condition

We will not be required to consummate the Offer, and we may terminate the Offer or, at our option, withdraw, modify, extend or otherwise amend the Offer at any time prior to or concurrently with the expiration of the Offer, as extended for any reason in our sole discretion, including without limitation, if the following condition has not been satisfied or waived (in our sole discretion): no order, statute, rule, regulation, executive order, stay, decree, judgment or injunction shall have been proposed, enacted, entered, issued, promulgated, enforced or deemed applicable by any court or governmental, regulatory or administrative agency or instrumentality, that prohibits, prevents, restricts or delays consummation of the Offer.

Foreign exchange regulations currently prevent us from accessing the foreign exchange market to repay the full outstanding principal under the Existing Notes. Therefore, if we are unable to consummate the Exchange Offer, we may not be able to repay our debt in whole or in part under the Existing Notes at maturity.

If and when issued, the New Notes will not be registered under the Securities Act or the securities laws of any other jurisdiction except that the CNV has authorized the public offering of the Program and the notes issued thereunder, pursuant to Resolution No. 20,503 dated October 23, 2019, and Resolution No. DI-2022-4APN-GE#CNV dated April 8, 2022. The public offering of the New Notes in Argentina is included within the public offering authorization granted by the CNV to the Program, in accordance with Section 41, Title II, Chapter V, Section VIII of the CNV Rules. Therefore, the New Notes may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act and any applicable state securities laws.

Morrow Sodali Limited will act as the Exchange and Information Agent for the Offer. Questions or requests for assistance related to the Offer or for additional copies of the Offer Documents may be directed to the Exchange and Information Agent (email: [email protected]; Tel: +1 203 609 4910 (Stamford); Tel: +44 20 4513 6933 (London). You may also contact your broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee for assistance concerning the Offer. The Offer Documents are available for Eligible Holders at the following Eligibility Letter Website: https://bonds.morrowsodali.com/EdenorEligibility.

BofA Securities, Inc. and BCP Securities, Inc. are acting as dealer managers for the Offer outside Argentina.

Global Valores S.A. will act as Argentine Dealer Manager for the Offer in Argentina. Questions or requests for assistance related to the Offer in Argentina may be directed to the Argentine Dealer Manager (email: [email protected]; Tel.: (5411) 5235 1232 (Argentina).

Subject to applicable law, the Offer may be amended in any respect, extended or, upon failure of a condition to be satisfied or waived or terminated at any time and for any reason prior to the Expiration Date. We reserve the right to amend, at any time, the terms of the Offer (including, without limitation, the conditions thereto) in accordance with applicable law. We will give Eligible Holders notice of any amendments and will extend the Expiration Date if required by applicable law.

Eligible Holders of Existing Notes are advised to check with any bank, securities broker or other intermediary through which they hold Existing Notes as to when such intermediary would need to receive instructions from an Eligible Holder in order for that Eligible Holder to be able to participate in, or withdraw their instruction to participate in, the Offer before the deadlines specified in the Offer Documents. The deadlines set by any such intermediary for the submission of instructions will be earlier than the relevant deadlines specified above.

Important Notice

This announcement is not an offer of securities for sale in the United States, and none of the New Notes has been or will be registered under the Securities Act or any state securities law (other than Argentina, where the public offering of the New Notes is included within the public offering authorization granted by the CNV to the Program, in accordance with Section 41, Title II, Chapter V, Section VIII of the CNV Rules.). The CNV's authorization means only that the information requirements of the CNV have been satisfied. The CNV has not rendered any opinion in respect of the accuracy of the information contained in the Exchange Offer Memorandum or the Argentine Exchange Offer Memorandum, and has not issued an opinion about the Exchange Consideration to be received pursuant the terms of the Exchange Offer.

The New Notes may not be offered or sold within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons except pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act. This press release does not constitute an offer of the New Notes for sale, or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, in any state or other jurisdiction in which any offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. None of the Company, the Dealer Managers, the Argentine Dealer Manager, the Exchange and Information Agent, the Trustee, the representative of the Trustee in Argentina, the Paying Agents, the Registrars, the Transfer Agents, the Luxembourg Listing Agent or their respective directors, employees and affiliates makes any recommendation whatsoever regarding the Offer or any recommendation as to whether Eligible Holders should tender or refrain from tendering their Existing Notes for exchange pursuant to the Offer. Accordingly, any person considering participating in the Offer or making an investment decision relating to the New Notes must inform itself independently based solely on the Exchange Offer Memorandum (and, to the extent applicable, the Argentine Exchange Offer Memorandum and ancillary local offering documents in Argentina) to be provided to Eligible Holders in connection with the Offer before taking any such investment decision.

This announcement is directed only to Eligible Holders. No offer of any kind is being made to any beneficial owner of Existing Notes who does not meet the above criteria or any other beneficial owner located in a jurisdiction where the Offer is not permitted by law.

The distribution of materials relating to the Offer may be restricted by law in certain jurisdictions. The Offer is void in all jurisdictions where they are prohibited. If materials relating to the Offer come into your possession, you are required to inform yourself of and to observe all of these restrictions. The materials relating to the Offer, including this communication, do not constitute, and may not be used in connection with, an offer in any place where offers are not permitted by law. If a jurisdiction requires that the Offer be made by a licensed broker or dealer and a dealer manager or any affiliate of a dealer manager is a licensed broker or dealer in that jurisdiction, the Offer shall be deemed to be made by the dealer managers or such affiliate on behalf of the Company in that jurisdiction.

Forward-Looking Statements

All statements in this press release, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements. Specifically, the Company cannot assure you that the proposed transactions described above will be consummated on the terms currently contemplated, if at all. These statements are based on expectations and assumptions on the date of this press release and are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. Risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, market conditions, and factors over which the Company has no control. The Company assumes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements, and does not intend to do so, unless otherwise required by law.

Note to Eligible Holders in the European Economic Area - Prohibition of sales to EEA Retail Investors  The New Notes are not intended to be offered, sold or otherwise made available to and should not be offered, sold or otherwise made available to any retail investor in the European Economic Area ("EEA"). For these purposes, a retail investor means a person who is one (or more) of: (i) a retail client as defined in point (11) of Article 4(1) of Directive 2014/65/EU (as amended, "MiFID II"); or (ii) a customer within the meaning of Directive (EU) 2016/97 (as amended, the "Insurance Distribution Directive"), where that customer would not qualify as a professional client as defined in point (10) of Article 4(1) of MiFID II; or (iii) not a qualified investor as defined in Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 (as amended, the "Prospectus Regulation"). Consequently, no key information document required by Regulation (EU) No 1286/2014 (as amended, the "PRIIPs Regulation") for offering or selling the New Notes or otherwise making them available to retail investors in the EEA has been prepared and therefore offering or selling the New Notes or otherwise making them available to any retail investor in the EEA may be unlawful under the PRIIPs Regulation.

Note to Eligible Holders in the United Kingdom - Prohibition of sales to UK Retail Investors  The New Notes are not intended to be offered, sold or otherwise made available to and should not be offered, sold or otherwise made available to any retail investor in the United Kingdom ("UK"). For these purposes, a retail investor means a person who is one (or more) of: (i) a retail client, as defined in point (8) of Article 2 of Regulation (EU) No 2017/565 as it forms part of domestic law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 ("EUWA"); (ii) a customer within the meaning of the provisions of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (as amended, the "FSMA") and any rules or regulations made under the FSMA to implement Directive (EU) 2016/97, where that customer would not qualify as a professional client, as defined in point (8) of Article 2(1) of Regulation (EU) No 600/2014 as it forms part of domestic law by virtue of the EUWA; or (iii) not a qualified investor as defined in Article 2 of Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 as it forms part of domestic law by virtue of the EUWA (the "UK Prospectus Regulation"). Consequently, no key information document required by Regulation (EU) No 1286/2014 as it forms part of domestic law by virtue of the EUWA (the "UK PRIIPs Regulation") for offering or selling the New Notes or otherwise making them available to retail investors in the UK has been prepared and therefore offering or selling the New Notes or otherwise making them available to any retail investor in the UK may be unlawful under the UK PRIIPs Regulation.

In the UK, this Exchange Offer Memorandum and any other material in relation to the New Notes described herein are being distributed only to, and are directed only at, persons who are "qualified investors" (as defined in the UK Prospectus Regulation) who are (i) persons having professional experience in matters relating to investments falling within Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (as amended, the "Order"), or (ii) high net worth entities falling within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Order, or (iii) persons to whom it would otherwise be lawful to distribute them, all such persons together being referred to as "Relevant Persons". In the UK, the New Notes are only available to, and any invitation, offer or agreement to subscribe, purchase or otherwise acquire the New Notes will be engaged in only with, Relevant Persons. This Exchange Offer Memorandum and its contents are confidential and should not be distributed, published or reproduced (in whole or in part) or disclosed by any recipients to any other person in the UK. Any person in the UK that is not a Relevant Person should not act or rely on this Exchange Offer Memorandum or its contents.

SOURCE Edenor (Empresa Distribuidora y Comercializadora Norte S.A.)
VANCOUVER, BC, April 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - Entree Resources Ltd. (TSX: ETG) (OTCQB: ERLFF) ( the "Company" or "Entree") has appointed Allan Moss to its Board of Directors (the "Board") effective immediately.

Mr. Moss has more than 40 years global experience in technical aspects of mining, the last 20 years of which has been focused on block caving. He is currently President of Sonal Mining Technology Inc. ("Sonal"), a company providing technical advice to the caving industry. Mr. Moss currently acts as an independent technical advisor to several companies involved in caving, including Newcrest Mining and Freeport McMoRan.

Mark Bailey, Non-Executive Chair of the Board commented, "We are very pleased to welcome Allan Moss to the Entree Board. Allan is a geological engineer with decades of industry experience and deep block cave expertise working on world class projects. First development production from the Entree/Oyu Tolgoi joint venture licences is currently expected in H2 2023, which is rapidly approaching. The Panel 1 design optimization study, which will include the Hugo North Extension deposit on the Entree/Oyu Tolgoi joint venture licences, is scheduled for completion in H1 2023 and our joint venture partner is working hard to minimize delays to Panel 1 arising from the impacts of COVID-19, among other things. Having Allan's expertise on the Board will improve Entree's ability to closely monitor progress and support our efforts to keep stakeholders fully informed."

Prior to Sonal, Mr. Moss held a range of senior technical management and advisory positions with the Rio Tinto Copper group with a focus on underground mining. Mr. Moss is a Chartered Engineer (UK), a registered Eur. Ing (EU) and an adjunct professor at the University of British Columbia teaching caving practices.

ABOUT ENTREE RESOURCES LTD.

Entree Resources Ltd. is a well-funded Canadian mining company with a unique carried joint venture interest on a significant portion of one of the world's largest copper-gold projects  the Oyu Tolgoi project in Mongolia. Entree has a 20% or 30% carried participating interest in the Entree/Oyu Tolgoi joint venture, depending on the depth of mineralization. Sandstorm Gold, Rio Tinto and Turquoise Hill Resources are major shareholders of Entree, holding approximately 25%, 9% and 7% of the shares of the Company, respectively. More information about Entree can be found at www.EntreeResourcesLtd.com.

This News Release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws with respect to corporate strategies and plans; timing and status of Oyu Tolgoi underground development; the Panel 1 design optimization study and the possible outcomes, content and timing thereof; the potential impact of COVID-19 on Oyu Tolgoi underground development and the Company's business, operations and financial condition; the expected timing of first development production from the Entree/Oyu Tolgoi joint venture property, potential production delays and the impact of any delays on the Company's cash flows, expected copper, gold and silver grades, liquidity, funding requirements and planning; anticipated business activities; and future financial performance.

In certain cases, forward-looking statements and information can be identified by words such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budgeted", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates", or "does not anticipate" or "believes" or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might", "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved". While the Company has based these forward-looking statements on its expectations about future events as at the date that such statements were prepared, the statements are not a guarantee of Entree's future performance and are based on numerous assumptions regarding present and future business strategies, the correct interpretation of agreements, laws and regulations; local and global economic conditions and negotiations and the environment in which Entree will operate in the future, including commodity prices, projected grades, projected dilution, anticipated capital and operating costs, and anticipated future production and cash flows; the anticipated location of certain infrastructure and sequence of mining within and across panel boundaries; the construction and continued development of the Oyu Tolgoi underground mine; the status of Entree's relationship and interaction with the Government of Mongolia, Oyu Tolgoi LLC ("OTLLC"), Rio Tinto and Turquoise Hill Resources; and the Company's ability to operate sustainably, its community relations and its social licence to operate.

With respect to the construction and continued development of the Oyu Tolgoi underground mine, important risks, uncertainties and factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements and information include, amongst others, the nature of the ongoing relationship and interaction between OTLLC, Turquoise Hill Resources and Rio Tinto and the Government of Mongolia with respect to the continued operation and development of Oyu Tolgoi following the implementation of the comprehensive agreement with the Government of Mongolia along with the implementation of Resolution 103; the continuation of Panel 0 undercutting in accordance with the mine plan and design; actual timing of first sustainable production from Panel 0 as well as the lifting of restrictions by the Government of Mongolia on the ability of OTLLC to incur additional indebtedness; the amount of any future funding gap to complete the Oyu Tolgoi project; liquidity, Oyu Tolgoi project funding sources and Oyu Tolgoi project funding requirements; the implementation and successful execution of the funding plan between Turquoise Hill Resources and Rio Tinto to address Turquoise Hill Resources' estimated incremental funding requirements to complete the Oyu Tolgoi project and potential delays in the ability of Turquoise Hill Resources or OTLLC to proceed with the funding elements contemplated by the funding plan; the timing and cost of the construction and expansion of mining and processing facilities; the ability of OTLLC or the Government of Mongolia to deliver a domestic power source for Oyu Tolgoi (or the availability of financing for OTLLC or the Government of Mongolia to construct such a source) within the required contractual timeframe; sources of interim power; OTLLC's ability to operate sustainably, its community relations, and its social licence to operate in Mongolia; the potential impact of COVID-19, including any restrictions imposed by health and governmental authorities relating thereto; the impact of changes in, changes in interpretation to or changes in enforcement of, laws, regulations and government practises in Mongolia; delays, and the costs which would result from delays, in the development of the underground mine; the anticipated location of certain infrastructure and sequence of mining within and across panel boundaries; projected commodity prices and their market demand; and production estimates and the anticipated yearly production of copper, gold and silver at the Oyu Tolgoi underground mine.

Other risks, uncertainties and factors which could cause actual results, performance or achievements of Entree to differ materially from future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by forward-looking statements and information include, amongst others, unanticipated costs, expenses or liabilities; discrepancies between actual and estimated production, mineral reserves and resources and metallurgical recoveries; development plans for processing resources; matters relating to proposed exploration or expansion; mining operational and development risks, including geotechnical risks and ground conditions; regulatory restrictions (including environmental regulatory restrictions and liability); risks related to international operations, including legal and political risk in Mongolia; risks related to the potential impact of global or national health concerns, including the COVID-19 pandemic; risks associated with changes in the attitudes of governments to foreign investment; risks associated with the conduct of joint ventures; inability to upgrade Inferred mineral resources to Indicated or Measured mineral resources; inability to convert mineral resources to mineral reserves; conclusions of economic evaluations; fluctuations in commodity prices and demand; changing foreign exchange rates; the speculative nature of mineral exploration; the global economic climate; dilution; share price volatility; activities, actions or assessments by Rio Tinto, Turquoise Hill Resources or OTLLC and by government authorities including the Government of Mongolia; the availability of funding on reasonable terms; the impact of changes in interpretation to or changes in enforcement of laws, regulations and government practices, including laws, regulations and government practices with respect to mining, foreign investment, royalties and taxation; the terms and timing of obtaining necessary environmental and other government approvals, consents and permits; the availability and cost of necessary items such as water, skilled labour, transportation and appropriate smelting and refining arrangements; unanticipated reclamation expenses; changes to assumptions as to the availability of electrical power, and the power rates used in operating cost estimates and financial analyses; changes to assumptions as to salvage values; ability to maintain the social licence to operate; accidents, labour disputes and other risks of the mining industry; global climate change; global conflicts; title disputes; limitations on insurance coverage; competition; loss of key employees; cyber security incidents; misjudgements in the course of preparing forward-looking statements; and those factors discussed in the Company's most recently filed MD&A and in the Company's Annual Information Form for the financial year ended December 31, 2021, dated March 25, 2022 filed with the Canadian Securities Administrators and available at www.sedar.com. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company is under no obligation to update or alter any forward-looking statements except as required under applicable securities laws.

SOURCE Entree Resources
GLENVIEW, Ill., April 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Envoy Solutions announced today that it has reached an agreement to acquire Sigma Supply of North America, Inc. ("Sigma Supply"), based in Hot Springs, Arkansas. Sigma Supply provides world-class packaging materials, packaging equipment solutions, and personalized services. With over two dozen locations between Nevada and Maryland, Sigma Supply services customers throughout the U.S. with expert packaging sellers, engineers, and service technicians coast to coast. Sigma Supply is the 12th company to join Envoy Solutions' rapidly growing national platform since August 2021. This combination will expand Envoy Solutions' presence in the packaging solutions space to include the key state of Texas and across the South, and it will support Sigma Supply's continued growth throughout the nation.

"Sigma Supply will be an excellent fit for our differentiated business model that thrives off the power of partnerships," said Mark M. Fisher, CEO of Envoy Solutions. "Packaging Solutions is a core part of our business model, and Sigma Supply will expand our customer base, our capabilities, and our team of experts. Banks, Scott, and Maggie Hamby oversee a top-notch team at Sigma Supply with a family-oriented culture like ours, and with their continued leadership, I'm looking forward to achieving great success together."

Since it was founded in 1970, Sigma Supply has seen tremendous growth. In 2019, the company expanded and upgraded six warehouses in multiple regions of the country. Sigma Supply is a one-stop shop for packaging solutions, equipment sales, technical support, and online shopping with same-day shipping for more than 100,000 items. The company, which spans three family generations, is currently run by the Hamby family. They will continue to lead Sigma Supply as part of the new partnership with Envoy Solutions.

"We are confident that by joining forces with Envoy Solutions we will take our business to the next level," said Banks Hamby, Co-Owner and Vice President of Sales at Sigma Supply. "This move will exponentially enhance the growth we've already seen as a company."

"We look forward to continuing to lead the business that we've run for so long, now with the resources and reach of Envoy Solutions' national platform," said Scott Hamby, Co-Owner and Vice President of Operations at Sigma Supply. "Together, we will transform the way packaging solutions are delivered so that our loyal associates and customers benefit."

This transaction is pending customary regulatory approvals and is expected to close in the second quarter of this year.

About Envoy Solutions:

Envoy Solutions, the nation's premier diversified distribution company, is helping businesses thrive by leveraging the resources and expertise of regional partnerships to make buildings cleaner and people safer. The industry-leading distributor provides a wide array of essential products, including sanitary supplies, packaging solutions, and foodservice disposables, that are improving the quality of life at schools, hospitals, offices, and other institutions.

Based in Glenview, Ill., Envoy Solutions is the parent company of North American Corporation, WAXIE Sanitary Supply, Southeastern Paper Group, Daycon, North Woods, PJP, Johnston, Next-Gen, Swish White River, Valley Janitor Supply Company, Weiss Bros., General Chemical & Supply, Bio-Shine, ATRA, and NVISION. For more information, please visit www.envoysolutions.com.

About Sigma Supply of North America:

Sigma Supply of North America, founded in 1970, provides world-class packaging solutions with personalized service across the U.S., including to Fortune 100 and 500 customers. The company's speed, expertise, and flexibility have helped its customers grow for more than 50 years.

Based in Hot Springs, Arkansas, Sigma Supply has more than two dozen locations throughout the country, from Nevada to Maryland. For more information, please visit www.sigmasupply.com.

SOURCE Envoy Solutions
NORTH KINGSTOWN, R.I., April 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Falvey Insurance Group and the American Institute of Marine Underwriters (AIMU) have partnered for the International Day for Women In Maritime to host a panel discussion amongst women in the maritime industry.

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) recently designated May 18th as the first-ever International Day for Women in Maritime. "The observance will celebrate women in the industry and is intended to promote the recruitment, retention and sustained employment of women in the maritime sector, raise the profile of women in maritime, strengthen IMO's commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 5 (gender equality) and support work to address the current gender imbalance in maritime."

This event is part of Falvey's larger speaker series to highlight professional women, "Women at the Helm", and will include a panel discussion between:

Captain Alexandra Hagerty , Ship Captain, Executive Leader, Master on Hospital Ship Africa Mercy

, Ship Captain, Executive Leader, Master on Hospital Ship Africa Mercy Meredith Neizer , Chief Logistics Officer at ARMADA

, Chief Logistics Officer at ARMADA Tiina Ruhlandt , President & CEO at EIMC

, President & CEO at EIMC Karen L. Griswold , SVP Ocean Marine, Property & Specialty at Chubb

Isabelle Therrien, Senior Vice President  Canada at Falvey, and International Union of Marine Insurance (IUMI) Cargo Committee Chair, will serve as moderator at the event.

"Women at the Helm  Women In Maritime" will be hosted at the Yale Club on Wednesday, May 18th between 12:00-2:00 PM with a networking session prior to the panel discussion. A virtual option will be available to make this event accessible to all interested attendees. To learn more and register for the event, please visit the AIMU website.

About Women at the Helm: With all female panelists and moderators, the goal of "Women at the Helm" is to spotlight female professionals who have made notable contributions to business, those who have balanced career and family, others who have made an impact in the insurance industry, and those who have encouraged diversity, equity, and inclusion in their organization.

There were over 125 people in attendance at the first "Women at the Helm" panel discussion and networking event on International Women's Day, which highlighted Women Leaders in Business including Helena Foulkes, Barbara Cottam, Rachelle Green, and Gina Perini. The second event is set to take place on May 9th, following Mother's Day, in recognition of "Women Balancing Career & Family", followed by the "Women in Maritime" event in partnership with AIMU.

Find more information about "Women at the Helm", here.

About Falvey Insurance Group

Falvey Insurance Group began as a single division, Falvey Cargo Underwriting, opening its first office in 1995 in Wakefield, RI by the company's founder: Mike Falvey. After 25 years, the company has evolved into Falvey Insurance Group, comprising four divisions: Falvey Cargo Underwriting, Falvey Shippers Insurance, Safe Harbor Pollution Insurance, and Falvey Insurance Services. "The Specialized Insurance Experts" are known for flexibility, World-Class customer service, claims processing excellence, and comprehensive knowledge and expertise that is unparalleled in the insurance industry. Falvey was also named Insurance Insider's MGA of the Year in 2020.

www.falveyinsurancegroup.com

About AIMU

The American Institute of Marine Underwriters (AIMU) has over 100 hundred years of service as the trade association representing the United States ocean marine insurance industry as an advocate, educator and information center.

AIMU provides an active program of support services to assist the U.S. marine insurance industry in providing its global customers with a level of performance unsurpassed in the world. Its worldwide network of surveyors (Correspondents) aids its members in handling claims with speed and efficiency. AIMU publishes a Weekly Bulletin, which provide its members with current information on maritime matters, media reports, legislation and court decisions. Through its educational programs, AIMU fosters the highest standards of professionalism, stimulates creativity and innovation and enhances the industry's traditional commitment to service.

AIMU ensures that U.S. marine insurers are heard by lawmakers, regulators and international bodies. It testifies before congressional committees and works closely with organizations and participates in coalitions focused on improving safety and preventing cargo-related crime. AIMU is the forum for action on the significant issues that affect U.S. marine insurers, reinsurers and the international trade community.

Media Contact:

Megan Bell

(401) 214-5600

[email protected]

SOURCE Falvey Insurance Group
LOS ANGELES, April 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- FCTI, Inc., a nationwide ATM solutions provider, welcomes Peter Kulik as its new Vice President of Technology. As the technology lead, Kulik will oversee the hardware and software driving the business's products and services  seeking to improve quality, security, availability, and innovation throughout the company.

Kulik has over thirty-five years of experience in ATM and financial technology. He began his career with NCR Corporation working on international and domestic financial, ATM, and retail systems and, eventually, partner technical programs.

Since his time with NCR, Kulik has worked with consulting company KLCI Research Group, Fifth Third Bank, and Vantiv in a variety of roles spanning debit networks, telecom, payment products, and mobile financial services.

Kulik joins FCTI from Citibank. There he served as the Director of Engineering, ATM Technology  focusing on security enhancements, delivering over 300 software projects with global scale, and improving software quality, availability, and process optimization.

Kulik has also served as the co-sponsor and editor of the ATM Industry Association's (ATMIA) NextGen Industry RFI, chaired the ATMIA NextGen Architectural Design Team, and worked as a founding member of the ATMIA Consortium for Next-Gen ATMs. He currently serves as Chairman of the ATMIA Executive Board.

"FCTI is a business with an exciting vision for a growing future," said Kulik. "I look forward to the opportunity to help them not only streamline their current products and services, but drive innovation and realize their dreams of future success."

Kulik holds a Bachelor's Science in Electrical Engineering from University of Pennsylvania. He also holds a Master's Science in Management and a Certificate in Economics and Finance from National Technological University.

Photo(s):

https://www.prlog.org/12912855

Press release distributed by PRLog

SOURCE FCTI, Inc.
Agency Committed to Using All Available Tools to Stop Online Businesses Illegally Selling Potentially Harmful Drug Products to Consumers

SILVER SPRING, Md., April 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration recently issued joint warning letters to operators of two websites illegally selling Schedule II stimulants, including amphetamine drug products marketed as Adderall. These websites sell Adderall online without a prescription, which places consumers at risk.

Adderall is an FDA-approved prescription drug that has a high potential for abuse and addiction and should only be used under the supervision of a licensed health care professional. This joint action demonstrates the federal government's ongoing commitment to reduce the public health danger posed by drugs illegally sold online.

"This action underscores the FDA's commitment to use all available regulatory and compliance tools to stop online businesses illegally selling potentially harmful drug products to consumers," said FDA Commissioner Robert M. Califf, M.D. "The illegal sale of prescription drug stimulants online puts Americans at risk and contributes to potential abuse, misuse and overdose. These particular types of online pharmacies also undermine our efforts to help consumers safely purchase legitimate prescription medicines over the internet. FDA will continue partnering with DEA in an effort to safeguard public health and protect consumers who need access to these important medicines."

Illegally marketed prescription drugs pose significant risks to consumers who purchase those products. Consumers who buy prescription drugs from unsafe online pharmacies may put their health at risk because the products, while being marketed as authentic, may be counterfeit, contaminated, expired or otherwise harmful.

The warning letters were issued to:

Consumers should dispose of unused medicine from these websites and not purchase or use prescription drugs sold from these websites without a prescription. The FDA urges consumers to obtain prescription drugs from state-licensed U.S. pharmacies or physicians located in the United States, where the FDA and state authorities can assure the quality of drug manufacturing, packaging, distribution, and labeling.

"These letters are not only a warning to the companies that illegally sell prescription medications, but they also serve as a warning to consumers who have bought or have considered buying medications online without a legitimate prescription," said DEA Administrator Anne Milgram. "Consumers cannot trust the safety or legitimacy of pills sold on unaccredited sites. DEA strongly urges anyone seeking controlled medications to obtain a prescription from a trusted medical professional and have it dispensed by a licensed pharmacy. We will continue working closely with our FDA partners to protect the integrity of the prescription drug supply chain and ensure the safety and health of our communities."

As noted in the warning letters, these websites sell amphetamine drug products, including Adderall, that are misbranded in violation of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. The website operators also violate the Ryan Haight Online Pharmacy Act (RHA) by failing to register their online pharmacies with the DEA despite knowingly or intentionally advertising the sale of controlled substances. The RHA has, among other provisions, requirements that must be met for controlled substances to be legally distributed and dispensed via the internet. For example, an entity must be registered with the DEA to specifically dispense controlled substances; none of these are currently registered with the DEA to dispense or distribute controlled substances online.

The online operators will have 15 business days to respond to the agencies with specific steps taken or steps they will take to address any violations and to prevent their recurrence.

Additional Resources:

Media Contact: Lauren-Jei McCarthy, (240) 702-3940

Consumer Inquiries: 888-INFO-FDA

The FDA, an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, protects the public health by assuring the safety, effectiveness, and security of human and veterinary drugs, vaccines and other biological products for human use, and medical devices. The agency also is responsible for the safety and security of our nation's food supply, cosmetics, dietary supplements, products that give off electronic radiation, and for regulating tobacco products.

SOURCE U.S. Food and Drug Administration
SAN FRANCISCO, April 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The global ferrosilicon market size is expected to reach USD 13.7 billion by 2030, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. The market is expected to expand at a CAGR of 2.4% from 2022 to 2030. Rising demand for ferrosilicon in the steel and cast iron industries is anticipated to contribute to market growth over the forecast period. Ferrosilicon is used as a deoxidizer in the steel industry to prevent the loss of carbon during the production process. As a result, rising investment in the steel industry is anticipated to augment the market growth. For instance, in January 2022, POSCO commenced construction of a new galvanized steel plant in Tangshan, Hebei, China, which is jointly owned by HBIS Group.

Key Insights & Findings from the report:

The deoxidizer segment accounted for the largest revenue share of over 69.0% in 2021, and this trend is expected to continue across the predicted timeline owing to the rising production of steel. For instance, crude steel production increased to 3.7% from 2020 to 2021 reaching 1,950.5 million tons, according to a report by World Steel Association.

The cast iron segment is anticipated to register the fastest CAGR of 3.4%, in terms of revenue, across the forecast period, owing to the use of ferrosilicon as an inoculant in the industry.

The shifting trend from non-stick cookware to those made up of cast iron, owing to growing concerns about potential health risks, is projected to emerge as the key driver for cast iron end-use segment growth over the forecast period.

Asia Pacific dominated the market and accounted for a revenue share of 66.8% in 2021. The rising production of automobiles and investments in the construction industry are influencing the demand for ferrosilicon in the region.

dominated the market and accounted for a revenue share of 66.8% in 2021. The rising production of automobiles and investments in the construction industry are influencing the demand for ferrosilicon in the region. In North America , the market is projected to witness a CAGR of 2.2%, in terms of revenue, over the forecast period. The U.S. is anticipated to be the major market of the North American region over the forecast period.

Read 100-page market research report, "Ferrosilicon Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Application (Deoxidizer, Inoculants), By End-use (Stainless Steel, Cast Iron, Electric Steel), By Region (North America, Europe, APAC, CSA, MEA), And Segment Forecasts, 2022 - 2030", published by Grand View Research.

Ferrosilicon Market Growth & Trends

The USD 600 million plants are anticipated to have an annual production capacity of 900 kilotons and will supply galvanized steel sheets to the automotive industry. Furthermore, due to their long life span and good compressive strength, cast iron pipes are widely used in plumbing applications. Companies involved in cast iron pipe production are expanding their capacity, thereby fueling ferrosilicon consumption. For instance, in December 2021, AMERICAN SpiralWeld Pipe Company, a producer of cast iron pipe, announced its decision to invest USD 40 million to expand its operation in Richland County, U.S. Furthermore, rising investments in China's construction industry are expected to benefit market growth.

For instance, China initiated five major infrastructure projects in the third quarter of 2021, one of them was an investment of USD 4,793 million in the construction of a railway line from Liuzhou to Wuzhou covering a distance of 237.78 kilometers. Such projects are aiding the consumption of steel and related products, thereby, positively influencing market growth over the forecast period. The market is competitive with a presence of a large number of players scattered across different regions. To uphold and expand their presence, market vendors are involved in acquisition activities. For instance, in February 2022, Elkem ASA acquired the remaining 50% stake in the Salten energy recovery plant from Kvitebjrn Energi, thus, taking 100% ownership. This acquisition aims to enable the production of environmental-friendly ferrosilicon grade.

Ferrosilicon Market Segmentation

Grand View Research has segmented the global ferrosilicon market on the basis of application, end-use, and region:

Ferrosilicon Application Outlook (Volume, Kilotons; Revenue, USD Million, 2017 - 2030)

Deoxidizer

Inoculants

Others

Ferrosilicon End-use Outlook (Volume, Kilotons; Revenue, USD Million, 2017 - 2030)

Carbon & Other Alloy Steel

Stainless Steel

Electric Steel

Cast Iron

Others

Ferrosilicon Regional Outlook (Volume, Kilotons; Revenue, USD Million, 2017 - 2030)

North America

U.S.



Canada



Mexico

Europe

Germany



Russia



U.K.

Asia Pacific

China



India



Japan

Central & South America

Brazil

Middle East & Africa

& GCC

List of Key Players of Ferrosilicon Market

Elkem ASA

Eurasian Resources Group

FINNFJORD AS

FENGERDA GROUP

Ferroglobe

IMFA

OM Holdings Ltd.

Russian Ferro-Alloys Inc.

SINOGU CHINA

VBC Ferro Alloys Limited

Check out more related studies published by Grand View Research:

Lithium Market - The global lithium market size is expected to reach USD 18.99 billion by 2030, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. The market is expected to expand at a CAGR of 12.0% from 2022 to 2030. Rising investments in lithium mining and related technologies are projected to remain a key trend in the market. Lithium mining is witnessing rapid growth as its demand is accelerating owing to its application in batteries. The element is found in dry places that require thousands of liters of water for its mining. Considering the rising demand for elements and increasing usage of water required for its extraction, R&D is in place to find better alternative methods. For instance, in February 2020 , funding of around USD 20 million by Bill Gates was provided to Lilac Solutions, a lithium mining technology firm located in the U.S.

The global lithium market size is expected to reach by 2030, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. The market is expected to expand at a CAGR of 12.0% from 2022 to 2030. Rising investments in lithium mining and related technologies are projected to remain a key trend in the market. Lithium mining is witnessing rapid growth as its demand is accelerating owing to its application in batteries. The element is found in dry places that require thousands of liters of water for its mining. Considering the rising demand for elements and increasing usage of water required for its extraction, R&D is in place to find better alternative methods. For instance, in , funding of around by was provided to Lilac Solutions, a lithium mining technology firm located in the U.S. Metal Magnesium Market - The global metal magnesium market size is expected to reach USD 6.99 billion by 2030, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc, expanding at a CAGR of 5.3% over the forecast period. Rising demand for lightweight parts mainly in the automotive and aerospace industries is anticipated to contribute to the market growth over the forecast period. Magnesium is a grey-white lightweight metal, which has the lowest melting point and lowest boiling point of all alkali earth metals. It is the third-most commonly used structural metal, after iron and aluminum. Its main applications are in aluminum alloys, die-casting, removal of sulfur in the iron and steel production process, and titanium production.

- The global metal magnesium market size is expected to reach by 2030, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc, expanding at a CAGR of 5.3% over the forecast period. Rising demand for lightweight parts mainly in the automotive and aerospace industries is anticipated to contribute to the market growth over the forecast period. Magnesium is a grey-white lightweight metal, which has the lowest melting point and lowest boiling point of all alkali earth metals. It is the third-most commonly used structural metal, after iron and aluminum. Its main applications are in aluminum alloys, die-casting, removal of sulfur in the iron and steel production process, and titanium production. Pre-painted Steel Coil Market - The global pre-painted steel coil market size is expected to reach USD 23.34 billion by 2030, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. It is expected to expand at a CAGR of 7.9% from 2022 to 2030. Growth in e-commerce and retail activity is set to augur growth during this period. Pre-painted steel coils are used for roofing and wall paneling of buildings, and their consumption in metal- and post-frame buildings is on the rise. The metal building segment is anticipated to witness the highest consumption over the forecast period owing to the demand from commercial buildings, industrial buildings, and warehouses. Post-frame buildings consumption was driven by the commercial, agriculture, and residential segments.

Browse through Grand View Research's Advanced Interior Materials Industry Research Reports.

About Grand View Research

Grand View Research, U.S.-based market research and consulting company, provides syndicated as well as customized research reports and consulting services. Registered in California and headquartered in San Francisco, the company comprises over 425 analysts and consultants, adding more than 1200 market research reports to its vast database each year. These reports offer in-depth analysis on 46 industries across 25 major countries worldwide. With the help of an interactive market intelligence platform, Grand View Research Helps Fortune 500 companies and renowned academic institutes understand the global and regional business environment and gauge the opportunities that lie ahead.

Contact:

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Grand View Research, Inc.

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SOURCE Grand View Research, Inc.
Flexible Packaging Market in North America: Drivers

Rising demand for pouch packaging to drive growth

The rising demand for pouch packaging is one of the key drivers supporting the flexible packaging market in North America . Value-added features such as re-seal ability and the incorporation of a spout are increasing demand for pouch packaging in various sectors, especially in baby food and beverage segments. It leads to a reduction in carbon emissions by reducing the pollution from transportation. This is because the compactness of pouch packages enables a larger quantity of products to be transported in a single truck than rigid and other types of packaging, thereby aiding manufacturers in minimizing the carbon footprint. The convenience that pouch packaging technology offers, as well as its low cost, are the driving factors for the pouch packaging market in North America. These factors are expected to drive the growth of the flexible packaging market in North America during the forecast period.

Flexible Packaging Market in North America: Trends

Growing demand for micro packaging materials is a major trend

Growing demand for micro packaging materials is one of the key flexible packaging market trends in North America that is contributing to the market growth. The emergence of new biochemical compounds has led to the need for enhanced protection. Micro packaging materials offer protection to these compounds against external elements, such as heat, moisture, oxygen, light, and mechanical forces. Thus, micro packaging materials such as nanocoating and nanocomposite-based packaging films are ideal for packaging pharmaceutical drugs. They offer various benefits, such as delaying oxidation, controlling microbial growth, and improving tamper visibility. These factors ensure that the drugs remain safe for a longer duration. Thus, the growing demand for micro packaging materials from the food and beverage and pharmaceutical industry in North America will have a positive impact on the growth of the market during the forecast period.

The holistic analysis of the drivers & trends will help in deducing end goals and refining marketing strategies to gain a competitive edge. This flexible packaging market in the North American analysis report also provides detailed information on challenges that will have a far-reaching effect on the market growth.

To know about other drivers & trends - Request a Free Sample

Related Reports:

The retail-ready packaging market share is expected to increase by USD 16.92 million from 2021 to 2026, and the market's growth momentum will accelerate at a CAGR of 4.82%. Download a free sample now!

share is expected to increase by USD 16.92 million from 2021 to 2026, and the market's growth momentum will accelerate at a CAGR of 4.82%. The micro packaging market share is expected to increase by USD 1.35 billion from 2021 to 2026, at a CAGR of 16.81%. Download a free sample now!

Flexible Packaging Market In North America Scope Report Coverage Details Page number 120 Base year 2021 Forecast period 2022-2026 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 5.66% Market growth 2022-2026 USD 14.41 billion Market structure Fragmented YoY growth (%) 5.4 Regional analysis North America Competitive landscape Leading companies, competitive strategies, consumer engagement scope Companies profiled Amcor Plc, American Packaging Corp., Berry Global Inc., Bischof Klein SE and Co. KG, Bryce Corp., Constantia Flexibles Group GmbH, Coveris Management GmbH, Glenroy Inc., Hindalco Industries Ltd., Huhtamaki Oyj, Mondi plc, Novolex Holdings LLC, Printpack Inc., ProAmpac Intermediate Inc., Sealed Air Corp., Sonoco Products Co., The Tetra Laval Group, Transcontinental Inc., WestRock Co., and Winpak Ltd. Market Dynamics Parent market analysis, Market growth inducers and obstacles, Fast-growing and slow-growing segment analysis, COVID 19 impact and future consumer dynamics, market condition analysis for forecast period, Customization purview If our report has not included the data that you are looking for, you can reach out to our analysts and get segments customized.

Table of Content

1 Executive Summary

1.1 Market overview

Exhibit 01: Executive Summary  Chart on Market Overview



Exhibit 02: Executive Summary  Data Table on Market Overview



Exhibit 03: Executive Summary  Chart on Country Market Characteristics



Exhibit 04: Executive Summary  Chart on Market by Geography



Exhibit 05: Executive Summary  Chart on Market Segmentation by Material



Exhibit 06: Executive Summary  Chart on Incremental Growth



Exhibit 07: Executive Summary  Data Table on Incremental Growth



Exhibit 08: Executive Summary  Chart on Vendor Market Positioning

2 Market Landscape

2.1 Market ecosystem

Exhibit 09: Parent market



Exhibit 10: Market Characteristics

3 Market Sizing

3.1 Market definition

Exhibit 11: Offerings of vendors included in the market definition

3.2 Market segment analysis

Exhibit 12: Market segments

3.3 Market size 2021

3.4 Market outlook: Forecast for 2021-2026

Exhibit 13: Chart on North America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 14: Data Table on Regional - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 15: Chart on North America : Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

: Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

Exhibit 16: Data Table on Regional - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

4 Five Forces Analysis

4.1 Five forces summary

Exhibit 17: Five forces analysis - Comparison between2021 and 2026

4.2 Bargaining power of buyers

Exhibit 18: Chart on Bargaining power of buyers  Impact of key factors 2021 and 2026

4.3 Bargaining power of suppliers

Exhibit 19: Bargaining power of suppliers  Impact of key factors in 2021 and 2026

4.4 Threat of new entrants

Exhibit 20: Threat of new entrants  Impact of key factors in 2021 and 2026

4.5 Threat of substitutes

Exhibit 21: Threat of substitutes  Impact of key factors in 2021 and 2026

4.6 Threat of rivalry

Exhibit 22: Threat of rivalry  Impact of key factors in 2021 and 2026

4.7 Market condition

Exhibit 23: Chart on Market condition - Five forces 2021 and 2026

5 Market Segmentation by Material

5.1 Market segments

Exhibit 24: Chart on Material - Market share 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 25: Data Table on Material - Market share 2021-2026 (%)

5.2 Comparison by Material

Exhibit 26: Chart on Comparison by Material



Exhibit 27: Data Table on Comparison by Material

5.3 Plastic - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 28: Chart on Plastic - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 29: Data Table on Plastic - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 30: Chart on Plastic - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 31: Data Table on Plastic - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

5.4 Paper - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 32: Chart on Paper - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 33: Data Table on Paper - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 34: Chart on Paper - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 35: Data Table on Paper - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

5.5 Foil - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 36: Chart on Foil - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 37: Data Table on Foil - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 38: Chart on Foil - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 39: Data Table on Foil - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

5.6 Market opportunity by Material

Exhibit 40: Market opportunity by Material ($ million)

6 Customer Landscape

6.1 Customer landscape overview

Exhibit 41: Analysis of price sensitivity, lifecycle, customer purchase basket, adoption rates, and purchase criteria

7 Geographic Landscape

7.1 Geographic segmentation

Exhibit 42: Chart on Market share by geography - 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 43: Data Table on Market share by geography - 2021-2026 (%)

7.2 Geographic comparison

Exhibit 44: Chart on Geographic comparison



Exhibit 45: Data Table on Geographic comparison

7.3 US - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 46: Chart on US - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 47: Data Table on US - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 48: Chart on US - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 49: Data Table on US - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.4 Canada - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 50: Chart on Canada - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 51: Data Table on Canada - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 52: Chart on Canada - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

Exhibit 53: Data Table on Canada - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.5 Mexico - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 54: Chart on Mexico - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 55: Data Table on Mexico - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 56: Chart on Mexico - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

Exhibit 57: Data Table on Mexico - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.6 Market opportunity by geography

Exhibit 58: Market opportunity by geography ($ million)

8 Drivers, Challenges, and Trends

8.1 Market drivers

8.2 Market challenges

8.3 Impact of drivers and challenges

Exhibit 59: Impact of drivers and challenges in 2021 and 2026

8.4 Market trends

9 Vendor Landscape

9.1 Overview

9.2 Vendor landscape

Exhibit 60: Overview on Criticality of inputs and Factors of differentiation

9.3 Landscape disruption

Exhibit 61: Overview on factors of disruption

9.4 Industry risks

Exhibit 62: Impact of key risks on business

10 Vendor Analysis

10.1 Vendors covered

Exhibit 63: Vendors covered

10.2 Market positioning of vendors

Exhibit 64: Matrix on vendor position and classification

10.3 Amcor Plc

Exhibit 65: Amcor Plc - Overview



Exhibit 66: Amcor Plc - Business segments



Exhibit 67: Amcor Plc - Key news



Exhibit 68: Amcor Plc - Key offerings



Exhibit 69: Amcor Plc - Segment focus

10.4 American Packaging Corp.

Exhibit 70: American Packaging Corp. - Overview



Exhibit 71: American Packaging Corp. - Product / Service



Exhibit 72: American Packaging Corp. - Key offerings

10.5 Berry Global Inc.

Exhibit 73: Berry Global Inc. - Overview



Exhibit 74: Berry Global Inc. - Business segments



Exhibit 75: Berry Global Inc. - Key news



Exhibit 76: Berry Global Inc. - Key offerings



Exhibit 77: Berry Global Inc. - Segment focus

10.6 Coveris Management GmbH

Exhibit 78: Coveris Management GmbH - Overview



Exhibit 79: Coveris Management GmbH - Product / Service



Exhibit 80: Coveris Management GmbH - Key offerings

10.7 Glenroy Inc.

Exhibit 81: Glenroy Inc. - Overview



Exhibit 82: Glenroy Inc. - Product / Service



Exhibit 83: Glenroy Inc. - Key offerings

10.8 Hindalco Industries Ltd.

Exhibit 84: Hindalco Industries Ltd. - Overview



Exhibit 85: Hindalco Industries Ltd. - Business segments



Exhibit 86: Hindalco Industries Ltd. - Key news



Exhibit 87: Hindalco Industries Ltd. - Key offerings



Exhibit 88: Hindalco Industries Ltd. - Segment focus

10.9 Huhtamaki Oyj

Exhibit 89: Huhtamaki Oyj - Overview



Exhibit 90: Huhtamaki Oyj - Business segments



Exhibit 91: Huhtamaki Oyj - Key offerings



Exhibit 92: Huhtamaki Oyj - Segment focus

10.10 Mondi plc

Exhibit 93: Mondi plc - Overview



Exhibit 94: Mondi plc - Business segments



Exhibit 95: Mondi plc - Key news



Exhibit 96: Mondi plc - Key offerings



Exhibit 97: Mondi plc - Segment focus

10.11 Novolex Holdings LLC

Exhibit 98: Novolex Holdings LLC - Overview



Exhibit 99: Novolex Holdings LLC - Product / Service



Exhibit 100: Novolex Holdings LLC - Key offerings

10.12 Sealed Air Corp.

Exhibit 101: Sealed Air Corp. - Overview



Exhibit 102: Sealed Air Corp. - Business segments



Exhibit 103: Sealed Air Corp. - Key news



Exhibit 104: Sealed Air Corp. - Key offerings



Exhibit 105: Sealed Air Corp. - Segment focus

11 Appendix

11.1 Scope of the report

11.2 Inclusions and exclusions checklist

Exhibit 106: Inclusions checklist



Exhibit 107: Exclusions checklist

11.3 Currency conversion rates for US$

Exhibit 108: Currency conversion rates for US$

11.4 Research methodology

Exhibit 109: Research methodology



Exhibit 110: Validation techniques employed for market sizing



Exhibit 111: Information sources

11.5 List of abbreviations

Exhibit 112: List of abbreviations

About Technavio

Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focuses on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions.

With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios.

Contacts

Technavio Research

Jesse Maida

Media & Marketing Executive

US: +1 844 364 1100

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Email: [email protected]

Website: www.technavio.com/

SOURCE Technavio
For chemotherapy patients, port therapy involves a port, which is a plastic disc (roughly the size of a U.S. quarter) that is placed underneath the patient's skin, usually above the breast or below the collarbone. The port is then used to intravenously feed chemotherapy medication directly into a large vein and into the heart.

For Worthy Brands' Founder & CEO, Paige Brattin, creating Port Worthy Patches occurred rather serendipitously. At five-years-old, Brattin's daughter, Eddy had been diagnosed with amblyopia, reduced vision in one eye caused by abnormal visual development early in life. To help her daughter in the fight against this leading cause of childhood blindness, Brattin developed Worthy Brands' flagship product, See Worthy Patches. Deviating from antiquated drug store eye patches, See Worthy Patches differed with breathable material, optimized adhesives, a versatile shape fitting all faces from infants to adults, and gender-neutral, "cool" designs.

Nurses of cancer patients administering chemotherapy treatments had contacted Brattin regarding using the See Worthy eye patches as chest port covers for their patients. They mentioned that the See Worthy Patches had offered more comfort and sterility than other common options. It was also around this time that Brattin's father was undergoing chemotherapy during his battle with lymphoma. Knowing the opportunity See Worthy Patches were providing for other chemotherapy patients, Brattin discovered that her father was also dealing with the same pain-points standard drug store products provided. He tried one of Brattin's patches, and was astonished that it was gentle and the perfect size to cover his port.

"The opportunity to create Port Worthy was shining right in front of us. We discovered that there hadn't been a product on the market to cover a medical port. With many cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, we knew we had a product on our hands that could make a difference for so many," says Brattin. "Dealing with medical battles like blindness and cancer are already challenging enough. Our mission has always been to make difficult times for others easier. Worthy Brands has the technology to do so. First, we were inspired by my daughter and her fight for vision, and now we are inspired by my Dad and his quest to beat lymphoma."

Worthy Brands utilizes a portion of their proceeds to give back to causes ameliorating the adversity that their consumers face. Sales from Port Worthy Patches benefit Swim Across America , a non-profit organization that hosts charity swims to fund cancer research and patient programs.

More versatile and providing increased breathability than gauze or medical tape, Port Worthy Patches help reduce skin irritation from bra straps, their ultra-sensitive adhesives help protect chest hair when removing, and they keep the port, often covered with ointments and creams, protected from clothing.

Port Worthy Patches retail for $28.50 per box and include a one month's supply of 48 patches. Designs include standard white patches; "Flower Power" with gray, black, white and red floral motifs; "Hope Patch Box" with a red tattoo-styled heart saying "hope" across an anchor as well as a campy electrical outlet "port" patch; and a "Tropical Patch Box" consisting of patches inspired by the company's birthplace of Hawaii with seashells and hibiscus flowers.

For more information and to purchase patches, please visit https://worthybrands.com/collections/port-worthy or their Instagram profile at @port_worthy .

ABOUT PORT WORTHY:

Port Worthy was founded in 2021 with a mission to inspire and impact the world with purpose and style through making the lives of chemotherapy patients and caregivers easier. Port Worthy's chemotherapy port covers are innovative with an optimized ergonomic shape, breathable material, and fun-to-wear designs. Ultimately, the brand understands that a cancer diagnosis is a stressful time for many, and wants to reduce this stress while also giving back to organizations that seek to eradicate cancer and help patients. For every box of port patches sold, Port Worthy donates a portion of sales to "Swim Across America", a non-profit organization that hosts charity swims to fund cancer research and patient programs.

SOURCE Worthy Brands
Networking Event will Bring Together 75+ Founders, C-Level Executives, VPs, and Directors

NEW YORK, April 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Future-minded media company, FounderMade, has succeeded in establishing itself as a top e-commerce tech resource, for brands and businesses interested in spurring unprecedented growth. Today, FounderMade CEO Meghan Asha announces the launch of an exclusive executive summit for high-growth D2C tech and e-commerce companies taking place on June 23, 2022, at Convene (101 Greenwich St.) in New York City . The invite-only event will bring together over 75 Founders, C-Level Executives, VPs, and Directors from high growth D2C and CPG companies, looking for world-class resources to help them scale.

FounderMade Announces Exclusive Invite-Only Executive Summit for High Growth D2C Thought Leaders of 2022

Participants will be treated to intimate and deeply immersive conversations, structured into panel discussions, keynote addresses, and workshops. A highly engaging cocktail reception will serve as a valuable opportunity for brands to interact with one another other while forming formidable relationships with some of the biggest allies and confidantes in their industries.

As the world becomes increasingly reliant on technology to facilitate trade and commerce, the top-performing service providers have proved to be those capable of continually innovating their solutions to meet the ever-evolving taste and desires of consumers. Rather than going at it alone, high growth D2C companies have realized that their sustained development and continued progress can only be guaranteed by networking and leveraging each other's strengths and areas of expertise, to advance the industry as a whole.

Attendees for the D2C Executive Summit will enjoy talks by leading D2C executives from brands including Studs, Hatch Brand, Yummy Spoonfuls, Le Mini Macaron, Covey Skin, Olaplex, Naadam, Core Power Yoga, The Clear Cut, and others.

Founded in 2017, FounderMade provides a comprehensive ecosystem with direct access to the most coveted retailers, distributors, investors, corporate partners, and influencers. The company was instituted to offer the best-in-class content and experiences, specifically designed for the brand innovators of the future.

The high-performance-driven resource platform describes itself as the primary destination for all consumer-oriented businesses focused on advancing their service delivery and leveraging evolving technological advancements, as well as strategic partnerships and networking, to activate accelerated growth.

Our ecosystem provides access to brand and solution discovery that propels your business forwardfrom pre-revenue to enterprise, explains Lauren Everhart, FounderMades President & COO. Across our live and virtual event properties, we have developed best-in-class content formats that aim to drive engagement within our community on an always-on basis and create exclusive opportunities to drive new business opportunities.

To be a part of FounderMade's much-anticipated summit - which organizers have revealed will be live-streamed to a national virtual audience - interested businesses must qualify either as retail, D2C, or consumer brand organizations, with annual revenue of at least $5+ million.

For more information about the summit and/or to view the impressive lineup of speakers scheduled to take center stage, please visit the www.FounderMade.com.

Media Contact:

Daphne Ortiz

Statement PR

[email protected]

323.864.9890

SOURCE FounderMade
Gaming Arts is proud to support all of our tribal customers across the country. Tweet this

Closely following Pop'N Pays More, is the fascinating and fun Kung Fu Empress, an incredible new game with bold, exciting features, including a host of enemies battled by the adorable and noble Kung Fu Empress, producing big wins for the player along the way.

The story doesn't end there as Gaming Arts will also be showing the patented Pub series, where players can visit four exciting destinations from across the globe and celebrate happy hour at their favorite pub or bistro. Players will love it! What could be better than enjoying a cold beverage while awaiting the big payday!

Not to be overshadowed, also on display will be the new and remarkable Casino Wizard VIP. This stunning ETG multi-game follows in the successful footsteps of the original smash hit, Casino Wizard. Casino Wizard VIP will include a greatly expanded game lineup, including many new table game favorites with compelling high-hold side bets and progressives, all of which can only be found exclusively on Casino Wizard VIP.

Gaming Arts will also be featuring many new additions to its Phocus dual screen and HaloTop wheel libraries. This Phocus game lineup will include: The Adventurers and The Protectors games which are part of the Cash Quest series. For the HaloTop wheel cabinet: Spooky Spins, a follow up to the very successful Inferno Wheel brand will be on display, along with the one-of-a-kind Fortune Flip, as well as the Gumball Game, a fun and unique offering that is sure to give players everywhere plenty to chew on!

Mike Dreitzer, CEO of Gaming Arts, commented, "Gaming Arts is proud to support all of our tribal customers across the country with the introduction of many exciting new games. Our incredibly talented game development team has risen to the occasion by creating games like none other in the industry.

At Gaming Arts, we never follow, instead we focus on breaking new ground for our tribal customers and their players. Our line up at NIGA 2022 is a perfect example of this philosophy. We are grateful to our partners and proudly support their efforts," Dreitzer concluded.

About Gaming Arts - Gaming Arts, LLC is an award-winning end-to-end gaming equipment technology provider of electronic gaming machines, electronic table games, bingo, keno, and emerging technologies. Gaming Arts is privately owned and operated, with its business headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada, and is licensed in approximately 150 jurisdictions. To learn more, visit www.gamingarts.com or call 702.818.8943.

Media Contact

Bree Gonzalez

Marketing Manager

725.223.4592

SOURCE Gaming Arts, LLC
NEW YORK, April 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Klein Law Firm announces that a class action complaint has been filed on behalf of shareholders of Gatos Silver, Inc. (NYSE: GATO) alleging that the Company violated federal securities laws.

This lawsuit is on behalf of persons and entities that purchased or otherwise acquired Gatos: (a) common stock pursuant and/or traceable to documents issued in connection with the Company's initial public offering conducted on or about October 28, 2020; and/or (b) securities between October 28, 2020 and January 25, 2022, inclusive.

Lead Plaintiff Deadline: April 25, 2022

No obligation or cost to you.

Learn more about your recoverable losses in GATO:

https://www.kleinstocklaw.com/pslra-1/gatos-silver-inc-loss-submission-form?id=25787&from=4

Gatos Silver, Inc. NEWS - GATO NEWS

CLASS ACTION CASE DETAILS: The filed complaint alleges that Gatos Silver, Inc. made materially false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) the technical report for Gatos's primary mine, the Cerro Los Gatos deposit, contained certain errors; (2) among other things, the mineral reserves had been overestimated by as much as 50%; and (3) as a result of the foregoing, Defendants' positive statements about the Company's business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis.

WHAT THIS MEANS TO YOU AS A SHAREHOLDER: If you have suffered a loss in Gatos you have until April 25, 2022 to petition the court for lead plaintiff status. Your ability to share in any recovery doesn't require that you serve as a lead plaintiff.

NO COST TO YOU: If you purchased Gatos securities during the relevant period, you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out-of-pocket fees.

HOW TO PROTECT YOUR FINANCIAL INTERESTS: For additional information about the GATO lawsuit, please contact J. Klein, Esq. by telephone at 212-616-4899 or click this link: https://www.kleinstocklaw.com/pslra-1/gatos-silver-inc-loss-submission-form?id=25787&from=4.

ABOUT KLEIN LAW FIRM

J. Klein, Esq. represents investors and participates in securities litigations involving financial fraud throughout the nation. The Klein Law Firm is a boutique litigation firm with experience in a wide range of areas including securities law, corporate finance and commercial litigation. Since 2011, our experienced attorneys have achieved superior results for our clients with a personalized focus. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.

CONTACT:

J. Klein, Esq.

Empire State Building

350 Fifth Avenue

59th Floor

New York, NY 10118

[email protected]

Telephone: (212) 616-4899

www.kleinstocklaw.com

SOURCE The Klein Law Firm
Glo, a growing creator of liquid-activated light-up products, received a major boost when its owners raised more than $1.7 million in the most-recent funding round, valuing the company at nearly $20 million.

STARKVILLE, Miss., April 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Glo, a growing creator of liquid-activated light-up products, received a major boost when its owners raised more than $1.7 million in the most-recent funding round, valuing the company at nearly $20 million.

As one of the fastest-growing startups in the Southeast, Glo sells products under two brands: Glo Cubes  light up drink cubes and Glo Pals  liquid activated children's sensory toys.

The Glo Pals product line was inspired by a child with autism whose mother used Glo's patented light-up technology to help him overcome his fear of water. Since its launch in 2018, Glo Pals has grown exponentially and now accounts for more than 90% of the company's sales.

Glo stepped into the limelight in 2020 when it was recognized among best-in-class products as a Gold Award winner in the Mom's Choice Awards. The company garnered even greater attention in 2021 when it was invited to produce Glo Pals based on Sesame Street characters Julia, the first Muppet with autism, and Elmo.

"Glo took a big step last year when we signed a licensing agreement with Sesame Street," said Anna Barker, Glo's vice president of business development. "And we just announced another agreement to introduce Glo Pals based on Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood. These moves have put us on the map in terms of our growth potential and caught investors' attention."

Glo also caught the attention of The New York Times , which recently published an article about the company's successful handling of supply-chain challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Since its inception in 2015, Glo has sold more than 4 million products to customers in nearly 40 countries and sells to mass-market retailers including Nordstrom, Macy's and Kohl's. The latest funding boost will allow Glo to expand operations and create more jobs, primarily in graphic design and animation, media, supply chain and engineering.

Last year, Glo moved its operations into the historic Rex Theater in Starkville, Mississippi, where it is based. The building that had stood vacant for decades is once again a vibrant and bustling landmark in the downtown area following a $1.4 million renovation.

"We're fortunate to be part of a community that champions and invests in its new businesses," said Hagan Walker, Glo's co-founder and CEO. "Now we have the capital to expand our creative team, develop some cool projects and launch more innovative products. With this momentum, who knows where we'll be in a year."

About Glo

Based in Starkville, Miss., Glo designs and manufactures products that spark imagination by intersecting light, liquid and learning. Since inception in 2015, the company has sold more than 4 million products to customers in nearly 40 countries. Learn more about Glo Pals at glopals.com; Follow the fun on social media @glopals.

PRESS CONTACT

Hagan Walker

662-889-9051

https://www.glocubes.com/corporate

SOURCE Glo
DUBLIN, April 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Global Biosensors Market (2022-2027) by Type, Product, Application, Geography, Competitive Analysis, and the Impact of Covid-19 with Ansoff Analysis" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The Global Biosensors Market is estimated to be USD 28.12 Bn in 2022 and is expected to reach USD 49.76 Bn by 2027, growing at a CAGR of 12.09%.



Market Dynamics

Market dynamics are forces that impact the prices and behaviors of the Global Biosensors Market stakeholders. These forces create pricing signals which result from the changes in the supply and demand curves for a given product or service. Forces of Market Dynamics may be related to macro-economic and micro-economic factors. There are dynamic market forces other than price, demand, and supply. Human emotions can also drive decisions, influence the market, and create price signals.



As the market dynamics impact the supply and demand curves, decision-makers aim to determine the best way to use various financial tools to stem various strategies for speeding the growth and reducing the risks.



Market Segmentation

The Global Biosensors Market is segmented based on Type, Product, Application, and Geography.

By Type, the market is classified into Electrochemical Biosensors, Nano Mechanical Biosensors, Optical Biosensors, Thermal Biosensors, and Piezoelectric Biosensors.

By Product, the market is classified into Wearable Biosensors and Non-Wearable Biosensors.

By Application, the market is classified into Biodefense, Environmental Monitoring, Food & Beverages, Home Diagnostics, Point of Care Testing, Research Labs, and Environmental Monitoring.

By Geography, the market is classified into Americas, Europe , Middle-East & Africa , and Asia-Pacific .

Company Profiles

The report provides a detailed analysis of the competitors in the market. It covers the financial performance analysis for the publicly listed companies in the market. The report also offers detailed information on the companies' recent development and competitive scenario. Some of the companies covered in this report are Abbott Laboratories, Bayer AG, Bio-Rad Laboratories, Biosensors International Group, Cranfield Biotechnology Centre, Cytiva, DexCom, Inc, Dupont Biosensor Materials, EG & IC Sensors Inc., Ercon, Inc., General Electric, etc.



Countries Studied

America ( Argentina , Brazil , Canada , Chile , Colombia , Mexico , Peru , United States , Rest of the Americas)

, , , , , , , , Rest of the Americas) Europe ( Austria , Belgium , Denmark , Finland , France , Germany , Italy , Netherlands , Norway , Poland , Russia , Spain , Sweden , Switzerland , United Kingdom , Rest of Europe )

( , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , Rest of ) Middle-East and Africa ( Egypt , Israel , Qatar , Saudi Arabia , South Africa , United Arab Emirates , Rest of MEA)

and ( , , , , , , Rest of MEA) Asia-Pacific ( Australia , Bangladesh , China , India , Indonesia , Japan , Malaysia , Philippines , Singapore , South Korea , Sri Lanka , Thailand , Taiwan , Rest of Asia-Pacific )

Competitive Quadrant

The report includes a Competitive Quadrant a proprietary tool to analyze and evaluate the position of companies based on their Industry Position score and Market Performance score. The tool uses various factors for categorizing the players into four categories. Some of these factors considered for analysis are financial performance over the last 3 years, growth strategies, innovation score, new product launches, investments, growth in market share, etc.



Why buy this report?

The report offers a comprehensive evaluation of the Global Biosensors Market. The report includes in-depth qualitative analysis, verifiable data from authentic sources, and projections about market size. The projections are calculated using proven research methodologies.

The report has been compiled through extensive primary and secondary research. The primary research is done through interviews, surveys, and observation of renowned personnel in the industry.

The report includes an in-depth market analysis using Porter's 5 forces model and the Ansoff Matrix. In addition, the impact of Covid-19 on the market is also featured in the report.

The report also includes the regulatory scenario in the industry, which will help you make a well-informed decision. The report discusses major regulatory bodies and major rules and regulations imposed on this sector across various geographies.

The report also contains the competitive analysis using Positioning Quadrants, the analyst's Proprietary competitive positioning tool.

Key Topics Covered:



1 Report Description



2 Research Methodology



3 Executive Summary



4 Market Dynamics

4.1 Drivers

4.1.1 Technological Advancements and Increasing Application of Biosensors

4.1.2 The Emergence of Nanotechnology in BioSensors

4.1.3 Rising Geriatric Population

4.2 Restraints

4.2.1 Technical Issues and High Cost

4.3 Opportunities

4.3.1 High Growth Opportunity in the Wearable Device

4.3.2 Surge in R&D for Biotechnology

4.4 Challenges

4.4.1 Time Consumption in Government Regulation and Approval Cycles



5 Market Analysis

5.1 Regulatory Scenario

5.2 Porter's Five Forces Analysis

5.3 Impact of COVID-19

5.4 Ansoff Matrix Analysis



6 Global Biosensors Market, By Type

6.1 Introduction

6.2 Electrochemical Biosensors

6.2.1 Amperometric Sensors

6.2.2 Potentiometric Sensors

6.2.3 Conductometric Sensors

6.3 Nano Mechanical Biosensors

6.4 Optical Biosensors

6.4.1 Colorimetric Biosensors

6.4.2 Fluorescence Biosensors

6.4.3 Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR)

6.5 Thermal Biosensors

6.6 Pie



7 Global Biosensors Market, By By Product

7.1 Introduction

7.2 Wearable Biosensors

7.3 1 Wristwear

7.4 2 Eyewear

7.5 3 Footwear

7.6 4 Bodywear

7.7 5 Neckwear

7.8 Non-Wearable Biosensors



8 Global Biosensors Market, By Application

8.1 Introduction

8.2 Biodefense

8.3 Environmental Monitoring

8.4 Food & Beverages

8.5 Home Diagnostics

8.5.1 Cholesterol Testing Kit

8.5.2 Glucose Monitoring Kit

8.5.3 Pregnancy Testing Kit

8.6 Point of Care Testing

8.7 Blood Gas & Electrolyte Detection

8.7.1 Cardiac Marker

8.7.2 Cholesterol Testing

8.7.3 Coagulation



9 Americas' Biosensors Market

9.1 Introduction

9.2 Argentina

9.3 Brazil

9.4 Canada

9.5 Chile

9.6 Colombia

9.7 Mexico

9.8 Peru

9.9 United States

9.10 Rest of Americas



10 Europe's Biosensors Market

10.1 Introduction

10.2 Austria

10.3 Belgium

10.4 Denmark

10.5 Finland

10.6 France

10.7 Germany

10.8 Italy

10.9 Netherlands

10.10 Norway

10.11 Poland

10.12 Russia

10.13 Spain

10.14 Sweden

10.15 Switzerland

10.16 United Kingdom

10.17 Rest of Europe



11 Middle East and Africa's Biosensors Market

11.1 Introduction

11.2 Egypt

11.3 Israel

11.4 Qatar

11.5 Saudi Arabia

11.6 South Africa

11.7 United Arab Emirates

11.8 Rest of MEA



12 APAC's Biosensors Market

12.1 Introduction

12.2 Australia

12.3 Bangladesh

12.4 China

12.5 India

12.6 Indonesia

12.7 Japan

12.8 Malaysia

12.9 Philippines

12.10 Singapore

12.11 South Korea

12.12 Sri Lanka

12.13 Thailand

12.14 Taiwan

12.15 Rest of Asia-Pacific



13 Competitive Landscape

13.1 Competitive Quadrant

13.2 Market Share Analysis

13.3 Strategic Initiatives

13.3.1 M&A and Investments

13.3.2 Partnerships and Collaborations

13.3.3 Product Developments and Improvements



14 Company Profiles

14.1 Abbott Laboratories

14.2 Bayer AG

14.3 Bio-Rad Laboratories

14.4 Biosensors International Group

14.5 Cranfield Biotechnology Centre

14.6 Cytiva

14.7 DexCom, Inc

14.8 Dupont Biosensor Materials

14.9 EG & IC Sensors Inc.

14.10 Ercon, Inc.

14.11 General Electric

14.12 Innovative Biosensors Inc.

14.13 Johnson & Johnson Inc.

14.14 LifeScan, Inc

14.15 Masimo Corporation

14.16 Medtronic plc

14.17 Nova Biomedical

14.18 PHC Holdings Co., Ltd. (Ascensia Diabetes Care Holdings Ag)

14.19 Pinnacle Technologies Inc.

14.20 Roche Holding AG

14.21 Siemens AG

14.22 Strategic Diagnostics Inc.

14.23 Sysmex Corporation

14.24 Universal Biosensors



15 Appendix

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/vjip56?

Media Contact:

Research and Markets

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

[email protected]



For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470

For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630

For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900



U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907

Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716

SOURCE Research and Markets
DUBLIN, April 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Dehumidifier Market: Global Industry Trends, Share, Size, Growth, Opportunity and Forecast 2022-2027" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The global dehumidifier market reached a value of US$ 3.83 Billion in 2021. Looking forward, the publisher expects the market to reach a value of US$ 5.65 Billion by 2027 exhibiting a CAGR of 6.3% during 2022-2027. Keeping in mind the uncertainties of COVID-19, we are continuously tracking and evaluating the direct as well as the indirect influence of the pandemic on different end use sectors. These insights are included in the report as a major market contributor.

A dehumidifier is an electrical appliance that removes moisture from the air by condensing it into liquid water. It reduces humidity levels while preventing the growth of allergens, such as dust mites, mold, and mildew. It also keeps bread and cereal fresh without getting stale for a long time. Besides this, it prevents computer equipment, electronics, and tools from corrosion and helps lower energy costs by enabling the air conditioner (AC) to run more efficiently. As a result, it finds extensive applications in electronics and semiconductors, agriculture, pharmaceutical, and food and beverage (F&B) industries across the globe.



Dehumidifier Market Trends:

The increasing utilization of dehumidifiers in households to control moisture and prevent the growth of bacteria and mold represents one of the key factors driving the market. Moreover, there is a rise in the demand for dehumidifiers in industrial sectors to reduce moisture. This, along with rapid industrialization and the escalating demand for energy-efficient products across the globe, is bolstering the growth of the market. In addition, there is an increase in the demand for advanced portable dehumidifiers with automatic temperature and humidity sensing capabilities.

This, coupled with the rising need to quickly dry plasters and slabs and maintain humidity levels in real-estate hardware stores, is positively influencing the market. Besides this, stringent energy-efficient standards implemented by governments of numerous countries are catalyzing the demand for energy-efficient dehumidifiers. Additionally, the development of cold storage, warehousing, and pharmaceutical manufacturing units worldwide is offering lucrative growth opportunities to the end-users. Furthermore, key market players are extensively investing in research and development (R&D) activities to enhance the overall product quality, which is projected to increase their overall sales.

Competitive Landscape:

The competitive landscape of the industry has also been examined along with the profiles of the key players being AB Electrolux, Condair Group AG, Danby, DeLonghi Appliances S.r.l, General Filters Inc., Hitachi Ltd., Honeywell International Inc., Midea Group, Panasonic Corporation, Research Products Corporation, TCL Technology and Therma-Stor LLC.



Key Questions Answered in This Report:

How has the global dehumidifier market performed so far and how will it perform in the coming years?

What has been the impact of COVID-19 on the global dehumidifier market?

What are the key regional markets?

What is the breakup of the market based on the product?

What is the breakup of the market based on the technology?

What is the breakup of the market based on the distribution channel?

What is the breakup of the market based on the end use?

What are the various stages in the value chain of the industry?

What are the key driving factors and challenges in the industry?

What is the structure of the global dehumidifier market and who are the key players?

What is the degree of competition in the industry?

Key Topics Covered:



1 Preface



2 Scope and Methodology

3 Executive Summary



4 Introduction

4.1 Overview

4.2 Key Industry Trends



5 Global Dehumidifier Market

5.1 Market Overview

5.2 Market Performance

5.3 Impact of COVID-19

5.4 Market Forecast



6 Market Breakup by Product

6.1 Chemical Absorbent Dehumidifier

6.1.1 Market Trends

6.1.2 Market Forecast

6.2 Heat Pump Dehumidifier

6.2.1 Market Trends

6.2.2 Market Forecast

6.3 Ventilating Dehumidifier

6.3.1 Market Trends

6.3.2 Market Forecast



7 Market Breakup by Technology

7.1 Cold Condensation

7.1.1 Market Trends

7.1.2 Market Forecast

7.2 Sorption

7.2.1 Market Trends

7.2.2 Market Forecast

7.3 Warm Condensation

7.3.1 Market Trends

7.3.2 Market Forecast

7.4 Others

7.4.1 Market Trends

7.4.2 Market Forecast



8 Market Breakup by Distribution Channel

8.1 Offline

8.1.1 Market Trends

8.1.2 Market Forecast

8.2 Online

8.2.1 Market Trends

8.2.2 Market Forecast



9 Market Breakup by End Use

9.1 Residential

9.1.1 Market Trends

9.1.2 Market Forecast

9.2 Commercial

9.2.1 Market Trends

9.2.2 Market Forecast

9.3 Industrial

9.3.1 Market Trends

9.3.2 Market Forecast



10 Market Breakup by Region



11 SWOT Analysis



12 Value Chain Analysis



13 Porters Five Forces Analysis



14 Price Analysis



15 Competitive Landscape

15.1 Market Structure

15.2 Key Players

15.3 Profiles of Key Players

15.3.1 AB Electrolux

15.3.1.1 Company Overview

15.3.1.2 Product Portfolio

15.3.2 Condair Group AG

15.3.2.1 Company Overview

15.3.2.2 Product Portfolio

15.3.3 Danby

15.3.3.1 Company Overview

15.3.3.2 Product Portfolio

15.3.4 DeLonghi Appliances S.r.l

15.3.4.1 Company Overview

15.3.4.2 Product Portfolio

15.3.4.3 Financials

15.3.4.4 SWOT Analysis

15.3.5 General Filters Inc.

15.3.5.1 Company Overview

15.3.5.2 Product Portfolio

15.3.5.3 Financials

15.3.5.4 SWOT Analysis

15.3.6 Hitachi Ltd.

15.3.6.1 Company Overview

15.3.6.2 Product Portfolio

15.3.6.3 Financials

15.3.6.4 SWOT Analysis

15.3.7 Honeywell International Inc.

15.3.7.1 Company Overview

15.3.7.2 Product Portfolio

15.3.7.3 Financials

15.3.8 Midea Group

15.3.8.1 Company Overview

15.3.8.2 Product Portfolio

15.3.8.3 Financials

15.3.8.4 SWOT Analysis

15.3.9 Panasonic Corporation

15.3.9.1 Company Overview

15.3.9.2 Product Portfolio

15.3.10 Research Products Corporation

15.3.10.1 Company Overview

15.3.10.2 Product Portfolio

15.3.11 TCL Technology

15.3.11.1 Company Overview

15.3.11.2 Product Portfolio

15.3.11.3 Financials

15.3.11.4 SWOT Analysis

15.3.12 Therma-Stor LLC

15.3.12.1 Company Overview

15.3.12.2 Product Portfolio

15.3.12.3 Financials

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/98pamg

Media Contact:

Research and Markets

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

[email protected]

For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470

For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630

For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900

U.S. Fax: 646-607-1904

Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716

SOURCE Research and Markets
Users love Gravity's multi-company accounting software

DETROIT, April 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Gravity Software (Gravity), a business accounting software provider, has announced its position as a 'High Performer' on the G2 Crowd 2022 Spring Grid Report for Accounting Software. In addition to this recognition, Gravity has also been named again a G2 'High Performer in the Small Business Accounting Software category.

Gravity Software named to G2 Grid Reports Spring 2022

Gravity is a trusted provider in cloud-based accounting software and is perfect for multi-company businesses that have outgrown their entry-level and/or legacy accounting software. Because it's built on the Microsoft Power Platform, it integrates seamlessly with Office 365 and many of the applications you likely already use to run your business. Gravity is designed to simplify multi-entity accounting, making it easy to automate accounts payable, currency conversion, financial reporting, subscription billing, revenue recognition, and much more.

G2 is a peer-to-peer review site, leveraging client feedback to rank the best business software solutions. The Spring 2022 Grid Report is based on G2's unique algorithm, which calculates user satisfaction and market presence scores. The acknowledgement from G2 is based on product reviews from verified clients and data collected from online sources and social networks.

The key highlights of Gravity's customer feedback show:

96% of users rated Gravity 4 to 5 stars

users rated Gravity's ease of use 8.5 out of 10

users rated Gravity's quality of support 8.9 out of 10

users rated Gravity's ease of setup 9 out of 10

Sara Sulio, Accounting Manager at 360 Destination Group, reviewed Gravity in stating, "Our company has 9 different entities, and we transact interchangeably. Not having to do multiple journal entries within each set of books has saved us a lot of time and manual entry! I also do a lot of data imports. You can create an excel template and import transactions for each entity in ONE upload! Gravity has been a great program for us and customer support has also been very helpful and efficient!

The distinction from G2 adds to the momentum that Gravity has experienced this year. Gravity was also named as a top accounting solution provider in CFO Tech Outlook's July 2021 edition and earned a position as High Performer in the Summer 2021, Spring 2021, and Winter 2022 G2 Accounting Software Grid Reports.

"It is an honor to have earned a spot in the G2 quadrant and earned the High Performer and Users Love Us badges. This recognition solidifies our position in the market and competitive accounting landscape. We are also thrilled to receive such positive user feedback. We continuously place our clients first, learning from their needs to drive the future development of Gravity Software. We appreciate our clients and partners that have consistently placed their trust in Gravity," said John Silvani, President, Gravity Software. "

About Gravity Software

Gravity Software, LLC (Gravity) is a cloud-based accounting software for small to mid-market businesses looking to replace their entry-level or legacy application. Gravity has robust capabilities like bank book management, multi-entity accounting, multi-location inventory, purchasing automation and much more, but without the expensive cost of larger cloud ERP software. Written exclusively on the Microsoft Power Platform (aka Dynamics 365), Gravity can automate your accounting operations to ultimately drive better financial performance and increase efficiency for your business. Gravity Software  Better. Smarter. Accounting.



About G2

G2 is the largest and most trusted software marketplace, helping 5.5 million people every month make smarter software decisions based on authentic peer reviews. Thousands of companies partner with G2 to build their reputation, manage their software spend, and grow their business. To support its mission to become "the place for software," the company has raised $100M in funding from IVP, Accel Partners, LinkedIn, Emergence Capital, Pritzker Group, Chicago Ventures, Hyde Park Ventures, industry leaders and founders. Founded in Chicago, the company now operates globally with offices in San Francisco, London, Bangalore, and Singapore.

Gravity Software and the Gravity logo are trademarks of Gravity Software LLC. All other company and product names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.

Contact:

Valerie Silvani, VP of Sales & Marketing, Gravity Software

Email: [email protected]

Direct Line: (248) 385-3722

SOURCE Gravity Software
LOS ANGELES, April 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Californians for Homeownership, a nonprofit organization sponsored by the CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS (C.A.R.) that aims to address California's housing crisis through impact litigation, today announced that it has filed lawsuits against two Southern California cities under California's Public Records Act. The lawsuits seek records about local housing policy after the organization's requests for records were denied by the cities of South Pasadena and Irvine.

"Public transparency is critically important in all areas of public decision-making, but especially in the development of sound housing policy," said C.A.R. President Otto Catrina. "California is in the midst of a housing crisis of historic proportions, and it has never been more important that the public understand how their cities and counties are making decisions that impact access to housing for families at all income levels. These lawsuits will help ensure public access to this important information."

The lawsuit against South Pasadena relates to its development of its "housing element," a state-mandated plan for addressing housing needs within the city. Every housing element is required to identify sites where housing is likely to be developed over the next eight years. But South Pasadena has received widespread criticism for its draft list of sites, which includes sites unlikely to ever be redeveloped with housing.

Californians for Homeownership began investigating the development of the city's housing element in 2020 and sent the city several public records requests as part of that investigation. The city produced some responsive records, but withheld most of them, claiming that the public interest is best served by keeping the city's internal process for developing its housing element secret. These records are vitally important to allow residents, nonprofit organizations, and the state Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) to assess the city's sites list with the benefit of all the same information that the city has about the sites it has listed.

The organization is currently considering another lawsuit against the City of South Pasadena over its failure to adopt its housing element by the state-mandated deadline of October 2021.

The lawsuit against Irvine relates to the city's policies governing accessory dwelling units, or ADUs. ADUs, often called "in-law units" or "granny flats," are additional units usually built alongside single-family homes, within existing residential neighborhoods. Under state laws passed over the last few years, nearly every homeowner in California has the right to develop an ADU alongside their main home. Despite being broadly popular with homeowners, these ADU laws have faced opposition from some local government officials, including in Irvine.

The city originally planned to pass a local ordinance that would have limited ADUs in defiance of state law but backed down after Californians for Homeownership threatened litigation and HCD told the city that its proposed ordinance was invalid. Without a local ordinance, Irvine is required to apply permissive state law standards for ADUs.

"Instead, we learned that the city's staff had developed a secret internal memo that they were using to apply stricter, illegal standards to ADUs," said Matthew Gelfand, the in-house litigator for the nonprofit. In response to a public records request, the city released the memo itself, but withheld documents about its development and whether it was authorized by the city's policymakers.

Both cases involve records that were improperly withheld by cities under the deliberative process privilege, which applies in limited cases where a city can prove that the harms of disclosing a document outweigh the public interest in reviewing it. To withhold documents for this reason, cities must provide a detailed explanation of the harms that would come from disclosing them. "We gave both of these cities multiple opportunities to explain the basis for withholding these documents, but they refused," said Gelfand. "The truth is that the public has a very compelling interest in seeing these documents, and the cities have no valid reason to withhold them."

The lawsuits are Californians for Homeownership v. City of South Pasadena, Los Angeles County Superior Court Case No. 22STCP01161, and Californians for Homeownership v. City of Irvine, Orange County Superior Court Case No. 30-2022-01253030-CU-WM-CJC. Copies of the filings are available at caforhomes.org/pralawsuits.

Californians for Homeownership is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization sponsored by the CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS devoted to using legal tools to address California's housing crisis. For too long, California's cities have treated compliance with state and federal housing law as optional. The organization seeks to change that attitude by proactively enforcing the law, on behalf of the important public interest in having additional housing available to families at all income levels. Californians for Homeownership was established by the CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS (C.A.R.), and it receives financial support from C.A.R. and private donors. To make a tax-deductible charitable contribution today, visit caforhomes.org.

SOURCE CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS (C.A.R.)
The addition of the Santa Fe Hybrid will mark the beginning of Hyundai's electric vehicle production in the United States. The latest milestone for HMMA received the green light during a recent project agreement signing ceremony with Alabama Governor Kay Ivey at the state capitol and was announced by Jose Munoz, president and CEO, Hyundai Motor North America in New York City today. Recently announced production enhancements at HMMA including the start of production of Santa Fe Hybrid will include $300 million in investments and the creation of 200 additional jobs.

"Hyundai Motor Company is taking its first steps toward bringing electric vehicle production to the United States. We are excited to showcase our team members in producing electric vehicles here in Alabama," said Ernie Kim, president and CEO, Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama.

"Over the years, we have developed an enduring partnership with Hyundai, and it's been great to witness the profound economic impacts of the company's continued investments in Alabama," Governor Kay Ivey said. "Hyundai's new growth plans in Montgomery will help prepare the state's auto industry for the EV revolution while also aligning with our strategic initiatives such as Drive Electric Alabama. This is another major milestone for our friends at Hyundai."

HMMA will begin plant expansion projects ranging from additional warehouse space to enhanced assembly processes to support electric vehicle production. The Santa Fe Hybrid will begin production in October 2022.

The addition of the Santa Fe Hybrid will strengthen HMMA's position as a preferred employer in Montgomery and continue to increase high quality jobs at the plant and throughout its supplier base.

The Santa Fe Hybrid matches SUV versatility with MPG efficiency and is available now at all U.S. dealerships.

Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama

Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama, headquartered in Montgomery, Ala., is an independent manufacturing operation of Hyundai Motor Company, based in Seoul, Korea. HMMA currently produces the Hyundai Elantra, Santa Fe, Tucson and Santa Cruz, sport adventure vehicle. Hyundai cars and sport utility vehicles are distributed throughout the United States by Hyundai Motor America and are sold and serviced by more than 900 Hyundai dealerships across North America.

Hyundai Motor America

Hyundai Motor America focuses on 'Progress for Humanity' and smart mobility solutions. Hyundai offers U.S. consumers a technology-rich lineup of cars, SUVs and electrified vehicles. Our 820 dealers sold more than 738,000 vehicles in the U.S. in 2021, and nearly half were built at Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama. For more information, visit www.HyundaiNews.com.

Hyundai Motor America on Twitter | YouTube | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn

SOURCE Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama, LLC
NEW YORK, April 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Klein Law Firm announces that a class action complaint has been filed on behalf of shareholders of International Business Machines Corporation (NYSE: IBM) alleging that the Company violated federal securities laws.

Class Period: April 4, 2017 to October 20, 2021

Lead Plaintiff Deadline: June 6, 2022

No obligation or cost to you.

Learn more about your recoverable losses in IBM:

https://www.kleinstocklaw.com/pslra-1/international-business-machines-corporation-loss-submission-form?id=25802&from=4

International Business Machines Corporation NEWS - IBM NEWS

CLASS ACTION CASE DETAILS: The filed complaint alleges that International Business Machines Corporation made materially false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (i) Strategic Imperatives Revenue and growth, CAMSS and CAMSS Components' revenue and growth, and the Company's Segments' revenue and growth were artificially inflated as a result of the wrongful reclassification of revenues from non-strategic to strategic to make those revenues eligible for treatment as Strategic Imperatives Revenue; (ii) the Company's present success and positive future growth prospects concerning its Strategic Imperative business strategy were being fueled by the wrongful reclassification of revenues from non-strategic to strategic to make those revenues eligible for treatment as Strategic Imperative Revenue and, as a result (iii) the Company misled the market by portraying the Company's Strategic Imperative's financial performance and future prospects more favorable than they actually were as a result of the wrongful reclassification of revenues from non-strategic to strategic to make those revenues eligible for treatment as Strategic Imperatives.

WHAT THIS MEANS TO YOU AS A SHAREHOLDER: If you have suffered a loss in IBM you have until June 6, 2022 to petition the court for lead plaintiff status. Your ability to share in any recovery doesn't require that you serve as a lead plaintiff.

NO COST TO YOU: If you purchased IBM securities during the relevant period, you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out-of-pocket fees.

HOW TO PROTECT YOUR FINANCIAL INTERESTS: For additional information about the IBM lawsuit, please contact J. Klein, Esq. by telephone at 212-616-4899 or click this link: https://www.kleinstocklaw.com/pslra-1/international-business-machines-corporation-loss-submission-form?id=25802&from=4.

ABOUT KLEIN LAW FIRM

J. Klein, Esq. represents investors and participates in securities litigations involving financial fraud throughout the nation. The Klein Law Firm is a boutique litigation firm with experience in a wide range of areas including securities law, corporate finance and commercial litigation. Since 2011, our experienced attorneys have achieved superior results for our clients with a personalized focus. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.

CONTACT:

J. Klein, Esq.

Empire State Building

350 Fifth Avenue

59th Floor

New York, NY 10118

[email protected]

Telephone: (212) 616-4899

www.kleinstocklaw.com

SOURCE The Klein Law Firm
The Class of 2022, thirty-one law school graduates, is IJC's largest class yet, demonstrating the growing need for quality counsel in immigration law. The Class of 2022 Justice Fellows come to IJC with already-impressive backgrounds, including education in the nation's most well-regarded immigration law programs and years of cumulative experience as client advocates. Many of these Fellows speak multiple languages and come from the communities that they will serve as advocates.

The Class of 2022 Justice Fellows is IJC's largest yet, demonstrating the need for quality counsel in immigration law.

"This passionate incoming class of Justice Corps Fellows will make all the difference for the thousands of immigrants they will represent, providing much needed counsel of the highest quality," said William Zabel, the Chair of IJC's Board of Directors.

This year, IJC's Justice Fellowship program is expanding to several new geographies, including Chicago, Minneapolis, Philadelphia, and San Diego, and is infusing many more Fellows into areas where the need for quality immigration counsel is greatest. The Class of 2022 Fellows will be placed in 26 host organizations across 11 states.

The Fellows will serve for two years as staff attorneys at strategically selected immigrant legal services providers and community-based organizations across the country, providing legal assistance to low-income immigrants in complex immigration matters including deportation defense and affirmative applications for those fleeing persecution.

"We are delighted to welcome these immensely talented Justice Fellows who are launching their legal careers at such a critical time for immigrants' rights," said Jojo Annobil, IJC's Executive Director. "There's a tremendous need for quality counsel for immigrants, and these highly accomplished, passionate Fellows will help ensure that every immigrant, regardless of status, is treated with dignity and has access to justice."

About IJC

Conceived by the late Judge Robert A. Katzmann of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit and incubated by the Robin Hood Foundation in 2014, Immigrant Justice Corps (IJC) identifies promising lawyers and advocates passionate about immigration, places them with organizations where they can make the greatest difference and supports them with training and expert insights as they directly assist immigrants in need.

To date, 230 IJC Fellows have supported more than 80,400 low-income immigrants and their families with a success rate of 90% on cases completed.

SOURCE Immigrant Justice Corps
The round marks the largest Series B in European Proptech history.

New York -based Oak HC/FT, a venture and growth equity fund, led the round alongside Moore Specialty Credit and existing investors FinTech Collective and Talis Capital.

IMMO has raised over $2.5 billion in capital commitments from leading institutional investors, such as pension funds and insurance companies, to deploy into single-family rental housing in Europe .

Company uses technology to buy and manage single family homes at scale, professionalising the $50tn market for European residential investment.

LONDON, April 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- IMMO , the tech-driven residential investment platform revolutionising how people can sell, rent and invest in single-family rental (SFR) housing, has closed a $75 million Series B equity funding. The round was led by Oak HC/FT , a US based venture and growth equity fund investing in healthcare and fintech, alongside Moore Speciality Credit and existing investors FinTech Collective and Talis Capital . The company will use the capital to accelerate its expansion across Europe and purchase 10,000 homes backed by $2.5 billion in commitments from leading institutional investors.

IMMO uses a tech-enabled and data driven approach to building scalable residential exposure for ethically minded investors, offering an ecosystem solution from sourcing and acquisition to lettings and property management. IMMO's technology analyses over 6 billion in properties per month to identify investment opportunities. The IMMO team then physically inspects selected homes collecting over 300 data-points using the company's proprietary inspection app in order to make an offer. Post purchase, IMMO upcycles the properties into modernised, beautiful homes that are offered to residents via their "living-as-a-service" rental platform at affordable prices and 52% less carbon footprint than a full redevelopment.

"Now is the time to unlock and professionalise the European residential category. Residents deserve a better, more convenient, affordable and environmentally sensitive rental product. Responsibly minded institutions, on the other hand, need the scalable, low-risk investment exposure that single unit residential assets have to offer. We are delivering the future of residential investing through our platform, as well as what the future of living is going to be. Redefining what residents can expect from their homes is a great responsibility and at the same time an amazing opportunity," said Hans-Christian Zappel, CEO and Co-Founder of IMMO. "We're incredibly excited to partner with Oak HC/FT. Oak's experience in guiding companies that open new asset classes paired with their willingness to dive deep into our business to support on an operational level makes clear why they are one of the leading fintech growth investors in the world. We have an incredible set of investors behind us and are grateful for their support."

Having experienced 1,200% growth in the last 6 months, IMMO has now partnered with some of the largest global investment managers to invest into SFR across many European markets. In addition to accelerating the company's geographical expansion within its offices in London, Hamburg, Cologne, Berlin, Madrid, and Delhi, this funding will fuel the growth of IMMO's technology and operations through investment in talent acquisition in all offices globally.

"IMMO is a growth stage company that has become synonymous with SFR investments in Europe: one of the most in-demand, supply-deficient asset classes. IMMO is leading the unlocking of this new asset class, and is setting the standard for data-driven portfolio aggregation in Europe," said Dan Petrozzo, Partner at Oak HC/FT. "We're always seeking to partner with disruptive companies that fill white spaces and positively impact the communities that they serve, and IMMO is a perfect fit. We're excited to support the company as it expands into new markets and builds an iconic brand in residential living."

Notes to Editors:

About IMMO

IMMO is Europe's first technology-led residential real estate investment platform designed to create portfolios of quality from existing single-family rental (SFR) assets at scale and at speed.

The company has built a unique capability in the form of an end-to-end service solution, providing investor clients with everything from sourcing, acquisition and portfolio management through to lettings and property management, in order to drive performance and maximise returns.

Powered by technology, managed by experts, the platform sources, underwrites and structures SFR assets into large portfolios for investors, resulting in stabilised rental income, capital appreciation and best-in-class property management. IMMO is active across 10 major German markets (Hamburg, Cologne, Dusseldorf, Bonn, Hanover etc.) as well as Spain markets (Madrid), the UK (London), and has a growing team in India.

IMMO has been awarded "Tech Pioneer" by the World Economic Forum and has been titled "Real estate asset manager of the future" by Goldman Sachs. The company was cofounded in 2017 by CEO Hans-Christian Zappel who has been acknowledged on the Forbes 30 under 30 list, together with its CIO Samantha Kempe (Blackstone, PwC), and COO Avinav Nigam (Walt Disney, Procter & Gamble). IMMO's team is 120 people strong with offices in the UK, Spain, Germany and India.

About Oak HC/FT

Oak HC/FT is a venture and growth equity firm investing in companies driving transformation in healthcare and fintech, two uniquely complementary and high-growth sectors. With deep domain expertise and strategic resources, Oak HC/FT partners with leading entrepreneurs at every stage, from seed to growth, to build businesses that make a measurable, lasting impact on these industries. Founded in 2014, the firm has $3.3 billion in assets under management and is headquartered in Greenwich, CT, with investors in San Francisco and Boston. Follow Oak HC/FT on Twitter and LinkedIn and learn more at oakhcft.com .

About Talis Capital

Founded in 2009, Talis is a London-based venture capital firm, backing visionary founders at seed and Series A in the US and Europe. Investing on behalf of an interdisciplinary community of entrepreneurs who've built billion-dollar businesses, Talis is uniquely placed to add value to the whole entrepreneurial journey, supporting founders who see the future differently through every stage of their company lifecycles. Darktrace (LSE), Onfido, Ynsect, Garten, Luminance, iwoca, Plum Guide and Pirate.com are among Talis' portfolio of 55+ companies. For more information, see www.taliscapital.com .

About FinTech Collective

FinTech Collective (www.fintech.io) is an SEC registered investment adviser and global venture capital firm focused on technology startups with the potential to reimagine financial services. Founded in 2012, the firm has deep experience investing across capital markets, wealth management, banking, lending, payments, insurance, and digital assets. The managing partners of FinTech Collective met in their mid 20's and helped build, scale, and sell four fintech businesses generating over $1.5 billion of shareholder value.

Backed by some of the world's leading institutional investors, FinTech Collective has already invested in 60+ portfolio companies across traditional fintech and DeFi. Notable investments include Anyfin (Stockholm), Axoni (NYC), Centrifuge (Berlin), Flutterwave (Lagos), IMMO Capital (London), Minu (Mexico City), MoneyLion (NYC), NYDIG (NYC), Ocrolus (NYC), Quovo (NYC, acquired by Plaid), Rainbow Wallet (NYC), UMA (Distributed), Vestwell (NYC), and Willa (Stockholm / LA).

FinTech Collective publishes a weekly newsletter, with over 16,000 subscribers across 420+ issues since 2014. Sign up here: https://www.fintech.io/newsletter

For more information please contact:

Europe: Ellie Crocker, Talis Capital: [email protected], +44799 463008

US: Amalia Lytle, Prosek Partners: [email protected]

SOURCE IMMO
The leading online grocer on a mission to eliminate food waste makes three C-suite hires to round out executive team

SAN FRANCISCO, April 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Imperfect Foods , the online grocer at the forefront of eliminating food waste and building a better food system, announces the hiring of Corey Farrell as Chief Operating Officer, Kelly Nigh as Chief Merchandising Officer, and Hetu Patel as Chief Financial Officer, all three ex-Amazon leaders. Their appointments further establish the certified B Corporation's growth and trajectory as a leader in the sustainable grocery movement.

Farrell comes to Imperfect Foods after fifteen years at Amazon, where he served in several roles, first supporting business units as a finance leader and more recently, running multi-billion dollar businesses within the consumables and grocery segment. Farrell brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in E-commerce Merchandising, Supply Chain, and Customer Care.

Another Amazon alum, Nigh joins Imperfect Foods after eleven years at the company, where she led various Merchandising Product, Sourcing, and Technology teams across its Retail and Operations organizations. Nigh brings with her a tremendous amount of experience effectively scaling rapidly growing businesses and building best-in-class customer experiences. As Chief Merchandising Officer, she will focus on partnering with Imperfect Foods' network of suppliers to build an assortment of products with a focus on reducing food waste, including a private label line.

Patel officially joins Imperfect Foods as CFO on April 18, bringing more than a decade of experience at Amazon to his new role, having previously held positions including Finance Director for Amazon Advertising and for its Prime membership. Hetu was also integral in managing one of Amazon's Private Brands divisions. With an extensive background in e-commerce and subscription services, Patel will play a significant role in the next phase of Imperfect Foods' growth.

"Hetu, Corey, and Kelly each have exceptional backgrounds in rapidly scaling e-commerce businesses," said Dan Park, Imperfect Foods CEO. "Combined, that expertise will allow us to grow the business, while simultaneously improving the customer experience and deepening our commitment to reducing food waste. By bringing in new best-in-class talent, we're able to continue on our mission in a meaningful and reinvigorated way, further optimizing our internal operations and optimizing the customer experience."

Founded in 2015 with the mission of eliminating the 35% of food that ends up wasted in the U.S. each year and building a better food system, Imperfect Foods began by sourcing ugly and surplus produce that didn't meet conventional grocery store standards, delivering it directly to customers' doors. Since its founding, Imperfect Foods has saved over 150 million pounds of food from lesser outcomes and expanded its offerings into a suite of grocery products.

About Imperfect Foods

Founded in 2015, Imperfect Foods is the leading online grocer at the forefront of eliminating food waste and building a better food system. A Certified B Corporation (B Corp), Imperfect Foods works directly with farmers and producers to rescue, redistribute, and develop goods across multiple grocery categories, including its own private label offerings. To date, Imperfect Foods has rescued more than 150 million pounds of food from lesser outcomes. Customers enjoy a fully customizable service that is more affordable and more environmentally friendly, than the average trip to the grocery store. To learn more, visit imperfectfoods.com .

To download a copy of Imperfect Foods' trend report diving deeper into the future of online grocery as it relates to sustainability, please click here .

. To learn more about Imperfect Foods and its commitment to sustainability, please click here .

SOURCE Imperfect Foods
Date: April 22-23, 2022

Location: Scottsdale, Arizona

Link: https://cem.ca/conference/scottsdale-capital-event-2022/

Greg Watkin, Founder and Chairman, and Kyle Hall, CEO of INEO, will discuss an overview of INEO's progress, including the development of the INEO Welcoming Network and the Company's global partnership with Prosegur. The conference introduces growth-stage companies to active top-level capital finance individuals through a day of scheduled 1-on-1 meetings and networking activities.

Retail Asset Protection Conference 2022

Date: April 25-27, 2022

Location: Orlando, Florida

Link: https://www.rila.org/conferences/retail-asset-protection-conference

Booth: Florida Exhibition Halls A-F  Booth 1807 (Prosegur Security)

Kyle Hall, CEO of INEO, will be attending the conference and INEO will be showcased in the Prosegur Security booth where a demo of the Welcoming System will be on display. INEO is quickly becoming recognized as a leading innovator in the retail technology sector. Hosted by the Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA), the Retail Asset Protection Conference features retailer-led breakouts and round tables, inspiring Keynotes and general sessions.

INEO Tech Corp.

Per: "Kyle Hall"

Kyle Hall, Chief Executive Officer and Director

About INEO Tech Corp.

INEO Tech Corp., through its wholly owned subsidiary, INEO Solutions Inc., operates the INEO Media Network, a digital advertising and analytics solution for retailers. INEO's patented technology integrates and monetizes digital screens with theft detection sensor gates at the entrance of retail stores. The Company's cloud-based platform uses IoT (Internet of Things) and AI (Artificial Intelligence) technology to deliver customized digital advertising to each retail location based on the demographic mix, such as age and gender, of customer traffic at each location. The Company offers its technology through a SaaS-based solution to retailers. INEO is headquartered in Surrey, Canada and publicly traded on the TSX-Venture Exchange under the symbol "INEO" and on the OTCQB-Venture Market under the symbol "INEOF".

For more information please visit: www.ineosolutionsinc.com.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

SOURCE INEO Tech Corp.
"More and more schools are reengaging their study abroad and domestic travel programs. Students are quite eager to get back out in the world again  but as concerns loom over the ongoing pandemic and growing instability in Europe, travel protection is a top priority," says InsureMyTrip Senior Vice President Suzanne Morrow.

Summary:

While academic travelers remained closer to home throughout the pandemic, international travel now comprises roughly 60% of trips.

Greece , Ecuador , Ireland , Italy , Iceland , and Czech Republic are top international destinations.

, , , , , and are top international destinations. Seventy-seven percent (77%) of planholders opt to add Cancel for Any Reason (CFAR) coverage. Interruption for Any Reason (IFAR) coverage is also in high demand as participants seek maximum protection.

Helping to prevent the financial loss of a canceled trip due to pandemic-related concerns is the top motivating factor for buying travel insurance.

Travel Insurance Solution

The Academic Explorer travel protection program provides trip cancellation and interruption with additional travel insurance benefits including baggage loss, baggage delay, and travel delay. Travel insurance in the program is underwritten by United States Fire Insurance Company.

The innovative program, designed to help safeguard the financial investment that is inherent in international and domestic trips, offers flexibility for travel during uncertain times. Coverage is available for participating students, faculty, and chaperones. Academic Explorer plans are used to cover a variety of educational travel, including study abroad and class trips

Some peril highlights include U.S. Department of State Travel Advisories and civil disorder. Tuition can be included as an insurable trip cost in these plans.

What is Cancel for Any Reason (CFAR) coverage?

Cancel for Any Reason (CFAR) is an optional coverage geared for travelers who may want to back out of a trip for any reason, such as fear of international conflicts or COVID-19. This optional coverage can be added to Academic Explorer travel protection plans for an additional cost.

How CFAR coverage works:

Reimburses up to 75% of insured non-refundable trip cost for those who need to cancel a trip for a reason not otherwise covered by their plan.

Traveler must cancel the trip no later than 2 days prior to the scheduled departure date.

What is Interruption for Any Reason (IFAR) coverage?

Interruption for Any Reason (IFAR) is an optional coverage that is best suited for travelers who may decide to cut an academic trip short  for any reason. This optional coverage can be added to Academic Explorer travel protection plans for an additional cost.

How IFAR coverage works:

Reimburses up to 75% of the insured non-refundable trip cost for those who must cut a trip short for a reason not otherwise covered by their plan.

Traveler must interrupt the trip at least 48 hours after the scheduled departure date.

Benefits are subject to eligibility requirements and may vary by state. See plan document for complete details.

How to Get Started

Trip organizers interested in offering this innovative protection program can visit the following webpage for more information. Schools, colleges, insurance brokers, and educational travel providers are eligible.

https://www.insuremytrip.com/about/education-program/

Academic Explorer Contact:

Crystal McKay

InsureMyTrip

[email protected]

InsureMyTrip

It's simple. InsureMyTrip finds you the right travel insurance plan, every time. InsureMyTrip is the authority on travel insurance. We are committed to empowering travelers to make the best possible insurance decisions by leveraging our technology, data intelligence, and expertise. InsureMyTrip is rated A+ by the Better Business Bureau.

Crum & Forster

Crum & Forster, rated A (Excellent) by A.M. Best (2021), is a national commercial property and casualty group of insurance companies wholly owned by Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited. Since 2000, Crum & Forster's Accident & Health division has offered a diverse portfolio of specialty insurance and reinsurance products nationwide. Plans include travel insurance underwritten by the United States Fire Insurance Company. The C&F logo, C&F and Crum & Forster are registered trademarks of United States Fire Insurance Company. Follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn.

The plan contains additional perils. Additional terms apply to all perils described above. The perils for Trip Cancellation are not identical to the perils for Trip Interruption.

Additional terms apply to Cancel for Any Reason and Interrupt for Any Reason coverages.

Insurance coverages are subject to the terms, limitations, and exclusions in the plans, including an exclusion for pre-existing conditions.

SOURCE InsureMyTrip
PITTSBURGH, April 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- "A friend of mine races motorcycles and he constantly breaks the transmissions," said the inventor from Naples, Fla. "I thought that there must be a way for a motorcycle to run without a transmission, so I came up with this idea."

He created a prototype for ZERO TOLERANCE that fulfills the need for a lightweight bicycle-like motorcycle for riding enthusiasts. This bike would be low-maintenance and affordable. The design would allow individuals to save on fuel and reduce harmful exhaust emissions. Additionally, this bike prevents the breaking and replacing of transmissions while providing a fun form of transportation. Additionally, this is designed to be used for both on and off road use.

The original design was submitted to the Naples sales office of InventHelp. It is currently available for licensing or sale to manufacturers or marketers. For more information, write Dept. 20-NPL-377, InventHelp, 217 Ninth Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15222, or call (412) 288-1300 ext. 1368. Learn more about InventHelp's Invention Submission Services at http://www.InventHelp.com.

SOURCE InventHelp
BEIJING, April 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Jianpu Technology Inc. ("Jianpu," or the "Company") (NYSE: JT), a leading independent open platform for discovery and recommendation of financial products in China, today announced its unaudited financial results for the six months and fiscal year ended December 31, 2021.

Second six months 2021 Operational and Financial Highlights:

The credit card volume and number of domestic loan applications for recommendation services respectively increased by 75.0% to approximately 2.1 million and 118.4% to approximately 8.3 million in the second six months of 2021. As a result, total revenues of recommendation services for the second six months of 2021 resumed growth, increasing by 71.4% to RMB320.3 million ( US$50.3 million ) from RMB186.9 million in the same period of 2020.

( ) from in the same period of 2020. Revenues from big data and system-based risk management services decreased by 10.4% to RMB67.3 million ( US$10.6 million ) in the second six months of 2021 from RMB75.1 million in the same period of 2020. The number of paying customers decreased by 27.5% in the second six months of 2021, compared with the same period of 2020.

( ) in the second six months of 2021 from in the same period of 2020. The number of paying customers decreased by 27.5% in the second six months of 2021, compared with the same period of 2020. Revenues from advertising and marketing services and other services increased by 240.6% to RMB73.9 million ( US$11.6 million ) in the second six months of 2021 from RMB21.7 million in the same period of 2020. The increase was mainly attributable to the growth of insurance brokerage services and initiatives of other new businesses.

( ) in the second six months of 2021 from in the same period of 2020. The increase was mainly attributable to the growth of insurance brokerage services and initiatives of other new businesses. Net loss was RMB108.3 million ( US$17.0 million ) in the second six months of 2021, compared with RMB186.9 million in the second six months of 2020. Net loss margin was 23.5% in the second six months of 2021, compared with 65.9% in the same period of 2020.

( ) in the second six months of 2021, compared with in the second six months of 2020. Net loss margin was 23.5% in the second six months of 2021, compared with 65.9% in the same period of 2020. Non-GAAP adjusted net loss[1] was RMB96.7 million ( US$15.2 million ) in the second six months of 2021, compared with Non-GAAP adjusted net loss of RMB215.1 million in the second six months of 2020. Non-GAAP adjusted net loss margin[1] was 21.0 % in the second six months of 2021, compared with 75.8% in the same period of 2020.

Fiscal year 2021 Operational and Financial Highlights:

The credit card volume and number of domestic loan applications for recommendation services respectively increased by 32.1% to approximately 3.7 million and 94.3% to approximately 13.6 million in the fiscal year of 2021. As a result, total revenues of recommendation services for the fiscal year of 2021 resumed growth, increasing by 42.2% to RMB575.2 million ( US$90.3 million ) from RMB404.4 million in the prior year.

( ) from in the prior year. Revenues from big data and system-based risk management services decreased by 9.6% to RMB130.4 million ( US$20.5 million ) in the fiscal year of 2021 from RMB144.2 million in the prior year. The number of paying customers decreased by 12.2% in the fiscal year of 2021, compared with the prior year.

( ) in the fiscal year of 2021 from in the prior year. The number of paying customers decreased by 12.2% in the fiscal year of 2021, compared with the prior year. Revenues from advertising and marketing services and other services increased by 167.2% to RMB99.4 million ( US$15.6 million ) in the fiscal year of 2021 from RMB37.2 million in the prior year. The increase was mainly attributable to the growth of insurance brokerage services and initiatives of other new businesses.

( ) in the fiscal year of 2021 from in the prior year. The increase was mainly attributable to the growth of insurance brokerage services and initiatives of other new businesses. Net loss was RMB204.1 million ( US$32.0 million ) in the fiscal year of 2021, compared with RMB312.1 million in the prior year. Net loss margin was 25.4% in the fiscal year of 2021, compared with 53.3% in the prior year.

( ) in the fiscal year of 2021, compared with in the prior year. Net loss margin was 25.4% in the fiscal year of 2021, compared with 53.3% in the prior year. Non-GAAP adjusted net loss[1] was RMB186.7 million ( US$29.3 million ) in the fiscal year of 2021, compared with Non-GAAP adjusted net loss of RMB333.4 million in the prior year. Non-GAAP adjusted net loss margin[1] was 23.2% in the fiscal year of 2021, compared with 56.9% in the prior year.

Mr. David Ye, Co-founder, Chairman, and Chief Executive Officer of Jianpu, commented, "We are pleased to announce that we successfully turned our business around in 2021, with total revenue up 37.4% year-on-year. We managed this via a more diversified and balanced revenue structure. By leveraging our integrated marketing capabilities, we have improved our business efficiency, whilst also expanding our business into other Non-financial categories. We continued to expand our efforts in empowering financial institutions' digital transformation, and now cooperate with 46 banks and have helped the issuance of over 23 million credit cards cumulatively. There were significant client wins for our big data and system-based risk management services, and our cost optimization initiatives drove margin improvements resulting in a narrowing of Non-GAAP adjusted net loss by 44%.

"These results were primarily driven by our experience navigating through turbulence, our readiness to make changes and adapt to a dynamic environment, and the effective execution of strategies and solid technological capabilities. As part of our vision of "Becoming everyone's financial partner", we are continuously innovating our technologies and exploring new growth drivers as we push forth our mission of empowering users and enabling the digital transformation of financial service providers to better serve them."

Mr. Oscar Chen, Chief Financial Officer of Jianpu, said, "Our second-half and full year results reflect our continuous efforts in business development and optimization, as we continue to capitalize on the ongoing digitization of the financial industry. Despite the tightening macro environment and ongoing pandemic, our business made a turnaround with second-half total revenue up 62.7% year-on-year to RMB461.5 million and fiscal year 2021 revenue up 37.4% to RMB805.0 million. As we continue to make solid progress on our business optimization strategy, our Non-GAAP adjusted net loss continued to narrow. We are also pursuing new opportunities to further diversify our business through leveraging our existing foundation and technologies. The application of omnichannel marketing solutions towards other adjacent categories have delivered strong revenue growth. We believe the scalability and resilience of our business model, as well as our team's capability to navigate through and adapt to the dynamic environment, will ultimately drive long-term value to our shareholders."

Second six months 2021 Financial Results

Total revenues for the second six months of 2021 increased by 62.7% to RMB461.5 million (US$72.4 million) from RMB283.6 million in the same period of 2020.

Total revenues from recommendation services increased by 71.4% to RMB320.3 million (US$50.3 million) in the second six months of 2021 from RMB186.9 million in the same period of 2020.

Revenues from recommendation services for credit cards increased by 84.2% to RMB228.0 million (US$35.8 million) in the second six months of 2021 from RMB123.8 million in the same period of 2020. Credit card volume in the second six months of 2021 and 2020 were approximately 2.1 million and 1.2 million, respectively. The average fee per credit card increased to RMB109.9 (US$17.3) in the second six months of 2021 from RMB106.1 in the same period of 2020.

Revenues from recommendation services for loans increased by 46.4% to RMB92.4 million (US$14.5 million) in the second six months of 2021 from RMB63.1 million in the same period of 2020, primarily due to the increase in number of loan applications on our platform. The number of domestic loan applications on the Company's platform was approximately 8.3 million in the second six months of 2021, representing an increase of approximately 118.4% from the same period of 2020. The average fee per domestic loan application decreased to RMB10.5 (US$1.6) in the second six months of 2021 from RMB12.7 in the same period of 2020. The recommendation revenue of loans generated from overseas markets accounted for 5.4% of total loan recommendation revenues in the second six months of 2021, less contribution than the same period of 2020. The global COVID-19 pandemic and the associated inability to travel globally has negatively impacted our overseas business.

Revenues from big data and system-based risk management services decreased by 10.4% to RMB67.3 million (US$10.6 million) in the second six months of 2021 from RMB75.1 million in the same period of 2020, primarily due to the decrease of the number of paying customers in the second six months of 2021.

Revenues from advertising and marketing services and other services increased by 240.6% to RMB73.9 million (US$11.6 million) in the second six months of 2021 from RMB21.7 million in the same period of 2020, primarily due to the growth of insurance brokerage services and initiatives of other new businesses.

Cost of promotion and acquisition[3] increased by 72.5% to RMB334.9 million (US$52.5 million) in the second six months of 2021 from RMB194.2 million in the same period of 2020. The increase was in line with the growth of our revenue from recommendation services, advertising and marketing services and other services.

Cost of operation decreased by 11.4 % to RMB45.1 million (US$7.1 million) in the second six months of 2021 from RMB50.9 million in the same period of 2020. The decrease was primarily attributable to the decrease in depreciation expenses, payroll costs and bandwidth and server costs, partially offset by the increase in data acquisition costs.

Sales and marketing expenses increased by 9.0% to RMB68.8 million (US$10.8 million) in the second six months of 2021 from RMB63.1 million in the same period of 2020. The increase was primarily due to the increase in sales and marketing staff for new businesses.

Research and development expenses decreased by 21.2% to RMB62.4 million (US$9.8 million) in the second six months of 2021 from RMB79.2 million in the same period of 2020, primarily due to the continued cost optimization measures.

General and administrative expenses decreased by 0.4% to RMB72.2 million (US$11.3 million) in the second six months of 2021 from RMB72.5 million in the same period of 2020, primarily due to the decrease in professional fees and allowance for credit losses, partially offset by the increase in share-based compensation expenses and payroll expenses.

Others, net increased by 137.9% to RMB15.7 million (US$2.5 million) in the second six months of 2021 from RMB6.6 million in the same period of 2020. The increase was primarily from the realized investment gain of RMB11.1 million from the investment in Conflux Global, a decentralized applications blockchain solution provider.

Net loss was RMB108.3 million (US$17.0 million) in the second six months of 2021 compared with RMB186.9 million in the same period of 2020. Net loss margin was 23.5% in the second six months of 2021 compared with 65.9% in the same period of 2020.

Non-GAAP adjusted net loss, which excluded share-based compensation expenses and impairment loss from net loss, was RMB96.7 million (US$15.2 million) in the second six months of 2021, compared with RMB215.1 million in the same period of 2020.

Non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA[2], which excluded share-based compensation expenses, impairment loss, depreciation and amortization, interest income and expenses, and income tax benefits from net loss, for the second six months of 2021 was a loss of RMB94.6 million (US$14.8 million), compared with a loss of RMB207.4 million in the same period of 2020.

Fiscal Year 2021 Financial Results

Total revenues for the fiscal year of 2021 increased by 37.4% to RMB805.0 million (US$126.3 million) from RMB585.8 million in the prior year.

Total revenues from recommendation services increased by 42.2% to RMB575.2 million (US$90.3 million) in the fiscal year of 2021 from RMB404.4 million in the prior year.

Revenues from recommendation services for credit cards increased by 38.4% to RMB407.8 million (US$64.0 million) in the fiscal year of 2021 from RMB294.6 million in the prior year. Credit card volume in the fiscal year of 2021 and 2020 were approximately 3.7 million and 2.8 million, respectively. The average fee per credit card increased to RMB109.8 (US$17.2) in the fiscal year of 2021 from RMB106.8 in the prior year.

Revenues from recommendation services for loans increased by 52.6% to RMB167.5 million (US$26.3 million) in the fiscal year of 2021 from RMB109.8 million in the prior year, primarily due to the increase in number of loan applications on our platform. The number of domestic loan applications on the Company's platform was approximately 13.6 million in the fiscal year of 2021, representing an increase of approximately 94.3% from fiscal year 2020. The average fee per domestic loan application decreased to RMB11.4 (US$1.8) in the fiscal year of 2021 from RMB13.3 in the prior year. The recommendation revenue of loans generated from overseas markets was 7.6% of total loan recommendation revenues in the fiscal year of 2021, less contribution than prior year. The global COVID-19 pandemic and the associated inability to travel globally has negatively impacted our overseas business.

Revenues from big data and system-based risk management services decreased by 9.6% to RMB130.4 million (US$20.5 million) in the fiscal year of 2021 from RMB144.2 million in the prior year, primarily due to the decrease of the number of paying customers in the fiscal year of 2021.

Revenues from advertising and marketing services and other services increased by 167.2% to RMB99.4 million (US$15.6 million) in the fiscal year of 2021 from RMB37.2 million in the prior year, primarily due to the growth of insurance brokerage services and initiatives of other new businesses.

Cost of promotion and acquisition[3] increased by 48.2% to RMB562.1 million (US$88.2 million) in the fiscal year of 2021 from RMB379.4 million in the prior year. The increase was primarily in line with the growth of our revenue from recommendation services, advertising and marketing services and other services.

Cost of operation decreased by 4.2% to RMB88.0 million (US$13.8 million) in the fiscal year of 2021 from RMB91.9 million in the prior year. The decrease was primarily attributable to the decrease in depreciation expenses, and bandwidth and server costs, partially offset by the increase in data acquisition costs.

Sales and marketing expenses increased by 11.6% to RMB143.5 million (US$22.5 million) in the fiscal year of 2021 from RMB128.6 million in the prior year. The increase was primarily due to the increase in sales and marketing staff for new businesses.

Research and development expenses decreased by 14.5% to RMB132.4 million (US$20.8 million) in the fiscal year of 2021 from RMB154.8 million in the prior year, primarily due to the continued cost optimization measures.

General and administrative expenses increased by 0.7% to RMB137.5 million (US$21.6 million) in the fiscal year of 2021 from RMB136.6 million in the prior year. The increase was primarily attributable to the increase in payroll expenses and share-based compensation expenses, partially offset by the decrease in professional fees and allowance for credit losses.

Others, net increased by 417.9% to RMB58.0 million (US$9.1 million) in the fiscal year of 2021 from RMB11.2 million in the prior year. The increase was primarily from the realized investment gain of RMB51.2 million from the investment in Conflux Global, a decentralized applications blockchain solution provider.

Net loss was RMB204.1 million (US$32.0 million) in the fiscal year of 2021 compared with RMB312.1 million in the prior year. Net loss margin was 25.4% in the fiscal year of 2021 compared with 53.3% in the prior year.

Non-GAAP adjusted net loss, which excluded share-based compensation expenses and impairment loss from net loss, was RMB186.7 million (US$29.3 million) in the fiscal year of 2021, compared with RMB333.4 million in the prior year.

Non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA[2], which excluded share-based compensation expenses, impairment loss, depreciation and amortization, interest income and expenses, and income tax benefits from net loss, for the fiscal year of 2021 was a loss of RMB179.2 million (US$28.1 million), compared with a loss of RMB315.8 million in the prior year.

As of December 31, 2021, the Company had cash and cash equivalents, time deposits, restricted cash and time deposits and short-term investment of RMB762.8 million (US$119.7 million), and working capital of approximately RMB424.9 million (US$66.7 million). Compared to as of December 31, 2020, cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, time deposits and investment and short-term investment decreased by RMB233.2 million (US$36.6 million), which was attributable to net cash used in operating activities.

Conference Call

The Company's management will host an earnings conference call at 8:00 AM U.S. Eastern Time on April 12, 2022 (8:00 PM Beijing/Hong Kong Time on April 12, 2022).

Dial-in details for the earnings conference call are as follows:

United States (toll free): 1-888-346-8982 International: 1-412-902-4272 Hong Kong, China (toll free): 800-905-945 Hong Kong, China: 852-3018-4992 Mainland China: 400-120-1203

Participants should dial-in at least 5 minutes before the scheduled start time and ask to be connected to the call for "Jianpu Technology Inc."

Additionally, a live and archived webcast of the conference call will be available on the Company's investor relations website at http://ir.jianpu.ai .

A replay of the conference call will be accessible approximately one hour after the conclusion of the live call until April 19, 2022, by dialing the following telephone numbers:

United States (toll free): 1-877-344-7529 International: 1-412-317-0088 Replay Access Code: 4921177

About Jianpu Technology Inc.

Jianpu Technology Inc. is a leading independent open platform for discovery and recommendation of financial products in China. The company connects users with financial service providers in a convenient, efficient, and secure way. By leveraging its proprietary technology, Jianpu provides users with customized search results and recommendations tailored to each user's particular financial needs and profile. The Company also enables financial service providers with sales and marketing solutions to reach and serve their target customers more effectively through integrated channels and enhance their competitiveness by providing them with tailored data, risk management services and solutions. The Company is committed to maintaining an independent open platform, which allows it to serve the needs of users and financial service providers impartially. For more information, please visit http://ir.jianpu.ai.

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

The Company uses adjusted EBITDA and adjusted net (loss)/income, each a Non-GAAP financial measure, in evaluating our operating results and for financial and operational decision-making purposes.

The Company believes that adjusted EBITDA and adjusted net (loss)/income help identify underlying trends in our business that could otherwise be distorted by the effect of the expenses and gains that the Company include in (loss)/income from operations and net (loss)/income. The Company believes that adjusted EBITDA and adjusted net (loss)/income provide useful information about our operating results, enhance the overall understanding of our past performance and future prospects and allow for greater visibility with respect to key metrics used by our management in its financial and operational decision-making.

Adjusted EBITDA and adjusted net (loss)/income should not be considered in isolation or construed as alternatives to net (loss)/income or any other measure of performance or as indicators of our operating performance. Investors are encouraged to review the historical Non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP measures. Adjusted EBITDA and adjusted net (loss)/income presented here may not be comparable to similarly titled measures presented by other companies. Other companies may calculate similarly titled measures differently, limiting their usefulness as comparative measures to our data. The Company encourages investors and others to review its financial information in its entirety and not rely on a single financial measure.

Adjusted EBITDA represents EBITDA before share-based compensation expenses and impairment loss. EBITDA represents net (loss)/income before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization.

Adjusted net (loss)/income represents net (loss)/income before share-based compensation expenses and impairment loss.

For more information on this Non-GAAP financial measure, please see the table captioned "Unaudited Reconciliations of GAAP and Non-GAAP results" set forth at the end of this press release.

Safe Harbor Statement

This announcement contains forward-looking statements. These statements are made under the "safe harbor" provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "will," "expects," "anticipates," "future," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates," "confident" and similar statements. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about the Company's beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement, including but not limited to the following: the Company's goals and strategies; the Company's future business development, financial condition and results of operations; the Company's expectations regarding demand for, and market acceptance of, its solutions and services; the Company's expectations regarding keeping and strengthening its relationships with users, financial service providers and other parties it collaborates with; trends, competition and regulatory policies relating to the industries the Company operates in; general economic and business conditions globally and in China; and assumptions underlying or related to any of the foregoing. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in the Company's filings with the SEC. All information provided in this press release and in the attachments is as of the date of this press release, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law.

For investor and media inquiries, please contact:

In China:

Jianpu Technology Inc.

(IR)Oscar Chen, E-mail: [email protected]

(PR)Amanda Hu, E-mail: [email protected]

Tel: +86 (10) 6242 7068

Christensen Advisory

Suri Cheng, E-mail: [email protected]

Tel: +86 185 0060 8364

Anthony Cheong, E-mail: [email protected]

Tel: +852 2232 3922

In US:

Christensen Advisory

Linda Bergkamp, E-mail: [email protected]

Tel: +1 480 353 6648

Jianpu Technology Inc. Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (In thousands except for number of shares and per share data) As of December 31, 2020 2021 2021 RMB RMB US$ ASSETS Current assets: Cash and cash equivalents 549,979 444,933 69,820 Time deposits - 10,000 1,569 Restricted cash, time deposits and investment 391,425 234,601 36,814 Short-term investment 20,000 35,950 5,642 Accounts receivable, net (including amounts

billed through related party of nil and RMB4,359 as

of December 31,2020 and December 31, 2021,

respectively) 240,124 175,165 27,487 Amount due from related parties 872 140 22 Prepayments and other current assets 66,295 53,466 8,390 Total current assets 1,268,695 954,255 149,744 Non-current assets: - - Property and equipment, net 18,114 12,617 1,980 Intangible assets, net 25,172 21,675 3,401 Goodwill 10,236 10,236 1,606 Restricted cash and time deposits 34,581 37,266 5,848 Other non-current assets 46,936 33,873 5,315 Total non-current assets 135,039 115,667 18,150 Total assets 1,403,734 1,069,922 167,894 LIABILITIES, MEZZANINE EQUITY AND

SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY Current liabilities: Short-term borrowings 158,477 181,853 28,537 Accounts payable (including amounts billed

through related party of nil and RMB2,384 as of

December 31,2020 and December 31, 2021,

respectively) 185,904 103,782 16,286 Advances from customers 54,275 47,221 7,410 Tax payable 24,059 14,670 2,302 Amount due to related parties 9,495 29,270 4,593 Accrued expenses and other current liabilities 220,866 152,521 23,934 Total current liabilities 653,076 529,317 83,062 Non-current liabilities: Deferred tax liabilities 5,146 4,549 714 Other non-current liabilities 19,874 13,604 2,135 Total non-current liabilities 25,020 18,153 2,849 Total liabilities 678,096 547,470 85,911 Mezzanine equity: Redeemable noncontrolling interest 1,455 1,689 265 Shareholders' equity: Ordinary shares 286 286 45 Treasury stock, at cost (88,855) (88,130) (13,830) Additional paid-in capital 1,885,951 1,902,587 298,557 Accumulated losses (1,099,934) (1,299,846) (203,974) Statutory reserves 1,900 2,027 318 Accumulated other comprehensive income/(loss) 1,002 (15,419) (2,420) Total Jianpu's shareholders' equity 700,350 501,505 78,696 Noncontrolling interests 23,833 19,258 3,022 Total shareholders' equity 724,183 520,763 81,718 Total liabilities, mezzanine equity and

shareholders' equity 1,403,734 1,069,922 167,894

Jianpu Technology Inc. Unaudited Interim Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss (In thousands except for number of shares and per share data) For the Six Months Ended December 31, For the Year Ended December 31, 2020 2021 2021 2020 2021 2021 RMB RMB US$ RMB RMB US$ Revenues: Recommendation services: Loans[a] 63,146 92,389 14,498 109,814 167,483 26,282 Credit cards 123,754 227,955 35,771 294,567 407,759 63,986 Total recommendation services 186,900 320,344 50,269 404,381 575,242 90,268 Big data and system-based risk management

services[b] 75,067 67,302 10,561 144,227 130,408 20,464 Advertising, marketing and other services[b] 21,651 73,856 11,590 37,154 99,397 15,598 Total revenues 283,618 461,502 72,420 585,762 805,047 126,330 Costs and expenses: Cost of promotion and acquisition[3] (194,227) (334,854) (52,546) (379,380) (562,081) (88,203) Cost of operation[c] [3] (50,872) (45,076) (7,073) (91,910) (88,049) (13,817) Total cost of services (245,099) (379,930) (59,619) (471,290) (650,130) (102,020) Sales and marketing expenses[d] [3] (63,086) (68,821) (10,800) (128,600) (143,460) (22,512) Research and development expenses[d] (79,210) (62,367) (9,787) (154,775) (132,427) (20,781) General and administrative expenses (72,455) (72,200) (11,330) (136,581) (137,533) (21,582) Impairment loss (16,893) - - (16,893) - - Loss from operations (193,125) (121,816) (19,116) (322,377) (258,503) (40,565) Net interest expenses (1,438) (2,422) (380) (2,290) (4,193) (658) Others, net 6,557 15,697 2,463 11,238 58,020 9,105 Loss before income tax (188,006) (108,541) (17,033) (313,429) (204,676) (32,118) Income tax benefits 1,081 287 45 1,283 582 91 Net loss (186,925) (108,254) (16,988) (312,146) (204,094) (32,027) Less: net loss attributable to noncontrolling

interests (5,402) (2,475) (388) (7,999) (4,309) (676) Net loss attributable to Jianpu's shareholders (181,523) (105,779) (16,600) (304,147) (199,785) (31,351) Other comprehensive loss, net Foreign currency translation adjustments (63,832) (8,888) (1,395) (52,185) (16,453) (2,582) Total other comprehensive loss (63,832) (8,888) (1,395) (52,185) (16,453) (2,582) Total comprehensive loss (250,757) (117,142) (18,383) (364,331) (220,547) (34,609) Less: total comprehensive income loss

attributable to noncontrolling interests (6,205) (2,588) (406) (8,878) (4,341) (681) Total comprehensive loss attributable to

Jianpu's shareholders (244,552) (114,554) (17,977) (355,453) (216,206) (33,928) Net loss per share attributable to Jianpu's

shareholders Basic (0.43) (0.25) (0.04) (0.72) (0.47) (0.07) Diluted (0.43) (0.25) (0.04) (0.72) (0.47) (0.07) Net loss per ADS attributable to Jianpu's shareholders Basic (8.58) (4.99) (0.78) (14.38) (9.43) (1.48) Diluted (8.58) (4.99) (0.78) (14.38) (9.43) (1.48) Weighted average number of shares Basic 423,096,353 423,661,496 423,661,496 423,096,353 423,661,496 423,661,496 Diluted 423,096,353 423,661,496 423,661,496 423,096,353 423,661,496 423,661,496 [a] Including revenues from related party of RMB4,177 and RMB218 for the six months ended December 31, 2020 and 2021, respectively. RMB4,757 and RMB488 for the year ended December 31, 2020 and 2021, respectively. [b] Including revenues from related party of RMB1,910 and RMB1,839 for the six months ended December 31, 2020 and 2021, respectively. RMB3,626 and RMB4,282 for the year ended December 31, 2020 and 2021, respectively. [c] Including cost of operation from related party of nil and RMB511 for the six months ended December 31, 2020 and 2021, respectively. RMB2,102 and RMB883 for the year ended December 31, 2020 and 2021, respectively. [d] Including expenses from related party of RMB1,686 and RMB796 for the six months ended December 31, 2020 and 2021, respectively. RMB1,686 and RMB809 for the year ended December 31, 2020 and 2021, respectively.

Jianpu Technology Inc. Unaudited Reconciliations of GAAP and Non-GAAP Results For the Six Months Ended December 31, For the Year Ended December 31, (In thousands except for number of shares and per share data) 2020 2021 2021 2020 2021 2021 RMB RMB US$ RMB RMB US$ Net loss (186,925) (108,254) (16,988) (312,146) (204,094) (32,027) Add: Share-based compensation expenses (11,238) 11,523 1,809 (4,329) 17,357 2,724 Impairment loss (16,893) - - (16,893) - - Non-GAAP adjusted net loss (215,056) (96,731) (15,179) (333,368) (186,737) (29,303) Add: Depreciation and amortization 8,043 4,271 670 18,531 11,112 1,744 Net interest expenses (1,438) (2,422) (380) (2,290) (4,193) (658) Income tax benefits 1,081 287 45 1,283 582 91 Non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA (207,370) (94,595) (14,844) (315,844) (179,236) (28,126)

[1] Non-GAAP adjusted net loss represents net loss before share-based compensation expenses and impairment loss. There is no income tax impact of the Non-GAAP adjustment of share-based compensation expenses and impairment loss. See "Unaudited Reconciliations of GAAP and Non-GAAP Results" at the end of this press release for more details about Non-GAAP adjusted net loss. Non-GAAP adjusted net loss margin equals Non-GAAP adjusted net loss divided by total revenues. [2] Non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA represents EBITDA before share-based compensation expenses and impairment loss. EBITDA represents net (loss)/income before interest income and expenses, and income tax benefits from net loss, depreciation and amortization. See "Unaudited Reconciliations of GAAP and Non-GAAP Results" for more details. [3] In the second half year of 2021, in light of the business development, the Company added a financial statement line item named cost of promotion and acquisition and reclassified the previous line item of cost of revenue and sales and marketing expenses. Cost of promotion and acquisition primarily consists of expenditures relating to user traffic acquisition and rewards to business partners for promotion on social network and social media platform, which are reclassified from sales and marketing expenses, and marketing costs related to advertising and marketing services including commissions paid to individual insurance brokers, which are reclassified from cost of revenue. Cost of operation, post the reclassification, consists primarily of costs associated with maintenance of the platform including data acquisition costs, bandwidth and server hosting costs, call center outsourcing costs, online payment processing fees, depreciation, payroll and other related costs of operations. Sales and marketing expenses, post the reclassification, consist primarily of marketing expenses relating to marketing activities, payroll costs and related expenses for employees involved in sales and marketing activities, and expenses for the portion of call center operations that the Group outsources. The cost of operation, cost of promotion and acquisition, and sales and marketing expenses for prior periods and the year of 2020 have also been retrospectively reclassified. The amount reclassified from sales and marketing expenses to cost of promotion and acquisition are RMB177.4 million for the first six months of 2021, RMB170.1 million for the first six months of 2020 and RMB353.1 million for 2020. The amount reclassified from cost of revenue to cost of promotion and acquisition are RMB49.8 million for the first six months of 2021, RMB15.1 million for the first six months of 2020 and RMB26.3 million for 2020.

SOURCE Jianpu Technology Inc.
With her 35 years of service on the Utah Supreme Court, Justice Durham's addition fortifies Wilson Sonsini's appellate practice. Justice Durham's move also re-connects her with former Utah Supreme Court Justice Deno Himonas , who joined Wilson Sonsini's Salt Lake City office upon his retirement in March 2022. Justices Durham and Himonas served together on the Utah Supreme Court.

Following her appointment by Governor Scott M. Matheson in 1982, Justice Durham became the first woman to serve on the Utah Supreme Court. Four years earlier, she was the first woman appointed to the state's district court. In 1993, Justice Durham was on a shortlist of candidates for the U.S. Supreme Court put forth by the Clinton administration to replace retiring Justice Harry Blackmun. In 2002, Justice Durham achieved yet another milestone by being the first woman Chief Justice of the Utah Supreme Court. She served as Chief Justice until 2012 and retired from the bench in November 2017. From 2018 until she joined Wilson Sonsini, Justice Durham was an attorney at Zimmerman Booher, an appellate law firm in Salt Lake City.

"Justice Durham's many achievements are a testament to her tireless work as a jurist and her legacy of undertaking important initiatives, like those that focus on equal access to justice, foundational legal rights, and judicial education, accountability, and administration," said Doug Clark, managing partner at Wilson Sonsini. "Throughout her career, Justice Durham has earned accolades from her many colleagues and peers, and has inspired many of us throughout the legal industry. We're pleased to welcome her to our firm as the newest member of our litigation department and appellate practice."

Justice Durham founded, led, and has actively participated in professional judicial organizations across the U.S. and in Utah. She helped to create the National Association of Women Judges and to organize Women Lawyers of Utah. She currently co-chairs the Utah State Bar Access to Justice Commission. When Justice Durham retired from Utah's Supreme Court, 75 female judges and commissioners across Utah sent her a letter of appreciation thanking her for the trail she had blazed for them.

"Justice Durham is a role model in the legal field," said Justice Himonas. "In addition to her exemplary service during her time as a state district court judge and a justice on the Utah Supreme Court, Justice Durham has been a fervent advocate against exclusions and restrictions that individuals faced because of their gender, race, or sexual identity and preference. That includes shortcomings in how womenparticularly victims of assault or domestic violenceare mistreated in the legal process. I look forward to working with her again now that she's also joined Wilson Sonsini."

Justice Durham has received numerous awards throughout her career. For example, in September 2012, she received the Dwight D. Opperman Award for Judicial Excellence from the American Judicature Society. In 2008, Justice Durham received the Transparent Courthouse Award for contributions to judicial accountability and administration from the Institute for the Advancement of the Legal System. In 2007, she received the William H. Rehnquist Award for Judicial Excellence, an annual award presented to a state court judge who exemplifies the highest level of judicial excellence, integrity, fairness, and professional ethics. Justice Durham has also been recognized for developing interactive education programs in content areas that previously did not have curricula, such as domestic violence, child witness testimony, and scientific evidence.

"I'm pleased to be joining Wilson Sonsini and look forward to continuing my career at a firm that has an established record of representing clients in high-profile matters, including important matters that were decided by federal and state appellate courts across the U.S.," said Justice Durham. "I'm also looking forward to the opportunity to continue addressing important issues that define and shape legal jurisprudence and matters of importance to the firm's clients."

Justice Durham began her career in 1971 as an instructor of legal medicine at Duke University Law Medical School, and opened her own general law practice in Durham, North Carolina, representing private clients in domestic law, employment law, and personal injury law work.

Justice Durham earned her J.D. from Duke Law School in 1971, at a time when fewer than 3 percent of the lawyers in the United States were women, and a B.A., with high honors, from Wellesley College. She currently serves as an emeritus member of Duke Law School's Board of Trustees.

On November 2, 2021, Wilson Sonsini announced that the firm was opening an office in Salt Lake City. The initial team of attorneys based in the office included Marc Porter, Matt Squires, and former Utah Supreme Court Justice Deno Himonas, who has since joined after retiring from the bench in March 2022. The firm now has more than 14 attorneys, including Justice Durham, who are based in Wilson Sonsini's Salt Lake City office.

About Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati

For more than 60 years, Wilson Sonsini's services and legal disciplines have focused on serving the principal challenges faced by the management and boards of directors of business enterprises. The firm is nationally recognized as a leading provider to growing and established clients seeking legal counsel to complete sophisticated corporate and technology transactions; manage governance and enterprise-scale matters; assist with intellectual property development, protection, and IP-driven transactions; represent them in contested disputes; and/or advise them on antitrust or other regulatory matters. With deep roots in Silicon Valley, Wilson Sonsini has offices in 18 technology and business hubs worldwide. For more information, please visit www.wsgr.com .

SOURCE Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati
MONTREAL, April 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - The Lion Electric Company (NYSE: LEV) (TSX: LEV) ("Lion" or the "Company"), a leading manufacturer of all-electric medium and heavy-duty urban vehicles, today announced that it will release its 2022 first quarter results on May 3, 2022, after markets close. A conference call and webcast will be held on May 4, 2022, at 8:30 a.m. (Eastern Time) to discuss the results. The Company will also hold its virtual annual meeting of shareholders (the "Meeting") on May 6, 2022, at 11:00 am, via live webcast.

FIRST QUARTER 2022 RESULTS AND CONFERENCE CALL

The Company will announce its 2022 first quarter results on May 3, 2022, after market close. A conference call will be held on May 4, 2022, at 8:30 a.m. (Eastern Time) to discuss the results. To participate in the conference call, please dial (226) 828-7575 or (833) 950-0062 (toll free).

A live webcast of the conference call will also be available at www.thelionelectric.com under the "Events and Presentation" page of the "Investors" section. An archive of the event will be available shortly after the conference call.

ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS

This year, the Company will be holding its Annual Meeting as a completely virtual meeting, which will be conducted via live webcast on May 6, 2022, at 11:00 a.m. (Eastern Time). The decision to hold a virtual meeting was made in an effort to contain the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) and to prioritize and support the well-being of our shareholders, employees and other Meeting attendees.

All shareholders, regardless of their geographic location, will have an equal opportunity to participate at the virtual Meeting at https://web.lumiagm.com/442208210. To access the online Meeting platform, participants will need an Internet-connected device, such as laptops, computers, tablets or cellphones.

The Company's management information circular and notice of annual meeting of shareholders relating to the Meeting are available to shareholders on Lion's website at www.thelionelectric.com in the Investors section, under Events and Presentations, and have been filed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and EDGAR at www.sec.gov.

ABOUT LION ELECTRIC

Lion Electric is an innovative manufacturer of zero-emission vehicles. The company creates, designs and manufactures all-electric class 5 to class 8 commercial urban trucks and all-electric buses and minibuses for the school, paratransit and mass transit segments. Lion is a North American leader in electric transportation and designs, builds and assembles many of its vehicles' components, including chassis, battery packs, truck cabins and bus bodies.

Always actively seeking new and reliable technologies, Lion vehicles have unique features that are specifically adapted to its users and their everyday needs. Lion believes that transitioning to all-electric vehicles will lead to major improvements in our society, environment and overall quality of life. Lion shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange and the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol LEV.

SOURCE Lion Electric
CISO of Dordogne Hospital Group says detection is no longer enough; autonomous response is vital for containing attacks

Cambridge, England, April 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Darktrace, a global leader in cyber security AI, today announced that Antigena, its autonomous response technology, stopped a sophisticated ransomware attack at Dordogne Groupements Hospitaliers de Territoire (Dordogne GHT).

In 2021, still in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, Dordogne GHT selected Darktrace's detect, respond and investigate capabilities to defend against threats across all eleven of its hospitals including across corporate and medical devices in its accident and emergency departments. Just two months after deploying Darktrace, the Group, which employs close to 5,000 staff, was targeted by Ryuk ransomware - a notorious ransomware strain known to target critical organizations across the public sector globally.

Ryuk, which was first developed by the prolific cyber-criminal organization named 'Wizard Spider', is known for combining advanced encryption techniques and subsequently demanding a high ransom in return for a private decryption key. It is one of the first ransomware families capable of encrypting not only data but network drives and resources. Ryuk has previously taken down entire city councils, and was responsible for an attack which hit over 200 hospitals in the US in 2021.

Darktrace AI immediately detected the initial warning signs of the attack which came in the form of some basic .dat files being downloaded onto one of the businesses devices from an unknown IP address.

Initially, Dordogne GHT had Darktrace's autonomous response capability, Antigena, in 'human confirmation mode', where the security team must approve suggested actions. As the ransomware attack began to spread rapidly, threatening medical devices in emergency departments, the team switched to 'active mode' allowing the AI to take intelligent action to enforce normal operations and ultimately stop the attack.

"We have seen first-hand how a ransomware attack could bring down our systems in minutes and impact human lives," commented Vincent Genot, CISO of Dordogne GHT. "It is clear to me that in this new era of cyber-threat, detection is no longer enough. Darktrace has invented a technology that can respond to attacks on behalf of humans, at computer speed, so that organizations can continue running normally even while under attack. This is the future of security."

"At a time when national cybersecurity agencies are urging organizations to be hyper-vigilant and lock down their systems, we can be in little doubt that defenders of healthcare systems will be working to keep the bad guys out," commented Justin Fier, VP of Tactical Risk and Response, Darktrace. "Autonomous response technology that uplifts human security teams by allowing them to make strategic decisions while the AI stops the attack before it causes disruption is critical in defending organizations vital to everyday life."

About Darktrace

Darktrace (LSE: DARK.L), a global leader in cyber security AI, delivers world-class technology that protects over 6,500 customers worldwide from advanced threats, including ransomware and cloud and SaaS attacks. Darktrace's fundamentally different approach applies Self-Learning AI to enable machines to understand the business in order to autonomously defend it. Headquartered in Cambridge, UK, Darktrace has more than 1,700 employees and over 30 offices worldwide. Darktrace was named one of TIME magazine's 'Most Influential Companies' for 2021.



Media Contacts

Jessica Cheney CommStrat (US) +1 419 350 4614 [email protected] Tom Bermingham Brands2Life (UK) +44 (0) 7908 714 331 [email protected]

SOURCE Darktrace
Company Provides Updates

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., April 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Matterworks, Inc., developers of the world's most powerful metabolomics platform, which accelerates the discovery, development, and manufacturing of biologics and gene therapies, today announces updates to its Board of Directors.

"Matterworks is thrilled to welcome two Board members familiar with leading early stage companies in the introduction of novel technologies to biopharma. As we develop our platform of next-generation machine learning software for streamlining metabolomics in bioprocessing, Lena and Eric's collective experience building successful companies in this space will be invaluable,'' said Mimoun Cadosch Delmar, Founder & CEO of Matterworks.

Lena Wu, Ph.D. has been serving as an Independent Director since October of 2021. She is the former co-founder and CEO of Intabio, Inc, which developed analytical systems for biomanufacturing and was acquired by SCIEX. She was previously the CEO and co-founder of Rogne Biosciences, a biotherapeutics company. Lena has 25+ years of corporate development experience in early stage life sciences companies.

"I am impressed with the Matterworks team's rapid progress, advancing from proof-of-concept to a prototype product that is ready for pilot testing with top biopharma companies," said Dr. Wu.

Eric Carlson, Ph.D. joins the Matterworks Board with over 25 years of experience in the life sciences industry. Since January 2014, Eric has served in executive roles at Protein Metrics Inc, a leading provider of biopharmaceutical protein characterization and proteomics analysis software. As the CEO of Protein Metrics since January 2017, Eric most recently led the company's successful acquisition by Insightful Science.

Said Dr. Carlson, "I look forward to working with the Matterworks team as a member of their Board, and to driving efficiency for biopharma customers through the implementation of metabolomics as a core element of their bioproduction processes."

About Matterworks

At home in the Boston-area biotech hub, Matterworks, Inc. is a venture-backed startup enabling real-time quantitative metabolomics through novel machine learning-powered technologies.

The field of metabolomics sits today where genomics was positioned in the early 2000's: ripe for a breakthrough that drives explosive adoption of metabolomics as an essential tool for the life sciences. To realize this opportunity, our platform combines mass spectrometry with advanced AI to systematize, scale, and accelerate metabolomics workflows.





Visit https://www.matterworksbio.com/ to learn more

SOURCE Matterworks
NEW YORK, April 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Mesmerize (www.mesmerize.com), a prominent out-of-home media company specializing in patient education at the point of care, is excited to become a corporate member of NCPA, the National Community Pharmacists Association. Founded in 1898, the National Community Pharmacists Association is the voice for independent pharmacies across the U.S., representing 19,400 pharmacies that employ 215,000 individuals.

The NCPA is dedicated to the continuing growth of community pharmacies and represents the professional and proprietary interests of independent community pharmacists. Mesmerize has joined the association as a corporate member to help further NCPA's mission to protect and promote the interests of independent pharmacists nationwide.

Community pharmacists not only dispense medications, but also function as local healthcare problem-solvers who can customize solutions to local health challenges for patients. They are rooted in the communities where they are located and are America's most accessible healthcare providers.

"As community pharmacists continue to fulfill additional roles along a patient's healthcare journey, independent pharmacies are becoming recognized more frequently as a resource for patient education, vaccinations, and other primary care services," said Ian Stone, Mesmerize's Senior Vice President of Business Development. "Our team is excited to join the NCPA and to help catapult the growth of the independent pharmacy community in the U.S."

"NCPA is committed to high-quality pharmacist care and to restoring, maintaining, and promoting the health and well-being of the public our members serve," said NCPA's Vice President of Business Development, Nina Dadgar. "NCPA looks forward to recognizing Mesmerize as a valuable member."

ABOUT MESMERIZE

Mesmerize is a media company that specializes in patient education at the point of care. Mesmerize provides targeted educational materials including digital and static wallboards, literature distribution, and branded medical essentials to patients and caregivers in waiting rooms, exam rooms, and other high traffic areas of doctors' offices, community-based organizations, AIDS service organizations, and independent and chain pharmacies. For more information, please visit www.mesmerize.com

ABOUT THE NCPA

Founded in 1898, the National Community Pharmacists Association is the voice for the community pharmacist, representing nearly 19,400 pharmacies that employ 215,000 individuals nationwide. Community pharmacies are rooted in the communities where they are located and are among America's most accessible health care providers. To learn more, visit www.ncpa.org

SOURCE Mesmerize
Organic Plant-Based Culinary Leaders Tap Industry Veteran to Lead Aggressive Growth Strategy

RICHMOND, Calif., April 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Nutiva , the pioneer of organic plant-based culinary products, and sister brand Coconut Secret, the leading brand of Coconut Aminos, are excited to announce the appointment of CPG industry veteran, Michael Lynch, as Chief Executive Officer. Lynch has assumed day-to-day leadership of the company as CEO and will spearhead expansion of both brands' retail footprints throughout North America, while driving growth through innovation and new culinary products. Steven Naccarato, who previously held the role of CEO, will serve on the Board of Directors and act as Nutiva's representative for OSC2, a network of values aligned Bay Areas companies.

A seasoned leader with more than 30 years of experience in the plant-based food industry with brands including Daiya Foods, Earth's Own, Kraft Foods and Dreyer's Grand Ice Cream, Lynch is an entrepreneurial-minded general management executive with a love for strengthening and nurturing products that are good for people and the planet. Most recently, he held the role of President at the #1 plant-based milk company in Canada  Earth's Own Food Company, and prior served as interim CEO at plant-based foods company, Daiya Foods. At Daiya Foods, Lynch served as a key senior team member where he architected a product innovation and portfolio strategy that expanded the brand into multiple adjacent categories and led growth from $12 million to $200 million in seven years.

"I've always loved Nutiva and believe that our products are at the intersection of several leading consumer trends, including plant-based eating and at-home cooking," said Lynch. "I have admiration for Nutiva founder John Roulac, Steven Naccarato, and the entire Nutiva team for building an incredible brand that is so deeply rooted in its mission and values. I'm passionate about building consumer focused, beloved brands and excited to leverage my experiences to establish Nutiva and Coconut Secret as leading organic culinary brands."

Lynch is dedicated to creating lasting, positive change and will continue to accelerate Nutiva's mission of revolutionizing the way the world eats. Nutiva and Coconut Secret are leaders in various plant-based culinary foods including sauces, spreads and culinary oils. The brands pride themselves in producing these ever-growing product lines that are USDA Certified Organic, Non-GMO Project Verified, and ethically sourced. Nutiva and Coconut Secret products are available in retailers nationwide and at www.nutiva.com and www.coconutsecret.com. For more information, recipe ideas or details on Nutiva's social impact and sustainability efforts, please visit www.nutiva.com.

About Nutiva

Nutiva is the pioneer of organic plant-based foods that revolutionize the way the world eats by nurturing people and the planet. The company crafts a robust portfolio of USDA Certified Organic and Non-GMO Project Verified food products across culinary oils, nut butters & spreads and nutrition categories. On a mission to build a brighter future, Nutiva is committed to supporting regenerative agriculture, organic farming communities, and combating climate change. Nutiva products are available nationwide, as well as in Europe, Asia, Latin America, and Canada. For more information, visit www.nutiva.com.

About Coconut Secret

For more than 12 years, Coconut Secret has been leading the soy-free Asian sauces category, with its introduction of the first soy-free, lower-sodium soy sauce replacement, Coconut Aminos. Created with a simple vision to make deliciously healthy, organic, lower-glycemic foods, its Asian-inspired lines are now trusted pantry staples from coast to coast. Coconut Secret products are available nationwide in natural/organic health food stores and conventional grocery chains. To learn more, please visit www.coconutsecret.com, or follow Coconut Secret on Instagram (@CoconutSecretOfficial).

Contact: McKenzie Jester

Rachel Kay Public Relations

858-888-0148

[email protected]

SOURCE Nutiva
Leading independent public relations firm establishes its UK purpose division and appoints new Deputy MD

LONDON, April 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- MikeWorldWide (MWW), a leading independent and integrated public relations agency, today announces the promotion of three senior team members in the London office, further demonstrating its commitment to purpose.

In the last 12 months, MWW's London office has achieved organic growth alongside the successful acquisition and integration of Chameleon, and the expanded UK team has launched its 'Progressive Communications' strategy.

"Progressive Communications is the standard we've set for ourselves as a team. It prioritizes the continual advancement of PR capabilities and our recognition and support of the diversity of participants within our industry," states Tom Buttle, President & Managing Director, London. "I am incredibly proud we're announcing these promotions so that we can immediately progress on our commitments."

MWW London has created a new Head of UK Purpose role to be filled by SVP Jasmin Athwal in this promotion. She will oversee the UK team's commitment to diversity, inclusion and equality (DE&I) across internal operations and in the firm's client consultancy. Amadi Tagoe is promoted to Vice President to co-lead the DE&I programme, with specific responsibilities for driving best practice across the UK business.

The senior leadership of MWW in the UK will also be enhanced with the promotion of Alizia Walker to Senior Vice President and Deputy Managing Director of the London office. With eight years spent at MWW / Chameleon, she carries a wealth of experience consulting to some of the world's leading tech brands. Walker will work closely with UK MD Tom Buttle to drive the delivery of the UK team's strategy and support growth across Europe.

"I'm proud to be part of an agency that puts diversity and inclusion at the heart of everything it does, from internal practices and culture to client consultancy," said Athwal. "So much so that MWW worked with me to create the new UK Head of Purpose role. With this new focus, there are new clients, relationships and projects already well underway, and we will be introducing lots of new initiatives from our team over the coming months so watch this space!"

"I am excited at the opportunity to increase my participation in the success of MWW and that of our incredible clients. I look forward to continuing to work closely with the team to build relationships based on adding value as we help our clients make their mark on the digital everything world and take them to the next level," added Walker.

About MikeWorldWide

Thirty-five years young, MWW is among the world's leading independent, full-service PR agencies with talent hubs across the US and the UK. It prioritizes CorpSumerTM insights, cultural currency, and earned-worthy impact to create integrated programs that turn brands' reasons to believe into audiences' reasons to care. Because more than ever, Caring Counts.

MWW combines corporate reputation, consumer marketing, crisis & issues management, and public affairs expertise with dedicated strategy, analytics, DE&I, digital, and creative and content teams.

To learn more about MikeWorldWide, visit https://www.mww.com or follow us on social @MWW_PR.

SOURCE MWW Group
PETALING JAYA, Malaysia, April 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- MY E.G. Services Berhad's ("MYEG") Zetrix blockchain has completed the foundational development for its Layer-1 blockchain functionalities and it will launch its mainnet on 15th April 2022. This marks the completion of phase 1 of Zetrix's journey towards being a leading platform for decentralized applications, where industrial use cases like supply chain traceability and financing co-exist with the metaverse.

Zetrix is the international extension of Xinghuo BIF, China's largest national-level blockchain network supported by all levels of the Chinese government and running both governmental and commercial applications. It is a collaboration between MYEG and Beijing-based Bubi Technologies which provides the backbone infrastructure and supernodes outside China that integrates with Xinghuo BIF. Zetrix's Layer-1 infrastructure will host applications, protocols and networks to be deployed on top of its proprietary smart contracts and Proof-of-Stake (PoS) consensus mechanisms across a network of validator nodes.

MYEG's recently launched NFT marketplace, NFT Pangolin, will be one of the first applications to be hosted on Zetrix and will introduce Zetrix-minted NFTs on the platform. NFT Pangolin is a global marketplace for creators to issue and sell their unique crypto-secured digital collectibles. Compared to the expensive costs associated with Ethereum, Zetrix will provide lower minting charges and gas fees to reduce the financial barriers to entry for participants which will encourage more artists, traditional and digital alike, to explore the potential of blockchain and a new platform as a means of showcasing and trading their work.

Mr. TS Wong, Group Managing Director of MYEG commented: "This can further educate existing customers and potential users on not only the application of NFTs beyond the creator scene, but also its potential real-world utilization and hopefully to initiate its use for ownership of real-world products. Our aspiration is to be the bridge to enable NFTs or digital collectibles to move freely between China and the rest of the world."

The Zetrix mainnet launch contributes significantly to MYEG's plans of digitalizing all forms of value transfer and asset ownership, and tokenization as well as for the metaverse ecosystem development. Upcoming projects on Zetrix include Zetrix decentralized finance (DeFi), Web 3.0 domain registry and support for DAO (Decentralised Autonomous Organisations).

More information on Zetrix, along with the Software Development Kit (SDK) for third-party developers, is available at zetrix.com.

About MY E.G. Services Bhd ("MYEG")

MYEG is Malaysia's premier digital services company. Having commenced operations in 2000 as the flagship e-government services provider, MYEG continues to play a leading role in driving technological change in Malaysia and elsewhere in the region, bringing a diverse and complete range of innovations spanning the online delivery of major government services to a variety of commercial offerings in the areas of immigration, automotive, healthcare and financial services, among others. Committed to staying firmly at the forefront of the region's digital revolution, MYEG has embraced the potential of blockchain technology to enhance all aspects of life and is actively pioneering its adoption across its main markets. Beyond Malaysia, MYEG has operations in other key regional markets such as the Philippines and Indonesia.

SOURCE MY E.G. Services Berhad
HOUSTON, April 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- NASA and the Lone Star Flight Museum are inviting media to the final move of the Space Shuttle Motion Base Simulator to its new home at the museum, located at Ellington Field. The simulator, which supported space shuttle astronaut training at NASA for 35 years, will become an interactive exhibit at the museum in Houston.

News media may cover the simulator's move at 10 a.m. CDT Tuesday, April 12, at the Lone Star Flight Museum, 11551 Aerospace Ave. The simulator's 30-minute journey from NASA hangar 276 is subject to weather conditions; in the event of a delay, an updated schedule will be announced as soon as possible. To participate, media should contact Anna Hawley, the museum's chief marketing officer, at 346-352-7671 or [email protected]. All media should meet at the Lone Star Flight Museum for transport to the taxiway.

The museum will open at 10 a.m. and offer free admission to the public from 4-6 p.m. to see the simulator and several exhibit artifacts, such as the trainer's console and crew procedures. A video from the last simulator run of the STS-135 crew in July 2011 will showcase how the simulator was used to train shuttle crews. Admission is free.

Dr. Bonnie J. Dunbar, retired NASA astronaut and aerospace engineering professor at Texas A&M University, worked alongside a team of volunteers to restore the simulator -- a project that involved approximately 5,000 hours.

The Motion Base Simulator was built in 1976 to support the Approach and Landing Tests using the Space Shuttle Enterprise and modified to support the future space shuttle missions. It was first used to support flight crew training for the STS-1 mission on Jan. 9, 1979. The simulator is a full-scale replica of the forward flight deck of a space shuttle orbiter, with windows by display screens that provided increasingly detailed simulated views during various phases of the flight as the shuttle program progressed. The simulator's motion systems provided a realistic simulation of the space shuttle's movements.

The simulator, and a companion Fixed Base Simulator, were operated for decades in the Jake Garn Simulation and Training Facility at Johnson to train astronauts for space shuttle missions. The facility, which originally began operations Mission Simulation and Training Facility, supported astronaut training for the Gemini and Apollo Programs, the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project, and the Skylab Programs before undergoing renovations from 1976-1978 to support the Space Shuttle Program.

The shuttle simulators were removed after the final space shuttle mission, STS-135, in 2011 to make room for some of NASA's next generation of spaceflight training hardware, including the Boeing Starliner, part of NASA's Commercial Crew Program.

Ellington Field is the heart of Johnson Space Center's flying operations. NASA's primary function at Ellington is the training of astronauts for spaceflight. The field is also a base for administrative, cargo transport, and high-altitude aircraft, with many types of NASA aircraft at the hangers.

NASA's Johnson Space Center is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year. On May 25, 1961, President John F. Kennedy committed the nation to achieve the goal of "landing a man on the moon and returning him safely to the earth" before the end of the decade. NASA's Space Task Group, in charge of America's human spaceflight program, was already working on Project Mercury to put astronauts into Earth orbit, but with the additional task of a human lunar landing, it soon outgrew its facilities at NASA's Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia. The agency decided it needed a dedicated field center for human spaceflight, and on Sept. 19, 1961, after evaluating multiple sites around the country, NASA announced that the new Manned Spacecraft Center would be built near Houston, Texas.

Join NASA as it goes forward to the Moon and on to Mars -- discover the latest on Earth, the Solar System, and beyond with a weekly update in your inbox. Subscribe at:

www.nasa.gov/subscribe

Learn more about the Lone Star Flight Museum at:

https://www.lonestarflight.org

SOURCE NASA
Dr. Jill Tiefenthaler, CEO at the National Geographic Society, will offer remarks at the university's first in-person commencement in two years.

REDLANDS, Calif., April 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Dr. Jill Tiefenthaler, chief executive officer at the National Geographic Society, will join more than 600 graduates of the University of Redlands College of Arts and Sciences on April 23 and offer the keynote address at the university's 2022 ceremony.

Dr. Tiefenthaler, the Society's first woman to serve as CEO, oversees the organization's mission-driven work and programmatic agenda. The organization funds a global community of National Geographic Explorers: scientists, conservationists, storytellers, educators, and technologists. She also sits on the National Geographic Society Board of Trustees and the board of National Geographic Partners. Within the first year of her tenure, she led the development of the Society's bold new strategic plan, NG Next, that charts a dynamic vision for the future of the organization.

"There's no doubt that Dr. Tiefenthaler's global perspective and dynamic vision as an agent of change will inspire our graduating Bulldogs to dream big, forge new paths, lead with confidence, and build communities," said University of Redlands President Krista Newkirk.

Before joining the Society, Dr. Tiefenthaler spent nine years as the president of Colorado College. During this time, she helped set a new direction for the school, executed the most ambitious fundraising campaign in the college's history, and developed and implemented a comprehensive strategic plan that expanded and cultivated an engaged and globally connected academic community. She developed a campus master plan, executed an alliance to make the world-class Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center part of the college, and led the college's efforts to achieve carbon neutrality. She also drove significant increases in diversity among the faculty and student body and led the campus community in an external review of racism at the college that resulted in an antiracism implementation plan.

Before leading Colorado College, Dr. Tiefenthaler was provost of Wake Forest University, where she redesigned the admissions process to include an SAT-optional policy, integrated the university's undergraduate and graduate business schools, established the Institute for Public Engagement and The Humanities Institute, and implemented "Living Our Values," a plan to strengthen residential life and campus vibrancy.

Originally from Iowa, Dr. Tiefenthaler grew up on a farm and worked for her family's popcorn business before attending Saint Mary's College in Notre Dame, Indiana. She received her M.A. and Ph.D. in economics from Duke University.

The University of Redlands will celebrate Commencement Weekend 2022, April 22-23, 2022. For details, visit redlands.edu/commencement.

This news release was issued on behalf of Newswise(TM). For more information, visit http://www.newswise.com.

SOURCE University of Redlands
New funding to scale "daycare-in-a-box" model, helping educators bring affordable child care to 10 new markets in 2022.

BOSTON, April 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- NeighborSchools has raised $5M to scale up a new model of child care that puts people first. The round was led by Accomplice with participation from Chelsea Clinton's Metrodora Ventures, HannahGrey, and 186 Ventures and brings NeighborSchools total fundraising to $9M.

NeighborSchools is reimagining child care with a platform that blends technology and community to help early childhood educators go independent, get licensed, and open micro-daycares in their homes.

While more than half of Americans live in a "child care desert," data suggests there are over 100,000 caregivers, overwhelmingly women, ready to start a home daycare. But today's regulatory and business environment makes it exceedingly difficult for individuals to start a licensed daycare and compete in a child care market dominated by corporate chains and franchises. NeighborSchools levels the playing field for the individual educator with a "daycare-in-a-box" platform that handles compliance, marketing, finance, and back office requirements. As a result, NeighborSchools providers launch daycares up to 3 times faster and 4 times more successfully.

"NeighborSchools is addressing a crux of the childcare crisis with a model that centers the needs of children, parents, and providers," says Chelsea Clinton, co-founder of Metrodora Ventures. "We need creative solutions that simultaneously expand access to affordable childcare for parents and increase wages for childcare professionals, while providing good experiences and outcomes for kids. We are enthusiastic to support a team building technology to do just that and recognize the potential for NeighborSchools to help countless American families as they begin to scale up in the year ahead."

Child care options were already limited and expensive even before the pandemic shattered the entire industry. Millions of parents, mostly moms, were forced out of the workforce as thousands of centers shut their doors, many for good. Even as the economy has rebounded and employers struggle to hire, an estimated 1.3 million moms are unable to go back to work because they lack child care (according to The New York Times ). This latest funding will allow NeighborSchools to expand to ten new states in 2022, beginning to serve another 1M American families.

"As a mom of two young boys, I know first-hand how hard it is to find child care and how stressful it is for parents," says co-founder and COO Bridget Garsh. "From day one we've focused on both how to support individual educators and how to bring sanity and trust to the parent experience. We've reimaged the child care search process from the ground up with an emphasis on bringing transparency and a human touch to one of the most daunting decisions we have to make as new parents."

The child care search can be confusing and frustrating, especially for first time parents. Nearly half of U.S. parents reported difficulty finding child care according to The Center for American Progress. NeighborSchools was designed from the ground up to bring sanity and transparency to the child care search, matching parents with daycares that have openings that fit their unique needs along 23 different criteria including location, age, schedule, and budget. Parents take a 3-minute survey and receive real-time matches and can instantly schedule tours with daycares that fit their unique needs and preferences. Dedicated parent coordinators support parents throughout the process helping parents understand their options and secure a spot that works for them. At the end of the day providers who partner with NeighborSchools to open a daycare earn up to 200% more even while offering child care at rates as much as 40% more affordable.

This latest round of funding comes at a time when parent preferences are shifting towards small-scale daycares located closer to home instead of interest in large corporate centers. To date, NeighborSchools has launched over 70 home daycares across 10 markets, and helped over 30,000 parents in their child care search.

"In supporting individual educators we have a chance to reimagine child care from the ground up with a model that's both economically better for parents and educators and developmentally better for young children at the same time" says NeighborSchools co-founder and CEO Brian Swartz. "If we want to solve the child care crisis at scale we first need to take care of the people - the educators - who take care of our children. This funding is one important step towards achieving our vision of a future with a home daycare on every block in America."

About NeighborSchools

Founded in 2018, NeighborSchools is on a mission to simplify access to high quality, affordable child care by giving child care providers the tools they need to build thriving micro-daycares. NeighborSchools offers a "daycare-in-a-box" platform that manages compliance, marketing, finance and back office requirements so that providers can focus on what matters most: caring for children. For parents, NeighborSchools provides transparency and matching so that they can feel confident when selecting child care. Learn more about NeighborSchools and its innovative solutions at www.neighborschools.com .

CONTACT: [email protected]

SOURCE NeighborSchools
Joining forces to provide unmatched Acumatica and Next Generation ERP expertise Tweet this

"The acquisition adds considerable expertise to our team and furthers our overarching purpose: delivering next-gen, transformative digital solutions that allow companies to unleash the power of business. We're also delighted to name Chris Cleary as our Acumatica Practice Leader, as Chris brings unmatched Acumatica expertise and a firm understanding of what SMBs need to be successful in today's business climate."

ProServe supports over 40 businesses in United States and Canada. They have a proven methodology for deploying, managing, and measuring the success of technology utilization. They are a Gold Certified Acumatica Partner, a President's Club Winner, and ProServe's founder, Chris Cleary, has been named an Acumatica MVP (most valuable professional) for four years running (2019, 2020, 2021, 2022), which recognizes extraordinary commitment to the Acumatica community and the proven ability to help customers "garner value from their cloud ERP investment." Acumatica has also recognized ProServe as an MVP Developer.

"Net at work has built one of the most trusted and respected business consultancies in North America and gives our clients comprehensive support to meet their most pressing business challenges," said Chris Cleary. "In addition to bringing a wealth of Acumatica and SMB expertise, we have a track record of success in specific industries, including manufacturing, distribution and field service. Our team is excited to be joining forces with Net at Work in providing companies with unmatched Acumatica expertise, and the next-gen tools they need to transform, enhance, and grow their business."

About Net at Work

With experience across virtually every business discipline, the Net at Work team supports over 6,000 organizations in making software, systems and people work together in achieving their core organizational objectives. Their comprehensive range of services and solutions include ERP, CRM, Employer Solutions, eCommerce, to Cloud and IT Managed Services. From the company's founding in 1996, Net at Work has garnered wide industry recognition as problem-solvers and promise-keepers, which are the foundational principles on which all their client relationships are based, and that their clients say they value the most. For more information, visit www.netatwork.com .

SOURCE Net at Work
Survey of 100 industry leaders shows 68% will use more technology-based tools, vs. people, to conduct diligence on targets

CHICAGO, April 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- West Monroe, one of the fastest-growing digital firms, today released its latest signature research report, "The Future of Diligence in Private Equity." The report analyzes survey responses from 100 private equity leaders on the state of due diligence today along with their expectationsand predictionsfor the future.

The primary finding: Private equity is shifting focus away from risk mitigation and toward identification of value creation opportunities during diligence on potential targets. Indeed, when asked what they anticipate will be the primary drivers of change to diligence in the next 13 years, respondents' clear top answer was a higher focus on value creation vs. risk mitigation (73%), ahead of regulations (54%) and ESG standards (25%).

The shift, in an effort to address competitive bidding dynamics and higher valuations, will come with change:

70% say they'll use more data during the diligence process and 68% say they'll use more tech and tools, vs. people

Two-thirds say they are more likely to buy targets in the future that have completed sell-side diligence

27% say that "recommendations aligned to the investment thesis" is most the most valued part of diligence today, but 40% say it will be the most valued part in the future

The survey also asked private equity leaders about ESG. While 67% of respondents say their current approach to ESG diligence is consistent across targets, only 40% say they will maintain that consistency in the futurechoosing to, instead, more often customize ESG diligence by the type of target.

Regardless of the type of diligence, less than half of private equity leaders say they often incorporate diligence outputs and recommendations into the value creation plan over the hold period. That represents a huge opportunity as PE firms increasingly rely on value creation to justify higher multiples.

"The transfer of knowledge from the deal teams to the operating teams, with intelligence and recommendations from the diligence report, isn't happening as often as it should," said Brad Haller, senior partner in West Monroe's M&A practice. "But translating findings into action is a critical step for financial sponsors to get the most value out of the diligence effort"

To adapt to a diligence process that requires more data, technology, and automation, PE firms need to take critical steps to modernize and innovate within their deal operations.

"As serial acquirers, PE firms are experts in due diligence, but they're also known for prioritizing investments in their portcos over their own processes and skillsets," said Keith Campbell, senior partner in West Monroe's M&A practice. "We are just starting to see the tide turn with regard to investing in digital, analytics, and labor productivity to evolve their diligence capabilities and address the current diligence market pressures."

"The Future of Diligence in Private Equity" surveyed 100 private equity leaders via an online survey in Q4 2021. The report analyzes the survey responses and offer steps PE firms can take to modernize diligence and focus on value creation. West Monroe is a market-leading advisor and longtime partner to the private equity industry, working regularly with 40 of the top 100 PE firms across the transaction lifecycle, from diligence to value creation to sale.

About West Monroe

West Monroe is a digital services firm that was born in technology but built for businesspartnering with companies in transformative industries to deliver quantifiable financial value. We believe that digital is a mindsetnot a project, a team, or a destinationand it's something companies become, not something they do. That's why we work in diverse, multidisciplinary teams that blend management consulting, digital design, and product engineering to move companies from traditional ways of working to digital operating modelsand create experiences that transcend the digital and physical worlds. Connected by the 13 founding values that drive our culture, our 2,000 employees work collaboratively across the firm with the belief that our clients' success is our success. Visit WestMonroe.com to learn more.

Media Inquiries:

Christina Galoozis

Senior Manager, External Communications

[email protected]

847-302-1762

SOURCE West Monroe Partners
LOS ANGELES, April 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Proof of Learn , a new Web3 learning platform with a mission to unlock accessible high-quality education across the world through blockchain technology unveiled its first project Metacrafters - a learn-to-earn education platform. The Proof of Learn team shared the Metacrafters teaser trailer at NFTLA with an immersive experience.

This mission-driven team with a focus on accessibility and equality is taking their global experience scaling Web2 solutions with a social impact to Web3, by creating Proof of Learn, a platform with a vision to make high-tech education accessible to people all over the world - and to give employers transparent access to students' skill sets. Proof of Learn is a learn-to-earn platform where students put their learned vocational skills into practice as they progress. What's more, it incentivizes learning by offering students cryptocurrency and NFTs upon mastering new skills. Proof of Learn aims to increase massive open online course completion rates, which studies show hover between 5-15%, by not only incentivizing completion with learn-to-earn economic rewards but also by providing a strong network community for the students.

Proof of Learn and Metacrafters is led by co-founders Sheila Lirio Marcelo, Kevin Yang, and Lauren Tornow. Marcelo founded and was former CEO and Chairwoman of Care.com  the world's largest online marketplace for care, serving more than 35 million people across 20 countries and growing more than 100% year-over-year from its founding in 2006 until the company went public in 2014, and then sold to IAC in 2020. Yang is a technology entrepreneur, blockchain developer, and Stanford Computer Science graduate, specializing in crypto and mobile apps, who helped build and scale the Philippines' leading mobile fast-food delivery app. Tornow also hails from Care.com, where she led marketing and international expansion; she also led marketing at Brainly, an online global learning community.

"Blockchain technology has already transformed the global industry, making its best-known impacts in finance, art, and real estate. This new tech remains largely untapped when it comes to innovating the way we learn and what we do with what we learn" says Founder and CEO of Proof of Learn, Sheila Lirio Marcelo.

Proof of Learn's mission is to target students who live in emergent economies such as Southeast Asia, Africa, and Latin America - regions with incredible potential and the need for access to Web3 education and job opportunities. On the employer side, Proof of Learn will give companies the ability to access real-time information about students' credentials, with the goal of transparency and overall meritocracy, improving the efficiency of employment matching across the globe.

Transition to Web3 is an opportunity to narrow the digital divide by equipping lower-income, high-potential people globally with skills to fit the internet's next iteration. "As a team with strong personal ties to developing countries, like the Philippines, we care deeply about creating new education and employment opportunities across the globe," says Sheila.

Proof of Learn connects promising global talent to professional global opportunities, guiding and rewarding that talent during their education and offering employers the best possible professionals to play meaningful, fulfilling roles in the new economy.

About Proof of Learn

Proof of Learn, Inc (POL) is a Web3 education platform with a mission to unlock accessible, high-quality education across the world through blockchain and a learn-to-earn protocol. With a focus on addressing the skills shortage experienced by the Web3 economy, the platform will facilitate learning in the metaverse with cryptocurrency rewards and collectible NFT credentials earned as on-chain representation of skills advancement. The company's vision is to ensure that anyone with an internet connection can gain a world-class online education, as well as direct access to income-earning opportunities and employment via its careers marketplace. View Proof of Learn on CrunchBase.

About Metacrafters

Metacrafters is a multichain learn-to-earn game that teaches users to write smart contracts and build on-chain. Metacrafters invites crafters to a world of wonder, growth, and possibility where developers can access a world-class Web3 education with immediate earning and employment opportunities in the metaverse. It bridges education and an immersive gaming experience that brings the history and lore of blockchain to life. With a learn-to-earn model, developers and engineers are offered grant-funded financial incentives to complete courses as they upskill from Web2 to Web3. Metacrafters is available to the 32 million developers around the globe for whom these new skills may be life-changing and serve to close the significant pay gap between engineers in developed nations and those in emerging markets.

About Sheila Lirio Marcelo

Sheila Lirio Marcelo is the Co-Founder and CEO of Proof of Learn, a Web3 learning platform with a mission to unlock accessible, high-quality education across the world. Prior to POL, Sheila was a Venture Partner at New Enterprise Associates (NEA). In 2006, before joining NEA, she founded Care.com, where she was Chairwoman and CEO until early 2020. Under Marcelo's leadership, Care.com experienced an over 100% year-over-year growth, went public in early 2014, and was sold to IAC in early 2020.

Marcelo has been honored with numerous accolades. She was one of Fortune magazine's "Top 10 Women Entrepreneurs", was recently honored with the esteemed Helen G. Drinan Visionary Leader Award by the Simmons University Institute for Inclusive Leadership, and she is a Henry Crown Fellow @Aspen Institute, a Young Global Leader of the World Economic Forum, a Marshall Memorial Fellowship awardee, and a member of the Council on Foreign Relations.

PRESS CONTACT

Rakia Reynolds

Skai Blue Media

[email protected]

SOURCE Proof of Learn
Michael Fabbro to Lead Growth of Sustainable Aquaculture Venture

AUBURN, N.Y., April 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- LocalCoho, an emerging New York producer of Coho salmon using land-based Recirculated Aquaculture Systems (RAS) technology, has appointed food industry veteran Michael Fabbro as CEO. He succeeds Phil Gibson who has been CEO since 2020 and will continue to serve on the company's Board of Directors.

Michael Fabbro, New CEO LocalCoho LocalCoho Logo

Fabbro, who will also serve on LocalCoho's Board, joins the seafood venture from New Zealand King Salmon Co., where he led the company's North American business. Under his watch, he introduced the company's premium Ora King salmon to the U.S. restaurant industry and its Regal line of packaged smoked salmon to the U.S. grocery market. Earlier, he was Director of Sales and Marketing for Berkeley, Calif.-based Fra' Mani, maker of specialty salumi.

LocalCoho, founded in 2017, had its first salmon harvest at its pilot facility here in 2019. Backed by private funding, the company this year started selling a small volume of its salmon to the wholesale market. Last month, the company was awarded a $500,000 grant from New York State Development toward commercialization of its facilities.

"It is very exciting to be at the beginning stages of salmon aquaculture in this country," says Fabbro. "I look forward to working with our talented and passionate team to advance LocalCoho's mission to build a local seafood company that provides sustainably-raised, premium salmon to American consumers."

Some 75 percent of salmon consumed in the U.S. is imported, and with that comes high costs for shipping and supply chain management, according to Fabbro. "We can supply the local market quickly and efficiently. Local production is great for speed to market and for minimizing our carbon footprint," he says.

"We are fortunate to bring someone with Michael's skills, vision, and operational expertise to lead LocalCoho at a pivotal time in our business. We look forward to benefiting from his insights and leadership as we continue to evolve and execute our strategies," says Robert Tobin, chairman of the board. "On behalf of the entire LocalCoho Board and organization, I want to thank Phil for his service and commitment to transforming LocalCoho over the last two critical Years."

About LocalCoho

LocalCoho is an American salmon company raising Coho salmon in the Finger Lakes Region of New York State. Salmon are grown indoors from egg to harvest using Recirculated Aquaculture Systems technology. This cutting-edge technology aims to optimize resource use and minimize impact on the local environment and wildlife. The company's aim is to innovate and produce healthy, delicious local food for a more sustainable future. LocalCoho has recently started supplying premium salmon to American chefs and consumers throughout the Northeast region. The company is BAP (Best Aquaculture Practices) certified. For more information, go to localcoho.com.

Photos : For photos and LocalCoho logo, click here.

Media Contact

Louise Kramer, [email protected] or 917-734-1563

Instagram: @LocalCoho

Facebook: @LocalCoho

LinkedIn: @LocalCoho

SOURCE LocalCoho
MIAMI, April 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- LiveHire and nextSource announce a formal partnership that offers organizations greater connections to talent. Together, LiveHire and nextSource deliver an innovative direct sourcing solution to address the talent acquisition challenges most organizations are facing today.

The partnership between LiveHire and nextSource delivers a solution that goes beyond traditional direct sourcing talent pools to offer client-specific communities of highly engaged, pre-qualified talent. This collaboration also helps companies build stronger employer brands through a positive candidate experience that keeps extraordinary talent coming back.

"It is an exciting time at nextSource. Coming together with LiveHire, one of the most highly respected direct sourcing platforms in the industry, enables us to build custom curated talent communities that deliver great talent, faster, for our clients and theirs," said Catherine Candland, nextSource's CEO. "As a certified Women-Owned Business Enterprise, we feel especially fortunate to be working LiveHire, an exceptionally innovative partner who shares our intent to drive diversity through curated talent communities."

"nextSource is a true believer in the importance of continued innovation and solution enhancements. This partnership exemplifies their dedication and is a true reflection of our desire to collaborate with companies with common goals," says Christy Forest, CEO and Executive Director at LiveHire.

About LiveHire: LiveHire is a globally leading recruitment and contingent direct sourcing platform - enabling clients to attract and engage both permanent employees and contingent workers to deliver Total Talent and Direct Sourcing solutions. LiveHire offers an award-winning candidate experience and provides talent-on-demand through its unique talent pooling and 2-way text messaging functionality, having successfully enabled end-to-end recruitment from sourcing through to hire of diverse workforces for over 150 clients across 20 verticals globally. For more information, visit www.livehire.com/us.

About nextSource: nextSource advances the way the world connects with talent. As a privately held, woman-owned business with over 20 years' experience, nextSource provides a personalized, intelligent approach to workforce solutions driven by high impact, strong results, and continuous growth. We offer innovative workforce solutions that deliver extraordinary service, efficiency, analytical insight, risk mitigation and improved access to talent that enhances a unified workforce. Solutions offerings include Managed Services Program, Direct Sourcing solutions, Employer of Record services, Independent Contractor Compliance Management, Agent of Record Services, Statement of Work based Project Services Management and Workforce Consulting and Advisory services. For more information, visit www.nextSource.com.

SOURCE LiveHire
With no national police reform legislation in sight, Police2Peace announces grassroots "do no harm" police reform Tweet this

Called the C.A.L.M Approach, the Peace Officer de-escalation training by Con10gency is how police officers can remain Peace Officers when they need to restrain someone.

"De-escalation techniques should be taught to, and used by, every American police officer," said Rick Smith, founder of Con10gency and a retired Peace Officer with nearly three decades of experience with the San Antonio Police Department. "But de-escalation works, until it doesn't. The C.A.L.M. Approach gives officers another tool to use to control violent interactions without harming the person they must arrest. In this way, it is completely consistent with being Peace Officers."

Recently, the C.A.L.M. Approach by Con10gency was taught to the Pasquotank County Sheriff's Office as part of work performed there by Police2Peace and Con10gency following a high profile shooting in 2021.

"A day after the training, our deputy used the C.A.L.M. approach to resolve a dangerous situation peacefully," said Sparty Hammett, the Pasquotank County Manager. "Without the Peace Officer de-escalation training, the situation could have turned out very differently."

ATLAS (Assessment Training Liability & Accountability Software), the Peace Officer body worn camera system, is being used in conjunction with the C.A.L.M Approach.

"ATLAS is a part of the Peace Officer approach because it allows police trainers and supervisors to review their officers' actions in the real world," said ATLAS founder Jonathan Parham a retired Chief of Police and CEO of 360AOR LLC. It enables them to critique officer performance, separate mistakes from misconduct and ensure the agency is providing the officer with all the tools needed to perform their job well."

"The operational mindset of 'Peace Officer,' where officers seek to 'do no harm' may be the most powerful concept in policing today", said Jim Bueermann, a 40+ year veteran of policing, retired police chief and past president of the National Police Foundation. "Peace Officer represents smart, rightful policing in action. Smart, because it is using the evidence about what works to control crime and build community trust and confidence in the police. And rightful, because it aims to control crime with without causing harm to the people the police are paid to protect."

Police2Peace addresses community dissatisfaction with the police to create "Peace Officer" cultural change that is fundamental to police reform. It is a trusted source of programs and policies for departments, municipalities and communities throughout the U.S.

Visit https://police2peace.com/

SOURCE Police2Peace
Student Loan Hero survey finds 26% of borrowers still believe it's at least somewhat likely that the Education Department will cancel their balance before Biden's term ends.

CHARLOTTE, N.C., April 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Fresh off the heels of last week's announcement of an extension of the pause on student loan repayment through August, Student Loan Hero , a LendingTree company, released the findings of its latest survey.

To measure how optimistic student loan borrowers are about their overall debt portfolios and mass student loan forgiveness before the end of President Biden's current term, the online student debt education platform polled more than 1,000 student loan borrowers.

The survey findings indicate that while borrowers' confidence in student loan relief is lessening, more than a quarter of borrowers think it's still somewhat likely all their debt will be forgiven within the next two years.

Key Findings

Student loan borrowers have plummeting expectations that the Biden administration will positively impact their student loan debt. Currently, 42% of borrowers expect a positive impact, down from 69% in December 2020 and 60% in July 2021 .





Currently, 42% of borrowers expect a positive impact, down from 69% in and 60% in . 54% of borrowers say they're managing their student loan debt with forgiveness in mind. For example, 27% are holding off on refinancing if that would limit or erase their forgiveness eligibility. Meanwhile, 14% didn't make payments during the moratorium despite being financially able.





For example, 27% are holding off on refinancing if that would limit or erase their forgiveness eligibility. Meanwhile, 14% didn't make payments during the moratorium despite being financially able. More than a quarter (26%) of borrowers with federal student loans think it's at least somewhat likely all their debt will be forgiven during Biden's current four-year term. That's down from 39% of all borrowers in December 2020 .





That's down from 39% of all borrowers in . 44% of borrowers say federal student loan forgiveness would "completely" improve their financial situation. This percentage climbs even higher among borrowers with doctorates or master's degrees (60%).





55% of borrowers want to see even more changes to the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program, arguing the Biden administration's recent improvements don't go far enough. That said, 33% of borrowers are satisfied with the increased accessibility and don't think further adjustments are needed.

"Despite the helpful student loan freeze on interest and payments that the Biden administration has extended four times, some borrowers have lost hope for further relief. Just 42% now expect additional positive impact arriving from the White House." according to Student Loan Hero certified student loan counselor and student debt expert Andrew Pentis . He adds, "Interestingly, borrowers with a doctorate or a master's degree report having the highest expectations of student loan relief via the Biden administration (57%). That's compared with 43% of bachelor's degree-holders and 34% of associate degree-earners."

To view the full findings, visit: https://studentloanhero.com/featured/mass-student-loan-forgiveness-survey/

Methodology

Student Loan Hero commissioned Qualtrics to conduct an online survey of 1,048 student loan borrowers ages 18-55 from March 2-11, 2022. The survey was administered using a non-probability-based sample, and quotas were used to ensure the sample base represented the overall population. All responses were reviewed by researchers for quality control.

We defined generations as the following ages in 2022:

Generation Z: 18 to 25

Younger millennials: 26 to 35

Older millennials: 36 to 41

Generation X: 42 to 55

About Student Loan Hero

Student Loan Hero , a subsidiary of LendingTree, combines easy-to-use tools with financial education to help the millions of Americans living with student loan debt manage and pay off their loans. The website provides information about repayment options, including refinancing, income-driven repayment, and deferment.

Student Loan Hero has helped more than 250,000 borrowers manage and eliminate over $3.5 billion in student loan debt since 2012 and assists over 3.5 million people in becoming more financially healthy every year.

For more information, visit https://studentloanhero.com .

MEDIA CONTACT

Frankie Rendon

[email protected]

SOURCE Student Loan Hero
OpenWeb's second acquisition of 2022 will connect engaged communities with social advertising experiences across the open internet by equipping publishers and brands with privacy-first tools.

NEW YORK and PARIS, April 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- OpenWeb, the premium audience relationship platform , today announced it has acquired ADYOULIKE , a global advertising platform.

This acquisition connects OpenWeb's network of more than 1,000 top-tier publishers, including Forbes, Newsweek, and Refinery29, with ADYOULIKE's technology, delivering brand placements to engaged communities through innovative social advertising experiences. This acquisition will bolster OpenWeb's positioning as a complete, end-to-end operating system (OS) for the open internet.

ADYOULIKE was launched in Paris in 2011 by Julien Verdier, Yohan Elmaalem, Francis Turner, and Dale Lovell, and today works with over 4,000 brands, agencies, and publishers including The Guardian, Reach, Prisma Media and Groupe Marie-Claire. The acquisition of ADYOULIKE was made by OpenWeb for a mix of cash and stock with a total value of $100M.

"Over the last seven years, OpenWeb has partnered with top-tier media to build thousands of healthy, engaged, loyal communities," said Nadav Shoval, CEO and co-founder of OpenWeb. "Our acquisition of ADYOULIKE will allow us to leverage consent-based, first-party data and connect the most engaged communities on the web with brands, powering a more sustainable web."

ADYOULIKE's established reputation in the European market, and their experienced leadership team, will further propel OpenWeb's scale, providing another entrypoint into the global marketplace. Following the acquisition, Julien Verdier will join OpenWeb's executive team as the company's General Manager of Advertising. ADYOULIKE's more than 70 employees will also join OpenWeb, bringing global headcount to nearly 300, with new offices in Paris and London.

"It's been an incredible experience building ADYOULIKE from the ground up with my co-founders," said Julien Verdier. "Today, we start a new chapter. We are thrilled to join OpenWeba company with a powerful and important missionand our team is excited to find innovative ways to power solutions for the open internet."

To learn more about the acquisition and OpenWeb, please visit OpenWeb's blog here .

About OpenWeb

OpenWeb's mission is to improve online conversation. As a product company, OpenWeb partners with publishers and brands to build strong, direct relationships with their audiences. OpenWeb's technology empowers its partners to build vibrant communities rooted in healthy conversations and robust social experiences. OpenWeb works with more than 1,000 top-tier publishers, hosting more than 100 million active users each month.

Founded in 2012, OpenWeb has over 295 employees in New York City, Tel Aviv, Kiev, San Diego, Canada, London and Paris and is backed by world-class investors including Insight Partners, Georgian, Entree Capital, The New York Times, Samsung Next, Dentsu, and ScaleUp. To date, the company has raised $223 million in funding and is currently valued at over $1 billion. To learn more about OpenWeb's platform visit OpenWeb.com, or follow @OpenWebHQ on LinkedIn and Twitter.

About ADYOULIKE:

ADYOULIKE is an omnichannel digital advertising marketplace bringing together top-tier media, unique formats, and inspiring ads, working with more than 4,000 publishers and 20,000 active advertisers. With locations in Paris, London, and New York and a team of over 70 people, ADYOULIKE has been reinventing advertising and empowering the open internet ecosystem since 2011.

SOURCE OpenWeb
OLOMOUC, Czech Republic , April 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The sun instead of electric furnaces and a cheap nanomaterial instead of gold. This is, in a nutshell, the fundamental principle behind a new process that can speed up and make cheaper the production of a wide range of pharmaceuticals, chemicals, plastics, or dyes. The technology, which also brings a significant reduction in energy costs and is thus a strong response to the current energy crisis, is based on a nanomaterial newly developed by scientists from the Czech Advanced Technology and Research Institute (CATRIN) of Palacky University Olomouc and the Centre of Energy and Environmental Technologies (CEET) of VSB-TUO, in cooperation with colleagues in Greece and Germany. The composition of the nanomaterial resembles common, naturally occurring minerals, yet it can replace noble metals used so far. Potential investors have already expressed their interest in the material. The discovery was recently published in the Nature Nanotechnology journal.1

"In the current geopolitical situation and the related energy crisis, the European Union has no choice but to look for ways to reduce the costs of industrial production and to make maximum use of new green technologies enabling to end our dependence on energy and raw material resources from Russia," said Radek Zboril, the Scientific Director of CATRIN-RCPTM and Head of Materials-Environmental Laboratory at CEET.

A team of Czech researchers, alongside colleagues from the scientific institute FORTH in Heraklion, Greece, and the Leibniz Institute for Catalysis in Rostock, Germany, studied the chemical production processes of aniline compounds, which are widely used in the production of pharmaceuticals, plastics, dyes, and agrochemicals. According to data from MarketWatch, the market for aniline compounds is approximately $12 billion per year, with a significant increase on the way. However, their current industrial production is a very costly process, energetically and financially, as it takes place under high temperatures and pressures, and the acceleration of the chemical reaction requires the use of noble metals such as gold, palladium, or platinum.

"The new technology works with chalcopyrite nanoparticles, a common iron-, copper-, and sulfur-based mineral found not only in the Czech Republic but also in many other locations in Europe, America, and Africa. This nanomaterial is cheap, can be easily produced on an industrial scale, and accelerates chemical reactions more efficiently than the mentioned noble metals, only using solar radiation," said Zboril, describing the advantages of the new technology.

The nanomaterial acts as a so-called plasmonic catalyst. This means that it exhibits a number of unique properties when interacting with sunlight. "Sunlight irradiation induces a cascade of chemical processes in the nanomaterial, with some electrons moving to the surface of the material or even leaving its structure. These 'hot electrons' very effectively activate chemicals that enter industrial production. Simultaneously, the temperature in the immediate surroundings of the nanomaterial increases, which also contributes significantly to the acceleration of the chemical reaction," clarified the nature of the functioning of the nanomaterial Aristeidis Bakandritsos, one of the corresponding authors based in CATRIN Olomouc and CEET Ostrava.

The researchers compared the efficiency of the new system with dozens of commercial materials as well as with recently published catalysts, and observed great results. "The production rate relative to the price of the material is an order of magnitude higher than that of the best competing technologies. Experimentally and theoretically, we have demonstrated that this high efficiency relates to, among other things, the electron structure of the nanomaterial, which harmonically matches the electron structure of other components of the reaction," added Bakandritsos.

The work of Professor Zboril's research team has capitalized upon the recent discovery of a catalyst deploying iron nanoparticles and showing high efficiency in related processes of pharmaceutical and chemical production, which was published by the Czech-German team in the journal Nature Catalysis at the beginning of the year.2 "The new plasmonic material operates on a different principle and has, in our opinion, greater commercial potential, including a dramatic reduction in energy costs, record efficiency, easy and cheap production, and an elegant technological solution. Therefore, before publishing our research results, we decided to protect the technology with an international patent application. This was the right step, and we are already negotiating industrial applications of the technology with potential investors, especially in Germany," concluded Zboril.

1Poulose A.Ch., Zoppellaro G., Konidakis I., Serpetzoglou E., Stratakis E., Tomanec O., Beller M., Bakandritsos A., Zboril R., Fast and selective reduction of nitroarenes under visible light with an earth-abundant plasmonic photocatalyst, NATURE NANOTECHNOLOGY, 2022; https://doi.org/10.1038/s41565-022-01087-3

2 Vishwas G., Senthamarai T., Kadam R., Malina O., Kaslik J., Zboril R., Gawande M. B., Jagadeesh R. V., Beller M., Silica-supported Fe/FeO nanoparticles for the catalytic hydrogenation of nitriles to amines in the presence of aluminium additives", NATURE CATALYSIS, vol. 5, pp. 20-29, 2022. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41929-021-00722-x

SOURCE Palacky University Olomouc
Fast-Growing Infrared Sauna Franchise Signed 28 Franchise Agreements in Markets Across the Country

COSTA MESA, Calif., April 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Perspire Sauna Studio , the rapidly growing infrared and red light therapy (RLT) sauna franchise, is not only raising the temperature; it is raising the bar for emerging brands with a record-breaking first quarter in 2022. The wellness company announced today it signed 28 franchise agreements since the beginning of January, the most it has ever signed in one quarter. Notably, these deals will bring the brand to nine new states in the coming years. In February, Perspire also celebrated its debut in Arizona with the opening of the Gilbert studio, bringing the total number of locations open to 22.

The recently signed agreements will bring Perspire Sauna Studio to several new areas of the United States, including Kansas City, MO; Houston, TX; San Antonio, TX; Phoenix, AZ; Orange County, CA; Park City, UT; and Bozeman, MT among other cities. The franchisees behind these deals come from a variety of backgrounds, including multi-unit franchise owners, as they look for fresh career pivots and to diversify their current portfolios.

"We have seen a surge in interest for our brand over the last couple of years as entrepreneurs are recognizing the need for more wellness services in their communities following the pandemic," said Lee Braun, Founder, and CEO of Perspire Sauna Studio. "Perspire is ready to meet that need. We are excited to help our new franchisees achieve their entrepreneurial dreams and help every person that walks into our studios become the healthiest version of themselves with our cutting-edge infrared saunas."

To support the impending growth, Perspire has hired and promoted several key players at its corporate office. Cory Lyons has been promoted to Vice President of Franchise Development; Shery Christopher will join the leadership team full-time as an Executive Vice President, and Rachel Johnson has been brought onto the team as Accounting Manager.

Perspire's impressive first-quarter continues a hot streak for the brand following a banner year of growth in 2021. Last year, the company opened 8 new studios, including firsts in Chicago, Charlotte, and West Des Moines, and awarded 60 new franchise locations. Combined with the 28 deals secured this past quarter, Perspire has signed 80 franchise agreements with 23 studios currently in development.

Founded in 2010 in Southern California, Perspire Sauna Studio is committed to elevating the mind and body wellness of its guests, offering an experience that is personalized to each individual. Its first-of-its-kind infrared lighting systems enhance the user experience and create a high-quality atmosphere where guests can unwind, relax and achieve their wellness goals. The brand's advanced sauna technology, along with its medical-grade and high-intensity red light therapy bar, are what set it apart in the industry. The experience has demonstrated the ability to improve sleep, boost immunity, burn calories, reduce inflammation, and simply offer a space for people to allow their minds and bodies to feel better. Across the 22 open studios, more than 1 million sauna sessions have been hosted since the company's founding, and the franchise is on track to reach 2 million this year.

To learn more about Perspire Sauna Studio and franchising opportunities, visit https://franchise.perspiresaunastudio.com/.

About Perspire Sauna Studio:

Perspire Sauna Studio is the fastest-growing infrared sauna and red light therapy franchise in the U.S. The science-based, technology-driven, and wellness-seeking company provides guests a modern-day experience to a centuries-old practice, allowing their body and mind to feel refreshed after each session. Founded and led by CEO Lee Braun, Perspire's goal is to expand to major markets throughout the U.S. to further instill its vision of making infrared wellness accessible to all.

Founded in 2010 and based in Southern California, Perspire Sauna Studio currently offers franchise opportunities to qualifying entrepreneurs. For more information, please visit www.perspiresaunastudio.com , and follow the brand on social media @perspiresaunastudio. For franchising information, please contact Cory Lyons, [email protected].

Media Contact: David Robertson, Fishman Public Relations, [email protected] or 847-945-1300

SOURCE Perspire Sauna Studio
2nd annual conference for licensed professionals working with clients on the autism spectrum

EAU CLAIRE, Wis., April 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- PESI Inc., a nonprofit continuing education company that has led the industry for over 40 years, has announced they will be hosting the 2022 Autism Symposium.

The conference offers up to 26.5 continuing education hours, including one hour of ethics-specific credit, to licensed mental health professionals, speech-language pathologists, occupational therapists, and psychiatric nurses. Attendees who view all live sessions and included self-study trainings will be eligible to apply for certification as a Certified Autism Spectrum Disorder Clinical Specialist (ASDCS) through Evergreen Certifications.

This second annual event will be hosted live online April 21st and 22nd. Day one of the symposium kicks off with keynote address "Abilities & Strengths-Based Autism Interventions" from professor and ASD expert Stephen Shore. The day two keynote address, "Navigating Autism with a Strengths-Based Mindset" will be presented by world-renowned scientist and advocate Temple Grandin.

The conference will feature more than 20 experts speaking on neurodiversity-affirming ASD interventions. Other featured sessions include:

Developing Core Competencies as an Autism Specialist Through a Neurodiversity Lens with Jeffrey J. Guenzel, MA, LPC, and Emile Gouws , MEd

with Jeffrey J. Guenzel, MA, LPC, and , MEd Not Just Surviving, but Thriving with Autism with Kim Clairy , OTR/L

with , OTR/L Enhancing Social Communication for Autistic Clients with Barry Prizant , PhD, CCC-SLP

with , PhD, CCC-SLP Dissecting the Brain-Gut Connection to Address Sensorimotor Concerns for Autistic Children with Varleisha Gibbs, PhD, OTD, OTR/L, ASDCS

with Varleisha Gibbs, PhD, OTD, OTR/L, ASDCS Racial Disparities and Neurodivergence in Autism with Robert Naseef , PhD, and Michael Hannon , PhD, LAC, NCC

with , PhD, and , PhD, LAC, NCC Helping Autistic Clients Relate and Communicate through DIR/Floortime with Gil Tippy , PsyD

with , PsyD Techniques for After an Autism Meltdown with Kathy Kaluza Morris , MEd, BS

Recordings of live sessions will be available for 30 days after the event for review. For professionals who are unable to attend live, an on-demand version of the conference will be available 4-6 weeks after it occurs. The recording package is available for pre-order now.

About PESI, Inc

PESI, Inc. is a nonprofit organization committed to creating superior continuing education programs for counselors, social workers, psychologists, nurses, and other mental health professionals.

Designed to be adaptable and convenient for all learning styles, PESI trainings include online courses, live and home study webinars, and hundreds of free resources and CE hours. Plus, it's easy to access trainings, and satisfy state CE requirements, using the PESI app.

Media Contact

Cyndi Cathey

[email protected]

SOURCE PESI Inc
"Our business has doubled in the past year as we have broadened our solution to handle conversations occurring between brands and consumers across the entire customer lifecycle from pre-purchase to post-sale, both with human agents and conversational AI," said Mike Myer, CEO and founder of Quiq. "Customers don't want to make purchases or interact with customer service like they did even a year ago. Phone and email volumes continue to decline, replaced by text messaging. Innovative brands are engaging customers in conversation during a purchase journey to find the right product and help complete the purchase within the same conversation. Additionally, when the customer needs support later on, brands are available 24/7 with conversational AI that achieves high customer satisfaction scores. I am so proud of what we have developed so far in our journey to the next generation of customer engagement and I am excited to be able to use this funding to accelerate our progress."

Quiq currently works with more than 200 leading brands across many industries  retail/e-commerce, consumer services, travel and hospitality, consumer finance and online gaming  demonstrating the applicability of the Quiq Conversational AI Platform to every B2C enterprise. By using Quiq's CRM integrations with Salesforce, Zendesk, Microsoft, and Oracle, brands are able to utilize existing processes and customer data while modernizing the ways they communicate with their customers. View a short video of how Quiq works here.

Recently named one of the fastest growing companies in the Rocky Mountain region by Inc. Magazine , Quiq's approach to landing large enterprises demonstrates the value of Quiq's platform and the power of messaging  an approach that has led to expansions of three to 70 times the value of the initial engagement.

Additionally, overall conversation volume on the Quiq platform has increased six-fold since early 2020 and conversations per client have increased by 300%. Quiq has developed strong strategic alliances with business process outsourcing (BPO) and system integrators (SIs), contact center consultants and chatbot vendors, with 40% of new business now driven from alliance partners.

The investment in Quiq highlights the "Consumerization of the Enterprise," a core thesis of Baird Capital's technology investments and the firm's history with related customer experience and marketing technology platforms. "Quiq is not just changing how businesses interact with their customers; they are transforming Customer Experience from something static to something dynamic that makes customers feel valued and heard," said Benedict Rocchio, Partner at Baird Capital. "Baird Capital is excited to be part of this transformation and to watch the Quiq footprint grow through this partnership."

"Consumers in the US are increasingly comfortable using conversational interfaces  including chat and messaging  to get information, communicate with brands, and even make purchases," according to a March 2022 report by analysts at Forrester Research . Additionally, according to Forrester's 2021 Moments Map, "50% of U.S. online adults use chat to make purchases, and the level of use only increases among younger demographics, peaking with 25- to 34-year-olds at 62%. Beyond a desire to shop from the convenience of a device, consumers are also turning to chat to receive real-time clarifications on questions they may have around the product, shipping, and more."

About Quiq

Quiq is the AI-powered Conversational Platform enabling businesses to engage with customers across the most popular digital messaging channels. Trusted by leading brands and boasting a 56 NPS score, Quiq's enterprise-grade Conversational Platform supports SMS/text, Apple Messages for Business, Google's Business Messages, webchat, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, call-to-text, and more. Quiq provides the leading solutions for business communications for the world's best commerce and care teams. Quiq for Commerce and Quiq for Customer Care combine Conversational AI and digital contact center to help commerce and service teams increase efficiency, drive revenue, and improve customer satisfaction. Strong ethics and a focus on the shared success of our customers, partners and employees are the foundation of Quiq's business

Headquartered in Bozeman, Montana, with an office in New York City, Quiq is a privately held company backed by Baird Capital, Foundry Group, Venrock and Next Frontier Capital. Follow us on LinkedIn , Twitter , Facebook and Instagram , or learn more at https://quiq.com .

About Baird Capital

Baird Capital makes venture capital, growth equity and private equity investments in strategically targeted sectors around the world. Having invested in more than 330 companies over its history, Baird Capital partners with entrepreneurs and, leveraging its executive networks, strives to build exceptional companies. Baird Capital provides operational support to its portfolio companies through teams on the ground in the United States, Europe and Asia, a proactive portfolio operations team and a deep network of relationships, which together strive to deliver enhanced shareholder value. Baird Capital is the direct private investment arm of Robert W. Baird & Co. For more information, please visit BairdCapital.com.

All trademarks contained herein are the property of their respective owners.

SOURCE Quiq
Sources: 1. SPINS Total US MULO, excluding Costco, dollar sales for 4-week and 12-week ending March 20, 2022. All comparisons in this paragraph are to the same measured period in the prior year. 2. The "Overall Frozen Category" and "Health & Wellness Frozen" category excludes Frozen and Refrigerated Meat, Poultry & Seafood.

About The Real Good Food Company

Founded in 2016, Real Good Foods believes there is a better way to enjoy our favorite foods. Its brand commitment, "Real Food You Feel Good About Eating," represents the Company's strong belief that, by eating its food, consumers can enjoy more of their favorite foods and, by doing so, live better lives as part of a healthier lifestyle. Its mission is to make nutritious comfort foods that are low in carbohydrates, high in protein, and made from gluten and grain free real ingredients more accessible to everyone, improve human health, and, in turn, improve the lives of millions of people. Real Good Foods offers delicious options across breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacking occasions available, in over 16,000 stores nationwide, including Walmart, Costco, Kroger, and Target, and directly from its website at www.realgoodfoods.com . Learn more about Real Good Foods by visiting its website or on Instagram at @realgoodfoods, where it has one of the largest social media followings of any brand within the frozen food industry today with nearly 420,000 followers.

For interviews with Bryan Freeman, Executive Chairman, email [email protected].

Media Contact

Nikole Johnston

[email protected]

Investor Contact

Chris Bevenour

[email protected]

SOURCE Real Good Foods Company
STOCKHOLM, April 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Lumber trade flows changed almost instantly when Russia invaded Ukraine in late February. Trade sanctions and restrictions in financial transactions by Europe, North America, and major markets in Asia halted shipments from Russia and Belarus. In addition, exports from Ukraine were also disrupted. The total lumber exports from the three countries in the war zone were 34 million m3 in 2021. Over 25% of that volume was exported to countries with current sanctions against Russia and Belarus. In addition, the two major wood certification organisations, FSC and PEFC, have labeled all timber from the two countries as "conflict timber." The removal of the labeling means that the timber cannot be used in certified products, which will impact any country buying wood from Russia and Belarus and manufacturing certified products, e.g., lumber, plywood, pulp, and paper for sales worldwide.

The total volume of softwood lumber that is now unlikely to reach the market in Europe and Asia (outside China) because of sanctions is an estimated 10 million m3, or just over 30% of the total export volume shipped from Belarus, Russia, and Ukraine in 2021, reports the Wood Resource Quarterly. In addition, lumber sold to customers in China that require certified wood for manufacturing forest products targeting Europe and North America will no longer be available from Russia. Europe, which imported 8.5 million m3 of softwood lumber from the three countries in 2021, will be the hardest hit, as the lumber import volume accounted for close to 10 percent of the total consumption on the continent in 2021.

Although the Chinese government has not set up any barriers to trade between them and Russia, it is still conceivable that there will be interruptions in shipments between the two neighbors. Some of the factors that may reduce trade even with countries that have no sanctions with Russia and Belarus include:

Foreign investors in the Russian forest industry may withdraw their presence and financial funding, making it more challenging to produce and export to any market.

A weak Russian Rouble (down over 20% in three weeks since the war started) will make importing equipment and spare parts for logging companies and forest product manufacturers very costly.

The removal of Russian banks from the international payment transaction system SWIFT will complicate payments for exported Russian products and imports of most equipment for the forest industry, from timber harvesters and forwarders to machinery for sawmills, plywood mills, and pulp mills.

Russian manufacturers of pulp, paper, plywood, and lumber can no longer offer PEFC or FSC certified products.

Global trade flows of forest products have already changed significantly and will continue to change due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Even when peace is ultimately reached, it is improbable that trade will revert to pre-war patterns.

Are you interested in the worldwide wood products market information? The Wood Resource Quarterly is a 75-page quarterly report established in 1988 and has subscribers in over 30 countries. The publication tracks prices for sawlog, pulpwood, lumber, and pellets and reports on trade and wood market developments in key regions worldwide. For more insights on the latest international forest product market trends, please visit www.WoodPrices.com

CONTACT:

Wood Resources International LLC

Hakan Ekstrom

[email protected]

www.woodprices.com

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

https://news.cision.com/wood-resources-international-llc/r/sanctions-against-russian-exports-will-permanently-alter-the-global-trade-of-forest-products,c3535331

The following files are available for download:

https://mb.cision.com/Main/1902/3535331/1556026.pdf WRI-Market Insights 2022 - Russian forest products exports Mar 2022

SOURCE Wood Resources International LLC
Award recognizes executive leaders in Local who have risen to the challenge, led by example, and adapted to change, all while supporting their employees, local businesses, and community

SALT LAKE CITY, April 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Scorpion , a leading provider of technology and services helping local businesses thrive, today announced that its COO Raj Ramanan was named among the five winners of the 2022 Localogy Leaders award, recognizing Ramanan's unparalleled leadership over the last year.

The 2022 Localogy Leadership Awards spotlights executives driving innovation in their organizations, client communities, and the marketplace at large. These winners, including Ramanan, have led the charge through another year of curveballs and pitfalls, launching new products and services, merging or acquiring, shifting operations, and pivoting  all while earning the respect and admiration of their staff.

"We are proud that Raj was honored by Localogy for driving ongoing innovations that help our clients succeed," said Rustin Kretz, Scorpion's Chief Executive Officer. "Raj is an extremely effective leader who constantly sets the bar higher for our teams to create the best possible outcomes for our clients. His leadership helps ensure that we continue to provide local businesses with the best-in-class technology and solutions that help them succeed in increasingly complex and crowded marketplaces."

"I am honored to receive this recognition from the preeminent organization that understands and serves the needs of local businesses around the country," said Raj Ramanan, Chief Operating Officer, Scorpion. "My philosophy continues to be that the key to customer success is employee success. I would like to thank the Scorpion team for their significant and valuable contributions toward propelling Scorpion to be the leader in technology and services that help our local customers succeed."

Ramanan and Scorpion Chief Experience Officer Julia Cook are slated to speak at Localogy 2022 this Spring. Ramanan will take the stage on April 25, 2022, where he will sit down with customers and discuss how they are navigating the continued financial challenges wrought by the pandemic. Cook will participate the same day in a Leadership Roundtable to discuss the silver-lining benefits of the pandemic for local professionals.

About Scorpion

Scorpion is the leading provider of technology and services helping local businesses thrive. It helps local service providers understand their unique market dynamics, maximize their marketing efforts, and delight their customers. Scorpion offers SEO, Reviews, Advertising, Email Marketing, Chat and Messaging, Social Media, Websites, Lead Management, Appointment Scheduling, and more. The company brings everything together in a way that's easy to understand and manage, blending AI and teams of real people with vertical expertise to support customers in setting, measuring, and reaching their goals.

Scorpion is Headquartered in the Salt Lake City area, with offices in California, Texas, and New York. For more information, please visit https://www.scorpion.co/about-us/ .

Contact

Hayley Lavin

[email protected]

SOURCE Scorpion
LFN Community publishes white paper highlighting cybersecurity efforts

Telecom, Cloud and Enterprise align with 5G Super Blue Print across ONAP, Anuket, EMCO, Magma, ORAN-SC and more projects as Enterprise eBFP project, L3AF, is inducted into LF Networking

ATOS, GenXComm, Keysight Technologies and Telaverge Communications join LFN as Silver members

SAN FRANCISCO, April 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- LF Networking , which facilitates collaboration and operational excellence across open source networking projects, today announced continued momentum focused on re-aggregation, with updates to security, 5G blueprints, and the addition of four new Silver members: ATOS, GenXComm, Keysight Technologies, and Telaverge Communications.

"As the LF Networking community rolls into its fourth year as an umbrella project organization, we are pleased to see robust efforts focused on securing 5G across multiple project & foundations as we welcome even more industry-leading organizations to the project," said Arpit Joshipura, general manager, Networking, Edge and IoT, the Linux Foundation. "It's the robust and diverse set of member companies that enable LFN's collaborative innovation into the future of 5G and networking."

5G Super Blue Print Ecosystem Expands

The community is making progress with the 5G Super Blueprint, a community-driven integration/illustration of multiple open source initiatives, projects, and vendors coming together to show use cases demonstrating implementation architectures for end users. The 5G Super Blueprint is now integrated across even more projectsincluding Magma (1.6), EMCO, and Anuketbuilding open source components applicable to a variety of industry use cases. Preliminary scoping for future integrations with the O-RAN Software Community have begun, setting the stage for end-to-end open source interoperability from the core through the RAN and future compliance activities.

Meanwhile, the L3AF project has been inducted into the LF Networking umbrella, as membership expands further across the ecosystem with new Silver members.

L3AF is an open source project, developed by Walmart, housing cutting-edge solutions in the realm of eBPF (a revolutionary technology that allows us to run sandboxed programs in an operating system kernel) that provides complete life-cycle management of eBPF programs with the help of an advanced control plane that has been written in Golang. The control plane orchestrates and composes independent eBPF programs across the network infrastructure to solve crucial business problems. L3AF's eBPF programs include load-balancing, rate limiting, traffic mirroring, flow exporter, packet manipulation, performance tuning, and many more. L3AF joined the Linux Foundation in fall of 2021 and has now been inducted into the LF Networking project umbrella.

New LFN Silver members include:

ATOS , a multi-vendor end-to-end system integrator in both IT and telecom network space; specialized in multi-cloud solutions, edge and MEC, 5G-enabled applications with an AI/ML focus, cybersecurity, and decarbonization.

, a multi-vendor end-to-end system integrator in both IT and telecom network space; specialized in multi-cloud solutions, edge and MEC, 5G-enabled applications with an AI/ML focus, cybersecurity, and decarbonization. GenXComm Inc.'s mission is to deliver limitless computing power, fast connectivity, and on-demand intelligence to every location on Earth

Inc.'s mission is to deliver limitless computing power, fast connectivity, and on-demand intelligence to every location on Earth Keysight Technologies, Inc. is a leading technology company that delivers advanced design and validation solutions to help accelerate innovation to connect and secure the world

Technologies, Inc. is a leading technology company that delivers advanced design and validation solutions to help accelerate innovation to connect and secure the world Telaverge Communications is the leader in complete Network Test Automation Orchestration and Digital Transformation products (Regal for Containers and Cloud) designed for enterprises, operators and OEM's. Telaverge's open source based private LTE and 5G cores are pre-integrated with Regal for zero touch testing and deployment.

A full list of LFN member organizations can be found here:

https://www.lfnetworking.org/membership/members/

LFN Security White Paper

Highlighting its security efforts to help secure open source networking against cybersecurity attacks, the community published a white paper titled "Securing Open Source 5G from End to End" that is now available for download.

"A unique advantage of developing software in the open is more eyes on the code; when it comes to security, that translates to large groups of experts who can propose improvements and enhancements in a faster, more scalable fashion-- and that is true for LFN," said Amy Zwarico, vice chair of the ONAP Security subcommittee. "Community collaboration via security working groups and sub-committees to address secure software development practices, SBOMs, DDoS mitigation and other threats are just some of the steps LFN is taking to create code that can be trusted to run our networks."

At a time when the United States White House has issued multiple Executive Orders to address cybersecurity and supply chain attacks, the LFN community continues to take steps to ensure open source networking is secure. The group is publishing a white paper to outline its security strategies, including the formation of security-focused committees and subcommittees; development and adoption of security Software Bill of Materials (SBOM); OpenSSF badging; and use of the LFX Platform's Security Dashboard to enable developers to identify and resolve vulnerabilities quickly and easily; and more. Download the white paper for more information.

Upcoming Events

The LF Networking developer community will host the LFN Developer & Testing Forum this Spring, taking place June 13-16, in Porto, Portugal. Registration for that event is open, with more details to come.

Open Networking & Edge (ONE) Summit North America will take place November 15-16 in Seattle, Wash. The event will be followed by a two-day LFN Developer & Testing Forum (Nov 17-18) in the same venue. The Open Networking & Edge Summit is the industry's premier open networking and edge computing event focused on end to end solutions powered by open source in the Telco, Cloud, and Enterprise verticals. Attendees will learn how to leverage open source ecosystems and gain new insights for digital transformation. More information will be available soon.

Support from new members

"The mission of Atos is to support our customers throughout a multitude of industry sectors on their edge-to-cloud journey. We help telecom customers leverage cloud synergies between their IT and their network, and introduce new edge computing and 5G MEC services. We are excited about ONAP and other programs of the LFN, as they facilitate exactly these synergies in a growing market."

"Keysight is pleased to join LF Networking as a silver member and contribute to an ecosystem with the common goal of advancing technology and innovation built on open source software and standards," said Kalyan Sundhar, vice president of Edge-to-Core Networks at Keysight Technologies. "Keysight leverages open source standards for end-to-end network harmonization produced by the LF Networking community to enable this ecosystem to cost-effectively accelerate protocol and performance design validation."

About the Linux Foundation

Founded in 2000, the Linux Foundation is supported by more than 2,000 members and is the world's leading home for collaboration on open source software, open standards, open data, and open hardware. Linux Foundation's projects are critical to the world's infrastructure including Linux, Kubernetes, Node.js, and more. The Linux Foundation's methodology focuses on leveraging best practices and addressing the needs of contributors, users and solution providers to create sustainable models for open collaboration. For more information, please visit linuxfoundation.org .

The Linux Foundation Events are where the world's leading technologists meet, collaborate, learn and network in order to advance innovations that support the world's largest shared technologies.

The Linux Foundation has registered trademarks and uses trademarks. For a list of trademarks of The Linux Foundation, please see its trademark usage page: www.linuxfoundation.org/trademark-usage. Linux is a registered trademark of Linus Torvalds.

Media Contact

Jill Lovato

The Linux Foundation

[email protected]

SOURCE LF Networking
ABU DHABI, UAE, April 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Securrency Capital, a broker-dealer based in the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), today announced that it has secured a Financial Services Permission (FSP) from ADGM's Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) to deal in investments as a matched principal and provide custody for those investments. The license enables Securrency Capital to provide trading of digital assets to a variety of clients, including retail clients.

"We are honored to have been granted an FSP by ADGM as a Category 3A brokerage," said Amir Tabch, Chairman and CEO of Securrency Capital. "With this license, we will be able to leverage Securrency's unparalleled proprietary asset tokenization technology, which automates multi-jurisdictional compliance and financial services and enables the movement of regulated value at the speed of tomorrow."

Securrency Capital is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Securrency, Inc., a US-based global financial markets infrastructure technology company that has developed best-in-class proprietary digital asset technology supporting the issuance, governance, and life cycle management of regulatory-compliant tokens, including clawback of value in the event of theft or fraud. Securrency, Inc. works closely with world-class institutional banking partners and leading asset managers to enable their seamless transition into the digital assets space. Securrency's deep technology stack, coupled with Securrency Capital's on-chain identity services, allows for secure, transparent ownership of tokenized assets.

"Being based in the ADGM has allowed us to leverage the wealth of knowledge from the regional firms, as well as the sophistication of our regulator, the FSRA, to deliver a global marketplace and distribution network for finding and trading all types of digital assets," explained Phil Langton, COO at Securrency Capital. "Securrency Capital is now at the forefront of migrating traditional trading on blockchain networks and opening up new distribution channels to the multichain ecosystem and the metaverse. We are confident that we have built a strong foundation on which to grow and look forward to expanding our global footprint with the implementation of our partnership framework and our technology partnership with Securrency."

"ADGM is a rapidly growing world-class financial center," added John Hensel, Chief Operating Officer of Securrency, Inc. "Securrency Capital will be at the center of the dynamic and rapidly-growing digital assets marketplace in ADGM for which retail and institutional clients have been waiting. We are proud of Amir and his team at Securrency Capital and look forward to supporting their rapid growth."

ADGM has built and aims to maintain an accessible and secure international financial center that nurtures innovation, promotes market transparency and trust, and encourages sustainable growth and stability. The receipt of its FSP from the ADGM's responsible and pragmatic regulator affirms Securrency Capital's commitment to be a trusted partner who can provide quality and reliable digital asset services in this ecosystem and globally.

Securrency Capital's FSP will enable it to achieve its goal of offering a transparent and reliable platform through which global investors can trade digital assets. As a firm founded with an ethos of responsibility and compliance, Securrency Capital consistently interacts with regulatory bodies to firmly establish the level of trust needed to assure those new to the digital financial assets market.

"ADGM's regulatory approval is a significant milestone for us," said Praveer Pinto, Compliance Director at Securrency Capital. "We intend to use this as a foundation to further our commitment to achieving compliance with our regulatory requirements and playing our part in maintaining the integrity of the financial services ecosystem for our clients and the community."

Securrency Capital's platform is expected to go live soon after securing additional approvals from the FSRA.

About Securrency Capital:

Securrency Capital is a full-service regulated institutional DeFi brokerage firm that offers both traditional and digital financial services to retail and institutional clients via a single, accessible marketplace. By embracing Blockchain technology, Securrency Capital aims to deliver greater liquidity, wider distribution, improved connectivity, and better security for its clients in managing their portfolios and investment decisions. Securrency Capital provides a comprehensive digital lifecycle experience for clients, including asset issuance, share registry maintenance, and corporate actions on the chain, as well as facilitating the purchase and sale of digital and traditional assets and securities.

Securrency Capital is registered in the Abu Dhabi Global Market and is regulated by the Financial Services Regulatory Authority.

For more information, please visit the website at http://securrencycapital.com.

About Securrency:

Securrency is a financial markets infrastructure technology company focused on enhancing capital formation and stimulating global liquidity. Securrency is driving change at the core of financial services via a fully-interoperable distributed identity and compliance framework and a state-of-the-art infrastructure designed to streamline financial transactions globally and to bridge legacy financial platforms to blockchain networks. One of the most advanced regulatory technology providers in the industry, Securrency has developed compliance tools that automate enforcement of multi-jurisdictional regulatory policy. These tools provide transparency and consistency to strengthen investor confidence and provide regulators increased oversight of market activity.

For more information, please visit the website at http://securrency.com.

Follow Securrency on LinkedIn and Twitter.

About Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM):

Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), an international financial centre (IFC) located in the capital city of the United Arab Emirates, opened for business on 21 October 2015. Established by a UAE Federal Decree as a broad-based financial centre, ADGM augments Abu Dhabi's position as a global trade and business hub serving as a strategic link between the growing economies of the Middle East, Africa and South Asia and the rest of the world.

ADGM's strategy is anchored by Abu Dhabi's key strengths spanning over private banking, wealth management, asset management, derivatives and commodities trading, financial innovation, sustainability and more. Comprising four independent authorities: ADGM Authority, ADGM Courts, the Financial Services Regulatory Authority and the Registration Authority, ADGM as an IFC governs the entire 114 hectares (1.14sqkm) of Al Maryah Island which is a designated financial free zone.

It enables registered financial and non-financial institutions, companies and entities to operate, innovate and succeed within an international regulatory framework based on common law. Since its inception, ADGM has been awarded the "Financial Centre of the Year (MENA)" for four consecutive years for its initiatives and contributions to the financial and capital markets industry in the region.*

For more details on ADGM, please visit www.adgm.com or follow us on Twitter and Instagram: @adglobalmarket and LinkedIn: @Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM).

*Source: The Global Investor Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Awards.

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1724019/Securrency_Capital_Logo.jpg

For enquiries:

[email protected]



SOURCE Securrency Capital
NEW YORK, April 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Senvest Management, LLC ("Senvest"), a $3.1 billion investment management firm focused on contrarian, value-based investment strategies, announced today the appointment of Christopher Venezia as Head of Business Development. Mr. Venezia will lead Senvest's marketing strategy and fundraising efforts as well as oversee investor relations.

Mr. Venezia spent 15 years at Glenview Capital Management as Partner of Marketing and Investor Relations, where he was responsible for capital raising, marketing, and investor communications. Prior to Glenview Capital Management, Mr. Venezia was in Institutional Sales at JP Morgan Chase & Co.

"Senvest has a long history of delivering superior returns and we are thrilled to have Chris join our team to lead our business development strategy," said Rich Mashaal, Founder and Co-CIO of Senvest.

Brian Gonick, Co-CIO of Senvest, added, "Chris has a long and successful career in business development & investor relations and he will be an instrumental part of our team as we continue to position ourselves for long-term success and growth."

"Senvest's 25-year track record of success and unique, research intensive-culture positions it well for growth with investors including endowments and foundations, family offices, sovereign wealth funds and pension plans," said Mr. Venezia. "The team is extremely talented and I could not be more excited to join the firm."

Mr. Venezia holds an MBA from Vanderbilt University and a BBA in Business Administration from James Madison University. Mr. Venezia is a CFA charter holder.

About Senvest Management

Senvest Management ("Senvest"), an established registered investment advisor with a 25-year track record, manages approximately $3.1 billion in AUM. Senvest employs a fundamental, contrarian, research-driven and value-based investment strategy. The firm invests primarily in equities (both long and short), but may also take positions throughout the capital structure. Senvest's investor base is comprised of endowments, foundations, family offices, high net worth individuals, and pension plans, along with significant internal capital. Senvest is headquartered in New York City.

Contact

ASC Advisors

Steve Bruce, Mary Beth Grover

[email protected] / [email protected]

203-992-1230

SOURCE Senvest Management
NEW YORK, April 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Pomerantz LLP is investigating claims on behalf of investors of AbbVie Inc. ("AbbVie" or the "Company") (NYSE: ABBV). Such investors are advised to contact Robert S. Willoughby at [email protected] or 888-476-6529, ext. 7980.

The investigation concerns whether AbbVie and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices.

[Click here for information about joining the class action]

On September 1, 2021, the United States Food and Drug Administration ("FDA") announced that final results from the safety trial of Xeljanz, an anti-inflammatory drug manufactured Pfizer Inc., established an increased risk of serious adverse events, even with low doses of Xeljanz. As a result, the FDA determined that it would require new and updated warnings for Xeljanz and Rinvoq, an anti-inflammatory drug manufactured by AbbVie, because Rinvoq "share[s] similar mechanisms of action with Xeljanz" and "may have similar risks as seen in the Xeljanz safety trial." The FDA also indicated that it would further limit approved indications for Rinvoq as a result of these safety concerns.

On this news, AbbVie's stock price fell $8.51 per share, or 7.04%, to close at $112.27 per share on September 1, 2021.

Pomerantz LLP, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Paris, and Tel Aviv, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, Pomerantz pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 85 years later, Pomerantz continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomlaw.com.

CONTACT:

Robert S. Willoughby

Pomerantz LLP

[email protected]

888-476-6529 ext. 7980

SOURCE Pomerantz LLP
NEW YORK, April 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Pomerantz LLP is investigating claims on behalf of investors of Gatos Silver, Inc. ("Gatos" or the "Company") (NYSE: GATO). Such investors are advised to contact Robert S. Willoughby at [email protected] or 888-476-6529, ext. 7980.

The investigation concerns whether Gatos and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices.

[Click here for information about joining the class action]

On January 25, 2022, post-market, Gatos issued a press release disclosing that "[d]uring the Company's resource and reserve update process for the Los Gatos Joint Venture ("LGJV") . . . the Company concluded that there were errors in the technical report entitled 'Los Gatos Project, Chihuahua, Mexico' with an effective date of July 1, 2020 (the '2020 Technical Report'), as well as indications that there is an overestimation in the existing resource model." Accordingly, "[o]n a preliminary basis, the Company estimates a potential reduction of the metal content of CLG's mineral reserve ranging from 30% to 50% of the metal content remaining after depletion" and advised that "the mineral resource and reserve estimates in the 2020 Technical Report should not be relied upon."

On this news, Gatos' stock price fell $7.02 per share, or 68.89% percent to close at $3.17 per share on January 26, 2022.

Pomerantz LLP, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Paris, and Tel Aviv, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, Pomerantz pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 85 years later, Pomerantz continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomlaw.com.

CONTACT:

Robert S. Willoughby

Pomerantz LLP

[email protected]

888-476-6529 ext. 7980

SOURCE Pomerantz LLP
NEW YORK, April 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Pomerantz LLP is investigating claims on behalf of investors of Twitter, Inc. ("Twitter" or the "Company") (NYSE: TWTR). Such investors are advised to contact Robert S. Willoughby at [email protected] or 888-476-6529, ext. 7980.

The investigation concerns whether Twitter and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices.

[Click here for information about joining the class action]

On April 4, 2022, Elon Musk ("Musk") disclosed in a U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") filing that he owned 9.2% of Twitter stock. On this news, Twitter's stock price rose $10.66 per share, or 27.12%, to close at $49.97 per share on April 4, 2022.

Then, on April 5, 2022, in another SEC filing, Musk disclosed that he had purchased more than 5% of Twitter stock on March 14, 2022, which, per applicable SEC rules, should have been disclosed by March 24, 2022. The same April 5, 2022 filing also indicated that Musk had acquired approximately 13.1 million Twitter shares at an average price of $39.06 per share after March 24, 2022, and before Twitter's stock price rose to $49.97 per share on April 4, 2022, thereby potentially saving him millions of dollars at the expense of other investors that could have sold their Twitter stock at a higher price, had they been similarly and timely informed of Musk's large stake in the Company.

Pomerantz LLP, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Paris, and Tel Aviv, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, Pomerantz pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 85 years later, Pomerantz continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomlaw.com.

CONTACT:

Robert S. Willoughby

Pomerantz LLP

[email protected]

888-476-6529 ext. 7980

SOURCE Pomerantz LLP
Three Newly Reimagined Properties in Toronto and Montreal Begin Momentum in the Great White North for the Brand's Global Design Transformation Journey

BETHESDA, Md., April 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The new look of Sheraton Hotels & Resorts is enlivened in Canada, signaling renewed optimism following one of the most challenging times for the travel sector. Sheraton, the most global brand within Marriott Bonvoy's portfolio, is debuting its new modernized look with extensive renovations at three flagship properties in Canada  Sheraton Gateway Hotel in Toronto International Airport, Sheraton Centre Toronto Hotel, and Le Centre Sheraton Montreal Hotel. These hotels join the growing number of properties around the world exemplifying the brand's design transformation, with nearly 50 hotels expected to be completed by year's end.

The brands new design approach is built upon creating community-fluid spaces that feel warm and inviting. Pictured above: Sheraton Gateway Hotel in Toronto International Airport.

"This marks another significant moment for Sheraton as our new vision arrives in Canada and continues to build momentum for our transformation journey around the world," said Amanda Nichols, Global Brand Leader, Sheraton Hotels & Resorts. "We have long been part of the social fabric of communities across Canada and as travel resumes, we look forward to welcoming guests into this exciting new chapter for Sheraton."

Drawing on its roots as a community hub for locals and guests, the new approach for Sheraton creates an intuitive and holistic experience with spaces to connect, be productive, and help travelers feel connected to the local community. In addition to seamless technology integration and an elevated food and beverage philosophy, the layered design balances a sense of timelessness with a fresh and modern feel, that aims to create an environment where guests feel comfortable and at ease, whether working, meeting or relaxing.

Sheraton Gateway Hotel in Toronto International Airport: Ready for Take-Off

Following nearly two years of renovation work, Sheraton Gateway Hotel in Toronto International Airport is ready to debut a dramatically different airport hotel experience. The 484-room hotel, one of Canada's busiest, has undergone a massive $30 million makeover bringing technology, design, and style to the international stopover, as part of Sheraton's global design transformation. The renovation, now fully complete, is the latest example of an emerging generation of airport hotels that are intended to function as destinations, places where one might reasonably stay longer than a single night.

A captivating new arrival experience greets guests as they walk from the terminal through the doors of the hotel, the only property directly connected to the Toronto airport. Featuring a contemporary aesthetic, the lobby serves as the heart of the guest experience featuring brand signatures such as the Community Table, The Studios, sound-proof Booths  all fostering productivity, and &More by Sheraton  the brand's signature bar, coffee, market concept. Additional amenities include a sophisticated Sheraton Club lounge, swimming pool and whirlpool, 24-hour fitness room and Peloton studio, updated meeting spaces, and completely remodeled guest rooms and suites.

"The transformation is nothing short of a metamorphosis," says Douglas Brennan, General Manager, Sheraton Gateway in Toronto International Airport. "We're excited to welcome guests to discover our modernized look."

Sheraton Centre Toronto Hotel: Marks 50th Anniversary with Complete Reimagining

Toronto's iconic Sheraton Centre Toronto Hotel has been a staple in the downtown core for decades. The hotel has been completely reimagined with renovations and enhancements from top to bottom that continue to roll out throughout 2022 and mark the most extensive renovation in the hotel's 50-year history.

As part of the first phase of the property's reimagining, the exclusive Sheraton Club  floating in the clouds on the 43rd floor  welcomed a new look, experience, and service style in October. Available to Marriott Bonvoy Elite members and guests who upgrade their stay, the premium 15,000 square-foot gathering space is welcoming, elevated, and purposefully designed for a layered and engaging experience that transitions seamlessly with activations from morning to evening. Guests will find updated food and beverage offerings, premium amenities, enhanced connectivity, and 24/7 access to provide a private environment.

The second phase introduces two new food and beverage outlets including the recently opened Dual Citizen  a coffeehouse style grab and go during the day, transitioning to a lobby bar in the evenings. Opening this spring, 43 Down will be a departure from the traditional hotel restaurant. With its beverage-forward concept, 43 Down focuses on mixology as an art form, delivering perfectly on the classics through handcrafted cocktails. Offering locally inspired flavors from Toronto's diverse culinary scene, 43 Down blends intimacy and connectedness, acting as a backdrop for an informal business meeting or social gathering.

The final phases are expected to roll out this spring with the unveiling of public spaces and amenities that foster community-building and productivity. This can be seen through the bustling spaces featuring the brand's signature Community Tables, tech-enabled Studios, and soundproofed Booths, and purpose-built workspaces, found in the expansive hotel lobby. Additionally, the indoor/outdoor heated pool experience is slated to re-open summer 2022.

"It's been an incredible journey watching the vision come to life. We're bringing something entirely new to Toronto's downtown core," shares Tim Reardon, General Manager, Sheraton Centre Toronto Hotel. "Already, we've had the pleasure of watching our guests admire the purposeful design elements and service upgrades in our Sheraton Club which opened this past fall. We cannot wait to welcome our guests back to see our completely transformed lobby area, food and beverage outlets, indoor and outdoor pool, as well as the exterior and port cochere."

Le Centre Sheraton Montreal Hotel: Sophisticated Urban Oasis

Located in the heart of downtown Montreal, the newly renovated Le Centre Sheraton Montreal Hotel is ready to welcome guests to its 825 newly renovated guest rooms and suites. The serene, light-filled spaces range in size from a generous 310 sq ft to a sprawling 1,956 sq ft for the Presidential Suite. In the new rooms and suites, guests are welcomed into a bright, well-lit space with warm, residential appeal, along with new tools for productivity, such as a height-adjustable work table, integrated power and charging and layered lighting.

The Sheraton Club, located on the 37th floor of the hotel, is expected to reopen May 2022 with a bold new look and breathtaking views. True to the brand's vision, the stylish and exclusive space is welcoming, elevated, and purposefully designed for an engaging experience, along with complimentary breakfast, evening appetizers, and a selection of refreshments.

The dynamic hotel is an ideal choice for leisure travelers, prized for its central location and 'urban oasis' offerings including sixth floor terrace, indoor lap pool, jacuzzi, spa, and 24-hour Sheraton Fitness Centre.

"Conveniently located in the bustling city center, the hotel is an ideal starting point to discover all Montreal has to offer, in a refreshingly contemporary environment," said Bertil Fabre, General Manager, Le Centre Sheraton Montreal Hotel.

Sheraton Hotels & Resorts participates in Marriott Bonvoy, the award-winning travel program from Marriott International. Marriott Bonvoy members will earn points for their stays at the three properties, and at other hotels and resorts across Marriott Bonvoy's portfolio of 30 extraordinary brands, including all-inclusive resorts and premium home rentals, as well as through everyday purchases with co-branded credit cards. Members can redeem their points for experiences including future stays, Marriott Bonvoy Moments, or through partners for luxurious products from Marriott Bonvoy Boutiques. With the Marriott Bonvoy app, members enjoy a level of personalization and a contactless experience that allows them to travel with peace of mind.

The three newly reimagined hotels add to the growing number of transformed properties in Canada including Sheraton Laval Hotel. In total, Sheraton has nearly 20 hotels in the country with six slated for transformation completion by end of 2023.

For hi-res photos of the three redesigned hotels, please click here.

To find out more about the new Sheraton experience, visit www.sheraton.marriott.com/experience/new-sheraton/.

Note on Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of United States federal securities laws, including statements related to expected hotel renovations and similar statements concerning anticipated future events and expectations that are not historical facts. We caution you that these statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to numerous evolving risks and uncertainties that we may not be able to accurately predict or assess, including the risk factors that we identify in our U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filings, including our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K or Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. Any of these factors could cause actual results to differ materially from the expectations we express or imply in this press release. We make these forward-looking statements as of the date of this press release and undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

About Sheraton Hotels & Resorts

Sheraton Hotels & Resorts makes it easy for guests to feel welcome at over 435 hotels in more than 70 countries and territories around the world. As the most global brand within Marriott Bonvoy's portfolio of extraordinary hotel brands sitting at the center of hundreds of communities around the world, Sheraton has a rich heritage in creating a sense of belonging for guests, wherever they are in the world. Sheraton is currently undergoing a major brand transformation, creating a signature community experience for the next generation of travelers at properties across the globe. The new vision for Sheraton features intuitive design, tech-forward experiences, and upgrades to everything from public space and F&B to flexible meeting space. To learn more, visit www.sheraton.com. Stay connected to Sheraton on Facebook, and @sheratonhotels on Twitter and Instagram. Sheraton is proud to participate in Marriott Bonvoy, the global travel program from Marriott International. The program offers members an extraordinary portfolio of global brands, exclusive experiences on Marriott Bonvoy Moments, and unparalleled benefits including free nights and Elite status recognition. To enroll for free or for more information about the program, visit marriottbonvoy.com.

About Marriott Bonvoy

Marriott Bonvoy's extraordinary portfolio offers renowned hospitality in the most memorable destinations in the world, with 30 brands that are tailored to every type of journey. Members can earn points for stays at hotels and resorts, including all-inclusive resorts and premium home rentals, and through everyday purchases with co-branded credit cards. Members can redeem their points for experiences including future stays, Marriott Bonvoy Moments, or through partners for luxurious products from Marriott Bonvoy Boutiques. To enroll for free or for more information about Marriott Bonvoy, visit marriottbonvoy.com.

SOURCE Marriott International, Inc.
GURUGRAM, India, April 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ --

Key Findings

Technology has been increasingly becoming an attractive asset for property owners, potential real estate investors and tenants looking for an efficient and secure opportunity in the Commercial Real Estate segment (CRE).

VR and augmented reality (AR) technologies to offer immersive viewing experience, especially when the buyer or property is overseas.

Portals are increasing trust, credibility and accountability via background checks of projects, builders and agents, scanning and weeding out of duplicate listings, etc.

Growth of Residential & Commercial Demand: Rising disposable income and migration, increasing loans availability & initiatives like Smart cities for industrial properties are ensuring that residential and commercial real estate continues to dominate the online market. Major online horizontal classified and retail players are looking to focus on this segment due to large market size, fragmented present state and opportunity of obtaining higher share of customer wallet.

Going Niche: Going forward, the portals will have to take into consideration the niche segments to get a larger share of the market and get more people online. Portals may get into segments like luxury homes, short-term rentals, only rentals, only buying, etc. with disruptive and well-differentiated offerings.

Tech Adoption: Focus on analytics to provide market intelligence and information to customers. Technology enablement such as virtual walkthroughs, drone-based views, 360-degree views etc. to encourage customers to transact online. Three forms of technologies: Blockchain, AR and AI in Singapore are being adopted by startups, global corporations and the government.

BIM gaining traction in construction sector: Building information modelling (BIM) is a 3D process that plays a pivotal role in a construction project  allows for more collaborative, cost-effective and efficient processes throughout the design, construction and implementation stages of a building.

The report titled "Singapore Property Classifieds Market Outlook to 2026- Driven by Consumer Preferences and investments from VCs along with Exponential growth of smartphone penetration" provides a comprehensive analysis of the potential of Proptech industry in Singapore. The report covers various aspects including the current real estate scenario and rental rates in Singapore, revenue generated from Singapore Proptech market, its segmentations viz Business Model, By Rent and Sale, By Revenue Sources (Fee for Listings and Advertisements), By Region (District 19, District 23, District 27 and Others), revenue models, major trends and development, issues and challenges, technological advancements and competition analysis. The report concludes with market projections for future of the industry including forecasted industry size by revenue along with analyst recommendations and key market opportunities.

Key Segments Covered in Singapore Proptech Market:-

By Business Model

Listings and Classifieds

Aggregators and Co-Living

By Rent and Sale

Sale

Rent

By Revenue Sources

Fee for Listings (include subscription packages and commission)

Advertisements

By Region

District 19

District 23

District 27

Others

Key Target Audience:-

Proptech Companies

Real Estate Developers

Brokers

Property Consultants

Industry Experts

Time Period Captured in the Report:-

Historical Period: 2015-2020

Forecast Period: 2020-2025

Companies Covered:-

Listings and Classifieds

Property Guru Group

SRX Property

Carousell

ST Property

Mogul

Greyloft

99.co

Metro Residences

Oh my Home

Prop seller

Edge Property

Aggregators and Co-Living

Cove

Hmlet

Easy City

Login Apartment

Figment

Request for Sample Report @ https://kenresearch.com/sample-report.php?Frmdetails=NTE1MTg3

Key Topics Covered in the Report:-

Overview of Singapore Proptech Market

Ecosystem of Major Entities in Singapore Proptech Market

Business Cycle and Genesis of Singapore Proptech Market

Singapore Proptech Market Size, 2015-2020

Singapore Proptech Market Segmentations

Competition Analysis: Market Share of Major Listings and Classifieds and Major Aggregators & Co-Living Companies

SWOT Analysis in Singapore Property Classified Market

Revenue Models in Singapore Proptech Industry

Growth Drivers and Restraints in Singapore Proptech Market

Technological Advancements in Singapore Proptech Market

Impact of COVID19 in Singapore Property Classified Market

Key Trends in Singapore Proptech Market

Outlook and Future Projections for Singapore Proptech Market

Future Market Segmentation by Business Model and Revenue Sources

Recommendations / Success Factors

Research Methodology

Appendix

Business Cycle Singapore Proptech Market

Commercial property Singapore

Competition Scenario Singapore Proptech

COVID 19 Impact Real Estate Market Singapore

Covid-19 Impact Singapore Property Classifieds Market

Proptech Market SRX Property Market

Potential Opportunities Singapore Real Estate Market

Property Guru Singapore

Property Guru Singapore Market Share

Proptech Market in Singapore

Proptech Potential Market in Singapore

Real Estate Classified Market in Singapore

Proptech Market Size Singapore

Singapore Aggregators and Co-Living Market

Singapore Co-Living Market Share

Singapore Listings and Classifieds Market

Singapore Listings Classifieds Market Share

Singapore Aggregators Market Share

Singapore Property Classifieds Industry Report

Singapore Property Classifieds Market

Singapore Property Classifieds Market 2021-2030

Singapore Property Classifieds Market Analysis

Singapore Property Classifieds Market Competition

Singapore Property Classifieds Market Forecast 20212030

For More Information on the research report, refer to below link:-

Singapore Property Classifieds Market Research Report

Related Reports:-

UAE Real Estate Market Outlook To 2025  By Office Real Estate Market (Premium, Grade A And Grade B); By Retail Real Estate Market (Super-Regional Malls, Regional Malls, Community Centers, Neighborhood Center And Convenience Center); By Residential Real Estate Market (Apartment And Villas) And By Hotel Real Estate Market (1-3 Star, 4 Star, 5 Star And Hotel-Apartments)

UAE's real estate market is currently in its mature stage. The period during 2013-2016 was marked by a steady stream of supply, owing to the increasing GDP and increased demand in the market. Heightened rents led to a decrease in demand due to lacking affordability of the citizens and expatriates during 2014-2015. After the 2014 oil shock, the government has been actively attracting Foreign Direct Investment and expatriates to the UAE in order to diversify its economy away from oil generated revenues. The UAE Government launched the "Vision 2021" plan, for the economic and social development of the country. From 2017 and onwards, the total number of international players in each respective submarket increased. Newer segments such as townhouses, and co-working spaces, smart and green buildings gained traction in the market.

Philippines Property Classifieds Market Outlook to 2026F Driven by Rise in Residential Segments and Infrastructural Developments in the country

Philippines, with a population of 109.5 Mn in 2020, is one of the most lucrative and fastest growing economies in ASEAN. Philippines Real Estate is experiencing a digital wave sweeping across its value chain, disrupting how buyers and sellers interact with one another. Philippines property classified market is growing at a double digit CAGR of 20.3% (2015-2021), with majority of the property classified companies providing smooth & seamless digital integration successfully. Most full-stack property classified players in Philippines have remained focused on the residential property segment considering the burgeoning housing shortage, rapid urbanization and urban migration trends despite Covid-Impact. A number of developers are offering extended payment terms, lighter down payment schemes, and waived reservation fees with a limited time offers, which financially prepared buyers are taking advantage of. The focus on sustainability, affordability, and comfort has shown emerging trends among real estate developers' recently completed developments and pipelined projects. However, the industry is highly vulnerable to fraud due to its complex nature, reliance on technology, and interaction between stakeholders and third parties. Companies such as Lamudi, DotProperty & Hoppler are poised to capitalize on current pain points in Philippine's property classifieds market.

Thailand Property Classifieds Market Outlook to 2026F Driven by Interest from Foreign Buyers along with Exponential growth of smartphone penetration

Thailand, with a population of 66.2 Mn in 2021 and being the 2nd Largest Economy in Southeast Asia region, Thailand Real Estate is experiencing a digital wave sweeping across its value chain, disrupting how buyers and sellers interact with one another. Consumers are not just bound to explore the buying/ renting options through digital platforms but are interested in other residential services as well. Overall, there is an increased interest in using online platforms to buy/rent a home. Additionally, the current pandemic has presented consumers as well as developers with a unique opportunity to put their trust in digital platforms. Thailand is the emerging market for Property Classified in ASEAN growing at CAGR of 21.7% during 2015-2021. Most full-stack Property Classified players in Thailand have remained focused on the low rise residential property segment considering the burgeoning housing shortage, rapid urbanization and urban migration trends. A number of developers are offering extended payment terms, lighter down payment schemes, and waived reservation fees with a limited time offers, which financially prepared buyers should take advantage of. However, the industry is highly vulnerable to fraud due to its complex nature, reliance on technology, and interaction between stakeholders and third parties.

Malaysia Property Classifieds Market Outlook to 2026F Driven by Increasing Internet Penetration and Smartphone Users along with Rise in Virtual Tours

Malaysia, with a population of 32.7 Mn in 2021 and being the 2nd Largest Economy in Southeast Asia region, is experiencing a digital wave sweeping across its real estate value chain, disrupting how buyers and sellers interact with one another. Consumers are not just bound to explore the buying/ renting options through digital platforms but are interested in other residential services as well. Additionally, the current pandemic has presented consumers as well as developers with a unique opportunity to put their trust in digital platforms. Malaysia is the emerging market for Property Classified in ASEAN growing at CAGR of 19.2% during 2015-2021. Most full-stack Property Classified players in Malaysia have remained focused on the low rise residential property segment considering the burgeoning housing shortage, rapid urbanization and urban migration trends. A number of developers are offering extended payment terms, lighter down payment schemes, and waived reservation fees with a limited time offers, which financially prepared buyers should take advantage of. However, the industry is highly vulnerable to fraud due to its complex nature, reliance on technology, and interaction between stakeholders and third parties.

Taiwan Online Advertisement Outlook To 2023 - By Medium (Desktop and Mobile), Type (Display, Video, Search, Buzz / Content and Others), By Sectors (FMCG, Healthcare, Entertainment & Media, Finance and Financial Insurance, E-Commerce and Others), and By Cost Model (CPC, CPM and CPA)

Taiwan Online Advertisement Market is mounting and currently placed in growth phase witnessing fragmented market competition faced by advertising agencies. The market is well regulated and the consumers are well versed and updated with the ongoing trends. Taiwan has been considered as the link joining the developed countries of the west with the developing markets of the East. TV ads had held the top most channel rank in terms of reaching out to the consumer masses. Within Taiwan, television ads have been long associated with imprecise targeting. Advertisement firms and organizations have been trying to find a sustainable replacement of the TV medium. At the same time, the masses started to move from the unappealing and low-quality TV content to the digital platforms. It has been estimated that approximately 95% of Taiwanese used Facebook during the year 2018 which stands to prove the reach of the social media platforms in the country. Online activities have become one of the favorite past-time of the population. Online advertisement market in Taiwan was observed to showcase rapid year on year growth in terms of ad expenditure during the review period 2013-2018. The consistent double digit growth was majorly due to the fact that internet and digital advertising started outstripping the traditional medium of advertising in terms of better customer penetration ratio or customer conversion than traditional methods with an added advantage of better monetization and ad reach measurement tools. Hence, the market grew at a strong CAGR of close to 23% during 2013-2018.

Contact Us:-

Ken Research

Ankur Gupta, Head Marketing & Communications

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SOURCE Ken Research
Smart Gas Market: Segmentation Analysis

This market research report segments the smart gas market by Device (Automatic meter reading (AMR) and advanced meter infrastructure (AMI)) and Geography (North America, Europe, APAC, Middle East and Africa, and South America).

The smart gas market share growth in the automatic meter reading (AMR) segment is significant for revenue generation. Some AMR devices can log meter events and gather interval data. After then, the logged data can be used to collect or control time-of-use or rate-of-use statistics, which can be utilized for various purposes. They include consumption profiling time-of-use billing demand forecasting, remote shutoff, and others. As a result of these advantages, gas utilities have begun to use AMR systems for gas management. Thus, the advantages of AMR over conventional gas meters are driving the growth of the AMR sector, which is expected to positively impact the growth of the market during the forecast period.

To gain further insights on the market contribution of various segments - Download a free sample now!

Smart Gas Market: Drivers

Government regulations and initiatives to drive growth

Government regulations and initiatives are one of the key drivers supporting the smart gas market growth. Gas installations aid in the reduction of gas waste in a variety of end-user segments. As a result, governments encourage and regulate the adoption of energy-saving systems. Over the last decade, the EU has been encouraging end-users to adopt energy-saving processes. Section 17 of the Gas Act of 1986 and accompanying laws in the form of Statutory Instruments govern the usage of gas meters in European countries. Governments of other major countries, particularly those in developing economies, are also anticipating stepping in and passing legislation promoting energy efficiency by end of 2026. As a result of the implementation of regulatory regulations requiring the use of smart gas, the market is expected to grow significantly during the projected period.

Smart Gas Market: Trends

The development of smart cities is a major trend

The development of smart cities is one of the key smart gas market trends that is contributing to market growth. For instance, the European Innovation Partnership on Smart Cities and Communities, which is backed by the European Commission, is an important market-changing initiative that brings together cities, small and medium-sized businesses, investors, industries, researchers, and other smart city actors. This cooperation intends to bring together partners and create a European smart city market, making European cities the most liveable across the world while implementing the EU's Urban Agenda. Therefore, initiatives implemented by governments across the world to promote the development of smart cities are likely to increase the demand for smart gas meters, which, in turn, will drive the growth of the global smart gas market during the forecast period.

To know about other drivers & trends - Request a Free Sample Research Report

Related Reports:

The gas sensors market in North America is expected to increase by USD 173.76 million from 2021 to 2026, and the market's growth momentum will accelerate at a CAGR of 9.38%. Download a free sample now!

is expected to increase by USD 173.76 million from 2021 to 2026, and the market's growth momentum will accelerate at a CAGR of 9.38%. The traffic sensors market share is expected to increase by USD 210.75 million from 2021 to 2026, and the market's growth momentum will accelerate at a CAGR of 9.14%. Download a free sample now!

Smart Gas Market Scope Report Coverage Details Page number 120 Base year 2021 Forecast period 2022-2026 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 15.22% Market growth 2022-2026 USD 19.25 billion Market structure Fragmented YoY growth (%) 14.46 Performing market contribution Europe at 32% Competitive landscape Leading companies, competitive strategies, consumer engagement scope Companies profiled AEM SA, AICHI TOKEI DENKI CO.LTD., Apator SA, Badger Meter Inc., CGI Inc., Chongqing Shancheng Gas Equipment Co. Ltd., CyanConnode Holdings plc, Diehl Stiftung and Co.KG, DTE Energy, EDMI Ltd., Flonidan AS, Holley Technology Ltd., Honeywell International Inc., Hubbell Inc., KROHNE Messtechnik GmbH, Landis Gyr AG, Neptune Technology Group Inc., Osaki Electric Co. Ltd., Pietro Fiorentini Spa, PowerCom Ltd., RMG Messtechnik GmbH, Sagemcom, Wasion Holdings Ltd., Xylem Inc., Yazaki Corp., and ZENNER INTERNATIONAL GMBH and CO.KG Market Dynamics Parent market analysis, Market growth inducers and obstacles, Fast-growing and slow-growing segment analysis, COVID 19 impact and future consumer dynamics, market condition analysis for forecast period, Customization purview If our report has not included the data that you are looking for, you can reach out to our analysts and get segments customized.

Table of Content

1 Executive Summary

1.1 Market overview

Exhibit 01: Executive Summary  Chart on Market Overview



Exhibit 02: Executive Summary  Data Table on Market Overview



Exhibit 03: Executive Summary  Chart on Global Market Characteristics



Exhibit 04: Executive Summary  Chart on Market by Geography



Exhibit 05: Executive Summary  Chart on Market Segmentation by Device



Exhibit 06: Executive Summary  Chart on Incremental Growth



Exhibit 07: Executive Summary  Data Table on Incremental Growth



Exhibit 08: Executive Summary  Chart on Vendor Market Positioning

2 Market Landscape

2.1 Market ecosystem

Exhibit 09: Parent market



Exhibit 10: Market Characteristics

3 Market Sizing

3.1 Market definition

Exhibit 11: Offerings of vendors included in the market definition

3.2 Market segment analysis

Exhibit 12: Market segments

3.3 Market size 2021

3.4 Market outlook: Forecast for 2021-2026

Exhibit 13: Chart on Global - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 14: Data Table on Global - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 15: Chart on Global Market: Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 16: Data Table on Global Market: Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

4 Five Forces Analysis

4.1 Five forces summary

Exhibit 17: Five forces analysis - Comparison between2021 and 2026

4.2 Bargaining power of buyers

Exhibit 18: Chart on Bargaining power of buyers  Impact of key factors 2021 and 2026

4.3 Bargaining power of suppliers

Exhibit 19: Bargaining power of suppliers  Impact of key factors in 2021 and 2026

4.4 Threat of new entrants

Exhibit 20: Threat of new entrants  Impact of key factors in 2021 and 2026

4.5 Threat of substitutes

Exhibit 21: Threat of substitutes  Impact of key factors in 2021 and 2026

4.6 Threat of rivalry

Exhibit 22: Threat of rivalry  Impact of key factors in 2021 and 2026

4.7 Market condition

Exhibit 23: Chart on Market condition - Five forces 2021 and 2026

5 Market Segmentation by Device

5.1 Market segments

Exhibit 24: Chart on Device - Market share 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 25: Data Table on Device - Market share 2021-2026 (%)

5.2 Comparison by Device

Exhibit 26: Chart on Comparison by Device



Exhibit 27: Data Table on Comparison by Device

5.3 Automatic meter reading (AMR) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 28: Chart on Automatic meter reading (AMR) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 29: Data Table on Automatic meter reading (AMR) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 30: Chart on Automatic meter reading (AMR) - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 31: Data Table on Automatic meter reading (AMR) - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

5.4 Advanced meter infrastructure (AMI) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 32: Chart on Advanced meter infrastructure (AMI) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 33: Data Table on Advanced meter infrastructure (AMI) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 34: Chart on Advanced meter infrastructure (AMI) - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 35: Data Table on Advanced meter infrastructure (AMI) - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

5.5 Market opportunity by Device

Exhibit 36: Market opportunity by Device ($ million)

6 Customer Landscape

6.1 Customer landscape overview

Exhibit 37: Analysis of price sensitivity, lifecycle, customer purchase basket, adoption rates, and purchase criteria

7 Geographic Landscape

7.1 Geographic segmentation

Exhibit 38: Chart on Market share by geography 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 39: Data Table on Market share by geography 2021-2026 (%)

7.2 Geographic comparison

Exhibit 40: Chart on Geographic comparison



Exhibit 41: Data Table on Geographic comparison

7.3 North America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 42: Chart on North America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 43: Data Table on North America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 44: Chart on North America - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

Exhibit 45: Data Table on North America - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.4 Europe - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 46: Chart on Europe - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 47: Data Table on Europe - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 48: Chart on Europe - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

Exhibit 49: Data Table on Europe - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.5 APAC - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 50: Chart on APAC - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 51: Data Table on APAC - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 52: Chart on APAC - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 53: Data Table on APAC - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.6 Middle East and Africa - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

and - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 54: Chart on Middle East and Africa - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

and - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 55: Data Table on Middle East and Africa - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

and - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 56: Chart on Middle East and Africa - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

and - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

Exhibit 57: Data Table on Middle East and Africa - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.7 South America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 58: Chart on South America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 59: Data Table on South America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 60: Chart on South America - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

Exhibit 61: Data Table on South America - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.8 US - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 62: Chart on US - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 63: Data Table on US - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 64: Chart on US - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 65: Data Table on US - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.9 Germany - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 66: Chart on Germany - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 67: Data Table on Germany - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 68: Chart on Germany - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

Exhibit 69: Data Table on Germany - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.10 UK - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 70: Chart on UK - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 71: Data Table on UK - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 72: Chart on UK - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 73: Data Table on UK - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.11 Japan - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 74: Chart on Japan - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 75: Data Table on Japan - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 76: Chart on Japan - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

Exhibit 77: Data Table on Japan - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.12 China - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 78: Chart on China - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 79: Data Table on China - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 80: Chart on China - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

Exhibit 81: Data Table on China - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.13 Market opportunity by geography

Exhibit 82: Market opportunity by geography ($ million)

8 Drivers, Challenges, and Trends

8.1 Market drivers

8.2 Market challenges

8.3 Impact of drivers and challenges

Exhibit 83: Impact of drivers and challenges in 2021 and 2026

8.4 Market trends

9 Vendor Landscape

9.1 Overview

9.2 Vendor landscape

Exhibit 84: Overview on Criticality of inputs and Factors of differentiation

9.3 Landscape disruption

Exhibit 85: Overview on factors of disruption

9.4 Industry risks

Exhibit 86: Impact of key risks on business

10 Vendor Analysis

10.1 Vendors covered

Exhibit 87: Vendors covered

10.2 Market positioning of vendors

Exhibit 88: Matrix on vendor position and classification

10.3 Badger Meter Inc.

Exhibit 89: Badger Meter Inc. - Overview



Exhibit 90: Badger Meter Inc. - Product / Service



Exhibit 91: Badger Meter Inc. - Key news



Exhibit 92: Badger Meter Inc. - Key offerings

10.4 CGI Inc.

Exhibit 93: CGI Inc. - Overview



Exhibit 94: CGI Inc. - Business segments



Exhibit 95: CGI Inc. - Key news



Exhibit 96: CGI Inc. - Key offerings



Exhibit 97: CGI Inc. - Segment focus

10.5 Chongqing Shancheng Gas Equipment Co. Ltd.

Exhibit 98: Chongqing Shancheng Gas Equipment Co. Ltd. - Overview



Exhibit 99: Chongqing Shancheng Gas Equipment Co. Ltd. - Product / Service



Exhibit 100: Chongqing Shancheng Gas Equipment Co. Ltd. - Key offerings

10.6 CyanConnode Holdings plc

Exhibit 101: CyanConnode Holdings plc - Overview



Exhibit 102: CyanConnode Holdings plc - Product / Service



Exhibit 103: CyanConnode Holdings plc - Key news



Exhibit 104: CyanConnode Holdings plc - Key offerings

10.7 DTE Energy

Exhibit 105: DTE Energy - Overview



Exhibit 106: DTE Energy - Business segments



Exhibit 107: DTE Energy - Key news



Exhibit 108: DTE Energy - Key offerings



Exhibit 109: DTE Energy - Segment focus

10.8 EDMI Ltd.

Exhibit 110: EDMI Ltd. - Overview



Exhibit 111: EDMI Ltd. - Product / Service



Exhibit 112: EDMI Ltd. - Key offerings

10.9 Holley Technology Ltd.

Exhibit 113: Holley Technology Ltd. - Overview



Exhibit 114: Holley Technology Ltd. - Product / Service



Exhibit 115: Holley Technology Ltd. - Key news



Exhibit 116: Holley Technology Ltd. - Key offerings

10.10 Honeywell International Inc.

Exhibit 117: Honeywell International Inc. - Overview



Exhibit 118: Honeywell International Inc. - Business segments



Exhibit 119: Honeywell International Inc. - Key news



Exhibit 120: Honeywell International Inc. - Key offerings



Exhibit 121: Honeywell International Inc. - Segment focus

10.11 Hubbell Inc.

Exhibit 122: Hubbell Inc. - Overview



Exhibit 123: Hubbell Inc. - Business segments



Exhibit 124: Hubbell Inc. - Key offerings



Exhibit 125: Hubbell Inc. - Segment focus

10.12 Wasion Holdings Ltd.

Exhibit 126: Wasion Holdings Ltd. - Overview



Exhibit 127: Wasion Holdings Ltd. - Business segments



Exhibit 128: Wasion Holdings Ltd. - Key offerings



Exhibit 129: Wasion Holdings Ltd. - Segment focus

11 Appendix

11.1 Scope of the report

11.2 Inclusions and exclusions checklist

Exhibit 130: Inclusions checklist



Exhibit 131: Exclusions checklist

11.3 Currency conversion rates for US$

Exhibit 132: Currency conversion rates for US$

11.4 Research methodology

Exhibit 133: Research methodology



Exhibit 134: Validation techniques employed for market sizing



Exhibit 135: Information sources

11.5 List of abbreviations

Exhibit 136: List of abbreviations

About Technavio

Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focuses on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions.

With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios.

Contacts

Technavio Research

Jesse Maida

Media & Marketing Executive

US: +1 844 364 1100

UK: +44 203 893 3200

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.technavio.com/

SOURCE Technavio
Machines Installed Throughout Fenway Park Will Enable On-Demand Access to Premium Personal Care Products

BOSTON, April 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- SOS, a creator and operator of interactive vending machines for public spaces that deliver premium products and digital content, is officially announcing a series of new machine installations throughout Fenway Park, home of the Boston Red Sox. The machines will provide all stadium guests with convenient, park-wide access to premium personal care products on demand, including items from brands like Cora, RECESS, Hero Cosmetics, Megababe, Kosas, and Ursa Major.

The installation of SOS machines is part of a broader initiative by the Red Sox to better serve their existing fanbase while creating a more welcoming and inclusive environment for all guests who attend live events at Fenway Park. Additionally, menstrual care products will be provided free of charge to guests from all SOS machines throughout the venue.

"Through exciting, innovative technology offerings like SOS, we're able to enhance the time spent at the ballpark and provide an environment that fits the needs of all fans while they're in attendance," said Tim Zue, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Boston Red Sox. "We look forward to seeing fans take advantage of SOS machines and the many other exciting upgrades we've made for this upcoming season."

Founders and Co-CEOs Susanna Twarog and Robina Verbeek invented the SOS machine and launched the company in 2020. The curvy and elegant IoT-enabled device delivers individually packaged products to people on the go. It is equipped with a video touch screen that delivers targeted content and powers a completely cardless, contactless purchase experience.

"We're working with partners like Fenway Park and the Boston Red Sox to enhance the modern fan experience, especially for women, providing access to quality personal care products in public spaces previously void of these simple necessities," said Susanna. "Anything can happen when you spend a full day at a ball game  you might need a tampon, lip balm, dental floss, a deodorant wipe, etc. At Fenway, all of these items will now be readily available via SOS."

SOS vending machines also add a unique digital out-of-home (DOOH) platform for the company's network of advertisers, including thriving CPG brands such as Hero Cosmetics, a flagship brand partner, to reach fans with creative and interactive content across all 12 strategically-placed locations throughout Fenway Park.

For more information on SOS, please visit www.worldofsos.com .

About SOS

SOS, a Techstars Boston 2020 portfolio company, is transforming wellness on the go through a network of smart vending machines that deliver just-in-time necessities where and when you need them most. Each machine offers modern, premium health and wellness products from Cora, First Aid Beauty, Hero Cosmetics, Megababe, Kosas, and Ursa Major. SOS was named one of the Top 20 Emerging Brands in Retail by ICSC in 2020. The company holds seven design patents in the U.S., Canada, Europe, and China. With a design-first offering, the SOS machine features a large, engaging touchscreen and serves as a visually rich advertising and marketing platform. SOS has been featured in various national media publications, including Forbes, TechCrunch, CBS, and Fast Company.

SOURCE SOS Group, Inc.
The nine-piece collaborative collection includes graphic designs that draw inspiration from Van Gogh's Sunflowers , Claude Monet's The Water-Lily Pond , Georges Seurat's The Seine Seen from La Grande Jatte , and Edgar Degas's Ballet Dancers . By distilling and purifying the colors and artistic elements of those stimulating vintage paintings, Fernando Acevedo, Chief Designer and Co-founder of uin, reimagines and recreates a theme that captures and transcends the strength and essence of the art pieces. The result is a marriage of the traditional impressionist style and modern interpretation that compels the designs to radiate a newfound charm.

"uin Art Travel Shoes are determined to create a new category of travel shoes, combining simple while natural and comfortable products with creative artistic patterns. The colors and inspirations of those artists fit perfectly into our brand philosophy, and we are excited to set forth on this timeless journey together with images inspired by the National Gallery's masterpieces," said Mr. Acevedo.

Originated in Toledo, Spain, uin's design philosophy for its travel shoes series is the embodiment of two passions that unite humanity across different cultures and continents  travel and art. Combining innovative and comfortable technologies, Fernando Acevedo celebrates the positive emotions emanating from these two types of life-enriching activities by incorporating colorful and soul-freeing pictorial languages that resonates with global travel lovers and artists alike.

Inspired by some of the best-known and best-loved impressionist paintings, the National Gallery, London and uin collaboration marks a new adventure, one that allows uin to reinterpret the artistic feelings embedded in those beautiful and dream-like art pieces in a modern light to redefine footwear design. Staying true to its brand values, uin also hopes to bring warmth and inspiration to customers through the new collection, as well as grant them an immersive artistic and cultural experience whenever they embark on a new journey.

The pandemic has transformed the way that people look at the world and themselves as it awakens us to the need for self-exploration and world travel. Against this backdrop, uin's simple and natural design, enriched with creative artistic patterns, speaks to and inspires those who are motivated to seek spiritual comfort and external adventures through cultural experiences. Over the past few years, uin has launched multiple IP collaborations with global artists and brands, with its Smiley Collection; Destination Collection, Pet Collection and Blossom Collection receiving positive market feedback from over 100 countries. In the US, uin Footwear saw a fifteen-fold sales increase from 2019 to 2021.

About uin

With travel and art embedded in its DNA, uin seeks to reimagine the design of travel shoes by giving them a new identity that matches people's ever-evolving lifestyles. In the exploration of the artistic expression that fuses the natural with the fashioned, the chief designer Fernando Acevedo creates the "uin Art Travel Shoes" series whose design philosophy gracefully centers on the spiritual and emotional power that travel delivers, allowing people to enjoy self-expression through vibrantly colorful patterns that embody youthful energy and freedom.

For more information, please follow us on social media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uinshoe/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uinfootwear/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXPf2gOvNrt-IYubKUnGKjQ

SOURCE UIN Footwear
Rapid expansion has prompted the addition of Matt Wise as COO for global cloud advisory and implementation firm to handle future growth

CHICAGO, April 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Spaulding Ridge, leading cloud advisory and implementation firm, today announced that Matt Wise has joined as Chief Operating Officer (COO) to further position the organization for its next phase of global growth and innovation.

"We've experienced significant growth since our 2018 founding and we're creating a solid foundation for future expansion through operational efficiency, especially as we evaluate our acquisition strategy," Spaulding Ridge CEO Jay Laabs says. "This is why I'm ecstatic to welcome Matt Wise as our new Chief Operating Officer. He will be vital to us as we scale."

Matt Wise, Chief Operating Officer (COO)

With more than 25 years of experience in financial and operational roles, Matt Wise will oversee Spaulding Ridge's business operations, including the management of finance and accounting, legal, information technology, and operations. Matt's focus will be partnering with company leadership to profitably grow and run the business. He will also be responsible for aligning and prioritizing company investments.

Most recently, Matt was the CVP of Operations for a global digital consulting practice and has significant experience managing and leading acquisitions.

About Spaulding Ridge

Spaulding Ridge is a global cloud advisory and implementation firm that helps leading companies deploy Best-in-Cloud solutions. The firm enables organizations to accelerate operational efficiency, drive digital transformation, and increase competitive advantage.

Spaulding Ridge partners with digitally savvy companies to help:

Finance gain control: Increase top-line revenue, gross margins, and profits through better insight. Connect financial planning to strategy and automate financial close processes.

Increase top-line revenue, gross margins, and profits through better insight. Connect financial planning to strategy and automate financial close processes. Sales increase productivity: Manage quota and territories more consistently and effectively, automate customer contracts and onboarding.

Manage quota and territories more consistently and effectively, automate customer contracts and onboarding. Operations drive efficiency: Improve supply chain agility, automate strategic sourcing and purchasing, deliver superior customer service experiences.

To learn more, visit spauldingridge.com.

SOURCE Spaulding Ridge, LLC
"This award is a huge vote of confidence for Splashlight Studios and validates the effort we've put in over the last two years to achieve and accomplish what we've built today. We are very thankful to Creative Zone for recognising our potential and showing faith in our vision and are honoured with this recognition from them," said Kartik Jobanputra, Founder and CEO Splashlight Studios.

"We've been tracking the work Splashlight has been doing since its inception and we feel they're uniquely placed to service e-commerce clients at scale. The studios are state- of-the-art and the professionals who run them can give most European studios a run for their money. We wish them luck as they expand in the region," said Lorenzo Jooris, CEO of Creative Zone.

SECTOR INSIGHT

E-commerce in the GCC region is growing at a pace close to 40% per year and expected to reach 20 billion by 2025. The e-commerce industry (GCC) is estimated to reach $50 billion by CY25 at a CAGR of 18%. E-commerce, which accounted for only 7.8% of the total retail sales in the GCC countries in CY20, is expected to increase to 16.3% by CY25.

About Splashlight Studios:

Founded by Kartik Jobanputra, Splashlight Studios is one of the largest fully vertically integrated e-commerce content studiosin Dubai. It has a team of in-house photographers, editors, stylists, make-up artists, producers, and expert technicians. The company has fashion and product studios spanning 6300sq./ft. The studios include modern facilities like makeup room, equipment room, wardrobe stockroom, photoshoot floor, etc. Raised $1 million from investors in the Middle East as seed funding in 2020. Splashlight Studios partner brands are Al Shaya, Emaar, GMG ( sunandsandsports), MAF ( Majid Al Futtaim ), Apparel Group, Landmark Group and others.

About Creative Zone:

Creative Zone is Dubai's largest and most trusted business setup advisory firm. Creative Zone's registration professionals have helped thousands of aspiring entrepreneurs and SMEs grow their businesses in the UAE since its launch by Mahesh Dalamal and Steve Mayne in 2010. The company was created with a simple yet revolutionary model for the UAE marketplace; to serve as a one-stop-shop, with flexible payment plans, for easy company incorporation. Creative Zone has now evolved to provide added business support services to create an ecosystem that helps entrepreneurs and SMEs to set up, sustain, and grow their businesses and contribute to the UAE's position as the global location of choice for company setup.

For more details please visit: https://www.creativezone.ae/

SOURCE Splashlight Studios
"I am deeply honored to be part of the StarAligners and StarAlignersPro team," states Barry. "What Reid Greenberg (StarAligners' CEO), John Nabors (Vice President Sales and Operations) and their team have built to capture the often overlooked mild to moderate tooth movement category is truly incredible. The addressable market is enormous for StarAligners, and we have such an opportunity in front of us; especially as we expand well beyond just clear aligners and into such products as the Illumina Oral Therapy System, whitening foam, and Star Essix Retainers."

"The addressable market is enormous for StarAligners, and we have such an opportunity in front of us."

"John is a well-known and tremendously respected business leader with a deep background in scaling and growing companies," states StarAligners CEO, Reid Greenberg. "John's understanding of digital technologies, consumer insights and journey, as well as his innate ability to inspire others is exactly what we need right now to help us unlock growth. The entire company and board are excited for his partnership."

About StarAligners

StarAligners is an oral health and wellness company and creator of StarAlignersPro, an innovative solution to treat mild to moderate aligner cases, now offered directly via orthodontists' offices across the United States in addition to their direct-to-consumer model. The orthodontic-led aligner care program was created by five renowned and experienced orthodontists to provide a premium and affordable experience for patient and orthodontists alike, supported by the latest imaging technology and quality clear aligner therapy. For more information, please visit www.StarAligners.com and StarAlignersPro.com.

StarAlignersPro will also be exhibiting at the upcoming American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) Annual Session taking place in Miami, FL from May 21-24, 2022. If you are interested in becoming a StarAlignersPro preferred provider please visit: https://www.staralignerspro.com/become-a-partner/

Media Contact:

Reid Greenberg

[email protected]

SOURCE StarAligners, LLC
Extensive use of starch-based bioplastics in the packing industry, abundant supply of starch from natural resources, its indigenous biodegradability, affordable cost, and rise in oil prices across the globe are expected to drive the growth of the global starch-based bioplastics market.

PORTLAND, Ore., April 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Allied Market Research published a report titled, "Starch-based Bioplastics Market by Type (Starch Blended With PLA, Starch blended With PHA, and Others), Technology (Injection Molding, Blow Molding, Extrusion, and Others), and Application (Rigid Packaging, Flexible Packaging, Textile, Consumer Goods, Agriculture, Automotive, Building & Construction, Electronics, and Others): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast 20212030". According to the report, the global starch-based bioplastics market generated $1.4 billion in 2020, and is projected to reach $3.6 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 10.1% from 2020 to 2030.

Drivers, Restraints and Opportunities

Extensive use of starch-based bioplastics in the packing industry, abundant supply of starch from natural resources, its indigenous biodegradability, affordable cost, and rise in oil prices across the globe are expected to drive the growth of the global starch-based bioplastics market. On the other hand, surge in raw material cost is expected to impede the growth to some extent. However, growth in the investments by governments of developing nations to adopt biodegradable plastics is anticipated to provide new opportunities for the industry.

Request PDF Brochure: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-sample/4182

COVID-19 Scenario

The outbreak of COVID-19 has had a positive impact on the growth of the global starch-based bioplastics market, owing to occurrence of lockdowns that led to the surge in demand for food and beverage during the pandemic.

In addition, rise in demand for healthcare, personal care and pharmaceuticals remarkably boosted the demand for packaging during the pandemic.

The market is further expected to surge exponentially.

The injection molding segment to maintain lion' share

Based on technology, the injection molding segment generated the highest market share in 2020, accounting for more than half of the global starch-based bioplastics market. Perks such as increased automation in the use of injection molding process drive the growth of the segment. The same segment is anticipated to cite the fastest CAGR of 10.4% during the forecast period, due to the cost reduction benefits associated with the injection molding process.

Get Detailed COVID-19 Impact Analysis on the Starch-based Bioplastics Market at https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-for-customization/4182?reqfor=covid

The rigid packaging segment to lead the trail

By application, the rigid packaging segment held the majority share in 2020, garnering more than two-fifths of the global starch-based bioplastics market. Wide application of starch-based bioplastics in packaging, consumer goods and agriculture drive the segment growth. The automotive segment, on the other hand, is predicted to exhibit the fastest CAGR of 10.7% during the forecast period, due to the booming sustainable phase in the automotive industry and growth in awareness towards environment conservation among the automobile manufacturers.

Asia-Pacific, followed by Europe and North America, to dominate by 2030

By region, Asia-pacific, followed by Europe and North America, generated the maximum market share in 2020, garnering half of the global starch-based bioplastics market. Presence of large population and extensive use of starch-based bioplastics in this region drive the market growth. The same segment is projected to cite the fastest CAGR of 10.8% during the forecast period, due to the prevalence of government policies that support the use of biobased products.

Prominent Market Players

Novamont SPA,

Toray Industries Inc. Inc.,

Yield10 Bioscience, Inc.,

BASF SE,

Biobag International Biome Bioplastics Limited,

Corbion N.V,

Innovia Films Limited,

Natureworks LLC, Cardia Bioplastics Ltd.

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Allied Market Research (AMR) is a full-service market research and business-consulting wing of Allied Analytics LLP based in Portland, Oregon. Allied Market Research provides global enterprises as well as medium and small businesses with unmatched quality of "Market Research Reports" and "Business Intelligence Solutions." AMR has a targeted view to provide business insights and consulting to assist its clients to make strategic business decisions and achieve sustainable growth in their respective market domain.

Pawan Kumar, the CEO of Allied Market Research, is leading the organization toward providing high-quality data and insights. We are in professional corporate relations with various companies and this helps us in digging out market data that helps us generate accurate research data tables and confirms utmost accuracy in our market forecasting. Each and every data presented in the reports published by us is extracted through primary interviews with top officials from leading companies of domain concerned. Our secondary data procurement methodology includes deep online and offline research and discussion with knowledgeable professionals and analysts in the industry.



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SOURCE Allied Market Research
The San Francisco Spirits Competition is the largest and most influential spirits competition and is followed closely by consumers and trade. The competition's judging panel is made up of the most respected, experienced experts in the spirits industry from James-Beard honored mixologists to best-selling liquor authors. The panel recognized Stoli's rigor in quality and consistency across its entire line, as well as the brand's pioneering history in flavored vodka. With a Double Gold Award, The San Francisco Spirits Competition honored Stoli Premium as a classically styled, exceptionally smooth vodka with a clean, balanced taste. Additionally, Stoli Vanil received accolades for its elegant aromas of vanilla pod, creme anglaise and chocolate, as well as its creamy sweet palette.

"It is an honor for ten of our Stoli expressions to be awarded by the prestigious San Francisco Spirits Competition," said Damian McKinney, CEO of Stoli Group. "We're thrilled that the uncompromised quality we pour into each bottle is being recognized by a premier judging panel."

Stoli Group uses only the purest high-quality ingredients. The spirit is first blended with artesian well water, then filtered through active birch charcoal and quartz sand to create a liquid with unsurpassed smoothness. Stoli is distilled three times to produce a unique balance between character and smooth taste. All of Stoli flavored vodka starts with the exceptional quality and original character of Stoli Premium Vodka as its base.

About Stoli Group

Stoli Group was established in 2013 and is responsible for the production, management, and distribution of a global spirits and wines portfolio. Mainly known for the Stoli Vodka brand, Stoli Group has expanded to appeal to luxury on-premise and more sophisticated global consumers. Signature brands are: Stoli Vodka, elitVodka, Bayou Rum, Kentucky Owl, Villa One, Gator Bite Rum Liquers, Cenote Tequila, Tulchan Gin, Se Busca Mezcal and Stoli Group's wine division, Tenute del Mondo. With a presence across a network of more than 176 markets, Stoli Group works with a passionate team of 200 distributors around the world. Headquartered in Luxembourg, Stoli has production facilities in Spain, Italy, Argentina, and the United States, some of which are steeped in history dating back to the early part of the last century. For more information, visit stoli-group.com.

SAVOR STOLI RESPONSIBLY. STOLI Premium Vodka and Flavored Premium Vodka. 37.5%-40% Alc./Vol. (75-80 proof). Distilled from Grain. US Distributor: Stoli Group USA, LLC, New York, NY, USA and/or Global Distributor: SPI Spirits (Cyprus) Limited, The Republic of Cyprus.  and  - trademarks or registered trademarks of, depending on the country, ZHS IP Americas Sarl, ZHS IP Europe Sarl, ZHS IP Worldwide Sarl, or Spirits International B.V.  2022. All rights reserved.

Contact: Kelly Subin, [email protected]

SOURCE Stoli
The aligner brand encourages dental education while offering professional services with affordable pricing

JONESBORO, Ark., April 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Str8, a dental aligner startup bringing accessible and healthy smiles to the public, is expanding to offer its services nationwide. The brand combines the ease of D2C with the convenience of in-person dental care. Prior to its national launch, Str8 was available as a pilot program to the local Jonesboro, Arkansas area where its founder, Dr. Misee Harris, owns and operates a dental office and medical center.

What sets Str8 apart from other aligners on the market is its dedication to a healthy smile, not just a straight one. The brand's mission is to educate its consumers, encourage regular dental check-ups and grant access to dream smiles that can help grow confidence. Str8 covers the cost of an initial dental examination at the beginning of the process. In addition, all cases are reviewed and designed by dentists and orthodontists. In addition, Str8 is the first D2C clear aligner brand to reward customers for going to the dentist. Clients will receive $100 off if they have received a dental cleaning within the last 12 months.

The accessible cost is possible due to Harris building her own lab out of her medical center, allowing the elimination of the middle man, which grants the savings to be transferred to the client. The lab is located inside the Louise Hage Medical Center, whose mission is to grant affordable care with access to doctors, dentists and behavior health professionals.

Harris has always been on the front line of offering necessary medical assistance to those who may not have access. She was inspired by her grandmother, for whom her medical center is named. After many years in the dental industry, Harris is excited to expand her professional services to offer clear aligners to the general public.

"My passion has always been to help and improve others' lives. I inherited that from my mother and my grandmother," says Misee Harris, Founder of Str8. "Starting Str8 and the ability to provide healthy smiles for those who otherwise wouldn't be able to afford orthodontic treatment was a no-brainer for me. I'm excited to grow as a company and continue to see how we can change people's lives."

Str8's Services Include:

Complimentary in-person pre aligner check-up with personal dental professional

Teledentistry that allows the patient to be monitored throughout their aligner treatment

The convenience of D2C with monitoring by dental professionals

Accessible and affordable pricing and financing

Customized and premium quality products

User-friendly digital services and client support

Durable and comfortable aligners

For more information, visit www.str8oralcare.com .

About Str8

Str8 was founded by Dr. Misee Harris in 2021 and launched nationally in 2022. The brand's mission is to educate its consumers, encourage regular dental check-ups and grant access to dream smiles that can help grow confidence. After many years in the dental industry and philanthropic work, Harris looked to expand her reach by creating a line of affordable dental aligners to the general public and those who may not usually have access to their dream smile or dental education.

Media Contact

Diana Bassett

DBPR

[email protected]

516.697.7677

SOURCE Str8 Oral Care
In celebration of "Earth Month," Stumptown Coffee launches a new campaign highlighting their (and their many partners') commitments to sustainable business practices. Stumptown also unveils "Supernature," a new organic coffee blend available for a limited time.

PORTLAND, Ore., April 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Starting today, Stumptown Coffee Roaster's kicks off "Earth Month" with a campaign celebrating its commitment to the earth, people, and coffee.

A new webpage ( stumptowncoffee.com/impact ) highlights Stumptown's philosophy and commitment to sustainable business partnerships and practices, including its recertification as a B Corporation. Stumptown also released its second annual Sustainability & Impact Report , which articulates the company's key environmental and social activities and progress during the last year.

Stumptown Coffee is Proud to be a B Corp Limited Release: Supernature Organic Coffee Blend

Fittingly, Stumptown also unveiled a brand-new coffee: " Supernature ," an organic blend sourced from producer partners doing sustainability work that benefits their farms, their communities, and the planet. Supernature is available online , at Stumptown cafes, and through select wholesale partners across the country starting today.

"The pandemic and the many diverse challenges of the recovery, globally and in our own backyards, have given us an increased appreciation for the fragility of life  in our relationships, in our communities, and on our planet," says Stumptown President, Laura Szeliga. "We're ever more cognizant of how our decisions affect people, the environment, and the communities where we operate and source coffee around the world, which gave our work in 2021 even more significance and meaning."

B Corporation Recertification Underscores Commitment to Sustainability (And Garners a Near 10-point Increase)

Stumptown first became a certified B Corporation in 2018, committing to continuous improvement in accountability and transparency on topics ranging from employee benefits and charitable giving to supply chain practices and input materials. B Corp requires recertification every three years, which includes an extensive audit and re-scoring of how a company measures in accordance with their entire social and environmental impact.

"B Corp's detailed recertification process gave us an opportunity to see how we progressed against our priorities," says Szeliga. "After months of hard work by many people on our team, Stumptown happily received our recertification  and saw our qualifying score improve from an 80 in 2018 to an 89.7 in 2021."

Available Now: SupernatureA Blend of Elemental Proportions.

What's a celebration of sustainable coffee business without a new coffee to taste? Available starting today, Supernature is a celebration of some of Mother Earth's best work: her coffee and the humans who tend it. A blend of two organic coffees from Peru and Colombia, Supernature has a unique yet eminently accessible flavor profile, exhibiting notes of juicy cherry, green grape, and brown sugar.

"We're proud to offer this exquisite coffee and proud to support producer partners doing sustainability work that benefits their farms, their communities, and the planet," says Katy Keisling, Stumptown's Green Coffee Sourcing Manager. "For this blend, we've brought together organic coffees from two long-term partners: Peru Churupampa and Colombia Pergamino Cauca. Not only are these coffees an excellent pair from a quality perspective, but they share a common story of local leaders implementing organic compost systems to improve the environmental sustainability of coffee in their communities, which Stumptown has supported with funding."

Starting today, Supernature is available for purchase for $20 online , at Stumptown cafes (excluding airport locations and Kyoto, Japan), and is available through select wholesale partners across the country.

Committed in 1999, Committed Today, and Committed to the Future

"At Stumptown, we don't believe in doing things halfway," says Shauna Alexander, Vice President of Coffee and Sustainability for Stumptown. "For over 20 years, we've been uncompromising in our commitment to quality: not only in our coffees, but in the way we treat the planet and the people who make what we do possible. We're so excited to spend an entire month shining a light on the work Stumptown and our partners have been doing to build a more equitable and sustainable world."

To learn more, visit stumptowncoffee.com/impact .

RESOURCES

Photo and Logo Assets: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/nzqwo4d271jg5sa/AADh4b7RGcglq0-qrPXR3r8ja?dl=0

Sustainability & Impact Page URL: https://www.stumptowncoffee.com/impact

Supernature Product Page URL: https://www.stumptowncoffee.com/products/supernature

Video URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ilVqowzkujA

2021 Sustainability & Impact Report URL: https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0495/9446/6472/files/Sustainability_ImpactReport_2022.pdf?v=1649438288

ABOUT STUMPTOWN COFFEE ROASTERS

Founded in Portland, Oregon in 1999, Stumptown Coffee Roasters was a pioneer of the Third Wave coffee movement and Direct Trade sourcing, and is credited as the creator of the cold brew coffee category. Now a global brand with cafes in Portland, Los Angeles, New York and Kyoto, Stumptown coffee and cold brew can be found in thousands of grocery stores and wholesale partners across the US.

Media Contact

Ian Deming

(855) 711-3385

[email protected]

SOURCE Stumptown Coffee Roasters
Increased prevalence of ophthalmic diseases among geriatric population across the globe, surge in hospital admissions, and rise in investments to tackle chronic diseases drive the growth of the global surgical microscopes market.

PORTLAND, Ore., April 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Allied Market Research published a report, titled, "Surgical Microscopes Market by Application (Dentistry, Ent, Gynecology & Urology, Neurosurgery & Spine Surgery, Oncology, Ophthalmology, Plastic And Reconstructive Surgeries), by End-User (Hospitals, Outpatient Facilities), by Price Range (Low-Range, Mid-Range, Premium-Range), : Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2020-2030." According to the report published by Allied Market Research, the global surgical microscopes market was estimated at $612.79 million in 2020 and is expected to hit $1.39 billion by 2030, registering a CAGR of 8.6% from 2021 to 2030.

For Right Perspective, Download Sample PDF at: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-sample/877

Drivers, restraints, and opportunities-

Increased prevalence of ophthalmic diseases among geriatric population across the globe, surge in hospital admissions, and rise in investments to tackle chronic diseases drive the growth of the global surgical microscopes market. On the other hand, certain government regulations against the adoption of specific surgical microscopes hinder the growth to some extent. However, development of innovative instruments in the healthcare sector and launch of various solutions for fast, & accurate diagnosis are anticipated to create lucrative opportunities in the industry.

Covid-19 Scenario-

There was a steep decline in demand for surgical microscopes from the healthcare industry, especially during the initial phase of the pandemic, since most of the elective surgeries were either cancelled or postponed all throughout.

However, the market has already started recuperating and is projected to get back on track soon.

The low-range segment to retain the lion's share-

By product type, the low-range segment held the major share in 2020, garnering more than two-fifths of the global surgical microscopes market. The same segment is also projected to cite the fastest CAGR of 8.9 % throughout the forecast period, due to rapid development of surgical microscopes.

Do You Have Any Query Or Specific Requirement? Ask to Our Industry Expert: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/purchase-enquiry/877

The outpatient facilities segment to dominate by 2030-

By end-user, the outpatient facilities segment contributed to the lion's share in 2020, holding nearly three-fourths of the global surgical microscopes market. The same segment is also expected to manifest the fastest CAGR of 8.7% from 2021 to 2030, due to rise in their usage for the diagnosis of diseases.

North America held the major share in 2020-

By region, North America dominated in 2020, garnering more than two-fifths of the global surgical microscopes market. This is attributed to the robust infrastructure provided for research activities and presence of key players across North America. The market across Asia-Pacific, however, is expected to cite the fastest CAGR of 8.9% throughout the forecast period, due to increase in use of surgical microscope for the detection of infections, rise in R & D activities for new product launch, and surge in investments in the healthcare sector.

Key players in the industry-

Haag-Streit U.S.

Alcon Laboratories, Inc.

Leica Microsystem GmbH

ARRI AG

Alltion (Wuzhou) Co., Ltd.

Olympus Corporation

Global surgical corporation

TAKAGI SEIKO CO., LTD.

Carl Zeiss

Topcon Medical Systems, Inc.

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"We have also published few syndicated market studies in the similar area that might be of your interest. Below are the report title for your reference, considering Impact of Covid-19 Over This Market which will help you to assess aftereffects of pandemic on short-term and long-term growth trends of this market."

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About Us

Allied Market Research (AMR) is a full-service market research and business-consulting wing of Allied Analytics LLP based in Portland, Oregon. Allied Market Research provides global enterprises as well as medium and small businesses with unmatched quality of "Market Research Reports" and "Business Intelligence Solutions." AMR has a targeted view to provide business insights and consulting to assist its clients to make strategic business decisions and achieve sustainable growth in their respective market domain.

Pawan Kumar, the CEO of Allied Market Research, is leading the organization toward providing high-quality data and insights. We are in professional corporate relations with various companies and this helps us in digging out market data that helps us generate accurate research data tables and confirms utmost accuracy in our market forecasting. Each and every data presented in the reports published by us is extracted through primary interviews with top officials from leading companies of domain concerned. Our secondary data procurement methodology includes deep online and offline research and discussion with knowledgeable professionals and analysts in the industry.

Contact:

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SOURCE Allied Market Research
The 161, 458 square-foot state-of-the-art facility, located on nearly 20 acres, includes three warehouses and 10 production lines, and will have the capacity to process up to 5.3 million lbs. of product per month, increasing the Company's overall production capability by 80 percent. The increased production capability will place Tajin as the world leader in the production and commercialization of chili-based products.

"The global consumption of chili peppers and chili-based products shows no signs of letting up," said Javier Leyva, Director of Tajin U.S. "Currently, the U.S. is our biggest market outside of Mexico and represents 50 percent of our global sales. With Tajin's presence in more than 65 countries and expanding, our multi-million-dollar investment will allow us to meet this growing demand and increase our global footprint," added Leyva.

The investment in the CICE in Jalisco, Mexico, is a first of its kind in the sector and aims to transform the local region into a state-of-the-art zone to produce the highest quality chili peppers.

Tajin sees the work being done at its new facilities as having huge ripple effects across the supply chain. With an emphasis in the production of non-genetically modified seeds and sustainability, the CICE will deliver these to local farmers and producers, giving them a path to enter the fast-growing global chili pepper market.

Today, Tajin Clasico Seasoning, is the leading brand for Industrias Tajin and the number one chili powder in both the U.S. and Mexico. In addition to its chili powder products, Tajin has expanded its offering into the hot sauce category with Tajin Mild Hot Sauce and Tajin Fruity Chamoy Mild Hot Sauce.

About Tajin

Industrias Tajin is a 100% Mexican company, leader in Mexico and United States markets in chili powder, and one of the most important in the production and commercialization of products derived from chili worldwide. It has presence in more than 65 countries around the world. It was founded in 1985, surprising consumers with the perfect blend of lime, chili, and sea salt. In 1993, Tajin exports to the United States for the first time and Tajin International Corporation is established in Houston, TX, from where all the commercial activity of the brand in the U.S. is managed. The brand arrived in the Central American and European markets in 2006.

SOURCE Tajin International Corporation
HOUSTON, April 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- A Texas state appellate court panel has rejected Facebook, Inc.'s latest attempts to avoid facing alleged sex trafficking victims in court, according to the victims' lawyers at Annie McAdams PC, The Gallagher Law Firm, and Sico Hoelscher Harris LLP

In a ruling today, the Fourteenth Court of Appeals of Texas panel affirmed a trial court's earlier denial of Facebook's jurisdictional appeal. The new ruling follows an unprecedented one last year by the Texas Supreme Court which allowed alleged sex trafficking survivors to sue Facebook under a Texas anti-trafficking law. Facebook also has failed for nearly three years to have the Jane Doe case thrown out under Section 230 of the federal Communications Decency Act.

In the new ruling, the Fourteenth Court stated, "Texas has a strong interest in protecting citizens of the State by exercising jurisdiction over these types of claims."

In June 2021, the state supreme court ruled that the trafficking victims could proceed with lawsuits alleging that Facebook violated Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Chapter 98, an anti-trafficking law passed in 2009. The underlying cases, originally filed in state district courts in Harris County, Texas, allege that Facebook, Inc. benefited from sexual exploitation of the "Jane Doe" trafficking survivors.

The trafficking victims are represented by Annie McAdams of Annie McAdams PC, of Houston; Michael T. Gallagher of The Gallagher Law Firm, of Houston; and David E. Harris and Jeffrey Richter of Sico Hoelscher Harris LLP, of Corpus Christi, Texas.

Annie McAdams, of Annie McAdams PC, said, "These courageous trafficking survivors have fought for three years for their day in court against Facebook. Because of the state Chapter 98 protections, we believe trafficking survivors in Texas can expose and hold accountable businesses such as Facebook that benefit from these crimes of exploitation."

According to the lawsuits, the social media giant provided "an unrestricted platform to stalk, exploit, recruit, groom, and extort children into the sex trade. Facebook is now the first point of contact between sex traffickers and these children Facebook not only provides an unrestricted platform for these sex traffickers to target children, but it also cloaks the traffickers with credibility."

Jeffrey Richter, of Sico Hoelscher Harris LLP, said, "We continue to believe Facebook has an obligation to safeguard its users, both through its online platform and otherwise, of the dangers of human traffickers using Facebook as a tool to entrap and enslave children into sex trafficking."

In April 2018 testimony before Congress, Facebook Chairman and CEO Mark Zuckerberg said the company had not "taken a broad enough view of Facebook's responsibility to the community and content." He added, "We [Facebook] need to make sure that people aren't using it to harm other people or to spread misinformation. Across the board we have a responsibility to not just build tools, but to make sure they're used for good."

The appellate case is "Facebook, Inc., Appellant v. Jane Doe, Appellee," No. 14-19-00854 in the Fourteenth Court of Appeals of Texas. The underlying cases, from the state district courts, are Cause Nos. 2018-69816, 2018-82214, and 2019-16262.

Media Contact: Erin Powers, Powers MediaWorks LLC, for Annie McAdams PC, [email protected], 281.703.6000.

SOURCE Annie McAdams, PC
YIWU, China, April 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Yiwugo.com, the official website of the Yiwu Commodity Market, which is the largest commodity wholesale market in the world, disclosed on April 8 the 2022 list of "Yiwugo Top Landladies" . The honorary title went to Xu Jiawei of Nicole Fashion Jewelry, Su Cui of Yiwu Aishang Daily Necessities Factory, Wang Chunxing of Butterfly Fly Lace Firm, Fang Xiaojun of Chunxiao Curtains, Zhang Jiying of Shangyu Xingbao Umbrella Firm, Wu Minghua of Meige Carpet Firm, Fu Jiangyan of Zhangweichao Socks Firm, Yu Shuixian of Guanyu Plush Toys Co., Ltd., Wang Xiaoqing of Yiwu Duo Can Baking Cake Cup and Huang Lingling of Ling'ou Carpets.

Official statistics reveal an over-65 percentage of female employees in the workforce of the "world's supermarket" of Yiwu, where tens of thousands of business owners are women. Dedicated specially to businesswomen in Yiwu market, this competition has been run for seven consecutive years, creating an opportunity for female business owners to showcase themselves and promote their brands.

The largest number of participants from the widest sectors

This year's event was the most competitive - it surpassed all previous sessions in the number of participants to represent all sectors of Yiwu Commodity Market and over 3,000 shops of the industrial belt in Hebei, Shandong, Guangdong, Shanxi, Chengdu and other provinces and cities. Clearly, as a brand event of Yiwugo.com, " Yiwugo Top Landladies" competition has gained a growing influence.

Good performance of niche markets

Among the ten award winners of this year, five (or 50%) operate in niche markets, such as curtains, woven ribbons, carpets and baking cake cups. Yiwu Commodity Market consists of many highly specialized segments, in which the businesswomen are doing a good job with a professional depth of expertise.

Wang Xiaoqing, owner of Yiwu Duo Can Baking Cake Cup , was elected one of the top landladies for the first time this year. As an export supplier for a niche sector and a promising business run by a post-90s lady, "Duo Can" is known for its outstanding design and originality. It offers a wide selection of cake cups, with new designs coming out constantly. Wang Xiaoqing speaks highly of Yiwugo's e-commerce service, and describes herself as a beneficiary of Yiwugo.com from which she has learned and gained a lot. Through this competition, she wants to draw more attention to her own brand and industry.

The " Yiwugo Top Landladies" competition has shown the media and society a resilient and talented image of businesswomen on Yiwu market and promoted the good-quality brands that they operate. "Yiwugo.com expects more outstanding businesswomen and their brands to shine through this competition and expand their visibility beyond geographical boundaries and online-offline limitations at home and abroad." said Wang Jianjun, general manager of Yiwugo.com.

Click here to check the 2022 "Yiwugo Top Landladies" of Yiwugo.com

SOURCE yiwugo.com
BALTIMORE, April 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The number of Hispanic and African American/Black urologists practicing in the United States continued to increase in 2021. In 2020 there were 497 (3.8%) Hispanic practicing urologists and 268 (2.1%) African American/Black practicing urologists and those numbers rose to 584 (4.4%) and 321 (2.4%) respectively in 2021.

The American Urological Association (AUA) released the 2021 Annual Census report, The State of the Urology Workforce and Practice in the United States.

This new data, as well as further findings regarding the growing number of urologists utilizing telemedicine in the United States and the causes and impact of professional burnout, are highlighted in the American Urological Association's (AUA) newly released 2021 Annual Census report, The State of the Urology Workforce and Practice in the United States.

Committed to providing a definitive basis of data regarding the urology community, the AUA launched its first Annual Census in 2014. It not only defined and estimated the practicing urologist population, but for the first time in the history of urology, reported the workforce and practice characteristics of the entire population of practicing urologists. Today, the Census remains a novel data source that explores the urological profession and reports both cross-sectional variations and trends. Results from the survey provide an array of information aimed at bridging knowledge gaps, meeting increased research needs and ultimately, improving patient care.

Additional findings from the 2021 AUA Census:

The 2021 U.S. urologist population consists of 13,790 practicing urologists.

While the urologic workforce in the United States remains predominantly male, the percentage of female urologists continued to rise to 10.9%, up from 8.8% in 2017.

remains predominantly male, the percentage of female urologists continued to rise to 10.9%, up from 8.8% in 2017. The states with the highest number of practicing urologists include California , Florida , New York and Texas . Wyoming has the lowest number of practicing urologists.

, , and . has the lowest number of practicing urologists. More than half of practicing urologists within the United States are over the age of 54, while nearly 30% are aged 65 or older.

are over the age of 54, while nearly 30% are aged 65 or older. Approximately 81% of practicing urologists participated in telemedicine in 2021.

Among practicing urologists who experienced professional burnout, nearly 46% of them reported that the COVID-19 pandemic attributed to that burnout.

"The AUA U.S. Census data continue to demonstrate an evolving urology workforce, as well as other facets of the specialty, including the long-term structural and practical impacts of COVID-19 on practicing urologists," said Danil V. Makarov, MD, MHS, chair of the AUA Data Committee. "The Census serves as a resource about the realities of practicing urology during a pandemic for the urology community as a whole as well as health policy leaders."

Further data trends regarding work/life balance, patient visits, retirement details, as well as other practice characteristics can be found in the 2021 report. The full report can be found on the AUA website at www.AUAnet.org/CensusReport.

About the American Urological Association: Founded in 1902 and headquartered near Baltimore, Maryland, the American Urological Association is a leading advocate for the specialty of urology and has nearly 24,000 members throughout the world. The AUA is a premier urologic association, providing invaluable support to the urologic community as it pursues its mission of fostering the highest standards of urologic care through education, research and the formulation of health policy.

Media Contact:

Caitlin Lukacs, Corporate Communications and Media Relations Manager

410-689-4081, [email protected]

SOURCE American Urological Association
This strategic alliance between bi-national trucker convoys marks a historic stand against vaccine and other COVID-19-related mandates across North America

OTTAWA, Canada and WASHINGTON, April 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- In a historic stand for freedom in western democracy, The Canadian Freedom 22 Convoy and The People's Convoy in the USA demonstrate unity as they announce a strategic alliance in their common fight against harsh and unscientific government overreach across North America and the world as it relates to vaccine and other COVID-19 mandates.

"Truckers in Canada initiated the fight against our government's abusive COVID-19 policies as we held the line with our month-long blockade in Ottawa, and we stand proud to see that our movement has inspired truckers and other everyday citizens to take up the fight in their own countries," said Leanne Carter, trucker liaison for The Canadian Freedom 22 Convoy. "We are also proud to announce a strategic alliance with The People's Convoy in our common fight to restore freedom and hold our governments and other officials accountable for their unprecedented abuse of power."

The initial trucker's convoy in Canada hit the road in early January and grew to over 12,000 semis as they seized Canada's capital city of Ottawa in a 3 week standoff with government officials. The rallies held outside of Ottawa in front of the Parliament buildings on weekends grew to millions of people. Canadian truckers recently announced that they are firing their engines up once again to continue their fight for freedom and liberty.

"Inspired by our Canadian brothers and sisters, this movement is not a right or left issue politically  it is a human issue and citizens of all political affiliations are coming together in an effort to restore liberty for our children and grandchildren," said Mike Landis, truck driver and co-organizer, The People's Convoy. "We demand that politicians on both sides of the political aisle be held accountable for their actions, or inaction, over the past two years as they have crippled and divided our country. It's time to remind politicians in every western democracy that, indeed, they work for us."

The People's Convoy launched its journey to Washington, DC from Adelanto, California on February 23rd and grew to 62 miles long by the time it reached the DC Beltway, which it has been circling almost daily since its arrival on March 5th. While traveling through eleven states over ten days, an estimated two million freedom-loving Americans across every race and political affiliation packed the highway overpasses and overnight staging areas in support of the movement.

The People's Convoy recently announced that it would be departing Washington, DC to head for California to raise public awareness of 10 of the most abusive proposed Covid-19-related bills the US has ever seen: https://unityprojectonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Bad-Bill-Flyer-1.jpg

For updates, news and to donate to The Canadian Freedom 22 Convoy and The People's Convoy, please visit: (temporary landing page pending official website) www.canadianfreedom22.com and www.ThePeoplesConvoy.org

For Media Inquiries:

[email protected]

[email protected]

SOURCE The Peoples Convoy
The timing of this partnership couldn't be better for communities of color in California. Over seven percent (7.2%) of Black Californians are diagnosed with a serious mental illness, while the average is 4.2% for White Californians. The Confess Project and the Katz Amsterdam Charitable Trust will combat this disparity by training five hundred (500) new barbers to become mental health advocates.

"You didn't have to be clairvoyant to see this crisis coming because all the indicators that behavioral health experts rely on pointed to the coming deluge of mental health issues in the black community", said Lorenzo Lewis, Confess Project Founder. "Those of us who have dedicated our lives to the calling of improving access to mental health predicted this crisis; but I am glad that Confess Project now has a new partner to help improve access to mental health for Black boys, men, and their families in California," Lewis continued.

The Katz Amsterdam Charitable Trust's investment of $100,000.00 will have an immediate effect of decreasing the stigma associated with mental health issues in Black communities because the mental health advocacy training occurs in the very community where health disparities exist.

"We are thrilled to partner with The Confess Project," said Beth Ganz, executive director of Katz Amsterdam. "We strive to support such innovative solutions to address mental health challenges. The Confess Project has had great impact within communities and we are honored to help expand their reach."

"We are grateful to Katz Amsterdam Charitable Trust, and we look forward to battling mental health disparities in black community together with our new strategic partner", said Lorenzo Lewis, The Confess Project Founder.

For more information about the Confess Project click here https://www.theconfessproject.com/

CONTACT: [email protected]

SOURCE The Confess Project
Janelle St. John, MPA, Nonprofit Executive Director of the Year Award Janelle St. John was named Executive Director of Growing Home after serving as the organization's Chief Fund Development and Communications Officer for more than a year. Since joining it, Janelle has contributed to the organization's essential three-year working plan, which includes initiatives to strengthen Growing Home's commitment to the Englewood community through workforce development and food access. Janelle worked at Edgewater Health, a Community Mental Health Center in Gary, Indiana, for five years, first as the Chief Development and Communications Officer and then as the Chief Strategy Officer. She is a dynamic senior-level professional with over 20 years of superior performance within the nonprofit industry.

Kelli Haywood, MA, Nonprofit Civic Leader of the Year Award

Kelli Haywood is the Founder and Executive Director of Dream On Education, a Chicago-based nonprofit that provides academic enrichment for high-achieving, low-income middle school students. She is also the Community Impact Manager for Cboe Global Markets, where she is responsible for increasing Cboe's impact on a national and global level through community partnerships, employee engagement, and D&I. Kelli is currently an MBA candidate at Emory University's Goizueta Business School. She has previously served as a Community Leadership Corp Consultant for The Obama Foundation and as Director of Corporate Development at the American Heart Association. Haywood is also a member of the Executive Service Corps' Nonprofit Advisory Council.

Laura Washington, MSJ, Nonprofit Board Member of the Year Award

Laura S. Washington is a Chicago Sun-Times contributing columnist and political analyst for ABC 7, Chicago's ABC-owned station. In 2015 and 2019, she served as a Visiting Fellow at the University of Chicago's Institute of Politics. Washington has more than two decades of experience as a nonprofit professional and multimedia journalist. She specializes in African American affairs, local and national politics, race and racism, and social justice. From 2003 to 2009, she served as the Ida B. Wells-Barnett University Professor at DePaul University and a fellow at the DePaul Humanities Center. Washington was the editor and publisher of The Chicago Reporter, a nationally acclaimed investigative magazine focusing on race and urban issues, from 1990 until 2002. She is the President of the Arts Club of Chicago's Board of Directors.

Jeanne Mayes, MBA, Nonprofit Consultant of the Year Award

Jeanne Mayes joined Executive Service Corps in 2005 when she returned from an ex-patriot experience in Japan and the UK. Her consulting, business, and human resources talents were acquired throughout her time as a consultant and trainer in Tokyo, as well as her human resources career at the Fortune 200 food company. During her time with Executive Service Corps, Jeanne further developed her skills in Engagement Management; established an executive transition management practice; and assisted clients in strategic planning, human resources, group facilitation, organization audits, and more. Jeanne's nonprofit clients range from social services to professional associations, as well as performing arts and educational institutions. Jeanne is now the Chair of the Executive Service Corps Board of Directors. For many years, she volunteered with Big Brothers/Big Sisters of New Jersey and Chicago, Chicago Lights Tutoring, and the Chicago Architecture Center Auxiliary Board.

Audrey Thomas, MA, Philanthropic Lifetime Achievement Award

Audrey Thomas is the CEO of Deborah's Place, a Chicago-based nonprofit organization, whose aim is to provide opportunities for homeless women in Chicago. Before being named CEO in 2004, she held many positions at the company, including COO. Audrey has 40 years of experience in Chicago's homeless service community. Her experience includes strategic planning, fundraising, board development, program evaluation, and systems change. Audrey earned an MA degree from DePaul University School for New Learning and completed the Executive Scholar Program through Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Nonprofit Management. Audrey is a founding member of the Logan Square Cooperative, a limited-equity housing cooperative dedicated to keeping housing in Chicago affordable.

"The Executive Service Corps is excited to honor these incredible leaders at our annual event. We are all fortunate to have these exceptional women making a real difference in our community and inspiring all of us," said President and CEO Rachelle Jervis.

The Executive Service Corps will host an acclaimed author on April 28 to continue our traditional gathering to celebrate our influence. This year, our guest author will be Jean Hanff Korelitz. Korelitz is the New York Times bestselling author of the novels The Plot, You Should Have Known (which aired on HBO in October 2020 as The Undoing, starring Nicole Kidman, Hugh Grant, and Donald Sutherland) and Admission (adapted as a film in 2013, starring Tina Fey). When the author's new book, The Latecomer, is released on May 31, attendees will be able to get a signed hardcover copy. Tickets are available now at www.escevent.org.

Media Contact:

Brindha Dyer

[email protected]

SOURCE EXECUTIVE SERVICE CORPS OF CHICAGO
Growing full-service life sciences commercialization company completes its seventh acquisition



Combined companies create a differentiated platform for providing both strategic insights and operational excellence to the life science commercialization process

MORRISVILLE, N.C., April 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- TrialCard Incorporated, a full-service life sciences commercialization company, today announced it has acquired Triangle Insights Group, a strategy consulting firm focused on delivering high-impact solutions across the life sciences value chain. Triangle Insights Group offers a full suite of consulting services, including R&D and portfolio strategy, new product planning and commercialization support, and extensive pricing and market access expertise and insights. The deal marks TrialCard's seventh acquisition since entering a partnership with Odyssey Investment Partners, LLC in November 2017.

Headquartered in Durham, North Carolina, with offices in New York City and San Francisco, Triangle Insights Group's 50+ consultants combine deep knowledge of the life sciences industry across therapeutic areas and functional groups, with a dedication to creativity and strong critical thinking. Recommendations from Triangle Insights Group are original, relevant to the evolving industry landscape, and supported by rigorous analytics. The company, founded in 2013, supports clients in the biopharmaceutical, diagnostics, and medical device industries, with experience in every therapeutic area and more than 150 indications. TrialCard is pleased to announce that all TIG partners and employees will be retained by TrialCard post-acquisition.

"The addition of Triangle Insights Group to the TrialCard platform is a huge win for the life sciences industry and patients in general," said Scott Dulitz, President and Chief Strategy Officer at TrialCard. "Commercialization and operational considerations are becoming increasingly important during the early pre-approval stages of a product's lifecycle. Our blended team of experts will be well-positioned to provide both the strategic insights and executional excellence to successfully launch and commercialize new products."

"We are thrilled to be part of TrialCard's innovative full-service commercialization platform," added Gautam Aggarwal, Founding Partner and Pricing Market Access Lead at Triangle Insights Group. "Our strategic capabilities, combined with TrialCard's industry-leading suite of patient support and provider engagement services, will enable us to offer unparallelled value to our clients. This growth-accelerating transaction will provide incredible opportunities for our Triangle team and will enable us to continue our trend of attracting top-caliber talent."

For the past four years, Triangle Insights Group has been ranked on Inc. magazine's annual Inc. 5000 list as one of the fastest-growing companies in the nation. This ranking is based on revenue growth over the past three years and represents the most successful companies within the American economy's most dynamic segmentits independent small businesses. In February 2022, Triangle Insights Group was ranked #6 among the Best Boutique Consulting Firms in the 2022 Vault Rankings.

Clearsight Advisors served as the exclusive financial advisor to Triangle Insights in connection with this transaction.

About TrialCard

TrialCard Incorporated is a full-service life sciences commercialization company that provides comprehensive solutions that span the entire biopharmaceutical value chain. In addition to a foundation of fully integrated, digitally enabled patient support services, its broader offerings include everything from late-stage clinical trial supply management to post-marketing HCP engagement services and proprietary data-as-a-service payer intelligence and insights. Founded in 2000, TrialCard provides commercialization support for more than 400 life science customers and has connected over 36 million patients with more than $22 billion in branded drug savings to date. The company is headquartered in Morrisville, North Carolina. For more information about TrialCard, please visit www.trialcard.com.

About Triangle Insights Group

Triangle Insights Group is a premier strategy consulting firm providing guidance on critical business issues to life science industry leaders. The firm's approach combines deep industry knowledge with strong analytical rigor to drive strategic decision-making across client domains. Triangle's expertise encompasses key therapeutic areas (oncology, CNS, cell, and gene therapy) and relevant industry disciplines (pricing and market access, new product planning, and commercial strategy). For more information, visit www.triangleinsightsgroup.com.

Contact:

Landy Townsend

VP, Marketing & Communications

TrialCard

[email protected]

SOURCE TrialCard Incorporated
Joseph Marino debunks skeptics who say there is no mention of the Shroud before the 1350s

COLUMBUS, Ohio, April 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Longtime Shroud of Turin researcher Joseph Marino, author of two books and more than 60 articles and conference presentations on the Shroud, has just published an article that compiles numerous historical references to Jesus' burial linens from the second century through the first half of the 14th century.

Turin Shroud Scholar: Reexamination of Historical Texts Point to Cloths Early Existence

The Shroud continues to stir significant interest worldwide. On Feb. 26, The Museum of the Bible in Washington, D.C., unveiled an interactive, state-of-the-art exhibit on the Shroud. The exhibit, "Mystery and Faith: The Shroud of Turin," will run through July 31.

Additionally, this Easter season, a new Shroud film titled " Who Can He Be?" will be released by British award-winning director and producer David Rolfe.

Marino's new 45-page article , "Documented References to the Burial Linens of Jesus Prior to the Turin Shroud's Appearance in France in the Mid-1350s," published on April 8, adds to the growing body of evidence indicating the Shroud of Turin could be the actual burial cloth of the historical Jesus of Nazareth. As a sample of what readers will find in the article, in the sixth century, nearly a thousand years older than the carbon date, an ancient liturgical text translates John 20:5 in the following manner: Peter and John ran to the tomb and saw the recent imprint of the dead and risen man on the linens. There are one or more references for each century from the 2nd through the 14th, clearly demonstrating the existence of the Shroud from right after the time of Jesus through its appearance in France in the mid-14th century.

A former Benedictine monk, Marino has studied the Shroud for 45 years. He was involved in groundbreaking research, which demonstrated that the 1988 C-14 results were invalid. Marino, working alongside his late wife, Sue Benford, found anomalies in the weave pattern in the sample which had been dated. In 2005, in response to Marino and Benford's research, the late Ray Rogers, head of the chemistry section of the 1978 Shroud of Turin Research Project, authored a peer-reviewed paper , "Studies on the Radiocarbon Sample from the Shroud of Turin" in which he concluded that the C-14 sample was not representative of the main cloth, thus invalidating the results. This was further corroborated by the raw data from the three labs, which against all norms they refused to release immediately, were finally obtained through a Freedom of Information request in 2017 made by French researcher Tristan Casabianca. It was published in the peer-reviewed journal Archaeometry, on March 22, 2019. Analysis of the data shows it was clearly manipulated. Had all the data been released in 1989, it would have failed statistical analysis as a reliable test. The latest historical research compiled in a 45-page document strongly supports an age of the cloth much older than the the14th century, as erroneously determined by the carbon dating labs in 1988.

To schedule an interview with Marino, contact Mitchell Communications at (845) 421-8165 or [email protected] or Joseph Marino directly at (614) 477-1480 or [email protected] .

About Joseph Marino

World-renowned Shroud of Turin scholar Joseph Marino is the author of two books and more than 60 articles and conference presentations on the Shroud, which many believe is the burial cloth of Jesus Christ. A former Benedictine monk, Marino has studied every aspect of Shroud for more than 45 years and was involved in groundbreaking research, along with his late wife, Sue Benford, which convinced the late chemist Ray Rogers that the sample tested for the 1988 C-14 test was not representative of the whole cloth. That, in the eyes of many researchers, invalidated the medieval date assigned to it by the labs.

Photo (2) credits: 1978 Barrie M. Schwortz Collection, STERA, Inc.

Featured Photo: Ray Rogers, John Jackson and Prof. Giovanni Riggi, members of the 1978 team that performed the first ever in-depth scientific examination of the Shroud, take a first look at the underside of the cloth in over 400 years.

Secondary Photo: STURP researcher Mark Evans makes photomicrographs of the Shroud during the 1978 scientific examination of the cloth.

PRESS CONTACT

NAME

Paula A Mitchell

PHONE

8454218165

WEBSITE

https://mitchellcommunications.org/

SOURCE Joseph Marino
Julie is a proud 22-year USAA member and joins USAA from Root, Inc., where she served as senior deputy general counsel since 2020. She has a wealth of knowledge and nearly 30 years of experience that includes serving as the commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Commerce & Insurance for eight years. She also served as executive director of the Kentucky Office of Insurance, after rising through the ranks during her 10 years there. She was the first woman to hold the position of chief insurance regulator in more than one state and was president of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners in 2018. Julie's experience as an attorney includes serving as a shareholder and founding member of the Nashville office of Greenberg Traurig LLP and as of counsel for Burt & Forman LLP. She earned her law degree from Brandeis School of Law at the University of Louisville and is a member of the Kentucky and Tennessee bar associations.

"We're excited to have a leader of Julie's caliber join our team," said USAA Chief Legal Officer Bob Johnson. "Her deep legal and industry experience makes her the perfect fit for USAA as we build on our 100-year legacy of serving military families and maintain our strength as one of the largest insurance providers in the nation."

USAA

Founded in 1922 by a group of military officers, USAA is among the leading providers of insurance, banking, and investment and retirement solutions to more than 13 million members of the U.S. military, veterans who have honorably served and their families. Headquartered in San Antonio, USAA has offices in seven U.S. cities and three overseas locations and employs more than 38,000 people worldwide. Each year, the company contributes to national and local nonprofits in support of military families and communities where employees live and work. For more information about USAA, follow us on Facebook or Twitter (@USAA), or visit usaa.com.

Contact: USAA Media Relations

[email protected]

210-498-0940

SOURCE USAA
NEW YORK, April 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Klein Law Firm announces that a class action complaint has been filed on behalf of shareholders of Volta Inc. (NYSE: VLTA) alleging that the Company violated federal securities laws.

Class Period: August 2, 2021 to March 28, 2022

Lead Plaintiff Deadline: May 31, 2022

No obligation or cost to you.

Learn more about your recoverable losses in VLTA:

https://www.kleinstocklaw.com/pslra-1/volta-inc-loss-submission-form?id=25800&from=4

Volta Inc. NEWS - VLTA NEWS

CLASS ACTION CASE DETAILS: The filed complaint alleges that Volta Inc. made materially false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) Volta had improperly accounted for restricted stock units issued in connection with the business combination of Volta Industries, Inc. ("Legacy Volta") and Tortoise Acquisition Corp. II; (2) as a result, the Company had understated its net loss for third quarter 2021; (3) there were material weaknesses in the Company's internal control over financial reporting that resulted in a material error; (4) as a result of the foregoing, the Company would restate its financial statements; (5) as a result of the foregoing, Legacy Volta's founders would imminently exit the Company; (6) as a result, the Company's financial results would be adversely impacted; and (7) as a result of the foregoing, defendants' positive statements about the Company's business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis.

WHAT THIS MEANS TO YOU AS A SHAREHOLDER: If you have suffered a loss in Volta you have until May 31, 2022 to petition the court for lead plaintiff status. Your ability to share in any recovery doesn't require that you serve as a lead plaintiff.

NO COST TO YOU: If you purchased Volta securities during the relevant period, you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out-of-pocket fees.

HOW TO PROTECT YOUR FINANCIAL INTERESTS: For additional information about the VLTA lawsuit, please contact J. Klein, Esq. by telephone at 212-616-4899 or click this link: https://www.kleinstocklaw.com/pslra-1/volta-inc-loss-submission-form?id=25800&from=4.

ABOUT KLEIN LAW FIRM

J. Klein, Esq. represents investors and participates in securities litigations involving financial fraud throughout the nation. The Klein Law Firm is a boutique litigation firm with experience in a wide range of areas including securities law, corporate finance and commercial litigation. Since 2011, our experienced attorneys have achieved superior results for our clients with a personalized focus. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.

CONTACT:

J. Klein, Esq.

Empire State Building

350 Fifth Avenue

59th Floor

New York, NY 10118

[email protected]

Telephone: (212) 616-4899

www.kleinstocklaw.com

SOURCE The Klein Law Firm
Anodot's AI- and ML-powered autonomous network and services monitoring platform will help optimise Vodafone New Zealand's network performance visibility to maximise service uptime

AUCKLAND, New Zealand, April 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Vodafone New Zealand has selected Anodot , the autonomous business monitoring company, to transform network performance visibility to improve customer experience. Through advanced anomaly detection, Anodot will help Vodafone identify, diagnose, and resolve potential service interruptions that result in a loss of connectivity, ideally before customer service is impacted.

Vodafone operates approximately three million connections for consumer and business customers across Aotearoa New Zealand, with a mobile network that covers 98.5% of the country's population. On any given month, Vodafone customers consume around 1.1 billion mobile and fixed line phone minutes, while using over 26PB (which is 26million GB) of mobile data and 166PB (which is 166million GB) of fixed line data.

Due to the vast amount of data Vodafone New Zealand must monitor and analyse to ensure service uptime, it uses Anodot's dynamic AI-driven monitoring technology to distill billions of data events into single, scored, network operations alerts. These high-fidelity alerts enable Vodafone New Zealand's network operations teams to immediately know when customer experience has begun to degrade and to quickly determine why it's happening, so incidents can be resolved with minimal impact to network and service uptime.

"We know how important reliable connectivity is to New Zealanders, so it's ideal if we can detect and resolve potential service issues wherever possible before our customers experience interruptions," said Tony Baird, Head of Wholesale & Infrastructure, Vodafone of New Zealand.

"Anodot's ability to analyse the high volumes of data that we generate daily allows us to identify in real-time the business-critical anomalies in our network, to enable our teams to maintain consistent operations in order to deliver an enhanced customer experience. While there will inevitably be unexpected weather occurrences or third-party connectivity issues such as power outages to cell sites or construction activity that damage underground cables, Anodot provides another layer of defence so we can better detect network occurrences and keep our customers connected wherever possible," continued Baird.

"Telco service providers like Vodafone New Zealand must generate and process a vast amount of data from multiple sources to ensure service uptime across their complex network environments," said Amir Kupervas, Telecom Managing Director, Anodot. "Anodot monitors granular performance and telemetry data in real-time across the entire telco stack from all network types, layers and domains, allowing communications service providers (CSPs) to understand what is happening across their networks. These capabilities will give Vodafone New Zealand full visibility into service degradation incidents and provide the swift time-to-resolution its customers require."

Anodot's easy-to-use anomaly detection technology combines performance and fault monitoring to give CSPs an end-to-end view for real-time detection of service-impacting incidents. Anodot immediately learns the normal behavior of all business metrics and constantly monitors each metric in real-time. Its correlation engine connects anomalies across all data stacks, identifies events and contributing factors, and slashes time to detection and remediation.

For more information on Anodot's network performance monitoring, please click here. For real time information about Vodafone's network and customer impacting events, please visit www.vodafone.co.nz/help/network-status/

About Vodafone New Zealand

Vodafone New Zealand is one of Aotearoa's leading connectivity companies and we offer a range of broadband, mobile and technology products. We believe every New Zealander will thrive with access to the world's best digital services and network technology. We maintain almost three million connections to consumer, business and public sector customers, as well as partner with world-leading brands to offer best-in-class ICT services to organisations in Aotearoa and beyond. Vodafone New Zealand is owned by Infratil and Brookfield Asset Management and we are now a partner market in the Vodafone Group, one of the world's largest telecommunications companies. For more information, please visit www.vodafone.co.nz

About Anodot

Anodot's Business Monitoring platform uses machine learning to constantly analyze and correlate every parameter of a business, providing real-time anomaly alerts and forecasts in context. Fortune 500 companies  from digital businesses to telecoms  trust Anodot's patented technology to reduce time to detection and resolution for revenue-critical issues by as much as 80 percent. Anodot is headquartered in Virginia and Israel, with sales offices worldwide. To learn more, follow Anodot on LinkedIn and Twitter .

Media Contacts

Nicky Preston, Vodafone New Zealand - +64 21 445 295 / [email protected]

Allison Grey,

Headline Media

[email protected]

+1 323 283 8176

+44 203 807 4482

SOURCE Anodot; Vodafone New Zealand
Nearly all executives (96%) agree that primarily remote workers are disadvantaged compared to those who work primarily in the office

AUSTIN, Texas, April 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- the leader in collaboration user experience management, today announced released the results of a study on the challenges of hybrid work and the ways employees and companies each own the responsibility for making remote work successful. Conducted by Wakefield Research, the study surveyed 200 U.S. executives at companies of 500 or more employees between March 9 and March 17.

The COVID-19 pandemic kicked off a period of high turmoil for both workers and companies. Parents scrambled to manage work as schools and daycares closed due to the virus. People left jobs in order to care for those that were sick, because they were sick, or to avoid getting sick.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 4.5 million workers quit their jobs in November 2021, a new record after months of record-breaking resignations. And 4.3 million people quit or changed jobs in December  down from November's all-time high but still near record levels, as the omicron variant swept through the U.S. Companies are doing what they can to identify problems and prevent losing valued employees in what has come to be known as the "Great Resignation."

"The people who make up our workforce are and have always been the soul of the organization, the lifeblood of our operations and core to making everything work," said Alfredo Ramirez, President and CEO of Vyopta. "We appreciate the importance of attracting and keeping great people who have faced various challenges and disruptions in both their personal and professional lives during the pandemic."

Face (and Voice) Time are Essential for Remote Workers

Business executives place a premium on engagement during this era of remote work. According to this survey, 92% of U.S. executives report employees who are less engaged, either frequently on mute or don't turn on their camera during virtual meetings, probably don't have a long-term future at their company.

Executives view the lack of employee engagement as a sign of subpar performance to come: 93% of executives say employees who turn their camera off are generally less engaged in their work overall. Notably, more than 2 in 5 (44%) strongly agree with this.

The lack of engagement opens the door to executives making assumptions about employee behavior. More than 2 in 5 executives (43%) suspect that employees who are on mute or off-camera entirely are browsing the internet or social media, texting or chatting (40%).

Executives Take Responsibility for Failing to Keep Workers Engaged

Surprisingly, many executives admit their company is not doing a good job of facilitating engagement. In fact, nearly half of U.S. executives (46%) say they are not providing the tools to allow their workers to be as engaged as their in-person counterparts.

To be more specific, the executives say the responsibility lies at the very top. About half of executives (49%) say C-level executives bear the greatest responsibility for increasing employee engagement at their company, followed by HR (28%), and division leaders (10%).

Maintaining employee engagement is a challenge all companies face in the post-pandemic work environment. Nearly all executives (99%) acknowledge there is room for improvement, with nearly half (47%) saying there is "a lot" of room.

The rapid transition from in-person collaboration has not been without its issues. An overwhelming majority (93%) of executives agree the frustration of working remotely is causing some employees to be less engaged on virtual calls.

Company Cultures are Broken

The tendency to compensate by resorting to an abundance of virtual meetings may be taking its toll. Nearly half of executives (48%) cite too many meetings as a reason why employees do not talk during virtual meetings, saying they had too many calls that could've been an email. Nearly as many (47%) say not speaking up is a habit that has developed among their junior staff.

More than ever, primarily remote workers need to be able to depend on their professional lifeline. Nearly all executives (96%) agree that primarily remote workers are disadvantaged compared to those who work primarily in the office. An overwhelming 94% say remote employees were less connected and have fewer opportunities within the company than their office-working counterparts.

Executives point to collaboration challenges as the reason primarily remote employees are less engaged. The top issues are over-reliance on others to be collaborative (52%), lack of access to company leadership (47%), and less connected to colleagues and their office culture (43%).

Nearly all (97%) executives see the lack of engagement in a virtual environment as bad for business across the board. The most frequently cited negative consequences are slower skill development among employees (46%), lack of collaboration across teams (42%), and errors or mistakes slipping through due to a lack of virtual engagement (40%).

Trust in Staff to Work Remotely has Decreased

As the pandemic enters its third year, the level of trust executives have in their staff to

correctly navigate remote collaboration continues to be an issue. Executives estimate they fully trust an average of just 61% of their staff to be able to work remotely, down from 66% in 2021. Those that said they trusted 75%-100% of their staff to work remotely dropped more dramatically, from 46% in 2021 to just 30% in 2022.

Even with the proper tools in place, minimizing user error must be a priority for companies. Executives cited an average of a third (34%) of all errors on virtual calls were because of a user issue as opposed to a technical issue. Based on their experiences, many report user error as an even bigger problem. More than 2 in 5 (43%) believe users are responsible for 25%-49% of all errors they encountered. Further, nearly a quarter (23%) said user error makes up 50% or more of these cases.

Steps to Foster Engagement that Work

Given the increased importance of collaboration, companies are constantly challenged to keep everybody on the same page. All companies (100%) have taken steps to encourage greater collaboration between primarily remote employees and their in-person counterparts since the start of the pandemic.

Technology is essential for the push to promote greater collaboration. Most (54%) say their company established channels on messaging apps such as Slack or Teams to encourage further collaboration between colleagues. Half (50%) required more participation on virtual calls/meetings and another 50% instituted formal training on remote collaboration.

Increasing engagement may require a multi-pronged approach. The top three strategies for increasing engagement are: highlighting an individual's performance publicly, such as through awards or promotions (49%), providing direct individual feedback (48%), and investing in tools that make collaboration more seamless (43%).

With plenty of work ahead to improve engagement, companies are going to continue to rely on technology to bridge the gap. In fact, 92% of executives say it's extremely or very likely that their company will invest in technical solutions to increase engagement.

It's my mission to make sure Vyopta employees are highly engaged and have the resources and training to succeed, said Alfredo Ramirez, President and CEO of Vyopta. "We want employees to understand what is expected of them, trust their manager to regularly provide both praise and constructive criticism, feel that their voice is heard and valued and that they have opportunities to learn and grow," said Ramirez.

View the full survey results .

Related:

Methodology

The Vyopta Survey was conducted by Wakefield Research ( www.wakefieldresearch.com ) among 200 US Executives with a minimum seniority of VP, at companies of 500 or more employees, between March 9th and March 17th, 2022, using an email invitation and an

online survey. Results of any sample are subject to sampling variation. The magnitude of the variation is measurable and is affected by the number of interviews and the level of the percentages expressing the results. For the interviews conducted in this particular study,

the chances are 95 in 100 that a survey result does not vary, plus or minus, by more than 6.9 percentage points from the result that would be obtained if interviews had been conducted with all persons in the universe represented by the sample.

About Vyopta Incorporated

Vyopta , the leader in digital collaboration user experience management, has helped 40 million people collaborate better. Its Technology Insights and Space Insights applications have helped identify and address over 9 million issues. Vyopta helps organizations deliver the best UC user experience and optimize their UC and real estate investments. Hundreds of organizations worldwide spanning 20+ industries use Vyopta to monitor 6 million endpoints and over 20 billion meeting minutes a year.

SOURCE Vyopta Inc
Pablo will be spearheading bringing US-based eCommerce solutions to businesses in Latin America

WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif., April 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Pablo Unda has joined as the CEO of Advatix LATAM and will be leading the charge in enabling growth for retailers in Latin America.

Pablo comes to Advatix with more than 20 years of experience in supply chain management, logistics, and fulfillment. He served as a senior leader for international 3PL companies and large telecom players in LATAM. Pablo launched and operated seven fulfillment and distribution centers in Chile. He deployed the very first automated storage solution (vertical lift module with pick to light technology) in the industry and introduced one of the first complex repair labs for mobile phones, servicing Kyocera and Nokia.

"We have big plans for Latin America and are already supporting companies in Chile and Peru. Our goal is to bring the best-in-class global solutions to Latin America. For that, we needed a local operations and technology leader who is an industry veteran to enable growth for our customers as well as for Advatix. I am thrilled to have Pablo join our mission with his extensive LATAM experience and a solid track record of success," said Manish Kapoor, Advatix CEO and Co-founder.

Advatix recently made it to number 493 on Inc. magazine's prestigious annual Inc. 5000 list of the fastest growing private companies in the US. Since inception, Advatix has been successful in rapid growth through sharp focus on empowering its customer companies to achieve and exceed their goals through growth. Growth at Advatix came from helping retailers and eCommerce merchants in the US grow their businesses. Companies in Latin America now have access to the same world class solutions and team to accelerate their eCommerce growth.

Adding Pablo to the team cements Advatix's local presence in Latin America. This is its latest of the series of moves to establish a strong foundation for serving businesses in the region. In Q4 of 2021, Advatix acquired operations consulting company UP-Time.cl based in Santiago, Chile and formed Advatix LATAM.

Advatix offers advanced solutions in LATAM, including operations consulting, engineering and technology. The LATAM eCommerce businesses now also have access to Advatix Cloudsuite, which allows management of end-to-end supply chain solutions for fulfillment, inventory, and logistics.

Pablo noted, "Advatix has an outstanding team and being part of this seasoned group of experts is truly an honor. What also attracted me to Advatix is how fast the company is growing and helping other companies grow as well. The rapid advance of eCommerce in Latin America and the need for experienced consultants and top-notch technological tools places Advatix in a privileged position."

The team in Chile collaborates closely with other industry experts in the US and India. The Advatix leadership team comes with experience from industry giants such as Amazon, FedEx, UPS, Target, Walmart, JDA, and Netflix.

About Advatix

Advatix is one of the world's leading providers of eCommerce Supply Chain Consulting and Technology solutions. In just four years, Advatix has helped numerous companies expedite growth and scale profitably using Advatix's in-depth domain knowledge, industry-leading technology platforms, and the 'boots-on-the-ground' operational leadership.

Advatix currently has operations in North America, Asia, Latin America, and Europe. Its global technology hub and logistics command and control centers are based in India.

For more information, visit www.advatix.com or email [email protected].

Media Contact:

Trish Byron

[email protected]

[email protected]

SOURCE Advatix Inc.
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. , April 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Wofford Advisors LLC, the Global Supply Chain strategic advisory boutique that recently advised on one of the largest eCommerce fulfillment transactions of 2021, is pleased to announce that Ronald Chang, a former 30+ year senior executive of UPS, will be joining as Principal of Strategy & Operations. Mr. Chang has held numerous leadership roles at UPS, including President of Enterprise Transformation, Global Head of Mergers & Acquisition, Assistant Treasurer, President of UPS Capital Corp and CFO of the West Region. Mr. Chang will represent the firm in the Atlanta market.

Over his thirty-year career, Mr. Chang led key initiatives to expand and transform UPS's global supply chain capabilities both in the B2B and B2C arenas. During his time at UPS, Mr. Chang executed transactions valued at over $10 billion, including Lynx Express, Kiala and Sinotrans. In addition, his transformation efforts led to savings valued in billions of dollars across UPS, streamlining decision-making, improving and automating processes and outsourcing where possible.

"Ron Chang brings a powerful mix of skills to Wofford Advisors," said Chris Wofford, Founder & Managing Partner. "He has held top leadership positions in operations, M&A and finance at the largest parcel carrier in the world. As such, we believe he brings a deep and diversified skillset that will deepen Wofford Advisors' domain expertise and further differentiate us in the marketplace."

Mr. Chang received his Bachelors degree in finance from California State University at Fullerton and his MBA from Pepperdine University. He is also the Chairman of the Board of the National Association of Asian American Professionals.

About Wofford Advisors LLC



Wofford Advisors was founded by industry veteran Chris Wofford, former head of Transportation, Logistics & Global Supply Chain at Wells Fargo, Macquarie and Bank of America. His firm recently advised on transactions valued at close to $1 billion during 2021. Wofford Advisors focuses on the B2B and B2C movement of goods in the Global Supply Chain. The firm is headquartered in West Palm Beach, Florida. Please follow us on LinkedIn.

Media Contact:

Caroline Reyes

Wofford Advisors LLC

(650) 867-3420

[email protected]

Related Links

https://www.woffordadvisors.com/

SOURCE Wofford Advisors
DUBLIN, April 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Aptamers: Therapeutics, Technologies and Services Market, Distribution by Application Area, Type of Aptamer, Target Indication, Route of Administration, Scale of Operation, Focus Area, Company Size and Key Geographical Regions: Industry Trends and Global Forecasts, 2022-2035" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

This report features an extensive study of the current market landscape and the likely future potential associated with the aptamer-based therapies, technologies and services market. The study also includes an in-depth analysis, highlighting the capabilities of various industry stakeholders engaged in this field.

Post the approval of the first aptamer-based therapy, Macugen, by the US Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) in December 2004, there has been a significant increase in the R&D initiatives focused on evaluating the potential of aptamers as theranostic agents. In the following year, the outstanding annual sales (USD 200 million) of the aforementioned product further bolstered the confidence of industry stakeholders in this new therapeutic modality, creating lucrative opportunity for therapy developers. Further, over 100 clinical trials, along with several preclinical studies, have demonstrated the potential of aptamers as a safe and effective treatment modality, owing to their unique characteristics, such as high binding affinity and specificity.

Given the various advantages, aptamer-based therapeutics in the current pipeline are targeting a range of therapeutic areas, such as oncological disorders, ophthalmological disorders and metabolomic disorders. It is worth mentioning that, in order to further enhance their performance, aptamers can be linked with various diagnostic agents, using physical or chemical conjugation.

Moreover, to ensure the development of more effective therapy candidates, several players have developed novel aptamer-based technologies that can be used for research, drug delivery and diagnostic applications. At present, such technologies are widely being used for pathogen recognition, cancer recognition, monitoring environmental contamination, and as stem cell markers, which can help in both disease prevention and treatment.

In addition, post the onset of COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a significant rise in the demand for COVID-19 testing kits, which has prompted several companies to develop aptamer-based diagnostic tools for the detection of SARS-CoV-2. Consequently, to support the various initiatives undertaken by industry players, investments worth over USD 1.3 billion have been reported in the past five years.



Presently, a significant portion of the existing manufacturing capabilities and expertise in this domain belongs to more than 50 contract service providers. Therefore, several researchers and therapy / diagnostic developers prefer to outsource their aptamer manufacturing operations.

Given the rise in global disease burden over the past few years, there has been an evident increase in the demand for effective targeted therapies along with novel diagnostic approaches to reduce development timelines and investments. We believe that, with an increase in the number of aptamer-based therapies being developed and subsequent advancement of therapies across various stages of clinical trials, and their eventual commercialization, the opportunities for custom / contract service providers is likely to increase in the foreseen future.

Overall, aptamer therapeutics, technologies and services market is poised to witness healthy growth over the next decade, with pioneers in the field likely to benefit from the first-to-market advantage.

Amongst other elements, the report features:

A detailed overview of the overall market landscape of players engaged in the development of aptamer-based therapeutics, along with information on several relevant parameters.

A detailed overview of the current market landscape of players engaged in the development of aptamer-based technologies, based on several relevant parameters.

A detailed overview of the current market landscape of aptamer-based service providers, along with information on several relevant parameters, such as year of establishment, company size, location of headquarters, type of service provider (contract research organizations, contract manufacturing organizations and third-party service providers), scale of operation (small, medium and large scale), area of application (therapeutic, diagnostic and others), type of technology used (ELISA, NGS, SELEX and others), type of technology platform (computational and others), and types of analysis offered (discovery, screening, characterization, synthesis, modification and purification).

A detailed competitiveness analysis of aptamer-based service providers, based on several relevant parameters, such as supplier strength (in terms of years of experience), portfolio strength (in terms of number of services offered) and portfolio diversity (based on scale of operation, area of application, technology used and types of analysis offered).

An insightful competitiveness analysis of aptamer-based technologies, based on supplier strength (in terms of years of experience), and portfolio diversity (based on type of aptamer, status of development, area of application, type of technology used and purpose of technology).

An insightful product competitiveness analysis, benchmarking aptamer-based therapies, based on supplier strength (in terms of years of experience), and portfolio diversity (based on phase of development, line of treatment, type of therapy, route of administration and target indication).

An analysis on the recent developments within the aptamers industry, highlighting information on several partnerships and collaborations that have been established in this domain, during the period 2016-2021.

A detailed analysis of various investments made by players engaged in this domain, based on several relevant parameters, such as year of investment, number of funding instances, amount invested and type of funding (venture capital financing, debt financing, grants / awards, initial public offering (IPO)) undertaken by companies engaged in this domain, during the period 2016-2021.

An in-depth analysis of academic grants that have been awarded to various research institutes for projects focused on aptamers, based on several parameters, such as year of grant award, amount awarded, type of funding institute center, popular NIH departments, support period, emerging focus area, purpose of grants, grant activity code, local recipients, type of recipient organization study section and type of grant application. Further, the chapter also highlights the popular recipient organizations, (in terms of number of grants and amount awarded) and prominent program officers.

A detailed review of close to 390 peer-reviewed, scientific articles related to research on aptamers, based on several parameters, such as year of publication, type of publication, and popular keywords. The chapter also provides information on the top journals, top institutes and top authors (in terms of number of articles published).

An in-depth analysis of patents related to aptamer-based therapies and technologies, filed / granted since 2016, based on several relevant parameters, such as publication year, geographical location / patent jurisdiction, legal status, CPC symbols, emerging focus areas, type of applicant and leading players (by number of patents). In addition, it features a patent valuation analysis which evaluates the qualitative and quantitative aspects of the patents.

A detailed analysis of completed, ongoing and planned clinical studies, based on several relevant parameters, such as trial registration year, enrolled patient population, trial status, trial phase, type of sponsor / collaborator, patient segment, target therapeutic area, study design, most active players and regional distribution of trials.

An analysis of the start-ups (established between 2011-2020; less than 200 employees) engaged in this domain, based on several parameters, such as number of technologies offered, type of aptamer, status of development, area of application, type of technology used and purpose of technology.

Elaborate profiles of prominent players (shortlisted based our proprietary scoring criteria) engaged in this domain. Each company profile features a brief overview of the company, along with information on its year of establishment, number of employees, location of headquarters and key executives. It also includes details on their respective product portfolio, recent developments and an informed future outlook.

Elaborate profiles of prominent technologies (shortlisted based our proprietary scoring criteria) developed by players engaged in this domain. Each technology profile features a brief overview of the company, along with information on its year of establishment, number of employees, location of headquarters and key members of the executive team. It also includes details on their respective technology portfolio, recent developments and an informed future outlook.

Key Questions Answered

Who are the key players engaged in the development of aptamer-based therapeutics and technologies?

Which are the key drugs being evaluated across early and late stages of development?

Which companies are actively involved providing aptamer-based services?

What is the evolving trend of publications focused on aptamer-based therapeutics and technologies?

What type of partnership models are commonly adopted by industry stakeholders?

Who are the key investors in this domain?

Which companies are actively filing patents to drive innovation in this niche segment?

What are the different initiatives undertaken by start-up players for the development of aptamer-based technologies in the recent past?

How is the current and future opportunity likely to be distributed across key market segments?

Key Topics Covered:



1. PREFACE



2. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY



3. INTRODUCTION



4. MARKET OVERVIEW: THERAPEUTIC CANDIDATES



5. MARKET OVERVIEW: TECHNOLOGY PROVIDERS



6. MARKET OVERVIEW: SERVICE PROVIDERS



7. COMPANY COMPETITIVENESS ANALYSIS

8. TECHNOLOGY COMPETITIVENESS ANALYSIS

8.1. Chapter Overview

8.2. Methodology and Key Parameters

8.3. Aptamer-based Technology Providers



9. PRODUCT COMPETITIVENESS ANALYSIS

9.1. Chapter Overview

9.2. Methodology and Key Parameters

9.3. Aptamer-based Therapeutics



10. PARTNERSHIPS AND COLLABORATIONS

10.1. Aptamer Therapeutics, Technologies and Service Providers: List of Partnerships and Collaborations



11. FUNDING AND INVESTMENTS

11.1. Aptamer Therapeutics, Technologies and Service Providers: List of Funding and Investments



12. GRANTS ANALYSIS

12.1. Aptamer Therapeutics, Technologies and Service Providers: List of Academic Grants



13. PUBLICATION ANALYSIS

13.1. Aptamer Therapeutics, Technologies and Service Providers: List of Publications



14. PATENT ANALYSIS

14.1. Chapter Overview

14.2. Scope and Methodology

14.3. Aptamer Therapeutics, Technologies and Service Providers: Patent Analysis



15. CLINICAL TRIAL ANALYSIS

15.1. Chapter Overview

15.2. Scope and Methodology

15.3. Aptamer-based Therapeutics: List of Clinical Trials



16. START-UP HEALTH INDEXING



17. COMPANY PROFILES

17.1. Chapter Overview

17.2. Ajinomoto Bio-Pharma Services

17.2.1. Company Overview

17.2.2. Financial Information

17.2.3. Service Portfolio

17.2.4. Recent Developments and Future Outlook

17.3. BioSpring

17.3.1. Company Overview

17.3.2. Service Portfolio

17.3.3. Recent Developments and Future Outlook

17.4. CliniSciences

17.4.1. Company Overview

17.4.2. Service Portfolio

17.4.3. Recent Developments and Future Outlook

17.5. New England Biolabs

17.5.1. Company Overview

17.5.2. Product Portfolio

17.5.3. Recent Developments and Future Outlook

17.6. LGC Biosearch Technologies

17.6.1. Company Overview

17.6.2. Financial Information

17.6.3. Product Portfolio

17.6.4. Recent Developments and Future Outlook

17.7. Nitto Denko Avecia

17.7.1. Company Overview

17.7.2. Service Portfolio

17.7.3. Manufacturing Facilities and Capabilities

17.7.4. Recent Developments and Future Outlook

17.8. CMIC Group

17.8.1. Company Overview

17.8.2. Product Portfolio

17.8.3. Recent Developments and Future Outlook



18. TECHNOLOGY PROFILES

18.1. Chapter Overview

18.2. SomaLogic

18.2.1. Company Overview

18.2.2. Technology Overview

18.2.3. SomaScan

18.2.4. Recent Developments and Future Outlook

18.3. NOXXON Pharma

18.3.1. Company Overview

18.3.2. Technology Overview

18.3.3. Recent Developments and Future Outlook

18.4. RIBOMIC

18.4.1. Company Overview

18.4.2. Financial Information

18.4.3. Technology Overview

18.4.4. Recent Developments and Future Outlook

18.5. Halo-Bio RNAi Therapeutics

18.5.1. Company Overview

18.5.2. Technology Overview

18.5.3. Recent Developments and Future Outlook

18.6. NeuroNeuro

18.6.1. Company Overview

18.6.2. Technology Overview

18.6.3. Aptamarkers

18.6.4. Recent Developments and Future Outlook



19. DEMAND ANALYSIS

20. MARKET FORECAST AND OPPORTUNITY ANALYSIS



21. CONCLUSION



22. APPENDIX I: TABULATED DATA



23. APPENDIX II: LIST OF COMPANIES AND ORGANIZATIONS

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SOURCE Research and Markets
Xerostomia is commonly known as dry mouth that occurs as a result of decreased or missing saliva because of several clinical situations such as adverse effects of radioactivity on the neck and head, typically due to radiation therapy, undesirable effects of several drugs, or due to decreased functionality of the salivary glands. Heavy treatments such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy can make advanced cancer patients more susceptible to xerostomia.

Globally, chronic diseases and conditions are on the rise. An aging population, as well as changes in societal behaviour, are all contributing to continuous increase in these widespread and expensive long-term health problems. Because population growth is predicted to be highest in developing countries, emerging markets will drive high market growth.

Request for sample copy of Report: https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/17236

Growth in favourable compensation policies for xerostomia products together with increasing awareness and responsiveness about diseases related to the condition are some of the primary factors boosting market growth.

Key Takeaways from Market Study

Demand for oral sprays for xerostomia treatment is growing tremendously due to rising number of oral diseases. Demand for oral sprays is increasing as their prices are quite low and favourable reimbursement schemes, which further boost their sales and are expected to hold 32% market share in 2022.

is growing tremendously due to rising number of oral diseases. Demand for oral sprays is increasing as their prices are quite low and favourable reimbursement schemes, which further boost their sales and are Adults are at higher risk than paediatrics to xerostomia due to decreased salivary gland function. The adult segment is expected to account for a market share of around 90.4% in 2022.

Mail-order pharmacies are steadily growing due to the benefits offered by these pharmacies such as increased adherence to medication, home delivery, and special customer services. Thus, mail order pharmacies will hold the highest market share of 26.3% in 2022

The North America xerostomia treatment market will account for 32.7% of the total market share in 2022.

Know the methodology of report: https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/methodology/17236

"Increased prevalence of xerostomia, rising use of prescription medicines, rise in radiotherapy & chemotherapy, and easy availability of over-the-counter medications will drive xerostomia treatment market growth over the coming years," says an analyst of Persistence Market Research.

Market Competition

Key players in the xerostomia treatment market are adopting different strategies to reach targeted customers. They are advertising their brands through different channels such as promotion through healthcare providers such as dentists, oncologists, and other physicians, or in association with regional medical councils and international institutes.

Additionally, manufacturers are also focusing on collaborating with key R&D companies, reputable manufacturers, patent licensees & holders, government agencies, and prestigious universities for developing and commercializing new products based on patented and pioneered technologies.

For instance, in December 2018 , GSK established a joint venture with Pfizer Inc. to establish a consumer healthcare company, which includes oral care products.

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What Does the Report Cover?

Persistence Market Research offers a unique perspective and actionable insights on the xerostomia (dry mouth) treatment market in its latest study, presenting a historical demand assessment of 2017  2021 and projections for 2022  2032.

The research study is based on the product (oral sprays, oral solutions, oral liquids, gels, powders), age group (paediatric, adults {early adults (18-34 years), early middle age (35  44 years), late middle age (45  64 years), late adulthood (above 65+years)}), and end user (hospital pharmacies, retail pharmacies, drug stores, mail-order pharmacies, hypermarkets, and supermarkets), across seven key regions of the world.

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SOURCE Persistence Market Research Pvt. Ltd.
GUANGZHOU, China, April 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Yatsen Holding Limited ("Yatsen" or the "Company") (NYSE: YSG), a leading Chinese beauty company, today announced that, it has received a letter from the New York Stock Exchange (the "NYSE") dated April 11, 2022, notifying Yatsen that it is below compliance criteria in connection with the performance of trading price of Yatsen's American depositary shares (the "ADSs").

Pursuant to NYSE rule 802.01C, a company will be considered to be below compliance criteria if the average closing price of a security as reported on the consolidated tape is less than US$1.00 over a consecutive 30 trading-day period. Following receipt of the notification, the company must bring its share price and average share price back above US$1.00 within six months.

The company can regain compliance at any time during the six-month cure period if on the last trading day of any calendar month during the cure period the company has a closing share price of at least US$1.00 and an average closing share price of at least US$1.00 over the 30 trading-day period ending on the last trading day of that month. In the event that at the expiration of the six-month cure period, both a US$1.00 closing share price on the last trading day of the cure period and a US$1.00 average closing share price over the 30 trading-day period ending on the last trading day of the cure period are not attained, the NYSE will commence suspension and delisting procedures.

The Company intends to monitor the market conditions of its listed securities and will consider various measures to resolve the non-compliance caused by adverse effects on its trading price and avoid any potential delisting.

Safe Harbor Statement

This announcement contains statements that may constitute "forward-looking" statements which are made pursuant to the "safe harbor" provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "will," "expects," "anticipates," "aims," "future," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates," "likely to," and similar statements. The Company may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its periodic reports to the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), in its annual report to shareholders, in press releases and other written materials and in oral statements made by its officers, directors or employees to third parties. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about the Company's beliefs, plans, outlook and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement, which include but not limited to the following: the Company's growth strategies; its future business development, results of operations and financial condition; its ability to continue to roll out popular products and maintain popularity of existing products; its ability to anticipate and respond to changes in industry trends and consumer preferences and behavior in a timely manner; its ability to attract and retain new customers and to increase revenues generated from repeat customers; its expectations regarding demand for and market acceptance of its products and services; its ability to integrate newly-acquired businesses and brands; trends and competition in and relevant government policies and regulations relating to China's beauty market; changes in its revenues and certain cost or expense items; and general economic conditions in China. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in the Company's filings with the SEC. All information provided in this press release is as of the date of this press release, and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law.

About Yatsen Holding Limited

Yatsen Holding Limited (NYSE: YSG) is a leading player in China's beauty market with a mission to create an exciting new journey of beauty discovery for consumers in China and around the world. Founded in 2016, the Company has launched and acquired multiple color cosmetics and skincare brands including Perfect Diary, Little Ondine, Abby's Choice, Galenic, DR.WU (its mainland China business), Eve Lom and Pink Bear. The Company's flagship brand, Perfect Diary, is one of the top color cosmetics brands in China in terms of online retail sales value. Leveraging its digitally native direct-to-customer business model, the Company has built core capabilities which enable it to launch and scale multiple brands quickly while offering a wide selection of products to a growing variety of customers. The Company reaches and engages with customers directly both online and offline, with expansive presence across all major e-commerce, social and content platforms in China.

For more information, please visit http://ir.yatsenglobal.com/.

For investor and media inquiries, please contact:

In China:

Yatsen Holding Limited

Investor Relations

E-mail: [email protected]

The Piacente Group, Inc.

Emilie Wu

Tel: +86-21-6039-8363

E-mail: [email protected]

In the United States:

The Piacente Group, Inc.

Brandi Piacente

Tel: +1-212-481-2050

E-mail: [email protected]

SOURCE Yatsen Holding Limited
VANCOUVER, BC, April 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - Zacatecas Silver Corp. ("Zacatecas" or the "Company") (TSXV: ZAC) (OTC: ZCTSF) (Frankfurt: 7TV) is pleased to announce that it has completed the acquisition of the advanced stage Esperanza Gold Project, located in Morelos State, Mexico pursuant to the terms of a share purchase agreement dated February 28, 2022 (the "Share Purchase Agreement") with Minas De Oro Nacional, S.A. De C.V. ("Minas De Oro"), a subsidiary of Alamos Gold Inc. ("Alamos"). Concurrent with closing of the transaction, the net proceeds under the previously announced $19.15 million brokered private placement of subscription receipts (the "Subscription Receipts") were released to the Company.

Highlights:

Esperanza Gold Project is a high-grade oxide gold deposit with scalable upside.

Historic measured and indicated resource of 34,352,000 tonnes at 0.98 g/t gold and 8.09 g/t silver for 1,084,000 ounces of gold and 8,936,000 ounces of silver and inferred resource of 718,000 tonnes at 0.80 g/t gold and 15.04 g/t silver for 18,000 ounces of gold and 347,000 ounces of silver (see below for details).

Priority to prepare an updated resource estimate in 2022 and complete a current economic study on the Esperanza Gold Project based on the updated resource estimate.

Alamos becomes significant cornerstone shareholder of Zacatecas .

Strong balance sheet to fund development activities at Esperanza Gold Project and continue drilling activities at the Zacatecas Silver Property.

The Esperanza Gold Project is an attractive low-cost, low capital intensity, and low technical risk growth project located in Morelos State, Mexico. Alamos has advanced the project through advanced engineering, including metallurgical work, while also focussing on stakeholder engagement including building community relations.

The Esperanza Gold Project will receive the full focus and attention of a proven team of mine builders and financiers while also providing Alamos significant potential upside as the Project is developed with Alamos being a large shareholder of Zacatecas.

The total consideration of the transaction is approximately US$60 million with most of the payments not made until significant steps towards commercial production are achieved. The initial consideration consists of USD $5 million in cash, 12,140,000 common shares of Zacatecas (with a value of US$10 million) and a silver stream in favour of Alamos valued at US$6 million.

Bryan Slusarchuk, Chief Executive Officer of Zacatecas comments, "This is a transformational transaction for our company. We look forward to advancing the high grade oxide gold deposit towards production while at the same time continuing our accelerating exploration at our silver project. With the transaction for Esperanza now closed, we also welcome Alamos Gold as the cornerstone shareholder of Zacatecas and thank them for their collaboration while executing this transaction. Zacatecas has two excellent projects, is well funded and has an excellent team of technical professionals executing the company's business plan. We look forward to working with all stakeholders as we move forward concurrently at Esperanza and at Zacatecas."

Dr. Chris Wilson, Chief Operating Officer and a Director of Zacatecas comments, "Our acquisition of the Esperanza Gold Project is a tremendous step in moving Zacatecas towards becoming a serious precious metals producer. The Esperanza Gold Project represents one of the best undeveloped open pit deposits in Mexico and will complement our high-grade silver resource Zacatecas Properties, where the recent high grade discovery at Panuco North has added a compelling new component to our ongoing exploration."

Esperanza Gold Project

The Esperanza Gold Project is an advanced stage, low technical risk growth project located in Morelos State, Mexico.

Alamos has reported a resource estimate of a measured and indicated resource of 34,352,000 tonnes at 0.98 g/t gold and 8.09 g/t silver for 1,084,000 ounces of gold and 8,936,000 ounces of silver and inferred resource of 718,000 tonnes at 0.80 g/t gold and 15.04 g/t silver for 18,000 ounces of gold and 347,000 ounces of silver. The Company has not independently verified this resource estimate and is not treating this resource estimate as a current resource. See below for further details.

To date, significant core and reverse circulation drilling has occurred at the Esperanza Gold Project resulting in a total of 389 drill holes for 69,716 metres. Four targets adjacent to or close to the historical resource were identified to expand the historical resource. The project also hosts seven regional targets that also merit drill testing.

Mineralization at the Esperanza Gold Project is associated with the intrusion of a stock of Granodiorite composition into the carbonate rocks of Guerrero-Morelos Platform, specifically the rocks of Xochicalco Formation. Spatially related to the intrusive contact with the carbonate rocks are varying degrees of skarn and marble development. Intruded by the granodioritic stock are the limestone of the Xochicalco Formation of Aptian age (early Cretaceous), that have beds of varying thickness from very thin to medium. Primary mineralization consists of gold, and to a lesser extent silver, associated with the skarn zones spatially related to the intrusive.

Based on previous preliminary assessments completed by previous owners, the Company anticipates that the project would be amenable to a conventional open pit, heap leach operation with two-stage crushing. Crushed material would be conveyed to the leach pad and irrigated with dilute cyanide solution. Gold will be recovered from pregnant solutions utilizing carbon adsorption, subsequent electrowinning and on-site smelting to produce gold and silver dore bars.

The Company plans to carry out an extensive work program to prepare an updated resource estimate, undertake economic studies on the project, and conduct an infill drill program on the deposit as well as drilling on nearby exploration targets.

Terms of the Transaction

Under the terms of the Share Purchase Agreement, Zacatecas acquired all the issued and outstanding shares of Esperanza Silver de Mexico, S.A. de C.V. ("Esperanza Mexico"), which holds title to the Esperanza Gold Project. In consideration of Esperanza Mexico, Zacatecas paid Minas de Oro US$5,000,000 and issued 12,140,000 common shares of Zacatecas at a price of $1.05 per share for a deemed value of US$10,000,000 (the "Consideration Shares"). Zacatecas now holds a 100% ownership interest in Esperanza Mexico.

The Share Purchase Agreement also provides that Zacatecas will make certain contingent payments (the "Contingent Payments") upon key milestones being accomplished in developing the Esperanza Gold Project.

pay US$5,000,000 within sixty (60) days after approval of an Environmental Impact Assessment Report by the applicable governmental authorities (the "EIA Payment")



pay US$14,000,000 within 60 days of the earlier of (i) completion of a feasibility study on the Esperanza Gold Project or (ii) Zacatecas announcing its decision to commence construction of a mine on the Esperanza Gold Project (the "FS Payment")



pay US$20,000,000 within 180 days after commencement of commercial production on the Esperanza Gold Project (the "Production Payment").

Zacatecas may, at its sole election, satisfy up to 50% of the Contingent Payments by issuing shares at a price equal to the 10 day VWAP prior to the issuance of such shares provided that such share issuance does not cause Alamos to exceed 19.99% of the issued and outstanding shares of Zacatecas (on a partially diluted basis). The issuance of shares to pay Contingent Payments will be subject to receipt of approval from the TSX Venture Exchange.

Zacatecas has also agreed to incur US$7,500,000 in expenditures to advance the Esperanza Gold Project over the next three years, excluding G&A (the "Expenditure Commitment"). If Zacatecas fails to meet the Expenditure Commitment, an amount equal to the shortfall will be added to the next Contingent Payment.

The terms of the Transaction regarding the Contingent Payments were determined in a manner designed to tie key future payments with meaningful achievements with regards to permitting and commerciality of operations. The Company has received multiple permits and regulatory approvals on key projects in Mexico, without delay, and is confident that it will be able to carry out its planned exploration program similarly without delay. The Company has team members with a strong history of permitting projects in Mexico and will continue to monitor and adjust, working with all stakeholders, to any changes in regulations as per a best practices approach to community, environment and the regulatory climate.

The parties also entered into a stream agreement that will provide that Alamos may purchase up to 20% of any silver produced from the Esperanza Gold Project with a transfer price of 20% of the market price payable to Zacatecas. The silver stream is limited to 500,000 ounces of silver. The stream agreement contemplates an amount of US$6,000,000 that is credited to the purchase price under the Share Purchase Agreement.

In recognition of Alamos being a significant shareholder of Zacatecas, Alamos and Zacatecas will enter into an investor rights agreement that will provide, among other things, a Zacatecas board position to Alamos and a right of first refusal to maintain its share position on any future financings. Pursuant to the terms of the investor rights agreement that will be entered into on the closing of the Transaction, the Consideration Shares will be subject to the following voluntary restrictions on resale: (i) 33% will be restricted for a period of six months from closing of the Transaction, (ii) an additional 33% will be restricted for a period of twelve months from closing of the Transaction, and (iii) 34% will be restricted for a period of eighteen months from closing of the Transaction.

Zacatecas paid a finder's fee of US$500,000 to Specialist Exploration Services LLC (Jacob Garland) on closing of the Transaction.

Private Placement Financing

As part of closing the Transaction, the proceeds from the previously announced $19.15 million brokered private placement of subscription receipts (see news release dated March 22, 2022) were released from escrow. As a result, the 17,410,474 subscription receipts were converted into 17,410,474 units of the Company (each a "Unit"). Each Unit consists of one common share of the Company (a "Common Share") and one-half of one Common Share purchase warrant (each whole Common Share purchase warrant a "Warrant"). Each Warrant will entitle the holder thereof to purchase one Common Share at a price of $1.50 per Common Share for a period of 24 months from the date of issue.

The proceeds raised from the financing were used to satisfy the US$5,000,000 cash consideration in connection with the acquisition of the Esperanza Gold Project, and will be used to advance the Esperanza Gold Project towards production, fund the ongoing drill program at the Company's existing silver project, and general working capital purposes.

Clarus Securities Inc. acted as Lead Agent on behalf of a syndicate of agents that included Eventus Capital Corp., Haywood Securities Inc. and Canaccord Genuity Corp. Zacatecas paid the syndicate of agents a cash commission of $998,716 and issued a total of 907,924 common share purchase warrants (the "Broker Warrants"), with each Broker Warrant exercisable at $1.10 per Common Share for a period of 24 months from the date of issue.

The securities issued under the financing will be subject to restrictions on resale expiring on July 23, 2022.

Certain directors of the Company participated in the private placement, which constitutes a "related party transaction" for purposes of Multilateral Instrument 61-101  Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"). The Company is relying on exemptions from the formal valuation and minority approval requirements in sections 5.5(a) and 5.7(1)(a) of MI 61-101 in respect of these related party transactions on the basis that the fair market value (as determined under MI 61101) of the transactions do not, in aggregate, exceed 25% of the market value of the Company.

The securities referred to in this news release have not been, nor will they be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons absent U.S. registration or an applicable exemption from the U.S. registration requirements. This release does not constitute an offer for sale of, nor a solicitation for offers to buy, any securities in the United States.

Qualified Person

The contents of this news release have been reviewed and approved by Chris Wilson, B.Sc. (Hons), PhD, FAusIMM (CP), FSEG, Chief Operating Officer of Zacatecas. Dr. Wilson is a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101 and is responsible for all technical information in this news release.

Alamos Resource Estimate

Alamos reported in its most recent annual information form a resource estimate of a measured and indicated resource of 34,352,000 tonnes at 0.98 g/t gold and 8.09 g/t silver for 1,083,366 ounces of gold and 8,936,201 ounces of silver and inferred resource of 718,000 tonnes at 0.80 g/t gold and 15.04 g/t silver for 18,375 ounces of gold and 347,192 ounces of silver. The Company considers this to be an historical resource for the purposes of National Instrument 43-101. Resource blocks were defined using with dimensions of 10 x 10 x 5 m. The estimation of grades was performed with the ordinary kriging method on capped composites. An added step in the estimation strategy was the utilization of the dynamic anisotropy technique in Vulcan's unfolding options. This added capability allows for a more realistic outcome of the estimated grade's spatial distribution as it follows the folded shape of the deposit. Assumptions used in the resource include the following metal prices: gold price of US $1,400/oz and silver price of US $22/oz. The resource assumed the following economic assumptions: recovery of 60.4% at 0.2 g/t to 71.9% at 1.6 g/t for gold, 25% for silver, $2.60/t mining costs, $0.64/t General and Administrative costs, $4.20/t milling costs and a pit slope of 45 degrees. The Company considers the resource relevant due to its identification and modelling of the Esperanza deposit.

The Company has not done sufficient work to classify the resource as a current mineral resource or mineral reserves, and the Company is not treating the historical estimate as current mineral resources or mineral reserves. Although the resource estimate is considered reliable, the Company will re-sample a portion of the drill core for the purpose of carrying out a new resource estimate. Further, additional data verification including resurveying of select diamond drill holes collars; review of graphic drill core logs, comparison of these logs with remaining half-cut core, and a cross-check of select geological logs agonist database entries; and a check of original assay certificates against the assays and drill hole database.

Advisors

Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP is acting as legal advisor to Zacatecas. Haywood Securities Inc. is acting as financial advisor to Alamos, with Torys LLP acting as legal advisor to Alamos.

About Zacatecas Silver Corp.

The Zacatecas Silver property is in Zacatecas State, Mexico, within the highly prospective Fresnillo Silver Belt, which has produced over 6.2 billion ounces of silver. The company holds 7,826 ha (19,338 acres) of ground that is highly prospective for low and intermediate sulphidation silver-base metal mineralization and potentially low sulphidation gold-dominant mineralization. On December 15, 2021, Zacatecas announced a mineral resource estimate at the Panuco Deposit consisting of 2.7 million tonnes at 187 g/t AgEq (171 g/t Ag and 0.17 g/t Au) for 16.4 million ounces AgEq (15 million ounces silver and 15 thousand ounces gold) (see news release dated December 15, 2021).

The property is 25 km south-east of MAG Silver Corp.'s Juanicipio Mine and Fresnillo PLC's Fresnillo Mine. The property shares common boundaries with Pan American Silver Corp. claims and El Orito which is owned by Endeavour Silver. There are four main high-grade silver target areas within the Zacatecas concessions: the Panuco Deposit, Muleros, El Cristo and San Manuel-San Gill. The Property also includes El Oro, El Orito, La Cantera, Monserrat, El Penon, San Judas and San Juan silver-base metal vein targets. These targets are relatively unexplored and will be the focus of rapid reconnaissance.

About Alamos Gold Inc.

Alamos is a Canadian-based intermediate gold producer with diversified production from three operating mines in North America. This includes the Young-Davidson and Island Gold mines in northern Ontario, Canada and the Mulatos mine in Sonora State, Mexico. Additionally, the Company has a significant portfolio of development stage projects in Canada, Mexico, Turkey, and the United States. Alamos employs more than 1,700 people and is committed to the highest standards of sustainable development. The Company's shares are traded on the TSX and NYSE under the symbol "AGI".

On behalf of the Company

Bryan Slusarchuk

Chief Executive Officer and Director

Forward-Looking Statements

Information set forth in this news release contains forward-looking statements that are based on assumptions as of the date of this news release. These statements reflect management's current estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations. They are not guarantees of future performance. Zacatecas cautions that all forward looking statements are inherently uncertain and that actual performance may be affected by many material factors, many of which are beyond their respective control. Such factors include, among other things: risks and uncertainties relating to Zacatecas' limited operating history, its proposed exploration and development activities on its mineral properties, the need to obtain permits to carry out exploration activities on its mineral properties and to comply with environmental and governmental regulations. Accordingly, actual and future events, conditions and results may differ materially from the estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations expressed or implied in the forward-looking information. Except as required under applicable securities legislation, Zacatecas does not undertake to publicly update or revise forward-looking information.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

SOURCE Zacatecas Silver Corp.
Antilles Gold Ltd (ASX:AAU, OTCQB:ANTMF) has received further high-grade gold and silver assays from an additional 30 drill holes at the La Demajagua gold/silver deposit in Cuba.

Significant gold and silver intersections include:

Drill Hole P-005: 9.0m at 5.85 g/t Au (gold) & 140.2 g/t Ag (silver) from 103.0m

P-106: 8.0m at 14.3 g/t Au & 278.9 g/t Ag from 160.5m incl 3.0m at 21.13 g/t Au

P-042B: 10.0m at 12.15 g/t Au from 122.0m incl 3.0m at 33.47 g/t Au

P-114: 11.0m at 8.87 g/t Au & 87.2 g/t Ag from 159.0m incl 2.0m at 29.35 g/t Au

P-25A: 18.0m at 5.79 g/t Au & 21.24 g/t Ag from 230.0m incl 4.0m at 15.6 g/t Au

Since February 2021, 26,500 metres of drilling has been undertaken on the La Demajagua gold-silver deposit, with the Initial JORC Resources released in January 2022 based on assays from 12,384 metres of core from 114 drill holes, and selected data from 50,000 metres of historical drilling.

The final 1,500 metres of drilling will be completed this month.

The initial indicated and inferred resources for the preliminary pit shell totalled 7.7 million at 2.9 g/t gold (720,000 ounces gold) and 38.6 g/t silver (9.57 million ounces silver).

Receipt of assays from a laboratory in Canada has been slow with a current backlog of over 30% of the samples from drilling completed to date, but sufficient data will have been received to allow the resources to be revised in May - June 2022.

Final Resources for the proposed open pit mine should be available around August 2022.

Strategy

Antilles Golds strategy is to participate in the successive development of previously explored gold and copper/gold deposits in mineral rich Cuba, and to realise the value of assets it holds in the Dominican Republic.

The company is at the forefront of the emerging gold mining sector in Cuba and expects to be involved in the development of a number of projects through its 49:51 joint venture with the Cuban Governments mining company, GeoMinera SA.

Antilles is aiming to develop the La Demajagua gold/silver open pit mine to produce about 100,000 ounces of gold equivalent per year in concentrate for sale to an international trading company, or foreign smelters.
Metal Tiger PLC's (AIM:MTR, OTC:MRTTF, ASX:MTR) Kalahari Metal joint venture has defined more drilling targets at the Endurance prospect at Kitlanya East, one of its assets on the Kalahari Copper Belt in Botswana.

Kalahari Metal, jointly owned by Metal Tiger and ASX-listed Cobre, said 34 high priority drill holes had been identified with an initial 14 (approximately 4,000 metres) prioritised for the next phase of drilling.

The aim is to discover a new major copper and silver deposit, said the statement.

Michael McNeilly, Metal Tigers chief executive, added the new targets were identified in the follow-up work to last years drilling at Endurance.

The drill results provided several intersections displaying signs of encouraging alteration and intense veining with accompanying visible trace Cu [copper], Pb [lead] and Zn [zinc] mineralisation all considered important vectors to mineralisation.

Based on drill results to date an expanded programme has been designed to test multiple targets on the Endurance Prospect as the proposed next step in the systematic exploration methodology aimed at discovering the next Cu-Ag [copper-silver] deposit in the KCB.

Metal Tiger holds a 49% equity interest in KML with Cobre's stake 51%.
Amte Power PLC made a late (unsuccessful) bid to become Londons best performer with the announcement of a partnership with Sprint Power and Eltrium.

The developer and manufacturer of lithium-ion and sodium-ion battery cells will work with Sprint Power and Eltrium to accelerate the development of next-generation battery technologies to meet the growing and complex needs of the electric vehicle (EV) market.

The shares were up 22% at 106p, making them the second-best performers in London.

3.30pm: Mosman narrows loss

Mosman Oil and Gas Limited advanced 12% to 0.14p after well-received half-year results.

Revenue in the six months to the end of December 2021 rose 79% to A$745,790 from A$383,138 in the first half of the year.

The net loss narrowed to A$498,940 from a first-half loss of A$708,822.

2.35pm: URU Metals sinks after drilling update

URU Metals Limited, down 23% at 344.5p, was the worst performer in London after drilling results from the Zeb Project, located in Limpopo, South Africa.

URU sold the project in August 2021 to ZEB Nickel, in which is owns a 74.82% interest, so clearly, events at the project will have an impact on sentiment towards the AIM-listed company.

ZEB nickel said a new high-grade gold was discovered at the project, with positive assay results from the remaining five holes in its recently completed Phase 2 drilling programme. These assays have confirmed both the grade and continuity of the nickel mineralisation.

1.40pm: Warpaint London scrubs up well in the first quarter

Warpaint London PLC (AIM:W7L) scrubbed up well after a trading update, with the shares jumping 11% to 138.5p.

The specialist supplier of colour cosmetics said group sales in the first quarter of 2022 were roughly 60% ahead of the same period of last year.

Gross product margin has also improved year-on-year, despite increased costs in the supply chain, particularly in respect of freight.

12.45pm: Diploma trading ahead of expectations

Diploma PLC (LSE:DPLM) was not quite top of the class but doing pretty well, up 8.8% at 2,732p after it said it is trading ahead of expectations.

The seals, controls and life sciences firm said it has enjoyed double-digit percentage underlying growth in the second quarter of its financial year, consistent with the first quarter, although growth is expected to moderate in the second half of the year.

Factoring in recent acquisitions, the company expects to achieve revenue growth of just over 20% this year while the operating margin is tipped to be at the top end of the 18-19% guidance range.

11.50am: Bluebird Merchant Ventures lifted by funding package

The bluebird of happiness visited shareholders of Bluebird Merchant Ventures Ltd (LSE:BMV) this morning as the company announced a funding package.

The shares rose 18% to 2.3p after the Korean focused gold development group secured an additional comprehensive funding package with a professional UK investment company specialising in financing mining and small cap entities listed in the UK.

The funding package comprises an initial debt tranche of US$500,000 payable in two equal tranches in April and May 2022 to catalyse operations on the ground and an option to subscribe for a further 100m shares at a floor price of 2 pence per share over the next twelve months.

10.55am: Feedback receives double Bleepa boost

Feedback PLC (AIM:FDBK) was 8% heavier at 0.729p after winning two more NHS contracts, worth 200,000, for its Bleepa app.

One contract was awarded following a successful pilot and two years of co-development work, which the company said represented the first full-cycle realisation of its pilot-to-contract business model.

The second represents a contract renewal following the success of an initial one-year contract, at a higher value than the initial contract.

10.00am: Hornby set to post really useful profits for second year in a row

Hornby PLC (LSE:HRN) chugged 3.0% higher at 34p after the models and collectibles group said group sales in the first quarter of 2022 were very encouraging.

The first three months of the calendar year form the final quarter of Hornbys financial year and the group was able to confirm it will make a profit in the year just ended for the second year in a row.

Managing supply chains continues to be challenging with extended shipping times from its partner factories and disruptions in UK deliveries into its warehouse due to a lack of drivers and fuel. Electronic components availability and lead times have also affected its ability to increase sales as much as the company couldve done.

9.05am: Microlise confident of meeting market expectations this year; Keras rocking at Diamond Creek

Microlise Group PLC (AIM:SAAS) climbed 165 to 140p after its first set of results as a listed company hit the spot.

The provider of transport management software to fleet operators released results for the 18 months ended 31 December 2021 but helpfully also released numbers that covered 2021 alone, and these showed a 17% increase in revenue, a 9% uplift in recurring revenue and a 24% rise in adjusted earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA).

The board said it is confident of delivering a performance for the full year in line with current market expectations, given a strong start to trading in the first quarter.

Keras Resources PLC jumped 12% to 0.1p after an operational update on the Diamond Creek organic phosphate mine in Utah, USA.

Management recently hosted the annual inspection and site visit from the Utah State mining and environmental departments and received all ongoing approvals in line with the project's licence obligations.

The Keras team will now commence the annual rehabilitation on the access roads and start trucking the 5,200 tons or so of run-of-mine phosphate rock remaining at the lay-down area from last year's mining campaign to the Spanish Fork processing facility. An additional 1,500 tons of blasted ore will similarly be excavated and hauled from the pit to Spanish Fork during the early summer months.
Matthew Stork, chief executive of Cambridge Cognition, tells Proactive it was a really good year for the brain health assessments business in 2021 with orders and revenues at record levels alongside a move into profit.

Spun out of Cambridge University 20 years ago, Stork says the company now has a huge set of cognitive assessment evidence that clients can assess.

A verbal cognitive assessment is in trial and expanding out the modules for testing patients at home is also a part of the plans.
Lloyds of London, the centre of the UK insurance business, was shut down today following an attack by protesters calling for an end to climate change.

The historic insurance marketplace had to down shutters after Extinction Rebellion protesters targeted it, using superglue, chains and bike locks to block entrances.

The protest group is calling for Lloyd's of London to cease insuring fossil fuel projects.

In the wake of the demonstrations, Lloyd's advised employees not to come to the building but said trading would continue online.

Extinction Rebellion said more than 60 protestors participated with some scaling the outside of Lloyd's to display banners reading 'End Fossil Fuels Now' and 'Ensure Climate Justice'.

The protest is the latest by Extinction Rebellion and Just Stop Oil, which shut down Tower Bridge last week and disrupted key oil terminals across the country.

"We are here to demand an end to fossil fuel insurance and investments. The underwriting of the world's most deadly fossil fuel projects is causing climate chaos, causing floods, famines, wildfires, and death," Extinction Rebellion spokesperson Clare Walmsley told the BBC.

"The cost of living crisis will not be resolved by insuring new oil and gas projects in the North Sea. Instead, it locks us into a system that already pushes millions into poverty."
Russias invasion of Ukraine has put the spotlight back on weapons makes such as BAE Systems, according to Deutsche Bank, which has raised its target price to 860p to 670p.

The war has resuscitated the need for military platforms that encompass high technology components, such as tanks, fighter jets, submarines and surface vessels, said the broker.

BAE Systems is in that spot, adds the broker, with 41% of sales exposed to platforms and 21% to electronic systems.

A 35% exposure to short-cycle business and services also positions it to benefit from an early ramp-up in spending.

Buy is its view, with the prospect of higher organic growth and improved cash flow behind the increased target price.

Shares rose 0.6% to 769.8p.
Go-Ahead PLC has started to recover after being fined and slated by the government for "an appalling breach of trust" over its running of the London & South East rail franchise.

Of course, that didnt stop another of Go-Aheads outfits from being awarded a new rail contract days later and broker RBC sees that helping shares in the public transport provider to recover further.

It's Go-Aheads bus arm that appeals most to the Canadian broker, which sees the household income squeeze forcing more people out of their cars and onto buses.

We note bus usage progressively increased in the decade up to 2008-09 in an environment of rising fuel prices and increasing government support for bus services.

RBC has trimmed its price target slightly to 1,00p from 1,030p but that compares with 839p currently.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak have been told that they will be fined by the Metropolitan Police for breaking lockdown rules, a Downing Street spokesperson confirmed.

Johnson becomes the first PM to be charged with an offence while in office, while Sunak is the first chancellor to be similarly charged.

Investigations began in January this year into 12 separate incidents where Covid restrictions might have been breached, with the Met determining rules were broken relating to 'gatherings' at Downing Street and Whitehall in 2020 and 2021.

Fixed penalties do not amount to a criminal conviction but can lead to a court summons and criminal prosecution should they not be paid.

Roughly 100 members of staff at Downing Street and Whitehall, including Johnson and Sunak, were required to fill out a legal questionnaire at the start of the process.

Interviewing key witnesses began in March with the Met confirming it has now referred more than 50 cases for fixed penalties because of the probe.

The first 20 fines were issued on the first of this month relating to events in June 2020 at Downing Street and the Cabinet Office building.

Some fines were also issued to those who attended two events on 16 April 2021, the day before Prince Philips funeral.

Johnson had faced intense scrutiny from members even within his own party amid calls for him to resign when the allegations were initially made.

Senior civil servant Sue Gray had launched an internal inquiry which prompted the Scotland Yard investigation.

A restricted version of the report was released as not to interfere with the criminal investigation, with it unclear whether the full report will now be published.

Adds detail

Prime Minister Boris Johnson remains under investigation despite being given a fixed penalty notice today for breaching Covid lockdown restrictions.

Police are said to be looking into 12 separate incidents, with Johnson alleged to have been involved with at least six of the gatherings.

The investigation into allegations of breaches of Covid19 regulations in Whitehall and Downing Street continues to progress, a Metropolitan Police statement said.

More fines, therefore, could be on the way for the PM, as calls to resign intensify once again.

So far, the Met has dished out the fines in tranches, with reports that todays fines relate to a Cabinet room birthday party.

Earlier fines given this month related to incidents at Downing Street and Whitehall in 2020, as well as two separate events a day before Prince Philips funeral.

Johnsons wife Carrie has also been fined over the partygate scandal today.
The junior exploration company said the results warrant further exploration in 2022

AEX Gold Inc (AIM:AEXG, TSX-V:AEX) said its 2021 exploration program at the Sava project in Greenland has revealed multiple targets at what could be a high-grade, multi-element property.

The Toronto-based company completed remote sensing, airborne geophysics, geological mapping, rock chip and ionic geochemistry studies and hyperspectral imagery across the 4,090-square kilometre Sava licence.

Modeling indicated the potential of the area to host strategic metal deposits, according to AEX, with significant and coherent multi-element anomalies developed that could indicate iron oxide, copper, gold (IOCG) mineralisation.

Historical sampling at Sava has returned grades of up to 3.4% copper, 3.7% zinc, 0.28% molybdenum, 382 grams per tonne (g/t) gold, 100 g/t silver and 19.9% niobium, in magnetite and hematite-mineralised granites and breccias.

AEX told shareholders that the results of the program confirm its belief that the geology of the Sava licence has great potential, opening up the prospect of a new IOCG belt in South Greenland.

The junior exploration company said the results warrant further exploration in 2022.

The company has long considered the Sava area as holding potential for significant copper, base metal and rare earth element mineralisation, AEX CEO Eldur Olafsson said in a statement.

In 2021 AEX employed a wide range of innovative and cutting-edge exploration techniques and our results provide us with significant indications that an IOCG or porphyry mineral system could be present.

According to Olafsson, AEXs geological models illustrate the region's similarity to world class strategic mineral deposits at Voisey's Bay in Canada, Gardar Province in Greenland, and the Kiruna IOCG belt of Scandinavia.

AEX said it will continue to review and assess the results both internally and through their external consultants and experts, and will look to action the recommendations of this work during the 2022 field season.

The group has a portfolio of gold and strategic metal assets in the largest mineral portfolio in Southern Greenland, covering the two known gold belts in the region.

Contact Angela at angela@proactiveinvestors.com

Follow her on Twitter @AHarmantas
Kingwest Resources Ltd (ASX:KWR) is a mining and exploration company engaged in advancing its gold projects into production as well as discovering new gold resources in its highly prospective projects in the Eastern Goldfields region of Western Australia.

The flagship Menzies Gold Project (MGP) is one of Western Australias major historical goldfields and covers a contiguous land package over a strike length of more than 15 kilometres.

The MGP has recorded historical production of 643,200 ounces at 22.5 g/t gold from underground between 1895 and 1943 plus 145,000 ounces at 2.6 g/t open cut between 1995 and 1999, for a total of 787,200 ounces at 18.9 g/t.
The Damascus government continues to impose various forms of siege on the displaced in al-Shahba canton and to prevent the entry of fuel and foodstuffs needed to meet the people's daily needs.

The displaced people of Afrin and the people of al-Shahba canton suffer from the interruption of domestic gas, as a result of the checkpoints of the Damascus government forces stationed at the entrances to al-Shahba canton preventing cars loaded with gas cylinders from entering.

According to the management of gas cylinders depots in al-Shahba canton, the Fourth Division of the Damascus government prevents cars loaded with gas cylinders from entering the crossing square in the city of Manbij to head towards al-Shahba canton.

In this context, a number of Afrin IDPs living in Al-Shahba canton told our agency that the Damascus government is trying to undermine the resistance of Afrin IDPs and incite the people against the administration.

Citizen Muhammad Ali, referred to the joint policies practiced by both the government of Damascus and the Turkish occupation state against the people in al-Shahba canton for 4 years, For more than four years, we have been in continuous resistance in al-Shahba canton, under tents, as the dominant countries support the Syrian government, besieging al-Shahba on the one hand, and supporting the Turkish occupation by bombing the area on the other hand.

Our will is stronger than their siege

Ali explained that they have been suffering for 25 days from gas cuts in Sardam camp, in addition to their daily needs of food and fuel, due to the suffocating siege imposed by the Damascus government on the area.

Ali indicated that the Damascus government is trying to subdue those in al-Shahba canton, and break their resistance that has been going on for more than four years, in order to displace them and incite the people against the administration, stressing that they will not back down from their resistance.

They are trying to force us to surrender

For her part, Dilshan Hussein said that an international conspiracy is being practiced by the dominant countries against the Kurds as a whole, especially in north and east Syria, "and the tool is the Syrian government on one side and the Turkish occupation army on the other."

Dilshan indicated that the aim of the siege imposed on al-Shahba is to undermine the will of the people and create strife among the spectrum of society, by inciting the people against the Autonomous Administration.

In her speech, Dilshan Hussein confirmed that they are aware of the systematic policies being practiced against them, "We are determined to resist in al-Shahba."

The silence of the international community is evidence of their participation

As for Zainab Muhammad, she pointed out that prices have increased exponentially day after day in al-Shahba as a result of the siege of the Damascus government and its prohibition of goods from entering the area.

Zainab noted that the Damascus government prevents materials with the aim of tightening the noose around the people in al-Shahba.

Zainab explained that they suffer, especially in the blessed month of Ramadan, from securing their daily needs with the advent of Eid.

Zainab denounced the silence of the international community and human rights organizations regarding the practices of the Damascus government and the Turkish occupation state against them.

As if we are not Syrians!

In this regard, the co-chair of the Sardam camp council, Muhammad Othman, spoke, and said that the people in Sardam camp have been suffering for nearly a month with difficult living conditions as a result of the interruption of domestic gas.

Othman pointed out that the Damascus government differentiates between the Syrians, as if the displaced people of Afrin are not from the Syrian people, to besiege them from all sides, noting that the camps residents have been cooking food on firewood inside the camp for nearly a month, which poses a great danger to the displaced under the tents.

In his speech, Muhammad Othman called for finding a quick solution to the systematic suffocating siege."

From 27 thousand records every month, only 10 thousand were allowed in every few months

The Secretary of the gas cylinders warehouse in al-Shahba, Basil Sheikh Muhammad, explained that the region has been suffering from interruption of domestic gas since the beginning of this year."

Sheikh Muhammad indicated that the monthly needs of gas for al-Shahba canton amount to more than 27,000 jars, but the Damascus government only allowed 10,000 jars to enter every more than three months.

Sheikh Mohammed said that since the beginning of this year, the Damascus government has only allowed the entry of gas once, which led to a real crisis among the people.

Sheikh Muhammad indicated that the Fourth Division of the Damascus government is currently preventing the entry of gas into al-Shahba canton from the Manbij city crossing.

Sheikh Muhammad indicated that they were previously trying to ease the stifling siege on al-Shahba by buying domestic gas from merchants at a free price, which amounted to 55 thousand Syrian pounds, and selling it to the people at a price of 5 thousand, and to camp residents for free, noting that the price of a cylinder of domestic gas reached in Black market to 150 thousand Syrian pounds, if any.

A

ANHA
United Oil & Gas PLC (AIM:UOG) has completed the sale of its Italian business to Prospex Energy PLC for 2.16mln.

UOG Italia holds a 20% non-operated interest in the Podere Gallina licence, which contains the Selva gas development project.

United added that following the sale it will no longer be liable for its share of the Selva gas development capital expenditure of approximately 800,000, while a working capital adjustment made the net total 2.19mln.

Brian Larkin, UOGs chief executive, said: The proceeds of this transaction along with other divestments strengthen our balance sheet to support our growth strategy.

We have re-focused our portfolio on our core areas which provides us with a platform for organic growth and also a base from which we can evaluate further growth opportunities in 2022 and beyond.
Mike Ralston, chief executive of Blencowe Resources spoke to Proactive London, giving an update on its Uganda project.

The company reported a 50% resource increase at its Orom-Cross graphite project

in Uganda.

It also raised 800,000 from RAB Capital, who become largest shareholder in the miner.

The money raised will be used to fast track a pre-feasibility study and help initiate exploration work at the Akelikongo nickel project.
With this new option, the company now controls 14,987 hectares of mining leases in the salt flat, distributed between the adjacent provinces of Salta and Catamarca

Argentina Lithium & Energy Corp (TSX-V:LIT, OTCQB:PNXLF) has announced that it has entered into an option agreement with a local vendor to earn a 100% interest in three granted mine concession properties totaling 5,411 hectares in the Salar de Antofalla in Catamarca Province, Argentina.

Argentina Lithium's Antofalla North project includes both 100% held and optioned properties. With this new option, the company now controls 14,987 hectares of mining leases in the salt flat, distributed between the adjacent provinces of Salta and Catamarca.

"Our team has identified the Antofalla Salar as one of the most prospective undeveloped lithium brine basins in Argentina, and we are aggressively consolidating our land position in Antofalla North, Nikolaos Cacos, President and CEO of Argentina Lithium said in a statement.

With these new acquisitions, Argentina Lithium's properties extend from a half kilometre north of Albemarle concessions, towards the north for approximately 27 kilometres (km). We have begun the permitting process, in order to explore this salt flat with advanced geophysical imaging and drill testing," Cacos added.

Located in the famed 'Lithium Triangle', the geological environment at the Salar de Antofalla is similar to other salt flats in the region where lithium and potash are found. The project is located about 25km west of Argentina's largest lithium-producing operation at Salar de Hombre Muerto. The Salar de Antofalla is over 130km long and varies between 5km and 10km in width, with reported basin depths exceeding 500 metres (m).

The southern boundary of the Antofalla North project is situated approximately 500m north of properties controlled by global lithium producer Albemarle Inc, Argentina Lithium said, noting that Albemarle has stated that it believes the lithium resource on its property has the potential to rank amongst the largest in Argentina.

There has been no significant historical exploration work on the new optioned properties. The option provides the company with coverage to protect its mineral rights in the area of the provincial boundary between Salta and Catamarca and extend its holdings 4.6km southwards to within 500 metres of Albemarle's property boundary; a portion of the northern part of the optioned properties may overlap a third party concession in the provincial boundary area, the company added.

Terms of the option include cash payments totaling US$2.8 million over four years, including mandatory commitments totaling US$180,000 in the first twelve months. The option also includes annual exploration expenditure commitments of $500,000 in the first year, followed by $1.5 million in the second, $2.0 million in the third and $3.0 million in the fourth year.

The vendor retains a 2% net smelter royalty, which can be repurchased for US$3 million, the company said.

Argentina Lithium is focused on acquiring high-quality lithium projects in Argentina, and advancing them towards production in order to meet the growing global demand from the battery sector.

The management group has a long history of success in the resource sector of Argentina, and has assembled a team of experts to acquire and advance the best lithium properties in the Lithium Triangle.

Contact the author at jon.hopkins@proactiveinvestors.com
Blue Sky said six holes totaling 286 metres (m) were drilled at Ivana Central in 2020 before the program was paused, leaving about 1,200m to be completed

Blue Sky Uranium Corp. (TSX-V:BSK, OTCQB:BKUCF) announced that it is resuming its 4,500 metre (m) exploration drilling program with new holes planned at the Ivana Central target, located 10 kilometres north of the company's Ivana deposit at its Amarillo Grande uranium-vanadium project in Argentina.

Blue Sky said six holes totaling 286m were drilled at Ivana Central in 2020 before the program was paused, leaving about 1,200m to be completed at this target.

Ivana Central is the next area we are evaluating in our continued push to identify and delineate new mineralization and deposits at the district-scale Amarillo Grande project, Blue Sky Uranium CEO Nikolaos Cacos said in a statement.

We look forward to completing this tranche of drilling so that we can plan detailed follow up and advance to testing other targets in the Ivana area, Cacos added.

The company noted that two of the first six holes at Ivana Central intersected anomalous uranium, including 120 parts per million (ppm) U 3 O 8 over one metre in hole AGIC-01, with all holes returning anomalous vanadium and pathfinder elements similar to those associated with uranium mineralization at the Ivana deposit.

It added that new drilling will test the continuity of the prospective horizons intersected in the initial holes.

As well, Blue Sky said a total of 1,584m have been completed at the Ivana North target and, following completion of the current tranche of drilling at Ivana Central, about 1,500m of drilling will be deployed in refining delineation of areas with the best results from both targets.

Blue Sky Uranium is on the verge of becoming a South American leader in uranium production. The energy metal discovery company has exclusive rights to properties in two provinces in Argentina, and is a member of the Grosso Group, a resource management collective that has pioneered Argentinian exploration since 1993.

Contact Sean at sean@proactiveinvestors.com
Core drilling at the Tomtebo property will comprise 1,200 metres in three holes, followed by drilling 1,800m in 10 holes at the Gruvberget property located 40km northwest from Tomtebo

District Metals Corp. (TSX-V:DMX) has announced that it has commenced core drilling at its high-grade polymetallic Tomtebo property located in the Bergslagen Mining District in south-central Sweden.

The Vancouver-based developer of prospective mineral properties said GEOPS-Bolkan Drilling Services Ltd has been awarded the contract for the drill program, which will comprise 1,200 metres (m) in three holes, followed by drilling 1,800m in 10 holes at the Gruvberget property located 40 kilometres (km) northwest from Tomtebo.

Drill permitting for 800m in two holes at the companys Bakar Copper property on Northern Vancouver Island continues and drilling may commence in June or July 2022, District Metals added.

"We continue to increase our understanding of the high grade polymetallic mineralized system at the historic Tomtebo Mine through the utilization of modern exploration techniques, CEO Garrett Ainsworth said in a statement. This phase of drilling will test some very exciting targets identified from our work to date. By way of example, the massive sulphide lenses at the Steffenburgs zone intercepted by our drilling in 2021 have returned significant widths of high-grade polymetallic mineralization that remain open in many directions. We are also keen to aggressively step out from the Tomtebo Mine with this current drill program, to further assess one of the numerous other coincident geophysical targets outside of and along trend from the Tomtebo Mine that remain untested.

District Metals said the primary objectives of the Tomtebo property drill program include:

Two step out holes below high-grade polymetallic mineralization at the Steffenburgs zone, where its recently reported hole TOM21-028 intersected 30m at 10.9% zinc equivalent, to test for potential extensions of the massive sulphide lenses at depth.

An aggressive 665m step out northeast from the historic Tomtebo Mine at a virgin regional target to test a magnetic high anomaly along the Tomtebo Mine Volcanogenic Massive Sulphide (VMS) mineralized horizon. The magnetic high anomaly at this target has a similar signature to the magnetic high associated with polymetallic mineralization at the Steffenburgs zone. The location of the favourable VMS mineralized horizon has been established through the use of whole-rock geochemistry that connects the Oscarsgruvan zone to regional drill hole TOM21-023B, which was drilled 1km northeast along trend from the Tomtebo Mine.

The Tomtebo project in the Bergslagen mining district of Sweden is District Metal's main exploration focus.

Tomtebo comprises 5,144 hectares and sits between the historic Falun mine and Boliden's Garpenberg mine, which are 25km to the northwest and southeast, respectively.

Two historic polymetallic mines and numerous polymetallic showings are located on the Tomtebo Property along an approximate 17km trend that exhibits similar geology, structure, alteration and VMS/SedEx style mineralization as other significant mines within the district.

Contact the author at stephen.gunnion@proactiveinvestors.com
Cloud DX said it has now signed a total of 15 contracts in 2022

Cloud DX (TSX-V:CDX, OTCQB:CDXFF) Inc announced a new contract with a primary care clinic in Erie, Pennsylvania.

The virtual healthcare company said the clinic will use and deploy Cloud DX (TSX-V:CDX, OTCQB:CDXFF)'s Connected Health kits to remotely monitor and support its patients with chronic illnesses, representing over 1,000 of its 2,500 patient load.

For chronic conditions, virtual care platforms like our Connected Health solution enable practitioners to view patient vitals and expedite action in cases of concern, Cloud DX (TSX-V:CDX, OTCQB:CDXFF) head of operations Cara MacDonald said in a statement.

Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) creates this closer circle of care for chronic conditions that lowers exacerbations and reduces urgent or emergent care visits and subsequent hospitalizations, MacDonald added.

Cloud DX noted that its Deployment and Patient Support teams will assist the clinic with onboarding patients and scaling the program.

The company added that it has now signed a total of 15 contracts in 2022.

Accelerating virtual healthcare, Cloud DX is focused on making healthcare better for everyone. Its connected health remote patient monitoring platform is used by healthcare enterprises and care teams across North America to virtually manage chronic disease, enable aging in place, and deliver hospital-quality post-surgical care in the home.

Contact Sean at sean@proactiveinvestors.com
Critical Resources Ltd (ASX:CRR) has staked 1,200 more hectares in Ontarios Electric Avenue to expand its Plaid lithium project.

An aggressive works program is already well underway to identify drilling targets in the region, with pegmatite mineralisation observed across Criticals Plaid and Whiteloon Lake projects.

Interestingly, previously mapped pegmatites follow the same northwest/southeast trend of Frontier Lithium (TSX-V:FL, OTCQX:LITOF) Ltds PAK, Spark and Bolt battery mineral deposits.

Frontiers Pak project represents one of North Americas highest-grade high-tonnage, hard rock lithium resources.

Overall, Critical says studying and evaluating the observed pegmatites is crucial to the companys exploration strategy in Ontario, Canada.

Project location.

Waiting for the snow to melt

Speaking to the move, Critical Resources managing director Alex Biggs said: It is positive to be developing work programs in such a prospective region in Ontario.

The regions deposits in the locality represent some of the largest hard rock lithium deposits in North America.

Our desktop studies have concluded similarities between the projects and some of the deposits nearby which warrant further studies and exploration, particularly the trend of pegmatites.

For now, we are waiting for the snow to melt, and expect to be performing work on the ground throughout the summer months.

Next steps

Criticals work program will follow a stage one approach and is intent on unearthing future drill targets.

An airborne survey will go out as soon as practical to support this endeavour.

Channel sampling is also on the cards to better Criticals understanding of the regions pegmatite deposits.

Frontier Lithium (TSX-V:FL, OTCQX:LITOF) used a similar approach to ascertain its drill targets, which eventually led to a JORC compliant resource.

Critial is on the phone to work out permitting and approvals so it can hit the ground running as soon as possible.

The lithium explorer plans to complete a diamond drilling program once drill targets are defined across both projects tenements.

Down the line, the plan is to develop synergies with the companys 100% owned Mavis Lake and Graphic Lake projects.

Criticals portfolio

The Plaid and Whiteloon Lake projects are located 165 kilometres north of Red Lake, Ontario, Canada in the highly prospective Electric Avenue battery mineral region.

Both projects are roughly 5.5 kilometres from Frontier Lithiums Pak project, which is reported to host:

10.49 million tonnes of measured and indicated resource, averaging 1.78% lithium oxide; and

18.48 million tonnes of inferred resource, averaging 1.45% lithium oxide.

Criticals Mavis Lake Lithium Project is 19 kilometres east of the town of Dryden, Ontario.

The project is in close vicinity to the Trans-Canada highway and railway major transportation arteries linking larger cities such as Thunder Bay, Ontario, to the southeast and Winnipeg, Manitoba, to the west.

The region boasts excellent infrastructure with hydro-power located a few kilometres southwest of the project.

Previous drill programs at Mavis Lake have yielded high-grade lithium oxide hits, including:

55.25 metres at 1.04% lithium oxide from 80.75 metres; and

26.30 metres at 1.70% from 111.9 metres, including 7.70 metres at 2.97% from 130.5 metres.

Meanwhile, Criticals Graphic Lake Project is 55 kilometres southeast of Kenora, Ontario.

The project is dissected by the TransCanadian Highway, again providing key links to larger cities in North America.

Criticals claim comprises a pegmatite swarm trending northeast/southwest, measuring 300 metres wide along an estimated 5.5-kilometre strike.

Ontarios first-ever critical mineral strategy

In March 2022, Ontarios government announced its inaugural strategy to secure the provinces position as a global leader of responsibly sourced critical minerals.

The plan is to work alongside government, industry, Indigenous peoples, communities and other stakeholders

The governments strategy involves six pillars, or areas of government action, which will solidify Ontarios position as a global leader of responsibly sourced critical minerals.

These include:

Enhancing geoscience information and supporting critical minerals exploration;

Growing Domestic processing and creating resilient supply chains;

Improving Ontarios regulatory framework;

Investing in innovation, research, and development;

Building economic development opportunities with Indigenous partners; and

Growing labour supply and developing a skilled labour force.

Tesla in the mix

Tesla recently announced it would open a battery gear manufacturing plant in Markham, Ontario, further opening doors for the Canadian province to become one of the worlds leading lithium regions.

Notably, the facility will be the first branded Tesla Canada manufacturing facility in the country.

A significant amount of activity in the lithium exploration sector is currently occurring in Ontario.

Due to the quality of lithium assets in the region, the fundamental drivers behind the lithium market and the intent of North American manufacturers to source lithium for battery manufacturing from localised supply-chains, Critical believes now is the time to gain a foothold in the province.
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Vanadium may be a lesser-known metal, but its applications are just as important to the manufacturing industry as its more favoured counterparts.

This medium-hard metal is malleable, ductile, and corrosion-resistant and its end-use in steel dominates the elemental metals demand globally.

Vanadium-steel alloys are required for extremely tough tools such as axles, armour plates, car gears, springs, cutting tools, piston rods and crankshafts.

In an age where the discussion surrounding nuclear energy is gaining momentum, it is also worth noting Vanadium alloys may be used to make nuclear reactors due to their low-neutron-absorbing properties.

Mixed with aluminium and titanium, vanadium can create a strong alloy used for special applications such as dental implants and jet engines.

In fact, as a speciality alloy, vanadiums use in the defence and aerospace sector contributes to its critical mineral status.

Further to this, vanadium electrolyte for redox flow batteries (VRFB) is gaining momentum, driven by the global push for renewable energy storage technologies and the transition to net zero emissions. More on that shortly.

Suffice to say, vanadiums range of use stretches far and wide.

In this article:

Vanadium is an irreplaceable component due to its high strength characteristics.

High-performance steel alloys for use in aerospace application depends on vanadium and it is also considered a critical metal in the high-speed transport sector.

Lately, it has been gaining attention as one of the critical metals for the rising energy storage market.

Vanadium pentoxide is the main ingredient in vanadium redox flow batteries used for grid energy storage.

This is a market that should, by all reasonable practical means, grow over the next five to 15, maybe 20 years, as we get more and more into decentralised electrical generation. And the vanadium redox flow battery will definitely fit into that category, John Priestner, President and CEO of Vanadium One Energy Corp (TSX.V:VONE, Frankfurt:9VR1) told Aheadoftheherd.com.

VRFBs are suited to stationary energy storage applications, are non-flammable compared with lithium batteries and have a longer service life (around 20 years).

Lithium batteries can last for about 10 years.

VRFBs can also discharge 100% of their stored energy.

The one downside, although it isnt much of an issue, is VRFBs are heavier per unit, making them more suitable for stationary storage applications.

Globally during the past year, there have been about 1.26 GWh (gigawatt hours) of VRFBs either installed or announced.

This is equivalent to a requirement of over 12,000 tonnes of V2O5.

Recent trends show that vanadium consumption directly attributed to the use in energy storage is expected to grow significantly.

Vanadium price recently surged to over US$12/lb, having increased from US$6/lb at the start of 2021 and indicating a move to the high demand, low supply pricing distribution.

Increased global geopolitical volatility amidst the Russia-Ukraine crisis and Chinese regulatory changes specifying the increased use of micro alloyed steel are impacting the price and this trend looks to continue into 2022 and beyond.

The growing use of vanadium in energy storage is also likely to impact long term pricing with a premium being received for limited volumes of high purity (99.6% V2O5) needed for use in batteries.

Vanadium prices are up by 60% since the beginning of 2022 with the Chinese infrastructure sector continuing to drive demand.

The global vanadium market is expected to grow by 28,310 tonnes from a base of 73,000 tonnes during 2020-2024, according to UK-based Technavio Research.

But this doesnt consider the recent restrictions on Russian supply that accounts for about 25% of existing global supply and an upswing in defence and space spending globally.

It is worth noting that China is a net importer of vanadium and the US imports almost 100% of its vanadium.

With the China-Russian trade alliance taking up Russias production, the world is expected to be in vanadium deficit.

One company that is looking to capitalise on the turn toward vanadium is Surefire Resources NL (ASX:SRN).

Surefire has two vanadium projects 560 kilometres northwest of Perth, Western Australia containing an inferred resource of over 2 billion pounds of V2O5 (vanadium pentoxide).

The Victory Bore Project and the Unaly Hill Project form a contiguous tenement holding with the Victory Bore licence E57/1036 abutting the Unaly Hill licence area E576/1068 on its northern boundary.

The inferred resource at the projects is open down dip and along strike with only 8 strike kilometres of a 24 kilometres strike target drill tested to date.

Surefires initial studies indicate the economic viability of the project to produce a high-grade V2O5 product.

During metallurgical testing, the company achieved first stage concentration of 1.43% V2O5 with 93.7% recovery of vanadium, not sensitive to primary ore grade.

The second phase metallurgical testing is being planned to refine the process flow parameters.

Surefire is also planning a further drill out program to establish an indicated resource to set the project up for a prefeasibility study.

The timing of its work program is significant.

As the company recently stated: Surefire is greatly encouraged by the increased global commodity price of vanadium and considers that the company is now well positioned to further develop and monetise the Project.

There are several highlights:

Initial studies indicate the economic viability of the Project to produce a high-grade vanadium pentoxide product.

Critical areas to deliver an efficient and economic processing outcome have been identified.

Second phase metallurgical testing to be undertaken to refine the process flow parameters.

Confidence to proceed to a further drill out programme to establish an Indicated Resource.

Completion of these activities will set the project up for a prefeasibility study.

One other thing of note is the Australian governments support for these types of projects.

Last year, the Federal government announced its 2022 critical minerals strategy that would expand downstream processing and help meet future global demand.

Its vision is to put Australia at the centre of meeting the growing demand for critical minerals that underpin Australias prosperity and security by improving access to reliable, secure and resilient supplies of critical minerals.

According to Minister for Resources the Hon. Keith Pitt MP, The need for robust supply chains has been highlighted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Countries are increasingly seeking access to reliable, secure and resilient supplies of the critical minerals they need. Australias large critical minerals reserves, technical expertise and track record as a reliable and responsible supplier mean the sector can respond to market demand.

This strategy sets out a long-term plan to leverage growing global demand and develop a thriving and durable Australian critical minerals sector  one that contributes to the national security and economic prosperity of Australia and the Indo-Pacific region.

The Australian Government is taking action to grow Australia into a critical minerals powerhouse, capitalising on the strength of our world-leading resources sector, expertise in processing and highly skilled workforce. We have committed $200 million to the Critical Minerals Accelerator Initiative to support strategically significant projects at challenging points in their development. This funding will accelerate projects to market and drive investment. A $50 million virtual Critical Minerals Research and Development Centre is also being established, leveraging the expertise of Geoscience Australia, CSIRO and the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation to drive breakthrough collaborative research with industry.

Vanadium is well and truly in this mix and Surefire is working towards making itself a critical go-to player.
Chimeric Therapeutics Ltd (ASX:CHM) has entered into a strategic manufacturing partnership with WuXi Advanced Therapies, a global contract testing and manufacturing organisation, to support its CAR T cell programs.

Under the agreement, CHM will transfer certain manufacturing and analytical testing technologies to WuXi ATU, which will support process development, analytical development, and cGMP (Good Manufacturing Practices) manufacturing and testing activities for Chimerics CAR T cell programs.

Promisingly, the new partnership will enable Chimeric to accelerate clinical manufacturing readiness for new CAR T assets and to scale CAR T manufacturing to support multiple, simultaneous, multicentre CAR T clinical trials in the future.

Uniquely positioned

Chimeric Therapeutics CEO Jennifer Chow said: We are very excited to enter into this partnership with WuXi ATU.

With its extensive experience in cGMP manufacturing and analytical testing, as well as its seamless platform process for CAR T-cell production, WuXi ATU is uniquely positioned to support the acceleration and expansion of the CHM 1101 and CHM 2101 development programs.

Agreement summary

The initial focus under the agreement will be on Chimerics two autologous CAR T-cell therapies for solid tumours:

CHM 2101 (CDH17 CAR T)  currently in late preclinical development for multiple gastrointestinal (GI) cancers, including colorectal cancer, gastric cancer, pancreatic cancer, and GI neuroendocrine tumours (NETs)  will leverage WuXi ATUs end-to-end platform process for CAR T manufacturing and testing to enable accelerated cGMP manufacturing readiness for the planned first-in-human study of CHM 2101.

currently in late preclinical development for multiple gastrointestinal (GI) cancers, including colorectal cancer, gastric cancer, pancreatic cancer, and GI neuroendocrine tumours (NETs)  will leverage WuXi ATUs end-to-end platform process for CAR T manufacturing and testing to enable accelerated cGMP manufacturing readiness for the planned first-in-human study of CHM 2101. CHM 1101 (CLTX CAR T)  currently being evaluated in a single-site phase 1 clinical trial to treat patients with recurrent or progressive glioblastoma  will leverage WuXi ATUs scalable manufacturing and analytical testing capacity to enable future expansion of the program to multiple additional clinical trial sites and additional solid tumour indications, including metastatic melanoma.

Commenting on the partnership, WuXi CEO David Chang said: Were delighted to partner with Chimeric Therapeutics to accelerate the development of two of their autologous CAR T-cell programs.

These treatments offer much needed hope to patients with gastrointestinal cancers or glioblastoma, and we are honored to support Chimeric Therapeutics as they prepare these treatments for further clinical testing.

About WuXi ATU

WuXi Advanced Therapies, a global Contract Testing Development and Manufacturing Organisation (CTDMO), is the advanced therapies business unit of WuXi AppTec and offers integrated platforms to transform the discovery, development, testing, manufacturing, and commercialisation of cell and gene therapies for customers worldwide.

The companys technologies, automation platforms and service solutions advance pre-clinical research and accelerate the timeline to GMP manufacture, while integrated GMP manufacturing and testing platforms reduce time to market, maintaining high titres, high levels of quality assurance and full regulatory compliance.
Jindalee Resources Ltd (ASX:JRL) is looking to reposition itself as a pure-play US lithium developer.

The company has undertaken a strategic review of its portfolio, including its Australian assets, and concluded that in order to maximise shareholder value, it should separate its Australian assets into a standalone vehicle, NewCo, which will be listed on the ASX.

The demerger will include all Australian assets, including the large landholding at Widgiemooltha, and will allow Jindalee to focus its efforts exclusively on the acceleration of exploration and development activities at its world-class McDermitt Lithium Project, one of the largest lithium deposits in the United States.

Jindalee shares are up 12.3% following the news, trading at $4.89 per share.

Huge array of development pathways

Jindalee chairman Justin Mannolini said the time was right for Jindalee to reposition itself as a pure-play US lithium developer.

"The board believes that the favourable political climate in the United States following bipartisan expressions of support for the development of an integrated domestic lithium-ion battery value chain, coupled with the well-known electric vehicle thematic, create the ideal backdrop for the proposed demerger.

As one of the largest lithium projects in the United States, McDermitt presents a huge array of potential development pathways.

"Critically, the project is 100% owned and entirely unencumbered by offtake or legacy strategic ownership arrangements, creating a high degree of optionality in a market that is increasingly starved of opportunities to deliver a meaningful volume of lithium credits from a single source in a tier-one jurisdiction.

We also believe there is tremendous potential in our under-explored West Australian landholding, which will benefit from the renewed focus that will be facilitated by the demerger.

What will happen to the Aussie assets?

Jindalees Australian assets will roll into one Australian entity led by current Jindalee CEO Karen Wellman, who will be appointed as managing director.

I am delighted that Karen Wellman, the current CEO of Jindalee, will lead NewCo as managing director, Mannolini said.

Under Karens leadership, the Jindalee technical team has done an excellent job in assembling the projects which will form the core of NewCos portfolio, creating a well-funded ASX listed exploration company with a significant land position. Jindalee Shareholders will retain exposure to these assets via an in-specie distribution of NewCo shares.

The Aussie assets include Jindalees large landholding in the Widgiemooltha district and the Lake Percy Project, which are both highly prospective for nickel, gold and lithium. It also includes an interest in the Prospect Ridge joint venture in Tasmania.

The new companys board will comprise Justin Mannolini (non-executive chairman), Lindsay Dudfield (non-executive director) and Trish Farr (executive director and company secretary), providing a high degree of continuity in the stewardship of the Australian portfolio.

US entity focused on lithium

Jindalee is currently in the process of strengthening its leadership team in the US, as it looks to accelerate development activity at McDermitt.

The McDermitt lithium project is in southeast Oregon and was generated by Jindalee after an extensive search across the western US. Just three weeks ago, it delivered its best lithium intersections to date.

The recent drill results are expected to increase confidence in areas of inferred mineral resources adjacent to indicated mineral resources.

The companys wholly-owned US subsidiary, HiTech Minerals Inc, has appointed Brett Marsh as vice president, exploration and development, to co-ordinate in-country efforts to advance the McDermitt Lithium Project.

Marsh is a US-qualified geologist and has held a range of senior leadership roles covering project and change management, technology innovation, project evaluation, and technical advice.

Jindalee has also recently brought in consultants to start baseline environment and heritage activities.

The company expects to publish an updated mineral resource estimate for McDermitt in the current quarter, while a further drill program is planned for the second half of the calendar year, with permitting already in place for 28 additional holes.

The demerger is subject to final board, regulatory and shareholder approvals.
Caledonia Mining Corporation PLC (AIM:CMCL, NYSE-A:CMCL) said production from its Blanket Mine in Zimbabwe hit a new record last quarter as it ramped up operations following the completion of a new central shaft.

The mine produced 18,515 ounces (oz) of gold in the three months to March 2022, a 40% increase from the first quarter a year ago,

Caledonia also reiterated it is on track for 73,000oz to 80,000oz in total in 2022.

Steve Curtis, chief executive, said: "The ramp-up in production towards our quarterly target of 20,000 ounces means that we are on track to meet our annual production target.

"As previously announced, very sadly during the quarter a fatal accident resulted in the death of a Blanket employee.

We always take the safety of our employees very seriously and I join my colleagues in expressing our sincere condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of the deceased."
Panthera Resources PLC (AIM:PAT) said it plans to raise about 1.06mln before expenses from existing and institutional investors via a placing and subscription and will use the proceeds to fund a drilling programme at its Bassala gold project in Mali.

The fundraising comprises of a placing of about 9.6mln new shares and a subscription of about 4.6mln new shares at 7.5 pence per share.

The shares closed at 8.75 pence in London yesterday.

The planned Bassala drilling programmes follow the "significant gold discovery in 2021", said the AIM-traded company.

"The drilling in 2021 was essentially 'geochemical drilling' and has only targeted the upper weathered zone and at a very broad line spacing of minimum 200m with holes generally 50m apart, said managing director Mark Bolton.

Many of the intercepts were at the end of drill holes, showing the mineralisation is open at depth and representing excellent targets for deeper drilling. In this respect, the numerous significant intercepts are considered to be highly encouraging.

The drilling programme planned for 2Q 2022 will test this known mineralisation with deeper and closer spaced drilling, aimed at identifying zones of coherent mineralisation that may represent resource definition targets, he said.
The two companies will create verified carbon offset credits to reward the adoption of regenerative agriculture practices by North American farmers

Star Royalties Ltd (TSX-V:STRR) said its subsidiary Green Star Royalties Ltd (TSX-V:STRR) has expanded its carbon credit agreement with Blue Source LLC by four fold.

The two companies will create verified carbon offset credits to reward the adoption of regenerative agriculture practices by North American farmers.

Under the amended agreement, Green Star has agreed to finance Blue Sources regenerative agriculture carbon offset program up to $20.6 million in cash. The cash will be made available to growers in the program through Locus AGs CarbonNOW program.

Green Star expects initial funding of the investment to begin in the second quarter of 2022, with further quarterly tranches drawn by Blue Source, as required, until the entire $20.6 million is invested. Green Star currently expects $5 million will be invested in 2022 and the remainder in 2023, Star Royalties said.

This project investment has a term of 11.5 years and the future financial benefits from the monetization of the project's carbon offset credits will be split between the CarbonNOW growers, Blue Source, and Green Star Royalties, according to Star Royalties. The expanded program is expected to start generating credits for the 2023 growing season, with Locus AG beginning farmer enrollment within the coming months.

Green Star Royalties expects to generate cash flow equivalent to over 200,000 attributable carbon offset credits in 2024, increasing to over 400,000 attributable carbon offset credits per annum starting in 2025.

The expanded program is expected to generate more than two million premium carbon offset credits per year on average, which will be available for sale in the voluntary carbon marketplace.

Alex Pernin, CEO of Star Royalties, told investors that the company is thrilled to deepen its partnership with Bluesource and Locus AG.

Just over four months have passed since we established this partnership and we are now more than quadrupling this investment in response to strong demand from US farmers to participate in the CarbonNOW carbon farming program, Pernin said.

Our teams are jointly passionate about financing a greener future. We are demonstrating the application of our royalty investment model as an innovative solution to financing the transition of US farmers to regenerative agriculture, and in turn, to originating premium carbon offset credits.

Jamie MacKinnon, executive vice president of Bluesource, added: "The early success of this program is due in large part to well-designed incentives for growers and an alignment amongst the program partners on maximizing the value retained by the grower as a means of attracting more acres into the program and creating scale. It is also due to the considerable resource that Bluesource and Locus AG are deploying to onboard and support growers."

The CarbonNOW program will enable the Blue Source and Locus Agricultural Solutions partnership to incentivize regenerative agriculture practices on 1.32 million acres of farmland.

Contact Angela at angela@proactiveinvestors.com

Follow her on Twitter @AHarmantas
Recce Pharmaceuticals Ltd (ASX:RCE, OTC:RECEF) has reported that an Independent Safety Committee data review of 10 healthy human subjects dosed in the Phase I intravenous (IV) clinical trial of RECCE 327 (R327), demonstrated good safety and tolerability at 1,000mg.

RCE is developing a New Class of Synthetic Anti-Infectives designed to address the urgent global health problems of antibiotic-resistant superbugs and emerging viral pathogens.

36 human subjects were successfully dosed in the Phase I trial of R327 and with the Low-dose cohorts data review complete and end points achieved, the path was paved for the Independent Safety Committee to recommend high dose Cohort 5 (R327, 2,000mg IV) dosing to begin.

Recce is wasting no time, with subjects already recruited and dosing underway.

James Graham, Chief Executive Officer of Recce Pharmaceuticals Ltd said, Recommendation to commence high dosing at 2,000mg  a 40-fold increase from initial dosing of 50mg in Cohort 1 by the independent safety committee is a welcome validation with first human subject dosing now underway.

The news comes just a day after the company was granted an antiviral Patent Family 3 titled Anti-Virus Agent and Method for Treatment of Viral Infection by the Hong Kong special administrative region, furthering marketing, and manufacturing monopolies for its RECCE suite of anti-infectives until February 2037.

Read: Recce Pharmaceuticals granted anti-viral patent in Hong Kong for RECCE Anti-Infectives

About Phase 1

The Phase I trial is an ascending dose, randomised, placebo-controlled, parallel, double-blind, single-dose study being conducted at Adelaide's CMAX clinical trial facility.

The study is evaluating the safety and pharmacokinetics of R327 in 7-10 healthy subjects per dose, across eight sequential dosing cohorts of 50-16,000mg (Trial ID ACTRN12621001313820) and is on track to have all Phase I dosing complete by Q2 2022.

According to PEW Charitable Trusts Global Antibiotic pipeline review, R327 is the only clinical stage new class of antibiotic in the world being developed for sepsis, the largest unmet medical need in human health.
Altus Strategies PLC (AIM:ALS, TSX-V:ALTS, OTCQX:ALTUF) said it has been issued with a 10-year mining licence for the Agdz copper and silver project in Morocco.

Agdz is located 14 kilometres southwest of the Bou Skour copper-silver mine in the eastern Anti-Atlas.

Altuss Moroccan portfolio is held by its 100%-owned subsidiary Aterian Resources Ltd, which is in turn subject to a potential vend-in and royalty generation transaction with Eastinco Mining and Exploration PLC.

Agdz hosts four significant copper-silver prospects, covering an area of approximately eight square kilometres.

The Moroccan portfolio should generate 14 new royalties for Altus in Morocco and one in Rwanda, once the transaction with Eastinco completes.

"The granting of a mining licence for the Agdz copper-silver project in Morocco is a notable milestone for the project, said Steven Poulton, chief executive of Altus.

The 10-year licence provides long-term security of tenure for Agdz, where the company has discovered a number of significant copper and silver prospects. Agdz is one of 14 Moroccan projects to be vended by Altus to Eastinco subject to its proposed London Stock Exchange listing. Altus will hold royalties on all of the Moroccan projects, a royalty on a tantalum asset in Rwanda as well as 25% of Eastinco's enlarged share capital with warrants to purchase up to an additional 10%.
The company drilled 4.84 grams per tonne (GPT) gold over 6 metres (m) and 2.58 GPT over 7m in the first holes at Toucan Creek

Golden Shield Resources (CSE:GSRI) has announced results of six initial diamond drill holes totaling 848 metres (m) that were drilled at the Toucan Creek area, one of eight prospects at its flagship 5,457-hectare Marudi Mountain gold project in the Rupununi District of southwestern Guyana.

The company said the first round of drilling at Toucan Creek intersected multiple intervals in four of the six holes drilled, with all reported intervals hosted within quartzite-metachert (QMC), which is also the host rock to gold mineralization at its Mazoa Hill prospect.

Golden Shield geologists were drawn to the area by outcrops of QMC that are visibly mineralised with oxidised pyrite returning anomalous gold values in surface sampling. It drilled 4.84 grams per tonne (GPT) gold over 6m and 2.58 GPT over 7m in the first holes, the company added.

"We are very pleased to have received initial drill results back from our new Toucan Creek prospect and are encouraged by the potential of this target, the companys vice president for exploration Colin Porter said in a statement. The Toucan Creek prospect is located approximately 1.5 kilometres from Mazoa Hill, which is now where the drill is currently operating. To date, we have defined eight priority prospects at the Marudi Mountain gold project and are actively generating additional prospects".

Golden Shield said it will integrate the results with surface data to identify targets for follow-up drilling.

Results from trenching at the Kimberley, Success Creek and Throne prospects are also pending, as well as additional recce samples. The current drill program will focus on expanding the newly recognised extensions at Mazoa Hill, it added.

Vancouver-based Golden Shield is exploring three high-grade gold projects in Guyana: Marudi Mountain, Arakaka and Fish Creek.

Contact the author at stephen.gunnion@proactiveinvestors.com
Nomad is on-track to achieve 2022 attributable gold equivalent ounce guidance of between 23,000 ounces and 27,000 ounces, analysts highlighted

Analysts at Canaccord and Stifel GMP are upbeat on royalty and streaming group Nomad Royalty (TSX:NSR) Company Ltd after the company reported strong preliminary first-quarter results.

In the three months to end-March, Nomad reported attributable revenue of around US$12.7 million from 6,604 attributable gold-equivalent ounces (GEOs) sold. The firm's preliminary cash operating margin for the period came in at US$11 million.

Stifel noted that the firm's revenue GEOs had come in in sequentially higher quarter-on-quarter (QoQ) and represented 26% of full year guidance at the midpoint.

Nomad is on-track to achieve 2022 attributable gold equivalent ounce guidance of between 23,000 ounces and 27,000 ounces, analysts highlighted.

In the first quarter statement, Nomad also provided an update on its asset portfolio, noting that mining rates had improved "considerably" at the Blyvoor gold mine in South Africa, saying in March, that it had averaged a daily ore mining rate in excess of 500 tonnes per day (tpd) for the first time for record production of around 2,000 ounces.

"Q1 preliminary results are positioning Nomad on-track to achieve 2022 attributable gold equivalent ounces guidance. From the Blyvoor update is evidence that ramp-up is progressing and production increasing. In our view, Q1 results and the Blyvoor update are visibly de-risking the near-term cash flow growth," said Stifel, which rates Nomad shares a 'Buy'.

Meanwhile, over at broker Canaccord, analysts said that Nomad's 2022 guidance indicated 50% growth in GEOs, with 60,000 ounces expected by 2025, which is a more than tripling of GEOs.

"Management notes this guidance assumes the start of operations at Greenstone and Platreef in 2024 and the start of mining of the Robertson deposit (part of Nevada Gold Mines Cortez complex) in 2025," they said.

"We assume similar start dates for each of these operations, but currently estimate production of 53.2koz in 2025, which represents >300% growth from 2021 production," said the Canaccord analysts.

"With potential contributions from Gualcamayo DCP, Suruca, Troilus, and Mercedes expansion, we see potential to achieve 60koz by 2025."

Canaccord repeats a 'Buy' stance on the company, and targets C$15.50 a share.

Shares in Nomad are currently changing hands at C$9.62.

Contact the author at giles@proactiveinvestors.com
Audacious met with the Right Honorable Anutin Charnvirakul, Minster of Public Health, to discuss the current state and future development of the medical cannabis industry in Thailand

Australis Capital Inc (CSE:AUSA, OTCQB:AUSAF), the cannabis company doing business as Audacious, gave shareholders an update on its commercial operations in Thailand.

CEO Terry Booth told investors that the firms operations in Thailand are accelerating thanks to multiple sales and distribution arrangements, clinic expansion, vertical integration and access to further commercial partners and stakeholders.

(We) are building a rapidly growing, profitable foundation for our operations in Asia as cannabis regulations evolve in the region, Booth said in a statement.

Audacious has a partnership with Golden Triangle Holdings (GTH), a spinoff of Thailands NR Instant Produce PCL with a market cap close to $400 million.

Through our material control of GTH, we will be able to consolidate revenues, which we believe will grow rapidly to become a material contributor to our top and bottom lines, Booth added.

"Our collaboration with Tom and the GTH team is exceptionally positive, and through their deep connections in the region to business and political decision makers, we believe we have what it takes for AUDACIOUS and GTH to become a dominant operator in the region and beyond."

Audacious plans to market CBD isolate to major producers and distributors, as well as branded goods, to be sold through retail channels Herbidus clinics and Hemp House franchises. It also hopes to enter into distribution agreements with key strategic partners like 7-Eleven, Loxley Public Company Ltd, King Power International Group, Dentitse Oral Care and Smoothe Company Ltd, which are all active in Thailands retail space.

Through our access to the Audacious brain trust and their operational excellence, we are now in a position rapidly to expand our cultivation and other operations to help meet growing demand for our products and services, GTH co-founder Tom Kruesopon said.

Thailand visit solidifies partnerships

Audacious sent a team to Thailand to visit its counterparts in the country, it told shareholders. During the trip, the group finalized the composition of the GTH board, appointing Audacious COO Duke Fu and chairman Hanoz Kapadia, as well as director of international regulatory affairs Maximilian Weinberg to control three of GTHs five board seats.

With its 25% stake, Audacious said it now exerts material control over GTH and will be able to consolidate all revenues generated through GTH.

Audacious also met with the Right Honorable Anutin Charnvirakul, Minster of Public Health, to discuss the current state and future development of the medical cannabis industry in Thailand, as well as GTH's plans and objectives.

The team also finalized an agreement with Khon Kaen University to access land for hemp cultivation and the universitys research laboratory to manufacture CBD isolate. The group completed a first trial harvest, with the next crop to be planted in early April.

Contact Angela at angela@proactiveinvestors.com

Follow her on Twitter @AHarmantas
'To our knowledge, these data represent the longest administration of monoclonal antibody monotherapy for HIV in people to date,' said Jonah Sacha, the lead study author, who is a CytoDyn scientific advisor

CytoDyn Inc, a late-stage biotechnology company developing its flagship drug leronlimab for multiple indications, has revealed the publication of a peer-reviewed research paper on the suppression of human and simian immunodeficiency virus replication with the help of leronlimab.

The research paper titled Suppression of human and simian immunodeficiency virus replication with the CCR5-specific antibody Leronlimab in two species was published in the open-access PLOS Pathogens journal.

The Vancouver, Washington-based company said the study followed five human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) + human participants who, after successfully transitioning to once weekly subcutaneous leronlimab, halted their previous daily oral antiretroviral therapy regimens. These five participants came from an extension study, consisting of patients who were virologically suppressed in a prior study of leronlimab. Of the 10 patients enrolled in the extension study, four individuals experienced viral rebound and stopped leronlimab monotherapy, and one individual withdrew, leaving five long-term participants.

READ: CytoDyn submits the first of three main sections of its HIV Biologics License Application to FDA under rolling review

The company said all five long-term participants successfully maintained HIV suppression through leronlimab monotherapy for over seven years, with no evidence of viral escape. It is important to note that these five participants on leronlimab monotherapy exhibited a higher frequency (7.1%) of transient episodes of plasma viremia, termed viral blips, than those on combinational oral antiretroviral regimens (2.0%), said the company.

Meanwhile, to monitor the anatomical penetrance of leronlimab, rhesus macaques acutely infected with simian human immunodeficiency virus (SHIV) were treated with high intravenous doses of leronlimab for 12 weeks. Leronlimab treatment reduced SHIV viral loads by 10,000-fold and leronlimab was found within all anatomical compartments analyzed, including mucosal and lymphatic tissues, sites of early viral replication after transmission and latency, noted the biotech company.

In a statement, Jonah Sacha, the lead study author, who is a CytoDyn scientific advisor and an Oregon Health and Science University professor, said: To our knowledge, these data represent the longest administration of monoclonal antibody monotherapy for HIV in people to date.

CytoDyn is studying leronlimab in multiple areas, including infectious disease, cancer, and autoimmune conditions.

Contact the author Uttara Choudhury at uttara@proactiveinvestors.com

Follow her on Twitter: @UttaraProactive
'While we are pursuing this significant claim for damages and compensation, the company has divested from Tanzania to focus on the exploration and development in Chile, a tier 1 mining investment destination,' said Montero CEO Tony Harwood

Montero Mining and Exploration Ltd (TSX-V:MON), provided an update on the arbitration proceedings against the United Republic of Tanzania over the expropriation of the Wigu Hill rare earth element project before the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID).

The Toronto-based junior exploration companys Wigu Hill Rare Earth Element Retention License was expropriated by the Tanzanian government in 2018. The company claims it has expended significant out of pocket costs on exploration activities on the project since March 2008. The firm maintains that Monteros exploration and development of the project has created considerable value for Tanzania.

Montero said the arbitral tribunal is composed of Dr Achille Ngwanza, the President, Eric Teynier, appointed by Montero and Cecil WM Abraham, appointed by Tanzania. It held its first session together with the parties on 17 January 2022, where procedural issues were discussed and agreed on, including the timeline of the proceedings, said the company.

READ: Montero Mining and Exploration adds exploration concessions to consolidate Avispa property holdings in Chile

Meanwhile, on February 18, 2022, the arbitral tribunal issued procedural order number 1, with a definitive timetable. Montero will file its Memorial on the merits of its case and the valuation of damages claimed in May 2022. The place of the arbitration is Washington DC, said the company.

Montero has retained as legal counsel Thierry Lauriol and his team at Jeantet AARPI and Dr Neal Rigby of SRK Consulting (US) Inc. as quantum expert. Dr Rigby has acted in this capacity and as mining and valuation expert in many international mining disputes that have been resolved through ICSID arbitrations. Montero obtained dispute funding from Omni Bridgeway, a leading global dispute funder.

Montero initiated international arbitration proceedings on January 8, 2021, through ICSID in accordance with the bilateral investment treaty between Canada and Tanzania which protects investment rights. The company is seeking compensation based on the damages it suffered from the "Tanzanian government's acts and omissions."

In a statement, Montero CEO Dr Tony Harwood said: "While we are pursuing this significant claim for damages and compensation, the company has divested from Tanzania to focus on the exploration and development in Chile, a tier 1 mining investment destination."

Montero is a junior exploration company focused on finding, exploring, and advancing globally significant gold, silver, and base metal deposits in Chile.

Contact the author Uttara Choudhury at uttara@proactiveinvestors.com

Follow her on Twitter: @UttaraProactive
The properties, the Jacobina prospect and the Igrapiuna prospect, comprise the three claims, which cover 2,782 hectares in Brazils Bahia State

Gratomic Inc has announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement with 3 S Ltda and Beko Investments Ltd to acquire 100% of the rights and interests in three mining licences adjacent to its Capim Grosso graphite project.

The company said the properties, the Jacobina prospect and the Igrapiuna prospect, comprise the three claims, covering 2,782 hectares in Brazils Bahia State.

Upon closing of the acquisition, Gratomic said it will make a one-time cash payment of $100,000 and issue 1,768,011 of its own shares priced at $1.40 per share.

The shares will also be subject to the terms of an escrow agreement under which one third will be released four months and one day following closing, a further third of eight months from closing, and the remaining third will be released from escrow 12 months from closing.

Gratomic is focused on becoming a leading global graphite supplier and aims to secure a strong position in the electric vehicle (EV) battery supply chain. It has projects in Namibia, Brazil, and Canada.

Contact the author at stephen.gunnion@proactiveinvestors.com
'These results from the La Ronge Silica property are very encouraging and suggest it may become a "third leg" value to Equity, in addition to Silver Queen and the diamond properties,' said Equity Metals President Joe Kizis

Equity Metals Corporation (TSX-V:EQTY, OTCQB:EQMEF) reports analyses and initial test work on its 100% controlled La Ronge Silica project, a sand quarry in central Saskatchewan, around 60 kilometers (km) south-southeast of La Ronge, Saskatchewan and 210 km west of Flin Flon, Manitoba.

The Vancouver-based company said preliminary studies indicate the silica deposit may be developed into a simple and profitable, low-cost mining and washing operation to produce high-purity silica (>98% SiO2), a specialty product.

The sand can be mined very efficiently due to its unconsolidated nature, said the company. High-purity silica can be converted into silicon, which is being tested by the electric-car industry to replace, or augment carbon in battery anodes to dramatically extend the time between charging. Other possible conventional uses exist in the ceramics and glass industries.

READ: Equity Metals expands continuity between two prospective targets on its Silver Queen project in British Columbia

Equity Metals acquired the lease as possible fracking sand but never mined the deposit. Historic mining was minimal, and the extent of the silica deposit is open in all directions and at depth, noted the company. Equity recognized the purity of the silica and its potential use as a low-cost material to produce silicon for the expected increase in demand due to electrification requirements.

In October 2021, Equity initiated a sampling program to evaluate the deposit. Ten representative sites were sampled within the quarry, and sufficient material was collected to derive an average purity of the sand.

The samples were first analyzed by whole-rock analysis for silicon dioxide (SiO2), aluminium oxide (Al2O3), loss-on-ignition, organic material (LOI) and other elements. Average results of the 10 samples indicated 96.2% SiO2 and over 2% Al2O3, said the company.

Assuming that much of the Al2O3 was in the form of clay and that LOI represented organics, a process was developed to wash all 10 samples in the lab and then to re-analyze the residual sample by whole-rock analysis. The result produced an average of 98.1% SiO2, with a range of 96.1 - 99.2%, and with 0.98% Al2O3 and less than 0.1% LOI.

The company explained that the washing process lost a relatively minor percentage of the original samples, approximately 12% of the total sample (2% clay + LOI and 10% SiO2 lost). X-ray diffraction (XRD) has determined that 100% of the material identified by XRD is quartz.

In a statement, Equity Metals President Joe Kizis, said: "Our Silver Queen precious/base-metal property in British Columbia will remain Equity's main focus. However, these results from the La Ronge Silica property are very encouraging and suggest it may become a "third leg" value to Equity, in addition to Silver Queen and the diamond properties.

He added: "The electric vehicle industry recognizes the need to reduce frequency of battery charging in order to be widely accepted by the general public, and much progress on that front has been reported recently by adding silicon.

Kizis noted that high-purity silica is the feedstock to produce silicon, and now that Equity Metals has this positive test work, it can investigate potential markets and partnerships for this specialty silica product.

Equity Metals' two major mineral properties are the Silver Queen gold-silver-copper-zinc-copper project, in central BC, and the Monument Diamond project in Lac De Gras, in Canada. The company also has a 1% royalty and a 100% working interest in the La Ronge Silica project.

Contact the author Uttara Choudhury at uttara@proactiveinvestors.com

Follow her on Twitter: @UttaraProactive
New Delhi, April 12 : The All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) has asked technical institutions across the country to consider admitting students who have to leave their studies in the middle due to the Russia-Ukraine war.

There were about 20,000 Indian students pursuing MBBS and engineering in Ukraine who had to return back due to the war.

AICTE has written a letter to technical educational institutions while keeping in mind the future of these students. In the letter, the council has said, "Around 20,000 Indian students have returned to the country from war-torn Ukraine, where they were studying medicine and engineering at various universities in Ukraine. These students who returned from Ukraine are in deep despair." Indian students from Ukraine have left the course midway and returned home under compulsion. For now, their future seems to be hanging in the balance. Students aspiring to do MBBS prefer to go to Ukraine because the cost of studies there is less and on the other hand the competition for admission in medical colleges in India is very high.

According to the rules issued by the National Medical Commission (NMC) in 2021 for those pursuing medical graduates (FMGs) abroad, there is no provision for transfer from a foreign university to an Indian university in the middle of an MBBS programme as both the admission guidelines and the selection criteria are different.

The issue was also raised in the Parliament.

AICTE has urged various institutions to consider the candidature of students returned from Ukraine for the vacant seats available in the respective years so that the students can continue their studies.

Latest updates on Russia-Ukraine War
Ottawa, April 12 : Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs Melanie Joly announced that Canada is imposing new sanctions on Russian defence sector.

According to a news release issued on Monday by Foreign Affairs Ministry, these new measures will impose restrictions on 33 entities in the Russian defence sector, Xinhua news agency reported.

These entities have provided indirect or direct support to the Russian military, the news release said.

Since February 24 when the Russia-Ukraine conflict began, Canada has imposed sanctions on more than 700 individuals and entities from Russia, Ukraine and Belarus. Canada's latest sanctions will impose asset freezes and prohibitions on listed entities, the release said.

Latest updates on Russia-Ukraine War
Lucknow, April 12 : A woman employee of the Central Drug Research Institute (CDRI), living in the colony on campus in Lucknow's Jankipuram police station area, was found dead under mysterious circumstances.

Her husband has gone missing and is being tracked by police.

The deceased, identified as Varsha Singh, 28, was a technical officer in the neuro-science department of the institute and lived in a flat in the colony. Her husband Vishveshwar Singh is an agent in an insurance company.

ACP, Aliganj, Syed Ali Abbas, said that as per Vishveshwar came out of their flat on Monday night, carrying Varsha in arms and screaming for help.

"Their neighbour, Akhilesh Kumar rushed to help, took out his car and drove the couple to the nearest private hospital where doctors asked them to take her to an advanced government hospital like KGMU for better treatment." "Vishveshwar asked Akhilesh to drive back home first as he had to collect some things and then take Varsha to the hospital," the ACP said.

When Akhilesh drove back to the colony, Vishveshwar opened the door and fled.

Akhilesh then informed police that rushed to the spot and found the woman lying dead in Akhilesh's car.

Varsha Singh either committed suicide by hanging herself or was strangulated by her husband who fled after her death fearing police action, said the police official.

The colony residents told the police that Varsha and Vishveshwar used to have frequent fights and that she may have hanged herself or was strangulated.

Police officials have informed Varsha's family about her demise and have sent the body for post mortem.

"We are examining whether the injury on her neck was caused due to strangulation or by hanging," said ADCP, North Zone, Prachi Singh.

Officials said the exact sequence of incidents would be known after Vishveshwar is arrested and interrogated.

Varsha, who belongs to Mau district, was employed in the neuro-science department of the institute for the last three years.
Srinagar, April 12 : Police recovered arms and ammunition from a car on Wednesday after the driver abandoned the vehicle on seeing the 'Naka' (Checkpost) party in J&K's Anantnag district.

Police sources said a team of the local police deployed on night domination in Mehmodabad area of Dooru tehsil saw a car that stopped some distance away on seeing the police party.

"This raised suspicion and the police team fired some shots in the air. The driver abandoned the car and fled from the spot taking advantage of darkness.A "When the vehicle was checked, police recovered one AK-56 rifle, 2 magazines, 2 pistols, 3 pistol magazines, six grenades, 44 AK-47 rounds and 58 rounds of 9 mm ammunition," sources said.

The incident took place well past the midnight, sources said.
New York, April 12 : The "tight links between" China and Russia are going to influence India's attitude to global developments, a senior US official has said after the virtual summit between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Joe Biden.

"Prime Minister Modi took the opportunity to share his views in a pretty candid way about what's going on," the official said on Monday.

"We know that India has concerns about the links between Russia and China. India, of course, is facing a very tense situation along the Line of Actual Control. And when India sees the tight links between China and Russia, that's obviously going to impact their thinking," the official said.

On the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the official said that Biden and Modi had a "very candid conversation" on a range of issues related to it, the official said.

But, Biden did not make a concrete request to Modi about the Ukraine situation and the Indian leader gave no definite assurance, the official who briefed reporters on the condition of not being identified said.

"There was no sort of concrete ask and concrete answer, but the leaders were able to step back and have a pretty detailed and candid exchange of views," the official said in response to repeated questions if Biden made a demand on India.

The official said that Biden "took the opportunity to continue the close consultations we've been having with India at a number of different levels across our government and over the course of many weeks on Russia's brutal war against Ukraine".

"The US and India are partnering and consulting on mitigating the most destabilizing impacts, both on global food supply and other commodity markets," the official added.

One reporter suggested that the meeting was an "opportunity for the President to try to push India to be - you know, essentially to take a side here, as opposed to the sort of neutral position".

The official said, "India is going to make its own judgments." In recent days India made some "pretty strong statements in New York condemning the killings of civilians, supporting calls for an independent investigation", the official said.

"India is also providing humanitarian relief material to Ukraine, including medicine and other supplies," the official added.

On India's energy purchases, the official said, "We don't think India should accelerate or increase imports of Russian energy. And the US is ready to support India, remain in a conversation with India about its diversification of imports." The official pointed out that India's current imports from Russia are "about 1 to 2 per cent of its total energy imports and payments for energy are exempt from current sanctions".

While the US has banned energy imports to it from Russia, "other countries have to make their own choices" the official said adding, "We know that not all countries will be able to do what we've done".

The official said that Biden and Modi discussed the situation in South Asia touching on developments in Sri Lanka, in Bangladesh.

(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
New Delhi, April 12 : The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and partners of the Adaptation Innovation Marketplace (AIM) have announced $2.2 million in climate action grants for 22 local innovators across 19 countries, including India.

The first round of funding through the Adaptation Fund Climate Innovation Accelerator (AFCIA) window will enhance local climate action and accelerate the delivery of targets outlined in the Paris Agreement and Sustainable Development Goals.

The initiative empowers local actors and contributes to the principles for locally led adaptation action, which have been endorsed by UNDP and partners around the world.

The new funding proposals, announced on Monday, will benefit from the technical support and know-how of the Adaptation Innovation Marketplace.

Launched by UNDP Administrator Achim Steiner at the Climate Adaptation Summit in January 2021, AIM is a strategic platform that promotes scaled-up adaptation at the local level, focusing on civil society, non-government organizations, and women and youth innovators.

The marketplace crowds in resources, know-how and support to facilitate local access to climate change finance.

The AIM partners -- the International Centre for Climate Change and Development, the Least Developed Countries Universities Consortium on Climate Change, the Global Resilience Partnership, the Climate-Knowledge Innovation Community, and UN Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) -- provide technical support to the Adaptation Fund Climate Innovation Accelerator.

In 2022, the partners of AIM will further collaborate on knowledge sharing and South-South Coordination for the 22 local partners awarded grants in the first round of AFCIA grant giving.

Winning proposals varied from advanced aquaculture in India and expanding the production of climate resilient acai berries in Brazil to the reintroduction of ancient climate-resilient construction techniques in the Sahel and the creation of "blue jobs" in Micronesia.

Grants were awarded across 19 countries, including seven from Africa, 11 from Asia, and four from the Latin America and Caribbean region.

Ten out of the 22 were from least developed countries or small island developing states.

The grants focused on resilient agriculture, technology, community-based adaptation, ecosystem-based payments and services, and entrepreneurship.

The second call for proposals opens in June 2022.

"By supporting locally driven climate innovations, these grants enable us to rethink the way we support climate resilient development. This means embracing The UN's New Way of Working and Grand Bargain agreements, breaking down silos, working across society, following the localization agenda, and scaling up locally led adaptation and accelerating climate resilience of vulnerable communities," said Srilata Kammila, UNDP's Head of Climate Change Adaptation.

The funding is delivered through the Adaptation Fund Climate Innovation Accelerator, a multi-partner programme launched in November 2020 with an initial $10 million grant from the Adaptation Fund.

The programme supports local entrepreneurs in developing countries to grow their innovative resilience-building solutions into viable business models that attract commercial financing.

The latest IPCC report underscores the need to highlighting the role of social justice and diverse forms of knowledge such as indigenous and local knowledge in climate adaptation processes.

The report notes that despite progress in adaptation efforts across all sectors and regions, human-induced climate change has caused widespread losses and damages to nature and people, with the most vulnerable people and systems disproportionately affected.

Africa and small islands in particular face relatively severe challenges across all dimensions of the vulnerability assessed in the report.
Chandigarh, April 12 : With one out of every 10 people has a mental disorder and over 70 per cent of them are not being treated, the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research's (PGI) Department of Psychiatry will work in public mental health with World Psychiatric Association (WPA) as its collaborating centre, the second in India, said department's head Debasish Basu on Tuesday.

The WPA, the global association of 147 psychiatric societies across 121 countries, in April approved the Department of Psychiatry at the PGI in Chandigarh as one of its collaborating centres.

As of now, there are WPA collaborating centres in eight countries -- the UK, Egypt, South Africa, Hong Kong, Kenya, Qatar, Italy and India.

India is the only country in the world where the WPA has agreed to start two collaborating centres, the other one being in the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro-Sciences (NIMHANS) in Bengaluru.

In total, WPA has nine collaborating centres across the globe.

"This is a matter of great achievement as well as responsibility for the Department of Psychiatry at PGI, Chandigarh," Basu told IANS.

Mental disorder accounts for at least 20 per cent of global disease burden due to a combination of high prevalence, most lifetime mental disorder arising before adulthood, and a broad range of impacts across health, education, employment, social relationships, crime, violence and stigma.

Poor mental wellbeing has a similar broad range of impacts.

Crises such as Covid-19 are likely to further increase risk of mental disorder, relapse of mental disorder and poor mental wellbeing.

What is a WPA collaborating centre? A WPA collaborating centre is an entity designated as part of an international collaborative network and committed to conducting activities that support the WPA mission, in particular its triennial action plan.

The WPA centres have a major role in enabling the advancement of mental health for countries in the region or worldwide. They provide support in developing, delivering, and sharing educational, research and publications expertise and resources, and policy and practice developments in the field of psychiatry.

The mission is to enable countries in the region to develop, strengthen, and offer continuing support to develop human resources for mental health at all levels, Basu said.

The WPA, in its triennial Action Plan 2020-2023 (to be continued beyond this), has identified public meantal health as one of most important key areas of work. "Our centre has been assigned this specific task," he explained.

Public mental health takes a population approach to mental health which includes assessment and strategic decisions to improve coverage, outcomes and coordination of different levels of mental disorder prevention and mental wellbeing promotion.

It aims to sustainably improve population mental health through coordinated working with a range of public, third sector, other organisations, local communities and individuals.

Effective public mental health interventions exist to treat mental disorder, prevent associated impacts, prevent mental disorder from arising and promote mental wellbeing.

However, only a minority of those with mental disorder receive any treatment even in high income countries, provision of interventions to prevent associated impacts is even less, and provision of interventions to prevent mental disorder or promote mental wellbeing is negligible.

Thus, there is a huge public mental health implementation gap.

What is the public mental health action plan for the PGI? Some of the proposed work for reducing the public mental health implementation gap includes to raise awareness, value, acceptance and prioritisation in national health policies, to support proposals, including for national mental health needs assessments and actions, to address unmet need and to support training to professionals and trainees across mental health, public health and policy to support capacity building.

The possible range of activities includes establishing and strengthening national-level resources, besides for SAARC countries.
Varanasi, April 12 : Impressed by the role of a bulldozer in ensuring the BJP's return to power in the recent Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, a tea stall owner in Varanasi has renamed his shop as 'Bulldozer Baba Tea Stall'.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is now popularly known as 'Bulldozer Baba' in the state after he extensively used the bulldozer to demolish the illegal properties of mafia and criminals.

The owner of the tea stall, Ram Surat Yadav and his son Chandresh Yadav said they were 'deeply impressed' by Adityanath's style of working and had changed the name of their shop as a 'mark of respect' to the Chief Minister.

"We renamed our tea stall the day Yogi Adityanath took oath for the second time as Chief Minister. The tea stall also sells lassi and that is named as 'Gaushala Lassi Bhandar'. Yogi Adityanath has lot of cows and this is our tribute to him," said Ram Surat Yadav.

Talking about the quality of his tea, Yadav said, "Our tea is as 'kadak' as the bulldozer and gives you an instant kick."
New Delhi, April 12 : In a significant development, Subhash Shankar, a close aide of absconding diamantaire Nirav Modi has been deported to Mumbai from Egypt by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in connection with the loan fraud case of Punjab National Bank (PNB) involving Mehul Choksi and others.

Shankar was DGM Finance in Nirav Modi's company. Red corner notice had been issued against him.

The federal probe agency was working to bring him back to India for a long time in connection with the loan fraud case of PNB.

"He has been placed under arrest. We will produce him before a Mumbai court and will seek his custodial remand. He will be then further interrogated," said a CBI official.

Shankar is facing charges of criminal conspiracy, criminal breach of trust by a public servant or by banker merchant or agent, cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property and prevention of Corruption Act.

The CBI has already filed a charge sheet against him four years ago on the basis of which the Interpol issued a red corner notice against him. Special CBI court of J.C. Jagdale had also issued an arrest warrant against him.

Shankar, 49, fled abroad along with Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksi in 2018. He is considered to be the most trusted person of Nirav Modi and handled his entire business.
April 12 : Abhishek Bachchans Dasvi released on Netflix on April 7 amid applauds from fans and netizens. Helmed by Tushar Jalota, the social comedy also stars Yami Gautam and Nimrat Kaur in the lead.

In the film, Abhishek played the role of a Haryanvi politician. After watching the film, fans absolutely loved Abhisheks performance, while his father Amitabh Bachchan felt proud of his son as he lauded his performance in the film. On Monday, the megastar took to Twitter and gushed about Abhisheks immaculate performance. Big B retweeted a fans tweet, who complimenting Abhisheks performance. Along with the tweet, Amitabh Bachchan wrote, This shot when he reads the results of the dasvi .. is just just sooo moving and immaculately performed .. so proud of you Bhaiyu .. @juniorbachchan."

this shot when he reads the results of the dasvi .. is just just sooo moving and immaculately performed .. so proud of you Bhaiyu .. @juniorbachchan https://t.co/X0BqAzgDWL  Amitabh Bachchan (@SrBachchan) April 11, 2022

Earlier, talking about Dasvi, Abhishek Bachchan had revealed that he had played an ode to his father in one of the scenes of the flick. In my work, I have my own way of paying an ode to some of my favourite things. And I do it in my own way. It is just a kick for me. And I did something in the film and after we shot it and I remember Tushar came and I said this is my ode to my father, Abhishek revealed.

Fans not only loved Abhisheks brilliant performance, but also loved its foot tapping music and the heartwarming story. Numerous fans took to Twitter and congratulated Abhishek Bachchan. One of them wrote, Dasvi is one of the nicest movies to come out in recent times. Netizens also called the entertainer a game changer that perfectly sent out an inspiring message. Abhishek was showered with multiple compliments for his portrayal of a rugged jat politician who is kind and vulnerable. A Chicago resident tweeted and wrote that he and his wife couldnt stop smiling right till the end and enjoying the film with a message.

Dasvi is leading as the number one title on Netflix India. It also featured on Top 10 lists across the globe. The film is also trending at number 1 position on Jio Cinema.

Dasvi is written by Ritesh Shah, Suresh Nair and Sandeep Leyzell. Poet and former Aam Aadmi Party leader Kumar Vishwas is the script and dialogue consultant for the film. It has been produced by Dinesh Vijan of Maddock Films in association with Leyzell and Shobhana Yadav's Bake My Cake Films.
Lucknow, April 12 : Even as Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath focuses on a 100-day work plan for every Ministry, BJP Ministers and legislators apparently have other plans to enhance their popularity.

BJP Ministers and legislators have started writing letters to the Chief Minister's office seeking change of names for colleges and districts.

Uttar Pradesh Minister Kapil Dev Aggarwal has sent a letter requesting Yogi Adityanath to restore the names of two engineering colleges in Banda and Bijnore districts after B.R. Ambedkar.

In the letter, the Minister has also urged the Chief Minister to rename two other engineering colleges in Azamgarh and Ambedkar Nagar after the Dalit icon on Ambedkar Jayanti, which falls on April 14.

The four engineering colleges were established between 2010-2011 during the term of Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) Chief Mayawati as the Chief Minister. Sources in the Technical Education department said the colleges were established under a 'special component plan' launched by the Centre for the upliftment of weaker sections of the society.

While the two colleges in Banda and Bijnore were called Bhim Rao Ambedkar Engineering College of Information Technology, the ones in Azamgarh and Ambedkar Nagar were named after BSP founder Kanshi Ram -- Manyavar Kanshi Ram Engineering College of Information and Technology.

However, the names of the four colleges were changed to Rajkiya Engineering College (State Engineering College) in 2015 by the Akhilesh Yadav-led Samajwadi Party government.

BJP leader Kapil Dev Aggarwal said, "I feel that these icons should not be associated with any caste and thus I decided to request Yogi Adityanath to restore the names of these engineering colleges as a tribute to Ambedkar on his birth anniversary." Vinod Singh, a BJP MLA from Sultanpur, has also written to Yogi Adityanath to rename Sultanpur as Kushbhawanpur.

Taking forward an earlier request made by former BJP MLA Deomani Dwivedi, Vinod Singh said in his letter that Sultanpur was named by Ala-ud-din Khilji who wanted to promote his culture.

In 2021, Uttar Pradesh Minister Gulab Devi had demanded that the name of her home district Sambhal be changed to Prithviraj Nagar or Kalki Nagar.

She had said, "There is a demand to change the name of Sambhal in different areas of the district." The Firozabad district panchayat committee also passed a resolution in a meeting in 2021, demanding that the district be renamed as Chandranagar.

BJP MLA and now a cabinet Minister, Brijesh Singh from Deoband, has also demanded to change the name of Deoband to Devvrand.

Deoband is known for Islamic seminary Darul Uloom.

Brajesh Singh says, "In ancient Hindu scriptures, this place is called Devavrand. I will try to give Deoband a pristine name." Manvendra Singh, a BJP MLA from Shahjahanpur's Dadraul constituency, says that the people of his area want Shahjahanpur to be renamed Shajipur, which is another name for Bhamashah, a close aide of Maharana Pratap.

A senior official in the Chief Minister's secretariat denied that there was any move to change the names of districts or other places.

"The Chief Minister is focussing on his development agenda and there has been no talk of name changing as yet," he said.
Lucknow, April 12 : The Bharatiya Janata Party is leading in the initial rounds of counting of votes for 27 seats of the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Council.

BJP candidates are leading in almost all seats except Azamgarh where Vikrant Singh Rishu, son of expelled BJP MLC Yashwant Singh, was leading in counting of votes.

Elections have been held on 27 of the 36 seats for the legislative council, through local bodies.

The BJP has already won nine seats unanimously in the elections.

Chief minister Yogi Adityanath has asserted that after almost four decades, for the first time in the state, the ruling party will attain a thumping majority in the Legislative Council.

"As the BJP candidates have been elected unopposed on 9 seats in the MLC elections, the BJP is assured to win the remaining 27 seats too," he said.

He further added, "With a thumping majority in the Legislative Council as well as the state Assembly, the government will be able to do even better work in the interest of public welfare, women's safety and self-reliance, employment of youth, and farmers." The chief minister said, "We were able to form our government with two-thirds majority under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the 2017 and 2022 Assembly elections. This will be probably the first time that the ruling party will have a majority in the State Legislative Council."
Jerusalem, April 12 : Every airline operating international direct flights to Ramon Airport near Israel's Red Sea resort city of Eilat will be awarded 60 euros ($65) for each arriving passenger, the Ministry of Tourism has said.

The reward will be offered for the flights between September 2022 and May 2023, except for two one-week Jewish holidays in October and April, the Ministry added on Monday in a statement.

"The procedure will bring back hundreds of thousands of tourists from abroad to Eilat in the winter," it said.

In early January, Israel allowed the entry of Covid-19 vaccinated and recovered passengers, and then in early March, of all passengers, including the unvaccinated, Xinhua news agency reported.
Raichur : , April 12 (IANS) The Karnataka police department has lodged an FIR against two office-bearers of right wing outfit Sri Ram Sena for issuing provocative statements leading to communal discord in the state, police said on Tuesday.

The move follows the arrest of four activists of the outfit for vandalising a Muslim merchant's fruit shop.

Rajachandra Ramanagouda, Convener and Manjunath, the Raichur District President of Sri Rama Sene have been booked for their statements against 'love jihad'. Raichur West police have booked case against the accused for announcing that they would start 'love kesari' against 'love jihad'.

The accused have allegedly called upon Hindus to marry Muslim women as Muslim men trap Hindu girls and marry them and gave it name 'love kesari'. The speech was made at Sri Rama Navami festival on April 10.

The case had been lodged under IPC Sections 153 (wantonly giving provocation with intent to cause riot), 153 (a) (wanton vilification or attacks upon the religion, race) and 295 (a) (deliberate and malicious act intended to outrage religious feelings).

Karnataka police are on alert after the 'love kesari' announcement against 'love jihad'.

Following crack down on Sri Ram Sena in the recent past by the police department, the statements by Hindu fringe elements against Muslim community have come down in the state.

Hindu activists have expressed their outrage against the police department as the police have lodged non-bailable IPC sections against Sri Rama Sena activists who vandalised Muslim merchant's fruit shop in Dharwad.
New Delhi, April 12 : The BJP has criticised West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for giving love angle twist to rape and murder of a minor girl at Hanskhali in Nadia district.

The BJP said that the chief minister shamed the victim and defended the accused.

West Bengal BJP co-incharge Amit Malviya mentioned that sexual intercourse with a minor is rape and is a crime. "Mamata Banerjee's crass comment on the rape and murder of 14-year-old girl in Hanskhali is not just abhorrent but also steeped in gross illegality. Sexual intercourse with a minor is rape. It is a crime. Her murder is a crime. Bengal CM shamed the victim and defended the accused," Malviya tweeted.

In an earlier tweet, he said: "Shocking statement by Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee, who trivialises the brutal rape and murder of a 14 year old girl in Nadia's Hanskhali. She questions the victim and asks if it was a love affair or a case of unplanned pregnancy gone awry! Because the accused is TMC leader's son." The controversy over the rape of a minor girl, who died later, at Hanskhali in Nadia district of West Bengal last week took a more debatable turn on Monday afternoon after the chief minister gave a love-angle twist to the incident.

Speaking at the inauguration of the revamped Milan Mela, a permanent fair ground opposite the Science City at the Eastern Metropolitan Bypass in Kolkata on Monday afternoon, the chief minister referred to the minor's rape in connection with which Brajagopal Goyal, son of a local panchayat member, Samar Goyal, was arrested on Sunday.

"What has happened is not right. I condemn it. The police have arrested the accused. But the opposition parties and a section of the media are trying to give a political twist to the entire event. I have received the news that there was a love affair between the accused and the victim. So why come to a conclusion before the investigation is completed," the chief minister had said.
Los Angeles, April 12 : Director-actor Sean Penn considered joining Ukraine's resistance against Russia.

"I was at the gas station in Brentwood the other day and I'm now thinking about taking up arms against Russia? What the f*** is going on?" he told the inaugural edition of new quarterly magazine Hollywood Authentic, reports 'Variety'.

Penn, who was in Ukraine filming a documentary about the country when Russia invaded, said he originally met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Zoom two years ago, "early on in the pandemic".

"We first started discussing a potential documentary about his country that wasn't focused particularly on the war," Penn said.

"And since then there's been a lot of exchanges between us. Then I went and met him face to face the day before the invasion. And I was with him during the invasion, on day one." Penn even contemplated fighting himself.

"The only possible reason for me staying in Ukraine longer last time would've been for me to be holding a rifle, probably without body armour, because as a foreigner, you would want to give that body armour to one of the civilian fighters who doesn't have it or to a fighter with more skills than I have, or to a younger man or woman who could fight for longer or whatever.

So, where I am in life is short of doing that, but if you've been in Ukraine, (fighting) has to cross your mind. And you kind of think what century is this?" Penn, who returned to the US at the beginning of March, also revealed he plans to return to the war-torn country. "My intention is to go back to Ukraine," he said.

"But I'm not an idiot, I am not certain what I can offer. I don't spend a lot of time texting the president or his staff while they're under siege and their people are being murdered." Penn's non-profit CORE (Community Organised Relief Effort), which he founded while volunteering in Haiti following the 2010 earthquake, is currently offering support to Ukrainian refugees in Poland.

Although the organisation is now run by co-founder and CEO Ann Lee, the actor said he plans to "get hands-on" with it when he goes back to Poland or if it expands operations to Ukraine itself.

"I've got plenty to do with CORE on the receiving side of refugees in Poland," he said. "I'm shooting more for the documentary, but I'll be doing a last-minute assessment of what value that will have.

"People will argue this, and there's a million debates that I understand, but long term, we don't have any tangible evidence that documentaries really change anything. We just don't. We only know they can give hope."

Latest updates on Russia-Ukraine War

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Kolkata, April 12 : Polling for the bypolls for Asansol Lok Sabha and Ballygunge Assembly constituencies in West Bengal on Tuesday have been more or less peaceful with hardly any reports of poll-related irregularities.

The polling began at 7 a.m.

According to the Election Commission of India (ECI), the polling percentage for Asansol Lok Sabha till 9 a.m. was 13 per cent and in Ballygunge Assembly constituency it was eight per cent.

In the morning, the BJP candidate from Ballygunge, Keya Ghosh complained to the Election Commission of India about the presence of Kolkata Police personnel within a couple of election booths. The office of Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), West Bengal, after looking into the matter rejected the applications, Ghosh's closest contenders for Ballygunge Assembly by polls are Trinamool Congress' Babul Supriyo and the CPI-M's Saira Shah Halim.

The BJP candidate from Asansol, Agnimitra Paul, also made a similar complaint of the presence of state police personnel in certain booths of the constituencies. Trinamool Congress filed a counter-complaint against Paul of going to cast her vote being escorted by armed security personnel allotted for her. Trinamool has fielded popular Bollywood star, Shatrughan Sinha from Asansol this time. The CPI-M candidate from Asansol is Partha Mukherjee.

On Tuesday morning, the office of the CEO received a complaint about the person escorting an ailing voter pressing the EVM voter on behalf of the voters. The CEO ordered an action taken report (ATR) on this count. Later the presiding officer of the said booth was also replaced by the CEO.

Similarly, Supriyo complained to the CEO, West Bengal that he was prevented by the central forces personnel at a booth in Ballygunge assembly constituency.

The CEO office has sought an ATR on this count as well.

In another development, at another booth in the Barabani area under Asansol Lok Sabha, tension broke out between the BJP and Trinamool supporters after the BJP candidate, Agnimitra Paul reached the booth. Following the clashes between the supporters of the two parties, the vehicle of Paul was damaged and one of her bodyguards was injured. The CEO office has sought an ATR on this count as well.

Webcasting is being conducted in 100 per cent of the booths in Ballygunge and 51 per cent of the booths in Asansol.

While Ballygunge Assembly constituency has a total 300 booths, the number in case of Asansol Lok Sabha constituency is 2,102. A total of 23 booths in Ballygunge have been declared as sensitive. The number of identified sensitive booths in the case of Asansol is 680.

Ballygunge has 40 micro-observers and Asansol has 442. A total of 133 companies of the central armed forces have been deployed for the bypolls, out of which 116 companies are allotted to Asansol and the remaining 17 companies to Ballygunge.

Results for the bypolls will be declared on April 16.
Jammu, April 12 : A woman was arrested on Tuesday for beating her toddler mercilessly in J&K's Samba district.

Police sources said that a video went viral on social media in which a mother was seen beating her child mercilessly.

Police investigation identified the woman as Preeti Sharma, resident of Upper Kamila Purmandal in Samba district.

"An FIR has been lodged against the mother under the relevant sections of law. She has been detained for questioning", the sources said.
Visakhapatnam, April 12 : Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy on Tuesday announced Rs 2 lakh ex-gratia each to the families of five passengers who were killed when Konark Express ran over them in Srikakulam district.

Five passengers of Guwahati Express were killed and one injured near Bathuva of G. Sigadam mandal of Srikakulam district on Monday night.

The accident occurred when the train stopped near the Batuva railway gate following a technical glitch. Some passengers in the general compartment got down to get some relief from suffocation. They were relaxing on a parallel track when the speeding Konark Express ran over them.

Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy was briefed by officials about the accident after district collector Srikesh B. Lathkar sent a report. According to the collector, five persons were killed and one critically injured.

Two of the deceased were identified as residents of Assam based on the identity cards found on them. Efforts were on to identify the remaining deceased. They are also believed to be from other states.

The chief minister said though the deceased belonged to other states, an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh each should be paid to their families on humanitarian ground The injured person was brought to Srikakulam by the same train and was admitted to RIMS Hospital. The district collector visited the hospital to ensure that the injured get the best treatment.
New Delhi, April 12 : India recorded 796 Covid cases in the last 24 hours, a marginal decline against 861 infections recorded the previous day, Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said on Tuesday.

In the same span, 19 Covid-related fatalities have occurred across the country, taking the death toll to 5,21,710.

Following a continuous downward trend, the country's active caseload has declined to 10,889. Active cases now constitute 0.03 per cent of the country's total positive cases.

A total of 946 patients have recovered in the last 24 hours and the cumulative tally of recovered patients since the beginning of the pandemic is now at 4,25,04,329 Consequently, the country's recovery rate stands at 98.76 per cent.

Also in the same period, a total of 4,06,251 tests were conducted across the country. India has so far conducted over 79.45 crore cumulative tests.

The weekly positivity rate in the country currently stands at 0.24 per cent, however the daily positivity rate is also reported to be 0.20 per cent.

On the vaccination front, the country's COVID-19 vaccination coverage has exceeded 185.90 crore as per provisional reports till 7 a.m. on Tuesday morning. This has been achieved through 2,25,28,350 sessions.

Over 2.27 crore adolescents have been administered with the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine since the beginning of vaccination drive for this age bracket.

More than 19.18 crore balance and unutilised Covid vaccine doses are still available with the states and UTs to be administered.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Chennai, April 12 : The Tamil Nadu police have posted a large contingent of policemen at the borders of Kerala in Walayar, Kanniyakumari and Kumali to prevent smuggling of spirit as Kerala is preparing for Vishu and Easter festivities.

While Vishu, the Malayalam new year falls on April 15, Easter is on April 17, Sunday.

On Sunday, Tamil Nadu police apprehended two Keralites at the Walayar check post with 1,000 litres of spirit which they were smuggling to their state under the guise of vegetables in a mini lorry.

Kerala has a high rate of liquor consumption during the festival season and with Vishu, which is a major celebration in Northern part of Kerala for the Hindu community, the possibilities of spirit arriving in large volumes cannot be ruled out.

Easter is another celebration in which liquor is consumed in good volume and with both the festivals being celebrated in a space of three days, there are possibilities of a huge volume of spirit reaching Kerala which has the distinction of the second-highest liquor consuming state after Punjab.

Several Kerala based suppliers of liquor from Tamil Nadu are under the scanner and a senior officer at the state police headquarters told IANS that the vehicles they use for the purpose are all under the radar of the state police.

In another incident, the Tamil Nadu police have commenced checking the vehicles that transport migrant labourers into Kerala after four of them were arrested for carrying 'Ganja', at the Walayar check post. Police have also issued an alert to border police patrolling teams to check all the vehicles, including buses, that transport migrant labourers who are working in Kerala.

On the southern tip of Kerala at the Kaliyakkavilai check-post, Tamil Nadu has deployed a huge police team to prevent the smuggling of liquor into Kerala.

M.K. Aroghyasamy, a police officer posted at Kalihakkavilai, while speaking to IANS said: "There were occasions in previous years when the police team apprehended big lorries full of spirit during the festival seasons in Kerala. This year also we have been deployed here but unlike earlier years, we have not come across major smuggling but are taking into custody small smugglers who are transporting hundreds of litres of spirit in cans, mostly through minivans." In Kumali, the Idukki district of Kerala which shares borders with the Theni district, there is a heavy deployment of police to prevent any smuggling of spirit. The possibility of 'Ganja' crossing over to Kerala from Andhra through Tamil Nadu is also not ruled out by the police.

A senior police officer who is in charge of the Kumali check post told IANS that the police is on a high vigil and will not allow any spirit being smuggled into Kerala through Kumali.

-- Syndicated from IANS
Hyderabad, April 12 : Some farmers in Telangana's Nizamabad district on Tuesday dumped paddy in front of BJP MP Dharampuri Arvind's residence to protest against the Centre's refusal to procure paddy from Telangana.

A group of farmers dumped a tractor load of paddy in front of Nizamabad MP at Armoor. They were carrying placards and raising slogans against the Central government and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The farmers, including women, demanded that the Centre should procure entire paddy grown in Telangana during the ongoing Rabi season. One of the farmers alleged that the BJP government at the Centre is discriminating towards Telangana.

The farmers demanded that the BJP MP fulfill his assurance given to them that the Centre will procure paddy.

This is the first such protest by farmers in Telangana since ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) launched an agitation over the issue.

This came a day after Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao, his entire state Cabinet, TRS MPs, state legislators and other party leaders staged a protest in Delhi, demanding the Centre to procure paddy from Telangana as was done from other states.

The chief minister has set a 24-hour deadline for the Narendra Modi government to take a decision over the state's demand.

The State Cabinet is scheduled to meet in Hyderabad later in the day. It is likely to chalk out a future course of action.

For the last two weeks, the TRS has been staging protests across Telangana to press its demand.

The BJP also staged a counter-protest in Hyderabad on Monday, blaming the TRS government for the current situation. It demanded that the chief minister either procure paddy from farmers or quit his post.
Kolkata, April 12 : Just a day after West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee made a comment giving a "love-angle" twist to the case of rape of a minor girl, who died later, at Hanskhali at Nadia district, a petition was filed in the Calcutta High Court seeking suo motu action against such comments.

The petition was filed before the bench of the Calcutta High Court Chief Justice Prakash Srivastava, who has assured to consider the matter after examining its merits.

Only on Monday, soon after the chief minister gave the "love-angle" to the case, legal sources pointed out the loopholes in her comments. The experts pointed out that under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012, even consensual sex is considered rape if it involves a minor girl. "A girl below the age of 18 is minor and law does not identify the right of a minor to give consent for sex. Consensual sex with a minor, as per the law is considered as aggravative penetration for sexual assault." BJP's central observer for West Bengal, Amit Malviya tweeted, "Mamata Banerjee's crass comment on the rape and murder of 14 year old girl in Hanskhali is not just abhorrent but also steeped in gross illegality. Sexual intercourse with a minor is rape. It is a crime. Her murder is a crime. Bengal CM shamed the victim and defended the accused." On Monday, the chief minister said while referring to the case at the inauguration of a permanent fair ground, Milan Mela, in Kolkata, she said, "What has happened is not right. I condemn it. The police have arrested the accused. But the opposition parties and a section of the media are trying to give a political twist to the entire event. I have received the news that there was a love affair between the accused and the victim. So why come to a conclusion before the investigation is completed."
Puducherry, April 12 : Union Home Minister Amit Shah will visit Puducherry on April 24 to attend several programmes.

Sources in the BJP told IANS that the visit is primarily intended to iron out the differences between Chief Minister N. Rangasamy and the BJP legislators.

Ever since the coalition government of All India NR Congress (AINRC) and BJP assumed office in the Union Territory, there have been differences between the two parties. While the chief minister is sore that the BJP took a unilateral decision regarding the three nominated MLAs, the saffron party said at that point, Rangasamy was convalescing from Covid-19 at a private hospital in Chennai.

Rangasamy not visiting New Delhi to meet the Prime Minister, Home Minister, or Finance Minister has also raised suspicion on the relationship between the two parties.

BJP National general secretary (Organisation) B.L. Santosh recently attended a meeting of the BJP legislators and got first-hand information on the ground realities in Puducherry.

The BJP national secretary in charge of the Union Territory Nirmal Kumar Surana had in a meeting with BJP local leaders announced that the party would contest alone in the ensuing Civic body polls. Interestingly, his announcement came after Santosh's visit to the Union Territory.

Chief Minister Rangasamy, who is also the Finance minister of the state, has not presented his budget in the Assembly as the territorial government was not clear on the Central assistance. The Chief Minister has recently presented the vote on account instead of a full budget on March 30, 2022, for the next five months.

Meanwhile, the opposition DMK has come out against the Union government, and the leader of opposition and party floor leader in the Assembly R. Siva while speaking to IANS said: "The union ministers are regularly reaching Puducherry but no benefits are provided to the territory. We demand that the BJP national leadership meet all the promises it had made during the run-up to the 2021 Assembly elections." Notably, the DMK had issued an open invitation to Rangasamy to sever relations with the BJP and forge an alliance with the opposition parties.

Amit Shah, during his brief visit to the territory, according to senior BJP leaders, will meet the Chief Minister and other leaders and take initiative to iron out differences between the AINRC and the BJP.
Dubai, April 12 : Bangladesh pace bowler Khaled Ahmed has been fined 15 per cent of his match fee after he breached the ICC Code of Conduct during the second Test against South Africa in Port Elizabeth.

On Monday, South African made a clean sweep of the two-Test series against Bangladesh, inflicting a crushing 332-run defeat on the visitors with left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj grabbing his second seven-wicket haul of the series at St George's Park. Maharaj's 7/40 was supported by off-spinner Simon Harmer taking 3/34.

Bangladesh's resistance lasted just around an hour on day four as Maharaj and Harmer ran through the batting line-up, bowling out the visitors for just 80 in 23.3 overs.

Ahmed was found guilty of breaching Article 2.9 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to "throwing a ball at or near a Player, Player Support Personnel, Umpire, Match Referee or any other third person in an inappropriate and/or dangerous manner during an international match." The Level 1 breach meant Ahmed will also have one demerit point added to his disciplinary record - it's his first offence in a 24-month period.

"The incident occurred in the 95th over of South Africa's first innings on the second day when Kyle Verreynne hit the ball back towards Ahmed," the ICC statement read.

"The bowler then threw it towards Verreynne in an inappropriate and dangerous manner, hitting him on the right glove." On-field umpires Marais Erasmus and Allahudien Paleker, third umpire Adrian Holdstock and fourth official Bongani Jele levelled the charges. Ahmed admitted to the offence and accepted the sanction proposed by Andy Pycroft.
New Delhi, April 12: Quoting a French intelligence source, a reporter from leading French daily Le Figaro has revealed that the highly-trained special forces from the UK and the US have been stationed in Ukraine since Russia launched its 'special military operation' in the region on February 24.

As the UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kiev on Saturday and pledged to stand by the people of the country, Georges Malbrunot, a senior reporter for Le Figaro, highlighted the presence of elite military units in the eastern European nation.

"Boris Johnson's visit to Kyiv confirms London's place as Ukraine's first ally. "Elite SAS special forces units have been present in Ukraine since the beginning of the war, as have the American Deltas," confides a French intelligence source," tweeted Malbrunot.

"The Russians don't ignore it, they know what the secret war is," he added in another tweet quoting his unnamed source as the newspaper included their reporter's input in their updates on the ongoing conflict.

Renowned for their skills in covert surveillance, close-combat fighting and hostage rescue, the men from UK's Special Air Service (SAS) have served during the Gulf War, Iraq, Sierra Leone and also in Afghanistan.

The US Army's first Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta (SFOD-D), also known as Delta Force, is country's top counter-terrorism unit which also conducts global special operations.

In February, British tabloid Mirror had reported that more than 100 members of Britain's elite special forces have been sent to Ukraine amid fears of a Russian invasion.

"Crack troops from the SAS, the SBS, the Special Reconnaissance Regiment and the Special Forces Support group are understood to be working in the country as military advisers. They are believed to be helping train Ukrainian special forces in counter-insurgency tactics, sniping and sabotage," an exclusive Mirror report said.

It also mentioned that the British special forces have been able to deploy such a large number to the region as they are no longer operating in Afghanistan.

During his surprise visit to Kiev over the weekend, Johsnon had reiterated that the UK "will do everything in its power" to support Ukraine's "brave fight against Russia's brutal and unprovoked invasion" and ensure its long-term security and prosperity.

He had also announced new military assistance of 120 armoured vehicles and new anti-ship missile systems in addition to the A100 million worth of high-grade military equipment announced earlier in the week, including more Starstreak anti-aircraft missiles, another 800 anti-tank missiles, and high-tech loitering munitions for precision strikes.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who also visited Ukraine last week, has already said that the EU member states are delivering military equipment on an "unprecedented scale".

(The content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com) --indianarrative

Latest updates on Russia-Ukraine War

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
New York, April 12 : While differences on the degree of reaction to Russia's invasion remained, India and the US focused at their dialogue of diplomatic and defence leaders on meeting what could turn out to be its catastrophic fallout: Food shortages affecting the poorest countries.

"An equally big worry which is emerging is of food security," External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said on Monday at a news conference after the 2+2 meeting.

"There are concerns across geographies of societies who are importing wheat or sugar or other foodstuff out of the conflict region", he said.

"Our countries are working together to try to bring more food to world markets, as well as to the World Food Programme", Secretary of State Antony Blinken said.

Jaishankar said, "A number of countries are discussing with us the possibility of greater food supplies, including the World Food Programme," he said.

"So we have discussed today - not just us, but I think the subject also came up in the virtual summit between Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi and President (Joe) Biden - about what could India do to stabilise the global economic situation," Jaishankar said.

India has already started responding to the need for greater supplies of wheat and also to some extent sugar, he said.

Regarding the position of New Delhi on the invasion, Blinken said, "I would note India has made very strong statements in New York at the UN, the minister (Jaishankar) before the Indian Parliament, condemning the killing of civilians in Ukraine, calling for an independent investigation of these atrocities." India is providing significant humanitarian assistance to the people of Ukraine, especially medicines, he said.

Blinken said that Modi and Biden, who met before their 2+2 meeting, "had a very warm and productive conversation today in their virtual summit" and covered a lot of ground, including Covid-19, climate change, strengthening the global economy, the free and open Indo-Pacific.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin participated in the fourth edition of the 2+2 Strategic Dialogue with Jaishankar and Blinken.

In a possible boost for Modi's 'Make in India' programme, Jaishankar said, "We discussed an Indian initiative called 'Performance-Linked Initiative' which would incentivise manufacturing in India, and I think it's very much in American interest to support it." Regarding India's energy needs, Blinken said, "We've dramatically increased our own energy trade with India, diversifying its energy sources. Our energy exports to India now total about $11 billion a year." But ultimately it will have to meet its energy needs from clean sources and honour the goals to beast climate change, he said.

"We are committed, for our part, to partnering in India's clean energy transition, and this needs to be a partnership. We have a responsibility - a historic responsibility as well as a current responsibility," he said.

The US Development Finance Corporation announced a $500 million loan to First Solar, which will produce solar panel modules in southern India, diversifying solar supply chains, he said.

"We're very lucky in the United States to be home to some 4 million Indian Americans, as well as 2,00,000 Indians studying in our universities", he said.

A Working Group on Education and Skill Training was formed on Monday that will increase the number of students by bringing institutions in the US and India together to develop new joint research and exchange programs, he added.

(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
Chennai, April 12 : Actress Ramya Pandian, who has just returned from the 'Bigg Boss Ultimate' house, on Tuesday penned a note of gratitude to all her well wishers.

The actress, who shot to fame after her sparkling performance in the National Award winning critically acclaimed film 'Joker', took to Instagram to thank her well wishers.

She said, "To all my well-wishers, who are a part of my career and who I value to be a part of me, your unconditional love and support are my greatest strength and blessing. No matter what, you have always been there for me - I couldnt have asked for more. Truly blessed beyond measure! "A big thank you to all of you. I am doing well and hope to meet you soon. Sending lots of love and positivity." 'Bigg Boss Ultimate' contestant Balaji Murugadoss won the title of the first 'Bigg Boss Ultimate' season on Sunday. He took home the title apart from winning a trophy and a prize money of Rs 20 lakh.
Thiruvananthapuram, April 12 : After 17 years, the CBI court here on Tuesday found Andaman resident Mohammed Ali guilty of murdering engineering student Shyamal Mandal.

Ali is the second accused in the case. The first accused Durga Bahadur, a Nepal resident, continues to be at large.

The body of Mandal, a final year student at an engineering college here, was found packed in a gunny bag near the famed Kovalam tourist destination, near here on October 24, 2005.

Mandal, who also hailed from Andaman, was reported missing from the college here on October 13, 2005.

The case pertains to some business rivalry and Ali had spoken to Mandal's father and sought a ransom of Rs 20 lakhs.

The local police began the probe but following Mandal's father petition in the Kerala High Court, the CBI began the probe in 2008.

After a while, the probe came to a halt and it was after a few years it was resumed and on Tuesday the verdict found Ali guilty. The court will pronounce the quantum of punishment on Wednesday.
Seoul, April 12 : North Korean leader Kim Jong-un attended a ceremony to celebrate the completion of a major housing project in the country's capital, state media reported on Tuesday.

The event was to mark the completion of 10,000 apartments and an 80-floor skyscraper in the Songsin and Songhwa areas of Pyongyang, and a major street with "public catering facilities," according to the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

Kim did not deliver a speech in person while warmly waving to the cheering crowds and "wishing them happiness" in the new houses, Yonhap news agency reported.

The workers and soldiers involved in the project "performed an eye-opening miracle of building the distinctive grand architectural group of 10,000 flats" by waging a fierce campaign despite challenges, the KCNA said.

Top officials attended the ceremony, including Jo Yong-won, Secretary of the Central Committee of the ruling Workers' Party, and Premier Kim Tok-hun.

At the eighth Congress of the ruling Workers' Party meeting in 2021, North Korea announced its aim of building 50,000 apartments in Pyongyang by 2025 or 10,000 units each year.

In March 2022, the North Korean leader called for the construction of the Songsin and Songhwa areas to be completed before the 110th birth anniversary of the North Korea's late founder and his grandfather Kim Il-sung on April 15.
New Delhi, April 12 : Politician T.T.V. Dhinakaran on Tuesday reached the Enforcement Directorate(ED) office here to record his statements in connection with the two leaves symbol bribery case involving conman Sukesh Chandrashekhar.

Election Commission officials were allegedly bribed to get the AIADMK's 'two leaves' symbol for the V.K. Sasikala faction.

Chandrashekhar was recently placed under arrest by the ED in this connection in Tihar Jail. He was questioned at length. The ED then decided to record the statements of Dhinakaran and summoned him.

After being summoned Dhinakaran had said that he will join the probe.

Initially, in 2017 a case under various sections of IPC was lodged by the Crime Branch of the Delhi Police against Chandrashekhar and others for allegedly bribing the election commission officials. The ED initiated a money laundering probe on the basis of the FIR of the Delhi Police.

After lodging the FIR, the Delhi Police had placed him under arrest in April 2017.

Chandrashekhar had been accused of taking money from Mr Dhinakaran. The money was to be handed over to Election Commission officials later as bribe for getting the AIADMK 'two leaves' symbol for the V.K. Sasikala faction in a by-election to the R.K. Nagar Assembly seat in Tamil Nadu.

Dhinakaran was also arrested by the Delhi Police. Later, the police filed a charge sheet against Dhinakaran and Chandrashekhar before Patiala House Courts.

Mallikarjuna, the then treasurer of AIADMK and a close aide of Dhinakaran was also placed under arrest for offering Rs 50 crore to Chandrashekhar in helping them getting the Election symbol.

The ED said investigation in this matter is still on.
Seoul, April 12 : South Korea's new coronavirus cases bounced back to more than 200,000 on Tuesday after falling to the lowest level in seven weeks amid the government's efforts to return to normalcy.

The country reported 210,755 new Covid-19 infections, including 33 cases from overseas, bringing the total caseload to 15,635,274, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said.

The public health agency reported 171 new Covid-19 deaths on Tuesday, raising the death toll to 19,850.

The number of critically-ill patients stood at 1,005, down 94 from Monday, Yonhap news agency reported.

South Korea's virus cases have been on the decrease after peaking in mid-March. On Monday, new cases fell to 90,928, marking the first drop to five digits since the February 22 count of 99,562.

Health authorities are expected to announce later this week a new "post-Omicron scheme" aimed at further lifting social distancing and allowing people to go mask-free outside.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
New Delhi, April 12 : An interstate gang which had stolen more than 500 car batteries in the past one year, finally landed in police net in the national capital.

The accused gang leader Parmod Kumar and receiver of the stolen batteries Ranjeet Singh were arrested. It was officially learnt that Parmod was about to leave the country with the money earned from thefts and had already got the visa for Abu Dhabi.

During sustained interrogation of the accused, it was revealed that Parmod Kumar is the mastermind in the nexus, and he, along with his brother namely Deepak Kumar, used to steal the vehicles batteries during the early hours and used to sell to Ranjeet Kumar at cheap rates.

The accused confessed to have stolen more than 500 batteries of cars, Champion, Tata & other vehicles since last one year from the area of South West, West and Dwarka District and sold the same to accused Ranjeet Kumar who runs a junk or scrap shop at Mayapuri.

The police said that with their arres 102 cases of thefts of car batteries have been worked out.
Seoul, April 12 : US Special Representative for North Korea, Sung Kim will visit South Korea next week to coordinate policy ahead of the launch of the new administration of President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol, sources said on Tuesday.

Kim is expected to arrive in Seoul on April 18 and stay for four days to hold talks with his South Korean counterpart, Noh Kyu-duk, and other officials of the outgoing and incoming administrations. Kim's Deputy, Jung Pak, is also expected to visit Seoul during the same period.

The UN Special Representative's visit comes amid concerns that North Korea could test a nuclear weapon around the birth anniversary of its late founding leader Kim Il-sung on Friday, Yonhap news agency reported.

His trip also coincides with annual joint military exercises between South Korea and the US that Pyongyang has angrily reacted to.

In Washington last week, Kim held talks with Noh and also met with a policy consultation delegation sent by President-elect Yoon.

The UN Special Representative is expected to use his upcoming meetings in Seoul to coordinate the allies' response to potential North Korean provocations during the government transition.

A meeting with Yoon is not being planned for now, according to a source with knowledge of the President-elect's schedule.

Kim could still discuss preparations for Yoon's first summit with US President Joe Biden, which has yet to be scheduled but could coincide with a possible Biden visit to Japan in late May.
Seoul, April 12 : South Korean President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol was to pay a visit to former President Park Geun-hye in her hometown of Daegu on Tuesday amid attention over whether they will be able to mend their troubled relationship.

Yoon led an investigation team in 2016 into Park's corruption scandal that led to her impeachment, ouster from office and imprisonment, Yonhap news agency reported.

The South Korean President-elect said during the election campaign that even though he did what he was supposed to do as a prosecutor, he feels apologetic toward the former President.

Park was pardoned in December 2021 after spending four years and nine months in prison on a 22-year sentence for corruption. After months of treatment at a Seoul hospital, she returned to a new residence in her hometown in March 2022.

Yoon has repeatedly stated his wish to visit the former President. During Tuesday's meeting, Yoon is also expected to invite her to his May 10 inauguration ceremony.

Daegu was the last stop in Yoon's two-day visit through key cities in North Gyeongsang province that was organised to express gratitude for the support that people in the region showed him in the March presidential election.

The South Korean President-elect was scheduled to return to Seoul later on Tuesday.
Bengaluru, April 12 : Amid all the din and commotion in the state following ban calls on Muslim traders by Hindutva groups, the ruling BJP government is all set to clear temple premises in Karnataka of Muslim vendors, according to sources.

Already, the state government has declared on the floor of the House that there is no provision for non-Hindus to carry out their business on temple premises and religious fairs.

The government plans to implement the rule through the Muzrai department which manages more than 30,000 temples in the state. The department has given clear instructions on not allowing Muslim vendors from participating in the auction of shops on the premises of temples, said Muzarai department sources.

The move will be backed by the law made during the Congress government when S.M. Krishna was the Chief Minister. To ensure that the shops which are taken in auction are not given on sub-lease to Muslims, the department has prepared clear cut rules that those who get the shops in auction only will have to run them, the sources stated.

Further, the department had given directions to suspend the lease agreement in case of finding out that the shop has been given to Muslim vendor on sub-lease. It has also been decided to suspend the executive officer if any violation of guidelines is found.

Muzrai department is all set to issue notices in this regard to 48 shops which are going for auction in different temples in Bengaluru, including famous Kadu Malleshwara Temple and Kashi Vishwanath Temple.

According to the Hindu Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowments Act 2002, there is no provision for non-Hindus to carry out their business on temple premises. The guideline also says that the person who takes shops in auction should not do anything which hurts the sentiments of devotees.

Though the guidelines have been in existence since 2002, they are being implemented in the present scenario by the ruling BJP government in Karnataka, which has stirred a controversy. Opposition Congress is claiming that it is being done keeping polarisation of Hindu votes for upcoming Assembly elections in 2023.

The ban trend came to the fore following the protest by Muslim businessmen and vendors against the High Court verdict on wearing of hijab. The High Court had dismissed the petition seeking permission to wear hijab in classrooms and stated that wearing of hijab is not an essential practice in Islam. Following the protest, Hindu organisations came up with slew of ban calls on Muslim businessmen which has led to the unrest in the state. The recent government's decision to ensure the exit of Muslims from all temples that come under Muzrai department is likely to further create a stir in the state, say the sources.
Mumbai, April 12 : Filmmaker Mohit Suri, who is known for films such as 'Awarapan', 'Aashiqui 2' and 'Ek Villain', will soon produce and creatively monitor a yet-to-be-titled action-musical film, for which he has joined forces with producer Vinod Bhanushali.

The makers will soon reveal the cast of the film after the last touches on the script are done.

Talking about the collaboration, Mohit said, "I look forward to embarking on this new journey with Vinod and BSL (Bhanushali Studios Limited). Together with our joint visions and ambitions for this film, we hope to bring audiences something special to remember." Musicals have always been Mohit's strength and so has been that of Vinod Bhanushali, who has had a long standing association with India's biggest music label T-Series in the past. After exiting the label, Vinod is venturing into film production with Bhanushali Studios Limited and music production with his label, Hitz Music.

Producer Vinod Bhanushali added, as he said, "Mohit and I have worked closely on films before, but this is my first collaboration with him after starting my own production house. Mohit, who has always had fabulous music in his films, brought us a heartwarming script and with him guiding us at every step in this film, I am confident about the project." "His expertise will truly lend an incredible value. While collaborating with Mahana Films was an easy decision as they bring a fresh mindset, young energy that taps to newer generations as well", he further mentioned.

The film will be produced by Vinod Bhanushali, Kamlesh Bhanushali, Vishal Gurnani along with Sakshi Bhatt, Mazahir M, Sahil Saigal and co-produced by Juhi Parekh Mehta under the banners of Bhanushali Studios Ltd and Mahana Films.
Lucknow, April 12 : The politics of Iftar parties in Uttar Pradesh has come to an end.

Even though the pandemic restrictions have ended, political parties are now wary of hosting iftar parties that once dominated the entire political spectrum.

Iftar is the meal with which Muslims break their day-long fast (Roza) in the month of Ramzan.

The Samajwadi Party was known to host iftar parties that were marked by the presence of top Muslim clerics.

Ten days into Ramzan, there are no signs of the SP hosting any iftar party this year.

"We have not yet heard about iftar party this year from the party president and we doubt if one will be held now," said a senior party functionary.

The Congress, too, has no plans of hosting it this year. The party is leaderless in the state after UPCC president Ajay Kumar Lallu resigned last month and the party, sources said, was also facing a cash crunch and could not 'afford' an iftar party.

S.P. Shukla, a senior political analyst, explained, "Now that state politics is firmly entrenched in the Hindutva mould, on BJP parties are wary of hosting iftar parties and being dubbed pro-Muslim." He further said: "The mood in the parties is despondent in the wake of electoral defeat and the leaders have apparently decided to opt out of such events." In the BJP, it was Rajnath Singh as chief minister who hosted iftar parties but Yogi Adityanath discontinued the tradition.

As chief minister, BSP supremo Mayawati also used to host iftar parties every year in luxurious five-star hotels but this was only when she was in power.

The tradition of iftar parties in Uttar Pradesh was started by former chief minister Hemvati Nandan Bahuguna in the early seventies.

He would host the meal in Lucknow and invite prominent members of the community who also held some political influence.

The Congress, later followed the tradition and used the iftar party to repair ties with Muslim leaders.

Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who was well acquainted with the traditions of Lucknow, also hosted several parties while he was in public life.

While Modi's decision to discontinue the traditional iftar at the Prime Minister's residence can be seen to be conforming to his political playbook, the real mystery lies in the reason for the Congress's cancellation.

"More than vote bank politics, it was an occasion that allowed free interaction between clerics and political leaders. There never was any appeasement at such functions but, yes, it made the atmosphere more cordial. It is unfortunate that iftar parties are not being held. This will only cement the divide between the ruling party and the Muslim community," said a senior Sunni cleric who did not wish to be named.
Washington D.c./ London, April 12 : The US and the UK have said they are looking into reports that chemical weapons have been used by Russian forces attacking the Ukrainian port of Mariupol.

Ukraine's Azov regiment has said three soldiers were injured by "a poisonous substance" in an attack on Monday.

UK Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said officials were working to "urgently" investigate what she called "a callous escalation" of the war.

The Pentagon called the potential use of the weapons "deeply concerning".

Western nations have warned that the use of chemical weapons would mark a dangerous escalation of the conflict and have pledged to take firm action if Russia carries out such attacks.

Ukraine's Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Maliar said the government was investigating the allegations, adding that early assumptions suggested phosphorous ammunition had been used.

On Tuesday, pro-Russian separatist forces in Donetsk denied carrying out the attack.

The Azov battalion, which has been heavily involved in fighting in Mariupol and has strong ties to the far-right, wrote in a telegram post that Russian forces had dropped "a poisonous substance of unknown origin" during a drone attack at the city's large Azovstal metals plant.

It said that its fighters had suffered minor injuries, including shortness of breath.

One injured man described a "sweet-tasting" white smoke covering an area of the plant after an explosion. Another said he felt immediately unable to breathe and had collapsed with "cotton legs".

The reported incident -- which the BBC cannot independently verify -- came hours after a spokesperson for the Moscow-backed Donetsk People's Republic urged Russia to bring in "chemical forces" to the besieged south-eastern city.

Eduard Basurin told Russian state TV the remaining Ukrainian forces in Mariupol were entrenched at the Azovstal plant and that Russia should encircle it and "smoke out the moles".

Speaking on Monday evening, President Volodymyr Zelensky said any use of chemical weapons would mark a "new stage of terror against Ukraine" and called on Western nations to arm his forces with the weapons needed to defend his country.

"Unfortunately, we are not getting as much as we need to end this war sooner," Zelensky said.

"I am sure that we will get almost everything we need, but not only time is being lost. The lives of Ukrainians are being lost -- lives that can no longer be returned." UK Defence Minister James Heappey ruled nothing out in terms of a Western response if a chemical attack was confirmed.

"There are some things that are beyond the pale, and the use of chemical weapons will get a response and all options are on the table for what that response could be," he said.

Earlier in March, US President Joe Biden said NATO "would respond" if Russia used chemical weapons in Ukraine.

"The nature of the response would depend on the nature of the use," he added.

Latest updates on Russia-Ukraine War

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
New Delhi, April 12 : PC and printer major HP on Tuesday introduced a new Chromebook for digital natives in India that is designed to meet the needs of school students aged 4 to 15.

HP Chromebook x360 14a, powered by Intel Celeron processor, is available for Rs 29,999 in the country.

The 14-inch HD Touch display laptop with adaptable x360 hinge offers 81 per cent screen-to-body.

The x360 convertible hinge enables flexibility by allowing students to use the device in the form of a tablet or laptop, the company said.

The device claims a battery life of up to 14 hours.

"We are introducing the new HP Chromebook x360 14a designed to provide digital learners with the performance that they need for everyday tasks. This portable powerhouse is lightweight, slim and offers great value to our young students," said Vickram Bedi, Senior Director, Personal Systems, HP India Market.

It features a fanless design for a quieter, more comfortable computing experience. For video calls, it supports a wide vision HD Camera and Wi-Fi5 as connectivity options.

Weighing about 1.49 kg, HP Chromebook x360 14a is packed with 4GB RAM and 64GB storage and is available in mineral silver, ceramic white and forrest teal colours and The laptop features a full-size keyboard with the Google 'Everything' Key for easy access to search and several keyboard shortcuts for a more immersive experience.
New Delhi, April 12 : The Centre on Tuesday told the Supreme Court that gangster Abu Salem is a convict in Mumbai serial blasts case and he cannot dictate terms either to the court or the government.

Earlier during the day, advocate Rishi Malhotra, representing Abu Salem, had submitted that the home secretary does not have time to file an affidavit in the case, pointing at no response from the government in the matter. A bench comprising Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and M.M. Sundresh asked the government lawyer present in the courtroom to check whether the home secretary would make an oral statement.

The matter came for hearing again in the afternoon. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Centre, objected to Salem's lawyer's submissions saying: "Lordship please ask him no to insist like this. He (Salem) is a convict in Mumbai serial blasts. He cannot dictate terms to the court or the government".

Justice Kaul said the court is not on this individual case, but ramifications of it. "It can impede other processes", said the bench. Mehta submitted: "Lordship please do not make such comments. It should not become a cause of concern for you in other cases. The press may report it..". The bench replied, "Let them report it, we are not bothered".

The Union home secretary failed to file an affidavit before the Supreme Court on whether India will honour the commitment, made by its deputy PM to Portugal, on limiting Abu Salem's jail term to 25 years.

After hearing arguments, the top court gave more time to Centre to file its response in the matter and scheduled it for further hearing on April 21.

On March 8, the Supreme Court asked the Union home secretary to file an affidavit, whether the Centre is committed to adhere to the assurance given by the then deputy Prime Minister L.K. Advani to Portugal authorities, to not incarcerate gangster Abu Salem for more than 25 years while seeking his extradition.

The top court asked the Centre to make its stand clear on the issue. It emphasised that not abiding by the assurance made to the Portugal authorities, could have wider ramifications and it may create problems while seeking extradition of fugitives from other countries. The top court said it is not happy with the CBI's reply in the matter and sought a response from the home secretary in three weeks.

The CBI, in its affidavit, has told the top court that an Indian court is not bound by the assurance given in 2002 by the then deputy prime minister to the courts in Portugal that gangster Abu Salem would not be imprisoned beyond 25 years after his extradition to India.

Malhotra, representing Salem, argued before the bench that as per the principle of reciprocity in Portugal the courts cannot award a sentence for more than 25 years. He added that based on the principle of reciprocity, the government of India had given a solemn sovereign assurance to the Portugal courts that in case Salem is permitted to be extradited back to India, he will not be given punishment for more than 25 years.
Patna, April 12 : Former Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi on Tuesday filed a criminal defamation case against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in MLA/MLC court here.

Modi has levelled allegations against Rahul Gandhi for his poll speech in 2019 in Karnataka where he said that all Modis are thieves.

Rahul Gandhi, during a public meeting in Kolar district of Karnataka, had said that PM Narendra Modi imposed demonetisation in the country and put entire countrymen in the queues of banks.

"He (Narendra Modi) has partially restricted the money of common people to withdraw from banks and the money of common people would be given to his 15 friends," Gandhi said in his speech.

"There is a group of thieves. They have a team. They are taking money from your pockets, snatching the money from farmers, small traders and giving it to those 15 friends. Claiming that it is a fight against black money, PM Narendra Modi put you in the queues of banks, took the money from your pockets and deposited into the banks and then you learnt that your money has been taken away by Nirav Modi who fled the country with Rs 35,000 crore," Gandhi had said.

"There is a long list of names apart from Nirav Modi, Mehul Choksi and Lalit Modi. Now, I want to ask a small question. Why do all thieves have Modi as their name?. Nirav Modi, Lalit Modi, Narendra Modi and if we search more, we will get some more Modi," Gandhi said.

Based on the speech of Rahul Gandhi in Kolar on April 13, 2019, Sushil Modi, the BJP Rajya Sabha MP said that it was a derogatory statement on people having surname Modi.

"Rahul Gandhi in a statement, had said that all people having Modi surnames are thieves. He (Sushil Modi) is also having Modi surname and as it was election time, his statement may influence the voters. Hence, he has filed a criminal defamation case against Rahul Gandhi," said SD Sanjay, senior lawyer and former solicitor general of Bihar told IANS.

On Behalf of Sushil Modi Sanjiv Chaurasia, appeared in the court as witness for trial. Besides him, road construction minister Nitin Nabin, Manish Kumar, president of BJYM Bihar senior advocate SD Sanjay, Senior Advocate Subodh Jha, Advocate Arjun Kumar and Advocate Ratnesh Kumar appeared in the court on behalf of Sushil Modi.

"On Tuesday, the court recorded the statement of Sanjiv Chaurasia. Though, our two more witnesses Nitin Nabin and Manish Kumar were also present in the court but their statements were not registered in the court due to lack of time," Sanjay said.

"The next hearing of the case is scheduled on April 22. We expect that the statements of Nitin Nabin and Manish Kumar will be recorded in the next hearing," Sanjay said.
Kolkata, April 12 : Calcutta High Court on Tuesday ordered a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe in the suicide of Niranjan Baishnab, the key witness to the murder of Tapan Kadu, the Congress councillor of Jhalda Municipality in West Bengal's Purulia district.

The CBI is already conducting a probe in the murder of Tapan Kandu, who was killed on a road in Jhalda on March 13 evening. On April 6 morning the body of Niranjan Baishnab, who was the key witness to the murder of Tapan Kandu, was recovered from his residence. A suicide note was recovered wherein Baishnab had written that he took the drastic step as he was unable to bear the pressure from the local police following the murder of Kandu.

On Tuesday, the Calcutta High Court observed that since the murder of Tapan Kandu and suicide of Niranjan Baishnab were inter-linked, the CBI should conduct a parallel probe in both the cases.

On March 13 Tapan Kandu was assassinated while he was having an evening walk with his wife, Purnima Kandu and Baishnab was also accompanying them.

In the suicide note, Baishnab also referred to the assassination of Tapan Kandu, to which he was an eyewitness and said that the scene of assassination had been haunting him since the day the tragic incident took place.

Reacting to the Calcutta High Court's order, Purulia district Congress president, Nepal Mahato said that CBI probe in Baishnab's suicide was necessary since the deceased in his suicide note referred to the pressure of state police on him. "Now I am confident that the CBI will unearth the conspiracy behind the tragic suicide," Mahato said.

The CPI-M central committee member, Dr Sujan Chakraborty said that the successive orders of the Calcutta High Court for CBI probe in some cases proves that the credibility of the state police is at the rock-bottom level.

Senior Trinamool Congress MLA Tapas Roy said the CBI's past records of solving cases do not really paint a rosy picture. "I do not want to make any comments on the merits of the Calcutta High Court. Now let us see what progress does the CBI make in this case," Roy said.
Kiev, April 12 : The Office of the Ukrainian President has said the European Union member states have become faster in providing weapons to Ukraine but they must act faster still in order to secure victory over Russia.

Andriy Yermak, Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, said on Telegram: "We will have more weapons." According to Josep Borrell, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, following the meeting of EU Foreign Ministers, all 27 EU member states supported the supply of weapons to Ukraine, Ukrainian newspaper Ukrayinska Pravda has reported.

"The EU is speeding up, but we need to work even faster. We will win together," Yermak said.

Latest updates on Russia-Ukraine War

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Chennai, April 12 : The elite Crime Branch-Criminal Investigation Department(CB-CID) of Tamil Nadu police has commenced an investigation into the alleged rape of a Dalit scholar at IIT-Madras.

The woman scholar had complained that she was mentally and physically abused by her co-scholars.

She has accused a fellow scholar of abuse and rape. The incident, according to the woman complainant had taken place between 2016 and 2020. The complaint was filed in 2020.

The CB-CID commenced investigation on Tuesday and has taken some details on the fellow scholars who have been alleged by the woman as perpetrators of the crime.

Sources in the CB-CID told IANS that the investigation will not leave any stone unturned and the sleuths would take details from the top management of IIT- M. The investigation would focus on whether the Dalit students of the campus were facing any discrimination and whether such trauma had happened to other girl students of the premier institution.

The woman Dalit scholar had alleged that she was physically and mentally harassed by the accused ever since she joined the institution in 2016. In the complaint, she had stated that other co-scholars were also involved in harassing her.

She had alleged that she was sexually abused while on a tour to Kodagu in 2018 during an educational tour and that she had been disrobed and filmed at the campus and the videos have been circulated.

In a statement, the state DGP said that the case has been transferred to the CB-CID as the accused are living abroad and in other states of the country.
Hyderabad, April 12 : A court in Hyderabad deferred to Wednesday the verdict in the 2012 alleged hate speech involving AIMIM leader Akbaruddin Owaisi.

The Special Sessions Court for Trial of Criminal Cases relating to MPs and MLAs, which was expected to deliver its verdict on Tuesday, postponed the hearing.

Akbaruddin Owaisi, who is leader of All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) in Telangana Legislative Assembly, had also reached Nampally court complex. He is the younger brother of AIMIM president and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi.

The court had last week reserved its orders in the case relating to the alleged hate speeches delivered by Akbaruddin at two public meetings in 2012.

Two cases were registered against Akbaruddin at two police stations in Adilabad and Nizamabad districts in relation to his alleged hate speeches at Nirmal and Nizamabad on December 8 and 22, 2012.

The MIM leader was arrested on January 7, 2013 after his speeches went viral on social networking sites.

He was booked under Indian Penal Code (IPC) Sections 120-B (Criminal Conspiracy), 153-A (promoting enmity between two groups on the basis of religion) and other sections.

After spending 40 days in jail, he walked free after a court granted him bail.

In 2016, police had filed a charge sheet against Akbaruddin in a court in Adilabad district after the state government gave permission for his prosecution.

FIRs were lodged against AIMIM leader in various police stations in the state. Last month, Telangana High Court had ordered clubbing of multiple FIRs into one single case. His counsel has argued that there cannot be multiple FIRs on one alleged crime.
New Delhi, April 12 : The Supreme Court on Tuesday stayed the conviction of Hardik Patel, Gujarat Congress working president, in the Mehsana rioting case.

A bench comprising Justices S. Abdul Nazeer and Vikram Nath said: "The conviction is, hereby, stayed until the appeals are decided accordingly." The bench added that it was a fit case for the Gujarat High Court to have stayed Patel's conviction in the matter. "Having heard senior counsel Maninder Singh and having regard to the facts and circumstances, we are of the view that this is the fit case for the high court to have stayed the conviction," said the bench.

Senior advocate Maninder Singh, representing Patel, submitted that not allowing his client to contest election is a violation of his right to freedom of expression. Singh added, "It is a violation. I have already lost one chance to contest the election in 2019. We are before your lordships to get our rights under Article 19(1)(a) to be enforced." Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Gujarat government, said that Patel contesting elections is not the issue before the court, rather the matter should be decided based on parameters in criminal law.

Singh submitted that the state is misusing police powers. "I don't know what they have to say, but my lords must decide this case soon," added Singh.

Patel had approached the Gujarat High Court prior to the 2019 general elections seeking a stay on conviction. The high court rejected his plea, and he could not contest the election. Patel moved the top court challenging this order.

In 2015, Patel had spearheaded the Patidar agitation demanding reservation for the Patidar community. The agitation had led to violence leaving a BJP MLA's office vandalised.

Patel had sought a direction to suspend the conviction order passed by a sessions court in Mehsana in July 2018.
Tehran, April 12 : Tehran has sought protection of its diplomatic missions in Afghanistan and "necessary guarantees" for the safe operation of its diplomatic offices in the country following rallies held by Afghans in various provinces in reaction to reported incidents of harassment of Afghan migrants in Iran.

The call was made by the Iran Foreign Ministry's Spokesman, Saeed Khatibzadeh on Monday at a press conference, according to a statement by Iranian Foreign Ministry.

"Referring to the deep historical and multi-layered relations between Iranian and Afghan nations and the decades of respectful hospitality of the Iranian people and government to the people of Afghanistan, he warned against the plans of conspirators and ill-wishers between Iran and Afghanistan," the statement said.

"Unfortunately, some clips and comments are being published with the aim of creating phobia of Iran or Afghanistan, which targets the emotions of the people and demands more vigilance from the people and officials of the two countries," it added.

This comes as the Afghans set rallies in several provinces where they criticised the reported incidents of Iranian forces' mistreatment with Afghan migrants in Iran, TOLOnews reported.

A number of Kabul residents held a rally on Tuesday morning at Sehat Ama roundabout in reaction to the issue, calling for an end to misconduct towards Afghan migrants in the neighbouring country.

On Monday, dozens of people gathered in front of the Iran embassy in Kabul. Hundreds of residents of the southeastern province of Khost staged a rally in the provincial capital city, where they call on Iran to stop mistreatment of Afghan refugees.

Meanwhile, Khatibzadeh was quoted by the statement as saying that they are in constant contact with the Ambassador and other officials of the Iran mission in Afghanistan.
Bengaluru, April 12 : A high-level delegation of IBM officials on Tuesday met C. N. Ashwathnarayan, Minister for IT-BT, Science and Technology at the Vikasa Soudha in Bengaluru and evinced interest in sharing knowledge with the government of Karnataka in the areas of cyber security and artificial intelligence (AI).

The three-member IBM delegation led by Sandip Patil, managing director, IBM South Asia assured the minister that the company would help the government in formulating a cyber-security policy.

During the meeting, Ashwathnarayan said the government would take the help of the company in matters concerning cyber security.

Sandip Patil said IBM had recently opened a Security Command Centre in Bengaluru to improve cyber resilience and capacity development of the industry. He said the company would discuss the capabilities of this new facility including some strategic collaboration avenues to develop effective cyber incident response with the government, adding that the company was willing to train the government staff in this direction if necessary.

Patil said providing for adequate cyber security is likely to pose a stiff challenge in the coming days and added that it is necessary to tackle the issue in right earnest. He said the company would provide all the assistance to the government in implementing a cyber-security policy.

Meanwhile, Ashwathnarayan said members of the Karnataka Milk Federation and other co-operative societies have also evinced interest to partner with IBM. Patil said he welcomed the government's initiative to empower 14 government-run engineering colleges of the state and added that the government had sought IBM's assistance in formulating a curriculum and research programmes for the engineering students.

Patil expressed IBM's readiness to lend a helping hand in upgrading the quality of education to global standards and also augment the employability quotient of youths in the state. Patil said IBM intends to upgrade all the Atal Tinkering Labs in the state and hoped that the government would extend its co-operation in this regard.

Meanwhile, Ashwathnarayan announced that IBM had positively responded to upgrade the Sri Krishnarajendra Silver Jubilee Technological Institute in Bengaluru on a partnership basis. He said the government will discuss the modalities of this partnership with the company soon.
Hyderabad, April 12 : The makers of the blockbuster epic 'RRR' had released the full video of the popular song 'Naatu Naatu' earlier. Even after garnering lakhs of views on YouTube, the release of 'Naatu Naatu' has triggered fan wars on Twitter.

A flurry of comparisons between the lead actors Ram Charan and NTR had resulted in arguments between their respective fans.

Claiming that NTR has footed the steps better than Ram Charan, and vice-versa, the actors' fans began to argue, resulting in online fan wars. Leaving the comment section spoiled, some of the Internet users have written cuss words as well.

'Naatu Naatu' fans have found differences between NTR's and Ram Charan's dance moves, pointing at many mistakes, which went unseen earlier.

As the director S.S. Rajamouli claimed to have shot many takes to ensure perfect synchronisation, fans began blasting him for missing many moves that were not the same.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Kolkata, April 12 : The Calcutta High Court on Tuesday witnessed high drama as the former state education minister, Partha Chatterjee (currently the state commerce & industries minister), narrowly escaped, but for just a day, the grilling by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) sleuths in connection with the agency's probe into the recruitment irregularities for various posts under the West Bengal School Service Commission (WBSSC).

At around 3.50 p.m. on Tuesday, a single judge bench of Justice Avijit Gangopadhyay ordered Chatterjee, also the Trinamool Congress secretary general, to be present at the CBI office in Kolkata by 5.30 p.m. on Tuesday for questioning.

The counsels of Chatterjee immediately approached a division bench of the Calcutta High Court seeking a stay on the single- judge bench order. The division bench, at around 4.15 p.m., allowed an interim stay but only till 10.30 a.m. on Wednesday when the division bench will hear the matter again.

The order of the single-judge bench has come just a day after a Calcutta High Court-appointed probe panel, on Monday submitted a report to the court claiming that the WBSSC recruitment committee formed with the concurrence of Chatterjee for recruitment is illegal.

There are two important points in the single-judge bench order on Tuesday afternoon. The first point is that under no circumstances Chatterjee will be able to get admitted in the state-run SSKM Medical College & Hospital Woodburn Ward, meant for VIPs.

There second important point of the order is that the single- judge bench has authorised the CBI to even arrest Chatterjee during the course of the interrogation if the sleuths feel that the arrest is necessary.

Political observers feel that the point in the single-judge bench order barring Chatterjee from getting admitted in the Woodburn Ward is extremely crucial, since recently on April 6, 2022 Trinamool Congress strongman, Anubrata Mandal got admitted in the same Woodburn Ward on the very morning he was supposed to face CBI grilling in the coal and cattle smuggling cases.

The opposition parties in the state welcomed the order especially the bar on admission to the Woodburn Ward. Till the report was filed not a single Trinamool Congress leader came forward to give any comment on this issue.
Chennai, April 12 : Tamil Nadu Higher Education department will be opening ten new arts and science colleges in the state to encourage more girls to pursue higher education.

The state government has already announced Rs 1,000 per month for girls as an incentive to pursue higher education.

Colleges are coming up in Manapparai, Chenjee, Thali, Tirumaiyam, Andhiyur, Aruvakurichi, Tirukkatupalli, Reddiyarchathiram, Vadalur and Sriperumpadur.

Higher Education Minister K. Pondmudi while speaking to IANS said: "We will be opening ten new arts and science colleges and the focus is mainly on girls. The Chief Minister has announced Rs 1,000 monitory assistance per month for girl students who are pursuing higher education. This will lead to more girl students joining colleges and hence we are opening more colleges." He also said that the government is expecting 2 lakh girl students to join colleges every year following the monthly monetary assistance scheme.

The minister said that an amount of Rs 165.50 crore has been sanctioned for the construction of the ten new government arts and science colleges that are to come up from the next academic year onwards.

The higher education department has already sanctioned an amount of Rs 1,000 crore to upgrade the infrastructure in 55 government arts and science colleges in the state as also 26 technical institutes.

It has allocated an amount of Rs 130 crore for developing hostel facilities in government colleges, including at Anna university's Guindy campus.
Thiruvananthapuram, April 12 : A day after a KSRTC-SWIFT bus met with an accident just a couple of hours being flagged off by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, KSRTC managing director Biju Prabhakar on Tuesday filed a complaint with the state police chief suspecting a foul play in the incident.

Soon after he filed the complaint, another bus which was on its way to the state capital city also met with an accident at Malappuram.

Raising suspicion of a foul play, the complaint reads that the accident, though minor, should be probed to find out if external forces were behind them.

There is a very strong presence of the private buses in the state which operates numerous long distance services in and to Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.

The bus which was flagged off by Vijayan from here in Kollam district had a brush with a lorry leaving its side view mirrors damaged, while the accident at Malappuram involved a private bus. In both the accidents, the body of the buses have been slightly damaged and paint at a few places scrapped.

KSRTC is one of the biggest employers in the state government with over 35,000 employees and an equal number of pensioners, which operates around 5,000 buses has around 5100 schedules, running on an average 1.6 million kilometres every day.

Today, KSRTC is reeling under its worst ever crisis with massive accumulated losses and salaries and pension rarely given on time, but Vijayan, before flagging of the first service from here, said that KSRTC is slowly moving towards a better future.

Vijayan also said that the state government would extend all the support to lead the KSRTC to its prosperity and it was important for everyone to extend their full support for this cause.

Meanwhile, a few unions of the KSRTC are against this new operation as they allege it would prove to be a death knell for the KSRTC.
Bengaluru, April 12 : Attacking Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the suicide of the contractor and BJP worker in Karnataka, the Congress on Tuesday alleged that corruption level in state is so high that the saffron party is not able to protect its own party workers.

AICC General Secretary and State Congress in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala said: "The BJP worker has committed suicide as PM Modi did not bother to react to the letter written to him. PM Modi always says 'na khaaoonga, na khaane doonga' (I won't take bribes and I will not let others take bribes). However, he is silent about what is going on in Karnataka. PM Modi is not bothering about the 'khawoonga, khilawoonga' (I will take bribe, will also let others take bribe) situation existing right under his nose in Karnataka," Surjewala explained.

"Ruling Bommai government is mired in rampant corruption. The corruption charges are heard in all government departments. The 40 per cent commission allegation is not confined to a minister, it is an allegation against the ruling BJP government. BJP indulged in looting and swallowed its own worker," he charged.

Contractor Santosh Patil's allegation stands as evidence for this. If the ruling BJP government is not sparing its own worker, one can imagine the magnitude of corruption that is being practiced.' When the 40 per cent commission came out, Chief Minister Bommai turned a blind eye. Union Home Minister Amit Shah refused to take action and PM Modi did not bother to react, finally resulting in the death of BJP worker. "This is a corruption and murder case," he charged.

The case must be lodged against Minister Eshwarappa under IPC Sections 302 (murder). He should be sacked from the position and arrested.

"If Chief Minister Bommai does not initiate action, it can be assumed that he is also a partner in the crime. If Eshwarappa's resignation is not taken immediately, the Congress will gherao Chief Minister Bommai and demand resignation of Eshwarappa," he said.

Patil, a contractor and BJP leader from Belagavi district of Karnataka alleged that Minister Eshwarappa had demanded 40 per cent commission for his work through his aide. Patil ended his life after consuming poison at a lodge in Udupi. Patil had earlier shot letters to Prime Minister Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Union Minister for Panchayati Raj Giriraj Singh blaming Eshwarappa for demanding 40 per cent cut from him.

However, Chief Minister Bommai has maintained that he will order a detailed probe into the incident. "It is going to be an open probe. The government has considered the suicide of contractor seriously. The exact reason for suicide is yet to be ascertained. I have given directions to conduct inquiry legally and there will be no intervention by the government," he said.

A detailed probe will be conducted on the death note, letters written to Prime Minister Modi and all aspects and culprits would be punished, Chief Minister Bommai stated.

Opposition leader Siddaramaiah has stated that during his tenure as the Chief Minister, then Minister K.J. George faced allegations by a police officer and he resigned from the post of Home Minister. Patil in his suicide note had stated that Minister Eshwarappa should be held responsible for his death. This case has to be lodged under IPC section 300 (the act by which the death is caused) and he should be punished under IPC Section 302 (murder).
Bhubaneswar, April 12 : Internet services have been snapped in Keonjhar district of Odisha following clash among two communities over Ram Navami procession in the Joda township of the district, police said on Tuesday.

On Monday, a clash among two groups erupted in Joda town of mineral-rich Keonjhar district, following which, the district administration clamped Section 144 CrPC in the area to control the crowd.

The prohibitory order issued under Section 144 has been now extended for another 24 hours, till 10 a.m. on Wednesday, the police said.

According to sources, on the occasion of Ram Navami on Sunday, a group of people in Joda had sought permission from the local administration to carry out a religious flag (Jhanda) procession to a Hanuman temple in ward-4 of the township.

Initially, the administration had allowed five people to participate in the procession but later withdrew that permission. The agitated locals of that religious group demonstrated by staging a sit-in in front of the temple.

Later, on Monday, the group proceeded towards the temple with flags which were reportedly intercepted midway by some locals from another group, following which a clash erupted. The two groups also resorted to stone and glass bottle pelting, in which several people were injured, the sources said.
New Delhi, April 12 : In a first interaction with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on social media, newly-elected Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif positioned Jammu and Kashmir as a "dispute" and called for settlement.

Replying to Modi after he congratulated him on his appointment, Sharif tweeted: "Thank you Premier Narendra Modi for felicitations. Pakistan desires peaceful & cooperative ties with India. Peaceful settlement of outstanding disputes including Jammu & Kashmir is indispensable. Pakistan's sacrifices in fighting terrorism are well-known. Let's secure peace and..." Modi on Monday congratulated Sharif on his election as the 23rd Prime Minister of Pakistan.

In a tweet, Modi said, "Congratulations to H.E. Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on his election as the Prime Minister of Pakistan. India desires peace and stability in a region free of terror, so that we can focus on our development challenges and ensure the well-being and prosperity of our people."

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
London, April 12 : A pro-Putin separatist leader has called for Russia to use chemical weapons to 'smoke out' 4,000 Ukrainian defenders at a key strategic steel plant in Mariupol, the media reported.

Eduard Basurin, deputy head of the so-called Donetsk People's Republic, claimed up to 4,000 Ukrainian fighters are taking shelter in the Azovstal complex, one of Europe's largest iron and steel works, which has so far defied Russian attempts to seize it, the Daily Mail reported.

He made the dire warning just hours after Ukraine accused Russia of unleashing a toxic agent from a drone over Mariupol, causing breathing issues, Daily Mail reported.

This morning, the Azov Battalion showed footage purporting to show victims of the apparent attack, who said they have since suffered respiratory problems, high temperatures and tinnitus.

Making further threats on Russian state TV, Basurin said today: "What is Azovstal? It is a plant built back in Soviet times. There is a lot or concrete, iron, there are many underground floors. So it makes no sense to take this facility by storm.

"Therefore, at the moment it is necessary to deal with the blocking of this plant, find all the exits and entrances. In principle, this can be done.

"And after that, to turn, I think, to the chemical troops, who will find a way to smoke moles out of their holes." Yesterday's alleged chemical attack has not been confirmed but would be the first time Russia is believed to have used toxic weapons in Putin's barbaric invasion, which the Pentagon said is 'deeply concerning'.

US Defence Department spokesman John Kirby said: 'We are aware of social media reports which claim Russian forces deployed a potential chemical munition in Mariupol, Ukraine. We cannot confirm at this time and will continue to monitor the situation closely.

Latest updates on Russia-Ukraine War
New Delhi, April 12 : As Indian companies start reopening their campuses and the country returns to normal after two years of the pandemic, a course correction has begun across the growth-stage startup ecosystem and thousands of workers have either lost jobs or are on the verge of being sacked amid slow growth.

There have been several such incidents since February this year as startups started resizing, cutting operational costs or completely shutting shops amid market uncertainties.

Social commerce platform Meesho has laid off nearly 150 employees (and may ask more to pack up and go), mostly from its grocery division superstore called Farmiso, as it reportedly plans to merge its online grocery vertical with the main app.

The company had laid off more than 200 employees in the first wave of the pandemic.

Last week, edtech platform Unacademy laid off nearly 600 employees, contractual workers and educators -- about 10 per cent of its 6,000-strong workforce across the group.

The company said that it ensured that those who were asked to go receive certain additional benefits and a generous severance.

In March, furniture rental startup Furlenco laid off nearly 180-200 employees, mostly from the customer support roles and in the same month, another social commerce platform Trell asked nearly 300 employees to go, which is close to half of its workforce.

In a nightmare for nearly 1,000 employees, homegrown edtech startup Lido Learning which is backed by top entrepreneur Ronnie Screwvala, apparently shut operations in February, forcing its workforce to seek help via social media platforms.

An industry source had told IANS that Lido Learning shut operations and sent email notices to its employees.

In the same month, bookkeeping startup OkCredit also asked nearly 35-40 employees to go across functions.

The current lay-off season will only grow as the country has fully reopened with retail stores and malls registering heavy footfall, leaving digital-only platforms bracing for a tough summer ahead.
Chennai, April 12 : The Tamil Nadu Congress Committee will take out an 18-day padayatra to commemorate the Vedaranyam salt satyagraha from Wednesday.

The padayatra will be inaugurated by former Union minister and senior leader of the Congress party P. Chidambaram. Former TNCC president K.V. Thangabalu will lead the yatra.

It is part of the seventy-fifth independence day celebrations and will commence from the residence of freedom fighter S.S. Rajan at Tiruchi and conclude at Vedaranyam which will be a 230 km long yatra.

TNCC president K.S.Alagiri, in a statement, said that the yatra is taken out to commemorate Vedaranyam salt satyagraha and to propagate the life history and struggle of the freedom fighters from the state during the independence movement.

Alagiri, in the statement, called upon the party functionaries and cadres to take part in the yatra and to popularise the non-violent struggles of Mahatma Gandhi.

The TNCC president while speaking to IANS said: "The 18-day padayatra from Tiruchi to Vedaranyam will be a historical one as we will be propagating the ideals of Mahatma Gandhi throughout the padayatra among the people. The struggle of the freedom fighters of the state will be explained to the public during the course of the yatra. This is to reminiscence the brave freedom fighters who had sacrificed their everything for the independence of our nation from British colonialism".
Chandigarh, April 12 : Doctors at the PGIMER have harvested organs from a brain dead four-year-old boy from Punjab who gave a fresh lease of life to three terminally-ill organ failure patients.

The magnanimous gesture of consenting for organ donation by a family from Barnala district gave a fresh lease of life to three patients with transplantation of liver to a matching recipient in the Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences (ILBS) in Delhi and kidneys and pancreas at the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER).

Expressing gratitude to the donor family, Prof Surjit Singh, Director, PGIMER, said, "For any family, this is a heart-wrenching loss. But families like that of the deceased who have the heart to make an offer in the most tragic moments of their life definitely instil a sense of confidence." "We at the PGIMER are extremely grateful and appreciate the will of the family to share the gift of life with three terminally-ill organ failure patients." "God's ways are beyond comprehension. Who could have imagined that Gurjot, our bundle of joy, would not be allowed to celebrate even his fifth birthday. Nothing can replace the void of losing our dear son. But we are trying to draw consolation from the fact that Gurjot's life will go on in others and will give them more days with their families," said Hardeep Singh, the heartbroken father of the organ donor.

"Every transplant provides a new beginning for our patients and is an incredible achievement for the entire team involved in transplantation as well," added the PGIMER Director.

Recalling the heartache of April 2, the donor's father narrated how quickly a generally happy day changed into an unexpected and cruel tragedy. Like any other usual day, the child was busy playing when he rolled over and fell from a height and became unconscious.

Immediately, the unconscious child was first taken to the Civil Hospital in Barnala from where he was referred to the PGIMER. Without losing any time, the family got the child admitted in the PGIMER on April 2.

However, the prognosis being extremely poor, the week-long struggle for life came to an end as he succumbed to his head injury and was declared brain dead on April 9, following the protocols of THOA.

Vipin Koushal, Medical Superintendent, PGIMER-cum-Nodal Officer, ROTTO (North), said, "As per regulations, two confirmatory tests with a gap of 12 hours were conducted, after which the family was counselled about the possibility of organ donation. The family deliberated amongst themselves, considered the option and eventually agreed." With the deceased's parents consenting to the proposal of organ donation, the departments concerned started reaching out to the matching recipients to honour the family's magnanimous decision.

Having no matching recipient at the PGIMER for liver, NOTTO (National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation) was contacted immediately to explore options with other transplant hospitals for matching recipients.

Finally, the liver was allocated by NOTTO for a matching recipient admitted in ILBS and was sent from PGIMER by road through a green corridor for Delhi.

Simultaneously, the Nephrology Department identified several potential recipients who were asked to report at the earliest. The cross match led to identification of two recipients for kidney and combined pancreas and kidney and the transplants of all the organs were accomplished by the early hours of April 10.
New Delhi, April 12 : The electric vehicles (EVs) segment presents an opportunity of almost Rs 3 lakh crore for various stakeholders in India during the next five years through fiscal 2026.

As per a Crisil Research analysis, the opportunity includes potential revenue of about Rs 1.5 lakh crore across vehicle segments for original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) as well as component manufacturers and Rs 90,000 crore in the form of disbursements for vehicle financiers, with shared mobility and insurance accounting for the balance.

Presently, EV adoption continues to surge as more people shift from internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles.

The data on the Vahan portal shows that the share of electric three-wheelers (3Ws) increased to almost 5 per cent of 3Ws registered in fiscal 2022 from less than 1 per cent in fiscal 2018.

For electric two-wheelers (2Ws) and buses, the percentages rose to almost 2 per cent and 4 per cent, respectively.

The shift is not limited to large cities either. Smaller towns are also entering the fray, driven by the government's fiscal and non-fiscal measures, Crisil Research said.

According to Crisil Research, rising fuel prices and higher cost of ICE vehicles and government support for EVs are main drivers of EV adoption. It pointed out that central schemes such as 'Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Hybrid and Electric Vehicles in India' (FAME-India), phased manufacturing plan, and production linked incentive have jump-started the country's EV journey. "Considering the improving cost parity and the government's focus on electrification of vehicles, we should not be surprised if EV penetration reaches 15 per cent in 2Ws, 25-30 per cent in 3Ws, and 5 per cent in cars and buses by fiscal 2026 in terms of vehicle sales," said Hemal Thakkar, Director, Crisil.

Besides, it said that start-ups with new-age business models as well as OEMs with an established business have evinced interest in manufacturing EVs. "Many state governments have also provided demand incentives, and capital assistance for setting up greenfield manufacturing plants," Crisil Research said.

In addition, Crisil Research's analysis of the total cost of ownership suggests electric 2Ws and 3Ws attained parity with ICE vehicles last fiscal even when running a mere 6,000 km and 20,000 km, respectively, annually. "By 2026, the analysis indicates, adoption of 2Ws and 3Ws will rise even sans subsidy, due to parity of ownership cost with ICE vehicles," Crisil Research added.
New Delhi, April 12 : The Indian Air Force (IAF), said that it on Tuesday, in close coordination with the NDRF, the local administration and the Army, completed the rescue of the stranded persons from the Trikut Hills Ropeway Service in Jharkhand's Deoghar district.

The IAF utilised two Mi-17V5, one Mi-17, one Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) and one Cheetah to fly more than 26 hours towards this effort. Having inducted in the early hours on Monday, IAF carried out an initial recce for preparations towards an operation which presented unique challenges, it said.

The contingent included five Garud commandos of the IAF, who had the daunting task of climbing onto the stranded trolleys of the cable car, while being attached to the helicopter's winch cable, accessing it from outside, strapping up each survivor individually and getting them winched up and into the helicopter hovering overhead.

Smaller children were carried up to the helicopter by the Garuds themselves. The helicopter crew was faced with their own challenges where they had to maintain a steady hover, with practically no visual reference, in conditions of strong winds in the hilly terrain.

The crew went from one trolley to the next to carry out their task, which was as risky for the crew as it was for the survivors.

The operation, spread over two days, also saw two unfortunate incidents wherein, despite best efforts, the survivors could not be rescued safely due to the inherently difficult nature of the rescue operation, the IAF.

"The IAF deeply regrets the loss of lives of these two individuals and expresses its deepest condolences to their families. The IAF reaffirms its commitment to providing support, succour and relief to our citizens always and every time," it said.
New Delhi, April 12 : Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has attacked the Karnataka government over the alleged suicide by a contractor who had said that he was asked for a bribe.

Rahul Gandhi in a tweet said, "BJP's 40% Commission Govt in Karnataka has claimed the life of their own Karyakarta.

The victim's pleas to the PM went unanswered. PM & CM are complicit." The issue came to the fore after a Belagavi-based contractor, Santosh Patil, who was said to be a BJP worker, accused Panchayat Raj and Rural Development Minister K S Eshwarappa of corruption, and allegedly committed suicide on Tuesday.

After the allegation surfaced in March the Congress has been demanding the sacking of Eshwarappa over the bribery allegation by the contractor who had written a letter to the Prime Minister.

The Congress had said that the Karnataka Contractors Association President has alleged that officials in the BJP government demanded a 40 per cent commission in the contracts and said, "we are finding it very difficult to manage this big corrupt practice of Karnataka." The allegation which has rocked Karnataka had been made by Santosh Patil from Belgaum district who had executed a contract worth about Rs 4 crore in Hindalaga Gram Panchayat. The Congress claimed that Patil alleged that he was asked for a 40 per cent bribe.

Congress MP Naseer Hussain alleged that when the contractor went for the release of the funds, the minister's associates asked Santosh Patil to give 40 per cent out of the Rs 4 crore, which he did. He said he had given Rs 15 lakh to the associates of the minister, but they are demanding 40 per cent of the contract money.
Islamabad, April 12 : After being ejected from power through a no-confidence vote in the parliament with opposition claiming majority, Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) decided to not only boycott the voting proceedings but also rendered resignations, creating a major void by emptying at least 133 constituencies.

Imran Khan's decision to render mass resignations from the National Assembly was a difficult pill to swallow for many of PTI members as there was a clear deviation within the party. Many party members were of the view that resigning will cede ground open for its opposition parties, something that would not help the PTI but may show its negative affect and impact on Imran Khan's demand of early elections in the country. However, the final decision was left for Imran Khan to take, who decided to render mass resignations.

The question is if this move will help Imran Khan achieve his prime goal of having early elections in the country or not? Imran Khan has decided to take to the streets and protest against what he calls an imported government, "which has came into power with the help of a US-led international conspiracy" against him. The main agenda behind the public protests across Pakistan is to show public strength and create enough pressure on the Shehbaz Sharif-led coalition government to announce general elections at the earliest.

It is a fact that Imran Khan's latest narrative of an anti-US uproar, international conspiracy has gained him a major uplift in his popularity among the masses, who came out in huge number to show their support to him and rejected accepting the newly- elected government under Shehbaz Sharif.

Now, with Imran Khan and his team out of the Assembly, a thorough plan has been formulated for staging big public gatherings, demanding the government to hold early elections.

While Imran Khan believes that public pressure will push the government towards going into early elections, the decision to resign from the parliament may not help him achieve his desired result from the public uproar.

By not being in the assembly, the PTI loses out on being part of any legislation, formation of commissions, or major decision-making process. It also would not be able to challenge the ruling benches with its demand of early elections in the parliament, the very place where this particular decision will be made.

Imran Khan says that he cannot sit in the same parliament with what he refers as "thieves and looters of the country's wealth".

But it is also a historical fact that the biggest of protests against a ruling government have never been able to oust any sitting government. Imran Khan's strongest resistance was when he staged a long march and sat outside the Parliament in Islamabad for at least 126 days, protesting daily against the then Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. Even such a strong anti-government did not oust the government and the de-seating of Sharif had to go through the judicial process.

With mass resignations, Imran Khan's political mistake has given Shahbaz Sharif government no resistance in the parliament along with giving an easy getaway for the defecting members of PTI. This has also given the opportunity to the sitting government to delay the process of elections as much as they can and use that time to tire Imran Khan and his anti-government campaign.
Islamabad, April 12 : Newly-elected Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is expected to travel to Saudi Arabia and China in his first foreign trip after taking charge, a Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) leader said, Express Tribune reported.

Traditionally, a Pakistan Prime Minister's first foreign visit has often been to Saudi Arabia and China due to the country's strategic relationship with both the nations.

According to sources, during his visit to Saudi Arabia, Shehbaz Sharif will perform Umrah and meet the Saudi leadership.

The Sharif family maintains a close personal relationship with the Saudi Royal family as the latter played a central role in ensuring the safe exit of Nawaz Sharif after the October 1999 coup.

Saudi Arabia in the past had extended financial bailout packages to successive Pakistani governments. In fact, Riyadh gave former Prime Minister Imran Khan's government a $6 billion bailout package.

After the Saudi visit, Sharif is also expected to travel to China. The PM is known to enjoy a good reputation among the Chinese leadership because of his administrative qualities. During the previous PML-N tenure, Sharif played a central role in accelerating the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects, Express Tribune reported.

Meanwhile, the Chinese state media has welcomed the election of Sharif and stated that given his family's previous engagements with China, the new Prime Minister would prove better for Pakistan-China relationship than Imran Khan, the report said.
New Delhi, April 12 : Leading industry bodies on Tuesday hailed the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India's (TRAI) recommendations of around 35-40 per cent cut in the reserve price for 5G spectrum for mobile services, terming it historic and which can finally put India on the world 5G map.

The telecom regulator has put forward a mega auction plan valued at over Rs 7.5 trillion at the base price allocated over 30 years.

According to industry experts, the TRAI has mooted the concept of sharing of spectrum between the satellite and 5G industry in a harmonious manner.

"These are one of the most holistic, far-sighted and balanced recommendations in the last 25 years of the Indian telecom industry," said T.V. Ramachandran, President of Broadband India Forum (BIF).

The entire gamut of available spectrum in 600 MHz, 700 MHz, 800 MHz, 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 2100 MHz, 2300 MHz, 2500 MHz, 3300-3670 MHz and 24.25-28.5 GHz spectrum bands has been recommended by the TRAI to be put to auction.

"This would be extremely useful keeping in view that only limited spectrum is available for 5G in the 700 MHz band. The sub-GHz spectrum bands are extremely useful for indoor coverage in metros and for rural coverage," the BIF said in a statement.

In future auctions, access spectrum will be assigned for a period of 30 years as against 20 years now.

The BIF said that the TRAI has recommended the reserve price to be 1.5 times the reserve price for 20 years for the respective band, which is a constructive step for the industry.

"Increasing the validity of spectrum from 20 to 30 years confers substantial advantage to telecom service providers by giving a longer-term certainty for planning and recovering their investments," it added.

In terms of spectrum pricing, a price of Rs 317 crore/MHz of 5G spectrum has been recommended in the key 3.5 GHz band.

While the revised price may appear to be only 35 per cent below the previously recommended price, "this may be the best possible under the circumstances, since the indirect benefits from a 30-year tenure and easier payment terms would be quite substantial", the BIF noted.

Pankaj Mohindroo, Chairman of the India Cellular and Electronics Association (ICEA), told IANS that the industry was demanding and expecting a deeper cut.

"This reduction will, however, help the industry to some extent and we welcome this move," he said.

On the aspect of private 5G networks, Ramachandran said that these recommendations would enable India to showcase early adoption of 5G across several different verticals - be it healthcare, education, manufacturing, or more.

"We can ill afford to stay behind the rest of the world, and this is an opportunity for India to catch up on 5G through private networks," he added.

According to Ankit Jain, Assistant Vice President and Sector Head, Corporate Ratings, ICRA on the Telecom Sector, TRAI has recommended spectrum auctions with one of the largest quanta of spectrum on offer (more than 100,000 MHz).

"The reserve prices have been materially revised downwards by around 35-40% from the last spectrum auction and despite this, the total spectrum on offer at reserve price is valued at around Rs 5 lakh crore for 20 years," he said.

"Even at a modest participation in this auction, the debt levels of the industry are likely to elevate further to Rs 4.8 lakh crore by March 2023, despite the improvement in the cash flow generation post the tariff hikes as well as the deleveraging initiatives undertaken by the telcos," he added.
Kiev, April 12 : Ukrainian military officials are currently confirming information regarding the use of chemical weapons by Russian forces in Mariupol.

Hanna Maliar, Ukraine's Deputy Minister of Defence, said on the national joint news broadcast, "We are currently confirming this information, trying to understand what it was. According to preliminary information, we can say that it is possible -- that it was, rather, phosphorous munition. Official information will be finalised later." Maliar stressed that the risk of Russia deploying chemical weapons remains, and is quite high, Ukrayinska Pravda reported.

On the evening of April 11, it was reported that Russian soldiers dropped a poisonous substance of unknown origin on Mariupol.

According to Andrii Biletsky, leader of the Azov regiment, the army of the Russian Federation deployed chemical weapons on the Azovstal plant, which is held by Azov fighters, the report said.

The victims of the poisonous substance of unknown origin spread by Russian forces in Mariupol are in a relatively satisfactory condition, Azov Regiment has claimed.

Civilian contact with the substance was minimal, as the epicentre was at a certain distance from civilian areas. Servicemen were somewhat closer.

In a video released by the Azov Regiment, the victims describe seeing something resembling smoke or fog.

The main symptoms of the victims are facial flushing, high blood pressure, dryness and a burning sensation in the nasopharynx and mucous membranes of the eyes, tachycardia, tinnitus, shortness of breath, and dizziness, Ukrayinska Pravda reported.

Latest updates on Russia-Ukraine War
Patna, April 12 : Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar had a narrow escape as a minor explosion rocked his Jan Samvad programme in Nalanda district on Tuesday and some of the blast debris landed just a few feet away.

This was the second attack on Nitish Kumar in three weeks. Earlier, a man in mid 20s punched Nitish Kumar from behind in Bakhtiyarpur town in Patna district on March 27.

The Chief Minister on Tuesday travelled to Nalanda for the programme, organised by district administration at the Gandhi high school in Silao block. The explosion took place around 20 feet away from Nitish Kumar who was busy interacting with common people and some explosive materials fell just 5 feet away from Nitish Kumar, creating chaos at the venue.

An official of Nalanda police said that a man named Subham Aditya, a native of Satyarganj village under Islampur police station, has been arrested in this connection.

"The accused was trying to greet Nitish Kumar but the Chief Minister moved away from him. Soon the explosion took place. We have recovered a cracker, a match box and a key ring from his possession. The accused is arrested now and interrogation is underway," said an official of Silao police station.

Following the Bakhtiyarpur attack, the Bihar Police had prepared a blueprint to enhance the security of the Chief Minister.

ADGP, Security, Bacchu Singh Meena had issued guidelines to every District Magistrate and Superintendent of Police to make elaborate arrangement every time the Chief Minister visits their district.

As per the directive, the district administrations have to provide security as per the recommendation of the Verma committee of 1991, which had pointed out special security parameters in its report submitted to the central government.

Under this, the officers will be held accountable for any kind of security lapse during the visit of the Chief Minister. The officers would have to take appropriate security measures before the visit and ensure that unwanted people or strangers not come near the Chief Minister.

Despite such a recommendation, a serious security breach occurred in Nalanda.
Jammu, April 12 : To facilitate the pilgrimage in the 700-year-old Mata Vaishno Devi shrine in Jammu, the shrine board on Tuesday gave approval to the much awaited proposal to construct a 1,281-metre long ropeway between Katra and Adhkuwari.

The proposal was approved in the 69th meeting of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, presided over by the board Chairman Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha.

The trek between Katra and Adhkuwari is 6 km.

Sharing details, Delhi-based shrine board member K.K. Sharma of AIMIL Pharmaceuticals Ltd told IANS the discussion on this proposal was going on for a long time.

"In fact, for the first time in 2012, in the 51st meeting, the board had decided to conduct a study with RITES Ltd, a railway undertaking, to explore the possibilities of ropeway. RITES submitted its report to the board in 2017 which found it suitable for the construction of the ropeway between Katra and Adhkuwari.

"Since then, this proposal was continuously pending, which was approved in the first meeting of the newly constituted board held on Tuesday itself." One of the holiest Hindu temples, Vaishno Devi, is located at Katra town in Jammu district.

The temple is situated at an altitude of 5,200 feet, about 12 km from Katra.

As per the proposal, 1,281.20-metre long ropeway will be constructed with a maximum height of 590.75 metres.

It will have the capacity to carry 1,500 people on one side per hour with each cabin having a capacity of eight persons.

While its construction is estimated at Rs 94.23 crore, RITES says 63 per cent of the operating cost can be recovered if the per passenger travel fee is kept at Rs 200.

Sharma said the construction would start soon.

The pilgrim footfall at the shrine was over 55.77 lakh in 2021, compared to 17 lakh the previous year due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Kolkata, April 12 : West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar on Tuesday indirectly attacked Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for her "love affair" comment, giving a "love-angle" twist to the case of rape of a minor girl, who died later, at Hanskhali in Nadia district.

In a Twitter message, the Governor, without naming the Banerjee, accused her of taking a "judgemental stance" in the gruesome event.

Dhankhar also hinted that such "judgemental stance" can influence the investigation process in the case.

"Criminal Investigation in shameful rape #Hanskhali leading to victim death is tainted & compromised when people in authority & constitutional position indicate judgmental stand. This against the law approach scuttles fair & independent probe as police is forced to toe such line," Dhankhar tweeted.

This was the second Twitter message made by the Governor on this issue.

On Monday, Dhankhar had sought a detailed report from Chief Secretary H.K. Dwivedi on this matter after BJP legislator and leader of the opposition Suvendu Adhikari met the Governor and expressed concern in the matter.

"LOP #Suvdendu WB ha sought probe on alleged gangrape death of 14yeara"old girl in Nadia as also atrocities on Ram Bhakats #RamNavami. Both highlight worrisome state of crime against women & nose-diving law & order scenario. Guv has sought urgent report from CS both counts," Dhankhar tweeted on Monday.

"What has happened is not right. I condemn it. The police have arrested the accused. But the opposition parties and a section of the media are trying to give a political twist to the entire event. I have received the news that there was a love affair between the accused and the victim. So why come to a conclusion before the investigation is completed," Banerjee had said on Monday.
New Delhi, April 12 : The new XE variant of Covid is just another form of Omicron, and its case was detected in January also before recently being found in Gujarat, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said on Tuesday.

"The XE variant is a combination or recombinant of both sub-variants - BA.1 and BA.2 - of Omicron.

"No new variant of Covid has been detected this time. This is the only variant which has been found and majorly we have passed the phase of this variant," he said at a press conference at the BJP headquarters where he spoke in detail about the Central government's measures to deal with the pandemic since its outbreak in 2020.

Mandaviya also stressed the need to maintain precautions as the pandemic is not over yet. On the question of vaccination drive for below 12 years of age, he said that it is up to experts to decide.

About the precaution dose price which major vaccine manufacturers, SII and Bharat Biotech, have fixed at Rs 225, he said it is the maximum price, and this may still come down due to competition in future as more vaccine manufacturers enter the market.

On India's fight against the pandemic, Mandaviya said over 97 per cent of the eligible population has been given the first dose of vaccine and 85 per cent both doses, which, he added, played a key role in curbing the severity of the Omicron wave that hit many countries hard.

Mandaviya also announced that under Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav a week-long celebration will be held to mark the 4th anniversary of Ayushman Bharat Health & Wellness Centres from April 16 to 22. Block Level Health Melas will be held at more than 1 lakh AB-HWCs from April 18 to 22 to provide screening for early diagnosis of TB, hypertension, diabetes, basic health care services with drugs and diagnostics & teleconsultation with relevant health specialists.
New Delhi: Residents search for their belongings amid debris of their burnt houses after a fire breaks out at Kathpul Colony of Anand Parvat area in New Delhi, on Monday April 12, 2022. (Photo:Qamar Sibtain/ IANS) Image Source: IANS News

New Delhi: Residents search for their belongings amid debris of their burnt houses after a fire breaks out at Kathpul Colony of Anand Parvat area in New Delhi, on Monday April 12, 2022. (Photo:Qamar Sibtain/ IANS) Image Source: IANS News

New Delhi, April 12 : Around 50 shanties were gutted in a massive fire that broke out at a transit camp in central Delhi on Tuesday evening, an official said.

The fire department received a call at around 2.14 p.m. at a transit camp in Anand Parbat following which as many as 18 fire tenders were immediately pressed into the service. "No casualties were reported in the incident," Delhi Fire Services chief Atul Garg told IANS, adding the situation is under control.

The residents of the shanties could be seen standing on the roof of their hutment as the fire fighters tried to put out the fire by pouring gushing waters over the blaze.

In the video recorded by the onlookers and the fire department, thick fumes of black smoke along with massive blaze could be seen billowing out of the houses that were on fire.
Islamabad, April 12 : Pakistans top military brass has taken notice of the recent propaganda campaign by some quarters to malign Pakistan Army and create division between the institution and the society, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement on Tuesday, Express Tribune reported.

The forum expressed complete confidence in the leadership's well-considered stance to uphold the Constitution and the rule of law, at all cost, according to the military's media wing, the ISPR.

The statement comes after the 79th Formation Commanders' Conference was held at the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi.

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), General Qamar Javed Bajwa, presided over the conference which was attended by corps commanders, principal staff officers and all formation commanders of the Pakistan Army.

The army chief expressed satisfaction over the operational preparedness of formations and response mechanisms to deal with the emerging challenges.

"National security of Pakistan is sacrosanct," the military's media wing quoted Bajwa in the statement, adding: "Pakistan Army has always stood by the state institutions to guard it and always will, without any compromise." The Pakistan Army is aware of its responsibilities and shall continue to defend the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Pakistan against all internal and external threats under all circumstances, the ISPR quoted Bajwa as saying.
Thiruvananthapuram, April 12 : After a hiatus of two years due to the Covid pandemic, Kerala Tourism organised its first B2B meet in Spanish capital Madrid and Italy's Milan, showcasing a range of its new tourism initiatives and popular destinations before the leading stakeholders of tourism and hospitality industry in the two European cities.

The annual BIT Milan Trade Fair, held during April 10-12, was another event in which Kerala participated in to build confidence in the market and include the state back in the itineraries of tourists from the European continent.

Additional Chief Secretary, Tourism, V.Venu, who led the delegation, gave a detailed presentation on the state and its way forward to attract tourists in a big way.

"The shows were part of the state's ongoing promotional activities to consolidate its position in the European market and send out a loud and clear message to the tourists that God's Own Country is once again as hospitable and safe as it used to be in the pre-pandemic times," he said.

"The feedback from Kerala's trade partners, who attended the road shows, have been very positive. It has also reaffirmed the effectiveness of B2B meets," added Venu.

The B2B meets also witnessed active participation from Kerala's trade partners in the private sector.

By organising the road shows, Kerala Tourism also leveraged the opportunity to tap the opening of international flights and free visas offered to foreign tourists as announced by the Indian government.

A total of 18,947 tourists from Spain visited Kerala in 2019, registering an increase of 20 per cent compared to the previous year. Likewise, the state witnessed arrivals of 28,046 tourists from Italy in that year.
Washington, April 12 : An astronaut, part of the recent private mission to the International Space Station (ISS) American space habitat company Axiom Space, is set to test the making of a liquid telescope mirror in space.

NASA's Fluidic Telescope Experiment (FLUTE) is a programme designed to explore whether it was possible to make high-precision lenses and mirrors in space using liquids.

Ax-1 Mission specialist Eytan Stibbe will perform the experimentA to see if fluids can be used to create lenses in microgravity.

The experiment will take place entirely in microgravity using liquid polymers and will use either UV light or temperature to harden them in-orbit.

The lenses will then return to Earth where researchers at NASA's Ames Research Center in California will study them.

"In microgravity, liquids take on shapes that are useful for making lenses and mirrors, so if we make them in space, they could be used to build telescopes that are dramatically bigger than was previously thought possible," Edward Balaban, principal investigator of the FLUTE, at Ames.

The research team, which comprises scientists from NASA's Ames Research Center, NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, and the Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, has already demonstrated the technology twice. First in simulated microgravity in water on Earth, then on ZeroG parabolic flights, which offered researchers 15- to 20-second-long periods of microgravity.

Using a laser to take ultra-fast and ultra-exact measurements, they were able to see the precise moment the liquid took shape.

"Sure enough, in a few seconds we were able to create a free-standing liquid lens - until the plane lifted upwards again and gravity kicked in and the oils oozed out," said Moran Bercovici, an associate professor of Mechanical Engineering at Technion.

"Our experiment on the space station will add a step to cure the fluids so they keep their shape," he added.

If the experiment is successful, "it will be the first time an optical component is made in space," said Balaban. "It feels a bit like making history." --IANS

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Chennai, April 12 : AIADMK Coordinator and Tamil Nadu's former Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam on Tuesday deplored a Sri Lankan court reportedly ordering Rs 1 crore as security for the release of each Indian fisherman from the state arrested by the island nation.

In a statement, he said that the order went against justice and that the fishermen and their families are stunned by it.

Panneerselvam said that the fishermen from Tamil Nadu were continuing with the job of fishing even after the Sri Lankan Navy's arrests and intimidation only for a living and "a court ordering such huge security to release the arrested fishermen from Sri Lanka is the height of injustice".

Noting that the fishermen will never be able to pay such a huge amount as security, he said that if they had the means to pay such huge money as security, they would not have been in the profession of fishing. He also called upon Chief Minister M.K. Stalin to intervene in this matter.
Panaji, April 12 : The Bombay High Court bench in Goa on Tuesday directed the stoppage of transportation of iron ore, which was auctioned online by the state government from existing ore stacks at a mine located in Pissurlem village in North Goa.

In their order on Tuesday, Justices MS Sonak and RN Laddha also questioned the state government over whether the e-auction was conducted by the state government "without ascertaining and declaring the grade of the ore to be auctioned".

"We would also like to know the position from the State Government about holding of e-auction without ascertaining and declaring the grade of the ore to be auctioned. In the present case, the records indicate that the material was knocked down at the base price of Rs 350 per metric tos," the High Court order said.

The High Court order follows a petition by the Goa Foundation, a leading green NGO in Goa, who had alleged that the iron ore was e-auctioned at a "knocked down" base price of Rs 350 per tonne, without the state government undertaking the due diligence of ascertaining the grade of ore which was being auctioned. The petition alleged that the price of the iron ore which has been e-auctioned was pegged at Rs 1,360 per tonne.

The NGO also told the High Court that the e-auction was conduced by the state government without engaging its agencies to ascertain the ore content or the grade of the ore, as a result of which the ore was eventually sold for a base price of Rs 350 per tonne.

The Court order has also said that it needs to satisfy itself about measures being taken to curb pollution along the ore transportation route.

"We would like to satisfy ourselves that there is proper compliance with the requirements of installation of AAQM (ambient air quality monitoring) Stations along the specified route of transportation before such transportation continues any further," the High Court said in its order.

The Court directive follows allegations levelled by the petitioner, who had alleged that the ore transportation was not being monitored by the state government's pollution monitoring agent, the Goa State Pollution Control Board, as a result of which there were popular protests by villagers residing along the ore transportation route.
Chandigarh, April 12 : The Opposition in Punjab -- the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and the Congress -- on Tuesday asked Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to safeguard the interests of the state and ensure that it is not subject to remote control rule by the AAP government in Delhi or be taken over by the Centre.

The Opposition also asked the Chief Minister to address the pressing concerns of farmers, who are seeking compensation on account of low wheat yields.

Joining the issue, newly-appointed state Congress chief Amrinder Singh Raja Warring targeted Mann over the Centre's interfering in the state's law and order matters in the context of the Punjab Governor's visits to the border areas.

He also took a dig at the Chief Minister over Arvind Kejriwal summoning Punjab officials to Delhi, saying it has set a wrong precedent.

Responding to the issue, senior SAD leader Daljit Singh Cheema said that instead of tackling the real issues of Punjab, the AAP government is trying to obfuscate them by diverting the attention of the people by focusing on issues like songs and similar activities.

Asserting that the recent developments are very 'dangerous' for the state, Cheema said Punjabis are shocked that Kejriwal is taking meetings of the Punjab chief secretary and the State Power Corporation Ltd (PSPCL) Chairman.

"The apprehension in the minds of the people that the Punjab government would be run by remote control from Delhi under AAP rule is proving to be true," he said.

Asking Mann to clarify the situation, Cheema said the manner in which the Delhi Chief Minister is riding roughshod over constitutional norms has made Punjabis insecure.

"Punjabis rightfully fear that the officers of Punjab could be brow beaten to sign away the rights of the state on important issues like river-waters. Mann should understand that he has been elected to office in Punjab and he alone should hold the required meetings, and not give this right to the Delhi Chief Minister," he said.

The SAD said that simultaneously, the Punjab Chief Minister should stand up to the Centre and ensure the federal structure is not diluted in any manner.

Cheema said even while the Chief Minister was in Delhi, the Punjab Governor was taking meetings in the border districts of the state.

Terming this as unprecedented, the Akali leader said that Mann should explain if there is a breakdown in the constitutional machinery and the state has failed in its duties due to which the Governor had to intervene.

Reacting to the development over Kejriwal's 'interference', former state Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu tweeted, "Punjab's IAS officers summoned by Arvind Kejriwal in CM Bhagwant Mann's absence. This exposes the de facto CM and Delhi remote control. Clear breach of federalism, insult to Punjabi pride. Both must clarify."
Islamabad, April 12 : After days of chaotic political crisis, democratic instability and constitutional warfare, Pakistans shaky political ship seems to have come out of the storm and is showing a picture that is in line with the democratic political setup.

The recent days have been historical as Imran Khan's designation changed from being a sitting PM of Pakistan to a former PM, forced to succumb to the majority opposition against him, adamant to remove him from power through a first successful no-confidence vote in the country's decades long history.

Imran Khan claims that his government was ousted through an international conspiracy, and the opposition parties had sold their souls, integrity, dignity and country's sovereignty, only to take him off power.

Khan slammed the United States, the western countries and his opposition parties for conspiring against him only because he was desirous of not being a slave to the western powers and wanted to form an independent foreign policy for Pakistan.

While Khan decided to take the narrative to the masses, Shehbaz Sharif was sworn-in as Pakistan's new Prime Minister. He was the sole candidate for the post after Khan's loyalist Shah Mahmood Qureshi withdrew and resigned his seat.

Sharif's approach was visible in his first address to the parliament as he focused on domestic financial crisis of the country, for which he blamed Khan's government.

Sharif announced immediate raise of minimum wage of Rs 25,000 and also promised to raise pensions by at least 10 per cent for those getting under Rs 1,00,000 in pensions.

Sharif also announced to hold an in-camera session of the parliament on national security, to discuss and get briefed about the 'threat' letter, the cable that started Khan's claim of having foreign hands behind the opposition parties' no-confidence motion against him.

Sharif said he would call in Ambassador Asad Majeed, the then Pakistani Ambassador to Washington, to brief the in-camera session with parliamentarians and the armed forces about the reality of the diplomatic cable.

He also vouched to resign from premiership if evidence of his or his ally opposition parties are found in the threat letter, a claim Khan made as an international conspiracy against his government for a regime change and accused all of his opposition as traitors of the country.

Sharif's approach towards relations with foreign countries also highlighted the urgent need of a damage control policy, as he expressed his desire to have better relations with the US, European Union, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Iran and India.

Sharif said that Pakistan desires better relations with India, stressing that a solution is still needed to be found for Jammu and Kashmir.

He also highlighted the importance of upholding the sovereignty and status of institutions, including the judiciary and the military establishment, insisting that institutional harmony is the need of the hour for Pakistan's stability.

The approach Sharif took seemed to hit the right buttons as he centred the country's goal on becoming financially independent in order to find mutual ground of interest and better relations with the world.
Mumbai, April 12 : In a significant decision, Maharashtra Housing Minister Dr Jitendra Awhad on Tuesday announced that henceforth no prior permission or no objection certificate (NOC) from a cooperative housing society would be necessary for owners wanting to sell/rent out their flats.

This would enable the owners to conduct his/her rental/sale transactions without hassles or delays and prevent harassment by the society committees to green signal such proposals.

"We have come to know that many housing societies discriminate on the basis of caste, creed, religion, community, vegetarians and don't permit the owners to sell/rent out their properties," Dr Awhad said.

He pointed out how in some societies or localities dominated by any particular community, certain communities are barred in the name of preferring only 'vegetarians', or preventing Dalits and Other Backward Classes, which is leading to increasing hatred among the people.

He said that as per the by-laws, the society's permissions are not required for owners to either sell/hire out their homes, yet many managing committees are insisting on their clearance.

"Now, if the owner wishes to sell-rent out his flat, he/she will not need the society's NOC," Dr Awhad declared, justifying it on grounds of Mumbai being a leading cosmopolitan city in the world and such tactics were sullying the image of the country's financial capital.

Several individuals, societies, and the Maharashtra Societies Welfare Association have approved and welcomed Dr. Awhad's initiative, and urged that it should be formalised through a 'Government Resolution' with punitive clauses for the errant societies/managing committee members.

There have been many instances in the past when people, including many celebs, were barred from buying/selling flats in certain areas/housing societies under the garb of the NOC, but now that will stop, said a Kandivali CHS Chairman, preferring anonymity.

"Consequently, many lose out on a potentially lucrative deal, their transactions get delayed in the societal red-tapism, some societies even demand a certain amount of the deal as a 'donation' to the building funds, and there was harassment of both the buyers and the sellers on various counts," he said.
Bilaspur : , April 12 (IANS) BJP president JP Nadda and Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur on Tuesday jointly reviewed the progress of developmental works at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Bilaspur district.

Nadda, who belongs to Bilaspur, appreciated the efforts of the Centre and the state government for constructing 750-bed AIIMS in Bilaspur town with an expenditure of Rs 1,471 crore, which is nearing completion.

Special emphasis is being laid on posting of doctors and health workers along with development of infrastructure at AIIMS to provide better health facilities to the people at the earliest, an official statement quoting Nadda said.

He said the four-lane work of the Kiratpur-Ner Chowk National Highway is under progress. A total of 22 big and 15 small bridges and five double-lane tunnels are being constructed on some 47-km long road.

On completion of the four-lane work, the distance from Garamora to Mandi will be reduced by 40 km and the travel time would also be reduced.

The distance between Bilaspur and Garamora would also be reduced to 23 km.

Nadda said the work of the Bhanupalli railway line to be constructed at a cost of Rs 6,753 crore is also in progress, under which 48.6-km line would be laid in Himachal Pradesh.

A total of 20 tunnels and 26 main bridges would be built on this track. Under this project, the work of land acquisition up to Beri has been almost completed.

Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister Thakur said a Rs 1,400-crore project has been prepared to restore the ancient historical temples of Bilaspur, which have been submerged in Govind Sagar Lake, which is proposed to be implemented in three phases. The project will be completed in collaboration with international agencies.

He said in the first phase the project is proposed to restore the temples in Nale Ka Naun. In the second phase, the Sandu ground would be developed as a tourist spot and in the third phase a water reservoir would be built around the temples by constructing a barrage near Mandi Bharari.

Thakur said Bilaspur would be developed as an ideal tourist destination with this ambitious plan and would also revive the old history and culture of Bilaspur, to which the sentiments of local residents will be taken care of.
New Delhi, April 12 : The Supreme Court on Tuesday said the event organisers were also responsible to protect the life and liberty of the victims in the 2006 Meerut fire tragedy, which claimed the lives of 65 persons and left 161 or more with burn injuries.

It directed the Chief Justice of Allahabad High Court to entrust the work of determination of compensation to a judicial officer of the rank of district judge/additional district judge at Meerut within two weeks.

A bench of Justices Hemant Gupta and V. Ramasubramanian noted that the victims or their families visited the exhibition on the invitation of the organisers and not that of the contractor. It added that the organisers cannot now take shelter on the ground that the contractor who was given work order on March 9, 2006, was an independent contractor and the victims should seek remedy from him.

"As observed earlier, the contractor has worked for the organisers and not for the victims. Hence, the organisers alone are responsible to protect the life and liberty of the victims," said Justice Gupta, who authored the judgment on behalf of the bench.

The top court judgment came on the petition filed by the victims of the fire tragedy, which occurred on April 10, 2006 - the last day of the India Brand Consumer Show organised at Victoria Park, Meerut, by Mrinal Events and Expositions.

The bench noted that the mere fact that the cause of the accident is unknown does not prevent the plaintiff from recovering the damages, if proper inference to be drawn from the circumstances which are known is that it was caused by the negligence of the defendant.

"The Court Commissioner found that the contract with the contractor was neither a turn-key project nor was he appointed as an independent contractor. Therefore, the argument of the organisers that they are not liable for the acts of omission or commission on the part of the contractor was rejected by the Commission," it said.

The bench said in respect of criminal charges, an accused can be tried by a court of law and not merely on the basis of the report of the commissioner under the Inquiry Act.

"Such report is not conclusive and an independent action has to be taken by the state or by the victims against the organisers before the competent court of law to prove the criminal offences said to be committed by certain accused," it added in its 52-page judgment.

The bench did not accept the arguments of senior advocate Shanti Bhushan, representing the organisers, that the court commissioner has not given any conclusive finding on the cause of the fire, saying it is not relevant in determining the civil liability.

"The court commissioner has rightly fixed the liability on the organisers to the extent of 60 per cent, and on account of negligence in performing statutory duties by the officers of the state, the state has been burdened with 40% of the total liability. We do not find such distribution of liability suffers from any illegality which may warrant interference by this court." The bench asked the judicial officer to work exclusively on the question of determination of the compensation on a day-to-day basis. it noted that the amount paid by the state government and a sum of Rs 30 lakh deposited by the organisers has been disbursed to 52 of the victims.

"The said amount, excluding the ex-gratia payments made, be taken into consideration while determination of the amount payable by the organisers and the state," it added.

Rejecting the proceedings conducted by the Commission under the Inquiry Act, the top court had appointed retired judge of the Supreme Court, Justice S.B. Sinha as a one-man commission to look into the incident.

The state government had earlier paid Rs 5 lakh each to the deceased, Rs 2 lakh each to the victims suffering serious injuries, and Rs 75,000 each to the victims, in view of a previous order by the apex court.

The Union government had separately paid ex-gratia compensation of Rs 1 lakh each for the deceased and Rs 50,000 each for those with serious injuries.

The top court has listed the matter after four months.
New Delhi, April 12 : The inaugural delivery of Covid vaccines under the Quad's flagship Vaccine Partnership was made in Cambodia on Tuesday.

Indian Ambassador Devyani Khobragade, along with representatives from the Embassies of Australia, Japan and US to Cambodia, jointly handed over a consignment of 325,000 doses of made in India Covishield vaccines to Prime Minister, Hun Sen, at the Peace Palace in Phnom Penh.

The vaccines have been gifted by India as part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's commitment to donate 500,000 doses of Covid vaccines to the Indo-Pacific under the Quad vaccine initiative.

The Quad Vaccine Partnership was announced by the Quad Leaders at their first Summit on March 12, 2021, aiming to leverage Quad's collective strength to ensure global availability of safe and effective vaccines by expanding manufacturing and assisting countries in the Indo-Pacific with vaccination. Quad countries agreed to provide over 1.2 billion doses of Covid vaccines globally under this initiative.

Quad countries have collectively so far provided Cambodia with close to five million Covid vaccine doses bilaterally and through Covax. Australia and Japan have provided cold storage equipment, freezers and temperature monitors along with equipment for safety of health care workers.

The Cambodian government has conveyed its appreciation for the vaccines received from Quad through India and for its collective assistance to Cambodia.
New Delhi, April 12 : A group of men brutally thrashed five persons in the national capital for allegedly slaughtering cows, leading to the death of one person who succumbed to his injuries.

The deceased, identified as Raja Ram (40), was the caretaker of a farmhouse where he was allegedly involved in cow slaughtering.

According to a senior officer of the Delhi Police, the incident took place on the intervening night of April 10-11 at a farmhouse in the Dwarka area of Delhi.

"The incident of cow slaughtering was reported at 2.10 a.m. on April 11 after which five people involved were arrested by the police," Deputy Commissioner of Police (Dwarka), Shankar Choudhary, said.

However, before the police reached the spot to arrest them, a group of 10-15 men barged into the farmhouse and thrashed the alleged cow slaughterers.

One of the accused persons told the police that he and his friends were beaten severely and threatened by alleged miscreants, who claimed to be 'gau rakshaks'.

One of the arrested accused, Raja Ram, was taken to the Rao Tula Ram Memorial Hospital, where he was declared dead, Choudhary said.

"A probe is on to nab the alleged miscreants," the officer added.
Hyderabad, April 12 : The Telangana cabinet on Tuesday gave in-principle approval for setting up of five private universities in the state.

CII-AMITY, MNR, Gurunanak, NICMAR, and Kaveri are the universities which will come up. The last one will be an agriculture university.

Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao told reporters after the Cabinet meeting that a pharma university and an aviation university are also proposed.

The pharma university will be the first of its kind and during the recent visit by Industries Minister K.T. Rama Rao to the US, American companies came forward to be a part of this initiative by sharing technical know-how.

India's first civil aviation university is also proposed to come up in Hyderabad. The Chief Minister noted that the sector is fast growing.

KCR, as the Chief Minister is popularly known, said Hyderabad airport has become the fourth-largest airport in India after airports at Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru. It has overtaken Kolkata and Chennai airports.

"In terms of area, Hyderabad is the biggest airport in India. Delhi has 5,000 acres land while Hyderabad airport has 5,200 acres," he said.

The government has also asked airport operator GMR Hyderabad International Airport Ltd to develop a second runway to meet the growing demand.

In another major decision, the Cabinet decided to scrap Government Order (GO) 111 which was issued in 1996 to protect Himayat Sagar and Osman Sagar, the two reservoirs built across Musi river.

KCR said the GO was being scrapped as promised to people of Vikarabad and Ranga Reddy districts. He, however, assured that the government will not allow pollution of Musi and Esa rivers and the two reservoirs.

A committee headed by the Chief Secretary with the Pollution Control Board, Forest and Environment Department will be constituted, which will decide how to move ahead. It will declare green zones and prepare a master plan accordingly.
New Delhi, April 12 : , The Enforcement Directorate (ED) said on Thursday that it has attached assets worth Rs 2.04 crore in connection with a case registered against Maheswar Pradhan, an ex-divisional manager in the Odisha Forest Development Corporation Limited (OFDC), for possessing assets disproportionate to his known source of income.

The ED initiated a money laundering investigation on the basis of an FIR lodged by Bhubaneswar Police. The police had accused Pradhan of possessing disproportionate assets worth of Rs 2.04 crore.

The ED learnt during the investigation that Pradhan had invested his ill-gotten income, which were over and above his known source of income, in acquiring various immovable properties and in bank investments in his name and in the name of his family members.

The proceeds of crime have now been attached.
Patna, April 12 : In an embarrassment for the RJD, the younger son of its Bihar unit President Jagadanand Singh joined the ruling JD-U in Patna on Tuesday.

An event was held in JD-U office located at Veerchand Patel path where Ajit Singh joined the party in the presence of national President Lalan Singh and state President Umesh Kushwaha.

"The workers of the RJD have no future in the party. They (party leaders) ignore workers during ticket distribution and give it to financially sound people. The workers are undergoing humiliation every day. I am seeing my father who is facing humiliation in the RJD," he said, in a veiled reference to RJD supremo Lalu Prasad's elder son Tej Pratap Yadav who openly criticized Jagadanand Singh several times in the last one year.

"I am inspired by CM Nitish Kumar more compared to Lalu Prasad Yadav. Hence, I became a rebel in my family and joined the JD-U.

"The RJD has become a graveyard for dedicated workers who are working for years. People, who are associated with other fields, used to come with the suitcases during election time, obtaining tickets and becoming MPs, MLAs, and MLCs. Every person knows about such practices in RJD. Hence, a large number of dedicated RJD workers want to join JD-U," he claimed.

Lalan Singh said: "Jagada Babu is my old friend but I don't know why he is staying with the RJD and facing humiliation every day. We have learnt from Jannayak Karpoori Thakur Ji who often said that compromise cannot be done with self-respect.. Jagada Babu is facing humiliation is just not understandable.

"The pain of Jagadanand Singh is rightly understood by his son. That's why he is here with us."
London, April 12 : Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday said that peace talks have reached a "dead-end situation" after Ukraine made allegations about war crimes, media reports said.

In a rare public appearance alongside his Belarus counterpart, Alexander Lukashenko, Putin dismissed the discovery of dead bodies lying in the streets in the Ukrainian town of Bucha as "fake", the BBC reported.

He insisted that Russian military's goals in Ukraine are "noble".

The Russian President said talks with Ukraine had derailed because the Ukrainian side had made "fake claims" about war crimes and extra demands for security guarantees.

"We have again returned to a dead-end situation for us," he said.

He added that Russia would continue its operation to defend the Russian speakers of eastern Ukraine.

Meanwhile, Lukashenko said allegations of atrocities in northern Ukraine were "a psychological operation carried out by the English" in Ukraine, BBC reported.

Ukraine and Russia are building up their military forces in the eastern Ukrainian region of Donbas as Moscow switches the focus of its offensive, BBC reported.

The US and Britain say they are looking into reports that chemical weapons have been used by Russian forces attacking Mariupol.

Latest updates on Russia-Ukraine War
New Delhi, April 12 : The Central government on Tuesday asked all states for safety audits of all ropeway projects to ensure safety and maintenance as per the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), and the necessary guidance may be taken from National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation (NHIDCL).

Union Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla, in an official communication to all the Chief Secretaries, said the state government must engage an experienced and qualified firm or organisation for carrying out safety audits of each ropeway project.

The entity operating the ropeway must comply with all the issues arising out of the audit, he further said.

"For each ropeway project, a maintenance manual must be prepared. In addition to the maintenance manual, there should be a maintenance programme so that the safety standards conform to good industry practices. The entity operating the ropeways must maintain a record of all the activities undertaken as part of the maintenance programme," Bhalla said in his letter to the states.

Citing the incident of mishap happened in Trikut Hills in Jharkhand's Deoghar district on April 10 in which trollies of the Trikut ropeway broke down resulting in 18 trollies carrying about 59 persons getting stranded in the air, the Home Secretary asked all Chief Secretaries to take a review of the situation in respect of all the ropeway projects in their respective states and ensure that Standard Operative Procedures, contingency plans for operation and maintenance of ropeways, and system of safety audits are in place.

"It should also be ensured that mock drills/mock exercises for handling contingency situations involving ropeways are periodically conducted. You may like to designate a senior officer of an appropriate level to regularly review the preparedness measures in respect of ropeway operations as per the SOPs and Contingency Plan," the Home Secretary further said in his letter.

He also asked the state administration for operation and maintenance of ropeway projects and the BIS Standards have already been prescribed by the NHIDCL which is the nodal organisation under the Ministry of Road, Transport, and Highways, under the Central government.

Referring to the Deoghar ropeway accident, he also said that after the valiant efforts made by Indian Air Force, NDRF, Indian Army, ITBP, and local administration, the trapped/stranded persons were rescued.

However, despite all the efforts, three precious lives were lost. This incident has highlighted the need to have a detailed Standard Operating Procedure, and a contingency plan on ropeway operations, so as to prevent occurrence of any such incident in the future, the Home Secretary added in his letter.
New Delhi, April 12 : Minorities are harassed by the administration in wake of violence during Ram Navami processions, Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind leader Mahmood Madani said, demanding a judicial equiry into the incidents to bring the culprits to book.

In a letter to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Madani, a former MP, said: "I request you to order a time-bound high-level judicial inquiry into the Khargone violence (in Madhya Pradesh)." Prosecute all those who instigated the violence during the procession, he said.

"I would also request you to pay attention to the discriminatory modus operandi of the law enforcement agencies. There must be an immediate halt to demolition of the properties, as it is believed that many innocent and poor are wrongly being caught in the drive," he said.

Madani alleged that anti-Muslim provocation by right-wing extremist groups has become a set pattern that is often followed by violence as during Ram Navami processions on April 9. Among all, Khargone in Madhya Pradesh was perhaps the most-affected place where minority community suffered a lot as several homes and religious places were torched and looted by anti-social elements Minorities are targeted and local administration is set at harassing the community, Madani said.

"Properties belonging to Muslims are being razed in a selective manner. People are homeless all of a sudden. Under which laws, are properties of a suspect of any crime allowed to be demolished? I have been informed by local residents that so far 16 houses and 29 shops, mostly belonging to Muslims, have been demolished. More than 75 Muslims have been arrested so far. Local police is creating a fear psychosis among the minority community."
New Delhi, April 12 : The Supreme Court on Tuesday commenced hearing on the dispute between the Central and Delhi governments in connection with control over administrative services, with the latter alleging that the Centre has been "negating" federalism by taking away its power of transfers and postings.

Citing the 2018 judgment, a bench headed by Chief Justice N.V. Ramana queried Additional Solicitor General Sanjay Jain, representing the Centre, whether it had said that the Assembly was "redundant" and the Lt Governor can exercise power over legislative functions.

The Centre contended that a constitution bench should hear the dispute. Counsel pointed out that earlier five-judge bench verdicts did not give any roadmap, whether the Union or the Delhi government will have the competence in connection with the dispute.

The Centre also sought a joint hearing of two separate petitions filed by the Delhi government - one, in connection with the control over services and the other, challenging the constitutional validity of the amended GNCTD Act, 2021 and the Transaction of Business Rules. The Centre insisted that they are prima facie correlated.

The bench, also comprising Justices Surya Kant and Hima Kohli, asked senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, representing the Delhi government, whether it should pass an empty order in connection with control over services, since the validity of the amended Act was also pending before it.

Singhvi said the question was whether the Delhi government was denuded of its power to effect transfers and postings of public servants. He pointed at the split verdict where one judge on the bench had said that it did not have the power, and the other said it can enjoy the authority for officers below joint secretary rank.

Contending the Centre was negating federalism by taking away the power of transfers and postings, he said that nobody disputed Delhi's powers for years, but now a Chief Minister of an elected legislature is answerable to the office of the Lt Governor, instead of the public through the Assembly.

The bench took note of the submissions of the counsel for the Centre and Delhi government and listed both the petitions together on April 27. It asked the Centre to file its response on a plea challenging the constitutional validity of the amended GNCTD Act, in 10 days.

A two-judge bench, headed by Justice A.K. Sikri and comprising Justice Ashok Bhushan, had, in February 2019, delivered a split verdict on the question of powers of the Delhi government and the Centre over services and referred the matter to a 3-judge bench.

Justice Bhushan held that the Delhi government had no power over services, while Justice Sikri, took the middle path.

Justice Sikri concluded that files on the transfers and postings of officers in the rank of Secretary, Head of Department and Joint Secretary could be directly submitted to the Lt Governor, while Justice Bhushan said Entry 41 of the State List in the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution, dealing with State Public Services, was outside the purview of the Delhi Legislative Assembly.

Justice Sikri said for DANICS (Delhi Andaman Nicobar Islands Civil Service) cadre, the files could be processed through the Council of Ministers led by the Chief Minister to the Lt Governor. He had said the situation in Delhi was "peculiar."
New Delhi, April 12 : An Ugandan national has been arrested for smuggling nearly 100 capsules containing heroin, valued at over Rs 6 crore, by concealing them inside his body, Customs officials said on Tuesday.

The accused, identified as Dickson Twijukye, landed at the IGI on March 31 while he was placed under arrest on April 9 after the capsules were retrieved from his body through an operation.

A Customs official said that the accused was intercepted after he had crossed the green channel and was approaching the exit gate of the international arrival hall. His hand baggage was checked but nothing suspicious was found. However, on medical examination, some material was found to be secreted inside his body.

"A medical procedure yielded recovery of 99 capsules which resulted in recovery of a total of 921 grams off-white colour substance found to be heroin having international market value of Rs 6.447 crore," said the Customs official.
New Delhi, April 12 : The Union Environment, Forest and Climate Change Ministry on Tuesday published a set of amendments to the EIA notification that provides for exemption of environmental clearance to several projects, including defence related/border areas projects, up to 25 MW thermal plants based on biomass, or expansion of terminal building of airports.

The proposed amendments to the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) Notification, 2006 are regarding requirement of prior Environmental Clearance (EC) for the projects deemed as public utility works, as per the notification published on Tuesday but bearing the date of April 11.

The Environment Ministry has already proposed a volley of amendments that have been deemed as "dilution: of the EIA process and criticised heavily by environmental activists. Those amendments, introduced in 2020, are yet to be finalised. Coming on the back of that, these amendments are further likely to draw flak.

The exemptions come with the condition that standard environmental safeguards for such projects would be followed by the agency executing such projects or the incremental environmental impacts can be catered by providing for environmental safeguards which can be built into the Environmental Management Plan (EMP) at the time of grant of such clearances.

"Such exemptions are bound to happen keeping in view the requirements of the people. Our only concern is that these EMPs are not followed honestly. We need a stringent mechanism for it," said a senior Ministry official.

Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav told IANS: "The Ministry is alive to the concerns about proper EMP implementation. We are working out the modalities to address all such issues and will soon come out with a policy regarding the same." Currently, thermal power plants up to 15 MW based on biomass or non-hazardous Municipal Solid Waste using auxiliary fuel such as coal, lignite/petroleum products up to 15 per cent are exempted from the requirement of EC. The amendment proposes no EC would be required for such thermal plants up to 25 MW.

Taking into account the issues of livelihood security of fishermen involved at fish handling ports/harbours and less pollution potential of these ports/harbours compared to others, and that such exclusive ports cater to the small fishermen whose boats have lesser pollution potential, the Ministry has proposed to increase the exemption threshold in terms of fish handling capacity for ports/harbours which exclusively handle fish from 10,000 tonnes per annum to 30,000 TPA.

It has also proposed to exempt from the requirement of EC for highway projects related to defence and strategic importance in border states that are sensitive in nature and, in many cases, need to be executed on priority keeping in view strategic, defence and security considerations.

"However, these would be subject to prescribing Standard Operating Procedure along with standard environmental safeguards for such projects for self-compliance by the Agency executing such projects," the proposed amendment said.

The amendment proposed also sought to exempt expansion of airports but only when it involved expansion of terminal building areas. "Most of the expansion activities with regard to existing Airports are related to Terminal Building expansion without increase in existing area of the Airport, rather than expansion of runway, hanger etc., and therefore involves only incremental environmental impacts which can be catered by providing for environmental safeguards which can be built into the Environmental Management Plan at the time of grant of such clearances at the local level," the Ministry's proposal said and mentioned the relevant parameters.

The Ministry has also proposed to exempt the additional width at toll plaza and junction improvement at intersections from being included in Right of Way for National Highways more than 100 kms.
Hyderabad, April 12 : Voicing concern over growing attempts to create communal hatred in India, Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao on Tuesday warned that the sectarian strife will push the country back by 100 years.

He said that if the current trend of creating communal divide for political gains goes unchecked, the country will have to pay a very heavy price.

Addressing a news conference, he slammed ruling BJP at the Centre for whipping up communal passions and spreading hatred between different communities.

He alleged that the policies of the BJP government were pushing the country towards a disaster. "It will take 100 years for the country to recover," he said.

KCR, as Rao is popularly known, said the country suffered in every aspect under BJP rule. "The GDP has come down, the economy is in bad shape, unemployment is rising, industries are getting shut down, cesses and taxes are being hiked indiscriminately and prices of essential commodities are rising," he said.

The TRS chief alleged that the BJP was drunk high on power and whenever real issues are raised, it comes up with Kashmir Files, Pulwama or something to garner votes.

KCR alleged that during Ram Navami, trouble was created in states like Gujarat and Karnataka where elections are due. "They do this drama before elections. Stones are pelted to create tension and they then try to politically capitalise on the situation," he said.

He said the policies of BJP have created problems in Bengaluru which was built as Silicon Valley of India with the hard work of many governments in the past.

The TRS leader mentioned about bans in Karnataka on hijab, halal, vehicles driven by Muslims and boycott of shops owned by Muslims. "Will this not have any backlash," he asked.

He pointed out that there are 13 crore Indians who are employed in various countries. "What will happen if they are sent back. Will the BJP give them jobs? It is already unable to provide jobs to the unemployed in the country as existing industries are closing down. What will happen if investors don't come to invest in the country," he asked.

KCR said he would intensify his efforts to play a vital role to save the country from the disaster by creating awareness among people. He believes that people in India are enlightened and they will come forward to save the country.
New Delhi, April 12 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the 'Pradhanmantri Sangrahalayahere on Thursday.

The Sangrahalaya (museum), being inaugurated during the celebrations of 'Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav', tells the story of India after Independence through the lives and contributions of its Prime Ministers.

In a statement, the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) said, "Guided by the vision of Prime Minister Modi to honour the contribution of all the Prime Ministers of India towards nation building, the Pradhanmantri Sangrahalaya is a tribute to every Prime Minister of India since Independence, irrespective of their ideology or tenure in office.

"It is an inclusive endeavour led by Prime Minister Modi, aimed at sensitising and inspiring the younger generation about the leadership, vision and achievements of all our Prime Ministers." Representing a seamless blend of the old and the new, the Sangrahalaya will integrate the erstwhile Teen Murti Bhawan designated as Block I, with the newly constructed building designated as Block II. The total area of the two blocks is over 15,600 square metres.

"The design of the museum building is inspired by the story of rising India, shaped and moulded by the hands of its leaders. The design incorporates sustainable and energy conservation practices. No tree has been felled or transplanted during the course of work on the project. The logo of the Sangrahalaya represents the hands of the people of India holding the Dharma Chakra symbolising the nation and democracy," the PMO said.

Information for the museum was collected through resources/repositories with institutions such as Prasar Bharati, Doordarshan, Films Division, Sansad TV, Ministry of Defence, media houses (Indian and foreign) etc.

"There are a total of 43 galleries in the Sangrahalaya. Starting from displays on freedom struggle and the framing of the Constitution, the Sangrahalaya goes on to tell the story of how our Prime Ministers navigated the nation through various challenges and ensured the all-round progress of the country," the PMO said
Chennai, April 12 : Tamil Nadu's Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department has taken over the administration of the Ayodhya Mandapam at West Mambalam in Chennai, following a court order, the state Assembly was told on Tuesday.

HR& CE Minister P.K. Sekar Babu, responding to a question raised by BJP member Vanathi Srinivasan, said that a judgment was being awaited in the case and that action would be taken as per the ruling of the court in consultation with the Chief Minister.

He said that the Madras High Court had dismissed a plea against the taking over of the Ayodhya Mandapam by the HR&CE Department as a few people managing the Sri Ram Samaj, which was maintaining the Mandapam, were exploiting the devotees.

A division bench of the Madras High Court had refused to stay the single judge bench's March 30 order quashing the plea by the Sri Ram Samaj against takeover of the Ayodhya Mandapam by the HR&CE Department.

The court had adjourned the case to April 22 but some devotees led by local BJP councilor Uma Anandan had objected to the takeover.

While the Department contends that it was a temple, the Sri Ram Samaj, in its affidavit, said that it was a place for religious discourse and was formed in 1954 on Ram Navami day. It also contended that there were pictures of deities but no idols at the Mandapam.

The HR&CE Department had, in its plea, informed the court that regular poojas were conducted at the Ayodhya Mandapam and that there was 'hundi' placed for collecting public offerings and hence is fit to be managed by it.

Sekar Babu also said that certain elements were trying to create an impression that the DMK government was against some communities and trying to incite law and order issues. He said that the Chief Minister would not hesitate to control such issues with an iron fist.

Intervening in the debate, Stalin called upon the BJP members to work for the downtrodden and called upon Srinivasan to take up the issue of rising petrol and diesel prices, and the shooting up of cooking gas prices.

He also requested the BJP members to take up the issue of Tamil Nadu with the Union government and to get funds due to the state. He also advised Srinivasan and other BJP members to understand the demands of the people and act accordingly.

The Chief Minister also said that the state government would not allow the Ayodhya Mandapam issue to be politicised.
New York, April 12 : Ten people were shot by a masked man who set off a gas canister in a train car on the city's underground transportation system on Tuesday, Police Commissioner Keechant Sewell said.

She said that the attack was not being investigated as a terrorist attack, although nothing was ruled out.

A total of 16 people were injured in the incident, six of them from shrapnel, smoke inhalation or other causes, officials said.

Five of the gunshot victims were in critical condition, but miraculously there were no deaths reported.

Governor Kathy Hochul said that the shooter escaped and that it was considered an active shooter situation.

The city's tranquillity was brutally shattered by a "cold-hearted" individual who is still on the loose, she said.

Sewell said the man she described as African American donned a green vest and put on a gas mask, set off the smoke canister and shot into the train car as it was about to leave before disappearing from the station in the Brooklyn borough of New York.

The train pulled into the next station with some of the injured.

Officials said that it appeared to be a lone wolf and there did not appear to be any others involved.

(Arul Louis can be reached at arul.l@ians.in and followed @arulouis)
Bengaluru, April 12 : A 48-year-old homemaker in Karnataka, who killed her abusive husband by repeatedly assaulting him with an iron rod, repented her act after being taken into custody.

She has claimed that the frustration accumulated for a long time against the acts of abuse by her husband resulted in her taking the extreme step.

Varalakshmi, a housewife and a resident of Sai Baba Nagar in Bengaluru, has been sent to judicial custody on charges of murdering her husband Umesh J.M. (52), a real estate agent and financier. The couple had been married for 28 years.

According to the police, the deceased had quarrelled with his wife over petty issues time and again. He was upset with his wife's parents not helping him with finances. The couple had two daughters and he did not treat them well either.

The police said that the daughters claimed that their father was abusive towards them and also assaulted them.

The accumulated frustration over the years reportedly exploded at a point when the accused, Varalakshmi, decided to kill her husband, for which she is repenting, the police said.

The couple had a fight on Sunday night which continued till the next morning also. Umesh, after a heated exchange of words, allegedly kicked her and went to sleep. Varalakshmi, who was hurt deeply by the act of her husband, hit Umesh with an iron rod multiple times and killed him on the spot.
Bhopal, April 12 : An FIR has been registered against senior Congress leader and Rajya Sabha MP Digvijaya Singh for sharing a photograph related to Khargone communal violence in Madhya Pradesh which later allegedly turned out to be fake.

The FIR against Singh was registered at a Bhopal police station on the basis of a complaint lodged by the BJP district (Bhopal) president Sumit Pachauri on Tuesday.

Singh, who is also the former chief minister of Madhya Pradesh, was booked under Section 153 (a), 295 (a), 465 and 505 (2) of the Indian Penal Code, sources told IANS.

Earlier on Tuesday, Singh had posted a photograph showing a group of people hoisting a saffron flag at a mosque while mentioning about the communal violence in Madhya Pradesh's Khargone district.

Singh had shared his post on his official Twitter account in the morning, however, he deleted the post soon after the controversy erupted.

Tweeting the photo, Singh wrote: "Is it appropriate to hoist a saffron flag on a mosque. Did the Khargone administration allow this (Ram Navami) procession to carry weapons." Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Home Minister Narottam Mishra claimed the photograph shared by Singh was fake.

"The former chief minister has shared a fake photograph in social media, which has nothing to with Khargone violence issue. He not only shared a fake photograph but mentioned my name as well in his post," Chouhan said after a meeting with the Director General of Police (DGP) and other senior bureaucrats.

Chouhan also called Digvijaya Singh's post a 'conspiracy to spread religious frenzy in the state.

Nearly 100 people have been arrested so far in connection with communal violence broke out in Madhya Pradesh's Khargone district on the occasion of Ram Navami on Sunday.

It started after a group of people pelted stones at the procession, which turned into a communal violence in Khargone city.

Over 40 buildings, including shops and homes have been demolished as the state government has ordered to run over bulldozers on the houses of stone pelters.

On Monday, Digvijaya Singh had held Khargone district administration and the police responsible for communal violence.
New Delhi, April 13 : Delhi Water Minister Satyendar Jain on Tuesday alleged that BJP MP Manoj Tiwari forcibly entered the Delhi Jal Board's Sonia Vihar underground reservoir with around 300-400 people, and created a ruckus there.

"Delhi BJP MP @ManojTiwariMP has forcibly entered Sonia Vihar UGR along with 300-400 people and is creating a ruckus. If Delhi's water supply is disrupted, BJP will be responsible for it," he tweeted, tagging Delhi Police to take notice of this.

Reacting to Jain's allegation, Tiwari said that it was his second official visit to the reservoir and termed it a fake news.

He tweeted: "Fake News! An FIR will be filed against a false minister of a false government for a fake tweet." He added in the same tweet that under the AMRIT scheme, lakhs of people are getting 24 hours drinking water from the underground reservoir made by the central government fund.

"This was our second official visit. By the way, AAP minister came only once to take selfie here," said Tiwari.

In a subsequent tweet, he said: "From the tweet of the AAP minister, it seems that the AAP government has some plan to harass the people of Delhi. If any AAP Minister does anything, @BJP4Delhi will not sit silently.... If any water supply disruption occurs, AAP will be responsible for that." In a video posted from his handle, Delhi BJP President Adesh Gupta is seen saying that Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave Rs 79 crore for this reservoir, and to make arrangements for set up of water pipe lines from the reservoir.
Colombo, April 13 : Awaiting to usher the National New Year, crisis-ridden Sri Lanka on Tuesday welcomed a consignment of 11,000 MT of rice received under the concessional Indian Credit Facility of $1 billion.

Having delivered 5000 MT over the last few days, Tuesday's consignment is a part of total 40,000 MT to be imported by the State Trading Corporation from India under the Credit Facility Agreement which was signed between the Government of Sri Lanka and the State Bank of India on March 17, 2022.

"The supply is a part of the multi-pronged support extended from India to Sri Lanka in the last few months, which includes timely supply of fuel, other forms of economic and forex support etc.," the Indian High Commission in Colombo stated adding that the delivery of rice was done less than a month after signing the agreement.

"The expeditious supply, before the Sinhala and Tamil New Year, is in line with the understandings reached regarding India's support for Sri Lanka's energy and food security." The assistance comes in the wake of India's External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar's visit to Sri Lanka in March.

Facing an acute food crisis due to economic calamity and agricultural "blunder" where President Gotabaya Rajapaksa in May 2021 banned using all chemical fertilizer while halting the import as well. The hurried ban sans plan for a proper alternative angered farmers with thousands got on to streets until the decision was reversed in November 2021.

Rajapaksa's decision to ban inorganic fertilizer on health and environment reasons, plunged country's agriculture into a disaster with a 40 per cent drop in crops production specially rice. The move also denied harvesting of paddy for farmers which is also connected to the tradition of the national new year.

Nearly two million farmers who cultivate around 700,000 hectares of paddy during Maha Season falls during "North-east monsoon" from September to March have been affected.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Kolkata, April 13 : "A very successful operation that highlights the capabilities of our security forces", is how Air Chief Marshal Fali Homi Major, former Chief of Air Staff, Indian Air Force (IAF), chose to describe the rescue of 46 of 48 people trapped inside cable cars at Trikut Hills in Deoghar, Jharkhand, for nearly 48 hours since Sunday afternoon.

Air Chief Marshal Major is "special". Not only was he the only officer from the helicopter wing of the IAF to head the Force, but also he participated in a similar rescue operation in Himachal Pradesh 30 years ago as a Group Captain.

ACM Major then captained a Mi-17 helicopter as para commando Col (then Major) Ivan Joseph Crasto (retd) and his men pulled out 10 people from a stranded cable car dangling 3,000 feet from the ground at Parwanoo. This operation came to be known as Op Timber Trail Rescue.

"Such operations are extremely tricky and delicate due to the multitude of cables that have to be avoided. You have to be extremely careful when the winch ia lowered. This requires a lot of skill, a lot of patience and a lot of planning. It is a combined operation between the crew of the helicopter and the commando who is operating down below. It is a big challenge to hold the aircraft as steady as possible despite strong winds. There is need for total co-ordination and our teams of rescuers have achieved that in Jharkhand," ACM Major said.

He was disappointed at news reports claiming that a life was lost due to 'botched' operations. "Such operations are risky and mishaps can happen. It isn't easy to winch up a person in conditions such as these. I certainly feel that this was a great effort by our security forces," he added.

The IAF announced on Tuesday evening that the operation at Trikut Hills that lasted 26 hours has been completed. The rescue operation involved the use of two Mi-17V5, a Mi-17, an ALH and a Chetak helicopter.

Five Garud Commandos of the IAF carried out rescue operations from the cable cars even as pilots, with no briefing about wind speeds or other weather conditions, struggled to hold their aircraft steady. The IAF also expressed grief at the loss of two lives despite best efforts.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Kiev, April 13 : Ukraine's negotiating position at the peace talks with Russia remains unchanged, the head of the Ukrainian delegation David Arakhamia has said.

"The Ukrainian side adheres to the Istanbul Communique and hasn't changed its position," Arakhamia wrote on Telegram.

The only difference is that the Ukrainian side does not take into account all the additional issues that were not included in the Istanbul Communique. This may have led to a misinterpretation of the current state of the negotiation process, he was quoted as saying by Xinhua news agency.

The negotiations regarding the security guarantees for Ukraine continue in an online regime, Arakhamia said.

Earlier in the day, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Ukraine had changed its stance from last month's peace talks in Turkey's Istanbul.

Latest updates on Russia-Ukraine War

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Bengaluru, April 13 : Karnataka unit of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has staged a flash protest in Belagavi and lodged a complaint against Minister for Rural Development and Panchayat Raj K.S. Eshwarappa in Bengaluru on Tuesday following the suicide of a contractor and BJP leader Santhosh K Patil.

Santhosh K. Patil, a contractor and BJP leader from Belagavi district of Karnataka alleged that Minister Eshwarappa had demanded 40 per cent commission for his work through his aide. Patil ended his life after consuming poison at a lodge in Udupi.

Patil had reportedly written letters to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Union Minister for Panchayati Raj Giriraj Singh accusing Eshwarappa of demanding 40 per cent cut from him.

AAP workers led by Raju Topannanavar flashed a protest and tried to lay siege to the hotel in Belagavi, where the core committee meeting was taking place.

The AAP workers raised slogans against the Prime Minister Narendra and Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai.

The core committee meeting was attended by the state BJP in-charge Arun Singh, former Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa and others. The police took the protestors into custody to control the situation.

Meanwhile, Mohan Dasari, the Bengaluru City President of AAP lodged a complaint against Eshwarappa at High Grounds police station demanding his arrest.

"Deceased Patil in his letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier had stated that he is being harassed by Eshwarappa by withholding his contract amount. He had also stated that Eshwarappa should be held responsible if anything happens to him," Dasari elaborated.

"The tragedies like suicide of contractor are happening because of the ruling government indulging in taking 40 per cent commission from contractors. Hence, we urge lodging of a case against Eshwarappa and arrest him immediately," he said.
Our eConsult and referral management services lower healthcare costs and expedite care. AristaMDs eConsult solution empowers physicians to expand their scope and collaborate on patient care with a world-class panel of on-demand specialists from anywhere in the world.

WoW Health Solutions, a U.S.-based international healthcare company, and AristaMD, a digital health company, announced the availability of electronic physician-to-physician consultations in Pakistan.

WoW Health Solutions is addressing the limited availability of specialty care by enabling its physicians in Islamabad, Pakistan to request eConsult, also known as electronic physician-to-physician consultations, from U.S.-based specialists. The relationship will further AristaMDs vision of providing all patients with timely, cost-effective access to healthcare.

Our mission is to make healthcare transparent, affordable, and accessible to all patients, says Dr. Jawad Arshad, Emergency Medicine Physician & CEO of WoW Health Solutions. Our Pakistani physicians and patients seek advice from oncologists and cardiologists as well as physicians with expert knowledge in other specialties. We chose to work with AristaMD because of the companys innovative approach to specialty care. eConsults are a fast, effective way of obtaining confirmation of a diagnosis or treatment plan or a second opinion.

The medical advice provided by electronic physician-to-physician consultation will supplement the limited availability of specialists in-country. The World Bank reports there are 1.1 physicians per one 1,000 people in Pakistan versus 2.6 physicians per 1,000 people in the U.S.

There is a significant need for specialist advice due to an overall shortage of physicians, particularly oncologists, says Arshad. Oncology consultations will inform treatment options based on the type of cancer diagnosed. Physician-to-physician consults will allow the physicians in Pakistan to provide better service and help us grow the direct primary care model in this market.

In a direct primary care model, patients pay a monthly fee directly to the physician. In most cases, these patients dont have health insurance or dont have access to insurance. The monthly fee covers the primary care consultations. eConsults will enable these physicians to request second opinions or additional guidance about a treatment plan. For example, a cardiology consultation may provide guidance on whether the patient should consider bypass surgery, a stent, or a specific medication.

Pakistan also has a high incidence of cardiovascular disease, says Arshad. With access to expert advice from a board-certified specialist, our doctors gain feedback about the patients treatment in cardiology, oncology, and other specialties. We also believe this will give their patients additional confidence in the diagnosis and recommended treatment plan.

AristaMDs eConsult and referral management platform facilitates collaboration between healthcare providers to expedite time to treatment, decrease costs and drive better patient outcomes. The WoW Health physicians trained in mid-March to request eConsults, will use the platform to improve patient outcomes related to several specialties. However, cardiology and oncology consultations are the programs initial focus. The World Health Organization estimates that approximately 25% of Pakistans population over the age of 40 suffers from cardiovascular diseases. The estimate is driven by the prevalence of diabetes and hypertension, and more than forty percent of adult males are smokers.

Requests for cardiology and oncology eConsults grew by 18% and 24% respectively from 2020-2021, says Brooke LeVasseur, CEO of AristaMD. Providers are now more comfortable requesting feedback electronically, since the pandemic forced providers to leverage technology. Physician shortages and increased demand for healthcare services will drive continued growth. Like the U.S., Pakistan is experiencing growing demand for patient care and a lack of physicians. We are pleased to support timely, cost-effective access to healthcare wherever it is needed.

WoW Health Solutions expects to make eConsults available to all their physicians in Pakistan. In the U.S., the company operates a comprehensive direct-pay marketplace that allows users to shop and access healthcare directly from medical providers who can offer their services at a steep discount because they are guaranteed their payments without having to submit any claims or paperwork.

AristaMD is excited to offer our service internationally, says LeVasseur. Our eConsult and referral management services lower healthcare costs and expedite care. AristaMDs eConsult solution empowers physicians to expand their scope and collaborate on patient care with a world-class panel of on-demand specialists from anywhere in the world."

About WoW Health Solutions

WoW Health Solutions is a comprehensive direct-pay marketplace that allows consumers, employers and individuals, to shop and access healthcare directly from medical providers. Founded in 2018, the companys mission is to make healthcare transparent, affordable, and accessible. The company connects patients directly with doctors, dentists, radiologists, and other providers. WoW Health also offers packages that reduce drug costs and connects patients to a healthcare community that assists you with large healthcare expenses. For additional information, visit mywowhealth.com.com or follow the company on LinkedIn and Twitter.

About AristaMD

AristaMD is focused on improving health equity and patient outcomes through more timely access to specialty care. Its eConsult (also known as electronic physician-to-physician consultations) and referral management platform empowers providers to conduct eConsults, facilitates physician selection and scheduling for in-person specialist visits, triggers automatic follow-up activities critical to patient care, and schedules peer-to-peer reviews for insurance authorization. Electronic referral management and eConsults significantly improve the patient referral process and deliver greater access to timely, equitable, high-quality care.

AristaMD facilitates referrals to the most appropriate specialist based on criteria such as specialization, location and the patient's insurance network. eConsults are seamlessly integrated into the referral management experience, with AristaMD being surfaced along with local providers when an eConsult can be of value. The solution also enables full closed-loop communication, including patient texting, direct online scheduling for patients and bi-directional communication between providers. Primary care clinics using the solution can eliminate burdensome faxes and calls and consolidate all referral workflows into one easy-to-use electronic ordering platform. The solution also enables specialists to promote their availability, insurance acceptance and expertise.

Designed to seamlessly integrate into physician referral workflows, the platform allows payors, healthcare organizations and providers to coordinate care using their own specialists or those provided by AristaMDs board-certified panel of experts. AristaMDs platform has proven to deliver cost-effective, rapid access to specialty care, significantly reducing the need for face-to-face visits while increasing patient satisfaction. For additional information, visit http://www.aristamd.com, or follow AristaMD on LinkedIn and Twitter.
ACE IT is widely respected in the financial services industry, and collectively with Omegas expertise supporting highly regulated companies, were poised to demonstrate significant value to organizations in need of sophisticated and innovative managed technology solutions.

Omega Systems, a portfolio company of Pfingsten Partners and managed service provider to highly regulated and security-conscious businesses, today announced it has merged with ACE IT Solutions, a New Jersey-based technology solutions provider.

Based in Reading, PA, Omega will leverage the combination to extend their portfolio of Smart solutions  including private and public cloud hosting, managed cybersecurity, managed support, NOC and escalation services, 24x7 service desk support, disaster recovery and more  further across the U.S. Founded in 2002, Omega is best known for their expertise supporting companies facing stringent compliance and regulatory demands in the banking, manufacturing, healthcare, professional/legal services, education and local government industries.

The combination will also strengthen Omegas presence in the financial services market. In particular, Omega will extend its service delivery capabilities to the alternative investment industry  including hedge funds, private equity firms and family offices  where businesses depend on sophisticated technology, premier service and seamless delivery to achieve their operational goals.

ACE IT is widely respected in the financial services industry, and collectively with Omegas expertise supporting highly regulated companies, were poised to demonstrate significant value to organizations contending with rigorous compliance demands and in need of sophisticated and innovative managed technology solutions, said Bill Kiritsis, CEO of Omega Systems.

Warren Finkel, managing partner of ACE IT Solutions, added, Im thrilled for ACE IT to join the Omega family and look forward to expanding and enhancing our service offerings together and introducing customers to new and emerging technologies that fuel their growth, fortify their operations and safeguard them against todays growing threats.

Since its capital investment from Pfingsten Partners in February 2021, Omega has continued to experience rapid growth while simultaneously increasing investments in physical infrastructure, service delivery and workforce. Headquartered in Reading, Pennsylvania, Omega has been providing dynamic IT and managed technology solutions to customers for more than 20 years. Visit http://www.omegasystemscorp.com to learn more.

About Omega Systems, LLC

Omega Systems is a leading managed service provider (MSP) and managed security service provider (MSSP) to mid-market organizations in the financial services, government, manufacturing, professional services and education industries. Applying their approach for personalized service, Omegas customer-first solutions are designed to address the growing regulatory, compliance and data processing needs of todays highly regulated and security-conscious businesses. Omega is headquartered in Reading, Pennsylvania, where it also houses its own privately-managed SOC 2-certified data center.

About ACE IT Solutions

ACE IT Solutions is a globally-recognized provider of technology and IT services to a wide variety of industries including financial services and alternative investments, manufacturing, automotive, real estate, insurance and more. Companies rely on ACE IT Solutions as their single source for strategic IT consulting and cybersecurity risk management. Its services include business continuity, disaster recovery planning, business/ IT assessments, security audits, penetration testing and more. Additionally, ACE IT Solutions offers a portfolio of managed services including 24x7 help desk and server/network monitoring, offsite backup, email archiving and email security. It offers a comprehensive suite of customizable cybersecurity services to meet each firms specific risk profile and compliance needs.
"CZUR welcomes this opportunity to broaden our reach into the US market by partnering with ScannX, the industry leader in easy-to-use book and document scanning software with special expertise in professional markets such as libraries," said Kang Zhou, CEO of CZUR.

ScannX, Inc., and CZUR Tech Co., Ltd., today announced an exclusive U.S. sales agreement for ScannX to develop and distribute the ScannX Overhead Book Scanner, comprised of the CZUR ET18 Pro scanner and ScannX Book ScanCenter software. The new product will be available in two models: one for the professional library market and one for discerning home office users. The partnership will enable ScannX to distribute enhanced CZUR solutions bundled with the award-winning ScannX software and cloud services, as well as other CZUR scanner products.

"CZUR welcomes this opportunity to broaden our reach into the US market by partnering with ScannX, the industry leader in easy-to-use book and document scanning software with special expertise in professional markets such as libraries," said Kang Zhou, CEO of CZUR. "We are also excited to collaborate on future products to expand the potential audience for our industry-leading line of overhead scanners."

"ScannX couldn't be more delighted to partner with CZUR," said Murray L. Dennis, CEO of ScannX. "Overhead scanners are deservedly getting most of the attention and demand lately. CZUR has really innovated in that space with patent-pending page flattening technology, exceptional design, outstanding performance, and surprisingly low prices. Our customers are going to love these scanners."

The sales agreement also enables ScannX to sell selected CZUR scanners across the US market to both professional and consumer-level customers. CZUR will continue to sell its own products directly on Amazon.com, while versions bundled with the ScannX software will also be sold by ScannX on Amazon as well as other online channels through its distribution partnerships.

About the ScannX Overhead Book Scanner

The Scannx Overhead Book Scanner combines the inspired, innovative CZUR scanning technology custom-integrated with the award-winning ScannX Book ScanCenter software to streamline book scanning to page turning. The solution automatically creates flat scans from curved books, enables glossy prints to be scanned without glare or reflection, scans to email, USB, print, and cloud. The software also provides tools for the visually impaired, and offers options to fax, translate, and print from a mobile device. Flexible in design from the ground up, it enables users to control the scanner using a touch screen, a hand button, or a foot pedal, while scanning entire pages at the ultra-fast rate of 1.5 seconds  including dual-facing pages of a book or A3-size documents. ScannX also developed a custom Security Stand that protects the CZUR scanner when its used in public settings, and an optional SmartCradle to handle thicker books.

About CZUR

Founded in 2013, CZUR is a global technology company that develops smart hardware solutions for enterprises and individuals. Its smart office appliances include the latest technologies and human touch to improve work efficiency in work environments fundamentally. Its product lines cover hardware, PC services, cloud services, web services, app development, and algorithms. For more information, visit czur.com.

About ScannX

ScannX is the leading developer of cloud-based book and document scanning and delivery solutions for libraries. The companys systems provide powerful, yet extremely easy-to-use, copier-replacement solutions for scanning books, documents, and photos; and instantly store scanned content in the widest range of digital options. ScannX reduces operating costs, makes printed information instantly accessible, enables libraries to meet their sustainability goals, and expands the range of services libraries can offer their patrons. ScannX users have scanned more than 200 million pages to date. For more information, visit scannx.com.

Follow ScannX

Find us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/scannx

Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ScannX

ScannX, the Scannx logo, and ScanCenter are registered trademarks or trademarks or ScannX, Inc. All other company and product names may be trademarks of their respective owners.
The beautiful islands of the Seychelles are soon to be a Covid free paradise thanks to the support of international entrepreneur Justin Etzin company Seychelles Medical. Seychelles are known for its white sandy beaches and tropical paradise environment.

The beautiful islands of the Seychelles are known for its white sandy beaches and tropical paradise environment. Soon Seychelles hopes to also be known as a Covid free paradise.

Seychelles under the direction of the country's new President, Wavel Ramkalawan was one of the first countries to open its borders and used the private services of Seychelles Medical to test tourists so they could fly back home with a fit to fly certificate.

Seychelles Medical operates the largest Covid-19 testing laboratory in the Indian Ocean region with a state-of-the-art internationally accredited laboratory, first class dedicated testing centres and teams servicing all of the Seychelles Islands. The healthcare company provides the fit to fly testing service in Seychelles through its dedicated clinics. The Seychelles medical team visits every hotel in Seychelles on a daily basis and also has a testing centre based at the country's International Airport.

The private healthcare company will be offering free Covid-19 tests to all Seychellois nationals over the Easter weekend to keep Seychelles a safe country. Seychelles Medical have recently seen an increase in asymptomatic clients who whilst not showing symptoms of Covid-19 can still transmit this disease to others who may be more vulnerable.

Justin Etzin said, We hope that by offering free tests to Seychellois this will help to combat the increase in cases by supporting the incredible work of the country's Ministry of Heath and testing a greater number of people, which will identify those who must isolate while providing others with peace of mind knowing that they are safe before seeing their family over this holiday weekend.

Etzin, who set up Seychelles Medical to assist the countrys reopening efforts said Easter is a time for celebration and for family. We want all Seychellois to be able to celebrate it safely and properly, so this is a gift from our family to yours.

Seychelles Medical operate a private COVID-19 testing service for tourists who need to be tested for their onward journey at http://www.PCRTEST.sc
"The Ivy solution is leveraging technologies like Image Recognition to analyze shelves, Augmented Reality for an intuitive secondary shelf experience, and AI/ML for making SKU recommendations  all as part of the platform. said Walter.

Ivy Mobility, an intelligent Route-To-Market (RTM) solution provider for consumer goods companies, today announced that Andy Walter joined as Strategic Advisor to the Executive Team. Walter is well-known in the consumer goods industry as the former SVP of IT and Global Shared Services at the American multinational consumer goods corporation Procter and Gamble.

When approached to join as Strategic Advisor to Ivy Mobility, Walter saw it as a unique opportunity to apply his experience at a pivotal moment in the industry. The team at Ivy Mobility are experts in RTM cloud solutions via their consumer goods Industry Unified Commercial Platform. Their solution is arguably the only cloud Platform solution that caters to all RTM needs (DSD, RE, Cloud Distribution-ERP, and more) and is available on IaaS (AWS, OCI) cloud as well as PaaS (Force.com, CG Cloud). The Ivy solution is leveraging technologies like Image Recognition to analyze shelves, Augmented Reality for an intuitive secondary shelf experience, and AI/ML for making SKU recommendations  all as part of the platform. This is an exciting time to join and make a difference for Ivy Mobility, said Walter.

Walter has more than 25 years of operations, information technology, and shared services leading global business services, IT commercial services, and delivery organizations. He has also served on the GS1 US Board of Governors and has deep expertise in emerging and core commercial technologies. He recently authored a book- Waiting Is Not an Action, that extends guidance on career acceleration and formulation to be ready for the future.

I am excited to have Walter officially on board. He has been associated with us in the past and has been informally advising me for some time now. He is an invaluable addition to the team, and his extensive experience in consumer goods technologies will greatly accelerate our mission, said Rajiv Prabhakar, CEO & Founder of Ivy Mobility.

About Ivy Mobility

Ivy Mobility is a global leader in cloud-based software for the consumer goods industry. Since 2002, the company has been building technology solutions to support the digital route to market. Ivy has its head offices in Singapore and operations in North America, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America.

Visit http://www.ivymobility.com to learn more.
Complex wounds need to be acutely characterized to optimize management and improve patient outcomes says Dr. Evans.

HEALTH ESPRESSO INC. a company focused on introducing a collaborative, Inter-professional virtual health record in community within the Allied Health and home care sectors that is connected to primary care, hospital and other digital health assets, today announced the recent appointment of Dr. Robyn Evans as Health Espressos Advisor, Skin Health and Wound Care.

Rick Menassa, CEO of Health Espresso commented, We are very pleased to have Dr. Evans join us as the Companys Advisor, Skin Health and Wound Care. She brings Health Espresso over 13 years of wound care education and research. Her extensive in-field experience as a primary care physician, coupled with her proven ability to lead within the ever evolving, rapid paced digital health environment, will add tremendous navigational support to Health Espressos own growth strategies as it engages with patients and front line organizations providing wound care services.

Dr. Evans is advising Health Espressos development teams on the AI powered wound imaging tool on its mobile app. for images capture at point-of-care, integration into Health Espressos patients Electronic Health Record (EHR) on its secure, in-cloud web portal for real-time inter-professional virtual collaboration.

Dr. Evans valuable input and guidance is leading development of Health Espressos next stage to interpret wound characteristics from captured images using Health Espressos proprietary AI technology to direct management.

Dr. Robyn Evans is actively involved in clinical evaluation and management of patients with complex wounds as the Director of the Wound Healing Clinic at Womens College Hospital. Over the past 13 years, she has developed an interest in wound care education and research. She is medical lead for Wounds Canada as well as serving on the Board of Wounds Canada. She is a lecturer at University of Toronto and part of the International Interprofessional Wound Course through University of Toronto.

Dr. Evans has also worked full time as a community family physician since 1992.

Dr. Robyn Evans attended University of Toronto Medical School. She completed her family medicine residency at University of Toronto with further training in Wound care. Prior to this she did a Bachelor of Science as well as graduate studies in Biochemistry.

Complex wounds need to be acutely characterized to optimize management and improve patient outcomes says Dr. Evans.

ABOUT HEALTH ESPRESSO

Inspired by front-line experience in home and community care, Health Espresso chronicles the entire patient journey. Starting with a digital patient profile and digital care plan, Health Espresso empowers health organizations to automate intake, triage and update patient records and follow through with post-discharge real-time remote patient monitoring for better health outcomes. Health Espresso provides a collaborative, patient-centered platform for Allied Health professionals, Primary Physicians and Hospitals for a one patient, one care plan approach to care, reducing service overlaps and gaps.

Its secure, connected platform integrates with EMRs and government data assets for an all-encompassing view of patient records. Health Espressos mobile app complements its in-cloud web portal to empower physicians with real-time patient information and virtual care capability for time-sensitive decisions at the point of care, anywhere in the world. For more information, visit https://healthespresso.com
Israel "Izzy" Carunungan Israel Carunungan leads an exciting batch of new hires for LCP360, including Naomi Bailey and Edgar Jaro in Sales, Ashley van Biljon in Marketing, Tymek Pudlik, and Kewin Polok in Development, and Sara Piersciecka in Production as part of strategic growth as a leading visual media company.

Israel "Izzy" Carunungan brings 20 years of multifamily experience to his new position as Senior Vice President of Marketing and Client Success at LCP360. Carunungan leads an exciting batch of new hires for LCP360, including sales veterans Naomi Bailey and Edgar Jaro, Ashley van Biljon in Marketing, Tymek Pudlik, and Kewin Polok in Development, and Sara Piersciecka in Production as part of LCP's strategic growth as one of the leading visual media companies.

Carunungan will be spearheading LCP360's branding, marketing, and customer experience initiatives with his expertise in the multifamily and real estate categories. He was previously the Sr. Director of National Marketing for Greystar, the country's largest property management company. He spent the last ten years and was a two-time Impact Award winner at Greystar. He was also in previous high-level marketing roles with Bozzuto and TGM Associates and is a founding member of the National Apartment Association's (NAA) Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion committee.

"Working at LCP360 is a dream come true, combining my passion for photography and my love for marketing," said Carunungan. "I look forward to helping the company be more successful and to raise awareness on how hardworking the people are and the dedication they put into the top-notch products that LCP360 provides to their clients."

Carunungan will be heading up the marketing and client success team for LCP360, which includes senior managers Caitlin Golden and Klaudia Marzec and specialists Alicja Januszko and Van Biljon.

Bailey, who joined LCP360 as the Vice President of Sales, is a seasoned multifamily industry partner with 20+ years of experience in Southern California and national markets. She previously worked at Parcel Pending, Valet Living, and Ellis Partners/Renters Voice.

Bailey's primary focus is helping clients achieve their objectives and supporting the process from start to finish. Her expertise in collaborating with Operations, Asset Management, Development, Marketing, Ownership Group, and Focus on Account Management makes her a perfect fit for LCP360.

Jaro is a seasoned sales professional with over 20 years of extensive hospitality and restaurant industry experience and has joined LCP360 as a Senior National Account Executive. His focus is primarily on strategic business planning, networking, account management, and relationship building. As a result, he is a four-time President's Club recipient with NuCo2, and a President's Club winner with Restaurant Technologies. He is a founding member of Stand Up 8, a non-profit organization promoting fitness and health, and a previous Diversity and Inclusion co-chairman of Restaurant Technologies Inc. He is a lululemon ambassador who inspires community, health, and wellness through movement in his free time.

Bailey and Jaro join a high-powered sales team headed by Chief Revenue Officer and co-founder Tom Kalembasa and includes Tom Lisak, Samantha Posin-Trammell, Nick Harter, Jack Kalembasa, David Bieszczad, Torrence Mitchell, Abe Pineda, and Daniel Kim.

Van Biljon is an experienced professional in product/service marketing, brand management, UI/UX design, and customer relationship management in the healthcare, construction, and real estate industries. She brings her expertise to LCP360 in customer-facing operations, market research, events, and traditional and digital marketing campaigns. She is a graduate of Utah Valley University with a bachelor's degree in Marketing.

"LCP360 is on an amazing growth trajectory. Bringing these experienced hires will accelerate our mission to be the best visual media company in real estate, multifamily, and other categories," said Wojciech Kalembasa, CEO and co-founder of LCP360.

In addition to the recent hires, LCP360 is also expanding its capabilities by opening an office in Poland. The office in Krakow, Poland's second-largest city after Warsaw, is an extension of LCP360's headquarters in Chicago, IL.

Pudlik and Polok joined the Poland office as Senior Front End Engineers, while Piersciecka will be providing production support.

ABOUT LCP360

LCP360 is a national visual media company located in Chicago specializing in photography, virtual tours, 3D renderings, video animations, virtual staging, and floor plans. LCP360 offers multifamily, senior living, and many other real estate industries a creative and innovative way to showcase space. By combining the best digital marketing and panoramic photography technologies, LCP360 has developed a best-in-class web application that lets renters virtually tour a property from any location. For more information, please visit LCP360.com.

Media Contact

Caitlin Golden

Sr. Marketing Manager

cgolden@lcp360.com

(773) 337-3901
I found that my staff and I were taking days off just to drive to the doctor for a health check-in or some lab work. Since participating in this business program, Ive found that the productivity of the company as a whole has greatly increased, says Rob Stalvey, CEO of Coastal Lawn and Pest.

Nuesana Health and Wellness prides itself on being an accessible concierge and mobile health provider to the SWFL community - this now extends to businesses within the area as well.

Nuesanas business program provides convenient and extensive care to employees of Southwest Florida businesses. Business owners are often placed in the difficult position of providing affordable healthcare while still growing their business and maintaining profitability. Nuesanas business program allows companies to offer an alternative or add-on to traditional healthcare and serves as a differentiator in a competitive job market.

This in-depth, hands-on and mobile health and wellness business program helps greatly when it comes to employee recruiting, retention and productivity. Businesses like Coastal Lawn and Pest have found that the Nuesana Health and Wellness program helps keep staff healthy and productive at all times.

Out of all the incredible benefits that the Nuesana Business program offers, I think the biggest differentiating factor for me was the convenience of being able to have a mobile clinic come directly on-site to our business, says Rob Stalvey, CEO of Coastal Lawn and Pest.

I found that my staff and I were taking days off just to drive to the doctor for a health check-in or some lab work. Since participating in this business program, Ive found that the productivity of the company as a whole has greatly increased. Plus, we all feel incredibly supported and taken care of by Sabrina, Rob continued.

For businesses interested in increasing productivity, retention and recruiting, Nuesana has the answers youve been searching for. Prices for the business program may vary based on the number of employees within the business - for more information, visit https://nuesana.com/.

About Nuesana Health and Wellness

Nuesana Health & Wellness provides family medicine via telehealth or in-person concierge appointments through our membership program. We also offer a full range of health and wellness services such as medically supervised weight loss programs, IV infusion, vitamin injection therapy, micronutrient and food sensitivity testing, testosterone replacement, erectile dysfunction, and more. Our business program allows companies to offer accessible and affordable healthcare benefits to their employees with a simple and cost-effective solution. Healthcare benefits will increase productivity retention and assist in recruiting top talent. We service Naples, Fort Myers, Bonita Springs, Estero, and the surrounding areas.

Stay up to date with us on Facebook!

https://www.facebook.com/Nuesana
Esteemed domain brokerage firm Grit Brokerage, an expert team of professional brokers with 28+ years of combined domain sales experience and contacts worldwide has been awarded the contract to negotiate the sale of two ultra-premium domain names; Improve.com and Landscape.com.

Spring is here and Landscape.com is a category killer URL that has been reserved since July 25th, 1997. This is an incredibly versatile, empty vessel one word .COM ready to be utilized. Landscape is an extremely difficult word to rank for and commands a massive 689,000 exact monthly Google searches and each click will cost advertisers for this keyword an exorbitant $2.50! Now is the time to spruce up your brand and acquire the unforgettable and authoritative, Landscape.com.

Improve.com has been continuously registered since June 6th, 1997. A seven-letter English dictionary word domain name that is very easy to say, spell and recall. With over 5 Billion Google search results Improve is a super positive and uplifting brand that effortlessly transcends many industries of business. People spend more and more money to improve their quality of life, financial situation, credit scores, health, mindset, and much more. Improve.com is an incredible domain that is ripe to be developed into a household brand!

Premium domain names are scarce and appreciating digital assets. Utilizing a one-word .com domain ensures that its owner will command perpetual authority online around that word as a brand, product or service. Beneficiaries of one word .com domain names enjoy an inherent and unfathomable edge in their branding, marketing, and SEO efforts. One word .com domains are extremely rare, unique, non-fungible properties and are still the most undervalued assets in the world today as is evident by the sale of Voice.com recently for $30 Million USD.

While large companies continue to spend tens of millions of dollars or more every year on advertising and marketing campaigns, a domain name is an asset with a one-time purchase cost and $13 annual maintenance fee that provides a lifetime of utility, SEO, security and enhanced brand alignment. Proper utilization of premium domain names will ultimately decrease a companys marketing costs, strengthen brand awareness and enable a brand to be discovered, remembered, and referred to more easily online. Improve.com and Landscape.com present amazing opportunities for hundreds of businesses worldwide to capitalize on the benefits of branding on two of the world's most recognizable domains. Said Founder of Grit Brokerage, Brian Harbin.

Grit Brokerage delivers world-class customer service by streamlining transactions with personalized attention. Grit Brokerage brokered the highest reported domain sale of 2018 moving Ice.com for $3.5 million to the Intercontinental Exchange and has successfully brokered the sale of additional top domains over the last few months including Clout.com, Prove.com, Pave.com, Greenlight.com, TheNetwork.com, and Context.com. A full list of domains for sale by Grit Brokerage can be found at gritbrokerage.com/for-sale.

To submit offers or referrals for either Improve.com or Landscape.com, please email Brian@GritBrokerage.com. For more visit: GritBrokerage.com or find us on LinkedIn, Twitter, or Facebook and sign up for our monthly domain sales newsletter at GritBrokerage.net.
Samson Mow, former CSO of Blockstream, announced the launch of his new company, JAN3, at the Bitcoin 2022 Conference in Miami. JAN3 is a Bitcoin technology company and its mission is to accelerate hyperbitcoination around the world.

JAN3 will be focused on advancing Bitcoin and second layer technologies like Liquid and Lightning, which are the key to mass adoption and a Bitcoin circular economy, said Samson Mow, CEO of JAN3. The company will also support my nation-state Bitcoin adoption initiatives and contribute expertise to infrastructure development projects.

The company has secured $21 million in funding at a valuation of $100 million. Investors in JAN3 include Alistair Milne, Chun Wang, Co-Founder of F2Pool, and El Zonte Capital, an investment firm launched by Max Keiser and Stacy Herbert.

I was always looking for an opportunity to do something for Bitcoin. I believe with Samson leading it, JAN3 will be the Bitcoin company Ive always wanted to exist in this space, said Chun Wang.

JAN3 will be taking over AQUA, a Bitcoin and Liquid mobile wallet from Blockstream, as well as Raretoshi, an NFT marketplace. JAN3 has also signed a memorandum of understanding with the government of El Salvador to build digital infrastructure for the country and Bitcoin City.

For further information, please visit jan3.com or contact press@jan3.com.
Left to Right: Bob Hammett, CEO, OneSky, Pelwinderpal Singh, Manager, ASEAN, OneSky; Wei Cong Lim, Software Engineer, GR, Jiin Joo Ong, CTO, GR, Mark Yong, CEO, GR We are excited to work with our partner Garuda Robotics at DRZ Iskandar DTS to provide the ASEAN drone industry with robust testing facilities to prove out technology that accelerates drone operations.

Garuda Robotics (GR), in an exclusive partnership with OneSky, aims to provide Uncrewed Aircraft Traffic Management (UTM) services to aviation authorities, city governments, enterprises, and security agencies in Malaysia. Garuda Robotics operations at Drone & Robotics Zone (DRZ) Iskandar Drone Test Site (DTS) in Iskandar Puteri aims to be a showcase for the value this collaboration can unlock for Malaysia.

The DRZ Iskandar DTS, comprising two separate parcels of land dedicated to drone operations, will be available for all users for conducting training; UA R&D and testing; and validating advanced operations.

All DRZ Iskandar DTS airspace operations will be coordinated at GRs on-site Drone Operations Centre in Iskandar Puteri (DOC@IP).

The DOC@IP is equipped with the latest technologies and physical infrastructure, including:



Plex Horizon, for Command and Control (C2) of Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations

OneSky Uncrewed Aircraft Traffic Management System (UTMS), for tactical deconfliction and conformance monitoring

MyDroneFleets Network Remote ID (NetRID), for drone-agnostic airspace management

Operational support such as Coworking space, workshop, charging station, storage, etc.

Consultancy and services for all site users will be provided by Garuda Robotics, with the primary goal of empowering Malaysian enterprises to effectively scale their drone operations. These services include:



Assistance with permit applications and government liaison

Logistics (through our partnership with DHL)

Fleet management

Systems consultancy

Human capital and talent development

Liaison with international partners

The list of services can be found on mydronefleets.com/drz-iskandar-dts

Managing Director of Garuda Robotics (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, Mr. Frederick Ooi, says: The DRZ Iskandar DTS will be an ideal govt-approved segregated airspace to facilitate verification of the safety of UAS operations and related flight procedures, support govt authorities like CAAM, SIRIM, and MCMC during the development of certification standards, provide tech companies a proper space to conduct R&D of new drone solutions and drone flight training, and will be the go-to place for drone flying in southern Johor.

For companies evaluating the site usage for BVLOS test, OneSky will provide risk assessments that are SORA and/or ASTM compliant as well as UTM services. In risk assessment, risk likelihood is determined using results from OneSkys operational analytics. OneSky will be providing UTM services including:



Registration

UTM Core Services

Airspace Management

Flight Management

Situational Awareness

UTM Aeronautical Information Management

CEO of OneSky, Robert Hammett, remarked We are excited to work with our partner Garuda Robotics at DRZ Iskandar DTS to provide the ASEAN drone industry with robust testing facilities to prove out technology that accelerates drone operations. This effort builds on our partnership with Garuda Robotics as we jointly deliver end-to-end solutions for the drone industry. We look forward to working with the DRZ Iskandar and its customers to further their efforts in expediting drone adoption.

DRZ Iskandar is a catalytic initiative championed by Iskandar Investment Berhad (IIB). It is a strategic project aimed at building a vibrant drone and robotics technology ecosystem, increasing the 4IR technology adoption and a talent hub which serves as a growth engine for Malaysia.

DOC@IP is set to supercharge the DRZ Iskandar, benefiting both domestic Malaysian drone companies, and also Singapore drone companies due to its proximity to Singapore. Many activities considered too high-risk to be carried out in densely populated areas in Singapore can now be safely tested in the dedicated sites under DRZ Iskandar DTS, with facilities provided by GR and Group of Companies under IIB.

A UTM system is important to manage drone operations effectively and safely in a drone test site, as well as when approved for broader BVLOS operations. Through the partnership of GR and OneSkys UTM, the OneSky UTM will be deployed at DRZ Iskandars DTS to serve the drone industry and provide essential data to the regulators which may be the first of its kind in Malaysia.

About OneSky

OneSky is a global UTM company developing airspace assessment, operations, and traffic management solutions for the aviation industry. Our goal is to harmonize the sky - ensuring safe, efficient, and scalable access to all airspace users. We take a robust and long-term approach to UTM, envisioning the challenges ahead as traffic management is unified for all operators. By working with all stakeholders - drone operators, drone manufacturers, and airspace authorities - we understand the unique challenges of this ecosystem and serve the critical needs of the community. Learn more at https://onesky.xyz.

About Garuda Robotics

Garuda Robotics is a leading developer of industrial-grade drones, drone operations platforms, and drone data solutions for enterprise, government, and professional drone operators. We support the local drone industry with technology, consultancy, and opportunities, from routine drone applications to advanced cutting edge innovation and collaboration, and connect the industry with key stakeholders such as airspace authorities, physical spaces for testing and learning, and the ecosystem of innovators. Our vision is to be both the physical and technological platform for safe, smart, and secure drone testing and operations. Learn more at https://garuda.iohttps://garuda.io
The U.S. General Services Administration has awarded Hispanic-owned Miami-based information technology leader IT Data Solutions, an 8(a) STARS III Government-Wide Acquisition Contract (GWAC) contract for Information Technology Services. The Best-in-Class (BIC) is a small business set-aside contract that provides flexible access to customized IT solutions from a large, diverse pool of 8(a) industry partners. Under this prestigious Best-in-Class (BIC) contract vehicle, with a $50 Billion ceiling, IT Data Solutions will be able to provide their cutting-edge IT solutions to the federal government agencies.

We are extremely proud to have received an 8(a) STARS III GWAC. This contract vehicle will allow our team to further empower our federal clients to achieve success through our innovative and impactful IT solutions and resources, said President & CEO, Abel Herrera. We have been anxiously waiting for this award for more than eighteen months, since we started this process back in the summer of 2020. IT Data pivoted in 2018 and began the process of becoming a Federal Contractor. In only four short years and a pandemic, IT Data has been able to compete and win four prime contracts with three different federal agencies and support another federal agency as a subcontractor. Herrera added: This contract vehicle will ease the acquisition process for our federal clients and allow us to continue growing our federal government practice. We are blessed to have amazing employees, consultants, and teaming partners that continue to go above and beyond for our clients. This award is a testament to all the hard work and effort from the entire IT Data team.

About IT Data Solutions

Since 2005, IT Data Solutions has been providing focused management consulting services specializing in Information Technology (IT) solutions and tools for large private and public sector clients. IT Data specializes in Advisory, Analytics, Audio/Video Design and Implementation, Augmented/Virtual Reality, Cybersecurity, Digital Transformation, Human Capital Solutions, Managed Services, and Robotic Process Automation (RPA). We turn big data into actionable intelligence to help reach your mission objectives. Our IT data solutions help you to increase efficiencies, reduce costs, and streamline processes. Certified Minority Owned Small Business Concern (8a/MBE/DBE).

For more information on the subject of this release or how to Team with IT Data Solutions on Federal Government opportunities under this GWAC contract vehicle, contact:



Abel Herrera, President/CEO: abel@itdatasolutions.com

Team with IT Data Solutions: Teaming@itdatasolutions.com

IT Data Solutions 18191 NW 68th Avenue, Suite 211, Miami, FL, 33015 | Tel. 954-885-2003 | http://www.itdatasolutions.com
SEOblog.com, a fast-growing website providing the latest SEO news, tips and resources and helping business owners connect with leading SEO agencies, has released its exclusive 2022 ratings naming the best pay per click (PPC) companies in the United States.

SEOblog analysts determined the 15 best PPC companies in the U.S. based on dozens of key quantitative and qualitative factors. SEOblog industry experts examined each digital marketing agencys website, industry experience, market presence, client list, portfolio, expert certifications and authorship, among other factors in its ranking system.

SEOblog has provided an in-depth view of companies in a particular city or focus area on various directory pages to help business owners find the expert help they need to grow. This was a new, free offer added by SEOblog in 2019.

The United States boasts several top PPC companies that provide a very competitive digital marketing landscape.

SEOblog.com rankings are updated regularly as the market shifts and new players emerge. SEOblog.com has published more than 2,300 agency listings, with more added every day. There is no fee to participate, and the website welcomes all qualified agencies to apply.

SEOblog.coms 15 Best PPC Companies in the United States in 2022:

Page Traffic, Trueba Media, KARMA jack Digital Marketing Agency, TMD Marketing & Advertising, JanBask Digital design, Kodeak Digital Media Experts, SITE It NOW, Brenton Way, 216 Marketing, Human Marketing, Icecube Digital, Urban Analog, XJOSE, California SEO Professionals and 310 Creative.

Link: https://www.seoblog.com/best-ppc-companies/

About SEOblog.com

SEOblog.com is a leading thought leadership site with a rich history of publishing educational and informative articles about SEO and digital marketing topics. In early 2019, SEOblog.com answered the call from buyers of digital marketing services that lacked unbiased, informative online resources and launched a comprehensive directory to highlight the best SEO companies in the United States  https://www.seoblog.com/best-seo-companies/.

SEOblogs mission is to connect businesses with qualified digital marketing agencies while also offering further SEO education, best practices and industry trends.

SEOblog.com is a one-stop shop for educational SEO and digital marketing content, research, ratings and reviews for the best agencies in each local market across the United States and Canada. The website will be increasing its coverage of U.S. and Canada SEO agencies and accepting more guest blog posts in the coming months. Contact SEOblog if youre interested in getting involved.
Its never been easier for travelers to participate in sustainable travel that makes a positive impact through giving back to local communities while also creating higher levels of trip satisfaction." - CEO of Kind Traveler, Jessica Blotter

Fort Myers - Islands, Beaches and Neighborhoods, in partnership with Kind Traveler, launch an impact travel initiative focused on making charitable donations to CROW Clinic on Sanibel Island.

With the Earth Day 2022 theme of Invest in Our Planet," this is a unique opportunity for travelers to visit the Fort Myers area and support the Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife (CROW). Kind Traveler is the first socially conscious Give + Get hotel booking and education platform that empowers travelers to make a positive community and environmental impact to the destinations they visit.

Creating a Triple Win: Travelers. Hotels. Charities.

With Kind Travelers Give + Get platform, travelers can now access exclusive rates and perks with curated Kind Hotels in Fort Myers - Islands, Beaches and Neighborhoods, upon a minimum of a $10 donation to Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife (CROW) on Kind Traveler. 100 percent of the donation goes to charity, creating a win for the traveler, charity, destination, and hotel.

Participating hotels, all recognized by their sustainability efforts as participants in the Florida Green Lodging Program, include



Pink Shell Beach Resort & Marina

DiamondHead Beach Resort

The Westin Cape Coral Resort at Marina Village

Whats the Positive Impact You Can Make?

A $10 donation can go a long way with CROW, a teaching hospital and visitor education center dedicated to saving wildlife in Southwest Florida through state-of-the-art veterinary care, research, education, and conservation medicine. Caring for more than 5,000 wildlife patients per year and 200 species of sick, injured, and orphaned wildlife, a $10 donation to CROW Clinic can:

Provide five days of fish to a pelican recovering from red tide

Provide five days of fish to a bald eagle with a broken wing

Provide 1-2 weeks of antibiotics for a gopher tortoise that was hit by a car

Why Now?

As indicated in the 2022 Impact Tourism Report by Kind Traveler, 96 percent of respondents indicated it was important for their travel dollars to make a positive impact in the destinations they visit. Additionally, almost 50 percent of respondents stated that the hardest part about traveling sustainably was finding accommodations that are sustainable and socially conscious.

Unique Experiences for Positive Impact

Beyond booking accommodations that are sustainable and inspire positive impact rooted in local wildlife conservation efforts, travelers will additionally find unique experiences offered at CROW Clinic. An educational opportunity for family travelers, couples, and solo travelers alike, guests can explore a variety of memorable and engaging activities and classes:

Wildlife Walk Guided Hospital Tour (advance registration required)

Wildlife rescue classes and a speaker series

Patient Profile Experiences (sea turtles, owls, Florida felines, and more)

As a destination that embraces sustainability with 120,000 acres of land conserved, offering dozens of nature preserves for exploration, abundant wildlife and protected species, and 150 miles of designated bike paths & trails, Fort Myers - Islands, Beaches and Neighborhoods is thrilled to participate in creating new offerings for sustainable travel for travelers to give back to CROW when booking with Kind Traveler, states Tamara Pigott, Executive Director of of Fort Myers - Islands, Beaches and Neighborhoods.

Sustainable Fort Myers - Islands, Beaches and Neighborhoods

Limited beach development and conservation has preserved the beauty of Fort Myers - Islands, Beaches and Neighborhoods that draw nearly 5 million visitors annually. One in five jobs in the county are supported by tourism, with 26 percent of tourist tax collected (approx. $10M annually) used to maintain its world class beaches. With 95 percent of residents indicating sustainability as an important part of Lee Countys future, the destination is home to a variety of protected species including burrowing owls, manatees, loggerhead sea turtles and the Gopher tortoise.

Its never been easier for travelers to participate in sustainable travel that makes a positive impact through giving back to local communities while also creating higher levels of trip satisfaction. We invite the travel community to explore the new offerings on Kind Traveler that support sustainable hotels in Fort Myers - Islands, Beaches and Neighborhoods, while also giving back to CROW Clinic, shares CEO of Kind Traveler, Jessica Blotter.

Participating Kind Hotels

Pink Shell Resort & Marina: The first Fort Myers Beach hotel to become a Florida Green Lodging member and recently achieving the highest-level sustainability recognition (4 Palm), Pink Shell makes its home on 12 acres of pristine Estero Island Beach.

DiamondHead Beach Resort: Designated Green for meeting the criteria of the Florida Green Lodging Program with a 2 Palm recognition, DiamondHead offers a sun-kissed island paradise on Fort Myers Beach.

The Westin Cape Coral Resort at Marina Village: Neighboring Fort Myers and Sanibel, this 1-Palm Florida Green Lodging member puts you in the heart of Cape Coral and the chance to admire the best views of the Gulf of Mexico, the Caloosahatchee River and Tarpon Point Marina.

For more information on how travelers can #TravelKindly to Fort Myers - Islands, Beaches and Neighborhoods, visit https://www.kindtraveler.com/content/kind-destination-fort-myers-sanibel

MEDIA ASSETS: IMAGERY & VIDEO LINKS

Media Contacts:

Kind Traveler Media Contact: Jessica Parker, Jessica@TripWhisperer.NYC, 484-410-7122

Fort Myers - Islands, Beaches and Neighborhoods

Lee County Media Contact: Jackie Parker and Miriam Dotson, 239-338-3500

ABOUT FORT MYERS - ISLANDS, BEACHES AND NEIGHBORHOODS

Fort Myers and surrounding areas include Fort Myers Beach, Sanibel & Captiva islands, Boca Grande & Outer Islands, Pine Island, Matlacha, Cape Coral, North Fort Myers, Bonita Springs, Estero, Alva, Buckingham and Lehigh Acres. For media assistance: VisitFortMyers.com/media-central

ABOUT KIND TRAVELER

Kind Traveler, a women-and-veteran-owned public benefit corporation, is the worlds first socially conscious Give + Get hotel booking and education platform that empowers travelers to positively impact the communities they visit. Recognized with global awards from Fast Company, Travel + Leisure, Newsweek, and the UNWTO, Kind Traveler represents Kind Hotels and tourism boards in 22 countries and 100+ charities globally. Learn more: http://www.KindTraveler.com
Point Nine Partners with Kaizen Reporting Quality and Accuracy of Regulatory Reporting

Point Nine (Limassol, Cyprus) is excited to announce its recent partnership with Kaizen Reporting (London, England). This partnership aims to provide clients with a streamlined end-to-end experience, from pre- to post-submission, and greater visibility into the quality of their regulatory reporting.

About Point Nine

Originally founded in 2002, Point Nine is a dedicated regulatory reporting firm focused on providing trade and transaction reporting services. Point Nine specializes in working with financial firms and institutions, service providers, and corporations on both the buy- and sell-sides spanning across the globe.

Point Nine has processed and reported more than 7 billion transactions across all asset classes using their in-house, cutting-edge technology. Since October 2015, Point Nine has maintained a proven track record of 99.95% submissions success in EU/UK transaction reporting.

As a result of their efforts and success, Point Nine has become known for its elite service and expertise provided to its valued customers, ensuring accuracy, efficiency, and transparency.

About Kaizen Reporting

Kaizen Reporting are regulatory specialists on a mission to transform the quality of regulatory reporting in the financial services industry. By combining regulatory expertise with advanced technology, they have developed a multi-award winning automated services for assurance, shareholding disclosure and a Single Rulebook digital platform. Its Kaizens forensic focus on data accuracy that sets them apart and they are proud to call many of the worlds largest banks, asset managers, hedge funds and brokers as clients. Whether its MiFIR, EMIR, CFTC, SFTR, another G20 regulation, or the global shareholding disclosure rules, Kaizen exists to help its clients reduce costs, improve quality and increase confidence in their regulatory reporting.

Point Nine and Kaizen Reporting: A Revolutionary Partnership

Point Nine and Kaizen Reporting will continue to help organisations improve the quality and accuracy of their regulatory reporting for all regimes. Andreas Roussos, a Point Nine CEO, states:

We strive to provide a peace-of-mind trade and transaction reporting service to all market participants in the capital markets. By combining our expertise with industry leaders like Kaizen Reporting, we enable existing and potential clients to benefit from their leading products and services as well as their regulatory expertise.

For more information, please contact Point Nine team via email at info@p9dt.com or submit an inquiry.
Millions of Ukrainians have been displaced and struggle to find a safe place to live. Rentberry hopes that through their platform, refugees will easily find a temporary rental to stay in before they can return to their homeland.

Rentberry, a San Francisco-based proptech startup offering users a transparent and automated rental experience, has committed to assisting people displaced due to war in Ukraine with finding housing. After Russia initiated the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the team at Rentberry decided to do their part in supporting Ukrainians forced to flee their homeland. As a company operating in the rental market, assisting with housing needs made the most sense.

Short feature overview

On April 4th, 2022, Rentberry released a new feature dedicated to helping connect displaced Ukrainians searching for temporary rentals with landlords willing to provide their properties to refugees and others in need.

Property owners ready to offer their place to a Ukrainian refugee can now choose this option when adding a rental property on the Rentberry website. Checking the box will single out a rental listing with a special badge and place it at the top of the search results. Additionally, these properties will receive free property promotion for an unlimited time. Landlords will be able to set a desirable rental price or offer an apartment to stay for a symbolic $1 per month.

It is expected that many of the people fleeing the ongoing Russian aggression will look for a temporary place to stay, with the expectation of returning to Ukraine as the crisis abates and the dust literally and figuratively settles. For this reason, Rentberry, a formerly long-term-only rental platform, has introduced the ability to add mid-term properties available for a one- to three-month period.

Anticipated benefits of the project

According to the BBC, as of April 6, 2022, over 4.2 million Ukrainians have fled the country, and another 6.5 million have been internally displaced. Many people around the world are looking for ways to help Ukrainians during this crisis, with many eager to offer housing to these refugees at a much lower cost or even for free. Rentberry hopes to assist refugees searching for a safe place to live and to become a trustworthy intermediary for these two parties based on its knowledge and proven expertise in the rental market.

In addition, the company believes that some other elements of their rental platform may also prove useful in these circumstances. We hope to see custom offers in action a lot, says Rentberrys CEO Oleksiy Lubinsky. This is a situation when a landlord and a tenant might both not know what their expectations are and what they can offer another person. But I hope our custom offer will be the exact thing needed to help two strangers find a solution that will benefit one or even both of them immensely.

One final example is Rentberrys popular virtual tour feature, with which people looking for an apartment can save time and gain the upper hand in this competitive real estate market by skipping the step of viewing a property in person.

About Rentberry

Rentberry is a fully online, long-term rental platform with an extensive set of features that were designed to streamline communication between landlords and tenants. These include tenant screening, online rental payments, eSigning contracts, virtual tours, and more. Currently, Rentberry offers more than 4.3 million listings in over 50 countries worldwide.
Lisa Gitelson, Chief Executive Officer, The Fresh Air Fund Our city is stronger when each of our children and their families are stronger, said Lisa Gitelson, Chief Executive Officer, The Fresh Air Fund.

The Fresh Air Fund Board of Directors and Chairman William P. Lauder announce the appointment of Lisa Gitelson as the new Chief Executive Officer to begin on April 18, 2022. The Fresh Air Fund, a not-for-profit youth development organization, has served New York Citys youth since 1877. Throughout Ms. Gitelsons over 25-year career in public service, as an attorney and child welfare advocate, she has been dedicated to addressing the needs of underserved youth. Prior to joining The Fresh Air Fund, she was Assistant Executive Director/Legal Counsel for The New York Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NYSPCC). She is also an Adjunct Professor at Silberman School of Social Work, Hunter College, CUNY, where she teaches the Policy & Practice of Child Welfare.

We are pleased to name Lisa Gitelson as The Funds new Chief Executive Officer, said William P. Lauder, Chairman of the Board. Thousands of Fresh Air children and families will benefit from Lisas commitment to the well-being of New York Citys children. She is a fierce advocate for childrens rights and has a solid foundation of experience in management, public policy, development, communications and finance, along with providing legal expertise.

Lisa has deep roots in the communities we serve, and we welcome her to our Fresh Air family.

As Assistant Executive Director/Legal Counsel for NYSPCC since February 2021, Ms. Gitelson managed various aspects of the agency including Operations, Research and Evaluation, and Training. She identified legislation and other public policy issues that impacted the work of the organization and developed an advocacy agenda and action plans to move public policy efforts forward.

Our city is stronger when each of our children and their families are stronger. I am honored and excited to lead an organization with a rich history of providing children with transformative experiences which open worlds of possibility to them. I look forward to working with The Funds dedicated staff and partnering with our families and communities to continue strengthening the children of our city, said Lisa Gitelson, Chief Executive Officer, The Fresh Air Fund.

Previously, Ms. Gitelson served as Associate Executive Director, Downstate, at the Council of Family and Child Caring Agencies (COFCCA) where she was responsible for bringing private foster care, juvenile justice, residential care and prevention services agencies together to collaborate, share best practices, and coordinate efforts to improve and advocate for the child welfare and juvenile justice systems. In this role, Ms. Gitelson advocated for COFCCA member agencies in discussions with the Administration for Childrens Services, the New York City Council and the New York State Office of Children and Family Services and worked with stakeholders to ensure that membership best served New York City children and families.

Prior to COFCCA, she was the Director of Foster Care and Adoption Services at Sheltering Arms Children and Family Services. Ms. Gitelson began her career as an attorney representing foster care agencies before serving in multiple leadership and supervisory roles at the New York City Administration for Childrens Services, Family Court Legal Services.

Ms. Gitelson succeeds Fatima Shama, The Funds Executive Director from 2015 to 2021, who resigned her position to join Bloomberg L.P. Board President Wendy Flanagan stepped in as Interim Executive Director. Ms. Flanagan said, Lisa is a fantastic choice for our new Chief Executive Officer. We were impressed with the breadth of her experience and by her commitment to the children and families of our city. We are delighted to have Lisa lead us in our next chapter, as we return to our traditional sleepaway programs and build on programs developed to serve New York City youth during the pandemic. I am looking forward to working with her on a smooth transition and as Board President.

Ms. Gitelson is a graduate of Colgate University and has a JD from Washington University School of Law. She lives in Washington Heights with her son, a high school junior, and her daughter, a college junior.

Since its founding in 1877, The Fresh Air Fund, a not-for-profit youth development organization, has provided free life-changing summer experiences in the outdoors to more than 1.8 million children from New York Citys underserved communities. At sleepaway camps in New Yorks Mid-Hudson Valley, visiting volunteer host families along the East Coast and in NYC-based programs, children have new experiences, learn new skills and gain new perspectives. Fresh Air children also participate in year-round leadership, career exploration and educational programs. For more information, please visit FreshAir.org.
With Lexalytics, were eager to offer new text analytics techniques across additional languages, enabling better insights for our users globally, but especially for our growing client base in APAC, said said Francesco DOrazio, Co-Founder & CEO of Pulsar.

Lexalytics, an InMoment Company and pioneer in AI-based NLP technology, announced today that Pulsar has chosen Lexalytics on-premise, AI-driven Salience NLP engine to power its audience intelligence platform. The original equipment manufacturer (OEM) agreement brings best-in-class text analytics and sentiment analysis, along with natively processed, multilingual content across channels to Pulsars global customer base in the areas of social listening, reputation intelligence, and customer experience management. The partnership will also give Pulsar customers the ability to analyze consumer emotions, like fear, hope, happiness, and surprise to better understand consumer reactions to marketing campaigns, current events, and programs. Additionally, the option of an on-premise NLP engine gives Pulsar increased configurability and tunability, while eliminating the costs associated with processing high volumes of data in the cloud.

As Pulsar operates and expands globally, the need for accurate NLP in languages other than English is paramount, especially in the APAC region. Lexalytics offers native-language processing in dozens of languages, including Malay, Thai, Vietnamese, and Singlish (Singaporean English), whereas most of the larger cloud providers cobble together disparate services to offer multilingual NLP, drastically reducing accuracy and causing discrepancies in scoring. With Salience, Pulsar can quickly make edits to a particular language model, or adjust the sentiment analysis engine to adapt to the nuances of language across industries and geographies.

The team at Pulsar is incredibly savvy, and this partnership has generated even more excitement around our investment in emotion detection development at Lexalytics, says Jeff Catlin, Head of Lexalytics. Were looking forward to working with Pulsar to support their growth both here and abroad, as they continue to expand and help their customers get the most out of their data.

As one of the pioneers in text and sentiment analysis, were excited to have Lexalytics next-generation AI engine embedded into the Pulsar platform, said Francesco DOrazio, Co-Founder & CEO of Pulsar. With Lexalytics, were eager to offer new text analytics techniques across additional languages, enabling better insights for our users globally but especially for our growing client base in APAC.

Lexalytics will host its premier OEM roundtable event on April 20, 2022 from 11am EDT/8am PDT- 12pm EDT/9am PDT, and will be joined by executives from Pulsar, as well as immersive learning and simulation company Bright. The companies will discuss Embedding NLP & Machine Learning for Enterprise-Wide, Multilingual Problem Solving. For more information and to register, please visit https://inmoment.com/event/oem-experience-exchange/.

About Lexalytics, An InMoment Company

Lexalytics, an InMoment company, processes billions of words every day, globally, for data analytics companies and enterprise data analyst teams that need to tell powerful stories from text data. Our products combine natural language processing with artificial intelligence to transform text in all its forms into usable data. Lexalytics solutions can be deployed on premises, in the cloud or within a hybrid cloud infrastructure to reveal context-rich patterns and insights for voice of customer, voice of employee, customer experience improvement, market research, social listening, news monitoring and other business intelligence programs. For more information, please visit http://www.lexalytics.com.

About Pulsar

Pulsar is an audience intelligence company. We help organizations understand their audiences and create messages that matter to them, by combining conversational and behavioral data from the worlds leading digital sources, with vertical AI, and smart human minds. For more information, please visit http://www.pulsarplatform.com.
My Question to Taikonauts event at the Chinese Embassy to the United States (April 9, 2022) Capturing the spirit of the event, Qin Gang, the Chinese Ambassador to the U.S., told the gathering: You say you are American. We say we are Chinese, but we are all citizens of the earth.

CGTN America releases Chinese Astronauts, American Students: Citizens of the Earth

For more than 300 American students, a China-sponsored event took their science studies to a whole different level  hundreds of kilometers above the Earth. Chinese astronauts in space, hosting American students on earth  bound by a mutual passion for science.

Students from 20 schools in 13 states submitted questions to the Chinese astronauts  Zhai Zhigang, Wang Yaping and Ye Guangfu  aboard the Tiangong space station. Their pre-recorded responses were shared with students, parents, and teachers at the My questions to Taikonauts event on April 9 hosted by the Chinese Embassy in Washington, DC. Some guests attended in person, others by Zoom. The Chinese call their astronauts, Taikonauts, a portmanteau that combines the Mandarin word for outer space and the Greek word for sailors.

Asking her question in Mandarin, Utah Elementary school student, Skyla Winters, asked where water came from in space? Taikonaut Ye explained all water in space comes from Earth, and is recycled from perspiration, urine, and water particles that they exhale.

Can you jump very high, asked Hawaii student Ayhan Ulusemre? Taikonaut Wang answered that question with her whole body. She floated up silently to the stations ceiling, and then back down, explaining: In a weightless environment  I can jump as high as possible.

It was a people-to-people exchange that stretched from Earth to the high frontier. On this day, in the sunlit silence of space there was no gravity or politics  only friendship.

When Vermont student, Michael Blaisdell, asked in English whether the taikonauts thought about growing bacteria on the moon or Mars? Taikonaut Ye said: We look forward to exploring the unknown on the moon and Mars  and building a beautiful home in outer space together.

The word together appeared to resonate with attendees. Elon Musk, founder, CEO, and Chief Engineer at SpaceX also used the word in a prerecorded video. I look forward to humanity working together to form a self-sustaining civilization on Mars and other planets, he said.

Capturing the spirit of the event, Qin Gang, the Chinese Ambassador to the U.S., told the gathering: You say you are American. We say we are Chinese, but we are all citizens of the earth.

Taikonauts Zhai, Wang and Ye rocketed into orbit aboard the Shenzhou XIII spacecraft in October 2021. They will soon end their six-month sojourn  Chinas longest-ever manned mission in space.

Click here to read more about Chinese Astronauts, American Students: Citizens of the Earth https://newsus.cgtn.com/news/2022-04-10/American-children-send-questions-to-taikonauts-196sIvk16mY/index.html

(This material is distributed by MediaLinks TV, LLC on behalf of CCTV. Additional information is available at the U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, D.C.)
Wendy Liscow "Wendy brings to the organization a depth of understanding of arts education, a commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and access for all stakeholders, and a rich network of arts educators and advocates - both locally and nationally." - Dr. Mary Reece, Arts Ed NJ board chair

Arts Ed NJ, the statewide voice for arts education, today announced that it has named Wendy Liscow its new Executive Director, effective July 1. She assumes the position held by Arts Ed NJ co-founder and former board chair Robert Morrison, who announced this past January that he would be stepping down effective June 30, 2022, following nearly two decades at the helm.

A champion of the transformative power of arts education for both students and educators, Liscow most recently served 17 years at Morristown, New Jersey-based Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, a steadfast supporter of arts in New Jersey. Liscow began her work in Dodge's Arts grantmaking area, eventually becoming Education Program Officer, leading its Education and Technical Assistance programs. She has steered statewide initiatives advancing arts integration and culturally relevant and responsive practices, especially for children attending the state's most historically under-resourced school districts. She also developed sequential adult learning opportunities to help ensure nonprofit staff and boards deepen their organizational impact and helped Dodge launch its equity-focused training series.

In her philanthropic role, Liscow became a strong ally of Arts Ed NJ, helping its growth from its formative years and working with the organization at the grassroots level.

She worked with a team of arts education leaders in producing "New Jersey's Arts Integration Think and Do Workbook" and recently developed with Sanaz Hojreh the "Culturally Responsive Arts Education Workout" offered by Arts Ed NJ.

In addition, Liscow spearheaded the development of an arts education data collection dashboard to complement Arts Ed NJ's Census, collective impact assessment tools, and an aligned arts education evaluation training series for nonprofit arts education partner organizations.

After receiving her Education degree from the University of Michigan and before joining the Dodge staff in 2003, Liscow spent 25 years gaining experience in the non-profit sector as a professional theatre administrator, director, and producer. She was associate artistic director, dramaturg, and resident director at George Street Playhouse in New Brunswick for 12 years and then served as the director of programs and services for the New Jersey Theatre Alliance.

She has served on many boards and committees over the years, most recently on the Arts Education Partnership's Equity Committee, the Arts Education Impact group at Grantmakers for Education, Arts Ed Newark, Arts for Any Given Child Trenton, and the Newark STEAM coalition. In addition, she is a proud graduate of Lead New Jersey and a founding board member of the Metuchen Farmers Market in her hometown.

Liscow is also the recipient of the 2021 Outstanding Lifetime Contribution to Arts Education Award presented at New Jersey's annual Governor's Awards in Arts Education.

"On behalf of the Board of Trustees of Arts Ed NJ, I share our excitement upon the selection of Wendy Liscow as our next executive director!" said Dr. Mary Reece, Arts Ed NJ board chair. "Wendy brings to the organization a depth of understanding of arts education, a commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and access for all stakeholders, and a rich network of arts educators and advocates - both locally and nationally. We look forward to working with Wendy as Arts Ed NJ continues to grow and thrive!"

For more information about Arts Ed NJ, please visit https://www.artsednj.org.

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About Arts Ed NJ

Arts Ed NJ is the unified voice for arts education in New Jersey. The mission of Arts Ed NJ is to create the proper conditions for arts learning to take place in New Jersey. Formerly the New Jersey Arts Education Partnership, Arts Ed NJ was founded in 2007 by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, New Jersey Department of Education and Music for All Foundation. Additional support has been provided by the Jay and Linda Grunin Foundation, ArtPride New Jersey
Combining mystery, thrill and suspense, author Allen Edwards marks his entry to the publishing world with the release of Holiday (published by AuthorHouse UK). In this work of fiction, readers follow the story of a young man whose dream vacation to Thailand becomes a living nightmare when his girlfriend suddenly vanishes without a trace.

Mikey Morris, a 25-year-old athlete, and Rachel Moore, a pretty woman two years younger, are a young English couple who decides to take a vacation to Thailand. The holiday goes well until Rachel suddenly disappears. With only the help of Alex, a lone Australian tourist, Mikey searches for his girlfriend. But soon, the hotel claims that Rachel was never at the hotel and the Thai authorities state that Rachel was never in the country. Alex then begins to question Mikeys state of mind. Has Mikey gone mad or has Rachel really gone missing?

I think it will have readers guessing whilst reading, Edwards says, when asked what makes the book appealing. It brings a question of mental health, something which hot topic these days.

Engaging and intriguing, this novel is a great read for those who enjoy thriller/mystery genre with a unique setting and plot twists. Head over to AuthorHouse books to uncover the mystery surrounding the holiday: https://www.authorhouse.com/en-gb/bookstore/bookdetails/832517-holiday

Holiday

By Allen Edwards

Softcover | 5 x 8in | 82 pages | ISBN 9781665591164

E-Book | 82 pages | ISBN 9781665591157

Available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble

About the Author

Having recently retook his English GCSE, Allen Edwards discovered that he had an interest for creative writing and storytelling. Holiday is his first published written work.

AuthorHouse, an Author Solutions, Inc. self-publishing imprint, is a leading provider of book publishing, marketing, and bookselling services for authors around the globe and offers the industrys only suite of Hollywood book-to-film services. Committed to providing the highest level of customer service, AuthorHouse assigns each author personal publishing and marketing consultants who provide guidance throughout the process. Headquartered in Bloomington, Indiana, AuthorHouse celebrates over 23 years of service to authors. For more information or to publish a book visit authorhouse.co.uk or call 0-800-014-8641.
Pre-owned electric vehicles offer drivers zero-emission options at affordable prices

Aristocrat Motors, a luxury car dealership in Merriam, Kansas, offers drivers a place to buy pre-owned electric vehicles or EVs. Other alternative fuel vehicles at the dealership include hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles also known as hybrid electric vehicles or HEVs and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles or PHEVs.

Pre-owned electric vehicle models that are available at Aristocrat Motors will vary week to week. Currently, the dealership has two 2021 Porsche Taycan electric vehicles: one silver Base model and one 4S model. Other vehicle brands that the dealership carries include Alfa Romeo, Audi, BMW, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Ford, Honda, Jaguar, Jeep, Land Rover, Lexus, Maserati, Mercedes-Benz and Toyota, among many others. The dealership offers a mix of common and luxury brands in their used vehicle inventory, providing drivers with a variety of price points to choose from, as well as the availability of many different features. Electric vehicles from these brands include the Chevrolet Bolt, Ford Mustang Mach-E, Mercedes-Benz EQS and others.

Drivers who are interested in purchasing a used electric vehicle are encouraged to check out the dealerships online inventory or to visit in person to learn more and view available models. Inventory, contact information and more can be found on the dealership's website, aristocratmotors.com.
Law Office of Blumenthal Nordrehaug Bhowmik De Blouw LLP For more information about the class action lawsuit against Laseraway Medical Group, Inc., call (800) 568-8020 to speak to an experienced California employment attorney today.

The San Francisco employment law attorneys, at Blumenthal Nordrehaug Bhowmik De Blouw LLP, filed a class action complaint alleging that Laseraway Medical Group, Inc. violated the California Labor Code. The Laseraway Medical Group, Inc. class action lawsuit, Case No. CIV2200617, is currently pending in the Marin County Superior Court of the State of California. A copy of the Complaint can be read here.

According to the lawsuit filed, Laseraway Medical Group, Inc. allegedly (a) failed to pay minimum wages, (b) failed to pay overtime wages, (c) failed to provide legally required meal and rest periods, (d) failed to provide accurate itemized wage statements, (e) failed to reimburse employees for required expenses, and (f) failed to provide wages when due, all in violation of the applicable Labor Code sections listed in California Labor Code Sections  201, 202, 203, 226, 226.7, 510, 512, 1194, 1197, 1197.1, 2802, and the applicable Wage Order(s), and thereby gives rise to civil penalties as a result of such alleged conduct.

The complaint alleges employees were from time to time unable to take thirty (30) minute off-duty meal breaks or were not fully relieved of duty for their meal periods. California labor laws require an employer to provide an employee required to perform work for more than five (5) hours during a shift with, a thirty (30) minute uninterrupted meal break prior to the end of the employee's fifth (5th) hour of work.

For more information about the class action lawsuit against Laseraway Medical Group, Inc., call (800) 568-8020 to speak to an experienced California employment attorney today.

Blumenthal Nordrehaug Bhowmik De Blouw LLP is an employment law firm with offices located in San Diego, San Francisco, Sacramento, Los Angeles, Riverside and Chicago that dedicates its practice to helping employees, investors and consumers fight back against unfair business practices, including violations of the California Labor Code and Fair Labor Standards Act. If you need help in collecting unpaid overtime wages, unpaid commissions, being wrongfully terminated from work, and other employment law claims, contact one of their attorneys today.

***THIS IS AN ATTORNEY ADVERTISEMENT***
We saw an opportunity to bring our real estate talents to a booming market in Florida.

Avalon Realty Associates LLC is pleased to announce the addition of a Florida office with the acquisition of Port Charlotte-based Suncoasteam Realty. Avalon  which is headquartered in the Chicago area and serves clients nationwide  has already begun representing tenants and negotiating leases throughout much of Florida including Miami, Fort Lauderdale and Fort Myers.

We saw an opportunity to bring our real estate talents to a booming market in Florida, said Carlo Santucci, a commercial real estate broker and co-owner with Avalon. The state has a thriving economy, and we foresee continued growth.

Jim Mulligan, the former owner of Suncoasteam Realty, will remain highly involved in the Florida offices operations and will be an asset to Avalon due to his expertise and experience in the Southwest Florida real estate market.

Avalon has observed a trend of national tenants looking to open locations throughout the United States and primarily in Florida. With the new office, the commercial real estate firm can better serve local clients in Florida cities such as North Port, Venice, Sarasota, Bradenton, Longboat Key, Siesta Key, Englewood, Rotonda, Punta Gorda and Port Charlotte.

Avalon Realty helps commercial real estate owners make properties profitable with services such as tenant representation, property management and brokerage. Joseph Santucci  a commercial real estate broker and civil engineer with more than 30 years of experience in the real estate industry  co-owns and leads Avalon.

Even during the uncertain times of the past couple of years, the firm has continued to pursue new opportunities for expansion. During the first quarter of 2022 alone, Avalon added more than 500,000 square feet of property in Illinois, ranging across Gurnee, Elgin, Northbrook and Rochelle.

For more information about Avalon Realty Associates, please call 847-506-1000 ext. 5132 or email Carlo@AvalonReal.com.

About Avalon Realty Associates

For over 30 years, Avalon Realty Associates has delivered comprehensive commercial real estate services  including brokerage, property management, and tenant representation  to clients in the Chicago metro area and across the country. Avalons team will manage your property as if they own it to maximize your return on investment. For more information, please visit AvalonReal.com.

For more information contact:

Carlo Santucci

847-506-1000 ext. 5132

carlo@avalonreal.com


Grain de Sail cargo sailboat heads for New York with Champagne Charles Heidsieck onboard Transport by sea is an integral part of the the history of Champagne Charles Heidsieck, and is how Charles himself supplied the American market 170 years ago. We chose Grain de Sail as our partner because it is more than just a company, it is an adventure.

Charles Heidsieck, one of Champagnes most admired producers, today announced it is sending its newest releases to the US by sailboat. Featuring a cargo of a limited number of prestigious bottles, the historic journey celebrates the bicentennial of the Houses Founder, Charles-Camille Heidsieck, and will sail across the Atlantic to arrive in New York, following the journey that Charles himself took in 1852.

The sailboat launches from the port of Saint-Malo, Brittany, arriving in New York in time to celebrate Charles 200th birth date on June 17. The shipment has been entrusted to French sail company, Grain de Sail, for a transatlantic crossing on board its cargo sailboat  the first modern, regulated, merchant shipping cargo sailboat in the world  truly following in Charles footsteps, who made his own crossings by sea. The journey can be followed at Follow the journey on the Grain de Sail home page, https://graindesailwines.com/

For Charles Heidsiecks Managing Director, Stephen Leroux, the partnership reflects the Houses tribute and commitment to the Founders sense of adventure:

Transport by sea is an integral part of our history: that is how Charles Heidsieck supplied the American market. We chose Grain de Sail as a partner because it is more than just a company, it is an adventure.

We share many key values, such as patience, a daring and entrepreneurial spirit, the world of sea, and respect for ancestral skills whilst cultivating innovation.

Charles personally chose the US as his first market, back in 1852, as explained by Stephen Leroux:

To celebrate our 200 years of adventure, we are paying tribute to our Founders travels to the United States in our own way: taking our  slow  time, in a daring and entrepreneurial approach, and innovative spirit, Stephen said.

For Jacques Barreau, co-founder and Executive Director at Grain de Sail, carrying the Houses legendary cargo perfectly befits their own sense of adventure:

An adventurous spirit is essential at Grain de Sail, as well as our environmental approach. I am sure that Charles Heidsieck himself would have been delighted with the partnership between our two companies, which gives special meaning to the exceptional products created by the House in tribute to its founder. It is a pleasure to be working together.

The House has held a long connection to sailing, with several racing boats bearing the Charles Heidsieck name in global races in the 70s and 80s, including Charles Heidsieck III, especially designed for the most extraordinary international race. This great monohull sailed the Whitbread Round the World Race from August 1981 to March 1982.

The House is planning a long-term relationship with Grain de Sail, making one delivery a year via the North Atlantic, and taking on other routes as the partnership develops.

Leroux loves the idea that the shipment is not on a strict deadline to arrive to US shores.

For us, taking our time is a good thing. We leave our wines until they are fully matured, and we think that a slower pace allows you to appreciate things in life, and we really like the idea that our wines will get there when they get there, Stephen said.

2022 marks 200 years since the birth of its Founder, Charles Heidsieck: a gentleman-entrepreneur with a taste for adventure, bold and pioneering. He would thoroughly and passionately pave the way of the champagne market in the mid-19th century by converting Americans to his own cuvees, earning him legendary status across the Atlantic, and the nickname Champagne Charlie.

The Charles Heidsieck portfolio is imported nationally by Folio Fine Wine Partners.

For further information, interviews and images, please contact Rebecca Hopkins via email at hopkinswinepr@gmail.com or cell +1 7075928929 .
Partnering with Xtiva ensures that Commonwealth-affiliated advisors will have the support of cutting-edge technology as they grow and evolve their businesses.

Xtiva, the only provider of Sales Performance Management Technology and Services exclusively for the financial service industry, announced that Commonwealth Financial Network, a national firm dedicated to providing advisor-focused business solutions, has signed an agreement to deploy the Xtiva Reward incentive compensation modulepart of the XtivaCloud Performance Platformacross its business. The rollout will take place over the course of the next year as Commonwealth continues to enhance the tools used to support its more than 2,000 affiliated advisors.

Key Benefits:



Single system of record to support all performance management objectives across the organization;

Increases operational leverage and continues to support streamlining of the technology platform while also reducing risk;

Support for inorganic growth with flexible configuration and dedicated Xtiva professional services expertise for fast and effective onboarding of new firms and advisors.

As described by Rick Scearbo, Chief Revenue Officer at Xtiva, Commonwealth, a reputable growth and success partner for independent advisors, is committed to investing in its platform to provide exceptional service and meet the growing needs and expectations of its advisors. Were proud to partner with this firm and provide our comprehensive set of services to support its compensation needs.

Xtivas compensation solution provides a flexible and reliable application powered by a robust platform, said Jon Cleasby, senior vice president, chief financial officer at Commonwealth. Partnering with Xtiva ensures that Commonwealth-affiliated advisors will have the support of cutting-edge technology as they grow and evolve their businesses.

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About Xtiva

Xtiva Financial Systems provides the leading sales performance management (SPM) and incentive compensation management (ICM) systems for the financial services industry. Xtivas cloud-based Performance Platform enables financial organizations to drive scalable performance improvement through better business intelligence, sales enablement, talent management and supported by dynamic and compelling incentive compensation based on a single system of record. 90 financial service enterprises use Xtivas software, services and support, to maximize their salesforce investments and business performance. Xtivas customer obsessed team is dedicated to ensuring its customers and their partners achieve more every day.

Unlock front-office velocity. Drive revenue. Eliminate profit leakages. Achieve More. Learn more at http://www.xtiva.com, via Twitter or on LinkedIn.

About Commonwealth Financial Network

Commonwealth Financial Network, Member FINRA/SIPC, a Registered Investment Adviser, provides a suite of business solutions that empowers more than 2,000 independent financial advisors nationwide. J.D. Power ranks Commonwealth #1 in Independent Advisor Satisfaction Among Financial Investment Firms, Eight Times in a Row. Privately held since 1979, the firm has headquarters in Waltham, Massachusetts, and San Diego, California. Learn more about Commonwealth by visiting http://www.commonwealth.com.

Commonwealth received the highest score in the independent advisor segment of the J.D. Power 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021 Financial Advisor Satisfaction Studies of customers satisfaction among financial advisors. Visit jdpower.com/awards.
In the 401(k) realm, even a self-directed brokerage window with built-in investment limitations is considered too risky. Hence the caution. Interested parties are practically on their own if they are at all permitted to add the alternative to their portfolio.

Blockchain pioneer and HashCash chief, Raj Chowdhury, airs his views on adding crypto to 401(k) plans. While there is no hard and fast rule prohibiting this yet, it is the least offered option and is often discouraged.

As the inevitable happened sometime last year, clients with 401(k) plans and a crypto-struck employee population began quizzing if they could add cryptocurrency as a plan investment option. In the 401(k) realm, even a self-directed brokerage window with built-in investment limitations is considered too risky. Hence the caution. Interested parties are practically on their own if they are at all permitted to add the alternative to their portfolio, said Chowdhury, explaining the scenario.

It is a known fact that cryptocurrency is a highly volatile asset. This gets confusing for even professional investors and expert traders. This is the primary reason why it doesnt sit well with 401(k) retirement planning, where plan fiduciaries are accountable for choosing investments that balance long-term growth maintaining a certain level of stability asking reasonable fees, added Chowdhury.

Investment planners have for a long time shunned crypto as an investment alternative for the common people knowing of its links with several online illicit businesses and threat entities. However, cryptocurrency has since gone mainstream. The idea of adding the alternative as a means of diversification of investment portfolio has occurred to many, he continued pointing out that there doesnt exist any clause under ERISA or Internal Revenue Code expressly barring the option.

The Department of Labor has, however, released a document that cautions plan fiduciaries to exercise extreme care before they consider adding cryptocurrency to a 401(k) plans investment menu for plan participants.

Chowdhury calls it a starkly discouraging move against cryptocurrency adoption. The primary risk to this investment comes in its volatility. The secondary risks associated with the digital assets appear in the scenarios of cyberattacks on exchanges, a crackdown on crypto mining, and other regulations including an outright ban.

Yet most of the secondary risks of cybercrime can be offset in retirement accounts by insuring plan custodians. Moreover, exchanges today have adequate safeguards and regulatory approvals in place. It must also be remembered that diversification can act as a shield against volatility.

Chowdhury has previously spoken out against a major crypto-curbing law enacted by the EU. He has predicted the payment solutions to be the opportunity-in-making for investors. Despite levying heavy taxation on crypto profits Chowdhury sees light in the legislation by the Indian government.

Chowdhury-led HashCash is soon to start working on a Metaverse project. HashCash product HC remit is deployed in a Vietnamese payment service company to channel overseas payments and remittances.

As more people are now inclined towards crypto as a potent investment instrument, it is only fair that they must not be deprived of the opportunity. This is more applicable in the case of millennials who are saving up as a part of their retirement savings.



About Raj Chowdhury:

Raj Chowdhury is the Managing Director of HashCash Consultants and a Blockchain pioneer. Raj pioneered the first interbank Trade Finance and Remittance implementation of Blockchain Technology between two of the largest global banks. Raj is an eminent voice in the Blockchain and Cryptocurrency space and actively engages with policymakers in this area. He is a contributor to Economic Times, Business World, and CNNMoney and advises industry leaders in the adoption of Blockchain. He is a member of Asha Silicon Valley, a nonprofit committed to education for children in emerging countries. Author of the book 'The Dark Secret of the Silicon Valley', Raj is an investor in blockchain and cryptocurrency companies and an active member of the philanthropic community.
Cybereason, the XDR company, today published a new report, titled RansomOps: Inside Complex Ransomware Operations and the Ransomware Economy, which examines how ransomware attacks have evolved from a cottage industry less than 10 years ago into a multi-billion dollar business today. With increasing sophistication behind RansomOps attacks, ransomware syndicates are reaping the benefits with record profits, making it open season on public and private sector organizations of all sizes.

Early ransomware attackers relied on "spray-and-pray" tactics to target mostly individuals where ransom demands were relatively small compared to multi-million dollar demands that became more frequent in 2020-2021. With the emergence of RansomOps that are complex and akin to the stealthy operations conducted by nation-state threat actors, ransomware attacks have become harder to defend against for most organizations, and emboldened threat actors have driven up their ransom demands as more and more organizations choose to pay.

Ransomware gangs have made a strategic shift to targeted attacks against organizations that have the ability to pay multi-million dollar ransom demands, fueling the rise in attacks in 2021. No two RansomOps attacks garnered more publicity last year than those on Colonial Pipeline and JBS Foods. Unfortunately, ransom demands have increased this year and critical infrastructure operators, hospitals and banks have targets on their backs, said Lior Div, Cybereason CEO and Co-founder.

To Pay or Not to Pay

A previous Cybereason report, titled Ransomware: The True Cost to Business, revealed that 80 percent of organizations that paid a ransom were hit a second time, many times by the same threat actors. Instead of paying, organizations should focus on early detection and prevention strategies to end ransomware attacks at the earliest stages before critical systems and data are put in jeopardy. There are a variety of other reasons for not paying, including:



NO GUARANTEES OF RETRIEVING DATA: Paying the ransom doesnt mean that you will regain access to your encrypted data. The decryption utilities provided by those responsible for the attack sometimes simply dont work properly. In the case of Colonial Pipeline in 2021, the company paid a $4.4 million ransom, received faulty decryption keys from the DarkSide Group and had to activate their backups to restore systems.

LEGAL IMPLICATIONS: Organizations could end of paying steep fines from the U.S. government for paying ransomware actors that sponsor terrorism. In addition, supply chain ransomware attacks that impact an organizations customers or partners would result in lawsuits from the impacted organizations.

INCENTIVIZING RANSOMWARE ATTACKS: Organizations who pay ransomware attackers send the message that the attacks work and it continues to fuel more attacks and higher ransom demands. Like Cybereason, the FBI advises that organizations refrain from paying ransoms because it simply emboldens malicious actors by telling them that extortion works.

The full RansomOps Report is available here.

About Cybereason

Cybereason is the XDR company, partnering with Defenders to end attacks at the endpoint, in the cloud and across the entire enterprise ecosystem. Only the AI-driven Cybereason XDR Platform provides planetary-scale data ingestion, operation-centric MalOp detection, and predictive response that is undefeated against modern ransomware and advanced attack techniques. Cybereason is a privately held international company headquartered in Boston with customers in more than 40 countries.

Learn more: https://www.cybereason.com/

Follow us: Blog | Twitter | Facebook

Media contact:

Bill Keeler

Senior Director, Global Public Relations

Cybereason

bill.keeler@cybereason.com

+1 (929) 259-3261
There is a lot of variability layered into the different approaches to cybersecurity the most innovative providers have taken. Said ALM Intelligence Pacesetter Research Director, Tomek Jankowski.

New analysis from ALM Intelligence Pacesetter Research has found that the speed at which the cybersecurity market has been evolving in recent years accelerated even more during the pandemic. This forced professional services providers to adapt their approach, often radically. This new report is an update on the Cybersecurity Services report released in 2020.

There is a lot of variability layered into the different approaches to cybersecurity the most innovative providers have taken, asserted ALM Intelligence Pacesetter Research Director, Tomek Jankowski, but one thing they share in common is the recognition that cybersecurity is not a technology checklist item, but rather a core business function that permeates everything an organization does.

What was particularly interesting in this research was how cybersecurity drives innovation and convergence in professional services as clients struggle with the spiraling costs of incidents  data breaches  but even more so, the parallel spiraling costs of day-to-day cyber risk management and cybersecurity management. Cybersecurity is pushing the most innovative providers to find ways to help clients more actively manage cyber risk, rather than just design a crisis plan and a contact list for events. Innovators have also been seeking new market relationships utilizing the ecosystem model to round out their own capabilities for clients. More so than any other business topic in 2022, cybersecurity is driving a where-the-rubber-meets-the-road pragmatism in professional services, leading to a wide array of new market strategies.

In ALM Intelligence Pacesetter Research: Cybersecurity 2022-2023, the Pacesetter Advisory Council assessed dozens of providers to arrive at twenty-one providers identified as Innovators for their ability to deliver client impact in todays ever-shifting (and crowded) cybersecurity markets. Additionally, the research and analysis provide insights into the competitive dynamics and service delivery trends driving convergence across insurance, legal, management consulting, multi-service and technology providers.

Research Highlights:



A key trend driving demand in cybersecurity in 2022 is that the focus for cybercriminals has moved from acquiring data to compromising organizational operations

Multiservice and management consulting providers, with some technology firms in tow, have formed a general consensus around a digital trust model that emphasizes the operational and human capital dimensions of cybersecurity as much as the technology

Innovators in insurance and law are making greater use of technology tools to accelerate outcomes and manage costs or move upstream with advisory services to address cyber hygiene, while some are simply bundling basic end-to-end cybersecurity offerings into broader business packages for under-resourced middle-tier clients

Particularly in law and insurance, there is still plenty of tradition inviting competitive innovation from non-traditional quarters

A key attribute common among Innovators is that their approach to cybersecurity focuses on helping clients make informed business decisions (weekly, daily, hourly) in the context of an ever-evolving cyber landscape

In this report, ALM Intelligence Pacesetter Research evaluates the cybersecurity capabilities and offerings of the following providers: Accenture, Alvarez & Marsal, AXA XL, Berkshire Hathaway Insurance Group, Booz Allen Hamilton, Capco, Capgemini, Crowe, Deloitte, EY, FTI Consulting, KPMG, Kroll, Lewis Brisbois, Nishimura & Asahi, PA Consulting, PwC, Redgrave, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), Vouch, and West Monroe Partners.

ALM Intelligence Pacesetter Research provides independent, objective research to providers and buyers of professional services, coupled with practical insights that inform the decision-making process for strategic planning and procurement professionals.

To learn more about the Cybersecurity research or obtain the full version of the report, go to: https://www.alm.com/intelligence/pacesetter-research-2/cybersecurity/.

For more information or to obtain the full version of the ALM Intelligence Pacesetter Research series, visit: https://www.alm.com/intelligence/pacesetter-research/ or contact us at almintelligence@alm.com.

About ALM Intelligence

ALM Intelligence provides proprietary data, analysis, tools, and knowledge that empower our clients to succeed. The product suite and vast data repository arm professionals with the critical business information required to make the most impactful and informed decisions possible. The exhaustive data repository and product functionality enable professionals to combat competitive challenges head-on with the confidence to remain ahead of the field. The depth of ALM Intelligences expertise across the benefits, insurance, consulting, and legal industries provide a broad spectrum of actionable intelligence to facilitate and execute strategy. Visit https://www.alm.com/intelligence/ for more information.

About ALM Media, LLC

ALM, an information and intelligence company, provides customers with critical news, data, analysis, marketing solutions, and events to successfully manage the business of law. ALM serves a community of over 6 million business professionals seeking to discover, connect, and compete in highly complex industries. Please visit http://www.alm.com/ for more information, and visit http://www.alm.com/events/ to learn about our upcoming events. Please follow us on Twitter at @ALMMedia.
With Concierge MD NYC, Dr. Vineet is able to spend time with his patients and provide a specific high-end plan.

Born in NYC, and raised in NJ, Dr. Sandhu has traveled around the country for undergraduate school, medical school, and residency. He completed his Internal Medicine residency at Indiana University and then joined a large multi-care specialty group where he rapidly experienced many cases in a short amount of time. Now with roughly 10 years of medical experience, he is able to treat conditions ranging from congestive heart failure, COVID-19, diabetes, anxiety, bronchitis, sinusitis, and the common cold.

With Concierge MD NYC, Dr. Vineet is able to spend time with his patients and provide a specific high-end plan. He can work weekends and be on call 24/7 for your needs either in your home, in his office, or in telemedicine. The goal is to make healthcare more accessible to you especially during these trying times and your evolving needs. The focus is on you and your care.

Learn more about Dr. Vineet Sandhu by visiting: https://hauteliving.com/hautebeauty/mdmember/dr-vineet-sandhu/

ABOUT HAUTE MD NETWORK:

Haute Beauty is affiliated with the luxury lifestyle publication Haute Living. As a section of Haute Living magazine, Haute Beauty covers the latest advancements in health and wellness, providing readers with expert advice on aesthetic and medical treatments through its network of acclaimed doctors and beauty experts.

For more about Haute MD, visit https://hauteliving.com/hautebeauty/mdmember/
In 2021, Fides managed more than $6 trillion in payment initiations for more than 3,500 customers around the world, an increase of $1 trillion over the previous year.

Fides Treasury Services Ltd., the global leader in multibank connectivity and communications, today announced that in the past year it has onboarded and extended a total of 186 projects. These results reflect the investment the company has put into its solutions and teams to support business growth.

Net-new customers include BGN INT DMCC, Bitpanda GmbH, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Ebury Mass Payments Limited, Embassy Jewel AG, Fresh Kampo by Meridian Fruits SPR de RL de CV, Gerald Metals SARL, Industrial Minerals SA, Inverto GmbH, MCI Holding AG, Montfort Trading FZE, Nitron Group LLC, Remitly Inc., Societe de la Loterie de la Suisse Romande, Stratton Metal Resources Ltd., Telf AG, Valtech Switzerland AG, and Virgin Management Ltd.

In addition to new business, numerous clients have opted to expand their relationship with Fides, increasing the scope of their implementations. Client extensions within the past year include Autoneum Management AG, Boston Consulting Group Inc., GlobeNet, Greif Inc., Hitachi Energy Switzerland AG, Holcim Group Services Ltd., Lallemand Inc., Luxottica Group S.p.A, Millicom International Cellular S.A., Payoneer Inc., Rigby Group PLC, and Smurfit Kappa Treasury. These organizations have expanded their relationships with Fides to add more banking partners and increase global banking coverage.

In the past year, Fides has increased its global footprint, adding to its teams including hiring industry sales veteran Mark OToole to head sales and business development efforts in North America.

It is gratifying to see our growth continue, both with new customers and those who are placing even more trust in us as they expand their own banking infrastructures, said Fides CRO Simon Kaufmann. We have big plans for the next 12 months. With new business development and account managers in place, and an expanded product, services and support team we are well placed to reach a wider audience and grow the Fides business even further.

In 2021, Fides managed more than $6 trillion in payment initiations for more than 3,500 customers around the world, an increase of $1 trillion over the previous year. In the past 12 months, the company has processed close to 72 million account statements for its clients.

Fides continues to receive industry recognition for its solutions and client support, most recently the 2021 TMI Innovation & Excellence Award for Bank Connectivity and the 2022 Worlds Best Treasury & Cash Management Systems & Services Award for Best Cross-Border Payments Solution for Corporates from Global Finance.

A partial list of Fides reference customers and case studies is available on the Fides website, which was recently redesigned to provide a more modern, intuitive experience for visitors.

ABOUT FIDES

Fides is the global leader in multibank connectivity and transaction communications, enabling corporates to connect to any bank, in any region, through any channel. With Fides, you can reach further, and connect faster. Our solutions deliver critical multibank account statement, payment workflow and reporting capabilities for treasury and finance teams, helping more than 3,500 clients communicate with over 13,000 banks and payment providers across 200 countries. Whether you are using a TMS, ERP, the Fides Multibanking Suite, or any combination, Fides is the only connectivity platform you need.

Press Contact: Please email marketing@fides.ch


Timothy Norman Tamura In the past decade, Tim and a core group of seasoned brokers with deep ties to the community set out to elevate the experience of luxury real estate and those who seek it.

Timothy Norman Tamura, managing partner at VALIA Properties, has achieved his success on the premise that investing in client relationships is the key to developing a fulfilling, long-term connection with the community.

VALIAs origins date back to the mid-1990s when Tim, an executive with a Fortune 50 company with a global reach, began investing in local real estate. Tims business travels and experiences have taken him to the far corners of the world; yet as he contemplated marriage and family, his search for where he would live brought him back to the place he loved the most, Corona del Mar, California.

In the past decade, Tim and a core group of seasoned brokers with deep ties to the community set out to elevate the experience of luxury real estate and those who seek it. Aggregate sales under Tims tenure as managing broker have exceeded $2.5 billion. The benefit of technology has brought the world of luxury real estate onto every desktop computer and smartphone, yet true global connectivity comes through nurturing enduring relationships that begin at home and extend far beyond our shores.

VALIA Properties has been recognized by The Wall Street Journal in the top 100 of the Top 1000 Sales Teams in the United States for 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020.

Visit Tim Tamura's Haute Residence Profile: https://www.hauteresidence.com/member/timothy-norman-tamura/

ABOUT HAUTE RESIDENCE

Designed as a partnership-driven luxury real estate portal, Haute Residence connects its affluent readers with top real estate professionals, while offering the latest in real estate news, showcasing the worlds most extraordinary residences on the market and sharing expert advice from its knowledgeable and experienced real estate partners.

The invitation-only luxury real estate network, which partners with just one agent in every market, unites a distinguished collective of leading real estate agents and brokers and highlights the most extravagant properties in leading markets around the globe for affluent buyers, sellers, and real estate enthusiasts. HauteResidence.com has grown to be the number one news source for million-dollar listings, high-end residential developments, celebrity real estate, and more.

Access all of this information and more by visiting http://www.hauteresidence.com
New Venture Gear Industrial Campus This new building serves to complete a showcase and cornerstone property for the Centerstate New York Market. Were grateful for the efforts of the Town of Dewitt as well as the construction teams that helped make this possible in what has been such an amazing transformation. Robert Trafford, OXG

Index Investment Group and OX GROUP have designed and ordered materials to commence construction of a new 50,000 square foot high-bay warehouse at their New Venture Gear Industrial Campus in Dewitt, NY. Featuring 32 foot clear height, 80-foot column spacing, and ample loading docks, this new facility will serve to support the markets growing logistical demands. The team expects to complete this new building before the end of 2022. This modern building will be built at the same time the partnership is completing the new 70,000 square foot PepsiCo/Rolling Frito-Lay Facility now standing on a subdivided parcel of the same property.

New Venture Gear Industrial Campus is a 109+ acre large-scale industrial, manufacturing, distribution and logistics facility that features roughly 1,500,000 SF (approx. 140,000 m2), CSX Intermodal Rail access, 80+ loading docks, on-site wastewater treatment plant, electrical substation with dual transmission lines at below market costs, and immediate frontage to I-90 and major highways. The campus is in the heart of the I-90/I-81 logistical corridor in East Syracuse. All combined leases in addition to the FedEx Ground development on the property have helped create and revive nearly 1000 jobs to the local community.

This new building serves to essentially complete what is truly a showcase and cornerstone property for the Centerstate New York Market. We believe that we have one suite within this building already leased long term, and we will be announcing this soon. We are quite confident that the remaining 150,000 square foot suite will lease out well before we are finished with this construction. Were incredibly proud to have fully redeveloped this important property, and we look forward to continued mutual success and growth with our tenants. Were very grateful for the efforts of the Town of Dewitt as well as all of the construction teams that have helped to make this possible in what has been such an amazing transformation. - Robert J. Trafford, OXG LLC.

Index has made numerous significant investments in industrial/logistics facilities and multi-family rental communities along the East Coast of the United States. The Jupiter-based real estate investment company has ongoing and completed twenty-four developments throughout North America since 2011, including nearly 3 million square feet of commercial-industrial opportunities in this Upstate New York market.

About Index Investment Group

Index Investment Group is a dynamic real estate investment group based in Jupiter, Florida that has major investment initiatives throughout North America including apartment communities, industrial/logistics and senior living communities. Index Investment develops intelligently designed properties throughout the East Coast of United States with a focus on Florida and contributes to the community through valuable and meaningful investments. For more information about Index Investment Group, visit http://www.indexinvest.com.

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Community College Month is an opportunity to demonstrate not only that community colleges, like Kalamazoo Valley, should be the first choice of many college-bound students, but why community colleges are first-class institutions that are vital to our local and state economies.

During its regularly scheduled meeting on April 12, the Kalamazoo Valley Community College Board of Trustees approved a resolution recognizing April as Community College Month. The full resolution is presented below.

Together with the nearly 1,000 other community colleges across the country, Kalamazoo Valley is celebrating Community College Month in April. This campaign was designed to improve awareness of the economic, academic and equity advantages of attending community colleges and to break the stigma associated with public two-year colleges.

These past two years have proven beyond a doubt that our college is absolutely vital to our community and our state, President L. Marshall Washington, Ph.D., said. Community College Month is an opportunity to demonstrate not only that community colleges, like Kalamazoo Valley, should be the first choice of many college-bound students, but why community colleges are first-class institutions that are vital to our local and state economies.

Community colleges are a uniquely American educational model that was designed to guarantee access to affordable, high-quality education for all. They serve as an on-ramp to bachelors, masters and higher-level degrees for many students, and particularly for the most demographically and socioeconomically diverse students, Washington said. The credentials earned by our students prepare them to fill in-demand careers in healthcare, skilled and professional trades, technology and new media or for transfer to four-year institutions. Community College Month is our opportunity to remind citizens about the huge impact the college makes on the vitality of Southwest Michigan.

Visit http://www.kvcc.edu/ccmonth for student stories, curriculum offerings and summer and fall registration details.

RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING APRIL 2022 AS COMMUNITY COLLEGE MONTH

WHEREAS, the more than 1,300 community and technical colleges, public and private, in the United States have contributed enormously to the richness and accessibility of American higher education. Nearly half of all undergraduate college students in the nation today are enrolled in community colleges; and

WHEREAS, by providing educational opportunities at costs and locations accessible to all who are qualified, community and technical colleges have greatly enhanced the opportunity for every ambitious student to enter a postsecondary school program. As community-based institutions, our institutions provide varied programs and offer specialized training for thousands of occupations; and

WHEREAS, this community has been served by Kalamazoo Valley Community College since 1966 and supports the advancement of Southwest Michigan by developing strong industry partnerships and by providing state-of-the-art training and educational experiences; and

WHEREAS, Kalamazoo Valley Community College is an accredited institution by the Higher Learning Commission and is accredited by several nationally recognized accreditors, including American Culinary Federation, Master Brewers and Brew Pub Permit, Committee on Accreditation of Educational Programs for the Emergency Medical Services Professions, Medical Assisting Education Review Board, Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care, Commission on Dental Accreditation, Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, American Alliance of Museums, Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards, Michigan Sheriffs Association, Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, Automotive Service Excellence Education Foundation, and Michigan Fire Fighters Training Council; and

WHEREAS, approximately 10,000 students of all ages and backgrounds annually attend Kalamazoo Valley Community College to receive a superb education and earn degrees, certificates and training that help them become skilled members of the workforce that propels economic growth and encourages learning and culture; and

WHEREAS, Kalamazoo Valley Community College has been instrumental in revitalizing the City of Kalamazoo with the Arcadia Commons Campus, Center for New Media, Kalamazoo Valley Museum, the Groves and Bronson Healthy Living Campus; and

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT:

We, the Kalamazoo Valley Community College Board of Trustees, recognize April 2022 as Kalamazoo Valley Community College Month.


MetaWrx exploits an integrative structural-material design to maximize damping when shock and vibration loads are transversely applied through the thickness. ...MetaWrx will truly be a game-changer for many, helping to keep costs down without compromising results. Were delighted to partner with the team at HyperDamping and to be able to bring this innovative product to market. Tonya Levine, Kinetics Director of Sales, NCBM Group

Kinetics Noise Control Inc. (Kinetics), a Catalyst Acoustics Group company, is eager to announce the launch of MetaWrx, a new class of isolator designed by engineers at HyperDamping, Inc. and offered exclusively by Kinetics in a forward-thinking collaboration. What sets MetaWrx apart is the way in which the product exploits an integrative structural-material design to maximize damping when shock and vibration loads are transversely applied through the thickness.

MetaWrxs revolutionary design leverages principles of structural engineering to convert the applied transverse loads to lateral bending and stretching of the beam network, thus maximizing damping for enhanced transmission loss and minimal residual vibration on the surface of the applied load. This means that MetaWrx is a technological leap in the mechanical formulation of floor isolation, achieving more damping performance out of any polymer.

MetaWrx is ideal when both transmitted noise and reflected vibration must be suppressed. This is of utmost importance in fitness facilities, dance studios, performing spaces, and other facilities using lightweight low-profile floor build-ups. Because MetaWrx pulls more performance out of the bulk material via a patented design philosophy, it is ideal for spaces that otherwise struggle to meet isolation metrics with conventional polymer isolators or spring suspensions. With its thin design, it is a good match for low-profile floor build-ups that need to satisfy strict space requirements for installation.

Tonya Levine, Kinetics Director of Sales for the Noise Control Building Materials (NCBM) Group, spoke enthusiastically of the launch sharing, we believe MetaWrx will truly be a game-changer for many, helping to keep costs down without compromising results. She added, were delighted to partner with the team at HyperDamping and to be able to bring this innovative product to market.

We are excited to launch MetaWrx exclusively with Kinetics, notes Ryan Harne, Chief Technology Officer and Co-Founder at HyperDamping, Inc. HyperDampings patented approach for vibration and shock damping materials is particularly well-suited to the applications of interest to Kinetics Noise Control. MetaWrx is an exemplary demonstration of HyperDampings technology grounded in scientific principles for a damped floor isolator that overcomes challenging design restrictions and delivers exceptional performance and value. We are excited for the benefits that MetaWrx will bring to create a quieter and more comfortable world.

Visit the Kinetics website to discover all MetaWrx has to offer: kineticsnoise.com/metawrx.

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About Kinetics Noise Control

Established in 1958 as industrial consultants focused on controlling sound and vibration, Kinetics now produces the industrys largest selection of products and solutions that control airborne noise, isolate structure-borne vibration, enhance room acoustics, create quiet spaces, and restrain non-structural building systems.

About HyperDamping, Inc.

HyperDamping leverages patented technology developed at The Ohio State University to create effective, lightweight, long-life, and low-cost vibration, shock, and noise damping solutions. These unique innovations and years of noise and vibration control experience together help HyperDamping create a quieter and more comfortable world.

About Catalyst Acoustics Group

Catalyst Acoustics Group is the parent company of an elite group of acoustic, seismic, vibration and noise control companies that together, offer the broadest portfolio of noise control solutions in the market today. The independent brands, channels to market, products and services offered by each business remain unique, while leveraging the scale, deep functional expertise, broad channel reach and significant financial resources.


I have known and worked with Tony for a number of years, and even interviewed him for my TechTalk Enterprise podcast. He has a rare set of skills, experiences, and attitudes that bring the IBM Z mainframe technology and ecosystem together with people-centric and business-quality results.

Small MarTech business owner Tony Perri was recently named IBM Champion in IBM Z, one of only a handful of IBM z/OS computer champions worldwide. Perri is the president and Chief Marketing Officer of Perri Marketing Inc., a technology marketing agency with clients around the world, and has more than 10 years helping small to mid-sized software vendors (SSVs) compete with large multi-national software corporations in the marketplace, with an office located in the INCubator, the largest business incubator in the state of Tennessee, and the third-largest in the United States.

IBM reviewed nearly 1,700 nominations this year, and selected just 778 IBM Champions for 2022, from 55 countries, 9% of which earned champion status in IBM Z.

IBM wants evangelists that are known in the marketplace. Its a lot more powerful if you have an advocate talking about the things you do, compared to the same information coming from your companys mouth. Theres power in a third party validating you, and I think thats what part of the IBM Champions group is, Perri said.

Perri has nearly 15 years of experience working with IBMs Z platform and was nominated by Reg Harbeck, another IBM Z Champion with more than 30 years of experience as a mainframer in the industry.

Harbeck is chief strategist at Mainframe Analytics Ltd and has recently partnered with Perri and two other leaders in the enterprise tech industry, Charles Mills and Randy Siegel, to found Santa Rosa Software, an SSV building mobile software solutions for the mainframe.

I have known and worked with Tony for a number of years, and even interviewed him for my TechTalk Enterprise podcast. He has a rare set of skills, experiences, and attitudes that bring the IBM Z mainframe technology and ecosystem together with people-centric and business-quality results, Harbeck said. His contributions to this context have been significant and varied. As I was (and continue to be) the first IBM Champion for Z in Canada, I know most of the IBM Champions for Z in the U.S. and many worldwide, and I realized that he fits right in, so I encouraged and nominated him for this recognition. And I was happy to see that IBM did indeed recognize him for this designation.

Though the bulk of Perris career has been focused on the marketing side of the technology space, Perri said his understanding of the technologies he helps sell is what sets his business apart from other marketing services agencies.

The mainframe has been around for nearly 60 years and is the technology platform that runs the worlds businesses and governments, and its the best platform for regulated industries because its so reliable and secure, Perri said. Every day I share the knowledge and understanding that I have about the mainframe and IBM understands this and has given me the Champion designation that I and my team are very proud of.

About Perri Marketing Inc.

Perri Marketing Inc. is a technology marketing agency that specializes in sales-enablement content and marketing automation software for Small Software Vendors selling enterprise solutions into the Global 1000. We have more than 20 years of experience in software sales and marketing, and with this expertise, we offer what is known to clients as Marketing as a Service. Much like you would utilize Software as a Service or IT as a Service, Marketing as a Service is what Perri Marketing sees as a perfect business investment for small to mid-sized software vendors. More information can be found at perrimarketing.com.


The Pond Lehocky Giordano Annual Scholarship is a tribute to injured workers across the world, and a helping hand to those students whose lives have been impacted by a workplace injury.

Pond Lehocky Giordano LLP, the largest workers compensation and disability law firm in Pennsylvania, today announced it is accepting applications for the Pond Lehocky Giordano Annual Scholarship through June 10.

The $5,000 scholarship, now in its sixth year, was established to aid the friends, family members, and colleagues of injured workers in the pursuit of higher education. Applicants must have a personal connection to a workplace injury, which they will describe in a submission essay.

When workers are injured on the job, theyre not the only ones who suffer, said Thomas J. Giordano, Jr., a founding partner of Pond Lehocky Giordano LLP. Their physical and mental pain can lead to financial and emotional pain for their families, friends, and colleagues. The Pond Lehocky Giordano Annual Scholarship is a tribute to injured workers across the world, and a helping hand to those students whose lives have been impacted by a workplace injury.

The scholarship is open to everyone currently accepted to or enrolled in higher education. More details about the scholarship, including eligibility and submission guidelines, are available at https://www.pondlehocky.com/scholarships/pond-lehocky-annual-scholarship.

About Pond Lehocky Giordano LLP

Pond Lehocky Giordano LLP is the largest workers compensation, Social Security disability, and short- and long-term disability law firm in Pennsylvania. The firms nationwide referral network, which includes more than 2,000 attorneys and through which more than 160,000 cases have been referred, helps injured and disabled Americans across the country obtain the legal assistance they need to get their lives back in order. The firm has been recognized by The Philadelphia Inquirer as a Top Workplace, the Philadelphia Business Journal as a Best Place to Work, and The Legal Intelligencer as one of the top law firms in Philadelphia for gender diversity. For more information, please visit https://www.pondlehocky.com.
We pride ourselves on delivering the highest quality service and being a trusted home advisor to our customers. Were excited to complement our service offerings with Shipshape because we feel that these predictive maintenance solutions will add new value to our customers and our business.

Shipshape, a company on a mission to make homes smart enough to take care of themselves, today announced their expansion into the Midwest with the addition of The Basement Doctor to their service provider network.

Shipshape will provide home assistant and monitoring solutions to The Basement Doctor customers in Central Ohio. The Basement Doctor has been praised by many, including US Builders Review, as a leader in the waterproofing and foundation repair industry.

Thousands of homeowners have relied on The Basement Doctor as their #1 Basement, Crawl Space, and Foundation Repair expert. Our goal is to not just meet customer expectations but to exceed them. Shipshape allows us to continue this commitment to our customers. said Betsy Bankhurst, President of The Basement Doctor in Columbus, Ohio.

In this partnership, The Basement Doctor will join Shipshapes Service Provider Network and offer Shipshapes sump pump and dehumidifier upgrade solutions to their customers. In addition, the partnership will run co-marketing and other promotional campaigns to The Basement Doctor and Shipshape customers.

We pride ourselves on delivering the highest quality service and being a trusted home advisor to our customers. Were excited to complement our service offerings with Shipshape because we feel that these predictive maintenance solutions will add new value to our customers and our business. said Brian Chambers, Service Manager of The Basement Doctor

Shipshape will enhance The Basement Doctors offerings and deliver an exceptional experience to homeowners, including:



Performance monitoring to ensure installed systems are top quality

Streamlined maintenance assistance, troubleshooting and connections to vetted contractors

Remote monitoring and control to help homeowners take action even while away

Simplified and centralized home management experience

Warranty, insurance and service plan management

Budgeting and financial home management insights

Expansion to the Midwest presents a major opportunity for Shipshape. Were excited to partner with The Basement Doctor because we believe they are not just an industry leader, but also a community leader. We look forward to finding win-win outcomes with The Basement Doctor and the communities they serve. We aim to provide technology that promotes better quality of life for homeowners and communities. Value aligned partners like The Basement Doctor are a key piece of that equation. said Adam Morrisey, VP of Sales and Marketing at Shipshape Solutions Inc.

This partnership offers The Basement Doctor customers a complete solution to protect their crawl spaces and basements.

About Shipshape Solutions Inc.

Shipshape is on a mission to make homes smart enough to take care of themselves. Shipshape believes every home should be safe, reliable, efficient and well maintained. The company operates a first of its kind proprietary smart home predictive maintenance platform that offers solutions to homeowners to reduce the costs of home maintenance and operations. The Shipshape platform integrates an ecosystem of smart home hardware to enable advanced analytics and recommend actions that will reduce risks and improve system performance. Shipshapes software platform unlocks the value of sensor data to enable a whole new era of the smart home.

Shipshape is based in Austin, TX. For more information, visit (https://www.shipshape.ai/).

About The Basement Doctor

The Basement Doctor upgrades and repairs over 3,000 homes every year. With over 30 years of experience in the waterproofing and foundation repair industry, we have built a company based on integrity, innovation, and responsibility. Over the last 30 years, The Basement Doctor has cemented itself as one of the most trusted brands in the home improvement industry. From its humble beginnings in central Ohio, The Basement Doctor has expanded far and wide, now providing our excellent services to home and business owners across most of the state of Ohio and even cover area in West Virginia, Kentucky, and Indiana.

The Basement Doctor is based in Columbus, OH. For more information, visit (https://www.mybasementdoctor.com/)
Pictured: Portrait of Duke Kahanamoku featured in AMERICAN MASTERS: Waterman  Duke: Ambassador of Aloha. (Courtesy of PBS PressRoom)

PBS SoCal and KCET, Southern Californias flagship PBS stations as well as the home for award-winning, original local content, announced as part of the Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month programming the premiere of new AMERICAN MASTERS documentary Waterman  Duke: Ambassador of Aloha. The film chronicles the life of five-time Olympic medalist and Hawaiian surfing icon Duke Kahanamoku or The Duke. Widely considered the father of modern surfing, his success elevated the sport into the cultural phenomenon it is today. Narrated by Jason Momoa (Aquaman, Game of Thrones, Dune), the documentary explores his journey breaking racial barriers on the mainland and influence on surfings global spread as well as his life-saving achievements and the obstacles he conquered both within and outside the sporting world.

AMERICAN MASTERS: Waterman  Duke: Ambassador of Aloha premieres on Tues., May 10 at 9 p.m. on PBS SoCal and Wed., May 11 at 10 p.m. on KCET timed to a slate of additional programming celebrating Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month.

Dedicated to PBS SoCal and KCETs commitment to amplifying diverse voices, this heritage month honors local and national stories of Asian American Pacific Islander communities from around the globe. The month-long curated lineup premiering throughout May features an additional AMERICAN MASTERS broadcast special highlighting artist Tyrus Wong who up until his death at the age of 106, was Americas oldest living Chinese American artist and one of the last remaining artists from the golden age of Disney animation.

Additional titles in the lineup include documentaries that address historical accounts of hate including AMERICAN EXPERIENCE: Plague at the Golden Gate which explores a deadly outbreak of bubonic plague in turn-of-the 20th-century San Franciscos Chinatown area and the onslaught of violent anti-Asian sentiments that transpired. While RISING AGAINST ASIAN HATE: ONE DAY IN MARCH follows a community that came together following a critical moment of racial reckoning in 2021, shedding light on the struggles, triumphs and achievements of AAPI communities.

Other highlights include the new INDEPENDENT LENS documentary Try Harder! introducing viewers to high-achieving students at a majority Asian American public high school as they face pressures balancing adolescence and academics. A new season of the anthology series PACIFIC HEARTBEAT returns intimate stories that give viewers an authentic glimpse into the Pacific Islander experience. Finally, PBS will encore the acclaimed five-part film series ASIAN AMERICANS chronicling the impact of Asian Americans on the countrys past, present and future.

KCET and PBS SoCal also create a variety of locally-produced programs dedicated to a richer and more inclusive California experience, helping residents understand and connect with diverse communities. Original programming has showcased regional Asian artists, chefs and influencers in documentary series that include BROKEN BREAD, THE MIGRANT KITCHEN and LOST LA. These original programs can be found on the free PBS Video App and are available to stream on the KCET and PBS SoCal websites where digital resources dedicated to informing and educating the community on topics of equity and anti-racist education can also be found.

Select content slated to air on PBS SoCal and KCET during the next month is listed as follows (*schedule subject to change):

PACIFIC HEARTBEAT: High Tide, Dont Hide  Sun., May 1 at 4 p.m. on KCET

Determined to provoke real action, New Zealand teenagers join the global School Strike for Climate. But planning a movement and building momentum are the easy parts, as they face political indifference, their own white privilege and the ongoing struggle to be heard.

THE MIGRANT KITCHEN: Omotenashi  Sun., May 1 at 6 p.m. on KCET

Charles Namba and Courtney Kaplan, the couple behind Echo Park's Tsubaki, have always loved the culture of izakaya but found Los Angeles lacking in these Japanese taverns. Sonoko Sakai is a teacher with a passion for buckwheat and the near-sacred art of soba noodles and Seiichi Yokota knows how to prepare and preserve fresh fish with a traditional Japanese technique never seen before in Los Angeles. Each aims to introduce Angelenos to the unique spirit of Japanese hospitality and the culture's deep culinary customs.

THE MIGRANT KITCHEN: Beyond Pho  Sun., May 1 at 6:30 p.m. on KCET

Banh Mi. Spring rolls. Pho. The war and its subsequent refugees. These are things most commonly associated with the Vietnamese culture and its people. But a group of chefs in Los Angeles (including Cassia's Bryant Ng and Kim Luu-Ng, Diep Tran of Good Girl Dinette and Minh Phan of Porridge & Puffs) are hoping to demonstrate that theres so much more than that.

INDEPENDENT LENS: Try Harder!  Mon., May 2, at 10 p.m. on PBS SoCal

At Lowell High School, San Franciscos academic pressure cooker, the kids are stressed out. With a majority Asian-American student body, high-achieving seniors share their dreams and anxieties about getting into a top university.

ASIAN AMERICANS: Breaking Ground  Mon., May 2 at 1 p.m. on KCET and Tues., May 3 at 11 p.m. on PBS SoCal

In an era of exclusion and U.S. empire, new immigrants arrive from China, India, Japan, the Philippines and beyond. Barred by anti-Asian laws they become Americas first undocumented immigrants, yet they build railroads, dazzle on the silver screen and take their fight for equality to the U.S. Supreme Court.

ASIAN AMERICANS: A Question of Loyalty  Mon., May 2 at 2 p.m. on KCET and Tues., May 10 at 11 p.m. on PBS SoCal

An American-born generation straddles their country of birth and their parents homelands.

PACIFIC HEARTBEAT: James & Isey  Sun., May 8 at 4 p.m. on KCET

New Zealands Isey and her son James invite viewers into their lives in the week leading up to Isey's 100th birthday. The episode captures a Northland celebration of life and aroha (love) like no other.

THE MIGRANT KITCHEN: Mister Jius Chinatown  Sun., May 8 at 6 p.m. on KCET

In San Franciscos Chinatown, Brandon Jew walks the line between his Chinese heritage and his American upbringing with his restaurant Mister Jius. With the rapid gentrification of the neighborhood, the face of the countrys oldest Chinatown is changing while a younger generation holds on to the traditions and flavors of the past.

THE MIGRANT KITCHEN: Louis & Jazz  Sun., May 8 at 6:30 p.m. on KCET

Jazz Singsanong of Jitlada Thai and Louis Tikaram of E.P. & L.P. transport the palate around the world with the complex flavors of Thai cuisine. These chefs work to bring balance to the complexity of flavors that reflect the mixed cultural influences of their own backgrounds and experiences.

ASIAN AMERICANS: Good Americans  Mon., May 9 at 1 p.m. on KCET and Tues., May 17 at 11:30 p.m. on PBS SoCal

During the Cold War years, Asian Americans are simultaneously heralded as a Model Minority and targeted as the perpetual foreigner. It is also a time of bold ambition, as Asian Americans aspire for the first time to national political office and a coming culture-quake simmers beneath the surface.

ASIAN AMERICANS: Generation Rising  Mon., May 9 at 2 p.m. on KCET and Tues., May 24 at 11 p.m. on PBS SoCal

During a time of war and social tumult, a young generation fights for equality in the fields, on campuses and in the culture, and claim a new identity: Asian Americans. The wars aftermath brings new immigrants and refugees who expand the population and the definition of Asian America.

AMERICAN MASTERS: Waterman  Duke: Ambassador of Aloha  Tues., May 10 at 9 p.m. on PBS SoCal and Wed., May 11 at 10 p.m. on KCET

Jason Momoa narrates the inspiring story and considerable impact of five-time Olympic medalist and surfing icon Duke Kahanamoku. He shattered swimming records and globalized surfing while overcoming racism in a lifetime of personal challenges.

AMERICAN MASTERS Amy Tan: Unintended Memoir  Wed., May 11 at 8 p.m. on KCET

An intimate portrait of the groundbreaking author that interweaves archival imagery, including home movies and personal photographs, animation and original interviews to tell the inspiring story of Tans life and career.

NORMAN MINETA AND HIS LEGACY: AN AMERICAN STORY  Sat., May 14 at 10 p.m. on KCET

Meet the statesman who served as cabinet secretary for President Bill Clinton and President George W. Bush.

PACIFIC HEARTBEAT: Loimata, The Sweetest Tears  Sun., May 15 at 4 p.m. on KCET

Featuring the redemptive tale of waka builder and captain Lilo Ema Siopes final years, the episode follows journeys of migration, spirituality, voyaging, healing and coming home. Confronting intergenerational trauma head on, the Siope family returns to their homeland of Samoa.

THE MIGRANT KITCHEN: Los Angeles: Taiwanese Food  Sun., May 15 at 6 p.m. on KCET

Taiwanese food is poised for a renaissance in Los Angeles, where chef Jon Yao of Kato draws on his experience growing up in the San Gabriel Valley, fusing his heritage with produce from Southern California's cutting-edge farmers while educating diners on the nuances of this unique regional cuisine.

THE MIGRANT KITCHEN: Brooklyn: Korean Food  Sun., May 15 at 6:30 p.m. on KCET

In Brooklyn, a long tradition of female-driven food customs that began centuries ago in South Korea enters a new era in the hands of two powerful chefs, Jenny Kwak of Haenyeo and Sohui Kim of Insa.

ASIAN AMERICANS: Breaking Through  Mon., May 16 at 12:30 p.m. on KCET and Tues., May 31 at 11 p.m. on PBS SoCal

At the turn of the new millennium, the national conversation turns to immigration, race, and economic disparity. As the U.S becomes more diverse, yet more divided, a new generation of Asian Americans tackle how the nation moves forward together.

AMERICAN MASTERS: Tyrus Wong  Tues., May 17 at 10 p.m. on PBS SoCal and Sat., May 21 at 10 p.m. on KCET

Until his death at the age of 106, Tyrus Wong was Americas oldest living Chinese American artist and one of the last remaining artists from the golden age of Disney animation. The quiet beauty of his Eastern-influenced paintings had a pioneering impact on American art and popular culture.

PACIFIC HEARTBEAT: The Healer Stones of Kapaemahu  Sun., May 22 at 4 p.m. on KCET

On Honolulu's famous Waikiki Beach stand four large stones that represent a Hawaiian tradition of healing and gender diversity that is all but unknown to the millions of locals and tourists passing by. According to legend, the stones are a tribute to four mahu - people of dual male and female spirit - who brought the healing arts from Tahiti to Hawaii and used their spiritual power to cure disease.

AMERICAN EXPERIENCE: Plague at the Golden Gate  Tues., May 24 at 9 p.m. on PBS SoCal and Sat., May 28 at 10 p.m. on KCET

The bubonic plague outbreak in San Francisco's Chinatown in 1900 and the hunt to identify its source leads to a spate of violent anti-Asian sentiment.

UNSETTLED HISTORY: AMERICA, CHINA AND THE DOOLITTLE TOKYO RAID  Wed., May 25 at 2 p.m. on KCET and Thurs., May 26 at 10:30 p.m. on PBS SoCal

The film explores the Doolittle Raid on Tokyo from the perspectives of the children of the Doolittle Raiders and Chinese villagers who aided in their rescue.

RISING AGAINST ASIAN HATE: ONE DAY IN MARCH  Tues., May 31 at 9 p.m. on PBS SoCal

Following the aftermath of the March 2021 mass shootings at three spas in Atlanta, this film chronicles how the Asian American community came together to fight back against hate and explores the struggles as well as triumphs of AAPI communities.

For a full schedule of Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month programming, please visit kcet.org/AAPI | pbsocal.org/AAPI.

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About PBS SoCal and KCET

PBS SoCal and KCET are both part of the donor-supported community institution, the Public Media Group of Southern California. PBS SoCal is the flagship PBS station for diverse people across California and delivers content and experiences that inspire, inform and educate. PBS SoCal offers the full slate of beloved PBS programs including MASTERPIECE, NOVA, PBS NewsHour, FRONTLINE, and a broad library of documentary films with works from Ken Burns; as well as educational content including PBS KIDS programs like DANIEL TIGERS NEIGHBORHOOD and CURIOUS GEORGE. KCET showcases the best of PBS and is a leading source for arts, culture, and news in Southern California. Through innovative storytelling, KCET explores and expresses our dynamic local communities helping residents understand and connect with the region's diverse communities and ideas. For additional information about both KCET and PBS SoCal productions, web-exclusive content, programming schedules and community events, please visit kcet.org and pbssocal.org KCET Originals and PBS programming are available to stream on the FREE PBS App on iOS and Android devices, Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Android TV, Samsung Smart TV, and Chromecast. KCET is also available to watch live on YouTube TV.
Avery brings a wealth of experience in both the algae industry and startup operations. He will be an invaluable addition to the team, channeling our research successes into a competitive edge as we scale production of a high-quality Asparagopsis taxiformis feed product.

Symbrosia, a Hawaii-based cleantech startup that uses seaweed to tackle livestock methane emissions, announced today the appointment of Avery Kramer as Chief Operating Officer.

Kramer brings 15+ years of international experience in the algae industry, working on projects in North America, Europe, Africa, and Hawai'i. In 2007, he became the first employee at Cellana, a Royal Dutch Shell joint venture focused on production of novel biofuel feedstocks from microalgae. In that role he facilitated the construction of a world class algae pilot facility and led workflows in operations, quality assurance, and business development. He later consulted for a number of early-stage carbon reduction companies to streamline operations as they moved toward commercialization.

I started working with algae because I thought it could make the world a better place. Many years have passed, but I still believe in algaes potential and feel lucky to be part of the industry.", said Kramer. "Tackling methane emissions is a new approach and Im excited about how potent A. taxiformis is at addressing greenhouse gas emissions. I also really appreciate the benefits it might have on cattle production. This could be a huge win for farmers in addition to addressing climate issues

As Symbrosia begins to scale operations and get product into ranchers hands, Kramer joins the team to help establish Symbrosia as a market leader for methane reducing seaweed. Symbrosia is interesting because it is doing more than bringing a valuable product to market. Alexia [Akbay] is doing a great job of creating a business model for start-ups that fosters creativity and innovation, while building an organization that prioritizes the work experience and not just the work itself, said Kramer.

Symbrosia will draw on Kramers prior operating experience within the algae industry to chart a path forward that prioritizes consistent production, high-quality product, and rapid scale-up. Part of my role is to put systems in place to quickly get us to the next stage. Symbrosia is a forward-thinking company that has the opportunity to deliver an important algal product to an enormous market while demonstrating a business model that respects employees. His appointment marks an inflection point for Symbrosia as the company devotes more focus, energy, and resources to turning years of research on a novel species into a scalable production system.

Avery brings a wealth of experience in both the algae industry and startup operations." said Alexia Akbay, CEO of Symbrosia. "He will be an invaluable addition to the team, channeling our research successes into a competitive edge as we scale production of a high-quality Asparagopsis taxiformis feed product.

Kramer received a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from UC Berkeley and manages a small coffee farm with his family in Kailua-Kona, HI.

To learn more about Symbrosia and our ongoing projects, please visit https://symbrosia.co/

About Symbrosia

Symbrosia has developed a natural seaweed feed additive made from the red seaweed Asparagopsis taxiformis that reduces livestock methane emissions by 80%+. Called the seaweed that could save the planet by The Verge, Forbes, and The Washington Post, our product is setting a new standard in the US beef, dairy, and apparel industries y enabling the creation of the worlds most sustainable animal products. Symbrosia breeds and cultivates fast-growing seaweed strains and develops them into high-value products. Our customer-first approach boosts margins, creates products for both ranchers and other algae growers, and is laying the groundwork for a global industry around seaweed for livestock methane reduction. Symbrosia is scaling production rapidly and partnering with researchers, ranchers, distributors, and brands to build supply chains that reward producers for producing low-methane animal products.
Town of East Fishkill joins the Empire State Purchasing Group The Town of East Fishkill invites all potential vendors to register online.

The Town of East Fishkill has officially joined the Empire State Purchasing Group, one of bidnet directs regional e-procurement solutions, providing vendors throughout New York state easy online access to its upcoming solicitations. The Town of East Fishkill invites all vendors to register online at http://www.bidnetdirect.com/new-york/eastfishkill.

The regional purchasing group connects local governments with vendors looking to do business with public agencies. On the Empire State Purchasing Group, vendors seeking business with nearly 300 participating agencies can register online to gain access to a single point of entry for opportunities throughout New York. By posting upcoming bids and RFPs on the Empire State Purchasing Group, the Town of East Fishkill ensures an entire community of vendors can view their solicitation, download documents, and receive notification of addenda. The vendors self-register and ensure their contact information is up to date.

Because we arent the only agency posting and distributing bids, the Empire State Purchasing Group provides the Town of East Fishkill more vendor competition, which we hope will help cut costs, said Rick Witt, of the Town of East Fishkill Engineering Department when asked why their department decided to join the Empire State Purchasing Group. We also like that it can help our current vendors expand their business opportunities.

The Town of East Fishkill invites all local vendors to visit http://www.bidnetdirect.com/new-york/eastfishkill and register to receive access to its upcoming solicitations as well as the upcoming bids and RFPs from 292 other public agencies participating on the Empire State Purchasing Group. Registered vendors have the option to upgrade their service to receive customized bid alerts, notification of term contract expiration, and notification of a real-time addendum.

About the Town of East Fishkill:

East Fishkill is a town on the southern border of Dutchess County, New York, United States. The population was 29,029 at the 2010 census. The town was once the eastern portion of the town of Fishkill.

About bidnet direct:

bidnet direct, powered by mdf commerce, is a sourcing solution of regional purchasing groups available at no cost to local government agencies throughout the country. bidnet direct runs regional purchasing groups, including the Empire State Purchasing Group, across all 50 states that are used by over 1,600 local governments. To learn more and have your government agency gain better transparency and efficiency in purchasing, please visit https://www.bidnetdirect.com/buyers
The sentiments and emotions expressed in tweets on Twitter can be used in real time to assess where supply chain disruptions due to a pandemic, war or natural disaster may lead to food shortages, according to researchers at Penn State and the Hamad Bin Khalifa University in Qatar. They found that food security-related tweets that expressed anger, disgust or fear were strongly correlated with actual food insufficiency in certain U.S. states early in the COVID-19 pandemic. These findings can potentially be used to develop a low-cost early warning system for identifying where food-security interventions are most needed, according to the researchers.

The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and its related supply-chain disruptions prompted worldwide concerns about food access and availability, and many people took to social media to express these concerns, said Stephan Goetz, professor of agricultural and regional economics at Penn State and director of the Northeast Regional Center for Rural Development (NERCRD). We wanted to see if real-time tweets could be used to identify specific states or regions facing food supply or insecurity problems.

Goetz said that rather than looking only at the number of tweets related to food insufficiency, he and his colleagues wanted to know how people actually felt about their food situation. Using artificial intelligence, they identified the sentiments and emotions associated with the tweets, which allowed them to separate tweets expressing concerns about the food supply from those expressing relief or contentment.

In the tweets analyzed, the most commonly expressed emotion was joy, which the researchers interpreted as a reflection of widespread relief that the U.S. food supply remained relatively stable during the pandemic, despite early concerns about food shortages. Tweets that expressed negative emotions such as anger, disgust and fear were strongly correlated with actual food insufficiency problems in certain states.

To carry out the study, which was published online last week in the journal Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy, the researchers used a dataset known as GeoCoV19, which contains hundreds of millions of COVID-19-related tweets in multiple languages from all over the world. They selected only English language tweets that originated in the U.S. and were posted between Feb. 1, 2020, and Aug. 31. They further narrowed the resulting set of tweets to include only those that contained language related to food insecurity.

We curated a list of 138 words and phrases  such as cant afford groceries, or food prices or food shortage  which we used to isolate the tweets most relevant to our research question, and ended up with more than 1.2 million tweets in our data set, said Connor Heaton, doctoral candidate in Penn States College of Information Sciences and Technology and co-author of the study. Then, we used what are known as contextual language models to extract the sentiment and emotion based in each tweet. These models leverage the emergent meaning in a sequence of words rather than relying on a predefined relation between individual words and a sentiment and/or emotion.

The artificial intelligence language model they used can detect sentiments of negative, neutral, and positive; and emotions of anger, disgust, fear, joy, sadness, surprise or neutral.

For example, this tweet was classified as having positive sentiment and expressing joy: God bless America's food supply chain, from the producers to the distributors to the grocers: The food supply chain, they say, remains intact and has been ramping up to meet the unprecedented stockpiling brought on by the coronavirus pandemic.

In contrast, this tweet was classified as negative and expressing fear: A food bank executive in Louisiana who worked through Hurricane Katrina said he had never witnessed such a combination of need, scarcity and anxiety. '"Crazy" pretty much sums it up,' he said.

The researchers also mapped the tweets at the U.S. state level so they could compare their findings against actual food insufficiency data from the U.S. Census Household Pulse Survey (HPS), a weekly national survey administered online to a randomly selected representative sample of U.S. households, which asks participants whether they sometimes or often did not have enough food, both in the previous week and prior to the onset of the pandemic.

When averaged across all states over the six-month period, tweets expressing the emotions of anger, disgust and fear were significantly correlated with actual state-level food insufficiency rates reported in the HPS. At the state level, tweets that expressed fear were most strongly correlated with actual food insufficiency in California, Illinois, New York, Texas and Wisconsin. Tweets expressing anger or disgust were positively correlated with food insufficiency in 12 states.

Goetz said that further research is needed to assess whether this method of identifying localized food-security emergencies can replace more expensive and time-consuming methods, such as surveys.

In addition to Goetz and Heaton, other Penn State members of the research team include NERCRD Postdoctoral Scholar Zheng Tian and Doctoral Candidate Yuxuan Pan; Assistant Professor of Marketing and Local/Regional Food Systems Claudia Schmidt; and Professor of Information Sciences and Technology Prasenjit Mitra. Hamad Bin Khalifa University members include Muhammad Imran, Umair Qazi and Ferda Ofli.

This work was supported in part by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture and the Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences Institute for Sustainable Agricultural, Food, and Environmental Science (SAFES).
If you would like to know more about the Commerce Distribution Company and Smart & Final lawsuit, please contact Attorney Jackland Hom today by calling (619) 255-9047.

The Los Angeles labor law attorneys, at Zakay Law Group, APLC and JCL Law Firm, APC, filed a complaint against Commerce Distribution Company LLC ("Commerce Distribution Company"), Smart & Final Stores LLC and Smart & Final LLC (collectively, "Commerce Distribution Company and Smart & Final"), for allegedly failing to provide employees with legally-compliant meal and rest breaks. The Commerce Distribution Company and Smart & Final class action lawsuit, Case No. 22STCV11092, is currently pending in the Los Angeles Superior Court of the State of California. A copy of the Complaint can be read here.

According to the lawsuit, Commerce Distribution Company and Smart & Final allegedly violated California Labor Code Sections  201, 202, 203, 204, 221, 226, 226.7, 246, 510, 512, 558, 1194, 1197, 1197.1, 1198, and 2802 for: (1) failure to pay minimum wages; (2) failure to pay overtime wages; (3) failure to provide required meal and rest periods; (4) failure to provide accurate itemized wage statements; (5) failure to reimburse employees for required expenses; (6) failure to pay wages when due; and (7) unlawful deductions.

The lawsuit further alleges that, as a result of their work schedules, Commerce Distribution Company and Smart & Final employees were allegedly unable to take off duty meal breaks and were not fully relieved of duty for meal periods. Specifically, the lawsuit alleges employees were from time to time interrupted during their off-duty meal breaks to complete tasks for Commerce Distribution Company and Smart & Final. Employees were allegedly required to perform work as ordered by Commerce Distribution Company and Smart & Final for more than five (5) hours during a shift without receiving an off-duty meal break. Further, the lawsuit alleges Commerce Distribution Company and Smart & Final failed to provide employees with a second off-duty meal period each workday in which these employees were required by Commerce Distribution Company and Smart & Final to work ten (10) hours of work. Employees therefore allegedly forfeited meal breaks without additional compensation and in accordance with Commerce Distribution Company's and Smart & Final's strict corporate policy and practice.

If you would like to know more about the Commerce Distribution Company and Smart & Final lawsuit, please contact Attorney Jackland K. Hom today by calling (619) 255-9047.

Zakay Law Group, APLC and JCL Law Firm, APC are labor and employment law firms with offices located in California that dedicate their practices to fighting for employees who have been wronged by their employers due to unfair employment practices. Contact one of their attorneys today if you need help with workplace issues regarding wage and hour, wrongful termination, retaliation, discrimination, and harassment.

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Marylands library e-book law is effectively dead. In a recent court filing, Maryland Attorney General Brian E. Frosh said the state would present no new evidence in a legal challenge filed by the Association of American Publishers, allowing the courts recently issued preliminary injunction blocking the law to stand, and paving the way for it to be converted into a permanent injunction.

The State acknowledges that there is no genuine dispute as to any material fact and that the Court may grant or deny further relief in this matter without a further hearing or trial, the filing states. However, rather than convert Judge Deborah L. Boardmans preliminary injunction into a permanent injunction, state attorneys argued that a less burdensome declaratory judgment would suffice.

The States conduct shows that injunctive relief is not necessary here. At no time from January 1, 2022, has Maryland attempted to enforce the Maryland Act. And, after the Court issued the preliminary injunction, the State did not appeal that decision, Maryland attorneys argue. The State has taken no action to reshape how publishers distribute their works and how the marketplace for e-books and audiobooks operates. Nor has the State taken any action to interfere with Plaintiffs or its members business decisions. Because the State is not enforcing the Maryland Act and has no intention to do so, the threat identified by the plaintiff will not come to pass. Accordingly, the Court need not resort to the coercive powers of a permanent injunction to compel the States compliance with its decision.

The AAP, which has until April 25 to respond, said it is reviewing the filing.

Maryland's action comes after federal judge Deborah L. Boardman on February 16 ruled that Marylands library e-book law is, as critics had argued, preempted by the federal Copyright Act, holding that the threat of civil and criminal penalties for non-compliance with the act amounts to a forced transaction that would effectively strip publishers of their exclusive right to distribute.

First introduced in January 2021, the Maryland law required any publisher offering to license "an electronic literary product" to consumers in the state to also offer to license the content to public libraries "on reasonable terms" that would enable library users to have access. The bill passed the Maryland General Assembly unanimously on March 10, and went into effect on January 1, 2022.

The law emerged after a decade of tension in the digital library market, with libraries long complaining of unsustainable, non-negotiated high prices and restrictions. More specifically, however, the law emerged as a direct response to Macmillan's (since abandoned) 2019 embargo on frontlist e-book titles, which prompted numerous appeals to both federal and state legislators to protect basic access to digital works in libraries.

The Association of American Publishers filed suit on December 9, 2021 arguing that the Maryland law infringed on the exclusive rights granted to publishers and authors under copyright. A week later, on December 16, AAP attorneys moved for a preliminary injunction blocking the law. Just days after a February 7 hearing Boardman enjoined the law.

"Libraries face unique challenges as they sit at the intersection of public service and the private marketplace in an evolving society that is increasingly reliant on digital media," the judge concluded in her 28 page opinion. "Striking the balance between the critical functions of libraries and the importance of preserving the exclusive rights of copyright holders, however, is squarely in the province of Congress and not this Court or a state legislature."

Similar bills are currently still pending in half a dozen other statesalthough bills in at least three of those states (Missouri, Tennessee, and Illinois) appear to be all but dead. In late December, New York governor Kathy Hochul vetoed New York's library e-book bill.
Widespread changes made last year to such things as its supply chain, remote work, and efforts to reach consumers led to a point-of-purchase print unit sales increase of 36% at Sourcebooks in the first quarter of 2022 over the comparable period in 2021, the publisher said in an announcement. The gains came despite an 8.9% decline in print unit sales at outlets that report to NPD BookScan.

Sourcebooks founder, CEO, and publisher Dominique Raccah told PW that the independent publisher is enjoying the best period in its history. (In 2019, Penguin Random House took a 45% stake in Sourcebooks). I think you are seeing the results of being a mission-driven publisher, Raccah said.

According to the company, frontlist sales rose 46% in the first quarter, led by novelist Katee Robert and the second book in her Dark Olympus seriesElectric Idoland the paperback release of Hostage by Clare Mackintosh. Adult fiction sales jumped 72% in the quarter, driven in large measure by the 2021 launch of the boutique imprint, Bloom Books, which published Freed: Fifty Shades Freed as Told by Christian by bestselling author E.L. James. In its first six months in business, Bloom Books shipped nearly 1 million print units for all of its authors, Sourcebooks said.

Romance sales in general have exploded, Sourcebooks reported, especially to indie bookstores. Another growth driver in the most recent quarter was book club favorite Sold on a Monday by Kristina McMorris, which sold over 1 million units in print and e-book in the first quarter quarter. Our adult fiction imprintsspanning mainstream fiction, a wide range of romance, mystery, horror, and moreare putting up big wins with our authors and tremendous sales every week for our retail partners, noted Todd Stocke, senior vice president and editorial director.

Backlist sales were up 30% in the first quarter, Sourcebooks said, led by How to Catch a Leprechaun and Welcome Little One by Sandra Magsamen.

Strong sales of thrillers to teens and young adults contributed to a 70% increase in the publisher's YA imprint, Sourcebooks Fire, with those strong sales continuing into the first quarter. The imprint was one of many beneficiaries of TikTok, with This Is Where It Ends by Marieke Nijkamp enjoying a big lift from the platform.

On the retail side, Sourcebooks said its Booksellers Change Lives program helped 320 indie stores increase direct-to-indie sales by 126% percent in 2021, and the company also had its first Indies Introduce Pick last year, with Pura Belpre Honor Book Barefoot Dreams of Petra Luna by Alda P. Dobbs.

Raccah said Sourcebooks is continuing to reinvest in the company, and pointed to its March acquisition of duopress, which added more than 100 books and products for babies and young children. In 2021, Sourcebooks's acquisition of B.E.S. Publishing grew its offerings for both kids and adults by more than 800 titles, and was Sourcebooks s largest acquisition.

All this sales growth has led to a hiring spree, with the Naperville, Ill.based Sourcebooks doubling the size of its New York City office. And despite recent attention to the frustrations of a new generation of publishing workers, Raccah said she hasnt seen any sign of young people disenchanted by publishing, saying the a recent job posting attracted 120 applications in a couple of days.

This story has been updated.
Bestselling authors John Grisham and Celeste Ng will speak at the U.S. Book Show, the trade show of the publishing industry, to be held virtually May 23-26, 2022. Sponsored and organized by Publishers Weekly, USBS will feature book and author panels, Editors Picks panels, keynotes, a library track, bookseller panels sponsored by the American Bookseller Association, industry-focused discussions and more.

Both Grisham and Ng will speak on May 25, a day devoted to adult fiction, at 11:30 a.m. ET and 2:30 p.m. ET, respectively. Grisham's next book, Sparring Partners is due out in May 2022, and Ng's next book, Our Missing Hearts, is slated for October 2022.

The 2022 lineup for the U.S. Book Show is a cornucopia of voices representing bestsellers, literary excellence and on-point issues of the day, said Jim Milliot, PW senior v-p and editorial director. Milliot will headline Tuesdays industry day in conversation with Christopher Finan, executive director of the National Coalition Against Censorship and author of How Free Speech Saved Democracy.

Early-bird registration is now in effect, with individual rates set at $105 ($149 beginning May 1, 2022). Librarians and booksellers can USBS attend free of charge. The full programming schedule can be viewed here.
It will be four weeks tomorrow since the last update from anyone involved in the Tuggle case.
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The two companies have already worked together to explore methods to introduce flexible cloud connectivity into the BT Tower Broadcast Switch in London. In a proof-of-concept trial the two companies looked at how their systems and processes could be integrated to combine traditional fixed infrastructure with cloud media services.M2A Medias cloud IP transport product, M2A CONNECT, designed with event-based broadcasting in mind, is complementing BT Media & Broadcasts capability in switching and its outside broadcast capabilities. It also aligns with the capabilities of BT Media & Broadcasts newly launched smart broadcast network, Vena  which is designed to enable users to add automation, efficiency, end-to-end control and visibility across entire media ecosystems, through a cloud-based operating system.During the proof of concept, test content was fed from BT Towers Broadcast Switch through its encoders and out across the internet using the SRT protocol with feeds ingested into the AWS Cloud. From there, the feed was orchestrated using M2A CONNECT and routed across the AWS Cloud network to specific entitlement outputs and also to device end points for confidence monitoring by both BT Media & Broadcast and M2A Media operations.Along with testing M2As API Control, the trial enabled BT engineers to use the M2A Console and its scheduling capabilities, which allow for event-based orchestration of AWS Media Services that would otherwise need to be manually provisioned.M2A Media declared the trail a success, saying that it had fully proved that the cloud is a natural extension to the traditional broadcast domain and an effective method of providing event-based, bursty capacity into the BT Tower. It added that the integration of cloud services into the BT Tower enables the reach-out of BT Media & Broadcast services and demonstrates a transformation beyond traditional network only services.In an era when there is an insatiable appetite for content, providing broadcasters with a flexible method to access their rights is more important than ever before, commented M2A Media CEO and co-founder Marcus Box. BT Tower is the central hub for distribution of content to UK and European broadcasters, so to have the opportunity to work with our friends at BT Media & Broadcast to see how M2A CONNECT can be integrated into this existing hub is hugely exciting. Our collaboration with BT Media & Broadcast is driving change in broadcast technology.Added BT Media & Broadcast director Faisal Mahomed:  M2A Media is well known for its expertise in cloud video technology. Were seeing a growing demand from our customers for cloud media services, and our collaboration with the M2A team is allowing us to keep pace with this fast-moving market. Were delighted with the results of this first trial, and we look forward to further developing these opportunities with M2A.
America can fuel the worlds needs for clean-burning natural gas for many decades and have plenty left over for our own domestic requirements. The vast majority of our nations undeveloped gas supply is found in the Appalachian Basin of the eastern United States. The size of the resource is stunning and largely unknown outside of the teams of geologists and engineers that are responsible for its discovery and ongoing development.

Gas fields with more than 3 trillion cubic feet (TCF) of recoverable natural gas reserves are considered to be giant gas fields, while those with more than 30 TCF are termed super-giants. In 2008, while researching the gas potential of the A-Basin, and realizing its enormous potential, I proposed that a new classification be adopted: any field with recoverable reserves in excess of 300 TCF be considered a mega-giant field.

These mega-giant fields are exceedingly rare. There are only three of them worldwide, and two of the three are in the Appalachian Basin  the Marcellus and Utica shales. The A-Basin is home to a third huge gas reservoir known as the Burket/Geneseo Shale. The Burket is a bit smaller in reserve size but is still classified as a super-giant. These three monsters are found at depths from 5,000 to more than 12,000 feet in depth and located in Pennsylvania, eastern Ohio and northern West Virginia. The New York portions that would be productive are off limits due to the Empire States ban of fracking technology.

The Marcellus Shale is the largest of the reservoirs. The most recent assessment of its total recoverable reserves pegs its size at 609 to 998 TCF, making it just slightly smaller than the largest gas field in the world, the South Pars/North Dome gas field of Qatar and Iran. According to Bill Zagorski, who was given the moniker of the Father of the Marcellus, the gas-in-place of the Marcellus dwarfs all conventional fields in the world. The size is so large that the ten largest conventional fields in the world combined do not equal the in-place reserves of the Marcellus (Figure 1).

Figure 1 Summary of gas-in-place for the top ten conventional gas fields worldwide (Sandrea 2006) vs Marcellus gas-in-place (Zagorski 2010)

The Utica Shale is found several thousand feet below the Marcellus. It has recently been assigned total recoverable reserves ranging from 508 to 834 TCF, large enough to rank it as the third largest gas accumulation in the world, just behind the Marcellus. The majority of the development to date has focused on the shallow liquids-rich portions on the deposits western margins. The deeper dry gas portions of the Utica have yielded some of the highest production rates ever measured in North America but is largely undeveloped due to higher costs associated with its much deeper drilling depths.

The icing on Americas natural gas cake is the little-known Burket/Geneseo Shale found above the Marcellus Shale with reserves pegged at 91 to 124 TCF. It has been the red-headed stepchild of the nation,  lightly explored and generally ignored. Bear in mind that a recent discovery by Israel in the offshore Mediterranean was labeled a game-changer for that nation yet has only 23 TCF of gas reserves, one-quarter the likely size of the Burket!

If the nation has incredibly large untapped supplies of natural gas, why is it not being fully developed? The answer, at least in the eastern United States, is due to lack of export capacity through pipelines. Existing pipelines are operating at capacity because of opposition to proposed projects. In the eastern U.S. alone, six major pipelines with capacity to move 7.0 BCF per day have been canceled or blocked over unreasonable environmental activism.

What is the solution? Unleash Americas secret energy weapon, natural gas, by completing blocked or canceled pipelines and relaxing the lengthy permitting process that delays  and kills  needed infrastructure. American entrepreneurs can energize the world if government would just get out of the way.

Gregory Wrightstone is the Executive Director of The CO2 Coalition.
Porterville, CA (93257)

Today

A few passing clouds, otherwise generally sunny. High around 80F. Winds NW at 10 to 20 mph..

Tonight

Clear skies. Low around 45F. Winds NW at 10 to 20 mph.
The body of a missing 27-year-old was found in the North Oconee River on Monday, according to an Athens-Clarke County Police Department release.

The person, Seth Stephen Evans, was last seen on the evening of March 29 at a local home improvement store and reported missing the following day.

ACC Fire and Emergency Services, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources and the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources Dive Team assisted ACCPD in locating the body. Evans next of kin have been notified, according to the release.

The investigation is ongoing.
Tables participate in a guided discussion and networking at the Legacy Ball held in the Memorial Hall Ballroom at the University of Georgia in Athens, Georgia, on Saturday, April 9, 2022. The Black Felicity Student Association at UGA hosted the formal networking event as a way to connect minorities with professionals and peers in their field. (Photo/Jessica Gratigny; @jgratphoto)
Darren Lenois, of Bellows Falls, Vt., forges around the riverbank near the Connecticut River, in Walpole, N.H., for fiddleheads on Monday, May 2, 2022.
Registration is now open for the Southern Vermont Economic Summit. This day-long event will be held on May 12 at the Grand Summit Resort at Mount Snow.
Eveona Williams, a senior at Mount Anthony Union High School in Bennington, did the honors to raise the BLM Flag at the Southwest Vermont Supervisory Union earlier this year.
To the editor: A new town manager in Brattleboro (Yoshi Manale) whose career-average job tenure is two years and one month has to make his mar
You are the owner of this article.
A no trespassing sign is posted near the entrance to the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station, at rear, Thursday, Feb. 28, 2019, in Plymouth, Mass. One million gallons of radioactive water is contained inside the former nuclear power plant along Cape Cod Bay. The plant's owner, Holtec International, is considering treating the water and discharging it into the bay. Local residents, shell fishermen and politicians disapprove of the plan.
David Schoales is a current board member of the Windham Southeast School District. He previously served on the Brattleboro Town School Board, the Jericho Town School Board, and the Vermont-NEA Board of Directors. His opinions are his own. The opinions expressed by columnists do not necessarily reflect the views of Vermont News & Media.
Beckley, WV (25801)

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Rain likely. High 56F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall around a half an inch..

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Rain showers this evening with overcast skies overnight. Low 43F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%.
LOS ANGELES (AP)  Britney Spears, less than five months after her conservatorship ended, confused some fans Monday when she posted on Instagram that she's pregnant, and apparently married.

I lost so much weight to go on my Maui trip only to gain it back," the pop star wrote in part Monday, accompanied by a photo of flowers and a cup of coffee. I thought Geez ... what happened to my stomach???" My husband said No you're food pregnant silly!!! So I got a pregnancy test ... and uhhhhh well ... I am having a baby. ..."

Spears  with liberal use of various emojis  didnt name partner Sam Asghari as the husband and added: I obviously wont be going out as much due to the paps getting their money shot of me like they unfortunately already have.

While some, including Paris Hilton, congratulated Spears.

Monday evening, Asghari added an Instagram post of his own accompanied by a painting of a lion family with three members.

Marriage and kids are a natural part of a strong relationship filled with love and respect. Fatherhood is something i have always looked forward to and i dont take lightly. It is the most important job i will ever do, he wrote.

Spears spoke of suffering from perinatal depression in the past, calling it absolutely horrible and saying shes heartened that the condition is spoken of more freely among women now than at the time of her previous go arounds with her sons, ages 15 and 16. She shares the teens with ex Kevin Federline.

She said some people considered it dangerous if a woman complained like that with a baby inside her  but now women talk about it everyday  thank Jesus we dont have to keep that pain a reserved proper secret  This time I will be doing yoga every day !!! Spreading lots of joy and love!!!

The 40-year-old Spears has said she longed for a baby with the 28-year-old Asghari, a personal trainer, but she has said the nearly 14-year-long conservatorship forced her to remain on birth control.

The two met on the set of her Slumber Party video in 2016.

Multiple email requests for confirmation from Spears representative were not immediately returned Monday.
The mother of a Puerto Rican Olympian was killed by a stray bullet while sewing in her Connecticut home over the weekend, according to the athlete and police.

Police believe Mabel Martinez, 56, was an innocent bystander and the intended target was apparently a man walking outside her home in the town of Waterbury. He was wounded in the leg and survived. No arrests have been announced.

Mabel Martinez was the mother of Yarimar Mercado Martinez, a rifle shooter on the Puerto Rico Olympic team who competed in the summer Olympics last year and in 2016.

Mabel Martinez died Sunday after being shot in the head Saturday afternoon, police said.

Mercado Martinez, 27, expressed her anguish in social media posts.

Why you? Why this way? You were just sitting in your little house sewing, as you always did, she wrote in Spanish.

Two days ago you called me with excitement, asking me to save the date and help you prepare to renew your wedding vows with daddy in Puerto Rico, she said Sunday. There are so many things I still needed to learn from you ... I was so far away without being able to do anything, I couldnt even say goodbye to you."

She wrote that the family intends to bring her mothers body to Puerto Rico so her friends and family can say goodbye.

I apologize to Puerto Rico because even if I wanted to, I really cant compete, my place is with my family," she wrote.

A message seeking comment was left Monday for Mercado Martinez.

The athlete flew out of Brazil late Sunday and has arrived in Connecticut, according to Gilberto Hernandez, president of the Puerto Rico Shooting Association, the sport's governing body in the U.S. territory.

Hernandez said its not clear when the body would arrive for burial in Puerto Rico, adding that the shooting association is helping pay a portion of the funeral costs.

We trust that she will overcome this, he told The Associated Press. She can count on us. ... The doors of the association are always open.

Waterbury Police Chief Fernando Spagnolo said investigators believe the shooting was drug-related and had nothing to do with Mabel Martinez.

This was definitely a random, tragic act of violence, he told the AP. She was in her house. She's not the intended target.

Spagnolo said relatives were extremely distraught, including Mabel Martinez's husband, whom he described as inconsolable.

He said the investigation has been very, very active since Saturday.

___

AP journalist Danica Coto contributed to this report from San Juan, Puerto Rico.
BANGKOK (AP)  A popular leader of Thailands progressive political movement has vowed to continue his activities despite being indicted on charges of defaming the king and violating a law on online activity which carry penalties of up to 20 years in prison.

Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, a co-founder of the court-disbanded Future Forward Party, was indicted Monday for comments he made in January last year about the awarding of a government COVID-19 vaccine production contract to a company owned by King Maha Vajiralongkorn. His comments were part of a general criticism that the government of Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha bungled its vaccination campaign by failing to ensure timely, adequate and effective supplies.

Thanathorn was granted release on bail of 90,000 baht ($2,670).

Thalands lese majeste law, Article 112 of the Criminal Code, carries a prison term of up to 15 years for insulting the monarchy, but critics say it is often wielded as a tool to quash political dissent. The charge of breaching the computer crime act is punishable by five years. His comments last year were made during a Facebook Live session.

I am not the first and will not be the last silenced by Article 112 despite the fact that my criticisms are for the benefit of the public, stemming from concerns that Thai people will not receive vaccines fast enough or will receive inefficient vaccines," Thanathorn said on his Facebook page after his indictment.

By using the 112 charge against me and other political activists, those in power hope that it will be the ultimate weapon to silence us, to stop us from questioning, demanding justice and a better society. I would like to confirm here that I will continue my work for the public interest. I will not be afraid to speak out or do anything that is necessary and beneficial to the country," he said.

The Future Forward Party made a strong third-place showing in the 2019 general election just a year after it was established. The party was especially critical of the military, a pillar of the countrys establishment with major influence over the government.

Thanathorn was forced out of Parliament in 2020 when a court ruled that he had broken an election law by previously owning shares in a media company, and his party was later dissolved on a similar technicality. He has faced a number of legal cases that supporters charge are without merit and are meant to stop his criticism of the government. Since leaving electoral politics he has been a leader of an organization pushing a progressive agenda, including curbing the militarys role in politics and promoting democracy at the grassroots level.

The army staged coups in 2006 and 2014. Prime Minister Prayuth, then army commander, led the latter takeover and continued in office after the 2019 polls, which critics say were arranged to give the military-backed party an advantage.

Thanathorns criticism is toward the government's policy, and there is no content that defames the (royal) institution. But like other cases, its a tool to silence critics, his lawyer, Krisadang Nutcharas, said Tuesday. "This actually tarnishes the reputation of the monarchy rather than protects it.
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A children's hospital in Orlando recently recruited candidates for a coveted new position. After rounds of interviews, its pick for the job was Parks, a 2-year-old Labrador retriever with a golden coat and floppy ears - who boasts an impressive catalogue of more than 40 commands.

Like many dogs, he knows how to sit, stay and raise his paw on command. But what impressed hospital workers were Parks's advanced skills, including pushing objects, turning light switches on and off with his snout, pulling ropes to hold drawers and doors open, retrieving items, and assisting with laundry by tugging the hamper to the washing machine.

He can also play cards (using his mouth) as directed by his handler. He doesn't know which cards to play on his own, but he has the dexterity to gingerly take a single playing card from someone's hand and give it to the other player. Parks also barks on command and offers tactile stimulation, like lying across a child's body when told to do so.

Since joining the staff at Orlando Health Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children in February, Parks has become an important member of the child-life team, which focuses on personalized support for pediatric patients.

He comforts chronically ill children by cuddling with them and also motivates them to take walks around the hospital.

Although Parks is the hospital's first facility dog, service animals have become popular at health care centers across the country, including at Children's National Hospital in Washington, D.C.

Kim Burbage - a child-life specialist at the hospital who works with Parks and cares for him outside of their day jobs - said dogs are invaluable in a hospital setting.

"He is definitely a huge part of our team," she said.

Burbage, who has worked at the hospital for 15 years, said hiring a facility dog was something her department has wanted for years.

"We started developing the position and the policies surrounding it in the fall of 2020," she said.

The hospital applied to receive an animal from Canine Companions, a nonprofit that provides trained service dogs to individuals and organizations that focus on health care, criminal justice or education.

The expertly skilled animals - which cost about $50,000 to train - are free to qualified applicants. Last year, Canine Companions placed 373 service dogs, and since its founding in 1975, it has matched more than 7,100 canines with worthy companions.

"We rely on the generosity of individual donors and foundations and special events," explained Martha Johnson, a public relations and marketing coordinator at Canine Companions. In Parks's case, the Arnold & Winnie Palmer Foundation contributed a grant to fund his placement at the hospital.

Canine Companions rears the service dogs in Northern California, and crossbreeds Labradors and golden retrievers "so we get the best of the best" in terms of work ethic and temperament, Johnson said.

Once the puppies are 8 weeks old, they are flown to volunteer puppy raisers, who teach them socialization skills and basic commands for a little more than a year. The dogs then return to one of six Canine Companions training centers for up to nine months, when they are placed with a handler following a two-week matching program.

Only 55% of the dogs are ultimately placed, Johnson explained, "because our standards are so high." Dogs that do not make the cut as a service animal sometimes return to their puppy raisers, or they are sent to other programs, such as search-and-rescue organizations, where they are better suited.

Burbage - whose role at the hospital has recently expanded to include dog handler responsibilities - visited the Orlando center to find the perfect pooch to join the staff.

Her goal, she said, was to find a dog that could serve as a "therapeutic tool" to help children and adolescents cope with difficult diagnoses. She looked for an animal that was equal parts playful and attentive, while still maintaining a sense of calm when necessary.

She connected with numerous dogs at the center, but "Parks was the best fit for her," said Robyn Bush, a trainer at Canine Companions. "He stood out as the one that was working really flawlessly with her."

Bush teaches the dogs to hone advanced skills and complicated commands.

"There's a lot they learn," said Bush, adding that "you can use the commands in a variety of ways."

Burbage felt a close connection to Parks, saying she was amazed by his obedience and intellect, and also tickled by his "goofy side," which she knew would bode well for patients in need of a pick-me-up.

"He is really wonderful," she said.

Since February, Parks - whose onboarding costs were paid by PetSmart Charities and the Orlando Health Foundation - has been working full time, Monday through Friday, at the hospital. He attends individual sessions with patients, always with Burbage.

Parks provides the kids with kisses and cuddles, and has also learned how to walk properly next to wheelchairs and other assistive devices. He has been trained to cater to the specific medical, physical and emotional needs of each child with whom he interacts.

For instance, many patients with autism or sensory integration disorder respond well to deep pressure. Using a command called "cover," Parks is trained to sprawl out on top of a patient, serving as a weighted blanket.

There have been several instances in which Parks has helped hospital staff better understand how a child is progressing medically, Burbage said. The dog's presence can encourage a patient to open up and engage in ways they otherwise wouldn't.

"They just get so excited to have him there," Burbage said.

Although Parks already knows an impressive repertoire of tricks, he is learning how to use his snout to push a plastic bowling ball, which is an activity Burbage hopes he can play with the children in the near future. He is continually learning new commands and building on the ones he has already mastered.

"When he is working, he tends to be a little bit more serious, having to focus on all the commands," Burbage said. "I can't wait to see where he's at in a couple months."

In his short time at the hospital, she added, he has already left an indelible impression on many patients and their families.

"I love when he's around," said Makiyah, a patient at the hospital who for privacy reasons asked to use only her first name. "He's a nice puppy."

Facility dogs, in general, "have a very strong impact day to day, but also a lifelong impact on patients," said Bush of Canine Companions, which offers ongoing support to the animals it trains. "It's wonderful to see them touch so many lives."
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...ELEVATED FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS TODAY... A dry airmass overhead and increasing wind speeds today will lead to elevated fire weather conditions. The lowest humidity levels will occur across western Wisconsin where values could average around 20 percent this afternoon. Humidity levels are expected to average between 25 to 35 percent across central and southern Minnesota. Wind speeds will increase significantly by the late morning, and into the afternoon. Sustained winds of 20 to 35 mph will occur across western Minnesota, with winds of 15 to 20 mph across eastern Minnesota and western Wisconsin. However, occasional gusts in the 30 to 40 mph range is likely over western Minnesota, and around 20 to 30 mph over eastern Minnesota, and western Wisconsin.
Authorities in Shanghai extended a citywide lockdown on Tuesday, in the face of growing public anger over ongoing restrictions under ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP) leader Xi Jinping's zero-COVID policy.



"Shanghai's epidemic prevention and control is at the most difficult and most critical stage," municipal health official Wu Qianyu told journalists.



"We must adhere to the general policy of dynamic clearance without hesitation, without wavering."



Wu's announcement came amid public anger over food shortages amid a citywide logistics crisis, the separation of parents and children in compulsory isolation facilities and the culling of family pets.



More than 1,000 Shanghai residents petitioned online for asymptomatic children to be allowed to isolate at home, but the petition was no longer available on the social media platform WeChat on Tuesday, Reuters reported.



Shanghai reported 13,086 new asymptomatic coronavirus cases on Monday compared with 8,581 the previous day, following a mass testing program that covered almost all of the city's 26 million residents.



The announcement came after vice premier Sun Chunlan "rushed" to to Shanghai from the northeastern city of Jilin to call on the city not to relax its grip on the virus.



"We must adhere unswervingly to the general policy of 'dynamic zero' without hesitation, have a resolute and firm attitude, and act swiftly and powerfully," Sun told municipal leaders in comments reported by state news agency Xinhua.



Sun called for expanding mobile cabin hospitals and designated hospitals, preparing a sufficient number of isolation rooms, tracking down infected persons to achieve "daily clearing and settlement" of cases, and "strictly increasing community management and control and guaranteeing basic living conditions and regular medical care," the report said.



An online video clip showed Shanghai municipal party secretary Li Qiang inspecting a residential compound under lockdown, where he was mobbed by residents wanting to share issues.



"We want to ask if you're going to solve our livelihood issues," one resident asks Li, who proceeds to listen to some of their concerns.



Reports of price-gouging



A Shanghai resident surnamed Zheng said the lockdown is a crude way of managing the virus, and its impact on people's daily lives has been huge.



"I wrote a letter to the mayor myself, and they replied that it had been passed on, but no one came, so I had to find a way to buy food by myself," Zheng told RFA.



"It is hugely troublesome because courier companies aren't allowed to deliver now, supermarkets aren't allowed to open and stores are closed," he said. "They said they would organize group buying, but the vegetables were horribly expensive."



"We haven't seen any of the vegetables sent by other provinces to support us here in Shanghai," Zheng said.



Zheng said local officials had been accused of price-gouging in the group-buying business and some had resigned.



"The party secretary and mayor of Cai township in the northeast of Pudong stepped down ... they earned 20 to 30 million yuan out of just a few days [of lockdown]," he said.



A man looks outside from his window during a COVID-19 lockdown in Shanghai's Jing'an district, April 12, 2022. Credit: AFP 'No different than a lockdown'



While authorities announced on Monday that residents of thousands of residential communities would be allowed to move around in a limited manner for the first time in weeks, a resident surnamed Chen said this didn't appear to have been implemented on the ground.



"It just allowed people to move around within their compound, not to go out," he said. "It's no different than a lockdown."



Meanwhile, seriously ill patients across the city remain locked out of life-saving medical care by COVID-19 restrictions and ward closures that are being blamed in part on the diversion of the city's healthcare personnel to compulsory mass testing programs.



Economist Lang Xianping posted on Weibo that his mother had died of kidney failure after multiple PCR tests had failed to yield results soon enough to get her admitted to hospitals in the city.



"I was in shock," Lang wrote. "My mom left me forever after waiting at the door of the ER for four hours."



He said he had been unable to see her one last time. "This tragedy could have been avoided," Lang wrote.



'Little better than a slum'



Tensions were running high in locked-down communities, with people shouting out of windows that they were "going crazy" or "dying" or "need supplies."



Several videos circulating online showed authorities unable to respond to the explosion of numbers in need of quarantine beds, with 6-12 people to a room in hastily built field hospitals.



In one, the person shooting the scene says the facility is "half-finished" and that everyone had to go and fight for their own bedding.



"It's little better than a slum," the person says.



Another video, titled "one person, one box", showed confirmed COVID-19 patients sleeping in rows of long cardboard boxes alongside their personal belongings.



Li Zhenghong, president of the Shanghai Taiwan Business Association, said member companies are having trouble sourcing supplies of coal, gas, water, electricity and food to take care of their employees.



"Logistics is a bigger problem," Li told RFA.



Taiwan epidemiologist Ho Mei-hsiang said the lockdown would have to lift eventually, which would give rise to a larger wave of infections.



"Even if they're successful [in getting to zero] after 20 or 28 days, the question is what happens next?" Ho said. "There is still a bunch of virus circulating outside [Shanghai]. The next time the virus comes in, will they lock down again?"



"As long as the virus exists in the world, completing the first three doses of vaccine should be the top priority, not lockdowns," Ho said.



Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie.
Media mogul Jimmy Lai, founder of Apple Daily, arrives at the West Kowloon Law Courts building to face charges related to an illegal vigil assembly commemorating the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown, in Hong Kong, China, Oct. 15, 2020.

Lawyers for jailed pro-democracy media magnate Jimmy Lai, who is awaiting trial under a draconian national security law, have called on the United Nations to investigate the multiple criminal cases against him.

Lai's legal team led by Caoilfhionn Gallagher at Doughty Street Chambers filed an urgent appeal over "legal harassment" against him, saying he had been jailed simply for exercising his right to freedom of expression and assembly and the right to peaceful protest.

The 74-year-old founder of the now-defunct Next Media empire, whose flagship Apple Daily newspaper was forced to close amid an investigation by the national security police, has been repeatedly targeted by the Hong Kong authorities, the firm said in a statement on its website.

"Hong Kong authorities have repeatedly targeted Mr Lai, ... and this has intensified since the passing of the controversial National Security Law in 2020," it said.

It said Lai faces a "barrage" of legal cases, including four separate criminal prosecutions arising from his attendance at and participation in various protests in Hong Kong between 2019-2020, including most recently in relation to his participation in a vigil marking the 1989 Tiananmen massacre in Beijing, for which he received a 13-month prison sentence.

He is currently serving concurrent prison sentences in relation to all four protest cases, while awaiting trial for "collusion with foreign powers" and "sedition" in relation to editorials published in Apple Daily.

The appeal calls on the United Nations to consider all of the cases against Lai as they constitute prosecutorial, judicial and legal harassment of Mr. Lai, because of his advocacy of democracy and the rights to protest and freedom of expression in Hong Kong," it said.

"The appeal also highlights intimidatory tactics used against Mr. Lais lawyers, which raise further concerns," the statement said.

Lai's son Sebastien Lai welcomed the move.

"My dads trials are piling up with no end in sight," he said. "The CCP [Chinese Communist Party] may have swapped their guns for a gavel. But with patience, a gavel can do as much damage, and make much less noise."

"I urge the United Nations Special Rapporteurs to investigate what the CCP through the Hong Kong government is doing to my father and dozens of other brave Hong Kongers."

Gallagher said the cases against Lai are "spurious," and that Lai could spend the rest of his life in prison simply for speaking out to defend Hong Kong's freedoms.

"[The] appeal details how the Hong Kong and Chinese authorities are weaponizing the law against him  using the pretext of national security and a range of legal measures not only to silence and punish him for expressing his views, but also to deter others from doing the same," she said.

The Hong Kong national security police said the allegations were "groundless," and that the national security law "safeguards ... many rights and freedoms."

Lai has been in Stanley Prison for nearly 18 months.

The appeal came as Hong Kong activist Max Chung pleaded guilty to "organizing an unauthorized assembly" in Yuen Long in protest at an attack by white-clad mobsters wielding sticks on passers-by and passengers in the Yuen Long MTR station on July 21, 2019.

He was convicted by District Court judge Amanda Woodcock on April 11.

Some 288,000 protesters went to Yuen Long on the day of the protest, which drew widespread public anger against the police, who didn't respond to multiple emergency calls from the scene until nearly 40 minutes had elapsed.

Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie.
The state calls them honorable soldiers for their sacrifices but does not have the resources to support them.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and his wife Ri Sol Ju inspect the Wonsan Disabled Soldiers' Bag Factory in this undated photo released by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on July 25, 2018.

North Korean soldiers who were injured during their service are now unable to depend on the state to care for them due to worsening economic conditions, sources in the country told RFA.

Officially known as honorable soldiers, many of the disabled rely on the government for basic support. For those who are incapable of working, a sudden drop-off in government-provided stipends and food rations can be devastating.

Everyone is having a difficult time because the prices of goods are ridiculously expensive and business has not yet recovered, a resident of Paegam county in the northern province of Ryanggang told RFAs Korean Service April 6 on condition of anonymity for security reasons.

The honorable soldiers are facing a miserable situation, especially as the nations benefits have been reduced due to economic difficulties, she said.

The source discussed the case of an honorable solder in her neighborhood who lost both of his legs and cannot work.

There is no woman who wants to marry him, so he is living with his mother, who is the only person who can care for him. Since last summer, though, her health has become worse since she is getting older, the source said.

She normally has a vegetable business that shes been doing for a long time, but she is no longer able, so their livelihood has been badly affected, she said.

Honorable soldiers are classified as grade 1-3 depending on the severity of their injuries. Soldiers who have lost multiple limbs or have become paralyzed and must rely on others for basic tasks are classified as special grade. These soldiers are supposed to get support from the government for the rest of their lives, the source said.

But I know that there is no other support except for a small amount of corn due to the poor economic situation of the country. The military provided firewood after his mother stopped her business, but now even that support has been cut off, she said.

The daily supply of corn from the government amounts to less than 500 grams (1.1 lbs.), hardly enough to live on, the source said. Meat and cooking oils are rarely ever provided in the government support ration.

I havent seen our honorable soldier in a while. His wheelchair is broken and he isnt able to go outside, the source said.

If you go to the market in Hyesan, theres a place there that sells Chinese-made wheelchairs, but they cost 200,000 to 400,000 won (U.S. $33 to $66). With no money he cannot afford to get a new one, she said.

The source said she did not know how the soldier had lost both of his legs but many of the injuries to soldiers occur when they are assigned to construction duty. If an accident occurs, their injuries are officially recorded as having occurred while the soldier was on a military mission.

The soldiers are often reluctant to reveal how they were injured, except to their closest family members, according to the source.

Living conditions for honorable soldiers in the northwestern province of North Hamgyong is appalling, a resident of the provinces Orang county told RFA.

The honorable soldiers in Pyongyang and other large cities work at Honorable Soldier Factories which operate at full capacity because they are important to the country, but out here in the small-town rural areas the factories for them arent running, he said.

In our county, we have more than 70 honorable soldiers with relatively minor disabilities. Most of them work at the honorable soldier fishing gear factory, but it has been a long time since they shut down due to a lack of electricity and raw materials, the second source said.

The source said that when the factories shut down, the able-bodied were able to support themselves through other means.

The ordinary residents can survive by going out to sea to fish or going to the mountains to collect firewood to sell, but the honorable soldiers cannot do those things because they cant move around freely. The lives of the honorable soldiers are far more miserable than those of the able-bodied, he said.

Even now, the number of honorable soldiers continues to increase. They either have an injured limb or they lost an eye, or things like that. The authorities say that those soldiers are the precious treasures of the country and that they should be taken care of, but theres no actual support.

Translated by Claire Lee. Written in English by Eugene Whong.
Five Lao villagers were beaten and detained Sunday in a village north of Vientiane by soldiers who said the group and their families were living on land owned by the countrys military, according to Lao sources.

Around 40 families had lived in Sisawat and Houay Nam Yen villages in Naxaithong district since 1989, when they fled homes damaged by floods at the nearby Nam Houm Reservoir. Soldiers claiming ownership of the land began around five months ago to build there, one local villager told RFA.

Officers from Section 513 of the Vientiane Military Division have been building shelters and a gate on the land for the last four or five months, barring us from farming there, the source said, speaking on condition of anonymity for security reasons. And on Sunday, they detained five of us and took them away in a truck, beating them and threatening them with rifles.

Around 60 to 70 soldiers are now present at the conflict site to prevent disturbances and make further arrests, she added.

Villagers have lived and farmed in the disputed area for 20 to 30 years, another local source said, also declining to be named.

Our parents lived there until they died, and before the soldiers came. But the soldiers now tell us that were living on their land, even though they have no documents to show our village chief proving their ownership.

Their own word is all they have, she said.

Military officers are required to make a report to village authorities of any incident in the area involving their troops, the source added. But they just took our villagers to a truck and drove away, she said.

Speaking to RFA, a local village authority confirmed Sundays arrests.

The five villagers are now reportedly being held in the Vientiane Military Division and are not being allowed to see their relatives and family members, the source said.

Vientianes Agriculture and Forestry Department had formerly used the disputed land for feeding livestock. But when the Nam Houm Reservoir collapsed in 1989, villagers moved to the areas higher ground to escape the flood, he said.

The disputed land is now fertile and well suited to feeding livestock and raising crops for cash, he said, adding that villagers had invited army officers to a meeting to help resolve the conflict, but that officers had ignored their request.

The Vientiane Military Division said this was the duty of Section 513, while Section 513 said it was the military divisions responsibility, the local village authority said.

The five detained villagers were residents of Houay Nam Yen village and had temporary documents proving their right to their land, the source said. But the military officers took these away from them, he added.

Naxaithong district deputy head Phouvone Phong-Latkeo said, however, that local villagers have no right to the disputed land, saying the Vientiane Agriculture and Forestry Department had handed it over to the military following the Nam Houm flood and that it was now property of the state.

Villagers grabbed and repurposed the land without authorizing documents. In fact, the land is reserved for the Nam Houn Reservoir and does not belong to them, he said, adding that villagers displaced in 1989 by the reservoirs collapse had already been compensated for their loss.

A gate erected by Lao soldiers at the entrance to disputed land is shown on March 25, 2022. Photo: Citizen Journalist





The five villagers detained by soldiers on Sunday had not been formally arrested but were taken away for re-education because they had gathered others to stage a protest and cause disruptions, Phouvone said. Thus, the officers had to assert their control and prevent more problems.

Sources told RFA on Tuesday that the five now held are being questioned by military authorities, with no word given yet on when they may be released.

The military will release them later, but they may still end up being held for a while, a Naxaithong district official said. Their families have asked the military for permission to visit and bring them some food, but their request was denied.

The military officers havent said when theyre going to release the villagers. But some rumors say they might be freed sometime after the Lao New Year on April 15, a district villager added.

Reached for comment, family members of some of those now held declined to speak about the case, fearing retaliation by authorities, while one family member was ordered on Monday to delete a video he had taken of the arrests.

An official of the Peoples Council, meanwhile, said his office had received no reports of the conflict or arrests.

A report may have been sent to the economic committee, though, because the conflict involves land, he said.

Some of the families living on the 25-hectare area of land now claimed by the army had inherited the land from their parents even before the 1975 communist takeover of Laos, and had paid property taxes on the land ever since, another villager told RFA.

The military says that the land belongs to the army, but everybody knows that the land belongs to the villagers, the villager said, also speaking on condition of anonymity. Before building anything, the military should at least have asked for approval from the village authorities, but in this case they began building things without any warning, he said.

Translated by Ounkeo Souksavanh for RFAs Lao Service. Written in English by Richard Finney.
Troops attempted to take the town of Lay Kay Kaw in Kayin state but were held off by anti-junta forces.

KNLA fighters pose with weapons confiscated from the military during the battle of Lay Kay Kaw, April 10, 2022.

Heavy fighting between junta troops and a joint force of ethnic fighters and prodemocracy paramilitaries in Myanmars Kayin state resulted in the largest number of casualties the military has suffered in clashes since it seized power last year, according to sources.

Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) and anti-junta Peoples Defense Force (PDF) fighters squared off with the military on Sunday after some 45 soldiers from the 207th Battalion, led by Maj. Thet Naing Oo of the 44th Division, approached the town of Lay Kay Kaw near the border with Thailand at around 2 a.m. on Sunday.

The KNLAs Cobra Column reported that the junta forces began the attack at 5 a.m. with 40 mm guns, supported by heavy artillery fire from Swei Daw Hill and nearby Let Khat Taung township, as well as airstrikes. It said that by the time the fighting was done at around 11 p.m. on Sunday, the military had retreated, leaving 12 soldiers dead.

Padoh Saw Tawney, the foreign affairs officer of the Karen National Union (KNU), told RFAs Myanmar Service that the military suffered its worst casualties since its Feb. 1, 2021, coup.

There werent many of them, only about 40 or 50. We could say we wiped out the entire military column, he said.

They lost their commanding officer. One officer with three stars, the rank of a company commander, surrendered. We also seized a total of nine firearms and a lot of ammunition. And we lost two soldiers from our side.

Padoh Saw Tawney said that the commanding officer, Maj. Thet Naing Oo, was killed in the fighting and that the company commander, Capt. Tin Lin Naing, will be dealt with in accordance with the KNUs code of conduct for prisoners of war.

RFA was not able to independently confirm the number of casualties in the fighting.

Hpa-Tarah, the mayor of Lay Kay Kaw, said two military jets dropped at least 16 bombs in a bid to take control of the town.

The fighting began at about 5 a.m. and ended at about 11 p.m., and then jet fighters flew in and bombed the area about 15 times between 11 p.m. and 2 p.m. [on Monday]. Two jets at a time  it was frightful, he said.

Their artillery units from the hills also shelled us. About 50 or 60 rounds. The shelling finally stopped at about 5 p.m. [on Monday].

Residents of five villages in the area fled their homes because of the airstrikes on Sunday night, he said.

The airstrikes damaged about 30 houses and a school in Lay Kay Kaw, and burned down five houses, according to residents.

KNLA Cobra Column spokesman Myo Thura Ko Ko told RFA that the military might have used chemical bombs in the airstrikes.

After the bombing raids, there was a strange smell, he said. Some of our comrades said it was kind of a sweet smell and some yellow dust was seen floating in the air. Some of them suffered from spells of dizziness.

Attempts by RFA to contact junta Deputy Information Minister Zaw Min Tun for comment on the fighting went unanswered Monday.

A school destroyed by a military airstrike in Lay Kay Kaw, April 11, 2022. Credit: KNLA Cobra Column Refugees face food shortage

An aid worker, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told RFA that thousands of residents have been sheltering on Myanmars side of the border since Dec. 15, when fighting first broke out between the military and anti-junta forces in the region.

There arent many refugees from Lay Kay Kaw on the Thai side, he said.

There are about seven [refugee] camps on this side of the border. According to the latest findings, there are more than 12,000 in seven groups. Along the banks of the Moei River [which separates Myanmar and Thailand], from Phlu Lay village to Kyauk Khat village. All spread out.

Myet Hman, a refugee on the banks of the Moei River, said there were more than 900 people from 600 households in his camp, adding that there is a severe food shortage.

The problem is that we need food badly. Currently, roads are closed on the Thai side and aid workers do not dare to come to us from the Myanmar side. Donors cannot come to us because of several checkpoints, he said.

We are in dire need of food. We can only provide about a dozen milk-cans of rice to each family this month.

He said the ongoing fighting makes it difficult to estimate when residents will be able to return to their homes.

KNU officials have reported daily clashes in areas under their administration, including the townships of Kawkareik and Kya Inn Seik Kyi, and say they are likely to intensify.

A video posted to social media purports to show anti-junta fighters opening fire on a military outpost on Yangon's Inya Road, On April 11, 2022. Credit: Citizen journalist Yangon resistance

Meanwhile, various armed resistance groups told RFA on Monday that they had launched a dozen attacks on military-held areas of Myanmars commercial capital Yangon over the past three days.

A fighter with the Free Tiger Rangers said that a bomb exploded at a pro-junta garment factory in Yangons Hlaing Tharyar township at 7:30 p.m. on Sunday, damaging vehicles.

The junta wants to show that there is peace and things are normal in Myanmar. The revolutionary forces cannot let that happen, said the fighter, who declined to be named.

The current situation is that we had a military coup, and we will fight the regime in whatever way we can.

Separately, a video posted on social media Monday purports to show a group of anti-junta fighters in a car open fire on a military and police outpost on Yangons Inya Road on Sunday evening, killing a police officer.

Other anti-junta attacks in the Yangon region over the past three days included the killing of Maj. Kaday Phyo Aung, the Lanmadaw Townships administration officer, by unknown gunmen, as well as the killing of two plainclothes soldiers nearby in a separate attack, although RFA was unable to confirm the information.

Junta spokesman Zaw Min Tun was not available for comment on the attacks.

According to reports by media aligned with the shadow National Unity Government, the NUGs Yangon Region Military Command launched an operation to attack junta targets in the city beginning on April 8.

A resistance group known as the United Alliances announced a similar offensive a day earlier.

Anti-junta forces recently announced that they plan to launch attacks on the military during the Thingyan water festival, which begins on April 13 and culminates in the Burmese New Year three days later. They have warned members of the public to stay away from the traditional Thingyan pandals set up for performances and water-spraying stations during the festivities.

Since Feb. 1, 2021, authorities have killed 1,741 civilians and arrested more than 10,100, mostly during peaceful anti-junta protests, according to Thailands Assistance Association for Political Prisoners.

Translated by Khin Maung Nyane. Written in English by Joshua Lipes.
The former officer had already been sentenced to 2 years for resisting police during the incident.

Le Chi Thanh during his arrest in April 2021 and at his trial for resisting officers in January 2022.

A former Vietnamese policeman who in January was sentenced to two years over a traffic spat received an additional charge for his livestreamed videos on social media, including one of his interaction with traffic police, state media reported.

Le Chi Thanh was once an officer at Han Tan Prison in the southern coastal province of Binh Thuan. He was fired in July 2020 after he accused his supervisor of corruption. Afterwards he became an active social media user, often livestreaming videos that monitored traffic police.

Police in Ho Chi Minh City impounded his car on March 2, 2021, for occupying a lane reserved for two-wheeled vehicles. He argued with the police in an attempt to stop them from taking his car, while recording and livestreaming the incident.

He was later arrested on April 14, 2021, on the charge of resisting officers on official duty.

The Ho Chi Minh City Law online newspaper reported that the procuracy in the southern province of Binh Thuan filed an additional charge of abusing the rights to freedom and democracy to violate the states interests, legitimate rights and interests of organizations and individuals in accordance with Article 331 of Vietnams Penal Code.

Thanhs lawyer, Dang Dinh Manh, confirmed the new indictment to RFAs Vietnamese Service. If convicted, Thanh could get two to seven years on top of his earlier two-year sentence, which he has since appealed.

During his pre-trial detention, in a video posted on October 29, 2021, Le Thi Phu, Thanhs mother, called for justice for her son. She said in the video that detention officers had tortured him by cuffing his hands and legs and hanging him over a dung pit for seven days in a row.

Translated by Anna Vu. 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
Iran's Foreign Ministry summoned a top Afghan Embassy official to protest violence against Iranian diplomatic posts that were targeted by protesters angered over social media videos.

State media reported on April 12 that Afghanistans charge d'affaires in Tehran was called in connection with violence a day earlier that targeted the Iranian Embassy in Kabul and the Iranian Consulate in Herat.

Protesters pelted the Herat consulate with stones and appeared to set fire to part of it. A similar demonstration took place in the Afghan capital.

The protests were sparked by unconfirmed videos that circulated on social media networks, allegedly showing Afghan refugees being beaten by Iranian border guards.

One video seemed to show Iranian border guards beating Afghan refugees; another appeared to show a group of Iranians dragging and beating refugees in some sort of compound.

The Iranian Embassy in Kabul said the videos were "baseless and invalid" and were aimed at harming bilateral relations.

Iran has struggled to cope with an influx of Afghans who have fled since the Taliban seized power in Afghanistan last August.

More than 5 million Afghans have reportedly fled to Iran.

The two countries share a 900-kilometer border. Tehran has not recognized the Talibans claim to be Afghanistans rulers.

With reporting by RFE/RL's Radio Azadi and AFP
Prominent Iranian human rights advocate Narges Mohammadi and photojournalist Alieh Motalebzadeh have been sent back to prison after briefly allowing them out for medical reasons, family members and activists said.



Mohammadi's husband, Taghi Rahmani, told Radio Farda that Ministry of Intelligence agents had raided the family's home to arrest Mohammadi and Motalebzadeh, who is vice president of the Association for the Defense of the Press Freedom of Iran, and return them to jail.



The arrests came after Mohammadi told Radio Farda that she would have to return to prison despite concern about her health. Mohammadi suffers from a heart condition.



Mohammadi previously called her refusal to return to prison "civil disobedience," but told Radio Farda that her bail had been threatened and that her house would be confiscated.



The two women were transferred to the Qarchak women's prison, according to the Human Rights Activists News Agency, a U.S.-based news outlet that covers news in Iran. Conditions at the prison are routinely condemned by activists.



Before being arrested, Mohammadi told The Washington Post that human rights should be a "priority" in the West's negotiations with the Islamic republic.



She also argued that economic sanctions against the country had backfired, saying they had "weakened Iranians economically more than they weakened the Iranian regime."



Mohammadi was arrested in November 2021 after she attended the memorial of a man killed by Iranian security forces during nationwide protests in November 2019.



In late January, a court sentenced her to another eight years and two months in prison, as well as 74 lashes.



Human Rights Watch condemned the new prison sentence and called on Tehran to release her.



The sentence also included a two-year ban on membership in political parties and "activities in social and digital platforms," as well as a two-year internal exile in Iran.



Rahmani said his wife's trial lasted no longer than five minutes and the judge specifically mentioned her recent nomination by two Norwegian parliament members for the Nobel Peace Prize and her efforts to shed light on Iran's use of prolonged solitary confinement against political prisoners.
Telecom giant Nokia has announced it is pulling out of Russia, the latest in a flood of foreign companies that are leaving amid punishing Western sanctions imposed over Moscow's war in Ukraine.

The Finnish company's chief executive officer told Reuters that the decision to indefinitely suspend operations was the only option.

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.

"We just simply do not see any possibilities to continue in the country under the current circumstances," Pekka Lundmark was quoted as saying on April 12.

He said the decision to leave would affect about 2,000 workers; some of them could be offered work in other locations where Nokia operates.

Hundreds of foreign companies have pulled out of Russia following Moscow's February 24 invasion of Ukraine, which resulted in unprecedented economic sanctions from the West.

Russia's economy is forecast to shrink drastically this year. The World Bank predicts it will contract by as much as 11 percent, while other Western forecasts say the contraction could reach up to 20 percent.

Aleksei Kudrin, a former finance minister who now heads Russia's Audit Chamber, told Russian lawmakers on April 12 that gross domestic product was expected to fall by more than 10 percent.

European Union officials, meanwhile, are discussing whether to impose an embargo on Russian oil exports. The United States and Britain have already banned Russian oil, aiming to cut Moscow off from a sizable revenue source.

With reporting by TASS
Ukrainian forces reportedly advanced on Russian positions near Kharkiv and Kherson, making small territorial gains amid an ongoing Russian offensive in the eastern Donbas region.

Russia, meanwhile, claimed it destroyed a Ukrainian cache of weaponry that had been supplied by the United States and Europe.

The May 7 claims by Oleskiy Arestovych, a top adviser to President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, that Ukraine had made battlefield advances come just two days before Russia holds ceremonies to mark Victory Day, the anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany.

Russian President Vladimir Putins speech on May 9 will be closely watched to see if he will announce a general mobilization or some other major strategic shift, in a bid to turn the tide of the war, now in its 73rd day.

In the early weeks after the February 24 invasion, Russian forces were thwarted in their attempts to seize Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities, suffering heavy losses of personnel and equipment. Commanders then later withdrew units from areas near Kyiv and repositioned them to the Donbas.

Russias last official tally of its military casualties was 1,351. Western officials, however, say the toll is at least 15,000, and Ukrainian officials claim the tally exceeds 20,000. Zelenskiy said last month that between 2,500 to 3,000 Ukrainian troops have been killed, though that figure is believed to be an undercount.

Russias Defense Ministry said on May 6 that its forces were continuing to advance on positions in the Donbas, and had destroyed an ammunition depot in Kramatorsk and shot down two Ukrainian warplanes.

Arestovych claimed the Ukrainian advances in a video statement posted to his Telegram channel.

Ukraines General Staff, meanwhile, said in its daily assessment that Russian activity was relatively quiet overnight, limited to military reconnaissance and artillery fire.

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.

Near Izyum, where there has been major back-and-forth fighting, drones were repeatedly detected overflying defense positions, the report said. Kharkiv was also hit by artillery.

Kherson, which is located north of Crimea, well outside of the Donbas, has been contested for weeks now, though Russian forces have claimed control of the region's main city, and a top Russian politician visited Kherson city on May 6.

Russias Defense Ministry said on May 6 that its forces were continuing to advance on positions in the Donbas, and had destroyed an ammunition depot in Kramatorsk and shot down two Ukrainian warplanes.

On May 7, meanwhile, the ministry said its forces hit 18 Ukrainian military facilities overnight, including three ammunition depots near the port city of Odesa. It also said Russian forces destroyed a stockpile of military equipment from the United States and European countries near a railway station in the Kharkiv region.

It wasn't clear what the weaponry exactly was, or when it might have been delivered.

Ukraine's successes against Russian forces have been due in large part to the major supplies of weaponry provided by the United States and Europe-- weaponry that increasingly includes offensive armaments like heavy artillery, howitzers, and tanks.

Russia has repeatedly warned NATO that its weapons supply convoys could be targeted, but has so far not taken any steps to do that.

Russian forces have been closing in on the last contingent of Ukrainian troops holding out at the sprawling Azovstal steel works factory in the port city of Mariupol. Around 2,000 troops have been hiding out in the factorys extensive tunnels and bunkers, along with around 200 civilians.

Ukrainian officials said on May 6 that several dozen civilians, comprising 50 women, children, and elderly people, were evacuated from Azovstal, Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk said

Russia confirmed that some 50 people had been evacuated.

Mariupol itself has been largely razed to the ground by weeks of street-to-street fighting and heavy bombardments. Azovstal has turned into a last stand for the Ukrainians troops struggling to prevent a complete Russian defeat of the city.

In his nightly video address, 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."

For the first time since the invasion, the United Nations Security Council approved a brief resolution expressing "deep concern" about the situation in Ukraine.

However, the text, which was adopted on May 6 with Russias vote, did not mention a war, conflict, or invasion -- as many council members call Russias military action -- or a special military operation as Moscow refers to it.

"The Security Council expresses deep concern regarding the maintenance of peace and security of Ukraine," it read.
Russian forces have continued moving toward eastern Ukraine ahead of a major planned offensive in the Donbas region, while conditions in Mariupol remain dire, with thousands of civilians reported dead and Russian forces inching toward full control of the port city.

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.

Ukrainian commanders and Western officials say Russia has continued to shift its forces from areas north of Kyiv, and from Belarus, toward Kharkiv and the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, where fighting has been ongoing since 2014.

Officials expect Russia to mount a new offensive, possibly with the goal of taking the remaining territories of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions that are still controlled by Ukrainian government forces.

The death toll from the conflict, which erupted when Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, remains unclear.

Ukrainian commanders said on April 12 that 19,500 Russian troops had been killed to date. The most recent official Russian Defense Ministry tally, in late March, was about 1,370.

U.S. officials say publicly that Russia has lost at least 10,000 troops, and privately, U.S. and Western officials put the figure closer to the Ukrainian estimate -- which would mean Russia has lost more troops in Ukraine than it did in the 10 years of the Soviet war in Afghanistan.

Ukraine has not released its own casualty figures, saying it is a state secret, but President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said publicly in mid-March that about 1,300 Ukrainian soldiers had been killed.

A U.S. Defense Department official said on April 11 that Russian forces were reinforcing around the Donbas region, including near the town of Izyum, which reportedly fell to Russian troops last week.

A Russian convoy including command and control vehicles, and infantry and helicopter support units, was seen heading for Izyum, the official said.

The official also said more than 60 Russian battalion tactical groups -- each numbering between 800 and 1,000 troops -- were believed to have deployed from Kherson in south-central Ukraine, to the northeast through the Donbas, up to the Russian border.

Russia has also appointed a new general to take unified command of the Donbas offensive, a move Western officials said appeared to be aimed at resolving the confusion and missteps that plagued Russian forces in the first phase of the war.

Mariupol, a major port on the Sea of Azov, has been the site of an intense siege by Russian forces for weeks, and the city now resembles an apocalyptic landscape. Russian forces are fighting street-by-street combat with determined Ukrainian marines and the Azov Battalion.

On April 11, Myhaylo Podolyak, a top adviser to Zelenskiy, said in a post on Twitter that Ukrainian forces were "surrounded and blocked" in Mariupol.

Speaking to South Korea's parliament on April 11, Zelenskiy said Russia had "completely destroyed Mariupol and burned it to ashes".

"Tens of thousands of Mariupol citizens must have been killed at least," he said according to a transcript from the presidents

office.

Mariupol Mayor Vadym Boychenko was quoted on April 12 as saying that the latest estimate was that around 21,000 civilian residents of Mariupol have been killed since the start of the Russian invasion.

Ukrainian and Western officials also said they were investigating reports that a chemical weapon might have been used against Azov fighters and Ukrainian marines in Mariupol.

A U.S. official speaking on the condition of anonymity was quoted by Reuters on April 12 as saying that the United States did not have information to confirm any movement of chemical agents by Russia in or near Ukraine.

Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city, has also suffered major damage, but remains under Ukrainian control. Oleh Synehubov, the head of the regional administration, said in a post on Telegram on April 11 that eight people were killed by shelling, but Ukrainian forces continued to defend the city.

Peace talks are all but stalled now, as Zelenskiy's government rejects Russian ultimatums, and the Kremlin shifts its attention to the Donbas. European diplomats have sought, unsuccessfully so far, to try to nudge Russian President Vladimir Putin away from continued onslaught.

Speaking on April 12 during a visit to the Vostochny Cosmodrome in eastern Russia, Putin called the war and its military objectives "noble," and he predicted Russian forces would be successful.

"Its goals are absolutely clear and noble," Putin was quoted as saying.

Putin asserted again that Russia was forced to invade Ukraine as a way to ensure Russia's security. Among other arguments, the Kremlin has said Ukraine joining NATO would be a critical threat to Russia. For its part, NATO has said Ukraine might join the alliance someday in the future, but not anytime soon.

The Russian leader also again asserted that Russian forces were helping people in Ukraine; an echo of another Kremlin argument that native Russian-speakers in Ukraine were somehow in danger.

"On the one hand, we are helping and saving people, and on the other, we are simply taking measures to ensure the security of Russia itself," Putin argued. "It's clear that we didn't have a choice. It was the right decision."

Podolyak said peace talks were very hard but they were continuing at the level of working sub-groups. He told Reuters that Russia was trying to put pressure on the talks with its public statements.

With reporting by AFP and Reuters
KYIV -- When soldiers from Russia threatened to rape a young girl in Ukraine, her mother tried to persuade them to take her instead, psychologist Vasylisa Levchenko said, recounting the story of an alleged rape victim.

"One of them agreed," she said.

The woman's account was just one of dozens that have been documented by officials, aid workers, and human rights monitors as Russian troops have retreated from areas around the capital, Kyiv, and other parts of the country they invaded on February 24.

"It is impossible to count how many victims there are now," Ukrainian rights ombudswoman Lyudmyla Denisova told RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service, "because so many people have been brutally killed. But it is a different story when our women, children, and their parents are now telling us about the violence that was committed against them."

Denisova added that some of the purported rape victims claimed that the soldiers said things like: "We will make sure that you never want to be with a man again so that you won't have any more children."

"According to preliminary information, there have been a lot of rapes -- an awful lot," said Ukrainian Prosecutor-General Iryna Venediktova. "All the cases will be investigated as territory is liberated."

In a report published on April 3, New York-based Human Rights Watch (HRW) documented the first reported rape allegations. A 31-year-old woman, who asked not to be identified, from the village of Malaya Rohan, near the eastern city of Kharkiv, said a Russian soldier broke into the basement of a local school where a group of women and children were sheltering on the night of March 13-14. She said the soldier took her to a classroom on the second floor and forced her at gunpoint to undress and perform oral sex on him.

"The whole time, he held a gun near my temple or put it into my face," she was quoted as saying. "Twice he shot at the ceiling and said it was to give me more 'motivation.'"

The soldier then raped her twice, she said. He cut her face and neck with a knife, then let her go.

The next day, she and her family walked to Kharkiv, where she was given help.

"I am lucky to be alive," she said.

The same day, British Ambassador to Ukraine Melinda Simmons posted on Twitter that rape is "a weapon of war."

"Though we don't yet know the full extent of its use in Ukraine, it's already clear it was part of Russia's arsenal," Simmons wrote. "Women raped in front of their kids, girls in front of their families, as a deliberate act of subjugation."

Russia has not responded to allegations about rape specifically. Russian officials have denied that Russian forces in Ukraine have targeted civilians or committed war crimes, but have provided little evidence to support those denials.

Shortly after the initial HRW report, HRW researcher in Ukraine Yulia Gorbunova told RFE/RL she had investigated two other cases of sexual violence by Russian troops in the Kyiv suburbs of Bucha and Brovary.

"Gathering information about such cases can take a long time," Gorbunova said on April 8. "In some conflicts, it took months or even years before the true scale of the crimes became known."

In the wake of such initial reports, a flood of similar stories of sexual violence -- and allegations of many other atrocities -- began to be documented following the Russian withdrawals at the beginning of this month.

Andriy Nyebytov, the head of the Kyiv regional police, told Current Time about a case of alleged rape in the village of Bohdanivka.

"The woman went home with her toddler son and tried to hide from the Russian soldiers who had killed her husband, Nyebytov said, but two of them showed up that evening, drunk. And they raped her after threatening to shoot her son.

They left, but then came back three more times, raping her each time, he said. Finally, she managed to get loose and escape.

At a press briefing on April 7, Oleksandr Vilkul, head of the Ukrainian military administration in Kryviy Rih in the southern Kherson region charged that Russian soldiers had raped a 78-year-old woman.

In a Facebook post on April 8, ombudswoman Denisova reported the alleged rape of a 14-year-old girl by five soldiers in Bucha, adding that the victim had been impregnated. Denisova also reported that a woman in Bucha had been tied to a table and forced to watch as Russian soldiers raped her 11-year-old son, and that a 20-year-old woman in the Kyiv region town of Irpin had been raped by three soldiers simultaneously.

"The level of brutality of this army of terrorists and executioners of the Russian Federation knows no bounds," Denisova wrote, calling on the United Nations to investigate the alleged atrocities.

Psychologist Levchenko said that the number of rapes is probably far greater than the number that has been reported so far.

"It is not that women don't want to talk about it, " Levchenko said. "They can't. The shock prevents the formation of thoughts. Such a person often cannot even report exactly what happened."

She added that new cases are emerging among Ukrainians who have fled to Poland and are now telling their stories to aid workers there.

Others, aid workers say, decline to speak out for fear of retribution as Russia's war against Ukraine continues in its second month.

"There is one woman who said directly that she does not want us to share her story with anyone," said Maryna Lehenka, vice president of the European NGO La Strada, a platform against human trafficking. "Because she is afraid she will be found and killed. That's what they told her."

In an April 7 interview, psychologist and aid worker Kateryna Galyant, who created a Telegram channel where mental-health professionals can be connected with people who need help, described three purported gang rapes involving groups of three to five Russian soldiers in Bucha.

She said the victims told her that the perpetrators were drawn to residences and shelters with signs indicating that women or children were hiding within.

"Rape is now an instrument of war," Galyant said. "A way of demonstrating strength, of terrorizing people, and breaking them psychologically and physically."

Ukrainian Prosecutor-General Venediktova told Current Time that her office has created a working group to gather information about the alleged rapes and transmit it to the International Criminal Court.

"There they have opened a case against the Russian Federation," she said. "Against the aggressor country. This enables us to use this evidence not just personally against individual soldiers. If we are able to identify soldiers, great. But if we can't identify them, we can still use this information and evidence to confirm instances of crimes committed by the Russian Army on the territory of Ukraine."

Robert Coalson contributed to this report.
A veteran human rights lawyer who prosecuted the trial of former Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic says Russians could be tried for war crimes over their actions in Ukraine.

Geoffrey Nice, who prosecuted several cases at The Hague-based International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY), told RFE/RL's Balkan Service that building a war crimes indictment relating to Ukraine "is a substantial task" but "not necessarily" difficult.

"It's very, very important for Ukraine, and Ukrainians, not to think that the process of building an indictment -- and then possibly having someone tried -- needs to take years," he said. The work of the ICTY was often criticized for being too slow, its efforts hampered by countries refusing to give up their citizens accused of war crimes.

Since February 24, when Russia launched an unprovoked invasion of Ukraine that has killed thousands of civilians, Russian troops have been accused of committing war crimes.

In Bucha, a suburb of Kyiv, the Ukrainian capital, hundreds of civilians were found dead after the withdrawal of Russian forces, with many of them lying in the street with their hands tied. Russia has repeatedly bombarded residential buildings across Ukraine and, on April 8, Russian forces fired a missile at a crowded train station in the eastern city of Kramatorsk, killing at least 52 people.

The longest running war crimes court ever, the ICTY was created in 1993 by the UN Security Council in response to the "horrific crimes" and "grave breaches" of the Geneva Conventions that were taking place across the former Yugoslavia, where at least 130,000 people died in a series of conflicts that blighted the 1990s. In total, the ICTY sentenced 90 war criminals to prison terms before passing its final judgment in 2017.

In Ukraine, a war crimes investigation has already begun.

On February 28, Karim Khan, a prosecutor at The Hague-based International Criminal Court, announced that a war crimes investigation was under way for which evidence was already being collected. Neither Russia nor Ukraine are parties to the ICC, although Ukraine does recognize the court's jurisprudence. The United States is also not a party to the ICC.

Any war crimes investigation in Ukraine is unlikely to be hampered by a lack of evidence. Nice, a British barrister who has focused on human rights work for much of his career, is optimistic about the amount of evidence that already exists regarding potential war crimes taking place in Ukraine.

"You build the indictment for a trial by obviously accumulating all the evidence that you can," Nice said. "There is stacks of it: Everybody using their mobile telephones as cameras, the journalists being on the ground in all the relevant centers of the conflict."

And, as Nice pointed out, Russian President Vladimir Putin does not seem to deny this evidence.

"If he wants to say any of that was done by a rogue group out of his control or not following his instructions, then he would have said that, and he should immediately have recalled the troops to Moscow for trial," Nice said. "Has he done that? No, he hasn't. Why not? Because they're doing what he wanted."

At the ICC, defendants can face charges of war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide. A war crime occurs when a combatant violates the laws of war by, for example, killing or raping civilians. Crimes against humanity are committed not by an individual but by a state and must be motivated by the pursuance of a policy.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has said that Russian actions on the ground have amounted to "genocide," although U.S. and Western leaders have been more cautious in using that term.

WATCH: Ukrainian authorities exhumed dozens of bodies from mass graves in the Kyiv suburb of Bucha for forensic tests and to prepare them for proper burial. There is strong evidence that Russian forces committed war crimes in the town. The head of Ukraine's National Police told RFE/RL on April 8 that many victims were shot in the temple at point-blank range.

The Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, which was adopted by the UN Security Council in 1948, states that genocidal acts have to be "committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnic, racial, or religious group."

Despite the sheer amount of evidence coming out of Ukraine, Nice says the crime of genocide can be very hard to prove, as it is necessary to determine the thoughts and motives of the accused. Proving that Putin's intention was to kill Ukrainians simply because they're Ukrainian wouldn't be easy.

To convict of genocide, "you [have] to exclude all sorts of other possible states of mind and all sorts of possible intentions," Nice said. "We're doing what we're doing simply because we want to expand our territorial limits," he cited as an example of a possible defense, or "because we want to retain our perceived historic borders."

That doesn't mean it can't be done.

The International Court of Justice, the principal judicial organ of the United Nations, ruled in 2006 that the events at Srebrenica -- where some 8,000 Bosnian Muslim men and boys were killed by Bosnian Serbs -- constituted genocide.

While the "genocide" debate arouses intense passions, Nice reminded that a label of genocide "doesn't actually make the crime any more serious necessarily than war crimes or crimes against humanity." Whatever the label, the act of violence -- and its consequences -- are the same.

"I think the easiest crimes to prove in [Ukraine's] case will be crimes against humanity and war crimes," he said.

The elephant in the room is, of course, Russia -- and Putin.

Depending on how the war ends, Moscow could be the biggest obstacle for any war crimes trials by not handing over those accused. The ICC doesn't have a police force and doesn't hold trials in absentia, so its options are limited. One of the main problems with the Yugoslav trials, Nice said, was that suspects weren't handed over by their parent states for decades. In the case of Putin, a trial would be unlikely, especially given that the ICC has never tried a sitting head of state.

Nice said it is crucial now to ensure that as much as possible is documented and in the public record, for journalists and civilians to bear witness, so that an "evidence-based record of criminality is left as soon as possible."

"Ukraine has been terrific at being on the moral high ground. And it just now needs to reinforce that by having every politician saying that these are war crimes," he said.

It's very important, said Nice, that "a record is properly made, kept, and made publicand then kept in public, that shows precisely from the beginning that this was a criminal act."

Written by Luke Allnutt based on a report by Dragan Stavljanin
BERDYANSK, Ukraine -- Russian military patrols prowl the streets, Russian channels fill the airwaves, and the Russian-imposed authorities take a cut of the fishermens catch. The mayor has disappeared, phone service is dead, and protests are rare after occupying forces fired into the air at rallies against them in March.

West of devastated Mariupol and east of the isthmus that connects Russian-held Crimea to mainland Ukraine, Berdyansk was seized by Russian forces four days after Moscow launched a large-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24. Viktoria Roshchyna, a contributor to RFERLs Ukrainian Service, traveled last month to the city of more than 100,000 on the Sea of Azov.

After a lengthy journey through Russian checkpoints -- and a week in the custody of the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB), part of the occupying force, which accused her of working for its Ukrainian equivalent, the SBU -- this is what she saw.

***

The city was filled with Russian military equipment. Russian personnel had occupied the government buildings and transformed them into their bases of operation. Russian military patrols plied the streets.

There was no natural gas or mobile phone coverage. Food, medicine, and fuel were in short supply. Explosions could be heard in the distance, and the occupying forces had appointed a commandant from among their military ranks to act as mayor.

Some who opposed the occupation have been abducted and held in captivity. Freedom of speech is suppressed, the local radio station is occupied, and Russian TV channels are broadcast.

On the way to Berdyansk from Zaporizhzhya, a government-held city to the northwest, I passed through about two dozen Russian-controlled military checkpoints, most of them manned by forces from Russias Chechnya region or by Russia-backed separatists from the Donetsk Oblast to the east.

During these stops, men were asked to undress to be checked for tattoos, which are sometimes symbols of Ukrainian fighting forces, and their fingers were inspected for the presence of lubricant associated with gunpowder. Cell phones and other belongings were also carefully examined.

A huge concentration of Russian forces was gathered in the city of Polohy, about 100 kilometers from Berdyansk. Here, the Chechens behaved aggressively. One man trying to cross, whose phone had an image of a defiant meme that was born when a Ukrainian border guard cursed at a Russian warship in the Black Sea, was threatened with imprisonment and subjected to physical violence.

I was threatened with imprisonment when one of the troops manning the checkpoint said that they hadnt had a female prisoner yet, but I was eventually allowed through.



Within 30 kilometers of Berdyansk, the mobile phone connection disappeared. Residents of the city said that Russians who control the city were promising to install a Russian network and issue SIM cards. For the time being, one said, Were cut off from the world."

Lack of phone connections meant residents could not call an ambulance. The hospitals said there was enough medicine, but only for a while, and pharmacies were experiencing shortages.

Suppliers dont bring anything. We try on our own, but it goes out in a very limited number. Almost nothing that is always in demand is available, said Halyna Boyko, a local pharmacist. I don't know what will come next."



Since there was no gas, the electrical power network was in overdrive, which led to power shortages and blackouts.

The citys main bakery and meat processing plant were operating, but groceries were also in short supply.

"Shops are almost empty, and those who supply produce sell at a high price.... Everything at the market is also expensive," one resident said.

Large clusters of people could be seen outside banks -- not waiting in line but trying to connect to WiFi networks. Russian soldiers also went to banks to try to catch a signal.

The banks themselves were closed, though, and some residents were unable to get their monthly pensions before the city was seized. It was said that clients could withdraw money from one bank, but only if they could access the app.

People were divided over where to seek help. Some would go to the Russian authorities, others to the social security office, which had not been occupied. There, some humanitarian aid that didnt make it to Mariupol was distributed.



What about residents seeking a way out? Only to Russian-occupied Crimea, they were being told.

Another scarce commodity: information.

After taking the city, the Russians quickly approached local journalists, detaining and holding them captive in some cases, and tried to pressure and persuade them to cooperate.

They took their phones and their documents, and looked through their computers, one local activist said. Only Russian TV and radio were being broadcast, he said, and the head of one local publication was beaten.

At a youth center that had been transformed into an aid hub for displaced people, providing warm clothing, essential goods, and advice for refugees mostly from Mariupol, sympathies lay with Ukraine and Ukrainians.

The director, Oleh Balaban, said workers try to show those coming in that they havent been forgotten.

"We are now like the whole country. We live one day at a time, Balaban said. We do everything under these conditions for residents to feel more or less normal.



But signs that all is not normal abounded.

The mayor of the city could not be found. A former city councilman, Volodymyr Bezverkhniy, said there were reports that some of his fellow former deputies had disappeared -- but that it was difficult to know for sure.

"In a word, this is war, he said. This is a terrible time, when, unfortunately, those who are most vulnerable suffer the most -- and those who have no weapons in their hands.

Several dozen camps have been set up for internally displaced people.

Kyrylo, 25, came from Mariupol, much of which has been razed by Russian attacks, and said that people his age are often the most traumatized. Many people have fled the devastated city, and many didnt make it -- trapped in a hell whose dimensions are emerging as survivors recount their experiences.

WATCH: Ukrainian civilians who have escaped from the besieged port city of Mariupol described scenes of "hell" and say those who remain in the ruins are on the brink of starvation. Russian forces have surrounded the city and have been pounding it with artillery and rocket fire. (Originally published March 29.)

"Most children do not understand all the horror and mostly did not even go out, did not see all the destruction, the shelling, and the corpses, he said. It all depends on the strength of the spirit of a person because even some adults panicked, cried, and hid in corners.

Kyrylo, who did not want his last name printed for fear of repercussions, said several of his neighbors burned to death when the building where he lived caught fire. One man jumped from a third-floor window and survived, he said, but was unable to save his family.

Another refugee said people were being taken from the villages surrounding Mariupol to the part of the Donetsk region that is held by Russia and the separatists it backs.

Oleksandr, who also feared consequences if his last name was made public, has fished the waters off Berdyansk for 20 years. He said he and his fellow fishermen must surrender 30 percent of their catch to the occupying authorities, ostensibly for the needs of displaced people.

To protest the invasion, the war, and that demand, he has stopped fishing, he said, and hasnt been out to sea since February 23, the day before the invasion.

For now, were holding out. We are not negotiating with the Russian Federation," he said.

The Russian FSB has commandeered the district administration building in Berdyansk and Russian forces occupy the former SBU building, the city council, police stations citywide, and the local prison.

A sign reading military command hung on the facade of the police headquarters. The prison and the port area bristled with military hardware. Russian soldiers patrolled the city center and enforced a curfew.

WATCH: Ukraine's military announced that it destroyed a Russian naval transport ship in the port of Berdyansk on March 24. Videos from several angles that circulated on social media show explosions and plumes of smoke rising above a ship in the harbor.

The appointed Russian commandant, Oleksandr Saulenko, frequently claims that humanitarian aid is flowing in and touts the work of the communal services. A new city council has been established, he said.

Announcements posted around the city made several false claims: Russia isnt fighting the Ukrainian people and Russia guarantees you peace and safety, among them. Others urged residents not to trust the junta in the capital, Kyiv, an inaccurate reference to the democratically elected government of Ukraine.

The FSB officers who held me were constantly telling me another falsehood: Ukraine is no more.

At the outset of the occupation, Berdyansk was known for numerous pro-Ukrainian rallies --- protests against the Russian forces. But they faded in the third week of March, after Russian forces opened fire and organizers and activists began to go missing. Some who were detained were later released.

They were beaten, interrogated, and even experienced electric shocks," a local resident who had attended the rallies said, speaking on condition of anonymity for fear of retribution by the Russian forces.

The day before I left the city, two boys in black balaclavas tore down the Ukrainian flag in the central square. At every checkpoint on the way out, they asked me: Why do you want to go to Ukraine? Stay here.

At one checkpoint, a man from Mariupol was asked why he wanted to go to Zaporizhzhya -- and a soldier tried to scare him by saying that city, which has remained under Ukrainian government control, faces the same fate as Mariupol.

Back on the shoreline in Berdyansk, another fisherman, Serhiy, said he and his colleagues could hold out for at least a month, and sounded defiant: We wont cooperate with the Russian Federation, he said.

Written by Mark Raczkiewycz based on reporting by RFE/RL Ukrainian Service contributor Viktoria Roshchyna
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The main reason is the non-issuance of a certificate of completion because most of these housing projects are constructed on public land that has not been allocated via state agency auctions. Since the state law requires that land must first be auctioned for any development projects, many investors of housing projects are unable to clear sales to buyers as their projects were developed on land not allocated via state auctions.

Projects in limbo

The housing and commercial complex on 119 Pho Quang Street in Ward 9 of Phu Nhuan District was completed many years ago, and most of the apartments there have now been rented out by the owners. The highly visible complex is located on a busy road leading to the Tan Son Nhat Airport. However, very few people know that this housing complex is still awaiting clearance for land use fees, hence homebuyers are being misled. This project was invested by the Nova Sagel Co., Ltd., and on 13 May 2016, the People's Committee of Ho Chi Minh City issued a decision to change the project's land use purpose.

Soon after this decision, the Department of Natural Resources and Environment implemented a procedure for value of land use fees, but so far, this has not been done. On 27 December 2017, the People's Committee of Ho Chi Minh City allowed Nova Sagel to pay VND 232.5 bn for temporary land use fee of the project. Recently, Nova Sagel asked the People's Committee of Ho Chi Minh City and other competent state agencies to support the early completion of the remaining legal procedures of the project, including procedures for approving land use plans, granting certificate of land use rights, ownership of houses and other land-attached assets.

In similar circumstances, the Nova Nam A Co., Ltd. also asked authorities to support the early completion of the remaining legal procedures of the housing and commercial complex project at 130-132 Hong Ha Street in Ward 9 of Phu Nhuan District. On 8 August 2016, the People's Committee of Ho Chi Minh City issued a decision to change the project's land use purpose. Soon after that, the Department of Natural Resources and Environment implemented the procedure for land use pricing, but it has not been completed to date. On 27 December 2017, the People's Committee of Ho Chi Minh City allowed the company to pay VND 128 bn for temporary land use fee of the project and the company has already made this payment.

According to a lawyer, for a project that is allocated land by the State without going through an auction, the investor must pay the land use at the price issued by the Provincial or City Land Price Appraisal Council after approval. According to preliminary statistics, in Ho Chi Minh City right now there are 64 commercial and social housing projects being implemented under this form. As per the lawyer, he believes that perhaps the project has to be auctioned to allocate land, but the authorities have appraised the price for allocation, so now it has to be reviewed, and in this case it is necessary to understand who is responsible, and where is the gap. From the beginning of 2021 up until now, the Standing Committee of the People's Committee of Ho Chi Minh City has met weekly with the Investment Team as well as with leaders of departments, branches, districts, and Thu Duc City to consider and resolve difficulties for each housing and commercial project.

Obstacles in projects

Mr. Le Hoang Chau, Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City Real Estate Association (HoREA), said that currently a number of real estate and commercial housing projects are subject to either legal review, or have to be inspected, or even investigated. Therefore, implementation must be stopped, and the investment and construction procedures must be stopped as well, as per the red book issuance procedures for investors and homebuyers for such projects.

At the same time, all laws must be adhered to as well. In some situations, some officials and civil servants are afraid of taking the responsibility, and afraid of taking risks in performing their official duties, so they transfer documents around, and not state their opinion when submitting profiles of real estate projects. According to Mr. Chau, in the report to the People's Committee of Ho Chi Minh City, HoREA pointed out the difficulties and obstacles of each project, accompanied by recommendations of 57 business investors of 64 commercial housing and social housing projects, to find ways to resolve all the issues.

Clause 1 in Article 118 of the 2013 Land Law stipulates that the State allocate the land for collection of land levy and lease land via an auction for land use rights in the following cases. First, construction of housing for sale or rental or lease-purchase; second, invest in construction of infrastructure for transfer or lease; third, use the land fund to create capital for investment in infrastructure construction; fourth, for commercial and service land use; fifth, land for non-agricultural production establishments; sixth, lease land belonging to the agricultural land fund for agricultural production, forestry, aquaculture, and salt production; seventh, land allocation or lease of land recovered by the State due to rearrangement of working offices, non-business establishments, production and business establishments whose properties attached to the land are owned by the State; eighth, allocating residential land in urban and rural areas to households and individuals; ninth, land allocation or land lease for cases of reduction of land use levy and land rent.

Authorities now need to clarify the responsibilities of all the parties so as to ensure the legitimate interests of home buyers as well as of investors, to promote the healthy development of the housing market, and create transparency for further investments. This is necessary because in case the land put up for auction has no participants, or if only one person registers to participate, or if the auction is unsuccessful, then the State can allocate or lease the land without an auction for land use rights.

Binh Minh
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A federal judge in Virginia has issued a ruling prohibiting the U.S. military from discharging HIV-positive service members or refusing to allow them to become officers
From fees, services, packages to customer support, reviews, and ratings, we've analyzed it all to bring you this list of the best credit repair companies in 2021.
In this Sept. 14, 2021 file photo, a syringe is prepared with the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine at a clinic at the Reading Area Community College in Reading, Pa.
Washingtons wolf population grew 16% during 2021, marking the 13th consecutive year in which the states wolf population has increased, according to the state Department of Fish and Wildlife.

As of Dec. 31, 2021, the state counted 206 wolves among 33 packs. In 2020, the state counted 178 wolves across 29 packs. In the 33 packs counted last year, 19 contained a breeding pair  one male and one female, considered the packs leaders  which is up from the 2020 count of 16 breeding pairs.

"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.

The agency said the 206 total is a minimum count, meaning the actual number of wolves in Washington is likely higher. Since the department first began keeping track of the states wolf population in 2008, their numbers have increased by an average of 25% per year.

Gray wolves have been classified under state law as an endangered species since the 1980s, which means its a crime to kill them in most circumstances. Wildlife advocates argue that wolves are crucial to keeping deer and elk populations in check  which benefits plant life, and thus, other animal species  and say the carcasses of their prey provide food for scavengers.

But they also eat cattle, which is a problem for Washington ranchers. A 2013 state law that allows property owners to kill wolves without a permit if their livestock is being attacked has been a topic of controversy over the last decade.

In the state Department of Fish and Wildlife news release, the agency said 76% of the known wolf packs in Washington did not contribute to any known loss of livestock during 2021. The department said eight wolf packs did kill livestock, but said six of them were involved in fewer than two events. Two wolves were killed last year as a result.

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, wolf policy lead Julia Smith said in the news release. Were committed to promoting the proactive use of non-lethal deterrents to minimize wolf-livestock conflict, and proud to demonstrate that our approach is working.

The four new wolf packs documented last year were 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.

In January 2021, wolves were removed from the federal Endangered Species Act list, so Washingtons Department of Fish and Wildlife took over statewide management of the species. But in February, wolves were re-listed in the western two-thirds of the state, so the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service once again has the lead role in wolf recovery in those areas.
WASHINGTON (AP)  Western law enforcement agencies have dismantled an online marketplace used to buy and sell hacked and stolen personal data belonging to millions of people, and have brought criminal charges against the platform's founder and chief administrator, officials announced Tuesday.

Authorities say the RaidForums website trafficked in hundreds of databases of sensitive data, including credit card and Social Security numbers and bank account information, that had been hacked or stolen from victims.

In addition to seizing three domains that hosted the website, officials have also arrested 21-year-old Diogo Santos Coelho of Portugal, who prosecutors say controlled and administered the platform between 2015 and this past January, when he was taken into custody in the United Kingdom.

The U.S. is seeking his extradition to federal court in Alexandria, Virginia, on charges including conspiracy, access device fraud and aggravated identify.

"The takedown of this online market for the resale of hacked or stolen data disrupts one of the major ways cybercriminals profit from the large-scale theft of sensitive personal and financial information, said Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite Jr., head of the Justice Department's criminal division, said in a statement.

The site, founded in 2015, offered special access and features for members willing to pay  including a God" membership that prosecutors say enabled nearly unlimited access. The site also sold credits to members that enabled them to download means of identification and information from stolen databases, and also allowed them to earn credits by posting instructions on how to commit illegal acts, according to an indictment.

Disruption has always been a key technique in operating against threat actors online, so targeting forums that host huge amounts of stolen data keeps criminals on their toes, said Edvardas Sileris, head of Europols European Cybercrime Centre. Europol will continue working with its international partners to make cybercrime harder  and riskier  to commit.

The FBI and Justice Department and other Western law enforcement agencies, including Europol and agencies in Sweden, Portugal, Germany and the UK, were involved in the operation.

Alex Holden, the founder of Hold Security, said RaidForums was the largest English-speaking forum and marketplace for cybercrooks and its takedown will be a major problem for the bad guys who trade based on their reputation.

But as the criminals migrate to different forums, he said, they will have to mark their territory, assert their position, which only means more breaches and more online dumping of stolen data.

____

Associated Press writers Mike Corder in The Hague, Netherlands, and Frank Bajak in Boston contributed to this report.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP)  Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly on Monday signed a bill pushed by state Republicans to overturn three communities policies that could help immigrants stay in the state illegally.

The bill was filed after Wyandotte County passed a sanctuary ordinance in February that would provide local identification cards for immigrants and other residents and would prevent local law enforcement from helping the federal government enforce immigration laws unless public safety is threatened. Lawrence and Roeland Park have similar ordinances.

Kelly said in a statement announcing that she would sign the bill that immigration policy is a federal responsibility which can't be resolved at the local level.

Both Republicans and Democrats in Washington have failed to address immigration issues for decades, Kelly said. We need a national solution and we need it now.

The Kansas House and Senate passed the bill in recent weeks and supporters had the two-thirds majorities necessary in both chambers to override a Kelly veto.

The bill nullifies the three existing ordinances and bans future ones that restrict cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. The bill also says a local ID isnt valid for voting.

Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt had urged lawmakers to intervene after Wyandotte County passed its ordinance last month.

Schmidt, who is the presumed Republican nominee for governor, said in a statement Monday the Biden administration's failure to secure the U.S. southern border jeopardizes public safety in Kansas.

"Under this new law, Kansas law enforcement will be able to resume working professionally with federal immigration authorities as the needs of public safety require and not be silenced by a patchwork of local sanctuary city gag orders, he said.

Kelly said the law could prevent people who rely on local IDs from voting and she urged the Legislature to send her another bill that ensures those people, such as the elderly people and those with disabilities, can continue to vote.
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The California condor, one of the rarest and most majestic birds on the planet, hasnt flown over Northern California for more than a century. That will soon change.

Members of the Yurok Tribe recently transported four condors, secured in dog crates in the back of SUVs, from the Central Coast to Redwood National and State Parks in Humboldt County, where theyre acclimating before being released into the wild later this month.

The effort is part of a larger bid to re-establish the endangered bird across the West after condor numbers slipped to just 22 in the 1980s. The effort is also meant to restore a small piece of Native American mythology.

The absence of the condor left a spiritual hole in the Yurok community, said Tiana Williams-Claussen, a wildlife biologist for the tribe, which considers the bird sacred and central to creation. I was surprisingly emotional (when they arrived). These are the first condors that have been in Yurok ancestral territory in 100 years.

The four young birds, which were bred in captivity, are being held in a pen constructed by tribal members on a ridge in the national park 300 miles north of San Francisco. The tall redwood trees that surround the site will soon be the snug spots where the juveniles roost. The winds that lash the ridge will help the condors take flight for the first time.

The four share the pen with an older mentor bird, which maintains order among the group and teaches social skills to the 2- and 3-year-olds. The mentor will not be released but will remain at the site for the others to visit.

This is an exciting time: adding one bird into the pen, then another, and seeing how they interact, Williams-Claussen said. Weve been keeping eyes on them every day and are very much looking forward to the day we open the door and let them out.

Condors were once numerous along Californias North Coast. Known for their impressive 9-foot wingspans that allow them to ride thermals up to 15,000 feet into the air, the continents largest flying bird previously lived as far north as British Columbia and south to Baja California.

Over the past century, however, hunting, habitat loss, power line collisions and especially lead poisoning from gun ammunition had its toll on the condor. As a scavenger, the bird commonly ingests spent bullet fragments when it feeds on the carcasses of deer, elk and other animals. The metal from the shredded bullets is quickly, and detrimentally, absorbed into the condors bloodstream.

With extinction looming, federal biologists made the decision several decades ago to capture what few individuals remained and try to regrow the species with a captive breeding program. The last wild bird was netted in 1987.

More Information 22 Number of California condors in the wild in Western states in the 1980s 330 Condors currently living in the wild, with roughly 200 others in captivity 6 years How old most condors must be before they can reproduce 60 years Life span of the California condor, one of the world's longest-living birds See More Collapse

The decline of the condor was abetted by its relatively long transition to reproductive maturity, about six years, a period in which the young birds face myriad risks. Female condors, however, have the unique ability to reproduce asexually on occasion. The birds live up to 60 years.

Over the past few decades, condors have been reintroduced along the Central Coast, at Big Sur and Pinnacles National Park, and in Southern California as well as more recently in Arizona and Mexicos Baja peninsula.

About 330 birds currently live in the wild, with roughly 200 others in captivity.

When we started, there was no cookbook on how to release condors, said Joe Burnett, senior wildlife biologist at the Ventana Wildlife Society in Monterey, who has been working on the re-establishment of the species for more than 25 years. But these birds are genetically built to fit into the environment. Theyre more inclined to do what theyre supposed to do (when theyre released) than what theyre not supposed to do.

The four birds in Humboldt County were bred in facilities in Oregon and Idaho, but they stayed with Burnett at a condor sanctuary in San Simeon (San Luis Obispo County) for six months while the pen in Redwood National and State Parks was being built.

It was great to have them there, Burnett said. These birds were exposed to a lot of older, wilder birds and theres a lot of influence there. We joke about it: They learned how to talk condor.

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The location of the upcoming releases on the North Coast, Burnett said, is ideal because the new population, if successful, will eventually connect with birds on the Central Coast, which have already connected with birds in Southern California.

At least a couple of Central Coast condors have made brief forays north to the Bay Area, including one from Pinnacles that flew to Mount Diablo last year.

While the condor population is growing, it still faces threats such as poaching and poisoning, including from lead ammunition, which has been banned in California but is still in use. In 2020, 12 condors were killed in an intentionally lit wildfire in Big Sur.

Working with the National Park Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Yurok intend to run their reintroduction program in Humboldt County for 20 years, releasing four to six birds annually. The go-ahead was given by U.S. Fish and Wildlife in March 2021.

The Yurok is a leader in landscape stewardship, said Ashleigh Blackford, condor recovery coordinator for U.S. Fish and Wildlife. We are proud of this partnership.

The tribe, with its ancestral homeland encompassing much of the North Coast and 5,000 enrolled members today, has been planning for the condor release for more than a decade.

Our relationship with the condor goes back to the beginning of time, said Williams-Claussen, with the Yurok. Having condors (again) will restore balance.

Kurtis Alexander is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: kalexander@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @kurtisalexander
Johnson & Johnson must pay $302 million in penalties to the state for many years of deceptive marketing to doctors and female patients about pelvic mesh implants that could cause serious vaginal pain and physical damage, a state appeals court ruled Monday.

A San Diego County judge had assessed $344 million in penalties against Johnson & Johnson subsidiary Ethicon in January 2020, finding after a nonjury trial that the company had made misleading and potentially harmful statements in hundreds of thousands of advertisements and instructional brochures for nearly 20 years. The Fourth District Court of Appeal said $42 million of that amount, penalties for the companys spoken sales pitches to doctors, was unjustified because the state had no evidence of what the sales representatives had actually said.

But the court said Superior Court Judge Eddie Sturgeon had ample evidence that Ethicon had knowingly deceived both physicians and patients about the risks posed by its products.

The instructions for use in every package falsified or omitted the full range, severity, duration, and cause of complications associated with Ethicons pelvic mesh products, as well as the potential irreversibility and catastrophic consequences, presiding Justice Judith McConnell said in a 3-0 ruling upholding the $302 million in penalties.

Rejecting the companys claim that the fine was excessive, McConnell said it amounted to less than 1% of Johnson & Johnsons net worth of $70.4 billion.

Ryan Carbain, a Johnson & Johnson spokesperson, said the company would appeal to the state Supreme Court.

Ethicon responsibly communicated the risks and benefits of its transvaginal mesh products to doctors and patients and in full compliance with U.S. Food and Drug Administration laws, he said.

Attorney General Rob Bonta, who took over the case when his predecessor, Xavier Becerra, was appointed health and human services secretary by President Biden, praised the ruling on Twitter. The state Department of Justice, he said, will always fight to protect California consumers and hold businesses that skirt the law accountable.

Shortly before Sturgeons ruling, Johnson & Johnson had agreed to pay $117 million to settle lawsuits by 41 other states and the District of Columbia over the same products. Other manufacturers have also paid substantial penalties.

Pelvic mesh is surgically inserted to treat either of two conditions: stress urinary incontinence or bladder leakage during actions such as coughing, sneezing or exercising; and organ prolapse, the collapse of pelvic organs into the vagina, causing pain and pressure in urinary and bowel movements and sexual intercourse.

Ethicon, which had sold the mesh products since the late 1990s, stopped most of its sales for organ prolapse after receiving FDA warnings in 2012. The federal agency, however, did not prohibit sales for that purpose until 2019. Pelvic mesh is still sold for stress urinary incontinence.

Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts.

In Mondays ruling, the court noted that the FDA had first warned health care providers in 2008 about rare instances of serious pain and infections caused by the devices, then revised its warning in 2011 to state that complications in treating pelvic organ prolapse were not rare and were cause for serious concern.

Nevertheless, the court said, Ethicons advertising and instructional messages to doctors and patients continued to describe potential problems as transitory and failed to mention the possibility of severe and even lifelong pain and other harms.

The company rejected suggestions by its own doctors in 2005 to tell the public about possible vaginal harm from the implants and in 2008 to delete references to transitory damage, McConnell said. And when the FDA warned in 2011 about the risk of serious complications, she said, Ethicon paid consultants to write a public rebuttal.

Bob Egelko is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: begelko@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @BobEgelko
Amys Kitchen, a Bay Area company known for its organic canned and frozen meals, is grappling with public fallout over a worker-led effort to unionize and allegations of unsafe working conditions at its Santa Rosa factory.

Since a group of Amys employees said they were injured at work and mistreated by the company in an NBC News story in January, the popular Petaluma company has faced widespread criticism and boycotts.

The workers concerns have thrown into question Amys public image as a wholesome, family-owned company that espouses the values of local, organic food. CEO Andy Berliner and his wife, Rachel, started the business in Petaluma in 1987, selling organic pot pies out of their home. Its since grown into a national brand that brings in hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue and has close to 3,000 employees. Amys has grown beyond grocery aisles in recent years, opening multiple drive-thru restaurants in the Bay Area and a 65,000-square-foot production facility in San Jose.

Inside Amys, tension has been mounting not only between employees and employer but also among workers, who dont all agree on forming a union or advocating for boycotts. The tension has spilled over into national headlines, workplace safety investigations and, most recently, an internal audit conducted at the request of a large Amys customer. The findings of the audit, which Amys released to The Chronicle, are detailed below. The dispute at Amys coincides with other high-profile unionization efforts in the food industry, including at Starbucks and Tartine Bakery.

Read on for the latest on the Amys controversy and what it means for the future of the Bay Area business.

Samantha Laurey/The Chronicle

What did the internal audit find?

The audit, conducted by Arche Advisors during an unannounced visit to the Santa Rosa plant in late January, flagged two findings. There was a lack of communication with employees about how to anonymously file grievances  they were unaware that they could use a hotline and website to raise any issues without fear of retaliation, the audit report reads. Posters explaining the grievance procedures were available only in English, and many of the plants 624 employees are Spanish-speaking. Amys said it has since created a new training course on grievances for employees and put up posters in Spanish.

The other compliance issue was a fire extinguisher that was obstructed but cleared while the auditor was at the plant.

The audit stated that Amys provides adequate breaks and benefits to employees, and properly investigates and addresses facility accidents.

For the audit, Arche Advisors interviewed and surveyed employees, and reviewed injury reports, payroll records and other internal company documents. The company gave Amys an intermediate performance assessment rating with a grade of 86. The report didnt assess the union effort in depth.

What are workers alleging?

Santa Rosa factory workers have described an unsafe, high-pressure work environment that leaves them at risk for serious injury. A Cal/OSHA complaint filed by longtime Amys employee Cecilia Luna Ojeda in late January alleges a hazardous and life threatening work environment at the factory.

Ojeda said that Amys didnt properly respond to several work-related injuries. In 2008, after complaining of pain in her right hand to supervisors, a doctor eventually found that a tendon in her wrist had been damaged to the point that it required surgery. (Amys paid for the surgery in full, she said.) She later experienced pain in her right and left shoulders and received workers compensation to take time off, but felt pressured to return to work before she recuperated, she said. After a pipe fell on the head of a former employee, causing a concussion and later seizures, Amys didnt honor accommodations recommended by a doctor, according to the complaint.

Preston Gannaway/Special to The Chronicle

The Cal/OSHA complaint states that the risk of injury stems from pressure to meet high quotas on the production line. In contrast with the internal audits findings, she alleged employees arent given adequate bathroom or stretching breaks and that workers are ignored, shamed, and retaliated against when they do use the restroom.

At its peak, the Santa Rosa factory produces 19,000 pounds of food a day, according to the internal audit. Employees are paid between $14 and $30 an hour.

Since Ojeda and other workers went public with their concerns, she said there have been small improvements at work, including the addition of an employee who monitors the speed of the production line. But she fears that without a union contract, the changes wont be permanent.

Do Amys workers want to unionize?

Some do, but not all. With the help of Teamsters Local Union 665, a group of workers are organizing to demand stronger safety provisions, better pay and benefits.

We want a union contract to be protected, Ojeda told The Chronicle in Spanish. We want to protect our rights as workers.

Samantha Laurey/The Chronicle

But other workers said theyre happy at Amys and dont support the union effort  including Margarita Vasquez, a senior manufacturing worker and single mother whos worked at Amys for over two decades. In an interview conducted in Spanish, she said she feels safe and satisfied at work. She appreciates the medical benefits, the access to a health clinic next to the plant, bonuses and annual Christmas gifts. She also opposes the boycott.

Vasquez spoke highly of Berliner, who she said treats us like family.

Amys and the pro-union workers disagree on how widespread support is for unionizing. Berliner said hes met with all hourly employees in small groups over the last few weeks and didnt hear much of any interest in the union.

Teamsters Local Union 665, meanwhile, said there is significant interest in unionizing at Amys but that many workers at the facility are scared of openly supporting the union because of concerns regarding retaliation or harassment.

Whats the deal with the boycott?

National food justice nonprofit Food Empowerment Project and Veggie Mijas, a vegan-focused collective, were among the first to call for a boycott of Amys products.

Two Bay Area worker-owned grocery stores, Mandela Grocery Cooperative in Oakland and Other Avenues in San Francisco, have since stopped selling the companys foods. In an open letter to Amys, Other Avenues staff wrote that theyre concerned that the majority of affected workers are black and brown women, and are disappointed that this abuse originates from one of our favorite local Northern California vendors.

Adrionna Fike, a worker-owner at Mandela, said she was shocked to read the headlines about unsafe working conditions at Amys. Mandela has since replaced the approximately 25 frozen and canned Amys products it once sold with food from other companies.

Amys has a reputation of being a good company, Fike said. Its sad but hopefully this will wake companies up.

Food Guide Top 25 Restaurants Where to eat in the Bay Area. Find spots near you, create a dining wishlist, and more.

Samantha Laurey/The Chronicle

San Franciscos worker-owned Rainbow Grocery, which sells more than 100 Amys products online, has so far refrained from an official boycott. Workers have, however, requested a cooperative-wide meeting for Wednesday to discuss the controversy and potential next steps, said Cody Frost, a Rainbow worker-owner who oversees public relations.

Were trying to see what is our best way of actually supporting the people who are affected by whats happening, Frost said.

Amys said the boycotts, which dont appear to have spread to mainstream grocery stores, havent significantly impacted sales.

Ojeda said she supports a boycott to draw attention to the worker demands.

A lot of people like Amys food. (Customers should) be more conscious about what theyre doing and have compassion for all the workers, she said.

How has Amys leadership responded?

Amys has denied the workers allegations and blamed misguided social media posts for sparking the boycotts. In an interview with The Chronicle, Berliner defended the companys safety record and treatment of employees.

While an online Amys statement says, We are concerned about a unions impact on our ongoing culture of compassion, respect, fairness, collaboration and personal empowerment that has always been so key to our success. Berliner said he welcomes a union vote.

Were totally open to having an election that would give every one of them a right to cast a ballot  and whatever they choose, were happy with, Berliner said. But this continuous trying to ruin the reputation of the company and boycotting of our products is hurting the very employees the union says they want to take care of.

In an open letter posted to the Amys website, Berliner said the company plans to invest $50 million in safety-related projects over the next five years, including systems that will move products on conveyor belts rather than racks and hydraulic bucket lifters so workers wont need to lift raw food ingredients.

After learning of Ojedas complaint, Amys said it voluntarily invited Cal/OSHA for a factory inspection in January. Cal/OSHA declined to comment, citing an open investigation.

Has Cal/OSHA investigated workplace hazards at Amys before?

Yes. Cal/OSHA found several serious" violations in three 2019 accident investigations, according to the state agencys records. This included an employee whose finger was amputated after it was caught in a wrapper machine and another who was hospitalized for third degree burns from hot soy milk while making tofu.

Amys faced approximately $90,000 in penalties from the 2019 Cal/OSHA citations.

Elena Kadvany is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: elena.kadvany@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @ekadvany
Ive taken up a lot of internet real estate writing about birria, and I think it is fair to say that weve reached the post-birria era, at least in California.

By that I mean that beef birria, specifically, is no longer a novelty. It has now earned a spot on most taco menus across the state. Birria, of course, is more than just a trend  versions made with lamb and goat have been around for centuries, but the U.S. has shown an affinity to the version made with beef.

The dish is popular in Central Mexico, but several Mexican states have their own versions. Making it can be as complicated as cooking it in a pit with maguey leaves and coals (barbacoa method), but most tend to make it in a large sauce pot, simmering proteins in an adobo made with spices, aromatics and other ingredients until tender.

Here in the Bay Area, though, another genre of birria has taken hold: quesabirria, red-stained tacos grilled on a flattop with an excess of gooey cheese and stewed, spiced beef. I went on a mission to investigate this growing obsession after I moved here last year, and the first thing that stood out to me was that birria is largely sold outside of birrerias that specialize in the dish. In Los Angeles, its the opposite. And the birria tacos sold there are largely modeled after Tijuana-style birria, where beef is favored over goat.

Cesar Hernandez/The Chronicle

You can certainly find quesabirria in L.A. too, but other birria dishes that are equally popular are vampiros, tostadas with melted cheese; tostaditas, small tostadas with a thin snap; and tacos dorados (my favorite), which are made the same way as quesabirria, flash-seared on a plancha, but without cheese.

But in the Bay, birria has become almost inseparable from cheese.

I was pleased to find, though, that quesabirrias ubiquity here has produced new versions, with non-Mexican people adapting it to their own cultures. Part of this is due to the fact that birria is so buzzy, it has the power to attract customers. But I think its also truly a representation of the culinary diversity in California; the way that, like other dishes, it lends itself to techniques and ingredients from around the world that meld here to create a distinctly California cuisine.

So what is it about quesabirria? Is it our regional fascination with cheese? Perhaps. Cheese is big here; a tour of cheeses called the California Cheese Trail has a large concentration of stops in the North Bay.

But clearly, much of the fascination is owed to social media, where quesabirria has become the primary representation of the dish. Images of messy, griddled red tacos oozing with cheese and beef are all over Instagram. Quesabirria is sexy, indulgent and tantalizing. Combined with its unique serving style, where the tacos are dipped into consome  it makes for an exciting, interactive and visually engaging dish.

Francesca Tamse / Special to The Chronicle Francesca Tamse / Special to The Chronicle Above left: Owner Uzziel Oz Rojas (left) and his crew at OG Tacos at the Antioch Flea Market, and their quesabairria tacos on the grill, above right. Photos by Francesca Tamse / Special to The Chronicle Above left: Owner Uzziel Oz Rojas (left) and his crew at OG Tacos at the Antioch Flea Market, and their quesabairria tacos on the grill, above right. Photos by Francesca Tamse / Special to The Chronicle

The hunt begins

I started my exploration with the Bay Areas birria stars. I tried San Francisco favorites like the crisp orange tacos at El Patron; the concentrated, deeply flavorful birria from La Vaca Birria; and the cheesy, unctuous quesabirria from La Grana Fish in Oakland.

But if were talking early adopters, places that did a lot of work to put birria, and quesabirria, on the map in the Bay, we have to talk about Richmonds El Garage and Antiochs OG Tacos.

El Garage, first operated out of a garage by the Montano family, was inspired by the famed L.A. home food business All Flavor No Grease, which sold food from a front yard. Scrolling through her Instagram feed in 2019, Evelyn Montano, the middle sibling in her family, started to see scarlet-colored tacos from food trucks like Teddys Red Tacos in L.A. Though theyd never tried them, the Montanos wanted to make their own version using their moms birria recipe. They started by making 10 pounds of beef at a time. That quickly snowballed into 400 pounds, eventually forcing the Montanos to outgrow their garage and open a brick and mortar in Richmond in July 2020.

For Uzziel Rojas of OG Tacos, selling beef birria was a way to supplement his income while also representing Tijuana culture. He wanted OG Tacos to stay true to birria de res roots there. Growing up in the border town of Chula Vista, his family often took trips to Tijuana for tacos. His favorite was always birria de res. At the end of 2018, Rojas and his spouse, Jaime, decided to start a birrieria based on his moms recipe. It was unlike anything the Concord or Antioch region had seen.

Francesca Tamse / Special to The Chronicle Francesca Tamse / Special to The Chronicle At OG Tacos at the Antioch Flea Market, tacos are dipped in consome, left. The addition of consome, right, is a unique touch, and the success of OG Tacos in the Bay Area paved the way for others. Photos by Francesca Tamse / Special to The Chronicle At OG Tacos at the Antioch Flea Market, tacos are dipped in consome, left. The addition of consome, right, is a unique touch, and the success of OG Tacos in the Bay Area paved the way for others. Photos by Francesca Tamse / Special to The Chronicle

Even though Im not from Tijuana, Im Tijuanese at heart, said Rojas.

The success of places like OG Tacos and El Garage proved that there was a market for the dish, paving the way for others in the Bay Area to add birria to their menus.

During the pandemic, Dominic Prado was looking for a way to drum up interest in his Oakland-based taqueria Tacos El Ultimo Baile. He knew birria would sell well, but felt like quesabirria was just a gimmick. To distinguish his birria, he experimented with different cuts of beef, swapping out chuck roast for oxtails and short rib until he settled on brisket; its fat content lends an extra silkiness to the birria.

His tinkering paid off; the birria experiments helped him create a buzz during a dip in business during the pandemic. These days, the brisket and short rib birria exists as an occasional special.

Even more established businesses have chosen to buy into the birria madness.

I think like any businessman, you have to be able to adapt to the time that youre living in, said Rojas of OG Tacos. He eventually added birria ramen to the menu, not just to distinguish his business from other quesabirria spots, but also to target specific markets.

Francesca Tamse / Special to The Chronicle Francesca Tamse / Special to The Chronicle At the Antioch Flea Market, a sign welcomes customers, above left, to Uzziel Rojas OG Tacos inspired by beef birria, above right. Photos by Francesca Tamse / Special to The Chronicle At the Antioch Flea Market, a sign welcomes customers, above left, to Uzziel Rojas OG Tacos inspired by beef birria, above right. Photos by Francesca Tamse / Special to The Chronicle

Thats why we push to markets, you know, like Foodieland, he said, because its predominantly an Asian market and you dont find birria in that market, so for us, it was kind of like find those niche markets that nobody has tapped into, in order to keep being successful.

Its just one example of how the Bay Area has been a breeding ground for new interpretations of birria. KQED food editor Luke Tsai, who was one of the first to write about El Garage, says this byproduct has a lot to do with birrias multicultural appeal. There are so many folks from different cultures  who are going and having quesabirria, and I think a lot of people just thought: Hey, this is a cool thing. What if I applied this to the stew in my culture?

Hisham Abdelfattah, owner of the popular El Halal Amigos in San Jose, started his taqueria because he wanted a halal version of his favorite cuisine. I realized I couldnt eat my favorite food, which was Mexican food, Abdelfattah explains, I could cook it but I couldnt go out and get it.

In 2020, he opened a halal taco truck. His most popular dish is beef birria tacos, but since the truck is not a dedicated birreria, he serves the dish as a Sundays-only special. He sells out of 700 pounds of halal brisket every week.

Oakland Vietnamese restaurant Pho Vy started serving quesabirria-inspired tacos, but swapped out adobo-laced beef for bo kho, a fragrant stewed beef. The flavor trades birrias typical earthy, spicy flavors for a sweet, aromatic and tender beef served with pickled radish and carrots. At San Leandro pop-up Baysian, you can find a Filipino version of the dish called quesa-adobo; the beef is full of umami, with sweetness from sugar, all balanced with a tang of vinegar. In Napa Valley, Taco Addiction offers a special puffy taco that houses stringy, guajillo-heavy birria inside a crunchy puffed tortilla.

Francesca Tamse / Special to The Chronicle Francesca Tamse/Special to The Chronicle Trang (left) and Tuan Nguyen, owners of Oakland Vietnamese restaurant Pho Vy, started serving quesabirria-inspired tacos. Their bo kho tacos, right, use bo kho, a fragrant stewed beef. Photos by Francesca Tamse / Special to The Chronicle Trang (left) and Tuan Nguyen, owners of Oakland Vietnamese restaurant Pho Vy, started serving quesabirria-inspired tacos. Their bo kho tacos, right, use bo kho, a fragrant stewed beef. Photos by Francesca Tamse / Special to The Chronicle

Because Ive managed to grind my birria receptors to a nub over the last five years, it takes spots like Pho Vy, Baysian or Oaklands Tacos El Ultimo Baile to re-activate those senses. The thing about trends is that once the dust settles and the hype starts to recede, whats left are the folks who do it well or are doing something special. Dont get me wrong: The typical taqueria version of quesabirria can still be super tasty, but I am tired of the typical.

Still, I see the value in its role as a gateway to other Mexican foods. We see it more as an opportunity to now bring in more different foods, says Viviana Montano of El Garage, referring to dishes like an avocado or tinga tostada, or spicy, acidic aguachiles.

In any case, its evident that birrias popularity wont wane anytime soon. Disneyland advertises it as a major draw for tourists; fast-food chain Pollo Loco announced plans to add it to its menu, and the diner chain Norms will be serving it soon as well.

Its final frontier? Perhaps finding a place in fine dining, where some chef will charge $75 dollars for a tweezer-size version of the dish (and likely only half as good as what youd find at a quinceanera or wedding).

But believe that Ill be there to try it, like a vigilant, dark red knight, always looking for the beefy signal in the sky.

Cesar Hernandez is The San Francisco Chronicles associate restaurant critic. Hernandez is an award-winning culture writer and podcast host from Lynwood in Southeast Los Angeles. He and his work have been featured and often cited on L.A. Taco, LAist, NPR, Vice, Los Angeles Times, New York Times, Eater and Whalebone Magazine.
Regarding States with lax gun laws multiply Californias toll (Bay Area & Business, April 10): Columnist Justin Phillips wrote a telling sentence in his piece on Sunday: Despite having some of the strictest gun laws in the country California has experienced three of the nations five mass shootings in 2022 so far.

So, rather than doubling down on gun laws that seem to be failing, perhaps a different approach should be considered.

Maybe we should double down on education. Or, double down on a more focused approach to the relatively small number of people that generate the violence. A portion of our society is clearly troubled but taking the guns from law-abiding citizens obviously isnt the answer.

My entire life I have watched gun laws get more restrictive while the violence gets worse. Go figure.

Gregory Stritzel, Oakland

GOP disses new justice

Regarding Supreme Courts historic addition (Front Page, April 8): I am overjoyed to see the confirmation of Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson. I am just as dismayed, although not surprised, to read that as the chamber erupted in cheers, with senators, staff and visitors all jumping up for a lengthy standing ovation, Sen. Mitch McConnell turned his back and slowly walked out, as did most of the few Republicans remaining on the floor, according to the New York Times.

How exceptionally rude. Try a little respect.

Karen Friedman, Berkeley

Spend money on schools

Regarding Oakland schools may be on path to state takeover (Front Page, April 11): Dire financial issues face the Oakland Unified School District. Meanwhile, California tries to decide how to give out reparations money to African Americans, gas rebates to Californians and more. Im stunned that our legislators would not put that money to best use  not letting Oakland schools fail, for example.

Educate and train young African American students for success by giving them the resources to succeed in high school and build a solid post-secondary plan. Money could be used to build superior career technical education in California so that all students have an equal chance at an education that leads to high wage, high demand jobs.

Jim Stoch, Carnelian Bay, Placer County

Profits drive health care

Regarding Losing Ailee Jong (Front Page, April 10): The tragic Front Page story is juxtaposed with the full-page marketing and recruitment ad for Texas Childrens Hospital on the back page of the same section. For me, a retired senior government relations exec for a Bay Area health care system, both items speak to the same issue: We have a predominantly private health care system in this country where the push for competitive advantage and bottom line profitability drive decision-making and health care service delivery, often at the expense of the best care for people. We can and must do better.

Andy Coe, Mountain View

Americas crops first

Regarding Almonds stacking up: Thats $2 billion lost  (Front Page, April 8): Almonds take a tremendous amount of California water to grow and about 70% of almonds grown in the state are shipped overseas. Fridays article in The Chronicle about almond growers losing $2 billion over not being able to ship their almonds get no sympathy from me.

If we were talking about farmers crops that actually feed the citizens of the U.S.A., I would support them completely without question. Save our water for the people of California, not for the growers who ship their products out of the country for their own profit.
You may have heard that Shanghai is under a strict COVID-19 lockdown. Virtually no one is allowed to come in or out of their place of residence.

Im an American professor of law who lives on the 21st floor of an apartment tower in Shanghais Puxi neighborhood. More than 10 days ago, Puxi residents were given advance notification of the lockdown. We were told it would last only five days.

It hasnt.

This is what life looks like under the worlds most stringent COVID lockdown  one that shows no sign of ending anytime soon.

When the lockdown began, I knew a shutdown of this nature would pose many challenges. Yet, I decided to look at it as a unique adventure, rather than something unpleasant.

The first challenge was food.

My trips to the supermarket before lockdown were a bit like Armageddon  without the panic, anger and violence. Just calm, but massive purchases of food. The shelves were quickly emptied. But I felt prepared.

However, as the days went by, it became clear that the lockdown was going to last longer than officials said it would. Possibly much longer. And I soon realized that my food supplies might not be enough.

Deliveries were scarce and hard to arrange. No restaurants, shops or stores were open. (Thats still the case more than a week later.)

Most of us in Shanghai live in communities (meaning apartment buildings or complexes). Each community has an organized neighborhood council, kind of like a homeowners association in the U.S. In times like these, community organizations are expected to help residents find food, medical care or arrange for other emergencies and contingencies. Unfortunately, it didnt take long for me to suspect that my community organization was dysfunctional and would be of no help. I was literally chased from the organizations office on the fifth floor while trying to inquire about obtaining more food. My suspicions about the groups ineffectuality were soon confirmed by many of my Chinese neighbors.

We were on our own.

Yet all was not lost. Building residents organized our own tenants community and set up a group chat, numbering in the hundreds. I soon realized what a wonderful group of people live in my building  people I had never met or talked to before. Instantly, there were offers of food, medical help and other assistance. I was given a large quantity of rice from a couple on the 15th floor. A young videographer offered me some freshly baked lasagna.

With my basic needs met, the magnitude of the situation fully set in. Shanghai has over 25 million residents  more than in 48 American states. And it is locked down completely.

From my window, I can see the freeways and sidewalks are completely empty. The efficiency of the government in carrying out its plan is truly amazing.

Every so often there will be a loud bang on my door and a self-testing kit will be waiting for me when I open it. So far, all negative.

I still teach my classes remotely, and spend a lot of time watching movies, reading, and, especially, listening to music. Moments of intrigue are sparse and subtle. Looking out the window and occasionally spotting a police car or a lone delivery motorcycle has to suffice. The roar of the Shanghai metro, which I had become so accustomed to, fell silent days ago.

The silence is deafening. Except when its not.

On the floor above me, I often hear loud music, voices and banging sometimes past 1 a.m. My neighbors were never like this before. I was initially angry, but then came to realize they are probably correct in their approach to the situation. I now commend them for their lively attitude. They probably have alcohol, which I ran out of very early on.

Meanwhile, the U.S. Consulate in Shanghai issued an advisory about what Americans could do if they needed help. I reached out on the second day and received a prompt response. It was polite, but it wasnt much help.

And so all of us here in Shanghai continue to sit and wait.

But wait for what?

For 18 months, China  particularly Shanghai  dealt with COVID in phenomenal fashion. During those months, living and even traveling here was as normal as you get.

And yet, with the highly transmissible omicron variant, the government appears to have made a major miscue in pursuing Plan A  rolling lockdowns they said would be short-lived  without having a backup plan in case a zero-tolerance COVID policy didnt work.

While zero COVID is a worthy goal, it doesnt feel like a practical solution in the face of omicron, especially in a city as big as Shanghai. We will likely have to be in lockdown for months for the plan to have any chance of success. And a lockdown of that length would be met with louder and louder voices of discontent.

Grumblings among the locals is already becoming louder and more frequent  and the complaints are less subtle or subdued. Cries are being made to open the businesses, shops and stores. There have been cries for freedom, too.

Ive lived in Shanghai since 2014, and this is the first time I have seen such bold government condemnation by the Chinese people. The current draconian COVID protocols are widely seen as both a personal and economic disruption with no real plan to succeed. On social media and in Zoom meetings, people are angrily questioning the governments action.

The Chinese people are not happy, and they want their government to know it.

Paul A. Madruga is an American law professor living in Shanghai.
San Francisco is about to finalize new boundaries for supervisorial districts and Asian Americans need to pay attention.

Every 10 years, the city goes through a redistricting process to reflect any population shifts found in the decennial U.S. census. The process culminates in the Redistricting Task Force  the body charged with leading the process  creating a new map of the city that ensures each district has similar population sizes while preserving neighborhoods and communities as much as possible.

But the plan the task force voted to adopt over the weekend doesnt do that. Rather, it threatens to dismantle decades of Asian American community organizing across the city.

For over 50 years, the Asian American community has worked tirelessly to ensure its voice is heard at the city level. Living in close-knit concentrated areas of San Francisco, activists galvanized and mobilized the community from within to assert its own agency and to participate in civic life. With time, that hard work paid off. By 2012, the city had elected 10 Asian American supervisors, including a board president, along with two Assembly members, a state senator and the citys first Asian American mayor.

But the draft map  which must be finalized by Friday  dilutes the voting strength of Asian Americans by making key districts that have historically elected Asian Americans to the Board of Supervisors more white, more affluent and less diverse. In particular, the new boundaries for District One (the Richmond) decrease Asian American population by 2.11% while they increase the white population by 2.38% with the addition of the wealthy Sea Cliff neighborhood. In District Three (Chinatown), the new map drops the Asian American population by 2.13% and increases the white population by 1.88%. In District Seven (west of Twin Peaks), the Asian American population drops by 2.61% while the white population is boosted by 2.42%. While those shifts may seem insignificant, even small changes can affect the outcome of an election. District One Supervisor Connie Chan defeated opponent Marjan Philhour in 2020 by only 125 votes.

Decreasing the population of Asian Americans in these districts will make it more difficult to elect Asian Americans to the Board of Supervisors in the coming decade.

This is not the first time the redistricting process threatened Asian American political representation in San Francisco. Just a few months ago, the California Citizens Redistricting Commission, the statewide body responsible for congressional, state Senate and Assembly redistricting, tried to create a majority white Assembly district that would have significantly decreased the voting power of Asian Americans by separating the growing immigrant and Asian communities in Visitacion Valley and Hunters Point from Chinatown, which would have remained in the proposed district. The outcry from the Asian American community was fast, loud and furious and fortunately the map was rightfully scrapped.

There are similar problems causing Asian American disenfranchisement in other parts of the Bay Area as well. In San Jose, for example, Asian Americans comprise 38% of the citys population and are the largest growing ethnic population in the city but they currently have no representation on the city council. Moreover, no Asian Americans served on the citys Redistricting Commission, the body responsible for approving San Joses council district map. Unsurprisingly, that citys final district map diminished the voting power of Asian Americans and other communities of color as well.

Asian American political representation matters.

Under the leadership of Assembly Member Phil Ting and then-Assembly Member David Chiu, the Asian American community of San Francisco was able to secure millions of dollars to support schools, housing, health and social services for the city, including $166 million of state funding to address the rising number of hate incidents directed against Asians. However, term-limits will preclude Tings continued service and Chiu now serves as San Franciscos City Attorney. In a few years, the city faces the very real prospect of having no Asian American representative from San Francisco in the state Legislature for the first time in years.

Given that Asian Americans make up about a third of the citys population, such an outcome would be devastating to the community and undermine our citys democratic ideals.

The California Supreme Court has recognized the importance of maintaining community cohesion by designating communities of interest as a redistricting factor. The court defines the term as a contiguous population which shares common social and economic interests. The court further requires that the geographic integrity of any ... local community of interest shall be respected in a manner that minimizes their division to the extent possible.

The draft map fails to abide by the courts mandate.

With only a few days left in the redistricting process, it might be tempting to resign ourselves to accepting the plan the task force voted to approve. But now is the moment that the Asian American community, as well as other minority communities being disenfranchised by the proposed map, must stand up and be heard.

The task force is scheduled to meet one final time Wednesday to finalize the plan. The Asian American community needs to be at that meeting to ensure its voice is heard. The fortunes of the next generation of emerging Asian American leaders depends on it.

David Lee is the executive director and Justin Ma is a student intern at the Chinese American Voters Education Committee.
The California Department of Education released data on Monday that revealed public school enrollment fell below 6 million for the first time in more than a decade. That means school districts are facing more budget cuts and long-term financial instability.

On this episode of the Fifth & Mission podcast, Chronicle reporter Jill Tucker joins host Cecilia Lei to explain what's causing the declines, why it isn't easy to cut budgets just because there are fewer students, and how the state might help.

Photo: Students in the courtyard of Lowell High School in San Francisco.
Nina Riggio / The Chronicle

BART service experienced a major delay in San Francisco on Tuesday morning as police officers removed a man out of the trackway between the Montgomery Street and Embarcadero stations, officials said.

The unidentified man climbed onto the trackway shortly before 9 a.m., causing major delays on the San Francisco line in several cities, said agency spokesperson Chris Filippi.
On a recent Wednesday, before Zion Williams hops on his skateboard and begins flipping it around his feet, he counts his steps. There are 10 to 12 steps between the entrance of the Hilltop skate park in Bayview and the beginning of his route, which he counts out while tracing a wall with his cane.

Its part of a system that the 19-year-old aspiring pro skateboarder has been mapping out since he lost his vision last year. He now relies on his memory, sounds and landmarks in a sport where a half-inch mistake can mean a cracked skull.

Despite the risks, the Bayview resident is a constant fixture at San Franciscos skate parks  just months after he was shot in the face, a bullet landing in each eye in an act of inexplicable violence. The tragedy stripped him of the most crucial sense in his sport and left him to negotiate everything from finding a public restroom to dating again.

But its also crystallized a path that Williams has been forging since he was 12 years old. Williams is going to become a professional skateboarder, he said, and his impairment has already helped open doors.

Theres like three blind skateboarders, Williams said with pride in a recent interview. And Im one of them.

Justin Katigbak/Special to The Chronicle

Williams is one of a handful of young people who are challenging what it means to be visually impaired and perform death-defying stunts. Another blind skateboarder, Justin Bishop, is the subject of an upcoming documentary.

Justin Katigbak/Special to The Chronicle

At his heart, Williams is a street skater, fo sho, the type who prefers carving his route outside the skate park, his friend Matthew Madden said. Madden said Williams is known in the skate community for his hill bombing, skating gnarly gaps and crusty rails.

Williams said he was surprised at how foreign his board felt the first time he jumped back on, about four months ago.

I thought in my head it was going to be way easier. You know, Ive skated before and I just thought it was going to be the same thing, he said. But it felt hella different. And then I realized that I had to, like, kind of start over.

Williams is reteaching himself tricks he learned years ago.

Justin Katigbak/Special to The Chronicle

Hes also leaning into his new identity: Williams cane is blanketed with skate stickers, and at the center of his prosthetic eye is a devilishly grinning fireball  the logo for the brand Spitfire.

The moment that upended Williams life came on Labor Day last year, when 59-year-old Ronald Melbourne allegedly shot at Williams and his friends several times following a verbal altercation in the Lower Haight, according to a police statement.

Melbourne is charged with attempted murder and is being held at the San Francisco County jail.

Williams has been advised by prosecutors not to discuss the specifics of the case since its still pending in court.

A tall, lanky kid with a knockout smile and a bit of facial hair, Williams is chatty, polite and gracious. Hes also prone to fits of giggles, which consumed him when a reporter asked why he wasnt wearing a helmet.

Williams explained that when youre trying a trick, you need to be close to death or youre not really gonna get any attention.

On a recent morning, Williams first trick is an impossible, a move where his back foot scoops up the skateboard and, while in the air, wraps the board around his foot in a near vertical 360.

Williams nails the landing after a few tries, prompting cheers from his mother. Charmaine Williams is a near constant presence in her sons life now, not only to help navigate but to record his tricks for Instagram  a key tool in catching the attention of would-be sponsors.

Ever since he was young, Williams has believed in something of a karmic balancing scale, Charmaine said. If something bad happens, she said, hell find something good in it, and go with that.

When family members came to visit just days after Williams release from the hospital, they steeled themselves, expecting Williams would be a shell of his former self.

Justin Katigbak/Special to The Chronicle

Everyone was coming in sad, crying, and then leaving uplifted, Charmaine said. Because its like, I cant wallow in it if hes not.

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.

Initially, Williams struggled and said he worried that the incident would drive him into a depression, fearing that he would turn to substances to numb the pain.

But it was pretty much the opposite, Williams said.

It honestly kind of fueled up my career, if anything, he continued. Because, due to the fact that I survived and Im still the same and can still ride my skateboard and do tricks ... that really pretty much got me to my goal quicker.

Big-name skate brands including Vans and Thrasher Magazine have reached out to him, sending gear or asking to partner for videos. Williams has also connected with various pro skateboarders, including Dan Mancina, who is also blind, and Kyle Walker, who has his own Vans signature shoe.

He almost leaves me speechless, said Walker, who called Williams an inspiration.

When I met him, he was making jokes about it and seemed lighthearted about it. It definitely seemed like it was still hard, but he wasnt looking like in the rearview mirror, Walker said.

Justin Katigbak/Special to The Chronicle

Later in the day, Williams grabbed a lift with his friend to the Waller skate park, just east of Golden Gate Park, where he joined about 10 other skateboarders practicing on an unseasonably warm day.

Williams has a gravitational pull in these parts. He stops frequently to make jokes with the other riders, and friends who dont skate come to watch him and hang out. Today, Williams pulled out his prosthetic eye to show it off.

Madden, a fellow skateboarder who has been close with Williams for about five years, said he remains awed by his friends outlook. He recalled a conversation in which Williams explained there were a lot of ways to create purpose in life.

He was like, You know what? This is going to be my story. This is my road, Madden said. And hes still doing it. Its insane.

Megan Cassidy is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: megan.cassidy@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @meganrcassidy
Kit Lam, a San Francisco parent whose petitions were stolen from an information table during the school board recall drive last spring, filed a civil case Tuesday against the man who was accused of stealing the petitions.

The filing in San Francisco Superior Court was timed to a deal reached Tuesday morning in criminal court.

The defendant, Jason Kruta, 32, of San Francisco, agreed to enter a diversion program that requires 25 hours of community service and 12 sessions of impulse control therapy in exchange for eventual dismissal of the criminal case against him. He also must pay restitution to Lam in an amount to be determined.

In the civil suit, Lam claims that his civil rights were violated along with his right to petition the government for a recall, and the unlawful taking of property he had a right to possess. He is also claiming intentional affliction of emotional distress during the confrontation with Kruta, which was captured on video and widely circulated on Twitter. Through this video Kruta was identified on social media and eventually arrested.

To this day, Mr. Lam cannot watch the video, even in my office, said his attorney, John Roach of San Francisco. The video shows a severe emotional reaction Mr. Lam suffered, and as a result of that he has been in therapy and has lost work.

Roach is seeking a civil penalty, coverage of all medical bills, compensatory damages for time off work, lost wages and medical bills and non-economic damages, plus attorneys fees and punitive damages.

It is not a case about money, Roach said. Its about truth and justice and sending a message that interfering with the democratic process should not be tolerated in the city and county of San Francisco.

Kruta did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Lam is an investigator with the San Francisco Unified School District. He lives in the Richmond District and has two children in the public school system. The incident happened last May when Lam was soliciting signatures to recall school board members Alison Collins, Gabriela Lopez and Faauuga Moliga, all three of whom were recalled by voters this year.

The video of the May 30 incident shows Kruta pushing a cart at the Clement Street Farmers Market. After allegedly signing the petition using a false name, he grabbed a stack of signed sheets and walked away with Lam chasing after him yelling he stole the petition, and call 911. Unable to escape, Kruta finally pulls a sheaf of papers from the rear waistband of his pants and returns them, admitting on video that he gave them back.

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.

Kruta, who was wearing eyeglasses with red plastic rims and a COVID-19 face mask in the video, was identified and arrested in late September. He was charged with theft of a recall petition, a misdemeanor violation of the state election code. Roach said he believes it should have been a felony charge.

He used an implied threat of physical violence, Roach said. Hes waving his hands in front of my clients face and threatening to sue him. This altercation was within the context of pattern of violence against the Asian American community.

A news conference is scheduled for Wednesday at noon at the scene of the incident, Clement Street and Third Avenue. Representatives of the AAPI community are expected to attend, and Lam is to address the issue.

Sam Whiting is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: swhiting@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @samwhitingSF
Last week, the nine-member committee overseeing San Franciscos redrawing of its supervisorial districts was met with claims of partisan gerrymandering, with critics accusing the task force of considering boundaries that dilute the political power of some of the citys progressive groups.

But according to a Chronicle analysis comparing the ideology of districts under the current and proposed plans, the map that was approved by the task force early Sunday morning does not, on the whole, favor progressives or moderates. Our analysis finds that districts would shift slightly more or less progressive under the proposed plan, but no one district switches from being considered progressive to moderate, or vice versa.

To measure political ideology, The Chronicle used a metric called the Progressive Voter Index (PVI), which estimates the progressivity of voters in each San Francisco precinct based on how the electorate voted on recent ballot measures. The metric was originally created by San Francisco State University Professor Emeritus Richard DeLeon in 1999, but The Chronicle updated it in 2021 using results from 14 local ballot measures from the 2018, 2019 and 2020 elections that cover fiscal, social, land use and governmental issues. By this metric, progressives tend to, for example, vote for taxing businesses to fund homelessness services and against increased police funding and staffing.

Using this metric, we compared the average score of each districts precincts under the current and proposed plans to understand the possible political implications of certain boundary changes. We ran our analysis on the draft final map approved by the task force at the end of the April 9, meeting. (The task force may make small boundary changes in its April 13 meeting, but the changes will likely be too minor to affect the overall conclusions of this analysis.)

Overall, we found relatively small changes in each districts PVI average  the differences are as small as 0.4 points and as large as 8 points. Considering the PVI scale ranges from 0 (least progressive) to 100 (most progressive), these single digit differences do not lead to substantive changes in whether a district is considered progressive or moderate; no district moves from one side of the PVI scale to the other.

The largest change is in District 5, where the average declines 7.9 points from 77 to 69. Under the proposed plan, the district loses parts of the largely progressive Cole Valley and Inner Sunset neighborhoods, while gaining the Tenderloin  an area with PVI scores in the 30s and 40s, far less progressive than most of the district. Still, the district remains on the progressive side of the PVI spectrum and among the three most progressive districts.

Moving the Tenderloin out of District 6 makes it 4 points less progressive on this scale.

The changes to Districts 9 and 10 also did not lead to large PVI changes, after the Portola and Potrero Hill neighborhoods were swapped in a controversial vote reversal during Saturdays meeting. District 9, which includes the Mission District, Bernal Heights and now Potrero Hill, shifted more progressive by 6 points to become the most progressive-scoring district. It was already among the three most progressive districts under the current map.

District 10, on the other hand, is currently among the least progressive districts. Under the proposed plan, by adding the Portola and removing Dogpatch, it shifts slightly less progressive and is now tied as the least progressive-scoring district with District 4 (the Sunset District).

In fact, the districts with the most consequential PVI changes spurred the least controversy. For example, District 7, which stretches from the Inner Sunset to Parkmerced, is currently among the least progressive districts with a PVI average of 39. Its average under the new plan is 45, which is still among the less progressive districts, but there is now a larger divide between the moderate trio  Districts 4, 10 and 11  and the next batch of less progressive districts.

Its unclear how these changes will affect the ideological composition of the Board of Supervisors since the districts progressivity does not necessarily match the ideology of the supervisor representing it. But with entire neighborhoods moving from one district to another, it could shake up the candidate pool for this years Board of Supervisors election, in which the five even-numbered district supervisors are up for re-election. Under the proposed map, District 6 supervisor Matt Haney would no longer live in the district and therefore not be able to run if he loses the Assembly race.

Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts.

The districts with the largest PVI swings also had the most changes in the racial and ethnic composition of its voters. Under the proposed plan, District 10 has more people that indentify as Asian (by 7.8 points) and fewer that identify as white (by 10 points), while District 9 sees the opposite pattern to a similar degree. District 5 has a larger share of Black and Hispanic residents by 3.5 and 2 points, respectively, and fewer white residents by 7 points.

Overall, no district has a new plurality race or ethnicity group. In other words, the most represented group in each district remains the same, though the share of representation has increased or decreased.

Still, certain districts with large minority populations have diminished representation under the new map. District 9, which has the largest share of Hispanic residents, now has fewer Hispanic voters, which may make it less likely it will be represented by a Hispanic supervisor. District 1, an area that has historically elected Asian supervisors, now has an electorate that is less Asian by two percentage points. Similarly, the Asian voter share declined in District 3, home to a large Asian population in Chinatown.

Nami Sumida (she/her) is a San Francisco Chronicle data visualization developer. Email: nami.sumida@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @namisumida
A pair of lawsuits stemming from a deadly avalanche at Alpine Meadows ski area two years ago have been settled.

On the morning of Jan. 17, 2020, after a night of heavy snowfall in North Lake Tahoe, two friends  both experienced skiers  were caught in an avalanche while skiing in-bounds at Alpine Meadows. One of them, 34-year-old Cole Comstock, of Blairsden (Plumas County), died. The other, Kaley Bloom, of Placer County, suffered severe injuries to his legs and lower body but survived.

Bloom and Comstocks widow, Caitlin Raymond, filed complaints against the ski area in Placer County Superior Court in the winter of 2021. Both alleged negligence, gross negligence and breach of contract by the resort; Raymonds lawsuit included a wrongful death claim on behalf of Comstock.

During winter snows, Alpine Meadows routinely deploys patrollers who conduct avalanche mitigation work on its steep terrain. The resort also uses a remote-operated system of ridgetop exploders called Gazex in some places to reduce the threat of harmful slides occurring in bounds.

However, the plaintiffs asserted that Alpine shouldnt have opened the run where the avalanche occurred  near the Scott chairlift  on the day of the avalanche due to the possibility of a slide.

After Alpine Meadows failed to get the complaints dismissed, the ski resort negotiated settlement agreements with both plaintiffs, according to Mark Ellis, a Sacramento attorney who represented Bloom and Raymond. The two complaints were resolved in January, he said. Palisades Tahoe, which operates Alpine Meadows, confirmed as much in an email to The Chronicle.

The terms of the agreements are confidential. Both Bloom and Raymond sought monetary damages. While Ellis cant discuss details of the agreements, he said Bloom and Raymond were glad to resolve their complaints.

Tons of people came out of the woodwork to ask me to represent them for injuries at ski resorts  not just in California, but all over the place, Ellis said. He said he hasnt accepted any of those cases.

Avalanche deaths at ski areas are rare, but Alpine Meadows has an unfortunate history with them. A slide in 1982 killed seven people after barreling all the way down to the ski areas parking lot. In 2012, a ski patroller died after being caught in an avalanche there as well.

Gregory Thomas is The San Francisco Chronicles editor of lifestyle & outdoors. Email: gthomas@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @GregRThomas
Sherri Papini, the Redding woman charged last month with faking her kidnapping in 2016, accepted a plea bargain with prosecutors Tuesday and acknowledged she made up the story that prompted a frantic search and international headlines.

Defense attorney William Portanova said his client will plead guilty to charges of lying to a federal officer and mail fraud.

I am deeply ashamed of myself for my behavior and so very sorry for the pain Ive caused my family, my friends, all the good people who needlessly suffered because of my story and those who worked so hard to try to help me, she said in a statement released through Portanova. I will work the rest of my life to make amends for what I have done.

The plea deal was first reported by the Sacramento Bee.

Papini, 39, faced charges of lying to federal agents and defrauding the California Victim Compensation Board of approximately $30,000.

On Nov. 2, 2016, Papini was reported missing after going for a jog in her Redding neighborhood. Her phone and earbuds were found neatly placed on the side of a road, playing her wedding song, Michael Buble's "Everything," on repeat. Three weeks later, on Thanksgiving Day, she resurfaced on Interstate 5, badly bruised and underweight.

She told investigators that while on her jog, she saw an SUV with two Hispanic women inside. When Papini got closer, she said one woman pulled a gun on her and ordered her into the vehicle. Despite the terror of the abduction, Papini told FBI agents that she slept most of the drive. She did not allege she was drugged, although at one point she asked if a stun gun would affect her memory; investigators told her this was unlikely.

Papini said one woman told her they were going to sell her to a cop. She could not explain why she was released by her abductors.

In a recent appearance on "Good Morning America," Shasta County Sheriff Michael Johnson said investigators grew suspicious while interviewing Papini after her reappearance.

"It is a case of calculated deception, driven I think by her narcissistic behavior," Johnson said. "It really had an impact on this community."

According to an unsealed FBI affidavit, DNA found on Papini's clothing was linked to an ex-boyfriend in Southern California. According to the affidavit, the man, who had known Papini since they were teenagers, said she contacted him out of the blue and claimed her husband was beating and raping her, and she was trying to escape. The ex-boyfriend allegedly told investigators he drove from his residence in Southern California to Redding on Nov. 2, 2016, to pick up Papini.

The ex-boyfriend claimed he eventually drove Papini back toward Redding, dropping her off when she instructed him to. The affidavit alleges cellphone records from both Papini and her ex-boyfriend corroborated his retelling of events, and the pair used prepaid phones to communicate.

It's not clear what punishment Papini will face, but the charges carry penalties of up to five years in federal prison for lying to a federal law enforcement officer and up to 20 years for mail fraud.

Lauren Horwood, a spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney's Office in Sacramento, said she couldn't confirm the deal or any elements of it.

Johnson said he "wouldn't be surprised" if more people are charged in connection with Papini's case.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
The Westfield San Francisco Centre, the flagship mall in downtown San Francisco, could change hands very soon.

Its owners, the Paris-based Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield, announced in an investor meeting late March that it will seek the radical reduction of financial exposure in the United States. In doing so, it will sell off most of its American malls to reorient the company toward a European pure play  in the continents wealthiest cities and catchment areas.

While most of its property holdings in California are located in the Los Angeles and San Diego areas, as the Real Deal reported, the planned sell-off may also affect its malls in the Bay Area  most notably the Westfield San Francisco Centre in downtown San Francisco. The proposal to reduce Westfields U.S. footprint has been in the works since 2021, but is set to be executed in 2022 and 2023, a company press release said. Its a rapid reversal from just five years ago, when the French real estate firm bought the entire chain of Westfield malls for nearly $16 billion.

But unlike many other Westfield properties in Unibails portfolio, the high-end San Francisco mall  which houses key department stores like Nordstrom and Bloomingdales as well as the offices for anime streaming service Crunchyroll  is co-owned by the New York-based retail estate firm Brookfield Properties. (A spokesperson for Brookfield did not respond to multiple requests for comment from SFGATE.)

David Greensfelder, a San Francisco-based retail real estate planner and consultant, told SFGATE that the mall will not suffer the fate of many other malls in the country, though changes to the mall will likely be inevitable.

"San Francisco Centre is this incredibly unique piece of property that anchors the other end of Powell Street," he said. "It is extremely high-profile. It's got excellent tenants in it. It's in the path of travel, which I think is very important. And so, I don't see San Francisco Centre being at risk, but I do think that whoever buys it is going to have probably a greater opportunity to be able to put their fingerprints on the property more quickly."

With the pandemic hitting San Francisco's retail industry harder than in most places due to the pandemic and its effects on tourism and commerce, he said, it could be a while before Westfield San Francisco Centre  and Union Square at large  recovers back to its former glory. New mall ownership, he added, could result in a different slate of retail tenants, or even an expansion of its hospitality or residential components.

Another Westfield property, the Westfield Valley Fair in Santa Clara is solely owned by Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield, and will likely be affected by this proposal. But Greensfelder says that the mall, which is the highest-grossing mall in Northern California, is arguably an easy sell for a prospective "blue-chip mall owner."

With its recent $1 billion expansion and slew of tenants moving in during the pandemic, the mall is a hot commodity.

"The pandemic has had a much greater impact on the retail ecosystem in San Francisco than it has, for example, on Valley Fair, which, while it hasn't been business as usual, has not seen its customer base really undermined in the same way," Greensfelder said.

(The Metreon, also in downtown San Francisco, is managed but not owned by Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield.)

Already, Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield has sold off a Woodland Hills mall for $150 million to Los Angeles Rams owner Stan Kroenke. That mall, the Promenade, could be turned into a practice facility, the Los Angeles Times reported.

But San Francisco Centre or Valley Fair, which are both malls sitting on "absolutely irreplaceable" real estate, will survive  even if the retail industry continues to shrink, Greensfelder says, due to the pandemic and the growth of online and subscription sales.

A spokesperson for Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield, Westfields parent company, declined to comment to SFGATE.
SARAJEVO, Bosnia-Herzegovina (AP)  The top international official in Bosnia on Tuesday suspended a Bosnian Serb property law that is seen as part of a separatist drive by Bosnian Serbs.

Christian Schmidt, who heads the U.N. Office of High Representative in Bosnia, says that the law passed in February in the Bosnian Serb assembly was unconstitutional.

Bosnian Serbs have refused to withdraw the law and top Serb politician Milorad Dodik said Tuesday he does not accept Schmidt's decision.

The legislation seeks to transfer ownership of public property to the Serb-run entity called Republika Srpska, rather than the Bosnian federal state.

Bosnia's government consists of two entities  one run by Bosnian Serbs and the other by Bosniaks and Croats  established in a U.S.-brokered peace agreement that ended the 1992-95 ethnic war. The two semi-autonomous regions are bound together by joint central institutions.

Dodik, a pro-Russia politician who's the Serb member of Bosnia's multi-ethnic presidency, has repeatedly called for the separation of the Serb entity from the rest of Bosnia.

Britain slapped Dodik and Bosnian Serb President Zeljka Cvijanovic with sanctions on Monday for undermining peace in the Balkan nation. Dodik already has faced U.S. sanctions earlier this year.

He remained defiant on Tuesday, saying that the property of Republika Srpska remains the property of Republika Srpska.

Schmidt said that his decision makes it clear that only the state of Bosnia and Herzegovina can dispose of state property or regulate property."

The Dayton peace accord envisages that joint decisions in Bosnia are reached by consensus of its ethnic groups. The U.N. High Representative has the authority to suspend laws and officials viewed as violating the peace deal.

The issue of ownership and division of the state property has remained unsolved for years amid disagreements between Bosnian politicians.

Bosnia's war killed more than 100,000 people and left millions homeless.
Boeing has removed 141 airplanes from its backlog of pending orders, many of them because of what it termed geopolitical considerations including restrictions on sales because of sanctions like those imposed on Russia for its war against Ukraine.

That means that Boeing now questions whether those sales will ever be completed because of sanctions.

Boeing still has more than 4,200 undelivered orders. Under U.S. accounting rules, Boeing regularly adds or removes orders from the backlog, but usually only when an order is canceled or the buyer's financial problems put the deal in jeopardy.

This time, however, the company said Tuesday that about two-thirds of the 130 Boeing 737s that it removed from the backlog resulted from geopolitical reasons, including sanctions. The move suggests that 85 to 90 sales were, in effect, downgraded to questionable because of the sanctions.

Boeing did not identify the customers. The company previously indicated that it had undelivered orders for 34 planes with Russian carriers Utair and Volga-Dnepr and seven with SkyUp Airlines of Ukraine. A company spokeswoman said planes ordered by leasing companies but destined ultimately for a Russian airline were also removed from the backlog.

In the past 10 years, Boeing has taken orders for 86 planes from Russian companies including 30 from Utair, 22 from Sberbank Leasing and six from Aeroflot, the nation's flag carrier. Those numbers could understate Boeing's exposure to Russia, however, because the company doesn't always identify buyers, and Russian airlines get many of their planes from European and U.S. leasing companies  who are now scrambling to get their planes back from Russia.

Cai von Rumohr, an aerospace analyst for Cowen, said Boeing has more pressing issues than losing Russian orders, including concern that inflation, higher oil prices, the war and COVID-19 could slow the recovery in air travel and hurt demand for new planes.

Just losing Russia, if everything else is on track, is basically not a big deal because they have a great big backlog, he said. But Shanghai is in lockdown (because of coronavirus) and China traffic is down, so how many planes are they going to want?

Boeing announced the backlog changes while reporting that it took 38 net new orders for planes in March, most of them single-aisle 737 Max jets. Los Angeles-based Air Lease Corp. placed an order for 32 Maxes.

Boeing Co. said it delivered 41 planes in March, including 37 737s, most of them Max models. The Chicago-based company has delivered 95 planes so far this year, providing crucial cash because airlines typically pay a large part of the purchase price on delivery.

The United States and its allies have been imposing steadily escalating sanctions on Russia since it invaded Ukraine in February.

Last week, Boeing's European rival, Airbus, announced that it canceled an Aeroflot order for two planes. Airbus, which uses different accounting standards, still has an Aeroflot order for 13 planes and 14 planes for Russia's Ilyushin Finance Co. in its backlog.

Sanctions have also forced Boeing and Airbus to stop providing aircraft parts and services to Russian airlines. Aviation consultant IBA said that Russian airlines will be able to cannibalize parts from their planes for a while, but the lack of spare parts will have a significant impact on them in six to 12 months.

Boeing shares rose less than 1% to close at $176.28.
NEW YORK (AP)  Stocks that traded heavily or had substantial price changes Tuesday:

CarMax Inc., down $9.84 to $93.33.

The used car dealership chain's results fell short of Wall Street forecasts.

Kohl's Corp., up $3.06 to $60.30.

Franchise Group reportedly offered to buy the department store operator, which is also being pursued by Hudson Bay.

Myovant Sciences Ltd., down $3.48 to $10.39.

The biopharmaceutical company and partner Pfizer said regulators identified deficiencies in their application for a gynecological condition treatment.

Beyond Meat Inc., down 38 cents to $43.58..

The plant-based meat company is expanding distribution of its meatless chicken tenders to more retail outlets and supermarkets.

Albertsons Companies Inc., down $2.81 to $31.97.

Investors were disappointed by the grocery store operators earnings forecast.

PG&E Corp., up 38 cents to $12.53.

The utility agreed to pay more than $55 million to avoid criminal prosecution for two major wildfires sparked by its aging Northern California power lines.

Devon Energy Corp., up $2.23 to $62.26.

The energy company gained ground along with rising oil prices.

Freeport McMoRan Inc., up 28 cents to $48.

The gold and copper mining company rose along with gold and copper prices.
This article originally appeared on KSBW.

SANTA CRUZ, Calif.  On Monday, Santa Cruz Harbor Patrol shared the moments they say they found 27-year old Austin Medeiros stealing a sail boat on Sunday afternoon.

Harbor Patrol Officer David Hill described his initial reaction as confused and said, Were like, 'Whose boat is that?' and my supervisors like, 'Thats one of our boats, thats one of our impounded boats. Whats someone doing on it?'"

We werent sure if it was going to be a rescue or what was going on, we just knew it was our boat," added Officer Parker Guy.

With it being a windy day, officers said they were concerned for his safety and their initial goal was only to send help.

They got underway in the patrol boat. Three officers on the patrol boat and went out into the channel to make contact with him, really for safety reasons because it was a potential rescue, Harbor Master Blake Anderson said.

But as soon as they approached Medeiros, officers said they quickly realized something wasnt right.

The guy was acting pretty erratic, he was jumping around on the boat, reaching around his pockets," Guy said. "We were trying to talk to him and get him onto our boat, he was just freaking out a little bit and wasnt really listening to what we were saying."

They said Medeiros then tried running back into the cabin area of the boat but officers were able to grab him and pull him onto their boat.

"He gave up pretty quickly. He says 'I give up I give up' and then he's a little hard to comprehend but one key thing he said was there's a loaded gun on board," Hill said.

After docking the boats, officers searched Medeiros and checked his records.

Harbor Patrol officers said they found a loaded gun, 29 grams of psychedelic mushrooms along with other items. In addition, they learned Medeiros is wanted for murder in Humboldt County.

We found out the history that he had a warrant for homicide so thats when things ramped up a little bit, Hill said.

A chaotic series of events, the harbor master said hes never seen but praised his patrol officers for preventing what couldve been a worse outcome.

"The conditions yesterday were not good, so that would have put other people in danger trying to go rescue him," Anderson said. "When you think about it, this could have really been a tragedy. Fortunately our officers they had great intuition."

Humboldt County sheriff's investigators believe Medeiros killed 28-year old Emily Lobba in a home in Kneeland, California, on April 3.

Medeiros is being held in the Santa Cruz County Jail. He will be extradited to Humboldt County on charges of murder, evading a peace officer, assault, battery and possession of a controlled substance.

His bail has been set at $1 million.
NEW YORK (AP)  MSNBC's Rachel Maddow returned to the air Monday with some bad news for her fans: Starting next month, she will be doing her prime-time show only once a week.

After working her customary five nights a week for the rest of April, Maddow said, she will work on Monday nights only starting in May. The network said it will rotate guest hosts the other four weeknights on a show called MSNBC Prime.

For big news events, for things like the leadup to the election, I will of course be here more than that, but that is the general plan, Maddow said on her show Monday.

The cable news network's most popular personality had been on hiatus for the past two months, working on a new podcast and a movie adaptation of her book Bag Man. She said the weekly schedule will give her more time to work on some of this other stuff I've got cooking for MSNBC and NBC.

She heaped praise on Ali Velshi, who had filled in frequently for her while she was away, calling him a prince among men.

Yet MSNBC's ratings in her time slot tumbled in her absence, even with coverage of a gripping news event, the Ukraine war. MSNBC is not alone in questions about its 9 p.m. Eastern hour: CNN hasn't named a full-time replacement for its former ratings leader, Chris Cuomo, since he was fired in December.

The plan leaves MSNBC executives in an awkward spot. While it has been reported that MSNBC signed a new contract with Maddow that gives her additional flexibility, executives have not publicly addressed that deal, or Maddow's announcement Monday. It seems, at least for the time being, the network will be happy to get as much as it can from Maddow and leave the light on if she someday decides to do more.

Maddow said she had originally thought she might need another hiatus from her show this year but has determined that she won't.
 Navalny  is so taut and suspenseful youd think John le Carre had left behind a secret manuscript thats only just coming to light now.

This spellbinding portrait of a Russian opposition leader following an attempt on his life has all the makings of a Hollywood thriller. It has shadowy operatives, truth-seeking journalists, conspiracy theories, Soviet-era poisons and, at its center, a handsome, altruistic family man risking his life to fight a would-be despot.

But Navalny is not fiction. And its somehow even more chilling and prescient now than it was just three months ago when it premiered at the Sundance Film Festival hours after Russian authorities officially added Alexei Navalny to their registry of terrorists. Thanks to Fathom Events, audiences can see it in theaters starting Tuesday. Itll be broadcast on CNN and streamed on HBO Max later this year.

For the uninitiated, Alexei Navalny is a media savvy, anti-corruption campaigner in his mid-40s who has for many years been a headache for Russian President Vladimir Putin. Hes released numerous reports about corruption in Russia and the Putin administration and become a popular and rallying figure among like-minded Russians. The media has called him the Kremlins fiercest critic. And he is seemingly undaunted by the intimidation and the arrests hes endured.

The fame, he thought, might even make it more problematic for him to be killed, he tells director Daniel Roher in the documentary.

Boy, were you wrong, Roher says off camera.

Yes, I was wrong, Navalny says.

Roher was able to sit down with Navalny during his brief stay in Berlin in 2020 and early 2021, while recovering from being poisoned and seeking the truth behind the unsuccessful murder attempt.

In August 2020, hed fallen violently ill on flight from Siberia to Moscow. The pilot staged an emergency landing in Omsk where he was immediately hospitalized. His wife and supporters helped make the case for him to be treated elsewhere and he was soon transported to Berlin for care. After emerging from a coma, the German government determined that hed been poisoned by a lethal, Soviet-era nerve agent. The Kremlin denied the allegation.

Though eager to get back to Russia (Navalny says at the outset that hes not in Berlin by choice), its there that he is able to team up with investigative journalists Christo Grozev and Maria Pevchikh, who help track down his suspected poisoners. In one jaw-dropping scene, Navalny calls the suspects one by one on speakerphone. Its a testament to Roher and his editors just how exciting this is on screen. And it all culminates with Navalnys January 2021 flight back to Russia where he knows that he will be immediately arrested and imprisoned.

The film captures these episodes and this unbelievable saga extraordinarily well. Roher maintains a delicate balance of amplifying Navalnys story, including moving testimonies from his wife and daughter, while also resisting full hero worship. Navalny is also a politician, after all, and Roehr does not hold back in interrogating what he stands for outside of his opposition to Putin.

Blame history, but Navalny feels somehow unfinished despite many, many title cards and newsreels that precede the credits. With everything that has transpired in the past few months with Russias invasion of Ukraine, perhaps its biggest flaw is that it has an ending at all.

Navalny, a Warner Bros., CNN Films and Fathom Events release in theaters Tuesday and streaming at a later date, is rated R by the Motion Picture Association of America for some language. Running time: 98 minutes. Three and a half stars out of four.

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MPAA Definition of R: Restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent of adult guardian.

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Follow AP Film Writer Lindsey Bahr on Twitter: www.twitter.com/ldbahr
Inside an unassuming grocery store situated in the shadow of Sutro Tower on Arguello Boulevard and Cabrillo Street, a bold proclamation is plastered everywhere.

From a handwritten sign displayed in the front window to the menu board behind the deli counter and the ATM screen thats tucked into a far corner, it doesnt take long to spot Home of the World Famous Turkey Sandwich at Arguello Market in San Francisco  its even printed on the back of the stores popular crewneck sweatshirts and on the bottom of every receipt.

Douglas Zimmerman/SFGATE Douglas Zimmerman/SFGATE Douglas Zimmerman/SFGATE Douglas Zimmerman/SFGATE Douglas Zimmerman/SFGATE Douglas Zimmerman/SFGATE

The shelves are well-stocked with standard supermarket offerings, from organic produce and fresh loaves of bread to canned goods and boxes of cereal, not to mention a wide selection of beer and wine, perfect for an impromptu picnic in nearby Golden Gate Park.

But Andy Rothschild, who grew up four blocks away in the Inner Richmond and has been a frequent customer for most of his 32 years of life, said hes never really viewed Arguello Market as a place to buy groceries.

To him, its the mecca of turkey sandwiches in San Francisco.

Douglas Zimmerman/SFGATE

I have listened to many people in front of [or] behind me in line place their orders  whenever someone orders something other than a turkey sandwich, I feel sorry for them for doing it wrong, he said.

Rothschild wont come out and say that Arguello Market offers the most out-of-the-box sandwich in town. (There are spots like Deli Board and Turners Kitchen for that, he said.) But its the no-frills approach thats kept him coming back for decades.

Arguello may have the best singular sandwich, he said. It isnt fancy, but the roast turkey is just so good. Any true fan is getting it on Dutch Crunch, with avocado, and if you want my insider tips, the move is to get it with dark meat and pepper jack.

Douglas Zimmerman/SFGATE

Owner Sal Qaqundah, who bought the market in 1984, said the roast turkey sandwich is his best-seller by a long shot. The store makes around 150 turkey sandwiches every day, encompassing about 70% of the orders made at the deli counter. The market also goes through 12 turkeys weighing 25 pounds each during the lunch rush. On a recent visit, I watched the golden brown birds twirl and glisten beneath the heated glow of the rotisserie oven while I placed my order and the savory aroma wafted through every aisle.

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I dont smell it anymore because I live in it, Qaqundah said with a laugh. Im here almost every day.

When he moved to Southern California from Palestine as a teenager in 1969, he started working at grocery stores and diners to pay his way through college, including Ralphs and Dennys. His second-ever job was at Spires, a 24-hour diner chain that had a $1.49 chicken sandwich special on Monday nights.

People lined up outside of the restaurant for that and they were busy from 3-10 p.m. nonstop, he said. And because of the quality, the quantity, the service and the price, they kept coming back. It really stuck in my mind.

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Qaqundah graduated from Cal State Fullerton with a degree in speech pathology and taught for two years in Huntington Beach. It was a rewarding job, he said, but he wasnt earning enough money and still had to work nights at various restaurant gigs until 2 a.m. to make ends meet. Around that time, a family friend living in San Francisco mentioned they had spotted a market for sale downtown and encouraged him to check it out.

I saw it as a chance to start my own business and excel, Qaqundah said.

In June of 1975, he packed up all of his things and moved to the city.

Qaqundahs first store, Cable Car Market, was on the corner of Bush and Powell streets across from Uncle Vitos Pizza. It was a runaway success, due in part to the central location and heavy foot traffic, but after about nine years, he lost his lease and was given 30 days to vacate the premises.

As he hunted around the city in search of a new space, he came upon a now-shuttered market on Chestnut Street called Victors. Even though it wasnt up for sale, he went inside and noticed they were selling fresh whole turkeys, which he found intriguing.

God works in mysterious ways, Qaqundah said. I never forgot it.

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In 1984, he bought Arguello Market. It was run-down, he said, but when he saw the deli counter, he knew it had potential. For one, it reminded him of the chicken sandwich special at Spires and how he wanted to bring something like it to San Francisco.

He remodeled everything, from the light fixtures to the shelving to the flooring and the refrigeration. The deli counter was the only component left untouched, and while he didnt have the means to duplicate a restaurant-quality chicken sandwich, he decided to try his hand at selling turkey sandwiches. So he started with one bird per day in 1987, and eventually graduated to two and three as the popularity of the special  then just $3.69  skyrocketed.

Douglas Zimmerman/SFGATE

It was big enough that it could be lunch and dinner for many people, he said. I remember telling my customers, The only drawback about this is youre going to come back again.

Years later, Id discover just about everyone had an opinion on The Sandwich. When I decided to consult Twitter, I received more than 50 replies with takes ranging from Best Turkey Sandwich Ive ever had to I was so disappointed and it has divided [my] entire household.

Its above average at best, one argued. Yellow Sub is the best sandwich spot in the city and its not even close.

[Its] An indispensable member of San Franciscos sandwich ecosystem, another proclaimed.

Douglas Zimmerman/SFGATE

Emails and direct messages arrived in my inbox by the dozen. People shared their tried and true advice: Order dark meat only. Try the cranberry sauce. Avocado is a must. Eat it with provolone or pepper jack, topped with pepperoncinis, or as a boxed lunch with potato salad. Order The Sandwich before noon or itll taste too dry. Take it out to Golden Gate Park for the ultimate dining experience.

And, like Rothschild, most insisted that Dutch Crunch was the way to go.

Douglas Zimmerman/SFGATE Douglas Zimmerman/SFGATE Douglas Zimmerman/SFGATE Douglas Zimmerman/SFGATE An Arguello deli employee makes a hot roasted turkey sandwich. (Douglas Zimmerman / SFGATE) An Arguello deli employee makes a hot roasted turkey sandwich. (Douglas Zimmerman / SFGATE)

Others sent multiple-paragraph-long odes to the turkey sandwich. For some, it was a point of childhood nostalgia, a trusty cure for hangovers, and a meal they returned to whenever they could, even if they had moved out of San Francisco or to another state.

Im not really sure why this sandwich got me so passionate, but here we are  concluded one message from Sam Johnson, who grew up in the Sunset and is now an attorney with the Tulare County Public Defenders Office in Visalia.

Although hes also not sure how it developed such a loyal following, he suspects Arguello Markets proximity to the University of San Francisco, where he went to law school, and its access to Golden Gate Park, make it a popular choice.

Douglas Zimmerman/SFGATE

The Arguello sandwich is one of my favorite things in the city. Its not flashy or particularly innovative but its so great at what it is, he said. I always feel at home when I eat it, and whenever I am in town, I try to stop by  even if its as Im about to get on the highway and need to wait the four hours before I get home to enjoy it.

Pete Bogdis, a former employee of the San Francisco Plumbing Company from 2001 to 2016, said hes eaten hundreds of them, stopping at Arguello Market for lunch almost every time he was working in the area.

He attributes the popularity of the sandwich to word-of-mouth.

That's how I discovered them, Bogdis said. My boss brought me there once and I was hooked. I'd tell other tradesmen on jobsites about them, if they were cool. Those of us in the know didn't necessarily want the secret getting out. But over the years, the line got longer and it became common knowledge.

Qaqundah chalks the hype up to the consistency of his product, which has been about the same since he introduced it 35 years ago, with the occasional improvement made here and there.

Its a level of dedication Qaqundahs son, Peter, admires about his father as he ensures the flavors and quality of ingredients remain familiar to those who passed on the good word and let others in on their neighborhood secret.

Now, its a cult classic, if you will, said Peter, 33, who has been helping out at the store since he was 12 years old. He takes a lot of pride in everything he does at the store and is very meticulous and on point.

The sandwich starts with bread sourced from Wedemeyer Bakery. Once sliced, each half is slathered with a mixture of mayonnaise and dijon mustard. Then, the carved and seasoned turkey is carefully arranged on top, followed by Kosher pickles, green and red leaf lettuce, a variety of tomatoes (that Qaqundah wont divulge), and sweet Italian red onions.

But where did the world famous title come from?

Douglas Zimmerman/SFGATE

Over the years, Qaqundah said the turkey sandwich was reviewed by multiple publications, named a "fundamental San Francisco sandwich spot" by Eater and one of the "best fall eats" in the city by Yelp, and was even featured in the first episode of the Travel Channels Shoestring Getaways series, which concludes with hosts Christine Williams and Jules Hatfield chowing down on the sandwiches under the Golden Gate Bridge.

But when the popularity of the sandwich took off in the early 90s, he said he was surprised to find that tourists from as far away as England and South Korea visited Arguello Market after receiving a recommendation from a local. He also discovered that longtime regulars who moved away would often return to the market for a taste of home.

Many of them will cry when they come back, whether its been a year or five years or 10 years, he said. We wanted to keep that legacy alive. We say its world famous because this is a jewel of San Francisco. Its like a landmark. We want to keep it going.

The sandwich is still as sought-after as it ever was, even though the price is now up to $10.99, partially due to the cost of turkey surging in recent years. Qaqundah said hes paying three times what he was prior to the pandemic, but it hasnt hurt sales.

Last weekend, the line was out the door from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., he said. We had to pause DoorDash.

Douglas Zimmerman/SFGATE

He doesnt anticipate things will slow down anytime soon. But in a city transforming as rapidly as San Francisco, it could be that customers are coming in for more than just a convenient lunch.

It seems like theres a tendency these days to change things up and evolve for the sake of staying fresh and not being stale, Johnson said. But the turkey sandwich is something that has been there. There is something to be said for that.

Editors note: This article previously included a detail that said Arguello Market hadnt operated as a grocery store since the 40s. Former owner Leonard Barranti opened the space in 1963 before selling it in 1984.
LOS ANGELES  More than a dozen Los Angeles gangs are targeting some of the city's wealthiest residents in a new and aggressive manner, sending out crews in multiple cars to find, follow and rob people driving high-end vehicles or wearing expensive jewelry, according to police.

In many cases, they're making off with designer handbags, diamond-studded watches and other items worth tens of thousands of dollars  if not more  and then peddling them to black-market buyers who are willing to turn a blind eye to the underlying violence, police said.

In some cases, suspects have been arrested but then released from custody  only to commit additional robberies, police said.

Those are among the conclusions of a Los Angeles Police Department task force convened at the end of last year to identify the cause of a sudden surge in "follow-home," or "follow-off," robberies, so called because victims are robbed soon after leaving luxury boutiques and hotels, ritzy restaurants, trendy nightclubs and other locations where the gangs are scouting for targets.

According to Capt. Jonathan Tippet, who spearheads the task force, police have identified at least 17 gangs, most based out of South L.A. and operating independently, that are involved. There were 165 such robberies in 2021 and 56 so far this year, he said, including several over the weekend.

The area with the most robberies during that time was the LAPD's Hollywood Division, with 50, followed by 46 in the Wilshire Division and 40 in the Central Division, which includes downtown. The Pacific Division had 17, West L.A. 15, North Hollywood 14 and Topanga 11.

Tippet did not say how many robberies police attributed to which gangs, but said individuals allegedly affiliated with both the Bloods and Crips have been identified among the culprits. Suspects who police have identified have pleaded not guilty, and their cases are pending. The task force is still working to build cases against other suspects.

Through surveillance video and other evidence, police have identified crews rolling three to five cars deep in some of the attacks, Tippet said, with gang members jumping out and blindsiding victims.

"There's no chance or opportunity for these victims even to comply. They're just running up to people and attacking them, whether that's putting a gun in their face or punching them and beating on them," Tippet said. "Pistol whipping them as well."

Shots have been fired in 23 cases, and two victims have been killed, said Tippet, who also heads the LAPD's Robbery-Homicide Division, which investigates high-profile crimes.

"In my 34 years on the job, I've never seen anything like this," he said.

The trend, in a city known for opulence as well as extreme poverty, comes at a time when crime overall is under a microscope  with homicides, shootings and armed robberies all at elevated levels since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic and candidates in the city's ongoing mayoral race denouncing those increases as they vie for voters and wealthy donors.

That intense focus has also caused some consternation among activists and criminal justice reform advocates, who worry that wealthy residents with political clout and politicians eager to please them will use the trend  based in part on fraught and sometimes false police assessments of gang involvement  to claw back past policing reforms.

One prominent activist, Hamid Khan, on Tuesday accused the LAPD of "week after week of sensationalism" about crime in the city, suggesting police were blowing crime trends out of proportion to maintain their grip on the city's budget.

"LAPD has to constantly legitimize itself, constantly has to make itself useful to the community, by raising this specter of people running wild," Khan said.

Police said their intent is simply to draw attention to  and halt  a serious and potentially deadly surge in armed robberies.

Still, much of the increasing violence has affected not the wealthy, but the city's more vulnerable populations, such as people who are homeless or live in poor communities, and receives little notice.

The follow-off robberies first started gaining attention toward the end of last year, when the number of incidents spiked dramatically and celebrities started to fall victim  including actor and former BET host Terrence Jenkins and "Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" star Dorit Kemsley.

In a four-week period from September to October, there were 45 follow-off robberies. In November, there were another 39, Tippet said.

LAPD Chief Michel Moore announced the formation of the task force that month. Tippet was set to brief the civilian Police Commission on the task force's work since then on Tuesday.

In an interview with the Los Angeles Times, Tippet said that work  and particularly the arrests of some of the alleged gang members  has made a substantial difference, driving down the number of incidents to just 10 in March.

However, the trend is still a major concern, he said, in part because those same suspects keep getting released from jail and reoffending while awaiting trial.

"I am absolutely frustrated," he said.

Similar frustration was shared last week by Moore, when he took the unusual step of briefing the Police Commission on the alleged actions of one such suspect: 18-year-old Matthew Adams.

Adams, according to Moore, was involved in eight separate follow-off robberies over a sixth-month period starting last fall, including one in which two UCLA students were robbed of two watches worth nearly $145,000 after leaving a club, a second in which two foreign tourists were robbed of watches worth $73,000, and a third in which $51,000 in property was stolen.

During the course of the eight robberies, which occurred between September and February, Adams was arrested three times. The first time was on Jan. 9, when Moore said Adams was found in a car that had been used in one of the robberies and where a gun was also found. Online court records show no charges were ever filed against Adams in that case, suggesting prosecutors were unconvinced they could win a conviction.

Adams was arrested again on Jan. 27 and a third time on Feb. 21, and in both cases charged with illegal gun possession. Court records show he was ordered released each time without having to pay bail. The reason was a pandemic-related rule, aimed at reducing the jail population, that requires L.A. County defendants to be released without posting bail for certain offenses.

Adams, who could not be reached for comment, has since been arrested a fourth time on charges related to seven robberies, to which he has pleaded not guilty. The public defender's office, which represented him during his arraignment, declined to comment on the case. He remains in custody, according to court records.

Moore said Adams' earlier and repeated releases from custody endangered public safety, and that people who are repeatedly arrested for gun crimes should not be let out before trial. He also suggested that prosecutors played a part by not seeking certain charging enhancements to those brought against Adams that might have kept him in jail.

Moore said he was "disappointed" that "the full weight of our existing laws" was not brought down on Adams  not only to hold him accountable, but to provide a disincentive for other would-be robbers who might think such crimes are going unpunished in L.A.

When asked about Moore's claims, a spokesman for L.A. County District Attorney George Gascon's office said Adams was not legally eligible for gun enhancements on the two possession charges.

Gascon's office did file gun enhancements in the latest case against Adams, the spokesman said.

In a separate case, a man named Cheyenne Hale, 25, was arrested this month on suspicion of participating in the armed robbery of a man in downtown L.A. in October in which two watches estimated to be worth about $600,000 were stolen.

Police said they recovered a loaded gun from Hale during his arrest and that detectives in Tippet's unit later found seven additional handguns, $21,000 in cash and "a large quantity of drugs" including cocaine and methamphetamine when they served a search warrant at Hale's home.

Nonetheless, Hale  who could not be reached for comment  has since been released from custody, according to court records.

Following Moore's presentation last week, Police Commission President William Briggs said that the pretrial release of individuals allegedly involved in violent robberies at gunpoint represented a failure of the criminal justice system.

"This revolving-door criminal justice system that we have right now clearly is not working and is endangering the citizens of Los Angeles and is creating a public safety crisis," Briggs said. "We need to find a solution."

Other commissioners seemed wary of focusing too intensely on Adams or any other individual defendant, particularly before they'd had their day in court.

Commissioner Dale Bonner said discussions about individual "career criminals" have been misused by politicians to stoke fear in the community and advance questionable criminal justice initiatives in the past, and that the current discussion should not fail to recognize that.

Tippet said his task force would continue investigating such crimes, and that he hopes that its work will encourage those engaged in such robberies to stop doing what they're doing.

He also said that people who are buying the watches, handbags and other goods being stolen during such robberies should also stop what they're doing  because the task force is coming after them as well as part of multiple open investigations.

"They are participating" in the crime, too, Tippet said.


ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP)  Two Illinois men who helped bomb a Minnesota mosque in 2017 on Tuesday received prison sentences far below the 35-year mandatory minimum that they had faced, after victims and prosecutors asked for leniency because the men cooperated and testified against the mastermind of the attack.

Michael McWhorter, 33, was sentenced to just under 16 years in prison and Joe Morris, 26, was sentenced to about 14 years. Both testified in the 2020 trial against Emily Claire Hari, the leader of a small Illinois militia group called the White Rabbits.

Hari was convicted in late 2020 and sentenced last year to 53 years in prison for the attack on Dar Al-Farooq Islamic Center, a mosque in the Minneapolis suburb of Bloomington.

U.S. District Judge Donovan Frank said Tuesday that the men's substantial assistance allowed him to issue penalties below the statutory minimums, the Star Tribune reported.

Frank acknowledged the men were under Hari's influence, but rejected their attorneys' requests for 10-year sentences, saying their seven-month crime spree was contrary to everything America stands for."

When all is said and done, Frank said, anything less would not promote respect for the law.

No one was hurt in the Aug. 5, 2017, explosion after a pipe bomb exploded in the imams office as worshippers gathered for early morning prayers, but community members were shaken by the incident and the mosques executive director testified at Hari's trial that it led to fear and diminished attendance.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Allison Ethen asked Frank for a 50% reduction from the mandatory minimum sentences for McWhorter and Morris  a request that she and Frank both said was rare. But Ethan asked Frank to cap the sentence no lower than 15 years, saying a light sentence would send the wrong message.

Imam Mohamed Omar, executive director of Dar Al-Farooq Center, asked fellow clergy and faith leaders to sign an open letter urging forgiveness. Omar called McWhorter and Morris two young men who temporarily were plunged downwards into the darkness of Emily Haris world.

The harm that was done is real, the crime that was committed is real, the horror of what happened that day is real, but whats also real is our opportunity to offer real forgiveness, and lead by example, the letter said. We believe that only through forgiveness can we have any real chance to heal and move forward.

McWhorter and Morris both pleaded guilty to multiple counts in 2019.

At Hari's trial, their testimony showed that Hari told them to throw the pipe bomb into the center while Hari waited in a rented truck. Morris testified that Hari told him the mosque was training ISIS fighters  something the mosque has denied and prosecutors have never alleged.

Hari was the leader of a group called the White Rabbits 3 Percent Illinois Patriot Freedom Fighters." In addition to the mosque bombing, the group also robbed a Wal-Mart with airsoft guns, tried to extort the Canadian railroad, invaded homes and attempted to firebomb a womens health clinic in Champaign, Illinois.

McWhorter said Tuesday that he feared Hari and Morris may kill him if he didnt go through with the plan.

I bombed a mosque. But it was not by choice, he said. I feared for my life when I bombed the mosque. I didnt do it out of just pure hatred. I dont have any hate for Muslims.

McWhorter said that in the four years he's been in jail since his arrest, hes been studying toward his GED and reading books about Islam. He has made several Muslim friends in jail, he said, some of whom wrote letters on his behalf to Frank.

Morris apologized to those he harmed, saying he was ashamed that he believed the things Hari told him.

What I did was very, very wrong, he continued. But I ask for your mercy.

He said he planned to return to the Amish community, where he once lived, after finishing his prison term, saying thats the only time in my life I was shown support and love. Several members of that community were in court.

Chris Madel, McWhorter's attorney, said in court filings that McWhorter committed the crimes at the invitation, direction and plan of Hari. Madel said his client was manipulated by Hari's lies about Muslims.

Morris attorney, Robert Richman, said his client suffered from undiagnosed mental illness, including schizophrenia and depression. Richman wrote in court documents that Hari took advantage of Morris illness, telling him to follow the angels speaking to him.

Hari also exerted a special power over Morris, said Richman in the filing. No one in the world was closer to him. When Hari told Joe to do something, Joe did it. Hari was a hero to Joe. He felt that Hari accepted him."
PESHAWAR, Pakistan (AP)  Militants ambushed Pakistani troops in a former Taliban stronghold in the northwest, triggering an intense shootout in which two officers and two insurgents were killed, the military said Tuesday.

The Pakistani Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement.
SAN DIEGO (AP)  A man found dead in the water off of San Diego on Monday morning may be the second person to die in a failed weekend attempt to smuggle immigrants into the United States by boat, authorities said.

Beachgoers spotted the fully clothed man at around 10 a.m. along the surf line north of the Ocean Beach pier, San Diego Fire-Rescue spokesman Jose Ysea told the San Diego Union-Tribune.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP)  Four finalists have been chosen in the search for the next president of Cleveland State Community College, the Board of Regents said.

Selected by a search advisory committee, the finalists will participate in open forums with the campus community and the public on April 18 through April 21, the board said.
AURORA, Colo. (AP)  Community leaders and activists on Monday rallied around a suburban Denver police chief who was fired last week despite her community work, including efforts to rebuild trust with residents following the 2019 death of Elijah McClain.

Pastor Topazz McBride said the firing of Vanessa Wilson by the city of Aurora sent a message that supporting justice, communities of color, victims, families and those without homes can result in you losing your job.

She has showed up when others wouldn't, McBride said of Wilson, standing among other supporters, including some city council members, outside the Aurora Municipal Center, near police headquarters.

City Manager Jim Twombly has said Wilson was fired because of concerns about her leadership and management, although he credited her for her outreach work.

Wilson said her firing was part of a political agenda." She did not elaborate but after she was fired her lawyers said members of the city council's new conservative majority had engaged in a campaign to smear her reputation and did not support her efforts to reform the department and eradicate systemic racism f ound by the state attorney general's office last year.

The attorney general's office is also prosecuting three police officers and two paramedics indicted in McClain's death. He got into a struggle with police officers who confronted him as he was walked down the street and was then injected with ketamine, a powerful sedative. He later died at the hospital.

Its not about me. Its about making sure that we have leaders in police departments in this city, in this state and across the country that are willing to stand up to the unions, that are willing to stand up to people that are doing it wrong, and are willing to fire officers that are doing it wrong, said Wilson, who did not rule out filing a lawsuit over her firing.

Wilson was quick to fire officers accused of misconduct, posting the results of investigations online for the public to read. Some were fired for using excessive force but some lost their jobs for lying about the hours they worked or wrongly claiming overtime.

Then in February, Wilson fired the president of one of police departments two police unions for an email he sent to over 200 department employees criticizing diversity provisions the city had agreed to under a consent decree with the state attorney generals office and disparaging the citys residents.

To match the diversity of the community we could make sure to hire 10% illegal aliens, 50% weed smokers, 10% crackheads, and a few child molesters and murderers to round it out. You know, so we can make the department look like the community, Doug Wilkinson wrote in the email.

Last fall, Wilson received an overwhelming vote of no confidence from members of both unions after she called for an investigation of officers previously cleared of wrongdoing in a controversial traffic stop of a Black man, Sentinel Colorado reported.

Aurora Sgt. Paul Poole said it appears that Wilson's transparent disciplinary decisions drew the wrath of police unions and some politicians. Poole, who is Black, said he believes that there are people in the department's unions that agree with Wilkinson's email but said he wanted to speak out against Wilson's firing despite fears he could be retaliated against.

Dustin Zvonek, one of the new conservative council members who was endorsed by the police union during last year's campaign, said he deplored Wilkinson's email.

Zvonek blamed Wilson for poor morale in the department, calling her an insecure and insular leader more focused on community relations than in managing the police department. He blames her for an increase in retirements and resignations, which he said were even worse than other departments have been experiencing, leaving the department without enough staff to respond to less-violent crimes.

He said he did not object to Wilsons firings of police officers over misconduct and did not think they contributed to the poor morale in the department. Instead, they were concerned that her efforts to heal the rift with the community might prevent her from standing by them even if they acted correctly but it looked bad to the public.

I would also expect the new chief to be willing to stand unapologetically with any officer who does everything right even if the optics draw concern because we owe it to officers, he said.
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Alert: US orders non-emergency government staff to leave Shanghai as COVID-19 lockdown continues across city (CORRECTS: A previous APNewsAlert did not specify the order applied only to non-emergency staff)
PHOENIX (AP)  The Arizona House voted Monday to delay the effective date for legislation signed last month requiring voters to provide evidence of their citizenship, which has already prompted two lawsuits amid fears by voting-rights advocates that it could cancel the registrations of thousands of people.

If approved by the Senate and Republican Gov. Doug Ducey, the citizenship requirement would take effect after the 2022 election, a concession demanded by a Republican lawmaker who provided the final vote to pass the bill out of the Senate. As it stands now, that requirement and others in a bill signed March 30 will take effect 90 days after the legislative session ends, which is likely to fall between the primary and general election.
BATON ROUGE. (AP)  A key step the city of New Orleans took to prevent the spread of COVID-19 at the height of the pandemic would be prohibited under legislation approved Tuesday by a House committee.

The bill by Rep. Thomas Pressly, a Shreveport Republican, would prohibit state and local governments from requiring proof of COVID-19 vaccination as a condition for entry into public places or private businesses. It was approved 12-5 by the Health and Welfare Committee. It goes next to the full House.
SAO PAULO (AP)  Brazils electoral authority said Monday that it has for the first time invited European Union representatives to observe upcoming elections.

It said the invitation to the EU aims to amplify the transparency of its electoral system and make cooperation possible.
WASHINGTON - Secret Service leaders are downplaying any risk to national security after four of its employees - including an agent assigned to protect first lady Jill Biden - were allegedly hoodwinked by two men impersonating federal agents and plying them with gifts, telling congressional committees and allies that the severity of the breach has been overblown by prosecutors and the media, according to people familiar with the conversations.

But several former Secret Service officials warn that the alleged infiltration of the elite protection agency reveals a major vulnerability extending well beyond this particular case. They said the revelations suggest that agents who had regular access to the White House and the Biden family - and who are supposed to be trained to spot scammers or spies seeking to ingratiate themselves - were either too greedy or gullible to question a dubious cover story.

"If you can compromise Secret Service personnel by cozying up to their agents and their uniformed officers, unwelcome sources can get to the president and the first family," said Jim Helminski, a retired agency executive and former leader of Joe Biden's vice-presidential detail.

The case is the latest in a string of embarrassing security breaches and incidents of misconduct involving the Secret Service over the past decade. The scandals have included agents getting drunk and hiring prostitutes on a trip to Cartagena, Colombia, in 2012; an incident in 2014 when a wounded veteran was able to jump the White House fence and get past dozens of armed Secret Service officers and into the executive mansion; and an officer investigated last year after posting comments on Facebook in which she accused lawmakers who formalized President Joe Biden's win of treason..

Evidence photograph from Government's Memorandum in Support of Motion for Detention file in the US District Court for the District of Columbia

According to federal prosecutors, Arian Taherzadeh, 40, and Haider Ali, 35, posed as Department of Homeland Security agents and offered two agents and two officers with the Secret Service, as well as one DHS officer, a string of gifts beginning at least in February 2021 and possibly as early as February 2020. The gifts that prosecutors say were accepted included iPhones, surveillance systems, a drone, a flat-screen television, a case for storing an assault rifle, a generator, law enforcement paraphernalia and use of what Taherzadeh characterized as a government vehicle.

The FBI also said the two Secret Service uniformed officers accepted free $40,000-a-year rental apartments from Taherzadeh for about a year in The Crossing, a luxury Navy Yard apartment complex where the two suspects are alleged to have had unusual control over several apartments and where they had set up surveillance. One of the officers told investigators that Taherzadeh claimed DHS had approved extra rooms as part of his operations that the officer could live in free; the other said Taherzadeh claimed another federal law enforcement officer was living rent-free.

The FBI said searches conducted at the building last week found a stash of police weapons, access codes to federal agents' homes and equipment to create Personal Identification Verification cards that if programmed correctly can be used to access sensitive law enforcement computers. One witness also told authorities that Ali claimed to have ties to Pakistan's intelligence service, prosecutors said, though officials say they have not found evidence confirming such a claim.

Both men, who are charged with impersonating a federal law enforcement official, have denied any ill intent. Taherzadeh said he had "no intention of compromising any federal agent" and had provided them lavish gifts out of a "desire for friendship," while Ali said he had gotten carried away in a ruse he did not fully understand, according to documents filed in federal court Monday.

Prosecutors also revealed in court Tuesday that an internal Secret Service investigation inadvertently tipped off Taherzadeh to the ongoing criminal probe before the suspects were arrested, prompting the FBI and prosecutors to rush to get an arrest warrant last week.

A spokesperson for the Secret Service said in a statement the agency has found no damage to national security but takes the actions of the employees involved "extremely seriously." All four are on administrative leave and their security clearances have been temporarily suspended pending the investigation.

"The U.S. Secret Service is taking this matter extremely seriously and conducting an in-depth, methodical review of all aspects of this incident," Secret Service spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said. "Although this is an ongoing investigation, we have found no evidence of any adverse security impacts or improper access to sensitive information, systems or protected locations at this time. We continue to work closely with the FBI and the U.S. Attorney's Office on the criminal investigation and prosecution of the Defendants."

In their conversations on Capitol Hill and elsewhere, Secret Service officials have emphasized the lack of evidence of either foreign involvement or compromised information, according to the people familiar with the conversations, who requested anonymity to reveal details. Instead, agency officials are saying the case amounts to a small group of employees who unwisely let down their guard when befriended by two men who appear to be fraudsters and wannabe cops, these people said.

Some former Secret Service agents, however, say the incident shows how easily someone could target agency staffers to obtain highly classified information about both the president's movements and national security. They said the agency needs to study what weaknesses in policy or training may have allowed the situation to happen - and how it went undiscovered by the agency for up to two years. The case was uncovered only after a postal inspector was investigating an unrelated alleged assault on a mail carrier at the apartment building, officials said.

"The physical protection of the president and vice president is crucial to the functioning of our democracy," said one former Obama-era agent, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to be candid about Secret Service vulnerabilities. "We have the first minority woman vice president. Both Biden and Harris are polarizing figures. Now we learn people who have access to ... [the White House], Harris and Biden can be duped?"

Prosecutors have emphasized their investigation is in an early stage as they work to understand the potential scope of the alleged scheme and the vulnerabilities it has created within the Secret Service, federal law enforcement and national security communities.

In a Sunday court filing urging the court to detain the two men, an assistant prosecutor to U.S. Attorney Matthew Graves wrote: "Each hour since their arrest, the Government learns more - and scarier - information about how Taherzadeh and Ali abused their fake authority."

On Tuesday, prosecutors told the court they are now investigating whether any bribery occurred with the offer of such valuable items.

"It concerns us, the types of devices and favors that were given, and whether any may have been bribes," said Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua Rothstein. "As we mentioned, one of them protected the first lady. Others protected the White House and residence. When we have agents who may have been compromised, it causes grave concern for us."

Elizabeth Alexander, the communications director for the first lady, said the White House does not comment on ongoing investigations and referred questions about the incident to the Secret Service.

But she said in a statement, "The First Family has the utmost confidence in the USSS and is grateful to them every day for their service and efforts to keep them safe."

Helminski said he sees no obvious damage or danger to Biden and his family so far.

"I would agree it's not that big a deal, but only because it got stopped before it became a big deal, " he added.

Helminski and other former agents said several details of the case are particularly worrisome, including the alleged offers of iPhones, Ali's alleged intelligence claim and the Secret Service employees' apparent willingness to accept highly dubious claims from strangers.

"The iPhones in my opinion are most disturbing of the items. Portable, [they] can be turned on remotely or carry small explosive device," Helminski said. "The phones could capture vital information needed to cause intelligence harm to the president and the first family. This can be a serious security threat."

Former agents also said it was alarming that the Secret Service was in the dark about the alleged ruse and may have never learned about it if not for the separate postal investigation. Some suggested the agency consider increased screening of employees, with yearly polygraphs, as the FBI and military do for sensitive positions.

"The Secret Service's current safeguards are not enough," said the Obama-era agent. "No tripwires were activated here."

Currently, the Secret Service questions agents every five years to renew their top-secret security clearances. The questions are geared to spot problems, such as agents who may be leaking information or have financial or personal problems that make them vulnerable to blackmail. In one case, the agency discovered that a top supervisor on Obama's detail had been lying to the agency and hiding both long-standing and short-term sexual relationships he had with multiple foreign nationals. Officials only learned of the scope of his coverup after he failed a polygraph in a five-year security clearance update.

Lawyers for Taherzadeh and Ali say the two had no criminal scheme in mind and that prosecutors "have jumped to the wildest conspiracy theories possible over the most scant of evidence."

Defense lawyers told the court that immediately after the two men's arrests, prosecutors had suggested the government would not seek to detain them. But prosecutors changed their plans as the investigation proceeded. They subsequently claimed that Ali, a naturalized U.S. citizen, posed a risk of flight because of his past foreign travel. Ali has traveled at least twice to his native Pakistan, once to Egypt and once to Iraq, although the travel was not recent, Rothstein said.

Ali also traveled to Iran between July 2019 and January 2020, the prosecutor said, adding Friday that investigators sifting through search warrant returns had discovered overnight that the defendant also apparently obtained a Pakistan national identity card in 2019, available to its citizens who live abroad, Rothstein said.

However, prosecutors have backed away from what they now call an "unsubstantiated" allegation that Ali had claimed to one witness that he had connections to Pakistan's intelligence service, the ISI. Pakistan's embassy released a statement saying Ali has no such connection.

"We have never suggested he [Ali] got funds from anybody in Iran, nor ever suggested he got funds from Pakistan," Rothstein said Friday. "We have not even credited his statement [of ties to ISI]. But we do have to take his statement seriously, if he claimed to an individual he has a connection to a foreign intelligence service."

In court Monday, Michelle Peterson, Taherzadeh's defense lawyer, said that her client "is all over the internet" and made a half-joking remark about how little danger he poses.

"If there is any Secret Service agent or federal officer that could be fooled into believing he could be a federal agent at this point, we're in more trouble than that," she said.

- - -

The Washington Post's Tyler Pager contributed to this report.
BOISE, Idaho (AP)  The Roman Catholic Church is asking the Idaho Supreme Court to let it intervene in a lawsuit over a new law banning nearly all abortions.

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Boise, which covers all of Idaho, filed the request to intervene in support of the abortion ban as a friend of the court on Monday.

Idaho last month became the first state to enact legislation modeled after the Texas statute banning abortions after about six weeks. The law would allow the potential father, grandparents, siblings, aunts and uncles of the embryo or fetus to each sue an abortion provider for a minimum of $20,000 in damages within four years after the abortion. Rapists cant file a lawsuit under the law, but a rapists relatives could.

Planned Parenthood of Great Northwest, Hawaii, Alaska, Indiana and Kentucky sued over the law, calling it unconstitutional, and last week the Idaho Supreme Court blocked the abortion ban from taking effect while the lawsuit is underway.

In the request to intervene, attorneys for the Catholic church said the Diocese has maintained a vested interest in the dignity and sanctity of all human life, including life of the unborn.

The bishop of the diocese, Bishop Peter Christensen, wrote in a legal filing that the church helped get the abortion ban through the Legislature.

The Diocese counseled and educated legislators regarding the same, and provided support during the legislative process to proponents of the bill, Christensen wrote in the legal filing.

The lawsuit is one of many legal fights going on nationwide over access to abortion. The U.S. Supreme Courts conservative majority signaled willingness in a Mississippi case to severely erode or even strike down Roe v. Wade, the 1973 decision that made abortion legal nationwide until a baby can survive outside the womb. Numerous states with Republican majorities are poised to follow the strictest interpretation of the ruling.
BISMARCK, N.D. (AP)  North Dakota Democrats made eleventh-hour filings to fill gaps in the June primary but still lacked candidates for one statewide office and several House and Senate slots in some legislative districts.

Late Monday was the deadline for candidates to file with the state secretary of states office for the election. The flurry of last-minute filings  including some by Republican legislative hopefuls  had the office reviewing candidates petitions Tuesday, a task that likely wont be completed until late Wednesday, said Jim Silrum, the deputy secretary of state.

At their convention this month, North Dakota Republicans endorsed candidates for the eight statewide offices on the June 14 ballot. But at the Democratic convention last month, the party failed to recruit contenders for tax commissioner and secretary of state.

On Tuesday, Democrats still appeared unable to find a candidate for tax commissioner to face Brian Kroshus. GOP Gov. Doug Burgum chose Kroshus last year to replace Ryan Rauschenberger, who resigned after seven years to focus on recovering from alcohol problems.

However, Democrat Jeffrey Powell, an administrator at Mayville State University, filed for secretary of state just before Mondays deadline. Republican Marvin Lepp, a political newcomer and auto dealership worker from Bismarck, is challenging GOP endorsed candidate and state Rep. Michael Howe. All are seeking to replace 78-year-old Al Jaeger, who was first elected in 1992 and isnt seeking reelection.

Democrats havent had a majority in the state House or Senate or held the governors office since the early 1990s. Democrats held all three of North Dakotas seats in Congress from 1987 to 2011, but that ended long ago, and the GOP now holds them all.

North Dakota has 47 legislative districts. Each is represented by two House members and a senator, who are elected at large for four-year terms. At present, Republicans have 80 House seats to Democrats 14, and a 40-7 edge in the Senate. All but one Democrat is up for reelection this year, a consequence of legislative redistricting that was required due to population shifts reflected in the 2020 federal census.

Democratic slates in several legislative districts had a number of holes Tuesday, although that could change once all petitions are reviewed by the state secretary of states office.

Preliminary filings show Republicans were unable to recruit legislative candidates in a handful of districts in the Democratic stronghold of Fargo, including four House seats and one Senate seat.
MOMBASA, Kenya (AP)  Climate activists  including influential campaigners Vanessa Nakate and Hilda Nakabuye  are urging more banks and insurers not to back the controversial $5 billion East African Crude Oil Pipeline that is primed to transport oil from the Hoima oilfields in Uganda to the Tanzanian coastal city of Tanga.

The climate crisis is affecting many people in Africa, Nakate said at an event on Wednesday, dubbed the Africas peoples annual general meeting. There is no future in the fossil fuel industry which has done more harm than good in much of Africa. We cannot eat oil nor drink oil.

The growing pressure mounted by environmental groups, under the banner #StopEACOP, has led to a growing list of banks and insurers quitting the oil pipeline project. Just this week the project suffered another major setback after insurer Allianz Group pulled out of the project. It joins 15 banks and seven insurance companies  including HSBC, BNP Paribas and Swiss Re  who have denied financially backing the pipeline in response to the campaign waged by numerous environmental organizations, led by the international group 350.org.

The 897-mile (1,443 kilometer) oil pipeline is billed as the longest heated pipeline in the world. The China National Oil Corporation and French energy conglomerate TotalEnergies, alongside the Uganda National Oil Company and the Tanzania Petroleum Development Cooperation, have remained firm in pushing ahead with the pipeline project which is expected to start transporting oil in 2025.

Construction of the pipeline will displace thousands of families and threaten water resources in the Lake Victoria and River Nile basins, according to 350.org. The environmental group goes on to say that the crude pipeline will generate some 37 million tons (34 million metric tonnes) of carbon dioxide emissions annually, fueling climate change.

TotalEnergies is putting profits over people and it shows. Communities in Uganda and Tanzania have been fighting tirelessly against the planned pipeline and the trail of destruction it is already leaving in its wake, Omar Elmawi, the coordinator of the #StopEACOP campaign, said. At a time when scientists call for the phasing out of fossil fuel projects, to avoid the worst impacts of climate change, it is ill-advised and irresponsible to go ahead with this project, while ignoring the cries of those most affected.

Environmental activist Hilda Nakabuye added that the pipeline would mostly negatively affect women and children through spillage, pollution and displacement along the proposed route. Climate campaigners have also filed a case against the pipeline at the regional East African Court of Justice that sits in Arusha, Tanzania.

TotalEnergies has defended the pipeline noting that it adheres to strict Ugandan and Tanzanian environmental laws. An environmental social impact assessment report conducted by the Netherlands Commission for Environmental Assessment raised concerns about significant risks posed to wildlife notably chimpanzees in the Bugoma, Wambabya and Taala forest reserves.

Initially priced at $3.5 billion, the underground electrically heated pipeline will now cost $5 billion and is expected to start near Lake Albert in Hoima District, western Uganda. It will skirt around Lake Victoria entering northern Tanzania on its way to Chongoleani peninsula on the Indian Ocean transporting 216,000 barrels of crude oil per day.

The pipeline is expected to displace over 14,000 households in Uganda and Tanzania, according to the international poverty charity Oxfam. But proponents of the project are citing a $2 billion annual revenue from the oil exports alongside some 12,000 direct jobs in its defense. Supporters say it will also encourage development on the continent.

Africa needs cheap stable power as that afforded by oil and coal to grow its manufacturing sector, Johnson Nderi, a financial analyst in Nairobi who supports the oil pipeline, said.

British firm Tullow Oil first discovered oil in the Lake Albert Basin in 2006, with recoverable oil estimates pegged at 1.2 billion barrels. In 2020, Tullow sold its entire stake to Total Energies. In early February, the oil pipeline's major backers, led by Total Energies, announced the conclusion of the Financial Investment Decision, signaling the commencement of the construction of the oil pipeline.

___

Associated Press climate and environmental coverage receives support from several private foundations. See more about APs climate initiative here. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
LONDON (AP)  European health officials investigating an outbreak of salmonella linked to chocolate Easter eggs that has sickened at least 150 children across the continent said Tuesday they suspect it is due to bad buttermilk in a Belgian factory.

In an assessment of the continuing outbreak, experts at the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control and the European Food Safety Authority said they had matched the same salmonella strain currently infecting people to samples taken from a factory in Belgium last December.

Officials said the processing step involving buttermilk was identified by the company as the point of contamination for two products, chocolate eggs that normally have a surprise toy inside and bite-sized praline chocolates. National authorities have previously named the involved company as the Italian chocolate firm Ferrero.

Before the Belgian factory was shut down, however, European officials noted it had exported the implicated chocolate products across Europe and globally.

As of this week, 150 cases of salmonella have been reported in nine European countries and the U.K. after the first case was identified in Britain last December. The majority of cases have been in children under age 10 and an exceptionally high number" have been hospitalized, European officials said. Britain has so far reported the most cases - 65 - of whom 43% are hospitalized.

Ferrero began recalling chocolate eggs and other products in Britain, France, Germany, Italy and elsewhere weeks ago. Last week, the company expanded its recall to the U.S., acknowledging that some of the goods on sale were made in the tainted Belgian factory.

This outbreak is rapidly evolving, and children have so far been most at risk for severe infection among reported cases, the European CDC said in its report. It noted that further investigation was needed to determine how the problem happened and evaluating the possibility of the wider use of contaminated raw material in other processing plants.

Salmonella typically causes symptoms including diarrhea, fever and stomach cramps. Most people who get sick do not need any medicine but severe cases that result in hospitalization may require antibiotics or other treatment.

European officials warned that it was likely cases were being missed in some countries due to a lack of surveillance and genetic sequencing.

Ferrero has previously said it is cooperating with national and European health authorities in the outbreak investigation.

We are taking this extremely seriously as consumer care is our top priority, the company said.
GOLDEN, Colo. (AP)  A former Nevada prison inmate was sentenced Tuesday to life in prison for sexually assaulting and killing a suburban Denver woman with a hammer in 1984.

Last week, jurors found Alex Ewing guilty in the death of Patricia Smith in Lakewood, eight months after he was found guilty of killing three members of a family in another Denver suburb six days after Smith was killed.
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP)  A former Puerto Rico police officer was sentenced Tuesday to four years in prison after being found guilty on charges including conspiracy to commit robbery and theft and conversion of government property, one of three ex-policemen charged in the case.

The U.S. Attorneys Office said Carlos Boyrie-Laboy had conspired with a former police sergeant and a fellow ex-officer to break into homes in towns such as Naguabo and Yabucoa to steal items including fireworks, electronic equipment and thousands of dollars in cash.
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Russia is readying a massive, new offensive in eastern Ukraine, hoping to reverse its fortunes on the battlefield after a catastrophic start to seven weeks of war.

A long convoy of combat vehicles has jammed highways across northeastern Ukraine in preparation for an attack that could begin within days, and the Kremlin has named a general known for overseeing Moscow's campaign in Syria to lead it.

A look at Russia's military objectives and challenges it faces.

A BOTCHED BLITZ

A failed Russian attempt to storm Kyiv and other big cities took a heavy toll in personnel and equipment, boosted morale in Ukraine and allowed it to rally broad international support.

The myth about the invincibility of the Russian military as the second-most powerful in the world has been shattered to much surprise of the Ukrainians themselves, Ukrainian military expert Oleh Zhdanov told The Associated Press.

The flow of Western weapons into Ukraine and a growing popular resistance to Russian aggression will further raise the costs of war for Moscow.

President Vladimir Putin badly needs a quick battlefield victory to find an exit from what increasingly looks like a disastrous quagmire.

Russia's focus is turning to Ukraines industrial heartland, known as the Donbas, where Moscow-backed separatists have been fighting Ukrainian government forces since the conflict there erupted shortly after the Kremlin's 2014 annexation of Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula.

In the first round, Russia has lost face both politically and militarily," Zhdanov said. "It has done every possible stupid thing in the careless hope for a blitz ... but it will make the Russian attack in the next round even more furious.

REFOCUS AND REDEPLOYMENT

After their retreat from Kyiv, Chernihiv and Sumy, Russian forces pulled back to the territory of Belarus, Moscows ally, as well as areas in western Russia to be rearmed and resupplied for the new offensive.

Retired British Gen. Sir Richard Barrons estimated the Russians have probably lost about 25% of the ground forces they started out with in the sense that those have been units that have become noncombat effective.

So theyre amalgamating them, theyre refitting them, theyre reinforcing them and then moving them around, Barrons told AP.

Russia also was trying to move additional equipment from elsewhere and mobilize reservists in a desperate attempt to build a sufficient attack force, said Barrons, a co-chair of the consulting group Universal Defence & Security Solutions.

Theyve had a beating, and they will have only a few weeks to get better, he said.

Recently, Russian troops have been seen rolling into eastern Ukraine to move into attack positions. A convoy stretched for about 13 kilometers (8 miles) on a highway east of Kharkiv, heading south toward Ukrainian lines near Izyum, a strategic road junction.

At the same time, Russian forces rushed to crush remaining pockets of Ukrainian resistance in Mariupol after besieging the vital Sea of Azov port for nearly 1 1/2 months.

The offensive is expected to start once Mariupol is fully under Russian control, and the troops pulled from areas near Kyiv, Chernihiv and Sumy complete their redeployment.

WILL A NEW COMMANDER MAKE THE DIFFERENCE?

Gen. Alexander Dvornikov was appointed the new military commander for the campaign in Ukraine. The 60-year-old soldier is one of Russias most experienced officers, credited with leading Moscow's forces to victory in Syria in a ruthless campaign to shore up President Bashar Assads regime in a civil war that saw entire cities flattened and millions displaced.

In 2016, Putin awarded Dvornikov the Hero of Russia medal, one of the countrys highest awards, and named him the chief of the Southern Military District, commanding units in southwestern Russia.

Dvornikov's appointment is seen as reflecting the Kremlin's awareness to quickly improve poor coordination among various forces that hampered previous military efforts. Skeptics point out, however, that the Syrian campaign involved a relatively small number of troops, unlike the massive operation in Ukraine.

TRYING NEW BATTLEFIELD TACTICS

Ukrainian and Western experts expect the Russians to try to encircle Ukrainian forces in Donbas with a pincer movement by advancing from Izyum in the north and Mariupol in the south.

Some predict Russia also may try to use its forces north of Crimea to try to capture the industrial hubs of Zaporizhzhia and Dnipro on the Dnieper River, effectively cutting Ukraine in half.

Barrons said the Russians are focusing on the east instead of trying to do three or four big things at once and spreading the air power and the logistics.

The key conundrum is, can the Russians muster enough force ... good enough to overwhelm a very good Ukrainian defensive position by sheer weight of brutality by concentrating firepower and troops in a few key locations, he said.

WILL RUSSIA'S LOGISTICAL PROBLEMS PERSIST?

Despite a new commander, the offensive will likely face the same logistical challenges Russian troops encountered early in the campaign.

During the botched attempt to storm Kyiv, Russian convoys stretched along highways leading to the capital, becoming easy prey for Ukrainian artillery, drones and scouts.

Supporting the operations in the east could be equally hard, with Russian supply lines likely to face hit-and-run raids, helped by the arrival of spring as foliage offers natural cover for Ukrainian scouts and guerrillas.

Control of the skies also has been a problem, with Ukrainian air defense assets continuing to shoot down Russian warplanes, making it more difficult for ground troops to advance. In recent days, Russia has launched strikes on Ukrainian long-range air defense systems in apparent preparation for the offensive.

If the Russians learned the lessons of their failure so far and could concentrate more force and could connect their air force to the ground forces better and could sort the logistics out, then they might start to overwhelm the Ukrainian positions eventually, although I still think it would be a battle of enormous attrition, Barrons told AP.

MORE FAVORABLE TERRAIN FOR RUSSIA?

During the eight years of fighting separatists in the east, Ukrainian forces have built multilayered defenses, which Russian troops failed to break despite persistent attacks since the invasion began Feb. 24.

Theyve been fighting in these current positions in the Donbas for about eight years, so theyre very seasoned and theyre very well prepared," Barrons said of Ukrainian forces.

He noted, however, that "this will be different because the Russian onslaught will be potentially very much greater and the east's flat terrain could give the Russians an edge.

The sort of ambush tactics the Ukrainians were highly successful with around Kiev may not apply in the Donbas, Barrons said. And if the Russians were capable of maneuvering their armor so tanks, armored infantry and armored artillery at speed, they could get behind the Ukrainian position. It is going to be a much harder, bigger fight than weve seen so far.

Ukraine has pleaded with the West for warplanes, long-range air defense systems, heavy artillery and armor to counter a massive Russian edge in firepower.

There is a battle of time and space between the Russians and Ukrainians for the Russians to muster enough force and the Ukrainians to get the weapons that they need and rehearse themselves for what will be a bigger and slightly different battle, and I think it is finely balanced, Barrons said.

FOR PUTIN, A RACE AGAINST TIME

After earlier battlefield failures, Putin desperately needs a quick success in the east.

Battered by Western sanctions, Russia lacks financial resources for a protracted conflict. If the fighting drags on, it will inevitably worsen the economy and could bring social tensions, eroding the Kremlins support base.

The military already has put its most capable combat units in the campaign, and continued fighting will likely force it to call up more reservists and throw fresh conscripts into combat  moves that could be extremely unpopular.

Putin could be hoping to quickly expand the territory under separatist control in the east, then try to force Ukraine into concessions in negotiations to wrap up the campaign and spin it as victory.

-

Associated Press writers Yuras Karmanau in Lviv, Ukraine, and Danica Kirka in London contributed.

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Follow the APs coverage of the war at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine
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WASHINGTON (AP)  President Joe Biden said Tuesday his administration will suspend a federal rule that bars higher levels of ethanol in gasoline during the summer. The move, which Biden announced during a visit to Iowa, is intended to tamp down prices at the pump that have spiked during Russias war with Ukraine. Iowa is a key producer of the corn-based fuel additive.

A look at how that the decision to authorize year-round use of so-called E15 will impact gas supplies, prices and the environment.

WHAT ACTION IS BIDEN TAKING?

Most gasoline sold in the U.S. is blended with 10% ethanol. At Biden's direction, the Environmental Protection Agency will issue an emergency waiver to allow widespread sale of 15% ethanol blend that is usually prohibited between June 1 and Sept. 15 because of concerns that it adds to smog in high temperatures.

Senior Biden administration officials said the move will save drivers an average of 10 cents per gallon at 2,300 gas stations that sell E15, as the high-blend ethanol is known. Those stations are mostly in the Midwest and the South, including Texas, according to industry groups.

WHY IS BIDEN DOING THIS?

Lawmakers from both parties and ethanol advocates have urged Biden and the EPA to allow year-round sales of E15, calling it a cheaper and readily available domestic alternative to traditional gasoline. The U.S. has banned imports of Russian crude oil since the country's late February invasion of Ukraine, disrupting global markets and raising prices.

Homegrown Iowa biofuels provide a quick and clean solution for lowering prices at the pump, and bolstering production would help us become energy independent once again, said Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, a longtime ethanol proponent. Grassley and 15 other senators sent Biden a letter last month urging him to allow year-round E15 sales.

Ethanol groups called Biden's action a major win for American drivers and U.S. energy security. "It means cleaner options at the pump and a stronger rural economy, said Emily Skor, CEO of Growth Energy, a biofuel trade group.

HOW WILL THIS AFFECT THE ENVIRONMENT?

Biden administration official say the short-term move will have little effect on the environment and that EPA will work with states to "ensure there are no significant air quality impacts through the summer driving season.''

Environmentalists questioned that, saying ethanol production contributes to greenhouse gas emissions and soil erosion and raises prices for corn and other crops.

The ethanol lobby will be happy and kids with asthma will be sicker,'' said Dan Becker of the Center for Biological Diversity, an environmental group. However well-meaning (Biden's action) might be, kids and the elderly shouldnt pay the price with their health for slight gas savings.''

A recent report in the Proceedings of the National Academy of the Sciences revealed that the federal ethanol mandate inflated corn prices by 30% from 2008 to 2016, made corn-based ethanol more carbon intensive than gasoline and increased annual fertilizer use by up to 8%, polluting waterways.

HAS EPA DONE THIS BEFORE?

The EPA has lifted seasonal restrictions on E15 in the past, including after Hurricane Harvey in 2017. The Trump administration allowed for year-round E15 sales starting in 2019, but a federal appeals court struck down the policy change in July 2021, saying the EPA overstepped its authority.

The decision dealt a significant blow to the ethanol industry and corn farmers who had anticipated increased ethanol demand through year-round sales of the higher blend.

HOW IS THIS DIFFERENT FROM TRUMP'S ACTION?

Senior Biden administration officials said they expected the EPA waiver to survive a likely court challenge, saying that unlike the open-ended Trump rule, the action is limited to this summer and is prompted by a supply disruption caused by the war in Europe.

Greater use of E15 should "help alleviate some of the pain that weve seen since Russia launched this war against Ukraine, EPA Administrator Michael Regan told a Senate committee last week.

But critics said the only emergency is Biden's dropping poll numbers.

Emergency fuel waivers are reserved for acute supply disruptions, such as those resulting from a hurricane, said Chet Thompson, president & CEO of the American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers, which represents petroleum refiners.

An additional three months of E15 sales wont do anything to address high crude oil prices, and 98% of retail (gas) stations cant even sell the fuel,'' Thompson said. This is politics, not a real solution for drivers.

WILL E15 HURT MY CAR'S ENGINE?

E15, often sold at the pump as Unleaded 88, for its octane rating, can safely be used in all cars, trucks and SUVs from 2001 on. Those model years represent more than 90% of vehicles on U.S. roads. The ethanol industry says the fuel is one of the most tested in history and has no effect on vehicle drivability. More than 20 billion miles have been driven in cars and trucks using Unleaded 88, a number continues to grow.

WHAT IS THE PRICE OF E15 GAS?

E15, or Unleaded 88, typically sells for 10 cents a gallon less than E10, the standard formulation for U.S. cars. The price difference between Unleaded 88 and conventional gasoline without ethanol is around 40 cents.

WILL I GET BETTER MILEAGE WITH E15?

There is no noticeable difference between the mileage achieved when using E15 and mileage when operating on E10.

CAN I USE E15 IN MY LAWNMOWER OR OTHER SMALL-ENGINE EQUIPMENT?

E15 has not been approved by EPA for use in non-automotive engines such as boats, motorcycles, lawn mowers and other small engines. E10, the standard ethanol formulation, is approved for small engines.
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VERNON, France (AP)  Far-right leader Marine Le Pen on Tuesday described France as a nation that would put its peoples voices at the center of the political process if she is elected president in 12 days.

Le Pen, a solid nationalist, faces centrist President Emmanuel Macron in a presidential runoff on April 24. He placed first and Le Pen second in Sundays first-round presidential vote that eliminated 10 other candidates. Both Le Pen and Macron are now aggressively campaigning to win an election that could upend Frances system of governance and Europes dynamics should Le Pen be victorious.

In a dramatic change, new laws could be passed or old laws modified in a referendum proposed by citizens, with conditions such as 500,000 signatures backing the proposal . Such a system was demanded two years ago by the sometimes violent yellow vest movement for social and economic justice that challenged Macron's government as being too business-friendly.

In Sundays first round of voting for the country's next president, the far-right, including Le Pen and two other parties, together won 32% of the vote, compared to Macrons 27.8% support, although he was the top individual candidate. Still, that means far-right voters can be expected to factor into Frances political future not just in the next two weeks, but for years, even if Le Pen loses.

Le Pen also wants two-thirds of the 577 seats in France's lower house of parliament to be allotted by the proportional system to better reflect voters' choices. Her anti-immigration National Rally party currently holds 8 seats.

Le Pen claimed that democracy would be the main beneficiary of these changes, giving citizens who represent what she calls the France of the forgotten a say in how they are governed.

Having referendums can contribute to France's democratic culture, Le Pen said Tuesday at a news conference in the Normandy town of Vernon. A small crowd of local opponents cried Facist! while supporters shouted back Marine, president! as she left the hotel to meet the press.

During my mandate, I count on consulting the only expert that Emmanuel Macron never consulted the people, Le Pen said.

Le Pen would also return the French presidency to a seven-year non-renewable mandate, instead of the current five-year term that can be renewed once.

"I want to be the president who gives back the people their voice in their own country, she said.

The French Constitution would have to be revised to make possible the referendum concept possible, and vital subjects like nuclear power could not be put to a vote.

Also needing a constitutional change would be Le Pens plan, if elected, to ban Islamic headscarves in French streets. That's a big step further than current laws, which ban headscarves in classrooms since 2004 and face-coverings in the streets since 2010. With an estimated 5 million Muslims in France, headscarves are commonly worn by many Muslim women.

We must leave no space, not a thumb space, for Islamists, Le Pen said, adding that she wants to liberate French Muslim women from the yoke of radicals.

France has faced several deadly attacks by Islamic extremists in the past decade, including the 2015 Paris attacks that left 130 people dead.

___

Follow all AP stories on France's 2022 presidential election at https://apnews.com/french-election-2022.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP)  A federal judicial panel declined Tuesday to grant an order temporarily blocking certification of 2022 U.S. House races that have gone forward in Ohio under a disputed congressional map.

Ruling on largely technical grounds, a three-judge panel of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio advised a group of Black voters from Youngstown claiming to be disenfranchised by the map that their issue must be litigated separately.

The group, known as the Simon parties, had sought the order against the congressional map as a side party in a lawsuit involving Ohio's unresolved maps of state legislative districts.

But judges said adding congressional maps to that dispute would be doubling the scope and complexity of the case.

The court did not contemplate sweeping congressional redistricting, which is a wholly distinct process, into this lawsuit, the judges wrote. Though both varieties of redistricting involve the (Ohio Redistricting) Commission, they are separate tasks, utilizing independent standards and resulting in different district boundaries for General Assembly members versus Congressmembers.

The panel urged the Simon parties to return to the Northern District of Ohio, where it had filed  and then dropped  an earlier lawsuit, to make its case against the U.S. House map. The voter group must limit its arguments in the case involving legislative maps only to disenfranchisement they allege under those maps, judges said.

While U.S. House races have gone forward in Ohio, the state's legislative races  to determine state representatives and senators  are on hold. The federal court has said it will intervene after April 20 if the state fails to come to some resolution.

In a series of divided votes, the redistricting commission has passed four different sets of legislative maps. The first three were invalidated by the Ohio Supreme Court as unconstitutional partisan gerrymanders unduly favoring Republicans, and a fourth set  hardly different from the third  is now before the court.

As the public awaits their ruling on the fourth set of maps, justices also are weighing arguments on the extraordinary question of whether commissioners should be held in contempt of its orders to pass maps that fairly reflected the state's 54% Republican-46% Democratic partisan breakdown.
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Good morning! Happy morning! Rabbi Avraham Wolff exclaimed, with a big smile, as he walked into the Chabad synagogue in Odesa on a recent morning.

Russian missiles had just struck an oil refinery in the Ukrainian city, turning the sky charcoal gray. Hundreds were lining up outside his synagogue hoping to receive a kilo of matzah each for their Passover dinner tables. The unleavened flatbread, imperative at the ritual meal known as a Seder, is now hard to find in war-torn Ukraine amid the war and a crippling food shortage.

But the rabbi wanted no challenge to get him down  be it the lack of matzah or that he was missing his wife and children who had fled the Black Sea port for Berlin days ago.

I need to smile for my community, Wolff said. We need humor. We need hope.

Tens of thousands of Ukrainian Jews have fled while about 80% remain in Ukraine, according to estimates from Chabad, one of the largest Hasidic Jewish organizations in the world. Inside and outside Ukraine, a nation steeped in Jewish history and heritage, people are preparing to celebrate Passover, which begins sundown on April 15. Its been a challenge, to say the least.

The holiday marks the liberation of Jewish people from slavery in ancient Egypt, and their exodus under the leadership of Moses. The story is taking on special meaning for thousands of Jewish Ukrainian refugees who are living a dramatic story in real time.

Chabad, which has deep roots and a wide network in Ukraine, and other groups such as the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) and the Jewish Federations of North America, have mobilized to help Ukrainian Jews celebrate Passover wherever they have sought refuge. In Ukraine, Chabad plans 52 public Seders welcoming about 9,000 people.

In Odesa, Wolff is preparing to host two large Seders  one in early evening at the Chabad synagogue for families with young children and a later Seder at a hotel where participants can stay the night, obeying a 9 p.m. curfew.

He's been waving in trucks loaded with Passover supplies  matzah from Israel, milk from France, meat from Britain.

We may not all be together, but it's going to be an unforgettable Passover, Wolff said. This year, we celebrate as one big Jewish family around the world.

JDC, which has evacuated more than 11,600 Jews from Ukraine, has shipped more than 2 tons of matzah, over 400 bottles of grape juice and over 700 pounds of kosher Passover food for refugees in Poland, Moldova, Hungary and Romania, said Chen Tzuk, the organizations director of operations in Europe, Asia and Africa. In Ukraine, their social service centers and corps of volunteers are distributing nearly 16 tons of matzah to elderly Jews and families in need, she said.

Passover is something familiar and basic for Jewish people, Tzuk said. For refugees who have left everything behind, it's important to be able celebrate this holiday with honor and dignity.

JDC is organizing in-person Seders in countries bordering Ukraine and elsewhere in Europe, she said, and is facilitating online Seders where its too dangerous to gather in person.

The Jewish Federations of North America has set up a volunteer hub in support of refugees fleeing Ukraine; it's a partnership with the Jewish Agency for Israel, the JDC and IsraAID. Russian-speaking volunteers, such as Alina Spaulding, will help organize a Seder for 100 refugees at a hotel in Budapest.

Spaulding, a resident of Greensboro, North Carolina, fled Kharkiv, Ukraine, as a 5-year-old in the 1970s with her parents. She said the war has rekindled strong connections to Ukraine.

My mom showed me a photo of me with my grandpa on a street that was recently bombed, Spaulding said. We talked about the university in Kharkiv where my mom and dad went, which was also hit. Suddenly, it all felt so personal.

Spaulding believes spending Passover with refugees will be an experience to remember."

Part of the magic of Passover is finding your own story, she said. Were in the middle of a modern-day exodus. I cant even imagine the stories I will hear.

Celebrating a holiday can give people a rush of hope and happiness even in grim situations, said Rabbi Jacob Biderman, who leads Chabad activities throughout Austria, including a center in Vienna that is sheltering about 800 Ukrainian Jews. Days after refugees reached his center, Biderman led a joyous celebration of Purim, a festival commemorating the deliverance of Jews from a planned massacre in ancient Persia.

The look on their faces changed from sorrow to joy... Their eyes lit up, Biderman said. It gave them a sense of normalcy, dignity and the belief that their spiritual life is something no one can take away from them.

That fueled Biderman's determination to provide a memorable Passover Seder for the refugees.

Dr. Yaacov Gaissinovitch, his wife, Elizabeth, and their three children  ages 11, 8 and 4  will be part of that celebration. They fled the Ukrainian city of Dnipro by car on Friday, March 4. Gaissinovitch, a urologist and mohel who performs the Jewish rite of circumcision, said it pained him, as an observant Jew, to drive on Shabbat  a forbidden act on the day of rest and prayer except when lives are at stake.

I drove nonstop for 12 hours to Moldova to save us all, he said. We sang all the Shabbat songs in the car. It was very, very hard.

In Dnipro, Gaissinovitch had his offices in the sprawling Menorah Center, which serves as a center of Jewish life, housing a synagogue, shops, restaurants, museums and the office of the citys chief rabbi.

After a month of being severed from everything familiar, the Chabad center in Vienna has been a blessing, Gaissinovitch said.

Weve been accepted here very warmly, he said. After being disconnected for days, the children have been able to see that our life hasnt stopped.

A similar community at the Chabad center in Berlin is housing about 1,000 refugees, including Rabbi Avraham Wolffs wife and children from Odesa. The center plans to host eight Seders citywide and has distributed matzah and other food to community members. Refugees, including 120 children from an Odesa orphanage who arrived in Berlin along with Wolffs family, distributed the items to locals, said Yehuda Teichtal, the chief rabbi of Berlin.

To me, this is extremely touching, he said. That people on the receiving end are able to give and not be viewed as victims. Its empowering and energizing.

As they prepare for Passover, Teichtal, Biderman and Wolff said they have been inspired by Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, known as the Lubavitcher Rebbe, who was among the most influential global leaders in Judaism in modern times. April 5 marked the Rebbes 120th birth anniversary, a special number in Jewish tradition.

The Rebbe built a strong foundation (in Ukraine) so were able to do what were doing now, Wolff said.

Schneerson grew up in Ukraine during a challenging time in the former Soviet Union, Teichtal said.

In spite of all the darkness, his focus was selflessness, dedication, love for all humanity and the unwavering faith that we are going to overcome, Teichtal said.

___

Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the APs collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.
DECATUR, Ala. (AP)  A former Alabama high school teacher who spent more than two years on paid leave before pleading guilty to having sex with a student was ordered to pay $100,000 in restitution to cover the cost of her salary and benefits during the case, the Decatur Daily reported.

The Decatur City Schools system said the order, released Monday, was believed to the first time in the state where a former teacher was ordered to make such a reimbursement.
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MULHOUSE, France (AP)  Facing a tougher-than expected fight for reelection, French President Emmanuel Macron has hit the campaign trail at last  and it isn't always proving welcoming.

But he's not shying away from angry voters, instead engaging in lively, sometimes confrontational debates. Since he and far-right nationalist rival Marine Le Pen qualified Sunday for France's April 24 presidential runoff, Macron has seemed eager to go in the field to explain his policies and try to convince people to hand him a second term.

On Tuesday, he was asked hard questions during a visit to the eastern city of Mulhouse.

Why didnt you help the poorest?"

Why do hospitals suffer from shortages of beds and shortages of health workers?

"How can you propose to push back retirement age from 62 to 65 when so many people are jobless?

The 44-year-old leader appeared determined to explain his policies at length  but sometimes grew impatient when people kept contradicting him.

Before Sunday's first round presidential vote which had 12 candidates, Macron skipped most campaign activities, focusing his time at the Elysee Presidential Palace on diplomatic efforts to end Russia's war in Ukraine. Domestic critics decried the perceived lack of debate in France's presidential campaign.

Now the role of candidate has taken over. Macron is considered the favorite by the polls, but Le Pen appears to have significantly narrowed the gap from 2017, when he trounced her in the same presidential runoff.

On Monday, Macron went to an economically depressed region in northern France that is considered Le Pens stronghold. The next day, he visited the eastern cities of Mulhouse and Strasbourg, where far-left candidate Jean-Luc Melenchon, who came in third Sunday, got a majority of the first-round vote.

Upon his arrival in Mulhouse, Macron literally ran toward the small crowd waiting for him. He met some supporters, but also angry, discouraged workers from a nearby public hospital who came to challenge him.

We are exhausted, some nurses told him. Improve our working conditions!

A 61-year-old health care worker said he worked for 30 years and but is earning only 1,885 euros ($2,051) a month.

I am not thinking about myself. I am thinking of my children, my grandchildren," he said, explaining his vote.

Macron mentioned changes his government had made amid the COVID-19 pandemic, including a small salary increase for hospital workers.

Have your earnings been increased? he asked.

We dont feel the impact of it, the man answered.

Another health care worker asked him about hospitals losing beds as the pandemic is still going on.

I know, that is the challenge we are facing, Macron acknowledged, explaining that the issue is about a lack of trained hospital staff, a situation amplified in a region where many French seek work in neighboring Germany and Switzerland where wages are higher.

Two years ago, I made commitments and the salaries were increased. And 183 euros ($199) per month, you cant say thats nothing, Macron insisted.

Another big obstacle repeatedly came Macrons way: his planned pension changes. Macron wants to raise the minimum retirement age from 62 to 65, which he argues is needed so France can keep financing the pensions. Le Pen says she would maintain the retirement age at 62. The issue prompted major street protests in late 2019, and Macron then had to postpone his plans amid the COVID-19 crisis.

We must work longer, Macron said. Its not true we can keep financing our social model if we dont push back (the retirement age).

He kept repeating that the retirement changes would be implemented very gradually through 2031 and opened the door to softening the reform, as he seeks to attract voters who chose other candidates in the first round.

At a rally on the plaza adjacent to the 12th-century cathedral of Strasbourg, home to the European parliament, boos briefly disrupted Macrons speech on Europe but failed to destabilize him. Instead, he responded spontaneously to criticism and called for his supporters and his opponents to respect each other.

Le Pen's supporters credit her months of campaigning in France's provinces for her strong first-round showing. But as Macron joined the fray at last, he sought to make a distinction between their campaigns, criticizing those candidates who never go to meet opponents."

I'm not going to meet only people who like me, he said.

___

Associated Press journalists Masha Macpherson and John Leicester in Paris contributed to this report.

___

Follow all AP stories on the 2022 French presidential election at https://apnews.com/hub/french-election-2022.
AUSTIN, Texas (AP)  One of the busiest trade ports on the U.S.-Mexico border remained closed Tuesday as frustration and traffic snarls mounted over new orders by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott requiring extra inspections of commercial trucks as part of the Republicans sprawling border security operation.

Since Monday, Mexican truckers have blocked the Pharr-Reynosa International Bridge in protest after Abbott last week directed state troopers to stop and inspect trucks coming into Texas. Unusually long backups  some lasting 12 hours or longer  have stacked up elsewhere along Texas roughly 1,200-mile (1,930-kilometer) border.

Not even a week into the inspections, the Mexican government said Tuesday that Abbotts order was causing serious damage to trade, and that cross-border traffic had plummeted to a third of normal levels.

The gridlock is the fallout of an initiative that Abbott says is needed to curb human trafficking and the flow of drugs. But critics question how the inspections are meeting that objective, while business owners and experts complain of financial losses and warn U.S. grocery shoppers could notice shortages as soon as this week.

Frustration is also spreading within members of Abbott's own party: Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller, a Republican, called the inspections a catastrophic policy that is forcing some trucks to reroute hundreds of miles to Arizona.

I do describe it as a crisis, because this is not the normal way of doing business, said Hidalgo County Judge Richard Cortez, whose county includes the bridge in Pharr. Youre talking about billions of dollars. When you stop that process, I mean, there are many, many, many, many people that are affected.

The shutdowns and slowdowns have set off some of widest backlash to date of Abbotts multibillion-dollar border operation, which the two-term governor has made the cornerstone of his administration. Texas already has thousands of state troopers and National Guard members on the border and has converted prisons into jails for migrants arrested on state trespassing charges.

Abbott warned last week that inspections would dramatically slow border traffic, but he hasn't addressed the backups or port shutdowns since then. His office didn't reply to a message seeking comment left Tuesday.

The disruptions at some of the world's busiest international trade ports could pose economic and political threats to Abbott, who is seeking a third term in November. Democrat Beto O'Rourke, the former presidential candidate who is running against Abbott for governor, said during a stop in Pharr on Tuesday that the inspections were doing nothing to halt the flow of migrants and were worsening supply chain issues.

He was joined by Joe Arevalo, owner of Keystone Cold, a cold-storage warehouse on the border. He said that although Texas state troopers have always inspected some trucks crossing the border theyve never, ever, ever held up a complete system or a complete supply chain.

An estimated 3,000 trucks cross the Pharr bridge on a normal day, according to the National Freight Transportation Chamber. The Pharr bridge is the largest land port for produce, such as leafy green vegetables, entering the U.S.

Mexico supplies about two-thirds of the produce sold in Texas.

Were living through a nightmare, and were already suffering through a very delicate supply chain from the pandemic and to try to regrow the business," Arevalo said.

The additional inspections are conducted by the Texas Department of Public Safety, which said that as of Monday, it had inspected more than 3,400 commercial vehicles and placed more than 800 out of service for violations that included defective brakes, tires and lighting. It made no mention of whether the truck inspections had turned up migrants or drugs.

The order's impact quickly spread beyond Texas: U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials confirmed Tuesday that there was another blockade at the Mexican customs facility at the Santa Teresa port of entry in southern New Mexico, not far from El Paso. Those protests are misguided since New Mexico has nothing to do with Texas' inspection policies, said Jerry Pacheco, executive director of the International Business Accelerator and president of the Border Industrial Association.

He said the protests were costing businesses millions of dollars a day.

Everybody down here is on a just-in-time inventory system, Pancheo said. Its going to affect all of us, all of us in the United States. Your car parts are going to be delivered late, your computer  if you ordered a Dell or HP tablet, those are going to be disrupted."

Ed Anderson, a professor at the McCombs School of Business at the University of Texas at Austin, compared the disruptions to those caused by February's trucker blockade in Canada that forced auto plants on both sides of the border to shut down or scale back production. During that protest, trucks looking for other entries to cross into the U.S. wound up causing congestion at other bridges, a scenario that Anderson said might now be repeated on the southern border.

Anderson said consumers would likely begin noticing the effects by the end of this week, if not sooner.

Either prices are going to spike or shelves are going to be low," he said.

____

Associated Press reporters Acacia Coronado. Susan Montoya in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and Mark Stevenson in Mexico City contributed to this report.
POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. (AP)  A garbage truck struck and killed a 3-year-old and his grandmother as they were walking near an intersection in Poughkeepsie, police said.

Authorities said a 41-year-old driver, who worked for Royal Carting, hit the pair on Monday afternoon. It was unclear what caused the accident, The Poughkeepsie Journal reported Monday.
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DOUGLASVILLE, Ga. (AP)  Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp rose to national notice in 2018 in part through a television ad that showed him brandishing a shotgun at an actor playing a suitor of one of his daughters.

The Republican, then running as conservative insurgent, pushed his support for gun rights, proposing to do away with the requirement that Georgians obtain a permit to carry a concealed handgun in public.

Tuesday, facing a Republican primary challenge from former U.S. Sen. David Perdue, Kemp completed his return to those roots, signing Senate Bill 319. It immediately allows permitless carry in Georgia, making it the 25th state with such a law, and the 10th added in the past two years.

SB 319 makes sure that law-abiding Georgians, including our daughters, and your family too, can protect themselves without having to have permission from your state government, Kemp said outside Gable Sporting Goods in Douglasville, where he said he had previously purchased a handgun for one of his daughters. The Constitution of the United States gives us that right, not the government.

Republicans argue that requiring a carry permit, which costs about $75, infringes on Second Amendment gun rights. They also cite permitting delays in some Georgia counties during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Kemp's advocacy of permitless carry had grown quieter after he took office. He supported some gun rights expansions but talked little of constitutional carry, failing to mention the issue in his 2019, 2020 or 2021 State of the State speeches. Republican state House Speaker David Ralston shelved even a more modest gun bill in 2021 after shootings killed eight people at two Atlanta-area spas.

But in one example of how Perdue's Donald Trump-endorsed challenge has forced Kemp to the right, he revived calls for constitutional carry in January, saying people need to carry guns to protect themselves against crime.

Perdue told reporters Tuesday in Atlanta that he's glad Kemp was signing the bill but said the governor isn't doing enough to fight crime. Perdue cited the failure of lawmakers to allow the Buckhead neighborhood to vote on seceding from Atlanta, said Kemp has let the state police force deteriorate" and said Kemp should do more to arrest people who entered the country illegally.

Its too bad it took four years to get it done, and its too bad it took me getting in the race for them to get any energy to get that done, Perdue said of the gun law.

Kemp denies he ever waivered on the issue, saying he had to keep persuading lawmakers. The votes havent been there, but a lot changed, he told reporters after signing the law.

Kemp's support points to a sharp divergence between the Georgia Republican and Democratic parties this year on guns and other issues. There's little dissension inside the Republican Party on expanding gun rights, while Democrats are eager to stake their claim to commonsense gun regulation.

At an event before Kemp signed the law, several Democratic lawmakers lambasted the measure as criminal carry," saying it would remove one of Georgia's few deterrents blocking people who aren't supposed to carry a gun.

Under Georgia law, people who have been convicted of a felony, are facing felony charges or have been treated for certain mental health issues within the past five years can't carry a gun. The new law doesn't change that. But it removes the background check for a permit to carry a loaded or concealed handgun in public. Democrats note that more than 5,000 people applied for permits last year and were blocked, and say police and the public will now face the danger of some of those people carrying guns.

Yes, I believe in the Second Amendment, said Sen. Donzella James, an Atlanta Democrat. But why are we spreading the access to guns to everyone?"

Democrats point to polling showing the measure is unpopular with a majority of the public, saying Kemp has become a prisoner of his party's right wing.

It is a sad day when the Republican leadership across Georgia cares more about their political position than public safety, said Rep. Roger Bruce, an Atlanta Democrat.

The state would still issue concealed-carry permits to allow Georgians to take advantage of agreements allowing interstate gun carry. Kemp also signed a bill Tuesday enhancing reciprocity in Georgia for gun owners from other states.

Kemp signed the law a day after Democratic President Joe Biden announced new regulations on ghost guns, privately made firearms without serial numbers. But Biden has made no progress on getting Congress to pass gun regulations, and the U.S. Supreme Court could be poised to strike down New Yorks more restrictive permitting regime.

There are no studies that show permitless carry laws decrease violent crimes, a 2020 Rand Institute analysis found, while its uncertain whether the laws increase violence.

Even some gun control proponents say that Georgia's laws were already so permissive that it's unclear what will change without permits. Allison Anderman is senior counsel for the Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence, named for former Arizona U.S. Rep Gabby Giffords, a Democrat who was shot outside a supermarket and suffered a severe brain injury in 2011.

I don't know that we can really draw any conclusions, Anderman said.

___

Follow Jeff Amy on Twitter at http://twitter.com/jeffamy.
BERLIN (AP)  A German woman who allegedly abused a Yazidi slave while in Islamic State-held territory in Syria has been charged with crimes against humanity and other offenses, federal prosecutors said Tuesday.

The woman, identified only as Jalda A. in keeping with German privacy laws, was arrested upon her arrival back in Germany on Oct. 7. Before her repatriation, she had been held captive by Kurdish forces since late 2017.

She was charged with membership in a foreign terrorist organization, crimes against humanity, war crimes and being an accessory to genocide, prosecutors said in a statement.

The suspect traveled in April 2014 via Turkey to Syria, according to prosecutors, where she quickly married an IS fighter and gave birth to a son the following year. When her first husband died, she married two other men in succession.

She lived with the third man in and near the Syrian city of Mayadin from September to October 2017, prosecutors said, adding that the husband kept a Yazidi woman as a slave and regularly raped her with the suspects knowledge.

The suspect also physically abused the woman almost every day, according to prosecutors. She allegedly punched and kicked the woman, pulled her hair, and slammed her head against the wall, and on one occasion hit the woman in the head with a flashlight.

In addition, prosecutors said, the suspect constantly watched the woman and repeatedly told her to pray according to Islamic custom, an act that served the stated goal of the IS, to eradicate the Yazidi faith.

The indictment was filed last month at the state court in Hamburg, which will have to decide whether and when to open a trial.
ATHENS, Greece (AP)  Greece will accelerate plans to exploit offshore natural gas deposits, the countrys prime minister said Tuesday, describing a return to reliance on fossil fuels as a temporary necessity due to the disruption caused by the war in Ukraine.

Surveys in six regions in western and southern Greece should be completed by the end of next year, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said.
More than six weeks into his war against Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin is feeling the sting of failure.

Thousands of Russian battlefield deaths. Three front-line retreats by the Russian military. Millions of Ukrainians who will never forgive Moscow. More isolation than ever - and perilously few goals achieved.

Putin is now regrouping to focus his military campaign on Ukraine's east in what is widely seen as "Plan B," after his forces failed to topple Ukraine's government or wrest control of its biggest cities. All the while, questions are mounting about how a Russian leader steeped in security policy and known for railing against the folly of regime-change wars could have sleepwalked into a such a strategic morass.

At issue is a broader quandary that will occupy historians for years: How could Russia - a country with such deep familial, cultural and historic ties to its western neighbor - get Ukraine so wrong?

Officials in the United States and Europe are piecing together the answer to that question. What emerges, those officials say, is a picture of a hubristic and isolated leader, beset by biases and skewed information, pressing forward with a calamitous decision without consulting his full cohort of advisers. Putin rushed headlong into Ukraine, confident in his ability to secure a quick victory and weather any blowback within the authoritarian system he erected at home, they said. Underpinning his assumptions: misconceptions about Ukraine fundamentally rooted in Moscow's colonial past.

"Historically, there just hasn't been expertise on Ukraine in Russia at all," said Alina Polyakova, president and CEO of the Washington-based Center for European Policy Analysis. "When you don't believe a country's a real country and a people's a real people, why would you invest any expertise in a thing you don't think exists?"

In the run-up to the war, some leaders in Europe and Ukraine discounted the possibility that Putin would invade, because they didn't see sufficient Russian forces amassed along the border for Moscow to succeed with a multi-front offensive and subsequent occupation.

What they didn't realize was that Moscow was nurturing deeply flawed assumptions, particularly about the fortitude of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and the willingness of Ukrainians to resist, and was indeed planning a large-scale invasion - just an ill-conceived one. The operation, analysts said, bore the personal fingerprints of Putin.

"It's clear this was a military operation designed by spooks, not generals," said Mark Galeotti, an honorary professor at University College London and senior associate fellow at the Royal United Services Institute. "It makes no sense in purely military terms."

According to U.S. and European officials, Putin had been keeping the plans very close-hold, with top military commanders and trusted advisers unaware that Russia was going to mount an offensive.

The Russian leader notoriously doesn't use a smartphone and rarely accesses the Internet. He spent years snuffing out Russian independent news and erecting an authoritarian system of government devoid of constructive feedback or dissent. By early this year, according to U.S. and European officials, he was operating in an echo chamber, surrounded by advisers who, according to Galeotti, "had learned you do not bring bad news to the czar's table." Putin's isolation, the officials said, had been compounded by the coronavirus and his limited contact with others.

"It's demonstrably obvious now that there was a combination of people not telling him what he needed to hear and him not listening when they did tell him stuff that he didn't want to hear," said James Cleverly, Britain's minister of state for Europe and North America.

Putin has long viewed independent Ukraine as a quirk of the Soviet empire's collapse that needed to be handled personally. According to Russian journalist Mikhail Zygar's book "All the Kremlin's Men," Putin for years controlled policy toward Ukraine himself because he didn't trust anyone else.

"We need to deal with Ukraine or we'll lose it," Putin would say at meetings dating back to the early 2000s, according to Zygar, who labeled Putin's coterie of close advisers the "Collective Putin," because they tend to tailor their activities to anticipate his desires.

Putin's confidence in his personal expertise on Ukraine came through in a lengthy treatise he published last summer. The article portrayed Ukrainians as a people who are naturally the same as Russians but have been taken hostage by Western governments bent on radicalizing them against Moscow.

"That leads to this belief by Putin and others that if you can just decapitate the Zelensky government, knock out the political leadership, then there will be an outpouring of pro-Russian sentiment by the rest of Ukrainian society," said Andrea Kendall-Taylor, a senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security.

Russia got Ukraine wrong "because this was totally a Putin-directed operation," said a U.S. official who specializes in Russia and like others spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive information.

Putin, the official said, "is as convinced as anyone can be of his truths."

The assumption of a quick Ukrainian government collapse undergirded the invasion, according to Ukrainian, U.S. and European officials. In the early days of the war, Russian state news already began promoting the notion that Zelensky had fled, even as he posted videos from Kyiv.

Putin had witnessed a rapid collapse of the Ukrainian government when former president Viktor Yanukovych decamped to Russia in 2014. According to Zygar, Putin shouted at Yanukovych not to leave Kyiv and described him as a "cowardly piece of s---" when he fled the capital in response to a pro-Western uprising. Those events may have led Putin to imagine a similar scenario with Zelensky.

Putin's misconception about Ukrainian weakness was paired with a swaggering view of Russian power. He famously boasted to a top European official in late 2014 that he could easily seize Kyiv "in two weeks" if he desired - a misconception he appeared to continue believing until he attempted to do so.

"He has an unwavering belief in his ability to control events," a senior NATO intelligence official said.

Perhaps no moment underscored the level of misconception more than the attempt by elite Russian paratroopers at the outset of the invasion to land at the Hostomel cargo airport northwest of Kyiv - apparently with the intention of sweeping breezily into the Ukrainian capital.

"Just looking at how this played out, it feels there was an enormous amount of arrogance," a European official said. "You look at the insertion of the airborne forces at Hostomel airport, which was clearly designed to do a decapitation [mission] in Kyiv - and they got smashed."

Alexander Gabuev, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Moscow Center, said the Russian leadership doesn't see Ukraine, a place once controlled by Moscow, as deserving of rigorous study.

"There was this false sense of familiarity," Gabuev said. "That's what Russia completely misunderstood."

Once the assumptions proved false, Russia's military proved unable to regroup, saddled by fuel, ammunition, transport, food and other logistics problems, as well as demoralized soldiers who hadn't been told they were about to fight a war.

"If the initial plan is bad and none of the other preparation is there, there's no durability," Rand Corp. senior defense analyst Scott Boston said.

Where Russia relies primarily on its foreign intelligence service, the SVR, to collect information about countries such as the United States and China, when it comes to countries in the "near abroad" including Ukraine, Moscow enlists the FSB, primarily a domestic intelligence service.

Andrei Soldatov, a Russian journalist who specializes in Russian intelligence, said the FSB regularly failed to understand the popular and grass-roots movements fundamental to Ukraine's political culture.

U.S. and European officials said Russia's poor performance in the initial stages of the war has led to a bad blood between the Russian military and intelligence establishments and a serious search for scapegoats.

What exactly Russian intelligence was reporting to Putin regarding Ukraine before the war is unclear, but multiple U.S. and European officials said Putin's immediate advisers had shown an unwillingness to give the Russian president information that challenged his assumptions. Individuals lower down in Russia's security establishment thought the invasion was ill-conceived but their concerns didn't reach the top, the officials said.

In U.S. and European intelligence circles, the FSB's reputation stands in contrast to the ruthless, cunning reputation of its predecessor, the KGB. Several current and former officials described the Russian security service as rife with corruption, beset by bureaucratic bloat and ultimately out of touch.

A Ukrainian intelligence official said the FSB had spent millions recruiting a network of pro-Russian collaborators who ultimately told Putin and his top advisers, among them the current FSB director, what they wanted to hear: The central government in Kyiv wouldn't hold and resistance would collapse.

The official singled out pro-Russian politician Viktor Medvedchuk, who made Putin the godfather of his daughter, as a significant source of misleading information. Medvedchuk, a Ukrainian politician who has long promoted Russian interests, was charged with treason last year. Ukrainian authorities initially said he escaped house arrest shortly after the invasion, but Zelensky posted a photo of him captured and in fatigues on Tuesday, crediting Ukrainian intelligence with apprehending him.

European officials said the Kremlin was also getting information from out-of-touch former elites associated with Yanukovych, who, like Medvedchuk, stood to gain from a Russian power grab. In the weeks before the invasion, the British government warned that Russian intelligence was plotting with Yanukovych's former prime minister, chief of staff and deputy prime minister.

Regardless of the information stream, Putin believes himself to be the biggest expert on Ukraine, Soldatov said, noting the tendency of Russian officials to assume they understand Ukraine.

"This level of chauvinism - you can see it everywhere," Soldatov said. "It's a direct legacy of this unfortunate imperial past."

- - -

The Washington Post's Dan Lamothe contributed to this report.
BOISE, Idaho (AP)  The Idaho governor and attorney general said Tuesday they are seeking to add Idaho to the list of states that have filed a lawsuit to prevent federal officials from ending a public health rule that allows many asylum seekers to be turned away at the southern U.S. border.

Republican Gov. Brad Little and Republican Attorney General Lawrence Wasden said they are working together to join the lawsuit filed earlier this month by Arizona, Louisiana and Missouri.

The lawsuit challenges the Biden administration's planned May 23 end to border controls known as Title 42. The order was imposed nearly two years ago by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention over coronavirus concerns.

The Trump Administration invoked the Title 42 restrictions to protect the American people, and it worked, Little said in a statement. "The policy kept tens of thousands of illegal immigrants from crossing the border. Idahos participation in this multistate lawsuit reinforces the fact that border security is interconnected to the health and safety of American citizens.

Wasden said the lawsuit is yet another example of states being forced to take action because Congress continues to refuse to address an issue that should be its priority.

Little and Wasden said Idaho and other states received an invitation to join the lawsuit Tuesday morning. The two said they began a review of the lawsuit and then took steps to make sure Idaho is represented.

Republican-led state governments have been fighting the Democratic administrations rollback of some immigration policies.

The policy at the center of the lawsuit went into effect under President Donald Trump in March 2020. Since then, migrants trying to enter the U.S. have been expelled more than 1.7 million times.

The lawsuit says the policy is the only safety valve preventing this Administrations disastrous border policies from devolving into an unmitigated chaos and catastrophe.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced April 1 that it would end the policy that limited asylum at the U.S.-Mexico border to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The government said it was already making plans to erect tents and take other steps to prepare for an expected influx of migrants.

Little has long been critical of Biden's handling of security at the U.S.-Mexico border. Last summer, he sent five Idaho State Police troopers on a 21-day mission to assist Arizona State Police in drug interdiction.
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RIO DE JANEIRO (AP)  In Rio de Janeiro, two rescue dogs have turned local mascots and budding online influencers after joining their rescuers' ranks, wooing their growing audience, one bark at a time.

Corporal Oliveira, a dog with short brown hair thought to be around four years old, turned up one morning in 2019 at a police station on Rio's Governador Island, injured and weak.

I gave him food, water. It took a while for him to get used to me, said Cpl. Cristiano Oliveira, the officer who took the dog under his wing and later gave him his name. But within a few days, Corporal Oliveira  the furry animal  started following his new master around the precinct. Oliveira has since joined another precinct, but the dog never left.

Corporal Oliveira has his own Instagram profile with more than 45,000 fervent followers, always hungry for more photos and videos of their mascot in his trademark police uniform, standing on top of police armoured vehicles, motorcycles or sticking his little head out of a regular patrol car's window. He even has a miniature toy firearm attached to his uniform.

A dozen miles from there, in the leafy and leftist neighborhood of Laranjeiras, another rescue dog has turned mascot.

Caramello  a name inspired by the colour of his fur  has been residing at the fire brigade that found him injured across the iconic Sugarloaf mountain ever since he was rescued nearly a year ago. During that time, the 11-year-old dog has amassed some 27,000 followers.

Older, and slightly less adventurous then Corporal Oliveira, Caramello's online efforts have focused on drawing attention to a wide range of good causes and campaigns.

He has used his newly found clout to promote awareness around cancer, or to encourage donations for victims of natural disasters such as the recent deadly landslides in Petropolis. He's also helped other rescue dogs or cats find new homes.

Caremello is a real digital influencer, said Maj. Fabio Contreiras, from the Catete Fire Brigade, one of Rio de Janeiros oldest.

But with fame, comes burden. And the dogs' fans are demanding.

Sometimes I have too much work. I go a week without posting and people complain: Where is (Corporal) Oliveira? Has he gone missing?, jokes Oliveira, the police officer in charge of the dogs social media. He can get more than 200 messages in one day. Sometimes, he just has to tell them: Hes on holiday!
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP)  One middle school student suffered life-threatening injuries and another was detained after a stabbing at a Kansas City middle school on Tuesday, Kansas City police said.

The stabbing occurred in a restroom at Northeast Middle School, which teaches seventh and eighth grade students, police spokeswoman Donna Drake said.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP)  A Kansas judge has dismissed a legal challenge by voting rights advocates to two provisions of a state election law enacted last year.

Four voting rights groups, including the League of Women Voters of Kansas, argued in a lawsuit filed in June that the law will make it more difficult for several groups, including the disabled, senior citizens and minorities to vote.
PHOENIX (AP)  The Arizona Legislature could soon approve changes to the teacher certification process designed to address a shortage of classroom instructors by allowing more people without regular teacher training to lead a class.

The Republican-backed proposal has already passed the Senate and was given initial approval after a vigorous House debate on Monday over objections from Democrats, who said it will allow unqualified people to teach.

The proposal would expand a 2017 law that allows people with experience in the private sector to get a subject-matter certificate to teach in grades 6-12.

The change removes the grade restrictions, allowing someone with outside experience and a college degree to also teach kindergarten through grade 5.

Arizona, like many other states, has an ongoing teacher shortage and backers say the proposal is one more tool to address that problem.

This is not about watering down the standards to become a teacher and to receive a certificate, Mesa Republican Rep. Michelle Udall said. It's about additional pathways to get people into the teaching profession that are passionate about the subjects that they teach.

Democrats point to low teacher pay, large class sizes, micromanaging by the Legislature and the politicization of classroom curriculum for driving qualified teachers from the profession. Arizona has some of the lowest teacher pay in the nation despite big raises in recent years and this year the GOP-controlled Legislature is advancing policies to increase scrutiny of school library books and boosting the rights of parents to review materials used by teachers.

Democratic Rep. Reginald Bolding, the minority leader, said creating more flexibility for aspiring mid-career professionals to step into the classroom to address the teacher shortage won't help.

Democratic Rep. Kelli Butler agreed, noting that there are 180,000 qualified and certified teachers in the state who are not in the classroom because of the low pay, class sizes that are the highest in the nation and other issues. Adding unqualified teachers will make the problem worse, she said.

The solution is not dumbing down the standards, Butler said. The solution is doing what is needed, using the money that we have to make sure that our teachers are qualified teachers and in the classroom teaching.

Gov. Doug Ducey pushed the special certification for teachers in higher grades in 2017, saying it would add to the pool of people able to teach. But the proposal did little to solve the teacher shortage.

The bill also adds some new teacher training programs. It awaits a formal House vote before returning to the Senate because of minor changes. It passed the Senate with no support from minority Democrats.
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AUGUSTA, Maine (AP)  Tribes in Maine gave up some of their rights to the state when they settled their land claims more than 40 years ago.

They want to change that agreement so they can enjoy the same self-governing rights as the other Native Americans.

The Passamaquoddy, Penobscot, Maliseet and Mikmaq view legislative debate this week, ahead of the midterm elections, as their best opportunity for establishing rights to self determination.

The proposed changes come against a backdrop of President Joe Biden's administration seeking to ensure that tribes are consulted early when it comes to policies or actions that impact them. It also has sought ways for the federal government and tribes to co-manage federal land that is part of tribes' ancestral homeland.

But unlike the hundreds of tribal reservations across the United States, the Passamaquoddy's and Penobscot's three reservations in Maine are governed like municipalities and bound by state laws under the Maine Indian Claims Settlement Act of 1980.

In Maine, the larger Passamaquoddy and Penobscot tribes operate their own police departments and health clinics but don't have full autonomy over matters on their land. The state and tribes have butted heads on environmental, fish and wildlife rules.

Change could come with votes in the state Legislature that began Tuesday.

One of the bills would amend the land claims act to ensure that tribes have control over their land that's comparable to other tribes in the U.S. Of the 574 federally recognized tribes in the country, about 325 have reservation land. The Legislature has not voted on that bill.

Another bill would ensure the Passamaquoddy Tribe at Pleasant Point can regulate its own drinking water, drilling wells on land owned by the tribe, for example, and working with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency instead of being bound by state regulatory agencies.

That bill overwhelmingly passed, 103-35, in the initial House vote on Tuesday. The Senate will take it up later this week.

On Monday, about 300 tribal members and supporters gathered at the State House and marched to the home of Gov. Janet Mills, who's opposed some aspects of both proposals.

One of the speakers, 19-year-old Passamaquoddy Noela Altvater, told the crowd that clean drinking water is available virtually everywhere in Maine  except on the Pleasant Point reservation where shes grown up.

Our community has been stripped and kept from this basic need for our entire existence, she said.

Chief Maggie Dana of the Passamaquoddy Tribe at Pleasant Point, also known as Sipayik, put it in stark terms.

Our culture is clear  water is life. And for the Passamaquoddy people at Sipayik, it is poison, Dana said.

For the tribes, it has been a long, frustrating battle since they traded some rights to the state under an $81.5 million settlement that was signed by President Jimmy Carter in 1980. The settlement can be changed, but only with the agreement of both the state and the tribes.

That settlement for the Passamaquoddy, Penobscot and Maliseet, along with a 1991 agreement for the Mi'kmaq, all federally recognized, put the Maine tribes on a different footing from tribes elsewhere across the country.

In Maine, opponents fear unintended consequences, like tribes flexing their muscle on environmental, fish and wildlife, and economic development.

Thats one of the reasons why Maine's Democratic governor has not warmed to the sovereignty bill. If its approved, she might veto it.

A spokesperson said the governor is committed to improving drinking water quality by working with the local water district, Passamaquoddy Tribe, and the federal government. But Mills didn't appreciate one tribal leader's suggestion that she was offering beads and trinkets instead of substantive proposals.

The governor is focused on bringing people together to solve problems, not trading insults at press conferences, spokesperson Lindsay Crete said.

Despite the governors opposition, the tribes still see this as their best chance, potentially for some time, to get the bills passed because they have the support of Democratic leadership.

With the midterms coming up, Republicans could take control of one or both Democratically controlled chambers in the State House, along with the governorship, hampering efforts to press forward with the proposals.

Maggie Dana said the tribes have been educating lawmakers and creating alliances, and they're hopeful for change.

Its time for the state to live up to its motto Dirigo, which is Latin for I lead, instead of being last to expand the rights of Native Americans to the same rights enjoyed by others, Dana said.
AUGUSTA, Maine (AP)  The Maine Legislative gave final approval Tuesday to bill aimed at closing a loophole that allowed out-of-state garbage to be dumped in a state-owned landfill.

The proposal goes to the governor's desk after the House voted 102-25 in favor of the bill. It passed unanimously in the Senate last week.
SALEM, Ore. (AP)  A man authorities say fought with police during a stolen vehicle investigation was shot and killed by an officer in Salem, Oregon.

KOIN-TV reports that around 8:30 p.m. Monday, Salem police officers Susan Slivkoff and Joshua Buker were investigating a possibly stolen vehicle. Police say a man, later identified as Tayler Shannon Osborne, 28, was sitting inside the vehicle and started a violent fight with the officers.
RAPID CITY, S.D. (AP)  South Dakota state investigators have identified the man who died in a police shooting in Rapid City last month.

The Division of Criminal Investigation said Barney Leroy Peoples Jr. was shot by officers who responded to a report of a residential burglary.
PORTLAND, Maine (AP)  Maine's highest court on Tuesday rejected another appeal by a man sentenced to life in prison for killing a police officer.

The Supreme Judicial Court unanimously sided with a judge who turned down John Williams' request for a new trial on the grounds that prosecutors withheld evidence about an arresting officers disciplinary record.

It was the second appeal for Williams, who was accused of killing a deputy and stealing his police vehicle, triggering a massive manhunt in April 2018.

Williams attorney previously argued that arresting officers beat the defendant during his arrest and that Williams confessed to the killing out of fear hed be beaten again.

The new appeal focused on a state trooper who was disciplined for failure to timely report another officers misconduct  a state police lieutenant who punched Williams.

The court said it's unlikely that the evidence would have changed the outcome of the trial, the court said.

Furthermore, the evidence would have impugned the credibility of a trooper whose testimony helped Williams by confirming he was struck twice while handcuffed, the court said.

Prosecutors say Williams was angry over his girlfriends arrest and wanted to avoid going to jail himself when he shot a Somerset County Sheriffs deputy on April 25, 2018, in Norridgewock.

Cpl. Eugene Cole was the first law enforcement officer to be killed in the line of duty in nearly 30 years in Maine.
RIVERSIDE, Calif. (AP)  Masked gunman burst into a an illegal gambling operation at a gated Southern California home, stealing cash, jewelry and phones before fleeing, police said.

Authorities are searching for suspects in the brazen robbery late Sunday in Riverside, said Officer Ryan Railsback, a spokesman for the city's police department.
CONCORD, N.H. (AP)  The stepmother of a missing New Hampshire girl accused of lying that the child was living with her to collect food stamp benefits faces new, unrelated firearms charges, days after the girl's father was arrested on similar charges, the attorney general's office said Tuesday.

Kayla Montgomery, 31, is accused of receiving a rifle and a shotgun between Sept. 29 and Oct. 22 of 2019, knowing that they had been stolen or believing they had probably been stolen.

A message was sent to her lawyer seeking comment.

She has been in jail since January on a felony theft charge. She allegedly told state Health Department workers that her stepdaughter, Harmony Montgomery, was a member of her household from November 2019 to June 2, 2021, and that she received food stamp benefits for Harmony. Shes pleaded not guilty to the theft charge.

Authorities say Harmony Montgomery vanished sometime in late November or early December of 2019  but authorities didnt know she was missing until last fall.

There is no evidence of any connection between the stolen firearms and the disappearance of Harmony Montgomery," the attorney general's office said in a news release.

Harmonys father, Adam Montgomery, who had custody of his daughter, also has been in jail since January on an assault charge, alleging he struck Harmony in the face in July 2019. Hes pleaded not guilty to that and to two misdemeanor charges of interference with custody and endangering the welfare of a child. He recently was arrested on eight unrelated firearms theft charges stemming from 2019.

The firearms charges against Adam and Kayla Montgomery allege they received the weapons from a person referred to as C.F." in court documents.

Kayla and Adam Montgomery are estranged. Both told police that Harmony was brought to her mother in Massachusetts around Thanksgiving 2019. Her mother said she last saw her daughter during a phone video conversation around Easter that year.

The search for Harmony remains active. The Manchester Police Departments 24-hour tip line on the case is (603) 203-6060 and there is a reward fund of at least $150,000.
RAVENNA, Ohio (AP)  A woman has pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter in the death of a newborn whose body was found inside a trash bag at college dormitory outside Cleveland.

Breyona Reddick, 21, of Cleveland, entered her plea Friday as part of a deal with Portage County prosecutors, who agreed to dismiss several other counts including aggravated murder, child endangerment and tampering with evidence,
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NEW YORK - An attacker riding the subway in Brooklyn filled a rush-hour train with smoke before opening fire Tuesday morning, police said, shooting 10 people and leaving behind a chaotic scene, a sweeping manhunt and mounting questions about the violence.

The rampage sent more than two dozen people to hospitals, cut off train service and locked down area schools, rocking a city already shaken by the rise in gun violence since the pandemic began.

Police said Tuesday evening that after a daylong investigation, they had identified a person of interest but had no one in custody in connection with the attack. And officials said they still did not know what motivated the attacker.

"Clearly, this individual boarded the train and was intent on violence," Keechant Sewell, the New York police commissioner, said during a news briefing.

At least 29 people connected to the incident were treated at hospitals Tuesday, including gunshot victims as well as people who suffered smoke inhalation or were hurt during the panicked rush out of the station, according to officials at three Brooklyn hospitals.

Fire officials said 10 people were struck by gunfire, and five of them were in critical but stable condition. None of the injuries were life-threatening, Sewell said.

Police on Tuesday offered a grim narrative of the shooting, describing how a routine morning commute gave way to bloodshed and terror.

An N train bound for Manhattan was approaching the 36th Street Station in Brooklyn around 8:24 a.m. when a man seated in the back corner of the second car opened two smoke grenades and tossed them onto the subway floor, according to police officials.

The suspected attacker, Sewell said during a midday briefing, slipped on a gas mask first.

Smoke began to fill the subway car, police said. The man then pulled out a Glock 9mm handgun and fired nearly three dozen rounds, James W. Essig, chief of detectives for the New York police, said at a news briefing early Tuesday evening.

The man fired at least 33 times, hitting 10 people, Essig said. Police said they later found 33 discharged shell casings, along with the two used smoke grenades, two undetonated smoke grenades, a hatchet, a liquid that appeared to be gasoline and a bag with fireworks.

They also found a key for a U-Haul, Essig said. They later recovered a U-Haul van in Brooklyn, he said.

Police said they were told the attacker was a heavyset dark-skinned man with a neon vest and a gray sweatshirt. They pleaded with the public for help in finding him, offering a $50,000 reward.

During the midday briefing, Sewell said the shooting was not being investigated as an act of terrorism, though she later acknowledged authorities did not know what could have motivated the violence and were "not ruling anything out."

Mayor Eric Adams, D, a former New York police captain who has emphasized public safety, said during a television appearance Tuesday afternoon that it was "premature" to rule out terrorism.

"This is terror," said Adams, who is isolating after testing positive for covid-19 on Sunday, during an interview on CNN. "Someone attempted to terrorize our system. They brought in what appears to be some form of smoke device, they discharged a weapon. So I don't want to be premature in identifying if this was or was not."

The Joint Terrorism Task Force involving the FBI and NYPD is "fully engaged" in investigating the subway shooting in Brooklyn, the head of the bureau's New York field office said Tuesday, though he did not indicate that the matter was being considered as an act of terrorism.

Michael Driscoll, the assistant director in charge of the FBI's New York Field Office, said the investigation was "still very much in its early stages." He said he expected investigators would be collecting evidence "for some time."

During another interview, Adams pointed to a possible problem for the manhunt, telling WCBS 880 radio that there was "some form of malfunction with the camera system" at the station where the shooting took place. Adams said officials were still investigating the issue and trying to determine if the problem was with just one camera or throughout the station.

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority, which runs the city's subways, announced last fall that security cameras had been added to all 472 subway stations in the city. A spokesman for the authority did not respond to a request for comment about Adams's remarks.

Tuesday evening, police said 62-year-old Frank R. James was the person of interest in the case. They were careful about not describing him as a suspect in the case, repeatedly referring to him as a person of interest.

"We are endeavoring to locate him to determine his connection to the subway shooting, if any," Essig said.

James rented the U-Haul in Philadelphia, Essig said, and the key for that van was found at the crime scene. "We don't know right now if Mr. James has any connection to the subway," Essig said. "That's still under investigation."

Speaking at an event Tuesday afternoon in Iowa, President Joe Biden said he and his wife were praying for those wounded "and all those touched by that trauma."

Biden, who a day earlier held a White House event focused on gun violence, offered thanks to first responders as well as to the civilians who "didn't hesitate to help their fellow passengers and try to shield them." He said his team has been in touch with Adams and Sewell and that federal officials were "working closely with the NYPD on the ground."

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, D, condemned the shooter, saying during a news briefing that the attacker targeted people living their everyday lives.

"This was disrupted, brutally disrupted, by an individual so coldhearted and depraved of heart that they had no caring about the individuals they assaulted as they went about their daily lives," Hochul said.

The shooting comes as New York and other cities across the country have struggled to confront a rise in deadly violence since the pandemic began. Adams has focused on violent crime during his campaign and since taking office, a message that Biden embraced during a visit earlier this year to New York.

In Brooklyn, the number of injured victims rose steadily Tuesday, as hospitals confirmed they had treated more patients. There were 21 people treated at New York University's Langone Hospital, spokeswoman Lacy Scarmana said, 10 of them discharged by midafternoon and 11 others in stable condition.

Five more were treated at Maimonides Medical Center, three of them suffering from smoke inhalation and two with gunshot wounds, said Suzanne Tammaro, a hospital spokeswoman. The gunshot victims were in stable condition and would be admitted to the hospital, she said, while those with smoke inhalation would be treated and released.

Three more patients were taken to New York-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital, one with a gunshot injury, another with a fracture and a third "non-trauma-related," according to a statement from Tony Chau, a hospital spokesman. All three patients are in stable condition.

Police said there were 23 people injured in total, a lower number than reported by local hospitals.

The shooting left behind a bloodied scene in the subway station and tensions reverberating outward through Brooklyn's Sunset Park neighborhood, which has long been a hub for working-class immigrant communities.

The Fourth Avenue subway station is at the core of the neighborhood's sizable Latin American community, as well as a major transfer station for commuters across Brooklyn.

Konrad Aderer, 53, was heading down the steps into the 36th Street Station on Tuesday morning, texting his wife while heading to a Manhattan-bound train, when he saw a man with bloody legs appear. The man warned commuters about the danger below, Aderer said in an interview.

"He said people were injured and bleeding," Aderer said.

Juliana Fonda, a broadcast engineer at WNYC, recalled riding the train and hearing gunshots in the car directly behind hers.

Passengers in that car began pounding on the locked door of hers, "trying to get away from something that was happening," Fonda said while recounting her experience on WNYC's "Brian Lehrer Show" on Tuesday morning. "None of us in the front of the train knew what was going on, but people were pounding and looking behind them running and trying to get on the train."

When they got to 36th Street, she said, the doors opened, revealing smoke on the platform and people on the ground who had "obviously been shot," Fonda said. "It was terrifying."

Schools around the area were placed on lockdowns after the shooting, with educators advised to lock their doors and not permit outside visitors.

"Out of an abundance of caution and for the safety of our students we have placed all schools in the area in a shelter-in-place," New York Schools Chancellor David Banks said in a statement Tuesday morning.

At midday, students at Sunset Park High School banged on classroom windows as reporters and police walked past, yelling that they had no idea when they would be released from lockdown. Some made makeshift signs and taped them to the window: "Have hope" and "Make NYC safe again."

The Brooklyn Nets were hosting the Cleveland Cavaliers in an NBA game Tuesday night, and the franchise said fans should "expect an increased security presence" there.

Derek French, a freelance photographer commuting to his WeWork office, said he encountered increasingly dense smoke as he approached the station's platform Tuesday morning. Then he saw it: People scattered across the ground, with wounds and visible ribbons of blood.

French, who trained with the Red Cross, used someone's jacket to place makeshift tourniquets on the wounded. Some of the people he helped, French said, looked young enough to be in high school, and they described seeing the gunman sitting at the end of the train car.

"Even though it was chaotic," French said of the scene on the subway platform, "it seemed calm because of the people who rendered aid to the victims. . . . Even though it was a horrific event, everyone was doing so much in that one moment."

- - -

Berman reported from Washington and Bellware from Chicago. The Washington Post's Lila Hassan in New York, and Holly Bailey, Lateshia Beachum, Hannah Knowles, Meryl Kornfield, Felicia Sonmez and Matt Zapotosky contributed to this report.
DALLAS (AP)  A Texas judge formally dismissing a murder charge Monday against a 26-year-old woman over a self-induced abortion did not quiet outrage or questions surrounding the case, including why prosecutors ever brought it to a grand jury.

A woman who ends her own pregnancy cannot be charged with a crime under Texas law. Officials in rural Starr County, along the U.S.-Mexico border, have not released details about why they decided to pursue a case against Lizelle Herrera after being contacted by a hospital.

There should have been no reason for a report to have been made. There should have been no reason for a criminal investigation to take place," said Farah Diaz-Tello, senior counsel and legal director at If/When/How: Lawyering for Reproductive Justice.

News of Herreras arrest on Thursday raised alarms for abortion rights advocates, and sparked people to gather in protest outside the jail where she was being held on $500,00 bond. Her March 30 indictment alleges she intentionally and knowingly caused the death of an individual ... by a self-induced abortion in early January.

Authorities have not described what exactly Herrera allegedly did, and it wasnt clear if she was accused of giving herself an abortion or assisting in someone elses self-induced abortion.

An attorney for Herrera, who was released from jail Saturday after posting bond, did not immediately return a call from The Associated Press.

Starr County District Attorney Gocha Allen Ramirez said in a Sunday statement that he would file the motion to dismiss the charge, saying, "it is clear that Ms. Herrera cannot and should not be prosecuted for the allegation against her.

But he did not explain why the case was presented to a grand jury, nor did he reply Monday to an email from AP seeking additional information. A woman who answered the phone at his office said Sunday's statement was the only thing he's going to say on the subject and and hung up before identifying herself.

These were choices that did not have to be made because losing a pregnancy or ending a pregnancy or self-managing an abortion is not a crime in the state of Texas," Diaz-Tello said.

Texas last year passed a law known as Senate Bill 8, or SB8, that bans abortions after roughly six weeks of pregnancy. The law leaves enforcement to private citizens who can sue doctors or anyone who helps a woman get an abortion.

Another new Texas law prohibits doctors and clinics from prescribing abortion-inducing medications after seven weeks and prohibits the delivery of the pills by mail.

Neither law authorizes any action against the woman who ends her pregnancy, Diaz-Tello said.

The problem is though when you have this heightened situation of suspicion and fear and the chilling effect that this all creates, that is going to make it much more likely that health care providers are going to improperly err on the side of reporting  err on the side of violating their patients confidentiality and bringing in law enforcement, Diaz-Tello said.

Diaz-Tello said actions taken by the hospital and law enforcement in this case could lead women to be fearful of seeking health care after an abortion.

Joanna Grossman, professor at Southern Methodist Universitys Dedman School of Law in Dallas, said SB8 could be indirectly playing a lot of roles here. For one, there has been an increase since SB8 in women going online to get abortion pills, she said.

Also, she said, the law sends a message "that theres just a war on abortion.

It certainly changed access but its also I think just changed the whole context in which people evaluate abortion care, Grossman said.
CONCORD (AP)  Lawmakers working to shut down New Hampshires troubled youth detention center heard competing opinions Tuesday on whether to construct a new facility or contract with a private company.

The state currently spends $13 million a year to operate the 144-bed Sununu Youth Services Center in Manchester, although the typical population is currently about a dozen teens. Debate over its future began years ago, but has come to a boil amid horrific sexual abuse allegations. Last June's state budget has mandated closing the center by March 2023.

The Senate passed a bill last month, however, that would extend the deadline, giving the state until June 30, 2024, to build a new facility. Now debate has moved to the state House.

At a public hearing Tuesday before a House committee, supporters said this timeline was more realistic given demands on the construction industry. They emphasized that a state-run facility would allow the Office of the Child Advocate, an independent oversight agency, to maintain real-time access to childrens records and to respond to problems immediately if necessary.

Our impression is that a state-owned facility will provide the best return on investment and the most flexible use of that investment, said Cassandra Sanchez, who took over as director of the four-year-old watchdog agency earlier this week.

The Senate bill has the support of the Juvenile Rights Policy Group, a coalition of nonprofit groups that advocate for vulnerable youth, and the Department of Health and Human Services. But opponents argued that contracting with an existing private facility could save money because the state would be paying per child, per day instead of maintaining its own, fixed-cost facility. And they said private companies with expertise in treating such children could do a better job than the state, given its poor track record of keeping children safe.

The youth center, named for former Gov. John H. Sununu, has been the target of a criminal investigation since 2019, and 11 former workers were arrested in April. Lawmakers also are considering a $100 million fund to settle claims brought by nearly 450 former residents who have sued the state with allegations involving more than 150 staffers from 1963 to 2018.

Do we expect another couple hundred million dollars in lawsuits five, 10, 20 years from now? said former Rep. Neal Kurk, who opposed the Senate-passed bill and said it would create a mini-Sununu Center.

Its a bad approach," he said. The idea that we would pass the Senate bill suggests we have learned nothing from history and we want history to repeat itself.

Rep. Mary Jane Wallner, D-Concord, agreed, saying the Senate-passed bill focused too much on the building and not enough on appropriate treatment of children.

To me this feels like were taking another step backward, she said. Its incarceration of these children and not looking at what we could be doing for them in their own communities.
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ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP)  It's a simple recipe that requires only a couple ingredients, and New Mexico has them all.

Strong winds, low humidity and dry conditions that stem from two decades of persistent drought combined Tuesday for another day of critical fire weather across New Mexico. Forecasters warned of similar conditions elsewhere in the West as land managers and firefighters braced for what was expected to be another busy season.

New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham issued a plea on social media: Do not burn!

She joined the chorus of forecasters and authorities who were urging people to take precautions as red flag and high wind warnings were issued for a large swath spanning the Central Plains, West Texas, all of New Mexico and parts of Arizona.

Two new wind-whipped fires reported Tuesday afternoon in the mountains of southeastern New Mexico prompted authorities to call for immediate evacuations.

The National Weather Service in Albuquerque shared satellite imagery of a fire signature near the community of Ruidoso and tweeted: Take this fire seriously. This is a very dangerous situation."

In central New Mexico, authorities confirmed that at least one home and numerous barns, sheds and other outbuildings were damaged or destroyed by a fire burning along the Rio Grande in a rural area south of Albuquerque. About 200 structures were threatened, and the air was thick with smoke and dust.

Bulldozers were used to build a barrier between the fire and homes in the area. Managers were hoping for a break in the wind so a helicopter could drop water on the flames.

The fire had burned more than one square mile since being sparked Monday afternoon. That included a large portion of a wildlife conservation area along the river.

The cause remains under investigation.

In northern New Mexico, steep terrain and gusts up to 60 mph were keeping crews from directly attacking a fire near the community of Las Vegas. That blaze  which started last week when a prescribed fire jumped its containment lines  also forced evacuations.

About 100 people found shelter earlier this week at a school gym in Las Vegas, and San Miguel County authorities began evacuating several more small communities Tuesday afternoon as the fire made a big push to the northeast.

Some people have criticized the U.S. Forest Services decision to conduct a prescribed fire amid erratic spring weather conditions. Federal officials have said conditions were calm most of the day before unforeseen winds ignited spot fires beyond the project's boundaries.

An internal review is expected to be done once the fire is suppressed, officials said.
BURLINGTON, N.C. (AP)  A 94-year-old North Carolina woman was struck by two vehicles whose drivers left the scene, and police said they were looking for whoever is responsible.

News outlets report the Burlington Police Department said in a news release that officers responded to a local intersection at around 2:35 p.m. on Sunday. The woman, whose name was not released, suffered serious injuries and was hospitalized in stable condition, police said.
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COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP)  From X-ray body scanners to anti-drone technology, the state is ramping up efforts to keep contraband out of Ohio prisons as drugs and other illicit goods flood inside, even when visitation was curbed during the pandemic.

The anti-contraband measures are aimed at anyone who enters prisons, whether inmates returning from an outside assignment, visitors or staff members, said Annette Chambers-Smith, director of the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction.

Every time we solve one thing we have to build a better mouse-trap for the next thing, Chambers-Smith told The Associated Press.

The scope of the problem was underscored last month when federal authorities announced the arrest of a South African woman on suspicion of helping smuggle hundreds of sheets of drug-soaked paper into at least five Ohio prisons. The woman is accused of soaking papers in legal correspondence, which is exempt from normal inspection routines.

The state said it conducted about 1,000 drug seizures a month in state prisons from March through September 2020. Numbers slowly decreased through 2021 and now average just under 500 a month, according to state data.

Among recent initiatives by the Department of Rehabilitation and Correction:

 Installing 15 X-ray body scanners, one per prison, at an initial cost of $1.7 million per machine, paid for by federal CARES Act dollars, with a plan to implement them in all 28 prisons by years end. The machines can detect items such as cell phones, drugs, tobacco and weapons.

 Purchasing nine anti-drone detection systems covering 16 of 28 prisons at an annual cost of $1.5 million. Some of the systems cover more than one prison.

 Piloting the use of two hand-held laser scanners costing a total of $48,500 that can identify a substance, and installing more exterior fences meant to stop fence throws, or people tossing contraband over the security fences.

 Digitizing all incoming inmate mail other than legal mail, a program announced last year but still not implemented. The program, with a $22.7 million annual cost, is now expected this summer. Its goal: stopping the practice of outsiders sending inmates paper soaked with synthetic narcotics such as K2. In the interim, the state photocopies all mail except legal correspondence.

 Partnering with the state patrol to create a tip phone line and email address for an initiative dubbed Know Something? Tell us, that offers possible rewards for reports of contraband.

Inmates interviewed by the AP say the current drugs of choice are strips of suboxone, a drug that can be used to reduce dependence on opioids, and K2  or tune as it's known on the inside.

Prisoners often smoke the K2 ingested paper, producing a strong, burnt popcorn smell. Inmates say the paper couldn't be detected by scanners, and often comes via other sources, including staff.

Its kind of moot to put these scanners in place because its not going to thwart the problem, said Jermane Scott, 44, serving a life sentence at Mansfield Correctional Institution for aggravated murder.

Inmate advocates say the prisons are already awash in easily attainable drugs and the money would be spent better on more efforts to fight substance abuse.

We have people going in with no drug addictions and coming out drug addicts, said Jeanna Kenney, the wife of an inmate and president of Ensuring Parole for Incarcerated Citizens.

In 2017, a former guard at Lake Erie Correctional Institution pleaded guilty to one count of drug possession after his indictment the year before on charges of plotting to smuggle suboxone strips into the prison.

You can shake me down all day, youll never find these subs (Suboxone), the former guard told an undercover agent during a controlled buy in 2016, according to an Ohio State Highway Patrol investigative report obtained by the AP.

In 2019, a corrections officer at Belmont Correctional Institution in eastern Ohio was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison for smuggling tobacco and drugs  including suboxone  into the prison over a three-year period.

In October 2020, eight months into the pandemic, a Marion prison guard was apprehended after bringing in 23 pieces of paper soaked in K2. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to a year in prison.

Those guards represent a couple of bad actors as you have in any other organization or employer, said Chris Mabe, president of the union that represents Ohio prison guards. Fighting contraband should involve more hiring, he added.

The best way to stop things from happening in a prison is to have more staff, Mabe said.

Employees and inmates aren't the only ones bringing contraband into Ohio prisons.

Last year, two men were indicted for allegedly using a drone to drop drugs and cell phones into the yard at Warren Correctional Institution.

In 2018, a milk deliveryman was sentenced to house arrest after he was accused of hiding marijuana, tobacco and cellphones inside milk cartons and smuggling them into Lebanon Correctional Facility.

In 2010, the state watchdog found inmates working at the governor's residence in suburban Columbus were able to smuggle tobacco dropped off near the home into the smoke-free prisons, where it was sold to other inmates.

With the purchase of the X-ray body scanners, Ohio joins other states using similar machines in prisons, including Mississippi, which last year spent $1.1 million in federal pandemic aid dollars on 11 body scanners.

Beginning in 2016, California installed nearly 1,000 sophisticated metal detectors, scanners and secret security cameras at its prisons in its latest attempt to thwart the smuggling of cellphones, thousands of which flooded the prisons despite previous efforts.

Virginia has taken the opposite approach as Ohio with its X-ray scanners, using them mainly to screen staff and visitors and occasionally inmates, said Benjamin Jarvela, spokesperson for the state corrections agency.

The primary purpose here is to keep contraband and dangerous items from coming in, so they are primarily used to screen individuals entering the facilities, he said.

But in Ohio, the state's new X-ray body scanners will screen only inmates returning from outside assignments such as highway litter pick-up or medical appointments. State rules only permit the scanners to be used on inmates, Chambers-Smith said.

The machines will reduce physical contact between staff and inmates, a need driven home by the pandemic and are more effective than a strip search, she added.

When these machines get put in place, well be able to scan and then get a lot more information than we get from just taking their clothes off, Chambers-Smith said.
PITTSBURGH (AP) 

Council members in Pittsburgh have voted unanimously to ban single-use plastic bags at businesses in a year.

All seven Pittsburgh City Council members voted in favor of the measure Tuesday to bar grocers and other retailers from distributing single-use plastic bags beginning April 12, 2023.

The ban exempts bulk items such as packaged meat and fish, fruits and vegetables as well as garbage collection and pet waste. Businesses will be allowed to offer paper bags at a cost of 10 cents a bag, with an exemption from that fee for people receiving food assistance or help from other social service programs.

Councilwoman Erika Strassburger, who introduced the bill last fall, said the ban would help curtail litter and ease storm water risk as well as reducing the amounts of microplastics in soil, rivers and our drinking water. She also said it would begin to break our alliance and independence on fossil fuel-based products.

The American Recyclable Plastic Bag Alliance opposed the measure, arguing that single-use plastic grocery bags are not a leading cause of litter and are often reused. The group said the fee for paper bags could harm low-income families.

A similar ban went into effect in Philadelphia this month.
GENESEE, Pa. (AP)  An early morning fire in a northern Pennsylvania home that authorities said may have been sparked by a stove killed five teenagers and severely injured two adults.

Fire crews responding to the 3:30 a.m. Monday alarm on Slingerland Road in Genesee Township found the residence engulfed in flames, state police in Potter County said. Police said first responders discovered that five juvenile victims were unable to get out of the residence."
The night's soundtrack started with "You've Got a Friend in Me" from "Toy Story," then moved to a more recent favorite, "We Don't Talk About Bruno" from "Encanto," before the sentimental "Reflection" from "Mulan."

It was around 11 p.m. on April 4 on a residential street in Santa Ana, Calif. - and the Disney songs blared from a police cruiser, according to a YouTube video and news reports. Police had been investigating a stolen vehicle, an officer explains in the video. But after "Un Poco Loco" from Disney's 2017 movie "Coco" started blasting through the neighborhood, residents began asking questions.

"What's the music for?" a woman can be heard asking in the video, explaining that she needed to sleep.

Seconds after the music appears to abruptly turn off, a Santa Ana city councilman, Johnathan Hernandez, also asked: "What's going on with the music here?"

The officer replied it had to do with "copyright infringement" as he pointed toward the man filming the video. Hernandez took that to mean the officer was trying to keep the video off social media.

"I'm embarrassed that this is how you're treating my neighbors," Hernandez said in the video. "There's children here."

Eventually, the officer apologized.

Santa Ana Chief of Police David Valentin said in a statement that the department is investigating the incident. "My expectation is that all police department employees perform their duties with dignity and respect in the community we are hired to serve," he said.

Police in other cities have been recorded playing copyrighted music in an effort to prevent videos of them from hitting YouTube and other social media sites, which can remove content containing unauthorized materials. In June, a sheriff's deputy in Oakland, Calif., played Taylor Swift's 2014 single "Blank Space" as activists filmed him in an attempt to keep it from being uploaded to YouTube. Instead, the clip remained online and went viral.

As of Tuesday, the video from Santa Ana was still posted to YouTube, where it had more than 45,000 views.

Hernandez told The Post he plans to introduce a ban on the practice during an upcoming city council session. He questioned why other police officers at the scene did not stop the music.

"If you work for the public and there are numerous people out recording you telling you to please turn it off, why wouldn't anyone in their right mind stop that?" he said.

The video was uploaded to the Santa Ana Audits YouTube channel, which appears to film police interactions to ensure people's constitutional rights are respected. The man shooting the April 4 video does not identify himself and did not immediately respond to a request for comment through his channel. He began filming police officers from a distance as they appeared to search a car parked in a driveway, the video shows.

Then Randy Newman's "You've Got a Friend In Me" began to play, and the cameraman walked across the street and confronted the officers.

"You guys get paid to listen to music?" he asked.

Hernandez heard the "Toy Story" music from his house around the corner and went to see what was happening, he told The Post. The councilman said he was already on edge, thinking that police were dealing with a person undergoing a mental health crisis. In September, Hernandez noted, Anaheim police fatally shot his cousin, Brandon Lopez, who was unarmed and in crisis.

As he approached the scene, Hernandez saw children standing outside and neighbors recording with their phones. Hernandez confronted the officer and asked why he was playing the loud Disney music, which appeared to be coming from the police cruiser's PA system, Hernandez told The Post.

The officer told Hernandez that the man filming the video was interfering with their investigation, according to the video.

"Why are you playing Disney music?" Hernandez asked.

After the officer cited copyright infringement, Hernandez said he believed police were "trolling" the man filming the video.

"Do you live here?" Hernandez asked.

"No, I don't, sir," the officer replied.

"Well, maybe you should treat us with respect," Hernandez said, adding that there were children who needed to rest before school and adults who needed to sleep before work.

The councilman then told the officer that playing the Disney music was "childish."

"I apologize," the officer replied.

Hernandez told The Post that residents later said they were afraid and confused by the police officers' behavior.

"I think it's very disrespectful," one resident told KTLA. "We have to wake up pretty early."

Hernandez said he found it ironic that police in this instance played music from the Disney movies "Encanto" and "Coco" in a predominantly Latino neighborhood.

"Those were films that were used to bridge the Latino community," he said, "and police are using them to silence it."
LISBON, Portugal (AP)  A lay committee looking into historic child sex abuse in the Portuguese Catholic Church said Tuesday it received witness statements from 290 alleged victims in its first three months of work, with cases involving children as young as two years old.

More than half the reported cases suggest many more victims were involved, said Pedro Strecht, a psychiatrist who heads the Independent Committee for the Study of Child Abuse in the Church.

The six-person committee, which includes psychiatrists, a former Supreme Court judge and a social worker, began its work in January at the behest of the Portuguese Bishops Conference. It promises anonymity to anyone who comes forward.

Strecht said the committee had come across signs that church officials, including current bishops he did not name, had sought to cover up abuse.

It was often a case of moving the abuser from place to place, as if at that time the place was viewed as the key factor, not the actual person, Strecht said.

The committee said it has asked all of Portugals 21 bishops for interviews to discuss its work. Only 12 have agreed to a meeting and five havent replied.

The allegations recorded so far relate to abuse against minors aged between two and 17, Ana Nunes Almeida, a Lisbon University sociologist and member of the committee, told a news conference.

There was a wide variety of alleged abuse, she said, ranging from indecent exposure and abuse imagery to penetration.

The alleged incidents happened while minors were in the churchs care, including in associated groups such as the Boy Scouts and Catechism study groups. Most of the alleged victims are male.

Retired judge Alvaro Laborinho Lucio said the committee has passed 16 cases to the public prosecutors office. He said the statute of limitations had expired on most of the alleged cases, which were reported by people up to 88 years of age.

The youngest person to allege abuse was born in 2009, the committee said.

Over the years there have been clear situations of serious sexual abuse committed inside the Portuguese Catholic Church, Laborinho Lucio said.
POMPANO BEACH, Fla. (AP)  Florida prosecutors said they filed hate crime charges Tuesday against three people accused of severely beating a man because of his sexual orientation.

Inna Makarenko, 44; Yevhen Makarenko, 43; and Oleh Makarenko, 21; were each charged with attempted first-degree murder, battery during the burglary of a dwelling and kidnapping, according to the Broward State Attorneys Office. All three face possible life sentences.
SPOKANE, Wash. (AP)  Providence Health & Services Washington has agreed to pay $22.6 million to resolve allegations that its Walla Walla hospital fraudulently billed Medicare, Medicaid and other federal health care programs for medically unnecessary neurosurgery procedures, prosecutors said Tuesday.

Vanessa R. Waldref, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington, and Bob Ferguson, the Washington state Attorney General, announced the settlement between Providence, the U.S. and the state of Washington, which administers Washingtons Medicaid program using a combination of state and federal funding.

It is the largest-ever health care fraud settlement in the Eastern District of Washington, Waldref's office said in a statement.

Providence operates 51 hospitals in seven western U.S. states, including Providence St. Marys Medical Center in Walla Walla, Washington.

The hospital did not immediately return phone calls seeking comment.

Between 2013 and 2018, Providence St. Marys employed neurosurgeons identified in the settlement agreement as Dr. A and Dr. B, Waldref's office said in a statement.

Providence St. Marys paid neurosurgeons on a system that provided them a financial incentive to perform more surgical procedures of greater complexity. Between 2014 and 2018, Providence paid Dr. A between $2.5 million and $2.9 million per year, the statement said.

Tuesday's settlement resolves allegations that Providence falsely billed Medicare, Washington State Medicaid and other federal health care programs for deficient and medically unnecessary neurosurgery procedures performed by Dr. A and Dr. B.

Patients with back pain and spinal injury deserve top-notch care from a provider who puts the patient first and is not improperly influenced by how much he can bill for the procedure," Waldref said.

Providences failure to ensure that Dr. A and Dr. B were performing safe and medically-appropriate surgery procedures, despite repeated warnings, put patients lives and safety at serious risk, Waldref said.

Patients trust their doctors that the care they receive is necessary, particularly when they are undergoing neurosurgery, Ferguson said. Performing unnecessary surgeries for profit is a betrayal of that trust.

As part of the settlement agreement, Providence admitted that hospital employees expressed concerns that Dr. A and Dr. B were endangering the safety of patients, had performed surgery on candidates who were not appropriate for surgery and failed to properly document their procedures and outcomes.

Providence admitted that, while it eventually placed both Dr. B and Dr. A on administrative leave in February 2017 and May 2018, respectively, it allowed both doctors to resign while on leave, and it did not take any action to report Dr. A or Dr. B to the appropriate authorities.

As part of the settlement, Providence agreed to implement and maintain a number of quality-of-care and patient safety obligations. Additionally, Providence must retain outside experts to perform annual claims and clinical quality systems reviews.

The case began in January 2020, when the former medical director of neurosurgery at Providence-St Mary Medical Center filed a complaint with the federal court.
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NEW YORK (AP)  Timekeeping isn't Rihanna's strong suit, and that goes for the pregnancy she's been sharing with the world as well.

Planning? I wouldnt say planning," she told Vogue about her upcoming motherhood. But certainly not planning against it. I dont know when I ovulate or any of that type of (expletive). We just had fun. And then it was just there on the test.

Now in her third trimester, the music star, and fashion and beauty mogul hasn't exactly been hiding under a maternity tent since she and boyfriend A$AP Rocky announced they were expecting in late January via a wintry New York street photo shoot. Since, she's made the fashion week rounds in Milan and Paris wearing a range of belly-bearing couture.

If its not something she would have put on pre-pregnancy, Rihanna said, its not something on her list now.

My body is doing incredible things right now, and Im not going to be ashamed of that," she said. "This time should feel celebratory. Because why should you be hiding your pregnancy?

The cover interview, out Tuesday, has 34-year-old Rihanna in a lacy red Alaia bodysuit and long gloves. It's just one of the numerous rule-breaking designer looks she's been wearing in celebration of her bump.

So how is she feeling about the next part, where she actually gives birth and scheduling possibly kicks in?

Rihanna wishes all of her closest loved ones could be in the room, but that seems unlikely under COVID-19 rules. She didn't disclose where she'll be headed for labor and delivery  or when she's due for that matter.

Maybe Ill just have a party bus parked outside or something, she said. And what frightens her the most? Postpartum depression. Will I feel out of control emotionally? Those are the stories I hear from other women that scare me.
PHOENIX (AP)  U.S. Sen. Kyrsten Sinema called Tuesday for increasing domestic oil drilling to make up for the loss of Russian imports that has contributed to high prices at the gas pump.

The Arizona Democrat, who is often at odds with the progressive wing of her party, called for an all-of-the- above energy strategy," which generally means promoting the production of both renewable and fossil fuels. She said the U.S. dependence on foreign oil jeopardizes its security and that of its allies.
SPOKANE, Wash. (AP)  The Spokane Police Department said Monday that two people who police reported had died in a drive-by shooting early Saturday morning were still clinging to life.

A total of three people were shot about 1:30 a.m. in front of Lucky's Pub in downtown Spokane, and all three are still alive, police said in a statement.
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ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP)  Kelly Tshibaka, who has received the endorsement of former President Donald Trump, on Monday officially filed to run as a candidate for U.S. Senate in the race against the incumbent Republican.

Tshibaka will face off against U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, who drew Tshibakas aim during a news conference after Tshibaka filed with the state Division of Elections in Anchorage.

Lisa Murkowski has forgotten us because she cares more about being popular with her friends in Washington, D.C., said Tshibaka, also a Republican.

Tshibaka claimed Murkowski was helping the agenda of President Joe Biden, a Democrat, with her vote to confirm Ketanji Brown Jackson  whom Tshibaka described as a leftist judge  to the U.S. Supreme Court. At the same time, she criticized Murkowski for not backing two Trump nominees to the court, Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett.

Murkowski opposed and later voted present on Kavanaugh's nomination. She voted to confirm Barrett in 2020, after earlier saying she did not support taking up a nominee for a Supreme Court vacancy so close to a presidential election.

Tshibaka chastised Murkowski for supporting other Biden nominees, including Interior Secretary Deb Haaland.

These are not the votes that a senator from Alaska should be casting, Tshibaka said. Murkowski has made poor decisions like this over and over, and we, the people of Alaska, continue to pay the price for her popularity in Washington, D.C.

Tshibaka is a former commissioner in the Alaska Department of Administration. She formerly worked in the offices of inspector general for the U.S. Postal Service, Federal Trade Commission and Department of Justice before joining the administration of Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy, according to her resume.

A message sent to Murkowskis campaign seeking comment was not immediately returned Monday. Her campaign did send a news release showing the support of more than a dozen Alaska mayors and other officials who are endorsing Murkowski.

When Murkowski filed for office in November, she was asked about running against a Trump-backed opponent.

Murkowski told reporters at the time there will be plenty of people on the outside who will be gunning for me, who will suggest that I am not right for Alaskans. I would put that directly to the people of this state.

Murkowski, who has held the Senate seat since late 2002, had about six times the cash on hand over Tshibaka at the end of 2021. The latest quarterly fundraising reports  reflecting the first three months of this year  are due around mid-month. Tshibakas totals will include money collected from a fundraiser at Trumps Mar-a-Lago resort.

Trump has said he would campaign for Tshibaka after vowing revenge against Murkowski, who voted to convict him in his second impeachment trial and called on Trump to resign after the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.

He said that hell come up into a rally for us, and I think thatll be great for voter turnout, Tshibaka said.

Trump also has endorsed former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, who is one of 48 candidates running to fill the remainder of U.S. Rep. Don Youngs term after he died last month. Palin was the 2008 Republican vice presidential nominee.

When asked if the two big personalities of Trump and Palin could overshadow her campaign, Tshibaka said that is separate from the Senate campaign.

Im completely focused on Lisa Murkowski and the damage that shes done and the fact that she serves as Bidens chief enabling officer, helping him every step of the way, she said.

In addition to Murkowski and Tshibaka, 10 other candidates so far have filed to run in the Senate race. Under a new election system approved by Alaska voters in 2020, the top four vote-getters in the August primary, regardless of party, will advance to the November general election, where ranked choice voting will be used.
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SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador (AP)  Some National Civilian Police commanders in El Salvador have been pressuring their officers to meet daily arrest quotas as part of the governments crackdown on street gangs that have yielded more than 10,000 arrests, a police union said Tuesday.

Marvin Reyes, representative of the Salvadoran Police Workers Union, said the actions of some police officials would result in arbitrary arrests. He said commanders are telling officers to give false statements against some who have been arrested, but who have nothing to do with gangs. Some officers were threatened with transfers if they didnt follow orders, he said.
PHOENIX (AP)  U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm plans to visit Northeastern Arizona this week as part of the Biden administration's push to shore up the president's standing in rural America.

Granholm plans to highlight the benefits of the infrastructure bill that Biden signed last year during a two-day visit that includes stops on the Hopi and Navajo reservations.
Russian authorities on Monday arrested Vladimir Kara-Murza - a prominent Kremlin critic and politician who has written columns for The Washington Post protesting Russia's war in Ukraine and violations of human rights.

Kara-Murza was arrested outside his home in Moscow, the same day CNN aired an interview in which he called Vladimir Putin's government "a regime of murderers" and predicted that Russia's invasion of Ukraine would lead to Putin's downfall.

The 40-year-old Putin critic previously survived two poisonings, in 2015 and 2017, which he said were orchestrated by the Kremlin in retaliation for his advocacy of western sanctions against the Russian government.

Russia has denied that it was the source of the poisonings, which left Kara-Murza in a coma both times. But investigations by independent organizations found that he had been followed by members of the same federal agency that allegedly poisoned jailed Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny and at least three other opposition figures.

His wife, Evgenia Kara-Murza, confirmed his arrest in a tweet late Monday. "Twice have the Russian authorities tried to kill my husband for advocating for sanctions against thieves and murderers, and now they want to throw him in prison for calling their bloody war a WAR," she wrote. "I demand my husband's immediate release."

"Following poisonings and other grave threats, this outrageous detention is the latest move in Vladimir Putin's ongoing effort to silence Kara-Murza and hide the truth about the atrocities Putin is committing in the Russian people's name," The Post's publisher, Fred Ryan, said in a statement praising the writer's courage. "No one should be deceived by the Russian government's trumped-up charges and smears, and Kara-Murza should be released immediately."

Kara-Murza is a longtime colleague of the late Russian opposition leader Boris Nemtsov, who was assassinated outside the Kremlin in 2015. He is an author, documentary director and former candidate for the Russian parliament, and served as deputy leader of a political organization, the People's Freedom Party.

He played a key role in getting the United States, European Union, Canada and Britain to adopt sanctions laws in 2012, known as the Magnitsky Act, that target individuals in Russia and elsewhere who are complicit in human-rights violations.

Kara-Murza has written dozens of columns for The Post's Global Opinions section over the past few years that have been critical of the Russian government.

"Within a single week, all - literally, all - of Russia's remaining independent media voices have been silenced in a coordinated effort by the prosecutor general's office and the government's main censorship agency," he wrote in a column March 7. "One after another, media outlets that dared to report honestly on Putin's assault on Ukraine had their signals cut off and their websites blocked."

His arrest follows the Kremlin's sharp crackdown on independent news media and dissent in the wake of its invasion of Ukraine. The Russian parliament last month enacted a law making it a crime punishable by prison terms of up to 15 years for spreading what it considers "fake" news about the military, including calling the invasion of Ukraine an "invasion."

As other dissident figures have fled the country, Kara-Murza has been one of the few to remain in Russia.

In an interview that aired Monday on CNN+, the network's new streaming service, Kara-Murza said, "I have absolutely no doubt that the Putin regime will end over this war in Ukraine."

He called Putin's government "a regime of murderers. It is important to say it out loud. It is really tragic frankly, I have no other word for this, that it took a large-scale war in the middle of Europe, which Vladimir Putin is now conducting against Ukraine, for most western leaders to finally open their eyes to the true nature of this regime."

He added defiantly, "The biggest gift ... we could give to the Kremlin would be to those of us who are in opposition to Putin's regime we could give up and run. That's all they want from us."

The Russian human-rights group OVD-Info said Kara-Murza was taken by arresting officers to a police station in central Moscow, where he was being held on a 15-day administrative jail sentence on charges of disobeying police orders. The organization cited his lawyer, Vadim Prokhorov.

Kara-Murza is the third writer associated with The Post to face arrest and persecution at the hands of a foreign government in recent years.

Jamal Khashoggi, a Saudi Arabian writer and dissident, also was a contributor to Global Opinions when he was murdered in October 2018 by Saudi agents in that nation's consulate in Istanbul. The CIA concluded that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman ordered Khashoggi's assassination, a conclusion later confirmed by the United Nation's High Commissioner for Human Rights after a six-month investigation.

Jason Rezaian, The Post's correspondent in Tehran from 2012 to 2016, spent 544 days in prison in Iran without trial before his release in early 2016. Rezaian is now a writer for Global Opinions.

CNN, which broadcast the interview with Kara-Murza, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
MADISON, Wis. (AP)  The Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled unanimously on Tuesday that challengers of a school referendum in Racine did not have a right to have the ballots examined in court following a recount that upheld a five-vote margin of victory for the ballot measure.

Racine voters approved the referendum in April 2020 with 16,748 voters in favor and 16,743 against. After a recount, the five-vote margin of victory was upheld with 16,715 in support and 16,710 against.
By Keith Burbank

Bay City News

Four people were charged by the Alameda County District Attorney's Office for multiple robberies in the Bay Area, including one of a Canadian film crew late last month, prosecutors announced Tuesday.

Deleon Miller, 22, Torrion King, 21, and Teddy Williams, 18, were each charged with four counts of felony second-degree robbery for alleged offenses in San Francisco and Alameda County on March 25 and 28. The three allegedly robbed the film crew at about 5:15 p.m. on March 25 on Twin Peaks in San Francisco, prosecutors said.

The driver of the getaway car in the robbery is alleged to have been Ronnell Johnson, 19, who had been arrested previously for robbery in San Francisco, according to the District Attorney's Office. Johnson in this latest arrest was charged with three counts of felony second-degree robbery.

A passerby took a video of the robbery of the film crew, which was seen online nationally and internationally, according to the district attorney's office. Prosecutors said the items stolen from the film crew were taken to Oakland and some were recovered.

Miller was arrested after an armed robbery in Oakland on March 28. The victim electronically tracked the items taken and Oakland police were able to locate the vehicle involved and take Miller into custody.

Miller was allegedly on felony probation. Miller has also been charged with possession of ammunition by a prohibited person.

King was also charged with two counts of possession of a gun with a prior conviction. King was allegedly on parole when he was arrested. Williams was also charged with possession of a machine gun and possession of a large-capacity magazine on March 31.

Prosecutors were able to charge the four suspects in one case in Alameda County, even though some of the alleged offenses occurred in San Francisco, according to the Alameda County District Attorney's Office.

Miller, King, and Johnson are expected to enter pleas Thursday at the East County Hall of Justice in Dublin. Williams is scheduled for a pretrial hearing April 27 at the Rene C. Davidson Courthouse in Oakland.

Williams is being held in Santa Rita Jail on $1 million bail while Miller is being held in Santa Rita Jail on $835,000 bail. Both King and Johnson are being held in Santa Rita Jail without bail.

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.
Three employees of Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo have been indicted by a grand jury on charges related to how they helped award a contract for COVID-19 vaccine outreach last year.

The Harris County district clerk lists two felony counts each for chief of staff Alex Triantaphyllis, policy director Wallis Nader and policy aide Aaron Dunn. The charges are misuse of official information and tampering with a government record.

The charges add weight to a scandal Hidalgo has attempted to dismiss as politically motivated, and they threaten to tarnish her image as an ethically minded public servant as she seeks reelection this year. Hidalgo is widely seen as a rising star in the Texas Democratic Party and a future statewide candidate.

The three employees were part of a selection committee to choose a vendor for a COVID-19 vaccine outreach campaign Hidalgo wanted. The committee, which also included members of the county health department, unanimously awarded an $11 million contract to Elevate Strategies, a small political consulting firm owned by Felicity Pereyra, who has previously worked on Democratic campaigns.

Republicans have seized on this as evidence of corruption, alleging without evidence that Hidalgo was funneling money to help the Democratic Party build relationships with voters. Hidalgo accused Republican county commissioners of spreading conspiracy theories, though she agreed to cancel the contract in September because she said it had become too politicized.

Court records filed by the Texas Rangers, who are assisting prosecutors, suggest the inquiry focuses on whether Hidalgos office inappropriately involved Pereyra in designing the bid proposal she would later win.

Hidalgo did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Harris County District Attorney Kim Oggs office said it could only confirm charges after delivering arrest warrants to defendants.

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/2022/04/11/lina-hidalgo-staff-indictments-contract-scandal/.

The Texas Tribune is a member-supported, nonpartisan newsroom informing and engaging Texans on state politics and policy. Learn more at texastribune.org.
If the pandemic has left you craving some smoooooth tunes courtesy of a man and his sax, Kenny G is coming to Yoshis Jazz Club in Oakland for four nights in April  beginning this Thursday, April 14.

Known for his easy listening jazz as well as his signature shoulder-length hair, Kenny G is one of the best-selling artists of all time, with more than 75 million records sold over the course of his career.

After beginning to play saxophone at the age of 10, he would score a job as a sideman for Barry Whites Love Unlimited Orchestra at just 17 and while still in high school. Nine years later, he played a take on Dancing Queen by Abba for Arista Records president Clive Davis and subsequently signed with the label. In 1986, he found mainstream fame with his fourth solo album Duotones, which sold 5 million copies in the US.

Kenny G live at Yoshi's Jazz Club Shop Now

Many collaborations have followed, including early ones with Aretha Franklie and Dionne Warwick, and later ones with Weezer, Celine Dion, Foster the People (for a Saturday Night Live performance), Kanye West, the Weeknd, and, a bit further back in the day, even DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince. In 2006, the Recording Industry Association of America named him the 25th highest-selling artist in the U.S.

Kenny G was also the subject of last years "Listening to Kenny G," a documentary that streamed on HBO Max and explores the mismatch between his popular and commercial success and how hes often perceived by critics.

Hell be performing at Yoshis, one of the best places in the country to take in jazz, this week beginning Thursday with an 8 P.M. set, Friday at 8 P.M. and 10 P.M., Saturday at 7:30 P.M. and 9:30 P.M., and Sunday at 7 P.M. and 9 P.M.

Tickets for Thursday and the early shows Friday, Saturday and Sunday are sold out, but are still available directly from Yoshi's for the later weekend shows. Tickets for all shows, including dates sold out through the venue, are also available through StubHub.
WFO AUSTIN/SAN ANTONIO Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Tuesday, April 12, 2022

_____

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT

Special Weather Statement

National Weather Service Austin/San Antonio TX

443 PM CDT Tue Apr 12 2022

...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of northern Bexar

County through 515 PM CDT...

At 443 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near

Leon Valley, or 9 miles northwest of San Antonio, moving northeast at

40 mph.

HAZARD...Winds in excess of 40 mph and nickel size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around

unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is

possible.

Locations impacted include...

San Antonio, Schertz, Universal City, Live Oak, Selma, San Antonio

Int Airport, Randolph AFB, Leon Valley, Helotes, Alamo Heights,

Windcrest, Terrell Hills, Shavano Park, Hollywood Park, Cross

Mountain, Olmos Park, Government Canyon State Natural Area, Sea

World, Timberwood Park and Converse.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

This storm may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio

stations and available television stations for additional information

and possible warnings from the National Weather Service.

LAT...LON 2957 9878 2973 9846 2971 9843 2975 9841

2972 9838 2973 9835 2972 9834 2970 9838

2967 9838 2965 9834 2962 9834 2960 9831

2956 9830 2955 9828 2956 9824 2955 9823

2941 9869

TIME...MOT...LOC 2143Z 244DEG 36KT 2953 9866

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.88 IN

MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH

TX

. TEXAS COUNTIES INCLUDED ARE

COMANCHE EASTLAND ERATH

HAMILTON HOOD JACK

MILLS PALO PINTO PARKER

SOMERVELL STEPHENS WISE

YOUNG

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 515 PM CDT

FOR CORYELL AND NORTHEASTERN LAMPASAS COUNTIES...

At 442 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located near Pidcoke,

moving northeast at 25 mph. Ping pong ball size hail was reported

with this storm in Izoro.

HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and half dollar size hail.

IMPACT...Hail damage to vehicles is expected. Expect wind damage to

roofs, siding, and trees.

Gatesville, McGregor, Evant, Fort Gates, Mother Neff State Park,

Oglesby and South Mountain.

A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 1100 PM CDT for central

Texas.

_____

Copyright 2022 AccuWeather
WFO DALLAS / FT. WORTH Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Tuesday, April 12, 2022

_____

SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING

The National Weather Service in Fort Worth has issued a

* Severe Thunderstorm Warning for...

Denton County in north central Texas...

* Until 700 PM CDT.

* At 605 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located near Haslet,

moving northeast at 35 mph.

HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and quarter size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Hail damage to vehicles is expected. Expect wind damage

to roofs, siding, and trees.

* Locations impacted include...

Frisco, Denton, Lewisville, Flower Mound, The Colony, Southlake,

Corinth, Highland Village, Trophy Club, Lake Dallas, Sanger, Lake

Lewisville, Little Elm, Roanoke, Krum, Pilot Point, Argyle, Hickory

Creek, Justin and Double Oak.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 1100 PM CDT for north central

Texas.

For your protection get inside a sturdy structure and stay away from

windows.

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 615 PM CDT FOR CENTRAL

BELL COUNTY...

At 605 PM CDT, a tornado was located near Harker Heights, moving

north at 30 mph. This tornado will cross FM 2484 west of Salado.

This is a PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS SITUATION. TAKE COVER NOW!

HAZARD...Damaging tornado.

SOURCE...Radar indicated rotation.

IMPACT...You are in a life-threatening situation. Flying debris may

be deadly to those caught without shelter. Mobile homes

will be destroyed. Considerable damage to homes,

businesses, and vehicles is likely and complete destruction

is possible.

To repeat, a large, extremely dangerous and potentially deadly

tornado is developing. To protect your life, TAKE COVER NOW! Move to

an interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy building and avoid

windows. If you are outdoors or in a vehicle, move to the closest

substantial shelter and protect yourself from flying debris.

...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR SOUTH CENTRAL HAYS AND

SOUTHEASTERN COMAL COUNTIES IS CANCELLED...

The severe thunderstorm which prompted the warning has weakened.

Therefore, the warning has been cancelled.

A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 1100 PM CDT for south central

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 700 PM CDT

FOR DENTON COUNTY...

At 608 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located over Roanoke, or

near Trophy Club, moving northeast at 35 mph. Reports of quarter

size hail have been received with this storm.

HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and quarter size hail.

SOURCE...Trained weather spotters.

IMPACT...Hail damage to vehicles is expected. Expect wind damage to

roofs, siding, and trees.

Locations impacted include...

Frisco, Denton, Lewisville, Flower Mound, The Colony, Southlake,

Corinth, Highland Village, Trophy Club, Lake Dallas, Sanger, Lake

Lewisville, Little Elm, Roanoke, Krum, Pilot Point, Argyle, Hickory

Creek, Justin and Double Oak.

_____

Copyright 2022 AccuWeather
WFO DALLAS / FT. WORTH Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Tuesday, April 12, 2022

_____

SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING

The National Weather Service in Fort Worth has issued a

* Severe Thunderstorm Warning for...

Bell County in central Texas...

* Until 730 PM CDT.

* At 612 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located near Salado, or

near Belton, moving east at 20 mph. Another severe storm is

located near Killeen.

HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and half dollar size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Hail damage to vehicles is expected. Expect wind damage

to roofs, siding, and trees.

* Locations impacted include...

Killeen, Temple, Copperas Cove, Harker Heights, Belton, Fort Hood,

Nolanville, Morgan's Point Resort, Salado, Little River-Academy,

Troy, Rogers and Holland.

This includes Interstate 35 between mile markers 277 and 313.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 1100 PM CDT for central

Texas.

A Tornado Watch remains in effect for the warned area. Tornadoes can

develop quickly from severe thunderstorms. Although a tornado is not

immediately likely, if one is spotted, act quickly and move to a

place of safety inside a sturdy structure.

TX

. TEXAS COUNTIES INCLUDED ARE

COMANCHE EASTLAND ERATH

HAMILTON HOOD JACK

MILLS PALO PINTO PARKER

SOMERVELL STEPHENS WISE

YOUNG

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 645 PM CDT

FOR NORTH CENTRAL WILLIAMSON COUNTY...

At 613 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located over Jarrell, or 7

miles northeast of Serenada, moving northeast at 35 mph.

HAZARD...Quarter size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Damage to vehicles is expected.

Locations impacted include...

Georgetown, Bartlett, Jarrell, Theon, Walburg and Schwertner.

A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 1100 PM CDT for south central

For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a

building.

Continuous cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm.

Move indoors immediately. Lightning is one of nature's leading

killers. Remember, if you can hear thunder, you are close enough to

be struck by lightning.

...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR CENTRAL HILL COUNTY IS

CANCELLED...

The storms which prompted the warning have moved out of the warned

area. Therefore, the warning has been cancelled.

A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 1100 PM CDT for central and

north central Texas.

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 630 PM CDT

FOR NORTHEASTERN JOHNSON...ELLIS AND NORTHWESTERN NAVARRO COUNTIES...

At 613 PM CDT, severe thunderstorms were located along a line

extending from near Midlothian to near Blooming Grove, moving

northeast at 55 mph.

HAZARD...65 mph wind gusts and quarter size hail.

IMPACT...Hail damage to vehicles is expected. Expect wind damage to

roofs, siding, and trees.

Lancaster, Waxahachie, Corsicana, Ennis, Midlothian, Glenn Heights,

Red Oak, Alvarado, Ovilla, Venus, Ferris, Palmer, Italy, Oak Leaf,

Maypearl, Blooming Grove, Bardwell, Alma, Barry and Rice.

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR CENTRAL BELL COUNTY WILL EXPIRE AT 615 PM

CDT...

The tornado threat has diminished and the Tornado Warning has been

cancelled. However, large hail and damaging winds remain likely and a

Severe Thunderstorm Warning remains in effect for the area.

FOR NORTHEASTERN JOHNSON...EASTERN TARRANT...NORTHWESTERN ELLIS AND

WESTERN DALLAS COUNTIES...

At 614 PM CDT, severe thunderstorms were located along a line

extending from Keller to near Venus, moving east at 35 mph.

HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and quarter size hail.

Dallas, Fort Worth, Arlington, Irving, Grand Prairie, Carrollton,

Mansfield, Euless, Desoto, Bedford, Grapevine, Cedar Hill, Haltom

City, Keller, Coppell, Duncanville, Hurst, Farmers Branch, Southlake

and Watauga.

A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 1100 PM CDT for north central

_____

Copyright 2022 AccuWeather
WFO LUBBOCK Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Tuesday, April 12, 2022

_____

HIGH WIND WARNING

URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE

National Weather Service Lubbock TX

328 PM CDT Tue Apr 12 2022

...HIGH WIND WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM CDT THIS EVENING...

* WHAT...Southwest winds 25 to 35 mph with gusts up to 60 mph.

* WHERE...Bailey, Castro and Parmer Counties.

* WHEN...Until 9 PM CDT this evening.

* IMPACTS...High winds may move loose debris, damage property and

cause power outages. Travel could be difficult, especially for

high profile vehicles.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

People are urged to secure loose objects that could be blown around

or damaged by the wind.

...WIND ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM CDT THIS EVENING...

* WHAT...Southwest winds 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 50 mph.

* WHERE...The South Plains and extreme southeastern Texas Panhandle.

* IMPACTS...Gusty winds will blow around unsecured objects and a few

power outages may result.

Winds this strong can make driving difficult, especially for high

profile vehicles. Use extra caution.

Secure outdoor objects.

The National Weather Service in Fort Worth has issued a

* Severe Thunderstorm Warning for...

West central Hamilton County in central Texas...

Northern Mills County in central Texas...

Southern Comanche County in central Texas...

* Until 430 PM CDT.

* At 330 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located near Zephyr,

moving east at 25 mph.

HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and quarter size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Hail damage to vehicles is expected. Expect wind damage

to roofs, siding, and trees.

* Locations impacted include...

Comanche and Gustine.

For your protection get inside a sturdy structure and stay away from

windows.

_____

Copyright 2022 AccuWeather
WFO NORMAN Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Tuesday, April 12, 2022

_____

WIND ADVISORY

URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE

National Weather Service Norman OK

301 AM CDT Tue Apr 12 2022

...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 7 PM CDT THIS

EVENING...

* WHAT...South winds 25 to 30 mph with gusts up to 50 mph

expected.

* WHERE...Portions of central, northern, northwest, southwest

and western Oklahoma and northern Texas.

* WHEN...From noon today 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.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Use extra caution when driving, especially if operating a high

profile vehicle. Secure outdoor objects.

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 1 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 9 PM

CDT THIS EVENING FOR GUSTY WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR

PORTIONS OF THE RIO GRANDE PLAINS AND SOUTHERN EDWARDS PLATEAU...

...FIRE WEATHER WATCH IN EFFECT FROM WEDNESDAY MORNING THROUGH

WEDNESDAY EVENING FOR GUSTY WIND AND VERY LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY

FROM THE RIO GRANDE TO NEAR THE I-35 CORRIDOR...

The National Weather Service in Austin/San Antonio has issued a

Red Flag Warning for wind and low relative humidity, which is in

effect from 1 PM this afternoon to 9 PM CDT this evening. A Fire

Weather Watch has also been issued for Wednesday. This Fire

Weather Watch for gusty wind and very low relative humidity is in

effect from Wednesday morning through Wednesday evening.

* WINDS...Southwest 10 to 15 mph with gusts up to 25 mph today.

Northwest 15 to 20 mph with gusts up to 35 mph Wednesday.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 10 percent today and 5 percent

Wednesday.

* IMPACTS...Any fires that develop could be difficult to control

and will likely spread rapidly.

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.

A Fire Weather Watch means that critical fire weather conditions

are forecast to occur. Listen for later forecasts and possible

Red Flag Warnings.

Fire Weather Watch for gusty wind and very low relative humidity,

which is in effect from Wednesday morning through Wednesday

evening.

* WINDS...Northwest 10 to 20 mph with gusts up to 30 mph.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 8 to 15 percent.

_____

Copyright 2022 AccuWeather
WFO SAN ANGELO Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Tuesday, April 12, 2022

_____

SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING

The National Weather Service in San Angelo has issued a

* Severe Thunderstorm Warning for...

Northern Brown County in west central Texas...

Northeastern Coleman County in west central Texas...

* Until 345 PM CDT.

* At 238 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located near Echo, or 7

miles north of Coleman, moving east at 30 mph.

HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and half dollar size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Hail damage to vehicles is expected. Expect wind damage

to roofs, siding, and trees.

* This severe thunderstorm will be near...

Burkett around 300 PM CDT.

Grosvenor and Cross Cut around 310 PM CDT.

Lake Brownwood around 315 PM CDT.

Byrds around 320 PM CDT.

Lake Brownwood State Park around 325 PM CDT.

May around 340 PM CDT.

Other locations impacted by this severe thunderstorm include Echo,

Owens and Thrifty.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a

building.

_____

Copyright 2022 AccuWeather
The Ho Chi Minh City Union of Friendship Organizations (HUFO) in coordination with the International Department of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha (VBS)s Chapter in the city jointly hosted the event.

Most Venerable Thich Thien Tam, Vice President of the Executive Council of the VBS and Vice Chairman of the VBS's Chapter in HCMC, said the celebration has practically promoted the solidarity and close relationship between the peoples of Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Thailand in the cause of peace and development promotion of each country and region.

Tam, who is also head of the International Department, took the occasion to send his wish of blessings to staff of the Consulates General and the communities of people of Laos, Cambodia, Thailand and Myanmar in Vietnam, expressing his hope that they will join hands to overcome difficulties caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, thus achieving happiness, peace and greater achievements.

On behalf of the consulate generals of the countries in Vietnam, Wiraka Mudhitaporn, Consul General of Thailand in HCMC, expressed her joy to attend the celebration, and her impression of the thoughtfulness and interest of the municipal authorities and people in neighboring cultures.

The event helped people of the five countries get closer to each other, highlighting their solidarity towards development goals in each country, she added.

Addressing the celebration, Chairwoman of HUFOs Vietnam - Southeast Asia Friendship Association Phan Thi Hong Xuan said the event helped the people of the countries to understand more about culture of each nation, thus popularizing and preserving traditional cultural values, educating patriotism among young people, and helping to stimulate post-pandemic tourism demand.

It also demonstrates the community responsibility of the countries in joining hands to build a substantial ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC), Xuan said.

During the event, participants practiced traditional rituals of the festivals, including Buddha statue bathing and incense offering.

Vietnamplus
Sharon, PA (16146)

Today

Rain ending this morning. Breaks of sun in the afternoon. High 62F. Winds ENE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 100%..

Tonight

Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low 39F. Winds light and variable.
SHELTON  As Passover approaches and the world grapples with the largest humanitarian refugee crisis in decades, Chabad of Shelton will join Chabad centers around the world in announcing that all are welcome at their Passover Seders  the festive dinners celebrating the holiday  on April 15.

Chabad of Shelton will host the Passover Seder at 7:45 p.m.

The eight-day festival of Passover is celebrated this year from sundown on April 15 until after nightfall on April 23. Passover commemorates the exodus of the Jews from Egypt and will be celebrated with festive Seder dinners on April 15 and 16.

This year, as we sit down to our Seder, we will be welcoming those in need locally, and the needs of those suffering across the globe will be on our minds as well, said Rabbi Shneur Brook, who co-directs Chabad of Shelton.

In Kabbalistic teachings, Matzo is referred to as the Bread of Faith and the Bread of Healing, and we will share Matzo with the community at a time when faith, hope and healing are needed more than ever, Brook added.

The Seders take participants through the story of the liberation of the Jewish people from bondage in ancient Egypt, Brook said, while sharing the relevance and beauty of the age-old festival in the modern world. Included in the Seders will be a delectable catered dinner paired with a variety of fine imported wines and Ukrainian handmade round Shmurah Matzo.

Chabad-Lubavitch rabbis throughout Europe will be hosting more than 30,000 refugees from Ukraine at their Passover Seders as part of a massive humanitarian effort that Chabad has led in response to the crisis, Brook said.

Thousands more refugees will receive Passover food packages, according to Brook, enabling them to celebrate the holiday despite the difficulties they face.

The Seder costs $40 per adult, $20 per child, but Brook said no one will be turned away for lack of ability to pay. Reservations can be made online at JewishShelton.com/passover.

For more information, call 203-364-4149 or visit www.JewishShelton.com.

brian.gioiele@hearstmediact.com
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Affiliate marketing is very profitable and helpful for your business. Many businesses around the world are using it to grow. There are some strategies that you need to follow regarding Marketing Affiliate Network. To know about those read the below points.

Email Marketing

If you want to gather email addresses, you will need to build lead generation forms for your site. They are awareness, consideration and making a decision. Thus your affiliate marketing plan must encompass all phases to increase the income of your affiliate.

The one thing you shouldn't make is purchasing an email list and then sending mass emails without understanding the dangers involved. It will not only cost you the opportunity to earn affiliate revenue, but also get branded legitimate spammers. It is a great one regarding Marketing Affiliate Network.

Making a generic pop-up or embeddable form won't suffice. You must draw the right crowd and offer something of value to be able to generate a sale.

It is essential to understand the three phases in the buyer's journey.

Social Media Marketing

Affiliate marketing and social media have a strong connection. It is regarded as the most popular way to market affiliate links. It is extremely easy to begin today. It is easy to find many companies who are paying or are willing to invest in online advertising. All you have to do is a savvy influencer. You should know this concerning Marketing Affiliate Network.

With around 1.63 billion daily active users and 2.45 billion active monthly people, Facebook is the biggest site for posting promotional links to affiliate marketers. The majority of businesses see Facebook as the second site to promote their products.

Twitter's monthly usage has dropped slightly from 336 million users at the beginning of the year, to 330million MAU in the beginning quarter of the year. However, it's one of the top social media platforms to reach an audience that has a potential reach of 262 million people to various advertisements.

Pay Per Sale

There is a wide variety of pay per sale marketing companies that pay their affiliates with cash for each sale they make under their partner program. This kind of payment system offers an advantage to the scheme as they are only required to share their earnings only when the expression of interest, or purchase actually leads to the purchase of a product or financial commitment. Marketing Affiliate Network.

This type of structure is very well-liked by experts in affiliate marketing or those taking their business of making money online seriously. But pay-per-sale marketing is more difficult than simply sending out lots of clicks or referrals to your affiliate partner.

This is since in order to collect commissions, you have to transform your potential customer into a sale , rather than just an expression of curiosity. Consequently, the payout will be much greater than the commission that is earned from merely getting a number of clicks or impressions.

Influencer Marketing

Even though Instagram influencer marketing has become a well-known method of marketing however, there are other platforms that are gaining popularity for influencers.

At a fundamental level, influencer marketing is a type of social media marketing that uses endorsements and product mentions from influencers-individuals who have a dedicated social following and are viewed as experts within their niche of Marketing Affiliate Network.

We are influenced by what we see, and the aesthetics of our surroundings aren't different. Images with bright colors are becoming more popular these days, as are well- placed food items against intriguing backgrounds. Platforms such as Snapchat, YouTube and TikTok each have their own set of influencers that have distinct characteristics.

Cost Per Action

CPA marketing is the most efficient and ROI-positive method to make money from your website. Even though CPA goals and the specific KPI's differ widely among brands, all businesses generally seek to have a low Cost per Action. This strategy is very good in Marketing Affiliate Network.

In contrast to other marketing strategies which require you to pay to promote your business without any assurance in terms of revenue, CPA marketing allows you to only pay once the sale is made at a price you set. Marketing Affiliate Network.

Companies operating in the beginning stages of growth tend to be concerned about reducing costs all over the board, simply because the traditional channels that they use other than affiliates gradually increase their costs.

For instance, brands that want to expand their audience and brand's recognition often start their marketing campaigns by launching paid ads on social media and paid search.

SEO

SEO, also known as Search Engine Optimization is a set of optimization strategies for websites blog sites, pages, and blogs on the internet, that will help you rank higher on organic search results. Every second millions of searches are handled by the search enginesmost notably Google the most well-known search engine on the planet.

SEO is a key element within SEM (Search Engine Marketing) which encompasses all strategies used by search engines that include paid ads as well as sponsored links. Marketing Affiliate Network.

This leads to a better return on the investment (ROI) and a lower cost of acquisition for customers (CAC) through the use of SEO. Based on the keywords utilized to search for, Google quickly goes through its index to discover websites that match the keywords and then responds to the query

Content Marketing

Content marketing occurs when the person or company produces and distributes content on the internet to a large public. Engaging with customers in this manner will help us improve our processes, products and, more importantly, our sales. It is a must know about Marketing Affiliate Network.

Although not every piece of content should explicitly endorse the brand however, it can be used to improve the perception of readers of the content creator as well as boost the interest of their products or products or. Typically considering how they can transpose the content to different platforms to expand their reach to a wider audience.

The primary reason we are so invested in the creation of content is to start conversations with our current and potential customers.
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Roar 

Apple TV+, from Friday

You have to tune in just to see Nicole Kidman and Judy Davis going head-to-head, but theres a lot more to enjoy in this poignant yet whimsical anthology series from GLOW creators Liz Flahive and Carly Mensch.

Nicole Kidman stars in an episode of the anthology series Roar, on which she also served as executive producer. Credit:Apple TV+

The series is based on a collection of short stories by Irish writer Cecelia Ahern, and each of the eight half-hour episodes brings its own splash of magical realism or Black Mirror-style sci-fi as it illuminates a different facet of female experience. Common themes wend throughout, but the tone of each individual episode is different.

Theres a layered melancholy to Kidmans and Daviss episode, The Woman Who Ate Photographs, which is made all the more resonant by the nostalgic ordinariness of its Australian setting. Kidman plays a woman nearing the end of her tether as she sets off in a moving van to bring her Alzheimers-afflicted mother (Davis) to live with her and her husband and son (Simon Baker and Kai Lewins), who arent giving her quite the support that she needs.
When one side of the wedding party is from a family worth billions and the other has successfully branded their surname in the worlds of sport, fashion and music, the option of an understated, post-COVID wedding is ignored. At the lavish weekend wedding of Nicola Peltz, 27, daughter of billionaire US investor Nelson Peltz and model Claudia Heffner Peltz, to Brooklyn Beckham, 23, model/photographer/cook and most successfully son of British soccer star David Beckham and singer-turned-designer Victoria Posh Spice Beckham, opulence was the order of the day.

Heres what you need to know about the wedding that championed the return to excess at the altar.

Heiress and actress Nicola Peltz in Valentino and Brooklyn Beckham in Dior at their multi-million dollar wedding on the weekend, featured in British Vogue. Credit:German Larkin/British Vogue

Meet the Peltzes



Nicola is one of US investor Nelson Peltzs 10 children. Nelson, the chairman of fast food chain Wendys, is reportedly worth more than $US1.6 billion ($2.2 billion) and has been married three times. Nicola and her six brothers and sister belong to Nelsons third wife, former model Claudia Heffner Peltz. There are also two half-siblings from Nelsons first marriage.
Almost 60 per cent of first home buyers are receiving financial help from their parents to get a start in the property market following the price boom of the past two years and as the tight rental market sees rents soar.

The bank of mum and dad is the ninth biggest lender and parents are gifting or lending a record average of almost $100,000  up from just under $90,000 a year ago  to help with the deposit, figures from Digital Finance Analytics show.

Almost 60 per cent of first home buyers are receiving help from mum and dad. Credit:Peter Rae.

Planners say gifting money, lending it, or going guarantor for a mortgage have their pros and cons and parents need to think carefully to make sure their standard of living in retirement will not be compromised.

It can be an emotional decision for many parents who need to be realistic about what they can afford, said John McIlroy, the executive director at financial planning firm Crystal Wealth Partners.
A man has died after waiting more than three hours for admission into an emergency department at a regional hospital in Victoria, as rural doctors warn they are increasingly treating people in corridors and struggling to find intensive care beds for the most critically ill.

An investigation is under way into the death of the 70-year-old man, who went into cardiac arrest and died about 3.30pm on Monday after waiting 3 hours for treatment at the Bairnsdale Regional Health Service in East Gippsland.

Victorias hospital system has been stretched for months. Credit:Jason South

The Age has been told the patient was taken to the hospital by ambulance and arrived shortly before midday on Monday. He died after suffering a cardiac arrest in the bathroom of the emergency department at 3.30pm.

A senior health source, who cannot be identified as they were not authorised to speak publicly, told The Age that the Bairnsdale Regional Health Service was facing an increasingly desperate situation amid severe staffing shortages and ambulance ramping outside the hospital is rife and the worst it ever has been.
Last we heard, News Corp Australia boss Michael Miller was living his best life at the Australian Grand Prix alongside Foxtel chief executive Patrick Delany and fabled Murdoch whisperer Siobhan McKenna. But with the election campaign underway, its all work and no play at Australias media outlets as they look for ways to engage an increasingly cynical, politics-fatigued nation in the contest.

News Corp Australia boss Michael Miller has outlined the innovations his readers can expect during the election campaign. Credit:Illustration: John Shakespeare

In a memo sent to News Corp staffers last week, Miller outlined some of the snazzy innovations readers can expect over the next six weeks. News.com.au readers will be able to receive text messages from Gold Walkley winner Samantha Maiden in which the sites political editor dashes off campaign analysis and answers readers questions. Maiden, of course, was the recipient of an infamous text from then-immigration minister Peter Dutton in which he called her a mad f---ing witch: instead of sending the text to its intended recipient, former cabinet minister Jamie Briggs, Dutton sent it to Maiden instead.

Enemy of all things woke Joe Hildebrand will host live-streamed discussions with candidates in 30 competitive seats and 360 round tables with policy experts. Policy in an election campaign? What next?!

Another innovation is the yet-to-be-launched SuperVoter platform, reflecting what Miller calls the gamification of everything in recent times. News Corps readers will be asked to tip not just the election winner but to predict which candidate will win each of the countrys 151 electorates. Exactly what the skilled prognosticator will receive for such an impressive feat, other than pride, is unclear.
Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore has labelled the NSW governments long-running plan to redevelop Waterloos public housing estate with hundreds of private apartments a tragedy, ramping up pressure on politicians to provide more social and affordable homes to ease the citys housing crisis.

Moore said the revamp, one of the states biggest urban renewal projects, presented an amazing opportunity for any responsible government to build more social and affordable homes. She said the demand for such housing had never been greater, and was expected to rise due to the social and economic fallout from the pandemic.

An artists impression of the Waterloo South development, which is now on public exhibition by the state government.

Weve got a housing crisis in Sydney, and if we cant have social housing on publicly owned sites, where are we going to have it? Moore said at a council meeting on Monday.

The overhaul of the sprawling estate in Sydneys south has triggered debate about the provision of social and affordable homes in the inner city, where vulnerable residents face a five- to 10-year wait for social housing.
The family of a young man killed in a brawl outside a pub on Sydneys Oxford Street at the weekend have remembered him as a beautiful soul as investigations continue into the circumstances that led to his death.

Evander Tuala, 23, sustained critical head injuries when he was allegedly punched and his head struck the ground during an altercation at Taylor Square early on Saturday. He died in the intensive care unit of St Vincents Hospital on Monday night.

Family members of 23-year-old Evander Tuala have posted farewell tributes on social media. Credit:Nine News

A statement released by the family through St Vincents on Tuesday morning thanked the community, friends and family for the love and support they had provided for the past three days while Tuala was on life support.

Evander was an extraordinarily outgoing, highly spirited and selfless person who touched many peoples lives, his mother, Claudia, said.
For the second year in a row, the Sydney Royal Easter Show has been marred by violence  this time, a stabbing that left one teenager dead, another in hospital and a third in police custody while those responsible for the killing remain at large.

Uati Faletolu, 17, was working as an attendant on the Break Dance ride at the show, and had met up with two other teenagers before the trio became involved in an altercation with another group and a traumatic chest wound was inflicted on Faletolu. He died in an ambulance on the way to Westmead Hospital.

Uati Faletolu, 17, had been working at the Easter Shows Break Dance ride before he was fatally stabbed.

Police on Tuesday said it wasnt clear whether the 17-year-old had finished his shift when he was attacked. During the fight, the boys friend received a stab wound to the leg, while the other boy, 15, was arrested at the scene and later charged with affray and carrying a knife.

The violence was witnessed by horrified onlookers in the crowded carnival area of the show, some of whom posted shocking videos of the unfolding drama to social media  including scenes in which one male appears to be striking another multiple times. Another video clearly shows a male carrying a knife.
A man who threw his Gold Coast flatmates dog across a room and into a wall, killing the animal, will spend three months behind bars.

Liam Brandon Maxwell, 24, was sentenced in Brisbane District Court on Tuesday, where he sat lounging in the dock, chewing gum and showing no emotion throughout.

When police arrived they found the dog Oliver on the floor in a pool of blood.

The dog, Oliver, was a Maltese cross emotional support service dog for his owner Chantelle Astin, who has been diagnosed with anxiety, depression and PTSD. She had Oliver for four years.

On February 8, 2021, Astin went out and left the dog in their Surfers Paradise unit with Maxwell.
Tourism, Sports and Major Events Minister Martin Pakula said the state would showcase a new model for how the Commonwealth Games might take place. [It will be] less city-centric, more devolved, more involving of communities, he said. Fireworks at the closing ceremony of the 2006 Games at the MCG, which will host the 2026 opening ceremony. Credit:Penny Stephens Geelong will host swimming, diving, gymnastics, hockey, table tennis and triathlon. Visitors can expect to see beach volleyball nets at Eastern Beach near the central business district, City of Greater Geelong deputy mayor Trent Sullivan said. The Games attract more than 5000 athletes from more than 70 nations, so the economic benefits for our tourism, events and hospitality industries will be enormous, he said.

The four-hub approach left several major regional centres excluded, including Shepparton. Mayor Kim OKeeffe  who is also chair of Regional Cities Victoria, representing the states 10 largest cities outside Melbourne  welcomed confirmation of the regional Games but said she was disappointed Shepparton missed out. With one of the highest rates of homelessness in Victoria, one of the athletes villages would have been a great opportunity to address that. OKeeffe said the idea for a regional Games was conceived in 2017 by Greater Shepparton City Council, which had pulled together a business case. So we feel like we have a bit of ownership. But well continue to push for whatever else becomes available. We have aspirations for our city, she said.

State Liberal MP and opposition spokesman for regional cities Bill Tilley, whose electorate of Benambra includes Wodonga, said he was meeting with OKeeffe on Wednesday to discuss how to lobby the government for a wider distribution of future events. We need that sooner rather than later for cities to start planning. I think hosting nations before the Games would be a great opportunity, like we hosted Ukrainians in Albury-Wodonga before the Sydney Olympic Games [in 2000], Tilley said. Ballarat will host athletics and boxing while Bendigo will be the city for lawn bowls, netball, squash and weightlifting. Outdoor cycling will take place between Bendigo and Gippsland, which will also host badminton and rugby 7s. T20 cricket, to be played for the first time at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games in July, will take place across Geelong, Gippsland, Ballarat and Bendigo.

Kardinia Park Aquatic Centre, next door to Geelong Cats home ground, is tipped to host the swimming events. The outdoor venue boasts two 50-metre heated pools, including a 10-lane FINA-standard pool, plus an eight-lane Olympic pool. Swimming Australia said it was still to determine what additional infrastructure, if any, would be required to bring the pools up to Commonwealth Games standard. [It was] certainly a fantastic announcement ... to see the Comm Games coming back to Australia, Swimming Australias general manager of media and communications Kieran Marsh said. We will obviously work with both the organising committee, as well as our international federation FINA, to ensure the venue is suitable, but there are no concerns regarding outdoor pools.

Loading Andrews said the government had done modelling suggesting the Games would create 600 jobs before the event, 3900 during and 3000 beyond the closing ceremony, as well injecting $3 billion into the state economy. There might be some particular facilities that we have to do a lot more work at, but I think we start with a pretty good base, he said. The premier added that the Games would boost regional housing supply, without offering details on how much would be created or the cost. The 2006 Commonwealth Games village in Parkville has since been used as 1600 dwellings, including 20 per cent social housing. It is, at the moment, I think, pretty clear that pressure in the housing market is holding back some regional industries from growing and reaching the full potential that we want them to reach, Andrews said.
There are just over 40,000 active cases of COVID-19 in Western Australia, with WA Health reporting 6348 new cases overnight.

The deaths of three people with COVID were reported to the department on Monday; a woman in her 80s, a woman in her 60s and a man in his 30s. No further information was released about the deaths.

Free RAT tests will be distributed in regional areas. Credit:Getty Images

WA has recorded 257,997 cases since the COVID-19 pandemic began.

The state government will distribute 200,000 additional free rapid antigen tests at regional community resource centres from April 18.
The number of foreign workers in Australia would need to be boosted significantly to meet Prime Minister Scott Morrisons promise of creating 1.3 million new jobs in five years, a pledge a major employer group has described as hollow.

Industry groups are calling for permanent skilled migration levels to be raised and economists say the problem is not creating jobs  vacancies are at record highs and the unemployment rate is tipped to fall below 4 per cent this year  but finding qualified people to fill them.

Experts say the only way to meet Prime Minister Scott Morrisons pledge to create 1.3 million jobs is to boost foreign worker numbers. Credit:James Brickwood

Morrison unveiled the jobs promise on Tuesday, highlighting previous announcements on funding for training positions and apprentice incentives as part of the plan to increase the countrys workforce.

Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry chief executive Andrew McKellar  whose members include Commonwealth Bank, Woolworths and Telstra  criticised both major political parties policies on apprenticeships and described Morrisons announcement on Tuesday as puzzling.
Labor has dropped plans to review the JobSeeker rate in a crucial decision to avoid a clash with the Coalition over unemployment benefits despite a long political dispute over whether Australians can live on the base rate of $46 per day.

Labor leader Anthony Albanese will go to the election with a policy that maintains the JobSeeker payment at $642.70 per fortnight for a single person without children amid an election contest on the cost of living and demands from the Greens for a higher rate.

Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese in Tasmania on the election campaign. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

With employers warning of worker shortages and Prime Minister Scott Morrison pledging 1.3 million new jobs over five years if voters back the Coalition at the election, Labor has embraced the governments $50 increase in the rate last year without offering more.

But it risks a backlash from social services groups and highlights a policy divide with Greens leader Adam Bandt when he is calling for a base rate of $88 per day for all income support including JobSeeker.
Donna Amery was beside herself with excitement about the VIP guest visiting the excavator bucket manufacturer she works for on the outskirts of Sydney.

Not Scott Morrison though; Treasurer Josh Frydenberg was the politician she was most thrilled to meet, telling him she was an accountant just like you and pulling him aside for a special photograph to keep on her desk.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Treasurer Josh Frydenberg talk about a pink digger bucket being sold for charity. Credit:James Brickwood

Lucky for the prime ministerial ego, Morrison had declared an hour earlier that elections arent a popularity test.

You go to the dentist, doesnt matter whether you like him or not, like her or not, but you want to know that theyre good at their job. And thats what this is about, he said.
The states are ramping up pressure for billions of dollars more in public hospital funding as the federal Coalition prepares to unveil its pre-election health pitch this weekend and Labor announces a plan to ease pressure on emergency departments.

Neither major party has committed to the hospital funding boost sought by states and territories in February  estimated at $20.5 billion over four years  to tackle the pressure put on the system by the coronavirus pandemic.

Federal Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese will on Wednesday announce a $135 million plan to trial bulk-billed Medicare urgent-care clinics at 50 sites across Australia. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

Victorian Health Minister Martin Foley told The Age and Sydney Morning Herald on Tuesday the state needed the Commonwealth to step up and pay up and not leave Victorians in the lurch.

Scott Morrison has shown time and time again that he walks away from his responsibilities  the least he could do is give Victorians a fair deal on health, Foley said.
It turns out, in Australia, that weve learned to live with COVID pretty rapidly. Only in December did the hyper-infectious Omicron variant first appear and only a few weeks ago did we lift restrictions on offices, retail, hospitality and schools, with some minor exceptions. Case numbers are astronomically high compared to earlier in the pandemic  about 25,000 a day nationally  but they are rarely headline news any more.

For most of us, life is more or less back to normal: school, uni, footy, cafes, holidays, barbecues, a record crowd at the weekends Australian Grand Prix. COVID is something we are managing day to day, family by family, workplace by workplace. The idea that we could once again be plunged into hard lockdown in an attempt to eradicate or avoid it feels unlikely and the lockdowns we did endure are events wed rather forget.

China has not made this journey. The country where the pandemic began and which showed us how to contain the first iteration of the virus by locking down, is still in the elimination phase. It has locked down its most populous city, Shanghai, with what appears to be insufficient preparation. Millions of people are trapped in their homes unsure of where their next meal is coming from, leading to angry mass protests the likes of which mainland China rarely, if ever, sees.

Our correspondent Eryk Bagshaw described this week, A sea of residents in towers yelling in front of flashing apartment lights and people banding together to grab whatever food they can get their hands on. The problem, he reports, is that authorities suddenly shut down the city of nearly 30 million people in response to a spike in cases, but officials now admit they had not thought through how they would get food delivered to compounds once delivery drivers or grocery workers were isolated or locked down themselves.

The governments response has been mixed. They have tried to solve the logistics problem while denying it is even happening, censoring social media, urging party members to stamp out dissent, flying drones past apartment buildings imploring residents to not scream from their windows and cranking up the party rhetoric.
The Kremlin says it launched a special military operation on February 24 to demilitarise and denazify Ukraine. Kyiv and its Western allies reject that as a false pretext for the invasion. Putin on Wednesday (AEST) used his first public comments on the conflict in more than a week to say Russia would rhythmically and calmly continue its operation, and expressed confidence all of Russias noble aims in Ukraine would be achieved. He said the most important strategic conclusion was that the unipolar international order which the US had built after the Cold War was breaking up. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky mocked Putin in an early morning address saying: How could a plan that provides for the death of tens of thousands of their own soldiers in a little more than a month of war come about? Putin said that peace negotiations have again returned to a dead-end situation for us.

The Russian leader frequently seemed to ramble or stammer. Only occasionally did he adopt the icy, confident demeanour that has been the trademark of his 22 years in power. He again claimed Russia had no choice but to fight to defend the Russian speakers of eastern Ukraine and prevent its former Soviet neighbour from becoming an anti-Russian springboard for Moscows enemies. Loading The West has condemned the war as a brutal imperial-style land grab targeting a sovereign country. Ukraine says it is fighting for its survival after Putin annexed Crimea in 2014. Putin dismissed the Wests sanctions, which have tipped Russia towards its worst recession since the fall of the Soviet Union, as a failure.

That Blitzkrieg on which our foes were counting did not work, Putin said. The United States is ready to fight with Russia until the last Ukrainian - that is the way it is. Putin, who had been ubiquitous on Russian television in the early days of the war, has largely retreated from public view since the withdrawal from northern Ukraine two weeks ago. Russian forces have failed to capture one major city and have suffered heavy losses since launching the invasion. The appointment of Russian Army General Aleksandr Dvornikov as commander of the Ukraine war shows how Ukrainian resistance and Russias ineffective pre-war planning is forcing it to reassess its operations, British military intelligence said. Russia says it now aims to capture more territory on behalf of separatists in two eastern provinces in the Donbas region, which includes the besieged port of Mariupol. The assault in Donbas sets the stage for a protracted battle that is certain to inflict heavy losses on both sides and will ultimately define the course of the war, analysts said.

A Chechen leader in the region, Ramzan Kadyrov, claimed on his Telegram account that more than 1000 Ukrainian marines had surrendered in Mariupol and urged remaining forces holed up in a steel mill to surrender. Ukrainian tanks move down a street in Irpin, on the outskirts of Kyiv, following the Russian withdrawal. Credit:AP Russian television showed pictures of what it said were marines giving themselves up at Illich Iron and Steel Works in Mariupol on Tuesday, many of them injured. Kadyrov is an ardent supporter of Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin and has deployed many of his fighters in Ukraine to bolster Russias drive. In earlier postings, he vowed to proceed with the capture of Mariupol and to press on to take all other Ukrainian cities, including Kyiv. Luhansk regional Governor Serhiy Gaidai urged residents to evacuate.

Its far more scary to remain and burn in your sleep from a Russian shell, he wrote on social media. Pavlo Kyrylenko, governor of the eastern Donetsk region, said he had seen incident reports on possible chemical weapons use in Mariupol but could not confirm them. The United States and Britain have said they were trying to verify the reports. The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) said it was closely monitoring the situation. Chemical weapons production, use and stockpiling is banned under the 1997 Chemical Weapons Convention. Russias Defence Ministry has not responded to a Reuters request for comment. Russia denies its committing war crimes in Ukraine. Russian-backed separatist forces in the east denied using chemical weapons in Mariupol, the Interfax news agency reported.

The US is expected to announce $US750 million ($1 billion) more in military assistance, two officials said, likely including heavy ground artillery systems to Ukraine, including howitzers, in a sign the war is expected to drag on. Delivery is due to be completed this week of $US800 million in military assistance approved by Biden a month ago Committing genocide Biden declared that Americans ability to pay for petrol should not hinge on whether a dictator commits genocide half a world away. US President Joe Biden: standing by his words. Credit:Bloomberg Your family budget, your ability to fill up your tank, none of it should hinge on whether a dictator declares war and commits genocide a half a world away, Biden said at an event in Iowa on fuel prices.

Under international law, genocide is an intent to destroy - in whole or in part - a national, ethnic, racial or religious group. Zelensky told Russia to release prisoners of war if it wants the Kremlins most high-profile political ally in the country freed. Ukraine said that Viktor Medvedchuk, the leader of the Opposition Platform - For Life party, had been apprehended. In February, the authorities said he had escaped house arrest after a treason case was opened. The politician who says Putin is godfather to his daughter has denied wrongdoing. A spokesperson was not immediately available for comment.

I propose to the Russian Federation: exchange this guy of yours for our guys and girls now held in Russian captivity, Zelensky said in his address. A man walks past a storage place for burnt armed vehicles and cars on the outskirts of Kyiv. Credit:AP Employing the Russia propaganda rhetoric known as whataboutism, Putin said he had told Western leaders to think a little about destruction by the United States of the Syrian city of Raqqa, the former de facto capital of the Islamic State caliphate, and in Afghanistan. (Whataboutism, a rhetoric device often used by the Kremlin, means to deflect attention from one subject by pointing to another and asking essentially what about that?) Have you seen how this Syrian city was turned to rubble by American aircraft? Corpses lay in the ruins for months decomposing, Putin said. Nobody cared. No one even noticed.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the world may yet see worse atrocities unfold than those already reported. Loading We have credible information that Russian forces may use a variety of riot control agents to weaken and incapacitate Ukrainian fighters and civilians as part of a campaign to take the besieged city of Mariupol, he said. Like other US officials, he said he couldnt confirm allegations that chemical agents already have been used by Russia in Ukraine. Were in direct conversation with partners to try to determine what actually has happened, he said
The reunification of Taiwan with mainland China has been a feature of many speeches made by President Xi Jinping of China. Indeed, in his 2022 New Year speech he noted the complete reunification of our motherland is an aspiration shared by people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait. I sincerely hope that all the sons and daughters of the Chinese nation will join forces to create a brighter future for our nation.

The past 47 days will have been a profound learning opportunity for Xi and the Peoples Liberation Army in their quest to return what they view as a rebellious province. It is important to understand the nature of the lesson that the Chinese Communist Party leadership might take from Russias invasion of Ukraine.

Xi Jinping may be surprised by Vladimir Putins military blunders, but he will take lessons from the Ukraine invasion. Credit:AP

Of course, caveats apply to such observations. Our Western orientation often means we project our own thoughts and preferences onto those we dont understand. Noting that danger, we should at least attempt to divine what lessons Xi might take from Ukraine. Because in appreciating where the Chinese may learn and adapt, we also inform our national security strategies and military modernisation programs.

While there are many military lessons from Ukraine, the key ones for Xi will be political.
Yungay, Chile: At Eduardo Berrios vinyl vintage records store in a deteriorating area of Santiago, sales are getting a boost thanks to a newcomer in the downtown neighbourhood: Chiles 36-year-old president, Gabriel Boric.

On his first visit, Boric, a known music lover, bought the 1975 Adios Sui Generis album, the double-record by Argentinian classic rock duet Sui Generis. The second time he came by just to say hi  followed by an entourage of photographers  and then a third time he wanted to make sure the polices crowd control barriers werent blocking the store.

A tent next to a damaged building in the Yungay suburb of Santiago, Chile. The newly elected president, Gabriel Boric, moved into the neighbourhood to send a message about reviving areas that have fallen prey to crime and poverty. Credit:Bloomberg

For Berrios, who has operated a store in the Yungay for 18 years, its a major change from even a few months ago, when he saw drug gangs fighting in broad daylight over control of the block. A couple of blocks down the owners of the Fuente Mardoqueo cafe are planning to give the restaurant a new paint job, says Alvaro Penafiel, the current general manager and son of the founder.

Things just feel different since he moved in, Penafiel says.
PHILIPSBURG:--- The Committee of Parlatino Matters (CPM), of Parliament will meet on April 12, 2022.

The Committee meeting is scheduled for Tuesday at 14.00 hrs. in the General Assembly Chamber of the House at Wilhelminastraat #1 in Philipsburg.

The agenda point is:

1. Model laws adopted by the 36th Ordinary Assembly of Parlatino, held on the 11th and 12th of February 2022 in Panama

2. Declarations made by and or on behalf of St. Maarten at the 36th Ordinary Assembly of Parlatino in Panama (IS/643/2021-2022 dated March 9, 2022)

Member of Parliament, S.A. Wescot-Williams requested this meeting.

Members of the public are invited to the House of Parliament to attend parliamentary deliberations. All persons visiting the House of Parliament must adhere to the house rules and all health and safety protocols, including the wearing of a mask.

The House of Parliament is located across from the Court House in Philipsburg.

The parliamentary sessions will be carried live on TV 15, SXM Bulletin (Cable TV 120), via SXM GOV radio FM 107.9, via Pearl Radio FM 98.1, the audio via the internet www.sxmparliament.org, and www.pearlfmradio.sx
PHILIPSBURG/MARIGOT:--- Police have determined there has been no foul play in the death of a French national found dead in his residence in Dawn Beach on Sunday, April 3, 2022.

Police Central Dispatch received a report from the French authorities on Sunday night around 10:00 pm about the apparent suicide. Police patrols along with personnel from the forensic and detective departments were dispatched to the location.

At the location, police found the lifeless body of a man who had presumably taken his life in his backyard.

Forensics personnel conducted an investigation into the circumstances and found no signs of foul play. The body of the deceased was later transported to one of the local funeral homes.

The Police Force of Sint Maarten KPSM extends condolences to the family and friends of the deceased.

Should you or someone you know need is in crisis and requires professional help, contact the Mental Health Foundation on the crisis hotline at +1 721 520 5556. They are there to help you.

KPSM Press Release.
Local and national governments must propose long-term measures quickly On the 7th of April, the Dutch National Ombudsman Reinier van Zutphen, also acting on behalf of the ombudsman for Children Margrite Kalverboer, presented the report 'Caribbean children pay the price to Alida Francis, government commissioner of St. Eustatius. The State Secretary responsible, Alexandra Van Huffelen (Kingdom Relations and Digitisation) also received a copy. The report reveals the issues faced by single parents and children living in poverty in the Caribbean islands. It reiterates the call for a renewed focus and action by the local and national governments. The National Ombudsman, the Ombudsman for Children, and other organizations have been drawing attention to this issue for a long time. But it remains an urgent problem, as is revealed by the interviews the ombudsmen and their researchers have held with single parents and their children. Previous investigations looked at poverty among the elderly and young adults in Bonaire, St. Eustatius, and Saba. Improved cooperation Despite the measures taken to tackle poverty in Bonaire, St. Eustatius, and Saba, the National Ombudsman and the Ombudsman for Children still have concerns about young parents and their children who are growing up in poverty. This is why there is an urgent need for close cooperation between the central government and the public bodies on the three islands. In this, the ombudsmen envisage a specific coordination role for the Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations (BZK). This is not an easy task, given that numerous ministries and government, and other organizations are involved. But structural and long-term efforts are required to beat poverty in the Caribbean Netherlands. Significant differences between the Caribbean and European Netherlands The ombudsmen feel that single parents and their children can rightfully expect the government to ensure they receive rapid and carefully-considered help in improving their situation. They must be able to build a stable future for themselves and their children. There are significant differences compared to the facilities and services available in the European Netherlands and a social minimum income needs to be established based on the actual cost of living on the islands. This can only be achieved through a better understanding of the problems on the ground. Reinier van Zutphen, National Ombudsman: "Its so important to ensure that single parents in the Caribbean Netherlands receive more than just money to help them. Along with their children, they have a right to see a rapid improvement in the facilities and services available. This will only be possible by means of improved cooperation between the different government authorities and organizations. Both in the European and Caribbean Netherlands. Consequences for the children

Poverty has a significant effect on the way children are brought up, especially if their parents are on their own. The interviews with parents and children and previous research have revealed that single parents lack the space they need to give their children care, love and attention. The parents are under pressure and stressed by all the (financial) problems they have to endure. These parents generally spend a lot of their time working, rather than at home. As a result, the children have less structure, fewer rules, and limited support or attention.

Margrite Kalverboer, Ombudsman for Children: "When children grow up in poverty, they often experience a range of problems in different areas of life. This means that there is a significant risk of poverty being passed on to them and for it to continue down the generations. It is really important to break this pattern.

Recommendations

Based on all the interviews and findings, the ombudsmen have the following recommendations for the State Secretary of BZK:

 Develop an integrated approach for (access to) facilities and services and ensure that it includes a focus on and a strategy targeted at the children.

 Focus on providing more financial help and debt counseling and easily accessible legal services

 Break the taboo on parenting support and make it available and accessible.

 Ensure that childcare is available free of charge.

 Offer affordable courses to enable (single) parents to continue to learn and develop.

Next steps

In November 2022, a conference is being organized in the Caribbean Netherlands. At it, the ombudsmen and their colleagues from Curacao and St. Maarten will continue their discussion on the wide-ranging effort to combat poverty.

Background

Bonaire, St. Eustatius, and Saba have been special municipalities of the Netherlands since 2010. Together, they make up the Caribbean Netherlands. Since 2010, the National Ombudsman has been handling complaints about government bodies on the islands. Since 2012, he has also handled complaints about the local government authorities, otherwise known as the public bodies. The Ombudsman for Children has been handling complaints in the Caribbean Netherlands since 2011.
The Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance (DCNA) invites all residents of Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao, Saba, Sint Maarten, and Sint Eustatius to participate in the Big Live Nature Quiz on Thursday 21st of April, 6-7 pm. Its free, online, live, interactive, and includes questions about endangered animals and plants in the Dutch Caribbean. This fun quiz is in English but questions will also have Dutch, Papiamentu, and Papiamento subtitles. You can participate online from home or go to one of the broadcast locations on your island. You can join alone or form a team with a max 4 friends/family/colleagues. The winning team will win a sailing/snorkel trip around their island. Make sure to register at biglivenaturequiz.org.

Date and Time

Citizens of the six Dutch Caribbean islands ages 18 and older are invited to participate in the annual Big Live Nature Quiz for adults. The quiz will take place on Thursday 21st of April 2022, 6-7 pm. There will be a short break in the middle to socialize and grab some food and drinks to prepare for round two.

Teams

Join alone or form a team with max 4 friends/family/colleagues.

Location

You can participate in two ways. Participants can play online from work or home with friends and family or go to a designated bar or restaurant (Bonaire: Hillside, Saba: Long Haul, St. Eustatius: Ocean View Terrace, St. Maarten: Dinghy Dock Sailors Bar) where the quiz will be live broadcasted.

Reserve your spot

Groups consisting of one to four members must pre-register at biglivenaturequiz.org to participate. People wishing to participate at a live broadcast location must also reserve a table at the bar (Bonaire: Hillside, Saba: Long Haul, St. Eustatius: Ocean View Terrace, St. Maarten: Dinghy Dock Sailors Bar).

Requirements

It is not necessary to prepare or study for the quiz in advance. If you are participating from home, all you need is an online registration (biglivenaturequiz.org), an internet connection, a computer, a phone to answer questions, and a good attitude. Find all instructions on: biglivenaturequiz.org

If you join from one of the designated bars, you only need to register online (biglivenaturequiz.org) and reserve a table at (Bonaire: Hillside, Saba: Long Haul, St. Eustatius: Blue Bead Bar & Restaurant), St. Maarten: Dinghy Dock Sailors Bar) and bring a cell phone.

Theme: Endangered animals and plants

The quiz will have a total of 20 multiple-choice trivia questions. The quiz will be in English but questions will also have Dutch, Papiamentu, and Papiamento subtitles. Questions will include species such as sea turtles, sharks, and iguanas.

Prizes

The winning team will win a sailing/snorkel trip around their island. Second and third-place teams will receive t-shirts and hats.

Yearly Quiz for adults and kids

The DCNA supports STINAPA Bonaire, CARMABI on Curacao, Aruba National Park Foundation, Saba Conservation Foundation, STENAPA on St Eustatius, and Nature Foundation Sint Maarten amongst others with their nature education programs. The online Big Live Nature Quiz was created to educate citizens about nature conservation in a fun interactive way, to instill pride in the islands nature, encourage eco-friendly practices, support the park's conservation projects, and connect people throughout the Dutch Caribbean. This is a yearly event for adults and kids. The Kids Edition is planned for the beginning of October.

The Big Live Nature Quiz is generously funded by the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality (LNV), and DCNAs activities are supported by the Dutch Postcode Lottery.

Follow the Big Live Nature Quiz

Check out DCNAs Facebook (Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance), Instagram (DCNAnature), or biglivenaturequiz.org. If you have any questions, send an email to //This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. /">This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call us at +599-717-5010.
Edith (Edi) Marie Smith, daughter of the late Glen Lester and Dorothy Jane Allison, was born in Youngstown, OH on Friday, October 11th, 1963, and she departed this life on Saturday, April 30th, 2022, having attained the age of 59 years. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death b
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NEW HAVEN  The new biotech tower being built on College Street is still more than a year and half away from completion, but one of Connecticuts home grown health science companies, Alexion Pharmaceuticals, has already committed to taking space in the building.

Officials at Alexion, which is now a part of global pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca, have not said how much space the company will occupy in the tower at 101 College St. But a company spokesperson said the move represents an expansion in Alexions research capabilities, doubling the companys lab floor space in the city.

Alexion already has 500 employees as well as lab space at 100 College St., which is directly opposite the construction site for the new biotech tower, The company, which develops drugs to treat patients with rare diseases, is recruiting to fill 50 open positions in New Haven, according to the spokesperson.

More than half of those positions are in research and development, she said.

Once Alexion moves into the new space at 101 College, the spokesperson said the company anticipates further hiring to expand its research and development capabilities in New Haven. But she declined to say how many additional jobs might be added after the current round of hiring.

Mike Piscitelli, New Havens economic development administrator, called Alexions announcement exciting and said it shows how the citys real estate market is adjusting to pandemic-related changes.

With strong performance in growing economic sectors such as the life sciences, together with continued demand for housing, the real estate market is adjusting in part through conversions to med/lab and innovation space as well as conversion to residential use, Piscitelli said. We are all inspired by the science behind new job growth at Arvinas and Quantum-SI, which is relocating and expanding to Winchester Works as well as the conversion of multiple floors at 55 Church St. to support the new Elm City Bioscience Center.

Arvinas, another New Haven-based biotech, signed a 10-year lease to occupy about 160,000 square feet in the 525,000-square foot tower in early May 2021. Arvinas is based in the citys Science Park complex.

Yale University announced in late May 2021 it had signed a lease for 125,000 square feet of space across three floors in the biotech tower. The university also is providing financial backing for a biotech incubator to be located at the site.

Garrett Sheehan, president and chief executive officer of the Greater New Haven Chamber of Commerce, said the expansion demonstrates the growing potential that the bioscience industry, a critical component of Connecticuts economy, sees in the New Haven region and its regional talent pool.

The expanded lab space at 101 College St. will be key to address the concerns over lab space in the state and we are enthusiastic of the work that will be conducted in the new space, Sheehan said.

He said Alexion is participating in the Student Program to Ready Interns for Next Generation Talent, which is actively recruiting candidates for Summer 2022 paid internships. The goal of the program is to provide over 100 paid opportunities in the life-science industry this summer to students attending Connecticut colleges and universities, as well as students with ties to Connecticut, according to Sheehan.

Alexion was founded in New Haven 30 years ago and after a stint based in Cheshire, the companys headquarters returned to the Elm City early in the last decade.

But company officials announced in September 2017 that Alexion was relocating its headquarters operations to Bostons Seaport District. That move was completed during the summer of 2018.

AstraZeneca announced in December 2020 it was acquiring Alexion in a $39 billion deal. That acquisition was completed last July.

luther.turmelle@hearstmediact.com
NORWALK  Datto is being acquired for $6.2 billion by a Miami company, just 15 years after its launch by Austin McChord and rocket growth to join the exclusive club of unicorn startups in Connecticut valued above $1 billion.

Datto has its main office in Norwalk under CEO Tim Weller, with the company entering this year with about 2,100 employees, including 520 working in other countries. McChord stepped down in 2018 in advance of Datto filing notice of its plans to become a publicly traded company. Miami-based Kaseya is offering $35.50 for each share of Datto, which traded at $28.73 on Friday.

McChord created a company providing data backup as a service for clients lacking the resources of major corporations, allowing them to retrieve information and files in the event of crashes or hacks. Datto sells its backup and security offerings through other companies that provide a range of information technology services.

Datto more than doubled its profits last year to $51.4 million, as revenue rose 19 percent to $577 million.

Founded in 2000, Kaseya also provides security software through managed service providers. In a prepared statement, CEO Fred Voccola indicated the company has a history of retaining the branding and workplace cultures of the businesses it acquires.

Kaseya is funding the transaction with cash from Insight Partners, TPG Capital and other private equity investment firms.

Hackers successfully infiltrated Kaseyas own systems last year in a ransomware attack, demanding $70 million to restore access to computers. Authorities arrested multiple people in Ukraine and Romania last year on suspicion of orchestrating the attack through the REvil organized crime group. The U.S. Department of Justice said it recovered $6.1 million that had been paid by multiple victims.

Datto has made security a cornerstone of its marketing to smaller businesses that lack the ability to maintain sophisticated IT departments to keep up with the array of threats.

Speaking in February on a conference call, Weller said Dattos Ransomware Detection suite is now used by some 1.7 million entities to identify potential incursions.

Ransomware Detection, which was built in-house in fairly short order before launch, weve now extended it quite a bit, Weller said in February. What it catches is pretty amazing.

Alex.Soule@scni.com; 203-842-2545; @casoulman
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Many companies have announced the suspension of their operations on Russian territory as a result of the armed conflict against Ukraine. None have elicited such extreme reactions from consumers as Chanel . The luxury products company announced that, in addition to ceasing to operate on Russian territory, it will no longer sell its products to Russian citizens who intend to bring them to their country. This with the aim of complying with the sanctions that the European Union (EU) and Switzerland have imposed on Russia.

The most recent EU and Swiss sanctions include a ban 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.  We have put in place a process to ask customers whose primary residence we do not know to confirm that the items they are purchasing will not be used in Russia," the company explained in a press release.
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EAST WINDSOR  A local firefighter who also served as a flight medic for Life Star died during a diving accident while on vacation, according to fire officials.

The Warehouse Point Fire Department, which serves East Windsor, announced the death of Derrick Donahue last week.

Details about the accident were not immediately available.

Officials said Donahue began his public service career during high school, when he volunteered with the fire departments and East Windsor Ambulance.

During his time at the Warehouse Point Fire Department, officials said, Donahue served on many different committees.

He also served as a firefighter in Amherst, Mass., for several years before returning to Connecticut to continue his career in firefighting, officials said.

Donahue eventually became a registered nurse and found his calling as a flight medic for Life Star out of Hartford Hospital, officials said.

Our thoughts and prayers are with Derricks family and friends during this tragedy, officials said. Derrick you will truly be missed and may you rest in peace.

A GoFundMe campaign was created over the weekend and has raised more than $7,000. The fundraiser indicates the money raised will help bring Donahues body home to be laid to rest. The fundraiser indicated he died in another country, but didnt specify where.
FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP)  Kentucky officials are considering whether to recommend three nominations for placement on the National Register of Historic Places.

The Louisville College of Dentistry building, downtown Morehead and the Paducah Northside neighborhood are up for consideration Tuesday at the Kentucky Historic Preservation Review Board, the Kentucky Heritage Council said in a statement.
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ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (AP)  On the 16th anniversary of a New Jersey law that banned indoor smoking in most public places  except in casinos  hundreds of Atlantic City casino workers called on state lawmakers Tuesday to ban smoking in the gambling halls.

The push comes at a crucial time for the Atlantic City casino industry as it tries mightily to regain lost business from the coronavirus pandemic, and braces for the opening of one or more additional casinos in New York City, which will compete for many of Atlantic City's customers.

Phil Murphy, New Jersey's Democratic governor, has promised to sign the ban if it is passed, and an unusually high number of legislators have signed on as co-sponsors of the bill.

But it faces strong opposition from the casinos and from the main casino labor union in Atlantic City, which fear widespread job losses if smoking is banned in the casinos.

About 250 casino workers gathered in a park near the ocean Tuesday to call on lawmakers to pass a bill that would end the casinos' exemption from the indoor smoking law.

They say they have endured years of breathing in second-hand smoke, watching colleagues die and becoming sick themselves.

Sixteen years ago the state of New Jersey left us behind in the smoke, said Lamont White, a dealer at the Borgata casino. We are not numbers; we are people.

The casino industry opposes the measure, saying it will cost jobs and revenue amid an uneven recovery from the coronavirus pandemic when only two casinos have surpassed the level of profitability they enjoyed before the pandemic began.

Nicole Vitola, another Borgata dealer, said it has been galling to see friends fall ill in workplaces that lack the same health protections that other industries enjoy.

It's been 16 years of cancer diagnoses, 16 years of watching our beloved co-workers die, she said. We keep hearing, Now is not the time. When is it going to be the right time to care about us?

The Casino Association of New Jersey, the trade group for Atlantic City's nine casinos, recently commissioned a report predicting widespread job losses and revenue declines if smoking were banned in Atlantic City.

Atlantic City has yet to see growth from pre-pandemic levels, association president Joe Lupo said. Employment at our casinos is at a 20-year low, with less than 50% of the workforce from 2003. Visitation to Atlantic City is at a 20-year low, while gas prices and tolls are increasing.

And land-based casino revenue remains at an almost 50% decrease from our peak in 2006, he added. Adding a smoking ban could cause a devastating effect to the community and state.

Casino workers vehemently dispute the findings of that report, and say it does not take into account a likely improvement in business conditions in the years after a smoking ban is enacted, as gamblers become used to a smoke-free environment.

In a letter sent Monday to state Senate President Nicholas Scutari, Bob McDevitt, president of Local 54 of the Unite Here casino workers union, urged lawmakers not to pass a smoking ban.

While we want to ensure that our members work in a safe work environment, banning smoking in New Jersey casinos would mean lost jobs for our union and throughout the state, and lost tax revenues and less money for senior programs, he wrote.

Earlier this month, state gambling regulators released figures showing that Atlantic City casinos collectively exceeded the levels of gross operating profit that they enjoyed before the pandemic broke out in 2020.

But virtually all that improvement came from the two newest casinos in the market, Hard Rock and Ocean, with the other seven remaining flat since the start of the pandemic.

The bill has not yet had a hearing in the state Legislature, although it continues to gather support from lawmakers of both parties. It has 28 co-sponsors in the Assembly and 15 in the senate, including majorities of the health committees in both houses.

The whole world has figured out how to eat outside and smoke outside, said Assemblywoman Claire Swift, a Republican. The nine casinos can figure it out.

We know this bill would pass today with flying colors if it got put to the floor, said Pete Naccarelli, a Borgata dealer. Soon I will be thankful because I will be working in a smoke-free environment like everyone else in the state of New Jersey.

___

Follow Wayne Parry on Twitter at www.twitter.com/WayneParryAC
GREENWICH  Greenwich High School students will Graduate, Stronger with a practical skills seminar funded by $20,000 of COVID-19 relief funds.

GHS juniors Maddie Malone, Tori Ware, Sarah Borba, Juliana Contadino and Melissa Abanil applied for the grant money through statewide initiative called Voice4Change, which asked students how they would spend $20,000 within a set of eligibility guidelines.

The groups proposal Graduate, Stronger was created from their nervous feelings about post-graduation life, Malone said. The students said they believed a seminar that teaches such real worlds skills as paying rent and filing taxes would be helpful to seniors in high school.

The student body voted between two proposals, the other was a speaker series on current events, and ultimately chose the graduation seminar. It is one of 54 student-selected proposals funded at schools across the state.

Our thought process behind this proposal was that GHS doesnt have a course that teaches real-world skills that are needed when you start living on your own, Ware told Greenwich Time recently. Although GHS does have classes like personal finance and marketing, those are just small parts of what students should be taught when heading off into the real world.

Commissioner of Education Charlene Russell-Tucker and Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz announced the winning proposals Friday, and the commissioner selected an additional five proposals to receive $20,000 that did not win schoolwide votes.

Weve all experienced so many challenges over the past few years during the pandemic, and we wanted to give our young people the opportunity to tell us how they could make their school and their community better, Bysiewicz said.

The Voice4Change initiative sparked interest in Pennsylvania, which is considering a similar program in the future, she said.

More than $1.5 million of Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief money will be dispersed through Voice4Change in Connecticut.

annelise.hanshaw@hearstmediact.com
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PIERRE, S.D. (AP)  The South Dakota House on Tuesday impeached state Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg over a 2020 car crash in which he killed a pedestrian but initially said he might have struck a deer or another large animal.

Ravnsborg, a Republican, is the first official to be impeached in South Dakota history. He will at least temporarily be removed from office pending the historic Senate trial, where it takes a two-thirds majority to convict on impeachment charges. The Senate must wait at least 20 days to hold its trial, but has not yet set a date.

Ravnsborg pleaded no contest last year to a pair of traffic misdemeanors in the crash, including making an illegal lane change. He has cast Joseph Boevers death as a tragic accident.

In narrowly voting to impeach the state's top prosecutor, the Republican-controlled House charged Ravnsborg with committing crimes that caused someones death, making numerous misrepresentations to law enforcement officers after the crash and using his office to navigate the criminal investigation. A Senate conviction would mean Ravnsborg would be barred from holding any state office in the future.

When were dealing with the life of one of your citizens, I think that weighed heavily on everyone, said Republican Rep. Will Mortenson, who introduced the articles of impeachment.

Ravnsborg said in a statement he is looking forward to the Senate trial, where I believe I will be vindicated.

Meanwhile, Tim Bormann, the attorney generals chief of staff, said his staff would professionally dedicate ourselves to their work while Ranvsborg is forced to take a leave.

Ravnsborg, who took office in 2019, was returning home from a Republican dinner in September 2020 when he struck and killed Boever, who was walking along a rural highway. A sheriff who responded after Ravnsborg called 911 initially reported it as a collision with an animal. Ravnsborg has said he did not realize he hit a man until he returned the next day and found the body.

The Highway Patrol concluded that Ravnsborgs car crossed completely onto the highway shoulder before hitting Boever, and criminal investigators said later that they didnt believe some of Ravnsborgs statements.

The House rejected the recommendation of a GOP-backed majority report from a special investigative committee, which argued that anything wrong he did was not part of his official duties in office. But even Republican lawmakers who argued his actions did not meet constitutional grounds for impeachment said Ravnsborg should resign.

He should have stepped down, should have done the honorable thing, said House Speaker Spencer Gosch, who oversaw the House investigation and voted against impeachment.

The articles of impeachment required approval from a majority of the 70 members of the House and passed by just one vote.

Of the 36 people who voted in favor, eight were Democrats and 28 were Republicans. The 31 against it were all Republicans. Republican Rep. Scott Odenbach recused himself because he had given legal advice to the attorney general after the crash. Two other Republican lawmakers were absent.

Ravnsborg, who had been largely silent about the crash and was not present for the vote, sent lawmakers a pair of defiant letters Monday night urging them not to impeach him.

In a few hours, your vote will set a precedent for years to come, Ravnsborg wrote. No state has ever impeached an elected official for a traffic accident.

He also accused Republican Gov. Kristi Noem of interfering in the investigation and of supporting impeachment because of the attorney generals investigations into her behavior.

After Ravnsborg fell out with the governor following the crash, he pushed a pair of ethics complaints against Noem to the states Government Accountability Board. His office is also investigating whether an organization aligned with the governor broke campaign finance disclosure laws.

Noem lauded the vote on Twitter, writing that the House did the right thing for the people of South Dakota and for Joe Boever's family.

The decision brought some relief for his family, who his wedding photo as they watched from the House gallery during the vote. They have decried the criminal prosecution as a slap on the wrist for Ravnsborg.

Were a step closer to justice. Were not done, said Boevers cousin, Nick Nemec.

Now we just need the Senates help on this because these laws need to be changed badly, said Jennifer Boever, who was married to Boever. People are getting hurt and killed, and the pedestrian has no self-defense against a 4,000 pound (1,814 kilogram) vehicle.
WATERBURY  Police announced that they arrested 17 people believed to have been involved in trafficking heroin and fentanyl in Waterbury as part Operation Bundle Up.

Waterbury Police Departments Vice and Intelligence Division began conducting an investigation into mid- and high-level heroin traffickers after a surge in both deadly and non-fatal drug overdoses in the city, according to Waterbury Police Lt. Ryan Bessette.

In 2021, Waterbury had 99 fatal overdoses  85 of which involved fentanyl or a fentanyl analog and nine that involved heroin, according to state data.

Through the investigation, law enforcement identified 25 targets involved with trafficking heroin and fentanyl in Waterbury. Police arrested and apprehended 17 targets, most of which were charged Friday while one man turned himself in Monday.

There are outstanding arrest warrants out for eight other suspects.

Of the 17 arrested, 13 were convicted felons, eight were currently on probation or parole and three are listed on the deadly weapon offender registry, police said.

With the arrest and incarceration of these dealers, we are hoping to stem the distribution of illegal narcotics in the City of Waterbury and the surrounding area, Bessette said. This is a proactive approach in dealing with the current opioid epidemic that the State of Connecticut and the country is experiencing.

Investigators also executed four search warrants in the operation and seized a loaded .45-caliber handgun, 2,453 bags of heroin, about 34 grams of raw heroin, about 41 grams of crack cocaine, 5 pounds of marijuana, 14 pills and more than $32,000 in cash.

Police have outstanding arrest warrants charging eight people:

Travis Beltran, 31, for one count of the sale of narcotics.

Andres Carroll, 41, for two counts of the sale of narcotics.

Luis Colon, 33, for possession of a half ounce or more of cocaine in free base form.

Richard Laramy, 18, for second-degree larceny, first-degree assault, illegal possession of weapons in a motor vehicle and illegal discharge of a weapon.

Angel Medrano, 23, for two counts of the sale of narcotics.

Tyrese Overton, 27, for two counts of the sale of narcotics.

Andrew Parra, 31, for risk of injury to a child, violation of a protective order and first-degree reckless endangerment.

Taifa Wright, 26, for two counts of the sale of narcotics.

Carroll, Colon, Laramy, Overton, Parra, and Wright are convicted felons. Carroll and Overton are currently on probation, police said.

Police said Wright was recently arrested with an illegal firearm and narcotics. He was released on bond last month. He is also on the deadly weapon offender registry.

These 17 people below were charged through warrants connected with the investigation as well as through charges accrued through the onsite arrests:

Roberto Baez, 28, for two counts of the sale of narcotics, two counts of possession with intent to sell and interfering with police.

Dartre Booker, 27, for two counts of the sale of narcotics.

Andrew Curry, 31, for two counts of the sale of narcotics.

Stanley Foote Jr., 24, for two counts of the illegal sale of narcotics with the intent to sell.

Carlton Fox, 36, for one count of the sale of narcotics.

Jonathan Jones, 29, for two counts of the sale of narcotics.

Kenneth Jones, 26, for two counts of the sale of narcotics.

Arnold Kirby, 49, for three counts of the sale of narcotics.

Matthew Love, 32, for sale of one ounce or more of heroin/methadone and three counts of risk of injury to a child.

Christian Rodriguez, 35, for three counts of the sale of narcotics, possession of narcotics with intent to sell, sale of a controlled substance (non-narcotics/hallucinogenic), tampering with physical evidence, operation of a drug factory and interference with a search warrant.

Clarence Rhodes, 43, for two counts of the sale of narcotics.

Maria Roman, 41, for two counts of the sale of narcotics.

Peter Rosario, 20, for two counts of the sale of narcotics, possession of narcotics with intent to sell, possession of narcotics with intent to sell (non-narcotic/hallucinogenic), tampering with physical evidence and operation of a drug factory.

Cyryz Smith, 21, for three counts of the sale of narcotics, illegal transfer of a pistol or a revolver, possession with intent to sell (non-narcotic/hallucinogenic) and carrying a pistol without a permit.

Aderci Tomas, 24, for sale of narcotics.

Marcus Ward, 25, for four counts of failure to appear, criminal possession of a firearm/ammunition/defense weapon, criminal possession of a pistol or a revolver, violation of pistol permit requirements, illegal possession of a weapon in a motor vehicle, illegal transfer or purchase of a pistol or a revolver, illegal discharge of a firearm, first-degree reckless endangerment and first-degree assault.

Keith Wright, 26, for possession of narcotics with intent to sell and possession of narcotics.

A majority of the 17 were charged on Friday, while Jonathan Jones turned himself in to Waterbury Police Department on Monday, according to Bessette.

Baez, Booker, Foote, Fox, Jonathan Jones, Kenneth Jones, Kirby, Love, Rhodes, Rodriguez, Roman, Ward, Wright are convicted felons. Baez, Booker, Rhodes, Ward and Wright are also currently on probation. Kenneth Jones is on federal probation for weapons violations, while Foote is on state parole, according to police.

Tomas was recently released on bond for an armed robbery that took place in January 2022. Foote is being remanded to the Department of Corrections custody, police said.

Baez and Booker are also on the deadly weapon offender registry. Wright is on the sex offender registry, police said.
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WEST HAVEN  Yevgeniy and Kristina Bizyayev and their three young sons received a West Haven welcome Monday in City Hall, with toys, cash and pizza.

The family is a long way from their home in the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv, which invading Russian troops began shelling for three days before the family began the long journey of escaping. Kristina said the situation escalated quickly: things were quiet until one morning they were awakened around 6 a.m. by bombing.

The family quickly sought refuge in an underground parking lot, where they stayed for about three days before making the journey west for the country of Moldova.

Some volunteers helped us to have food and a shower, Kristina said.

The couple continued westward with sons Daniel, Adam and Leonell to Romania, Austria and then Germany. Kristina said they responded to a post on a bulletin on ukrainetakeshelter.com, a Harvard student-run temporary housing resettlement site. Kristina, an internet marketer, has a familiarity with the internet and the family has traveled to the United States for business in the past.

After responding to a bulletin on Ukraine Take Shelter, the family learned they would be connected with West Haven resident Gaye Hyre.

Five family members stayed in Germany as the United States-bound Ukrainian family landed in New York City on Thursday. The Bizyayevs have family already in Boston and New York City, who they intend to reunite with soon.

Im the waystation, Hyre said.

Hyre, who has a vacant bedroom in her home from a daughter attending college, said as soon as there was speculation that Russian President Vladimir Putin would order troops into Ukraine, she knew it was going to happen. Therefore, she felt it was imperative for her to do whatever she could.

If we dont do for each other, whos going to? she said. This is a nation of refuge.

At a brief reception in the City Clerks office to welcome the family Monday, Executive Assistant to the Mayor Lou Esposito welcomed them to our fair city.

We have a big heart and we hope you enjoy yourself, he said.

Before the pizzas arrived  six pies donated by Zuppardis Apizza  a Connecticut Public Radio reporter asked the family if theyd ever tried clams on pizza. The couple gently scrunched their noses.

By next week, officials hope to enroll eldest son Daniel in first grade at Forest Elementary School.

He will receive intensive language support, said West Haven Public Schools ESL Coordinator Raffaela Fronc. Well use small groups with kids who dont speak English well.

Fronc said the district accepts numerous English learners each year from different countries, so it is not unusual for the school system.

brian.zahn@hearstmediact.com
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BRANFORD  U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal and administrators with the Small Business Administration visited Stony Creek Brewery on Monday to highlight legislation and funds that helped keep Connecticuts small businesses open during the pandemic.

Ed Crowley, the owner of Stony Creek Brewery, said his business was shuttered for a few months when the pandemic began and slowly began to reopen under the governors orders but lost a lot of revenue.

When the business reopened, it pivoted to becoming a restaurant, something Crowley said was unique for someone that had been in the beer industry for 46 years.

Every other business struggled during this COVID two-year period and we suffered along with them, Crowley said. Many of them are good friends of ours that have survived. Unfortunately, many of those did not survive and we hope that they get back into some type of brewing capacity.

Crowley said the business received a 504 loan, money from the Paycheck Protection Program and most recently, the COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loan from the SBA.

Without these three products, the 504, the PPP and the EIDL loan, it would have been very, very difficult for a brewery this size, to survive, he said, even for a family-run business thats well-run with the volume his company produces.

The business applied for the EIDL loan back in October 2021, and as recently as six weeks ago Crowley said he felt he was getting nowhere as far as the application process. Then he made a few phone calls and connected with SBA Connecticut District Director Catherine Marx, who he called a superhero.

Its been a difficult two years and unimaginable business plans shutting down the hospitality industry, shutting down the restaurants and yet organizations like the Stony Creek not only survived, but they are going into new direction, and theyre supporting their communities, Marx said.

Crowley said making payroll every two weeks was a grind and if it wasnt for Marx and Mike Vlacich, the regional administrator for the SBA, the business would not be where it is today.

As I told all of our team members, we wouldnt be here today, we wouldnt be looking to add about 14 new full-time positions in brewing hospitality side, getting ready for the summer months, Crowley said.

Blumenthal said his role in the saga of helping the brewery receive the loan was to be a pain in the neck, which he said he does sometimes when government needs to respond more quickly and fully to the needs of constituents.

The senator praised the SBA for its work with PPP, EIDL and the restaurant revitalization program over the last two years, adding the federal government has poured trillions into the economy, with a lot of that money going toward small businesses.

The reason is, small businesses are our economic backbone, Blumenthal said. They are literally the economic springboard to recovery because they are the major source of new jobs and they not only employ people, but they bring people together.

Blumenthal said he hopes when the Senate goes back to work in a few weeks it will add $48 billion into the restaurant revitalization program to replenish the program and help restaurants and breweries that missed out on the first round of funding.

Vlacich said there are 355,000 small businesses in Connecticut and that $14 billion came into the state in pandemic aid and grants. More benefits may become available to small businesses through the $6 trillion in infrastructure aid passed by the federal government, Vlacich said.

In order to build that better America, we have to support our main streets and this is step one, getting companies like Stony Creek back on their feet and thinking about the future and growing your business. Thats why were here and were going to continue moving forward, Vlacich said.

Crowley is remaining hush on how his business is growing apart from the 14 new positions, but did hint at possibly expanding the business footprint.

Were currently in all of the New England states. We have never ventured into the great city of New York, Crowley said. That could be on the horizon. And if it is, we need bodies, great bodies that are going to help us sell Stony Creek beer out into the city, in the five boroughs.

And I am sworn to secrecy, but I can tell you the plans are very, very exciting, Blumenthal chimed in.

christine.derosa@hearstmediact.com
Milton, PA (17847)

Today

Cloudy with periods of rain. High around 50F. Winds NE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near an inch..

Tonight

Showers early, then partly cloudy overnight. Low 36F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%.
This past week here in Columbus, Ohio, it was discovered that Thomas Devlin, a guard from a private security firm hired to protect the local Orthodox Jewish day school, had posted an anti-Semitic post on the dark web holding up a handgun and had threatened violence against parents dropping their children off. It made national news.

Fortunatelybut totally by accidentthe post was discovered, and the man was arrested before any harm could be done. He faces a several federal charges and is in jail on $1M bond.

How could this happen? At a community meeting to discuss what happened and how to prevent something similar from happening again, we learned from Homeland Securitys liaison to our Jewish community that he himself had hired the man. How? Because the man was a member of the National Guard and was highly qualified for the security position. Moreover, there was absolutely no indication or evidence in his background that he was a white supremacist and Jew-hater. He was discovered when a fellow member of his National Guard unit who also participated in this hate chat group, died.

When the mother of the deceased was going through his personal belongings, she began to look at his cell phone and discovered the postings. She turned the phone over to the National Guard who did more investigating and determined that Devlin was a member of this group. This information was then shared with our local Homeland Security team. Telling the folks at the meeting this story, our liaison expressed a deep sense of shock, embarrassment, and a tremendous sense of betrayal. It was as if he had inadvertently put his own family in danger. But given that there was no prior indication of his beliefs and given that his qualifications were superb, he seemed the perfect candidate. At the end of the day, what had happened was an anomaly.

In the discussion that followed, the focus was how to strengthen security at our schools and synagogues, so that this kind of anomaly would not happen again. We were assured that in the future, only police officers and not private security personnel would be used. However, we were also told that these days--for various reasons--off-duty officers were not as available as they once were. .....
Hazleton, PA (18201)

Today

Cloudy with periods of rain. High 48F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall may reach one inch. Localized flooding is possible..

Tonight

Rain showers this evening with overcast skies overnight. Low 36F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%.
The Suceava municipality sent on Tuesday to the city of Chernivtsi, close to Ukraine's western border with Romania, a new humanitarian shipment consisting of 5 tonnes of staple foods, city mayor Ion Lungu announced.

He said that the transport contains white flour, corn, sugar and sunflower oil and that these staples had been expressly requested by the Chernivtsi authorities that are overwhelmed by the large number of refugees.

This is the sixth aid shipment Suceava sends its longtime twin municipality of Chernivtsi since the outbreak of the Ukraine war, Agerpres.ro informs.

"So far we sent over 30 tons of food to Chernivtsi. We recently had a meeting with local authorities from France, near Paris, that was also attended by Professor Sanda Maria Ardeleanu as representative of the French Alliance, and by Mr. Sub-Prefect Cristian Sologon. The French asked for our help to take humanitarian aid to Ukraine and especially to Chernivtsi and we expressed our full willingness to cooperate," Lungu said.

Suceava mayor Ion Lungu thanked the "Blood for Romania" Foundation for providing free transport for the aid to Chernivtsi.
Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo said on Tuesday that the humanitarian impact of the war in Ukraine has been immense and that the President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, would not go unpunished.

All we see today is proof that, following President Putin's miscalculation, a miscalculation regarding the Ukrainians' resolve to defend themselves, a miscalculation on the West's determination to make Russia pay the costs of this war, a miscalculation of our unity as European partners and a miscalculation of NATO's determination in recent months, NATO is stronger than ever. A few years ago, some partners had begun to doubt. The question has been answered in the meantime, NATO is here, it is strong and it is an organization we can count on. It is very important for me to be able to address you and your citizens to say how important it is to us that our security is collective. Your border is also our border and we will defend it together, the Belgian Prime Minister told the joint press conference with the President Klaus Iohannis, at the end of the meeting held at the Cotroceni Presidential Palace.

He stressed that the humanitarian impact of the war in Ukraine is immense, with over one million Ukrainians having left their living places, Agerpres.ro informs.

We have over 35,000 registered refugees in Belgium, De Croo said.

The Belgian official maintained, in context, that Russian President Vladimir Putin will not go unpunished.

"Perhaps I should have mentioned one last miscalculation of President Putin - namely that he will not go unpunished. We see the war crimes having been committed, we see that the civilian population has been targeted, we see refugees being attacked, it is very clear for us and we are united in the sense that these things need to be known, evaluated and prosecuted at some point. Some people are responsible for what happened and must be held accountable," he said.

Alexander De Croo is convinced that other sanctions will be imposed on the Russian Federation for an even stronger impact, but this must be done in a prudent manner, "without endangering our own population and its prosperity."

The Belgian Prime Minister appreciated the efforts made by Romania to help the Ukrainian refugees.
The Ministry of Finance borrowed 259.5 million euros from banks on Tuesday, through a government bond issue with a coupon, with a residual maturity of 36 months, at an average yield rate of 1.94% per annum, according to data published by the National Bank of Romania.

The nominal value of Wednesday's issue was 100 million euros, and the banks subscribed 373.5 million euros.

Moreover, the banks did not participate in the non-competitive bidding sessions related to Monday's auctions, when the Ministry of Finance (MF) borrowed 351 million RON.

The Ministry of Finance planned loans from commercial banks worth three billion RON in April 2022, of which 300 million RON through an issue of discounted treasury certificates and 2.7 billion RON through nine government bond issues, Agerpres.ro informs.

To these can be added the amount of 405 million RON through additional sessions of non-competitive bids, related to bond auctions.

The total amount of 3.405 billion RON is by 500 million RON lower than the 3.905 billion RON scheduled for March and will be used to refinance public debt and finance the state budget deficit.
A fire broke out on Tuesday morning at the Emergency Department of Bagdasar-Arseni Hospital in Bucharest.

"Around 7 o'clock we were informed of a fire in the Emergency Department of Bagdasar-Arseni Hospital. The first responders at the scene found that smoke was coming from the roof. A team was made to extinguish the fire and to evacuate the people inside," according to the Bucharest-Ilfov emergency Management Inspectorate (ISUBIF).No flame or smoke is observed at this time. No one was injured, the source said.Eight water and foam fire trucks, seven special response crews, three extricating devices and three escalators were used.
The German embassy in Bucharest announces that it will finance with 50,000 Euro a project regarding women's rights of the FILIA Center for Curricular Development and Gender Studies NGO, in which, among other things, a representative statistic study will be documented in the area of gender violence, the first one in Romania in approximately 20 years.

According to a press release sent by the embassy to AGERPERS on Tuesday, the project "Knowledge is power! Research and advocacy to improving policies for improving policies of countering gender violence" will take place during the period of April - December 2022, and the collaboration contract was signed by ambassador Peer Gebauer and the director of the FILIA organization, Andreea Rusu, Agerpres.ro informs.

"In cooperation with interested MPs, a proper strategy will be drafted and the legal framework will be created. The purpose is to consolidate women's rights and ensure consistent criminal prosecution of violence against women, in accordance with the Istanbul Convention," the press release shows.

Furthermore, a better protection of vulnerable women will be promoted, through events, publications and local and national campaigns.

Ambassador Gebauer said, according to the press release, that the COVID-19 pandemic showed "without any doubt" that violence against girls and women, as well as insufficient public participation of women represent a real problem, not only in war zones, but in all countries and spheres of society.

The FILIA director, Andreea Rusu, said that the project represents an important support brought to the fight for gender equality and the prevention and counter of violence against women.

"One in four women in Romania was physically or sexually assaulted by her partner. Over half of Romanians consider that rape is justifiable in certain conditions. These statistics and many other show us that we have a long road until we achieve gender equality. The project that we are starting along with the German Embassy represents an important support brought to the fight for gender equality and the prevention and counter of violence against women," Rusu said.

With a history of over 20 years, the FILIA center is one of the most visible and active non-government organizations for women's rights. Last year, the organization supported approximately 2,300 beneficiaries, implemented seven projects and published three studies about gender equality.
The balanced, long-term consolidation of NATO's defense and deterrence posture must be accelerated, President Klaus Iohannis said on Tuesday at the Cotroceni Presidential Palace in a joint conference with Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo.

"In terms of security, we have emphasized the need for the rapid implementation of the recent decisions made at the Alliance's Extraordinary Summit, especially the creation of the Battlegroup in Romania. The balanced, long-term consolidation of NATO's defense and deterrence posture across the entire Eastern Flank in response to Russia's aggression must be accelerated. It is clear that we need a united, coherent and stronger defense on the Eastern Flank in order to have a more effective deterrence, especially at the Black Sea," said the head of state.

President Iohannis stressed the need for a new NATO Strategic Concept, which must "reaffirm collective defense as a fundamental priority task of the Alliance and explicitly state that Russia is the main threat to NATO security."

The head of state thanked Prime Minister Alexander De Croo for the presence in Constanta of the Belgian contingent deployed as part of the NATO Response Force, together with other Allied forces.

"This contribution is part of the NATO measures to consolidate the deterrence and defence posture and the security of the Eastern Flank of the Alliance," Iohannis also said, mentioning that on Wednesday they will visit together the Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base, Agerpres.ro informs.

The two officials discussed about the development of the crisis in Ukraine and its impact, as well as the response to it. The head of state emphasized the efforts of Romania to support the over 720,000 Ukrainian refugees that have crossed the border into Romania and the results of the activity of the hub in Suceava.

President Iohannis mentioned that it is also essential to consolidate the strategic resilience of the Allies, as well as that of the partners, especially the more vulnerable ones, such as the Republic of Moldova and Georgia.

"In this context, I have emphasized the full support of Romania for the Republic of Moldova, for its European path, and I drew attention to its firm and immediate support in managing the increased flows of refugees that the country is facing, together with multiple other challenges. We must ensure a substantial and coherent support for the Republic of Moldova, political, financial and logistical in nature, as well as in what regards energy security," said the head of state.

The discussions also regarded the topic of energy security at the European level.

"We agree in what regards the elimination, as soon as possible, of the energy dependency on the Russian Federation, as well as on the need to diminish the impact of high energy prices on consumers. We have convened, at the same time, to continue bilateral dialogue on the ways to increase the safety of energy supply of the European market, but also the measures to protect European citizens in the volatile context of the energy market," said Iohannis.

The two officials have emphasized the common interest for the consolidation of political dialogue and economic and sectorial cooperation.
Journalist Emilia Sercan was on Tuesday for the second time in front of the deputies, this time at the Committee for Human Rights, after being heard on April 6 by the Culture Committee on the subject of violation of freedom of expression, rights to private life and other rights.

Together with the journalist, the Human Rights Committee invited the leaders of the Romanian Police and the General Directorate of Defence Intelligence (DGIA), who were not present at the meeting, so that the committee decided, unanimously, at the proposal of deputy Ludovic Orban, to formally ask the Ministers of Defense and Interior to order the participation of the two officials in a future meeting.The deputies of all the parliamentary groups showed solidarity with the journalist, considering that the things reported by her should not happen to any other journalist or citizen and expressed their readiness, through interpellations or interventions, to ask for the views of the competent institutions.Independent MP Violeta Alexandru said in the opening of the sitting that the members of the committee met after being notified about several aspects reported in the public space by Emilia Sercan regarding the violation of the right of petition, of the right to private life, as well as to the violation of the European regulations on personal data.Journalist Emilia Sercan had, on this occasion, a message for the entire political class: "Ladies and gentlemen, you have failed to reform the state institutions, and in the mission to ensure a civil control over the institutions of force, to guarantee the safety of the citizens and to guarantee the freedom of the press. You are in the mission to ensure the promotion of competence, professionalism and values in politics and society, but you have had a great success in promoting obedience, incompetence and subservience, just as you were very successful when you came to power to represent party interests, group interests and personal interests".The journalist then recalled that she wanted to report a theft to the Police, after which the Police "leak the information that is approved in the file, in the press".Independent MP Ludovic Orban said that the presence of government officials at the parliamentary committees is not an optional one, and the absence of the guests "represents a serious violation of the obligations they have in the positions they hold and an escape from parliamentary control", which he was convinced "that it was carried out with the express consent of the ministers of interior and defense".He drew attention to the fact that the General Prosecutor's Office has notified ex officio, which did not happen in other cases such as that of Victor Ponta or others."Apparently, the Prosecutor's Office is doing its job. In reality, the purpose of this self-referral is quite different - to confiscate the doctoral thesis and the other documents that are necessary lest it reach the CNATDCU (National Council of Attestation of University Titles, Diplomas and Certificates), so that it can pronounce on plagiarism. The second objective is to reassure the public that there are state institutions that work, although it has nothing to work on. (...) Mrs. Sercan issued this assessment based on a study that was made on many documents and which are a very credible support, that Mr. Ciuca plagiarized. What does the Prosecutor General's Office have to do with this?" the MP asked rhetorically.In the opinion of AUR (Alliance for the Union of Romanians) deputy Dan Tanasa "it is obvious to want to intimidate" Emilia Sercan, and "the way of action is specific to the mafia clans".PSD (Social Democratic Party) deputy Romulus Damian said that "the hearing turned into a war and an argument against Nicolae Ciuca", while noting that the journalist suffered an "abuse" over which the competent institutions will pronounce.
More than 1,770 Ukrainian citizens have been employed in Romania since the start of the war, Labor Minister Marius Budai told AGERPRES.

According to him, out of the total of 1,774 refugees who found a job in Romanian companies, most chose to work in the manufacturing industry, in construction, hotels and restaurants, in trade or in car services.

"In Romania there is a labour shortage and then it is clear that any person is a person who contributes to the pension system, the health system, contributes to the Romanian budget and contributes to Romania's GDP and thus we help the business environment to continue its activity or to boost its activity. I have been proactive and from the first day the war began I have worked on this ordinance and I created the opportunity to work legally in Romania, thus helping the Ukrainian citizens and the private companies in Romania," Budai affirmed.

He maintains that the jobs filled by Ukrainian refugees are not specially created for them, but that there were vacancies in the economy for which Romanian citizens could have applied, Agerpres.ro informs.

"The number is growing every day. For example, in the last report, there are 97 more people employed than the previous day. We are glad that we have taken jobs," he added.

Marius Budai states that the total number of Ukrainians employed in Romania is 4,255, but 2,481 of them had obtained their jobs before the start of the war, on February 24.
The "Transylvanian Cheetah" Air Defense Detachment is being deployed, April 11 to 19, at the Bemowo Piskie military base, to ensure the 11th national rotational mission ensuring the Enhanced Forward Presence (eFP) on the Alliance's Northeastern Flank, within the NATO Battle Group in Poland, informed the Ministry of National Defense (MApN).

According to a press release sent to AGERPRES on Tuesday, the Romanian detachment made up of 100 soldiers of the 3rd Air Defence Battalion "Potaissa" from Turda under the General Grigore Balan 81st Mechanized Brigade and participates for the second time in this type of mission, endowed with the Gepard Air Defence System, Agerpres.ro informs.

During its six-month mission, anti-aircraft gunners will participate in exercises and training activities with the US, British, Croatian and Polish military, in which the practised techniques, tactics and procedures will be tested and validated in order to improve cohesion and boost the level of interoperability between NATO member troops, the quoted source said.

Under the coordination of the United States Joint Forces Command, the detachment is part of the NATO Battle Group, whose mission is to ensure a rotational Enhanced Forward Presence in the Northeast of the Alliance, in order to deter any potential aggression, in accordance with the measures adopted at the 2016 Warsaw Summit.

The "Transylvanian Cheetah" Air Defense Detachment will replace the 10th Aviation Detachment rotation, a structure within the 348th Anti-aircraft Defense Battalion "Dobrogea", in Murfatlar, states the Ministry of Defense.
We are living this year's feast of our Lord's Resurrection in a worrying global scenario, as our continent is hit by an absurd and tragic war, Roman Catholic Metropolitan Archbishop of Bucharest Aurel Perca writes in his Easter Pastoral Letter.

"To this reality adds the violence and all the other military conflicts that seem to be boundlessly spreading to every corner of the earth, instilling fear in people and dimming the joy of the celebration. The voice of the Church was heard through the innumerable interventions of Pope Francis for reducing weapons to silence. It's a tragic situation that refers us to the mystery of the evil present in the world and precisely war is one of the greatest evils," the high Roman Catholic clergyman writes in the letter posted on the website of the Bucharest Roman Catholic Archdiocese, Agerpres.ro informs.

Monsignor Perca points out that Jesus came to Earth to deliver us from the power of evil, accepting suffering and going to the end of suffering by His death on the Cross, but His last say is not the Cross and suffering, but His Resurrection.

The Metropolitan Archbishop wishes all the believers who celebrate Easter this Sunday "a peaceful Easter feast filled with light and good health" and the traditional "Christ is Risen!"

"Christ is Risen! Peace be with you, hallelujah! May the Risen Lord open our hearts to hope and peace, to the joy of faith, to the courage of daily love. As Christians, we are always called to be witnesses of the Risen Lord, bearers of joy and peace in the world. May you all enjoy a peaceful Easter feast filled with light and good health!," concludes the Archbishop.
President Klaus Iohannis said on Tuesday that the Allied battlegroup on Romania's territory will be "negotiated and finalized" this spring.

"The battlegroup has been approved by NATO, and that has been the pleasant surprise at the NATO summit not many days ago. We have the decision, but the technicalities, the negotiations between allies will take a while until they are finalized. I believe that this spring we will have the battlegroup negotiated and finalized and I hope that Belgium will be a significant part of this battlegroup, but that will result from the negotiations," the president told the joint conference with Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo, at the Cotroceni Presidential Palace.

The Belgian Prime Minister also said that there are a number of technical issues that need to be resolved in connection with the NATO Battlegroup to be deployed in Romania, Agerpres.ro informs.

We need to see what the reality is, what the needs are. We have already significantly increased our posture on the Eastern Flank of the Alliance. My view is that the presence is a long-term one. However, if we find that NATO territory is under threat, obviously we can increase our presence very quickly, the capacity exists, in a coordinated manner at NATO level, if the issue of enhancing involvement is raised, we are definitely willing and ready to do so. What is important is that these things be carried out in a coordinated manner, and NATO has done an excellent job so far in coordinating all these measures, and if we are showing strength today it is because we are not alone. In today's world, for example, we are a country smaller than Romania, a small country is easy to attack, 30 countries is much harder. Today we understand the value of such a bloc, said Alexander De Croo.
Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca received on Tuesday, at Victoria Palace of Government, Tilman Kuban, Member of the German Federal Parliament, Katja Christina Plate, Director of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation for Romania and the Republic of Moldova, and Peer Gebauer, the Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany, with discussions tackling bilateral economic cooperation, stimulating German investment in Romania and managing the impact of military aggression in Ukraine, the Executive informs in a press release.

"The government encourages foreign companies, including German ones, to invest in Romania. A central point of the 'Support for Romania' package, launched last night, is the support of domestic and foreign investment, the engine of economic growth," the prime minister was quoted as saying in the press release.

The head of the Executive mentioned Romania's objective of ensuring energy independence, by supporting investments and promoting energy from alternative sources, Agerpres.ro informs.

In this context, the Prime Minister appreciated the bilateral relationship, especially in economic terms, given that Germany is Romania's most important trading partner and one of the main investors in the Romanian economy.

The representative of the German delegation, Tilman Kuban, congratulated the Romanian authorities for their involvement in the management of the humanitarian crisis and for the assistance provided to the refugees and gave assurances that Germany will remain involved in defending the Eastern Flank.
As many as 2,067 new cases of people infected with SARS-CoV-2 were recorded in the last 24 hours in Romania, up 1,041 from the previous day, with more than 30,000 RT-PCR and rapid antigenic tests performed, the Health Ministry informed on Tuesday.

Of the new cases, 253 were in re-infected patients, who tested positive more than 90 days after the first time they recovered from the disease.Most of the newly confirmed COVID-19 cases in Romania since the previous reporting were recorded in Bucharest City - 494 and in the counties of Timis - 175, Brasov - 80, Iasi - 78, Cluj - 76, Ilfov - 68, Dolj - 65, and Hunedoara - 61.As of Tuesday, 2,875,942 cases of people infected with the novel coronavirus were confirmed in Romania.- Hospitalisations -As many as 1,997 people with COVID-19, down 166 from the previous reporting, including 113 children, are hospitalised in Romania at specialist care facilities.Out of the total number of hospitalised patients, 253 patients, down 22, including one child, are in intensive care.Of the 253 patients admitted to ICU, 213 are unvaccinated against COVID-19.- Deaths -According to the ministry, another 39 Romanians infected with SARS-CoV-2 - 21 men and 18 women - are reported dead in the last 24 hours.Out of the total 39 patients who died, 29 were unvaccinated and 10 vaccinated. One of the vaccinated patients who died was 50-59 years old, two were 60-69 years old, two were 70-79 years old, and five were over 80 years old.All deaths were in patients with comorbidities.Since the beginning of the pandemic, 65,249 people diagnosed with the SARS-CoV-2 infection have died in Romania.
WASHINGTON  The United States and its allies are pushing ahead with sanctions aimed at forcing Vladimir Putin to spend Russias money propping up its economy rather than sustaining its war machine for the fight in Ukraine, a top Treasury Department official said Tuesday.

Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo, one of the main U.S. coordinators on the Russian sanctions strategy, said in an interview with The Associated Press that the goal is to make Russia less able to project power in the future.

On the same day that inflation notched its steepest increase in decades, Adeyemo said reducing supply chain backlogs and managing the pandemic are key to bringing down soaring prices that he related to the ongoing land war in Ukraine, which has contributed to rising energy costs.

Adeyemo discussed the next steps the U.S. and its allies will take to inflict financial pain on Russia  and the complications the war has on rising costs to Americans back home.

Adeyemo said the U.S. and its allies will next target the supply chains that contribute to the construction of Russias war machine, which includes everything from looking at ways to go after the military devices that have been built to use not only in Ukraine, but to project power elsewhere.

KEY DEVELOPMENTS IN THE RUSSIA-UKRAINE WAR:

 Ukraine probes claim poisonous substance dropped in Mariupol

 A look at Russias military objectives and challenges it faces

 Its not the end: The children who survived Buchas horror

 Russian war worsens fertilizer crunch, risking food supplies

 Czechs provide free shooting training for local Ukrainians

 Go to https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine for more coverage

OTHER DEVELOPMENTS:

KYIV, Ukraine  More than 720 people have been killed in Bucha and other Kyiv suburbs that were occupied by Russian troops and more than 200 are considered missing, the Interior Ministry said early Wednesday.

In Bucha alone, Mayor Anatoliy Fedoruk said 403 bodies had been found and the toll could rise as minesweepers comb the area.

Ukraines prosecutor-generals office said Tuesday it was also looking into events in the Brovary district, which lies to the northeast.

Authorities said the bodies of six civilians were found with gunshot wounds in a basement in the village of Shevchenkove and Russian forces are believed to be responsible.

Vladimir Putin vowed Tuesday that Russias bloody offensive in Ukraine would continue until its goals are fulfilled and insisted the campaign was going as planned, despite a major withdrawal in the face of stiff Ukrainian opposition and significant losses.



WASHINGTON  The Biden administration is preparing yet another, more diverse, package of military support possibly totaling $750 million to be announced in coming days, a senior U.S. defense official said Tuesday.

The official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss plans not yet publicly announced.

The additional aid is a sign that the administration intends to continue expanding its support for Ukraines war effort.

Delivery is due to be completed this week of $800 million in military assistance approved by President Joe Biden just one month ago.

 reported by Associated Press writer Robert Burns.



KYIV, Ukraine  Ukrainian officials say fugitive Ukrainian oligarch Viktor Medvedchuk, who is both the former leader of a pro-Russian opposition party and a close associate of Russian leader Vladimir Putin, has been detained in a special operation carried out by the countrys SBU secret service.

In his nightly video address to the nation Tuesday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy proposed that Russia could win Medvedchuks freedom by trading Ukrainians now held in Russian prisons.

Ivan Bakanov, the head of Ukraines national security agency, said on the agencys Telegram channel that Medvedchuk had been detained.

The statement came shortly after Zelenskyy posted on social media a photo of Medvedchuk sitting in handcuffs and wearing a camouflage uniform with a Ukrainian flag patch.

Medvedchuk was the former leader of the pro-Russian party Opposition Platform - For Life. He was being held under house arrest before the war began and disappeared shortly after hostilities broke out.

Putin is the godfather to Medvedchuks youngest daughter.



KYIV, Ukraine  Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy appealed to the world Tuesday to respond to Russias use of a poisonous substance in Mariupol.

Given the repeated threats by Russian propagandists to use chemical weapons against the Mariupol defenders and given the repeated use by the Russian army, for example, of phosphorus munitions in Ukraine, the world must react now, Zelenskyy said in his nightly video address to the nation Tuesday.

Phosphorus munitions cause horrendous burns but are not classed as chemical weapons.

Zelenskyy said experts were still trying to determine what had been used in Mariupol.

Zelenskyy said in addition to the killings in Bucha, more evidence was appearing of the inhuman cruelty of Russian soldiers toward women and children in other Kyiv suburbs and other towns in the north and east.

DES MOINES, Iowa President Joe Biden on Tuesday said that Russias war in Ukraine amounted to a genocide, accusing President Vladimir Putin of trying to wipe out the idea of even being a Ukrainian.

Speaking in Iowa shortly before boarding Air Force One to return to Washington, Biden said he meant it when he said at an earlier event that Putin was carrying out a genocide against Ukraine.

Yes, I called it genocide, he told reporters. Its become clearer and clearer that Putin is just trying to wipe out the idea of even being a Ukrainian.

Biden added that it would be up to lawyers to decide if Russias conduct met the international standard for genocide, but said it sure seems that way to me.

More evidence is coming out literally of the horrible things that the Russians have done in Ukraine and were only going to learn more and more about the devastation and let the lawyers decide internationally whether or not it qualifies, Biden said.

Biden had previously said he did not believe Russias actions amounted to genocide, just that they constituted war crimes.

MENLO, Iowa  President Joe Biden for the first time referred to Russias invasion in Ukraine as a genocide Tuesday.

Speaking in Iowa at an event about steps his administration is taking to staunch rising fuel costs because of the war, Biden termed the conflict, which has seen Russia carry out atrocities against Ukrainian civilians, as a genocide.

Said Biden: Your family budget, your ability to fill up your tank, none of it should hinge on whether a dictator declares war and commits genocide a half a world away.

Biden has previously stated that he did not believe Russias actions amounted to genocide, as Ukrainian government officials have argued, but rather were war crimes.



WASHINGTON  Members of the U.S. Congress said the Biden administration and its allies will not stand by if chemical weapons were used in the Russian war with Ukraine.

Lawmakers monitoring developments during a trip to Poland said Tuesday that the U.S. is investigating reports that a poisonous substance had been dropped in Mariupol. But they cautioned that determining the nature of the attack in the beleaguered port city could take time.

Were taking those reports seriously and I know the United States government and others are trying to determine if that did indeed occur, said Rep. Jason Crow, D-Colo.

Crow said the administration has been very clear that the use of chemical weapons will not be tolerated.

The Democratic lawmakers, all members of the House Intelligence Committee, are bracing for a potential long war in Ukraine. They said at a press briefing that Congress is looking at next steps in sending additional military and other aid to Ukraine.

In Washington, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken also addressed the reports coming from Mariupol.

Were not in a position to confirm anything, I dont think Ukrainians are either, Blinken told reporters. But let me say that we had credible information that Russian forces may use a variety of riot control agents, including tear gas mixed with chemical agents, that would cause stronger symptoms to weaken, incapacitate ... Ukrainian fighters and civilians, as part of the aggressive campaign in Mariupol.

We share that information with ... Ukraine and other partners, Blinken said. And were in direct conversation with partners to try to determine what what actually is happening.

THE HAGUE, Netherlands  The global chemical weapons watchdog says it is concerned by the recent unconfirmed report of chemical weapons use in Mariupol and is closely monitoring the situation in Ukraine.

The spokesperson for the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons says in a statement that the allegations follow reports in the media over the past few weeks of shelling targeted at chemical plants located in Ukraine, together with accusations levelled by both sides around possible misuse of toxic chemicals.

The spokesperson said in Tuesdays statement that the use of chemical weapons anywhere by anyone under any circumstances is reprehensible and wholly contrary to the legal norms established by the international community against such use.

Both Russia and Ukraine are among the organizations 193 member states.

The Nobel Peace Prize-winning organization says that it remains ready to assist any State Party upon its request, in case of use or threat of use of chemical weapons.

WARSAW, Poland  Germanys president has called on Russias leader Vladimir Putin to pull out his troops from Ukraine and stop the barbarity there as he stressed that Germany will not restore its previous ties with Russia as long as Putin is in power.

Frank-Walter Steinmeier visited Warsaw on Tuesday to talk with Polands President Andrzej Duda about supporting Ukraines fight and aiding millions of refugees fleeing the war.

This barbarity which we see every day must stop, Steinmeier said at joint news conference.

This can only happen by President Putin ordering his army to stop and I believe that only then (armistice) talks can be successful, Steinmeier said.

One thing is clear: a return to normal is not possible with Russia under Putin, Steinmeier said, adding that war crimes in Ukraine must be investigated and those who committed them and those who are politically responsible must be held accountable.

Steinmeier last week admitted mistakes in policy toward Russia in his previous high-ranking jobs, when Germany pursued dialogue with Putin and cultivated close energy ties.

Steinmeier served as ex-Chancellors Gerhard Schroeders chief of staff and Angela Merkels foreign minister. Schroeder is now head of the board of directors of Russias state oil giant Rosneft.

VIENNA  Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer pledged continued political and humanitarian support for Ukraine in a phone conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Tuesday, Nehammer said in a statement.

The call came a day after Nehammer became the first European leader to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow.

Its important to me to immediately inform all key proponents in this conflict about my talks, Nehammer said, according to the statement released Tuesday evening by the Austrian chancellery.

Nehammer said he recounted his meeting in Moscow to Zelenskyy, telling the Ukrainian leader about the most important messages he relayed to Putin.

Among those messages are that the war needs to stop, that those responsible for serious war crimes like those committed in the Ukrainian city of Bucha will be held to account, and that the European Union is as united as its ever been on maintaining its sanctions against Russia.

He also told Zelenskyy he believes the continuation of talks in Istanbul are an important step toward bringing an end to the violence, and that Austria will continue to support all ongoing efforts for peace.

KYIV, Ukraine  An adviser to Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy has paid tribute to Ukrainian troops defending the besieged south-eastern port of Mariupol but acknowledged they are running low on supplies.

Adviser Mykhailo Podolyak wrote on Twitter that for more than 1.5 months our defenders protect the city from (Russian) troops, which are 10+ times larger. Theyre fighting under the bombs for each meter of the city. They make (Russia) pay an exorbitant price.

Mariupol was a key target for Russian forces soon after the invasion began in late February. It has symbolic significance as one of the largest cities in eastern Ukraine. It is also strategically valuable as a major harbor and as part of a land corridor between territory held by Russia-backed separatists to the east and the Crimean peninsula, which Russia annexed from Ukraine in 2014.

Our soldiers remain blocked and have issues with supplies, Podolyak wrote, adding that Zelenskyy and the Ukrainian general staff are working to find a solution and help our guys. He did not give details, citing operational reasons.

KYIV, Ukraine  The mayor of the Ukrainian town of Bucha, where corpses of civilians with bound hands and gunshot wounds to the head were found after Russian forces pulled out, says 403 bodies have been found so far and that he fears the toll will rise.

Today, at 10 a.m. we started unearthing the second mass grave, there are 56 bodies there. Plus, there are four private graves. But Id like to repeat that as of today, we have 403 bodies, Anatoliy Fedoruk told reporters in Kyiv. Taking into account that our armed forces, our minesweepers are working in the forests between villages and settlements in our territorial community, we hope that those who are missing are still alive but most probably we will find their bodies somewhere between the villages, in those forests.

Fedoruk also said 31 multi-story residential buildings had been destroyed or damaged beyond repair during the war, along with 243 private houses.

BERLIN  Germanys president says his Polish counterpart suggested that they travel to Ukraine together with other leaders to show solidarity, but that proposed visit "apparently wasnt wanted in Kyiv.

President Frank-Walter Steinmeiers comments Tuesday, during a visit to Poland, came after German newspaper Bild quoted an unidentified Ukrainian diplomat as saying that hes not welcome in Kyiv at the moment because he had close relations with Russia in the past.

Steinmeier said Polish President Andrzej Duda had suggested that they travel to the Ukrainian capital with the presidents of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia to send a strong signal of joint European solidarity with Ukraine. He said he had been prepared to do so.

Steinmeier last week admitted mistakes in policy toward Russia in his previous job as foreign minister.

Steinmeier served twice as ex-Chancellor Angela Merkels foreign minister, most recently from 2013 to 2017, and before that as ex-Chancellor Gerhard Schroeders chief of staff. In that time, Germany pursued dialogue with Russian President Vladimir Putin and cultivated close energy ties.

KHARKIV, Ukraine  A strike hit a what is believed to be a culinary school near the airport in Ukraines second-largest city on Tuesday, destroying the building and damaging others nearby, according to Associated Press journalists at the scene.

It wasnt clear what hit the building in Kharkiv, with witnesses describing a loud whoosh followed by an explosion. There were no immediate reports of fatalities.

BUCHAREST, Romania  Romanias President Klaus Iohannis used a speech to his countrys delegation of Invictus Games participants on Tuesday to admonish Russian aggression in Ukraine.

The Russian Federation has been waging war against Ukraine for almost 50 days, and shocking evidence of atrocities and horrors is unimaginable day by day, Iohannis told the wounded and injured military personnel, who will compete in the 2022 Invictus Games set to begin in the Netherlands on Saturday.

You know best what destruction and loss of life and the dramas of war mean, how much families and communities are affected forever, he said.

Iohannis said that Russias acts of horrific, unjustified cruelty must be punished by the international justice system.

The Invictus Games, an international sporting event for wounded servicemen and women, was launched in London in 2014.

KYIV, Ukraine -- Ukrainian prosecutors are expanding their war crimes investigations in northeastern suburbs of Kyiv after Russian forces withdrew.

Reports of killings of civilians have primarily focused so far on the northwestern suburbs such as Bucha, but the Prosecutor-Generals Office said Tuesday it was also looking into events in the Brovary district, which lies to the northeast.

Russian troops advanced into that area last month before retreating to focus on fighting in eastern Ukraine.

The Prosecutor-Generals Office said the bodies of six civilians had been found with gunshot wounds in a basement in the village of Shevchenkove and that Russian forces were believed to be responsible.

Prosecutors are also investigating an incident in which they allege Russian forces fired on a convoy of civilians trying to leave by car from the village of Peremoha in the Brovary district, killing four people including a 13-year-old boy. In another incident near Bucha, five people were killed, including two children, when a car was fired upon, prosecutors said.

Prosecutors did not say when they believed the incidents occurred.

MOSCOW  President Vladimir Putin says that Russians unity will only grow stronger in the face of Western sanctions and it will be the West that will face instability.

Putin said during a visit to the Vostochny space launch facility in Russias Far East on Tuesday that the West mistakenly expected its sanctions to undermine Russias stability. He said that the Russian people always strengthen their unity in a difficult situation.

He insisted that it will be the West that will be shaken by growing instability, fueled by public dismay over galloping inflation. The Russian leader also lashed out at European leaders, describing them as Washingtons stooges and saying that they are conducting policies harmful to their nations.

MOSCOW  President Vladimir Putin says that Russia will press on with its military action in Ukraine until its goals are fulfilled.

Putin said Tuesday that the campaign is going according to plan. He said it is not moving faster because Russia wants to minimize losses.

He said during a visit to the Vostochny space launch facility in Russias Far East that the military operation will continue until its full completion and the fulfillment of the tasks that have been set.

Putin claimed that Ukraine backtracked on proposals it made during talks with Russian negotiators in Istanbul, resulting in a deadlock in talks and leaving Moscow no other choice but to press on with its offensive.

MOSCOW  Russian President Vladimir Putin says the Russian economy has successfully resisted new Western sanctions over Ukraine.

Speaking Tuesday on a visit to the Vostochny space launch facility in Russias Far East, Putin said that Russias economy and financial system withstood the impact of what he called the Western sanctions blitz and the ruble has recovered its losses.

Putin argued that the sanctions will backfire against the West. For example, he said that Western restrictions on fertilizer exports from Russia and ally Belarus will drive up global fertilizer prices, eventually leading to food shortages and increased migration flows.

Putin said that common sense should prevail and added that the West should come back to reason and make well-balanced decisions without losing its face. He contended that they wont be able to shut all the doors and windows.

He argued that new Western restrictions on high-tech exports will encourage Russia to move faster to develop new technologies, opening a new window of opportunities.

BOSTON  Ukrainian officials say a planned cyberattack by Russian military hackers on the countrys power grid has been foiled.

They say the countrys computer emergency response thwarted an attack planned by hackers from Russias GRU military intelligence agency that intended to knock electrical substations offline last Friday.

The State Service of Special Communications said on its website that malware was discovered designed to destroy data on computers.

There was no immediate explanation of how the attack was defeated, though the Computer Emergency Response Team of Ukraine thanked Microsoft and the cybersecurity firm ESET in a separate bulletin. Nor was the scope immediately explained.

GRU hackers twice successfully attacked Ukraines power grid, in the winters of 2015 and 2016.

Russias use of cyberattacks against Ukrainian infrastructure has been limited compared to experts pre-war expectations. In the early hours of the war, however, an attack Ukraine blames on Russia knocked offline an important satellite communications link that also impacted tens of thousands of Europeans from France to Poland.

BRATISLAVA, Slovakia  Slovakias government has approved increasing the number of troops in a multinational NATO battlegroup in the country from 2,100 to 3,000.

The first 800 service members have already arrived in Slovakia. The Czech Republic took charge of the battlegroup, with the United States, Germany, the Netherlands, Poland and Slovenia also contributing.

Defense Minister Jaroslav Nad says the increase in the planned troop numbers is related to Patriot air defense systems that the United States, Germany and the Netherlands are deploying in Slovakia.

The move should boost Slovakias defense capabilities after the country donated its Soviet-era S-300 air defense system to Ukraine last week.

The alliance stationed troops in the Baltic countries  Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania  and Poland after the 2014 annexation of Ukraines Crimean Peninsula by Russia. After Russia attacked Ukraine, NATO decided to boost its presence along the entire eastern flank by deploying forces in Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary and Slovakia.

GENEVA  The World Trade Organization is predicting that trade in goods will grow much less than previously expected this year, saying prospects for the global economy have darkened since the onset of Russias war in Ukraine.

The Geneva-based WTO on Tuesday pointed to multiple uncertainties in its forecast over the next two years because Russian and Ukrainian exports of items like food, oil and fertilizers are under threat from the war. It also cited the lingering impact of the COVID-19 pandemic - notably from lockdowns in China.

Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala described a double whammy from the conflict and the coronavirus. She said the war has caused immense human suffering in the region and its effect has rippled around the world, notably in poorer countries.

The WTO said its projections for world trade take into account factors like the impact of the war, sanctions on Russia, and lower demand around the world from lower business and consumer confidence. It said world merchandise trade volume is expected to grow 3% this year, down from a forecast of 4.7% before the war began.

MOSCOW  The Russian military says it has hit Ukrainian arsenals with long-range cruise missiles.

Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov said Tuesday that the military used air- and sea-launched missiles to destroy an ammunition depot and a reinforced hangar for warplanes at Starokostiantyniv in the Khmelnytskyi region.

Konashenkov said that another strike destroyed a Ukrainian ammunition depot in Havrylivka, near Kyiv.

NICOSIA, Cyprus -- The head of Cyprus Orthodox Christian Church is unreservedly" condemning Russias invasion of Ukraine, saying theres no justification for Russian President Vladimir Putin to destroy a country, to raze it to kill.

Archbishop Chrysostomos II told state broadcaster CyBC Tuesday that the invasion is an unacceptable situation and that Putins actions have no logic. The archbishop said hes distraught that people are being killed and questioned whether the Russian leader is in his right mind.

The archbishop added that hed be the first to go and bless a defensive war, but the egotism, if not the stupidity of the Russian leadership knows no bounds.

Chrysostomos also questioned Putins embrace of Orthodox Christianity, including the sincerity of his travels to the site where Christians believe Jesus Christ was baptized.

Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
WASHINGTON (AP)  Mentions of Donald Trump have been rare at the first few trials for people charged with storming the U.S. Capitol, but that changed Tuesday: The latest Capitol riot defendant to go on trial is blaming his actions on the former president and his false claims about a stolen election.

Dustin Byron Thompson, an Ohio man charged with stealing a coat rack from the Capitol, doesn't deny that he joined the mob on Jan. 6, 2021. But his lawyer vowed to show that Trump abused his power to authorize the attack.

Describing Trump as a man without scruples or integrity, defense attorney Samuel Shamansky said the former president engaged in a sinister plot to encourage Thompson and other supporters to do his dirty work.

Its Donald Trump himself spewing the lies and using his position to authorize this assault, Shamansky told jurors Tuesday during the trial's opening statements.

Justice Department prosecutor Jennifer Rozzoni said Thompson knew he was breaking the law that day.

He chose to be a part of the mayhem and chaos, she said.

Thompson's lawyer sought subpoenas to call Trump and former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani as witnesses at his trial this week. A judge rejected that request but ruled that jurors can hear recordings of speeches that Trump and Giuliani delivered at a rally before the riot.

Thompsons jury trial is the third among hundreds of Capitol riot prosecutions. The first two ended with jurors convicting both defendants on all counts with which they were charged.

In a February court filing, Shamansky said he wanted to argue at trial that Thompson was acting at the direction of Trump and his various conspirators. The lawyer asked to subpoena others from Trump's inner circle, including former White House strategist Steve Bannon, former White House senior adviser Stephen Miller and former Trump lawyers John Eastman and Sidney Powell.

Prosecutors said Thompson can't show that Trump or Giuliani had the authority to empower him to break the law. They also noted that video of the rally speeches perfectly captures the tone, delivery and context of the statements to the extent they are marginally relevant" to proof of Thompson's intent on Jan. 6.

Thompson's lawyer argued that Trump would testify that he and others  orchestrated a carefully crafted plot to call into question the integrity of the 2020 presidential election. Shamansky claimed that Giuliani incited rioters by encouraging them to engage in trial by combat and that Trump provoked the mob by saying that if you dont fight like hell, youre not going to have a country anymore.

Shamansky said Thompson, who lost his job during the COVID-19 pandemic, became an avid consumer of the conspiracy theories and lies about a stolen election.

This is the garbage that Dustin Thompson is listening to day after day after day, Shamansky said. He goes down this rabbit hole. He listens to this echo chamber. And he acts accordingly.

U.S. District Judge Reggie Walton ruled in March that any in-person testimony by Trump or Giuliani could confuse and mislead jurors.

More than 770 people have been charged with federal crimes arising from Jan. 6. Over 250 of them have pleaded guilty, mostly to misdemeanors. Thompson is the fifth person to be tried on riot-related charges.

On Monday, a jury convicted a former Virginia police officer, Thomas Robertson, of storming the Capitol with another off-duty officer to obstruct Congress from certifying President Joe Bidens 2020 electoral victory. Last month, a jury convicted a Texas man, Guy Reffitt, of storming the Capitol with a holstered handgun.

A judge hearing testimony without a jury decided cases against two other Capitol riot defendants at separate bench trials. U.S. District Judge Trevor McFadden acquitted one of them of all charges and partially acquitted the other.

Thompson has a co-defendant, Robert Lyon, who pleaded guilty to riot-related charges in March.

Thompson, then 36, and Lyon, then 27, drove from Columbus, Ohio, to Silver Spring, Maryland, stayed overnight at a hotel and then took an Uber ride into Washington, D.C., on the morning of Jan. 6. After then-President Donald Trumps speech, Thompson and Lyon headed over to the Capitol.

Thompson was wearing a Trump 2020 winter hat and a bulletproof vest when he entered the Capitol and went to the Senate Parliamentarians Office, where he stole two bottles of liquor and a coat rack worth up to $500, according to prosecutors.

Thompson and Lyon traded text messages during the riot.

Some girl died already, Lyon said in one text, an apparent reference to a law enforcement officer's fatal shooting of a rioter, Ashli Babbitt

Was it Pelosi? Thompson replied.

Im taking our country back," Thompson later texted Lyon.

Around 6 p.m. on Jan. 6, Thompson and Lyon were sitting on a sidewalk and waiting for an Uber driver to pick them up when Capitol police officers approached and warned them that they were in a restricted area. As they started to leave, Thompson picked up a coat rack that appeared to be from the Capitol, the FBI said. Thompson ran away when the officers told him to put down the rack, dropping it as he fled. Lyon stayed behind and identified himself and Thompson to police.

That night, Thompson received a text from his wife that said, I will not post bail.

The FBI said agents later searched Lyons cellphone and found a video that showed a ransacked office and Thompson yelling: Wooooo! Merica Hey! This is our house! A surveillance video also captured Thompson leaving a Capitol office with a bottle of bourbon, the FBI said.

Thompson is charged with six counts: obstructing Congress' joint session to certify the Electoral College vote, theft of government property, entering or remaining in a restricted building or grounds, disorderly or disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds, disorderly or disruptive conduct in a Capitol building, and parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building.

Lyon pleaded guilty to theft of government property and disorderly conduct. Both counts are misdemeanors punishable by a maximum of 1 year imprisonment. Walton is scheduled to sentence Lyon on June 3.

Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
FRONTENAC  Clothing retailer Express Inc. has opened a new concept store at Plaza Frontenac mall.

The Express Edit store, which opened late last month, is smaller than the usual flagship location and is intended to focus on offering a more personalized shopping experience, with style advice and assistance. The selection in Edit stores are also designed to have a more curated feel, reflecting the style and character of their surroundings. The company said the Frontenac store appeals to the more trend-conscious and fashion-forward audience shopping in the area.

Columbus, Ohio-based Express debuted the format in 2020 amid a reorganization coinciding with a pandemic that walloped retailers focused on office clothing and exacerbated a recent decline in sales and profitability at Express. The retailer also said it would close dozens of locations and work to improve the shopping experience in the remaining stores and online.

Express President Matt Moellering said the concept stores have been an effective way to acquire new customers, bring back lapsed ones and drive up online sales in surrounding ZIP codes. These smaller footprints and more focused assortments serve as a complement to our larger stores, he said.

The Frontenac store is the first version of the concept to feature only womens clothes.

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Good morning! Happy morning! Rabbi Avraham Wolff exclaimed, with a big smile, as he walked into the Chabad synagogue in Odesa on a recent morning.

Russian missiles had just struck an oil refinery in the Ukrainian city, turning the sky charcoal gray. Hundreds were lining up outside his synagogue hoping to receive a kilo of matzah each for their Passover dinner tables. The unleavened flatbread, imperative at the ritual meal known as a Seder, is now hard to find in war-torn Ukraine amid the war and a crippling food shortage.

But the rabbi wanted no challenge to get him down  be it the lack of matzah or that he was missing his wife and children who had fled the Black Sea port for Berlin days ago.

I need to smile for my community, Wolff said. We need humor. We need hope.

Tens of thousands of Ukrainian Jews have fled while about 80% remain in Ukraine, according to estimates from Chabad, one of the largest Hasidic Jewish organizations in the world. Inside and outside Ukraine, a nation steeped in Jewish history and heritage, people are preparing to celebrate Passover, which begins sundown on April 15. Its been a challenge, to say the least.

The holiday marks the liberation of Jewish people from slavery in ancient Egypt, and their exodus under the leadership of Moses. The story is taking on special meaning for thousands of Jewish Ukrainian refugees who are living a dramatic story in real time.

Chabad, which has deep roots and a wide network in Ukraine, and other groups such as the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) and the Jewish Federations of North America, have mobilized to help Ukrainian Jews celebrate Passover wherever they have sought refuge. In Ukraine, Chabad plans 52 public Seders welcoming about 9,000 people.

In Odesa, Wolff is preparing to host two large Seders  one in early evening at the Chabad synagogue for families with young children and a later Seder at a hotel where participants can stay the night, obeying a 9 p.m. curfew.

He's been waving in trucks loaded with Passover supplies  matzah from Israel, milk from France, meat from Britain.

We may not all be together, but it's going to be an unforgettable Passover, Wolff said. This year, we celebrate as one big Jewish family around the world.

JDC, which has evacuated more than 11,600 Jews from Ukraine, has shipped more than 2 tons of matzah, over 400 bottles of grape juice and over 700 pounds of kosher Passover food for refugees in Poland, Moldova, Hungary and Romania, said Chen Tzuk, the organizations director of operations in Europe, Asia and Africa. In Ukraine, their social service centers and corps of volunteers are distributing nearly 16 tons of matzah to elderly Jews and families in need, she said.

Passover is something familiar and basic for Jewish people, Tzuk said. For refugees who have left everything behind, it's important to be able celebrate this holiday with honor and dignity.

JDC is organizing in-person Seders in countries bordering Ukraine and elsewhere in Europe, she said, and is facilitating online Seders where its too dangerous to gather in person.

The Jewish Federations of North America has set up a volunteer hub in support of refugees fleeing Ukraine; it's a partnership with the Jewish Agency for Israel, the JDC and IsraAID. Russian-speaking volunteers, such as Alina Spaulding, will help organize a Seder for 100 refugees at a hotel in Budapest.

Spaulding, a resident of Greensboro, North Carolina, fled Kharkiv, Ukraine, as a 5-year-old in the 1970s with her parents. She said the war has rekindled strong connections to Ukraine.

My mom showed me a photo of me with my grandpa on a street that was recently bombed, Spaulding said. We talked about the university in Kharkiv where my mom and dad went, which was also hit. Suddenly, it all felt so personal.

Spaulding believes spending Passover with refugees will be an experience to remember."

Part of the magic of Passover is finding your own story, she said. Were in the middle of a modern-day exodus. I cant even imagine the stories I will hear.

Celebrating a holiday can give people a rush of hope and happiness even in grim situations, said Rabbi Jacob Biderman, who leads Chabad activities throughout Austria, including a center in Vienna that is sheltering about 800 Ukrainian Jews. Days after refugees reached his center, Biderman led a joyous celebration of Purim, a festival commemorating the deliverance of Jews from a planned massacre in ancient Persia.

The look on their faces changed from sorrow to joy... Their eyes lit up, Biderman said. It gave them a sense of normalcy, dignity and the belief that their spiritual life is something no one can take away from them.

That fueled Biderman's determination to provide a memorable Passover Seder for the refugees.

Dr. Yaacov Gaissinovitch, his wife, Elizabeth, and their three children  ages 11, 8 and 4  will be part of that celebration. They fled the Ukrainian city of Dnipro by car on Friday, March 4. Gaissinovitch, a urologist and mohel who performs the Jewish rite of circumcision, said it pained him, as an observant Jew, to drive on Shabbat  a forbidden act on the day of rest and prayer except when lives are at stake.

I drove nonstop for 12 hours to Moldova to save us all, he said. We sang all the Shabbat songs in the car. It was very, very hard.

In Dnipro, Gaissinovitch had his offices in the sprawling Menorah Center, which serves as a center of Jewish life, housing a synagogue, shops, restaurants, museums and the office of the citys chief rabbi.

After a month of being severed from everything familiar, the Chabad center in Vienna has been a blessing, Gaissinovitch said.

Weve been accepted here very warmly, he said. After being disconnected for days, the children have been able to see that our life hasnt stopped.

A similar community at the Chabad center in Berlin is housing about 1,000 refugees, including Rabbi Avraham Wolffs wife and children from Odesa. The center plans to host eight Seders citywide and has distributed matzah and other food to community members. Refugees, including 120 children from an Odesa orphanage who arrived in Berlin along with Wolffs family, distributed the items to locals, said Yehuda Teichtal, the chief rabbi of Berlin.

To me, this is extremely touching, he said. That people on the receiving end are able to give and not be viewed as victims. Its empowering and energizing.

As they prepare for Passover, Teichtal, Biderman and Wolff said they have been inspired by Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, known as the Lubavitcher Rebbe, who was among the most influential global leaders in Judaism in modern times. April 5 marked the Rebbes 120th birth anniversary, a special number in Jewish tradition.

The Rebbe built a strong foundation (in Ukraine) so were able to do what were doing now, Wolff said.

Schneerson grew up in Ukraine during a challenging time in the former Soviet Union, Teichtal said.

In spite of all the darkness, his focus was selflessness, dedication, love for all humanity and the unwavering faith that we are going to overcome, Teichtal said.

Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the APs collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.

Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
BOSTON (AP)  The Boston Symphony Orchestra has canceled its European tour that had been scheduled for next month because of an increase in positive coronavirus cases among orchestra members as well as concerns about the rising number of cases on both sides of the Atlantic.

Despite health and safety protocols that include mandatory vaccinations for all musicians and daily testing for woodwind and brass instrumentalists, as well as members of the Tanglewood Festival Chorus, there were 31 cases among onstage musicians and chorus members following recent performances, the BSO said in a statement Monday.

The increase in cases in Europe could potentially disrupt travel during the tour, the BSO said.

The decision to cancel was made with deep regret, BSO President and CEO Gail Samuel said.

Given the ongoing presence of COVID, brought home by its unfortunate impact on a significant number of our own artists, we must keep as our first priority the health and safety of everyone involved with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, she said.

The BSO had been scheduled to visit Vienna, Leipzig, Hamburg and Paris in May during a Strauss-focused tour partnership with the Gewandhausorchester Leipzig, under Andris Nelsons, who is the music director of both ensembles.

I was deeply passionate and excited to share this international alliance  a musical and human bond between exceptional orchestras on two continents  with our audiences, Nelsons said. I am so very sorry for all presenters and audience members who were looking forward to the BSOs performances, and to all the wonderful teams who spent so much time and energy on making this dream a reality.

The Boston Symphony Orchestra hopes to visit Europe when conditions allow, Samuel said.

Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
As Covid-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths continue to decline across the United States, health leaders warn that the crisis is not over -- especially in the Black community.

A new report details the disproportionate impact the Covid-19 pandemic has had on Black Americans and calls for "the most precise data" on race and ethnicity to address this health inequity.

The two-year report was released by the Black Coalition Against Covid-19 last week, ahead of Friday's first anniversary of the head of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention declaring racism "a serious public health threat."

That declaration gave "legitimacy" to conversations that have been taking place across all sectors of health care for some time, said Dr. Reed Tuckson, co-founder of the coalition.

The statement also shows that the CDC understands structural racism to be a "fundamental root cause of so much of the health disparities in America," Tuckson said. "This is not a political issue. It is a human health and survival issue."

The new report not only serves as a reminder that the Covid-19 pandemic is not over -- particularly for the Black community -- it is a "call to action" to address problems that existed long before the pandemic, Tuckson added.

"Now that we go back and look at all that has happened to us and all that we've learned, it is now time to focus everybody's attention on going back and fighting the old fight," he said.

The striking racial disparities in Covid-19 outcomes seen over the past two years were not a result of the disease itself, but rather the pandemic "illuminated inequities that have existed for generations and revealed for all of America a known, but often unaddressed, epidemic impacting public health: racism," CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said in a statement on April 8, 2021.

"Racism is not just the discrimination against one group based on the color of their skin or their race or ethnicity, but the structural barriers that impact racial and ethnic groups differently to influence where a person lives, where they work, where their children play, and where they worship and gather in community," Walensky said. "These social determinants of health have life-long negative effects on the mental and physical health of individuals in communities of color."

Since the start of the pandemic, the risk of dying from Covid-19 has been nearly twice as high for Black and Hispanic people in the United States than for White people, data from the CDC shows. Black and Hispanic people also faced a higher risk of coronavirus infection and were more than twice as likely to be hospitalized.

Even as Covid-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths trend down in the United States, Black Americans recently experienced the "highest rate of hospitalization" for any racial and ethnic group since the inception of the pandemic, according to the new report.

During the week ending January 8, the hospitalization rate for Black Americans was 64 per 100,000 people, the report notes. That is double the overall weekly rate of hospitalizations for all races during the same time frame and nearly triple the rate of hospitalizations for White people at any point during the pandemic, according to a CNN analysis of CDC data.

"This was the highest weekly rate of any race and ethnicity at any point during the pandemic," according to the report.

While Covid-19 hospitalizations have since fallen among all racial and ethnic groups and are now at their lowest point on record, CDC data from mid-March shows that weekly hospitalization rates were still highest among Black people and Native Americans in the US.

The report also references significant disparities in how the pandemic has affected children. One in 310 Black children lost a parent or caregiver between April 2020 and June 2021, compared with 1 in 738 White children.

The report mentions that "racial and ethnic disparities" are expected to persist as people continue to have long-term Covid-19 symptoms.

The report's authors are physicians and public health experts including Tuckson and Dr. Marcella Nunez-Smith, who chaired President Biden's Covid-19 Health Equity Task Force. They wrote that "the severity of COVID-19 among Black Americans was the predictable result of structural and societal realities, not differences in genetic predisposition."

Now, Black health leaders call for more precise data on such racial disparities and how they affect public health.

"If we are going to effectively address health equity among Black Americans, having access to the most precise data is vital," the report's authors wrote.

As of this week, the CDC website tracking Covid-19 data says the agency "is working with states to provide more information on race/ethnicity for reported cases." Currently, race and ethnicity data are available from the CDC for only 65% of total cases and 84% of deaths.

"This report draws attention to the continued disproportionate burden experienced by members of the Black community and will help guide advocacy and policy efforts to address these inequitiesboth during the current pandemic and beyond," Nunez-Smith wrote in the report's forward. She notes that she was commissioned by the Black Coalition Against Covid to produce the report.

"Given generations of systemic disinvestment in the health of Black communities in the United States, the starkly disproportionate rates of COVID-19 illness and death are not surprising," Nunez-Smith wrote. "This report situates alarming pandemic-related disparities within these deeper societal inequities, and provides guidance to move towards sustained change."

While the trajectory of the pandemic remains uncertain, Tuckson made clear the need to continue to spotlight the health of Black America amid Covid-19 and beyond.

"If we don't do it, somebody else is going to have to do it," he said. "We have a lot of work ahead of us and a lot of problems that have gotten so much worse."

The-CNN-Wire

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CNN's Deidre McPhillips contributed to this report.
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP)  Even after failing a test that set her back a semester, Maribel Rodriguez will be heading back to nursing school next spring with a generous new state scholarship that abandons eligibility criteria to help more working adults get a college degree.

New Mexico is expanding its Opportunity Scholarship, which has already paid for Rodriguezs tuition and allowed her to apply federal grants toward living expenses like gas and groceries. She's reapplying to the nursing program and hopes to finish her degree without racking up debt that could hurt her husband and three children.

I didnt think a whole lot of opportunities were really out there for me at my age, said Rodriguez, 37, of Lovington, New Mexico, who left college at 19 in part because she couldn't afford rent. Even though if we missed it whenever we were younger theres still hope for us.

Many states  including New Mexico  have for years offered free tuition programs for four-year degrees to residents, but the programs had restrictions, limiting participation to recent high school graduates and requiring that they attend school full-time.

Supporters of those restrictions say they incentivize students to finish their degree and narrow the number of students who participate, reducing costs. But critics argue they create too many hurdles for students to succeed, especially those who are low-income and struggling to work, pay rent and raise a family.

New Mexico's revamped program provides students with more flexibility, including attending college part-time and allowing them to use federal grants for personal expenses. There's no requirement to finish in a set number of years.

It opens the door for a lot of people, especially people who started a degree and had to leave for some reason, said Kathy Levine, financial aid director at Northern New Mexico College in Espanola.

Still, Levine and other college counselors hesitate to promise students future funding.

Most of the $75 million expansion of the program relied on one-time federal pandemic relief and is authorized for only one year. If funding is cut, students could find themselves without support midway into their degree or certificate program.

As recently as 2017, New Mexico cut its other college scholarship program to just 60% of tuition because of an unexpected drop in state revenue. State officials now say that program, the Lottery Scholarship, is now solvent at 100% for at least the next four years.

New Mexicos governor and Legislature hope the expanded Opportunity Scholarship program will be enough to reverse the states dismal education outcomes. Only Mississippi has a lower percentage of four-year-degree holders, at 23%, according to Census estimates.

Since 2020, the program has been used by 10,000 state residents pursuing associate's degree programs, including nursing.

It checks all those boxes, very robust, certainly stands out as a national model, Jessica Thompson, vice president of the left-leaning think tank The Institute for College Access and Success, said of the revised program.

But Thompson warns that states are often ill-equipped to promise generous programs to students long-term because their revenues are so closely tied to the whims of the economy.

Thompson says other states like Oregon have authorized generous programs for undergrads, only to cut them when budgets were lean.

In 2020, Oregon had to cut its budget and tell 1,070 low-income students they wouldnt be receiving the aid previously promised to them. This month, Oregon announced its doubling its cost-of-living grant for low-income students.

New Mexico officials had estimated that roughly 35,000 students could participate in the expanded program. But that number will likely shrink because universities across the state already have raised tuition, disappointing state higher education officials.

New Mexico Tech raised tuition by 9%, citing increased costs and the availability of the new scholarships. Others raised tuition by around 4%.

Starting in July, universities will have to negotiate with the state on tuition increase limits if they want to participate in the free tuition program. But the law didnt prevent them from increasing tuition before that date.

At least for next year, the expanded program also will make existing support for recent high school graduates even more generous by allowing them to use federal funding for personal expenses, in addition to the existing Lottery Scholarship that pays their tuition.

That's welcome news at an arts school in Santa Fe where students discussed their plans with a New Mexico State University recruiter on a lunch break.

Some of our parents are still paying back their loans from college, said junior Zoe McDonald, 17, an aspiring cinematographer.

Painter Cruz Davis-Martinez, 18, knows he wants a four-year degree and is comparing the University of New Mexico and two schools in other states.

A lot of my high school career, unfortunately, was spent taking dual credit, Davis-Martinez said, because I had that financial insecurity.

At age 15, he started traveling 40 minutes so he could take advantage of free college classes paid for by his high school. The idea was to earn college credits so he could save money in college.

Now hes realizing he can attend all the classes he needs without going into debt and without having to work so much that it cripples his academic performance.

Under New Mexicos new plan, hell get more support than expected, though the exact cost of college is unclear. State officials are still writing the final rules for the program, including what fees will be covered and how much universities can raise tuition.

Thompson said it's important for students to be able to pursue their education without the threat of debt hanging over them. Still, she thinks the state is one economic downturn away from cutting benefits and that the federal government needs to fund more of these programs.

Ill be surprised if New Mexico can sustain this without, you know, continued federal engagement and involvement in funding," she said. And I dont think other states can follow them."

This story has been corrected to show that Maribel Rodriguez will return to school next spring, not this fall.

Attanasio is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on under-covered issues. Follow Attanasio on Twitter.

Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
BOSTON (AP)  Russian military hackers attempted to knock out power to millions of Ukrainians last week in a long-planned attack but were foiled, Ukrainian government officials said Tuesday.

At one targeted high-voltage power station, the hackers succeeded in penetrating and disrupting part of the industrial control system, but people defending the station were able to prevent electrical outages, the Ukrainians said.

The threat was serious, but it was prevented in a timely manner, a top Ukrainian cybersecurity official, Victor Zhora, told reporters through an interpreter. It looks that we were very lucky.

The hackers from Russia's GRU military intelligence agency used an upgraded version of malware first seen in its successful 2016 attack that caused blackouts in Kyiv, officials said, that was customized to target multiple substations. They simultaneously seeded malware designed to wipe out computer operating systems, hindering recovery.

Authorities did not specify how many substations were targeted or their location, citing security concerns, but a deputy energy minister, Farid Safarov, said 2 million people would have been without electricity supply if it was successful.

Zhora, the deputy chair of the State Service of Special Communications, said the malware was programmed to knock out power on Friday evening just as people returned home from work and switched on news reports.

He said that power grid networks were penetrated before the end of February, when Russia invaded, and that the attackers later uploaded the malware, dubbed Industroyer2. The malware succeeded in disrupting one component of the impacted power station's management systems, also known as SCADA systems.

Zhora would not offer further details or explain how the attack was defeated or which partners may have assisted directly in defeating it. He did acknowledge the depth of international assistance Ukraine has received in identifying intrusions and the challenges of trying to rid government, power grid and telecommunications networks of attackers. The helpers include keyboard warriors from U.S. Cybercommand, which declined comment.

The Computer Emergency Response Team of Ukraine thanked Microsoft and the cybersecurity firm ESET for their assistance in dealing with the power grid attack in a bulletin posted online.

Officials said the destructive attacks had been planned at least since March 23, and Zhora speculated it was timed by Russia to invigorate its soldiers after they took heavy losses in a failed bid to capture Kyiv, the capital.

Zhora stressed that Russian cyberattacks have not successfully knocked out any power to Ukrainians since this invasion began.

GRU hackers from a group that researchers call Sandworm twice successfully attacked Ukraines power grid  in the winters of 2015 and 2016. U.S. prosecutors indicted six GRU officials in 2020 for using a previous version of the Industroyer malware to attack Ukraine's power grid by gaining control of electrical substation switches and circuit breakers.

In the 2016 attack, Sandworm hackers used Industroyer to turn circuit breakers on and off in a sequence designed to create a blackout, said Jean-Ian Boutin, director of threat research at ESET.

We know that Industroyer still has the capability to turn off circuit breakers, he said.

Working closely with Ukrainian responders, ESET also determined that the attackers had infected networks at the targeted plants with disk-wiping software.

Successfully activating the malware would have rendered plant systems in operable, seriously hindering remediation and recovery and destroying the attackers' digital footprints, Boutin said.

One of the destructive malware varieties used in the attack, dubbed CaddyWiper, was first discovered by ESET in mid-March being used against a Ukrainian bank, he said.

Western prosecutors blame Sandworm for a series of high-profile cyberattacks including the most destructive, the 2017 NotPetya wiper virus that caused more than $10 billion in damage globally by destroying data on entire networks of computers of companies doing business in Ukraine including those belonging to the shipper Maersk and the pharmaceutical company Merck.

Russias use of cyberattacks against Ukrainian infrastructure during its invasion has been limited compared with experts pre-war expectations. In the early hours of the war, however, an attack Ukraine blames on Russia knocked offline an important satellite communications link that also impacted tens of thousands of Europeans from France to Poland.

In another serious cyberattack of the war, hackers knocked offline the internet and cellular service of a major telecommunications company that serves the military, Ukretelecom, for most of the day on March 28.

Zhora said the potential of Russian (state-backed) hackers has been overestimated and cited a number of reasons why he believes cyberattacks have not played a major role in the conflict:

 When the aggressor is pummeling civilian targets with bombs and rockets there is little need to hide behind covert cyberactivity.

 Ukraine has significantly upped its cyber defenses with the help of volunteers from sympathetic countries.

 Attacks as sophisticated as this effort to knock out power are complex and tend to require a lot of time.

This is not an easy thing to do, Zhora said.

Ukraine has been under steady Russian cyberattack for the past eight years, with Zhora noting that the attacks have tripled since the invasion when compared with the same period last year.

Russia has said its invasion was needed to protect civilians in eastern Ukraine, a false claim the U.S. had predicted Russia would make as a pretext for the invasion. Ukraine has called Russia's assault a war of aggression, saying it will defend itself and will win.

Associated Press writer Alan Suderman in Richmond, Virginia, contributed to this report.

Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Joe Holleman Joe Holleman is a reporter for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Follow Joe Holleman 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

Provel  the ubiquitous, loved/hated official cheese of STL  just received some kind words in a national publication.

Bon Appetit magazine last week ran a story, "What Is Provel Cheese," written by a Phoenix native with a boyfriend from the St. Louis area.

And surprisingly, writer Asonta Benetti said, "I seriously dig it."

Benetti got her first taste of the pie topper through the efforts of her boyfriend, who grew up in Quincy, Illinois, and lived in St. Louis for a time.

And as more than a few Gateway City expatriates do, the boyfriend ordered a number of frozen pies packed in dry ice from Imo's Pizza.

Benetti described her first taste thusly:

"I paused, my taste buds trying to process this new experience. 'Its  different,' I finally said, struggling to describe the creamy, buttery, subtly rich flavor."

She then confessed that she "proceeded to demolish my slice."

Benetti compared the cheese to "something between bechamel and a thick, savory creme anglaise."

Kudos to Benetti to reaching out to Imo's to find out what exactly is in provel, and she even gave due credit to the late Joe Bonwich, former Post-Dispatch food critic who in a 2012 feature story did a deep-dish dive into the cheese's history.

For the record, Bonwich explained that the cheese (a blend of Swiss, cheddar and provolone) dates to 1947, when a trademark application was applied for by J.S. Hoffman Co. of Wisconsin.

The Hoffman company was working with either Tony Costa or Jim Sigillito, both downtown St. Louis grocers, to develop the cheese, which officially secured its trademark in 1950.

The cheese jumped in popularity with the advent of the Imo's pizza chain in 1964.

And while STL remains the undisputed provel capital, Bonwich's story also revealed the tidbit that the cheese also has been sold since 1955 in Dayton, Ohio.

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Tony Messenger Tony Messenger is the metro columnist for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Follow Tony Messenger Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today

Anthony Glasby slept in his car.

It was Tuesday night, April 5, and he had returned home from work a little after 11 p.m. to find the locks changed at his apartment. Glasby lives in the Lewis and Clark Apartments in Moline Acres. He has a good job as a COVID tech. He has a valid lease. He hasnt been served any eviction papers. But the manager of the apartment complex called that day to tell Glasby he would be locked out of his apartment if he didnt pay $517 in rent, a portion of his arrears. He didnt have the money. When he came home from work his key didnt work.

It was late, and he was tired. So he reclined the front seat in his 2016 Nissan Altima and fell asleep.

I was terrified, Glasby says. I was waking up every 5 or 10 minutes it seems like, just to make sure I was safe.

He slept in his car for two nights, and then spent one night at his aunts house. After payday, he paid a locksmith to change the locks, so he could get back into his home.

Glasby knew the apartment complex was breaking the law, and thats what he told the management of the complex. If youre evicting me, I need something in writing, he told them. Indeed, under Missouri law, an apartment resident with a lease cant be locked out or evicted without a court order.

Thats not stopping the owners of Lewis and Clark Apartments from kicking some of its residents to the street without due process, says Robert Swearingen, a lawyer with the nonprofit Legal Services of Eastern Missouri. After he was locked out, Glasby hired Swearingen to help him keep his apartment. So did Tamara Roseburrow, who was locked out of her apartment as well, allegedly because she was behind in rent.

Roseburrow was locked out twice. The second time, she called the Moline Acres police who stood by as a locksmith let her back into her apartment.

In reality, Glasby and Roseburrow, and others like them, should be the poster-children for how federal rental aid, passed as part of the American Rescue Plan, was intended to keep people who lost jobs during the pandemic in their homes, while also making landlords whole.

In December, Glasby came down with COVID. He was unable to work for more than a month and a half; later he lost his warehouse job because of his lack of vaccination. When he fell behind in rent, in January, he went to the management and made arrangements to pay what he could, so he didnt fall too far behind. He paid $300 one week and $400 another, after receiving a notice from the complex threatening a lockout if he didnt pay $1,968. But Glasby kept falling behind. In March, he and the landlord  the apartments are managed by a company called EEG Management based in New York  applied for rental aid through the Missouri State Assistance for Housing Relief program, which served as a pass-through for the federal money.

That application was being reviewed by the state when Glasby was locked out of his apartment. In Roseburrows case, her aid from the same program had already been approved. She was locked out even though the landlord had been paid in full. Currently unemployed, shes afraid to leave her apartment these days, worrying that she will come back and find shes been locked out.

This is their business model, Swearingen says of the landlord. They are like the worse debt collector youve ever seen.

During the pandemic, while there was a national eviction moratorium, and similar moratoriums in the St. Louis region, some landlords got around the law by forcing out tenants in this same fashion, says fellow legal aid lawyer Jake Aubuchon. Its an insidious way to take advantage of poor people. Unless a county or municipality has a law on the books that makes such lockouts criminal offenses  like in Maplewood and St. Louis  tenants have little recourse other than to file a lawsuit.

Its a legal fiction, that landlords can simply lock out tenants without a court order, Aubuchon says, but increasingly, that seems to be a strategy the worst landlords are following. In Moline Acres, its technically not a crime, Aubuchon says. So what do tenants do? Theyre helpless.

EEG Management formed in early 2020 according to New York Division of Corporations records. The company formed a limited liability company in Missouri later that year called Lewis and Clark MO LLC. That company bought the apartment building in Moline Acres in 2020 from its previous owners. According to the companys website, it owns or manages apartment complexes in Missouri, Illinois, Alabama and Mississippi. The complex manager and EEG Management didnt return multiple phone calls and emails seeking comment.

Before she hired Swearingen, Roseburrow filed for a protective order in St. Louis County Circuit Court to try to stop the landlord from locking her out. Now the legal aid lawyer is going to press the case, and is considering filing a similar motion on behalf of other clients, like Glasby, who have been locked out.

In the meantime, Glasby goes to work every day not knowing if hell come home to a locked apartment. Hes looking for a new place to live. Swearingen and Aubuchon have called the apartment manager and the landlord to try to resolve the situation.

Most landlords you call, once you explain the law, they agree not to lock out your client, Aubuchon says. Not here.

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CREVE COEUR  A proposed QuikTrip on the site of an Olive Boulevard strip center is a step closer to construction after a Missouri appeals court sided with a St. Louis County judge who said Creve Coeur officials improperly denied a conditional use permit for the gas station.

The Missouri Court of Appeals Eastern District last week upheld a July ruling by St. Louis County Judge Nancy Watkins McLaughlin who ordered Creve Coeur to issue the permit.

At issue was whether the property owner that wants to sell to QuikTrip, a company tied to the family of Gershman Commercial Real Estate Executive Chairman Tom Stern, met the citys listed conditions for receiving a conditional use permit. It is represented by attorneys at Clayton law firm Carmody MacDonald.

The city, represented by Jim Layton of Clayton-based Tueth Keeney, argued some of those conditions are subjective and appealed the county judges ruling.

Some Creve Coeur residents opposed the proposed QuikTrip at the southwest corner of Olive Boulevard and Graeser Road, and the city council in 2020 voted against issuing the required permit for the project. The property owner sued, arguing it had met all of the standards in the citys conditional use permit ordinance. The city argued that the QuikTrip did not meet its comprehensive plans standards, giving it the discretion to deny the permit.

The appeals court disagreed with the city, citing testimony from Creve Coeur Director of Community Development Jason Jaggi, who said complete compliance with every single component of the Comprehensive Plan is neither possible nor necessary, and that QuikTrip was generally consistent with the Comprehensive Plan.

Creve Coeur Mayor Bob Hoffman said that the council voted Monday to continue pursuing the appeal, which could mean the issue will eventually wind up before the Missouri Supreme Court.

We cant have the courts tell us whats built in our neighborhoods, Hoffman said.

Originally posted at 4:15 p.m. Tuesday, April 12.

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UPDATED at 9:45 a.m. with more details

ST. LOUIS  A man was found dead Tuesday inside a burning home in the city's Carondelet neighborhood.

The fire in the two-story home was reported just after 8 a.m. Tuesday in the 400 block of Bates Street.

No information was released on the victim or the possible cause of the fire. About 38 firefighters helped fight the blaze. No firefighters were hurt.

Crews arrived to find "an enormous amount of fire" on the first floor, and it spread to the second floor and the attic, said St. Louis fire Capt. Garon Mosby.

They couldn't see the body until they had the fire under control.

"After the fire was knocked down, while conducting the primary search," firefighters found the man's body on the first floor, Mosby said.

Firefighters found a cat in the home and revived it with oxygen.

St. Louis fire investigators and detectives with the St. Louis regional bomb & arson unit will be looking into the fire, as is protocol anytime someone dies.

"It's so early in this, in as far as cause," Mosby said, adding that part of the investigation will be talking to neighbors to try to learn the man's habits and other details.

Laurie Skrivan and Kim Bell of the Post-Dispatch contributed to this report.

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MARYLAND HEIGHTS  A state appeals court on Tuesday declined to revive a proposed tax increment financing district that would have helped spur development of a levee-protected flood plain north of Creve Coeur Lake Park.

A three-judge panel of the Missouri Court of Appeals in St. Louis affirmed a March 2021 trial court ruling in a lawsuit the city of Maryland Heights filed after its TIF Commission voted against the use of as much as $151 million in subsidies for the development.

The commissions vote, which took place in January 2020, effectively killed the areas TIF, which allows increases in sales and property taxes to be used for development costs. Even though the Maryland Heights City Council could still form the TIF, new state laws greatly limit what the subsidies can be used for after a negative vote by a TIF commission.

New provisions also gave St. Louis County the ability to appoint half of the commissions members, an effort to make the commissions take a more regional approach after years of sales tax-hungry St. Louis County municipalities using subsidies to poach shopping centers from each other. In the Maryland Heights case, all of St. Louis County Executive Sam Pages appointees voted against the TIF, marking the first time the county had effectively blocked one of the districts.

Maryland Heights sued, arguing the provisions giving St. Louis County the ability to appoint half of a TIF Commission were based on a statute for a county with more than 1 million residents, a threshold St. Louis County had fallen below. The countys population dropped to 998,954 in the 2010 Census; it climbed to 1,004,125 in 2020. The latest census estimate for 2021 shows it has slipped below 1 million again.

The appeals court concurred with St. Louis County Circuit Court Judge Thomas Albus that once a county triggers a population-based provision in state law, it does not fall out of that laws applicability if its population subsequently falls below the threshold.

Its unclear if the city will appeal. Peter Bruntrager, a lawyer for Maryland Heights, said the city is reviewing its options.

Originally posted at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, April 12.

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JEFFERSON CITY  Motorists who have been saving their fuel receipts will soon be able to start submitting them to the state for a refund.

Lawmakers who voted to raise the states gasoline tax last year included a rebate option for motorists, allowing them to file for refunds after the end of each state fiscal year, on June 30.

Anne Marie Moy, spokeswoman for the Department of Revenue, said Tuesday the agency would make an electronic filing method available in June.

We expect the form will be posted to the DOR website in May and the electronic filing method to be available sometime in June, Moy said.

The states motor fuel tax jumped 2.5 cents on Oct. 1 to 19.5 cents after a bipartisan coalition of lawmakers voted for the increase to fund road projects.

The tax will eventually increase by another 10 cents  2.5 cents each July 1  until it reaches 29.5 cents per gallon on July 1, 2025.

The law said motorists may save purchase receipts and fill out an online form at the start of each state fiscal year, on July 1, to earn a refund on new fuel taxes paid the previous fiscal year. Motorists will have until Sept. 30 to file for a refund for the current fiscal year.

A claim, which may be filed electronically, must contain a vehicle identification number, date of fuel sale, name and address of fuel buyer, name and address of fuel seller, number of gallons purchased and, separately, the number of gallons purchased and charged Missouri fuel tax.

The average price of gasoline in Missouri stood at about $2.75 when lawmakers approved the hike in May.

Since then, the average price hit a high of about $3.90 before falling in recent weeks to about $3.70 per gallon, according to GasBuddy.

Rising prices sparked efforts in the Legislature to repeal the tax increase approved last year.

A measure repealing the increase by Rep. Sara Walsh, R-Ashland, who is running for Congress in the 4th Congressional District, awaits debate before the full Missouri House.

Rep. Adam Schwadron, R-St. Charles, is sponsoring a plan that would institute a six-month tax holiday on motor fuel sales, which would cancel all of the 19.5 cents per gallon the state currently charges on motor fuel.

Schwadrons proposal awaits a vote in the House Special Committee on Government Oversight.

Even if lawmakers fail to act on lowering the fuel tax, legislation by Rep. David Evans, R-West Plains, would simplify the process for claiming a fuel tax rebate, proponents said.

His bill would base refunds on the calendar year rather than the states fiscal year, meaning motorists would file for their refunds for the previous tax year by April 15, the day personal income tax filings are due.

Evans plan also seeks to change the information that must be provided to the state to receive a refund.

President Joe Biden is also taking steps to address high gas prices, his office said Tuesday.

Biden on Tuesday announced his administrations intention to allow the sale of gasoline with 15% ethanol  known as E15  during the summer months.

The White House said E15 isnt sold in most of the country from June 1 to Sept. 15.

The action can help increase fuel supplies, give consumers more choice to get lower prices, and provide savings to many families, said a handout provided by the White House. At current prices, E15 can save a family 10 cents per gallon of gas on average, and many stores sell E15 at an even greater discount.

The White House said Biden had also coordinated with allies and partners to greenlight a historic release of fuel from strategic reserves, putting 240 million barrels of oil on the market in the next six months.

Biden has also pushed for a use it or lose it policy for dormant oil wells and wants a faster transition to clean energy so the United States is less dependent on fossil fuels, the White House said.

Originally posted at 12:15 p.m. Tuesday, April 12.

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ST. LOUIS COUNTY  St. Louis County Councilwoman Shalonda Webb has introduced plans to spend $6 million to demolish the vacant and blighted Jamestown Mall in her North County district.

The proposal would see the county commit funding to tearing down the 145-acre site, near Missouri Highways 67 and 367, which officials have struggled to redevelop since it closed in 2014.

The Port Authority, which owns the site, last year reached a deal with a Kansas City developer that wanted to turn it into an industrial park. But those plans were scrapped in June under opposition by Webb and residents who said they preferred a community center or mixed retail site. Officials have since struggled to identify funding to clear the site.

In a public letter to the County Council, Webb said she would introduce a bill Tuesday to use $6 million to tear down the mall, citing a financial cushion from millions in federal pandemic aid to the county through the American Rescue Plan Act. The letter was attached to the council agenda for this week.

Federal regulations restrict uses for the money so that they cant be used for general infrastructure, but Webb said she wants to use a revenue replacement maneuver in which the county would appropriate federal funds to its budget and free up existing revenues to be appropriated.

Webb did not return requests for comment Monday. The 4th District Democrat joined the council in 2021 after making redevelopment of the mall site a top issue in her election campaign.

County Executive Sam Page spokesman Doug Moore said demolition of the mall is a priority but that the funding may have to come from other sources. That could include state-matched grants or federal funding to the county from the recent $1 trillion federal infrastructure law, he said.

We agree that Jamestown Mall needs to be demolished and we support ways we can leverage federal funds to make that happen, Moore said. We want to work with the council to get that building down and make sure we have the right funding source to do it.

Port Authority Chairman John Maupin said he had been in discussion with Webb over the year but was first hearing of the new proposal from a reporter.

I certainly hope this comes to fruition; it would make demolition and moving forward on this much more feasible, Maupin said.

Maupin has said the agency doesnt have funding to pay for full demolition. The previous plan to turn the mall into an industrial park would have seen the developer pay at least $4 million to tear down much of the site and rework other parts, Maupin said. Estimates in July projected at least $5 million to clear the site.

The port authority, which is largely funded by rents paid by the River City Casino in Lemay, receives about $4 million a year meant for grants for community organizations and economic development projects.

At least $1 million a year is encumbered for debt service on past projects, Maupin said, and another $2.5 million committed under a deal announced last year landing the St. Louis regions first international passenger flights to Europe in years. Then there are the agencys operational costs, Maupin said.

The agency has however budged about $2 million for contracts to remediate and abate Jamestown Mall, a necessary step to study contaminants and health hazards before tearing it down, and to launch a community study on what should replace it, Maupin said. That work is underway, he said.

The council is expected to vote on plans for some of the $85 million in federal pandemic aid to spend after weighing input from a recent public engagement campaign.

Moore said Monday that the results are expected to be released in time for a council hearing April 19. He said respondents, including at public town halls, have said one their priorities was to tear down vacant buildings like Jamestown Mall.

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JEFFERSON CITY  A legislator from University City wants to use state money to help fund the demolition of the vacant Jamestown Mall in north St. Louis County.

We are actively working, Sen. Brian Williams, D-University City, told the Post-Dispatch on Tuesday.

Our goal right now is to really work through the influx of federal dollars that have come in to ensure that theyre going to parts of the region that need it, and one of them is north St. Louis County, he said.

He said funds from the American Rescue Plan Act, approved by Democrats in Congress last March, could play a role in the demolition.

We want to do everything we can to get some of those ARPA dollars there, Williams said. We are looking to get funding to assist the local St. Louis County Councilperson Shalonda Webb to get that building demolished.

Webb has introduced a plan to spend $6 million on the demolition of Jamestown Mall, the Post-Dispatch reported on Monday.

Webb said because of restrictions on how ARPA money may be spent, she was eyeing a revenue replacement maneuver at the county level to place federal dollars in the budget and use freed up revenues for the demolition.

Were hoping to get some dollars at the state level and hopefully get a commitment from St. Louis County to do a match, Williams said.

He said the total cost of demolition would be about $10 million, and that he would be open to whatever we can get from the state.

That community deserves it and we want to make sure that north St. Louis County is getting as much resources as possible, Williams said.

The House last week approved a $46 billion budget blueprint for the fiscal year that begins July 1. The Senate is expected to begin work on the plan next week.

County Executive Sam Page spokesman Doug Moore said Monday demolition of the mall is a priority but that the funding may have to come from other sources. That could include state-matched grants or federal funding to the county from the recent $1 trillion federal infrastructure law, he said.

We agree that Jamestown Mall needs to be demolished and we support ways we can leverage federal funds to make that happen, Moore said. We want to work with the council to get that building down and make sure we have the right funding source to do it.

Officials have struggled to redevelop the 145-acre site since the mall closed in 2014.

Williams said future plans for the site are further down the road and would require community input.

Nassim Benchaabane of the Post-Dispatch contributed to this report. Originally posted at 1:50 p.m. Tuesday, April 12.

St. Louis County councilwoman seeks $6 million to tear down Jamestown Mall A Kansas City developers plans to turn the former mall into an industrial park were scrapped last year under opposition by Webb, who said residents preferred a community center. But officials have struggled to identify funding for demolition.

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JEFFERSON CITY  Decades after Winston Churchills famous Iron Curtain Speech in Fulton, Missouri, a top official from the United Kingdom returned to the state on Tuesday to once again call for a united front against tyranny.

In an address to the Missouri House, James Cleverly, U.K. minister of state for Europe and North America, lauded the U.S. and U.K.s collaborative efforts to support the people of Ukraine against Russian invaders.

It was 76 years ago that Winston Churchill came to Fulton to proclaim the special relationship between our two nations, Cleverly said. And though much has changed in the intervening years, our transatlantic partnership is as a strong.

Cleverly stopped in the Capitol building on the way to the site of Churchills speech at Westminster College.

At the college in 1946, the former prime minister gave a speech that was officially titled The Sinews of Peace, but went down in history for describing how an iron curtain had descended across Europe after World War II, separating nations that had fallen under the influence and control of the Soviet Union and those that had not.

Just as the two allies had worked in concert in the postwar period, the U.S. and U.K. also hold significant power today to aid Ukraine in its time of need, Cleverly said.

The ambassador cited direct and indirect efforts, noting the new Atlantic Charter signed by the president and prime minister in June, the monitoring systems of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency in St. Louis and the University of Missouris work securing food systems.

Together we are making (Russian President Vladimir) Putin pay the price for his actions and demonstrating the strength of opposition to his brutality, Cleverly said.

While at the Capitol, Cleverly met with Gov. Mike Parson and Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe.

Kehoe, a Republican, has said he is a candidate for governor in 2024.

Originally posted at 1 p.m. Tuesday, April 12.

Grace Zokovitch gzokovitch@post-dispatch.com
WASHINGTON (AP)  Shirley Troutman, a judge on New York's highest court, was working last week when her daughter texted messages that included a clapping hands emoji. Soon, her phone was buzzing with other celebratory messages. The applause and the excitement was for Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, who last week was confirmed to the U.S. Supreme Court and will become its first Black female justice.

Jackson will become the court's 116th member. That's special for Troutman, who is the 116th member of her court too.

As a judge, as a Black woman, I am extremely proud and wish her the best, said Troutman, who took her seat earlier this year and is the second Black woman to serve on her court. She said she cried tears of joy Thursday when Jackson was confirmed.

Troutman is among 17 Black women and 14 Black men currently serving on their state's highest court, according to the Brennan Center for Justice in New York, which has tracked diversity on those courts. A majority of the women joined the bench within the last five years and, like Jackson, shattered a barrier, becoming the first Black woman on their state's high court. In interviews, some of those women described not only their own delight at Jackson's confirmation but also suggested there's more work to be done to make America's courts more reflective of its citizens.

I am so proud and optimistic about her accomplishment and what this means, said Justice Melissa Long of Rhode Island's Supreme Court.

Long, who joined her state's high court in 2021, also feels a great sense of connection to Jackson. They were born 10 days apart in 1970 in Washington, D.C. Long's parents had married in the city because laws against interracial marriage, struck down by the Supreme Court in 1967, prohibited them from getting married in Virginia.

Being the first Black woman and first person of color on her state's five-member court feels like a responsibility, Long said. It's an important responsibility, but it does feel like a responsibility.

That's in part because diversity overall on state courts is lacking. People of color make up 17% of the judges on state supreme courts, but as of last year, 22 states had high courts where no member identified as a person of color, according to the Brennan Center. In 11 of those states, minorities make up at least 20% of the population, according to the Brennan Center. About 30% of all federal judges, meanwhile, identify as people of color.

Those numbers help explain why the Brennan Center's Madiba Dennie says shes wary of people thinking that Jackson's confirmation means: We did it. We have a Black woman on the Supreme Court now. Theres more work to be done, she said, with huge disparities throughout the rest of the federal judiciary and at the state judiciary as well.

The history of Black women serving on their state's highest court goes back to 1988 when Juanita Kidd Stout joined Pennsylvania's highest court. That was seven years after Justice Sandra Day O'Connor became the first woman on the U.S. Supreme Court. Stout served for a year before she reached the mandatory age of retirement. Today, the four men and three women on Pennsylvania's highest court are all white.

Other state high courts are more diverse. Maryland has two Black women on its highest court, the Court of Appeals, where members wear red robes with white collars and are called judge, not justice. Judge Shirley M. Watts joined the seven-member court in 2013 and Judge Michele D. Hotten in 2015.

In Massachusetts, Kimberly Budd serves as her court's chief justice, a position she has held since 2020. North Carolina's Cheri Beasley served as the chief justice of that state's Supreme Court and is now a leading candidate in the Democratic primary for the 2022 U.S. Senate election.

Louisiana also until recently had a Black woman leading its highest court. Bernette Johnson was elected to the court in 1994 and served as its chief from 2013 to her 2020 retirement. Today, Justice Piper D. Griffin is the second Black woman and third Black person to serve on that court.

Griffin called Jackson's confirmation surreal" and humbling. It was one of those things that you never think you'd see in your lifetime. You know, it's kind of like you, you're hopeful, but you're never expecting it," said Griffin, who was elected to her position in 2020.

Griffin said her phone blew up Thursday afternoon when Jackson was confirmed. I got lots of exclamation points," she said. One friend, knowing Griffin couldn't watch Vice President Kamala Harris announce live that Jackson had been confirmed, recorded the moment on her phone and texted it to her. Over and over and over again friends texted one word: Yes!

Troutman, the judge on New York's highest court, said one of the things her daughter sent her that day was a picture of Jackson and the president hugging. It's important that Jackson is the first Black woman on the Supreme Court, Troutman said, but: "It is most important that she shall not be the last.

Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
BOSTON  A U.S. judge on Tuesday questioned whether allowing Mexico to sue U.S. gun manufacturers for facilitating the trafficking of weapons to drug cartels would open the door to other countries suing them, including Russia over firearms used by Ukrainians in the ongoing war.

U.S. District Judge F. Dennis Saylor in Boston raised that prospect as he weighed whether to dismiss Mexicos $10 billion lawsuit seeking to hold gun-makers including Smith & Wesson and Sturm, Ruger & Co. responsible for a deadly flood of weapons across the border.

Mexico in a lawsuit filed in August accused the companies of undermining its strict gun laws by designing, marketing and distributing military-style assault weapons in ways they knew would arm drug cartels, fueling murders and kidnappings.

It said over 500,000 guns are trafficked annually from the United States into Mexico, of which more than 68% are made by the gun-makers it sued, which also include Beretta USA, Barrett Firearms Manufacturing, Colts Manufacturing Co. and Glock Inc.

They know how criminals are getting their guns, Jonathan Lowy, a lawyer for Mexico, argued during the 90-minute virtual hearing. They could stop and they choose to be willfully blind to the facts.

But Saylor questioned whether Mexicos stance would mean the protections gun-makers typically enjoy under the federal Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (PLCAA) from lawsuits over their products misuse is completely hollow.

He asked why if Mexico could sue the gun-makers other countries could not too, such as Italy over mafia killings, Israel over attacks by Palestinian militant group Hamas, or even Russia over the deaths of its soldiers in Ukraine if the companies guns were used.

If Ukrainians are using United States manufactured military weapons or Smith & Wesson revolvers for that matter to defend themselves, can the government of Russia come in and say you have caused us harm? he asked. I mean, why not, if your theory is right?

Steven Shadowen, another lawyer for Mexico, said other foreign countries could sue too if they met the requirements, though he said U.S. courts could refuse to hear a case if it presented a political question.

But Andrew Lelling, a lawyer for Smith & Wesson, said it would be absurd to conclude the federal law only bars lawsuits over injuries in the United States and not Mexicos allegations over the trafficking of guns to Mexican criminals.

He said it was too much of a reach for Mexico to sue the companies over gun sales that were legal in the United States to wholesalers who in turn sold them to retailers before criminals smuggled them.

They would have to argue that Congress intended for this robust statute to apply if an independent criminal actor shot somebody in San Diego, but not if he slips over the border and shoots somebody in Tijuana, Lelling said.

Alejandro Celorio, the Mexican foreign ministrys legal counsel, said the courts resolution would likely take weeks, and noted that the complexity of the case made a nuanced, rather than a simple yes or no ruling more likely in the end.

Speaking in a video conference, Celorio said if the court ruled against Mexico, the government would likely appeal. A negotiated settlement was always an option, he added, but stressed Mexico had no plans to change its strategy for now.

Additional reporting by Raul Cortes in Mexico City.

Updated at 2:57 p.m. Tuesday, April 12.
FAIRFAX, Va. (AP)  A trial over libel allegations by Johnny Depp against his ex-wife, Amber Heard, will likely turn into a six-week, mudslinging soap opera, Heard's lawyers warned a Virginia jury Tuesday.

You're going to see who the real Johnny Depp is  behind the fame, behind the pirate costumes, Heard lawyer J. Benjamin Rottenborn told the jury during opening statements in the civil trial. Because Johnny Depp brought this case, all of this is going to come out.

Depp sued Heard for libel in Fairfax County Circuit Court after she wrote an op-ed piece in The Washington Post in 2018 referring to herself as a public figure representing domestic abuse.

Depp says the article indirectly defames him by referring to abuse allegations Heard made back in 2016. Depp denies abusing her.

In Tuesday's opening statements, Rottenborn said the evidence will show that Depp physically and sexually assaulted Heard on multiple occasions. But he told jurors that they don't need to make themselves referees of the couple's turbulent marriage if they focus on the basics of libel law.

He argued that Heard was exercising her First Amendment rights as an advocate when she wrote the article, which focused largely on the broad topic of domestic violence.

He also said the 2018 article did nothing to damage Depp's reputation. He noted that the abuse accusations had been public for two years already, and he said Depp's spiraling career was the result of his drinking and drug-using, which made him an unreliable commodity to Hollywood studios.

This man's poor choices have brought him to this point, he said. Stop blaming other people for your own self-created problems.

More than anything, though, he pointed out that the article in question never even mentions Depp's name.

Depp's lawyer, Benjamin Chew, acknowledged that Depp's name never appears in the piece.

It didn't have to, Chew told the jury. Everyone in Hollywood knew exactly what she was talking about.

Depp's team argues that the article is an example of defamation by implication. In the December 2018 piece, Heard wrote that "two years ago, I became a public figure representing domestic abuse, and I felt the full force of our cultures wrath for women who speak out."

Chew said that's a clear reference to a restraining order Heard sought in May 2016  right after Depp told her he wanted a divorce  in which she claimed she'd been physically abused.

Chew said she showed up at the courthouse on May 27 of that year with a bruise on her face that was photographed by the paparazzi. But he said the evidence will show that Heard gave herself the injury to ruin Depp's reputation. He said that Depp and Heard hadn't seen each other since May 21: He'd gone on a European tour with his band, the Hollywood Vampires.

Police and others saw Heard immediately after May 21 and her face wasn't bruised, Chew said. He said a witness will testify that he saw security footage in which Heard's sister throws fake punches at her, and the two laugh.

Another of Depp's lawyers, Camille Vasquez, told the jury that Heard refuses to admit she lied and has now dug in even deeper.

She can't back down. She has been living and breathing this lie for years, Vasquez said. She's going to give the performance of a lifetime in this courtroom.

Both Depp and Heard are expected to testify at the trial, scheduled for six weeks, along with actors Paul Bettany and James Franco and tech entrepreneur Elon Musk.

About 80 people, mostly Depp supporters, sat in the courtroom Tuesday. Some people lined up hours early for seats, but several rows were largely vacant.

The courtroom went silent a few minutes before the 10 a.m. start time when Heard entered the room, through a special entrance usually reserved for the judge. But there was an audible intake of breath when Depp came in a minute later, again through a special entrance. At the end of the day, after the jury had left the courtroom, Depp turned and saluted the gallery as he exited, receiving dozens of excited waves in return.

The first witness Tuesday afternoon was Depp's older sister, Christi Dembrowski. She said the pair endured a difficult childhood in which Depp learned to hide from an abusive mother.

She said she saw the same pattern in Depp's relationship with Heard. She said that when she booked travel for the couple in her role as Depp's personal manager, she booked an extra hotel room so Depp would have somewhere to hide if Heard started a fight.

Dembrowski struggled on cross-examination, though, when she was asked why she sent texts to Depp in February 2014 that said, Stop drinking. Stop coke. Stop pills. She was unwilling to acknowledge she had a concern about Depp's drinking and drug use.

I don't know what they were in reference to, she said.

Heard's lawyers have argued that Depp has no credibility when he denies abusing Heard because he frequently drank and used drugs to the point of blacking out and failing to remember anything he did.

Depp, who almost always faced forward during the trial, glared at Rottenborn for an extended period after the questioning of Depp's sister ended for the day.

A civil jury of seven members, plus four alternates, was selected Monday to hear the case.

Heard's lawyers had sought to have the case tried in California, where the actors reside. But a judge ruled that Depp was within his rights to bring the case in Virginia because The Washington Post's computer servers for its online edition are located in the county. Depps lawyers have said they brought the case in Virginia in part because the laws here are more favorable to their case.

Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
WASHINGTON (AP)  President Joe Biden asked India's Narendra Modi on Monday not to accelerate the buying of Russian oil as the U.S. and other nations try to cut off Moscow's energy income following the invasion of Ukraine. The Indian prime minister made no public commitment to refrain from Russian oil, a source of tension with the U.S.

Meeting by video call, Biden told Modi that the U.S. could help India diversify its sources of energy, according to press secretary Jen Psaki. Even though India receives little of its oil from Russia, it stepped up recently with a major purchase as other democracies are trying to isolate Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The president also made clear that he doesnt believe its in Indias interest to accelerate or increase imports of Russian energy or other commodities, Psaki said.

At a separate State Department news conference with Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar pointedly suggested that Europe, not India, be the focus of Washington's concern about energy purchases from Russia.

I suspect, looking at the figures, probably our total purchases for the month would be less than what Europe does in an afternoon, he said.

While Biden and Modi ended their session with Biden saying they committed to strengthening their relationship, White House officials could not say if India stood with them in fully condemning Putin, saying the choice ultimately rested with Modi's government. The two leaders will meet in person May 24 in Tokyo for a summit of the Quad, a coalition that also includes Australia and Japan.

At the State Department news conference, Blinken appeared to seek to cajole India into taking a stronger stance on the conflict in Ukraine, appealing to the countrys interest in upholding the international rules-based order and pointing out that resource-stretched Indians may be affected by both energy and food shortages caused by the war.

Russias aggression stands in stark contrast to the vision that the United States and India share for a free and open Indo-Pacific, and Russias actions are having a profound impact not just in Europe and Ukraine, but around the world, for example, causing food insecurity and rising prices, Blinken told reporters after the meetings concluded.

Indias neutral stance in the war has raised concerns in Washington and earned praise from Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, who lauded India this month for judging the situation in its entirety, not just in a one-sided way.

Biden opened the video conversation by emphasizing the defense partnership between the two countries and by saying the U.S. and India are going to continue our close consultation on how to manage the destabilizing effects of this Russian war" on food and other commodities.

The root of our partnership is a deep connection between our people, ties of family, of friendship and of shared values, the U.S. president said.

Modi on Monday called the situation in Ukraine very worrying, and he noted that an Indian student lost his life during the war. He said he has spoken with Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, appealing to both of them for peace. India has condemned the killings uncovered in the city of Bucha and has called for an independent investigation.

A senior U.S. official described the Biden-Modi exchange as warm and productive, though the official stressed that India would make its own decisions on how to respond to Putin. The official insisted on anonymity to discuss the meeting.

Biden and Modi discussed how to manage the risks of global instability regarding food, humanitarian relief and climate change, and Modi candidly shared his views about some of the tight links between Russia and China that raise concerns, the official said.

Also Monday, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin met in person with Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar.

Austin appealed to India to act together with fellow democracies, a form of government based on the popular consent of the people that stands in contrast to autocracies such as China and Russia.

Now more than ever, democracies must stand together to defend the values that we all share, Austin said.

India has refrained from some efforts to hold Russia accountable for its invasion. India abstained when the U.N. General Assembly voted Thursday to suspend Russia from its seat on the 47-member Human Rights Council over allegations that Russian soldiers in Ukraine engaged in rights violations that the U.S. and Ukraine have called war crimes.

The vote was 93-24 with 58 abstentions.

India continues to purchase Russian energy supplies, despite pressure from Western countries to avoid buying Russian oil and gas. The U.S. has also considered sanctions on India for its recent purchase of advanced Russian air defense systems.

Last month, the state-run Indian Oil Corp. bought 3 million barrels of crude from Russia to secure its needs, resisting entreaties from the West to avoid such purchases. India isnt alone in buying Russian energy, however. Several European allies such as Germany have continued to do so, despite public pressure to end these contracts.

Indian media reports said Russia was offering a discount on oil purchases of 20% below global benchmark prices.

Iraq is Indias top supplier, with a 27% share. Saudi Arabia is second at around 17%, followed by the United Arab Emirates with 13% and the U.S. at 9%, the Press Trust of India news agency reported.

___

Sharma reported from New Delhi. AP Diplomatic Writer Matthew Lee in Washington contributed to this report.

Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
MILWAUKEE (AP)  Republican U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson told backers at a recent event in Wisconsin that his plastics company benefitted from a key provision he pushed for in former President Donald Trump's tax bill in 2017, addressing a line of attack being made against him during his reelection bid.

Johnson made the comments in reaction to a question from an audience member at an event Friday in Medford, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported Monday.

Johnson said that his company, Pacur LLC, some of his prominent donors and many other businesses benefitted from the small-business tax provision.

Now, did my business benefit? Sure. Did some of my donor businesses? Sure. When you give tax relief to everybody, everybody benefits, Johnson said. The Journal Sentinel posted audio of the interaction.

So they want to make it sound like I carved out some loophole for a couple of people," Johnson said in reference to attack ads on the issue. "What I did is I made sure that 95% of American businesses werent left behind in tax reform. Im really proud of that achievement.

Johnson is seeking a third term in November. Nearly a dozen Democrats are running for a chance to take him on in a seat that could determine majority control of the Senate.

ProPublica reported in August that the tax break Johnson championed resulted in hundreds of millions of dollars in deductions to megadonors who funded his campaigns.

Johnsons campaign spokesman, Jake Wilkins, said the audio is exactly what Senator Johnson has said in public and private for years."

Despite strong opposition, he secured tax relief for more than 90% of U.S. businesses who benefited from it after it became law," Wilkins said. "It is a gross distortion to imply his tax cuts were a special deal for a few. His tax cuts benefited the many.

Johnson, in his comments at the Friday meeting, criticized the distorted attack ads that have run against him.

They said I doubled my wealth, he said. Thats true.

Johnson explained that after he got elected in 2010, he took all of his marketable securities and placed them in cash so that he would have no conflicts.

He said the reason his wealth doubled is that he sold his business.

I sat on cash, he said. Im still sitting on cash. I knew during the COVID recession that this was a good time to invest in the stock market. I didnt. I stayed invested in, Ive just got cash, OK.

He added: Im not asking anybody to feel sorry for me.

Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
WASHINGTON  The Pentagon will host leaders from the top eight U.S. weapons manufacturers on Wednesday to discuss the industrys capacity to meet Ukraines weapons needs if the war with Russia lasts years, two people familiar with the meeting said on Tuesday.

Demand for weapons has shot up after Russias invasion on Feb. 24 spurred U.S. and allied weapons transfers to Ukraine. Resupplying as well as planning for a longer war is expected to be discussed at the meeting, the sources told Reuters on condition of anonymity.

The Pentagons office of Acquisition and Sustainment, the weapons buyer for the U.S. Department of Defense, will host the 90 minute meeting and Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks was expected to attend, one of the people said.

The Pentagon has said that the most useful weapons are smaller systems such as Javelin anti-tank missiles and Stinger anti-aircraft missiles, which Washington and allies have been shipping to Ukraine on a nearly daily basis.

The intense usage, as well as the battlefield effectiveness displayed by Ukrainian forces, has driven interest in restocking these weapons.

Raytheon Technologies and Lockheed Martin Corp. jointly produce Javelins, while Raytheon makes Stingers. Other top weapons makers are Boeing Co., Northrop Grumman, General Dynamics and L3Harris Technologies.

The White House said last week that it has provided more than $1.7 billion in security assistance to Ukraine since the invasion, including over 5,000 Javelins and more than 1,400 Stingers.

The Pentagons Defense Security Cooperation Administration is having weekly meetings of its European Crisis Management Team to review specific requests related to Ukraine.

To speed up U.S. government approval for sales and transfers of arms produced by American defense contractors, the Pentagon has re-established a team to respond to the increased demand.
Here's a look at today's COVID-19 news.

Philly to reinstate mask mandate

Philadelphia became the first major U.S. city to reinstate its indoor mask mandate on Monday after reporting a sharp increase in coronavirus infections, with the city's top health official saying she wanted to forestall a potential new wave driven by an omicron subvariant.

Confirmed COVID-19 cases have risen more than 50% in 10 days, the threshold at which the citys guidelines call for people to wear masks indoors, said Dr. Cheryl Bettigole, the health commissioner. Read more here:

The Queen talks with COVID patients and nurses at UK hospital

Queen Elizabeth II, after her own recent bout with COVID-19, empathized with patients, doctors and nurses at a London hospital last week as she listened to their stories about life on the front lines of the pandemic.

The monarch spoke to patients and staff at the Royal London Hospital during a virtual visit that marked the official dedication of the Queen Elizabeth Unit, a 155-bed critical care facility built in just five weeks at the height of the pandemic. Elizabeth tested positive for COVID-19 in February and suffered what Buckingham Palace described as mild cold-like symptoms. Read more here:

PPE makers have scaled back production

Many companies that began producing personal protective equipment with patriotic optimism have scaled back, shut down or given up, according to an Associated Press analysis based on numerous interviews with manufacturers. Some already have sold equipment they bought with state government grants.

As COVID-19 was stressing hospitals and shuttering businesses in 2020, elected officials touted the need to boost U.S. production of protective gear: All this stuff should be made in the United States and not in China, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said in remarks echoed by others. Read more here:

***

Check out more COVID news here:

With COVID mission over, Pentagon plans for next pandemic U.S. military medical teams deployed during the coronavirus pandemic brought back lessons as the Defense Department looks to see what worked and what didn't. The teams were used to relieve exhausted civilian medical workers and provide care to what seemed to be an endless crush of COVID-19 patients. Overall, about 24,000 U.S. troops were deployed for the pandemic, including nearly 6,000 medical personnel to hospitals and 5,000 to help administer vaccines. That mission is over, at least for now. And military leaders are taking stock so they will be better prepared for the next crisis affecting a large population.
Two Columbia police officers will not face charges for shooting and killing a man during an altercation outside a nightclub. St. Charles County Tim Lohma said in a news release Tuesday the officers were justified in believing that Quillan Jacobs was a threat to their lives and others when they shot him outside the Vibez Lounge on Nov. 14. Police said Jacobs and another man were shooting at each other when officers arrived. They said Jacobs fired into the crowd outside the lounge as he fled. Five people were injured. A second man, Todd Nesbitt Jr., was arrested after the shooting and charged with first-degree assault and armed criminal action.
President Joe Biden on Monday finally carried through on a promise to rein in ghost guns  guns assembled from kits that are sold without serial numbers, allowing anyone to own an untraceable weapon. Biden announced new federal requirements including that such kits have serial numbers and that background checks be conducted on those who buy them.

Because of the gun lobbys stranglehold on congressional Republicans, these commonsense changes had to be instituted not by legislation but by executive order, which isnt ideal. In announcing the reforms, Biden properly made another pitch for universal background checks, bans on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, and an end to civil liability immunity that the gun industry enjoys for the mayhem it enables.

Those arent reforms a president can impose unilaterally  they would need congressional approval, which is unlikely under the current Congress. But there was value in reminding America that, even as the body count rises with Tuesdays attack on New Yorks subway system as just the latest example  the gun lobby and its GOP enablers deserve to be considered accomplices.

How unreasonable is that unholy alliance? The guns made from unassembled firearms kits that the gun lobby thinks shouldnt be regulated are increasingly showing up at crime scenes. And why wouldnt they? Nothings better for a criminal than an untraceable gun.

The whole point of buying a kit instead of a finished gun is that there isnt a serial number on it. What rationale could anyone  let alone conservatives and gun owners who claim to be in favor of law and order  possibly have against simply requiring the same kind of identification on those kits that are already required on finished guns?

A statement by a National Rifle Association official on Fox News Monday was illuminating: An administration thats truly sincere and resolute about curbing violent crime rates would do one thing: take violent criminals off the streets immediately. But cracking down on ghost guns is useless against criminals, said the official, because this ban will not affect them.

The NRA thinks the way to confront violent criminals is to  allow the continued sale of weapons that cannot be traced when theyre found at crime scenes. And the organization thinks that because some who engage in illegal gun trafficking would ignore the new requirements, thats reason to not have any requirements.

What a novel approach to crime-fighting: Just get rid of all laws, and there will be no more lawbreakers!

The ghost-gun reforms were needed, but there are limits to how much a president can do without Congress. Polls show Americans overwhelmingly support reasonable restrictions on firearms, including everything outlined by Biden on Monday  and yet Republicans go unpunished election after election for preventing those reforms. Only when that changes will the bleeding stop.
Although St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kimberly Gardners admission of professional ethics violations might have helped her avoid losing her law license, the actions she now admits having taken in her prosecution of former Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens are much more serious than she lets on. These were not mere administrative errors or misplaced paperwork. She did not tell the truth under oath and withheld exculpatory evidence  the inexcusable kind of infraction by overzealous prosecutors that causes innocent people to spend years in prison.

It doesnt matter that Greitens is an odious individual who had an allegedly abusive extramarital affair even as he portrayed himself as a family-values Republican in his 2016 campaign. Greitens still deserved access to evidence that could help in his defense. Gardner doesnt dispute ethics charges that she kept that evidence from him  including a deposition from his accuser stating that her consensual relationship with Greitens continued months after the alleged abuse occurred.

It seems a bit too convenient that Gardners typed notes and a video with these key potentially exculpatory details were accidentally omitted when Greitens lawyers requested disclosure of the prosecutions files.

From the beginning, Gardner has tried all kinds of public relations tricks to divert attention from her own incompetence and mismanagement. She garnered national headlines with a campaign to portray herself as a victim of a Republican smear campaign. She filed a frivolous 32-page federal lawsuit alleging a racist conspiracy against her. Her lawyer said the ethics case amounted to another attempt by Ms. Gardners political enemies  largely from outside St. Louis  to remove her from office and thwart the systemic reforms she champions.

Even at her hearing Monday, Gardner dragged out more excuses about the chaotic, fast pace of the Greitens case and the fact that her office was understaffed. It was the process that was to blame. The process came up short.

The fast pace was due to the fact that Greitens was days away from being impeached. His political career hung in the balance. If Gardner wasnt prepared for the intense pressure this case would bring to her office, she should have stayed out of it. As for her staffing problems, those have been well-documented since the mass departure of prosecutors during the early months of her first term, with many citing her mismanagement. More than five years later, staffing remains at about 30 prosecutors  half what it was when she took office.

Even though she admitted error on Monday, the asterisks, caveats and excuses suggest Gardner still doesnt want to accept full responsibility. The Missouri Supreme Court is expected to review the recommendation of a reprimand sometime in the next 30 days. The courts decision shouldnt rest on Gardners mere admission of errors but rather whether the circuit attorney is truly committed to a new path of competent  and ethical  management.
Regarding "Missouri lawmakers look to overhaul states approach to homelessness" (March 24): A segment of people in St. Louis is anti-society, anti-community and anti-taxpaying. They claim they are homeless. But in my opinion they are really just free loading bums living off our society and the taxpayer's dime for their own gain.

Real homeless people seek help at the nine homeless agencies in our area. But I think those who choose to live under our bridges, on Metropolitan Sewer District property, in open lots or in parks are really just ripping off the honest taxpayer to support their drug or alcohol habit.

Recently, it seems many of these freeloaders have set up a permanent home under the Interstate 55 /Carondelet Avenue bridge near the Great Rivers Greenway trail. They have tormented honest, taxpaying citizens for money, thrown trash and empty booze bottles in the River Des Peres and caused a general nuisance.

Either our elected leaders should start doing something about this situation or I think we should stop paying our taxes.

John E. Bayer  St. Louis
Nicknamed the Brain of Veneto, Padua is home to the prestigious university (founded in 1222) that hosted Galileo, Copernicus, Dante, and Petrarch. Pilgrims know this city for the Basilica of St. Anthony, where the faithful assemble to touch his tomb and marvel at his holy relics. Its a great place to experience Italy: to make some new friends, get chummy with the winds of its past, and connect with the delights of its now.

I start my visit with a ramble around the old town center. Its a colonnaded, time-travel experience through some of Italys most inviting squares, perfect for lingering over an aperitivo. But its not stodgy  this university town has 60,000 students and a youthful spirit. No wonder Galileo called his 18 years on the faculty in Padua the best of his life. I see young people  apparently without a lot of private space in their apartments  hanging out, kissing, and cuddling in public. Students are making themselves at home with their heritage, lounging literally under a medieval tomb that stands atop ornate columns.

Since the students can graduate whenever they defend their thesis, little graduation parties erupt on the streets throughout the year. Graduates are given a green laurel wreath. Then formal group photos are taken. Its a sweet, multigenerational scene with familial love and pride busting out all over.

Then, once grandma goes home, the craziness takes over. Sober, scholarly clothing is replaced by raunchy wear as gangs of friends gather around the new grad in front of the university, and the roast begins. A giant butcher-paper poster with a caricature of the student  generally obscene  and a litany of This Is Your Life photos is presented to the new graduate. The happy grad reads the funny text out loud while various embarrassing pranks are pulled. The poster is then taped to the university wall for 24 hours for all to see.

Eventually I tear myself away from this profane ritual to seek out Paduas sacred sights: the Basilica of St. Anthony and the Scrovegni Chapel. Buried in the basilica is Friar Anthony of Padua, patron saint of travelers, amputees, donkeys, pregnant women, barren women, flight attendants, and pig farmers. Construction of this impressive Romanesque/Gothic church, with its Byzantine-style domes, started immediately after Anthonys death in 1231. As a mark of his universal appeal and importance in the medieval Church, he was sainted within a year of his death. And for nearly 800 years, his remains and this glorious church have attracted a steady stream of pilgrims.

Going with the flow of the pilgrim groups, I enter the church. Gazing through the incense haze, I see Donatellos glorious crucifix rising from the altar, a masterpiece appropriate for one of the most important pilgrimage sites in Christendom. Following the pilgrims into the Chapel of the Reliquaries, I stand before the basilicas most prized relic: Anthonys tongue. When the saints remains were exhumed 32 years after his death, his body had decayed to dust, but his tongue was found miraculously unspoiled, still red in color. How appropriate for the great preacher who, so full of the Spirit, couldnt stop talking about God.

My next stop is across town at the glorious Scrovegni Chapel. Its wallpapered with Giottos beautiful cycle of nearly 40 frescoes depicting the lives of Jesus and Mary. Painted by Giotto and his assistants from 1303 to 1305, its considered to be the first piece of modern (as opposed to medieval) art. This work makes it clear: Europe was breaking out of the Middle Ages and heading into the Renaissance. Giotto placed real people in real scenes, expressing real human emotions. These frescoes were radical not only for their three-dimensional effects, lively colors, and light sources, but also for their humanism.

In the early evening, after the museums and churches have closed, Paduas squares become open-air student parties, dotted with drinks of rosy spritzes that glow with the light of the setting sun. I cap my day by joining the festivities. Reminding myself that Im as interesting to these young Italians as they are to me, I befriend a table of college students and buy a round of drinks. Diving headlong into a vigorous political discussion, I partake in the Italian ritual of the bread and oil. I pour some fine olive oil on a dish, season it with salt and pepper, rip a long strip from our bread, dip it, and bite. A student, nodding with approval, explains that I am making the scarpette: the little shoes.

Soaking up the oil along with the conversation, Im still thinking about my day, witnessing the sacred and the profane here in Padua. I realize that travelers can become human scarpette  sopping up culture  wherever we venture.

(Rick Steves (www.ricksteves.com) writes European guidebooks, hosts travel shows on public TV and radio, and organizes European tours. This article was adapted from his new book, For the Love of Europe. You can email Rick at rick@ricksteves.com and follow his blog on Facebook.)
The war in Ukraine has caused several major NATO nations to increase their defense spending and change their weapons purchasing plans. Germany is considering purchasing the Israeli Arrow 3 ABM (Anti-Ballistic Missile) to defend against Russian ballistic missile attacks. Arrow 3 is comparable to the American THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense) system. The U.S. financed the research on Arrow 3 and U.S. firms built nearly half the Arrow system components.

Arrow 3 is a two-stage high-speed interceptor able to hit long-range ballistic missiles. Arrow 3 entered service in 2017, complementing and eventually replacing Arrow 2, which entered service in 2009. The original Arrow 1 entered service in 2000 and was then the worlds most advanced ABM system regularly involved in combat. Arrow 1 and 2 have been successfully used in combat while Arrow 3 has been successful in realistic tests against incoming ballistic missile warheads.

Each generation of Arrow used a smaller but more capable interceptor missile and increased system capabilities. That was one reason for the United States long prohibiting Israel from exporting Arrow. That ban was recently lifted, which led to an Azerbaijan order and Germany seriously considering a similar purchase. Azerbaijan, which borders Russia and Iran and is a major customer for Israeli weapons, ordered two batteries of Arrow 3 in 2021 to protect itself from Iranian ballistic missiles.

Germany and Israel have long been purchasing each others weapons and cooperating in weapons development. For example, in 2011 Germany agreed to lend Israel a Patriot anti-aircraft system radar so that the radars in Israel's six Patriot batteries could be sent back to the United States for upgrades. At the same time Israel was developing its own Magic Wand (now David's Sling) air and missile defense system as a replacement for Patriot. The David's Sling missiles have a longer range (300 kilometers) and better capabilities. The American manufacturer of Patriot cooperated with an Israeli firm to develop and produce Davids Sling, which entered service in 2017, David's Sling depends on longer range radars to get target location and speed information to the David's Sling launchers. Once launched, the David's Sling Stunner missile is guided to the general location of the incoming rocket, until the Stunner's on-board sensors pick it up, and then home in and destroy the long-range rocket.

Arrow was always meant to be a more capable ABM system than Patriot or American systems like THAAD and Aegis. This has helped American air-defense system manufacturers by providing a source of useful Israeli patents to use for American systems. Germany is a customer for German Spike ATGM (Anti-Tank-Guided-Missiles) and both nations sell each other weapons tech.
April 12, 2022: Israel along with Iraq, Saudi Arabia and the other Arab Gulf Oil states is very angry with the Americans because the U.S. is not only offering Iran a revival of the 2015 sanctions treaty, but also a modification of the terms to make it easier for Iran to develop nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles. While the talks are currently stalled, the U.S. quietly agreed to allow South Korea to release several billion dollars to Iran while Britain released half a billion to Iran for a payment dispute from the 1970s. A primary Iranian demand in the negotiations is that billions of dollars in frozen accounts be returned to Iran. Iran saw the 2015 treaty suspended by the Americans in 2018 because of Iranian cheating. Then came the 2020 American presidential elections, which put into power what is now recognized (by numerous polls) as the most unpopular and inept American president ever. One reason for this unpopularity is current American policies towards Iran and reduced support for Arab resistance to Iranian violence. This has driven many Gulf oil states into an economic alliance with Russia to drive up the price of oil. This policy makes it easier for Iran to smuggle more of its heavily discounted oil to customers. That plan survived the recent Russian invasion of Ukraine and even more economic sanctions. Opposition in the United States to reviving the 2015 treaty, especially from senior military and political officials, is making a difference but the official policy is still to give the Iranians what they want in return for promises Iran has broken before. That has recently been modified to include U.S. assurances that sanctions on Iranian ballistic missile and nuclear weapons organizations and key individuals will be expanded. Israel and its Arab allies are not impressed.

Because of this new American attitude, Israel has carried out several major attacks on the Iranian nuclear weapons program. Some earlier attacks were in cooperation with the United States but the most recent ones were done with the help of Iranians who also oppose the nuclear weapons and the current Iranian religious dictatorship. Israel makes it clear it will launch a major air and missile strike against the Iranian nuclear program if Iran gets close to creating a working nuclear weapon. Israels new allies among the Arab Persian Gulf oil states will cooperate with such an attack, as they are already being hit by Iranian missiles, cruise missiles and guided rockets.

Israel has had locally developed nuclear weapons since 1970 and used these weapons as the ultimate deterrent to any serious effort to destroy Israel. Israel can deliver their nukes several ways. This first method was aircraft-delivered gravity bombs and later air-to ground missiles. Then came ballistic missiles plus cruise missiles that can be launched via torpedo tubes from a submerged Israeli sub. Israel never acknowledged it has nukes and continues to maintain them and several delivery systems. This has deterred everyone except Iran, which since the 1980s has been ruled by a religious dictatorship that was obsessed with destroying Israel.

Syria

In Syria, Arab states are willing to revive diplomatic and economic relationships with Syria, but only if the Assads break their ties with Iran. That can be announced but not enforced because there are thousands of Iranian-backed militias in Syria, who are occupied with carrying out attacks against Israel. If the Assad forces try to eject the Iranians, the Assad government will become an enemy of Iran and subjected to all sorts of military, economic and terrorist retaliation. The Assads want to avoid that until they have solid links with Arab countries and Israel. The Arabs are willing but the Israelis are already at war with the Iranians in Syria and are no longer interested in establishing diplomatic relations with Syria. That means Syria remains a battlefield for Islamic terrorists and Israeli, Turkish, Russian, Iranian, Syrian, and American forces to fight each other in a constantly changing web of alliances. For Syria peace will have to wait, possibly for a long time.

Ukraine

Iran is the main reason Israel still will not sell any weapons to Ukraine. You wont see Russian troops using any Israeli weapons either and that is part of the price Israel has to pay to keep its population safe from Iranian attacks and decades of pledges to destroy Israel completely. Iran will use nuclear weapons for this, once it completes development of a workable nuke that is rugged enough to work in a ballistic missile warhead. Israel did send a field hospital to Ukraine and other non-lethal assistance without visibly angering Russia.

Afghanistan

Renewed attacks on Afghan Shia caused Iran to threaten support for an armed Afghan Shia resistance manned by the thousands of Afghan Shia who served as mercenaries in Syria. Some still do, because the Afghan mercs were the best fighters and demanded higher pay than Arab mercenaries. These armed Shia fighters would work with their 1990s Northern Alliance allies, which has reassembled as the NRF (National Resistance Front) and is planning new operations. That alone may be more than the new IEA (Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan) government can handle. Some of the NRF leaders are sons of successful Northern Alliance commanders. Iran threatens to provide more support to the NRF than they gave the Northern Alliance.

April 11, 2022: Iran has been providing needed weapons for the Russian war effort in Ukraine. Some Iranian weapons were donated, like S300 air defense missiles earlier received from Russia as well as the Iranian clone of the S300 system. This is the Bavar, which uses the Iranian Sayyad 3 anti-aircraft missile along with the Bavar-373 radar and fire control system. Bavar can intercept aerial targets up to 150 kilometers distant. Each Bavar-373 system can simultaneously track 30 aircraft and direct Sayyad 3 missiles at twelve of those targets. Iran began work on the Bavar-373 in 2010, after Russia refused to deliver S-300 systems Iran had ordered. International sanctions, plus pressure from the United States and Israel led Russia to cancel the Iranian order. Iran issued progress reports and Bavar-373 was supposed to be ready for final testing in 2014, then 2015, then 2016 when some tests apparently took place in 2017. The Israelis indicate they are not concerned about the Bavar-373 and that they can handle it. Russian and Western air defense experts doubt that the Iranians have managed to create anything close to the capabilities of the S-300 systems Russia has already delivered once the sanctions were lifted in mid-2015. The Iranian designed and built Sayyad 3 missile for the Bavar-373 appears to be the same size and shape as the S-300 missile and carried in similar canisters but is not considered as capable. Iran insists that Bavar-373 is superior to the S-300. We may find out if Russia uses it to contest Ukrainian air space.

In Iraq, Iran-backed Shia militias sold RPG anti-tank launchers and warheads along with two Iraqi army MRLS (multiple rocket launcher systems) and the unguided rockets it uses. All these were smuggled via Iran to Russia across the Caspian Sea, a landlocked body of water bordering Iran and Russia.

Russia has been more cooperative with Iranian forces in Syria because of this while seeking not to anger the Israelis.

China has refused to supply Russia with weapons but Iran is already suffering many sanctions and Russia is one of the few allies it has. Iraq is one of the most corrupt nations in the Middle East and anything is available if you have the cash or enough gunmen to obtain what you want. Most Iraqis consider the corruption a flaw to be corrected while Iran considers the Iraqi corruption something Iran can make use of.

April 9, 2022: In northwestern Syria (Hama province) Israeli air-strikes hit five targets associated with Iranian missile assembly and storage operations. Structures were destroyed and some Iranians or Iranian mercenaries were killed. One of the targets was near the main Syrian research center for advanced weapons. This is the eighth day with Israeli airstrikes in 2022. These airstrikes have destroyed a lot of weapons and structures as well as twelve military personnel and wounded at least 19. The attacks are usually made at night to minimize casualties and enhance surprise.

April 5, 2022: In eastern Syria (Deir Ezzor province) Iran-backed militia fired rockets at a base used by American forces and a nearby oilfield. The Americans fired back. This was the first such attack since January.

April 3, 2022: In central Syria (eastern Homs province) Iran took advantage of Russia withdrawing its forces from Mahan, where a major weapons storage complex has long existed. Providing some protection from surrounding hills, the Mahan complex consists of 25 underground bunkers where weapons and ammunition are stored. Until recently a few Russians troops and a lot of Russian backed Syrian mercenaries provided security. Initially some Assad forces, in the form of Lebanese Shia Hezbollah gunmen as well as some Syrian troops replaced the Russian force. Now several hundred Iran-backed mercenaries arrived to share the security duties, and exercise some control over how the Mahan complex would be used. The withdrawal, to Ukraine, of Russian troops and cash (for paying local mercenaries) provided several opportunities for Iran and Mahan was one of them. The Hezbollah forces took orders from Iran so now Mahan was controlled by Iran and the Assads lost exclusive control of a vital weapons and ammo storage site. Moreover, Mahan now becomes a major target for Israeli attacks, which can overcome the protection usually provided by the hills and underground bunkers. Until the departure of Russian forces the Mahan complex supplied Iranian, Assad and Russian attacks on ISIL (Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant) operations in central and eastern Syria.

In eastern Syria (Deir Ezzor province) disputes between Iran-backed militias led to gunfire and one militia leader was killed.

April 2, 2022: In Yemen peace talks between the Saudis and Iran are having more success than those going between Iran and the Western nations over lifting sanctions. There is a new ceasefire deal in Yemen, which will last two months while negotiations continue to achieve a permanent peace. Until now efforts to negotiate a settlement of the issues in Yemen and end the eight-year civil war were stalled because of two non-negotiable issues. First, there is the Iranian refusal to give up their presence and support of the Yemen Shia. This is unacceptable to Saudi Arabia and most other Arab states because they can see what happened in Lebanon when the Iranian presence and support of the Hezbollah militia was allowed to persist. The second difficult issue is calls for partitioning Yemen again. This has been the case in the past and most Yemenis came to believe unity was preferable. With Iran refusing to give up their control of the Shia north, partition is even less acceptable. No one has come up with a viable solution yet but the new ceasefire indicates that there may be a mutually acceptable solution.

March 31, 2022: In southern Syria (Daraa province) the violence continued with 45 incidents of violence in March leaving 39 dead. So far in 2022 there have been 117 attacks leaving 97 dead and many more wounded. been nearly twenty assassinations (of Syrian army officers) and related acts of violence so far this month. This level of violence remained fairly constant for three years until 2022. This is part of the undeclared war between Iranian and Syrian forces going on there since 2018. Anonymous assassins use pistols and hidden bombs to kill those who work, or worked for government forces or Russia and Syria backed local militias. There are also attacks against former members of ISIL and other militant groups. These victims had accepted amnesty. Russian and Assad forces openly force Iran-backed groups and individuals out of the area. There is no open violence because Iran, Syria and Russia are still officially allies. Israel sometimes fires on Iranian forces operating in Daraa, especially near the Israeli border. Israel also shares intel with Russia and Syria about Syrian officers who are secretly working for Iran. The Iranians pay well, and in dollars. Israel will sometimes release evidence of this to the media, so that Iranians back home have another reason to oppose Iranian foreign wars. Negotiations have been underway between Iran and Russia/Syria since 2020 but have not made much progress. The covert Iranian violence is just another incentive for Syria to get the Iranian agents out of the area. In 2022 much of the violence is from other groups, some of them criminal gangs retaliating against those who refuse to pay for protection from the violence.

March 29, 2022: Israel received its first Sky Dew aerostat (aerodynamic unpowered blimp) system recently and will use it to provide more protection from Iranian air attacks. Sky Dew carries radars and other sensors to monitor large land areas for low, slow intruders like fire balloons or UAV cruise missiles. The first Sky Dew is being installed along the northern border where Iranian armed UAVs are a growing problem. Another Sky Dew may be installed in the south, along the Gaza border, where fire balloons are less of a problem.

Hamas, which runs Gaza, has been relatively quiet so far this year as it tries to negotiate a cease fire that would improve the Gaza economy. Economics is something Hamas has ignored since it took control of Gaza in 2007. Polls show both Hamas and Fatah (which runs the West Bank) are seen as unfit to rule by over 70 percent of Palestinians.

March 28, 2022: Foreign ministers from Egypt, the UAE (United Arab Emirates), Bahrain, Morocco, Israel and the United States met in southern Israel (Negev) to discuss expanding diplomatic and trade relationships. Iran was not a topic for discussion because those matters are handled in less public meetings. The Negev meeting was about long-term commercial matters and the prospects of other Arab countries recognizing Israel. The American Secretary of State (foreign minister) was reminded that everyone else at the meeting was not pleased with the generous terms the U.S. was offering Iran to get sanctions lifted and Iran to again promise it was not developing nuclear weapons. There is growing opposition within the United States against this treaty, which the Arab foreign ministers pointed out is turning Arab nations against the United States, or at least the current government.

The Palestinians were not invited to this meeting because the Palestinian obsession with destroying Israel, and relying on Iranian aid to do it has made the Palestinians more an enemy than anything else.

In northern Syria (Aleppo province) Russian air strikes and Syrian army artillery fire during the last 48 hours against Turkish forces caused several casualties among the Syrian mercenaries working for the Turks. These were the first Russian air strikes in Syria since the February 24 Russian invasion of Ukraine. Iran-backed Syrian militias joined in the attacks on the Turkish forces. The attacks attempt to dislodge the Turkish Syrian mercenaries and their families who now live in areas near the Turkish border that are meant to remain under Turkish control to keep Islamic terrorists out of Turkey. The Turks have established local governments in these border areas that collect taxes and operate municipal services.

March 23, 2022: Syrian leader Bashir Assad attended a conference in the UAE (United Arab Emirates) where countries that already had established diplomatic relations with Israel agreed that Syria, or at least the Assad government controlled most of the country after ten years of civil war, receive backing in establishing diplomatic and economic relations with Israel. Until recently this was possible in 2018 where American, Israeli and Russian officials met and agreed that a deal with the Assad government was preferable to continued chaos, and an Iranian presence in Syria. That changed in mid-2021 when a new government took power in Israel and abandoned the Syrian deal. The current UAE conference lacked Israeli participation. There was unanimous agreement that an American effort to restore the 2015 treaty that lifted sanction in Iran was a bad idea. Many Americans oppose restoring the 2015 treaty, as do other nations in the region including the new Israeli government.

March 21, 2022: Recent commercial satellite photos showed the extent of a February 16 Israeli airstrike, using six large UAVs, on an Iranian UAV storage warehouse in rural west Iran. Israel has still not officially taken credit for the attack, which the Iranians describe as a fire that got out of control. Iran admitted it was an Israeli attack on March 20th. The satellite photos show precise and total destruction of the facility. The warehouse stored hundreds of the large UAVs, which are disassembled and smuggled into northern Yemen where Iran-backed Shia rebels use them to attack Saudi Arabia and the UAE.

March 18, 2022: The commander of U.S. CENTCOM (Central Command), who manages all American forces in the Middle East, confirmed that the United States considers Iran the major threat in the region. The U.S. backs Israeli efforts to attack Iranian forces in Syria and Iraq. Iran often attacks American forces in retaliation. The improved diplomatic, economic and military relations between Israel and the Gulf Arab states since 2020 is mainly about the Iranian threat that both Americans, Israelis and Gulf Arabs face. Because of the increased cooperation between Arabs and Israel since 2020 Israel became part of CENTCOM instead of EURCOM (Europe). The main reason Israel was long part of EURCOM was that Israel had better relationships with European nations than its Middle East neighbors. Even Iraq, long one of the most virulent critics of Israel, has mellowed and come to admit that Iran was a larger threat and Israel was useful in diminishing that threat.

March 15, 2022: Iraq is hosting, for the fourth time, another round of peace negotiations between Iran and Saudi Arabia. These talks do not appear to be making much progress but it is an ancient cust9m in the region for feuding parties to stay in touch. In the same spirit the Iranian Quds Force command, despite the recent Iraqi elections, is still able to visit Iraq for discussions with religious leader Sadr as well as Kurdish leaders in the north.

March 13, 2022: Because of a recent Israeli airstrike in Syria, Iran launched a dozen cruise missiles at targets in or near Erbil, the capital of autonomous Kurdish northern Iraq. Some of the missiles landed near the American consulate but caused no damage or casualties. Other missiles did hit buildings and the damage was substantial for the palatial home of a wealthy Iraqi Kurd. Iran later took credit for the attack, explaining that it was directed at a mythical Israeli Mossad Base near Erbil. The mansion, used by the wealthy and influential Iraqi Kurd and his family, was demolished when no one was home. The bombed-out ruins were open for the media, who took lots of pictures. Iran had no explanation why their guided projectiles seemed to land randomly, except on the mansion. Iran said the attack was revenge for an Israeli airstrike in Syria last week that killed two senior Quds Force commanders. Kurdish officials speculated that the attack was made at a time when no one was in the mansion and avoiding any casualties was an objective, so the attack would serve as a warning rather than something demanding a retaliatory attack. The Kurds believe the attack was more about Iran reminding everyone that Iraq is subordinate to Iran and foreigners as well as Iraqis must remember this.

March 12, 2022: In southern Syria Russian troops are now patrolling the Golan Heights border. Russia says it has expelled all Iran forces from the border region and will keep them out. This is part of an effort to reduce the need for Israeli attacks on Iranian forces operating in Syria. This is part of an effort to enable the Syrian government, still a dictatorship run by a Syrian Shia Arab Assad group, to abandon decades of dependence on Iranian military and diplomatic support. The Assads are seeking to joint an Arab alliance that is cooperating with Israel against Iran. Israel does not want to ruin its relationship with Russia, which is an unofficial ally of Israel against Iran.

March 7, 2022: In southern Syria (Damascus) another Israeli air strike against Iranian targets left two Iranian Quds Force colonels dead and six Iran-backed militia wounded. Iran responded with threats of retaliatory attacks to avenge the loss of two Quds Force officers. This was the seventh Israeli airstrike in Syria for 2022.

In western Afghanistan (Nimroz province) IEA border guards opened fire on Iranian troops who had entered Afghanistan to settle a dispute with Afghan farmers. The Iranians returned fire but soon fled leaving two dead and a vehicle behind. There was a similar incident in Nimroz ten weeks ago when a dispute over where the new Iranian border fence should be turned violent. A meeting between IEA and Iranian officials resolved that dispute but there are many more disagreements along the Iranian border that are unresolved and threaten to turn violent. Iran is also angry with the growing number of incidents where IEA gunmen are attacking Afghan Shia, who comprise 20 percent of the population and Iran has pledged to protect Afghan Shia from Taliban or IEA violence.
FILE PHOTO: A worker walks past a pump jack on an oil field owned by Bashneft company near the village of Nikolo-Berezovka, northwest from Ufa, Bashkortostan, Russia, January 28, 2015. REUTERS/Sergei Karpukhin

By Laura Sanicola

(Reuters) -Oil prices settled higher on Tuesday as lockdowns eased in Shanghai and as Russian oil and gas condensate production fell to 2020 lows and OPEC warned it would be impossible to replace potential supply losses from Russia.

Brent crude futures rose $6.16, or 6.3%, to settle at $104.64 a barrel by 1:48 p.m. EDT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate rose $6.31, or 6.7%, to settle at $100.60. On Monday, both benchmarks fell about 4%.

Shanghai said more than 7,000 residential units had been classified as lower-risk areas after reporting no new infections for 14 days. Districts have been announcing which compounds can be opened up.

Meanwhile, the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) warned it would be impossible to replace 7 million bpd of Russian oil and other liquids exports lost in the event of sanctions or voluntary actions.

Russian oil and gas condensate production fell below 10 million barrels per day (bpd) on Monday to its lowest since July 2020, two sources familiar with data said on Tuesday, as sanctions and logistical constraints hampered trade.

Sources said Russia's average oil output fell more than 6% to 10.32 million bpd on April 1-11 from 11.01 million in March.

The European Union has yet to embargo Russian oil, but some foreign ministers said the option is on the table.

"The oil market is still vulnerable to a major shock if Russian energy is sanctioned, and that risk remains on the table," wrote Edward Moya, a senior market analyst with OANDA.

OPEC on Tuesday lowered its Russian liquids production forecast by 530,000 bpd for 2022, but also cut its forecast for growth in world oil demand, citing the impact of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, soaring crude prices and resurgence of the pandemic in China.

Indian Oil Corp (IOC), which bought Russian Urals in previous tenders, has removed the grade from its latest crude tender. U.S. President Joe Biden told Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday that buying more oil from Russia was not in India's interest.

IEA member nations are planning to release 240 million barrels over the next six months from May in an effort to calm the market.

While the release will ease immediate tightness, analysts suggested it will not solve the structural deficit, and stocks will need to be replenished.

A preliminary Reuters poll showed U.S. crude oil inventories are likely to have risen by 1.4 million barrels in the week to April 8 after declining for three consecutive weeks.

The poll was conducted ahead of a report from the American Petroleum Institute due at 4:30 p.m. EDT (2030 GMT) on Tuesday.

(Reporting by Laura Saniciola, Additional reporting by Rowena Edwards in London, Mohi Narayan in New Delhi and Liz Hampton in DenverEditing by David Goodman, Kirsten Donovan and David Gregorio)
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - April 12, 2022) - Golden Independence Mining Corp. (CSE: IGLD) (OTCQB: GIDMF) (FSE: 6NN) (the "Company" or "Golden Independence") is pleased to announce that Ben Hinkle has been appointed to the Board of Directors of the Company.

"We are excited to welcome Ben to the Board," commented Jeremy Poirier, Interim Chief Executive Officer. "Ben brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in resource modelling that will not only advance our knowledge and understanding of the Independence Project but will also aid us in identifying other opportunities."

Mr. Hinkle has over 18 years' experience as an Economic Geologist spanning three countries and four US states. He advanced from an Ore Control Geologist to Project and Senior Geologist, Senior Exploration Geologist and Chief Geologist before moving into private consulting for the past several years. He has had notable achievements and is an expert in ore control systems, 3D geologic modeling, UG mapping systems, mining-block model reconciliation, block model validation, exploration, team building and management. He has extensive 3D modeling experience in both Vulcan and Leapfrog, and a track record of developing, fostering, and mentoring high performance geology teams. Mr. Hinkle earned a Bachelor of Science Degree from Portland State University in 2004.

Mr. Hinkle has been appointed to replace Mr. Robert Mintak, who will be stepping down from the Board effective immediately. The Board of Directors would like to sincerely thank Mr. Mintak for his service to the Company.

About Golden Independence Mining Corp.

Golden Independence Mining Corp. is a development company currently focused on the advanced-stage Independence project located adjacent to Nevada Gold Mine's Phoenix-Fortitude mine in the Battle Mountain-Cortez Trend of Nevada. The Independence project hosts an M&I resource of 334,300 ounces of gold and an Inferred resource of 847,000 ounces of gold with a substantial silver credit. A 2021 Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) outlined a low-cost heap leach operation focusing on the near-surface resource with total production of 195,443 ounces of gold at an all-in sustaining cost of US$1,078 per ounce of gold.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:

Jeremy Poirier, Interim Chief Executive Officer

Telephone: 604-722-9842

This press release contains forward-looking information (within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation) that involves various risks and uncertainties regarding future events. Such forward-looking information includes statements based on current expectations involving a number of risks and uncertainties and such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance of the Company. There are numerous risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results and the Company's plans and objectives to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking information in this news release, including without limitation, risks related to uncertainties inherent in the preparation of PEAs, drill results and the estimation of mineral resources, including changes in the economic parameters, risks relating to not securing agreements with third parties or not receiving required permits, risks associated with executing the Company's objectives and strategies, including acquiring additional properties, increased costs and expenses, as well as those risk factors discussed in the Company's most recently filed management's discussion & analysis. Actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information. This forward-looking information is based on estimates and opinions of management on the date hereof and is expressly qualified by this notice. Risks and uncertainties about the Company's business are more fully discussed in the Company's disclosure materials filed with the securities regulatory authorities in Canada at www.sedar.com. The Company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking information or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from such information unless required by applicable law.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/120113
Herzliya, Israel and Calgary, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - April 11, 2022) - Innocan Pharma Corporation (CSE: INNO) (FSE: IP4) (OTCQB: INNPF) (the "Company" or "Innocan"), is pleased to report the "accepted for publication" of a Case Report Article describing subcutaneously injected liposomal cannabidiol (CBD) formulation used as a compassion therapy for pain management in a dog. The final article will be published in the Frontiers Veterinary Scientific Journal, a leading and renowned journal with readership of 25M.

In the Case Report a 14-year-old dog that was treated with Innocan novel liposomal cannabidiol (CBD) analgesic formulation based on Innocan's LPT platform. The dog was cachectic and had a testicular neoplasia, hip and elbow osteoarthritis and severe pain. The dog was treated with canine osteoarthritic supplement and additionally with Innocan LPT liposomal CBD injectable formulation. The dog was monitored using an activity monitoring collar (PetPace), owner wellbeing questionnaire, pain interactive visual analogue scale (iVAS), blood work and CBD plasma concentrations. A week from the injection and up to 3 weeks afterwards the dog had improved owner and iVAS pain scores, and increased collar activity scores. CBD was quantified in plasma for 28 days. In conclusion, subcutaneous liposomal CBD produced quantifiable CBD plasma concentrations for 28 days that may be an effective additional treatment as part of multimodal pain management in dogs.

Frontiers is a leading science platform publisher. The journal is led and peer-reviewed by editorial boards of over 100,000 top researchers. Covering more than 900 academic disciplines, it is one of the largest and highest-cited publishers in the world. It strives to continuously empower the academic community with innovative solutions that improve how science is published, evaluated, and communicated to researchers, innovators and the public.

Prof. Chezy Barenholz of The Hebrew University of Jerusalem said, "Having our article accepted to publication in a leading veterinary journal proves once again the importance of Innocan's scientific backbone. I am pleased to see the ongoing recognition of our work."

"Following our expansion to veterinary, Innocan is being praised and recognized like never before", said Iris Bincovich, CEO of Innocan and added "We aspire to hit the markets soon, and are working tirelessly to ensure our growth and commercialization."

Innocan's relationship with The Hebrew University

Innocan Pharma Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, has entered into a worldwide exclusive research and license agreement with Yissum Research and Development Company ("Yissum"), the commercial arm of The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, with respect to the design, preparation, characterization and evaluation of hydrogels containing CBD (or other cannabinoids) loaded liposomes. The research and development initiative is led by Professor Chezy Barenholz, head of the Membrane and Liposome Research Department at The Hebrew University, which is the inventor of over fifty-five patent families, two of which underlie Doxil, an FDA-approved drug for breast cancer treatment. This unique liposome platform technology may have a wide range of applications, such as epilepsy, pain relief, inflammation and central nervous system disorders. A patent was filed covering this technology on October 7, 2019.

About Innocan

Innocan Pharma is a pharmaceutical tech company that focuses on the development of several drug delivery platforms containing CBD. Innocan Pharma and Ramot at Tel Aviv University are collaborating on a new, revolutionary exosome-based technology that targets both central nervous system (CNS) indications and the Covid-19 Corona Virus using CBD. CBD-loaded exosomes hold the potential to help in the recovery of infected lung cells. This product, which is expected to be administered by inhalation, will be tested against a variety of lung infections.

Innocan Pharma signed a worldwide exclusive license agreement with Yissum, the commercial arm of The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, to develop a CBD drug delivery platform based on a unique-controlled release liposome to be administered by injection. Innocan Israel plans, together with Professor Barenholz, to test the liposome platform on several potential conditions. Innocan Israel is also working on a dermal product that integrates CBD with other pharmaceutical ingredients as well as the development and sale of CBD-integrated pharmaceuticals, including, but not limited to, topical treatments for the relief of psoriasis symptoms as well as the treatment of muscle pain and rheumatic pain. The founders and officers of Innocan Israel each have commercially successful track records in the pharmaceutical and technology sectors in Israel and globally.

For further information, please contact:

For Innocan Pharma Corporation:

Iris Bincovich, CEO

+972-54-3012842

[email protected]

NEITHER THE CANADIAN SECURITIES EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER HAVE REVIEWED OR ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.

Caution regarding forward-looking information

Certain information set forth in this news release, including, without limitation, information regarding research and development, collaborations, the filing of potential applications with the FDA and other regulatory authorities, the potential achievement of future regulatory milestones, the potential for treatment of conditions and other therapeutic effects resulting from research activities and/or the Company's products, requisite regulatory approvals and the timing for market entry, is forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. By its nature, forward-looking information is subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, some of which are beyond Innocan's control. The forward-looking information contained in this news release is based on certain key expectations and assumptions made by Innocan, including expectations and assumptions concerning the anticipated benefits of the products, satisfaction of regulatory requirements in various jurisdictions and satisfactory completion of requisite production and distribution arrangements.

Forward-looking information is subject to various risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results and experience to differ materially from the anticipated results or expectations expressed in this news release. The key risks and uncertainties include but are not limited to: general global and local (national) economic, market and business conditions; governmental and regulatory requirements and actions by governmental authorities; and relationships with suppliers, manufacturers, customers, business partners and competitors. There are also risks that are inherent in the nature of product distribution, including import / export matters and the failure to obtain any required regulatory and other approvals (or to do so in a timely manner) and availability in each market of product inputs and finished products. The anticipated timeline for entry to markets may change for a number of reasons, including the inability to secure necessary regulatory requirements, or the need for additional time to conclude and/or satisfy the manufacturing and distribution arrangements. As a result of the foregoing, readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking information contained in this news release concerning the timing of launch of product distribution. A comprehensive discussion of other risks that impact Innocan can also be found in Innocan's public reports and filings which are available under Innocan's profile at www.sedar.com.

Readers are cautioned that undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking information as actual results may vary materially from the forward-looking information. Innocan does not undertake to update, correct or revise any forward looking information as a result of any new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by applicable law.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/120074
The Hurricane Hunters of the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron are changing the look of their fleet of WC-130J Super Hercules aircraft to a paint scheme that will last longer and save money.

The first of the 10 WC-130J aircraft returned April 5 to Keesler Air Force Base, Miss., sporting a high-gloss paint job and the historic Weather tail marking, according to an Air Force statement that day.

The squadron pitched the idea to return to the high-gloss heritage look from the tactical gray paint scheme, Lt. Col. Erik Olson, 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron operations director, told Stars and Stripes by email Friday.

It helped that it has the advantage of a nominal fuel savings and a significantly decreased burden on maintenance, he said. The decision was approved by our Wing Commander, Col. Stuart Rubio, and forwarded to Air Force Materiel Command and the Depot facility for approval and action.

The squadron maintenance section found that the tactical gray required touch-up painting on the wing leading edges and on the vertical tail fin after each two-week storm rotation, compared to three to four rotations for the glossy gray.

The glossy gray paint scheme held up much better to the weathering elements during hurricane season than our current tactical gray paint scheme does, Senior Master Sgt. Stephen Connors, 403rd MXS fabrication flight chief, said in the Air Force statement. And when it comes to maintenance and touch up painting, the glossy gray lasts longer.

The longer-lasting high-gloss paint means more aircraft missions between maintenance pauses and less fuel consumption, which translates to savings in maintenance and fuel costs, Olson said.

Performance records show Super Hercules with glossy paint burn about 40 less pounds of fuel per flight hour, or 400-500 pounds per mission. At about 3,000 flying hours per plane per year, thats a savings of 120,000 to 150,000 pounds of fuel each year, he said.

The Hurricane Hunters provide surveillance of  sometimes flying directly into  tropical storms and hurricanes in the Atlantic Ocean, the Caribbean Sea, the Gulf of Mexico and the central Pacific Ocean for the National Hurricane Center in Miami. The unit also flies winter storm missions off both coasts of the United States, according to the Air Force.

The Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunters at the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron are an extremely dedicated group of people  they are committed to the mission of flying into dangerous storms to gather information that leads to better forecasts and warnings to protect lives and property, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration spokesman Michael Brennan told Stars and Stripes by email Friday.

Aircraft observations of wind, temperature, moisture and pressure are directly used by models to improve their analysis of the storm and are leading to 10-15% improvements in track forecasts and 15-20% improvements in intensity forecasts, he said.

In 2021, the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron flew 85 missions in support of the National Hurricane Center, Olson said.
STUTTGART, Germany  Gen. Christopher Cavoli, a Russian speaker who has led the Army in Europe for the past four years, has been tapped to serve as the next head of U.S. European Command, according to a Wall Street Journal report.

Cavoli would replace Gen. Tod Wolters, who is slated to retire, the Journal reported Monday, citing unnamed U.S. officials.

The shakeup comes at a crucial time in Europe, where Russias war on Ukraine has prompted the U.S. and its allies to send thousands more troops to NATOs eastern flank. If confirmed, Cavoli also would serve simultaneously as NATOs supreme allied commander.

During his tenure at U.S. Army Europe and Africa, Cavoli has overseen a mission that was growing even before Russias Feb. 24 full-fledged invasion of Ukraine. Additional units, such the Armys 56th Artillery Command, have taken up new positions in Germany, marking a reversal from the decadeslong post-Cold War drawdown of U.S. troops in Europe.

In October 2020, Cavoli was promoted in connection with U.S. Army Europe and Africas elevation to a four-star headquarters.

Going forward as EUCOM chief, Cavoli is expected to play a key role in designing what the future U.S. mission in Europe will look like.

Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Army Gen. Mark Milley and other military leaders have said they anticipate more U.S. troops being based on NATOs eastern flank in the future in connection with concerns about further Russian aggression. That increase could involve rotational forces or a mix of revolving and permanently based troops.

Cavoli, who was born to an Army family in Wuerzburg, Germany, during the Cold War, grew up at various military bases around Europe.

A graduate of Princeton University, he served multiple tours in Afghanistan. He also is a foreign area officer and held a previous staff job as director for Russia on the Joint Staff.

A replacement for Cavoli at Army headquarters in Wiesbaden, Germany has not yet been announced.
(Tribune News Service)  A U.S. Coast Guard cutter returned 89 people to Haiti Tuesday who were stopped at sea days earlier aboard an overloaded sailboat off the southeastern coast of Cuba.

The group of men, women and children are part of an ongoing migrant surge from both Haiti and Cuba to South Florida that has been keeping the Coast Guard, Border Patrol and U.S. Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Operations units busy in the region for more than a year.

In just over a month, the U.S. Coast Guard has interdicted more Haitians at sea than it did in the last fiscal years when 1,527 were returned to Haiti.

The cutter Venturous took the migrants to the port city of Cap-Haitien, said Petty Officer Nicole J. Groll, a Coast Guard spokeswoman.

Groll said the journeys have become so harrowing that families onboard the vessels are voluntarily asking to be taken off. During one recent repatriation, the passengers included a small baby traveling in an infant carrier.

The Coast Guard stopped the groups sailboat Saturday in the Windward Passage, 17 miles north of Punta de Maisi, Cuba, Groll said.

Since Oct. 1, the Coast Guard has stopped 3,127 migrants from Haiti on the high seas. The law enforcement agency it has not seen this many Haitians take to the ocean to flee their homeland in 18 years.

The latest surge is being driven by deteriorating conditions in Haiti where citizens are seeing an increase in gang violence, kidnappings, hunger and political turmoil, exacerbated by last Julys assassination of President Jovenel Moise.

In 2004, the last time the Coast Guard was faced with a Haitian migration surge, the agency held 546 Haitians on board cutters after intercepting about a dozen vessels in a matter of days trying to make the 600-mile journey toward Florida. At the time, the Caribbean nation was in the throes of chaos as an armed revolt eventually forced the departure of the president, Jean-Bertrand Aristide.

After the devastating Jan. 12, 2010 earthquake, Haitians once again began leaving. But instead of traveling by boat, they traveled to South America, where after years of living in Brazil and Chile, they began making their way in droves in 2016 to the U.S. Mexico border. That exodus remains ongoing.

Despite the current trend in maritime migration, Haitians traveling by land still outnumber those being interdicted by sea.

2022 Miami Herald.

Visit at miamiherald.com .

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
An active-duty Marine artillery officer and three prospective recruits, all of whom are Sikhs, are taking the U.S. military to court over rules prohibiting them from having a beard and long hair or wearing religious items.

In the lawsuit, Capt. Sukhbir Singh Toor and the three others contend the Marine Corps is unfairly and unevenly applying grooming standards  relaxed or eliminated in some cases for other religious, ethnic or racial groups  while serving in combat zones or attending boot camp.

The result violates the mens religious, speech, due process and equal protection constitutional rights, the lawsuit states. It also forces them to abandon the tenets of their faith if they want to succeed in their military careers or serve their country, it states.

The lawsuit follows more than a year of efforts to engage with the Marine Corps, said Giselle Klapper, a senior staff attorney with the New York City-based Sikh Coalition, one of the groups representing the men.

Treating a Sikhs beard, a core tenet of the faith, as merely optional is unacceptable, Klapper said in a statement Tuesday. It is time for the USMC to recognize what the U.S. Army, U.S. Air Force, and armed forces around the world already know: Articles of faith do not preclude Sikhs from capable military service.

The lawsuit, filed Monday in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, also names Marine commandant Gen. David H. Berger, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro, among other officials, court records show.

It asks that the men be allowed to keep their beards and long hair and be able to wear religious attire, such as a turban or ceremonial knife, at all posts without penalty or negative influence on their careers or the ability to join the Marines.

The Marine Corps typically says little about pending litigation and wasnt immediately available for comment early Tuesday.

In court documents, the Marine Corps has maintained that the grooming standards, including shaven faces and short hair on men, are needed to establish discipline and order across the ranks to promote esprit de corps.

It also has stated beards could interfere with the effectiveness of a gas mask from chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear agents.

But in January, the service changed its shaving rules to allow some service members with a painful skin condition caused by shaving, mostly suffered by Black and Asian men, to forgo the requirement.

Rules against full arm tattoos and certain hairstyles for women, including braids, locks or twists, also recently were eased as the service worked to diversify its ranks and promote recruitment and retention, the lawsuit points out.

The Army and Air Force make accommodations for Sikh service members. The Navy has made similar changes for Jewish and Muslim sailors pending the outcome of a lawsuit. None of the other branches impose limitations for recruit training or combat zones, the lawsuit argues.

Toor, who serves with the 3rd Battalion, 11th Marines at Twentynine Palms, Calif., joined the Marines in 2017. He initially made the difficult choice to cut his hair and shave his beard when a recruiter told him the service would not grant a waiver, the lawsuit states.

About a year ago, Toor asked for a religious accommodation. After a series of appeals, the Marine Corps said he didnt have to cut his hair but could not have a beard or wear a turban if he was serving in a combat zone.

Some 39 countries, including Turkey, Israel and Algeria, have been identified as potentially hostile environments by the Marine Corps, the lawsuit states. The decision effectively sidelines his career, Toor maintains.

I have proven my commitment to the Corps through my four years of service, and Im ready to deploy just like any other service member, Toor said in a statement Tuesday. I cant do that, however, as long as Im left on the bench because of my religious beliefs.

In separate appeals and decisions, the Marine Corps also denied accommodations to prospective recruits Milaap Singh Chahal, Jaskirat Singh, and Aekash Singh.

We remain ready to meet the high mental and physical standards of the Marine Corps because we want to serve our country alongside the best, the men said in a joint statement Tuesday. We cannot, however, give up our right to our religious faith while doing so  not least of all because that is one of the core American values that we will fight to protect at all costs as proud U.S. Marines.
The fast-attack submarine USS Annapolis arrived at Naval Base Guam late last month, fulfilling a Navy goal as the service continues to bolster its presence in the Indo-Pacific.

The Los Angeles-class vessel completed its journey from Naval Base Point Loma in San Diego and steamed into Apra Harbor on March 28, the Guam-based Submarine Squadron 15 said in a Tuesday news release.

"I would like to personally extend a warm Hafa Adai to the Sailors and families of our fifth homeported submarine on Guam, USS Annapolis," Rear Adm. Benjamin Nicholson, commander of Joint Region Marianas, said in the release. Hafa adai is a greeting used by the Chamorro people of the Mariana Islands.

"Guam and the Mariana Islands are incredibly important to the overall defense of the region, and this additional capability further underscores our commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific," he said.

The Annapolis arrival comes just one week after another Los Angeles-class submarine, USS Springfield, arrived on Guam on March 21.

Joining submarines USS Asheville, USS Key West and USS Jefferson City, the Annapolis and Springfield fulfill the Navys goal of having five fast-attack submarines on Guam by the end of this year, according to the news release.

The Department of Defense considers Guam, the westernmost U.S. territory, to be a vital part of the United States military presence in the Indo-Pacific. The DOD announced it would be modernizing its force posture on the island in its 2019 Indo-Pacific Strategy Report.

The security environment in the Indo-Pacific requires that the U.S. Navy station the most capable ships forward, squadron spokesman Lt. Eric Uhden said in the news releases. This posture allows rapid responses for maritime and joint forces, and brings our most capable ships and submarines with the greatest amount of striking power and operational capability to bear in the timeliest manner.

Like its sister ships, the Annapolis can take on multiple roles and missions, such as anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare and surveillance. The 360-foot-long nuclear-powered submarines have crews of approximately 143 and carry armaments such as Tomahawk missiles and MK 48 torpedoes, according to the Navy.

The Annapolis and its crew arent strangers to the region. The submarines most recent deployment in April 2021 involved operations vital to national security in the Western Pacific, according to the release.
CAMP HUMPHREYS, South Korea  The USS Abraham Lincoln and its strike group are operating with Japanese forces near the Korean Peninsula amid speculation that North Korea will conduct another weapons test.

The carrier group was conducting routine bilateral operations with Japans Maritime Self-Defense Force in the East Sea, also known as the Sea of Japan, according to an email from the 7th Fleet to Stars and Stripes on Tuesday.

Our training enhances the credibility of conventional deterrence by demonstrating the strength of our bilateral partnerships, wrote 7th Fleet spokesman Lt. Mark Langford. Operations like this reassure our allies and partners of the U.S. commitment to maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific, he said.

Langford, citing security concerns, declined to say how long the Abraham Lincoln and its strike group will be in the region. South Koreas Yonhap News Agency, which first reported on the operation, reported Tuesday that the group will be in the area for three to five days.

U.S. Forces Korea, the command responsible for roughly 28,500 troops, also cited security concerns and declined to comment on upcoming military operations on Monday.

A South Korean official told Stars and Stripes on Tuesday that the military has been maintaining close cooperation in the deployment of strategic U.S. assets and directed questions to the U.S. Defense Department.

The operation marks the first time since 2017 that a U.S. carrier group has deployed to the East Sea. At the time, the USS Ronald Reagan, USS Theodore Roosevelt and USS Nimitz sailed together with their naval counterparts from South Korean and Japan for an exercise off the peninsulas coast.

North Koreas Foreign Ministry threatened to retaliate against the exercises in 2017, which it characterized as a preemptive move for a full-scale invasion.

The latest operation comes amid speculation that North Korea may soon conduct a nuclear test. Its most recent and largest underground nuclear test happened on Sept. 3, 2017, in what it claimed was a hydrogen bomb.

Sung Kim, the U.S. special representative for North Korea Policy, told reporters on April 6 that the communist regime could test a nuclear weapon on April 15, which is the late North Korean leader Kim Il Sungs birthdate.

Other evidence has prompted nuclear watchdogs to theorize that a nuclear test may be looming.

In March, analysts from the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies reported seeing very early signs of activity at the Punggye-ri site where North Korea conducted its past underground nuclear tests.

Based on satellite photos, the analysts found evidence of a new building under construction, as well as repairs on other structures. The test site was supposedly demolished in 2018 after North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, South Korean President Moon Jae-in and President Donald Trump signaled they would establish closer ties and lower tensions.

Those efforts now appear to be shelved as the North conducted at least 11 rounds of missile tests so far this year, including the March 24 launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile theoretically capable of reaching the U.S. mainland.

South Korean President-elect Yoon Seok-youl, who is scheduled to take office May 10, has said he favors strengthening the U.S-South Korean military alliance and resuming large-scale joint military drills.
Mark Wahlberg has been preparing for his latest role as bad boy pugilist turned Catholic priest, Father Stuart Long, his entire life.

Ive gotten so much joy and comfort from my faith, Wahlberg said last week from the Four Seasons Philadelphia. Its always been my security blanket. Being able to show that through this film and talk about my own personal story is something Im excited to do.

Father Stu opened in theaters this week, which is also Holy Week, the commemoration of the last days of Christ ending on Easter Sunday. Wahlberg, 51, is a practicing Catholic who attends Sunday Mass at St. Patricks in Rittenhouse Square when hes in Philadelphia filming movies. The timing of this release is not a coincidence.

The actor was in town last week to screen Father Stu to a group of clergy and laity at Villanova University, part of a six-city tour. In many ways Philadelphia, Wahlberg said reminds him of South Boston where he grew up.

Father Stu, a biopic also starring Jacki Weaver and Mel Gibson as Longs estranged parents, is a true story about faith, determination, redemption and reconciliation. We meet Long in the mid-1980s. Hes an aging, agnostic boxer living in Montana with a surly mouth and a bad attitude. He takes a beatdown in the ring and his doctors advise him to quit, so he picks up and moves to Los Angeles to pursue a career in acting.

Life happens: He falls in love with a devout Catholic, converts to Catholicism, has a near death experience and after that decides to become a priest. After all of that, the rector of the seminary refuses to admit him because of his past.

Long argues many of the churchs most important historical figures  St. Matthew, St. Augustine and St. Francis  were reformed. Besides if the church doesnt celebrate the capacity for change, Long asked, What does it stand for?

After a short time in the seminary, hes diagnosed with inclusion body myositis, a rare and fatal auto-immune disease that causes muscle atrophy and shuts down bodily functions. Eventually hes ordained, but is only a priest for four years, before dying at an assisted living facility in Montana in 2014 at 50.

Wahlberg learned of Longs story seven years ago while having dinner with two priests. He invested his own money and began working on the project. Gibsons girlfriend, Rosalind Ross, wrote the screenplay and directs the film. Wahlbergs transformation to the ailing Father Stu is so complete, it could generate some Oscar buzz.

Before he became a rapper, actor, husband to model Rhea Durham and father of four, he was a gang member, a coke addict and he served 45 days in jail for assaulting two Asian men in an attempted robbery turned hate crime. Today he is an Academy Award-nominated actor and philanthropist whose eponymous foundation helps troubled youth.

The message of this film is that no one is beyond repentance, Wahlberg said.

Wahlberg recently talked to the Philadelphia inirabout the films message. The interview has been edited for clarity.

Q. What did you admire most about Father Stus story?

A. His dedication and commitment to serving God. It was remarkable the amount of people he touched in the short time that he was a priest. I got to meet the people and see how many people he touched in such a profound way. It was really remarkable. His life experience was invaluable when he was ministering to him. They were all going through something Stu had gone through. He utilized all that real life experience when communicating to them, it was really powerful.

Q. Was there a time when your faith was shaky?

A. Oh yes, definitely. Especially during COVID. I got COVID myself and I went through a bout of depression that I never dealt with before. The only way I got through it: I start my day every day on my hands and knees thanking God. Its a good reminder of the path I needed to be on and what I needed to put my trust and focus into the Lord.

Q. What did you bring from your real life to this role?

A. Well, many things, many things. My dad had a stroke and I watched his physical deterioration. I saw first hand what Stu must have gone through and all of the things, the good, the bad and everything in between helped me see that faith is at the core of my foundation.

Q. Tell me about your transformation in this movie?

A. Packing on that amount of weight in such a short a mount of time was difficult. (Wahlberg put on 30 pounds for the role and ate between 7,000 and 11,000 calories a day including glasses of olive oil). But it was important to Stus journey because he was such a strong, fit guy. For him to lose that physicality and gain the strength of a thousand men through his face is what I wanted audiences to see and understand, to see how quickly the disease had taken its effect and how the Lord really empowered him.

Q. Did this film strengthen your commitment to the power of forgiveness?

A. I try to judge people based on the experiences I have with them. I did a lot of things in my life and when I started focusing on my faith and doing good works, good things started happening ... I know people who never had a chance in life. They were caught up in drugs, violence and incarcerated and if they feel like nobody cares, what are they working for? Lets not be the judge. There is only one judge. We know who that is.
The U.S. has criticized Hong Kong over the arrest of a journalist on sedition charges, ramping up tensions over a Beijing-led crackdown on dissent in the former British colony.

Hong Kongs position as a free, global financial center depends on the free flow of information and opinions, State Department spokesman Ned Price said in a Tweet late Monday.

Journalism is not a crime, Price wrote, adding that the Hong Kong government should also free others imprisoned for exercising their fundamental freedoms.

The Hong Kong government said in a statement Monday that national security police arrested a 54-year-old for conspiracy to publish seditious material. The South China Morning Post and other local media identified the person as Au, citing people familiar with the matter. The newspaper added that articles he wrote for the now-closed Stand News allegedly incited hatred against the government.

Au has been released on bail, the local Sing Tao newspaper reported.

Chinas local Foreign Ministry branch in Hong Kong condemned Washingtons remarks on Aus arrest and urged it to stop interfering in the citys internal affairs. The rights and freedoms enjoyed by Hong Kong residents in accordance with the law, including freedom of speech and the press, are fully guaranteed, a ministry spokesperson said Tuesday in a statement. But press freedom is not a pass for breaking the law.

The U.S. has been among the most vocal critics of Chinas crackdown on dissent in Hong Kong. Some 180 people have been arrested by the national security police who detained Au, with a growing number charged with sedition under a colonial-era criminal ordinance that until recently had been dormant for decades.

A national security law that Beijing imposed on the city in 2020 -- which bars terrorism, secession, subversion and collusion with foreign powers -- has also been used to prosecute pro-democracy activists, including former media mogul Jimmy Lai. Convictions under the law can be punished by prison sentences of up to life in prison.

Blacklists, Trade and More U.S.-China Flashpoints: QuickTake

Last month, the State Department criticized China for blocking the pro-democracy opposition from playing a meaningful role in Hong Kongs governance and criminalizing peaceful political expression, charges the citys government called ridiculous. China says Hong Kong has enjoyed stability since large and sometimes violent anti-government protests of 2019.

The report highlighted the closure of two of Hong Kongs largest independent media outlets, Apple Daily and Stand News, as examples of reduced freedom of speech.

Stand News ceased operations late last year after more than 200 police raided its newsroom, froze some HK$61 million ($7.8 million) of assets and arrested seven people linked to it under the sedition law. Until then, Stand News had been Hong Kongs last major pro-democracy news outlet.
TOKYO - While much of the country will be on holiday during the Golden Week--what Japan terms its longest holiday for workers--Prime Minister Fumio Kishida intends to head overseas in late April and early May to work toward strengthening ties with leaders in Southeast Asia and Europe.

According to government sources, Kishida will likely seek to promote the realization of Japans vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific with China and Russia in mind.

Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam are expected to be among the Southeast Asian nations Kishida plans to visit. With China ramping up actions to make unilateral changes to the status quo by force in the East China Sea and the South China Sea, Kishida will likely discuss security cooperation with the leaders of these countries.

As for Europe, Kishida is planning to meet with the heads of state of several nations to discuss sanctions against Russia and support for Ukraine.

Chancellor Olaf Scholz of Germany, this years rotating chair of the Group of Seven leading industrial nations, is considering visiting Japan in late April to have talks with Kishida. It would be Scholzs first visit to Japan since he became chancellor.

Kishida and Scholz are likely to confirm their sanctions against Russia and close cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region.
As evidence of atrocities by Russia in Ukraine mounts, President Volodymyr Zelensky and other international leaders are accusing Russia of violating international law and disregarding Ukrainians human rights. The U.N. General Assembly voted last week to suspend Russia from the U.N. Human Rights Council, citing systematic rights violations.

Russia was expelled last month from another human rights body - the Council of Europe, Europes largest intergovernmental organization. The decision, aimed at further isolating President Vladimir Putins government, means Ukrainian and Russian citizens can no longer appeal to the organization for redress for continuing abuses. Heres why.

What is the Council of Europe?

The Council of Europe, now with 46 member states, was founded in 1949 to promote human rights, democracy and rule of law in Europe after World War II. Its founding document is the Statute of the Council of Europe, and its hallmark treaty is the European Convention on Human Rights. Russia joined in 1996.

Several bodies make up the council, including the Committee of Ministers, the main decision-making body, composed of member countries foreign ministers. The Parliamentary Assembly includes legislators from each member country. And the European Court of Human Rights enforces compliance with the convention.

Why was Russia kicked out?

On Feb. 25, the Committee of Ministers temporarily suspended Russias rights of representation within the council. While suspended, Russia still had to uphold its obligations as a council member, including respecting human rights.

But evidence grew of Russian forces shelling residential areas. Targeting civilians would constitute a violation of Ukrainians right to life under Article 2 of the convention. In response, on Feb. 28, Ukraine pressed the European Court of Human Rights for urgent intervention. The court ordered Russia to cease attacks on civilians and civilian targets such as residential areas, schools and hospitals. Russia ignored the court.

On March 15 - amid debate in the Parliamentary Assembly about Russias behavior - Russia announced that it would leave the council. It was only the second country in history that had sought to leave. The first was Greece, following a 1967 coup, but Greece later rejoined the council when the military government fell in 1974.

Within hours of Russias announcement, the assembly condemned Russian aggression, citing several breaches of international law in Ukraine. The next day, March 16, the Committee of Ministers declared Russia excluded from the organization.

The ministers condemned the atrocities Russia had allegedly committed in Ukraine - and declared that aggression against a sovereign nation is incompatible with council membership.

What is the significance of Russias expulsion?

Kicking Russia out may not be compatible with the councils core objectives, however. The move closes avenues for accountability, both now and in the longer term.

Timing matters in international law. Russias planned voluntary exit would have taken effect on Dec. 31, as defined in Article 7 of the statute. But the council expelled Russia on March 16, in line with Article 8, with immediate effect.

That means the European Court of Human Rights cannot challenge any violations of the European Convention on Human Rights by Russia after March 16. Without the expulsion, Russia would have had nine more months on the council, during which it would have been subject to the court. This would have given Ukrainians and Russians alike further opportunities to lodge human rights complaints against Putins government.

The European Court of Human Rights rules on violations of the convention

Individuals, groups and governments may submit complaints against Council of Europe members - after they have tried in their own countrys court system first.

The convention enumerates several human rights, including the right to life, liberty and security. The treaty also prohibits torture, arbitrary detention, deportation and other abuses Russia is accused of committing in Ukraine.

The court has the power - and often exercises it - to order monetary compensation for victims. The courts judgments are binding and are enforced by the Committee of Ministers. While not all cases are ultimately enforced, many are. Russia has sometimes in the past refused to pay but has compensated some victims. Acknowledgment of harm by the court is also a significant symbolic action.

The court has lost jurisdiction over claims against Russia

If Russias voluntary withdrawal had taken effect, the court would have lost jurisdiction only over violations committed after Dec. 31. Human rights defenders argue that Russias March 16 removal by the council is a significant setback for international accountability.

Specifically, ordinary Russians wont be able to access the court for justice in any future cases involving their government. This is regrettable, as claims by Russian citizens against Putins government constituted a large share of the courts past caseload. Likewise, Ukrainians - and others in Europe - can seek accountability at the court only for offenses committed by Russian personnel before March 16.

What happens now?

Of course, the European Court of Human Rights isnt the only international court that can try to hold Russia accountable. On March 16, the International Court of Justice ordered Russia to halt military operations in Ukraine. The International Criminal Court is also investigating alleged war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide by Russia in Ukraine.

The Council of Europe reaffirmed its support for these courts in a March 15 opinion. Still, the councils decision to remove Russia closed many doors to accountability.

Theres little doubt that Russia is becoming a pariah state. The Kremlin is unwilling to engage with international courts, first challenging the jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court, and then rejecting orders from the International Court of Justice and the European Court of Human Rights.

These moves led to Russias removal from the U.N. Human Rights Council on April 7. Nonetheless, the U.N. body can continue investigating Russian abuses in Ukraine because Russia remains a U.N. member.

As Moscow appears to burn bridges with the international community, Kyiv has appealed to international institutions to protect human rights and Ukrainian sovereignty. Perhaps this contrast will fortify global solidarity with Ukraine, in this second month of the war and beyond.

Zoha Siddiqui is a 1693 scholar at William & Mary and a research fellow in the International Justice Lab.

Kelebogile Zvobgo is an assistant professor of government at William & Mary, a faculty affiliate at the Global Research Institute, and the founder and director of the International Justice Lab.

For other analysis and commentary from The Monkey Cage, an independent blog anchored by political scientists from universities around the world, see www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/monkey-cage.
Finland is set to kick off a process that is likely to culminate in an application by Russias Nordic neighbor to join the defense alliance NATO.

The government, together with President Sauli Niinisto, on Tuesday finalized a white paper on changes to the nations security environment following its former imperial masters attack on Ukraine. The report will be sent to parliament and made public when officially signed off by the government in a session due to take place on Wednesday.

While no proposal to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization is set to be included, the government is prepared to later file an addendum on such a proposal should the required backing for it emerge in parliament, Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto has said. More than half of voting lawmakers now support joining the alliance, according to an unofficial tally by Finlands biggest newspaper Helsingin Sanomat.

Finland has seen a tectonic shift in attitudes toward the membership in NATO following the invasion of Ukraine, with the latest polls showing a majority of Finns now backing it. With the white paper set to be used as a vehicle for the parliament to debate the issue, a potential entry application could be filed before the 30-member bloc is set to meet for a summit in Madrid June 29-30.

The Nordic nation of 5.5-million people, which has the European Unions longest border with Russia, has been warned by its eastern neighbor against joining NATO, raising concerns about potential aggression from Moscow. On Friday, Finland reported an attack on government websites and a suspected airspace violation by Russian aircraft.

The changing security landscape and public opinion is also seeing governing parties move toward supporting a membership in NATO. During the weekend, Finlands Center Party, thats part of a five-party cabinet run by Social Democrat Prime Minister Sanna Marin, opened the door to a potential membership bid.

In yet another sign of the change in opinions on security issues, Finns have also given a somber assessment of their eastern neighbor with 84% now seeing Russia a significant military threat.
The Defense Department has directed the U.S. military in Germany to uncover how many of its people have been targeted by local tax collectors so Berlin gets a comprehensive picture of a dispute that has financially ruined a growing number of Americans.

Earlier this month, U.S. Army and Air Force headquarters in Germany were ordered to begin collecting the data, which is to be handed over to U.S. European Command, according to tasking sheets provided to Stars and Stripes.

Tax offices in Germany operate more independently from the federal finance ministry, so officials at the national level do not have visibility into the scope of this issue, the summary sheet states.

The order comes nearly two years after the U.S. accused Germany of violating the NATO Status of Forces Agreement, an international treaty intended to put military pay and benefits off-limits to local tax collectors.

The Office of the Secretary of Defense is seeking a by-name listing of U.S. SOFA-status personnel who have been subject to actions taken by the German tax authorities, the memo says.

U.S. Army Europe and Africa issued a similar data collection directive to its offices in coordination with Defense Secretary Lloyd Austins office.

Despite U.S. protests, hundreds of American military personnel remain engaged in tax fights with German finance offices, primarily in the state of Rheinland-Pfalz, where more than 50,000 Americans with military ties reside.

The financial stakes for those involved are high. Tax penalties have reached into the six figures for some Americans because the Germans tax not only military pay but benefits such as discounted gasoline, education in Defense Department schools, housing allowances and tax-free grocery shopping.

Even access to free on-base gyms has been added into some German tax bills, affected personnel and attorneys have told Stars and Stripes.

At issue is the German view that the SOFA contains a tax loophole in which military personnel are viable targets if they are not in Germany solely for their jobs. What this means remains undefined.

Being married to a German, sending a child to a German school or signing up for a second tour of duty are among the factors taken into consideration by authorities as they build tax liability cases.

German authorities have said Americans who come under tax investigation must prove a willingness to return to the U.S. if they want to avoid being penalized. Yet leaving Germany, the ultimate proof of intent to leave, doesnt guarantee protection.

Jason Ille, an Army civilian who now resides in Alaska, was issued a 300,000 euro ($326,000) tax bill in 2018 by the Kusel-Landstuhl finance office, which oversees the area around Ramstein Air Base.

Before that, he had been regularly applying for Army jobs in the United States and furnished proof of that to tax authorities, he said. But the evidence of will to return wasnt accepted, he said.

I have returned to Alaska and will never step foot in Germany again, Ille said. I will say what upsets me the most is the fact that our military community gets absolutely no assistance from our government to stop the madness.

Untold numbers of personnel could be future targets because German tax jurisdictions contend that they have the power to impose local income tax on military members on a case-by-case basis. The tax offices are imposing collections on military paychecks and income that has already been taxed by the U.S. government in most cases.

For U.S. forces snared by German tax authorities, legal fights can last years.

This situation has caused my family so much undue stress (that) nobody should have to endure, Ille said. And the German government should be held accountable for their false accusations.

EUCOM declined to comment on the latest Defense Department order to tally case numbers. However, the command did say that all personnel, military and civilians, should report encounters with German finance offices.

EUCOM said that the situation has the attention of U.S. military leadership and that the State Department is actively engaged with the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs in finding a solution.

But short of being able to audit German finance office tax records going back years, it could be difficult for the military to uncover the actual number of people who have been affected, especially given that many have since departed Germany and are no longer part of any Europe-based chain of command.

There are at least 460 or so ongoing SOFA-related tax cases in the area around Ramstein Air Base alone, the Kusel-Landstuhl finance office told Stars and Stripes in January. Some of those cases could involve personnel from other NATO countries, although the overwhelming majority of foreign forces personnel in the area are Americans.

German tax offices have told us they do not track cases by nationality, making it difficult for them to answer repeated efforts to know how many service members and civilians, covered under the NATO SOFA, have been affected, EUCOM said.
WASHINGTON (Tribune News Service)  A 57-second video posted by the Russian government last month caught the attention of scientists and diplomats, but not in a way that inspired optimism about the future of global cooperation in outer space.

In it, Russian cosmonauts floated about the International Space Station, hugging and waving goodbye to an American astronaut. Then they entered their portion of the complex and sealed airlock doors behind them. With the video blasting a Russian song,

Farewell, CGI took over and depicted the cosmonauts segment detaching from the station and drifting away (to the applause of Russian ground controllers).

The dark yet jaunty satirical video, depicting what would be the certain demise of the station, presaged more serious threats to an endeavor that has come to symbolize post-Cold War cooperation in space.

It is also a further sign that friction with the Kremlin, most recently aggravated by Russias invasion of Ukraine, has seeped into space, exacerbating tensions over the rules of behavior there and halting negotiations over space weapons at a time when the battlegrounds of war are moving to the edges of Earths atmosphere.

The whole world is sort of readjusting to this whole notion of not just competition, but possible and even unintentional confrontation with other big powers over how they use space, said Jessica West, a senior researcher with Project Ploughshares, a peace research group based in Canada.

Space has long been a barometer of the U.S.-Russia relationship. Cold War competition pushed Moscow and Washington toward new human feats in the 1960s, including the U.S. moon landing in 1969. Anxiety over President Reagans Star Wars defensive weapons program drove arms negotiations in the 1980s that presaged the end of the Soviet Union.

The 1998 space station agreement  which also includes the European Union, Japan and Canada  signaled a new era of shared advancement in the post-Cold War period. For more than two decades, the jointly operated station has been spinning around Earth.

That space detente was waning long before Russia invaded Ukraine in February, and the U.S. and its allies targeted Moscows space industry in a raft of economic sanctions. For two decades, Russian President Vladimir Putin has pushed for an aggressive expansion of his countrys space weapons program.

American officials have alleged, starting in 2009, that the Kremlin was developing anti-satellite missiles and more recently an anti-satellite mobile laser.

Russia launched what it described as an inspector satellite in 2017, prompting deep skepticism from American officials over what they labeled the crafts abnormal behavior, suggesting it may also have a military use. Two years later, Russia placed a satellite within close range of a U.S. spy satellite, prompting concerns of an unintentional confrontation between the two military powers.

In November, Russia tested a missile that struck a satellite and blasted it into more than 1,500 large pieces of debris, any chunk of which could doom manned and unmanned commercial and military spacecraft, including the crew of the space station, which was forced to take shelter.

The U.S. and its allies sharply criticized Russia over the test, with Vice President Kamala Harris calling it an irresponsible act [that] endangered the satellites of other nations as well as the astronauts on the International Space Station.

Meanwhile, the Trump and Biden administrations have ratcheted up efforts to counter competition from Russia and China in space. This was underscored by Trumps decision to start a new branch of the military, the Space Force.

The new military branch is one of his few legacies that Biden has embraced, with the White House submitting a recent budget request of $24.5 billion for the Space Force, a bump of about 40% over the prior year. Thats almost as much as the $26 billion Biden requested for NASA, which predates Space Force by more than 60 years.

Those lingering tensions have complicated attempts to rewrite international rules on space debris, and the invasion of Ukraine has led U.S. officials to put on ice any direct talks between Washington and Moscow over space-related issues.

We see no need for those discussions while they are in conflict with the Ukrainians, Eric Desautels, acting deputy assistant secretary of State for emerging security challenges and defense policy, said in a recent interview hosted by the National Security Space Association, a nonprofit that encourages cooperation between government and industry.

Desautels said that Russia and China would like a future treaty that constrains the U.S. from placing space-based missile defenses in orbit. One of the biggest stumbling blocks is defining defensive weapons versus those with offensive capabilities. The U.S. argues that commercial actors could be caught up in more restrictive rules, even if their work lacks a military intent.

Complicating potential negotiations are a raft of economic sanctions imposed on Russia over the Ukraine war. The U.S. has taken intentional aim at the Russian space industry, with Biden vowing on the day of the invasion that U.S. sanctions were designed, in part, at degrading their aerospace industry, including their space program.

The economic crackdown against Russia has prompted a series of threats from its space officials. The head of Russias space program, Dmitry Rogozin, tweeted on April 2 in Russian that the restoration of normal relations between partners in the International Space Station and other joint projects is possible only with the complete and unconditional lifting of illegal sanctions.

Even before the Ukraine invasion, Moscow had indicated that it may leave the partnership in the next few years  citing safety concerns with aging metal  as it signs new agreements with China on space exploration and lunar research. The station, which has also become a rental hub for billionaire space tourists, is set to retire by 2030.

Zhanna Malekos Smith, a senior associate with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said Russia has created strategic fog with its mixed signals over the space station pact. But she pointed to signs of hope, including the March 30 return from the station of American astronaut Mark Vande Hei, who traveled back to Kazakhstan with two cosmonauts  Pyotr Dubrov and Anton Shkaplerov  in a Russian capsule.

When Shkaplerov handed control of the station to astronaut Thomas Marshburn a day earlier, he said that whatever problems existed on Earth  in orbit, we are like one crew.

West, the researcher with Project Ploughshares, said the invasion of Ukraine has accelerated and reframed many of the conversations around the militarization of space, including the interplay between civilian and government interests. Satellites, in particular, connect so much of the modern world while helping militaries coordinate troop movements and pinpoint missile strikes.

Its a dramatic change in mindset compared with a ground war, where youre either in a war zone or youre not, she said.

She pointed out that other countries, including Australia, the United Kingdom, France, India, China, Russia and Japan, have moved toward creating more formalized space commands, like Space Force, a recognition that the battlefield has shifted. They are all coming to the conclusion that space is not just for exploration. Its also a new front line.

___

2022 Los Angeles Times. Visit at latimes.com.

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
WASHINGTON  Russia is moving more troops toward the Donbas region and claims its forces have destroyed key Ukraine missiles systems as the war effort intensifies again in the east under a newly appointed commander known for his brutal tactics.

Col. Gen. Alexander Dvornikov, known as the butcher of Syria for his brutality while commanding Russian forces there in 2015, has been appointed as the top commander of Russian forces in Ukraine, a senior U.S. defense official confirmed Monday.

The general has a reputation of cruelty in conflict and has previously shown disregard for avoiding civilian harm and utter disregard for the laws of war and armed conflict, the official said.

Sadly, we can all expect that the same brutal tactics that same disregard for civilian life and civilian infrastructure will probably continue as [Russian forces] now focus in a more geographically confined area.

However, the official said Dvornikovs appointment doesn't mean that theyre poised for greater success here, given Russias persistent challenges with supplying its troops.

It remains to be seen what sort of an effect he's going to be able to have, the official said. They have high challenges to surmount.

More so, Pentagon spokesman John Kirby on Monday said the U.S. cannot say whether Dvornikov is going to be the author of some new additional and more bloody tactics.

We can certainly say by what we've seen in in the past, that we're probably turning another page in the same book of Russian brutality, he told reporters at the Pentagon.

The fighting likely will be now focused on the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine based on statements made last week by Russia leaders, Kirby said. The region is home to the cities of Luhansk and Donetsk, where separatists have been fighting Ukrainians since Russias last invasion of Ukraine in 2014.

The Russian Defense Ministry has said the war was meant liberate the Donbas region, though Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Monday said the war is partly meant to thwart American dominance on the international stage.

"Our special military operation is designed to put an end to the reckless expansion and the reckless course towards the complete dominance of the United States and under them the rest of the Western countries in the international arena," he said, according to the state-run TASS news.

The ministry also recently said the new focus on eastern Ukraine was its plan all along, though Russian forces were stagnant outside the Ukraine capital of Kyiv for more than five weeks.

Last week, Russia pulled back all its ground forces around Kyiv and Chernihiv, sending them to Belarus for refitting and resupply before deploying them to eastern Ukraine, U.S. officials said.

While none have returned to Ukraine so far, Kirby said the U.S. has seen early indications that some of those forces are moving east toward the Russian cities of Belgorod and Vilyui, which are north of the Donbas region.

The U.S. believes a new Russian convoy moving south toward the eastern Ukraine city of Izyum came from Belgorod and Valuyki, the official said. The convoy is likely meant to help avoid persistent Russian issues with resupply and reinforcement.

It seems to be a mix of personnel-carrying vehicles as well as armored vehicles and maybe some artillery [and] enabling capabilities, the official said. This does seem to be an early effort by [Russia] to reinforce their efforts in the Donbas.

Russia is also focusing most of its airstrikes and missile launches on eastern Ukraine, the official said. Since the start of the war, Russia has launched more than 1,500 missiles into Ukraine.

Russia on Monday claimed it destroyed four S-300 air-defense systems in the central Ukrainian city of Dnipro that had been provided by an unnamed European country.

Slovakia gave Ukraine such a system last week, and the U.S. in turn deployed a Patriot missile battery to Slovakia. The U.S. has no indication that the Slovakian S-300 system in Ukraine has been destroyed, a senior U.S. defense official on Monday.

Still, the airspace above Ukraine remains contested as Ukrainian forces have a lot of their air-defense capability available to them, Kirby said. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is also working with international partners and allies to secure more long-range air defense systems for Ukraine.

We want to try to get them long-range air defense systems that we know they know how to use, and can put into employment fairly quickly, Kirby said.

Ukraines air defense systems have played a key role in its success so far. The country has been able to fend off Russia from taking control of the skies, Kirby said.

Ukrainians  clearly value their short- and long-range air defense for good reason, he said. They're doing a very effective job of using it and marshaling those resources and doing the best they can to protect them."
(Tribune News Service)  Boeing has selected Spirit Aerosystems to provide engine parts for a round of upgrades that will help keep B-52 bombers in the sky through at least 2050.

Spirit will provide engine pylons and nacelles for the Boeing effort, which aims to replace 608 engines on the U.S. Air Force fleet of 76 B-52H Stratofortress planes.

We are very pleased Boeing selected Spirit to be the structures partner on the B-52 [Commercial Engine Replacement Program] taking advantage of decades of experience and capabilities building engine struts and nacelles in Wichita, Duane Hawkins, Spirits president of defense and space, said in a Tuesday news release.

Spirit is proud of our heritage with the warfighter by producing legacy bombers and now extending that legacy keeping the B-52 flying for decades to come.

Wichita has played a major role in B-52 production from their first flight in 1952. All B-52H models were built by Boeing at the south Oliver plant now operated by Spirit. Boeing has continued to provide support and upgrades on the fleet in the years since.

The B-52s can fly 650 miles per hour at 50,000 feet for 8,800 miles, and each is capable of delivering 70,000 pounds of bombs. They were a key facet of the U.S. deterrence strategy during the Cold War.

Each plane boasts eight original Pratt & Whitney jet engines. The Air Force chose to retain all eight in the engine replacement effort, even as commercial airlines have moved toward more efficient models with two engines.

Spirit will apply its vast experience building and delivering thousands of engine struts and nacelles for commercial applications on the CERP program, said Jarrod Bartlett, Spirits defense and space business development manager. We look forward to supporting Boeing to help keep the B-52 a ready and reliable weapon system for the Air Force.

(c)2022 The Wichita Eagle (Wichita, Kan.)

Visit at www.kansas.com
WASHINGTON  The U.S. is assessing reports that Russian forces used a chemical agent Monday against Ukrainian troops in Mariupol as the invading troops press farther into eastern Ukraine, a senior defense official said Tuesday.

Reports of the chemical attack circulated on social media, prompting chief Pentagon spokesman John Kirby to release a statement that noted the U.S. was aware of the reports but could not confirm their accuracy.

These reports, if true, are deeply concerning and reflective of concerns that we have had about Russias potential to use a variety of riot control agents  including tear gas mixed with chemical agents  in Ukraine, Kirby said late Monday.

The defense official on Tuesday said the U.S. continues evaluating the allegations and are taking it seriously.

The Russians have a history of using chemical agents, and they have shown a propensity in the past, said the official who spoke on the condition of anonymity.

On March 10, Russia falsely claimed it found evidence of a U.S.-supported biological weapons program in Ukraine. The official warned at the time that the accusation could mean Russia intended to use such weapons themselves.

We have picked up indications that the Russians could be making these false claims about U.S. and Ukrainian work in biodefense as a way of creating a pretext of their own to perhaps use these kinds of agents in an attack, the official said at the time.

The southeastern Ukraine city of Mariupol also has been subject to continued airstrikes as the Russians focus their attack on the eastern part of the country, which is home to the separatist Donbas region.

Capturing Mariupol would offer Russia logistical benefits because it is south of Donbas and on the Sea of Azov, Kirby told reporters Tuesday at the Pentagon.

Our assessment today is that Mariupol is still contested and that the Ukrainians are still fighting to defend [it], he said. It's a major port city [and] would provide [Russia] unfettered and unhindered land access between the Donbas and Crimea."

Russia has controlled Ukraines southeastern Crimean Peninsula since it last invaded the country in 2014.

After more than five weeks of assaults throughout Ukraine, the Russian Defense Ministry last week said the war was launched to liberate the Donbas region. However, U.S. officials believe Russia first intended to take the Ukraine capital of Kyiv but changed focus to the east after making little progress in capturing it.

A 40-mile-long Russian military convoy moving toward Kyiv in the wars early days was stalled about 15 miles outside the capital city for more than a month after food and fuel shortages, as well as Ukrainian resistance attacks, stopped Russian tanks and troops from advancing.

That convoy never made it to Kyiv, which along with Chernihiv is now free of Russian ground troops after Russia switched focus to eastern Ukraine, a senior U.S. defense official said last week.

Russia launched a new convoy into eastern Ukraine over the weekend, which includes personnel and armored vehicles. It is moving south and is now about 37 miles north of the eastern Ukraine city of Izyum, the official said.

We do assess that it's moving, but not at breakneck speed, the official said. We think it's also intended for resupply  perhaps an effort to amend their poor performance and logistics and sustainment in the north.

So far, the U.S. has seen no indications that the Ukrainians have attempted any attacks on the convoy, which is staying on highways and avenues, the official said.

Since the start of the war, Russia has launched more than 1,540 missiles, the official said.
DOW CITY, Iowa. (Tribune News Service)  When Estelle J. (Busch) Leinen has her birthday on Saturday, shell also mark a very important milestone.

Born April 16, 1922, the Chicago native will celebrate the centennial of her birth with her family, which consists of six children, 14 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren.

Now living in the Crawford County town of Dow City, Leinen is one of the last remaining U.S. Navy WAVES, a group of women who served in World War II.

Graduating from high school in 1940, she enlisted in the U.S. Navy Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Services (or WAVES for short) in 1943, after being recruited by Genevieve Sullivan, sister of the five Waterloo, Iowa-born Sullivan Brothers, who were all killed in action on the light cruiser USS Juneau in 1942.

The womens branch of the U.S. Naval Reserves WAVES was established by the U.S. Congress and signed into law by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. This law authorized the Navy to accept women into the Naval Reserve as commissioned officers and, at the enlisted level, effective for the duration of World War II, plus six months.

Although the branch was only around from July 1942 to September 1946, an estimated 87,000 WAVES served at that time.

This included Leinen, who completed U.S. Naval Training School at Hunter College, in the Bronx, N.Y., where she received the rating of a storekeeper. She subsequently completed Storekeeper Specialist Training School from the University of Indiana in Bloomington.

For her WAVES service, Leinen received her Honorable Service Lapel in Aug. 1946. She married her husband Lavern P. Spider Leinen, a sailor from Earling, Iowa, the very next month.

Eventually, the Leinens settled in Dow City, where they had a large family farm as well as Leinens Produce, which bought and sold agricultural products from farmers in four counties in Iowa.

According to Leinens son Vincent Leinen, she was honored by the Rev. R. Walker Nickless, the Bishop of the Diocese of Sioux City, on her 85th birthday in 2007.

Nickless even blessed his moms then brand-new Pontiac G6 at the time, Vincent Leinen remembered.

Between her military career, her involvement with American Legion Post #444, and work in civil causes, Leinen has been recognized by U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst and former Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad over the years.

Just as exciting, Leinen received autographed posters, clothing, and a personalized digital video birthday message from actor Taylor Kinney (Chicago Fire) for her 98th birthday a few years ago, her son said.

(c)2022 Sioux City Journal, Iowa

Visit at www.siouxcityjournal.com
David Mitchell, 62, of Stillwater, Oklahoma, passed away on May 3rd at Stillwater Medical Center after a brief illness with cancer. David was a 1978 graduate of Cabool High School in Missouri. He had a long career at the Mercruiser plant in Stillwater where he had many friends. David is pred
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Mostly clear. Low 73F. Winds W at 10 to 20 mph.
Changes to the SunCommercial's back end processing means the e-edition is getting a facelift. The biggest change is the e-edition, by default, is now presented in Text view.
The Government will deploy a C-130H Hercules and 50-strong team to Europe to further support Ukraine against Russias invasion.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced the deployment pm Monday, with $13 million in further support including a contribution to the United Kindgom to procure weapons and ammunition.

Our support is to assist the Ukraine Army to repel a brutal Russian invasion because peace in the region of Europe is essential for global stability, says Ardern.

Such a blatant attack on a countrys sovereignty is a threat to all of us and thats why we too have a role to play.

The global response has seen an unprecedented amount of military support pledged for Ukraine, and more help to transport and distribute it is urgently needed, and so we will do our bit to help.

The measures decided by Cabinet include:

The deployment of an NZDF C-130H Hercules transport aircraft and 50 support personnel to Europe  for two months

A further NZDF 8-person team logistic specialists to support the international donor coordination centre in Germany with the flow of aid and supplies to Ukraine

An extra $13.1 million, towards military and legal and human rights support, including: $7.5m t contribute to weapons and ammunition procurement by the United Kingdom $4.1m t support commercial satellite access for the Ukrainian Defence Intelligence $1m t the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights $500,000 fr the International Court of Justice and International Criminal Court



Our support to date has been comprehensive and covers every aspect of this conflict  humanitarian, legal, military, transportation, and people  and is in addition to the economic and trade sanctions we have put in place to help cripple the Russian economy.

Over the next two months, NZ's C-130 will join a chain of military aircraft from partner nations, travelling throughout Europe carrying much-needed equipment and supplies to key distribution centres, but at no point will they enter Ukraine, nor have they been asked to, says Ardern.

Russias invasion of Ukraine is a violation of international law, which is why we are supporting the International Criminal Court in their investigations to hold Russia to account.

We will continue to answer to the calls of Ukraine, with regular reviews of how we can keep making the greatest difference.

Defence Minister Peeni Henare is pleased New Zealand can offer the additional measures to both support the country's partners and Ukraine.

These measures follow decisions in recent weeks by the Government to help support Ukraine, including the supply of a range of defence equipment requested by Ukraine, and the deployment of nine defence intelligence and liaison personnel.

Over the next few months, our team will travel throughout Europe transporting much-needed equipment and supplies to key distribution centres, but at no point will they enter Ukraine. The Hercules is set to go on Wednesday.

This deployment is in response to a direct ask by the UK, which identified that New Zealand could play a tangible role in supporting what has become an enormous logistical task.

Foreign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta says Cabinets decisions are a further demonstration of New Zealands commitment to broader international efforts to support Ukraine.

This package is a substantial further extension of what is already New Zealands most significant response to an international crisis in recent history. Supporting Ukraines self-defence is at a critical inflection point as we continue to respond to Ukraines broad range of needs and those of its people; be they military, economic, humanitarian or supporting legal international frameworks.

We also continue work at pace to continue rolling out sanctions and target those associated with Russias egregious actions.

Mondays announcement brings New Zealands total contribution to the Ukraine to $30 million and 67 people deployed.
Ferrero is extending its recall of Kinder chocolate products due to possible contamination with salmonella bacteria.

Affected products are part of a global recall of a range of Kinder branded chocolates made in a Belgian factory, says deputy director-general New Zealand Food Safety, Vincent Arbuckle.

The previous recall covered named products with best before dates up to 7 October 2022.

Products under recall have expanded to include any Kinder product made in Belgium, including all batches and date ranges. All product affected by the recall will have Made in Belgium on the label.

Ferrero has confirmed the following products have been imported:

* All batches of Kinder Surprise Maxi Eggs (100g) White, Natoons, Frozen, Christmas and Miraculous Range.

* All batches and sizes of Kinder Mini Eggs Hazelnut

* All batches of Kinder Happy Moments Ballotin (190g) (Christmas product)

* All batches of Kinder (133g) with a plush toy (Christmas product)

These products were sold at retail stores throughout New Zealand including New World, Pakn Save, Four Square, Countdown, FreshChoice, SuperValue, Kmart and The Warehouse stores. Some are also available at small retail stores.

The key thing to remember is to check the label of Kinder chocolates. if it says Made in Belgium it will be covered by the recall and should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase. If you are in any doubt, please return the product to the place of purchase.

"We know these products, which contain small toys, are particularly popular with children, so we urge people to take every precaution. The effects of salmonella infection can be serious, particularly in children younger than 5 years, adults 65 and over, and people with weakened immune systems.

"If you or a family member has eaten product affected by the recall and have concerns for your health, seek medical advice. Salmonella infection can spread between people, so if suspect you are affected please wash your hands thoroughly and avoid preparing food for others if possible.

"Most people infected with Salmonella develop diarrhoea, fever, and stomach cramps 6 hours to 6 days after being exposed to the bacteria.

"The illness usually lasts 4 to 7 days, and most healthy adults recover without treatment.

There are no reported cases of related illness in New Zealand. Affected product has not been re-exported.

For up-to-date information on the recall, visit our food recall website here: Kinder Surprise Maxi Eggs, Kinder Mini Eggs Hazelnut, Kinder Happy Moments Ballotin and Kinder Maxi Mix with plush toy | Food safety at home | NZ Government (mpi.govt.nz)
UPDATED 10.18AM: A severe weather warning issued for the Bay of Plenty and Coromandel has now been lifted.

The MetService issued the warnings for heavy rain and strong winds on Tuesday, as ex-tropical Cyclone Fili approached New Zealand.

With the storm system moving east of NZ today, the MetService has revised its warnings.

The warning for the Bay of Plenty, Rotorua and Coromandel are no longer expected to reach warning criteria and the warning has now been lifted, says a spokesperson for the weather organisation.

A strong wind warning does remain in place for the Bay of Plenty and Rotorua.

The MetService says in the 18 hours from 9am today until 3am tomorrow, severe south to southwest gales gusting 120 km/h are expected in exposed places, mainly east of Whakatane, with damaging gusts of 130 to 140 km/h likely about the eastern ranges during this afternoon and evening.

Red warnings for heavy rain remain in force for the Wairoa District and Gisborne, says the weather organisation.

Cyclone Fili continues to track southeastwards close to eastern parts of the North Island today.

Heavy rain and severe gales accompany the system, and very large waves and coastal inundation are likely to affect some eastern coasts.

A significant heavy rain event is expected for the Wairoa District and Gisborne where red warnings for heavy rain remain in force.

People in these areas can expect dangerous river conditions and significant flooding. Slips and floodwaters are likely to disrupt travel, some roads may become impassable possibly isolating communities, and power outages are also likely. In addition to significant rainfall, severe south to southwest gales are also forecast, which could damage trees, powerlines and unsecured structures.

People in these areas are advised to avoid outdoor activities and unnecessary travel during this event, and to stay up to date with the latest warnings, forecasts, and official advice.

EARLIER:

A severe weather warning remains in place for the Bay of Plenty and Coromandel.

The warnings were issued by the MetService earlier this week as ex-tropical cyclone Fili made its way towards New Zealand.

Orange Warnings for heavy rain and watches are in effect for northern and eastern parts of the North Island from Northland and Auckland down to Bay of Plenty and Hawkes Bay south of the Wairoa District, says the MetService.

The entire North Island is under either an Orange Warning for strong wind or a watch, with those in central and eastern areas expected to get the strongest gusts.

Additionally, significant and hazardous waves are likely with the potential for dangerous rip currents inshore to affect northern and eastern parts of the North Island coastline.

This is a significant weather event, many regions will be affected, especially those from Bay of Plenty to Hawkes Bay and it is important to keep up to date with latest warnings and official advice.

The MetService is forecasting rain with heavy falls in the Bay of Plenty to clear this evening, with strong southwesterlies rising to gales this morning, gusting 90km/h.

Some rain is also forecast for tomorrow morning, before clearing to make way for a mostly fine day.

Image: MetService.
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Weather Alert

...The Flood Warning is extended for the following rivers in Oklahoma... Illinois River near Tahlequah affecting Cherokee County. ...FLOOD WARNING NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL LATE TOMORROW MORNING... * WHAT...Moderate flooding is occurring and moderate flooding is forecast. * WHERE...Illinois River near Tahlequah. * WHEN...Until late tomorrow morning. * IMPACTS...At 17.0 feet, severe flooding occurs from Hanging Rock downstream towards Tahlequah. Access roads east of Combs Bridge near Eagles Bluff are impassable. Some cabins and parks may be flooded to a depth of a couple of feet. Extreme turbulence makes the river too hazardous for floating. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS... - At 1:30 AM CDT Saturday the stage was 16.5 feet. - Forecast...The river is expected to fall below flood stage late tonight and continue falling and remain below flood stage. - Flood stage is 11.0 feet. - http://www.weather.gov/safety/flood &&
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Russia is readying a massive, new offensive in eastern Ukraine, hoping to reverse its fortunes on the battlefield after a catastrophic start to seven weeks of war.
Forward-looking: Drone light shows aren't something new, but drone-based digital signage could evolve in many ways. As suggested by a recent Intel patent, drones could be used to create mobile billboards that adapt to the environment and their audience. Not everything that gets patented makes it into an actual product or service, but this could one day be a replacement for certain forms of advertising that companies use today.

When Intel isn't busy rejuvenating its foundry business and battling AMD for the CPU performance crown, the company is exploring various technologies and how they may be used.

For instance, Intel's research arm has a fascination with drones, which can be used to replace fireworks and create interesting visual spectacles during big events.

Over the past few years, Intel has put out several dazzling light shows using drones, whether it was during its 50th anniversary or Walmart's Holiday Drone Light Show. More recently, the company used 1,000 drones to build up hype around its Arc Alchemist GPUs, but it has yet to deliver on its promise to ship millions of them to gamers around the world.

Unsurprisingly, Intel has several patents around these, but one in particular dated January 4, 2022  US Pat. No. 11,217,126  describes methods and systems for providing "ad hoc digital signage" for either public or private displays. The drone light shows that take minutes during events take months of arduous work on designing the choreography of the drone swarm for the animations it needs to display, finding a suitable location, and testing the deployment on-site to see if it works with an acceptable degree of accuracy.

In essence, Intel's patent describes ways to make a drone-based billboard of sorts that can be easily moved around and reconfigured on the fly to show various types of ads. The methods involve drones with projection systems and capturing data from a variety of sensors to adjust to the audience and even move along with it as necessary.

For situations where space is at a premium, drones would scan the geometry of the environment and adjust the projection size to fit a smaller area. For areas where larger projections are possible, multiple drones could work together to compose a seamless digital signage, and one would act as a helper to adjust the viewing angle of the projection and gauge the audience's interest level.

If the signage isn't drawing attention, the directing drone could change the content being displayed by the other units.

The projection surface could also be ad hoc, in that a drone swarm could split into two groups  one to roll down a canvas and one to project onto it. There are even details about a spatial audio system for video ads and ways to adjust the content to an audience's mood and general interests.

If this sounds crazy, it was only a few years ago that a Russian startup called StartRocket thought about using satellites to illuminate the night sky with ads. Still, none of this beats the weird factor of "moonvertising"  the idea of using robots to draw advertisements on the surface of the Moon.

Luckily, even Intel's relatively earthly idea of drone-based advertising exposed in the patent has yet to materialize into an actual service. As of writing, the company is offering drone light shows that cost anywhere from $99,000 to $299,000, as well as custom plans for large projects involving thousands of drones.

These drone light shows are marketed as an alternative to fireworks, as they're supposedly safer, cleaner, quieter, and more environmentally friendly.
Health tech: Fitbit's line of wearable watches might have started as simple step trackers, but their capabilities have expanded greatly over the years. The company now sells full smartwatches, and even its more stripped-down devices boast features like automatic exercise detection, sleep tracking, heart rate monitoring, and more. The company is about to take things a step further with automatic ECG functionality, thanks to recent approval from the FDA.

To be clear, Fitbit already allows users to use its trackers to monitor their hearth rhythm, but it requires them to open up the Fitbit app and manually initiate a check -- an extra step that will be made obsolete. Soon enough, Fitbit devices will be able to continuously check your body for potential signs of atrial fibrillation; a serious medical condition that can precede major health complications like strokes or blood clots in the heart.

The good news is that atrial fibrillation is treatable in many cases, and with something like Fitbit's new PPG AFib algorithm, you can get an early warning if you might be in danger. Of course, we're not saying a consumer-grade fitness tracker is any substitute for regular health check-ups and doctor visits, but it certainly can't hurt to have more chances to catch a serious problem.

Fitbit says the optimal time to test for AFib is when the body is still at rest due to its "sporadic" nature. Since Fitbit trackers can (and should) be worn overnight anyway, that works out nicely.

The Google-owned wearable company says its PPG detection technology is 98 percent accurate according to research data presented at 2021's American Heart Association Scientific Session. It has also been clinically validated by a "landmark" study in 2020 involving over 450,000 patients.

Whether you believe Fitbit's claims is, of course, up to you. However, it's nice to see that the company hasn't moved away from its consumer health-focused roots following its acquisition by Google in 2021.
Editor's take: If you're reading TechSpot, there's a good chance you know a thing or two about internet scams -- many are obvious to us tech enthusiasts. Sadly, many older internet users aren't quite as tech-savvy, and fall victim to online scams at a much higher rate: especially when those scams use a victim's emotions against them, as is the case in a recent string of puppy-selling scams found by Google.

According to a new blog post published by Google's safety & security team, aptly titled "Hounding scammers with litigation," the company seeks to address instances of puppy fraud using the legal system. According to Google, there's been an uptick in online scams over the past few years (likely thanks to the ongoing pandemic), some of which cannot be tackled just by raising awareness.

In more extreme cases, Google says lawsuits are an "effective tool" for establishing legal precedent and raising the stakes for anyone caught scamming innocent victims.

The company has already filed one lawsuit against the owners of a Russian botnet, and now it's doing the same to an individual that's been using Google products to sell non-existent basset hound puppies to unsuspecting "customers."

The websites allegedly include fake photos and customer testimonials, which can seem convincing to an ordinary user.

Once a victim is on the hook, the scammer behind the site will try to convince them to shell out hundreds of dollars in gift cards for deposits, delivery costs, and more. Naturally, the victim never actually receives their dog, and the scammers get to walk away scot-free.

If you think nobody would ever fall for this sort of thing, think again. My own mother -- an intelligent and otherwise tech-savvy woman with multiple Master's degrees -- was a victim of an almost identical scam a couple months ago. She was looking for a miniature dachshund breeder to purchase a pup from and eventually found a seller on Facebook.

Long story short, she lost a $500 deposit and never heard from the so-called breeder again. Apparently, though, she was one of the lucky ones! According to Google, others have been ripped off for thousands of dollars.

To be frank, Google will likely never be able to directly punish the actual scammer behind the fraudulent Google accounts it's suing over. The person goes by "Nche Noel Ntse" and is located far outside of US jurisdiction in Cameroon. Nonetheless, Google hopes the impact of the suit will give it a greater ability to stop similar fraud in the future.
In a nutshell: If there's one metric that really illustrates TikTok's meteoric rise in recent times, it's the app's ad income. The video-sharing platform's global advertising revenue is predicted to exceed Twitter and Snapchat combined this year and looks set to catch up with YouTube in 2024.

TikTok last year surpassed the ad takings of that other teen/young adult-aimed app, Snapchat. It's set to outperform Twitter by the end of this year, too. Research firm Insider Intelligence predicts that TikTok's revenue will triple in 2022 to $11 billion, more than Snapchat ($4.86 billion) and Twitter ($5.58 billion) combined.

Should TikTok continue on its current trajectory, it is expected to catch up with YouTube and its $23.6 billion in ad revenue by 2024.

Despite its popularity, Chinese-owned TikTok has faced plenty of controversy over the years, from Reddit's CEO calling it "spyware" and "fundamentally parasitic," to Joe Biden's staff being told to remove it from their phones in 2020. Donald Trump's administration tried to get ByteDance to sell its international operations to a US company; a group of state attorneys general launched an investigation into TikTok and its effect on young people; and it was one of many Chinese apps banned in India two years ago.

But TikTok is unlikely to be concerned by all the negative press in the US, given that more than half its revenue this year ($6 billion) is expected to come from the United States.

TikTok already has over 1.5 billion global users and is capturing the younger market that Meta craves but keeps on losing, though it still has a way to go before catching up with Facebook (2.9 billion users) and Instagram (2 billion users) or their ad revenues of $85 billion and $82 billion, respectively. However, Facebook still felt nervous enough to hire a lobbying firm that painted its rival as a foreign-owned app and "a real threat."
In brief: The Toyota bZ4X SUV will be offered in both front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive variants. The XLE FWD model boasts an EPA-estimated range rating of up to 252 miles while the AWD version can go 228 miles on a single charge. Recharging from low to full using the 6.6 kW onboard charger will take about nine hours with a Level 2 charger either at a public charger or at home.

Customers will also have the option to purchase a ChargePoint home charging system and roll the cost into the vehicle purchase or lease. Kits come with a 23-foot charging cable to support different parking configurations, and Toyota says you can expect to get about 25 miles of range per hour charged.

Ideally, you'll just want to leave it plugged in overnight to top it off daily.

With horsepower ratings of just 201 for the FWD variant and 214 for the AWD model, don't expect the bZ4X to be a street legal rocketship like some other EVs. Toyota says the FWD version can sprint from 0-60 mph in around 7.1 seconds; the AWD variant trims the time down a little to 6.5 seconds.

About that name - bZ4X. The Japanese automaker said the "bZ" stands for "Beyond Zero," and was "developed with human-centricity at the heart, meaning it hopes to provide more than a mobility solution but also an innovative space for customers."

Interested parties can search for a nearby dealer over on Toyota's website. As mentioned, pricing starts at $42,000 but approaches $50,000 if you want an AWD model with the Limited trim package.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk, who just recently joined the Twitter board, proposed the idea of transforming the social media giant's headquarters in San Francisco into a homeless shelter.

The idea came from the billionaire following another suggestion on how Twitter could make use of Dogecoin for its service.

Elon Musk's Early Suggestions on Twitter

When the news broke out about Musk joining the Twitter board of directors, everybody expected that the SpaceX CEO will make a huge move to improve the company's service.

Over the week, Musk initially proposed that those who will subscribe for the monthly Twitter Blue subscription will be given an authentication checkmark. In this way, Musk said that more users will be verified so those who create "bot armies" will find them "expensive" to maintain.

In addition, the new member of the board explained that there should be a distinguishable difference between the checkmark and the "public figure" mark.

That's not the only perk that the subscribers will get since they will also receive a myriad of features which include the "edit" feature wherein they can modify their tweets within a 20-second time frame, as well as the absence of annoying advertisements.

Furthermore, another post wrote that Musk wants to explore new changes in rolling out the subscription fees. The Associated Press reported that the tech boss plans to include the option to accept Dogecoin on Twitter.

Musk added that this implementation should be proportionate to the local currency and its affordability.

Related Article: Twitter HQ to Homeless Shelter? Elon Musk Thinks Jeff Bezos 'Portion' Idea is Great

Bezos and Andreesen on Musk's Proposal About Homeless Shelter

While many users are surprised that Musk has a lot of proposals in his mind, another suggestion caught the attention of many including his fellow billionaire Jeff Bezos and Marc Andreesen.

Musk tweeted out a poll about converting a Twitter headquarters in San Francisco into a homeless shelter over the weekend. As of writing, 91.3% of the respondents said that the company should do this while only 8.7% disagreed with Musk's recommendation.

On Sunday night of Apr. 10, Bezos shared his thoughts about Musk's proposal. MSN reported that the former Amazon boss backed up Elon's idea of turning Twitter's HQ into a homeless shelter.

Musk answered back that it was a great idea indeed, citing that homelessness is a common issue. He also highlighted that many people were pressed by underlying conditions such as drug addiction and "urban decay."

Meanwhile, Andreesen opened up the possibility of welcoming employees if a part of a building is dedicated to the homeless. In his tweet, the Silicon Valley businessman wrote "Every other desk."

Some Twitter users love Andreesen's tweet while others criticized how the company will handle the homeless volunteers in the most appropriate manner.



Read Also: Elon Musk's Twitter Name Change Suggestion Goes Viral! Other Updates the Billionaire Wants for the Platform



This article is owned by Tech Times

Written by Joseph Henry

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
(Photo : Mario Tama/Getty Images)

Research headed by Ohio State University's Matthew Sullivan, a professor of microbiology, points to the potential of well over 5,000 varied RNA viruses hidden deep within the planet's seas. These would include even five new phyla of RNA viruses, which essentially means new varied groups were discovered in tandem with even ancient viruses of the kind never before seen.

Published on Apr. 7, in the peer-reviewed journal Science, the report highlights how much we still have yet to learn about the still undiscovered 80% of our ocean. The international team of scientists utilized sophisticated ecological research methods alongside 35,000 ocean water samples, such as plankton, to unearth these incredible findings. Of all the various RNA virus species discovered, the self-titled Taraviricota was the most abundant.

"RNA viruses are clearly important in our world, but we usually only study a tiny slice of them - the few hundred that harm humans, plants, and animals," says research head Sullivan. "We wanted to systematically study them on a very big scale and explore an environment no one had looked at deeply, and we got lucky because virtually every species was new, and many were really new."

Related Article: Chinese Robot Dog Roams Around Shanghai to Share COVID-19 Safety Measures

There are two different types of viruses to be aware of RNA and DNA. The former is probably among the most well-known, given society's most recent and still-ongoing hurdle through the COVID-19 pandemic. The coronavirus is the best example of an RNA virus, but the flu is too. To be clear, there are millions of different viruses set across the world, all of which interact with life in varied ways. Only about a few hundreds of these viruses are infectious to humans.

With Sullivan's research, the team headed out with plans on building a more well-rounded perspective on the nature of RNA viruses. Little is thus far known about them, aside from their impact on life forms, such as plants, animals, and humans. Sullivan's research will thus ensure a better understanding of the overall diversity and genealogy behind said RNA viruses.

Alongside water samples, the team likewise used state-of-the-art computers to compare RNA virus genes with that of the RdRp, an ancient virus that Sullivan coins the "barcode gene" of virus diversity. Through "machine learning" techniques and the RdRp ancient virus "barcode," researchers were then able to pinpoint specifically how many genes were coded as virus protein, amounting to a whopping 44,000, which thus led to a total of 5,504 new marine-based viruses.

"RdRp is supposed to be one of the most ancient genes - it existed before there was a need for DNA. So we're not just tracing the origins of viruses, but also tracing the origins of life," explains the research's co-author Ahmed Zayed.

None of these newly discovered RNA viruses have specific groups or phyla, yet to holistically identify their diversification, the team had to make new ones for them literally: Arctiviricota, Paraxenoviricota, Pomiviricota, Taraviricota, and Wamoviricota. The two newly proposed phyla of Taraviricota and Wamoviricota showed signs of specific trends. The former was largely located in warmer, tropical climates, and the latter was located most commonly in the Arctic Ocean.

As far as their danger levels, Sullivan relays it's far too early to tell. While the initial research may be up and available for all to experience, there is still a ton of consideration left on the table. Each and every newly discovered virus will require extensive additional research and analysis to underscore specifics in their ecological importance and varied influences on surrounding ecosystems and marine life.

Read Also: Arctic Climate Crisis Allowed New Maritime Routes, Shipping Emissions Accelerates Ice Melt

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Twitter CEO Parag Agrawal confirmed that the world's top billionaire, Elon Musk, is not joining the Twitter board of directors in his recent announcement online. No words came from Musk regarding this matter, but in the Twitter CEO's words, he rejected the offer of being appointed as part of the board, remaining as its top shareholder.

Elon Musk is Not Joining the Twitter Board, Parag Agrawal Confirms

It is official. Twitter is not having Elon Musk as a social media company board member, and the CEO declined this offer after the CEO and other members gave it. CEO Parag Agrawal confirmed this online, and the tweeted announcement told the story of what happened to the appointment of the tech billionaire.

Twitter's board of directors officially gave the board member position to Musk on Saturday, April 9. Still, Agrawal said that the CEO declined it the same morning after the CEO told him. Agrawal further said that the members thoroughly evaluated Musk's induction to the board and their offer of a seat to the Tesla CEO, stating there were risks in this move.

Read Also: Jeff Bezos, Marc Andreesen Respond to Elon Musk's Tweet About Turning Twitter HQ into a Homeless Shelter

Elon has decided not to join our board. I sent a brief note to the company, sharing with you all here. pic.twitter.com/lfrXACavvk  Parag Agrawal (@paraga) April 11, 2022

Twitter's Top Shareholder is still Elon Musk

Nevertheless, the board members and its shareholders will continue to work together to act toward the company's best interests, as it is their role as the executives. Musk did not comment about him turning down the board seat, despite tweeting about the Twitter HQ for homeless people last Sunday and conversing with Jeff Bezos regarding the matter.

Elon Musk and Twitter

Just last week, the billionaire has a lot of plans for Twitter, and the public saw this over the past weeks that the billionaire has shown on the platform, where he tweeted about many changes he aims to make with the company. One of the most talked-about things he said was the Twitter name change that he did a poll about, with many responses agreeing with the tech mogul.

Another significant change to Twitter asked about the company's largest shareholder was the edit button for every tweet that a user will make or publish in their usage. It will help avoid deleting a tweet to fix a typo or clarify what they want to impart to the audience whenever they publicize their thoughts or announcements.

Twitter said it planned the edit button way before Musk came on board.

There are many things that the company and public expect to change now that there is someone who owns a massive share of social media. Musk joining the team and being the eccentric executive he is, there are many indications that there will be new things for the company. However, he will serve this role as a shareholder and not a board member.

Related Article: Twitter HQ to Homeless Shelter? Elon Musk Thinks Jeff Bezos 'Portion' Idea is Great

This article is owned by Tech Times

Written by Isaiah Richard

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Tesla is now using clean energy via its Giga Texas plant for its Bitcoin mining ventures, with the company focusing on solar power technology and batteries for its cryptocurrency process. An analyst in the United Kingdom thinks that this is the only option and solution for all miners in the future, especially if they want to continue the Bitcoin mining process.

Tesla Mines Bitcoin with Clean Energy on Gigafactory Texas

The recent Tesla Texas Rodeo concluded the launch party of the new Gigafactory in Austin. Still, it also announced the world's fully clean energy Bitcoin mining center using solar power and batteries. It is now a massive venture for the company, and it came a year later when Tesla first denounced Bitcoin for its mining process that uses coal.

It is a new beginning for Tesla, primarily as it advocates for a clean environment that will use solutions to avoid pollution and further destruction of the domain. Its move with the Gigafactory Texas as a clean energy Bitcoin mining center will present itself as a framework for other companies that look into the same process.

Read Also: Intel CEO Considers Top Crypto A 'Climate Crisis' In Recent Interview

UK Analyst Believes Tesla's Move is the Only Solution

According to the Independent's interview with Marcus Sotiriou, a digital asset broker from UK's GlobalBlock, Tesla's Giga Texas gave the world its only solution for Bitcoin mining. It is the only good move in the future of the cryptocurrency's process, especially as the world needs to focus on clean energy.

Tesla made it possible with Giga Texas, and it is an inspiration to others for all their Bitcoin needs.

Tesla, Bitcoin, and the World

Many denounce Bitcoin, particularly of its mining process that takes massive power from the grids, being one of the most energy-consuming processes in the world. Tesla initially stopped its Bitcoin transactions to effectively reduce its mining process, mainly as it takes a massive toll on the world's electric supply.

Bitcoin mining uses traditional power sources like the coal mining process to produce the energy needed by the workers to continue their tasks to mine the digital coins. Musk said that he would only resume Bitcoin transactions if its mining adapts 50 percent clean energy, which several companies and organizations looked into for their process.

Fast forward to a year later, Musk and Tesla are mining for Bitcoin in its Giga Texas plant with clean energy sources.

Tesla first cut off Bitcoin due to its massive energy consumption and its environmental effects that harm the environment but is now looking into mining that the company owns. Clean energy is the only solution to continue mining Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, which is an excellent process at the current time.

This is especially now that the world is seeing a massive change in the energy landscape and efforts to alternative and clean power are underway.

Related Article: Riot Blockchain to Close Bitcoin-Mining Operation in Texas to Save Electricity For Winter Storm

This article is owned by Tech Times

Written by Isaiah Richard

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
A Brooklyn subway station suffered from a smoke bombing, leading to some injuries and panic. As of writing, authorities are still investigating the crime scene since 13 individuals were hospitalized after the attack.

Five individuals were shot by the attacker. Most of the victims are now being treated after inhaling smoke bombs.

Brooklyn Subway Station Attack

According to CBS News' latest report, the New York Police Department (NYPD) said that the gunman, who successfully escaped, threw a smoke bomb onto the train after it arrived at the 25th Street subway station in Brooklyn, New York.

Also Read: Teenagers From Urban Areas Between 15 To 19 Years Old Are More Likely To Be Injured From Firearms

The criminal used the smoke to hide, allowing him to free fire on the people inside the train. One of the police at the crime scene claimed that the man was wearing a gas mask.

Aside from this, he added that the guy wore an orange-colored reflective construction. As of press time, NYP is still in the Sunset Park neighborhood.

The attack forced the subway trains to be delayed as well.

Undetonated Devices Were Found

The New York Post reported that some undetonated devices were also found in the Brooklyn subway station. This detail was confirmed by the New York City Fire Department (FDNY).

This just shows the suspect really planned his crime. Because of this, it is important to stay alert if you are near the crime scene. Remember, the gunman hasn't been caught yet.

During times like this, there are some things you need to remember to avoid making the scenario worst. CISA provided some tips that can help you during a bomb threat. These include the following:

Always remain calm.

Make sure that you can contact the local authorities for help.

Don't take any action that can make the suspect even more aggressive.

If you want to see more tips from CISA, you can visit this link.

For more news updates about the current Brooklyn subway station investigation, always keep your tabs open here at TechTimes.

Related Article: Nevada Gun Shows Linked To Increase In Firearm Violence In California

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Written by: Griffin Davis

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
(Photo : Unsplash/Vanja Matijevic) iPhone

Pegatron, Apple's iPhone maker, announced that it suspended production in Shanghai and the city of Kunshan amid strict COVID-19 prevention measures.

Pegatron Suspends Operations

Chinese authorities have imposed stringent stay-at-home COVID-19 measures as mainland China faces its worst COVID outbreak since the early phase of the pandemic in 2020.

The government lockdowns, which started in March, have negatively affected the global supply chains. It shows the risks linked the Apple's reliance on manufacturing in China.

Pegatron assembles around 20% to 30% of all iPhones, according to Nikkei Asia.

The Taiwanese company had been able to continue the production of iPhones until now because the Chinese government allowed manufacturers to keep the operations going through a closed-loop system to reduce the chances of infections, according to Bloomberg.

Wedbush analyst Dan Ives told CNBC that Pegatron closures could affect the supply chain for Apple and other parts of the iPhone ecosystem.

Also Read: iPhone 6 maker hiring 100,000 workers for handset production

Ives said that this is not the news the public wants to hear as it amplifies the supply chain issues for iPhones just as Apple saw an improvement.

Shares of Apple increased more than 1% in the morning of Apr. 12, suggesting investors are not at all concerned about the reports of a suspension of production.

This is the latest hit to Apple, which just announced its slate of new products, including a budget iPhone. In March, Foxconn, a major assembler of iPhones, suspended full operations. It has since resumed normal operations, according to Reuters.

Foxconn said that it would adjust its production line to other locations to help minimize the impact.

The relationship between Pegatron and Apple has not always been smooth-sailing.

In 2013, Pegatron blamed Apple's iPhone 5C production on the company's profit issue.

In 2016, Pegatron was accused of exploiting workers.

iPhone Production in India.

Almost 50% of iPhones are produced at a factory in Henan, but Pegatron's only active iPhone manufacturing facilities are in Shanghai and Kunshan. The new iPhone assembly plant in India has not yet begun its operations.

In April, the iPhone 13 production is expected to start in Chennai, India. This was scheduled to happen back in January, but it was pushed back after the tech giant placed the facility on probation after the employees complained about the working conditions.

This is just one of the several issues that the tech giant has faced as it continues its efforts to reduce its dependence on China for iPhone manufacturing.

Two different iPhone plants in India, run by different companies, have had their production suspended after Apple investigated complaints by the employees.

In December 2021, there was a riot by the employees and factory workers who had not received their full pay at a Wistron plant. The damage was estimated to cost around $60 million. However, Apple and the Indian government investigated the incident, each upholding the worker complaints.

Foxconn has now resolved the poor working conditions, as India's Business Standard reports that iPhone 13 production will start in April.

It is not known what proportion of the phones made there will be for the export market, but the tech giant is working toward a diverse iPhone assembly network around the world.

According to Ben Lovejoy of 9to5Mac, the Ukraine crisis served to highlight the company's unsustainable dependence on China.

Related Article: Remember Apple's AirPower Charging Pad? It Could Finally Launch Soon

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Written by Sophie Webster

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Tehachapi, CA (93561)

Today

Windy with a few clouds from time to time. High 61F. Winds WNW at 20 to 30 mph. Winds could occasionally gust over 40 mph..

Tonight

Mostly clear skies. Gusty winds early. Low 37F. Winds WNW at 20 to 30 mph. Winds could occasionally gust over 40 mph.
Han Dong-hoon "I have no intention of withdrawing from Yoo Si-min's lawsuit... If we compromise, this will happen again"
Its time to get out there and travel again! Here are our favorite destinations for family travel in summer 2022, and how to save on getting there!

Orlando

It seems like every kids wish is to visit Walt Disney World or Universal Orlando. If youre a parent that wants to grant a wish, or maybe youre interested yourself, you can definitely save big on Disney using our guide for airfare, hotels, park tickets, and more.

Universal Orlando is where youll find the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, which stretches across both of the resorts theme parks. If youre looking to still look like a great parent in your kids eyes, but want to save compared to a Disney vacation, consider Universal Orlando. The parks can be conquered in about 2 1/2 days, versus 4 or more days at Walt Disney World. Plus, if you stay at one of Universals three Premier level hotels, front-of-the-line Universal Express passes are included with your room, making for a much more stress-free vacation.

San Diego

San Diego is one of my favorite cities in Southern California, brimming with Spanish history, incredible vistas, and some awesome family travel destinations. My favorites include the San Diego Zoo, San Diego Wild Animal Park, Legoland, and Cabrillo National Monument.

One great options for San Diego to save money is to buy a CityPass. This includes admission to some of San Diegos best attractions (like the San Diego Zoo), and gives enough activities for a family to choose from over a long weekend or weeklong trip. Of course, theres always the beach in San Diego as well- Mission Beach being my favorite.

The Caribbean

If youre trying to fly a family to your favorite Caribbean island this summer, you may find yourself coming across some steep airfares. Thats because many others are having the same idea as you! If your family is still itching for that beach vacation, consider taking a cruise from Miami (our partner Avoya has some of the best deals online for cruises). Youll save a bundle on flights to Miami instead of international flights, and youll be able to visit mutliple destinations. Just keep in mind the additional requirements to cruise due to Covid.

National Parks of the Southwest

In normal times, Id recommend a family road trip to the National Parks of the Southwest as a cheap way to spend some PTO. However, rental cars have continued to be incredibly expensive during the pandemic, with rates Ive never seen before. In addition, we might be in for high gas prices due to some geopolitical reasons in 2022. So, if you can take your own car thats hopefully all-electric, you could be in for a very cheap family vacation!

If you do opt to rent a car, I always recommend searching on AutoSlash for the best car rates. Activities in the national parks are free once you purchase an annual pass ($80), which is good for your car at places like the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, Yosemite, and over 400 other parks in the United States.

Mexico

For those of you that still are itching to travel internationally, Mexico is still a great bet. Reasonably priced, and close to the United States, Mexico is open for tourism and has operated safely during the pandemic (I should know- Ive been four times so far).

Families have a choice of coasts, with the cool waters of the Pacific off of Cabo San Lucas offering some great all-inclusive options, or the ever-popular Cancun with Caribbean waters. Just keep in mind the heat on the Caribbean side during the summer can be strong, and hurricanes are a possibility during the summer travel season.

To save, I recommend looking at package trips through Expedia from your home airport. They offer lots of options to customize trips to your familys needs, and you can even search by date to find the best rates during your summer break.

Advertisers disclosure: If you purchase something through a Brads Deals link, the site may earn a commission. Pricing and product availability are accurate as of time of published article. Learn more about how Brads Deals works.
At The Cauldron Co., a New York City bar, customers use wands to fill their glasses, make potions that change color and check their tabs on magic mirrors. Its all part of the immersive fantasy experience created by co-founders Matthew Cortland and David Duckworth.

The idea behind the business is giving people the illusion that magic is real, Cortland says. The venue draws in patrons with drinks like Wizard of Menlo Park, potion-making classes and a wizard-themed high tea. And embracing technology has been key to the businesss success. It integrates payment technology into programmable wands that can be used to add refills to tabs or check tab balances. Another popular feature: a custom reservation system that allows customers to add food and drink orders to bookings.

Opening tabs with programmable wands

From the beginning, The Cauldron Co. centered around the concept of programmable wands that store customers purchase data as individual bar tabs, which Cortland designed and patented.

You can open a tab on your magic wand and go to any one of the drink-dispensing taps that exist in the venue. And you can pour drinks, Cortland says. It adds that amount to your total tab.

After Cortland initially designed the wands, he and Duckworth took the concept further. They hired a team of in-house engineers and designers that spent years developing the technology, according to Cortland. Its difficult to calculate a return on investment for this technology, he says, because the wands are an integral part of what makes the company a success.

Smart screens disguised as magic mirrors allow customers to check their balances with a wave of their wands. Once a customer is ready to check out, their wand brings up their tab at the counter. For security, wands are associated with a customers account rather than a credit card, which is stored separately and charged when a customer checks out.

How it works: The wands currently work as independent devices that connect to Wi-Fi and store data on a cloud server. However, Cortland says the company will soon integrate with NCRs Aloha point-of-sale system so the wands communicate directly with the POS for a smoother checkout. The mirrors are powered by individually programmed Raspberry Pi computers that pull up a customers tab from the server.

Adding food and drink purchases to reservations

As The Cauldron Co. expanded, it also fine-tuned its reservation system, adding an option for customers to order food and drinks in advance. Cortland and Duckworth hired a software engineer to develop their custom booking system.

By incentivizing customers to order beforehand with a 10% discount, Cortland says theyre seeing customers add on drinks that they might not have otherwise purchased at the venue. Despite the time and upfront cost, theyve seen a payoff, hitting around 175% return on their investment five months after launch.

They plan on developing the feature to allow customers to add on purchases at any time after making a reservation and triggering targeted email campaigns to customers. The percentage of the people actually availing of the extra add-ons is between 20% and 25%, Cortland says. He predicts between 5% and 7% revenue growth in 2022 because of this feature.

Cortland also believes that reservation add-ons have increased revenue with in-person sales as well. The venues drinks are visually appealing, replicating the magic of the fantasy worlds that inspired them. A drink like the Dragons Breath, a flaming strawberry daiquiri, catches customers eyes as its delivered to tables, leading to in-person upsells.

When someone orders a round of bubbling shots as a pre-order, you know, you bring that out during the experience at the right time, and everyone else in the room sees that product exists, Cortland says. Then you have more people buying that drink.

How it works: The Cauldron Co. designed its custom booking system with payment processing using the application programming interfaces, or API, on two applications: Stripe, a point-of-sale system, and ResDiary, a restaurant reservation system. Once a customer pays online with Stripe, the POS triggers the database to send the customers data to ResDiary, which sends a confirmation email to the customer.

What other businesses can learn from The Cauldron Co.

Technology can be customized to fit a small business

Restaurateurs shouldnt be afraid to integrate technology, says Mark Wasilefsky, head of Restaurant Franchise Finance Group at TD Bank. Software developer kits, or SDKs, let developers build onto an existing system to create a customized application. When you use them like Cortland and Duckworth did, you can make a smoother payment process for customers. Many POS systems let businesses use SDKs to develop apps that work better for their customers.

For example, Square and QuickBooks both offer SDKs for their products so you can integrate their point-of-sale software into your businesss mobile application. For business owners who arent keen on doing the work themselves, hiring a third party to create a custom application is an option.

Accepting orders in advance can boost revenue

Letting customers pre-order their dine-in meals, like The Cauldron Co. does, makes it easier to anticipate demand and upsell items online. Small businesses dont have to know how to develop their own integrations to take advantage of this opportunity. Third-party options like GloriaFood allow customers to make reservations and pre-order their meals in one go. For small businesses that dont want to offer a full menu, Tock lets customers add on small items like wine pairings with their reservations.

Make your customer experience tell a story

A major part of The Cauldron Co.s appeal is its immersive fantasy theme that pervades every part of the customer experience and engages people in a story.

Stories are fundamentally emotional, says Jorge Barraza, an assistant professor of psychology at the University of Southern California. Building a story around an action, like paying for a drink, can turn something boring or painful into something that can be less aversive. It can also make for a memorable experience, increasing word-of-mouth promotion and encouraging repeat customers.

To improve the story youre telling to customers, consider the customer journey, including decor, menu design and services. Work toward making the experience more seamless and cohesive.

Whitney Vandiver writes for NerdWallet. Email: wvandiver@nerdwallet.com.

The article Business Inspiration: This Bar Lets You Buy Drinks With Wands originally appeared on NerdWallet.
Andre Johnson pulls VOTE HERE signs from the storage unit to be added to the lot as voting machines are sorted for delivery from the BR storage warehouse for the Tuesday national and local general elections Monday November 2, 2020, in Baton Rouge, La.
Jon Batiste's family visited the the Louisiana Legislature on Tuesday, April 12, 2022, to collect the musician's commendation for winning five Grammy Awards. From left to right is David Gauthier, his grandfather; Kaleana Gautier, his sister; Katherine Batiste, his mother; and Michael Batiste, his father.
FILE - In this Jan. 9, 2016, file photo, a customer looks at a SIG Sauer hand gun at a gun show held by Florida Gun Shows in Miami. The vast majority of mass shooters have acquired their firearms legally with nothing in their background that would have prohibited them from possessing a gun. But there have been examples of lapses in the background check system that allowed guns to end up in the wrong hands. Very few states also have a mechanism to seize firearms from someone who is not legally allowed to possess one. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky, File) ORG XMIT: FLLS404
Powerful investors will call on Australias gas producers to justify their future growth plans amid warnings new projects may face diminishing returns and risk becoming stranded by as early as next decade, as greener sources of energy take over.

Despite the war in Ukraine exacerbating a global energy crunch and brightening the outlook for exporters of liquefied natural gas (LNG), new modelling from resources consultancy Wood Mackenzie has raised questions about the longer-term viability of new and recently sanctioned gas projects across Australia.

Australias giant LNG sector is facing soaring prices as the war in Ukraine deepens and ongoing global energy crunch - but its long-term future is less certain. Credit:Glenn Campbell

In new analysis due to be released on Wednesday, Wood Mackenzie tested the outlook for several projects including Woodsides Scarborough field off the coast of Western Australia and Origin Energys possible future development of the Northern Territorys Beetaloo Basin against two hypothetical scenarios of increasing global efforts to limit the planets heating to 1.5 degrees above pre-Industrial Revolution levels.

The modelling found investment returns were lower across all projects under both scenarios of progressive and accelerated renewable energy uptake, even though some projects remained cash-flow positive.
Origin Energy has received federal government clearance to continue drilling for gas in the Northern Territorys Beetaloo Basin despite its joint-venture partners links to sanctioned Russian oligarch Viktor Vekselberg.

Following Russias invasion of Ukraine in February, the Australian government slapped financial sanctions on Russian oligarchs with business interests in the country including Vekselberg, a billionaire with close ties to President Vladimir Putin.

Russian oligarch Viktor Vekselberg is an investor in a joint-venture partner of Origin Energy in the Beetaloo Basin. Credit:ANDREY RUDAKOV.

Vekselberg has a financial interest in Falcon Oil and Gas, Origins junior partner in joint venture exploring gas tenements in the NTs highly prospective Beetaloo Basin.

Origin, one of the biggest ASX-listed power and gas companies, last month sought clarification from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) about the impact of economic sanctions. On Tuesday, it said it had received guidance that its activities were not in violation of sanctions laws because no asset was benefiting Vekselberg through the joint ventures activities.
ABC Melbourne breakfast host Sammy J continues to struggle in the ratings, despite a slight recovery for the station after a disappointing first survey of the year.

The average audience for his breakfast slot dropped by 1.1 percentage points in the second survey of 2022, to an 8.7 per cent share of the total market.

Why so glum? Sammy Js breakfast show again slid backwards in the radio ratings. Credit:Joe Armao

By way of comparison, when the previous breakfast hosts, Sami Shah and Jacinta Parsons, were axed in November 2019  with ABC management claiming they hadnt connected with audiences in the way they had hoped  their audience share in their final survey was 10.4 per cent.

Sammy J can take heart, at least, in the fact his rivals on the AM dial also suffered a drop, with Ross Stevenson and Russel Howcroft on 3AW (which is owned by Nine Entertainment Co., the owner of this masthead) shedding 3.6 points, to finish with an 18 .9 per cent share of audience. Significant as the dip was  they shed 28,000 listeners, to an average of 147,000 across the 5.30am to 9am slot  it still left them with the biggest audience share of any radio presenters on either AM or FM.
A week ago yesterday Frank Barndy Wilkinson, 26, a compositor, called in his Alvis car at Miss Dorothy Denzels home in Burwood, and the couple left for a short drive. They were not seen alive again. Their failure to return to their homes resulted in a police search being instituted. The missing car was found with the engine partially dismantled in a garage at Ashfield the following evening. The man who left it there has disappeared. Subsequently Miss Denzels beret and the cowl from the dashboard of the car were found in the centre of Milperra-road, Bankstown, and this narrowed down the area of the police search. Then Mr Robert Sutton reported that a man, who had endeavoured to shield his face, had driven up to his garage for petrol on the

morning following the disappearance of the couple. He was driving the Alvis car, and did not appear to be familiar with the mechanism. Evidence that the missing man and girl had been the victims of foul play were discovered in the rear of the car. A rug, from which strips had been torn, was discovered. The police believed that the missing pair had been set upon, and that their hands had been tied with the strips of rug. Subsequent developments proved this theory to be correct. WILKINSONS BODY FOUND. The finding of the beret, and Mr. Suttons report narrowed the police search. Large numbers of city and suburban police were drafted to the Moorebank and Holdsworthy districts, and a systematic search of the dense scrublands was commenced, under the direction of Detective Inspector Prior. Armed with long sharpened sticks, a long line of police, detectives, and local residents moved through the heavy under growth, prodding the earth at short intervals. Every inch of the area in the neighbourhood of the Moorebank district near the Anzac-road was carefully scrutinised.

Victim ... Dorothy Denzel was raped and murdered. The nature of the country hampered the searchers. Thick stunted bushes, heavy grass, thorns, and short gum trees and ti-tree scrub cover the district. Heavy rain, too, had made the ground marshy, and had obliterated any tracks that might have assisted the searchers. On Monday afternoon Constable Chaseling felt the point of his stout sharpened stick sink into soft ground. Some scrub, that at first sight appealed to have been beaten flat by rain, was flung aside, and protruding through the earth was a mans hand. Wilkinsons body had been discovered. He was lying face downwards in a shallow grave, with his hands tightly bound behind him with a stocking and strips of rug. His face had been battered in. The body was taken to the city morgue. The Government Medical Officer, Dr Palmer, made a close examination of the body yesterday. It was found that he had been shot at close range through the back of the head with a shotgun. His features were almost unrecognisable, and identification proved difficult. DISCOVERY OF SECOND BODY.

The discovery of Wilkinsons body resulted in the search for Miss Denzel being redoubled. From daylight yesterday the police slowly but surely combed the surrounding country. Every waterhole was dragged, and all apparently newly upturned earth was examined. Towards nightfall two residents in the district excitedly informed Detective-Sergeant Smith and Sergeant Taylor, of the Liverpool police, that they believed they had found a second grave. Armed with shovels, a party of police hurried to the scene, which is about a mile

away from where Wilkinsons body was found. Beneath some ti-tree, in particularly heavy scrub, was a shallow mound, freshly dug. It was strewn with bushes torn from nearby shrubs. In the failing light numerous bloodstains were found around the mound. Tak-

ing care not to disturb the surroundings to any extent, the police carefully removed the topmost soil. A bedraggled poition of a mud-stained dress was quickly uncovered. It was the dress Miss Denzel had been wearing when she disappeared. Her body was buried beneath the mound. CALLOUS CRIME. The police engaged on the case regard the crime as one of the most callous in the crime annals of the State. They believe that the couple were attacked and knocked into insensibility probably in the Strathfield district. Then the murderer tore one of the stockings from the girls leg and bound the mans hands. Probably he used the second stocking to secure the girls hands. Wilkinson probably temporarily regained consciousness and

the assailant hurriedly searched the car, found the rug tore some strips from it, and fastened them tightly on his wrists. Realising that discovery of his crime was inevitable if the couple lived he decided to murder them. Accordingly he placed one body in the car - which was too small to accommodate both - drove to the lonely neighbourhood with which he was familiar, procured a shot gun and shot the man as he lay defenceless on the ground. Then he carefully buried the body. He returned for the second body, carefully wrapping up the head in both cases to prevent blood from welling over the upholstery of the car and repeated his previous movements.

After disposing of the bodies in a neighbourhood in which he hoped they would never be discovered he drove the car to Mr Sproules garage in Ashfield where it was later found. In the morning he returned again and care fully washed off any spots of blood that might have fallen over the car. Secure as he thought from discovery of his terrible crime his cupidity overcame him and he decided to dismantle the car and sell the parts. This action he discontinued when he found that police were inquiring into the disappearance of the man and girl. Frank Wilkinson, shot and battered after Moxley had bound him helpless. SEARCH FOR A MAN A search is being made for a well known criminal who has a long police record. He is known to be in the habit of frequenting lonely parks which men and women occasionally visit. He is evidently familiar with the locality in which the crime was committed, but has disappeared from his usual haunts. The police have taken possession of a motor lorry which is believed to be the property of a man they wish to interrogate. Under the direction of police who are familiar with this mans habits, an intensive search is being made His description has been circulated throughout Australia. All shipping is being closely watched.

MOTIVE FOR THE CRIME The apparent absence of motive for the crime has puzzled police engaged upon the case. They attach most credence to the theory that Wilkinson and Miss Denzel parked the car in a secluded spot between Strathfield

and Bankstown where the murderer accosted them. Whether they were in the car or seated on the ground is a matter for conjecture. Probably the man sprang upon them unawares. Before they had time to close with him after the few words that must have been exchanged he felled Wilkinson with a blow from behind with a heavy instrument. Miss Denzel met the same fate before she had time to scream. MAN HUNT.

NET CLOSING IN.

Moorebank Murderer.

(April 14) Police obtained clues yesterday that they believe to be of the utmost importance. They expect to arrest a man at any moment. All avenues of escape from apprehension, they are convinced, are closed to him. Large

squads of police and detectives are scouring the neighbourhood of the crime. The wanted man is said to have an unrivalled knowledge of this rough, scrub-covered area, but the retreat in which he is believed to be lurking must inevitably be discovered. It is known that he will not be sheltered by fellow-criminals in the city. The underworld is closed to him because in the past he had informed. It is known that he has insufficient provisions to remain in hiding In the bush for any length of time, and that he will ultimately be forced to search for food.
NSW Police are appealing for information after the body of a woman washed up on Bronte Beach in Sydneys east on Wednesday morning.

Emergency services were called to the northern end of the beach at 5.45am following a notification from a member of the public.

The body has since been removed from the beach. Credit:Rhett Wyman

Police from Eastern Suburbs have set up a crime scene and an investigation is now underway, a spokeswoman for NSW Police said.

If anyone has information, they should ring Waverley Police or Crime Stoppers.
Paramedics were swamped with hundreds of code one calls across Queensland on Monday in what has been described as an unprecedented situation in the state.

The surge in calls to the Queensland Ambulance Service prompted Telstra to initiate a pre-recorded message for people calling triple-0, advising them to instead call 13 Health if they were not in an emergency.

Ramping at Princess Alexandra Hospital on Monday afternoon. Credit:Nine

The QAS reported a 32 per cent increase in triple-0 calls on Monday, Health Minister Yvette DAth said  the fourth-highest daily call volume in the states history.

The previous three records were in the middle of the first wave of the Omicron variant of coronavirus.
Disruptive behaviour and poor wellbeing among students have emerged as bigger problems in Victorian schools this year than learning loss after two years of disrupted schooling.

Primary school principals say they are grappling with new behavioural issues among students, including new cases of school refusal, alarming social media activity and vaping on school grounds.

Student wellbeing issues including concerns about bullying and trouble sleeping have emerged in term one. Credit:Alamy

An ongoing survey of 12,000 students in 60 schools has also uncovered higher levels of distress about bullying among girls than boys during the first term of school this year.

The survey also found that more than 40 per cent of students have been experiencing problems with sleeping every week.
Four thousand pieces of steel stretching more than 19 kilometres in length now form the roof of the rebuilt Sydney Football Stadium, which is almost complete ahead of its opening in September.

The stadium will hold 45,000 spectators, with the NSW government set to pitch the venue to the global market as major events re-emerge from the pandemic.

Minister for Infrastructure and Cities Rob Stokes and Minister for Tourism and Sport Stuart Ayres at Allianz Stadium on Tuesday. Credit:Peter Rae

All 4000 pieces of steel making up the new stadium roof were fabricated in western Sydney, weighing a combined 2000 tonnes, and the structure is designed to enhance sound reverberation when the seats are full.

Safety and accessibility concerns at the old Allianz Stadium triggered the controversial decision by former premier Gladys Berejiklian in 2017 to fund a replacement stadium at Moore Park, as part of $2 billion-plus stadium package.
Thousands of city-dwellers have made a move to the country or coast since the pandemic hit, leading house prices in the most popular destinations to soar as residents search for spacious homes and a more relaxed lifestyle.

Australian Bureau of Statistics figures for 2020-21 show the highest regional population growth in Western Australia (excluding the tiny outback town of Cue, which added four residents for a total of 144) was in Busselton and surrounding towns, which recorded a 3 per cent growth to reach 41,034 residents.

Busselton is WAs fastest growing regional area. Credit:Tourism WA

The region includes some of the states most exclusive and expensive beachside properties.

The median house prices in Yallingup will set you back a cool $3.05 million, with the average price of a patch of paradise leaping a staggering 54 per cent over the past 12 months.
WARNING: Graphic content

London: War crimes investigators have uncovered horrific cases of sexual violence committed by Russian troops in Ukraine, including women and girls kept in a Bucha basement for 25 days. Ukraines official ombudsman for human rights, Lyudmyla Denisova, says nine of them are now pregnant.

Denisova said she had recorded multiple cases of rape, torture and abuse by Kremlin forces in Bucha, outside Kyiv, and in other Ukrainian towns as the full extent of the Russian brutality spurred calls for President Vladimir Putin to be charged with crimes against humanity.

Residents stand on a Russian tank in the outskirts of Kyiv on Monday. Credit:AP

Since Moscow withdrew from northern Ukraine, evidence has surfaced of atrocities committed while Russian troops held the town, including indiscriminate killings, torture and other violence against civilians.
Ever since Antoine de Saint-Exupery's novella The Little Prince appeared almost 80 years ago, it has been one of those ubiquitous works of literature that people know about even if they haven't read it, if only for its eye-catching cover drawing of a blond-haired boy standing on an asteroid in space. The book has been translated into dozens of languages and cherished by young people, though with its philosophical musings and somewhat dark ending, it might better be considered a children's book for adults.

You could also say that its new translation to the stage, in an international production that has now arrived at the Broadway Theatre, is a kid's show for grown-ups. It had recent runs in Paris, Sydney, and Dubai before landing in New York, the city where Saint-Exupery wrote some of the book in 1942. Directed and choreographed by Anne Tournie, The Little Prince retells Saint-Exupery's story using dance, circus acrobatics, and a narrator (Chris Mouron) in a near-two-hour show that could easily be 90 minutes if not for an overlong intermission. High-flying theatrics and feats of agility would seem like an inspired way to tell the Little Prince's tale of planet-hopping and self-discovery, but unfortunately this production fails to capture the imagination the way the book does, and for the most part it underwhelms.

Antony Cesar (above) plays the Vain Man and Lionel Zalachas plays the Little Prince.

( Joan Marcus)

I say this as someone who has covered many circus-and-dance-themed shows that have dazzled in much smaller theaters, such as the New Victory in midtown and Company XIV's Brooklyn venue. The vast stage of the Broadway Theatre does work for this show in one respect  it highlights the physical and existential isolation of the Little Prince (Lionel Zalachas), the Aviator (Aurelien Bednarek) who becomes stranded in the Sahara Desert after his plane crashes, and the story's other lonely characters.

In another respect, however, the sheer size of the stage swallows the production, which has no set to fill the vastness. Instead, scene changes are suggested by a large screen in the rear that displays projections (designed by Marie Jumelin) ranging from surrealistic space-scapes to banal screensaver-like starbursts. These images do re-create the book's otherworldly atmosphere, but they tend to pull the eye away from the performers who already look like they are struggling to be seen.

Laurisse Sulty as the Rose and Lionel Zalachas as the Little Prince on Broadway

( Joan Marcus)

That's a shame for a show that does have some breathtaking moments of beauty, particularly in the first act. Laurisse Sulty, wearing a flowing dress (costumes by Peggy Housset) that when spun blooms like large rose petals, plays the Little Prince's love interest, the Rose, with astonishing grace. She and Zalachas (whose light-green outfit makes him look like a buff Gumby) perform a gorgeous pas de deux on the stage and in the air using aerial straps. Together, their physical chemistry elevates the scene into the show's most memorable moment.

Tournie's efforts elsewhere are less engaging as the Little Prince hopscotches from one planet to the next (also via aerial straps), where he meets a series of grown-ups who illustrate how "strange" people become once they leave childhood behind. The show follows the book relatively closely as the Little Prince meets a power-hungry King (Joan Bertrand), a red-hat-obsessed Vain Man (Antony Cesar), a slovenly Drunkard (Marie Menuge), a maniacal Businessman (Adrien Picaut), a tireless Lamplighter (Marcin Janiak), and more.

Chris Mouron (center) as the Aviator with cast members of The Little Prince

( Joan Marcus)

In these and other dance-heavy scenes (featuring ethereal and quirky music by Terry Truck), the real attraction is Housset's richly colored costumes, with lush reds symbolizing the self-consuming passions of the King and the Vain Man. The Drunkard's scene seems, for a moment, as though it will provide some additional excitement as a performer on a Cyr wheel enters and begins spinning like, well, a drunkard, but this inspired bit of acrobatics is short-lived, and after the Cyr wheel gently swirls to a stop, it never appears again.

Moments like that betray a show that appears uncertain whether it wants to be structured around dance and acrobatics or around quotes from the book. Throughout the Little Prince's encounters, Mouron (sporting green hair designed by Carmen Arbues Miro) narrates the action and dialogue with passages in English and an occasional sentence or two in French. The narration also appears in English on monitors positioned on either side of the proscenium, though Tristan Viscogliosi's clear sound design makes the surtitles mostly unnecessary.

Those who love the book will take pleasure in hearing famous lines like, "It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye." But sadly, Mouron's sometimes booming narration feels more like an intrusion, particularly in later dance sequences involving the Aviator and the Fox (Dylan Barone). In a smaller venue, the dance and the acrobatics might have been all the narration The Little Prince needed, letting what was essential be unheard by the ear.
Press Release

April 12, 2022 Hontiveros gets re-election endorsement from largest student org coalition Senator Risa Hontiveros promises to prioritize student rights in her second term after receiving the endorsement of the Student Council Alliance of the Philippines (SCAP), the largest alliance of student leaders, councils, orgs and political parties. "Taos-puso akong nagpapasalamat sa SCAP sa pag-eendorso nila sa re-election ko. Long time partner ko na ang SCAP sa paglalaban para sa kapakanan at adbokasiya ng mga estudyante. Having been a student leader myself, I value this partnership and would like to continue to represent the youth in the Senate," Hontiveros said. In the statement SCAP released on Monday, they said that Hontiveros' re-election is "the victory of students, the youth, and all Filipinos." They cited Hontiveros for her continuous support for the Student Rights and Welfare (STRAW) Bill, and for her previous victories as a Representative in Congress that the youth have benefitted from like the SK Reform Law. Hontiveros also thanked SCAP for their acknowledgment of her support for students' policy calls throughout the years- such as the Mental Health Law and Bawal Bastos Act. In 2021, Hontiveros filed Senate Resolution 901 in coordination with SCAP to call for the declaration of an Education crisis as millions of students lagged behind in the distance learning setup due to the pandemic. During her term in the Senate, Hontiveros has worked closely with student councils to strengthen mental health policies and programs, and establish gender or anti-sexual harassment desks in universities. "Marami pa tayong kailangan gawin kasama ang mga kabataan. For as long as I am in the Senate, my office will always be a space for the youth to speak and be heard," Hontiveros concluded.
Associate Editor

Brent Addleman is an Associate Editor and a veteran journalist with more than 25 years of experience. He has served as editor of newspapers in Pennsylvania and Texas, and has also worked at newspapers in Delaware, Maryland, New York, and Kentucky.
Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp delivers his state of the state address on Thursday, Jan. 13, 2022, in Atlanta.
The Shell Norco refinery is seen along the Mississippi River in Norco, La., Thursday, March 8, 2018. The refinery is considered one of the largest petrochemical facilities in the United States.
Travelers at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport check the status of flights, including a few that were canceled, on displays inside a gate terminal, Friday, April 1, 2022 in Seattle. Dozens of flights along the West Coast are being canceled as Alaska Airlines pilots picket during ongoing contract negotiations with the airline. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
Regional Editor

Brett Rowland has worked as a reporter in newsrooms in Illinois and Wisconsin. He most recently served as news editor of the Northwest Herald in Crystal Lake, Illinois. He previously held the same position at the Daily Chronicle in DeKalb.
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EMLENTON - The board of directors of Emclaire Financial Corporation, the parent holding company of the Farmers National Bank of Emlenton, declared a quarterly cash dividend on Feb. 16, of 31 cents per common share payable on March 18, to shareholders of record on March 1.
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COOPERSTOWN - Patricia A. McArdle, 84, burial and committal services with full military honors for Patricia A. McArdle who died Dec. 5, 2021, will be held at 1 p.m., Saturday May 14, in the Hartwick Seminary Cemetery, Hartwick Seminary. Arrangements are with Tillapaugh Funeral Service, Cooperstown.
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This is not a drill! The full trailer for Stranger Things season 4 is here, and it looks darker than ever.

Netflix has dropped a couple tease trailers for the upcoming season over the last year, and we've been told to expect it to be the "scariest" and "best" season yet.

It looks like all of our favourite characters are making a return, including Eleven, Mike, Lucas, Dustin, Will, Max, Steve, Nancy, Jonathan, Robin, Joyce, and even Hopper - who miraculously survived season three.
Members of the U.S. Marshals Missing Child Unit during "Operation Never Forgotten 2021" in Atlanta, Georgia. (Courtesy of Shane T. McCoy/U.S. Marshals)

16 Missing Children Recovered in Operation, Sex Trafficking Allegations Uncovered

A three-month operation has seen 16 missing and endangered children rescued or recovered, and five individuals arrested by the U.S. Marshals Service in the New Orleans, Louisiana metro area.

The agencys operation Fresh Start was conducted by the U.S. Marshals Service Eastern District of Louisiana New Orleans Task Forces Missing Child Unit (MCU) from Jan. 1 until March 31, it said in a news release published on April 7. It also said the sting uncovered allegations of human sex trafficking.

Investigations as part of the three-month MCU operation also uncovered allegations of human sex trafficking in several of the cases, the agency said.

Based on the operation at least four felony warrant(s) exist for adults suspected of involvement with MCU minors and the USMS New Orleans Task Force is actively pursuing these fugitives, the news release said.

Outlining some rescue and recovery cases in the MCU operation, the U.S. Marshals Service said a 14-year-old female runaway was recovered on March 25 at an address in Fayetteville, Georgia, residing with several adults.

The teen had run away from New Orleans in January of 2022 and family were concerned about her possible involvement in sex trafficking and believed that she was with an older male in Florida, the news release said.

As part of the operation, U.S. Marshals also recovered a 5-year-old girl and 7-year-old boy on Jan. 20 who were taken by their non-custodial parent, their mother.

The Jefferson Parish Sheriffs Office issued a felony warrant for the mother of the children for Kidnapping, and she made active attempts to avoid arrest along the way, the release said. The non-custodial parent/mother took the children to the Ft. Lauderdale, Florida area and the USMS Florida/Caribbean Regional Fugitive Task Force was able to recover the children and arrest the mother on her Jefferson Parish Sheriffs Office warrant.

On Feb. 8, a 2-year-old boy kidnapped by a family member was taken from his crib and abducted from his home. The child was later safely returned to his mother, the U.S. Marshals Service said.

I am very proud of the cooperative work done by all the agencies involved in safeguarding at risk children. Our Office is proud to be a part of a robust MCU program that took root in New Orleans starting in 2016, U.S. Marshal for the Eastern District of Louisiana, Scott Illing, said in a statement.

This work is being done with our partners while our office still performs its critical USMS missions (judicial and witness security, managing federal prisoners, violent fugitives apprehension, sex offender investigations, and service of federal process), Illing added.

The U.S. Marshals Service has urged anyone with information about missing or endangered children report to a local police department and or the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 1-800-The-Lost. Information about violent fugitives can be provided to the U.S. Marshals Service at (504) 589-6872 or via email at usms.wanted@usdoj.gov, or with the USMS tips app.
A medical worker wears protective clothing as she gives a woman a nucleic acid test at a mass testing site to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in Beijing, China, on March 15, 2022. (Kevin Frayer/Getty Images)

Residential Area in Beijing Locked Down After 8 Confirmed COVID-19 Cases

On April 9, a residential neighborhood with an area of about 2 square miles in Beijings densely populated Chaoyang district was declared a high-risk area, because in the past 14 days, there were eight confirmed local cases of COVID-19 infection, according to the deputy director of the Beijing Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

Chinas zero-COVID policy does not allow people in the high-risk area to leave their homes, while people in the surrounding areas are allowed to leave their homes but not the community, and they are not allowed to congregate.

The high-risk area, named Jiuxianqiao, consists of 10 residential communities, 4 lower schools (up to grade 6) and 4 upper schools (grade 712), 5 medical facilities ranging from general hospitals to clinics, and a variety of businesses.

An online video shows someone driving along what appears to be the main road in Jiuxianqiao area where the stores were all closed with official seals on the front. In his video, the driver kept saying everything is closed, everything!

On the Chinese social media app weibo, a netizen posted a picture of an electronic bulletin board in a Beijing neighborhood. The messages on the picture say, do not enter or exit Beijing, do not post anything related to COVID online, the enemys spies are right next to you, you could leak our secrets in an instant, and wantonly speaking up will be severely punished.

Electronic bulletin board displaying messages warning people against posting COVID-related content online and to be aware of enemy spies. (Screenshot by The Epoch Times)

Mass Testing

Chaoyang district is a diplomatic and financial hub filled with upscale shopping centers and luxury apartments. The deputy head of Chaoyang district said that on April 8, 798,331 people in the district were tested, among which 398,000 people in high-risk areas were tested the third time. Those who were close contacts with the already identified positive cases have been quarantined, even though they tested negative. One person under quarantine tested positive on April 9.

According to a 2019 survey report by the Central Academy of Fine Arts, the population of Jiuxianqiao was 87,400 and it is more densely populated than the average in Chaoyang district. In addition, this number excludes the migrant population.

Imported Auto-Parts Tested Positive

According to a Chinese media report, during the April 9 press conference, the deputy director of the Beijing Municipal CDC also mentioned that some imported auto-parts had been PCR tested and they had tested positive, although he did not say from where they were imported. We have started contact tracing of the infected auto-parts and will identify those and handle them according to different risk levels.

Roads Closed, Outskirts Affected

According to online postings, the highways to the south and east of Beijing are closed. No vehicles can enter Beijing via these highways.

Xianghe County is to the southeast of Beijing. A business owner in Xianghe county told The Epoch Times Chinese Edition that even though not a single positive case has been found, the county has been under lockdown since March 13. Some factories are forced to close down.

Map of Xianghe county to the southeast of Beijing. (Screenshot by The Epoch Times)

On April 2, a logistics company at Xianghe county had a few trucks coming back from Shanghai. The county officials immediately put the logistics company, and the neighborhoods where the drivers live under strict surveillance.

On April 9, workers at a closed construction material market in Xianghe staged a protest demanding the re-opening of the market so they can work. In a video, the people can be heard shouting, I want to work. But the local government has not responded. The Xianghe business owner told The Epoch Times, we dont know how to pay our rent.

Li Jing and Gu Xiaohua contributed to this report
Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland tables the federal budget in the House of Commons as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau looks on, in Ottawa on April 7, 2022. (The Canadian Press/Adrian Wyld)

A Kind of Newspeak: Modern Supply-Side Budget Downplays High Costs of New Spending, Say Experts

News Analysis

Canadas Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland classified her budget as modern supply-side economics, but its greater reliance on government spending represents a new twist on the concept, some experts say.

In her April 7 budget speech, Freeland said that housing and immigration and skills and child care are not only social policies, but just as importantly, they are economic policies, too.

Our strategy is what Janet Yellen, the U.S. Secretary of the Treasury, has recently dubbed modern supply-side economics. Modern supply-side economics borrows the supply-siders key insightthat increasing supply is fundamental to growthbut takes a progressive, people-centred approach, she said.

Steve Ambler, economics professor at the University of Quebec at Montreal, likens that to a kind of newspeak that redefines spending as supply-side policies and says its a departure from the concepts basic tenets.

Traditional supply-side policies involve encouraging private production by reducing red tape and by keeping public spending under control so that the burden of taxation can be reduced. Lower taxes will encourage investment by private businesses and increase labour supply by individuals, Ambler told The Epoch Times.

By contrast, instead of a greater supply of capital and labour, what the government is supplying is more spending, Ambler said.

A Lot of New Spending

Federal spending will drop as COVID relief spending ends but will remain 25 percent higher than pre-COVID [times]. Theres a lot of new spending. The dental care spending seems to involve subsidizing demand for dental care. And new defence spending is just that, spending, Ambler said.

According to Budget 2022 projections, for fiscal 202223, spending is set at $452.3 billion, with a deficit of $52.8 billion and a debt-to-GDP ratio of 45.1 percent. By 202627, spending will rise to $506.1 billion, the deficit and debt-to-GDP will fall to $8.4 billion and 41.5 percent respectively.

The program spending is expected to be $90 billion above 2019 levels in the next fiscal year. Its buoyed by new programs with five-year costs including $5.3 billion for dental care, $9.4 billion for defence, $12.5 billion for subsidies for electric vehicles and clean tech tax credits, $10 billion for housing, and $10.5 billion for reconciliation with indigenous people. These are in addition to programs announced in 2021, such as child-care subsidies to reduce parents payments to $10 per day per child.

The $52.8 billion deficit projected for 202223 is down from the $113.8 billion projected for 202122, which is down from the $327.7 billion actual deficit in 202021, but Ambler said this means the government will still have to tax more or borrow more (which means taxing more in the future all other things being equal).

Ian Lee, professor of business at Carleton University, believes that more taxes and bureaucracy is the opposite of what supply-side economics is supposed to mean.

Rather, it is an ideological attempt by liberals and progressives to rebrand government spending as investmentand justify the role of increased government and government spending by claiming that government-directed and -financed spending will address and solve the underlying problems of productivity, Lee said by email.

There is little credible evidence that I know to support this claim, he noted. Indeed, the evidence of the last century has shown that centrally planned economies generally are much less successful at creating a high standard of living than decentralized mixed economies that rely on the private sector to allocate and distribute investment.

Double Taxation, Lagging Productivity

Budget 2022 introduced a one-time 15 percent tax on banks and life insurance companies based on their 2021 taxable income above $1 billion, a move expected to provide about $4 billion to the government over five years. Also, the federal tax rate for banks and insurers for income over $100 million permanently rises to 16.5 percent from 15 percent, amounting to about $2 billion in additional taxes over five years.

Ambler believes this measure has downsides.

Corporate taxes are double taxation, plain and simple. You tax operating profits once at the firm level, and when shareholders receive dividends those are taxed a second time. This discourages capital accumulation and is an anti-supply-side policy, he said.

A tax on banks makes financial intermediation more costly and puts sand in the gears of the link between savings and investmentanother form of corporate tax that will discourage capital accumulation.

Freeland acknowledged in her budget speech that productivity and innovation were the Achilles heel of the Canadian economy and a well-known and insidious problem. She said she would tackle it in part, with a new innovation and investment agency.

Supply-side economics usually includes lower taxes, deregulation, and free trade, and Lee believes those are the very solutions that Canada needs to address its productivity problem.

Canadian productivity has lagged U.S. productivity by approximately 20 percent for decades. There are numerous studies over decades. Manybut not allhave blamed Canadian protectionism in multiple industries, higher rates of both corporate and personal taxation, more stringent laws and regulations that inhibit or discourage growth, Lee said.

This can best [be] tested by examining flows of foreign investment into Canadaas FDI [foreign direct investment] is a barometer of investment attractivenessbecause FDI flows to countries with the most attractive environment for investing. Our more restrictive framework, laws and regulations, manifest in relatively lower levels of FDI and lower productivity.

Lees assessment is consistent with the argument in a Wall Street Journal op-ed published in February titled The folly of modern supply-side economics.

Authors Phil Gramm and Mike Solon from the Washington, D.C.-based American Enterprise Institute think tank criticized Yellen for her approach, calling it a phony version of President Reagans supply-side economics. They pointed to a 2016 analysis by the Congressional Budget Office, which stated that federal investment is estimated to yield half of the typical return on investment completed by the private sector, to support their argument that government spending hurts supply more than it helps.

Supply and Demand Sides

Trevor Tombe, economics professor at the University of Calgary, says he doesnt think Budget 2022 represents anything new, nor does he think describing it as supply-side is appropriate.

Fiscal policy can be split between demand and supply sides, he explained in an email.

Demand-side policy is about increasing the amount of goods and services that are being demanded in the economy (i.e., government buying stuff), while supply-side is about increasing the capacity of an economy to produce (i.e., technology, more resources, etc.). Sometimes policy can be both, [and] almost every budget has some demand-side aspects and some supply-side aspects, Tombe said.

I think its fair to say something like child care has important supply-side effects to consider (if its increasing participation in the labour force of parents, for example). Government subsidies for innovation could also be supply-side (even if one was skeptical that theyre very effective).

But he said that, rather than classifying a budget as either supply-side or demand-side, a better way to think about it is leave it to reasonable people [to] agree/disagree with specific policy choices.
A resident stands with her belongings on a street near a building burnt in the course of the Ukraine-Russia conflict, in the southern port city of Mariupol, Ukraine, on April 10, 2022. (Alexander Ermochenko/Reuters)

After More Than a Month of Fighting, Where Do Things Stand in the Russia-Ukraine War?

Commentary

As the Russian invasion of Ukraine enters its second month, much is still in flux and our information is far from perfect, but three things stand out.

First, Russian President Vladimir Putin appears close to securing many of the objectives he laid out before invading Ukraine. Second, this invasion has been a massive mistake. Third, while Joe Biden has found a way to place himself at the head of a coalition of the willing, he risks mucking up the advantage he has gained at the price of war in Ukraine by alienating allies and would-be neutrals alike.

Why Putin Invaded Ukraine

That Putin initially hoped to topple the Kyiv government seems clear enough from the initial thrust of the attack coming from Belarus. At the time of this writing, Russian forces continue to shell the major cities of Kyiv, Mariupol, and Mykolaiv, while other units are in the process of redeploying to concentrate on securing the Donbass region.

Of course, it is in the Donbass that fighting between forces loyal to the Kyiv government and pro-Russian separatists have killed an estimated fourteen thousand since the first phase of the present conflict began in 2014. The majority in the area being ethnic Russians, Putin has for years complained that he considers this something close to genocide, and when he announced the special military operation, this was one of the central goals outlined.

Since Russias invasion of Ukraine began, another of Putins stated goals, the denazification of Ukraines armed forces, is also likely already largely accomplishedthis according to analyst Ian Bremmer, who on Twitter noted the devastation of Mariupol and the concentration of Azov battalion fighters in that region.

Though the conflict is ongoing, and negotiations continue back and forth, Putins basic demands still center around recognition of certain Russian-occupied Ukrainian territory and official recognition of Ukraines permanent neutral status with regard to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), with no foreign troops or bases to be stationed there.

This would basically amount to a recognition of facts on the ground and the realities of NATO alliance membership.

Why Invading Ukraine Was a Mistake

To start off, as the Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov acknowledged last week, the unity, resolve, and decisiveness of NATO and the EU was unexpected. Heavy arms and equipment from previously unthinkable countries like Germany came pouring into Ukraine through Poland, billions of euros were raised overnight, countries like Hungary and Italy went along with a severe set of sanctions, and NATO intelligence sharing helped the Kyiv government survive an initial assault by an enemy vastly better equipped and numerically superior.

Apart from the losses of men and material Russia has suffered in the five weeks of fighting, with even low estimates of Russian casualties already in the thousands, its armed forces have also lost some of their prestigeafter all, a modicum of help from the largest, most powerful military alliance in history has made Ukraine indigestible. Meanwhile, domestic protests against the war itself were quickly combined with skyrocketing prices as the ruble dropped precipitously.

In short, as fighting and negotiations continue, Putin finds himself in a tight spot. Its a survivable one, whatever Biden or anyone else might like, but Russia will already be a lot poorer and a lot more isolated going forward. As a consequence, Putin has made himself more vulnerable at home while at the same time losing any strategic flexibility he might have enjoyed in his new partnership with Xi Jinpings China. Now, Russia has nowhere but Beijing to turn.

Frankly, it was a trap, and Putin finally fell in.

After years of Kyiv purposely doing nothing to move toward Minsk II implementation, after years of provocative joint military exercises with NATO forces on Ukrainian soil, after years of heavy arms shipments to a government in Kyiv that Putin already considered illegitimate and massacring Russians, Putin finally insisted on Ukraines neutrality on paper. And even though the Biden administration publicly admitted Ukraine wasnt close to joining NATO, might never join NATO, they chose to say no to Putin, publicly daring him to follow through on what they knew were his plans to invade and destroy Ukraine.

Second, when he did, the maximum obtainable economic measures were almost immediately enacted: Nord Stream 2 was killed, Russia was booted from SWIFT, it was locked out of its own reserves, vital trade and technology transfers stopped; and Russian assets across the world became subject to seizure. Along with a host of other sanctions, secondary enforcement mechanisms were put in place to ensure global compliance. Whether or not they were ever meant to deter, now that they are in place, the sanctions serve to make an example, as Bidens national security advisor, Jake Sullivan, was kind enough to state plainly for us this past week: At the end of the day, the Russian people are going to ask the more fundamental question of why this happened. He concluded, We believe that, at the end of the day, they will be able to connect the dots.

The implications were obvious, and the Biden administration made sure Beijing didnt miss them. Because while Russia is still a powerful country in its own right, China is clearly the ascendant power that has been for over a decade preoccupying U.S. security planners.

Russia is frankly being made an example of. China, whose domestic economy is far more tied into world trade, has just seen what a coordinated response from the richer Western nations can do.

In the long run, Russia will be able to outlast U.S. sanctions by shifting commodity exports to a willing developing world. Were a similar situation to occur over Taiwan in the next decade, China would not have any such outlet for its abundance of manufactured goods, and its internal market, while growing, is still too underdeveloped to absorb the surpluses.

The U.S. and Chinas economic interdependence was part of the Clintonite strategy of integrating China into the world economy. As the relationship deepened, both sides came to recognize that they were now locked into a situation of mutually assured economic destructionas evidenced by Beijings unwillingness to pounce on the United States during its prolonged economic crisis a decade ago. However, there exists a key asymmetry within the relationship, and every U.S. security strategist knows it: in the event of a massive economic crash, in a democracy theres a new election, while in an authoritarian state theres a revolution.

Why Biden Risks Fumbling It All Away

Having gotten the confrontation he wanted, pitting global democracy against authoritarianism, Biden risks losing the advantage by trying to force the rest of the world to pick a side. Because it isnt just China that doesnt want to get on board. As measured by population, half the world is represented by a state that didnt vote to condemn Putins invasion. Even among those that did, many werent keen to do so and arent eager for what comes next.

While major regional players like India and Brazil capture the headlines, this reticence is present across the developing world. As reported by The Economist this past week, many developing nations dont want to have to choose between having relations with the West and with Russia, a critical supplier of cheap natural resources. Already they complain of disproportionately bearing the brunt of the externalities competing superpowers have imposed on the world over Ukrainea vital food supplier to the developing world.

The incredible lengths to which the Wests sanctions regime has gone, particularly its targeting of Russias foreign reserves, is also prompting reconsideration by other nondemocratic regimes who hold large quantities of U.S. dollarsincluding nominal nondemocratic allies such as Saudi Arabia, which this past week teased with the idea of selling oil in yuan.

Conclusion

Whatever the potential benefits of turning this conflict into a Rand-study Afghanistan 2.0, it is also true that the longer the war goes on, the greater the chance of an escalation or widening of the warinadvertent or otherwise.

Apart from resistance to existing sanctions, attempts at further sanctions risk cracking open an already strained allied bloc.

Putin has been weakened, Russia diminished, and Beijing sent a message.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.

Joseph Solis-Mullen Follow A graduate of Spring Arbor University and the University of Illinois, Joseph Solis-Mullen is a political scientist and graduate student in the economics department at the University of Missouri. A writer and blogger, his work can be found at the Ludwig von Mises Institute, Eurasian Review, Libertarian Institute, and Sage Advance. You can contact him through his website JSMWritings.com or find him on Twitter @solis_mullen.
Finding a movie that explores and celebrates the power of human reason is difficult.

Movies, after all, tell stories, and stories by their very nature require action. For every movie in which a hero conquers his problems by means of reason and deliberation, we can think of a thousand in which the protagonist is an action heroa thinking hero, yes, but nonetheless a person who defeats the bad guys with both brains and brawn.

Yet one film does give its viewers insights into a man struggling with his conscience while trying his best to reason his way out of the traps prepared by his adversaries. Playwright and screenwriter Robert Bolts A Man for All Seasons tells the story of Sir Thomas Mores struggles to preserve his faith and his life against King Henry VIIIs demands for loyalty and submission.

Sir Thomas More, 1527, by Hans Holbein the Younger. Oil on oak wood, 29.4 inches by 23.7 inches. The Frick Collection. (Public Domain)

More (Paul Scofield), who is a leading European intellectual, the author of Utopia, a personal friend of King Henry, and once his Lord Chancellor, finds himself in deep trouble when Henry wishes to divorce his barren queen, Catherine of Aragon, and marry his lover, the beautiful Anne Boleyn. When the pope refuses to annul the marriage to Catherine, Henry severs his ties with Rome, establishes himself as the Supreme Head of the Church of England, and commands his subjects to recognize the legitimacy of his union with Anne.

And here More draws a line in the sand.

Paul Scofield (L) as Sir Thomas More and Robert Shaw as King Henry VIII in the 1966 film A Man for All Seasons. (MovieStillsDB)

Looking to the Law

In the film, as in life, Mores friends and family counsel him and eventually beg him to concede Henrys position and approve his marriage. Sir Thomas, however, finds himself torn between his Catholic faith, which has condemned the divorce, and his fealty to the king. Surrounded as well by political enemies eager to break him, he seeks refuge and sustenance from these battles in the bastion of wit, reason, and law. Here, he discusses his dilemma with his son-in-law, William Roper (Corin Redgrave):

William Roper: So, now you give the Devil the benefit of law!

Sir Thomas More: Yes! What would you do? Cut a great road through the law to get after the Devil?

William Roper: Yes, Id cut down every law in England to do that!

Sir Thomas More: Oh? And when the last law was down, and the Devil turned round on you, where would you hide, Roper, the laws all being flat? This country is planted thick with laws, from coast to coast, Mans laws, not Gods! And if you cut them downand youre just the man to do itdo you really think you could stand upright in the winds that would blow then? Yes, Id give the Devil benefit of law, for my safetys sake!

In the Tangle of the Mind

Having cut his ties with Rome, Henry decrees that his subjects must take an oath of loyalty to him as king and as head of the English Church. In a conversation with Margaret (Susannah York), his beloved daughter and a learned scholar in her own rightthe Dutch philosopher and theologian Erasmus, a family friend, dubbed her the flower of all the learned matrons of EnglandMore lays out his response to the kings declaration:

Sir Thomas More: Listen, Meg, God made the angels to show Him splendor, as He made animals for innocence and plants for their simplicity. But Man He made to serve Him wittily, in the tangle of his mind. If He suffers us to come to such a case that there is no escaping, then we may stand to our tackle as best we can, and, yes, Meg, then we can clamor like champions, if we have the spittle for it. But its Gods part, not our own, to bring ourselves to such a pass. Our natural business lies in escaping. If I can take the oath, I will.

And More proceeds to do just as he says, to try and find some legal or ethical way out of the deadly fix in which he finds himself.

Thomas More (Paul Scofield) speaking to his daughter Margaret (Susannah York), in a publicity shot for the film. (MovieStillsDB)

No Exit

Yet each day brings more demands and pressures from the king and his minions. Soon Sir Thomas realizes that he is trapped: His conscience will not allow him to acquiesce and recognize the kings actions as legitimate, and there is no escaping the consequences. After he is arrested, imprisoned, and comes to trial, a kangaroo court convicts him of treason.

When asked Have you anything to say? More replies: I am the kings true subject, and I pray for him and all the realm. I do none harm. I say none harm. I think none harm. And if this is not enough to keep a man alive, then in good faith I long not to live.

That wish is granted. Thomas More is found guilty of treason and beheaded, an act that makes him a martyr in the eyes of the Catholic Church. Eventually, that same Church will declare him a saint.

The Spine to Stand Alone

Few other movies so winningly present the case for logic, thought, and conviction as weapons against an opponent. More does not try to raise an army, lead a rebellion, escape his enemies, or evade the issue. Instead, he uses his mind like a rapier, parrying and warding off blow after blow until he is at last cornered and defeated.

Orsen Welles appears as Cardinal Wolsey. (MovieStillsDB)

Each one who confronts him about his decisionsMargaret, his wife Alice, the Duke of Norfolk, William Roper, his enemies Thomas Cromwell and Richard Richreveals another side of More, illuminating his powers of reason and persuasion. Here, for instance, More is discussing his situation with his friend, the Duke of Norfolk (Nigel Davenport). The duke, a bluff, hard-nosed Englishman who prefers action to words, cant understand why More refuses to join the king and the vast majority of the clergy and nobility who stand with him:

The Duke of Norfolk: Oh, confound all this. Im not a scholar, I dont know whether the marriage was lawful or not, but dammit, Thomas, look at these names! Why cant you do as I did and come with us, for fellowship?

Sir Thomas More: And when we die, and you are sent to heaven for doing your conscience, and I am sent to hell for not doing mine, will you come with me, for fellowship?

Lessons

Bolt took the title for his play and later for the movie from a description of Thomas More written in 1520 by Robert Whittington.

More is a man of an angels wit and singular learning. He is a man of many excellent virtues; I know not this fellow. For where is the man (in whom is so many goodly virtues) of that gentleness, lowliness, and affability, and as time requires, a man of marvelous mirth and pastimes and sometime of steadfast gravitya man for all seasons.

In the film, actor Paul Scofield brilliantly gives us this man. As More, Scofield goes from piety to laughter in a heartbeat, is tough as nails on himself while showing gentleness and compassion for his grief-stricken wife and daughter. The character also demands wit in the worst of circumstances, as when More discovers during his trial that Richard Rich (John Hurt), a former protege, has betrayed him in order to become the attorney general for Wales. For Wales? More says. Why, Richard, it profits a man nothing to give up his soul for the whole world  But for Wales?

Richard Rich (John Hurt), a former protege, betrays More for his own profit. (MovieStillsDB)

In another scene depicting human frailty, Mores jailor hustles his visitorsMargaret, Alice, and Williamfrom his cell and then tells More: You must understand my position, sir. Im just a plain simple man. I just want to keep out of trouble.

That excuse and Richard Richs lust for power, wealth, and pleasure have echoed throughout the corridors of history. They are as old as the Bible and as new as yesterdays headlines.

A Man for all Seasons gives us a man, a hero in spirit and intellect, who died steadfast in his defense of the law, honor, truth, and his God. He refused to take the easy path and paid for that decision with his life.

A publicity still of the final courtroom scene and climax of A Man for All Seasons. (MovieStillsDB)

We shall always need men and women like Robert Bolts Sir Thomas More, human beings who can see the long haul of history as well as the short race of current trends and events, who have a firm grasp of right and wrong, and who refuse to join with others in a bad cause for the sake of fellowship or to sell their souls for earthly honors.
Huge queues are seen at the Virgin and Jetstar domestic departure terminal at Sydney Domestic Airport in Sydney, Australia, on April 8, 2022. (AAP Image/Dean Lewins) NO ARCHIVING

Australians Face Chaos in Sydney Airport as Easter Holidays Kick Off

Sydney International Airport has been in chaos as the reduced staff numbers are unable to handle the number of Aussies hoping to get away during the Easter holidays, with the queues for check-in and security ending outside.

For many Aussies, it would be the first time they have flown since the borders opened after almost two years of closures.

The airport had struggled with COVID close contact isolation rules, with airport staff initially not on the list of essential workers exempted from the rules. They were added to the list on April 8 to help deal with the staff shortages.

The airports security staff, under its security partner Certis Group, is also just beginning to rebuild its workforce.

However, the arrival of the Easter school holidays is expected to be the busiest period in two years.

Jeff Coleman, the CEO of Sydney Airport, apologised to travellers for the challenges and thanked everyone for their patience.

Were still 30 percent down on pre-COVID staff levels. We havent been able to get staff because theres just not enough available people out there in the market, Coleman told 2GB radio. I think were all experiencing that across various sectors of the economy  Were all were all fighting over the same pool of talent.

On top of being unable to recruit staff, Coleman said the airport was seeing absenteeism of up to 20 percent of existing staff due to COVIDSafe policies.

So weve been running it 60 percent of staff capacity over the last week, and were now back at 90 percent of passenger numbers, so you do the math, and thats where your problem comes, he said.

Huge queues are seen at the Virgin and Jetstar domestic departure terminal at Sydney Domestic Airport in Sydney, Australia, on April 8, 2022. (AAP Image/Dean Lewins) NO ARCHIVING

Coleman admitted that the issue would likely persist over the next coming weeks, as the problem of sourcing labour could not be solved at short notice.

Were actively out there in the market trying to fill these roles, but  these shortages will persist, he said. The queues are going to last until Easter long weekend.

Qantas CEO Alan Joyce said some delays were also due to travellers being rusty on the rules, with many forgetting to take out laptops and aerosol cans.

At Sydney Airport, theyre telling us that around 10 percent of people pre-COVID used to have to be re-screened. Now thats up to 30 percent, Joyce told the ABC.

Greg Hay, the Sydney Airport general manager of operations, also noted that people were a little out of practice with security protocols.

To help manage queues at security checkpoints and make sure everyone gets away on time, were encouraging domestic travellers to arrive two hours ahead of their scheduled departure, Hay said in March.
BBC Guide Says Parents Should Check If White Children Have Black or Brown Friends Over For Playdates

According to a BBCs early-years guidance on race, white mums or dads are being asked to examine their biases if their toddler only has white friends over.

The BBCs Tiny Happy People website was launched in 2020 as a resource aimed at developing childrens communication and language skills. However, its section on talking about race and religion with young children, written by the author and activist Uju Asika has opened up the BBC to criticisms of anti-racism and critical race theory impartiality.

Anti-racism

Many anti-racism authors are inspired by critical race theory, which interprets society through the lens of a power struggle between white and non-white people and as an academic concept framework that focuses on the way systemic racism can perpetuate discrimination and disadvantage. American anti-racist authors such as Ibram X Kendi and Robin DiAngelo believe that racism is part of every aspect of life and must be identified and taken head-on with anti-racist actions.

But the British organisation Dont Divide Us says it has a wide range of people who regard the divisive obsession with peoples racial identity as a toxic, racialised agenda that is counter-productive and serious.

The power of this ideology lies in the fear it inspires in those who would otherwise speak out, whatever their ethnicity. But speak out we must. We must oppose and expose the racial division being sown in the name of anti-racism, it says.

In the guidance, Asika says that studies reveal that by age two, children start sorting themselves into groups showing what is known as in-group bias. In other words, kids in the playground might choose to play with children who are more like them, while excluding others.

According to research, even babies at three months old can tell different races apart, she added.

Asking how to start a conversation about race with children, she says to start small. Dont begin a lecture on hate groups like the Ku Klux Klan when your audience is a three-year-old. You want to educate them, not give them nightmares.

Asika is the author of the book Bringing Up Race, whose blurb calls it a call to arms for all parents as our society works to combat white supremacy and dismantle the systemic racism that has existed for hundreds of years.

Internal Biases

In the guidance, it says to white mums or dads that it might be time to examine your own internal biases. Did your family express negative thoughts about foreigners and immigrants? What is your social circle like today? Does your child have Black or Brown friends over for playdates? Could you be doing more?

For further reading, Asika recommends reading books by Knights Of, UK and Irelands only publisher which exclusively stocks childrens books with BAME characters. She also recommends a book called Julian is a Mermaid by Jessica Love, about a child who identifies as transgender.

The guide was criticised by the Dont Divide Us spokesperson and former community and schools filmmaker and film tutor Adrian Hart who told The Epoch Times that the problem we are facing is with the mainstreaming of critical race theory.

Hart wrote a critique of his experience of official anti-racism interventions in primary schools in his book The Myth of Racist Kids back in October 2009.

The problem that we have got is that under a banner of anti-racism, children are being racialised, he said.

He added that CRT and anti-racism approaches create a sense inside childrens minds that race is a big deal.

A tragedy

Hart said that children just want to unite and just play, dance, sing, and do all those things that are intrinsically universal to humanity. Children just do that better than anyone else and the adult world comes stomping in and interrupts all that.

That doesnt cut the mustard with modern-day anti-racists who believe that society is dripping with racism. All these interactions get interpreted in this erroneous way and I think its a tragedy, he added.

In an email, a BBC Spokesperson told The Epoch Times: Tiny Happy People offers a wealth of resources, covering a variety of topics that parents can access, should they wish, for help and advice on all areas of development and well-being.

The BBC is primarily funded by licence fees, and aims to achieve due impartiality in all its output. On its page on Guidance: Impartiality and Racism, it said that it is not impartial on racism.

While the BBC is opposed to racism, it is not a campaigning organisation. While the BBC does not join campaigns, it does have a responsibility to raise awareness of important issues. This is done both through our journalism, which has always highlighted injustice in the UK and around the world, and through wider content and programming, it wrote on its guidelines.
A person stands outside a truck at a greenhouse supply store and nursery surrounded by flooded farmland in Abbotsford, B.C., Dec. 1, 2021. (The Canadian Press/Darryl Dyck)

BC Mayors Dealing With Flooding and Wildfire Damage Call on Feds to Deliver Funds

British Columbia mayors whose communities were devastated by last years flooding and wildfires want the federal government to deliver billions of dollars in promised funding as soon as possible.

Abbotsford Mayor Henry Braun said he was among 28 mayors and members of regional districts who met with federal and provincial politicians Monday to ask about the delivery of $5 billion from Ottawa.

He said the estimated cost of bringing three dikes up to provincial standards following unprecedented flooding on the Sumas Prairie is as high as $2.9 billion, with most of the funds expected to come from the federal government.

The ball is in their court, Braun said after meeting with federal Emergency Preparedness Minister Bill Blair and B.C. Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth.

There was nothing in that meeting that I havent already shared with both Minister Farnworth and Minister Blair over the last number of months, he said.

In November, the banks of the Nooksack River in Washington state overflowed, flooding the Sumas Prairie in Abbotsford as a record-shattering 540 millimetres of rain fell.

Construction companies are hard to find, consultants are hard to find right now because there is so much damage that was done, Braun said of repairs or new infrastructure needed, which could take five years, depending on public feedback on four possible options involving a pump station and dikes.

The preferred option will be presented in about six weeks to council for a report, which would be sent to senior levels of government, Braun said.

Blair said Monday he sees the urgency of facilitating recovery efforts in various areas of the province and has heard the concerns of mayors about destruction from floods and a wildfire that nearly destroyed the town of Lytton last summer.

He did not provide a timeline for when the money would be disbursed to communities but said there are some complexities in making decisions about prioritizing the spending of a limited amount of funding that will involve difficult decisions.

Thats why we are working collaboratively together to establish an appropriate governance structure that listens to the important perspectives and the needs of all orders of government and First Nations, he said.

There are engineering studies, there are environmental assessments and approval processes that need to take place. Were going to make sure thats done right, and we need to invest in those things that will have the greatest impact.

British Columbia has made a preliminary submission of about $4 billion for recovery efforts, he said of the enormous amount of work involved in rebuilding communities like Lytton and Merritt, where many residents remain displaced.

Blair said he met with Linda Brown, the mayor of Merritt, about three weeks ago and she introduced him to residents whose homes were washed away.

One of the things that Mayor Brown made very clear to me is that there are many people in the town of Merritt, over 200, who are still in difficult interim housing situations. And many people living, as well, with the uncertainty and anxiety of wanting to know when that recovery will take place and how, going forward, their community can be protected from similar events.

Farnworth said an announcement is expected to be made in very, very short order regarding housing in Merritt.

B.C. earmarked $2.1 billion in its latest budget to fund disaster recovery efforts and future response to the threats posed by wildfires, floods and heat waves.

Farnworth and Blair also joined other federal and provincial leaders Monday for the third meeting since January of a committee on disaster response and climate resilience related to wildfires, flooding and an unprecedented heat dome that killed nearly 600 people in B.C. last year.

Ken Gillis, board chair of the Thompson-Nicola Regional District, said many mayors who met with Blair and Farnworth were hoping they would announce the allocation of long-awaited funds.

There seems to be a snag in delivery, he said. Thats what most of the people who spoke today brought to their attention. Everybody said, Look, weve got to find a way to get this happening faster, and we cant operate without having this funding delivered to us.'

By Camille Bains
Beijing Wanted to Send Secret Security Force, Weapons to Solomons During Riots Last Year: Report

Beijing was ready to send heavy weaponry and security personnel to the Chinese Embassy in the Solomon Islands last December to enhance safety and security following violent riots in the capital Honiara, which saw the Chinatown district razed.

The letter from the Chinese diplomatic outpost to the Solomon Islands Ministry of Foreign Affairs reveals that the Peoples Republic of China (PRC) was prepared to dispatch a range of light weapons and equipment, including two machine guns, one sniper rifle, 10 pistols, 10 rifles, and police equipment including 10 electric batons.

The PRC was also set to send 10 plainclothes security officers for a period of six to 12 months, according to the documents dated Dec. 3, 2021, which was seen by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (pdf).

It would be highly appreciated if the government of Solomon Islands could facilitate to grant permission to the entry of the above-mentioned team with necessary light weapons and equipment, it stated.

An aerial view shows burnt-out buildings in Honiaras Chinatown in the Solomon Islands on Nov. 27, 2021 (Jay Liofasi/AFP via Getty Images)

The Chinese regime also said the deployment of the team would not be made public.

Collin Beck, the permanent secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, sent a follow-up letter to his counterpart at the Ministry of Police, Karen Galokale, saying his ministry was unable to guarantee the safety of the Embassy and staff following the riots which saw three people left dead.

As host country, we had an obligation to protect all embassies, including the Chinese Embassy. In this regard, we have no objection to the request, Becks letter said.

Sadly, this sets a precedent, but China is a special case noting public debate was and remains direct against Chinas interests in the country from certain quarters of our countrys population.

The Solomon Islands government eventually shelved the Chinese Embassys appeal.

The national governments decision to switch ties from Taiwan to Beijing in 2019 has been a contentious issue, with Premier Daniel Suidani from the most populous province of Malaita standing firm on his relationship with Taiwan.

The divide exacerbated existing dissatisfaction with Solomons Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare over issues such as cronyism, poor delivery of services and employment opportunities, as well as blatant bribery of pro-Beijing MPs.

It all came to a head in November last year when protests erupted in the capital leaving three people dead. Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, and Papua New Guinea responded by sending police and troops to help restore orderthese personnel came under the authority of the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force.

Concerns have mounted in recent weeks over a leaked security agreement, which would allow the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) to dispatch forces to protect the safety of Chinese personnel and major projects in the Solomon Islands.

Chinese and Solomon Island leaders have denied that the agreement could open the door toward eventual militarization in the region, with Prime Minister Sogavare saying it would not be in the interest of Solomon Islands to host any naval or military base of any country.

Documents on April 7, however, appear to show that Beijing has been scouting the region for military projects for years.

The leaked letter of intent contained details of a proposal from the head of Avic International Project Engineering Co., a Beijing-based state-owned aviation company, to Premier Leslie Kikolo of Isabel Province in the Solomon Islands on Sept. 29, 2020.

The letter, seen by news.com.au, was signed by company President Rong Qian and opened with the following paragraph:

We, AVIC-INTL Project Engineering Company  present this letter to demonstrate our intent to study the opportunity to develop naval and infrastructure projects on leased land for the Peoples Liberation Army Navy in Isabel Province with exclusive rights for 75 years.

A fully realised project could see the Peoples Liberation Army extend its reach beyond the South China Sea and into the South Pacific region, where bitter fighting occurred between Japanese and U.S. troops in the Battle of Guadalcanal during World War II because of the influence it wields over vital sea lanes.
Gasoline prices hover around $4.00 a gallon for the least expensive grade at several gas stations in the nation's capital in Washington on April 11, 2022. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Biden Administration to Suspend Summer E15 Gasoline Sales Ban

The Biden administration is planning to allow sales of higher-ethanol gasoline blends throughout the summer months as part of measures to address the increasing fuel costs driven by Russias invasion of Ukraine.

The president is committed to doing everything he can to address the price increase Americans are facing at the pump, a senior Biden administration official said during a background press briefing on Monday evening.

President Joe Biden will announce on Tuesday that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) administrator is planning to allow E15 gasolinethat uses a 15 percent ethanol blendto be sold this summer.

Adding more ethanol to gasoline blends could potentially reduce prices at U.S. gas pumps because ethanol, which is made from corn, is currently cheaper than straight gasoline.

This is the latest step in expanding Americans access to affordable fuel supply and bringing relief to Americans suffering from Putins price hike at the pump, the administration official said.

Fuel prices hit a record in March following Russias invasion of Ukraine which began on Feb. 24. The United States and other consumer countries have banned imports of oil from Russia, a major world supplier, to punish it for the invasion.

The EPA plans to issue a national, emergency waiver to allow summer sales of the E15 gasoline, the official explained. The official noted that without this action, E15 could not be used in most of the country from June 1 to Sept. 15 over concerns that E15 contributes to smog during warmer weather.

The agency is likely to issue the emergency waiver closer to June 1, the official told reporters.

E15 is currently offered at 2,300 gas stations in the country, where it can serve as an importantand more affordablesource of fuel, the official said.

Allowing higher levels of blending will also reduce our dependency on foreign fuels as we rely more heavily on home-grown biofuels. This will help us bridge towards real energy, a handout of the briefing said.

The EPA is also considering additional action to facilitate the use of E15 year-round, the administration official said.

The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA), a lobbying group, announced on Monday a campaign to push for sales of E15 gasoline year-round, describing it as the lowest-cost, lowest-carbon fuel available at the pump.

As American families continue to struggle with high gas prices, theres a simple solution that can immediately relieve their pain at the pump: increasing the availability of renewable fuels and allowing year-round sales of lower-cost E15, said RFA President and CEO Geoff Cooper.

More ethanol means more savings at the pump, as ethanol has recently been selling for nearly $1 per gallon less than wholesale gasoline. As war in Ukraine continues to roil global energy markets, we need to strengthen our nations energy security, and expanding the use of low-carbon renewable fuels like ethanol is the right move at the right time, Cooper added.

The RFA notes that the E15 blend has typically been priced 1525 cents per gallon less than regular gasoline.

The Epoch Times has contacted the EPA for comment.

Reuters contributed to this report.
(L-R) U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, U.S. President Joe Biden, Indian Minister of Defense Rajnath Singh, and Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar listen as Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi (on screen) speaks during a virtual meeting in the South Court Auditorium of the White House complex in Washington on April 11, 2022. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

Biden and Modi Meet Virtually, Discuss Solving a Lot of Global Problems Together

NEW DELHIPresident Joe Biden and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met virtually on April 11 ahead of the 2+2 bilateral meeting between their foreign and defense ministers. The two leaders talked about deeper and stronger relationships and about together working to solve many persisting global problems.

We take the same concerns about the global challenges we facefrom COVID-19, advancing health security, and tracking the climate crisisand we share a strong and growing Major Defense Partnership, said President Biden during remarks before the meeting.

At the root of our partnership is a deep connection between our peopleties of family, of friendship, and of shared values.

Biden said both the countries are going to keep closely consulting each other on the Ukraine situation and on how to manage the impact of the Russian invasion.

I want to welcome Indias humanitarian support for the people of Ukraine, who are suffering a horrific assault, including a tragic shelling in a train station last week that killed dozens of innocent children and women and civilians attempting to flee the violence, said Biden.

Modi said the situation in Ukraine is worrying and he pointed to Indias successful rescue operation of over 20,000 Indians stuck in Ukraine. He mentioned that extensive discussions on Ukraine happened in the Indian Parliament and hoped that the ongoing discussions between Russia and Ukraine will lead to peace.

During this entire process, I spoke several times on the phone to the presidents of both Ukraine and Russia. I not only appealed for peace but also suggested that there be direct talks between President Putin and the President of Ukraine, he said.

India is one of a few countries that has not publicly denounced Russias invasion of Ukraine. It has abstained from 10 UN votes on the issue, though it has called for an end to violence and offered humanitarian support to Ukraine.

India has resisted U.S. pressure to condemn Russia and when Biden last spoke with Modi with other leaders of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue in March, India blocked U.S. attempts to put Russia-Ukraine on agenda. Later Biden described Indias stand on the issue as somewhat shaky leading to wider speculation that the issue will dent the India-US relationship.

U.S. and Indian experts told The Epoch Times that Biden-Modis virtual meeting preceding the 2+2 ministerial dialogue indicates that the Russia issue wont impact the wide-ranging and multifaceted Indo-U.S. partnership.

The Biden-Modi meeting before the 2 plus 2 summit demonstrated the importance the Biden administration accords to ties with India. The statements issued also demonstrate that both sides managed to put forth their views on all issues, from Russia to the Indo-Pacific, Aparna Pande, director of Washington-based think tank Hudson Institutes Initiative on the Future of India and South Asia, told The Epoch Times.

The India-U.S. dialogue should also be viewed in the context of Chinas expansionist agendas according to Madhav Nalapat, vice-chair of the Manipal Advanced Research Group.

The virtual meeting between Biden and Modi demonstrates that the U.S. India security relationship is becoming the most important pairing in this era of PRC [Peoples Republic of China] efforts at hegemony, said Nalapat.

President Joe Biden listens as Indias Prime Minister Narendra Modi speaks during a Quad nations meeting at the Leaders Summit of the Quadrilateral Framework held in the East Room at the White House in Washington, on Sept. 24, 2021. (Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters)

2+2 Ministerial Dialogue

After the meeting between Biden and Modi, U.S. Secretary of State Tony Blinken and the Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin met Indias External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Defense Minister Rajnath Singh in Washington on Monday for the fourth 2+2 ministerial dialogue between the two countriesthe first under the Biden administration.

Before the meeting, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs said that the 2+2 dialogue will help the two countries discuss important regional and global developments and work toward common interests.

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, defense, and security with the objective of providing strategic guidance and vision for further consolidating the relationship, said the Indian ministry.

The two countries are celebrating 75 years of diplomatic relations this year and after the 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue, the State Departments spokesperson said that both the countries share a common commitment to democracy and pluralism.

Both countries seek to continue to promote a resilient, rules-based international order that safeguards sovereignty and territorial integrity, upholds democratic values, and promotes peace and prosperity for all, said the spokesperson.

Nalapat said that the meetings show that the progressive improvement in the India-U.S. relationship is irrespective of the party in power in the United States.

Modi has made this relationship the centerpiece of his transformative foreign policy and the momentum has remained in the Obama, Trump, and Biden administrations, he said.

Modis close aide, Defense Minister Singh, said in a message on Twitter that the Indo-U.S. Defense cooperation is further getting expanded and strengthening.

Austin said that the two countries are working closely to make systems affordable. Singh later said in an interview in Washington that affordability matters when India needs to export something that it needs but cant produce.

On the issue of future systems, we are engaged in active discussions with India on how to best support their modernization needs. As we look at the future, we want to make sure that we maintain the ability to operate together, and so we look forward to those continued discussions, and it also includes a range of options that would make our systems more affordable, Austin said at an April 11 press conference.

Abhishek Srivastava, assistant professor of diplomacy at New Delhis Jawaharlal Nehru University, told The Epoch Times that India is looking for investment in the defense sector because it wants to reduce its dependency on exports and boost its Make in India program.

Blinken also announced the restarting of Indo-U.S. bilateral commercial dialogue and the CEOs forum later this year to encourage more bilateral trade and investment.
Joe Biden, who was then the Democratic presidential candidate, talks with his sister Valerie Biden Owens as he arrives in Columbus, Georgia, on Oct. 27, 2020. (Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images)

Bidens Sister Blames Trump for Hunter Bidens Legal Problems

President Joe Bidens younger sister defended Hunter Biden on April 11, claiming that her nephews legal issues are just political attacks by former President Donald Trump intended on bringing down her brother.

Valerie Biden Owens, a longtime campaign manager for Joe Biden, made the remarks in an interview with CBS Mornings. She was asked by host Gayle King whether Hunter Biden was a problem for the family. In response, Owens said, No.

King pressed on, pointing out how Hunter Bidens business dealings have come under scrutiny. Owens responded by saying that the attention to her nephews business activities was born out of the 2020 presidential election.

The only race that I wasnt enthusiastic about Joe getting involved in was the 2020 presidency, Owens said, because I expected, and was not disappointed, that it would be ugly and mean, and it would be an attack on my brother Joe, personally and professionally, because the former president is very intent on bringing my brother down.

I assumed from the beginning that the former president and his entourage would attack my brother by going and attacking my family, Owens added. [Trump] thought the weak link would be to attack my brothers child.

Owens then went on to defend her nephew.

Hunter has written in exquisite detail about his struggle with addiction, his walk through hell, and I am so grateful that hes been able to walk out of hell. But I dont think that theres a family in this country who hasnt tasted it, she told King.

King then interrupted Owens, reminding her that their discussion should center on Hunter Bidens business deals.

In the end, Owen seemed to dismiss any allegations of wrongdoing against her nephew.

There hasnt been a there there since it was mentioned in 2019 or whenever it first was, Owens said.

Citing Treasury documents, a 2020 Senate report found that there was potential criminal activity relating to transactions among and between Hunter Biden, his family, and his associates with Ukrainian, Russian, Kazakh, and Chinese nationals, while Joe Biden was vice president during the Obama administration.

The report pointed out how Hunter Biden made questionable transactions with Chinese nationals connected to the Chinese regime and military.

The younger Biden was found to have tried to broker a $120 million oil agreement in 2014 and 2015 between a Chinese state-owned oil company and Kazakhstans prime minister at that time, British newspaper the Daily Mail reported in February, citing emails obtained from his alleged abandoned laptop.

In March, Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) presented bank records on the Senate floor showing a Chinese energy company made payments to Hunter Biden.

On April 8, 95 House Republicans wrote a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland, urging him to appoint a special counsel to investigate the younger Biden.

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, the lawmakers said. A special counsel would also ensure there is no bias in the investigation or undue influence from the White House.
Shanghais lockdown is not ending. Videos show people fed up with the draconian measure. Meanwhile, Guangzhou, a city of 15 million people, prepares to go into lockdown.

Chinas continuous spying operation is using technology to steal American secrets. The DOJ tries to arrest those involved.



I spoke with Kara Frederick, from the Heritage Foundation, on the role Big Tech seeks to play in the U.S.-China competition. How do they allow pro-CCP influencers to promote Chinese propaganda, but silence those domestically?

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California Teacher Arrested for Allegedly Molesting 7 Students

A teacher in Richmond, California, has been arrested for allegedly molesting more than half a dozen students over the past year, authorities said.

Anessa Paige Gower, a 35-year-old biology teacher at Making Waves Academy in Richmond, is facing 29 individual criminal counts after allegedly engaging in numerous acts of a sexual nature with minors between 2021 and 2022, the Costa District Attorneys Office said in a statement.

Gower was taken into custody on April 6 at Sacramento International Airport upon returning to California from Hawaii, police said. She is currently being held in Richmond.

Authorities confirmed the case involves seven minors, adding that due to the ages of the alleged victims, their identities wont be disclosed.

Investigators took statements from the victims and witnesses about a number of incidents involving sex acts with minors, inappropriate touching, and sharing sexually graphic photos over online platforms, the statement explains.

Alton Nelson Jr., the CEO at Making Waves Academy, said Gower violated the schools policy and was fired immediately after evidence of sexual misconduct emerged, KRON4 reported.

Nelson said in a statement obtained by the network that school officials led the investigation and informed authorities as soon as they learned about highly concerning allegations against Gower that involved multiple students.

We immediately shared that information with authorities who are reviewing the matter. That teacher is no longer employed by Making Waves Academy and we have reached out to parents, students and faculty to provide support where it might be needed. There is nothing more important than the health, safety and well-being of our students, Nelson said.

Making Waves Academy is a charter school for fifth through twelfth graders. According to its website, over 1,100 students are enrolled in the school.

Gower is not the first teacher who has been accused of child molestation in recent years at the charter school.

Ronald David Guinto, 38, is serving a 931-year sentence after being convicted in 2017 of molesting 15 boys when he was their teacher at the Richmond school, The Associated Press reported.

Ronald David Guinto appears in a courtroom during the first day of his preliminary hearing at the A.F. Bray Courthouse in Martinez, Calif., on Oct. 19, 2015. (Susan Tripp Pollard/Bay Area News Group via AP)

Guinto worked at the charter school from 2011 to 2013 and used a youth program he founded called Camp Epic as a ruse to get close to his preferred victim type, mostly boys aged 11 to 12, police said.

In late 2013, Guintos abuse came to light after several local law enforcement agencies conducted an investigation into allegations made against him. He was then briefly hired by the West Contra Costa School District before the allegations against him were made public.

In 2015, 12 former students of Guinto sued the charter school. In 2020, they received a combined $10.9 million settlement in a lawsuit against the school.

Making Waves Academy school officials have maintained that they did not know about Guintos sexual abuse of students and pointed out that the teachers youth camp was not a Making Waves-sanctioned event.

From NTD News
Can Food Crises Trigger Collapse?

Commentary

The Pakistan Economy Watch (PEW) on Tuesday asked the government to take serious steps to ensure food security in the country as an international food crisis can engulf the world soon . Dr. Murtaza Mughal said that the vulnerable and the poor would be hardest hit, who spend as much as 60 to 75 percent of their income on food. He said that situation at home is far from encouraging; flawed policies have left almost all the federal and provincial departments related to agriculture as dysfunctional.  The matter should not be taken lightly, as, during the last crisis, 30 countries witnessed food riots while many governments were sent packing.  Pakistan Today, July 25, 2012

This seemingly dated passage from Pakistan Economy Watch from a decade ago is as timely as tomorrows headlines. The ill-considered Russian invasion of Ukraine may not succeed in toppling the government in Kyiv. Still, Russian President Vladimir Putin may manage to overturn half a dozen governments in lower-income countries that depend on imported wheat to nourish many poor and vulnerable citizens.

Ironically, the rather inglorious U.S. retreat from Afghanistan may contribute to the starvation of many Afghans. Reports indicate that more than 20 million Afghans are seriously malnourished, including three million children. Vladimir Putin seems to have read the U.S. withdrawal in much the same light as the Saudi princes.

According to ING Bank and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Ukraineknown as Europes breadbasketwas expected to account for 12 percent of global wheat exports and nearly a fifth of global corn production this year. As a result of the Russian invasion, little or no Ukrainian grain will be available for export. And potential Russian wheat sales may be barred by sanctions.

About 9 million people worldwide would die of hunger in a normal year. This year is not normal. Thanks to Putins invasion of Ukraine, probably encouraged by the U.S. defeat in Afghanistan, less grain will find its way to markets. And therefore, millions more may die of hunger, many of them in Afghanistan. Such is the complex fallout from the twilight of American hegemony.

It seems probable that the decline in wheat available or sale (along with the rise in the price of what is available) is liable to have a more deadly impact on global nutrition than the decline in output attributable to marginally colder weather a decade ago.

If you recall the news from a decade ago, you remember that protests and rebellions swept unstable areas of the world when the price of wheat soared. Governments were sent packing in Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, rebellions launched then continued to play out in Syria and Yemen.

There is a swath of unstable nation-states (future failed states) from North Africa through the Middle East, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. Imports of grain worldwide increased more than fivefold between 1960 and 2013. This placed more than one-third of the worlds nation-states in the vulnerable position of depending on imports for one-quarter or more of the staple grains they consume. In sixty-two countries, the area of farmland is inadequate to supply domestic consumption. In about one-third of those countries, twenty-two to be exact, agricultural products consumed require more freshwater than is available.

The suspension of wheat growing in Ukraine, much like a turn to colder weather that reduced or eliminated grain surpluses in the exporting countries, would have devastating consequences for North Africa and the Middle East, most dependent on grain imports. To hint how severe the impact of declining temperatures could be on carrying capacity, dust off the 1974 CIA working paper A Study on Climatological Research as It Pertains to Intelligence Problems.

If you look at this report, as I have, you will see that the climate science of forty years ago was less blinkered and more evidence-driven than todays global warming hysteria. The excellent 1974 CIA summary states that it was likely that the Earth would revert to a neo-boreal climate like that of the Little Ice Age, which predominated through most of the 400 years after 1600, with the happy exception of some decades in the middle of the twentieth century (and we now know the last quarter of the twentieth century).

The CIA report reminds us that the neo-boreal climate was characterized by broad strips of excess and deficit rainfall in the middle latitudes and extensive monsoon failure. The fact that there was the extensive failure of the monsoon in the Indian subcontinent in the cooler conditions of the nineteenth century underscores the potential dangers of deteriorating weather triggering nuclear conflict between India and Pakistan. While both countries have recently been exporting grain, the balance of their surpluses could rapidly erode in cooler conditions. The CIA report reminds us that even in the early 70s, when the weather turned colder, Pakistan adopted plans to import U.S. grain in March 1973 because of crop failure due to drought. And the problem is hardly limited to Pakistan. Here are the countries most at risk.

When the wheat import dependence is correlated with the list of countries where the highest percentages of household income are devoted to food, the risk of instability in the most exposed economies is too apparent to ignore.

This suggests that the currencies and sovereign bonds of countries like Azerbaijan, the Philippines, Kazakhstan, Nigeria, Algeria, Nigeria, Egypt, Iran, Yemen, Turkey, Morocco, Uzbekistan, and Kenya will face rough sledding in the months to come as wheat prices soar. Even conditions in China, already stressed by the unwinding of historys greatest credit bubble, could weaken marginally. However, I would not recommend shorting Chinese sovereign bonds because of the looming wheat shortage.

Still, the antique CIA report makes many points worth noting. The CIA report underscores how tenuous the carrying capacity of world agriculture actually is: As an example, Europe presently, with an annual mean temperature of 12 degrees C (about 53 degrees F), supports three persons per arable hectare. If the temperature declines 1 degree C, only a little over two persons per hectare could be supported, and more than 20 percent of the population could not be fed from domestic sources. China now supports over seven persons per arable hectare; a shift of 1 degree C would mean it could only support four persons per arable hectarea drop of over 43 percent.

Putins unnecessary war in Ukraine has placed the crisis-prone world in a potentially dire position. Four former Soviet Republics are at the top of the list of countries affected adversely.

Of course, it is reasonable to infer that the vulnerability highlighted in the mid-1970s has intensified with the passage of five decades, as Europes population has increased by about 70 million persons in the intervening years. And Chinas population has soared by approximately 487 million persons. At the same time, fertile land has been lost to development in both Europe and China. In contrast, freshwater resources in China have declined due to increased pollution and the depletion of fossil aquifers.

In short, there is an unprecedented hostage to fortune in the hands of the climate godsand Putins generalsin a world that has been rendered increasingly crisis-prone.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Canadian Aircrew Detained in Dominican Republic After Reporting Large Stash of Drugs Found on Plane

A Canadian charter airline says some of its pilots and crew are among the nine Canadians detained in the Dominican Republic after reporting 200 kilograms of cocaine found stashed away on board to local police.

Among the nine detained are two pilots and two flight attendants working at Pivot Airlines, formerly Air Georgian, a regional airline that operated under the Air Canada Express banner until recently, reported the National Post.

The airline says its crew members are held in separate detention facilities, with the male being placed inside a communal cell with accused drug criminals.

They do not speak the language, have been identified as reporting the contraband to authorities, and fear for their safety, Pivot said in a statement. We are deeply concerned for the safety, security, and ethical and humane treatment of our crew.

It is unacceptable that a Canadian aircrew could remain detained for the duration of a potential twelve-month investigation for a suspected crime that they reported.

The Epoch Times reached out to Pivot Airlines for comment, but didnt hear back.

Pivot said a maintenance worker who was part of the crew discovered 200 kilograms of cocainewhich is worth roughly $25 million in street valuein the control compartment under the fuselage of its aircraft CRJ-100. Unsure what the package contained, the man reported his discovery to local police and the RCMP, an unidentified source told the National Post.

Upon searching the plane, Dominican police found seven other bags, each containing 25 packs, totalling 200 packs of cocaine in all.

The source said the worker discovered the contraband while trying to access the avionics bay, a space that requires good airflow to avoid overheating that would have been jeopardized by the stash of cocaine.

The aircraft, a Bombardier regional jet, has been held at the Punta Cana International airport in the eastern Dominican Republic since the discovery of the drugs last week.

The plane, now registered as Mitsubishi CRJ-100ER under C-FWRR, has travelled extensively in the Caribbean over the last year, according to the FlightRadar24 website, with most of its 65 flights since mid-December 2021 having been to or from the region. Some of its destinations include the Dominican Republic, Saint Martin, Jamaica, Nassau, Puerto Rico, and Antigua.

The National Directorate for Drug Control, Dominican Republics anti-narcotics agency, said in an April 6 news release that the nine Canadians, along with a Hindu and a Dominican, are being questioned to determine their possible involvement in the frustrated shipment bound for Toronto.

An extensive investigation process has been initiated around this case, it said. The Public Ministry, assisted by DNCD agents, are working hard to clearly establish who is directly linked to the seizure of the substance.

A hearing to determine if the Canadians would be kept in custody longer was tentatively scheduled for April 12.
Truck drivers gather at a makeshift parking lot where Vietnamese container trucks are waiting to cross the Vietnam-China border in Lang Son Province on Jan. 7, 2022, as thousands of trucks carrying fruit remained stuck at the border while China tightened its border policies. (STR/AFP via Getty Images)

China Blocks Highways To Curb COVID-19, 30 Million Truckers Stranded

Over 10 of Chinas 34 provinces and regions blocked most entrances of their highways on April 11, and an estimated 30 million truckers are stuck on highways or in unfamiliar cities.

More than half of China cant receive or send out goods. Thirty million trucker drivers are stranded during the deliveries, reported by state-run Hubei Guangdianrong on April 9.

I thought I could earn 2,000 yuan ($314) more on this trip  However, I have been stranded in Shanghai for 12 days and dont know when I can leave, state-run magazine China Entrepreneur quoted truck driver Wei, who was locked with two peers on the streets without basic living necessities.

I spent over two weeks to finish a delivery that normally needs two days, state-run Sanlian Life Weekly quoted trucker Lu on April 10, who couldnt leave the highway after his delivery.

A 34-year-old male trucker cried in front of a group of strangers when was given two bowls of rice on a highway after being stranded for seven days, according to state-run Hangzhou News.

Chinas zero-tolerance policy on COVID-19 closes service areas on highways where anyone has been diagnosed with COVID-19 in the past 14 days, doesnt allow truck drivers to leave the highway if they pass by a city with reports of an outbreak, and doesnt allow a driver to leave the cabin while the truck visits a city under COVID control.

Homeless in Shanghai

Wei, 39, owns a 42.7 foot truck which can load over 30 tons of goods. He and two other truckers received an order to ship nearly 100 tons of potatoes from Shandong Province to Shanghai on March 28.

Because Shanghai reported a COVID-19 outbreak [when we received the order], and few drivers like to deliver to Shanghai, the delivery fee is 2,000 yuan ($314) higher than before  Normally I can earn 3,000 yuan ($471) for a ShandongShanghai delivery. This time, I thought I would earn 5,000 yuan ($785), Wei told China Entrepreneur on Sunday.

When Wei arrived at Shanghai on March 29, the destinationa wholesale marketwas shut down, and Wei and the other two truckers had nowhere to unload the potatoes. On the evening of the day, the potatoes owner arranged the truckers to stay inside a storage facility in Minhang district close to the Shanghai Hongqiao Airport, where they met several other truckers who were in the same situation.

All restaurants, shops, and supermarkets in the city were shut down when we arrived. We lived inside the truck and tried to feed ourselves with the food we carried from Shangdong, Wei said. The three truckers parked their vehicles inside the storage and lived inside.

In the following days, the owner tried to sell the potatoes and find some food for the three truckers. However, the entire population of the city couldnt find enough food due to the lockdown.

With the approval of the owner, the three truckers on April 3 made a stove using a trashed iron bucket, searched for trash that could be burned, and started cooking the potatoes to feed themselves.

All potatoes were sold out on the evening of April 8, Wei said. While they were relieved that they were free from the goods, they were subsequently kicked out of the storage area and made homeless.

We are waiting for the lockdowns to lift. We dont know when the local government will allow us to leave, Wei said. The potatoes owner set aside about 110 pounds of potatoes for the truckers, which would feed them for about six days.

Wei said they werent alone. A big number of truckers were living on the streets in Shanghai and waiting for the lockdown to lift.

Life on the Highway

Lu, 41, has been a trucker for 12 years. This is the first time he has been stranded on a highway for over two weeks.

I picked up an order in [southwestern Chinas] Chongqing city on March 26 to ship aluminum plates to Shanghai, Lu said. The plates were delivered to a special government agent.

Lu told Sanlian Life Weekly that he could arrive at Shanghai on March 28 if there were no COVID-policies. He had stayed at two different service areas in Zhejiang Province for days to wait for an entry permit to enter Shanghai although the goods he delivered were marked as high priority.

The Jiaxing Xincheng Service Area was full of trucks when I arrived there [on March 29]. I talked to other truckers and found out that most of them were delivering goods to Shanghai but couldnt receive a pass, Lu said.

Lu obtained a pass with a special arrangement on April 1, and delivered the goods and drove back to the highway with the pass. However, he realized that he could no longer pass a highway checkpoint if he wanted to leave the highway. Zhoukou in Henan Province and Xuzhou in Jiangsu Province had recently reported outbreaks, and he had passed these two cities in the last 14 days. As a result, the cellphone-generated health codethe system with which the Chinese regime tracks peoples travel, vaccination, and test historieshad raised his COVID status to two stars, meaning he was no longer allowed to leave the highway.

I stopped at Pingwang Service Area in Suzhou city in Jiangsu  More than 200 trucks were stranded there, Lu said. He quickly teamed up with two other truckers to cook together and play cards to pass the time.

The service area supplied very limited food with sky-high prices. Lu and other truckers figured out that residents from nearby villages sell food to truckers late at night. Lu said that this kind of trade isnt allowed by the regime, but the price was fair and they could order in advance.

Its like spies transmitting intelligence. They packed the food in plastic bags with our fake names tags on them, and put the bags beside the road. We paid online and picked up the bags when the night was very dark, Lu said.

On April 9, Lus COVID health status had returned to green and he was allowed to leave the highway. He picked up an order from nearby Kunshan township and experienced another ordeal.

The staff at the highway checkpoint sealed my cabins doors and windows after I received a negative COVID-19 test result. And I wasnt allowed to leave the checkpoint until the goods owner came to pick me up, Lu said.

Lu couldnt open his cabins door or window until the goods owner loaded the truck and accompanied his truck to the same checkpoint. After the staff checked the seals werent broken, Lu was allowed to enter the highway, open his windows, and roll to the destination.

Lu said he witnessed many truckers crying or depressed while stranded on the highway. He tried to encourage himself because he had two teenage children at home who were waiting for him and his income.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks on human rights at the State Department on April 12, 2022 in Washington. Secretary Blinken delivered remarks to the press on the release of the 2021 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)

China Continues to Commit Genocide and Crimes Against Humanity: Blinken

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken accused the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) on April 12 of carrying out genocide and crimes against humanity throughout 2021.

The Chinese government continues to commit genocide and crimes against humanity in Xinjiang, against predominately Muslim Uyghurs, among other minority groups, Blinken said.

Blinken delivered the remarks at a briefing to mark the release of the newest edition of the Country Reports on Human Rights Practices, an annual report published by the State Department that covers human rights issues in 198 countries throughout the world.

Blinken said the world was facing a recession of democracy and called out the CCPs mass campaign of repression and genocide as a key example of growing authoritarianism.

Likewise, the report described the regime as an authoritarian state and said that ethnic and religious minorities of all kinds continued to be persecuted in mainland China and the regimes occupied territories.

Genocide and crimes against humanity occurred during the year against predominantly Muslim Uyghurs and members of other ethnic and religious minority groups in Xinjiang, the report said.

These crimes were continuing and included: the arbitrary imprisonment or other severe deprivation of physical liberty of more than one million civilians; forced sterilization, coerced abortions, and more restrictive application of the countrys birth control policies; rape; torture of a large number of those arbitrarily detained; forced labor; and draconian restrictions on freedom of religion or belief, freedom of expression, and freedom of movement.

Notably, the report found that the CCPs targeting of political opponents and religious minorities extended well beyond the borders of China, and included a transnational effort to pressure foreign governments into sending back to China individuals who have fled.

Specifically, the report said the regime was abusing Interpols red notice system, used to issue international arrest warrants, by sending bogus charges to international police in the hope of having nations forcibly repatriate political opponents back to China where they can be imprisoned.

The report also cited a separate 2021 Amnesty International study that found that the CCP likely executed thousands of individuals in 2020 alone. It said the regime was systematically engaged in arbitrary detentions, forced disappearances, and killings.

Numerous former prisoners and detainees reported they were beaten, raped, subjected to electric shock, forced to sit on stools for hours on end, hung by the wrists, deprived of sleep, force-fed, forced to take medication against their will, and otherwise subjected to physical and psychological abuse, the report said.

Although prison authorities abused ordinary prisoners, they reportedly singled out political and religious dissidents for particularly harsh treatment.

Among the most targeted groups, the report found, were practitioners of Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa, a meditation practice rooted in the moral principles of truthfulness, compassion, and forbearance.

The discipline grew in popularity in the 1990s, resulting in estimates of up to 100 million people practicing. But the communist regime, deeming this to be a threat, launched an expansive persecution campaign against Falun Gong adherents in 1999, which still continues today.

The report said that religious groups, and particularly Falun Gong practitioners, have been hunted down by the CCP and frequently detained without stated cause and tortured.

The report listed several specific cases, including that of Ren Haifei, a Falun Gong practitioner who has been held without trial and without charges since 2020.

Ren was arrested without a warrant, hospitalized for severe injuries suffered after his initial arrest, and remanded to the Dalian Yaojia detention center after release from the hospital where he has remained, the report said.

Rens wife, Wang Jing, who lives in the United States, previously told The Epoch Times that she only found out about her husbands baseless arrest through Minghui.org, a website that tracks such cases. She contacted the judge in charge of her husbands case, Jin Hua, to petition for her husbands release. Upon hearing her plea, Jin threatened to arrest her, too.

Do what you want, Jin told Wang. Come back to China, Ill put you in jail, too.

The State Departments report noted that Ren was previously incarcerated by the CCP from 2001 to 2008 for participating in peaceful protests and practicing Falun Gong.

The report also found that the CCP revoked law licenses from attorneys who criticized the CCP online or defended Falun Gong practitioners and dissidents.

In all, the report found that creeping authoritarianism was creating a world where human rights and democracy are under threat and where governments have unjustly jailed, tortured, or even killed political opponents, activists, human rights defenders, or journalists.

The United States will continue to support those around the world struggling for human dignity and liberty, according to a related State Department statement.
Extinction Rebellion handout photo of climate protesters at the headquarters of Lloydis of London in London on April 12, 2022. (Extinction Rebellion via PA Media)

Climate Activists Block Entrance of Lloyds of London

Climate activist group Extinction Rebellion (XR) blocked the entrances of insurance marketplace Lloyds of London on Tuesday.

It comes four days after the group, together with activists from Just Stop Oil (JSO), caused the iconic Tower Bridge to shut down for several hours.

XR said more than 60 activists blocked the more than two dozen entrances of Lloyds at 7 a.m. on Tuesday, using superglue, chains, and bike locks, preventing staff from entering the building.

XR spokesperson Clare Walmsley said the group was there to demand an end to all new fossil fuel investments and insurance. 

The activist group said it aimed to close the building for the day, and Lloyds said it had advised staff not to go to the building on Tuesday to ensure their safety, and the market remained open with trading continuing online.

A spokesman said Lloyds supports safe and constructive engagement on climate change and is continuing to work to support a responsible transition.

At 2:43 p.m., City of London Police said protesters had moved on from Lloyds building, with officers engaging with a group remaining at the nearby Throgmorton Avenue.

Activists from Extinction Rebellion unfurl a banner on the side of Lloyds of London, in London on April 12, 2022. (Dominic Lipinski/PA Media)

Meanwhile, Financier Ben Goldsmith, a board member of both the Department for Environment Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) and the Conservative Environment Network, sparked backlash after he posted a now-deleted message in support of the activists.

Between April 1 and April 10, XR and JSO staged 10 days of disruptions targeting oil terminals across England, demanding an end to new oil and gas projects.

Activists have climbed on top of oil tankers, locked themselves onto pipeworks, occupied terminals, halting oil production and transportation.

Downing Street on Monday condemned the guerrilla tactics used by the protesters, the main opposition Labour Party has also called for more court injunctions in a bid to prevent further disruption.

However, Goldsmith wrote on Twitter on Monday that it was Not a good look from Labour.

The protesters are right to be doing whatever it takes to wake people up. The fossil fuel industry is grubby and dangerous. We need to unhook ourselves from our dependence asap. Im with Extinction Rebellion, he wrote in the message which has since been deleted.

His comments attracted criticism from Labour, and Sky News reported that some Conservative MPs have called for Goldsmith to be sacked from his role at Defra.

Nickie Aiken, Conservative MP for Cities of London and Westminster, suggested Goldsmith should speak to my constituents and businesses who have their lives disrupted; their medical appointments missed; carers late to support our most vulnerable, [and] their police teams taken away from their neighbourhoods to deal with protesters.

In a new message on Twitter, Goldsmith said his initial tweet was posted in a personal capacity.

Support of [XR] is neither a [Conservative Environment Network] nor a [Defra] position. I have therefore retracted these tweets, he wrote.

He said he recognised the disruption the protests caused and had always previously stood publicly opposed to the controversial and often bonkers methods employed by [XR], but he was not alone in feeling a rising sense of panic as the reported science grows ever grimmer.

A spokesman for the Conservative Environment Network said: Extinction Rebellion protests do nothing to help tackle climate change. Their actions risk undermining public support for environmental policies. We support strong action to stop these protesters from disrupting peoples lives and livelihoods.

We are pleased Ben Goldsmith has retracted his comments regarding Extinction Rebellion. They do not reflect the position of the Conservative Environment Network, which has consistently opposed the terrible tactics deployed by protesters intent on playing havoc.

PA Media contributed to this report.
A man is silhouetted walking past a Conservative Party logo before the opening of the Party's national convention in Halifax on Aug. 23, 2018. (The Canadian Press/Darren Calabrese)

Conservative Party Leadership Debates Set for May

The Conservative Party will hold its first leadership debate on May 11 and the second one two weeks later on May 25.

The first debate will be in English and will be held in Edmonton and the second debate will be in French and take place in Montreal.

The Leadership Election Organizing Committee (LEOC) says the debate topics will be sent to the campaigns beforehand.

The LEOC said a third debate could be called for August before members are asked to cast their votes.

We look forward to spirited but respectful discourse, and thank all candidates for putting their names forward to benefit our Party, and all Canadians, reads the LEOC memorandum reported by CTV News.

The results of the race are expected to be announced on Sept. 10.

In the meantime, the cut-off for candidates to enter the race is coming soon on April 19, and then theyll have until June 3 to sell memberships.

Candidates must pay $200,000 to enter the race and provide an additional $100,000 compliance deposit.

Candidates officially verified by the party so far include former Quebec premier Jean Charest, Conservative MP Leslyn Lewis, and Conservative MP Pierre Poilievre.

Other candidates that have announced their bid include Conservative MP Scott Aitchison, Ontario independent MPP Roman Baber, Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown, former Ontario MP Leona Alleslev, Conservative MP Marc Dalton, and Saskatchewan businessman Joseph Bourgault.

Joel Etienne, the Conservative candidate for York Centre in 2021 has launched a campaign website but has not officially announced his intention to run.

Poilievre was the first to announce his bid on Feb. 5, three days after former CPC leader Erin OToole was ousted.

Poilievre has so far received the most endorsements from his colleague MPs with around 50 backing him. The Ottawa MP has been polling ahead of rivals and drawing large crowds at his campaign events.

In recent days Pollievre has been trading barbs with his most serious adversary so far in Charest, who said Poilievres support for the Freedom Convoy disqualifies him for the role of prime minister. Poilievre responded by accusing Charest of repeating Liberal lies about truckers because he is Liberal.

The Canadian Press contributed to this report.
Dana Point tourists partake in a whale watching tour outside of Dana Point Harbor, Calif., on April 7, 2022. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

Dana Point Delivers Big Time on Whale Heritage Designation

DANA POINT, Calif.Five miles off the coast aboard the Manutea (pronounced mah-noo-tay-ah), a 50-foot catamaran sailboat with a group of 49 passengers spot two cow-calf gray whales breaching the Pacific Oceans surface, flip upside down and swim on their backs.

A round of applause erupts from the passengers.

Wow! How cool is that? says Captain Marie Clark of Captain Daves Dolphin & Whale Watching Safari.

A whale breaches the water as Dana Point tourists partake in a whale watching tour outside of Dana Point Harbor, Calif., on April 7, 2022. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

Both whales rolled back over.

As they scaled the surface, the mother blew out a heart-shaped spray of water from her spout before dipping back underneath the oceanher tail reaching for the sky.

The whales have a lot of energy today, Clark said. We usually dont see them raise their tail, especially when swimming only 50-foot waters.

After spending the winter in the lagoons of Baja, Californiawhere the mother birthed her calfthe cetaceans are migrating northbound at about 10 miles per hour en route to the Arctic Ocean.

Their 6,000-mile journey will get them, sometime in May, to the Bering and Chukchi Seasbetween Alaska and Russiawhere they will have plenty of small amphipodsshrimp-like scavengersto feed on for the summer.

According to Clark, a momma whale nurses her newborn with approximately 70 gallons of milk per day while teaching her calf to forage, explore, and migrate.

Shes chasing a baby around like a toddler in a toy store, she said. When they start leaving those warm lagoons, keeping the calf in a straight line is not always easy.

Boat Captain Marie Clark goes over rules with tourists on a whale watching trip in Dana Point, Calif., on April 8, 2022. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

These moments are not uncommon off the coast of Dana Point.

The rare mamma-baby combo heading northbound was one of eight pairs recorded in the 20212022 whale census conducted by the Point Vicente Interpretive Center, a Southern California-based volunteer organization that provides educational information on migrating Gray Whales.

So far, the census has counted over 1,000 whaleseach on average about 60,000 pounds heading southbound and northbound.

We get really lucky. We get to see them literally outside of our harbor, Caitlyn Neiblas, marine biologist and photographer for Captain Daves, told The Epoch Times. We see whales and dolphins year-round.

Neiblas said a couple of miles off the coast, an underwater cliff drops a few thousand feet, creating whats called an upwelling that hits the face of the cliff and brings water, rich with plankton and phytoplankton, from the depths of the ocean to the surface.

And thats the beginning of the food chain, Neiblas said. That drop-off and our cold water is a really good place for food to exist.

A tourist watches a whale breach the water near small boats outside Dana Point Harbor, Calif., on April 7, 2022. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

Due to this phenomenon, Dana Point Harbor is one of the best places in the world to view Gray Whales, one of the largest animals to have ever lived on earth, according to the United Kingdoms World Cetacean Alliance.

Just over a year ago, the alliancewhich is made up of various organizations, around the globe, dedicated to protect whales, dolphins, and porpoisesnamed Dana Point the first Whale Heritage Site in the Americas, a title it shares with Hervey Bay in Australia, Tenerife-La Gomera Marine Area in Spain, and the Bluff and Algoa Bay in South Africa.

Dana Point  is an outstanding place where people and the community have an incredible connection with the ocean and cetaceans, and they are able to demonstrate this as they celebrate, respect, and protect cetaceans and their habitats, Harry Eckman CEO of the alliance told The Epoch Times in an email.

According to Eckman, getting a stamp of approval from the alliance is a rigorous process based on location, community, geography, culture, and context.

For Dana Point, where its waters are home to over 450,000 dolphins and a variety of whales  it was clear that it was a very special place that was able to demonstrate exactly what it means to be a [whale heritage site], he said.

Dolphins swim near an underwater viewing area on a whale watching vessel operated by Capt. Daves Whale Watching Tours outside of Dana Point Harbor, Calif., on April 7, 2022. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

Dana Point achieved the title by focusing on whales conservation, protection, and celebrations, Gisele Anderson, vice president of Captain Daves, told The Epoch Times.

It was no easy feat, Anderson said. All of Southern California has the best whale watching in the world. We needed to sound the trumpet and do something to let the world and the people who live here know what they have.

Anderson and her longtime competitor Donna Kalez, co-president of Dana Point Sportfishing & Whale Watching, formed an alliance of their own to bring recognition to the Harbor.

Being the first site in the Americas has given a lot of pride to our citizens and visitors, and theyre excited to be a part of it, Kalez told The Epoch Times.

Throughout the year, on any given day, spectators can watch Blue Whales, Gray Whales, Humpback Whales, Fin Whales, Minke Whales, and Killer Whales.

In 2019, Anderson and Kalez trademarked Dana Point as The Dolphin and Whale Watching Capital of the World from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Now, theyre thrilled, they said, to add the new heritage designation to the bay they love.

Donna Kalez (L) and Giselle Anderson stand on a dock in Dana Point Harbor, Calif., on April 7, 2022. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)
An employee sorts Nokian tyres at a tyre assembling centre and shop in Moscow, on Aug. 8, 2014. (Maxim Shemetov/Reuters)

EU Sanctions on Russian Rubber to Hit Nokian Tyres Output

HELSINKIFinnish tyre maker Nokian Tyres said on Monday new sanctions imposed by the European Union (EU) on Russia will have a significant impact on its production.

The sanctions, announced on Saturday, ban the import of tyres from Russia, Nokian said, and will affect the companys ability to sell tyres both in Russia and in the EU, specifically in Central Europe.

The sanctions will also prohibit the export of certain raw materials from the EU to Russia and limit transportation from and to Russia, the company added.

In 2021, Russia accounted for approximately a fifth of the companys net sales, with approximately 80 percent of its passenger car tyres produced in the country. Around half of the raw material used to produce tyres in Russia came from outside the country, Nokian Tyres said.

Raw material availability and its logistics will have a significant impact on the companys capability to continue production in Russia, it said in a statement.

The company said it would expedite plans to invest in new production capacity in Europe, while also boosting capacity at its existing factories in Finland and the United States.

The Heavy Tyres business of Nokian Tyres plc is not impacted by the ban to import tyres from Russia to the EU, as all Nokian Tyres heavy tyres are produced in Finland, it said.

By Boleslaw Lasocki and Anne Kauranen
Exploding Cigars: The Price of Vaccine Mandates in Australia

Commentary

When both the Queensland and Northern Territory governments decided to withdraw COVID-19 vaccine mandates in some settings in early April, their imposition was hailed a great success.

Indeed, infectious diseases physician Dr Paul Griffin said: It doesnt mean they werent the right thing to do at the time, I think it was very important to do at the time and very effective. Whats really clear is protection against infection is reduced by two doses against Omicron but largely restored with that third dose.

Such statements appear to be an attempt to re-write history. Vaccine mandates, wherever they have been imposed, have proven to be, as Wesley J. Smith put it, exploding cigars.

In April last year, the British Medical Journal cautioned against vaccine mandates, arguing that more evidence about the long-term effectiveness of different types of vaccines and the duration of protection they confer was required, considering the emergence of new variants. It noted at the same time the ethical concerns about the societal divide that vaccine mandates or passports could cause, as did the World Health Organisation (WHO).

From the outset, it has been clear that persons who are unvaccinated do not present a greater risk of transmission of the virus. As far back as December 2020 the WHOs chief scientist, Dr Soumya Swaminathan stated clearly: I dont believe we have the evidence on any of the vaccines to be confident that its going to prevent people from actually getting the infection and therefore being able to pass it on.

Last November, the prestigious Lancet Infectious Diseases Journal reported that COVID-19 vaccines have a minimal impact on preventing transmission of the virus, which blows a hole in the argument that workers need to get vaccinated to protect those around them.

This was confirmed in a recent judicial review by the High Court of New Zealand, where Justice Francis Cooke struck down the police and defence force vaccine mandates as not being demonstrably justified. Justice Cooke considered expert evidence given by Professor Nikolai Petrovsky of Flinders University in South Australia concerning the effectiveness of vaccination in reducing transmission of the Omicron variant.

Cooke concluded that, although the omicron variant poses a threat to the continuity of workforces, this was the case for the vaccinated as well as the unvaccinated. New Zealand has since removed most vaccine mandates.

Protesters rally against COVID-19-related restrictions and vaccine mandates in Wellington, New Zealand, on Nov. 9, 2021. (Praveen Menon/Reuters)

Dr Clive Dix, the former chairman of the United Kingdoms vaccine taskforce has said that COVID should be treated as an endemic virus similar to flu and that the time has come to end mass-vaccination, given a high percentage of the population, and importantly the most vulnerable, have received their vaccinations.

In the UK, vaccine mandates were only ever imposed in limited settings and withdrawn in the health sector due to threats of a staff exodus. Professor Andrew Pollard, who helped develop the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, stated on BBC Radio 4 in January that it really is not affordable, sustainable or probably even needed to vaccinate everyone on the planet every four to six months. He added that in the future, we need to target the vulnerable.

Further, history has shown us that it is societally counter-productive to demonise or discriminate against people exercising their free will.

Several infectious diseases experts have stated the same thing.

Immunisation policy expert, WHO adviser, and professor at the University of Sydney, Julie Leask, has argued that we will not eliminate risk by locking out the unvaccinated from everyday life.

To make the requirement ongoing is not proportionate to the harm it brings; for peoples travel and their everyday life. It can create these radicalisation effects, we see that in history, Leask said. When you bring in hard mandates with severe consequences, some will dig in further, become more alienated, less trusting, and less willing to comply with other things. It can actually give vaccination and primary healthcare a bad name.

Professor of Public Health at the University of Melbourne, Nathan Grills, has argued that there is a diminishing marginal return of vaccine mandates. Those who are not vaccinated may well be unlikely to change their minds, however, our society and economy cannot afford to lose or marginalise 5 to 7 percent of the population simply because of their beliefs.

While he does not agree with their beliefs, Grills stated that such people are upstanding citizens and hard-working people of integrity and questioned if we really wanted to live in a society that determines long-term societal participation on ones beliefs, especially and even more so with Omicron, whether vaccinated or not, where there remains the risk of a spread?

People walk along Hobart mall in Hobart, Australia, on Oct. 16, 2021. (Steve Bell/Getty Images)

The exploding cigar effect of vaccine mandates is now being seen in worker shortages. Nurses in New South Wales went on strike in February due to staffing issues caused not only by isolation requirements but by vaccine mandates. The standing down of ambulance officers who did not want to be vaccinated has led to triple-0 calls being unanswered.

Former Australian Deputy Chief Medical Officer Dr Nick Coatsworth has said vaccine mandates should be withdrawn immediately to deal with teacher shortages in schools. Further, even people with legitimate medical reasons against being vaccinated have been forced to leave jobs they love.

Maybe these are some of the reasons why ATAGI, Australias immunisation advisory group, never recommended vaccine mandates in the first place.

In a democracy, individuals have the right to make their own choices after considering every viewpoint. To this end, the governments role is to persuade, not to coerce.

That this country, which prides itself on the fair go, compelled vaccination for unwilling citizens for a virus that is of limited severity will, when examined in the future, be seen as extremely authoritarian and as a dark episode in its history.

In the words of the 19th century English classical liberal philosopher and parliamentarian, John Stuart Mill:

The only freedom which deserves the name is that of pursuing our own good in our own way, so long as we do not attempt to deprive others of theirs or impede their efforts to obtain it. Each is the proper guardian of his own health, whether bodily or mental or spiritual. Mankind are greater gainers by suffering each other to live as seems good to themselves than by compelling each to live as seems good to the rest.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Facebook Silent on FBI Informants Using Platform to Push Whitmer Kidnap Plot

On Oct. 28, 2020, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg testified in Congress about what he was doing to monitor online extremism, citing his companys work with law enforcement to apprehend the men who had allegedly tried to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer weeks earlier.

Over the last four years in particular, weve built closer partnerships with law enforcement and the intelligence community to be able to share those types of signals. Were doing more of that, including in the case you mentioned before, around the attempted kidnapping of Governor Whitmer, Zuckerberg told the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

We identified that as a signal to the FBI about six months ago, when we started seeing some suspicious activity on our platform.

However, it was revealed during the Whitmer kidnapping plot trial in March that at least some of that suspicious activity was conducted by FBI informants.

And in the wake of a Grand Rapids federal jury acquitting two of the accused plottersagreeing with their defense that the FBI incited and entrapped themZuckerbergs comments about the case are recirculating online, serving as the butt of numerous jokes about Facebook notifying the FBI of its own actors.

Facebook didnt respond to emails from The Epoch Times seeking comment.

According to the U.S. government, the extremist rhetoric of the alleged Whitmer kidnap plotters was first noticed in March 2020 by Army veteran Dan Chappel, who later served as a key FBI informant. Chappel said in court that he was scrolling online when the Wolverine Watchmen militias Facebook page popped up as a suggestion post.

As the FBIs case grew from there, the bureau allegedly created Facebook pages for the Three Percenters militia, according to statements made last month during the federal trial. According to the defense, one of the primary drivers of this activity was Stephen Robesonthe former FBI informant who told The Epoch Times last month that hes received death threats over his role in the case.

Defense attorney Christopher Gibbons, who represented Adam Fox, said during the trial that Robeson operated the Facebook page of the Three Percenters, a militia that was involved in the Whitmer kidnapping conspiracy as well as the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol Hill incursion.

According to Gibbons, Robeson announced on the Three Percenters Facebook page that Fox had become the leader of the Michigan branch in June 2020. It was around that time that Fox became active with the Wolverine Watchmen, the group associated with the alleged plot to kidnap Whitmer.

Fox was made administrator of the Michigan Three Percenters Facebook page created by the FBI informants, Gibbons said.

He got that Facebook page courtesy of the federal government, the attorney said.

After being made administrator of the Facebook page, Gibbons said, Fox received a message from another FBI informant named Mark. Fox then attended a militia training event in Munith, Michigan, on June 28, 2020, Gibbons said.

The alleged plot escalated from there, until Fox was arrested along with Croft, Daniel Harris, Brandon Caserta, Ty Garbin, and Kaleb Franks in October 2020.

At a March 31 webinar hosted by George Washington Universitys Program on Extremism, academics discussed the issue of curtailing online extremist rhetoric. The webinars moderator told The Epoch Times that FBI informants administering Three Percenters Facebook pages is one of the complicating factors in trying to monitor speech.

Being in extremist online spaces carries a very prolific rate of friendly fire, in terms of the number of actors with different understands, goals, and perspectives all being in one place, said Program on Extremism senior research fellow Bennett Clifford, referring to federal informants.

If youre in any sort of group or platform or channel where theres a congregation of extremists, you can also expect to find nation-state actors, folks from law enforcement, interested observers, and so on, he said.

And sorting out the discourse in those arenas, and contextualizing who belongs to what, or what belongs to whom, is increasingly difficult in avoiding those cross-reactions that happen when you have that motley crew of people together. It can be very difficult from a regulatory perspective, as well.
Trucks wait in a long queue to cross into the United States, after the U.S Department of Public Safety (DPS) announced increased security checks at the international ports of entry into Texas, at the Zaragoza-Ysleta border crossing bridge in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico on April 9, 2022. (REUTERS/Jose Luis Gonzalez)

Biden Administration Calls Texas Border Inspections Unnecessary as Abbott Pressures Border Crossings

DEL RIO, TexasThe Biden administration has weighed in on Texass latest efforts to bring attention to the illegal immigration crisis at the southern border.

The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) started conducting enhanced commercial vehicle safety inspections on vehicles traveling from Mexico on April 8, at the behest of Gov. Greg Abbott.

The inspections are being conducted on state roads just beyond several ports of entry, which has caused long delays to commercial traffic and caused miles-long lines of trucks into Mexico.

Customs and Border Protection, which is responsible for border clearance into the United States, called the inspections unnecessary in a statement issued on April 12.

Local trade associations, officials, and businesses are requesting the Texas state government discontinue their additional border truck inspection process because it is not necessary to protect the safety and security of Texas communities and is resulting in significant impacts to local supply chains that will impact consumers and businesses nationally, CBP stated.

The Hildalgo/Pharr port of entry has seen a 35 percent drop in commercial traffic, while a bridge in Laredo has seen a 60 percent drop, according to CBP.

Texas DPS officers have conducted inspections since April 6 at seven ports of entryBrownsville, Los Indios, Pharr, Laredo, Eagle Pass, Del Rio, and El Paso. Texas has 28 land ports of entry with Mexico.

As of April 10, DPS had inspected 3,443 commercial vehicles, of which 807 were placed out of service for serious safety violations to include defective brakes, defective tires, and defective lighting, according to Lt. Christopher Olivarez, DPS spokesman for south Texas.

Additionally, 79 commercial vehicle drivers were placed out of service. The total number of violations detected thus far is 11,566.

The president and CEO of the Texas Trucking Association John Esparza said his phone has been ringing off the hook since April 7.

Without a doubt it is a major concern for all of us currently, Esparza told The Epoch Times. Regardless of what causes the slowdowns, when we see slowdowns at the border, it has a down-the-food-chain effect  all the way to the grocery store.

The Texas Trucking Association has 1,000 member companies ranging from small businesses to Fortune 500 companies, according to its website.

Esparza said hes been in touch with the governors office since the inspections started and is seeking further clarification on the ultimate goal.

We dont disagree with what the governor is doing. What were trying to do is help him reach the goals with our partners over at the Department of Public Safety without impeding commerce. And that can be a challenge, Esparza said.

I think the industry is rightfully concerned about what this is going to mean in the days and weeks, and potentially months to come. We just dont know yet.

Dante Galeazzi, the CEO and president of the Texas International Produce Association, was quick to send a letter to Abbott.

We implore you to modify the deployment of this enforcement action, Galeazzi wrote on April 8. Last night, commercial trucks crossing the Pharr International Bridges were in a miles-long line that took until nearly 2 a.m. this morning to clear the bridge. Today, the line is at a stand-still as trucks are crawling out of the import lot.

Galeazzi said $9 billion and more than 1.28 billion pounds of fresh produce crosses from Mexico into Texas annually.

This is destroying our business and the reputation of Texas. I foresee companies making plans to move their business to New Mexico and Arizona, he said.

DPS hasnt said how long it intends to continue with the inspections. Mexico is Texass top trading partner, with $88.5 billion worth of goods flowing both ways across the TexasMexico border annually, according to Global Edge.

Abbotts office didnt respond by press time to a request for comment and also a query as to whether the Biden administration has reached out to him.

On April 6, Abbott directed DPS to start conducting the inspections in a letter to the agencys director, Col. Steven McCraw.

As you have explained, the cartels that smuggle illicit contraband and people across our southern border do not care about the condition of the vehicles they send into Texas any more than they care who overdoses from the deadly fentanyl on board, Abbott wrote.

In response to this threat, which is projected to grow in the coming months, I hereby direct the  DPS to conduct enhanced safety inspections of vehicles as they cross international ports of entry into Texas.

Abbott made the announcement several days after the Biden administration said it intends to end the Title 42 pandemic-related expulsions at the border on May 23.

On April 11, Mexicos undersecretary of Foreign Trade sent a letter to Abbott, to find joint solutions to keep trade flows uninterrupted, according to a Twitter post by Undersecretary Luz Maria de la Mora.

Esparza said he hopes the border slowdown issue doesnt get to where trade routes move from Texas to New Mexico or Arizona.

Is that blowing things out of proportion? Maybe not at this point, he said of a possible shift west. How long [inspections] will last can change behavior thats not necessarily positive for Texas and the movement of freight in Texas.

The Texas Association of Business didnt respond to a request for comment. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce also didnt respond to a request for comment.

In the past six months, 1 million illegal immigrants from 157 countries have been apprehended at the southern border, according to Border Patrol Chief Raul Ortiz.

NOTE: This article and headline have been edited to add information from U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
Kinder Surprise chocolate eggs, a brand of Italian confectionary group Ferrero, are seen on display in a supermarket in Islamabad, Pakistan, on July 18, 2017. (Caren Firouz/Reuters)

Ferrero Asks Americans to Dispose of Kinder Chocolates Over Salmonella Fears

Ferrero on Tuesday asked U.S. consumers to dispose of some Kinder chocolate products not authorized for distribution in the country, warning they could be from the batch recently recalled in Europe due to a potential Salmonella Typhimurium contamination.

The confectionary groups North American division last week recalled Kinder Happy Moments Chocolate Assortment and Kinder Mix Chocolate Treats basket because they were manufactured in a facility where Salmonella was detected.

The voluntary recall on Tuesday is for two products in the U.S.- Kinder Happy Moments Milk Chocolate and Crispy Wafers assortment with a best by date of July 18 and Kinder Mix Chocolate Treats Basket with a best by date of July 30- and affects no other Kinder products distributed or sold by Ferreros U.S. arm.

Canadian Food Inspection Agency on Monday said Ferrero was also recalling certain Kinder brand chocolate products for the same reason.

The company on Tuesday published an update upon the U.S. Food and Drug Administrations request to ask Americans to dispose of Kinder products intended for foreign markets yet available for sale in the United States.

Italys Ferrero has also recalled several batches of Kinder Surprise chocolate eggs and other products in Spain, Britain and Ireland, while Belgian health authorities have urged consumers not to eat several recalled Kinder products.

Ferrero on Tuesday maintained there were no reports of illness in the United States to date from the chocolates and it was working with the U.S. health agency to address the problem.
The outside of the Supreme Court of New South Wales building is seen in Sydney, Australia, on Oct. 9, 2013. (William West/AFP via Getty Images)

Foreign Investor Fined $250,000 for Illegal Property Purchases

Australias Federal Court has fined a man living in Victoria for illegally purchasing and possessing multiple properties, the first penalty order issued since the enaction of the countrys foreign investor laws.

The court ruled that Vijay Balasubramaniyan, a temporary resident, had to pay a total of $250,000 (US$186,000) in fines to the federal government, plus the legal costs of the Tax Commissioner, for failing to comply with the laws when acquiring four Victorian properties.

Balasubramaniyan admitted to purchasing the properties in the suburbs of Hoppers Crossing, Werribee and Aintree without informing the Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB), as required under the Foreign Acquisitions and Takeover Act (FATA) 1975.

Current laws specify that foreign investors are generally prohibited from buying established dwellings, except for a few circumstances.

They are allowed to purchase new dwellings or vacant lands for residential development, but they must notify the FIRB and receive approval before doing so.

Auctioneer Karen Harvey counts down a bid during an auction of residential property in Hurlstone Park in Sydney, Australia, on May 8, 2021. (Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images)

Balasubramaniyan came to Australia on a temporary visa in 2015 and later married his Australian wife in 2017.

Between 2016 and 2018, he acquired three established dwellings and a piece of vacant land as a sole proprietor.

Apart from the breaches resulting from not notifying the FIRB of the purchases, he was also found to have violated the FATA for holding an interest in more than one established dwelling at the same time.

In reaching his decision, Justice Jonathan Beach said that the $250,000 penalty was appropriate when considering the fact that Balasubramaniyan obtained $710,300 in capital gains from his illegal purchases and the purpose of setting up a general deterrence to deter others from contravening the laws.

The case marked the first penalty order for FATA breaches issued by the Federal Court.

Australian Taxation Office (ATO) Assistant Commissioner Keir Cornish said the ATO welcomed the courts decision and that the penalty would serve as a clear deterrent to other foreign investors who disregarded the laws.

There are obligations under Australian law for foreigners that have invested in, or plan to invest in Australian residential real estate, Cornish said in a statement on April 11.

The ATO promotes voluntary compliance of the rules by foreign persons, but where foreign investors resist compliance action, stronger enforcement action is taken.

The four Victorian properties in the case have since been sold, returning them to the housing market for Australian residents.

Between 2015 and 2021, compliance action from the ATO, which co-administers the FATA, resulted in the disposal of 434 residential properties owned by foreign investors across Australia.
From the time I learned to read, libraries have been a sanctuary. As an adult, I have made my way with words, writing magazine articles and a few books. So, when I recently moved to a small neighborhood in Southwest Portland, Ore., I became fascinated by the number and variety of boxes located throughout the community where people drop off and pick up free books.

There are more than a dozen of these Little Free Libraries. They range from fairly simple wooden boxes, with one or two shelves and a sturdy door with a clear plastic window, all the way to, at the mouth of the neighborhoods business district, a replica of a red London phone booth in miniature with three layers of bookshelves. And they are as different on the inside as out.

The Little Free Library really encourages people to make their Little Free Libraries individualistic, says Karen Anderson, who has hosted a Little Free Library in front of her house in the Ballard neighborhood of Seattle for the last six years. Someone might have a little library full of childrens books; another might be full of mysteries. Our library is full of science fiction. She says the organization encourages people to make the designs reflective of themselves. One family in our neighborhood covered the sides of their little free library with homemade tiles. Each member of their family did one, and each tile has its own little story.

Being homemade does not mean flimsy. On the Little Free Library website, you can find plans for do-it-yourselfers who want to build their own Little Free Libraries, as well as pre-built ones for sale.

Youve got to have really high-quality building, Anderson says. In Seattle, you want to be very careful, not just about rain, but about humidity. You want it to have some sort of ventilation; otherwise, youve got a closed, humid box. As anyone living in the Pacific Northwest can attest, that means mold.

Although the idea of giveaways in America goes back to Native American potlatches and beyond, the Little Free Library projectinstalling small boxes for people to leave and take bookshad its beginnings in rural Wisconsin in 2009. Todd Bol was looking for a way to honor his mother, who had recently passed away. She had been a schoolteacher and instilled in him a love of reading, and Bol had the idea of creating a miniature one-room schoolhouse, which he built from an old garage door. He filled it with a dozen or so books and planted it at the road in front of his farm.

And there it stood, largely unnoticed for the next year. Not many people come down the road in Hudson, Wis. But when he had a garage sale in 2010, neighbors thought the book exchange was a pretty cool idea, so Bol made some boxes for them. I put up my library and noticed my neighbors talking to it like it was a little puppy, said Bol in a 2013 Washington Post article. And I realized there was some kind of magic about it.

Eventually, he incorporated a nonprofit, tax-exempt organization, Little Free Library, to promote the program beyond his immediate area, spurred on by his friend Rick Brooks, then a University of Wisconsin-Madison professor, who placed the first Little Free Library outside of Hudson on a bicycle path in Madison. Within two years, they had exceeded their goal of matching Andrew Carnegies achievement of building 2,509 libraries in the early 20th century. Today, littlefreelibrary.org claims more than 100,000 Little Free Libraries in over 100 countries, and 42 million books shared annually.

Little Free Libraries do more than offer a place for people to recycle reading material; they help foster a sense of community. People are inspired by the simplicity of the idea, and are encouraged by seeing what they give away being taken, and by finding something to read themselves.

I like what I call giving gifts to the street, says Dick Willis, one of my new neighbors who has had a Little Free Library in front of his house for the last five years. I seeded it with books for about the first year. And then it just took off. I havent really supplied much in the way of books for the last four years. People just keep it going.

Asked what a profusion of Little Free Libraries says about a neighborhood, Anderson says, The neighborhood values books; the neighborhood values sharing. It is also a way to show that the neighborhood is safe enough to have this sort of thing without worrying that it will get vandalized.

Willis can only recall one problem incident involving his Little Free Library.

There was a girl last summer, Willis recounts, who showed up with a bag and just emptied the Little Library. But the neighborhood refilled it, so it was self-healing.

Manny Frishberg grew up in the shadow of the Brooklyn Bridge and has called the West Coast home for more than 40 years. In his spare time, he practices photography and writes science fiction and more than 40 of his short stories have been published in magazines and anthologies.

This article was originally featured in Radiant Life Magazine.
Marina Ovsyannikova, the editor at the state broadcaster Channel One who protested against Russian military action in Ukraine during the evening news broadcast at the station late March 14, leaves the Ostankinsky District Court after being fined for 30,000 rubles (about $270) for breaching protest laws in Moscow on March 15, 2022. (AFP via Getty Images)

German Newspaper Hires Russian Anti-War Protestor

The German newspaper Die Welt has hired a new reporter: the Russian journalist Marina Ovsyannikova, who drew the worlds attention after a surprising stunt on Russian state television in protest of her native countrys recent and continuing invasion of Ukraine.

Ovsyannikova is now a freelance correspondent for Die Welt, reporting from Ukraine and Russia, among other places, said the newspaper in a statement. Die Welt is the flagship newspaper of Axel Springer SE, a German media group that also owns the American publications Insider and Politico.

At a crucial moment, Marina Ovsyannikova had the courage to confront Russian viewers with an unembellished view of reality, said Welt spokesman Ulf Poschardt. In doing so, she defended the most important journalistic ethicsdespite the threat of state repression. I am excited to be working with her.

On March 14, Ovsyannikova appeared in the background of the evening news broadcast Vremya on state-owned Channel One Russia, holding a bilingual English and Russian sign condemning the war, telling the audience that they were being lied to by the state news broadcast.

In the immediate aftermath of her protest, Ovsyannikova was reportedly taken into police custody for 14 hours of questioning. She was ultimately released with a 30,000 ruble fineroughly worth $280and she is currently under investigation for charges of spreading false information. She may also face prosecution for using the term war to describe the conflict, in contradiction to the Russian governments insistence on referring to the invasion as a special military operation.

The fine is not the end of [the] story because I have not yet been fined or prosecuted for my appearance on the TV news broadcast. So I think there may be further prosecutions coming, Ovsyannikova told FRANCE24.

Ovsyannikova announced her resignation from Channel One Russia on March 17. French President Emanuel Macron offered her asylum in France, but Ovsyannikova declined, claiming that she wanted to remain in Russia.

Ovsyannikova has stated that Die Welt stands for what is being defended so vehemently by the courageous people on the ground in Ukraine right now: for freedom.

Her hiring is effective immediately.
The Hong Kong flag flutters outside the Hong Kong government office on June 3, 2020. (Carlos Garcia Rawlins/Reuters)

Hong Kong Police Arrest Independent Journalist Over Seditious Publication

A veteran journalist for the now-defunct independent media outlet Stand News was arrested by Hong Kong national security police on April 11 for allegedly conspiring to publish a seditious publication.

Allan Au, 54, was released on bail later that day after being held in custody for 17 hours, Hong Kong news agency The Standard reported.

Au was arrested at his residence in Highland Park in Kwai Chung under a colonial-era anti-sedition law covering conspiracy to publish seditious materials. He could face a two-year prison sentence if found guilty, according to Reporters Without Borders (RSF).

Police did not specify the reason for his arrest, but local media reported that it was related to Aus contribution to Stand News, where he worked as a journalist and columnist.

RSF stated that Au was the third journalist linked to Stand News detained under the anti-sedition law, along with chief editors Patrick Lam and Chung Pui-kuen, who are currently awaiting trial in custody.

Stand News was forced to shut down in December 2021 after police raided its offices, froze its assets, and arrested its staff on suspicion of conspiracy to publish seditious publications.

Au has worked in various media organizations, including the Chinese-language newspaper Ming Pao, Radio Television Hong Kong, and the TVB News channel. He also works as a teaching consultant at the School of Journalism in Hong Kong, according to RSF.

Cedric Alviani, RSFs East Asia Bureau head, urged the international community to pressure Beijing to secure Aus release alongside all other journalists and press freedom defenders detained in Hong Kong.

The detention of a third journalist from Stand News two months after the medias forced shutdown, shows the governments determination to put an end to press freedom in the territory, Alviani said in a statement.

U.S. State Department spokesperson Ned Price also called for the release of Allan Au and all other imprisoned for exercising their fundamental freedoms, saying that Hong Kongs status as a global financial center requires the free flow of information and opinions.

Steven Butler, the Asia coordinator for the Committee to Protect Journalists, stated that Aus arrest shows once again that Hong Kongs claims to have maintained press freedom are rubbish, and he urged authorities to allow journalists to work without interference.

The colonial-era law used to arrest Au and his counterparts at Stand News is separate from the controversial national security law imposed on Hong Kong by China in June 2020. The national security law punishes alleged acts of subversion, terrorism, collusion with foreign forces, and secession with possible life imprisonment.

Critics, including Western governments, say the national security law has been used to silence dissent, with scores of pro-democracy campaigners arrested, civil society groups disbanded, and free speech curtailed.

Reuters contributed to this report.
Pivotal randomized control trials (RCTs) underpinning approval of Covid-19 vaccines did not set out to, and did not, test if the vaccines prevent transmission of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Nor did the trials test if the vaccines reduce mortality risk. A review of seven phase III trials, including those for Moderna, Pfizer/BioNTech and AstraZeneca vaccines, found the criterion the vaccines were trialled against was just reduced risk of Covid-19 symptoms.

There should be no secret about these facts, as they were discussed in August 2020 in the BMJ (formerly the British Medical Journal); one of the oldest and most widely cited medical journals in the world. Moreover, this was not an isolated article, as the editor-in-chief also gave her own summary of the vaccine-testing situation, which has proved very prescient:

we are heading for vaccines that reduce severity of illness rather than protect against infection [and] provide only short-lived immunity,  as well as damaging public confidence and wasting global resources by distributing a poorly effective vaccine, this could change what we understand a vaccine to be. Instead of long-term, effective disease prevention it could become a suboptimal chronic treatment.It was not just the BMJ covering these features of the RCTs. When health bureaucrats Rochelle Walensky, Henry Walke and Anthony Fauci claimed (in the Journal of the American Medical Association) that clinical trials have shown that the vaccines authorized for use in the US are highly effective against Covid-19 infection, severe illness and death this was felt sufficiently false that the journal published a comment simply titled Inaccurate Statement.

The basis of the comment was that the primary endpoint for the RCTs was symptoms of Covid-19; a less exacting standard than testing to show efficacy against infection, severe illness, and death.

Yet these aspects of the vaccine trials discussed in medical journals are largely unknown by the general public. To measure public understanding of the Covid-19 vaccine trials I added a question about the vaccine testing to an ongoing nationally representative survey of adult New Zealanders.

While not top-of-mind for most readers, New Zealand is a useful place for finding out about public understanding of the vaccine trials. Until recently, when a few doses of AstraZeneca and Novavax vaccines were allowed, it was 100% Pfizer, making it easy to word the survey question very specifically about the Pfizer vaccine trials.

Also, New Zealanders were vaccinated in a very short period, just prior to the survey. In late August 2021 New Zealand was last in the OECD in dosing rates but by December, when the survey was fielded, it had jumped into the top half of the OECD, with vaccinations rising by an average of 110 doses per 100 people in just over three months.

This rapid rise in vaccination was partly driven by mandates, for health, education, police, and emergency workers and also by a vaccine passport system that blocked the unvaccinated from most places. The mandates were strictly applied, and even people suffering adverse reactions after their first shot, such as Bells Palsy and pericarditis, still had to get the second shot. The vaccine passport law had gone through Parliament just prior to the survey, so the vaccines, and what was expected of them, should have been utmost in peoples minds.

The other relevant factor about New Zealand is the government-dominated media, which is either publicly funded, or is heavily subsidized by a public interest journalism fund and by generous government advertising of the Covid-19 vaccines. Also, supposedly independent commentators prominent in the media got their talking points about the vaccines from the government in a carefully orchestrated public relations campaign.

Thus, it was mainly overseas journalists who expressed concern when New Zealands Prime Minister made the Orwellian claim that in matters of Covid-19 and vaccines: Dismiss anything else, we will continue to be your single source of truth.

Yet a government-controlled media and a vaccine advertising blitz yielded widespread public misunderstanding about the testing the vaccines underwent in pivotal trials. The survey asked if the Pfizer vaccine had been trialled against: (a) preventing infection and transmission of SARS-CoV-2, or (b) reducing risk of getting symptoms of Covid-19, or (c) reducing risk of getting serious sick or dying, or (d) all of the above. The correct answer is (b), the trials only set out to test if the vaccines reduced the risk of getting Covid-19 symptoms.

Only four percent of respondents got the right answer. In other words, 96 percent of adult New Zealanders thought the Covid-19 vaccines were tested against more demanding criteria than is actually the case.

Currently, most Covid-19 cases in New Zealand are post-vaccination. And despite almost everyone being vaccinated, and most boosted, the rate of new confirmed Covid-19 cases is one of the highest in the world. As people see with their own eyes that one can still get infected they may question what they have been led to (mis)understand about the vaccines.

Elsewhere it is noted that vaccine fanaticismespecially denying natural immunityfuels vaccine scepticism. As people see that public health authorities lied about natural immunity they will wonder if they also lied about vaccine efficacy. Likewise, as they realise they were given a misleading impression about what the vaccines were trialled against they might doubt other claims about vaccines.

In particular, by believing the vaccines were tested against more demanding criteria than was actually so, public expectations of what vaccination would achieve were likely too high. As the public witnesses a failure of mass vaccination to prevent SARS-CoV-2 infections, and a failure to reduce overall mortality, scepticism about these and other vaccines will grow.

In New Zealand this issue is exacerbated by the Prime Minister creating a false equivalence between Covid-19 vaccines and measles vaccines. Currently the paediatric vaccination rate (which includes the measles vaccine) for indigenous Maori has dropped 12 percentage points in two years and 0.3 million measles vaccines had to be discarded after expiring due to lack of demand. The advertising for Covid-19 vaccines particularly targets Maori, with claims that boosters will protect them against Omicron. The progress of infections is likely to prove this claim to be largely untrue, and so Maori are likely to be even more sceptical about future vaccination, even for vaccines that truly can be described as safe and effective.

If politicians and health bureaucrats had been honest with the public, setting out the criteria the Covid-19 vaccines were trialed against, and what could and could not be expected of the vaccines, then this widespread misunderstanding need not have occurred. Instead, their lack of honesty is likely to damage future vaccination efforts and harm public health.

Republished from Brownstone Institute

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
A statue of Themis, the Greek God of Justice stands outside the Supreme Court in Brisbane, Australia. (Dave Hunt/AAP Image)

Human Rights Commission Speaks Up on Vaccine Mandates in Queensland

The Queensland Human Rights Commission (QHRC), which has intervened in a number of Supreme Court cases challenging COVID-19 vaccine mandates, has said there is no one size fits all approach to determining the human rights compatibility of vaccine mandates.

Throughout the pandemic, the QHRC has called on the Queensland state government to publicly release how it has considered human rights when the Chief Health Officer (CHO) has made public health directions.

The CHOs directions are the subject of civil legal challenges led by a group of Queensland teachers, after groups of teachers, health workers, and hospitality staff previously lost legal challenges, Brisbane Times reported.

In court documents obtained by Daily Mail, the QHRC said in a submission to the Supreme Court that Queensland CHO John Gerrard acted outside his powers when mandating COVID-19 vaccinations for teachers without considering the alternatives.

The right not to be subjected to non-consensual medical treatment has clearly been limited by the directions and, on the evidence, other rights also, the QHRC submission reportedly reads.

The Epoch Times has not independently verified the contents of the submission. However, in a statement released on April 11 (pdf), the QHRC confirmed it was involved in several ongoing legal proceedings challenging vaccine mandates in the courts.

However, the QHRC does not publish or release its court submissions until the legal challenges conclude.

In their statement, the QHRC said the requirements for people to be vaccinated for COVID-19 and their compatibility with human rights must be weighed on a case-by-case basis.

However, it didnt necessarily follow that subsequent or related actions or decisions are also justifiable as a result of balancing the public health directions with their compatibility with human rights, the QHRC said.

Requiring each action and decision to be assessed for human rights compatibility acknowledges that one size doesnt fit all. That is a key purpose of human rights legislation.

When it comes to vaccine mandates, this may mean that some mandates are justifiable while others are not.

The factors to be taken into account here are numerous and include the purpose of the direction, the level of risk, whether there is a rational connection between the making of the direction and achieving its purpose, and whether there are alternative ways to ensure peoples safety in workplaces or service settings, the authors of QHRC statement said.

According to Brisbane Times, lawyers for the groups of school, police, and hospitality staff requested that Gerrard reveal his reasons for mandating COVID-19 vaccinations specifically for their workforces.

But Gerrard reportedly said he was not obliged to justify his decision because the health orders were of legislative character, not administrative character.

Justice Jean Dalton agreed, but her decision has been appealed.
A worker, wearing personal protective equipment (PPE), walks next to a police car on a street during a COVID-19 lockdown in the Jing'an district in Shanghai on April 11, 2022. (HECTOR RETAMAL/AFP via Getty Images)

I Have No Food! Shanghai Residents Protest As COVID-19 Lockdown Anger Mounts

Desperate residents in Shanghai protested a lack of food supplies as the lockdown of Chinas wealthiest city entered a third week, online videos show.

In the footage, dozens of residents stand behind the gate of the residential community of Kangting shouting, Give [us] supplies Kangting community, give [us] supplies! Two police vehicles, with their red lights flashing, are outside the gate in the footage.

Another video shows residents in the Kangting neighborhood struggling with a group of hazmat-suited people who were said to be police.

I have no food! What are you going to do [with me] a man yelled at people in white protective suits, then scenes of people yelling we want supplies from windows and balconies of high-rise apartments are seen.

[/epoch_video]

These videos, which have been widely circulated on Chinas Twitter-like Weibo, were reportedly shot in the Kangting community in Jiuting town of Shanghais Songjiang district on the night of April 8. Police allegedly shot into the sky to suppress the protests.

People there have been confined to their homes since April 1, according to the official notice from Jiuting towns official Wechat account and local resident statements.

When The Epoch Times contacted the Jiuting Town Police Station about the protests, an unidentified police officer said they already knew what was happening in the video and that there were police officers at the scene to deal with it.

The officer refused to answer whether police fired shots. Let me tell you, we already know [the scenes in the footage]. What you need to do is not to believe in rumors or spread rumors, the police told The Epoch Times on April 9.

A worker wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) talks to a resident on a street during a COVID-19 lockdown in the Jingan district in Shanghai on April 9, 2022. (Hector Retamal/AFP via Getty Images)

Food Shortages

Public frustration and anger are growing over the zero-COVID policy as the prolonged controls have left them struggling to get food and daily necessities.

Shanghai was initially promised an eight-day lockdown starting on March 28 to curb the transmission of the fast-moving Omicron variant, while staggered testing was carried out. The restrictions have since been extended as infections continue to surge, leaving many unprepared to cope.

While the city officials repeatedly assured residents they would provide daily supplies, many complained the government food packages had not been delivered.

Not just Kangting Community, [residents in] several communities were protesting last night, a woman from another neighborhood of Tangting in Jiuting town said in a phone interview with The Epoch Times on Saturday.

People are dissatisfied with the lack of food and cant get help from the residential communities despite making repeated calls, the woman using the surname Li said.

Li said she only bought groceries for a week because the authorities promised a four-day closure. Food is running out, but Li is unable to secure orders using overwhelmed grocery delivery apps.

[I] really cant get any food, not even a leek, Li said. As a pregnant woman, she said her only wish was to feed herself, though she is under pressure to pay rent during the lockdown.

Another resident in Jiuting town, who gave his surname as Sheng, said vendors stopped delivering orders on April 8.

A woman looks out an apartment window during a COVID-19 lockdown in the Jingan district in Shanghai on April 9, 2022. (Hector Retamal/AFP via Getty Images)

Locked Down

Shanghai officials have imposed restrictions from the Chinese regimes zero-COVID playbook, which seeks to test, trace, and centrally quarantine all positive people to stem the spread of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus.

Despite the strict measures, Shanghai reported another 26,087 cases on Monday. About 96 percent of infected people showed no symptoms. Residents and experts, however, suggest the outbreak may be more severe than what is officially disclosed, due to the regimes practice of covering up information that it deems harmful to its image.

On Monday, city officials divided the city into over 7,000 areas and grouped residential compounds into three risk categories. People will be allowed to exit their homes only if no positive cases are reported in their neighborhood during a two-week timeframe.

But the easing is limited. People are still required to reduce unnecessary movement and not leave the street or town they live in. City official Gu Honghui said at a press briefing that a neighborhood compound could be sealed off again if a single case is reported.

Workers in protective suits spray disinfectant throughout a community during the lockdown in Shanghai on April 5, 2022.(Aly Song/Reuters)

The announcement came as the metropolis of Guangzhou tightened travel restrictions and announced mass testing of its 18 million residents after recording a handful of cases.

On April 5, analysts at Nomura estimated that a total of 23 cities are in partial or total lockdown. These cities, with a combined population of 193 million people, contributed to 22 percent of the countrys GDP, Nomura said in a note.

Luo Ya, Gu Shanshan, Gu Qinger, and Reuters contributed to the report.
Different missiles attached to Russian warplanes are on display during the opening day of the annual air show MAKS 2017 in Zhukovsky, Russia, on July 18, 2017. (Mladen Antonov/AFP via Getty Images)

If Russian Arms Exports Falter, Will China Fill the Vacuum?

Commentary

In the 2005 film Lord of War, an arms dealer (played by Nicolas Cage) argued that armaments had become one of Russias biggest exports since the end of the Cold War. After that, he said, comes vodka, caviar, and suicidal novelists. One thing is for sure, no one was lining up to buy their cars.

Anyone who has driven a Russian car would know what he means, and, yes, Russias biggest exports are mainly oil and gas, followed by minerals. But the point remains that overseas arms sales are a huge moneymaker for Russias economy.

Russia is, in fact, the worlds second-largest arms exporter after the United States. Over the past decade, Moscow has, on average, exported around $6.2 billion worth of arms, according to data put out by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). This translates into an approximately 25 percent share of the global arms trade.

Russias arms industry has become particularly dependent on exports, especially exports to Asia. Again, according to SIPRI, more than 61 percent of Russian overseas arms sales have gone to Asia and Oceania in recent years. Just two countries, India and China, account for nearly half of all Russian arms exports. Vietnam is also a major buyer of Russian weaponry.

In the case of China, despite significant advancements in its homegrown arms industry, Beijing still buys jet engines from Russia for its indigenous fighter aircraft, particularly the J-10 and J-20 fighters; such purchases underscore Chinas continuing problems with developing proficient jet engines. In recent years, Beijing has also bought S-400 air defense missiles and naval guns from Moscow.

In 2015, Beijing inked a $2 billion deal with Moscow for two dozen Su-35 air-superiority fighter jets. The Su-35 is the current jewel-in-the-crown of the Russian combat aircraft family, and export sales are crucial.

A Sukhoi Su-35 fighter jet takes off during a test flight ahead of the Airshow China 2014 in Zhuhai, in southern Chinas Guangdong Province, on Nov. 10, 2014. (Johannes Eisele/AFP/Getty Images)

At the same time, Southeast Asia has been a particularly lucrative market for Russian arms producers. In recent years, Moscow has sold Su-27 or Su-30 fighter jets to Indonesia, Malaysia, and Vietnam, and MiG-29s and Yak-130 trainer jets to Burma (also known as Myanmar). Other important sales include Russian air-to-air missiles, anti-ship missiles, and helicopters.

Russias invasion of Ukraine has put a lot of its potential arms exports at risk. Many countries that have bought Russian weapons either supported the United Nations efforts to punish Moscow (such as suspending Russia from the Human Rights Council) or, at the very least, abstained. It is doubtful that these countries would then find it appropriate to turn around and buy Russian arms.

Russias diminished arms export capacity and potential have significant implications for the Asian arms market in particular. Of course, India and Chinaboth of whom have refused to condemn Russias invasion of Ukrainewill likely continue to acquire Russian weapons systems or military technology. They are simply too much at the mercy of Moscow to let go anytime soon.

At the same time, these countries might decide that now is a good time to reduce their dependencies, either through diversifying their suppliers or expanding indigenous procurement. India, for example, is buying more and more military equipment from Israel and the United States.

The loss of arms salesparticularly to Asiacould be catastrophic for Russias defense industry. Moscow obviously does not want to lose access to this money-spinning business, yet Russian arms deals will likely falter, at least in the short term.

This will leave behind a vacuum that other arms competitors could sweep in to fill. U.S. and European defense companies could snap up new sales. In particular, the Ukrainian war has demonstrated the effectiveness of man-portable weapons systems like the Javelin and NLAW anti-tank missiles or the Stinger and Starstreak air-defense missiles. The export of such weapons could skyrocket.

But China could likely benefit the most from any fall-off in Russian arms exports. Countries that do not wish to buy Russian arms may also not want to be seen buying Western weaponry, as it might be interpreted as being too much in the pocket of the West.

This quandary could open the door for Beijing to start exporting arms to new customers, particularly in Southeast Asia, Latin America, and Africa. For example, Indonesia has acquired anti-ship missiles, artillery systems, and multiple rocket launchers from China, while Malaysia has bought Chinese warships and anti-aircraft missiles. These markets could open up for expanded sales of Chinese weaponry.

At the moment, Beijing captures only around 5 percent of the global arms market, about one-fifth that of Russia. Nevertheless, China has typically been among the top five arms exporters for the past two decades. A few new sizable arms deals to a few new customers could catapult China into a solid number three position and give Beijing a chance to solidify its position as a go-to arms supplier.

Russia is setting itself up for big losses in the international arms market, perhaps for quite a while. In turn, Chinas future as a preeminent arms dealer is Beijings to win.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Inmate Reverses Request for Execution, Says He Wants Appeal

JACKSON, Miss.A Mississippi death row inmate has told a judge under oath that he wants to continue appealing his case, months after saying he wanted to give up his appeals and request an execution date.

George County Circuit Court Judge Kathy King Jackson issued an order Monday noting the current wishes of the inmate, Blayde Nathaniel Grayson. Grayson, 46, appeared before Jackson on Thursday and said he wants to continue his appeal in federal court.

Grayson was convicted of capital murder in 1997 for the stabbing death the previous year of 78-year-old Minnie Smith during a home burglary in south Mississippis George County.

He said in a handwritten letter to the state Supreme Court in early December: I ask to see that my execution should be carried out forthwith. Grayson also said then that he wanted to end all of his appeals.

Graysons attorney, David Voisin, submitted a letter days later asking justices to disregard Graysons request because Grayson still had an appeal pending in federal court.

On Jan. 28, the state Supreme Court ordered that Grayson be put under oath before a circuit judge to say whether he wished to go forward with his request for the state to schedule his lethal injection. That hearing happened Thursday.

Mississippi carried out its first execution in nine years last November, giving a lethal injection to David Neal Cox, who had surrendered all appeals and described himself as worthy of death. A jury in north Mississippi sentenced Cox to death after he pleaded guilty to killing his estranged wife and sexually assaulting his stepdaughter in front of her dying mother.

By Emily Wagster Pettus
Type 001A, China's second aircraft carrier, is transferred from the dry dock into the water during a launch ceremony at Dalian shipyard in Dalian, northeast China's Liaoning Province, on April 26, 2017. (STR/AFP via Getty Images)

International Shipbuilding Contracts Fuel Modernization of Chinese Navy: Report

International demand for commercial ships is fueling the growth of the Chinese navy, according to a new report, which found that billions of dollars in foreign shipbuilding contracts could be being used by Beijing to fund new combat vessels.

The new report by the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a security-focused think tank, found that four major shipyards responsible for building Chinese naval vessels also raked in billions of dollars in foreign commercial investment and technology transfers every year.

Chinas opaque business ecosystem offers limited transparency into the flow of capital within its shipbuilding industry, but available evidence indicates that profits from foreign orders likely lower the costs of upgrading Chinas navy, the report said.

This is because of the Chinese Communist Partys (CCP) strategy of military-civil fusion (MCF), which aims to prioritize commercial, technological, and research endeavors which simultaneously serve civilian and military purposes.

With MCF in mind, Chinas premier state-owned shipbuilders are able to use the profits from international contracts to hasten military projects, such as the CCPs expanding fleet of aircraft carriers.

The report notes that one such company, state-owned China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC), is the primary builder of Chinese naval vessels, and also develops weapons and other national security equipment for the regime.

According to the report, CSSC alone accounts for 21.5 percent of the worlds shipbuilding market, and the mammoth company controls more than 100 subsidiaries. The United States placed CSSC on an investment blacklist in 2020 but, as the numbers demonstrate, such has had little to no effect on international demand.

The example of CSSC highlight the important issue of Chinas centrality to the global shipbuilding market. In 2020, China accounted for more than 40 percent of all merchant shipbuilding in the world. Second place went to South Korea with 31.5 percent, and third to Japan with 22.2 percent.

The rest of the world combined accounted for less than eight percent of all merchant shipbuilding.

Vitally, the report found that the same shipyards used to build the worlds merchant vessels were also being used to rocket Chinas navy to global ascendency.

Four shipyards, Dalian, Jiangnan, Hudong-Zhonghua, and Huangpu Wenchong, received billions from foreign investors in recent years, where top firms from France and even Taiwan commissioned ships to be built in the same drydocks as Chinas combat vessels.

Previously, a French ship was being built in the same drydock that is now constructing Chinas newest and most advanced aircraft carrier. Recent satellite imaging, moreover, showed that a commercial container ship for Taiwans Evergreen Marine Corporation was being built in the next dock over.

The incident raises concerns that the Taiwanese shipping titan could be essentially funding Chinas capacity to invade the self-governed island.

It should raise more than a few eyebrows in Taipei that Taiwans premier shipping company is pouring money into the coffers of shipyards assembling warships for the Chinese navy, the report said.

Given CSSCs lack of transparency and its central role in supporting the PLAN [Peoples Liberation Army Navy], foreign companies should exercise more caution when engaging with it and other Chinese shipbuilders. For democracies, especially those in the region that must weather the brunt of Chinas rising assertiveness, these ties are more than just worrying. They present a tangible threat to national security. 

In all, CSIS found that Evergreen purchased 44 vessels from China from 2018-2022. Only two of those orders were built by shipyards that were not known to produce combat vessels for the Chinese navy.

Evergreens contracts with CSSC are just the tip of the iceberg, however.

The CSIS report found that from 2019 to 2021, the four aforementioned shipyards received 211 orders for commercial vessels, with some 64 percent of those orders originating from outside of China and Hong Kong.

As such, the report warned that global demand for commercial vessels was likely accelerating Chinese naval development by a significant margin at a time when the West is increasingly at odds with the communist regime over its global ambitions.

Nevertheless, the report said that there was a silver lining in the fact that the two other largest shipbuilders were South Korea and Japan, which CSIS described as thriving democracies. Both nations also enjoy favorable trade and security agreements with the United States.

As such, CSIS recommended that lawmakers in Washington seek to draw international shipbuilding contracts away from China and into the markets of more democratic societies in the Pacific.

Policymakers in Washington should explore opportunities to incentivize foreign companies away from China and toward partnerships with South Korean and Japanese alternatives, the report said.

The shift will not be easy or immediate. Short-term capacity issues will arise. But in managing hard choices vis-a-vis China, especially those critical to national security, the United States should be prepared to steer the lead ship. 
A smartphone with the website of Israel's NSO Group, which features 'Pegasus' spyware, is displayed in Paris on July 21, 2021. (Joel Saget/AFP via Getty Images)

Israeli Spyware Maker NSO Group Asks SCOTUS for Sovereign Immunity

Foreign firm hopes to block lawsuit by WhatsApp and Meta

Israeli spyware developer NSO Group is urging the Supreme Court to recognize it as a foreign government agent, a move the firm says would give it immunity under U.S. laws restricting lawsuits against foreign countries.

NSOs leading software product, Pegasus, allows operators to clandestinely surveil a suspects mobile phonegaining access to contacts and messages, as well as the built-in camera, microphone, and location history. NSO says it deals only with government law enforcement agencies and that all sales are approved by the Israeli Defense Ministry. It refuses to identify its clients.

WhatsApp parent Facebook, which renamed itself Meta Platforms Inc., filed suit against NSO in 2019, claiming the company targeted about 1,400 users of its encrypted messaging service using sophisticated spyware. Meta wants to prevent NSO from accessing Facebook platforms and servers and is seeking unspecified damages.

WhatsApp accused NSO of wrongdoing in a statement.

NSOs spyware invades the rights of citizens, journalists, and human rights activists around the globe, and their attacks must be stopped, WhatsApp said. Two U.S. courts have already rejected NSOs contrived bid for immunity, and we believe there is no reason for the Supreme Court to hear their last-ditch attempt to avoid accountability.

Apple sued NSO in 2021, claiming it needed to do so to prevent NSO from hacking its products, calling the companys employees amoral 21st-century mercenaries.

Critics claim some NSO clients, including Poland, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan have used the companys products to spy on adversaries and repress dissent. The U.S. Department of Commerce blacklisted NSO, saying its products have played a role in transnational repression.

But NSO, which is close to the Israeli government, says it cant control what users do with its products and that it has done nothing wrong.

NSO products are used exclusively by government intelligence and law enforcement agencies to fight crime and terror, the companys website states, adding that its products have been used to prevent car and suicide bombings, break up pedophilia rings, and help locate survivors trapped under collapsed buildings.

Bestowing sovereign immunity on NSO would make it harder for WhatsApp to move forward and could shield NSO from a discovery process that could identify its customers and trade secrets.

The petition (pdf) in NSO Group Technologies Ltd. v. WhatsApp Inc., court file 21-1338, was docketed on April 8 by the Supreme Court. The company is appealing an adverse ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit.

On Nov. 8, 2021, the 9th Circuit voted 30 (pdf) to deny NSOs motion to throw out the lawsuit.

Circuit Judge Danielle Forrest, who was appointed by President Donald Trump, wrote: The question presented is whether foreign sovereign immunity protects private companies. The law governing this question has roots extending back to our earliest history as a nation, and it leads to a simple answerno. Indeed, the title of the legal doctrine itselfforeign sovereign immunitysuggests the outcome.

But in its petition, NSO states that many national governments, including the United States, rely on private contractors to carry out or support core governmental activities.

If such contractors can never seek immunity, as the Ninth Circuit held, then the United States and other countries may soon find their military and intelligence operations disrupted by lawsuits against their agents, the petition states.

The respondents, WhatsApp and Meta, have until May 9 to file a response with the Supreme Court.
Emily Hernandez of Sullivan, Mo., holds up a piece of a sign from the office of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-California) on Jan. 6, 2021. (U.S. Department of Justice/Screenshot via The Epoch Times)

Judge Calls Jan. 6 Misdemeanor Actions Nothing Short of Insurrection, Jails Trio

A federal judge sentencing a Missouri man on a petty misdemeanor charge for his actions at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6 told him that he and his two companions were guilty of insurrection.

Before he pronounced the sentence on Paul S. Westover, 53, of Lake St. Louis, U.S. District Judge James E. Boasberg said, What you and others did on Jan. 6 was nothing short of insurrection in an attempt to topple the government that had been lawfully and legally elected and maintain in power those who had lost the election.

Westover was part of a trio of Missourians photographed holding a piece of a wooden sign from the office of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.).

William Merry, Paul Westover, and Emily Hernandez hold up a piece of a sign from the office of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.). On April 11, 2022, they were given jail sentences from 30 to 45 days for misdemeanors committed on Jan. 6, 2021. (U.S. Department of Justice/Screenshot via The Epoch Times)

He was given 45 days in jail and ordered to pay $500 in restitution in a plea deal for one count of parading, demonstrating, or picketing in a Capitol building, a petty misdemeanor. Prosecutors had asked the judge to issue a 90-day jail term.

Boasberg made it clear that he saw Westover and the two co-defendants as having culpability beyond their cases.

While the parading charge carries a maximum six-month jail termrebellion or insurrection is a felony with a maximum 10-year prison sentence.

None of the more than 775 people arrested for alleged Jan. 6 crimes have been accused of rebellion or insurrection.

Boasberg also sentenced William D. Merry Jr., 63, of St. Louis to 45 days in jail, nine months of supervised release, and 80 hours of community service for one count of theft of government property. Prosecutors had sought 120 days in jail.

Merrys niece, Emily Hernandez, 22, of Sullivan, Missouri, was given a 30-day jail term, one year of supervised release, 80 hours of community service, and was ordered to pay $500 in restitution for one count of entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds. Prosecutors had recommended 45 days in jail.

The three co-defendants were charged with entering Pelosis office on Jan. 6, 2021. After watching a man pry off the wooden sign above Pelosis office door and smash it on a wall, Merry said, Look at that! and directed his niece to get a piece of that, according to prosecutors.

The trio posed with the piece of sign for a film crew from the British ITV television network. Hernandez was later photographed outside the Capitol holding up the souvenir. Prosecutors said the photos were among the most recognizable images from Jan. 6, 2021.

Intent on Storming It

Prosecutor Jessica Arco said Merry was captured on video talking about his intentions before the trio got near the Capitol.

Its the first time Ive ever been to the White House, and Im storming the mother (expletive), Merry said on the video, confusing his location.

Regarding the video, Arco said, Before any rioter had even ascended the stairs to the Capitol building, Mr. Merry was intent on storming it.

Merry induced his then-21-year-old niece to commit a crime, and therefore was more culpable than Hernandez, according to Arco.

William Merry Jr., 63, holds up a chunk of a wooden sign at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. (U.S. Department of Justice/Screenshot via The Epoch Times)

He was supposed to keep her out of harms way, but instead he led her directly into it, she said.

The comments that drew the most attention out of the 15 videos submitted as evidence were from Merry, who picked up a telephone in the Rotunda and pretended to place a call. Prosecutors discovered the footage after Merry had signed a plea agreement.

Ive got an emergency, he said on the call. Nancy Pelosi is a [expletive]. Let it all be known that Nancy Pelosi is a [expletive].

Merry said he was ashamed for using such language.

I know what I did was wrong, he told Boasberg. Ive got no excuses.

Merry had asked the judge to give him home detention instead of jail because of his medical issues, including diabetes and a need for twice-weekly intravenous vitamins. He said in the past five years, he suffered a brain aneurism and overcame cancer.

Boasberg noted that Hernandez was very young and impressionable and was led by her uncle on Jan. 6, 2021, but that didnt excuse her behavior.

People Like You Didnt Think Twice

You werent 12. You werent 13 when this happened, Boasberg said. You were 21. You were an adult. You were old enough to vote, old enough to fight for our country, and you went into the Capitol and you were part of that insurrection that day. You were happy to steal items from the Capitol as you left.

Boasberg told Hernandez if not for the mob that she was a part of, a lot of bad things would never have happened.

People arent traumatized and have their life turned around  like the police officers, people whose job was simply [being] there to guard the Capitol and to protect the representatives that we all voted for, he said. And yet some of them died and suffered serious consequences in their lives because people like you didnt think twice about what you were doing.

No police officers died on Jan. 6, 2021. The four people who died that day were all Trump supporters who came to the former presidents speech at the Ellipse and later walked to the Capitol.

Paul Westover of Missouri poses for a selfie as the wooden sign above the House Speakers door is torn down on Jan. 6, 2021. (U.S. Department of Justice/Screenshot via The Epoch Times)

Ashli Babbitt, 35, was shot and killed outside the Speakers Lobby by Capitol Police Lt. Michael Byrd.

Rosanne Boyland, 34, died just outside of the Lower West Terrace tunnel after police pushed protesters out of the tunnel and caused them to pile on top of one another. Boyland was also beaten with a wooden stick by Metropolitan Police officer Lila Morris.

Kevin Greeson, 55, died on the Capitol grounds of a heart attack brought on by cardiovascular disease, the Washington medical examiner ruled. A witness said shortly before collapsing, Greeson was struck in the head by a projectile from munitions police launched into the crowd.

Benjamin Phillips, 50, died of atherosclerosis, heart disease characterized by fatty plaques that build up in the arteries, the medical examiner ruled.

Capitol Police officer Brian Sicknick died on Jan. 7 after suffering a stroke. The medical examiner said the death was from natural causes.

Hernandez faces felony charges in Missouri for a January auto accident in which 32-year-old Victoria Wilson was killed. On the eve of the first anniversary of Jan. 6, 2021, Hernandez was intoxicated, driving the wrong way on a Franklin County street when she crashed into a vehicle driven by Wilsons husband, according to police.

Merry and Westover wont have to surrender for their jail terms until at least May 11. Hernandez was ordered to surrender on or after June 15.
Thomas Robertson and Jacob Fracker pose in the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. (DOJ via The Epoch Times)

Jury Convicts Former Virginia Police Officer on Jan. 6 Charges

A former police officer was convicted on April 11 of six counts relating to his taking part in the Jan. 6, 2021, breach of the U.S. Capitol.

Jurors convicted Thomas Robertson, the ex-officer, of obstructing an official proceeding, civil disorder, entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds, disorderly conduct in a restricted building, and tamperingall feloniesin addition to a misdemeanor of disorderly conduct in a Capitol building.

Robertson faces up to 75 years in jail.

While Mr. Robertson disagrees with the jurys decision he respects the rule of law. He will appeal the verdict as he submits he never corruptly obstructed or impeded Congress on January 6. Furthermore, while the jury disagreed with his position, he did not use his walking stick as a dangerous weapon on January 6, Mark Rollins, a lawyer for the defendant, told The Epoch Times in an email.

According to the U.S. Capitol Police, Robertson, a police officer with the Rocky Mountain Police Department in Virginia at the time, entered the Capitol after 2 p.m. on Jan. 6 and made an obscene statement.

When Robertson entered the building on Jan. 6, it was on lockdown and his presence inside was without lawful authority, according to charging documents.

A grand jury later charged that Robertson attempted to, and did, corruptly obstruct, influence, and impede the certification by Congress of the 2020 presidential elections electoral votes.

The trial of Robertson, who was fired from his job a day after the breach, started on April 5.

Jacob Fracker, who was charged with Robertson, pleaded guilty in March to one count of conspiracy in exchange for several other charges being dropped. He could land up to five years in prison.

Robertson had attempted to get the sole felony with which he was charged dismissed, arguing through his counsel that prosecutors had failed to specify which proceeding he allegedly obstructed and that the joint session of Congress that was in session on Jan. 6 did not constitute an official proceeding, but a ceremonial one.

U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper, an Obama appointee who oversaw the case, rejected the attempt earlier this year, concluding that the session did meet the requirement of an official proceeding.

Nearly 800 people have been charged in relation to Jan. 6, with approximately 248 entering guilty pleas so far.

Just four have not pleaded guilty and have seen their trials conclude, including Robertson.

Guy Wesley Reffitt, who did not enter the Capitol, was convicted on five counts, including civil disorder, by a jury in March. The two other cases were decided by a judge after the defendants chose bench trials. U.S. District Judge Trevor McFadden, a Trump appointee, fully acquitted Matthew Martin, a former federal contractor, and split a decision on the other man, Cowboys for Trump founder Couy Griffin.
Los Angeles Sees Spike in Follow-Home Robberies

LOS ANGELESFive follow-home robberies were reported in Los Angeles in the last 48 hours, the Los Angeles Police Department told the citys police commission Tuesday, marking an uptick in the trend that previously decreased by 78 percent in March compared to its peak in November.

The phenomenonin which police say armed suspects follow victims from restaurants and shopping areas such as Melrose Avenue and the Jewelry District to rob them of jewelry, watches, or vehicleswas almost unheard of before last year, according to Capt. Jonathan Tippet, who leads the Follow Home Robbery Task Force created in November.

In September and October, the departments Robbery-Homicide Division began noticing a pattern of increased robberies involving multiple vehicles and multiple armed suspects coordinating to rob people of high-end vehicles and jewelry, Tippet said.

In my 34 years in the LAPD, I have never seen this type of criminal behavior in such large groups coordinating to conduct attacks on unsuspecting citizens to take their property and/or vehicles, Tippet told the commission.

The department counted 51 of these violent, armed robberies in September and October. The task force  which includes 18 detectives, 11 investigators from Robbery-Homicide Division, four from the Office of Operations, and three from the Detective Bureau  was created on Nov. 23.

In dealing with follow-home robbery investigations, the task force adjusted the departments usual practice of waiting to identify all people involved in a robbery before making arrests, Tippet said.

Due to the crisis, we began making arrests as quickly as possible once individuals were identified, he said, adding that was effective in reducing the number of the incidents.

This has been a major undertaking, however, I am confident that we are slowing this trend down, Tippet said. Ten follow-home robberies were reported in March, a 78% decrease from a four-week period between October and November that saw 45 reported.

The department said the most incidents seen in a two-week period was 26 in November. In the most recent two-week period, only seven follow-home robberies were reported, and the two weeks before that saw only three follow-home robberies, Tippet said.

However, the department is investigating five follow-home robberies reported in the last 48 hours, Tippet said.

A total of 221 follow-home robberies have been reported between the task forces creation in November through April.

The department believes a total of 17 gangs from South Los Angeles are involved in the robberies, but many of them are allegedly from rival groups and are not working together.

As of April 10, the task force has handled one murder investigation involving four arrests, two attempted murder investigations, 125 robbery investigations, five attempted robbery investigations, five assault with a deadly weapon investigations, five grand theft investigations, and two incidents in which shots were fired into an inhabited dwelling, Tippet said.

The follow-home robberies have primarily occurred in the West Bureau, which had 130 reported, with 50 in the Hollywood area, 46 in the Wilshire area, 17 in the Pacific area and 15 in West L.A. The Central Bureau had 49 follow-home robberies, with 40 of them in the central area, including the Jewelry District in downtown Los Angeles.

Twenty-three of the incidents resulted in shots fired, with 13 people shot.

We have seen countless individuals traumatized by having a gun pointed at them and [being] robbed  many others are dealing with the trauma and injuries from being tackled, kicked, beaten, punched, and are pistol-whipped to the head. Its a miracle that more deaths have not occurred, Tippet said.
A "ghost gun" is displayed before the start of an event about gun-related violence in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington on April 11, 2022. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

Law Enforcement Members: Before Regulating Ghost Guns, Enforce Existing Laws

The proliferation of ghost guns at crime scenes is a problem, but not adequately prosecuting repeat offenders under the law is a much greater concern, and focusing on the latter will make a dent in violent crime, according to current and former law enforcement members.

Recently, the political wave to regulate ghost guns reached the White House, as President Joe Biden announced a new rule on April 11 to regulate such guns to fight violent crime.

Ghost guns, or privately made firearms, are often assembled by individuals from components that arent considered a firearm under current Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) regulations and thus dont need to bear serial numbers or require background checks before purchase.

The new federal action follows similar regulatory moves that have advanced at the state and local levels, including Illinois, Maryland, and the city of Denver.

If we are going to invest energy to fight crime, we should invest energy to get repeat offenders off the street, Al Maresca, a deputy U.S. marshal in the District of Maryland, told The Epoch Times.

Felon in possession of a gun is already illegal, a straw purchase is already illegalthere are all these other laws on the books that we can be focusing our efforts on.

Maresca has worked in law enforcement for more than a decade, starting as a police officer in a New Jersey town, and then moving on to the Federal Bureau of Prisons before joining the U.S. Marshals Service.

A person walks past a police car in Baltimore, on July 28, 2019. Baltimore has a stubborn crime problem and has one of the highest murder rates in the nation for a city of any size. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

According to historian Ashely Hlebinsky, privately made guns have existed for hundreds of years and they were essential to the Continental Army in the Revolutionary War.

Today, assembling guns at home through parts or new technology such as 3D printing is mostly a hobby among gun enthusiasts, according to firearm expert Rob Pincus, who hosted the nations first shooting competition exclusively for privately made firearms last year.

Private gunmaking is not a loophole. It is an American freedom, Pincus said.

All the regulations are really affecting is the legal, responsible gun owners, and you are adding a burdena burden of cost and a burden of timeto his exercising that freedom, he said.

Roberto Alaniz (Courtesy of Roberto Alaniz)

Roberto Alaniz, a recently retired sergeant from the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), told The Epoch Times that regulating privately made firearms is like getting into a niche market, as opposed to targeting the mainstream market of gun-related violence.

For me, it doesnt matter if the gun is a ghost gun or not, it is a gun, and the minute you start to use it to rob or kill, you should get consequences, Alaniz said.

We should punish the criminal behaviors, not the tools, to drive down crime.

Alaniz worked at the LAPD for 40 years, including 12 years at Southwest station, which covers a high-crime area in the city, before he retired early this year.

He points to recent changes in Los Angeles policing and prosecution policies that make it harder to punish criminal behaviors accordingly, which he said deserve more attention than the so-called ghost guns.

For example, Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascon, who was elected in 2020 on a progressive platform, directed prosecutors in his office against seeking the death penalty, sentencing enhancements, or cash bail in nonviolent cases.

Enhancement would be if you got arrested for robbery, and you used a weapon in that crime, you add a few more years to the sentence; and if that is a bad weapon, then you add a few more years, Alaniz said.

Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascon is joined by a group of progressive district attorneys from around the country at the press conference to mark his first year in office, in Los Angeles, on Dec. 8, 2021. (Robyn Beck/AFP via Getty Images)

As for policing, the LAPD in a new March policy limited the conditions under which officers could search cars for potential illegal guns or drugs during traffic stops.

That limits officers ability to get illegal guns off the street, especially in high-crime areas, Alaniz said.

While on the job, Alaniz did see a surge of privately made firearms since late 2020. He attributed it in part to new technologies that enable average persons without sophisticated gunsmith skills to make guns.

According to an ATF report, in 2020, 8,712 suspected privately made firearms were reported by local law enforcement agencies to ATF, accounting for about 2 percent of total firearms reported that year.

In 2016, 1,750 suspected privately made firearms were reported to ATF, accounting for less than 1 percent of total firearms reported that year.

Most law enforcement agencies, including those with a higher number of recoveries, said ghost gun prevalence was small relative to the number of traditionally manufactured firearms recovered, based on a survey of 24 agencies of various sizes and regions by the National Police Foundation last year.

Chicago police officer James Murray, on March 30, 2022. (Cara Ding/The Epoch Times)

Chicago police officer James Murray said its a good move to regulate privately made firearms, but he doesnt think it will make a dent in violent crime. Thats because people arrested with illegal guns are not punished accordingly under the law, he said.

Murray has worked at the Chicago Police Department since 2003. For the past few years, he worked as a field training officer at the 15th district, a high-crime area on the citys West Side.

If guns are so bad, which they can be, then why not punish the offender more severely? Murray said.

That would definitely cut down on repeat offenders.
By Giorgio Vasari, translated by Gaston du C. de Vere, made public for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included at www.gutenberg.org

Fra Filippo di Tommaso Lippi, a Carmelite, was born in Florence in a street called Ardiglione, below the Canto alla Cuculia and behind the Convent of the Carmelites. By the death of his father Tommaso he was left a poor little orphan at the age of two, with no one to take care of him, for his mother had also died not long after giving him birth. He was left, therefore, in the charge of one Mona Lapaccia, his aunt, sister of his father, who brought him up with very great inconvenience to herself; and when he was eight years of age and she could no longer support him, she made him a friar in the aforesaid Convent of the Carmine. Living there, in proportion as he showed himself dexterous and ingenious in the use of his hands, so was he dull and incapable of making any progress in the learning of letters, so that he would never apply his intelligence to them or regard them as anything save his enemies. This boy, who was called by his secular name of Filippo, was kept with others in the noviciate under the discipline of the schoolmaster, in order to see what he could do; but in place of studying he would never do anything save deface his own books and those of the others with caricatures. Whereupon the Prior resolved to give him every opportunity and convenience for learning to paint. There was then in the Carmine a chapel that had been newly painted by Masaccio, which, being very beautiful, pleased Fra Filippo so greatly that he would haunt it every day for his recreation; and continually practising there in company with many young men, who were ever drawing in it, he surpassed the others by a great measure in dexterity and knowledge, insomuch that it was held certain that in time he would do something marvellous. Nay, not merely in his maturity, but even in his early childhood, he executed so many works worthy of praise that it was a miracle. It was no long time before he wrought in terra-verde in the cloister, close to the Consecration painted by Masaccio, a Pope confirming the Rule of the Carmelites; and he painted pictures in fresco on various walls in many parts of the church, particularly a S. John the Baptist with some scenes from his life. And thus, making progress every day, he had learnt the manner of Masaccio very well, so that he made his works so similar to those of the other that many said that the spirit of Masaccio had entered into the body of Fra Filippo. On a pilaster in the church, close to the organ, he made a figure of S. Marziale which brought him infinite fame, for it could bear comparison with the works that Masaccio had painted. Wherefore, hearing himself so greatly praised by the voices of all, at the age of seventeen he boldly threw off his monastic habit.

Now, chancing to be in the March of Ancona, he was disporting himself one day with some of his friends in a little boat on the sea, when they were all captured together by the Moorish galleys that were scouring those parts, and taken to Barbary, where each of them was put in chains and held as a slave; and thus he remained in great misery for eighteen months. But one day, seeing that he was thrown much into contact with his master, there came to him the opportunity and the whim to make a portrait of him; whereupon, taking a piece of dead coal from the fire, with this he portrayed him at full length on a white wall in his Moorish costume. When this was reported by the other slaves to the master (for it appeared a miracle to them all, since drawing and painting were not known in these parts), it brought about his liberation from the chains in which he had been held for so long. Truly glorious was it for this art to have caused one to whom the power of condemnation and punishment was granted by law, to do the very oppositenay, in place of inflicting pains and death, to consent to show friendliness and grant liberty! After having wrought some works in colour for his master, he was brought safely to Naples, where he painted for King Alfonso, then Duke of Calabria, a panel in distemper for the Chapel of the Castle, where the guard-room now is.

Fra Filippo Lippi: The Annunciation



After this there came upon him a desire to return to Florence, where he remained for some months. There he wrought a very beautiful panel for the high-altar of the Nuns of S. Ambrogio, which made him very dear to Cosimo de Medici, who became very much his friend for this reason. He also painted a panel for the Chapter-house of S. Croce, and another that was placed in the chapel of the house of the Medici, on which he painted the Nativity of Christ. For the wife of the said Cosimo, likewise, he painted a panel with the same Nativity of Christ and with S. John the Baptist, which was to be placed in the Hermitage of Camaldoli, in one of the hermits cells, dedicated to S. John the Baptist, which she had caused to be built in proof of her devotion. And he painted some little scenes that were sent by Cosimo as a gift to Pope Eugenius IV, the Venetian; wherefore Fra Filippo acquired great favour with that Pope by reason of this work.

It is said that he was so amorous, that, if he saw any women who pleased him, and if they were to be won, he would give all his possessions to win them; and if he could in no way do this, he would paint their portraits and cool the flame of his love by reasoning with himself. So much a slave was he to this appetite, that when he was in this humour he gave little or no attention to the works that he had undertaken; wherefore on one occasion Cosimo de Medici, having commissioned him to paint a picture, shut him up in his own house, in order that he might not go out and waste his time; but after staying there for two whole days, being driven forth by his amorousnay, beastlypassion, one night he cut some ropes out of his bed-sheets with a pair of scissors and let himself down from a window, and then abandoned himself for many days to his pleasures. Thereupon, since he could not be found, Cosimo sent out to look for him, and finally brought him back to his labour; and thenceforward Cosimo gave him liberty to go out when he pleased, repenting greatly that he had previously shut him up, when he thought of his madness and of the danger that he might run. For this reason he strove to keep a hold on him for the future by kindnesses; and so he was served by Filippo with greater readiness, and was wont to say that the virtues of rare minds were celestial beings, and not slavish hacks.

For the Church of S. Maria Primerana, on the Piazza of Fiesole, he painted a panel containing the Annunciation of Our Lady by the Angel, which shows very great diligence, and there is such beauty in the figure of the Angel that it appears truly a celestial thing. For the Nuns of the Murate he painted two panels: one, containing an Annunciation, is placed on the high-altar; and the other is on an altar in the same church, and contains stories of S. Benedict and S. Bernard. In the Palace of the Signoria he painted an Annunciation on a panel, which is over a door; and over another door in the said Palace he also painted a S. Bernard. For the Sacristy of S. Spirito in Florence he executed a panel with the Madonna surrounded by angels, and with saints on either sidea rare work, which has ever been held in the greatest veneration by the masters of these our arts. In the Chapel of the Wardens of Works in S. Lorenzo he wrought a panel with another Annunciation; with one for the Della Stufa Chapel, which he did not finish. For a chapel in S. Apostolo, in the same city, he painted a panel with some figures round a Madonna. In Arezzo, by order of Messer Carlo Marsuppini, he painted the panel of the Chapel of S. Bernardo for the Monks of Monte Oliveto, depicting therein the Coronation of Our Lady, surrounded by many saints; which picture has remained so fresh, that it appears to have been made by the hand of Fra Filippo at the present day. It was then that he was told by the aforesaid Messer Carlo to give attention to the painting of the hands, seeing that his works were much criticized in this respect; wherefore from that day onwards, in painting hands, Fra Filippo covered the greater part of them with draperies or with some other contrivance, in order to avoid the aforesaid criticism. In this work he portrayed the said Messer Carlo from the life.

The Virgin Adoring



For the Nuns of Annalena in Florence he painted a Manger on a panel; and some of his pictures are still to be seen in Padua. He sent two little scenes with small figures, painted by his hand, to Cardinal Barbo in Rome; these were very excellently wrought, and executed with great diligence. Truly marvellous was the grace with which he painted, and very perfect the harmony that he gave to his works, for which he has been ever esteemed by craftsmen and honoured by our modern masters with consummate praise; nay, so long as the voracity of time allows his many excellent labours to live, he will be held in veneration by every age. In Prato, near Florence, where he had some relatives, he stayed for many months, executing many works throughout that whole district in company with Fra Diamante, a friar of the Carmine, who had been his comrade in the noviciate. After this, having been commissioned by the Nuns of S. Margherita to paint the panel of their high-altar, he was working at this when there came before his eyes a daughter of Francesco Buti, a citizen of Florence, who was living there as a ward or as a novice. Having set eyes on Lucrezia (for this was the name of the girl), who was very beautiful and graceful, Fra Filippo contrived to persuade the nuns to allow him to make a portrait of her for a figure of Our Lady in the work that he was doing for them. With this opportunity he became even more enamoured of her, and then wrought upon her so mightily, what with one thing and another, that he stole her away from the nuns and took her off on the very day when she was going to see the Girdle of Our Lady, an honoured relic of that township, being exposed to view. Whereupon the nuns were greatly disgraced by such an event, and her father, Francesco, who never smiled again, made every effort to recover her; but she, either through fear or for some other reason, refused to come backnay, she insisted on staying with Filippo, to whom she bore a male child, who was also called Filippo, and who became, like his father, a very excellent and famous painter.

In S. Domenico, in the aforesaid Prato, there are two of his panels; and in the tramezzo[12] of the Church of S. Francesco there is a Madonna, in the removing of which from the place where it was at first, it was cut out from the wall on which it was painted, in order not to spoil it, and bound round with wood, and then transported to that wall of the church where it is still to be seen to-day. In a courtyard of the Ceppo of Francesco di Marco, over a well, there is a little panel by the hand of the same man, containing the portrait of the said Francesco di Marco, the creator and founder of that holy place. In the Pieve of the said township, on a little panel over the side-door as one ascends the steps, he painted the Death of S. Bernard, by the touch of whose bier many cripples are being restored to health. In this picture are friars bewailing the death of their master, and it is a marvellous thing to see the beautiful expression of the sadness of lamentation in the heads, counterfeited with great art and resemblance to nature. Here there are draperies in the form of friars gowns with most beautiful folds, which deserve infinite praise for their good design, colouring, and composition; not to mention the grace and proportion that are seen in the said work, which was executed with the greatest delicacy by the hand of Fra Filippo. The Wardens of Works for the said Pieve, in order to have some memorial of him, commissioned him to paint the Chapel of the High-Altar in that place; and he gave great proof of his worth in that work, which, besides its general excellence and masterliness, contains most admirable draperies and heads. He made the figures therein larger than life, thus introducing to our modern craftsmen the method of giving grandeur to the manner of our own day. There are certain figures with garments little used in those times, whereby he began to incite the minds of men to depart from that simplicity which should be called rather old-fashioned than ancient. In the same work are the stories of S. Stephen (the titular Saint of the said Pieve), distributed over the wall on the right handnamely, the Disputation, the Stoning, and the Death of that Protomartyr, in whose face, as he disputes with the Jews, Filippo depicted so much zeal and so much fervour, that it is a difficult thing to imagine it, and much more to express it; and in the faces and the various attitudes of the Jews he revealed their hatred, disdain, and anger at seeing themselves overcome by him. Even more clearly did he make manifest the brutality and rage of those who are slaying him with stones, which they have grasped, some large, some small, with a horrible gnashing of teeth, and with gestures wholly cruel and enraged. None the less, amid so terrible an onslaught, S. Stephen, raising his countenance with great calmness to Heaven, is seen making supplication to the Eternal Father with the warmest love and fervour for the very men who are slaying him. All these conceptions are truly very beautiful, and serve to show to others how great is the value of invention and of knowing how to express emotions in pictures; and this he remembered so well, that in those who are burying S. Stephen he made gestures so dolorous, and some faces so afflicted and broken with weeping, that it is scarcely possible to look at them without being moved. On the other side he painted the Birth of S. John the Baptist, the Preaching, the Baptism, the Feast of Herod, and the Beheading of the Saint. Here, in his countenance as he is preaching, there is seen the Divine Spirit; with various emotions in the multitude that is listening, joy and sorrow both in the women and in the men, who are all hanging intently on the teaching of S. John. In the Baptism are seen beauty and goodness; and, in the Feast of Herod, the majesty of the banquet, the dexterity of Herodias, the astonishment of the company, and their immeasurable grief when the severed head is presented in the charger. Round the banqueting-table are seen innumerable figures with very beautiful attitudes, and with good execution both in the draperies and in the expressions of the faces. Among these, with a mirror, he portrayed himself dressed in the black habit of a prelate; and he made a portrait of his disciple Fra Diamante among those who are bewailing S. Stephen. This work is in truth the most excellent of all his paintings, both for the reasons mentioned above, and because he made the figures somewhat larger than life, which encouraged those who came after him to give grandeur to their manner. So greatly was he esteemed for his excellent gifts, that many circumstances in his life that were worthy of blame were passed over in consideration of the eminence of his great talents. In this work he portrayed Messer Carlo, the natural son of Cosimo de Medici, who was then Provost of that church, which received great benefactions from him and from his house.

In the year 1463, when he had finished this work, he painted a panel in distemper, containing a very beautiful Annunciation, for the Church of S. Jacopo in Pistoia, by order of Messer Jacopo Bellucci, of whom he made therein a most vivid portrait from the life. In the house of Pulidoro Bracciolini there is a picture by his hand of the Birth of Our Lady; and in the Hall of the Tribunal of Eight in Florence he painted in distemper a Madonna with the Child in her arms, on a lunette. In the house of Lodovico Capponi there is another picture with a very beautiful Madonna; and in the hands of Bernardo Vecchietti, a gentleman of Florence and a man of a culture and excellence beyond my power of expression, there is a little picture by the hand of the same man, containing a very beautiful S. Augustine engaged in his studies. Even better is a S. Jerome in Penitence, of the same size, in the guardaroba of Duke Cosimo; for if Fra Filippo was a rare master in all his pictures, he surpassed himself in the small ones, to which he gave such grace and beauty that nothing could be better, as may be seen in the predelle of all the panels that he painted. In short, he was such that none surpassed him in his own times, and few in our own; and Michelagnolo has not only always extolled him, but has imitated him in many things.

For the Church of S. Domenico Vecchio in Perugia, also, he painted a panel that was afterwards placed on the high-altar, containing a Madonna, S. Peter, S. Paul, S. Louis, and S. Anthony the Abbot. Messer Alessandro degli Alessandri, a Chevalier of that day and a friend of Filippo, caused him to paint a panel for the church of his villa at Vincigliata on the hill of Fiesole, containing a S. Laurence and other Saints, among whom he portrayed Alessandro and two sons of his.

Fra Filippo was much the friend of gay spirits, and he ever lived a joyous life. He taught the art of painting to Fra Diamante, who executed many pictures in the Carmine at Prato; and he did himself great credit by the close imitation of his masters manner, for he attained to the greatest perfection. Sandro Botticelli, Pesello, and Jacopo del Sellaio of Florence worked with Fra Filippo in their youth (the last-named painted two panels in S. Friano, and one wrought in distemper in the Carmine), with a great number of other masters, to whom he ever taught the art with great friendliness. He lived honourably by his labours, spending extraordinary sums on the pleasures of love, in which he continued to take delight right up to the end of his life. He was requested by the Commune of Spoleto, through the mediation of Cosimo de Medici, to paint the chapel in their principal church (dedicated to Our Lady), which he brought very nearly to completion, working in company with Fra Diamante, when death intervened to prevent him from finishing it. Some say, indeed, that in consequence of his great inclination for his blissful amours some relations of the lady that he loved had him poisoned.

Madonna and Child



Fra Filippo finished the course of his life in 1438, at the age of fifty-seven, and left a will entrusting to Fra Diamante his son Filippo, a little boy of ten years of age, who learnt the art of painting from his guardian. Fra Diamante returned with him to Florence, carrying away three hundred ducats, which remained to be received from the Commune of Spoleto for the work done; with these he bought some property for himself, giving but a little share to the boy. Filippo was placed with Sandro Botticelli, who was then held a very good master; and the old man was buried in a tomb of red and white marble, which the people of Spoleto caused to be erected in the church that he had been painting.

His death grieved many friends, particularly Cosimo de Medici, as well as Pope Eugenius, who offered in his life-time to give him a dispensation, so that he might make Lucrezia, the daughter of Francesco Buti, his legitimate wife; but this he refused to do, wishing to have complete liberty for himself and his appetites.

While Sixtus IV was alive, Lorenzo de Medici became ambassador to the Florentines, and made the journey to Spoleto, in order to demand from that community the body of Fra Filippo, to the end that it might be laid in S. Maria del Fiore in Florence; but their answer to him was that they were lacking in ornaments, and above all in distinguished men, for which reason they demanded Filippo from him as a favour in order to honour themselves, adding that since there was a vast number of famous men in Florence, nay, almost a superfluity, he should consent to do without this one; and more than this he could not obtain. It is true, indeed, that afterwards, having determined to do honour to him in the best way that he could, he sent his son Filippino to Rome to paint a chapel for the Cardinal of Naples; and Filippino, passing through Spoleto, caused a tomb of marble to be erected for him at the commission of Lorenzo, beneath the organ and over the sacristy, on which he spent one hundred ducats of gold, which were paid by Nofri Tornabuoni, master of the bank of the Medici; and Lorenzo also caused Messer Angelo Poliziano to write the following epigram, which is carved on the said tomb in antique lettering:

CONDITUS HIC EGO SUM PICTUR FAMA PHILIPPUS;

NULLI IGNOTA ME EST GRATIA MIRA MANUS.

ARTIFICES POTUI DIGITIS ANIMARE COLORES,

SPERATAQUE ANIMOS FALLERE VOCE DIU.

IPSA MEIS STUPUIT NATURA EXPRESSA FIGURIS,

MEQUE SUIS FASSA EST ARTIBUS ESSE PAREM.

MARMOREO TUMULO MEDICES LAURENTIUS HIC ME

CONDIDIT; ANTE HUMILI PULVERE TECTUS ERAM.

Fra Filippo was a very good draughtsman, as may be seen in our book of drawings by the most famous painters, particularly in some wherein the panel of S. Spirito is drawn, with others showing the chapel in Prato.
Russian President Vladimir Putin (L) speaks to Chairman of the political council of Ukrainian party "Opposition PlatformFor Life" Viktor Medvedchuk (R) during the 5th Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok, Russia, on Sept. 5, 2019. (Mikhail Klimentyev/Sputnik/AFP via Getty Images)

RussiaUkraine War (April 12): Ukraine Secret Service Says It Has Arrested Top Putin Ally

The latest on the RussiaUkraine crisis, April 12. Click here for updates from April 11.

Ukraine Secret Service Says It Has Arrested Top Putin Ally

Ukraine on Tuesday said it arrested Kremlins most prominent ally in the country.

In February, Ukraine said Viktor Medvedchuk, the leader of the Opposition PlatformFor Life party, escaped from house arrest after the authorities opened a treason case against him.

The pro-Russian figure, who says Putin is godfather to his daughter, has denied wrongdoing. On Tuesday a spokesperson was not immediately available for comment.

Pro-Russian traitors and agents of the Russian intelligence services, rememberyour crimes have no statute of limitations, Ukraines security service posted on Facebook alongside a photo of Medvedchuk in handcuffs.

Operatives conducted this lightning-fast and dangerous multi-level special operation, the head of the organization Ivan Bakanov said.

A Kremlin spokesman was cited by the Tass news agency as saying he had seen the photo and could not say whether it was genuine.

___

Ukrainian Troops to Train in UK

James Heappey, the UK armed forces minister, confirmed on Tuesday that the countrys military will train Ukrainian soldiers on British soil. An unspecified number of troops are expected to arrive within the next few days to learn how to operate armored vehicles that Britain has pledged to supply to Ukraine amid the ongoing conflict with Russia.

Theres 120 armored vehicles that are in the process of being made ready, Heappey told LBC Radio.

And the Ukrainian troops that will operate them will arrive in the UK in the next few days to learn how to drive and command those vehicles.

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Putin Calls Situation in Ukrainian Town of Bucha Fake

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday said that images and footage of dead bodies strewn across the Ukrainian town of Bucha were fake.

Speaking at a televised news conference after talks with his Belarusian counterpart Alexander Lukashenko, Putin compared Ukrainian allegations that Russian servicemen executed civilians in Bucha to what he said was the staging by the West of a chemical weapons attack in Syria aimed at incriminating Bashar al-Assad.

Its the same kind of fake in Bucha, Putin said.

Ukraine has accused the Russian military of executing residents of Bucha, a town outside the capital Kyiv that Russian troops had occupied for several weeks before withdrawing.

Russian authorities have accused Ukraine of staging the harrowing scene to derail peace talks and prompt the West to impose more sanctions against Moscow.

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Putin Says RussiaUkraine Peace Talks Deadlocked

Kyiv has gone back on the tentative agreements made between the Ukrainian and Russian negotiating teams in Istanbul in late March, Russian President Vladimir Putin has said. According to Putin, the peace talks have now returned to a deadlock.

Ukraine has refused to recognize Crimea as Russian and the Donbass republics as independent, the Russian president explained at the Vostochny Cosmodrome in Russias Far East on Tuesday. He emphasized that those two points were key topics without which no progress could be reached in the talks.

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Russia Responds to CNNs Default Claim

A report by US media company CNN about an alleged Russian Eurobond default announcement is not true, the Russian Ministry of Finance said on Tuesday.

CNN reported Monday, citing credit-ratings agency S&P, that Moscow has defaulted on its foreign debt because it offered bondholders payments in rubles and not in dollars.

Information posted by CNN does not correspond to the facts, the ministrys statement said, adding Russia did not announce the default on its Eurobond commitments.

Default means the debtor either has no money to honor his debt liabilities or no desire to honor such liabilities when funds are available. Neither of the two is the case in respect of Russia. The Russian Federation has enough funds to timely service and repay all its debt liabilities, the finance ministry explained.

The ministry stressed that Washingtons actions to block Moscows payments have prejudiced the interests of foreign investors.

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Ukraine Says Mariupol Troops Low on Supplies

An adviser to Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy has paid tribute to Ukrainian troops defending the besieged south-eastern port of Mariupol but acknowledged they are running low on supplies.

Adviser Mykhailo Podolyak wrote on Twitter that for more than 1.5 months our defenders protect the city from (Russian) troops, which are 10+ times larger. Theyre fighting under the bombs for each meter of the city. They make (Russia) pay an exorbitant price.

Mariupol was a key target for Russian forces soon after the invasion began in late February. It has symbolic significance as one of the largest cities in eastern Ukraine. It is also strategically valuable as a major harbor and as part of a land corridor between territory held by Russia-backed separatists to the east and the Crimean peninsula, which Russia annexed from Ukraine in 2014.

Our soldiers remain blocked and have issues with supplies, Podolyak wrote, adding that Zelenskyy and the Ukrainian general staff are working to find a solution and help our guys. He did not give details, citing operational reasons.

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Mayor of Ukraines Bucha Claims 403 Bodies Found So Far

The mayor of the Ukrainian town of Bucha near Kyiv claimed on Tuesday that authorities had so far found 403 bodies of people they believed were killed by Russian forces during their occupation of the area but that the number was growing.

Anatoliy Fedoruk added during a briefing that it was too early for residents to return to the town, after Russian soldiers retreated late last month.

Reuters could not immediately verify Fedoruks comments about the number of people found dead in Bucha. Reuters has witnessed the remains of five victims in Bucha who were shot through the head but has not been able to independently determine who was responsible.

Moscow, which has repeatedly denied targeting civilians since its Feb. 24 invasion of Ukraine, has called allegations that Russian forces executed civilians in Bucha while they occupied the town a monstrous forgery aimed at denigrating the Russian army.

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World Bank to Send Ukraine $1.5 Billion as Food, Energy Prices Spike

The World Bank is preparing a $1.5 billion support package for war-torn Ukraine and plans to aid developing countries struggling to keep up with surging food and energy prices, World Bank President David Malpass said on Tuesday.

In remarks at the Warsaw School of Economics in Poland, Malpass said the bank was helping Ukraine provide critical services, including paying wages for hospital workers, pensions, and social programs.

The World Bank was created in 1944 to help Europe rebuild after World War Two. As we did then, we will be ready to help Ukraine with reconstruction when the time comes, Malpass said.

Malpass said the package was enabled by Mondays approval of $1 billion in International Development Association (IDA) aid by donor and recipient countries, along with a $100 million IDA payment to neighboring Moldova.

The IDA disbursement plan still needs full approval by the World Banks board of directors in coming weeks, a World Bank spokesperson said.

The aid comes on top of about $923 million in fast-disbursing financing approved by the World Bank last month, which also includes donor country contributions. That package includes $350 million in budget support financing from the World Banks main lending arm, the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD).

Malpass has previously said the bank was working on about $3 billion in total near-term aid for Ukraine.

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Russian Unity Will Only Grow Stronger in Face of Western Sanctions: Putin

President Vladimir Putin says that Russians unity will only grow stronger in the face of Western sanctions and it will be the West that will face instability.

Putin said during a visit to the Vostochny space launch facility in Russias Far East on Tuesday that the West mistakenly expected its sanctions to undermine Russias stability. He said that the Russian people always strengthen their unity in a difficult situation.

He insisted that it will be the West that will be shaken by growing instability, fueled by public dismay over galloping inflation. The Russian leader also lashed out at European leaders, describing them as Washingtons stooges and saying that they are conducting policies harmful to their nations.

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UNICEF Responds to Kyivs Child Abduction Claim

Moscow has denied accusations of forcibly sending Ukrainian refugees to Russia, while UNICEF has stated that it possesses no evidence that Russia has been abducting children in the region, as is being claimed by Kyiv.

Russian Human Rights Commissioner Tatyana Moskalkova reported on Tuesday that over 500,000 civilians from the Donetsk Peoples Republic, Lugansk Peoples Republic and Ukraine have willingly relocated to the Russian Federation since the start of the military conflict.

I responsibly declare that there has never been any forceful relocation of refugees to Russia, these are all lies, said the ombudswoman, referring to Kyivs accusation that Moscow has forcibly sent over 500,000 civilians to Russia to use them as hostages to pressure Ukraine to surrender.

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Putin Says Russia Withstood Sanctions Blitz; It Cannot Be Isolated

Russian President Vladimir Putin says the Russian economy has successfully resisted new Western sanctions over Ukraine.

Speaking Tuesday on a visit to the Vostochny space launch facility in Russias Far East, Putin said that Russias economy and financial system withstood the impact of what he called the Western sanctions blitz and the ruble has recovered its losses.

Putin argued that the sanctions will backfire against the West. For example, he said that Western restrictions on fertilizer exports from Russia and ally Belarus will drive up global fertilizer prices, eventually leading to food shortages and increased migration flows.

Putin said that common sense should prevail and added that the West should come back to reason and make well-balanced decisions without losing its face. He contended that they wont be able to shut all the doors and windows.

Putin also warned the West that attempts to isolate Moscow would fail, citing the success of the Soviet space program as evidence that Russia could achieve spectacular leaps forward in tough conditions.

Russia says it will never again depend on the West after the United States and its allies imposed crippling sanctions on it to punish Putin for his Feb. 24 order for what he called a special military operation in Ukraine.

The sanctions were total, the isolation was complete but the Soviet Union was still first in space, Putin said, according to Russian state television.

We dont intend to be isolated, Putin said. It is impossible to severely isolate anyone in the modern worldespecially such a vast country as Russia.

Russias Cold War space successes such as Gagarins flight and the 1957 launch of Sputnik 1, the first artificial satellite from earth, have a particular pertinence for Russia: both events shocked the United States. The launch of Sputnik 1 prompted the United States to create NASA in a bid to catch up with Moscow.

Putin says the special military operation in Ukraine is necessary because the United States was using Ukraine to threaten Russiaincluding via the NATO military allianceand that Moscow had to defend Russian-speaking people in Ukraine from persecution.

He said on Tuesday that he had no doubts Russia would achieve all of its objectives in Ukrainea conflict he cast as both inevitable and essential to defend Russia in the long term.

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No Doubt Our Goals in Ukraine Will Be Achieved, Vows Putin

President Vladimir Putin says the Russian military action in Ukraine aims to ensure Russias security and is vowing that its goals will be achieved.

Speaking Tuesday on a visit to the Vostochny space launch facility in Russias Far East, Putin charged that Ukraine was turned into an anti-Russian bridgehead where sprouts of nationalism and neo-Nazism were being cultivated. Ukraine and its Western allies have dismissed such claims as a cover for aggression.

Putin reaffirmed his claim that the Russian special military operation was aimed to protect people in areas in eastern Ukraine controlled by Moscow-backed separatists. He also said that the campaign was also aimed to ensure Russias own security.

Putin argued that we had no other choice and said that there is no doubt that we will achieve our goals.

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Putin Explains Attack on Ukraine

Kyiv openly refused to implement a peace deal with rebels from the Donetsk and Lugansk Peoples Republics so Russia had no option but to use military force to defend people living there, Russian President Vladimir Putin reiterated on Tuesday.

Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and other senior officials declared that the Minsk agreements cannot be implemented, Putin recalled, referring to the roadmap to peace in Ukraine brokered by Russia, Germany, and France.

The 2014 agreements detailed how Kyiv could reintegrate its breakaway regions by offering them a general amnesty, greater autonomy, and representation in the government. Kyiv stalled progress on the deal, claiming that it could only proceed with its part after retaking control of the rebel-held areas.

They publicly refused to [implement the roadmap]. Well, tolerating this genocide that had been going on for eight years was no longer possible, Putin said.

The Russian president added that Ukraine, backed by Western countries, was being turned into a foothold against Russia.

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Putin Makes Announcement About Russias Lunar Program

Russia must be able to respond to challenges in exploring space, President Vladimir Putin has said, adding that the country is going to continue with its lunar program, among other ventures.

Well resume the lunar program, Putin asserted as he visited Vostochny Cosmodrome in Russias Far Eastern Amur Region on Tuesday with his Belarusian counterpart, Alexander Lukashenko.

The Russian leader said he was referring to the launch of the Luna-25 robotic lander, which is scheduled to take place at Vostochny on August 22, according to spacecraft developer NPO Lavochkin.

The probe will be tasked with perfecting a soft landing on the lunar surface for future missions and studying the area near the Moons south pole. Its planned to carry 30kg of scientific equipment, including a robotic arm and a drill.

The generation of creators of the national rocket and space program left us not only a colossal technological foundation, but also the values that we look up to today, Putin said.

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Russia Says It Has Hit Ukrainian Arsenals

The Russian military says it has hit Ukrainian arsenals with long-range cruise missiles.

Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov said Tuesday that the military used air- and sea-launched missiles to destroy an ammunition depot and a reinforced hangar for warplanes at Starokostiantyniv in the Khmelnytskyi region.

Konashenkov said that another strike destroyed a Ukrainian ammunition depot in Havrylivka, near Kyiv.

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Separatists Deny Using Chemical Weapons

A spokesman for Moscow-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine has denied using chemical weapons to uproot Ukrainian troops in the port city of Mariupol.

Eduard Basurin was quoted by the Interfax news agency as saying Tuesday that the separatist forces havent used any chemical weapons in Mariupol.

Basurins assertion followed his statement Monday on Russian state TV that the separatists will use chemical troops against Ukrainian soldiers holed up at reinforced positions at a giant steel factory in Mariupol to smoke them out of there.

A Ukrainian unit defending Mariupol claimed without providing evidence that a drone had dropped a poisonous substance on its positions. It indicated there were no serious injuries.

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Japan Approves Asset Freezes on 398 Russians

Japans Cabinet has approved additional sanctions against Moscow. They include a freeze on assets of nearly 400 individuals including Russian President Vladimir Putins two daughters, as well as a ban on new investments and vodka imports.

The new sanctions approved Tuesday include a freeze on assets of 398 Russian individuals, who also include Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrovs wife and daughter. Japan has now frozen assets of more than 500 Russian individuals and organizations.

Japans new measures also include freezing the assets of major banks Sberbank and Alfa Bank, as well as 28 other Russian organizations such as those linked to military businesses. The measure for the banks will take effect on May 12.

Tuesdays approval covers part of a list of sanctions announced last Friday by Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, who also proposed phasing out Russian coal and other fossil fuel imports.

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Ukraine Says Checking Unverified Information That Russia Used Chemical Weapons in Mariupol

Ukraine is checking unverified information that Russia may have used chemical weapons while besieging the southern Ukrainian port city of Mariupol, Ukraines Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Malyar said on Tuesday.

There is a theory that these could be phosphorous munitions, Malyar said in televised comments, adding: Official information will come later.

Russias defense ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Russia-backed separatist forces trying to wrest complete control of Mariupol denied using chemical weapons in comments carried by Russian news agency Interfax.

Mariupols city council wrote on the Telegram messaging service that it was not yet possible to examine the area where the poisonous substance had allegedly been used because of enemy fire. It added that the citys civilian population had minimal contact with the unspecified poison but that Ukrainian soldiers had come into closer contact with it and were now being observed for possible symptoms.

Russia has previously accused Ukraine of preparing to use chemical weapons, without providing evidence.

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Ukraine Conflict Worsens Fertilizer Crunch, Risking Food Supplies

Russias war in Ukraine has pushed up fertilizer prices that were already high, made scarce supplies even harder to find, and pinched farmers, especially those in the developing world.

Higher fertilizer prices are making the worlds food supply more expensive and less abundant, as farmers skimp on nutrients for their crops and get lower yields.

While the ripples will be felt by grocery shoppers in wealthy countries, the squeeze on food supplies will land hardest on families in poorer countries. The fertilizer crunch threatens to further limit worldwide food supplies, already constrained by the disruption of crucial grain shipments from Russia and Ukraine.

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Pentagon, Partners Working to Verify Azov Regiment Reports That Russia Used Poisonous Substance in Mariupol

The United States, United Kingdom, and Australia have said they are working to verify unconfirmed reports on social media that Russian forces used a poisonous substance in the long-contested southern city of Mariupol.

The Azov Regiment, a neo-Nazi unit of the National Guard of Ukraine, said on Telegram that Russia used a poisonous substance of an unknown origin in the port city. The regiment has been defending war-torn Mariupol, a strategic port city on the Azov Sea that would provide Russia a land corridor to Crimea if captured, since it took control from pro-Russian separatist forces in 2014.

Russian occupation forces used a poisonous substance of unknown origin against Ukrainian military and civilians in the city of Mariupol, which was dropped from an enemy [unmanned aerial vehicle], the Azov Regiment posted on April 11. The victims have respiratory failure, vestibulo-atactic syndrome. The consequences of using an unknown substance are being clarified.

Read the full article here

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All Options on Table If Russia Uses Chemical Weapons in Ukraine: UK Minister

All options would be on table in response to any use of chemical weapons in Ukraine by Russia, British Armed Forces Minister James Heappey said on Tuesday (April 12).

British Foreign Minister Liz Truss on Monday (April 11) said Britain was working with its partners to verify the details of reports Russian forces may have used chemical agents in an attack on Mariupol.

In an interview with BBC TV, Heappey said British defense intelligence so far had been unable to verify the reports but that they were Working urgently to understand whether or not chemical weapons have been used.

If chemical weapons have been used, that is a very important moment for our prime minister and other heads of government around the world to consider how we would respond to that, Heappey added

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy claimed on Monday that Russia could resort to chemical weapons and called on the West to impose strong sanctions on Moscow that would deter even talk of the use of such weapons.

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Russia Limited Sanctions Damage by Ditching Dollar: Central Bank

Bank of Russia Governor Elvira Nabiullina says Russia holds enough yuan and gold in its reserves to limit the impact of Western sanctionseven after Washington and its allies froze half the countrys holdings in dollars and other currencies.

The regulator cut the share of dollars in reserves to 10.9 percent as of January 1 from 21.2 percent a year earlier. Meanwhile, euro holdings reportedly rose to 33.9 percent from 29.2 percent. At the same time, yuan holdings grew to 17.1 percent from 12.8 percent a year earlier, while the share of gold held steady at 21.5 percent.

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German Newspaper Hires Russian Anti-War Protestor

The German newspaper Die Welt has hired a new reporter: the Russian journalist Marina Ovsyannikova, who drew the worlds attention after a surprising stunt on Russian state television in protest of her native countrys recent and continuing invasion of Ukraine.

Ovsyannikova is now a freelance correspondent for Die Welt, reporting from Ukraine and Russia, among other places, said the newspaper in a statement. Die Welt is the flagship newspaper of Axel Springer SE, a German media group that also owns the American publications Insider and Politico.

At a crucial moment, Marina Ovsyannikova had the courage to confront Russian viewers with an unembellished view of reality, said Welt spokesman Ulf Poschardt. In doing so, she defended the most important journalistic ethicsdespite the threat of state repression. I am excited to be working with her.

Read the full article here

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Ukraines Zelenskyy Claims Russia Could Use Chemical Weapons, Calls for More Sanctions

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy claimed on Monday that Russia could use chemical weapons in Ukraine and called on the West to impose strong sanctions on Moscow that would deter even talk of the use of such weapons.

There were unconfirmed reports on Monday suggesting that chemical weapons were used in the besieged southern Ukrainian port of Mariupol.

We treat this with the utmost seriousness, Zelenskyy said in his nightly video address on Monday. He did not say chemical weapons had already been used.

Petro Andryushchenko, an aide to the mayor of Mariupol, wrote on his Telegram channel reports about a chemical attack had not been confirmed and that he expected to provide details and clarifications later.

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France Declares Six Russian Spies Persona Non Grata Over Clandestine Operation

Frances foreign ministry on Monday declared six Russian agents posing as diplomats as persona non grata after an investigation by the domestic intelligence services concluded they were working against French national interests.

Following a very long investigation, the General Directorate of Internal Security (DGSI) revealed on April 10 a clandestine operation carried out by the Russian intelligence services on our territory, the ministry said in a statement, without elaborating.

Six Russian agents operating under diplomatic cover and whose activities proved contrary to our national interests have been declared persona non grata, it said.

Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin congratulated DGSI staff on Twitter for hindering the operation. He gave no details of the nature of the mission. The foreign ministry also declined to give details.

In the absence of Russias ambassador in Paris, his number two had been summoned to inform him of the reasons for the expulsion, the foreign ministry said.

Russia will respond accordingly, news agency TASS quoted foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova as saying.

France earlier this month expelled 35 Russians with diplomatic status as part of a broader European move and said the agents had been working against Frances interests.

Despite some criticism, President Emmanuel Macron has sought to maintain a dialogue with Russian President Vladimir Putin. He speaks regularly with Putin as part of efforts to achieve a ceasefire in Ukraine and begin a credible negotiation between Kyiv and Moscow.

Tensions, however, have mounted in recent weeks with the Russian ambassador being summoned three times, including twice over tweets by his embassy that France described as unacceptable.

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Abandoned in East Ukraine, Cats and Dogs Look for New Homes in Russia

With the trunk of her car filled to the brim with pet carriers, Yulia drives across the conflict-torn Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine to pick up cats and dogs abandoned by owners who fled in the hope of finding them new homes in Russia.

The self-proclaimed Donetsk Peoples Republic, a Russian-backed separatist region, announced the evacuation of its residents to southeast Russia due to increased shelling days before Moscow sent troops into Ukraine on Feb. 24 in what it called a special military operation.

As residents rushed to flee, many pets were left to their own devices.

Yulia from Donetsk, has already made nine trips to the Russian border, carrying up to 18 pets each time. There she hands abandoned cats and dogs over to Russian volunteers who then drive them to Moscow some 900 kilometres (560 miles) to the north.

Volunteers headed by Irina Marchenko, a pet store owner in Moscow, have come together from both sides of the border to bring the abandoned cats and dogs of Donetsk to new homes in Russia.

Yulia said she felt compelled to help, even if that meant driving for hours through checkpoints with misbehaving cats and squealing puppies as passengers in her dark green Lada.

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EU Goes After Russian Assets

Europol and other EU agencies have teamed up with the blocs members to facilitate criminal investigations into the assets of individuals and entities sanctioned over Russias ongoing military offensive in Ukraine.

Operation Oscar will also support probes by EU nations into alleged violations of economic and trade restrictions placed on Moscow, Europol announced on Tuesday.

The umbrella operation will last for at least a year and is set to include a number of parallel investigations. In many ways its similar to Operation Sentinel, which was carried out during the COVID-19 pandemic to tackle fraud against the EUs recovery funds.

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Canada Denies Training Ukrainian Azov Regiment

Canadas military has reportedly provided combat training to members of Ukraines Azov regiment, contrary to stated policy and despite previous denials of any official relations between Ottawa and the notorious militia.

The apparent connection came to light in photos posted on social media by the Ukrainian National Guard, according to a report on Monday by Radio-Canada. The pictures show soldiers wearing Azov Battalion patches on their uniforms while participating in training with Canadian forces.

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EU Blacklists Already Banned Russian Airlines

The EU has banned 20 Russian airlines over safety and maintenance issues, according to a press release published on the European Commissions website on Monday. Russian airlines have already been banned from European airspace as part of sanctions on Moscow over the conflict in Ukraine.

Russias biggest carriers such as Aeroflot, S7, Rossiya, UTair are among those added to the EU Air Safety List, which logs airlines that are subject to an operating ban or operational restrictions within the European Union, because they do not meet international safety standards, the release states.

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Austria Says Putin Intends to Resolve Donbass Conflict

Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer left his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday convinced that Western sanctions arent weakening the Kremlins determination to resolve the Donbass crisis before ending the military offensive in Ukraine.

He clearly confirmed that the sanctions are tough for Russia but the situation in Donbass, as he said, must be, so to say, resolved, despite the sanctionseven if they are quite tangible, Nehammer told reporters following the meeting at Putins residence outside Moscow, as quoted by TASS.

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China Used NATO Airspace to Deliver Missiles to Serbia

Six Chinese military aircraft transited the airspace of Turkey and Bulgaria, both of which are NATO members, on April 11 to deliver missiles to Serbia, a key ally of Vladimir Putins regime in Russia.

The move is likely to be regarded as a display of force, as Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic previously had said that NATO refused to let the shipments of Chinese weapons cross through the airspace of its member nations.

The Y-20 cargo planes delivered the anti-aircraft weapons systems to Serbia via the civilian Nikola Tesla airport in Belgrade.

Read the full article here

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Ukraine Claims Tens of Thousands Killed in Mariupol

Ukraine on Monday said tens of thousands of people have likely been killed in Russias assault on the southeastern city of Mariupol.

Mariupol has been destroyed, there are tens of thousands of dead, but even despite this, the Russians are not stopping their offensive, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a video address to South Korean lawmakers without providing more details.

If confirmed, it would be by far the largest number of dead so far reported in one place in Ukraine.

The head of the Russia-backed self-proclaimed Donetsk Peoples Republic, Denis Pushilin, told Russias RIA news agency on Monday that more than 5,000 people may have been killed in Mariupol. He said Ukrainian forces were responsible.

Citing figures from Mariupols city administration, Ukraines human rights ombudswoman Lyudmyla Denisova said 33,000 residents of Mariupol had been deported to Russia or territories held by Russian-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine. Russia said on Sunday it had evacuated 723,000 people from Ukraine since the start of what it called its special operation. Moscow denies attacking civilians.

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Biden Urges Modi Not to Step Up Indian Use of Russian Oil

President Joe Biden asked Indias Narendra Modi on Monday not to accelerate the buying of Russian oil as the United States and other nations try to cut off Moscows energy income following the invasion of Ukraine. The Indian prime minister made no public commitment to refrain from Russian oil, a source of tension with the United States.

Meeting by video call, Biden told Modi that the United States could help India diversify its sources of energy, according to press secretary Jen Psaki. Even though India receives little of its oil from Russia, it stepped up recently with a major purchase as other democracies are trying to isolate Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The president also made clear that he doesnt believe its in Indias interest to accelerate or increase imports of Russian energy or other commodities, Psaki said.

While the two nations ended the meeting with Biden saying they committed to strengthening their relationship, White House officials could not say if India stood with them in fully condemning Putin, saying the choice ultimately rested with Modis government. The two leaders will meet in person May 24 in Tokyo for a summit of the Quad, a coalition that also includes Australia and Japan.

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French Bank SocGen Ends Business in Russia

Societe Generale has announced it is ending its Russian activitiesmaking it the first big Western bank to announce its quitting Russia.

SocGen is also selling its entire stake in Rosbank to a company linked to a Russian oligarch, costing the French bank some 3 billion euros ($3.3 billion).

Rosbank is a heavyweight in the Russian banking sector, and Societe Generale was the majority shareholder.

After several weeks of intensive work, the bank said in a statement, it had signed an agreement with Russian investment fund Interros Capital to sell all of its stake in Rosbank as well as its insurance subsidiaries in Russia.

Interros is one of the largest funds in the country, which holds assets in heavy industry and metallurgy.

Isabel van Brugen, Andrew Thornebrooke, Nicholas Dolinger, The Associated Press, and Reuters contributed to this report.
An aerial view of a residential area is seen during the second stage of a pandemic lockdown in Jing' an district in Shanghai on April 5, 2022. (Hector Retamal/AFP via Getty Images)

Local Officials in China Accused of Concealing COVID-19 Data Over Fear of Backlash From Beijing

Chinas Dynamic zero-COVID policy is a measure driven by political motives, expert says

Local officials in China have been accused of not reporting data on COVID-19 positive cases in fear of a backlash from Beijing. Instead, the authorities have extended the draconian lockdown policies in an attempt to contain the virus. Some experts have called Chinas dynamic zero-COVID policy a measure driven by political motives.

An independent analyst in the United States and expert on China, Shi Shan, told The Epoch Times that local officials in Shanghai would be held accountable for positive COVID-19 cases in their jurisdictions. As a result, many have chosen to conceal or grossly underreport the data in their region or resorted to extreme lockdown measures to contain the virus as quickly as possible.

According to Shi, these local officials knew that the Omicron variant of the CCP virus has a low mortality rate, and symptoms are often mild. Yet, many of them fudged the data out of fear of being dismissed from their posts.

Chinas health code app is a key resource for the countrys governments to track and contain COVID-19 cases using time, location, and personal interactions. The health code indicates a persons COVID-19 status and must be shown to enter venues or travel.

My next-door neighbors [COVID-19] test result showed negative on the [Shanghai governments] health code app, but received a phone call from the local testing site saying it was positive, Wang Jie (pseudonym), a resident in Shanghais Jingan District, told The Epoch Times.

The Epoch Times reporter reached out to a local healthcare committee in Jingan District regarding the discrepancy in notification between the health code app and the local testing site. A committee staff member said the telephone results from the local testing site would override the results shown on the governments health app.

When asked if there was any possibility of data fraud from the local testing sites to the governments health cloud, the party hung up the phone.

They said the lockdown would be lifted on April 7, but I received another notice on that day, saying it has been extended for another five days  Ding Hui (pseudonym), a resident of Changchun City, Jilin Province, told The Epoch Times.

It appears that [the CCP] does not care whether the people live or die. They just insist on clearing the virus. They control all the data; we dont know if its real or not, Ding added.

Zhang Hai, whose family member died from the CCP virus, told The Epoch Times that it had been over two years since the first outbreak in Wuhan, yet the actual number of deaths from the CCP virus is still a mystery.

Zhang said that there are many cases of secondary injury and loss of life due to the inhumane lockdowns from all across China, but no media in China dares to report them.

Employees setting up a makeshift hospital on April 7, 2022, that will be used for COVID-19 patients in Shanghai. (CNS/AFP via Getty Images)

China current affairs commentator, Lu Jinnan (pseudonym), told The Epoch Times that the CCPs zero-COVID policy is unrealistic. Local officials may be dismissed from their posts wherever an outbreak is reported. Thus, they can only choose between their job and data fraud.

According to Lu, lockdowns have become a measure driven by political motives. Since February this year, the spread of the virus has far exceeded the CCPs expectations. The regime has punished or dismissed many local or regional officials for their ineffectiveness in preventing outbreaks within their jurisdictions.

On March 1, six Guangdong Province officials, including Huang Shouying, deputy director of the Guangdong Provincial Public Security Department, and Wang Changqing, the deputy mayor of Dongguan City, were allegedly removed from their posts for their ineffectiveness at containing the CCP virus outbreaks.

In March, at least 18 officials in Jilin Province received punishment for reportedly similar reasons. Five officials, including the mayor of Jilin, were dismissed from their posts.

Likewise, last month, Inner Mongolias Manzhouli City Deputy Mayor, Jiao Jie, and Director of Transportation Zheng Fuyong, 17 officials in Shandong Province and 22 officials in Liaoning Province, and at least 31 officials in Shaanxi Provinces Xian City, were either punished, dismissed, or suspended from their posts.

Weber Li contributed to this report.
Gas station employees in Gainesville, Fla. say they keep removing stickers from gas pumps that show Pres. Joe Biden with the words "I did that!" but replacement stickers quickly reappear. (Nanette Holt/Epoch Times)

Man Arrested in Pennsylvania After Placing Biden: I Did That Stickers at Gas Pumps: Report

A man was arrested in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, after allegedly placing stickers at gas pumps that blame President Joe Biden for skyrocketing gas prices across the nation.

Thomas Richard Glazewski, 53, of Lancaster was confronted by police following a disturbance in-progress call on March 31 involving an irate male at a gas pump in Turkey Hill, the East Hempfield Township Police Department said in charging documents.

Glazewski had charges filed against him that include resisting arrest, police said. He was also charged with summary offenses of disorderly conduct, harassment, and criminal mischief.

According to witnesses, Glazewski had placed the satirical stickers with the words: I Did That! along with a picture of the president pointing at prices on gas pumps. He made reference to the high price of gasoline in the United States, an increase many Americans have blamed on Biden.

Police said an employee at the Turkey Hill gas station approached the man to inform him that placing such stickers on pumps is illegal. This confrontation led to Glazewski allegedly starting to scream in the employees face.

As police arrived on the scene and encountered the man, he also began yelling at authorities.

The officer attempted to verbally de-escalate the situation to no avail, according to the charging documents. The irate male then ran towards a store employee in an aggressive manner. The officer was able to intervene and subdue the male.

While Glazewski was being forced into the back of a police vehicle, he also suffered self-inflicted injuries that required EMS to transport him to a local hospital for treatment, the document says.

Glazewskis confrontation with police was captured in video footage, showing an officer tackling and later pinning him as he repeatedly yells: I did that. I did that. Thats what I didlikely referencing stickers of the finger-pointing Biden affixed on the gas pump.

Identical I did that! stickers featuring Biden next to skyrocketing fuel prices at gas pumps have cropped up in many places nationwide. The stickers have become a popular protest against the rising gas prices.

I take off five or six a day from our different pumps, Perry Cagle, assistant manager of an Exxon station in Alabama, told WAAY-TV in March.

Hajra Akram, a cashier at Stockmens Truck Stop in South St. Paul, Minnesota, told KSTP in mid-March that removing I did that! stickers has become almost an everyday thing.

The minute they pile up and its like, Oh, I got to take time from out of being here and scrape it off first. So, you know, just keep it off of theremaybe put it on your own car on the back, Akram told the network.

One gallon of regular unleaded gas is averaging $4.202 in Pennsylvania and $4.098 nationally as of Tuesday, according to the American Auto Association.

From NTD News
A police vehicles look out over an empty highway after protesters opposing federal COVID-19 mandates left following their blockade of the highway at the busy U.S. border crossing in Coutts, Alberta, on Feb. 15, 2022. (The Canadian Press)

Man Charged With Conspiracy to Murder at Alberta Border Blockade Asks to Go Directly to Trial

Christopher Lysak, one of four men charged with conspiracy to murder at an Alberta border blockade protest earlier this year, has asked to go directly to trial.

A lawyer for Lysak, 48, told a Lethbridge judge on April 11 that he is waiving his right to a preliminary hearing in favour of being tried by a judge and jury in the Alberta Court of Queens Bench.

He is detained and would like the earliest trial, lawyer Alias Sanders told The Canadian Press on behalf of Lysaks lawyer, Jim Lutz.

Lysak, who has been denied bail, is also charged with uttering threats, possession of a weapon, and mischief to property over $5000.

He was among the 11 people arrested on Feb. 14 at the Coutts border protest in southern Alberta after the RCMP said they had received information the same day that a small organized group within the larger Coutts protest had access to a cache of firearms and ammunition.

The police executed a search warrant on three trailers believed to be associated with the group and seized 13 long guns, handguns, multiple sets of body armour, a machete, a large quantity of ammunition, and high-capacity magazines in the process. A total of fourteen people were charged following the RCMP investigation.

Police alleged that this group was willing to use force if the blockade at the border was disrupted, describing their threat to be very serious.

The Coutts blockade started in late January and lasted for nearly three weeks. It was one of several protests that shut down Canada-U.S. border crossings in solidarity with the larger Freedom Convoy demonstration in downtown Ottawa that opposed the federal COVID-19 vaccine mandate for cross-border truckers. The Ottawa convoy sparked a national movement that attracted supporters calling for an end to all pandemic-related restrictions.

The blockade at the Coutts border ended following the RCMP arrests of the small group linked to the firearms with a convoy organizer explaining that they didnt want to be associated with violence.

We want to wrap this up in a peaceful way, Marco Van Huigenbos said in a video message posted on Twitter by Rebel News reporter Syd Fizzard on Feb. 14.

Aside from Lysak, Chris Carbert, Anthony Olienick, and Jerry Morin are also charged with conspiracy to murder. The four men are scheduled to return to court on April 25.

Lawyers representing Carbert and Morin indicated they were planning to seek bail hearings for their clients. Calgary lawyer Alain Hepner is on the record as Olienicks counsel.

Additional evidence from the RCMP was made available to lawyers on April 8, including wiretap audio and wiretap summaries, according to Crown prosecutor Aaron Rankin.

Issac Teo and The Canadian Press contributed to this article
Statement of Senator Risa Hontiveros on fake news about Aika Robredo

The news circulating about Aika Robredo's fake porn video is downright misogynistic.

The Safe Spaces Act, which I authored, clearly prohibits and penalizes any misogynistic behavior even online. Pwedeng-pwedeng kasuhan ang mga nagpapakalat nitong fake video.

It is never acceptable to use a woman's body in an attempt to defame one's character. Nakakagalit na humahantong sa kabastusan ng pagkababae at pagkatao ang panahon ng kampanya.

I call on the Filipino public-whichever candidate you support -to condemn this dirty political tactic. I call on all candidates from all slates to do the same. Hindi ito ang diwa ng ating pagka-Pilipino. We are better than this.

To Aika, mabuhay ka for holding up beautifully! We are with you.
New York City Police Commissioner Keechant Sewell speaks at a news conference in the Brooklyn borough of New York on April 12, 2022. (John Minchillo/AP Photo)

Manhunt Underway After at Least 16 Injured in New York City Shooting

Suspect described as short black man

A manhunt is underway for a suspect who shot 10 people and injured six others in New York City on April 12, authorities say.

The suspect, described as a black male standing 55, donned a gas mask on a subway as the train pulled into the 36th Street Station in the borough of Brooklyn, according to police officials.

The man then opened a canister, which filled the train with smoke.

Soon after, the man opened fire, striking people on the subway and on the platform.

The man has a heavy build and was wearing a green construction-type vest and a hooded sweatshirt, New York City Police Commissioner Keechant Sewell told reporters in a press conference outside the station.

Its not clear how many officers are involved in the manhunt.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, a Democrat, said she was committing the full resources of our state to fight what she called a surge of crime, referencing the recent shooting of a teenage girl in the city.

She called the suspect in Tuesdays attack cold-hearted and depraved of heart.

This individual is still on the loose. This person is dangerous, Hochul said, adding that New Yorkers should be vigilant and alert.

The New York Police Department said it had not released any pictures or video footage of the suspect.

New Yorkers with information or videos or photographs were encouraged to call CrimeStoppers or the NYPD.

People tend to a bloodied passenger lying on the subway floor at the 36th Street station in Brooklyn, New York, on April 12, 2022. (Epoch Times staff)

In this photo from social media video, passengers run from a subway car in a station in the Brooklyn borough of New York on April 12, 2022. (Will B. Wylde via AP)

New York Mayor Eric Adams, a Democrat and former police officer, issued a video statement since hes quarantining following a recent positive COVID-19 test.

Were praying for all New Yorkers who were injured or affected by todays attack, he said. We will not allow New Yorkers to be terrorized even by a single individual. The NYPD is searching for the suspect at large, and we will find him.

Authorities do not know the motive of the suspect at this time and are not ruling anything out, Sewell said.

The incident is not being investigated as an act of terrorism.

Of the injured, five were in critical but stable condition in local hospitals, authorities said. Some werent struck by bullets but were injured by smoke inhalation or shrapnel, or were suffering from anxiety.

The Maimonides Medical Center, NYU Langone-Brooklyn, and NewYork-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital confirmed to news outlets that they are all treating patients from the attack.

President Joe Biden was briefed on the latest developments regarding the shooting and senior White House staff members were in contact with Adams and Sewell.
Medical School Puts Student Who Said She Injured Patient for Mocking Pronoun Pin on Leave

A North Carolina medical school has placed on leave a student who said she purposefully missed a vein of a patient because the patient mocked her pronoun pin.

The Wake Forest University School of Medicine said in a statement to news outlets that it placed Kychelle Del Rosario, a fourth-year student, on a leave of absence because of an inappropriate and misleading post.

Del Rosario had posted on Twitter in March that she hurt a patient on purpose.

I had a patient I was doing a blood draw on see my pronoun pin and loudly laugh to the staff, She/Her? Well of course it is! What other pronouns even are there? It? I missed his vein so he had to get stuck twice, she wrote.

The post drew widespread pushback, prompting the student to delete her account.

A screenshot was shared with Wake Forests medical school, with the user saying it sounded like bad practice or even abusive behavior by Del Rosario.

Thank you for bringing this to our attention. This students tweet does not reflect how Wake Forest University School of Medicine treats patients and provides patient care. We are taking measures to address this with the student, the school said.

In its update, the school said all student encounters with patients are documented. The documentation for the blood draw in question showed Del Rosario was unsuccessful in obtaining the blood draw.

After that, she appropriately deferred a second attempt to one of our certified professionals and did not attempt to draw blood again, the school added.

The choice of punishment drew criticism from some, who encouraged boycotting the school.

Find another hospital, Ann Coulter, a conservative author, wrote on Twitter.

Its not Wake University its WOKE University, another user said.

Del Rosario, who is still listed as a planner for the upcoming Southern Trans Health and Wellness Conference, issued a statement through the school.

For the event mentioned in the tweet, I was performing a blood draw on a patient and during our conversation they had shown dismay at my pronoun pin. I calmly shared my thoughts about pronouns and did not escalate the situation further. When I was doing the blood draw, I missed the first time due to my inexperience as a student, and per our policy, my supervisor performed the successful blood draw the second time. During this encounter, I never intended to harm the patient, she said.

I am truly sorry for poorly representing our school and our health system. I will reflect on responsible social media use as a professional and my duty to care for all my patients, regardless of any differences of belief.
Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador (R) shows his ballot for the recall referendum on his presidency in Mexico City, on April 10, 2022. (Mexico Presidency/Handout via Reuters)

Mexican President Wins 90 Percent Backing in Leadership Vote He Sought

MEXICO CITYNine out of ten Mexicans voting on Sunday in an unprecedented recall election engineered by President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador backed him to stay in office, underlining his domination of a polarized political agenda.

Both critics and supporters alike had viewed his victory as a foregone conclusion in a ballot that had fed speculation it could open the door to extending presidential term limits, now limited to a single six-year period.

Between 90.3 percent and 91.9 percent voters were predicted to have supported Lopez Obrador, a preliminary estimate from the National Electoral Institute (INE) showed on Sunday night.

Unleashing a string of barbs at adversaries, Lopez Obrador hailed the referendum result as historic, and compared his tally favorably with the number of votes won by rivals he defeated to win the presidency, and in other elections.

We dont have a king in Mexico, he said in a video address. Its a democracy, and the people are in charge.

A pugnacious leftist, Lopez Obrador was the architect of the first so-called recall referendum in modern Mexico, calling it vital to confirm his democratic mandate.

Turnout in the vote was forecast at between 17 percent and 18.2 percent, INE said, well below a threshold of 40 percent for it to be binding, and lower than some polls.

Opposition leaders had actively discouraged supporters from voting, with many condemning the plebiscite as a propaganda exercise and a costly distraction from real problems.

Turnout had been expected to range between 16 percent and 25 percent in a poll published by newspaper El Financiero this month.

Political analysts had said Lopez Obrador would seize on the result as a personal triumph in his bid to push a constitutional change to the electricity market through Congress in the coming week, although he looks short of votes.

Lopez Obrador denies wanting to extend his term, but he used the referendum to fire up supporters and test his strength ahead of gubernatorial elections in June.

Since taking office in December 2018, Lopez Obrador has fallen short of campaign pledges to reduce violent crime and lift the economy, unsettling investors by trying to renegotiate contracts and tightening state control of natural resources.

But his successful roll-out of welfare programs and relentless daily depiction of a political narrative in which he stars as a morally upright defender of the poor against a corrupt, wealthy elite has helped buttress his popularity.

Contentious

Many Mexicans regard the folksy Lopez Obrador as a welcome departure from previous leaders often seen as aloof from the broader population in a society that remains highly unequal.

I want the president to continue in power, said one of them, Guillermina Gomez, after voting in the central state of Tlaxcala.

The 60-year-old homemaker said his welfare programs had allowed her grandchildren to enroll in high school, which her meager household income had kept out of the reach of her children.

Thanks to him weve received benefits that no one else has given us.

Costing millions of dollars and heavily publicized in the capital, the referendum asked Mexicans if Lopez Obradors mandate should be revoked due to loss of trust, or he should conclude his term as scheduled on Sept. 30, 2024.

Maribel Rosas, 36, who voted for Lopez Obrador to become president in 2018, said she had cast a vote for him to be removed from office, as he was failing to help the middle class and spurring social polarisation.

This division isnt going to get us anywhere, said Rosas, a resident of Mexico City who works in advertising.

The president had accused the National Electoral Institute of trying to stymie the referendum, which it denied. He quickly criticized it again after the results.

By Dave Graham
Elon Musk attends the opening ceremony of the new Tesla Gigafactory for electric cars in Gruenheide, Germany, on March 22, 2022. (Patrick Pleul/Pool via Reuters)

Musk Proposes Twitter Blue Subscription Shake-Up

Elon Musk, Twitter Inc.s biggest shareholder, on Saturday suggested a raft of changes to the social media giants Twitter Blue premium subscription service, including slashing its price, banning advertising, and giving an option to pay in the cryptocurrency dogecoin.

Twitter Blue, launched in June 2021, is Twitters first subscription service and offers exclusive access to premium features on a monthly subscription basis, Twitter says. It is available in the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

In a Twitter post, the head of electric vehicle maker Tesla Inc. suggested that users who sign up for Twitter Blue should pay significantly less than the current $2.99 a month, and should get an authentication checkmark as well as an option to pay in local currency.

Price should probably be ~$2/month, but paid 12 months up front & account doesnt get checkmark for 60 days (watch for credit card chargebacks) & suspended with no refund if used for scam/spam, Musk said in a tweet.

And no ads, Musk suggested. The power of corporations to dictate policy is greatly enhanced if Twitter depends on advertising money to survive.

Musk also proposed an option to pay with dogecoin and asked Twitter users for their views.

Twitter declined to comment on Musks suggestions.

The company already lets people tip their favorite content creators using bitcoin. Twitter had said last year that it planned to support authentication for NFTs, or non-fungible tokens, which are digital assets such as images or videos that exist on a blockchain.

Musk also started a poll on his Twitter accountwhich has more than 81 million followersasking whether the firms San Francisco headquarters should be converted to a homeless shelter as no-one shows up (to work there). The poll got more than 300,000 votes in an hour, with 90 percent answering yes.
Lt. Gov. Brian Benjamin speaks during a rally in New York City on Nov. 1, 2021. (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)

New York Lt. Gov. Charged for Allegedly Engaging in Bribery Scheme

New York Lt. Gov. Brian Benjamin has been charged with allegedly participating in a scheme that saw the Democrat get campaign contributions in exchange for wielding his official authority to get money for a nonprofit.

Prosecutors say Benjamin became close with a real estate developer referred to as CC-1 in court documents. The developer owned a real estate business based in Harlem, New York, and controlled a nonprofit working with public schools in the city.

The business owner provided financial support for events promoted by Benjamin or his Senate office and contributed to Benjamins political campaign, according to the indictment. Benjamin, in turn, attended events connected to the person and the nonprofit.

At one point, Benjamin funneled $50,000 that he was told to allocate by New York Senate leadership to the nonprofit.

About two weeks later, the person gave Benjamin a $10,000 cashiers check, a $10,000 personal check, and a $5,000 check on behalf of a company the person controlled, according to prosecutors.

Taxpayer money for campaign contributions. Quid pro quo. This for that. Thats bribery, plain and simple, Damian Williams, U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, told reporters during a briefing.

In addition, Benjamin is accused of repeatedly lying to cover up the scheme, including by falsifying campaign forms and lying on documents he filled out before becoming lieutenant governor.

Benjamin was arrested on Tuesday morning and was scheduled to appear in court on Tuesday afternoon.

Benjamin abused his authority as a New York State senator, engaging in a bribery scheme using public funds for his own corrupt purposes, according to an indictment that was set to be unsealed on April 12.

Benjamin was a state senator until Sept. 9, 2021, when he was appointed by new New York Gov. Kathy Hochul.

Hochul had just become governor following the resignation of Andrew Cuomo over sexual misconduct allegations.

Hochuls office did not respond to a request for comment. Hochul told reporters in New York City that she would issue a statement later in the day. She said she had not spoken to Benjamin.

Williams declined to answer when asked whether his office had been in contact with the governors office.

Hochul and Benjamin are running for a full term in office on the same ticket.

Kathy Hochul forced Brian Benjamin upon our state as Lieutenant Governor. He was such a bad pick. Running point on the defund the police movement in the legislature should have alone disqualified him. When this corruption surfaced, Hochul tripled down. She owns thisall of it! Terrible judgment! Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-N.Y.), who is running in the gubernatorial election, said in a statement.

Nick Langworthy, chairman of the New York GOP, said Hochuls choice of Benjamin as a running mate shows she does not possess the judgment nor the moral code to serve as governor.
Indian children work nearby to their parents at a construction project in front of the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi, India, on Jan. 30, 2010. (Daniel Berehulak/Getty Images)

New Zealand Launches Public Consultation for Modern Slavery Laws

The New Zealand government has taken its first major step towards addressing worker exploitation and modern slavery in supply chains, opening public consultation on proposed legislative options to address these issues.

As New Zealanders, most of us believe in decency and dignity for people, and were appalled at the possibility that some of the goods that we might consume in our country, or the services that we enjoy, might have been produced through modern slavery or worker exploitation, Workplace Relations Minister Michael Wood said on April 8.

The proposals aim to address these issues and give Kiwis confidence that the goods and services used are produced and enacted ethically, and businesses will be required to take action if they are aware of slavery issues.

Large businesses will also be required to undertake due diligence to prevent any worker exploitation in its supply chains, making it one of the toughest modern slavery laws in the world.

The International Labour Organisation estimates that there are up to 25 million people around the world who work in conditions of modern slavery, Wood said. If organisations choose not to look for exploitation on their supply chains, they can potentially inadvertently benefit from those exploitative practices.

New Zealand Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Michael Wood in Wellington, New Zealand, on March 30, 2022. (Lynn Grieveson/Getty Images)

There has been increasing calls for the government to address the issue of slavery in supply chains, with more than 37,000 signatures from Trade Aid and World Vision calling for a modern slavery law in 2021. A further 113 businesses also signed a letter calling for its consideration.

World Vision estimates that every New Zealand household spends on average $34 (US$23) a week on goods associated with either forced labour or child labour.

It also found that in 2019, every adult had consumed three cups of coffee a week, or 700 million cups in total, that was associated with or at risk of modern slavery.

Wood noted that there was also an increasing international expectation on countries to take action, with modern slavery legislation already in place in countries like the United Kingdom and Australia.

World Vision welcomed the public consultation launch and urged Kiwis to get involved and make a submission.

Currently, many New Zealand companies have no visibility of the risks of modern slavery in their supply chains and could unwittingly be helping to facilitate modern slavery through their purchasing or business relationships, World Vision Head of Advocacy Rebekah Armstrong said.

Chris OReilly, the CEO of AskYourTeam and an anti-slavery advocate, said the proposed legislation offered New Zealand the opportunity to position its produce as the most ethical in the world.

With a coordinated, collaborative approach, and our Kiwi ethos of fairness and dignity, we could easily leapfrog other countries whose own worker rights requirements will soon lag behind, he said.

OReilly noted that businesses did not need to wait for the legislation, they can get started now.

Business leaders can begin thinking about where they sit on worker exploitation mitigation and how they will progress change, he said. We realise every business has different priorities and challenges, and some may be further along than others.
Police officers wearing protective gear control access to a tunnel in the direction of Pudong district in Shanghai, which is under lockdown orders, on March 28, 2022. (Hector Retamal/AFP via Getty Images)

Oil Prices Drop Amid China COVID-19 Worries, Reserve Release

Brent crude oil fell below $100 per barrel on April 11 due to concerns about COVID-19 lockdowns lowering Chinese demand, as well as fresh supplies pouring into the market from global oil reserves.

Brent oil futures were trading at $98.59 per barrel as of 16:08 coordinated universal time (12:08 p.m. Eastern time) on April 11, 2022, which is 20 percent lower than the previous peak of $123.72 per barrel on March 24.

West Texas Intermediate crude oil futures were trading at $94.36 per barrel at this time.

The oil market is watching the developments in China where COVID-19 lockdowns have been imposed in cities such as Shanghai, a financial center of China thats home to about 26 million people. Similar curbs have been imposed in regions such as eastern Ningbo and southern Guangzhou.

Even when the restrictions in Shanghai are lifted, Chinas zero-Covid policies will likely remain a drag on demand, Eurasia Group analysts said to Reuters.

Oil prices have also eased following an announcement by the International Energy Agency (IEA) that its members will release 60 million barrels into the global market. The decision follows Washingtons plan to release one million barrels of oil per day for six months, totaling about 180 million barrels.

The reserves released by the IEA and the United States will total 240 million barrels of additional oil supply into the market. This will be equivalent to adding 1.3 million barrels per day of oil over a six-month period, which analysts at JP Morgan calculate is enough to cover a shortfall of one million barrels per day from Russian supplies. The IEA predicts Western sanctions on Russia will take 3 million barrels per day of oil off the global market.

At present, the United States Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) has 564.6 million barrels, which is enough to meet the countrys oil demand for about a month. The IEA requires that Americas SPR be equivalent to 90 days of U.S. crude oil imports, which at 3 million barrels per day would be roughly 270 million barrels in total.

Even after the United States releases 180 million barrels from its reserves, the remaining supply of 294.6 million barrels will be above IEAs requirements.

However, President Joe Bidens decision to release oil from the countrys SPR has come under criticism, with experts pointing out that the move will only add to the volatility in the oil market.

Nobody knows which way the oil price will go, said Ilia Bouchouev, a partner at Pentathlon Investments and an adjunct professor at New York University. Doing this will only increase volatility because it reduces the buffer.

The Bank of Montreal is expecting WTI crude to average $100 per barrel in 2022 and $85 per barrel in 2023, online foreign exchange hub FXStreet reported. Bank of America expects Brent crude oil to average $102 per barrel for 20222023.

Reuters contributed to this report.
Oil Rises on Easing of Shanghai COVID-19 Curbs

LONDONOil prices climbed on Tuesday as Shanghais relaxation of some COVID-19 restrictions eased concerns about Chinese demand.

Brent crude futures rose by $3.26, or 3.31 percent, to $101.74 a barrel at 1002 GMT while U.S. West Texas Intermediate was up $3.01, or 3.19 percent, at $97.30. Both contracts lost about 4 percent on Monday.

The European Union has yet to agree any embargo on Russian oil, but some foreign ministers said the option is on the table.

The oil market is still vulnerable to a major shock if Russian energy is sanctioned, and that risk remains on the table, wrote Edward Moya, a senior market analyst with OANDA.

Indian Oil Corp. (IOC), which bought Russian Urals in previous tenders, has removed the grade from its latest crude tender. President Joe Biden had told Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi late on Monday that buying more oil from Russia was not in Indias interest.

IEA member nations are planning to release 240 million barrels over the next six months from May in an effort to calm the market.

While the release will ease immediate tightness, analysts suggested it will not solve the structural deficit caused by underinvestment and stocks will need to be replenished.

A preliminary Reuters poll showed U.S. crude oil inventories are likely to have risen by 1.4 million barrels in the week to April 8 after declining for three consecutive weeks.

The poll was conducted ahead of a report from the American Petroleum Institute due at 4:30 p.m. EDT (2030 GMT) on Tuesday.

By Rowena Edwards
The remains of the drama theatre which was reportedly hit by a bomb when hundreds of people were sheltering inside, in Mariupol, Ukraine, on March 18, 2022. (Azov/Handout via Reuters)

Pentagon, Partners Working to Verify Azov Regiment Reports That Russia Used Poisonous Substance in Mariupol

The United States, United Kingdom, and Australia have said they are working to verify unconfirmed reports on social media that Russian forces used a poisonous substance in the long-contested southern city of Mariupol.

The Azov Regiment, a neo-Nazi unit of the National Guard of Ukraine, said on Telegram that Russia used a poisonous substance of an unknown origin in the port city. The regiment has been defending war-torn Mariupol, a strategic port city on the Azov Sea that would provide Russia a land corridor to Crimea if captured, since it took control from pro-Russian separatist forces in 2014.

Russian occupation forces used a poisonous substance of unknown origin against Ukrainian military and civilians in the city of Mariupol, which was dropped from an enemy [unmanned aerial vehicle], the Azov Regiment posted on April 11. The victims have respiratory failure, vestibulo-atactic syndrome. The consequences of using an unknown substance are being clarified.

The regiment didnt say that chemical weapons had been used, but Ukrainian MP Ivanna Klympush with the European Solidarity party said on Twitter that as the regiment claimed that victims were experiencing respiratory failure, the substance is most likely chemical weapons.

1/2 #RU 1,5hr ago used unknown substance in #Mariupol. Victims experience respiratory failure,

vestib.-atactic syndrome.Most likely chem.weapons!This is red line beyond which  must destroy economy of despotism.We demand full embargo on all fuels from #RU &heavy weapons 2UA now!  Ivanna Klympush (@IKlympush) April 11, 2022

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in a video address on Monday didnt say whether chemical weapons had been used in Mariupol, but said of the claims, we treat this with the utmost seriousness.

An aide to Mariupols mayor, Petro Andryushchenko, separately highlighted that the reports had not been verified.

When pressed by U.S. media, the Pentagon said that it is aware of the reports.

We cannot confirm at this time and will continue to monitor the situation closely, Pentagon press secretary John Kirby said in statements to outlets CNBC and Axios. These reports, if true, are deeply concerning and reflective of concerns that we have had about Russias potential to use a variety of riot control agents, including tear gas mixed with chemical agents, in Ukraine.

The UK and Australia also said that they were working to verify the reports.

Responding to the claims, UK Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said that officials are working urgently with partners to verify details.

Any use of such weapons would be a callous escalation in this conflict and we will hold Putin and his regime to account, she said.

Australias Foreign Minister Marise Payne said of the reports that, if confirmed, such actions would be a further wholesale breach of international law.

The reports are a further indication of President Putin and Russias absolute violation of every single value and every single rules-based aspect of the rules-based global order, Payne said, adding that Australis is working to determine the veracity of the claims.

The reports follow weeks of heavy shelling by Russian forces in the strategic city. Mariupols mayor, Vadym Boychenko, warned late last month of an imminent humanitarian catastrophe if more citizens werent allowed to evacuate.

Experts have anticipated the fall of Mariupol to Russian forces since late March. The city of 430,000 residents has seen some of the worst fighting in the war. Zelenskyy estimated on April 11 that tens of thousands are dead in the destroyed city of Mariupol, while pro-Russian forces have said that 5,000 have been killed by Ukrainian forces.

Read More How Russia Is Using Conservatives to Spread Its Propaganda

In a Telegram post on April 6, a spokesperson for the Azov Regiment said that occupying forces were using phosphorus bombs and dropping them on the city.

He said of the Russian forces, I want to say the words that were written by the great Ukrainian prophet, almost 2 centuries ago: O lovely maidens, fall in love. But not with the Muscovites, for Muscovites are foreign folk. They do not treat you right. It is difficult to describe the disaster that they do in Mariupol. Behind all the bombs that were dropped on the city, and all the rockets, they even use phosphorous bombs. I cant even imagine [what] these freaks will come up with to destroy whats left.

Zelenskyy in his nightly address called on Ukraines allies to help supply necessary weapons.

Unfortunately, we are not getting as much as we need to end this war sooner, Zelenskyy said. I am sure that we will get almost everything we need, but not only time is being lost. The lives of Ukrainians are being lostlives that can no longer be returned.
Russian President Vladimir Putin delivers a speech, as he visits the Vostochny cosmodrome, some 180 km north of Blagoveschensk, Amur region, on April 12, 2022. (Yevgeny Biyatov/Sputnik/AFP via Getty Images)

Putins Showdown with Ukraine on Crimea and Donbass

Russia-Ukraine Ceasefire Talks Slow Down as Both Sides Arrive at Heart of the Matter: Territory Disputes

Russian President Vladimir Putin Tuesday clarified his stance on Crimea and Donbass, the disputed territories on the Russia-Ukraine border area.

He appears to be unhappy with Ukraines ambiguous stance on the separatist or disputed territories and clearly stated that Russia is demanding Ukraine recognize Crimea as Russian and so-called Donbass republics as independent.

Putin emphasized that these two points are the key topics that the two sides have made no progress on, Russian state media RT reported.

The ceasefire talks returned to a deadlock, he stated at the Vostochny Cosmodrome in Russias Far East.

People walk past destroyed buildings in the town of Borodianka, northwest of Kyiv, on April 4, 2022. (Sergei Supinsky/AFP via Getty Images)

Ceasefire talks have apparently slowed down as Russia and Ukraine get to the heart of the matter: territory disputes.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy acknowledged in early April that the intention of Russias military operation is to occupy the corridor connecting Crimea and Donbass, with Mariupol being a key city along the corridor.

Donbass, and the south of Ukraine, and the corridor to Crimea, and the Kherson region, and the Zaporizhzhia region, he said. We basically understand what they are doing.

He also told Ukrainian media that it could cost thousands of soldiers lives to take back Donbass and Crimea.

Ukraine could also end up unable to take back those areas militarily, Zelenskyy said.

Russia has its own vision of Donbass, and Ukraine has its own. So I had a simple suggestion. I believe that we will not be able to agree on all points at once. This is impossible, even if we have negotiations, he said.

Ukainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stands in the town of Bucha, northwest of the Ukrainian capital Kyiv, on April 4, 2022. (Ronaldo Schemidt//AFP via Getty Images)

However, the former Soviet country insisted on setting aside the disputed areas in the ongoing potential ceasefire deal and demanded more time to solve it through negotiations.

During an interview with CBS on Sunday, Zelenskyy expressed a completely contrary viewpoint from what Putin had hoped for.

Overall, were not ready to give away our country. I think we already gave up a lot of lives, he responded when asked if hes willing to give up any part of Ukraine for peace. So we need to stay firm for as long as we can. But this is lifedifferent things happen.

He then specifically stated Ukraines stance on Crimea and Donbass.

We understand the Russian side. We understand one of their provisions that is always talked about, is to recognize Crimea as Russian territory. I will definitely not recognize that, he said.

And they would really like to take the southern parts of our country  but we were not ready to give up our territory from the beginning. Had we been willing to give up our territory, there would be no war, he added.

Zelenskyy again reaffirmed that taking back Crimea and Donbass is not part of Ukraines plan for victory.

I understand they will not withdraw from Crimea and will be arguing or negotiating one territory or another in the South of our country, the Donbass. I know exactly what has to happen after which we can say this is victory [for Ukraine],' he said.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison addresses the media at Parliament House in Canberra, Australia, on April 10, 2022. (Martin Ollman/Getty Images)

Robust Economic Plan Is More Important Than Popularity: Australian PM

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has emphasised job creation while touring manufacturing businesses in New South Wales to campaign for the federal election.

The prime minister kicked off his second day by campaigning in the electorate of Parramatta, which is held by the Labor party by a 3.5 percent margin.

He later moved to Macquarie, which is also held by the opposition but by only 0.19 percent, making it the most marginal seat in the country.

Speaking in front of reporters, Morrison promised that the Coalition would add 1.3 million jobs to the labour market in the next five years and said those jobs would be created across a range of industries in the economy.

Weve worked hard to get to the point where we can really take advantage of the economic opportunities that this country now has in front of us. Its the biggest economic opportunity since the post-war era, he said.

Currently, the Coalition government still stays behind in the polls, as the latest Roy Morgan poll indicates that Labor is 14 percentage points ahead of the Coalition on a two-party preferred basis.

Nevertheless, the prime minister said the likeability of the leaders was not a determinant factor in the election.

Its not a popularity contest. You go to the dentist. It doesnt matter if you like him or her or not. You want to know theyre good at their job, he said.

This is about whether people are good at managing the economy and have a strong economic plan.

Morrison refuted the opinion that both Treasurer Josh Frydenberg and Foreign Minister Marise Payne joined him at the press conference on April 12 because of his low personal standing among voters.

Ive got a great team. Im happy to showcase my team every single day, he said.

Workers wear face masks as they set up displays at a local fruit and vegetable market in Sydney, Australia, on July 9, 2021. (Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images)

Apart from the jobs creation promise, the Coalition government was committed to making a $22 billion (US$16.4 billion) investment in renewables and low emissions energy technology.

It also pledged to set aside $7.1 billion for infrastructure projects in regional areas and another $3.7 billion for creating 800,000 new training positions.

Meanwhile, the federal government has faced harsh criticism for allegedly paying $500,000 to a former staffer of Liberal MP Alan Tudge.

Rachelle Miller, a former media adviser, alleged in December 2021 that she suffered abuse at the hand of her boss during their affair, which Tudge has strenuously denied.

He later stepped down from the cabinet on March 4, although there was no adverse finding against him.

Morrison said that he did not know if the government paid the amount or not.

I know its taxpayers money, and those matters are handled by the Department of Finance and at arms length from politicians, he told Adelaide radio 5AA on Tuesday.

I have no visibility on that at all. I cant confirm to you if a payment has even been made.

Morrison then referred to a report which concluded there was insufficient evidence that Tudge breached the ministerial code and said that he would welcome back the former minister in his cabinet.
Mourners bear flags and standards while attending a memorial service for late Polish President Lech Kazcynski, his wife Maria and the 94 other people killed in a Polish presidential plane crash in Smolensk, Russia, at a memorial service at Pilsudski Square in Warsaw, Poland, on April 17, 2010. (Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

Russia Behind 2010 Plane Crash That Killed 96, Including President, Warsaw Panel Claims

Russia was allegedly responsible for a plane crash that happened more than a decade ago, killing 96 passengers including then-Polish President Lech Kaczynski and his wife, a Warsaw government special commission again claimed on Monday.

The latest of the commissions report released on April 11 alleges that the crash of the Soviet-made Tu-154M plane, which happened on April 10, 2010, was caused by an intentional detonation of planted explosives and was the result of an assassination plot.

The main and indisputable proof of the interference was an explosion in the left-wing  followed by an explosion in the planes center, said Antoni Macierewicz, the head of the commission who also served as Polands defense minister from 2015 to 2018.

The airplane was traveling from Warsaw, Poland, when it crashed near the Russian city of Smolensk. There were no survivors.

All passengers on board the plane were headed to Russia for an event commemorating the 70th anniversary of the Katyn Massacre, during which thousands of Polish Army officer POWs were killed by Soviet forces.

Macierewicz has denied that any mistakes were made by Polish pilots or crew members, despite there being bad weather at the time of the crash.

The deaths of those on board the plane were the result of an act of unlawful interference by the Russian side, Macierewicz said during a news conference.

Antoni Macierewicz shows a report alleging the 2010 plane crash in Russia that killed then-Polish President Lech Kaczynski and 95 others, was an assassination, in Warsaw, Poland, on March 30, 2016. (Czarek Sokolowski/AP Photo)

The findings of the latest report repeat many previous allegations made by the commission, appointed by the government whose key figure is the main ruling Law and Justice party leader, Jaroslaw Kaczynski, the twin of the late president.

Suspicions are additionally fueled by Moscows refusal to return the planes wreckage, which has complicated Polands investigation.

Earlier, two separate reports by Polish and Russian experts on aviation incidents said the crash on approach in dense fog to the Smolensk airport, which did not have sophisticated aviation equipment, was the result of human errors made in adverse weather conditions.

A Russian investigation in 2011 blamed the Smolensk air crash on pilot error. Investigators said at the time Polish crew members failed to heed bad weather warnings because they were afraid of displeasing Kaczynski.

The aircraft commander, co-pilot, and navigator had been trained hastily, haphazardly and in violation of the respective training regulations, the report said.

The Russian-led investigation concluded that the Polish crew should have decided to divert to another airport in light of repeated and timely warnings about bad weather in Smolensk.

Besides Kaczynski and his wife, many distinguished Polish representatives were on board the Tu-154M, including former Polish president in exile Ryszard Kaczorowski, the president of the Polish National Bank, Polish Parliament members, military commanding officers, World War II veterans, and other members of Polands elite.

The latest allegations also come amid heightened tensions between Warsaw and Moscow, following Russias attack on Ukraine in what Moscow calls a special military operation in the country.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

From NTD News
From left to right, Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.), Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, and Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) at a rally in Detroit, Mich., on March 9, 2020. (Scott Olson/Getty Images)

Save Democracy, Abortion Rights Are Midterm Election Goals for Michigan Democrats

Two main goals emerged from the Democratic Party of Michigans spring 2022 State Endorsement Convention held in Detroit last weekendsaving democracy and making abortion a state constitutional right.

The April 9 proceedings featured speeches by Michigans three highest state-level elected officials, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Attorney General Dana Nessel, and Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, all Democrats.

The three incumbents were all elected for the first time in November 2018.

Because of concerns over COVID-19, many of the delegates participated remotely from home. All voting was done at the convention by cellphone app.

Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson speaks in Detroit, Mich., on Aug. 18, 2020. (Rebecca Cook/Reuters)

In Bensons acceptance speech, she told delegates that she viewed her first election as the dawn of a new day for democracy.

She said she stands steadfastly against those forces seeking to replace people of integrity with people willing to interfere with [election] results.

Benson took credit for implementing or expanding automatic voter registration, election day registration, sending absentee ballot applications in the 2020 election to every voter on the rolls at taxpayer expense, and partnering with dozens of non-partisan organizations to ensure voters had all the information they needed and a convenient opportunity to vote.

Benson said her work is particularly important in light of the effort of former president Donald Trump to confuse and obfuscate the voting process.

She said Michiganders are facing a coordinated strategy to deceive and discourage voters from participating in the future.

She vowed to oppose those who want to diminish and block the voice of the people from being heard.

Democracy is on the ballot this fall, she said.

She urged Democrats to work together to stop the efforts to dismantle our democracy by conspiracy theorists and election deniers.

Benson called the November 2020 election the safest, most secure, highest turnout, election in Michigan history  We need to celebrate our success and repeat it again in 2022, she said.

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel speaks during a news conference in Lansing, Mich., on March 5, 2020. (David Eggert/AP Photo)

When I was elected in 2018, I didnt expect a global pandemic. I didnt expect the continued polarization and radicalization of our society and the rise of domestic terrorism, said Nessel as she accepted her partys endorsement for the office of attorney general.

Nessel said she never expected to be so close to having the results of a legitimate election overturned.

And she talked about the near mutiny in our national and state capitals.

We saved democracy, she said.

We sued Donald Trump a whole lot. Dozens of cases. We saved the Affordable Care Act.

Nessel said she was also proud of suing then U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos over the allocation of COVID-19 funding between private and public schools and suing to shut down a major petroleum pipeline traversing the state.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer speaks during a drive-in campaign rally with Democratic presidential-elect Joe Biden and former president Barack Obama at Belle Isle in Detroit, Mich., on Oct. 31, 2020. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

Though Whitmer will not be formally nominated until the August 2 primary and is unopposed for the nomination, she told the convention, It feels like there is so much divisiveness and hate in the world.

Whitmer said, Tough times call for tough people.

She called herself the last line of defense against those who are restricting the right to choose and weakening our democracy.

Having vetoed a dozen election security bills passed by the GOP-controlled state legislature, Whitmer pledged to continue to use her veto pen.

Making abortion a constitutional right in Michigan, regardless of what the U.S Supreme Court may decide about Roe v. Wade, is one of Whitmers top priorities.

I proactively sought to defend the right to an abortion in Michigan by filing suit to protect it, Whitmer said.

In hopes of pulling everyone over the finish line, Whitmer said the Michigan Democratic Party was building the biggest coordinated campaign for a midterm election in history.

The Michigan Republican Party will hold its Spring Endorsement Convention on April 23 in Grand Rapids.
Sen. Richard Shelby (R-Ala.) walks through the basement of the U.S. Capitol Building on Aug. 10, 2021. (Samuel Corum/Getty Images)

Senate Appropriations GOPers Lead Congressional Return to Pork Barrel Earmarks

Nine of the 16 Senate Republicans who received earmarks in 2022 are members of the upper chambers Appropriations Committee and, despite being in the minority, received twice as much pork as their Democratic colleagues on the panel.

The nine Republicans on the committee gained fewer total earmarks, trailing their 13 Democratic counterparts 743 to 498, but the total value of the Republican earmarks was almost twice as much, at $2.2 billion versus $1.3 billion.

The Epoch Times analysis is derived from a database prepared by the Bipartisan Policy Center, based on official congressional information. The Epoch Times only counted earmarks on which an individual senator or representative was listed as the First Requestor.

Measured by the number of earmarks each individual senator on the committee received, Democrats, on average, got 57, compared with 55 for the Republicans. Two Democrats on the committeeSens. Jon Tester (D-Mont.) and Chris Murphy (D-Conn.)didnt seek earmarks.

Six members on the Republican side chose to not request earmarks. They were Sens. Mike Braun (R-Ind.), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), John Kennedy (R-La.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.).

There was no limit to the number of earmarks an individual senator could request. On the House side, however, representatives were limited to no more than 10 earmarks for 2022.

Sen. Richard Shelby (R-Ala.), the ranking Republican whos retiring, led all rivals in both parties on the appropriations committee, nailing down 14 earmarks worth a total of $545 million, an average of $39 million each.

Shelbys haul included $132 million for the Alabama Port Authority, $100 million for the Mobile Downtown Airport, $76 million for the University of Alabama at Birminghams Heersink School of Medicine, $62 million for Mobile harbor facilities, and $60 million for the University of Alabamas College of Medicine.

Shelby was so successful in securing earmarks that Alabama projects were seven of the 10 most expensive in the $1.5 trillion omnibus spending measure adopted in March to keep the federal government open through September.

Shelbys congressional career began in 1978 with his election as a Democrat to the House of Representatives, where he served four terms. He was elected to the Senate, again as a Democrat, in 1986. He switched to the Republican Party in 1994, the year the Republicans won majorities in both the Senate and House for the first time in 40 years.

In second place was Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), with 28 earmarks totaling $334 million and an average of $12 million each. Third on the earmark parade was Sen. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) who, like Shelby, is retiring at the end of this year. Blunts 41 earmarks were worth a total of $265 million, an average of $6.1 million each.

Sen. Shelley Moore-Capito (R-W.Va.) was next up, garnering 117 earmarks worth in total $251 million, an average of $2.5 million each. Then came another Republican, Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) with 63 earmarks with a total value of $225 million, an average of $3.6 million each.

The leading Democrat on the earmarks list of First Requestors was Sen. Diane Feinstein (D-Calif.). Feinstein received 52 earmarks, collectively worth $210 million. The average cost for each Feinstein earmark was $4 million.

Appropriations Committee Chairman Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) had the second-biggest pile among committee Democrats of federal tax dollars being earmarked for projects back home. Leahy got 82 earmarks worth a total of $167 million, with an average value of $2 million per earmark.

Like Shelby, Leahy is serving his last year in the Senate, but the Vermont Democrat is the longest-serving member of the present upper chamber and the fourth-longest in U.S. history. He was first elected to the Senate in 1974, when President Gerald Ford was in the White House.

Third among the Appropriations Committee Democrats was Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) with 125 earmarks worth collectively $158 million, or $1.3 million each on average. Right behind Merkley was Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) with 72 earmarks worth a total of $152 million, an average of $2.1 million each.

The seven Republican senators not on the appropriations committee who requested earmarks included Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), whos retiring; Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.); Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.), whos retiring; Sen. Todd Young (R-Ind.), Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.), and Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.).
Coroner: Victim in Shooting at South Carolina Plant Dies

ANDERSON, S.C.One of the two workers shot last week by a former employee at a South Carolina industrial plant has died, authorities said.

Anderson County Coroner Greg Shore said 24-year-old Iain Samuel Pearce of Belton, South Carolina died on April 10 after he and another employee at the Fraenkische plant in Anderson County were shot on April 5. Pearce was shot in the head, according to Shore. The other employee was wounded.

Sheriff Chad McBride previously said about 30 employees were in the plant the time of the shooting. The workers fled to a nearby business, McBride said.

Bruce D. Vandermosten Jr., 51, died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. He was a former employee at the plant, Shore said.

Investigators still have not said why Vandermosten came to his former business. McBride said he did not appear to intentionally pick out either victim.

Fraenkische is a German company that makes pipes and has about two dozen locations around the world.
Commuters wear protective facemasks as they arrive at Paddington station in London on Nov. 30, 2021. (Leon Neal/Getty Images)

Shrinking UK Labour Market Sees Half a Million More Inactive Workers Since Pandemic

The UK labour market has shed hundreds of thousands of people since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, with a growing number of older workers choosing to give up their career, new figures show.

A total of 32.5 million people were in employment in the three months to February this year, down from 33.1 million in the same period two years earlier.

The change has been driven by an increasing number of people becoming economically inactive  meaning they are of working age but are not currently seeking employment.

This can be because they have taken early retirement, are looking after a family or home, or are long-term sick.

(PA Graphics)

The number of economically inactive working-age people in the UK stood at 8.9 million in the three months to February, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

This is up 76,000 on the previous quarter and a jump of nearly half a million on the three months to February 2020.

(PA Graphics)

Analysis by the PA news agency shows the rate of economic inactivity among older workers has climbed to its highest level for six years.

A total of 27.2 percent of people aged 50 to 64 were classed as economically inactive in the latest quarter, compared with 25.2 percent at the start of the pandemic.

The last time the rate stood any higher was in the three months to February 2016.

There are now 302,000 more economically inactive 50 to 64-year-olds than before the pandemic, suggesting an increasing number of older workers are choosing to retire early.

This represents a sharp reversal of the long-term trend before Covid-19, which had seen a growing proportion of people in this age group choosing to remain in employment or actively look for work.

Nearly three-quarters (74.8 percent) of 50 to 64-year-olds were classed as economically active before the start of the pandemic, up from two-thirds in 2005 and a record high.

The figure now stands at 72.8 percent.

The change has also had an impact on the balance of age groups within the labour market.

Before Covid-19, 50 to 64-year-olds accounted for a steadily growing proportion of all people in employment in the UK, rising from 19 percent in 1992when current records beganto reach 25 percent by 2008 and 29 percent by 2020.

But this trend has come to a halt in the last two years and the figure currently stands at 28 percent.

There are early signs that the level of economic inactivity might be starting to rise among 35 to 49-year-olds.

The rate had dropped to a record low of 11.7 percent in the quarter to August 2021, but has since climbed to 12.4 percent.

Darren Morgan, ONS director of economic statistics, said: While unemployment has fallen again, we are still seeing rising numbers of people disengaging from the labour market, and as they arent working or looking for work, are not counted as unemployed.

The total number of unemployed in the UK stood at 1.3 million in the three months to February this year, down from 1.4 million in the previous quarter.

Unemployment reached 1.7 million towards the end of 2020, having stood at 1.4 million before the pandemic began.
The logo of Societe Generale Private Banking in an office building in Zurich, on Oct. 13, 2016. (Arnd Wiegmann/Reuters)

SocGen Severs Russia Ties With Sale of Rosbank to Oligarch Potanin

PARISFrench bank Societe Generale said on Monday it would quit Russia and take a 3 billion euros ($3.3 billion) income hit from selling its Rosbank unit to Interros Capital, a firm linked to Russian oligarch Vladimir Potanin.

Rosbank will rejoin the business empire of Potanin, the 61-year-old head of mining giant Norilsk Nickel, who has been sanctioned by Canada under western moves against Russias business and political elite over its invasion of Ukraine.

He has not been sanctioned by the European Union or the United States.

While financial terms of the deal were not announced, SocGen said Interros had agreed to pay off Rosbanks subordinated debt. It said the hit to its capital buffers was just 20 basis points and it was sticking to its share buyback and dividend plans.

SocGen had previously flagged the risk of a write-off on its 99 percent stake in Rosbank and investors welcomed the removal of uncertainty. Analysts said Interros likely paid little or nothing for the business.

Russia contributes only 2 percent of earnings, yet Socgens share price rallied by 7 percent today even though it essentially gives the business away for free, said Johann Scholtz, an analyst at Morningstar.

It shows what discount the market was pricing in for potential Russian risks.

But the sale to Potanin was not universally applauded.

Its a bit distressing that ultimately this is an enormous gift to one of the wealthiest oligarchs, said Jerome Legras, head of research at Axiom Alternative Investments.

Frances finance ministry declined to comment when asked whether the government had a role in negotiations. It declined to comment on Potanins status as a sanctioned individual.

Russias invasion of Ukraine, which Moscow describes as a special operation, has prompted a wave of foreign companies to shutter their Russian businesses. Orchestrating a complete break is, however, more difficult due to sanctions and political sensitivities.

Legras at Axiom Alternative Investments said SocGens Russian exit put pressure on others to act.

The French bank is the first among major banks to exit, with European rivals including Italys UniCredit and Austrias Raffeisen still considering their futures in Russia.Interros Capital

Asked whether SocGens deal meant other companies could sell their assets to Russian buyers, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Monday: This depends on the decision of an owner of a specific company which is leaving Russia.

Orderly Exit

SocGen said the deal would allow it to exit Russia in an an effective and orderly manner and ensure continuity for Rosbanks employees and clients.

Potanins holding company had owned Rosbank from 1998, before SocGen bought a stake in 2006 and merged it with its other Russian operations in 2010. SocGen paid $317 million for its initial 10 percent stake in Rosbank.

Potanin, Russias second-richest man with $27 billion worth of assets according to Forbes magazine estimates, worked in the Soviet Unions foreign trade ministry and later as a banker before establishing Interros in 1990, an umbrella for his assets which range from metals production to a ski resort.

During the 1990s, Potanin served as Russias first deputy Prime Minister, masterminding the first wave of privatizations of former state-owned and himself buying several large businesses, including a stake in mining giant Nornickel.

Following Moscows invasion of Ukraine, which began on Feb. 24, Potanin said that confiscating assets from companies that had left Russia would shatter investor confidence for decades.

The most important goal of Interros is to maintain the stability of Rosbank and create new opportunities for its clients and partners, Potanin said in a statement.

Interros said that the Rosbank deal should be closed in the next few weeks after all necessary regulatory approvals.

French financial watchdog AMF declined to comment.

($1 = 0.9152 euros)

By Tassilo Hummel
A visitor looks at a 300mm wafer at the booth of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (TSMC) during the 2021 World Semiconductor Conference in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China, on June 9, 2021. (Long Wei/VCG via Getty Images)

Taiwan Gets Tougher Against Chinas Talent SpiesUS Should Follow Suit

News Analysis

Taiwan is breaking the mold again by taking on Chinas talent spies. These spies steal sensitive technologies by lurking around foreign companies and universities to hire their employees, suck them dry, and dump them.

Chinas state-sanctioned poachers and thieves are trying to get Taiwans crown jewelsits technology, especially computer chip technologyand will get thrown in prison and pay hefty fines of hundreds of thousands of dollars in the process.

The United States is also the victim of talent espionage, contributing to the loss of up to $600 billion annually of intellectual property theft by China for years. U.S. attempts to stop the theft have been unsuccessful so far. Thus, Taiwans tougher laws should be an example to us.

A new Reuters report by Yimon Lee and Sarah Wu detail Chinas talent spies and Taiwans strategy against them.

Taiwans spy catchers have launched probes into around 100 Chinese companies suspected of illegally poaching semiconductor engineers and other tech talent, a senior official at the islands Investigation Bureau told Reuters, they wrote.

In addition to the 100 Chinese companies being probed, seven were prosecuted since early 2021, and 27 were raided or their owners summoned for questioning by Taiwans Investigation Bureau.

These are the tip of the iceberg, according to the official who spoke to Reuters.

Last month the bureau conducted its biggest operation to datea raid of eight companies aimed at countering what it said was the Chinese Communist Partys illegal activities of talent-poaching and secret-stealing, according to Lee and Wu.

In one investigation, authorities believe that a Shanghai company is operating a supposed Taiwanese data analysis firm. The Shanghai firm allegedly uses the front company to send Taiwanese chip blueprints to China, according to two officials who spoke to Reuters.

The bureau surveilled the alleged front company for almost a year, then asked the owner to come in for questioning. He is now released on bail.

Another trick that Chinas front companies use is to incorporate in tax havens like the Cayman Islands, making it difficult to trace the source of their revenues from China.

Defendants from a China state-affiliated company called Tongfu Microelectronics were convicted in January, according to Reuters. The company allegedly had an illegal office with employees receiving wire payments in offshore accounts through a subsidiary based in Hong Kong.

Staff work in TongFu Microelectronics (TFME) in Nantong in east Chinas Jiangsu Province on Nov. 14, 2020. (Feature China/Future Publishing via Getty Images)

Beijing-based Starblaze Technology, an integrated circuit (IC) design house, has been accused of running an R&D centre in the tech hub of Hsinchu without approval, according to Lee and Wu.

It allegedly conducted job interviews via Zoom and used a Hong Kong company to handle payroll and insurance, according to court documents reviewed by Reuters. The company is now standing trial.

Taiwan law bans Chinese investment in chip design and limits investment in chip packaging. Unfortunately, there are loopholes even in Taiwan, which allow Taiwanese engineers to go to China, where they are lured by wages up to three times that to be found in local markets, as well as perks like childcare, massages, and gyms, according to a Reuters source.

One such Chinese company is Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation (SMIC), which is tryingand so far failingto compete against Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (TSMC).

Those willing to be poached risk not finding work again at Taiwanese tech firms as well as public shaming, wrote the authors. Several senior TSMC executives who went to work for SMIC in China have been branded as traitors in Taiwanese press.

As they should, and more.

The Taiwanese government plans to increase penalties against Chinas poaching, including up to three years in prison and a maximum fine of $520,525. Leaking core computer chip technology will soon breach national security law.

The laws need toughening because Taiwans computer chip expertise poses such a tempting target for Chinas talent spies. Approximately 92 percent of the worlds advanced chip manufacturing is in Taiwan.

The Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp. (SMIC) headquarters in Shanghai, China, on March 23, 2021. SMIC will build a government-funded $2.35 billion plant, the first major project to emerge from Chinas master plan to match the U.S. in advanced chipmaking. (Qilai Shen/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

China is also attempting to corner global chip manufacturing through other front companies.

A Dutch subsidiary of Chinas Wingtech recently purchased the British company Newport Wafer Fab, despite a chip shortage that stalled production of vehicles at UK plants.

If China can corner the best chips, it could follow its strategy of dumping cheap but working chips onto the market to drive out other suppliers and then crank up the price to monopoly levels. With even a chip near-monopoly, Beijing could severely punish countries that rely on Chinese chips, including lack of support for Chinas foreign policy and trade goals.

As American manufacturing currently depends on chips from Taiwan, Chinas takeover or destruction of Taiwans chip industry has important economic and strategic ramifications. If China can shut down Americas access to chips, it can shut down important parts of our economy, government revenues, and the production of high-technology military equipment.

In 2014, Reuters revealed that Americas F-35 fighter jet used magnets from China as parts. Military supply chain reliance on China gives Beijing a lever that it can attempt to use to limit or corrupt American defenses. Reliance on Chinese computer chips would be an even worse disaster for American economic, military, and foreign policy strategy.

One way that China attempts to achieve this is through talent spies in the United States. Chinas Thousand Talents Plan is an institutionalized form of talent espionage deployed within the United States and elsewhere to lure scientists into revealing their secrets to counterparts in China. This includes the theft of sensitive technology in exchange for lucrative contracts and high-paid jobs.

The most famous target of Chinas talent espionage was Harvard professor Charles Lieber, who was found guilty of lying to American authorities in December. But he, too, is the tip of the iceberg in America.

Given the hundreds of billions of dollars in intellectual property theft that America suffers annually from China, the United States and its allies should follow Taiwans lead in passing tougher laws against Chinas talent spies.

Beijing is the worlds biggest threat to America and democracy, so we shouldnt empower it by letting Chinas companies hire away American talent and with it American technology. It will eventually be used against America itself.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
A military statue and Taiwanese flag atop an arch built in remembrance of the Battle of Guningtou in 1949 at Taiwan's Kinmen islands on October 20, 2020. Kinmen islands lie just 3.2 kms (two miles) from the mainland China coast in the Taiwan Strait.(Sam Yeh/AFP via Getty Images)

Taiwan Issues First War Survival Handbook Amid the Chinese Regime Threat

Taiwans military issued a war survival handbook on April 12 advising citizens how to respond to and protect themselves from a war situation, as Russias invasion of Ukraine increases worries about a possible Chinese regime incursion into the island.

The handbook outlines how residents can find bomb shelters using a phone app, how to stockpile supplies for wartime, and information on reserve force mobilization.

The pamphlet was to provide the public with emergency response measures in the event of a military crisis or possible disasters, so that they can enable safety preparedness and help themselves survive, said Liu Tai-yi, an official of the ministrys All-out Defence Mobilisation unit.

The 28-page guide issued by Taiwans Ministry of National Defense will be updated with localized information, including shelter sites, hospital locations, and shops for daily needs, Liu told an online news conference.

Plan ahead in all affairs and you shall be successful, said Confucius. The new guide sample from our mobilization agency provides a solid ground for our local governments to instruct citizens on what to do when emergencies including disasters and military assaults come. pic.twitter.com/S1qaO5Hpqj   Ministry of National Defense, R.O.C.  (@MoNDefense) April 12, 2022

Taiwan launched the All-Out Defense Mobilization Agency last December as part of its efforts to boost the reservists capabilities in the event of war.

While the island nation hasnt reported any sign of an imminent invasion, the Chinese regime has escalated military harassment by flying warplanes near the island on a regular basis over the past two years. The latest incursion occurred on April 11, when two Chinese military aircraft entered Taiwans southwest air defense identification zone.

Chinas ruling Communist Party views the self-ruled island as its own territory that it will take by force if necessary.

Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen ordered the military to strengthen its combat readiness aftter Russias troops poured into Ukraine.

Defence Minister Chiu Kuo-cheng said last month that they are considering extending the compulsory military service to a year. Currently, every male citizen over 18 is required to complete a four-month training course.

On April 6, the United States approved a possible $95 million sale of equipment and services to boost the islands air defenses. Washington is the biggest backer of the democratic-governed island, and is bound by the Taiwan Relations Act to provide Taipei with the means to defend itself.

Such arms sales always draw the wrath of the communist regime. In February, Beijing leveled sanctions against two U.S. arms suppliers, Raytheon and Lockheed Martin, for selling arms to the island. The move comes less than two weeks after the U.S. announced a possible $100 million military deal for Taipei.

On April 7, some Japanese and Taiwanese media reported U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi was scheduled to visit Taiwan on April 10. While the trip wasnt confirmed by Pelosis office or Taipei, the Chinese regimes foreign ministrys spokesperson warned it would respond by taking strong measures. The reported visit was canceled after Pelosi tested positive for COVID-19.

Reuters contributed to this report.
Taiwan Premier Wants Tougher Chip Protection Laws

Taiwans premier said tougher microchip protection laws should be passed at the earliest date as China is eyeing the islands talent and technology.

Taiwanese Premier Su Tseng-chang told a Cabinet meeting on April 11 that the threat from the red supply chain, referencing Beijings infiltration of the country, needed an effective deterrent, according to an official statement issued late on Monday.

In February, the cabinet proposed new offenses for economic espionage under the national security law, setting out a punishment of up to 12 years in prison for those who leak core technologies to China. Taiwans parliament has yet to pass the amendment.

Su called on the justice ministry to work with parliament to ensure the revisions to the law can be passed as soon as possible. Such revisions target China-backed spying, as Beijing, which claimed the democratically ruled island as its own, ramps up its economic espionage.

Taiwan is home to some of the worlds largest and most advanced chipmakers such as industry giant Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company. Accounting for 92 percent of the worlds most advanced semiconductor manufacturing capacity, its homemade chips are found worldwide in electronics ranging from fighter jets to mobile phones.

The island also possesses in spades what China needschip expertise.

A chip by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company at the 2020 World Semiconductor Conference in Nanjing, Chinas eastern Jiangsu Province on Aug. 26, 2020. (STR/AFP via Getty Images)

Leaning heavily on imported foreign chips, by contrast, Beijing claimed to achieve self-reliance. Yet the past years have seen it frequently attempt to acquire Taiwans world-leading microchip technology. Some Chinese state-owned firms have offered things like wages that are five-times higher, free annual trips home, and heavily subsidized apartments, to lure away Taiwanese tech talent.

While Chinese firms masquerade as Taiwanese to poach talent, Su noted during the Monday meeting, other domestic departments, including the economy ministry and top China-policy maker Mainland Affairs Council, need to toughen penalties in order to have a deterrent effect.

Taiwanese spy catchers have probed into approximately 100 Chinese companies suspected of illegally poaching semiconductor engineers and other tech talent, Reuters reported on April 8, citing a senior official at the islands Investigation Bureau.

This is on top of seven prosecutions since the start of last year, plus 27 companies that were either raided or whose owners have been summoned for questioning by the bureau, the official said.

Reuters contributed to this report.
Tamara Lich (R), organizer for a protest convoy by truckers and supporters demanding an end to COVID-19 vaccine mandates, smiles during a news conference in Ottawa, on Feb. 3, 2022. (The Canadian Press/Adrian Wyld)

Tamara Lich Hires High-Profile Criminal Lawyer Lawrence Greenspon

Freedom Convoy organizer Tamara Lich has hired prominent criminal lawyer Lawrence Greenspon as her legal representation.

Lich was arrested on Feb. 17 and charged with counselling to commit mischief for her role in the Ottawa protests against federal COVID-19 mandates earlier this year. She was released on bail 18 days later.

In addition to the original charge, Lich and a co-organizer of the Freedom Convoy, Chris Barber, faced new charges on March 24. Both are now charged with mischief, counselling mischief, obstructing police, counselling to obstruct police, counselling intimidation, and intimidation by blockading one or more highways.

The blockades of several Canada-U.S. border crossings were held in solidarity with Freedom Convoy protestors in Ottawa, which arrived in the nations capital on Jan. 29 to demonstrate against mandatory federal vaccination requirements for all cross-border truck drivers.

Joshua Boyles lawyer Lawrence Greenspon leaves the courthouse in Ottawa on June 1, 2018. (The Canadian Press/ Patrick Doyle)

On Feb. 22, Lich was initially denied bail by Ontario Court Justice Julie Bourgeois who said her detention was necessary for the protection and safety of the public. Lichs lawyer at the time, Diane Magas, launched a bail review, arguing that the decision may have been tainted by the fact that Bourgeois ran as a federal Liberal candidate in the 2011 election.

Magas has been representing both Barber and Lich but is now just representing Barber.

On March 7, Lich was released on bail with a $25,000 bond following a decision from Ontario Superior Court Justice Hon. John M. Johnston. She must also follow other bail conditions, including avoiding all contact with fellow convoy organizers and refraining from using social media or having someone do so on her behalf.

Greenspon is expected to challenge Lichs bail conditions, particularly the social media ban. A court date to begin that process has not yet been scheduled.

The Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedom (JCCF), which represents several convoy leaders, has criticized Lichs bail terms, saying that they violate Charter-protected rights and freedoms.

While the bail conditions align with Ms. Lichs Charter right to be presumed innocent, they also violated Tamara Lichs Charter freedoms of expression, association, and peaceful assembly, JCCF said in a news release on March 24.

Greenspon is well-known for representing several high-profile figures, including former senator Mike Duffy and Mohammad Momin Khawaja, the first Canadian charged and found guilty under Canadas Anti-terrorism Act.
Texas Border Security Costs Running in the Billons as Trump Set to Visit State

Donald Trump is planning a trip to the Lone Star State when the former president will bring his American Freedom Tour to Austin on May 14, after a stop in Dallas for a fundraiser for Republican congressional candidates on May 9.

His visit coincides with the runoff election on May 24 for the next Republican candidate for state attorney general, which is between incumbent Ken Paxton and Texas Land Commissioner George P. Bush.

Trump, one of the most influential voices in the Republican party, has endorsed Paxton on earlier occasions.

Bush, meanwhile, was recently lauded by Jack Grahamone of the most popular pastors in Texas and the nation. Grahams 49,000-member church and 800-city radio program are helping set up a contest between the two Republicans.

Both Bush and Paxton are running on greater security issues at the southern border, but the question is, can Texas taxpayers do any more than they already have?

Southern Border Wall

Trumps visit, and Grahams commendation of Bushs character, come at a time when Texas Governor Greg Abbott faces spending more to try to plug the flow of illegal immigrants over the southern U.S. border.

Abbott has pledged to continue a Trump-era policy and resume the costly construction of a border wall. He also ordered state police to arrest and jail illegal migrants on trespassing charges.

The governor has also mobilized 10,000 National Guard members to support that effort.

Border Patrol agents apprehend illegal immigrants after they cross the Rio Grande from Mexico into the United States, in La Joya, Texas, on Jan. 14, 2022. (Charlotte Cuthbertson/The Epoch Times)

In the 2020-21 budget the state legislature set aside $800 million for border security, that amount increased to $2.9 billion for the 2022-23 budget.

Abbott laid the blame for the dramatic increase at the feet of the federal government.

Because [President] Joe Biden is not securing the border, the state of Texas is having to step up and spend Texas taxpayer money doing the federal governments job, he said on April 6.

Sarah Hicks, Abbotts director of policy and budget, said during a series of hearings at the Texas Senate Committee on Border Security last week, There is the realityor the very strong possibilitythat next spring Congress looks a little bit different and may finally have something to say about what all the current policies are.

In the meantime, we are here, and it is expensive.

State Senator Brian Birdwell, a Republican and committee chairman, said during the hearings, We basically have got the city of Waco coming in every month into the state.

Waco is the 24th largest city in Texas with an estimated population of 142,000 people.

According to figures from the governors office and the state Legislative Budget Board, $1 billion was appropriated by the Texas Legislature for the completion of a border fence in the 2022-23 budget.

Nearly $1 billion more goes for Department of Public Safety (Texas Rangers) equipment such as boats, additional troops, and overtime. Among other tasks, the Rangers oversee the departments border security, which includes reconnaissance teams, joint operations intelligence centers, and a border security operations center.

A group of illegal aliens is apprehended by law enforcement on a ranch in Kinney County, Texas, on Jan. 16, 2022. (Courtesy of Kinney County Sheriffs Office)

The legislature also earmarked $100 million for grants to local law enforcement agencies for border security.

Another $170 million is designated for two detention centers for migrants charged with state offenses.

The costs for Operation Lone Star, the deployment of Texas National Guard troops along the border for the next fiscal year, could be as high as $5.3 billion, according to the Texas Military Department.

Influencers in Action

Trump has endorsed Paxton in the past and unless there is a surprise, some of the funds raised on May 9 will be going to the Paxton campaign.

Endorsed candidates hope that Trumps high-profile rallies and enthusiastic supporters are the push they need to win elections.

Bush, meanwhile, has promised to ensure our border patrol is fully funded and stop drug cartels and illegal immigrants from coming into our state, according to his campaign website.

But the current Texas administration is already spending more money and looking for more ways to stem the tide of illegal immigration, which shows no sign of slowing.

In the plus column for Bush, the son of former Florida governor Jeb Bush, was the commendation from Graham at a Dallas-area fundraiser on March 31.

Graham served as the honorary chairman of the 2015 National Day of Prayer and was a member of Trumps Religious Advisory Council.

He took part in the National Prayer Service at the Washington National Cathedral the day after Trumps inauguration.

Graham tweeted on March 31, Enjoyed a great evening with my good friends. George is a man of character and genuine faith who loves Texas. Really good man.

The tweet was accompanied by a photo of him with Bush.

Grahams church, Prestonwood Baptist has three campuses in Plano, Lewisville, and North Texas. His PowerPoint daily radio broadcasts are heard in more than 800 cities, according to the PowerPoint website, and on television in 133 countries.

The standing policy at Prestonwood is not to endorse political candidates.
A man stands behind a barrier during the lockdown in Jing'an district in Shanghai on March 31, 2022. (Hector Retamal/AFP via Getty Images)

The CCP Escalates Crackdown on Public Opinion Amid Growing Anti-Lockdown Criticism

Shanghais internet watchdog tells social media users to obey its laws and regulations online or face consequences

Amid growing cries from residents about hardships in Shanghai, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) strengthened its control of public opinion in China, seeking to further crackdown on those who voice concerns about the draconian lockdown policies.

On April 8, the Shanghai office of the Cyberspace Administration of China said it would crack down on rumors posted on social media as speculation and anger mount among residents living in the locked-down city of 25 million, according to the South Morning China Post (SMCP).

Some people are making up, publishing, and spreading rumors related to our measures to contain the outbreak , especially through WeChat group chats, the Shanghai internet watchdog said on Friday.

We would like to remind every group chat organizer and member to obey the law and regulations online.

Anti-CCP Article That Went Viral

A few days ago, an anonymous and untitled web post went viral on Chinese social platforms but was quickly removed. However, it later went viral on various Chinese forums outside China.

The article said that the CCP virus pandemic is obedience training launched by Beijing for its 1.4 billion population.

If you still retain some kindness, decency, and compassion in your heart and are capable of a little bit of independent thinking, then the purpose of this training is to wipe your mind clean. [This training aims to] get rid of your human nature and zero your IQ. If two years is not enough, then we will take another ten. In short, you will become obedient and more obedient, the article said.

As a result of this training, you will learn to unconditionally accept [anything the regime asks of you]. Even those closest to you can be sacrificed [in achieving the greater good].

Cracking Down on Rumors and Those Who Speak Out

The Chinese regime has continued to control the flow of information regarding the pandemic, and censor criticism of the governments COVID responses.

The extended lockdown in Shanghai has led to growing cries from residents voicing hardships ranging from the denial of medical care to being separated from their children sent to quarantine.

A growing number of Chinese internet users, who usually refrain from discussing government policies in public, have taken to social media to push back against Shanghais blanket lockdown. Some were fired from their jobs for speaking out, and some were accused of spreading misinformation and are being investigated by the authorities.

On March 30, a state media broadcaster in Liaoning province, Zhu Xia, was fired after she urged viewers, during a live stream, to protect themselves amid the new COVID surge for reasons that cant be said.

Liaoning Radio and Television, which Zhu worked for, said she violated the publicity management regulations and failed to go through the declaration procedure approved by the channel director.

The network then emphasized that it is a provincial state-owned media representing the local government, and requires all its announcers and hosts to take Zhus dismissal as a warning. It asked its employees to introspect and be cautious of their words and deeds.

On April 7, rumors spread on messaging groups on WeChat, the largest Chinese messaging and social media app developed by Tencent, alleging that armed police would take over the city and that group buyingwhich many rely on to purchase daily essentialswould be suspended, according to SMCP.

The following day, Shanghai police denied the claims, accusing a 35-year-old man surnamed Zhou of fabricating fake information. Zhou is now the target of an investigation by the local authorities.

In response to Shanghais dynamic clearance policy, Feng Chongyi, a professor at the University of Technology Sydney and a China expert, told The Epoch Times that Shanghai is Chinas most technologically advanced province with better access to the internet and information abroad; and that its people are usually better-informed compared to other regions in China.

[Many of the Shanghai residents] know how Europe, the United States, and Australia are fighting the pandemic. If Shanghai could choose on its own, it would most definitely not choose the draconian lockdown measures.
Residential buildings have been locked down in Pudong district, Shanghai, China, on March 22, 2022. Shanghai is seeing a resurgence of covid-19 Omicron. (Robert Way/Shutterstock)

The China Model Unravels in Shanghai

Commentary

At the end of the Cold War, the end-of-history theory was that every country in the world that desired prosperity and progress would necessarily have to embrace both economic liberty and political democracy. You cannot have one without the other, the theory went. It was inevitable.

The world waited for China to go the direction of Eastern Europe and so many other countries.

It didnt happen. Despite liberalizing economic reforms, the CCP maintained hard-core political control for the decades following. Yet its economy grew and grew. This gave rise to a new theory: perhaps the most successful countries will foster economic liberalism while securing tight political control, thus dispensing with the inefficiencies of democracy.

China seemed to have it all going.

Now we have evidence of whats wrong with a one-party state with a powerful chief executive. It works until it doesnt. What stopped working in China could not have been expected years ago. The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) believed it had solved the problem of pathogens via massive violations of human liberty.

Today, the people of Shanghai are suffering weeks of lockdowns, food shortages, and extreme quarantine of healthy people, all in the interest of eradicating a virus that the rest of the world has finally realized must become endemic. Even Fauci is admitting this now (following two years of urging more restrictions).

But in China? Children are being taken from parents, the pets of people with a positive test are being shot, people are screaming from skyscrapers, and food is rotting in warehouses even as people report to be starving. There are videos online of stores being ransacked. There is talk of revolution in the air.

Never forget: China was the birthplace of lockdowns. The head of the World Health Organization praised the early 2020 lockdowns in Wuhan. In one letter dated January 2020, the WHO congratulated China and urged the country to enhance public health measures for containment of the current outbreak. Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus further underscored the point with a tweet, writing, In many ways, China is actually setting a new standard for outbreak response.



Neil Ferguson from the Imperial College did too. Its a communist one-party state, we said. We couldnt get away with it in Europe, we thought  and then Italy did it. And we realised we could. And so China became a model for the world: Wuhan, Northern Italy, the United States, the UK, and then all but a handful of the countries in the world followed the lockdown paradigm.

To this day, Xi Jinping surely basks in the warmth of this glowing praise. It put Chinas policy prowess on display for the world. As I write, Yahoo reports concerning Shanghai:

Chinas President Xi Jinping praised the countrys tested zero-Covid strategy on Friday, even as Shanghai authorities prepared nearly 130,000 beds for Covid-19 patients amid surging cases and mounting public anger.

We can only intuit what is happening here. For Xi, lockdowns were his greatest triumph. They seemed to work two years ago. He earned plaudits the world over, and the world followed his model. Perhaps this filled him and the CCP with a sense of incredible pride and confidence. They had done it correctly, and the rest of the world copied the idea without having practiced the article of lockdown as perfectly as China.

Eventually governments can convince themselves of their own propaganda. That appears to be what happened here. That illusion prevented Xi and the Party from observing what should have been obvious to anyone with a modicum of knowledge about viruses such as this one: In a functioning society and market, it will spread no matter what. As Vinay Prasad has constantly reminded us, everyone will get COVID. And through that path, we finally move beyond the pandemic.

What has happened now in China is as predictable as the failure of zero-COVID in Australia and New Zealand.

This means that cases are nowhere near stopping in China. They will spread to every city, every town, every countryside until vast numbers of the 1.4 billion are exposed. This could mean rolling lockdowns for years to come, along with all the damage and political instability that will necessarily entail. This will surely have a profound impact on economic growth and possibly the credibility of the CCP itself.

The CCP has made a profound error. Most places in the world did. The United States was not Shanghai-level terrible, but this is a matter of degree, because the theory was tried out here too. In political democracies, politicians and bureaucrats have mostly tried to soft-land their gross errors while manufacturing excuses for reopening without apology. Many want everyone just to forget this whole disaster.

Will that happen in China? The trouble is the incredible centrality of lockdowns to Chinas perceived achievements over the past two years. So long as there are powerful people in Beijing who genuinely believe that lockdown is the path forwardand no opposition party in place to take a different point of viewthis will likely continue, raising fascinating questions about the political and economic future of this country.

The magic combination of political and economic freedom turned out not to be the end of history. But China-style dictatorship is not the end either, simply because it contains no operational mechanism for the correcting of egregious errors. What saved the United States from lockdown terror was political pluralism and federalism; China has institutionalized neither. Thus does intellectual error lead to egregiously immoral outcomes.

Lockdowns are nowhere a solution to pathogenic spread, contrary to the assurances of the WHO or celebrity scientists in the UK or the United States. When governments of the world tried to prove their competence by declaring war on cell biology, they finally met their match. No matter how powerful a state, there are forces of nature that will always outsmart it.

Tucker Carlson on the COVID lockdown in Shanghai: "Has there ever been a clearer picture of what hell is like?" pic.twitter.com/6I1RPtjPIV  The Post Millennial (@TPostMillennial) April 12, 2022

From the Brownstone Institute

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Members of small business owners take part in a Save Small Business protest in Los Angeles, Calif., on Dec. 12, 2020. (Ringo Chiu/AFP via Getty Images)

To Compete With China, the US Needs More Entrepreneurs

Commentary

Entrepreneurs grease the wheels of economic growth. They create new products and services. They create new jobs. Entrepreneurs are the lifeblood of economies. Of course, one cannot discuss economies without discussing the United States and China.

Obviously, the United States offers a more favorable environment to its entrepreneurs than China, a country known for surveillance and censorship. Or so we are led to believe.

Edward Tse, the founder and CEO of Gao Feng Advisory Company, a global strategy and management consulting firm, told me that China offers a fertile ground for all of its entrepreneurs to flourish. The United States, on the other hand, only serves the interests of a select few. I asked Tse to expand on this point in greater detail.

Entrepreneurship, he said, thrives in China, but the lanes of where it manifests have evolved. He continued, Chinas entrepreneurship emerged some 40 years ago when Deng Xiaoping initiated Chinas reform and opening up. Initially, according to Tse, entrepreneurship was rudimentary.

However, it quickly evolved in its style and areas of focus. The major breakthrough came around the end of the 2000s as the Chinese entrepreneurs took up the wireless internet as a tool to create innovations.

Over the past decade, an incredible number of entrepreneurial companies emerged and many were very successful, he added. Tse expects Chinas entrepreneurs to continue to manifest going forward.

I asked Tse for his thoughts on the state of entrepreneurship in the United States.

With respect to the U.S., he answered, my sense is that it is quite active on the west coast and pockets of the east coast but not much in the rest of the country.

Entrepreneurship, he said, requires a supportive environment in which opportunities present themselves. That environment is an ecosystem with the needed participants. In most parts of the U.S., those conditions dont exist anymore.

Tses point is a valid one. According to research carried out by Christopher Wink and his colleagues, rates of entrepreneurship in the United States have been declining for decades. In 1980, 15 percent of all U.S. firms had been created the year before. In 2011, that share had been halved. In the decade since, things have gotten considerably worse.

Meanwhile, the entrepreneurial sector has grown exponentially in China over the last half-century. A decade ago, there were 10 million registered private businesses in China. By 2018, there were 15.61 million. Today, the country has more than 20 million registered private businesses.

Tse paints a rather rosy picture for entrepreneurs in China. Last year was an incredibly rough one, especially for small business owners. This year could be even worse. In fact, in major cities like Beijing, Guangzhou, and Shanghai, its shaping up to be a total disaster. The CCPs zero-COVID obsession could be the countrys undoing.

Regarding entrepreneurship in the United States, I asked Tse if the likes of Amazon, a company known for crushing small businesses, has played a prominent role in killing the American Dream for so many.

In some respects, Amazon would stifle entrepreneurship. In some other respects, it wouldnt, he replied. In its core area of e-commerce, Amazon stifles entrepreneurship, as it essentially killed everyone that it came across.

However, he added, if you are a merchant that operates on Amazons platform, you still have the opportunity to build a business of your own. Of course, your fate will ride on Amazons ecosystem.

Workers prepare orders for customers at the Amazon Fulfillment Center in Tracy, Calif., on Nov. 29, 2015. (Fred Greaves/Reuters)

Tse believes that blaming companies like Amazon for the death of American entrepreneurship distracts us from the bigger picture. Remember, entrepreneurship was in decline long before Jeff Bezos burst onto the scene.

I reached out to Richard Cooper, an entrepreneur and bestselling author, for his thoughts on the state of U.S.-based entrepreneurship.

America is still one of the top 5 best environments for entrepreneurship in the world for networks, support, systems, and innovation, he told me. The barrier to beginning is very low; anyone can do it. All you need is a bit of drive, some savings, a computer, internet, and a good idea.

Moreover, he stressed, the USD is the dominant currency to bill in, and taxation is very low if you have a good structure and an accountant supporting you.

However, even Cooper, an inherently optimistic man, conceded that numerous disadvantages exist. In the United States, he said, there is a total lack of education on what makes a good business, versus a bad business model, with too many people building businesses they hate, that arent very profitable.

Unsurprisingly, the United States presents entrepreneurs with a highly litigious environment. In America, according to Cooper, people sue for fun.

Hes right. More than 40 million lawsuits were filed last year. That works out at about 110,000 cases per day. Cooper believes employees are generally too expensive, inefficient, and entitled today. The laws are entirely on the employees side and hostile to employers. Employees are generally a liability.

Sadly, according to Cooper, wokeness, cancel culture and virtue signaling is now engrained in corporate America. If you are an 8 or 9 figure business, you will be pressured to comply with their agendas.

Entrepreneurs, once lauded by the American people, now find themselves vilified. They find their businesses targeted, especially during riots, he opined. Again, Cooper is right.

For many Americans, looting has become a recreational activity. Some authors argue, rather unconvincingly, that looting is a form of reparations for slavery. When shelves are emptied, and windows are broken, small business owners are left to clean up the mess.

When one talks about making America great again, resurrecting the entrepreneurial spirit must not be omitted from the conversation. However, talking about resurrecting the spirit and actually resurrecting the spirit are two very different things.

To compete with China, the United States must find a way to assist entrepreneurs across the entire country, not just in the pockets populated by the elites.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
The New York Police Department has gone to the dogs.

Perhaps better put, the dogs have gone to the NYPD. For the past two and a half years, the department has employed three handlers, each with a highly trained dog, to attend to officers, their families, victims of crimesanyone who needs the comfort of a dog in a time of distress.

Cops in urban areas see society at its worst, often daily. Repeatedly viewing crime scenes and interacting with the bottom rung of the populace can take a toll on anyone, and often cops find it difficult to process all that they witness. Some find it just as difficult to admit to anyone they need help in doing so.

Thats what the Health and Wellness Section is for. It was created in August of 2019 and is an outreach for any NYPD employees in crisis.

Suicides

Several years ago, the suicide rate among NYPD officers was alarmingly high, with an average of four per year. That number spiked to 10 in 2019.

More officers die by suicide than are killed in the line of duty annually around the United States, Deputy Mark Wachter, commanding officer of the Health and Wellness Section, told The Epoch Times.

We had to look at the different policies that we had and really we had to start focusing on the wellness of the officer through new policies and initiatives, as the ones at the time were not working, he said.

A task force was assembled, and the Health and Wellness Section was created. The department already had an Employee Assistance Unit, which had been around since the 1970s. In 2019, it became one of the several units under the auspices of the Health and Wellness Section.

The EAU has 400 employees in a peer support program who work in dual roles as cops and counselors and are trained in suicide prevention, resiliency, and depression.

The NYPD has 35,000 smartphones used for crimefighting. The Health and Wellness Section utilizes an app every officer and civilian employee has access to on his phone. The sections recoursesincluding counselors, chaplains, and peer support membersare listed in the app, which was created by the NYPD.

They are literally a fingertip away, said Wachter. You can call them, text them, email them 24 hours a day. Youre in crisis? Theyre there.

Wachter estimates his people get 5,500 requests per year, with 40 to 50 per month on the midnights, which is the shift that usually sees the most activity.

So why the dogs?

One reason is theres still a stigma to mental illness, and someone in need may find it difficult or even impossible to ask for help from another human. But if that other human has a calm, inviting dog at his feet, and that dog is trained to accept petting without any adverse reaction, the person in need may view the dog as a stepping stone to the other human.

There are three such humans, each with such a dog, in the EAU. Theresa Mahon, Ron Thomas, and Efrain Hernandez are all detectives, peer counselors, and handlers.

These dogs kind of act as an icebreaker, Thomas told The Epoch Times.

Sometimes the handlers show up at roll call, which is a briefing at the start of every shift, and have the dogs carry out a few commands, or tricks, putting the officers at ease. This gives them an opportunity to speak to the handlers, who will switch hats and be peer counselors, should any of them have an issue they want to talk about.

These dogs are the best icebreaker or segue into that conversation, said Thomas.

Detective Jenny, a therapy dog from the NYPDs Employee Assistance Unit, was available to anyone who needed her at St. Patricks Cathedral in NYC for the funeral of a fallen policeman, Wilbert Mora, on Feb. 2, 2022. (Dave Paone/The Epoch Times)

January Tragedy

The therapy dogs arent solely for suicide prevention and outreach. Theyre on call for any crisis that occurs.

In January of this year, two NYPD officers were shot in the line of duty, one dying at the hospital a few hours later.

A sergeant actually put it over the radio, Have EAU respond. That means what were doing is working, Thomas said. He arrived at Harlem Hospital with his dog, Piper.

Mostly what I saw is that people just wanted to take comfort in petting them and not have to say anything, Thomas said. People wanted to approach them, pet them, just take a minute to remove themselves from that situation and just grieve with the dog, pet the dog, take comfort in the dog. Again, you dont have to say anything when youre petting a dog.

The night of the shootings and the following day, Thomas said hundreds of cops petted the two dogs, which in turn helped alleviate the anxiety and stress they were feeling.

The second officer died a few days later, and there were two separate wakes and funerals held for them at St. Patricks Cathedral in the following weeks. Piper, Jenny, and the units third dog, Glory, were on hand all four days for the families and the members of the commands.

At PO Jason Riveras wake, his widow and brother-in-law sat privately behind the altar petting Jenny for a while.

Puppies Behind Bars

The NYPDs therapy dogs were trained by prison inmates, through a nonprofit called Puppies Behind Bars. In the program, each dog begins its training at about eight weeks old and lives with its incarcerated trainer for about two years.

After that, the soon-to-be handlers receive a 14-day training at the prison. That means cops are literally in a prison, interacting with inmates.

Its intimidating, Thomas said.

But the inmates were extremely professional and knowledgeable, he said, and it was a remarkable experience.

The Real Deal

Each EAU dog has paperwork that confirms he or she is fully certified and compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Each wears a harness with embroidered patches that identify him or her as an NYPD therapy dog in the departments Health and Wellness Section.

The three dogs, which are all yellow Labrador retrievers, can carry out 54 commands, including high five and salute.

Tell Me a Story

Another command is tell me a story, where a person may be seated on the floor and the dog crawls into his or her lap, placing its weight on the human. This command is effective when a child is a victim and may find it difficult to explain what happened to a detective. The child could tell the dog, without any adults in view, but with one listening from out of sight. The NYPDs dogs havent yet been used in this situation, but the tell me a story command has been used to comfort victims.

Mahon recalled times when Piper literally had been sobbed on when comforting someone experiencing trauma.

The Future

The EAU started with two dogs under New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio. Immediately after taking office, Mayor Eric Adams gave the green light for a third. Wachter anticipates adding a fourth dog by the end of the year.

In the meantime, Piper, Glory, and Jenny continue to do the job themselves. As Thomas put it, Theres no better tool we can utilize than these K-9s to create a bridge between us and the people who might need help.
A toddler who survived against the odds after being born with no arms and legs is now gearing up to start school this September.

Jasmine Self, 27, gave birth to little Rondell Wilson Jr. (RJ) despite being told during her pregnancy that he would be severely disabled.

At five months along, an ultrasound scan revealed Jasmines little ones limbs were not developing. Upon hearing the news, RJs mother and father, Rondell Wilson, were distraught, but decided not to give up on their baby.

Jasmine Self with RJ. (SWNS)

RJ suffers from a medical condition called tetra-amelia syndrome, which is characterized by the absence of all four limbs, as well as severe malformations of the face, heart, nervous system, skeleton, and genitals.

The condition is caused by a genetic mutation in a section of DNA that plays a critical role in development. It affects a handful of families worldwide and most babies who suffer from it die before or shortly after birth.

However, RJ, who was born in September 2018 weighing just 2 pounds 4 ounces (1 kg) and spent the first two months of his life in intensive care, has fought against all the odds and is now thriving at his home in Florence, South Carolina.

Its been three years since we made the best decision of our lives, said Jasmine, who owns a cosmetics business. He is such a positive little boy and he gives me so much happiness.

Although his parents were ready for the challenges and knew it wouldnt be easy to raise and care for him, they were determined to give RJ the best chance at life that they could.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with him in any aspect other than his physical disability, and I believe he will grow up to be an extremely successful human being, Jasmine said.

Since RJ came home from the hospital, he has been developing well, into a happy, healthy child.

The 3-year-old gets around the house by rolling on his torso and is becoming more and more self-sufficient each day. Additionally, his mother explained that he is just like a normal toddler, who loves music and watching TV.

RJ will always need help in a lot of areas of his life, but Jasmine is extremely pleased with her sons progress.

One area of his development that Jasmine is particularly excited about is his vocabulary, with RJ now able to communicate with her on a regular basis.

Hes growing up really fast, its actually quite scary. He always wants to try to do things for himself before he accepts any help from me, Jasmine said. Every day, he is communicating more and more, and it fills me with joy hearing him speak.

Since RJs arrival, Jasmine has also given birth to a girl, Jaslynn, now 2, making RJ a big brothera role that he has excelled in.

When I had Jaslynn, he was super excited and hes been the best big brother a girl could ask for, Jasmine said. I brought her home from the hospital and he tried so hard to help hold the bottle for her during her early monthsit was very sweet.

However, Jaslynn is now a bit older and is also helping her brother.

They have a really great relationshipIm a very proud mom, Jasmine said.

Rondell Wilson Jr. (RJ), now 3, from Florence, South Carolina, next to his younger sister, Jaslynn Wilson. (SWNS)

The pandemic, meanwhile, has been worrying for the family to deal with, as RJ is considered clinically vulnerable, but thankfully theyve been able to keep him safe.

Weve been quite scared about Covid because RJ has no limbs so there is no place for the IVF drip to go if he gets ill and has to be hospitalized, Jasmine said. Weve been shielding, but this hasnt affected his development as much as I thought it would.

RJ is turning 4 this year, which means he is facing the prospect of starting school in September.

Rondell Wilson Jr. (RJ), now 3, from Florence, South Carolina. (SWNS)

Jasmine is eager to get him into education as soon as she can so he doesnt fall behind, but she is apprehensive to put pressure on him if hes not ready.

A school environment is very different from what its like at home, and RJ has a specially made wheelchair, which he will need for kindergarten.

I think, mentally, he will undoubtedly be ready to start school with the rest of his year group, but its his physical disability which may hold him back, Jasmine said. We are still getting him toilet trained, which has been difficult, so well need to get things like that sorted before he is ready.

Jasmine is very confident that RJ will be able to go to school sometime. Whether it will be this year is something thats yet to be decided.

Rondell Wilson Jr. (RJ), now 3, from Florence, South Carolina, next to his younger sister, Jaslynn Wilson. (SWNS)

It will certainly be a challenge for both him and us as parents, but weve tackled everything else that has ever been thrown at us so well tackle this as well, she said.

Epoch Times Staff contributed to this report.

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
Giant dump trucks haul raw oil sands to be processed at the Suncor oil sands mining operations near Fort McMurray in Alberta, Canada, on Sept. 17, 2014. (Todd Korol/Reuters)

Top Canadian Banks Have Increased Financing for Oil Sands Production

The five largest Canadian banks have doubled their funding for oil sands production and related projects in Canada to $16.8 billion last year, amid a global energy shortage, according a April 11 report by the Financial Times.

This is despite the five leading Canadian banks agreement last year to join the U.N.s Net-Zero Banking Alliance, led by Mark Carney, a former governor of the Bank of Canada and the Bank of England, in favor of eliminating greenhouse emissions by 2050, by implementing green friendly policies into their operations and investment portfolios.

Read More ESG Investments in Russia and China Are Questioned After Ukraine War

Oil sands are a large part of the Canadian economy and is mainly located in the province of Alberta, which contains the bulk of domestic energy production.

Major Canadian lenders, including the Royal Bank of Canada, Toronto-Dominion Bank, Scotiabank, the Bank of Montreal, and the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, have upped their funding for the 30 top oil sands production companies and six key oil sands pipeline companies, by increasing their lending in 2021 by nearly $9 billion, according to an alliance of environmental groups, which sent its report to FT.

Sixty banks worldwide in the report have raised their financing into Canadian oil sands projects by 51 percent between 2020 and 2021, to $23.3 billion, with as as much as $742 billion in fossil fuel financing worldwide in 2021 alone.

RBC, Scotiabank and TD were among the twelve biggest investors in oil sands financing last year.

This trio, plus Bank of Montreal and CIBC, all increased their fossil fuel financing from 2020 to 2021, said the environmentalist report.

Omissions and Predicted Climate Needs

The rise in oil sand investments, which is one of the worlds major sources of fuel, comes at a time when the banking industry is facing growing pressure from activists and investors to help reduce the burning of fossil fuels to battle U.N. predictions of catastrophic climate change, despite the energy shortfalls facing current outputs from renewable energy technologies outside of nuclear, although research and development for new technologies continue.

According to FT, RBC, CIBC, and Scotiabank fought off shareholder proposals last week that called for stricter climate policies, while TD and BMO faced similar protests at their annual meetings this week.

RBC told FT it was committed to achieving net zero, but it wants to follow a responsible path that also secures Canadas energy supplies and protects the growth of the economy.

Scotiabank said it was still working to help clients transition and said that the report was flawed by not taking into account how the financing is being used, or the sustainability and transition plans of the recipients.

Five of the six important global financiers of oil sands since the Paris Climate Agreement are Canadian.

Between 2016 and 2021, TD financed a total of $27.454 billion into oil sands, with $5.424 billion in 2021 alone, according to the greenhouse emissions report.

RBC poured $27.445 billion into oil sands projects, including $5.445 billion in 2021, while CIBC, placed $13.682 billion.

JP Morgan Chase, which is American, was another of the five top oil sands financiers, with $10.879 billion.

The Business Council of Canada said in 2020 that Canadian oil sands are best positioned to lead the energy transformation.

In the wake of a post-pandemic economy and with a war in Ukraine, which is causing global energy supply disruptions worldwide, it seems that oil sands will continue to be a lucrative investment that meets energy needs in the foreseeable future.
Opinion: Twitters TKO of Elon Musk to the Board

Sunday nights announcement by Twitter CEO Parag Agrawal that Elon Musk turned down the invitation to serve on the companys board of directors should not have been a surprise to anyone who is vaguely familiar with the social media giant or the Tesla chieftain. Over the past several days, Twitter and Musk engaged in a public battle of wills that Musk lost in a spectacular crash.

Sorry, Not Sorry

The fact the announcement came from Agrawal and not Musk is primary evidence that Musk came up against a force that he could not bulldoze. The language in Agrawals announcement made it clear that Musk was the wrong man for the directors job.

Elon Musk has decided not join our board. Heres what I share about what happened, Agrawal said on Twitter.

From the first sentence, Agrawal made it clear Musk blinked and that the decision was not a mutual agreement. Musks millions of social media followers have long championed that he can do anything he puts his mind to doing, which makes Agrawals statement all the more jolting.

We were excited to collaborate and clear about the risks, Agrawal continuedbut the emphasis on the risks seemed very peculiar. After all, when was the last time a company announced the appointment of a board member while stressing the new director carried risks. Agrawal also emphasized that Musks board membership meant he has to act in the best interests of the company and all of our shareholdersreally, how often does language like that pop up in discussing a new board member?

We announced on Tuesday that Elon would be appointed to the Board contingent on a background check and formal acceptance, Agrawal added. But why was this sentence included? Its standard practice for any company to conduct a background check on a potential board memberdid Agrawal intentionally include this to raise doubts that Musk was hiding something that could emerge and embarrass him? That seems strange, considering the surplus amount of attention hes received in recent years. If there is the proverbial skeleton in Musks closet, hes done a remarkable job in hiding it.

The Sounds of Silence

Elons appointment to the board was to become effective 4/9, but Elon shared that same morning he will no longer be joining the board, Agrawal continued. However, Agrawal did not share the news until the evening of April 10why didnt Twitter announce this on April 9?

The answer is rather simpleAgrawal and the Twitter communications team waited to see if Musk would make an announcement of his plans. After more than 24 hours passed without Musk saying a word, Agrawal framed the news as he saw fit, with Musk maintaining an uncharacteristic silence.

And then, Agrawal closed the Musk misadventures around the Twitter boardroom by stating, I believe this is for the best. This might be the first time that a Fortune 500 chief executive publicly thanks an individual for refusing to take a board seat.

Musk posted a single emoji after Agrawals tweet that featured a smiling face with a hand over its mouth, according to Bloomberg; the tweet was deleted hours later and all of the earlier tweets Musk made in connection to Twitter have also been deleted.

What Wasnt Said

Yet Agrawal conveniently omitted something from his announcementaccording to a report in TheStreet.com, he was arranging an Ask Me Anything gathering with Musk taking questions from the Twitter workforce. In an internal e-mail sent on Thursday, Agrawal told his workforce, 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.

For all of his brilliance in putting himself front and center in the public eye, Musk has conveniently avoided sitting down for intensive Q&A sessionshis last major interviews involved Time Magazines glowing Person of the Year tribute and a softball video conversation with the leadership of The Babylon Bee news satire website, both from December.

The Ask Me Anything session with Twitters employees was not a requirement for board membership, though Musks reluctance to open himself to potentially rude questionsperhaps Teslas operations in the Xinjiang region where Chinas government has centered its human rights abuses against the Uyghur minorityclearly contributed to Agrawals I believe this is for the best.

No Common Ground

For anyone paying attention to Musk-Twitter duet, it was obvious from the beginning that this was a ridiculous mismatch. When Musk used his Twitter page to ruminate about the social media platform failing to meet free speech principles, Twitters communications team issued a statement that its policy decisions are not determined by the Board or shareholders, and we have no plans to reverse any policy decisions. Obviously, both parties were on parallel tracks, with neither eager to find common ground.

Prior to his withdrawal, Musk banged out tweets that included the suggestions Twitters San Francisco headquarters be turned into a homeless shelter, that Twitter Blue subscribers be able to pay in Dogecoinnever mind that Tesla buyers cannot use Dogecoin for their purchasesplus the smutty idea that Twitter remove the W from its name. Twitters public-facing communications team ignored Musks tweets, which gave the impression of someone increasingly eager to call attention to himself rather than make a corporate change for the better.

Still, Musk remains Twitters largest shareholder for now and its unlikely he will stop playing provocateur at Twitters expense. But at the end of the dayor, in this case, the start of a new trading week, he is not calling the shots at Twitter. And as Agrawal bluntly stated in his Sunday announcement, There will be distractions ahead, but our goals and priorities remain unchanged. The decisions we make is in our hands and no one elses. Lets tune out the noise, and stay focused on the work and what were building.

By Phil Hall

 2022 The Epoch Times. The Epoch Times does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
2 COVID-19 Treatments Show Promise in Trials

Two COVID-19 treatments that have not yet been authorized for administration were successful in clinical trials, the companies behind the drugs announced on April 11.

A pill developed to attack cancer was successful in curbing deaths among COVID-19 patients in hospitals deemed high risk for Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome, according to U.S.-based Veru Inc., the maker of the drug.

The interim results from a phase three double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial, conducted in the United States and five other countries, showed a 55 percent relative reduction in deaths, the company said.

Of the 52 patients in the placebo group, 45 percent died. Of the group treated with the pill, known as sabizabulin, 20 percent died.

The average age of the patients was in the low 60s, and patients in both groups had the Omicron virus variant, though some were sickened with Delta.

This really represents a big step forward, Dr. Mitchelle Steiner, Verus CEO, told a conference call discussing the results. Sabizabulin is highly effective, and appears to be more effective than whats out there today, he added.

Most recently cleared COVID-19 treatments are aimed at non-hospitalized people who are at risk of becoming hospitalized.

The treatments that have been cleared by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for hospitalized patients, such as remdesivir, have shown mixed success in trials and real-world data.

Patients in both arms of Verus trial were also able to receive standard of care, which includes remdesivir, from Gilead Sciences, and the steroid dexamethasone.

Steiner floated sabizabulin becoming the new standard of care.

Veru is in talks with the FDA about emergency use authorization.

Veru officials said the drug was also well-tolerated, with no significant side effects.

The results of the trial have not been published as a preprint paper or peer-reviewed.

Also this week, Israel-based RedHill Biopharma said in vitro testing of its experimental COVID-19 pill showed efficacy against Omicron, which became the dominant SARS-CoV-2 variant in many countries in late 2021.

SARS-CoV-2, also known as the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, causes COVID-19.

A previous phase two/phase three study of the pill, opaganib, showed it reduced mortality, according to RedHill.

These are highly promising results that lend further weight to opaganibs hypothesized host-mediated antiviral activity and expected effect irrespective of viral variant, Dr. Michael Chan, a Hong Kong researcher who helped run the study, said in a statement.

The company says it is in talks with regulators in the United States, Europe, and additional countries.
A student crosses a walkway on the University of CaliforniaIrvine campus in Irvine, Calif., on Sept. 25, 2020. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

UCs Receive Federal Grant to Hire More Hispanic Professors

IRVINE, Calif.University of California (UC)Irvine announced in March it is joining three other UCs in using $2.3 million in federal grants to hire more Hispanic professors, citing bias and unfair barriers for lower numbers of Hispanic professors on UC campuses.

The effort is part of UC HIRE, an alliance across four UC campuses aimed at increasing Hispanic teaching professors in science, technology, engineering, and math.

Minority students learn better with professors from their same ethnic or racial background, or otherwise look like them, according to Brian Sato, a Biology professor leading the initiative at UC Irvine.

With the grant money, researchers from UC Irvine, UC Santa Barbara, UC Santa Cruz, and UC San Diego will spend five years evaluating existing barriers they believe make it more difficult for Hispanics to obtain UC teaching positions. The researchers will then provide recommendations to university hiring committees based on their findings.

Were involved in changing how departments consider their hiring practices  to lead to a more diverse group of folks, Sato told the Epoch Times.

The alliance also aims to share its guidelines across other University of California hiring departments.

We want this to become the norm and part of the culture when departments do any faculty hires, Sato noted when discussing the programs long-term goals.

Participants applied for the grant with the goal of hiring more Hispanic staff, citing a 2021 UC demographic report showing that six percent of UC teaching faculty are from racial or ethnic minority groups.

One example of barriers to jobs cited by the alliance includes hirers relying on their personal networks to fill positions and advertising positions to applicants they know or have previously worked with.

Although UCs post all open positions publically, the alliance notes preferential treatment is often given to applicants that hirers know personally.

With the new funding, researchers will meet semi-monthly to discuss ways to increase Hispanic hires, and then, later, monthly to convey their findings to hiring committees.
British lawmaker Imran Ahmad Khan arrives at Southwark Crown Court to stand trial over sex offence claims, in London, on April 8, 2022. (Peter Cziborra/Reuters)

UK Conservative Party Expels MP Following Sexual Assault Verdict

A British member of Parliament has been expelled from the Conservative Party on Monday after he was convicted of sexually assaulting a 15-year-old boy in 2008.

Imran Ahmad Khan, the 48-year-old MP of Wakefield, northern England, was found guilty by a jury at Southwark Crown Court on Monday after around five hours of deliberation.

The judge, Mr. Justice Baker, released Khan on bail, and said he will sentence Khan in due course.

The judge added that the court was considering all sentencing options, including immediate custody.

Rosemary Ainslie, interim head of the Special Crime Division at the Crown Prosecution Service, said she was pleased that the jury had accepted the victims compelling evidence about the offence committed by Khan.

Janes Solicitors, the firm representing Khan, said their client maintains his innocence and will be appealing as soon as possible.

Following the verdict, a Conservative Party spokesman said Khan, who had been suspended since June 2021 after he was charged, was expelled with immediate effect.

If Khan is sentenced to more than a year in prison, he will automatically be disqualified from being an MP, triggering a by-election. He will otherwise remain an MP unless he resigns or is recalled by voters.

Imran Ahmad Khan arrives at Southwark Crown Court in London on April 11, 2022. (Dominic Lipinski/PA Media)

During the trial, the jury heard that Khan had forced the teenager to drink gin and tonic, dragged him upstairs, pushed him onto a bed, and asked him to watch pornography before groping him at a house in Staffordshire in January 2008.

The victim, now 29, told the jury he was left feeling scared, vulnerable, numb, shocked, and surprised after the attack.

A police report was made at the time, but the victim didnt pursue the case.

He told jurors it all came flooding back when he learned Khan was standing in the December 2019 general election.

The victim said he contacted the Conservative Party press office about the attack after hearing the news but wasnt taken very seriously.

A Conservative Party spokesperson said no record of this complaint had been found.

Days after Khan was elected, the victim made a complaint to the police.

Denying the allegations during the trial, Khan told the court on April 6 that he was trying to be kind and helpful by discussing sexuality with the boy, who he said appeared troubled and keen to want to talk about this.

Khan said the teenager became very upset and bolted out after he suggested pornography, and that he touched the teenagers elbow or his arm to placate him.

In March, prosecutor Sean Larkin QC told the court that the victims older brother was at the same party wearing a kilt. He said Khan lifted up the kilt while asking if the then-18-year-old was wearing the garment like a true Scotsman.

The court has also heard from a witness who alleged that Khan had sexually assaulted him in his sleep in Pakistan after a party where whisky and marijuana were consumed, but Khans lawyer suggested the alleged victim, despite being heterosexual, was consenting at the time under the influence of alcohol, cannabis, and a sleeping pill.

Crispin Blunt, a former Conservative justice minister, on Monday called the verdict a dreadful miscarriage of justice, saying the case relied on lazy tropes about LGBT+ people and argued the result had dreadful wider implications for LGBT Muslims around the world in now-deleted comments on his website.

On Tuesday, Blunt said he decided to retract his statement defending Khan, and apologised for causing significant upset and concern not least to victims of sexual offences.

Blunt, the chair of the all-party parliamentary group (APPG) on Global LGBT+ Rights, said he had offered his resignation to the APPG, as his initial statement risked distracting the group from its important purpose.

Undated file photo of the UKs Armed Forces Minister James Heappey. (David Mirzoeff/PA Media)

Asked if the government distanced itself from Blunts initial comments, defence minister James Heappey told Sky News that it did.

Heappey said all he knew was that Khan was found guilty by a court of law and that absolutely nobody in Her Majestys Government is seeking to be critical of the decision of the court.

Heappey said he understands that Khan was planning to appeal, adding, But quite frankly everybody in government respects that a court of law has found him guilty and that must be the judgment until he appeals successfully.

Following the verdict, Labour called on Khan to immediately resign as an MP.

A Labour Party spokesman said, Imran Ahmad Khan should immediately resign so a by-election can take place and the people of Wakefield can get the representation they deserve.

PA Media contributed to this report.
Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson attends a joint press conference with Germany's Chancellor Olaf Scholz inside the Downing Street briefing room following a bilateral meeting at 10 Downing Street in London on April 8, 2022. (Ben Stansall /Pool/AFP via Getty Images)

UKs Johnson to Be Fined for Lockdown-Breaching Downing Street Parties

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Chancellor Rishi Sunak have been told that theyll be fined over parties held at Downing Street during the COVID-19 pandemic in violation of lockdown rules.

The prime minister and chancellor of the Exchequer have today received notification that the Metropolitan Police intend to issue them with fixed penalty notices, a spokeswoman for No. 10 Downing Street said on April 12.

The prime ministers wife, Carrie Johnson, has also been notified that shell receive a fixed penalty notice, her spokesperson confirmed.

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his fiancee Carrie Symonds take part in a doorstep clap in memory of Captain Sir Tom Moore outside 10 Downing Street in London on Feb. 3, 2021. (Hollie Adams/Getty Images)

The opposition Labour Party has called on both Johnson and Sunak to resign.

Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak have broken the law and repeatedly lied to the British public. They must both resign, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said. The Conservatives are totally unfit to govern. Britain deserves better.

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey wrote on Twitter: This is a government in crisis neglecting a country in crisis. Parliament must be recalled for a vote of no confidence in the prime minister.

Johnson has been plagued by a series of damaging allegations of parties and other gatherings held in his official residence at No. 10 Downing Street and other government departments in Whitehall at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, in violation of lockdown rules written by the government.

Britains Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak leaves 11 Downing Street to announce budget updates in the House of Commons in London on March 23, 2022. (Tolga Akmen /AFP via Getty Images)

The Metropolitan Police stated on March 29 that 20 fixed penalty notices over these parties would be issued, confirming that the police had ruled that the law had been broken.

Earlier on April 12, the Met stated that it has now made more than 50 referrals for fines.

The investigation into allegations of breaches of COVID-19 regulations in Whitehall and Downing Street continues to progress, it said in a statement. As of Tuesday, 12 April 2022, we have made over 50 referrals for fixed penalty notices (FPN) to the ACRO Criminal Records Office for breaches of COVID-19 regulations who, following the referral, issue the FPNs to the individual.

We are making every effort to progress this investigation at speed, this includes continuing to assess significant amounts of investigative material from which further referrals may be made to ACRO.

Johnson has so far rejected repeated calls from opposition parties for him to resign over the so-called partygate scandal.

Calls for his resignation also came from his own backbench Conservative MPs, but in recent weeks, the war in Ukraine has seen Tory MPs rally around their leader.

PA Media contributed to this report.
In this handout photo provided by the U.S. Navy, The aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72), left, the Royal Navy air defense destroyer HMS Defender (D 36) and the guided-missile destroyer USS Farragut (DDG 99) transit the Strait of Hormuz on Nov. 19, 2019. (Zachary Pearson- U.S. Navy via Getty Images)

US Aircraft Carrier Enters Sea of Japan Amid North Koreas Nuclear Threats

A U.S. nuclear-powered aircraft carrier group is conducting operations in the Sea of Japan, officials said Tuesday, amid fears of new missile launches by North Korea in anticipation of Pyongyangs upcoming national event.

U.S. officials claimed that the USS Abraham Lincoln strike group is conducting operations with the Japanese forces in the Sea of Japan, also known as the East Sea, to reassure allies and partners of the U.S. commitment to maintaining stability in the region.

South Korean Yonhap News Agency (YNA) cited unnamed sources who claimed that the aircraft carrier was operating in South Koreas southeastern city of Ulsan, and is expected to stay in the East Sea for three to five days.

South Koreas Defense Ministry said it was aware that the carrier group is in international waters but declined to comment because it is a U.S. military asset.

This is the first deployment of a carrier group to the waters between South Korea and Japan since 2017. That year the USS Ronald Reagan, Theodore Roosevelt, and Nimitz, and their multi-ship strike groups, deployed in a show of force over North Koreas missile and nuclear weapons tests.

The warship deployment came amid speculation that Pyongyang could engage in a provocative act and conduct nuclear tests in anticipation of the countrys late founding leader Kim Il-Sungs birthday on April 15.

We are worried that, in connection with the upcoming April 15th anniversary, [North Korea] may be tempted to take another provocative action. We obviously hope not, but we will be prepared, Sung Kim, U.S. special envoy for North Korea, told reporters on April 6.

North Korea has conducted more than 10 missile tests since the start of the year, one of which involved a Hwasong-17, which experts dubbed a monster missile capable of striking anywhere in the United States and beyond.

South Korea and the United States on April 4 agreed to reactivate the Extended Deterrence Strategy and Consultation Group to counter any North Korean provocation.

South Koreas policy consultation delegation, led by representative Park Jin, met with Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman in Washington on April 4 for talks on the countries bilateral alliance.

[We] relayed the president-elects wish for South Korea and the U.S. to further upgrade the South KoreaU.S. alliance into a comprehensive and strategic alliance and formed a consensus [with Washington], Park told YNA.

Park noted that both sides agreed on the need to maintain deterrence to counter North Koreas provocative acts.

To this end, the countries agreed on the need to strengthen the extended deterrence between South Korea and the U.S. and the importance of reactivating the Extended Deterrence Strategy and Consultation Group that has failed to play its role over the past few years, he added.

Reuters contributed to this report.
U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin delivers remarks at the fourth U.S.-India 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue at the State Department in Washington on April 11, 2022. (Michael McCoy/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

US and India Sign Space Situational Awareness Arrangement

The United States and India on Monday signed a bilateral space situational awareness arrangement, U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin announced.

The two countries signed the agreement during a U.S.India 2+2 ministerial that was held by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Austin on Monday with their Indian counterparts, Defense Minister Rajnath Singh and External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar.

Im pleased to announce that just a few moments ago, we signed a bilateral space situational awareness arrangement, and this will support greater information sharing and cooperation in space, Austin told a press briefing shortly after the meeting wrapped up.

Austin said the United States is committed to launching new defense space exchanges later this year between the national Space Command and Indias Defense Space Agency.

Were also deepening our cooperation in cyberspace, including through training and exercises later this year. And were expanding our information sharing partnership across all warfighting domains, Austin said.

The remarks came not long after President Joe Biden met with his counterpart, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, virtually.

The U.S.India 2+2 ministerial covered the topics of counterterrorism; operationalizing the Major Defense Partnership; new domains of cooperation in space and cyber and emerging technologies; and multilateral cooperation.

Broad talks between the worlds two largest democracies took place as the United States seeks more help from India in condemning and applying economic pressure on Russia for its invasion of Ukraine, which Moscow calls a special military operation.

Recently, the news of the killings of innocent civilians in the city of Bucha was very worrying, Modi said during a brief portion of his meeting with Biden open to reporters. We immediately condemned it and have asked for an independent probe.

Modi also said he had suggested in recent conversations with Russia that President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy hold direct talks.

Blinken said Monday that the signing of the Space Situational Awareness Agreement is a demonstration of our growing technology partnership which we believe has virtually limitless potential for exploration, for discovery, for achievement, to the benefit of people in both of our countries and indeed around the world.

We look very much forward to continuing to build a stronger future for both of our countries, both of our peoples through our defense and security cooperation, through our deeply connected economies, through our shared values and common bonds, and to do so for many, many decades to come, he said.

Reuters contributed to this report.
Fears rise, as the U.S. consulate in Shanghai allows some employees to leave China.

Shanghai announces a plan to ease its citywide shutdown. But an official notice asks people to stay inside for now.

Will a U.S. push for green energy really counter oil crises? That approach may not be quite so clear-cut, with China still firmly involved.

Beijing makes a rare move: delivering missiles to a Russia ally. That nation is now primed to become the first country in Europe to operate Chinese missiles.

Parts of Shanghai erupt into protests amid strict lockdown orders. Residents complain they dont have enough to eat, with some saying theyre starving to death.

Topics in this episode:

Shanghai Eases Lockdown, 11M Still Trapped At Home

Lawmakers Push For Green Energy Production

Focus On Nuclear In UK Energy Strategy

UK PM Accused Of Being Silent Over Chinese Takeover

China Delivers Missiles To Russian Allied-Serbia

Swedish Lawmakers Make Four-day Visit To Taiwan

Hks Fmr Top Security Official Runs For Chief Exec

Shanghai Residents Protesting Lockdown

Shanghai Man Expresses Anger At Lockdown

Leaked Docs May Reveal Covid-19 Deaths In Shanghai

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.
(LR) U.S. President Joe Biden, Indian Minister of Defense Rajnath Singh, and Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar listen as Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi (on screen) speaks during a virtual meeting in the South Court Auditorium of the White House complex on April 11, 2022. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

US Says India to Make Its Own Judgment on How to Approach RussiaUkraine Crisis

New spheres of cooperation announced after 'warm and productive' meeting

The United States says it did not ask India for any specific action regarding Russian energy imports, saying that it supports India making its own judgments on how to approach the RussiaUkraine crisis, the White House said Monday.

President Joe Biden and Indias Prime Minister Narendra Modi had a very candid conversation on the RussiaUkraine crisis at a virtual summit on Monday, according to a senior administration official, who described the hour-long meeting as warm and productive.

We havent asked India to do anything in particular; were having a very open conversation. We know that not all countries will be able to do what weve done, the official said.

India has purchased at least 13 million barrels of discounted Russian crude oil since Moscow invaded Ukraine in late February. Washington said it recognized that the imports make up only 1 to 2 percent of Indias total energy imports.

Weve been very clear that weve been able to ban oil and [liquefied natural gas] and coal imports from Russia, but other countries have to make their own choices, the official said.

That said, we dont think India should accelerate or increase imports of Russian energy. And the U.S. is ready to support India, remain in a conversation with India about its diversification of imports, the official added.

During the meeting, both leaders also reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening military cooperation and diplomatic ties.

We know that India has concerns about the links between Russia and China. India is facing a very tense situation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). And when India sees the tight links between China and Russia, thats obviously going to impact their thinking, the official added.

The LAC is a demarcation line that separates Indian and Chinese-controlled territory. Tensions flared during an incident on the LAC in April 2020.

While India has repeatedly called for an end to violence in Ukraine and condemned the mass killing of civilians in Bucha, the country has abstained from various U.N. resolutions on the war as it balances its diplomatic ties with Russia and the West.

On March 22, Biden said that India has been somewhat shaky on imposing sanctions against Moscow for its invasion of Ukraine.

New Defense Base Exchanges

Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin held a 2+2 meeting with their Indian counterpartsIndia External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and Defense Minister Rajnath Singh.

Austin said that both countries signed a bilateral space situational awareness arrangement and agreed to launch new defense base exchanges between U.S. Space Command and Indias Defense Space Agency later this year.

Washington and India have also agreed to launch new supply chain cooperation measures that will let us swiftly support each others priorities in defense requirements, he added.

Cybersecurity and information-sharing were also identified as areas of cooperation between the IndoPacific allies.

Were doing all this because the United States supports India as a defense industry leader in the IndoPacific and a net provider of security in the region. And we all understand the challenges that we face there, Austin said.

The Peoples Republic of China is seeking to refashion the region and the international system more broadly in ways that serve its interests. And so Im pleased that weve identified new opportunities to extend the operational reach of our militaries and to coordinate more closely together across the expanse of the IndoPacific, he added.

Reuters contributed to this report.
US Should Hold Beijing Accountable on Trade After 20 Years of WTO Abuses: Analysts

The United States Trade Representative (USTR) is calling for the country to rethink its approach to China with a focus on building up domestic capacity rather than trying to change the communist nations behavior.

Our strategy must expand beyond only pressing China for change and include vigorously defending our values and economic interests from the negative impacts of the PRCs [Peoples Republic of Chinas] unfair economic policies and practices, USTR Katherine Tai said in Congressional testimony on March 30.

After China joined the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 2001, it made a series of pledges to open its economy and remove barriers to trade. But according to yet another report from the USTR in February, the regime has failed to live up to its commitments and continues to engage in trade-distorting behavior.

That report came roughly 20 years after China joined the WTO and 50 years after former President Richard Nixon famously opened the country to the United States. Since then, Washington has pursued a strategy of engagement with Beijing under the assumption that the communist country would in turn open its economy and polity to western influences.

Prior to Chinas abuses at the WTO, Washington had also granted it most favored nation status, which confers certain advantages in trade. Beijings acceptance into the international trade system was a reflection of the Western worlds embrace of the theory of comparative advantage, which promotes specialization in production among trading partners and informs some opposition to protectionism, said Chuck Benoit, an international trade attorney. According to this theory, benefits accrue from trading with a nation even if they are better or more efficient at producing a particular good. The assumption was that free or less restricted trade with China would benefit other nations.

But two decades after joining the WTO, the Western worlds hopes for Beijing have not panned out. As USTR notes, the country has perpetrated a series of trade-distorting activities that betray commitments to liberalize its economy, including its state-sanctioned theft of foreign intellectual property (IP).

Absolutely I think China was the central player in the revisiting and re-questioning of 70 years of trade policy, said Benoit, who also claimed Chinas entry into the WTO was a net negative.

Not everyone is on board with Benoits apparent lament. Riley Walters, an expert at the Hudson Institute, defended Chinas entry in an interview with The Epoch Times.

I dont think we were wrong to actually pursue that, he said referring to WTO ascension. I think we were right  what we were thinking of back in the day, which was trade liberalization, is naturally good for economies and I think it worked  for the United States, for China.

Instead, he suggested that Europe and the United States were terrible on enforcement with issues like IP theft. Additional protectionism, he added, was not the answer. Walters took issue with the Trump administrations approach and phase one trade deal, which flopped when China didnt buy various products that it said it would.

I dont know why we [the U.S.] thought they were going to buy all of those goods, he said, arguing that Trumps trade deal was preceded by both sides imposing tariffs without reaching a solution.

Both he and Heritage Foundation scholar Dean Cheng indicated that Chinese leadership had changed in a way that made current negotiations more difficult than when WTO ascension was being considered.

Referring to Trumps trade war, Walters said he thought it was naive to think that it would work out to begin with  I think the character of the leadership that were dealing with in China now is much different than weve had to deal with in the past. Now, China is a global player. I think there is a bit of big-headedness coming out of Beijing on this issue.

Managed Trade Relationship

Transitioning towards a more managed trade relationship, experts indicate, could help balance the need for open commerce with accountability for the regimes abuses.

Its unclear how the Biden administration will proceed and current indications, Walters said, dont point to another Trump-style trade war with the Chinese regime. In its report, USTR said it would pursue a multi-faceted approach that included both bilateral engagement with China and the use of trade tools to protect American workers and businesses.

It further warns that WTO rules do not, and cannot, effectively discipline many of Chinas most harmful policies and practices.

In Benoits view, Chinas membership in the WTO has been a net negative. After the countrys IP abuses in the early 2000s, it became clear that the United States should move towards more of a managed trade model rather than a large-scale embrace of comparative advantage.

He told The Epoch Times that the United States should pursue other measures such as imposing List 2 tariffs, which covered $16 billion under the Trump administrations plans in 2018. He also proposed using List 4 tariffs, which covers $300 billion in imports. Both lists refer to a variety of products. For example, List 2 includes things like lubricating oils, polycarbonates, and melamine resins.

One of Trumps former advisors, Steve Milloy, says the United States needs to continue down Trumps path of increasing pressure on the Chinese regime. Like Tai, he said Washington. would need to build up its existing capacity for leverage to back up a tougher approach to negotiations.

We need to start bringing vital industries back to the U.S., he said, specifying things like antibiotics and computer chips. He added that the idea that China can be westernized or liberalizedit was all nonsense.

A more viable strategy, he suggested, was disentangling trade with China. You can still deal with them but you cant be at their mercy and we have put ourselves at their mercy, said Milloy.

Cheng similarly emphasized the role of U.S. industry and touted bilateral trade agreements as a way to strengthen its position in the world.

We need an economic component to our foreign policy  that is not all about state direction but is about promoting free enterprise, he said. Because at the end of the day, free American companies are more agile, more flexible, more innovative than Chinese state-owned enterprises.

In order to counter China, he suggested the United States work on securing additional judges on the WTO and leverage alliances to pressure China on violations.

Referring to tools like tariffs, he added that there needs to be teeth, there needs to be an actual downside.
A woman looks out of an apartment during a COVID-19 lockdown in the Jing'an district in Shanghai on April 9, 2022. (Hector Retamal/AFP via Getty Images)

US Tells Non-Essential Diplomatic Staff to Leave Shanghai as Lockdowns Drag On

The U.S. State Department has told all non-essential consular staff that they must leave the Chinese city of Shanghai, as China sticks to its inflexible policies in attempting to squash its COVID-19 outbreaks.

The April 11 announcement is an update from last week when Washington authorized non-emergency workers to depart U.S. Consulate General Shanghai on a voluntary basis, due to what it deemed arbitrary COVID-19 measures in the sealed-off megacity.

The movement from authorized to ordered departure means that we are now mandating that certain employees depart Shanghai rather than making this decision voluntary, a U.S. embassy spokesperson said in a late Monday statement.

Our change in posture reflects our assessment that it is best for our employees and their families to be reduced in number and our operations to be scaled down as we deal with the changing circumstances on the ground.

According to the release, employees and their family members in Shanghai would leave on commercial flights, although current availability for U.S. citizens who wish to depart Shanghai remains limited.

The Chinese financial center reported more than 23,000 coronavirus cases on April 11, slightly down from a day earlier. Yet prolonged snap lockdowns, mass testing, and centralized quarantine have seen growing frustration among both residents sealed in their homes and those quarantined in hospitals and makeshift facilities.

An employee working at a makeshift hospital that will be used for COVID-19 patients in Shanghai on April 7, 2022. (CNS/AFP via Getty Images)

Despite an overstretched medical system and lack of daily supplies for its 25 million people, as locals told The Epoch Times, the city continues to bar residents people from leaving their residential compounds and isolates every positive case in addition to virus-free close contacts. At one stage, young children and babies who tested positive for COVID-10 were being separated from their parents.

The department previously warned American citizens against traveling to China, including Hong Kong, pointing out the risk of parent-child separation.

Videos surfacing online also revealed law enforcers in Shanghai harshly treating residents for breaching COVID-19 restrictions, while media reported that armed police had been deployed to Shanghai to monitor and squash any potential social unrest fueled by public outrage.

The Chinese Communist Party, on the contrary, has defended its COVID-zero policy.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian on April 9 called the U.S. concerns a groundless accusation, while Chinese regulators silenced negative voices at home.

Shanghai has moved to partially ease restrictions on neighborhoods where no new infections have been reported over the past two weeks.

The countrywide zero-tolerance strategy gave a green light to authorities prioritizing social stability above all else.
USPS Stops Service to Santa Monica Neighborhood Following Attacks on Mail Carriers

LOS ANGELESOne neighborhood in Santa Monica will not be receiving postal service from the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) until further notice after multiple carriers have been subjected to assaults and threats of assault from an individual who has not been located or apprehended, according to a postal letter sent out to residents alerting them of the change.

Santa Monica residents located on the 1300 block of 14th Street received a USPS letter on April 7 which read, the safety of our employees and of the mail they deliver to you is our highest concern. Until we can ensure the safety of both, delivery services will remain suspended.

Its unclear when the services for paper mail will resume, but private carriers are still delivering packages to the neighborhood.

Residents in the neighborhood are encouraged to pick up their mail at the post office on 7th Street.

Only one assault has been officially reported, according to a CBS report, and the victim did not press charges. But a USPS spokesperson said there have been three separate incidents with three different carriers in the neighborhood over the last few months.

The U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the law enforcement branch of the USPS, told The Epoch Times in an emailed statement that they are aware of the recent reports of suspicious activity towards Postal Carriers in Santa Monica, California.

Postal Inspectors are currently investigating the incidents and are unable to comment further at this time, a U.S. Postal Inspection Service spokesperson said. Postal Inspectors encourage anyone who observes suspicious activity involving U.S. Mail to report it to local police and to Postal Inspectors at 1-877-876-2455.

Lt. Erika R. Aklufi of the Santa Monica Police Department told The Epoch Times in an email that the USPS issued the letter and as far as we know did not contact our department before sending it.

I tried calling the two phone numbers on the letterone went unanswered, the other had a voicemail box that is full, Aklufi wrote in the email.

Aklufi said, with a lead from one of the Santa Monica police officers who is familiar with the location, officers located a crime report for an assault with a deadly weapona broomstickincident on a USPS mail carrier on the 1300 block of 14th Street on Jan. 19.

The suspect lived in the area and is known to our officers and also to the mail carrier he attacked, Akulfi said.

The victim sustained a minor injury to his arm and did not require medical attention, she said, and the officers who took the report contacted the U.S. Postal Inspection Service on the day of the incident to provide information should they wish to follow up.

We do not know if the [U.S. Postal Inspection Service] did so, she said.

Other incidents of USPS mail carriers being attacked were not identified.

Without speaking to the postmaster, it will be difficult to know the extent of this issue. I have never heard of the Postal Service suspending service for all residents in a neighborhood, and can only refer you to them for answers about their course of action, she said.
A combine harvester gathers wheat in a field near the village of Hrebeni in Kyiv region, Ukraine, on July 17, 2020. (Valentyn Ogirenko/Reuters)

War to Slash Ukraines GDP Output by Over 45 Percent, World Bank Forecasts

WASHINGTONUkraines economic output will likely contract by a staggering 45.1 percent this year as Russias invasion has shuttered businesses, slashed exports and rendered economic activity impossible in large swaths of the country, the World Bank said on Sunday.

The World Bank also forecast Russias 2022 GDP output to fall 11.2 percent due to punishing financial sanctions imposed by the United States and its Western allies on Russias banks, state-owned enterprises and other institutions.

The World Banks War in the Region economic update said the Eastern Europe region, comprising Ukraine, Belarus and Moldova, is forecast to show a GDP contraction of 30.7 percent this year, due to shocks from the war and disruption of trade.

Growth in 2022 in the Central Europe region, comprising Bulgaria, Croatia, Hungary, Poland and Romania, will be cut to 3.5 percent from 4.7 percent previously due to the influx of refugees, higher commodity prices and deteriorating confidence hurting demand.

For Ukraine, the World Bank report estimates that over half of the countrys businesses are closed, while others are operating at well under normal capacity. The closure of Black Sea shipping from Ukraine has cut off some 90 percent of the countrys grain exports and half of its total exports.

The World Bank said the war has rendered economic activity impossible in many areas, and is disrupting agricultural planting and harvest operations.

Estimates of infrastructure damage exceeding $100 billion by early Marchabout two-thirds of Ukraines 2019 GDPare well out of date as the war has raged on and caused further damage.

The bank said the 45.1 percent contraction estimate excludes the impact of physical infrastructure destruction, but said this would scar future economic output, along with the outflow of Ukrainian refugees to other countries.

The World Bank said the magnitude of Ukraines contraction is subject to a high degree of uncertainty over the wars duration and intensity.

A downside scenario in the report, reflecting further commodity price shocks and a loss of financial market confidence triggered by an escalation of the war, could result in a 75 percent contraction in Ukraines GDP and a 20 percent contraction in Russias output.

This scenario would lead to a 9 percent contraction in the World Banks Europe and Central Asia region of emerging market and developing economiesmore than double the drop in the baseline forecast.

The Russian invasion is delivering a massive blow to Ukraines economy and it has inflicted enormous damage to infrastructure, Anna Bjerde, the World Banks vice president for Europe and Central Asia, said in a statement.

Ukraine needs massive financial support immediately as it struggles to keep its economy going and the government running to support Ukrainian citizens who are suffering and coping with an extreme situation.

The World Bank has already marshaled about $923 million in loans and grants for Ukraine, and is preparing a further support package of more than $2 billion.

Rapid IMF and World Bank assistance has allowed Ukraine fiscal space to pay salaries for civilians, soldiers, doctors, and nurses, while also meeting its external debt obligations, U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, who oversees the U.S. controlling share in the World Bank, told U.S. lawmakers during a hearing last week.

By David Lawder
For 83 years, Sallys Apizza was only available out of its storied Wooster Street location. Now, you can enjoy it anywhere in the country.

Early this year, the renowned New Haven pizzeria announced it had teamed up with Goldbelly, a mail-order platform that works with restaurants and chefs to ship regional foods throughout the country. Whether its sausage in Santa Fe, fresh tomato in Tallahassee, mootz in Minneapolis, or potato in Portland, all your dreams can come true with Sallys nationwide shipping, Sallys posted on Jan. 30, announcing the new partnership.

Sally's offers three-packs of its 12-inch pies for $99, which are shipped frozen with ice packs. Three varieties are available: sauce with mozzarella, pepperoni and white potato and rosemary. There's also a sampler with one of each. Heating instructions are included.

But can a frozen version of its famous pizza evoke the same nostalgic feelings as a visit to New Haven? Would there be the same crispness to the crust, freshness to the sauce, char on the bottom?

Bryan Haeffele, Robin Murena / For Hearst Connecticut Media

We decided to experiment, sending a Goldbelly package from Sally's to a colleague based in San Francisco. Chris Preovolos, an associate product manager for Hearst Newspapers, lived and worked in southern Connecticut for 13 years. The pizza aficionado moved west seven years ago, and has been back east just once since then  and he ate at Frank Pepes Fairfield location.

We also sent a package from Zuppardi's Apizza of West Haven, which sells six-packs of its 10-inch pizzas on Goldbelly ($83 to $87) in varieties like mozzarella, sausage and fresh tomato.

Chris Preovolos

Preovolos reheated some of the pies at his home, using both his conventional oven and his Ooni portable pizza oven, in which he was able to get temperatures to 650 -700 degrees. He also loaded pies from both pizzerias into the top case on his motorcycle, and rode to the office to share with colleagues at the San Francisco Chronicle/SFGate building, where he heated them in a conventional oven.

After his taste tests, he shared his experiences with Hearst Connecticut. (Interview is edited for length and clarity.)

How did the pizzas arrive?

CP: The pies were totally frozen when I got them. They were packed with those big blocks of ice, then there was insulation that wrapped all around it. One thing I liked about Sallys [packaging] was that it had tape on their boxes that said New Haven, 1938 all over it. It came with these cute pizza boxes that said Sallys.

Chris Preovolos

How did you reheat them?

CP: Zuppardis [instructions] said 425 degrees for 10-12 minutes, but that was not the most ideal situation. I tried two different things. I put one in the Ooni oven, and got it pretty hot, and it got very good char on the bottom. But I put them in frozen because I didnt have time to defrost. The middle was not right. I think if you defrosted it, then put it in, I think that would be your best bet  even though theyre already cooked.

When I put them in at 425, they came out not as done as I would have liked. [I cooked another Zuppardis] pie for 8 minutes at 550 degrees and they were better. I put them straight on the rack, and the bottom was crisp. I had it high enough that there was some char on it. Everything was properly heated and bubbly on the top.

Sallys was fully cooked and charred and everything. Zuppardis were not. Sallys pizza is so thin that you run the risk of it getting a crackery crust [if reheated too long.] But it seemed like there was less sauce, or the sauce had lost some of its liquid, moisture. You have to eat it immediately. Its not like the restaurant where you get a large pie and sit there for 20 minutes and eat it. You get a stiff, cracker-like crust.

Chris Preovolos

Can you describe the taste of the ingredients?

CP: Sallys sauce itself was very good. Its a good balance of flavor and sweetness. It really reminded me of being in New HavenEven though I didnt think the sauce was as good in the shipped form as it is having it fresh, the overall flavor of it was excellent.

Zuppardis had a nice crispness to the bottom, a good chewiness to the crust. The sausage was my favorite. It was really good.

The Sallys potato pie was excellent. It was less dry than the red pies  the rosemary flavor was strong, the potatoes got crisp. It was the one that reminded me the most of New Haven because its so different. That was my favorite of all of them. The garlic flavor was great. It was overall a great pie and if I were to order again, I would get more of those.

Chris Preovolos

Does it evoke the same experience?

CP: The Sallys pizza had that char on it. I was explaining [to colleagues] that I didnt get quite as much black char on my fingers from eating it like I would in New Haven, but there was a very familiar feeling, kind of a nostalgic thing.

Zuppardis pies were very round, whereas Sallys were like that kind of whatever, oblong-ish, round-ish shape, which is one of my favorite things  kind of the randomness of the shape of the pizza.

We [my colleagues and I] were [sharing] stories about going to the restaurants, and there was debate over whether or not we were cutting the pizzas sloppily enough  if our pieces were too symmetrical. It was just really fun to reminisce with people. But on the flip side, Ive been talking up New Haven pizza for so many years to people in San Francisco, that its not fair for them to try it for the first time as a frozen pizza.

Chris Preovolos

Is it worth ordering from afar if youre missing a taste of home?



CP: If you want a taste of New Haven, if youve been missing the taste, its definitely worth trying, for a birthday party or something like that.

Zuppardis is a better value (at six pizzas versus three) but Sallys is more of a full New Haven experience.

It definitely is a good reminder of home, especially if youre sharing with other people from Connecticut. I think that was the most fun about it. It started up all these conversations about southern Connecticut that I hadnt had with these people before.
(The Conversation is an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts.)

Jeffrey William Knopf, Middlebury Institute of International Studies

(THE CONVERSATION) Reports emerged from Ukraine on April 11, 2022, alleging that Russia had used a drone to drop an unknown chemical agent in the besieged southern city of Mariupol.

There has been no official confirmation of these reports as of April 12. But the Pentagon has said the news reflects U.S. concern about Russias potential to use a variety of riot control agents, including tear gas mixed with chemical agents, in Ukraine.

A chemical weapon can be any chemical that is used to harm people, including to injure or kill them. Many substances have been used as chemical weapons. Nerve agents are the deadliest, because they require a smaller dose to be fatal.

As an expert who has studied the use of chemical weapons in Syrias civil war, I have thought since Russia first attacked Ukraine that the likelihood of Russia using chemical weapons there is low. Russia has little political or military motivation to use them and would face strong international rebuke and possible military consequences for this kind of attack.

But as recent reports might indicate, Russian use remains a possibility under certain circumstances. This is particularly true if Russian President Vladimir Putin believes chemical weapons are the only way to break a stalemate in a key battle zone.

Chemical weapons in Syria

The ongoing Syrian civil war offers the most recent example of widespread chemical weapons attacks on civilians.

There have been reports of more than 300 chemical attacks in Syria since the war began in 2012. A joint team from the United Nations and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons investigated some of the larger attacks, and conclusively attributed several to the Assad regime.

Russia, an ally of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, continued supporting the Syrian government despite these attacks.

The Assad regime used chemical weapons on its own people because it feared what would happen if it lost the war. Assad would lose power if rebel parties defeated him. Assad and his associates also worried they could be killed.

In August 2012, President Obama warned Syria against chemical weapon use, stating it would be a red line for the U.S.

By the end of 2012, reports began to emerge of the Syrian militarys carrying out chemical attacks.

In August 2013, Syrian forces carried out the largest chemical attack of the war. They fired rockets containing the nerve agent sarin into Ghouta, a Damascus suburb, killing an estimated 1,400 people, including children.

Russia increased its support for Assad after these strikes.

Russia did, however, work with the U.S. to persuade a reluctant Assad in 2013 to sign the Chemical Weapons Convention, an international treaty that outlaws both possession and use of such weapons. Putin feared that without this deal, a possible U.S. military response could grow into an effort to prompt regime change in Damascus and make Russia lose its closest ally in the Middle East.

The deal led to destruction of more than 1,300 tons of Syrian chemical agents by early 2016. It also persuaded the Obama administration to refrain from military action in Syria.

Nevertheless, in 2014, Syria resumed attacks using chlorine, which can be deadly. Syria later also returned to occasional use of sarin.

Russian forces never used chemical weapons themselves, but they did conduct massive airstrikes  similar to the ones used on multiple cities in Ukraine  that destroyed significant portions of the Syrian city of Aleppo in 2016.

Political rationale

Chemical weapons were first used in World War I by nearly all major combatants. Opposing armies used mustard gas, chlorine and phosgene as part of battlefield operations.

In the Syrian war, chemical weapons were part of a counterinsurgency campaign by Assad to hurt rebel forces and their civilian supporters.

Syria had two clear objectives for using chemical weapons.

First, most attacks served a psychological purpose. They were intended to terrify civilian populations so they would stop hiding rebel forces in their communities. Second, some of the larger attacks aimed to drive rebel forces out of areas they controlled.

These chemical attacks were not necessarily effective at reaching this military goal.

Instead, they were largely a function of desperation. Assad escalated chemical attacks when his army began to run short on manpower and conventional munitions  especially in areas where his regime was losing control.

Russia and chemical weapons

Russia is believed to possess chemical weapons despite having signed the Chemical Weapons Convention.

Russia has twice been accused of using chemical weapons in attempted political assassinations.

In 2018, Russia poisoned a former Russian double agent living in the U.K., Sergei Skripal, and his daughter with Novichok, a nerve agent developed by the Soviet Union in the final years of the Cold War.

The Skripals survived, but two other people who accidentally came in contact with the Novichok died as a result.

In 2020, Russia also attempted to poison opposition leader Alexei Navalny with Novichok. Navalny was hospitalized and almost died, but he ultimately recovered.

Russia has never admitted possessing Novichok. But the two assassination attempts show that Russia likely retains elements of a chemical weapons program.

There are other examples of Russias using chemicals in law enforcement operations that turned deadly. In October 2002, after Chechen militants held more than 900 people in a Moscow theater hostage, Russian security services pumped a gas into the theater.

The potency of the gas killed more than 100 of the hostages. Russia never revealed the gas it used, but experts believe it was a form of the opioid fentanyl.

Implications for Ukraine

It is clear that Putin would have no moral issue with using chemical weapons. But at the moment, Russia likely feels no pressing need to use them.

The conditions that motivated the Assad regime  a shortage of conventional forces and fear of being overthrown  do not apply to Russias situation in Ukraine.

Although Russian forces face rising casualty numbers in Ukraine, Russia still has the military capacity to continue fighting at a conventional level. And because the war is not taking place inside Russia, Putin is not at risk of being toppled by Ukrainian forces if they win the conflict.

Russias ability to terrorize civilians  a major goal of chemical weapons use  might also be limited.

A chemical attack may not have the intended psychological effect of demoralizing civilians. Putin appears to have misjudged Ukrainian civilians fortitude. Ukrainians would likely want to keep fighting even if Russia used chemical weapons against them.

This situation could change if the Russian military is on the brink of a decisive defeat. Then, desperation might lead Putin to consider a chemical option.

Although the risk of chemical weapon use, and especially large-scale use, remains low, it does remain possible.

[The Conversations Politics + Society editors pick need-to-know stories. Sign up for Politics Weekly.]

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article here: https://theconversation.com/russia-isnt-likely-to-use-chemical-weapons-in-ukraine-unless-putin-grows-desperate-180534.
THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP)  Ukraine said Tuesday it is investigating a claim that a poisonous substance was dropped on the besieged city of Mariupol. Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar said it was possible that phosphorus munitions  which cause horrendous burns but are not classed as chemical weapons  had been used.

Now the question is how to establish the truth amid the fog of war that has descended over a city still under attack from Russian forces. A clear answer is unlikely to emerge any time soon.

The global chemical weapons watchdog said Tuesday it is concerned by the recent unconfirmed report of chemical weapons use in Mariupol and is closely monitoring the situation in Ukraine. Both Russia and Ukraine are among the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons 193 member states.

The Nobel Peace Prize-winning OPCW says that it remains ready to assist any State Party upon its request, in case of use or threat of use of chemical weapons.

WHO COULD INVESTIGATE?

First in line to investigate in Ukraine is the country's own law enforcement agencies. There also are teams from other nations investigating allegations  particularly around the Ukrainian town of Bucha  of war crimes and the International Criminal Court has launched an investigation in Ukraine. The OPCW has, so far, not announced any investigations in Ukraine, although it says on its website that it is monitoring the status of relevant chemical industrial facilities and any threats of use of toxic chemicals as weapons in the country.

Marc-Michael Blum, former head of the OPCW's laboratory and now an independent consultant, said the organization won't send a team to Mariupol any time soon to investigate.

We have an active war zone where the OPCW would not send a team in because the security of the team cannot be guaranteed, Blum told The Associated Press.

HOW ARE SUSPECTED CHEMICAL ATTACKS INVESTIGATED?

If a team of experts were able to investigate what was used and by whom, it would seek to build a dossier of evidence based on laboratory tests of samples collected at the scene and from victims. That means taking soil samples and testing them for traces of possible chemical weapons or other munitions. Samples of blood and urine from victims who were exposed to the munition would also be tested.

Then investigators would seek to interview witnesses and survivors, to build a picture of what they experienced, and the physicians who treated them. In past investigations, experts have studied gas dispersion models and topographic charts and looked at digital images. The OPCW has experience building such investigations in Syria, where its experts have confirmed the use of chemical weapons on multiple occasions.

Damascus denies using chemical weapons.

WHAT HAPPENED IN PREVIOUS CASES OF CHEMICAL WEAPONS USE ELSEWHERE?

Hundreds of people were killed in gas poisoning attacks in Syria during the countrys civil war. The OPCW faced numerous hurdles and Russian vetoes complicating the establishment of investigation mechanisms. To this day, no one has been held accountable.

Two recent cases outside Syria show how a suspected chemical weapon use can be investigated by local authorities  the poisoning in 2020 of Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny and of former double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter in the English city of Salisbury in 2018.

In those cases, authorities in Germany, where Navalny went for treatment, and in the United Kingdom in the case of the Skripals, took and tested biological samples and concluded that they were targeted with a Soviet-era nerve agent known as Novichok. In those cases, the OPCW tested the samples and confirmed the findings by national authorities.

Russia denied involvement in both attacks.

IF PHOSPHORUS WAS USED IN MARIUPOL, IS IT ILLEGAL?

Phosphorus munitions are not considered chemical weapons. Most armies have phosphorus munitions to use for illuminating battlefields or targets or to produce smoke screens. However, if an army deliberately fired a phosphorus munition into an enclosed space in order to expose people to toxic fumes, it could be a breach of the Chemical Weapons Convention, said Blum.

Once you start using the properties of white phosphorus, toxic properties, specifically and deliberately then it becomes banned, he said.

WHAT ARE THE CHANCES OF A SUCCESSFUL INVESTIGATION IN BESIEGED MARIUPOL?

Blum is not optimistic. Given the current situation we have Mariupol, almost impossible to really pin down, and so I have no high hopes for any any kind of investigation, he said.

___

Follow the APs coverage of the war at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine
The Illinois General Assembly recently passed legislation permitting the Illinois Attorney General to partner with Illinois State Police in order to prosecute "dangerous crimes committed on expressways," the AG wrote in a press release.

House Bill 260, sponsored by Rep. Ann Williams, D-Chicago and Sen. Sara Feigenholtz, D-Chicago, and HB 4481, sponsored by Rep. LaToya Greenwood, D-East St. Louis, and Sen. Laura Murphy, D-Des Plaines, allows for the attorney general to address shootings and other violent crimes occurring on Illinois highways and expressways.

These measures allow the office "broader authority and additional tools" in order to prosecute forcible felonies, gunrunning and firearms trafficking crimes committed on Illinois highways and expressways, the AG stated. Forcible felonies include murder, predatory criminal sexual assault of a child, criminal sexual assault, robbery, burglary, arson and kidnapping, among other offenses.

"We stand ready to collaborate with the Illinois State Police to address gun violence and other violent crimes occurring on our highways and expressways," Illinois AG Kwame Raoul said in a statement. "We are committed to capturing and holding accountable individuals who terrorize residents and visitors traveling Illinois roadways.

"I appreciate the Legislatures action and look forward to continuing to use our partnerships with law enforcement agencies to combat shootings and violent crime wherever it takes place in our state," Raoul continued.

The AG wrote that crimes committed on highways and expressways are often difficult to investigate and prosecute due to the difficulty of locating evidence or offenders fleeing the scene of the crime. The measures passed recently aim to address those hurdles in investigations.

The legislation increases the use of highway cameras and gives the ISP and local law enforcement the authority to use the captured footage in a "broader range of criminal investigations," the AG stated, also allowing ISP to share its investigations with the Attorney General's office. This will enable the AG's office to prosecute an offender who is caught on a highway camera committing a forcible felony, gunrunning or firearms trafficking.

"With the emerging crime of organized retail theft and spike in violence, we welcome strong action on behalf of law enforcement and public safety," ISP Director Brendan F. Kelly said in a statement. "The Illinois State Police will continue to work closely with the Illinois Attorney General and States Attorneys across the state to bring to justice those who break the law."
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TEL AVIV, Israel (AP)  A Palestinian opened fire into a crowded bar in central Tel Aviv, killing at least two people and wounding several others. The attacker, who was from the occupied West Bank, eluded police for hours before he was killed in a shootout with security forces early Friday, officials said.

It was the fourth deadly attack in Israel by Palestinians in less than three weeks and came at a time of heightened tensions around the start of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan. Protests and clashes in Jerusalem during Ramadan last year eventually ignited an 11-day Gaza war.

The militant Hamas group that rules the Gaza Strip praised the attack but did not claim responsibility.

Hundreds of Israeli police officers, canine units, and army special forces, had conducted a massive manhunt in central Tel Aviv, searching building by building through densely populated residential neighborhoods.

Israel's Shin Bet security agency said they eventually cornered the attacker in a mosque in the Jaffa neighborhood, where he was killed in an exchange of fire.

After a difficult night, and after long hours of activity by police, the army and the Shin Bet, we succeeded this morning, through intelligence and operational cooperation, to close the circle and to kill the terrorist in a shootout, Israeli police chief Kobi Shabtai said.

Thursdays attack took place at the start of the Israeli weekend in the popular nightlife area. Medics described scenes of panic, with dozens of people fleeing after the shots rang out.

Israel's Magen David Adom emergency service said two men around 30 years old were killed. Another seven people were wounded, three of them seriously, it said.

Eleven Israelis were killed in three previous attacks, making this one of the worst waves of violence in years.

The shooting took place on Dizengoff Street, a central thoroughfare that has seen other attacks over the years. In the most recent, an Arab citizen of Israel shot and killed two Israelis and wounded several others on the street in January 2016.

Israeli, Jordanian and Palestinian leaders have held a flurry of meetings in recent weeks, and Israel has taken a number of steps aimed at calming tensions, including issuing thousands of additional work permits for Palestinians from the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip.

Prior to the attack, Israel had said it would allow women, children and men over 40 from the occupied West Bank to pray at the Al-Aqsa Mosque in east Jerusalem on Friday, the first weekly prayers of Ramadan. Tens of thousands were expected to attend.

The mosque is the third holiest site in Islam and sits on a hilltop that is the most sacred site for Jews, who refer to it as the Temple Mount. The holy site has long been a flashpoint for Israeli-Palestinian violence.

Israel has worked to sideline the Palestinian issue in recent years, instead focusing on forging alliances with Arab states against Iran. But the century-old conflict remains as intractable as ever.

Israel captured east Jerusalem, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip in the 1967 Mideast war. The Palestinians want all three territories to form their future state. The last substantive peace talks broke down more than a decade ago, and Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett is opposed to Palestinian statehood.

Israel annexed east Jerusalem in a move not recognized internationally and considers the entire city to be its capital. It is building and expanding Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank, which most of the international community considers illegal.

It withdrew soldiers and settlers from Gaza in 2005. But along with neighboring Egypt, it imposed a crippling blockade on the territory after the militant Hamas group seized power from rival Palestinian forces two years later. Israel and Hamas have fought four wars since then.

Hamas spokesman Abdelatif Al-Qanou said late Thursday that the "the heroic attack in the heart of the (Israeli) entity has struck the Zionist security system and proved our peoples ability to hurt the occupation.

On March 29, a 27-year-old Palestinian from the West Bank shot and killed five people in the central town of Bnei Brak. Two days earlier, a shooting attack by two Islamic State group sympathizers in the central city of Hadera killed two police officers. The week before, an IS supporter killed four people in a car-ramming and stabbing attack in the southern city of Beersheba. The Hadera and Beersheba attacks were carried out by Palestinian citizens of Israel.

The recent attacks appear to have been carried out by lone assailants, perhaps with the help of accomplices. No Palestinian militant group has claimed them, though Hamas has welcomed the attacks.

Israel says the conflict stems from the Palestinians' refusal to accept its existence as a Jewish state and blames attacks in part on incitement on social media. Palestinians say such attacks are the inevitable result of a nearly 55-year military occupation that shows no sign of ending.

___

Krauss reported from Jerusalem. Associated Press writer Ilan Ben Zion in Jerusalem contributed to this report.
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The National Leader of the All Progressives Congress and presidential aspirant, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, in his reaction to the formal declaration of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo joining the presidential race ahead of 2023 general election, has said he has no son grown up enough to contest the partys presidential ticket.

He also note that he is seeking the collaboration, support and encouragement of the APC for his ambition to succeed the President Muhammadu Buhari whose tenure elapses next year.

Bola Tinubu made this disclosure shortly after a meeting with members of the Progressives Governors Forum at the Kebbi State Governors Lodge, Asokoro, Abuja.

Tinubu who is yet to officially declare to run for the office, had in January informed the incumbent President of his intention to succeed him.

In his response to Presidential declaration of Vice President Osinbajo yesterday before the Kebbi House meeting, he noted that; I dont have any son grown up enough to make such declaration.

My mission here is to seek collaboration, support and encouragement of my party, the APC, for my ambition to become the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as replacement for President Muhammadu Buhari after his tenure, he added.
Rather than considering it as a betrayal, I see Professor Yemi Osinbajo's declaration to contest for the post of the President of Nigeria as a very courageous act for which he must be commended. To think that a man would stand up against his benefactor by declaring to contest for the same position as the benefactor should make one ask the reason why?

After rising from being a law teacher and growing through a political career to becoming the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, most of which is courtesy of the benevolence of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, one should expect some loyalty from the Prof. Osinbajo to his political godfather. But it doesn't always work that way.

Ask Osinbajo who was responsible for making him all that he has been as a lawyer, public servant and now vice president and he would tell you it is the Almighty God and not Tinubu. Therefore his loyalty does not really lie to Tinubu even though he remains grateful to him for the roles God has used him to play in his life.

So which man would come so close to becoming the President of Nigeria, with the understanding of government workings and the acumen of a professor of law who wanted to change Nigeria for the better but was frustrated and now has a chance to be the change himself but would not attempt to do so in the name loyalty? Loyalty to who?

There always comes a time in man's life when he would be required to decide whether to live in pursuit of a dream and personal conviction that he has or slowly begins to die, pining away with a sense of regret for not trying to become his dream. Professor Osinbajo was at that crossroads until Monday when he declared to contest Nigeria's presidency. He chose to live for a dream that he has of Nigeria and himself. He was courageous to act in his convictions.

President Muhammadu Buhari's administration is a litany of failed expectations to the disappointment of many of his supporters in 2015 and between Osinbajo and Tinubu, who is to blame for the perceived abysmal performance of the regime? Is it Osinbajo who was supposed to be the Chairman of the National Economic Council but didn't really have any powers to be responsible for managing the economy or is it Tinubu who actually made Buhari president by making many of us believe what he was not?

Without unnecessary speculations, I would judge Osinbajo by his proven acts which I, without apologies, consider to be very progressive. The records speak for themselves of the brief times he acted as Acting President and the courageous decisions he made. I would not hesitate to state, though, for a rather personal and maybe selfish consideration that it was during his time as Acting President, that I was recognised as a human rights defender and appointed to Nigeria's Inter-Ministerial Committee on the Universal Periodic Review of Human Rights to the United Nations. I doubt if that would have ever happened if he were not the one in the saddle of the Presidency at that time. That is why after spending millions of Naira of personal funds to do the work of the Committee, I, my other civil society colleague, Austin Erameh (of then CISLAC) and others are yet to be reimbursed more than 4 years after we completed our work. What defiant inefficiency! Now we are headed to Court to enforce reimbursements for personal monies spent in doing the work of a Federal Government Treaty Reporting Committee. I have sometimes asked myself if Osinbajo authorised an appointment, would he not also authorise remuneration and funding for such work?

I however do not hide my personal likeness for Osinbajo and wish that he becomes President of Nigeria if possible. I have never met him before and I believe that he certainly does not know me but if for nothing, he is so presidential in his speech and composure. As a lawyer with a background in international law, that would really make me proud to have a President that speaks at the United Nations General Assembly and the whole world listens. Bad as they have considered the legendary Robert Mugabe, whenever he spoke at world events, his oratorical skills always commanded a world audience. It is called national pride.

Again as a professor of law and former commissioner for justice, with a number of unprecedented justice innovations in Lagos State to his credit, there would be greater hope that the much needed judicial reforms in Nigeria would be achieved much faster and responsive to modern realities under an Osinbajo's Presidency.

I am not unaware of how soon an Osinbajo's Presidency if it ever happens would be seen by some, especially in the vineyard of God as an answer to their prayers to get close to political power and wield the same. I recall how defiant and arrogant Pastor Laolu Akande carried himself as a Special Adviser to the Office of the Vice President when we appeared together as guests on a live Radio Nigeria programme. His only qualification for getting that job perhaps is because he was a pastor. I also remember how a self-acclaimed female pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God promised she would deal with me because they owned the office of the Vice President of Nigeria.

Nigeria does not need another divisive personality as the president rather the country needs a courageous personality like Osinbajo who could defy his godfather in his quest to actualise his convictions that he can make Nigeria great again (MNGA). It is such a person as a president that can make the tough decisions that are required to salvage the present political and economic quagmire reflected in the high-level insecurity and unprecedented rates of unemployment in the country at the moment.

Frank Tietie is a Human Rights Lawyer & Executive Director, Citizens Advocacy for Social & Economic Rights (CASER), Writes from Abuja
The Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP) in Collaboration with the Government of Anambra State is set to arrest the environmental degradation being caused by Erosion in some communities in the state

The group led by Project Coordinator, Mr Michael Ivenso with representatives from other countries met with the Deputy Governor of Anambra State, Dr Onyekachukwu Ibezim who stood in for Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo.

Both parties discussed on the way forward in arresting the devastating effects of Erosion in some communities in the State

The group spoke on its readiness to work with the Government of Anambra with support from World Bank, towards stemming the effects of flooding and Erosion menace.

It said it has identified about 960 Erosion sites in the state and only 13 has been touched. The group also revealed it has the video recordings of all the sites across communities in the state adding that the mission will be in Anambra State in the next 2 to 3 days in its continous assessments of the impact of erosion menace ravaging the State

Dr Onyekachukwu Ibezim, Anambra State Deputy Governor, who represented Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo at the occasion, welcome the group to the State and assured them of the State's readiness to work with the body.

He told the contigent of the seriousness Governor Soludo places on ensuring the existential threats of erosion in the state is reduced to the barest minimum if not completely eradicated

Anambra State is one of the the Nigerian States under severe flood snd Erosion problems. Records indicate that a significant part of its land mass is under severe threat of flood and soil erosion hazards.

The effects of this had altered significantly communities' social pattern of activities in many respects while destructively encroaching into major community roadways constituting danger to transportation snd communication in the areas.

This problem disrupts flow of economic activities, increases the cost of commuting and places a burden on food prices and transportation

In many areas, the resulting flood from heavy rainfalls often creates situations that pose serious risks to movement of the communities' children and other socio-economic activities
The Archbishop, Ecclesiastical Province of the Niger and Bishop of Awka Diocese, Most Revd. Alexander Chibuzor Ibezim, has said that the detained Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu will be released in May this year.

Archbishop Ibezim made this revelation on Saturday at the 2022 Awka Diocesan Annual Prayer Convention, themed "This Mountain Shall Be Removed", held at the Paul University, Awka, Anambra State capital.

Speaking at the event, the Anglican prelate prophesied that God will touch the leadership of the country to release the IPoB leader so as to end the killings and destructions currently going in the south-east.

God has already given us a breakthrough. We are going to celebrate a breakthrough.

We shall witness fantastic testimony, and we are making a declaration that wherever Nnamdi Kanu is, he will be released by this time next month.

God will touch the leadership of Nigeria so that this calamity that is taking place in the Southeast will end. By this time next month or anytime in the month of May, he will be released and there will be peace in Eastern Nigeria and Anambra State, especially.

I'm not a politician but a prophet and when a prophet speaks, things happen. It is time injustice ceased to exist in Nigeria. Injustice, killings and calamities will cease in Southeastern Nigeria.

If we watch my prayers, I don't pray like politicians who always do things to attract attention. I believe that my people will be set free and there won't be war or destruction in this land.

We need humility because nobody is safe when the poor are not safe. The rich in our midst must do everything to ensure the safety of the poor. Otherwise they won't be safe to enjoy their riches. So, both the rich and the poor should cry unto God.

We are going through insecurity and poverty difficulties and challenges especially in the southeast. I believe that God has answered our prayers and the women are going home with joy.

People are so bothered. There are wars and insecurity. When these happen, it's an indication that people need to come together to seek God's face. We don't need human wisdom to handle spiritual matters.

Earlier in his sermon at the Prayer Convention, Bishop Oluwaseun Aderogba of Jebba Diocese, Kwara State, said that God is ready to remove obstacles that had hindered justices to the people of the country.

He urged Christians to rely on God, as He remaina the solution to the numerous challenges in the land.

On his own part, the convention Coordinator and Planning Committee, Ven. Ifeanyi Umeh said the prayer convention removes mountains of insecurity, sickness, bad governance, poverty, economic hardship, wastage of human lives, unemployment and many more others tormenting people in southeast and beyond.

Contributing, Ven. Prince Chuma Oranye emphasized that the aim of the event was for people to pray so that the devil will not have way in their lives again.

"The people are faced with burdens. Also the Anambra state is troubled in several ways. We need rest and we are here to have rest in every area of our life, he said.
High hopes for Phuket Songkran tourism boost

PHUKET: Phuket Chamber of Commerce President Thanusak Phungdet has expressed high hopes for a tourism boost this Songkran, with Phuket among the top destinations chosen under the governments subsidised We Travel Together campaign.

tourismeconomics

By The Phuket News

Tuesday 12 April 2022, 06:26PM

Tourism revenues during Songkran this year will be better than those in 2020 and 2021, said Phuket Chamber of Commerce President Thanusak Phungdet. Photo: PR Phuket

Passenger throughput at Phuket airport has risen to above 23,000 people a day, up from about 18,000, Mr Thanusak said.

Foreign tourists arriving through Phuket airport in the days leading up to Songkran numbered more than 7,000, Mr Thanusak added, describing the influx as satisfactory to some extent.

Phuket is also getting early attention from tourists who travel and relax during the holiday season, he explained.

Phuket is ready to accept tourists, but there may be fewer cars and boats [serving tourists] than before the COVID-19 epidemic, he said.

Tourist-popular locales around the island are prepared to receive tourists, Mr Thanusak noted.

Patong Beach and tourist attractions around Phuket are usually bustling during the Songkran festival. Each location has a beautiful check-in point for tourists to take pictures as a souvenir, which is expected during this Songkran festival as Phuket is still in the top 10 destinations of choice among Thai and foreign tourists during this period, he said.

Helping to attract domestic tourists are the special discount rates offered by hotels for the Songkran Festival, in addition to the governments "We Travel Together" program, Mr Thanusak said.

Discounts of up to 40% are being offered, resulting in a large number of tourists, he explained.

According to a report by the Phuket office of the Public Relations Department (PR Phuket), Mr Thanusak noted that tourism revenues generated during Songkran this year were expected to reach the tens of billions.

It is expected to be better than revenues in 2020 and 2021. Overall, the tourism economy is definitely better than 2021, Mr Thanusak said.
Official Songkran celebrations begin in Phuket Town

PHUKET: The first of the official festivities being held for the Songkran holidays began at the Chartered Bank Intersection in the Phuket Old Town area yesterday (Apr 11), with Miss Thailand 2022, Phuket native Manita Duangkham Farmer, as special guest.

culture

By The Phuket News

Tuesday 12 April 2022, 11:23AM

Phuket Vice Governor Pichet Panapong officiated the opening ceremony of the activity, called Water Festival 2022, branded under the theme A water festival, Thai way of life.

Phuket is one of six provinces in the country to hold the Songkran activity, jointly organised with Thai Beverage Public Company Limited (ThaiBev).

The Phuket edition has been further branded as Discover Phuket, with support from Phuket City Municipality, represented yesterday by Phuket City Mayor Saroj Angkanapilas, and the Pracharat Rak Samakkee Phuket Community Enterprise, formed to preserve Phukets local culture.

The activity is hoped to inspire people to travel to Phuket to enjoy and learn about the islands heritage, customs and traditions.

Vice Governor Pichet yesterday led the traditional ceremony to bathe the Buddha image at the small park, located opposite the heritage-listed Chartered Bank Building, which is now home to the Peranakan Culture Centre.

The festival activity also features entries from the Discover Phuket photo contest, a small market with foods and products sold by local vendors and a display of art by students from Baan Mai Khao.

A light art installation is open for viewing at the Peranakan Culture Centre in the Chartered Bank building.
Phuket Poll: Should Phuket receive Russian tourists?

NOTE: THIS POLL WAS CLOSED AFTER AN ONLINE ATTACK RENDERED THE RESULTS VOID.

opiniontourismRussianUkraineeconomics

By The Phuket News

Tuesday 12 April 2022, 09:30AM

Russian tourists arrive on the first Aeroflot flight to return to Phuket after the COVID-19 ban on international arrivals was lifted in Nov 2021. Photo: AoT Phuket / file

UPDATE: This poll was closed and the results rendered void after an online attack. See story here.

PHUKET: The issue of whether or not Phuket should receive Russian tourists to help provide much-needed incomes for people on the island has divided opinions among readers of The Phuket News as the move would fly in the face of international sanctions imposed on Russia over the atrocities being committed in Russias invasion of Ukraine.

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, although rare to comment publicly on the issue, has through other officials maintained that Thailand is to remain neutral over the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Remaining neutral has left Thailand among 52 countries that Russia deems to be friendly, with Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin announcing last Monday that from last Saturday (Apr 9) Russia has allowed flights from the 52 friendly countries to operate in Russian airspace.

The move opens the door to airlines and tour operators to arrange travel to and from Thailand, with major travel operators inside Russia reporting a 20% jump in online searches by Russians seeking to travel to Thailand.

Bhummikitti Ruktaengam, President of the Phuket Tourist Association, has already reported that his association and its members were seeking ways to bypass the international sanctions to allow Russian tourists to come to Phuket.

There are avenues for Russians to travel to Phuket without using a Russian-state-operated airline. Etihad and Emirates airlines are already operating flights into and out of Russia.

The issue has become controversial, with conscientious people not wanting to punish the average Russian citizen, many of whom do not agree with the invasion of Ukraine. More than 15,000 people in Russia have been arrested for publicly demonstrating against the invasion.

Yet supporters of the sanctions against Russia, led by the US and EU member countries, argue that it is an effective means to pressure the Russian government to end its military offensive, which has been widely reported by respected international news agencies to have targeted civilians, killing thousands, including women and children. Reports of the atrocities being committed, including rape and mass killings, have been horrific.

Meanwhile, thousands of people in Phuket are struggling for any means of income as the islands tourism industry continues to be crushed by COVID-prevention policies.

With all this in mind, The Phuket News asks readers: Should Phuket receive Russian tourists?

Responses available to the poll are:

1) No. Russia as a country must be held accountable for the action by its military.

2) No. Although many Russian people do not support the invasion, the Russian government must be pressured to end its invasion of Ukraine.

3) Yes, but only if Russian tourists pay independent international tour and travel operators that do not contribute to the Russian economy.

4) Yes, let Russian tourists come without restrictions as they are not the ones committing the invasion, and Thailand should think first about their own peoples struggle and help Ukraine in other ways.

To vote in the poll, click HERE.

If your preferred response is not presented in the poll, feel free to include it in the comments below.

The poll will close at midnight Friday night (Apr 15).
Phuket suffers five injured, no deaths on Day 1 of Songkran Seven Days campaign

PHUKET: Phuket began the first day of the Seven Days of Danger road-safety campaign for Songkran 2022 with five people injured, but no deaths, Udomphon Kan, head of the Phuket Provincial Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Office (DDPM-Phuket), reported today (Apr 12).

tourismaccidentsSafety

By The Phuket News

Tuesday 12 April 2022, 05:34PM

The news came at the traditional morning briefing at Provincial Hall, today chaired by Phuket Vice Governor Pichet Panapong.

Mr Udomphon explained that Phuket officials recorded five people injured in five accidents on Day 1 of the campaign, from midnight to midnight yesterday (Monday, Apr 11).

Of the five injured, three were male and two were female, he said.

As for the efforts by police to increase road safety, officers levied the most fines during Day 1 for people not wearing a helmet riding a motorbike, followed by people driving without a licence, people not wearing a seatbelt, followed by people ignoring traffic signals, Mr Udomphon said.

Vice Governor Pichet said that he had emphasized that all checkpoints should strictly follow the measures set out for the road-safety campaign, especially regarding drunk drivers, in order to prevent accidents.

V/Gov Pichet also said that officers at all checkpoints were rigorous in their efforts to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus, according to a report by the Phuket office of the Public Relations Department (PR Phuket).

V/Gov Pichet later today inspected operations at Rassada Port (or Rassada Harbour, the facility officially uses both names), as marine transport safety is included under the Seven Days campaign.

The port is a popular jump-off point for people travelling to nearby islands.

Activity at the port was reported as quite lively, with V/Gov Pichet noting that there were more Thai tourists than foreigners boarding a ferry heading to Phi Phi Island.

Before the Songkran holidays the port saw 60-800 people boarding outbound boats. Songkran is expected to see that number rise to over 1,000 a day, V/Gov Pichet said.

While at the port, V/Gov Pichet led safety inspections of some of the boats to ensure they complied with marine safety requirements, including not overloading with passengers, carrying enough life jackets for all people on board, ensuring there are enough fire extinguishers in approved condition for use and making sure that the boat had radio contact with marine safety officers.
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Niro Feliciano has been speaking publicly for the past 15 years, but there was one topic in particular that gained the most feedback, she said.

In 2017, Feliciano, a therapist from Ridgefield with a practice in Wilton, addressed a room of 600 women and talked about finding contentment at Christmas. She described how people tend to get caught up during this season  a time were supposed to enjoy  leaving them feeling exhausted and unfulfilled by New Years.

Its a small snapshot of what we experience in our whole lives, Feliciano said.

In her first work This Book Won't Make You Happy, Feliciano provides a path to something more satisfying than happiness: contentment. The text offers practices to help readers feel calmer, de-stress and shift their perspective to appreciate the good thats already around them.

The author will provide a deep dive into what it means to achieve contentment during an event at The Ridgefield Playhouse at 7 p.m. April 19. The evening will be hosted by stand-up comedian and former Saturday Night Live writer Tim Washer and feature a performance from the Ridgefield High School dance team.

A percentage of all book sales and ticket proceeds will go to Kids in Crisis. The organization provides emergency shelter, crisis counseling and community education programs for children of all ages and families facing crisis.

Feliciano grew up in Danbury and is the daughter of two physicians. She has lived in Ridgefield for more than 10 years and is a mother of four. She is the co-founder and co-director of Integrative Counseling and Wellness Group in Wilton, which specializes in a range of wellness issues.

Feliciano spoke with Hearst Connecticut Media ahead of the Playhouse event.

Question: What inspired you to write this book?

Feliciano: In 2017 I did a talk for 600 women on ... finding contentment.  A lot of people related to that message, which made me think this could actually become a book.  I got to a point around 2019 where I was feeling overwhelmed with life myself,  (so) I cut my practice down in half and began something new. I wrote a book proposal based on that talk  (and) serendipitously an acquisition editor from a publisher reached out.

Question: The title is arguably a jarring one. Why was it important to set readers expectations from the jump?

Feliciano: Our cultural definition of happiness  (is) based on achievement and acquisition, and that is what many therapists believe is causing us more stress, anxiety and depression. The pursuit of happiness has gotten extreme. The busyness has left us exhausted and disconnected from each other, (so) we dont have time for  the practices that bring us true contentment.

Question: What are the key differences between happiness and contentment? Why is the latter easier to achieve?

Feliciano: Actually the latter is harder (to achieve) because of the way weve been culturally socialized. As humans we have this need for acceptance and validation, (which weve) come to understand (is) based on our achievements.

If happiness is having everything you want, contentment is wanting everything you have.  In the culture we live in its a learned practice because theres so many factors that lead us away from contentment that have become normalized.

Question: The past two years have no doubt taken a considerable toll on our collective psyche. Did the pandemic have any effect on the tone of the book?

Feliciano: It did. I worked through the whole pandemic (and used practices) with my clients to (help them) feel grounded, calm, peaceful and appreciate what they still had amidst a time (where) they lost a lot. These practices are included in the book

If you think about what causes stress and anxiety, some of the strongest triggers are psychological and emotional: uncertainty, lack of information, loss, lack of control.

Over an extended period of time it creates a dysregulation of your sympathetic nervous system (fight or flight). What these practices do is interrupt that cycle and enable somebody to  regulate themselves and reset.

Question: Is there a tid-bit you can share from the book that may peak readers interest to pick up a copy?

Feliciano: I titled the second chapter Crazy, (which is) a word therapists dont throw around  lightly. Its how I feel sometimes about my own life, especially living in Fairfield County.  Its so surprising to me how many people have connected to that chapter  theyve told me that theyve laughed and cried by page 10.  You have to laugh at life sometimes, otherwise it can get very heavy.

Question: Why should people attend your upcoming event at the Playhouse?

Feliciano: Theres so much around us that is good, but were just too busy to make time for it and pay attention to it, so I invited people who will make (the audience) happy. I wanted this also to be youth-focused  because the pandemic of anxiety in young people is tremendous. We dont have enough therapists to cover the need for youth right now.

Question: Anything else youd like to add.

Feliciano: The most important thing that I want people to know is that (when) we look back on what makes a fulfilled life, (its) in not those big things that we strive for. Did you love the people around you well and make the most of the day to day? I dont want people to wait until the end of their life to begin that process  its something we can do now.

For more information or to purchase tickets, call the box office at 203-438-5795 or visit www.ridgefieldplayhouse.org.

alyssa.seidman

@hearstmediact.com
Salem, MO (65560)

Today

Some clouds this morning will give way to generally sunny skies for the afternoon. High 71F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

A few passing clouds. Low 51F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph.
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From an office in the Press Corps of the Indiana Statehouse, the journalism majors of Franklin College's Pulliam School of Journalism work alongside the best reporters in the state, digging into the behind-the-scenes stories of Indiana politics. We're a student newsroom, but our work doesn't sit on a professor's desk. We create daily content for this website and 35 professional media partners around the state.
A woman takes pictures of huge pysankas, or decorated Easter eggs, during the opening of the Pysanka Festival in 2018 in Kyiv.
A childs first night away from home can be a little dicey. However, the Arkansas 4-H program is offering two opportunities this summer for children to learn the joys of overnight camp with a family member along for the ride. The Arkansas 4-H program is offering three-day camps meant to introduce children as young as 5 to the joys of camping  along with their parent or guardian.
SEOUL, South Korea (AP)  North Korea is demolishing a South Korean-owned hotel at a North Korean resort that was one of the last symbols of inter-Korean engagement, according to Seoul officials who called for the North to stop the unilateral destruction.

South Korea built dozens of facilities at North Korea's Diamond Mountain resort to accommodate tourism by its citizens during a high period of engagement between the rivals in the 1990s. But North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in 2019 called the South Korean facilities there shabby and ordered them destroyed after months of frustration over Seouls unwillingness to defy U.S.-led sanctions that kept the tours from resuming.

The North postponed the demolition work in 2020 as part of stringent measures to prevent COVID-19.

South Koreas Unification Ministry, which handles inter-Korean affairs, said Friday that North Korea was proceeding with the demolition of the Haegumgang Hotel. The floating hotel, docked at a coastal area of the resort, was a major property among dozens of facilities South Korea established to accommodate Diamond Mountain tours, which began in 1998.

Unification Ministry spokesperson Cha Deok-cheol said it wasnt clear whether the North also was destroying other facilities at the site. He said Seoul strongly regrets North Koreas unilateral dismantlement of the hotel and urged the North to engage in talks to resolve disagreements over the South Korean properties at the site.

Commercial satellite images indicate the demolition work has been underway for weeks. Cha said Seoul used inter-Korean communication channels to demand an explanation and talks on the issue, but the North has ignored the request.

The demolition comes amid heighted tensions over recent missile launches. North Korea conducted its first intercontinental ballistic missile test since 2017 on March 24, as Kim revives brinkmanship aimed at forcing the United States and other rivals to accept the North as a nuclear power and remove crippling sanctions.

South Korean tours to Diamond Mountain were a major symbol of cooperation between the Koreas and a valuable cash source for the Norths broken economy before the South suspended them in 2008 after a North Korean guard fatally shot a South Korean tourist.

South Korea cant restart mass tours to Diamond Mountain or any other major inter-Korean economic activity without defying sanctions, which have been strengthened since 2016, when the North began accelerating its nuclear and missile tests. While U.N. sanctions dont directly ban tourism, they prohibit bulk cash transfers that can result from such business activities.

During their brief diplomacy in 2018, South Korean President Moon Jae-in met Kim three times and vowed to restart Diamond Mountain tours, voicing optimism that sanctions could end. But North Korea suspended cooperation with the South after diplomacy with the U.S. collapsed in 2019 and Seoul wasn't able to wrest concessions from Washington on its behalf.
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP)  The influx of prescription opioids into West Virginia communities was the main driver of the state's drug crisis  more than poverty, job loss and other economic stressors, an epidemiologist testified Tuesday at the ongoing trial against three major pharmaceutical companies.

The economic conditions were the kindling, but the opioid suppliers were the gasoline that was poured directly on that kindling, said Dr. Katherine Keyes, director of Columbia Universitys Psychiatric Epidemiology Training Program.

Keyes was questioned on the stand all day Tuesday in the state's bench trial against Johnson & Johnson subsidiary Janssen Pharmaceuticals Inc., Teva Pharmaceuticals Inc., AbbVie Inc.s Allergan and their family of companies.

The West Virginia trial began last week and is expected to last up to two months. State and local governments, Native American tribes, unions, hospitals and other entities have filed more than 3,000 lawsuits involving the opioid epidemic in state and federal courts.

Most allege the industry created a public nuisance in a crisis that has been linked to the deaths of 500,000 Americans over the past two decades.

A trial opened Monday in Floridas opioid epidemic lawsuit against the Walgreens pharmacy chain, which state officials accuse of prioritizing profits over health by improperly dispensing millions of powerful painkillers that caused tens of thousands of deaths. Closing arguments are expected this week for an opioid-related trial in Washington.

Keyes described West Virginia, one of the poorest U.S. states, as the epicenter of the opioid crisis in the U.S. More people have died of overdoses in the state per capita than any other, all while the state has been grappling with a loss of jobs from the declining coal industry. West Virginia was one of the only U.S. states to lose population during the 2020 U.S. census.

But while she said there is a relationship between poverty and unemployment and drug deaths, the number of prescription drugs present in communities makes a much greater impact.

Economic factors certainly are important and certainly play a role and we should be paying attention to those, but the opioid supply is by far the predominant risk factor, she said.

Keyes said shed cited at least 400 scientific papers in her research preparing for trial. One 2021 study reviewing opioid shipments to retail pharmacies across the country showed that Mingo County, West Virginia, had the highest rate of per capita pill volume in the country in 2008. The county saw an influx of 372 pills per capita, compared with a population-weighted national average of around 35.

Lawyers representing the pharmaceutical companies said West Virginia has greater rates of prescription drug use across the board. They also said there are higher rates of individuals who are diagnosed with chronic pain conditions in the state compared with the national average, a statistic likely related to the higher number of people working jobs that require manual labor.

During her testimony, Keyes said that the wave of prescription opioids drove a tsunami of drug dependence and prescription opioid-related overdose deaths. As the number of people being prescribed opioids decreased, people turned to heroin and fentanyl.
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SIDON, Lebanon (AP)  An explosion ripped through a building in southern Lebanon early on Tuesday, killing one person and wounding several others, a Lebanese security official said.

The blast in the town of Banaafoul, near the port city of Sidon, demolished the two-floor building that had served as the local municipality headquarters and a scout center for the Shiite Amal militia, headed by Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri.

According to the security official, the dead person was the son of the towns mayor. Five people were injured, the official said, revising his earlier figure of seven wounded. It was not immediately clear what triggered the blast, which also caused material damage to nearby buildings and cars.

The official said the explosion may have been caused by diesel fuel stored inside the building. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to give official statements.

Other unconfirmed reports said the building contained a weapons cache. Army personnel sealed off the building as they searched through the rubble for clues and casualties.

Samira Mustafa, whose nearby house received some damage, said she saw smoke and the sound of popping before the explosion.

I ran as stones fell on my head, she said as she sat with neighbors on Tuesday morning, discussing the incident.

Such mysterious explosions are not uncommon in Lebanon, particularly in the country's south, awash with weapons.

Late last year, arms stored for the Palestinian Hamas group exploded in a building in a Palestinian refugee camp in the south Lebanon port city of Tyre, injuring a dozen people. Hamas denied it had kept weapons there and said the explosion was caused by oxygen tanks stored in the building.
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EDWARDSVILLE  Morel mushroom mania has started for the season and one Madison County expert might be the first hunter to find a specific morel species this year.

Gary Vondrasek, of Edwardsville, whos in his 70s, has been mushroom hunting for 50 years, and more than 40 of those years in Madison County. He recently found the Morchella esculenta, or the yellows, commonly known as common morel, morel, yellow morel, true morel, morel mushroom, and sponge morel. It is one of the most readily recognized of all the edible mushrooms and highly sought.

Its the most delicious wild flavor growing in the woods right now, Vondrasek said. I found the earliest of that variety, when its the most robust and most flavorful.

"You dont need to wash them," he said. "A mushroom hunter, a good one, never washes them.

Vondrasek, a retired special ed teacher originally from the Chicago area, finds many varieties which he shares with friends, family and neighbors. Hell also help others learn to mushroom hunt, for a little piece of their woods and half the bounty. Generational changes and agricultural practices are making the woods scarce that he has hunted for years.

He said he has a semi-clandestine circle of friendly mushroom hunters who have found little grey morels.

The little greys taste pretty good if you get enough of them, but its hard to find a lot of them, Vondrasek said.

He finds his Bohemian Czechoslovakian culture, rooted in Bohemia, a historical country that was part of Czechoslovakia, in mushroom hunting. His sister Lynne Slack, of Worden, and his brother and his wife, Ken and Cheryl Vondrasek, of Alton, also are avid mushroom hunters. Gary Vondrasek has eaten 54 varieties of mushrooms, 46 of which he found himself in the wild.

The Slavic people should be known as the mushroom people of the world, he said, eating, knowing and having more recipes than any other region in the world. Im proud of it.

Vikings chased us into the mountains before even building ships, he said. It put Slavic people in a panic and we had to survive on mushrooms, berries, wild boar, stag, what we had. Were not as known as the French and Italians that have those wonderful truffles.

He said though that his people dont care much about being lesser known for their mushrooms.

We just enjoy them, he said.

He owns three manuals about mushrooms written in a Czech language that he cant read, but he knows the words that mean whats important: edible, deadly and edible, but leave alone because of disgusting flavor.

I can translate a whole book knowing those words, he said. I use Czech and French books to try rare species.

Vondrasek considers his brothers wife, Cheryl, who works at Market Basket, a mushroom aficionado. He gains knowledge through her and his family, which is who prompted him to move downstate. The first three years of his mushroom hunting, he simply traveled to Madison County to hunt. After those three years, he moved here.

From my sister and her husband living her and my brother working at MRF (Mississippi River Festival), they had a good, fun life here, and the music and everything got me hooked, he said.

He grew up traversing his family property near Lemont, Illinois, which was a true savanna, with prairie touching an oak forest. He taught special education for eight years in Rogers Park, in the city of Chicago.

When I first came here, I usually found over 400 of these morels. There were five different species; I think only four are left, Vondrasek said. Giant elms have died off, thats the tree they liked to invade. Each year the population goes down. This year I hope to find a couple hundred, and I might have been the first to find this species (yellow morel) this season that I know of.

He said the yellows are supposed to grow a couple weeks later when lilacs and dogwoods first blossom.

Since Ive bene hunting in this area for 40-plus years, people have let me hunt in their woods or farm they own, Vondrasek said.

Their sons and daughters seem to want to drive their all-terrain vehicles and ruin the grounds that mushrooms grow, and chemicals and runoff destroys the wild conditions. Theres less and less woods to hunt.

Thus, Vondrasek will show wooded property owners how to hunt mushrooms.

Look up, thats one of the secrets, he said. It seems counter intuitive but identifying the trees that morels will grow near, you save tons of time.

There are 10 to 12 kinds of trees under which its a waste of time to look, he said.

Theres the elm to look around, but if its a young one you wont find anything, he said. The older elm, thats a hot one there.

Among other hot trees for morels is the silver maple and ash.

Im really running low on woods, and those who are next to my woods dont want anyone on their property, he recalled. There are more and more bullies out there telling me to stay out of their woods. So, I will teach mushroom hunting and split what we find.

To contact Gary Vondrasek call him at 618-581-3734. Vondrasek does not sell his mushrooms and he teaches mushroom hunting for free.

He works as a conservation contractor preserving, restoring or innovating historic or historic-looking objects that belong with what already exists, such as classic and fine architecture, and furniture and fine art, including oil paintings but mostly frames for such art. He also has restored wallpaper patterns on walls and at a church restoring statues of angels taller than him. It took him four winters to restore an 800 A.D. Buddhist statue.
Coast Guard, Supporters Act on Lacson Call for Help for Flood-Hit Iloilo Residents

More at: https://pinglacson.net/article/coast-guard-supporters-act-on-lacson-call-for-help-for-flood-hit-iloilo-residents

Acting on information and a call for assistance from Sen. Panfilo "Ping" M. Lacson, the Philippine Coast Guard is sending rubber boats and other assets to help residents affected by floods particularly along the highway between Iloilo and Roxas City in Capiz.

Lacson called former Coast Guard Commandant retired Vice Admiral Edmund Tan and informed him of the situation, after receiving updates from Iloilo early Tuesday.

Tan replied he has informed incumbent Coast Guard Commandant Admiral Artemio Abu (Philippine Military Academy Class 1992), and that Abu "readily agreed" and will instruct the Coast Guard in the area to "act accordingly."

Commodore Ed Ybanez, the Coast Guard District Commander in Western Visayas, added rescue operations are ongoing in Iloilo and Capiz, and that he already deployed seven Deployable Response Group (DRG) teams from the district.

"Eto na ang action agad (Now this is prompt action)," remarked Lacson, who chairs the Senate Committee on National Defense and Security.

For their part, the Lacson-Sotto Support Group (LSSG) in the area has started relief operations as well to help the affected residents.

Citing initial reports he received, Lacson noted residents along the highway from Iloilo to Roxas City were stranded due to floods brought by Tropical Cyclone Agaton.

In past days, Agaton brought heavy rains that caused flooding in parts of Western Visayas, including Iloilo.
You might have to reach for your glasses when you receive your property tax bill. The type needs to be pretty small in order to fit all of the taxing bodies you support onto a single sheet of paper.

There is the state of Illinois, of course, county, municipal and township government, park, forest preserve and library districts, school districts (elementary, high school, unit districts and community college districts), airport authorities, cemetery maintenance districts, fire protection districts, drainage districts, waterway agencies, hospital districts, soil and water conservation districts, sanitary districts and more.

You wont see all of these on your tax bill, but if you compare your bill to that of someone in a neighboring state, youd certainly be envious.

The U.S. Census of Governments is compiling data for its every-five-year count of taxing bodies in each state. The results wont be available until next year. But the most recent study reveals some startling numbers.

In 2017, Illinois had 6,963 taxing bodies and roughly 13 million residents.

 The next closest was Texas at 5,147 taxing bodies -- but twice as many residents.

 California had three times as many residents but just 4,425 local governments.

 Illinois had more than four times as many local governments as Florida, while the Sunshine State had 6 million more residents.

An analysis done by the Illinois Policy Institute notes that 61% of Illinois homeowners live under three layers of general purpose local government (municipal, township or county governments), and in 40 other states, residents never have more than two layers. In some areas of the state, people are paying 16 taxing bodies.

Its the overlap that is the most galling. Wed never advocate Illinoisans go without street maintenance, access to a library or fire protection, but the overhead involved in overlapping services in some cases and administration of these taxing bodies is beyond ridiculous.

Weve long advocated for the sensible consolidation of taxing bodies in the suburbs, and in recent years weve seen a little movement in that direction.

Legislation that won wide bipartisan support is headed to Gov. JB Pritzkers desk. It requires local taxing bodies to review and report on their efficiency every 10 years and consider whether consolidating operations with another unit of government would achieve greater accountability and cost savings to taxpayers.

Lets hope the taxing bodies embrace the spirit of the law for the betterment of their constituents rather than worry about the potential loss of local political power.
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ORLANDO, Fla. (AP)  Pastors have filed at least three federal lawsuits in recent weeks against the African Methodist Episcopal Church along with several subsidiaries and financial firms the church used, alleging tens of millions of dollars from a pension fund were mismanaged and missing.

The retired and current pastors in Florida, Maryland and Virginia filed the lawsuits against the oldest historically Black denomination in the U.S. late last month. They are seeking class-action status on behalf of thousands of other AME pastors and church officials throughout the country who lost money through the pension fund.

The pastors, who were required to participate in the retirement plan, said they have been unable to get access to their money.

The lawsuit filed by the Florida pastor, the Rev. Charles Jackson in Orlando, alleges the church and its related financial institutions were negligent and breached their fiduciary responsibilities. Jackson is seeking a jury trial and punitive damages in the complaint filed in federal court in Tennessee.

Many Class member  including Plaintiff Reverend Jackson  are retired and have suddenly learned that resources they relied on to support themselves, to depend on in times of bad health, and to simply enjoy during retirement, have been stolen from them by people they trusted," the lawsuit said.

In their lawsuit filed in Virginia, the Revs. Derrell Wade and Reuben Boyd allege that between $80 million and $90 million was unaccounted for by either 2020 or 2021.

In his lawsuit, the Rev. Cedric Alexander of Bowie Maryland, said the then-chair of the church's retirement fund invested money in undeveloped land in Florida and a now-defunct capital venture outfit, and gave a promissory note to an installer of solar panels. The lawsuit alleges violations of a federal law protecting employee retirement funds.

The church's retirement fund chair invested Plan assets in imprudent, extraordinarily risky investments that ultimately lost nearly $100 million of Plan participants retirement savings," the Maryland lawsuit said.

In a statement Tuesday, the church said it was limited in what it could say because of the litigation but noted that it had resumed some distributions to fund participants starting last month.

We appreciate our communitys concern and remain grateful for the patience of our clergy, staff and members as we continue to investigate this matter," the statement said.

In a message posted to its website late last month, the church acknowledged that retirement fund participants may have been the victim of a financial crime."

After a new administrator of the church's Department of Retirement Services took over last year, financial irregularities" were uncovered in some retirement fund investments. The church has hired an outside legal firm and forensics experts to conduct an investigation, the statement said.

The AME Church takes financial irregularities and disclosures seriously, and we are committed to the restoration of any impacted retirement funds," the statement said. We are also committed to making every fund participant whole by restoring their full investment plus interest."

Attorney Greg Francis, who is representing Jackson, the Florida pastor, said he hoped the lawsuits will eventually be consolidated.

Jackson, 72, told The Associated Press in a phone interview that he feels betrayed.

When you take advantage of my money, you lose my trust, Jackson said. You lose the trust of your employees.

___

Follow Mike Schneider on Twitter at https://twitter.com/MikeSchneiderAP.
EDWARDSVILLE  A Madison County sheriffs deputy could soon be on permanent assignment with the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services in Collinsville.

At Mondays Madison County Board Public Safety Committee meeting, Chief Deputy Maj. Jeff Connor updated members on a plan for the department to participate in a pilot program that would place a deputy with DCFS in Collinsville as a permanent assignment.

The cost would be paid by DCFS.

Connor said it would allow law enforcement to be involved at the start of what could become a criminal child abuse investigation, and would also provide an additional element of safety for DCFS workers in the field.

It was noted that part of the emphasis was on the recent stabbing death of a DCFS worker Jan. 4 in Springfield.

Its working very well in DuPage County, he said, adding it is also under way in another Illinois County.

He did not give a timetable for the start of the program.

In other business the committee approved the purchase of a new autopsy sink and equipment, and a medical waste incinerator for the Madison County Coroners Department.

The cost would be $24,299 for the sink and related equipment; and $37,300 for in incinerator.

Madison County Chief Deputy Coroner Kelly Rogers said the sink and related equipment would be in addition to existing, aging equipment currently in the county morgue. He also said the incinerator would save the county money, because medical waste is currently disposed of through a contractor, and the cost savings would quickly pay for the equipment.

Both purchases are being paid for out of federal American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 funds.

A request for 15 field sobriety testing kits for the Madison County Sheriffs Department was also approved. The kits, which would replace older equipment, will cost $7,185.

The spending requests must now go to the Finance Committee before going to the full County Board for full approval.

One request, for $183,151.57 for the annual contract for Madison County 911s New World computer aided dispatching system, was held so committee members could receive additional information.
March saw the highest number of tornadoes in U.S. history, with at least 218 occurring, many towards the end of the month. On March 30, eight states in the South and Midwest, including Illinois, were under a tornado watch.

Central Illinois and the Metro East and Riverbend areas are under severe weather advisements for Wednesday, as several rounds of severe thunderstorms are forecast, according to the National Weather Service in St. Louis and in Lincoln, Ill. Both areas are at "enhanced" risk of severe weather for the middle of the week.

"We do have the risk of severe weather this Wednesday including the potential for tornadoes," Mark Britt, the lead meteorologist with NWS St. Louis, wrote in an email. "There is no additional severe weather outlooked through the end of the week."

NWS does not issue seasonal outlooks for tornadoes, Britt wrote. That's due to tornado and severe thunderstorm forecasting beyond a few days being "very difficult," and it is unknown whether there will be any more records set this season.

There was a tornado on Saturday, March 5 at 10:57 p.m. near Farmersville in northern Montgomery County in Missouri, Britt wrote. The tornado had a path length of about four miles and was a 1 on the Enhanced Fujita scale, a weak tornado according to the rating which goes from zero (lowest) to five (strongest).

Britt wrote that the record-breaking amount of tornadoes in March may not be due to there being more tornadoes but more documentation of their occurrence.

"In the last few decades, the National Weather Service has trained more storm spotters and conducted more storm surveys, so we have been able to record more of the tornadoes that are already occurring, especially the brief, weak ones (EF0-EF1 on the Enhanced Fujita Scale)," Britt wrote.

When a tornado does occur in an area, Britt recommended people follow basic safety rules.

"Keep up to date with the weather forecast," Britt wrote. "Have multiple ways to get your warnings (NOAA weather radio, cell phone, TV or radio, friend or family). Know where to go if a tornado warning is issued for your area (go to an interior closet or bathroom on the lowest level of your home or business, go under the stairs of your basement)."

For more safety information, go to the National Weather Service's website.
IVY GOODMAN, Stonington, Girls, Lacrosse, Senior; Goodman scored 12 goals and had 13 assists in three games. Her seven assists in the Bears win over Waterford established a school record. She surpassed the 50-goal mark for the season in Stoningtons victory over Ledyard.

DEAN PONS JR., Westerly, Baseball, Senior; Pons, a senior, struck out 14 batters in the Bulldogs five-inning win against Wheeler School/Rocky Hill. Pons had an assist on the remaining out, throwing out a runner on a groundout. Pons allowed just one hit and walked only two.

KATIE PIERCE, Wheeler, Girls, Lacrosse, Sophomore; Pierce scored five goals and the Lions beat Griswold to earn their first victory of the season. Wheeler avenged an earlier loss to the Wolverines this season with the 15-4 victory.

WEEKO THOMPSON, Chariho, Girls, Track Sophomore; Thompson, a sophomore, bettered her school record in the discus at the Classical Classic meet. She finished first in the event and also won the shot put.

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Millions of households are anxiously waiting for the promised 150 council tax rebate to land in their bank accounts.

The one-off payment is supposed to help struggling families hit by soaring energy bills, and was expected this month.

But as the Mail reported last week, the scheme has descended into chaos, with residents facing a postcode lottery and councils warning of long delays.

It comes as experts warn that the war in Ukraine could push up the average energy bill to as much as 5,000 a year by the autumn.

Here, we explain how to ensure you get your cash...

Delays: The 150 council tax rebate is supposed to help struggling families hit by soaring energy bills, but the scheme has descended into chaos

Who will receive the cash rebate?

Everyone living in council tax bands A to D is eligible for the payment, even if their council tax bill for the year is less than 150.

This means that 80 per cent of all households  around 20 million in England  should receive the money, which does not need to be paid back.

There is similar scheme for Wales and Scotland, benefiting almost three million people. Northern Ireland has received funding but it cannot be allocated until after the election next month.

The rebate was supposed to be made as a lump sum payment. However, some people living in Scotland have reported that their council tax bills are being reduced instead.

I'll have to wait months for help Wait: Rachael Thompson was told she will not receive the money until June at the earliest, or more likely September Pensioner Rachael Thompson had been banking on receiving her 150 council tax rebate this month. But when the 70-year-old, from Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, contacted her council after reading in the Mail about potential delays, she learned she would not receive the money until June at the earliest, or more likely September. Barrow Borough Council said it had not yet received funding for the scheme and that the software systems to facilitate the payment process would not be in place until May. Rachael, who lives with her son, Carl, had been relying on the cash to help cover bill hikes across the board. 'It's just not good enough,' she says. 'There will be people a lot worse off than me who cannot afford to get by without this 150. 'Nothing has been done to put a proper system in place to pay people.'

Will I get the money now?

The Chancellor originally said the rebate would be paid in April. But ministers have since given councils until September 30 to make the payments.

When you receive your money will depend on where you live.

Some local authorities say they are experiencing technical difficulties, which could mean residents will not receive payments for months.

Councils have also been advised not to give out the money until households have paid their council tax bill for April so they can verify people's bank details, which could mean further delays for those who pay their bills later in the month.

Those who do not pay by direct debit also face longer waiting times, as they will need to be contacted individually for payment arrangements to be made.

For more information, visit your council's website, as many have updated guidance.

Everyone living in council tax bands A to D is eligible for the payment, even if their council tax bill for the year is less than 150

Must I apply for a rebate?

You do not need to apply for the payment.

If you live in an eligible property and pay your council tax by direct debit, you should receive the money into your bank account automatically.

Those who pay by cash or cheque have been advised to wait for their council to write or email them with details of how to claim, so be sure to keep an eye out.

Some may offer the option of receiving the payment as a council tax credit or by cheque.

If you have not received any details by the end of the month, call your local district or borough council to find out what you need to do.

Even if you have already paid your tax for this month, you can still switch to paying your bills by direct debit at any time so you will receive the rebate sooner.

But I don't pay council tax...

Some groups of people who don't pay council tax will still be eligible for the rebate.

For instance, a house of full-time students (who fall into class N); people under the age of 18 (class S); people with a severe mental impairment (class U); and people living in annexes with a dependent relative (class W) will still receive the payout.

What if I am not eligible?

Around 4.3 million homes in council bands E to H are not eligible for the rebate. But councils have been given 144 million of additional funding to help those who miss out but are still in need.

The promised 150 council tax rebate is supposed to help struggling families hit by soaring energy bills, and was expected to arrive this month

How this discretionary fund is spent depends on the individual council, and many are still working out the details.

Telford and Wrekin Council in Shropshire says it will give 100 to everyone in a band E property who pays by direct debit from April 14.

Meanwhile, South Derbyshire District Council says the funds will be targeted at residents on low incomes who claim pension credit or other benefits.

If there is any money left over, other residents will be invited to claim up to a maximum of 150 per home. Ask your local authority for more details.

When will I get the 200 loan?

As part of the 9.1 billion package announced in February, the Government also pledged a 200 energy bill 'rebate' to 'take the sting' out of rising costs for 28 million households.

There has been some confusion about the difference between the two payouts, with the key difference being that the loan must be paid back.

All households will receive the 200 energy bill discount from October. You do not need to apply for it. This will then be paid back via 40 instalments over five years, from 2023.

However, in a consultation document released this week, it was suggested that if you are in debt with your supplier, the 200 sum could be used to pay this down instead.

t.armstrong@dailymail.co.uk
I am writing on behalf of my 82-year-old widowed mother, whos had her Nationwide bank account frozen.

She is in the process of migrating to live with me in the U.S. Her visa has been approved, her house is under offer and her furniture is packed.

At the beginning of February she tried to wire funds from Nationwides Lymington branch, in Hampshire, to her U.S. account, but the bank refused to do it and froze her account.

Grounded: Nationwide froze an elderly customer's bank account just before she was due to jet off to a new home in Mississippi

The first my mother knew of this was when her card was later declined. She is now unable to access her pensions and has had to rely on family and friends.

I wrote to Nationwide explaining the situation and was told this was forwarded to its fraud support team.

We were assured that there would be a response within 15 working days, but this deadline has passed.

We have attempted to phone and email with no response. Please help.

A. G., Mississippi.

Sally Hamilton replies: It is a serious upheaval for anyone moving lock, stock and barrel from one country to another, but doing it at the age of 82 must be particularly stressful.

Your mother had already faced long delays in sorting her move because of the pandemic, so you both must have been extremely frustrated to discover that her bank account had been blocked at this crucial point.

You did your best to help her, but Nationwide did not give you the answers you needed.

To rub salt in the wound, the sterling-dollar exchange rate worsened after your mother first tried to move her money, so she was looking at a substantial reduction in the value of her savings as the weeks rolled by.

Scam watch Fraudsters are exploiting the Ukraine crisis to prey on vulnerable victims. Action Fraud says it has received around 200 fake emails from people purporting to be raising money for those affected by the war. In one seen by Money Mail, scammers were impersonating a Ukrainian mother who claimed her husband and son had been killed in a blast. They asked for donations to be made in bitcoin, a form of cryptocurrency. Fraud expert Charlie Shakeshaft says: If you want to donate to help with the crisis, do your own research, choose a reputable charity that you trust and contact it directly.

I stepped in and asked Nationwide to put things right, pronto.

A couple of days later, it confirmed that the account was unblocked and a senior customer services executive contacted you to explain and apologise.

It seems staff at the branch feared your mothers initial transfer involved some kind of scam, so they locked the account.

At Nationwides request, you provided a copy of your mothers U.S. bank statement on February 9. Despite a number of calls and emails after this, the restriction still was not removed.

I intervened on March 16 and the next day the account was unblocked. The transfer was finally made on March 18  six weeks after the first attempt.

Had your mother been able to send the payment on February 9, once you had provided the U.S. bank statement, the sum received would have been $355,314. By making the payment on March 18, the funds that landed in the account were $344,085, a difference of $11,229  about 8,630.

I am delighted to say that Nationwide agreed to make up the shortfall, plus pay your mother 300 as an apology.

A Nationwide spokesman says: We take the protection of our members and their money seriously. Our branch had genuine concerns that our member could be the victim of a scam, so we believe the correct decision was made to restrict the account while we reviewed the evidence.

Unfortunately, this took longer than expected, at a time when our member was preparing to move nearer her son. With this hassle finally over, you can look forward to your mother joining you, her three grandchildren and five great-grandchildren for a new life in Mississippi.

Can't escape my holiday credit card nightmare

Ive had a pre-paid Escape Travel Card for several years and used it successfully abroad  that is, until I got my new card in 2020.

I tried to use it in Greece last September, but it was blocked. Since then, I have repeatedly tried to call the company, but all I get is an automated message.

It seems impossible to speak to a human because of Covid. I have emailed numerous times and sent a letter to the head office, but I have heard nothing.

I wish to cancel the card and get back my 500 that was loaded on to it.

C. B., Ashby-de-la-Zouch, Leics.

Sally Hamilton replies: On phoning Escape Travel Cards customer services, I heard the same message you describe, apologising that Covid meant it had to close its call centre temporarily, but that customers can get in touch by email.

My call was made almost two years after the pandemic was first announced, so this got my hackles up: the Covid excuse is simply no longer acceptable. I tried emailing, as the phone message assured me Id have to wait only two days for a reply.

A week later, when I had still heard nothing, I hunted down a number for its registered office in Gibraltar. Again, I was directed to an email address.

But I am pleased to say that this email did elicit an acknowledgement of my query within a day.

It also prodded the company to call you directly with a promise to return your 500 straight away.

Your card was blocked because you had used the wrong PIN, but surely customers should be able to sort out such problems swiftly  not struggle for six months to make contact with the provider.

It appears the Escape Travel Card has now reached the end of its journey as, two days after solving your problem, Tuxedo Money Solutions  the company behind the scheme  emailed customers to say its card programme will close on May 24.

Customers must either spend their balance before then or email customerrefunds@tuxedomoney.com for a refund.

Straight to the point I ordered a fold-away stool over the phone from Easylife, but it delivered the wrong one. It has promised to pick it up on five dates, but each time, no one has shown up. I still have not received the correct stool. L. A., Wirral. Easylife has now delivered the correct stool. It says a shortage of lorry drivers affected its courier firm, which is why it struggled to collect the wrong order. Our Whirlpool oven broke at the end of November, eight months after we bought it and within its warranty period. Weve been told no spare parts are available to fix it and the model is no longer sold in the UK. P. S., Warrington. Despite numerous calls to Whirlpool, you say it seemed unwilling or unable to resolve this issue. After my involvement it admitted its error and has now arranged for an upgraded model to be delivered to you. *** We paid a 670 deposit for a P&O cruise. In April 2020, we were told either to pay the full amount owed - around 4,000 - or to cancel our booking and take future cruise credits. I was not offered a refund and will struggle to use the credit before it expires. N. N., via email. P&O says there is no expiration date on the credit, so you can use it whenever you like. I urged it to reimburse you and  despite the deposit being non-refundable  it agreed to this as a gesture of goodwill. *** After signing up to Sainsburys Energy in September, I was promised 12,000 Nectar points. Despite many emails and promises from the firm, I have not received them. P. H. South Ayrshire. Sainsburys could not explain the delay, but has contacted you to apologise and the points have been added to your account.
One of Europes biggest banks has cut ties with Russia by selling its operations in the country to an oligarch.

French lender Societe Generale was one of Europes most-exposed banks to Russia, and operated Rosbank in the country.

But it has sold that unit, and its Russian insurance operations, to Interros Capital, a company linked to Vladimir Potanin.

French lender Societe Generale has sold its Russian operations, to Interros Capital, a company linked to oligarch Vladimir Potanin

Financial details were not disclosed, but SocGen will take a 2.5billion hit.

Potanin, 61, is head of mining giant Norilsk Nickel and is one of Russias richest men. He has been sanctioned by Canada, but not by the UK, EU or US.

Johann Scholtz, an analyst at data firm Morningstar, said SocGen had essentially given the business away for free.

And while investors were glad that the bank had abandoned Russia, with its share prices rallying by 5 per cent, others were more critical.

Jerome Legras, head of research at Axiom Alternative Investments, said: Its a bit distressing that ultimately this is an enormous gift to one of the wealthiest oligarchs.

Other European banks with a significant presence in Russia include Italys Unicredit and Austrias Raiffeisen.

They are yet to find a way to get out of the country following Vladimir Putins brutal invasion of Ukraine in February.

But a slew of Western firms have already announced plans to distance themselves.

The UKs Big Four auditors  Deloitte, PwC, KPMG and EY  have cut ties with their Russian partnerships, barring them from using the company names and accessing any resources.
EasyJet expects to post another substantial financial loss after the emergence of the Omicron variant curbed demand for overseas holidays.

The budget air carrier predicts making a headline pre-tax loss of between 535million and 565million for the six months to 31 March, a drop of less than a quarter from the same period in the previous year.

This was despite a surge in bookings after the UK Government announced a relaxation to travel rules in late January following the successful implementation of a Covid-19 vaccine booster programme.

Large loss: Budget air carrier EasyJet predicts making a headline pre-tax loss of between 535million and 565million for the six months to 31 March

Prior to that point, the British airline industry had been impacted by two months of toughened travel restrictions introduced in response to the spread of the Omicron variant of coronavirus.

From 30 November, those coming to the UK were required to take a PCR test within two days of arrival and self-isolate until they received a negative result.

A week later, a tougher law came in requiring all passengers journeying to the UK to prove they had a negative Covid test before flying on a plane.

EasyJet had previously noted the impact these rules had on short-term demand, which comes on top of higher fuel prices, the end of furlough support, and the costs of expanding operations to cope with the increase in bookings.

But though it forecasts reporting a significant first-half loss, EasyJet has managed to exceed expectations, with capacity in the final month of the period hitting 80 per cent of pre-pandemic volumes.

Between January and March, the Luton Airport-based group flew 11.5 million passengers, compared to just 1.2 million during the equivalent time in 2021.

Trouble: EasyJet's trading update come amidst mass flight cancellations as the start of the Easter school holidays has led to a rush of Britons looking to get away for a foreign break

Its total load factor - a measure of how many seats are filled by an airline's customers - also grew by 18 percentage points year-on-year to 78 per cent, while it flew around two-thirds of 2019 capacity volumes.





Chief executive Johan Lundgren said: 'Since travel restrictions were removed, easyJet has seen a strong recovery in trading which has been sustained, resulting in a positive outlook for Easter and beyond, with daily booking volumes for summer currently tracking ahead of those at the same time in FY19.





'We remain confident in our plans which will see us reaching near 2019 flying levels for this summer and emerge as one of the winners in the recovery.'

It comes amid mass flight cancellations across UK airports as the start of the Easter school holidays led to a rush of Britons looking to get away for a foreign break.

Hundreds of the airline's flights, many of them on routes to and from Gatwick, have not gone ahead in recent days, yet EasyJet has flown 94 per cent of its planned schedule in the last week.

Mr Lundgren explained this is primarily due to high levels of coronavirus-related staff absences but also blamed the time it is taking for the Government to vet new recruits.

He said: 'There's this delay of the clearance from the [Department for Transport] for people to get their IDs. There's a backlog there, and we're waiting currently for about 100 cabin crew to get their IDs.

'There's a three-week delay on that. That has had an impact. If that would have been on time, we would have seen less cancellations.'

EasyJet shares closed trading 1.8 per cent higher on Tuesday, although their value has plunged by around a third over the past 12 months.
Britain's accounting watchdog has launched an investigation into Deloitte's auditing of bus and rail company Go-Ahead over a six-year period.

The Financial Reporting Council revealed on Tuesday it had started the investigation into the audit conducted by Deloitte, one of the world's 'Big Four' accounting firms, for Go-Ahead's financial statements between 2016 and 2021.

A spokesperson for Deloitte UK said the auditor would co-operate fully with the FRC investigation.

Investigation: Britain's accounting watchdog has launched an investigation into Deloitte's auditing of bus and rail company Go-Ahead over a six year period

The group said: 'Deloitte is committed to the highest standards of audit quality.'

The investigation will not relate to any individuals other than the statutory auditors who signed off the accounts during the relevant period.

Go-Ahead, which runs over 6,000 buses in England and Britain's largest passenger rail contract, said this month it planned to turn around underperforming businesses and grow in existing markets, which include Norway, Germany, Singapore and Ireland.

It was fined 23.5million in March by the Department for Transport for overcharging by its London and Southeastern railway franchise.

Errors: Go-Ahead said last December that an independent review revealed 'serious errors' by its London and Southeastern railway franchise, LSER

Go-Ahead said last December that an independent review revealed 'serious errors' by its London and Southeastern railway franchise, LSER, which led to it overcharging Britain's transport department in contracts over several years.

Go-Ahead was stripped of its franchise in October, with the Government seizing control of the rail contract after the firm admitted to serious errors and failures in the way it ran Southeastern.

In January, Go-Ahead's shares were suspended from trading on the London Stock Exchange because it was unable to publish its annual results within the time permitted under market rules.

The group eventually published its annual results on 24 February, when it revealed the cost of the Southeastern trains accounting debacle had soared to over 80million.

Go-Ahead shares fell in early morning trading and were down 0.76 per cent or 6.40p to 833.60p just before 8.30am. The group's share price has fallen over 35 per cent in the past year.
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Caroline Eloise Hutchens, 83, resident of Thomasville, GA was born in Denver, Colorado on May 18, 1938 to Jack and Crispina Marie Sanders. She is survived by her brother Salvador Sanders of Long Beach, CA, her aunt Mary of Canyon City, CO and two children Cherrie Leidigh of Thomasville, GA a
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Russian President Vladimir Putin looks on during his visits to the Vostochny cosmodrome outside the city of Tsiolkovsky, about 200 kilometers (125 miles) from the city of Blagoveshchensk in the far eastern Amur region Tsiolkovsky , Russia, Tuesday, April 12, 2022. Russia on Tuesday marks the 61th anniversary of Gagarin's pioneering mission on April 12 1961, the first human flight to orbit that opened the space era.
Ukraine pleaded for more weapons from the West to help it end the siege of Mariupol and fend off an expected Russian offensive in the east, as more reports emerged of rape and brutality against Ukrainian civilians by Russian forces.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said in a televised address late on Monday that Russia could resort to chemical weapons as it amassed troops in the eastern Donbas region for a new assault on the port of Mariupol, where thousands are believed to have died under a near-seven week siege.

When it comes on the necessary weapons, we still depend on supplies, on our partners. Unfortunately we are not getting as much as we need to end this war faster  In particular, to lift the blockade of Mariupol, he said.

The first European Union leader to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in person since he launched what he called a special operation, Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer, said following talks in Moscow on Monday that an offensive in the east was being prepared on a massive scale.

After suffering heavy losses and withdrawing forces from the suburbs of Kyiv, Russia has turned its sights toward Donbas, where it demands Ukraine cede control to separatist fighters. Capturing Mariupol would allow Moscow to attempt to encircle the main Ukrainian force in the east.

Delivering a regular early morning roundup from the conflict zone, the General Staff of Ukraines Armed Forces said that aside from trying to take control of Mariupol, Russian forces were also intent on capturing Popasna, a town more than two hours drive west of Luhansk, and were set to launch an offensive in the direction of Kurakhove, in the Donetsk region.

The Ukrainian military said its troops had repulsed attacks in both the Luhansk and Donetsk regions, destroying four tanks, five armoured vehicles, 26 vehicles and eight enemy artillery systems. It also said its forces had downed a Russian plane, two helicopters and four drones. Reuters could not independently verify those figures.

Serhiy Gaidai, the governor of Luhansk, urged residents to evacuate using five humanitarian corridors agreed for the eastern Ukrainian region on Tuesday.

Its far more scary to remain and burn in your sleep from a Russian shell, he wrote on the Telegram messaging app. Evacuate, with every day the situation is getting worse. Take your essential items and head to the pickup point.

In all, nine humanitarian corridors had been agreed for Tuesday, including one for private cars from Mariupol, Ukraines Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk said.

British foreign minister Liz Truss on Monday said Britain was working with its partners to verify the details of reports Russian forces may have used chemical agents in an attack on Mariupol.

There are some things that are beyond the pale, and the use of chemical weapons will get a response and all options are on the table for what that response could be, Britains Junior Defence Minister James Heappey told Sky News.

ALLEGED RAPES AND EXECUTIONS

The departure of Russian forces from the outskirts of Kyiv has brought to light harrowing allegations of war crimes including executions and rape of civilians. Moscow dismisses the allegations as Ukrainian and Western provocations and has also accused Ukrainian forces of sexual violence.

Senior U.N. official Sima Bahous told the Security Council on Monday that while all allegations must by independently investigated, the brutality displayed against Ukrainian civilians has raised all red flags.

We are increasingly hearing of rape and sexual violence, she said.

Russias deputy U.N. ambassador denied the allegations and accused Ukraine and allies of a clear intention to present Russian soldiers as sadists and rapists.

Russias defence ministry said Ukraines government was being directed by the United States to sow false evidence of Russian violence against civilians despite what it cast as Moscows unprecedented measures to save civilians.

Ukraines deputy prime minister accused Russia of holding civilians including journalists, activists and elected officials in prisons on Russian territory. Reuters could not verify the allegation.

U.S. PRESSURE

Putin is scheduled to meet Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko on Tuesday to discuss the situation in Ukraine and Western sanctions, news agencies in Russia and Belarus reported. Belarus is a key staging area for Russian forces.

The United States has sought to pressure Putin to withdraw his forces by banning Russian oil and gas and encouraging allies to follow suit.

But world powers including China and India have refrained from sanctioning Russia. Lured by steep oil discounts, India has purchased more Russian crude since the start of the Feb. 24 invasion than it did for the whole of last year, data compiled by Reuters shows.

In a video call, U.S. President Joe Biden told Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi very clearly that it is not in their interest to increase reliance on Russian energy, White House spokesperson Jen Psaki said.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Moscow would not pause the fighting for any new round of peace talks, which last convened on April 1.

SOURCE: REUTERS
ALBANY  On Tuesday, New York politicians began issuing statements reacting to the stunning news of Lt. Gov. Brian Benjamins arrest on charges relating to alleged bribery and campaign finance fraud.

The Times Union will be compiling those statements and placing them here throughout the day.

Senate Minority Leader Rob Ortt:

Lt. Gov. Brian Benjamins arrest today on federal corruption charges is another stain on New York State Government, and calls into question Governor Hochuls judgment.

Over the past few days and weeks, Kathy Hochul and the Majorities in Albany have reinforced their support for Brian Benjamin despite news of federal investigations. Governor Hochul said herself this morning that shes 'changed the culture of Albany.' Unfortunately, it looks like business as usual in our state Capitol.

Kathy Hochul and Senate Democrats might tolerate this corruption, but New Yorkers dont and neither do I.

Im calling on Governor Hochul and Senate Democrats to stop hiding from the truth and join me in demanding Brian Benjamins resignation.

Sen. Jim Tedisco, R-Glenville:

Bribery is a serious crime and the Lieutenant Governor is an important leadership position who is one heartbeat away from becoming our states chief executive. The shocking arrest today of Gov.r Kathy Hochuls hand-selected Lt. Gov. Brian Benjamin for a federal bribery conspiracy charge as part of an alleged campaign finance scheme marks another sad day at the state Capitol and another slap in the face to the millions of overburdened New York taxpayers who face high taxes, rising crime and a deteriorating quality of life in the state they love.



How many times do New Yorkers have to watch this movie because we keep seeing the same storyline play out again and again?



Lt. Gov. Benjamin must resign immediately because hes under a cloud of criminality and we cant have another distraction like we had in the past year with Gov. Hochuls mentor, the disgraced Andrew Cuomo. This arrest also raises serious questions about Gov. Hochuls judgment and her vetting process, because so far, its been amateur hour on the Second Floor since she took over.



New Yorkers deserve so much better.

Assemblyman Mike Lawler, R-Pearl River:

Ever since the departure of Gov. Pataki, without fail, scandals have gripped the Governor's Mansion in the state of New York. The arrest of Brian Benjamin is just the latest in a long string of arrests, scandals, ethics violations, harassment, and abuses of power.

Albany's "Cesspool of Corruption" simply will not change until there is a change in leadership in the Governor's mansion. Kathy Hochul has failed to change course and instead has doubled down on the same, corrupt policies pursued by her predecessor. We need to restore balance and common sense to state government this November by electing a Republican governor and increasing the number of Republicans in the state legislature.

Additionally, as I stated during the budget debate last week, Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie and Senate Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins should take a long, hard look at the practice of member items and non-profit grants, as it's clear they breed corruption and a pay-to-play culture. The practice should be eliminated entirely.

NY GOP Chairman Nick Langworthy:

In her first major decision as governor, Kathy Hochul chose a dirty politician to serve as her partner in government and running mate. Brian Benjamins shady dealings and corruption were well-documented, but Hochul turned a blind eye and put him a heartbeat away from the governorship. This decision was not just dangerous incompetence, it is proof that her tolerance for corruption runs deep in her veins, which is no surprise given she dutifully served with Andrew Cuomo for seven years. Just days ago, she continued to say she had full confidence in him. She does not possess the judgment nor the moral code to serve as governor. The only way to wipe clean the Cuomo-Hochul stench is to throw the entire corrupt cabal out of office this November.

Cea Weaver, Campaign Coordinator of Housing Justice for All, a statewide coalition representing tenants and homeless New Yorkers:

Brian Benjamins arrest shows that money corrupts, and no money corrupts more than real estate money. The fact that a real estate developer is at the heart of this story is no surprise. The real estate lobby and big landlords will do whatever it takes to line their pockets - ethics be damned. Just this week, The Real Deal reported that a law firm had rubber stamped the claims of landlords to evict tenants from their homes, without even checking whether the claims were true.

This story shows that we need bright clear lines to protect tenants from the whims of landlords and the real estate lobby. Its even more proof that we need to pass Good Cause Eviction and reject Kathy Hochuls ludicrous rebrand of 421-a, make sure tenants can stay in their homes without fear, and end big real estates power to kick tenants out of their homes to pad their profits.

Joint statement from gubernatorial candidate and U.S. Rep Tom Souzzi, D-Long Island, and former New York City Councilwoman Diana Reyna, his running mate:

Today's bombshell is an indictment on Kathy Hochul's lack of experience and poor judgement. Hochul's first decision was to pick her LG, who she entrusted with leading her failed bail reform effort, negotiating the budget and last week said she had the utmost faith in him despite many reports of investigations into his conduct in office.

Hochul has fostered a culture of continued corruption with months of fundraising from pay-to-play insiders and people doing business with the state, and secretive budget deals that resulted in the billion dollar Bills stadium and little else.

The Suozzi/Reyna ticket will clean up this corrupt mess, combat crime, cut taxes by 10 percent, reduce gas prices and utility bills, and put hard working New Yorkers first.
On some nights, youll spy a low chalkboard leaning against the brownstone wall of 49 Dove St. in Albany, about a block in from the restaurant Dove & Deer. On it, the words La Centralita and an arrow direct you under stone stoop stairs as the entrance of a garden-level apartment.

You must also stoop to get in the door, which opens into the renovated, shiny red-and-white tile kitchen of La Centralita, a culinary studio and tasting room brought to life by the buildings married owners. Marcela Garces, a professor of Spanish and film studies at Siena College who hails from Michigan, and Yuri Morejon, a political scientist from the Basque region of Spain, met in Spain and married in New York City before moving to Albany. Now their shared love of Basque cooking has found a home in the heart of Center Square.

Waiting for my guests on the street, I watch others hover tentatively at the sign, turn and dip out of sight. This is a ticketed event with a 5 p.m. start, and all nine of us arrive on time. Once inside, I linger by a cabinet filled with imported Basque foods, from olive oil to pickled peppers; above it, a brass notice board bears a menu and a worn identification card belonging to a former female Telefonica employee. As we move from the kitchen to a rear dining room, every wall is hung with their collection of vintage telephones  some branded Telefonica, the national Spanish phone company  from which La Centralita, or switchboard, takes its name.

The idea of a central switchboard, the physical room where operators would wire-connect callers, resonates with Garces and Morejon whose centrally located downtown home was built in 1876, the same year the telephone was patented. But its more than that. At its core, La Centralita is about providing a communal space to teach and share their culinary connection to home.

Basque Country, where Northern Spain borders France on the Bay of Biscay, is famed for txokos, member-based shared kitchens outside of the home. They are small gastronomic societies where people from all walks of community life come together weekly to cook and share wine and meals. Anyone who has ever traveled knows food is more than mere nourishment. Its culture and connection. You might be invited into homes, breaking bread with new friends, tasting regional or small-town delicacies, stirring pots alongside grandmothers, learning customs and ways visitors are welcomed. But in the Basque region, social cooking groups are woven into the fabric of life.

In 2017, Morejon and Garces produced a 54-minute documentary, The Txoko Experience: The Secret Culinary Space of the Basques, which was featured onboard Iberia Airlines, toured numerous film fests in the U.S. and is the focus of tonights event. As were welcomed with a glass of Basque fermented apple cider and settle in to watch the film, were given a traditional spread: an Olivier potato and vegetable salad in mayonnaise, like the Russian original, only with tuna and roasted red Basque pepper. With it, Spanish olives and imported Basque chips.

The film is a winding adventure from the txokos of small towns to the heralded, Michelin-starred kitchens of Arzak and Nerua inside the Guggenheim Bilbao. After a long winter of COVID seclusion, its an odyssey and tonic. We see Basque culture set apart from the rest of Spain, with its own language and an identity informed by and focused on food. The txoko culinary space is rooted in history and a rich agricultural tradition fed by access to land and sea, including three txakoli-wine-producing appellations windswept by ocean air, and the valley where salt is collected from the natural evaporation of prehistoric springs. In town, Basque bars open with platters of hand-held pintxos (the Basque version of tapas) set out, toppings pinned with toothpicks to crusty sliced bread (pintxo means spike) to be eaten and paid for in an honor system. Bread is as important as water, and loaves are served with every meal, to be torn and topped with olives and anchovies or used to mop sauce from plates.

Appetites whet by the film, were served pintxos cooked by Morejon in the adjoining kitchen. Garces, in her natural role as teacher, shares anecdotes like the Gilda, an anchovy-pepper-olive pintxo named for Rita Hayworths starring role in the 1946 film. In succession, we eat thick tortilla de patatas with tightly layered potato slices bound together by eggs just shy of set, and two types of crisply breaded croquetas  dubbed the perfect pintxo  with one orb filled with blue cheese and caramelized onion, the other more oval in shape and its bechamel center salty with diced ham. Alongside, we taste two txakoli wines, both tangy and barely effervescent, but one more stony, with a bracing nod to its life by the Atlantic sea. Finally, a wedge of Basque cheesecake, a pandemic social media star, which stands tall and fluffy without a crust, just burnt edges gently toasted in oven heat against a parchment paper toque.

Over two hours, weve followed a gastronomic tour, sharing thoughts on flavors and coloring from own travels and exchanging names. Weve learned that tinned anchovies, usually on supermarket shelves in the US, are only semi-preserved. Salt curing continues in intensity in the tin unless stored in the fridge to slow the process and keep the flavor mild.

With full-time careers, Garces and Morejon limit the frequency of their events and vary offerings each time, but you can request small group tastings, join a Basque cheesecake cooking class or order Morejons tortilla de patatas to go. Your best bet is to sign up for La Centralita events and book your tickets quickly, as they are limited to 10 seats and sell out fast. But if you see the chalkboard out front, its a comforting sign, knowing La Centralita has a direct connection to Euskal Herria, the Basque name for the region they call home.
Lawyers for a man whose conviction in the 1994 rape and murder of a 12-year-old girl was thrown out have been denied their request for a special prosecutor in the retrial.

Westchester County Supreme Court Judge Barry Warhit said in his April 5th ruling that there was not proper means for disqualifying the Putnam County district attorneys team.

While we disagree with the ruling, we will not be appealing it; instead, we will be moving to try the case before a jury as quickly as possible, said Krivaks lawyer Oscar Michelen in an email to the Times Union: Hudson Valley.

Highly publicized case in Putnam

Convicted in 1997, Andrew Krivak was released on bail in October 2020 after Westchester Supreme Court Justice David Zuckerman ordered a retrial upon hearing testimony about a Connecticut inmate who implicated himself in the rape and murder of Josette Wright. The girl disappeared from the Town of Carmel in October 1994. Thirteen months later, a hunter found her remains in the woods off Fields Lane in Patterson.

At the time of Wrights disappearance, Krivak was 17 and Anthony DiPippo was 18. Only one witness, DiPippos former girlfriend Denise Rose, has continually identified them as the perpetrators, while two young men who Rose claimed were in the van at the time of the rape recanted their statements, saying they were pressured by investigators to lie.

Both teens were charged, but tried separately, in the crime. DiPippo was acquitted at his third trial in 2016, then released after serving 20 years in prison. He later sued Putnam County for wrongful conviction and in 2020 reached a $12 million settlement.

Unlike DiPippo, Krivak confessed to killing Wright  a confession that he maintains was false and coerced by Putnam County sheriffs investigators.

Krivak is currently awaiting retrial. His lawyers have maintained that the case was politicized by the Putnam County District Attorney Robert Tendy, and that the district attorneys office had failed to disclose evidence that would have exonerated their client.

According to the court document filed, a public prosecutor should only be removed to protect a defendant from actual prejudice arising from a demonstrated conflict of interest or a substantial risk of an abuse of confidence. The document states that lawyers for the defendant failed to establish a conflict of interest or a risk of abuse of confidence.

Downtime is the best time Make the most of your Hudson Valley weekend, every week with our newsletter.

This motion is not the proper forum to litigate the individual merits of the alleged discovery disputes between the parties spanning two-and-one half decades since this criminal action was commenced, read the ruling that denied assigning the case a special prosecutor.

Two other motions from the DAs office are in progress. One would preclude the defendants team from using a forensic linguist who would testify that the words in Krivaks purported statement are not his own. The second is a request for permission to allow the DA teams forensic expert, who specializes in false confessions, to psychologically examine Krivak prior to issuing a report.

Krivaks attorneys say they intend to oppose both motions. A trial date could be set on June 30, according to Michelen.
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP)  A Pennsylvania government agency would get more flexibility about what to do with the former official residence of the lieutenant governor, located on a military facility, under a bill passed unanimously Tuesday by the state House.

Lawmakers previously voted to transfer the home at Fort Indiantown Gap to the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs for use as a veterans' outreach center.
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KYIV, Ukraine (AP)  Vladimir Putin vowed Tuesday that Russia's bloody offensive in Ukraine would continue until its goals are fulfilled and insisted the campaign was going as planned, despite a major withdrawal in the face of stiff Ukrainian opposition and significant losses.

Russian troops, thwarted in their push toward Ukraine's capital, are now focusing on the eastern Donbas region, where Ukraine said Tuesday it was investigating a claim that a poisonous substance had been dropped on its troops. It was not clear what the substance might be, but Western officials warned that any use of chemical weapons by Russia would be a serious escalation of the already devastating war.

Russia invaded on Feb. 24, with the goal, according to Western officials, of taking Kyiv, the capital, toppling the government and installing a Moscow-friendly regime. In the six weeks since, the ground advance stalled and Russian forces lost potentially thousands of fighters and were accused of killing civilians and other atrocities.

Putin insisted Tuesday that his invasion aimed to protect people in parts of eastern Ukraine controlled by Moscow-backed rebels and to ensure Russias own security.

He said Russia had no other choice but to launch what he calls a special military operation, and vowed it would continue until its full completion and the fulfillment of the tasks that have been set.

For now, Putin's forces are gearing up for a major offensive in the Donbas, which has been torn by fighting between Russian-allied separatists and Ukrainian forces since 2014, and where Russia has recognized the separatists claims of independence. Military strategists say Moscow appears to hope that local support, logistics and the terrain in the region favor its larger, better-armed military, potentially allowing Russia to finally turn the tide in its favor.

In Mariupol, a strategic port city in the Donbas, a Ukrainian regiment defending a steel mill claimed a drone dropped a poisonous substance on the city. It indicated there were no serious injuries. The assertion by the Azov Regiment, a far-right group now part of the Ukrainian military, could not be independently verified.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that while experts try to determine what the substance might be, The world must react now. Evidence of inhuman cruelty toward women and children in Bucha and other suburbs of Kyiv continued to surface, he added, including of alleged rapes.

Not all serial rapists reach the cruelty of Russian soldiers, Zelenskyy said.

The claims came after a Russia-allied separatist official appeared to urge the use of chemical weapons, telling Russian state TV on Monday that separatist forces should seize the plant by first blocking all the exits. And then well use chemical troops to smoke them out of there, the official, Eduard Basurin, said. He denied Tuesday that separatist forces had used chemical weapons in Mariupol.

Ukraine's Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar said officials were investigating, and it was possible phosphorus munitions  which cause horrendous burns but are not classed as chemical weapons  had been used in Mariupol.

Much of the city has been leveled in weeks of pummeling by Russian troops. The mayor said Monday that the siege has left more than 10,000 civilians dead, their bodies carpeted through the streets. Mayor Vadym Boychenko said the death toll in Mariupol alone could surpass 20,000.

Zelenskyy adviser Mykhailo Podolyak acknowledged the challenges Ukrainian troops face in Mariupol. He said via Twitter that they remain blocked and are having issues with supplies, while Ukraine's president and generals do everything possible (and impossible) to find a solution.

For more than 1.5 months our defenders protect the city from (Russian) troops, which are 10+ times larger," Podolyak tweeted. Theyre fighting under the bombs for each meter of the city. They make (Russia) pay an exorbitant price.

British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said the use of chemical weapons would be a callous escalation in this conflict, while Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne said it would be a wholesale breach of international law.

U.S. President Joe Biden for the first time referred to Russias invasion as a genocide. He was even blunter later Tuesday, repeating the term and saying: It's become clearer and clearer that Putin is just trying to wipe out the idea of even being a Ukrainian.

Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said in a statement that the U.S. could not confirm the drone report. But he noted the administrations persistent concerns about Russias potential to use a variety of riot control agents, including tear gas mixed with chemical agents.

Britain, meanwhile, has warned that Russia may resort to phosphorus bombs, which are banned in civilian areas under international law, in Mariupol.

Most armies use phosphorus munitions to illuminate targets or to produce smoke screens. Deliberately firing them into an enclosed space to expose people to fumes could breach the Chemical Weapons Convention, said Marc-Michael Blum, a former laboratory head at the Netherlands-based Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons.

Once you start using the properties of white phosphorus, toxic properties, specifically and deliberately, then it becomes banned, he said.

In Washington, a senior U.S. defense official said the Biden administration was preparing yet another package of military aid for Ukraine possibly totaling $750 million to be announced in the coming days. The official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss plans not yet publicly announced. Delivery is due to be completed this week of $800 million in military assistance approved by Biden a month ago.

In the face of stiff resistance by Ukrainian forces bolstered by Western weapons, Russian forces have increasingly relied on bombarding cities, flattening many urban areas and killing thousands. The war has driven more than 10 million Ukrainians from their homes  including nearly two-thirds of the country's children.

The results are in See the winners of each category of the 2022 Best of the Capital Region contest, as determined by popular vote.

Moscow's retreat from cities and towns around Kyiv led to the discovery of large numbers of apparently massacred civilians, prompting widespread condemnation and accusations of war crimes.

More than 720 people were killed in Kyiv suburbs that had been occupied by Russian troops and over 200 were considered missing, the Interior Ministry said early Wednesday.

In Bucha alone, Mayor Anatoliy Fedoruk said 403 bodies had been found and the toll could rise as minesweepers comb the area.

Ukraines prosecutor-generals office said Tuesday it was also looking into events in the Brovary district, which lies to the northeast.

It said the bodies of six civilians were found with gunshot wounds in a basement in the village of Shevchenkove and Russian forces were believed to be responsible.

Prosecutors are also investigating allegations that Russian forces fired on a convoy of civilians trying to leave by car from the village of Peremoha in the Brovary district, killing four people including a 13-year-old boy. In another attack near Bucha, five people were killed including two children when a car was fired upon, prosecutors said.

Putin falsely claimed Tuesday that Ukraine's accusation that hundreds of civilians were killed by Russian troops in the town of Bucha were fake. Associated Press journalists saw dozens of bodies in and around the town, some of whom had their hands bound and appeared to have been shot at close range.

Speaking at the Vostochny space launch facility in Russia's far east, in his first known foray outside Moscow since the war began, Putin also said the West would fail to isolate Russia and its economy has withstood a blitz of sanctions.

Addressing the pace of the campaign, he said Moscow was proceeding calmly and rhythmically to achieve the planned goals while minimizing the losses.

The Russian defense ministry said Tuesday that it used used air- and sea-launched missiles to destroy an ammunition depot and airplane hangar at Starokostiantyniv in the western Khmelnytskyi region and an ammunition depot near Kyiv.

___

Karmanau reported from Lviv, Ukraine. Associated Press writer Robert Burns in Washington, and AP journalists around the world contributed to this report.

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Follow the APs coverage of the war at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine
ALBANY  A team of researchers from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and Albany Medical College that is developing a nasal spray to prevent infection from diseases like COVID-19 were among the first recipients of a new state Biodefense Commercialization Fund grant this week.

The researchers, led by RPIs Jonathan Dordick, plan to test nasal versions of the drug Pentosan Polysulfate (PPS) after discovering it can bind with pseudo-viruses that mimic the spike proteins on the novel coronavirus. PPS is approved to treat a very different ailment: bladder pain, from a disease called interstitial cystitis.

Dordick thinks that if the research proves successful, the nasal spray they develop could serve as an early treatment and a preventative measure.

"We know that the virus infects the nasal passages quite early in the disease," Dordick said. "So we thought, is there any way that we can do something that would block the virus from actually gaining a foothold in the nose or in the upper airway?"

Dordicks project, co-led by his RPI colleague Robert J. Linhardt and Albany Medical Colleges Dennis Metzger, will receive $500,000 from the state. The group is one of 18 grant recipients announced this week by Gov. Kathy Hochul. Ten of the projects were proposed by academic institutions, while an additional eight were from startups.

The Biodefense Commercialization Fund  which will support New York-based businesses fighting infectious diseases  has awarded over a third of the $40 million budgeted for it in the spending plan approved last week by the Legislature and Hochul. Nearly 75 percent of the $15 million in grants announced so far will go to startup companies.

"These grants help promote the growth of New York states visionary life science companies, while also increasing our preparedness against current and future infectious disease threats," Hochul said in a statement.

Preparing the state to deal with health crises such as pandemics is one of the programs core objectives. State health Commissioner Mary T. Bassett said the approach could strengthen New Yorks public health apparatus, making it "better prepared for the future."

The Capital Region research team is already looking towards that future.

"The beauty of this kind of research is that its finding generalized approaches that could be applied to whatever new pandemic we're facing," Metzger said. "Once were done with COVID, therell be another pandemic, there always is."

In its application guidelines, the biodefense fund specified that the selection committee may prioritize "needed COVID-related solutions" before considering projects focused on other infection threats.

Metzger has known Dordick and Linhardt for years. He was pulled into the grant proposal due to his own research on respiratory infections, including COVID-19, and his access at Albany Medical College to a lab with the second-highest biosecurity rating.

The results are in See the winners of each category of the 2022 Best of the Capital Region contest, as determined by popular vote.

"At RPI theyve been using a pseudo-virus," Metzger said. "But you really want to test the approach against the true (COVID-19) virus."

The immunology and microbial disease expert said he thinks the state was particularly interested in the collaboration between a group with an engineering focus and a medical school.

This isnt his first time interpreting the targets of a state "biodefense" funding push: his lab started looking into immunity against potential bioterrorism agents when former President George Bush pushed out federal funding for biodefense in 2004, after the Sept. 11 attacks, and has watched the state support research into recent pandemic scares, including the avian flu in 2009.

Dordick and Linhardt had been engaged in their own years-long effort: they have managed to engineer a new version of the anticoagulant Heparin in a lab. The drug, which predates the FDA, has long been made with pig intestines. But there are other substances with a similar molecular structure, including PPS, the bladder pain medication that could soon become a coronavirus combattant.

Since the pandemic meant everything quickly became COVID-related in 2020, Dordick said his team used the fact that they knew Heparin could bind some viruses and started testing how it interacted with those similar to the novel coronavirus.

"Very quickly, we pivoted to, let's test all this, let's see if it works," Dordick said. "And it worked pretty well (in the lab setting)."

If the research teams hypothesis pans out, once applied their nasal sprays could trap virus cells as they enter a persons nose, causing the pathogens to decay and die on the spot rather than infecting the body.
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ALBANY  It initially appeared that the state Education Department's decision to cancel this year's New York State Summer School of the Arts (NYSSSA) program was based solely on financial challenges.

But at a state Board of Regents meeting Monday, officials suggested that the highly selective program for gifted teens may be incompatible with the agency's stated mission of promoting diversity, equity and inclusion.

Education officials have been taking heat from advocates and colleagues for failing to secure state funding to restore the prestigious program. The department had requested $2 million in additional state funds to sustain the program, but the money wasn't included in the state spending plan enacted last week.

"We are at a moment where arts education is critically important to the social-emotional well-being of children... Our students really need this, particularly now, and for the next decade," Regent Shino Tanikawa said at Monday's meeting.

The four-week residential summer school  which allows talented high school students to study with some of the worlds foremost artists in the visual and performing arts  has been operated and subsidized by the state since 1970.

The program was offered remotely in the summers of 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Education Department canceled the program this year citing funding challenges and "virtual-format fatigue" and announced a scholarship program instead, prompting an outcry from program directors, parents, alumni and proponents of arts education.

On Monday, state education officials said they would continue to evaluate the program and explore how it fits with the department's larger objective of providing a high-quality arts experience to all New York students.

To attend the program, students must be identified as having exceptional artistic talents and then compete for a select number of seats. About 33 percent of past attendees received partial or full scholarships, according to the Education Department.

Board of Regents Chancellor Lester W. Young, Jr. noted that the program serves about 300 teens, most of whom have already been exposed to high-level arts training.

"Quite frankly, as much as I support the arts, if we only advocate for something called Summer School of the Arts, everyone can't go to that," Young said. "By its very nature, we are creating an exclusive opportunity."

State Education Commissioner Betty Rosa said she had concerns about the lack of diversity at NYSSSA and took issue with advocates who have accused the department of failing to sufficiently advocate for the program during budget talks.

"We received many phone calls as if in fact we had not supported (the program), when it was not true," she said. "We have to do a better job with the program all the way around, from funding to representation to access and opportunities."

She mentioned a parent from Long Island who reported that her child did not encounter a single child of color while attending the summer school.

Regent Roger Tilles argued that the NYSSSA program is compatible with the department's DEI mission since it makes elite arts training available to teens of modest means.

"It's a DEI program because it's a program for kids whose parents can't afford to go to private programs... for kids who can't make it to the Interlochen (Center for the Arts camp) or the Boston University Tanglewood Institute," he said. "If we are really serious about having the arts  for all kids, not just for some kids  we really need to do something about it."

In a letter to the board of Regents sent Monday afternoon, supporters of the program disputed the Regents' characterization of the program as a summer camp rather than a school.

Advocates also pointed to statistics they say don't match the perception that the program lacks diversity. In 2019, 28 percent of students identified as BIPOC, 15 percent of students did not disclose their race or ethnic background and the remaining 57 percent identified as white, the coalition wrote in a letter to the board.

Compare that to New York as a whole, where 64 percent of the population identifies as white, they wrote. "NYSSSA is not a program for rich, white kids. We want to be absolutely sure that that is understood. Yes, we do have some kids from privileged backgrounds, but they do not comprise the entirety of the student body."

The results are in See the winners of each category of the 2022 Best of the Capital Region contest, as determined by popular vote.

They acknowledged a lack of representation for students of color in the orchestral and ballet programs, but pointed out that it is a challenge for professional ballet companies and orchestras across the nation.

In 2019, 30 percent of students in NYSSSA's ballet program identified as BIPOC and 31 percent of students in the orchestral program identified as BIPOC. Of the BIPOC students, most identified as Asian, the letter states.

NYSSSA supporters say state education officials did not provide them with an opportunity to collaborate or brainstorm solutions. They expressed dismay that NYSSSA executive director Molly Hennighausen's voice seems to have been marginalized.

Sara Paupini, who was executive director of NYSSSA from 2012 to 2016, said she used to brief the Regents twice a year and state officials used to visit the seven NYSSSA schools.

"The intent of this program is to provide an outlet for these exceptional artists," she said. "That is certainly not devaluing that, yes, there should be arts for everyone, but that's not why NYSSSA was founded 50 years ago."

The ballet, modern dance and orchestra programs were typically held at Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs each summer, with school directors and teachers coming from the ranks of New York City Ballet, the Philadelphia Orchestra and prominent dance companies presented as part of the Saratoga Performing Arts Center season.

Canceling NYSSSA would be a loss to the communities that benefit from its presence, according to Paupina.

"If you've been to SPAC and you see those kids, they just bring this energy ... they are like screaming for these ballet dancers like they are rockstars," she said.

Other schools were based at SUNY's Fredonia, Delhi and Alfred State colleges.

Rosa cited Ballet Hispanico and Alvin Ailey as companies that, unlike NYSSSA, "work within the community."

The letter notes that NYSSSAs faculty and guests come from a range of companies including Alvin Ailey and that many NYSSSA graduates have gone on to study at the Fordham/Ailey BFA program.

"NYSSSA has a place at NYSED, and can help the Regents and Department meet its goals," the NYSSSA supporters wrote. "Can you imagine a world without a Lin-Manuel Miranda? Judith Jamison? Frida Kahlo? The voices and artists of our generation were cultivated and inspired as youth."
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LONDON (AP)  Prime Minister Boris Johnson said Tuesday he paid a fine from police for attending a lockdown-breaching birthday party in his official residence, making him the first British leader to be sanctioned for breaking the law while in office.

The fines for Johnson, his wife, Carrie, and Treasury chief Rishi Sunak brought a simmering crisis for the prime minister back to full boil, with opposition politicians immediately calling for his resignation.

Johnson and his Conservative government have faced growing outrage since allegations surfaced late last year that he and his staff flouted Britain's pandemic restrictions and held office parties in 2020 and 2021 when millions in the country were barred from meeting with friends and family  or even attending funerals for their loved ones.

I have paid the fine and want to offer a full apology, Johnson said. I understand the anger many will feel that I myself fell short when it came to observing the very rules which the government I lead had introduced to protect the public. I accept in all sincerity that people had the right to expect better.

Downing Street said Johnson was being sanctioned for attending a gathering of two or more people indoors in the Cabinet Room at 10 Downing Street on June 19, 2020. The event was a surprise birthday party for the prime minister.

Johnson said the gathering lasted less than 10 minutes, and at that time, it did not occur to me this might have been a breach of the rules.

London's Metropolitan Police force said it had issued at least 50 fines after investigating a dozen events held in 10 Downing St. and and other government buildings. They reportedly included bring your own booze office parties and wine time Fridays organized by Johnsons staff.

The force did not identify the recipients or the size of the fines. But Johnson's office confirmed shortly after that the prime minister and Sunak each received notice Tuesday that they would be issued with fines for an undisclosed amount. If paid promptly, such fines do not result in a criminal record.

Opponents, and some members of the governing Conservative Party, say Johnson should resign.

Thousands of people were fined between 60 pounds ($79) and 10,000 pounds ($13,200) by police for rule-breaking social gatherings during the pandemic.

Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak have broken the law and repeatedly lied to the British public, said Keir Starmer, leader of the opposition Labour Party. The Conservatives are totally unfit to govern. Britain deserves better.

Opposition parties called for lawmakers to be recalled from their Easter break for a vote of no-confidence in Johnson.

The COVID-19 Bereaved Families for Justice group said there is simply no way that Johnson or Sunak can remain in their jobs.

Its still unbelievably painful to know that the Prime Minister was partying and breaking his own lockdown rules  while we were unable to be at our loved ones sides in their dying moments, said the groups spokesman Lobby Akinnola.

A total of 16 parties were investigated by a senior civil servant, Sue Gray, with a dozen of them also under investigation by the Metropolitan Police.

In January, Gray published a report into some of the gatherings, the ones not under criminal investigation. She said failures of leadership and judgment in Johnsons government allowed events to occur that should not have happened.

The report said some of the gatherings showed a serious failure to observe standards for government, and some behavior at the parties were difficult to justify given how the public were asked to restrict their lives.

Johnsons grip on power had appeared to be on a knife-edge earlier this year because of the scandal and the departure of several top aides. Allies feared partygate could become a tipping point for a leader who has weathered a series of other storms over his expenses, and his moral judgment.

Some Conservative lawmakers were openly calling for a no-confidence vote in their leader  something that can happen if 15% of Conservative lawmakers demand it.

The results are in See the winners of each category of the 2022 Best of the Capital Region contest, as determined by popular vote.

But Johnson has hung on, partly because Russias invasion of Ukraine distracted public and political attention.

Johnsons international image, battered by Britains messy exit from the European Union under his leadership, has been revived by his firm military, political and moral support for Ukraine. Johnson traveled to Kyiv last weekend to meet with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Johnson might also benefit from the woes afflicting Sunak, the 41-year-old Treasury chief who has been seen as a potential rival and successor. The fine for Sunak comes as he also faces a backlash over the spiraling cost of living and questions about his financial arrangements and the tax status of his wealthy wife.

Jill Rutter, a senior fellow at the Institute for Government think-tank, said partygate had damaged the reputation of both the government and the civil service.

The line, Its one rule for them and another law for the rest of us really does resonate, she said.

Rutter said Johnson was probably safe for now, but could face fresh peril if the Conservatives take a hammering in next month's local elections.

And with the prime minister, theres always a possibility that something else comes out, she said. "So you wouldnt say that its guaranteed plain sailing through to the 2023-2024 election. But I think we definitely premature to write him off now.

___

Associated Press Writer Danica Kirka contributed.

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Follow APs pandemic coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic
It wasnt believable when former Gov. Andrew Cuomos administration insisted huge campaign contributions never influenced government policy. Its no more credible when Gov. Kathy Hochuls people make the same claim.

We get that politicians dont like the implication that theyre being compromised, influenced, bought, bribed, what have you. But taking money from people looking for something from the government you oversee cant help but raise questions in the publics mind, no matter how legal these transactions may be.

Ms. Hochuls campaign recently reported having more than $21 million. Helping her amass all that money just since August were lobbying firms that have held exclusive fundraisers at which their clients can meet with the governor, and companies like Southern Glazers Wine & Spirits, which has hosted several fundraisers for Ms. Hochul.

Last Oct. 30, the company steered $25,000 in donations to Ms. Hochuls campaign the same day that its chief executive officer attended a fundraising event for the governor in the Rochester area. As the Times Unions Chris Bragg reports, emails show the CEO talked with Ms. Hochul about a controversial bill that could make Southern Glazers millions  at the expense of competitors and consumers. She referred him to her campaign staff, who in turn helped him connect with a top member of the Hochul administration. The bill hasnt passed, yet.

All thats going on, the administration says, is the governor talking with people and her campaign referring them to the appropriate people in government to address their questions or issues. All perfectly legal and above board. No donation has any influence on any government decisions, insists her press secretary, Hazel Crampton-Hays.

Year after year, campaign after campaign, politicians say we need to clean up New Yorks political system. The state has made some progress  the latest budget includes more than $20 million for a fledgling public campaign finance system that encourages candidates to rely more on small donations. And to her credit, Ms. Hochul didnt stonewall the Freedom of Information request for emails concerning donors, a departure from Mr. Cuomos obstructive tactics. And yes, the campaign contribution system we have is at least more transparent than the dark money that flows through private issue advocacy groups that dont have to report their donors even as they spend millions to influence our elections.

Sign up for the Observation Deck newsletter Read the latest Times Union opinion, perspective and letters to the editor on Mondays by signing up for our Observation Deck newsletter.

But it isnt hard to imagine a better system. Much lower contribution limits at the state level wouldnt foster an environment in which a few rich people can corral politicians in private soirees with the lure of tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars at a time. Stronger laws at the federal level  including constitutional amendments if necessary  could allow better regulation of campaigns and shine more light on dark-money groups that influence our political system.
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ALBANY  A fraction of the criminal cases that would have been impacted by Gov. Kathy Hochul's initial proposal to alter the state's bail laws will end up being affected by the final product.

The end result  passed over the weekend as part of the state budget  comes after weeks of pushback from advocates for preserving the state's 2019 criminal justice changes; they remain frustrated with the process and its conclusion.

Among the changes approved in the budget, lawmakers agreed to make it clear to judges that if someone is accused of petty theft while they already have an open criminal case, a judge can consider setting bail. But if the alleged crime is "negligible" and not a part of other criminal activity, then the judge must release the accused  which appears to be what Hochul was referring to when she said there will be "limited exceptions for crimes of poverty."

Although state law notes the cost of bail should not be a hardship to a person facing charges, data shows the expense often keeps individuals behind bars prior to conviction.

Hochul opened the negotiations with a proposal to allow a judge to set bail on anyone charged with a crime while awaiting the conclusion of their trial for another case. The intention, according to a senior administration official, was to encourage a policy of deterrence that the governor believes could help reduce crime.

Experts say the changes lawmakers agreed to could result in fewer than a thousand additional instances per year in which someone will face the likelihood of potential jail time prior to a judge ruling on their court case. That's roughly 10 percent of the number that would have been impacted by the governor's original proposal.

The result may not have the effect state officials are looking for, according to Michael Rempel, director of the Data Collaborative for Justice at John Jay College of Criminal Justice.

"If the goal was to target individuals repeatedly arrested over a short period of time and reduce that cycle in future, short-term jail is the wrong way to accomplish that outcome," Rempel said.

He noted that when a person charged with a misdemeanor such as petty theft is sent for pretrial detention to a place like Rikers Island, they typically become more and not less likely to be charged with an additional crime in the near future when they are let out.

Rempel previously headed the Center for Court Innovation, which works with the state Office of Court Administration on research, and has overseen much of the center's research on recidivism rates.

He said the newly enacted changed were likely to have an "exceptionally modest" impact on the volume of cases moving through the system  in New York City, about 500 cases.

"We're not here to undo the progress that was made in the past," Hochul said Thursday when rolling out the state's budget agreement. "But I also said we have to realize there are areas where improvements can and need to be made."

Hochul touted the fact the state was going to "close loopholes," especially around gun-related crimes that previously were not automatically bail-eligible. Those cases account for a sliver of the total alleged crimes committed in a year and relate to only 29 instances of a person re-arrested for a violent felony while awaiting the conclusion of their case.

State Republicans, particularly in the final days of budget talks, said that Hochul and her fellow Democrats would try to take a political win for an end result that they said would not substantially reduce crime.

Shes going to declare that shes saved us all, GOP Chairman Nick Langworthy said at a news conference in Albany last month. And we all know thats nonsense.

Long Island Democrats, from the party's moderate suburban wing, generally came out in support of Hochul's bail proposals ahead of a potentially challenging election season that's likely to be centered around public safety.

Other changes were made to the law to clearly allow judges to consider factors like a defendant's "activities and history" in instances when they already have the ability to set bail. It's intended to "clarify" the bail law, the administration said.

Judges set bail about a third of the time, according to state statistics. Prosecutors argued it is in part because of a "least restrictive" standard that could guide the judge toward releasing a person while they await trial even though the case is bail-eligible. The change could lead to an expansion of the use of bail by judges.

State officials agreed to walk back some of its changes to the state's discovery laws, which get less public attention but were often a key concern for prosecutors who were pushing for alterations. The law is intended to address cases facing "automatic dismissal" due to the prosecution failing to turn over evidence fast enough for a speedy trial.

The state chose to spend $15 million on funding pretrial release programs in the $220 billion budget.

Violent felony re-arrest rates are highest among the pretrial release population, according to state data, although research prior to the changes in the state's bail laws show it had beneficial effects. The research has generally focused on New York City, which funds pretrial release programs.

It also chose to spend $65 million on discovery implementation, including money toward digitizing the process for quicker work, according to the governor's office.

An additional $227 million is going toward gun violence intervention efforts to try to try to stop crime before it happens.

Critics of the new provisions remained upset even with the pruned-back package.

"It is cruel to say, 'I will give you housing  but only in jail. I will treat your mental health  but only in jail. I will feed you  but only in jail.' Pretrial incarceration is not the answer," Assemblywoman Latrice Walker, D-Brooklyn, said on the chamber floor during a budget debate. "I want public safety, but not at the expense of our civil rights."
ALBANY  Lt. Gov. Brian A. Benjamin on Tuesday became the third lieutenant governor in New York to resign from the post, but he is likely to remain on the Democratic primary ballot in June, setting up a competitive and complicated primary with at least two other Democrats.

The situation is further complicated by the choice that Gov. Kathy Hochul will have to make: select another lieutenant governor to serve out the remainder of the term or leave the position vacant until January.

Two prior cases serve as precedent for a lieutenant governor resigning from office, although neither came under the cloud of a public corruption charge from federal prosecutors.

In 1984, Alfred B. DelBello resigned as second-in-command to Gov. Mario Cuomo following disagreements between the two. He moved into the private sector.

Before that, Frank C. Moore resigned in 1953 after a dispute related to the succession of Gov. Thomas E. Dewey.

More recent history shows that Hochul also would not have to necessarily appoint another lieutenant governor before the results of the election.

Following the resignation of Gov. Eliot Spitzer and the elevation of Lt. Gov. David Paterson to the states highest office, the state went without a lieutenant governor for 15 months beginning in March 2008.

In the interim, four state Senate majority leaders held the acting role of second-in-command. All four  Joseph Bruno, Dean Skelos, Malcolm Smith and Pedro Espada  would go on to be convicted of a felony. (Bruno's conviction on public corruption charges was overturned on appeal and he was acquitted at a second trial in U.S. District Court.)

That interim process ended when Richard Ravitch was sworn in as lieutenant governor at a Peter Luger Steak House in Brooklyn.

If Benjamin had not resigned, the path to his removal from office would have been through impeachment, according to Richard Rifkin, legal director of the Government Law Center at Albany Law School.

On the ballot?

Benjamin's name almost certainly will appear on the primary ballot in June, according to the state Board of Elections. Generally, there are three ways someone can be removed from the ballot: death, declination during a nominating process or disqualification.

In a statement early Tuesday evening from his legal team, they said would Benjamin would be suspending his campaign to focus on "explaining in court why his actions were laudable  not criminal," and then when the case is completed, "he can rededicate himself to public service."

Since Benjamin already accepted the nomination at the Democratic Party's state convention in February, the only way he could decline the office is if he is to accept a nomination for another office, like a judgeship.

Additionally, according to the state Board of Elections, if Benjamin is to run on an independent party line for another office, that could be viewed as a form of declining his ballot position for lieutenant governor. It is an unsettled matter of the law, the state said.

The more straightforward path would be if Benjamin moved out of the state.

As a condition of his release on $250,000 bond, Benjamin is limited to most of New York City, Long Island and portions of Georgia and Virginia. If he was to move to Georgia or Virginia and change his residence to a location there, that could result in his name being removed from the ballot.

If Benjamin remains on the ballot, he could still win the election and move onto the general election while his criminal case is pending.\.

If he was to win but also be convicted of a felony prior to accepting the nomination, it could lead to trouble for him to hold the office, legal experts said.

The other candidates on the ballot include Ana Maria Archila, a progressive who is the lone person running on the Working Families Party line, and who is the running mate of New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams; and Diana Reyna, a moderate who is running alongside gubernatorial candidate U.S. Rep. Tom Suozzi, D-Long Island.

Another Democratic candidate, David Englert, the mayor of the village of Sodus, filed his petition paperwork one day late and therefore may not make it onto the ballot.

Republican Alison Esposito is running alongside U.S. Rep. Lee Zeldin, R-Long Island. She is also running on the Conservative Party line. Republican Michael J. Grace is running for lieutenant governor on the ticket with former Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino.

One major variable that remains in play is the threat of a write-in campaign.

Hochul could appoint someone to finish out the term of lieutenant governor and then that person could run a write-in campaign in the primary, according to the Board of Elections.

Similar to how Buffalo Mayor Bryon Brown ran an aggressive write-in campaign in November to defeat the party nominee, socialist India Walton, a write-in candidate could use stamps to place on ballots or palm cards to bring to the voting booth.
ALBANY  New York Lt. Gov. Brian Benjamin resigned Tuesday afternoon, hours after he surrendered to federal authorities to face charges in an alleged quid pro quo scheme that a federal prosecutor described as "a simple story of corruption."

Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Benjamin's decision just after 5 p.m.

"I have accepted Brian Benjamin's resignation effective immediately," the governor said. "While the legal process plays out, it is clear to both of us that he cannot continue to serve as lieutenant governor. New Yorkers deserve absolute confidence in their government, and I will continue working every day to deliver for them."

Benjamin was indicted on charges of bribery and other offenses related to an alleged scheme to trade a state grant for campaign contributions. The indictment accuses him of concealing the situation when he was being vetted last year to become Hochul's second-in-command.

According to the indictment, the former state senator is accused of steering a $50,000 grant to a charity run by Harlem real estate developer Gerald Migdol in exchange for campaign contributions, including a number of donations fraudulently given in the names of other people.

At a news conference Tuesday, Manhattan U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said, "public corruption erodes peoples confidence and faith in government."

The case is two-pronged: bribery and then a "cover-up," Williams told reporters Tuesday afternoon.

"Quid pro quo; this for that," Williams said. "Thats bribery, plain and simple."

He said that Benjamin "repeatedly lied" about the situation in the lead up to his confirmation to become lieutenant governor, including on forms submitted as part of his background check. He declined to specify whether federal investigators spoke about the nomination process with Gov. Kathy Hochul's office or the state officials who handled Benjamin's vetting.

"Public corruption remains a problem in New York," Williams said. "It is a bipartisan problem."

Benjamin surrendered Tuesday morning. He later pleaded not guilty during an appearance before a federal magistrate in New York. His bail was set at $250,000 and came with the condition that he stay away from Albany.

The Times Union reported in March that a $50,000 grant that was steered through the state Senate in 2019 went to Friends of Public School Harlem, an educational nonprofit led by Migdol.

Migdol was indicted in November for allegedly setting up a straw-donor scheme to benefit Benjamin's unsuccessful campaign for New York City comptroller. Information contained in the indictment indicates that Migdol then began cooperating with federal authorities.

Benjamin is also accused of engaging in a series of lies and deceptions" to cover up his scheme, the indictment states.

As recently as Thursday, Benjamin told reporters that he had "not been accused of any wrongdoing."

"I will be very transparent to the public about what I did," Benjamin told reporters at the Capitol. "Ive not been accused of any wrongdoing. Neither has the campaign, and so I will be making my case to the people."

Appearing earlier in the day at a news conference about a mass shooting in a Brooklyn subway station, Hochul declined to discuss her running mate's arrest, saying she had not had a chance to speak to Benjamin. Her office, she said, would release a statement.

On Aug. 26, Hochul announced that Benjamin was her pick to become lieutenant governor, one of her first major decisions after Hochul assumed the governorship two days earlier. The indictment could upend this year's gubernatorial race, in which Hochul has been a clear front-runner.

Benjamin's arrest comes just days after Hochul said she continued to have faith in him after it was revealed he had failed to disclose to her that he had received a federal grand jury subpoena.

According to the indictment, Benjamin and Migdol first met around 2017. In 2019, Benjamin announced he was running for New York City comptroller in an election being held in 2021; the race was governed by the citys small-dollar campaign matching funds program, which matches small-dollar contributions with generous amounts of public funds.

In March 2019, according to the indictment, Benjamin attended a meeting at Migdols residence, where Benjamin allegedly relayed that he wanted Migdol to procure numerous small contributions for the comptroller campaign. When Migdol replied that his ability to do so was limited, Benjamin allegedly replied, Let me see what I can do.

A month earlier, Benjamin had sent a list of projects for which he was seeking discretionary funding to Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins. The list of projects within his Harlem district did not include Friends of Public School Harlem, which had not sought grant funding in 2019.

But in May 2019, after the meeting at Migdols home, Benjamin was notified that hed been given additional discretionary funding, including $50,000 that could go to educational purposes. At that point, Benjamin allegedly called Migdol and said he intended to procure the $50,000 for Migdol's charity, whose stated purpose is providing resources to the students and the public schools of Harlem, including school supplies.

Read the indictment here:

A month later, the Senate approved the $50,000 Benjamin had sought. Because it went through the Senates annual bullet aid resolution, the grant was listed as being directed by the Senate, not Benjamin specifically. The grant, however, was not immediately disbursed because state agency approvals were still required; it's not clear from state records that the funds were ever paid out.

A day after securing the funds, Benjamin allegedly sent a text to Migdol. When Migdol asked, Does it mean what Im hoping? Benjamin allegedly replied, Oh yes it does. We passed the resolution yesterday! $50k.

About two weeks later, in July 2019, Migdol allegedly met with Benjamin in his Senate office in Harlem and gave the legislator a $10,000 cashiers check in the name of one of Migdols relatives who did not share his last name; a $10,000 personal check in the name of another relative who did not share Migdols last name; and a $5,000 check from a limited liability company controlled by Migdol. During the meeting, Migdol allegedly shared information making clear that the contributions were funded by Migdol and not by the relatives, which if true would constitute illegal straw donations.

The checks were made out to the Senate campaign of Benjamin, who at that point was not yet able to raise campaign contributions for the comptroller race. While the Senate donations were not eligible for public matching funds like those for New York City races, the nature of the contributions allegedly helped conceal that Migdol was the source behind them, even as he was slated to receive the $50,000 grant.

During the meeting, Benjamin allegedly reminded Migdol of the $50,000 grant, and said he expected Migdol to procure "numerous small contributions" for the comptroller campaign.

Beginning in October 2019, after Benjamin had begun fundraising for his comptroller bid, Migdol allegedly began funneling $250 contributions to that campaign that were eligible for the public matching funds. The contributions were in the names of other individuals besides Migdol, at least several of whom had not authorized the contributions.

Benjamin allegedly communicated with Migdol, staff and advisers about the businessman's ongoing fundraising efforts, and specifically described certain contributions as having been collected by Migdol, even meeting with him to receive certain contributions.

In January 2021, The City revealed that 23 individuals who were recorded as giving donations to the Benjamin 2021 campaign fund  via an intermediary named Michael Murphy  had each given with a $250 money order. Several of those people were unaware of the contributions, and one was listed in the name of a toddler, the nonprofit news outlet reported. The donations would have generated nearly $17,000 in public matching funds. Murphy is also the treasurer of Friends of Public School Harlem.

Previously, in October 2020, Benjamin had also allegedly told Migdol that if he directed $15,000 in donations to a committee that's unnamed in the indictment, Benjamin would help Migdol obtain a zoning variance for a property he owned in Harlem.

Based on the description of the contribution in the indictment, the $15,000 that Migdol then gave was directed to the Democratic Senate Campaign Committee, the fundraising arm of the Senate Democratic conference. The zoning variance, however, has yet to come before the Community Board that would be responsible for its approval.

The indictment also describes how Benjamin allegedly sought to cover up his behavior, including by withholding paperwork from the state Board of Elections identifying Migdol as the owner of the LLC that had given $5,000. The indictment alleges that Benjamin misled the New York City Campaign Finance Board, stating in a letter that hed had no reason to question the legitimacy of the donations to his comptroller campaign.

A week before Hochul announced Benjamin as her lieutenant governor pick, he submitted answers to a state vetting questionnaire stating that hed never exercised his governmental authority for a donor from which hed solicited campaign donations, according to the indictment. After the Daily News wrote an article questioning another aspect of Benjamins submission, he amended the form  but did not change the false statement about his exercise of authority.

Benjamin faces one count of bribery and honest services wire fraud conspiracy, one of bribery, one of honest services wire fraud, and two for falsification of records.

Benjamin told reporters last week that in his appointment process from Harlem state senator to lieutenant governor, he went through screenings with New York State Police. He said it was a "thorough and diligent process" that led to State Police issuing its recommendation to the governor for his appointment.

"I did not hide or wasnt in any way trying to keep things from the governor," Benjamin said.

His ascent to lieutenant governor came as a byproduct of the resignation of former Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo in August.

"I never in a million years would have imagined I would be standing here ... but God has bigger plans for me," Benjamin said at the event in Harlem where he was named to the post.

Benjamin never faced a competitive election during his ascent. He was nominated by the Manhattan Democratic Party to run for an open state Senate seat in 2017. The seat represents a heavily Democratic constituency. Previously he was a community board member, focused on criminal justice reforms and closing Rikers Island.
RENSSELAER  Son of Egg, a Korean restaurant that opened for takeout in an Albany storefront early in the pandemic shutdown, is finalizing work on a second, larger location that will become its flagship. It is taking over the former Baking You Crazy bakery and cafe, located at 483 Broadway, at the foot of the bridge to the Amtrak station.

An opening is projected for April 21, the second anniversary of the Albany original, at 418 Madison Ave. The Albany restaurant will remain open.

"It just got so busy that we didn't have room to prep more food while we were cooking, because the space is so small. We knew we had to find somewhere bigger," said Justin Ko, the managing partner of Son of Egg. He owns it with his mother, Min Cho Ko. The family moved to the Capital Region from Portland, Ore., where Min Cho Ko owned a deli/coffeehouse, when her husband took a job with GlobalFoundries in Malta.

The 4,125-square-foot Broadway building has a full basement, walk-in coolers and freezers, commercial kitchen, off-street parking and room on the second floor to expand capacity beyond the approximately 25-seat cafe plus bar on the ground level, said Clair Francis Bee III, founder and principal broker of Acre Real Estate Associates in Albany, which handled the lease deal between the Ko family and landlord Noah Smith.

Ko said he expects hours at the new location at first to be similar to those in Albany, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday to Saturday, closed Sunday. He said earlier hours may be added if there is sufficient demand from Amtrak customers. (The first train for New York City leaves at 5:55 a.m.) One of Son of Egg's signature sandwiches features a vegetable omelet with bacon and cheese on a hard roll.

A full liquor license is pending for Rensselaer, Ko said, adding that the bar will showcase makgeolli, a Korean rice wine, and Korea's most popular distilled spirit, soju. Evening hours may be extended depending on bar business, Ko said.

The menu is Rensselaer will be largely the same as in Albany, with Korean classics including bulgogi and bibimbap, as sandwiches or bowls, available with housemade kimchi. Ko said the larger kitchen will serve as a production facility for some items in Albany and should allow for the development of additional dishes. Both locations will offer dine-in, takeout and delivery via third-party apps including DoorDash, Grubhub and Uber Eats.

The new location will more than double Son of Egg's current employee roster of 11, Ko said.

In 2005, 483 Broadway became a restaurant called Rudy's V&R, as an offshoot of the then-5-year-old V&R Italian Ristorante on lower Madison Avenue in Albany. The business' owners, the Berisic family, turned 483 Broadway into Red House Pub in 2010, then, six years later, the family's daughter Vanessa Berisic, at the time 21 years old and fresh out of the Culinary Institute of America, with her parents transformed the business into Baking You Crazy.

The bakery-cafe closed in spring 2021 and V&R Italian Ristorante in Albany appears to have been dormant since the pandemic shutdown began. The Rudy's V&R name was revived by the Berisics in July 2021 in a new location, 50 Exchange St., Albany, at the West Albany Italian Benevolent Society.
Farmington, WV (26555)

Today

Cloudy. Periods of rain this morning. High 56F. Winds NE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall around a quarter of an inch. Localized flooding is possible..

Tonight

Cloudy skies early, followed by partial clearing. Low 42F. Winds NE at 10 to 15 mph.
A price tag of 42.6 million has been placed on 88 new social housing units located in South Dublin.

UK property giant Hammerson has put an indicative total price tag on 88 apartments it is proposing to sell to a local council for social housing in Dundrum, the Irish Independent has reported.

The publication explained that, as part of its social housing obligations under planning legislation, Hammerson wants to sell the apartments to Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council.

In a response to the applicants, the council said: "while the unit costs exceed the councils approved acquisition cost threshold, it is acknowledged that the stated costs are estimated as actual cost cannot be quantified at this preliminary stage."

The proposal, under Part V of the 2000 Planning and Development Act, represents 10 per cent of the 466 million, 881 unit apartment scheme Hammerson proposes to build.

It is understood that 90% will be privately owned housing.

Commenting on the news, BMA Planning described the planned development as 'an appropriate response for this Major Town Centre site'.

The group added that the new development would provide high-quality residential and supporting village centre uses at a central and accessible location in need of regeneration.

In related housing news, the Minister for Housing Darragh O' Brien told RTE's Morning Ireland that the Irish government will examine the possibility of payment for use of holiday homes to house refugees coming in from Ukraine.
Taoiseach Micheal Martin said the Government may consider offering a financial reward for information on the Kinahan gang.

Mr Martin said he will discuss it with his Government colleagues and keep the measure under review.

It comes as US authorities offer a $5million reward for key information on the Kinahan cartel.

Yesterday evening (Monday April 11), the US government imposed sanctions against seven senior members of the Kinahan crime gang as part of a bid to target their financial operations.

Reward of up to $5,000,000.00 USD for information leading to the Financial Disruption of the Kinahan Criminal Organisation or the arrest and/or conviction of:Daniel KinahanChristy Kinahan SrChristy Kinahan Jr Submit Tips via email to KinahanTCOTips@dea.gov pic.twitter.com/PEafbJkJ8a  Garda Info (@gardainfo) April 12, 2022

It was revealed today (Tuesday April 12) that US authorities were offering the five million dollar reward (3.8 million/4.6 million euro) for information that will lead to the financial destruction of the Kinahan gang or the arrest and conviction of its leaders, Christy Kinahan Snr and/or his sons Daniel and Christopher Jnr.

Mr Martin has welcomed the US government crackdown on the Kinahan crime gang as very, very significant.

I welcome this, and I do believe that we have to work internationally, and collaborate with other authorities in respect of these issues, he said.

Asked whether the Irish government would follow with a similar reward for information that leads to the arrest of key gang members, Mr Martin said the government want to do everything we possibly can generally to deal with criminality in our country, acknowledging the importance of international collaboration, noting that crime crosses borders.

I will discuss that with government colleagues and certainly keep an issue like that under review.

We do have the criminal assets bureau which was an initiative many many years ago following the murder of Veronica Guerin.

Mr Martin said that he did not discuss the sanctions when he spoke to US President Joe Biden while he was in Washington DC for St Patricks Day.

Meanwhile, Tanaiste Leo Varadkar welcomed the development in the Kinahan case, describing it as good news and positive.

He said that the international gang has escaped justice for too long.

Mr Varadkar said today: My understanding is that it only arose and its only really happening largely because of work done by the gardai and cooperation between the gardai and the FBI and the US authorities.

Hopefully, well see it produce results because that particular organisation has escaped justice for far too long.

Perhaps this is evidence of the net getting tighter.

An Garda Siochana seek the public's help in establishing the whereabouts of 36 year old Kinahan Crime Group member Sean McGovern. A European Arrest Warrant has been issued for his arrest relating to offences of Murder and Directing & Participating in a Criminal Organisation. pic.twitter.com/QxricY7AAN  Garda Info (@gardainfo) April 12, 2022

Mr Varadkar also said he thinks offering financial rewards for information is worthy of consideration but added it is not something that has been done in the past.

If you think of the cost to the nation of what criminal enterprises do, giving people a reward for information probably makes sense, Mr Varadkar added.

He said that he has not given the proposal much thought but that it might be something Justice Minister Helen McEntee would consider.
Today we share a roundup of tragedy at a local school and a glimpse at the NEXTGEN becoming increasingly violent . . . Very much like the grownups in this cowtown.



Here are the basics . . .



Emergency crews were called to Northeast Middle School in the 4900 block of Independence Avenue, near Chelsea and Brighton avenues, shortly after 9 a.m.



One person has been stabbed. Police said that the individual suffered life-threatening injuries.



Police confirmed the victim is a male student.



A person of interest is in custody -- that individual is also a male student.

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .

Student has life-threatening injuries after stabbing at Northeast Middle School in Kansas City, Missouri What can you tell us about what happened this morning, just after 9:00. Officers were called to the middle school here behind me on a reported cutting call for service. Um, upon their arrival, they located a male victim, a student at the school inside suffering from apparent stab wounds.

Northeast Middle School students sent home following stabbing KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Classes at Northeast Middle School dismissed early after a student was stabbed in a school bathroom Tuesday morning. In an email to staff members, the Kansas City Public School District said it has communicated early dismissal plans with parents and guardians who have students at the school.

1 student critically injured in stabbing at Northeast Middle School KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Kansas City, Missouri, police responded to a stabbing at Northeast Middle School on Tuesday morning. The incident happened just after 9 a.m. Police said one person sustained life-threatening injuries. Officers and security began treatment until EMS arrived.

Aggravated assault at Northeast Middle School Police are investigating an aggravated assault at Northeast Middle School Tuesday morning. This morning just after 9 a.m., officers were called to Northeast Middle School in regard to a cutting call. Upon arrival, officers located the victim, a juvenile male, suffering from apparent stab wounds inside a bathroom.

Northeast MS parents left with questions after stabbing seriously injures student KANSAS CITY, Mo. - After a stabbing Tuesday at Northeast Middle School, worried parents in Kansas City, Missouri, gathered outside to pick up their children. Students were dismissed by floors, starting with the fourth floor of the school. "They were supposed to have a lockdown drill, so we thought it was a drill," student Chasity Spencer said.

Update . . .

The student victim died from his injuries.

Developing . . .
Here's the thing about "ghost guns" that some of the most brilliant readers from our blog community want people to know . . .

Most of the time, the people who commit crimes with ghost guns didn't make them or even legally purchase the controversial bit of kit . . . They stole the tech guns because they're criminals who would commit crimes with any weapon they could get their hands on.

Accordingly, today's KCMO partnership with the White House was mostly propaganda that won't help make local streets safer and only serves to perpetuate a phantom illusion that elected leaders are helping to curb crime.

Check-it . . .

"President Joe Biden announced plans Monday to make ghost guns, such as the one used in a recent Olathe school shooting, traceable. Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas, who attended the White House event, called the action a bold and life-saving measure.

"Several weeks ago, a ghost gun made headlines in the Kansas City metro when an Olathe East High School student was accused of using the untraceable weapon in an exchange of gunfire at the school.

"The student, 18-year-old Jaylon Elmore, the school resource officer and an assistant principal were all injured. Elmore faces a charge of attempted capital murder. The Olathe East shooting on March 4 came just six days after a ghost gun also was used in the fatal triple shooting in Lenexa, which police have ruled was a double murder-suicide, court records show.

"The incidents highlight the need for federal regulation of untraceable gun kits and parts, Johnson County District Attorney Steve Howe said at the time. We knew they existed, but here within a couple weeks weve seen where people have lost their lives or been injured in very public situations, he said. Its now time for us to start having a conversation with our Congress about putting some restrictions and not allowing people to buy these firearms."

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com links . . .

Biden announces measures to crack down on 'ghost guns' Joe Biden has announced an attempt to crack down on "ghost guns", kits which can be bought without a background check, from which a working gun can quickly be made, and which have been used in an escalating number of shootings.

Weeks after ghost gun was used in Olathe school shooting, President Biden makes reforms President Joe Biden announced plans Monday to make "ghost guns," such as the one used in a recent Olathe school shooting, traceable. Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas, who attended the White House event, called the action a bold and life-saving measure.

KC Mayor to join President Biden for gun violence prevention announcement WASHINGTON - Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas will join President Joe Biden at the White House Monday afternoon. The event will focus on preventing gun violence, something Mayor Lucas has promised to do everything in his power to do while in office. Monday's event is expected to begin at 1:15 p.m.

NRA slams Biden's 'hollow' ghost gun rule, not 'sincere' until criminals are put behind bars The NRA slammed the Biden administration's expected new rule cracking down on "ghost guns," arguing the administration is not "truly sincere" on curbing violent crimes until criminals are put behind bars. "An administration that's truly sincere and resolute about curbing violent crime rates would do one thing: take violent criminals off the streets immediately," the NRA's managing director of public affairs Andrew Arulanandam told Fox News Digital on Monday.

KC politicians speak on Biden's ghost gun stance KC politicians speak on Biden's ghost gun stance

Biden's solution to the politics of rising crime: Focus on guns It was an effort to put some political muscle behind a finalized ghost gun rule that has been praised by advocates and law enforcement alike. More broadly, it was an attempt by Biden to regain his footing on a political front that is currently bedeviling him and Democrats.

You decide . . .
Bruce Arthur: Dr. Kieran Moore steps out of the shadows  but maybe not out of the shackles

It seems that Ontarios chief medical officer of health has a plan but hes probably not allowed to do very much about it.
A brief published by Public Health Ontario on Friday said the "timely, temporary reimplementation of increased public health measures and continuation of existing measures can help mitigate current epidemiological trends." - Paige Taylor White/Toronto Star file photo
COVID-19 admissions have been rising steadily at Brampton Civic and Etobicoke General hospitals in recent days. However, ICU admissions remain very low. - Graeme Frisque/Metroland
"Given that he had already killed two apparent strangers, as we allege, and that a cache of firearms was located in his residence, we can reasonably conclude that the quick work of our investigators has prevented a further loss of life," Chief James Ramer
Brampton Mayor and Conservative Party leadership candidate Patrick Brown feels pretty good about his decision not to take part in Thursdays leadership candidate debate.
Matt Elliott: Why cleaner air in Toronto buildings could save lives in the next pandemic

A recommendation by board of health directs city staff to look at best practices in ventilation for new buildings in Toronto.
Who can claim to be truly surprised by the revelation that only a small fraction of COVID rapid tests distributed by the Ontario government ended up where they were needed most?
Several post-secondary institutions are proceeding with in-person final exams in April, despite an escalation in COVID-19 cases across the province.
'Throw out or return': Large Kinder recall over salmonella fears expands with more Easter eggs and chocolates. Here are the new products on the list and the shoppers' warning
Cathy Abraham, president of the Ontario Public School Boards Association, said "We are strongly urging all students and staff to wear a face covering indoors when at school." She said the association is relaying "strong concerns" to public health officers. - Cole Burston / Toronto Star file photo
My first love is back. Should we try again? Ask Ellie
Brevard, NC (28712)

Today

A few showers this morning with overcast skies during the afternoon hours. High 67F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 30%..

Tonight

Partly cloudy early followed by cloudy skies overnight. Slight chance of a rain shower. Low 48F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph.
Johnstown, PA (15901)

Today

A steady rain this morning. Showers continuing this afternoon. High near 50F. Winds ENE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall around a half an inch. Localized flooding is possible..

Tonight

Cloudy skies early, followed by partial clearing. Slight chance of a rain shower. Low 39F. Winds ENE at 10 to 15 mph.
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Sponsored By: Dorsett Automotive
The Vote Yes for Vigo County School Corp. political action committee received $177,000 in contributions from Feb. 10 through April 8, according to a pre-primary campaign finance report filed last we
Attorneys Daniel Chamberlain, left, and Melvin Hewitt, Jr. announce a lawsuit in Indianapolis, Monday, April 11, 2022 on behalf of five families of the victims murdered in a mass shooting at the Indianapolis FedEx Ground facility on April 15, 2021. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Tribune-Star/David KronkeThe United Way of the Wabash Valley on Tuesday awarded $117,475 to provide food, shelter and clothing to those in need. Shown here are United Way Board President Hicham Rahmouni, John Etling of Catholic Charities Terre Haute and Richard Payonk, executive director of the Wabash Valley United Way
Tullahoma, TN (37388)

Today

Cloudy skies with a few showers this afternoon. High near 60F. Winds NW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 30%..

Tonight

Cloudy skies early, then partly cloudy after midnight. Low 49F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph.
If the roads where residents to be affected by the Tobago Airport Expansion Project are bloc
The Ukrainian anti-aircraft missile and defense units have destroyed seven enemy air targets over the past day, including a plane and two helicopters.

The relevant statement was made by the Air Force Command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Facebook, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

On April 11, 2022, the anti-aircraft missile units of the Air Forces and the anti-aircraft defense units of the Land Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine destroyed seven enemy air targets: one plane, two helicopters, four unmanned aerial vehicles, the report states.

The fighter jets of the Armed Forces of Ukraine continue to confront the enemys prevailing forces. They are patrolling the air space and covering the assault groups of Su-25 and Su-24m attack aircrafts, launching missile and air strikes on the positions of Russian troops in different areas.

A reminder that, on February 24, 2022, Russian President Vladimir Putin initiated a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, starting a war. Russian troops are shelling and destroying the key infrastructure facilities, launching missile and air strikes on residential areas in Ukrainian cities and villages, torturing and murdering civilians.

mk
When retreating from northern Ukraine, Russian troops consciously left behind tens if not hundreds of thousands of explosive items, and this should be also considered as a war crime.

The relevant statement was made by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in his video address, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

Security work is underway in the northern regions of our country, from where the occupiers were expelled. First of all, it is mine clearance. Russian troops left behind tens if not hundreds of thousands of dangerous objects. These are shells that did not explode, mines, tripwire mines. At least several thousand such items are disposed of daily, Zelensky told.

According to the President of Ukraine, Russians were leaving mines everywhere: in the houses they seized, directly on the streets, in the fields. They also placed mines in civilians property, cars, doors.

They consciously did everything to make the return to these areas after deoccupation as dangerous as possible. Due to the actions of the Russian army, our territory is currently one of the most contaminated by mines in the world. And I believe this should also be considered as a war crime of Russian troops. They deliberately did everything to kill or maim as many of our people as possible, even when they were forced to withdraw from our land. Without the appropriate orders, they would not have done it, Zelensky stressed.

A reminder that, on February 24, 2022, Russian President Vladimir Putin initiated a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, starting a war. Russian troops are shelling and destroying the key infrastructure facilities, launching missile and air strikes on residential areas in Ukrainian cities and villages, torturing and murdering civilians.

Photo: Office of the President of Ukraine

mk
Russia's Defence Ministry is lying when it claims that the Russian army does not use Tochka-U missile systems as such a missile was fired at the Russian-Belarusian bilateral military exercise in February.

Russias Ministry of Defence spokesperson claims that they do not use the kind of missile that hit Kramatorsk. However, even TV archives show he is a liar.

Tochka-U was fired in February 2022 during the Russian-Belarusian bilateral military exercise Allied Resolve 2022, Ambassador Yevhenii Tsymbaliuk, Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the International Organizations in Vienna, said at a special meeting of the OSCE Permanent Council dedicated to Russia's missile attack on the Kramatorsk railway station, an Ukrinform correspondent reported.

Ukraines Ambassador added the use of these missiles by the Russian military had been already recorded earlier near the city of Sumy.

As Tsymbaliuk noted, if Russian diplomats at OSCE, who say that Russia does not use Tochka-U missile systems, are fooled by their military and the president, the Ukrainian delegation can share relevant evidence and objective information with them.

The Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the International Organizations in Vienna stressed that Russia had deliberately launched a missile strike on the Kramatorsk railway station.

Read also: Bloodied toy from Kramatorsk railway station to be sent to UN

Russians knew very well that the train station in Kramatorsk was full of civilians waiting to be evacuated. This evacuation has been announced in advance since Russia has been concentrating its forces for a new bloody attack in the region. Yet they stroke the station with a ballistic missile. This was a deliberate slaughter, Tsymbaliuk said.

He added that all those involved in this war crime would be brought to justice.

On April 8, Russian troops launched a missile strike on the Kramatorsk railway station from which the population is evacuated daily.

According to the latest reports, 59 civilians were killed and 109 more were injured.

President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that the missile had been fired from Tochka-U system.

Russian propaganda traditionally denied the involvement of the Russian Federation in the missile strike, and the Russian Defence Ministry said that the Russian army allegedly did not use the Tochka-U systems.

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A humanitarian aid center in Sievierodonetsk, Luhansk region, was destroyed as a result of the massive Russian shelling.

"On April 11, one of the humanitarian aid centers set up in Sievierodonetsk by volunteers came under massive shelling. Immediately, eight shells hit the premises where the center was located and destroyed the walls. Fire erupted in the warehouse. Fortunately, there were no casualties," Head of the Luhansk Regional Military Administration Serhiy Haidai posted on Telegram with reference to Mykola Nadulichny, head of the Luhansk Association of Organizations of Persons with Disabilities, co-organizer of a network of humanitarian aid centers in Sievierodonetsk and Lysychansk.

The center provided meals to up to 300 people daily, as well as food and hygiene products to bedridden patients. Every day, activists formed kits for people with limited mobility and delivered them by car or even by bicycle or on foot.

Realizing that the invaders were targeting food warehouses, the volunteers did not disclose the address of the humanitarian aid center on social networks to protect themselves and people.

The Russian aggressor is attacking Luhansk region continuously with various weapons  Tornado-C, Grad MLRS, aviation bombs, etc. Many residential buildings, infrastructure facilities, educational institutions have been destroyed in the region, and all hospitals are damaged.

Over the past 24 hours alone, the Russian military destroyed 12 residential buildings in Luhansk region. One person was killed and three were injured in Lysychansk.

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Tolentino lauds BARMM govt's intensified COVID-19 vax drive

MANILA - Senator Francis 'Tol' N. Tolentino lauded the decision of the regional government of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) to further intensify its vaccination drive against the dreaded COVID-19 disease.

Tolentino made the remarks following the announcement made by the BARMM's Ministry of Health that the regional government is aiming to inoculate some 215,000 more residents from 71 identified localities which reportedly have low vaccination percentage.

According to Tolentino, increasing the inoculation rate in BARMM will not only fast track the national government's main goal of achieving herd immunity but will also help prevent spoilage amid reports that there are millions worth of procured vaccines that are set to expire in the coming months ahead.

"We laud the BARMM government for this innovative effort especially that millions worth of vaccines are set to expire. Inutang pa po natin ang pinangbili ng mga bakunang ito kaya dapat lang na walang masayang sa mga ito," said Tolentino.

The BARMM's Ministry of Health earlier announced that there will be a schedule of special vaccination days right after the end of the Ramadan and election periods next month and it will commence from May 11 to 20.

Tolentino, chairman of the Senate Committee on Local Government last March 2 visited Cotabato City, wherein he was briefed by BARMM Chief Minister Ahod 'Al-hajj Murad' Ebrahim and acting Health Minister Dr. Zul Qarneyn Abas with updates on the region's COVID-19 response.

During the visit, Tolentino raised concern over the reported low vaccination rate in the region, since only 1.4-million dose of various COVID-19 vaccine brands were reportedly given as revealed by Dr. Abas, despite the fact that BARMM has a population of more than 4.1-milliononly less than half a million of its residents are fully vaccinated.

Aside from Tolentino, President Rodrigo Duterte urged Ebrahim to encourage his people to get vaccinated against COVID amid reports that BARMM has tallied the lowest vaccination coverage in the country.
Russian special services plan to carry out terrorist attacks in the territory of Russia to escalate anti-Ukrainian hysteria.

"Russian special services plan to carry out a series of terrorist attacks to mine and blow up residential houses, hospitals, and schools in Russian populated localities, as well as to launch missile and bomb strikes on Belgorod or one of the towns in Crimea," said Major General Kyrylo Budanov, Head of the Chief Directorate of Intelligence of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, the Directorate posted on Telegram.

According to him, the failed implementation of the mobilization plan in Russia forces the Putin regime to launch "dirty scenarios" to emotionally stir up Russian society and further consolidate it against Ukrainians.

To do this, they plot explosions in Russian residential houses or missile attacks to accuse the Armed Forces of Ukraine and volunteer battalions of the attacks and to create an emotional picture of the atrocities of Ukrainian nationalists. It is quite possible that these terrorist attacks will be presented as a revenge of Ukrainians for Bucha and Kramatorsk and as an excuse for cruelty against the Ukrainian civilian population," Budanov stressed.

"In recent days, the Russian authorities are increasingly escalating anti-Ukrainian hysteria. Trenches are being actively dug in Belgorod and Kursk regions, and panic is whipped up over the imaginary offensive of the Ukrainian volunteer battalions and sabotage groups," Ukraines intel chief said.

According to him, it is very symbolic that Vladimir Putin's rule began with "terrorist attacks on Russian apartment buildings, reasoning the destruction of Chechnya, and now it seems to end with the same methods."

As reported, Vyacheslav Gladkov, the governor of Russias Belgorod region which borders Ukraines Kharkiv region, said that the railway tracks in Shebekino city district had been damaged.

Shebekino city district is located a few kilometers from the border, opposite Ukraines Vovchansk.

On February 24, Russian president Vladimir Putin announced the beginning of a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Russian troops shell and destroy key infrastructure, massively fire on residential areas of Ukrainian cities, towns, and villages using artillery, MLRS, and ballistic missiles.

In recent days, Russia has been regrouping and redeploying its armed forces.

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Hundreds of cases of rape committed by Russian troops have already been recorded in Ukraine, including against underage girls, children and even a baby.

The relevant statement was made by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during his speech in the Parliament of the Republic of Lithuania, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

In the liberated areas of Ukraine, work continues to record and investigate war crimes committed by the Russian Federation. Almost every day new mass graves are found. Evidence is being gathered. Thousands and thousands of victims. Hundreds of cases of brutal torture. Human corpses are still found in manholes and basements. Tied up, mutilated bodies. There are villages  once quite large, which were left almost without inhabitants. Hundreds of children are orphans. That is, at least hundreds of children, because we do not know the exact number of victims yet. Hundreds of cases of rape have been recorded, including underage girls, very young children... And even a baby! Its just scary to talk about it now. But its true, it happened, Zelensky told.

In his words, the person who committed that crime against the baby was identified. It is Russian soldier Bychkov from Pskov, the paratrooper or special services officer. He even sent a video to his comrades, depicting how he tormented the baby.

This is the Russian military. Defender of children. This is a special operation planned in Moscow. This is the story of the struggle for the Russian world. This is what the Russian army and Russian paratroopers will now be associated with. From Pskov. Rape of a baby, the President of Ukraine noted.

According to Zelensky, Russian propagandists must have already started to justify this. They are probably saying, as always, that this has not happened, or even if it did happen, it was the protection of the Russian-speaking community.

The President of Ukraine stressed that Russian propagandists will also be responsible for this crime, and any such crime, as well as those who educated such paratroopers from Pskov and those who refuse to remove Russian propaganda from the television network in Europe.

And I wonder how do the Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation and other authors of this special operation evaluate its results now? After such crimes. After such a feat of Russian soldier Bychkov? Perhaps, the Russian Minister of Defense will invite such Pskov paratroopers to his home to protect his children and grandchildren? Or the minister wouldnt want that? Im sure hell be scared, Zelensky said.

A reminder that, on February 24, 2022, Russian President Vladimir Putin initiated a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, starting a war. Russian troops are shelling and destroying the key infrastructure facilities, launching missile and air strikes on residential areas in Ukrainian cities and villages, torturing and murdering civilians.

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Enemy warships are not approaching the Odesa coast as they are aware of the readiness of the Armed Forces coastal defense units to repel attacks, as well as due to the stormy weather in the northwestern part of the Black Sea.

Therefore, the only probable risk is missile attacks from the temporarily occupied Crimea, says military official Vladyslav Nazarov, Ukrinform reports.

"The invaders continue to seek ways to improve their position in the Mykolayiv direction, but our troops stop with weapons the insidious attempts at pathetic attacks, leaving the enemy no chance... Stormy weather on the Black Sea with a predicted deterioration makes for unfavorable conditions for assault landing," he noted.

However, according to the military official, the threat of missile attacks both from the sea and the temporarily occupied Crimea remains in place.

Colonel Nazarov noted that the Russians disregard the norms of International Humanitarian Law and continue to use civilians in southern Ukraine as human shields, as well as placing equipment in the backyards and brazenly occupying households. Moreover, they resort to the practice of changing into civilian outfits to mask their affiliation with the disgraced army.

February 24, Russia began a new phase of the war against Ukraine, massively shelling and bombarding peaceful Ukrainian cities and towns. The entire nation has risen to fight off the invaders.
In Kharkiv region, in the Izium direction, the Ukrainian Armed Forces destroyed a column of tanks of the Kantemirov division, which was shown in a video shared by Russian propagandist Alexander Kots.

Editor-in-chief of the online publication Censor.Net, Yuriy Butusov, who is currently in Kharkiv region, said this on his YouTube channel, Ukrinform reports.

"April 12. A new column of Russian tanks of the 4th Guards Tank Division of Kantemirov, the parade division of the Russian armed forces, entered eastern Ukraine... The column was completely destroyed, and this T-80 became a trophy," Butusov said.

He noted that recently this column, which was crossing the Siverskyy Donets River in the area of Izium "for a decisive breakthrough," was shown by propagandist Aleksandr Kots.

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.

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Verkhovna Rada Commissioner for Human Rights Liudmyla Denisova has called on the International Committee of the Red Cross to take all measures to help open a humanitarian corridor for the evacuation of civilians from the city of Izium.

The relevant statement by the ombudsperson was posted on Telegram, Ukrinform reports.

"The city of Izium, Kharkiv region, is on the verge of survival. According to city officials, there are now about 15,000 civilians in Izium. Due to the active hostilities and occupation of the territory, there is no light, no water, no heat, and no communication. Healthcare facilities do not work, there is no medicine. People are starving, because it is currently impossible to deliver food to them, and evacuate them from the city, Denisova said.

According to her, Izium has become a logistics center for the Russian army: troops are being accumulated there to continue the offensive in Donetsk region.

"I call on the International Committee of the Red Cross to take all possible measures to open a safe humanitarian corridor for the evacuation of civilians from the city of Izium," Denisova 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.

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Ukraine suggests that its international partners should impose the Iranian model of sanctions on Gazprom under which Russian gas is supplied to the EU but the funds for it are transferred to special deposit accounts, not to Russia.

As for Russia's natural gas supplied via pipelines, it is now the most difficult to replace. It accounts for 40% of total EU imports. We suggest imposing an Iranian model of sanctions: natural gas is supplied from Gazprom to Europe, but all funds are kept on special deposit accounts in European banks until Russia fulfills certain conditions," Deputy Minister of Energy of Ukraine Yaroslav Demchenkov told Ukrinform on the sidelines of the conference on security and stability of the Ukrainian energy sector organized by the Energy Community in Vienna on Monday.

According to him, in this way the money will not go directly to Russia and will not finance its war against Ukraine.

The deputy energy minister stressed that "the myth that Europe will die without Russian energy resources has been cemented for a very long time" in the EU, in particular in Germany. However, the real situation is quite the opposite as "Russia's energy will die without Europe." "The EU remains the only major market for Russian gas. Without a European market, the Russians will have to shut down their gas fields, preserve them, and then lose 70% of their gas fields when they rebuild them. So if Putin decides to bluff and stop gas supplies to Europe, he will simply destroy his gas infrastructure," Demchenkov said.

According to the official, with regard to liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Russia, the EU may give it up completely, which will be a "right signal to the market and business." "In 2021, Russia's total LNG supply was less than 8% of world supply. Almost half was imported from Europe. A complete EU embargo on Russian LNG imports will carry little risk as these volumes could easily be offset by increased supplies in 2022 from other suppliers," he noted.

The deputy energy minister also pointed out that the European Union was able to completely stop using Russian oil products: "Europe imports about 15% of its total diesel fuel from Russia. This can be replaced by increased domestic production and additional imports from North America and Asia."

As for crude oil, according to Demchenkov, "there is a need to give more signals to producers." "If the market sees that Europe is serious about the embargo on Russian crude oil, there will be strong competition to replace the quota of Russian oil and ensure long-term relations," he said.

The imposition of such an embargo "should be carried out gradually with the immediate cessation of maritime imports of Russian raw materials and the subsequent gradual cessation of oil imports through a pipeline over the next nine months."

"We draw the European colleagues' attention to the need for an immediate embargo on Russian LNG and oil supplies and prove that gas and diesel can also be replaced. We are also talking about sanctions against Rosatom and an embargo on nuclear fuel supplies from Russia," stressed the deputy minister of energy of Ukraine.

As reported, the European Union adopted the fifth round of sanctions against Russia in response to the unprovoked military aggression against Ukraine.

Among other things, the sanctions provide for a ban on buying, importing or transferring coal and other solid fossil fuels to the EU if they originate in Russia or have been exported from Russia since 22 August 2022.

Coal imports to the European Union currently total 8 billion a year.

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Ukraine can count on Lithuanias strong voice in support of further sanctions against Russia, military assistance and its way towards EU membership.

The relevant statement was made by Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte at a briefing during her visit to Ukraine, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

My visit started with a trip to Borodianka. No words can possibly describe what I saw and what I felt. And I was witnessing only a small part of evidence, of the crimes against humanity that were committed by Russia in Ukraine, Simonyte told.

In her words, this war is designed by Putin, but it is also carried out by hundreds of Russian officers who give orders, by tens of thousands of Russian troops who obey them, or resort to unspeakable violence, just because they think they can.

This war and its masterminds are approved and endorsed, unfortunately, by millions of Russian citizens, who voted for Putin, who express their support in interviews and polls, who do not rally, Simonyte noted.

According to Simonyte, the images of ruined Ukrainian cities and towns revealed the real face of 21st century Russia, of the Russian world they try to forcefully impose on the nations they chose to call hostile or, worse even, brotherly.

Simonyte stressed that all the atrocities committed by the Russian army in Ukraine must be thoroughly documented, and the executors must be brought to international justice.

Lithuania will help Ukraine as much as it can in documenting crimes, identifying fallen victims and aggressors, Simonyte added.

Lithuania will also continue to provide safe if temporary home to Ukrainians who had to flee the war. Currently, a total of 42,000 Ukrainians have already come to Lithuania, mostly women and children.

Our people and my government are doing everything to help people from Ukraine feel supported and welcome in Lithuania, Simonyte said.

In addition, Lithuanian trucks continue to deliver military and humanitarian aid to Ukraine, provided by the Lithuanian government, businesses and people.

As always, you can count on our strong voice in support of further strengthening of any sanctions against Russia and Belarus. All Russian banks must be disconnected from SWIFT. Imports of Russian energy must stop. And any business ties with Russia must eventually seize. [] Ukraine can count on our full support and assistance on your way towards EU membership, Simonyte noted, adding that today Ukraine is fighting not only for itself but for the whole free world.

A reminder that Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal and Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte paid a visit to Borodianka to see the effects of war crimes committed by Russian troops.

Photo: Delfi

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Lithuania has been among the first to come to Ukraines aid and remains among those that care most about peace and security in Europe.

The relevant statement was made by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during his speech in the Parliament of the Republic of Lithuania, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

Dear Lithuanians, I am grateful to address you on behalf of the Ukrainian people today. You have been among the first to come to Ukraines aid. You remain among those who care most about peace and security in Europe, Zelensky told.

In his words, Russias full-scale war against Ukraine has posed a strategic question to Europe, whether the values that laid the basis for the unification of European nations after World War II are still alive, or they have become obsolete and can serve just as museum exhibits for tourists.

Just part of Europes historical heritage somewhere in the halls of ancient palaces, and not something that defines real life. Unfortunately, there is no common answer to this question for all Europeans yet. But, the future of Europe depends on this. On whether they have a common answer, the President of Ukraine stressed.

A reminder that, on February 24, 2022, Russian President Vladimir Putin initiated a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, starting a war. Russian troops are shelling and destroying the key infrastructure facilities, launching missile and air strikes on residential areas in Ukrainian cities and villages, torturing and murdering civilians.

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Published April 12, 2022

Jennifer Dumas, Ph.D., University of Louisiana Monroe Visiting Assistant Professor of Political Science, has been accepted to attend the prestigious annual 2022 Academic Council on the United Nations System Workshop.

Dumas is one of only 20 participants selected for the highly competitive workshop.

The ACUNS Workshop, held in conjunction with the United Nations, will be at University College London in early June.

ACUNS is a professional organization committed to bringing together scholars, practitioners, and stakeholders worldwide to share knowledge and research on the United Nations system. Workshop participants include early-career scholars, practitioners, and United Nations staffers, with travel and accommodations funded by ACUNS-UN.

I am tremendously honored and excited for this opportunity to present my research and network with other scholars, practitioners, and UN staff members working in the fields of international cooperation and inequality, Dumas said.

This years workshop theme is The Role of International Cooperation in Tackling Inequalities. Participants will present papers in their areas of expertise, provide and receive feedback on research, and engage in networking and mentoring activities.

Dumas will present the disconnect between states commitments to global agreements on gender parity and domestic implementation of those agreements to highlight the potential conflict in such disparities.

Specifically, Dumas will examine the case of Nigeria and link its conflict to the role of social distrust of international institutions and the extent to which the domestic landscape of Nigerian laws and traditions impinges on the domestication of international conventions designed to mitigate inequality.

I believe that participation in the ACUNS-UN workshop will further hone this research and create space for new ideas of substantive importance to the global community through the collaboration of the participants, whose diverse roles in scholarship and practice in intentional cooperation will be invaluable to my research as well as others in this field, Dumas said.

For more information on the ACUNS-UN Workshop 2022, check out their website.
Eymaret and her mother Letha sit outside their shelter in eastern Sudan after a seven-month period of anxious separation due to the conflict in northern Ethiopia.  UNHCR/Abdulkhaliq Khalif

Letha was seven months pregnant when she made the difficult decision to leave her home in Ethiopias western Tigray region without all of her family.

When the fighting broke out in November 2020, she was separated from her husband, son and daughter and fled across the border into Sudan with her two youngest children, Ermyas, 9 and Mahelet, 7.

I was scared something bad would happen to us if we stayed, she says. We had no choice but to escape.

After crossing the border, they were accomodated at a reception centre where UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, provided them with assistance, including food and shelter.

She later delivered a healthy baby boy, but she still felt bereft.

I wasnt at peace, because I didnt know where the rest of my family was, she says.

Nearly 60,000 Ethiopian refugees have fled to eastern Sudan since the conflict began in Ethiopias Tigray region in November 2020.

The fighting had scattered Lethas family to different parts of Tigray. Her 11-year-old daughter Eymaret had gone to stay with her aunt in another town after the conflict closed schools, while her son was with his father in Shire, a town in Ethiopias Tigray Region.

"The silence was tough to handle."

Even though communication lines were often down in Tigray, Letha was determined to keep trying to contact her loved ones. A Restoring Family Links antenna service was set up by UNHCR partners, the International Committee fo the Red Cross (ICRC) and the Sudanese Red Crescent Society (SRCS), in the reception centres near the border to help refugees like Letha locate loved ones they had lost contact with by making free phone calls or writing letters. In cases where contact can not be restored, ICRC and SRCS register tracing requests and conduct active searches both within the camps and across the border, in cooperation with the ICRC in Ethiopia.

The silence was tough to handle, says Letha. I was scared something terrible had happened, but I couldnt give up.

She finally made contact with Eymaret, who had traveled with her aunt to Humera, near the border with Sudan. Eymaret later crossed Tekeze River on her own, and then made her way on foot to Hamdayet Transit Centre where she was met by her uncle.

I didnt have time to think. I just crossed the river and prayed I would make it, she recalls.

With help from UNHCR, UNICEF and the Sudanese State Council for Child Welfare (SCCW), Eymaret was eventually reunited with her mother, bringing their seven-month period of anxious separation to an end.

Letha and her daughter Eymaret, with baby Mahder, after being reunited.  UNHCR/Abdulkhaliq Khalif

I was so happy to see her, says Letha. Its every mothers worst nightmare to lose a child and I was scared this would be my fate.

In addition to the work of partners on reunifiying separated families, UNHCR is providing assistance to unaccompanied and separated children like Eymaret, such as education and arranging foster families.

We are pleased this story has a happy ending and that we were able to ensure Eymarets protection and wellbeing, says Sameh Fahmy, UNHCRs Protection Officer in Gedaref, who worked closely with partners to reunite Letha and Eymaret.

Still for Letha, the reunion is bitter sweet as she constantly thinks about her husband and son for whom the search is still ongoing and who are yet to meet the newest member of the family.

She is worried about the security situation and the fact that "it is dangerous and increasingly difficult for people, especially men, to travel due to the fighting.

We had a good life back home and lived peacefully. My dream is for our whole family to be together again, she says.


Roxeanne Huddleston, an RN at Newport Hospital and Health Services, poses for a photo in Newport, Wash.
Sarah Green Carmichael is an editor with Bloomberg Opinion. She was previously managing editor of ideas and commentary at Barrons, and an executive editor at Harvard Business Review, where she hosted the HBR Ideacast.
Researchers have found evidence that evening-type people slept longer and better while working from home, with a corresponding decrease in symptoms of depression and insomnia. (Dreamstime/TNS)
Roscoe William Fields Sr., 89, of Knoxville, Tenn., passed away Tuesday, May 3, 2022. He was a veteran of the United States Army and retired from Y-12 in Oak Ridge, Ten.. as a machinist after 29 years of service. Mr. Fields was born in Washington County, Georgia, on April 3, 1933, to the lat
In recent years, with the rapid progress of the construction of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and Special Economic Zones (SEZs), Chinese enterprises, especially private small and medium-sized enterprises, have significantly increased their investment in Pakistan

BEIJING, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 12th Apr, 2022 ) :In recent years, with the rapid progress of the construction of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and Special Economic Zones (SEZs), Chinese enterprises, especially private small and medium-sized enterprises, have significantly increased their investment in Pakistan.

The economies of the two countries are increasingly integrated, thus continuously enhancing Pakistan's export capacity. Under such circumstances, Pakistan's exports to China have continued to grow substantially, according to an article published by China Economic Net (CEN).

The statistics released by the General Administration of Customs of China show that Pakistan's exports to China crossed $ 67 million in the first two months of 2022, which recorded a nearly 23% year-on-year increase.

As a matter of fact, the growth of Pakistan's exports to China is only a good start. There is still great potential for bilateral trade, especially for Pakistan's exports to China.

It said, China is a country with a population of more than 1.4 billion. It is not only a global exporter, but also a global importer. China and Pakistan are friendly neighbors connected by rivers and mountains and have convenient transportation channels. Therefore, China is naturally a huge market for Pakistan.

If the bilateral trade between China and Pakistan continues to grow at the current rate of 20-30% per year, China will finally become Pakistan's largest export destination, and Pakistan is likely to become China's main trading partner in South Asia in the future.

Over the years, Pakistan has been committed to developing an export-oriented economy. To realize the rapid and stable growth of exports to China, both China and Pakistan need to make further efforts.

For Pakistan, first, it is necessary to ensure social stability and security, so as to create favorable conditions for CPEC and SEZ continuous expansion and the rapid development of its economy.

Second, Pakistan should accelerate industrial modernization and accomplish the industrialization of agriculture science and technology. China is now the largest importer of agricultural products in the world. If Pakistan's agricultural products reach a high-quality level, China can import as much as Pakistan has.

Third, the two countries make joint efforts to accelerate the transfer of Chinese capital, technology and industries to Pakistan, so that China's achievements in rapid economic development over the past few decades can quickly spill over to Pakistan and help Pakistan improve its export capacity.
(@FahadShabbir)

Bunia, DR Congo, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 12th Apr, 2022 ) :More than 30 people were killed in attacks by suspected jihadist forces on Sunday and Monday in northeast DR Congo's troubled Ituri province, the local Red Cross said.

Rebels from the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), one of the most notorious armed groups, "attacked the population" in two villages around Komanda, 75 kilometres (45 miles) south of provincial capital Bunia, said David Beiza, head of the Red Cross in Ituri's Irumu territory.

As well as attacking the villages of Mangusu, where 17 civilians died, and Shauri Moya, where nine were killed, the assailants also targeted a bridge over the Ituri River, killing four more, Beiza said.

The Kivu Security Tracker (KST), a respected monitor, reported later on Twitter "at least 18 civilians were killed in Mangusu village... on Monday", adding that "the ADF are suspected".

The monitoring group didn't mention any toll figure for Shauri Moya village.

"Since yesterday, we have heard light and heavy gunfire coming from Mangusu and Shauri Moya," confirmed Daniel Herabo, a local civil society leader.

According to Herabo, the rebels first entered Shauri Moya on Sunday and then Mangusu on Monday morning.

"There, the bodies of some of the 17 victims were tied up, others had their throats slit and others had been shot dead," said Herabo, who has not visited the villages, but relied on colleagues in the area.

He said fighting between the ADF and the FARDC (DRC armed forces) was continuing on Monday afternoon.

The ADF rebels, who are presented by the Islamic State group as its central African affiliate, have meted out extreme violence against civilians -- often with machetes and other bladed weapons.

The villages attacked are just 12 kilometres from Drakpa town where 14 civilians, including seven children, were killed in a camp for displaced people days earlier.

Ituri and the neighbouring North Kivu province are currently under an official state of siege, declared last May.

Under it, civilian leaders have been replaced by military or police officers, with the declared aim of boosting a crackdown on armed groups. That measure has so far failed to bring peace to the region.

In late November, Ugandan troops joined DR Congo's army in an operation against the ADF, following bomb attacks in the Ugandan capital Kampala that were blamed on the group.

The region has been in the grip of armed groups for a quarter of a century, many of them a legacy of the Congo Wars of the 1990s and early 2000s.

Democratic Republic of Congo Prime Minister Jean-Michel Sama Lukonde is heading a ministerial delegation to visit the two provinces, which began in North Kivu capital Goma on Monday to take stock of the state of siege.
Manila, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 12th Apr, 2022 ) :Clutching pink flyers and face masks, diehard supporters of Philippine presidential hopeful Leni Robredo are going door to door across the archipelago nation in an against-the-odds bid to win over voters.

Nearly two million volunteers are involved in a grassroots movement for Robredo, the incumbent vice president, as she battles to close the gap with frontrunner Ferdinand Marcos Junior before the May 9 polls.

Voter surveys show the son of the country's former dictator heading towards a landslide victory, the endgame of a decades-long, well-funded effort to return the powerful clan to the presidential palace they fled 36 years ago.

But there are signs Robredo's pink-coloured campaign is finding traction, with huge rally turnouts, endorsements from pop stars and Catholic priests, and a bump in a recent poll raising hopes among her fervent fans.

"I'm really craving for change, for decency in the highest position," said Rocelle Mendoza, 29, who uses her own money to print Robredo T-shirts and aprons that she gives away at markets in the capital Manila.

"We are aware that we have to climb a mountain. And I think it's also why we're no longer hesitating to spend." Some analysts have likened the feverish support for Robredo to the people-driven movement for former president Corazon Aquino in the 1986 snap election campaign that led to the ousting of Ferdinand Marcos Senior.

Robredo, a widow and former congresswoman, made a last-minute decision to enter the presidential race in October after Marcos Jr declared his candidacy.

That set up a rematch with her rival in the 2016 vice presidential contest that she narrowly won.

A volunteer-driven campaign mushroomed across the country, putting the mild-mannered Robredo in second place in the polls.

But the chances of beating Marcos Jr again appear slim.

Relentless attacks from President Rodrigo Duterte and a nasty misinformation campaign on social media have undermined Robredo's popularity and eroded her support among local officials, who are key to garnering votes.

The latest poll by Pulse Asia Research shows her gaining ground, but Marcos Jr still leads by 32 percentage points.

"It remains a relatively tall mountain for Robredo to climb and is still Marcos's race to lose," said Eurasia Group analyst Peter Mumford.

Marcos Jr has been bolstered by an alliance with first daughter and vice presidential favourite Sara Duterte, the backing of powerful political clans, and a massive social media campaign portraying his family in a positive light.

But Robredo's loyal followers are undeterred, dipping into their own pockets to support the former lawyer for farmers and battered women in an election they see as critical for the country's future.

After six years of authoritarian firebrand Duterte and his deadly drug war, Robredo volunteers say they are scared of a Marcos Jr presidency, pointing to the human rights abuses committed during his father's 20-year rule.

"I'm afraid there will be a repeat of martial law. The videos I see about torture and rape, it's scary," said Sheilla Oledan, 31, as she door-knocked in suburban Manila.

So far, nearly two million volunteers have signed up to campaign for Robredo on social media and on the ground, said Georgina Hernandez Yang, joint leader of a group set up by the Robredo camp to coordinate volunteer efforts.

They belong to groups representing diverse interests and ages, such as "Seniors for Leni", "Doctors for Leni", and "Youth Vote for Leni".

Talking to people face-to-face was the best way to "break out of our echo chambers" on social media, said Yang.

"There's a lot of fake news and disinformation that we're able to clarify and correct." But changing minds is not easy.

In suburban Manila, supporters hand out pink flyers and face masks to residents and street vendors, striking up conversations to explain Robredo's platform.

Some people wave them away while others listen to their spiel. Occasionally, they are heckled or harassed.

"Someone asked us to kiss them first before they will listen. It's very offensive," complained Marielle Chico, 26.

After speaking to a Robredo volunteer, rice and egg vendor George Tolentino said he was still undecided.

"I will study first their agenda," the 55-year-old said.

As election day looms, volunteers like Mendoza are determined to continue campaigning.
Shanghai, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 12th Apr, 2022 ) :The United States announced Tuesday it had ordered all non-essential employees at its Shanghai consulate to leave, while voicing concerns for the safety of Americans in China as the government enforces hard lockdowns to contain Covid-19.

China has stuck to a policy of "zero Covid", aiming to eliminate infections through rigid lockdowns, mass testing and travel restrictions.

But the policy has come under strain since March as more than 100,000 cases in Shanghai have led to a lockdown of the city's 25 million inhabitants, sparking widespread public outcry over food shortages and an inflexible policy of sending anyone who tests positive to quarantine centres.

The US State Department ordered the departure "due to the ongoing Covid-19 outbreak", a spokesperson from its Beijing embassy said in a statement.

American diplomats have also raised "concerns about the safety and welfare of US citizens with People's Republic of China officials," the statement added.

"It is best for our employees and their families to be reduced in number and our operations to be scaled down as we deal with the changing circumstances on the ground," it read.

China's largest city reported more than 23,000 new coronavirus infections on Tuesday.

While some Shanghai residents who live in neighbourhoods deemed a low virus risk have been allowed outside their homes this week, unclear rules and the threat of re-entering lockdown if new cases are found has left most in limbo.

Criticism of China's unrelenting approach to crushing outbreaks is mounting, more so as the rest of the world learns to live with the pandemic.

The European Union Chamber of Commerce has warned that China's coronavirus strategy is "eroding foreign investors' confidence".

In a letter seen by AFP, it urged the Chinese government to shift its approach by vaccinating the elderly -- among whom inoculation rates are low -- and allowing people with mild Covid to quarantine at home.

Beijing has hit back against the US complaints, with Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian on Saturday slamming the United States' "groundless accusations" and insisting that China's policy was "scientific and effective".

Shanghai authorities have vowed the city "would not relax in the slightest", preparing tens of thousands of new beds to receive every person who tests positive for the virus -- whether or not they show any symptoms.

Residents have taken to social media to vent about food shortages and heavy-handed controls, including the killing of a pet corgi by a health worker and a now-softened policy of separating infected children from their virus-free parents.

On Tuesday, Shanghai residents were still deciphering the precise details of an announcement that allowed some living in areas with relatively few virus cases to begin leaving their compounds.

Monday's adjustment set three levels of controls depending on the caseload.

But freedom still appears far off for most in the city, with at least one southern district at the lowest level only allowing residents out once a day to buy supplies.

Chinese social media was abuzz on Tuesday over a viral audio clip that appeared to show a Shanghai couple pleading with police not to send them to a quarantine facility after they were reportedly misdiagnosed as Covid cases.

Authorities later said the couple eventually agreed to cooperate with officials and that "no misjudgment had occurred".
OPPO, the leading global smart device brand has launched its highly anticipated smartphone under the highly adored F series, the OPPO F21 Pro

Lahore (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 12th Apr, 2022) OPPO, the leading global smart device brand has launched its highly anticipated smartphone under the highly adored F series, the OPPO F21 Pro. The Fantastic OPPO F21 Pro offers a spectacular design and flagship level camera system coupled with the countrys first ever Sony IMX709 ultra-sensing selfie sensor, as well as the first and only Microlens feature for immersive photography experience. The phone is equipped with the durable fiber-glass leather back in an eye captivating Sunset Orange color. Its exceptional flat-edged design thoughtfully crafted to transport the device to a wonderful realm. The OPPO F21 Pro will go on sale from Saturday April 16th, 2022 at PKR 52,999.

The Selfie expert and leader, OPPO launched its hero smartphone, the OPPO F21 Pro in Lahore on Monday night. The event was hosted by celebrity host Ayesha Omar.

The event was a glitzy affair attended by media fraternity including socialites, celebrities and bloggers. Mahira Khan and Fawad Khan who were appointed as the brand ambassadors of OPPO, unveiled the phone as the early experiencers of OPPO F21 Pro, and they shared how the phone conforms to their personality and lifestyle and how the youth can experience the joyous journey with this phone.

Speaking on the occasion, CEO of OPPO Pakistan Authorized Exclusive Distributor, Mr. George Long, commented, OPPO, the Selfie expert and leader, has been constantly making waves in the smartphone industry with the latest technology, product features and appealing campaigns. The new OPPO F21 Pro is a star in the smartphone world which caters to a diverse customer base. This is a great phone for selfie enthusiasts and photography aficionados - but thats not all. The phone is equipped with many other features that makes it powerful, encased in a sleek, retro sunset fiber-glass leatherette design. This year we partnered with the countrys most loved duo Mahira Khan and Fawad Khan as the ideal fit for a product that matches their personality like no other.

The OPPO F21 Pro promises to see the unseen, thanks to the first and only Microlens, which magnifies subjects by 15 and 30 times. The end product transcends macro photography and delves into the microscopic realm. Fabrics, skin, hair, plants, and the tiniest insects all take on a new, vast form using Microlens, allowing the OPPO F21 Pro to explore a new, microscopic universe via photo or even video. In addition, the Orbit Light that surrounds the Microlens camera as a fill light, resulting in images that are uniformly lighted and engaging.

OPPO has a penchant for introducing smartphones with sophisticated camera technology, successfully raising the bar when it comes to selfie improvement. The IMX709 sensor, co-developed by OPPO and Sony, delivers to the front camera for the first time both greatly improved and entirely new features. The Sony IMX709 selfie sensor has been installed in the F21 Pro. When compared to typical RGB sensors, the IMX709 is a tailored RGBW (red, blue, green, white) front image sensor that can record clearer and more evenly-exposed images and videos.

It is 60% more sensitive to light and reduces noise by 35% comparing to previous RGGB sensor. With the F21 Pro's Selfie HDR feature and the IMX709 sensor, you can take sharper, brighter, and more natural selfies in any light or dark condition. Selfie HDR uses AI to detect levels of light and applies image enhancement techniques automatically based on the type of conditions identified.

To experience revolutionized photography experience the OPPO F21 Pro is equipped with a triple rear camera arrangement for photos and videos. It has a primary lens with a resolution of 64MP, a 2MP micro sensor, and a 2MP depth camera. The device will sport a 32-megapixel camera for selfies and video calls. The F21 Pro's 64MP rear camera and super-resolution algorithm can capture up to 108MP images, allowing you to capture even more of life's details in photos. OPPO's AI algorithms are used in Bokeh Flare Portrait to identify light sources in the backdrop and create bokeh light spots based on their distance and other characteristics. Bokeh Flare Portrait gives photos with high colour saturation a more textured bokeh effect and improved skin tones.

It has a 4500mAh battery that enables SUPERVOOC flash charging at 33W. WiFi 5, USB Type-C connector, 3.5mm headphone jack, Bluetooth v5.1, and other connectivity options are included in the gadget. The F21 Pro has a unique storage combination with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of ROM, as well as OPPO's RAM Expansion technology with up to 5GB RAM Expansion.

First time on OPPO F Series, OPPO F21 Pro is carrying the ColorOS 12 which emphasizes diversity with an all-new structure based on an internationalized approach. ColorOS 12's page layouts and interactions have been redesigned to make more space. As a result, the user interface is simple and uncluttered, allowing you to concentrate on what matters most.

OPPO has also looked into and changed how text should be displayed in this new layout, adapting ColorOS 12 for 67 languages spoken in over 140 countries and regions around the world. ColorOS 12 now includes new 3D Icons. The 3D Icons are more lifelike, with a frosted glass texture and intuitive interaction with simulated light, adding a feeling of space to the UI while keeping the buttons simple.

You can choose from two beautiful colours for the all-new F21 Pro: Sunset Orange, which includes the industry's first application of Fiberglass Leather Design, and Cosmic Black, which features the trademark OPPO Glow technique.

The lychee grain leather material is both waterproof and scratch proof. The final processed Fiberglass-Leather is thinner and more durable than other imitation leather finishes, and the lychee grain texture is smooth to the touch. This Fantastic device is up for pre-orders from Monday 11th April to Friday 15th April, 2022, and will arrive in OPPO offline retail stores on Saturday 16th April, 2022, the First Sale Day.
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At least 13 people have been injured in a shooting incident at a subway station in the New York City borough of Brooklyn, where "several undetonated devices" were recovered, authorities said Tuesday

New York, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 12th Apr, 2022 ) :At least 13 people have been injured in a shooting incident at a subway station in the New York City borough of Brooklyn, where "several undetonated devices" were recovered, authorities said Tuesday.

A New York police spokeswoman told AFP officers responded to 911 call of a person shot in the Brooklyn subway at 8:27 am (1227 GMT).

The city's fire department gave a toll of "13 injuries at this time," while ABC news quoted police sources as saying at least five people were shot in the incident at the 36th Street subway station.

The police department tweeted that there were "NO active explosive devices at this time." "Please stay clear of the area" the NYPD tweeted, urging witnesses to contact a police tip line with any information.

New York governor Kathy Hochul said she had been briefed on the "developing" situation.

"First responders are on the scene and we will work with @MTA & @NYPDnews to provide updates as the investigation continues," she tweeted.

ABC News reported that police were investigating whether a smoke device was detonated, and that police are hunting for the suspect.

According to NBC, citing NYPD officials and senior law enforcement officials, a man in a gas mask and orange construction vest may have tossed a smoke canister on the platform to distract the rush hour crowd.

Mass casualty shootings happen with relative frequency in the United States, where firearms are involved in approximately 40,000 deaths a year, including suicides, according to the Gun Violence Archive website.

The incident came just a day after US President Joe Biden announced new gun control measures, increasing restrictions on so-called "ghost guns", the difficult-to-trace weapons that can be assembled at home.

Lax gun laws and a constitutionally guaranteed right to bear arms have repeatedly stymied attempts to clamp down on the number of weapons in circulation, despite greater controls being favored by the majority of Americans.
WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 12th April, 2022) US President Joe Biden discussed the situation in Ukraine with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India as the leaders were inaugurating the fourth US-India 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue, the White House said on Monday.

"The two Leaders... discussed the destabilizing impacts of Russia's war against Ukraine, with a particular focus on global food supply. President Biden and Prime Minister Modi looked forward to meeting in person later this spring, in Tokyo, for the Quad summit," the statement said.

The two leaders said they were committed to strengthening the US-India relationship via the cooperation on clean energy, technology and military cooperation.

"They also committed to continue cooperation - bilaterally and multilaterally - on ending the COVID-19 pandemic, strengthening global health security, advancing global food security, and ensuring a free and open Indo-Pacific.

They emphasized their shared commitment, as leaders of the world's largest democracies, to respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all nations in the Indo-Pacific and beyond," the statement concluded.

Meanwhile on Monday, a senior Biden administration official said that the United States does not think India should increase its imports of Russian energy products and Washington is prepared to help New Delhi diversify its energy imports. The issue will again be discussed by top US and Indian senior officials during a ministerial meeting scheduled for later on Monday, the senior Biden administration official said.
The Brooklyn subway station shooting continues to be an active scene, with 13 people confirmed injured at this time, the New York Fire Department told Sputnik on Tuesday

WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 12th April, 2022) The Brooklyn subway station shooting continues to be an active scene, with 13 people confirmed injured at this time, the New York Fire Department told Sputnik on Tuesday.

"Continues to be an active scene and it's 13 injuries at this time," the department said.

It also confirmed that upon arrival at the scene, authorities found undetonated devices.

"36th and 4th avenue in Brooklyn. Original call for smoke in the Subway station," it said. "Upon arrival, units discovered multiple people shot and several undetonated devices at the location."

Meanwhile, the New York police said that there are no active explosive devices at this time.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban's thumping re-election victory does not negate his government's duty to uphold EU norms on rule of law, including LGBTQ rights, the bloc's justice commissioner said Tuesday

Brussels, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 12th Apr, 2022 ) :Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban's thumping re-election victory does not negate his government's duty to uphold EU norms on rule of law, including LGBTQ rights, the bloc's justice commissioner said Tuesday.

The obligation to hew to European standards remains intact, commissioner Didier Reynders said, following a meeting of EU justice and European affairs ministers in Luxembourg.

But Hungary's justice minister, Judit Varga, argued that voters had shown they were unconcerned by Brussels claims of democratic backsliding in their country.

"Our voters... do not share these concerns," she said, underlining the overwhelming majority Orban -- a nationalist and ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin -- received on April 3 for a fourth term.

She also argued that, with war raging in Ukraine, the European Union should "focus on those topics which unite us instead of those topics which (drive) wedges between us".

Reynders told reporters after the meeting that "a majority in the population is not enough of course to prove that you don't have discrimination".

Rule of law in the EU was not only about the democratic support a government receives but also democratic rules the governing majority needs to abide by, he said.

"We need to protect the minorities," he said, adding that under a recent law passed by Budapest, "We are sure that in Hungary.

.. there is a discrimination against the LGBTQ community".

- Hungary in EU crosshairs - The EU ministers had held a regular stocktaking of rule of law in the bloc, focusing this time on Malta, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Austria, and Hungary.

It was Hungary, though, that was in the EU crosshairs.

The European Commission last week announced it was launching a never-used procedure against Budapest that could see its EU funding cut for flouting democratic standards.

Along with minority rights, Brussels is particularly concerned about a deterioration of media diversity and corruption in Hungary.

The announced procedure against Hungary requires endorsement by a super-majority among the EU's 27 member states.

An official letter informing the Hungarian government of the start of the procedure is expected to be sent at the end of April, a European source said.

The conditionality mechanism was created in 2020, after a summit at the height of the coronavirus pandemic that agreed common borrowing to build an 800-billion-euro ($870 billion) pile of grants and loans to help EU economies recover.

Once set in motion, the procedure is expected to take between six and nine months to implement.

Asked to comment on the process, Varga said: "We have to see the letter first... and carefully analyse it."
WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 12th April, 2022) Former Homeland Security Department IT division branch chief Murali Venkata has been was convicted on charges arising from the theft of proprietary software and sensitive databases from the US government, the Justice Department said.

"Venkata was convicted for his role in the conspiracy, which included ex-filtrating proprietary source code and sensitive databases from DHS-OIG facilities, as well as assisting (co-conspirator Charles) Edwards in setting up three computer servers in Edwards's residence so that software developers in India could access the servers remotely and develop the commercial version of the case management system," the Justice Department said in a press release on Monday.

Venkata and Edwards, who previously served as the Acting Inspector General of DHS's Office of the Inspector General, concocted a plan to steal confidential and proprietary software from the government, as well as the personal information of hundreds of thousands of Federal employees, the release said.

The Justice Department said Venkata stole sensitive data from the government and set up three computer servers at Edwards's home so Indian software developers could have remote access and create a commercial version of the government's case management system.

Venkata had been on administrative leave since 2017 after being charged in the case, the release added.

In January, Edwards pleaded guilty for stealing property from the US government, according to the release.
PARIS (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 12th April, 2022) Six Russian diplomats have been declared personae non gratae in France, the French Foreign Ministry said on Monday.

"After a lengthy investigation, the General Directorate for Internal Security (DGSI) on Sunday, April 10, uncovered a covert operation carried out by Russian special services on our territory.

Six Russian agents operating under diplomatic cover and whose activities were contrary to our national interests have been declared personae non gratae," the ministry said in a statement, adding that it had summoned a representative of the Russian embassy to inform him about Paris' decision.

Meanwhile, the Russian Foreign Ministry said that Moscow will respond to expulsion of diplomats from France.
WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 12th April, 2022) NASA will carry out the latest part of the repeatedly delayed and halted wet dress rehearsal for its unmanned Artemis 1 moon rocket system on Thursday, April 14, senior space agency officials said during a press conference.

"We intend to go through (the) terminal count a second time but without (including) the upper stage", Flight Director Charlie Blackwell-Thompson told the press conference on Monday.

The last wet dress rehearsal last week was suspended after a faulty valve controlling helium flow was identified, but the issue has now been dealt with, Blackwell-Thompson said.

"Some helium leakage was identified. ... They replaced the leaking helium component and reduced the ... pressure," Blackwell-Thompson said.

NASA is planning to proceed with the modified wet dress rehearsal test focused on using the ground systems at Kennedy Space Center to load propellant into the Space Launch System rocket's core stage tanks, with minimal propellant operations on the upper stage, NASA said earlier.

The team achieved many of the wet dress rehearsal objectives during the two prior tests, and the modified test will enable engineers to achieve the remaining test objectives critical to launch success.
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Vladimir Putin says the sanctions are total, the isolation is complete but the Soviet Union is still first in space.

MOSCOW: (UrduPoint/UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News-April 12th, 2022) President Vladimir Putin warned the West on Tuesday that attempts to isolate Moscow would fail, citing the success of the Soviet space programme as evidence that Russia could achieve spectacular leaps forward in tough conditions.

Russia says it will never again depend on the West after the United States and its allies imposed crippling sanctions on it to punish Putin for his Feb. 24 order for what he called a special military operation in Ukraine.

Sixty one years to the day since the Soviet Unions Yuri Gagarin blasted off into the history books by becoming the first man in space, Putin travelled to the Vostochny Cosmodrome in Russias Far East, 3,450 miles (5550 km) east of Moscow.

The sanctions were total, the isolation was complete but the Soviet Union was still first in space, Putin said, according to Russian state television.

We dont intend to be isolated, Putin said. It is impossible to severely isolate anyone in the modern world  especially such a vast country as Russia.

Russias Cold War space successes such as Gagarins flight and the 1957 launch of Sputnik 1, the first artificial satellite from earth, have a particular pertinence for Russia: both events shocked the United States.

The launch of Sputnik 1 prompted the United States to create NASA in a bid to catch up with Moscow.

Putin says the special military operation in Ukraine is necessary because the United States was using Ukraine to threaten Russia  including via the NATO military alliance  and that Moscow had to defend Russian-speaking people in Ukraine from persecution.

He said on Tuesday that the had no doubts Russia would achieve all of its objectives in Ukraine  a conflict he cast as both inevitable and essential to defend Russia in the long term.

Its goals are absolutely clear and noble, Putin said. Its clear that we didnt have a choice. It was the right decision.

Ukrainian forces have mounted stiff resistance and the West has imposed sweeping sanctions on Russia in an effort to force it to withdraw its forces.

Russias economy is on track to contract by more than 10% in 2022, the biggest fall in gross domestic product since the years following the 1991 fall of the Soviet Union, former finance minister Alexei Kudrin said on Tuesday.
US nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln will enter the international waters of the East Sea this week as a "show of force" movement to deter possible North Korean provocations, Yonhap reported on Monday citing sources

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 11th April, 2022) US nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln will enter the international waters of the East Sea this week as a "show of force" movement to deter possible North Korean provocations, Yonhap reported on Monday citing sources.

The aircraft carrier with a strike group will stay in the sea for about five days, the South Korean news agency reported on Monday, adding that it will be the first such case since November 2017.

The spokesman for US Forces Korea, Lee Peters, refused to comment on the report "as a matter of operational security," as quoted by the news agency.

The decision on sending the warship was made amid fears of new missile launches by North Korea in anticipation of the 110th birth anniversary of its late founding leader Kim Il-sung on Friday and the founding anniversary of the North Korean People's Revolutionary Army on April 25, the news agency added.

On March 24, North Korea conducted its twelfth missile launch since the beginning of 2022, deploying a new Hwasong-17 ICBM toward the Sea of Japan. According to media reports, Pyongyang may soon conduct a nuclear test.
OREM, Utah  Utah Valley University (UVU) officials announced today that Karen C. Acerson, business and community leader, and Steven J. Lund, executive chairman of the board of directors at Nu Skin Enterprises, will receive honorary doctorate degrees at the schools commencement on May 6, 2022.

Mary C. Daly, president and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, will be the universitys commencement speaker and will receive an honorary degree in public service. Acerson will receive an honorary doctorate in humane letters and Lund will receive an honorary doctorate in business during the commencement ceremonies at 6pm in the UCCU Center on UVUs Orem Campus.

Karen Acerson and Steve Lund are exemplary individuals who have sacrificed much to serve Utah Valley University and its students, said Astrid S. Tuminez, president of UVU. Both served on UVUs Board of Trustees and have personally donated their time, energy, and resources to strengthen UVU and help our students succeed. They are examples of grit, hard work, success, and ethical living that we want our students to emulate. We are proud to honor them.

Karen Acerson served on the Utah Valley University Board of Trustees twice for a total of 11 years (2005-2007 and 2012-2021), serving with three university presidents. She also served on the Mountainland Technical College Board of Trustees for eight years.

Acerson worked as the director of customer support for WordPerfect Corporation, where she helped rewrite the companys user manual, taught classes, and instructed in training videos. Her book WordPerfect: The Complete Reference was a New York Times bestseller. Acerson wrote a total of five books for Osborne/McGraw-Hill and Ziff-Davis Press.

Acerson helped Karen Ashton and other volunteers organize the Timpanogos Storytelling Festival, now in its 33rd year, and served as its executive director and president for much of that time.

She has also been a 4-H leader for young women, served as PTA president at Pleasant Grove High School, and involved the community in several projects as part of Oprahs Pay it Forward Challenge in 2006.

She currently serves as a board member at Brades Place, a non-profit organization, which helps children with life-long health challenges. She is also a recipient of the Senator Arthur V. Watkins award for Outstanding Community Service.

Acerson and her husband, Jeff, served as mission leaders for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, presiding over the Italy Rome Mission from 2007-2010. Her greatest joy is being a mother to six and grandmother to nine.

Steven J. Lund serves as executive chairman of the board for Nu Skin Enterprises. He also serves as the young men general president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and is a former regent of the Utah System of Higher Education.

Lund worked as an attorney before co-founding and later becoming president and chief executive officer of Nu Skin. He has served in many positions at the company, including executive director of the companys Nourish the Children initiative, which has facilitated the donation of hundreds of millions of meals to malnourished children around the world.

He also served on the board of directors for the U.S. Direct Selling Association and was on the board of advisors for the J. Reuben Clark Law School at Brigham Young University. In addition to his civic service and community involvements, Lund enjoys playing the guitar, reading great books, and spending time with his family.
GPB Photo Georgia Department of Corrections Commissioner Timothy C. Ward, second from right, after the March meeting of the Board of Corrections in Forsyth.
FILE - Michelle Lujan Grisham holds the wheelchair of her mother, Sonja Lujan, as they speak with voters after casting their ballots during the Democratic primary elections at Garfield Middle School in Albuquerque, N.M., on Tuesday, June 5, 2018. In a Monday, April 11, 2022 statement, the governors office said that Sonja Luhan, an advocate for children with disabilities, died on Sunday of natural causes. She was 82.
A Catholic news service report by Agenzia Fides has confirmed the release of Nigerian priest, Father Leo Raphael Ozigi.

Vatican News.

Father Leo Raphael Ozigi, parish priest of St. Mary's Church, Sarkin Pawa Village, Munya Local Government Area, Niger State abducted on 27 March has been released. Father Patrick Tor Alumuku, Director of Social Communications in the Archdiocese of Abuja confirmed the release. He said, no ransom was paid by the Church.

"For years, the Bishops of Nigeria have decided that the Church should never pay ransom for the release of kidnapped priests or men and women religious," explained Fr. Alumuku. "This, however, does not necessarily stop family members and friends of the kidnapped persons from taking steps to find the sums of money demanded by the kidnappers," he added.

According to sources in the Diocese of Minna, "a member of the priest's family was directly involved in the negotiations and the subsequent release of the Catholic priest," Fr. Alumuku said.

Two other priests still in captivity

Father Ozigi was released over the weekend on the Kaduna-Zaria road. According to local media sources, the priest was being held captive in a forest of Kaduna state.

Besides Father Ozigi, two other priests were abducted in Nigeria in March, both from the northern state of Kaduna: Father Joseph Akete Bako, parish priest of St John's Church, Kudenda, in the local government area of Kaduna South, was kidnapped on the night of 8 March during an assault on the parish house in which one person was killed. Also still being held is Fr. Felix Zakari Fidson, of the Diocese of Zaria. He was kidnapped on 24 March.
Pope Francis expressed this intention during a video conference with Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. The Congress is scheduled take place in the Kazakh capital Nur-Sultan in September this year.

By Lisa Zengarini

Pope Francis has expressed the desire to travel to Kazakhstan on the occasion of the 7th Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions to be held early in September in the Kazakh capital, Nur-Sultan. The theme of this years event will be "The Role of Leaders of World and Traditional Faiths in the Socio-Spiritual Development of Humanity after the Pandemic".

According to the Director of the Holy See Press Office, Matteo Bruni, the Pope spoke about this possible journey during a live video conversation he held on Monday with Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.

The first Congress in 2003

The Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions is held in Nur-Sultan (former Astana) every three years, gathering world religious leaders from across the world. It was initiated in 2003 by former Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbaev on the model of the "Day of Prayer for Peace" convened in Assisi, Italy, by Pope St. John Paul II on 24 January 2002 in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001 in the United States, to reaffirm the positive contribution of religious traditions to dialogue and harmony between peoples and nations.

The Holy See's support for the initiative

This first forum was attended by 17 delegations from 23 countries and was focused mainly on countering terrorism and religious extremism issues threatening world peace. On that occasion, Pope St. John Paul II, who had visited the Caucasian country in September 2001, sent a message to participants expressing hope that the initiative might help promote the respect of human dignity and the protection of religious freedom.

To mark the 10th anniversary of that event, a Kazakh official delegation visited the Vatican in 2013. During the visit, it awarded a State decoration to Cardinals Jean-Louis Tauran, and Giovanni Lajolo, former Secretaries for Relations with States, and Monsignor Khaled Akasheh, an official at the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, in recognition of the Holy Sees support to this initiative and of its commitment to religious dialogue an peace. A photographic exhibition was also presented to illustrate the ten-year activity of the Congress, which up until that year had convened four times.

The 6th Congress in 2018

The last Congress (from 10-11 October 2018) was focused on the theme Religious Leaders for a Safe World and saw the participation of 82 delegations from 46 countries. The Catholic Church delegation was led by Cardinal Francesco Coccopalmerio, President emeritus of the Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts, and included, amongst others, Msgr. Khaled Akasheh, and Archbishop Francis Assisi Chullikatt, Apostolic Nuncio to Kazakhstan. Among the topics discussed were the relationship between religion and globalization and, again, the role of religious leaders in overcoming extremism and terrorism.

St. John Paul II's visit to Kazakhstan in 2001

St. John Paul the II was the first Pope to visit Kazakhstan, where Muslims account for the majority of the population (70%) and Christians, mostly Orthodox, for some 30%, of which Catholics 1%. The motto chosen for that visit was significantly Love one other highlighting the ethnic, cultural and religious diversity of Kazakh society which the Polish Pope described as a country open to dialogue and encounter.

Listen to our report

Good relations between Holy See and Kazakhstan

Dialogue has been the focus of the good relations the Catholic Church and the Holy See have entertained with the nation since 1992, after Kazakhstan became independent from the former Soviet Union. This dialogue is of particular relevance today in the context of the internal political tensions that have marked the Caucasian nation in the past months and also in light of the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine.
The President of Caritas Internationalis decries the violence and expresses sorrow for the death of two Ukrainian Caritas workers and five family of their members in an attack on a Caritas office in the besieged Ukrainian city of Mariupol.

By Alessandro Gisotti

This dramatic news leaves the Caritas family horrified and shocked. We join in grief and solidarity with the suffering of the families and our colleagues of Caritas Ukraine who are living a tragedy. With these words, the Secretary-General of Caritas Internationalis, Aloysius John, expresses his condolences for the death of two female employees of Caritas Ukraine in Mariupol. According to local Caritas sources, on March 15 a Russian tank fired shots at the Caritas center in Mariupol, killing the two employees and five of their family members who had taken refuge in the building. The tragic news only emerged yesterday. We need your solidarity and prayers for the families of the victims, said the president of Caritas Ukraine, Tetiana Stawnychy. In an interview with Vatican Media Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, president of Caritas Internationalis, emphasizes the value of the testimony of those who, at the risk of their own lives, are helping the Ukrainian people devastated by the war and makes a heartfelt appeal for an end to this conflict.

The Caritas Center in Mariupol has been attacked. At least seven people died, including two women staff members. What are your feelings on this tragic news?

I feel deep sadness and shock at the news of the attack that led to the loss of lives. Caritas Internationalis expresses its profound sympathies and closeness to the families of those who lost their lives and were wounded. Our sadness turns into an appeal to the international community to exert every effort to bring this violence to an end, to return to dialogue, and to see a brother and sister in every person.

What would you say to all the women and men that every day - even risking their lives - are doing their best to help the people of Ukraine?

To the women and men risking their lives, we extend a word of sincere gratitude. You are doing a holy action, holy work. For every good action done selflessly, you are sowing seeds of truth, justice, love and peace that will change the world. God will make sure that your efforts will not be in vain. They will bear fruit.

What can we do to honor the sacrifice of these humanitarian workers of Caritas and all the victims of this terrible war?

We honor the sacrifice of humanitarian workers by praying for them and their families. We believe that God hears the cry of the poor and the just. We honor them by affirming the value of the service rendered by humanitarian organizations that must be respected. We honor them by praying to God and appealing to people of goodwill to think of and work for peace.
Victoria County Long-Term Recovery Group received a truckload of cleaning supplies on Tuesday intended for those in need.

The supplies  packs of Dawn and Mr. Clean disinfecting wipes  came from Good360, an organization that works to distribute donated goods. They are worth hundreds of thousands of dollars, said Rick Villa, executive director of the recovery group. The purpose of the recovery group is to assist the community with disaster response and recovery, Villa said.

The value on this donation is over $200,000, Villa said. And its going to be available to the public.

The organization still has to process the donation and conduct an inventory of items before they can be distributed to those in need, he said.

Villa called Good360 the Costco for nonprofit organizations. Previously Good360 has donated cordless blinds, futons, humidifiers, treadmills and bicycles to the recovery group.

Last year, we had submitted paperwork to (Good360) asking them for plumbing supplies, Villa said. They communicated with Lowes at the corporate level and they were able to to secure us donations of plumbing supplies.

The recovery group was formed to aid disaster response and recovery efforts after Hurricane Harvey in 2017, Villa said. Since then, it has broadened its scope to assist in recovery from the 2021 winter storm and from COVID-19.

Aid comes in a variety of forms, and can consist of new plumbing, a new water heater, new flooring, repair to interior walls and more.

One of the recovery groups largest projects is Hope Meadows, a housing development in Bloomington built specifically for families affected by Hurricane Harvey. The project cost $4.6 million and was a partnership of national, faith-based nonprofits and local groups, including the Mennonite Disaster Service, Disaster Aid Ohio and Golden Crescent Habitat for Humanity, among others, according to previous reporting.

To apply for assistance, Villa said, community members can first fill out an intake form, and then a member of the organization will ask them a series of questions to determine if they can provide assistance. If assistance can be provided, a contractor will be sent out to assess the home.
EMMA SYNDER is a News and Featuers Reporter for The Vidette. Snyder can be contacted at ejsnyde@ilstu.edu. Follow Snyder on Twitter at @ejsnyder21

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CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA  The Tonle Sap Lake has been at heart of Cambodian civilization since ancient times, but this extraordinary ecosystem, and the millions of people who rely on it, are at critical juncture, threatened by a trifecta of local, regional and global destructive forces. A new book by American journalist Abby Seiff describes the natural wonder of the lakes connection to the Mekong River and the historical importance of its natural bounty to the Khmer people. But it warns that over the past decade a multi-level environmental crisis has pushed Asias most productive inland fishery to the brink of collapse. During a recent discussion about the book, Seiff said that a local failure to stop overfishing, unbridled hydropower dam development in the Mekong Region, and global climate change were putting enormous stress on the lake. All these things are working in concert its a trifecta of problems, she told Brian Eyler of the Stimson Center, a U.S. policy and research institute hosting the virtual talk. Seiff described visiting various fishing communitieswhich live on shore, in wooden and bamboo stilt homes in the lake or in floating homesand found most could no longer survive off the lakes once-abundant freshwater fish catch. Many villagers were mired in debt and heading to urban areas in search of jobs, Seiff learned through reporting and research. Many fishers I spoke to want social support, she said, explaining that they want alternative sources of livelihoods to supplement their fishing income. Eyler said the book, titled Troubling the Water: A Dying Lake and A Vanishing World in Cambodia, stood out for its poignant personal stories of life on the lake, which were a unique contribution to literature and ongoing discussions on the future of the Mekong.

Droughts and government failures A spate of dams constructed upstream in Laos and China in recent years, and irregular rainfall due to climate change, have caused extremely low water levels in the Mekong River. This, in turn, weakens the unique hydrological process that occurs in rainy season, when the swollen Mekong discharges into the lake through a tributary and increases its size seven-fold. This feature supports a huge and highly diverse fish stock. This ranges from the critically endangered Giant Mekong Catfish to the tiny Trey Riel, which is caught in large volumes and turned into prahok, a fermented fish paste that is a staple and key source of protein in Cambodian food. Two years ago, the lake was just a quarter of its usual volume in wet season, Seiff said, noting that such alarming situations had become a regular occurrence in recent years. In 2016, there was horrific drought, forest fire and the fish catch was very low, so everybody was deeply in debt. Despite the lakes status as UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, the Cambodian government has long failed to stem illegal fishing by both small fishermen and, more destructively, large-scale operators. Meanwhile, flooded forests that serve as fish habitat have been cleared by well-connected businessmen and local officials, who then rent it out for paddy farming. Ministry of Agriculture spokesman Ung Try said he could not comment on the books claim of government failures as he had not read it, but added that illegal fishing declined a lot after recent measures. Last month, Prime Minister Hun Sen announced a crackdown on illegal fishing, encouraging local officials to ramp up law enforcement. In the first week of April, 29 people were arrested and another 20 were summoned to court in six provinces, while 59 fishing boats were seized along with banned fishing equipment, including 1,200 meters of nets, according Ministry of Agriculture data provided to VOA Khmer.

Seiff, who worked for years with the local Phnom Penh Post and the now-shuttered Cambodia Daily, said Hun Sens order followed a familiar pattern of government public announcements and actions that lead to few results that meaningfully protect the lake. We dont really hear about it afterwards and we dont know the people are who are being arrested. she said during the discussion. I wouldnt be surprised if these are the local and medium-level people, those are the easier ones to catch But you need to look at the bigger people behind this systemic problem. Seiff, nonetheless, remains hopeful in some ways as the government is recognizing the importance of the lake and the Mekong, though it appears politically unwilling to tackle on-the-ground causes. Cambodia also has little influence on upstream dam development or international efforts at climate change reduction.
U.N. agencies are calling on international donors to act now and provide the funds needed to prevent another potentially devastating famine in Somalia. Millions of Somalis are in need of life-saving assistance.

Three years of extreme drought has brought Somalia to its knees. Some six million people or 40 percent of the population are facing acute hunger because the rains have failed, their crops have withered, and their livestock has died.

The United Nations says three quarters of a million people have been forced to leave their homes in search of food for themselves and grazing land for their cattle. Last week, a U.N. food security report stated that Somalia is on the brink of a humanitarian disaster.

Etienne Peterschmitt is the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization representative in Somalia. Speaking from the capital, Mogadishu, Peterschmitt says some 81,000 people already are suffering from catastrophic conditions in some areas of the country. He says they are facing starvation, malnutrition, loss of livestock, crops, other assets, and eventually disease and death.

Almost quarter of a million people died the last time famine was declared in Somalia," Peterschmitt said. "And with the current likelihood of poor rain, skyrocketing food prices, and a huge funding shortfall as was already mentioned also, it means a perfect storm is brewing for another catastrophic event in which millions of people are at risk of sliding into famine.

Children accounted for nearly half of the quarter-million people who died in Somalias last famine in 2011. So far, the U.N.s $1.4 billion 2022 Humanitarian Response Plan for Somalia is less than five percent funded.

The World Food Programs deputy country director in Somalia, Lara Fossi, says her agency must make some hard choices on how to distribute aid because of a lack of money.

We have already prioritized our very limited nutrition funding to treat malnutrition rather than to prevent it," said Fossi. "And this, of course, will mean that more people are likely then to fall into needing treatment for acute malnutrition in the longer termand we are taking from the hungry to feed the starving.

Fossi warns the threat of famine may force people into negative coping strategies, like selling off livestock and other assets. That, she says, will undermine their long-term ability to support themselves and force them to remain dependent on humanitarian relief.
President Muhammadu Buhari vowed on Tuesday there would be no mercy for those behind the killings of more than 100 people in a series of attacks in central Nigeria.

Gunmen raided and ransacked a group of villages there, local sources said, in one of worst attacks this year blamed on heavily armed criminal gangs.

Condemning what he called the heinous killings, Buhari promised that the perpetrators would receive "no mercy."

"They should not be spared or forgiven," he said in a statement.

Sunday's attacks in Plateau State and a high-profile kidnapping raid on a train in neighboring Kaduna State have highlighted intensifying insecurity in northwest and central regions of Africa's most populous nation.

On Sunday, gunmen attacked more than four villages in Plateau, leaving more than 100 people dead with scores of homes destroyed, two local community leaders and the commander of a local vigilante force said Tuesday.

Details of the attack were still sketchy, with local officials and security forces confirming the assault but declining to give a death toll.

"Many people were killed with houses and properties destroyed," Plateau State Governor Simon Bako Lalong said in a statement that condemned the violence but gave no precise toll.

One local community leader, Malam Usman Abdul, told AFP on Monday that 54 bodies were found at Kukawa village, 16 local vigilantes were also found dead at Shuwaka village, 30 villagers were recovered at Gyambahu and four more were found around other villages.

"People are still looking for their family members," he said.

Bala Yahaya, operational commander of the local vigilantes who work with security forces told AFP they had recovered 107 bodies, including 16 members of his group.

Another community leader gave a similar figure for the number of fatalities.

Residents said there were mass burial services on Monday for the victims of the attack in four adjoining villages.

Security forces and local government officials did not respond to requests for confirmation of a toll.

Major Ishaku Takwa, military spokesman, said on Monday that many villages had been ransacked but that the number of casualties was still being verified.

Northwest and central states in Nigeria have long struggled with a security crisis that has emerged from tensions and clashes between farmers and herders over water and land.

Tit-for-tat revenge killings spiraled into broader criminality as gangs known locally as bandits with hundreds of members targeting villages for raids, mass kidnapping and looting.

Despite a military campaign to flush them out of their forest hideouts, attacks by bandit gangs have intensified.

Last month, gunmen blew up rail tracks and attacked a train between the capital Abuja and the northwestern city of Kaduna, killing eight people and abducting an unspecified number of other passengers.

They later released videos showing their hostages.

The train attack came two days after bandits killed a security guard at the perimeter fence of Kaduna's airport, prompting two local airlines to temporarily halt flights into the city.

Nigeria's overstretched security forces are already battling a grinding 12-year jihadi insurgency in the country's northeast, where Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province are operating.

The conflict has killed more than 40,000 people and forced around 2.2 million more people to flee their homes since it erupted in Borno State in 2009.
China is learning from Russias troubled war in Ukraine to improve its battle strategies and prepare for economic sanctions if Beijing ever attacks self-ruled Taiwan, experts believe.

The country may also be looking harder at peaceful solutions for Taiwan, they say.

Russia is facing stronger-than-expected military resistance in Ukraine since its invasion on February 24, especially in the streets, along with stiff Western-led economic sanctions and stepped-up military aid from abroad.

Chinese officials are eyeing ways to take over Taiwan relatively fast by targeting the islands communications hubs and major political institutions, some analysts believe. They say China would need more logistical support for any amphibious attack on the island thats 160 kilometers away, and a media message to back up any invasion.

China at least would learn that theyll need to better prepare for sufficient logistics support for the amphibious operation, as well as a great number of munitions, such as artillery and missiles, if China decides to attack Taiwan, said Chen Yi-fan, assistant professor of diplomacy and international relations at Tamkang University in Taiwan.

Most importantly, China needs to command the moral high ground through cognitive warfare and media discourse, he said.

Russian setbacks

Ukraine said on April 3 its forces had retaken the whole zone around the capital, Kyiv, for the first time since Russia invaded. Russia had announced around the same time that its military would focus on two breakaway regions of eastern Ukraine rather than the capital or the countrys interior.

The effect of Russian firepower is overestimated, while advanced weapons systems have limited supplies of ammunition, a retired Russian colonel warned in February before the war, as quoted by the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies. The colonel further predicted bloodshed from urban combat.

In a March 23 forecast, the Institute of International Finance said Russias economy will shrink by about 15% this year because of the war.

China vs. Taiwan

China has claimed sovereignty over Taiwan since the Chinese civil war of the 1940s, when Chiang Kai-cheks Nationalists lost to Mao Zedongs Communists and established a presence on the nearby island. The two sides have been self-ruled since then.

Taiwan-China talks broke down in 2016 after Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen took office. Her political party opposes unification with China. Peoples Liberation Army air force planes fly almost daily through a corner of Taiwans air defense identification zone.

Beijing has never ruled out use of force, if needed, to unify the two sides.

Chinas most recent war anywhere in the world occurred in 1979, when it took over several cities near its shared land border with Vietnam but failed to stop Vietnam from toppling the pro-Beijing Pol Pot government in Cambodia.

Battle preparation

China, keeper of the worlds third strongest armed forces, would vie with No. 21-ranked Taiwan in terms of military equipment and personnel.

Russias setbacks, however, suggest that any Chinese attack would take time, possibly more than China is ready for, some experts say.

If Beijing wants to take Taiwan by force, it wont act until its convinced it can win decisively and quickly, James Jay Carafano, a scholar at the Heritage Foundation, said in a commentary on March 8.

China would strive for a battle focused on disabling military installations and decapitation of Taiwanese leaders to ensure that no one stays on the ground as a hero, said Alexander Huang, chairman of a military strategy research foundation in Taipei. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has appealed to multiple sympathetic countries for military aid  and received it.

I think a lot of the discussion inside China is how to perform a total information blockade so Taiwan cannot cry for rescue, Huang said.

Chinese military leaders should be rethinking their command structure, said Derek Grossman, senior defense analyst with the U.S.-based RAND Corporation research organization. It is an open question whether a field commander can pull the trigger in a lot of these cases, Grossman said. They may still need to get Beijings authorization.

Bracing for sanctions

Beijing is likely to recalibrate its expectations for the international response to any attack on Taiwan, Tong Zhao, senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowments Tsinghua Center for Global Policy in Beijing, told a conference hosted by Boston radio station WBUR.

China is very surprised about the Western response, Zhao said. I think this shows that even  Russian experts ... didn't know there was going to be such strong international support to Ukraine. I think Chinese experts are starting to reevaluate these strategies and policies.

Officials in China are braced only for limited economic sanctions lasting three to five years, said Oriana Skylar Mastro, fellow at Stanford Universitys Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies, who spoke at the WBUR event.

Compared to Russia, China depends more on other countries for economic stability. China is the worlds biggest exporter of manufactured goods with 14.7% of the world total from 1978 to 2020, the U.N. agency UNCTAD estimates.

Peaceful solution

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, asked in early March about Taiwan, pledged to advance the peaceful growth of  relations and the reunification of China.

Officials in Beijing are probably exploring harder now for a nonmilitary solution, Huang said. Taiwan and China have been at odds since 2016 on how to treat each other in any talks  as separate countries, parts of China or something else.

The lessons (from Ukraine) send a big alert to Beijing (that) if they cannot achieve the goal militarily, quickly, then its going to be a geostrategic disaster, and that might lead Beijing to think more about other measures, not the military option, he said.
The EU on Monday decided to halt its military training missions in Mali but will keep a presence in the Sahel, the bloc's top diplomat said Monday.

"We are halting the training missions for the (Malian) armed forces and national guard," EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell told a media conference but added: "The Sahel remains a priority. We're not giving up on the Sahel, far from it. We want to commit even more to that region."

He spoke after chairing a meeting of the bloc's foreign ministers that discussed the issue.

Borrell said it was decided that developments in Mali "have forced us to see there were not sufficient guarantees ... on noninterference by the Wagner group," a Russian private military organization that France and other countries say is operating in Mali as an armed force.

Russia says it has only supplied what it officially describes as military instructors to Mali.

Borrell said the "notorious Wagner group ... is responsible for some very serious events which have led to tens of people being killed in Mali in recent times."

France last week expressed concern over reports that Malian soldiers and Wagner mercenaries killed more than 200 civilians in an operation last month in the Malian village of Moura.

Paris in February announced the withdrawal of its troops from Mali, a former colony, after a breakdown in relations with the country's ruling junta that seized power last year, ending a near 10-year deployment.

France's deployment, to fight Islamic extremists, operated separately from the EU missions.

Talks this week

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock will hold talks with the junta in Mali this week amid uncertainty over the future of German troops there, a foreign ministry spokesman said on Monday.

Baerbock will travel to Mali on Tuesday where she will meet the leader of the junta, Assimi Goita, and Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop, the spokesman said.

Her aim is to "get a precise picture of the political and security situation on the ground" as Germany weighs its ongoing participation in military missions in Mali, he said.

Germany has about 1,100 soldiers deployed as part of the United Nations peacekeeping mission in Mali, known as MINUSMA.

The European state has also contributed some 300 troops to the EU military training mission in Mali.

Human Rights Watch has said Malian soldiers and foreign fighters executed 300 civilians between March 27 and 31 in Moura.

Borrell called the Moura operation a "massacre" and said: "We cannot collaborate with reprehensible events ... We cannot be training people who are responsible for those kinds of behaviors. So the military training for troops, we're going to stop."

He said the EU ministers discussed hopes that west Africa's regional bloc ECOWAS would reach agreement with Mali's junta for "an acceptable election" to be held for a return to civilian rule.
The European police agency Europol said Monday it had launched an operation targeting the assets of Russian individuals and companies sanctioned over the war in Ukraine.

The agency, based in The Hague, launched the operation dubbed "Oscar" jointly with EU member states as well as Eurojust and Frontex.

The operation aims to "facilitate partners' exchange of information and intelligence and provide operational support in a number of financial investigations targeting criminal assets and circumvention of the EU economic sanctions related to Russia's military aggression," Europol said in a statement.

The EU's border agency Frontex "will contribute to the operation by enhancing the scrutiny of the persons who are crossing EU's external borders and fall under the scope of the sanctions," the statement said.

Operation Oscar will continue for at least a year and includes a number of separate investigations, Europol said.

Europol will also provide tailored analytical support for investigations, forensic and technical expertise, and financial support to the relevant national authorities.

The EU agency for judicial cooperation Eurojust will also facilitate the exchange of strategic and operational information, offer legal assistance and support, and strengthen cooperation between national investigating and judicial authorities.
A federal jury on Monday convicted a former Virginia police officer of storming the U.S. Capitol with another off-duty officer to obstruct Congress from certifying President Joe Biden's 2020 electoral victory.

Jurors convicted former Rocky Mount police officer Thomas Robertson of all six counts he faced stemming from the January 6, 2021, riot, including charges that he interfered with police officers at the Capitol and that he entered a restricted area with a dangerous weapon, a large wooden stick.

His sentencing hearing wasn't immediately scheduled.

Robertson's jury trial was 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.

Robertson didn't testify at his trial, which started last Tuesday. Jurors deliberated for several hours over two days before reaching their unanimous verdict.

One juror, who spoke to The Associated Press only on condition of anonymity, said as she left the courthouse, "I think the government made a really compelling case, and the evidence was fairly overwhelming."

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 authorities. Fracker testified Thursday that he had hoped the mob that attacked the Capitol could overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election.

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 while carrying a dangerous weapon, 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.

During the trial's closing arguments Friday, 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.

Defense attorney Mark Rollins conceded that Robertson broke the law when he entered the Capitol during the riot. He encouraged jurors to convict Robertson of misdemeanor offenses but urged them to acquit Robertson of felony charges that he used the stick as a dangerous weapon and that he intended to stop Congress from certifying the Electoral College vote.

"There were no plans to go down there and say, 'I'm going to stop Congress from doing this vote,'" Rollins said.

Fracker testified that he initially believed he was merely trespassing when he entered the Capitol building. However, he ultimately pleaded guilty to conspiring with Robertson to obstruct Congress.

Under cross-examination by Rollins, Fracker said he didn't have a "verbal agreement" with anybody to obstruct the joint session of Congress. Fracker said he believed everybody in the mob "pretty much had the same goal" and didn't need for it to be "said out loud."

Robertson and Fracker drove with a neighbor to Washington on the morning of January 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 told jurors that Robertson only went into the Capitol because he wanted to retrieve Fracker, who entered the Capitol a few minutes before Robertson. Wagner said the U.S. Army veteran was using the stick to help him walk because he 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.

Jurors saw some of Robertson's vitriolic posts on social media before and after the Capitol riot. In a Facebook post on November 7, 2020, Robertson said "being disenfranchised by fraud is my hard line."

"I've spent most of my adult life fighting a counter insurgency. (I'm) about to become part of one, and a very effective one," he wrote.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Aloi told jurors that Robertson was charged for his actions, not his political beliefs. Wagner also said Robertson should be judged by his actions, not his words.

The town fired Robertson and Fracker after the riot. Rocky Mount is about 25 miles south of Roanoke and has roughly 5,000 residents.

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 250 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.
Even as the United States calls for imposing new sanctions on North Korea, experts suggest increased enforcement of current sanctions might do more to pressure the regime into reversing course as Pyongyang celebrates its nuclear achievements.

The U.S. and South Korea believe Pyongyang could conduct a nuclear test as it marks the 110th anniversary of founding leader Kim Il Sungs birthday, the so-called Day of the Sun, on Friday. North Korea has not conducted a nuclear test since 2017.

Also this week, North Korea is saluting the achievements of Kim Jong Un, the founders grandson, during his first decade as leader.

Prominent among the accomplishments cited is the continued development of nuclear weapons. The younger Kim began his ascent to power when his father, Kim Jong Il, died in 2011. Since becoming head of the North Korean Workers Party in 2012, and soon after the first chairman of the National Defense Commission  then the highest government organization of North Korea  Kim has overseen four of the nations six nuclear tests.

Kim Jong Il conducted the other tests in 2006 and 2009.

During the run-up to the festivities, satellite imagery showed North Korea gearing up for a possible nuclear test at its Punggye-ri nuclear test site. Pyongyang partially sealed tunnels at the site after detonations in 2018 in front of international witnesses. The site and its tunnels were used for underground nuclear tests.

After North Korea conducted its first nuclear test in 2006, the U.N. Security Council imposed sanctions aimed at curbing the countrys nuclear and missile programs. As Pyongyang has ratcheted up tests since then, more sanctions were issued to tighten its imports and exports to prevent the regime from funding its weapons program, especially so in 2017 in response to North Koreas intercontinental ballistic missile tests.

Adding more sanctions  is not going to change anything fundamentally for North Korea to change its stance, said Bradley Babson, former World Bank adviser and an advisory council member of the Korea Economic Institute of America.

I just dont think it adds much pressure, he told VOAs Korean Service.

William Brown, a former CIA analyst who continues to closely monitor the North Korean economy, said current sanctions are already tough, very tough. He continued, They already prohibit most North Korean exports, and quite a lot of North Korean imports, so the issue to me isnt about adding more sanctions. Its continuing to apply the sanctions that are already in place.

The U.S. has been calling for a new U.N. resolution on North Korea after the regime conducted an intercontinental ballistic missile test on March 24.

Linda Thomas-Greenfield, U.S. ambassador to the U.N., said on March 25 at a meeting held in response to the ICBM test that the U.S. will be introducing a new U.N. resolution.

In Security Council Resolution 2397, which we unanimously adopted, the council decided we would take further action in the event of a DPRK ICBM launch, Thomas-Greenfield said. She continued, This is precisely what happened, so now is the time to take that action.

The U.N. Security Council passed Resolution 2397 in December 2017 in response to North Koreas ICBM launch of the Hwasong-15 the previous month, further restricting its imports and exports, especially reducing the cap on its oil imports.

Aaron Arnold, senior associate fellow at the Center for Financial Crime and Security Studies at London-based Royal United Services Institute, pointed out that the resolution calls for additional reduction on the refined petroleum import caps should the DPRK conduct another ICBM or nuclear test.

North Koreas official name is the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea (DPRK).

Joshua Stanton, a Washington-based attorney who helped draft the North Korea Sanctions Enforcement and Policy Enforcement Act of 2016, said lowering the oil caps on North Korea is a bad idea.

Oil caps are practically impossible to enforce when much of the oil comes through a pipeline over the Chinese border anyway, he said.

Resolution 2397 placed annual caps on North Koreas imports of refined petroleum to 500,000 barrels and crude oil to 4 million barrels.

An oil pipeline under the Yalu River that runs between Dandong, China, and North Koreas Paengma-ri Petroleum Production Storage Facility in Pihyon was thought to be the main method China used to send crude oil to North Korea, although it is now believed to be closed for construction.

Stanton said the U.S. should focus its resources on enforcing sanctions.

Rather than haggle for a new resolution, President (Joe) Biden should crack down on the Russian and Chinese banks, ports and shipping companies that help Kim Jong Un sell his coal, mineral and seafood, and then launder the proceeds through our banks, he said.

U.N. Security Council Resolution 2371, passed in August 2017 in response to North Koreas ICBM tests the month before, banned the regimes exports of coal, iron and seafood. But Pyongyang often manages to evade sanctions to sell these products by illicit means.

Troy Stangarone, senior director of the Korean Economic Institute, also told VOAs Korean Service that sanctions enforcement is much more important ultimately than adding more sanctions.

He continued to say that North Korea is relying more on its worldwide smuggling network than normal trading, and its border closure prolonged through the COVID-19 pandemic probably incentivized its illicit smuggling activities.

Stangarone added, What weve seen is this perplexing situation where even in some situations like commodities sold in the world market like oil, that we are seeing the North Koreans bring in more via smuggling than they are bringing in by licit trade. That suggests, for them right now, it is easier to go through these informal networks than to go through formal networks and even meet what the U.N. would allow them to trade.

North Korea imported fewer petroleum products in 2021 than the cap placed by sanctions, according to Chinese customs data, as well as Beijings North Korean oil export totals reported to the U.N. in 2021. Most of these products are exported from China.

If a new U.N. resolution is introduced, however, the veto-yielding permanent five members of the Security Council are unlikely to reach an agreement to pass a new resolution on North Korea, even though North Korea conducted ICBM tests, said experts.

I dont think any sanctions resolution that were going to put to the Security Council will be accepted by either China or Russia, Babson of the Korea Economic Institute said.

Im very skeptical that the U.N. Security Council is going to play any kind of meaningful role from here on out in dealing with the North Korean situation. Its kind of exhausted its practical capabilities.

China and Russia, as the permanent members of the Security Council, blocked U.S. efforts to sanction North Korea in January. They also have been calling for sanctions relief for North Korea.

Journalists Hyeongjoo Park and Jiha Ham of VOAs Korean Service contributed to this report.
An estimated 250 million people in Africa lack access to daily food, with the number impacted in west and central Africa expected to reach a record high. Officials and aid groups from more than 50 African countries meet this week in Equatorial Guinea to discuss ways of improving the continents agricultural food systems.

The U.N. World Food Program says the number of people affected by the ongoing food crisis in west and central Africa has quadrupled over the last three years, rising from 10.7 million in 2019 to 41 million today.

Countries in the Horn of Africa are also experiencing one of their worst food crises following three consecutive poor rainy seasons.

The food insecurity has caused a massive nutrition crisis, particularly among small children. It has also fueled a huge population displacement as people leave rural areas in search of better economic opportunities.

Many factors are at play. Extreme weather events such as drought and floods are occurring more regularly. In some countries, conflict prevents farmers from planting or harvesting crops.

As a result, many African countries have become increasingly reliant on food imports. So when the COVID-19 pandemic hit and disrupted global and regional trade, the continent suffered.

Abebe Haile-Gabriel is the assistant director general of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization.

Each time a new crisis hits, it adds to what is already a very precarious situation. And the economic base is not very strong. Productivity and production of food is one of the lowest in the world. Not enough is being produced, said Haile-Gabriel.

The situation has been further complicated by the war in Ukraine. More than 20 African countries depend on Ukraine or Russia or both for wheat imports, Haile-Gabriel said, including 13 which depend on the warring nations for more than half of their annual wheat supply. Many African countries are also heavily reliant on fertilizer imports from Russia.

Benoit Thierry is the West Africa representative for the International Fund for Agricultural Development.

In Africa, not all countries are self-sufficient. Senegal is importing 50% of its food and we think that all the governments should now get organized to ensure self-sufficiency in their countries. And for that you need investment plans in agriculture, he said.

Past agricultural plans have had a scope of three to five years, Thierry said, but governments should be thinking longer term.

At this weeks U.N. food conference, government officials are expected to discuss ways of decreasing Africas dependence on imports by providing emergency support to farmers, taking advantage of the African continental free trade agreement, and investing in ecosystem restoration and resource management.
Germany's gas reserves would last until at least late summer should Russian supplies stop now, the network regulator said on Tuesday, warning pressure on the European Union to ban Russian energy was building over civilian deaths in Ukraine.

In an interview with weekly Die Zeit, Klaus Mueller, who heads Germany's Bundesnetzagentur, said current reserves looked slightly better than three or four weeks ago and could even last until early autumn in the event of an immediate supply halt.

With mounting civilian deaths in Ukraine amid Russia's invasion, Europe's largest economy is under pressure to wean itself off Russian gas and oil, as critics say the revenue provides Moscow with vital funds to wage war.

Mueller told Die Zeit reports of atrocities would increase pressure on the EU to ban Russian gas imports, which would force Germany to ration energy  a prospect he said was underestimated by many Germans.

Russia, which says it is conducting a "special military operation" in Ukraine to demilitarize and "denazify" its neighbor, accuses the United States and Britain of helping Ukraine prepare fake claims about the alleged persecution of civilians in the conflict.

Germany last month triggered an emergency plan to manage gas supplies, the first step in a three-phase plan that could result in energy rationing, with priority given to households and critical infrastructure like hospitals.

Mueller said households should not take the promise of prioritization for granted as they would have to give up some luxuries, such as saunas, if gas is rationed. He also said large apartments with one tenant should not count on uninterrupted gas supply in an emergency.

He said pharmaceutical and food companies would be prioritized under any rationing.

The EU last week approved new sanctions against Moscow, including a ban on coal imports starting in August, and Germany has stepped up efforts to reduce supplies from Russia.

Russian oil now accounts for 25% of German imports, down from 35% before the Feb. 24 invasion of Ukraine, and gas imports have been cut to 40% from 55%. Russian hard coal imports have been halved to 25%.

Chancellor Olaf Scholz said last week Germany could end Russian oil imports this year. However, Berlin has also said it could take until the summer 2024 to end its reliance on Russian gas.
Greece's conservative government on Monday denied any role in an alleged case of surveillance of an investigative journalist via spyware in his mobile phone.



The statement from the government came after Greek investigative website Inside Story on Monday alleged that financial journalist Thanasis Koukakis had had his phone hacked.



Its story cited a three-page report by the Canadian laboratory Citizen Lab, based at the University of Toronto, which had revealed several cases of this kind of espionage.



Koukakis' phone had been infected with a spyware called Predator between July 12 and September 24 last year, said the Citizen Lab report.



The malware could not only record conversations but also hack the phone's passwords, photos, internet history and contacts.



Spokesperson Yannis Economou denied that the government had had any role in the affair, calling for "the competent authorities to do their job to clear up this affair and for justice to be done."



Posting on Twitter, Koukakis noted the government statement and said he was awaiting the findings of an investigation by the ADAE, the Greek body responsible for communications security and privacy.



His investigations have included series on a Greek bank, expenses claims at the migration ministry, and defense contracts.



The Global network for Independent Journalism tweeted on Monday that it was "alarmed" at reports that the Predator spyware had been used to spy on Koukakis.



"We will be demanding answers from the Greek government," it added.



This latest affair follows a row last November after the Greek left-wing daily Efsyn published internal intelligence memos on political activists  and on one journalist.



A government minister at the time denied there was any state surveillance of journalists in Greece.



According to Citizen Lab, the Predator malware was developed by a business called Cytrox, which is based in neighboring North Macedonia.
Iran summoned the Afghan envoy to Tehran on Tuesday and is stopping all consular services in Afghanistan, Iranian state TV reported, a day after protesters threw rocks at Iranian diplomatic missions in Kabul and Herat.

The protests came after videos posted on Twitter in recent days showed young Afghan refugees in Iran being harassed and humiliated by ordinary Iranians. Reuters could not verify authenticity of videos.

Iranian officials on Monday denied there was mistreatment of Afghan refugees in Iran, state television reported.

"The Afghan charge daffaires in Tehran was summoned in protest to attacks on the Iranian embassy in Kabul and the Iranian Consulate in Herat in Afghanistan on Monday," state TV reported.

Footage on social media, which could not be verified by Reuters, showed a small group of Afghan protesters throwing rocks at Iran's diplomatic missions in Kabul and in the western Afghan city of Herat on Monday.

Iran's Foreign Ministry said the Taliban, which rules Afghanistan, are responsible for the security and safety of Tehran's diplomats and announced stopping its consular services in the neighboring country "until further notice," Iranian state media reported.

Although Iran's clerical establishment has had generally good relations with the Taliban, there have been longstanding tensions along the two countries' 900-km (560 miles) joint border, which has active smuggling routes.

Over five million Afghans, both documented and undocumented, live in Iran, Iran's state news agency IRNA quoted Iranian Foreign Minister Amirabdollahian as saying last week.
They ruled for nearly four decades, spawning presidents like Francois Mitterrand, Jacques Chirac, and Nicolas Sarkozy. But today, Frances traditional left and center-right political parties are struggling for relevance, their already shaky fates potentially sealed with the 2022 presidential vote.

In the first of two-round elections on Sunday, contenders from Frances Socialist and Les Republicains parties both received historically low vote tallies of less than 5%, thus failing to qualify for a runoff set to take place on April 24.

The big wins instead went to the far-left and right  and to Frances centrist incumbent, President Emmanuel Macron, set to face off with his far-right challenger, Marine Le Pen, in less than two weeks.

An announced death, a historic failure, read some French media headlines of the Socialists and Republicains, which are now strategizing a future  if one remains.

He blew up the traditional left and right, but honestly, they worked on it pretty hard themselves, historian Nicole Bacharan said of Macron, who catapulted to power in 2017 and whose La Republique en Marche Party has ducked partisan labels.

The left is so split, taken up by such competition and battles, they are irrelevant, Bacharan said. As for the traditional right, many people dont see a difference between them and Macron.

Big bills, big questions

An immediate challenge for both parties will be paying for their multimillion-dollar presidential runs. The French state reimburses only a small fraction of campaign expenses for candidates earning less than 5% of the vote.

Both Valerie Pecresse of Les Republicains, who placed fifth on Sunday with 4.8% of the vote, and Socialist Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo, ranked 10th with less than 2%, are running funding appeals.

Both of their parties insisted on their solvency. Were not bankrupt, as many might have hoped, Socialist Party secretary Olivier Faure testily told French media.

Still, both have sold their headquarters in recent years to help pay expenses. The Socialists  mocked by some as the caviar left moved in 2020 from an elegant Left Bank mansion to a nondescript former factory. The Republicains now rent their old seat, in Pariss 15th arrondissement.

The hefty bills for the presidential elections, analysts note, will leave less money for the two parties to spend on June legislative elections.

Still, they face bigger, existential problems.

The Socialist Party is clearly in ashes, Jean-Luc Gleyze, a local Socialist leader in southwestern France, told France Bleu radio. The question is whether we relight the embers or sweep out the ashes and restart from scratch.

The party of former presidents Mitterrand and Francois Hollande has been fractured for years by rifts between moderates and hard-left stalwarts. Hugely unpopular by the end of his term in 2017, Hollande did not run for reelection. His substitute, Benoit Hammond, placed fifth in that vote  while 39-year-old Macron, Hollandes former economy minister and his ostensibly nonpartisan movement swept to power after defeating far-right challenger Le Pen.

Similar divisions have splintered the left in 2022, with a raft of political factions failing to unite behind a single candidate  who may well have won Sundays first round.

Instead, the Socialists Hidalgo trailed far-left politician Jean-Luc Melenchon, who came third in the lineup. Even her Socialist predecessor and boss, former Paris Mayor Bertrand Delanoe, backed Macron  as he did five years ago.

Identity search

Frances traditional center-right  which has gone through several name changes and is now known as Les Republicains  also faces big identity questions, especially since many see Macron, during his rightward tilt as president, incarnating or stealing many Republicains themes.

Just over five years ago, the partys candidate, Francois Fillon, seemed poised to win the presidency. Instead, he placed an underwhelming third, felled by a fake jobs scandal.

In another humiliation Wednesday, former Republicains President Nicolas Sarkozy endorsed Macron for the runoff, after failing to back his own partys presidential candidate, Pecresse, for the first round.

Like the Socialists, the Republicains are divided between their moderate and more extreme wings. As with the left, observers warn that the partys very existence is in danger.

Electoral collapse, financial crisis, ideological and strategic splits and prospects of splitting, Florence Haegel, professor of political science at Sciences Po, said in Le Monde newspaper, describing todays Republicains as the party marks its 20th anniversary.

Not over yet

With the April 24 presidential runoff looming, the Republicains and Socialists are also divided over endorsing Macron in his face-off against Le Pen.

Complicating matters, Macron said after the first round that he was open to all those who want to work for France.

Key party members from the center-right and left  including failed candidates Hidalgo and Pecresse  say they will vote for Macron as a barrier against a far-right victory. Others, including Republicains party chief Christian Jacob, have simply warned against voting for Le Pen, but remained silent on backing Macron.

Analysts suggest some Republicains supporters will follow their own counsel anyway, and back Le Pen in the runoff, as will some who previously voted for Melenchon.

Still, Frances traditional party heavyweights arent completely dead. The Republicains and Socialists retain considerable clout in parliament and in local and regional governments.

And while Macrons young La Republique en Marche Party today dominates the National Assembly, accounting for nearly half the members of Frances lower house, analysts predict it could lose its majority after Junes legislative vote. That would likely force the party into alliances with its mainstream rivals.

Macrons party hasnt become a real party, hasnt gained traction in local elections, Bacharan said. And I dont think that gap can be filled in a few weeks.
An Israeli police officer shot and killed a Palestinian man who stabbed him early Tuesday in southern Israel, police said, the latest in a series of deadly incidents during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

The police said the man drew a knife and stabbed the officer during a security check near a construction site in the city of Ashkelon. The officer, lightly wounded, shot the man and killed him. The Magen David Adom rescue service took the officer to a nearby hospital.

Police did not identify the Palestinian man, but said he was from Hebron in the occupied West Bank. The shooting raised to five the number of Palestinians killed in recent days, among them an unarmed woman who was shot and killed at a military checkpoint in Bethlehem.

The Israeli army, meanwhile, confirmed carrying out multiple raids across the West Bank, saying it had arrested 20 suspects.

Much of the military's recent activity has focused on Jenin, a city in the northern West Bank where two Palestinian attackers who killed Israelis lived. The army said that residents hurled explosives at troops, who fired back at the suspects. There were no immediate reports of Palestinian injuries, and the army said none of its soldiers were hurt.

The incidents are part of a spate of violence around Israel during Ramadan, when tensions between Israelis and Palestinians often run high. Ramadan this year converges with major Jewish and Christian holidays. Protests and clashes in Jerusalem during Ramadan last year boiled over into an 11-day war between Israel and Gaza militants.

"We will not let them, our enemy, stop our lives," Prime Minister Naftali Bennett told about 100 late-night revelers at the re-opening of Tel Aviv's Ilka bar, the nightclub where a Palestinian gunman from Jenin killed three people last Thursday before being gunned down. "We're returning back to life.  And simultaneously, we fight."

Israel has stepped up its military activity in the West Bank after Palestinian assailants killed 14 Israelis in four attacks inside the country in recent weeks. At the same time, it has taken a series of steps to try to calm the situation, including granting thousands of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip, run by the militant Hamas group, permits to work inside Israel.
New Zealand is reopening its international borders to vaccinated travelers from Australia Tuesday (11:59 UTC) after more than two years of COVID-19 isolation. New Zealand has had some of the worlds toughest virus control measures. Also, New Zealand's agriculture minister Damien O'Connor said that starting Tuesday would be exemptions for some overseas farm workers to help ease labor shortages.



Under a staged reopening of its borders, Australian citizens and permanent residents along with some temporary workers and students from anywhere in the world are now allowed into New Zealand. They must have received two doses of a COVID-19 vaccination and take a coronavirus test when they arrive.

Vaccinated visitors from visa-waiver countries, including the United States and Britain, will be permitted to travel to New Zealand on May 1.

Also starting Tuesday, exceptions are being made to boost the countrys agricultural workforce.

They allow for more than 1,500 experienced overseas staff from the Philippines and other countries to travel to New Zealand for jobs in the dairy, meat processing and forestry sectors.

Chris Lewis, a spokesperson for the Federated Farmers organization, a farmer advocacy group told Radio New Zealand that the changes will help livestock producers when the calving season begins in July.

It is a welcome announcement. We have been advocating for this for a long, long time, asking for more international staff. So, yes, we are very pleased, but we have just got to get them in before calving starts. That is the key for us, he said.

New Zealand shut its international borders in March 2020 as the COVID-19 pandemic spread.

The country has remained closed, except for a short-lived travel bubble that allowed travel between Australia and New Zealand started in April 2021, but was suspended in July 2021 because of the spread of the delta variant.

Health experts say tough coronavirus measures, including strict lockdowns, have helped to keep infections and fatalities low.

But the omicron variant has been rampant, the authorities have conceded that its time to dismantle New Zealands so-called COVID-19 fortress. The government in Wellington expects international borders to be fully reopened to all travelers in October.

New Zealand has recorded about 500 deaths and 786,000 coronavirus infections since the pandemic began, according to official government data.
Philadelphia on Monday became the first major U.S. city to reinstate its indoor mask mandate after reporting a sharp increase in coronavirus infections, with the city's top health official saying she wanted to forestall a potential new wave driven by an omicron subvariant.

Confirmed COVID-19 cases have risen more than 50% in 10 days, the threshold at which the city's guidelines call for people to wear masks indoors, said Dr. Cheryl Bettigole, the health commissioner. Health officials believe the recent spike is being driven by the highly transmissible BA.2 subvariant of omicron, which has spread rapidly throughout Europe and Asia and has become dominant in the United States in recent weeks.

"If we fail to act now, knowing that every previous wave of infections has been followed by a wave of hospitalizations and then a wave of deaths, it will be too late for many of our residents," said Bettigole, noting about 750 Philadelphia residents died in the wintertime omicron outbreak. "This is our chance to get ahead of the pandemic, to put our masks on until we have more information about the severity of this new variant."

Health inspectors will begin enforcing the mask mandate at city businesses on April 18.

Most states and cities dropped their masking requirements in February and early March following new guidelines from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that put less focus on case counts and more on hospital capacity. The CDC said at that time that with the virus in retreat, most Americans could safely take off their masks.

Philadelphia ended its indoor mask mandate March 2, and Bettigole acknowledged "it was wonderful to feel that sense of normalcy again."

Confirmed cases have since risen to more than 140 per day  still a fraction of what Philadelphia saw at the height of the omicron surge  while hospitalizations remain low at only 46 patients.

"I sincerely wish we didn't have to do this again," Bettigole said. "But I am very worried about our vulnerable neighbors and loved ones."

Mandate draws protest

The restaurant industry pushed back against reimposed masking, saying workers will bear the brunt of customer anger over the new rules.

"This announcement is a major blow to thousands of small businesses and other operators in the city who were hoping this spring would be the start of recovery," said Ben Fileccia, senior director of operations at the Pennsylvania Restaurant & Lodging Association.

PolicyLab at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia said Friday that while it expects some increased transmission in the northern U.S. over the next several weeks, hospital admissions have remained low and "our team advises against required masking given that hospital capacity is good."

Bettigole said masking will help restaurants and other businesses stay open, while a huge new wave of COVID-19 would keep customers at home. She said hospital capacity was just one factor that went into her decision to reinstate the mandate.

In New York City

In New York City, Mayor Eric Adams has paused his push to unwind many of the city's virus rules as cases have risen, opting for now to keep a mask mandate for 2- to 4-year-olds in city schools and preschools. But Adams, a Democrat who has said New Yorkers should not let the pandemic run their lives, has already lifted most other mask mandates and rules requiring proof of vaccination to dine in restaurants, work out at gyms or attend shows.

Adams was asked at a virtual news conference Monday afternoon if he was considering reimposing the New York City mask mandate in light of Philadelphia's decision. The mayor said he would listen to his team of medical doctors for their advice on whether to bring back any restrictions. Adams himself tested positive for COVID-19 on Sunday.

New York City is now averaging around 1,800 new cases per day, about three times higher than in early March, when New York began easing rules. That does not include the many home tests that go unreported to health officials.

The latest outbreak has struck many high-profile officials in Washington, including Cabinet members and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, as well as the governors of New Jersey and Connecticut. Some universities have reinstated mask mandates.

Washington health officials say they have no immediate plans to change virus protocols, but they reserve the right to change course down the road.


The scale of Russias looting of Ukraine has become clearer with new photos indicating Russian theft of hazardous materials from a site near Chernobyls nuclear power plant, and another image from Belarus adding to evidence that Russian soldiers mailed looted goods home.

VOA has obtained exclusive photos of a nuclear laboratory from which a Ukrainian official says Russian troops stole radioactive material that could be harmful if mishandled.

The nuclear lab seen in the previously unpublished photos is located in the city of Chernobyl. It is housed in a building run by a state agency managing the exclusion zone around Chernobyls nearby decommissioned nuclear power plant, where a 1986 explosion caused the worlds worst nuclear accident.

The director of the agency, Evgen Kramarenko, provided the laboratory photos to VOA, saying he took them on an April 5 visit, five days after Russian troops withdrew from Chernobyl. They had occupied the city and the nuclear power plant on February 24 at the start of Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

We have a laboratory that had a big quantity of radioactive instruments that are used to calibrate our radiation dosimeters, Kramarenko told VOA. A dosimeter is a safety device, typically worn by individuals as a badge, that measures exposure to ionizing radiation, including nuclear radiation.

The agencys dosimeters are calibrated using small metallic containers of radioactive material made by Ukrainian state enterprise USIE Izotop, which displays a photo of them on its website.

Most of those calibration instruments were stolen. They look like coins. If the Russian soldiers carry them around, its very dangerous for them, Kramarenko said.

Belarus-based science journalist Siarhei Besarab told VOA that the small size of the instruments may make them appear innocuous to the uninformed observer.

But if a person comes into direct contact with them, these kinds of instruments could cause radiation burns to the skin in as little as two minutes, Besarab said.

The photos shared by Kramarenko show a room with blue-colored walls containing computers and other equipment. It is part of a lab known as an Ecocenter whose functions include improving the management of radioactive nuclear waste.

The lab opened in 2015 and cost $6 million to build with support from the European Union, according to a March 22 Facebook post by the Ukrainian agency.

In Kramarenkos photos, one of the labs computers can be seen lying on the floor with its contents removed and another can be seen tilted over on a desk, with other items strewn about on desks and on the floor.

Another photo shows a machine called an automated spectrometer, with its glass compartment and cabinet doors opened.

The agency had published several photos of the nuclear lab as it appeared prior to the Russian occupation in its March 22 Facebook post. The dates of those images were not shown.

In one of the pre-occupation photos, the same automated spectrometer seen in Kramarenkos April 5 photo can be seen in its normal state, with its glass compartment and cabinet doors closed.

In another pre-occupation photo, a separate red-and-gray colored machine can be seen in its normal state. A close-up of one of Kramarenkos April 5 photos in which the same machine is visible reveals that some of its parts are missing.

In a Saturday Facebook post, Kramarenkos agency said occupying Russian troops stole samples of fuel-containing materials from the lab in addition to the radioactive calibration instruments. The agency said it was possible that the Russians threw away the items elsewhere in Chernobyls exclusion zone, but that a likelier scenario is that they kept items as souvenirs.

Kramarenko said the Russian troops also took computer servers and memory units from his agencys building. He shared additional April 5 photos showing a gutted-out computer server rack cabinet with wires dangling and close-ups of computers with internal parts removed.

Apparent Russian looting in the city of Chernobyl extended beyond the nuclear lab, Kramarenko said. They took our construction vehicles including trucks and excavators and for some reason, they also took plates and bed mattresses.

Staff of Chernobyl's nuclear power plant, 16 kilometers northwest of the city, also sent VOA a video showing the aftermath of Russia's occupation.

In a clip they said was dated April 4, the camera user enters an office whose doorway appears to have been forced open. The camera user then walks past boxes of office items whose contents appear to have been rummaged through and computers that have been opened.

Russia has been silent on what its troops did in Chernobyl since their pullout.

Separately, VOA has obtained a photo indicating that Russian troops who recently withdrew from Ukraine to neighboring Belarus, a Russian ally, used a Belarusian delivery company on at least three days this month to send items apparently looted in Ukraine to homes in Russia.

Lithuania-based exiled Belarusian dissident Anton Motolko sent VOA a photo that he said was taken by a source in the southern Belarusian city of Mazyr on April 4, showing what appears to be a Russian military truck painted with a V symbol commonly used by Russian troops. The truck is parked outside the local office of the CDEK delivery company and a person dressed in military uniform is seen next to the vehicle.

VOA could not independently verify the date of the photo, which Motolko requested not to be published to avoid endangering the source.

Motolko, who founded the Belarusian Hajun project news site, had first reported that Russian soldiers were seen unloading items from military trucks outside of the same CDEK office on April 1. He later posted on YouTube a three-hour-long video that he said was taken from a camera in the CDEK office on April 2, showing Russian soldiers bringing in household items, some of them unboxed and unwrapped, and proceeding to wrap and box them for mailing to their homes in Russia.

The unboxed, unwrapped items brought into the office include a video card, an electric scooter, liquor bottles and a car battery.

The footage from the CDEK office camera had been live-streamed on the website of the CDEK Mazyr branch. CDEK live-streams video from its delivery offices as a courtesy to customers to show them how busy the offices are, before customers visit the branches.

Exiled Belarusian news site Zerkalo said in an April 4 report that it contacted the CDEK Mazyr branch and confirmed that the Hajun projects YouTube video had been taken from the CDEK branchs live stream on April 2.

The Hajun project YouTube video, posted April 3, quickly went viral, provoking outrage among web users who labeled the Russian troops using the delivery company as marauders who should face trial.

Independent Russian news site Mediazona has reported that the CDEK Mazyr branch live-stream was cut off on April 4, corresponding to the date that Motolko said the Russian truck was photographed outside the office. It said the video stream resumed on April 5.

Since then, there have been no more reported sightings of Russian troops using the CDEK Mazyr office to deliver suspected looted Ukrainian goods to Russia.

Speaking to VOA, Motolko said the items seen being brought into the CDEK office for mailing on April 2, some of them already boxed, were unlikely to have been purchased by the Russian soldiers in Belarus.

If they bought those things in Belarus, residents of small towns in the region would have noticed them buying all those items in stores, he said, adding that he has been communicating with such residents regularly via email and messaging apps.
During a recent visit at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, Secretary of State Antony Blinken called massacres against the Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar  a country also known as Burma  genocide. The museums exhibition Burmas Path to Genocide sheds light on how the Rohingya, once citizens of the country, have been systematically targeted and eradicated. VOAs Penelope Poulou has more.
The Russian government has defaulted on its sovereign debt for the first time in more than a century, according to S&P Global, the ratings firm that tracks the creditworthiness of governments and major businesses around the world.

The news comes days after the Russian government, unable to access U.S.-dollar reserves in foreign banks, made an April 4 payment of $649 million in Russian rubles.

Russias failure to make payments to its bondholders was a result of the various sanctions that have been put in place to punish the countrys government for the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Last week, on the day that the payments were due, the U.S. Treasury announced that it would tighten restrictions on Russias foreign reserve assets held in U.S. banks.

Despite the sanctions imposed in the days after February 24 when Russia began the latest conflict, American banks had been allowed to process certain Russian government payments, including those to bondholders.

As a result of the Treasury's change of position, JPMorgan Chase, the bank where Russia holds large deposits of U.S. dollars, was unable to process the payment due on April 4.

Rubles no substitute

The move by the U.S. left Russia the option of paying its bondholders using hard currency held by the countrys central bank. But on that same day, Russia instead transferred what it said was an equivalent amount of Russian rubles to accounts set up for bondholders from unfriendly nations and declared the payments to have been made in full.

On Monday, S&P Global confirmed that the transfer of rubles did not constitute a payment of Russias debt because the contract specifically required that payment be made in dollars.

Technically, there is a 30-day grace period, which gives Russia until early May to make the payment and avoid default. However, S&P Global said in a statement it does not expect the country to be able to make the payment at all.

Sanctions on Russia are likely to be further increased in the coming weeks, hampering Russias willingness and technical abilities to honor the terms and conditions of its obligations to foreign debt holders, the company said.

Russia protests

In an interview with the pro-Kremlin Izvestia newspaper published Monday, Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov described the default as artificial because Russia has the means to make its payments but is being prevented from doing so.

Russia tried in good faith to pay off external creditors, he told the newspaper. Nevertheless, the deliberate policy of Western countries is to artificially create a man-made default by all means.

Siluanov said the Kremlin will take legal action in an effort to reverse the effects of the default.

Of course we will sue, because we have taken all the necessary steps to ensure that investors receive their payments, he said. However, he predicted that the process would be long and difficult.

Circumstances uncommon

While sovereign defaults are not unheard of, the circumstances around Russias failure to make its dollar-denominated payments are somewhat unusual, said Anna Gelpern, a law professor at Georgetown University and a fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics.

In the past, sanctions have resulted in countries defaulting, usually because they contribute to the economic destruction of the countries subject to them, draining them of the money they need to make payments. Russia is not really short of cash, given its large foreign reserves and its continued receipt of income from the sale of oil and natural gas.

Its not unusual in that the payment system is a point of pressure, Gelpern told VOA. It is unusual in that the point of pressure is not economic or financial but political."

A bit of theater

In a way, its all theater, right? Nicolas Veron, a senior fellow with Bruegel, the Brussels-based economic think tank, told VOA.

There's no economic driver for this. Its entirely political, depending on what the U.S. allows, or doesnt, with the exception that Russia has no appetite for getting their limited amounts of hard currency out of the country, Veron said.

He pointed out that as a practical matter, the default will change little for Russia in the near term.

The fundamental equation of Russia at this point is that they have a current account surplus, because of all the oil and gas that they sell and the high prices, thereof, Veron said. They get more money from the rest of the world than they have to spend there, especially as the economy is collapsing, and therefore imports are going down and not up.

Future impact likely small

For most countries, a sovereign debt default might trigger a cascade of financial calamities, most notably making it extremely difficult to borrow on good terms in the future. But according to Gelpern, Russia has damaged itself to a point at which normal decisions about creditworthiness wont be at the top of investors minds going forward.

In the markets, waging genocidal war and getting sanctioned seems to be somewhat distinct from the sorts of things we think of going into your market reputation for repaying your debts, she said. So, to the extent that this episode reveals anything, it tells investors  that they can't count on Russia to be a member in good standing of the global economic system, in the eyes of the governments that have the power within that system.

Additionally, she noted that the brutality of the assault on Ukraine and its people virtually guarantees that the Russian Federation will be the subject of a large number of court claims in the coming years, and that they will likely tie up Russian Federation assets that were stranded abroad after sanctions began to take hold.

There are so many different pots of assets strewn about the world, Gelpern said, because they were evidently not prepared for the breadth of the sanctions.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called on the European Union to sanction all Russian banks and halt imports of Russian oil, as he issued his latest appeal Tuesday for support in ending Russias invasion of Ukraine.

Speaking by video to lawmakers in Lithuania, Zelenskyy said if European nations continue to trade with Russia, then Russian leaders know they will go unpunished.

EU members have issued multiple rounds of sanctions targeting Russian officials and businesses, but have been reluctant to quickly cut off imports of Russian gas and oil as Zelenskyy has urged. Some European leaders have expressed concerns about how such actions would affect their economies due to their reliance on Russian energy supplies.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Tuesday its certainly impossible to isolate anyone in the world of today, especially such a huge country as Russia. He repeated his claim that Russias special military operation was meant to protect people in eastern Ukraine and ensure Russias security, adding that Russia had no other choice and will achieve its goals.

Ukraine said Tuesday that Russian forces are trying to secure control of the besieged southern port city of Mariupol while preparing for expanded operations in the eastern Donetsk region.

The assessment came as Britains defense ministry said it expects fighting in eastern Ukraine will intensify over the next two to three weeks as Russia continues to refocus its efforts there. A ministry statement said Russia is withdrawing more of its forces from neighboring Belarus and redeploying them to eastern Ukraine.

Putin and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko were due to meet Tuesday to discuss the conflict in Ukraine, according to news agencies in both countries.

Mariupol Mayor Vadym Boychenko told The Associated Press more than 10,000 civilians have died since Russia began its siege of the city and said the true toll could be twice that amount.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a video address late Monday he fears Russia could use chemical weapons in Ukraine and urged the West to impose more severe sanctions against Russia to prevent it from using such weapons.

Zelenskyy said a representative from a pro-Russia militia in Ukraines eastern Donetsk region said Russia might use chemical weapons in Mariupol.

We consider it very seriously, Zelenskyy said.

I would like to remind world leaders that the possible use of chemical weapons by the Russian military has already been discussed. And already at that time it meant that it was necessary to react to the Russian aggression much harsher and faster, Zelenskyy said.

British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said Britain was aware of unconfirmed reports that chemical weapons have already been used in Mariupol.

We are working urgently with partners to verify details. Any use of such weapons would be a callous escalation in this conflict, and we will hold (Russian President Vladimir) Putin and his regime to account, she said.

Pentagon press secretary John Kirby said the United States cannot at this time confirm the reports of chemical weapons use, but said if true, they are deeply concerning.

He said the reports are reflective of concerns that we have had about Russias potential to use a variety of riot control agents, including tear gas mixed with chemical agents in Ukraine.

Kirby said the United States was unable to confirm Ukrainian casualty figures in Mariupol because fighting there is ongoing but said the final death toll could be a significant number.

The Pentagon said Monday it is seeing early signs of efforts by Russia to reinforce its troops in eastern Ukraine. The U.S. spotted a convoy north of Izyum with command-and-control elements, enablers, artillery and rotary blade air support, according to a senior U.S. defense official.

The official said there also are indications that Russian forces sent from northern Ukraine to Belarus and the Russian town of Valuyki are now moving toward eastern Ukraine.

The official said, we do not assess a new offensive has started in eastern Ukraine but added, what is clear is that the Russians continue to sink to new lows of depravity and brutality, as we saw with the missile strike on a train station last week and their continued assault on Mariupol.

Were certainly bracing ourselves here for some potentially really, really horrible outcomes, the official said.

The U.S. official said Russia has launched 1,500 missile attacks on Ukraine during 47 days of war, destroying apartment buildings and hospitals throughout the country and killing thousands of Ukrainian civilians.

Russia has acknowledged sustaining significant troop losses of its own.

The United Nations says more than 11 million people have fled their homes since the Russian invasion began, including nearly two-thirds of all Ukraines children.

Some information for this report came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters.
Russia's Nordgold is shutting down its Taparko mine in Burkina Faso and calling force majeure, citing the deteriorating security situation in the West African country, according to a company statement seen on Monday.

Burkina Faso, like its neighbors Mali and Niger, is battling armed militants linked to al-Qaida and the Islamic State group who have carried out attacks killing thousands of people and displacing over 2 million others in the West Africa Sahel region.

The gold producer faces increasing threats against its operations and staff each day, Alexander Hagan Mensa, director-general of Nordgold subsidiary Societe des Mines de Taparko, said in a statement dated April 9, seen by Reuters.

Nordgold's head of corporate communications confirmed in an email that the statement was official.

Access to the site has become "quasi-impossible" in recent weeks, and the situation is putting the lives of on-site staff members in grave danger, according to the statement.

"The company finds itself in a situation of total incapacity to continue its activities," Mensa wrote. "We are therefore advising you of the halt of our mining activities because of force majeure and for security reasons."

He called on staff to remain calm and "follow the evacuation plan and management's instructions."

Nordgold declined to give further details on evacuation procedures or say whether employees' contracts were being terminated.

The Taparko mine was Burkina Faso's first industrial gold mine, launching in 2005, according to Nordgold's website. It is in Namantenga province, approximately 200 kilometers (124.3 miles) northeast of Ouagadougou.

Taparko, which Nordgold acquired in 2008, produced 53,500 ounces of gold in the first nine months of 2021, according to the company's latest report. Full-year production figures are not yet available.

The mine is located south of the market town of Dori, which has witnessed several attacks by armed militants in recent months. It is close to the tri-border area of Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali, where militants linked to al-Qaida and Islamic State control swaths of territory.

The government of Burkina Faso, which has a 10% stake in Taparko, did not immediately reply to a request for comment on the mine's closure.

Sanctions affecting Nordgold

The forced shutdown is another blow for Nordgold as it navigates disruptions linked to Russian sanctions. It also operates the Bissa and Bouly mines in Burkina Faso, the Lefa mine in Guinea, four mines in Russia, and one in Kazakhstan.

Though not under sanctions, Nordgold, like other Russian miners, has faced disruptions due to the sanctions regime and counterparties self-sanctioning.

Alexey Mordashov, previously the controlling shareholder in Nordgold, was sanctioned by the European Union on February 28 because of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

United Kingdom company filings show Mordashov transferred part of his more than 75% stake in Nordgold to Marina Aleksandrovna Mordashova on February 28, leaving her with a more than 50% stake. Mordashov resigned as director of Nordgold on March 1.

Four foreign directors stepped down from Nordgold's board on March 7.

The Swiss gold refiner MKS PAMP, which used to refine gold from Nordgold's mines in Burkina Faso and Guinea, told Reuters last month it had suspended its commercial activities with Russian counterparties.

"MKS suspended our cooperation, and we redirected gold ore from our African mines to refineries in other countries," Nordgold said, declining to say which refineries the gold was now going to.
KIAMBU COUNTY, KENYA  Monica Kariuki is about ready to give up on farming. What is driving her off her about 40,000 square feet (10 acres) of land outside Nairobi isnt bad weather, pests or blight  the traditional agricultural curses  but fertilizer: It costs too much.

Despite thousands of miles separating her from the battlefields of Ukraine, Kariuki and her cabbage, corn and spinach farm are indirect victims of Russian President Vladimir Putins invasion. The war has pushed up the price of natural gas, a key ingredient in fertilizer, and has led to severe sanctions against Russia, a major exporter of fertilizer.

Kariuki used to spend 20,000 Kenyan shillings, or about $175, to fertilize her entire farm. Now, she would need to spend five times as much. Continuing to work the land, she said, would yield nothing but losses.

I cannot continue with the farming business. I am quitting farming to try something else, she said.

Higher fertilizer prices are making the worlds food supply more expensive and less abundant, as farmers skimp on nutrients for their crops and get lower yields. While the ripples will be felt by grocery shoppers in wealthy countries, the squeeze on food supplies will land hardest on families in poorer countries. It could hardly come at a worse time: The U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization said last week that its world food-price index in March reached the highest level since it started in 1990.

The fertilizer crunch threatens to further limit worldwide food supplies, already constrained by the disruption of crucial grain shipments from Ukraine and Russia. The loss of those affordable supplies of wheat, barley and other grains raises the prospect of food shortages and political instability in Middle Eastern, African and some Asian countries where millions rely on subsidized bread and cheap noodles. Food prices will skyrocket because farmers will have to make profit, so what happens to consumers? said Uche Anyanwu, an agricultural expert at the University of Nigeria.

The aid group Action Aid warns that families in the Horn of Africa are already being driven to the brink of survival.

The U.N. says Russia is the worlds No. 1 exporter of nitrogen fertilizer and No. 2 in phosphorus and potassium fertilizers. Its ally Belarus, also contending with Western sanctions, is another major fertilizer producer.

Many developing countries  including Mongolia, Honduras, Cameroon, Ghana, Senegal, Mexico and Guatemala  rely on Russia for at least a fifth of their imports.

The conflict also has driven up the already-exorbitant price of natural gas, used to make nitrogen fertilizer. The result: European energy prices are so high that some fertilizer companies have closed their businesses and stopped operating their plants, said David Laborde, a researcher at the International Food Policy Research Institute.

For corn and cabbage farmer Jackson Koeth, 55, of Eldoret in western Kenya, the conflict in Ukraine was distant and puzzling until he had to decide whether to go ahead with the planting season. Fertilizer prices had doubled from last year.

Koeth said he decided to keep planting but only on half the acreage of years past. Yet he doubts he can make a profit with fertilizer so costly.

Greek farmer Dimitris Filis, who grows olives, oranges and lemons, said you have to search to find ammonia nitrate and that the cost of fertilizing a 10-hectare (25-acre) olive grove has doubled to 560 euros ($310). While selling his wares at an Athens farm market, he said most farmers plan to skip fertilizing their olive and orange groves this year.

Many people will not use fertilizers at all, and this as a result, lowers the quality of the production and the production itself, and slowly, slowly at one point, they wont be able to farm their land because there will be no income, Filis said.

In China, the price of potash  potassium-rich salt used as fertilizer  is up 86% from a year earlier. Nitrogen fertilizer prices have climbed 39% and phosphorus fertilizer is up 10%.

In the eastern Chinese city of Taian, the manager of a 35-family cooperative that raises wheat and corn said fertilizer prices have jumped 40% since the start of the year.

We can hardly make any money, said the manager, who would give only his surname, Zhao.

Terry Farms, which grows produce on about 90,000 000 square feet (2,100 acres) largely in Ventura, California, has seen prices of some fertilizer formulations double; others are up 20%. Shifting fertilizers is risky, Vice President William Terry said, because cheaper versions might not give the crop what it needs as a food source.

As the growing season approaches in Maine, potato farmers are grappling with a 70% to 100% increase in fertilizer prices from last year, depending on the blend.

I think its going to be a pretty expensive crop, no matter what youre putting in the ground, from fertilizer to fuel, labor, electrical and everything else, said Donald Flannery, executive director of the Maine Potato Board.

In Prudentopolis, a town in Brazils Parana state, farmer Edimilson Rickli showed off a warehouse that would normally be packed with fertilizer bags but has only enough to last a few more weeks. Hes worried that, with the war in Ukraine showing no sign of letting up, hell have to go without fertilizer when he plants wheat, barley and oats next month.

The question is: Where Brazil is going to buy more fertilizer from? he said. We have to find other markets.

Other countries are hoping to help fill the gaps. Nigeria, for example, opened Africas largest fertilizer factory last month, and the $2.5 billion plant has already shipped fertilizer to the United States, Brazil, India and Mexico.

India, meanwhile, is seeking more fertilizer imports from Israel, Oman, Canada and Saudi Arabia to make up for lost shipments from Russia and Belarus.

If the supply shortage gets worse, we will produce less, said Kishor Rungta of the nonprofit Fertiliser Association of India. Thats why we need to look for options to get more fertilizers in the country.

Agricultural firms are providing support for farmers, especially in Africa where poverty often limits access to vital farm inputs. In Kenya, Apollo Agriculture is helping farmers get fertilizer and access to finance.

Some farmers are skipping the planting season and others are going into some other ventures such as buying goats to cope, said Benjamin Njenga, co-founder of the firm. So, these support services go a long way for them.

Governments are helping, too. The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced last month that it was issuing $250 million in grants to support U.S. fertilizer production. The Swiss government has released part of its nitrogen fertilizer reserves.

Still, theres no easy answer to the double whammy of higher fertilizer prices and limited supplies. The next 12 to 18 months, food researcher LaBorde said, will be difficult.

The market already was super, super tight before the war, said Kathy Mathers of the Fertilizer Institute trade group.

Unfortunately, in many cases, growers are just happy to get fertilizer at all, she said.
Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa appealed Monday for an end to protests calling for his resignation over his handling of the worst economic crisis in decades, saying his government is launching a plan to rebuild the country.

In a televised speech to the nation, he asked for patience and told protesters that "every second" spent demonstrating on the streets takes away opportunities to receive crucial foreign currency.

Protesters, meanwhile, continued occupying the entrance to the president's office for a third day Monday, demanding he step down.

The Indian Ocean island nation is on the brink of bankruptcy, saddled with dwindling foreign reserves and $25 billion in foreign debt to be repaid over the next five years. Nearly $7 billion is due this year. Talks with the International Monetary Fund are expected later this month, and the government has turned to China and India for emergency loans to buy food and fuel.

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 lasting several hours a day.

Rajapaksa blamed the foreign exchange crisis on COVID-19 restrictions and the loss of crucial tourism income.

"We are embarking on an enormous program to overcome the crisis we face today. Every second spent by the president and this government is used up, exhausting avenues to rebuild our country," he said.

"Friends, every second you protest on the streets, our country loses opportunities to receive potential dollars," he said.

Much of the anger expressed by weeks of growing protests has been directed at the Rajapaksa family, which has been in power for most of the past two decades. Critics accuse the family of borrowing heavily to finance projects that have earned no money, such as a port facility built with Chinese loans.

Supporters of camped out protesters supplied drinking water, food and tea while ambulances and doctors stood by to deal with any health emergencies. Muslim protesters broke their Ramadan fasting at the site, sharing food with those around them.

Dinush Thyagaraja, a 29-year-old tourism professional, said that he voted for Rajapaksa in the 2019 presidential election, believing he was the best candidate to restore national security after losing a friend to Easter Sunday suicide bomb attacks that year on hotels and churches.

More than 260 people died in the attack carried out by local Muslim groups inspired by the Islamic State group.

"I do realize I did make a mistake, and I want to rectify that," said Thyagaraja.

"I am unable to feed my family. I don't know whether we will be able to enjoy a meal in another month to come."

Even Rajapaksa's former coalition allies are calling for him to be replaced with an interim prime minister and a multiparty government. They say they don't want the powerful Rajapaksa family in an interim government because it is at the center of the public ire.

In his speech, Rajapaksa refused to yield power, saying the governing coalition will continue to rule Sri Lanka because opposition parties rejected his call for a unified government.

"We invited all political parties represented in parliament to join us and uplift the country. But they did not join us," Rajapaksa said. "As the party in power, we took up that responsibility."

The crisis and protests prompted many Cabinet members to resign.

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 form a majority and take control of parliament.
Press Release

April 12, 2022 Villar: File charges vs. agri smugglers WITH imported agricultural products flooding our local market, Sen. Cynthia A. Villar renewed her call to protect our farmers and hold liable and file charges against those involved in the unabated smuggling. The senator has been rallying behind the sentiment and clamor of Filipino farmers to punish agricultural smugglers, including big-time government personalities, who have remained "untouchables." The chairperson of the Senate committee on agriculture and food wants the government to strictly implement Republic Act No. 10845 or the Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act of 2016 which she and former Sen. Jose Victor Ejercito authored. She said the law provides harsher penalties to serve as deterrent to smuggling activities. She said violators will face a penalty of life imprisonment and a fine of twice the fair value of the smuggled agricultural product and the aggregate amount of the taxes, duties and other charges avoided. The law, Villar said, also Intends to protect and promote the productivity of the agriculture sector and the farmers from corrupt traders and importers linked to the the perennial problem of smuggling in the agriculture sector." She cited the policy of the State to advance and safeguard the agriculture sector from unscrupulous individuals or dummy corporations, who by the sheer volume of their illegal importation of agricultural products, significantly affect the production, availability of supply and stability of prices." She stressed that the illegal importation of agricultural products has been inimical to the production and accessibility of food supply and steadiness of their cost. It also threatens our food security. "This problem of rampant smuggling also continues to undermine the country's ability to food self-sufficiency,"further stated Villar. "The 'never-ending' entry of smuggled products in our market effectively manipulates the prices of agricultural products by lowering them down, and adversely affects the income and livelihood of food producers especially our farmers who belong to the country's poorest sector," she added. Because of lack of satisfactory return on investments, Villar lamented that food producers are being discouraged from continuing their production. "They cannot compete with the low costs of smuggled agricultural products like pork, chicken, fish, and vegetables such as garlic, onions and carrots and other vegetable imports from China. "This will eventually lead to the demise of our local agricultural industries, and hence, sabotage our economy," pointed out Villar, adding the economic saboteurs deserve to be severely punished under this new law. During a recent Senate hearing on agricultural smuggling, the League of Associations at the La Trinidad Vegetable Trading Areas disclosed that the massive proliferation of smuggling of vegetable products now equates to a PHP2.5-million monetary loss per day on carrots alone. ### ________________________________________________________ Villar: Kasuhan ang agri smugglers Sa pagdagsa ng imported agricultural products sa lokal na merkado, muling nanawagan si Sen. Cynthia A. Villar na protektahan ang ating mga magsasaka at kasuhan ang lahat na sangkot sa walang habas na smuggling. Suportado ni Villar ang hinaing ng mga Pilipinong magsasaka na kasuhan ang agricultural smugglers, kabilang ang big-time government personalities na nanatiling "untouchables." Nais ng chairperson ng Senate committee on agriculture and food na mahigpit na ipatupad ang Republic Act No. 10845 o ang Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act of 2016 inakda nila ni ex-Sen. Jose Victor Ejercito. Nagpapataw ito ng mas mataas na parusa para magsilbing babala sa smuggling activities. Aniya, mahaharap sila sa life imprisonment at dobleng multa at iba pang bayarin gaya ng taripa."The law also Intends to protect and promote the productivity of the agriculture sector and the farmers from corrupt traders and importers linked to the the perennial problem of smuggling in the agriculture sector," ayon kay Villar. Binanggit din niya ang polisiya ng estado na isulong at pangalagaan ang agriculture sector. Aniya, masama ang epekto ng illegal importation ng agricultural products sa production ng food supply at kanilang presyo. Nanganganib din ang ating seguridad sa pagkain. "This problem of rampant smuggling also continues to undermine the country's ability to food self-sufficiency,"further ayon Villar. "The 'never-ending' entry of smuggled products in our market effectively manipulates the prices of agricultural products by lowering them down, and adversely affects the income and livelihood of food producers especially our farmers who belong to the country's poorest sector," dagdag pa niya. Dahil sa kulang ang satisfactory return on investments, dismayado si Villar na humihinto ang food producers sa kanilang produksyon. "They cannot compete with the low costs of smuggled agricultural products like pork, chicken, fish, and vegetables such as garlic, onions and carrots and other vegetable imports from China." "This will eventually lead to the demise of our local agricultural industries, and hence, sabotage our economy," giit pa ni Villar. Kailangan ding parusahan ang economic saboteurs. Sa nakalipas na Senate hearing on agricultural smuggling, sinabi ng League of Associations at the La Trinidad Vegetable Trading Areas na nawawalan sila ng P2.5 milyon kada araw sa kita sa carrot sanhi ng smuggling ng mga gulay. ###
A U.S. State Department annual report highlighted concerns about continuing human rights abuses in Russia, China, Iran, Venezuela, Egypt and other authoritarian nations, as well as the impact the coronavirus pandemic has had on rights practices around the world.

The documentation of this annual report also underscored worrying cases of transnational repression, in which governments reach across borders to harass, intimidate or kill dissidents.

Tuesday, Secretary of State Antony Blinken unveiled the report with a grim outlook.

"Backsliding (of respect of human rights) has, unfortunately, continued," Blinken said, citing Russia's "brutal war" on Ukraine.

"We see what this receding tide is leaving in its wake  the bodies, hands bound, left on streets; the theaters, train stations, apartment buildings reduced to rubble with civilians inside," said the top U.S. diplomat as Russia continues to commit systematic and large-scale atrocities in Ukraine.

On Russia, the State Department's 2021 human rights report underlined violence against and imprisonment of Kremlin critics. Just this week, one of the main opponents of Russian President Vladimir Putin and a critic of Putin's decision to invade Ukraine, Vladimir Kara-Murza, was arrested and has been detained in Moscow.

Others, including Alexey Navalny who had been poisoned and jailed, are listed as examples of Russia's arbitrary deprivation of life and politically motivated reprisals against individuals inside and outside the country.

"Governments are locking up more critics at home. Today, more than a million political prisoners are being held in over 65 countries," Blinken said.

"We urge Russia to cease the abuse of repressive laws" to target its own citizens, nonviolent and peaceful protesters, as well as individuals who are doing nothing more than advocating their universal rights, said State Department spokesperson Ned Price during a Tuesday briefing.

Even before Russia's invasion, the State Department said Moscow's 2014 occupation and purported annexation of Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula has had a significant negative effect on the human rights situation.

"The Russian government continued to arm, train, lead, and fight alongside Russia-led separatist forces in eastern Ukraine. Authorities also conducted politically motivated arrests, detentions, and trials of Ukrainian citizens in Russia, many of whom claimed to have been tortured," according to the report.

On China, the State Department said "genocide and crimes against humanity" against predominantly Muslim Uyghurs and members of other ethnic and religious minority groups in Xinjiang has been continuing, with "mass detention of more than one million Uyghurs" and other Muslim minority groups in extrajudicial internment camps and an additional two million subjected to daytime-only "re-education" training.

In January 2021, the United States formally classified China's policies toward Uighurs as genocide and crimes against humanity.

Chinese government officials and the security services often committed human rights abuses with impunity, the report said.

"Significant human rights issues included credible reports of arbitrary or unlawful killings by the government; forced disappearances by the government; torture by the government; harsh and life-threatening prison and detention conditions," according to the State Department.

On Iran, the U.S. report detailed a stern picture, citing significant human rights abuses including credible reports of executions for crimes not meeting the international legal standard; arbitrary killings by the government and its agents; forced disappearances attributed to the government and its agents; torture or cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment by the government and its agents; as well as arbitrary arrest or detention.

"We continue to find ways both in public and in very discreet manners to support people who are trying to advance the human rights situation in Iran," said Lisa Peterson, acting assistant secretary of state for democracy, human rights and labor affairs. "We have also put into play a variety of sanctions tools."

The report also noted actions by the Egyptian government against political dissidents, continuing corruption by Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro and his top aides, and restrictions imposed on political speech by governments such as Cuba, Ethiopia, Sudan and Belarus.

For almost five decades, the State Department has issued its annual Country Report on Human Rights Practices. The 2021 report covers 198 countries and territories around the globe.
Former President Barack Obama pivoted toward Africa, his predecessor Donald Trump away from it and current U.S. leader Joe Biden has had his hands full with the pandemic at home and now the war in Ukraine.



But in an address to lawmakers on Capitol Hill last week, the commander for U.S. forces in Africa pointed to Chinas dominance in a region vital to Americas security and economic growth and warned that Washington ignores Africa at its peril.

Chinas heavy investment in Africa as its second continent, and heavy-handed pursuit of its One Belt, One Road initiative, is fueling Chinese economic growth, outpacing the U.S., and allowing it to exploit opportunities to their benefit, U.S. Africa Command Gen. Stephen Townsend told the House Committee on Appropriations, echoing comments he made last month to the Senate Armed Services Committee.

Townsends remarks come amid a burst of Chinese diplomacy with the continent. Foreign Minister Wang Yi  who has visited three countries in Africa this year  met with seven African counterparts in March alone. Last month, President Xi Jinping had what was billed as a productive telephone call with Cyril Ramaphosa, the leader of the regions most developed economy, South Africa.



Theres been speculation that China may simply be trying to shore up support for its position on the Ukraine crisis, with Townsend noting: Our African partners face choices to strengthen the U.S. and allied-led open, rules-based international order or succumb to the raw power transactional pressure campaigns of global competitors.

Deborah Brautigam, director of the China Africa Research Initiative at Johns Hopkins University, told VOA that China is trying to create a non-aligned axis as Beijing does not want the Ukraine war to become a new Cold War with countries forced to choose between the U.S. and Russia.

But Chinas interest in Africa long predates the war in Ukraine.

Townsend noted the region is home to rare earth metals used for mobile phones, hybrid vehicles and missile guidance systems, and stressed that the winners and losers of the 21st century global economy may be determined by whether these resources are available in an open and transparent marketplace or are inaccessible due to predatory practices of competitors.

West Africa Base Worries?

The continent also occupies a key geostrategic location. Townsend expressed concern that China  which already has a naval base at the mouth of the Red Sea in Djibouti  is looking at setting up another on the Atlantic coast. That, he said, would almost certainly require the [Defense] department to consider shifts to U.S. naval force posture and pose increased risk to freedom of navigation and U.S. ability to act.

Brautigam says she doubts it is in Chinas interest to carve out a threat posture in the Atlantic.

She told VOA that with continued terrorism and instability in Nigeria, Cameroon and other parts of the Gulf of Guinea, that area has become the worlds hotspot for piracy. For China, as the worlds largest trading nation, thats reason enough to want an outpost to protect Chinese citizens and economic interests in the Gulf of Guinea.

An op-ed in Chinas state-affiliated Global Times in January appeared to echo this line of reasoning, noting that compared to hundreds of U.S. bases around the world, China only has one and its need for any more would purely be to ensure local security and interests.

Another piece in the paper insisted: China is the most cautious and restrained in terms of overseas military base deployment, as China does not have a desire to project military power globally to support the strategic competition of major powers.

Nevertheless, as China's overseas interests continue to expand, there will be an increasing need for the Chinese PLA Navy to defend the national interests in more distant regions, inevitably demanding footholds in some distant waters, it read.

While China plays down any ambitions to build a West Africa base, a State Department spokesperson told VOA: It is widely understood that they are working to establish a network of military installations.  Certain potential steps involving PRC-basing activity would raise security concerns for the United States.

Debt Trap Accusations

As the two superpowers vie for influence in Africa, Beijing is regularly accused by the West of providing debt trap loans to countries on the continent and of working with some of the regions less savory leaders.

Government mouthpieces like the Global Times and Xinhua reject those allegations, with one op-ed in March countering: While China offers financial supports and affordable proposals to local economies to build up economic strength to weather challenges, some developed countries have only offered aid with political strings attached.

And, in a recent interview with a Kenyan newspaper, The East African, Chinas special envoy for the Horn of Africa Xue Bing blamed instability in that region on Western foreign intervention. China will send out engineers and students. We dont send out weapons. We dont impose our views on others in the name of democracy or human rights, he told the newspaper.

Asked if China has already outplayed America on the continent, the State Department spokesperson said: The United States does not want to limit African partnerships with other countries. The United States wants to make African partnerships with the United States even stronger.

But Brautigam said that aside from foreign aid, China is a bigger economic player on the continent than the U.S. in every area, adding: It's not clear that Washington has pivoted to Africa beyond rhetoric.
The U.S. said on Tuesday it had seized RaidForums, a popular website used by hackers to buy and sell stolen data, and at the same time unsealed charges against the website's founder and chief administrator Diego Santos Coelho.

Coelho, 21, of Portugal, was arrested in the United Kingdom on Jan. 31, and remains in custody while the United States seeks his extradition to stand trial in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, the Justice Department said.

The department said it had obtained court approval to seize three different domain names that hosted the RaidForums website: raidforums.com, Rf.ws and Raid.lol.

Among the types of data that were available for sale on the site included stolen bank routing and account numbers, credit cards information, log-in credentials and social security numbers.

In a parallel statement, Europol also lauded the takedown saying the RaidForums online marketplace had been seized in an operation known as "Operation Tourniquet," that helped coordinate investigations by authorities from the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, Sweden, Portugal and Romania.

In addition to Coelho, it said two of his alleged accomplices were also in custody. It did not provide further details about the other two people arrested.

Coelho is facing a six-count indictment, charging him with conspiracy, access device fraud and aggravated identity theft.

It alleges that between Jan. 1, 2015 and his arrest in January 2022, he controlled and served as chief administrator of the site.

"To profit from the illicit activity on the platform, RaidForums charged escalating prices for membership tiers that offered greater access and features, including a top-tier 'God' membership status," the Justice Department said in a statement.
A U.S. aircraft carrier has neared the coast of South Korea for the first time since 2017, the latest show of U.S. military strength following North Koreas recent long-range missile test.

The USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group arrived east of Ulsan, a southeastern South Korean city, and will likely stay there for three to five days, the Yonhap news agency reported Tuesday.

Citing an unnamed U.S. official, the Reuters news agency reported the carrier strike group is in the East Sea, also known as the Sea of Japan, conducting exercises with Japanese forces to reassure allies and partners in the region.

At a briefing, a South Korean military spokesperson said he was aware the U.S. carrier was in international waters near South Korea, but that it would be inappropriate to comment further on a U.S. military asset.

The United States has not sailed an aircraft carrier off the coast of Korea since late 2017, when relations with North Korea were particularly tense.

Washington and Pyongyang now appear headed for another turbulent period.

In January, North Korea conducted a record number of missile launches. Last month, it tested an intercontinental ballistic missile for the first time since 2017.

U.S. officials have warned that North Korea could soon launch another missile, or even conduct a nuclear test, possibly as soon as this week, when North Korea celebrates the birth anniversary of founding leader Kim Il Sung.

Another point of tension may come later this month, when the United States and South Korea are set to hold their regular springtime joint military exercises.

Since 2018, the two allies have scaled back or spread out joint drills to preserve the chances for diplomacy with North Korea and because of the coronavirus pandemic.

But as North Korea tests bigger weapons, the United States and South Korea have displayed more of their own military might.

Last month, the U.S. stepped up air defense drills in South Korea and conducted an aircraft carrier exercise in the Yellow Sea off Koreas west coast.

Immediately following North Koreas ICBM test, South Korea tested five of its own missiles in what it called a demonstration of our ability and willingness to respond immediately and impose punishment.

The South Korean hardware used in that display had been pre-selected and propositioned and choreographed, according to a U.S. source with knowledge of alliance plans. The source told VOA last month that future drills could include strategic bombers, fifth generation fighter jets, and an aircraft carrier strike group in Korean waters.

South Korean President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol, who takes office next month, supports the resumption of large-scale military exercises with the United States. But South Korean officials say the nature of this months drills will be decided by the current administration in Seoul.

North Korea regularly uses the drills as an occasion to lash out at the United States and South Korea. Analysts expect this time around to be no different, saying the drills could provide a pretext for North Korea to justify major weapons tests it had already planned.

North Koreas been on a consistent path toward restarting the tests and development of their weapons since the better part of last year, said J. James Kim, a researcher at Seouls Asan Institute for Policy Studies.

The presence of the U.S. aircraft carrier, Kim said, wont change North Koreas trajectory. [But] its something they will talk about. Its part of the rhetoric, he said.

North Korea has been systematically working through a wish list of strategic weapons laid out last year by its leader, Kim Jong Un. The list includes tactical nuclear weapons, hypersonic missiles, and ICBMs that can travel 15,000 kilometers.

Meanwhile, North Korea has rejected invitations by U.S. officials to resume nuclear talks. Negotiations between Kim and former U.S. President Donald Trump broke down in 2019 over disagreements on how to pace sanctions relief with steps to dismantle North Koreas nuclear program.
A young Yazidi woman testified on Monday that American aid worker Kayla Mueller told her she was raped by former Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi and threatened with death if she tried to escape.

Lia Mulla, who was captured by Islamic State (IS) members in August 2014 as she tried to flee Iraq's Mount Sinjar with her family, testified through a translator on Monday at the trial of El Shafee Elsheikh, who was allegedly one of Mueller's IS jailers.

Elsheikh, a 33-year-old former British national, is accused of being a member of the notorious IS kidnap-and-murder cell known as the "Beatles."

He is charged with the murders of four Americans: Mueller, freelance journalists James Foley and Steven Sotloff and Peter Kassig, another relief worker.

Mueller, an aid worker from Arizona, was captured by IS in August 2013 while accompanying her Syrian boyfriend on a trip to a hospital in Aleppo, where he was contracted to repair a satellite dish.

She was initially held by the "Beatles" but then was allegedly turned over to Baghdadi, the IS leader who died during a U.S. special forces raid in 2019.

Mulla said she was taken by IS to various locations with other young women after being captured.

Eventually, she ended up in a prison where Mueller was being detained.

They communicated "mostly with their hands," she said, and a few words of Arabic.

"One day they took her and when they brought her back she was really afraid," Mulla said. "They had told her that IS wanted to marry us off, and if we were to try to run away they would kill us."

A couple of days later, Mulla said she was taken along with Mueller and another Yazidi girl to the home of Abu Sayyaf, a top Baghdadi lieutenant, where they would "treat us like slaves."

'Dirty house'

After a week there, she said they were taken to the "dirty house... the place where they took young girls and raped them."

She said Baghdadi came one night and took Mueller away.

When Mueller returned the next morning, "she was very sad, she was very nervous, she was crying," Mulla said. "She had been raped and threatened that if she tried to run away he would kill her."

Mulla said she decided to try to escape and asked Mueller to join her but she declined.

"She was afraid that if she was captured, she would be beheaded," she said.

But Mueller asked Mulla to "tell the world" about her if she managed to make it to freedom.

Mulla said she slipped out a window, climbed on a generator to get over a wall and ran for a long time.

After her escape, she said her brother put her in touch with a friend who was a translator for the Americans and she told them about Mueller.

IS announced Mueller's death in February 2015 and said she was killed in a Jordanian airstrike, a claim that was disputed by U.S. authorities.

Foley, Sotloff and Kassig were murdered by IS and videos of their deaths released by the group for propaganda purposes.

Elsheikh and another "Beatle," Alexanda Amon Kotey, were captured in January 2018 by a Kurdish militia in Syria and turned over to U.S. forces in Iraq.

They were flown to Virginia in 2020 to face charges of hostage-taking, conspiracy to murder U.S. citizens and supporting a terrorist organization.

Kotey pleaded guilty in September 2021 and is facing life in prison.

"Beatles" executioner Mohamed Emwazi was killed by a U.S. drone in Syria in 2015.

Prosecutors are expected to wrap up their case against Elsheikh on Tuesday.

Elsheikh has denied the charges and his lawyers claim his arrest is a case of mistaken identity.
President Cyril Ramaphosa says South Africans should fight crime in their country instead of attacking immigrants.

In a statement, Ramaphosa reminded locals that the countrys constitution promotes democratic values, social justice and human rights.

He said, When our forebears drafted the Freedom Charter in 1955, whose principles have been incorporated in our constitution, and declared that South Africa belongs to all who live in it, they were seeking a society free from ethnic chauvinism, tribalism, racism and sexism. It is therefore deeply disturbing how the recent incidents of anti-foreigner sentiment in parts of the country echo our apartheid past.

We have seen people being stopped on the street by private citizens and being forced to produce identification to verify their immigration status. We have seen some political leaders making unscientific statements about immigrants to exploit peoples grievances for political gain. We have seen marches being led on peoples homes and their dwellings raided for evidence of criminal activity. We have seen people being attacked, hurt and even killed because of how they looked or because they have a particular accent.

He made these remarks at a time some South Africans killed a Zimbabwean immigrant, Elvis Ncube, by dousing him with gasoline and setting him on fire using vehicle tyres.

Ramaphosa said, This was how the apartheid oppressors operated. They said some people could only live in certain areas, operate certain businesses or take certain jobs. Under apartheid, black people were deemed suspects by default and stopped by police when found in so-called white areas. Black people were forced to produce a dompas and if they could not do so, they were jailed. We cannot allow such injustices to happen again.

The events in the Gauteng township of Diepsloot last week were a tragedy. In the course of a single weekend, seven people were killed, sparking protests. This loss of life is deplorable, as is the killing of a fellow African from Zimbabwe allegedly at the hands of vigilantes. Crime is a serious problem in this country. It affects all communities and people are justifiably tired of living in fear of criminals.

Ramaphosa noted that contrary to what is claimed by some anti-immigration groupings and individuals, the perpetrators of crime are both black and white, male and female, foreigner and citizen.

Crime, not migrants, is the common enemy we must work together to defeat. We cannot defeat crime through incitement, violence, intimidation and vigilantism aimed at foreign nationals, and specifically nationals from other African countries. We acknowledge many communities are frustrated by the apparent inability of the police to deal with criminals. Among the measures we are taking to capacitate the police is the recruitment of an additional 12,000 additional police officers.

We are also re-establishing community policing forums (CPFs) across the country. These forums bring communities and police representatives together to improve local safety and hold police accountable. Communities need to work with the police by actively participating in CPFs and reporting suspected acts of criminality.

He said as South Africa intensifies its fight against crime, there is no justification for people taking the law into their own hands.

At the same time, we recognise that illegal migration poses a risk to South Africas security, stability and economic progress. Illegal migration affects service delivery and places additional burdens on essential services such as health care and education. Like any sovereign nation, we have the right to implement policies and measures that guarantee the integrity of our borders, protect the rights of South Africans and provide that all who reside in our borders have a legal right to be here.

Controlling migration is the responsibility of government. No private citizen may assume the role of immigration or law enforcement authorities by demanding that foreign nationals produce identification. Under Section 41 of the Immigration Act, only a police member or immigration officer can ask someone to identify themselves as a citizen, permanent resident or foreign national. If these officers believe, on reasonable grounds, that the person is in the country unlawfully, they may be detained while an investigation into their status is conducted. When doing so, law enforcement authorities must respect that persons rights and dignity. They may not do so in a manner that is degrading or humiliating.

The South African president further said enforcement of migration legislation is a priority for government.

We are working to ensure that syndicates perpetrating immigration fraud in collusion with corrupt officials are brought to book. This year alone, several people implicated in passport fraud have been arrested. No private citizen or group has the right to enter businesses and demand its owners produce proof that their businesses are registered or legal. This is the competence of municipal, provincial or national authorities, including inspectors from the Department of Employment and Labour and the South African Revenue Service.

Like all other businesses, foreign-owned businesses must obey the relevant laws, including health and safety regulations, have all the required permits and licences, and pay the necessary taxes. We are a democracy founded on the rule of law. Acts of lawlessness directed at foreign nationals, whether they are documented or undocumented, cannot be tolerated.

He said attacking people suspected of wrongdoing merely because they are a foreign national is not an act of patriotism.

It is immoral, racist and criminal. In the end, it will lead to xenophobia, whose consequences we have lived through in previous years. We do not want to go back there because in the main the people of South Africa are not xenophobic. I want to appeal to all South Africans, but particularly to younger South Africans who thankfully never experienced the true brutality and dehumanisation of apartheid. Let us not become like the ones who oppressed us, no matter how legitimate the grievance.

Let us work together to resolve our countrys challenges without resorting to violence or vigilantism. Let us resist those who want to exploit the problems of crime and unemployment for political gain. Today, our anger may be directed at nationals from Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Nigeria or Pakistan. Tomorrow, our anger may be directed at each other.
A Zimbabwean immigrant, Immanuel Zinja, who was allegedly attacked two weeks ago by South Africans in Capetowns Breadasdorp settlement, says he wants to go back home as his property was looted, leaving him and his pregnant wife almost destitute.

Zinja told VOA Zimbabwe Service that he was attacked by protesters armed with axes and machetes, who claimed that foreigners are grabbing all jobs in South Africa.

He is now living in fear of being attacked again by locals.

"I want to return home. Im a wood cutter and I have three children in Zimbabwe. Another one is on the way. I would rather go and suffer there than stay here where it is now unsafe.

The traumatized Zimbabwean, who suffered deep cuts on his head after he was attacked and then hospitalized, said he is leaving South Africa empty-handed.

"All our property was looted while I was in hospital. When my wife Letwin (Mupfugami) went to check on some baby clothing she had bought for the child she is expecting, she found the house empty. We have been living in South Africa since 2014. So, all the property we were buying to take back home was stolen. We have nothing except the clothes on our backs.

She learnt about her husbands attack on a local WhatsApp group in which she is a member.

"I nearly passed out when I read a message on the WhatsApp group concerning my husband whose name was mentioned. Indications were that he was either dead or still alive. I tried to call him but he was not responding to my calls. I ended up calling his boss who informed me that he had been badly hurt and had some deep cuts from an axe on his head but was still alive and had been taken to a local hospital. When I got to the hospital, he could not recognize me and had to be taken for surgery at a hospital that specializes in serious injuries, she said.

Letwin, who is a farm laborer, has abandoned her job to look after her ailing husband.

She said Zimbabweans should watch out for assailants claiming that foreigners are grabbing all jobs in South Africa.

"I advise Zimbabweans who are in unsafe areas to send all their property home as you risk losing everything like us. We have nothing but worked in South Africa for a long time. We must now rely on well-wishers so that we can return home. This is a sad situation and has stripped us of all our dignity. Those interested in assisting us can contact my husband on WhatsApp number +27642173467.

A Zimbabwean immigrant, Elvis Nyathi, was allegedly burnt to death last week by South Africans in the politically-volatile Diepsloot township.

President Cyril Ramaphosa has urged South Africans to stop attacking foreigners, saying they should instead focus on containing crime and not killing immigrants.
Russia said Monday that it destroyed several air defense systems in Ukraine over the weekend, ahead of what Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is warning could be the start of a renewed Russian offensive into the country's eastern region.

The Russian claims could not be verified, but Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Major General Igor Konashenkov said the military launched cruise missiles to destroy four launchers Sunday on the southern outskirts of the central city of Dnipro and also hit systems in the Mykolaiv and Kharkiv regions.

Zelenskyy pleaded in a video address Monday for more military aid from the U.S. and its allies, specifically asking South Korean lawmakers to send more equipment that can shoot down Russian missiles.

He also said tens of thousands of people have been killed in Russia's assault on the southeastern port city of Mariupol.

Pentagon spokesperson John Kirby said the United States was unable to confirm Ukrainian casualty figures in Mariupol because fighting there is ongoing but said the final death toll could be "a significant number."

The Pentagon said Monday it is seeing early signs of efforts by Russia to reinforce its troops in eastern Ukraine. The U.S. spotted a convoy north of Izyum with command-and-control elements, enablers, artillery and rotary blade air support, according to a senior U.S. defense official.

The official said there also are indications that Russian forces sent from northern Ukraine to Belarus and the Russian town of Valuyki are now moving toward eastern Ukraine.

The official said, "We do not assess a new offensive has started" in eastern Ukraine but added, "What is clear is that the Russians continue to sink to new lows of depravity and brutality as we saw with the missile strike on a train station last week and their continued assault on Mariupol.

"We're certainly bracing ourselves here for some potentially really, really horrible outcomes," the official said.

The U.S. official said Russia has launched 1,500 missile attacks on Ukraine during 47 days of war, destroying apartment buildings and hospitals throughout the country and killing thousands of Ukrainian civilians.

Russia has acknowledged sustaining "significant" troop losses of its own.

Russia said one of its latest missile attacks hit four S-300 launchers provided by a European country it didn't name. Slovakia gave Ukraine just such a system last week but denied it had been destroyed.

Military analysts say that Russia's failure to capture the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv and the bulk of territory throughout the country has in part been the result of its failure to control the skies over Ukraine to provide cover for ground troops. Nonetheless, its missile bombardment has virtually flattened some cities, and one missile attack on a train station killed more than 50 people last Friday.

Russia has not been able to stop the flow of more military aid to Ukraine, with eight to 10 flights arriving daily.

Pentagon spokesperson Kirby said that U.S. security assistance is getting to Ukraine in as little as four to six days.

"That's an incredible rate of speed, and we aren't slowing down," he said.

Zelenskyy told the CBS News show "60 Minutes" on Sunday that Ukraine's fate depends on further Western military assistance.

"To be honest, whether we will be able to (survive) depends on this," Zelenskyy said. "Unfortunately, I don't have the confidence that we will be receiving everything we need."

European Union foreign ministers are meeting Monday to discuss another round of sanctions against Russia.

Meanwhile, Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow, the first such visit by a European leader since Putin launched the invasion of Ukraine on February 24.

In a statement after the meeting, Nehammer said the discussion with Putin was "very direct, open and tough." Nehammer said his most important message to the Russian leader was that the war in Ukraine must end because "in a war there are only losers on both sides."

There was no immediate comment from the Kremlin.

Some information in this report came from Reuters and The Associated Press.
One on One with Joe Korkowski, is heard Saturdays on KXRA-1490AM / 100.3fm/105.7fm (@7:40am) and KXRA-92.3FM (@7:00am), as well as each Sunday morning on KXRZ Z99.3fm (@10:15am).

The interview is also re-broadcast on Monday mornings on KX92 at 10:00am and on Z99 at 9:10am.
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Namibia Kunene Outjo (126.1 km E of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / rattling, vibrating / 30-60 s : At first I could hear a heavy noise of a truck maybe passing by, but as it came closer I felt the vibration on the floor inside the house and the windows shaking making a noise. | 3 users found this interesting.

Otjikondo (59.7 km ENE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / rattling, vibrating / 1-2 minutes : it felt like a thunder that makes everything shaking and virbrating. inside and outside of the house. My fridge was opened by the vibration. It was my first experience with an earthquake. | 3 users found this interesting.

Otjiwarongo Namibia (188.3 km ESE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) : I was in my room. I felt vibrations coming and the dogs started barking. The house windows was vibrating and it passed by close to the house. | 3 users found this interesting.

Between Outjo and Khorixas in Namibia (70.5 km ESE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) : I woke up because the closet in the bedroom was vibrating for about 2 minutes, then a short break and then a shorter one | 3 users found this interesting.

Walvis Bay (327.1 km S of epicenter) [ Map ] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) : i was surfing internet then i sudddenly fell how my chair starts to shake. I saw curtains shaking a little bit too, then i looked into my cup of tea and saw tea shaking a bit too. | 2 users found this interesting.

Uis namibia (128.7 km S of epicenter) [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / vibration and rolling / several minutes : Extreme rumbling and shaking. Was indoors. Felt as if the whole house was moving and shaking | 3 users found this interesting.

Khorixas / Light shaking (MMI IV) / rattling, vibrating / 1-2 minutes : I was in my room on my laptop the time it happened. I felt the floor vibrating and the windows rattling. I immediately went to stand under my door frame. A few aftershocks came through. This one was stronger than the last one. I can still hear a few tremo | 2 users found this interesting.

Namibia, Walvis Bay (324.2 km S of epicenter) [ Map ] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / 30-60 s : At home, while bed. Just saw things shaking, even my bed. Was scary, extremely. And things were vibrating. For almost a minute and a half | One user found this interesting.

Khorixas (36.3 km S of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / complex motion difficult to describe / 30-60 s : Constant vibrations.At first it felt like a truck was driving literally on top of our roof.And then some objects started to shake in the house.It was my first experience so it was quite intense for me.It woke up my sleeping baby as well. | One user found this interesting.

Otjiwarongo freedom park / Light shaking (MMI IV) / rattling, vibrating / 10-15 s : Since we are surrounded by mines in otjiwarongo, I thought it was the mines???? But the vibrations were quite strong, that they moved a photo frame that was on my TV stand | One user found this interesting.

Between Outjo and Khorixas in Namibia (70.5 km ESE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) : I woke up because the closet in the bedroom was vibrating for about 2 minutes, then a short break and then a shorter one

Walvis Bay (325.2 km S of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / single lateral shake / 5-10 s : I felt my couch vibrating like it was purposeful being moved. I observed my hanging crossed leg and it too was shaking involuntarily too.

38 km of Khorixas, Kunene (22.1 km E of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / rattling, vibrating / 5-10 s : More than 10 earthquakes all night long every 8 to 15 minutes. | One user found this interesting.

Farm Oribib 33A, Kunene Region (68.2 km ENE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / rattling, vibrating / 20-30 s : Roof rattling. | One user found this interesting.

Close to Fransfontein / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / horizontal (sideways) swinging : At about 22h30, 12 April, it sounded like a bomb exploded and then caused an intense sideways rattle that lasted over 1min20sec. Since that moment, continuous earthquakes are rolling in throughout the day. It has been about 40 hours of non stop earthquake

Swakopmund / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / rattling, vibrating / very short Was watching TV when I heard what sounded like glass rattling. Wasn't sure what it was. Then later just before I went to bed I heard the rattling again, almost slightly more "aggressive" than the first. At first thought it might be something in the fridge (reported through (reported through our app / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / rattling, vibrating / very short

Khorixas / Light shaking (MMI IV) / rattling, vibrating / 2-5 s : We always get these mini shakes and vibrations a few times a year but this time it was a bit longer and a lot more stronger. I was definitely convinced that the earth will open up. Reading that it was moderate makes me laugh because it sure didnt fe

Otjiwarongo / Light shaking (MMI IV) / rattling, vibrating / 30-60 s : My windows were rattling for 30-45 seconds. | One user found this interesting.

Khorixas (48.1 km S of epicenter) [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / rattling, vibrating / 30-60 s : It was my first time and i got frietened.. Still giving me shivers.

Bethal, Erongo (297.5 km SSE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / rattling, vibrating / 2-5 s : It's like my bed was shaking and the house, staying in Uis, Erongo region

Henties bay (240.7 km SSW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / rattling, vibrating / 5-10 s : Was on a call and felt my head and bed shaking for approximately 10 seconds

Outjo (126.8 km E of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / rattling, vibrating / 30-60 s

Khorixas, Kunene (35 km S of epicenter) [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / 1-2 minutes

ELCRN UITANI PARSONAGE (35.6 km S of epicenter) [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / rattling, vibrating

Outjo (213.3 km ENE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / rattling, vibrating / 2-5 s

Otjikondo, Kunene (77.7 km ENE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / rattling, vibrating / 20-30 s

Otjiwarongo (184.3 km ESE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) : Rumbling sound, neighbours also felt it

Kamanjab (49.3 km NNW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) : Woke up due to the trembling noise and vibrations

Swakopmund (293.7 km S of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / rattling, vibrating / 1-2 minutes : The whole building was rattling and shaking

Swakopmund (285 km S of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / 5-10 s : Chandeliers shaking and rumbling floors,

Swakopmund (294.1 km S of epicenter) [ Map ] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / rattling, vibrating / 2-5 s : Stood and felt vibration and glasses shaking in cupboard
Western support for Nazism (1933-1940)

The massive support of the United States and its allies for the Ukrainian Banderites against Russia is comparable to the support of the same side in the early days of Hitlers Germany against the USSR. Let us remember that absolutely all Western states without exception believed, at one time or another, that the Nazis were the solution to the economic crisis of 1929. Only they seemed to offer a credible alternative to capitalism. Of course, almost all of these people changed their minds when the Nazi danger turned against them.

 As an example, let us recall that the French Foreign Minister, Georges Bonnet, enchanted by the Jewish policy of the Reich, proposed to his German counterpart, Joachim von Ribbentrop, to deport French, Polish and German Jews to a distant colony, Madagascar [1]. On December 6, 1938, the same Georges Bonnet signed the Franco-German Commitment to Peaceful Collaboration with Joachim Ribbentrop, the Reich Foreign Minister.

 British Prime Minister Neuville Chamberlain organized the Munich Agreement of September 30, 1938, which liquidated Czechoslovakia for the benefit of the Reich [2], while the Governor of the Bank of England, Montagu Norman, stole 27 tons of Czechoslovakian gold to help strengthen the Nazi armies [3].

 Or Prescot Bush, the father of President George H. Bush and the grandfather of President George W. Bush, invested in 1940 in the factories of the Auschwitz prison camp (which only became an extermination camp in 1942) [4].

After the fall of Nazism, these people were not brought to justice. On the contrary, efforts were made to close ranks and to forget these felonies. Let us be careful not to repeat the same mistakes!

The role of the Ukrainians during the Cold War

During the Second World War, the theoretician of Nazism Alfred Rosenberg and Minister of the East (Ostminister) entrusted the Latvian Gerhard von Mende to organize the rallying of the peoples of the USSR to the Fuhrer Adolf Hitler. In doing so, he devised a model for the manipulation of minorities that was taken up by the CIA after the fall of the Third Reich. With the help of the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem, Amin al-Husseini, Von Mende created schools for mullahs in Gottingen and Dresden, had a Grand Mufti appointed in the Crimea, and enlisted Eastern SS regiments. He was also the handler of the Ukrainian "nationalist" Stepan Bandera.

In Washington, Presidents Truman and then Eisenhower decided to focus on psychological warfare against the Soviets. The CIA created AmComLib (American Committee for the Liberation of the Peoples of the USSR), which operated Radio Liberty from Munich. It recycled Gerhard von Mende. It was he who proposed the establishment of a mosque in Munich, which was eventually entrusted to Said Ramadan (the son-in-law of the founder of the Brotherhood Hassan el-Banna) [5]. It was also he who settled Stepan Banderas problems and recycled him to MI6 and the CIA [6].

Stepan Banderas former deputy and Nazi-imposed Ukrainian Prime Minister, Yaroslav Stetsko, was on the instructions of the Third Reich one of the founders of the Anti-Bolshevik Bloc of Nations (ABN) during World War II. He continued the ABN during the Cold War, this time for the United States. As such, he became a pillar of the World Anti-Communist League (WACL) formed by the CIA [7].

The headquarters of the ABN was in Munich, from where Stepan Bandera and Yaroslav Stetsko conducted sabotage operations in the USSR. The chairman of the ABN was the Dane Ole Bjrn Kraft, former chairman of the North Atlantic Council (the civilian authority that commanded the Allied

forces). Several operations were planned in collaboration with the CIA and MI6, i.e. under the supervision of Frank Wisner (Nicolas Sarkozys grandfather by marriage) and Kim Philby. But the latter betrayed the Crown and passed on information to the KGB, which failed [8].

One of Yaroslav Stetskos collaborators, Lev Dobriansky, became U.S. ambassador to the Bahamas, while his daughter Paula Dobriansky served as Under Secretary of State for Democracy (sic) in the George W. Bush administration. It was Mrs. Dobriansky who financed for ten years historical studies aimed at making people forget that the Holodomor, the great famine that hit Ukraine in 1932-33,

also devastated Russia and Kazakhstan, and to make them believe that it was decided by Stalin to eliminate the Ukrainian people. This myth is manipulated by the Banderites to make people believe that the Russians have hated the Ukrainians for centuries. The European Parliament endorsed it in 2008 [9]. Afterwards, Paula Dobriansky held high positions at the Reuters agency and now works at the Atlantic Council. She was vice-president of the NED during the Maidan putsch.

President Ronald Reagan and Vice President George H. Bush welcomed the Banderites, including Yaroslav Stetsko, in 1983 at the White House [10].

Bandera was assassinated by the KGB in 1955. Stetsko died in 1986. Both men are buried in the German cemetery of Walffriedhof.

Anglo-Saxon support for the jihadists

In 1979, U.S. President Jimmy Carter authorized "Operation Hurricane". The idea was to send Arab jihadists, members of the Muslim Brotherhood, to Afghanistan to fight against the communist government. It was then that this small terrorist organization became a real army [11]. One thing led to another, from the wars in Afghanistan to those in Yugoslavia and Chechnya, and finally to Daesh in Iraq and Syria [12].

For forty years, all Nato member states have been invited to provide "political asylum" to jihadists "persecuted" by Arab dictatorships. At least 17 allied states participated in "Operation Timber Sycamore", supplying billions of dollars worth of weapons to the jihadists [13] until they threatened the West. Lets be careful not to repeat the same mistakes!

Western support for Ukrainian Banderites, Croatian Ustasa and Baltic neo-Nazis

During the Cold War, former specialists in Nazi repression were integrated by the United States into its anti-Soviet apparatus. One remembers, for example, the "Butcher of Lyon", Klaus Barbie, who became chief of repression in Bolivia, or Alois Bruner, who became a special adviser to the Syrian president (before the Baath) after having exterminated Jews in Austria, Greece and France. However, this seemed to have stopped with the dissolution of the USSR.

However, Banderite, Ustasha and Nazi militias emerged in the public space with the dissolution of the Warsaw Pact and the independence of the former Soviet states. They obtained the support of the Anglo-Saxons in the name of the collaboration of their parents during the Cold War. As examples we recall:

 In Bulgaria, an annual event in memory of General Hristo Lukov has been held in Sofia for about 15 years [14].

 In Estonia, it started in 2009 with the return of the ashes of SS Colonel Alfons Rebane (the "Estonian Rommel"), followed by the laying of a commemorative plaque [15], each time with the strong support of President Toomas Hendrik Ilves (himself a US official). Defense Minister Urmas Reinsalu visited the island of Saaremaa in 2012 to participate in a ceremony of the "Alliance of Estonian Freedom Fighters" (Nazi collaborators) and congratulate former SS men for "liberating the homeland" [16]

 In Latvia, President Vaira Vike-Freiberga (1999-2007) claims that the "SS were heroes of the anti-Soviet struggle." She had school history textbooks changed and authorized events commemorating these "heroes . Latvia, where a quarter of the population is Russian, has banned the use of Russian in secondary schools. In addition, along with Estonia, it built a wall on its Russian border in 2018 [17]

 In Bolivia, MI6 relied on the Croatian Ustasha community to overthrow President Evo Morales, in 2019 [18].

On November 18, 2020, the 3rd Committee of the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution on "Combating the glorification of Nazism, neo-Nazism and other practices that contribute to fuelling contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance" (UN A/C.3/75/L.49). All UN members voted "for", only the United States and Ukraine voted "against". All members of Nato and the European Union abstained.

NATOs stay-behind agent Dmitryo Yarosh.

The same causes produce the same effects

On May 8, 2007, in Ternopol (western Ukraine), Nazi and Islamist groups created an "Anti-Imperialist Front" to fight together against Russia. Organizations from Lithuania, Poland, Ukraine and Russia participated, including Islamist separatists from Crimea, Adygea, Dagestan, Ingushetia, Kabardino-Balkaria, Karachaevo-Cherkessia, Ossetia and Chechnya. Dokka Umarov, the Emir of Chechnya, who is considered by the United Nations to be a member of al-Qaeda, was unable to attend due to international sanctions. The Front is chaired by Dmytro Yarosh, who went to fight in Chechnya. Together with Andriy Biletsky, the "White Fuhrer", he created the Right Sector, which led the EuroMaidan revolution, and later the Azov Battalion. Since November 2, 2021, he has been an advisor to the commander-in-chief of the Ukrainian army, General Valerii Zaluzhnyi.

On April 7, 2022, President Zelensky spoke before the Greek Parliament. He played a short video during his speech. A Ukrainian of Greek origin introduced himself as a member of the Azov regiment and praised his factions fight against the Russians.

Since the dissolution of the USSR, Ukraine has revived its old demons. School history textbooks have been changed. For thirty years, children have been taught in school that their country was only independent thanks to the Nazis and that they have no genes in common with the Russians, that inferior race. Every year tens of thousands of children and teenagers attend the "summer camps" of the Banderites, just as the Hitler Youth did. They chant their slogan: "Glory to Ukraine". These young people, girls and boys, find today asylum in the European Union. Tomorrow, like their Muslim Brotherhood allies, some of them will commit attacks there.

Already, the Banderistes are recruiting cadets in Canada, France, Germany, Poland, the United Kingdom and the United States and now officers in the military academies of these countries. For this purpose, they have created, in 2019, a secret order, Centuria, which spreads their ideology. This order is opposed to democratic procedures and universal suffrage. Its members recite the "Prayer of the Ukrainian Nationalists", written by Josef Mashchak during the interwar period. They display the Danish Sun Cross and multiply references to the Thule Order, to which very high Nazi dignitaries belonged. Western armies did not take this threat seriously. This ideology, like that of the Muslim Brotherhood in the Middle East, is spreading like wildfire.

The foul beast is already here, among us.

How can we be so blind?
In the light of propaganda which continues to be promoted by the Ukrainian authorities, we would like to draw your attention to the information provided by the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation about the following provocations prepared by Kiev.

Ukrainian authorities completed their preparations for provocations involving the civilian population, in particular, in the cities of Konotop and Trostyanets in the Sumy region, as well as in Borodyanka and Katyuzhanka in the Kiev region.

In addition, the Kiev regime is preparing yet another provocative set-up involving the death of civilians, allegedly as a result of actions of the Russian Armed Forces. To this end, the Ukrainian nationalists shelled the village of Dergachi in the Kharkiv region, after which they filmed the destroyed buildings and numerous killed civilians  for sharing with Western media. The representatives of the Western news agencies participated in the preparation of the provocation while the overall control of the operations was ensured by the servicemen of the 72nd Centre of Information and Psychological Operations of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. All the civilian participants in the staging and filming received a reward.

We hope that this information will be carefully considered by all Security Council members and help them to avoid being subject to manipulations and disinformation on the Russian special military operation in Ukraine.

I would be grateful if the present letter could be circulated as a document of the Security Council.
Photo: Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images

Johnny Depp scrunched his face, sometimes touching his lip, as Amber Heards attorneys made allegation after chilling allegation of domestic abuse during the opening statements of Depps defamation trial  which came to include the new claim that he sexually assaulted Heard with an object. Heards lawyers told the jury that she had fallen in love with Depps charismatic side and he lured her into his abusive world. At one point in their relationship, when things had taken a turn for the worst, Depp admitted to having rage like a demon, according to Heards lawyers.

Heards allegations of domestic abuse are being aired in court as a result of her December 2018 op-ed in the Washington Post, in which she wrote that there needed to be more support for domestic-violence victims. Heard referred to personal experience in making the argument. She did not name Depp as her abuser in the article; however, in 2016, she had accused him of abuse. Depp filed a $50 million civil suit against her in March 2019, citing Disney dropping him from the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise as an example of damage. Depp has vehemently denied Heards abuse allegations. He alleged that Heard was the abuser. Heard is pursuing counterclaims against Depp  maintaining that his denials defamed her.

Heard and Depp met while working together on The Rum Diary, started dating a couple years later, married in 2015, and split in 2016. During their tumultuous years together, Depp was frequently drunk and high, breaking into rages amid fits of inebriation, attorney Elaine Bredehoft told jurors. Bredehoft said that once, not long after the two had started dating, Depp slapped Heard repeatedly after she asked about his Winona Forever tattoo, which he had altered to say Wino Forever after breaking up with Winona Ryder. As Bredehoft described, Heard fell off the sofa and Depp got on the ground next to her. I thought I had put the monster away for good, he had allegedly said.

One of the most horrific alleged instances of abuse took place in Australia in 2016. Depp is accused of taking between eight and ten ecstasy tablets, ripping off Heards nightgown, dragging her across the floor, and punching and kicking her.

Then he penetrates her with a liquor bottle  thats the Johnny Depp youre going to hear about in this case, Bredehoft told jurors.

Heards team claims that in another alleged incident in May 2016, Depp broke into a rage when he returned home and found excrement in his and Heards bed. The couple had two dogs, but Depp was convinced that Heard and her friends  who had been at a music festival  had conspired to defecate in his bed.

Heards attorneys also mentioned Depps relationship with another alleged abuser, his good friend Marilyn Manson.

Depps lawyers, who presented their opening statement first, portrayed him as a long-suffering husband. Their description of his powerlessness made him sound like the hapless man in any number of psychosexual thrillers. Camille M. Vasquez, in her portion of the opening statement, told jurors: Ultimately, this trial is about clearing Mr. Depps name of a terrible false allegation.

Shes a profoundly troubled person who manipulated the people around her  just like she manipulated Mr. Depp, Vasquez said of Heard. When Depp first met Heard, Vasquez continued, At first, he avoided her advances, but she pursued him. She wooed him. Depp fell for Heard, Vasquez narrated: Over time, the real Ms. Heard began to emerge. Vasquez said Depp had learned to cope with an abusive woman without resorting to violence, because his mother was abusive. Mr. Depp started coping with Ms. Heard in the same way he did as a child, she told jurors. Depps lawyer alleged that at one point, not long after Depp and Heard married, Depp wanted to leave an argument and Heard threw a vodka bottle at him  severing one of his fingers.

Mr. Depp will go to his grave knowing that, whatever what he does, there will always be people who believe he abused a woman, Vasquez said (Following openings, a spokesperson for Depp responded to Heards sexual-assault allegations with a statement echoing his defense: These fictitious claims were never made at the onset of Ambers allegations in 2016, and only advantageously surfaced years later once she was sued for defamation after noting in her op-ed that she was a victim of sexual violence. Words are key in a defamation case and conveniently, this allegation only came after that. This follows a pattern of her elaborate, erroneous claims which have continued to change and evolve over time for the purpose of Hollywood shock value of which Amber has mastered and used to exploit a serious social movement. )

Inside the courtroom, Depps fans were rapt by his appearance. When he entered just after 10 a.m., one fan  who sported a cry baby shirt  brought her hand to her mouth as if to gasp. Others whispered to each other and craned their necks to see him. Before opening remarks started, Depps fans waiting outside the court said they support him despite everything thats been in the press. The first Johnny Depp fan at court Tuesday arrived at 3 a.m. One by one, others congregated. By 5 a.m., at least ten were lined up. Some had brought camping chairs. The first attendee had traveled from Portugal; she had few words but voiced a similar sentiment: I believe him.
Superlatives A Vulture series in which artists judge the best and worst of their own careers. We shouldve been marketed as social scientists. Photo-Illustration: Vulture; Photo by Richard Creamer/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

Devo is an art movement.

Okay, sure, Devo is also a band, but why define them by a simple noun when theyve spent more than four decades preaching about anti-stupidity and pro-intelligence, all while looking like a bunch of energy-dome aliens beaming in from their own Spud-nik satellite? Emerging from Akron in 1973, the classic lineup of Gerald Casale, Mark Mothersbaugh, Bob Casale, Bob Mothersbaugh, and Alan Myers critiqued what it meant to be in the New Wave and post-punk genres at the time: They were less concerned about abiding by sonic conventions than finding clever ways to riff about alternative information and entropy, which was exemplified with some of their biggest hits like Whip It, Mongoloid, and the anthemic Jocko Homo. The fact that their songs were catchy as hell was just an added bonus, because its statistically impossible not to gyrate to Whip It when it starts playing. And if you dont, well, maybe your de-evolution has begun.

Despite being eligible for Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction since 2003, Devo is only now experiencing its third nomination as part of the Halls eligible 2022 class, an honor that is still humbling to Mark Mothersbaugh despite the tardiness. Thatd be nice, he recently told me over the phone from his art warehouse, a brief reprieve from facilitating a crazy morning of deliveries. Thank you for the positive energy. Well see what happens. With the official induction class due to be announced in May, Mothersbaugh  an accomplished artist and Hollywood composer in addition to Devo duties  was in a reflective mood and, for more than an hour, had an uncontrollable urge to talk about the history of his oddball-music brethren.

Best song

You could ask me on different days and I would have different answers. But if there was one song that was my favorite out of everything, it would be Jocko Homo. It was both a theme song and a rallying cry. It was hard-core what Devo was about. We took in a lot of central influences that were not from the world of music necessarily and brought them together. Jocko Homo is a visual in a way. When I wrote the song, some of the theory and thought came out of reactionary Christian, anti-evolution propaganda. There was a pamphlet put out by someone in the late 30s called Jocko Homo, Heaven-Bound King of the Apes, and it was attacking and ridiculing evolution. In the process, it was celebrating de-evolution, or at least supporting de-evolution, which we found amusing and entertaining.

Musically at the time, around 1973, my interest was to deconstruct what was considered rock and roll. For me, it started with the Rolling Stones (I Cant Get No) Satisfaction. That was ground zero for rock and roll. So I thought, Yeah, its time for rock and roll to say good-bye, and were starting something new. We thought it was sound and vision. We were talking about something specific. Jerry, Bob, and I had all been, in different ways, involved with the shootings at Kent State and had been involved with protests that were there. They shut our school down, and Jerry started coming over to my place and we would play music together. But we were talking about what just happened: They shot 30-some kids at our school and killed four of them. How could that happen? We were doing something that we thought was important. The idea that we stop dropping bombs on Vietnam. We didnt feel like that was a good war to be in. We didnt think there was any reason why we should be over there killing people. I know I didnt want to go to Vietnam and kill people.

So we started talking about things going backward and going down  theyre not going upward. And in the process, somewhere around that time, I watched a movie called Island of Lost Souls, starring Charles Laughton. He plays a scientist whos trying to evolve creatures of animals of the jungle. Hes doing experiments on them on this secluded island in the middle of the Pacific called the House of Pain. The animals were all frightened of him. He had managed to make it so some of them could speak and have human characteristics, but they always continued to devolve again after his operations, so hed have to do more painful surgeries. Part of the control of these creatures was when they started getting confused or angry, he would stand on a rock and crack a whip and go, What is the law? And they would all recite the laws: Not to run on all fours. That is the law. Are we not men? I remember seeing that and thinking, Thats what were talking about in a way of science and religion and anything colliding, and common sense that seems to be sliding away.

Still, to this day, a good portion of humans consider themselves the center of the universe and that their species was meant to rule over the other species on the planet. We were thinking, Well, you know what? Humans are an insane species thats out of touch with nature. I took elements out of that movie and created the chant Are we not men? We are Devo! The music was very radical. What we were doing was art. It was sound and vision in a way that talked about what humans are and why we are here.

I was looking for nonrock and roll with Jocko Homo. I put these four blasts that were like clown horns in the verses. I didnt want my instrument to sound like Rick Wakeman or Keith Emerson, who were doing synthesizers and didnt really carry any weight or personality. The one person in pop music I felt a camaraderie with was Brian Eno. When I heard his synthesizer solo in the Roxy Music song called Editions of You, from For Your Pleasure, it made the hair on my arm stand up. I was like, Hes done it. This guy, were of common thought. We had ideas in common. I also put white noise on a wah-wah pedal that opened up and closed during the chorus. It was a sound that was more like an aggressive noise that was keeping a rhythm. I feel thats Devo at its purest, when we were just pure art.

Most progressive song

Theres things other than sounds that were important to us  part of it was the lyrics. Songs like Beautiful World and Freedom of Choice have some of my favorite Devo lyrics: Its a beautiful world for you / But not for me. Its talking about rejecting the cliche of the culture. And Freedom of Choice was talking about how we were in an amazing situation where we had freedom to vote, freedom to make choices, freedom to say no to war, and freedom to say yes to taking care of the children in our country or on our planet. And instead, we didnt. I felt like it addressed those issues, where we did have freedoms that we didnt even bother using. That was part of the message for Freedom of Choice. I thought that was a good message: to use it before you lose it.

Song you wish was as popular as Whip It

It would be the more blatant tunes. I think you could say just about anything on the first couple of albums. The lyrics for Whip It were very concealed. They were kind of like Thomas Pynchon, who we were fans of. We liked his style, and those songs were kind of written in a Pynchonian way, with the nursery rhyme mixed in with problem-solving. I would say if anything off album one or two had been as popular as Whip It, I wouldve really loved that.

Song that challenges listeners the most

That could be Jocko Homo because of the timing of it. You cant dance to it in a typical style, or typical disco or funk or pop-music style. It turns you into more of a dancing ape. Theres such a wide arc to Devo, and early on we were at our most experimental and composed our most outrageous songs. Once we had a record deal, then we switched to thinking, How do you change things in the world if its not through confrontation and rebellion? Because they just shoot you if they get irritated enough with what youre saying. We looked around to see who did make changes in the culture, and it was all happening on Madison Avenue.

In the early 70s, I painted houses and laid carpets to pay my way through school. I remember being on a ladder one day and listening to Pachelbels Canon, maybe the most beautiful piece of music ever written, and theres lyrics all of a sudden being sung to it for a commercial. I remember thinking, They just took the most beautiful piece of music and made it subversive. And true enough, it was a really successful campaign for Burger King, which was really small on the map at the time. It was such a popular campaign that they did that song in a number of different versions, including country-and-western, easy listening, Singing Nuns, and jazz. All they were doing was convincing people to eat food that wasnt good for them. I was thinking, Wow, thats impressive. But theyre doing it through subversion. How could we do that? How could we get people to understand that evolution is real and that humans were leading the charge for the destruction of our planet?

My first year in college, in 1969, I read a book called The Population Bomb. It was a sociologist writing about how humans are replicating at such a fast pace that we will eat our way out of our home within the next 100 years. He predicted that by 2050, a virus will attack humans and will probably take out enough of us so that we dont become a danger to destroying planet Earth. It still could happen  you dont know. But it made me think, Well, Im not going to contribute to the overpopulation of the planet. So I decided Id never have children. Devo was part of that: understanding that humans had to be aware of what they were doing to the planet. We were more subversive with it and embedded more subliminal messages into our songs.

When Devo slowed down in the mid-80s, I started doing music for film and television. I was unsure about doing commercials at first. I got offered this Hawaiian Punch commercial, and when I wrote the music, the commercial had one line of dialogue: Hawaiian Punch hits you in all the right places. It was robots dancing along with humans dancing. It looked like it was based on the Devo live show. Afterward, I put in a drum fill, and I used a microphone and sang, Sugar is bad for you. When I met with the ad-agency people who hired me, I played them the commercial at their headquarters. There was one executive sitting there tapping his pen along with the music, and it goes, Hawaiian Punch hits you in all the right places. Sugar is bad for you. As soon as it was over, the executive went, Yeah! Hawaiian Punch does hit you in all the right places. He totally missed it. Bob was there with me for the meeting, and afterward he told me, Jesus, you were so lucky. I put it at the level where it would get embedded in your head like an earwig but it wouldnt be loud enough that that was as loud as Hawaiian Punch hits you in all the right places. And it was so easy to do. I did that in about 30 commercials or so before somebody finally caught me. [Laughs.]

Most misconstrued song

In our minds, humans were out of touch with nature and insane species on the planet. We were the dangerous species throwing things out of whack. I love Uncontrollable Urge, but it was just about energy. It was just about being young and excitable. So Id say Beautiful World because people who did covers of that song seem to always forget that the payoff was the final line, where we sing, Its a beautiful world, for you / Its a beautiful world, not me. If you saw the video, it was based on all this found footage we included that had men at war and the excesses of capitalism and commercialism.

Most perverse album

Oh, shit. Im thinking perverse in a positive way. [Laughs.] It would be E-Z Listening Muzak. In the late 70s, we went out and did a tour that about halfway through coincided with the Saturday Night Live appearance. We were our own roadies and crew until then, and we had to set the equipment up, take it down, load the truck, unload the truck, and do all that stuff ourselves. The first time that we had a crew working for us came soon after SNL. I remember the first show of that part of the tour  we tried not to have opening acts whenever we could because we wanted it to be a true evening with Devo. I remember walking into the venue, and the music starts up while people are coming into the venue. And Im like, Wait a minute. Thats Tom Petty. Why the hell is that playing? I ran over to the summit and said, Turn that off. What the hell were you doing playing Tom Petty music at a Devo show? That makes no sense. And the sound guy goes, What are you talking about? I have to play music thatll help me tune the room. Im not just picking random songs. Then a Fleetwood Mac song came on after it. I remember being backstage for the whole tour, every single night, hearing these bands that had nothing to do with Devo and had no kindred spirit. And thats what people listened to before Devo came out onstage!

When we got back home, we said to each other, We cant let this happen on the next tour. So we started recording parodies of our own songs, and we called that collection of songs E-Z Listening Devo Muzak. We recorded more than an hour of songs. Mongoloid was arranged in the style of Leave It to Beaver, and we did Jocko Homo as a conga-line tune. So for the next tour, we were playing this E-Z Listening Devo Muzak collection, and the sound man said, Hey, do you have more of those? Kids are coming up to me and they want to buy that tape. It was just two audio cassettes, I think, and we didnt have any to give out. After we finished the tour, we went back and asked some managers if they wanted us to make a full album of those songs. It was an immediate no. They were laughing at us. So we countered, Do you mind if we put it out on Club Devo? And they said, Sure, go ahead. So we made a full cassette of E-Z Listening Muzak that sounded like silly and fake 700 Club songs. We sold quite a few of those cassettes. Warner Bros. got angry about it! They said, You tricked us. And we said, No, you just turned us down. We ended up putting out a second volume, and that was the music we always played for our opening act back in those days.

Biggest misconception about the band

Oh my God. What would be the biggest misconception? That we  and it was partly because our record company didnt understand us  were joking and didnt really believe in de-evolution or the dangers of it. We were making films, and they had told us they thought we were like another version of the Tubes. I think Warner Bros. didnt really know how to sell us or how to market us, so they called us quirky clowns at times in their publicity. Wed be like, Well, I take an exception to that. There were other bands I could have thought of that were really clowns. [Laughs.] We shouldve been marketed as social scientists.

Music video that helped elevate the medium

The Satisfaction video kind of introduced the idea of storytelling, as opposed to just baby faces selling something. I think the Rolling Stones  and youre going to laugh when I say this, but both Mick Jagger and Keith Richards were underrated as lyricists. People talked about other things in their songs constantly, but I think they had brilliant lyrics. I thought there was some kindred spirit between us. We did our version of Satisfaction on the tenth anniversary of the song. We chose it because not only did I think it was the best rock song ever written, but also we thought it would help explain to people who we were, what we were doing, and why we were doing it  in the sense that it was very deconstructive and it takes you a while to realize what the song is when you hear our version of it. But it was successful and a fair tribute to Keith and Micks song.

Back in the 70s, you had to get permission to do what was called a parody of a song since you were taking liberties with somebody elses melodies and lyrics. Quite honestly, Johnny Rivers was very unhappy about us doing Secret Agent Man. So we did have to play it for someone in the Rolling Stones. It turned out Jerry and I went to Manhattan and visited their managers office. Mick came in from a little private elevator. I dont know where he had been, but he didnt have shoes. He just had socks on, and we played it for him. About halfway through the first chorus, he jumped up and started dancing to it. That was kind of cool. He still thinks its the best cover of that song. You can imagine how we felt. It was a pretty amazing day.

Legacy of the 1978 Saturday Night Live performance

Its a testimony to how creative SNL was at that time. They were powerful. Everybody watched that show; people were staying home at night so that they could watch it. When we first came out to California, there were a lot of people who wanted to manage us. One particular guy, Elliot Roberts, said he wanted to manage us. We responded, If you can get us on SNL, well sign with you. And he did because he knew Lorne Michaels. We already knew that Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi were big fans because we sent them records trying to get them to take an interest, and they did. But yeah, it was a very big deal for us because we were pretty much only known on college radio. The general public had no idea who we were. SNL dropped the bomb on America with Devo, and things changed for us. We were on a tour at the time and saw that half-filled venues were all sold out after that. People wanted to know and confirm what they had just seen.

Unlikeliest Devo fan

Theres people that have what might be considered odd professions or odd areas of study. But, in a way, that kind of makes sense. Ive met a lot of people who study gene mutations. There was a woman from Harvard University who counseled people who had given birth to monsters. Huge Devo fan. It was her job to talk to them, and she collected the photos of all these monsters that were just awful and horrifying.

Suit with the most sentimental value

Clockwise from left: Mothersbaugh wearing Devos signature yellow suit, from the 80s and beyond. Photo: Tom Hill/Getty Images Photo: Tim Mosenfelder/Getty Images Photo: Jim Dyson/Getty Images From top: Mothersbaugh wearing Devos signature yellow suit, from the 80s and beyond. Photo: Tom Hill/Getty Images Photo: Jim Dyson/Getty Images Photo:... more From top: Mothersbaugh wearing Devos signature yellow suit, from the 80s and beyond. Photo: Tom Hill/Getty Images Photo: Jim Dyson/Getty Images Photo: Tim Mosenfelder/Getty Images

The yellow suits were hazardous-material outfits that you pulled over the top of your clothing. They were meant for people working in the rubber industry in Akron, and we were looking for something that wouldnt be blue jeans or T-shirts. We wanted to do everything we could to make ourselves look not rock and roll. Jerry used to work at a janitorial company when we were starting out. We were always saying, If we ever get money, were going to have all of these industrial things and prison toilets made out of stainless steel. We want lamps like the ones that are hanging in the warehouse at Coca-Cola Bottling Company. We loved janitorial supplies, so when Jerry found that picture of the yellow suits, they were great. They were perfect for us because they were around $4 for a full suit at the time. We have to remake them ourselves now since the company stopped producing them a while ago. But at the time, we could just put four vinyl sticky letters on the shirt and the suit was done. I always loved that yellow suit. We could tear them apart! Wed always have black shorts and black shirts and knee socks underneath. It looked like we were on a 50s high-school basketball team or something.
No more teasing. The official Stranger Things 4 trailer dropped April 12, and the two-year wait was worth it. With a three minute 16 second running time, the new video immerses us back in Hawkins and the lives of the Stranger Things cadre of kids with Finn Wolfhard sporting a new indie-boy mullet. As a monstrous voice says Youve broken everything, paired with menacing clock imagery, we see Max (Sadie Sink) in the cemetery looking at Billy Hargroves (Dacre Montgomery) gravestone. The trailer is pumped full of all manners of CGI goodness, but the most potent imagery may still be of one of the cast members putting Guitar Hero to absolute shame on the roof of a decrepit building. Stranger Things 4 returns May 27 with volume two following July 1. Watch the four teasers below.

004/004

Alas, the final Stranger Things teaser is here, and it feels like the anticipation of Spring Break as we wait for the debut of volume one on May 27 and volume two on July 1. The teaser shows Elevens new life in California as she eagerly awaits seeing Mike during her Spring Break. Eleven writes a letter to Mike, letting him know shes slowly adapting to her life in California alongside Will, Jonathan, and Joyce Byers. The teaser premiered during the Stranger Things day online event hosted by Netflix. The event also revealed the episode titles for its nine-episode season:

The Hellfire Club Vecnas Curse The Monster and The Superhero Dear Billy The Nina Project The Dive The Massacre At Hawkins Lab Papa The Piggyback

003/004

The third teaser trailer for the long-awaited fourth season of Stranger Things introduces audiences to a creepy old home called Creel House, which appears to have absolutely nothing to do with Gavin Creel. What it does have is a dark past. The trailer, which premiered during Netflixs Tudum fan event on Saturday, begins with a family in the 1950s moving in, only to notice some strange happenings. Cut to the 80s, when the Hawkins gang breaks in to search for clues. Unfortunately, they dont unearth a premiere date; we just know its sometime in 2022. Tick tock

002/004

Its the return of shaved-head Eleven, just in time to match Hopper. In the new teaser trailer for Stranger Things 4, we get a flashback to the laboratory in which Eleven was created, where a group of children are playing under the menacing eye of their papa, Dr. Martin Brenner. Brenner allegedly died by Demogorgon in season one, but in season two, a lab employee tells Eleven hes still out there. Eleven, are you listening? he calls out to her in the teaser. Looks like the new season will explore her supernatural origin story, or maybe even involve other psychokinetic kids.

Stranger Things 4 is now arriving in 2022, according to a Netflix sneak peek. You can watch the initial teaser from February 2020 below, where we catch up with surprisingly undead Russian prisoner Chief Jim Hopper. Based on the captions 001/004 and 002/004, we can expect at least two more teasers before Stranger Things finally returns. Work on the series resumed in September, after production was paused in January 2020. Jamie Campbell Bower (Twilight: New Moon), Eduardo Franco (Booksmart), Joseph Quinn (Game of Thrones), and Robert Englund (Nightmare on Elm Street) all join the cast this season as Hawkins residents with varying levels of creepiness. No release date yet, just eerie, eerie vibes.

001/004, February 2020

Look down, look down, dont look em in the eye, Hopper and his fellow prisoners should be singing in the teaser for Stranger Things season four. Despite the setting and technological advances (railroad tracks over ships), the teaser plays out like the beginning of Les Miserables, and Hopper is our Jean Valjean. Miraculously alive after we collectively mourned him in last seasons finale, Hopper is living his days as a slave of the law in Russia, after, you know, mowing a bunch of people down with a machine gun. That means more David Harbour dadbod and more Miami Vice with El, but considerably less hair. Hopper is bald and thats just something were all going to have to come to terms with. Maybe thats why Netflix revealed Hoppers return in a teaser trailer  it knew wed need time to cope with the loss. And time is abundant. Stranger Things 4 is no longer expected until 2022.
Take flight. Photo: Joan Marcus

The curtain for The Little Prince at the barnlike Broadway Theater seems to promise that whatevers behind it will be faithful to the book. Not only does it say The Little Prince right there in loopy letters, but the image includes copyright details: the publisher (Gallimard) and date (1945). It could almost be a blown-up book cover! But do not judge a nouveau cirque show by its curtain. Once that drop goes up, the restrained watercolor charm of Antoine de Saint-Exuperys childrens book is nowhere. And if you dont know the story already, bonne chance. Saint-Exuperys eccentric plot sloshes around inside this dance-theater container, recognizable only to the initiated. By the time our petite hero has shuffled off the mortal coil (reminder: The Little Prince is terrifying!), I would wager only those of us who remembered the book had the faintest idea what was going on.

But come now, I hear you saying, choreographer Anne Tournies show is for children. Kids dont care about conventional storytelling, nor do they want to understand the book since they might absorb some of its subtext about adult frailty and death. Best to elide all that with skipping and swinging, surely? Kids just want to pony up $179 for an orchestra seat to see contemporary-dance acrobatics while a narrator speaks in an accent so impenetrable that they have had to project the text in supertitles. Thats what children yearn for  or at least those whose reading comprehension is at a fourth-grade level but who can still be entertained by a guy wearing a stack of hats pretending to take selfies.

Having occasionally watched a show like this with knee-high theatergoers, I can say that Tournie, a sometime collaborator of Franco Dragones, knows a few of the things they do like. Showering the audience in confetti always dazzles em, as does physical virtuosity. And after he enters, walking on what looks like a big yoga ball, the star aerialist Lionel Zalachas does some lovely things. Zalachass Little Prince, the lonely ruler of an uninhabited asteroid where he has fallen in love with a flower, tends to lift off his feet with delight as he tells his story. He meets an aviator (Aurelien Bednarek) in the Sahara, where the latter has crashed his plane, and as the two go mad with thirst, he shares stories of the many strange planets he has already visited  one with that vain hat guy, one with a drunk, another with a lamplighter, and so on. In memory, the prince dances with the flower (Laurisse Sulty), whom he cant quite forget. When a big white rope descends, he ties himself to it, rising up into choreography that seems as natural to him as falling.

While all this happens, the dozen or so dancers do not speak. Instead, the other star of the show, the narrator Chris Mouron, ambles around pronouncing Frenchily to herself. She is dressed, for some reason, like the mayor of Munchkinland with blue hair, a frock coat, and balloon jodhpurs. This narration is worse than useless. Mouron, who also co-directed the show and wrote the libretto, doesnt distinguish between characters or even between narration and dialogue, which is somehow more confusing than silence would be. Mouron oversells every sentiment and sometimes sings gloppy songs in French (the music is by Terry Truck). The translated lyrics seem  weird. You hold sway / Over my island / Over my life, she sings to the Little Prince, who is simultaneously a child (he wears a chartreuse onesie by costume designer Peggy Housset) and a romantic partner to both the rose and a fox he meets on earth. It all seems perfectly innocent and imaginative until Mouron starts in. Tame me like you tamed your fox, she sings. Mon dieu.

A deeper sin, though, is what it looks like. At some point in the Soleil-drenched past, new circus settled on an aesthetic that was a little steampunk, a little bouffon, a little Oz, a little candycore burlesque. Marie Jumelins video projections translate this melange of influences into a cheesy, collage-heavy production design (there are no set pieces, but projections coat every surface), and it looks as if its been borrowed from a 90s educational computer game. The more it tries for wonder  flying birds, whirls of blue cosmos, a field of roses  the more it turns into cheap greeting-card imagery. Do I need to tell you theres a checkerboard floor at one point? Or that the planets look like theyve been done in a spray-painting art course? Imagine a backdrop for Eurovision Junior then write The Little Prince on it in glowing glitter script. You get it.

Perhaps if The Little Prince werent rattling around this gigantic house, its charms might make it past the footlights. With less space to fill, Jumelins images might not seem so bad; I can imagine the production thriving at a smaller place like the New Victory (a kid-oriented jewel box) or in a spiegeltent down at the Seaport. And maybe, if it were tucked into a more intimate venue, the producers wouldnt have used a 20-minute intermission to make it seem like an evening-length show. (Without it, the run time is around 85 minutes.) Im sure there are calculations about bringing a show to Broadway that has to do with money and cachet, but what about what serves the material? If theyd asked the prince himself, I bet he would have warned them away from 53rd Street. Small homes are best, he would have said. They let you tend to your particular rose, one at a time.

The Little Prince is at the Broadway Theatre.
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Nicholas Nelson running for Wahpeton mayor

Courtesy Nicholas Nelson Lawyer Nicholas Nelson, running for Wahpeton mayor.

Now there are four. Wahpeton lawyer Nicholas Nelson has entered the citys mayoral race.

Nelson, who filed as a candidate Friday, April 8, faces incumbent Mayor Steve Dale, 2nd Ward Councilman Jason Goltz and Councilman at large Brett Lambrecht. The winning candidate will be elected to a four-year term in office.

The citys handling of the pandemic made me seriously consider becoming involved in city politics, Nelson said. The citys overuse of special assessments to pay for public roads inspired

me to run for mayor. As mayor, I would veto such special assessments.

Nelson also cited the results of last falls special election when saying the Wahpeton City Council needs to respect the will of Wahpeton residents.

Despite the residents voting no on the sales tax increase to fund a recreational center, the current mayor and majority of the council continue to push for the completion of the center. Despite my personal views on the recreational center, it is a moot point because the residents voted no, Nelson said.

Nelson said his goals if elected include ending special assessments for public roads and utilities and making Wahpeton the most free city in North Dakota by utilizing our home rule charter.

In addition to the four mayoral candidates and as of 2 p.m. Monday, April 11, Wahpeton has:

 resident Chad Perdue running uncontested to represent the 1st Ward on the city council; incumbent Councilwoman Abby Carlson is not running for re-election

 incumbent 3rd Ward Councilwoman Tiana Bohn running uncontested for re-election

 resident Nicole Colon, incumbent Kelly McNary, resident Cory Unruh and incumbent Lane Wateland running for two at-large council member positions; Tuesdays edition includes comments from Unruh about his run and comments from Colon are forthcoming

 resident Zach Hatting, resident Cortney Mann, incumbent Deb Tobias and incumbent Brian Watson running for three at-large Wahpeton Park Board commissioner positions; Thursdays edition will include comments from Hatting about his run; Daily News has also reached out to Mann and Tobias

All winning candidates will be elected for four-year terms in office. Wahpetons elections are scheduled for June 14, 2022, the day of the North Dakota primary.

Born and raised in Wahpeton, Nelson describes himself as a proud Huskie and former BW Blades member. He attended Bemidji State University for undergraduate studies, followed by the University of North Dakota for law school. After that, he returned to Wahpeton to open his law practice.

Im married to a beautiful angel from Forman who is a nurse in the community, Nelson said. We live on the south side with our dog and two cats.

Nelson said he will stand out in this years mayoral race.

For the most part, the other three candidates are more of the same. Most votes at city council are unanimous. I will be the stand out candidate for those that oppose the overuse of special assessments, lockdowns and mandates, he said.

Asked about his vision of Wahpeton, Nelson said it would be an attractive and safe investment for individuals and businesses.

(We can do that) by ending special assessments and by making Wahpeton the most free city in North Dakota by utilizing our home rule charter, he said.

Residents are reminded that the Wahpeton School Boards next election will be held one week before the city election, on June 7, 2022.

Look to Daily News for new local, state and national election news.
Jussie Smollett raps 'you got the wrong one' after release from jail
Jews in war-torn Ukraine as well as those fleeing the country are getting ready to celebrate Passover on Friday
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By St Stephen's student H.D. Wright.

Manhattan

At 14, I had never met a refugee before. I could not even picture one. I had read numerous books and essays about the Syrian civil war and the myriad resettlement efforts spread across the Middle East; but the Syrian people had remained faceless to me, hidden beneath the weight of statistics and headlines endlessly siphoned across the borders of a restless and overstimulated world.

I knew that I would never be able to understand the conflict if I did not speak to the people it impacted, so, as the end of freshman year in school approached, I scoured the web for an opportunity to travel, and stumbled upon a trip, hosted by The New York Times, offering high school students the chance to travel across the cities of Germany with European economics correspondent Jack Ewing.

I knew that only a few years earlier, in 2015, Chancellor Angela Merkel had bravely forced open the gates of Germany to welcome over a million Syrian refugees to safety. I also knew that in response, the right wing pseudo-populist party Alternative fur Deutschland (AfD) had used their arrival to stoke the flames of xenophobic nationalism, earning 92 seats in the Bundestag the previous fall. I wanted to uncover the ingredients that had created such a corrosive concoction in German politics, so I applied. A few weeks later, I received an email notifying me that I would be flying to Berlin.

Berlin

That first week, in bookstores and Biergartens along the banks of the Spree, the humanity that had been obscured was finally revealed. We met with refugees almost every day. Some were adults, others were only teenagers  but everyone had a story. I was amazed at how much they had weathered but astounded by how they had risen despite the weight of their circumstances.

In between these revelatory meetings, the other students and I wandered the winding streets of Berlin, Leipzig, Stuttgart and Munich, exploring the new neighbourhoods that had sprung up as a result of the resettlement effort. Vendors from Damascus sold food on empty street corners. Artists from Homs propped their art up against the grey walls. Music and crowds spilled out of restaurants, and delicious aromas from Idlib and Aleppo wafted behind them.

"Refugees Welcome", Berlin. Photo H.D. Wright.

It was clear that areas that were once barren had been brought back to life, infused with a new cultural and economic energy. As a result, tourists flowed in from far and wide to participate in the wonders of this new cultural economy, further fuelling the engine of change, prosperity, and enrichment. To think that the builders of this new Eden had arrived empty handed, burdened down with the invisible weight of hatred; and they had built all of this.

Yet away from the colour and energy of these streets, between the cobblestones of Munich and beneath the plazas of Berlin, there slept an animosity, an anxiety that only dared to show its face behind the curtain of a voting booth, between the lines of an op-ed, and in the veiled gazes of angry pedestrians hurrying along the periphery. I could feel it in the air, but I couldnt quite put my finger on what it was. I heard it in the whispers of those angry pedestrians; I saw it in their gazes, cast down at the sidewalk; but most of all I saw it in the physical separation between neighbourhoods, the invisible barriers erected between our world and theirs, dividing what was once one.

I wanted to understand the roots of this energy, comprehend why it continued to grow, as the subjects of its hatred helped the country flourish; so for my final project, I decided to probe deeper by interviewing Germans on the street. I approached them outside the Museum of Pergamon, between the columns of Brandenburg Gate, and on the steps of the Reichstag, and there I began to listen.

Some welcomed the refugees with open arms, others ambivalently, most begrudgingly, but among the voices of support and slight resistance, a cohort of a much darker nature began to take shape. They would often glance behind them, and then lean in, aware of the public shunning of their hidden views,

before speaking. Yet despite the worry, and the recognition of the unpopularity of their opinions, many came forward anyway. They told me that their culture was under attack, that their jobs were going to be stolen  that the very foundation of their identities was in danger.

Even though I had been given a personal look into the minds of those most impacted by the conflict, I felt there was still so much more to learn. I felt as if I had peered into an unimaginably deep crevasse and now I wanted to climb in. I promised myself that I would jump at the first opportunity that came my way. My sophomore year of high school, a chance to travel again finally came my way.

Rome

It was a Monday morning in Rome, and nearly six months had passed since Id left Berlin and begun my sophomore study abroad at St Stephen's School. I had been in the Eternal City for only a few weeks when I heard that a local kitchen, staffed by Syrian refugees, was searching for volunteers. That very weekend, I took the train there, practicing Italian phrases in the corner of the train carriage. When I arrived, it became clear that my cursory level of Italian would not be enough to get by. I stacked supplies quietly in the corner, eager to find the keys to communication.

H.D. Wright, St Stephen's School I.D.

When I returned to school that evening, I signed up for two Italian classes, and petitioned for an independent study in Arabic. The weeks passed quickly, and soon the hours of quiet stacking were replaced with minutes of shy chatter. Then the minutes became hours, and the hours filled with stories. I learned that even though my new friends were thankful to be in Rome, their worries often brought them back to Syria, for many of their family members were stuck on a strip of sand on the Jordan-Syria border.

A few weeks later I learned that Jordan Hattar, a Syrian refugee activist, was visiting my school to speak about his experience working in Zaatari refugee camp, the very strip of sand my new friends had described. With each word, Jordan painted a picture of the camp and its inhabitants: the metal housing units stuck in the sand, the families waiting patiently inside them, and the tall gates and the barbed wire enclosing it all. As Jordans presentation came to a close, I wanted to ask him if he would take me there, but as the school filed out into the halls, he was lost among the crowd.

I trudged to the cafeteria and sat down at an empty table, sorely wondering if Id missed my only opportunity to speak to him. As I cursed myself under my breath, a figure sat down across from me. I looked up from my tray, expecting to see a friend, but to my surprise, it was Jordan. For the next few months, as I finished my sophomore year of high school in Rome, and studied in New Haven and London over the summer, Jordan and I stayed in touch. After months of correspondence and planning, it was confirmed: we were going to Zaatari, the largest Syrian refugee camp in the world.

Zaatari

As our car edged closer, I glimpsed the outlines of the camp, a sea of white metal boxes spreading across the desert. Figures behind the walls of the camp came into focus, many of them children. And then we saw the camp's military guards, Jordanian soldiers dressed in combat fatigues, holding machine guns. After presenting our paperwork to the guards at the gates, we were ushered past the barbed wire and into the confines of the maze.

The perimeter of Za'atari. Photo H.D. Wright.

I stepped out of the car into a makeshift parking lot, noticing only four other cars, all owned by other NGOs. Only the click of my camera's shutter broke the silence, along against the wind." In a world of constant breaking news, the stories of these refugees were being forgotten. The wire and the desert had forced the refugees into a state of isolated imprisonment, trapped between a painful past and an uncertain future, discouraged from following the road into Jordan, yet unable to retrace their steps back home.

Over the next few hours, I interviewed and photographed scores of families. Fathers told me how much they wanted to go back to work. Mothers told me how much they wished their children could go to school. And the children, approaching me with wide-eyes and smiles, asked for fist bumps and pictures, unaware of all that they had already lost. One theme traced a thread from family to family: the fervent wish to integrate into a new society and resume the rhythm of living.

H.D. Wright interviews a doctor at the Syrian American Medical Society in Za'atari. Photo by Amelie Davidkhanian Wright.

After hours of hushed conversations, a soldier informed us that it was time to leave. We got back in the van and drove out through the gates, leaving this forgotten world behind in an unresolved cloud of dust. On the plane home, as we passed Cairo and glided over Rome, I thought about how far I had come, and how much farther I still had to go. I had dived into the crevasse, and learned that it wasnt as terrifying as the news had led me to believe. How could I use the stories I had been told to make a difference? I wondered.

As 2021 came to a close, I found the answer thanks to my work with Kailash Satyarthis 100 Million campaign whose goal is to mobilise 100 million young people to push for a better future for 100 million marginalised children who have been denied their rights and liberty.

Through the fence at Za'atari. Photo by H.D. Wright.

As a result of my involvement with 100 Million, I was invited to join the youth constituency of Education Cannot Wait, the UNs new fund for education in emergency situations including war, climate disaster or any upheaval that threatens children's learning. I stood for election to represent the group, and I won.

Since then, I have reflected on the trajectory of my journey, and recognised the immense importance of listening to learn. I followed the words gifted to me in Berlin all the way to Rome; and as I carry out my duties at ECW, I will continue to do just that.

H.D. Wright

This article was published in the March 2022 online edition of Wanted in Rome magazine.
Via Crucis returns to Colosseum for first time in two years.

A Ukrainian family and a Russian family will carry the cross together during one of the stations of the Via Crucis ceremony led by Pope Francis at the Colosseum in Rome on Good Friday.

The two families have penned a meditation to accompany the 13th Station of the Cross, the solemn 14-step Catholic devotion that commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.

Their co-written reflection is for the second-last station, "Jesus dies on the cross", and refers to the pain and destruction of war.

"We have no tears left. Anger has given way to resignation, reads their text, "Lord, where are you? Speak to us amid the silence of death and division, and teach us to be peacemakers, brothers and sisters, and to rebuild what bombs tried to destroy.

The 14 meditations for this year's Via Crucis, which returns to the Colosseum for the first time since 2019, were written by families linked to Catholic communities and voluntary associations, all of whom speak about their own personal difficulties.

The last two editions of the annual Roman tradition - which dates to the 18th century and was revived in 1964 - were held in St Peter's Square, minus the crowds, due to the covid pandemic.

Part of the Vatican's Easter liturgical programme for Holy Week or Settimana Santa, the Via Crucis begins at 21.15 on Friday 15 April and will be broadcast on Italian television channel RAI Uno.

Photo credit: AM113 / Shutterstock.com.
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...ELEVATED FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS EXPECTED THROUGH THE WEEKEND... Mild temperatures and very low relative humidity will result in elevated fire weather conditions this afternoon and early evening. Even though relative humidity is expected to be a bit higher on Sunday, increasing southeast winds will keep fire danger elevated across the region. Pleasant spring weather will draw more people outdoors this weekend, as will the opening of the inland fishing season. If you are planning to be outdoors, please use caution with any activities that could potentially lead to a wildland fire. Campfires, outdoor grills, smoking materials, chain saws, and all-terrain vehicles all have the potential to throw a spark and ignite a dangerous and destructive fire. Burning restrictions will likely be in effect for many areas in central and northern Wisconsin. Be sure to check with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources for more information.
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TransUnion accused of tricking customers Wp Get the full experience. Choose your plan ArrowRight A U.S. consumer watchdog on Tuesday sued TransUnion and one of its former executives, accusing the credit reporting agency of tricking consumers into making recurring payments after being fined in 2017 for similar activity. The lawsuit, filed by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau in federal court in Illinois, accuses John Danaher, who headed one of TransUnions subsidiaries, of failing to ensure that the company stopped the deceptive activity.

The suit seeks monetary relief for consumers, injunctive relief and fines.

TransUnion is an out-of-control repeat offender that believes it is above the law, CFPB Director Rohit Chopra said in a statement. I am concerned that TransUnions leadership is either unwilling or incapable of operating its businesses lawfully.

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The company in a statement called the CFPBs claims meritless.

Danaher left TransUnion in 2021, according to the CFPB. He did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The lawsuit underscores the bureaus more aggressive posture under President Bidens administration. Chopra said last month the CFPB was looking at structural remedies to hold big companies more accountable for repeat offenses.

 Reuters

U.S. gun companies fight Mexico lawsuit

The Mexican governments U.S. suit against gunmakers over violence involving their products is illegal and must be dismissed, Smith & Wesson Brands, Glock and other companies told a federal judge in Boston.

Smith & Wessons lawyer, Andrew Lelling, said Tuesday in a hearing before U.S. District Judge F. Dennis Saylor that a law passed by Congress in 2005 to shield firearms manufacturers from liability barred Mexicos suit.

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Mexico is using the court as a tool to circumvent legislative channels, Lelling said.

The Mexican government filed the suit last year in Massachusetts, where several of the gunmakers, including Smith & Wesson, are based. It is seeking billions of dollars over thousands of murders it claims are committed with guns illegally smuggled across the border.

According to the suit, the reckless sales practices of the companies wreak havoc in Mexican society by persistently supplying a torrent of guns to the drug cartels. Mexico claims 17,000 of its citizens were murdered in 2019 with guns made in the U.S.

Saylor on Tuesday seemed to question the logic behind the suit. He asked if the government of Italy could sue gunmakers over Mafia violence or if El Salvador could file claims over murders committed by criminal gang MS-13.

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Mexicos lawyer, Steve Shadowen, responded that he didnt see why not.

I believe there would be no bar to those claims if they can meet the requirements we meet here of proximate cause, and if their law gives them a claim they can pursue in the United States, Shadowen told the court.

 Bloomberg News

Union Pacific plans to limit customer-owned rail cars on its network beginning next week to ease traffic jams that have gummed up the supply chain. The railroad said in a letter to customers that it would begin metering traffic after April 18 if customers don't voluntarily reduce their inventory before then. Union Pacific also said it's removing 2 percent to 3 percent of its own rail cars and has added 50 locomotives since January with plans to bring on 100 more to help move cars along.

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Toyota, the top-selling automaker in the U.S., is rolling out its first fully electric vehicle in eight years. The company on Tuesday unveiled the battery-powered bZ4X small SUV, which starts at $42,000 and can go up to 252 miles per charge. The bZ4X, which will be sold globally, adds to the 38 electric vehicle models now on sale in the U.S., with more than 120 expected by 2025.

American Airlines expects higher costs in the current quarter amid higher labor and jet fuel expenses. As demand returns, carriers are shelling out more to attract new staff as well as retain the existing crew amid looming worker shortage. Rising jet fuel prices around the world caused by Ukraine crisis are also impacting these carriers. American projects a pretax loss, excluding special items, in the range of 21.3 percent to 22.6 percent for the first quarter.

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Unless Vladimir Putin rapidly comes to his senses and pulls out of Ukraine, Russia is on the verge of being cast out of the international capital markets for a very long time. Any bondholders still invested in the nations debt are on their own. Wp Get the full experience. Choose your plan ArrowRight The Russian government has tried to maintain payments to its creditors, but the U.S. Treasurys Office of Foreign Assets Control is inexorably and expertly tightening the noose to halt those money flows. All the avenues and back-channels for Russian government-related entities to keep servicing their debts are being shut down. The credit-rating agencies and benchmark bond-index providers are dropping Russia bonds from their businesses. A formal default by the government is likely to be triggered in the next few weeks.

Russia has in effect acknowledged its pariah status by threatening legal action, and saying it will halt bond sales for the rest of the year. Quite who or what it could successfully sue is unclear, and the prospect of new Russian debt had already evaporated when it invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24. As Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov commented in Russian newspaper Izvestia, the borrowing costs on any bond sale would be cosmic. Itll be many years before we see the country tap the market for dollars, euros or other international currencies, but Russia is also stopping issuance domestically in rubles.

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Thats not so much of a problem while Europe is still paying $1 billion a day for Russian energy. If sanctions on coal are followed by bans on oil and gas, however, those cashflows would end and its inability to borrow would start to hurt. Russia will be in default for perhaps a decade, says Tim Ash, an emerging-markets strategist at Bluebay Asset Management. That means no access to international capital markets, very high costs of borrowing even from the Chinese, no investment, no growth, low living standards. Its a terrible outlook for Russia and Russians.

The latest shoe to drop is in the credit default swap market, with the International Swap Dealers Associations determinations committee ruling that state-owned Russia Railways JSC is in payment default. The CDS market is where protection against a debt issuers failure to pay is bought and sold; now that the precedent has been set, the sovereign itself and other Russian entities will surely soon suffer the same fate.

The ISDA ruling triggers a process to determine how the big investment banks and fund managers compromise on settling the swaps, which would typically be conducted via an auction of available acceptable securities. But as it will be nigh on impossible to deliver any of the underlying debt obligations because no western bank can process the transactions, a simple cash payout on the CDS contracts looks likely. What percentage bondholders are compensated for has yet to be resolved, though its likely to be close to the full amount insured. What is important for the finance industry, which has lived through several credit derivatives disputes, is that the system appears to be working as intended this time.

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Russian borrowers, though, face a substantially worse outcome than during the previous Russian debt crisis in 1998, where only ruble-denominated payments were missed while foreign currency creditors remained whole, and the rest of the world rallied round to pick it the country off its knees economically in the following years. This time, Russia is firmly on its own, facing a financial crisis of its own making and with only itself to blame.

More From Bloomberg Opinion:

 How `Ukraine Fatigue Is Taking Over Markets: John Authers

 U.S. Should Show India Its a Better Partner Than Putin: Editorial

 This Backdoor Keeps Russian Oil Flowing Into Europe: Javier Blas

This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners.

Marcus Ashworth is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering European markets. He spent three decades in the banking industry, most recently as chief markets strategist at Haitong Securities in London.

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com/opinion

2022 Bloomberg L.P.

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Justified as they are, the sanctions imposed on Russia  one of the worlds largest exporters of metals and hydrocarbons  are wreaking havoc on already-strained commodities markets, with potentially dire consequences for the global economy. To avoid unnecessary damage, officials should be prepared to meet this extraordinary challenge with a no less extraordinary response: Emergency support from the U.S. Federal Reserve.

In recent weeks, uncertainty about how the war and sanctions will affect supply has led prices of everything from oil to nickel to gyrate wildly, in some cases more than doubling in a matter of days. The volatility has, in turn, prompted lenders and clearinghouses to demand more collateral to back market participants rapidly expanding positions, in some cases boosting cash demands tenfold. Combined with supply-chain snarls, which have increased the volume of commodities in transport, this has placed extreme stress on the finances of some of the worlds largest trading firms, such as Glencore, Trafigura and Vitol  stress that recently forced the London Metal Exchange to shut down nickel trading to avert a cascade of defaults.

The repercussions could be far-reaching. Trading firms play a central role in ensuring that supplies reach end users. If they cant borrow the money needed to maintain their positions, production of goods ranging from gasoline to electric cars could suffer, further aggravating price spirals and logistical issues. Food shortages, rationing and power outages are not beyond the realm of possibility.

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Central banks were created to address such market failures. By providing emergency loans against good collateral, or by standing ready to purchase assets directly, they temporarily replace private financing until the crisis passes. Thats what both the Fed and the European Central Bank did at the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, with the Fed extending its support all the way to the markets for municipal bonds and corporate debt. Typically, the mere promise of support is all thats needed to get markets functioning again.

So far, though, central bankers have been reluctant to backstop the commodities market. The ECB rebuffed a call from the European Federation of Energy Traders to provide emergency funding for exchanges and clearing members, on the grounds that its statutes dont allow such support. But what about the Fed? Section 13(3) of the Federal Reserve Act grants it the power to enter credit markets above and beyond its standing authority to lend to banks. It can, and should, stand ready to use that power to head off a commodities disaster.

Section 13(3) demands that three relevant conditions be met: The circumstances must be unusual and exigent, its lending must be amply secured to protect taxpayers from losses, and borrowers must be otherwise unable to secure adequate credit accommodations. Certainly, a war in the middle of Europe counts as exigent. Market participants have ample assets to pledge, and their struggles to obtain adequate financing are at the core of the crisis. The problem isnt that the assets have become impaired  on the contrary, the main driver of the financing gap is a sharp increase in prices.

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Granted, theres a danger that central bank support would encourage participants to act irresponsibly in the future. To mitigate this moral hazard, the Fed would have to clearly communicate that it was responding to a specific financial breakdown, not to normal fluctuations of prices or credit risk. The intervention would not be about rescuing participants from their own risk-taking behavior, but about restoring the markets ability to price and trade risk amid a global emergency.

No doubt, rescuing the likes of commodities traders would not be a popular move. But that cant be the Feds primary concern. This crisis threatens its mission of ensuring stable prices and full employment. It should be prepared to step in at a moments notice.

This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners.

Steven Kelly is a research associate at the Yale Program on Financial Stability.

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com/opinion

2022 Bloomberg L.P.

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Before the hearings for Ketanji Brown Jackson slip from memory now that shes been confirmed to the Supreme Court, its worth noting that they marked a failure of one of President Barack Obamas decisions when he was in office.Im talking about his decision to ignore that the previous administration had used torture during the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. It came up when Republican senators attacked Jackson for having noted in a court filing that the U.S. had committed war crimes. In fact, Senator John Cornyn claimed that Jackson had called President George W. Bush a war criminal, which wasnt exactly what she said  as several fact checkers explained. What she did say, however, was that some U.S. actions did count as war crimes, and of course thats exactly what torture is. The incredulous reaction of the Republicans demonstrated that they either refuse to believe that this conduct actually happened, or refuse to believe that torture is a war crime  or perhaps both.Which means that its unfortunately still possible that it will happen again. In fact, President Donald Trump described himself as supporting torture, before he was dissuaded by Defense Secretary James Mattis and seemed to lose interest in the subject. But if Republican politicians are willing to support it, odds are that it will happen again.The worst of this practice had ended by the time Obama took office, and he moved quickly to eliminate the rest. But when it came to reckoning with what had happened, Obama had several choices. He couldve pushed for prosecutions  if not for everyone up and down the chain of command, at least for someone. He couldve appointed a commission to study the issue and come back with recommendations. My own suggestion was that he offer blanket pardons to everyone involved on the grounds that the Sept. 11 attacks had driven people to make poor choices. With any luck, at least some high-ranking Bush administration officials mightve accepted the pardon, and that buy-in couldve made a commission truly bipartisan. But even if they all rejected the pardons, it would have given Obama the high ground to talk about the issue without any threat of prosecuting the previous administration, which is always a tricky problem.Instead, Obama said he would look forward as opposed to looking backwards and basically ducked the topic for eight years. That wasnt necessarily the wrong choice. It offered Republicans a de facto deal: Well all ignore that it happened, as long as we agree that it should not happen again. Had Obama done more, it wouldve risked further polarizing the nation around the issue, with Republicans digging in and eventually making torture the standard party position.Cornyn and other Republican senators broke that deal (which, to be sure, was always tacit at best) by acting outraged that anyone could ever suggest that Bush  and Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld  had ever sanctioned torture. But of course they did. That Republicans should now act as if it was beyond the pale for anyone to say what plainly happened? To try to score political points over it? Its not as bad as actively supporting a new round of war crimes, but its far too close to it. After all, one of the reasons to support torture is that its the demagogues friend; irresponsible politicians can accuse those willing to abide by international law (and traditional U.S. norms and practices) of being insufficiently tough.Again, thats not quite what Cornyn was up to. But its close.
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The lockdown in Shanghai, accompanied by media accounts of food shortages and unreported deaths, are evoking painful recollections of January 2020 and the central city of Wuhan, where Covid-19 first broke out. For investors, the memory will also include the economic stimulus that China unleashed then to fight off a recession  as well as the bull market that ensued.

That may explain why Chinas main stock indexes have not sunk below their mid-March low, even as the number of Covid cases soared. Counterintuitively, since the initial outbreak in 2020, index returns were positively  not negatively  correlated with the number of cases, according to Goldman Sachs Group Inc.

By now, China has built a track record of containing Covid outbreaks. As such, investors are looking through the short-term economic losses, and focusing instead on the policy goodies that Beijing is willing to hand out.

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This time, the government may not be willing to shower the country with helicopter money. In 2020, a rapid expansion in credit caused the real estate market to overheat, driving home sales and prices to records. Then China spent much of 2021 trying to cool it down, argued Gavekal Researchs Wei He.

These days, regulations and the political backdrop  not Covid outbreaks  have become influential trading themes. China can act on both those fronts to help its financial markets.

Chinese stocks had a major slump last July when the government moved to investigate Didi Global Inc. over possible cyber-security issues just days after the ride-hailing giants $4.4 billion mega initial public offering in New York; the crackdown on big tech then stretched to more companies on issues such as data security and antitrust. In March, after Russia invaded Ukraine, stocks extended their losses, reflecting worries over secondary sanctions.

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In recent days, weve started to see the first signs of the government unclenching its fists. On March 16, Chinas top economic policy maker issued an unusual public statement seeking to actively introduce policies that benefit markets. This week, came the first batch of new video game licenses since July, ending a months-long hiatus that threatened the business models of Tencent Holdings Ltd., Netease Inc. and Bilibili Inc. Earlier this month, the government made a significant concession to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission by revising rules that prevented U.S. regulators from inspecting audit papers of New York-listed Chinese companies.

With an estimated 373 million people ensnared in some form of movement restrictions, economists are now talking about the risk of a recession. Goldman, for instance, sees China growing at only 4.5% this year, short of the governments 5.5% target. Even Premier Li Keqiang has issued growth warnings to local government officials. When things are not going so great domestically, the hawkish branch of the political elite may just lose a little bit of their sway, be it in geopolitics or via tough regulations.

Thats because financial markets do matter. Ultimately, they determine the financing conditions for companies. The central bank could be cutting benchmark rates, but if stocks and corporate bonds are in a slump, how can businesses raise money to invest for the future?

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For over a year now, investors were having a tough time, prompting some to question whether China has become uninvestable due to the unpredictable policy making. The nations recent Covid outbreaks change that view. After all, somethings got to give: China wants to save face and not be seen as lying flat on Covid. A potential recession that triggers an urgent government response is not necessarily a bad thing for markets.

More From Bloomberg Opinion:



Chinas Leaders Refuse to Take Covid  Lying Flat: Shuli Ren



If Stocks Dont Fall, the Fed Needs to Force Them: Bill Dudley



Lockdown Anger in Shanghai Wont Fade Anytime Soon: Adam Minter

This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners.

Shuli Ren is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering Asian markets. She previously wrote on markets for Barrons, following a career as an investment banker, and is a CFA charterholder.

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com/opinion

2022 Bloomberg L.P.

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By one measure, Ireland is one of the wealthiest countries in Western Europe. By another, it is in the middle of the pack.(1) What is going on, and why does it matter? Wp Get the full experience. Choose your plan ArrowRight The different measures are GDP per capita and GNP per capita. GDP (gross domestic product) measures the value of what is produced in a country. GNP (gross national product) picks up how much of that value stays in a country.

If a nation has a lot of foreign direct investment, as does Ireland, GDP will exceed GNP by a considerable amount. According to the Irish government, the countrys GDP is about 370 billion euros. Its GNP is less than 300 billion euros. The difference in GDP and GNP is largely accounted for by the outflow of profits to foreign-owned multinationals.

This isnt just a story about Ireland. Many other nations have had significant differences between their GDP and GNP, including many developing nations and, at times, Singapore.

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The conventional wisdom is that GNP is the proper measure of living standards, because domestic citizens do not have claims on the profits of foreign multinationals. That isnt wrong, but it is also an incomplete answer. When it comes to the future prospects of a country, GDP is a better indicator. Countries that have a high ratio of GDP to GNP are especially promising, though there are some caveats.

A relatively high GDP is a sign that a large number of foreign companies view the future of the domestic economy as bright. They are putting their money where their mouth is.

In the case of Ireland, the country is now the only member of the European Union in which English is the main language not only for business but also for schools and public life. Foreign investors are drawn by that fact. They also see that Ireland is relatively underpopulated, and appears to be receptive to absorbing talented foreign immigrants. Furthermore, Ireland is ruled by mainstream parties and seems largely unaffected by the populism and nativism that are creating problems elsewhere in Europe.

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All these realities are reason to be bullish. It is also reasonable to expect that the Irish government will be relatively friendly to business looking forward.

Some of the foreign investment in Ireland is driven by favorable corporate tax treatment, and there is a view that Irish corporate tax rates are too low for the benefit of Europe as a whole. I wont address that debate here. Focusing merely on the narrower question of its future economic prospects, Irelands ability to credibly commit to pro-commerce practices is again a bullish sign.

The same can be said about Singapore, which also features favorable treatment of foreign multinationals and a reputation for beneficial economic policies.(2)

Foreign direct investment also may improve the national security prospects for a country. This is probably more of an issue for Singapore than for Ireland, due to a greater potential for regional instability in Southeast Asia. The presence of so many major U.S. corporations in Singapore makes it easier for the U.S. government to consider Singapore a friendly nation, and it boosts the number and strength of the interest groups that will lobby for U.S. support of Singaporean national security.

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There are times to be wary when a countrys GDP exceeds its GNP. When the foreign direct investment is in extractive resource industries, for example, it can be a sign of rent-seeking, political privilege and manipulation of domestic governance. Its more encouraging when the foreign investors are a diverse lot, with many in service industries such as technology and business consulting. Then foreign investment is more likely a sign of good prospects for human capital.

There are also countries in which GNP is much higher than GDP, such as East Timor during its times of receiving lots of foreign aid. I regard that as a bearish sign, just as I regard the higher GDP number as a bullish sign.

The main lesson is not to focus on GDP to the exclusion of GNP. The decisions of foreign investors say a great deal about where a country might be headed.

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Related at Bloomberg Opinion:

 No, Ireland Doesnt Buy That Many iPhones: Tim Culpan

 The U.S. Economy Is Better Than It Looks: Karl Smith

 Dont Be Bummed That GDP Cant Measure Happiness: Noah Smith

(1) Note that GNI  gross national income  is yet another category. It moves very closely with GNP.

(2) For Ireland and some other low corporate tax countries, some of the measured foreign investment is the result of accounting manipulations, and may not reflect a real resource investment in the country at all. To that extent the investment is not a positive bet on Irelands future, but it is also not a negative bet on Ireland (or Singapore).

This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners.

Tyler Cowen is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist. He is a professor of economics at George Mason University and writes for the blog Marginal Revolution. His books include Big Business: A Love Letter to an American Anti-Hero.

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com/opinion

2022 Bloomberg L.P.

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House impeaches attorney general Wp Get the full experience. Choose your plan ArrowRight The South Dakota House on Tuesday impeached Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg over a 2020 car crash in which he killed a pedestrian but initially said he might have struck a deer or another large animal. Ravnsborg (R) is the first official to be impeached in South Dakota history. He will be temporarily removed from office pending a Senate trial, where it takes a two-thirds majority to convict. The Senate must wait at least 20 days to hold its trial but has not yet set a date.

Ravnsborg pleaded no contest last year to a pair of traffic misdemeanors in the crash, including making an illegal lane change. He has cast Joseph Boevers death as a tragic accident.

In narrowly voting to impeach Ravnsborg, 36 to 31, the Republican-controlled House charged him with committing crimes that caused someones death, making numerous misrepresentations to law enforcement officers after the crash and using his office to navigate the criminal investigation. A Senate conviction would mean Ravnsborg would be barred from holding state office in the future.

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When were dealing with the life of one of your citizens, I think that weighed heavily on everyone, said Rep. Will Mortenson (R), who introduced the articles of impeachment.

Tim Bormann, his chief of staff, said his staff would professionally dedicate ourselves to their work while Ravnsborg is on leave.

 Associated Press

Governor signs permitless carry bill

After proposing on the campaign trail in 2018 to do away with the requirement that Georgians obtain a permit to carry a concealed handgun in public, Gov. Brian Kemp (R) on Tuesday signed Senate Bill 319. It immediately allows permitless carry, making Georgia the 25th state with such a law, and the 10th added in the past two years.

Republicans argue that requiring a carry permit, which costs about $75, infringes on Second Amendment rights. They also cite permitting delays in some counties during the pandemic. At an event before the signing, several Democratic lawmakers said the bill would remove one of Georgias few deterrents blocking people who arent supposed to carry a gun.

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 Associated Press

Judge: Women must wait a day on abortion

Women will have to wait 24 hours before getting an abortion under a ruling by a Florida judge in a nearly seven-year battle over the waiting period.

Circuit Court Judge Angela Dempsey in Tallahassee tossed out a lawsuit filed on behalf of a Gainesville womens clinic, saying other medical procedures have similar waiting periods and other important decisions like getting married, getting divorced and buying a gun have longer waiting periods.

The waiting period goes into effect once Dempsey signs one additional piece of paperwork.

Dempsey also added that exceptions for the life of a mother, documented cases of rape and incest, and victims of domestic violence and human traffic support the constitutionality of the law.

The ruling comes a month after the Florida Legislature sent Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) a bill banning abortion after 15 weeks. DeSantis is expected to sign it.

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 Associated Press

Men sentenced in 2017 Minn. mosque bombing: Two Illinois men who helped bomb a Minnesota mosque in 2017 were sentenced Tuesday to about 16 years and roughly 14 years in prison  far below the 35-year mandatory minimum each man faced  after victims and prosecutors asked for leniency because the men testified against the mastermind of the attack. Michael McWhorter, 33, was sentenced to just under 16 years in prison and Joe Morris, 26, was sentenced to about 14 years in prison. Both testified in the 2020 trial against Emily Claire Hari, the leader of a small Illinois armed group called the "White Rabbits." Hari was convicted in 2020 and sentenced last year to 53 years in prison for the attack on Dar al-Farooq Islamic Center, in the Minneapolis suburb of Bloomington. No one was hurt in the 2017 explosion.

Man charged in Iowa nightclub shooting: A man arrested in a fatal shooting inside a crowded Iowa nightclub was seen on the club's surveillance video shooting "intentionally and indiscriminately" into the crowd, police said in court filings. Timothy Ladell Rush, 32, appeared in court Tuesday on charges of second-degree murder, willful injury and three weapons-related felonies stemming from the early Sunday attack in which two people were killed and 10 were wounded. He was ordered held on $1.5 million bail. The public defender's office hasn't yet named an attorney.

 From news services

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Gulls and terns on the southern end of Ocracoke Island in North Carolina. (Anna Mazurek for The Post)

This North Carolina barrier island has a colorful past that belies its tranquil present.
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.
The corporate watchdog was forced to dump its longstanding security contractor after learning the Australian Federal Police was investigating the company for suspected links to an outlaw motorcycle gang, illegal phoenixing, fraud offences and money laundering.

The Australian Securities and Investments Commissions issues with its external security contractor have emerged after the security firm sued ASIC in the NSW Supreme Court, alleging its director was pressured by the watchdog into agreeing to tear up the contracts because of the investigation.

Premier mainly worked with ASIC but also performed vetting work for other government agencies. It provided more than 7,000 security clearances for the government. Credit:Darrian Traynor

The court this month dismissed the claim filed by Premier Protection Agency (Aust) against ASIC, finding that ASIC had not exerted any undue pressure during an allegedly heated phone call in 2016 when the regulator revealed it would be severing ties with Premier because of the AFP investigation.

The judgment provides the first glimpse into ASICs troubles with the security contractor it did business with for 17 years.
Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size It was a dark day for literature when David Foster Wallace took his life in 2008, at the age of 46. Wallace was hands-down the most talented American writer of his generation. Arguably he was one of the most striking and original prose stylists of the past century. And yet hes never really been a household name, unless you live in an unusually highbrow household. He had enormous gifts, but an equally enormous propensity to get in his own way. Maybe thats why Americas Wallace industry has been busier since his death than it was during his life. The man himself is no longer around to impose his artistic standards, which were both fanatically strict and strangely self-sabotaging. In his lifetime Wallace published two novels, three story collections, and two volumes of non-fiction, along with sundry minor works. Since his death, his oeuvre has gone on growing. In 2009, his publishers had a hit with This is Water, a jazzed-up version of a commencement address Wallace delivered in 2005. The Pale King, the big unfinished novel he was working on at the time of his death, was published in 2011. A volume of previously uncollected essays appeared in 2012. So did D. T. Maxs biography, Every Love Story is a Ghost Story. In 2015 Jason Segel played Wallace in the movie The End of the Tour. The latest addition to the Wallace canon is a hundred-page novella called Something to Do with Paying Attention. Actually, the text of the book isnt new. Readers who made it past the middle of The Pale King  admittedly not a large cohort  will find theyve read this novella before. It first appeared as The Pale Kings 22nd chapter, in the form of a memoir composed by one of that novels countless narrators. Jesse Eisenberg and Jason Segel star in The End of the Tour. Now its been re-issued as a stand-alone book, in a bid to solve a perennial Wallace problem: that of providing newcomers with a way into his work. For someone who has never read Wallace, the books publisher, Sarah McNally, writes in her preface, this little book  is a perfect place to start. Im not sure McNally is right about that. Removed from the bustling context of The Pale King, the story feels like an uncharacteristically minor-key performance. Newbies who start here are liable to wonder what all the fuss is about.

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Still, McNally is right to feel that Wallaces reputation is due for a booster shot. This is doubly true in Australia, where Wallace is criminally under-appreciated. His books have never sold well here, and this new one doesnt even have an Aussie distributor. When he was on song, Wallace produced sentences that made his most gifted contemporaries feel like quitting on the spot. If this novella isnt the perfect introduction to Wallace, then what is? The awkward fact, which McNally hints at but doesnt dare to mention aloud, is that Wallace never produced a wholly satisfactory book. Unfortunately, he wasnt his own best critic or curator. He had a maddening tendency to barricade his gorgeous prose behind needless entanglements of textual barbed wire. This has always presented his fans with a challenge. If you love his stuff  as I do  then how do you spread the word about it? Even his best books cant be recommended without a caveat or two: read this bit, but dont hesitate to skip or skim that one. What makes the Wallace problem so vexing is that his best stuff really was incredibly good. When he was on song, Wallace produced sentences that made his most gifted contemporaries feel like quitting on the spot. Where does a new reader start when it comes to David Foster Wallace? Here he is covering a tennis match between Pete Sampras and Mark Philippoussis. Sampras, poor-postured and chestless, smiling shyly at the ground, his powder-blue shorts swimming down around his knees, looks a little like a kid wearing his fathers clothes.

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Hows that for a word-picture? And hows this for a cruel but fair evocation of The Poo? The malevolent but cyborgian Philippoussis hasnt betrayed anything like an actual facial expression yet. Between points he likes to dance a little in place  perhaps to remind himself that he can indeed move if he needs to. Wallaces journalism showcased his superb ability to register the world in front of his eyes. In the best passages of his fiction, he did something even trickier. In the same deft style, he registered the world inside his head. He could catch a thought in flight. Heres one of the narrators of The Pale King, sitting on an infernally hot bus: The sun began shortly to broil the buss rear and port side. The air-conditioning was more like a vague gesture toward the abstract idea of air-conditioning. There was a horrific piece of graffiti incised with knife or leather punch in the plastic of the seatback in front of me, which I looked at twice and then made a point of never looking directly at again. The bus had a lavatory in the wayback rear, which no one ever made any attempt to use, and I remember consciously deciding to trust that the passengers had good reason for not using it instead of venturing in and discovering that reason for myself. Author David Foster Wallace at the New Yorker Magazine Festival in 2002. Credit:Getty Images Notice how the sentence about the feeble air-conditioning can hardly be bothered being a proper sentence. Wallaces very syntax feels heat-affected. And notice how the narrator doesnt just not look at the graffito again. He makes a point of not looking at it again. This is how thought moves, and Wallace had a supreme ability to follow its twists and turns in language. The word genius isnt out of place for Wallace. He could go on like this for page after page, spraying out jaw-dropping sentences seemingly at will. His intelligence was vast, and his writing let you all the way into it. His verbal talent was on a par with James Joyces. But he was a Joyce for our time. His best prose was slangy, hyper-modern, tech-savvy, and laugh-out-loud funny.

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Alas, Wallace had something else in common with Joyce. Maybe because he could produce breathtaking prose without really trying, he also felt a restless urge to overegg the pudding, by conducting formal experiments that seemed positively designed to shut readers out. Just how much reader-annoyance are you shooting for here exactly? said his sister Amy, when vetting one of Wallaces manuscripts. This is the lingering question about Wallace. What was the deal with the reader-annoyance? One answer is that he lacked discipline. The guy just didnt know how to stop himself. His best-known novel, Infinite Jest, was 1100 pages long, and included a hundred pages of minutely printed endnotes. As Max reveals in his biography, the novels draft was 600 pages longer. Wallaces editor had to fight him tooth and nail to reduce the book to the width of a mere housebrick. Wallaces running battles with editors are a motif of Maxs biography. When commissioned to write magazine articles, Wallace routinely handed in unfeasibly massive, manically brilliant drafts that were as long as small books, and riddled with post-modern interpolations (subheadings, upside-down text, footnotes, footnotes to footnotes). The biggest challenge to editing Daves non-fiction, said one of his editors, was in striking a balance between the magazines needs and his instinctual impulse to not give a f--- about the magazines needs. The new David Foster Wallace The latest addition to the Wallace canon is a hundred-page novella called Something to Do with Paying Attention.

The novel first appeared as The Pale King s 22nd chapter, in the form of a memoir composed by one of that novels countless narrators.

s 22nd chapter, in the form of a memoir composed by one of that novels countless narrators. The coming-of-age story follows a young man, a wastoid living in the suburban midwest in the US in the 1970s, and his encounter with tax law.

Publisher Sarah McNally writes in her preface that the novel is: not just a complete story, but the best complete example we have of Wallaces late style, where calm and poise replace the pyrotechnics of Infinite Jest and other early works. Writing fiction, Wallace was even freer to not care about user-friendliness. But perhaps thats the wrong way to put it. There was nothing careless about Wallaces commitment to being difficult. His stuff was inaccessible on purpose. Wallace made his living as a creative-writing professor, and his fiction always had a regrettable whiff of the seminar room. Heeding the commandments of cutting-edge literary theory, he denied his readers the old-fashioned pleasures of plot and narrative closure. In his notes for The Pale King, Wallace urged himself, all too successfully, to make the book feel like a series of setups for things to happen but nothing ever happens  something big threatens to happen but doesnt actually happen. Sometimes you wonder how great a novelist Wallace might have been, if his narratives had been as shapely and welcoming as his best sentences. But its an idle thought. The forbidding texture of Wallaces fiction wasnt just a matter of academic theory. It also had to do with his profound unease about success and fame. He both wanted and didnt want these things. His fiction reflected that ambivalence. It gave with one hand, sometimes to a ridiculously generous degree, but took away with the other.

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Wallace was a complicated man whose life was darkened by the shadows of depression and addiction. His friend and fellow novelist Jonathan Franzen called him a lifelong prisoner on the island of himself. Writing fiction, Franzen said, was his way off the island, his way of connecting with others. But after years of wrestling with The Pale King, Wallace became desperately blocked  bored with his old tricks, as Franzen put it, and unable to muster enough excitement about his new novel to find a way forward with it. Far from getting him off the island, his convoluted final book left him comprehensively marooned. While Wallace was alive, one barracked for him to produce the masterpiece that would do full justice to his talents. Now that hes gone, we must make do with his existing works and reconcile ourselves to the fact that his excesses were part of his essence. Without the reader-annoyance, Wallace wouldnt be Wallace. Loading As for the best place to start, I think the answer lies in his non-fiction. Try his scintillating essay about a bad luxury cruise, A Supposedly Fun Thing Ill Never Do Again, which appears in the collection of the same name. If that doesnt make you fall in love with Wallace, nothing will. And if it does, youll be ready for the more exacting pleasures of his fiction. I was about to say and then youll be on your own. But thats exactly how you dont feel, when youre in the company of a writer as marvellous and infuriating as David Foster Wallace.

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Of all the internationals returning to Melbourne after their enforced absence, Mark Watson is surely the most delighted to be here, something he makes a point of yelling at us repeatedly from the side of the stage in a disarming preamble. British comedian Mark Watson is back. Credit: A considerable portion of the actual show sees Watson  now in his 10th appearance at the Festival  extolling the virtues of his favourite city and exhibiting a knowledgeable affinity for AFL. The rest is personal anecdotes about navigating life as a comedian in lockdown and being semi-recognised as a second tier celebrity, delivered in his usual mildly manic style with copious tangents. Never shy about getting personal, Watson touches on some family issues and anxiety-ridden times, but doesnt put too much on his audience and whatever chaos he creates is admirably controlled, including during an extended bit of crowd work.

Michelle Brasier finds the funny side of being fleeced by a scammer. Credit:Simon Schluter Despite his breakneck approach, Watsons focus never wanes and a show that occasionally seems to be drifting finishes bang on time. Not ground-breaking perhaps, but a consistently enjoyable hour from a seasoned performer. Its good to have him back. Patrick Horan Michelle Brasier, Reform 

Arts Centre Melbourne, until April 23 If you were to offer most comedians at this years festival a $500 fee to come up with the narrative structure for their show, 99 per cent would take you up on the offer. Thats essentially whats happened with Michelle Brasier  who was fleeced by a scammer on Gumtree over some Pilates equipment.

However, there is no gotcha moment or payback from Brasier, who details the relationship she developed with her scammer over many months while attempting to recoup her losses. A virtuoso concert violinist, newcomer Floyd Alexander-Hunt provides her own soundtrack. Credit: Accompanied by a three-piece band (who were, unfortunately, muddled by the Fairfax Studios acoustics), Brasier tells the story of how she became the confidant and even emergency contact for Jacob from Adelaide. At its heart, Reform is an outreach for empathy, seeing past humanitys flaws (even Louis C.K.) and a lesson in affinity and compassion. In a world filled with bile and snark, its a welcome respite. Tyson Wray Floyd Alexander-Hunt, Highly Strung 

Melbourne Town Hall, until April 24

First, unrequited, unconditional and self. In her debut hour, Floyd Alexander-Hunt attempts to unpack her experiences with four kinds of love  to mixed results. Loading A virtuoso concert violinist, while Alexander-Hunts skills are unquestionable, the instruments use feels unnecessary, if not gimmicky, when only employed to soundtrack presentations of jilted teenager text messages, celebrity couples and the horrors of letters written to Dolly Doctor. For the most part strong, the scripts constant recurring jokes and flippant off-handers once the laughter has died down need strict tightening. The peppering of gags about her boyfriend being underage (dont worry, he isnt) and Centrelink are as subtle as a Robodebt letter. It must be said, while there is a heavy reliance on it throughout, her crowd work is exceptional and echelons above the prowess you would imagine she should hold at this budding stage of her career.

With a few directional tweaks and honing her unique expertise, Alexander-Hunt should become one of the more intriguing talents on the scene. Tyson Wray RAW Comedy National Grand Final 

Melbourne Town Hall, April 10 For the first time since 2003, Australias largest open mic competition ended in a tie  sending two budding stars to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe So You Think Youre Funny? competition  which has launched the careers of Dylan Moran, Lee Mack and David ODoherty. Opening proceedings, Delhi Buoy (eventual joint runner-up) converted the entire crowd to Islam through the recital of a Rihanna track; Cathal Leslie blindsided the crowd with an expertly timed bait-and-switch about vaccinations; and Dom McGovern turned up the camp level to 11 with a graphic lesson for the crowd on how to sneak drugs into a nightclub. In one of the most disarming sets of the evening, Blake Pavey, 20, shocked the audience by joking about the fact hes most likely going to die by age 40 due to his cystic fibrosis and, therefore, hes now suffering from his midlife crisis. It was bold, but delivered with aplomb.

Iona Colville followed by waxing lyrical about a lifetime of bullying due to her name; Joshua Coutinho made scintillating juxtapositions between Perth and Afghanistan; Guneet Kaur spoke of her ability to act as a racial chameleon; and Nathan Powell detailed the perils of ageing but also spending time with much younger workers. Comedian Blake Pavey says hes in his midlife crisis. Credit: Heather Joan (also joint runner-up) explored the difficulties of having a period as a trans woman, while Aves Robins also riffed about the problems of being transgender, disappointing her parents and compared her experience to being a Mac user having to use a Windows operating system. However, within 30 seconds of hitting the stage there was no doubt Alexandra Hudson would be jetting to Scotland. Referring to herself as a criplet (crippled triplet), Hudson relished being on stage, poking fun at her own cerebral palsy with stories of sharing Endone with her grandmother, her bemusement at able-bodied people enjoying walking recreationally, and a scorching tale about her kink for only liking to have sex in Queensland due to a technicality making it illegal. Hudson will be joined in Scotland by Bron Lewis, who won over judges with jokes about her hometown of Brisbane, the realities of having a COVID baby, and her disdain for the institution of marriage.

As weve come to expect from RAW over the past three decades  theyve unearthed yet another 12 golden talents that should become mainstays of the festival. Tyson Wray Rhys Nicholson, Rhys! Rhys! Rhys! 

Forum Theatre, until April 24 The show title does not lie. This is a very Rhys Nicholson show. And there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. Quite the opposite in fact. Comedian Rhys Nicholson hosted the Comedy Festivals opening night gala. Credit:Monica Pronk Topics will be familiar to fans as Nicholson marvels at the confidence of youth, yearns for drama among friends and mines the navigation of a long-term relationship in lockdown, sprinkling in some hilariously effective fake jump scares to keep the straights in the room on their toes.

There is some self-reflection as Nicholson touches on his non-binary identification and ADHD tendencies, but while he doesnt omit serious points about who he is and how that can still be viewed by society, he commendably doesnt expand on areas he has yet to fully consider, and the expertly delivered rat-a-tat joke rate never flags. And as immaculately structured as the multi-layered material is, Nicholson isnt thrown by unscripted events, leveraging a lighting malfunction and stumbling crowd member for bonus laughs without missing a beat. At one stage he seeks forgiveness for complaining about feeling old now hes (barely) in his 30s, and youre reminded just how remarkable it is to see someone so entirely in command of their work and style at an age when so many peers are yet to find their voice. As good as weve come to expect. Which is to say, outstanding. Patrick Horan Judith Lucy & Denise Scott, Still Here 

Playhouse, Arts Centre, until April 24

Judith Lucy (left) and Denise Scott are Still Here. Credit: National treasures Judith Lucy and Denise Scott are wonderfully in sync, replaying the trials and tribulations of the global pandemic, including the dreariness of the big kahuna lockdown. Shamelessly sharing intimate details about buckling bodies, they find the laughs in arthritis and chin hair. The pair is seemingly shocked, while also possibly chuffed, to learn thirty-somethings have turned up to a show that references the likes of Denise Drysdale and Norman Gunston. When an overzealous, slightly creepy audience member appears a little too keen to get involved, Lucy expertly shuts him down. Meanwhile, the advent of liturgical dancing adds to the silliness.

Redfern Electricals John Cruckshank. Credit: Its prime theatrical stand-up from two living legends. A harp, wine, two armchairs, crochet and fake bricks serve to enhance a joyous, unrelentingly amusing show. Donna Demaio John Cruckshank, Choof Meridian 

Coopers Inn, April 10 Theres shows up at the Town Hall if you like. Riffing on his outsider status, John Cruckshank gently chides his crowd whenever one of his off-kilter gags doesnt fully land, encouraging them to seek out more mainstream fare if they dont like his particular stylings. Fair to say he doesnt have to do it too often while delivering one of the most consistently funny hours of the Festival to a rapturous full house at the Coopers Inn.

Sneaking into town from Sydneys comedy underground and minor online stardom generated by his Redfern Electrical YouTube doco, Cruckshank deftly harnesses the potent Aussie energy of the funniest oddball in the pub and uses it to power some exceptional material. Cruckshank brings a lot of stoner charm and some unexpected vulnerability to believably genuine personal anecdotes  a corporate gig he took for the meat industy on a boat, had a bikie vibe when he arrived  alongside out-there thought bubbles like the emasculation of modern televisions, the origins of the Picnic chocolate bar and the suitable temperament of firing squads. Cracking fare from an inevitable cult hero, if he isnt one already. Dont sleep on his next flying visit. Patrick Horan Andy Matthews and Alasdair Tremblay-Birchall, My Client Is Innocent

Trades Hall, until April 24 Rather like their 12-syllable name, Andy Matthews and Alasdair Tremblay-Birchall present another show full of deliberately long-winded wordsmithery, artful puns and sentence backflips that put the onus on crowd work, i.e. the audience must put in the hard yards to keep abreast of what the blazes is going on.

The premise is inviting: we, the ticket holders, are the jury for a comeback case for the lawyers Gargoyle and Todd. Alasdair Tremblay-Birchall and Andy Matthews return. Credit: The case is as much about a stolen wife as it is a stolen hat, which allows the Lionel Hutz-esque barristers to ratchet up sexual tension between them and dispense zingers: Never make assumptions, it makes an ass of you and umption. Loading Like 90 per cent of shows at the festival, it could use a 10-minute trim; all the wordplay and call-backs become too much of a good thing.
A 15-year-old boy has been charged in connection with the fatal stabbing of a 17-year-old boy who was working at the Royal Easter Show in Sydney on Monday night, as police continue to look for the killer.

The younger boy spent the night in custody and was charged on Tuesday morning with affray, carrying a knife in a public place, and being armed with intent, but police said the person who killed the teenager was still at large.

Forensic police walk past closed rides at the Royal Easter Show on Tuesday morning. Credit:Rhett Wyman

We believe that there is someone who we still need to identify who is responsible for the stabbing. It may be one person, it may be a number of people. We are looking for additional people who were involved, NSW Police Superintendent Danielle Emerton said during a press conference on Tuesday morning.

We believe there is another suspect out there. We still need to identify who is responsible for the stabbing.
If the polls are right, Anthony Albanese may well be prime minister in under six weeks. The Labor leader is promising reform, not revolution, but to avert a looming generational betrayal, he would need to lead significant change.

For the first time in Australias postwar history, our nations children could live poorer lives than their parents. This is because our economy has become generationally imbalanced. Deep-seated structural inequities are prohibiting younger Australians from having a fair go, while transferring unprecedented wealth to older Australians.

The tax burden casts a long shadow over Australias younger workers. Credit:Justin McManus

The problem begins with our tax system. It is leaning overwhelmingly on younger Australians to subsidise the growing cost of supporting our ageing population.

Personal income tax is the largest source of government revenue. In Australia, it accounts for 42 per cent of all tax revenue, almost double the OECD average of 23 per cent. By 2035, it will account for more than half of all tax receipts.
Labor deputy leader Richard Marles told members of the militarys top brass he would probably be defence minister in an Albanese government, in a move that caused ructions inside the party.

Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese has also told senior members of his party that the only two frontbench roles guaranteed under a Labor government are Jim Chalmers as treasurer and Penny Wong as foreign affairs minister.

Richard Marles, left, with Anthony Albanese, has long been interested in national security. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

Multiple Defence and Labor sources, who are not authorised to speak publicly, confirmed Marles late last year gave senior members of the Australian Defence Force the strong impression he would take over the portfolio if Labor won the election.

On Tuesday, Albanese said he hadnt spoken to Richard Marles about the reporting of the portfolio move.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison will ramp up his economic attack on Anthony Albanese with a promise of 1.3 million jobs over the next five years, seizing on the Opposition Leaders embarrassing campaign stumble where he could not remember Australias unemployment rate and official interest rate.

In a damaging opening day, Albanese was forced into a series of public apologies after he was quizzed by journalists and could not name the Reserve Banks cash rate of 0.1 per cent and incorrectly said the unemployment rate was 5.4 per cent, not its current measure of 4 per cent.

Labor leader Anthony Albanese after a doorstop in Launceston on Monday. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

The Coalition immediately seized on the gaffe as evidence of its assertion that Albanese lacks the experience to manage the economy, forcing the Labor leader to call a press conference to try to stem the political damage.

Im human. But when I make a mistake, Ill fess up to it, and Ill set about correcting that mistake, Albanese said in Devonport, more than an hour after his comments in Launceston.
Social Services Minister Anne Ruston is tipped to be named to the health portfolio this weekend in a government move designed to assure voters there will be a smooth transition in the key policy field when Health Minister Greg Hunt leaves the post at the election.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison will name the replacement for Hunt in a shift towards health policy after the economy and employment dominated the opening week of the campaign.

Social Services Minister Anne Ruston is tipped to be named to the health portfolio to replace retiring Health Minister Greg Hunt. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

Ruston, who is also the Coalitions campaign spokesperson, is seen as the leading option to become the designated health minister just as the government is being urged to make a series of major policy commitments to healthcare.

But Morrison is repeatedly being challenged over the status of Alan Tudge after the education minister stood aside last December but kept his cabinet rank during an inquiry into his relationship with a former adviser, Rachelle Miller.
Im giving this first round to the Liberals, but both will need to improve quickly to win this election marketing war.

In the blue corner we have Anthony Albanese, spending almost his entire commercial giving us a long list of all the great things that will happen when hes in power.

In the red corner, we have Scott Morrison, starting off with a TV commercial featuring himself, talking about how hard life has been lately, but that weve handled it well and have a strong future ahead.

The beginning of an election campaign offers a fabulous opportunity for politicians. You have weeks, even months, to craft your initial TV ads and make them truly memorable. So its vital to make the most of this time to create really impactful messaging, as once the campaign progresses both parties wont have that chance again  theyll be forced to create ads quickly in reaction to rapidly changing events.

Every advertisement, whether political or otherwise, must do three things to be effective. It must get noticed (a huge percentage of television commercials fail this test), it must inform and it must persuade.

Perhaps there is marketing magnificence yet to hit the airwaves, but so far both sides have been pretty disappointing in terms of impact and memorability.

In their opening salvos, both parties have elected to do the same sort of political advertising that has been done for the past 30 years  the party leader making statements to the viewer. But at least the Libs have done it well.
The average number of bidders at auction has fallen below a key threshold that suggests property price growth is set to level out.

There were at least 3.5 active bidders per auction for much of last winter and spring in Sydney and Melbourne, but bidder numbers have dropped below this level for 2022 in a sign the market is easing, new Ray White figures show.

Auctioneer Damien Cooley has seen bidder numbers ease since the peak of the property market. Credit:Peter Rae

When there are more than 3.5 bidders per auction, the strong competition tends to push prices and auction clearance rates up.

Scant listings in last years lockdowns were highly sought after, as buyers took advantage of low interest rates to look for more spacious homes to work remotely. But more homes have been listed for sale this autumn, giving buyers more choice and reducing their fear of missing out.
London: UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and finance minister Rishi Sunak will be fined for breaching COVID-19 regulations following allegations of lockdown parties at government offices.

The fines relate to Johnsons own birthday party, held in June 2020, and make Johnson the first serving British prime minister to be found to have broken the law. Johnsons wife, Carrie, will also receive a fine, her spokeswoman confirmed.

British finance minister Rishi Sunak and Prime Minister Boris Johnson will be issued fines for breaching COVID-19 regulations. Credit:Getty Images

When news of Johnsons birthday party initially broke, one of the prime ministers supporters said Johnson had been ambushed with cake.

News of the fines came after Londons Metropolitan Police force said on Tuesday it was issuing 30 new fixed penalty notices over the so-called partygate scandal, in addition to 20 fines already announced.
London: Israels Defence Minister Benny Gantz has defended his countrys much-criticised stance on Ukraine, claiming the Middle Eastern nation essentially shares a border with Russia via neighbouring Syria and Lebanon.

Israel has sent humanitarian and medical aid and has also established a field hospital in Ukraine.

But it has refrained from joining in Western sanctions on the regime, nor offered arms to Ukraines government, in line with the military aid offered by its allies the United States, Britain and Australia.

Benny Gantz, Israels defence minister. Credit:AP

Speaking to The Washington Institute for Near East Policy think tank on Tuesday AEST, Gantz said of criticism of Israels position: I hear it, I dont accept it.
What do the prominent far-right politicians Marine Le Pen of France, Viktor Orban of Hungary and Aleksandar Vucic of Serbia have in common? All three have fought elections this month, and all three have done better than they did in their previous election contests.

Two of them, the incumbent leaders Orban and Vucic, were returned to power with increased shares of the vote. The third, Le Pen, won an enlarged share of the vote in the first round of the French presidential election on the weekend compared with her first-round performance five years earlier, and now confronts Emmanuel Macron in the run-off for the presidency on April 24.

Marine Le Pen confronts Emmanuel Macron in the run-off for the presidency. Credit:Illustration by Dionne Gain

One of the worlds most notorious xenophobes, Le Pen now is closer to the presidency than she ever has been. With 96 per cent of the votes counted, she had 24 per cent and Macron 27.4. The run-off is projected to be tight. Note that this is now a contest between the French right and the far right.

One other striking factor that the trio have in common: all are long-standing admirers of Russian President Vladimir Putin. And the feeling is mutual.
Salisbury, MD (21801)

Today

Showers this morning becoming a steady light rain during the afternoon hours. High 57F. Winds NE at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 80%. Higher wind gusts possible..

Tonight

Rain. Low 47F. Winds NE at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch. Winds could occasionally gust over 40 mph.
Salisbury, MD (21801)

Today

Showers this morning becoming a steady light rain during the afternoon hours. High 56F. Winds NE at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 80%. Higher wind gusts possible..

Tonight

Rain likely. Low 47F. Winds NE at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 80%. Rainfall around a quarter of an inch. Winds could occasionally gust over 40 mph.
By Geoff Cantrell



Western Carolina University will join a national effort to turn out the vote in the upcoming midterm elections.

The All In Campus Democracy Challenge will be supported through WCUs Center for Community Engagement and Service Learning to make voter registration a priority. College students have historically voted at one of the lowest rates of any group.

WCU Chancellor Kelli Brown will serve on the All In Presidents Council for 2022, joining an elite group of 15 college and university top leaders who will lead participating institutions of higher education across the nation that have committed to achieving full student voter registration and participation in the 2022 midterm elections.

All In is a nonprofit, nonpartisan collaboration of more than 860 higher education institutions. Its goal is to substantially increase the number of college students who are democratically engaged on an ongoing basis and vote in local, state and federal elections.

WCU is home to the Student Democracy Coalition, which works to register voters, build awareness of political issues and hold community forums and candidate debates. The student-led organization has received numerous awards and recognition for civic engagement.

For more information on the All In Campus Democracy Challenge, contact the Center for Community Engagement and Service Learning at 828-227-7184.
Wilmington, DE (19810)

Today

Rain and wind. High 51F. Winds NE at 20 to 30 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall around a half an inch. Localized flooding is possible..

Tonight

Windy with periods of rain. Low 42F. Winds NE at 20 to 30 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall around a quarter of an inch. Higher wind gusts possible.
A group of Louisville students, called the Real Young Prodigy's, has advocated for change through hip-hop. It's the same group that helped Louisville pass a Crown Act ordinance. (WDRB photo)
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Volunteers from the Kentucky Baptist Convention are scheduled to leave on Sunday, April 17, for Poland to provide aid to refugees. Pictured here is an April 12, 2022 news conference announcing the specifics. (Photo by: Zach Crabtree)
Weatherford, TX (76086)

Today

Some clouds this morning will give way to generally sunny skies for the afternoon. Record high temperatures expected. High 94F. Winds SE at 15 to 25 mph..

Tonight

Clear to partly cloudy. Low 73F. Winds SSE at 15 to 25 mph.
WSU Survey Details Student Food Insecurity among All 16 USHE Campuses

April 13, 2022

OGDEN, Utah  Nearly 40% of Utahs higher education students experienced food insecurity in the last year, according to a new survey of food security conducted by Weber State Universitys Center for Community Engaged Learning - Community Research Extension.

The survey, which was conducted over six weeks during the 2021 fall semester, involved all 16 Utah System of Higher Education schools and a random sampling of more than 5,600 students. The research found that, in addition to 38.8% of college students experiencing food insecurity, 46.6% of first-generation students were more likely to be food insecure and nearly half of Utahs students of color (47.9%) were food insecure as compared to 36% of white students.

Hopefully, with this report we can start dispelling some of that narrative around hungry college students, said Yesenia Quintana, CCELs evaluation and community research supervisor who served as the surveys primary investigator. Theres all kinds of jokes around students eating ramen and cereal for dinner, and we all have this lighthearted spin around it. But its not very funny when you think about it, the fact that many college students are hungry.

USHE schools have participated in nationwide surveys on food security among college students before, but this is the first statewide survey and serves as an important data baseline, Quintana said. Several Utah community organizations and other campuses participated in the surveys development and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation provided funding.

Though some demographics had higher rates of food insecurity than others, none have totally escaped from the issue, Quintana said.

Everybody is impacted by food insecurity to a certain extent, she said. A lot of the universities and tech colleges are working to address it on their campuses and providing students with the support they need. But I think the survey shows how prevalent it is and how high it can be with at-risk groups.

In addition to an overall look at student food insecurity, each school received a customized report with data about its students and their needs. Weber States individual survey found that 37.3% students on campus are food insecure and 57.4% of students who are very much stressed are food insecure. Students often cope with not having enough food by not eating or getting food from family and friends.

The WSU Research Extensions data are so compelling, especially related to specific Utah student populations that we've suspected have higher rates of food insecurity, but until now, didn't know empirically, said Brett Perozzi, vice president of student affairs. We have many programs and support services in place, yet these data help us increase our support and target our outreach efforts to support students most in need.

Lack of food can impact a students academic performance, lengthen the time it takes to get a degree, and prevent them from participating in other activities like internships or campus events.

Across all the different schools, food insecure students tend to have lower GPAs, Quintana said. If youre food insecure, youre more likely to say the lack of food has affected your academic performance.

Those same individuals often struggle with other basic needs, like making rent or paying for utilities, or are facing serious health challenges. Having a better understanding of food insecurity among a university or colleges population will allow administrators to make more informed policy decisions.

Food insecurity is a symptom of poverty that needs to be addressed, said Katharine French-Fuller, CCELs director of community research. The numbers help make it real. We need to figure out ongoing, lasting solutions like increasing SNAP enrollment.

Since 2011, Weber State has operated the Weber Cares Pantry to help combat food insecurity among students. The survey found that many students arent utilizing food pantries, both on-campus or in the community, or even knew they existed. Quintana and French-Fuller agreed that increasing access and awareness of food pantries and destigmatizing their use are important barriers universities must overcome.

We dont need to accept food insecurity as a phase in someones life, Quintana said. We can hopefully provide some more support to students so they can eat.

To read Weber States survey results, click here.

To read the statewide survey, click here.
CEO of Merit Medical Systems to Speak at WSU Commencement

April 7, 2022

OGDEN, Utah  Fred Lampropoulos, CEO of Merit Medical Systems, will deliver Weber State Universitys spring commencement speech, April 29, 2022 at 8 a.m. in the Dee Events Center. Lampropoulos will also receive an honorary degree.

Lampropoulos has been in the medical device industry for more than 30 years. He invented and owns more than 200 patents on devices used for diagnostic and therapeutic treatment of cardiac, peripheral, gastrointestinal and pulmonary conditions. These devices save an estimated 15,000 to 20,000 lives daily.

Lampropoulous served as chairman and chief executive of Utah Medical before founding Merit in 1987, where he currently serves as chairman and chief executive officer.

A dedicated community servant, Lampropoulous supports several organizations through board memberships. Not only is his company highly decorated, but also he is the recipient of numerous awards, including the Governors Medal for Science and Technology, CEO of the Year, Salt Lake Chambers Giant in Our City and MountainWest Capital Networks Entrepreneur of the Year. Lampropoulos is also a former Special Forces Officer and Honorary Colonel in the Utah National Guard and an inductee of the Utah Business Hall of Fame.

Also receiving honorary degrees are Jeff Stephens, Norma Kier and Kathy Mower.

Stephens, who is set to retire as superintendent of the Weber School District, earned his bachelors and his Master of Education from Weber State in 1993 before going on to earn his Ph.D. in curriculum and instruction from Utah State University. In 2021, Stephens was honored as Utah Superintendent of the Year, the first time for the district since 1989. His district leadership and involvement in local, state and professional organizations earned Stephens numerous recognitions, honors and awards.

Norma Kier and her husband, Jim, arrived in Utah from Canada in 1957 with only $100 in their pockets. After years of saving, the two founded Kier Construction in 1961. By 1972, their company became known for constructing single and multi-family housing as well as commercial properties. Jim passed away in 2005, leaving Norma to serve as president of Kier Corporation, which recently celebrated 60 years in business, generating more than $135 million annually. The James E. Kier Memorial Scholarship supports WSU students majoring in construction management. In addition, Norma provides annual support for the Norma Kier Interior Design Scholarship and has a legacy gift in place that will fund the scholarship in perpetuity.

Mower graduated from Weber State College in 1972 with a certificate of proficiency in office administration. The same year, she married her husband Barry, and they started their family and a new business venture  American Playworld Inc. In 1994, the two sold American Playworld to focus their attention on Lifetime Products, which the Mowers founded in 1986. Currently, Lifetime Products employs over 2,200 people worldwide with annual revenue of nearly $645 million. As an advocate for education, Kathy has made a difference at Weber State University in positively impacting the lives of its students.
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National Nurses Week is May 6 to May 12, an annual celebration that recognizes the critical role nurses perform in our hospitals and for our community. This year, we recognize our nurses for their continued commitment and unfailing dedication to our patients and their families, and for alway
Weather Alert

...The Flood Warning is extended for the following rivers in Indiana...Ohio... Wabash River near Bluffton IN affecting Wells County. Saint Marys River near Decatur affecting Allen IN, Van Wert and Adams Counties. ...The Flood Warning continues for the following rivers in Indiana... Ohio... Wabash River near Linn Grove affecting Adams and Wells Counties. Tiffin River at Stryker affecting Fulton OH, Williams and Defiance Counties. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Be especially cautious at night when it is harder to recognize the dangers of flooding. Never drive vehicles through flooded areas. The water may be too deep to allow safe passage. Never allow children to play in or near flood waters. Stay tuned to NOAA Weather Radio or local media for further statements and updated forecasts. Detailed river forecasts and additional information can be found at www.weather.gov/iwx under Rivers and Lakes. This statement will be updated within the next 12 to 24 hours. && ...FLOOD WARNING NOW IN EFFECT FROM EARLY THIS MORNING TO EARLY MONDAY MORNING... * WHAT...Minor flooding is occurring and minor flooding is forecast. * WHERE...Saint Marys River near Decatur. * WHEN...From early this morning to early Monday morning. * IMPACTS...At 17.5 feet, County road 225 north of Pleasant Mills is flooded. Agricultural land flooding increases in northern... central and eastern Adams County. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS... - At 5:00 AM EDT Saturday the stage was 17.4 feet. - Recent Activity...The maximum river stage in the 24 hours ending at 5:00 AM EDT Saturday was 17.4 feet. - Forecast...The river is expected to rise to a crest of 17.8 feet this afternoon. It will then fall below flood stage late tonight. - Flood stage is 17.0 feet. - http://www.weather.gov/safety/flood &&
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.
Reading, PA (19601)

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.
" " This baby Cooper's Hawk hit the window of a home and sat stunned on the homeowner's deck for nearly an hour before sitting up and flying away. normanack/USED UNDER CREATIVE COMMONS CC BY-ND 2.0

You're working away in your office when you hear a thunk. You look up just in time to see a poor, wee birdie stunned and falling away from the floor-to-ceiling panes of glass that sheath your building. Or maybe you've found a disoriented, injured or even dead little feathered friend who's obviously crashed into your living room's picture windows and fallen to your deck. "Poor fella," you think. "He doesn't know what glass is."

Well, that's kind of the case, but it's not the whole story. During daylight hours, those windows reflect sky and trees and other pleasant things. The birds think those reflections are a continuation of the landscape, so they try to fly into it. It does not work out for them.

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At night, the light from inside our homes and buildings shines through the windows, and the birds try to fly inside for shelter. That does not work out for them, either. Actually, it's worse than that.

Nocturnal artificial light can pull birds off of their migration route, especially if it's foggy or the clouds are low, says The Cornell Lab's site All About Birds. Then they hang around the windows and knock into the glass and each other. This nighttime hazard is the reason why dozens of cities have joined Lights Out programs that aim to convince building owners to turn off unnecessary light during migration season.

In the spring, when birds are feeling territorial and feisty, they may see their reflection in the window and try to attack it. This is less fatal than flying full tilt into the window, and is usually just annoying to the human on the other side of the glass. (Birds also even fly into windows if they get a little drunk on fermented berries. Don't drink and fly, birds.)

Add all of these factors together, and we learn that 54 to 76 percent of bird and window collisions are fatal, according to the Portland Audubon Society. A 2014 study published in The Condor journal found that residential and low-rise buildings account for 99 percent of all window impacts; high-rises only account for 1 percent. The same study estimated that between 100 million and 1 billion (yes, that's 1,000,000,000!) birds are killed each year by colliding with buildings in the United States alone. Poor birds!

So what can humans do? Lots, actually.

Yale, for example, has had issues with birds crashing into its windows for years, writes Julia Brown for the Yale News. So the university has incorporated bird safe standards for new building construction and renovations it tackles. They include making glass more visible and dampening "any reflections to reduce the appearance of a clear passage to the sky." The standards also require decreased light pollution and fewer structures that trap birds (think open pipes, ventilation gates and drains).

Here are some ideas suggested by the Audubon Society to retrofit existing buildings:

Put a net or screen on the outside of the window to slow the bird down before the collision.

Close your curtains or blinds at night.

Put bird feeders and plants at least 30 feet (9.1 meters) away from your windows.

Hang bird feeders right on the glass with suction cups.

Buy or paint decorations on the windows.

Consider buying (or making) Acopian BirdSavers using paracord and a simple horizontal piece to hang the paracord from.

You can also paint or apply sticker strips to your windows, but remember, birds are designed to fly between trees and branches. Those strips should be no more than 2 to 4 inches (5 to 10 centimeters) apart. Otherwise the birds will try to fly through them. You might as well paint a cool holiday mural each season. But maybe not a realistic one for Arbor Day, OK?

NOW THAT'S SAD If you visit FLAP Canada, an organization that aims to protect birds from colliding with buildings, you'll notice a "Bird Death Counter" on the website's navigation bar. It's the estimated number of migratory birds that have died in window collisions across North American while the user was on the FLAP.org site. In less than five minutes, 4,503 estimated birds had perished while HowStuffWorks was on the site.

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Originally Published: Sep 25, 2018
YEREVAN, APRIL 12, ARMENPRESS. President of Armenia Vahagn Khachaturyan signed a decree appointing Armen Pambukhchyan as Minister of Emergency Situations upon the advice of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, the presidency said.

Pambukhchyan was serving as First Deputy Minister of Emergency Situations at the time of appointment.

The position of Minister of Emergency Situations became vacant when Andranik Piloyan was relieved from duties after being jailed in suspicion of bribery.
YEREVAN, APRIL 12, ARMENPRESS. Despite the current economic crisis and complex situation in Lebanon, the local Armenian community is going to hold a big march on April 24  the Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day, Editor-in-Chief of the Lebanon-based Azdag daily Shahan Gantaharyan said in an interview to Armenpress, adding that a program of Armenian Genocide commemoration events has been prepared.

The march is being organized by three Armenian parties. It will start early morning on April 24, from Bourj Hammoud district to Antelias  the Catholicosate of the Great House of Cilicia.

It is a march for demand, for protection of rights, dedicated to the memory of the Armenian Genocide victims. The march will be followed by a mass in the Catholicosate where Catholicos Aram I is expected to deliver remarks. An event is also planned on April 23. The youth and student unions of the community will gather near the chapel dedicated to the Genocide victims. There will be speeches and artistic program during the event, he said.

In their April 24th addresses, Lebanese-Armenians will not only remember the victims of the Armenian Genocide, will not only talk about Turkeys denialist policy, but also will raise the issue of ongoing encroachments carried out by Azerbaijan against Armenians of Artsakh.

Of course, the speeches will also focus on Artsakh. Today we are witnessing a policy of ethnic cleansing against Armenians living in Artsakh, as well as border encroachments. The Armenian National Committees are working actively to present the danger of ethnic cleansing to international organizations. Today Artsakh is facing a serious security problem, Shahan Gantaharyan said.

April 24 marks the 107th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide organized and committed by the Ottoman Empire.

Interview by Anna Gziryan
Graham Greene drew on his own experience in MI6 for his darkly comic 1958 novel. It was so successful that Carol Reed's film starring Alec Guinness followed swiftly in 1959. Set in pre-Castro Cuba, when the island's capital had a well-earned reputation as a hot destination  and not just because of the weather  the novel is a satire sending up the Cold War machinations of Britain's secret service from the inside. Uncannily, it also seems to succeed in predicting the Cuban missile crisis', when the world was at its nearest yet to nuclear war, thanks to Fidel Castro's revolutionary government providing a base from which Russian nuclear missiles might be launched.

Now, as a new global crisis threatens, can a musical based on Greene's prescient tale find its moment? The answer is a resounding yes'. Richard Hough's witty book and lyrics and Ben Morales Frost's music conjure up a real period feel and the exotic gaiety of the island playground of the rich and famous (Sinatra holidayed there while Eartha Kitt and many more big international stars appeared in cabaret in the island's casinos). Their six-strong cast, under the nimble direction of Abigail Pickard Price, serve the show and its creators wonderfully well, switching instruments and characters with equal aplomb, to tell a story as suspenseful as it is drily comic.

Nigel Lister is pitch perfect as Greene's antihero James Wormold, a vacuum-cleaner salesman down on his uppers, and a single dad valiantly striving not just to support his ebulliently aspirational 17-year old daughter Milly, but to satisfy her every whim  currently to have her own racehorse. So when MI6 recruiter Hawthorne plies him with the heady spirits he craves (and collects in miniature take-home bottles too) in a local bar that's open all hours, it's a done deal.

Lister finds exactly the period feel of the man, in both looks and delivery, his lugubrious wit and resourcefulness as he hits on the dangerous idea of inventing contacts and leads, using real names he finds in the local papers. He's nimble-fingered on the piano keys too. Daniella Agredo Piper makes for a deliciously exuberant Milly, twisting her dad round her little finger and playing the sax with the same insouciance. And Alvaro Flores is equally convincing as the deviously insistent Hawthorne; and later, Segura, the scary local military leader with dictatorial ambitions and a moustache to match  plus a worrying desire to marry the much younger Milly.

Will Wormold keep Segura at bay and get Milly to agree to leave the island before it's too late as his inventions prove to have an uncanny way of proving to be dangerously real? As he tries to keep all the balls in the air, he is grateful to his one real friend in need and confidant Dr Hasselbacher (sympathetic Adam Keast). An extra curveball comes when the feisty Beatrice turns up on the island declaring she has been sent by MI6 HQ to provide secretarial support. Paula James' support is welcomed by the audience at least, even if Wormold has his suspicions, for we have seen this lovely mover and thrilled to her huge voice as the sultry Maria singing and dancing up a storm on the floor in the bar.

It's down to a terrific team  onstage MD Antonio Sanchez, movement director Andrea Pelaez and associate choreographer Chris Cuming  that the music and action are seamless on designer Kat Heath's extraordinarily versatile set. The breathtakingly artful switching of vital props and set and especially keyboards to provide different locations is brilliantly orchestrated on the Watermill's tiny stage. And the whole is equally brilliantly lit by lighting designer Robbie Butler, with a glowing mosaic of colour that blends to create that sultry exoticism as the action heats up.
YEREVAN, APRIL 12, ARMENPRESS. On April 11 the Office of the Human Rights Defender of Armenia led by Defender Kristinne Grigoryan visited Syunik province within the framework of the joint visit organized by the UN Population Fund (UNFPA), the Ombudswomans Office said in a news release.

The visit was attended by acting UN Resident Coordinator in Armenia Lila Pieters Yahia, EU Ambassador to Armenia Andrea Wiktorin and Ambassador of Lithuania to Armenia Inga Stanyte-Tolockiene.

The delegation visited the Women Resource Center in Kapan and the Centers social entrepreneurship where they met with the representatives of the WINNET Armenia Network of Women Resource Centers and the persons displaced from Artsakh, who are the beneficiaries of the UNFPAs humanitarian program.

I would like to state that as a Human Rights Defender, one of my key five priorities is womens economic, political strengthening. More than half of our population are women, but when we see how we are using their potential, we understand that we still have a long path to pass, the Ombudsperson said.

Head of the UNFPA Armenia Office Tsovinar Harutyunyan said that the networks experience has been recognized as the best.

Addressing the women in the meeting, the head of the EU Delegation to Armenia, Ambassador Andrea Wiktorin said she understands the difficulties the women have faced and are facing. We are here to listen to you, understand your situation and what we can do to better cooperate, she said.

Acting UN Resident Coordinator in Armenia Lila Pieters Yahia said this was her first visit to Armenias provinces. She said they will listen to the solutions proposed by women and how they can move forward the work together. Lila Pieters Yahia said the empowerment of women is one of the priority directions of the United Nations.

Ambassador of Lithuania to Armenia Inga Stanyte-Tolockiene said their Embassy is promoting the use of renewable energy in Syunik, but is also working on women empowerment as a special direction.

Thereafter, the meeting sides held a discussion about various issues.

The visit will continue in the Office of the Ombudsperson in Kapan where they will meet with NGO representatives. Thereafter, the delegation will depart for Gyumri.
The South Dakota House has impeached state Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg over a 2020 car crash in which he killed a pedestrian but initially said he might have struck a deer or another large animal
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Willmar, MN (56201)

Today

Sunny early then partly cloudy and windy this afternoon. High 72F. Winds SSE at 20 to 30 mph. Higher wind gusts possible..

Tonight

Cloudy and windy with periods of rain after midnight. Low 52F. Winds SSE at 20 to 30 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch. Locally heavy rainfall possible.
YEREVAN, APRIL 12, ARMENPRESS. Speaker of Parliament of Armenia Alen Simonyan commented on todays statement made by the opposition Armenia and I have the Honor factions that they are not going to participate in the sessions of the Parliament and are going to visit Armenias bordering villages and the Republic of Artsakh.

During todays session in the Parliament, the Speaker addressed questions to the representatives of the opposition.

I want to understand, when these persons [opposition MPs] are going to work, when they will justify the salary they receive, when these persons are going to justify the money spent by the state on them?, the Speaker said.

He accused the opposition in presenting very few legislative initiatives and almost not participating in international visits and meetings.

The most famous meeting was to vote against the report on Armenias democracy together with Azerbaijan and Turkey. They havent been in any significant, serious meeting after that. There havent been proposals to the Prime Minister, to hold a meeting relating to Artsakh or get information about the situation. No, their task is to come here and say that everything is kept secret from them, and thus to avoid all kinds of talks. A combined work with Azerbaijani armed forces. Statement  provocation on border, statement  provocation on border. All this is combined with each other. These are not coincidences. And you must give the answer to this, to your non-attendance to work. In your view, why everyone was here and is making statement and then leaving? In order to press the button that ensures the salaries of the lawmakers, the Speaker said.

He also asked the opposition MPs why they are not stepping down. The Speaker is confident that they cant step down.

Put down your mandates. If you are not working here, what do you do here then? Why do you come here, why do you receive salaries? Why this money is provided to you in order to ensure materials for your websites? No one reads your websites, the TV channels as well, except a small part of your voters. No one watches them. Find yourself, Speaker Alen Simonyan said.

He once again claimed that, unfortunately, the activity of Armenias opposition today has one direction, and that direction is the actions combined with the Azerbaijani provocations.

The Armenian opposition has no other political agenda, the Speaker said.
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NEWINGTON  Hundreds of drivers, passengers, bicyclists and pedestrians die every year in crashes in work zones nationwide, including three such fatalities in Connecticut last year.

And in 2020, there were nearly 900 accidents in work zones with four fatalities in the state, according to the University of Connecticuts CT Crash Data Repository.

As construction season begins each spring, the industry honors those killed and raises awareness of work zone accidents and deaths. This year, the annual National Work Zone Awareness Week runs from April 11 through April 15.

In 2020, there were 774 fatal work zone crashes across the nation, resulting in 857 deaths, DOT Commissioner Joe Giulietti said at the kickoff event at DOT headquarters Tuesday morning. Out of the 857 fatalities, 117 were work zone workers.

Work zone workers include DOT staff doing the construction, police officers and state troopers monitoring and ensuring the safety of the work zone and tow truck drivers assisting at the work sites.

In Connecticut DOTs history, 37 workers have been killed on the job in work zone accidents. A memorial featuring ribbon-wrapped orange construction cones is in the DOT lobby year-round as a constant reminder of the risks that workers face daily.

While many drivers view the orange cones and barrels signifying construction as a nuisance, since January 2020, there have been 1,650 crashes in work zones in Connecticut, involving 3,273 vehicles and 4,167 people, according to UConn data.

Early data from the UConns crash repository shows that in 2021 there were 748 crashes in work zones resulting in three deaths.

With the approach of the highway and roadway construction season, now is that time. We have to remind everyone of the importance of paying attention to the approach and drive through work zones so that motorists and our roadway workers are safe, Giulietti said. Maybe the number of crashes went down, but the horrific crashes are up.

Connecticuts DOT has a committee dedicated to raising awareness about work zone safety. It has organized the weeks events since 1999, according to DOT.

During the awareness week kickoff event, Giuletti read a proclamation from Gov. Ned Lamont, who was unable to attend since recently contracting COVID-19.

Those in attendance included Amy Jackson-Grove, Connecticut division administrator for the Federal Highway Administration; Mike Ellesio, director of fleet operations for AAA Northeast; and Naugatuck Police Officer Danielle Durrette with K-9 officer Indy.

For construction workers and police officers stationed at highway work sites, the roads are their offices, said Vincent Stetson, director of public works in South Windsor.

Imagine looking up from your work to see a minivan traveling through the work zone, with the driver never looking up from their phone or realizing they never hit a flagger. That is enough to cause very frayed nerves among the crew members, Stetson said.

When an impaired drivers goes barreling through the work zone, 15-pound traffic barrels go from being helpful tools to projectiles hurtling through the air toward our employees, he said.

Of the nations 857 fatal work zone crashes, 37 percent involved speeding, and 170 pedestrians or bicyclists were killed, according to the Federal Highway Administration.

Stetson and DOT road workers offered tips on how to ensure a safe drive through work zones.

Texting, using social media, speeding and not obeying the orange signs leading up to construction zone are key factors in causing many of accidents, Stetson said.

Traffic jams become even more dangerous when road rage engages two strangers that cannot seem to merge into one lane in the work zone, he said. These are not just numbers on a spreadsheet, they are funerals, children that no longer have fathers or mothers, and spouses that must figure out how to have a future now on their own.

Smaller events and campaigns will take place this week to encourage drivers to recognize work zones and to be patient during delays.

On Wednesday, DOT and organizations around the country will participate in Go Orange Day, by wearing orange in support of work zone safety, according to a DOT statement. The public is encouraged to join in the campaign by posting online with the hashtags #NWZAW #ObeyTheOrange and #GoOrange4Safety.

At noon Friday, DOT encourages all residents to join the nation for a moment of silence to honor and remember people killed in work zone crashes.

Do not value the like button on your Facebook or Instagram feed more than your fellow humans working in the roadways, Stetson said in closing. You will have the thanks of a child, spouse, brother or sister that has their family member come home safely as your reward.

abigail.brone@hearstmediact.com
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SALEM, Ore. (AP)  The battle over who represents Oregon's new congressional district became heated Tuesday as six Democratic candidates jointly denounced almost $1 million in support for a rival party member by a super PAC that focuses on electing Democrats to the U.S. House of Representatives.

This effort by the political arm of the Democratic establishment to buy this race for one candidate is a slap in the face to every Democratic voter and volunteer in Oregon, five of the candidates for the 6th District seat said at a news conference. One of the candidates couldn't attend because of a scheduling conflict.

They noted that candidate Carrick Flynn, who received the support from the House Majority PAC, is already backed by cryptocurrency billionaire Sam Bankman-Fried's political action committee, which has provided about $5 million in support for Flynn, mostly in TV ads.

Loretta Smith, a former Multnomah County commissioner who wants to be the first Black woman from Oregon elected to Congress, said she feels betrayed by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi for the PAC's support for Flynn, a white man educated at Yale and Oxford universities who hasn't held elected office.

I think its disrespectful and its wrong, Smith said.

She said Black women's votes were key to getting President Joe Biden elected in 2020 and to giving Democrats a majority in the House.

It is unclear, however, what role, if any, that Pelosi had in throwing the PAC's support to Flynn. Pelosi's top political fundraiser, Mike Smith, last year became the PAC's senior adviser.

The PAC's spokesperson, C.J. Warnke, said in an email that it is dedicated to doing whatever it takes to secure a Democratic House Majority in 2022, and we believe supporting Carrick Flynn is a step towards accomplishing that goal.

He did not address the complaints by six of Flynn's rivals for the Democratic nomination. Oregon's primary election is on May 17.

State Rep. Andrea Salinas, another of the Democratic candidates for the U.S. House, was befuddled by the PAC's backing of Flynn.

Why? Who was behind it? Why was this decision made? We have a wealth of candidates, four of whom are women, three women of color  this is a diverse district," Salinas said. Ive been doing the work for diverse communities for a long time.

Flynn's campaign manager, Avital Balwit, said the campaign is "grateful for the confidence and support" of the House Majority PAC and others who are backing Flynn.

Our campaign is rooted in Carricks Oregon values - hard work, opportunity, and supportive, resilient communities. That message is clearly resonating," Balwit said in an email.

Flynn has worked on pandemic preparedness and biosecurity years before the pandemic and has advised Congress and the White House on pandemic preparedness and the creation of technology jobs, his campaign said. If elected, he plans to focus on the creation of green jobs and pandemic recovery and preparedness.

Also condemning the House Majority PACs unprecedented and inappropriate decision to spend nearly a million dollars in this Democratic primary were Democratic candidates Matt West, a development engineer at chipmaker Intel who aims to tackle climate change; Kathleen Harder, a physician in Salem; state Rep. Teresa Alonso Leon; and cryptocurrency entrepreneur Cody Reynolds.

Oregons 6th congressional district was created by the 2020 U.S. census and extends from Portlands suburbs to the southwest, including the state capital of Salem and towns in the Willamette Valley and the Coastal Range. The Cook Political Report said the new district would vote likely Democratic in the November election.

Republican candidates include state Rep. Ron Noble, former congressional candidate Amy Ryan Courser, clinical psychologist Angela Plowhead and Dundee Mayor David Russ.
Winchester, VA (22601)

Today

Periods of rain. High 49F. Winds NNE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near a half an inch..

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Light rain early...then remaining cloudy with showers overnight. Low near 40F. Winds NNE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 70%.
Winchester, VA (22601)

Today

Rain likely. High near 50F. Winds NNE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall around a half an inch..

Tonight

Steady light rain this evening. Showers continuing overnight. Low 41F. Winds NNE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 80%.
YEREVAN, APRIL 12, ARMENPRESS. On April 12, President of the Artsakh Republic Arayik Harutyunyan held a meeting in Askeran with responsible officials of the region, community heads and local residents, his Office said.

A range of issues related to the military-political situation in the republic, security-related as well as socio-economic problems were on the discussion agenda.

The Head of the State referred to the imperative of ensuring food security and employment in the current geopolitical conditions, emphasizing the need to make consistent efforts to intensify agricultural work, to efficiently use uncultivated lands and all possible economic resources in general.

President Harutyunyan listened to the concerns and opinions of the residents, gave instructions to the responsible officials on the tasks to be done.
LOS ANGELES (AP)  Britney Spears, less than five months after her conservatorship ended, confused some fans Monday when she posted on Instagram that she's pregnant, and apparently married.

FILE - Britney Spears and Sam Asghari arrive at the Los Angeles premiere of "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood," at the TCL Chinese Theatre, Monday, July 22, 2019. Spears, less than five months after her conservatorship ended, confused some fans Monday, April 11, 2022, when she posted on Instagram that she's pregnant, and apparently married. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP, File)

LOS ANGELES (AP)  Britney Spears, less than five months after her conservatorship ended, confused some fans Monday when she posted on Instagram that she's pregnant, and apparently married.

I lost so much weight to go on my Maui trip only to gain it back," the pop star wrote in part Monday, accompanied by a photo of flowers and a cup of coffee. I thought Geez ... what happened to my stomach???" My husband said No you're food pregnant silly!!! So I got a pregnancy test ... and uhhhhh well ... I am having a baby. ..."

Spears  with liberal use of various emojis  didnt name partner Sam Asghari as the husband and added: I obviously wont be going out as much due to the paps getting their money shot of me like they unfortunately already have.

While some, including Paris Hilton, congratulated Spears.

Monday evening, Asghari added an Instagram post of his own accompanied by a painting of a lion family with three members.

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Marriage and kids are a natural part of a strong relationship filled with love and respect. Fatherhood is something i have always looked forward to and i dont take lightly. It is the most important job i will ever do, he wrote.

Spears spoke of suffering from perinatal depression in the past, calling it absolutely horrible and saying shes heartened that the condition is spoken of more freely among women now than at the time of her previous go arounds with her sons, ages 15 and 16. She shares the teens with ex Kevin Federline.

She said some people considered it dangerous if a woman complained like that with a baby inside her  but now women talk about it everyday  thank Jesus we dont have to keep that pain a reserved proper secret  This time I will be doing yoga every day !!! Spreading lots of joy and love!!!

The 40-year-old Spears has said she longed for a baby with the 28-year-old Asghari, a personal trainer, but she has said the nearly 14-year-long conservatorship forced her to remain on birth control.

The two met on the set of her Slumber Party video in 2016.

Multiple email requests for confirmation from Spears representative were not immediately returned Monday.
When we talk about onscreen chemistry, its often in the context of romantic leads.

When we talk about "onscreen chemistry," its often in the context of romantic leads.

But Canadian actors Alison Pill (The Newsroom) and Sarah Gadon (Alias Grace), who star as sisters in All My Puny Sorrows, writer-director Michael McGowans affecting adaptation of Miriam Toews stunning semi-autobiographical 2014 novel of the same name, have sizzle in spades. (The film has been a hit on the festival circuit, and picked up a handful of nominations and two wins at the Canadian Screen Awards on Sunday night.)

As it turns out, Gadon and Pill have known each other since they were kids in Toronto and thrilled at the chance to finally work together.

"I had a sneaking suspicion that we would work well together at this point in our lives," Pill says via Zoom. "And it was even better in that regard than I expected or could hope for. She just makes me a better artist and creator."

Gadon feels the same way about Pill. "I just knew that because Alison was attached to the project, I didnt have to think twice."

AMPS Productions Inc. Canadian actors Alison Pill (left) and Sarah Gadon have known each other since childhood.

All My Puny Sorrows follows Yolandi, or Yoli (Pill) and Elfrieda, or Elf (Gadon), sisters and "enemies who love each other." You see, Elf wants desperately to die. Yoli wants desperately for Elf to live. Yoli flies to Winnipeg to be by her sisters side after Elf attempts to end her life.

On paper, beautiful Elf has everything: a celebrated career as a concert pianist, a husband who loves her, a beautiful home, a loving extended family. Yoli, meanwhile, is what youd call a hot mess (or, at least, she believes she is): a scrappy single mom and novelist who is struggling to write and transports her manuscript in a plastic shopping bag.

Yoli and Elfs father died by suicide, just like Miriam and her sister Marjories father. Marjorie died by suicide 12 years later.

Toews has never papered over those facts of her life, instead turning her grief into art. All My Puny Sorrows is a story about the bond that exists between sisters, but its also a rebuke of the mental health care system in Canada that explodes myths about happiness, depression and family.

And its funny. Improbably, amazingly, laugh-out-loud funny  owing, in large part, to both Yoli and the familys irrepressible matriarch Lottie (Mare Winningham).

"I mean, Canadians are really funny," Gadon says. "The humour Miriam has in her book feels so Canadian to me  its dry, and kind of repressed, and just silly at times, and absurd. And I loved watching Alison inhabit that space. You know, shes a really strong, dramatic actor, but shes a really strong comedic actor as well."

SUPPLIED Director Michael McGowan adapted Miriam Toews acclaimed novel for the screen.

"Its the same thing with the way Sarah embodied Elf," Pill adds. "Nothing is one thing. Human brains want things to be binary  its a happy face, or a sad face, and anything in the middle is very confusing.

"And its like, nothings binary, friends. Our brains want to organize into categories, but its an absurd conclusion to make. I love the embrace of going, yeah, lifes tragic. And its f-ing funny."

The humour was what inspired McGowan to adapt the novel  which wasnt easy.

"I do think that Miriams humour and mine sort of align that way; I dont think I would have been interested in this if there wasnt the humour in it," McGowan says via Zoom.

"I tend to write fairly quickly when I get on a roll, and Im like, OK, well, I have the book, how hard is this really going to be? And it stumped me, I could not figure out the real estate or the math to get it into a film under two hours. I struggled for about a year with it. And I was ready to give up. I couldnt figure it out."

A dinner with Toews helped kick things loose for McGowan. "She was really generous to the whole process," he says.

Tijana Martin / The Canadian Press Author Miriam Toews at the premiere for All My Puny Sorrows, which is based on her semi-autobiographical 2014 novel.

Gadon and Pill would agree. They, too, are longtime fans of the author, who grew up in Manitoba and is now based in Toronto. And they also spent time with Toews prior to filming, which was particularly helpful for Gadon.

"I think I was really afraid to play Elf because I know shes inspired by Miriams sister, and thats a real person," Gadon says. "I spent some time with (Toews) before I went up to North Bay to shoot the movie, and we had this incredible time together where she was just so open and just candid about her experience what it was like when her sister was hospitalized, and what her sister was like.

"She was just so supportive and encouraging and generous and kind, and I think after that I felt safe enough to be able to go up and shoot the movie."

All My Puny Sorrows is set in Winnipeg and the fictitious Manitoba Mennonite community of East Village, but was shot in North Bay, Ont. Manitoba has played many other locations in films; its not so often that somewhere else has to double as Manitoba.

"It would have been so much easier just to shoot it in Winnipeg," McGowan says. "Theres financial reasons, theres COVID reasons, but we definitely didnt want to take that aspect away." (Indeed, theres a certain Prairie chill that North Bay was able to deliver on.)

While writing the adaptation was a years-long process, shooting, meanwhile, was confined to a tight three weeks.

AMPS Productions Inc. From left: Sarah Gadon as Elf and Alison Pill.

"Alison insisted, in the best possible way, on rehearsing it," McGowan says. "We had 20 days to shoot it, we had no time. And so, in prep, we sort of found time to go through, especially tracking the hospital scenes throughout the film, and really doing it in a way where we had the luxury of challenging everything that was written  are we repeating ourselves? Is it progressing? All these kinds of things that we might have discovered on the day on set that we wed already worked through. That was sort of a revelation for me."

Both actors hope that the film, in its frankness and empathy around its subject matter, inspires more candid conversations around mental health and suicide, which are still poorly understood.

"Speaking about something you know so little about with anything but frankness just adds another level of impenetrability to an already impenetrable fortress of the brain and the mind," Pill says. "So, heck, if we have the little bit of vocabulary that we have, lets use it to talk about it, because we know at least that helps."

"And also, whats happening to the family surrounding this person, who are advocating for this person inside of institutions? Whats that like for them?" Gadon adds. "Elf had a family advocating for her, but there are also so many other stories where thats not the case. I think its really important to be exploring these themes in film and and seeing and normalizing them."

All My Puny Sorrows opens in Winnipeg on Friday, April 22.

jen.zoratti@winnipegfreepress.com

Twitter: @JenZoratti

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Good morning! Happy morning! Rabbi Avraham Wolff exclaimed, with a big smile, as he walked into the Chabad synagogue in Odesa on a recent morning.

From left, Danya, 21, Gabriel, 21 and Borden, 17 all refugees from Odesa, Ukraine help to deliver bags with food to needy people during preparations for the celebration of Jewish Passover at the Chabad Jewish Education Center in Berlin, Germany, Thursday, April 7, 2022. Rabbis and Jewish organizations are working round the clock within Ukraine, Eastern Europe and other parts of Europe to make sure that Jews who remain in Ukraine and refugees who have fled as far away as Israel are able to celebrate Passover. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)

Good morning! Happy morning! Rabbi Avraham Wolff exclaimed, with a big smile, as he walked into the Chabad synagogue in Odesa on a recent morning.

Russian missiles had just struck an oil refinery in the Ukrainian city, turning the sky charcoal gray. Hundreds were lining up outside his synagogue hoping to receive a kilo of matzah each for their Passover dinner tables. The unleavened flatbread, imperative at the ritual meal known as a Seder, is now hard to find in war-torn Ukraine amid the war and a crippling food shortage.

But the rabbi wanted no challenge to get him down  be it the lack of matzah or that he was missing his wife and children who had fled the Black Sea port for Berlin days ago.

I need to smile for my community, Wolff said. We need humor. We need hope.

Tens of thousands of Ukrainian Jews have fled while about 80% remain in Ukraine, according to estimates from Chabad, one of the largest Hasidic Jewish organizations in the world. Inside and outside Ukraine, a nation steeped in Jewish history and heritage, people are preparing to celebrate Passover, which begins sundown on April 15. Its been a challenge, to say the least.

The holiday marks the liberation of Jewish people from slavery in ancient Egypt, and their exodus under the leadership of Moses. The story is taking on special meaning for thousands of Jewish Ukrainian refugees who are living a dramatic story in real time.

Chabad, which has deep roots and a wide network in Ukraine, and other groups such as the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) and the Jewish Federations of North America, have mobilized to help Ukrainian Jews celebrate Passover wherever they have sought refuge. In Ukraine, Chabad plans 52 public Seders welcoming about 9,000 people.

In Odesa, Wolff is preparing to host two large Seders  one in early evening at the Chabad synagogue for families with young children and a later Seder at a hotel where participants can stay the night, obeying a 9 p.m. curfew.

He's been waving in trucks loaded with Passover supplies  matzah from Israel, milk from France, meat from Britain.

We may not all be together, but it's going to be an unforgettable Passover, Wolff said. This year, we celebrate as one big Jewish family around the world.

Daria, a 19-year-old refugee from Odesa, Ukraine, distributes tomatoes to needy people during preparations for the celebration of Jewish Passover at the Chabad Jewish Education Center in Berlin, Germany, Thursday, April 7, 2022. Rabbis and Jewish organizations are working round the clock within Ukraine, Eastern Europe and other parts of Europe to make sure that Jews who remain in Ukraine and refugees who have fled as far away as Israel are able to celebrate Passover. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)

JDC, which has evacuated more than 11,600 Jews from Ukraine, has shipped more than 2 tons of matzah, over 400 bottles of grape juice and over 700 pounds of kosher Passover food for refugees in Poland, Moldova, Hungary and Romania, said Chen Tzuk, the organizations director of operations in Europe, Asia and Africa. In Ukraine, their social service centers and corps of volunteers are distributing nearly 16 tons of matzah to elderly Jews and families in need, she said.

Passover is something familiar and basic for Jewish people, Tzuk said. For refugees who have left everything behind, it's important to be able celebrate this holiday with honor and dignity.

JDC is organizing in-person Seders in countries bordering Ukraine and elsewhere in Europe, she said, and is facilitating online Seders where its too dangerous to gather in person.

The Jewish Federations of North America has set up a volunteer hub in support of refugees fleeing Ukraine; it's a partnership with the Jewish Agency for Israel, the JDC and IsraAID. Russian-speaking volunteers, such as Alina Spaulding, will help organize a Seder for 100 refugees at a hotel in Budapest.

Spaulding, a resident of Greensboro, North Carolina, fled Kharkiv, Ukraine, as a 5-year-old in the 1970s with her parents. She said the war has rekindled strong connections to Ukraine.

My mom showed me a photo of me with my grandpa on a street that was recently bombed, Spaulding said. We talked about the university in Kharkiv where my mom and dad went, which was also hit. Suddenly, it all felt so personal.

Spaulding believes spending Passover with refugees will be an experience to remember."

Part of the magic of Passover is finding your own story, she said. Were in the middle of a modern-day exodus. I cant even imagine the stories I will hear.

Celebrating a holiday can give people a rush of hope and happiness even in grim situations, said Rabbi Jacob Biderman, who leads Chabad activities throughout Austria, including a center in Vienna that is sheltering about 800 Ukrainian Jews. Days after refugees reached his center, Biderman led a joyous celebration of Purim, a festival commemorating the deliverance of Jews from a planned massacre in ancient Persia.

The look on their faces changed from sorrow to joy... Their eyes lit up, Biderman said. It gave them a sense of normalcy, dignity and the belief that their spiritual life is something no one can take away from them.

That fueled Biderman's determination to provide a memorable Passover Seder for the refugees.

Dr. Yaacov Gaissinovitch, his wife, Elizabeth, and their three children  ages 11, 8 and 4  will be part of that celebration. They fled the Ukrainian city of Dnipro by car on Friday, March 4. Gaissinovitch, a urologist and mohel who performs the Jewish rite of circumcision, said it pained him, as an observant Jew, to drive on Shabbat  a forbidden act on the day of rest and prayer except when lives are at stake.

I drove nonstop for 12 hours to Moldova to save us all, he said. We sang all the Shabbat songs in the car. It was very, very hard.

In Dnipro, Gaissinovitch had his offices in the sprawling Menorah Center, which serves as a center of Jewish life, housing a synagogue, shops, restaurants, museums and the office of the citys chief rabbi.

After a month of being severed from everything familiar, the Chabad center in Vienna has been a blessing, Gaissinovitch said.

Weve been accepted here very warmly, he said. After being disconnected for days, the children have been able to see that our life hasnt stopped.

A similar community at the Chabad center in Berlin is housing about 1,000 refugees, including Rabbi Avraham Wolffs wife and children from Odesa. The center plans to host eight Seders citywide and has distributed matzah and other food to community members. Refugees, including 120 children from an Odesa orphanage who arrived in Berlin along with Wolffs family, distributed the items to locals, said Yehuda Teichtal, the chief rabbi of Berlin.

To me, this is extremely touching, he said. That people on the receiving end are able to give and not be viewed as victims. Its empowering and energizing.

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As they prepare for Passover, Teichtal, Biderman and Wolff said they have been inspired by Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, known as the Lubavitcher Rebbe, who was among the most influential global leaders in Judaism in modern times. April 5 marked the Rebbes 120th birth anniversary, a special number in Jewish tradition.

The Rebbe built a strong foundation (in Ukraine) so were able to do what were doing now, Wolff said.

Schneerson grew up in Ukraine during a challenging time in the former Soviet Union, Teichtal said.

In spite of all the darkness, his focus was selflessness, dedication, love for all humanity and the unwavering faith that we are going to overcome, Teichtal said.

___

Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the APs collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.
TORONTO - Ontario won't be reinstating its mask mandate despite a sixth wave that won't peak for several more weeks, the province's top doctor said Monday as he announced expanded eligibility for COVID-19 PCR testing and antiviral treatments.

Dr. Kieran Moore, Ontario's chief medical officer of health reads his notes as he holds a news conference regarding the lifting of most mask mandates for indoor settings in Ontario at Queen's Park in Toronto on Wednesday, March 9, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette

TORONTO - Ontario won't be reinstating its mask mandate despite a sixth wave that won't peak for several more weeks, the province's top doctor said Monday as he announced expanded eligibility for COVID-19 PCR testing and antiviral treatments.

Public health indicators have been worsening recently, including the percentage of tests that are positive, the number of hospitalizations, and COVID-19 activity in wastewater surveillance, chief medical officer of health Dr. Kieran Moore said at a press conference.

"It is clear that we are in the sixth wave of this pandemic driven by the BA.2 variant," Moore said.

"While we will not be reinstating a broad mask mandate at this time, we should all be prepared that we may need to resume a requirement for mask wearing in indoor public spaces if a new variant of concern emerges, (if there is) a threat to our health-care system, or potentially during the winter months when COVID-19 and other respiratory viruses are likely to circulate again."

The peak may see up to 600 patients in ICU, Moore said, but the province's health bureaucracy has assured him hospitals have capacity to care for those people. The health system is being protected through strong population immunity, Moore said, which includes both high vaccination rates and an estimated 5.3 to six million cases of COVID-19 since December.

Moore said he strongly recommends people continue to wear masks in indoor public spaces, and urged residents to get their booster doses, because they are helping to keep people out of hospital when infected.

Premier Doug Ford, at a separate and unrelated announcement, said people should continue to be cautious with masking.

"I think it really comes down to common sense," he said. "Weve been through this for two years. When you walk into a real crowded room, throw the mask on. No ones going to force you, but I would recommend it."

Mask mandates were lifted in most public settings and schools on March 21, and the province had set April 27 as the date it plans to eliminate masking requirements in remaining places, including long-term care homes, hospitals and on public transit.

Moore is reviewing that April 27 date and said it makes "tremendous sense" to maintain those mask requirements.

"We think this wave is not going to be settling until the middle or end of May and as a result, we're looking at extension for all of those high-risk facilities," he said.

The province is expanding access to PCR testing and antiviral treatments in an attempt to keep even more people out of hospitals.

Anyone 70 and older, people 60 and older with fewer than three doses of a COVID-19, and those 18 and older with fewer than three vaccine doses and at least one risk factor such as a chronic medical condition can now be tested and assessed for treatment.

Since January, the guidelines for access to the antiviral treatment Paxlovid, and as a result PCR testing, had been limited to immunocompromised adults, unvaccinated people aged 60 and over, and unvaccinated people aged 50 and over if they are First Nation, Inuit or Metis individuals or have one or more risk factors.

Access to Paxlovid has largely been limited to clinical assessment centres and primary care providers, but the province said participating pharmacies will start dispensing Paxlovid this week.

A positive result for COVID-19 on a PCR or rapid test is required to be assessed for antiviral treatment, which must be started within five days of symptom onset.

Moore's press conference Monday was his first in almost five weeks. It came on the heels of a report by Public Health Ontario that shows COVID-19 cases, test positivity rates and hospitalizations have gone up since the province ended mandatory masking in most indoor spaces.

"The full impact of lifting masking and other measures may not yet be observable, given limited PCR testing eligibility and lagging hospitalization data," the report said.

It proposes bringing back indoor masking and extending masking mandates in high-risk settings as possible elements of a "layered" strategy to mitigate a surge in cases.

The report also warns that the number of Ontario children experiencing severe illness from COVID-19 is likely to increase given the increased transmissibility of the BA.2 subvariant of the virus, the removal of public health measures and the limited vaccine eligibility and two-dose coverage in those under the age of 12.

The BA.2 subvariant is now the dominant strain in the latest wave of the pandemic, the document says. The proportion of samples identified as BA.2 rose from 12.3 per cent the week of Feb. 13 to 54 per cent the week of March 13, it says.

Dr. Thomas Piggott, the medical officer of health for Peterborough, Ont., said the province should consider reinstating mask mandates and rethink its plan to lift remaining public health measures later this month.

"There are many concerns right now, both with the lack of masking in the current context and also the potential for increased removal of measures into the next few weeks, and I hope that there will be reconsideration to all of that given that the sixth wave is way worse than even the worst modelling scenarios from the Ontario science table," he said in an interview.

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"I think now's the time to reconsider."

Liberal House Leader John Fraser said the government has previously waited too long to act in response to previous waves and the province paid the price.

"We're in a pandemic," he said. "It's a fire. It burns and the longer you wait, the faster it burns."

NDP health critic France Gelinas said mask mandates should be reinstated for schools.

Last week, the province expanded eligibility for fourth doses of a COVID-19 vaccine to those 60 and older, as well as Indigenous residents and adult members of their households. Moore said he got his fourth dose on Sunday.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 11, 2022.
JOHN WOODS / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Slipknot headlines their Knotfest Roadshow at Canada Life Centre in Winnipeg Monday.

The mosh pit is alive and well.

On Monday night  after two years of pandemic-era social distancing  concertgoers at Canada Life Centre appeared more than happy to thrash along to the loud, high-energy refrains of American heavy metal outfit, Slipknot, and their touring companions. The floor was a sea of flailing limbs, devil horns and consensual shoving during much of the four and a half hour concert.

JOHN WOODS / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Slipknot percussionist Shawn Clown Crahan performs.

CONCERT REVIEW Click to Expand Knotfest Roadshow Slipknot with Wage War and In This Moment Canada Life Centre Monday, April 11 3 stars out of 5

Sure, Slipknot can be enjoyed from the comfort of home, but the band is built for the stage. Dark theatrics are a mainstay for the nine-piece and Mondays show skimped on neither showmanship nor fireballs.

Band members, wearing their signature horror movie-esque masks, spent two hours headbanging across the multi-tiered stage and pumping up the crowd with profanity-laced interludes. Pyrotechnics, fireworks and cannons lit up the venue, accompanied by a wall of colourful, shapeshifting videos.

JOHN WOODS / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Slipknot fans enjoy the mayhem along with their metal.

The local appearance was part of the first leg of the Knotfest Roadshow, which is winding its way through North America until June. Slipknot launched Knotfest as a two-day outdoor music festival in 2012; the concept has since grown into an annual phenomenon with festivals and arena shows around the globe.

Knotfest was set to touch down in Russia, Ukraine and Belarus this year, but the band announced in March those shows would be postponed amid Russias ongoing invasion of Ukraine. Jinjer, a metal band from Donetsk, was slated to open the tour but pulled out due to the war. Their absence was noted several times, including by Slipknot lead vocalist Corey Taylor, who pledged to return to Winnipeg with Jinjer in tow once the conflict is resolved.

Knotfest openers got the audience of an estimated 5,000 people sufficiently riled during two hour-long sets full of growling vocals, heady guitar riffs and aggressive drumming.

JOHN WOODS / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Slipknot guitarist Mick Thomson shreds at Canada Life Centre in Winnipeg Monday.

Wage War, a metalcore group from Florida, performed in all-black with minimal set dressing, save for a swirling light show. California alt-metal band In This Moment, on the other hand, provided some aesthetic foreshadowing for the main attraction. Frontwoman Maria Brink spent much of the witchy performance scream-singing from a raised platform while her cloaked, face-painted band and backup dancers circled below. The set combined all the basic elements of a metal show (and then some): multiple costume changes, smoke guns, wind machines, sirens, pentagrams, flashing lights, references to human sacrifice, balloons and copious synchronized headbanging. It was over the top, and that was the point.

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Unfortunately, with much production value comes much waiting around. Stage turnover broke up the show with two lengthy intermissions totalling nearly an hour. Still, the weeknight audience managed to keep most of its energy despite a squirrely 45-minute wait for the headline act.

The mosh pit re-animated almost as soon as the curtain dropped, but the pace continued haltingly thanks to frequent breaks between songs. At one point the band stopped entirely to alert paramedics to a crowd member who had fallen in the pit  a sign of musicians who have learned a thing or two about how to throw a wild, yet safe, party over the last 23 years.

JOHN WOODS / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Slipknot lead vocalist Corey Taylor leads the band through their set at Canada Life Centre in Winnipeg Monday.

Formed in Des Moines, Iowa, Slipknot rose to prominence in the late 90s and has, so far, released nine studio albums (though, Taylor teased a forthcoming record during the show). Mondays setlist was a raucous journey through the bands extensive discography peppered with nostalgic mega hits  like Wait and Bleed, from their first self-titled album  alongside tracks, like Unsainted, from their newer body of work. A swirling vortex of bodies opened up in the middle for the floor during the frenetic song, Duality.

Knotfest was loud and it was rowdy. It was an evening of controlled chaos and a moment of cathartic release amid the existential chaos thats been unfolding over the last two years.

eva.wasney@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @evawasney

JOHN WOODS / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Slipknot fans were still energized despite a 45-minute wait for the headline act.
WINNIPEG - Manitoba's Progressive Conservative government is planning to move more slowly on a promised tax cut, reduce a handful of other levies and inject some money into a health-care system battered by COVID-19.

Manitoba Premier Heather Stefanson speaks to the media at a press conference following a swearing-in ceremony for her cabinet at the Manitoba legislature in Winnipeg, Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2022. The Progressive Conservative government is releasing its budget on Tuesday. THE CANADIAN PRESS/David Lipnowski

WINNIPEG - Manitoba's Progressive Conservative government is planning to move more slowly on a promised tax cut, reduce a handful of other levies and inject some money into a health-care system battered by COVID-19.

Tuesday's budget was the first under Premier Heather Stefanson, who took over after Brian Pallister retired last fall.

The fiscal plan still includes the intention to phase out the province's education tax on residential and farm property via rebates, but at a slower pace than Pallister had promised in last year's budget.

"We chose not to accelerate it at the pace that it was before, and we did that for a reason, because we're still in very difficult times," Stefanson said.

Pallister aimed to increase the rebate this year to 50 per cent from 25 per cent. Tuesday's 2022 budget looks to raise the rebate to 37.5 per cent and to delay the 50 per cent target until next year. The increase would still save the average homeowner $196, the government said.

A similar tax credit for renters is to be expanded to more recipients, including people in social housing who were previously ineligible.

Finance Minister Cameron Friesen delivers the 2022 budget in the Manitoba legislature on Tuesday, Apr 12, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/David Lipnowski

The government is also planning to cut annual registration fees for most non-commercial vehicles by another $10, following two similar cuts in recent years.

Some companies are to get a break as the province increases the threshold at which employers pay a tax on their payroll to $2 million from $1.75 million in total remuneration.

Finance Minister Cameron Friesen said the government can cut taxes at a time when health care is stressed and deficits are ongoing.

"We simply think its not correct to make Manitobans wait. We think that they need relief now. They need affordability now," he said, pointing to rising inflation.

In health care, the province is promising $9 million to expand intensive care unit capacity. Manitobas shortage of ICU beds was so severe during the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic that at one point dozens of patients were sent to other provinces in an attempt to free up beds.

The government is also promising $110 million to reduce a backlog of surgeries and diagnostic tests that were postponed during the pandemic, although it has not set a target date for eliminating the backlog.

There is also more than $600 million set aside for contingencies that could range from an influx into the province of people fleeing Ukraine to more waves of the pandemic.

With expected economic growth and a rise in federal transfer payments, the government is forecasting a deficit of $548 million, down from $1.4 billion in the last fiscal year. With the exception of a small surplus in 2020, Manitoba has not achieved a balanced budget since 2008 and is not expecting to see another until 2028.

A political analyst said the government, which has sunk in opinion polls since the pandemic's second wave, appears to be trying to regain public favour with a middle-of-the-road approach before the election slated for October of next year.

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"I think they've had enough excitement and enough explosions and backlashes from various segments of Manitoba society," said Paul Thomas, professor emeritus of political studies at the University of Manitoba.

The Opposition New Democrats said the tax cuts are coming at the expense of proper funding for front-line services.

"Instead of setting herself apart from Brian Pallister, (Stefanson) repeated his mistakes by underfunding health care and schools," NDP Leader Wab Kinew said.

The Manitoba Nurses Union said that while the budget mentions increased training for future nurses, it offers little hope to those facing overwhelming workloads during the pandemic.

"What I'm hearing from nurses is they need relief right now ... and we're not seeing that," union president Darlene Jackson said.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 12, 2022.
WINNIPEG - Police in Winnipeg say three people have been arrested following the discovery of a missing man's body in a rural area northwest of the city.

WINNIPEG - Police in Winnipeg say three people have been arrested following the discovery of a missing man's body in a rural area northwest of the city.

Brandon Brust and a 22-year-old woman were reported missing from Scanterbury, Man., near Lake Winnipeg, in February.

Brust's vehicle was located in the city and police say the woman was found at a known drug house.

Police say the missing woman, as well as another woman who was at the house, had been seriously assaulted.

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Police allege the man was killed at the house and his body moved to another spot.

The remains of Brust, who was 26, were found on March 30.

Kenneth Andrew Edwards, who is 29, is charged with second-degree murder, sexual assault and forcible confinement, among other charges.

Two women  Billie Erin Kozub, who is 38, and 18-year-old Emily Rae Fontaine  have been charged with accessory after the fact to murder.

Police say all three are in custody.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 12, 2022.
YEREVAN, APRIL 12, ARMENPRESS. France reaffirms its full commitment to the establishment of peace and stability in the South Caucasus region both on a bilateral basis and as President of the Council of the European Union and Co-Chair of the Minsk Group, the French Foreign Ministry said, when asked to comment on what is its position over the future of the OSCE Minsk Group.

France reaffirms its full commitment to the establishment of peace and stability in the South Caucasus region both on a bilateral basis and as President of the Council of the European Union and Co-Chair of the Minsk Group.

France continues to work with Armenia and Azerbaijan in this capacity, so that progress is ensured in humanitarian issues, and continues supporting the works aimed at the delimitation of borders, the process on eliminating the isolation of the region, the preservation of heritage, the signing of a peace treaty between the two countries and the settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. For that purpose, at the initiative of the President of the Republic, a meeting in a video conference mode was organized on February 4 with the Prime Minister of Armenia, the President of Azerbaijan and the President of the European Council.

The French Co-Chair of the Minsk Group is in Yerevan these days on a working visit, the statement says.
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (AP)  On the 16th anniversary of a New Jersey law that banned indoor smoking in most public places  except in casinos  hundreds of Atlantic City casino workers called on state lawmakers Tuesday to ban smoking in the gambling halls.

Casino workers hold a rally in Atlantic City, N.J. on Tuesday, April 12, 2022, to call on the state Legislature to pass a bill to ban smoking inside the nine casinos. The rally was held on the 16th anniversary of a New Jersey that banned indoor smoking virtually everywhere in the state, except in casinos. (AP Photo/Wayne Parry)

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (AP)  On the 16th anniversary of a New Jersey law that banned indoor smoking in most public places  except in casinos  hundreds of Atlantic City casino workers called on state lawmakers Tuesday to ban smoking in the gambling halls.

The push comes at a crucial time for the Atlantic City casino industry as it tries mightily to regain lost business from the coronavirus pandemic, and braces for the opening of one or more additional casinos in New York City, which will compete for many of Atlantic City's customers.

Phil Murphy, New Jersey's Democratic governor, has promised to sign the ban if it is passed, and an unusually high number of legislators have signed on as co-sponsors of the bill.

But it faces strong opposition from the casinos and from the main casino labor union in Atlantic City, which fear widespread job losses if smoking is banned in the casinos.

About 250 casino workers gathered in a park near the ocean Tuesday to call on lawmakers to pass a bill that would end the casinos' exemption from the indoor smoking law.

They say they have endured years of breathing in second-hand smoke, watching colleagues die and becoming sick themselves.

Sixteen years ago the state of New Jersey left us behind in the smoke, said Lamont White, a dealer at the Borgata casino. We are not numbers; we are people.

The casino industry opposes the measure, saying it will cost jobs and revenue amid an uneven recovery from the coronavirus pandemic when only two casinos have surpassed the level of profitability they enjoyed before the pandemic began.

Nicole Vitola, another Borgata dealer, said it has been galling to see friends fall ill in workplaces that lack the same health protections that other industries enjoy.

It's been 16 years of cancer diagnoses, 16 years of watching our beloved co-workers die, she said. We keep hearing, Now is not the time. When is it going to be the right time to care about us?

The Casino Association of New Jersey, the trade group for Atlantic City's nine casinos, recently commissioned a report predicting widespread job losses and revenue declines if smoking were banned in Atlantic City.

Atlantic City has yet to see growth from pre-pandemic levels, association president Joe Lupo said. Employment at our casinos is at a 20-year low, with less than 50% of the workforce from 2003. Visitation to Atlantic City is at a 20-year low, while gas prices and tolls are increasing.

And land-based casino revenue remains at an almost 50% decrease from our peak in 2006, he added. Adding a smoking ban could cause a devastating effect to the community and state.

Casino workers vehemently dispute the findings of that report, and say it does not take into account a likely improvement in business conditions in the years after a smoking ban is enacted, as gamblers become used to a smoke-free environment.

In a letter sent Monday to state Senate President Nicholas Scutari, Bob McDevitt, president of Local 54 of the Unite Here casino workers union, urged lawmakers not to pass a smoking ban.

While we want to ensure that our members work in a safe work environment, banning smoking in New Jersey casinos would mean lost jobs for our union and throughout the state, and lost tax revenues and less money for senior programs, he wrote.

Earlier this month, state gambling regulators released figures showing that Atlantic City casinos collectively exceeded the levels of gross operating profit that they enjoyed before the pandemic broke out in 2020.

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But virtually all that improvement came from the two newest casinos in the market, Hard Rock and Ocean, with the other seven remaining flat since the start of the pandemic.

The bill has not yet had a hearing in the state Legislature, although it continues to gather support from lawmakers of both parties. It has 28 co-sponsors in the Assembly and 15 in the senate, including majorities of the health committees in both houses.

The whole world has figured out how to eat outside and smoke outside, said Assemblywoman Claire Swift, a Republican. The nine casinos can figure it out.

We know this bill would pass today with flying colors if it got put to the floor, said Pete Naccarelli, a Borgata dealer. Soon I will be thankful because I will be working in a smoke-free environment like everyone else in the state of New Jersey.

___

Follow Wayne Parry on Twitter at www.twitter.com/WayneParryAC
The effort to hold drug companies, pharmacies and distributors accountable for their role in the opioid crisis has led to a whirlwind of legal activity around the U.S. that can be difficult keep tabs on.

FILE - Signs are displayed at a tent during a health event on June 26, 2021, in Charleston, W.Va. The effort to hold drug companies, pharmacies and distributors accountable for their role in the opioid crisis has led to a whirlwind of legal activity around the United States. New legal settlements are being reached practically every week to provide governments money to fight the crisis, and in some cases funds for medicines to reverse overdoses or to help with treatment. (AP Photo/John Raby, File)

The effort to hold drug companies, pharmacies and distributors accountable for their role in the opioid crisis has led to a whirlwind of legal activity around the U.S. that can be difficult keep tabs on.

Three trials are underway now, in Florida, West Virginia and Washington state. New legal settlements are being reached practically every week to provide governments money to fight the crisis and in some cases funds for medicines to reverse overdoses or to help with treatment.

In all, more than 3,000 lawsuits have been filed by state and local governments, Native American tribes, unions, hospitals and other entities in state and federal courts over the toll of opioids. Most allege the industry created a public nuisance in a crisis that has been linked to the deaths of 500,000 Americans over the past two decades.

Collectively, businesses already have faced settlements, judgements and civil and criminal penalties totaling more than $47 billion. The main entities targeted are the companies that manufactured and sold the pills; the businesses that distributed them; and the pharmacies that dispensed them.

Here's an overview of the litigation and settlements involving the various companies:

PURDUE PHARMA

Purdue is the maker of OxyContin, an extended-release version of oxycodone that packed higher doses into pills. The drug, released in 1996, became a heavily marketed blockbuster drug  and is associated closely with the epidemic's first wave.

Like other opioids, it was promoted not just for post-surgery and cancer pain but for chronic pain  an area where doctors previously were reluctant to prescribe such powerful drugs.

Faced with thousands of lawsuits, the company went into bankruptcy protection in 2019 to help reach a settlement.

Attorney General for the State of West Virginia Patrick Morrisey gives opening arguments Monday, April 4, 2022. on the first day of the trial against Janssen Pharmaceuticals Inc., Teva Pharmaceuticals Inc., Allergan and their family of companies accused of misrepresenting the risks and benefits of opioids, in the Kanawha County Courthouse in Charleston, W.Va. (Kenny Kemp/Charleston Gazette-Mail via AP)

A deal is now in place, but it's not final.

It calls for members of the Sackler family who own the company to give up their stakes, making way for it to become a new entity  to be known as Knoa Pharma  with profits funding the fight against the opioid crisis. Additionally, family members are to pay $5.5 billion to $6 billion over time, with a portion of the money going to victims.

Earlier this year, three members of the family attended an online hearing in which parents described losing children to addictions that started with OxyContin, and people recovering from addictions described their journeys.

As part of the exchange, Sackler family members would get protection from lawsuits over opioids.

For the settlement to be finalized, a higher court must overturn a judge's ruling that threw out an earlier version of the deal. A hearing on that is scheduled for April 29 before the U.S. 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals.

In the meantime, activists and some U.S. senators are asking the Justice Department to consider charges against family members.

OTHER DRUGMAKERS

In a major court victory for drugmakers last year, a California judge ruled against some local governments in their case against pharmaceutical companies Johnson & Johnson, Endo International and Teva Pharmaceutical Industries.

Some of those drugmakers  Johnson & Johnson, Allergan and Teva  are now on trial in West Virginia.

But companies have largely been settling suits.

FILE - The Walgreens logo on the front of a store, July 14, 2021, in Cambridge, Mass. Trial opened Monday, April 11, 2022 in Floridas opioid epidemic lawsuit against the Walgreens pharmacy chain, which state officials accuse of prioritizing profits over health by improperly dispensing millions of powerful painkillers that caused tens of thousands of deaths. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa, File)

Mallinckrodt, which was a leading producer of generic oxycodone, also used bankruptcy court to reach a settlement, agreeing to a $1.6 billion nationwide deal in 2020.

Johnson & Johnson has agreed to a $5 billion nationwide settlement. It was announced alongside a separate settlement involving the three biggest drug wholesalers. The company's Janssen subsidiary stopped selling its fentanyl patches and pain pills in the U.S. in 2020. J&J was also the first drugmaker to be held liable for the opioid crisis in a trial, though the Oklahoma Supreme Court later overturned the ruling.

Endo made the opioid Opana, which was eventually removed from the market. The company has been reaching individual settlements with states. Deals since last year with Florida, New York, Texas, West Virginia and some district attorneys in Tennessee have totaled well over $200 million.

Late last year, a New York jury found Teva partly responsible for the state's opioid crisis through its marketing of the fentanyl drugs Actiq and Fentora. Most of the other companies the state and two counties sued settled before or during a trial last year. A separate trial is to be held to determine damages.

Since the New York trial, Teva has reached settlements with Texas, Florida and Rhode Island totaling more than $250 million. It will also provide drugs to reverse overdoses and treat addictions.

Allergan, now a subsidiary of AbbVie, has been settling suits involving the extended-release morphine pill Kadian. It reached one major settlement with New York last year. Since then, it has been part of the multi-company settlements in Florida and Rhode Island.

Executives from drugmaker Insys were convicted in 2019 of bribing doctors across the U.S. to prescribe their sublingual fentanyl spray Subsys. Company founder John Kapoor was sentenced to 5 1/2 years in federal prison.

The company also paid $225 million to resolve federal investigations into allegations that it paid kickbacks and used other illegal marketing tactics.

DISTRIBUTION COMPANIES

The three big national companies  AmerisourceBergen, Cardinal Health and McKesson  finalized their settlement, worth a total of $21 billion over 18 years, in February.

The deal, combined with Johnson & Johnson's, is expected to be the single biggest settlement between companies in the drug industry and governments.

The total amounts include separate settlements covering all federally recognized Native American tribes.

With settlement money starting to flow to state and local governments, officials are figuring out how to prioritize it. The funds are arriving at a precarious time: The number of U.S. overdose deaths from all drugs topped 100,000 in a 12-month period for the first time last year. The majority of those deaths are from opioids  and particularly illicit synthetic versions including fentanyl.

Unlike the tobacco settlements of the 1990s, there are safeguards intended to steer most of the opioid settlement funds to addressing the crisis. Public health experts have ideas for how to do that, but the decisions are up to government officials.

The distribution companies also went to trial last year in West Virginia. A judge has not yet ruled.

Closing arguments in Washington state's trial against the distributors are expected this week.

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PHARMACIES

Pharmacy chains have been sued less often than companies that make or distribute opioids. In one groundbreaking case, a federal jury in Ohio last year found CVS, Walgreens and Walmart recklessly distributed massive amounts of pain pills in Lake and Trumbull counties.

Late last month, CVS settled in Florida. That left Walgreens to go to trial Monday.

CONSULTING COMPANY

Global consulting firm McKinsey & Company also reached deals last year with the states, Washington, D.C., and U.S. territories for advising businesses on how to sell more prescription opioids amid the overdose crisis. Those settlements totaled more than $600 million.

A group of U.S. senators is pushing for a federal investigation, saying there were conflicts when the company consulted on opioid-related issues both for companies and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
WASHINGTON (AP)  President Joe Biden said Tuesday his administration will suspend a federal rule that bars higher levels of ethanol in gasoline during the summer. The move, which Biden announced during a visit to Iowa, is intended to tamp down prices at the pump that have spiked during Russias war with Ukraine. Iowa is a key producer of the corn-based fuel additive.

President Joe Biden boards Air Force One in Andrews Air Force Base, Md., Tuesday, April 12, 2022, en route to Menlo, Iowa. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

WASHINGTON (AP)  President Joe Biden said Tuesday his administration will suspend a federal rule that bars higher levels of ethanol in gasoline during the summer. The move, which Biden announced during a visit to Iowa, is intended to tamp down prices at the pump that have spiked during Russias war with Ukraine. Iowa is a key producer of the corn-based fuel additive.

A look at how that the decision to authorize year-round use of so-called E15 will impact gas supplies, prices and the environment.

WHAT ACTION IS BIDEN TAKING?

Most gasoline sold in the U.S. is blended with 10% ethanol. At Biden's direction, the Environmental Protection Agency will issue an emergency waiver to allow widespread sale of 15% ethanol blend that is usually prohibited between June 1 and Sept. 15 because of concerns that it adds to smog in high temperatures.

Senior Biden administration officials said the move will save drivers an average of 10 cents per gallon at 2,300 gas stations that sell E15, as the high-blend ethanol is known. Those stations are mostly in the Midwest and the South, including Texas, according to industry groups.

WHY IS BIDEN DOING THIS?

Lawmakers from both parties and ethanol advocates have urged Biden and the EPA to allow year-round sales of E15, calling it a cheaper and readily available domestic alternative to traditional gasoline. The U.S. has banned imports of Russian crude oil since the country's late February invasion of Ukraine, disrupting global markets and raising prices.

Homegrown Iowa biofuels provide a quick and clean solution for lowering prices at the pump, and bolstering production would help us become energy independent once again, said Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, a longtime ethanol proponent. Grassley and 15 other senators sent Biden a letter last month urging him to allow year-round E15 sales.

Ethanol groups called Biden's action a major win for American drivers and U.S. energy security. "It means cleaner options at the pump and a stronger rural economy, said Emily Skor, CEO of Growth Energy, a biofuel trade group.

HOW WILL THIS AFFECT THE ENVIRONMENT?

Biden administration official say the short-term move will have little effect on the environment and that EPA will work with states to "ensure there are no significant air quality impacts through the summer driving season.''

Environmentalists questioned that, saying ethanol production contributes to greenhouse gas emissions and soil erosion and raises prices for corn and other crops.

The ethanol lobby will be happy and kids with asthma will be sicker,'' said Dan Becker of the Center for Biological Diversity, an environmental group. However well-meaning (Biden's action) might be, kids and the elderly shouldnt pay the price with their health for slight gas savings.''

A recent report in the Proceedings of the National Academy of the Sciences revealed that the federal ethanol mandate inflated corn prices by 30% from 2008 to 2016, made corn-based ethanol more carbon intensive than gasoline and increased annual fertilizer use by up to 8%, polluting waterways.

HAS EPA DONE THIS BEFORE?

The EPA has lifted seasonal restrictions on E15 in the past, including after Hurricane Harvey in 2017. The Trump administration allowed for year-round E15 sales starting in 2019, but a federal appeals court struck down the policy change in July 2021, saying the EPA overstepped its authority.

The decision dealt a significant blow to the ethanol industry and corn farmers who had anticipated increased ethanol demand through year-round sales of the higher blend.

HOW IS THIS DIFFERENT FROM TRUMP'S ACTION?

Senior Biden administration officials said they expected the EPA waiver to survive a likely court challenge, saying that unlike the open-ended Trump rule, the action is limited to this summer and is prompted by a supply disruption caused by the war in Europe.

Greater use of E15 should "help alleviate some of the pain that weve seen since Russia launched this war against Ukraine, EPA Administrator Michael Regan told a Senate committee last week.

But critics said the only emergency is Biden's dropping poll numbers.

Emergency fuel waivers are reserved for acute supply disruptions, such as those resulting from a hurricane, said Chet Thompson, president & CEO of the American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers, which represents petroleum refiners.

An additional three months of E15 sales wont do anything to address high crude oil prices, and 98% of retail (gas) stations cant even sell the fuel,'' Thompson said. This is politics, not a real solution for drivers.

WILL E15 HURT MY CAR'S ENGINE?

E15, often sold at the pump as Unleaded 88, for its octane rating, can safely be used in all cars, trucks and SUVs from 2001 on. Those model years represent more than 90% of vehicles on U.S. roads. The ethanol industry says the fuel is one of the most tested in history and has no effect on vehicle drivability. More than 20 billion miles have been driven in cars and trucks using Unleaded 88, a number continues to grow.

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WHAT IS THE PRICE OF E15 GAS?

E15, or Unleaded 88, typically sells for 10 cents a gallon less than E10, the standard formulation for U.S. cars. The price difference between Unleaded 88 and conventional gasoline without ethanol is around 40 cents.

WILL I GET BETTER MILEAGE WITH E15?

There is no noticeable difference between the mileage achieved when using E15 and mileage when operating on E10.

CAN I USE E15 IN MY LAWNMOWER OR OTHER SMALL-ENGINE EQUIPMENT?

E15 has not been approved by EPA for use in non-automotive engines such as boats, motorcycles, lawn mowers and other small engines. E10, the standard ethanol formulation, is approved for small engines.
HALIFAX - Canadas finance minister highlighted increased support for a government program easing the student debt burden of medical professionals during a post-budget stop in Halifax Tuesday.

Federal Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland holds a media availability during a visit to Dalhousie University in Halifax on Tuesday, April 12, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Vaughan

HALIFAX - Canadas finance minister highlighted increased support for a government program easing the student debt burden of medical professionals during a post-budget stop in Halifax Tuesday.

Chrystia Freeland said the $26.2-million commitment over four years in the federal budget is aimed at addressing the shortage of health-care professionals in rural and remote communities.

Beginning in 2023, nurses who choose to work in underserved rural areas could see up to $30,000 in loan forgiveness, while the figure increases to as much as $60,000 for doctors.

Speaking at Dalhousie University's medical school, Freeland said the assistance can help in provinces such as Nova Scotia where the wait-list to see a family doctor is too long.

Far too many rural communities across this province still lack the primary health care they need, said Freeland. We need to encourage health-care professionals to stay and work in Nova Scotia.

About 88,300 Nova Scotians are on the provinces primary care wait-list, which hit a new record high on April 1. That number is up about three per cent from March.

Deep Saini, president of Dalhousie University, said supporting the availability of health professionals in rural communities across Canada is a crucial part of ensuring a robust and resilient health-care system.

Sani noted that Freelands announcement came on whats known as match day, when medical students find out where they will be completing their residency training.

This is a significant day that defines the next several years in their medical careers, he said. Todays announcement provides an important initiative for graduating students to consider the many rewards of careers in rural and remote areas of Canada.

Maggie Flemming, a second-year medical student at Dalhousie, said she believes partial forgiveness of student loans makes a significant difference, given the high cost of schooling.

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Options are really everything when you are facing the amount of debt that we have. Its very common for medical students to have $200,000 to $300,000 or more of debt when they graduate, said Flemming, who attended Freeland's announcement. Having the option to go to a rural community and have some of that loan forgiven is very appealing.

Flemming, 27, said she will likely be in her late 30s before she ultimately has to decide where she will practise. For me, (rural practice) is definitely an aspect that should be taken into consideration, she said in an interview.

Freeland said the government is also mounting a review to ensure that what is defined as a rural community under the program does not leave out communities that are in need of help.

There are also plans to expand the current list of professionals who are eligible for loan forgiveness, with details to be released in the coming year.

According to the federal government, nearly 5,500 doctors and nurses benefited from the loan forgiveness program in 2019-20.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 12, 2022.
TORONTO - Mortgage lender Home Capital Group Inc. has nominated three new members to its board of directors, including veteran telecommunications executive Joe Natale.

Then-Rogers president and CEO Joe Natale attends the company's AGM in Toronto on Thursday, April 18, 2019. Mortgage lender Home Capital Group Inc. has nominated three new members to its board of directors, including Natale. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young

TORONTO - Mortgage lender Home Capital Group Inc. has nominated three new members to its board of directors, including veteran telecommunications executive Joe Natale.

The Toronto-based company says the election will take place at its annual meeting next month.

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Natale left his role as president and CEO of Rogers Communications Inc. last November after a high-profile boardroom rift.

He previously served as CEO of Telus Corp. and as board member of TD Bank Group, Celestica Inc. and the Hospital for Sick Children.

Home Capital also nominated David Court, senior partner emeritus at McKinsey & Co. and a member of multiple boards including Brookfield Business Partners LP and Canadian Tire Corp., and Edward Waitzer, a former senior partner at Stikeman Elliot LLP and former chairman of the Liquor Control Board of Ontario and the Ontario Securities Commission.

Alan Hibben, Home Capital's board chairman, says the candidates mark a turning point in the future growth and development of the company.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 12, 2022.

Companies in this story: (TSX:HCG)
A recall has been announced for Inari brand Organic Blue Poppy Seeds from Puresource Natural Products due to a possible salmonella contamination.

A recall has been announced for Inari brand Organic Blue Poppy Seeds from Puresource Natural Products due to a possible salmonella contamination.

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The recall covers 250 gram packages with expiration dates of January 2023, October 2020 and October 2024.

The recalled poppy seeds were sold British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec and Nova Scotia, and may have been distributed in other provinces and territories.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency says there have been no reports of illness associated with the products.

Customers are being told to either throw the product out, or return it to the place of purchase.

Salmonella poisoning can result in a wide range of symptoms, from short-term fever, headache and nausea to more serious issues including severe arthritis and, in rare cases, even death.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 12, 2022.
TRENTON, N.J. (AP)  New Jersey regulators gave a green light Monday to seven facilities that already sell medical marijuana to also sell recreational cannabis, although it's not clear exactly when sales would begin.

TRENTON, N.J. (AP)  New Jersey regulators gave a green light Monday to seven facilities that already sell medical marijuana to also sell recreational cannabis, although it's not clear exactly when sales would begin.

Sales could start in a matter of weeks or longer, but a specific date wasn't set at the New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commissions vote during a remotely held meeting. Three of the facilities, known as alternative treatment centers, are in the northern part of the state. Three are in the south, and one is in central New Jersey.

The timing of the start of sales is unclear in part because the facilities must still pass a regulatory inspection of their operations and be issued new licenses.

The New Jersey Cannabis Trade Association, a trade group that advocates for the alternative treatment centers, estimated that recreational retail sales could start as the soon as the end of April, according to spokesperson Pamela Dollak. But it could vary by location, as each center faces compliance and other considerations.

Retail sales for the general public would start in 13 dispensaries operated by the seven treatment centers across the state.

To get approval, the facilities have agreed that the coming influx of recreational buyers won't interrupt access for patients who are currently using medical marijuana. The facilities said they would reserve parking spaces for patients as well as keep hours specifically for patients only.

There are about 130,000 medical marijuana patients in the state, with an estimated roughly 800,000 potential recreational consumers, and fewer than 800,000 estimated tourism consumers, according to the commission.

How much money the state will get in tax revenues from recreational marijuana isn't clear. Murphy's fiscal year 2023 budget, which is pending before the Democrat-led Legislature, estimates revenues of just $19 million in a nearly $49 billion budget. In 2019, as legalization of recreational marijuana was still just pending before voters, he had estimated about $60 million in revenue.

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Legislation governing the recreational market calls for the 6.625% sales tax to apply, with 70% of the proceeds going to areas disproportionately affected by marijuana-related arrests. Black residents were likelier  up to three times as much  to face marijuana charges than white residents. Towns can also levy a tax of up to 2%.

These approvals were given based on commitments from the ATCs that we would not see adverse effects with expansion, commission chairperson Dianna Houenou said. Expansion into the adult-use market  with a substantial advantageous start ahead of new applicants  is a privilege that must not be taken lightly."

The vote comes about a year after the commission started operating, and a year and a half after voters overwhelmingly approved a ballot question to permit recreational marijuana for people 21 and older.

New Jersey's Senate President Nicholas Scutari praised the development in a statement Monday, but said the state needs to do better and in a timely way.

He added that he plans to hold oversight hearings to get an understanding of the delays, the uncertainties and any obstacles that hinder the full implementation of the cannabis law.

New Jersey is one of 18 states, along with the District of Columbia, that legalized recreational marijuana. There also are 37 states, including New Jersey, that have legalized medical marijuana.
KIAMBU COUNTY, Kenya (AP)  Monica Kariuki is about ready to give up on farming. What is driving her off her 10 acres of land outside Nairobi isnt bad weather, pests or blight  the traditional agricultural curses  but fertilizer: It costs too much.

A farmer fertilizes a field on the outskirts of Frankfurt, Germany, Monday, April 4, 2022. Russia's war in Ukraine has pushed up fertilizer prices that were already high, made scarce supplies rarer still and squeezed farmers. (AP Photo/Michael Probst)

KIAMBU COUNTY, Kenya (AP)  Monica Kariuki is about ready to give up on farming. What is driving her off her 10 acres of land outside Nairobi isnt bad weather, pests or blight  the traditional agricultural curses  but fertilizer: It costs too much.

Despite thousands of miles separating her from the battlefields of Ukraine, Kariuki and her cabbage, corn and spinach farm are indirect victims of Russian President Vladimir Putins invasion. The war has pushed up the price of natural gas, a key ingredient in fertilizer, and has led to severe sanctions against Russia, a major exporter of fertilizer.

Kariuki used to spend 20,000 Kenyan shillings, or about $175, to fertilize her entire farm. Now, she would need to spend five times as much. Continuing to work the land, she said, would yield nothing but losses.

"I cannot continue with the farming business. I am quitting farming to try something else, she said.

Higher fertilizer prices are making the world's food supply more expensive and less abundant, as farmers skimp on nutrients for their crops and get lower yields. While the ripples will be felt by grocery shoppers in wealthy countries, the squeeze on food supplies will land hardest on families in poorer countries. It could hardly come at a worse time: The U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization said last week that its world food-price index in March reached the highest level since it started in 1990.

The fertilizer crunch threatens to further limit worldwide food supplies, already constrained by the disruption of crucial grain shipments from Ukraine and Russia. The loss of those affordable supplies of wheat, barley and other grains raises the prospect of food shortages and political instability in Middle Eastern, African and some Asian countries where millions rely on subsidized bread and cheap noodles.

Food prices will skyrocket because farmers will have to make profit, so what happens to consumers? said Uche Anyanwu, an agricultural expert at the University of Nigeria.

The aid group Action Aid warns that families in the Horn of Africa are already being driven to the brink of survival.

The U.N. says Russia is the worlds No. 1 exporter of nitrogen fertilizer and No. 2 in phosphorus and potassium fertilizers. Its ally Belarus, also contending with Western sanctions, is another major fertilizer producer.

Many developing countries  including Mongolia, Honduras, Cameroon, Ghana, Senegal, Mexico and Guatemala  rely on Russia for at least a fifth of their imports.

The conflict also has driven up the already-exorbitant price of natural gas, used to make nitrogen fertilizer. The result: European energy prices so high that some fertilizer companies have closed their businesses and stopped operating their plants, said David Laborde, a researcher at the International Food Policy Research Institute.

For corn and cabbage farmer Jackson Koeth, 55, of Eldoret in western Kenya, the conflict in Ukraine was distant and puzzling until he had to decide whether to go ahead with the planting season. Fertilizer prices had doubled from last year.

Koeth said he decided to keep planting but only on half the acreage of years past. Yet he doubts he can make a profit with fertilizer so costly.

Greek farmer Dimitris Filis, who grows olives, oranges and lemons, said you have to search to find ammonia nitrate and that the cost of fertilizing a 10-hectare (25-acre) olive grove has doubled to 560 euros ($310). While selling his wares at an Athens farm market, he said most farmers plan to skip fertilizing their olive and orange groves this year.

Many people will not use fertilizers at all, and this as a result, lowers the quality of the production and the production itself, and slowly, slowly at one point, they wont be able to farm their land because there will be no income, Filis said.

In China, the price of potash  potassium-rich salt used as fertilizer  is up 86% from a year earlier. Nitrogen fertilizer prices have climbed 39% and phosphorus fertilizer is up 10%.

In the eastern Chinese city of Taian, the manager of a 35-family cooperative that raises wheat and corn said fertilizer prices have jumped 40% since the start of the year.

We can hardly make any money, said the manager, who would give only his surname, Zhao.

Terry Farms, which grows produce on 2,100 acres largely in Ventura, California, has seen prices of some fertilizer formulations double; others are up 20%. Shifting fertilizers is risky, vice president William Terry said, because cheaper versions might not give the crop what it needs as a food source.''

As the growing season approaches in Maine, potato farmers are grappling with a 70% to 100% increase in fertilizer prices from last year, depending on the blend.

I think its going to be a pretty expensive crop, no matter what youre putting in the ground, from fertilizer to fuel, labor, electrical and everything else, said Donald Flannery, executive director of the Maine Potato Board.

In Prudentopolis, a town in Brazil's Parana state, farmer Edimilson Rickli showed off a warehouse that would normally be packed with fertilizer bags but has only enough to last a few more weeks. He's worried that, with the war in Ukraine showing no sign of letting up, he'll have to go without fertilizer when he plants wheat, barley and oats next month.

The question is: Where Brazil is going to buy more fertilizer from?" he said. "We have to find other markets.''

Other countries are hoping to help fill the gaps. Nigeria, for example, opened Africa's largest fertilizer factory last month, and the $2.5 billion plant has already shipped fertilizer to the United States, Brazil, India and Mexico.

India, meanwhile, is seeking more fertilizer imports from Israel, Oman, Canada and Saudi Arabia to make up for lost shipments from Russia and Belarus.

If the supply shortage gets worse, we will produce less, said Kishor Rungta of the nonprofit Fertiliser Association of India. Thats why we need to look for options to get more fertilizers in the country.

Agricultural firms are providing support for farmers, especially in Africa where poverty often limits access to vital farm inputs. In Kenya, Apollo Agriculture is helping farmers get fertilizer and access to finance.

Some farmers are skipping the planting season and others are going into some other ventures such as buying goats to cope, said Benjamin Njenga, co-founder of the firm. So these support services go a long way for them.

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Governments are helping, too. The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced last month that it was issuing $250 million in grants to support U.S. fertilizer production. The Swiss government has released part of its nitrogen fertilizer reserves.

Still, there's no easy answer to the double whammy of higher fertilizer prices and limited supplies. The next 12 to 18 months, food researcher LaBorde said, will be difficult.''

The market already was super, super tight" before the war, said Kathy Mathers of the Fertilizer Institute trade group.

Unfortunately, in many cases, growers are just happy to get fertilizer at all, she said.

___

Asadu reported from Lagos, Nigeria, and Wiseman from Washington. Contributing to this story were: Tatiana Pollastri in Sao Paulo, Brazil; Debora Alvares in Brasilia, Brazil; Sheikh Saaliq in New Delhi; Lefteris Pitarakis in Athens; Jamey Keaten in Geneva; Joe McDonald and Yu Bing in Beijing; Lisa Rathke in Marshfield, Vermont; Dave Kolpack in Fargo, North Dakota; Kathia Martinez in Panama City; Christoph Noelting in Frankfurt; Fabiola Sanchez in Mexico City; Veselin Toshkov in Sofia, Bulgaria; Tarik El-Barakah in Rabat, Morocco; Tassanee Vejpongsa and Elaine Kurtenbach in Bangkok; Ilan Ben Zion in Jerusalem; Edie Lederer at the United Nations; and Aya Batrawy in Dubai.
BEIJING (AP)  Some residents of Shanghai were allowed out of their homes as the city of 25 million eased a two-week-old shutdown Tuesday after a video posted online showed what was said to be people who ran out of food breaking into a supermarket.

Volunteers wearing armbands and face masks stand at the gate of a residential community in Shanghai, China, Monday, April 11, 2022. The U.S. has ordered all non-emergency consular staff to leave Shanghai, which is under a tight lockdown to contain a COVID-19 surge. Many residents in the city of 26 million have been confined to their homes for up to three weeks as China maintains its "zero-COVID" strategy of handling outbreaks with strict isolation and mass testing. (AP Photo)

BEIJING (AP)  Some residents of Shanghai were allowed out of their homes as the city of 25 million eased a two-week-old shutdown Tuesday after a video posted online showed what was said to be people who ran out of food breaking into a supermarket.

About 6.6 million people can go outdoors, but some must stay in their own neighborhoods, the online news outlet The Paper reported, citing city officials. The government said some markets and pharmacies would reopen.

A health official warned Shanghai doesn't have the coronavirus under control despite easing restrictions.

The epidemic is in a period of rapid growth, said Lei Zhenglong of the National Health Commission at a news conference. Community transmission has not been effectively contained.

The abrupt closure of most businesses starting March 28 and orders to stay home left the public fuming about lack of access to food and medicine. People who test positive for the virus are forced into sprawling temporary quarantine facilities criticized by some as crowded and unsanitary.

Commuters wearing face masks ride a subway train in Beijing, Tuesday, April 12, 2022. The U.S. has ordered all non-emergency consular staff to leave Shanghai, which is under a tight lockdown to contain a COVID-19 surge. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

Meanwhile, the American government announced all non-emergency U.S. government employees would be withdrawn from its Shanghai Consulate. A foreign ministry spokesman defended China's handling of the outbreak and accused Washington of politicizing its evacuation.

Also Tuesday, the government of Guangzhou, a manufacturing and trading center northwest of Hong Kong, announced a new round of virus testing for its 19 million people. Most access to the city was stopped after 27 infections were found Monday.

The unusual severity of Shanghais shutdown appeared to be driven as much by politics as by public health concerns.

The struggle in Chinas richest city is an embarrassment during a politically sensitive year when President Xi Jinping is expected to try to break with tradition and award himself a third five-year term as leader of the ruling Communist Party.

Chinas case numbers are relatively low, but the ruling party is enforcing a zero-tolerance strategy aimed at isolating every case. Some officials have been fired for failing to act aggressively enough, which gives others an incentive to impose extreme measures.

The government reported 24,659 new cases through midnight Monday, including 23,387 with no symptoms. That included 23,346 in Shanghai, only 998 of whom had symptoms.

Commuters wearing face masks walk across an intersection in the central business district in Beijing, Tuesday, April 12, 2022. The U.S. has ordered all non-emergency consular staff to leave Shanghai, which is under a tight lockdown to contain a COVID-19 surge. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

In Shanghai, more than 200,000 cases but no deaths have been reported in the latest wave of infections.

The government eased restrictions by announcing residents of areas with no cases for at least two weeks can leave their homes starting Tuesday. It said they could go to other areas that also had no new cases during that time but were urged to stay home when possible.

Such prevention areas have about 4.8 million people, The Paper reported, citing city officials. It said all but 500,000 of those were in less crowded suburbs.

An additional 1.8 million people in control areas with no new cases in the past week are allowed out but can't leave their neighborhoods, the report said.

Another 15 million people in quarantine areas that have had infections in the past week still are barred from leaving their homes. The report gave no indication of the status of the remaining 3.4 million people in the official population.

The shutdown of Shanghai, home of the world's busiest port and China's main stock exchange, has prompted fears manufacturing and global trade might be disrupted.

In this photo released by Xinhua News Agency, bunk beds are seen at a makeshift hospital and quarantine facility at the National Exhibition and Convention Center in Shanghai, Monday, April 11, 2022. The U.S. has ordered all non-emergency consular staff to leave Shanghai, which is under a tight lockdown to contain a COVID-19 surge. (Ding Ting/Xinhua via AP)

Automakers in Shanghai, a manufacturing center, have suspended or reduced production due to interruptions in supplies of components. The port's management says operations are normal, but European Union Chamber of Commerce in China has estimated the volume of cargo it handles every day has fallen 40%.

Residents complained the shutdown left them without access to food or medicine and unable to look after elderly relatives who lived alone.

The government distributed packages of vegetables and other food for a few days at least twice to some households. Others said they received nothing.

A video that circulated online Saturday showed what a caption said were people in the Songjiang district breaking into a supermarket and carrying away cartons of food.

Police denied the event occurred in Shanghai. A police statement Tuesday said the video was posted by a man in Kunshan, west of Shanghai, but not when or where it was shot. It said the man received unspecified administrative penalties for disrupting public order by fabricated facts.

The Associated Press was unable to find the source of the video or when and where it was shot.

Official plans in late March called for suspending access to districts of Shanghai for four days at a time while residents were tested. After case numbers soared, that changed to an indefinite citywide shutdown with only a few hours notice.

Despite a promise by city officials to improve food supplies, residents said online grocers often sold out early in the day or were unable to deliver. Vendors said they added hundreds of employees to speed deliveries.

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The State Department last week advised Americans against travel to China due to arbitrary enforcement of laws and anti-virus restrictions. It cited a risk of parents and children being separated.

On Tuesday, a State Department statement said the U.S. government decided it is best for our employees and their families to be reduced in number due to changing circumstances on the ground.

The foreign ministry criticized the announcement and said China's anti-virus work is scientific and effective.

The United States should immediately stop attacking Chinas epidemic prevention policy, stop political manipulation with the epidemic issue and stop smearing and discrediting China, said a ministry spokesman, Zhao Lijian.

___

AP video producer Liu Zheng and researcher Yu Bing in Beijing and researcher Chen Si in Shanghai contributed.
OTTAWA - The head of the Canadian Labour Congress expressed worries on Tuesday that labour groups could be left out of talks over a federal pledge to let workers access skills training programs before they become unemployed.

Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland tables the federal budget in the House of Commons as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau looks on in Ottawa, Thursday, April 7, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

OTTAWA - The head of the Canadian Labour Congress expressed worries on Tuesday that labour groups could be left out of talks over a federal pledge to let workers access skills training programs before they become unemployed.

Congress president Bea Bruske said her concern is some provinces won't consult unions on how to redirect the federal training cash to help workers before they land on employment insurance.

The Liberals are also proposing to update agreements on the over $2 billion the federal government sends annually to provinces for skills training programs.

The budget proposes directing cash toward tackling current and future labour market needs, including helping mid-career workers transitioning to new sectors.

Bruske said expanding the scope of the labour market development agreements, as they're known, is a positive step.

"But we are worried about whether or not it's going to be done in the right way," she said, arguing that provinces like Alberta and Ontario don't value consulting unions.

"If workers aren't at the table to address the issues that we need to address in terms of where the shortages are going to be and where there's going to be pain in terms of unemployment, then how do we make sure that workers are actually covered by the very issues that we're trying to address?"

The budget released last week also proposes changes to the Employment Insurance Act to provide direct support to employers to retrain workers, and make more workers eligible for help before they become unemployed.

The federal government annually sends money through the agreements to provinces and territories to provide services to unemployed people, many of whom are eligible through the EI system, find and hold a job.

A federal review of the agreements released in May 2021 suggested funding was helping train workers for in-demand jobs, but also highlighted a series of hurdles preventing many from taking part. Among the problems identified were a lack of essential skills or knowledge of programs, learning disabilities and living in remote communities.

Widespread labour shortages and a historically low unemployment rate has helped drive demands for a rethink of skills training and the EI program itself that is under review. Employment Minister Carla Qualtrough is expected to release a report on the future of EI in the fall.

"We haven't touched the EI program for 70 years. Optimistically and truly, this is our once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to crack this wide open," said Leah Nord, senior director of workforce strategies at the Canadian Chamber of Commerce.

Nord said EI should evolve toward a talent development process, one where help is provided to workers during a job loss to land a position in sectors with the greatest need. That help could come before someone loses a job, she said, or targeted to those out of the labour market the longest.

Statistics Canada's latest jobs report showed that in February there were 225,000 out-of-work Canadians whose ongoing job search had stretched for at least six months, which was 45,000, or almost 25 per cent, above pre-pandemic levels recorded in February 2020.

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Michael Wilcox, an economist with the Labour Market Information Council, said filling available positions and boosting employment figures will require employers to tap into those long-term unemployed as well as other underutilized groups like older workers, immigrants and youth.

"Eliminating barriers to access and encouraging those who have left the labour force to rejoin is critical," he said. "Skills training and better labour market information are two supports that could help."

Deloitte Canada's post-budget analysis said the government should pay attention to those at risk of being excluded from labour market gains, including women, low-income households, Indigenous Peoples, and newcomers.

While the budget included $272.6 million over five years to help people with disabilities enter and stay in the labour force, Deloitte Canada's report released Tuesday suggested more may be needed to train Indigenous youth.

"Investing in overall labour force participation would increase Canada's average real GDP growth and lift the annual trend pace of economic growth," the report said.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 12, 2022.
YEREVAN, APRIL 12, ARMENPRESS. Deputy Defense Minister Arman Sargsyan presented to lawmakers the bill on ratifying the treaty between CIS member-states on a joint military communication system.

By ratifying the bill, Armenia will join the 2020 May 29 initiative signed in Moscow on creating a joint communication system between the militaries of the CIS countries.

Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan have signed the agreement.
SAN FRANCISCO (AP)  Yelp will cover the travel expenses of employees who must travel out of state for abortions, joining the ranks of major employers trying to help workers affected by new restrictions in Texas and other states.

FILE- This March 19, 2018, file photo shows the Yelp app on an iPad in Baltimore. Yelp reports financial results Thursday, Nov. 7, 2019. The online review service will cover the travel expenses of employees who have to travel out of state for abortions, joining the ranks of major employers trying to help workers affected by restrictions being placed on the procedure in Texas and other states. The benefit announced Tuesday, April 12, 2022 covers Yelp's entire workforce of 4,000 employees, but seems most likely to have its biggest immediate impact on its 200 workers in Texas, which has passed a law banning abortions within the state after six weeks of pregnancy. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, File)

SAN FRANCISCO (AP)  Yelp will cover the travel expenses of employees who must travel out of state for abortions, joining the ranks of major employers trying to help workers affected by new restrictions in Texas and other states.

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.

The benefit announced Tuesday covers all 4,000 employees at the online review service, but seems most likely to have its biggest immediate impact on its 200 workers in Texas, which has passed a law banning abortions within the state after six weeks of pregnancy.

Weve long been a strong advocate for equality in the workplace, and believe that gender equality cannot be achieved if womens healthcare rights are restricted," said Miriam Warren, Yelp's chief diversity officer.

Other states, including Oklahoma, are also are clamping down on abortions prompting Yelp, based in San Francisco, and several other companies to draw up policies aimed at helping their workers get reproductive health care in other states.

Last month Citigroup, based in New York, disclosed plans to cover the travel expenses of any of its more than 220,000 employees, thousands of whom work in Texas, who travel to another state for an abortion.

The two largest U.S. ride-hailing services, Uber and Lyft, last year announced they will pay the legal fees for drivers who could get sued under the new Texas law for transporting a passenger to an appointment for an abortion.

The policies expose companies to potential backlash from those who support abortion restrictions, but they could be an advantage for employers with a footprint in states like Texas in an increasingly competitive job market.
While Russias war on Ukraine continues, Manitobas population has slowly grown to include refugees seeking peace far from home.

While Russias war on Ukraine continues, Manitobas population has slowly grown to include refugees seeking peace far from home.

The Free Press spoke with three Ukrainian women  two mothers, one soon to be  about their harrowing escapes from the terror and about acclimating to their new lives more than 7,000 kilometres away.

For a month-and-a-half, Victoria Akimkina slept fully dressed, even wearing an outdoor jacket. As war took hold in Kharkiv  a city of about 1.5 million in northeast Ukraine  she had to be ready to run at any given time.

Akimkina, 30, lived in Kharkiv for much of her life. She and her husband, Max, were excitedly expecting their first child.

Then, on Feb. 24, they woke up to the sound of bombs exploding.

Food began disappearing from supermarket shelves. In a matter of days they were without electricity and water had become scarce. They began sleeping on the floors of the metro station with hundreds of other people when their home became impossible to live in.

Victoria Akimkina (right), a 30-year-old pregnant refugee from Ukraine, knows she is safe with Winnipeg host Tina Wiebe-Carl, but the sound of a small plane overhead still triggers her terror. (Ruth Bonneville / Winnipeg Free Press)

She began experiencing pain and bleeding related to her pregnancy, but when her husband called for an ambulance, he was told she wouldnt be able to receive medical attention because the area was being bombed.

What came next was a brutal decision for the couple.

"My husband understands that this is super-dangerous for me and for baby to be there," Akimkina haltingly tells the Free Press.

She puts her face in her hands, turning away to hide sudden tears. She can barely get out the words.

"He forced me to leave the city. He found one man who would take me to the railway station."

Even the ordeal of getting on the train out of Kharkiv to the western city of Lviv near the Polish border, a safer area at the time, was "horrible," she says. About five months pregnant, she was forced to push and shove to get a seat for the 26-hour journey in total darkness and without food or toilets. When she arrived in Lviv, she was fed and taken to an emergency ward to check on her pregnancy.

But she knew she couldnt stay in Ukraine.

"I understood that I cant be there anymore, because its very difficult," she said. "You hear all the sirens and these bombs and you dont feel that youre safe at all, you cant fall asleep like a regular person."

I understood that I cant be there anymore, because its very difficult... You hear all the sirens and these bombs and you dont feel that youre safe at all, you cant fall asleep like a regular person.  Victoria Akimkina

Thats when she connected with Winnipegger Tina Wiebe-Carl.

Wiebe-Carl, a mother of four, real estate agent and self-described empty-nester, had signed up on multiple online databases of potential hosts for Ukrainian refugees. When Akimkina reached out to her using one of those databases, she rushed to get her home ready, and not just for one visitor.

"I have an extra bedroom, and I was like, I gotta do something. We had a separate bathroom, couch," she says. "How hard is it for people to do this?"

After a video call from Lviv, host and guest decided to take a risk. Wiebe-Carl would provide Akimkina a safe haven and help her get acclimated to Canada. Akimkina, after making it out of Ukraine and into Romania, would travel to Winnipeg.

With just a backpack and a plastic bag carrying her belongings, she arrived at James Richardson airport on a work permit Wednesday night.

She spent a few days getting much-needed sleep and eating to get her strength back. Now, with Wiebe-Carls help, shes looking for work, meeting other local Ukrainians in the community, and trying to get a Manitoba Health card so she can access prenatal care for the baby  a boy; shes afraid her unborn son is feeling neglected by his mother.

"You know, sometimes I even forget about this?" she says, gesturing toward her belly. "Because you think about all this (other)stuff."

But there are things she cant forget. In her sleep, shell jolt awake to the sound of bombs that arent falling from the sky. Every time she hears an ambulance peeling down a Winnipeg street, shes back to being fully dressed on a metro-station floor.

She points to a small airplane flying overhead while she speaks.

"Do you hear? This sound is like when bombs are flying to you," she says.

"Even living here, you understand that youre in a safe place, but your brain and your body doesnt allow you because from every sound, you feel that you need to run, or you want to fall on the floor."

She and Max have been apart a long time now, but theyre finally able to speak to and see each other on video calls; hes in a village in Lviv. Theyre in mourning; their country has been forever altered.

"Even if the war finishes tomorrow, I wont go back, definitely, because we dont have homes there," she says. "Our Kharkiv is destroyed totally."

Now, all she can do is wait for their son to arrive and for her love to make it out of Ukraine safely, at some point.

"We just pray the war will finish soon. And I hope that it finishes, and my husband will come to Canada and maybe we will live here? I think so. I dont know," she says.

"I just wish to get from him (the) message Im not in Ukraine. This is what I wish for."

Alina Roshkos husband Oleg was volunteering near Ukraines border when he realized the gravity of their situation two days after Russia invaded.

"He came home, opened the door and said, You have to leave now," Roshko says.

"He said, I saw how many women and children are trying to leave Ukraine. Its very scary, and I think that you must take the kids and go."

With three backpacks, Roshko, their nine-year-old son Dima and four-year-old daughter Mia got in a car, said goodbye to Oleg and drove 52 hours to the Czech Republic, a trip that, under normal circumstances, took 17.

Roshkos younger sister Valerie and her husband, Jim Cheng, live in Winnipeg, and were "living in two different time zones" before their fleeing family members arrived here.

JOHN WOODS / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Alina Roshko and her son Dima, 9, and her sister Valerie Alipova, left, at Bethel Mennonite Church. Roshko came to Canada with her two children and is staying with her sisters family while her husband remains in Ukraine to fight.

"Once (they) left Ukraine for the Czech Republic, we started the visitors visa application, but there was very little that we could do to help other than apply and wait," Jim Cheng says. "Valerie still talks to her sisters, mom and grandparents every couple of hours, just to make sure theyre safe."

Years before the war, the Chengs tried to secure visitor visas for Alina and the kids twice, to no avail. This time, when they applied, it took a month and $960 out of pocket to get them into the country, despite Canadas promise to waive fees.

Roshko says she would have stayed in Ukraine if not for her children. Her pregnant younger sister Mallory and her mother, a school principal, chose to remain.

"For two days, I couldnt phone my husband because I was crying all the time, but I knew that I needed to be strong for my kids," Roshko says. "For Dima, he knew the real reason we left, but for Mia, its like shes on vacation, (although the kids) also didnt want to phone Dad in the beginning because they were scared for him."

When they got to the Czech Republic, Roshko and the kids waited for more than a month before their visas were approved. During that time, they stayed with a host family and another refugee family. The flight to Canada took them through Germany and Montreal before they landed in Winnipeg.

"A ridiculously small number of people have made it to Canada, and the Ukrainian Canadian Congress Manitoba told us that theres not many people here because the visa process is so long and complicated," Jim Cheng says.

For two days, I couldnt phone my husband because I was crying all the time, but I knew that I needed to be strong for my kids.  Alina Roshko

"There are many people that would like to help  we would like to help  but theres not much that we can do here until that changes."

In March, the UCCM branch said 157 Ukrainians had contacted the organization for information on moving to the province. Offers to shelter refugees poured in; staff stopped taking information when the number reached 700.

Explosions reverberating through the night jolted Yulia Trygubniak from what would be the last restful sleep in her own home, triggering a decision that would bring the young mother to Winnipeg.

From her home in Boyarka, a suburb on the outskirts of Kyiv, the 32 year old could hear the devastation of the late February Russian attacks on Irpin, about 30 kilometres north of where she lived with her four-year-old son and husband.

"I was very afraid," Trygubniak recalls during a conversation at the Ukrainian National Federation in Winnipegs Point Douglas neighbourhood. "I didnt know what to do in that time, to bring (my son) somewhere in the (apartment), or to cover by myself. I didnt know whether something would fall down or not."

"The next day, we just packed our things," she continues. "I took everything that I could take. I didnt plan; I didnt think about it. It was very difficult."

MIKE DEAL / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS I was very afraid, Yulia Trygubniak recalls during a conversation at the Ukrainian National Federation in Winnipegs Point Douglas neighbourhood. I didnt know what to do in that time, to bring (my son) somewhere in the (apartment), or to cover by myself. I didnt know whether something would fall down or not.

Trygubniak arrived in Winnipeg last Thursday with her son and husband after a difficult month that saw her reluctantly leave Ukraine  forced to leave her aging in-laws behind  and traverse across Europe to catch a flight out of Lisbon, Portugal bound for Toronto.

Trygubniak and her family had been approved to immigrate to Canada in late 2021 and planned to move to Winnipeg this coming June. Their plans were upended and the immigration process expedited because of the war.

In Winnipeg, she was reunited with her sister, who has lived in the city for about eight years. Her father, who boarded a plane in Poland destined for Canada, had arrived weeks earlier.

However, Trygubniak and her husband are anxiously waiting to be reunited with the family matriarch, who stayed behind in Stoyanka, a tiny village on Kyivs outskirts, to take care of her ailing husband. Trygubniak says her father-in-law died not long after they were forced to flee the region.

The next day, we just packed our things, she continues. I took everything that I could take. I didnt plan; I didnt think about it. It was very difficult.  Yulia Trygubniak

He was buried in the yard of their family home by neighbours while Russian troops occupied the village. Trygubniaks mother-in-law was able to escape with neighbours and is now living with family in Italy while waiting on the documents that will allow her passage to Canada.

"She said, I just want to come here in Winnipeg and to have a home," Trygubniak says.

Until that time, Trygubniak says she is focused on rebuilding her life in Winnipeg. She is on the hunt for daycare for her son and a car so she can eventually begin working.

While the stability of being with her family in Winnipeg has offered some relief, Trygubniak says she continues to have dream about having to flee her home and her waking hours can be equally as difficult.

"Its a very difficult situation for everyone, and none of us thought it would be like this," she says, adding the help her family has received from across Manitoba has been a comfort through the grief.

"It is very precious," she says.

malak.abas@freepress.mb.ca

danielle.dasilva@freepress.mb.ca

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Malak Abas

Reporter Malak Abas is a reporter for the Winnipeg Free Press. Read full biography
JONATHAN Flett admits beating a Good Samaritan on the head with a hammer but had no intention of killing him, a judge was told Monday.

JONATHAN Flett admits beating a Good Samaritan on the head with a hammer but had no intention of killing him, a judge was told Monday.

Flett, 20, is on trial charged with attempted murder for a Sept. 1, 2020, attack that sent 27-year-old Zachary Fitzsimmons to hospital with life-altering injuries.

Flett lashed out at Fitzsimmons, mistakenly believing he had hit Flett first, and in his own words "wasnt trying to kill that guy," defence lawyer Scott Newman told Queens Bench Justice Theodor Bock in a closing argument.

Flett has admitted he is guilty of the lesser charge of aggravated assault.

"If you accept what he has to say, he is entitled to an acquittal (on the attempted murder charge)," Newman said.

Fitzsimmons testified earlier in the trial he had been "hanging out" and drinking with his fiancee and friends when they drove to the Maryland Hotel to pick up more beer before going home.

Fitzsimmons said he was approaching the beer vendor entrance when he saw "a group of guys messing around with this younger kid They were circled round him. I could sense something was going to happen. They were bullying him."

Several bystanders were walking in the area but did nothing to assist the boy, he said.

"I came up (to the group) and said: Leave that kid alone," he said. "They didnt like that. They got up in my face and said: What are you going to do? I felt like I was going to be the one they were fighting, thats how close they were to my face."

Fitzsimmons said he may have thrown the first punch in self-defence and found himself fighting two of the men, while a third struck him on the head several times with a retractable baton.

"Everything flashed white" and the next thing he remembered was waking up in hospital with his fiancee, feeling "very confused," Fitzsimmons said.

Fitzsimmons did not testify to being hit with a hammer, but security video of the attack shows Flett striking Fitzsimmons nine times with a drywall hammer, at one point lodging the tool in his skull.

Fitzsimmons suffered a broken jaw, a shattered nose and injuries to his skull, and spent three weeks in hospital.

Newman said Flett lives with mental disabilities and challenges, including post-traumatic stress disorder, and an inability to concentrate or process information quickly that rob him of the ability to form the intent to commit murder.

"He meets the provinces formal definition of a vulnerable person living with a mental disability," the defence lawyer said.

The trial heard testimony from two psychologists who examined Flett; one, months before the attack, and the other, after his arrest.

The doctor who completed the earlier report outlined "a history of serious offending behaviour" and "behavioural disregulation" borne from an upbringing of instability, neglect and abuse, Newman said.

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"This incident was foreseeable in the sense that Mr. Flett was not being provided appropriate supports by the province of Manitoba and Child and Family Services," Newman said. "The tragedy here is that the doctor tried to get him the supports that would have prevented this from happening."

Crown attorney Jennifer Comack said Flett provided differing versions of events to doctors, police and the court.

Flett insisted he had no intent to kill Fitzsimmons while at the same time telling court he had no memory of attacking him  conflicting claims Comack described as an "utter absurdity."

"His evidence was all over the place, inconsistent and defied common sense," the Crown said. "Nothing Jonathan Flett said about the day in question can be believed."

Bock has reserved his verdict.

dean.pritchard@freepress.mb.ca
OTTAWA  A court order that extends services to Indigenous youth who age out of foster care has garnered praise, but Manitoba chiefs warn it could have adverse consequences.

OTTAWA  A court order that extends services to Indigenous youth who age out of foster care has garnered praise, but Manitoba chiefs warn it could have adverse consequences.

The Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs hailed a recent ruling by the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal to include youth aging out of care in federal services. However, it argues Ottawa must do the same for kids who arent under the care of Child and Family Services.

"Any time CFS services extend beyond what is available to First Nations children through Jordans Principle or other existing services/programs, we create a perverse incentive for people to put their children in care," wrote acting grand chief Eric Redhead.

Jordans Principle is a concept Parliament ratified in 2007, which holds that First Nations children should receive care upfront and let governments fight over payment afterward.

The principle is named after Jordan River Anderson, was born at Health Sciences Centre in Winnipeg with multiple disabilities. He died there in 2005 at age five, after two years of the Manitoba and federal governments squabbling over who would pay to provide home care at Norway House Cree Nation.

The concept has been the basis of a decade-long tribunal case which ruled Ottawa racially discriminates against First Nations children by providing services that are subpar to what non-Indigenous children get in provincial system. Those services include dental care, special education and physiotherapy.

As part of the tribunal case, a March 24 ruling extended programs for wards of foster care beyond age 17, up until they turn 26.

Redhead hopes that will mean programs for all First Nations children, and not just those in foster care.

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"We are hopeful that this is a step in the right direction to ensuring long-term systemic changes for First Nations children and families," he wrote.

Perverse incentives in foster care have long been a concern for First Nations in Manitoba and other provinces.

Both the province and federal government have reformed CFS in recent years to better fund preventive work such as parenting classes. For decades, foster care had largely been funded based on how many children agencies have taken from the family home, which often left social workers little choice but to apprehend a child, instead of working to resolve issues in the home.

Last week, AMC issued a lengthy report by academics on how Jordans Principle is working in Manitoba.

The report argued red tape and colonial structures hold back the program from actually achieving equitable services. It recommended more autonomy, and a better tracking of whether children can actually access adequate services.

dylan.robertson@freepress.mb.ca
The Progressive Conservatives will spare no expense to bring Ukrainians fleeing war to Manitoba, Finance Minister Cameron Friesen says.

The Progressive Conservatives will spare no expense to bring Ukrainians fleeing war to Manitoba, Finance Minister Cameron Friesen says.

However, he offered no specifics for the immigration sector Monday, ahead of the Stefanson governments first budget.

"We are preparing for the arrival of thousands of Ukrainians here in Manitoba. We will care for them, we will provide them with a full range of provincial support services," Friesen said during a pre-budget event at the Ukrainian National Federation in Winnipeg.

"We will take as many Ukrainians seeking safe refuge as possible," he said. "Whatever that number is on our books that we must expend to see to the arrival and the settlement and the support of Ukrainians, we will invest that money."

Friesen delivered the remarks to roughly a dozen newcomer families assembled at the Point Douglas-area community hall (on invitation of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress Manitoba) to take in the long-standing tradition whereby finance ministers buy new shoes before the budget.

The families had recently landed in Winnipeg after having their applications to the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program expedited in the wake of Russias invasion of Ukraine, Friesen said.

However, the minister opted to stick with his brown Oxfords  and forgo his governments recent practice of giving a pair of shoes to a deserving Manitoban  to instead provide shoe boxes full of hygiene products to the congress for Ukriainans expected to land in the province in the upcoming weeks.

"Its a cause that we all can, have and will get behind," Friesen said.

Last year, then-finance minister Scott Fielding presented an employee of Cadham Provincial Laboratory with a pair of Blundstones to recognize the work of staff in the provinces COVID-19 response.

"While the shoeboxes of hygiene products being presented today are largely symbolic in nature, they demonstrate that Ukraine does not stand alone," UCC Manitoba president Joanne Lewandoski said. "They confirm that decency and human kindness have no borders."

To date, Friesen said no Ukrainians have arrived in Manitoba through the federal governments emergency visa program, though 30,000 applications have been approved and 14,000 people have already made the journey overseas.

"Were working in partnership with the Canadian government and, of course, within the province to get ready because we know that there will be Ukrainians coming to Manitoba," he said.

Friesen said the province has an idea of how many people it could accept, but has not yet determined the minimum number of Ukrainians immigration and settlement services could handle in the short term.

"What weve said is: as many people who will raise their hand and say they want to resettle in Manitoba, we will take that number," Friesen said. "So, were running estimates, of course, of how many that could be. Were looking back at previous iterations of similar types of situations, like Syria, and were doing some planning on the basis of those numbers."

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The provincial government is focusing its efforts on getting housing, daycare, translation and settlement services in place for newcomers, while also dialing in its capacity to respond to the refugee crisis, Friesen said.

He declined to answer reporters questions about how much additional funding immigration and settlement service providers could see in the upcoming budget, set to be introduced Tuesday afternoon.

"Stay tuned tomorrow for the budget," Friesen said.

Welcoming thousands additional newcomers to Manitoba should not derail the Progressive Conservative governments plans to eliminate the deficit by 2028, Friesen said.

"Right now, Manitobans know that what really counts is making sure that our government and our province is responding in an unconditional way to welcome Ukrainians  and thats just what were going to do."

danielle.dasilva@freepress.mb.ca
PORTAGE LA PRAIRIE  Neighbours have expressed shock and grief over the suspicious deaths of three people whose bodies were found after a duplex fire in Portage la Prairie was extinguished early Sunday morning.

PORTAGE LA PRAIRIE  Neighbours have expressed shock and grief over the suspicious deaths of three people whose bodies were found after a duplex fire in Portage la Prairie was extinguished early Sunday morning.

Area residents said a man, woman and two young children lived in the unit where the bodies were discovered on 7th Street S.E. in Portage, about 70 kilometres west of Winnipeg, around 1 a.m.

The couple kept to themselves after moving into the duplex a few months ago, according to people who live nearby.

Neighbours said they were devastated when they found out three people were found dead.

"I felt awful," said Andy Landry, who lives across the street. "I saw the (couple and children) outside occasionally. I very seldom saw the children."

In a news release, Manitoba RCMP said Monday a man who was in custody in connection with the incident has been released.

Police are working with the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner to confirm the identities of the three people and the cause of their deaths.

The Office of the Fire Commissioner is probing the cause of the blaze.

"We know this a very difficult time for the community," said RCMP spokeswoman Cpl. Julie Courchaine in a news release. "We want to assure the residents of Portage la Prairie that our officers are doing everything they can to move this investigation forward."

Neighbours say a man, woman and two young children lived in the unit where the bodies were discovered on 7th Street S.E. in Portage la Prairie. (Chris Kitching / Winnipeg Free Press)

More information is expected to be released Tuesday, said police.

The second duplex unit was home to a couple and four children, who escaped but lost everything in the fire, according to friends and a GoFundMe page set up to raise money for essentials.

"What happened was an absolute tragedy," said neighbour Melanie Minaudier, who started the online fundraiser. "Its the kind of thing you see on TV, not next door."

The community is rallying around the neighbouring family by donating clothing and other items. The family was staying at a hotel after their home was damaged in the fire. The mother declined to comment.

Firefighters were already extinguishing the flames when RCMP arrived on scene early Sunday morning, a news release stated.

The bodies were found inside the home after the flames were put out, and the deaths are being treated as suspicious.

The fire department declined to comment.

Neighbours said they went outside after hearing sirens or seeing the flashing lights of fire trucks, ambulances and police cars which filled the street.

Codie Kidston, who was in her living room when emergency vehicles arrived, said she saw flames through a window of the duplex unit and smoke billowing out of the open front door while crews tackled the fire.

She watched as firefighters unfurled their water hoses and went inside the burning home.

The second duplex unit was home to a couple and four children, who escaped the first but lost everything, according to friends. (Chris Kitching / Winnipeg Free Press)

"I bet you every fire truck in Portage was lined up here," she said.

One of the people who died was a Grade 1 student at Ecole Crescentview School in Portage, a letter to parents and guardians stated Monday.

"We are deeply saddened by this loss and feel great concern for the family and all impacted by this event," the letter says, offering support to students and staff at the school.

Amid speculation in the community, Kidston and other neighbours were shocked when the RCMP announced Sunday afternoon three people were dead and a man was in custody.

"Its a little too freaky when its that close," said a man, who lives down the street and declined to give his name. "The unit was renovated, but then people moved in. They kept to themselves. I dont know them at all."

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There was a steady stream of passersby in vehicles and on foot, as yellow police tape still surrounded the duplex and officers remained on scene Monday.

At least one forensic investigator, wearing a white full-body suit, was at the home after a team spent hours there Sunday. The street was blocked by police vehicles.

The RCMPs major crime unit is investigating the incident.

Anyone with information is asked to call RCMP at 204-857-4445 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477. Tips can also be submitted at www.manitobacrimestoppers.com.

chris.kitching@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @chriskitching
It has often been said when it comes to overcoming political challenges, its better to be lucky than good. Nobody embodied that adage more than former Manitoba premier Brian Pallister.

It has often been said when it comes to overcoming political challenges, its better to be lucky than good. Nobody embodied that adage more than former Manitoba premier Brian Pallister.

Although he bristled when anyone had the temerity to accuse him of being lucky, looking back at the five-plus years Pallister spent leading the provincial government, its hard to ignore the quantity and quality of good fortune.

For most of the time Pallister was in charge, the opposition NDP and Liberals were, for the most part, in disarray and unable to mount a significant challenge. The economy from 2016-21 significantly outperformed the five years prior. Federal transfer payments, particularly equalization, increased at an exponential rate, gifting the Tory government roughly $1 billion more in revenue than Ottawa sent Manitoba during the last five years of NDP government.

DAVID LIPNOWSKI / CANADIAN PRESS FILES Looking back at the five-plus years Brian Pallister spent leading the provincial government, its hard to ignore the quantity and quality of good fortune.

And perhaps most importantly, Pallister never had to contend with a major flood event.

The propensity for the Red and Assiniboine rivers, and their tributaries, to overflow their banks and flood the flat clay that dominates southern Manitoba is perhaps the single most impactful phenomenon in provincial politics.

Those murky floodwaters have threatened livelihoods, damaged properties, eviscerated crops, crippled provincial budgets and forever changed the trajectory of political careers.

Officials warn southern Manitobans to batten down hatches WAYNE GLOWACKI / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES Blizzard of 1997. TransCanada Highway travellers had their work cut out for them. Posted: 4:05 PM Apr. 11, 2022 Experts are urging Manitobans to stock up on groceries, medicines and candles, warning the equivalent of a month of snowfall will pummel the province starting Tuesday night, while gusts will likely down Hydro lines through to Friday. This is going to be a historical event, Environment Canada meteorologist Sara Hoffman told the Free Press. People will remember this, moving forward. Its incredibly important to take this seriously. Read Full Story

That history of watery destruction and mayhem is no doubt top of mind for Premier Heather Stefanson, who presides over her first provincial budget  just as Manitoba is bracing for an expected April blizzard wallop.

The margin for Stefanson between disaster and salvation in the coming days will be razor thin.

If the precipitation meets or exceeds forecast amounts, and temperatures following the storm rise higher and faster than expected, Manitoba may face a flood event that could overwhelm the Stefanson government as it attempts to battle a COVID-19 pandemic-era budget deficit and repair the damage done by Pallister-era austerity to health care and education.

A flood update provided Monday showcased the precariousness of the situation.

Forecasters believe unseasonably cool temperatures over the next two weeks should slow melting of whatever snow falls over the next few days. A slow melt means less flooding; warmer temperatures and a faster melt mean its time to fill sandbags and put on the wellies.

However, this optimistic scenario is completely dependent on the weather forecast being accurate. Hardly anyone in Manitoba needs to be told how quickly the actual weather can change from the forecast.

In other words, Stefanson should keep her fingers crossed that when Pallister was summarily forced from office last fall by dissidents in the Tory party, he left behind a small reserve of good luck.

RUTH BONNEVILLE / FREE PRESS FILES The margin for Premier Heather Stefanson between disaster and salvation in the coming days will be razor thin.

Major flood events  which typically involve evacuations and widespread property and crop damage on the Red River Valley  are so expensive there is no way for any government of any political stripe to cover the costs through reserves and contingency funds.

Flood costs quickly and effectively render budgets and spending plans meaningless, and in the process, trash political reputations.

In April-May 2011, Manitoba experienced the costliest flood in its history along the Assiniboine and Red rivers. When all the bills were counted, it led to more than $1 billion in unfunded provincial expenditures that completely skewed the fiscal record of the NDP over its last five years in government.

Contrary to popular belief, the NDP did not spend wildly while in power. Even during the period when premier Greg Selinger led after taking over from Gary Doer, annual spending increases in provincial budgets averaged about 2.8 per cent.

The 2011 billion-dollar flood changed all that, boosting the average of annual spending to close to four per cent and, in the process, gift-wrapping a potent narrative for political enemies to use in the 2016 election.

Manitoba continues to receive gaudy increases in annual federal transfer payments. In the upcoming fiscal year, starting April 1, the province is the beneficiary of a bump of more than $300 million in total transfer payments, with $210 million of that increase coming from equalization.

Meantime, Stefanson has shared in some of that Pallister-era luck.

Manitoba continues to receive gaudy increases in annual federal transfer payments. In the upcoming fiscal year, starting April 1, the province is the beneficiary of a bump of more than $300 million in total transfer payments, with $210 million of that increase coming from equalization.

Stefanson also has the comfort of knowing she has one more budget to deliver before Manitobans are scheduled to go to the polls in 2023. That one (for the 2023-24 fiscal year) will likely benefit from a significant rebound in economic activity and government own-source revenues as the world starts to put COVID-19 in the rear-view mirror.

However, before Stefanson can show Manitobans her capacity to repair the damage done by her predecessor, she is going to have to be lucky enough to survive a blizzard.

dan.lett@freepress.mb.ca
DESPITE warnings from local and national animal advocacy groups on what may come to roost in urban coops without proper support, Winnipeg has taken a step forward in favour of backyard chickens.

DESPITE warnings from local and national animal advocacy groups on what may come to roost in urban coops without proper support, Winnipeg has taken a step forward in favour of backyard chickens.

City councils protection, community services and parks committee approved a two-year, 20-site pilot project Monday, by a 3-1 vote. The issue must still pass a final council vote.

The committee also directed city staff to report back on final details of the urban chicken keeping framework, which could still alter its details.

Couns. Ross Eadie, Markus Chambers and Shawn Nason formed the majority. However, Coun. Sherri Rollins asked for her dissent to be put on record.

"Are we going to potentially create an issue for community-based organizations and veterinarians that we dont already have?" said Rollins, adding the pilot is not ready "for a number of reasons."

"Im obviously also concerned by the Canadian Food Inspection Agencies alarm and vets being occupied with avian flu; I dont want to cause them additional problems."

While avian flu, a respiratory disease transmitted to domestic fowl primarily through wild birds, has not reached Manitoba, animal advocates say the disease is inevitable and backyard urban coops will only extend its lifetime.

"Simply put: this program makes it far too easy to view these sentient, intelligent animals as disposable and that is a direct contradiction to everything that this bylaw represents," said Brittany Semeniuk, representing the Winnipeg SPCA at Mondays meeting.

"The optics alone in supporting this program right now is highly discouraged from a veterinary medical standpoint."

Many SPCAs across Canada disagree with urban farming, recommending Winnipeg reject the program. In a written testimonial, the Montreal SPCA highlighted re-homing unwanted hens and roosters is "a huge challenge." Local sanctuaries and hobby farms are "saturated," and the group is "uncertain" about future options.

"Im in favour of having chickens within city limits, as long as its done within the context of rescue," Debbie Wall, a resident of Wolseley who has worked in veterinary clinics for more than 30 years, told councillors. "Having said that, it would be very important that those receiving these hens have the proper resources to house and feed them in a manner that optimizes (the chickens) mental and physical well-being."

On the other side of the fence, Louise May said the project is "essential that we know where all of the chickens are in the city, because if an influenza hits, by making (backyard chickens) not legal, all the current owners  and there are many  have gone underground."

The local backyard chicken advocate touted the advantages of urban coops.

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"There are a lot of reasons to raise chickens that arent talked about, like food security," said May, who purchases her chicks from heritage rather than commercial breeders, whose chicks act as meat and egg birds and separate their chicks by sex.

"Ive never seen kids that dont want to go into the chicken coop and pick the eggs. When you think about this experience being a part of your family dynamic I would say thats my biggest conclusion for this whole thing: do it for the kids."

Outside of disease and ethics, the projects opponents said healthy hens only produce eggs for up to two years, despite having a potential life span of up to 12.

"What we would be primarily concerned about is what happens to these chickens if the individual isnt raising the chickens or the chicken isnt laying eggs, and then after two years, theyre given away or just killed, and that is a far bigger red flag for our organization," said Semeniuk.

"We do not support a program that would inadvertently treat a sentient animal as a disposable product."

fpcity@freepress.mb.ca
MINISTER of Canadian Heritage Pablo Rodriguez announced he will soon be holding a national summit on the recovery of the arts and culture sector. Among the topics of discussion will be the critical role for the cultural sector in the fight against climate change.

Opinion

MINISTER of Canadian Heritage Pablo Rodriguez announced he will soon be holding a national summit on the recovery of the arts and culture sector. Among the topics of discussion will be the critical role for the cultural sector in the fight against climate change.

Thats good news.

Arts and culture are usually absent from discussions about climate and environmental policy. Currently, the federal governments Net Zero Advisory Group includes no representation from the social sciences or cultural sector. Neither do the climate mitigation models used in Canada to help guide government policy include culture and broad behavioral change in their parameters.

The assumption is that culture wont change enough to challenge our obsession with unsustainable economic growth and that future technological developments will  fingers crossed  save the day.

The environmental challenges we are facing call for nothing less than having to rapidly transform our society to bring human activity within planetary limits to ensure the long-term viability of all species. According to the United Nations Environmental Programme, the world needs to reduce planet heating pollution by at least 7.6 per cent per year, every year this decade, to limit global heating.

So, what role might the arts and cultural sector play in facing the climate and ecological emergency?

Theres a growing recognition that our planetary emergency cant be addressed through an incremental approach. Calls for a Second-World-War-scale economic and social mobilization have been growing in the United States, Canada, and Europe, thanks to groups like Sunrise Movement, World War Zero, Extinction Rebellion, and thought leaders such as Joseph Stiglitz and Seth Klein.

We know economic mobilization will require supply-side policies, such as rapidly phasing out fossil fuels, transforming our food systems and restructuring our built infrastructure accordingly. But alone, these wont be sufficient. Without a parallel social mobilization  through the use of culture and information  the rapid adoption of lifestyle and behavioral changes at the population level needed will likely not materialize.

Multiple initiatives are now emerging around creating a larger role for arts and cultural institutions that both implement greening practices and imagine how culture can help shape the ecological values and norms needed to shift us from hyper-consumerism to environmental stewardship.

This is the mission of the newly formed Sectoral Climate Arts Leadership for the Emergency (SCALE) organization, which will be launching publicly in the coming months. In partnership with the Climate Emergency Unit, SCALE is attempting to catalyze the sector around addressing our planetary emergency.

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SCALE was founded on the belief the arts and cultural community in Canada is uniquely placed to help with the emergency mobilization required. The organization recognizes the power of storytelling to help us embrace new perspectives and create a sustainable vision of the society we aim to build.

Its through arts and culture we can win hearts and minds to engage citizens in rigorous, sustained individual and collective action and gain support needed for success of supply-side policies. SCALE is working to outline what exactly a green and just recovery for the sector would look like in the leadup to the summit.

Its also time we revisited our cultural policy framework in Canada.

Canadas cultural framework, infrastructure and funding programs need to create an enabling environment for the sector to participate fully in such a mobilization. Many of the programs and institutions under Canadian Heritage date back more than 20 years and werent conceived with 21st century challenges in mind. Its time we embraced the power of this sector to help meet our international climate and environmental obligations.

We urgently need to reflect on the essential role arts and culture have in addressing our planetary emergency and enabling a green recovery. The summit will be a welcome opportunity for artists and cultural workers to raise their collective voice about the emergency and imagine a stronger role for their sector in reauthoring our global discourse toward a sustainable pathway forward.

Anthony Garoufalis-Auger is an organizer with the Climate Emergency Unit. He is a founder and coordinating circle member of the Sectoral Climate Arts Leadership for the Emergency (SCALE).
The provincial budget introduced by Finance Minister Cameron Friesen will offer the ruling Progressive Conservative party a chance to bring this province back into the mainstream of Canadian employment growth. After six years of PC rule, the provinces job numbers are lagging behind the rest of Canada.

The provincial budget introduced by Finance Minister Cameron Friesen will offer the ruling Progressive Conservative party a chance to bring this province back into the mainstream of Canadian employment growth. After six years of PC rule, the provinces job numbers are lagging behind the rest of Canada.

Management of health services is the most troublesome political issue for the ruling party because of its poor performance during the COVID-19 pandemic upsurges in 2020 and 2021. Failure to expand employment, however, poses a further challenge to the partys theories about the proper role of government.

Budgetary attention to health services may help the voting public forget about the ruling groups disappointments in that field. The need to attract and hold employers and workers to the province, however, requires attention to other growing economic sectors.

MIKE DEAL / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS The provincial budget introduced by Finance Minister Cameron Friesen will offer the ruling Progressive Conservative party a chance to bring this province back into the mainstream of Canadian employment growth.

Last weeks Labour Force Survey from Statistics Canada showed employment continued expanding in Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Quebec and Ontario in March, continuing the job growth that followed decline of COVID-19 prevalence and easing of restrictions on business operations and public gatherings.

Nationally, total employment rose by 73,000 jobs, or 0.4 per cent, in March compared to the preceding month. The national unemployment rate declined by 0.2 percentage points to 5.3 per cent, the lowest rate on record since comparable data became available in 1976.

Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Newfoundland, however, bucked the national trend and showed job losses. The remaining provinces, including Alberta and British Columbia, showed little change in jobs numbers.

Manitobas current government had been counting on the lifting of public-health restrictions to restore business activity and employment. Removal of mask requirements and vaccine mandates apparently had the desired effect in Canadas largest provinces. In Manitoba, however, it didnt work.

Removal of mask requirements and vaccine mandates apparently had the desired effect in Canadas largest provinces. In Manitoba, however, it didnt work.

Total numbers of people employed dropped by 4,200 in Manitoba, 4,500 in Saskatchewan and 2,900 in Newfoundland compared to the preceding month. Average hourly wages rose by 3.4 per cent compared to a year earlier in Canada as a whole. In Manitoba, the corresponding wage rise figure was 0.8 per cent. In Alberta the average wage rise was 1.4 per cent.

These disappointing results should inspire some careful thought in Conservative circles. In a phase of post-pandemic recovery, it may not be enough for a provincial government merely to curtail public services and shift tax burdens. Positive encouragement for selected economic sectors may also be necessary.

Nationally, StatCan found wage growth has been most pronounced in the high-wage professional, scientific and technical services industries. Numbers of employees and rates of pay grew sharply in that sector. To keep pace with the rest of the country, Manitoba will have to attract and keep its share of professionals, scientists and technical workers.

Nationally, StatCan found wage growth has been most pronounced in the highwage professional, scientific and technical services industries. Numbers of employees and rates of pay grew sharply in that sector.

Premier Heather Stefanson, who came to power in November promising to consult Manitobans more than former premier Brian Pallister did before her, should consult with Manitobas professional, scientific and technical industries to find out how she might make Manitoba more attractive to those highly skilled workers.

She should recognize that Manitoba is in competition with other provinces and other countries to attract and keep the well-paid workers who pay the taxes to finance improvement of health services and all other government services. Without their economic support, health services will continue to deteriorate and those mobile workers will keep drifting off to greener pastures in other provinces.
YEREVAN, APRIL 12, ARMENPRESS. During todays session in the Parliament, Deputy Minister of Economy of Armenia Rafayel Gevorgyan presented the draft on ratifying the 2020 financial cooperation agreement between the Armenian and German governments.

Gevorgyan said that Armenia will be provided with 116 million 400 thousand Euro financial aid.

This assistance consists of two main parts. 70 million Euros will be provided for the development of small and medium enterprises, and 40 million to development loans in renewable energy sector. The mechanism through which that assistance will be provided is the countrys banking system. There is an Armenian-German fund through which the sums will be distributed to Armenias banking system, the deputy minister said.

He informed that it is also planned to provide 3.4 million Euro financial aid to Armenia for implementation of biodiversity and sustainable development programs and to provide 3.4 million Euro financial aid for the necessary measures aimed at the implementation and technical support of the program.
The sight has become familiar to Kidist Demessie: a fresh layer of snow on the ground, flakes falling from the sky, traffic crawling as drivers readjust to the changing season.

The sight has become familiar to Kidist Demessie: a fresh layer of snow on the ground, flakes falling from the sky, traffic crawling as drivers readjust to the changing season.

This winters first snowfall was different. This time, Demessie armed herself with a camera. Shes dedicated to showing viewers back home what Canada is really like  and, naturally, winter is a big component.

"I can show Look: Im stuck. Im driving to work," Demessie, 38, says months later, on March 27.

She filmed her entire day during Novembers first major snowfall, from brushing off her car and struggling to see while driving to changing her homes thermostat.

The video, posted Nov. 18, has received more than 45,000 views on YouTube. Other entries surpass that: one has been watched more than 126,000 times.

Overall, Kidi Ethiopia (Demessies YouTube channel) has drawn more than 1.14 million views.

Demessie is seeking to prevent depression and suicide among Canadas Ethiopian immigrant community by showing those interested in making the move what theyre getting into ahead of time. She speaks Amharic, Ethiopias primary language, in her segments.

"Wed watch movies, so wed expect that kind of life (like on the screen)," Demessie says. Some see television shows like Keeping Up with the Kardashians and assemble visions of their own lives in Canada, she adds.

She was one to set high expectations.

Demessie grew up in Addis Ababa, Ethiopias capital city. After nannying in Egypt for four years, her now-husband sponsored her to come to Canada.

Demessie says she had dreams of becoming a nurse (and rich), buying a home for her mother and bringing family overseas. Reality sank in when she arrived in 2008.

"It was shocking," she says. "The weather was shocking. The lack of jobs was shocking. The language was shocking."

Ethiopians are sociable people, she says. "When we (come) here, everybody has their own apartments; you dont even know your neighbour. This is not us. Thats why people get depressed."

Demessie even questioned why she made the move.

"Ethiopia is a 12-month sunshine country We never saw snow before we moved here," she says, adding seasonal depression wasnt on her radar when immigrating.

"Nobody (gave) us the real (picture of) how it looks like Mentally, if you are ready, you wouldnt be shocked."

She slowly changed her dreams while settling in Winnipeg.

"I (took) my time. I cried. I talked to people. Then I decided OK, this is it. This is not my fault, this is not Canadas fault, this is nobodys fault. This is a lack of information, so what can I do now? I can dream now  another dream."

Demessie took a health-care aide course and now works two jobs. Shes married, has a 12-year-old daughter and supported her aunt and uncle in entering Canada.

"I accomplished my dream, but it was in a different direction," she says.

Still, Demessie was alarmed at the number of Ethiopian-Canadians who appeared to be grappling with depression.

"As a culture, were not open," she says. "We dont talk about things; we only share our successes."

A community members death by suicide a couple years ago was Demessies final straw  she needed to do something.

In the end, she settled on YouTube. Shes been taking the channel seriously for about a year.

"(Its) to motivate people," she says. "Yes, its cold. Yes, its (a) different culture Yes, you can do it."

Sometimes, she interviews successful Ethiopians. In other videos, shell remind viewers cheap labour theyre used to in Africa (such as maids) will not be available for the same price in Canada.

She discusses Canadian visas, grocery shopping, driving and what $100 can purchase. She showcases local places such as The Forks and tourist destinations such as Toronto.

"After I (started on) YouTube, people started listening to me," Demessie says. However, the spectre of depression lingers in the community.

"The issue of mental health is something that needs a second look for us as Winnipeggers," Reuben Garang, director of Immigration Partnership Winnipeg, says. "People are falling into cracks."

Different worldviews must be integrated into the provinces mental health system, Garang says.

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"In some cultures, (mental health is) not a concrete concept," he says. "Its maybe abstract or something people dont even talk about, but communities always have ways of trying to address it."

There are deep stigmas about discussing mental health in some immigrant networks, and depression is common  especially five to 10 years after landing in Canada.

"I think that these mental health problems kick in years later, after failing to meet the expectation of the new life," Garang says.

Immigrants rely on their fantasy of Canada until theyre in the country, he says. Once they arrive, they might face many day-to-day problems.

"That can affect people mentally," Garang says. "Its something that needs to be discussed."

gabrielle.piche@freepress.mb.ca
WASHINGTON (AP)  A federal jury on Monday convicted a former Virginia police officer of storming the U.S. Capitol with another off-duty officer to obstruct Congress from certifying President Joe Bidens 2020 electoral victory.

FILE - Violent insurrectionists loyal to President Donald Trump, storm the Capitol, Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington. Jacob Fracker, a former Virginia police officer, pleaded guilty on Friday, March 18, 2022, to storming the U.S. Capitol with another former officer who is scheduled to be tried next month on charges related to the riot. (AP Photo/John Minchillo, File)

WASHINGTON (AP)  A federal jury on Monday convicted a former Virginia police officer of storming the U.S. Capitol with another off-duty officer to obstruct Congress from certifying President Joe Bidens 2020 electoral victory.

Jurors convicted former Rocky Mount police officer Thomas Robertson of all six counts he faced stemming from the Jan. 6, 2021, riot, including charges that he interfered with police officers at the Capitol and that he entered a restricted area with a dangerous weapon, a large wooden stick.

His sentencing hearing wasn't immediately scheduled.

Robertsons jury trial was 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.

Robertson didnt testify at his trial, which started last Tuesday. Jurors deliberated for several hours over two days before reaching their unanimous verdict.

One juror, who spoke to The Associated Press only on condition of anonymity, said as she left the courthouse, I think the government made a really compelling case and the evidence was fairly overwhelming.

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 authorities. Fracker testified Thursday that he had hoped the mob that attacked the Capitol could overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election.

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 while carrying a dangerous weapon, 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.

During the trials closing arguments Friday, 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.

Defense attorney Mark Rollins conceded that Robertson broke the law when he entered the Capitol during the riot. He encouraged jurors to convict Robertson of misdemeanor offenses but urged them to acquit Robertson of felony charges that he used the stick as a dangerous weapon and that he intended to stop Congress from certifying the Electoral College vote.

There were no plans to go down there and say, Im going to stop Congress from doing this vote, Rollins said.

Fracker testified 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 Congress.

Under cross-examination by Rollins, Fracker said he didnt have a verbal agreement with anybody to obstruct the joint session of Congress. Fracker said he believed everybody in the mob pretty much had the same goal and didnt need for it to be said out loud.

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 told jurors that Robertson only went into the Capitol because he wanted to retrieve Fracker, who entered the Capitol a few minutes before Robertson. Wagner said the U.S. Army veteran was using the stick to help him walk because he 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.

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.

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Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Aloi told jurors that Robertson was charged for his actions, not his political beliefs. Wagner also said Robertson should be judged by his actions, not his words.

The town fired Robertson and Fracker after the riot. Rocky Mount is about 25 miles south of Roanoke and has roughly 5,000 residents.

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 250 of them have pleaded guilty, mostly to misdemeanors.

Robertsons 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.
KYIV, Ukraine (AP)  Vladimir Putin vowed Tuesday that Russia's bloody offensive in Ukraine would continue until its goals are fulfilled and insisted the campaign was going as planned, despite a major withdrawal in the face of stiff Ukrainian opposition and significant losses.

Embers smolder on a bed as firefighters work to extinguish a fire at a house after a Russian attack in Kharkiv, Ukraine, Monday, April 11, 2022. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana)

KYIV, Ukraine (AP)  Vladimir Putin vowed Tuesday that Russia's bloody offensive in Ukraine would continue until its goals are fulfilled and insisted the campaign was going as planned, despite a major withdrawal in the face of stiff Ukrainian opposition and significant losses.

Russian troops, thwarted in their push toward Ukraine's capital, are now focusing on the eastern Donbas region, where Ukraine said Tuesday it was investigating a claim that a poisonous substance had been dropped on its troops. It was not clear what the substance might be, but Western officials warned that any use of chemical weapons by Russia would be a serious escalation of the already devastating war.

Russia invaded on Feb. 24, with the goal, according to Western officials, of taking Kyiv, the capital, toppling the government and installing a Moscow-friendly regime. In the six weeks since, the ground advance stalled and Russian forces lost potentially thousands of fighters and were accused of killing civilians and other atrocities.

Putin insisted Tuesday that his invasion aimed to protect people in parts of eastern Ukraine controlled by Moscow-backed rebels and to ensure Russias own security.

He said Russia had no other choice but to launch what he calls a special military operation, and vowed it would continue until its full completion and the fulfillment of the tasks that have been set.

A man walks past a storage place for burned armed vehicles and cars, in the outskirts of Kyiv, Ukraine, Monday, April 11, 2022. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)

For now, Putin's forces are gearing up for a major offensive in the Donbas, which has been torn by fighting between Russian-allied separatists and Ukrainian forces since 2014, and where Russia has recognized the separatists claims of independence. Military strategists say Moscow appears to hope that local support, logistics and the terrain in the region favor its larger, better-armed military, potentially allowing Russia to finally turn the tide in its favor.

In Mariupol, a strategic port city in the Donbas, a Ukrainian regiment defending a steel mill claimed a drone dropped a poisonous substance on the city. It indicated there were no serious injuries. The assertion by the Azov Regiment, a far-right group now part of the Ukrainian military, could not be independently verified.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that while experts try to determine what the substance might be, The world must react now. Evidence of inhuman cruelty toward women and children in Bucha and other suburbs of Kyiv continued to surface, he added, including of alleged rapes.

A man walks with a bicycle next to a truck that carries black bags with corpses of people killed during the war with Russia and exhumed from a mass grave for investigations in Bucha, in the outskirts of Kyiv, Ukraine, Monday, April 11, 2022. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)

Not all serial rapists reach the cruelty of Russian soldiers, Zelenskyy said.

The claims came after a Russia-allied separatist official appeared to urge the use of chemical weapons, telling Russian state TV on Monday that separatist forces should seize the plant by first blocking all the exits. And then well use chemical troops to smoke them out of there, the official, Eduard Basurin, said. He denied Tuesday that separatist forces had used chemical weapons in Mariupol.

Ukraine's Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar said officials were investigating, and it was possible phosphorus munitions  which cause horrendous burns but are not classed as chemical weapons  had been used in Mariupol.

Russian President Vladimir Putin looks on during his visits to the Vostochny cosmodrome outside the city of Tsiolkovsky, about 200 kilometers (125 miles) from the city of Blagoveshchensk in the far eastern Amur region Tsiolkovsky , Russia, Tuesday, April 12, 2022. Russia on Tuesday marks the 61th anniversary of Gagarin's pioneering mission on April 12 1961, the first human flight to orbit that opened the space era. (Evgeny Biyatov, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)

Much of the city has been leveled in weeks of pummeling by Russian troops. The mayor said Monday that the siege has left more than 10,000 civilians dead, their bodies carpeted through the streets. Mayor Vadym Boychenko said the death toll in Mariupol alone could surpass 20,000.

Zelenskyy adviser Mykhailo Podolyak acknowledged the challenges Ukrainian troops face in Mariupol. He said via Twitter that they remain blocked and are having issues with supplies, while Ukraine's president and generals do everything possible (and impossible) to find a solution.

For more than 1.5 months our defenders protect the city from (Russian) troops, which are 10+ times larger," Podolyak tweeted. Theyre fighting under the bombs for each meter of the city. They make (Russia) pay an exorbitant price.

Firefighters work to extinguish a fire after a Russian attack destroyed the building of a Culinary School in Kharkiv, Ukraine, Tuesday, April 12, 2022. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana)

British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said the use of chemical weapons would be a callous escalation in this conflict, while Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne said it would be a wholesale breach of international law.

U.S. President Joe Biden for the first time referred to Russias invasion as a genocide. He was even blunter later Tuesday, repeating the term and saying: It's become clearer and clearer that Putin is just trying to wipe out the idea of even being a Ukrainian.

Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said in a statement that the U.S. could not confirm the drone report. But he noted the administrations persistent concerns about Russias potential to use a variety of riot control agents, including tear gas mixed with chemical agents.

Ukrainian servicemen prepare to lower coffins of their comrades Yuri Filyuk, 49, and Oleksander Tkachenko, 33, in a village of Oleksandrivka, Odesa region, Ukraine, Tuesday, April 12, 2022. According to Ukrainian servicemen, these two were killed by a Russian missile hit their military base in Krasnoselka, Odesa region, on April 7. (AP Photo/Max Pshybyshevsky)

Britain, meanwhile, has warned that Russia may resort to phosphorus bombs, which are banned in civilian areas under international law, in Mariupol.

Most armies use phosphorus munitions to illuminate targets or to produce smoke screens. Deliberately firing them into an enclosed space to expose people to fumes could breach the Chemical Weapons Convention, said Marc-Michael Blum, a former laboratory head at the Netherlands-based Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons.

Once you start using the properties of white phosphorus, toxic properties, specifically and deliberately, then it becomes banned, he said.

A woman carries the portrait of Dmytro Stefienko, 32, a civilian killed during the war with Russia, during his funeral in Bucha, in the outskirts of Kyiv, Ukraine, Tuesday, April 12, 2022. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)

In Washington, a senior U.S. defense official said the Biden administration was preparing yet another package of military aid for Ukraine possibly totaling $750 million to be announced in the coming days. The official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss plans not yet publicly announced. Delivery is due to be completed this week of $800 million in military assistance approved by Biden a month ago.

In the face of stiff resistance by Ukrainian forces bolstered by Western weapons, Russian forces have increasingly relied on bombarding cities, flattening many urban areas and killing thousands. The war has driven more than 10 million Ukrainians from their homes  including nearly two-thirds of the country's children.

Moscow's retreat from cities and towns around Kyiv led to the discovery of large numbers of apparently massacred civilians, prompting widespread condemnation and accusations of war crimes.

Anatoliy Morykin, 45, left, mourns the death of his mother Valentyna Morykina, 82, who died in a retirement home due to poor living conditions during the Russian invasion in Bucha, in the outskirts of Kyiv, Ukraine, Tuesday, April 12, 2022. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)

More than 720 people were killed in Kyiv suburbs that had been occupied by Russian troops and over 200 were considered missing, the Interior Ministry said early Wednesday.

In Bucha alone, Mayor Anatoliy Fedoruk said 403 bodies had been found and the toll could rise as minesweepers comb the area.

Ukraines prosecutor-generals office said Tuesday it was also looking into events in the Brovary district, which lies to the northeast.

Firefighters are seen through the destroyed window of an apartment as they work to extinguish a fire after a Russian attack in Kharkiv, Ukraine, Tuesday, April 12, 2022. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana)

It said the bodies of six civilians were found with gunshot wounds in a basement in the village of Shevchenkove and Russian forces were believed to be responsible.

Prosecutors are also investigating allegations that Russian forces fired on a convoy of civilians trying to leave by car from the village of Peremoha in the Brovary district, killing four people including a 13-year-old boy. In another attack near Bucha, five people were killed including two children when a car was fired upon, prosecutors said.

Putin falsely claimed Tuesday that Ukraine's accusation that hundreds of civilians were killed by Russian troops in the town of Bucha were fake. Associated Press journalists saw dozens of bodies in and around the town, some of whom had their hands bound and appeared to have been shot at close range.

Relatives and friends attend the funeral of Andriy Matviychuk, 37, who served as territorial defense soldier and was captured and killed by Russian army in Bucha, in the outskirts of Kyiv, Ukraine, Tuesday, April 12, 2022. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)

Speaking at the Vostochny space launch facility in Russia's far east, in his first known foray outside Moscow since the war began, Putin also said the West would fail to isolate Russia and its economy has withstood a blitz of sanctions.

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Addressing the pace of the campaign, he said Moscow was proceeding calmly and rhythmically to achieve the planned goals while minimizing the losses.

The Russian defense ministry said Tuesday that it used used air- and sea-launched missiles to destroy an ammunition depot and airplane hangar at Starokostiantyniv in the western Khmelnytskyi region and an ammunition depot near Kyiv.

Valentina Saroyan sits in the basement of a school in Yahidne, near Chernihiv, Ukraine, Tuesday, April 12, 2022. Residents say more than 300 people were trapped for weeks by Russian occupiers in the basement of the school in Yahidne. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)

___

Karmanau reported from Lviv, Ukraine. Associated Press writer Robert Burns in Washington, and AP journalists around the world contributed to this report.

___

Follow the APs coverage of the war at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine
The Saint Marys Concert Band spring semester performance will be held at 3 p.m. Saturday, April 23, in Page Theatre.

The concert is free and open to the public. No reservations are needed.

Directed by Dr. Janet Heukeshoven, the concert will include a variety of works for full concert band, as well as smaller groupings of instruments, including a double reed quartet (oboes and bassoons), brass ensemble, and large woodwind ensemble.

Senior music education major Nathan Herr will be the featured student director for the performance. He will lead the full ensemble in Samuel Hazos beautiful composition In Heavens Air.

Other works on the program include Malcolm Arnolds Prelude, Siciliano and Rondo, Jay Bocooks Irish-inspired Kirkpatricks Muse, Adolphus Hailstorks New Wade n Water, and an unknown Sousa March, Homeward Bound.

The smaller ensembles will be performing chamber music by Richard Wetzel, Leroy Ostransky, Philip Sparke, and Haydn.

The Saint Marys Concert Band is welcoming community members back into the band.

If youre interested in joining the band for the 2022-23 academic year, contact Dr. Heukeshoven at jheukesh@smumn.edu for information. Motivated high school players, as well as adult musicians, have long been part of the Saint Marys University Concert Band.

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Winona, MN (55987)

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Plentiful sunshine. High near 70F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph..

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Partly cloudy skies early will give way to cloudy skies late. Low 49F. Winds SE at 10 to 15 mph.
JUNEAU  Dodgelands Skills USA chapter had 15 students who attended the 49th annual SkillsUSA Wisconsin State Leadership and Skills Conference in Madison on April 5 and 6.

I am very proud of the students, teacher Anna Vitale said.

The teams were:

Promotional Bulletin Board Team: Isabella Albert, Lisa Perez and Mallory Kohn

Team Engineering Challenge: Derik Folts, Lucas Patenaude and Makenzie Starr

Entrepreneurship: Landon Shipley, William Montgomery, Tyler Zuehlke and Saphira Geneman

Demonstration Open competition: Holly Greinke and Vincent Klecker

Voter delegates: Danielle Casperson and Cole Schmidt

Senior student and recipient of a Wisconsin Technical Excellence Scholarship Lily Kreis and freshman Makenzie Starr assisted the Conference Director as Courtesy Corps.

Klecker received a second place medal in job demonstration. The Promotional Bulletin Board Team received a third place award.

The Promotional Bulletin Board Team put in a lot of time and effort into the board, analyzing their design and consulting with Roni Kohloff, Dodgeland High School Spanish teacher, and Cassidy Egan of Dynamic Tool Corporation and a SkillsUSA alumni who went to Nationals many times in this competition, Vitale said.

The students completed among 1,800 middle and high school students.

There was a good amount of nice people to work around from technical colleges and job sites, Montgomery said. Overall it was a good experience.

As a member of SkillsUSA, students take an important step toward their future and life after high school, Vitale said. The Dodgeland Chapter is five years old and we have grown to over 30 student members. Our Chapter also earned the Gold Level Chapter of Excellence award this year and has been nominated for National consideration as a Model of Excellence Chapter.

Follow Terri Pederson on Twitter @tlp53916 or contact her at 920-356-6760.

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A Milwaukee man allegedly fled a Baraboo traffic stop and led police on a chase into Columbia County that eventually ended in Marquette County.

Dvarion M. Beamon, 27, Milwaukee, remains in custody following the alleged chase with police that began in Baraboo.

Beamon is facing one felony count of vehicle operator flee/elude officer and misdemeanor possession of THC. Both counts have a repeater modifier, which if convicted could lead to a harsher sentence.

He is facing a $10,000 fine and one year and six months in jail with two years of extended supervision if found guilty on the flee/elude charge. He is facing a $1,000 for THC possession with six months in jail. With the repeater modifier, his operating privileges could be suspended between six months and five years.

Beamon is also facing numerous traffic charges stemming from the alleged police chase.

At his initial appearance on April 6, Columbia County Judge Todd Hepler set Beamons cash bond at $10,000 with standard felony conditions.

According to the criminal complaint:

Columbia County dispatch received information from Sauk County dispatch of a vehicle fleeing Baraboo Police. Officials said the vehicle was last seen on State Highway 33 heading towards Columbia County on April 5 at 12:08 a.m.

Columbia County officials were looking for a Chevrolet Equinox, allegedly driven by Beamon, near the Sauk/Columbia County border on Highway 33. A Columbia County Sheriff lieutenant saw the suspected vehicle around 12:15 a.m. and began to follow it.

The complaint alleges the Equinox accelerated and did not slow down when the lieutenant turned on their emergency lights and siren.

The vehicle proceeded northbound onto Interstate 39 at speeds of approximately 120 mph, the complaint said.

A deputy with the Marquette Sheriffs Office deployed road spikes just south of the 100 mile marker on the Interstate. The vehicle slowed down and took the exit near mile marker 100 and stopped at the intersection of County Highway P and CX in Marquette County.

Beamon allegedly exited the vehicle and began yelling about the initial stop in Baraboo. The Columbia County lieutenant reported Beamon was currently on parole for two previous flee/elude convictions.

The Equinox was searched and officers allegedly found a half smoked marijuana blunt in the cup holder of the vehicle.

The complaint alleges the blunt tested positive for the presence of THC.

Beamon is set to be back in court on Wednesday for his preliminary hearing in front of Columbia County Judge Andrea Von Hoff.

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YEREVAN, APRIL 12, ARMENPRESS. On April 11 the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) of Armenia hosted the Maraga 30: Unpunished and Ongoing Genocide Seminar dedicated to the 30th anniversary of the Maraga massacre  the genocidal killings of peaceful Armenian population of the village of Maraga in Artsakhs Martakert region committed by the Azerbaijani military.

The seminar was organized by the NAS Institute of History, the Against Legal Arbitrariness NGO and the Center of Human Rights and Genocide Studies NGO.

This is history and we must remember it. This was the beginning of a series of genocides perpetrated by Azerbaijan against the Armenian people. Historians, all of us must work in order for this to remain in history as a memory, and that generations remember it, NAS President Ashot Saghyan said in his remarks.

Genocide happened all across Armenia. This was committed not only by the authorities of Ottoman Turkey but also by Azerbaijan which was created by the Young Turks and Turkey, said Against Legal Arbitrariness Executive Director Larisa Alaverdyan.

NAS Institute of History Director Ashot Melkonyan said the Maraga massacre was one circle of the entire chain of genocidal policy.

The genocidal policy directly passed on from the Ottoman Empire to the First Republic of Azerbaijan, it had other manifestations in the Soviet years, and during the third Republic we saw what manifestations happened by Azerbaijan in 1991-1994, in April of 2016 and in 2020. The Maraga genocide was left in the shadow. It was an example of a war crime against the peaceful population. This seminar will be another occasion to study in depth and note the entire genocidal policy which Azerbaijan inherited from Ottoman Turkey and continues to this day, he said

The grounds and possibilities for a possible application to the international court over the Armenian Genocide was also discussed at the seminar.

The continuous genocide against Armenians, the responsibility of the Turkish-Azeri authorities and the issues of Armenians and Armenian communities in the post-war period were also discussed.

The Maraga 1992: Golgotha of the late 20th Century film was screened.
South African History Archive returns home

SAHA was officially relaunched at Wits and will be part of the Archives and Research Hub.

Wits University has welcomed the return of the South African History Archive (SAHA), one of the most important social justice archives in the country, to its place of origin.

The reintegration of SAHA into Wits is an important moment as the University moves to establish the Archives and Research Hub in response to the crisis facing archives today.

SAHA will build on the synergies with entities at the University, such as the Historical Papers Research Archive and the History Workshop, to augment social justice archives and develop stronger interests in archives for research and learning.

Universities have an important role to play in supporting independent archives, especially considering the crisis facing archives nationally, a crisis amplified by the fire last year at the University of Cape Town which destroyed precious and irreplaceable archives, says Professor Zeblon Vilakazi, Vice-Chancellor and Principal of Wits University.

More than thirty years ago at the dawn of democracy, SAHA was established at Wits University to secure archives of the anti-apartheid movement. As an independent human rights activist archive, it continues to focus on documenting, supporting, and promoting greater awareness of and engagement with past and contemporary struggles for justice.

SAHA pioneered archival activism by making the archive accessible to the public and to bring history out of the archive in the ongoing struggles to deepen democracy and accountability.

Together with Wits, it played a critical role in the conversation and debate that erupted at universities and civil society in the 1990s about the nature of archives, the place of archives, the critique of the colonial archive, says Professor Noor Nieftagodien, SA Research Chair (SARChI): Local Histories, Present Realities, and Head of History Workshop.

That was the high moment of archives in South Africa, Nieftagodien says. Funders lined up to support independent archives and research work around archives.

There was an excitement around archives in which the Truth and Reconciliation Committee (TRC) created a massive archive which is a memory of our experienced under apartheid and that generated a lot of interest in the archives.

Today, however, the landscape is very different.

What one sees is crisis. Archives are in a dismal state. If you go to any public archive, youll see various states of decay and of lack of organisation. This is really an important moment as Wits University is signalling a recognition of the state of the archive and the role it can play in support archives, he says.

Wits is celebrating its centenary this year and in the past 100 years has amassed important collections and an impressive library.

With SAHA and Historical and Research Papers being together, the University has two of the leading independent archives in the country and southern African region. Archives are sites of preservation, but they are also more than that. Archives should be active sites of research, for scholars and students from our continent and globally. As a research-intensive university, Wits regards the archives as an important part of its core functions, says Vilakazi.

Read South African History Archive relaunched at Wits for more about SAHAs reintegration into Wits University.
30 local organizations work together to collect socks for those in need
Lieutenant Governor Brian Benjamin speaks during the New York State Democratic Convention in New York, Thursday, Feb. 17, 2022. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
Weather Alert

...The Flood Warning is cancelled for the following rivers in Indiana... White River at Elliston. ...The Flood Warning continues for the following rivers in Indiana... Illinois... Wabash River at Lafayette down to Riverton. White River at Edwardsport. .Recent rainfall is leading to minor flooding in Indiana along most of the Wabash River and the White River at Edwardsport. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Motorists should not attempt to drive around barricades or drive cars through flooded areas. Additional information is available at www.weather.gov/ind. This statement will be updated within the next 12 to 24 hours. && ...FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL TUESDAY AFTERNOON... * WHAT...Minor flooding is occurring and minor flooding is forecast. * WHERE...Wabash River at Lafayette. * WHEN...Until Tuesday afternoon. * IMPACTS...At 15.0 feet, Flood waters approaching Warren CR 350 N in the Black Rock Preserve Area. Williamsport Road in Fountain County may begin to flood. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS... - At 8:30 PM EDT Friday the stage was 13.5 feet. - Recent Activity...The maximum river stage in the 24 hours ending at 8:30 PM EDT Friday was 13.5 feet. - Forecast...The river is expected to rise to a crest of 14.6 feet early Sunday morning. It will then fall below flood stage early Tuesday morning. - Flood stage is 11.0 feet. - http://www.weather.gov/safety/flood &&
YEREVAN, APRIL 12, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan received today Executive Director of the Corporacion America Airports, Martin Eurnekian, who was accompanied by Director General of the Armenia International Airports CJSC Marcelo Wende and deputy director Sergei Avetisyan, the PMs Office said.

PM Pashinyan attached importance to the companys activity in Armenia and stated that the government is interested in deepening the mutually beneficial partnership.

Martin Eurnekian praised the cooperation with the Armenian government and conveyed the warm greetings of Argentine-Armenian entrepreneur, philanthropist Eduardo Eurnekian to the Armenian PM.

The meeting sides discussed the process of ongoing programs by Corporacion America Airports in Armenia and their expansion prospects. Particularly, they discussed issues relating to the development of Yerevans Zvartnots and Gyumris Shirak airports. In this context, the opportunities of implementing new investment projects that will lead to the development of aviation market, the increase in passenger flows and high-quality services, were discussed. The sides also exchanged ideas about the new possible programs in other directions.

The sides agreed to continue the discussions over the future actions and substantive steps.
Apache_county

AC jury finds La Porte guilty of murder

ST. JOHNS  An Apache County jury Thursday found Dave Allen La Porte, 56, guilty of murdering his 49-year-old wife, Tess, abandoning her body and destroying evidence.

The trial started on March 22 and concluded with the attorneys closing arguments the day before the guilty verdicts, which included second-degree murder. It included testimony from witnesses, expert witnesses and an entire days testimony from La Porte himself.

In court

The state was represented by veteran Deputy Apache County Attorney Joseph Young; La Porte by Dwane M. Cates of Cates & Garvey PLLC from the Valley. Young is a large and tall bearded man who carries himself with confidence. If the well of court were a naval yard, Young would be an aircraft carrier. Prosecutor Celeste Robertson assisted as second chair. Defense counsel Cates is a diminutive, bespectacled, bearded man who exudes an affable manner and a clear presence of mind. The defense chose to have the jury hear from La Porte, a decision which is fraught with risks for both sides, and most of this report comes from that testimony. Presiding was Michael Latham, presiding judge of the Superior Court in that county.

La Porte looks nothing like the one picture available that has been published. He is a thin, slight man and wore a blue suit. He has black hair and goatee, is pale and sallow with sunken cheeks and seems to carry a tremendous strain. He presents as a gentle, mannerly guy. La Porte wept openly during the testimony of his eldest daughter and was at times inconsolable when he was on the stand. He claimed that some memories about the incident were and are repressed, but that some emerged after reviewing the states evidence and after an hours-long surgery on his shoulder, a year after the murder, during which he was anesthetized. He attributes the shoulder injury to the cops dragging him out of his home the day after the murder. It might be noted that while police were at the home, La Porte climbed into a bathroom shower and slit his own throat with a razor knife.

The defense

After he was airlifted to a Valley hospital and treated, La Porte was heavily medicated with opiates, did not remember much of the police interview a fews days later (which was videotaped) and some things that he told the investigators then were not true, due to his medicated state, he said. He denied killing his wife, that he was over the moon in love with her, that the whole household was upset the evening of the murder. He said that Tess had been drinking, and mixing alcohol with medications, that he himself was kind of drunk. He testified that Tess was not herself, that one of her 25 dogs that lived on the property and used to sleep with Tess in a specially made bed, had recently killed another dog, that Tess seemed generally unhappy with settling in St. Johns from Tucson, that her new job in Show Low required a lot of driving, that La Portes son had that day wrecked his vehicle which upset everyone, that La Porte himself had crashed and damaged his truck that same evening, and that La Porte was not having much luck in putting up shoe racks for Tess in a closet.

In fact, while in the closet working on the shelves, he testified, he heard glass breaking (her grandmothers salt and pepper shakers) and Tess yelling about something. He went to check on her, turned a corner toward the living room and found her standing up with her hands behind her back. When he went to console her with a hug, he said, he felt a gun in her hand behind her back which went off. She died in his arms, he said, and he didnt call for help because he once worked as an emergency medical technician and he realized that she was deceased.

La Porte said that he is a fan of crime shows and realized that he would be the prime suspect in her death, so he laid out plastic bags next to her, dragged the body to a truck but couldnt get it in the cab, and ended up putting the body in the bed of another truck, drove out to Old Dump Road and rolled the corpse into a ditch about 9 feet from the edge of the road, so that shed be found.

The living room at the home looked like a slaughterhouse, he told the jury, and he was in shock and traumatized that his soulmate had just died in his arms. The carpet was soaked in blood and he tired to clean it with spic and span, but then cut out a swath of bloody carpet, replaced it with a throw rug from the bedroom, picked up the single shell casing, hid it under artificial grass in the back yard, and hid the gun under a sandbag.

On the property there was a working security camera. It captured some events outside the home before La Porte disabled it in the early hours of the next morning. Before the murder, he is seen to have the pistol in his right pocket, then his left pocket; he told investigators that before Tess was shot, he had never seen the gun before. He is seen throwing rocks or concrete chunks at the dogs house, at one point stumbling and falling down, flipping off the sky, and talking to himself. He acknowledged that he was kinda drunk. La Porte explained to the jury that he was throwing rocks at a stray cat that annoyed the dogs and he was generally mad at the world that night.

At about 4 a.m. after the murder, after he had dumped the body, after the cleanup, after he hid the shell and gun, he began texting and calling family members to report how worried he was that Tess had not come home. When police responded, one Officer Jayen Richardson of St. Johns police noticed blood in the cab of a truck; La Porte told the officer that it was from the dead dog. Richardson called for a blood test kit and one arrived, attached to Officer Ty Blank who sat in the well of court with prosecutors because he was deemed the investigating officer. St. Johns Police Chief Lance Spivey sat in the gallery on the jury box side of the courtroom, considered the states side of the room.

The prosecutors theory was that when it became clear that the blood was going to be tested, La Porte realized the ruse about Tess not coming home wasnt gong to work. So he then told the officers that Tess was killed by a gunshot. La Porte told the jurors that it was then he realized he couldnt live without Tess and sliced his neck open in the bathroom shower.

The states case

Prosecutor Young produced a medical examiner who opined that the trajectory of the projectile that caused the death was at a slightly downward angle, near the right ear, and could not have been fired from a position behind the victims back. Testimony established that La Porte is left-handed, which conjures a picture of a left-handed shooter discharging the gun at the right side of a victims head.

It might be noted that motive is not an element that the state must prove in any type of murder case. But the state will present evidence of it anyway, so that a jury can understand the states theory of a case. In this case, Young urged that La Porte had abused former girlfriends and a spouse in the past and actually pleaded guilty child abuse 19 years ago for abusing a daughter, now in her 30s. She is the daughter who testified and at one point she loudly disagreed with an attorney about a hearsay objection  the judge was not amused about that. She explained to the jury that when she was 15, she made up the whole story about being beaten by La Porte because she was mad at her father; however she could not explain why reports from that incident documented her as having a black eye.

Another suggestion of motive was the highly emotional state La Porte was under that fateful evening. The recent killing of a dog by another dog, the stress of Tess move from Tucson, the sons car wreck, La Portes own wreck that same day, the frustration with the project in the closet, plus the drinking, produce a volatile mix that ended in tragedy, Young suggested. He played down the implication that Tess had a drinking problem, urging that it was La Porte, not Tess, who had a prior DUI and that there was no prescription medicines for Tess found at the scene. Regarding the suggestion of suicide, Young argued that the video from the camera showed Tess sitting in her truck for about an hour before the shooting and in the door of the truck, police found a fully loaded and chambered handgun that was not used.

The verdicts

The state charged La Porte with first-degree murder, alleging that he caused the death of Tess and premeditated it, meaning he thought about it beforehand. There are three lesser included offenses involved in a first-degree murder charge. They are: second degree murder, meaning that the murder wasnt premeditated, more like a heat of passion act; manslaughter, meaning that the accused didnt intend it, or plan it, but through recklessness, caused a death; and finally, negligent homicide, that the death was caused by mere negligence. Basically, negligence is when someone zigs when they should have zagged, so to speak, and American criminal law does not take away a persons liberty for negligence, except for in cases of homicide.

The jurors decided that they had a reasonable doubt that La Porte premeditated his wifes death, and found him guilty of second-degree murder. They apparently found beyond a reasonable doubt that he is guilty abandoning a dead body and destroying evidence, the cleanup of the slaughterhouse.

According to court sources, La Portes sentencing will be set for about 45 to 60 days out, but no date has been set as of press time.
Florence Nakijoba, a Chinese language teacher, interacts with students during a lesson at Entebbe Comprehensive Secondary School in Wakiso, Uganda, April 5, 2022. [Photo by Hajarah Nalwadda/Xinhua]

WAKISO, Uganda, April 11 (Xinhua)  "Ni hao," students in Kitoro, a tiny village on the shores of Lake Victoria in the central Ugandan District of Wakiso, chorused as they responded to greetings from their Chinese language teacher, Florence Nakijoba.

Murmurs of students passing by, mimicking their peers, indicate a new wave of youngsters in the school eager to learn Chinese, the latest foreign language that was included in the school curriculum by the government back in 2019.

Nakijoba, 26, has been a proponent of this at Entebbe Comprehensive Secondary School, one of the government schools selected to teach the Chinese language.

"I always wanted to be a linguist, learning different languages, and Chinese is one of them," she told Xinhua in a recent interview.

Nakijoba was teaching Luganda and computer studies in 2019, before she took a nine-month training course in Chinese language teaching, as the government rolled out Mandarin in the school curriculum.

"I was very scared at first, but with time I got used to the language," she said. "By the end of nine months, I had reached level four."

In her class of about 90 students, Nakijoba teaches intonations, tenses and sentence construction of Mandarin.

The class, which is composed of students in their early teenage years, is still at the elementary level of learning the language.

Some students said that learning the Chinese language is one of the ways of widening their opportunities, especially as the Asian country deepens its ties with Africa.

Charles Bwebale, one of the students, said being multilingual widens one's opportunities.

"We hear China is one of the successful countries in the world, so when you know Chinese, you can engage them, you can do business (with the Chinese)," he said.

Ephraim Muwonge, deputy headmaster of the school, told Xinhua that parents have embraced the idea of their children learning the Chinese language, one of the sure ways of deepening the people-to-people relations between Uganda and China.

"We should teach Chinese," he said. "At the end of it, we shall benefit."

Nakijoba has extended Chinese language teaching beyond the school premises, offering online lessons for some learners.

She said that online learning was at its height during the lockdown last year as the country grappled with the COVID-19 pandemic. Many parents put their children on online Chinese language learning programs.

One major highlight of her Chinese language tutoring came earlier this year, Nakijoba said, when she was tasked with teaching Chinese songs to Ugandan musicians who were preparing for a Lunar New Year performance.

Back home, Nakijoba's siblings and parents are all excited that she speaks and teaches Chinese.

"My parents, up to now, still cannot believe I can speak Chinese," she said.

Ephraim Muwonge, deputy headmaster of Entebbe Comprehensive Secondary School, speaks in an interview with Xinhua in Wakiso, Uganda, April 5, 2022.[Photo by Hajarah Nalwadda/Xinhua]

Florence Nakijoba, a Chinese language teacher, teaches during a lesson at Entebbe Comprehensive Secondary School in Wakiso, Uganda, April 5, 2022. [Photo by Hajarah Nalwadda/Xinhua]

Charles Bwebale writes Chinese characters during a lesson at Entebbe Comprehensive Secondary School in Wakiso, Uganda, April 5, 2022. [Photo by Hajarah Nalwadda/Xinhua]

(Source: Xinhua)
Woodward, OK (73801)

Today

A mix of clouds and sun with gusty winds developing this afternoon. High 86F. Winds SSE at 20 to 30 mph. Higher wind gusts possible..

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Partly cloudy and windy. Low near 65F. Winds SSE at 20 to 30 mph. Higher wind gusts possible.
How fast are you moving right now? Maybe youre reading this while sitting at home, where it seems as though youre not moving at all. Stand still or sit down, and it feels like you are stationary, yet regardless of what you do, you are constantly in motion. That is because the Earth itself is rotating at a speed of around 1,000 miles per hour. In addition to its rotation, the Earth is also moving around the Sun at a speed of 67,000 miles per hour. Regardless of how stationary we feel, we move tens of thousands of miles every day. That may seem fast, yet the Earth is barely even moving compared to some things in the universe.

The Earth, Sun, and Moon

The Fastest Thing In The Universe

The Most Colorful View of the Universe Captured by Hubble Space Telescope

The universe itself has a cosmic speed limit. That is to say, there is a limit as to how fast objects within space can travel. That speed limit is approximately 186,000 miles per second, and there is only one thing in the cosmos that travels at that speed: light. Light is the fastest known thing in the universe, and thus the cosmic speed limit is called the speed of light. Regardless of how hard you try, you can never exceed the speed of light. Like gravity, the cosmic speed limit is a fixed law of nature that cannot be broken. Whether it's coming from a star or your cellphone flashlight, every light beam will travel at 186,000 miles per second.

The Fastest Known Planet

Planet Kepler-78b

Over the last 30 years, scientists have uncovered thousands of planets that orbit stars outside our solar system. Many of these worlds are vastly different from those that orbit our Sun. Regardless of what type of planets orbit a star, one thing they all have in common is how their orbital velocity is related to the distance between them and their star. Planets that orbit close to their star will complete an orbit faster than planets that orbit further away. Mercury is the fastest planet in our solar system, completing one rotation every 88 days. That may seem fast, yet it is nothing compared to some other planets in our galaxy. The fastest planet ever discovered was found in 2013 by NASAs Kepler Space Telescope. Named Kepler-78b, it orbits its star at a distance of only 900,000 miles. For comparison, Mercury orbits the Sun at a distance of 36 million miles. With very little space between Kepler-78b and its parent star, the planet orbits its Sun at extreme speeds. It takes a mere 8.5 hours for Kepler-78b to complete one orbit around its star. Imagine living on a planet where a year is only 8.5 hours. As of yet, no other planet has been found with a shorter orbital period, making Kepler-78b the fastest known planet in the universe.

The Fastest Known Star

US-708 Star

It may not seem like it from our perspective here on Earth, but the Sun is actually speeding through space. Like the planets that orbit the Sun, the Sun is in orbit around the center of the Milky Way Galaxy. At this moment, the entire solar system is moving through space at 448,000 miles per hour. That may seem fast, but it takes the Sun 230-million years to complete one orbit because of how gigantic the Milky Way Galaxy is. Compared to some other stars out there, our Sun is relatively slow. The fastest known star in the universe exists near the very center of the Milky Way. Called US-708, it has been measured moving at a speed of 2.7-million miles per hour. When scientists first uncovered US-708 and measured its velocity, they believed it was in orbit around a black hole. The gravitational pull of the black hole would be so strong that it would have accelerated US-708 to tremendous speeds. However, subsequent observations revealed that US-708 might have actually been propelled to its current speed by an exploding star. US-708 was once part of a binary star system, wherein its companion star eventually exploded in a supernova. The resulting explosion was so energetic that it propelled US-708 to become the fastest known star in the universe.

The Fastest Human-Made Object

The Parker Solar Probe

We have talked about what some of the fastest things in the universe are, yet how does humanity compare? Whats the fastest thing humans have ever created? As one might expect, the fastest human-made objects are generally spacecraft. Currently, the fastest human-made spacecraft is the Parker Solar Probe, a spacecraft launched by NASA in 2018 to fly closer to the Sun than any spacecraft before it. When NASA launched the Parker Solar Probe, it reached a velocity of 39,500 miles per hour. On its way to the Sun, the Parker Solar Probe conducted repeated flybys of the planet Venus to increase its velocity, using whats called a gravity assist. As of February 2020, the Parker Solar Probe has become the fastest human-made object in history, reaching a velocity of 330,000 miles per hour. Thats fast enough to circle the Earth 13 times per hour! For humanity, this is truly a remarkable accomplishment. However, even at this speed, the Parker Solar Probe has only achieved 0.05% light speed.
The Black Hills Gold Rush was a rapid movement of people that occurred when a goldfield was discovered in the Black Hills region within the Dakota Territory in the United States. The 1874 Custer Expedition kickstarted the rush upon discovering a gold stronghold after searching for the source of the trace gold within the Deadwood and Whitewood creeks. The gold rush reached a peak within the 1876-1877 period upon the establishment of the Homestake Mine, which then proved to be one of the most significant gold discoveries worldwide.

The Custer Expedition

A sign that explains the history of the George Custer Expedition and gold discovery in Custer State Park, South Dakota. Editorial credit: Tami Freed / Shutterstock.com

There had always been rumors of gold within the Black Hills region that stretched back to the early 19th century. One such gold sighting was when Roman Catholic missionary Father De Smet reportedly witnessed Sioux Native Americans carrying gold that they claimed originated from the Black Hills. In response to such rumors, Lieutenant George Armstrong Custer led an expedition of over 1,000 men in 1874 in search of gold. This expedition soon came to be known as the Custer Expedition. The expedition launched from Fort Abraham Lincoln, currently modern-day Bismark in North Dakota, towards the uncharted South Dakota Black Hills. In addition to assessing the possibility of gold mining, the expedition sought to locate a route to the southwest and establish possible locations for a fort. The expedition also led to the establishment of the towns of Sheridan, Pactacola, and Hill City.

Through the expedition, two miners associated with the mission discovered small amounts of gold nearby todays Custer, South Dakota. More traces of gold were reported within the rivers by other civilian experts within the undertaking. As the news spread, people began flocking to the southern Black Hills searching for gold, thus marking the beginning of the rush. However, findings of gold proved to be meager overall, which subsequently led to people searching for other locations with a higher gold yield.

Native Americans And The Treaty of Laramie

The Black Hills area was owned by the Sioux group of Native Americans, also known as the Oceti Sakowin. Given the sacred significance of the land to the Sioux, the Treaty of Fort Laramie, also known as the Sioux Treaty, was established in 1851. The treaty aimed to establish an agreement between the Sioux Native Americans and the United States, whereby the Sioux were granted ownership of the Black Hills region. This 17-article treaty also demonstrated how the US government would punish and hold accountable any White settlers who proceeded to commit any crimes towards the Native Americans. However, despite this treatys prohibitions, the Custer Expedition still crossed into the Sioux territories, searching for gold.

The Discoveries At French, Deadwood, Whitewood Creeks

Three men with a dog panning for gold in a stream in the Black Hills of South Dakota in 1889.

Upon reaching the French Creek, significant gold deposits were discovered at numerous points. This discovery was immediately carried by courier to Fort Laramie in Wyoming, leading to the Black Hill Gold Rushs true beginnings. As gold findings began to slim out, prospectors began moving further towards the south, searching for more gold. This soon led them towards the creeks of Deadwood and Whitewood, whereby notable patches of placer gold could be located. Placer gold is defined as gold that is found mixed in with dirt and rock around streams as it is eroded from hard-rock deposits. Therefore, these prospectors knew that such placer gold must have a source, and thus the search was on.

Homestake Mine

Homestake Mine, South Dakota.

While some prospectors sought to make a fortune out of the placer gold found in the creeks, others went in search of the true source of this loose gold. Given the appropriate knowledge some of these prospectors held, they knew that these sources are typically within rock and quartz formations. Thus, in 1876, the brothers Moses and Fred Manuel discovered the actual mother lode deposit of gold from which all the placer gold had initially come from. Located near present-day Lead, South Dakota, the brothers staked their claim and called their deposit the Homestake Mine.

A 30-ton cooler equipment at Gold Run Park, a mining area of the Homestake Mine in the Black Hills in Lead, South Dakota. Editorial credit: melissamn / Shutterstock.com

The Homestake Mine was then sold to a group of out-of-state investors for a total of $70,000. However, the brothers had no idea just how significant their find was. In the 125 years to come, the Homestake Mine proved to be the most significant of gold mines in the entire history of America, as it singlehandedly supplied 10% of the worlds gold supply and yielded well over 40 million ounces of gold, which amounted to a whopping $1 billion. The Homestake Mine was genuinely unique when compared to other mines, as its gold was free-milling. Therefore, in contrast to how refractory gold was chemically bonded to rock and exceedingly difficult to remove in different locations in the region, the Homestake Mines free-milling gold could be quickly released by simply crushing the quartz.

The Great Depression And The Decline Of The Gold Industry

Upon the dawn of the Great Depression, Roosevelt raised the price of gold to $35 per ounce as he hoped this would ultimately aid the nations overall finances. Thus, although the remainder of the country continued facing the effects of the Depression, the gold industry skyrocketed. However, when World War II commenced, all gold mines were ordered to close as the federal government classified mining as a nonessential industry. As a result, the Black Hills regions economy significantly suffered. The economy was so hard hit that even after the war ended, mining companies struggled to regain their former glory within a landscape of post-war prosperity. Gold mines in the region continued to close due to the high escalation of labor and supply prices. The Homestake Mine was the only mine capable of withstanding all these pressures and continued to prosper until its closure in 2002.
YEREVAN, APRIL 12, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan introduced the newly appointed Minister Armen Pambukhchyan to the staff of the Ministry of Emergency Situations, ARMENPRESS was informed from the Office of the Prime Minister.

The Prime Minister wished success to Mr. Pambukhchyan in his important work and expressed hope that during his tenure the efficiency of the Ministry of Emergency Situations will increase.

"Usually, on similar occasions, we appoint a new minister, see off the old minister, thank him for the work done. You know that in this case we have a slightly different, unusual or even unprecedented situation. And I have to tell you honestly and sincerely that I am very sorry for such a development. Personally for me what happened is very painful in terms of both morality and politics. You know that after the 44-day war, I offered Mr. Piloyan the post of Minister of Emergency Situations, I entrusted that post, and we worked during this period in an atmosphere of mutual respect. But I think we must clearly state that finally the rule of law in the Republic of Armenia should not be just words, equality before the law should not be just words, after all, its the case now and was that before these events. I hope that we all understand this message very clearly and directly, the Prime Minister said.

According to Nikol Pashinyan, it is clear that nowhere in the Republic of Armenia there is a very high level of welfare. "Moreover, we are a country that has problems with poverty, social problems, and serious security challenges in general. We must understand that each of us is required to make great efforts, and yes, to go through great deprivations in order to be able to solve the challenges facing our country, to solve the problems in the public administration system, to increase its efficiency, and finally make our service to the people more and more effective. I think this should be todays main message.

Mr. Pambukhchyan, I wish good luck to you and the entire staff of the Ministry. And I want to say that talking about the rule of law, let's not forget about the presumption of innocence, because according to the legislation of the Republic of Armenia, any person is innocent until his guilt is confirmed by a verdict that has entered into force. Lets be guided by this presumption," Nikol Pashinyan said.

Armen Pambukhchyan thanked the Prime Minister for the great confidence and assured that he will spare no effort and energy to justify the expectations of the PM and the society. "I am not new to this ministry, I am fully aware of all the tasks and priorities. I would like to note that during my tenure I will be guided by the agenda and values adopted by the Government and the political team," the newly appointed Minister of Emergency Situations said.
S4C series following North Wales Roads Policing Team returns to screens

A popular series following the day-to-day work of the North Wales Police Roads Policing Unit will return to screens this week.

Y Llinell Las, on S4C tomorrow (Wednesday 13 April), follows the team during one of their busiest summers ever.

Between June and September 2021 North Wales Police received 35,279 999 calls  5,612 more than the same period in the previous year.

The North Wales Police region covers a vast area  nearly a third of Waless land, and the problems that arise vary widely from area to area  from the cities of the east to the countryside in the west.

During the summer months, the population of North Wales increases by up to 30 per cent, but due to Covids rules and restrictions on foreign travel, the area was busier than ever, with additional pressure on the authorities:

With in-car, custody and body cameras, the series gives an honest portrayal of the work of the Unit as they keep us and our communities safe. The series also gives viewers the chance get to know the real men and women behind the jobs.

We had a busy summer as a result of Covid; the authorities were telling people to stay home so North Wales was gridlocked, said PC Rich Priamo, who has worked at the Roads Policing Unit for four years.

The A55 was like the M25  nobody could move; when we travel to get to urgent calls, we usually drive 120 to 140 miles an hour on the A55, but we were having to drive 12 to 14 miles an hour, he adds.

Time is of the essence for us to reach scenes  and not just for us, but the ambulance and fire service as well. Arriving at a scene that would normally take 10 minutes would take half an hour. It was mayhem for us.

In the first episode, we hear more about the pressure placed on the team as swarms of holidaymakers head to North Wales in the summer; the team arrive at the scene of a motorbike accident, we see inside the control office, and we get an insight to how they work with the Drone Unit to track down the thief of a stolen car.

One of the other police officers we follow in the series is PC Dan Edwards, who has been part of the Roads Policing Unit for six years:

I joined North Wales Police in 2006 as a PCSO, then the plan from day one was to come onto the Traffic Department. Ive always been a petrol head. A pursuit is not really what you want  its just too dangerous. You have to decide whats dangerous and whats not.

As far back as I can remember  when I was six or seven years old, I always wanted to be a policeman. Im not one who likes sitting in the office, I like being out there  thats what keeps me going.

Y Llinell Las will air on S4C on Wednesday 13 April at 9.00pm. English and Welsh subtitles available on demand: S4C Clic, iPlayer and other platforms
Significant increase in online blackmail offences reported in North Wales

Cases of online blackmail (sextortion) offences have significantly increased across North Wales.

Typically, the victim is encouraged to use their webcam to engage in online sexual activity with the offender.

The victim is usually unaware that this activity has been recorded and they will then be presented with a demand for money.

This demand will often be accompanied by a screenshot of the victims social media contacts with a threat to circulate the recording if they dont pay.

So far this year 73 incidents of this nature have already been recorded across North Wales.

However many victims of sextortion dont come forward due to embarrassment or fear that they wont be taken seriously by police.

David Williams from the North Wales Police Crime Prevention Hub said: North Wales Police want to raise awareness of this particularly sensitive and yet potentially very damaging crime.

We know that this type of crime is hugely under-reported with some research suggesting as few as 17 per cent of victims will make an official report.

And the scale of the problem globally suggests that sextortion is a profitable business for organised crime groups, which in turn suggests that many victims do pay the blackmailer.

Plenty of advice is available for anyone who becomes a victim; however it is far better to avoid becoming a victim in the first place.

It is accepted that many people use the internet for flirting and cybersex, but we want to warn people that someone you meet online might not be who they say they are.

I would urge everyone to be very careful about who they befriend online, especially if youre considering sharing anything intimate with them.

Should you become a victim of sextortion, you can find advice by visiting the National Crime Agency website and type sextortion in their search window. Further information around sextortion offences can also be found here
Despite the current economic crisis and complex situation in Lebanon, the local Armenian community is going to hold a big march on April 24  the Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day.

April 12, 2022, 10:31 Lebanons Armenian community to hold march in Beirut on Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day

STEPANAKERT, APRIL 12, ARTSAKHPRESS: Editor-in-Chief of the Lebanon-based Azdag daily Shahan Gantaharyan said in an interview to Armenpress, adding that a program of Armenian Genocide commemoration events has been prepared.

The march is being organized by three Armenian parties. It will start early morning on April 24, from Bourj Hammoud district to Antelias  the Catholicosate of the Great House of Cilicia.

It is a march for demand, for protection of rights, dedicated to the memory of the Armenian Genocide victims. The march will be followed by a mass in the Catholicosate where Catholicos Aram I is expected to deliver remarks. An event is also planned on April 23. The youth and student unions of the community will gather near the chapel dedicated to the Genocide victims. There will be speeches and artistic program during the event, he said.

In their April 24th addresses, Lebanese-Armenians will not only remember the victims of the Armenian Genocide, will not only talk about Turkeys denialist policy, but also will raise the issue of ongoing encroachments carried out by Azerbaijan against Armenians of Artsakh.

Of course, the speeches will also focus on Artsakh. Today we are witnessing a policy of ethnic cleansing against Armenians living in Artsakh, as well as border encroachments. The Armenian National Committees are working actively to present the danger of ethnic cleansing to international organizations. Today Artsakh is facing a serious security problem, Shahan Gantaharyan said.
NATOs reckless escalation of a military conflict with Russia over Ukraine is exposing Spains Morenoite Corriente Revolucionaria de Trabajadores y Trabajadoras (Workers Revolutionary Current, CRT), the Spanish affiliate of Argentinas Socialist Workers Party (PTS) and Left Voice in America. NATOs arming of Ukrainian far right nationalist militias like the Azov Battalion threatens to provoke a direct war with Russia. Yet the CRT is working to channel anti-war sentiment back behind Spains Socialist Party (PSOE)-Podemos government, which has fully joined the NATO war drive against Russia.

CRT leader Santiago Lupes article on the La Izquierda Diario website, titled The Iberian Left amid war: between subordination to imperialist warmongering and diplomatic illusions, promotes false hopes that Podemos will suddenly shift to the left and implement an anti-war policy.

Concerned that Podemos pro-war and austerity policies are exposing it in the eyes of the working class, he takes it to task because its denunciations of imperialist warmongering [have] not gone beyond partial objections and some public staging. Lupe explains that he does not want workers and youth to conclude Podemos is guilty of yet another imposture in government of which there are many over the past two years. Begging Podemos to break the alliance with the PSOE and leave the government, Lupe advises it to

abandon the executive, withdraw its parliamentary support for the government of the party of war [i.e., the PSOE], demand the withdrawal of all the Spanish troops in Eastern Europe and the rest of the imperialist missions abroad, and break off all commitments with NATO, beginning with the closure of their bases in Spanish territory and the end of sanctions.

Lupes proposal is cynical and reactionary. Podemos has been thoroughly exposed as a party of the affluent middle class and a tool of Spanish imperialism. Lupe is begging it to leave government so that the CRT can keep up its political charade that Podemos is a left populist and progressive party and call upon workers and youth opposed to the NATO war drive to continue supporting Podemos.

He is falsifying the character of Podemos, which is a pro-imperialist, anti-worker party. Podemos is not a party that has become subordinated to Spanish imperialism, as Lupe claims, and that can suddenly break free of the diktat of imperialism. In reality, Podemos is an imperialist party of the second rank, fully engaged in NATO policies that threaten to provoke all-out war between Russia and NATO.

Lupe falsifies the role of Podemos because frankly admitting its role would expose the role of the CRT itself as a cheerleader of political reaction. Since the founding of Podemos in 2014, the CRT and an entire range of petty-bourgeois parties of the same type have sought to tie workers to Spanish imperialism by promoting Podemos and speculating on whether it would suddenly shift to the left. While the CRT droned on with empty speculations about Podemos, the PSOE-Podemos government implemented the following policies:

It stationed around 800 Spanish troops in Eastern Europe against Russia, including a detachment of 130 airmen and four Eurofighter jets that regularly mount provocative missions from Bulgaria into the Black Sea near the Russian coast.

It sent three warships to patrol the waters of the eastern Mediterranean and the Black Sea with NATO naval groups.

It sent offensive military equipment to the Ukrainian army, as part of NATOs proxy war against Russia. This includes 1,370 Instalaza C90-type grenade launchers, designed to destroy Russian tanks, and 700,000 rifles and an undetermined number of machine gun cartridges to the Ukrainian army and its far-right militias. This includes the neo-Nazi Azov Battalion, which has already posted pictures on Telegram posing with Madrids weapons deliveries.

It supported EU-NATOs crippling sanctions against Russia destined to provoke regime change.

It participated in the persecution and jailing of Spanish journalist Pablo Gonzalez by the Polish government on bogus charges of spying for Russia.

It pledged to raise the defence budget by 10 billion to 25 billion, the largest military expenditure hike in Spains history.

Imperialist war abroad is going hand in hand with class war at home. The PSOE-Podemos government deployed 23,000 police against the three-week nationwide truck drivers strike, the largest police deployment and scabbing operation against a strike ever recorded.

Lupe himself admits he does not believe his perspective is realistic, that Podemos will leave the government and drop its support for war. He notes, [i]t is hardly likely we will see something like this, unless the war and Spains participation take new leaps. That is, this is a perspective whose slim chances for implementation depend on the eruption of open warfare between nuclear-armed NATO and Russia.

Lupe states that if Podemos leaves the government, it would be a blow to the Spanish states governability [and] to the warmongering dynamic and the strengthening of Spanish and European imperialism.

This is a lie. If Podemos were to leave the government, it would be a political manoeuvre designed not to oppose war but to strangle anti-war protests and strikes against imperialist war. The record of Podemos in government shows that it is a tool of the banks and big business. It implemented trillion-euro EU bank and corporate bailouts, social austerity, police crackdowns on striking workers and showered the Spanish army and industry with billions. During the COVID-19 pandemic, it consistently prioritised profits over lives, leading to over 162,000 excess deaths in the country during the pandemic, according to The Lancet .

The CRT promotes the pro-imperialist Anticapitalistas tendency

The CRTs promotion of Podemos is not a passing error of judgment but reflects the petty-bourgeois politics of the Morenoite PTS in Argentina and its allies, like the CRT. It is hostile to the building of a politically independent movement in the working class, preferring alliances on the national soil with pro-capitalist parties. Its class orientation finds conscious expression in the Morenoites unprincipled attitude to the 1953 split between the International Committee of the Fourth International (ICFI) and the Pabloite political ancestors of Spains Anticapitalistas movement.

In 1953, forces led by Michel Pablo and Ernest Mandel broke with the ICFI and with Trotskyism, arguing that the Trotskyist movement should politically dissolve itself into Stalinist and bourgeois nationalist parties. Nahuel Moreno, the founder of the tendency in Argentina to which the CRT is affiliated, initially supported the ICFI. However, he sought an unprincipled reunification with the Pabloites, becoming the leader of the Pabloites Latin American Bureau in 1963. Since then, the Morenoites have combined unprincipled alliances with Stalinism and Pabloism with hostility to the ICFIs defense of Trotskyism.

Lupe then promotes the Spanish Pabloite Anticapitalistas movement, which backed NATOs imperialist wars in the Middle East and Africa and helped found Podemos as a party in 2014. Lupe hails Anticapitalistas European Member of Parliament [EMP], Miguel Urban, elected on a Podemos slate in 2020, for taking a supposedly principled position on the war. Urban, Lupe writes, cast the only principled vote against the resolution on Ukraine approved in the European Parliament, explaining that it covered up the militarization of Europe and the advance of NATO and calling for a return to the path of dialogue and diplomacy.

He admits, however, that On sanctions against Russia, it is not clear if Anticapitalistas defends to the end the line of its sister organisations of the USEC [United Secretariat, the Pabloite movement]which in a shameful statement pronounced itself in favor of these measuresor if they maintain their own position opposed to it. Its EMP Urban considered that sanctions and pressure to end the war are much more useful than sending rocket launchers.

In fact, it is perfectly clear that Anticapitalistas is just as militaristic and pro-imperialist as the international Pabloite movement of which it is a part. Anticapitalistas endorsed the US-NATO war against oil-rich Libya in 2011. In the name of democracy, social justice, and the improvement of the situation of women, two leaders of Anticapitalistas, Esther Vivas and Josep Maria Antentas, condemned the anti-imperialism of some sectors of the left and advocated the political and economic international isolation of the [Libyan] regime and the unconditional supply of weapons to the rebels.

The European powers and the US then employed precisely this strategy to wage a war for regime change in Libya. It cost over 30,000 deaths, leaving the country in ruins, and created the conditions for the return of slave markets to Libya. The country still is mired in a civil war between competing Islamist factions that NATO had supported which has killed tens of thousands and displaced over 100,000 people. The man who led that war on behalf of Spain was Chief of the Defence Staff Julio Rodriguez Fernandez, who joined Podemos in 2015 after retiring and is currently the Chief of Staff to the Second Deputy Prime Minister, Yolanda Diaz.

Anticapitalistas justified Rodriguezs recruitment by calling him an example of the plurality that fits within Podemos. It defended Rodriguez against those who post a lot of cliches about Podemos. It then went on to support the NATO-sponsored war in Syria that was launched in the final months of the Libyan war.

In Ukraine, Anticapitalistas supported the US-NATO sponsored coup in February 2014 spearheaded by neo-fascists units fighting Russia. Admitting the decisive role played by fascists in the coup, it republished a Pabloite statement that called for participation in the fascist protests: While the main organized political forces are, for now, from the right and the far right, we support the social and political forces which are trying to build a left opposition within that movement. In so doing, they have refused to stay outside the movement and to identify the whole movement with its far-right component.

Anticapitalistas and its international affiliates are now issuing anti-Russian statements indistinguishable from CIA propaganda, whipping up a war fever that could lead to war between nuclear-armed powers.

Lupes fraudulent call to build anti-war protests with Podemos

Having begun his article with reactionary fantasies about Podemos breaking free from imperialism, he ends with the ludicrous comparison between Podemos and the Marxist revolutionaries and anti-war socialists who organized the 1915 Zimmerwald Conference during World War I. He argues that Podemos and Anticapitalistas can repudiate imperialism and emulate the Zimmerwald Conference:

The slogan of war against war, approved at the 1915 Conference of Women Against War and taken up by the revolutionary wing of Zimmerwald against the First World War, could serve as an inspiring flag to raise another left that fights for an independent path to the imperialist barbarism to which our governments lead us.

To compare the forces of Zimmerwald with CRT, Anticapitalistas and Podemos is a political and historical fraud. The Zimmerwald Conference, whose participants included Marxists like Vladimir Lenin, Leon Trotsky, Grigori Zinoviev and Christian Rakovsky, was a powerful international anti-war conference. It prepared the arming of the working class for a series of revolutionary uprisings in Europe that broke out as World War I ended. The most prominent of these struggles was the 1917 October Revolution, led by the Bolsheviks under Lenin and Trotsky, which brought the working class to power in Russia.

What are some of the differences? The Zimmerwald Conference opposed imperialist war; Podemos and Anticapitalistas are pro-war. The attendees at Zimmerwald were left-wing opponents of war persecuted by European capitalist governments; the members of Podemos and Anticapitalistas are capitalist government officials. And while Lenin and Trotsky were Marxist revolutionaries of world historic significance, Podemos and Anticapitalistas are tools of counter-revolution.

CRTs attempt to promote Podemos and its satellites with a new left-wing guise underscores that it is itself a barely disguised wing of Podemos.

Building an anti-war movement requires an open struggle against these tendencies. The ICFI calls for the building of an anti-war movement in the working class, independent of and against the union bureaucracy and the pseudo-left parties. This perspective for building an international anti-war movement in the working class separates the ICFI, the world Trotskyist movement, from the middle-class tendencies represented by Podemos, CRT and Anticapitalistas.
Universities in Australia opened for face-to-face teaching six weeks ago despite COVID cases starting to surge again, fuelled by the Omicron variants. Since then, cases have increased rapidly in schools and no doubt throughout universities, but many managements are covering up the infections.

An NTEU rally at Macquarie University late 2019 [WSWS Media]

While some universities have pursued a blended model, where students have an option to attend certain classes online, and some have allowed non-teaching staff to partially work from home, other managements have insisted on a full return to campus.

Many universities have stopped even reporting on infections among students and staff, in line with the profit-driven live with the virus program adopted by Liberal-National Coalition and Labor governments alike.

This has proceeded with the support of the trade unions covering university workers, including the National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU). At union meetings in February the reopening of campuses was presented as a fait accompli and the significant concerns of staff were overridden.

Growing numbers of university workers are disgusted with the unions role, and the inadequate mitigation measures it has requested from the employers. There is concern about the rising dangers of infections, serious illness, death and debilitating Long COVID.

One worker commented on Facebook: The NTEU is so pathetic it has to push for face masks? Please look and see how ineffective they are! Cant even get face masks without begging. A decapitated union.

Another casual academic reported: Ive been asked to teach two f2f tutorials. Im terrified of getting sick and being forced to work through it.

A similar Twitter comment said: I am being made to turn up to work, a university, whilst people are dying, 1000s getting covid, and lots of kids getting it too. Money before lives is what Australia is about these days.

There have been significant outbreaks, including one at the Australian National University (ANU), which saw 660 students residing on campus being infected in the first week of term.

Dr. Katie Freund, an education researcher at ANU, wrote on Twitter: Is the vibrant on campus experience worth the health of the #ourANU community? Its only Day 2 of semester! We are not meeting our duty of care for students.

More recently an ANU academic tweeted: Is there any way to avoid getting COVID if youre face-to-face teaching in universities? Like, surely its not inevitable? (This is not about any university in particular, or even Australia, but most universities in most countries).

University teaching staff members are reporting constant streams of students testing positive. Many universities, however, are not making records publicly available, so the extent of spread is being hidden.

The World Socialist Web Site recently spoke to several academics about the dangerous reopening.

John, an academic from Sydney, said: I dont see any real measures that the university is taking to protect staff and students from risk in teaching spaces. For example, it isnt clear to me that the ventilation in offices or teaching spaces is suitable. The state government and the university clearly dont care about people catching COVID.

I dont feel that the government has, at any time, handled the pandemic well. We have gone to a model that prioritises the profits of businesses to the detriment of the public. This is particularly true of the outrageous way return to school has been done. Parents have a legal obligation to send their children to school, and so are completely unable to protect themselves from COVID. Basic measures that schools could take to protect families have not been implemented.

Lucy, a Western Sydney University academic, commented: The push to return to campus is endangering the health and safety of all teaching and professional staff, not to mention that of thousands of students.

The NTEU at our university has merely stood quiescent, despite the fact that it has the power and arguably the duty, to oppose such a move. The NTEU seems to value good relations with management above the health and safety of its members.

Our universitys demands on staff are driven by the profit imperative. Many teachers are forced to work in sweatshop conditions to increase its profits. What does the NTEU do with our dues? It certainly doesnt use them to defend our rights at work.

Most of our younger academics are employed at level A on three-year contracts with probationary periods of two years. This places them in an invidious position. They bear excessive workloads but cannot complain about this exploitation for fear of reprisals.

Universities have been reopened as part of the murderous let it rip policies of governments around the world. For the ruling financial elite, reopening schools and universities to face-to-face teaching is an integral part of ensuring workers go back to work to continue producing profits.

According to an online petition at the Queensland University of Technology (QUT), the management has told staff members they do not have to inform co-workers or students if they have COVID-19. At the same time, QUT is packing staff and students into classrooms with unsafe density levels.

Confronted by the complicity of the pro-business trade unions, university workers and students should take matters into their own hands. They need to unite and form rank-and-file committeescompletely independent of the unionsto oppose the unsafe conditions. They should demand the closure of infected campuses and a return to online learning to protect students and staff.

To discuss how to take forward this fight, and form rank-and-file committees, contact the Committee for Public Education, a rank-and-file organisation of educators, students and parents supported by the Socialist Equality Party:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/commforpubliceducation/

Twitter: @CFPE_Australia

Email: cfpe.aus@gmail.com
Hundreds of Sri Lankans protested in Australias east coast state capitals on Sunday to call for the resignation of President Gotabaya Rajapakse and his government. The rallies followed similar demonstrations the previous weekend.

Organised via social media, about 700 rallied in Sydneys Martin Place, 150 at Reddacliff Place in Brisbane and over 70 in Dandenong, in Melbournes southeastern suburbs. Socialist Equality Party campaigners distributed hundreds of copies of an April 7 statement by the Sri Lankan SEP.

Brisbane rally

The Sydney rally included recent migrants from Sri Lanka, as well as numbers raised in Australia but whose parents hailed from the island. Whole families came, with participants ranging in age from their teens to their 70s.

Homemade banners and chants included abolition of the executive presidency, denunciations of all 225 parliamentarians and calls for the wealth hoarded by the political elite to be returned to the population.

Dayam, 38-year-old IT worker who moved to Australia in 2015 with his wife, explained the desperate situation facing millions of Sri Lankans. They dont have medicine, food, basic needs and certainly not luxury items like the politicians have.

Dayam

I want to say to Rajapakse, the majority of the people voted for you because they thought you would develop the country, but you cant even meet their basic needs. So the message is clear and it is spreading around the world: just resign.

The majority who are gathered here think that if those people are still in power then the country is never going to go in the right direction. They divide the country with racism, which is unacceptable. I call it Rajapaksaism because its like a religion, its that bad!

I dont think anyone here or in Sri Lanka has a race at this point, we are all just Sri Lankan. Religion is your personal decision. This is about the bad class that is running the country versus the good. The things they have done are beyond human.

The civil war started by declaring Sinhalese the national language and it divided the country starting a 30-year ethnic war. All the political parties that have governed the country for 74 years havent taken it in the right direction. They have split the country on race or religionMuslim vs Singhalese, or Singhalese vs Tamilits divide and rule. This is the time to change into a true democracy.

Sri Lankan demonstrators in Brisbane

Tristan, who has family in Sri Lanka, said: You see a lot of corruption not only in Sri Lanka but all across Asia. Its good to see people gathering in all the major cities demanding that fairness is brought into the situation. We need people to step up because we see governments taking advantage

The [Rajapakse] government that came in deceived the people. Ive seen a statistic that 95 percent of the countrys economy is spent on interest on loans, which leaves 5 percent for everything else. Its good to see people gathering together. It shows the power of the people and is a bit of a warning to other governments who are doing the same thing.

Asked about the SEPs call for the working class to mobilise and fight for a socialist program Tristan replied: Personally I dont have too much experience in socialism but I think its a good idea because the government is taking advantage of the people.

Tristan

The working class definitely needs to take advantage and intervene because the present government doesn't look like they are leaving any time soon, despite all the protests. We need as much international pressure from the people to get them going and give power back to the working class.

Sydney signs

Pasan, an IT worker, said: The corruption has been going on for many years, but it has reached a breaking point. People are suffering endlessly there. Its time for a big change in a peaceful way.

My family in Sri Lanka have said its very difficult to meet even their basic needs. The food prices are sky high. To find something like gas for essential cooking can take hours. There are power cuts for eight hours or more a day, sometimes stretching into the night. Water and everything is disrupted. What started very slowly through corruption has pushed people to the edge.

People work their daily jobs to provide for their families, but they cant afford to get by. How can they live without reliable electricity? How can they get to work if theres no petrol or diesel?

The opposition is not going to help either. All of them are trying to divide the people and get the most power out of the situation for themselves. The new generation are very intelligent and smart. They do not want to go down the traditional ways of violence. They just want the corrupted politicians to give back the money they have laundered out from Sri Lanka.

The people will rise up through this revolution against all the politicians who have been there for the past thirty or forty years. They are so entrenched in the system. They have extracted all the resources for their own families. They have used all of these international loans to boost their own fortunes, not to invest in the country and develop it.

The people dont want them anymore. People are coming together, whether they are Christians, Buddhists, Muslims.

In Dandenong, Pramodi, an IT worker, who moved from Sri Lanka four years ago to study in Australia said she came to the rally because the Rajapakse government is destroying my country. She was with a group of friends and brought a placard that said, Give the stolen money back and get lost.

Pramodi

Pramodi explained that her family and millions of Sri Lankans were suffering from lack of food, power, and other essentials. President Rajapakse, she said, is taking money from other countries, but he doesnt repay them and so this adds more debts. We dont know what is happening with the money he is getting from other countries but its not going to the people.

Sam, a qualified engineer, insisted that he was politically neutral but then said: Its mainly the current government that were really disappointed in but were also thinking about the whole system. Whoever comes in gives false promises and they never deliver. They all make deals with all the parties, and they just try to survive in power. That is all they do and so four or five years go by, and another government comes, and they do the same. And the country is going downwards.

Sam

My brother in Sri Lanka manages a transport system and so he must stay in the queue for two, sometimes three days, to get fuel for his vehicles. That fuel lasts for two days or three days but after that he doesnt know what is going to happen.

In Brisbane, Suda, an educator, said: Ive always opposed President Rajapakses behaviour. His government has taken all our money out of the country, which is why all these protesters have showed up. This is the most corrupt government that we have seen in Sri Lankan history.

Suda

Lots of people are struggling back in Sri Lanka because they dont have fuel and electricity. Now they have a shortage of food and are in a very difficult situation at the moment due to low incomes and very high food and utility prices.

Suda agreed with the demands set out by the SEP in Sri Lanka, including the abolition of the anti-democratic executive presidency, and that working people should not have to pay with their livelihoods for the crimes of the rich.

Referring to the $8.6 billion debt owed to the International Monetary Fund, he said: Rajapakse and his government are the ones who put Sri Lanka in debt, so we should get the money from them. The people shouldnt pay for it, because its not their fault; this is because of what Rajapakse did.

I also agree that attempts are being made to divide people on the basis of religion. The people in power created that problem and it is how they came to power in the first place.

Suda was critical of the opposition parties. I dont think theyre puppets of the current regime, but that they just ask some ridiculous questions. We should be calling for Rajapakse to resign, but the opposition has other ideas. Theyre diverting the objectives of the people.

A protester in Sydney holds a sign

Ruwarthi, who is looking after her elderly mother and father, said her family was experiencing appalling conditions due to food shortages and soaring fuel prices. Everyone in the government and the Sri Lankan parliament is corrupt and should step down, she said.

Working people should not have to pay for the stupidness of the rich. People in other countries should fight against similar conditions. We are in this situation because the right people arent in power. If theres a proper system, ordinary people should be in power.

Ranley, a worker, explained: I am opposed to the corruption that exists in the entirety of the Sri Lankan government. They have stolen money from the people. The Rajapakse family, in particular, has fleeced the country.

Asked whether workers should accept debts incurred by their countrys capitalists, Ranley declared: No! I agree that working people shouldnt pay any of it. Those loans were taken out to pay for white elephant projects that did nothing for the people.
Some 80 years after almost 30 million peopleJews, communists, partisans, soldiers, prisoners of war and civiliansfell victim to the bestial crimes of Hitlers Wehrmacht (army) in the Soviet Union, hatred of Russians is being stirred up again in Germany.

The war in Ukraine is serving as a pretext to demonise all Russians and everything Russian. A leading role in this is being played by the Ukrainian ambassador in Berlin, Andriy Melnyk, who does not let a day pass without spreading his racist filth.

Andriy Melnyk, Ukrainian ambassador in Berlin (Photo: Bundestag fraction Bundnis 90/Die Grunen / CC BY-SA 2.0)

Melnyk boycotted a benefit concert for Ukraine organised by the German president because exiled Russian pianist Yevgeny Kissin was playing there. He insulted the city of Osnabruck for awarding its music prize to the young Russian violinist Dmitry Smirnov, whoin order not to burn bridgesplayed Ukrainian compositions.

In a long interview with the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Melnyk declared that all Russians were enemies. It could not now be a question of distinguishing between bad Russians and good Russians, he expounded. I say it very clearly, Russia is an enemy state for us. And all Russians are enemies for Ukraine right now.

Melnyk said he had never had Russian friends, because what we are experiencing today was planned for many decades. For him, it was clear that Russia, probably even after the war, will remain an enemy state. Ukraine was, is and will probably remain an enemy of Russian society for a long time.

Melnyk is not an isolated case. He moves from editorial office to editorial office and event to event so that he can spit out his nationalist venom.

Increasingly, Russian citizens are being collectively punished for the wareven when they speak out against it. In an official letter, the director of Munich University Hospital has announced, Due to the serious human rights violations by the deranged Putin, we fundamentally refuse to treat Russian patients.

The Soviet Memorial in Berlin-Treptow, commemorating the 80,000 Soviet soldiers who fell in the battle to liberate Berlin at the end of World War II, has been daubed with swastikas and slogans such as Death to all Russians. The police, who constantly guard the monument, claim to have seen nothing. For the media, the incident was barely worth a mention.

Instead, they spread reports about Russian atrocities around the clock, the truth of which cannot be verified, while they blank out and ignore the crimes on the Ukrainian side. Media like RT and Sputnik, which reflect the views of the Russian side, are banned in Germany so that no one can form their own opinion.

The hate campaign against Russia is reactionary in every respect. It is not so much directed against the brutal attack on Ukraine as at driving a wedge between the peoples of Russia and Ukraine, thus strengthening the warmongers on both sides.

In Germany, it serves revanchist goals. After decades of having to practice humility and distance itself from the crimes of the Nazis, the ruling class can now give free rein to its outlook and retaliate. What was previously only said behind closed doors and in right-wing extremist circles can now again be said openly.

The hate campaign marks a fundamental reorientation of German foreign policy. Instead of trade, expansion to the East, the traditional thrust of German imperialism, is once again being pushed forward with tanks.

Gabor Steingart, who as former editor-in-chief of finance daily Handelsblatt has close ties to Berlins political circles, confirms this in his blog The Pioneer. He writes:

Since the atrocities of Bucha, accounts have been settled with what was a basic constant of German foreign policy since 1945. The consensus that after the war of aggression by the German Wehrmacht, with at least 27 million Russians killed, a guilty humility should prevail in German-Russian relations, seems to have come to an end. The political concept of change through rapprochement, also conceived as a new beginning following a murderous relationship, is now filed away by many in the folder of failed ideas.

Russophobia in the First and Second World Wars

To justify the confrontational course against Russia, the old means of anti-Russian propaganda are being revived. Russophobia played an important role in both World War I and World War II in whipping up public opinion and intimidating wartime opponents.

Two weeks after the start of the First World War, German troops committed terrible crimes in neutral Belgium. They destroyed the city of Leuven, killed hundreds of civilians, and destroyed the university library with its large and irreplaceable collection of books and manuscripts.

Following this, 93 renowned scientists, artists and literary figures published an Appeal to the cultural world denying the German crimes and referring instead to Russian hordes:

It is not true that our warfare does not respect international laws. It knows no undisciplined cruelty. But in the east, the earth is saturated with the blood of women and children mercilessly butchered by the wild Russian troops, and in the west, dumdum bullets mutilate the breasts of our soldiers. Those who have allied themselves with Russians and Serbians and present such a shameful scene to the world as inciting Mongolians and Negroes against the white race have no right whatever to call themselves upholders of civilization.

The later Prussian Prime Minister Otto Braun justified the Social Democratic Partys (SPD) support for the war by saying it was a fight against Russian unculture, for the protection of German cultural assets, for the protection of German women and children. Or should we stand by, he asked, while the liquor-filled Russian Cossack hordes flatten German fields, martyr German women and children, trample German culture?

While representatives of the cultural world and Social Democrats railed against the Russian hordes, Reich Chancellor Theobald von Bethmann Hollweg formulated the real German war aims in his September Programme, which show striking parallels to those of today.

Only a Germany strengthened by Mitteleuropa (Central Europe) would be able to assert itself as an equal world power among the other great powers, it said. To achieve this, Russia had to be pushed back as far as possible from Germanys eastern border and its rule over the non-Russian peoples had to be broken. Among these non-Russian peoples, the programme counted first and foremost Ukrainealong with Finland, Poland and Georgia.

Bethmann Hollwegs September Programme formed the basis for the Brest-Litovsk Peace Treaty three-and-a-half years later, which Germany imposed on Russia, where the working class had taken power in the October 1917 revolution. Ukraine became formally independent under the supervision of German troops. First the Ukrainian nationalist Symon Petliura and then the long-time tsarist officer Pavlo Skoropadskyi were installed as heads of government. Both were responsible for anti-Semitic pogroms and distinguished themselves with particular cruelty in the Russian civil war.

After the withdrawal of the German troops, the communists also seized power in Kiev at the end of 1919. In 1922, after their final victory in the civil war, they founded the Soviet Union.

During this period, hundreds of thousands of opponents of the revolution, their hands often dripping with the blood of the crimes they committed, emigrated to the West, where they were welcomed with open arms and unleashed hysterical anti-communist propaganda. They coloured the old motifs of Russophobia red and turned them against the Bolsheviks. The Western media eagerly seized on the tales of atrocity of the white Russian emigres and presented them as facts.

Historian Robert Gerwarth gives an account of this in his book Die Besiegten. Das blutige Erbe des Ersten Weltkriegs (The Vanquished. Why the First World War Failed to End, 19171923):

They were stories of a social order turned completely upside down, of an inescapable vicious circle of atrocities and retribution, and of the total moral collapse of a formerly radiant European superpower. ... The western media literally competed in portraying the Bolshevik leadership and its supporters in the most chilling way possible, as lepers who would stop at nothing.

Hitlers National Socialist (Nazi) movement thrived in this milieu. Pavlo Skoropadskyi, who found asylum in Munich, was a co-founder of the Nazi party newspaper Volkischer Beobachter. His political ideas flowed into Hitlers Mein Kampf, in which the conquest of Ukraine played a central role. Hitler described Russians as sub-humans who had to be enslaved and decimated in order to create Lebensraum (living space) for Germany. Hitler put this plan into practice in 1941 with the war of extermination against the Soviet Union.

The crimes committed by the Wehrmacht and the German Einsatzgruppen are historically unprecedented. Six million Jews were industrially murdered in the Holocaust, partisans and communists were systematically killed by the hundreds of thousands, the city of Leningrad, with its millions of inhabitants, was starved, prisoners of war handed over to death by starvation and disease, and entire regions devastated.

Russlandpolitik after the Second World War

After the defeat in the war, revanchist forces continued to set the tone in West German politics, dreaming of a reconquest of the Eastern territories and a reckoning with the Soviet Union. In practice, however, their hands were tied because neither the US nor France and Britain wanted to allow Germany to become the dominant great power in Europe again.

At the beginning of the 1970s, Germanys policy towards the East began to take a new direction. Instead of rigid confrontation, change through rapprochement was the order of the day. As early as 1969, the Hallstein Doctrine, which prohibited diplomatic relations with East Germanys allies, was dropped. In 1970, Chancellor Willy Brandt (SPD) made his famous genuflection to the victims of the ghetto in Warsaw. In the same year, his government signed nonaggression treaties with the Soviet Union and Poland. The Basic Treaty with the German Democratic Republic (East Germany) followed in 1972.

The extensive Russian gas, oil and coal deliveries, which made Germany independent of the crisis regions of the Middle Eastand thus of pressure from the USalso go back to this time. Germany supplied pipes for the pipelines and thus simultaneously alleviated the crisis in the steel industry; Russia paid with gas and oil.

Germanys goals of change through trade achieved their aim. The Soviet Union and Eastern Europe became increasingly dependent on the world economy and Western credit. The bankruptcy of the Stalinist policy of building socialism in one country became obvious. As predicted by Leon Trotsky, the ruling Stalinist bureaucracy reacted to growing economic problems and internal tensions by liquidating the property relations created by the October Revolution, introducing capitalism, and finally dissolving the Soviet Union in 1991.

Gorbachev, Yeltsin, as well as Putin indulged in the idea that the major imperialist powers would welcome them with open arms and give them a place at their table. But this was an illusion. Imperialism means the struggle for markets and the robbery of foreign lands, as Lenin pointed out at the beginning of the First World War. This had not changed 80 years later.

The US interpreted the dissolution of the Soviet Union as a unipolar moment that would allow it to cement Washingtons position as the undisputed superpower. Germany saw reunification as an opportunity to become the dominant power in Europe once again.

Since then, NATO has moved ever closer to Russias borders, contrary to the agreements made in 1991. The US and its allies have waged numerous neo-colonial wars, destroying entire societiesin Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, Yemen and elsewhere.

The war crimes they have committed in the process go far beyond anything that has happened so far in Ukraine. In Iraq alone, at least 1 million people have been killed and millions more forced to flee. Tens of thousands have drowned in the Mediterranean. Julian Assange, who exposed some of these crimes, sits incommunicado in a British maximum-security prison.

In 2018, the US officially elevated great power competition to the central goal of its National Defence Strategy, i.e., conflict with Russia and China rather than the fight against terrorism.

The Ukraine War and German militarism

The war in Ukraine is related to this, with NATO waging a proxy war against Russia. It has trained the Ukrainian army and armed it to the teeth. By refusing to give Russia any security guarantees, it has deliberately provoked the war. NATOs goals are not freedom and democracy for Ukraine, which it is merely using for its own ends, but regime change in Moscow, the splitting up of Russia and unrestricted access to its abundant raw materials. To achieve these goals, it accepts the risk of a nuclear confrontation that would reduce all of Europe and large parts of the world to rubble.

Vladimir Putins decision to attack Ukraine militarily is a reactionary response to this threat. Putins regime, representing the interests of the Russian oligarchs, is incapable of appealing to the mass of the Russian and Ukrainian population and instead responds with a mixture of national chauvinism and military adventurism.

The war is reactionary in every respect. It is directed not only against the people of Ukraine, but also against the Russian working class, which is paying a high price for it. It can only be stopped by the means of class struggleby a joint offensive of the Russian, Ukrainian, German, American and international working class against their capitalist governments and against NATO, which is doing everything it can to intensify the war and prolong it until Russias military defeat.

Germany is playing a leading role in this. No sooner had the war begun than the German government increased its military budget threefold in one fell swoop to 150 billion. It is supplying Ukraine with heavy weapons. For the first time since 1944, German tanks are in Ukraine again, firing at Russian soldiers. Revenge for the defeat in the Second World War is in full swing.

This revenge has been long prepared. In 2014, the German government supported the right-wing coup in Kiev that laid the seeds for todays war. Shortly before that, it had announced Germanys return to great power politics and militarism. Germany was too big to comment on world politics only from the side-lines, then foreign minister and now Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier declared at the Munich Security Conference. Steinmeier travelled personally to Kiev when fascist militias overthrew the elected president Viktor Yanukovych.

Even then, the return to German militarism went hand in hand with the rehabilitation of the Nazis and the war against the Soviet Union. Shortly before the coup in Kiev, Der Spiegel published the article Culpability Question Divides Historians Today. In it, Ernst Nolte, who had already justified National Socialism as an understandable response to Bolshevism in the Historikerstreit (historians dispute) of the 1980s, blamed the Poles, the British and, indirectly, the Jews for the Second World War. Jorg Baberowski, professor of history at Berlins Humboldt University, claimed that Hitler had not been cruel and that Nolte had been right in the historians dispute. Political scientist Herfried Munkler downplayed German responsibility for the First World War.

The article also rehashed the invented atrocity stories that Russian emigres had spread in the 1920s. Among them was the claim that the Bolsheviks had tortured their opponents by having them eaten alive by hungry rats.

In academic circles and in the media, there was no opposition to this revision of history. Only the Sozialistische Gleichheitspartei (Socialist Equality Party) and its youth organisation the International Youth and Students for Social Equality protested and met with a strong response among students and workers. This became even greater when the media unleashed a furious smear campaign against the IYSSE. Mehring Verlag has documented this in the volume  Scholarship or War Propaganda? 

Then, as early as 2017, Germany stationed tanks in Lithuania, where Hitlers henchmen and their local collaborators had once committed the worst war crimes. As in Ukraine, the German government is now working there with forces that revere former Nazi collaborators as heroes. For decades, Baltic members of SS units who had committed the worst war crimes received special pensions as German victims, while concentration camp survivors and forced labourers went empty-handed or were compensated only shortly before their death.

The only way to fight German and NATO militarism and prevent a third world war is to build a socialist movement of the international working class against war and its cause, capitalism. Become a member of the Sozialistische Gleichheitspartei today and take part in this struggle.
Texas District 229 Attorney Gocha Allen Ramirez made an about-face on an indictment against 26-year-old Lizella Herrera, a pregnant woman charged with self-abortion, announcing the decision on Facebook. District 229 covers Starr, Jim Hogg and Duval counties in south Texas.

Starr County Jail (Google Maps)

Herrera was arrested on Thursday in Rio Grande City, Texas, being indicted by a grand jury on March 30 on charges of self-induced abortion. She was released on $300,000 bond Saturday after an abortion rights advocacy fund posted her bail. A grand jury indictment is initiated by the district attorney, who presents his version of the evidence to determine whether there is probable cause to bring charges.

Ramirez stated that the case stemmed from a report made to police by a local hospital in January. He said it was not a criminal matter under Texas law, adding, In reviewing applicable Texas law, it is clear that Ms. Herrera cannot and should not be prosecuted for the allegation against her.

In the same statement, Ramirez said, In reviewing this case, it is clear that the Starr County Sheriffs Department did their duty in investigating the incident brought to their attention by the reporting hospital. To ignore the incident would have been a dereliction of their duty. Prosecutorial discretion rests with the District Attorneys office, and in the State of Texas a prosecutors oath is to do justice. Following that oath, the only correct outcome to this matter is to immediately dismiss the indictment against Ms. Herrera.

That is, that violating medical privacy of and arresting a woman for suspected self-abortion, then imposing a six-figure bail, is acceptable, but that the law doesnt specifically allow the prosecution of a woman for this alleged offenseat least not yet. This is an about-face from the indictment issued by the same office signed March 30 that said Herrera did then and there intentionally and knowingly cause the death of an individual J.A.H. by a self-induced abortion.

The initial indictment provoked widespread anger, with #freelizelle trending on Twitter, reflecting the mass opposition to attacks on abortion. Contrary to the opposition to abortion in the Republican Party and sections of the Democratic Party, polls show that the majority of the US population support abortion rights. A Pew Research poll released in May 2021 puts the number who support abortion in all or most cases at 59 percent. Other polls put the figure much higher, such as Gallup finding 80 percent support for abortion rights the same month.

The exact reason Ramirez reversed is unknown, but the DAs explanationthat he, the chief prosecutor in the area, apparently lacked knowledge on the subsection omitting self-abortionsis unconvincing. It is more likely that the DA feared publicity over the case or was advised against it.

No explanation was given by Ramirez as to why the initial indictment was filed in the first place.

Some of the public comments pointed out the obvious contradiction between Ramirezs previously issued indictment and his subsequent decision, as well as the lack of transparency on the case.

Of the Democratic Party hacks commenting on the situation, most feigned a sigh of relief or stayed silent while the others tried to seize on the matter as another justification for voting for Democrats in the 2022 elections.

The facts on the ground fly in the face of the Democrats claims that somehow, voting Democratic will defend the right to abortion, or any other democratic right for that matter.

Ramirez is affiliated with the Democratic Party. He won the Democratic primary against Omar Escobar Jr., the previous DA, in March 2020 and took office January 1, 2021, facing no Republican opposition. Ramirez paid $1,250.00 to the Democratic Party of Texas on November 20, 2019, as part of his campaign according to Transparency USA, a website on money in politics. This payment was likely in order to obtain voter information from the Democratic Partys database for the purpose of campaigning.

That Ramirezs office filed an indictment in the first place is an indictment of the Democratic Party, which postures as a defender of abortion rights while doing nothing of the sort, as well as an exposure of the claims that the defense of abortion rights can be waged from within the straitjacket of the Democratic Party.

This comes as no surprise, as the Democratic Party has previously supported anti-abortion candidates in state elections.

At least 38 states including Texas have fetal homicide laws on the books. In Texas, this law does not apply to women accused of performing self-abortions. As the WSWS wrote in 2011: Backers of these laws have claimed that they are intended to protect women and their unborn children from attack by an abusive partner or other third parties, but state prosecutors have seized upon the legislation to attack the rights of pregnant mothers.

While under Texas law, abortion isnt a criminal offense, abortion is effectively banned under civil law under the fetal heartbeat rule after about six weeks of pregnancywell before most women even know they are pregnant. The law allows anyone to sue women or anyone who aids or abets an abortion for $10,000.

The obvious effect the arrest will have, regardless of the outcome of the case, is to discourage pregnant women from going to hospitals. Some pregnant women will avoid them, fearing criminal prosecution.

The case is part of the assault on democratic rights as a whole, and abortion specifically, and follows other similar attacks. An Oklahoma woman, Brittney Poolaw, was sentenced to four years in prison for a miscarriage in October 2021 despite abortions being permitted at up to 22 weeks at that point. Since Poolaw was imprisoned, Oklahoma has criminalized most abortions, making performing one a felony.

Medical privacy is violated in the course of ascertaining the violation of Texass draconian anti-abortion law and in the fetal murder law. These are the rights guaranteed under Roe v. Wade, which are tied to Fourth Amendment protections against unwarranted search and seizure. Roe v. Wade has been under attack under successive Democratic and Republican administrations, with the Supreme Court being very close to rescinding this fundamental democratic right altogether.

The attack on abortion rights serves as a more insidious way of attacking Fourth Amendment rights, and democratic rights as a whole, which have been under relentless assault for decades as the ruling class increasingly does away with democratic forms of government, turning to authoritarian forms of rule to suppress domestic dissent produced as a result of staggering levels of social inequality.

Texas Republican Governor Greg Abbott has worked relentlessly to attack abortion rights, and the rights of refugees to asylum, alongside both Trump and Biden administrations, both of whom have escalated attacks on immigrants. Alongside Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, Abbott participated in Donald Trumps fascist coup attempt and has continued to toe the Republican Party line that the 2020 election was stolen.

The role of Ramirez shows that the Democratic Party can no more be relied on to defend democratic rights than the fascistic Republicans.
Around 2,000 public bus drivers held a 24-hour strike yesterday in Sydney, Newcastle, Queanbeyan and the New South Wales (NSW) Central Coast. While the strike demonstrated substantial anger among workers, the Transport Workers Union (TWU) and the Rail Tram and Bus Union (RTBU) isolated the action to a subset of drivers and suppressed discussion of the way forward.

A section of the rally outside NSW parliament (WSWS Media)

The drivers were striking over unsafe working conditions, including being forced to drive for more than five hours without a break, lack of meal and bathroom facilities, driver shortages and pressure to meet impossible timetables.

The workers are also seeking an end to unequal pay and conditions for drivers employed by different private operators, which run the transit service under contract to the state government.

The fact is, the TWU and RTBU are responsible for this situation, both through their collaboration in the privatisation and break up of the NSW bus service and through the enforcement of successive enterprise agreements attacking workers conditions.

The disparity is demonstrated most sharply in inner-west Sydneys Region 6, where the unions enforce a two-tiered wage system which sees pay and conditions differ among two sets of workers doing precisely the same job, on the same routes.

Public buses in NSW are operated under government contract by eleven different companies. However, only drivers employed by three companies, Transit Systems, Transdev and ComfortDelGro, were allowed to take part in yesterdays strike. The excluded drivers include those in the three Sydney contract regions privatised in the past six months.

In addition, the timing of the strike, during school holidays, was clearly chosen by the unions to ensure minimal disruption.

In Sydney, several hundred workers gathered in Martin Place, opposite state parliament, underscoring the orientation of the rally as an appeal to NSW Transport Minister David Elliott to intervene in enterprise agreement negotiations currently underway between the unions and the three companies.

The venomous hostility of Elliott and the Liberal-National state government to public transport workers was made clear in the February 21 shutdown of Sydneys rail network. While the cancellation was entirely manufactured by the government, entirely out of proportion to limited industrial action planned by the RTBU, Elliott accused rail workers of terrorist-like activity.

No concrete demands were advanced at the rally, which centred on the vague slogan, same job, same pay. In fact, same job, same pay is precisely what Transit Systems is trying to achieve in Region 6, by forcing upper-tier workers on to the reduced pay and conditions enforced by the TWU for the second-tier Region 6 workers and all workers in Region 3.

The same job, same pay slogan is explicitly designed to turn workers against each other, promoting the false conception that some drivers enjoy a privileged position while others struggle.

The fact is, all bus drivers face a deepening attack on pay and conditions as well as rapid increases in the cost of living. Despite this, the unions issued no demand for a genuine pay rise for all bus drivers across the state.

Also entirely absent from the official discussion is the question of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. While drivers at the Sydney rally told Socialist Equality Party campaigners they, along with many of their colleagues, had contracted the virus, the union speakers were silent.

The unions cannot speak about COVID-19, because they have played a critical role in keeping public transport workers on the job, risking their health and lives, throughout the pandemic.

In September last year, the TWU rapidly shut down a snap walkout by workers at the Region 3 Smithfield depot after a driver tested positive for COVID-19. Despite calls from drivers for regular testing of all public transport workers, the union declared the strike over after extracting a promise from Transit Systems to establish rapid antigen testing only at the Smithfield depot.

During last years Delta outbreak, the TWU and RTBU ensured transport workers were exempted from partial lockdown measures, forcing them back to work amid high infection rates.

NSW Labor Party member of parliament Jo Haylen was prominently featured at yesterdays rally in an attempt to promote illusions in Labor as an alternative for workers, with a federal election next month and NSW set to vote in March 2023.

Haylen refused to outline any alternative policy, saying Im not going to negotiate from opposition. She did not commit Labor to addressing a single issue raised by bus drivers if the party is elected next year. Instead Haylen merely called for the government to sit down with bus drivers and work it out.

Haylen claimed the situation confronting NSW bus drivers was the result of the Liberal-National governments obsession with privatisation. In reality, it is the product of a pro-business program, aimed at subordinating social needs to the profit interests of big business, which is fully embraced by Labor.

Sydneys public bus network is now completely privatised, with the last contract area, Region 9, placed in private hands on April 3. The process began with the 2004 Unsworth review, ordered by then Labor Premier Bob Carr, whose government also presided over the sell-off of NSWs rail freight services and the destruction of train maintenance workshops and track repair divisions.

Further sell-offs of critical public infrastructure, including the NSW electricity network, have been carried out by subsequent Labor governments. The privatisation of hospitals, utilities, and transport under the current Liberal-National government is merely a continuation of this process, carried out by both major parties, and endorsed by the unions.

Workers must reject the unions dead-end claims that electing a Labor government will resolve anything. While NSW Labor leader Chris Minns has sought to say as little as possible in response to growing working-class unrest, federal leader Anthony Albanese has clearly spelled out the partys pro-business agenda.

Albaneses election pitch is not to workers but to the corporate elite. He is promising to implement massive restructuring and productivity increases, meaning increased attacks on working-class jobs, pay and conditions.

No gains for workers can be achieved through the election of Labor, appeals to the current Liberal-National government, or within the framework of the unions, which serve as an industrial police force of big business and capitalist governments.

The strike took place under conditions where growing sections of the working class are entering into struggle. In recent weeks, other NSW public sector workers including rail workers, nurses, paramedics and health workers have all engaged in strikes or industrial action. In Victoria, around 600 ComfortDelGro bus drivers began strike action on April 1, with drivers at three other companies expected to follow.

It is to these layers, as well as to the broader working class, that NSW bus drivers must appeal. This requires a break with the unions, which do everything in their power to isolate and divide workers.

Instead, workers must form new organisations of struggle, rank-and-file committees, completely independent of the trade unions. Through a network of these committees bus drivers can reach out to their class brothers and sisters throughout the transport industry, the public sector and more broadly, to take up a fight against the relentless assault on working-class pay and conditions.

This poses the need for a socialist perspective and a fight for workers governments, under which vital public services, including transport and health, along with major corporations and the banks, would be placed under democratic workers control and operated to serve the needs of the public, rather than the profit demands of the wealthy elite.
Nicola Sturgeon, Scotlands First Minister and Leader of the Scottish National Party, has signalled the partys full support for NATOs war drive against Russia. Speaking to ITVs Representing Border on March 9, she called for a no-fly zone over Ukraine and said that NATO should keep its mind open to every way in which Ukraine can be helped.

Sturgeon and the entire spectrum of Scottish nationalist politicians, from right to left, have dispensed with their anti-war pretences and emerged as full-throated imperialists.

Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo, Pool)

Dismissing concerns over the implications of a no-fly zone in providing a potential trigger for nuclear war, Sturgeon said, Nobody wants to see an escalation of that nature. But on the other hand, Putin is not acting in any way rationally or defensively. She continued, The world cannot stand by and watch Ukraines independence and sovereignty be extinguished.

This is not the first time Sturgeon has banged the war drum on Russia. In 2015, she went to Washington to speak with the United States Council on Foreign Relations to support the UK government sending troops into Ukraine to train far-right forces that spearheaded the coup which overthrew pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych in 2014.

In her 2015 statement to Washington, she stressed solidarity with Westminster and NATO saying, Well, this is a good example on these issues where the Scottish government supports the UK position on Ukraine and Russia. Were supportive of the sanctions against Russia and have been a voice of support within the UK for the governments position and a voice of support wider than that for the international communitys position.

She continued, Do not think that the SNP and the Scottish government takes a markedly different position from the UK government on the vast majority of international issues. We dont... You will not find any great difference between our position and the position of the United Kingdom government.

The position on international issues Sturgeon solidarized herself with is the advancement of imperialist interests through the levelling of entire countries in the Middle East, the killing of millions of innocent people, the funding and training of fascist organisations, the arrest and persecution of journalists and whistle blowers, the overthrow of democratically elected governments and now the drive to a Third World War.

The SNP has always presented Scottish nationalism to the working class as an alternative to Westminster aggression and domination. They have couched their calls for Scottish independence on appeals to anti-war sentiment among workers, feigning opposition to social inequality and promoting the anti-nuclear bairns not bombs slogan. This has been exposed as a cynical lie.

The SNP are one of the loudest voices calling for national unity. Faced with calls for the removal of Johnson as prime minister over illegal Downing Street parties in the midst of the pandemic, Ian Blackford, lead representative of the SNP in Westminster, responded, Theres a time and a place, and there are circumstances. We all have to be in recognition of the place we are in and the responsibilities that we have.

Blackford reserved his harshest criticism of the Tories to the accusation that they have been insufficiently aggressive toward Russia. Addressing Johnson in the House of Commons, Blackford insisted the UK take tougher and stronger sanctions. He said he had approached Johnson five years prior with a plan to pre-emptively attack Russian assets. He insisted, We shouldnt wait for a Russian attack before cleaning up the UK of a sewer of dirty Russian money running through London.

On March 2, Blackford called on the UK parliament to impose the full range of war crime charges including the act of aggression in the prosecution of the Putin regime.

The SNP has been forging direct links with the Ukrainian government for some time. In 2019, after a visit with other SNP members, Stewart McDonald MP became one of only 24 foreign nationals to receive the Order of Merit, Ukraines highest state order.

In an article written for the Huffington Post March 13, McDonald explained that after ex-SNP leader Alex Salmond joined Russias state broadcaster RT in 2017, his former followers scrambled to profess their loyalty to NATO. Although no longer a parliamentarian or even in the SNP, it had the potential to be damaging to our party at the time Having discussed this with some MP colleagues, a small group of us quickly set out to meet with European embassies in London to make clear that his action was not a reflection of my partys values, or in any way endorsed. Quite the opposite: we were mortified and angry, but this was his own gig, and he would wear it.

McDonald described how this this loud denunciation was used as a bridge between the SNP and the Ukrainian military. As part of that outreach, I met with the then ambassador of Ukraine, Natalia Galibarenko She put it to me that I should visit her country, and spend time in the east, which has been on the receiving end of Putins war since 2014... Its no mistake to say that that trip had a profound effect on me and has given me cause to use my platform to champion Ukraines democracy and independence back here at home.

During this visit McDonald met Ukrainian military officials and visited areas in the eastern region. He made repeated visits to Ukraine with the explicit aim of attending security conferences where he met unnamed NGOs, and military heads to discuss issues around defence. It was after these visits that Zelensky awarded McDonald the Order of Merit.

McDonald lays bare the SNPs level of integration into NATOs war plans in Ukraine. He revealed that last February he was invited to a Ministry of Defence hearing in Ukraine to plan NATOs proxy war. Over the last year the conversations Ive had with people back there have taken a darker turn. I was last there in February. I sat in the parliament, the ministry of defence and the ministry of foreign affairs hearing about the imminence of a full invasion by Russia. Yet even after all the maps, slideshows and discussions about anti-tank weaponry, there was a sensea hopethat it wouldnt happen.

The Scottish Green Party, the SNPs lackeys, have also signalled their solidarity with the war drive. In a statement dripping with anti-Russian hysteria, Ross Greer, Green Member of the Scottish Parliament for the West Scotland region, said, The UK Governments response so far has been weak and embarrassing and called for a comprehensive package of sanctions targeting all Russian state-backed businesses, any bank or other organisation connected to Russias arms industry and against Putins close associates themselves.

With all pro-independence bourgeois parties aligned in support of the escalating NATO war drive, and publications like The Scotsman printing headlines such as, With Ukraine in mind, the SNP needs a plan for a post-independence military, the imperialist and pro-war character of an independent capitalist Scotland is clear.

And where is Salmond in all of this? In 2014, when the Scottish independence referendum was in full flow, Salmond headed the SNP and was held up as the bringer of freedom. In 2022, he is denounced by the very same party as being a Russian agent.

Salmond split with the SNP and formed his own pro-independence party, Alba, after the failure of the 2014 Scottish independence referendum. Salmond and Alba have issued statements of support for sanctions on Russia but have called for restraint and a recognition of Russian security concerns in any de-escalation process to avoid, in the words of Salmond, Armageddon.

Salmonds warnings are duplicitous. Sanctions are aimed at isolating Russia and preparing it for regime change. To support these measures is to support a major aspect of NATOs drive to war against Moscow.

However, the SNPs attack on Salmond as a Russian agent is an attempt to paint anyone warning of the danger of a wider war as a purveyor of Kremlin sponsored propaganda.

The SNPs pseudo-left satellites, the Scottish Socialist Party (SSP) and Tommy Sheridans Solidarity group have long played a decisive role in providing it with a left cover and lending a false anti-war, anti-imperialist character to the propaganda of the independence campaign. Now in the face of a war that has brough humanity close to nuclear catastrophe, their own anti-war pretence has dissolved, exposing its crude apologetics for imperialism.

Scottish Socialist Party leader Colin Fox at a pro-Scottish independence demonstration (Credit: Scottish Socialist Party)

The SSPs leader Colin Fox issued a statement February 24, which does not even mention NATOs role in the conflict. Nor does he find it necessary to utter the terms socialism, imperialism, working class or capitalism while he cites independent Scotland on multiple occasions.

Fox wrote that the SSP found it necessary to record our opposition to the developments that have taken place overnight in Ukraine. While opposing Russias invasion of Ukraine, the SSP havent found it necessary to record their opposition to NATOs relentless eastward expansion in Europe or to criticise the drumbeat of NATO provocations that drew Russia into this war.

Fox continued, It [Russias invasion of Ukraine] is an affront to the idea that nations like Ukraine are entitled to determine their own future. When Fox later calls for a negotiated way forward, it was clear that these negotiations would take for granted Ukraines NATO membership and the deployment of US military personnel along the Russian border.

Fox then stated, We do not support the behaviour of the Russian state. We support the rights of Ukrainian people to self-determination, as indeed we do for those in Scotland and elsewhere.

Foxs assertion that the conflict is at heart about Ukraines right to self-determination omits the role of NATO. One of the reasons that socialists historically called for self-determination was to defend oppressed nations from predatory imperialism. Fox uses the term to justify NATOs use of Ukraine as a launch pad for conflict against Russia.

The Ukrainian Resistance Fox hails is comprised of far-right militias openly hailing the brutal Ukrainian fascist leader Stepan Bandera, and funded, trained and armed by NATO with billions of dollars of equipment.

Indicative of divisions within the SSP, it issued a 278-word statement March 6 which managed to combine support for Ukrainian sovereignty with respect for the national rights of all minorities including those in the Donbas and Luhansk regions up to and including the right to democratic, independent self-government

This was all to be achieved without outside interference whether that be from either the right-wing nationalist regime in Kyiv or the gangster capitalism of Vladimir Putin and his Russian oligarchs.

This advocacy of competing nationalisms supposedly living in harmony reads as a sick joke under conditions where the right-wing nationalist regime in Kyiv is waging war on both Russia and the separatists in the Donbas region, with the support of NATO, and the actual perspective for the Donbas, if it is not conquered by Kyiv, is not a form of independence within Ukraine but incorporation into Russia.

The promotion of nationalism and separatism in Ukraine and elsewhere, including the UK, has proved itself to be a means of dividing the working class to the benefit of imperialism, paving the road to war. It underscores the extraordinary farsightedness of Lenin and the Bolsheviks in proposing the formation of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republicsa revolutionary perspective grounded in internationalism that is anathema to the Saltire-waving nationalists of the SSP.

The SSP statement reeks of reformist ignorance, even describing NATO as a belligerent relic of the Cold War that fundamentally mishandled the opportunities the post-1989 settlement offered the world. The real opportunities they cite were for imperialism to seize advantage of the restoration of capitalism by the Stalinist bureaucracy to regain control of the vast resources of the former Soviet Union. For more than a decade now, US imperialism and its allies have prepared the basis for doing so through NATOs constant encroachment on Russias borders. The Ukraine war is not the product of mishandled opportunities, but of a conscious perspective of military conquest.

Tommy Sheridan speaking in 2015 in front of a banner calling for a vote for the Scottish National Party (WSWS Media)

Tommy Sheridan, leader of Solidarity, which has liquidated into Salmonds Alba, contrariwise, asserts that Ukraines self-determination will be upheld by Putins forces. Sheridan describes his blog as a platform for arguments for a mutually cooperative socialist world made up of independent and socialist nation states. Apart from his opening paragraph, Sheridan uses the word socialist once, and that is to limit the task of socialists to national coexistence, Socialists should always promote peace and friendly co-existence. That is our core value, he writes.

The fantasy of peaceful co-existence between Russia and US imperialism was the policy of the Soviet Union developed during the Cold War. It was a repackaging of Stalins socialism in one country policythe rejection of world socialist revolution by the Stalinist bureaucracy and the presentation to the working class of a supposed national road towards socialism. It isolated the Soviet Union, led to its eventual break up and the restoration of capitalism and laid the foundation for the crisis we face today.

Although Sheridan makes some correct points about the fascist presence in Ukraines Azov battalion and NATOs war drive in the region, he has no answer other than pacifist appeals that NATO withdraw from the region to ensure a peaceful situation. Entirely absent from Sheridans calculations is the independent action of the working class. Peace, he argues, can only be achieved by redrawing national boundaries so they are more favourable to Russia and socialists must pressure the imperialists into demilitarizing Ukraine and pulling out of the region.

Scottish nationalism has proved itself to be a political dead end, sowing divisions in the working class and subordinating Scottish workers to their own capitalist class, thereby preventing a genuine, i.e., socialist, political struggle against British and world imperialism.
On April 12, President of the Artsakh Republic Arayik Harutyunyan held a meeting in Askeran with responsible officials of the region, community heads and local residents, the Presidential Office stated.

April 12, 2022, 11:29 President Harutyunyan met in Askeran with responsible officials of the region

STEPANAKERT, APRIL 12, ARTSAKHPRESS: A range of issues related to the military-political situation in the republic, security-related as well as socio-economic problems were on the discussion agenda.

The Head of the State referred to the imperative of ensuring food security and employment in the current geopolitical conditions, emphasizing the need to make consistent efforts to intensify agricultural work, to efficiently use uncultivated lands and all possible economic resources in general.

President Harutyunyan listened to the concerns and opinions of the residents, gave instructions to the responsible officials on the tasks to be done.
As the United States, the UK and other NATO powers surge weapons into Ukraine, the NATO alliance is being transformed into a fighting force capable of directly waging wars with Russia and China.

Ukrainian tanks move down a street in Irpin, on the outskirts of Kyiv, Ukraine, Monday, April 11, 2022. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)

Using the war between Russia and Ukraine as a pretext, NATO has already mobilized its 40,000-strong rapid response force against Russia. But this is only the beginning of a far broader transformation of the alliance in preparation for what US military planners have called great-power conflict.

In an interview with the Telegraph, NATO General-Secretary Jens Stoltenberg said this transformation aims to move from tripwire deterrence to something which is more about deterrence by denial or defence. This is already in process. We have to ensure that we continue to be able, in a more dangerous world, to protect and defend all Nato allies.

Stoltenberg made clear that while the immediate pretext for the transformation of NATO is the war in Ukraine, China is as much a target as Russia.

We are finalizing the work on the new strategic concept that will be agreed at the Nato summit in JuneAnd there, I expect China to be an important part.

China, he claimed, is investing heavily in new modern nuclear capabilities, long-range missiles that can reach all Nato territoryIt is also of concern that we see that Russia and China are working more and more closely together.

Since 2014, Stoltenberg said, we have implemented the biggest reinforcement of Nato since the end of the Cold War.

A critical aspect of this transformation will be the absorption into NATO of a whole series of states near Russias borders.

On Monday, the Times of London reported that Finland and Sweden are poised to join NATO within a matter of months. The Times said membership for both countries was a a topic of conversation and multiple sessions during talks between the alliances foreign ministers last week attended by Sweden and Finland.

The Times reported that Finland is expected to apply in June, with Sweden to follow shortly.

Stoltenberg insisted that the very decision to welcome Finland to NATO can be made very quickly and then it is a formal process in the capitals or parliaments to ratify it.

Over the weekend, NATO held a series of war games in Lithuania, termed Rising Griffin. The exercise involved 1,000 troops and 200 vehicles.

Describing the exercise, the US Department of Defense wrote, NATOs enhanced Forward Presence (eFP) Battlegroup Lithuania joined up with a battalion from the US Armys 66th Armored Regiment for training manoeuvres in the Baltic states dense forests.

For Exercise Rising Griffin, troops performed a road march from their base in Rukla to the training grounds at Pabrade, showcasing their ability to communicate and move together.

To demonstrate Allies determination to defend Alliance territory, the US Army extended the deployment of the 3rd Battalion, 66th Armored Regiment after Russia invaded Ukraine. It was the fourth battalion to be sent to Lithuania since 2019, when the Lithuanian government requested the deployment of a cavalry squadron.

Since 2016, NATO has stationed enhanced forward presence battlegroups stationed in, Poland, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, each of which are NATO member states near Russias borders.

The Guardian noted that The war in Ukraine has led the alliance to further bolster its presence in the region, with multinational battalions to be dispatched to Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary and Slovakia. The military presence in Lithuania has been increased from approximately 1,200 to roughly 1,600 soldiers and equipped with new hardware, such as the German armys light and mobile Ozelot anti-aircraft system.

In a visit to the Ukrainian capital of Kiev over the weekend, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson called the Ukrainian defense of Kiev the greatest feat of arms of the 21st century.

Meanwhile, the true extent of US and NATO involvement in the conflict is becoming clear. Georges Malbrunot, the senior international correspondent of Le Figaro, wrote on Twitter, Elite SAS special forces units have been present in Ukraine since the beginning of the war, as have the American Deltas, confides a French intelligence source.

Malbrunot said that he recently traveled to Ukraine alongside two foreign fighters. He told a French news program, I had the surprise, and so did they, to discover that to enter the Ukrainian army well, its the Americans who are in charge. He said that the American footprint was significant.

The massive buildup of NATO takes place as the war in Ukraine enters a new phase, and the NATO powers are seeking to rout Russian forces on the battlefield. Another battle is coming, the battle for Donbas,' Dmytro Kuleba, Ukraines foreign minister, said Sunday on NBCs Meet the Press.

Speaking at NATO headquarters last week, Kuleba said, The battle for Donbas will remind you, and I regret to say it, but this is true, the battle for Donbas will remind you of the Second World War. The battle will see large-scale operations, maneuvers, involvement of thousands of tanks, armored vehicles, planes, artillery This will not be a local operation, based on what we see in Russias preparations for it. Russia has its plan, we have ours. And the outcome will be decided on the battlefield.

The United States has transferred $2.5 billion of weapons to Ukraine since the start of the Biden administration. The United States is surging resources, weapons, military equipment, but also diplomatic resources to support the Ukrainians, Jake Sullivan, President Bidens national security adviser, said on CBSs Face the Nation' Sunday.
After the conviction of University of Kansas professor of chemical and petroleum engineering Feng Franklin Tao by a jury on April 7, the judge overseeing the trial declined to set a sentencing date and indicated she saw significant issues with the governments evidence.

Professor Feng "Franklin" Tao

Although the jury found Tao guilty on four out of eight charges of wire fraud and making false statements to the US government, his attorney Peter Zeidenberg said the verdict was so clearly against the weight of the evidence we are convinced it will not stand. US District Court for the District of Kansas Judge Julie Robinson has ordered a briefing on the governments evidence and whether a crime was ever committed.

Tao was indicted and arrested in 2019, two months after the US Department of Justice (DoJ) launched its infamous China Initiative under the direction of the Trump administration and then-Attorney General Jeff Sessions. While the stated aim of the program was to crack down on trade secret theft and economic espionage, the prosecutions brought during the anti-Chinese initiative have been described as both a mess and a fiasco.

According to an analysis of the governments 77 cases conducted by Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) last December, the top US science institute concluded that the climate of fear created by the prosecutions has already pushed some talented scientists to leave the United States and made it more difficult for others to enter or stay, endangering Americas ability to attract new talent in science and technology from China and around the world.

Prosecutors charged Tao with concealing his work with a Chinese university and his affiliation with a Chinese government-backed talent program. The DoJ also charged that Tao attempted to defraud the University of Kansas and the US government of grant money by failing to fill out conflict-of-interest forms while he was doing work for Fuzhou Universityin China.

However, Taos legal team maintains he never formally accepted the job offer at Fuzhou University, was never paid, and did not violate rules about disclosure that were in place at the time. Attorney Zeidenberg said that the agencies that were allegedly defrauded, were fully satisfied with the work Dr. Tao did on their grants, and we do not believe the conviction can possibly stand, as they received the benefit of their bargain.

Zeidenberg has also pointed out that Tao was so prolific in his work that the University of Kansas announced in April 2019 that he was one of four faculty members who were receiving an award in recognition of their scholarly or research contributions. His work with Fuzhou University was essentially moonlighting, the lawyer said.

Taos legal team has also said that his case is similar to that of Gang Chen, an MIT professor charged during the final days of the Trump White House. The charges against Chen were dropped by the DoJ when they were unable to meet the burden of proof because the Department of Energy said the information prosecutors claimed was illegally concealed was never requested in the first place.

During Taos trial, Viviane Schwartz, a program manager with the Department of Energy, testified that it was of no concern to her that the University of Kansas professor was setting up a lab in China and she did not care about his second job because she was not his employer. Furthermore, Zeidenberg asked how it could be that Tao was attempting to conceal his relationships in China when he was publishing research that described his work as affiliated with both Fuzhou University and the University of Kansas.

In the years prior to the trial, Tao was suspended from his role as associate professor at the university, was barred from entering the campus in Lawrence, Kansas and was forced to wear a tracking device around his ankle. If the conviction is not overturned, Tao faces decades in US federal prison and fines of up to $250,000 per offense for a total of $1 million dollars.

Tao was born in China and moved to the US in 2002. He received his PhD in physical chemistry from Princeton University, did his postdoctoral research in catalysis at University of California at Berkley and began working in August 2014 at the University of Kansas Center for Environmentally Beneficial Catalysis, which conducts research on sustainable technology to conserve natural resources and energy.

The political motivation behind the bogus prosecution of Tao is clear. Former Assistant US Attorney Tony Mattivi is running for the Republican nomination for states attorney general. In his campaign promotion, Mattivi identifies himself as a federal prosecutor handling terrorism cases and lists as part of his experience the prosecution of Tao just before he retired in late 2020 from the DoJ.

While Judge Robinson has requested further briefs to be filed in the case, she also repeatedly denied motions to dismiss the charges over the past three years since Tao was arrested. Additionally, it took the Biden administration over a year in office to terminate the reactionary China Initiative at the DoJ under Attorney General Merrick Garland. By that time, the Biden-Harris White House had moved on to the development of its an anti-Russian propaganda initiative in the lead-up to the military conflict with Moscow over Ukraine.
Sundays first round of the French presidential elections has led to a run-off between incumbent President Emmanuel Macron and neo-fascist candidate Marine Le Pen.

Current French President and presidential candidate for reelection Emmanuel Macron Sunday, April 10, 2022 in Paris and French far right presidential candidate Marine Le Pen speaks during the show "France in the Face of War", in Paris, Monday, March 14, 2022 [Credit: AP Photo/Thibault Camus, Ludovic Marin, pool via AP, File]

As in the 2002 and 2017 elections, Frances bankrupt political establishment has left voters with the choice between a reactionary president of the rich and the leader of Frances main neo-fascist party. Regardless of the outcome, the election will produce an extreme-right government dedicated to an escalation of attacks on the working class.

The Parti de legalite socialiste (PES), the French section of the International Committee of the Fourth International (ICFI), calls for an active boycott of the run-off. It proposes to workers and youth not to vote in the elections and to advocate a conscious political rejection of the poisoned choice between Macron and Le Pen. Campaigning among workers and youth for such a boycott is taking collective action to prepare the working class for the confrontation that will inevitably take place whichever candidate wins.

In the 2022 elections, a series of parties that dominated official politics for a half-century collapsed. The Gaullist Republicans (LR) party, the big business Socialist Party (PS) and the Stalinist French Communist Party (PCF) all received less than 5 percent of the vote. Le Pen got her votes by exploiting deep social anger and frustration, above all, with the PS and PCF. Her vote is concentrated among older voters and in small towns and rural areas that were once PS or PCF bastions but were devastated by these parties austerity measures.

Millions of people, looking for a left-wing alternative to both Macron and Le Pen, voted for Jean-Luc Melenchon of Unsubmissive France (LFI). His vote reflected a radicalization of youth and urban workers that is taking place after two years of the COVID-19 pandemic and amid the NATO war drive against Russia. Melenchon won the vote among people under 35. He carried the Paris metropolitan area, Marseille, Toulouse, Lille, Montpellier and a total of 10 of Frances 16 largest cities, primarily by winning in working class neighborhoods.

Melenchon won 22 percent of the vote, only 1 percentage point less than Le Pen. Melenchon did not take this as a mandate to fight, however, but demanded that his voters support Macron and announced that he will retire from politics before the next election. Sunday night, while admitting that France faces a political state of emergency, he lamely called for a Macron vote, repeatedly chanting: You must not give any votes to Mrs. Le Pen!

The Parti de legalite socialiste (PES) rejects with contempt the lie that a vote for Macron is a weapon against the danger of fascism or that Melenchon voters must vote for Macron to oppose Le Pen. Such arguments totally disregard the lessons of the 2017 elections.

In 2017, facing the same situation of a runoff between Macron and Le Pen, Melenchon made no call to vote, ambiguously saying his voters would know what to dothus aligning himself with media propaganda that workers had to vote Macron as a lesser evil than Le Pen. The PES, on the other hand, called for an active boycott, warning that Macron is not a lesser evil than Le Pen. Its position was vindicated.

Macron has pursued a violently reactionary policy. He imposed decrees to accelerate mass sackings and slash rail workers wages, provoking protests in 2018-19 organized via social media: the yellow vests. He responded by hailing Frances Nazi collaborationist dictator, Philippe Petain, as a great soldier and unleashing riot police on the yellow vests. Over 10,000 were arrested and 4,400 wounded.

As Macrons poll ratings plummeted, he relied ever more directly on far-right forces. He did nothing as fascistic officers around retired General Pierre de Villiers demanded harsher repression of the yellow vests and threatened a coup to re-establish authority. His interior minister, Gerald Darmanin, a sympathizer of the far-right Action Francaise, sponsored a law imposing discriminatory obligations on Muslim associations. Darmanin even publicly attacked Le Pen as soft on Islam.

On the global COVID-19 pandemic, Macron championed the European Union policy of living with the virus. Initially forced by a wave of strikes to impose a strict lockdown recommended by scientists, he refused to set up necessary contact-and-trace programs to halt a resurgence of the virus after the lockdown ended. As a result, the virus returned, claiming 1.8 million lives in Europe and 142,000 in Franceunlike in China, where it was largely kept in check after the lockdown and life returned to normal. Today, Macron is eliminating all measures to limit contagion.

This year, Macron aligned France with the reckless US-NATO escalation of a conflict with Russia after Russian President Vladimir Putins reactionary invasion of Ukraine. US President Biden has stated the Pentagon is considering a figure of 45 to 60 million deaths in wars to decide who will lead a new world order. Yet Macron has aligned himself with the pyromaniac in Washington, arming far-right militias in Ukraine and imposing sanctions on trade in vital commodities with Russia.

Melenchons LFI and the various parties of the middle class worked constantly to block left-wing opposition to Macron. They called no protests by their voters in defense of the yellow vests, supported unpopular anti-vaccine protests led by the far right and aligned with the US-NATO war drive against Russia. By strangling left-wing opposition to Macron, they allowed the far right to posture as Macrons leading opponent.

This paved the way for Le Pen to fraudulently claim to be a defender of social welfare policies. Her previous ties to Russian officials make her seem less militarily reckless against Russia than Macron. The Macron governments constant resort to police violence and its attacks on Muslims democratic rights also made her praise of the police and her anti-immigrant policies seem mainstream.

Le Pen is, however, a ruthless neo-fascist whose policy, if she is elected, will prove no less bloody than Macron. Her election would not lead to a rebirth of France but drag it through the mud.

The policies of Frances next president will be shaped, first and foremost, by the disintegration of the world capitalist system. Amid the mass deaths and economic devastation of the global pandemic, the imperialist war drive is setting into motion an international attack on the working class.

Polls show the 76 percent of French people are worried about nuclear war. Concern is mounting about surging prices and shortages at the gas pump and in supermarkets for key products like cooking oil, toilet paper and eggs.

The great task facing workers and youth is to prepare politically for the confrontation that is brewing between the next president and the working class. As it campaigns for an active boycott, the PES calls on workers and youth to form action committees as a first step in organizing and coordinating struggles and unifying workers with other organizations of struggle created by workers elsewhere in France and internationally.

In such a struggle, revolutionary leadership is essential. The PES bases itself on the unbroken continuity of the struggle of the International Committee of the Fourth International (ICFI) for Trotskyism and against social democracy, Stalinism and all forms of petty-bourgeois opportunism.

The vote for Melenchon demonstrates, in the distorted form of the election, that the broad mass of the working class is moving to the left. Along with workers throughout the world, French workers are looking for a way to fight against inequality, war, the rise of the far right and the criminal response of the ruling class to the pandemic. Melenchons decision to slither away rather than fight, however, demonstrates that this sentiment can only be realized politically in the conscious fight for international socialism.

The PES urges workers and youth who agree with this program to contact us, fight for an active boycott against Macron and Le Pen and help build the PES as the mass party of the working class in France.
Weather Alert

...The Flood Warning is cancelled for the following rivers in Indiana... White River at Elliston. ...The Flood Warning continues for the following rivers in Indiana... Illinois... Wabash River at Lafayette down to Riverton. White River at Edwardsport. .Recent rainfall is leading to minor flooding in Indiana along most of the Wabash River and the White River at Edwardsport. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Motorists should not attempt to drive around barricades or drive cars through flooded areas. Additional information is available at www.weather.gov/ind. This statement will be updated within the next 12 to 24 hours. && ...FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL LATE FRIDAY MORNING... * WHAT...Minor flooding is occurring and minor flooding is forecast. * WHERE...Wabash River at Montezuma. * WHEN...Until late Friday morning. * IMPACTS...At 20.0 feet, Park in southern Montezuma begins to flood. Higher bottomlands begin to flood. Water backs up most local tributaries. River water is at the top of some private levees. Lowest county roads begin to flood. Parke CR 75 W begins to flood. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS... - At 8:45 PM EDT Friday the stage was 15.9 feet. - Recent Activity...The maximum river stage in the 24 hours ending at 8:45 PM EDT Friday was 15.9 feet. - Forecast...The river is expected to rise to a crest of 19.9 feet early Sunday afternoon. It will then fall below flood stage late Thursday evening. - Flood stage is 14.0 feet. - http://www.weather.gov/safety/flood &&
TradeTech such as artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain and distributed ledger technology (DLT) and the internet of things (IoT) all offer the potential to facilitate trade by improving efficiency, reducing costs and providing greater resilience in supply chains, the publication notes. But international policy coordination is required, in particular the development of explicit rules through trade agreements to provide legal certainty on a variety of emerging issues related to the digital field.

The publication we're launching today builds on extensive consultations with private sector experts and is a fantastic example of public-private collaboration, WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala said at the launch of the report. It identifies the five key building blocks of trade digitalization and discusses how trade agreements could be leveraged to further advance them.

Advanced technologies have the potential to make trade more efficient and more inclusive, but for this to happen policy action needs to keep pace with technological developments, the Director-General added. We hope that this publication will help advance thinking and catalyse action to unleash the potential of TradeTech to the benefit of everyone.

New technologies have always been important in driving trade, noted Brge Brende, President of the World Economic Forum (WEF). Technologies are available when it comes to bringing data across borders, when it comes to e-signatures, and when it comes also to documents, but what we see in this report is that the legal frameworks are not there.

Tech can be part of the solution and trade can really be an enabler in this sense, he added. We need the trade deals that can let tech play that constructive role.

The WTO-WEF report notes that since 2010, regional trade agreements have increasingly integrated e-commerce and digital trade provisions. Recent agreements, such as the United StatesMexicoCanada Agreement, cover a wider range of e-commerce issues than previously, including a chapter on e-commerce and digital trade. Governments have also introduced digital-only trade agreements, such as the SingaporeAustralia Digital Economy Agreement (SADEA) and the Digital Economy Partnership Agreement (DEPA) between Chile, New Zealand and Singapore, which address a wide range of digital trade issues.

In addition, more than 85 WTO members accounting for more than 90 per cent of global trade are participating in the ongoing Joint Initiative on E-commerce, which seeks to negotiate new rules on trade and electronic commerce.

Despite these ongoing efforts, there remain many unseized opportunities and unexplored policies, according to the report. Unseized opportunities remain in connectivity, data sharing and e-signatures. Other issues such as electronic transferable records, automated contracts, digital tokens, interoperability of data models, and digital identity of legal and physical persons and of physical and digital goods are either not discussed in trade agreements or only addressed in a few recent agreements.

These new policy frontiers can help bring up trade to a new speed, and work for all, the report adds.

Other challenges include bridging the digital divide and developing communications infrastructure and wireless technologies to enable continuous connectivity for advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence, blockchain, distributed ledger technology and the internet of things.

The publication concludes that one reason the trade policy world is largely unprepared for TradeTech is that technologies give rise to policy issues that span across different ministries and groups of regulatory authorities and stakeholders that do not intersect with trade traditionally (e.g. antitrust, data governance, cybersecurity, privacy, law enforcement, platform liabilities, digital taxation).

To address this, the trade and technology communities need to implement a more agile and flexible approach to TradeTech policy that incorporates the principles of forward-looking, openness, proportionality, and fairness, while also adopting nuanced rules that carefully take into account risks and address the challenges faced. The publication also urges international regulatory cooperation to ensure policy coherence and avoid fragmentation as well as strengthening public-private partnerships.

The report The promise of TradeTech: Policy approaches to harness trade digitalization can be accessed here. The webcast of the launch event is available here.
For copyright information, check with the distributor of this item, St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
Due to the recent war unleashed by Azerbaijan in 2020,the Martirosyan family was displaced from the Aknaghbyur community of Artsakhs Askeran region.

April 12, 2022, 11:55 Hoping to find the lost..The story of a family

STEPANAKERT, APRIL 12, ARTSAKHPRESS: The family has settled in Stepanakert Nursing Home.

"We have been warmly received in this center. My husband and I are retired. In Aknaghbyur we were engaged in agriculture and cattle-breeding.

My husband worked as a driver in the village. We were happy in our world. In Stepanakert, even though he is retired and health problems, he started working. My husband and I are in the center of constant attention of our children and grandchildren, our fellow villagers and relatives," 72-year-old Marietta Martirosyan told Artsakhpress.

Marietta Martirosyan said that the people of Artsakh are strong and resilient. She says that they can confront any difficulties, only need peace in order to create in the homeland.
Armenias Minister of Economy Vahan Kerobyan and his deputy Narek Teryan are in Russia since April 10 on a three-day visit. During the visit the Armenian delegation was hosted by Russias Deputy Minister of Economic Development Dmitry Volvach, the Armenian ministry said in a news release.

April 12, 2022, 15:35 Armenia, Russia agree to create joint portfolio of investment programs

STEPANAKERT, APRIL 12, ARTSAKHPRESS-ARMENPRESS: Thanking for the welcome, Minister of Economy Vahan Kerobyan said Armenia is interested in deepening and expanding the cooperation with Russia in industry, trade and mutual investments, taking into account the targeted and successful work aimed at improving the bilateral business environment.

Depending on the location and targeted direction, foreign investors could register a company and conduct an effective activity in Armenia in the fields of energy, light and heavy industry, pharmaceutics, telecommunication, jewelry or diamond production, logistics and transport, as well as IT, the minister said.

The Russian deputy minister of economic development said the trade turnover between Armenia and Russia in 2021 increased by almost 13% and has reached 2,6 billion dollars, whereas the mutual trade only in January 2022 has increased by 50% compared to the same period of the previous year.

These are high figures, and today, in new conditions, we continue the mutual cooperation for keeping our partnership rates. There is a big potential for that. We dont want to stop on the existing achievements and are interested in searching for new joint projects and developing the investment potential, Dmitry Volvach said.

He also said that there are more than 40 large Russian companies operating in Armenia. Russia has invested around 2 billion dollars in the real sector of Armenias economy.

For the development of commercial partnership, the Russian side made effective proposals for the development of transport, energy, social infrastructure, implementation of prospective investment programs in Armenia.

The inter-regional cooperation was also touched upon during the meeting. Today Armenia maintains relations with more than 70 regions of Russia. Moreover, it is planned to organize works to select inter-regional cooperation projects and assist their implementation.

The activities being implemented within the Eurasian Economic Union were also discussed. At the moment the focus is on the macro-economic situation and the sustainable development of the economies of the Unions member states.
Weather Alert

...Elevated fire weather conditions today... A dry airmass will be in place today with afternoon humidity values falling to around 20 to 25 percent in western Wisconsin and 25 to 30 percent in southeast Minnesota. Southeasterly winds will start out light this morning but rise by mid-afternoon, especially over southeast Minnesota where speeds increase to 10 to 15 mph, gusting to upwards of 25 mph. East of the Mississippi River, winds will slowly increase to 5 to 10 mph with occasional gusts to 15 mph. These conditions will increase the risk of fires being hard to control. Care should be heeded if conducting any burns or taking part in activities that may start a fire. Please check with local officials for any burn bans.
On April 12, the consecration and hanging ceremony of a new icon with the image of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the central altar took place in Holy Mother of God Cathedral in Stepanakert by Primate of the Artsakh Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church Bishop Vrtanes Abrahamyan.

April 12, 2022, 15:15 The consecration ceremony of the central altar icon took place in Holy Mother of God Cathedral in Stepanakert

STEPANAKERT, APRIL 12, ARTSAKHPRESS: The author of the initiative is the Minister of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Artsakh Karen Sargsyan.

In an interview with "Artsakhpress", Primate of the Artsakh Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church Bishop Vrtanes Abrahamyan said that, according to the accepted order, the holy tables of the Armenian Apostolic Church should be decorated with the image of the Mother of Jesus.

"Of course, we have traditional holy tables, but, according to the perceived order, the holy table must be decorated with a picture of the Virgin Mary, embracing baby Jesus. There are such paintings in all the famous museums of the world, but many are not anointed.

Let the initiative of the Minister of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Artsakh Karen Sargsyan be an educational step for all those who seek the. And let the Mother of God, who is very dear to Armenians, really keep under her divine protection and protect the Armenian nation, Artsakh and its residents, "said Bishop Vrtanes Abrahamyan.

After the consecration of the icon, a joint prayer was said in the Mother Cathedral with the participation of the believers.
After relentless Republican complaints about Hunter Bidens international business work while his father was vice president, critics find it particularly rich that the Saudis invested a massive $2 billion in a Jared Kushner fund shortly after he left his senior adviser role in a Trump administration remarkably accommodating to the Saudis.

The money dwarfs any income Hunter Biden is known to have earned while on a Ukrainian energy companys board while his father was Barack Obamas vice president. And Hunter Biden couldnt curry favor with any foreign entities with a powerful White House position like the one Kushner held, when Donald Trumps son-in-law was supposed to be representing the American public and not his own interests.

Its just a complete free-for-all, Walter Shaub, director of the U.S. Office of Government Ethics in the Obama and Trump administrations, told Bloomberg. The real concern here is that the public has no way of knowing exactly what favors someone like Kushner may have done for the Saudis.

Kushner, a neophyte investment fund manager who was a real estate developer in his familys business before Trump elevated him and wife Ivanka Trump to senior White House roles, reaped the massive reward even though a supervisory panel of the Saudi Arabian sovereign fund had serious reservations about Kushners new private equity firm, The New York Times reported.

The panel was concerned about inexperienced management of the brand new fund and found several aspects of the business unsatisfactory, according to documents obtained by the Times.

But the panels reservations were overruled by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, a friend of Kushners and the recipient of significant Trump administration benefits.

This was the same man whom Trump  reportedly at Kushners prompting  staunchly defended after American intelligence said he was responsible for the horrific 2018 murder and dismemberment of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi. Trump also approved a highly controversial multibillion-dollar arms deal to the country while the Saudis were dropping bombs on Yemeni civilians.

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Attorney Daniel Goldman tweeted Monday: I dont want to hear another word about Hunter Biden. But I would like to hear about congressional investigations related to this investment by the Saudis, he added.

Goldman was the lead counsel in the House impeachment inquiry against Trump after the then-president held up military aid to Ukraine while pressing President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to do us a favor and investigate Hunter Bidens work in his country.

I dont want to hear another word about Hunter Biden.



But I would like to hear about congressional investigations related to this investment. https://t.co/PXWx5ruH0z  Daniel Goldman (@danielsgoldman) April 11, 2022

Economist Robert Reich, who was labor secretary in the Clinton administration, sniped: After leaving the White House, Jared Kushner cashes in on being foreign policy adviser to his father-in-law with a $2 billion investment from a fund led by the Saudi crown prince. Who wants to talk more about Hunter Bidens lap top?

After leaving the White House, Jared Kushner cashes in on being "foreign policy adviser" to his father-in-law with a $2 billion investment from a fund led by the Saudi crown prince.



Who wants to talk more about Hunter Bidens lap top?  Robert Reich (@RBReich) April 11, 2022

There was plenty more.

Hunter Bidens laptop?



We need to see Jared Kushners laptop.  The USA Singers (@TheUSASingers) April 11, 2022

Just to be clear: Jared Kushner worked at the White House. Hunter Biden has never done so. That alone makes Kushner's deal with Saudi Arabia far, far worse and way more unethical than anything Hunter Biden may have done.  The Rude Pundit (@rudepundit) April 11, 2022

Six months after leaving the White House, Jared Kushner secured a $2 billion investment from a fund led by the Saudi crown prince.



$2 billion. And Kushner worked in the Trump regime on determining US foreign policy. But lets talk more about Hunter Bidens lap top   Amy Siskind  (@Amy_Siskind) April 11, 2022

Seriously, do right-wingers who were obsessed with Hunter Bidens corruption not care about the Saudis giving Jared Kushner $2 billion? Their own experts say he didnt deserve it at all. Its the most obvious case of corruption. Do conservatives have any principles left at all?  Cenk Uygur (@cenkuygur) April 11, 2022

Hunter Biden didnt take $2 billion from a Saudi prince after serving in the White House.



Jared Kushner did.  Harry Sisson (@harryjsisson) April 11, 2022

Saudi Prince Bonesaw buys Kushner and Mnuchin for $3B in advance of Trumps 2024 race  any wonder why Saudi Arabia refused Bidens request to help as the U.S. and allies moved to cut Putins oil profits? https://t.co/lAA9qrqz3b  Moe Davis  Triple Vaxxed Vet  Unaffiliated Voter (@ColMorrisDavis) April 11, 2022

pro tip: if you thought it was totally cool for Jared Kushner to pocket two billion Bone Saw Arabian dollars, kindly sit the fuck down and shut the fuck up about whatever you imagine Hunter Biden to have done  Jeff Tiedrich (@itsJeffTiedrich) April 11, 2022

This article originally appeared on HuffPost and has been updated.

Related...
A Virginia jury of three women and four men will hear Johnny Depps long-awaited libel lawsuit against his ex-wife Amber Heard, when opening arguments begin in the trial Tuesday.

Depp and Heards high-profile legal battle finally made its way to court Monday three years after the Pirates of the Caribbean star sued his actress ex-wife for defamation over an op-ed she published in the Washington Post about her experiences with domestic violence.

Since filing for divorce in 2016, Depp and Heards relationship has been the subject of intense media and public scrutiny, as well as several rounds of legal battles. More than 100 witnesses could be called to the stand, and both Depp and Heard are scheduled to testify at the televised trial, held in Fairfax County, Virginia.

How did this all get started, and what is the history behind the Depp-Heard case? Read on for everything you need to know.

Whats the Status of the Trial?

The 11 jurors have been selected. Judge Penney Azcarate will preside over the trial at the Fairfax County District Court, with opening arguments beginning tomorrow.

Why Did Depp and Heard Divorce?

The former couple met in 2009 while filming The Rum Diary and wed in 2015. In May of 2016, the police were called to their home to investigate a domestic dispute, but nothing came of it. Shortly after, Heard filed for divorce, citing irreconcilable differences. A Los Angeles court also granted her request for a restraining order in account of Depps allegedly violent behavior, which included screaming, grabbing, hitting and throwing a cell phone at Heard during a fight. He denied these accusations.

During the entirety of our relationship, Johnny has been verbally and physically abusive to me, she wrote in a 2016 filing. I live in fear that Johnny will return to (our house) unannounced to terrorise me, physically and emotionally. Depps lawyers countered that Heard was attempting to secure a premature financial resolution by alleging abuse.

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After they reached a reported $7 million settlement in August 2016, Heard dropped the restraining order. Our relationship was intensely passionate and at times volatile, but always bound by love, they said in a joint statement. Neither party has made false accusations for financial gain. There was never any intent of physical or emotional harm.

Their divorce was finalized in early 2017.

Why Is Depp Suing Heard?

In December 2018, Heard authored an op-ed for the Washington Post titled, I spoke up against sexual violence  and faced our cultures wrath. That has to change. The article, which does not mention Depp by name, details what happened to her two years prior, when she became a public figure representing domestic abuse.

Four days later, Disney fired him from the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise.

Depp responded by filing a $50 million defamation lawsuit in March 2019, alleging that the article further damaged his career and reputation. The following year, after trying several times to get the case thrown out, Heard filed a $100 million countersuit.

How Is This Different From the London Trial?

In 2020, Depp sued The Sun for libel after the British tabloid called him a wife beater and published 14 claims of domestic violence that he had allegedly committed against Heard. The case ended in The Suns favor after a judge declared that the article was substantially true, finding that 12 of the 14 incidents had in fact taken place.

Heard was not a party in the lawsuit, but she did testify during the 16-day trial. Days after the verdict, Depp was dropped from the Fantastic Beasts franchise and replaced by Mads Mikkelsen.

Depp later attempted to appeal the ruling and was refused by a London judge in March 2021.

Who Will Be Testifying at the Depp-Heard Trial?

Along with Depp and Heard, the court will hear from as many as 100 witnesses. Among those who might testify are James Franco, who reportedly asked about bruises on Heards face after an alleged altercation with Depp; Paul Bettany, who exchanged texts with Depp about Heard; Elon Musk, Heards ex-boyfriend with whom she texted about Depp; and representatives from Disney, Warner Bros., LAPD and the ACLU. Potential exhibits include correspondences with Jack White, J.K. Rowling, Aquaman star Jason Momoa and director James Wan, original Justice League director Zack Snyder and CAAs Bryan Lourd.

Why Is the Trial in Virginia?

Depps attorneys filed the case in Virginia because that is the location of the Washington Posts printing presses and online servers. However, the Post is not a party in the lawsuit. Heards lawyers asked for the trial to be held in Los Angeles, where the couple used to share a home.

How Long Is the Trial Expected to Last?

The trial is expected to last at least a few weeks, with most analysts estimating that it will take closer to a month and a half.
In a recent press conference and op-ed, Mary Lou Marzian withdrew from the Democratic primary for the newly-drawn 41st House District. She lashed out at the Republican majority, claiming the GOP men drew districts that specifically target female Democrats.

You are reading one perspective on this issue.

For The Opposing View, read "Why women legislators suffer most from redistricting but must continue the battle"

Its disingenuous for Louisvilles Democratic women to continue this narrative. In the absence of actual facts, Marzians comments went ad hominem. She labeled the redistricting a sadistic and misogynist game of pitting Democratic women against each other and an ultra-extreme, right-wing (attack) on every female in the House and every female in this commonwealth. So, the key question is: Did the GOP men deliberately draw districts that target the Democratic women of Jefferson County?

Obviously, its not possible for anyone to draw a political districting map that eliminates women. Women on both sides of the aisle are ready to run for these offices. Im one of them.

Background: Judge denies motion to halt Kentucky redistricting. Here's what it means for the election.

Also, the facts of the 2022 House races simply dont support the argument. Lisa Willner, Nima Kulkarni, Tina Bojanowski and Keturah Herron will retake their seats with no opposition. Beverly Chester-Burton will take Joni Jenkinss seat. Pamela Stevenson will likely defeat her lone Democrat challenger. Whether the man or the woman candidate, an unopposed Democrat will take Marzians old 34th seat. If previous cycles predict correctly, a Democrat will take Raymonds old 31st seat (50/50 chance its a woman), and Raymond herself has a strong chance to win the new 41st.

If the men in Frankfort were trying to silence Louisvilles vocal Democratic women, they did a really lousy job of it.

Marzian and her colleagues argue that not only did the GOP men target them, but also they are afraid of vocal Democratic women in the house. When the maps were originally released, she asked, What are they afraid of? To the press, she said she was a voice that the Republicans wanted to get rid of because they were afraid of truth to power. This cannot be true, either. I do not believe anyone in Frankfort is afraid of Marzian or her colleagues because their arguments and even votes do not affect the outcome of any of the majoritys policies.

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Its true that I sharply disagree with both Marzian and Raymond on what seem to be their primary platforms. Tax and spend. Let women do whatever they want to their unborn children. Advance pet causes without regard to public will. However, I believe they genuinely care about the children in our schools, the hungry on our streets, the neighbors shopping with SNAP benefits. None of that matters in Frankfort, though. Because Louisvilles Democratic women camp on such widely opposed platforms the majority of the time, lawmakers ignore them on almost everything else, too.

More: Critics say Kentucky House GOP's redistricting plan targets women, protects incumbents

Mary Lou Marzian and Josie Raymond have been quite vocal this General Assembly session, grandstanding on platforms with no traction in Frankfort time and time again. Marzian had the opportunity to leave Frankfort with grace, and Raymond had the opportunity to build relationships across the aisle that get bills heard in committee and then voted on the floor, like Democrats Patti Minter and David Yates have. Instead, what Louisville got was another baseless lashing-out that further shuts the doors to any chance for progress for our urban districts.

Sara-Elizabeth Cottrell is an educator and businesswoman in the Highlands. She is a Republican candidate for the 41st House District, in a field that includes two other Republicans in the primary, and Democratic Representative Josie Raymond.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Mary Lou Marzian is wrong GOP did not target female Democrats: Opinion
Matrix stars old and new are joining Julia Garner in Kitty Greens social thriller The Royal Hotel.

Hugo Weaving, who appeared in the first Matrix trilogy, together with rising name Jessica Henwick, recently seen in Matrix Resurrections (and the upcoming Knives Out 2) have been cast in the Australia-set film, coming from See-Saw Films, which was behind Jane Campions recent awards darling The Power of the Dog. The film reunites two-time Emmy winner Garner (Inventing Anna, Ozark) with Green, the two having worked together on the directors breakout 2019 hit The Assistant. Green co-wrote the script with Oscar Redding (Van Diemens Land).

More from The Hollywood Reporter

HanWay Films has come on board to handle international sales and distribution in partnership with Cross City Films, See-Saws in-house sales arm, and will be launching sales this week  ahead of the Marche in Cannes  with an online filmmaker presentation. UTA Independent Film Group and Cross City Films are co-repping the U.S. sale.

Inspired by true events, The Royal Hotel follows Hanna (Garner) and Liv (Henwick), two best friends backpacking in Australia. After they run out of money, Liv, looking for an adventure, convinces Hanna to take a temporary live-in job behind the bar of a pub called The Royal Hotel in a remote Outback mining town. Bar owner Billy (Weaving) and a host of locals give the girls a riotous introduction to Down Under drinking culture, but things turn nasty when their jokes and behavior cross the line. Soon Hanna and Liv find themselves trapped in an unnerving situation that grows rapidly out of their control. The film will begin shooting in Australia this summer.

Kitty has a truly distinctive cinematic voice, and were thrilled to be collaborating with her on this gripping roller coaster of a journey into the heart of the Australian outback, said See-Saws Emile Sherman and Iain Canning, who produce alongside Animal Kingdom and The King producer Liz Watts, See-Saws head of film and television in Australia, and Scarlett Pictures Kath Shelper. See-Saw Films COO Simon Gillis will executive produce.

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Like we saw with The Assistant, The Royal Hotel will get under the skin of audiences, bringing a sense of adrenaline and edge-of-seat compulsion to watch, said Green. We are delighted to be adding the incredible Jessica Henwick and Hugo Weaving to our cast alongside the brilliant Julia Garner.

HanWay Films managing director Gabrielle Stewart added: We are hugely excited to work with See-Saw Films on The Royal Hotel. Following in the thematic footsteps of The Assistant, this time Kitty Green gets to crank up the tension with a chilling, entertaining, yet all-too-recognizable tale of young women confronting the toxic masculine environment that threatens their trip of a lifetime. A universal story that is horribly recognizable.

Henwick is represented by CAA, imPRint and Jackoway Austen. Weaving is represented by Ann Churchill-Brown and Jaslyn Mairs at Shanahan Management, and Garner is represented by Anonymous Content and UTA. Green is also represented by UTA.

Best of The Hollywood Reporter

Click here to read the full article.
The intent of the program is to support both the chile farmers and chile processors in their effort to incentivize hiring and retention of the seasonal workforce.

LAS CRUCES  As part of the fiscal year 2023 state budget signed by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham in March, the New Mexico Department of Agriculture received $1,000,000 in appropriations to continue the Chile Labor Incentive Program, which was created by the governor in August 2021 to assist chile farmers and processors. This program is available to Luna County farmers who qualify.

The program supports chile farmers and processors by supplementing the wages of workers to incentivize hiring and retention of the seasonal workforce necessary to harvest and process New Mexico chile crops.

The deadline for all applications is May 1, 2025, and funds will be disbursed on a first-come-first-serve basis until the allocated funds have been fully utilized.

By having the Chile Labor Incentive Program funding available, we will be able to continue assisting the chile industry by distributing the labor-wage supplemental funding as needed in order to ensure the crop is harvested and processed, said New Mexico Agriculture Secretary Jeff Witte.

Approximately $2.8 million in support was successfully delivered to New Mexico chile growers and harvesters after Gov. Lujan Grisham created the Chile Labor Incentive Program in August 2021 in response to labor shortages reported by the industry.

The Chile Labor Incentive Program provided much needed relief to members of our industry and their ability to harvest and process chile during the 2021 season, said Travis Day, New Mexico Chile Association Executive Director. We are thankful to see the program continue providing further relief for our industry, while we work toward long-term solutions to address labor shortage issues.

Funding application information is available on the New Mexico Department of Agriculture website.

This article originally appeared on Deming Headlight: New Mexico Chile Labor Incentive Program funding is available
By Lizbeth Diaz and Ted Hesson

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) -Mexican truck drivers blockaded bridges at the U.S. border for a second day on Tuesday to protest an order by the Texas governor meant to increase safety inspections that has snarled traffic and led business groups to warn of supply chain disruptions.

Mexico's government said in a statement it "rejects" the inspections imposed by Texas, estimating that two-thirds of normal trade was being held up and costing "significant revenue" for both U.S. and Mexican businesses.

The slowdowns began after Abbott, a Republican, ordered officials last week to conduct vehicle safety inspections at entry ports to uncover smuggling of people and contraband.

"Yesterday it took me 17 hours to cross into the United States and return," said Raymundo Galicia, a Mexican driver protesting at the Santa Teresa bridge connecting San Jeronimo, Chihuahua, to Santa Teresa, New Mexico.

The bridge is the third in the bustling Ciudad Juarez-El Paso area to be blockaded by drivers who have seen their pay plummet since lengthy wait times began last week.

Traffic at a fourth bridge connecting Reynosa to Pharr, Texas, was also halted on Tuesday by drivers who parked their trucks and began barbecuing on the Mexican side of the port of entry, according to photos sent to Reuters.

"I get paid the same whether it takes me an hour or ten hours to cross, so this is affecting us a lot," Galicia said, noting he and his co-workers would target more bridges if delays continued.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) said in a statement the long waits were due to "additional and unnecessary inspections" ordered by Abbott and were causing "critical impacts to an already-strained supply chain."

The new measures have infuriated industry groups, which have warned of shortages of perishable products over the Easter holiday weekend.

"This plan is ... exacerbating our already disrupted supply chain, and will cripple an economy that relies so heavily on cross-border trade," U.S. Representative Veronica Escobar, a Democrat whose district includes most of El Paso, tweeted on Tuesday.

Mexico's National Chamber of Freight Transportation estimated the delays at the Pharr bridge alone caused economic losses of $8 million per day and called on Abbott to withdraw the order to prevent a "collapse in international cross-border trade."

(Reporting by Lizbeth Diaz in Mexico City and Ted Hesson in Washington, additional reporting by Laura Gottesdiener in Monterrey, MexicoEditing by Alistair Bell and Aurora Ellis)
Reproductive rights

The Washington Post

On April 7, Lizelle Herrera of Texas was arrested and charged with murder after police claimed she intentionally and knowingly caused the death of an individual by self-induced abortion, according to NBC News. Its still unclear as to whether Herrera had the procedure or if she helped someone obtain an abortion, the outlet noted.

Texas has been at the center of the abortion rights controversy over the last year given the states stringent 6-week abortion ban. The policy, which is commonly referred to as Senate Bill 8, prohibits pregnant women from undergoing an abortion as early as six weeks into pregnancy. The law also allows for private citizens to sue an abortion facility and even healthcare officials who attempt to perform the procedure. Texans in violation of Senate Bill 8 could face hefty fines of up to $10,000.

RELATED CONTENT: Abortion Pills Can Be Prescribed And Sent Through The Mail Thanks To The FDA

On April 10, District Attorney Gocha Allen Ramirez said that he would be filing a motion to dismiss the charges against Herrera.

In reviewing applicable Texas law, it is clear that Ms. Herrera cannot and should not be prosecuted for the allegation against her, Ramirez said in a statement.

Prosecutorial discretion rests with the District Attorneys office, and in the State of Texas, a prosecutors oath is to do justice. Following that oath, the only correct outcome to this matter is to immediately dismiss the indictment against Ms. Herrera, he added.

Police arrested and detained Herrera, 26, on April 8, in Starr County, near the Mexico border, according to authorities. She was later released on $500,000 bail the following day.

MADAMENOIRE previously reported that pro-abortion activists warned of the risks of tightening up on abortions and alternative methods like the abortion pill, which skyrocketed after Senate Bill 8 was enacted. Requests for abortion pills jumped by nearly 1,200 percent after the legislation was passed, with an average of 37.1 daily requests.

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Women living in states with strict abortion laws are now turning to the abortion pill as an alternative but soon, the loophole could be closed. Back in December, Texas passed a tough law called SB 4, which would penalize medical facilities that prescribe abortion pills by mail or telehealth. Culprits could face up to $10,000 in fines or possible jail time. The strict law also narrows the legal window for medication abortion to the first seven weeks of pregnancy, according to KHN.

Abortion pills, which were approved by the FDA in 2000, require a pregnant individual to take two pills 48 hours apart. The medication disrupts the hormones, effectively terminating the pregnancy. The procedure can be done up to 10 weeks into a pregnancy and women often prefer the pill because it can be taken from the comfort of home. Some women living in abortion-restricted states were obtaining the pill and traveling to legal states to undergo the procedure, but Republican lawmakers are working fast to stop this.

RELATED CONTENT: The Battle Against Roe v. Wade Continues Nearly 50 Years After Its Passing
Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer attends a news conference after talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow, Russia April 11, 2022. Maxim Shemetov/Reuters

Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer who met with Putin Monday said he's not "particularly optimistic" after their talk.

Nehammer was the first European leader to meet with Putin face-to-face since the start of the Ukraine war.

"[Putin] calls it special military operations," Nehammer said. "I call it the war."

Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer said he was not "particularly optimistic" following his talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin over the war in Ukraine.

On Monday, Nehammer was the first European leader to meet with Putin face-to-face since the Russian president launched a full-scale military assault on Ukraine in late February.

"At the moment I'm not particularly optimistic after my talks with Putin. The offensive (in Ukraine) is being prepared with determination," Nehammer said in a press briefing in Moscow, adding that he presented the Russian president "with the facts" during their 75-minute meeting.

"I made it clear to Mr. Putin, his attitude, his view is not shared by anybody," Nehammer continued. "He sees it as a kind of self-defense operation of the Russian federation. He calls it special military operations. I call it the war."

The Austrian chancellor said he told Putin that "the sanctions against Russia will stay in place and will be toughened further" as long as people were dying in Ukraine amid the ongoing Russian offensive.

According to Nehammer, Putin was dismissive of the atrocities being committed by Russian troops in Ukraine, including accusations of potential war crimes against Ukrainian civilians, per a report by The New York Times. As the war enters its seventh week, The Washington Post reported that Russian troops are expected to shift its strategy to focus on eastern Ukraine's Donbas region.

The territory has been contested since 2014, and a senior US defense official said the conflict that could arise there could be a "knife fight," as both countries are familiar with the region.

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"The Russians and the Ukrainians have been focused on the Donbas for eight years, and [it's been] for eight years that the Ukrainians have been able to stymie Russia's larger objectives in the Donbas," the official said. "But the fighting has been bloody, it's been stiff. And it's been pretty consistent for years."

Nehammer echoed the sentiment, saying during the Monday press conference that "the battle being threatened cannot be underestimated in its violence."

Nehammer said Putin told him that "it would be better if [the war] ended soon," but it was not immediately clear if the Russian president meant via peace talks or continued military assault on Ukraine.

The Austrian leader said "it was also clear and recognizable" that Putin "still has confidence" in the ongoing peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine in Turkey. The Russian president initially ordered to suspend military operations as the countries first entered peace talks, but Russia later continued its military operation in Ukraine despite rounds of peace talks that have taken place since last month.

In late March, the Wall Street Journal reported that Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich and two Ukrainian negotiators experienced symptoms of suspected poisoning, including such as red eyes and the peeling of skin on their hands and faces. The conditions of those affected have since improved, per the Journal.

A senior Ukrainian official said peace negotiations between Moscow and Kyiv resumed on April 1, The Guardian reported last week.

Read the original article on Business Insider
As we transition into summer, the beers we got to enjoy in spring proliferate. We will see the now ubiquitous seltzers find new identities, an
Black Lives Matter has apologized for the distress caused by the media attention on the purchase of a $6m mansion in California using donated funds.

In a long Twitter thread, the racial justice organisation said that the Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation (BLMGNF) recognizes that there is more work to do to increase transparency and ensure transitions in leadership are clear.

Referring to the reports concerning the purchase, the organisation wrote that we know narratives like this cause harm to organizers doing brilliant work across the country and these reports do not reflect the totality of the movement.

We apologize for the distress this has caused to our supporters and those who work in service of Black liberation daily, they added.

BLMGNF is working diligently to increase operations transparency, including an internal audit, tightening compliance operations, and creating a new board to help steer the organization to its next evolution, the group said.

Black creativity is necessary and vital to Black survival. BLM has always held that tradition sacred, partnering with artists of every kind since our founding, the organisation added.

An image from property website Zillow shows the $6m house in California bought by Black Lives Matter (Zillow)

Calling the mansion the Creators House, BLM said the property was bought to provide a space for Black folks to share their gifts with the world and hone their craft as they see fit, under the conditions that work best for them and outside systems of oppression in creative industries.

The group said they are embracing this moment as an opportunity for accountability, healing, truth-telling, and transparency.

We understand the necessity of working intentionally to rebuild trust so we can continue forging a new path that sustains Black people for generations, they said.

We are redoubling our efforts to provide clarity about BLMGNFs work. In the coming weeks, we will unveil new initiatives to increase transparency and accountability, and to continue reshaping what radical philanthropy looks like for Black people.  Black Lives Matter (@Blklivesmatter) April 11, 2022

A year after one of the founders of the movement, Patrisse Khan-Cullors, alleged she was suffering from right wing harassment over her purchase of houses in the Los Angeles area, a controversy that would eventually lead her to quit the organisation, it was reported that the group bought a $6m property, that was subsequently transferred to the ownership of a company in Delaware, ensuring the propertys owner could not be disclosed.

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According to New York magazine, the 6,500 square feet property with at least half-a-dozen bedrooms was paid for with cash in October 2020, using money that had been donated to the Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation (BLMGNF), by supporters of the group.

In a statement, Shalomyah Bowers, a BLMGNF board member, said the organisation had bought the property with the intention for it to serve as housing and studio space for recipients of the Black Joy Creators Fellowship.

A day after that statement was sent to New York magazine, BLMGNF announced the establishment of the fellowship, which provides recording resources and dedicated space for Black creatives to launch content online and in real life focused on abolition, healing justice, urban agriculture and food justice, pop culture, activism, and politics.

There is no allegation that anyone acted illegally or improperly.

But some questions have been asked about the potential impression created by the purchase of such a property, something that has already been seized on by right wing media, and the likes of Donald Trump Jr, who retweeted the story, with the sarcastic phrase  Im surprised.

Asked by New York magazine if the size of the acquisition could open the group to criticism, Jacob Harold  a former CEO of GuideStar and the co-founder of Candid, an information service that reports on nonprofits  said: Thats a very legitimate critique.

Its not a critique that says what youre doing is illegal or even unethical; it might just be unstrategic.

He added: Why arent you spending it on policy or, you know, other strategies that an organisation might take to address the core issues around Black Lives Matter?
Five teenagers who were killed in a blaze that erupted early Monday morning in northern Potter County, Pennsylvania, have been identified, and the parents of three of them remain hospitalized.

The fire broke out around 3:30 a.m. Monday at 226 Slingerland Road in Genesee Township, just south of the New York state line, and about 13 miles south of Wellsville.

The house was engulfed in flames when firefighters from the Genesee Volunteer Fire Co. and multiple other departments from Pennsylvania and New York arrived on the scene, according to Pennsylvania State Police at Coudersport.

State police identified the adults as Charles and Michele Erway.

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They suffered injuries while unsuccessfully trying to get the others out of the house, state police said.

The Erways were airlifted from the scene to the burn unit at Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester, where the hospital confirmed Charles and Michele are both in guarded condition.

A smoldering pile of rubble is all that's left of a home on Slingerland Road in Genesee Township, Potter County. The house burned down early Monday, April 11, 2022, killing five teenagers and seriously injuring two adults.

Potter County Coroner Kevin Dusenbury identified the victims as Raymond Erway, 17, Tristan Erway, 16, and Evan Erway, 14, Krysta Kane and Mikalah Roulo, both 16.

Dusenbury has ruled the deaths accidental.

The Erway teens were students in the Northern Potter School District, and Superintendent Nathan K. Jones posted a letter to the community about the tragedy on the school district's website.

"The loss of students is a difficult and challenging situation that can generate a high level of anxiety and distress among our students and staff," Jones wrote. "During this time, as the school community continues to process this tragic news and copes with grief, the district will continue to offer counseling and bereavement support services to all of our students and staff."

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Krysta Kane was a student in the Scio Central School District, and Mikalah Roulo attended the Wellsville Central School District.

Due to extensive damage to the home, state police investigators are ruling the cause of the fire as undetermined.

After a thorough investigation of the fire damage, it appears there was a possible issue with a woodstove or its chimney, which may have been the cause, state police said.

Investigators did determine the blaze started in the basement of the home.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as they become available.

This article originally appeared on The Evening Tribune: Pennsylvania fire: Potter County blaze leaves 5 teens dead
Karim Benzemas punishing header crushed Chelseas remarkable comeback as Real Madrid lost 3-2 at the Bernabeu Stadium but reached the Champions League semi-finals 5-4 on aggregate.

Ruthless France hitman Benzema produced a carbon-copy of the two headed goals he scored in last weeks quarter-final first-leg at Stamford Bridge, where his hat-trick had Real expecting to stroll into the last four.

Champions League holders Chelsea turned up in Madrid with other ideas however, big ideas in fact, of a memorable and odds-defying comeback in this pulsating second-leg.

An outstanding effort to be proud of tonight in Madrid, but we exit the #UCL. pic.twitter.com/UNA7NAZTkE  Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) April 12, 2022

The Blues shook off their 3-1 deficit from the first leg and took Carlo Ancelottis Madrid apart.

Mason Mount, Toni Rudiger and Timo Werner put the Blues 3-0 up and on the very cusp of completing that miracle of Madrid, and that with a Marcos Alonso effort chalked off for handball.

Luka Modric rescued Real though, delivering a sublime raking pass that allowed Rodrygo to race on and volley into the net past a stunned Edouard Mendy.

Chelseas fourth stint of extra-time this season duly ensued and after all their efforts and three smart goals, one flick of the head from Benzema brought the Madrid house down.

The 34-year-old turned home Vinicius Juniors cross with another potent aerial finish to wrestle the Champions League-holders status from Chelseas grip.

Benzema now has 38 goals in as many games for Real Madrid in all competitions this season. Such marksmanship invariably yields trophies and Madrid will feel themselves well capable of claiming Champions League title number 14 this year.

Chelsea were in control when Timo Werner scored (Manu Fernandez/AP)

Chelsea warmed to their task without delay, with Reece James yellow card for a tug on Vinicius the only early concern.

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The Blues boasted far more poise and control than in the home leg and duly took the lead when Mount capitalised on a ball falling nicely for him in the area.

Chelsea built steadily in the move for the goal and Mount steered home in style to hand the visitors the perfect start.

Vinicius again threatened on the left but could never cut loose as at Stamford Bridge in a first-half full of frustration for the hosts.

By the time Benzema was booked for an aerial challenge on Thiago Silva, the home supporters jeers appeared to have rattled the Madrid men.

Ancelottis side seemed jittery and certainly lacking any rhythm or fluency.

Chelsea negotiated pretty much the ideal half from their perspective, taking that 1-0 lead on the night into the interval.

Thomas Tuchels side sustained the pressure straight from the restart, with Madrid continuing with their curious ploy of sitting off and allowing Chelsea to dominate the ball.

The hosts passivity continued unabated, even after the chance to recalibrate at half-time.

When Rudiger powered home a headed finish from Mounts corner, the Blues were ahead 2-0 on the night and level in the tie.

Alonso thought he had sent them into dreamland and a 3-0 lead, only for his crisp strike to be chalked off after a VAR review. The Spanish defender was judged to have handled the ball after a ricochet in the area, handing Madrid a major reprieve.

That ball from Modric!  Unbelievable! Chelsea held their lead for a matter of minutes It's now 4-4 on aggregate! #UCL pic.twitter.com/vOi8K6Vf9z  Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) April 12, 2022

The home side almost took immediate advantage but Benzema struck the bar when he should have scored.

Chelsea kept their cool and set about yet more well-structured attacks and Mateo Kovacics fine threaded ball sent Werner through on goal.

The Germany star twisted, then turned, then delivered a side-footed shot that found its way to goal via a deflection.

Madrid looked on the brink but then Modric conjured the pass of the night. The Croatia playmaker raked out a stunning ball to Rodrygo, who strode forwards and lashed home on the volley.

From listing and listless to fizzing and fluent, Madrid were transformed in that instant.

Chelsea were hardly finished, however, and replacement Christian Pulisic fired over from a fine position on the inside-left in the Madrid box.

The Blues came up just short (Manu Fernandez/AP)

The United States forward then scooped over from an even better position in the six-yard box, latching onto Kai Havertzs knock-down.

Madrid found more spark in extra-time and Benzema finally turned up with that trademark header.

Chelsea lost possession cheaply out wide and Vinicius broke free to tee up the Frenchman to deliver another pulsating headed goal.

Losing 3-2 on the night, Madrid were still primed to progress on aggregate and this time Chelsea could find no further riposte.

Hakim Ziyech saw a stinging drive well parried by Thibaut Courtois, before Havertz headed wide when unmarked in the box and Jorginho scuffed a shot wide too.
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Back in 1993, Mark Pieloch purchased a yellow Chevrolet Corvette Indianapolis 500 Pace Car convertible to take out on leisurely weekend rides as his "Sunday car" in Lincoln, Nebraska.

Today, Pieloch owns the sprawling American Muscle Car Museum in Melbourne. And Tetiana, his wife of nearly five years, worries about the safety of her relatives and friends under Russian bombardment in her native Kharkiv, the second-largest city in Ukraine.

Pieloch donated his 1986 yellow Corvette  with only 9,325 miles on the odometer  to raise money for Ukrainian humanitarian relief during the Barrett-Jackson auction in West Palm Beach.

Tetiana and Mark Pieloch pose with his 1986 Chevrolet Corvette Indianapolis 500 Pace Car convertible at the Barrett-Jackson auction in West Palm Beach.

Coupled with a silver 2009 Ford Shelby GT500 Super Snake, the two muscle cars sold for a combined $1 million Friday during a live History Channel broadcast. That helped generate a total sum of at least $1.76 million for Ukrainian relief via Samaritan's Purse, a nondenominational Christian nonprofit.

"When I saw $1 million on the auction block, I was totally shocked," Pieloch recalled after returning to the Space Coast from South Florida.

"All the add-on donations were equally shocking," Pieloch said.

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The Corvette and Mustang were purchased as a $1 million package deal by Rick Hendrick, owner of NASCAR's Hendrick Motorsports.

Donors in attendance also pledged an additional $760,000, upping the Ukrainian relief total to $1.76 million. The Pielochs contributed $100,000 of that amount.

"The auction was just totally amazing. I'd say that had to be a Top 10 day in my life," Mark Pieloch said.

"There are very few things that give you a Top 10 day in your life. For me, I would say half of my Top 10 days would be the births of my kids," he said.

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"Being able to raise that much money from that charitable point of view was just shocking," he said.

All told, Barrett-Jackson broke its previous Palm Beach records by selling 676 vehicles for more than $59.6 million during the event, which took place Thursday, Friday and Saturday at the South Florida Fairgrounds.

The American Muscle Car Museum's 1968 Chevrolet Yenko Super Camaro fetched a $533,500 winning bid, which ranked as auction's fifth most-expensive vehicle. The top spot was a 2020 Ford GT Carbon Series that drew a bid of $1.54 million.

Mark and Tetiana Pieloch married in October 2017, and they have a 10-month-old son, Matthew. They met while she was earning a Master of Business Administration degree from the Florida Institute of Technology.

Tetiana's mother, sister and niece fled to Poland for safety in February while Russia was staging military forces near the Ukrainian border for a potential invasion. Her father stayed behind.

Mark and Tetiana Pieloch host a fundraiser for Helping Animals Live and Overcome (H.A.L.O.) to benefit homeless pets in February at the American Muscle Car Museum.

The Pielochs were joined Friday on the Barrett-Jackson stage by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis; Florida Sen. Tom Wright, R-New Smyrna Beach; Edward Graham, Samaritans Purse vice president of operations; Barrett-Jackson Chairman and CEO Craig Jackson; and Megan and George Shinn, who donated the Super Snake.

Tetiana's sister and niece also stood on stage, flanking the Corvette and Mustang and waving yellow-and-blue Ukrainian flags.

Their schools have been destroyed, their churches, their university. The Russians are just deliberately killing civilians," Mark Pieloch told the auction audience before the bidding began.

"And when I saw all that on TV and saw all the hardship that her family and other people  her friends  are going through, it touched my heart. And I said, We really need to do something, " he said.

Mark Pieloch's Chevrolet Corvette Indianapolis 500 Pace Car convertible goes up for bid Friday, April 8, during the Barrett-Jackson auction in West Palm Beach.

In a Friday night news release, Jackson praised the $1.76 million charitable windfall.

Weve had many amazing charity moments over our 50-year history, and today is undoubtedly one of the most memorable," Jackson said in the press release.

"The energy in the room was electrifying and the generosity of so many was a beautiful thing to be a part of. This is the greatest country in the world and Im proud that we could come together here in Palm Beach to make this incredible impact on those in need overseas," Jackson said.

Mark and Tetiana Pieloch pose with Marlowe, a white goldendoodle, and Ziggy, a black Labradoodle, in front of a 1966 Ford Mustang Shelby GT350H in 2019 at the American Muscle Car Museum in Melbourne. The couple had announced plans to donate up to $50,000 to launch Melbourne's first city dog park.

Pieloch's American Muscle Car Museum sold 11 other vehicles in West Palm Beach  most of which were duplicates in his collection of nearly 400:

1955 Chevrolet Bel Air convertible.

1958 Chevrolet Impala convertible.

1959 Ford Fairlane 500 Galaxie Skyliner.

1966 Plymouth Satellite with a Hemi engine.

1968 Chevrolet Corvette convertible with a 427-cubic-inch motor.

1969 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 396 convertible.

1969 Mercury Cyclone 428 Cobra Jet fastback.

1991 Chevrolet Silverado Dale Earnhardt Edition.

1994 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 Dale Earnhardt Edition.

1998 Chevrolet Monte Carlo Dale Earnhardt Edition.

2010 Chevrolet Corvette Dale Earnhardt Special Edition.

Rick Neale is the South Brevard Watchdog Reporter at FLORIDA TODAY (for more of his stories, click here.) Contact Neale at 321-242-3638 or rneale@floridatoday.com. Twitter: @RickNeale1

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This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Ukraine relief at Barrett-Jackson auction: Corvette helps raise $1.76M
Lindsey Hopper casts her ballot as daughters Jolynna Smyzer, Jokayah Smyzer and Jostara Smyzer watch or stand close by at Shawnee High School gymnasium on Tuesday afternoon. Hopper was a first-time voter. Nov. 3, 2020

While 2021 was a relatively low-key year for Kentucky politics, 2022 will bring a wide range of races up and down the ballot across the state, in both the May 17 primary election and Nov. 8 general election.

Here's a rundown of everything you need to know about registering to vote, changing your party or voting early in the 2022 primary election:

How do I register to vote in Kentucky?

The easiest way to register to vote is online through the voter information portal of the Kentucky State Board of Elections website  govoteky.com.

Those registering to vote for the first time or updating their voter registration should click on the "New/Update Registration" button on that page, then follow the instructions to complete the registration form.

Kentuckians can also register to vote in-person by filling out a voter registration card at their county clerk's office, or downloading and printing out a card and mailing a completed one to their county clerk's office or the State Board of Elections at 140 Walnut St., Frankfort, KY 40601.

The main page of the voter information portal also has information for military and overseas voters, polling locations and sample ballots for your precinct.

When is the deadline to register to vote in Kentucky?

Kentuckians must register to vote by April 18 in order to vote in the May 17 primary election.

For the Nov. 8 general election, the last day to register to vote is Oct. 10.

One important note on the primary: An already-registered voter seeking to switch their party affiliation in order to vote in the Republican or Democratic primary must have already done so by Dec. 31 in the previous year.

For example, if a registered Democrat changes their party affiliation to Republican on any day between Jan. 1 and May 17, they will not be allowed to vote in either the Republican or Democratic primary races on May 17, only the non-partisan races.

Kentucky is a closed primary state, in which only registered Democrats can vote in Democratic primary races and only registered Republicans can vote in Republican primary races.

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How do I change my party registration?

On the main voter information portal (https://vrsws.sos.ky.gov/ovrweb/govoteky), click on "New/Update Registration" and enter in the requested information.

There will be a screen allowing you to switch your party affiliation, in addition to other personal information that may have changed, such as your address.

Voters can also change their party affiliation at their county clerk's office.

Again, voters seeking to switch parties in order to participate in the May 17 primary of the Republican or Democratic parties must have done so by Dec. 31 in the previous year.

Where can I check to see Kentucky voter registration?

On the main voter information portal, click on "Review Your Registration" and enter in the requested personal information.

Once this information is entered, a voter will be shown a page showing whether or not they are registered.

If registered, the page will also show their party affiliation, voting precinct, polling location and the districts they are located in races for the state House, state Senate and Congress.

How do I vote early?

In addition to voting in-person on election day, all voters now have new options for early in-person voting, while some can vote early through a mail-in or drop-off absentee ballot.

Any qualified voter may cast a no-excuse in-person absentee ballot on the Thursday, Friday or Saturday immediately preceding the day of an election  which is May 12-14 for the 2022 primary. Voting centers must be open no less than eight hours each of these days, with the exact hours determined by the board of elections of each county.

Certain qualified voters may also apply with their local county clerk's office to cast an excused in-person absentee ballot during normal business hours in the six business days immediately preceding the Thursday of no-excuse in-person absentee voting. For the 2022 primary, this would be May 4-6 and May 9-11.

Such voters who would be eligible to apply for the six additional early voting days must have a health, work or temporary residency excuse for why they cannot vote in-person on Election Day or the three preceding no-excuse early voting days.

Certain voters may also apply to receive an absentee ballot through the mail and cast it either through the mail or in-person at a county drop box. Those eligible to do so must also be unable to vote on Election Day or any of the early in-person voting days due to health, work or temporary residence excuses, or on account of of their age, disability or illness.

How to apply for an absentee ballot

Such voters can apply for an absentee ballot online through the state's online portal  https://vrsws.sos.ky.gov/abrweb/. The deadline to apply for the 2022 primary is May 3, no later than 11:59 p.m. EST.

Voters can check their record and absentee ballot status here.

Reach reporter Joe Sonka at jsonka@courierjournal.com and follow him on Twitter at @joesonka. Support strong local journalism by subscribing today at the top of this page.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Voter registration in Kentucky, early voting , change political party
UPDATE, 9:30 AM PT: Opening arguments today in the trial of Johnny Depps $50 million defamation suit against Amber Heard painted two very distinctly portraits of the actors and their short-lived marriage.

In a tale of alleged violent abuse, drugs, money, tattoos, infidelity, Marilyn Manson, defecation, couples therapy, and property damage, the Aquaman stars lead lawyer Elaine Bredhoft pushed back hard on the plaintiffs POV presented earlier with details of assaults in Australia, plus frequent paranoid and delusional behavior on the Oscar nominees part.

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Heards attorneys said that they will show that Johnny Depp was an obsessed ex-husband hellbent on revenge, who described the violent side of himself as the monster while engaging in crushing drug and alcohol abuse.

Amber Heard never wanted to unearth for the public who the real Johnny Depp is, defense lawyer Ben Rottenborn told the 11-person jury seated in the Fairfax County Courthouse Tuesday. But thats going to come out over the course of this trial.

You are going to see who the real Johnny Depp is, Rottenborn added with effect.

The monster would come out when he was drinking and when he would take the drugs, added fellow defense attorney Eliane Bredehoft in vivid remarks on the allegedly escalating abuse by the ex-Pirates of the Caribbean star that began early in Depp and Heards relationship.

An element of the real Depp that Heards lawyer are seeking to display was the accusation in court today that the actor sexually assaulted his then wife during their short marriage.You will hear in the most graphic and horrifying terms about the violence that she suffered, Rottenborn said of the assault, which has been raised in filings before. Youll hear that straight from her.

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In his March 2019 lawsuit over Heards late 2018 Washington Post op-ed on domestic violence where she referred to herself as abuse survivor, Depp claimed that Ms. Heard is not a victim of domestic abuse, she is a perpetrator. It should be noted that Heard, who divorced from Depp amidst restraining orders and more in 2016, never mention her former husband by name in the op-ed. In the background of all this today in Virginia is Depps 2020 dramatic loss in his UK libel suit against Rupert Murdochs tabloid The Sun. The paper called the actor a wife beater in print. A term a British judge said he saw ample evidence for in that trial on the other side of the Atlantic. Getting that matter into this trial is clearly one of the biggest priorities for the defense.

Additionally, after various unsuccessful moves to get the Virginia case tossed out, Heard countersued Depp for $100 million.

Speaking in Old Dominion Judge Penney Azcarates courtroom, Rottenborn said that the WaPo piece isnt about Johnny Depp. The article is about the social change for which she is advocating and that the First Amendment protects. The lawyer also challenged the idea that the article cost Depp roles, including the next in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise.

The evidence will show that Disney had a dossier on him, that had articles from the press, had other information about Mr. Depp and they didnt have this article at all in their files, didnt register with them, just as it didnt register with the public.

In a modulated performance without notes, Rottenborn stated that the public had known since 2016 what Amber had to say about Johnny Depp. This didnt change any of that.

Pre-empting the opposition, Bredehoft admitted that Heard did punch Depp on one occasion, as The Tourist actor was in a violent altercation with her sister in the first month of the couples marriage. The lawyer also sought to blunt the accusations from the Depp side that Heard reneged on public promises to donate the $7 million settlement she received in the couples divorce. Everyone knew the money to the ACLU and LAs Children Hospital was intended to be paid in installments. Turning the spotlight on to the actor again, Bredehoft also said that they would show that the well publicized incident where Depps finger was severed was actually an act of self-mutilation.

As the attorney outlined to the jury, in graphic detail, Depps heavy use of booze and drugs, the actor was sitting just a couple of feet away. At one moment, he appeared to stop himself from cringing. On other occasions, Depp leaned over to whisper into the ear of Ben Chew, one of his own lawyers.

Bredehoft also outlined their case for defamation, arguing that the claims that she was making up her allegations of abuse impacted her career, just as she was emerging from the success of Aquaman. Her co-stars in the latter movie are getting commercials, theyre getting all kinds of different film opportunities. These are the things she would have gotten. Nobody will touch her. Shes a pariah.

Were going to ask you  to hold Mr. Depp responsible, enough is enough, she said.

In the court of PR opinion, Depp may still have some traction, thinks one industry vet.

Johnny Depp is one of the best actors of our generation, PR crisis management specialist Gary Rosen told Deadline today. Its unfortunate that his latest starring roles feature his legal battles getting center stage, the Judith Sheindlin rep notes. Once that is over, I think if Johnny channels some of his inner Captain Jack Sparrow he can make his A-List career sail again to new heights.

The trial is expected to last about six weeks. Christi Dembrowski, Depps older sister, will be the first witness to take the stand, with more character witnesses expected tomorrow including artist Isaac Baruch, a longtime pal of Depps who lived rent free in an apartment owned by the actor during his marriage to Heard. Baruch, who testified via video link in the UK libel trial, is on both Depp and Heards witness lists.

PREVIOUSLY: Johnny Depps attorneys told jurors that his name is associated with a lie, characterizing his ex-wife Amber Heards claims of domestic abuse as false accusations that lack any evidence and even suggesting that her 2018 Washington Post op-ed was written to reap publicity from her upcoming movie Aquaman.

Reading from her written notes, attorney Camile Vasquez told jurors that when Heard took on the role of a lifetime when she accused Depp of abuse and painted herself before the world as a representative of abuse victims everywhere.

She cant back down. She has been living and breathing this lie for years now. And she has been preparing to give the performance of her life in this trial. But this trial is about the evidence. It is about the evidence. Its about a mans reputation.

In his statement, attorney Benjamin Chew signaled that his team would focus on the veracity of her claims that he was physically abusive with her during an argument on May 21, 2016, after he said he wanted a divorce.

The evidence will show that six days after Mr. Depp requested a divorce, and he did so politely, and three days after Ms. Heards lawyer threatened Mr. Depp with claims of abuse if he did not agree to her financial demands, Ms. Heard arrived at the courthouse in Los Angeles, California to file for a restraining order alleging abuse, Chew said. The evidence will show that Ms. Heard showed up with a mark on her face that mysteriously appeared six days after she last saw Mr. Depp and six days before she publicly filed a request for a domestic violence restraining order alleging abuse.

He added, The evidence will show that her publicist and the paparazzi were there at the courthouse to document the event, to make sure that Johnny Depps name was forever associated with the image of an innocent, battered woman.

Two years later, in December, 2016, Heard wrote an op ed in The Washington Post, headlined I Spoke Up Against Sexual Violence  And Faced Our Cultures Wrath. That Has To Change. Although Depp was not mentioned in the article, Chew said that the connection was clear.

A false allegation can devastate a career and it can devastate a family, Chew said. And the evidence will show that Ms. Heards false allegations had a significant impact on Mr. Depps family and his ability to work in the profession he loved, and loved to bring joy to everyone.

As Chew spoke, Heard was on the other side of the courtroom, peering down at a legal pad. Depp, in a black suit and shirt and white tie, occasionally swiveled in his chair.

Another attorney for Depp, Camille Vasquez, said that Depp himself was a survivor of his mothers angry rages. You will learn from Mr. Depps sister, Christie, and from Mr. Depp, that their mother, Betty Sue, lived in a constant state of anger that would boil over daily in viscous words and violence directed and her husband and the children. She said that Depp coped with that abuse in the same way his father did  he just took it. The evidence will show that Mr. Depp learned that the best way to deal with violence was to leave.

Vasquez also said that they would challenge the veracity of photos of Heards injuries, and that it was Heard who was violent.

She became so violent, in fact, she threw a vodka bottle at him that hit his hand and exploded. It severed the end of one of his fingers, Vasquez said. As she described Depps injuries, he flinched for a half second.

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Vladimir Kara-Murza. Julia Reinhart/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Vladimir Kara-Murza, a Russian opposition activist who has twice survived being poisoned, was detained in Moscow on Monday, his lawyer Vadim Prokhorov told the independent Russian news outlet Sota.

Prokhorov said Kara-Murza, 40, was arrested on charges of disobeying police orders, and faces up to 15 days in jail or a small fine.

A politician, author, and historian, Kara-Murza has been a vocal critic of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. He has also spoken out against human rights abuses in Russia, and believes that is why he was poisoned in Moscow in 2015 and 2017.

He often appears on U.S. cable networks to discuss his opposition to Russian President Vladimir Putin, and on Sunday spoke to MSNBC's Ali Velshi about Russia's independent media outlets being censored by the government. Kara-Murza told Velshi he understands why some opposition leaders leave, but he is "a Russian politician, Russia is my country, Russia is my home, and this is where I have to be." Velshi responded, "I'm worried for you, my friend."

On Monday, Kara-Murza went on CNN and described the Kremlin as "a regime of murderers." He said he has "no doubt that the Putin regime will end over this war in Ukraine," and at some point "there will be a democratic Russia after Putin."

Several of Kara-Murza's supporters went to the Khamovniki police station to show their support, and former Soviet dissident Aleksandr Podrabinek told Sota he thinks Kara-Murza was detained because Russian leaders were "angered by his courage."

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Apr. 12State lawmakers have voted to ban pesticides that contain so-called forever chemicals by 2030.

The bill would gradually phase out the sale, distribution and use of pesticides with intentionally added per- or polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, chemical compounds linked to significant human health risks, including cancer, that have been detected at high levels in Maine farming communities.

"A lot of the work we do in this chamber isn't particularly historic and probably won't be remembered 30 years from now, but the work that we do this session on PFAS is the exception," Sen. Heather Sanborn, D-Portland, said Thursday after the bill was approved in the House. "Once we know better, we have to do better."

PFAS are a class of over 4,000 manmade chemicals used since the 1950s in industrial and household products like waterproof clothing, non-stick cookware and firefighting foam. They have been linked to cancer, kidney malfunction, immune system suppression and pre-eclampsia in pregnant women.

The bill, which has divided the state farming community, almost died in the Joint Standing Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry last month after a majority voted to kill it. Powerful players like the blueberry and potato boards said science had yet to conclude if trace PFAS levels in pesticides posed a human health risk.

But the House and Senate, which are acting on a suite of PFAS bills this session, voted to revive the proposed ban, passing it by a 75-61 margin in the House on Thursday and a healthy 24-8 margin in the Senate on Monday.

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Lawmakers had differing opinions about what a pro-agriculture vote meant on L.D. 2019.

Some ban supporters invoked Rachel Carson's "Silent Spring," urging big chemical companies to stop using the general population and Maine farmers in particular as unknowing guinea pigs for their commercial experimentation, before casting their vote.

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"If we are going to have a thriving natural resource-based economy, we have to show and do what Mainers have always done in this building, to show that we are leaders in protecting that environment and protecting public health," said Sen. Richard Bennett, R-Oxford.

Other lawmakers warned that leading the way in this area could hurt Maine farmers financially, taking away important crop management tools that keep them competitive in the national and global markets.

"I think this is an overreaction," said Sen. Jeff Timberlake, R-Turner, who called the ban a mistake that would drive farmers out of Maine. "We're talking about a very small number of chemicals that have a very important (role to) play in a lot of the farming industries in the state of Maine."

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Sen. Craig Hickman, D-Winthrop, said Maine farmers are creative, resourceful people who will adapt.

"Chemical weapons of warfare, that is what we are talking about here today," said Hickman, an organic farmer himself who used to chair the agriculture committee. "We cannot continue to kill ourselves in the name of agriculture."

Both chambers will get another look at it before the bill goes to the Appropriations Committee, which would have to agree to add the $200,000-a-year cost of funding the bill  mostly to pay for the extra state employees needed to monitor the ban  to the supplemental budget before it could proceed.

On the House side, lawmakers also voted 81-52 in favor of a bill that would ban the spreading of sewage sludge, believed to be the primary source of PFAS contamination of drinking and irrigation wells, fields and even the farmers themselves in at least three dozen Maine communities.

The bill, L.D. 1911, aims to end the decades-old practice of recycling state-licensed municipal sludge from wastewater treatment plants into fertilizer to enrich Maine farmlands. Opponents, including some farmers, argue that not all sludge is dangerous and that it keeps farming and sewage treatment costs down.

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The sludge has since been linked to contaminated well water, fields, crops and milk in dairy herds that grazed on sludge-fertilized lands. The chemicals also have been found in deer and freshwater fish in Maine.
Bystanders mourn after witnessing the attack on Omar Garcia Harfuch, injuring him and killing three

Mexico claims that half a million guns flow south from the US every year. Can a lawsuit against American gun manufacturers stem the tide?

Just before sunrise on a warm Friday morning in June 2020, gunmen were waiting for Omar Garcia Harfuch, the city's then 38-year-old security head, in Mexico City's upscale Lomas de Chapultepec neighbourhood.

What happened next would be captured on CCTV and the mobile phone cameras of terrified onlookers: the rat-a-tat-tat of bullets as dozens of heavily armed gunmen, some dressed as road workers, blocked his path with a truck and opened fire.

"At that moment I knew we had been ambushed," Mr Harfuch later told Spain's El Pais newspaper. "Then I felt the first shot come through the windscreen".

By the time the ensuing firefight was over, he had been shot three times. Three others - two bodyguards and an innocent woman selling snacks nearby - lay dead.

The location and the prominent target of the ambush were notable anomalies in Mexico's bloody drug war.

But the weapons recovered afterward were not: Barrett 50-calibre sniper rifles, pistols and military assault weapons.

All are produced and sold by US-based gun manufacturers.

The attack against Mr Harfuch, along with hundreds of other incidents, now form a key part of a lawsuit brought by the Mexican government against US-based gunmakers and wholesalers, including Smith & Wesson, Beretta, Colt, Glock and Ruger.

Omar Garcia Harfuch, then the minister of security for Mexico City, was ambushed in a violent gunfire attack in 2020

The lawsuit, filed in a federal courthouse in Massachusetts - where several of the companies are based - argues that the "flood" of illegal guns in Mexico "is the foreseeable result of the defendants' deliberate actions and business practices".

The companies have argued that Mexico cannot prove that the violence detailed in the lawsuit is their fault, and have claimed US law shields them from liability over the misuse of their products.

Oral arguments are being heard in court this week from both sides for a judge to decide whether the case can continue.

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Though experts are doubtful that the lawsuit will achieve its primary aims - $10bn in damages, an end to "inflammatory" marketing practices allegedly appealing to criminals and requirements for "smart" safety technology - it has already been a publicity coup for the Mexican government.

More than a dozen US states - including California and New York - have expressed their support for the Mexican government's case, as have lawyers representing Antigua and Barbuda and Belize.

The case is shining a light on an issue Mexico says has long been ignored by the manufacturers and most Americans.

"This doesn't just affect Mexico," Guillaume Michel, head of legal affairs at Mexico's embassy in Washington, told the BBC. "It also has consequences for the US."

A cross-border problem

For those on the frontlines of Mexico's drug war, the ubiquity of American-made weapons flowing across the border has long been a problem. Mexican police say that criminals and gangs in US border towns have ready access to weapons purchased and smuggled across the border.

"The security measures implemented on the border are almost a joke," said Ed Calderon, a former police officer in Tijuana, just across from California, and an expert on Mexico's criminal underworld.

"The border is porous," he said. "People - it could even be old women and men - walk or drive across the border on a daily basis and can amass a stockpile that would rival any Texas gun show. It's easy to get a gun or rifle in Mexico."

Mexico's National Guard - which is largely responsible for stemming the flow of weapons into Mexico - could not be reached for comment. Mexican officials at various levels of government, however, have repeatedly vowed to clamp down on the flow of weapons coming across the border, referring to the effort as a "national priority".

These efforts occasionally net large quantities of weapons and lead to arrests. Between 1 January 2019 and January 2021 alone, Mexico's Milenio Television reported that 1,585 people were detained for weapons trafficking, over 90% of whom were US citizens.

In the same time frame, official data compiled by Stop US Arms to Mexico - a project aimed at reducing illegal weapons in the country - shows that 11,613 weapons were seized by the army, a small fraction of what is believed to be on Mexico's streets.

A single raid in early March this year near the US border saw authorities discover over 150 guns and almost three million rounds of ammunition from a suspected cartel stash house.

Mexico says illegally trafficked guns are linked to thousands of deaths in the country

Criminal groups' arsenals, Mr Calderon said, are often comparable to those of the Mexican military and leave the local police forces hopelessly outgunned.

"It's horrible for morale," he said. "I've met municipal police officers that have more combat experience than any special forces. But there's a feeling of abandonment, of not having what they need."

Echoing court documents filed by the Mexican government, Mr Calderon claims that many US weapons are sold with decorations and features made to the tastes of Mexican cartel members, such as gold-plated AK-47s or pistols with engravings depicting well-known 'Narco Saints' or Santa Muerte, a Mexican folk saint of death. These decorations are often the work of US-based private sellers who he claims cater specifically to the Mexican criminal underworld, and those who hope to imitate it.

"They're openly for sale," he said. "It's a status symbol within certain elements of cartels - like a badge of honour."

There is also no law in the US that would make selling weapons with such decorations a crime, leading some experts to cast doubt on this aspect of Mexico's claim that the manufacturers could be held liable.

Mexican officials say that the vastly different firearms regulations of the two North American neighbours are a root cause of the problem.

Mexico is home to exactly one gun shop, a fortress-like structure in a Mexico City military complex that requires buyers to provide mountains of paperwork and submit to exhaustive background checks that can take months.

Extremely restrictive gun laws require guns to be registered with the federal government and limits their type and calibre.

But north of the border, getting a gun is far easier. Mexican officials believe that a large portion of southern-bound weapons are bought legally by 'straw buyers', who then unlawfully pass them to criminals.

In other cases, guns are bought "off paper" from private vendors at gun shows in states such as Texas or Arizona, circumventing background checks.

Mexican officials argue that the steady flow of weapons from these sources is a primary driver of violence in their country, where an estimated 33,000 people were murdered in 2021 alone.

"This is all illicit traffic," Mr Michel said. "There is no commercial, legal mechanism that would allow such amounts of weapons to be brought into Mexico."

The Mexican government's efforts have become yet one more thread to become entangled in the US gun debate, where a politically engaged minority - gun owners and gun rights supporters - have clashed for decades with activists pushing for tighter restrictions on ownership and purchasing rules.

Gun rights activists, backed by a powerful firearms lobby, argue that restrictions violate the Second Amendment of the US Constitution, which gives citizens the right to own and bear guns.

Lawyers for the manufacturers and prominent members of the US gun lobby have explicitly linked Mexico's lawsuit to Americans' constitutional rights.

"It is not up to the Mexican government to decide how firearms are lawfully sold in the United States, particularly when American citizens have a fundamental constitutional right," said Lawrence Keane, the senior vice-president and general counsel of the National Shooting Sports Foundation, a trade group that represents the US firearms industry.

"It is the lawful commerce of firearms that make the exercise of that right for Americans possible," he added.

Mr Keane rejected Mexico's claims that the manufacturers can be held responsible for violence in Mexico.

Its government "should be in a Mexican courtroom, seeking justice and trying to bring these cartels to justice", he said.

"Not filing a frivolous lawsuit in a US federal court, trying to blame law-abiding manufacturers for their failure to protect their citizens."

Mexican officials insist that they aren't seeking a review of the Second Amendment or calling into question Americans' rights to buy and own guns.

The lawsuit is about seeking recourse for "the negligent practices of these companies", Mr Michel said.

None of the companies named in the lawsuit responded to the BBC's requests for comment.

A PR win?

Experts admit that the chances of legal success are small - but the lawsuit is important nonetheless for its symbolism.

"It sends a signal that business as usual is over," Arturo Sarukhan, Mexico's ambassador in Washington from 2007-13, told the BBC.

Ioan Grillo, a Mexico-based British author of Blood Gun Money: How America Arms Gangs and Cartels, agreed.

Mr Grillo, whose work is cited in court documents, said that he's seen more publicity about US-trafficked arms in the last several months than he had in the two decades he's covered Mexico.

"It kind of pushes this on the agenda," he said, so the issue is "not as simple as winning or losing" in court.

"When there's a lawsuit like this, it starts to push and change the parameters. Already, the gun companies are going to have to try and defend themselves," Mr Grillo said. "It starts a back and forth and forces them to start having to look at this stuff. They can't just ignore it".

Mexican Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard announces lawsuit

Mr Calderon, the former Tijuana policeman, was not impressed with the perceived public relations victory, however.

"I don't see it actually doing anything other than political points for either side," he said. "The government of Mexico has a big responsibility for policing its own border. They'll militarise the border when a migrant caravan comes through, but they do nothing to stop thousands of rounds of ammunition and thousands of rifles moving north to south. I don't think anyone actually cares about that."

And the vast quantity of firearms already in Mexico may mean that little can be done to stem the violence, said Alejandro Hope, a former Mexican intelligence official.

"There are already maybe 15 million small arms in private hands in Mexico," he said. "Even if tomorrow we completely stopped the flow of arms, there's already enough guns around to maintain a high level of violence."

"I'm very sceptical that this can be controlled on the supply side," Mr Hope said. "I doubt there would be any short-term impact."

But, at least, he said, "it shows the cost that weapons trafficking has on Mexico".
SANFORD, Maine  Charlene Cheeny Plante stood under the beating South African sun, tired, starved, and caked with dirt from head to toe, and stated something that might have surprised viewers of the latest Naked and Afraid episode on The Discovery Channel on Sunday, April 10.

This is nothing new to me, she said.

Plante, of Sanford, made this comment 45 minutes into the two-hour reality TV episode. By then she and her partner for the show, a 29-year-old waitress named Rebel, from Georgia, had been roughing it amid the leopards, elephants and hyenas of the worlds largest continent for days. And, as the title of the show implies, they had been doing it all  setting up safe sleeping quarters, building fires, walking gingerly through bushes laden with large thorns, boiling water collected from standing pools, and hunting desperately for food  without a stitch of clothing.

Plante also made her nothing-new remark after she accidentally got a fishing hook lodged deep into her thumb.

Success! she declared after a nearby EMT pried the hook from her pierced digit.

In 2021, scouts affiliated with the popular show discovered Plante on Instagram, where she routinely posts pictures of her outdoor adventures. Plante, a Sanford native and a 2008 graduate of its local high school, is an Air Force veteran  specifically, a SERE specialist, someone who trains others in matters of Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape.

Glamping getaway: Huttopia campground in southern Maine expands with new cabins, more

You see now how she caught The Discovery Channels eye.

Usually, Naked and Afraid pairs a man and a woman and drops them, buck naked and without food and water, in one of the most challenging environments on the globe, where they have to survive for 21 days and eventually make their way to an extraction point. Plantes episode, however, had a twist: she was paired with another woman  Rebel  and on Day 11 she joined up with two men, Jared and Rusty, who also were a part of the episode.

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Cheeny Plante, of Sanford, Maine, is seen here in an episode of "Naked and Afraid" on The Discovery Channel.

Previous story: Maine woman braves the wild on Discovery's 'Naked and Afraid' survival show

The episode was called Survival of the Sexes. While that title suggests a competition, what actually transpired during the two-hour program was solid teamwork between Plante and the two men. Rebel had fallen ill  vomiting, fainting  and needed to leave the episode early into the second week.

Shes one rough cookie, Plante said after her partners departure. Im really proud of her.

When Day 11 arrived, Plante was visibly pleased to be partnered up again when she met Jared and Rusty.

My dudes! she exclaimed upon meeting them.

From there, the trio spent the next ten days focused primarily on hunting for food and avoiding such dangerous critters as a certain kind of crocodile known for killing an average of 200 people a year. Wild game proved elusive, leaving terrapin turtles and their eggs as their only real source of nourishment.

During the final stretch of the adventure, Plante and her two counterparts battled hunger and all that comes with it: dizziness, weight loss, dehydration, you name it. Plante lost 13 pounds during the three weeks.

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But she made it. On Day 21, she and Jared and Rusty trudged along the dry, cracked earth to their extraction point, hopped onto a Jeep, and headed home.

During this challenge, gender didnt play any part, Plante said during the final minutes of the episode. There was a standard, and if you met that standard, cool.

That is not to say gender was not important, however. Plante said she was proud to be the last woman standing.

The world needs more strong women, Plante had said at the start of the episode. I want to prove girls are tough. Were just as strong as men. Women are tough, and the world needs to see that.

During an interview on Monday, Plante said that she was not in the best of shape as a child and at one point resolved to get healthy. As a teenager, her newfound approach to eating healthier and exercising matched up well with her natural inclination toward the outdoors.

You have one life to live, she said. Why would you want to spend it feeling unhealthy? I wanted to be strong and fast.

Plante said one thought kept her focused throughout her 21 days in South Africa last August.

In Maine: Big plans for York hotels, restaurants in latest projects. Here's what to expect.

I just knew if I didnt complete it, I would regret it for the rest of my life, she said.

She loved South Africa, she said, with its wide-open landscape, natural beauty, and quietness. Returning home to the United States proved a little challenging at first, she said. To begin with, she contended with a long bout of indigestion and heartburn. She also needed a lot of time to rebuild her stamina  even for such ordinary tasks as carrying a basket of laundry up the stairs from her basement.

But it also took some time to get reacquainted with modern life, she said  in particular, the busyness that surrounds her, the way people treat themselves and each other, and other aspects that make American society hectic and sometimes trying.

The life that we live is chaos, Plante said. Weve lost our (expletive) minds.

Life is about experiences, according to Plante. Theres a huge, amazing world out there, she said.

And she is ready to get back into it. Twenty-one days in South Africa for Naked and Afraid were not enough.

If they email me and say they want me to do another show, Im going to say yes, she said. Im going back.

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: 'Naked and Afraid' survivor Cheeny Plante of Maine: 21 days not enough
Patriot Battery Metals

Table 1

Pegmatite intercepts logged in 2022 drill holes at the Corvette Property

Figure 1

2022 drill hole collar locations

Figure 2

Cross-sections of CV5 Pegmatite extending under lake

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, April 07, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Patriot Battery Metals Inc. (the Company or Patriot) (CSE: PMET) (OTCQB: PMETF) (FSE: R9GA) is pleased to provide a further update on the winter/spring component of its 2022 drill campaign at its wholly owned Corvette Property (the Property), located in the James Bay Region of Quebec. The target drill area  at the CV Lithium Trend  is located approximately 13.5 km south of the regional and all-weather Trans-Taiga Road and powerline infrastructure.

The winter/spring phase of the 2022 drill campaign began in late February with two diamond drill rigs currently operating on site. To date, fifteen (15) NQ size drill holes have been completed for a total of approximately 3,136 m. All drill holes completed to date have collared on lake ice with the primary objective to test for mineralized pegmatite along strike from surface outcrops, potentially connecting CV5-6 pegmatites with the CV1-2 pegmatites, as well as testing the mineralization at depth. Orientation of drill holes along with logged pegmatite intercepts are presented in Table 1. The location of drill holes completed to date are presented in Figure 1.

Table 1: Pegmatite intercepts logged in 2022 drill holes at the Corvette Property

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/c335e13e-f7e8-43ba-bb55-cb32953b437d

The Company is pleased to report that, based on drill holes completed to date, the geological 3D modelling indicates that pegmatite continues across the lake from CV5 towards CV1  a strike length of at least 1,400 m. The mineral spodumene has been field identified in multiple drill holes completed over the winter program; however, core sample assays have not yet been received. In addition, the working geological model indicates that the pegmatite body is thickening at depth, as is evidenced by drill holes CV22-016 and 019, which tested the down-dip extension of drill holes CV22-015 and 018, respectively, and returned significantly wider intercepts (Figure 2). This is further supported by drill hole CV22-028, which tested the down-dip extension of drill hole CV22-027, also returning a wider intercept; however, the pegmatite intersections for these two holes are based on preliminary observations at the drill rig with formal logging not yet completed. The drill core is actively being logged and sampled on site with core samples shipped weekly to the analytical laboratory. The Company is using SGS Canada (Lakefield, ON, and Burnaby, BC facilities) as their primary analytical lab.

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The winter/spring phase of the 2022 drill campaign is expected to continue until April 20th followed by a break to allow for spring ice break-up. The summer/fall phase of the drill campaign will then immediately follow, scheduled to begin June 1st, and will focus on continued land-based infill and step-out drilling around CV5-6 and CV1-2, as well as testing new regional targets (see news release dated March 8th, 2022).

The aggressive 2022 drill campaign is being completed as a direct follow-up to the strong lithium-tantalum mineralization encountered in the first four (4) drill holes to test the CV5-6 pegmatite this past fall. Drill intercept highlights include 155.1 m at 0.94% Li 2 O and 117 ppm Ta 2 O 5 (CF21-002), and 58.1 m at 1.25% Li 2 O and 194 ppm Ta 2 O 5 (CF21-003) (see news releases dated January 27th and February 3rd, 2022).

The Company has engaged Forage Fusion Drilling Ltd. of Hawkesbury, Ont. to carry out the diamond drilling, with the program being managed by Dahrouge Geological Consulting Ltd. of Edmonton, AB.

The Company notes that it has developed a COVID Management Plan for the program and will carry out its field programs while adhering to all federal, provincial, and regional restrictions in place due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Mineral exploration has been recognized as an essential service in Canada and the Province of Quebec.

Figure 1: 2022 drill hole collar locations

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/6a482dcd-f234-446a-bd99-26af172cd370

Figure 2: Cross-sections of CV5 Pegmatite extending under lake

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/b9895af0-d2cb-4694-9d79-deeb1141c500

About the CV Lithium Trend

The CV Lithium Trend is an emerging spodumene pegmatite district discovered by the Company in 2017 and spans the FCI West, FCI East, and Corvette claim blocks. The core area includes an approximate 2 km long corridor, which is part of the more than 25-km long and Property-wide CV Lithium Trend. It consists of numerous spodumene pegmatite occurrences, which include the CV1, CV2, CV3, CV5, CV6, and CV7 pegmatites, highlighted by the CV5 Pegmatite  a large (~220 m long and 20-40 m wide), well-mineralized outcrop with drill intercepts of 155.1 m at 0.94% Li 2 O and 117 ppm Ta 2 O 5 (CF21-002), and 58.1 m at 1.25% Li 2 O and 194 ppm Ta 2 O 5 (CF21-003). Drilling indicates a pegmatite body approximating 60 m in true width (at CF21-001 and 003), and therefore considerably larger than that observed in outcrop. The high number of well-mineralized pegmatites in this core area of the trend indicate a strong potential for a series of relatively closely spaced/stacked, sub-parallel, and sizable spodumene-bearing pegmatite bodies, with significant lateral and depth extent, to be present.

Qualified Person

Darren L. Smith, M.Sc., P. Geo., Vice President of Exploration of the Company, a registered permit holder with the Ordre des Geologues du Quebec and Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101, has reviewed the technical information in this news release.

About Patriot Battery Metals Inc.

Patriot Battery Metals Inc. is a mineral exploration company focused on the acquisition and development of mineral properties containing battery, base, and precious metals.

The Companys flagship asset is the Corvette Property, which includes the wholly owned Corvette, FCI East, FCI West, Deca-Goose, Felix, and Corvette East claim blocks, located in the James Bay Region of Quebec. The land package hosts significant lithium potential highlighted by the CV5-6 spodumene pegmatite with drill intercepts of 0.94% Li 2 O and 117 ppm Ta 2 O 5 over 155.1 m (CF21-002), and 1.25% Li 2 O and 194 ppm Ta 2 O 5 over 58.1 m at (CF21-003). Additionally, the Property hosts the Golden Gap Trend with grab samples of 3.1 to 108.9 g/t Au from outcrop and 10.5 g/t Au over 7 m in drill hole, and the Maven Trend with 8.15% Cu, 1.33 g/t Au, and 171 g/t Ag in outcrop.

The Company also holds 100% ownership of the Freeman Creek Gold Property in Idaho, USA which hosts two prospective gold prospects - the Gold Dyke Prospect with a 2020 drill hole intersection of 4.11 g/t Au and 33.0 g/t Ag over 12 m, and the Carmen Creek Prospect with surface sample results including 25.5 g/t Au, 159 g/t Ag, and 9.75% Cu.

The Companys other assets include the Pontax Lithium-Gold Property, QC; and the Hidden Lake Lithium Property, NWT, where the Company maintains a 40% interest, as well as several other assets in Canada.

For further information, please contact us at info@patriotbatterymetals.com Tel: +1 (778) 945-2950 , or visit www.patriotbatterymetals.com.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors,

BLAIR WAY ADRIAN LAMOUREUX Blair Way, President & Director Adrian Lamoureux, CEO & Director

Disclaimer for Forward-Looking Information

Statements included in this announcement, including statements concerning our plans, intentions, and expectations, which are not historical in nature are intended to be, and are hereby identified as, forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements may be identified by words including anticipates, believes, intends, estimates, expects and similar expressions. The Company cautions readers that forward-looking statements, including without limitation those relating to the Companys future operations and business prospects, are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements.

The Canadian Securities Exchange has not approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release.




Brooklyn Beckham wedding

German Larkin

And the bride wore Valentino!

Nicola Peltz married Brooklyn Beckham on Saturday in a star-studded bash at her parents' Palm Beach estate  and her bridal look was a true fashion fairytale.

The actress collaborated with the design team at Valentino, including the Italian label's creative director Pierpaolo Piccioli, on a bespoke wedding dress a year in the making, taking two trips to the label's Rome headquarters, in addition to two fittings in the U.S.

Peltz, 27, donned a classic haute couture wedding gown with a sleeveless square neckline and a cathedral-length train, complemented with an equally long French lace veil and matching gloves.

Brooklyn Beckham wedding

German Larkin

RELATED: How Brooklyn Beckham and Nicola Peltz's Wedding Style Compares to the 1999 Nuptials of His Parents

The Bates Motel actress, who later opted for a second look during the reception, told Vogue "it was a no-brainer" to go with Valentino for her big day, having long admired Piccioli's couture shows and even sporting Valentino at 2021's Met Gala.

Her stylist Leslie Fremar raved about the final product as "a work of art," thanks to the dress' simple fabric and its lace overlay. "The simplicity of it was magnificent," Fremar told Vogue. "We didn't have to overly detail the dress to accomplish the magnitude of it, so we ended up eliminating the embroidery."

For her beauty look, Peltz took inspiration from Claudia Schiffer and Brigitte Bardot for a half-up, half-down hairstyle, which she achieved with help from her hairstylist Adir Abergel, with whom she first worked while promoting Transformers: Age of Extinction in 2014.

"She's like my little sister  she annoys me all the time, but she's also the best," Abergel told Vogue. "She's been sending me all of these rad images of early Claudia Schiffer  including pictures of her with bangs  so they inspired us, plus the dress, which is just beautiful."

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Brooklyn Beckham wedding

German Larkin

Meanwhile, Chanel makeup artist Kate Lee accentuated Peltz's natural beauty.

"We decided on a very fresh, natural look  barely-there but with a few interesting details that will pop under the veil," Lee said. "The intention was to accentuate her natural features, while adding a few modern, not-so-traditional details."

Peltz told CR Fashion Book last year, that she was thrilled to work with the Valentino team on her dream bridal wardrobe, traveling to Italy for design meetings and fittings with her family and stylist.

"We've been to Rome twice, watching everyone in the atelier, they're just so talented. The first time I went to Rome, I brought my mom and my brother Brad, who's actually my man of honor, and then Leslie Fremar who's one of my best friends in the whole world," she shared. "It is really a beautiful thing to be a part of, and it's very exciting."

While she didn't have a vision of her dream dress going into the design process, she did find the design partnership helpful.

RELATED: Brooklyn Beckham and Nicola Peltz's Most Romantic Photos Together

"I feel like actually, people have asked me that, and I have not thought of a specific dress that I want to get married in," she told CR Fashion Book. "So actually finding what that is with Valentino has been really amazing. The creative process has been fun, like finding the perfect fit and fabric.

Beckham, 23, and Peltz got engaged in July 2020, after first making their relationship public that January.

RELATED: Brooklyn Beckham and Nicola Peltz Admit That He Is 'More Likely to Cry' on Their Wedding Day

For the engagement, Peltz wore a sunny yellow dress designed by her now mother-in-law Victoria Beckham.

The asymmetrical design was part of the fashion tastemaker's Spring 2020 collection and features a plunging neckline with layers of delicate ruffles. It retails for $1,450 and has since sold out.

RELATED VIDEO: Brooklyn Beckham and Nicola Peltz Are Married! All About Their Palm Beach Wedding

In his post announcing their engagement, Beckham wrote: "Two weeks ago I asked my soulmate to marry me and she said yes xx I am the luckiest man in the world. I promise to be the best husband and the best daddy one day  I love you baby xx."

RELATED: Brooklyn Beckham Talks Wedding Plans with Fiancee Nicola Peltz: 'Hopefully, It'll Be Next Year'

"You've made me the luckiest girl in the world," said Peltz, captioning the same photo on her feed. "I can't wait to spend the rest of my life by your side. Your love is the most precious gift. I love you so so much baby ."

The couple has been very open to showcasing their relationship on social media, often posting intimate moments together on their Instagram feeds. They even made their love permeant with meaningful tattoos, Peltz inking Beckham's name on her upper back in cursive and Beckham adding a collection of fresh inkings in honor of the actress, including one of her late grandmother's name and a large striking image of her eyes on the back of his neck.
PROVIDENCE  The naming of buildings after living people has proved risky for colleges near and far.

But ex-Senate President M. Teresa Paiva Weed's former State House colleagues had no qualms about naming the Newport campus of the Community College of Rhode Island for her  and they voted to do so on Tuesday.

The final vote was 34-to-2, after close to 40 minutes of tributes to Paiva Weed, broken from time to time by concerns about politicians feting other politicians. The bill now goes to the House.

While many former colleagues called Paiva Weed a generous-spirited role model who broke the Senate's glass ceiling when she was elected the chamber's first female president, Sen. Cynthia Mendes  who is running for lieutenant governor  said:

"It's not a shocker that politicians want to name buildings after other politicians. That's what they do.... [But] naming state college buildings after friends is the exact kind of inside politics that Rhode Islanders are pretty sick of."

Democrat Mendes, who cast one of the two nay votes along with Sen. Jeanine Calkin, said Paiva Weed's opposition to the legislature's 2013 approval of gay marriage was another concern.

But Republican Sen. Jessica de la Cruz, who is running for Rhode Island's 2nd Congressional District seat, said she would vote yes to naming the building for Paiva Weed because she shares her "views on the unborn."

Paiva Weed resigned as a senator mid-term in 2017 to become the president of the Hospital Association of Rhode Island, a title she still holds. In that role, she is also the hospital trade group's $2,990-a-month lobbyist.

The Community College of Rhode Island's Newport campus will be named for former Senate President M. Teresa Paiva Weed.

Her former colleagues rose, one after another, to sing her praises as a lawmaker, "fierce advocate" for education  and card player.

Praise for former Sen. Paiva Weed

At the hearing, the sponsor, Senate Majority Whip Maryellen Goodwin  who is also one of Paiva Weed's closest friends  provided a rundown of the many ways the former Senate president advocated for CCRI, and specifically the creation of the Newport campus.

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From CCRI President Meghan Hughes came a letter extolling Paiva Weed's contributions to the school.

Then Senate President M. Teresa Paiva Weed speaks during a 2015 visit to Pell Elementary School in Newport.

"From her first day as a member of the Rhode Island state Senate in 1993 to her last day serving as Senate president in 2017, Paiva Weed was a constant advocate for the city of Newport and equally for access to high-quality, affordable public education," Hughes wrote.

She cited, as examples, Paiva Weed's advocacy for the free tuition program known as the Rhode Island Promise program, and a program offered through Rogers High School and CCRI, which offers Aquidneck Island high school students the opportunity to earn an associates degree in cybersecurity while simultaneously attending high school.

"This program has been a model for other school districts and lessens the financial burden of college for hundreds of families," she wrote.

Hughes also noted that three of CCRI's four buildings are already named for "individuals who contributed greatly to the college."

Questions about the 'norm' of naming buildings

The Knight Campus in Warwick is named after Royal W. Knight, who donated the land to build the college; the campus in Lincoln is named after Dr. William F. Flanagan, the first president of what was then known as Rhode Island Junior College, and the Liston campus in Providence is named after Edward J. Liston, the colleges second president, Hughes reminded the lawmakers.

All were alive when the buildings were named after them, according to CCRI spokeswoman Amy Kempe.

Gov. Dan McKee also sent a letter of "strong support" in which he called Paiva Weed a "fierce advocate for Rhode Islanders'' and said, "It is befitting that such an important institution in our state be named after her."

On Tuesday, Sen. Sam Bell, who is one of the most outspoken of the dissident Democrats in the Democrat-controlled Senate, tweeted: "I agree this is a norm, but is it a healthy one? If were honoring someone, why shouldnt they be able to appreciate it?"

Naming buildings for people has proved risky for a number of colleges, including Roger Williams University which stripped the name of Ralph R. Papitto from its law school.

Papitto had been chairman at Roger Williams when he was ousted after using a racial slur during a board discussion about the need to increase minority and female membership on the panel. The ensuing turmoil led the university to remove Papitto's name from the law school.

The incident made national news.

Papitto, who died in 2019 at age 92, had been the founder of Nortek, Glass-Tile Industries, AFC Cable Systems and the Read to Succeed Program for South Providence students.

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Senate votes to name CCRI Newport campus after former senator
On Feb. 1, the Rev. Colby Roberts began as rector of St. Timothy's Episcopal Church in Yakima. Roberts will be formally installed as rector of the parish April 24.
Naomi Ishisaka: Why WA lawmakers of color, women face disadvantage: Look to the horse-and-buggy days
What you need to know about Alaska Airlines cancellations
Yankton, SD (57078)

Today

Partly to mostly cloudy and windy. High near 75F. Winds SSE at 25 to 35 mph. Higher wind gusts possible..

Tonight

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PARIS, April 11 (Xinhua) -- France's Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs on Monday declared "six Russian agents operating under diplomatic cover" personae non gratae.

After an investigation made by the General Directorate of Internal Security (DGSI) on Sunday, the six Russian agents "whose activities were revealed contrary to our national interest have been declared persona non grata," the ministry said in a brief press release.

The Russian foreign ministry has said Moscow will respond to the expulsion of diplomats from France, according to media reports. 
Mr Modi and Mr Biden held a virtual meeting on Monday

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Joe Biden's virtual meeting came on the back of their differing stands on Ukraine.

Days before their meeting, Mr Biden had called India's stand "somewhat shaky" and one US official had warned that India had been informed that the consequences of a "more explicit strategic alignment" with Moscow would be "significant and long-term".

But India stood firm in its stand despite what appeared to be growing pressure from the US. Delhi continued to promote dialogue to end the war. It didn't criticise Russia directly but chose some strong words about the need to respect the sovereignty of each nation.

In that backdrop, the leaders' summit - which was not planned and was requested by the White House - is significant for geopolitical developments.

It was followed by the planned annual 2+2 Dialogue between Indian Foreign Minister S Jaishankar, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, and their US counterparts Antony Blinken and Lloyd Austin in Washington.

It's evident from the statements that both sides have shown willingness to understand each other's positions on Ukraine.

Pratyush Rao, director for South Asia at Control Risks consultancy, said the visit came at a sensitive time for the relationship.

Mr Modi shares good relations with Russian President Vladimir Putin

"This was a visible reaffirmation at the highest levels by both sides to the bilateral relationship, amidst all the media speculation about deepening strains over the Ukraine conflict. The message was, yes we do differ on Russia and will unlikely bridge the gap, but won't allow it to derail wider co-operation in the Indo-Pacific either," he added.

While PM Modi and his ministers reaffirmed their stated policy of non-alignment on Ukraine, Mr Biden and his ministers appeared more understanding of Delhi's position - a marked shift from some earlier strong statements of Washington officials.

Mr Blinken said India "has to make its own decisions about how it approaches this challenge". He also noted that India had issued strong statements at the UN and it had called for an independent investigation into the killings of civilians in Ukraine's Bucha.

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In a candid remark, he said "India's relationship with Russia has developed over decades at a time when the United States was not able to be a partner to India".

Many Ukranian towns have been destroyed in the war

He added that "times have changed" and the US was willing to be a partner of choice with India across virtually every realm - commerce, technology, education, and security.

Former Indian diplomat Anil Triguniyat said this statement showed that the US has understood India's position in a broader geopolitical context.

"Both sides have too much to lose if the bilateral relations are strained. Their relationship is rich and the meetings just reaffirmed that," he added.

Beyond Ukraine, the two sides also reaffirmed their commitment in continuing co-operation in the Indo-Pacific, and also in the trade, defence and security sectors.

Ukraine has also accused Russia of indiscriminate shelling of its cities

The US said it saw India as "a net provider of security in the region".

"China is seeking to refashion the region and the international system more broadly in ways that serve its interests," Mr Blinken said.

Both the US and India agree on playing a bigger role in the region to counterbalance China's growing influence.

India has a long disputed boundary with China. Their troops were involved in deadly clashes in the Galwan valley in 2020 that resulted in the deaths of 20 Indian soldiers. China said later it lost four troops in the clash.

Mr Jaishankar acknowledged that the Quad - which includes India, the US, Japan and Australia - had emerged as "a powerful force for global good" and its "elevation benefits the entire Indo-Pacific".

Mr Rao said India reposing its faith in the Quad was significant.

Russia, India's time-tested ally, has criticised the Quad and called it a forum to target China. Both Moscow and Beijing have become closer and often jointly taken stands against the West.

In that context, Mr Rao said that the Indian foreign minister's public and unequivocal endorsement of the Quad was important and will likely resonate among his audience in Washington.

Defence ties

Washington also acknowledged that Russia is India's biggest defence supplier - accounting for more than 50% of its imports.

In contrast, the US was India's second-largest supplier between 2011 and 2015 after Russia, but fell behind France and Israel in the period between 2016 and 2021.

Former Indian diplomat Jitendra Nath Misra said India continued to import from Russia because it got good value for money, and, crucially, transfers of technology in some areas.

"The US needs to give commitments on technology transfers to be able to get a bigger share of India's defence imports," he said.

A Russian S-400 anti-aircraft weapon system in Crimea

Defence Minister Singh talked about PM Modi's "Make in India" campaign and invited US defence companies to set up shop in India.

But there hasn't been any big-ticket announcement on this. However, a significant measure was announced about the two countries jointly developing air-launched unmanned aerial vehicles.

"More such measures are needed to address India's defence needs and help reduce its dependence on Moscow," Mr Misra added.

But the crucial issue of India's acquisition of Russia's S-400 missile defence system remains unsolved.

The leaders' meeting was held at the request of the White House

The purchase has come under the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (Caatsa), which was introduced in 2017 to target Russia, Iran and North Korea with economic and political sanctions. It also prohibits any country from signing defence deals with these nations.

Mr Blinken said the "US had not made a determination regarding potential sanctions or potential waivers under the CAATSA law".

There was also a veiled suggestion to India when Mr Blinken said the US was asking countries to avoid major new transactions for Russian weapons systems.

Mr Triguniyat says the ambiguity over the S-400 showed that the US wanted to keep its options open but it doesn't want to rock the boat at the moment.

It's clear that there is a lot more ground to cover for the US to replace Moscow as India's largest defence supplier.

Meanwhile, Mr Blinken also talked about India's human rights record, saying the US was "monitoring some recent concerning developments in India, including a rise in human rights abuses by some government, police, and prison officials".

The Indian ministers didn't respond to this but analysts say Democrats, including former president Obama, have raised such issues in the past.

The statement may have caused discomfort to Indians but analysts say its unlikely that the issue will become a major irritant in the relationship.

Energy and trade

Indian companies have been trying to circumvent sanctions to take advantage of the discounted oil prices being offered by Russian firms.

When this question was put to Mr Jaishankar, he denied that India was ramping up its oil imports from Russia.

"I suspect, looking at the figures, probably our total purchases [from Russia] for the month would be less than what Europe does in an afternoon. So you might want to think about that," he said.

The US has steadily increased its export of crude oil and refined petroleum products to India - accounting for 15% of India-US trade, which stood at $113bn in 2021.

The two countries believe that there is vast potential to take the bilateral trade to $500bn in the future. The two sides announced a series of measures, including restarting the US-India Commercial Dialogue and the US-India CEO Forum, to improve trade ties.
Mothers are special. They give us life. They nurture us. And, they shape the way we think an
Greensboro, NC (27407)

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Showers this morning, becoming a steady rain during the afternoon hours. High 69F. Winds NW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall around a quarter of an inch..

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As Lee Wilhite recently traveled through Ukraine delivering supplies and helping people to safety, it struck him that you could tell by someones eyes what part of Ukraine they were from.

When you meet these people, you can tell who maybe came from the center of the country versus the people who traveled all the way from the eastern part of the country, he said. Their eyes and their demeanor dont lie. The things these people have been through is just gut wrenching.

Wilhite, of Conroe, recently spent about a month in Poland making trips into Ukraine to help bring supplies to Ukraine, support the Ukrainian police and bring refugees to the border with Poland.

His experiences and stories of the people he met in Ukraine paint a vivid and heartbreaking picture of the cruelties of war.

On HoustonChronicle.com: She came to Texas from Ukraine for a semester. Now she's trying to get her family here permanently.

He made it his mission though, to try to bring help and hope to as many people as possible over his four weeks there.

Wilhites wife, Elizabeth, is the only member of her family born outside of Poland. Her fathers family is from the north side of Poland and her mothers family is from south Poland. She, her mother and two cousins live outside Poland, but the rest of her extended family still lives there.

She was raised in Canada but spent her summers as a girl in Poland visiting family.

Its a very different lifestyle there with an emphasis on togetherness and family, she said.

She and Lee were vacationing in New Mexico when the first Russian attack took place on Feb. 24. While Lee tried to block the news coverage out, Elizabeth couldnt help but worry for her Polish family.

She felt if Vladimir Putin and the Russian soldiers could go after Ukraine, what would stop them from attacking neighboring Poland?

As a nurse practitioner, her thoughts turned to the healthcare needs of the Ukrainian people and medical staff.

On HoustonChronicle.com: Montgomery County residents Stand with Ukraine in show of support

I knew if theres a way, we have to do something, Elizabeth said. If I had to put a phrase to it Id say If not us, then who? If we all turned our head away, then there wouldnt be anyone there to help.

They began to formulate a plan on their way home to Conroe. About a week after returning to Conroe from vacation, Lee flew to Warsaw, Poland landing around March 4.

It was his intention to see if he could help Elizabeths family but the effort turned into so much more. With support from Elizabeths workplace, Next Level Urgent Care, the couple gathered up a bunch of medical supplies for Lee to take to Ukraine in his luggage.

I knew Im not going to be able to lay my head down at night if I dont at least try to help, he said. He was picked up by some of Elizabeths cousins in Warsaw and they went to Polands border with Ukraine to see if they could help.

Within his first few days in Poland, he was a part of a group trying to bring the parents and grandparents of Elizabeths cousins wife out of Ukraine.

On HoustonChronicle.com: Ukrainian mother, daughter escape awful dream of Russian war to find refuge in Houston area

They lived east of Kyiv in an area that had been heavily hit. Elizabeth said they spent the first seven days of the attack in a bunker. But without power and water, they eventually ran out of food and supplies.

They had to make the decision, of were either going to die in this bunker or weve got to take the car with a full tank of gas and try to drive west, she said.

The got in their car and made their way west in Ukraine. However, at a military checkpoint and gas station, they got out of the car for food and restrooms. By the time they all returned to the car, the grandmother had died.

Their immediate thought was to turn around and go back east to have the funeral. A military officer told them there was no going back and handed them a shovel and suggested that they should bury her next to the gas station.

Through social media, a member of the grandmothers side of the family reached out and they were able to all go to a family members house near Odessa in the western part of Ukraine. They remain there now as the mother did not want to leave her husband who was within the fighting age for Ukrainian men.

Next Lee met up with a family friend in Poland, Lukas Tomaszewski, who was planning to take supplies into Ukraine. Lee joined him on the trip as they took a couple vans loaded down with supplies about 20 miles into Ukraine. There they met up with a group that would distribute the supplies.

On their way back to Poland, they picked up a couple that was walking and pushing a girl in a wheelchair. By the time they got to the border, their van was full of refugees who were previously on foot. Lee ended up helping five people who were wheelchair bound get to the Polish border.

On HoustonChronicle.com: Houston-based medical technology company donates 10,000 bandages to Ukraine military

The disabled, elderly and orphans of Ukraine seemed most vulnerable.

They waited many hours to get into and out of Ukraine at the border. One time, there was a car parked in front of them that had the drivers side window shot out. They began to talk to the man who was traveling with several children. The man said they were driving near Kyiv heading west when a Russian soldier shot through the window and killed his wife. They had to drive two hours until it was safe to stop the car. They buried the wife and mother there on the side of the road and kept going to the border.

Stories like this are everywhere, he said.

Meanwhile back in Conroe, in mid-March, Elizabeth launched the Facebook group, Help Poland Help Ukraine and she began collecting donations and chronicling Lees journey.

On March 15, she posted on the Help Poland Help Ukraine group page When it comes to Poland they are full. When he arrived at the border crossing it was surprising that there was not a lot of volunteers. There were at the beginning but people had to go back to work. Hotels, apartments, airbnbs are full in all major cities. School gyms stadiums are full. Everything you see in Poland is donated by the Poles. People are taking in one, two families, she wrote.

Tomaszewski took in two men in wheelchairs for the night in his home near Gdansk, Poland. From there they were able to board a board to stay with family in another country.

For their second trip into Ukraine, Lukas and Lee were able to secure an 18-wheeler and drove 20 tons of supplies about 180 miles into central Ukraine to again meet up with a group to distribute them.

This time they spent the night in a bunker. In talking to the people there, they developed a bond as the Ukrainians shared their stories.

The next morning, they left the bunker to find a nearby apartment building had been shelled overnight.

They also met with a police commander who described how they were in desperate need of training and protective gear. Lee was also able to help at an orphanage in Elizabeths home town of Koscierzyna, Poland that had taken in 200 Ukrainian children.

In addition to shelled buildings, throughout Ukraine Lee said they came upon burned out and abandoned cars.

Theres no clear military strategy from what anyone has seen, he said. People want to say stuff about Putin, but hes not the one pulling the trigger on these civilians who are trying to leave. The best way I can describe these Russian soldiers is like rabid dogs. I just dont see how someone can do that to another human being.

Lee returned to Conroe about a week ago, but his mind is still very much on Poland and Ukraine.

The Wilhites are still collecting donations to send to her family in Poland and Lee is still trying to get training for the police there and the equipment they need.

They are focused on raising $45,000 to purchase protective gear for police officers in Ukraine. Lee said the police officers of Ukraine really dont get enough credit. While the military officers are off fighting the attack, its the police who are with those who remained and getting those people supplies.

The Wilhites say theyll buy the protective plates in Germany where they can be shipped to officers in a matter of hours. Theyre also raising money for those in charge of orphanages in Poland who can purchase items for children at their facilities.

They are currently working with a nonprofit that is being set up for monetary donations.

In the meantime, they have set up a page for donations at gofundme.com. Search for HPHU-RPS. The RPS stands for rapid police support.

They also have a Facebook group for more about Help Poland Help Ukraine. It is Lees hope to return to Poland and Ukraine with more supplies soon.

Im torn about being here, Lee said. I wish I was still able to be there on the ground helping.

shernandez@hcnonline.com
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By Francois Murphy

VIENNA (Reuters) -Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer held "very direct, open and tough" talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin near Moscow on Monday, in Putin's first meeting with a European Union leader since the invasion of Ukraine started more than six weeks ago.

Neutral Austria, which obtains 80% of its natural gas from Russia, generally maintains closer ties to Moscow than much of the European Union but that has not been the case recently.

Nehammer has expressed solidarity with Ukraine and denounced apparent Russian war crimes, while his government has joined other EU countries in expelling Russian diplomats, albeit only a fraction of the large Russian diplomatic presence there.

"This is not a friendly visit," Nehammer was quoted as saying in a statement issued by his office shortly after the meeting at Putin's official Novo-Ogaryovo residence outside Moscow. A Nehammer spokesman said the meeting lasted 75 minutes, which is relatively short by Putin's standards.

Nehammer repeated previous comments that he had hoped to help bring an end to the conflict or improvements for Ukraine's beleaguered civilian population such as humanitarian corridors. He gave little away about Putin's response.

"The conversation with President Putin was very direct, open and tough," Nehammer said in the statement.

Having been visibly moved by telephone conversations with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Nehammer visited Ukraine on Saturday to show support for Kyiv. He said he felt meeting Putin was his duty so as to "leave no stone unturned" in seeking an end to the conflict or humanitarian improvements.

"My most important message to Putin was that this war must finally end, because in a war there are only losers on both sides," he said in the statement.

FIRST OF 100 TRIES?

At a news conference on Monday evening, Nehammer said it was important to tell Putin one-on-one that his views were not shared by other countries and that the longer the war lasted, the tougher Western sanctions against Russia would become.

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"(Telling him) once will not be enough. Ten times will not be enough. It might have to be done 100 times but I think it is necessary to do everything to ensure there is peace again and people in Ukraine can live in safety," Nehammer said.

While German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said he welcomed Nehammer's meeting with Putin, the reactions at home have included surprise, scepticism and even outright condemnation.

"Let's hope there is more to the Austrian chancellor #Nehammer's visit to Putin than has been said and meets the eye. Austria has all too often served the role of Moscow's useful idiot in the past," professor of comparative Austrian politics at the University of Salzburg Reinhard Heinisch said on Twitter https://twitter.com/reinhardheinis1/status/1513396220160626689?s=20&t=1JT2az6tHjOo6AwTCHGCfQ.

Conservative Nehammer's coalition partner, the left-wing Greens, went even further, criticising the visit.

"I cannot condone a visit to Putin," the Greens' foreign affairs spokesperson Ewa Ernst-Dziedzic wrote on Twitter https://twitter.com/dziedzic_ewa/status/1513201667835052032?s=20&t=1JT2az6tHjOo6AwTCHGCfQ. "This has nothing to do with diplomacy. This is also not an agreed roadmap for negotiations. Putin will use this for his propaganda."

(Reporting by Francois Murphy; Editing by Hugh Lawson and Grant McCool)
Republican gubernatorial candidate Jim Pillen reported Monday that he raised $2.3 million in campaign contributions during the past three months, bringing his total campaign war chest to more than $7.8 million.

That's a record-breaking total at this point in the campaign cycle, his campaign stated.

As of April 5, the end of the current reporting period, the campaign had more than $2.9 million in cash on hand in advance of the May 10 primary election.

"Nebraskans across the state believe in a commonsense future and have made an investment into our campaign and the future of the state," Pillen said.

"Because of their support, our campaign is in a strong financial position to compete for every vote and win this race," he said.

Pillen is matched against Falls City rancher and businessman Charles Herbster and Sen. Brett Lindstrom of Omaha at the top of the polls conducted to measure support in a nine-candidate Republican field.

Herbster, who has self-funded most of his campaign costs, has held the lead in recent polling.

The Pillen campaign reported contributions from 2,097 donors, 1,987 of whom are Nebraskans.

Reach the writer at 402-473-7248 or dwalton@journalstar.com. On Twitter @LJSdon
OMAHA  The Black-owned enterprise Carver Legacy Center opened for business Monday in a historic savings and loan building at 24th and Lake streets in North Omaha.

More than 75 people watched as the two couples who founded and own the Carver Legacy Center cut a ceremonial ribbon on the building theyve renovated. The couples  Willie and Yolanda Barney and Martin and Lynnell Williams  also had a soft opening for three businesses that will operate there.

The first businesses to open were the Carver Business HUB, the Revive Omaha Store and Carver Legacy Financial Services. The store will sell products and services of local Black-owned businesses.

The HUB will connect Black-owned businesses to networking and business development resources and education with a number of partners, including the Williamses DreamBusiness firm. The HUB will be the new home of the Barneys Revive Black Business Network.

And Carver Legacy Financial Services is a joint venture with American National Bank that offers business and home loans. Plans call for a full-service bank branch eventually.

The enterprises are located in the historic Carver Savings and Loan Building, where the first Black-owned financial institution in Omaha opened in the 1940s.

The Revive Store will be open from noon to 5 p.m. on Tuesdays through Saturdays. Currently, products and services from nine businesses are offered there, including popcorn, inspirational and Christian gifts, hand-made candles, biscotti, childrens clothing and shoes that are custom-designed in Omaha and made in Italy.

The HUB and Carter Legacy Financial Services generally will be open by appointment only.

Willie Barney said the openings represent the second of three phases for the center, which aims to help African Americans in North Omaha and throughout the city build wealth through owning businesses and homes.

The first phase took place in 2020. The Barneys and Williamses acquired the Carver Building and began renovating it. American National Bank, led by executive co-chairs John and Wende Kotouc, began offering Carver Legacy Accounts to give people a way to invest in African American businesses and North Omaha. Deposits in those Carver accounts are being committed to African American community development, including businesses, individual home purchases and home construction, as well as for-profit and nonprofit real estate development, John Kotouc said.

On Monday, Barney said deposits in Carver accounts have grown to $9 million in the 18 months since the Carver Legacy Center was announced. He said about $1.5 million in loans have been made.

There was a festive atmosphere Monday outside the center as many elected officials joined businesspeople and community leaders for the ribbon-cutting and tours. State Sen. Terrell McKinney, whose district includes North Omaha, said the center will help shift focus to economics and wealth building in the area.

Itll go a long way for the North Omaha community, to build up some economic empowerment for residents down here, he said. So we can decrease the amount of poverty thats here, be able to support each other and do great things in this area.
I grew up surrounded by her beatings and blessings. If youre a Nebraskan, you know her  shes the Nebraska wind.

She whistles through creaking doors in the uneven hallways of old farmhouses.

She rips off shingles and pummels land to dust too quickly after rain.

She is that voiceless, voice, that can give little rest when she chooses to whip through our ears.

We grow used to her most days and fold hats around our heads or pull up hoods to block her boldness when we need to.

Nebraskans are not conditioned by silence. Oh no, they are conditioned by the wind.

These were and always will be windswept plains. Swept, long before we came swooping in.

What was meant to grow here were grasses with anchors many feet deep, that sway with backs naturally bowing down to the truth these old, wise plants simply know  bend or break, because there is no breaking her.

The more we push against the soil and wind, the more the soil and wind push back, or just go dormant and keep blowing away, waiting for the fight to be over to sprout the earth to life again. They both know we put up a fight we cant ultimately win. They know they are here long after were gone. They were chosen, (not us), to be first and last.

The Nebraska wind can explode into a tornadic rage and her lessons can shatter our futile attempts to contain her. She shreds our sheds and spits out homes and grain bins on her worst days, as if to say  Ive had enough. I was here first. Just try me.

But she wraps us in enough gentle warmth in the summer and serves up enough calm, autumn breezes for us to stay. We love her entirety too much to just leave her blusteriness behind. Because in Nebraska, a beautiful day is the most beautiful day ever. Those who nestle into her native prairie, hide away in her majestic Sandhills, and explore the art and color of her cities know  theres magic in Nebraska.

Let the Nebraska wind be your guide to the incredible adventures the land beneath embodies. She knows as she has touched every inch.

The grazing animal suits the Nebraska wind, like the bison that ran with her breath eons before we tried to domesticate a spirit that really cannot be tamed. Millenia spent in courtship, the bison and wind became one. They roamed under her direction with backs curved divinely and succinctly with whatever turn she took  north, south, east, and west.

Mightier than our ego and more innately wise, the Nebraska wind knows we have nothing to teach her. She drives every move beneath her expanse and determines what will, or will not, go on.

Heed her warning and enjoy her moments of peace. Shes gracious enough to allow flowers to grow and families too. She doesnt dissolve every raindrop, nor does she whip us to death. But when she needs to, the lashings will be there. Then they will cease, and we can marvel at how wildly beautiful she is.

Yes, despite her worst days, her best days are always far better  thats why we stay under her direction. We have no choice but to go along. Ultimately, wherever she blows, well go.
The Hyundai Palisade's 2023 model has been released through a thumbnail that was unintentionally added to the brand's live video on YouTube. Only one photograph of the new Palisade, which has since been taken down, reveals the reworked front end and the new alloy wheel design. Obviously, the car on display is a high-end model.

The main change made to the upcoming Hyundai Palisade is the grille. The new grille flows outwards from the top where the indicators used to be, and it also has the same jewel-like "parametric" inserts as seen on the Tucson's outside borders, making for a striking visual difference. The C-shaped LED daytime running lights on the Hyundai Palisade have been replaced with straight lines at the corners.

To fit the new DRLs, the main headlights were modified, and the projecting satin chrome chin spoiler on what looks to be the top-spec Calligraphy version was altered as well. New turbine-style alloy wheels are also showcased in this collection.

Also read: Hyundai i20 gets 3-star safety rating in Global NCAP crash test

A mechanical update to the Palisade was not mentioned. The upcoming Palisade is expected to use the same 3.8-litre naturally-aspirated V6 petrol engine that makes 295 PS of power and 335 Nm of torque, along with a 2.2-litre inline-four turbo-diesel engine producing 200 PS of power and 441 Nm of torque. Both engines are mated to an 8-speed automatic gearbox. The SUV is also expected to be offered with an all-wheel-drive system.

The updated Hyundai Palisade will be presented at the New York Auto Show on the 13th of April, and more details will be announced at that time along with its pricing.

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Alliance Air's made-in-India Dornier 228 aircraft has taken its first commercial flight on Dibrugarh-Pasighat route on Tuesday (April 12) with Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia on board. Alliance Air, the regional division of Air India operating flights under the government's RCS-UDAN scheme recently took delivery of the passenger variant of Dornier 228 aircraft made by HAL under the license agreement.

The Centre-run Alliance Air had in February signed an agreement with the government-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited to lease two 17-seater Dornier 228 aircraft. The Dornier 228 is based on Do-228 being operated by the Indian Air Force and manufactured by HAL in India.

Taking off for Passighat ! pic.twitter.com/ZcxxiHAQEF  Jyotiraditya M. Scindia (@JM_Scindia) April 12, 2022

Its first flight between Dibrugarh in Assam and Pasighat in Arunachal Pradesh will boost connectivity in the northeastern states, the airline said in a statement. Alliance Air said it will be India's first commercial airline to fly Indian-made aircraft for civil operations.

Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu and Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma were present on the occasion of Dornier 228's first flight and the flying training organisation's opening. Till date, Dornier 228 planes are used by the armed forces only.

Also read: Delhi International Airport now the third-busiest airport in the world

Regular flight operations are slated to start from April 18 on the Dibrugarh-Pasighat-Lilabari-Dibrugarh route. The services will be further expanded to Tezu, Mechuka, Ziro and Tuting in Arunachal Pradesh with the Dibrugarh airport as the hub station.

As per HAL, the versatile aircraft has the capabilities of short take-off and landing, ability to land and take-off from semi-prepared runways. The aircrafts will be deployed under the government's ambitious Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) in the region called UDAN.

With agency inputs

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In a first, the heavy lift transport helicopter of Indian Air Force - the Boeing-made Chinook, created a new record for the longest helicopter journey in India. The recently inducted IAF helicopter made a record for the longest non-stop helicopter sortie from Chandigarh to Jorhat, Assam. The chopper took seven-and-half hours to complete the 19,10 km long journey, said the IAF officials.

"An @IAF_MCC Chinook undertook the longest non-stop helicopter sortie in India, flying from Chandigarh to Jorhat (Assam). The 1910 kms route was completed in 7 hrs 30 min and made possible by the capabilities of Chinook along with operational planning and execution by @IAF_MCC," a defence spokesperson tweeted.

IAFs Chinook helicopter undertook the longest non-stop helicopter sortie in India, flying from Chandigarh to Jorhat (Assam). The 1910 kms route was completed in 7 hrs 30 min & made possible by capabilities of Chinook along with operational planning and execution by the IAF: IAF pic.twitter.com/mfuURTNOVW  ANI (@ANI) April 11, 2022

The Indian Air Force acquired the Boeing-made Chinook for modernizing the IAF fleet recently, along with inducting Apache attack helicopters. The Chinook is a multi-role, vertical-lift platform, which is used for transporting troops, artillery, equipment and fuel. It is also used for humanitarian and disaster relief operations and in missions such as transportation of relief supplies and mass evacuation of refugees.

The defence official said the rapid mobility will allow the Indian Air Force to deploy the helicopter optimally as required. "Chinook is a multi role, vertical lift platform, used for transporting men and material. It also plays an important role in Humanitarian and Disaster Relief Operations. Rapid mobility will allow @IAF_MCC to employ this asset optimally as required," the official said in another tweet.

India had finalised a contract in September 2015 to procure 22 Apache helicopters and 15 Chinooks choppers from the US at a cost of around USD 3 billion.

With inputs from PTI

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The Indian Air Force is undertaking a daring rescue operation in Jharkhand's Deogarh to save victims of a ropeway accident in the state. Following the same, the IAF has shared videos on its social media accounts highlighting the rescue ops. IAF has deployed its trusted Mi17 V5 transport and heavy lift chopper for the rescue operation. The Mil Mi17 V5 helicopter is one of the best helicopters in the world to perform HADR operations (Humanitarian Assistance Disaster Relief).

"Operations are underway by IAF to rescue stranded tourists and passengers on Jharkhand ropeway at Trikut hill near Deoghar. Nineteen tourists have been rescued till now by IAF Mi17 V5 & Cheetah helicopters with Garud Commandos," wote IAF on its Twitter acoount.

Operations are underway by #IAF to rescue stranded tourists and passengers on #Jharkhand ropeway at Trikut hill near Deoghar. Nineteen tourists have been rescued till now by #IAF Mi17 V5 & Cheetah helicopters with Garud Commandos. #HarKaamDeshKeNaam pic.twitter.com/gYrH1zIkTl  Indian Air Force (@IAF_MCC) April 11, 2022

Ten of the 15 tourists who remained trapped mid-air in cable cars connecting the Trikut Hills in Jharkhand's Deoghar district for about 40 hours were rescued by Indian Air Force choppers that resumed rescue operations early on Tuesday morning, officials said.

"IAF has recommenced rescue operations at Deoghar ropeway early morning today. Efforts are on to rescue each and every stranded person at the earliest," said IAF as they continue the rescue operations.

Some 50 people have been rescued so far from cable cars which were left dangling mid-air after a malfunction of the ropeway which saw trolley cars colliding on Sunday 4 pm. Two persons have died so far including one on Monday who fell to his death during a botched helicopter rescue attempt, while 12 persons who were injured are being treated in hospitals.

Also read: A look at mighty helicopter fleet of Indian Air Force - Mi-17, Chinook and more

Rescue operations are on by the combined teams of Indian Air Force, Army, ITBP, NDRF and district administration. "The people trapped during the ropeway journey on Trikut mountain are being rescued by the team of Air Force and NDRF. So far seven people have been rescued," Deoghar Deputy Commissioner Manjunath Bhajantri said.

Rescue operations had to be stopped after sunset as the ropeway runs through a picturesque yet densely forested area surrounded by hills, access to which is difficult except by air. Also making rescue from the ground difficult is the fact that the trolleys are suspended at heights of up to 1500 feet.

The area which boasts of the famous Trikutachal Mahadeva Temple and the hermitage of Sage Dayananda, Trikut Hills has several peaks, with the highest Peak at a the height of 2,470 feet from the sea level and around about 1500 feet from the ground.

The Trikut ropeway, according to the Jharkhand tourism department, is India's highest vertical ropeway. It is around 766-metre long.

With inputs from PTI

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Melbourne: Film studio Warner Bros says it has "complied" with Chinese censors to edit out specific references to a gay relationship in "Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore", its latest theatrical release in the country.

According to Australian website news.Com.Au, the Chinese version has chopped six seconds from the film's final cut, including two lines of dialogues that referenced a previous romantic relationship between lead characters, Albus Dumbledore and Gellert Grindelwald, played by Jude Law and Mads Mikkelsen, in the movie.

The lines in question were, "because I was in love with you" and "the summer Gellert and I fell in love".

"The Secrets of Dumbledore" is the third film in the "Fantastic Beasts" series, a prequel spin-off in the popular "Harry Potter" franchise based on the book series by J K Rowling.

Also starring Eddie Redmayne, Katherine Waterston, Ezra Miller, Alison Sudol, Dan Fogler, Callum Turner, and Jessica Williams, the film was released in China on April 8.

Warner Bros said the spirit of the movie remains "intact" despite the cuts.

"As a studio, we're committed to safeguarding the integrity of every film we release, and that extends to circumstances that necessitate making nuanced cuts in order to respond sensitively to a variety of in-market factors.

"Our hope is to release our features worldwide as released by their creators but historically we have faced small edits made in local markets. In the case of Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore, a six-second cut was requested and Warner Bros accepted those changes to comply with local requirements but the spirit of the film remains intact," the studio said in a statement to the web portal.

The company said they want the audiences, including in China, to enjoy the film.

"We want audiences everywhere in the world to see and enjoy this film, and it's important to us that Chinese audiences have the opportunity to experience it as well, even with these minor edits," Warner Bros further said in the statement.

In 2007, Rowling announced that Dumbledore, the headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, is gay and that he and Grindelwald had an affair when they were young.

The English author made the remarks following the publication of the seventh and final "Harry Potter" book, "The Deathly Hallows". Dumbledore was not explicitly gay in the book series.

"The Secrets of Dumbledore" officially acknowledged the character's sexuality on screen for the first time.

Previously, "Bohemian Rhapsody", the Freddie Mercury biopic, was famously chopped by Chinese censors, omitting all references to the Queen frontman's sexuality.

Even the best actor Oscars acceptance speech by Rami Malek, who played Mercury in the film, was altered on Chinese television when the subtitles replaced "gay man" with "special group".
New Delhi: The Centre on Monday (April 11, 2022) said that this year's Amarnath Yatra will be historic and the biggest ever. Secretary to Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India, Apurva Chand said they are expecting around 7-8 lakh pilgrims to arrive in the Union Territory during the yatra period.

Apurva said that he has held a detailed meeting with the chief secretary of Jammu and Kashmir, divisional commissioners of Jammu and Kashmir regions and the concerned deputy commissioners, who informed that around 6-8 lakh pilgrims are expected to arrive for the Amarnath Yatra and it will be historic.

All the arrangements will be in place for the Yatra and the entire administration is geared up to welcome such a huge number of pilgrims this year.

"Foolproof security arrangements are discussed and are being put in place slowly and all the security agencies in J&K are involved in making the Yatra safe. Security in J&K has already improved as you can see how many tourists are visiting the place, he said.

Amarnath Yatra is scheduled to start on June 30 for 43 days and the online registration has started on Monday.

It is notable that the Amarnath Yatra was not conducted in 2021 and 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

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Consolidated Uranium Inc.

Figure 1

Map showing location of the Laguna Salada Project

Figure 2

Map showing geology and target zones Laguna Salada Project

Figure 3

Map showing details of the geology and historical geochemical sampling at the La Rosada area

Figure 4

Map showing planned geochemical sampling program for the La Rosada target

TORONTO, April 11, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Consolidated Uranium Inc. (CUR, the Company, Consolidated Uranium) (TSXV: CUR) (OTCQB: CURUF) is pleased to provide details of a planned work program at its 100% owned Laguna Salada Uranium-Vanadium Project (Laguna Salada or the Project) located in Chubut Province, Argentina (Figure 1).



Highlights

Aggressive Exploration Program Planned for 2022  Permitting and landholder approvals are being sought to undertake a systematic exploration program at the La Rosada target (La Rosada) within the Project area. Initially, the program is expected to include ground scintillometer and hand-dug trenching with subsequent follow-up of elect targets using mechanical excavator trenching and drilling. Work is expected to commence during April 2022, subject to receipt of applicable approvals.



New Area Outside of the Historic Mineral Resource  La Rosada is located approximately 40 kilometers northeast of the historical mineral resources at the Guanaco and Lago Seco zones. It represents an area of considerable discovery potential with minimal previous exploration (Figure 2).



Extensive Areas of the Prospective Target Sequence  At La Rosada, terraces of the prospective sequence of Quaternary unconsolidated gravels/sands hosting the caliche-style uranium-vanadium mineralization outcrop over a large area (>36,000 ha).



High Uranium and Vanadium Grades Identified  Historic cursory exploration work by at La Rosada reported grades up to 1.18% U 3 O 8 and 0.517% V 2 O 5 at depths of less than 1 metre in the target sequence. Strongly anomalous values were reported in non-systematic shallow pit sampling over several kilometers.



Philip Williams, CEO commented "We are excited to commence this program at Laguna Salada which represents the first new work on the Project since 2012. Featuring similar geology and mineralization to the area where a historic mineral resources was established at the Guanaco and Lago Seco zones, we believe that La Rosada provides potential to outline additional uranium and vanadium mineralization on the Project. We are very encouraged by some of the high reported historical uranium and vanadium grades at La Rosada, which our geologists confirmed on recent field visits through the widespread presence of high scintillometer counts and corresponding visible carnotite (a uranium-vanadium mineral) in shallow pits. Our plan is to systematically define the extent of potential caliche-hosted uranium and vanadium mineralization, which is the first step in advancing towards potential drilling on the Project."

Story continues

La Rosada Uranium-Vanadium Target

La Rosada was the subject of limited historic pit and trench geochemical sampling between 2011 and 2012, which defined a kilometric-scale, >36,000 hectares, uranium and vanadium anomalous area that are located on the western trace of Jurassic-Quaternary unconformity (Figure 2). This pattern mirrors the occurrence of uranium and vanadium enriched zones located approximately 40 kilometers to the southwest at Lago Seco and Guanaco; however, at La Rosada the prospective Quaternary deposits lap onto older basement rocks, consisting of strongly radiogenic rhyolite volcanic rocks. These rocks are considered to be important local sources for uranium and vanadium metal in the broader mineral system. Details of historic sampling at La Rosada, are shown in Figure 3, where strong uranium and vanadium anomalies occur within the caliche-rich soil profile developed on both the Quaternary gravel deposits and also on the Jurassic basement volcanic rocks. At La Rosada, the Quaternary deposits occur on the tops of mesa-like hills, comprising outliers isolated from the main Quaternary deposits to the east. Uranium values reported by U3O8, in a press release dated November 12, 2013, from La Rosada included assays from 14 channel samples of free digging mineralization which averaged 0.15% U 3 O 8 (up to 1.18%) and 0.078% V 2 O 5 (up to 0.517%) over average thicknesses of about 0.70 metres in the shallow soil profile developed within the gravel deposits.

The historic results and field verification conducted by CUR indicate that La Rosada has good potential to host extensive, and as yet undiscovered, zones of shallow caliche-hosted uranium and vanadium mineralization of a similar style to that already known on the rest of the Laguna Salada Project area.

The planned exploration program at La Rosada will focus on systematically defining the extent of the geochemical anomalies through a process of scintillometer traversing and grids of trench geochemical sampling (Figure 3). Initial sampling will be from shallow hand-dug pits, later progressing to machine-excavated trenches once broadly anomalous zones have been defined. Deeper mineralized targets will be pursued through shallow drilling. The field program is expected to start in during April 2022.

Figure 1: Map showing location of the Laguna Salada Project is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/6e85052f-6d30-43a6-a631-8f5054f3f237

Figure 2: Map showing geology and target zones Laguna Salada Project is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/6a69a0ce-0407-402a-bab9-117665399326

Figure 3: Map showing details of the geology and historical geochemical sampling at the La Rosada area is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/ea77c5d0-317c-488f-9ac8-6d4edbb1c14d

Figure 4: Map showing planned geochemical sampling program for the La Rosada target is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/c0d85186-1692-4cca-be42-3796f565d59c

Update on the Laguna Salada Option Agreement

Under the terms of the option agreement between the Company and U308 Corp. (U308) dated December 14, 2020 (the Option Agreement), pursuant to which the Company acquired Laguna Salada on December 21, 2021. U308 is entitled to receive certain payments contingent upon the attainment of certain milestones tied to the spot price of uranium. As the uranium month-end spot price for March exceeded USD$50/lb (the Pricing Threshold), U308 is entitled receive payment of an additional $505,000, payable in cash or common shares of the Company (Common Shares) at the election of CUR. Further, in accordance with the terms of the Option Agreement, U308 has exercised its option (the Spot Price Option) to have the balance of the potential future spot price contingent payments settled immediately through the payment of an additional $500,000, payable in cash or Common Shares at the election of CUR. As a result, upon payment, all potential future spot price contingent payments pursuant to the Option Agreement will be extinguished.

As a result of the Pricing Threshold having been met and U308 having exercised the Spot Price Option, CUR will deliver to U308 aggregate consideration of $1,005,000 to be satisfied by the issuance of 374,441 Common Shares at a deemed price of $2.684 per share, based on the five-day volume-weighted average price of the Common Shares up to March 31, 2022, being the second business day prior to the achievement of the Pricing Threshold.

All Common Shares issued pursuant to the Option Agreement are subject to final approval of the TSX Venture Exchange (the TSXV) and will be subject to a hold period expiring four months and one day from the applicable date of issuance.

The Laguna Salada Uranium Project

The Laguna Salada Project is an advanced exploration project located in the central part of Chubut Province, Argentina. The Project is located about 270km southwest of the provincial capital, Rawson and approximately 230 kilometres from the main commercial port city of Comodoro Rivadavia. Reconnaissance work on Laguna Salada was first conducted in 2007 with the aim of confirming anomalies detected in a 1978 airborne radiometric survey undertaken by Comision Nacional de Energia Atomica, Argentinas National Nuclear Authority (CNEA).

The CNEA recognized that the uranium mineralization is related to caliches  partial cementation of the host by calcium carbonates. Caliche- and Calcrete-type deposits are surficial uranium deposits found in semi-desert environments. Caliche-type deposits differ in that they typically occur in unconsolidated clastic sediments such as gravel, as opposed to cemented sediments in the case of Calcrete-type uranium deposits. Examples of surficial uranium deposits are Lake Maitland in Western Australia and Langer Heinrich in Namibia. Laguna Salada is similar to the free-digging Tubas Red Sand Deposit in Namibia.

Uranium-vanadium mineralisation at Laguna Salada is contained in flat-topped mesas that are approximately 10 metres higher than the surrounding plain, on the north bank of the Rio Chico, one of the principal rivers in the region that flows northeast into the Rio Chubut. Mineralisation at Laguna Salada occurs in a tabular, gently undulating layer that contains yellow-green uranium-vanadium minerals at shallow depth in unconsolidated, sandy gravel. The mineralised layer lies beneath shallow soil and typically a barren cap of gravel on the top of the mesas.

The entire uranium-vanadium historic mineral resource at Laguna Salada lies within 3 metres of surface in unconsolidated material in the flat, gravel plain that extends from the foothills of the Andes to the Atlantic coast in southern Argentina. The Company is currently working on preparing a current mineral resource estimate and expanding such current mineral resource into areas in which exploration had shown significant mineralization potential.

Historical Mineral Resources1

The Laguna Salada historical mineral resource was prepared in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 ("NI 43-101") by independent consulting company, Coffey Mining Pty Ltd., 2011 (Table 1). A Qualified Person (as defined in NI 43-101) has not done sufficient work to classify the historical resource estimate as a current mineral resource; however, given the quality of the historic work and the reputation of U308, the Company believes the historical resource estimates to be both relevant and reliable but may need to conduct an exploration program, including trenching in order to upgrade the historical resource estimate to a current mineral resource estimate. The information provides an indication of the exploration potential of the Project but may not be representative of expected results. The Company is not treating the historical resource estimate as a current mineral resource estimate.

Summary of Historical Mineral Resource for Laguna Salada Project Using Recommended Cut-off Grades

for the Guanaco and Lado Seco Areas Average Grade Contained Metal Category of

Resource Lower cut-off

(ppm U 3 O 8 ) Tonnes

(millions) U 3 O 8

(ppm) V 2 O 5

(ppm) U 3 O 8

(Mlb) V 2 O 8

(Mlb) Indicated Resources Guanaco 25 44.6 55 530 5.5 52.0 Lago Seco 100 2.7 145 840 0.9 5.0 Total Indicated 47.3 60 550 6.3 57.1 Inferred Resources Guanaco 25 19.4 80 555 3.4 23.7 Lago Seco 100 1.3 130 1,065 0.4 3.1 Total Inferred 20.8 85 590 3.8 26.9

(1) May 2011 Technical Report: Laguna Salada Project, Chubut Province, Argentina: NI 43-101 Technical Report, Initial Resource Estimate dated May 20, 211, which is available under U308s profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

The recommended cut-off grades for the two mineralized areas, taking into account their distinct beneficiation characteristics, are: 25ppm U 3 O 8 for Guanaco and 100ppm U 3 O 8 for Lago Seco. Ordinary Kriged Accumulation Method Estimate Using 100m x 100m x 10 Parent Cell Density of 1.7t/m (Lago Seco) and 1.95t/m (Guanaco).

*Removal of pebbles and coarse sand by screening results in uranium grades increasing by 11 times over the in-situ grade of gravel from the Guanaco area and seven times from the Lago Seco area. Vanadium grades increase 3.8 times through beneficiation of gravels from both areas.

Qualified Person

The scientific and technical information contained in this news release was reviewed and approved by Peter Mullens (FAusIMM), Consolidated Uraniums Vice President, Business Development, who is a Qualified Person (as defined in NI 43-101).

About Consolidated Uranium

Consolidated Uranium Inc. (TSXV: CUR) (OTCQB: CURUF) was created in early 2020 to capitalize on an anticipated uranium market resurgence using the proven model of diversified project consolidation. To date, the Company has acquired or has the right to acquire uranium projects in Australia, Canada, Argentina, and the United States each with significant past expenditures and attractive characteristics for development. Most recently, the Company completed a transformational strategic acquisition and alliance with Energy Fuels Inc., a leading U.S.-based uranium mining company, and acquired a portfolio of permitted, past-producing conventional uranium and vanadium mines in Utah and Colorado. These mines are currently on stand-by, ready for rapid restart as market conditions permit, positioning CUR as a near-term uranium producer.



For More Information, Please Contact:

Philip Williams

Chairman & CEO

pwilliams@consolidateduranium.com

Mars Investor Relations

+1 647 557 6640

cur@marsinvestorrelations.com

Twitter: @ConsolidatedUr

www.consolidateduranium.com

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulations Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information includes, but is not limited to, statements with respect to activities, events or developments that the Company expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future including, but not limited to, the Companys ongoing business plan, mineral resource estimates and work related thereto, exploration and work programs and the issuance of the Common Share pursuant to the Option Agreement. Generally, but not always, forward-looking information and statements can be identified by the use of words such as plans, expects, is expected, budget, scheduled, estimates, forecasts, intends, anticipates, or believes or the negative connotation thereof or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results may, could, would, might or will be taken, occur or be achieved or the negative connotation thereof. Such forward-looking information and statements are based on numerous assumptions, including that general business and economic conditions will not change in a material adverse manner, that financing will be available if and when needed and on reasonable terms, and that third party contractors, equipment and supplies and governmental and other approvals required to conduct the Companys planned exploration activities will be available on reasonable terms and in a timely manner. Although the assumptions made by the Company in providing forward-looking information or making forward-looking statements are considered reasonable by management at the time, there can be no assurance that such assumptions will prove to be accurate.

Forward-looking information and statements also involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties and other factors, which may cause actual events or results in future periods to differ materially from any projections of future events or results expressed or implied by such forward-looking information or statements, including, among others: negative operating cash flow and dependence on third party financing, uncertainty of additional financing, no known mineral reserves or resources, reliance on key management and other personnel, potential downturns in economic conditions, actual results of exploration activities being different than anticipated, changes in exploration programs based upon results, and risks generally associated with the mineral exploration industry, environmental risks, changes in laws and regulations, community relations and delays in obtaining governmental or other approvals and the risk factors with respect to Consolidated Uranium set out in CURs annual information form in respect of the year ended December 31, 2020 filed with the Canadian securities regulators and available under CURs profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking information or implied by forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that forward-looking information and statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated, estimated or intended. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or reissue forward-looking information as a result of new information or events except as required by applicable securities laws.




Senior Congress leader Pratap Singh Bawja today said that Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is "indirectly controling Punjab administration", a day after he reportedly called state's Chief Secretary and Power Secretary for a meeting in the national capital.

"This (Punjab) govt is running from Delhi and not from Chandigarh," Bawja said. "Two days ago Arvind Kejriwal called Punjab's Chief Secretary, Power Secretary (to Delhi)," he said, adding that "this is unconstitutional and is indirect control on Punjab".

Bajwa further said that AAP led government in Punjab is not taking action against criminals. "No one is afraid of govt or police. Government runs with 'Dabdaba' or 'Zalzala' but you have nothing like that. No one is taking you seriously as a government. How will you make people safe?" he added.
WASHINGTON: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, who is on a visit to the United States, has conveyed his good wishes to Pakistans new Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and urged him to rein in terror activities emanating from the neighbouring countrys soil.

"I just want to convey to him to curb terrorism...my best wishes with him," Rajnath Singh said on new Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif.

On new Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh who's in Washington DC told ANI, " I just want to convey to him to curb terrorism...best wishes with him." pic.twitter.com/72pZi7yI6t  ANI (@ANI) April 12, 2022

On Monday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also congratulated Shehbaz Sharif on his election as the 23rd Prime Minister of Pakistan. PM Modi said that India desires peace and stability in a region free of terror so that both countries can focus on their development challenges.

"Congratulations to H.E. Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on his election as the Prime Minister of Pakistan. India desires peace and stability in a region free of terror, so that we can focus on our development challenges and ensure the well-being and prosperity of our people," PM Modi said in a tweet.

Earlier on Monday, PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif was elected as the 23rd Prime Minister of Pakistan with 174 lawmakers voting in his favour after the MNAs of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf boycotted the election.

Rajnath urges US companies for co-development, co-production in India

In the US, Rajnath Singh has also appealed to the US companies and equipment manufacturers for co-development and co-production in India. Singh told news agency ANI that during the US-India 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue, the US responded positively to India`s policy of "Atmanirbharta (self-reliance)"."As far as the US is concerned, they responded positively on `Atmanirbharta` (self-reliance)`... no negativity in talks."

"I have appealed to the American people, their companies, equipment manufacturers that they are welcome in India while calling upon them for co-development and co-production in India," he added.

Reacting to the US talking about providing affordable defence systems, Singh said, "Price affordability will benefit only when we require, or can`t produce...We will buy it from outside when it`s required..."

Speaking on India`s dependence on Russian spare parts and the problems India might face in the future because of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, he said that "India can aptly deal with all kinds of problems and challenges".

Meanwhile, the US-India 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue between Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin and External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh was held on Monday in Washington.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh with US Secretary of Defence Lloyd James Austin III, in Washington DC on the sidelines of 2+2 dialogue in the US pic.twitter.com/ebjKsD7pnY  ANI (@ANI) April 12, 2022

Pentagon said in a statement said defence and foreign ministers of the two countries forged new and deeper cooperation across the breadth of the US-India partnership, including defence, science and technology, trade, climate, public health, and people-to-people ties.

(With Agency inputs)

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New Delhi: All the tourists, who were trapped mid-air in cable cars connecting the Trikut Hills in Jharkhand's Deoghar district, have now been rescued, officials said on Tuesday (April 12, 2022).

According to reports, three people have lost their lives after cable cars were left dangling mid-air due to a malfunction of the ropeway which resulted in trolley cars colliding on Sunday.

Around 12 persons who sustained injuries are being treated in hospitals.

Teams of IAF, Indian Army, NDRF, ITBP and local administration were involved in rescue operations.

#IAF has recommenced rescue operations at Deoghar ropeway early morning today. Efforts are on to rescue each and every stranded person at the earliest.#HarKaamDeshKeNaam pic.twitter.com/06PTraKHBC  Indian Air Force (@IAF_MCC) April 12, 2022

Indian Air Force continues operations for rescue of those stranded at the Deoghar ropeway. Operations resumed early in the morning today.@IAF_MCC @SpokespersonMoD pic.twitter.com/ggGHK6g9xD  PRO Nagpur, Ministry of Defence (@PRODefNgp) April 12, 2022

On Monday, rescue operations had to be stopped after sunset as the ropeway runs through a picturesque yet densely forested area surrounded by hills, access to which is difficult except by air. The rescue operations from the ground is difficult as the trolleys are suspended at heights of up to 1500 feet.

Meanwhile, the Jharkhand High Court has taken cognizance of the ropeway incident and has ordered an inquiry into the matter. The court will hear the matter on April 26 and before that, the state government has to file a detailed inquiry report through an affidavit, news agency ANI reported.

Earlier on Monday, Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren had announced a high-level probe into the mishap and had said that the administration was keeping a close vigil on rescue operations.

The area which boasts of the famous Trikutachal Mahadeva Temple and the hermitage of Sage Dayananda, Trikut Hills has several peaks, with the highest Peak at a height of 2,470 feet from the sea level and around about 1,500 feet from the ground.

The Trikut ropeway, according to the Jharkhand tourism department, is India's highest vertical ropeway and is around 766-metre long.

(With agency inputs)

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New Delhi: The Jharkhand High Court on Tuesday (April 12, 2022) took cognizance of the Deoghar ropeway incident and ordered an inquiry into the matter. The court will hear the matter on April 26 and before that, the state government has to file a detailed inquiry report through an affidavit, news agency ANI reported.

This comes a day after Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren announced a high-level probe into the mishap and said that the administration was keeping a close vigil on the rescue operations.

"The government is keeping a close watch on the situation," Soren had said.

Meanwhile, all the tourists have now been rescued after rescue operations resumed early on Tuesday morning.

#IAF has recommenced rescue operations at Deoghar ropeway early morning today. Efforts are on to rescue each and every stranded person at the earliest.#HarKaamDeshKeNaam pic.twitter.com/06PTraKHBC  Indian Air Force (@IAF_MCC) April 12, 2022

According to reports, as many as 47 people were rescued from cable cars that were left dangling mid-air after a malfunction of the ropeway resulted in trolley cars colliding on Sunday evening.

Three people have died, while around 12 persons were injured and are being treated in hospitals.

Teams of IAF, Indian Army, NDRF, ITBP and local administration were involved in rescue operations.

It is noteworthy that the area which boasts of the famous Trikutachal Mahadeva Temple and the hermitage of Sage Dayananda, Trikut Hills has several peaks, with the highest Peak at a height of 2,470 feet from the sea level and around about 1,500 feet from the ground.

The Trikut ropeway, according to the Jharkhand tourism department, is India's highest vertical ropeway and is around 766-metre long.

(With agency inputs)

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Three tourists were killed after two cable cars collided mid-air at Trikut Hills in Jharkhands Deoghar. Meanwhile, 70 others rescued in a 45-hour operation. Two of the victims fell to their deaths while being pulled up to the helicopters. The massive rescue operation involved two MI-17 helicopters and Garud, IAF, ITBP and NDRF personnel.

The mishap has once again brought to the fore safety issues regarding ropeways and other amusement facilities. India, or the world, is no stranger to such freak accidents, and several have been reported over the last few years.

Cable car accidents in India

Chhattisgarh, 2021: A labourer died after a ropeway trolley he was travelling in crashed into a tower in Dongargarh area of Rajnandgaon district in February 2021. The accident took place a year after the 1,300-metre ropeway was inaugurated for ferrying devotees to the Bamleshwari Devi temple.

Jammu, 2019: Two workers died and four others were injured on January 20, 2019, after a cable car of the under-construction Jammu ropeway project crashed during a mock rescue drill.

Gulmarg, 2017: In June 2017, a cable car in Kashmirs Gulmarg was hit by a falling tree, which shattered the glass and threw out the occupants, who plunged 30 feet to their deaths. The tree was uprooted due to strong winds. The mishap, said to be the biggest ropeway accident in India, killed seven people, including a family of four from Delhi.

Andhra Pradesh, 2016: Seven tourists were injured Kailasagiri Hill Park in Andhra Pradeshs Visakhapatnam after a hook of a cable car detached and it fell to the ground. That the cable car was not very high from the ground avoided fatalities. The incident took place in February 2016.

Uttarakhand, 2014-16: In July 2016, a 26-year-old youth fell from a cable car into the Mandakini river in Uttarakhand and lost his life. In September the same year, a three-year-old girl also drowned after falling from a cable car.

In 2014, a boy from Nepal lost his arm after it was crushed by a malfunctioning door. In April and September 2013, two cable cars carrying 22 guests in Nainital experienced technical snags.

West Bengal, 2003: Four tourists lost their lives after two cable cars fell from the ropeway into a ravine in West Bengals Darjeeling. The incident took place in October 2019.

Gujarat, 2003: The first major ropeway accident took place in January 2003 in Gujarat where seven people lost their lives and 20 others were injured after three cable cars crashed.

Ropeway mishaps across the world

Italy, 1976: The deadliest cable car disaster in history that claimed the lives of 43 people took place on March 9, 1976, at the Cavalese ski resort in Italy. The incident took place when a cable car was descending Mt. Cermis, and the steel cable supporting the car snapped, dropping it 660 feet down the mountainside.

Singapore, 1983: Two cable cars plunged 55 metres into the sea on January 29, 1983, killing seven people. The accident took place when a derrick of an oil rig got entangled in the cable, snapping it.

Georgia, 1990: An aerial tramway accident on June 1, 1990, in Soviet Georgias capital of Tbilisi claimed 20 lives and injured 15. The accident involved two gondolas moving on the ropeway route between Mt. Mtatsminda and Rustaveli Avenue when the hauling rope snapped and sent both cars rolling down the slopes.

Italy, 1998: Two decades after the 1976 incident, the Cavalese ski resort in Italy was witness to yet another terrifying cable car disaster on February 3, 1998, which killed 20 people. The mishap took place when a US Marine Corps aircraft that was flying lower against regulations cut a cable that was supporting the car. The gondola dropped 260 feet to the ground.

France, 1999: The Saint-Etienne-en-Devoluy commune in France was witness to a deadly cable car accident on July 1, 1999, when a gondola snapped from its cable and fell 80 metres on the valleys rocky slopes, killing all 20 people on board.
New Delhi: The Covid-19 cases in Delhi-NCR have started to rise again in the past few days after receding sharply in February and March. Three students enrolled at two private schools in Ghaziabad have tested coronavirus positive, while 16 cases including three among teachers were reported from a school in Noida, officials said on Monday (April 11, 2022).

One of the schools, located in Ghaziabad's Indirapuram, has announced three days closure while the school in Noida has moved to an online mode of classes for a week in a bid to control the spread of the infection.

Ghaziabad Chief Medical Officer Dr Bhavtosh Shankhdhar said that of the three students, two are from one school and of these two, one lives in Noida.

"Their Covid-19 test results were known while the students were at their homes and not in school. We will be carrying our tests and vaccinations in the schools," the doctor told the PTI news agency.

Asked if the children have been diagnosed with the latest XE variant of the virus, the senior doctor said the details are yet to be ascertained.

An official of one of the schools, where two students were found positive, informed that the school has announced three days' closure but thereafter it will remain closed for Easter Holidays and reopen for physical classes next Monday only.

In Noida, 13 students and three teachers of a school have tested positive for the infection, prompting them to switch to online classes, according to the district health department officials.

"We have decided to go online and sanitize the school completely. Students will return for offline classes on the 18th of April. Those infected would carry their RAT (rapid antigen test) report," a school source told PTI.

All cases would be reported to the health department and follow up will be done, the source added.

According to Union Health Ministry, Uttar Pradesh currently has 293 active Covid-19 cases. The state has so far recorded 20,47,307 recoveries and 23,499 deaths.

(With agency inputs)

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Gurugram: The body of an unidentified man was found near the Dwarka Expressway here this morning with his head apparently smashed with a large stone, police said.

They said an FIR under the IPC section related of murder has been registered at the Bajghera police station on the complaint of Anubhav Sharma, founder of an NGO, who first spotted the body.

"The deceased was wearing a yellow t-shirt and a blue lower. He has had many serious injuries on his body. He was murdered with a stone, and his head was smashed," Sharma said in his complaint.

Following the complaint, an FIR has been registered against unidentified persons under sections 302 (murder), 201 (hiding evidence) of the Indian Penal Code at the Bajghera police station.

"We have kept the body in a mortuary for identification. Further probe is on," Bajghera police station SHO inspector Aman Yadav said.

Cashier of Gurugram mall's parking lot thrashed by two men

Meanwhile, a cashier of the parking lot of a mall in Gurugram was allegedly thrashed by two men when he asked them to pay the parking fee, police said on Monday.

The accused also fired in the air when the security guards intervened. The incident took place in the parking lot of Sahara mall in the early hours of Sunday, they said.

According to a police complaint filed by mall security officer Dhan Prasad Sharma at Sector 29 police station, a jeep reached the exit gate from the parking lot in which the two accused, including the driver, were sitting. The parking cashier, Raghvendra, asked them to pay Rs 130 as the parking fee but they refused.

They started thrashing the cashier. When the security guards gathered there, the accused fired in the air twice before fleeing the spot in their car, the complainant stated.

On the basis of the complaint, an FIR has been registered against the two accused under sections 323 (causing hurt), 506 (criminal intimidation), 285 (negligent conduct with respect to fire or combustible matter), 34 (common intention) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and under the Arms Act, the police said.

"We have seized the jeep and the accused have been identified. They will be nabbed soon," said Sub-Inspector Mukesh Kumar, in-charge of MG Road police chowki and the investigating officer.

Gurugram university students attack youth during cultural festival

A group of students of a private university in Gurugram assaulted a youth who had entered the campus to watch a cultural event, police said on Monday.

The alleged incident happened on April 9, and an FIR was registered against some students at Sohna City police station the next day, they said.

Police said they are investigating the matter and have sought CCTV footage from the university.

According to a complaint filed by Vanshaj Jindal, a resident of ward 15 of Sohna, he had gone with his friend Harsh Grover to watch a cultural programme at the university on April 9.

While he was watching the programme, Manoj, a resident of Saanp ki Nangli village and Vicky Khatana, a resident of Damdama village came to him and "they asked how I got in the university".

"They then started abusing and took me outside the pizza outlet on the university campus, where 15 to 20 of their friends joined them and started thrashing me. One of them smashed a glass bottle on my head. I raised an alarm. The accused fled after threatening to kill me," Vanshaj has alleged in his complaint.

He said he was rushed to a hospital after the attack.

Inspector Umesh Kumar, SHO of Sohna City police station said they are investigating the matter.

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Delhi Water Minister Satyendar Jain on Tuesday alleged that BJP MP Manoj Tiwari forcibly entered the Delhi Jal Board's Sonia Vihar underground reservoir (UGR) with around 300 people and created a ruckus there. The BJP leader, however, denied the allegation and termed it "fake news". Apprehending disruption in water supply, Jain asked the Delhi Police to take note of the incident.

"Delhi BJP MP @ManojTiwariMP has forcibly entered Sonia Vihar UGR along with 300-400 people and is creating a ruckus. If Delhi's water supply is disrupted, BJP will be responsible for it," he tweeted.

Jain had inaugurated the Sonia Vihar UGR of 2.68 crore litres capacity on March 2. The UGR augmented water supply in Karawal Nagar and the Mustafabad Assembly Constituency in northeast Delhi, benefitting around six lakh residents of unauthorised colonies like Shiv Vihar, Ankur Enclave, Mahalaxmi Enclave, Ambika Vihar, Johripur, Dayalpur, and Sadatpur.

Reacting to Jain's allegation, Tiwari tweeted: "Fake News! An FIR will be filed against a false minister of a false government for a fake tweet." He said the central government had given funds for the construction of the UGR under the AMRUT scheme and the AAP ministers took credit for it.
WASHINGTON: President Joe Biden has told Prime Minister Narendra Modi that buying more oil from Russia is not in India`s interest and could hamper the US response to the war in Ukraine.

According to the officials, starting an hour-long video call that the US officials described as "warm" and "candid," Biden and PM Modi both publicly expressed growing alarm at the destruction inside Ukraine, especially in Bucha, where many civilians have been killed.

Biden stopped short of making a "concrete ask" of PM Modi on Monday, an official said, noting India has concerns about deepening ties between Russia and China. But he told PM Modi that India`s position in the world would not be enhanced by relying on Russian energy sources, US officials said.

"The president conveyed very clearly that it is not in their interest to increase that," said White House spokesperson Jen Psaki. External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, at a news conference later on Monday, pushed back against a question on India`s energy purchases from Russia, saying the focus should be on Europe, not India.

"Probably our total purchases for the month would be less than what Europe does in an afternoon." Broad talks between the world`s two largest democracies took place as the United States seeks more help from India in condemning, and applying economic pressure on, Russia for an invasion Moscow calls a "special military operation."

"Recently, the news of the killings of innocent civilians in the city of Bucha was very worrying," PM Modi said during a brief portion of the meeting open to reporters. "We immediately condemned it and have asked for an independent probe."

PM Modi also said he had suggested in recent conversations with Russia that President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy hold direct talks.

The South Asian nation has tried to balance its ties with Russia and the West but unlike other members of the Quad countries - the United States, Japan and Australia - it has not imposed sanctions on Russia.

Biden recently said that only India among the Quad group of countries was "somewhat shaky" in acting against Russia.

Lured by steep discounts following Western sanctions on Russian entities, India has bought at least 13 million barrels of Russian crude oil since the invasion in late February. That compared with some 16 million barrels for the whole of last year, data compiled by Reuters shows.

Psaki did not disclose whether India had made any commitments on energy imports but said Washington stands ready to help the country diversify its sources of energy.

Noting PM Modi`s statements about the war on Monday, Psaki said, "part of our objective now is to build on that and to encourage them to do more. And that`s why it`s important to have a leader to leader conversations."

A US official added that "we haven`t asked India to do anything in particular." The official said, "India is gonna make its own judgments" following "a very candid conversation."

Talks in Washington on Monday took place between US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and their Indian counterparts Jaishankar and Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh.

Blinken said India`s ties with Russia developed over decades at a time when the United States was not able to be a partner to India, but that times had since changed. "Today we are able and willing to be a partner of choice with India across virtually every realm," Blinken said at a joint presser following the talks.

India`s modernization needs on defence were a key topic the two sides have discussed at length, the ministers said. US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin said the two countries had signed a bilateral agreement to support sharing information and cooperation in space.

Biden told PM Modi he looked forward to seeing him in Japan for a Quad meeting "on about the 24th of May" and the two leaders also discussed a range of other issues, officials said.

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Pune: Days after sending a show-cause notice to the city-based Ruby Hall Clinic over alleged malpractice during a kidney transplant procedure, the Maharashtra Health Department has suspended the hospital's registration for organ transplantation, its lawyer claimed.

A woman had allegedly posed as the wife of a patient so that he could undergo kidney transplant at the private-run hospital. After this came to light, the health department had issued a show-cause notice to the hospital and the latter had sent a reply.

"We have received a notice stating that our registration for organ transplantation is suspended for six months or until the report of the investigation committee comes," said advocate Manjusha Kulkarni, legal advisor of Ruby Hall Clinic. The action was "unfair" and the hospital will look for a legal remedy, she added.

As per the suspension notice, the health department concluded after going through the reply that the hospital did not scrutinise the documents of the donor and recipient such as Aadhaar cards, marriage certificate, age certificates and educational certificates carefully. Patients (organ recipients and donors) who are registered with the centre will be shifted to the nearest facility with their consent, it added.

"How come our registration is being suspended without concluding the probe? Police have also given a report that there were monetary transactions between the patient and the donor woman. The woman also admitted that she had given her kidney in return for money. In such a situation, how come we are being blamed," advocate Kulkarni asked.

Permission for the transplant had been granted by the regional authorisation committee of the government-run Sassoon Hospital, the lawyer pointed out. A woman from Kolhapur, who was allegedly promised Rs 15 lakh, fraudulently posed as the wife of a man who needed a transplant and donated her kidney to a young woman patient.

In turn, the young woman's mother donated her kidney to the man. Such a swap involving two patients and their relatives is carried out when the patients can not receive a kidney from their own kin because of a blood group mismatch.

On March 29, four days after undergoing the transplant surgery at Ruby Hall Clinic, the woman revealed her real identity after she had had a dispute over money. The hospital then alerted the police. Police reported the incident to the health department which initiated an inquiry.

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New York has eliminated one barrier to voting by absentee ballot.

The 2022-23 state budget requires election boards to provide a postage-paid return envelope for voters to mail absentee ballot applications and absentee ballots. The boards must also offer postage-paid envelopes to voters who return applications or ballots in person.

The new mandate will be backed by state funds. This year's budget includes $4 million to reimburse local election boards for the postage costs.

Dustin Czarny, an Onondaga County elections commissioner and chair of the New York State Election Commissioners Association's Democratic caucus, told The Citizen that the lack of postage on the return envelopes for absentee ballot applications and ballots has been a "constant complaint."

In 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic began, New York temporarily covered the postage for return envelopes as a way to encourage more primary election voters to cast absentee ballots instead of voting in person. However, the state and local elections boards usually do not cover those costs. The responsibility for paying for postage was left to voters.

Before the pandemic, though, requiring voters to cover the postage costs was viewed as a burden. Czarny says it was a barrier for elderly and low-income voters that didn't exist for other voters.

The state providing the funds to ensure it's not another unfunded mandate also helps, according to Czarny.

"It blunts opposition, which the biggest opposition to any voting reform has always been local cost," he said. "The fact that New York state is paying for this and intending for this to be an annual fund that is rolling and part of the budget ... that is very helpful."

The requirement takes effect July 1, which means it won't cover absentee ballots submitted for the primary election in June. It will be in place for the general election in November.

Politics reporter Robert Harding can be reached at (315) 282-2220 or robert.harding@lee.net. Follow him on Twitter @robertharding.

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Lakhimpur Kheri: A UP power corporation worker died after setting himself on fire outside the house of an engineer who had allegedly asked him to "send his wife for a night", police said on Monday.

According to the FIR filed with the police, Junior Engineer Nagendra Sharma had also asked lineman Gokul (42) to pay him Rs 1 lakh for a transfer he was seeking.

The JE and another lineman, Jagatpal, have been suspended.

Before taking the step on Saturday night at Hydle Colony in Pallia, Gokul made a video levelling the allegations.

According to the FIR lodged by his wife Rajkumari, the JE demanded Rs 1 lakh and asked her husband to send her to him for a night for a transfer to Pallia.

Gokul was earlier posted at Manhgapur under the Pallia substation and transferred to Aliganj a few weeks ago.

The victim was rushed to a Lakhimpur hospital and later to Lucknow, where to died on Sunday.

Before his death, the video in which he levelled the allegations against the JE surfaced on social media.

The victim's wife in her complaint held the JE and Jagatpal responsible for the tragedy.

Taking cognisance of the video, District Magistrate Mahendra Bahadur Singh recommended the suspension of the junior engineer and Jagatpal.

A departmental inquiry into the case by a three-member panel has been ordered. The panel will submit its report within a week for further action.

Superintendent of Police Sanjiv Suman said an FIR has been lodged against the junior engineer and the lineman.

He said the video statement of the victim before his death and the departmental inquiry will be taken into account during the police probe.

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Amaravati: At least six people were run over by the Konark Express in the Srikakulam district of Andhra Pradesh late on Monday night, police said.

They were passengers of a Guwahati-bound superfast express and had got down onto the adjoining railway track in Batuva village when their train stopped due to a technical problem, they said.

The Konark Express was coming from the opposite direction and ran over these six people, they said.

"So far, we have identified six bodies. The Government Railway Police are reaching the accident spot to ascertain if there are more casualties," Superintendent of Police, Srikakulam, G R Radhika told PTI over the phone.

Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy expressed grief over the accident. He directed the district authorities to undertake relief operations and ensure that proper medical care is provided to the injured, if any.
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday (April 11, 2022) held a virtual meeting with US President Joe Biden and discussed the Russia-Ukraine war.

"Our today's talks are taking place at a time when the situation in Ukraine remains very worrisome," PM Modi told Biden.

He added that he has spoken to Russian President Vladimir Putin several times since the invasion began on February 24 and suggested him to have direct talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

"Till a few weeks back, more than 20,000 Indians were stranded in Ukraine. And most of them were young students. After putting in a lot of effort, we managed to get them out of there safely, although one student lost his life.

"Throughout this development, I spoke to the Presidents of both Ukraine and Russia over the phone several times. I not only appealed for peace but also suggested President Putin to have direct talks with the President of Ukraine," Modi said.

He stated that the subject of Ukraine has also been discussed in great detail in the Indian Parliament.

News of recent killings of innocent civilians in Bucha 'very worrying'

Prime Minister Modi said that the news of the recent killings of innocent civilians in Bucha city was "very worrying".

"We condemned it immediately and have also demanded a fair probe. We hope that the ongoing dialogue between Russia and Ukraine will pave the way for peace," he said.

India sent medicines, other relief materials to Ukraine

PM Modi also told Biden that India has laid emphasis on the security of the civilians in Ukraine and the uninterrupted supply of humanitarian aid to them.

I spoke today with Prime Minister Modi of India. We committed to strengthening our defense, economic, and people-to-people relationship to together seek a peaceful and prosperous world. pic.twitter.com/o30ij9reIY  President Biden (@POTUS) April 11, 2022

"We have sent medicines and other relief materials to Ukraine and its neighbouring countries. And on the demand of Ukraine, soon we are sending another consignment of medicines," he stated.

During the call, the two leaders also had an extensive exchange of views on several regional and global issues, such as the Covid-19 pandemic, global economic recovery, climate action, and recent developments in South Asia and the Indo-Pacific region.

They also took stock of the significant progress made in bilateral relations in recent years.

Modi and Biden agreed that further strengthening of the India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership would be of tremendous benefit to the two countries, and would also contribute to global peace, prosperity and stability.

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New Delhi: In a major operation, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has deported Subhash Shankar Parab, a close aide of fugitive diamantaire Nirav Modi and a key accused in the Rs 7,000 crore Punjab National Bank loan fraud case, from Egypt.

Subhash Shankar, who is close aide of Nirav Modi has been brought to Mumbai by CBI team from Cairo city of Egypt, in connection with the multi-crore Punjab National Bank (PNB) scam worth Rs 13,578 crores: CBI sources  ANI (@ANI) April 12, 2022

Parab was the Deputy General Manager (Finance) in Firestar Diamond. Parab, who was allegedly hiding in Cairo, landed in Mumbai early on Tuesday after "deportation", they said.

According to the officials, he was absconding ever since the case involving diamantaire Nirav Modi and his uncle Mehul Choksi came to light. In 2018, Interpol issued a Red Corner Notice against Nirav, his brother Nishal Modi and his employee Subhash Shankar Parab on the request of the CBI, probing over USD 2 billion PNB scam.

Parab had been on the run ever since the case was registered in 2018. He had been in hiding in Cairo. Based on the inputs received by the central probe agency, the CBI carried out this major operation and managed to nab him. He will now be produced in a Mumbai CBI court and his custody will be sought for interrogation.

The Interpol had issued the Red Corner Notice (RCN) on the basis of the chargesheet filed by the CBI in a special court in Mumbai and the arrest warrant issued by the judge Special J C Jagdale there, four years ago

In its Red Corner Notice issued against a fugitive, the Interpol asks its 192 member countries to arrest or detain the person if spotted in their countries after which extradition or deportation proceedings can begin.

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Bengaluru: Karnataka Health Minister Dr K Sudhakar on Monday urged people to complete their Covid-19 vaccination doses amid the outbreak of a new XE variant in some countries.

"Please ensure that all your vaccination doses are completed at the earliest," urged Sudhakar after a meeting with the Covid-19 Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) amid a rise in cases of the XE variant Covid-19 in some foreign countries.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Sudhakar stated that there was an increase in XE variant Covid-19 cases in eight different countries including China, Hong Kong, South Korea, UK and Germany.

Additionally, he also stated that there was an increase in XE cases in Delhi and Haryana. "TAC has suggested thermal screening, strict surveillance, mandatory quarantine for a period of 7-10 days for passengers arriving from these eight countries. The government will soon release guidelines regarding this," said Sudhakar.

He appealed to people to wear masks, stating that the Indian Institutes of Technology (IIT) Kanpur has predicted another Covid-19 wave around June and July. The Health Minister stressed the fact that many have not completed their second dose.

"4.77 crore (98 per cent) of people under the 60 plus category have taken the second dose of Covid-19 vaccine and only 49 per cent of people have taken their precautionary dose. There already is a declined immunity in this age group. I urge everyone to please complete all doses," Sudhakar said.

"Some have blamed the government for the Covid-19 wave and shortage of vaccines in the past. Now, there is an adequate supply and we have made several requests to people to take the vaccine. People should take the vaccine and cooperate with the government," he added.

He said that among the 15-17 age group, 25,11,407 people out of 30,00,000 had taken the vaccine amounting to 79 per cent and only 65 per cent had taken the second dose.

"Among the 12-14 age group, only 13,96,000 children have received the vaccine out of 20,00,000 amounting to 69 per cent," said the Health Minister.

He urged parents to have their children vaccinated as there are no vaccines for young kids. Sudhakar said that 5000 children will be tested across the state as per the recommendation of the TAC.

Regarding the hospital overcharging, the Minister said the government would not tolerate this. "We have received complaints of some hospitals overcharging for vaccines. The government will not tolerate this," he said.

Sudhakar said that a high-level meeting has been held and the committee has been formed in this regard. The capped prices for CT scans, MRI and others must be considered as the new prices for the future and not just for Covid-19.

"All officers have been given instructions in this regard. Labs should not charge higher costs than the cap fixed by the government. If this rule is violated, the government has the right to revoke the license of the lab or hospital," he said.

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New Delhi: The Trishakti Corps conducted Ex Kripan Shakti, an Integrated Fire Power exercise at Teesta Field Firing Ranges (TFFR) near Siliguri (WB) on 12 April 2022. The exercise was aimed at orchestrating and synergizing the capabilities of the Indian Army and the Central Armed Police Forces to fight an integrated battle.



Units of the Trishakti Corps demonstrated their ability to hit hard and swiftly with precision during the exercise. The firing involved employment and firing of all arms and weapon systems including guns, mortars, infantry combat vehicles, helicopters and employment of Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance platforms to execute the Sensor to Shooter concept.





The execution of integrated response by the troops of Indian Army from the Kripan Division and Central Armed Police Forces on a simulated enemy airborne was undertaken with utmost professionalism highlighting the joint synergies. The swift action by Special Heliborne troops and rapid deployment of arty guns and equipment by helicopters was done with clock work precision.



On the termination of the exercise, audiences had the opportunity to see different weapon platforms from close quarters. The exercise was reviewed by Lt Gen Tarun Kumar Aich, AVSM, General Officer Commanding Trishakti Corps. The exercise was also witnessed by other dignitaries from Army, Border Security Force, Sashastra Seema Bal, local civil administration as well as school children and NCC cadets.



The exercise is expected to further cement the relations between the Indian Army, civil administration and Central Armed Police Forces to reinforce confidence of the people on Indian Armys commitment in safeguarding territorial integrity and ensuring effective response against any external threat.

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Lucknow: A month after its resounding victory in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, the BJP has swept the biennial polls to the state's Legislative Council by winning 33 out of 36 constituencies. One of three local authority seats it failed to bag was in Varanasi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Lok Sabha constituency, where it stood a distant third. According to the results declared on Tuesday, the BJP won 24 of the 27 seats, where polling was held last week. In addition, the BJP had won nine of the 36 seats unopposed.

Two independents and a candidate from the Jansatta Dal (Loktantrik) emerged victorious in the elections. The results take the BJP past the halfway-mark in the 100-member House. Now, it will have 67 members in the upper house of the state legislature. The Samajwadi Party (SP), the main opposition in the state, drew a blank. SP president Akhilesh Yadav alleged rigging in the polls as he accused the ruling BJP of the bid to weaken democratic institutions to retain power. In Varanasi, BJP's Sudama Patel stood third with just 170 votes as Independent candidate Annapurna Singh secured a resounding victory with 4,234 votes. Samajwadi Party's Umesh Yadav got 345 votes, Varanasi District Magistrate Kaushal Raj Sharma said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated BJP candidates and workers on the party's victory in the polls. In a Hindi tweet, he said the win reflects people's faith in the BJP's development model. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath congratulated the winners and said the BJP's resounding victory has again established that people of the state have faith in the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Before the polls, the BJP had 34 members in the House.

"In the last elections held in 2016, the BJP had not won any of the seats, which went to polls this time," UP minister JPS Rathore told PTI.

The mood at the BJP office here was upbeat as jubilant party workers danced and distributed sweets to mark the party's victory. Not much activity was seen at the Samajwadi Party office. Sources said SP chief Akhilesh Yadav and some other leaders were present in the party office in the state capital.

The highest victory margin was of 5,939 votes in the Moradabad-Bijnor constituency, where BJP's Satyapal Saini defeated Ajay Malik of the SP. The victory margin was the lowest in the Jhansi-Jalaun-Lalitpur seat, where Rama Niranjan of the BJP defeated SP's Shyam Sundar Singh by 579 votes. Akshay Pratap Singh of Jansatta Dal (Loktantrik) defeated BJP's Hari Pratap Singh in Pratapgarh by a margin of 1,107 votes.

The BJP lost Azamgarh-Mau seat to independent candidate Vikrant Singh 'Rishu' by 2,813 votes. BJP's Ravishankar Singh Pappu, grandson of former Prime Minister Chandrasekhar, won from Ballia seat, defeating SP's Arvind Giri by 1,981 votes. In the Lucknow-Unnao constituency, BJP's Ramchandra Pradhan defeated Sunil Singh 'Sajan' by 3,088 votes. CP Chand of the BJP defeated Rajnish Yadav of the SP in Gorakhpur-Maharajganj seat by a margin of 4,432 votes. Similarly in Allahabad, KP Srivastava of the BJP defeated SP's Vasudev Yadav by 1,658 votes. In Barabanki, BJP's Angad Singh trounced Rajesh Kumar Yadav of the SP by 1,745 votes. In Sitapur, BJP's Pawan Kumar Singh defeated Arunesh Yadav of the Samajwadi Party (SP) by 3,692 votes while in Basti, BJP leader Subhas Yaduvansh defeated SP's Santosh Yadav by 4,294 votes.

BJP's Hari Om Pandey defeated Heeralal Yadav of the SP by 1,680 votes in the Faizabad seat. There were 95 candidates in the fray and the polling was held at 739 centres, according to the Uttar Pradesh chief electoral officer. As many as 1,20,657 people were eligible to vote in the polls held on Saturday. Nine MLCs from eight local authority constituencies--Budaun, Hardoi, Kheri, Mirzapur-Sonbhadra, Banda-Hamirpur, Aligarh, Bulandshahr and Mathura-Etah-Mainpuri--have been elected unopposed. Two MLCs were elected unopposed from the Mathura-Etah-Mainpuri constituency, while one MLC each was elected unopposed from the remaining constituencies.

In the 100-member Legislative Council, the BJP will now have 67 MLCs, Samajwadi Party 17 and the Bahujan Samaj Party four. The Congress, Apna Dal (Sonelal) and the 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. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had vacated his council seat recently while former leader of opposition Ahmad Hassan of the SP died in February this year.

The voters in this biennial election are village pradhans, members and chairman of block development councils and zila panchayats, and corporators in urban areas. MLAs and MPs also vote. The Congress and the BSP did not field any candidate in the Legislative Council elections, making it a direct fight between the BJP and the SP.

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New Delhi: Voluntary use of masks must be promoted in the country in view of Covid-19's new XE variant, healthcare experts said, calling it the single-most effective intervention against all variants of the coronavirus.

After more than two years, the mandatory wearing of masks was lifted in Maharashtra and Delhi. Wearing masks was mandatory in public in view of the Covid-19 infection and not following this protocol drew a fine as high as Rs 2,000.

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.

Asked about the new variant's impact on India, which is witnessing a dip in cases ever since the Omicron driven wave started receding in February, the experts said that there is no need to panic but advocated for voluntary use of masks in public.

Gujarat reported its first case of the XE variant on Saturday after authorities got the genome sequencing results of the sample taken from a man from Mumbai, who had tested positive for COVID-19 during his visit to Vadodara on March 12, 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.

Eminent virologist T Jacob John said XE means there were XA, XB, XC and XD earlier but none of them were given much attention.

"XE gained attention since it became common in the UK. It had about 10 per cent higher transmissibility than the BA.2 lineage of Omicron. Many media persons misread this as 10 times more transmissible than BA.2 and thus, XE gained false notoriety," he said.

"After the Omicron wave (predominantly BA.2) receded by the third week of February, there was no cause for alarm even if this one virus is confirmed as XE. No change in our tactics is called for. While masks have many benefits other than Covid control and should be generally promoted by health education, mandate with punishment for non-compliance is quite unnecessary," he added.

Giridhara R Babu, professor and the head of life course epidemiology at the Public Health Foundation of India, said reporting of the XE variant should be seen as a strength of the surveillance system.

"XE is a recombinant sublineage of one of the many Omicron BA.1 and BA.2 variants. It is not a variant of concern. We should not get worked up due to its reporting. Certainly, we should refrain from implementing any reactive panic measures. We should recollect that the Delta variant had several sublineages before Omicron finally replaced it," he said.

Babu said the precautions followed for Omicron should continue before more data on its transmissibility in India emerges. "I feel that voluntary use of masks should be encouraged as this is the single most effective intervention against all variants. However, there should not be any penalty, and instead of a mandate, ensuring availability and free distribution of masks, especially in closed space settings, will be helpful," he added.

Babu said there is no data to support warranting restrictions in movement. Field investigations of clusters and genomic sequencing should be sustained and strengthened to monitor how newer sublineages might impact, he said.

Dr Chandrakant Lahariya, a physician and leading epidemiologist who has been involved in India's pandemic response, said the hype around the XE variant is "uncalled for and exaggerated".

"It has no relevance and there is no reason to be concerned. The only relevant thing of reporting of XE shows that India's genomic surveillance system is working. In this backdrop, XE being detected and reported from India is a positive public health sign but doesn't change anything for the public or for the COVID-19 response policy," he said.

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Mumbai: It's summertime and with Covid-19 cases coming down, tourists are returning to their favourite hotspots. In Mumbai, the zoo has been getting a lot of visitors, young and old alike. And on a hot summer day, visitors had gala time as they saw a tiger swimming in a pond inside a zoo enclosure, trying to beat the heat.

Meanwhile, Maharashtra on Tuesday recorded 113 fresh coronavirus cases, 72 more than a day ago, and four deaths linked to the infection, while 127 patients recovered from the disease, the health department said. With these additions, the state's overall Covid-19 tally rose to 78,75,324, while the death toll increased to 1,47,820, the department said in a bulletin. On Monday, the state had recorded 41 cases and zero fatality. All four Covid-19 fatalities were reported from Bhiwandi Nizampur Municipal Corporation areas in the adjoining Thane district, the bulletin said. The case fatality rate in the state stood at 1.78 per cent.

Also read: Fourth wave scare: Covid-19 returns to Delhi-NCR; schools shut in Ghaziabad, Noida after several students and teachers test positive

Mumbai city reported 52 coronavirus cases in the last 24 hours, accounting for nearly half of the statewide tally. The health department said 127 people recovered from Covid-19 in the last 24 hours, taking their cumulative number to 77,26,790 and leaving the state with 714 active cases.

(With Agency inputs)

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Deoghar: A woman who was among those stranded in one of the cable cars that collided in Jharkhands Deoghar ropeway, fell during the rescue operations after her rope broke. She was immediately rushed to the hospital for treatment where she was declared brought dead.

As per reports, the woman hailed from Jhausagarhi. Her son-in-law and others were waiting for her on the ground when the unfortunate incident happened.

#DeogharRopewayAccident: A woman fell during the rescue operations after her rope broke. She was immediately rushed to the hospital for treatment where she was declared brought dead pic.twitter.com/WHtN6orOkM  Zee News English (@ZeeNewsEnglish) April 12, 2022

Meanwhile, tens of the 15 tourists who remained trapped mid-air in cable cars connecting the Trikut Hills in Jharkhand's Deoghar district for about 40 hours were rescued by Indian Air Force choppers that resumed rescue operations early on Tuesday morning.

Nearly 50 people have been rescued so far from cable cars which were left dangling mid-air after a malfunction of the ropeway which saw trolley cars colliding on Sunday 4 pm.

At least three people have lost their lives after cable cars were left dangling mid-air due to a malfunction of the ropeway which resulted in trolley cars colliding on Sunday. 12 persons others who were injured are being treated at hospitals.

Rescue operations by the combined teams of the Indian Air Force, Army, ITBP, NDRF and Deoghar district administration have now concluded after about 45 hours of the mishap.

Rescue operations were started by the teams of the Air Force, Indian Army, NDRF, ITBP and local administration early Tuesday so that the remaining trapped people could be rescued.

Rescue operations had to be stopped after sunset as the ropeway runs through a picturesque yet densely forested area surrounded by hills, access to which is difficult except by air. Also making rescue from the ground difficult is the fact that the trolleys are suspended at heights of up to 1500 feet.

Meanwhile, Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren announced a high-level probe into the mishap and said the administration was keeping a close vigil on the rescue operation.

The rescued passengers were airlifted with the help of two Indian Air Force helicopters. Drones were used to supply food and water to those who remain trapped mid-air in the cable cars. "The government is keeping a close watch on the situation," CM Soren said.

Jharkhand Governor Ramesh Bais had said, "The accident on the ropeway built on Trikut mountain of Deoghar, a world-famous religious place, is very sad and painful. I express my deepest condolences to the families of the deceased and pray to Baba Baidyanath for the speedy recovery of the injured."

BJP vice-president and former Jharkhand chief minister Raghubar Das had accused the state government of being inactive, even after such a major accident, and claimed that ministers hailing from the region did not visit the site.

The area which boasts of the famous Trikutachal Mahadeva Temple and the hermitage of Sage Dayananda, Trikut Hills has several peaks, with the highest Peak at a height of 2,470 feet from the sea level and around about 1500 feet from the ground.

The Trikut ropeway, according to the Jharkhand tourism department, is India's highest vertical ropeway. It is around 766-metre long.

(With PTI Inputs)

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Beijing (Gasgoo)- On April 12th, Great Wall Motor announced that its WEY brand will see a price increase on its coffee lineup by RMB5,000-RMB12,000 ($785-$1,885) depending on trims.

Photo credit: WEY



As same as its previous price increases, Great Wall Motor explained that the adjustments this time are also results of the price hike in raw materials, chips, and core component parts. The price increment will come to effect on April 15th, leaving a three-day grace period for potential consumers.

Specifically, the Macchiato DHT and the Latte DHT will see an RMB10,000 ($1,571) increase, to an adjusted price of RMB155,800-RMB169,800 ($24,470-$26,668) and RMB169,800-RMB189,800 ($26,668-$29,809), respectively. Meanwhile, the price of the Macchiato DHT-PHEV will increase by RMB12,000 ($1,885), resulting in an adjusted price of RMB178,800-RMB189,800 ($28,082-$29,809).

As to the Mocha series, the Mocha 2.0T will see an RMB5,000 ($785) increase, to RMB192,800-RMB228,800 ($30,281-$35,935). Notably, the Mocha DHT-PHEV, which has just hit the market in early March, will not be affected by the price rise.

WEY is not the only sub-brand under Great Wall Motor that has its prices adjusted this year. ORA also saw the price of its Good Cat model rise twice, from RMB6,000 to RMB12,000 ($942-$1,885).

Additionally, WEY is becoming more and more popular among consumers. The brand sold 4,755 vehicles in March, up 7.3% from February. For the first three months of 2022, the accumulative sales volume of WEY amounted to 14,285 vehicles, increasing 22.34% year over year.
NEW DELHI: A stampede-like situation occurred at Tirupati's Tirumala Venkateswara Temple in Andhra Pradesh in which several devotees were reportedly injured. According to initial reports, a large number of devotees had gathered at the ticket counter in the shrine to secure Sarvadarshan tickets, which led to the stampede-like situation hereat the temple.

By 'Sarvadarshanam' here it means 'darshan to all'. The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) provides free tokens for 'darshan' to all the devotees coming to the shrine.

However, the TTD governing body officials had stopped issuing free tokens for darshan for the past two days. Due to this, a large number of devotees stayed in Tirumala.

This morning, the devotees tried to enter the temple by jumping over the iron fence set up there. This resulted in a stampede-like situation at the Tirumala temple.

According to news agency ANI, at least three people were injured in a stampede-like situation at the Tirumala shrine in the Tirupati district of Andhra Pradesh.

Andhra Pradesh | At least three people were injured in a stampede-like situation at the Tirumala shrine in Tirupati. A large crowd of pilgrims gathered at the ticket counter in the shrine to secure Sarvadarshan tickets, which led to the stampede-like situation. pic.twitter.com/aXcxGcCqrL  ANI (@ANI) April 12, 2022

There is growing anger among the devotees who say that the stampede occurred due to the negligence of the TTD officials.

TTD PRO Ravi Kumar later said, "There was a huge rush at three token counters in Tirupati. However, looking at the rush, the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) has decided to allow pilgrims directly into the compartments of Tirumala for darshan. The situation is normal now.''

The Tirumala Venkateswara Temple was also closed for devotees during the Coronavirus pandemic. However, the Covid-19 restrictions were lifted on March 14 this year. Sri Venkateswara Swami Vaari Temple, popularly known as Tirupati Balaji Temple, is a Hindu temple situated in the hill town of Tirumala at Tirupati in the Tirupati district of Andhra Pradesh.

The Temple is dedicated to Venkateswara, a form of Lord Vishnu, who is believed to have appeared here to save mankind from the trials and troubles of Kali Yuga. Tirumala Hills are part of the Seshachalam Hills range.

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New Delhi: Actor Abhishek Bachchan's performance in the recently released 'Dasvi' has been praised by one and all. In his latest interview, he revealed a few of his quirks and guess what? It is his doting wife Aishwarya who orders food for him when he is on an outdoor schedule.

Abhishek Bachchan told RJ Siddharth Kannan, "I have certain quirks. If I am outdoor and my wife will call me in the evening asking 'how's your day' whatever, normal husband-wife chat. She says 'have you eaten,' I say 'no.' She says 'okay what do you want to eat' and I tell her and then she will...I can't call room service. Aishwarya has to call (room service), otherwise she knows I won't eat. I have this issue. I have a problem speaking to a stranger on the phone."

He also opened up about being shy. "I am very conscious. People laugh at me. We're sitting in a hotel today, doing our press tour, and if there isn't somebody to help me walk through the lobby, I won't come in. I am scared to enter a place alone. I need somebody around me, I would rather have somebody who can guide me. I'm very shy that way, " he added.

Abhishek was recently seen in Dasvi, co-starring Yami Gautam and Nimrat Kaur. The film streamed on Netflix India and Jio Cinema on April 7, 2022.

Dasvi is directed by debutant filmmaker Tushar Jalota.
Mumbai: Bollywood star Ranbir Kapoor's Krishna Raj bungalow has been decorated with bright lights ahead of the actor`s speculated wedding to Alia Bhatt. The abode, which is a well-known landmark in Mumbai`s Chembur, could be seen sparkled up with pink, purple and golden lights.

The multi-floor building is currently under construction and rumours suggest that Ranbir and Alia will be moving in there after their wedding. Earlier today, a car was spotted at Ranbir's house and it was loaded with Sabyasachi outfits apparently for the bride and groom.

Sources suggest that Ranbir and Alia's wedding will be a 4-day-long affair at the RK house. The functions will start from April 13 onwards with the Mehendi ceremony followed by a sangeet ceremony on the next day and finally the wedding on April 15.

The couple had fallen in love with each other on the sets of their upcoming film `Brahmastra`. The two made their first appearance as a couple at Sonam Kapoor`s wedding reception in 2018.
New Delhi: The gorgeous Katrina Kaif recently got papped at the airport in a desi look. She wore a pretty peach kurta-palazzo pants with a summary dupatta and guess what? Netizens scanned the photos and many speculated that she is expecting her first child with hubby Vicky Kaushal.

Yes! Popular paparazzo Viral Bhayani posted the pictures on social media and many fans commented that Katrina is pregnant and looks pretty in a desi avatar. Check out what netizens feel about the actress's latest airport look:

Katrina Kaif and Vicky Kaushal tied the knot in an intimate wedding at Six Senses Fort in Barwara, Rajasthan, on December 9, 2021.

On the work front, Katrina will be seen in Salman Khan starrer spy thriller 'Tiger 3' which will be the big Eid release this year. It is scheduled to hit the big screens on April 21, 2023. The film will be released in three languages -- Hindi, Tamil and Telugu respectively.

'Tiger 3' is the third instalment in the 'Tiger' franchise directed by Maneesh Sharma. Tiger 3, also stars Emraan Hashmi, making this his first collaboration with Sal-Kat on-screen.

Katrina will also be seen in Phone Bhoot, Jee Le Zaraa with Priyanka Chopra and Alia Bhatt, and Sriram Raghavan's Merry Christmas.
New Delhi: For cashless translation and online payments, the Unified Payment Interface, or UPI, is one of the most popular methods of payment. The payment method is compatible with a variety of financial institutions and stakeholders. UPI is widely used because of its ease of use and efficacy. With increased popularity comes an increased risk of fraud and scams. The UPI ecosystem is no exception. In the last few years, there have been a number of frauds exploiting UPI consumers. In these situations, the same simplicity of payment becomes more of a curse than a blessing. There are, however, some safeguards in place to decrease the chances of fraud.

While using UPI to send or receive money, the user must keep certain criteria in mind.

There are five techniques to prevent getting cheated on UPI.

1. Unknown identities, numbers

It's usually best to avoid any interaction if you come across an unusual number or even an identity you're suspicious of. Phone numbers shared on open web sources should be avoided at all costs. For example, phone numbers for food and beverage establishments. Before proceeding with a transaction, it is always a good idea to double-check the person's identity.

2. PIN Revealation

This one aspect is responsible for one of the most common fraud allegations. To receive money, the bank will never ask for your PIN. While promising to provide money, con artists aim to generate a sense of urgency. To accept the money, they eventually ask the receiver to enter their PIN. This is never the case, and the user will always lose money if they fall into the trap.

3. Unknown Payment Requests

Most UPI apps contain a SPAM filter that monitors payment requests from specific UPI IDs. If you come across such an identification, you will be alerted. For you, the warning should be a massive red flag. Proceed with the transaction only if you are certain the person on the other end is not a scammer. You will be given the option to 'Pay' or 'Decline.' If you have any doubts, you should choose 'Decline.' If you select the 'Pay' option, you will never get funds, regardless of the circumstances.

4. Fake UPI Apps

There were numerous cases of card skimming throughout the period of ATM card machines. The process of recording your credit card information on a bogus machine that is placed over the real one. Fake UPI apps, on the other hand, try to steal your information under the guise of making a payment or receiving it over UPI.

These apps are frequently intended to seem like the official bank app and are easy to find and download. If you download and install the bogus software by accident, it will share your personal information with criminals, allowing them to steal money from your account. Users should be wary of fake apps such as Modi Bhim, BHIM Payment-UPI Guide, Bhim Modi App, BHIM Banking Guide, and others, according to a Citi bank advice.

5. Important things to keep in mind

-Never give out your PIN to anyone you don't know.

-Maintain anti-virus and biometric recognition software on your computer.

-Never click on links or emails from unknown senders.

-Keep your bank informed of any changes to your personal information.

-Use only secure WiFi networks that you know and trust, rather than open ones.

-Keep track of your financial transactions and bank account statements, and keep a check on your account for any questionable activity.

-If you see anything suspicious, contact your bank right away.

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New Delhi: On Wednesday, April 13, 2022, the government is said to file an updated draft red herring prospectus (UDRHP) for Life Insurance Corporation of India's (LIC) Initial Public Offering (IPO) with market regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI).

The government may sell 5-6.5 percent of its share in LIC to raise Rs 50,000-60,000 crore through the stock market. The IPO was originally intended to open in March, but it was postponed due to the sluggish market caused by the Russia-Ukraine situation.

The government has agreed to launch the largest initial public offering (IPO) of LIC by the end of April, between April 25 and 29.

Previously, the government planned to make its initial public offering (IPO) in March 2022. The government was unable to meet the earlier deadline due to market volatility caused by the Russia-Ukraine war.

For the red herring prospectus, the government is in contact with bankers and financial advisors (RHP). A firm files a RHP, also known as an offer document, with the capital markets regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) prior to going public.

In the LIC IPO, the government may offer to sell more than 5% of its stake.

On February 13, in the run-up to the massive IPO, the government filed a draft red herring prospectus (DRHP) with the SEC, detailing financial results up to September. The DRHP was approved by the Sebi in March 2022.

"Updated DRHP of LIC with December financials has been filed," a company official told PTI, adding that it was mandated by Sebi.

The Life Insurance Corporation earned a net profit of Rs 235 crore in the October-December quarter, according to latest financials. From April to December 2021, the net profit grew to Rs 1,671.57 crore, up from Rs 7.08 crore the previous year.

To fulfill the limited disinvestment target of Rs 78,000 crore in the current fiscal, the government expects to raise over Rs 60,000 crore by selling roughly 31.6 crore or 5% of the life insurance firm.

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New Delhi: Not many know that when KGF: Chapter 2 went under production, the country was hit by the covid-19 pandemic and one of the leading actors in the film Sanjay Dutt was diagnosed with Cancer. At that time, the shoot was on hold due to the pandemic.

When things started getting better, KGF 2 was the first film Sanjay Dutt started shooting for after his recovery from Cancer. The actor always surprises the audience with his extraordinary acting and extreme hard work.

What was surprising was the fact that after battling the deadly disease and recovering from difficult chemotherapy sessions, Sanjay Dutt being the professional that he is, shot the climax scene which was super high on action.

Dutt said, "It was a difficult climax  there was mud, dust, fire and a lot of action. I couldnt have done that shoot without their help."

The producers and makers of the film suggested him for the body double, but the actor shot the whole scene all by himself without the body double.

Dutt said, "They suggested we shoot it against a green screen. But as an actor, shooting this film correctly was important to me."

The actor saved the whole team by shooting such high energy scenes all by himself. He battled chemotherapy, didn't let weakness in his body become a deterrent to his high spirits and completed the climax scene with much gusto and precision.

The most vivacious element was how the actor said "Main aaraha hoon apni KGF lene", we are so excited about this venture.

Yash starrer KGF 2 is slated to release on April 14, 2022. Sanjay Dutt plays Adheera in the movie along with Raveena Tandon, Srinidhi Shetty and Prakash Raj in important roles.
Kolkata: Violence broke out in West Bengal's Asansol where voting is underway for the by-election to the Asansol Lok Sabha seat on Tuesday. Bypoll is also being held for the Ballygunge Assembly constituencies in West Bengal. The polling began at 7 am, according to the state election commission.

BJP candidate Agnimitra Paul, who is contesting the Asansol Lok Sabha bypoll, has alleged that her convoy was attacked by the TMC goons and the police did nothing to stop them.

"TMC people attacked us, hurled stones at our convoy. Police doing nothing... " Paul told news agency ANI, which also shared a video of the violence that broke out in the area during polling.

#WATCH | West Bengal: Violence breaks out in Asansol where bypoll voting to Lok Sabha seat is underway. Agnimitra Paul, who is BJP candidate for the seat alleges, "TMC people attacked us, hurled stones at our convoy. Police doing nothing... " pic.twitter.com/pdQGZWF57h  ANI (@ANI) April 12, 2022

According to reports, the tension broke out between the BJP and Trinamool supporters after the BJP candidate, Agnimitra Paul reached there to inspect a polling booth.

Following the clashes between the supporters of the two parties, the vehicle of Paul was damaged and one of her bodyguards was injured. The CEO's office has sought an ATR on this count as well.

Paul also complained about the presence of state police personnel in certain booths of the constituencies.

Trinamool Congress filed a counter-complaint against Paul for going to cast her vote being escorted by armed security personnel allotted for her. Trinamool has fielded popular Bollywood star, Shatrughan Sinha from Asansol this time. The CPI-M candidate from Asansol is Partha Mukherjee.

According to the Election Commission of India (ECI), the polling percentage for Asansol Lok Sabha till 9 am was 13 per cent and in the Ballygunge Assembly constituency it was eight per cent.

Results for the by-polls will be declared on April 16.

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Kolkata: Amid rising public anger over the alleged gang-rape and death of a minor in West Bengals Nadia district, states Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has questioned if the victim was actually raped or had a love affair that got her pregnant.

"How do you know if she was raped? The police are yet to ascertain the cause of the death. I had asked them. Was she pregnant or had a love affair or was sick? Even family knew it was a love affair. If a couple is in a relationship, how can I stop them?" the chief minister said during an address at the inauguration of the `Biswa Bangla Mela Prangan` on Monday.

"This is not Uttar Pradesh that I can do that in name of Love Jihad," she further said. Mamata Banerjee said the state child commission will investigate the matter.

Attacking the Centre the Chief Minister said, "How many CBI probes have been done in Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Assam and Bihar over murders of people? How many leaders were arrested? No matter how many conspiracies you do by using CBI, ED. Do not think that we are weak.

The opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) condemned the chief minister`s remarks over the alleged gang rape case. Taking to Twitter West Bengal BJP said, "Shame on this woman Chief Minister of Bengal. She termed the incident of Hanskhali as a minor incident. She is making character assassination of the deceased rape victim by questioning her dignity. Women will not get justice in a state where its woman chief minister raises questions about the character of a raped woman."

"TMC block president`s son raped a minor girl and burned her body to eradicate the evidence. Meanwhile, the Chief Minister asks, whether it is a rape, pregnancy, or a love affair? Bengal`s shame: Mamata Banerjee!" added the opposition party in the state.

Meanwhile, West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar on Monday sought a response from the state government over the alleged gang rape and death of a 14-year-old girl in Nadia district.

"Urgent response of Chief Secretary be sought on alleged gang rape, death of 14-year-old girl in Nadia as also atrocities on Ram Bhakts on Ram Navami. Both these issues have been raised today by Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari who called on the undersigned and sought a thorough probe," said Governor Dhankhar.

"According to LOP, both incidents highlight the worrisome state of crime against women and nose-diving law and order scenario in the state. CS be called upon to render his report on both counts earliest, latest by April 13, 2022," added Dhankhar.

Earlier on Monday, the Leader of Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Suvendu Adhikari called on Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar over the matter.

Adhikari demanded that Article 355 of the Indian Constitution should be imposed in the state. Article 355 of the Constitution deals with an emergency provision by which the Centre can intervene and protect a state against external aggression or internal disturbance.

"Rule 355 should be imposed in West Bengal. The situation is very bad here. I met Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar and sought a probe into the alleged gang rape and death of a 14-year-old girl in Nadia. I will meet the family of the deceased tomorrow," said Adhikari.

Earlier this month, a 14-year-old girl died after she was allegedly gang-raped in West Bengal`s Nadia district. The victim`s family accused the son of a Trinamool Congress panchayat leader in the case. A case under sections 376(2)(G) (gangrape), 302 (murder), 204 (tampering with evidence) of the IPC and relevant sections of the POCSO) Act was registered in the case.

The accused has been sent to 14-day judicial custody.

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New Delhi: The United Nations (UN) on Monday (April 11, 2022) said that it has verified the deaths of 142 children and that 229 youngsters have been injured in the six weeks since Russia's invasion.

The UN children's agency also informed that nearly two-thirds of all Ukrainian children have fled their homes since Russia's invasion began on February 24.

"I returned last week from a mission to Ukraine. In my 31 years as a humanitarian, I have rarely seen so much damage caused in so little time," Manuel Fontaine, UNICEF Emergency Programmes Director said at the Security Council briefing on the humanitarian situation in Ukraine.

"Of the 3.2 million children estimated to have remained in their homes, nearly half may be at risk of not having enough food. Attacks on water system infrastructure and power outages have left an estimated 1.4 million people without access to water in Ukraine. Another 4.6 million people have only limited access," he stated.

Situation worse in Mariupol and Kherson

Fontaine said that the situation is "even worse" in cities like Mariupol and Kherson, where children and their families have now gone weeks without running water and sanitation services, a regular supply of food, and medical care.

"They are sheltering in their homes and underground, waiting for the bombs and violence to stop," he added.

Fontaine said that every day the war continues, children will continue to suffer.

"Every day the war continues, children will continue to suffer."@UNICEF's @Manuel_Fontaine's remarks at the Security Council briefing on the humanitarian situation in #Ukrainehttps://t.co/Aby6sIAh2y pic.twitter.com/bt2jxYcmIE  UNICEF Media (@UNICEFmedia) April 11, 2022

"As of yesterday, OHCHR has verified 142 children killed and 229 children injured. We know these numbers are likely much higher -- and many of them were caused by crossfire or the use of explosive weapons in populated areas," the UN official said.

"Nationwide school closures are impacting the learning -- and the futures -- of 5.7 million school-age children and 1.5 million students in higher education. In the Donbas region, a whole generation of children have already seen their lives and education upended during the past eight years of conflict," he added.

Time to end this war

Fontaine said that of Ukraine's displaced children, 2.8 million are in Ukraine and 2 million more are in other countries.

"Resources are already over-stretched and local residents live in a state of uncertainty as the sounds of air raids and warnings from local officials ring regularly, reminding them that the frontlines may soon reach them too," he said.

"It is time to end this war. Ukraines children cannot afford to wait," he added.
With Gasgoo Daily, we will offer daily important automotive news in China. For those we have reported, the title of the piece will include a hyperlink, which will provide detailed information.

BYDs Haibao (Seal) to offer up to 700km of range

The BYD Haibao (Seal), the newest member of BYDs Ocean lineup, will offer three range packages, 550 km, 650 km, and 700 km. The new EV model has a projected price range of RMB220,000 to RMB280,000 ($34,553 to $43,976).

Photo credit: BYD

SemiDrive introduces new MCU product named E3



Chinas auto-grade chip developer SemiDrive unveiled its latest product, the E3 MCU. The E3 has six CPU cores, four of which can run independently. The product fills the blank of the domestic automotive MCU market. According to SemiDrive, the E3 will be put into mass production in the third quarter of 2022.

Wuling Hongguang MINIEV ranks No.1 in March PV sales: CAAM

In March, three Chinese-branded passenger vehicle models made to the top 10 sales list in China, namely the Wuling Hongguang MINIEV, BYDs Qin PLUS, and Changan Autos Eado successively, with Wuling winning the title, according to data compiled by the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM).

IAT inks contract for new energy model R&D

Chinas named auto design company IAT announced that it has struck a deal with a global automaker to develop new energy vehicles for the latter. The deal sum is RMB70 million ($11 million).

Geelys Geometry E to hit market in second quarter

Geelys Geometry plans to launch its new compact SUV, the Geometry E, to the market in the second quarter of 2022. The vehicle will be produced by Geelys 4.0 super intelligent factory.

Great Wall Motor issues price rise on WEY-branded vehicles

On April 12th, Great Wall Motor announced that its WEY brand will see a price increase on its coffee lineup by RMB5,000-RMB12,000 ($785-$1,885) depending on trims.

China's auto part supplier WBTL's 2021 revenue hits new high at RMB3.492 billion

Chinas major auto part supplier Bethel Automotive Safety Systems Co., Ltd. (WBTL) reported annual revenue of RMB3.492 billion ($548.44 million) in 2021, up 14.81% from a year ago.

Food delivery platform Ele.me unveils patent related to battery swapping service

Lazhasi Network Technology (Shanghai), the operator of Chinese online food delivery platform Ele.me, unveiled a patent it applied for a disposable method and equipment used for battery swapping service, according to the corporate database Qichacha.

SGMWs Wuling Jiachen MPV comes off production line

On April 12, SAIC-GM-Wuling (SGMW), General Motors' joint venture with Chinese partners SAIC Motor and Guangxi Automobile Group, saw the first batch of Wuling Jiachen MPVs roll off the production line.

China adds about 492,000 charging piles in Q1 2022, up 360% YoY

By the end of Mar. 2022, there had been 3.109 million charging piles deployed across China, up 73.9% from the same period of last year, according to the China Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Promotion Alliance (EVCIPA).

CATL, BYD seize 70.06% share of Chinas Q1 power battery installed capacity

In March 2022, China's power battery outputs reached 39.2GWh, soaring 247.3% year on year, while also rising 23.3% month on month, according to the China Automotive Power Battery Industry Innovation Alliance (CAPBIIA).

Tencent, PICC invest in V2X developer INGEEK

Chinas V2X developer INGEEK has recently completed its Series B financing round co-led by tech giant Tencent and PICC Capital.
Islamabad (Pakistan): A day after PM Narendra Modi congratulated him and said "India desires peace and stability in a region free of terror", newly-elected Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif responded to the Indian prime minister's wishes on social media.

Pakistan Prime Minister Sharif however positioned Jammu and Kashmir as a "dispute" and called for settlement. Replying to Modi after he congratulated him on his appointment, Sharif tweeted: "Thank you Premier Narendra Modi for felicitations. Pakistan desires peaceful & cooperative ties with India. Peaceful settlement of outstanding disputes including Jammu & Kashmir is indispensable. Pakistan's sacrifices in fighting terrorism are well-known. Let's secure peace and focus on socio-economic development of our people."

Modi on Monday congratulated Sharif on his election as Prime Minister of Pakistan. In a tweet, Modi said, "Congratulations to H.E. Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on his election as the Prime Minister of Pakistan. India desires peace and stability in a region free of terror, so that we can focus on our development challenges and ensure the well-being and prosperity of our people."

Thank you Premier Narendra Modi for felicitations. Pakistan desires peaceful & cooperative ties with India. Peaceful settlement of outstanding disputes including Jammu & Kashmir is indispensable. Pakistan's sacrifices in fighting terrorism are well-known. Let's secure peace and.. https://t.co/0M1wxhhvjV  Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) April 12, 2022

Shehbaz Sharif is the 23rd prime minister of Pakistan. In one of his first decisions after becoming PM, Sharif announced one-day weekly off and changed the government offices' timing to 10 hours, local media reported on Tuesday, as mentioned by ANI. "No two off days in a week anymore! There will be only one official weekly off, PM Shehbaz Sharif has ordered. He has changed the office hours of government offices from 10 am to 8 pm," Samaa News reported.

(With Agency inputs)

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KYIV: Ukraine has said that tens of thousands of people have likely been killed in Russia`s assault on the southeastern city of Mariupol while the country`s rights ombudswoman accused Russian forces in the region of torture and executions.

News agency Reuters has confirmed widespread destruction in Mariupol but could not verify the alleged crimes or the estimate of those killed in the strategic city, which lies between Russian-annexed Crimea and eastern areas of Ukraine held by Russian-backed separatists.

"Mariupol has been destroyed, there are tens of thousands of dead, but even despite this, the Russians are not stopping their offensive," President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a video address to South Korean lawmakers without providing more details.

The Ukrainian President also said in his daily video address late on Monday that Russia forces could use chemical weapons in Ukraine, but he did not say that chemical weapons have been already used.

There were unconfirmed reports on Monday suggesting that chemical weapons were used in the besieged southern Ukrainian port of Mariupol.

If confirmed, it would be by far the largest number of dead so far reported in one place in Ukraine, where cities, towns and villages have come under relentless bombardment and bodies, including civilians, have been seen in the streets.

The head of the Russia-backed self-proclaimed Donetsk People`s Republic, Denis Pushilin, told Russia`s RIA news agency on Monday that more than 5,000 people may have been killed in Mariupol. He said Ukrainian forces were responsible.

The number of people leaving the city had fallen because Russian forces had slowed pre-departure checks, Petro Andryushchenko, an aide to the mayor of Mariupol, said on Monday on the Telegram messaging service.

Around 10,000 people were awaiting screening by Russian forces, he said. Russia does not allow military personnel to leave with civilian evacuees. There was no immediate comment from Moscow, which has previously blamed Ukraine for blocking evacuations.

Citing figures from Mariupol`s city administration, Ukraine`s human rights ombudswoman Lyudmyla Denisova said 33,000 residents of Mariupol had been deported to Russia or territories held by Russian-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine. Russia said on Sunday it had "evacuated" 723,000 people from Ukraine since the start of what it called its "special operation." Moscow denies attacking civilians.

"Witnesses report that Russian national guard troops and `Kadyrovite` (Chechen) units are making illegal arrests, torturing detainees and executing them for any pro-Ukrainian stance," in Mariupol, Denisova said in a post on Telegram.

The Russian government did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the torture allegations. Ukrainian Interior Ministry Adviser Anton Geraschenko said in a televised interview on Monday that Ukrainian "deportees" were kept in guarded sanatoria and holiday camps.

"These people are not allowed to move around freely, or to have free access to communication platforms in order to contact their relatives in Ukraine," he said, without citing direct evidence.

Ukraine`s Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk told Reuters that the number of checkpoints along the Russian-controlled corridor between Mariupol to the Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhia had grown from three to 15.

Mariupol was among nine humanitarian corridors agreed with Russia on Monday to evacuate people from besieged eastern regions, but its corridor was for private cars only, Vereshchuk said on Telegram.

It was not possible to agree to the provision of buses, she said. Ukraine says Russian forces are massing for a new offensive on eastern areas, including Mariupol, where people have been without water, food and energy supplies for weeks.

Live TV
Kyiv: The Ukrainian police on Tuesday said that they launched a war crimes investigation after a 64-year-old man was killed by a mine left behind in an area from which Russian forces recently retreated. Meanwhile, the departure of Russian forces from Kyiv's outskirts has brought to light harrowing allegations of war crimes including executions and rape of civilians. While Moscow has dismissed the allegations as Ukrainian and Western provocations and has also accused Ukrainian forces of sexual violence.

Horrifying details of the alleged torture of Ukrainian women have come to light. In an interview to BBC, 50-year-old Anna was quoted as saying, "At gunpoint, he (a foreign soldier who barged in) took me to a house nearby. He ordered me: 'Take your clothes off or I'll shoot you.' He kept threatening to kill me if I didn't do as he said. Then he started raping me." She later went on to add that four more soldiers came and took her husband who was later found shot dead.

Senior UN official Sima Bahous told the Security Council on Monday that while all allegations must be independently investigated, "the brutality displayed against Ukrainian civilians has raised all red flags". "We are increasingly hearing of rape and sexual violence," she was quoted by Reuters.

There have also been reports - not verified independently by Zee News - that in the city of Bucha, women and girls have been kept hostage, and who have been raped systematically, leaving several of them even pregnant!

Meanwhile, Russia's deputy UN ambassador denied the allegations and accused Ukraine and allies of "a clear intention to present Russian soldiers as sadists and rapists." Russia's defence ministry said Ukraine's government was being directed by the United States to sow false evidence of Russian violence against civilians despite what it cast as Moscow`s "unprecedented measures to save civilians."

(With Agency inputs)

Live TV
Beijing: The US has ordered all non-emergency consular staff to leave Shanghai, which is under a tight lockdown to contain a Covid-19 surge. The State Department said the order is an upgrade from the "authorized" departure issued last week that made the decision voluntary.

The order covers "non-emergency US government employees and their family members from US Consulate General Shanghai."

In its late Monday announcement, the department said, "Our change in posture reflects our assessment that it is best for our employees and their families to be reduced in number and our operations to be scaled down as we deal with the changing circumstances on the ground."

The department also issued a series of advisories for Americans in Shanghai, including that they ensure they have a "sufficient supply of money, medication, food, and other necessities for your family in the event of sudden restrictions or quarantine."

Many residents in the city of 26 million have been confined to their homes for up to three weeks. Many describe an increasingly desperate situation, with families unable to leave their homes or obtain supplies of food and daily necessities, while people who test positive for the virus have been forced into mass quarantine centres where conditions have at times been described as crowded and unsanitary.

Despite the complaints, China has stuck to its "zero-COVID" strategy of handling outbreaks with strict isolation and mass testing. China's government and the entirely state-controlled media are growing increasingly defensive about complaints about the COVID-19 prevention measures.

Beijing responded angrily to last week's voluntary departure advisory, with Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian saying China was "strongly dissatisfied with and firmly opposed to the US side's groundless accusation against China's epidemic response."

In that announcement, the State Department advised Americans to reconsider travelling to China due to "arbitrary enforcement" of local laws and COVID-19 restrictions, particularly in Hong Kong, Jilin province and Shanghai. US officials cited a risk of "parents and children being separated."

Despite that, and indications the hardline policy is being dictated by the head of the ruling Communist Party Xi Jinping, China has rejected any notion that its response is political in nature. Xi has demanded social stability above all else in the run-up to a key party congress later this year at which he is expected to bestow on himself an unprecedented third term as party leader.

Shanghai authorities also say they have secured daily supplies for residents, following complaints about deliveries of food and other necessities. Residents have resorted to group buying of groceries because they are not allowed to leave their buildings, with only partial success in obtaining needed items.

Shanghai says it will gradually lift some restrictions on neighbourhoods where no new infections have been reported over the past two weeks. Residents will be able to travel around their districts but not meet in groups. Others will be restricted to their immediate neighbourhoods.

The capital, Beijing, has seen relatively few restrictions, although the Erjiefang neighborhood including the famed 798 art district has been cordoned off and classified as high risk after eight infections were reported there over the past two weeks.

China is facing one of its worst local outbreaks since the pandemic began. China is still mostly closed to international travel, even as most of the world has sought ways to live with the virus.

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In the first quarter of 2022, the top 4 Japanese automakers all posted decrease on their China sales. Of them, Honda Motor (Honda), Nissan Motor (Nissan), and Mazda Motor (Mazda) all recorded a year-on-year decrease of over 30%.

Toyota Motor (Toyota) logged the smallest drop in its first-quarter China sales thanks to the positive impetus it gained in both February and March. Notably, it was the only one to attain a year-on-year sales growth last month.

Although Toyota's China sales only edged up 0.4% in March, the slight growth is a particularly inspiring performance as one of its main joint ventures, FAW Toyota, shut its factory in Changchun city, Jilin province in mid-March.

According to Kyodo's report, the March sales of the Camry and the Wildlander were pretty impressive. Both models come from Toyota's another joint venture in China, GAC Toyota. Data from GAC Toyota's WeChat account show that the joint venture last month sold over 97,000 vehicles to gain a 41% year-on-year surge, which served as a powerful driving force to the Japanese carmaker's overall China sales.



Honda saw its first-quarter China retail sales dip 9.3% from a year ago to 353,786 units. As for monthly sales, the carmaker only posted a year-on-year upturn in February.

The Japanese carmaker has appealed to plentiful consumers in China with its advanced HEV (hybrid electric vehicles) technologies and products. In the Jan.-Mar. period, it delivered a total of 54,034 vehicles armed with the hybrid powertrain system Sport Hybrid.

As for the recent headways in the all-electric vehicle development, GAC Honda launched on March 29 the new all-electric vehicle brand e:NP (named Ji Pai in Chinese), the first joint venture in China to have a standalone BEV marque. Besides, Dongfeng Honda has already kicked off the presale of the Honda-branded BEV, the e:NS1. Those moves indicate that Honda is striving to speed up its transition towards electrification.



Nissan's China retail sales in March tumbled 32.6% from the year-ago period, which partially resulted in the 15.2% decrease in the year-to-date sales.

The automaker still ascribed the decline to the supply chain disruption caused by the pandemic and chip shortage. In the short run, the supply chain will still face uncertain situations and increasingly fierce competition. However, we are upbeat about the robust growth potential of Chinas auto market for the long term, said Shohei Yamazaki, President of Dongfeng Motor Company Limited (DFL).

Dongfeng Nissan, the passenger vehicle business unit of the joint venture Dongfeng Motor Company Limited (DFL), saw its Mar. retail sales dwindle 33.5% to 67,910 units, 60,008 and 7,151 units of which were under Nissan and Venucia brands respectively. Notably, Venucia reaped a 44.2% year-on-year surge despite the downturn in overall sales.

As to key models, the first-quarter sales of the seventh-generation ALTIMA and the Qashqai jumped 14% and 3% year over year respectively to 40,686 and 41,675 units, both of which hit the best-ever level for the corresponding quarter.



Last month, Mazda's China retail volume plunge 54% from the prior-year period, representing a downward movement for 12 consecutive months. For the first three months of the year, the automaker sold 35,853 vehicles in the country, a year-on-year drop of 28.2%.

Its best-selling model for the first quarter was the Mazda3 Axela, with 21,347 vehicles sold. The company also announced the Jan.-Mar. sales volume of the Mazda CX-5 and CX-30 reached 5,837 units and 3,704 units respectively.
BARCELONA  CNEX, parent company of award-nominated manufacturer Adrien Lastic, has promoted Jackie Richerson to Vice President of Operations and Sales (North America), and Johanna Weston to Director of Sales (North America and Latin America).

Both Richerson and Weston will represent all brands within CNEX including Adrien Lastic, Alive, Femintimate and SilexD.

Serving as U.S. Vice President of Operations and Sales, Richerson will streamline operational efficiency, develop marketing strategies and implement domestic sales initiatives. She will also liaise between CNEX European headquarters and its manufacturing facility to oversee inventory management and opportunities for sourcing partnership.

I am excited for this leadership role, because I enjoy helping individuals and teams step into their fullest potential, said Richerson. This position is also an opportunity to explore viable avenues for growth, like sourcing partnerships and creative product innovation. These are just two initiatives that will continue to set us apart in the market.

Richerson spent nearly a decade as retail store manager for Hustler and AdamEve prior to joining Adrien Lastic as Sales Manager in 2017. In 2019, she was promoted to Director of Operations and played an instrumental role positioning the award-nominated manufacturer in the U.S. sexual wellness market.

As Director of Sales, Weston will assist Richerson to oversee the U.S. sales team and support marketing initiatives for the company. She will also liaise with Canada, Mexico and Latin America to generate new sourcing partnerships in each territory.

I love working for a smaller brand that I can help grow, while growing myself professionally," Weston said. "I thrive in environments where I can be my most creative (and slightly neurotic) self. In this role, I am able to be both organizational and creative.

Prior to joining Adrien Lastic in 2021, Weston was a paralegal/legal assistant, and eventually worked on a Presidential campaign full-time. Ultimately, she felt that her self-expression was limited as a sex-positive individual.

I was spending a lot of time at my girlfriends adult store in 2015, and the owner offered me a job. I found a lot of fulfillment helping people explore their sexualities. At that time, I knew this was the industry I belonged in.

Per Weston, "one great thing about our industry is the opportunity to train the next generation of professionals. I look forward to creating impact in this capacity within our organization, and with retailers for years to come.

The women-led US team said that it plans to ignite product development, expand various brand offerings and bolster creative sourcing solutions.

Richerson concluded, how will we push our own innovation in an industry packed with bright ideas? We are both very excited for this opportunity.

In April, the two are traveling throughout CT, MD, NC, NJ, PA, and VA for retail training.

For sales inquiries, or to schedule training, contact [email protected] or [email protected].

Follow Adrien Lastic on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube.
LOS ANGELES  PDX Brands is now shipping the Milk Me Silly Mega-Masturbator in Brown from their Midwest and European Distribution Centers. With dual gyrating roller massagers engulfed in more than 20-plus pounds of super-soft Fanta Flesh TPE, the plug-in powered Milk Me Silly combines the realism of a Fuck Me Silly with the power and performance found in PDX Elites high-tech guy gadgets.

With loyal FMS fans awaiting the next generation Fuck Me Silly, PDX Brands engineers were hard at work designing a gyrating, plug-in powered, life-size version of their RD174 Fuck Me Silly Mega-Masturbator.

Until now, the only vibrating option for life-size, realistic Mega-Masturbators was a tiny, AA-powered bullet buried into the full-size toy. The Milk Me Silly is not just a twerking bubble butt and its not just for showits a stealth multi-functional sex machine built inside of a full-size Fuck Me Silly.

Adorned with a cute belly button, strategically placed thumbgrip back dimples, and intricately decorated labia and anus, the versatile Milk Me Silly can be positioned for missionary, piledriver, and doggie-style penetration on nearly any flat surface or furniture.

The Milk Me Silly includes an industrial grade 24V transformer, making it "one of the most powerful full-size strokers in the world," the company said. The included World Power Adapter pack is approved in more than 100 countries worldwide. All boxes also include an eye-catching printed 5 X 7 shelf-talker decal that can be displayed on the box itself, on the slatwall, or at the cash wrap. In-store shoppers can then use their mobile device to scan the QR-code and play Pipedreams viral Milk Me Silly Teaser commercial, allowing shoppers to try-it before they buy-it inside the store.

Pipedream suggests instantly transforming your retail store or website into a Milking Station destination by including its RD531 Ultimate Milker, RD525 Vibrating Mega Milker, PD4770-23 Ultimate P-Spot Milker, and brand new RD539 Ultimate Milker 2 to create a Milking Mecca profit center.

All RD535 Milk Me Sillys are backed by PDX Elites 90-day Limited Warranty and come packaged in PDX Elites sturdy corrugated boxes with convenient carrying handle. Testers are not available for this item, but Pipedream does offer free Promotional Shelf Wobblers. Every shelf wobbler features a mobile-ready QR-code that links straight to the Milk Me Sillys explainer video.

Available in single-case counts, the Brown Milk Me Sillys are in stock and shipping from the manufacturers Midwest and European distribution facilities. The manufacturer is encouraging partners to get their orders in as soon as possible, supplies are limited. To place an order, contact your preferred sales representative or email [email protected]

Product images, planogram inspiration, dimensions, videos, and marketing materials are all available online at pdxbrands.com.
Back in 2019, NASCAR Hall of Famer Darrell Waltrip wrapped up an amazing broadcasting career with his final Fox race in a regular role, the Toyota/Save Mart 350 in Sonoma. But Waltrip is now coming out of retirement for one race in a guest role. As Mike Organ writes at the (Nashville) Tennessean, Waltrip will join long-time play-by-play partner Mike Joy and analyst Clint Bowyer for Foxs broadcast of the Food City Dirt Race at Bristol Motor Speedway Sunday:

NASCAR Hall of Fame driver and Franklin resident Darrell Waltrip will be back in the FOX broadcast booth on April 17 at Bristol Motor Speedway. Im thrilled to have the chance to drop in and call the Bristol Dirt Race, said Waltrip, three-time champion and the winningest driver at Bristol with 12 victories. When FOX first asked me, I was super excited because Bristol is, by far, my favorite track. If I could pick just one race to call, it would be Bristol. The track is honoring Easter with a special celebration service, and well top it off with a great race that evening. Calling a dirt race, Waltrip said, makes his return even more exciting. I won a few dirt races early in my career, before they did away with the dirt track near me at the time, and I called Prelude to the Dream races at Tony Stewarts Eldora Speedway, he said. That was a ton of fun. Im really excited to see how the new car reacts to the dirt. Teams learn a little more about this car every week, and the racing seems to get better and better. Im sure Bristol Dirt will throw a few monkey wrenches at them and hopefully make for a great race.

Its cool to see Waltrip (seen above accepting the NMPA Myers Brothers Award during the 2019 NASCAR Cup Series Awards at Music City Center in Nashville on Thursday, Dec. 5, 2019) return for another race with Fox. And its perhaps particularly special that hes doing it at his favorite track, and for a dirt race that hes excited about. Theres certainly some logic to picking your spots for a guest analyst return, and Fox seems to have done that well here.

As Organ notes, this is also part of the wider changes to Foxs NASCAR broadcasts this season. Analyst Jeff Gordon left for an expanded role at Hendrick Motorsports after last season, his fifth in the Fox booth, and the networks broadcasts this year has been a little different as a result. Joy and Bowyer have returned, but theyve been joined by an array of guest analysts in the third slot, including Tony Stewart, Danica Patrick and Matt Kenseth. Waltrip will be the latest guest analyst to join that group. Well see how his return to the Fox NASCAR booth is received.

[The Tennessean; photo from George Walker IV/The Tennessean, via USA Today Sports]
[April 12, 2022] Home Capital Announces Nominees for Election to its Board of Directors Home Capital Group Inc. ("Home Capital" or "the Company") (TSX:HCG), today announced, in addition to current members of its board of directors, the nomination of David Court, Joseph Natale and Edward Waitzer for election to its board of directors at its Annual General Meeting on May 18, 2022. "The addition of these three outstanding candidates to our existing Board of Directors reflects a turning point in the future growth and development of Home Capital," stated Alan Hibben, Chair of the Board of Directors of Home Capital. "Over the last few years, an outstanding base of technology, risk and talent has been put in place by management, supported by the Board. In the next phase of our development, we will leverage this foundational work to realize the long-term growth and profitability of the Company. I look forward to the contribution of all of our Board members to this goal." David Court is Senior Partner Emeritus at McKinsey & Company where he served as Global Director of Technology, Digitization and Communications. He currently serves on the boards of Brookfield Business Partners LP, Canadian Tire Corporation, the Public Sector Pension Investment Board and Queen's University. Mr. Court noted, "I welcome the opportunity to contribute to the success of this respected organization. Home's unique position in the financial services landscape makes it an important contributor to the growth and development of Canada." Joseph Natale was the President and Chief Executive Office of Rogers Communications Inc. until 2021. His background includes senior executive positions at Telus Corporation, including th position of CEO. Prior to Telus, Mr. Natale held successive senior leadership roles at KPMG Consulting, with extensive experience in strategy and business transformation. He has served on the boards of Rogers, Telus, TD Bank Group, Celestica Inc. and The Hospital for Sick Children. "Home plays an essential role in bringing home ownership to new Canadians and people who are building their own businesses," said Mr. Natale. "I am pleased to take part in the next phase of its development." Edward Waitzer was a senior partner at Stikeman Elliot LLP and served as Chair and Chief Executive Officer of the firm as well as Chair of the Liquor Control Board of Ontario and Chair of the Ontario Securities Commission. He has a deep background in public policy and governance matters. He is currently Chair of the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants' Independent Review Committee on Standard Setting in Canada; and a director of Cymbria Corporation and Martinrea International Inc. "I am impressed with the capabilities that Home has developed over the last few years," added Mr. Waitzer. "I am proud to be joining this talented team of directors and management that will guide Home Capital into the next phase of its growth." "I am confident that the leadership team at Home Capital will benefit greatly from the contributions of our new directors," stated Yousry Bissada, President and CEO of Home Capital. "Their background and expertise will be valuable additions to the esteemed group of directors currently serving on our board." Mr. Hibben noted, "The Board remains focused on further enhancing gender diversity and the representation of persons who identify as BIPOC on the Board in the future. The Board is conscious of the fact that if all directors who are nominated are elected to the Board, the percentage, though not the number, of directors who identify as women and those who identify as BIPOC will fall. While this is one short-term consequence of being able to attract three such high-calibre nominees in a single year, it is not a desired outcome, and will be adjusted as part of our continuing process of Board renewal." About Home Capital Home Capital Group Inc. is a public company, traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange (HCG), operating through its principal subsidiary, Home Trust Company. Home Trust is a federally regulated trust company offering residential and non-residential mortgage lending, securitization of residential mortgage products, consumer lending and credit card services. In addition, Home Trust and Home Bank offer deposits via brokers and financial planners, and through a direct-to-consumer brand, Oaken Financial. Licensed to conduct business across Canada, we have offices in Ontario, Alberta, British Columbia, Nova Scotia, and Quebec. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220412005277/en/

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The Coconino County jail could lose millions of dollars annually if a tax initiative doesn't make it onto the ballot this year.

The majority of the jail's funding comes from a voter-approved sales tax, providing the Coconino County Jail District with an average of $19 million annually for operations. It provides the majority of the jail's total revenue, covering everything from personnel and operations to rehabilitation programs and religious services.

But that tax is set to expire in 2026 unless it first finds a spot on the ballot in the upcoming 2022 election and is then approved by voters.

What is the jail tax?

Voters first approved an initiative to form the Jail District with a 3/10 of a cent sales tax for 15 years in 1996. The funds helped cover the expansion of the jail as the inmate population increased, leading to the completion of the 350-bed detention facility in 2020 and the addition of another 140-bed housing unit the next year.

Alongside the new facilities, the funding also allowed jail officials to implement new programs, including adult education, special education, and religious services in addition to life skills and literacy classes.

Voters again approved the initiative in 2006 as the jail population began to creep up and the economy took a downturn. This upped the Jail District sales tax to the current rate of a half-cent. The funding was specifically dedicated to establishing an in-custody substance abuse treatment program. The program, known as EXODUS, was established in 2007.

"That allowed us to continue on  to keep us moving and to continue to provide the in-custody programs that we have and to help manage the increasing costs of our facility," Coconino County Sheriff Jim Driscoll told the board during a March 22 meeting.

Since then, the jail has introduced a slate of other inmate programs, including job skills classes, Native American culture programs, educational programs and numerous others.

The tax provides 86% of the Jail District's revenue with the remaining portion coming from bed rentals and the county's general fund, according to county financial records.

Siri Mullaney, chief financial officer for the Jail District, explained that most of the revenue comes from non-resident sales, specifically from tourism-related industries, such as retail and hotels, as well as restaurants and bars.

What happens if it doesn't pass?

Since the start of the year, the board has heard from numerous county officials about the importance of the tax and the consequences local agencies will face if it isn't approved.

Driscoll explained that the funding from the tax is key to providing programs to in-custody inmates. Without it, Driscoll said it could likely lead to a reduction in programs, as well as increased recidivism rates and jail overcrowding.

The Jail District would still need to recoup the costs even if the extension doesn't pass. The county would directly bill the cities and towns for arrests made in their jurisdiction, while the county would need to redirect general funds to fund jail operations for any arrests made in unincorporated areas of Coconino County. That would entail a significant increase in costs for cities like Flagstaff, followed by Page and Coconino County.

Flagstaff alone accounted for an estimated 47% of the bookings in 2019.

What's next?

The initiative must first clear the Coconino County Board of Supervisors.

A voter survey is underway to better understand the public perception of a possible extension. The results will be presented during the April 26 meeting of the Coconino County Board of Supervisors.

The board is aiming to make a decision on whether the extension should be placed on the ballot by May 10. Initial support from the board seemed positive, with Supervisor Patrice Horstman emphasizing the importance of the tax during a recent meeting.

"The potential consequences to the general fund not only for Coconino, but the city of Flagstaff would be pretty devastating," Horstman said. "They (the public) supported it before and understood the importance of it, and we need to make sure we get this information to the public so they can move forward with it."

County officials will then focus on educating voters about the importance of passing the extension ahead of the November election.

"Then the real work begins in terms of the educational process that will need to go forward to share with the community why the board believes this is necessary to place on the ballot and be considered by our voters," said Lucinda Andreani, deputy manager of Coconino County.

Reporter Bree Burkitt can be reached at 928-556-2250 or bburkitt@azdailysun.com.

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Update: 12-04-2022 | 11:48:09

The 12th Vietnam - Laos border trade development cooperation conference was held in the Lao capital of Vientiane on April 11 under the co-chair of Vietnamese Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien and his Lao counterpart Khampheng Xaysompheng.

Vietnamese Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien (L) and his Lao counterpart Khampheng Xaysompheng co-chair the conference. (Photo: VNA)

Addressing the event, Dien highlighted significant progress in the bilateral trade, especially via the border, since the 11th conference in 2018.

In 2021, Vietnam  Laos trade hit 1.37 billion USD, up 33.3 percent from 2020. Vietnam imported goods worth nearly 780 million USD from Laos, an annual increase of 70 percent, according to the Vietnamese minister.

The results were impressive but yet to be on par with commercial potential of both countries, he noted.

The conference pointed out causes behind the issue such as ineffective policies to attract investment in production, infrastructure, transport, and logistics in border areas; as well as slow construction of infrastructure projects, particularly inter-district roads.

The two sides agreed with seven cooperation orientations for the time to come.

Accordingly, they will study and propose more effective investment attraction policies; promote the negotiation towards the signing of a memorandum of understanding on border infrastructure development and connection between the Vietnamese and Lao governments. Documents signed between the two nations like the Vietnam  Laos free trade agreement and the 2007 Hanoi Agreement will be reviewed and amended to make them more suitable to the current situation.

The two sides also agreed to facilitate the flow of products into each other's market, particularly farm produce and team up in combating smuggling, commercial frauds, and illegal transportation of goods via the shared border.

Concluding the conference, the two ministers signed the minutes on border trade development cooperation between the two countries as a basis for them to develop and implement tasks in the future./.

VNA
BTO- Cong nhan Viet Nam: Tien phong, sang tao, trach nhiem, an toan, thich ung, ay la chu e Thang cong nhan nam 2022, vua uoc Lien oan Lao ong (LL) Binh Thuan phat ong sang ngay 6/5.
US President Joe Biden and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a virtual meeting on Monday, during which they spent quite some time in discussing the Ukraine issue.

Despite the US has been escalating methods to court and pressure India to take a stronger position against Russia, Modi showed a neutral stance over the Ukraine issue at the meeting, calling for direct talks between Russia and Ukraine instead of condemning Russia as the US obviously hoped.

Chinese observers believe India won't sway easily on the issue, given its strategic autonomy and concerns over US credibility. The two sides will maintain engagement, and the so-called Indo-Pacific Strategy is one of the reasons for their interactions. But since India and the US have different expectations, New Delhi won't serve as Washington's pawn in the region, they said.

During the virtual meeting, Modi said he had spoken to both Ukrainian and Russian leaders over telephone several times, not only appealed to them for peace but also suggested President Putin to hold direct talks with the Ukrainian President.

While condemning the killings in Bucha, Modi called for an impartial probe.

"We hope that through the talks between Russia and Ukraine, a path for peace would come out," Modi said.

Qian Feng, director of the research department at the National Strategy Institute at Tsinghua University, said Biden is making an ultimate try to sway the Indian position as well as having communication on other bilateral topics. India won't change its neutral position on the Ukraine issue given its "strategic autonomy," which is beneficial for the country.

Lan Jianxue, head of the Department for Asia-Pacific Studies at China Institute of International Studies, told the Global Times that the US has been stepping up efforts to canvass India to take a stronger stance, including sending its allies  Australia, Japan and the UK  and its own officials to New Delhi. Biden's top concern remains the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

The possibility cannot be ruled out that the US would offer a bait attractive enough for India to sway a bit, although it won't lean to the US completely, Lan said, citing the visa and technological transfer as topics India cares a lot.

"But New Delhi has to consider the credibility of Washington and whether today's promises will be fulfilled tomorrow, as the US always upholds 'American first' and has records of abandoning allies and partners," the expert said.

British scholar Martin Jacques, who until recently was a Senior Fellow at the Department of Politics and International Studies at Cambridge University, wrote in a column for the Global Times on Monday given India's westward drift over the last 20 years and more, it might have been expected that India would strongly back the US. But, on the contrary, it has been a major critic of the US's role while maintaining a supportive attitude toward Russia.

According to Jacques, the reason is twofold. First, many countries in the developing world, including India, reject the idea that a country, in this case Ukraine, is free to do whatever it likes even if it threatens the security of another country, in this case Russia.

Second, the weaponization of sanctions as a new form of warfare is widely viewed as a very negative development. The US has assumed the right, based on the vaguest of wording, to act in an arbitrary manner against any country that it deems to have continued trading with Russia. The overriding priority of developing countries, however, is the right to trade and receive investment from wherever it might come from, he wrote.

The leaders' virtual meeting precedes a "2+2" dialogue, the fourth of its kind, in Washington on Monday, which will be followed by the signing of the Space Situational Awareness MOU and a joint press conference, India TV reported.

Indian media believe the "2+2" will focus on cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region, where the two countries are strategically more aligned.

Before the formal 2+2 dialogue, which was postponed from December 2021, Singh met senior executives of American aerospace and defense giants Boeing and Raytheon on Sunday and asked them to take advantage of policy initiatives in India to steadily march from "Make in India" toward "Make for the World," according to Indian news outlet Firstpost.

Qian said the US and India have already come closer but India has its own strategic orientation which was obvious in the Ukraine crisis  India will not act like Japan or Australia. That means the US won't be able to use India as a tool.

Experts said the US' Indo-Pacific was more of a concept and lacks real investment, while India is eyeing substantial benefits and withholds coordination to some extent with the US on the "Indo-Pacific Strategy."

Lan noted India and the US have different paths in dealing with China. The US didn't change from its extreme pressure, but India hopes to maintain engagement with China since the two are neighbors that cannot be moved apart.

Despite some radical, right-wing news outlets in India that have maintained hawkish in front of China, reasonable, balanced and pragmatic voices on China are increasing against the backdrop of the Russia-Ukraine conflict and US-led sanctions, Lan said.
A proposed trail connecting Homestead National Historical Park to the city of Beatrice is closer to becoming a reality.

The Beatrice City Council agreed on a route for a trail connecting Riverside Park to Homesteads Heritage Center during its last meeting.

The move came as a major step in what could be a multi-year process, City Administrator Tobias Tempelmeyer said.

"If youre asking about time frame, the next steps are to apply for funding through the Nebraska Department of Transportation, Tempelmeyer said. That funding will probably come to you sometime in May or June. Assuming you are awarded that, the last trail we built with these funds took us eight years to build. It's not a quick thing The National Park Service has been able to handle a lot of the paperwork, so that's been very helpful to us. We'll have to figure out what our match is, as we move forward."

The Council expressed its preference for a south right-of-way alignment for the trail, which Tempelmeyer said would be the safest route.

The National Park Service paid for Olsson to do a study and try to find some different alignments Tempelmeyer said. Two of them were right along the highway  and then two other alternatives were one on the north side about 35 feet back and one on the south side about 35 feet back Looking at the different alternatives, it was the feeling of both the National Park Service, the Nebraska Department of Transportation and the City of Beatrice that the south alignment that had the trail 35 feet off of the highway was probably the best route.

The concrete trail, either 10 or 12 feet wide, would stretch more than three miles and cost $4.65 million. Beatrice covered 20 percent of the cost last time it used a federal surface transportation enhancement grant.

Councilman Joe Billesbach is an avid cyclist and a member of the Big Blue Biking Club. He recently participated in a 120 mile race in Flint Hills, Kansas. He said, despite Beatrices great trail system, Homestead National Historical Park remains out of reach for many cyclists and hikers.

Unfortunately right now, I have never been out to Homestead on my bicycle except for taking back roads, Billesbach said. Highway 4 is terrible. Theres no shoulder on it whatsoever, so you cannot ride on it with a bicycle.

Billesbach said the new trail will help integrate the system and could spur tourism to the area.

Were getting a lot of notice from riders all across the nation just because were on this trail system right now that stretches from Lincoln through Beatrice down to Marysville, Billesbach said. We have an awful lot of cyclists who ride back and forth on that trail. So if theres an opportunity to get out west to go out to Homestead, I know it will increase a lot of tourism.

Homestead National Historical Parks new superintendent, Betty Boyko, shared that sentiment.

It will provide hikers and cyclists safe access to the park, Boyko said. Thats one of the most important things It will certainly increase tourism out here and increase tourism to the community.

Boyko said she is pleased by how many organizations are on board with the plan.

You know, its supported by our general management plan, our foundation documents, Boyko said. And then the city of Beatrice and state of Nebraska comprehensive trail plan. When youre looking at that many entities on the same page, thats certainly a positive.

Boyko said she is looking forward to playing a supporting role as the City develops its trail plans westward. She said that the park will look into connecting that trail with trails inside the park once its completed.

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The Beatrice Public Schools Board of Education met to approve the pay of substitute teachers and discuss an expected teacher shortage in the state during its meeting on Monday.

BPS Assistant Superintendent Jackie Nielsen discussed the motion to raise the daily pay for substitute teachers in the district.

Our proposal at the Committee of the Whole meeting was $150, Nielsen said. After discussion at that meeting, we that decided we needed to be more competitive because everyone else was at $150 in the geographical area. So we are making the proposal that we move to $155 Were going to sit and watch and see what other districts do when we make that move. So we might be coming back in before August with another proposal.

The Board, missing Lisa Pieper, John Zimmerman, and Janet Byars, approved the pay raise unanimously.

Nielsen and BPS Superintendent Jason Alexander discussed staffing issues and the statewide teacher shortage they see on the horizon.

One of the things that I think is important for our public to know is that  as we look into the future, this year, in positions we have open, we saw a massive decrease in the number of applicants that we have in education, Alexander said. Its important to understand why In the coming future, especially in the next two to three years, we do foresee a major shortage of teachers in the state of Nebraska and everywhere for that matter.

Nielsen said there are 21 openings in the district, and 14 are currently filled.

Looking at the reasons that staff have given us about the move, 46% of them in the last three years are retiring, she said. So basically half are moving onto the end of their career. Another 28% of the certified staff leave were because of a family situation that arose... Those are things beyond our control.

Nielsen said that could mean moving with a spouse or moving to take care of family. She said 12% moved up in the field of education. Another 10% fall into the a category that includes staff who didnt feel their position was meeting their needs. There were 4% who chose to leave education all together.

Nielsen said staffing will continue to be an issue, but she said the administrative team is working creatively to find solutions.

In other business:

Alexander gave an update on the state of the new elementary building project.

A lot is happening, but theres nothing in terms of actual, definitive movement, he said. I would tell you that in regards to the design of the building, we are probably at about a 70% design phase completion status We are in the process of negotiating the contract with Johnson Controls. And just as an update for that, we have a meeting with them scheduled for [Tuesday] afternoon. Theyve had a contract in their hands since March 15, and theres been a little bit of a lag. So were trying to find out whats happening there.

Alexander said the district made significant strides with the financial piece of the project and will disclose that information when its finalized.

The Board approved the closure of the bond fund, which contained $349,780.31 and was used to pay off the high school. That money will go to the general fund.

The Board of Education will hold its next regular meeting on Monday, May 9 at 7 p.m. in the BPS Administration Building. The Committee of the Whole will meet on Thursday, April 28 at 6 p.m. in the same place.

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A potentially historic blizzard slammed into North Dakota on Tuesday, closing highways, stopping flights, snarling in-city traffic, and prompting numerous closings and cancellations.

"This is nutso," Karley Gosch, of Mandan, said as she braved the strong winds and pelting snow while walking across Main Street.

No travel was advised in the southwest and south central regions including Burleigh and Morton counties, and authorities closed Interstate 94 from the Montana border to Jamestown late in the afternoon, along with U.S. Highway 52 from Jamestown to Carrington, Interstate 29 from Fargo to the Canada border, U.S. Highway 2 from Devils Lake to Grand Forks, and state Highway 20 from Fort Totten to Devils Lake.

When (road crews) cant keep up and Mother Nature overwhelms them, we have to shut (roads) down, Highway Patrol Sgt. Wade Kadrmas said.

Interstate travel between Bismarck and Mandan was still allowed. The state Department of Transportation urged motorists in other areas of the state to be cautious due to the slippery roads, heavy snow, strong winds and reduced visibility.

Bismarck declared a snow emergency, prohibiting parking on all designated snow emergency routes. The city asked residents to avoid parking on other streets to aid in plowing.

Vehicles stuck in the street were a common sight around town. Traffic in the northern part of the city became snarled around midday when a semitrailer became stuck near the turnoff from State Street onto North 12th Street.

In many places on the edge of the metro area it was difficult to define clearly where the road was from the ditches surrounding it, and visibility was reduced to about 50 feet.

Bismarck police by about 4 p.m. had responded to seven crashes, none of which caused any injuries and the last of which had occurred before noon. Officers went to 22 traffic assists, according to Lt. Luke Gardiner.

Outside of the metro area, the Highway Patrol assisted drivers who had slid into ditches and dealt with some minor injury accidents, according to Kadrmas.

Hopefully people will just hunker down and be patient, the sergeant said. Thats the key.

A Manvel man suffered "moderate" injuries when he rear-ended a snowplow near Grand Forks in northeastern North Dakota, according to the Patrol.

The Burleigh County Sheriffs Department saw less traffic than normal. That was aided by business closures and people stocking up on groceries ahead of the storm.

A lot of people are actually staying home, Maj. Jim Hulm said. So far, so good. Well see what tomorrow brings.

Conditions were expected to continue to deteriorate during what is likely to be a three-day storm. Statewide road conditions are at https://travel.dot.nd.gov/. More Bismarck-Mandan snow removal information is at https://bismarcknd.gov/249/Snow-Removal and https://www.cityofmandan.com/snowremoval.

The state activated its Emergency Operations Center and was coordinating with local emergency managers across North Dakota to ensure that resources including search-and-rescue were available if needed, according to the governor's office.

The blizzard could bring record snowfall to Bismarck, which could get 2 feet of snow, and could rank as "one of the worst storms in recent history," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Adam Douty said.

The National Weather Service reported 4 inches of snow at the Bismarck Airport around midday.

The snow in Bismarck on Tuesday made an impression on 7-year-old Kaitlyn Hanson, who built a snow fort while her father, Jared Hanson, cleared the sidewalk in front of their home. Kaitlyn said she had been in snowstorms before, "But this is a real, real, real, real blizzard."

Others weren't so fascinated.

"This is ridiculous," Austin Stroh said of the accumulating snow as he cleared a sidewalk near downtown Bismarck.

All but the southeastern corner of North Dakota was under a blizzard warning, with as much as 30 inches of snow possible in some areas and winds expected to gust as strong as 50-60 mph. AccuWeather said snowdrifts could be 20 feet high.

The storm system moved in from the Pacific Northwest, picking up steam as it rolled over the Rockies and onto the Plains, where it clashed with warm, humid air from the Gulf of Mexico -- the storm's moisture source, AccuWeather said. Meanwhile, a southward dip in the jet stream allowed cold Canadian air to move south, setting the stage for what it said could be the "storm of the century" lasting through Thursday.

Snowfall rates could be as high as an inch to 1  inches per hour, according to Matthew Johnson, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service office in Bismarck.

"It doesn't happen all that often," he said. "This is comparable probably to the blizzard of '97 in western and central North Dakota."

In Bismarck-Mandan, "We're going to see the majority of the heavy snowfall today," Johnson said Tuesday morning. "But the winds will be increasing tomorrow, and visibility could be more reduced" Wednesday.

Numerous flights were canceled at the Bismarck Airport on Tuesday.

Public and private schools in Bismarck-Mandan called off in-person classes through Wednesday. Public schools will make a decision on Thursday later; the Catholic school systems in both cities do not have classes scheduled on Thursday due to Easter break.

Bismarck State College and United Tribes Technical College canceled classes Tuesday through Thursday, and the University of Mary won't hold in-person classes during the three-day storm stretch. Dickinson State University moved to virtual instruction Tuesday through Thursday. Williston State College planned to close for the week at midday Tuesday.

Bis-Man Transit parked CAT and paratransit buses and planned to resume operations only "when it is safe." Bismarck pulled garbage trucks off the streets midmorning and canceled collection routes for Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Recycling collection in the capital city also was called off until next week.

Crews attempted garbage and recycling pickup in Mandan on Tuesday. The city canceled collections for the rest of the week.

Both cities postponed their annual Spring Clean-up Week, which had been scheduled next week, due to the storm. The week when residents can place bulky items on the boulevard for special pickup is now set for May 2-5 in both cities.

The storm prompted numerous public and private closings around the metro area, including Burleigh County offices, Bismarck parks facilities and programs, Kirkwood Mall, and the Capitol and other state facilities in the Bismarck area.

Were grateful to those who continue to provide essential state services in challenging conditions for the safety and well-being of our citizens, including the North Dakota Department of Transportation and Highway Patrol members working out in these harsh conditions," Gov. Doug Burgum said in a statement.

Meetings of the Legislature's interim Higher Education Committee and Government Finance Committees set for Tuesday and Wednesday in Bismarck were canceled.

CHI St. Alexius Health closed outpatient facilities in Bismarck, Mandan, Garrison, Turtle Lake, Washburn and Minot. Inpatient services at the Bismarck hospital continued as normal. Sanford Health closed clinics in Bismarck, Mandan, Dickinson and Minot. Sanford planned to keep those clinics and the clinic in Watford City closed through Wednesday.

The state Department of Human Services closed locations in Bismarck, Dickinson, Williston, Minot, Devils Lake, Jamestown, Rolla and Valley City that provide direct client services. People experiencing a behavioral health crisis should call 211. Job Service North Dakota closed offices in Bismarck, Dickinson, Minot, Williston and Devils Lake.

The storm also threatened to disrupt spring calving and cause power outages.

"The snow will be stickier than usual," AccuWeather Meteorologist Matt Benz said, adding that it will "stick to everything, adding extra weight to power poles and trees."

PowerOutage.us reported about 100 people without electricity Tuesday morning, most of them Montana-Dakota Utilities customers in Sioux County, though by midday the power was back on. Only a handful of people statewide were without power late in the afternoon.

Bismarck-based MDU, which serves about 143,000 electricity customers and 275,000 natural gas customers in the Northern Plains, including in Bismarck-Mandan, said it was prepared for the storm.

"Crews are ready to respond; snowmobiles and other equipment with tracks are ready; and we have contract crews on standby in different areas of our regions," spokesman Mark Hanson said.

"We dont anticipate large-scale outages, but how the storm plays out will determine impact," he said. "In areas where its supposed to rain before turning to snow there could be ice buildup on power lines, which can be problematic. Fortunately trees are still bare, so we dont anticipate widespread problems with broken branches/trees. Strong wind gusts can still create an issue with trees, but nothing like trees in full foliage getting dumped on with wet, heavy snow."

Responding to outages could be difficult if roads are closed or impassable, Hanson said.

MDU is urging residents to keep natural gas meters and furnace vent areas clear of snow, and asking anyone doing snow removal to be mindful of infrastructure such as electric transformers that might be buried. The Bismarck Fire Department asked for residents' help in keeping the 4,500 fire hydrants in the city clear of snow.

The U.S. Postal Service asked people to clear snow and ice from walk areas and mailboxes, to aid mail carriers.

"By simply clearing the way, customers help reduce the risk, Minnesota-North Dakota District Manager Anthony Williams said.

Letter carriers "will make every effort to deliver their routes during the storm, as long as they feel it is safe to do so," district spokesman Desai Abdul-Razzaaq said. However, he added that "delivery may be impacted due to road closures, impassable roads and inaccessibility of mailboxes."

"In the event of road closures by local, state or federal officials, the USPS will suspend services in those areas," he said.

At least one Postal Service delivery van got stuck in Bismarck, along North 12th Street, and was being pulled out by a passerby in a pickup.

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A Nigerian man has been extradited from the United Kingdom to face fraud and money laundering charges in North Dakota.

Kolawole Bamidele Akande allegedly used a computer scheme to swindle a Dickinson company out of about $348,000, according to U.S. Attorney Nicholas Chase. Akande and two co-defendants are accused of fraudulently obtaining checks from the company through the mail and depositing them in fraudulently obtained bank accounts in Texas. Court documents identify the company as HES.

"Once the funds from these checks were available for withdrawal and transfer, the defendant, and other co-defendants, withdrew and transferred the funds to conceal and disguise their nature, location, source and ownership," the U.S. Attorney's Office said in a statement.

Akande also goes by several other names: Patric Ferguson, David Wallace and Ramos Hogan. He made an initial appearance in U.S. District Court in Bismarck on Monday on charges of mail fraud, money laundering, and several conspiracy counts. He pleaded not guilty and was ordered detained pending trial scheduled for May 24. Defense attorney Alexander Reichert declined comment to the Tribune.

Two co-defendants in the case were sentenced earlier. Olawale Sule in February 2021 was sentenced to two years in prison for bank fraud conspiracy and ordered to pay restitution. Oluwafemi Olasode was sentenced in September 2021 to time served -- nine days in federal custody and about eight months in immigration custody -- and restitution on a charge of misprision of a felony, which means failing to report knowledge of a felony crime.

The investigation has involved the FBI, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Homeland Security Investigations and the U.S. Attorney's Office.

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North Dakota is challenging the federal governments awarding of lucrative mineral rights under a Missouri River reservoir to the Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation, otherwise known as the Three Affiliated Tribes. The state attorney generals office said Friday that it notified the U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C., that it plans to intervene in the tribes lawsuit against the federal government. The Interior Department ruled in February that the tribes own the rights, in what has been a long-running dispute. At stake is an estimated $100 million in unpaid royalties and future payments certain to come from oil drilling. The government dammed the river in the 1950s, flooding more than a tenth of the tribes' reservation and creating the reservoir.
Dien Bien flights cancelled due to bad weather

Bamboo Airways has announced a halt to flights to and from Dien Bien Phu Airport in the northern mountainous province of Dien Bien due to low visibility.



The National Centre for Hydro-meteorological Forecasting reported that between April 10 and 17, the northwestern region of Vietnam would be hit by smog caused by the burning of straw stubble in Laos. This has reduced the visibility at Dien Bien Phu Airport area to just some 2,000 metres against the standard level of 4,200 metres, badly affecting the landing and takeoff of flights to and from Dien Bien Phu Airport.





An airplane of Bamboo Airways at Dien Bien Phu Airport



Bamboo Airways has decided to halt its flights to and from Dien Phu Airport during this time to ensure safety until the weather condition gets better.



According to Bamboo Airways, the carrier will support passengers affected by the suspension of flights.



A project to expand Dien Bien Phu Airport worth more than VND1.46 billion (USD64.7 million) is underway, aiming to help the airport to handle A320 and A321 planes.


WASHINGTON  A mix of emotions marked the Western North Dakota Honor Flight on Sunday and Monday as 93 veterans toured war memorials in Washington, D.C.

Its the first trip for the new chapter of the Honor Flight Network, which is dedicated to honoring military veterans with an expense-paid trip to the nations capital. In all, 151 people -- vets, escorts, Honor Flight staff and media -- boarded a chartered jet in Bismarck.

At the Vietnam Wall on Monday, vets sketched the names of fallen family and friends, and assisted others in finding names among the 58,318 etched into the surface of the memorial in order of their deaths.

Marvin Boehm, of Mandan, traced his brother Richards name, then the name next to it -- that of the man who would have been Richards best man at his wedding. The two died as they tried to escape enemy fire in 1971.

Its hard to talk about sometimes, Marvin Boehm said, adding as his voice trailed off, Its been 50-some years, but still ...

Vets lined up for photos below the North Dakota area at the World War II Memorial later in the day. Volunteer Carson Fleck picked a spot on a nearby wall to take photos as vets handed cellphones and cameras to him.

This is my favorite part of the whole trip, he said.

For Jim Weaver, an Air Force veteran, the memorial stands as a tribute to those, including his father, who fought in a war effort that Weaver believes made the world what it is today. The Vietnam and World War II memorials both evoke emotions for Weaver, a veteran of the Vietnam era, but the World War II memorial is special because my dad was a veteran, he said. His father died 11 years ago and I didnt make it down to Florida when he died, Weaver said.

A highlight for many on the first day was a welcome by members of the North Dakota National Guards 1-188th Air Defense Artillery unit who are deployed in D.C. Guard members formed an aisle inside Baltimore-Washington International airport, applauding and cheering as the veterans left the airplane.

National Guard members also lined the sidewalk and saluted as the four buses carrying veterans left the airport, capping what Vietnam vet Joe Gross, of Devils Lake, called the best welcome home I ever received. He came home to Fort Lewis, Washington, in 1970 to a greeting that included dirty diapers being flung at him. While he was deployed, his girlfriend lied to others about why he never visited her.

She told her friends I was in prison, he said.

Buses on Sunday shuttled the veterans from the airport to the Iwo Jima Memorial, Arlington National Cemetery and the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial. Honor Flight members watched the changing of guards at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Silence is required, and one guard during the Honor Flights visit asked a group of youngsters to quiet their footsteps. Guards dont display their rank out of respect to the unknown soldier, whose rank also is unknown.

A guards spot at Arlington is highly regarded. The precision of the guards -- each step silent and covering the same distance -- was not a job Lee Wolf, of Center, would have enjoyed. He was an engineer in Vietnam, building roads and airstrips, and helping locals with water projects -- much different tasks than the young men had at the Tomb.

You gotta be too precise, he said. Im not that kind of person.

The changing of the guard was meticulous, with each step counted and the time between another set of steps measured to the second. But vets heard -- and appreciated -- what some called the drag. Guards cant stop to recognize the veterans, but with a short but audible drag of their foot -- unnoticed by many -- give the vets a show of respect.

Honor Flight members as they left Arlington were approached by a group of visiting high school students. The students sought out as many veterans as they could, just to say thank you.

Veterans also spent considerable time at The National Archives on Monday, where they had a private viewing of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence.

"It's an amazing thing," said Air Force Veteran Stan Zalumskis, of Bismarck.

Not all the time spent on the tours was solemn. Veterans from different branches dont miss a chance to good-naturedly heckle one another, and no branch is immune. More than once, when someone mentioned the Navy, a Marine would chime in thats the Marines Uber. The Navy man saw it differently, saying Marines cant walk on water. They get their uniforms and their checks from us, a reference to the Marine Corps being a part of the U.S. Department of the Navy.

On the flight home, trip organizer Marty Presler surprised veterans with envelopes containing letters from family members, as well as questions and artwork from school students. The envelope for Wilbert Harsch, an Army veteran from Pick City, included letters from his children and grandchildren.

"It means a lot," he said, eyes swelling with tears.

Hundreds of people including an honor guard and a high school band turned out at the Bismarck Airport on Monday night to greet the veterans when they returned home.

About 200 veterans are on a waiting list for another Western North Dakota Honor Flight, organizers say. Each trip costs more than $160,000, which comes from business and private donations, service organizations and fundraisers.

Reach Travis Svihovec at 701-250-8260 or Travis.Svihovec@bismarcktribune.com

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Jordan Peterson, writer, psychologist, and Joe Rogan fave, is working Bible stories into his talks, seeking to flesh out his ideas of what it means to grow up. So why does he want us to become more childlike? []

I settled into my seat just a few rows back in the mezzanine and surveyed the crowds surging across the performance hall. As I had expected, the audience was composed largely of young adult males, though there was a substantial number of women, older folks, and even a few children present. The man sitting next to me (who had driven nine hours from Missouri for the show) assured me that, while the speaker never gave quite the same talk twice, I would enjoy it. I was fairly convinced I would, too.

As the lights dimmed, a young woman stepped out from the wings and introduced the speaker. Speaking highly of him (which she could not but do, being his daughter), she thanked us all for attending, then gestured to her right and asked us to welcome her dad.

Dr. Jordan B. Peterson, clinical psychologist, former University of Toronto professor, and internationally known writer and speaker, took the stage.

His gaunt but impressive figure immediately drew all eyes as he began to speak. Knowing his audience, he started off with some good old denigration of the current ideological nonsense running rampant through the culture. My philosophical sensibilities perked up as he articulated the Principle of Noncontradiction for everyone, noting how its no wonder non-Western countries think weve lost our minds when a woman cant define what a woman is.

Seeking to expose what we seem to have lost in our society, Peterson launched into an in-depth explanation of stories. Calling them verbal descriptions of maps, he said we are drawn to stories because they tell us how to act in the world. These stories are more than fact, because in the process of crafting and relating them, they force us to answer the question Which facts matter?which at its core is an ethical decision. It is in this sense that fiction isnt untrue; its more than true. Its the distilled truth.

Stories, according to Peterson, combine to form a cultural lens through which we see the world. For him, the biblical stories are at the center of that lens. This corpus of texts, with the Bible at its core, forms an idea in us, a sense of the ideal, which functions as the hallmark of our judgment (reminiscent of the natural law, in my opinion) in analyzing our lives and making decisions. With such an emphasis on the biblical foundations of our common worldview, it was no surprise when Peterson started to analyze a couple of familiar biblical stories in detail.

Beginning with the fall of Adam, he highlighted the moment when Adam stopped walking with God (Gen. 3:710). He pointed out that when Adam wakes up and realizes hes flawed, shame enters the picture and he loses the motivation to continue in Gods way. This is a story about the dawn of self-consciousness. For Peterson, self-consciousness is linked with an orientation toward work, because in seeing the flaws and weaknesses in ourselves, we are spurred to prepare for the eventuality of catastrophe.

This is where Petersons somewhat notoriously negative outlook struck me as incomplete. While there is an element of preparing for an unknown future that contributes to the distinctively human inclination to work (and the biblical narrative does reflect this), there is a broader understanding of work that sees man as co-creator with God in his labors, reflecting his elevated dignity as a rational being (and there is a biblical basis for this as well). Self-consciousness plays an essential role, but the motivation to work is not limited to a fearful reaction at the sight of the fragility of ones nature.

I think Peterson hit a little nearer the mark when he asserted the fundamentally human principle that if you make the proper sacrifices, you will improve your life. This is the instinct that underlies the entrepreneurial spirit that moves someone to take on risk in order to create profit, but I appreciated Petersons broader application of it to the general realm of human decision-making. Peterson then commented on what is meant by the proper sacrifices in relation to the story of Cain and Abel.

Quoting a translation that may have been his own, Peterson focused on Cain brooding over the perceived injustice of his rejected sacrifice and drew out the sexual connotation of the word brood. He described sin as having a desire for Cain, and when it was invited in by him, joined with him in a procreative manner to produce bitterness and resentment. Petersons point was that we all have a choice in our response to injustice, real or perceived, and that response will always bear fruit in either a beneficial or a destructive way. Cain chose to sow the wind and reap the whirlwind, which culminated in the murder of his brother.

So what, Peterson queried, does our shared lens tell us is the proper response to suffering, the proper sacrifice? It is gratitude. Gratitude is the offering of Abel in faith, a decision to choose against bitterness even if it is not justified by the evidence. Given the reality of sin in this world, one that Petersons stark realism acknowledges as pretty damn brutal, there is no question that we all have reasons to be bitter about our suffering. But Cain shows us the dangers of that path. The alternative is to make an act of faith, that gratitude instead of bitterness has greater value and mysteriously makes our lives better.

Peterson touched on both the psychological and religious views of gratitude. He described a common method of treating phobias in his clinical experience, which is to help the patient look at what youre afraid of and so become braver. Gratitude involves this psychological decision to stand up and face the suffering in your life. Underscoring the deeper spiritual level, however, Peterson declared that the ultimate example of choosing gratitude over bitterness in the face of indescribable suffering is the Crucifixion and the Resurrection. The fruit born of Christs self-gift of love to his Father, with no trace of resentment toward his persecutors, was nothing less than eternal life itself.

What struck me as significant is that this serious-minded Canadian, who is famous for emphasizing the reality of adulthood and the necessity of growing up and embracing responsibility, has espoused a response to suffering that is startlingly childlike. Gratitude, in its essence, is a posture of dependence, a recognition of a lack of control and an orientation toward another from whom you receive everything as a gift. Children do not have self-consciousness that spurs them to work for fear of future catastrophe. Children do not brood over injuries. Children open their arms and their hearts to receive and respond with love to those who give to them without measure.

This is not to say that maturity and gratitude are opposed, or that Peterson is switching tacks from his aim up, responsibility-focused mentality. The point is that real maturity comes when we persevere in the trusting response of gratitude even in the face of injustice and trial. In the blend of rational, rhetorical, and religious language used by our foundational cultural texts, and in the story Peterson is telling, there is room for both.

Ultimately, then, Be Grateful in Spite of Your Suffering (rule #12 in Beyond Order: 12 More Rules for Life) means to strive to accept as your destiny the endeavor to hold the moral high ground  in spite of the fact that you have ample reason to be bitter and vengeful. As we enter into meditation on the Passion in this last week before Easter, pondering this childlike posture of gratitude in the figure of the suffering Christ is something we can all embrace.
After more sanctions were placed on Russia last week by the United States for the invasion of Ukraine, Russia state TV says Vladimir Putin plans to retaliate against the U.S. by meddling in the next presidential elections. Again. After all, what better way to get revenge on the U.S. and democracy than "to again help our partner Trump to become president," as state TV host Evgeny Popov recently said, according to Yahoo!. And while they're at it, why not install Tulsi Gabbard as his running mate?

From Yahoo!

Last week, American intelligence officials reportedly assessed that Russian President Vladimir Putin may use the Biden administration's support for Ukraine as a pretext to order a new campaign to interfere in U.S. elections. 

The time is coming "to again help our partner Trump to become president," state TV host Evgeny Popov recently declared. On Thursday's edition of the state television show The Evening With Vladimir Soloviev, Putin's pet pundits offered an update on plans for 2024.

"We're trying to feel our way, figuring out the first steps. What can we do in 2023, 2024?," Russian "Americanist" Malek Dudakov, a political scientist specializing in the U.S., said. He suggested that Russia's interference in the upcoming elections is still in its early stages, and that more will be accomplished after the war is over 

Dmitry Drobnitsky, an omnipresent "Americanist" on Soloviev's show, suggested that Tulsi Gabbard should be invited along with Trump. Dudakov agreed: "Tulsi Gabbard would also be great. Maybe Trump will take her as his vice-president?" Gabbard has recently become a fixture of state television for her pro-Russian talking points, and has even been described as a "Russian agent" by the Kremlin's propaganda machine. 

Short of nuclear holocaust, it is now clear that Russia is focusing its efforts on distracting America from its foreign policy objectives by threatening to meddle in U.S. internal affairs. Speaking about the upcoming midterm elections on Soloviev's show last week, Konstantin Dolgov, the deputy chairman of the Committee on Economic Policy of Russia's Federation Council, predicted that "the results will apparently not be good for the Democrats," because of rising gas prices in the U.S. But the midterms, he emphasized, are "just a rehearsal. The main elections are further ahead and preparations for those are already underway."
An Ohio school district just banned the children's book It's Okay to Be a Unicorn after deciding that, well, unicorns and rainbows are just not age-appropriate for children. And neither is the theme of the book, which encourages kids to be themselves.

In fact, the colorful picture book  about a cute unicorn pretending to be a horse to fit in  is so highly offensive to district officials in the Buckeye Valley School District, near Columbus, that a principal told author Jason Tharp he would no longer be able to read the forbidden book at a scheduled event, according to HuffPost, and teachers were told to strip the school walls of any student artwork related to said indecent book.

From HuffPost:
In March 2022, the South Carolina Department of Corrections announced that it would now offering execution by firing squad, for those incarcerated people who are eligible to be legally slaughtered at the hands of the state. The first such death penalty is scheduled for later this month:

The clerk of the State Supreme Court has set a April 29 execution date for Richard Bernard Moore, a 57-year-old man who has spent more than two decades on death row after he was convicted of killing convenience store clerk James Mahoney in Spartanburg. Moore could face a choice between the electric chair and the firing squad, two options available to death row prisoners after legislators altered the state's capital punishment law last year in an effort to work around a decade-long pause in executions, attributed to the corrections agency's inability to procure lethal injection drugs. The new law made the electric chair the state's primary means of execution while giving prisoners the option of choosing death by firing squad or lethal injection, if those methods are available.

The Department of Corrections spent a little over $50,000 to prepare for the new shooting policy (Fiscal responsiblity!!1). Here are some of the guidelines, if that's the kind of horrible thing you'd like to read:

 The death chamber has been renovated to accommodate a firing squad. The chamber now includes a chair in which inmates will sit if they choose execution by firing squad. The chair is in a corner of the room away from the current electric chair, which cannot be moved.  Bullet-resistant glass has been installed between the witness room and death chamber.

The firing squad chair is metal with restraints and is surrounded by protective equipment. The chair faces a wall with a rectangular opening 15 feet away.  Three firing squad members will be behind the wall, with rifles facing the inmate through the opening. The rifles and open portal will not be visible from the witness room. All three rifles will be loaded with live ammunition.  The witnesses will see the right-side profile of the inmate. The inmate will not face the witness room directly. The electric chair faces the witnesses directly.  The inmate will wear a prison-issued uniform and be escorted into the chamber. The inmate will be given the opportunity to make a last statement.  The inmate will be strapped into the chair, and a hood will be placed over his head. A small aim point will be placed over his heart by a member of the execution team.  After the warden reads the execution order, the team will fire. After the shots, a doctor will examine the inmate. After the inmate is declared dead, the curtain will be drawn and witnesses escorted out.  Members of the firing squad are volunteer SCDC employees. They must meet certain qualifications.

It's unclear what legal recourse there is if someone should survive the execution.

South Carolina schedules 1st execution with firing squad ready [Michelle Liu / Associated Press]

Image: Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons
Remember Miya Ponsetto who in 2020 at a New York hotel attacked a young Black teenager she wrongly accused of stealing her phone? As a reminder, watch Ponsetto's idiotic interview below with CBS News shortly after the incident. In a Manhattan courtroom this morning, Ponsetto pleaded guilty to unlawful imprisonment in the second degree as a hate crime. From CNN:

The plea deal requires Ponsetto, 23, to follow the probation terms for a separate case in California, attend counseling and avoid further criminal incidents.

If she doesn't comply, Ponsetto could go to prison for up to four years, prosecutors said. But if she successfully follows those terms, she can re-plead the felony charge to a misdemeanor charge of aggravated harassment in the second degree[]

District Attorney Alvin Bragg said Ponsetto "displayed outrageous behavior.""As a Black man, I have personally experienced racial profiling countless times in my life and I sympathize with the young man victimized in this incident," Bragg said.
Philadelphia became the first major U.S. city to reinstate its indoor mask mandate on Monday after reporting a sharp increase in coronavirus infections, with the city's top health official saying she wanted to forestall a potential new wave driven by an omicron subvariant.

Confirmed COVID-19 cases have risen more than 50% in 10 days, the threshold at which the citys guidelines call for people to wear masks indoors, said Dr. Cheryl Bettigole, the health commissioner. Health officials believe the recent spike is being driven by the highly transmissible BA.2 subvariant of omicron, which has spread rapidly throughout Europe and Asia, and has become dominant in the U.S. in recent weeks.

If we fail to act now, knowing that every previous wave of infections has been followed by a wave of hospitalizations, and then a wave of deaths, it will be too late for many of our residents, said Bettigole, noting about 750 Philadelphia residents died in the wintertime omicron outbreak. This is our chance to get ahead of the pandemic, to put our masks on until we have more information about the severity of this new variant.

Health inspectors will begin enforcing the mask mandate at city businesses on April 18.

Most states and cities dropped their masking requirements in February and early March following new guidelines from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that put less focus on case counts and more on hospital capacity. The CDC said at that time that with the virus in retreat, most Americans could safely take off their masks.

Philadelphia ended its indoor mask mandate March 2, and Bettigole acknowledged it was wonderful to feel that sense of normalcy again.

Confirmed cases have since risen to more than 140 per day  still a fraction of what Philadelphia saw at the height of the omicron surge  while only 46 patients are in the hospital with COVID-19. The CDC says community spread in Philadelphia remains low, a level at which the agency says that masking can be optional.

The restaurant industry pushed back against the city's reimposed mask mandate, saying workers will bear the brunt of customer anger over the new rules.

This announcement is a major blow to thousands of small businesses and other operators in the city who were hoping this spring would be the start of recovery, said Ben Fileccia, senior director of operations at the Pennsylvania Restaurant & Lodging Association.

PolicyLab at Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia said Friday that while it expects some increased transmission in the northern U.S. over the next several weeks, hospital admissions have remained low and our team advises against required masking given that hospital capacity is good.

Bettigole said requiring people to mask up will help restaurants and other businesses stay open, while a huge new wave of COVID-19 would keep customers at home. She said hospital capacity was just one factor that went into her decision to reinstate the mandate.

I sincerely wish we didnt have to do this again, Bettigole said. But I am very worried about our vulnerable neighbors and loved ones.

In New York City, Mayor Eric Adams has paused his push to unwind many of the citys virus rules as cases have risen, opting for now to keep a mask mandate for 2 to 4-year-olds in city schools and preschools. But Adams, a Democrat who has said New Yorkers should not let the pandemic run their lives, has already lifted most other mask mandates and rules requiring proof of vaccination to dine in restaurants, work out at gyms or attend shows.

Adams was asked at a virtual news conference Monday afternoon if he was considering reimposing the New York City mask mandate in light of Philadelphias decision. The mayor said he would listen to his team of medical doctors for their advice on whether to bring back any restrictions. Adams himself tested positive for COVID-19 on Sunday.

New York City is now averaging around 1,800 new cases per day, about three times higher than in early March when New York began easing rules. That does not include the many home tests that go unreported to health officials.

The latest outbreak has struck many high-profile officials in Washington, including Cabinet members and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and the governors of New Jersey and Connecticut. Some universities have reinstated mask mandates.

D.C. health officials say they have no immediate plans to change virus protocols, but they reserve the right to change course down the road.

Rubinkam reported from northeastern Pennsylvania. Associated Press reporter Michelle L. Price in New York contributed to this story.

Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
It was 2014 when Stephanie Speaker, now a Depew resident disabled by mental challenges and epilepsy, first approached then-Assemblyman Michael P. Kearns about New York's inadequate transit system for disabled people.

"Why can't the service area expand from 3/4 mile from a bus route to 3 miles," she asked, "so the disabled can get to work or appointments easier?"

On Tuesday, the firebrand for disabled rights stood with some of Western New York's most powerful politicians to celebrate an experimental program approved in the new state budget that will determine how to implement just what she has always sought. And they all credited her with a long effort that finally prodded the Albany bureaucracy.

"I'm still pushing because I care for the disabled community like myself, the veterans, and the seniors, for whom paratransit is important," said, Speaker, 50, during a news conference outside the Allen-Medical Campus Metro Rail Station on Main Street as her parents, Kenneth and Patricia Speaker, looked on.

Speaker's long effort to expand paratransit service provided by the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority and other transit agencies fell short of her goal  and that of legislative sponsor Sen. Timothy M. Kennedy, D-Buffalo  for expanded efforts around the state. But she and Kennedy did succeed in obtaining a $750,000 grant for the NFTA to establish a pilot program to study new service in Erie County.

The program will:

 Identify the number of those qualifying for paratransit services and their locations.

 Examine door-to-door and curb-to-curb services.

 Study flexible pickup or drop-off windows, short notice services, peak hour feeder services and other aspects of the NFTA's paratransit program.

Kennedy lauded the work of Speaker and Todd Vaarwerk, chief policy officer of Western New York Independent Living Inc., adding the pilot program will continue to seek their input.

"This is a very important first step," Vaarwerk said, noting that reliable paratransit and the lack of affordable housing rank as top impediments to reaching work and other activities for the disabled.

NFTA Executive Director Kimberley A. Minkel promised full cooperation from the transit agency in studying the program. The effort will be "transformative, transparent and transferrable," she said, so it can be ready for adaptation around the state.

"This is long overdue and badly needed," Minkel added.

Kearns, now Erie County clerk, Assembly Majority Leader Crystal D. Peoples-Stokes, and Assembly members Karen McMahon and Jonathan Rivera also attended the morning session.

"This is about fairness, this is about equity, this is about dignity," Rivera said. "It's money spent the right way."

Under the current program, paratransit commuters pay $4 for a ride aboard 85 specially equipped vans for approved activities like doctor's appointments or grocery shopping. The authority's PAL (Paratransit Access Line) service recorded 13,827 trips in January and 15,708 in February.

Kennedy, chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee, said he will continue exploring eventual passage of a $20 million program for the entire state, which was included in the Senate budget but ended up as the pilot program.

The senator also pointed to a record $68.2 million in State Operating Assistance (STOA) for the NFTA, a $9 million increase from two years ago. Overall, he said, the budget included a $39.7 million hike for upstate transit agencies.

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ROCHESTER  After throwing the book at Robert C. Morgan, federal prosecutors let him plead guilty Tuesday to just one felony related to mortgage fraud and agreed he should have to serve no prison term.

At one time, the government lodged 114 charges against the Rochester-area developer, who had spent years buying and building apartments in the eastern half of the country, including Buffalo. The government accused Morgan and his co-defendants of loading their mortgage applications with fictitious facts and figures, all to borrow more money than their projects or purchases deserved.

Co-defendants won't have to cooperate in federal fraud case against Robert Morgan The misdemeanor plea deals this week for Robert C. Morgan's three co-defendants do not necessarily signal added troubles for the Rochester developer, who still faces the brunt of felony charges in what federal prosecutors once called a "wide-ranging mortgage fraud scheme."

Then the case bogged down under the weight of the reams of computer-based documents and data seized by federal investigators. Prosecutors could not efficiently analyze the records and turn them back over to the defendants in time to ensure a fair and speedy trial. The entire indictment was dismissed in October 2020, and federal prosecutors regrouped to file another six months later.

But the second round was much like the first. And with the judge tired of the delays, incoming U.S. Attorney Trini Ross disposed of the case. She let three of Morgans co-defendants plead last week to one misdemeanor each, bank larceny of less than $1,000. The deal on the table calls for no jail time and a fine of up to $9,500. It is a slap on the wrist compared to what the full penalty could have been, a year in jail and a $250,000 fine.

Morgan was 60 when The Buffalo News revealed in 2017 that a federal probe of his dealings was underway. He told District Court Judge Elizabeth Wolford on Tuesday morning that he was 65 before she launched into a series of questions designed to ensure he knew what he was doing by pleading guilty.

Three Morgan defendants plead guilty to significantly reduced charges in surprise plea deals Four years after unveiling the first of three separate mortgage fraud indictments against Rochester real estate mogul Robert C. Morgan and several other defendants, the federal government has dropped almost all of its claims against most of the remaining defendants.

Morgan admitted that in September 2016, he and his conspirators gave inaccurate information to the ESL Federal Credit Union so it would lend more money than was justified to build the Ellison Heights apartments in Monroe County. He then pleaded guilty to the charge of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, a felony.

That, too, can bring a fine of up to $250,000 and prison time, up to five years. However, while federal prosecutors say in court papers that Morgans crime was more serious than his lawyers assert, they agreed he should not be incarcerated.

It is up to the judge to decide whether to go along with that. If Wolford gives him jail time, Morgan can withdraw his guilty plea. He cant withdraw his guilty plea regardless of the size of the fine, a sentence of probation or an order to make restitution. Defense attorney Joel Cohen, however, said he and prosecutors agree no restitution is needed because the construction loan was repaid in full.

You can see, its a far cry from what they presented as to what they were able to deliver. Cohen said of the federal prosecutors and agents on the case.

When Morgan was first indicted in May 2019, then-U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy said the actions of Morgan and the others "strikes at the very heart of the banking industry." In announcing the guilty plea Tuesday, the U.S. Attorneys Office, now under Ross' management, used less-robust language: Robert Morgan pleads guilty to wire-fraud conspiracy, the news release said.

A proceeding by the Securities and Exchange Commission against Morgan has been settled. And a year ago, the U.S. Attorneys Office withdrew an effort to seize some Morgan properties.

Still, Morgans empire has been dented. At one time, his businesses owned around 36,000 apartments in 14 states. He has since sold more than half of his holdings.

Its done significant damage to his business, defense lawyer Cohen said after the court hearing broke up. But he also said Morgans intends to go about rebuilding.

As for the sentencing, the judge scheduled it for July 22, the same date Todd Morgan will be sentenced. Robert Morgans son was among the three who pleaded to misdemeanors last week.

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The story of school board elections in Western New York is often about how few people are interested in being elected to the school board.

Take last year, where the seats in 19 districts across Erie and Niagara counties were uncontested. In North Collins, two seats were available and only one person was on the ballot. It was even worse in Cheektowaga, where no one signed up to run for the single seat, and write-ins were encouraged.

But there is a new narrative around school board elections this year and the story is all about national politics.

Energized by the fights against face masks and other pandemic mandates, candidates in a number of local districts are running with the help of groups who have platforms such as parent-partnered curriculum and medical freedom.

The trend of cross-district coordination to elect conservative and parent-led school board members is happening around the country and is drawing the ire of teachers unions and those who fear the polarization that has affected the national political discourse is coming to schools. Many school boards have been under fire the past two years from parents fed up with remote and hybrid learning, face mask mandates and quarantines keeping kids out of the classroom. Some boards have abruptly adjourned meetings when audience members refused to wear masks when they were mandated.

Candidates from Eden to Hamburg, Orchard Park and Clarence are among those who say they want parental choice, medical freedom, parental rights, parent input into curriculum as well as board transparency and accessibility.

Were trying to get elected in every single district in Western New York, said Jonathan Rich of Western New York Students First.

Western New York Students First, formed during the Covid-19 pandemic when parents were rallying against hybrid schooling, hopes to support 40 candidates in nearly a dozen districts this year.

Fight for Your Family Initiative, started by Orchard Park gym operators Robby Dinero and Kelly Hunter, is focusing on races in Hamburg and Orchard Park.

Western New York Students First gained nonprofit status last year, and provides training and assistance, but no funding for candidates, Rich said. He said the organization is working with other groups in the state and other states.

We are the Western New York piece of the puzzle to this nationwide movement around democracy and education, Rich said.

The Washington Post identified websites and social media accounts of more than 180 parent groups in at least 24 states, most formed within the past two years.

Rich said Covid-19 and the restrictions around it led to "an awareness now of what our government is really capable of doing during a crisis.

The groups website said it will help with finding candidates, and show them how to or connect them with people who can build campaigns, design marketing materials, raise money, solicit donors, collect signatures and conduct robocalls.

The Fight for Your Family Initiative is raising money for candidates in Hamburg and Orchard Park through GiveSendGo, which describes itself as the No. 1 Christian crowdfunding site.

Steve Barlette, a candidate for Orchard Park School Board, said he and his running partner, Kati Ibarra, are independent candidates and are not affiliated with, or accepting any funds from, the Fight for Your Family Initiative.

The crowdfunding site has been used to raise money for a Buffalo man charged in the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, Thomas Sibick, and Kyle Rittenhouse, the man who was acquitted of criminal charges after fatally shooting two people during unrest in Kenosha, Wisc., in 2020.

The campaign created by Dinero on the site has raised about $10,000. Individual campaigns by the three Hamburg candidates endorsed by the group have raised a total of more than $5,000 on GiveSendGo.

Dinero said money will be spent to let people know there is another option than the status quo and candidates backed by teachers unions.

Allowing the state to put its oppressive policies over our children and families is no longer the only option, Dinero said.

Dineros girlfriend, Kelly Hunter, is one of three candidates backed by the group in Hamburg. Jackie Best and Tammy DeLong are the others. They are running against incumbents Laura Heeter, David Yoviene and Richard Schneider.

Hunter and Best, who often speak at Hamburg School Board meetings, are among four people who have filed petitions with the state education commissioner to remove the superintendent and three principals regarding the denial of education to their children over not wearing masks. The School Board cited the petitions in the resolution to appoint outside attorneys to defend them.

Dinero was successful in suing New York over capacity limits in his gym during the pandemic, and also has had issues with the Orchard Park Central School District, including a teacher's discussion of white privilege. In December he was charged with two counts of trespassing for allegedly entering Orchard Park middle and high schools after he was prohibited from entering school buildings following a violation of the district code of conduct.

The coordination and support for candidates pushing parental rights stands in comparison to school board candidates backed by powerful teacher unions. Some local districts with active teacher unions regularly back candidates, who often win.

National issues have filtered into school board races, and New York State United Teachers said in a February post on its website that has affected local elections.

Last spring, the distortion and disinformation that pollutes the political landscape flowed into school board elections and budget votes in a dangerous new way. In districts from many corners of the state, it overturned the fragile balance of community interest and common sense that levels debates over priorities and public education, the union wrote.

The union urged union members to get involved with their local unions to endorse and elect school board members who support public education, teachers and school staff.

But the "fragile balance of community interest and common sense" to the union is seen as a dangerous status quo by some.

We are ensuring the word is getting out. We're making sure that people are going to vote, and were making sure that people know there is now an option, Dinero said.

Turnout also is a goal for candidates supported by Western New York Students First.

Our goal really is, we want the whole community to be part of this board of education process, Rich said.

Petitions for school board candidates are due April 18, which is when the first statement of expenses must be submitted to the district clerk for expenditures and contributions over $500.

This story has been updated to add that Steve Barlette, a candidate for Orchard Park School Board, said he and his running partner, Kati Ibarra, are independent candidates and are not affiliated with, or accepting any funds from, the Fight for Your Family Initiative.

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KYIV, Ukraine (AP)  Vladimir Putin vowed Tuesday that Russia's bloody offensive in Ukraine would continue until its goals are fulfilled and insisted the campaign was going as planned, despite a major withdrawal in the face of stiff Ukrainian opposition and significant losses.

Russian troops, thwarted in their push toward Ukraine's capital, are now focusing on the eastern Donbas region, where Ukraine said Tuesday it was investigating a claim that a poisonous substance had been dropped on its troops. It was not clear what the substance might be, but Western officials warned that any use of chemical weapons by Russia would be a serious escalation of the already devastating war.

Russia invaded on Feb. 24, with the goal, according to Western officials, of taking Kyiv, the capital, toppling the government and installing a Moscow-friendly regime. In the six weeks since, the ground advance stalled and Russian forces lost potentially thousands of fighters and were accused of killing civilians and other atrocities.

Putin insisted Tuesday that his invasion aimed to protect people in parts of eastern Ukraine controlled by Moscow-backed rebels and to ensure Russias own security.

He said Russia had no other choice but to launch what he calls a special military operation, and vowed it would continue until its full completion and the fulfillment of the tasks that have been set.

For now, Putin's forces are gearing up for a major offensive in the Donbas, which has been torn by fighting between Russian-allied separatists and Ukrainian forces since 2014, and where Russia has recognized the separatists claims of independence. Military strategists say Moscow appears to hope that local support, logistics and the terrain in the region favor its larger, better-armed military, potentially allowing Russia to finally turn the tide in its favor.

In Mariupol, a strategic port city in the Donbas, a Ukrainian regiment defending a steel mill claimed a drone dropped a poisonous substance on the city. It indicated there were no serious injuries. The assertion by the Azov Regiment, a far-right group now part of the Ukrainian military, could not be independently verified.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that while experts try to determine what the substance might be, The world must react now. Evidence of inhuman cruelty toward women and children in Bucha and other suburbs of Kyiv continued to surface, he added, including of alleged rapes.

Not all serial rapists reach the cruelty of Russian soldiers, Zelenskyy said.

The claims came after a Russia-allied separatist official appeared to urge the use of chemical weapons, telling Russian state TV on Monday that separatist forces should seize the plant by first blocking all the exits. And then well use chemical troops to smoke them out of there, the official, Eduard Basurin, said. He denied Tuesday that separatist forces had used chemical weapons in Mariupol.

Ukraine's Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar said officials were investigating, and it was possible phosphorus munitions  which cause horrendous burns but are not classed as chemical weapons  had been used in Mariupol.

Much of the city has been leveled in weeks of pummeling by Russian troops. The mayor said Monday that the siege has left more than 10,000 civilians dead, their bodies carpeted through the streets. Mayor Vadym Boychenko said the death toll in Mariupol alone could surpass 20,000.

Zelenskyy adviser Mykhailo Podolyak acknowledged the challenges Ukrainian troops face in Mariupol. He said via Twitter that they remain blocked and are having issues with supplies, while Ukraine's president and generals do everything possible (and impossible) to find a solution.

For more than 1.5 months our defenders protect the city from (Russian) troops, which are 10+ times larger," Podolyak tweeted. Theyre fighting under the bombs for each meter of the city. They make (Russia) pay an exorbitant price.

British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said the use of chemical weapons would be a callous escalation in this conflict, while Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne said it would be a wholesale breach of international law.

U.S. President Joe Biden for the first time referred to Russias invasion as a genocide. He was even blunter later Tuesday, repeating the term and saying: It's become clearer and clearer that Putin is just trying to wipe out the idea of even being a Ukrainian.

Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said in a statement that the U.S. could not confirm the drone report. But he noted the administrations persistent concerns about Russias potential to use a variety of riot control agents, including tear gas mixed with chemical agents.

Britain, meanwhile, has warned that Russia may resort to phosphorus bombs, which are banned in civilian areas under international law, in Mariupol.

Most armies use phosphorus munitions to illuminate targets or to produce smoke screens. Deliberately firing them into an enclosed space to expose people to fumes could breach the Chemical Weapons Convention, said Marc-Michael Blum, a former laboratory head at the Netherlands-based Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons.

Once you start using the properties of white phosphorus, toxic properties, specifically and deliberately, then it becomes banned, he said.

In Washington, a senior U.S. defense official said the Biden administration was preparing yet another package of military aid for Ukraine possibly totaling $750 million to be announced in the coming days. The official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss plans not yet publicly announced. Delivery is due to be completed this week of $800 million in military assistance approved by Biden a month ago.

In the face of stiff resistance by Ukrainian forces bolstered by Western weapons, Russian forces have increasingly relied on bombarding cities, flattening many urban areas and killing thousands. The war has driven more than 10 million Ukrainians from their homes  including nearly two-thirds of the country's children.

Moscow's retreat from cities and towns around Kyiv led to the discovery of large numbers of apparently massacred civilians, prompting widespread condemnation and accusations of war crimes.

More than 720 people were killed in Kyiv suburbs that had been occupied by Russian troops and over 200 were considered missing, the Interior Ministry said early Wednesday.

In Bucha alone, Mayor Anatoliy Fedoruk said 403 bodies had been found and the toll could rise as minesweepers comb the area.

Ukraines prosecutor-generals office said Tuesday it was also looking into events in the Brovary district, which lies to the northeast.

It said the bodies of six civilians were found with gunshot wounds in a basement in the village of Shevchenkove and Russian forces were believed to be responsible.

Prosecutors are also investigating allegations that Russian forces fired on a convoy of civilians trying to leave by car from the village of Peremoha in the Brovary district, killing four people including a 13-year-old boy. In another attack near Bucha, five people were killed including two children when a car was fired upon, prosecutors said.

Putin falsely claimed Tuesday that Ukraine's accusation that hundreds of civilians were killed by Russian troops in the town of Bucha were fake. Associated Press journalists saw dozens of bodies in and around the town, some of whom had their hands bound and appeared to have been shot at close range.

Speaking at the Vostochny space launch facility in Russia's far east, in his first known foray outside Moscow since the war began, Putin also said the West would fail to isolate Russia and its economy has withstood a blitz of sanctions.

Addressing the pace of the campaign, he said Moscow was proceeding calmly and rhythmically to achieve the planned goals while minimizing the losses.

The Russian defense ministry said Tuesday that it used used air- and sea-launched missiles to destroy an ammunition depot and airplane hangar at Starokostiantyniv in the western Khmelnytskyi region and an ammunition depot near Kyiv.

Karmanau reported from Lviv, Ukraine. Associated Press writer Robert Burns in Washington, and AP 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.
It was over by the end of the workday. In the morning, Lt. Gov. Brian Benjamin was charged with political corruption. Hours later, he resigned.

We dont know that hes guilty  neither do the political opponents who are making hay of his arrest  but the legal question is separate from the political ones.

The legal one is easily answered: Benjamin, Gov. Kathy Hochuls second in command, is innocent unless hes proven guilty. He surrendered early Tuesday based on federal charges of bribery, fraud and falsification of records as part of a bid to direct illegal donations to his failed 2021 campaign for New York City comptroller.

The political considerations are different. The charges compromise his ability to do the job that he assumed upon Hochuls invitation last September. He needed to resign from a job in which he could no longer function.

While the legal process plays out, it is clear to both of us that he cannot continue to serve as lieutenant governor, Hochul wrote in a statement. New Yorkers deserve absolute confidence in their government, and I will continue working every day to deliver for them.

Like vice presidents, a lieutenant governor has few official responsibilities, but one is to step in if the governor is unable to act. A federal felony charge alleging political corruption makes that impossible.

What is more, Benjamin has become a cross for Hochul to bear. Opponents will beat her with it from now until Novembers election. He owed it to her, to his party and to all New Yorkers to step down.

One question, in particular, is liable to dog Buffalos Hochul as she campaigns for election to the office she inherited last August. How well did her office vet Benjamin before nominating him as lieutenant governor?

As The New York Times reports, questions had arisen early in 2021 about the political contributions in question. Those donations could have allowed Benjamin to qualify for New York Citys generous matching-funds program.

The charges are a reminder that New York politics are some of the nations dirtiest. Their practice is bipartisan, but Democrats  for the moment, at least  control all the levers of state government. That makes this an excellent moment for them to show that they are serious about implementing ethics laws that are meant to make a difference.

  

Whats your opinion? Send it to us at lettertoeditor@buffnews.com. Letters should be a maximum of 300 words and must convey an opinion. The column does not print poetry, announcements of community events or thank you letters. A writer or household may appear only once every 30 days. All letters are subject to fact-checking and editing.
By Yury Garcia

GUAYAQUIL (Reuters) - Banana growers from three provinces in Ecuador blocked main roads across the South American country on Monday to demand government action to boost prices they say are too low for them to meet production costs.

Growers were blocking major highways in the provinces of El Oro, Guayas and Los Rios with rocks and stones, saying they are struggling to break even because their share of sales is too low.

The cost to produce each 18-kilogram box of bananas has risen above $5, Mirella Carrera, a banana producer from the province of Guayas told Reuters, but growers receive a maximum of $1.50 per box.

"All of the producers and our collaborators are out to call for, to demand that they respect our minimum price," Carrera told Reuters via telephone. "The authority must force companies to respect the official price of $6.25 for an 18-kilogram box of bananas."

Banana crops are the main source of employment in Ecuador's agricultural sector and almost two-thirds of production comes from small producers with less than 30 hectares.

The country's government should cover the cost of fumigations or guarantee sales, other growers said.

"We ask that the government solve part of this serious problem, either by buying bunches from the small banana producers or, if not, that it pay up for the (pest) fumigations, which is the most expensive," banana producer Eduardo Novillo said via a phone call with Reuters.

The situation has worsened since Russia invaded Ukraine, interrupting shipments to the two countries that together consume around a quarter of Ecuador's banana exports, Agriculture Minister Pedro Alava said during a press conference in Guayaquil. He added that President Guillermo Lasso would address the issue.

"This is a very sensitive issue, rest assured the President will manage the issue responsibly," Alava said.

(Reporting by Yury Garcia; Writing by Oliver Griffin; Editing by David Gregorio)
A Wisconsin judge says the state Department of Natural Resources cannot enforce the states pollution law without first establishing a definitive list of hazardous substances approved by the Legislature.

Waukesha County Circuit Judge Michael Bohren ruled Tuesday in favor of the states top industry lobby and an Oconomowoc dry cleaning business, finding the DNR cannot legally require cleanup of toxic PFAS compounds and other contaminants because they are not identified as hazardous substances.

Bohren said the DNR has a responsibility to enforce the law, but the current policy is invalid because the agency has not created a list of hazardous substances or explained how it determines when a substance is dangerous.

It isnt a game basically of take your best shot and see if youre a winner, Bohren said. It has to be that the responsible party and other members of the public know what the rules are ahead of time.

Assistant Attorney General Gabe Johnson-Karp said the state would appeal once Bohren issues a written order, which could negate the DNRs authority to require polluters to clean up spills.

Bohren agreed to put the order on hold until at least June 6 to avoid what Johnson-Karp said would be regulatory uncertainty caused by the potentially sweeping effects of the ruling.

There is significant concern about the impact this will have on properties currently in remediation (such as) brownfield projects, Johnson-Karp said.

A coalition of environmental and public health advocates warned the decision, if not reversed, would remove the only meaningful protection we have to address PFAS contamination.

Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce, which brought the lawsuit, said the decision assures the business community that regulators must operate within their own authority.

When the government ignores the rulemaking process, employers are left in the dark as to what regulations they must follow, said WMC spokesperson Scott Manley. Businesses cannot afford to have that kind of uncertainty, and we do not think it is too much to ask for DNR to simply follow the law as written.

PFAS pollution

WMC has sought to block the DNR from requiring cleanup of unregulated emerging contaminants, including PFAS, which has polluted groundwater in sites across the state, including Madison, Marinette, La Crosse and Wausau.

The plaintiffs claimed the DNR is subverting the law by requiring polluters to clean up spills without first defining what substances are hazardous.

State law requires anyone responsible for spilling a hazardous substance to clean it up under the oversight of the DNR.

Under state law, a hazardous substance is anything that can cause harm to human health and safety, or the environment, because of where it is spilled, the amount spilled, its toxicity or its concentration.

That could mean toxic chemicals or substances like manure, fertilizer or even milk spilled in a creek.

Saying the DNR seems to make determinations on a whim and a fancy, Bohren said the agency must draft administrative rules in order to require cleanup.

But that process takes years and is subject to political interference, which supporters of the law say would prevent the DNR from stopping ongoing pollution, requiring cleanup or even forcing polluters to provide bottled water when wells are contaminated.

The Department of Justice said WMCs claims border on the absurd, noting that polluters have complied with the spills law for more than 40 years all without any list from DNR stating which substances meet the statutes broad definition of hazardous substance.

Testing ordered

The ruling stems from a case filed last year by WMC and Leather Rich Inc.

According to the complaint, Joanne Kantor and her late husband operated the dry cleaning business for more than four decades before she decided to retire and sell the property in 2018.

Kantor informed the DNR that the site was likely contaminated with volatile organic compounds and entered a voluntary remediation program.

According to court documents, the DNR approved a cleanup plan but required additional testing for PFAS, which were commonly used in dry cleaning, without specifying which of the thousands of compounds to target.

DNR kept moving the goalposts, attorney Delanie Breuer told the court. They can decide unilaterally if somethings hazardous and then, poof, its a regulated contaminant.

State responds

But the state said thats a misreading of the law, which puts the burden of cleanup on polluters; the DNRs enforcement role is secondary.

Johnson-Karp said the plaintiffs essentially seek a permission slip for Leather Rich  and, by extension, anyone else in Wisconsin  to escape these undisputed statutory cleanup obligations, discharge toxic PFAS into the environment without consequence, and thereby threaten public health.

Johnson-Karp argued the Legislatures broad but unambiguous definition of hazardous substances precludes the sort of list WMC seeks, noting that polluters have adapted to the discovery of new hazards, such as PCBs.

As science evolves the Legislatures definition of hazardous substances still applies, Johnson-Karp said. What changes is the amount of knowledge of the world.

Second case

The case is one of two WMC has brought against the DNR in an effort to fight the regulation of PFAS.

Earlier this year, a Jefferson County judge sided with the industry group, ruling the state has the authority to test wastewater but cannot bring legal action against polluters without first establishing water quality standards.

WMC has also opposed the DNRs efforts to establish those regulations. In February, Republicans who control the DNRs policy board voted down groundwater standards for two PFAS compounds and dozens of other contaminants.

Democratic Attorney General Josh Kaul last month sued Johnson Controls and Tyco Fire Products over the release of firefighting foam that has contaminated water in the Marinette area.

Its not clear if Bohrens ruling would affect that case.

Every Wisconsinite should be able to count on the safety of their drinking water, Kaul said in a written statement. But if this decision remains in effect, state laws protection of clean water would be substantially narrowed, endangering the health of Wisconsinites, and making it easier for polluters to escape accountability.

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This past weekend I attended two visitations at the same funeral home. On Sunday I was there to show support for some friends on the death of their 92-year old Mother. She had lived a great and full life, so it was a celebration of her life. On Saturday I was there to show support for friends who are the parents of a 26-year old who had died as a result of opioid plague that is raging here in Canada. We are not wired to deal with the death of a child - notably our own child. This has to be the most difficult situation any person who is a parent can ever face. The show tonight features music about children (sons in particular), death and working through painful circumstances like the death of a child to somehow continue living a life with meaning and joy. I dedicate the show in memory of Riley Taylor and send it out to his family - his Father Dave Dudley, who has drummed with many artists, notably Furnaceface and runs Dave's Drum Shop; his Mother Christine Taylor; and his sister Shyla. Here is the link to Riley's obituary. Let's hope that somehow we begin to get a handle on the devastating opioid crisis that is claiming so many lives across Canada and around the world. https://ottawacitizen.remembering.ca/obituary/riley-taylor-1084838904 Take care out there everybody. Take good care.
Editor's note: This story first published in the April 2, 2022, edition of The Columbus Telegram.

New Columbus Family YMCA Youth Director Nicole Ripke said she hopes to give kids the same experiences she had while attending youth camps as a child.

Ripke started in her new position two weeks ago and will be overseeing youth and family programming.

She has a degree in music education from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln but has quite a bit of experience in summer camps. She said she worked at a camp in Idaho for a few years before working and living at Camp Luther in Schuyler.

Ripke, her husband and their 9-month-old twins moved to Columbus three weeks ago. But theyve been in the community for quite a while since her husband previously worked for the Y and is currently employed at Peace Lutheran Church.

Ripke has been learning about how the YMCA, 3912 38th St., operates. She and her husband have been Y members for a while but its different to be on the other end of things.

It's very different to be here throughout an entire day, to see what happens in the morning versus what happens in the evening and just being able to be here, Ripke said. It's been a lot of new information and just learning more about what my role will look like but I'm very happy to be here, really enjoying it so far.

Attending summer camp as a kid herself was transformational for her, Ripke said, noting she was able to meet people in a supervised environment and try new things. She said she hopes to bring that to the Columbus community.

I have worked full time in camp ministry. For the last five years before that I worked part time at camps through the years, so I've had a lot of experience working with camps, working with families, she said. I want to bring that experience but also learn about what people want and what people need from the youth programming.

Ripke is currently preparing for the Ys Outdoor Summer Camp, which is held at Camp Pawnee. Ripke said shes looking forward to it as she hasnt visited Camp Pawnee yet.

I'm excited to go see it. I love summer camp, she said. I think it's so valuable for kids to get outside of their comfort zones and be in a place where they're able to be challenged in a safe environment, but experience new things and just play outside. I'm looking forward to having campers and being able to be outside for most of the summer.

The YMCAs Healthy Kids Day is set for April 30, which Ripke has also been coordinating. From 9-11 a.m. that day families and kids can come to the Y for a variety of activities, including a petting zoo, a Nerf battle from Youth and Families for Christ and outdoor activities from Nebraska Game and Parks.

(There will be) lots of different ways for families to be active and learn more about what's available to them in the community, she added.

Columbus Family YMCA Senior Program Director Cari Franzen said shes excited to have Ripke on board with her background in summer camps and working with youth. The Y is fortunate to have her join its team, she added.

She'll bring energy, passion, new ideas, innovative ideas, experience, Franzen said. She's already, with Healthy Kids Day, grabbed that and gotten all kinds of different people involved  She's already just kind of thinking outside the box -- what can we do that's been different? What can we add to our programs?

She's very passionate about the community and youth and helping them develop and also kind of helping with that faith-based side of it as well.

Ripke noted shes looking forward to getting to know the kids and families at the Y, hearing about the needs in the community and what programming families want for their kids, along with how the Y can help meet those needs.

I enjoy getting to know them and getting to know what energizes them and getting to know more about what they're excited about and then finding ways to encourage them to be active and grow, she said. I know there are a lot of families that come and bring their kids to programs over the years, so I'm excited to get to know the families of their kids and see how I can help them grow and develop.

Hannah Schrodt is the news editor of The Columbus Telegram. Reach her via email at hannah.schrodt@lee.net.

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Illustration by Elizabeth Brockway/The Daily Beast

New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu did what so many Republicans claim privately theyd like to dohe took on Donald Trump, calling him crazy.

Sununu added, I dont think hes so crazy that you could put him in a mental institution. But I think if he were in one, he aint getting out!"

Sununu got a lot of laughs for his profane and comedic takedown of Trump at the Gridiron Dinner, a century-old tradition where journalists and politicians roast each other. But the governor didnt just open the door to mocking his partys leaderhe blew it off its hinges at a very high-profile public gathering.

Democratic Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland said he hadnt heard a Republican drop that many f-bombs since the Nixon administration. He also praised Sununu as the vanguard of a new GOP that dares to speak the truth, then assailed him for taking credit for federal spending in his state passed by Democrats while simultaneously denouncing Washington politicians for their free spending. The crowd of media and political professionals, as evidenced by their enthusiastic response, seemed to sense that something significant had shifted with this fresh face grabbing the spotlight and saying the emperor has no clothes.

I dont know a single Republican who was surprised by what Sununu said. He said what they were thinking, Republican pollster and media maven Frank Luntz told The Daily Beast. They wont say it [in public], but behind his back, they think hes a child. Theyre laughing at him. Thats what made it [Sununus comments] significant.

When the mockery begins, the fear falls away. Trump isnt the same man he was a year ago, Luntz says. Even many Republicans are tired of going back and rehashing the 2020 election. Everybody else has moved on and in Washington everyone believes he lost the election.

If youre asking me is Gov. Sununu a player? Yes.

Sununu is running for his fourth two-year term as governor, having resisted Mitch McConnells strong push to run for the U.S. Senate. I like getting stuff done, Sununu explained at the time, saying hed be a lion in the cage in a Senate where they talk and debate and nothing gets done. Thats not the world I live in, and I think the citizens deserve a lot more.

Story continues

In a videotaped message to the Gridiron, regretting his absence while knowing hed be on the menu, President Biden thanked Sununu for helping Democrats keep the Senate. The gregarious 47-year-old is the son of former Gov. John H. Sununu (who was also President George H.W. Bushs chief of staff) and the brother of former Sen. John E. Sununu, who lost reelection in 2008 to Democrat Jeanne Shaheen. The elder Sununu is a grumpy, in-your-face politician, known for his toughness, not his charm and charisma. By contrast, Luntz said, Chris is probably the most likable Sununu.

Praising the younger Sununus amazing pedigree, Luntz added, He learned from his father how to be tough, and, from his brother, how to articulate issues.

Hes a from-the-heart Republican, which we havent seen in a while, which makes him very real and authentic, says Republican pollster Ed Goeas. Hes from a political family but he comes across as sincere. Goeas is working on a book with Democratic pollster Celinda Lake titled A Question of Respect Bringing Us Together in a Deeply Divided Nation.

One of the points I make in the book, we need a leader who approaches politics with respect, he says. Asked if it matters that Sununu went after Trump the way he did, Goeas replied: It depends on how much is poking the bear, and how much is trying to move the conversation.

Sununu has a safe sinecure in New Hampshire from which to challenge Trump and to help shape a post-Trump party, if hes serious about that.

We have to begin somewhere, said Goeas. I see the shift in the national numbers. After the 2020 election, 60 percent of Republicans believed anything Trump said. Theres been about a 20 percent shift away from that to more of a safe haven if you willthey dont particularly like the way he says things, but they like his policies. Now a majority of Republicans are saying that.

Goeas and Lake are the bipartisan directors of the Georgetown University Battleground Poll, and in their forthcoming book, Goeas told The Daily Beast, I go after the filibuster, the 60-vote rule that has paralyzed the Senate. He supports the Founding Fathers concept of the Senate as the cooling saucer for the passions of the House, but not to stop everything.

The extent of Trumps hold on the electorate will become clearer once we see how his endorsed candidates fare in the primaries, and then in the general election. Michigan Republican Rep. Fred Upton last week decided not to seek reelection. He is the fourth to step down of the 10 Republicans who voted to impeach Trump after the Jan. 6 attempted insurrection.

Upton would have faced a Trump-endorsed candidate in a newly drawn district. He has served with distinction, working across the aisle since 1987. Even the best stories have a last chapter, he said announcing his retirement. This is it for me.

In his speech at the Gridiron, Sununu repeatedly invoked the slogan of his state, Live Free or Die, as evidence of the stakes his constituents place on their politicians. Asked if Sununu was showing the way forward or committing political suicide, Republican pollster Whit Ayres told The Daily Beast: Neither. It would be a different situation if he were running for the Senate, but he passed on that, so hes far more free because hes not facing a Republican primary.

The lesson is obvious, said Ayres: Other Republicans learn that popular governors who dont have to fear Republican primaries can say anything they want.

Beyond that, well have to wait until the primary results roll to accurately measure Trumps hold on the electorate. His hold is not what it once was, Ayres insisted, citing a NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll question that asked Republicans if theyre closer to Trump, or to the GOP.

In January 2019, the Trump/GOP number was 51/38, and got up to as high as 54/35. By January 2022, it was 36/56. It bounced back a bit in a March 2022 poll to 40/53. So we know based on that question, his hold is slipping. And not having access to Twitter is a big deal, too. A lot will be determined whether we get mainstream candidates in primaries, Ayres added.

Republicans may be laughing at Trump behind his back, as Luntz indicated, but making fun of the former president could backfire. When President Barack Obama ridiculed Trump at the White House Correspondents Dinner in 2011, the putdown was so stinging that some believe it prompted the real-estate tycoons 2016 bid for the presidency.

This time around, we will learn when the votes are counted in the nearly 130 races where Trump has endorsed a candidate, testing his strength in the Republican Party to pick governors and senators and even state legislatorsand testing the theories of those who say his best days are behind him, and the fortitude of those who mock him.

Gov. Sununu could be the one to show Republicans the road that leads past Trumpland.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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In the nine years since his son was diagnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, Jim Raffone has run ultramarathons, organized a world-record Lego chain, enlisted the help of pro football players and rung the New York Stock Exchanges closing bell to fund treatment for the fatal condition.

Now the 51-year-old Manalapan resident is quite literally embarking on his biggest quest yet: Mount Everest.

Raffone and a small crew are trekking to the base camp of the worlds highest peak in Nepal later this month. At an altitude of nearly 18,000 feet, base camp is where hundreds of mountaineers from around the world set up each spring. Its the launching pad for attempts to reach the 29,000-foot summit.

Raffone and company will not be attempting to summit Everest. Even reaching base camp is fraught with challenges. It requires a solid week of hiking each way through difficult and sometimes dangerous terrain. They are flying to Nepal April 25 and plan to return May 13. The goal is to raise $200,000 toward a $750,000 clinical trial that the Raffone familys nonprofit, JAR of Hope, is looking to fund at the University of Florida.

Even if you arent trying to climb the worlds tallest mountain, you can still get pretty close and spend the night at Everest Base Camp in Nepal.

Helping Hands: Jackson family needs device that saves their boy from spasmatic pain

Plans for the clinical trial have been in the works for a while, but things changed in late December when Richard DellAnno, a longtime Raffone friend and ardent JAR of Hope supporter, died of COVID at age 50. DellAnno and his late father were the inspiration for an annual "Texas Hold 'Em" poker tournament, right before the Super Bowl, that brought in six figures worth of donations. The event could not go on without him.

He was a dear friend, it was awful, and I found myself really in a dark place, thinking, Ive got to do something large to make up for that, Raffone said. The only thing that came to mind was Everest.

It wasnt the first time he raised he notion.

Helping many: NJ donors drive nearly 3,000 miles to deliver 15,000 water bottles to Texas food bank

Story continues

Jamesy Raffone (left) with dad Jim Raffone

In 2015 I threw this idea out there, and our (nonprofits) board did everything in their power for me to not do it, he recalled. At this moment in time, after the things Ive completed over the years, they were very supportive. We were kind of running out of things to do. This seems to be the natural evolution.

Duchenne muscular dystrophy is a genetic condition that results in a progressive loss of strength due to the absence of the critical muscle-building protein dystrophin. Eventually the weakness leads to paralysis and fatal heart and lung problems. Life expectancy is in the 20s.

Raffones son James, known as Jamesy, was diagnosed at age 4. Hes now 13 and a seventh-grader at Manalapan-Englishtown Middle School.

Jamesy Raffone riding atop dad Jim Raffone's shoulders during a JAR of Hope event

Holding out hope: Manalapan charity gets OK to run clinical trial on Duchenne muscular dystrophy drug

The clinical trial JAR of Hope aims to fund involves the use of a hyperbaric chamber and a pharmaceutical compound for a dozen children with Duchenne ages 4-16, Raffone said. Jamesy is applying to be part of it.

Internally hes doing really well, Raffone said. Externally, muscle tissue-wise, the disease is getting a hold of him. Thats why Im ramping up things. This is a race against time.

Joining Raffone in his trek to Everest are Joe Russo, a retired Marine and JAR of Hope supporter who lives in Manalapan; Matt Scarfo, a personal trainer from Blairstown; and Dillon Doeden of Nebraska, whose 4-year-old son recently was diagnosed with Duchenne. They will be guided by a team of Sherpas  local experts on the Himalaya mountain range. The quest will be chronicled by Life Outside, a Canada-based filmmaker, with updates posted to JAR of Hopes website and social-media platforms.

What matters to me is that we get the word out about Duchenne muscular dystrophy by doing something this magnificent, Raffone said. I am more fearful that we dont raise the money for the clinical trial than I am about coming back OK.

For more information, or to donate, visit www.jarofhope.org.

Jerry Carino is community columnist for the Asbury Park Press, focusing on the Jersey Shores interesting people, inspiring stories and pressing issues. Contact him at jcarino@gannettnj.com.

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Manalapan dad will trek Mount Everest as Duchenne syndrome fundraiser
Four individuals were injured in a side-by-side accident in Washington County on Sunday afternoon.

According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, at 4:10 p.m. Katie Halbert, 29, of Caledonia, was driving a 2013 Polaris Ranger on Lovers Lane at Drury Road. She failed to negotiate a curve and the UTV overturned and traveled off the left side of the road.

Halbert and Rachelle Mell, 24, of Farmington, received minor injuries and were taken to Parkland Health Center by private conveyance. Ashley Litton, 35, of Potosi, received serious injuries and was taken to Mercy Hospital St. Louis by Survival Flight. A 7-year-old boy was seriously injured and taken to St. Louis Childrens Hospital by St. Francois County Ambulance District.

The report states Halbert was cited for DWI.

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During their Monday night meeting, members of the Bonne Terre City Council tabled decisions on two separate issues concerning the commercial area just east of US 67 and north of Route K and discussed several road projects.

Those at the meeting also heard poignant words of thanks from City Administrator Shawn Kay, Police Chief Doug Calvert and Fire Chief David Pratte regarding the outpouring of public support in the wake of the citys recent tragedy, and also expressed thanks to voters for approving the April 5, 1-cent sales tax proposition that will improve funding for the citys fire and police departments.

Referring to the March 17 ambush that took the life of Bonne Terre Patrolman Lane Burns and wounded Corporal Garrett Worley, Kay said he wanted to echo the aldermens prior gratitude to voters for supporting Prop 1, and wanted to take it a step further.

Obviously, everyone in this room has heard about the events that took place on the 17th, and we haven't had a council meeting since then, he said. That was a horrible, horrible tragedy that we had to live through as a community and not just our public safety personnel and everyone who works for the city, it was a shock to the system of everybody in Bonne Terre and the rest of the county.

Those things don't happen here. And now they do. The one thing that really struck me though, is when we as a city had need, our citizens were there and had our back. They were coming out of the woodwork in every way that you can think of to provide food and support, the clerics and the pastors were here every day, praying with us and helping us get through what was in my opinion, maybe one of the most horrific things I've ever been through.

So thank you to the community for that. It really makes me proud to be a small part of Bonne Terre. Our motto is, good earth and good people. We've got the good people.

Calvert said he couldnt say it any better, and was so grateful that everyone had expressed their help, appreciation and support while the department continues to cope with the loss of Burns and the continuing recuperation of Worley. He added that he wanted to reassure the residents that, thanks to police departments in neighboring cities and the St. Francois County Sheriffs Department, there will be no lapse in the citys law enforcement.

Theres been so much happening in the last two weeks, he said. Im so grateful we didnt have to ask for help and support, everyone just gave it.

Pratte said a Missouri State Highway trooper had talked to him and a couple of other first responders and what he said made a difference to him.

He said, Remember, you have a wonderful town here. It wasnt somebody from your town who did this, it was an outsider. We still have a good town full of good people, Pratte said.

Later in the meeting, aldermen decided to stall until Mays meeting two separate decisions concerning the commercial area on the east side of US 67.

Mercy and Truth Fellowship Church has asked to put a pre-built tiny home at 14 Northwood Dr., site of the former Country Way Nursery, so that a caretaker can live there. Representatives from the church said they have plans to build a coffee shop and reception venue there as well as a church, and the 18x40 tiny home would be located behind the building. The Planning and Zoning Committee approved it with the proviso it needed to be on a permanent foundation like any other modular home, but the aldermen wanted to visit the site and think about the ramifications of approving a dwelling located in a largely commercial area.

On the outskirts of the same commercial area, at 7635 Blackberry Lane., a request was made to add three new storage buildings to D&M Self-Storage. The owner of the storage facility, Dwayne Warncke, told aldermen he has repeatedly been asked by city residents to store their things at his razor-wire fenced storage facility, but hes had to turn them down due to lack of available space.

I hate sending residents to other towns when theyd prefer to store here and they create additional revenue buying gas or getting something from Dairy Queen, he said. They would be behind the ones that are there now.

Some aldermen expressed concern that too many storage sheds might be located in the commercial area. Alderman Erik Schonhardt observed an earlier property owner had wanted to start building storage sheds out there  it was actually in the vicinity of 14 Northwood Dr.  but was turned down because there were already storage units nearby. It was pointed out to the aldermen that the previous request was to build a new storage shed facility in the middle of the commercial area, and this was an already-established storage facility on the outskirts of the area that was asking to add three more unit buildings behind the ones already there.

The aldermen tabled the decision until May, citing the need to review the commercial area for both requests.

During the city administrator report, Kay provided an update on several projects around town, including the Benham Street wall. The town leaders had hoped to replace the crumbling stone wall thats more than 100 years old, but Kay said the Missouri Department of Transportation plans to remediate much of Highway 47, which runs concurrent with Benham Street, and the wall project would have to wait until the paving is through. Kay observed the highway project will actually begin in Washington County, so it might be awhile before road crews reach Bonne Terre.

In other road news, aldermen approved an ordinance changing the speed limit from 35 mph to 25 mph along the Raider Road school zone near UniTec and North County High School. The zone encompasses the 500 feet north and south of the back entrance of the campus, and the 25 mph speed limit is active two hours before school opens, and two hours after school closes for the day.

Kay said a sizable CDBG grant application to repave several roads was submitted and he hopes to hear something from the state by early May as to whether or not it was approved.

If the grant is approved, the roads targeted for resurfacing would include:

Point View, from Route K to the dead end;

Summit Street, from Benham to Oak streets;

Division Street, from Murrill to West De Soto streets;

Long Street, from Murrill to Buchanan streets;

Branch Street, from Church Street to the city limits; and

Rock Quarry Road, from Mine Shaft to the city limits.

Earlier in the meeting, Councilwomen Andrea Richardson, Ward 4, and Julie Williams Hahn, Ward 2, were sworn back on the council after they were unchallenged in the April 5 election. Ward 3 Alderman Erik Schonhardt was sworn in as mayor pro-tem, meaning hell preside over meetings when Mayor Brandon Hubbard is unavailable.

In other news, the aldermen:

Rescheduled Mays meeting to May 10, 6 p.m., in light of Truman Day.

Approved Colt James firework permit for Jakes Fireworks, to be located in the parking lot of Harps at 50 Berry Road.

Approved a beer license and the closing of St. Joseph Street from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. for the St. Joseph Catholic Church Fall Festival on Sept. 18.

Approved a liquor license for CB Dispensary and Liquor at the request of Jodie Lundy.

Sarah Haas is the assistant editor for the Daily Journal. She can be reached at 573-518-3617 or at shaas@dailyjournalonline.com.

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JEFFERSON CITY  Motorists who have been saving their fuel receipts will soon be able to start submitting them to the state for a refund.

Lawmakers who voted to raise the states gasoline tax last year included a rebate option for motorists, allowing them to file for refunds after the end of each state fiscal year, on June 30.

Anne Marie Moy, spokeswoman for the Department of Revenue, said Tuesday the agency would make an electronic filing method available in June.

We expect the form will be posted to the DOR website in May and the electronic filing method to be available sometime in June, Moy said.

The states motor fuel tax jumped 2.5 cents on Oct. 1 after a bipartisan coalition of lawmakers voted for the increase to fund road projects.

The tax will eventually increase 12.5 cents, bringing the states fuel tax to 29.5 cents per gallon in 2025.

The law said motorists may save purchase receipts and fill out an online form at the start of each state fiscal year, on July 1, to earn a refund on new fuel taxes paid the previous fiscal year. Motorists will have until Sept. 30 to file for a refund for the current fiscal year.

A claim, which may be filed electronically, must contain a vehicle identification number, date of fuel sale, name and address of fuel buyer, name and address of fuel seller, number of gallons purchased and, separately, the number of gallons purchased and charged Missouri fuel tax.

While the first increase took place Oct. 1, the remaining four increases will occur at the beginning of each fiscal year.

The average price of gasoline in Missouri stood at about $2.75 when lawmakers approved the hike in May.

Since then, the average price hit a high of about $3.90 before falling in recent weeks to about $3.70 per gallon, according to GasBuddy.

Rising prices sparked efforts in the Legislature to repeal the tax increase approved last year. The phased-in hike currently boosts gas prices 2.5 cents per gallon.

A measure repealing the increase by Rep. Sara Walsh, R-Ashland, who is running for Congress in the 4th Congressional District, awaits debate before the full Missouri House.

Rep. Adam Schwadron, R-St. Charles, is sponsoring a plan that would institute a six-month tax holiday on motor fuel sales, which would cancel all of the 19.5 cents per gallon the state currently charges on motor fuel.

Schwadrons proposal awaits a vote in the House Special Committee on Government Oversight.

Even if lawmakers fail to act on lowering the fuel tax, legislation by Rep. David Evans, R-West Plains, would simplify the process for claiming a fuel tax rebate, proponents said.

His bill would base refunds on the calendar year rather than states fiscal year, meaning motorists would file for their refunds for the previous tax year by April 15, the day personal income tax filings are due.

Evans plan also seeks to change the information that must be provided to the state to receive a refund.

President Joe Biden is also taking steps to address high gas prices, his office said Tuesday.

Biden on Tuesday announced his administrations intention to allow the sale of gasoline with 15% ethanol  known as E15  during the summer months.

The White House said E15 isnt sold in most of the country from June 1 to Sept. 15.

The action can help increase fuel supplies, give consumers more choice to get lower prices, and provide savings to many families, said a handout provided by the White House. At current prices, E15 can save a family 10 cents per gallon of gas on average, and many stores sell E15 at an even greater discount.

The White House said Biden had also coordinated with allies and partners to greenlight a historic release of fuel from strategic reserves, putting 240 million barrels of oil on the market in the next six months.

Biden has also pushed for a use it or lose it policy for dormant oil wells and wants a faster transition to clean energy so the United States is less dependent on fossil fuels, the White House said.

Jack Suntrup  573-556-6186 @JackSuntrup on Twitter jsuntrup@post-dispatch.com

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For Jean Runyon, students are at the heart of what community colleges do, and ensuring their success has been a key focus of her career.

I realized over and over that a community college is not just about access, Runyon said at a forum Tuesday with community leaders. It is also about access with success and together we make success happen for our students.

Runyon, a campus vice president of Front Range Community College in Colorado, is one of four finalists seeking to succeed Frank Friedman as president of Piedmont Virginia Community College. Friedman is retiring at the end of this school year after more than 20 years as president.

Runyon is the third finalist to visit PVCC this month for interviews, a tour and forums with students, staff and faculty. The PVCC board will recommend a candidate to the Virginia Community College System Chancellor, who will make the final decision.

Runyon said during her presentation that she was drawn to PVCCs student success framework, as well as to what she saw as the colleges culture of care for students.

Piedmont Virginia Community College is really creating pathways for student success from the time students connect with us to the time students complete, she said.

She added that the colleges values also stood out, particularly the emphasis on community impact.

With over 90 programs that allow students to complete what they start, enter the workplace, transfer to institutions, come back and retool and retrain, PVCC really is making an impact in the community as well, she said.

She also highlighted PVCCs community partnerships, including the Network2Work program and the colleges commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion in her presentation.

If selected as president, Runyon said she would want to get out into the community to listen and learn about how PVCC is serving the community.

Runyon has worked with Front Range Community College since 2015. Shes the top executive at the colleges Larimer campus, which has given her experience with fundraising and developing programs to meet an areas workforce needs. Shes also a fellow with the Aspen Institutes Rising Presidents fellowship.

Front Range Community College serves seven counties, she said, which is similar to PVCCs footprint. Shes also worked in leadership roles at Anne Arundel Community College and started her career teaching at the College of Southern Maryland. She has family in the Virginia Beach area.

As a campus vice president, Runyon said she helped to raise funds for a new $34.5 million healthcare center and also worked with a donor who wanted to pay the tuition for all the students studying to become licensed practical nurses.

When the students walked on the campus and they got their bill and it says paid in full, they were a little bit surprised, she said.

For fundraising, Runyon said it is important to inspire donors to invest in students.

I see myself as a matchmaker  matching passion with our students and making a difference in their lives, she said.

Runyon said its important to lead with equity. At Front Range, she led a team that developed a philosophy of inclusion. That process included semester-long discussions with faculty, staff, students and community members about what had made them feel excluded and included and the related impact.

She currently chairs Front Ranges equity, inclusion and diversity council, which launched an equity academy for instruction designed by faculty. As part of the semester-long academy, faculty had an opportunity to redesign their courses to better serve students.

The college also is working on a statement to recognize the indigenous history of the land on which the college sits.

So theres a lot of work in progress, she said, adding that data analysis shows there are still opportunity gaps. Its a journey, an everyday journey.

Runyon said serving as the next PVCC president would be an honor.

Being here these past few days has affirmed that PVCC is an excellent institution making a tremendous contribution in our community and on our college campuses, she said.

Walt Tobin, president of Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College in South Carolina, is the fourth and final finalist to visit PVCC. His forum will be at 9 a.m. April 14 in the V. Earl Dickinson Building Main Stage Theatre on the main PVCC campus.

For more information, go to pvcc.edu/presidential-search-0.

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U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden says its time for Congress to lift federal cannabis restrictions dating back more than 80 years to the Great Depression.

The Oregon Democrat made his statement after the House approved similar legislation April 1, the second time it has done so in 18 months. Wyden, who is chairman of the tax-writing Senate Finance Committee, has been working on his own version with New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York. They released a draft last summer, and plan to unveil legislation after Congress returns from its Easter recess. It is known as the Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act.

Rep. Earl Blumenauer, also an Oregon Democrat, has been a champion of both House bills to do away with federal restrictions that have existed since 1937. The bills are known as the Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement Act.

Under a 1970 law known as the Controlled Substances Act, the federal government classified marijuana as a Schedule 1 drug with no medical value, similar to heroin. It did so after then-President Richard M. Nixon declared a war on drugs that even its proponents concede has largely failed.

In a statement issued after the House vote, Blumenauer said:

As we mark 50 years of the devastating War on Drugs, it is past time for Congress to catch up with the public and majority of states who have legalized some form of cannabis, and pass legislation to decriminalize the adult use of recreational cannabis.

Blumenauer was a 24-year-old state representative in 1973, when Oregon became the first state to make possession of one ounce or less punishable as an infraction  comparable to a traffic offense  and a maximum fine of $100. Oregon voters approved a medical-use law in 1998 and full legalization in 2014, although Colorado and Washington preceded it.

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According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, Oregon is among 18 states where marijuana is legal for medical and recreational use. Twenty-nine other states have full medical marijuana programs or allow use of cannabis components with low or no psychoactive chemicals that induce intoxication. Only Idaho, Kansas and Nebraska bar public access to any form of cannabis, other than hemp, whose status was changed by a federal law in 2018.

Ending federal cannabis prohibition is urgent business, Wyden said in a tweet. I congratulate the House on passing this bill and I urge my Senate colleagues to support my legislation  Its past time for Congress to listen to the will of the voters.

Senate roadblock

But the latest legislation, whether its the House bill or Wydens draft bill, faces a highly uncertain future in an evenly divided Senate  where 60 votes are needed to pass something that is not budget-related or an executive or judicial appointment.

During a speech April 6 in support of Ketanji Brown Jacksons nomination to the U.S. Supreme Court, Wyden criticized Republicans who say that matters such as abortion rights should be left to states as a conservative majority on the high court appears poised to restrict or overturn its 1973 decision in Roe v. Wade.

If Republicans believed in states rights, theyd respect the right of Democratic states to pass gun safety laws. Theyd respect the right of states to legalize marijuana. Theyd respect the right of states to ensure we have clean air and water, Wyden said. But Republicans oppose all of those priorities, challenge those laws in federal court and undermine them in Congress.

The Senate did pass cannabis legislation of its own on March 24. But the bill (S 253) simply streamlines applications for research and encourages the Food and Drug Administration to develop cannabis-derived medicines. The bill went to the House on a unanimous-consent vote; there was no roll call.

House action

The latest House bill (HR 3617) went to the Senate on a 220-204 vote mostly along party lines. Just three Republicans joined Democrats to vote for it; two Democrats voted with Republicans against it.

A similar bill passed the House in a December 2020 post-election session. Its chief significance was that it was a step toward ending cannabis prohibition that has been in effect since 1937, when Congress made possession of it illegal unless someone paid a tax for federal permits that were unavailable.

That bill did not come to a vote in the Senate.

The House has passed another bill (HR 1996), known as the SAFE Act, almost a year ago to remove barriers that cannabis-related businesses face in using the banking system. The barriers force those business to conduct many transactions in cash with all the problems that ensue. A 321-101 vote, with all Democrats in favor and Republicans split 106-101, sent that bill to the Senate, where it have not moved.

Blumenauer had this to say after the latest House vote:

The MORE Act decriminalizes cannabis at the federal level and provides restorative justice for communities which have suffered from the disproportionate and deliberate enforcement of cannabis prohibitions. Todays vote to pass the MORE Act in the U.S. House of Representatives is one step to ending the deplorable, misguided War on Drugs. It is also a critical turning point.

I have spent time talking to parents of children with seizure disorders, veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), small businesses, and the very communities who have been unfairly impacted by the War on Drugs, and they all agree: The federal government must end the failed prohibition on marijuana.

Todays passage of the MORE Act brings us one step closer to winning the fight.

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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. 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. 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.

THURSDAY

Academy for Lifelong Learning, 9:30 a.m., online. David Fenner, adjunct faculty, Middle East Center at the University of Washington, will present "Afghanistan: The Graveyard of Empires?" Fenner will explore the long and contentious history of Afghanistan, reaching as far back as the attempted conquest of this mountainous region by Alexander the Great, bringing the discussion right up to todays tragic headlines. 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.

"A State of Immigrants: A New Look at the Immigrant Experience in Oregon," 6 p.m., online. This panel talk will feature authors of this recently released report, which documents actions of immigrants and the adoption of public policies and community level strategies in Oregon that are helping immigrants and refugees achieve social, civic, cultural and economic integration. Free. Information: Daniel.Lopez-Cevallos@oregonstate.edu.

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.

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[April 12, 2022] UJET Hires New Global Channel Leaders UJET, Inc., the world's most advanced contact center provider, today announced its continued global expansion with the addition of two new executive hires - previously with Five9 - for their Global Channels team. "Our growth in 2022 continues to be phenomenal. We see top talent seeking to join our team and share their vast experience and perspective with our organization, customers, and partners," said Vasili Triant, chief operating officer for UJET. "This addition of well-known, trusted leadership further validates UJET in the market, and accelerates our delivery of innovative channel and system integrator programs." Industry leader Steve Infante joins as SVP of Global Channels, following recent roles at Five9, Cisco and Accenture. Most recently, Infante was Regional Vice President of Five9's Global System Integrators where he and his team were responsible for managing the global system integrator partnerships. At UJET, Steve will help partners, resellers, and system integrators build value, innovate for growth, and participate in UJET's expanding go-to-market efforts. "My career has been focused on helping partners and system integrators come together to drive business results for our mutual clients. By building collaborative strategies and ecosystems for worldwide scale, we leverage each company's strengths to achieve tremendous outcomes," said Infante. "I'm particularly honored to be joining UJET to continue these efforts, given their innovation and leadership in the industry." Also joining will be Dan Keller as VP of Global System Integrators. Prior to UJET, Dan was Senior Director of Five9's Global System Integrators. With management experience at Cisco and Accenture as well, Dan brings extensive industry and channel expertise to his new role. "All customers are looking for ways to drive business trasformation, operational efficiency, and faster time to resolution of customer challenges," said Keller. "I'm incredibly excited to expand our global system integrators program and marry UJET's contact center innovation with industry leaders that can personalize and transform a brand's customer experience for positive impact."

Infante and Keller join a strong group of leaders focused on bringing together the right partners and system integrators to create better solutions and services for customers, while also enabling new partner opportunities that deliver a high level of return to every partnership. These additions come soon after UJET announced a global relationship with Google Cloud, announced their international expansion in the Middle East, Australia and New Zealand markets, was honored at Enterprise Connect with the prestigious Best of Enterprise Connect 2022 Overall Award, and ranked #1 in User Satisfaction for the 8th consecutive quarter in the G2 Spring Reports. About UJET: UJET is reimagining the contact center for modern consumers and brands. Our one-of-a-kind architecture delivers an entirely new foundation for security, reliability, and scale across customer service operations. A full voice and digital engagement suite is complemented by powerful AI and advanced analytics capabilities, and easy-to-use, intuitive design to make life easier for everyone involved - from customers and agents to supervisors and executives - all while driving meaningful operational efficiencies. Smart device capabilities like channel blending, photo and video sharing, and biometric authentication are available to deploy for full CX transformation when you're ready. Innovative brands like Instacart, Turo, Wag!, and Atom Tickets trust UJET to deliver exceptional CX, no matter their size or location. So can you. Learn more at www.ujet.cx. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220412006056/en/

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The company behind the TurboTax tax-filing program will pay $141 million to customers across the United States who were deceived by misleading
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Alex Ewing received a life sentence Tuesday from a Jefferson County judge for sexually assaulting and killing 50-year-old Patricia Smith in 1984 with a hammer in her Lakewood home.

His sentence came eight months after an Arapahoe County jury convicted Ewing of killing a family of three a few days before Smiths murder.

On Thursday, a Jefferson County jury convicted Ewing of premeditated first-degree murder and two counts of felony murder, one involving a robbery and the other involving sexual assault, in Smith's killing. Felony murder allows a person to be charged for a killing that occurs during the commission of certain felonies.

You all gave my mother her day in court, and thats all I ask for, Smiths son said at Ewings sentencing, thanking the judge and the cases attorneys.

Ewing was convicted of sexually assaulting Smith and fatally beating her with a hammer on Jan. 10, 1984, in the Lakewood townhouse she shared with her daughter and grandchildren.

Prosecutors case turned on DNA from semen found on and around Smiths body. Authorities in Nevada, where Ewing has been in prison since since shortly after Smiths killing for a separate attempted murder conviction, uploaded his DNA to the FBIs database in 2018.

Smiths children and grandchildren gave statements at Ewings sentencing, describing how her violent killing has haunted them for decades. Her daughter said her statement was the only one she will give about Smiths murder.

The next time I speak of my beautiful mother will be with joy as I honor her beautiful life, because that is what she deserves.

Judge Tamara Russell imposed a life sentence with the possibility of parole after 20 years, the penalty for first-degree murder in 1984. The penalty for the felony murder counts was absorbed into the premeditated murder penalty.

However, Ewing received three consecutive life sentences for killing Bruce and Debra Bennett and their 7-year-old daughter, Melissa, essentially guaranteeing he will spend the rest of his life in prison.

Public defender Stephen McCrohan asked Russell to consider the age of the case and Ewings good behavior in prison in the intervening years, saying Ewing is not the same person as when he committed the attacks decades ago. He indicated the defense will appeal Ewings case.

When these events happened, Mr. Ewing was a very young man and is not the same person that stands before the court today."

Ewing has been in prison serving a sentence for an attempted murder conviction connected to attacking a couple with an ax handle in 1984 in Henderson, Nevada, months after the Colorado killings.

Russell told Smiths family members to find closure within themselves, since no penalty from the court system will bring Smith back.

This man has lived in prison for almost 40 years, and I would assume he'll live there until he dies. And he doesn't live as a human would want to live, Russell said. And you folks have joys and memories and people and relationships.

Denver Gazette news partner 9News contributed to this report.
When Lyndon McLeod texted photos of a flamethrower and asked her to leave New Orleans and join him in Denver, Amanda Knight wrote haha. Days
Statement at the UNSC Briefing on Access to COVID-19 Vaccines

Statement

Thank you, President.

I want to thank the briefers for providing us with updated analysis and insights on scale of the challenge remaining implementation of COVID-19 related measures in fragile and conflict-affected contexts.

President, we remain firmly of the opinion that no one is safe from COVID-19 until all of us are safe.

Commendable progress has been made towards the WHO target of a global vaccination rate of 70% by mid-2022. But significant and persistent gaps in coverage remain. This is a risk we cannot afford to ignore.

Addressing very low vaccination rates in conflict or post conflict contexts must be prioritized, and flexible creative solutions must be applied. The creation of the COVAX Humanitarian Buffer was a positive move, and COVAX has indeed been responsible for the delivery of significant volumes of vaccine doses to countries such as the DRC, Afghanistan, Yemen, and Ethiopia.

COVAX is to be commended for its continued ability to adapt and respond to evolving needs, and I welcome the emphasis placed in the current strategy on delivery, including but not limited to humanitarian and fragile contexts. Access needs to be prioritized for humanitarian actors, including WHO, UNICEF, the ICRC and various civil society actors with the relevant expertise to ensure the doses that are available can make it into the arms of those that need them.

In recent months and in general, the international community has responded well to the call for dose sharing. However the challenge we face in 2022 goes far beyond tackling supply issues. We need to restore, rebuild, and supplement health systems. In particular, we will need to concentrate on capacities for logistics, transport, and health service delivery. These need to be enhanced rapidly and at scale in fragile settings.

International humanitarian law requires that parties to armed conflict protect medical personnel so that they can administer vaccinations and provide medical care without discrimination to the wounded, the needy, and the sick. As of 8th April, WHO has reported 160 attacks on health care facilities, workers, and transport globally in 2022, including over 100 attacks in Ukraine.

We must condemn in the strongest possible terms any and all incidents where health care workers, or health care facilities are targeted by any party to a conflict.

The Council must continue to ensure the implementation of Security Council Resolution 2565 and we welcome this opportunity to take stock of the progress made to date and the many challenges that remain on the ground. It is in all of our interests to ensure that as many people as possible are safely vaccinated against this all too easily transmissible disease, which continues to pose a grave threat to lives, health and well-being worldwide.

We supported the Secretary-Generals call for a global ceasefire at the onset of this pandemic and we reiterate that support now.



President,

Ireland has always promoted the importance and necessity of equitable access to vaccines and I reaffirm our commitment to that today. Alongside strengthening the capacities of health systems to deliver vaccinations and other essential health services, we must tackle the wealth of misinformation that has been allowed to build up around vaccines-which, as we have heard here today, is hampering the efforts of healthcare and humanitarian workers to prevent and treat COVID-19 cases.

It is imperative that we re-focus our efforts on meeting the WHO target of 70% global vaccination later this year lest we find ourselves once again, debating the best counter-measures to be taken against a more aggressive variant of COVID-19. To do this we must strengthen health systems, and accelerate our work in conflict, post-conflict and humanitarian settings.



Thank you.

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Global Times: A recent poll launched by huanqiu.com shows that close to 90 percent of the surveyed Chinese netizens believe that the US is not standing on the side of equity and justice on the Ukraine issue, but practicing hegemony and bullying instead. What is your comment?

Zhao Lijian: I have noted the poll, which reflects the voice for justice of the majority. The ins-and-outs of the unfolding Ukraine issue are crystal clear. The moves of the US-led NATO have escalated the tension between Russia and Ukraine to the breaking point. The US, instead of taking real actions to ease the situation, has been incessantly adding fuel to the flame, heightening the conflict, forcing other countries to pick sides and creating a chilling effect of friend or foe. What could this represent other than hegemony and bullying? The US has also been constantly spreading disinformation to smear China and distort Chinas responsible position of facilitating peace talks. It harbors the agenda to shift the blame, instigate confrontation, profit from the situation and seek space to hold down China and Russia simultaneously. What could this be other than hegemony and bullying?

The Ukraine issue has revealed what the US would do in pursuit of hegemony and bullying. But the list of US practices of the same nature goes on. Holding on to the Cold War mentality, the US is obsessed with drawing ideological lines when forming closed and exclusive cliques and stoking opposition and confrontation. The real agenda is to prolong US hegemony and power politics. Under the go-to banner of democracy, freedom and human rights, the US instigates color revolutions that provoke regional disputes, and goes so far as to directly wage wars against other countries that aggravate tensions in the regional and global security situation. The scheme is to cash in on instability for huge economic interests and geopolitical advantage. Willfully wielding the baton of unilateral sanctions, the US also engages in economic coercion that severely undermines the stability of global industrial and supply chains. The move aims at suppressing and containing other countries. Following international law and international rules as it sees fit, the US applies the self-claimed rules-based order as the rules of the gang to defend power politics and hegemony.

Peace and development represents an overriding trend and gains the overwhelming support. The US bullying and hegemonic practices against the trend of the times have been met with stronger criticism and rejection in the international community. The US should face up to the public opinion of the world, including China, discard the Cold War and zero-sum mentality as well as the obsolete thinking of seeking its absolute security at the expense of others at an early date, and return to the path of upholding international equity and justice.

The Paper: On April 12 Beijing time, the China Travel Advisory on the website of the US Department of State shows that the US has ordered the departure of non-emergency US government employees and all family members from the Consulate General in Shanghai. This means the authorized departure the US announced earlier has now been escalated to ordered departure. What is Chinas comment on this?

Zhao Lijian: The Chinese side has made clear its position after the US authorized the voluntary departure of some employees and their family members at its Consulate General in Shanghai. Be it authorized or ordered departure, it is the US own decision. I would like to stress three points.

First, Chinas anti-epidemic policy is based on science and works effectively. We have every confidence in bringing the new wave of COVID-19 under control in Shanghai and elsewhere. Many foreign nationals including US citizens in Shanghai are pulling together with the people of Shanghai in solidarity to combat the virus and overcome the current difficulties.

Second, competent Chinese authorities and local governments have always provided foreign diplomatic and consular personnel in China with assistance and convenience to the maximum extent possible under relevant policies for their fulfillment of duties pursuant to international conventions. The line of communication between China and the US also remains open.

Third, we deplore and reject the US politicization and instrumentalization of the issue of personnel departure. We have made solemn representations with the US side. The US should immediately stop attacking Chinas anti-epidemic policies, stop political manipulation under the pretext of the epidemic and stop smearing China.

Associated Press of Pakistan: On April 11, Shahbaz Sharif was elected as the new Prime Minister of Pakistan. How do you view the future relations between Pakistan and China under his leadership?

Zhao Lijian: We congratulate Mr. Shahbaz Sharif on his election as the Prime Minister of Pakistan. China and Pakistan are all-weather strategic cooperative partners with rock-solid and unbreakable relations. China looks forward to working together with the Pakistani side to carry on the traditional friendship, deepen cooperation in various areas and build a high-quality China-Pakistan Economic Corridor together to forge an even closer China-Pakistan community with a shared future in the new era.

Seoul Broadcasting System: According to ROK media reports, the ROK government discovered a mobile oil drilling structure installed by the Chinese side in disputed waters, or the provisional measure zone, and held a National Security Council meeting to discuss countermeasures. What is Chinas comment?

Zhao Lijian: Im currently not aware of the situation you mentioned. I can tell you that China and the ROK are advancing negotiations of maritime boundary delimitation. The two sides also established the dialogue and cooperation mechanism of maritime affairs. The two countries are in sound communication on maritime issues under existing mechanisms.

Bloomberg: Sri Lanka has warned creditors of a possible default and suspended payments on some foreign debt, which is an extraordinary step taken to preserve its dwindling dollar stockpile for food and fuel imports. Sri Lanka is looking to borrow $1 billion from China so that it can repay existing Chinese loans due in July. Does the ministry have a comment on the current situation?

Zhao Lijian: To answer your question, China and Sri Lanka have always enjoyed mutual understanding and mutual support since diplomatic relations were established. China has been helping Sri Lanka with its socioeconomic development to the best of our capability and will continue to do so in the future.

Bloomberg: The European Union Chamber of Commerce in China said Chinas COVID lockdowns have caused significant disruptions for many companies. Nearly half of German firms said in a survey their supply chains have been impacted. Does the foreign ministry have a comment on that?

Zhao Lijian: Chinas dynamic zero-COVID policy and anti-epidemic protocols are based on science and expert opinions, and consistent with its national realities and the WHOs guiding principles. They have effectively protected the life and health of Chinese and foreign nationals living in China and made important contributions to the global fight against the pandemic. The international community, the WHO included, has spoken highly of them.

Since last year, some Chinese cities have adopted a host of prevention and control measures in response to sporadic outbreaks. Although these measures have had some impact on daily life and production, the effect is limited in both duration and scope. Thanks to such measures, the vast majority of the population in most regions can enjoy normal life and production. Naturally all prevention and control measures come at a price. All these efforts are worthwhile to protect peoples life and health. Facts have proven that the overall guideline of dynamic zero-COVID is proper as it fits Chinas realities and has delivered desirable results. And the numbers of confirmed cases and fatalities and the statistics of economic growth of China all point to the conclusion that Chinas COVID-19 containment is among the most successful in the world. By adopting robust and effective containment measures, China is able to maintain socioeconomic growth and, at the same time, make important contribution to keeping the world industrial and supply chains stable and smooth and sustaining world economic growth.

I want to reiterate that the fundamentals sustaining Chinas sound economic growth in the long run have not changed, Chinas status as a vital locomotive for global economic growth has not changed, and the confidence of the international community in Chinas economy has not changed. We are ready to strengthen cooperation with all parties as always to inject impetus into the sustained recovery of the world economy.
The biggest trends in independent retail  Part 2

Drinks Retailing has polled 20 independent retailers from across the UK to pinpoint trends in style and flavour across spirits, mixers and sparkling wine. Retailers also reveal their bestsellers and rising stars.

WHISKY

Single malt Scotch continues to reign in the world of whisky, with The Macallan receiving the most mentions from retailers. Glenfarclas, Tomatin and Glen Keith Scotch also received several acknowledgements.

Beyond single malt, Nomad blended whisky was a trending product for many retailers. The Scottish-made spirit is transported to Jerez in Spain where it is aged in barrels that formerly held Pedro Ximenez sherry.

Scotch whiskies arent the only products catching the attention of consumers, with the emergence of numerous English and Welsh distilleries in the past decade bringing a local angle to the category across many parts of the UK. Cotswolds Single Malt and Spirit of Yorkshires Filey Bay whisky both received mentions from retailers.

LOW/NO

Beer may have pioneered the low/no alcohol category, but consumers are showing increasing interest in low/no spirits and wines, according to the retailers we spoke to. As consumer awareness of mindful drinking continues to grow, non-alcoholic spirits brands such as Pentire and Everleaf are seeing success in independent retailers. Pentire gained B Corp status earlier this year, giving it brownie points among environmentally-conscious consumers.

Ipswich-based Big Drops range of alcohol-free beers was one of the most popular low/no beverages across the board. Bristol Beer Factorys Clear Head and Sussex-based Harveys Best Bitter Low Alcohol also received a number of mentions, as local products remain popular options for post-pandemic consumers.

Although low/no wine has not excelled to the same extent as beer and spirits, Torres Natureo de-alcoholised brand was noted as one of the bestselling and most trending low/no wines. With fewer calories than the average wine, Natureo is also vegan-friendly, a trend that many retailers are beginning to pick up on as drinkers are becoming more selective about what they are consuming.

LIQUEURS

Though lockdowns have been lifted, the home cocktail trend seems to be showing no signs of decline, with liqueur sales oriented towards home mixology. Maestro Cafes coffee liqueur and Kahlua were noted among the most trending liqueurs among retailers, perhaps influenced by the popularity of Espresso Martinis.

Cartron triple sec, Cointreau and Passoa passion fruit liqueur also received mentions as Cosmopolitans and Pornstar Martinis continue to hold their place as some of the nations most-loved cocktails.

Bottegas Pistacchio cream liqueur ranked the highest trending of all the liqueurs singled out by retailers. It was joined by Frejyas Crema Custard - the worlds first alcoholic custard and Mozarts Gold in a clutch of dessert-inspired liqueurs that are catching the attention of consumers, reflecting the trend for sweet and nostalgic flavours in other spirits categories.

Classic fruit-based liqueurs such as creme de cassis  an essential ingredient in a Kir Royale  also remained on many retailers bestselling lists.

SPARKLING WINE

Champagne remains top of the pops for independent retailers, with brands such as Pol Roger, Bollinger and Laurent-Perrier taking the sales and trending top spots. Special cuvees and vintages are popular - with Piper-Heidsieck Vintage 2012 getting a few mentions - but NV remains big news, especially Pol Roger Brut Reserve and Bollinger Special Cuvee.

Proseccos popularity is undimmed, though the nature of the category means that no one brand stands out.English sparkling wine producers, including Bolney, Balfour and Hindleap, make the cut and there are whiffs of excitement around cremant and Lambrusco, though not so much love for cava.

Rose gets several mentions in both Champagne  with Laurent-Perrier Rose garnering the most votes  and the relatively new pink Prosecco category.

MIXERS

It was perhaps little surprise that Fever-Tree tonic was a hot topic of conversation among the retailers we spoke to. Since launching in the early 2000s, the brand has become a firm favourite with G&T drinkers, and has expanded its range to include flavoured soda and cola.

With Larkfires Wild Water for Whisky also making an appearance among the bestsellers, it seems that the consumer desire for premium extends well into the world of mixers. Fruit-infused mixers such as Three Cents Pink Grapefruit soda and Amalfis Lime Tonic also received mentions as drinkers look for ways to add a fruity twist to simple drinks.

Numerous mentions also went to big soft drink brands such as Coca-Cola and Schweppes, as the demand for classic and uncomplicated mixers remains strong.

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Aviation yet to gain takeoff momentum

Vietnams aviation industry is poised to make a robust recovery after prolonged pandemic-inflicted restrictions, but it still faces obstacles including higher fuel prices.

Aircraft at Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi, October 2021. Photo by VnExpress/Giang Huy

On Mar. 15, Vietnam fully reopened its borders to foreign tourists, allowing quarantine-free entry and reinstated its pre-pandemic visa policies, including waivers for nationals of 24 countries. "These positive moves have contributed to strengthening confidence in a brighter picture for the aviation industry this year," Nguyen Huu Nam, deputy director of the HCMC chapter of the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI), said at an event held last week to present the Vietnam International Aviation Exhibition (VIAE 2022) set to take place in September. Regarding this year's prospects, brokerage Bao Viet Securities (BVSC) has said in recent report that if new coronavirus variants are not too dangerous, international routes can recover strongly from the end of the second quarter onwards. It has forecast the number of domestic and international passengers in 2022 at 30 million and five million, up 89.9 percent and 4.6 percent respectively over last year. Meanwhile, Viet Capital Securities JSC (VCSC) estimates the number of domestic flights has reached 94 percent of the pre-pandemic period (2019). The company expects that the total number of domestic passengers for Vietnam Airlines and Vietjet Air this year will be 92 percent and 91 percent of 2019, respectively; and that of international passengers will be 44 percent. Nguyen Phuoc Thang, Head of Science  Technology and Environment Department of Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam, said from now until the end of August, carriers will increase the number of flights to serve tourists and the market will recover "very quickly." The industry is coming out of two quiet years, resuming international commercial flights about a month ago.

Passengers at Tan Son Nhat International Airport in HCMC in late January, 2022. Photo by VnExpress/Quynh Tran

As for international flights, Vietnam officially resumed services on nine routes on Jan. 1 before reopening flights to all markets starting mid-February with several Covid related restrictions. According to the General Statistics Office, 91,000 foreigners arrived in Vietnam in the first quarter, up 89.1 percent against the same period last year. Of these, 90.5 percent came on flights, up 165.2 percent. In 2021, the number of passengers dropped to the lowest ever level in history, to 15.9 million, with that of foreign and domestic passengers dropping by 96.5 percent and 50.5 percent against 2020, respectively. As the fourth Covid-19 wave hit the country in April last year, domestic flights were put on hold late August and only a limited number of flights resumed early October. Between Oct. 10-20, only one return flight was allowed on 19 domestic routes compared to 58 routes in 2019. and it was not until after that pilot period that domestic flights resumed gradually.

The demand for flying in Vietnam entered the "new normal" phase during the latest Tet, or Lunar New Year holiday, which last nine days starting Jan. 29. According to the Vietnam Air Traffic Management Corporation (VATM), Vietnamese carriers operated 10,711 flights on domestic routes between Jan. 29 and Feb. 2, an increase by more than 69 percent against the previous Tet holiday. Market diversification However, the aviation industry has several obstacles to contend with before it gains a strong recovery momentum. One major obstacle is access to its major feeder markets before the pandemic, namely, China, South Korea, Japan and Russia. For now, China is still pursuing a "zero Covid" policy and South Korea still maintains tight border control. The ongoing Russia-Ukraine crisis will also prevent Russian tourists from going on tours abroad. The VCSC has suggested that Vietnam diversify its markets while waiting for the traditional ones to recover. According to Destination Insights with Google, the U.S. and Europe are among markets with the highest search demand for information on accommodation and air travel to Vietnam since the reopening was announced. Fuel prices The other obstacle airlines could face in the near future is fuel prices, which accounted for 29 percent and 43 percent of the input costs for Vietnam Airlines and Vietjet Air in the 2015-2019 period. In January, the average price of jet fuel rose to about $101 per barrel, higher than the $77.8 forecast by the International Air Transport Association in Oct. 2021.

Machinists maintain the engine of an airplane at Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi in 2021. Photo by VnExpress/Giang Huy
U.S.-Algeria relations date back to 1795 when Hassan Bashaw Dey, who ruled what was then called the Deylik of Algiers, signed a peace treaty with Americas first president, George Washington. Since then, Algerians and Americans have developed economic, educational, and cultural connections.

During a recent visit to Algeria, Secretary of State Antony Blinken discussed how critical Algerias efforts are to improving regional security and stability. That includes its counterterrorism expertise, the humanitarian and security assistance that it provides to neighbors in the Sahel, [and] its demonstrated leadership in finding regional and African-led solutions to challenges, said Secretary Blinken.

On Libya, Algeria has been a critical voice in international efforts to advance the UN political process and promote Libyan elections. And as the broker of the Algiers Accords, Algeria continues to play a key role in Mali.

Algeria has also emerged in the region as a leader in preserving cultural heritage sites, which terrorists and organized crime groups have increasingly looted to finance their illicit activities. Last year, the United States joined Algeria in bringing together government officials, archaeologists, cultural site managers from Algeria, Libya, Tunisia, and Egypt, to discuss how to keep these sites secure and successfully prosecute looters of cultural property.

Secretary Blinken also stressed to the Algerian leadership the importance of protecting and advancing human rights, including freedom of religion for all faiths, and freedom of expression - especially political speech.

More U.S. companies are seeking investment in Algeria, and those already there are creating jobs and helping to diversify Algerias economy by training local employees, sharing knowledge, and building long-term partnerships.

Algeria and the United States have worked together to beat back the COVID-19 pandemic. The U.S. has donated more than 600,000 vaccine doses to Algeria as well as a 35-bed state-of-the-art field hospital, and a second donated field hospital will be up and running in the coming months.

The United States looks forward to continuing to strengthen its security, regional, cultural, and economic ties with Algeria.
The United States is concerned over growing tensions in South Sudan, including recent clashes between the South Sudan Peoples Defense Forces and the Sudan Peoples Liberation Army/Movement-In Opposition, or SPLM-IO, in Upper Nile state. Former rivals President Salva Kiir and his Vice President Riek Machar have struggled to enforce a peace agreement signed in 2018 to end a five-year civil war.

State Department spokesperson Ned Price called on both sides to observe fully their obligations under the existing peace agreement. The SPLM-IO announced its withdrawal from a body overseeing the peace process over "unprovoked" attacks on its bases by its "peace partner. Spokesperson Price called on the SPLM-IO to immediately reverse this decision. At the same time, he said, ceasefire monitoring bodies must investigate the recent violence and hold perpetrators responsible.

The United States calls on President Kiir and First Vice President Machar to de-escalate tensions, resume implementation of key, long-delayed provisions of the revitalized peace agreement, including taking the necessary steps to establish an inclusive process to draft a new constitution, to establish necessary electoral legislation and mechanisms, and to respect the freedoms of expression, association, and peaceful assembly.

Regional states and institutions, namely the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, need to take swift action to lower tensions and put the peace process back on track.

All sides bear responsibility for the deteriorating situation, declared spokesperson Price. Neither President Kiir nor First Vice President Machar have made good faith efforts to implement the provisions of the revitalized peace agreement, and both have resisted serious attempts to move South Sudan towards the peace, security, and prosperity the South Sudanese people continue to desire.

The United States calls on all members of the Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity to take the actions necessary to be seen as credible in the eyes of the South Sudanese people, starting with full adherence to and implementation of the 2018 peace agreement.
ELKO  The second of two men accused of stealing an ATM machine from Southside Laundry has been sentenced to prison.

David L. Dearing, 52, was found guilty of one count of burglary of a business, one count of grand larceny, one count of conspiracy to commit grand larceny and one count of willful injury to or destruction of property. He was sentenced April 2 by District Judge Mason Simons to 4-10 years in prison for counts 1 and 2 and one year in jail for counts 3 and 4.

He was also ordered to pay $5,250 restitution to the victims. He also pleaded guilty to unlawful taking of a motor vehicle and was sentenced to one year in jail to be served concurrently with the previous sentence.

Dearing and William J. Grow, 33, entered the laundry on Aug. 7 and removed an ATM belonging to Nevada Bank & Trust that was bolted to the floor. The machine was worth about $2,500 but it also contained $4,460 in cash at the time of the theft, according to a police report.

Grow was sentenced in December on this and two other criminal cases to a total of 12-30 years in prison.

Dearing was also arrested in October on charges of possessing a stolen vehicle; displaying bogus vehicle registration, plate or title; and driving without a drivers license.

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Vietnamese export rice price continues to retain its top spot among regional rice exporters.

According to VOV, in terms of the global market, the Vietnamese export rice price continued to maintain its leading position among rice exporting countries. Accordingly, 5% broken rice surged from between US$12 to US$15 per tonne compared to the beginning of the year to US$415 per tonne, the highest level in more than three months thanks to growing demand and production advantages.

Along with traditional markets such as the Philippines, accounting for the largest proportion, China, Malaysia, the United States, African countries, and the Republic of Korea, the country's rice exports to Europe are expected to increase sharply this year thanks to support from the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA).

The nation therefore aims to boost restructuring for value promotion, sustainable development towards the goal of improving the quality, and the value of Vietnamese rice in the near future.

Hanoi enjoys positive economic growth in first quarter

The capitals economic growth rate during the first quarter of the year showed signs of a remarkable improvement thanks to timely and effective solutions, demonstrating its resilience and development after suffering from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, reported VOV.

According to data detailed by the Hanoi Department of Planning and Investment, the opening quarter of the year saw Hanois gross domestic product (GDP) expand by 5.83%, a figure 1.16 times higher than that of the whole country. In addition, it was in line with the capitals growth scenario of between 5.7% and 6.2%.

Of the figure, services increased by 6.15%, industry - construction rose by 5.61%, and agriculture, forestry and fishery climbed by 3.39%. This represents a very important increase due to the recovery trend being seen across multiple sectors and fields.

Le Van Quan, deputy director of the Hanoi Department of Planning and Investment, said that early this year the capital had outlined an economic growth scenario for each quarter, each industry, and each field, before issuing a plan for economic recovery and development of the construction industry.

Photo for illustration (Source: chinhphu.vn)

These great efforts taken by competent agencies and enterprises in a bid to promote production and business, as well as flexibly responding to the pandemic, also helped ensure large balances, revenue, and expenditure.

During the first quarter of the year, Hanoi's total state budget revenue reached over VND102,000 billion, equaling 32.9% of the estimate, up more than 19% over the same period from last year. Indeed, the majority of the capital's key economic indicators also posted an increase.

Tran Thi Phuong Lan, acting director of the Hanoi Department of Industry and Trade, said that the city's primary focus on developing industries has been less affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Indeed, the capital has found adaptive solutions for pandemic-hit areas which has helped to give a fresh boost to production and business activities in the process of recovery and development.

With regard to the disbursement results of public investment capital throughout the reviewed period, the capital disbursed VND4,111 billion, duly meeting 8% of the plan, representing a rise of 26.7% on-year. Hanoi defined the annual plan for public investment disbursement as an important task aimed at boosting economic development in the context of the national economy being heavily impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Furthermore, the Hanoi People's Committee has requested that departments, agencies, People's Committees of districts, towns, and investors mobilise all resources, improve the efficiency of public investment, and speed up the implementation of public investment projects on schedule from the start of the year.

Under the Socio-Economic Development and Recovery Program, Hanoi also aims to promote economic growth, innovative start-ups, and digital transformation in order to lay a foundation for sustainable development. This will be done while striving to fulfill the highest growth target of 8% and keep the urban unemployment rate at below 4%.

Another of the capital's focus is also on reducing costs, supporting cash flow, and facilitating activities of businesses, economic organisations, and citizens.

According to data detailed by the Hanoi Department of Planning and Investment, the opening quarter of the year saw Hanois gross domestic product (GDP) expand by 5.83%, a figure 1.16 times higher than that of the whole country. In addition, it was in line with the capitals growth scenario of between 5.7% and 6.2%.

Of the figure, services increased by 6.15%, industry - construction rose by 5.61%, and agriculture, forestry and fishery climbed by 3.39%. This represents a very important increase due to the recovery trend being seen across multiple sectors and fields.

Le Van Quan, deputy director of the Hanoi Department of Planning and Investment, said that early this year the capital had outlined an economic growth scenario for each quarter, each industry, and each field, before issuing a plan for economic recovery and development of the construction industry.

These great efforts taken by competent agencies and enterprises in a bid to promote production and business, as well as flexibly responding to the pandemic, also helped ensure large balances, revenue, and expenditure.

During the first quarter of the year, Hanoi's total state budget revenue reached over VND102,000 billion, equaling 32.9% of the estimate, up more than 19% over the same period from last year. Indeed, the majority of the capital's key economic indicators also posted an increase.

Tran Thi Phuong Lan, acting director of the Hanoi Department of Industry and Trade, said that the city's primary focus on developing industries has been less affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Indeed, the capital has found adaptive solutions for pandemic-hit areas which has helped to give a fresh boost to production and business activities in the process of recovery and development.

With regard to the disbursement results of public investment capital throughout the reviewed period, the capital disbursed VND4,111 billion, duly meeting 8% of the plan, representing a rise of 26.7% on-year. Hanoi defined the annual plan for public investment disbursement as an important task aimed at boosting economic development in the context of the national economy being heavily impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Furthermore, the Hanoi People's Committee has requested that departments, agencies, People's Committees of districts, towns, and investors mobilise all resources, improve the efficiency of public investment, and speed up the implementation of public investment projects on schedule from the start of the year.

Under the Socio-Economic Development and Recovery Program, Hanoi also aims to promote economic growth, innovative start-ups, and digital transformation in order to lay a foundation for sustainable development. This will be done while striving to fulfill the highest growth target of from 7.5% to 8% and keep the urban unemployment rate at below 4%.

Another of the capital's focus is also on reducing costs, supporting cash flow, and facilitating activities of businesses, economic organisations, and citizens.

Proper solutions needed to tap into huge potential for exports to Iran

Thorough research in market connection will serve as a means of helping local businesses boost their export of key agricultural products to Iran in the near future, reported VOV.

Tea is one of Vietnam's key agricultural export products to the Iranian market.

Vietnams annual trade turnover with Iran stands at a modest level of over US$100 million in recent years.

Lam Thanh Hung Trading Co., Ltd, a Vietnamese enterprise that imports interior decoration products, Persian carpets, saffron, roses, functional foods from Iran for sale in the Vietnamese market. It also promotes the export of Vietnamese coffee, tea, cinnamon, anise, pepper, and apparel to the Iranian market.

Nguyen Thi Hien Giang, director of Lam Thanh Hung Trading Co., Ltd who has over eight years of experience living and working in Iran, said that the Middle Eastern country is not only a potential market for local goods, especially agricultural items, it also serve as the "gateway" for to penetrate the vast market.

Iran is the eighth largest cotton producer and ranks third in terms of grape production globally.

Most notably, many Vietnamese enterprises import saffron, a very famous Iranian product. Despite this, Iran's agricultural output is not enough to meet the needs of the local 86 million market, therefore it has a great need for imports from other countries and desires trade connectivity with Vietnam.

In Iran, each person consumes about 120kg of fruit per year. Tropical fruits are very popular in the Middle East nation, such as pineapple and mango. Each year, this market imports roughly 470,000 tons of tropical fruits, equivalent to about US$700 million. If doing well with market connectivity, Vietnam can completely export items such as dragon fruit, guava, pomelo, and papaya to Iran," said Giang.

In addition, the prominent habits in relation to the consumption culture of Iranians indicates that there remains ample room for tea and coffee exports to grow this potential market. Currently, Iran primarily imports raw coffee, black tea, and green tea. Meanwhile, Vietnam is capable of boosting the export of these key agricultural products to Iran in the near future, she added.

Nguyen Thanh Long, third secretary of the Vietnam Trade Office in Iran concurrently Syria and Iraq, noted the great opportunity for local firms to bolster exports to Iran, especially local agricultural products thanks to growing import demand as the Middle Eastern country often suffers droughts and crop failure.

A survey conducted on people and importers in Iran indicates that consumers there are fond of Vietnamese products, while both nations' products are often supplementary and not competitive.

According to Nguyen Thu Thuy, deputy director of the Export Support Center under the Trade Promotion Department of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, with a population of nearly 86 million people, Iran represents a market boasting a large consumption volume among countries throughout the Middle East.

Vietnam and Iran has so far signed a number of co-operation agreements regarding economic, cultural, scientific, and technical co-operation. This is addition to the establishment of a joint committee, investment promotion, and protection. The agreements offer favourable conditions in which both sides can enhance trade exchanges moving forward, Thuy stated.

As a way for Vietnamese enterprises to conduct long-term business with their Iranian counterparts, according to experts, due attention must be paid to dealing with forms of payment. This should be done alongside promoting direct connection with Iranian partners through participation in fairs, seminars, and annual trade connection programmes with the Iranian market.

Moreover, it can be viewed as essential to fully grasp market information, carefully search and choose the right, strong, and suitable products, as well as not competing with Iranian items when exporting to this market. The ingenuity and skillfulness in negotiating with Iranians will also help bring many great business opportunities for local enterprises, experts added.

Two university professors to receive 2021 Kovalevskaya Award

The 2021 Kovalevskaya Award will be given to two Vietnamese university professors in recognition of their outstanding research achievements and great contribution to the national development, the award committee has announced.



Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thi Thanh Mai (left) and Prof. Dr. and Meritorious Teacher Nguyen Minh Thuy will receive the 2021 Kovalevskaya Award. (Photo: qdnd.vn)

The awardees are Prof., Dr. Nguyen Thi Thanh Mai, Vice President of the University of Science at the Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City (VNUHCM); and Prof., Dr. and Meritorious Teacher Nguyen Minh Thuy from the Department of Food Technology, College of Agriculture, Can Tho University.

Mai, from the south-central province of Quang Ngai, graduated from the University of Science, VNUHCM with a Bachelors and Masters Degree in Analytical Chemistry; and earned a PhD in Pharmaceutical at Japans Toyama University. The 50-year-old lecturer was awarded the professor title in 2020.

She has led 14 ministerial and provincial-level research projects, with one of the most outstanding ones on extracting active substances from plants for the development of new drugs for diabetes, gout and melasma.

She was awarded with Ho Chi Minh City Creative Awards in 2019.

Thuy, from the Mekong Delta province of An Giang, graduated from Thailands Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) with a Masters Degree in Post-harvest Technology in 1992 and earned a PhD in Food Technology at KU Leuven (Katholieke Universiteit Leuven) in Belgium in 2007.

The 61-year-old lecturer was honoured with the professor title in food technology in 2020. Her research has focused on addressing issues in distribution of agricultural products and provision of support for farmers and agribusinesses hit by natural disasters, fire and epidemics.

The Kovalevskaya Award ceremony is scheduled to be held in Hanoi this May. Three female high school students will also receive Kovalevskaya scholarships, worth 500 USD each, during the event.

The Kovalevskaya Award is named after Russian mathematician Sofia Kovalevskaya, and is awarded by the fund of the same name. The fund operates in eight countries in Latin America, Africa and Asia.

The award was first given to Vietnamese female academics in 1985. By 2020, 49 individuals and 20 groups of female scientists had received the award./.
The relevant statement he was made on Telegram. In his words, several hours ago, Russian troops used chemical weapons in Mariupol, namely within the Azovstal plant.

Talking of the practical side of the strike, it was small. Three persons are showing the clear signs of poisoning with warfare chemicals, but no catastrophic effects. These idiots [Russians - Ed.] cannot even use the weapons of mass destruction properly. Talking of the moral side, this indicates the cowardice of Russians only, Biletsky told.

Read more: Russia Continues to Use Prohibited Phosphorous and Cluster Munition in Ukraine

The illustrative photography

In his words, Russias use of such weapons shows they are unable to capture Mariupol, as well as defeat the Ukrainian military.

They understand this will be spread across the globe. The entire world will get to know they are terrorists who violate numerous conventions Hence, they are falling into despair, and they have nothing else to do but use indiscriminate prohibited weapons, as in World War I. But, nevertheless, Mariupol will win. Azov Regiment will win. Ukraine will win. Glory to Ukraine, Biletsky stressed.

A reminder that, according to the Azov Regiment, Russian troops have recently dropped an unknown poisonous substance in Mariupol, using an unmanned aerial vehicle.

Earlier, Eduard Basurin, a Russian militant from the occupied city of Donetsk, announced it was necessary to block Mariupol defenders within the Azovstal plant and use chemical weapons against them.

The Pentagon cannot confirm reports that Russian forces have used a chemical weapon in Mariupol, but officials remain concerned about the potential Russian use of a possible strike involving chemical substances.
Mr. Siddharth Chatterjee, UN Resident Coordinator in China, was interviewed by the Belt and Road Ambassador Interview Program, where he shared his views on many topics related to China and the UN.

Photo of Siddharth Chatterjee, UN Resident Coordinator in China, in conversation with Sun Chao, Head of the Belt and Road Ambassador Interview Program (Photo provided to Guangming Online)

The topics being discussed include Mr. Chatterjees impressions of China, his views on Chinas success combating the COVID-19 pandemic and eradicating absolute poverty, common visions between China and the UN, and the goals Mr. Chatterjee hope to achieve as UN Resident Coordinator in China.

Photo of Siddharth Chatterjee, UN Resident Coordinator in China (Photo provided to Guangming Online)

Here are the views Mr. Chatterjee shared during this conversation.

Impression of China

China goes beyond expectations. I'm just struck by the remarkable progress that the country has made, given the fact that just 40, 41, 42 years ago, it had a per capita GDP of a mere 180 dollars, and today, it's crossing 12,000 dollars. So the meteoric rise and making this sort of progress is striking. And I think it's an important lesson for many other parts of the developing world.

China's success combating the COVID-19 pandemic

I'll start at the outset by really congratulating China in the way it launched a public health response to flatten the curve of the COVID pandemic. And I think that since 2020 to date, the fact that they have such few cases is example of the exemplary leadership. It really brings together very strong political will to make sure that the virus does not spread. The second, is they've had the right public policies in place to keep the COVID-19 under control and end it. And lastly, is partnerships. The partnership that the UN enjoys with the National Health Commission, with different partners in government, all aspects of government working together. So I think China actually presents a textbook example of how to defeat a pandemic. And I think this is perhaps something that the rest of the world can absolutely learn from. And I say this without equivocation, China's response to COVID has been simply spectacular.

Importance of multilateralism in today's world

COVID the pandemic has reminded us how important it is for global solidarity and countries working together. This is the moment of an inflection point where again common challenges, like public health challenges, like the environment, needs for us to come closer together, work closer together, so that we can not only get out of it but look at - have an ambition - where young people are infused with hope for the future. And at the same time, we build a planet which is prosperous, we build a planet which is safe, we build a planet which our grandchildren, our great grandchildren can happily inherit.

China's eradication of absolute poverty

Poverty in all its form is perhaps the biggest threat to our humanity. And the overall effect that it has in the evolution of nation states is perhaps one of the biggest challenges that we face. What China did, it's quite remarkable, that in a matter of 40 years not only did it lift nearly 800 million people out of poverty, but in the last seven years, nearly a hundred million people out of absolute poverty. When you lift people out of poverty, you give them dignity, you give them hope, you give them opportunity. It includes better access to education, to better health, to better skills. All these contribute towards nation building. So the progress China had made would not have happened had China not invested in human capital. And that is why the UN, we as the UN family are very proud that we established our first presence in China in 1979 and have been in this journey with China ever since.

So three things: number one, I congratulate China for having managed to get so many people out of poverty. Number two, we have to maintain this trajectory of making sure that people do not just fall back into poverty but to safeguard the environment to be able to advance human development. And thirdly, how do we share China's best practices with other parts of the developing world, in particularly Africa, where I have spent a lot of my career.

China's role in advocating UN's visions of multilateralism and sustainable development

The purpose of the United Nations is to build global consensus, is to walk away from that period of conflicts and wars. And I think the fact that since 1945 we've not had a major world war is significant of the fact that there is still consensus going. We may have differences of opinion, there are different areas of geopolitics with challenges. Ultimately, it is the maturity and wisdom of nations and a country like China where President Xi Jinping is a loud and constant advocate on the principles of multilateralism, about a united approach to dealing with the world's problems. The fact that he set an agenda where we need to achieve carbon peaking by 2030, and carbon neutrality by 2060, it is about the preservation of our humanity. So I think China's role in this is extremely important.

Goals as UN Resident Coordinator in China

To me the first priority is to make sure that we implement the UN China Sustainable Development Cooperation framework, which has started in January 2021. It has three overarching strategic priorities. First, is people in prosperity, which aligns with the 14th Five-Year Plan, which aligns with the vision that China has over the next 50 years to make China and keep China prosperous and keep moving it up the trajectory of progress, which is about people and prosperity. The second, is the planet and this responds precisely to President Xi's call on dealing with this climate emergency that we are confronted with. I'm completely committed to make sure that vision, that envision that President Xi has, the whole UN family is united in supporting China's efforts, not just in China of safeguarding the environment, but work with China to safeguard the environment everywhere else. And the third is a very important one, which is about partnerships. It is a united effort to advance human development, it is a united effort to advance humanity. It is a united effort to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which is just nine years away. And by 2030, we should be able to look back proudly as the UN and China to say not only did we achieve all the SDGs in China, but how did we work together to achieve the SDGs in the rest of the world.

Advice for young people who want to work for the UN

The ambition should be, it is not about working in some headquarter, it is to be wanting, and the desire to go into some of the most difficult places. That's how I started my career, going to some of the most difficult places in Bosnia, and in Somalia, and in South Sudan, and in Darfur, and in Iraq. But to go to these difficult places because that is where you can actually feel the impact of your work. That is where you understand the real tragedy people confront and how do we find ways of collaborating to end those tragedies.

So my message to all the young people is, if you have to build castles in the air, go ahead and do so, but make sure that you put a foundation underneath it. And that foundation is knowledge, skills, education. But above all that, bringing in a principle of philanthropy, and most importantly, compassion.

Editor: JYZ
Access to electricity is an urgent challenge due to the African population projected to double to nearly 2.4 billion by 2050.

Being among the most vulnerable continents to climate change, Africa bestowed greater importance on climate-friendly initiatives to mitigate the effects of climate change.

Cooperation with China fortifies Africa's quest for climate-friendly sustainable development by cultivating clean energy sources.

ADDIS ABABA, April 11 (Xinhua) -- After nine years of construction, the first unit of the China-built Zungeru Hydroelectric Power Station in Nigeria was put into operation in late March, with the other three units expected to go online by the end of this year.

Photo taken on March 23, 2022 shows the Zungeru Hydroelectric Power Station in the Niger State, Nigeria. (Photo by Yu Shuiyang/Xinhua)

According to its builders, Power Construction Corporation of China and China National Electric Engineering Co. Ltd, once completed, the Zungeru Hydroelectric Power Station, with a total installed capacity of 700 MW, is expected to produce 2.64 billion kWh of electricity annually in the most populous country in Africa.

The power station is the epitome of China's efforts to help facilitate Africa's quest for green development.

CHINESE ENGAGEMENT

According to the UN Economic Commission for Africa, access to electricity is an urgent challenge due to a growing population projected to double to nearly 2.4 billion by 2050.

Renewable energy such as solar, wind and hydro could be a viable alternative to meet the continent's burgeoning electricity needs, with most of Africa's energy currently coming from biomass and fossil fuels.

To help the continent achieve its green transition, China has prioritized clean energy in its cooperation with African countries.

According to Moges Mekonnen, communications director at Ethiopian Electric Power, Chinese-built Adama wind farms, installed with 102 turbines with a total generating capacity of 153 MW, help Ethiopia tap into its rich renewable energy potential.

Moges Mekonnen, communications director at Ethiopian Electric Power, speaks during an interview with Xinhua in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, March 28, 2022. (Xinhua/Michael Tewelde)

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Editor: ZAD
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)

Editor: JYZ
The Axiom Astronauts began a full slate of science and outreach activities.

The crew members continue to get accustomed to life in microgravity, learning how to move their bodies in the constant free-fall environment of the International Space Station (ISS).

The four-person multi-national Ax-1 team brings the total number of occupants on the station to 11 individuals living on the orbiting laboratory. Like most astronauts, the Ax-1 crew members are tightly scheduled throughout their eight days on the ISS, often down to planning five-minute increments. With a full ISS complement ensuring every crew member accomplishes his daily tasks, the ISS mission planners play a real-life Tetris game for space.

The astronauts are tasked with many responsibilities, including capturing images via pictures and videos. All crew members received extensive training on how to use the media equipment to accurately capture Earth observations, scientific investigations, technology demonstrations, and record rich content for future use.

Crew members also will document their meals and navigation around the space station.

Throughout the week crew members will participate in educational STEAM activities. Ax-1 Mission Specialist Eytan Stibbe participated in several events supporting the Rakia Mission. Under the banner "There is No Dream Beyond Reach" one of Rakia's goals is to inspire a new generation to dream big. Stibbe is using his time on the ISS to develop engaging content for students in Israel. He'll answer questions, complete STEAM educational programming, and conduct science experiments.

Today the crew began working on its robust science portfolios, composed of more than 25 experiments and technology demonstrations. Some examples:

Ax-1 Commander Michael Lopez-Alegria installed edge computing capabilities that will contribute to the future of smart space stations.

Ax-1 Pilot Larry Connor, working with the Mayo Clinic on Aging and Heart Health, brought human cells to test the effects of microgravity on the heart. Today he started to examine the impact of microgravity on those cells, which can help us better understand aging.

Ax-1 Mission Specialist Mark Pathy demonstrated the value of bringing augmented reality to space by setting up the Holoportation system. These interactive two-way Holoportation sessions will afford the ability of future crew members to explore deep space with the ability to bring friends, family, and physicians close with them so that they can get an on-Earth experience. This technology has potential applications for telemedicine on Earth.

Axiom Space's science is turning sci-fi into reality.

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WENCHANG, Hainan, April 11 (Xinhua) -- China's Long March-7 Y5 rocket, which will launch the new cargo craft for the country's space station, arrived at the launch site in the southern island province of Hainan on Monday.

The rocket, alongside the Tianzhou-4 cargo craft that has already been transported to the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site, will be assembled and tested at the launch site, announced the China Manned Space Agency.

Facilities at the launch site are in good condition and preparations for all systems involved in the mission are proceeding smoothly, said the agency.

Editor: WXY
CHONGQING, April 11 (Xinhua) -- Digitalization is reshaping every aspect of people's lives, including their travel. A hub airport in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality is becoming smarter thanks to its persistent efforts in exploring digitalization.

A key part of China's Chengdu-Chongqing economic circle, Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport eyes to create a smart airport by generating power from new digital technologies, said the airport.

Smart digital technology is playing unique roles in China's high-quality growth especially in the civil aviation industry, demonstrating the country's economic resilience despite the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

ENHANCED PASSENGER EXPERIENCE

Chongqing, a mountain city renowned for its spicy cuisine, is a major high-tech industry cluster and the world's leading laptop production base. A smarter airport will greatly help to sustain the growth of the city and the economic circle, as well as their connection with the rest of the country and the world, said the airport.

Passengers at Chongqing airport can enjoy a more comfort and efficient travel experience with diverse services, such as smart parking, self-service clearance and paperless boarding, with full 5G signal coverage.

Alongside the widespread use of digital payment found across China, the airport has introduced a smart parking charge service, which allows drivers to pay their parking charge instantaneously upon their departure.

Drivers just need to pre-register their car plates and electronic payment information. They can then drive off the airport parking lot directly with the digital payment complete.

Aside from the popular paperless boarding, passengers at the airport can also enjoy self-service clearance with just three easy steps: producing their documents, completing facial recognition and scanning their fingerprints.

With the self-service clearance based on digital technology, inbound and outbound passengers can complete border exit and entry in as little as 9 seconds, much quicker than using conventional manual checks.

In 2019, before the pandemic outbreak, more than 2 million passengers used the self-service clearance, accounting for around 58.6 percent of all inbound and outbound passengers that year, according to the airport.

In addition, digital technologies have been integrated into all aspects of passengers' experience at the airport, from the self-service luggage check-in and passenger check-in to a smart roadmap at the airport.

MORE EFFICIENT OPERATION

China's civil aviation industry will grow smarter with the help of new-generation digital technologies, according to a roadmap issued by the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC).

China is also accelerating the construction of a world-class airport cluster for the development of the Chengdu-Chongqing economic circle. The airport cluster is aiming to be convenient, safe, intelligent, green and highly efficient, said a circular issued by the CAAC.

As a key hub airport in the economic circle, Chongqing airport has already targeted a smarter future, aiming to enhance passenger experience and operation efficiency.

From 2006 to 2019, before the pandemic outbreak, the airport handled more than 10 million passengers annually, remaining one of the top 10 airports nationwide. In 2019, it saw its annual passenger throughput reach 44.79 million, ranking among the top 50 airports globally, showed data from the airport.

To better serve the evolving demands of passengers and cargo transport, starting from 2015, the airport has explored digital transformation in the cargo sector by integrating the collection, storage and loading of cargo into a digital system, said the airport.

The airport has connected its cargo information system with those of the customs, tax and port authorities, as well as those of the airlines. The airport has also greatly enhanced its air cargo capacity.

In addition, its cargo loading has become a paperless operation, which greatly cut labor and running costs.

Furthermore, the express parcel check machine at the airport is capable of carrying out image identification, open parcel operation and other functions, thus greatly supporting the hub airport in enhancing its capacity in parcel delivery.

Being smart is the future of all airports. The Chongqing airport is exploring a path to become smart by effectively using digital technologies, reaching all sectors from airport management to passenger services, said the airport.

Editor: WXY
An employee prepares online orders for delivery at a Burger King store in east China's Shanghai, April 10, 2022. (Xinhua/Chen Jianli)

SHANGHAI, April 10 (Xinhua) -- An increasing number of e-commerce giants and food delivery platforms have joined in the battle against the resurgence of the Omicron variant in Shanghai to secure the megacity's daily supplies.

Local authorities confirmed Sunday that e-commerce giants such as JD.com, online food delivery platforms Meituan and Eleme, and courier services companies have cooperated with the city to provide daily necessities for the residents.

With a population of 25 million, Shanghai has now become a primary battleground against the virus. It reported over 20,000 new domestic infections on Saturday. The city has employed a temporary closed-off management strategy with citywide nucleic acid testing rounds.

"I haven't slept a wink for days," said Cai Xiaobing, head of a branch of YTO Express, a major express delivery firm in China. Cai has become a community volunteer since April 4, providing food for residents in the neighborhood of his community.

Cai's wife organizes online group buying every morning, and Cai contacts sellers and arranges the company's drivers to distribute the goods to residents door-to-door.

Cai said he needs to cope with goods for several thousands of residents every day.

"I even drove to a community to deliver 150 kg of rice at around 2 a.m. And just now, 500 bags of flour sold out in merely two minutes," he said, adding a volunteer team consisting of deliverymen has grown from six to 40, and they need to work more than 10 hours per day.

Wang Wenbo, vice president of JD, said that JD is sourcing goods from nationwide to meet Shanghai citizens' needs. The first batch of goods, including infant milk formula, diapers, medicines, epidemic prevention materials and mutton, have arrived.

The company has dispatched more than 2,000 anti-epidemic workers including delivery people to provide services in Shanghai. More workers are expected to be deployed there, Wang noted, adding unmanned intelligent delivery vehicles will carry out contactless delivery in Shanghai's closed-off areas.

Online food delivery platform Eleme, superstore chain RT-Mart, and Cainiao Network, Alibaba's logistics arm, also said they are organizing more local employees to return to work.

An employee prepares medicine for an online order at a drugstore in east China's Shanghai, April 10, 2022. (Xinhua/Chen Jianli)

A delivery man takes an online medicine order from a drugstore in east China's Shanghai, April 10, 2022. (Xinhua/Chen Jianli)

Employees prepare food for online orders at a food store in east China's Shanghai, April 10, 2022. (Xinhua/Chen Jianli)

Employees pack food for online orders at a food store in east China's Shanghai, April 10, 2022. (Xinhua/Chen Jianli)

An employee packs vegetables for online orders at a supermarket in east China's Shanghai, April 10, 2022. (Xinhua/Chen Jianli)

An employee packs food for an online order at a Burger King store in east China's Shanghai, April 10, 2022. (Xinhua/Chen Jianli)

An employee packs vegetables for online orders at a supermarket in east China's Shanghai, April 10, 2022. (Xinhua/Chen Jianli)

Editor: WXY
Xu Ning kissed her daughter before leaving for Shanghai, in north China's Tianjin, April 11, 2022.

Tianjin sent a team of 78 traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) medical workers to help Shanghai fight COVID-19 pandemic on Monday.

Xu Ning, a deputy chief physician from the First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, is one of them. Over the past two years, she has been in the wards of Tianjin Haihe Hospital for many times to fight against the pandemic, and gained a lot of experience in TCM treatment. (Xinhua/Li Ran)

Xu Ning works at Tianjin Haihe Hospital in north China's Tianjin, Jan. 10, 2022.

Tianjin sent a team of 78 traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) medical workers to help Shanghai fight COVID-19 pandemic on Monday.

Xu Ning, a deputy chief physician from the First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, is one of them. Over the past two years, she has been in the wards of Tianjin Haihe Hospital for many times to fight against the pandemic, and gained a lot of experience in TCM treatment. (Xinhua)

Xu Ning (R) waves goodbye to her family before leaving for Shanghai, in north China's Tianjin, April 11, 2022.

Tianjin sent a team of 78 traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) medical workers to help Shanghai fight COVID-19 pandemic on Monday.

Xu Ning, a deputy chief physician from the First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, is one of them. Over the past two years, she has been in the wards of Tianjin Haihe Hospital for many times to fight against the pandemic, and gained a lot of experience in TCM treatment. (Xinhua/Li Ran)

Xu Ning waves to her family through the window of a bus as she leaves for Shanghai, in north China's Tianjin, April 11, 2022.

Tianjin sent a team of 78 traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) medical workers to help Shanghai fight COVID-19 pandemic on Monday.

Xu Ning, a deputy chief physician from the First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, is one of them. Over the past two years, she has been in the wards of Tianjin Haihe Hospital for many times to fight against the pandemic, and gained a lot of experience in TCM treatment. (Xinhua/Li Ran)

Xu Ning (1st R) puts on team uniform before leaving for Shanghai, in north China's Tianjin, April 11, 2022.

Tianjin sent a team of 78 traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) medical workers to help Shanghai fight COVID-19 pandemic on Monday.

Xu Ning, a deputy chief physician from the First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, is one of them. Over the past two years, she has been in the wards of Tianjin Haihe Hospital for many times to fight against the pandemic, and gained a lot of experience in TCM treatment. (Xinhua/Li Ran)

Xu Ning works at the First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine before leaving for Shanghai, in north China's Tianjin, April 11, 2022.

Tianjin sent a team of 78 traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) medical workers to help Shanghai fight COVID-19 pandemic on Monday.

Xu Ning, a deputy chief physician from the First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, is one of them. Over the past two years, she has been in the wards of Tianjin Haihe Hospital for many times to fight against the pandemic, and gained a lot of experience in TCM treatment. (Xinhua/Li Ran)

Editor: WPY
A man shops at a supermarket in London, Britain, April 8, 2022. (Xinhua/Li Ying)

Europe, the main destination for both Russian and Ukrainian exports, is likely to experience the brunt of the economic impact. Reduced shipments of grains and other foodstuffs will also inflate prices for agricultural goods.

GENEVA, April 11 (Xinhua) -- The ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine has dealt a severe blow to the global economy, reducing forecasted global trade growth for 2022 from the 4.7 percent predicted last October to between 2.4 percent and 3 percent.

The projection, based on a global economic simulation model, was made by the World Trade Organization (WTO) Secretariat in a note issued on Monday.

According to the same model, the crisis could lower global GDP growth by 0.7-1.3 percentage points, bringing it to somewhere between 3.1 percent and 3.7 percent for 2022.

The conflict has pushed up food and energy prices, and reduced the availability of goods exported by Russia and Ukraine, said the Secretariat note.

Russia and Ukraine are both important suppliers of essential products, notably food and energy, according to the note. The two countries supplied around 25 percent of wheat, 15 percent of barley and 45 percent of sunflower product exports globally in 2019. Russia alone accounted for 9.4 percent of world trade in fuels, including a 20 percent share in natural gas exports.

A vehicle runs past a gas station in Berlin, capital of Germany, March 11, 2022. (Xinhua/Shan Yuqi)

Russia is one of the main global suppliers of palladium and rhodium, which are crucial elements in the production of catalytic converters for automobiles. Meanwhile, semiconductor production depends to a significant extent on neon supplied by Ukraine. Disruptions to the supply of these materials could hit car producers at a time when the industry is just recovering from a shortage of semiconductors, the WTO highlighted.

Europe, the main destination for both Russian and Ukrainian exports, is likely to experience the brunt of the economic impact. Reduced shipments of grains and other foodstuffs will also inflate prices for agricultural goods.

Africa and the Middle East are the most vulnerable regions, since they import over 50 percent of their cereal needs from Ukraine and/or Russia. In total, 35 countries in Africa import food and 22 import fertilizer from Ukraine, Russia or both.

Some countries in Sub-Saharan Africa are facing potential price hikes of up to 50-85 percent for wheat, as a result of the crisis's impact on grain shipments, the note said.

"The current crisis is likely to exacerbate international food insecurity at a time when food prices are already historically high due to the COVID-19 pandemic and other factors," it warns.

Customers shop at a supermarket in Rome, Italy, March 2, 2022. (Xinhua/Jin Mamengni)

Editor: WXL
ISLAMABAD, April 12 (Xinhua) -- Shahbaz Sharif took the oath as the 23rd Prime Minister of Pakistan during a ceremony held at the President House Monday night.

Chairman of Pakistan's Senate Sadiq Sanjrani administered the oath of office to the newly-elected prime minister as Pakistani President Arif Alvi "complained of discomfort," according to the president's official Twitter account.

During the National Assembly session to conduct the election for the Asian country's new prime minister Monday afternoon, Shahbaz, president of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, won 174 votes in the 342-member house.

Shahbaz came to power after former Prime Minister Imran Khan was ousted through a no-confidence motion moved by an opposition alliance.

In his maiden address to the National Assembly after being elected as the prime minister, Shahbaz said he is looking forward to having friendly relations with all neighboring countries and Western countries.

He also said that during his term, he will work on the completion of the projects under the framework of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.

As a brother of former Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Shahbaz served as the chief minister of the country's eastern Punjab province three times.

Editor: WXL
By Wang Xinyuan

A new policy was implemented by Twitter since August 2020 to put labels on state-affiliated media accounts, which indicate that they are under control of certain official representatives of governments, state-affiliated media entities or individuals closely associated with them.

The policy was first applied to just the five permanent United Nations Security Council member countries, which are China, France, Russia, the UK and the US, expanded later to G7 countries, and to others including Cuba, Ecuador, Egypt, Honduras, Indonesia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Spain, Thailand, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates.

Labels are supposed to cover relevant media accounts from those countries. Nevertheless, Twitter has its own definition of what is or is not state-affiliated media.

State-financed media organizations from the Western world like BBC or NPR are largely pardoned by the platform, as Twitter claims that they still enjoy editorial independence, while the rule is strictly applied to media accounts from other countries, particularly Russia and China. Even accounts themed with wildlife like @iPanda, a Twitter account that shares panda photos, was labeled.

Screenshot of iPandas Twitter account, labeled

Besides, Twitters practice is deeply flawed. No criteria for designating certain media outlets as state-affiliated have ever been made public. There have since been calls for Twitter to clarify why and how certain media entities were included or excluded.

Small label, big implication

Twitter claimed the move is meant to provide people with context so they can make informed decisions, but the label does not work as a friendly notice, it is a warning sign. Labeled accounts suffer consequences of Twitters decision: the platform has since stopped recommending or amplifying the labeled accounts or their Tweets. Links shared by such accounts are also labeled to keep people away from clicking it.

Sreenshot of labeled news link

By labeling media accounts and their contents, Twitter gives its users the wrong impression that the media accounts labeled by the platform have less credibility, or the unlabeled Western state-funded outlets have no connection with the power behind.

Screenshot of PressTVs CEO Ahmad Noroozis tweet

PressTV CEO Ahmad Noroozi once criticized in his tweet, We never wanted to conceal our affiliation with Irans state, cause its an honor & source of power. TV networks such as BBC are heavily funded by their states but never receive the same treatment.

Twitters current policy is not allowing equal access to media sources of different countries. Whatever kinds of media Twitter finds them to be, they are media accounts in their own forms.

Giant at large

The First Amendment to the US Constitution prohibits censorship by government in protection of freedom of speech, but it does not prohibit censorship by private companies that run todays social media platforms. In other words, in the cyber world, social media giants can decide on their own what to moderate and filter.

Social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube rise up like giants in the virtual world. They are under broad protection online to moderate discussions, remove posts and suspend accounts, permanently or temporarily, from their social networking service. Those actions have long been controversial.

Their platform, their rules. But what theyre ruling now gets to challenge the freedom of press that should be respected and protected by every individual, every country, and every social media company.

Though labels made by such social media companies may not likely be defined as a violation of free-speech rights, it surely has raised questions regarding the role of social media giants in regulating online communications.

Which accounts should be restricted or silenced? Who gets to decide which accounts should be restricted or silenced? Or should any account, especially those of media outlets, be restricted or silenced at all?

YouTube is now blocking Russian state-affiliated media globally. According to TechCrunch, this goes beyond any legal mandates, yet it is happening. The blocking by YouTube is nothing but a new turn of an atrocious attack on one of the fundamental principles of a democratic society  that is freedom of the press, Sputnik said in a statement on March 11.

Editor: Zhang Zhou
NJSC Naftogaz Ukrainy subsidized Ukrainian gas consumers for more than $1.3 billion in March and would be happy to receive assistance from international partners, head of the company Yuriy Vitrenko said in an interview with CNN on Monday.

"We understand that during this war, many people cannot pay at all, and some cannot pay the full price for our services. We need to maintain infrastructure despite the missile attacks. Our costs have increased, but we cannot simply turn people off from some vital utilities such as heating, electricity and others," Vitrenko said.

According to him, about 90% of Ukrainian households depend on natural gas for heating, which is a challenge for the company during the war.

"This is also an economic problem, because at the moment it is more humanitarian aid than business. Only in March, Naftogaz subsidized Ukrainian clients in the amount of more than $1.3 billion," the official said.

Under these conditions, Vitrenko added, the company would be happy to help international partners save electricity and heating in Ukraine.

"Because it's important to make sure that those who stay in Ukraine, and we're talking about tens of millions of Ukrainians who are still here, they can get some critical supplies, and the Ukrainian utilities sector is very important in terms of, again, supporting Ukrainians here," he said.
The fall in the level of payments in the energy market of Ukraine in the conditions of the war started by Russia leads to a liquidity deficit of about EUR 250 million per month, which can be covered by such sources as financial assistance from partners, and by expanding the export of Ukrainian electricity to Europe, Minister of Energy Herman Haluschenko said.

"We are doing everything possible to save the electricity market. We are also considering several options. Firstly, we turned to international financial institutions with a corresponding request for the need for about EUR 250 million per month to support the energy market," he said via video link at an event on the security and stability of the Ukrainian energy sector organized by the Energy Community in Vienna on Monday.

The minister noted that the second option is to allow the commercial export of electricity from Ukraine in significant volumes, which would significantly reduce the size of these potential loans.

"Therefore, of course, we are very interested in getting this opportunity for commercial exchange as soon as possible," he said.

The minister explained that, despite the exceptional stability of the energy system of Ukraine, which it has been demonstrating since the very beginning of the war, there has been a decline in the financial stability of the energy market.

"At the beginning of the war, we saw a decline in consumption by 35%, and payments - by about 60%. And the lack of liquidity, of course, can lead to the collapse and bankruptcy of the entire system," the minister cited the calculations.

At the same time, he stressed that Ukraine does not intend to abandon the market model in favor of the market with manual control, as it was before.

"Restoring a normal market will take a long time and require a lot of effort," the official said.
Coordinated by the Energy Community Secretariat, the first batch of emergency equipment from Europe to repair the energy infrastructure damaged during the war has arrived in Ukraine.

"The Secretariat is doing everything within its power to help keep the lights on in Ukraine. The emergency supplies delivered will help safeguard access to energy for the people of Ukraine. In times of unprecedented crisis, the Energy Community and its Secretariat can be relied upon to help Ukraine meet its emergency needs," Energy Community Secretariat Director Artur Lorkowski said.

"The Ministry of Energy of Ukraine compiles the list of urgent requests of critical energy infrastructure operator companies. Based on the list, deliveries from Norway, Spain and Switzerland, coordinated by the Secretariat, are almost ready for departure. The Secretariat is working with its partners on the delivery of additional supplies from Italy, Germany, France, UK, Sweden, Latvia, the Netherlands and beyond," the report says.

"The delivery of the shipment was supported by the Secretariat's dedicated Ukraine Support Task Force and facilitated by the International Association of Oil & Gas Producers (IOGP). The Ukraine Support Task Force is working closely with the Ministry of Energy of Ukraine. The logistics are organized in the framework of the Union Civil Protection Mechanism (UCPM)," according to the document.

"Solidarity and safety are core values of IOGP, we're very proud to leverage our member companies' collective skills and resources to assist the people of Ukraine," Francois-Regis Mouton, Regional Director Europe, IOGP, said.
The 11 astronauts and cosmonauts living aboard the International Space Station today worked on a multitude of science experiments that may improve life for humans on and off the Earth.

The space research on the orbiting lab ran the gamut of biology, physics and Earth observations.

Expedition 67 Commander Tom Marshburn set up a glucometer and blood tubes to explore how living in weightlessness affects insulin resistance for the Vascular Aging study. He also continued helping the four Axiom Mission 1 (Ax-1) astronauts get up to speed with operations aboard the space station.

Flight Engineer Raja Chari of NASA configured Actiwatches that monitor light conditions and an astronaut's activities to help doctors understand a crew member's wake-sleep in space. NASA Flight Engineer Kayla Barron worked inside the Life Science Glovebox and set up the Fluidic Space Optics experiment that could impact the development of space telescopes. ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Matthias Maurer collected air samples for chemical analysis then set up blood collection hardware for the Myotones muscle biomechanics study.

Veteran astronaut and Ax-1 Commander Michael Lopez-Alegria researched how space affects brain activity and increases the risk of cancer. Ax-1 Pilot Larry Connor also explored brain dynamics, then installed a miniature antenna demonstration, and held an educational event with students on Earth.

The two Ax-1 Mission Specialists also had a full schedule researching a variety of space phenomena throughout the orbiting lab on Tuesday. Israeli crew member Eytan Stibbe assisted Connor with the antenna work then focused on the space liquid behavior study that Barron had set up earlier. Mark Pathy from Canada photographed Earth landmarks from inside the cupola then explored holoportation while wearing an augmented reality headset.

The station's three cosmonauts from Roscosmos focused on their contingent of activities throughout the orbiting lab's Russian segment. Veteran cosmonaut Oleg Artemyev worked on cargo activities inside the ISS Progress 79 resupply ship, then joined first time space-flyer Sergey Korsakov and trained for operations of the European Robotic Arm. New cosmonaut Denis Matveev studied advanced Earth photography techniques and worked on maintenance activities.

On-Orbit Status Report

Private Astronaut Mission (PAM) Axiom-1 (Ax-1):

Public Affairs Office (PAO) and Payload Activities: Multiple NASA-sponsored and ESA-sponsored PAO events were performed, including one PAO event between L. Conner and CNBC, and 13 Ice Cube Media Set events, one of which was shortened due to technical difficulties. The Ax-1 crew completed ISS National Lab sponsored payload activities including: Neurowellness, Tumor Oraganoids, Nano ISS Antenna, SLAMMD, CRISPR, Fluidic Space Optics, and Holoportation. M. Pathy completed the CEVIS handover to prepare for the future BioMonitor payload activity using CEVIS.

Payloads:

Analyzing Interferometer for Ambient Air-2 (ANITA-2): Air samples were manually collected from an assigned ISS location for chemical analysis by the ANITA-2 hardware. ANITA-2 is a compact gas analyzer which can analyze and quantify 33 trace contaminants in the atmosphere aboard the ISS automatically. ANITA-2 can also detect the presence of unknown substances which can be evaluated later on the ground.

Nano ISS Antenna (Ax-1): The Ax-1 crew calibrated and photographed the Nano ISS Antenna after the antenna was deployed. Nano ISS Antenna tests deployment of a folded antenna used to provide high bandwidth communications. Miniaturized satellite electronics and sensors can provide valuable scientific and navigation capabilities, but small, simple antennas cannot transmit large quantities of data, limiting the usability of small satellites.

Holoportation Behavioral (Ax-1): An Ax-1 crewmember completed a second two-way Holoportation session. Aexa's Holographic Teleportation Behavioral (Holoportation Behavioral) demonstrates two-way communications between Ax-1 PAM crew and the ground using a mixed-reality application. The technology includes a HoloLens 2 Artificial Reality headset and HoloWizard mixed reality application to provide users 360-degree holographic images of each other. This capability represents a significant advancement in communication for remote settings.

Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR) (Ax-1): The Ax-1 crew removed and trashed a plate from the NanoRacks Plate Reader. CRISPR is a genome editing system that allows its users to detect and manipulate specific DNA and RNA sequences in living cells of diverse species. This technology could provide rapid and accurate detection of pathogens and contaminants on future long-term space missions.

Fluidic Space Optics (Ax-1): The Ax-1 crew injected various types of liquid polymer into bounding frames and cured them to create optical lenses inside the Life Sciences Glovebox (LSG). An ISS crewmember assisted in setup of the LSG, Fluidic Space Optics hardware, and photo documentation. Fluidic Space Optics, studies liquid behavior in microgravity. It examines how this environment affects deployment and solidification of liquid polymers into optical components, serving as a proof of concept for large scale liquid space telescopes. The investigation also provides an educational demonstration of the physics of fluid mechanics in microgravity.

Modeling Tumor Organoids (Ax-1): The Ax-1 crew performed microscopy imagery of samples. Modeling Tumor Organoids demonstrates processes for on-orbit pre-cancer and cancer cell culture, confocal fluorescence microscopy, and real-time data transfer in support of future pre-cancer and cancer stem cell research. The investigation seeks to develop immune dysfunction and pre-cancer stem cell predictive models. Such models could inform and accelerate the development of countermeasures and enhance crew safety on future space missions as well as provide tools for detection of, and therapies for, pre-cancer, cancer and a variety of other diseases on Earth.

Neurowellness in Space (Ax-1): A couple of Ax-1 crewmembers donned the Neurowellness hardware and performed cognitive operations. Neurowellness in Space is a Technology Demonstration into the Viability of Long-term Monitoring of Brain Dynamics and Cognitive Function in Space Eco-Systems using a portable electroencephalography (EEG) headset to measure differences in brain activity in microgravity. The device measures both ongoing and task-related brain activity. Data on microgravity-induced differences in cognitive performance could help predict neural changes on future long-term space missions.

Changes in Sleep and the Microbiome-Ax-1 (Sleep in Space): The Ax-1 crew completed a Sleep questionnaire and took body measurements. Sleep in Space examines sleep quantity and quality of astronauts before, during, and after spaceflight. The investigation also examines effects on the human gut microbiome or microbial community and the environmental microbiome, and records factors associated with cardiac and metabolic health, including body mass index, heart rate, and blood glucose. Sleep contributes to overall health and well-being; inadequate sleep can increase risk of certain diseases.

Vascular Aging: The Glucometer, blood tubes, and additional equipment were setup in preparation for the Vascular Aging Glucose Test protocol. Emerging data point towards linkages among cardiovascular health risk, carotid artery aging, bone metabolism and blood biomarkers, insulin resistance, and radiation. Data indicate that aging-like changes are accelerated in many ISS crew members, particularly with respect to their arteries. As part of the Space Environment Causes Acceleration of Vascular Aging: Roles of Hypogravity, Nutrition, and Radiation (Vascular Aging) investigation, ultrasounds of the arteries, blood samples, oral glucose tolerance, and wearable sensors from ISS crew members are analyzed.

Systems:

Advanced Resistive Exercise Device (ARED) Bench Cleat Remove and Replace (R&R): The crew removed and replaces the four mounting cleats on the ARED bench. This task is a standard preventative maintenance activity performed every 3-years.

Battery Pack Testing: Last night two battery packs were recharged using the Universal Battery Charger (UBC). This morning the crew confirmed that the batteries did not recharge as expected, the battery packs have been labeled as "suspect". The crew started the recharge cycle on two additional battery packs this morning.

Completed Task List Activities:

None

Today's Ground Activities:

All activities are complete unless otherwise noted.

Atmosphere Revitalization System (ARS) Lab Major Constituent Analyzer (MCA) Zero Calibration

Four Bed CO2 (4BCO2) System Leak Check

Ax-1 PAO Event

Look Ahead Plan

Wednesday, April 13 (GMT 103)

Payloads:

Actiwatch setup (NASA)

Acoustic Diagnostics Measurement (ESA)

At Home In Space (Ax-1)

Bio-Monitor Data Download (Ax-1)

CIMON Sound Check and Battery Charge (ESA)

EarthObs (Ax-1)

Fluid Space Optics Sample Removal (Ax-1)

ISS HAM (Ax-1)

Microgravity Pain Sensation (Ax-1)

Modeling Tumor Organoids (Ax-1)

Monitoring Stress (Ax-1)

Myotones Blood Collect (ESA)

NanoRacks Module 9 Ops (Ax-1)

NutrISS Enable (ESA)

Photocatalyst (Ax-1)

Sleep in Space (Ax-1)

Standard Measures Presleep Questionnaire (NASA)

Vascular Aging Glucose readings (CSA)

Systems:

Crew-3 Departure Preparation

EHS Grab Sample Container (GSC) Sampling Operations

Battery Pack Testing Part 3

Nitrogen/Oxygen Recharge System (NORS) Tank Pre-Pack

Thursday, April 14 (GMT 104)

Payloads:

Actiwatch Setup (NASA)

Aging and Heart Health Habitat Insert 2 (Ax-1)

Myotones Measurements (ESA)

Metabolic Space Battery Charge (Ax-1)

NutrISS Enable (ESA)

Neurowellness Hardware Ops (Ax-1)

Standard Measures Postsleep Questionnaire (NASA)

Systems:

Crew-3 Departure Preparation

IFM H2 Sensor Tech Demo Installation

Battery Pack Testing Part 4

EHS Total Organic Carbon Analyzer (TOCA) WRS Sample Analysis

IFM Crew Quarters (CQ) Overhead Cleaning

Friday, April 15 (GMT 105)

Payloads:

Aging and Heart Health Habitat Swap (Ax-1)

Cold Atom Lab (CAL) MTL Check (NASA)

Myotones Stow (ESA)

Metabolic Space Experiment (Ax-1)

TESS HW Gather (Ax-1)

Systems:

Crew-3 Departure Preparation

IFM WHC Pre-Treat Tank Remove and Replace (R&R)

IFM Crew Quarters Port Cleaning

Today's Planned Activities:

All activities are complete unless otherwise noted.

Clear OPTIMIS Tablet Application Log File

ANITA-2 Non-Local Sampling Parts 1 and 2

Actiwatch Plus HRF Rack 2 Setup

PAM Faciliator Time

Crew Dragon Tablet Sync

Crew Dragon Tablet Stow

Restow ISS Sewing Kit after PAM crew use.

Actiwatch Plus HRF Rack 2 Swap

ARED Bench Cleat Replacement

CEVIS Crew Handover

DeWalt Battery Pack Testing Part 2

PAO Social Media Event

Labeling USB Card Reader

Myotones HRF Generic Frozen Blood Collection Hardware Setup

LSG Front Glove Swap

Transfer Cygnus Cargo Operations

Fluidic Space Optics Gather-1

Fluidic Space Optics LSG Assist Part 1

Vascular Aging Oral Glucose Tolerance Test Big Picture Words Review

Toilet Seat R&R

CSA Generic Frozen Blood Collection Hardware Setup

Actiwatch Plus HRF Rack 2 Stow

Vascular Aging Glucose Test Setup

Vascular Aging FRIDGE Item Insertion

Polar Multiple Desiccant Swap

Fluidic Space Optics Historical Photography

NutrISS ESA Nutritional Assessment

Fluidic Space Optics LSG Assist Part 2 [Deferred]

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The Ministry of Finance predicts an increase in the state budget deficit of Ukraine from $2.7 billion in March to $5-7 billion in April and May per month.

Finance Minister Serhiy Marchenko said this in an interview with the Financial Times and called on the international community to financially support Ukraine.

"We are in a state of great stress, in the worst condition. This is a matter of our country's survival," the minister said.

"If you want us to continue to fight in this war, to win this war... so help us," Marchenko added.

According to him, the estimate of infrastructure losses due to the war has risen to $270 billion, while at the end of March the prime minister called the figure of $120 billion. More than 7,000 residential buildings were destroyed or damaged. About 30% of Ukrainian enterprises have stopped, 45% are working partially. Electricity consumption fell by 35%, and trade dropped sharply.

At the same time, the government decided to reduce state budget expenditures by more than $6 billion, but this is not enough, since revenues are only slightly higher than half of pre-war revenues.

"We can cut some expenses, but this cannot cover the deficit," Marchenko stressed.

Speaking about the state budget deficit in 2022, which was originally planned at 3.5% of GDP, Marchenko noted that it would grow many times over depending on the duration of the war.

At the same time, Ukraine will continue to make payments on public debt in order to avoid default or restructuring, the minister stressed.

At the same time, speaking about the allocation by the U.S. Congress of military and humanitarian assistance to Ukraine and other countries that suffered from the war in the amount of $13.6 billion, the minister stressed that Ukraine would not receive a single cent.

"This is not direct budget support. We cannot use it to replenish the deficit," Marchenko said.
National Nuclear Generating Company Energoatom will develop a new program to protect Ukraine's nuclear facilities to increase their defense capability, taking into account the experience of military aggression by the Russian Federation, the head of the company, Petro Kotin, has said.

"Now, of course, we will create an appropriate program and measures to improve the physical protection of facilities. Add air defense, anti-tank protection," Kotin said in an interview with Interfax-Ukraine.

He said that during the military aggression of the Russian Federation, nuclear facilities faced an unprecedented attack, against which the existing defense mechanisms were not designed.

"This happened for the first time in history that such a nuclear-developed country faced such aggression. This is an act of nuclear terrorism when they fired at our nuclear facilities. This has never happened, and no one expected that this could happen," Kotin said.

The head of Energoatom said that priority measures will be implemented at the expense of the company, but in the future government programs will be developed to strengthen the protection of not only nuclear, but also other strategic facilities, taking into account the experience of this war.

"Now, we see that we will implement priority programs at our own expense, but we will continue to go to government programs. This applies not only to nuclear facilities, but also to the infrastructure of Ukraine, appropriate programs will be adopted to improve their defense capability," Kotin said.
IDA approves $1 bln in aid for Ukraine, World Bank to increase it to almost $1.5 bln  World Bank

Donor and recipient countries of the International Development Association (IDA), which is part of the World Bank, on April 11 approved the provision of $1 billion to Ukraine and $100 million to Moldova in connection with the Russian invasion, World Bank President David Malpass said at a conference in Warsaw Tuesday.

"I'm pleased to announce today that the World Bank is currently preparing a nearly $1.5 billion operation for Ukraine to support continuation of essential government services during the war. This was enabled by yesterday's approval of IDA19 support," he said.

Malpass said that he has been deeply shocked and horrified at Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the atrocities committed against the civilian population, and the loss of life and livelihoods for millions of Ukrainians.

"The attacks on people and infrastructure are causing tremendous suffering, threatening international peace and security, and endangering the basic social and economic needs of people around the world," he said.

He recalled that since the invasion, the World Bank Group has provided fast-disbursing financial support to Ukraine to help the government provide critical services to people, including wages for hospital workers, pensions for the elderly, and social programs for the vulnerable. Through IFC, the World Bank have provided immediate working capital for companies providing supplies to Ukraine, he added.

Malpass said that the World Bank was created in 1944 to help Europe rebuild after World War II.

"As we did then, we will be ready to help Ukraine with reconstruction when the time comes. In the meantime, we are working to help Ukrainian refugees help communities as they absorb Ukrainians; and help the many millions of internally displaced persons in Ukraine who have lost their homes and livelihoods," the president of the World Bank said.

He added that the bank is analyzing global impacts of the war in Ukraine, including the spike in food and energy prices, and preparing a surge crisis response that will provide focused support for developing countries.
The Ministry of Energy intends to create two industry-specific cyber centers in the electricity and oil and gas sectors on the basis of previously created cyber centers at NPC Ukrenergo and NJSC Naftogaz, Farid Safarov, Deputy Minister of Energy for Digital Development, Digital Transformation and Digitalization, has said.

"The Ministry of Energy sent a draft order to the Cabinet of Ministers on the definition of two industry centers. In it, the two cyber centers created on the basis of Naftogaz and Ukrenergo were referred to as industry cyber centers. It is assumed that Ukrenergo will be responsible for the energy sector, for the oil and gas industries  Naftogaz," Safarov said at an online briefing "Cyber Threats in War: Cyber Attacks on Ukraine's Regional Power Distribution Company" on Tuesday.

According to him, such proposals were developed as part of an agreement with the National Security and Defense Council and the Security Service of Ukraine, as well as interaction with the government's CERT-UA computer incident response team.

The Deputy Minister explained that the sectoral cyber centers will be built on the principle of a pyramid.

"At the first level, the enterprises themselves must carry out organizational and technical actions in order to prevent possible damage, above them there is the level of monitoring of industry centers based on Ukrenergo and Naftogaz, which, in turn, are already interacting directly with key cybersecurity stakeholders," Safarov explained the mechanism.

In his opinion, the creation of such industry centers will significantly enhance the cyber defense of energy facilities, which are the most vulnerable group of critical infrastructure.

"In order to simplify the work of colleagues from CERT-UA, to coordinate and make their intervention more effective precisely at critical moments, we are building this architecture," the Deputy Minister noted.

As reported, since the beginning of the war, the number of cyberattacks on energy infrastructure facilities has almost doubled  over 200,000 cyberattacks were committed in 47 days of the war, while 900,000 of them were recorded over entire 2021.
The Azov Regiment said that Russian occupying troops dropped a poisonous substance of unknown origin from an unmanned aerial vehicle on Ukrainian military and civilians in Mariupol on Monday evening.

"About an hour ago, the Russian occupation troops used a poisonous substance of unknown origin, dropped from an enemy UAV, against Ukrainian military and civilians in the city of Mariupol," the Azov's telegram message says.

Azov also reported that the victims have respiratory failure, vestibulo-atactic syndrome, the consequences of using an unknown substance are being clarified.

In turn, a source close to the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine told the Interfax-Ukraine news agency that "the probability of the Russians using chemical weapons is very high."

At the moment, the Interfax-Ukraine agency does not have confirmation of this information from official sources.
Shmyhal to members of U.S. Congress: We demand complete blockade of all Russian banks, financial institutions

Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, during a meeting with members of the U.S. Congress, said that Ukraine demands a complete blocking of all Russian banks and financial institutions, the press service of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine reports.

"We ask you to take urgent measures and introduce a complete blocking of all Russian banks and financial institutions, including Gazprombank, Bank of Moscow and Rosselkhozbank. We call on you to recognize Russia as a state sponsor of terrorism, to impose sanctions against the assets of the Russian government and Russian state enterprises in the U.S., to block the access of Russian ships and maritime companies to all inland seaports of the U.S.," the prime minister said during the meeting.

Shmyhal also said that in order to end the war, Ukraine needs a lot of military assistance and increased sanctions against the Russian Federation from the U.S.

"In order to end the war, the genocide and the suffering of Ukrainians, we need further U.S. support, primarily with more military assistance and increased sanctions pressure," he said.

In addition, the Prime Minister noted that Ukraine needs the voice of the U.S. in upholding a complete embargo on Russian oil, gas, minerals and metals.

"Your actions today are critical to ending Russia's war against Ukraine. The faster you act, the more innocent civilian lives will be saved. You can do it," he said

Shmyhal thanked the U.S. for the recently introduced package of sanctions against the Russian Federation, and for financial support for Ukraine, but he noted that "the price that Russia pays for the war is not high enough."

Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov and Ukrainian Finance Minister Serhiy Marchenko also reportedly attended the meeting.
Ukraine could release the blockade of Mariupol if it received enough heavy weapons at the time, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky said in a traditional video message on Monday evening.

"We are still dependent on the supply of weapons from our partners. Unfortunately, we have not received as much as necessary, to quickly end this war in order to completely destroy the enemy on our land," he said. "And in order to fulfill the tasks that are obvious to each of our people. In particular, to unblock Mariupol. If we got aircraft, a sufficient number of armored vehicles, artillery, we could do it," the president said.

According to him, "delays in the supply of weapons mean that not only time is lost. The lives of Ukrainians are lost. Lives that cannot be returned. And this is already the responsibility of those who still keep in warehouses the weapons, necessary for Ukraine. A responsibility that will last forever, remains in history. And will remain."
The UK is working with partners to verify details of a possible use of chemical weapons in Mariupol, British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said.

"Reports that Russian forces may have used chemical agents in an attack on the people of Mariupol. We are working urgently with partners to verify details. Any use of such weapons would be a callous escalation in this conflict and we will hold Putin and his regime to account," she tweeted on Tuesday night.
Zelensky: We take seriously statements by occupiers about possible use of chemical weapons

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky has said that he seriously considers statements by Russian propagandists about the possibility of the use of chemical weapons by the military of the Russian Federation in Mariupol.

"Today, a new statement was made by the invaders, which indicates that they are preparing a new stage of terror against Ukraine and our defenders. One of the mouthpieces of the invaders said that they could use chemical weapons against the defenders of Mariupol. We are considering this as seriously as possible," Zelensky said in a video message on Tuesday night.

Against this background, he reminded world leaders that the possible use of chemical weapons by the Russian military had already been discussed.

"And already at that time it meant that it was necessary to respond to Russian aggression much tougher and faster," the president said.
As a result of the full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation in Ukraine, 186 children have been killed, 344 children injured, the press service of the Prosecutor General's Office (PG O) reports.

"More than 530 children have been injured in Ukraine as a result of the armed invasion of our state by the Russian Federation. At the same time, as of the morning of April 12, 2022, 185 children were killed and more than 344 were injured. The most affected children were in Donetsk region  113, Kyiv  99, Kharkiv  76, Chernihiv  54, Mykolaiv  40, Luhansk  36, Kherson  36, Zaporizhia  22, the capital  16, Sumy  16, Zhytomyr  15," the message published on the Telegram channel on Tuesday reads.
The Ukrainian authorities are currently checking information about the possible use of chemical weapons by Russian occupiers in the besieged Mariupol, said Deputy Defense Minister of Ukraine Hanna Maliar.

"As of now, we are checking this information, trying to understand what [it was]. However, according to preliminary data, I can say that there is an assumption that this phosphorous ammunition may have been. But the final official information will be later," Maliar said on the air of the national telethon, answering the question of the presenters about the possible use of chemical weapons by the occupiers in Mariupol the day before.
All perpetrators, accomplices of atrocities committed by Russian army in Ukraine must be brought to international justice - Prime Minister of Lithuania

All perpetrators and accomplices of the atrocities committed by the Russian army in Ukraine must be brought to international justice, Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte said.

"All atrocities committed by the Russian army in Ukraine must be thoroughly documented, and all perpetrators and accomplices, without exception, must be brought to international justice," Simonyte said at a briefing with Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal in Kyiv on Monday.

She recalled that Lithuania was the first of more than 40 countries that called for an international tribunal for Russia's war crimes against Ukraine.

"And I promised today that our country will help Ukraine, as much as it can, in documenting crimes and identifying fallen victims and aggressors," Simonyte said.

The prime minister noted that she began her visit to Ukraine with a visit to Borodyanka, where, according to her, she witnessed "only a small part of the evidence of crimes against humanity, committed by Russia in Ukraine."

Simonyte also pointed to the responsibility of the Russians for the war against Ukraine.

"This war is designed by Putin, but it is also carried out by hundreds of Russian officers who give orders, tens of thousands of Russian military who obey them or resort to unspeakable violence simply because they think they can. This war and its masterminds are approved and endorsed, unfortunately, by millions of Russian citizens who voted for Putin, who express their support in interviews and polls, who do not rally," the head of the Lithuanian government said.
Almost 43,800 refugees from Ukraine have been registered in Lithuania, 18,200 of them are minors, the data from the Lithuanian Statistics Department released on Tuesday, said.

Over the past 24 hours, 857 refugees have been registered in Lithuania, of which 334 are minors, including 87 children under six years of age. The weekly average daily rate of arrivals from Ukraine, according to the latest data, is 489 people.

Approximately a third of the Ukrainians who arrived were registered at the Vilnius registration center, about 6,000 - at the Kaunas center. Almost 4,900 refugees who arrived in Lithuania are children under the age of six, 13,400 are between the ages of 6 and 18. More than 1,900 are people over the age of 65.

Most of the arrivals applied for a temporary residence permit for humanitarian reasons. Most of the arrivals are women and children.
Three people killed, eight more injured due to shelling in Donetsk region on Monday

On Monday, as a result of enemy shelling in the settlements of Donetsk region, three people have been killed and eight wounded, head of the Regional Military Administration Pavlo Kyrylenko said.

"On April 11, as a result of Russian shelling in Donetsk region, three more people were killed: in Vuhledar, Mykhaylivka and Krasnohorivka. Eight civilians were injured," he wrote on the Telegram channel.

In addition, he said that on Monday, "two people wounded in Luhansk region received medical assistance in Bakhmut."

Kyrylenko noted that "it was possible to clarify information about seven more victims in Mariupol, but it is impossible to establish the exact number of victims in Mariupol and Volnovakha."
A draft law on the mandatory return to Ukraine of men abroad during martial law has been registered in Ukrainian parliament, which, among other things, implies the introduction of criminal liability for those who did not return to Ukraine after the declaration of martial law.

The explanatory note to the draft law No. 7265 On Amendments to the Criminal Code of Ukraine and the Law of Ukraine On the Legal Regime of Martial Law to establish liability for failure to comply with the requirements of the law on return to Ukraine after the introduction of martial law in Ukraine or in its individual areas" notes that the changes proposed by the authors are aimed at ensuring the full functioning of the defense forces of Ukraine, state authorities and local governments under martial law.

"The draft law proposes to introduce a new article into the law of Ukraine On the legal regime of martial law regarding the obligation of persons who, according to the law, are subject to conscription for military service during mobilization, as well as members of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, heads of state authorities and their deputies, MPs Ukraine, village, city heads, law enforcement officers of Ukraine, judges, judges of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine, prosecutors who are outside Ukraine, in the event of the introduction of martial law in Ukraine or in its individual areas, in the absence of good reasons to return to Ukraine," the note says.

The bill also proposes to introduce a new article into the Criminal Code of Ukraine, establishing the criminal liability of citizens of Ukraine for failure to comply with the requirements of this law in the form of imprisonment for a term of five to ten years.
Russian special services are planning to carry out a number of terrorist acts on the territory of the Russian Federation in order to consolidate the Russian public against the Ukrainians, head of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ukrainian Defense Ministry Kyrylo Budanov said.

"The Russian special services are planning a series of terrorist attacks with mining and blowing up residential buildings, hospitals and schools in Russian settlements. As well as launching rocket and bomb attacks on the city of Belgorod or one of the cities of Crimea," Budanov said, according to the press service of the Main Intelligence Directorate in telegram channel.

He noted that the failure of the mobilization plan in Russia is forcing the Putin regime to launch dirty scenarios in order to stir up Russian society emotionally.

"To do this, they are planning explosions in Russian residential buildings or rocket attacks to blame the Armed Forces and volunteer battalions in order to create an emotional picture of the 'atrocities of Ukrainian nationalists.' It is possible that these attacks will be filed as revenge by Ukrainians for Bucha and Kramatorsk and as a justification for cruelty against Ukrainian civilian population," the head of the Main Intelligence Directorate said.

"In recent days, the Russian authorities have been increasingly dispersing the flywheel of anti-Ukrainian hysteria. Trenches are being actively dug in Belgorod and Kursk regions, panic is being whipped up about the imaginary offensive of Ukrainian volunteer battalions and sabotage groups," Budanov said.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky, speaking to the parliamentarians of Lithuania, said that some countries of the European Union still, while the war is unfolding in Ukraine, cannot decide on the term when they will limit the use of Russian energy resources.

"The European Union is discussing the sixth package of sanctions against Russia for a war not seen since the Second World War. And it is still unknown whether oil will be under sanctions. Even after seeing the massacres in Bucha and other cities. Even knowing about the deportation of people, even watching the deliberate destruction of peaceful cities by Russian missiles and air bombs, some EU countries cannot decide when they will, at least in essence, limit the purchase of Russian energy resources," Zelensky said.

According to him, hundreds of European companies and banks not only have not yet refused to work in the Russian market, but are also demonstrating blatant disrespect in response to the demand to stop financing the Russian military machine through taxes.

"And all this is happening right now, when the blood is still fresh. What this shows - if they started to seriously discuss oil only for the sixth sanctions package, means that the world does not understand what kind of war Russia was preparing for. If there is still no clear certainty on Russian gas, therefore, there can be no certainty that Europe has a common will to stop Russian war crimes, to force Russia to peace. If there are big European companies and big European banks that, even in the midst of hostilities in Ukraine, do not consider it necessary to exit the Russian market, this means that all other companies take it as a signal: wait a bit, and then you can work as usual, even if nothing, in essence, changes in the behavior of Russia," the president said.
Some 33,000 residents of Mariupol, Donetsk region were forcibly deported to the Russian Federation and temporarily occupied areas of Donetsk region, Commissioner of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine for Human Rights Liudmyla Denisova reports, citing data from the mayor of the city.

"At the same time, the media of the aggressor country, referring to sources in the military departments of the Russian Federation, report on more than 700,000 people taken by the occupiers to Russia, of which more than 131,000 are children. Some 134,000 people were taken out of Mariupol during the war," Denisova wrote on Facebook on Monday.

According to her, in the occupied parts of the city, with the assistance of local collaborators, the harsh cleansing of civilians, in particular, employees of state institutions and law enforcement agencies, continues.

"Witnesses report that Rashist guards and Kadyrovtsy (Kadyrov's followers) carry out illegal arrests, detainees are tortured and executed for any manifestation of a pro-Ukrainian position. Some of the townspeople end up in filtration camps, now there are about 10,000 people there. The procedures are slow, because the enemy is interested in covering their positions with manpower  peaceful Mariupol residents," the Ombudswoman wrote.

At the same time, according to her, the shelling of the remnants of residential quarters does not stop, fires do not cease in the city.

"The actions of the Rashist army in Mariupol are an act of genocide of the Ukrainian people... I appeal to the independent international Commission of Inquiry during the Russian military invasion of Ukraine and to the expert mission established by the OSCE participating states in accordance with the Moscow Mechanism to take into account these facts of genocide and war crimes of the Russian Federation in Ukraine," Denisova wrote.
Its necessary to define specific deadlines for each country to limit the use of Russian energy resources - Zelensky in Lithuanian Parliament

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky spoke in favor of defining specific deadlines for each EU country, for which it should either refuse or limit the use of Russian energy resources.

"Finally, specific deadlines should be determined for each EU state in order to really abandon or at least significantly limit the consumption of Russian gas and oil," he said speaking via video link in the Lithuanian parliament on Tuesday.

"This is the only way the Russian leadership will come to the idea that it is necessary to look for real peace, that war is a catastrophe, first of all, for them," the President of Ukraine said.

According to him, "Europe's reaction to Russia's aggression should be strong, we cannot wait for the development of the sixth, seventh, tenth package of sanctions against Russia to make truly powerful decisions."

"Oil must be included in the sixth package, Russian banks must be sanctioned, but that's it," Zelensky said.
Military and civilians who were injured during the spraying of an unknown poisonous substance by Russian invaders in besieged Mariupol the night before, are currently in a satisfactory condition, the Azov regiment reports.

"The injured as a result of the spread of a poisonous substance of unknown origin by the enemy in the city of Mariupol are in a relatively satisfactory condition. The contact of civilians with the substance was minimal, because the epicenter of the lesion was at a certain distance from the location of the people. The military personnel were somewhat closer," the report, published in the telegram, says.

It says that now it is impossible to fully examine the scene of events, due to enemy fire, since the Russians continue to carry out the tactics of hiding their own crimes.

The regiment also releases a video of a Ukrainian soldier in moderate condition. The other two are under constant medical supervision.

"Among the injured civilians, an elderly woman is in the worst condition. The main symptoms of the victims are facial flushing, increased blood pressure, dryness and heartburn in the oropharynx, mucous membranes of the eyes," Azov says.

They add that according to the available information, it is known that the enemy used poisonous substances or potent poisonous substances with a predominantly asphyxiating effect.

"However, due to being in a complete blockade, its toxicological analysis is impossible. At the same time, the main task is to monitor the condition of the personnel and the possible consequences of poisoning," the regiment said.

As reported, on the evening of April 11, the Azov Regiment stated that Russian occupying troops dropped a poisonous substance of unknown origin from an unmanned aerial vehicle on Ukrainian military and civilians in Mariupol.

The regiment also noted that the victims had respiratory failure, vestibulo-atactic syndrome. The consequences of using an unknown substance are being clarified.

Azov leader Andriy Biletsky reported three victims. "A few hours ago, the Russians hit Mariupol with chemical weapons, the Azovstal plant - the fortress of Ukrainian fighters, Azov soldiers. If we talk about the practical side of the blow, it is small. Three people have clear signs of chemical poisoning, but without catastrophic consequences," he said in a video message on Tuesday night.

Later, British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said the country was working with partners to verify details about a possible use of chemical weapons in Mariupol.

Deputy Head of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine Anna Maliar also said that information about the possible use of chemical weapons by the invaders in Mariupol is being checked by the Ukrainian authorities.
The U.S. Embassy in Ukraine is supporting an international team of experts who are investigating Russian war crimes in Ukraine, including new facts about the mass murder of civilians in the village of Buzova, Kyiv region.

"A new mass grave with dozens killed in Buzova near Kyiv: Russia will try to pin blame elsewhere, but facts are facts. Working with Ukraine, we are supporting a multi-national team of prosecutors and war crimes experts to document atrocities. We will hold those responsible to account, " the Embassy said on Twitter.

Earlier, the media reported on the discovery of a new mass grave in the area of the gas station in the village of Buzova of Dmytrivska merged territorial community.
Head of Kyiv regional military administration Oleksandr Pavliuk recommends residents of the region not rush to return to the de-occupied settlements of Kyiv region, since work is actively being carried out in the region to eliminate the consequences of the presence of Russian occupiers in it.

"We do not recommend that people return to the de-occupied areas at the moment, because, first of all, this is a mine hazard that was left by the occupiers. This includes unexploded ordnance, minefields, mine traps. We are constantly working on this," Pavliuk said on the national telethon on Tuesday.

According to him, demining of territories is carried out primarily along roads, as well as in settlements and buildings where people live.

The head of the regional military administration also said that work is underway in the region to restore electricity and gas supply to the population.

"Until May 31, the entire region will be supplied with electricity. We also assess the situation with gas supply: unfortunately, we still have 85 settlements without gas, but work in this direction is underway. Just yesterday, nine settlements were connected to gas supply," Pavliuk said.

He noted that public utilities and all the necessary specialists work in the region, as well as a large number of volunteers who help to dismantle the rubble, restore roads and bridges.

"We urge people to refrain from returning to dangerous areas for now... The end of May is a more or less real date so that it would be safe for people to return to the de-occupied areas," the head of the regional military administration said.
Australia checking info on possible use of chemical weapons by Russian army in Mariupol  Foreign Minister

Information about the possible use of chemical weapons by Russian occupiers in the besieged Mariupol is currently being checked by Australia and its partners, Australian Foreign Minister Maris Payne said.

"Reports Russian forces may have deployed a chemical agent in Mariupol are deeply concerning. Australia is working with partners to verify these reports. Any use of chemical weapons would be a further wholesale breach of international law, " Payne said on Twitter Tuesday.

As reported, on the evening of April 11, the Azov regiment said that the Russian occupation forces dropped a toxic substance of unknown origin from an unmanned aerial vehicle on Ukrainian military and civilians in Mariupol.

The regiment also noted that the victims have respiratory failure, vestibulo-atactic syndrome. The consequences of using an unknown substance are being clarified.

Leader of Azov Andriy Biletsky reported three victims. "A few hours ago, the Russians struck Mariupol with chemical weapons, at the Azovstal plant - at the fortress of Ukrainian fighters, Azov members. If we talk about the practical side of the blow, it is small. Three people have clearly expressed signs of chemical poisoning, but without catastrophic consequences," he said in a video message on Tuesday night.

Later, British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said that the country was working with partners to verify details about the possible use of chemical weapons in Mariupol.

Deputy Head of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine Hanna Maliar also said that information about the possible use of chemical weapons by the occupiers in Mariupol is being checked by the Ukrainian authorities.
One of the participants of the criminal group, which planned the creation of "people's republics" in the western regions of Ukraine on the instructions of the Russian Federation, began cooperating with the investigation and said that preparations for the overthrow of the constitutional order of Ukraine began in the summer of 2021, the SBU reports.

"The Kremlin planned to create "people's republics" in the western regions of Ukraine, but the SBU prevented this. One of the members of the group agreed to cooperate with the investigation," the SBU said on the Telegram channel on Tuesday.

The Ukrainian special services report that, based on the testimony of a member of the group, work on the overthrow of the constitutional order in Ukraine began in the summer of 2021. "A retired enemy intelligence officer who turned out to be the organizer of the "scheme" contacted him (a member of the group). He announced his intention to create a new democracy in Ukraine, and if the current government does not resign itself, the group will switch to a power scenario. To seize power, the group had to recruit 500 fighters, preferably from former NATO servicemen, and supply them with weapons," the SBU informs.

The report notes that the implementation of the plan was supposed to coincide with a full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation in Ukraine, but thanks to the work of the SBU, the network was exposed, and its organizer and key persons were detained in early March in Ivano-Frankivsk and Khmelnytsky regions.

"One of the accomplices admitted his guilt and testified against the organizer," the Ukrainian special service clarifies.
Slovakia is preparing the return of its diplomats to Kyiv, Slovak Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Ivan Korcok has said.

"Slovakia is preparing the return of its diplomats to Kyiv. In the coming days, I will send an inspection team of our diplomats to the capital of Ukraine to assess the security situation in the capital on the spot. If possible, we will immediately engage our embassy," Korcok said on Twitter on Tuesday.
The Ukrainian side is working on creating a sanctions model that will stop Russian aggression and destroy the Russian Federation economically, Andriy Yermak, head of the President's Office, has said.

"Our main goal is an embargo on energy. If we are talking about an oil embargo, then a ban on the purchase of Russian resources is possible. There is also a model according to which funds for supplied oil will not go to the Russian budget, but remain in special accounts until Russia stops its aggression and fulfills all the conditions," Yermak wrote on his Telegram channel.

Thus, he said, the financing of the war with Ukraine will become impossible for the Russian Federation.

A similar model, known as "Iranian," applies to gas deliveries.

"Currently, the EU is developing the sixth package of sanctions. And we are working with our partners so that they understand the need for these steps," Yermak said.
Some 168 settlements in seven regions cleared of mines  official

As of April 12, 168 settlements have been cleared of mines in the territory of Zhytomyr, Zaporizhia, Kyiv, Mykolaiv, Sumy, Kharkiv and Chernihiv regions, Deputy Head of the President's Office Kyrylo Tymoshenko has said.

"In total, 168 settlements out of 1,500 that were under occupation in the territory of seven regions have been cleared: Zhytomyr, Zaporizhia, Kyiv, Mykolaiv, Sumy, Kharkiv and Chernihiv," Tymoshenko said at a briefing at the President's Office on Tuesday.

According to him, 38% of the settlements in these regions have already activated the work of local self-government bodies.

As Tymoshenko said, the current repair work, which was started in many settlements, should be completed within one or one and a half months.

In the near future, construction of housing for temporarily displaced persons will begin. According to the deputy head of the Office, Diia app has already registered 66,000 applications for damaged or destroyed property.

"An approach is being developed to prioritize the provision of housing for temporarily displaced persons and their employment," he said.

The day before Tymoshenko reported that the state would build several tens of thousands of apartments for IDPs in 10 regions of Ukraine.
Civilian casualties from February 24, when Russia started the war against Ukraine, to 24:00 on April 11 amounted to 4,450 civilians (4,335 in a report a day earlier), including 1,892 dead (1,842), the Office of the UN High Commissioner on Human Rights said on Tuesday.

"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 (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, 478 men, 308 women, 52 boys and 30 girls died, while the sex of 71 children and 953 adults has yet unknown.

Among the 2,558 wounded, there are 51 girls and 51 boys, as well as 144 children, whose sex yet unknown.

Compared to the previous day, five more children were killed and 13 injured, according to the UN.

In Donetsk and Luhansk regions: 1,957 casualties (675 killed and 1,282 injured); on government-controlled territory: 1,599 casualties (600 killed and 999 injured); and on territory controlled by the self-proclaimed "republics": 358 casualties (75 killed and 283 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 there were 2,493 casualties (1,217 killed and 1,276 injured).

OHCHR notes the report of the Prosecutor Generals Office of Ukraine, according to which as of 8 a.m. 12 April (local time), 186 children had been killed and at least 344 injured.

An increase in figures in this update compared with the previous update (as of 24:00 midnight on 10 April 2022 (local time) should not be attributed to civilian casualties that occurred on 11 April only, as during the day OHCHR also corroborated casualties that occurred on previous days.
On March 11, Russian servicemen shot down an evacuation convoy with civilians at the exit from the village of Peremoha, Brovarsky district, killing four people, including a child, according to the prosecutor's office of Kyiv region.

"In the course of investigative actions, prosecutors, together with the police and experts, established that on March 11, at the exit from the village of Peremoha, Brovarsky district, Kyiv region, Russian servicemen from small arms and artillery shot down a convoy with civilians, consisting of five cars. As a result of an enemy attack, four persons, including a 13-year-old boy killed," the prosecutor's office of Kyiv region said in Telegram channel on Tuesday.

According to the statement at present, witnesses and eyewitnesses to the execution of the convoy have been identified and interrogated, the bodies of all the killed have been sent for a forensic medical examination, the pretrial investigation in criminal proceedings on the fact of violation of the laws and customs of war (Article 438 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine) continues.
The Ministry of Culture and Information Policy says that 25,716 books have already been printed in five European countries for the children of Ukrainian refugees.

"Due to Russian aggression, many Ukrainian families were forced to leave the country in order to protect their children from explosions and shots by the invaders. Often they left their homes with only the bare necessities. But children are children. They need to play, learn, read. And these are our children. We must not lose touch. Books in Ukrainian will help to preserve it, namely, reading will contribute to the psychological support of the kids in these difficult times," Minister Oleksandr Tkachenko said.

It is noted that with the support of the Ukrainian Book Institute and the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine, the books are available in Norway, Sweden, Lithuania, Poland and Ireland.
A mission of French experts arrived in Ukraine with a DNA laboratory and the necessary equipment to organize the examination of bodies and identification, Prosecutor General Iryna Venediktova said.

"Representatives of French law enforcement agencies have joined our justice front. Colleagues from the French gendarmerie and the medical service of the Armed Forces of the French Republic arrived in Ukraine to help in the investigation into the killings of people by the Russian military in Kyiv region," Venediktova said in the city of Bucha, Kyiv region.

As reported on the website of the Prosecutor General's Office on Tuesday, the mission will work in Ukraine for 15 days. "The evidence collected by us together with colleagues will be used in national investigations, and may also be transferred to the International Criminal Court," Venediktova said.

In Bucha, the exhumation of 49 bodies from a large temporary grave near the local church has already been completed. Three more burials with six bodies were found nearby. According to the Prosecutor General, in one of them, according to preliminary data, there are a mother and two children aged four and 11. According to the testimony, it is believed that their car was shot and the woman with the children got completely burned.

"The Russian troops are acting according to the scorched land tactics: they exterminate all life in their path. These innocent victims are yet another proof of their atrocities, about which we shout to the world and which we are quietly, meticulously and professionally trying to investigate in order to bring every war criminal from the Russian Federation to justice," Venediktova stressed.

On Wednesday, April 13, the excavation of another large burial near the church in Bucha will begin. According to preliminary data, there are from 40 to 60 bodies. French colleagues will also join the work. The team consists of forensic experts, ballistics experts, DNA analysis experts, a fingerprinting expert, an explosives expert, a crime scene examination expert, and assistant investigators.

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Occupiers capture crew members of another vessel in Mariupol port, 18 of them are Ukraine's citizens  Denisova

On the territory of the Mariupol Commercial Sea Port, the Russian military took hostage the crew members of another vessel - a dry cargo ship BLUE STAR-1 flying the flag of Liberia, Verkhovna Rada Commissioner for Human Rights Liudmyla Denisova said.

According to her, some 18 sailors, who are citizens of Ukraine, were taken to the territory of temporarily occupied Donetsk.

The dry cargo ship entered the port of Mariupol at the end of February and was blocked by the Russian military. Communication with the crew was lost on March 25, 2022. It is known that for lack of food the crew was forced to switch to two meals a day.

According to preliminary information, which the ombudsman has, about 200 crew members of several ships blocked by the occupiers in the port of Mariupol may be in captivity of the invaders.

"By such actions, Russia violates the right to life and liberty, personal integrity, guaranteed by Articles 3 and 5 of the 1950 Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, and the right to freedom of movement, guaranteed by Article 2 of Protocol No. 4 to the Convention," Denisova said in a statement.

A day earlier, the Commissioner for Human Rights said that on the territory of the Mariupol Commercial Sea Port, Russian invaders seized and took away in an unknown direction the crew of the SMARTA vessel flying the flag of Liberia. 18 crew members were also citizens of Ukraine, one citizen of Egypt.
Over 20,000 people already killed in Mariupol, residents are not allowed out of city for second day  local authorities

According to preliminary data, up to 22,000 people have died in the city of Mariupol, Donetsk region, since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Head of Donetsk regional military administration Pavlo Kyrylenko has said.

"The Mariupol situation makes it difficult to comment on the number of casualties, the city is under siege and blockaded... We are currently discussing 20,000 to 22,000 people dead in Mariupol," Kyrylenko said in a comment to CNN on Tuesday.

He also commented on information about a possible chemical attack in Mariupol. "We know that last night around midnight, a drone dropped some so-far-unknown explosive device, people who were in the area in and around the Mariupol metallurgical plant, three people began to feel unwell... What we have heard was that there were three people who were affected, taken to hospital, given medical assistance, at the moment their lives were not in danger," the head of the regional administration said.

Kyrylenko said the reports from the scene were preliminary, so he could not "100% confirm or comment on them," but confirmed that the incident itself took place.

Later, on the air of the telethon, the head of the regional administration specified that what substance had been sprayed would be established by the expert examination.

"I remind you that all this is happening in Mariupol, with which there is practically no connection, but by those lesions and respiratory tract and skin, we understand that this is a chemical substance. But it is too early to say that this is some kind of gas and draw conclusions "if we provide this information, it should already be 100% verified and understand how it [the substance] can be used in the future. Therefore, we are so restrained in comments and, I repeat, it is quite difficult to obtain this information," he said.

According to Kyrylenko, street fighting continues around the clock in Mariupol. At the same time, he said the city is mainly under the control of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, with the exception of certain areas where the movement of Russian troops is noted.

"But the city continues to be in an extremely difficult situation, and at the same time, for the second day in a row, even the population is not allowed to leave on their own transport," Kyrylenko said.

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Sweden, Poland to hold joint conference on May 5 to raise funds to help Ukrainians  Lviv authorities

Sweden, together with Poland, will organize a joint conference on May 5 to raise funds to help Ukrainians, Head of Lviv Regional Military Administration Maksym Kozytsky said.

He met with the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Sweden to Ukraine, Tobias Tyberg, who arrived in Lviv region, which has become the country's humanitarian hub, to find out what humanitarian needs Ukraine currently has.

"I spoke about the need for long-term storage products, medicines, essentials. Also, the country's settlements, where electricity supply has not yet been restored, need diesel generators," Kozytsy said in Telegram on Tuesday.

According to him, Tyberg said that Sweden is investing a lot of resources in the work of UN institutions, especially now, during a full-scale war, and is interested in their most effective cooperation with Ukraine.

The ambassador also said the head of the regional administration that Sweden would support Ukraine and that it had the same goal as Ukraine - victory.

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U.S. President Joe Biden and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson in a telephone conversation discussed the Prime Minister's recent trip to Kyiv, as well as continued assistance to Ukraine, the White House said in a statement.

"President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. spoke today with Prime Minister Boris Johnson of the United Kingdom about the Prime Ministers recent visit to Ukraine," the White House said in the press release.

The leaders reaffirmed their commitment to continue providing security and humanitarian assistance to Ukraine.

Last Saturday, Johnson traveled to Ukraine and met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Then Johnson said that London would increase economic and sanctions pressure on Russia and, in particular, would affect its ability to use energy resources.
Ihor Zhdanov, Information Defence Project , Open Policy Foundation

Informational Defence of Ukraine provides a daily review of the military-political situation in Ukraine as of April 11th, based on an analysis of open sources.

1. The Armed Forces of Ukraine liberated the Kyiv, Chernihiv and Sumy regions and continue counterattacks.

According to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the enemy tried to attack Severodonetsk in the Donetsk and Tavriia directions, but was unsuccessful. During the shelling of Popasna, the enemy used the Tochka-U (Scarab B) tactical missile system.

In Mariupol, the enemy is carrying out assault operations in some areas of the city.

In the Slobozhanskyi direction, the russians continue to partially encircle and surround Kharkiv, firing from multiple rocket launchers, artillery and mortars.

In the area of the city of Izium, the occupiers are trying to keep the borders that were captured earlier.

In the Pivdennyi Buh direction, the occupiers are trying to improve their tactical situation and gain a foothold on the administrative borders of the Kherson region.

The Defence Ministry believes that the possibility of the resumption of attacks by russian troops on Kyiv will depend on the outcome of the fighting in eastern Ukraine.

The total combat losses of the enemy from 24.02 to 11.04 were approximately: combatants - about 19,500 people, tanks - 725 units, armoured combat vehicles - 1923 units, artillery systems - 347 units, MLRS - 111 units, air defence - 55 units, aircraft - 154 units, helicopters - 137 units, vehicles - 1387 units, ships / boats - 7 units, fuel tanks - 76, UAVs operational and tactical level - 119, special equipment - 25, launchers TBM / BRBM (tactical ballistic missile / battlefield range ballistic missile) launchers - 4.

During the day, Ukrainian fighters have destroyed about 200 russian invaders, two enemy planes, three russian tanks, 5 artillery systems, three volley fire missile systems, 12 armoured combat vehicles, 7 aggressors drones, and 3 military vehicles.

The situation in Mariupol. Eduard Basurin, a russian militant from occupied Donetsk, said that Ukrainian defenders of Mariupol at the Azovstal plant should be blocked and that chemical weapons could be used against them.

On April 10th, the defenders of Mariupol from the "Azov" unit said that no one had contacted them and did not pick up the phone for more than two weeks.

The 36th Separate Marine Brigade named after counter-admiral Mykhailo Bilinskyi of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said that the unit in Mariupol was running out of ammunition, the situation was very difficult, April 11th could be the last battle, and that there was no support or contact with the authorities.

Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Valery Zaluzhnyi assured that the authorities are doing everything possible and impossible for the defence of Mariupol: the connection with the units of the defence forces that heroically hold the city is stable and maintained. I emphasise that conducting defence operations is not a topic for public discussion. We are doing what is possible and impossible for the Victory and saving the lives of the combatants and civilians in all directions.

In another message on April 11th, the leadership of the Azov unit, which is taking part in the battles for Mariupol, assured that they support the actions of the Ukrainian military-political leadership.

2. Information summaries and assessments of foreign and Ukrainian intelligence.

As reported New York The Times , US intelligence is observing a gathering of russian troops in and around Izium for a possible attack to the south and southeast.

The officials of the US Department of Defense suggest that russian occupation forces may launch an attack from Izium to the Dnipro in an attempt to seize the regional centre.

According to UK intelligence in its review, there is a high probability that russian troops will use phosphorus munitions in Mariupol.

Western intelligence sources say that almost a third of russia's forces have lost their combat effectiveness since invading Ukraine in February.

The russian occupiers are using underage Ukrainian children to reconnoiter our military positions, the Security Service reports .

4. The russian occupiers continue to violate international humanitarian law.

Mass genocide of Ukrainians committed by the russian occupiers. The European Union will support Ukraine in documenting russia's war crimes in cooperation with the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court and the Prosecutor General's Office of Ukraine.

On April 11th, a detachment of technical and scientific gendarmes from France arrived in Ukraine to investigate the war crimes of the russian occupiers in the Kyiv region.

The russian aggressors continue to kill Ukrainian children. As of April 11th, according to official data from juvenile prosecutors, more than 525 children were injured in Ukraine as a result of the russian federation's armed invasion of our country. At the same time, 183 children died and more than 342 were injured.

Most children were affected in the Donetsk (110), Kyiv (98), Kharkiv (76), Chernihiv (54), Mykolaiiv (40), Luhansk (35), Zaporizhzhia (22), Kherson (29), Sumy (16), Zhytomyr (15) regions, and in Kyiv City (16).

During the recording of criminal offences committed in Vorzel in the Kyiv region, the body of a 15-year-old boy with gunshot wounds was found. A family with a 5-year-old child died in the shelling in Borodianka, the Kyiv region. Their bodies have only just been discovered.

On April 9th, a 14-year-old girl received a gunshot wound to the neck and spinal cord injuries as a result of artillery shelling by the russian military in the Stanislav village, Bilozerskyi district, in the Kherson region. On April 10th, a 16-year-old boy was injured in a shelling of a village in the Pokrovskyi district of the Donetsk region.

The russian bombing and shelling damaged 938 educational institutions, 87 of which were completely destroyed.

The russian occupiers have already damaged or completely destroyed at least 166 cultural monuments since their invasion of Ukraine .

The russian invaders fire on civilians every day. In the Donetsk region, on April 10th, as a result of russian shelling two more people were killed, four were wounded.

The chairman of the Dnipropetrovsk regional council, Mykola Lukashuk, said that the rocket shelling by the russian occupiers and the destruction of April 10th had been the most difficult day for the region since the start of a full-scale invasion by russian troops.

Last night, the russian occupiers carried out about 66 strikes on Kharkiv and settlements in the region, killing 11 people and injuring 14.

The enemy made 7 missile strikes across the Mykolaiiv area. Fortunately, no one was injured.

In Borodianka, in the Kyiv region, on April 11th, the bodies of 7 people were recovered from the rubble, and a total of 19 victims were removed from the rubble.

Occupying troops are trying to carry out measures of supplying information and imposing psychological influence on the people of Kherson and the region. To this end, they distribute information bulletins, which provide distorted information about the course of hostilities, the justification of the war, impose on the citizens of Ukraine registration of social benefits, including pensions in accordance with the norms and rules of russia.

5. The evacuation of civilians under attacks from the russian aggressors continues.

The work of 9 humanitarian corridors in the Donetsk, Luhansk and Zaporizhzhia regions was planned for April 11th:

 from Mariupol, Berdiansk, Tokmak, Enerhodar to Zaporizhzhia;

 from Severodonetsk, Lysychansk, Popasna, Rubizhne, the village of Hirske to Bakhmut.

Ukrzaliznytsia has scheduled 11 additional evacuation flights for April 11th, 6 of which are for residents of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions.

6. Political and socio-economic situation in Ukraine, losses due to russian aggression.

Society demonstrates solidarity, patriotism, and faith in victory. The National Bank of Ukraine transferred almost UAH 14.8 billion to the needs of the military, UAH 16 million remained on the special account.

3.5 million students from Ukrainian schools have returned to school. As of April 7th, 2022, distant (online) forms of learning have been introduced in almost 12,000 schools in Ukraine, said the Minister of Education and Science of Ukraine Serhii Shkarlet.

Ukraine's economy is suffering from war, the largest Ukrainian companies are sustaining losses due to the russian aggression. During the week, the direct losses of Ukraine's economy due to the war started by russia increased by 12.2 billion dollars and on April 11th crossed 80.4 billion dollars, or 2.4 trillion hryvnas.

The total losses of the Ukrainian economy due to the war fluctuate from $564 billion to $600 billion. This assessment, in addition to infrastructure losses, also includes indirect losses.

According to the results of 2022, the gross domestic product (GDP) of Ukraine may fall by 45.1% compared to the previous year. This is stated in the forecast of the World Bank.

Analysts expect a slow recovery in the Ukrainian economy. According to their estimates, in 2023 the country's GDP will grow by 2.1%, in 2024 - by 5.8%. Inflation in 2022 will be 15%, in 2023 - 19%, in 2024 - 8.4%, according to the forecast.

The war and the resulting displacement could have a significant impact on Ukraine's poverty rates, experts say. The share of the country's population living below the poverty line (for countries with comparable incomes, this threshold is $5.5 per day) threatens to grow sharply - from 1.8% to 19.8%.

According to preliminary estimates, the material damage caused to Enerhoatom by the russian occupiers exceeds UAH 18.3 billion as a result of the shelling of the Zaporizhzhia NPP.

The government is trying to restore the Ukrainian economy. The first billion hryvnas have been allocated for the reconstruction of settlements liberated from russian invaders. This was announced by Prime Minister of Ukraine Denis Shmyhal.

In particular, UAH 400 million was allocated for the Kyiv region, UAH 250 million each for the Chernihiv and Sumy regions. Another UAH 100 million has been allocated for the Zhytomyr region.

The allocated funds will be used to repair engineering networks and systems for the restoration of heat, gas, water and electricity. In addition, the funds will be used to dismantle the damage, repair roofs, replace windows and doors, eliminate potholes and other priority needs.

The Ministry of Agrarian Policy predicts that according to the pessimistic scenario, 70% can be sown in Ukraine this year. If the territories of the Chernihiv and Sumy regions, which have huge agricultural areas, can be demined in the coming weeks, it is possible that the sown area will increase to 80%

7. International support and assistance to Ukraine.

Military assistance to Ukraine. German Minister of Foreign Affairs Annalen Baerbock said Ukraine urgently needed military support to be able to defend the country against the russian attacks.

Humanitarian aid to Ukraine. About a thousand candles were lit in the Austrian capital in memory of the victims of the russian invasion of Ukraine.

Since the beginning of the war, more than 70% of PrivatBank's customers have received remittances online from abroad - by card and through a mobile application. In general, since February 24, Ukrainians have received $650 million in foreign transfers through PrivatBank, which is 65% more than in the same period last year.

Most aid comes from the United States, the UK, Germany, Israel, and Italy.

8. Provocations and fakes of the russian aggressors.

The Prime Minister of Slovakia, Eduard Heger, has denied reports that the S-300 air defence system provided to Ukraine has been destroyed.

"Slovakia categorically denies russian propaganda that the S-300 defence system in Ukraine has been destroyed. This is a hoax, wrote Eduard Heger.

The head of the President's Office, Andrii Yermak, said that russia was launching a "fake operation" on weapons handed over to us by the Allies. Prime Minister Eduard Heger has already refuted this information.

What happens next? We know the scenarios of the russians. Here is one of them.

They can run fakes that Ukrainian soldiers seem to be giving up with weapons from the Allies, and it is (these that are) massively transferred to the russian army.

I want to warn (against) such fakes at once. Because the weapons in the hands of the soldiers of the Armed Forces (are) exclusively (to) send the enemy to hell.

In Kherson, the occupiers mocked the Glory of Ukraine memorial in Kherson on the Perekopska Street, tore down the European Union flag, and tore up panels with photos of the Heavenly Hundred Heroes and those who were killed in the russian-Ukrainian war.

The occupiers tore down portraits of the Heavenly Hundred Heroes and the fallen participants of the russian-Ukrainian war. Boards Kherson is Ukraine were removed from the city..

According to a study by the BBC and the Institute for Strategic Dialogue (ISD), Facebook has created numerous "pro-Putin" groups glorifying russia and its president and trying to create a positive image for them in different parts of the world.

The group has more than 650,000 members. They have gained more than 100,000 new members since the February 24th invasion. These groups are quite popular and active: in the last month, researchers have counted 16,500 posts, received more than 3.6 million interactions.

9. Political and socio-economic situation in russia, the impact of international sanctions on it.

New sanctions and restrictions are being imposed on russia, which is having a negative impact on the russian economy. Net capital outflows from Russia in the first quarter of 2022 increased to $64.2 billion, compared to $17.5 billion in the same period last year.

russia is ready to go to court in case of default due to non-fulfilment of obligations on Eurobonds and prove that it has made all attempts to make payments. The russian Finance Ministry says that Western countries are artificially creating a man-made default.

The russian Railways has been recognised by the Credit Derivatives Committee as one of the defaults on one issue of Eurobonds. Bloomberg reported this.

russia's Railways have been declared insolvent on bonds for failing to pay last month, that was the first decision since sanctions were imposed on russia.

On April 11th, Finland suspended postal services with russia and with Belarus until further notice.

French financial conglomerate Societe Generale ceases its banking and insurance activities in russia: the main asset in russia - Rosbank - will be sold to Vladimir Potanin's Interros group of companies.

Swedish mobile equipment maker Ericsson has decided to suspend its business in russia indefinitely.

Cersanit has limited investment to three russian plumbing factories, now the owner plans to sell them to foreign investors.

In russia, the fitness industry is halting sales of new club cards - the industry expects a shortage of equipment and components against the background of sanctions against russia and falling solvency.
The Ukrainian Government Computer Emergency Response Team CERT-UA, operating under the State Service for Special Communications and Information Protection, reported on a cyber attack by the Sandworm group (UAC-0082) on Ukrainian energy facilities using Industroyer2 and CaddyWiper malware, the State Service for Special Communications reported on its Telegram channel on Tuesday.

The intention of the attackers was to disable several infrastructure elements of the attack object, namely: electrical substations using the Industroyer2 malware (moreover, each executable file contained a statically specified set of unique parameters for the corresponding substations); electronic computers running the Windows operating system (computers of users, servers, as well as workstations of automated process control systems) - using the destructive malware CaddyWiper; server hardware running the Linux operating system using malicious destructor scripts; active network equipment.

According to State Service for Special Communications, the victim organization experienced two waves of attacks. The initial compromise occurred no later than February 2022. On April 8, 2022, the attackers planned to shut down electrical substations and disable the enterprise's infrastructure. However, the realization of the intent was prevented.

"In order to identify whether there is a similar threat to other organizations in Ukraine, information, including samples of malicious programs, was transferred to international partners and enterprises in the energy sector of Ukraine," the message says.

The government emergency response team of Ukraine CERT-UA expresses special gratitude to Microsoft and ESET.
The wheat fields of northern Yemen stretch into the distance but they aren't enough to nourish a country where millions go hungry.

Already teetering on the edge of famine, war-ravaged Yemen fears a shortage of the staple food ingredient because of a different war in Ukraine, which is one of the world's major suppliers of the grain.

In a bustling Sanaa bakery, Mohammed al-Jalal and his staff sell small loaves of bread to customers carrying them away in red plastic bags.

"Flour is available on the market but we worry about shortages because of the war between Russia and Ukraine," Jalal told AFP.

In Al-Jawf province, which borders Saudi Arabia, farmers are hard at work to harvest their crops before grinding the wheat and shipping it mainly to the capital, rebel-held Sanaa.

Most of Yemen's roughly 30 million people will not be tasting this home-grown product, because the country depends almost entirely on food imports, with nearly a third of wheat supplies coming from Ukraine, according to the United Nations.

Across the Middle East and North Africa, people are struggling to secure even the most basic staples in view of soaring food and fuel prices triggered by Russia's February invasion of Ukraine.

Jalal said authorities in Yemen "should support farmers so they can grow more wheat in our country".

After more than seven years of civil war, the Arab world's poorest country was already suffering what the United Nations called the world's worst humanitarian crisis.

More than 17 million people in Yemen face high levels of food insecurity, UN-backed assessments showed in March, and the total is likely to increase. Famine conditions already afflict more than 30,000 Yemenis, UN agencies said.

Ali al-Kabous, an importer and trader of wheat, fears that, "If the war between Russia and Ukraine continues, the price of wheat will increase here.

Battle for survival

Food prices in Yemen have already doubled since last year and the country's years of fighting have led to an economic collapse.

As his staff unload dozens of white sacks filled with flour, Kabous points to a related concern. As global oil prices rise, so will transport costs, and "that will be an enormous burden on the people".

The Iran-backed Huthis who control a large part of northern Yemen are fighting Yemen's internationally recognised government which, since 2015, has been aided by a Saudi-led military coalition.

Accusing Iran of smuggling weapons to the Huthis -- a charge Tehran denies -- the coalition has enforced an air and sea blockade of rebel-held territory since 2016.

According to the Yemen Data Project, an independent tracker, the coalition has also carried out more than 25,000 air raids on Yemen since it intervened.

"Because of the enemy blockade but also the war in Ukraine, we should ensure food security from within the country," Ali al-Khaled, spokesman for the rebel-controlled agency in charge of cereal production.

The UN's Food and Agriculture Organization reported last year that total cereal production in 2020 was estimated at 365,000 tonnes (tons), a figure which takes account of "conflict-related constraints" and which is almost 25 percent below the five?year average.

On April 2, a two-month UN-brokered ceasefire took hold, the war's first nationwide truce since 2016.

As part of that agreement, the coalition agreed to ease its blockade to allow two weekly commercial flights into Sanaa. Fuel and more food shipments will also flow into the lifeline aid port of Hodeida, which is also rebel-held.

After more than 150,000 people were estimated to have died in the fighting, violence has dropped after the truce, which began on the first day of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

But the battle to survive goes on as Yemenis struggle to feed themselves.

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged South Korea on Monday to provide his country with arms to help it fight Russia's military.

Zelenskyy made the request in a video address to South Korean lawmakers that came hours after Seoul's Defense Ministry confirmed it had rejected a Ukrainian request for anti-aircraft weapons during a call between the countries' defense ministers last week. The ministry cited the South Korean government's principle of limiting its military help to Ukraine to non-lethal supplies.

``The Republic of Korea has tanks, ships and various equipment that can block Russian missiles and we would be grateful if the Republic of Korea could help us fight back against Russia,'' Zelenskyy said, using South Korea's formal name.

``If Ukraine is able to receive such weapons, it will not only help us save the lives of our ordinary citizens but also provide Ukraine an opportunity to survive as a nation, and also help prevent other countries from being attacked by Russia,'' said Zelenskyy, whose comments were dubbed over by a translator during the televised speech.

Joining U.S.-led international sanctions against Moscow, South Korea has already banned the export of strategic materials to Russia and ended transactions with key Russian banks and sovereign wealth funds.

Zelenskyy thanked South Korea for those efforts but said sanctions alone haven't been enough to meaningfully stop the Russian aggression.

``Russia doesn't care how many people die,`` he said.

Zelensky highlighted Russia's takeover of Mariupol, where he said at least tens of thousands of citizens were likely killed. He briefly stopped his speech to play a graphic video showing buildings hit by rockets, Russian tanks firing as they rolled through destroyed streets and people wailing over dead relatives at overwhelmed hospitals. He said Ukrainian forces haven't been able to enter Mariupol since the start of March and that Russian forces have cut off humanitarian shipments.

``This war is far from over,'' Zelenskyy said. ``Russia is aiming to end Ukraine's independence and separate the country. It is trying to eliminate the culture and language of the Ukrainian nation.''

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Israeli occupation forces launched a third day of operations Monday around the flashpoint West Bank city of Jenin following heavy gun battles in recent days and 20 arrests overnight, the army said.

Tensions have soared since a spree of attacks in Israel left 14 people dead in the past three weeks, with Prime Minister Naftali Bennett warning the Jewish state is now "on the offensive".

Four Palestinians were killed in separate incidents across the occupied territory Sunday, and militant groups in Jenin braced for more battles.

The city as well as Bethlehem declared general strikes.

Thousands of mourners flooded the streets of Jenin on Monday for the funerals of those killed, many carrying Palestinian flags or rifles.

Abu Muadh, military spokesman of the armed factions in Jenin's refugee camp, late Sunday called for "general mobilisation of our fighters to confront any incursion by the Zionist enemy".

Israeli troops were targeting relatives of Raad Hazem, the 28-year-old Jenin man who last Thursday killed three Israeli civilians and wounded 12 at a Tel Aviv bar before he was shot dead following a massive manhunt.

Israeli soldiers Sunday engaged in an exchange of gunfire involving his brothers and also demanded the father hand himself in, ahead of the planned demolition of the family home.

A teen on a motorcycle who opened fire on the Israeli officers in that exchange, Mohamed Zakarneh, 17, was the latest fatality, succumbing to gunshot wounds overnight, the Wafa news agency said.

Another Palestinian from the Bethlehem area was shot dead Sunday after hurling a Molotov cocktail at Israeli troops, the army told AFP.

The tensions have surged during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, nearly a year after violence flared in the other Palestinian territory, the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip, leading to 11 days of devastating conflict.

A total of 14 people in Israel have been killed in four attacks since March 22, including a shooting spree in Bnei Brak, an Orthodox Jewish city in greater Tel Aviv, carried out by a Palestinian from Jenin.

Over the same period, at least 14 Palestinians have been killed, including assailants, according to a count by AFP.

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Crisis in Ukraine could slash global trade growth by half in 2022: WTO

Xinhua) 08:04, April 12, 2022

A man shops at a supermarket in London, Britain, April 8, 2022. (Xinhua/Li Ying)

Europe, the main destination for both Russian and Ukrainian exports, is likely to experience the brunt of the economic impact. Reduced shipments of grains and other foodstuffs will also inflate prices for agricultural goods.

GENEVA, April 11 (Xinhua) -- The ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine has dealt a severe blow to the global economy, reducing forecasted global trade growth for 2022 from the 4.7 percent predicted last October to between 2.4 percent and 3 percent.

The projection, based on a global economic simulation model, was made by the World Trade Organization (WTO) Secretariat in a note issued on Monday.

According to the same model, the crisis could lower global GDP growth by 0.7-1.3 percentage points, bringing it to somewhere between 3.1 percent and 3.7 percent for 2022.

The conflict has pushed up food and energy prices, and reduced the availability of goods exported by Russia and Ukraine, said the Secretariat note.

Russia and Ukraine are both important suppliers of essential products, notably food and energy, according to the note. The two countries supplied around 25 percent of wheat, 15 percent of barley and 45 percent of sunflower product exports globally in 2019. Russia alone accounted for 9.4 percent of world trade in fuels, including a 20 percent share in natural gas exports.

A vehicle runs past a gas station in Berlin, capital of Germany, March 11, 2022. (Xinhua/Shan Yuqi)

Russia is one of the main global suppliers of palladium and rhodium, which are crucial elements in the production of catalytic converters for automobiles. Meanwhile, semiconductor production depends to a significant extent on neon supplied by Ukraine. Disruptions to the supply of these materials could hit car producers at a time when the industry is just recovering from a shortage of semiconductors, the WTO highlighted.

Europe, the main destination for both Russian and Ukrainian exports, is likely to experience the brunt of the economic impact. Reduced shipments of grains and other foodstuffs will also inflate prices for agricultural goods.

Africa and the Middle East are the most vulnerable regions, since they import over 50 percent of their cereal needs from Ukraine and/or Russia. In total, 35 countries in Africa import food and 22 import fertilizer from Ukraine, Russia or both.

Some countries in Sub-Saharan Africa are facing potential price hikes of up to 50-85 percent for wheat, as a result of the crisis's impact on grain shipments, the note said.

"The current crisis is likely to exacerbate international food insecurity at a time when food prices are already historically high due to the COVID-19 pandemic and other factors," it warns.

Customers shop at a supermarket in Rome, Italy, March 2, 2022. (Xinhua/Jin Mamengni)

(Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun)
By Azernews





By Sabina Mammadli

Railway authorities from countries along the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR) are planning to form a joint venture called Middle Corridor, local media has reported.

It should be noted that TITR member countries are Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, and Turkey.

TITR Association Secretary-General Gaidar Abdikerimov stated at the RailFreight Summit that the joint venture will be officially registered in early or mid-2023.

The Middle Corridor will also provide high-quality intermodal transport and logistics services, harmonize cross-border tariffs, and implement a unified IT platform for full automation of cargo transportation services from China to Turkey, according to Rail Expo.

"As part of this joint venture, it is planned to combine the international North-South corridor with Caspian Sea ports, expanding the corridor to Iran and the Arab countries along the Persian Gulf, East Africa and India," the statement said.

Earlier Azerbaijan, Georgia, Turkey, and Kazakhstan signed a quadripartite declaration on the Trans-Caspian East-West Corridor".

It outlines steps to strengthen the transit potential of the countries participating in this document.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenksyy has requested to address the African Union, Senegalese President Macky Sall said on Monday.

Sall, the current AU chairman, tweeted that he and Zelenksyy had discussed over the phone the economic impact of the war in Ukraine and "the need to favor dialogue for a negotiated outcome to the conflict".

The Ukrainian president also asked to address the AU, Sall said.

The request comes amid a divided African response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

For example, 58 countries abstained from an April 7 vote in the United Nations General Assembly that suspended Russia from the UN Human Rights Council over its invasion.

Africa accounted for 24 of the abstaining countries, which included Senegal. Nine other African countries voted in favour of the resolution, and 9 voted against.

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The mayor of the Ukrainian port city of Mariupol said Monday that more than 10,000 civilians have died in the Russian siege of his city and that the death toll could surpass 20,000, with corpses that were ``carpeted through the streets.''

Speaking by phone Monday to The Associated Press, Mayor Vadym Boychenko also said Russian forces brought mobile cremation equipment to the city to dispose of the bodies, and he accused Russian forces of refusing to allow humanitarian convoys into the city in an attempt to conceal the carnage.

Russian forces have taken many bodies to a huge shopping center where there are storage facilities and refrigerators, Boychenko said.

``Mobile crematoriums have arrived in the form of trucks: You open it, and there is a pipe inside and these bodies are burned,'' he said.

The mayor's comments emerged as Russia claimed that it destroyed several Ukrainian air-defense systems in what appeared to be a renewed push to gain air superiority and take out weapons Kyiv has described as crucial ahead of an expected broad new offensive in the east.

In one strike, Moscow said it hit four S-300 launchers near the central city of Dnipro that had been provided by a European country it did not name.

Slovakia gave Ukraine just such a system last week but denied it had been destroyed. Russia previously reported two strikes on similar systems in other places.

The failure to win full control of Ukraine's skies has hampered Moscow's ability to provide air cover for troops on the ground, limiting their advances and likely exposing them to greater losses.

With their offensive in many parts of the country thwarted, Russian forces have relied increasingly on bombarding cities _ a strategy that has left many urban areas flattened and killed thousands of people.

Ukrainian authorities accuse Russian forces of committing atrocities, including a massacre in the town of Bucha, outside Kyiv, airstrikes on hospitals, and a missile attack that killed at least 57 people last week at a train station.

In Bucha on Monday, the work of exhuming bodies from a mass grave in a churchyard resumed.

Galyna Feoktistova waited for hours in the cold and rain in hopes of identifying her 50-year-old son, who was shot and killed more than a month ago, but eventually, she went home for some warmth. ``He's still there,'' her surviving son, Andriy, said.

In Mariupol, about 120,000 civilians are in dire need of food, water, warmth, and communications, the mayor said.

Only those residents who have passed the Russian ``filtration camps'' are released from the city, Boychenko said. He said improvised prisons were organized for those who did not pass the ``filtering,'' while at least 33,000 were taken to Russia or to separatist territory in Ukraine.

Meanwhile, the UN children's agency said that nearly two-thirds of all Ukrainian children have fled their homes in the six weeks since Russia's invasion began, and the United Nations has verified that 142 children have been killed and 229 injured, though the actual numbers are likely much higher.

Elsewhere, Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer said he met Monday with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow for talks that were ``very direct, open and tough.''

In a statement released by his office, Nehammer said his primary message to Putin was ``that this war needs to end because in war both sides can only lose.'' Nehammer said he also raised the issue of war crimes committed by the Russian military and said those responsible ``will be held to account.''

Austria is a member of the European Union and has backed the 27-nation bloc's sanctions against Russia, though it so far has opposed cutting off deliveries of Russian gas. The country is militarily neutral and is not a member of NATO.

In other developments, the head of the separatist rebel government in Donetsk said Ukrainian forces have lost control of the port area of Mariupol.

``Regarding the port of Mariupol, it is now under our control,'' Denis Pushilin, president of the Donetsk People's Republic, told Russian state television, according to Russian news agencies. The claim could not immediately be confirmed.

The mayor said fighting continues.

``It is difficult, but our heroic military holds on,'' Boychenko said. ``There are fights in the port. Yesterday, our heroic warriors knocked out several positions of equipment and, accordingly, rebuffed the infantry.

Russia has appointed a seasoned general to lead its renewed push in the eastern Donbas region, where Moscow-backed separatists have been battling Ukrainian forces since 2014 and have declared independent states. Both sides are digging in for what could be a devastating war of attrition.

Russian forces will likely try to encircle the Donbas region from the north and the south as well as the east, said retired British Gen. Richard Barrons, co-chair of the UK-based strategic consulting firm Universal Defence & Security Solutions.

The ground in that part of Ukraine is flatter, more open, and less wooded _ so the Ukrainian ambush tactics used around Kyiv may be less successful, Barrons said.

``As to the outcome, it's finely balanced right now,'' Barrons said. If the Russians learned from their previous failures, concentrated more force, connected their air force to ground forces better, and improved their logistics, ``then they might start to overwhelm the Ukrainian positions eventually, although I still think it would be a battle of enormous attrition.''

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy pleaded for more Western aid, saying his forces need heavier firepower.

In a video address to South Korean lawmakers on Monday, Zelenskyy specifically requested equipment that can shoot down Russian missiles.

But those armaments could increasingly come under attack as Russia looks to shift the balance in the 6-week-old war.

Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov said the military used cruise missiles to destroy the four launchers Sunday on the southern outskirts of Dnipro. He said the military also hit such systems in the Mykolaiv and Kharkiv regions.

The Russian claims could not be independently verified.

The Pentagon said it had seen no evidence to support Russia's claims. A senior US defense official said Russia did conduct an airstrike Sunday on the airport in Dnipro, destroying some equipment, but the official said the US has seen no indication that an air-defense system was knocked out.

Lubica Janikova, the spokeswoman for Slovakia's prime minister, denied Monday that the S-300 system it sent Ukraine had been destroyed. She said any other claim is not true.

Questions remain about the ability of depleted and demoralized Russian forces to conquer much ground after their advance on Kyiv was repelled by determined Ukrainian defenders.

Britain's Defense Ministry said Monday that Ukraine has already beaten back several assaults by Russian forces in the eastern Donetsk and Luhansk regions _ which make up the Donbas _ resulting in the destruction of Russian tanks, vehicles, and artillery.

Western military analysts say Russia's assault increasingly is focusing on an arc of territory stretching from Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city, in the north, to Kherson in the south.

A residential area in Kharkiv was struck by an incoming fire on Monday afternoon. Associated Press journalists saw firefighters putting out the fire and checking for victims following the attack, and saw that at least five people were killed, including a child.

Oleh Synyehubov, the regional governor of Kharkiv, said earlier Monday that Russian shelling had killed 11 people over the last 24 hours.

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Together with the vast majority of Arab countries, Egypt has been trying to maintain an extremely difficult balance in the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine. Last week it could not but abstain during a vote on a US-drafted resolution at the 193-member UN General Assembly to suspend Russias three-year membership in the UN Human Rights Council.

The US-EU Resolution received 93 votes, while 24 countries voted no, and 58 abstained. A two-third majority of the voting members present was needed to suspend Russia from the 47-member Geneva-based body and, since abstentions do not count, it was passed.

As the Egyptian envoy to the United Nations explained in a statement before the vote, Egypts decision is not a response to the Ukraine crisis itself, and does not imply any loosening of Egypts commitment to refraining from the use of force or its rejection of any violation of the sovereignty of nations. Instead, it is more of a warning against the abuse of UN mechanisms and agencies to achieve political goals, setting a dangerous precedent for the future.

The resolution was seen to constitute a dangerous turning point on the path of the UN, according to Egypts UN ambassador, who also noted that the international communitys reliance on the UN to establish international modus operandi is at stake.

The organisations respect for its charter, rules and procedures has redoubled the international communitys dependence on it to consolidate the international modus operandi, Egypts Permanent Representative to the UN Osama Abdel-Khalek said. This has been based on rules and mechanisms that it relies on for the proper management of international relations and the maintenance of international peace and security, he added. The resolution approved under tremendous US pressure meant that the international dependence on the UN for these reasons is now under threat.

Still, another key reason why Egypt and the majority of Arab countries abstained were the flagrant double standards the US and other Western nations have applied while pushing for a favourable vote for the Russia resolution. Citing alleged violations of human rights by Russian forces in Ukraine, the US and its allies, including nearly two dozen mini-island states, such Tuvalu, Nauru, Andorra, Micronesia, Kiribati and Tonga who always vote US, said Moscow did not deserve a seat at the UNHRC.

Only a few years ago, ironically, former US president Donald Trump proudly announced in 2018 the suspension of US membership in the same UN body because its resolutions have been repeatedly critical of Israel, its occupation of Palestine and its inhumane, racist practices against the Palestinian people living in their homes in East Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza.

All demands to investigate horrific killings of civilians in Iraq and Afghanistan by occupying US forces were limited to statements by international human rights organisations, without even the slightest hope of reaching any international tribunal or body due to the US veto power and influence.

As a matter of fact, the United States has passed legislation that criminalises and prevents any attempt to pursue American citizens charged with human rights violations oversees. Trump went as far as threatening to arrest and sanction judges and other officials of the International Criminal Court if it moves to charge any American who served in Afghanistan with war crimes.

Former National Security Adviser John Bolton bluntly stated: If the court comes after us, Israel or other US allies, we will not sit quietly. We will ban its judges and prosecutors from entering the United States. We will sanction their funds in the US financial system, and we will prosecute them in the US criminal system.

In his statement, Abdel-Khalek rightly warned against double-standards in dealing with human rights violations worldwide, saying that on many occasions, less decisive and more lenient decisions were taken regarding clear human rights violations in the not-so-distant past.

Egypts principled and consistent stance rejects this approach as it involves a waste of the purpose for which the organisation, its agencies and organs were established and as this leads to squandering its credibility and international multilateral action.

Egypt has nonetheless stressed its firm rejection of any human rights violations in Ukraine. However, such allegations must be fully investigated, considering that both sides have happily used misinformation in the ongoing war.

Since the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine on 24 February, Egypt has highlighted the need to prioritise dialogue and diplomatic solutions to settle the crisis, supporting all endeavours that might accelerate a political settlement.

Last week, Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukri held talks as part of the Arab Leagues Ukraine crisis group separately with the Russian and Ukrainian foreign ministers, in Moscow and Warsaw, respectively, to push for a diplomatic solution to the conflict.

Early in March, along with 140 countries, Egypt voted for a UN Resolution calling for a halt to Russias invasion and an immediate withdrawal of Russian forces from its western neighbour. However, Egypt also warned against economic sanctions that are not based on the mechanisms of the multilateral international system.

It remains clear that all world efforts at this stage should be to bring a speedy end to this military confrontation in Ukraine, instead of widening the gulf between the warring sides, and pushing them to adopt more stubborn stands.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 14 April, 2022 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly.

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Last week the Coordination Committee of the Global Counterterrorism Forum (GCTF) endorsed the joint nomination of Egypt and the European Union (EU) to chair the organisation. The move honours Egypts efforts to combat terrorism and opens the door for more cooperation with the EU in the field.

Commenting on the endorsement, the Foreign Ministry said the new position is confirmation of the appreciation of the GCTF of the prominent role played by Egypt in countering terrorism on the regional and international levels and its constant efforts to do so.

Alaa Abed, first deputy to the president of the Arab Parliament and head of its counter-terrorism and extremism committee, said the endorsement was an acknowledgement of the successes that Egypt has achieved in combating terrorism on the national and international levels.

He said in a statement that Egypt presented a unique example of combating international terrorism.

Casting light on Egypts expected role during its term as a co-chair of the forum, the Foreign Ministry stated that the country intends to build on the special expertise it has gained in the field of counter-terrorism in order to implement the CTGFs Strategic Vision 2021-31.

Egypt will work on boosting the effectiveness of the international system to fight terrorism and back the efforts of member states to implement the UN global counter-terrorism strategy, in addition to enhancing attention to the African continent and to the needs of the developing countries, the ministry statement said.

Egypt is a founding member of the 30-member GCTF that was established in 2011. Its mission is to reduce the vulnerability of people worldwide to terrorism by mobilising expertise and resources to prevent, combat, and prosecute terrorist acts and counter incitement and recruitment to terrorism.

It carries out its mission in coordination with UN agencies and regional and international organisations.

The joint bid to chair the GCTF was first raised at meetings of an EU working party on terrorism in October and November last year. It was proposed by France as the current head of the EU Councils rotating presidency in January.

Egypt and the EU will succeed Canada and Morocco as co-chairs. For Egypt, the chairmanship will start in March next year and end in March 2025, while the EU will assume office in September this year until September 2024.

The GCTF has five working groups. Egypt has been co-chairing, along with the EU, the working group whose mission is the anti-terrorism capacity-building of the East African states since 2017. From 2011 to 2017, Egypt and the US co-chaired the Criminal Justice and Rule of Law working group.

Last year, Egypt took part in various meetings co-chaired with the EU including a workshop on Strengthening Civil Society: National and Regional Approaches to Dialogue and Community Resilience in East Africa in March.

The workshop provided recommendations for various stakeholder groups, including civil society, women, and youth among others, on how best to engage in dialogue and resilience building in the region.

In September, Egypt also took part in a fourth regional meeting on the nexus between terrorism and transnational organised crime (TOC), one of the key targets of the working group in 2021-22.

Egypt has also been active outside the GCTF, where other efforts to combat terrorism have included issuing the second national report on state efforts to combat terrorism during 2021 and making it available in Arabic and English to all Egyptian missions abroad and in foreign missions in Egypt.

The report casts light on efforts made to combat terrorism throughout 2021 and the role that Egypt has played on the regional and international levels.

On the international level, Egypt took part in the UN Second Counter-Terrorism Week in June last year, during which it took part in the seventh review of the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy (GCTS).

The document is reviewed every two years, making it a living document attuned to member states counter-terrorism priorities. Egypt was keen to include the priorities of the Arab and African countries in the document.

As part of the Global Coalition to Defeat the Islamic State, Egypt took part in a ministerial meeting held in Rome in June last year and other periodical meetings that aim to boost the efforts of member states.

On the African level, Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukri chaired the African Unions (AU) Peace and Security Councils virtual session on countering extremist ideology and terror finance in November last year. He underlined the necessity of intensifying coordination between the African countries to eliminate all forms of terrorism. Egypt assumed the rotating presidency of the council in November.

The inauguration of the Sahel and Sahara Counter-Terrorism Centre in Cairo in November was proof on the ground of how Egypt is working towards urgent cooperation in Africa to combat cross-border terrorism.

The purpose of the centre is to coordinate the efforts of the members of the Community of Sahel-Saharan States and to exchange information that will help them confront terrorism.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 14 April, 2022 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly.

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Russia has shifted its focus to a make-or-break battle for Eastern Ukraine, while Europe is pessimistic about a diplomatic solution to the crisis.

Western intelligence officials have warned that Russia and Ukraine are preparing for a significant military showdown in Eastern Ukraine as the build-up to a make-or-break Russian operation in the strategic Donbas region is gaining momentum.

The military build-up comes as Russian President Vladimir Putin justified Russias invasion of Ukraine, saying he had taken the right decision.

On a visit to Vostochny Cosmodrome in the Amur Oblast in Russias far east, Putin said of the military operation in Ukraine that its goals are absolutely clear and noble. On the one hand, we are helping and saving people, and on the other we are simply taking measures to ensure the security of Russia itself. Its clear that we didnt have a choice. It was the right decision.

His doubling down on the justification for the war comes as Russian forces are focusing on Eastern Ukraine after the failure of their initial drive to capture Kyiv.

Russia-backed separatists have fought Ukrainian forces in the Donbas region since 2014 and declared some territory their independent regions. Military strategists say Russian leaders appear to hope that the local support, logistics, and terrain in Donbas favour Russias larger and better-armed military, potentially allowing Russian troops to gain more territory and weaken Ukraines fighting forces.

UK and US intelligence officials said they expect Russia to prepare for what is expected to be a large and focused push to expand control in the countrys east.

In a sign of changes in the structure and modus operandi of the Russian military command in Ukraine, Moscow appointed Alexander Dvornikov, one of its most seasoned military chiefs, to oversee the military operation.

Dvornikov, 60, gained prominence as head of the Russian forces deployed to Syria in 2015 to shore up Syrian President Bashar Al-Assads regime amid the countrys devastating civil war.

Meanwhile, the British Ministry of Defence said Russian forces are continuing to pull out of Belarus to support operations in Eastern Ukraine focused on the Donbas region.

Fighting in Eastern Ukraine will intensify over the next two to three weeks as Russia continues to refocus its efforts there, the ministry said. Russian attacks remain focused on Ukrainian positions near Donetsk and Luhansk with further fighting around Kherson and Mykolaiv and a renewed push toward Kramatorsk.

US officials also pointed to new signs that Russias military is gearing up for a major offensive in Donbas, switching its focus from Kyiv. A senior US defence official described a long convoy rolling towards the eastern city of Izyum with artillery, aviation, and infantry support, as part of redeployment to the east.

Western military analysts say Russias assault is increasingly focusing on a sickle-shaped arc of Eastern Ukraine from Kharkiv, Ukraines second-largest city, in the north to Kherson in the south.

The narrower effort could alleviate the Russian problem earlier in the war of spreading the offensive too widely over too great a geographic area. Just looking at it on a map, you can see that they will be able to bring to bear a lot more power in a lot more concentrated fashion, Pentagon Spokesman John Kirby said.

The battle will be a decisive one for the Russian campaign in Ukraine, given the failure to achieve military victories around the capital Kyiv or in northern Ukraine.

In a sign of how consequential Moscow thinks the outcome of its military campaign in Eastern Ukraine will be, the UK Guardian newspaper revealed that Russia has received munitions and military hardware sourced from Iraq for its war effort in Ukraine with the help of Iranian weapons-smuggling networks, according to members of Iran-backed Iraqi militias and regional intelligence services.

Rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs) and anti-tank missiles, as well as Brazilian-designed rocket-launcher systems, have been dispatched to Russia from Iraq. An Iranian-made Bavar 373 missile system similar to the Russian S-300 has also been given to Moscow by the authorities in Tehran, who also returned an S-300, according to a source who helped organise the transport.

Meanwhile, Russia has kept up its siege of Mariupol, a key southern port that has been under attack for nearly eight weeks, as officials presented a disastrous picture of the humanitarian situation in the city.

Mariupol has seen some of the heaviest attacks and civilian suffering in the war, but the assaults by Russian forces have limited information on circumstances inside the city. About 120,000 civilians are in dire need of food, water, warmth, and communications, the mayor said.

Western officials have also expressed concerns that Russia, finding its 24 February invasion of its neighbour grinding into a protracted conflict, could resort to more extreme measures, including the use of chemical weapons.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy expressed his concerns that Russian forces could use chemical weapons in Ukraine but did not confirm whether they had been used in his daily video address late on Monday.

Today, the occupiers issued a new statement, which testifies to their preparation for a new stage of terror against Ukraine and our defenders. One of the mouthpieces of the occupiers stated that they could use chemical weapons against the defenders of Mariupol. We take this as seriously as possible, Zelenskiy said.

Andriy Biletsky, leader of the Ukrainian Azov volunteer regiment, claimed on Monday that three people in Mariupol had experienced poisoning by chemicals, but without catastrophic consequences.

However, Petro Andryushchenko, an aide to the Mariupol mayor, wrote that a chemical attack had not been confirmed and that officials were waiting for official information from the military.

Pentagon Spokesperson John Kirby said he was aware of the reports but could not confirm them. These reports, if true, are deeply concerning and reflective of concerns that we have had about Russias potential to use a variety of riot-control agents, including teargas mixed with chemical agents, in Ukraine, he said.

As preparations continue for the battle in Eastern Ukraine, there appears to be no breakthrough in the diplomatic talks.

After the first face-to-face meeting in Moscow on Monday between Putin and Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer, the latter said his trip to Moscow was not a visit of friendship and that the two had had a direct, open, and hard conversation.

Nehammer raised the Ukrainian presidents readiness for in-person talks with the Russian president, but Putin gave no reply whatsoever. Instead, he talked about the Istanbul track negotiations, which have failed to produce any progress so far.

If youre asking me whether I am optimistic or pessimistic, Im rather pessimistic. Peace talks are always very time-intensive while military logic says, dont spend too much time and go directly into battle, he told reporters.

Meanwhile, Moscow has stated that it will not pause its military operation in Ukraine before the next round of peace talks. In an interview with Russian state television, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said he saw no reason not to continue talks with Ukraine but insisted Moscow would not halt its military operation when the sides convene.

* A version of this article appears in print in the 14 April, 2022 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly.

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Egypt's Public Prosecution said Monday it has ordered an autopsy on the body of economic researcher Ayman Hadhouds body to determine the cause of death and if there are any indications of foul play, stressing it conducts investigations "with full transparency" and announces results when appropriate in a way that does not affect the inquiry.

The preliminary examinations of the body of economic researcher Ayman Hadhoud, which were conducted by the health ministrys inspector and the police in March, no indications that there was no "criminal suspicion" behind his death, the Public Prosecution said on Monday in its first statement on the incident.

The prosecution said Hadhoud, 48, was arrested on 6 February after he was reported by a building guard in Zamalek, Cairo, for attempting to break into an apartment, adding that Hadhoud was displaying "erratic" behaviour at the time.

The prosecution attempted to question Hadhoud, but his speech was incomprehensible, and so he was referred to a psychiatric hospital, the statement said.

The prosecution said in its statement on Monday that it was notified on 5 March that Hadhoud died at Abbasiya Mental Health Hospital due to a sharp drop in blood pressure and cardiac arrest, and its examination of the body found no signs of visible injuries.

The prosecution added that two of Hadhouds brothers  Adel and Abu Bakr  have told investigators that their brother was "psychologically unstable" and that they do not believe his death was due to criminal action.

The public prosecution said it has summoned another Hadhouds brothers  Omar  to testify regarding multiple statements attributed to him on social media where "he claimed the existence of criminal suspicion."

Omar has not yet responded to the prosecutions summons, the statement added.

The prosecution's statement came amid reports that Hadhoud was the victim of "forced disappearance", with his family reportedly saying it was notified about his death on 9 April, nearly one month after he died.

On Sunday, the Ministry of Interior issued a statement denying that Hadhoud had been "forcibly disappeared", saying he was arrested on 6 February 2022 after allegedly attempting to breaking into an apartment in Zamalek.

On Monday, the Egyptian National Council for Human Rights (NCHR) said that the ongoing investigation by the Public Prosecution into the death of the late economic researcher must cover all concerns about the alleged forced disappearance of the deceased.

Hadhoud, a prominent economic researcher, was co-founder and board member of the liberal Reform and Development Party. The party, which has 12 members in parliament, released a statement mourning the late economist on Sunday.

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Lutfi Rauf, the ambassador of Indonesia to Egypt, talks to Ahram Online about new mechanism to re-invigorate the historic relations between Cairo and Jakarta.

In 1946, Egypt was the first country to recognise the independence of Indonesia. A couple of decades down the road, Egyptian president Gamal Abdel-Nasser and his Indonesian counterpart Ahmed Sukarno took the lead in promoting for the then revolutionary Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) that was designed to spare the developing African and Asian third world countries from having to side with either of the two camps of the Cold War.

With the end of this era of third world bonding, relations between these two populous countries drifted. However, last month during a South East Asia tour that got him to Jakarta on the third leg, Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry and his Indonesian counterpart Retno Marsudi agreed to launch a joint committee at the ministerial level to work on upgrading bilateral relations.

According to Lutfi Rauf, the ambassador of Indonesia to Egypt, the purpose of this committee goes beyond political coordination between the two countries, which are both members of several multinational groupings, some more functional than others, including NAM, the Organisation of Islamic Conference and others.

Both our countries are [also] interested to give a boost to economic, trade and cultural cooperation, he said.

While the pandemic and the Russian war on Ukraine have posed challenges to the international economy, limiting the chances for growth, Rauf said the volume of economic cooperation between Egypt and Indonesia has expanded by over 50 percent during the past two years.

This, he said, is no coincidence. It is rather, he argued, an indication of the interest of both countries to re-launch their historic ties to regain past strength, but with an eye on todays priorities and the aspirations of both nations.

Economy and trade, he said, are key in this respect.

Growth in Egypt was sustainable during the pandemic, and despite the sharp decline that has been caused by the pandemic, the economy of Indonesia is certainly bouncing back; this makes both our countries in a place to pursue closer economic cooperation, he argued.

The committee that the two foreign ministers agreed upon during Shoukrys visit to Jakarta, Rauf said, would certainly be the perfect venue to discuss the modes necessary for the expanding trade and economic cooperation.

Moreover, he said, with Egypt being the host of COP27 that is scheduled to convene in Sharm El-Sheikh in November this year, cooperation on environmental issues will certainly be key to the joint work of both countries starting this year.

As two developing countries with some similar challenges, Rauf said, both Indonesia and Egypt have so much to share on attending to the ecological challenges.

Environment and sustainable development are tied to one another; and both Egypt and Indonesia have similar concerns and aspirations and they can certainly work together on matters of response and mitigation to environmental challenges, he said.

At the COP26 in Glasgow, both Egypt and Indonesia agreed to join the international momentum to reduce greenhouse emissions.

In COP27, he added, along with other developing countries, Egypt and Indonesia will work to see that the developed countries honour their commitment to help developing countries adopt the required measures to reduce greenhouse emissions.

Funding is crucial and this is an important agenda item that we will pursue, he said.

During the past few years, Rauf said, his country has been giving more attention to the management of bio-diversity, combating deforestation and to managing hazardous waste. Indonesia, he added, is ready and willing to share its experience with Egypt.

Expanding the generation and use of renewable energy, he added, is yet another venue for expanded cooperation between Cairo and Jakarta as part of the commitment of both countries to work for smart environment.

Meanwhile, Rauf said that his country is keen to expand all forms of cultural cooperation between the two countries. Al-Azhar, he said, has a crucial role in this respect.

We have close to 1,200 students who come from Indonesia to study in Egypt; most of them attend Al-Azhar University, he said. And, he added, Indonesia is keen to expand its cooperation with Al-Azhar, which is perceived as a prominent Islamic school of wassatiyah (moderation).

We believe that the pursuit and promotion of wassatiyah is crucial in the battle against extremism, especially in our respective parts of the world, he said.

On a parallel track, Rauf said that competent Indonesian and Egyptian bodies, Al-Azhar included, have a crucial role to play in supporting the rights of Muslim minorities all over the world, especially in countries where they are faced with serious or even existential challenges.

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Egypts infection rates and hospital visits due to the coronavirus have significantly decreased nationwide, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Health and Population said Tuesday.

These findings were revealed after Acting Health Minister Khaled Abdel-Ghaffar reviewed the latest numbers during a meeting on Tuesday.

Egypt has successfully vaccinated over 53 percent of targeted groups, the spokesperson said, referring to those above the age of 12.

The ministry has previously said that for life in Egypt to return to the way it was pre-pandemic, 70 percent of this group must be vaccinated  a goal that the country seeks to achieve by mid-2022.

Since beginning its vaccination campaign in early 2021, Egypt has fully vaccinated 32.9 million people, while 44.3 million have received only the first dose of the vaccine and 2.1 million have received the booster shot.

Egypts current coronavirus vaccinations rate since the beginning of the holy month of Ramadan has ranged between 100,000 to 150,000 doses per day, Abdel-Ghaffar said in a previous statement.

During Tuesdays meeting, the acting health minister highlighted the importance of booster shots, urging everyone to take them, which are scheduled six months after the second dose. The possibility of infection increases after six to eight months, the minister said, noting that those above the age of 18 can safely take the booster shot depending on their health status.

This come at a time when infection rates and deaths tolls continue to decline, with the country reporting an average of 400 infections and seven deaths per day over the past week, according to the latest figures released by the ministry on Saturday.

The ministry also recorded an average of 532 cases recovering daily from the coronavirus.

The ongoing decline in coronavirus cases has led the country to reduce the number of isolation hospitals to only four hospitals and 16 partial isolation facilities nationwide, the acting health minister said in a statement on Wednesday.

He urged citizens who have not yet taken their first dose or booster shots to register on the health ministrys website to receive the vaccine.

The ministry also continues to receive citizens inquiries regarding the coronavirus via the 105 and 15335 hotlines as well as WhatsApp on +201553105105.

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Iran on Tuesday summoned Afghanistan's envoy in Tehran over attacks the previous day on Iranian diplomatic missions in the neighboring country, state media in Iran reported.

According to the reports, Iran's foreign ministry summoned the Afghan charge d'affaires in protest over Monday's attacks on the Iranian Embassy in Kabul and the Iranian Consulate in Herat, where protests had turned aggressive. In Herat, angry Afghan protesters pelted the consulate with rocks.

The ministry demanded that Afghanistan's new Taliban rulers provide the missions with full security and said they stopped working until further notice. On Monday, ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh said more needed to be done by the Taliban to ensure security to Iranian missions.

In recent weeks, unverified videos purporting to show Afghan refugees being tortured in Iran have been published on social media, angering many Afghans. Iran has denied the accusations.

Iran hosts millions of Afghan refugees. Last week, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian said the number of Afghans in Iran has jumped to 5 million, from nearly 4 million before the Taliban took power last August.

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An explosion ripped through a building in southern Lebanon early on Tuesday, killing one person and wounding several others, a Lebanese security official said.

The blast in the town of Banaafoul, near the port city of Sidon, demolished the two-floor building that had served as the local municipality headquarters and a scout center for the Shiite Amal militia, headed by Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri.

According to the security official, the dead person was the son of the town's mayor. Five people were injured, the official said, revising his earlier figure of seven wounded. It was not immediately clear what triggered the blast, which also caused material damage to nearby buildings and cars.

The official said the explosion may have been caused by diesel fuel stored inside the building. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to give official statements.

Other unconfirmed reports said the building contained a weapons cache. Army personnel sealed off the building as they searched through the rubble for clues and casualties.

Samira Mustafa, whose nearby house received some damage, said she saw smoke and the sound of popping before the explosion.

``I ran as stones fell on my head,'' she said as she sat with neighbors on Tuesday morning, discussing the incident.

Such mysterious explosions are not uncommon in Lebanon, particularly in the country's south, awash with weapons.

Late last year, arms stored for the Palestinian Hamas group exploded in a building in a Palestinian refugee camp in the south Lebanon port city of Tyre, injuring a dozen people. Hamas denied it had kept weapons there and said the explosion was caused by oxygen tanks stored in the building.

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By Trend

Volga-Dnepr, a Moscow-based airline specializing in outsize and heavy freight, will carry out cargo traffic to a number of countries, including Azerbaijan, by the end of 2022, Head of the Department for Transport and Road Infrastructure Development of Moscow Maxim Liksutov said, Trend reports referring to the Russian media.

According to him, Moscow will provide the Volga-Dnepr Group with orders worth nearly 9.7 billion rubles (about $129.6 million at the exchange rate of Russia's Central Bank) until the end of 2022.

"The Government of Moscow and Russia's largest cargo airline, Volga-Dnepr Group, have signed an agreement to organize the air cargo carriage between the Russian capital and a number of cities in major countries," Liksutov said.

He added that these countries included China, India, Turkey, Azerbaijan, and others.

"Russia carries out heavy air freight and delivers spare parts for the pharmaceutical industry, as well as children's products through these countries. The contract has been signed until the end of 2022, and the total cargo volume is 20,000 tons. The first aircraft has already flown on the Moscow-India-Bangladesh route. Metal products for India are delivered from Moscow, and the plane will return with medical products, fabrics, children's toys," Liksutov stated.
The African Union Commission (AUC) participated in the Global Diaspora Summit 2022 organised by the International Organization for Migration in Dublin, Ireland, on 4 and 5 April 2022.

Delivering the statement of the delegation before the opening Session, Ambassador Amr Aljowaily, Strategic Advisor to the Deputy Chairperson of the African Union Commission, shared the priorities of the Citizen and Diaspora organizations (CIDO) Directorate for 2022.

Aljowaily highlighted the significance of the presence of more than 200 million people of African descent in the Americas, as well as nearly 19.5 million African migrants, who contribute socially, culturally and economically to sustainable development at the national, regional and global levels.

Ambassador Amr Aljowaily delivering the delegation's statment at the summit

The statement of the Commission said the importance of the diaspora is reflected in the Constitutive Act of the African Union, which encourages their rich participation in its work, which was later featured by convening the Global African Diaspora Summit in South Africa in 2012, proclaiming five legacy projects to strengthen the relationship with the continent.

Five priorities for the Citizen and Diaspora organizations (CIDO) Directorate for 2022 were identified, including the development of capacity-building initiatives for AU member states to further develop practical policy frameworks to enhance the contribution of diasporas to the development of their countries of origin.

Ambassador Aljowaily affirmed that the participation of the AUC in the Global Diaspora Summit in Dublin reflects its commitment to contributing actively to the International Migration Review Forum for the Global Compact on Migration, to be held in New York from 16 to 20 May 2022.

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Fresh clashes between Israeli soldiers and Palestinian militants rocked the occupied West Bank city of Jenin on Tuesday as a Palestinian was killed after stabbing an Israeli police officer, adding to a surging death toll.

Israeli troops launched a fourth day of military operations around Jenin after an assailant from the flashpoint district last week shot and killed three people in a Tel Aviv bar in the latest of a spate of attacks that have stunned Israel.

Prime Minister Naftali Bennett -- who warned in response that there would "not be limits for this war" -- vowed during a visit to the Tel Aviv shooting scene overnight: "We will not let our enemy stop our lives.

"We will fight where they are located, in their bases, at their source -- and, please God, we will win."

In Tuesday's battles, which raged for a fourth day, Israeli soldiers "fired live bullets, stun grenades and tear gas," the official Palestinian news agency Wafa said.

The Israeli army said its soldiers fired "live ammunition toward suspects who hurled explosive devices at them as well as toward armed suspects in the area", and arrested 20 Palestinians.

A makeshift barricade of car tyres blocked a road to the Jenin refugee camp, where a wall poster hailed the Tel Aviv shooter, Raad Hazem, 28, who was killed after a massive all-night manhunt last Friday.

The latest violence to rock Israel came in the Mediterranean port city of Ashkelon, where police said an officer was checking a Palestinian man in his 40s who then "pulled out a knife and attacked the officer".

The policeman "fired and neutralised the suspect, whose death was declared on site", police said, adding that the officer was hospitalised with light wounds from a kitchen knife.

Police said the man was from occupied Hebron -- a powder keg where around 1,000 Jewish settlers live under heavy military protection among 200,000 Palestinians.

Palestinian youth have also clashed elsewhere with Israeli security forces, including in Ramallah, where they threw rocks and were met with tear gas.

'Cycle of violence'

The rise in violence comes during the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan and days before the Jewish festival of Passover and Christian Easter.

Last year during Ramadan, tensions in Jerusalem flared into 11 days of war between Israel and the Hamas militant group ruling the Gaza Strip.

Israeli troops and police have stepped up operations over the past three weeks in which four shooting, stabbing and car-ramming attacks have left 14 people dead.

Over the same period, Israeli forces have killed 15 Palestinians, including assailants, according to an AFP tally.

Defence Minister Benny Gantz visited an area Tuesday where a barrier that runs roughly along the West Bank border is to be extended by 40 kilometres (25 miles) in coming months under a plan approved Sunday.

Israel started building the controversial, more than 500-kilometre barrier, part wall and part fence, 20 years ago after a spate of deadly Palestinian attacks.

The army said that, following the recent attacks in Israel, it would reinforce the barrier with additional troops.

Palestinians say the barrier's construction grabbed nearly 10 percent of the West Bank, and the International Court of Justice ruled it illegal.

Militant group Islamic Jihad, meanwhile, hailed the Palestinian response to Israel's military incursions in Jenin and other cities.

"We salute our people who stand like an unyielding barricade in the face of the Zionist enemy's terrorism," it said.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres followed "with deep concern the escalating violence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and Israel," said his spokesman Stephane Dujarric.

"He is appalled by the increasingly high number of casualties, including women and children," Dujarric added.

Palestinian presidency spokesman Nabil Abu Rudeineh charged that Israel's actions "will lead to a dangerous and uncontrollable escalation" and cause a new "cycle of violence".

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Two Illinois men who helped bomb a Minnesota mosque in 2017 were sentenced Tuesday to about 16 years and roughly 14 years in prison, far below the 35-year mandatory minimum that each man faced, after victims and prosecutors asked for leniency because the men cooperated and testified against the mastermind of the attack.

Michael McWhorter, 33, was sentenced to just under 16 years in prison and Joe Morris, 26, was sentenced to about 14 years in prison. Both testified in the 2020 trial against Emily Claire Hari, the leader of a small Illinois militia group called the ``White Rabbits.''

Hari was convicted in late 2020 and sentenced last year to 53 years in prison for the attack on Dar Al-Farooq Islamic Center, a mosque in the Minneapolis suburb of Bloomington.

US District Judge Donovan Frank said Tuesday that the men's ``substantial assistance'' allowed him to issue penalties below the statutory minimums called for in the domestic terror case, the Star Tribune reported.

No one was hurt in the Aug. 5, 2017, explosion after a pipe bomb exploded in the imam's office as worshippers gathered for early morning prayers, but community members where shaken by the incident and the mosque's executive director testified at Hari's trial that it has led to diminished attendance due to fear.

Attorneys for McWhorter and Morris both asked Frank for 10-year sentences, citing their clients' testimony against Hari. Prosecutors requested leniency because of their cooperation.

``Both Morris and McWhorter have expressed remorse for their participation in the bombing and have accepted responsibility for their actions,'' prosecutors said in court filings prior to sentencing. ``The government acknowledges and greatly respects Dar Al-Farooq's ability to forgive their attackers and to use this act of terrorism as a platform to promote mercy.''

Imam Mohamed Omar, executive director of Dar Al-Farooq Center, sent a letter to fellow clergy and faith leaders, asking them to sign an open letter urging forgiveness. Omar called McWhorter and Morris two young men who ``temporarily were plunged downwards into the darkness of Emily Hari's world.''

``The harm that was done is real, the crime that was committed is real, the horror of what happened that day is real, but what's also real is our opportunity to offer real forgiveness, and lead by example,'' the letter said. ``We believe that only through forgiveness can we have any real chance to heal and move forward.''

McWhorter and Morris both pleaded guilty to multiple counts in 2019.

At Hari's trial, their testimony showed that Hari told them to throw the pipe bomb into the Dar Al-Farooq Islamic Center while Hari waited in a rented truck.

Morris testified that Hari told him that the mosque was training ISIS fighters _ something the the mosque has denied and prosecutors have never alleged.

Hari was the leader of a group called the ``White Rabbits 3 Percent Illinois Patriot Freedom Fighters.`` In addition to the mosque bombing, the group also robbed a Wal-Mart with airsoft guns, tried to extort the Canadian railroad, invaded homes and attempted to firebomb a women's health clinic in Champaign, Illinois.

Chris Madel, McWhorter's attorney, said in court filings that McWhorter committed the crimes ``at the invitation, direction and plan'' of Hari. Madel said his client was manipulated by Hari's lies about Muslims.

Morris' attorney, Robert Richman, said his client has a ``reduced mental capacity`` and had suffered from undiagnosed mental illness, including schizophrenia and depression, Richman wrote in court documents that Hari took advantage of Morris's illness, telling him to follow the ``angels'' speaking to him.

Hari also exerted a special power over Morris, said Richman in the filing. ``No one in the world was closer to him. When Hari told Joe to do something, Joe did it. Hari was a hero to Joe. He felt that Hari accepted him.

Given the despair of self-loathing in which Joe was mired for most of his life, one can only imagine how refreshing it was to be accepted by Emily Hari.''

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The Abu Dhabi Developmental Holding Company (ADQ), also known as the Abu Dhabi wealth fund, has completed acquisition deals for five companies in Egypt, including private sector and state-owned firms, with a total value of $1.8 billion, the Egyptian Exchange (EGX) disclosed on Tuesday.

The deals were made under the block trading transaction, which is a high-volume transaction that allows the broker dealers to purchase shares for several institutional clients to fill the full size of the acquisition deal.

The announcement comes a few days after the ADQ announced its intention to invest up to $2 billion in the Egyptian market by purchasing state-owned stakes in a number of companies.

According to EGX data, ADQ acquired 340,096,235 shares of the International Commercial Banks (CIB) with a total value of about $911.4 million.

Moreover, the Fund acquired 215,124,316 shares of e-payment platform Fawry with a total value of $68.5 million, as well as obtaining the subscription rights for 201,603,746 shares of the company with a value of $54.8 million.

For the state-owned companies, ADQ acquired 476,721,088 shares of Alexandria Container and Cargo Handling Company (ALCN.CA) with a total value of $168 million.

In addition, the Fund acquired 45,823,446 shares of Misr Fertilizers Production Company (MOPCO) with a total value of $266.5 million, as well as 271,573,655 shares of Abu Qir Fertilizers (ABUK.CA) for $391.9 million.

In 2019, ADQ created a joint investment fund with the Sovereign Fund of Egypt (TSFE) worth $20 billion with a mission of helping advance Egypts economic development through joint strategic investment projects, specialised funds and investment tools in key sectors; mainly healthcare and pharma, utilities, food and agriculture, real estate and financial services.

In December 2021, the Fund opened its office in Egypt to build on its commitment to investing in the countrys economic growth, according to ADQ.

In 2021, the Fund sealed several acquisition deals that reflect its significant appetite to tap the investment opportunities Egypt has.

The Emirati consortium Aldar and ADQ acquired in December a majority stake in the Egyptian real-estate development company SODIC in a deal worth EGP 6.1 billion ($386.8 million).

Moreover, the Fund acquired the Egyptian Amoun Pharmaceutical Industries from the Canadian Bausch Health company, in a deal worth about $ 740 million.

Food and beverages company Agthia, which is an ADQ company, acquired a majority stake (75 percent) in Egyptian meat processor Ismailia Investments (known as Atyab).

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Rasha Abd Elmonem  a playwright, independent theatre activist, and head of the training programme at the Supreme Council of Culture (CSC)  shared her passion for theatre during the round table on independent and marginal theatre held at the Tahrir Cultural Centre on 25 March.

As a playwright and independent theatre activist, as well as head of the training programme at the CSC, and co-director of the Eazees International Festival for Womens Theatre, Abd Elmonem is a true defender of theatrical creativity in Egypt.

In her paper, which was presented during the round table, Abd Elmonem discussed the problems of support for independent theatre, the problems of production and the spaces, alongside the frustration that young creators experience.

Add to this the censorship, she said. We must not forget that there is a big gap between the different generations of theatre men in Egypt. There must be a means of communication between these generations.

Abd Elmonem discovered her passion for theatre at the end of the 1990s.

During my school years, I was drawn to literature and poetry. At home, I liked to write sketches to play them with my brothers and sisters without really understanding that they were dramatic scenes. My childhood was limited between home and school, she elaborated during the round table.

Since a tender age, Abd Elmonem has often been occupied with the concepts of social justice and often tries to claim the rights of others.

She even wanted to join law school in order to become a lawyer, but her parents insisted that it was not a womans job.

I also opted for Dar El-Oloum to study Arabic literature, she added.

Abd Elmonems first job was as an Arabic language teacher in a preparatory school. At the time, she also began attending theatre performances.

The supervisor of the Arabic language section, Yehia Anwar, encouraged theatrical activities. He asked me to write the poems for a play on the Lebanese late activist Sanaa Mehaidli. I attended a rehearsal at the Journalists Syndicate, and I fell in love with the world of theatre. The director wanted me to write poems in the Levantine dialect. I was shocked and apologised for not being able to. But I continued to attend rehearsals every day, she said.

In order to sharpen her skills in theatre, Abd Elmonem decided to pursue graduate studies in theatrical dramatic literature at Cairo University.

My teachers guided me to read, to search universal texts, and to understand the history of dramatic theatre. I even dared to show them my first dramatic text for children, Khatem El-Malek (The Kings Ring).

Then, Professor Abdel-Moneim Telema offered me a chance to participate in the competition for young creative writers in Sharjah while Professor Mohamad Anany asked me to work with him in El-Masrah (The Theatre) magazine.

This is also how Abd Elmonem met Ananys late wife, theatre critic Nehad Selaiha. Thanks to her, the entire theatre world of independent and young creators opened up to her.

Professor Nehad was the one who guided me to meet young independent creators  Nora Amin, Hany El-Metennawy, and others  to document the independent theatre movement and to defend and support young people, etc, Abd Elmonem underscored, expressing great gratitude towards Selaiha.

The young Arabic language teacher then took advantage of the small class and the blackboard to explain Arabic texts by creating small theatrical scenes. She also began collaborating with independent troupes and started writing successful plays, including Hakawi El-Haramlek, which was directed by Abeer Ali, Halet Taware by Mohamed Abdel-khalek, and others.

My professor of Arabic language and general secretary of the CSC, Gaber Asfour, kept encouraging me. One day, he invited the promotion of higher studies to attend a literary conference by Jacques Derrida organised by the CSC. I was dazzled by the world of intellectuals, the conferences Then he asked me to join the consulting team, she recounted.

This opportunity allowed Abd Elmonem to get closer to the backstage of the theatre in Egypt to understand the production system of the state theatre and other forms of production. She also became closer to renowned Egyptian creatives such as Saad Ardash, Alfred Farag, Mohsen Mosselhi, and others.

Excited and enamoured with the CSC and my direct contact with these eminent people, I showed them my first award-winning printed play and received various comments and notes from them which helped me to further work on my style of dramatic writing. I was lucky, she explained.

Her plays How to Get Rid of Stains, A Boy, a Girl, and Things, and Made in Egypt were hit shows incorporating her continuous defence for human rights presented within a touching dramatic style.

In the first, she talks about the womens right to find love and get rid of toxic relationships. In the second, she deals with the relationship between men and women in the face of the prejudices of society - a play the denounces the carelessness and indifference in Egyptian society.

Even when she approached children theatre with a puppet performance titled Seid El-Ahlam (The Fishing of Dreams), which was created by her partner and husband Mohamed Fawzy, she also defends the human right to dream and to believe in ones strengths.

Our first encounter with Fawzy was in Tarek Al-Doweiris show The Third Position. He created the choreography, and I took care of the dialogue. I am often drawn to his talent and creativity. He also supports me a lot, Abd Elmonem said.

Today, Abd Elmonem is the director of the training department at the CSC  a position she insisted on creating in order to reform the civil servants of the Ministry of Culture and create a link of between independent creators and the ministry through the organisation of cultural management workshops.

She is also one of the directors of the Eazees International Festival for Womens Theatre, which was launched last year in Cairo. Abd Elmonem insists that this festival is a great opportunity for creative women to present their shows.

In Egypt, a creative woman  or rather a director  suffers a lot from prejudices, production problems. Women struggle to put their performances together, etc. Eazees is not a feminist festival, but a way to give women the chance to exist, she concluded.

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Thousands of people on Saturday mourned the death of a Coptic priest who was murdered in Alexandria on Friday night.



Priest of the Church of the Virgin Mary and Mar Boulos Arsanios Wadid was stabbed to death on Thursday while he was walking along the Mediterranean Corniche in the Sidi Bishr district.

A 60-year-old male suspect was arrested by police.

Wadid, 56, was taken to Mustafa Kamel Military Hospital in Sidi Gaber, but he succumbed to his injuries, the Church of the Virgin Mary and Mar Boulos said.

The prosecution ordered the detention of the assailant for four days pending investigations, a statement by the prosecution said on Friday. It added that a court had ordered the suspect be given a medical examination in a public hospital specialised in the treatment of mental illnesses. The man allegedly said during his interrogation that he suffered from a mental illness that makes him lose control over his actions.

During his interrogation, the defendant confessed to intentionally killing Wadid, but later said he had arrived in Alexandria a few days earlier in search of work and stayed overnight on the streets, claiming that the knife in his possession was just for self-defence. He also claimed that he was not aware of what he was doing on the day of the incident until he was arrested.

He said he started suffering from mental disorders 10 years ago after which he was admitted to a mental health hospital to receive treatment, and that he sometimes loses control of his actions, the statement added.

The prosecution said it heard the accounts of 17 eyewitnesses, inspected the crime scene, reviewed surveillance cameras in surrounding areas, and received autopsy reports from the Forensic Medicine Authority and the Alexandria Poison Centre. The results conclusively showed that the cause of death was a stab in the neck.

Three surveillance cameras showed parts of the incident and the ensuing panic by those who were at the scene of the crime, however, the stabbing itself was not visible on the recordings.

Other circulated video clips and photographs attributed to the incident, the victim, and the accused were collected by the prosecution for further investigation.

The prosecution added in the statement that it was conducting an investigation with the defendants family as part of the procedures it was taking in the case.

It also took blood samples from the suspect to ascertain if he was under the influence of drugs when he attacked the priest, the statement said.

In a statement, the church eulogised this blessed father who committed his life to God, and gave his life today to him in an honest martyrdom.

Pope Tawadros II, the patriarch of the See of St Mark and leader of Egypts Coptic Orthodox Church, bid farewell to a virtuous priest and an active servant.

Also on Friday, Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Ahmed Al-Tayeb extended condolences to Wadids family, Pope Tawadros II, and the Coptic people following the incident.

Al-Tayeb, the leader of the Sunni Muslim worlds top religious institution, condemned the incident and stressed that killing a soul is considered one of the major sins in Islam that result in Gods wrath and punishment, according to a statement.

He quoted the Quranic verse whoever killed a soul, except for a soul slain, or for sedition in the earth, it should be considered as though he had killed all mankind; and that whoever saved it should be regarded as though he had saved all mankind.

Al-Tayeb also called on everyone to be aware that this murder and similar incidents pave the way for religious wars between people of the nation, adding that Egypt survived these types of wars thanks to God Almighty and its people as well as its leaders.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 14 April, 2022 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly.

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Minya Criminal Court last week sentenced a man to 15 years for cyber blackmailing a 16-year-old. The ruling came after the prosecution referred five people to the Criminal Court over charges that included sexual trafficking and blackmailing a minor in Gharbiya governorate with fabricated obscene photos.

In 2018 the anti-cyber and information technology crimes law was amended, allowing a blackmailer who hacks the private information of any person to be imprisoned for not less than two years and not more than five years instead of six months in jail and/or a fine that is not less than LE50,000 and not more than LE100,00.

The law was part of the governments efforts to combat cybercrimes committed either on social media or other online platforms. However, recently, there have been several calls to intensify the penalties, especially following the suicide of a14-year-old in Sharqiya governorate after being blackmailed earlier this year.

However, the 2018 amendments are still seen as not enough to deter cyber blackmailing. According to Amal Abdel-Moneim, head of the ombudsman office in the National Council for Women (NCW), the current penalty stipulated in Law 175/2018 is insufficient to deter offenders of cyberbullying. The law should be amended to 10 years imprisonment for anyone who reveals matters that violate a persons honour or affects the lives of others and threatens them for their own selfish benefit, Abdel-Moneim said.

She called for intensifying current penalties in order to ensure further deterrence and prevent tragedies. Though the council does not have recent figures regarding cyber blackmailing, the ombudsman office receives reports of extortion crimes that have recently increased, especially electronic extortion online. The Ministry of Interior, according to Abdel-Moneim, receives at least 300-500 police reports a month regarding cybercrimes.

Irresponsible youths misuse social media to defame others by publishing personal information and photos which causes harm to the victims and could push many to consider ending their lives, Abdel-Moneim said.

Abdel-Moneim noted that reports to the Interior Ministry on such crimes have increased especially after a law was passed in August 2020 which protects the identity of women who report sexual harassment. The law aimed at encouraging females to report cases of sexual violence, she explained, providing victims the automatic right to anonymity. It was issued following campaigning by hundreds of women on social media on sexual assault using the MeToo hashtag.

Nehad Abul-Komsan, head of the Egyptian Centre for Womens Rights (ECWR), said that current penalties should be tougher for those who commit cyberbullying or abuse. She explained that the recent verdict issued by Minya Criminal Court, while serving as a deterrent, is not final. It was issued by a first-degree court and the penalty is more than the stipulated verdict in the law, therefore it could be easily petitioned by the court of appeal or that of cassation, Abul-Komsan said.



*A version of this article appears in print in the 14 April, 2022 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly.

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Al-Ahram Weekly reports on an ambitious research project that aims to address the scarcity of scientific studies on the cost of terrorism

The effects of terrorism go far and beyond the immediate violent act, since it also has profound social, economic, and cultural repercussions. Acting under a presidential mandate, Egypts Ministry of Social Solidarity has now launched a scientific research project dubbed the Cost of Terrorism with a view to tackling the different impacts of the phenomenon, particularly over the past three decades.

The project is being implemented in cooperation with the Egyptian Centre for Strategic Studies (ECSS), a Cairo-based independent think tank, with the participation of a slew of professors and experts concerned with the same field of study.

President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi had called for a research project on the impacts of terrorism in Egypt and the Islamic countries, said Minister of Social Solidarity Nevine Al-Qabbaj, who opened the first public symposium on the project on Monday.

Al-Sisi had also instructed that the research results should be made public so that the facts related to the magnitude of the losses incurred by the state and citizens as a result of the various waves of terrorism became better known, the minister added.

The move comes amid a scarcity of documented scientific studies focusing on inventorying the cost of terrorism either at the international or domestic levels, underscored Al-Qabbaj.

The Egyptian project encompasses four key axes  political, economic, social, and cultural  with each axis examined in terms of the cost of terrorism, its causes, and ways to counter it. The study represents the first initiative in Egypt to open a scientific dialogue about the phenomenon since the 1970s, ECSS Manager Khaled Okasha said.

The Egyptian state has incurred cumulative losses, some of which have had direct impacts, like human causalities, material damage to facilities and infrastructure, capital outflows, and expenses of repair, as a result of terrorism, according to Okasha.

Others have been in the form of indirect impacts, he added, including the states increased expenditure on the victims and their families, in addition to a hindrance to development and investment opportunities.

This had shifted the focus of the states resources to combating terrorism and addressing its repercussions, Okasha said. Social and cultural life was not isolated from the damage inflicted by terrorism, he added.

Terrorist organisations sought to threaten societal cohesion in order to establish extremist visions and exclusion-based values and also place restrictions on freedom of thought and creativity, he explained.

Women were a special target for groups whose mindsets viewed them as incompetent persons who are nonessential partners in societys battles for survival and construction.

He added that Egypt has suffered from the complex, deep, and extensive effects of terrorism over recent decades, a matter that has led the state to push ahead with efforts to restore security and stability based on the fact that both are necessary for development.

Terrorism activity throughout 2014-2015 had reached an unprecedented level in the countrys history, Okasha said. Following the 30 June Revolution in 2013, there had been several terrorist attacks. However, as a result of the countrys efforts, terrorist activities had retreated since then, he added.

The study, when finished, will offer a comprehensive Egyptian approach to reducing the repercussions of terrorism on the social, economic, political, and cultural sectors, he said.

It clarifies how terrorism begins as soft terror that seeks to intimidate the state and society through an ideological system that expands within institutions and society and later turns into hard terror that targets inflicting material sabotage and destruction, Okasha said.

Head of the project and member of the ECSS advisory board Gamal Abdel-Gawad said violent actions could be the tip of an iceberg. In like manner, terrorism could have its roots in society, culture, and the economy. Several steps precede the moment in which an individual becomes involved in terrorism, he added.

It is our work to find them, he said.

Mondays symposium tackled the preliminary findings of the research and strategies to reinforce the pillars of the modern state during two roundtable discussions.

Economic expert Abdel-Fattah Al-Gebali, principal researcher for the projects economic axis, pointed out that terrorism has taken a heavy toll on the countrys tourism sector, public expenditure, and economic development.

Initial findings had showed that direct losses in the tourism sector due to terrorism, especially from 2011 to 2016, had hit nearly $64 billion.

Terrorist operations had also affected the rate of public spending on vital sectors such as health and education, he noted. The government has increased its spending and investment in those sectors to offset the withdrawal of private investment in order to maintain living standards, he explained.

But the increased rate of spending had led to an increase in the budget deficit, which was why the researchers had found a direct link between terrorist acts and the deficit, he added.

Development rates had also witnessed a decline on the heels of terrorist incidents as a result of a decline in foreign and private investments.

Mustafa Al-Feki, a prominent diplomat and political commentator, said that poverty was a time bomb for Egypt as it represents an incubation environment for terrorism.

Poverty is one of the causes of frustration and this results in a rejection of reality that may be expressed by adopting violence, Al-Feki said. Poverty is not the only influential factor, but it is an important incubator for terrorism, he added.

Al-Qabbaj said that her ministry was facing up to terrorism by providing social protection, supporting economic empowerment, and entrenching citizenship.

The ministry and ECSS plan to hold a series of symposia to expand dialogue on the project, she added.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 14 April, 2022 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly.

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Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukri is in the US capital this week for a new round of talks with US officials.

Egypts Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukri arrived in Washington DC on Tuesday for talks with his US counterpart Antony Blinken and other US officials and congressional members.

A Foreign Ministry statement released on Monday said Shoukri would be in Washington this week for an official visit. This visit comes in the framework of intensifying communications and consultations between the two friendly countries  Egypt and the United States  as well as reinforcing the distinguished strategic relations between them, and exchanging views about a number of important regional and international issues of mutual concern, the statement said.

Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Ahmed Hafez pointed out that while in Washington Shoukri would meet Blinken and a number of US administration officials, in addition to holding meetings with several US Chamber of Commerce members, think tanks, and strategic research centres.

A delegation from the American Chamber of Commerce in Cairo (AmCham) paid a Door Knock Mission visit to Washington between 28 March and 2 April to boost economic and investment relations between Egypt and the US. The delegation, led by AmCham President Tarek Tawfik and President of the Egyptian-American Businessmen Council Omar Mehanna, said the visit to Washington had focused on attracting new American investments to Egypt. It also discussed how Egypt has been negatively impacted by the Russia-Ukraine war as it is the worlds largest importer of wheat and that 80 per cent of its wheat imports are from Russia and Ukraine, not to mention that 20 per cent of Egypts tourist inflows originate from those two countries, an AmCham report said.

The last meeting between Shoukri and Blinken was just two weeks ago when they attended the 27-28 March Negev summit in Israel. They joined the foreign ministers of Israel, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Morocco to discuss a number of key issues, including Iran, the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and the war in Ukraine. Spokesperson Hafez tweeted that Minister Shoukri and his US counterpart Antony Blinken held talks during the summit to tackle a number of international and regional issues as part of maintaining consultation and coordination concerning issues of mutual concern.

Shoukris last visit to Washington was in November 2021 when he and Blinken kicked off the first round of the US-Egyptian strategic dialogue under the administration of US President Joe Biden. An official statement said Shoukri and Blinken noted that 2022 would mark the centennial of US-Egypt diplomatic relations and reaffirmed the importance of the US-Egypt strategic partnership and identified areas in which to deepen bilateral and regional cooperation, including economic and commercial affairs, education, cultural issues, consular affairs, human rights, justice and law enforcement, and defence and security. They also agreed to hold the dialogue on a regular basis.

Mohamed Al-Orabi, a former foreign minister of Egypt, said regular consultations between Egypt and the United States and talks between the foreign ministers of the two countries were important to maintaining strong relations between the two countries. As we are seeing quick developments at both regional and international levels, the most dramatic of which is the war in Ukraine, so it is important that the two countries discuss these developments and exchange views on them, Al-Orabi said.

Tarek Al-Khouli, a member of the House of Representatives Committee of Foreign Affairs, believes that the war in Ukraine will be on the top of the agenda of the talks in Washington this week. The meeting with Blinken in Washington also comes a few days after Shoukri and other Arab foreign ministers visited Moscow to hold consultations on the war in Ukraine.

Al-Khouli said he believed there was agreement in Egypt that sanctions against Russia had caused harm to national economies around the world, including Egypt. Though Egypt voted in favour of condemning Russias invasion of Ukraine in the UN General Assembly early last March, it rejected the anti-Russia economic sanctions as they are outside the framework of the international system, and that these kinds of sanctions always cause adverse humanitarian effects, Al-Khouli said, expecting that the discussions between Shoukri and Blinken on the issue will be intense.

Al-Khouli believes that other regional issues such as elections in Libya, political developments in Sudan, and conflicts in Syria, Lebanon and Yemen will also be on the agenda of Shoukris talks in Washington.

Al-Khouli also noted that climate change will be a major topic of discussion as Egypt is scheduled to host the COP27 in Sharm El-Sheikh in November. It is clear that the US allocates great importance to this conference and that this is clear in the fact that Egypt and the US set up a joint working group to coordinate climate policies ahead of the COP27 summit, said Al-Khouli.

US Climate Envoy John Kerry paid a two-day visit to Egypt in February during which he held talks with President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi and Shoukri who is the COP27 president. Kerry, a former US secretary of state and presidential candidate, said the US is confident Egypts leadership of COP27 will give much needed momentum to international efforts on climate change.

Many local political analysts, however, believe that the relations between Egypt and other Arab-US allies  particularly Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates  on one hand and President Biden on the other are not as warm as they were with his predecessor Donald Trump. Prominent Egyptian political thinker and Senator Abdel-Moneim Said said in a TV interview that the US is aware of Egypts influence in the Middle East and the Arab world and this explains why it is always keen that the two countries hold talks on a regular basis to exchange views and maintain coordination.



*A version of this article appears in print in the 14 April, 2022 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly.

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Further steps are being taken to expand the use of electric vehicles in Egypt.

In the latest step to boost the greater uptake of electric cars, the Ministry of the Public Business Sector announced on Saturday that 10 companies and consortia had qualified to tender for the management and operation of electric car charging stations in Egypt.

According to the ministry, 14 companies and consortia submitted expressions of interest to manage and operate the Electric Vehicle Charging Stations Company that is still being founded.

The company is scheduled to establish and operate 3,000 charging stations for electric cars within 18 months in the governorates of Cairo, Giza, Alexandria, and Sharm El-Sheikh and on various highways. The estimated cost of establishing it is reported to be LE450 million.

Charging stations for electric vehicles are one of the major prerequisites needed to encourage more people to own them. At the moment, there is little interest in electric vehicles in the local market. The latest data published by the Egyptian Group for Compulsory Vehicle Insurance showed that the total number of electric vehicles licensed in the country had reached about 380 by February 2022.

Besides working on the infrastructure, the government intends to produce Egypts own locally manufactured electric vehicle. In June 2021, the ministry launched the Nasr E70 electric car named after the Al-Nasr Automotive Manufacturing Company, a subsidiary of the Metallurgical Industries Holding Company, after an initial agreement with Dong Feng Motor Corporation in China.

It imported 13 cars with the aim of testing them. However, the two parties eventually failed to reach an agreement.

The project is now back on the table but with a different, as yet unnamed, Chinese company. The official announcement of the name of the company that will co-produce the Egyptian electric car will be announced after the final agreement on all the details, including the price and the percentage of local components.

The cars price will range from LE300,000 to LE350,000 after government support, and it will run for an average of 410 km on a single charge, with a maximum speed of up to 155 km per hour.

Prime Minister Mustafa Madbouly announced earlier that a cash incentive of a maximum of LE50,000 will be provided to each customer of locally manufactured electric vehicles.

Egypts moves to localise the electric car industry are part of the governments plans to reduce emissions in the transportation sector by the transition to the use of environmentally friendly electric vehicles.

According to Hussein Mustafa, former head of the Egyptian Automobile Manufacturers Association, the trend to localise the industry is important as he believes that worldwide there will be no fuel-powered vehicles by 2040.

Electric vehicles have many advantages, Mustafa said, including on fuel. The government has expanded the use of electric buses to save on fuel consumption, and electric cars will also contribute to reducing pollution.

Mustafa pointed out that the local manufacture of electric cars will help to revive feeder industries and give an opportunity to export locally produced vehicles.

The prices for charging electric vehicles were announced in February this year. Charging electric passenger cars at home costs the same as residential electricity consumption, with rates varying according to consumption bracket.

An electric car uses around 20 KW/h to travel 100 km on average, and most cars require about 50 KW/h to fully recharge, a process which, according to Mustafa, does not need more than 40 minutes.

* A version of this article appears in print in the 14 April, 2022 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly.

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By Azernews





By Ayya Lmahamad

Baku has hosted a meeting of the working subgroup on cooperation in the field of personal data protection of the Azerbaijani-Turkish working group on digital transformation.

During the meeting, presentations were made on personal data protection and harmonization of national legislations of the two countries in this area.

Speaking at the meeting, Electronic Security Service Head Shahin Aliyev briefed on the basic principles of the legislation of Azerbaijan on personal data protection, legal reforms in this area, as well as projects that plan to be implemented in this direction.

He emphasized that the work to be done between the two countries in the field of personal data protection will contribute to the development of existing ties.

Azerbaijan was represented at the meeting by a delegation led by Digital Development and Transport Ministrys electronic security service head Shahin Aliyev. From Turkey, the meeting was attended by Personal Data Protection Authority President Faruk Bilir and representatives of the Turkish Digital Transportation Office.

It should be noted that the agreement to establish the Azerbaijani-Turkish working group on digital transformation was reached during a meeting held on February 18, 2021, in Ankara between Digital Development and Transport Minister Rashad Nabiyev and President of the Digital Transformation Office of the Presidency of the Republic of Turkey Ali Taha Koch.

Azerbaijan and Turkey collaborate in a variety of economic fields and have completed major energy and infrastructure projects such as Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan, Baku-Tbilisi-Kars, and TANAP.

Turkey imports Azerbaijani natural gas through the South Caucasus Gas Pipeline (Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum) and TANAP. Azerbaijan supplies gas to Turkey only from the Shah Deniz field. The supplies have been made since July 2007.

In 2021, Azerbaijan and Turkey signed the Shusha Declaration on Allied Relations, which focuses on defence cooperation, promoting regional stability and prosperity, and establishing new transportation routes.

The two countries set up a goal to bring the mutual trade turnover to $15 billion in 2023. As of 2021, the trade turnover between the two countries amounted to $4.6 billion. It should be noted that so far, Turkey is Azerbaijans second-largest investor followed by the UK.

Additionally, Turkey was one of the first countries that expressed its interest and readiness to participate in the restoration of Azerbaijans liberated territories.
The truce in Yemen is unlikely to stop the conflict between the Houthis and the Yemeni government, but it remains a turning point for a country ravaged by war.

Saudi Arabia has said that it intends to pull out of the war in Yemen yet remain involved in it politically. However, the fate of the UN-sponsored truce between Riyadh and the Houthi rebels in Yemen depends as much on internal dynamics as it does on regional powers, particularly Iran, which has facilitated it.

Nevertheless, the central conflict between the Houthis and the new Yemeni government appears likely to drag on.

The Yemeni National Dialogue sponsored by the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and held in Riyadh from 29 March to 7 April produced three major outputs. First, the participants resolved to relinquish military solutions to the Yemeni crisis and prioritise political means, especially the UN-sponsored negotiating track with the Houthis.

Second, they stressed the need to accelerate the implementation of the provisions in the Riyadh Agreement between the Yemeni government and the Southern Transitional Council (STC) in the framework of efforts to address the Southern Cause in Yemen and to combat corruption in the government.

Third, and most importantly, the conference resulted in an overhaul of the government in Yemen and a transfer of power from President Abd Rabbu Mansur Hadi to an eight-member presidential council representing the north and south equally and headed by Rashad Al-Alimi.

The Dialogue participants also formed six follow-up committees on political, security, military, economic, humanitarian and media affairs. A participant in Riyadh speaking to Al-Ahram Weekly on condition of anonymity said that the political committee had not made arrangements for the transfer of power from Hadi to the presidential council, as these had been worked out in secret consultations among parties on the sidelines of the activities.

He confirmed that those involved in forming the presidential council, a process overseen by Hadi, had taken the decision to bring on board representatives of the countrys political forces as an alternative to a vice-president, a post previously held by Ali Mohsen Al-Ahmar.

Another purpose of the council was to curtail the influence of the Al-Islah Party on government decision-making processes. It was because of this powerful influence that the formation of the council came as a surprise to many participants at the dialogue, the source said.

The transfer of power brings to a close a decade of the Hadi presidency of the internationally recognised Yemeni government. But rather than establishing a new system of government or institutionalised political order, Hadi merely entrenched a system of patronage formed by an alliance between some members of the old regime and the Yemeni Muslim Brotherhood, as embodied in Al-Islah Party, as it is also known.

Since this had been a major source of discontent among affiliates of the Southern Movement, it had been taken for granted that the influence of Al-Islah had to be reined in, but without excluding it entirely.

Perhaps a more important aspect of the new authority is how it reflects a gradual reversion to the rules of power in Yemen. These were clearly articulated under the former regime of president Ali Abdullah Saleh, but they were later modified to suit developments.

The Saleh eras tribal alliances have given way to an alliance of political forces. Even if this is still more in form than in substance, given the tribalisation of politics in Yemen, the transformation reflects how some political quarters have learned the lessons of the Yemeni conflict.

But it is still too soon to judge the durability of the alliance and Rashad Al-Alimis ability to manage it.

The second major factor at this crucial turning point in the Yemeni conflict is Saudi Arabias determination to disengage from the crisis militarily seven years after it launched the war to reinstate the government in Yemen on 25 March 2015. The Yemeni National Dialogue in Riyadh coincided with the UN-sponsored Muscat Process, which has succeeded in concluding a truce between the Houthi Movement and Saudi Arabia.

Whether or not this leads to a durable ceasefire agreement, it should be borne in mind that this is not a sign that an end to the war in Yemen is in sight. Instead, it signals an end to the Saudi involvement in that war. All the parties are aware of this, as is clear from developments on the battlefield.

The truce has gone into effect between the Houthis and Riyadh while the fighting continues on the ground in Yemen. But the blockade of the Hodeida Port has been lifted to allow in fuel supplies, and arrangements are under way to resume operations at Sanaa Airport in accordance with conditions established in the truce.

These steps are in keeping with the Houthi initiative that led to the Muscat Process, although it might be termed the Iranian initiative because officials from Tehran and the Houthi leadership have used similar terms. Both have spoken of the need to lift the restrictions on the Houthis, to which Riyadh responded with an agreement to alleviate the restrictions as a gesture of good faith.

Saudi Arabia stands to benefit strategically from its disengagement from the conflict. In repositioning itself, it will no longer give the impression that it is a main belligerent in the war and will thus be able to perform other functions, such as acting as a political broker.

From its long experience in the conflict, Saudi Arabia has concluded that the Yemeni war is interminable and that its only option is to set an end point for its involvement. But as its discourse in GCC-sponsored meetings has made clear, this is only militarily, and it will continue to play a key role in other ways.

In addition to serving as mediator, it could also work to contain the crisis, strengthening its own defence infrastructure to intercept missile strikes in Saudi Arabia and working with regional and international partners to counter any spillover from the Yemeni war that might threaten strategic maritime routes or other regional and international interests outside Yemen.

The transition to a new governing authority and other outcomes of the National Dialogue have not ushered in a roadmap or inclusive process to end the Yemeni conflict, however. The Houthis were not present at the talks in Riyadh, which means that other chapters lie ahead in this protracted conflict that some predict may last another seven years. Given the composition of the new governing authority and its attitudes towards the Houthis, it is premature to speak of a genuine peacemaking project in Yemen.

The negotiating tracks that led to the current turning point reveal that a deal-making mindset continues to prevail over a comprehensive solution mentality among all the key stakeholders. In striking the deal with Riyadh, the Houthi leaders sought to save themselves from a popular uprising or revolt of the hungry that seemed imminent in the light of the deterioration in living standards and public services in the areas under Houthi control.

The movement may also take advantage of the respite from its confrontation with Riyadh to redirect its energies towards the domestic front and use its advantages to delineate spheres of influence between itself and the new government.

The same applies to the new presidential council. It may not be in its interests to reach a political settlement with the Houthis under the current balance of power, which generally favours the Houthis. However, if the council resolved to pursue a military course to alter that balance, it would have to contend with the problem of how to do that without a major part being played by the Saudi-led Coalition that has backed the government militarily until now.

It is to the councils advantage that most of its members serve in political or military capacities on the ground in Yemen, conferring on it a legitimacy that the Hadi government lacked. But perhaps it is best to view the new council more as a kind of coalition than an alliance, since its various members represent different political currents or projects. One trend may try to produce a new edition of the former regime.

This camp, headed by Salehs nephew Tarek Saleh, would be especially hostile to the Houthi project, which has supplanted the old regime on its home ground in Sanaa. The STC, whose president, Aidarous Al-Zubaidi, is also a member of the new council, will leverage its position to advance the aims of the Southern Movement, which had once sought autonomy, if not independence, from the north.

The STC will also be able to capitalise on the weaker position of the Al-Islah Party, though this will not exempt it from its obligations under the Riyadh Agreement, which in part aims to redirect the movements energies into the project of the unified state.

The Houthi-Saudi truce reflects positive developments in the talks between Riyadh and Tehran, as Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Abdollahian suggested recently. The truce itself would not have occurred without Irans support.

But the truce also reflects the Iranian-US priority of reaching an understanding on a return to the Iranian nuclear deal with the West and the US-Saudi priority of reversing the escalatory trend in Yemen. What happens next will depend to a large extent on external variables and the relations between the regional powers and Washington.

If the Yemeni question has embarked on a new phase after having been significantly restructured, it is impossible to say whether this turning point can be translated into breakthroughs that will lead to a countrywide ceasefire and a comprehensive roadmap steering the country to stability and peace.

Perhaps what can be hoped for in the short to medium term is a partial breakthrough as a result of Riyadhs ability to reposition itself in a way that enables it to help contain the conflict and subsidiary crises such as the Southern question.

That said, even the limited de-escalation made possible by the truce should not be underestimated as a critical turning point for a country that has been ravaged by seven years of war.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 14 April, 2022 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly.

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In order to resolve its political crisis, Iraq may need foreign help, but that could only work if external actors stopped affecting the conflict, writes Salah Nasrawi

Hadi Al-Amiri, the leader of the Iran-backed Shia militia Badr Organisation, is the kind of Iraqi politician who is used to bragging. Last week he boastfully accused the British government of meddling in Iraqs politics.

We have information from a foreign intelligence service that confirms your constant intervention in Iraqs political situation, Al-Amiri told the British ambassador in Baghdad Mark Bryson-Richardson during a meeting.

Even by the chaotic standards of Iraqi politics that was a stunning statement. Al-Amiri, who has no official status, was not only discussing Iraqs government crisis with a foreign envoy but also accusing that envoys government of interfering in Iraqs affairs.

The next day, when Al-Amiri received both the Italian and the German ambassadors to Iraq, his office issued a bizarre statement declaring that their talks centred on the countrys chronic political paralysis.

It is not unusual for Iraqi politicians to have talks with foreign leaders and diplomats reviewing the countrys endless stalemate. Some even travel to neighbouring countries to build trans-regional connections.

The irony, however, is that this tendency ignores the significant role of foreign interference in exacerbating the messy dynamics of Iraqs post-US invasion politics. It also raises the question of whether tackling the role of external actors could be the solution to Iraqs problems.

Since the 2003 invasion that toppled Saddam Husseins regime, outside powers have been deeply involved in shaping the transition in Iraq, showing the extent to which the country straddles between multiple, regional, and world powers.

While the ruling cliques who run Baghdads dysfunctional government are largely blamed for the rot from within that keeps Iraq broken and on edge, external actors have their share of responsibility for such failure.

Some of these foreign governments were so deeply entangled in the standoff to the extent that they have turned the beleaguered nation into a playground for their geopolitical interests or a battlefield for their proxy wars.

Among the main countries caught up in the Iraqi crisis are Iran and the United States. Tehran and Washington have been supporting the opposite sides of the conflict for many years.

Over nearly two decades, Iran has cemented its influence in Iraq and exercised a muscular policy reflecting its wider strategic objectives of building a political, economic, security and cultural power base after the US invasion.

Irans hegemony over Iraq is now taken for granted thanks to the proxies it has employed to extend its power and political influence and to fend off resistance to its interference.

The United States, meanwhile, is still actively involved in Iraq despite the Biden administration policy of scaling down the US military mission to fight the Islamic State (IS) terror group.

Nearly 12 years after it pulled out most of its combat troops in the wake of the 2003 invasion, the United States still maintains a powerful military presence ostensibly to prevent a resurgence of IS.

While the US counterterrorism mission includes training the Iraqi armed forces and providing them with badly needed intelligence to help deter future attacks, its military power corresponds to the influence it can exercise in the fields of command, control and communication over Iraqs military.

Perhaps more importantly, the United States is playing a leading political role in Iraqs institutions through the two countries bilateral strategic partnership. It exercises remarkable political and diplomatic influence in Iraq with an unparalleled network of domestic, regional and international partners.

Washingtons numerous assets permanently or temporarily deployed to various spheres and sectors in the country seriously hamper Iraqs ability to disengage without paying a heavy political price.

Iraq also remains caught in regional rivalries raging across the Middle East, leaving the battered nation little capacity to chart a way free of the crossfire.

The ongoing conflict in Iraq has fallen to a certain extent along regional sectarian lines, with many Middle East Sunni heavyweights lending support to Sunni Arabs and Kurds.

Unlike Iran, which exercises direct influence in Iraqi politics, some Arab Gulf countries and Turkey are engaging with leaders of the countrys Sunni community through rituals signalling interests in Iraqs events.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is used to publicly hosting Iraqi Kurdish and Sunni politicians in his plush presidential complex in Ankara to demonstrate his support to leaders of the two communities on different levels.

In February, Erdogan received the President of Iraqs Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Nechirvan Barzani and a Sunni delegation led by Parliament Speaker Mohamed Al-Halbousi who is leading the main Sunni political groups in the new assembly.

On the other hand, the United Nations has been a major actor in shaping Iraqs transition and its UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) has never been innocent of affecting the dramatic events of the last 20 years.

As far as the current government crisis is concerned, UNAMI has played a key role in pushing for and organising the troubled election in October. Yet it has failed to help in resolving the countrys gridlock though its mandate to facilitate Iraqs transition and help Iraqis achieve recovery.

Now, Iraq faces an uncertain 2022 as the conflict over forming a new government worsens rapidly and significant tensions persist. The crisis has sharply escalated the political instability in which Iraq has been embroiled for two decades.

It had been hoped that the early parliamentary election of October 2021 would be an opportunity to stifle the ruling cliques control of the main levers of power, but that has not been translated into political s-tability or badly needed reforms.

Iraqs parliament has failed three times to vote for a president or name a prime minister after the Iran-backed alliance blocked the vote in a setback for a coalition assembled by Shia cleric Muqtada Al-Sadr.

Iraq has plunged deeper into an abyss as the 6 April deadline by Iraqs High Federal Court to elect a president was not met, meaning the current caretaker government will continue to run the country and the start of a constitutional logjam.

Ultimately, Iraq appears as deadlocked as ever in its quest to end the cycle of conflicts and political divisions that have marred its national polity since 2003. The root cause of this blunder is the ruling political class who are failing to remove domestic impediments to progress.

Yet, sucked into all the surrounding external conflicts and blatant interference in its domestic affairs, it leaves open the question of whether a much needed political breakthrough in Iraq can be achieved by foreign actors who stake out aggressive roles.

Of course, inviting external actors to help in breaking Iraqs deadlock is by no means an optimal, or even plausible solution, but reversing the effects of their blatant interference could work.

What is clear is that Iraqs new government is entangled in regional conflicts, mainly the US-Iran standoff, Irans nuclear programme crisis and its regional influence, as well as Turkeys ambitions in the regional geopolitical competition.

While resolving all these conflicts in order to help Iraq chart its way to avoid being caught in regional rivalry is still in question, attempts to readjust the external powers strategies may help.

These external powers should realise that Iraqs crisis has reached a dead end and intensifying the face-off between opposing parties could translate into fighting, adding to regional instability.

Therefore, rather than risking the region falling into the grip of greater violence triggered by Iraqs conflict, regional and world powers should take at least partial responsibility to stop the countrys total failure.

One obvious question is how the outside actors can help while they themselves are on the frontlines of the conflict in Iraq. One key step is that these powers should transform their meddling in Iraq into influence to force the opposing sides into agreement.

With such outside pressure, it may become possible for Iraqs embattled factions themselves to forge a compromise on forming a new government and then move the countrys broken transition forward.

In the absence of a tangible, concrete and a concerted strategy by the international community to address Iraqs crisis, stopping the country becoming a playground for external interests remains the best global and regional powers can do.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 14 April, 2022 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly.

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Ethiopia has accused Egypt of being behind proposed US sanctions against the country, a move that will do nothing to avert the plight it is sinking into, writes Mostafa Ahmady

Wars usually come at a heavy cost, particularly when they are not a last resort after trying each and every means to settle differences in a civilised and peaceful way.

However, for the Ethiopian government this is not the case. The perpetrators of the war on Tigray never thought about the dire consequences it would bring. Or, they may have given them a thought, but they never anticipated the extensive level the war would reach and the implications, humanitarian, economic and political, that the warmongers would be required to confront.

At the end of last year, US Congressmen Tom Malinowski (Democrat) and Young Kim (Republican) drafted an anti-Ethiopia bipartisan bill called the Ethiopia Stabilisation, Peace, and Democracy Act (H.R. 6600), which the US House of Representatives passed in February this year.

The bill would authorise the [US] president to impose sanctions on individuals who undermine negotiations to end the conflict, commit human rights abuses, exacerbate corruption, or provide weapons to any hostile party. It would also suspend certain US foreign assistance to Ethiopia and authorise the Administration to help entities investigate and seek accountability for war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide in that country.

Alarmingly, it requires the Administration to oppose loans or other financial assistance from international agencies like the World Bank and International Monetary Fund to the governments of Ethiopia and Eritrea unless for humanitarian purposes until they take steps to end the war and restore respect for human rights.

In other words, as some Ethiopian experts have put it, the bill will send Ethiopia to the level of countries like Zimbabwe, a reference to the harsh economic sanctions once enforced by the West against the regime of the late Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe.

This bill is another killer blow to the government led by Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed after the Biden administration had already removed Ethiopias name from the US African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), a move that has landed a heavy blow on Ethiopias manufacturing industries, particularly leather and garments.

This move, added to Saudi Arabias deportation of 100,000 Ethiopians for illegal residence in the country, foreshadows a rising economic crisis in Ethiopia that will be beyond the governments control and whose real causes need to be addressed if the Addis Ababa regime wants to mitigate its side effects on Africas second most populous nation.

However, instead Ethiopia is once again trying to frame what the Ethiopian elites love to call their archenemy that acts in every possible way to hobble their countrys reform and progress.

Egyptian lobbyist firms have been behind the draconian H.R. 6600 draft bill against Ethiopia and the cosponsor of it, read news carried by the official Ethiopian News Agency (ENA). According to Yoseph Teferi, president of the Ethiopian-American Civic Council (EACC), Egypt has been influencing the US Congress and Senate members to bring collateral damage to Ethiopia in the form of sanctions and isolation. He added that these lobbyists also push for the interests of both Egypt and the Tigray Peoples Liberation Front (TPLF).

The correlation between Egypt and the TPLF has been a readymade recipe for distraction to which the Ethiopian elites have been steering Ethiopian public opinion since the countrys government triggered the war on Tigray some two years ago.

It is hilarious to connect Egypt with the anticipated sanctions against the Addis Ababa government. It does not consider the root causes of the problem as far as the conflict in Tigray is concerned. The failure to address pressing issues in Ethiopia before the outbreak of the Civil War, namely matters like the future of the federal system in the country and a solution to rising discrepancies among its ethnicities, have always remained the real number one cause behind the unstoppable disturbances in the country.

The ineffective management of the conflict and the subsequent heinous atrocities committed by both parties to the war in the regions of Afar, Amhara, and Tigray fall solely on the shoulders of a single party, the Ethiopian federal government, as it could have sought other viable means to settle differences with Ethiopias old guard in the TPLF.

The Ethiopian elites are sweeping their troubles under the carpet. This will not thwart any would-be sanctions, partly because Ethiopian expatriates, who can be counted in their millions in the US, have explicitly spoken up against the Ahmed regime. It seems that the outcry of these expatriates, drawn either from Tigray or even Oromia itself, have been attentively harkened to in the lobbies of US lawmakers.

Satellite images of atrocities committed in Tigray, Amhara, and Afar, as well as authenticated eyewitness reports of crimes against humanity, ethnic cleansing, burning alive, and rape, among others, could not have been given the cold shoulder. These have nothing to do with the conspiracy theory that Addis Ababa has been propagandising for all this time.

The imposition of a ruthless blockade on Tigray to prevent the access of much-needed humanitarian aid and life-saving medicines to the people of the region has been documented by human-rights groups and media reports and above all by the World Health Organisation (WHO), though Ethiopia has officially accused the latters director-general, who hails from Tigray, Tedros Adhanom, of supporting a terrorist organisation just because he is campaigning for an end to the tragedy.

Though Addis Ababa under huge international pressure has announced a one-sided unconditional and unlimited truce authorising the access of aid to the region, it is still trading accusations with the TPLF on who should be held accountable for the failure to deliver it on time. All the cards in Ethiopia have been intermingled, ushering in the kind of complicated situation that the country did not experience even during its darkest moments under the Communist Derg regime.

Pinpointing Egypt as an accomplice in the proposed US sanctions against the country will further exacerbate the already strained relations between Cairo and Addis Ababa over unsettled issues respecting the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD). While Cairo has been striving for years to conclude a binding and legal compromise within a reasonable timeframe on the GERD, Addis Ababa has been keeping busy demonising Egypt and blaming it for the plight the Ethiopians are sinking into under the current regime.

This is further testimony that the incumbent government in Ethiopia will not shy away from exercising its endless blame game, even when the cost is measured in the lives and livelihoods of its citizens.

The writer is a former press attache in Ethiopia and an expert on African and international affairs.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 14 April, 2022 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly.

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Before the current perpetrators of war crimes are held accountable, the prosecution of previous ones is a must, writes Azza Radwan Sedky

T

he images of bodies strewn on the streets and of the mass graves of civilians bound hand and foot and then shot in Bucha near the Ukrainian capital Kyiv have led the world to accuse Russian forces in Ukraine of crimes against humanity and Russian President Vladimir Putin of war crimes.

The international fury over these killings is understandable since these atrocities are unconscionable. Leaders around the world have voiced their condemnation.

Us President Joe Biden has called for Putin to be tried for war crimes, saying that this guy is brutal, and whats happening in Bucha is outrageous. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said that Russias despicable attacks on civilians are more evidence of war crimes. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has claimed that the Russian invasion of Ukraine constitutes genocide and that the Russian forces there are engaged in terrorism.

The Geneva Conventions provide guidelines that must be adhered to during wartime, and some of them are highlighted below. Under the conventions, forces engaged in combat must not deliberately attack civilians, use torture, or take hostages. They must not use chemical or biological weapons.

They must also respect the lives, dignity, personal rights, and convictions of those detained. Persons not taking a direct part in the hostilities, or incapable of performing their combat duties during war, are considered to be hors de combat and are entitled to their lives being respected.

But before we go further, we should define the term whataboutery. This conjoins what and about and compares previous events to current ones in the hope of putting the latter into perspective. The term was coined during the late 1970s when the former Soviet Union, criticised over alleged human rights abuses, referred to alleged abuses committed by the West. What about? emerged.

This article is going to do just that: launch a whataboutery. In all fairness, if previous perpetrators of war crimes and other abuses are not held accountable for the wrongdoings they have committed, how can such charges be applied to current offenders? How can they be held accountable?

The Geneva Conventions will back the whataboutery here, focusing on only a few of the crimes committed during the Gulf War in February 1991 and the invasion of Iraq in 2003.

Respect for the lives of those not partaking in hostilities says the Conventions. In February 1991, Iraqi soldiers retreating from Kuwait and heading home to Iraq during the Gulf War were ambushed by coalition forces led by the US on what came to be known as the Highway of Death, a six-lane highway between Kuwait City and the border of Iraq.

This resulted in the across-the-board destruction of thousands of vehicles and the deaths of their occupants. The exact number of vehicles destroyed remains unknown, but it is estimated to be around 2,000. The exact number of the occupants of the vehicles is also unknown, but a guess would be at least the number of the vehicles.

For ten hours, coalition forces went after the fleeing Iraqi soldiers. The scene the next day was that of an inferno, with thousands of mangled and burnt-out vehicles and quashed and charred bodies strewn across the highway.

The coalition forces were aware that the retreating soldiers were sitting ducks and that they had no intention or ability to fight back. They were not partaking in any hostilities, and yet their lives were not respected. The coalition forces should be held accountable for their deaths.

Do not deliberately attack civilians says the Conventions. The US military launched what it called a shock and awe attack on Iraq in March 2003, killing 7,186 Iraqi civilians in two months, according to journalist Daniel Kenis of LiveStories.

If Putin is to be charged with war crimes, then former US president George W Bush and former British prime minister Tony Blair should also be charged with war crimes over the thousands of deaths that took place during the invasion of Iraq.

A CNN article from 2013 by UK lawyer Michael Mansfield entitled Why Bush and Blair should be charged with war crimes over the Iraq invasion sets out the reasons why Bush and Blair should be tried for war crimes under international law.

According to Mansfield, the aim behind the invasion of Iraq was to remove former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein from power, but regime change, however desirable, is not permitted by the UN Charter. Article 2 of this states that all Members shall refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state. To circumvent this, Bush and his allies fabricated the existence of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq.

Invasion by itself cannot be prosecuted; however, any war crimes that follow can be. This means that to launch an attack with the knowledge that its effect is likely to cause incidental death or injury to civilians or the natural environment will render the perpetrator liable to prosecution, according to Article 8 of the UN Charter.

The use of cluster bombs and depleted uranium in Iraq by coalition forces [euphemistically called collateral damage] against vulnerable civilians falls within this definition, Mansfield says. But will Bush or Blair ever be charged for the crimes committed in Iraq? If charging Putin is approved worldwide, then why isnt it acceptable to charge Bush and Blair?

Do not torture says the Conventions. The crimes committed in Iraq did not stop with the invasion of the country and the thousands of lives lost. Enhanced interrogation techniques, ie torture, were utilised in full in Iraq.

The scandal at the Abu Ghraib Prison is proof of how far the brutality and abuse went. Photographs published in 2004 of what took place in Abu Ghraib were shameful and inhuman, showing naked prisoners heaped into a pyramid, prisoners held down with straps as though they were on leashes, dogs lunging at prisoners, and, perhaps the most repulsive of all, of a hooded man, Ali Al-Qaisi, standing on a box and holding electrical wires.

Another prisoner, Manadel Al-Jamadi, died while being tortured. One photograph showed his corpse in a plastic bag.

Those who committed the atrocities at the Abu Ghraib Prison were tried and convicted in the US but never in an international court. In fact, the idea of having the Abu Ghraib offenders charged in an international court never crossed anyones mind. Today, due to the atrocities that have occurred in Bucha the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court has said that he will open an investigation into potential war crimes committed by Russian soldiers in Ukraine.

Mansfield ends his article by saying that without accountability for Western states, how can we expect the rest of world to respect these principles? Without having previous perpetrators account for their war crimes, we should not expect current ones to be held to account for theirs.

The writer is the author of Cairo Rewind on the First Two Years of Egypts Revolution, 2011-2013.



*A version of this article appears in print in the 14 April, 2022 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly.

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The war in Ukraine means that Egypt must re-examine its options in the highly polarised international order that is now taking shape, writes Hussein Haridy

Speculation abounds about the post-Ukraine world order, with there being a widespread belief that the international system that the world has experienced since the 1990s will not be the same after the war in Ukraine.

There is no consensus on what shape the post-Ukraine world order could take, though some observers tend to imagine it in the historical context of the Cold War. This means that two superpowers will compete for hegemony over world affairs, politically, economically, and financially.

In the Cold War era, Egyptian foreign policy was anchored in the overarching concept of non-alignment. The countries who followed this policy were interested in protecting their national interests without taking sides in the confrontation between the two leading military alliances of the day, NATO and the then Warsaw Pact led by the former Soviet Union.

For Egypt, balancing its relations between the two blocs was not a walk in the park, but it provided us with a freedom of choice that reflected our strategic priorities and interests. Even before the July 1952 Revolution, the political establishment did not favour participating in foreign alliances, and this meant that the concept and spirit of non-alignment was a basic tenet of Egyptian foreign policy throughout the period, save for brief episode between 1979 and 1981, when, going against the popular will, Cairo chose to align its foreign policy with US interests.

This was for two main reasons. The first had to do with peace-making in the Middle East, when, in March 1979, Egypt signed the first Arab-Israeli Peace Treaty. The second had to do with the troubled relations between Cairo and Moscow that had been the main driver of Egypts foreign policy during the rule of former president Anwar Al-Sadat.

A certain rebalancing became the hallmark of Egyptian foreign policy during the 30-year rule of former president Hosni Mubarak. The gradual shift in our policies towards the superpowers was warmly welcomed by the majority of Egyptians and by most political parties and forces in the country. In their view, making peace with the enemy of yesterday should not mean a complete alignment with the US and the West at the expense of our interests with the rest of the world. It should take into account the fact, ignored in the Al-Sadat period, that our strategic interests do not always align with US and Western interests and priorities in our spheres of influence and regarding our national security interests.

The way Washington, NATO, and the European Union have managed the ongoing war in Ukraine behooves us to consider the options facing Egypt in dealing with and surviving the highly polarised international order that is now taking shape.

On 6 April, the foreign ministers of the NATO countries met in Brussels to discuss developments in Ukraine. UK Foreign Secretary Liz Truss called for a complete revamp of NATO relations with Russia, alleging that the age of engagement with Moscow is dead and that the time had come to cast off an outdated approach to handling Russia.

She emphasised, echoing the US Biden administration, that NATO needs a new approach to security in Europe based on resilience, defence and deterrence and that for NATO to remain at the vanguard of global security, it must be bold.

In the meantime, the US administration is in permanent contact with the NATO countries on the new Strategic Concept of the Alliance that is planned to be adopted by the NATO Summit meeting in Madrid at the end of June. The US and Britain have been working hard to create linkages between NATO, whose original theatre of operations has always been Europe, and the Indo-Pacific theatre that last year saw the creation of a new military alliance, AUKUS, including Australia, the UK, and the US.

The final declaration of the last NATO Summit meeting held in the UK in June 2021 made reference to China for the first time since the Alliance was established in April 1949. It would not be a surprise if the Madrid Summit did not take further steps in dealing with China. Needless to say, Russia, after its military adventure in Ukraine, will be looked at differently.

In the light of the important changes in the relations between the US-led West and both China and Russia, relations that will create two competing blocs in the world, Egypt has no alternative but to recommit itself to non-alignment. We have no interest whatsoever in aligning ourselves with one bloc against the other. Admittedly, it will not be easy, but it is the only policy that can guarantee our independence and freedom of action in dealing with the challenges of a coming world order characterised by antagonism and fierce all-out competition, if not outright enmity.

The remarks of the UK foreign secretary should be an eye-opener for the things to come.

The writer is former assistant foreign minister.



*A version of this article appears in print in the 14 April, 2022 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly.

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The international political situation is crying out for a strong third block to contain the seething bilateral polarisation that burst to the surface with the Russian-Ukrainian war.

It is becoming clearer by the day that our explosive world could benefit from a third way, an alternative to the global polarisation that has grown so acute due to the current conflict between the West (the US and its allies) and the East (Russia and its allies). A similar global climate in the 1950s led Egypt, India and Yugoslavia to explore such an option. The Non-Aligned Movement they founded was instrumental to enabling Third World nations to steer their own fate, independently of the influence of the two superpowers. It also made them a force to be reckoned with in international affairs.

What has occasioned this topic today is the UN General Assembly vote, last Thursday, on a resolution to suspend Russia from the Human Rights Council because of the human rights violations it has committed in its war against Ukraine. As the voting took place, one could not help wondering about those responsible for the violations of human rights during the invasion of Iraq and those still violating those same rights in occupied Palestine. Nor could one help remarking on how knee-jerkedly their hands shot up in favour of condemning Russia for atrocities of which those very hands are far from innocent.

But apart from such paradoxes, the most important outcome of that vote was that third bloc of nations, those that refused to bow to the pressures of either the US or Russia, and abstained. Foremost among them was Egypt, whose permanent representative to the UN explained that Egypts abstention stemmed from its opposition to the politicisation of human rights principles.

But the number of abstentions itself was a reflection of the acute East-West polarisation. This is precisely what shaped the philosophy of the Non-Aligned Movement, regardless of how some imagine that this type of philosophy is past its sell-by date and no longer suited to the realities of the current era. Egypt and India were among the 58 countries that abstained in the vote on the resolution against Russia. Many other countries from the global South - the Arab region, Africa and Latin America - also abstained. Another 26 countries voted against the resolution, including China and Russias allies.

Clearly, the international political situation is crying out for a strong third block to contain the seething bilateral polarisation that burst to the surface with the Russian-Ukrainian war. But who will lead it?

*A version of this article appears in print in the 14 April, 2022 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly.

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For a long time in the Arab world, Middle East was a dark, dismal and damnable term. Its invention and reiteration in international forums was seen as conspiracy or academic camouflage, according to my friends and colleagues Ali Al-Din Galal and Gamil Mattar in their seminal The Arab Regional Order. The long held belief was that the Arabs had more than enough historical, geographical and cultural ties to constitute an identity of their own. Some terms for the outer parameters of this identity appeared in an early book of mine, The Arabs and the Geographically Neighbouring States, which referred to Iran, Turkey, Israel and Ethiopia. But the fact remains, the term had strategic implications for the great powers that used it during the colonialist era. From a Eurocentric perspective, the Middle East was located between the Asian Far East and the Near East on the shores of the Mediterranean.

In World War II, the terms geo-strategic connotations changed when Britain created the Middle East Supply Centre (MESC) to promote cooperation among the countries of the region as a way to circumvent interruptions to supplies from Europe due to submarine warfare in the Mediterranean. Although Britain had encouraged the establishment of the Arab League, it was also instrumental to generating the Middle East crisis or conflict between the Arabs and Israel. This perspective shaped the geography of the region for international forums such as the UN, although that geography would subsequently extend to Central Asia after the collapse of the Soviet Union and to North Africa during multilateral peace negotiations in the 1990s. With the emergence of Islamism and its associated terrorist movements, the concept expanded further to include East Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. Nevertheless, to the worlds foreign ministries, the Middle East continued to denote the territory occupied by the members of the Arab League plus Iran, Turkey and Israel. This applies to the great powers military maps, albeit to a lesser degree of precision.

The addition of New to Middle East has occurred frequently in media and academic circles for decades, especially in the wake of major events. One of the best known instances is the title that Shimon Peres gave a book he published during the heyday of the peace process, which occasioned both direct bilateral negotiations between the immediate stakeholders in the Arab-Israeli conflict and multilateral negotiations. The book and the term the New Middle East held up European post-war integration as a model for the countries of the region to emulate. By the turn of the millennium, fundamentalist maelstroms swept the region. Then came the Arab Spring which ushered in widespread upheaval, anarchy and Civil War.

In the latest edition of Foreign Affairs, Mark Lynch offers us The End of the Middle East: How an Old Map Distorts a New Reality. He argues that this region has become so involved and intertwined with other regions, from the Horn of Africa to West Africa and from Asia to the Pacific, in ways that render conventional cartography meaningless. But, just as the new reality is embodied in a sprawling web of inter-regional relations, so too does it reflect the conditions and interplays in this region, as shaped by the cumulative outcome of events since the beginning of the 2010s.

One aspect of this reality manifests in the profound reformist drives that various Middle Eastern nation states have pursued in response to a decade of widespread spasms of domestic strife and foreign interventions. These drives have generated new demands for regional cooperation to advance common interests, whether in gas and oil, expanding markets for trade or fighting terrorism. Secondly, the costs of regional conflict have necessitated a series of talks and negotiations to reduce tensions in the region as a whole. These have calmed the Qatari crisis, opened channels for dialogue with Iran and Turkey, paved the way for the Abraham Accords between some Arab states and Israel, and opened the doors to the Eastern Mediterranean Gas Forum which brought about a thaw in the decades-long cold peace between Isreal and Egypt and Jordan.

Other important meetings between key regional leaders have followed, the most important being the recent Negev Summit which resulted in six ongoing working groups. Only one of these has to do with regional security and confronting Iran. The others focus on energy, tourism, health, education and food and water security. The third and, perhaps, the most important dimension of the new reality is the US departure from the region. This has combined with the complex Chinese and Russian processes of revising the world order as it emerged after the end of the Cold War. A byproduct of these dynamics is the current war in Ukraine, the consequences of which have ricocheted into the Middle East, affecting above all the realms of food and energy.

The upshot of these multifaceted developments is the need for various forms of regional cooperation, regardless of former disputes and conflicts. It is absolutely clear that the countries of this region must rely on themselves to defend their immediate interests and work together towards this end. Their awareness of this could be seen in how closely aligned they have been in their positions towards the Ukrainian crisis. While they have condemned the Russian invasion of Ukraine, they oppose Western sanctions against Russia and have kept their channels open with both Russia and China. Further testimony to this awareness is to be found in the ceasefires and restoration of calm in Yemen and Libya.

This trend is not new to the region. In the last half of the 1970s, President Anwar Al-Sadat ushered in a similar dynamic when he wed the reformist Open Door economic policy domestically to the peace offensive he launched with Israel. Despite his assassination, his foreign policy initiative has remained a part of diplomatic and political heritage premised on the need to change the political environment in order to build new relations in ways that benefit from experiences elsewhere in the world. The model, here, is not Europe but rather regions closer in spirit, such as East and Southeast Asia, where cooperation and stability were wrenched from the jaws of regional contradictions and conflicts.

New Middle East is emerging from the bowels of major conflicts and an extremely complex and sharply polarised international climate. It is most immediately informed by these countries need to place their pressing mutual interests first and to rely on fellow nations with the political will to work together through political and diplomatic processes that are still in their formative phases and feeling their way forward. Although this birth has overcome many forms and phases of resistance and negative propaganda, obstacles still lie ahead within each country. At one level it is as though, having been accustomed to the climate of conflict for so long, the region perceives efforts to dispel that climate as a form of weakness or unacceptable compromise. But there are also political forces actively hostile to the process. Foremost among them are the Islamist groups whose extremism has led them to pronounce every existing government heretic and who are forever ready to fan the flames of crises and historic complexes, such as the Palestinian cause, despite how prepared Palestinian leaders are to deal with difficult and changing situations.

In all events, it is still too early to judge the exploratory process that is still at the outset and requires the will to study and probe ways to progress to more advanced levels.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 14 April, 2022 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly.

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Directed by Youssef Marzouq and written by Mohamed Gamal El-Din Raafat, Al-Khatem Al-Masy (The Diamond Ring, 1961) is regarded as the first crime series in the history of Egyptian television, established in 1960. In 1963, the genre gained in popularity when Nour El-Demerdash made Hareb min Al-Ayam (Fugitive of the Days), with a script by Faisal Nada based on a novel by Tharwat Abaza.

Crime stories were the focus of suspense thriller makers until screenwriter Saleh Morsi and director Yehia El Alami made the espionage series Dumou Fi Oyoun Waqiha (Tears in Bold Eyes, 1980), starring Adel Imam and based on Egyptian General Intelligence files. They followed up with Raafat Al-Haggan (1988), a huge, three-season hit starring Mahmoud Abdel-Aziz, also based on previously classified information. Both played on patriotic sentiments notwithstanding the 1979 peace agreement between Egypt and Israel and the push for normalisation.

More recently espionage drama has focused instead on the war on terrorism, with the antagonist being unnamed foreign rather than Israeli intelligence. This year in Al-Aaedoun (The Returnees), screenwriter Baher Dewidar and director Ahmed Galal draw on General Intelligence files in which officers gathered information about Islamic State (IS). The main characters are the officer Omar (Amir Karara), his superior Nabil (Mahmoud Abdel-Moghni) and his IT colleague Nadin (Amina Khalil). There is a human dimension to the character evident from the first episode. Nadines mother (Safaa Al-Toukhi), who is suffering from a terminal illness, dies at the end of the episode, leaving her father (Mohamed Hassib) so depressed he will not talk to anyone. Omar must take care of his daughter for a week since his divorcee is going to Dubai for work, while Nabils wife is desperate to have a child as the couple suffer from a fertility issue. All three characters must leave their families for a risky operation.

In the first two episodes the script follows Hussien or Abu-Mosaab (Mohamed Farrag), a deputy of the IS security commanders planted by Egyptian intelligence many years before. When he informs Omar of a planned operation he is exposed and burned alive, but another exposed undercover agent successfully escapes. Every couple of episodes a new adventure comes up, with the overall plot line looking thinner and thinner though the general theme is how to deal with IS violating Egyptian national security. Although the first and the second episodes were very promising, the flow of the drama and the suspense is not moving the way it should be. Perhaps this is because the series has two purposes at the same time: to create a traditional suspense-action drama and to draw the publics attention to the great effort of the intelligence and the security forces to eliminate terrorist activities in Egypt.

***

Over the past two years, director Peter Mimis TV series Al-Ikhtiar (The Choice) kept gaining momentum. The first season, written by Baher Dewidar, framed its hero-villian story in a classic drama format with the story of two military officers. One is a commander in Egypts special forces in northern Sinai killed in an ambush made by the terrorist Islamic Jihaists at Al-Barth village near Rafah in 2017. The other is deserter who joins first Ansar Beit Al-Maqdes in Sinai and Libya, where he forms his own Al Qaeda-affiliate Al-Mourabitoun before being executed in 2020. The second season, The Choice: The Shadow Men, written by Hani Sarhan, focused on the challenges the police faced while securing Egypt after the ouster of Mohamed Morsi and the Muslim Brotherhood (MB) following the nation-wide protests of 30 June on 3 July 2013.

This year, The Choice: The Decision  also by Sarhan  returns to the last few months before Morsis ouster to document different arenas of life in Egypt and give a broader view of what led to the military decision to end MB rule. Before the opening credits, a few shots depicting the last few minutes before the declaration of 3 July hint at the subject. The drama is multilayered. One layer concerns ordinary people such as Mahmoud (Mahmoud El-Bezzawi), an old and disciplined government employee who is passed over for a promotion in favour of a less expert colleague who happens to be a member of the Muslim Brotherhood, and Maurice (Nour Mahmoud), a Christian pharmacist who faces the aggression of an extremist customer while refusing to give in to the desire of his wife Irine (Samar Morsi) to emigrate now that the MB are in power.

The second layer, perhaps the main part of the drama, concerns National Security officer Zakaria Younis (Karim Abdel-Aziz) following the terrorist group known as Madinat Nasr Cell, the Military Intelligence officer Mustafa (Ahmed Al-Saqqa) investigating terrorist activities in Sinai, and the General Intelligence officer Marwan (Ahmed Ezz) intercepting a cargo of weaponry arriving by ship. All three cases seem to lead to the MB leadership. At first sight the fact that all three officers happen to be old friends feels forced, but the screenwriter adds plenty of human detail as he did in the last season. Mustafas wife is suffering from a rare, life-threatening condition. Marwans father, a judge, is also ill, while Marwan himself is interested in a girl named Basma (Mirna Nour El-Din) with a view to marrying her. Zakaria, for his part, keeps visiting the family of his informer  who was murdered by the terrorists  in order to help them. He also visits Ali (Mohamed Abu-Dawoud), a former major general in National Security who was dismissed following interference from the MB.

The third layer concerns what is happening at the highest level, with discussions between Field Marshal Mohamed Hussein Tantawi (Ahmed Bedier) and Major General Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi (Yasser Galal), or between the newly appointed defence minister Al-Sisi and Major General Abbas Kamel (Gamal Solieman). The series also depicts the members of the Muslim Brotherhood Guidance Office like the supreme guide Mohamed Badie (Abdel-Aziz Makhyoon) along with figures such Mohamed Morsi (Sabry Fawwaz), Khairat El-Shater (Khaled El-Sawy), Mahmoud Ezzat (Magdi Said), Saad Al-Katatni (Bayoumi Fouad) and Mohamed Al-Beltagy (Hesham Ismail). While the acting in the first and second layers is fair, it is less so in the third, since that requires imitating characters from real life, though El-Sawy and Makhyoon invented their own versions of Al-Shater or Badie. The script covers such events as the Rafah Massacre of 5 August 2012, Al-Shaters decision to give Mohamed Morsi the legitimacy to discharge Defence Minister Tantawi, and the Al-Ittihadiya protest in December 2012, in which peaceful protesters including journalist Al-Husseini Abu-Dief were killed.

Besides his talent in action direction, Mimi uses a documentary technique in almost every episode, ending it with real footage of political meetings that involved members of the MB. Such footage helps to explain some of the MBs true intentions to exercise complete control over Egyptian politics. In one episode Morsi is seen with Al-Sisi and Tantawi in the latters office at the Defence Ministry after the presidential elections of 2012, in which Morsi seemed to be warning the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) of serious consequences on the streets should there be a change in the results of the election. This footage has not been shown before regardless of the fact that most Egyptians know how the MB threatened Supreme Council of Armed Forces at that time.

* A version of this article appears in print in the 14 April, 2022 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly.

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Close long-time friend and colleague, prominent writer and journalist Jill Kamil passed away peacefully in England on 28 March.

Born and raised in Kenya, Jill moved to England in 1951 where she met her husband-to-be, Nabeeh Kamil, an Egyptian artist and professor at Ain Shams University. They married in Germany in 1954, and then settled in Cairo. It didnt take long for Jill to fall in love with Egypts rich culture and history, and when Jill and Nabeeh Kamil divorced in 1972, she opted to remain in Egypt.

Jills early years in Egypt were punctuated by frequent camping trips at Ain Al-Sokhna  the warm spring  on the Red Sea. At the time Ain Al-Sokhna was virgin desert land, crisscrossed by the sparkling blue water of the spring and home to flamboyant flowering cacti and other blooming vegetation. Inspired by the areas visual splendour, Jill wrote her first book, The Red Sea.

The book led to Jills decision to become a professional writer and document Egypts Pharaonic sites and cultural history. She proceeded to study under the guidance of scholars in the field, including Egyptian Egyptologist Abdel-Moneim Abu Bakr, and professor of Egyptology at the American University in Cairo Kent Weeks. She was also a student of the eminent archaeologist Labib Habachi, whom she admired and whose biography she wrote.

Jill became a prolific writer of historical guidebooks, beginning with Luxor: A Guide to Ancient Thebes, the first guidebook to look closely at the material remains of a specific site and narrate the art and social history of its inhabitants. Published in 1973, it was followed by Saqqara and Memphis: A Guide to the Necropolis and the Ancient Capital; Upper Egypt: The Antiquities from Amarna to Abu Simbel; Aswan and Abu Simbel, and The Ancient Egyptians: Life in the Old Kingdom.

In addition to other works on Egyptology, Jill also wrote several histories of the Coptic Christian Church. Christianity in the Land of the Pharaohs, published in 1985, was hailed as groundbreaking by RAWI magazine.

Drawing on personal travel to all the Christian sites of Egypt, and conversations with scholars, monks, museum directors and scores of lay Egyptians both Copt and Muslim, the author tells us about the fundamental importance of Coptic religion and culture in Egypt. Weaving together historical research with absorbing stories she offers a captivating insight into a side of Egypt that will be new to many readers, said the magazine.

Labib Habachi: The Life and Legacy of an Egyptologist, published by the American University in Cairo Press in 2007, is another of Jills groundbreaking works.

The book provides an Egyptian perspective on archeology over a span of a hundred years, Jill explained in the introduction. It didnt only focus on Habachis biography, but reviewed the scholarly achievements of his predecessors, including Selim Hassan (1886-1961), who carried out excavations at Giza that equaled in size and productivity those of any foreign mission working in Egypt at the time; and Ahmed Fakhry (1905-1973), well-known for his pioneering studies on the oases of the Western desert.

Habachi, who ranked among the most insightful and productive of Egyptian scholars in the field, was marginalised for most of his life.

He had an encyclopedic knowledge of the subject of his specialization, he was an invaluable source concerning the results of fieldwork, wrote Jill. Habachi struggled relentlessly to carve his way into the annals of a discipline traditionally dominated by Western scholars many of his most perceptive archeological observations, based on a deep understanding of ancient history were only recently recognized because they cast doubts on earlier European conclusions.

His most important manuscript, The Sanctuary of Heqaib  containing his findings on Heqaibs mausoleum on Elephantine Island, was shelved in the Egyptian Antiquities Department for 30 years.

This was to preoccupy Habachi until his death, wrote Jill. The Sanctuary of Heqaib was finally published by the German Archeological Institute in 1984, shortly before Habachis passing.

Jill spelled Habachis, and other scholars, marginalisation by the powerful foreign archaeological missions, as well as by the Antiquities Department. She was unafraid to criticise the powers that be, both foreign and local, for suppressing the research and achievements of Egyptian archeologists.

The study of Egypts ancient heritage is more closely linked to politics than may be generally supposed, wrote Jill  who courageously challenged the establishment by writing Habachis biography from an Egyptian perspective.

Jills love of the country and its heritage, and her commitment to include peoples voices in her writing, shaped her identity as an Egyptian. As a Kenyan she also had African roots. Jill travelled extensively to Sudan, Uganda, and Tanganyika, and maintained a lifelong interest in, and understanding of, African cultures from the source of the Nile in Lake Victoria to its exit in the Mediterranean.

She regarded herself as an African-Egyptian. At Al-Ahram Weekly, where she worked as the editor of the Heritage page and covered archaeological findings, she would often remind her colleague and friend, Gamal Nkrumah  the son of former Ghanaian president Kwame Nkrumah and his Egyptian wife Fathia Risk  that they were the only African-Egyptians working at the paper. Their shared sense of identity created a special bond between them, and they would often discuss African history and politics, a topic of passionate mutual interest.

Jills work was highly regarded at the paper, where she worked from 1994 to 2010. She was especially supportive of younger colleagues.

Reem Leila, now an established journalist, remembers her first professional encounter with Jill:

I have always respected and cherished this lady. It happened that I once wrote an article for her page, and it was my first time. I remember her telling me: I loved your piece, you have written it as an expert. I never forgot the look in her eyes as she thanked me for the article.

Amira Noshokaty added: I have known Jill since I was a fresh graduate. She was always smiling and generous with her thoughts and words. We shared the same room for years. She was young at heart, knew Egypt inside out, and kept encouraging me to take walks, and to take the road less travelled. Every story I wrote back then made me discover myself.

Reham El-Adawi recalled that, on arriving to work at the paper, Jill immediately made her feel safe. Jill encouraged me to travel to areas I had never been before. She taught me everything about travel writing. She encouraged me to talk to the excavators she knew who were working at particular sites, and taught me how to tour a museum  often little known museums  and write about it.

Jill Kamil is survived by her second husband, Michael Stock, a retired British diplomat; her daughter Tamara Rostom who lives in Denmark; her son Waheeb (Ricky) Kamil and his wife Christine who live in the US; her grandchildren: Natasha, Nadine and her husband Peter Hansen, Dina and her fiance Nicklas Graversen, and Marc; great-grandson Tristan; her sisters, Dorothy in South Africa and Suze in London, and her brother, John in Los Angeles.

* A version of this article appears in print in the 14 April, 2022 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly.

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A year after its official inauguration and reception of the royal mummies, the National Museum of Egyptian Civilisation will present the art of Egyptian textiles throughout history, writes Nevine El-Aref

Egypt has been rich in textile production since the earliest communities began to appear in the country, and it has been reflected in the art of clothes and fabrics.

The ancient Egyptians wove beautiful linen robes and embroidered textiles, some miraculously preserved. During the Coptic and Islamic eras, intricate textiles were made telling the stories of wars, miracles, and saints.

To present this history, a Textile Museum was established in the Mohamed Ali Pasha Sabil in Al-Muizz Street in Islamic Cairo displaying 250 textile pieces and 15 carpets dating from the late Pharaonic era through to the Coptic and Islamic ages.

Among the objects on display are tools used by the ancient Egyptians to clean clothes, along with illustrations demonstrating the various stages of laundering clothes in ancient times. Monks robes, icons, and clothes from various times in the Islamic era are also exhibited.

But time has taken its toll on the building, and it is now to be restored. To protect its treasured collection, the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities has decided to transfer the artefacts to the National Museum of Egyptian Civilisation (NMEC) in Fustat, where the temporary exhibition hall is now being prepared for the inauguration of the Egyptian Textile Hall.

Work is at full swing to meet the deadline as the hall will be inaugurated soon.

Mahmoud Mabrouk, an advisor to the minister for exhibition scenarios, said that the hall will put on display not only the ancient textiles collection but also the traditional textiles known in Egypt in modern times. A collection of clothes showing the traditional costumes of Egyptians in all the governorates will be on show.

Among the most important objects on display are a collection of linen robes dating from the Ptolemaic, Coptic, Islamic and modern eras, along with a group of fabrics and ancient spinning and weaving instruments, a model of a textile workshop dating bac k to the ancient Egyptian Middle Kingdom, a statue of an overseer of weavers during the Old Kingdom, and a group of statues and paintings that chronicle fashions through the ages.

The display is enriched with a collection of heritage and traditional fabrics showing the traditional costumes of Egyptians in modern times, specifically from north and south Sinai, Siwa, the Delta, Upper Egypt, and Nubia, and a unique collection of traditional costumes of farmers and Egyptian women, Mabrouk said.

* A version of this article appears in print in the 14 April, 2022 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly.

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By Azernews





By Ayya Lmahamad

The current global situation has demonstrated to everyone that diversifying transportation routes and gas supplies is critical in the face of rising geopolitical conflict and tension.

An unexpected cold spell in Europe has put the continent's countries in a difficult position. Because their gas storage facilities were nearing capacity, the weather forced them to restart drawing fuel. The countries that are Azerbaijan's partners in the Southern Gas Corridor are in the best position in this regard.

Gas supplies to Europe via SGC

With the completion of the TAP (Trans-Adriatic Pipeline) construction on December 31, 2020, Azerbaijan began commercial gas supplies to Europe via the Southern Gas Corridor. The European Commission's Southern Gas Corridor initiative aims to build a natural gas supply route from the Caspian and Middle Eastern regions to Europe. The route from Azerbaijan to Europe consists of the South Caucasus Pipeline, the Trans-Anatolian Pipeline (TANAP), and TAP.

In 2021, TAP transported 8.1 billion cubic meters of gas to Europe. By late 2022, Azerbaijan plans to increase gas supplies to Europe to 9.1 billion cubic meters, and in 2023 the volume of gas supplies is expected to reach 11 billion cubic meters.

Today, the final work on the Interconnector Greece-Bulgaria (IGB), which will transport natural gas from Azerbaijan to Bulgaria, is in full swing. Gas was supposed to start flowing via IGB back in 2020, but the project's implementation has been delayed for a variety of reasons.

The serious energy crisis of last fall and the emerging problems associated with the situation in Ukraine have compelled many to take the issue more seriously.

Trans-Caspian gas pipeline

The Trans-Caspian Gas Pipeline, designed to bring Turkmen gas to Europe, is back on the agenda now.

The Trans Caspian Resources company will build the interconnector, which will connect the Banka Livanova field on the Turkmen shelf of the Caspian Sea with the Azeri-Chirag-Guneshli field, from which Turkmen gas will be pumped via an underwater pipeline to the Sangachal terminal and transported to the Southern Gas Corridor.

However, the company has not yet found the finances for this project and many other issues have not been resolved.

It is worth noting that Azerbaijan has repeatedly offered to construct a connecting pipe and transport Turkmen gas through the Azerbaijani pipeline system. This was hampered by the absence of legal status for the Caspian Sea, a lack of solidarity among the partners, and financial uncertainty.

The company's plans for the Caspian interconnector raised a number of questions, the most important of which is whether Azerbaijan is prepared to provide its gas transportation system to Turkmen gas while putting aside plans to increase its own natural gas production.

"Turkmenistan, the world's fourth-largest gas reserve country, wishes to export its resources to the West via an alternative route. That is understandable. The advantage for Azerbaijan is that this gas will be transported to regional and European markets via our country's gas transportation system," said energy expert Ilham Shaban to Day.az.

He recalled that when Azerbaijan established the Southern Gas Corridor, it stated that it would not close the infrastructure; it is open, and countries with free volumes of gas that want to sell them on western markets can use it.

"But not in unlimited quantities, but in the volume of opportunities provided by the pipeline that are not contrary to our commercial interests," he said.

The Southern Gas Corridor's total capacity is 31 billion cubic meters up to Europe's borders and lower [20 billion cubic meters]. It is currently transporting 10 billion cubic meters of gas within the framework of Shah Deniz-2.

We can export additional 10 billion cubic meters of gas to the European markets within the framework of Absheron-2. This field has 350 billion cubic meters of gas, of which only 50 billion will go to the domestic market and the remaining 300 billion can go to European buyers if the EU lifts the limit on one exporter, Shaban said.

The expert added Europe appears to be planning to abandon gas completely by 2050, and that Azerbaijan is interested in selling the available volumes of gas before that date.

"If we sign a development contract in 2025, it will take us five years to deliver gas to markets and the same amount of time to expand. If we divide Absheron's reserves by the remaining years, we get approximately 10 billion cubic meters per year. And it will be the volume reserved at the project's inception in 2013, to transport all of our gas to Europe," he explained.

"As a result, we should not be overly enthusiastic about the Trans-Caspian Interconnector, but consider the issue from the standpoint of commerce, economics, and numbers," he added.

Last November, the Azerbaijani government published medium-term forecasts for oil and gas production in the country until 2026. According to the forecasts, about 48 billion cubic meters of gas will be produced in 2023, 49 billion in 2024, and about 50 billion cubic meters in 2025.

These figures tell that Azerbaijans role as a gas exporter to Europe will only increase.
It goes without saying that Alexandria has always been looked upon as cosmopolitan, the gateway of east and west. Historians, writers, and poets have long seen the Egyptian coastal city as a place of harmony where people from various backgrounds have lived together peacefully.

However, the western aspect of the city has sometimes received the most attention in books, films, and historical depictions of Alexandria. The Islamic and oriental aspect of the city, though sometimes neglected, is just as rich.

One recent Friday morning, Maysara Hussein, a researcher in the modern history of Alexandria and treasurer of the Heritage, Culture, and Arts Foundation in the city, took Al-Ahram Weekly on a tour around some of Alexandrias richest districts.

Who were the people who gave their names to the citys streets and mosques? And how were they related to Alexandria?

During the Hellenistic period, the area known today as Bahari in Alexandria was the Heptastadium, a bridge that connected the mainland of the city with the Pharos Island and forming what we know today as the Eastern and Western Harbours.

The city was the capital of Egypt up until the Arab and Islamic conquest in 641 CE, when it was moved to Fustat in what today is Cairo. Alexandria then began a slow decline, though throughout the Islamic period it was surrounded by walls, with each gate in them being similar to the Andalusian style, with front wall lower than the inner wall. The city had four main gates: the Bab Rashid (today at Fouad Street from Zohour Square); the Bab Sidra (in the south of Alexandria); the Bab Al-Bahr; and the Bab Al-Akhdar, or the green gate (today in Manshiya). Later, there was also the Bab Khokha established during the Mamluke era.

Bawabeen (gate keepers) were in charge of protecting these gates and were familiar with all the residents in the area. Outside the walls, there were a number of cemeteries, and as the years passed new parts of the city started developing outside the walls and between the two harbours as a result of silt deposits.

In the 16th century CE and after the Ottoman invasion of Egypt, Alexandrias standing continued to worsen, particularly the remains of the ancient city behind the walls. The new city outside them continued to develop but in a rather chaotic way, and some architectural elements from the old city were used in the building of the new city, later known as the Turkish Town.

This eventually led to the hybridisation of styles described by author Mohamed Awad in his Italy in Alexandria: Influences on the Built Environment published by the Alexandria Preservation Trust in 2008.

The new city became mostly inhabited by Andalusian and North African immigrants looking for work at sea. Many of the citys districts even today are named after Moroccan and Andalusian sheikhs such as Al-Agami and Al-Shatbi. According to Awad, the new city resembled that of many Turkish settlements, with narrow irregular streets, very few open spaces, and a dense built environment. This part of the city, known at the time as Al-Qasabah (the neck), was the product of the traditional guilds with all their building crafts and professions.

Even so, by the beginning of the 19th century, Alexandria was little more than a fishing village, according to some observers.

It was not until the beginning of the 19th century and the appointment of Mohamed Ali as viceroy of Egypt that the city started to flourish again, says M Dessouki in his Interrelationship between Urban Space and Collective Memory, a study published by Cairo University in 2012.

Mohamed Alis ambitious plans to revive the once-great city included the construction of a new port and arsenal, the re-digging of the Mahmoudiya Canal, the construction of the Ras Al-Tin Palace, and the establishment of a new European quarter to match those in European cities. In order to attract foreign capital, the viceroy granted lands to immigrant communities as well as capitulations, he says.

These communities settled in the newly established European quarters and each had an elected president and built its own schools, hospitals, and clubs. The Turkish Town also continued to develop and expanded towards the area within the old city walls, what is today the area of Gomrok and Manshiya district, writes UK author Michael Haag in his Vintage Alexandria: Photographs of the City, 1860-1960, published in 2008.

The English writer E M Forster (1879-1970) also described the Turkish Town as picturesque and full of gentle charm.

THE TURKISH TOWN: Walking through the old Turkish Town of Bahari, one often stumbles upon small mosques (zawya) or narrow streets with the name Sidi (my lord), such as Sidi Mefrah, Sidi Al-Hagary, and Sidi Yakout (all mosques and shrines) named after Islamic imams and scholars.

The Weekly started the tour from the Morsi Abul-Abbas Mosque, named after Abul-Abbas Al-Marsi, an Andalusian scholar who came from Murcia (Spain) to settle in Alexandria. He was a student and follower of Abi Al-Hassan Al-Shazli, a prominent Sufi scholar who was the teacher of many prominent Islamic figures such Ibn Atallah Al-Iskandari.

The construction of the mosque started in the 14th century and was pursued by one of the well-known merchants of the time, Sheikh Zeineddin Ibn Al-Qattan, who was visiting it and decided to build a dome on top of the tomb of Al-Marsi. He hired an imam and a servant for the mosque at this time.

In the 16th century, the mosque was renovated by one of his later students, Abul-Abbas Al-Salafi, also buried in the mosque. In the late 18th century, Sheikh Abdallah Al-Maghrabi, a Moroccan pilgrim, expanded the mosque and constructed a fountain. In the 19th century, it was renovated once again by Ahmed Bek Al-Dakhakhni, and in 1857, Mohamed Said Pasha also renovated and expanded the mosque.

In 1929, the Egyptian government decided to rebuild the mosque and develop the area surrounding it, known today as the Midan Al-Masajid, or Mosques Square. It hired prominent Italian architect Mario Rossi to do so, and he went on to build three of the most famous mosques in Alexandria, including the Morsi Abul-Abbas Mosque and Al-Qaed Ibrahim Mosque at Ramleh Station, built in 1948. He also designed the shrine of Al-Shatby Mosque.

Meanwhile, Yakout Al-Arsh Al-Habashi, one of Al-Marsis students who came from Ethiopia to Alexandria as a slave and was set free by Al-Marsi, is buried close to the Morsi Mosque in the Midan Al-Masajid. The mosques architectural style is classic Ottoman, and it has an open court.

BAB AL-BAHR: As its name of Sea Gate shows, the Bab Al-Bahr overlooked the Eastern Harbour of the city, being the main gate of travellers to and from Alexandria.

Behind the gate there was a large area where local emirs used to play a game similar to Polo, as described by commentator Mohamed Abul-Kasem Al-Neweiri, who witnessed the Cypriot invasion of Alexandria in 767 Hijri (1366 CE). He wrote a book, in which he described the citys shrines at the time.

The Bab Al-Bahr was partly demolished at this time, but it was later renovated by an emir named Salaheddin Ibn Araam. It used to stand at the intersection of what today are the Attarin and Sabaa Banat streets.

The Omar Gouda Mosque is another of the hidden gems of this area across from the Ras Al-Tin Palace, and it is named after Sheikh Gouda, a boat builder during the Mohamed Ali period called Al-Rayes Omar. He was hired to work with French engineers due to his exceptional talent.

During the same period, a man named Sheikh Al-Banaa shared a close relationship with the royal family and Ismail Pasha in particular before he became khedive or ruler of Egypt in the late 19th century. During one of his walks to the Ras Al-Tin Palace, he used to pass by the cemetery of Bab Al-Bahr reciting the Quran and praying for those who have passed.

One day, he forgot to say his usual prayers during his walk to the palace. Later that night, he dreamt of a man asking why did you not pray for us. He asked him who he was, and received the answer I am Abdel-Rahman Ibn Hormoz Al-Arag, one of the followers of the Companions of the Prophet Mohamed and the student of Abu Huraira.

The next day, Al-Banaa told of his dream, and one of the people listening to him was a man named Darwish Abu Sen who decided to build a mosque in the same spot he had described. This is what we know today as the Masjid Ibn Hormoz in Ras Al-Tin.

BAB AL-AKHDAR: The Bab Al-Akhdar originally overlooked the Western Harbour of the city, the Selsela area today.

The mediaeval Moroccan traveller Ibn Battouta says that it was known as the western gate and that it opened only once a week, usually on Fridays, as people used to visit the cemetery outside its walls, known as the Tal Walaa Cemetery after Abdel-Rahman Ibn Walaa who was killed during the Islamic conquest of Alexandria.

The gate was also demolished during the Cypriot invasion of the city, but it continued to be opened and closed throughout the Mamluk period. The street where the gate used to exist is known today as Al-Bab Al-Akhdar and leads off Manshiya Square. It is home to a number of hidden gems belonging to the Islamic and Ottoman eras.

Sadly, however, most of the historical spots can hardly be distinguished among the heaps of rubbish around every corner, but despite the neglect some of the mosques are in a relatively good condition. One can also take in the view of the unique minarets of the area.

Today, houses from the Ottoman period are still standing, but they are often in a bad state. Their wooden terraces and balconies were constructed using traditional Ottoman techniques in which wooden boards were fixed and then reed strips were plaited together uniformly to form a surface.

In 1844, the street was established as part of Mohamed Alis development plans for Alexandria, and in the area outside the original walls there was a cemetery that was moved to another part of the city to make way for the construction. The gate gives its name to one of the most notable mosques in the area, the Green Mosque or Western Mosque or Al-Alf Amoud (Thousand Pillars) Mosque. It is distinguished by its green granite fountain for drinking and ablutions.

The mosque was founded by conqueror of Egypt Amr Ibn Al-Aas and is considered one of the oldest and biggest mosques in Alexandria. Historical records by Al-Qalqashandi from the Mamluk era describe the mosque as a remarkable spot where the most prominent scholars of east and west gathered to deliver the Friday Sermon.

Nassereddin Al-Monayar and Sharafeddin Ibn Al-Danini or Sidi Meferah of the Sidi Mefrah Mosque in Fouad Street today were scholars at the Green Mosque. The records also state that some of the Companions of the Prophet Mohamed also took part in the construction of the mosque, which was originally a church named Theonas, built between 282-300 CE, but was demolished during the Arab conquest of the city and the mosque built in its place.

The historical records say that Ottoman Sultan Selim I prayed in the Mosque during a visit to Alexandria. Other records claim that the district saw the first translation of the Jewish Torah into Arabic.

During the French Campaign in Egypt in 1799, the mosque was used as a fort and then became neglected. Mohamed Ali transformed it into a military hospital. During the khedive Tawfiks rule (1879-1892), the land was granted to the Franciscans, who constructed the Church of Saint Rita, which still stands today.

Many of the mosques and shrines in the area were named after Islamic scholars to have their blessings. Some were buried in the area or were seen by people in visions (mashahid roeya). A rich man would have a dream about a sahabi or a sheikh, and he would then decide to build a mosque in his name.

IBRAHIM PASHA MOSQUE: One of the oldest 19th-century mosques in Alexandria was built in 1824 and named after Ibrahim Pasha (not Mohamed Alis son of the same name), who was a landowner and merchant.

He was popular among the community, to the extent that they would ask his opinion on religious matters. He was later exiled by Mohamed Ali, but his mosques foundation panel still exists today.

ALI BEK GENINA MOSQUE: Genina Bek was one of the notable figures of Alexandria during the Ottoman period and was the head of the Alexandrian Merchants Council, having a number of titles.

The land for the Ali Bek Genina Mosque was originally a graveyard belonging to the Zaza family. Genina bought the land and established the Mosque and a fountain (sabil) in 1853. He also established a market in the courtyard surrounding the area as a foundation to serve the mosque.

It is distinguished by its red bricks and was built using the hanging technique, a famous classical Ottoman building style that was particularly common around markets. The mosque stands on todays Al-Bab Al-Akhdar Street.

AL-KALZA MOSQUE: This was built by Dessouki Ibn Abdel-Razak Al-Kalza in 1854, an Alexandrian merchant, and is located in Al-Magharba Street.

Al-Kalza bought three houses surrounding the mosque to pay for its expenses. The three-storey building was built in a domical style and its foundation stone still exists today. In his will, Al-Kalza said that a daily recitation of the Quran should be held every day between the Asr and Maghrib prayers and a scholar should be available for students.

He made sure that the expenses of the mosque would be fully paid after his death, including the payment of the caretaker of the sabil.

NAZIR AGHA MOSQUE: This is named after Nazir Agha, who never lived to see the completion of his mosque, as he died before it was finished in 1851.

The mosque was officially opened in 1854 by Ahmed Bek Norsi, appointed by Agha to complete the construction. It does not have a minaret, but does have exquisitely decorated intricate patterns, evidence of a European style popular in the 17th and 18th centuries.

Agha was close to Moharram Bek, a governor of Alexandria. After his death, a dispute occurred between queen Nazli, Mohamed Alis granddaughter, and Norsi Bek on who owned the mosque. This may explain why it does not have a minaret.

Other notable mosques in the area include the Sidi Suleiman Mosque, said to be one of the students who came from Andalusia to Alexandria with Abul-Abbas Al-Marsi. Egypt and Alexandria in particular were influenced by Andalusian Sufis, and this meant that many mosques were named after Islamic scholars and the Companions of the Prophet or their followers.

Some mosques were also built as a way of getting closer to the people. The mosques were usually built in central areas. The Al-Bab Al-Akhdar, for instance, was a busy market street, and whenever someone built a mosque there it was a way of becoming popular among the people. The residents would see the mosque, ask about its owner, and pray for him. In that way he would become well known, Hussein said.

Other mosques such as the Abu Ali Mosque are also located in the narrow streets of the area. The foundation panel dating back to the Fatimid era is what makes this simple mosque stand out. It is said to have been renovated in the 13th century by an Iraqi named Abu Ali.

The Abu Bakr Al-Tartushi Mosque is named after a man from Tortosa in Spain on his way to pilgrimage in Mecca. He was like many scholars who came from Andalusia to Alexandria on their way to Mecca and decided to settle in the city owing to Egypts major religious status and reputation as the fortress of Islam.

* A version of this article appears in print in the 14 April, 2022 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly.

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Here are the latest developments in the war in Ukraine:

Ukrainians 'surrounded' in Mariupol

Ukrainian forces are "surrounded and blocked" in Mariupol as Russian forces push to take the city, Myhaylo Podolyak, an official from President Volodymyr Zelensky's office, tweets.

The Ukrainian army insists that "the defence of Mariupol continues".

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says he believes "tens of thousands" of people in the city have been killed.

Chemical weapons allegations

Britain says it is trying to verify reports that Russia has used chemical weapons in Mariupol.

Ukrainian lawmaker Ivanna Klympush says Russia has used an "unknown substance" and that people are suffering from respiratory failure.

But an aide to the city's mayor says that a chemical attack has not been confirmed and that they are "waiting for official information from the military".

Russians reinforce in Donbas

Russian forces are reinforcing around the Donbas region, notably near the town of Izyum, but have not yet launched a full offensive, Pentagon officials say.

Ukraine's defence ministry says that Russian preparations are almost over and that it believes a major assault will happen soon.

Austrian leader 'pessimistic'

Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer says he is "rather pessimistic" about the prospects for diplomacy ending the Ukraine conflict after meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Describing Putin as having "massively entered into a logic of war", Nehammer tells reporters "peace talks are always very time-intensive while military logic says: 'Don't spend too much time and go directly into battle'".

Violence against women

At a United Nations Security Council meeting, officials call for an investigation into violence against women during the conflict.

"We are increasingly hearing of rape and sexual violence. These allegations must be independently investigated to ensure justice and accountability," Sima Bahous, director of the UN women's agency, says.

French police arrive in Ukraine

French police officers and forensic doctors arrive in Ukraine to help investigate the discovery of scores of bodies in civilian clothing scattered in Bucha and other towns around Kyiv after Russia's withdrawal from the region.

Ukraine says it has discovered 1,222 bodies in Bucha and other towns.

No EU consensus on sanctions

EU foreign ministers launch discussions on a sixth round of sanctions, but fail to find a consensus, including on sanctions on oil and gas, Josep Borrell, the bloc's top diplomat, says.

Biden, Modi discuss Ukraine

US President Joe Biden and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi have a "candid exchange of views" on the Ukraine crisis at a virtual summit, a senior administration official says, but there is no indication of significant progress toward a unified stance.

Trade growth takes hit

The war could almost halve world trade growth this year and drag down global GDP growth, according to the World Trade Organization.

Ukraine still open to talks

Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba says he is still open to negotiating with Moscow.

"If sitting down with the Russians will help me to prevent at least one massacre like in Bucha, or at least another attack like in Kramatorsk, I have to take that opportunity," he tells US broadcaster NBC.

France expels six Russian diplomats

France is expelling six Russians suspected of working as spies under diplomatic cover in Paris, after the French intelligence services uncovered a clandestine operation, the foreign ministry says.

More than 4.5 million flee

More than 4.5 million Ukrainian refugees have now fled their country, the United Nations refugee agency says.

Ninety percent of those who have left are women and children.

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German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier said Tuesday that he had offered to visit Ukraine with other EU leaders, but Kyiv had told him his trip was "not wanted".

The snub comes as Steinmeier, a former foreign minister, is facing criticism at home and abroad for his years-long detente policy towards Moscow, which he has since admitted was a mistake.

Speaking during a visit to Warsaw, Steinmeier said he had planned to travel to Kyiv with the presidents of Poland, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania this week "to send a strong signal of joint European solidarity with Ukraine.

"I was prepared to do this, but apparently, and I must take note of this, this was not wanted in Kyiv," he told reporters.

Germany's topselling Bild newspaper quoted an unnamed Ukrainian diplomat as saying: "We all know of Steinmeier's close relations with Russia here... He is not welcome in Kyiv at the moment. We will see whether that changes."

The embarrassing rejection comes as Chancellor Olaf Scholz is under fire for not having travelled to Ukraine himself so far, unlike British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and EU leader Ursula von der Leyen.

Steinmeier, a Social Democrat serving his second stint as German president, was a foreign minister in two of former chancellor Angela Merkel's governments. He has long been known for his Moscow-friendly stance.

He has been a leading advocate of the "Wandel durch Handel" (Change through Trade) concept, which argues that fostering close commercial ties can help spur democratic reforms.

Steinmeier also championed the controversial Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline between Russia and Germany, which has now been halted over Moscow's aggression in Ukraine.

Steinmeier recently admitted that his rapprochement approach towards President Vladimir Putin had been misguided.

"I still hoped that Vladimir Putin possessed a remnant of rationality," he told Der Spiegel weekly in an interview.

"I did not think that the Russian president would risk his country's complete political, economic and moral ruin in the pursuit of an imperial delusion."

But he added that his own support for Nord Stream 2 "was a mistake, clearly".

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Economic sanctions have been increasingly used as punitive measures against countries or regimes since the 1950s but their efficacy is still open to debate.

The West is training its guns on Russia with five rounds of sanctions since Moscow's February 24 invasion of Ukraine, but experts warn that they may not immediately help stop the war.

Sanctions have been used on an average of 30 times annually between 1950 and 1990 in over 1,101 conflicts, according to the Global Sanctions Data Base (GSDB), which keeps a detailed record.

They have been used against apartheid-era South Africa, former Libyan dictator Moamer Kadhafi and during the Cuban missile crisis.

The sanctions against Russia include asset freezes, the exclusion of several banks from the SWIFT messaging system, a coal embargo and new restrictions on investments.

European ports have closed to Russian ships, there is a 10-billion-euro ($10.9 billion) ban on exports to Russia, including high-tech goods, and the US Treasury has blocked Russia from using dollars held in US banks to make payments on its foreign debt.

But will they work?

"Sanctions can't turn back tanks, at least not immediately. And we know that the full effects of sanctions won't be felt for weeks, months and years," Juan Zarate from the Center for Strategic and International Studies told AFP.

"This tool boomed when military responses were no longer very popular," said Olivier Dorgans, a Paris-based expert on international financial disputes.

And their use is growing given that the global economy is changing, said Erdal Yalcin, a professor of international economy at Germany's Constance University.

"Over the last 20 years, the world increased in financial integration. Every country is linked to the banking system... The temptation to punish a country with economic instruments has increased," he said.

Apart from aiming to end wars, sanctions have also been used in attempts to stop human rights abuses and to restore democracy.

In a recent interview with AFP, Gary Hufbauer from the Washington-based Peterson Institute, who has written a book on sanctions, said they were only effective in less than one-third of cases when they were used to stop a conflict, especially if they were imposed on small countries.

Unsuccessful at times

"Sanctions are very efficient in terms of economic damage," Yalcin said but warned that "in terms of political change, the success rate is between 30 and 40 percent."

"It is also very difficult to measure the success of sanctions, they come sometimes with other measures, military actions for example in the case of Kuwait," he said.

"Sometimes it also takes time before we observe policy changes, between five and 10 years. The range of time is very broad and sometimes there is no success, like for Cuba."

International sanctions have failed to halt North Korea's nuclear weapons programme, while they have arguably had more of an effect upon Iran by at least bringing it to the negotiating table.

Russia has already felt the economic bite of sanctions.

The World Bank has forecast an 11.2 percent decline in GDP for Russia this year and S&P Global has placed Russia under a "selective default" rating after Moscow said it had repaid about $650 million in dollar-denominated debt in rubles

But the Russian currency has staged a spectacular comeback after a historic collapse on the back of strict capital controls and energy exports.

Zarate said the sanctions regime was not "complete".

"European restrictions on imports of oil and gas would be a major step and a significant measure that would affect Russian revenues," he said.

"It will add a dimension to sanctions that will have ripple effects, including closing gaps with respect to Russian banks that have not been sanctioned or not been deSWIFTED ... Ultimately it will weaken the Russian economy," Zarate said.

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Incumbent French President Emmanuel Macron and far-right leader Marine Le Pen will face off against each other in a presidential runoff vote on April 24, following the first round of the contest Sunday.

Macron won about 27.8 percent of the vote to Le Pen's 23.1 percent, with more than 90 percent of the votes counted.

Analysts had feared there would be a low turnout with pre-election polls forecasting Macron and Le Pen as the likely contenders in the runoff. While long lines stretched in front of some polling stations at midday in northeastern Paris, many other Parisians were out enjoying the spring sunshine. But in the end turnout was better than feared, hovering around 75 percent.

Retiree Paulette Jean-Baptiste was having a hard time choosing among the dozen presidential hopefuls. She was torn between Macron, Le Pen and far left candidate Jean-Luc Melenchon. For Jean-Baptiste, who originally comes from Guadeloupe, cost-of-living worries are a key concern. Taxes are too high, she says, and it's hard making ends meet.

IT manager Marie backed Melenchon, who finished with about 22 percent of the vote -- barely out of the running. But Marie says she believes Macron had a difficult presidency, managing the coronavirus pandemic and now, the war in Ukraine. She says she also thinks France's centrist leader could have had a stronger social platform.


U.S. President Joe Biden told Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi that buying more Russian oil is not in India's interest, as the United States pushes New Delhi to take a harder line against Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Biden told Modi during an hourlong video call Monday that the U.S. is ready to help India diversify its sources of energy, according to White House press secretary Jen Psaki. "The president also made clear that he doesn't believe it's in India's interest to accelerate or increase imports of Russian energy or other commodities," Psaki said.

A U.S. official described the call between the two leaders as "warm and productive," saying Biden stopped short of making a "concrete ask" of Modi on Russian energy imports.

During a short portion of the call open to reporters, Biden started the conversation by highlighting the partnership between the U.S. and India, saying the nations would "continue our close consultation on how to manage the destabilizing effects of this Russian war."

Modi expressed growing concern about the situation in Ukraine, particularly in Bucha, where the remains of many civilians have been found. "Recently, the news of the killings of innocent civilians in the city of Bucha was very worrying. We immediately condemned it and have asked for an independent probe," Modi said.

Modi said he had spoken to Russian President Vladimir Putin and suggested that the Russian leader hold talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Twitter's biggest shareholder, Elon Musk, has decided not to join its board, Chief Executive Parag Agrawal said late on Sunday.

Musk, who calls himself a free-speech absolutist and has been critical of Twitter, disclosed a 9.1-percent stake on April 4 and said he plans to bring about significant improvements at the social media platform.

His appointment to the board was to become effective on Saturday and would have prevented him from being a beneficial owner of more than 14.9 percent of common stock.

But "Elon shared that same morning that he will no longer be joining the board," Agrawal said in a note on Twitter. "I believe this is for the best. We have and will always value input from our shareholders whether they are on our Board or not. Elon is our biggest shareholder and we will remain open to his input," Agrawal said.


Defense Minister Chiu Kuo-cheng told reporters in late March that he would put forward a plan by the end of the year to bolster Taiwan's defenses, which could include extending national service. It's not uncommon in Taiwan to hear the current four-month military system described by young men as a kind of "summer camp" experience, and some citizens think that four months is too short to learn important skills.

Women are not required to undergo the same training, although about 15 percent of the islands professional military is female. Male citizens also have the option of serving alternative service which is community service organized through the Ministry of the Interior.

Most Taiwanese men are required to complete military service, learning basic defense skills with the aim of being able to assist Taiwan's professional military in the event of a war. The government has gradually reduced its military service requirement from two years to four months since the 1990s, but the Ministry of Defense has said that such a short training period may not be enough.

Since taking office in 2016, Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen has focused heavily on improving the image and prestige of the military. She has also made defense a key focus of her administration, with policies of reviewing reserves and improving the quality of the professional military.

Taiwan has a complicated relationship with its military and conscription, due to its lingering associations as enforcers during the island's four-decade martial law era that ended in 1987.

Russia's invasion of Ukraine has brought renewed attention to whether Taiwan's civilian population would be ready to defend the island democracy if it ever faced an invading force from China.

Recent polling by the Taiwan Public Opinion Foundation found that 78 percent of respondents aged 20 and older had "no confidence at all that Taiwan could defend itself." Another 75.9 percent of respondents aged 20 and over said they would support extending military service from four months to one year.

Kharis Templeman, a research fellow at the Hoover Institution and part of the Project on Taiwan in the Indo-Pacific said discussing the length of service was a "step [in] the right direction." "There's the symbolic signaling power of having your entire adult population potentially go through military service as a signal of a willingness to sacrifice and commit to Taiwan's own defense," he said.

Templeman said Taiwan's ability and commitment to defend itself has been questioned in both Beijing and Washington and improving mandatory military service would send a clear signal to both that it is prepared. A second outcome from lengthening military service, Templeman said, is that it could give Taiwan's military a chance to review its reserve system.

Many analysts say it would be helpful if they were recalled as units and not as individuals, functioning like the U.S. National Guard. Male citizens are currently called up at random to review their training which makes it more difficult to maintain comradery. Some key changes, however, have already been made. The government is now testing a pilot plan to recall reservists for two stints of 14 days, up from a week or less to ensure that there is adequate timeto review skills.

Outside of formal training, however, most citizens have few opportunities to practice skills. Civilian gun ownership is restricted in Taiwan to fishermen and indigenous hunters, which means that most civilians cannot practice marksmanship in their spare time.

Lo Chih-cheng, a legislator from the Democratic People's Party who sits on the Foreign Affairs and National Defense Committee, said the war in Ukraine has generated renewed discussion around the need for a "civilian defense force" or an "all-out defense force" that is separate from the military but capable of engaging in irregular warfare. "The current system of four months training, obviously, is too short to train people well prepared for that kind of urban warfare, so it's been discussed widely that maybe we need to extend the duration of our military training for young people," Lo told VOA.

For now, the discussion is academic, but several civilian groups have emerged like Forward Alliance, which trains civilians in skills such as first aid and emergency response, and the Taiwan Military and Police Tactics Research and Development Association, to help with other defense skills.

Lo also said a return to full year of service is unlikely due to the economic impact. Taiwan has a declining population and removing young men from the workforce could have a far larger impact than in decades past when Taiwan had a higher birth rate.

Ivan Kanapathy, a senior fellow at the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments in the U.S., said that length of time spent in military service is not necessarily as important as the quality of training. "The reduction of Taiwanese conscription from 2 years to 4 months was fueled by popular recognition that conscripts were used for mundane manual labor and administrative duties rather than training for combat," he said by email. "Taiwan would have to allocate significantly more resources to live fire and tactical training if it were to reverse course."

Analysts like Kanapathy and Templeman said Taiwan has other challenges it needs to face beyond military service. The war in Ukraine has shown the importance of stocking up on munitions, said Templeman, and the importance of new tech like unmanned aerial vehicles. Both also expressed concern about the direction of Taiwan's overall defense policy, which would dictate how everything from reserve soldiers to weapons should be utilized.

In recent years, Taiwan has pursued a strategy of "asymmetric warfare" to counter the threat from China, but since the retirement of Chief of General Staff Lee Hsi-ming, Taiwan's policy is now less clear, they both said.
The nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln will enter the East Sea this week to take part in drills with South Korean forces.

The U.S. aircraft carrier, which is currently in the East China Sea, is expected to arrive in the East Sea around Friday.

It seems to form part of a show of force amid fears that North Korea will launch a provocation to coincide with regime founder Kim Il-sung's 110th birthday on Friday, either a fresh launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile or a seventh nuclear test.

In November 2017 when the regime's nuclear and missile provocations were at their peak, the U.S. sent a warning message to the North by deploying no fewer than three aircraft carriers in the East Sea.

The Lincoln, a 100,000-ton Nimitz-class aircraft carrier, is 332.85 m long and 40.84 m wide and carries about 80 aircraft, including F-35C stealth fighter jets. The carrier strike group also includes smaller nuclear-powered submarines and Aegis destroyers.

It will remain in international waters for about five days before it joins South Korea-U.S. naval drills.


Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Monday asked Korean lawmakers to send weapons to help his country against the Russian invasion.

Korea "has tanks, ships and various equipment that can block Russian missiles and we would be grateful if [the country] could help us fight back against Russia," Zeleneskyy told the National Assembly via Zoom.

He reminded them that Korea was also helped in the 1950-1953 Korean War by the international community.

In the 15-minute address, the Ukrainian leader thanked Korea for joining international sanctions on Russia but added that more help is needed. Zelenskyy has stayed in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv since the invasion began in February and addressed the assemblies of 23 countries as well as international organizations requesting military support.


By Azernews





By Laman Ismayilova

Azerbaijan and Hungary are celebrating the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties.

This partnership covers all spheres of bilateral cooperation such as political, economic and cultural.

Spectacular gala concert has been held at the International Mugham Center as part of the celebration.

The Hungarian Ambassador to Azerbaijan Viktor Szederkenyi addressed the event.

In his speech, the Ambassador stressed the importance of the diplomatic ties between Azerbaijan and Hungary

He expressed his hope for further strengthening of this partnership in various spheres including the field of culture.

The Minister of Labor and Social Protection of the Population, Co-chair of the Azerbaijani-Hungarian joint Intergovernmental Commission on Economic cooperation Sahil Babayev praised the positive dynamics of economic ties between the two countries.

He noted the special role of the intergovernmental commission in their further development.

Around 50 documents have been signed between the two countries over the past years.

The joint business forums and other events also contribute to the expansion of this partnership.

The Minister said that relations between Azerbaijan and Hungary are also actively developing in the field of science and education.

First Deputy Speaker of the Azerbaijani Parliament Ali Huseynli noted that the Azerbaijani-Hungarian inter-parliamentary relations are at a high level, mutual visits are made, close ties have been established between the committees of the parliaments of the two countries.

Furthermore, the State Chamber Orchestra under the baton of the Honored Artist Ayyub Guliyev, director of the International Mugham Center, People's Artist Murad Huseynov and director of the Heydar Aliyev Palace, Honored Artist Ramil Gasimov performed the works by Azerbaijani, Hungarian and European composers.

Their magnificent performances were greeted with a storm of applause.
Korean memoirs and other bestsellers have been hugely successful among younger readers in Japan recently, providing a welcome boost to a literature that is still too little known abroad.

In the past, most books about Korea that were available in Japanese bookstores were critical of the country.

The first hit was the memoir "I Decided to Live as Me" by Kim Soo-hyun, which had been recommended by a member of super boy band Bangtan Boys, also known as BTS, in 2019.
KYODO NEWS - Apr 12, 2022 - 20:50 | All, World, Japan

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is planning to visit Southeast Asia during the Golden Week holidays starting in late April, seeking to strengthen cooperation amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine and China's growing assertiveness in the region, diplomatic sources said Tuesday.

Kishida is planning to travel to Thailand in early May during his trip that will include Indonesia and Vietnam, while he is also considering visiting Britain and Italy in the holiday period.

During the upcoming Southeast Asia trip, Kishida is expected to underscore cooperation toward realizing the vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific amid China's rise.

In Thailand, Kishida will meet with Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha. The visit coincides with the 135th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries, while Thailand is this year's host of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit.

Kishida's visit to Indonesia, meanwhile, will come as the country prepares to host this year's Group of 20 leaders' summit in November.

In Europe, Kishida is expected to meet British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi to discuss how to respond to Russia's continued aggression in Ukraine and support people who have fled the war-torn country.

But Kishida's itinerary is still under consideration and "may change depending on the situation," one of the sources said.

While the coronavirus pandemic has long stalled in-person meetings, Kishida, who took office in October, has been increasing face-to-face diplomacy after Russia invaded Ukraine in late February.

The prime minister visited India and Cambodia in late March, quickly followed by a trip to Belgium, where he and other leaders of the Group of Seven vowed to keep a close watch on any attempt to help Russia evade sanctions, in a possible warning to countries such as China that may seek to align with Moscow.

Kishida is also scheduled to receive the leaders of other countries in the coming weeks.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is planning to visit Japan in late April for talks with Kishida, with the visit being his first since taking office in December last year.

U.S. President Joe Biden said Monday he is planning to visit Japan in late May for a "Quad" summit also involving the leaders of Australia and India.

It will be Biden's first visit to Japan as president, and the summit is likely to demonstrate increased cooperation between the four major Indo-Pacific democracies as they try to deal with China's rise in the region.
KYODO NEWS - Apr 12, 2022 - 23:20 | All, Japan

The defense ministers of Japan and Italy on Tuesday condemned Russia's aggression on Ukraine as a "violation of international law" and "totally unacceptable," while agreeing to enhance their security ties.

Nobuo Kishi said after meeting with his Italian counterpart Lorenzo Guerini that they vowed to oppose any unilateral attempt to alter the status quo by force, as well as any act that could intensify tensions in the Indo-Pacific region, apparently referring to China's growing maritime assertiveness in the region.

"As members of the Group of Seven, Japan and Italy will keep close communication," Kishi said at a press conference.

At the outset of the meeting, Guerini welcomed progress in technical cooperation in the security field between Japan and Italy. He also referred to possible bilateral cooperation in developing defense equipment such as fighter jets, the Japanese Defense Ministry said.

Japan and Italy signed an accord on the transfer of defense equipment and technology in 2017, which took effect in 2019.
KYODO NEWS - Apr 12, 2022 - 16:31 | All, Japan

Honda Motor Co. said Tuesday it will launch 30 electric vehicle models globally by 2030 and spend about 8 trillion yen ($63 billion) on research and development over the next 10 years.

Honda said it will try to achieve an annual output of over 2 million EV units by 2030 as it accelerates efforts to increase the ratio of electric and fuel-cell vehicles to 100 percent of its overall new car sales by 2040.

Amid intensifying global competition, Honda said it will invest 43 billion yen to build a demonstration line in Tochigi Prefecture for the production of all-solid-state batteries, a key component in making batteries safer and giving vehicles greater range, with the goal of making it operational in the spring of 2024.

Honda President Toshihiro Mibe said in a presentation at the company's headquarters in Tokyo that the automaker will allocate approximately 5 trillion yen in the area of electrification and software technologies.

The 30 new EV models that Honda aims to launch by 2030 will be a full lineup of vehicles ranging from minivehicles for commercial use to high value-added flagship models, it said.

In Japan, the automaker expects to introduce in early 2024 an EV-model minivehicle priced at around 1 million yen.

The automaker plans to launch 10 models by 2027 in China, where it plans to build dedicated EV plants in Guangzhou and Wuhan. In North America, the automaker will introduce two models currently being jointly developed with General Motors Co. by 2024.

"We need to reduce the costs by doing whatever we can," Mibe, who became president roughly a year ago, said of the EV development.

The announcement comes as Honda is stepping up forming partnerships in the EV business.

Honda said last month it will join hands with Sony Group Corp. in producing electric vehicles. The two will set up a new company later this year and start selling EVs in 2025.

Earlier this month, Honda and GM said they will expand their tie-up to include the joint development of a series of affordable EVs, starting sales in North America in 2027.

Honda becomes the latest Japanese automaker to release a new EV business plan, following global peers in the face of the increasing need for zero-emission vehicles to achieve carbon neutrality.

Toyota Motor Corp., the world's No. 1 carmaker by volume, has said it will invest 8 trillion yen by 2030 with a global EV sales target of 3.5 million units that year.

Nissan Motor Co. plans to spend 2 trillion yen on electrification by fiscal 2026.
The Kyoto Shimbun - Apr 12, 2022 - 16:32 | All, Japan, World

In a show of support for Ukrainian students and academic institutions affected by the ongoing Russian invasion, Kyoto University announced last week that it will host students from two partner universities in Ukraine and provide necessary academic and financial support.

About 30 students from the National Technical University of Ukraine "Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute" and Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv will be hosted for one year from April, with tuition fees waived, the university in western Japan said.

The students will be able to earn credits and their stays at Kyoto University could be extended if necessary, it said.

The university has also set up a Ukraine Crisis Relief Fund and commenced seeking donations to help provide the students with financial assistance. Support for living in Japan for the students and their families, such as housing, will be provided in cooperation with local governments in Kyoto.

"It is unbearable to see that young students' desire to study and conduct research is being mercilessly crushed," the university said. "We hope to make every effort to host students who wish to come."

The Kyoto Shimbun

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KYODO NEWS - Apr 12, 2022 - 15:35 | All, World, Japan

Japan's Cabinet approved Tuesday additional sanctions against Russia, freezing the assets of 398 Russian individuals, including President Vladimir Putin's two daughters and the wife of Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, and banning imports of vodka and other goods.

In step with punitive measures taken by the United States and European countries, Japan will freeze assets of 28 more Russian organizations, such as those related to military business, and two more lenders, Sberbank and Alfa Bank. The measure for the banks will be implemented on May 12.

The government will also prohibit Japanese individuals and companies from making any new investments in Russia as it has continued invading Ukraine since late February.

With Putin's daughters -- Maria Vorontsova and Katerina Tikhonova -- added to the sanction list, the total number of Russian individuals, including military personnel and lawmakers, subject to asset freezes by Japanese authorities reached 499.

"To prevent a further escalation of the crisis, realize a cease-fire as soon as possible and stop the Russian invasion of Ukraine, our country must impose tough sanctions against Moscow while working with the international community," said Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno at a regular news conference.

On the same day, Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Koichi Hagiuda said the country will impose import bans on alcoholic beverages, some lumber products and machines from next Tuesday as part of additional sanctions against Moscow.

A total of 38 goods are subject to the ban. The imports are worth some 16 billion yen ($128 million) and account for about 1.1 percent of the country's imports from Russia.

Hagiuda reiterated at a press conference that Japan will accelerate the process of weaning itself off from energy supplied by Russia in line with a Group of Seven pledge made last week to expedite plans to end reliance on Russian energy.

Regarding a plan to phase out Russian coal, Hagiuda said, "At first, we will carefully assess electricity demand for the summer and winter, as well as the influence on industries," but did not elaborate on a specific timeline for stopping the imports.

Russian coal makes up 13 percent of that used for power generation and 8 percent of coking coal, used for steel manufacturing and other industrial productions in Japan.

The minister ensured that Japan will make up for the cut by diversifying energy sources and suppliers and encouraging energy-producing nations, except Russia, to increase output.

A trade ministry official explained goods subject to import bans had been selected because other suppliers could provide them, and the impact on the Japanese economy will not be significant.
KYODO NEWS - Apr 12, 2022 - 15:55 | All, Japan, Coronavirus

Around 30,000 foreign students have arrived in Japan since March when the government eased COVID-19 border controls, education minister Shinsuke Suematsu said Tuesday.

The government estimates around 110,000 overseas students were waiting to enter Japan as of last month after being kept out for roughly two years by the country's strict border restrictions.

It aims to accept all those waiting by May, and the minister said progress toward that goal is "generally going well."

Japan's long-running and stringent border controls drew fierce criticism from impacted students and academics ahead of the April start of the school year.

In late November, Japan effectively imposed an entry ban on nonresident foreign nationals to limit the spread of the highly transmissible Omicron variant of the coronavirus.

But Japan's measures were later relaxed to allow businesspeople, students, and returning Japanese nationals and foreign residents to enter. The border remains closed to tourists.

The daily cap on overseas arrivals has been increased in phases -- up to 7,000 from 5,000 on March 14 and to 10,000 from Sunday.

The government has prioritized foreign students by allocating them empty seats on weekday flights into Japan.
KYODO NEWS - Apr 12, 2022 - 21:35 | All, Japan

Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi is planning to visit Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan starting in late April, Japanese government sources said Tuesday, in an apparent effort to counter growing Chinese clout in Central Asia.

Tokyo also plans to host a meeting of foreign ministers from five countries in the region, also involving Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan, by the end of June to discuss measures to enhance their economic relations, the sources said.

Japan and the five countries launched the foreign ministerial dialogue in 2004 for regional development. In 2020, they held a videoconference, agreeing to cooperate in responding to the coronavirus pandemic.

China continues to invest in large-scale infrastructure in Central Asia through its "Belt and Road" initiative. President Xi Jinping held online talks with leaders from the same five nations in January, discussing regional security.

At the planned meeting, Japan is expected to warn of such financing by China amid concerns it could saddle recipient countries with loans they cannot repay. Hayashi will likely highlight the quality of Japanese investment and also announce assistance in fighting the pandemic, the sources said.

This year marks the 30th anniversary of Japan's establishment of diplomatic ties with the five Central Asian countries following their independence from the former Soviet Union.

During the tour, Hayashi is also considering stopping in Mongolia, where he would meet his counterpart and other officials to seek support in resolving the issue of North Korea's past abductions of Japanese nationals, the sources said. Mongolia maintains close ties with North Korea.
DAMASCUS, April 8 (Xinhua) -- Syrian reinforcements arrived Friday in desert regions in the central and northern parts of the country, preparing to launch a new campaign against remnants of the Islamic State (IS) group, a war monitor reported.

The Syrian military backup reached the Rasafeh desert in the northern province of Raqqa, the provincial capital of which is the de-facto capital of IS, and the Sukhneh desert in the central province of Homs, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

The UK-based watchdog group said the imminent military campaign aims to comb those areas to track down IS militants.

With its massive defeat in 2018, the IS militants are still present in the Syrian desert, carrying out frequent attacks against Syrian military vehicles and positions, resulting in dozens of casualties.

In March, 13 Syrian soldiers were killed by an IS ambush in the desert of Homs. 
By Azernews





By Laman Ismayilova

The National Drama Theater has celebrated the120th anniversary of the theater and film actor Ismayil Osmanli.

At the event, People's Artist Haji Ismayilov spoke about the actor's merits in the Azerbaijani theater and cinema.

He noted that Ismayil Osmanli worked in the drama theater for many years where he embodied many images, including the image of Haji Naib in the play " A bunch of crazy people" staged by People's Artist Mehdi Mammadov.

The theater productions where he performed did not leave the stage for many years. It suffices to cite as an example the production of "Aligulu gets married" which was shown more than 300 times.

Haji Ismayilov added that Ismail Osmanli contributed not only to theatrical art, but also to domestic cinema. He played in such famous films as "Nasimi", "My seven sons" and many others.

Ismayil Osmanli was one of the founders of the realistic school of Azerbaijani theater and cinema. The actor played many characteristic images in the theater and cinema. He was nicknamed "the master of film episodes", which were even more memorable to the audience than the main characters.

The actor especially succeeded in comic roles and the embodiment of negative charismatic images in the films.

Among his most famous roles in the theater were Bahadurbek (In 1905), Mashadi (Dead Men), Isidor Chakeli (Don't Worry, Mom), Khalil (Alighulu Marries) and many others.

The event in memory of the actor continued with the play "A bunch of crazy people" based on the play of the same name by Jalil Mammadguluzadeh.

The theater production staged by the Honored Art Worker Bahram Osmanov brought together People's Artist Siyavush Karimi (music), People's Artist Nazim Bekkishiyev (artist), Mehman Fatullayev ( director on duty), Rafael Hasanov (lighting designer), Narmin Hasanova (director's assistant) and Jeyhun Dadashev (choreographer).
BEIJING, April 12 (Xinhua) -- Song Tao, head of the International Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee talked with Boris Gryzlov, chairman of the Supreme Council of the United Russia party on Tuesday via video link. They had indepth exchange of views on inter-party exchange and cooperation and other issues of common concern. 
TASHKENT, April 12 (Xinhua) -- After 30 years' development, China's cooperation with the Central Asian countries has strengthened, which will benefit all, an Uzbek expert has said in a recent interview.

Relations between China and Central Asian countries have moved to a new strategic level, said Eldor Tulyakov, the executive director of the Uzbek Development Strategy Center, referring to an online summit of the heads of state of Central Asia and China held in January and the Beijing Olympics as highlights.

He said the summit marking the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Central Asian countries and China shows the common interest of the two sides in further developing mutually beneficial and multilateral cooperation.

"Moreover, the participation of the five heads of Central Asian states in the opening ceremony of the 24th Olympic Winter Games in Beijing underlines that the relationship between the countries of the region is at a high level of strategic partnership," he said.

As regards China's trade and economic relations with the Central Asian states, he said China is among the leading trade and investment partners of the region.

Trade between China and Central Asian nations has grown by more than 100 times in the past 30 years, and the stocks of China's direct investment in the five countries exceeded 14 billion U.S. dollars, the Chinese Ministry of Commerce announced in January.

Speaking of a series of major projects jointly launched in agriculture, healthcare, electricity and the textile industry in the region, he said these projects "have directly accelerated the process of modernization of the regional countries and led to an improvement of the lives of a large number of the population."

"The dynamic and progressive development of mutual trade and investment gives a qualitative impetus to the socio-economic development of our states," Tulyakov said, highlighting such projects as Central Asia natural gas pipeline, Kazakhstan-China oil pipeline, China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan and China-Tajikistan highways, as well as the Peng Sheng industrial park in Uzbekistan and the Dushanbe-2 thermal power plant in Tajikistan.

He expressed confidence that further efforts to integrate national development strategies of these countries, for example, the alignment of the New Uzbekistan Development Strategy for 2022-2026 with China's Belt and Road Initiative, will contribute to the success of joint major projects.

These projects, he said, "will be practically beneficial not only to the peoples of our countries, but also to other countries of the world." 
NEW YORK, April 12 (Xinhua) -- At least 13 people were injured during a shooting at a subway station in the New York borough of Brooklyn Tuesday, and several undetonated devices were found on the spot, local authorities announced.

"In regard to the multiple people shot at the 36th Street subway station in Brooklyn, there are no active explosive devices at this time," the New York City Police Department said on Twitter, appealing citizens to avoid the area of the 36th Street and 4th Avenue area in Brooklyn.

U.S. President Joe Biden has been briefed on the latest developments regarding the New York City subway shooting, according to the White House.

Press secretary Jen Psaki tweeted on Tuesday morning that White House senior staff are in touch with New York City officials to offer any assistance as needed. 
Video: Dai Bing, China's deputy permanent representative to the United Nations, calls for an early end to the conflict in Ukraine in order to fundamentally solve the humanitarian crisis and spare women and children from violence. (Xinhua)

Only by ending the conflict as soon as possible can the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine be fundamentally solved and can women and children be kept away from violence, says the Chinese envoy.

UNITED NATIONS, April 12 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese envoy on Monday called for an early end to the conflict in Ukraine in order to fundamentally solve the humanitarian crisis and spare women and children from violence.

Women and children are the most vulnerable to violence, and should be given priority protection in armed conflicts, said Dai Bing, China's deputy permanent representative to the United Nations.

"We call on parties involved in the situation in Ukraine to strictly abide by international humanitarian law, effectively protect women and children, respect and guarantee the civilian nature and safety of facilities such as schools and hospitals, and provide special care to women and children in evacuation, rescue, and medical assistance," he told a Security Council meeting on Ukraine.

China deplores that dozens of civilians, including women and children, were killed or injured in the attack on Kramatorsk train station. The relevant circumstances and specific cause of the incident must be established and verified, and any claim should be based on facts, he said.

Residents walk near damaged buildings in Mariupol, April 10, 2022. (Photo by Victor/Xinhua)

A large number of Ukrainian women and children have taken refuge in neighboring countries. China appreciates these neighboring countries and other countries for opening their borders and providing shelter and humanitarian assistance. All refugees, regardless of skin color, race, or religion, should receive equal protection under international refugee law, said Dai.

The humanitarian needs of Ukraine and neighboring countries remain immense. Relevant UN agencies should continue to mobilize and coordinate international support for humanitarian assistance for all those in need. The special needs of women and children should be considered, and targeted medical treatment, psychological counseling, and social services should be provided to them. And children's rights to education should be ensured, he said.

"We are deeply concerned about reports that women and children seeking asylum were subjected to abduction, human trafficking and abuse," he said. "We call on international agencies such as UN Women, the UN Children's Fund, the UN Refugee Agency, and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights to strengthen monitoring and support relevant countries to take measures to resolutely prevent this group of people from being harmed a second time."

Dai stressed the need to bring an end to the conflict.

Only by ending the conflict as soon as possible can the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine be fundamentally solved and can women and children be kept away from violence, he said.

Local residents are seen outside the damaged buildings in Mariupol, April 7, 2022. (Photo by Victor/Xinhua)

"Dialogue and negotiation are the only way to peace. We support the parties involved to continue negotiations, strive to overcome difficulties and differences, create conditions for a cease-fire, and make positive efforts so that women and children can see the dawn of peace at an early date. All other parties in the international community should do more to facilitate dialogue and negotiations, and create the necessary environments and conditions for progress in the negotiations," he said.

Simply imposing sanctions and sending weapons will not bring peace. The ever-intensifying extensive and indiscriminate sanctions have triggered food and energy crises and soaring prices for necessities, for which the entire world population is paying a heavy price. Tens of millions of women and children in Afghanistan, Yemen, the Horn of Africa, and the Sahel have been hit the hardest, said Dai.

"China once again calls on all parties to exercise restraint, adopt a responsible attitude, and make constructive efforts to properly resolve the crisis in Ukraine and restore peace at an early date," he said. 
Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits a section of a tropical rainforest national park to learn about efforts to protect the environment and biodiversity in Wuzhishan, south China's Hainan Province, April 11, 2022. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)

HAIKOU, April 12 (Xinhua) -- Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, has stressed the importance of boosting national park development in Hainan Province.

Xi made the remarks during his visit to a section of a tropical rainforest national park in the city of Wuzhishan on Monday.

Xi highlighted the need to fully understand the strategic significance of Hainan's national park development to the country, and urged continuous and solid efforts in this regard. 

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits a section of a tropical rainforest national park to learn about efforts to protect the environment and biodiversity in Wuzhishan, south China's Hainan Province, April 11, 2022. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)
JINAN, April 12 (Xinhua) -- While 35-year-old Dai Ji loves to host dinner parties, she does not have the same passion for cooking. Lucky for Dai, she can host without hassle thanks to the growing trend and availability of ready-made food.

"More people around me including my parents are showing an increasing appetite for ready-to-eat foods. Such dishes save me the trouble of cooking," said Dai, a resident of Jinan, capital of east China's Shandong Province.

The rising popularity of the "prefabricated food" industry has galvanized investors into the field in recent years.

"Back in 2017, we turned some of our restaurant's best-selling items into ready-made dishes, and it turned out to be a huge success," said Hou Mingjing, marketing director of Shandong Camry Commercial Group, a catering company.

During the weeklong Spring Festival holiday this year, the company sold close to 200,000 sets of their star product Fotiaoqiang, a traditional thick soup made of varieties of seafood and meat.

Meituan Maicai, an online grocery platform in China, reported that sales for prefabricated food in 2021 increased by four times compared with the previous year.

The growing trend has fueled the business of ready-to-eat food makers and bodes well for the long-term market.

China's current market size of prefabricated food is about 300 billion yuan (47 billion U.S. dollars), with the potential to expand to a trillion yuan in the next six to seven years and more than 3 trillion yuan in the long run, according to a report released by Shenzhen-based research firm AskCI Consulting.

Zheng Simin, chairwoman of Shandong Delisi Food Co., Ltd., believes that brand, quality, and innovation are the keys to winning in the prefabricated dish market. Delisi has established a research center, with more than 30 professionals specializing in ready-to-eat dishes.

"Consumers care about the taste, appearance and nutrition of such products. It needs the support of innovation and research," Zheng said.

Many local Chinese governments are tapping the massive market of ready-to-eat foods. In November 2021, the agricultural and rural affairs department of south China's Guangdong Province launched measures to rev up the prefabricated dish industry. In February, a ready-made meal industry association was established in Shandong Province.

Rady-to-eat dishes are in connection with rural revitalization and consumption reform, and such products will pull the transformation and upgrading of local agriculture and food industry, said Ding Ruiying, deputy director of the development and reform bureau of Zhucheng City, Shandong. 
by Xin Ping

BEIJING, April 12 (Xinhua) -- One of the most atrocious absurdities ever in human civilization would be the fact that a person sitting in an office thousands of kilometers away could draw a line and decide the fate of billions of people on the other side of the continent, where they have been dwelling for thousands of years.

That is what happened to the vast land of South Asia, when British colonists unfolded a world map and dropped the ink while drinking tea, drawing the demarcation lines that have plunged the subcontinent into conflicts and disputes.

THE RADCLIFFE LINE: GRIM REAPER'S SCYTHE

In June 1947 when dusk fell on the British empire, in line with the Mountbatten Plan that prescribed the Partition of India, Britain appointed Sir Cyril Radcliffe, a lawyer "who had never been east of Paris," to chair two boundary commissions, one for Bengal and one for Punjab.

It's not hard to imagine that Radcliffe's hasty demarcation, based on outdated maps and little specialized knowledge, was doomed to fail. To make matters worse, the Radcliffe line was not announced until both India and Pakistan declared independence, forcing the Muslims and Hindus to rush to their new homes.

The Grim Reaper raised his Scythe when 14.5 million people fled across the new boundary in the first few years after the partition: massacres, rapes and torture claimed two hundred thousand to two million lives and turned the subcontinent into a hell. Particularly, the ambiguity over Kashmir directly resulted in wars and conflicts between India and Pakistan in the following decades.

Did Radcliffe make an unconscious and inevitable mistake? It was more like colonial Britain's old tactic "divide and rule" than a coincidence. After all, the British colonists were apt at employing this strategy to incite tension between Hindus and Muslims during the "Great Mutiny" in 1857 to consolidate its rule.

THE MCMAHON LINE: APPLE OF DISCORD

It has been a remarkable spectacle in human history that China and India, two of the greatest Asian civilizations that had prospered for thousands of years, have maintained peaceful exchanges for almost an equally long period of time. But during the last century, an apple of discord was thrown between the two giants by the British colonists.

In March 1914, Henry McMahon, foreign secretary of British India at the time, imposed a line at the Simla Convention to push the China-India border a hundred kilometers north to the crest of the Himalayas. The delimitation of the "McMahon Line," fulfilled by a British spy named Fredrick Bailey through illegal activities of surveying and mapping, was never recognized by the then Chinese government.

As Aitchson's Treaties, the official publication of the treaties signed by the colonial government, did not include the illegal "McMahon Line" agreement, Olaf Caroe, deputy foreign secretary of British India, obtained the British government's permission to withdraw the original volume and publish a revised one in 1938 which not only included the "McMahon Line" but also carried the original date of 1929. In this way, Caroe was able to revise the official maps of India to mark the "McMahon Line" as the new boundary. The plot was approved by the India Office of the British government in July 1936, and ordered to make the change "unobtrusively" without notifying the press. Working secretly, Britain created a dispute out of nowhere between China and India.

THE DURAND LINE: PANDORA'S BOX

In an attempt to expand colonial ambition and seek advantage in the "Great Game" against Russia, the Durand Agreement, which incorporated parts of southern Afghanistan into British India, was imposed onto Afghanistan by Britain in 1893 after two Anglo-Afghan wars, formally acknowledging the Durand Line as the border of the British sphere of influence. The line, cutting through the Pashtun tribal areas, politically divides ethnic Pashtuns, Baloch and other groups living on both sides of the border. Such an unreasonable maneuver was designed to make trouble, and indeed, an anti-Britain campaign quickly broke out in June 1897, where Britain sent 40,000 troops to suppress the unrest.

Yet it was rather the start than the end of misfortune falling on this land: a pandora's box has been opened for Afghans who were trapped repeatedly by hegemonic exploitation ever since. The British retreated from South Asia, but the seed of conflict they planted has grown, and the Anglo-Afghan dispute was transformed into a scar for Afghan-Pakistan relations, making the border one of the most dangerous on earth.

Undoubtedly, Britain's toxic colonial legacy is the root cause of most territorial conflicts in South Asia today. The British colonists have manipulated border disputes to sow seeds of distrust and hatred among different religions, nations or regions, so as to maintain or expand its sphere of influence. When the colonists are gone, those disputed border lines turn into permanent scars or wounds that continue to bleed. Enditem

(The author is a commentator on international affairs, writing regularly for Global Times, China Daily etc.. He can be reached at xinping604@gmail.com.)
BEIJING, April 12 (Xinhua) -- A five-year plan on the guidance and development of family education has been released by 11 relevant agencies, including the Ministry of Education and the All-China Women's Federation.

The ultimate goal is to build a guidance system for family education that serves both urban and rural areas, improve the mechanism of school-family-community cooperative education, and ensure that children can grow up healthily, according to the plan.

By 2025, the number of guidance service providers for family education will be increased substantially, a professional workforce will be basically formed, and the supply of relevant social resources will be greater, says the plan.

It also specifies efforts to revamp family education policies, explore paths for launching guidance institutions, and expand the building of education venues for parents in primary and secondary schools, kindergartens and communities that conduct regular guidance sessions. 
Wang Yang, chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference National Committee, meets with Italian Senate Speaker Maria Elisabetta Alberti Casellati via video link in Beijing, capital of China, April 12, 2022. (Xinhua/Liu Weibing)

BEIJING, April 12 (Xinhua) -- China's top political advisor Wang Yang met with Italian Senate Speaker Maria Elisabetta Alberti Casellati on Tuesday via video link.

Wang, chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee, said that China and Italy enjoy traditional friendship, and their bilateral relations have developed soundly and steadily.

Wang said China will join hands with Italy to implement the consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, tap cooperation potential, jointly build the Belt and Road, deepen people-to-people and cultural exchanges, and promote the development of their comprehensive strategic partnership.

He noted that the CPPCC is willing to strengthen exchanges and cooperation with the Italian Senate to push forward China-Italy and China-EU ties.

Casellati said that the Italian side stands ready to work with China to deepen friendship, boost cooperation and actively support and promote the development of EU-China ties. The Italian Senate is ready to strengthen exchanges with the CPPCC to contribute to bilateral ties. 

Wang Yang, chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference National Committee, meets with Italian Senate Speaker Maria Elisabetta Alberti Casellati via video link in Beijing, capital of China, April 12, 2022. (Xinhua/Liu Weibing)

Wang Yang, chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference National Committee, meets with Italian Senate Speaker Maria Elisabetta Alberti Casellati via video link in Beijing, capital of China, April 12, 2022. (Xinhua/Liu Weibing)
By Azernews





By Vugar Khalilov

The chairman of parliament's international relations and interparliamentary relations committee, Samad Seyidov, and Turkish ambassador to Azerbaijan Cahit Bagci have discussed prospects for bilateral mutual cooperation, Azertag has reported.

Satisfied with the meeting, Seyidov spoke of the two countries' brotherly and cordial relations. He stated that relations between Turkey and Azerbaijan were improving in all areas and that the two fraternal nations supported each other in all matters.

He stressed that the Shusha Declaration signed by the Azerbaijani and Turkish presidents in June 2021, raised the fraternal relations between the two countries to a qualitatively new level.

The MP recalled the significance of the first meeting of parliamentary committees, which took place in Shusha on April 8, as well as the Memorandum of Understanding on the training of "Caucasian Eagle" special forces signed by the governments of Azerbaijan, Turkey, and Georgia.

The parliamentary committee head stated that legislative cooperation between the Azerbaijani and Turkish parliaments is at a high level and the two fraternal countries' MPs support each other in international organizations.

Expressing gratitude for the cordial meeting, Bagci spoke about the work carried out to further strengthen high-level Azerbaijani-Turkish brotherly and friendly ties, as well as the bilateral and multilateral cooperation platforms that have been formed.

Highlighting the importance of the first trilateral meeting of the Azerbaijani, Turkish and Pakistani speakers and the adoption of the Baku Declaration on the results of the meeting, Bagci stressed that Turkey had always stood by Azerbaijan.

Then the meeting discussed prospects for the development of mutually beneficial cooperation and evaluated initiatives aimed at establishing lasting peace and cooperation in the region.
BEIJING, April 12 (Xinhua) -- Beijing plans to build more electric vehicle charging infrastructure in the coming years, with the total number of charging piles reaching 700,000 by 2025.

Local authorities will encourage the installation of electric vehicle charging piles in the residential quarters across the city in the coming years, said Chai Wenzhong, an official with the Beijing municipal commission of urban management.

By 2025, electric vehicle owners in the plain areas of the city will have access to charging points within 3 km, while people in the downtown areas will have charging points within 900 meters.

The city's urban management and development plan authorities also plan to build public charging infrastructure for electric bikes in all residential communities by the end of this year. 
File photo taken on Oct. 12, 2017 shows huge tanks that store contaminated radioactive wastewater in Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant, in Fukushima Prefecture, Japan. (Xinhua)

"Marine pollution will be inevitable, so the government and the political circle should proactively act for the safety of people," Rep. Seo Sam-seok of South Korea's liberal Democratic Party said.

SEOUL, April 12 (Xinhua) -- South Koreans voiced concerns about Japan's planned release of radioactive water from the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant into the Pacific Ocean.

Rep. Seo Sam-seok of the liberal Democratic Party on Monday held a forum to find ways in cooperation with neighboring countries to tackle Japan's plan to dump the contaminated radioactive water next spring.

"The contaminated water released into the ocean will spread across the entire Pacific Ocean in 10 years and affect almost all of our sea. Marine pollution will be inevitable, so the government and the political circle should proactively act for the safety of people," Seo said in the forum.

File photo taken on Nov. 12, 2011 shows the exterior of Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant in Fukushima Prefecture, Japan. (Xinhua)

The incoming government of President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol, scheduled to be sworn in as president on May 10, also planned to sternly deal with the tritium-laced water release by Japan, a local daily JoongAng Ilbo reported citing the presidential transition committee.

The newspaper said the Yoon government will strengthen radiation checks and the country origin mark of imported marine products while expanding the origin labeling in restaurants.

People protest against Japan's decision to dump radioactive wastewater from the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant into the Pacific Ocean outside Japanese embassy in Seoul, South Korea, April 14, 2021. (Photo by Xu Ruxi/Xinhua)

The current Moon Jae-in government has completely banned the import of marine products caught in the Japanese waters near the Fukushima prefecture.

Civic activists and local residents in Pohang, about 370 km southeast of Seoul, held a protest rally last week against Japan's plan to continuously discharge radioactive water into the Pacific ocean for 30 years beginning in 2023.

The Pohang Citizens Behavior, composed of six civic groups and residents, have campaigned since last July against the Japanese government as the port city is forecast to be one of the hardest-hit fishing areas by the release of the contaminated water.




SEOUL, April 12 (Xinhua) -- U.S. military biological facilities in South Korea are serious threats to local residents' safety, said a South Korean expert, as the U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) continues with a scandalous program involving experiments with living toxic samples. #GLOBALink







Produced by Xinhua Global Service


A medical worker takes a swab sample from a resident for nucleic acid test at a community in Shanghai, east China, April 9, 2022. (Xinhua/Zhang Jiansong)

SHANGHAI, April 12 (Xinhua) -- Despite normality coming to a halt in Shanghai due to the temporary closed-off management following a resurgence in COVID-19 cases, Peter Corne believes that his life remains stable without much disruption.

"The government provides us with vegetables. It's healthy. I can cook fresh vegetables that come from the government, and we have group ordering for other things," said Corne, an arbitrator with Shanghai International Arbitration Center.

Corne, who is a dual Australian-British national, lives in the city's Pudong district. Although no infections have been reported in his community, residents need to undergo nucleic acid testing every day as part of stringent anti-epidemic efforts.

"I totally understand all the measures that the city has taken in order to get it back under control. ... I fully support the Chinese government's effort in trying to eradicate COVID-19," he said.

Expressing his wonder at how quarantine centers were set up within a few days and how support poured in from other provinces, Corne said he was deeply impressed by the concerted efforts. "In such a country with such complexity, such diversity, it's absolutely incredible and so impressive that people are able to coordinate so closely to do things so quickly."

In the face of numerous challenges, Corne remains upbeat and is confident that Shanghai will vanquish COVID-19. "I believe that through collaboration and the government directives we'll beat this," he said.

Peter Jolicoeur, who comes from the United States, is a Shanghai-based aviation consultant and lives with his wife, mother-in-law and two children in Pudong.

"We have a lot of support together. All things considered. I think we're doing pretty well," Jolicoeur said, adding that he can work from home and his kids are attending school online.

He said their community, which is located on the east of the Huangpu River, went into closed-off management earlier than other areas in Shanghai, as the megacity with a population of 25 million began enforcing closed-off management in two phases starting from March-end.

"My wife has been actively volunteering in the community as well, helping organize neighbors when we need to go for testing and distribute food," Jolicoeur said, hailing the sense of community spirit and solidarity among people.

Noting that COVID-19 resurgence is a tremendous challenge for Shanghai as it is China's economic hub and an international gateway, Jolicoeur said China has done a fantastic job over the last couple of years in controlling sporadic outbreaks.

"I think eventually we will prevail, and we will be able to control this and open the city up again," he said. 
Chinese Vice Premier Han Zheng, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and head of the national afforestation committee, addresses a national afforestation committee plenary conference in Beijing, capital of China, April 12, 2022. (Xinhua/Zhang Ling)

BEIJING, April 12 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice Premier Han Zheng on Tuesday called for the advancement of the national afforestation and greening cause to further boost the construction of an ecological civilization.

Han, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and head of the national afforestation committee, made the remarks at a national afforestation committee plenary conference.

He stressed the importance of efforts to fully, accurately and comprehensively implement the new development philosophy, fulfill the requirements for high-quality development and unswervingly follow the path of giving priority to ecological protection and pursuing green development.

China will further balance land greening and farmland protection, as it has been working to ensure the nation's farmland acreage remains above the redline of 1.8 billion mu (about 120 million hectares), he said.

Han also called for efforts to protect ecological resources, fight illegal logging, wildlife trafficking and occupation of forests and grasslands, prevent forest and grassland fires, and guard against forest and grassland pests. 
Zhang Tonghua receives his food packages in east China's Shanghai, April 11, 2022. On April 10, E-commerce platform Hema Fresh, Alibaba's fresh-food chain, received an online order for food including vegetables, instant noodles, steamed buns and bread which needed to be delivered to Haibao wharf at about 10 kilometers away. Zhu Yongkang, deliveryman of Hema Fresh, decided to send this order although he said that he usually only work within three kilometers around the store. He set off on a delivery bike with a spare battery. He knew that in this special period, every package might help relieve the pressure of people under quarantine. When Zhu arrived at Haibao wharf, he was blocked by a fence. Due to the regulations on epidemic control, deliverymen cannot enter. A manager of the wharf helped him transfer the food package to the consignee Zhang Tonghua. Zhang Tonghua is a cargo ship owner from east China's Jiangsu Province. Due to the prevention and control measures, he could not dock to Shanghai. He had to temporarily moor at the shore close to Haibao wharf, but could not land and purchase daily necessities. He was so excited when receiving the food delivered to him. (Xinhua/Li He)

Deliveryman Zhu Yongkang arrives at Haibao wharf in Yangpu District, east China's Shanghai, April 11, 2022. On April 10, E-commerce platform Hema Fresh, Alibaba's fresh-food chain, received an online order for food including vegetables, instant noodles, steamed buns and bread which needed to be delivered to Haibao wharf at about 10 kilometers away. Zhu Yongkang, deliveryman of Hema Fresh, decided to send this order although he said that he usually only work within three kilometers around the store. He set off on a delivery bike with a spare battery. He knew that in this special period, every package might help relieve the pressure of people under quarantine. When Zhu arrived at Haibao wharf, he was blocked by a fence. Due to the regulations on epidemic control, deliverymen cannot enter. A manager of the wharf helped him transfer the food package to the consignee Zhang Tonghua. Zhang Tonghua is a cargo ship owner from east China's Jiangsu Province. Due to the prevention and control measures, he could not dock to Shanghai. He had to temporarily moor at the shore close to Haibao wharf, but could not land and purchase daily necessities. He was so excited when receiving the food delivered to him. (Xinhua/Li He)

A staff member of Haibao wharf helps transfer the food packages to Zhang Tonghua in Yangpu District, east China's Shanghai, April 11, 2022. On April 10, E-commerce platform Hema Fresh, Alibaba's fresh-food chain, received an online order for food including vegetables, instant noodles, steamed buns and bread which needed to be delivered to Haibao wharf at about 10 kilometers away. Zhu Yongkang, deliveryman of Hema Fresh, decided to send this order although he said that he usually only work within three kilometers around the store. He set off on a delivery bike with a spare battery. He knew that in this special period, every package might help relieve the pressure of people under quarantine. When Zhu arrived at Haibao wharf, he was blocked by a fence. Due to the regulations on epidemic control, deliverymen cannot enter. A manager of the wharf helped him transfer the food package to the consignee Zhang Tonghua. Zhang Tonghua is a cargo ship owner from east China's Jiangsu Province. Due to the prevention and control measures, he could not dock to Shanghai. He had to temporarily moor at the shore close to Haibao wharf, but could not land and purchase daily necessities. He was so excited when receiving the food delivered to him. (Xinhua/Li He)

Zhang Tonghua (up) leaves his ship to receive his food packages in east China's Shanghai, April 11, 2022. On April 10, E-commerce platform Hema Fresh, Alibaba's fresh-food chain, received an online order for food including vegetables, instant noodles, steamed buns and bread which needed to be delivered to Haibao wharf at about 10 kilometers away. Zhu Yongkang, deliveryman of Hema Fresh, decided to send this order although he said that he usually only work within three kilometers around the store. He set off on a delivery bike with a spare battery. He knew that in this special period, every package might help relieve the pressure of people under quarantine. When Zhu arrived at Haibao wharf, he was blocked by a fence. Due to the regulations on epidemic control, deliverymen cannot enter. A manager of the wharf helped him transfer the food package to the consignee Zhang Tonghua. Zhang Tonghua is a cargo ship owner from east China's Jiangsu Province. Due to the prevention and control measures, he could not dock to Shanghai. He had to temporarily moor at the shore close to Haibao wharf, but could not land and purchase daily necessities. He was so excited when receiving the food delivered to him. (Xinhua/Li He)

Deliveryman Zhu Yongkang heads to Haibao wharf in Yangpu District, east China's Shanghai, April 11, 2022. On April 10, E-commerce platform Hema Fresh, Alibaba's fresh-food chain, received an online order for food including vegetables, instant noodles, steamed buns and bread which needed to be delivered to Haibao wharf at about 10 kilometers away. Zhu Yongkang, deliveryman of Hema Fresh, decided to send this order although he said that he usually only work within three kilometers around the store. He set off on a delivery bike with a spare battery. He knew that in this special period, every package might help relieve the pressure of people under quarantine. When Zhu arrived at Haibao wharf, he was blocked by a fence. Due to the regulations on epidemic control, deliverymen cannot enter. A manager of the wharf helped him transfer the food package to the consignee Zhang Tonghua. Zhang Tonghua is a cargo ship owner from east China's Jiangsu Province. Due to the prevention and control measures, he could not dock to Shanghai. He had to temporarily moor at the shore close to Haibao wharf, but could not land and purchase daily necessities. He was so excited when receiving the food delivered to him. (Xinhua/Li He)

Photo taken on April 11, 2022 shows the food ordered by Zhang Tonghua in Yangpu District, east China's Shanghai. On April 10, E-commerce platform Hema Fresh, Alibaba's fresh-food chain, received an online order for food including vegetables, instant noodles, steamed buns and bread which needed to be delivered to Haibao wharf at about 10 kilometers away. Zhu Yongkang, deliveryman of Hema Fresh, decided to send this order although he said that he usually only work within three kilometers around the store. He set off on a delivery bike with a spare battery. He knew that in this special period, every package might help relieve the pressure of people under quarantine. When Zhu arrived at Haibao wharf, he was blocked by a fence. Due to the regulations on epidemic control, deliverymen cannot enter. A manager of the wharf helped him transfer the food package to the consignee Zhang Tonghua. Zhang Tonghua is a cargo ship owner from east China's Jiangsu Province. Due to the prevention and control measures, he could not dock to Shanghai. He had to temporarily moor at the shore close to Haibao wharf, but could not land and purchase daily necessities. He was so excited when receiving the food delivered to him. (Xinhua/Li He)

Deliveryman Zhu Yongkang contacts the consignee Zhang Tonghua at Haibao wharf in Yangpu District, east China's Shanghai, April 11, 2022. On April 10, E-commerce platform Hema Fresh, Alibaba's fresh-food chain, received an online order for food including vegetables, instant noodles, steamed buns and bread which needed to be delivered to Haibao wharf at about 10 kilometers away. Zhu Yongkang, deliveryman of Hema Fresh, decided to send this order although he said that he usually only work within three kilometers around the store. He set off on a delivery bike with a spare battery. He knew that in this special period, every package might help relieve the pressure of people under quarantine. When Zhu arrived at Haibao wharf, he was blocked by a fence. Due to the regulations on epidemic control, deliverymen cannot enter. A manager of the wharf helped him transfer the food package to the consignee Zhang Tonghua. Zhang Tonghua is a cargo ship owner from east China's Jiangsu Province. Due to the prevention and control measures, he could not dock to Shanghai. He had to temporarily moor at the shore close to Haibao wharf, but could not land and purchase daily necessities. He was so excited when receiving the food delivered to him. (Xinhua/Li He)

Zhang Tonghua (up) transfers the food to his ship in east China's Shanghai, April 11, 2022. On April 10, E-commerce platform Hema Fresh, Alibaba's fresh-food chain, received an online order for food including vegetables, instant noodles, steamed buns and bread which needed to be delivered to Haibao wharf at about 10 kilometers away. Zhu Yongkang, deliveryman of Hema Fresh, decided to send this order although he said that he usually only work within three kilometers around the store. He set off on a delivery bike with a spare battery. He knew that in this special period, every package might help relieve the pressure of people under quarantine. When Zhu arrived at Haibao wharf, he was blocked by a fence. Due to the regulations on epidemic control, deliverymen cannot enter. A manager of the wharf helped him transfer the food package to the consignee Zhang Tonghua. Zhang Tonghua is a cargo ship owner from east China's Jiangsu Province. Due to the prevention and control measures, he could not dock to Shanghai. He had to temporarily moor at the shore close to Haibao wharf, but could not land and purchase daily necessities. He was so excited when receiving the food delivered to him. (Xinhua/Li He)

Deliveryman Zhu Yongkang puts on protective suit before leaving a Hema Fresh store in Yangpu District, east China's Shanghai, April 11, 2022. On April 10, E-commerce platform Hema Fresh, Alibaba's fresh-food chain, received an online order for food including vegetables, instant noodles, steamed buns and bread which needed to be delivered to Haibao wharf at about 10 kilometers away. Zhu Yongkang, deliveryman of Hema Fresh, decided to send this order although he said that he usually only work within three kilometers around the store. He set off on a delivery bike with a spare battery. He knew that in this special period, every package might help relieve the pressure of people under quarantine. When Zhu arrived at Haibao wharf, he was blocked by a fence. Due to the regulations on epidemic control, deliverymen cannot enter. A manager of the wharf helped him transfer the food package to the consignee Zhang Tonghua. Zhang Tonghua is a cargo ship owner from east China's Jiangsu Province. Due to the prevention and control measures, he could not dock to Shanghai. He had to temporarily moor at the shore close to Haibao wharf, but could not land and purchase daily necessities. He was so excited when receiving the food delivered to him. (Xinhua/Li He)

A staff member of Haibao wharf help transfer the food packages to Zhang Tonghua in Yangpu District, east China's Shanghai, April 11, 2022. On April 10, E-commerce platform Hema Fresh, Alibaba's fresh-food chain, received an online order for food including vegetables, instant noodles, steamed buns and bread which needed to be delivered to Haibao wharf at about 10 kilometers away. Zhu Yongkang, deliveryman of Hema Fresh, decided to send this order although he said that he usually only work within three kilometers around the store. He set off on a delivery bike with a spare battery. He knew that in this special period, every package might help relieve the pressure of people under quarantine. When Zhu arrived at Haibao wharf, he was blocked by a fence. Due to the regulations on epidemic control, deliverymen cannot enter. A manager of the wharf helped him transfer the food package to the consignee Zhang Tonghua. Zhang Tonghua is a cargo ship owner from east China's Jiangsu Province. Due to the prevention and control measures, he could not dock to Shanghai. He had to temporarily moor at the shore close to Haibao wharf, but could not land and purchase daily necessities. He was so excited when receiving the food delivered to him. (Xinhua/Li He)

Deliveryman Zhu Yongkang (L) shows his health code at a Hema Fresh store in Yangpu District, east China's Shanghai, April 11, 2022. On April 10, E-commerce platform Hema Fresh, Alibaba's fresh-food chain, received an online order for food including vegetables, instant noodles, steamed buns and bread which needed to be delivered to Haibao wharf at about 10 kilometers away. Zhu Yongkang, deliveryman of Hema Fresh, decided to send this order although he said that he usually only work within three kilometers around the store. He set off on a delivery bike with a spare battery. He knew that in this special period, every package might help relieve the pressure of people under quarantine. When Zhu arrived at Haibao wharf, he was blocked by a fence. Due to the regulations on epidemic control, deliverymen cannot enter. A manager of the wharf helped him transfer the food package to the consignee Zhang Tonghua. Zhang Tonghua is a cargo ship owner from east China's Jiangsu Province. Due to the prevention and control measures, he could not dock to Shanghai. He had to temporarily moor at the shore close to Haibao wharf, but could not land and purchase daily necessities. He was so excited when receiving the food delivered to him. (Xinhua/Li He)

Deliveryman Zhu Yongkang heads to Haibao wharf in Yangpu District, east China's Shanghai, April 11, 2022. On April 10, E-commerce platform Hema Fresh, Alibaba's fresh-food chain, received an online order for food including vegetables, instant noodles, steamed buns and bread which needed to be delivered to Haibao wharf at about 10 kilometers away. Zhu Yongkang, deliveryman of Hema Fresh, decided to send this order although he said that he usually only work within three kilometers around the store. He set off on a delivery bike with a spare battery. He knew that in this special period, every package might help relieve the pressure of people under quarantine. When Zhu arrived at Haibao wharf, he was blocked by a fence. Due to the regulations on epidemic control, deliverymen cannot enter. A manager of the wharf helped him transfer the food package to the consignee Zhang Tonghua. Zhang Tonghua is a cargo ship owner from east China's Jiangsu Province. Due to the prevention and control measures, he could not dock to Shanghai. He had to temporarily moor at the shore close to Haibao wharf, but could not land and purchase daily necessities. He was so excited when receiving the food delivered to him. (Xinhua/Li He)

Deliveryman Zhu Yongkang loads the food packages on his bike in Yangpu District, east China's Shanghai, April 11, 2022. On April 10, E-commerce platform Hema Fresh, Alibaba's fresh-food chain, received an online order for food including vegetables, instant noodles, steamed buns and bread which needed to be delivered to Haibao wharf at about 10 kilometers away. Zhu Yongkang, deliveryman of Hema Fresh, decided to send this order although he said that he usually only work within three kilometers around the store. He set off on a delivery bike with a spare battery. He knew that in this special period, every package might help relieve the pressure of people under quarantine. When Zhu arrived at Haibao wharf, he was blocked by a fence. Due to the regulations on epidemic control, deliverymen cannot enter. A manager of the wharf helped him transfer the food package to the consignee Zhang Tonghua. Zhang Tonghua is a cargo ship owner from east China's Jiangsu Province. Due to the prevention and control measures, he could not dock to Shanghai. He had to temporarily moor at the shore close to Haibao wharf, but could not land and purchase daily necessities. He was so excited when receiving the food delivered to him. (Xinhua/Li He)

Zhang Tonghua carries the food to his ship in east China's Shanghai, April 11, 2022. On April 10, E-commerce platform Hema Fresh, Alibaba's fresh-food chain, received an online order for food including vegetables, instant noodles, steamed buns and bread which needed to be delivered to Haibao wharf at about 10 kilometers away. Zhu Yongkang, deliveryman of Hema Fresh, decided to send this order although he said that he usually only work within three kilometers around the store. He set off on a delivery bike with a spare battery. He knew that in this special period, every package might help relieve the pressure of people under quarantine. When Zhu arrived at Haibao wharf, he was blocked by a fence. Due to the regulations on epidemic control, deliverymen cannot enter. A manager of the wharf helped him transfer the food package to the consignee Zhang Tonghua. Zhang Tonghua is a cargo ship owner from east China's Jiangsu Province. Due to the prevention and control measures, he could not dock to Shanghai. He had to temporarily moor at the shore close to Haibao wharf, but could not land and purchase daily necessities. He was so excited when receiving the food delivered to him. (Xinhua/Li He)

Deliveryman Zhu Yongkang arrives at Haibao wharf in Yangpu District, east China's Shanghai, April 11, 2022. On April 10, E-commerce platform Hema Fresh, Alibaba's fresh-food chain, received an online order for food including vegetables, instant noodles, steamed buns and bread which needed to be delivered to Haibao wharf at about 10 kilometers away. Zhu Yongkang, deliveryman of Hema Fresh, decided to send this order although he said that he usually only work within three kilometers around the store. He set off on a delivery bike with a spare battery. He knew that in this special period, every package might help relieve the pressure of people under quarantine. When Zhu arrived at Haibao wharf, he was blocked by a fence. Due to the regulations on epidemic control, deliverymen cannot enter. A manager of the wharf helped him transfer the food package to the consignee Zhang Tonghua. Zhang Tonghua is a cargo ship owner from east China's Jiangsu Province. Due to the prevention and control measures, he could not dock to Shanghai. He had to temporarily moor at the shore close to Haibao wharf, but could not land and purchase daily necessities. He was so excited when receiving the food delivered to him. (Xinhua/Li He)

Zhang Tonghua receives his food packages in east China's Shanghai, April 11, 2022. On April 10, E-commerce platform Hema Fresh, Alibaba's fresh-food chain, received an online order for food including vegetables, instant noodles, steamed buns and bread which needed to be delivered to Haibao wharf at about 10 kilometers away. Zhu Yongkang, deliveryman of Hema Fresh, decided to send this order although he said that he usually only work within three kilometers around the store. He set off on a delivery bike with a spare battery. He knew that in this special period, every package might help relieve the pressure of people under quarantine. When Zhu arrived at Haibao wharf, he was blocked by a fence. Due to the regulations on epidemic control, deliverymen cannot enter. A manager of the wharf helped him transfer the food package to the consignee Zhang Tonghua. Zhang Tonghua is a cargo ship owner from east China's Jiangsu Province. Due to the prevention and control measures, he could not dock to Shanghai. He had to temporarily moor at the shore close to Haibao wharf, but could not land and purchase daily necessities. He was so excited when receiving the food delivered to him. (Xinhua/Li He)
Zhao Leji, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and secretary of the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, inspects a grain and oil machinery enterprise during an inspection tour in central China's Hunan Province, April 10, 2022. Zhao made an inspection tour in Hunan Province from Sunday to Tuesday. (Xinhua/Li Tao)

CHANGSHA, April 12 (Xinhua) -- China's anti-graft chief has urged solid work on improving Party conduct, enforcing Party discipline and fighting corruption ahead of the 20th national congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) later this year.

Zhao Leji, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and secretary of the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, made the remarks during an inspection tour in central China's Hunan Province from Sunday to Tuesday.

Zhao visited a village in the city of Chenzhou to learn about residents' livelihoods and listen to their opinions on improving Party conduct and promoting integrity in the government.

While inspecting enterprises in the city, Zhao called on Party discipline inspection agencies to oversee the implementation of relevant measures to improve the business environment.

Zhao also convened a symposium of secretaries of some provincial-level Party discipline inspection commissions, and called for integrated efforts to see that officials do not have the opportunity, desire or audacity to engage in corruption. 

Zhao Leji, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and secretary of the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, inspects a transformer enterprise during an inspection tour in central China's Hunan Province, April 11, 2022. Zhao made an inspection tour in Hunan Province from Sunday to Tuesday. (Xinhua/Li Tao)

Zhao Leji, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and secretary of the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, convenes a symposium of secretaries of some provincial-level Party discipline inspection commissions during an inspection tour in central China's Hunan Province, April 12, 2022. Zhao made an inspection tour in Hunan Province from Sunday to Tuesday. (Xinhua/Li Tao)
TEHRAN, April 12 (Xinhua) -- Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Tuesday praised Iran's negotiating team for resisting the "excessive demands" during the talks on salvaging the 2015 nuclear deal.

"Negotiations are going well," Khamenei was quoted as saying by his official website.

The Iranian leader added that the Iranian negotiators will continue to resist such demands.

Khamenei advised the government of President Ebrahim Raisi to deal with the country's issues regardless of the results of the Vienna talks, which have been held since last year between Iran and other major signatory parties to the 2015 pact, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

Former U.S. President Donald Trump unilaterally pulled Washington out of the agreement in May 2018 and reimposed sanctions on Iran, prompting the latter to drop some of its nuclear commitments.

Since April 2021, eight rounds of talks have been held in the Austrian capital of Vienna between Iran and the remaining JCPOA parties, including Britain, China, France, Russia and Germany, to revive the deal. The U.S. has been indirectly involved in the talks. 
UNITED NATIONS, April 12 (Xinhua) -- UN peacekeepers in Mali, who have been dispatched to investigate an alleged massacre by government troops in Moura in the central Mopti region, have yet to gain permission to access the site, said a UN spokesman on Tuesday.

"I can tell you that our peacekeeping colleagues are continuing with their human rights investigation into the incident in Moura, pursuant to their mandate and in support of efforts aimed at establishing the facts of what happened," said Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

"The investigation must be continued on the ground in order to establish the facts. In this regard, a MINUSMA team has been pre-deployed to Mopti and is standing by as the mission remains in constant contact with the Malian authorities to obtain air access to the area," he said, referring to the UN peacekeeping mission by its French acronym.

Asked why the investigators were kept away, Dujarric said: "Obviously, it is vital that the peacekeeping mission has as much freedom of movement as possible. But in any country, if we are told that we cannot access a certain place, we cannot go there by force."

"The Malian authorities are not allowing us to access the site," he said.

The UN mission in Mali is investigating reports of civilians killed during clashes on March 23-31 between government troops and militants. The Malian military said 203 militants were killed in a large-scale air-ground operation in Moura. But media reports said hundreds of civilians lost their lives in the clash. 
By Azernews





By Vugar Khalilov

Azerbaijani Defence Minister Col-Gen Zakir Hasanov and Turkish Chief of General Staff Intelligence Corps Gen Rafet Dalkiran have met to discuss the prospects for bilateral military cooperation, the ministry reported on April 12.

In welcoming the Turkish delegation, Hasanov emphasized that reforms are underway to bring the Azerbaijani army up to the standards of the Turkish Armed Forces, as instructed by the high command.

Dalkiran stressed the importance of such meetings in terms of expanding mutual cooperation.

The parties discussed the prospects for the development of Azerbaijani-Turkish military cooperation, as well as other issues of mutual interest.

Military cooperation between Azerbaijan and Turkey first emerged in 1992, with an agreement signed between the Azerbaijani and Turkish governments on military education and weapon equipment and deals to help strengthen the bond between the two nations.

On June 15, the two countries signed a memorandum of alliance that cemented the existing military, political and economic cooperation.

The Shusha Declaration on Allied Relations that President Ilham Aliyev and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan signed during the first official visit to Shusha eight months after Azerbaijans victory in the war with Armenia, also focuses on defence cooperation.

It affirms joint efforts by the two armies in the face of foreign threats. The declaration also pledges joint efforts for the restructuring and modernization of the armed forces. Moreover, the two nations affirm to encourage the execution of joint projects with the aim of developing capabilities in the field of sea, air, and space.

In an interview with Turkey's Anadolu Agency on September 27, President Ilham Aliyev said that the signing of the Shusha Declaration raised bilateral relations to an even higher level.

Furthermore, Azerbaijan and Turkey periodically hold joint drills to improve interaction and communication between their army units.

Earlier, the Defence Ministry reported that Azerbaijani servicemen will take part in the Efes-2022 multinational drills to be held in Izmir, Turkey in May-June.
AMMAN, April 12 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese embassy in Jordan on Tuesday held an online reception to celebrate the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Jordan.

Addressing the reception, Chinese Ambassador to Jordan Chen Chuandong said China-Jordan friendship has been growing stronger with time since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries in 1977.

The two countries have worked together to safeguard their national sovereignty and security while promoting economic and social development, which is considered a model of co-existence between countries with different civilizations and governmental systems, he noted.

The past 45 years have witnessed the fruitful achievements of mutually beneficial cooperation, the ambassador said, adding that China has become Jordan's second-largest trading partner and two-way investment is growing rapidly.

The cooperation in the fields of Chinese language teaching, human resources training and tourism cooperation have forged closer people-to-people ties, he said, adding the joint fight against the COVID-19 pandemic reflected the deep friendship between the two countries.

In his speech, Jordanian Minister of Public Works and Housing Yahya Al Kasby thanked China for its long-term support and assistance to Jordan in infrastructure construction, public health, education and other fields.

He said he looked forward to more bilateral exchanges and cooperation. 
Guo Chongfeng (C), general manager of China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) Ethiopian Branch, speaks at a donation ceremony in Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa on April 9, 2022.(Xinhua/Wang Ping)

ADDIS ABABA, April 12 (Xinhua) -- Yakob Kiros, a seventh grader at Kotari Primary School, in Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa, is optimistic that he will one day be able to help other vulnerable school children to pursue their dreams, just like he was helped by a Chinese firm building the new headquarters of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).

"I often see our families give up their personal and household priorities so as to fulfill our educational needs, such as pens, exercise books and school bags," said 13-year-old Kiros, one of the students receiving educational supplies donated by China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) last Saturday.

In addition to notebooks, pencils and school bags, the donation also included recreational and sporting kits.

Kotari Primary School Principal Ashenafi Wondimu said the support will help ensure students' comprehensive development.

"Today, our students received much-needed educational material, which will certainly play an important role in their future academic performance," he said.

The donation, in addition to helping improve the school children's academic performance, will also boost students' psychological well-being as they witnessed the "great gesture of togetherness showcased by our Chinese partners, which in turn will further propel their education," Wondimu said.

Kiros thanked the Chinese company for the support.

"Their good deeds also inspired us to be successful and be able to help vulnerable school children when we grown older and become successful," he said.

Netsanet Belachew, a fellow seventh grader at Kotari Primary, said the support will boost students' academic and overall life endeavors.

"I want them to know that the support is very helpful since some of us here either have no family to support us or our families are not able to do so," said the 14-year-old girl.

Guo Chongfeng, general manager of CCECC Ethiopian Branch, said education is fundamental to a country's development, which will ultimately shape the future of a country and its people.

"Support in education is a deep reflection of China's 'Belt and Road Initiative' to share the fruits of development," he said. "I hope today's (donation) will boost our children's morale, and encourage more Chinese companies to join this endeavor."

"When I see you, I see hope. I see future," Guo told the school children, urging them to work harder for success in their future development.

Admasu Dechasa, deputy head of Addis Ababa Education Bureau, commended the Chinese company for its critical support to the vulnerable students.

He said that support in the education sector will help cement link between countries and peoples.

Such help will help the Ethiopian government in realizing its "education for all" goal and manage challenges in maintaining educational quality, Dechasa said.

"We appreciate the support that the Chinese government, people, and organizations have done to Ethiopia and the city of Addis Ababa, in particular. We hope that the support will be continued," he added. 

Students of Kotari Primary School attend a donation ceremony in Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa on April 9, 2022.(Xinhua/Wang Ping)

Admasu Dechasa (C), deputy head of Addis Ababa Education Bureau, speaks at a donation ceremony in Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa on April 9, 2022.(Xinhua/Wang Ping)
Portugal's star striker Cristiano Ronaldo has also apologised for the outrage he showed after the 0-1 defeat of Manchester United to Everton in the Premier League. According to footage shared on social media, when Ronaldo was leaving Goodison Park on Saturday, he took a phone from a supporter's hand and threw it away.

In a post on Instagram, Ronaldo said, "I apologize for my anger and if possible, I want to invite this supporter to watch a match at Old Trafford under fair play and spirit of play.''

Continuing his point, he said, "The kind of difficult moment we are facing, dealing with emotions is never going to be easy. Ronaldo said, "Nevertheless, we should always be respectful, restrained and set an example for the youngsters who love this beautiful game.''

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SINGAPORE: According to a study published in The Lancet Respiratory Medicine, the overall risk of myopericarditis - a kind of heart inflammation - following a Covid-19 vaccine is rare and comparable to or lower than the risk following non-Covid shots.

Researchers from Singapore's National University Hospital looked at more than 400 million immunisation doses in international databases to compare the risk of myopericarditis after vaccination against Covid-19 and other diseases including influenza and smallpox.

There was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of myopericarditis after vaccination with Covid-19. Myopericarditis was found to be 18 cases per million doses after receiving the Covid vaccine. The rate of myopericarditis was 56 instances per million doses for all other viral vaccines combined.

Dr. Kollengode Ramanathan, a cardiac intensivist at the Hospital, said, "Our research reveals that the overall risk of myopericarditis appears to be no different for this newly licenced group of vaccines against Covid- 19 compared to vaccines against other diseases." "The risk of such uncommon incidents should be weighed against the risk of infection-related myopericarditis, and these findings should increase public trust in the safety of Covid-19 vaccines," Ramanathan said.

Myopericarditis was more common in individuals who received mRNA vaccines (22.6 cases per million doses) than in those who received non-mRNA vaccines (7.9 instances per million doses); and in those under the age of 30, males, and also after the second dosage of a Covid injection.

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HYDERABAD: Telangana and Thailand have agreed to explore trade and investment in important industries, as well as the development of SMEs and startups, through a business incubator and innovation ecosystem.

In this regard, the Government of Telangana's Department of Industries and Commerce and the Royal Thai Government's Ministry of Commerce have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).

The deal will kick off cooperation in SMEs and startups through Thailand's T-Hub and Thaitrade.com business incubators and innovation ecosystems. It will concentrate on areas of mutual interest for future collaboration and cooperation in order to promote trade and investment between the two economies.

Both governments will look at potential trade and investment opportunities in a number of major focal areas, including agro-based food processing, wood processing, and wood-based industries.

K. T. Rama Rao, Telangana's Industries Minister, and Jurin Laksanawisit, Thailand's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Commerce, were virtually present for the signing of the MoU.

The MoU was signed by Jayesh Ranjan, principal secretary, Government of Telangana's ITE&C Department, and Boonyarit Kalayanamit, Permanent Secretary, Thailand's Ministry of Commerce.

This is the first time a contract has been struck between Thailand's Ministry of Commerce and an Indian state government. The signing of the Memorandum of Understanding is also one of the significant events marking the 75th anniversary of India-Thailand diplomatic relations.

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Oppo is one of the popular Chinese smartphone brands that has been offering great smartphones from time to time. According to reports, Oppo has introduced its new smartphone, the Oppo F21 Pro. With excellent cameras and powerful batteries, in which you are also being given many more amazing features. Not only that but the price of this smartphone of Oppo is also not going to be very high.

Oppo F21 Pro launched: Oppo has introduced its latest smartphone with a powerful battery, the Oppo F21 Pro, in the market. Not only that, this smartphone has been introduced in Bangladesh and is going to be launched in India on April 12, 2022.

Oppo F21 Pro Price: There is no word yet about how much money this smartphone of Oppo is being sold in India. According to the news, this smartphone of Oppo is being sold in Bangladesh for 27,990 BDT, which the price of which can be around 24,640 rupees in India. The impact price of this smartphone is going to be revealed in India.

Oppo F21 Pro Display, Storage: Oppo F21 Pro offers you a 6.43-inch Full HD+ AMOLED (AMOLED) display, resolution of 1080x2400 pixels, refresh rate of 90Hz and touch sampling rate of 180Hz. The company has introduced this phone in a single variant, in which you are also being given 8GB of LPDDR4x RAM and 128GB of internal storage.

Oppo F21 Pro Camera: This phone from Oppo, which works on the Snapdragon 680, is also giving you a triple rear camera setup. A 2MP microscope camera with a 64MP primary lens and a 2MP monochrome camera is also being provided. For selfies and video calls, you are also being offered a 32MP front camera in this phone.

Oppo F21 Pro features: It is known that this smartphone is being provided with a 4,500mAh battery which is available with 33W SuperVOOC charging support. Talking about os, this phone is working on colour OS 12.1 based on Android 12. For connectivity, oppo's phone is also being given many features like 4G LTE, WiFi, Bluetooth 5.1, a USB Type-C port and a 3.5mm headphone jack.

You can also buy this Redmi 5G powerful smartphone for just 12,999/-

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SEOUL: Sung Kim, the US Special Representative for North Korea, will visit South Korea next week to coordinate policies ahead of President-elect Yoon Suk-inauguration, yeol's according to reports.

Kim arrived in Seoul on Monday and remain for four days, as per reports, to hold meetings with his South Korean counterpart, Noh Kyu-duk, and other officials from the departing and incoming administrations. Jung Pak, Kim's deputy, is also likely to visit Seoul around the same time.

Kim's visit comes amid fears that North Korea will test a nuclear weapon on Friday, the late founding leader Kim Il-birthday. sung's His visit also falls with annual joint military drills between South Korea and the United States, which Pyongyang has denounced.

Kim met with Noh in Washington last week, as well as a policy consultation mission sent by President-elect Yoon. Kim is likely to utilise his future talks in Seoul to coordinate the response of the allies to any possible North Korean provocations during the transition of power. According to a person familiar with the president-itinerary, elect's a meeting with Yoon is not currently planned.

Yoon's first meeting with US President Joe Biden, which has yet to be arranged but could overlap with Biden's possible travel to Japan in late May, could still be discussed.

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By Azernews





By Sabina Mammadli

The main goal of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is to assist the Azerbaijan Mine Action Agency in acquiring best practices and developing new mine clearance standards, a UNDP official has said.

Sukhrob Khojimatov made the remarks at an event held as part of the EU project on the "Development of Innovative and Sustainable Civil Society in Azerbaijan".

"We are going to attract specialists from Turkey, Cambodia, and other countries to develop this project," the UNDP official in Azerbaijan added.

He described UNDP as a long-term partner of Azerbaijan's Mine Action Agency.

"Recently, we have developed the final provisions for our joint work with the agency and 150 people from 37 countries participated in their development," he stressed.

During the same event, Khojimatov noted that UNDP highly appreciates Azerbaijan's efforts to develop social entrepreneurship.

According to him, the UNDP is pleased to support Azerbaijan in the development of social entrepreneurship.

"We are ready to share our experience in social entrepreneurship with Azerbaijan," he noted.

The official stressed the important role of social enterprises in solving socio-economic problems and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

The European Union and UNDP continue to organize a series of discussions aimed at promoting the promotion of social entrepreneurship in Azerbaijan.

Through seminars, meetings and advisory support, the project aims to accelerate Azerbaijan's efforts to create an enabling environment that will allow more citizens to open and expand businesses, thereby solving social and economic problems.

It should be noted that UNDP assisted in the establishment of the Azerbaijan Mine Action Agency (ANAMA) in 1999 and continues to support its work, which has included the clearance of over 806,000 mines and unexploded ordnance and the safe return of people to their homes.

UNDP has been working in Azerbaijan since 1992. The UNDP activities in Azerbaijan initially focused on the provision of an early recovery program, especially to those affected by the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. Over time, UNDPs role in Azerbaijan has shifted toward longer-term socio-economic development in line with the countrys evolving needs. The main programming framework for all UN activities in Azerbaijan is the UN-Azerbaijan Partnership Framework signed between the UN and the Economy Ministry in 2016.

During a virtual conference on February 4, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, French President Emanuel Macron, European Council President Charles Michel, and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan achieved an agreement on UNESCO missions to be sent to Azerbaijan and Armenia.
Unwanted pesticide disposal events set for Ada and Hobart

Media Contact: Trisha Gedon | Communications Specialist | 405-744-3625 | trisha.gedon@okstate.edu

Now that spring has sprung, many Oklahomans are busy with seasonal cleaning. While much of the focus is on removing dust bunnies in the corners and uncluttering closets and cabinets, one shouldnt forget about old pesticides lurking on dusty shelves in the barn or garage.

To help make disposing of these unwanted chemicals easier, Oklahoma State Universitys Pesticide Safety Education Program is partnering with the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry to host two unwanted pesticide disposal days in Ada on April 26 and Hobart on April 28.

The Oklahoma Unwanted Pesticide Disposal Program events will take place from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Pontotoc County Agri-Plex, 1710 N. Broadway in Ada; and the Kiowa County Fairgrounds, 302 N. Lincoln St. in Hobart.

Farmers, ranchers, applicators, pesticide dealers and homeowners are invited to bring up to 2,000 pounds of pesticides to the drop-off sites for proper disposal at no charge. A fee will be required for those bringing more than 2,000 pounds of pesticides.

Charles Luper, an OSU Extension associate with the OSU Pesticide Safety Education Program, said the disposal days began in 2006 and have collected and properly disposed of more than 1.2 million pounds of unwanted pesticides.

The last thing we want to see is these products disposed of improperly. By offering this free service a couple of times per year around the state, were helping keep these chemicals out of landfills, rivers, streams, storm drains and illegal roadside dumps, Luper said. This has a positive impact on our environment, lessens the chance of groundwater contamination and helps people get rid of containers taking up space in their barns, garages or businesses in an environmentally safe manner.

Aside from cleaning out their own property, some families may be faced with cleaning out barns and storage buildings of older relatives who have passed away. Some of the chemicals they come across could be 40 or 50 years old. The Oklahoma Unwanted Pesticide Disposal Program is a great opportunity to safely get rid of these chemicals.

ODAFF has contracted with Clean Earth, a licensed hazardous waste company, to collect and properly dispose of waste pesticides. Pesticide dealers are asked to preregister through the OSU Pesticide Safety Education Program. Applicators and agricultural producers are not required to preregister.

Pesticide dealers are asked to preregister because of the potential for large quantities of pesticides coming from multiple dealers or multiple locations, Luper said. This will help the Clean Earth company know what will be needed on site to effectively handle the quantity of pesticides collected. Please keep in mind paint, batteries, oil or fertilizer will not be accepted.

Participants will need to safely transport their pesticides to one of the collection sites. Pick-up services are not available. Please check out these safe transportation tips.

For more information, visit the OSU Pesticide Safety Education Program website or contact Luper at 405-744-5808.
CHARLOTTE, N.C., April 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Bank of America Corporation announced today that it will redeem on May 4, 2022 all 1,500,000,000 principal amount outstanding of its Floating Rate Senior Notes, due May 4, 2023 (ISIN: XS1602557495; Common Code: 160255749) (the "Notes").

(PRNewsfoto/Bank of America Corporation)

This series of Notes was issued under the Bank of America Corporation U.S.$65,000,000,000 Euro Medium-Term Note Program. The redemption price for the Notes will be equal to the Optional Redemption Amount of 1,000 per 1,000 Calculation Amount (as specified in the applicable Final Terms dated April 25, 2017), plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the redemption date of May 4, 2022.

Payment of the redemption price for the Notes will be made in accordance with the applicable procedures of Euroclear Bank SA/NV and Clearstream Banking, S.A. Bank of America, N.A. (operating through its London Branch) is the Principal Agent for the Notes and Bank of America Europe DAC (formerly known as Bank of America Merrill Lynch International DAC) is the Registrar for the Notes.

Bank of America Corporation will request the Financial Conduct Authority (the "FCA") to cancel the listing of the Notes on the Official List of the FCA and the London Stock Exchange (the "Exchange") to cancel the admission to trading on the regulated market of the Exchange as soon as practicable after the redemption date.

Bank of America

Bank of America is one of the world's leading financial institutions, serving individual consumers, small and middle-market businesses and large corporations with a full range of banking, investing, asset management and other financial and risk management products and services. The company provides unmatched convenience in the United States, serving approximately 67 million consumer and small business clients with approximately 4,200 retail financial centers, approximately 16,000 ATMs, and award-winning digital banking with more than 54 million verified digital users. Bank of America is a global leader in wealth management, corporate and investment banking and trading across a broad range of asset classes, serving corporations, governments, institutions and individuals around the world. Bank of America offers industry-leading support to approximately 3 million small business households through a suite of innovative, easy-to-use online products and services. The company serves clients through operations across the United States, its territories and approximately 35 countries. Bank of America Corporation stock (NYSE: BAC) is listed on the New York Stock Exchange.

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Forward-looking statements

Certain information contained in this news release may constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are not guarantees of future results or performance and involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions difficult to predict or beyond our control. You should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statement and should consider the uncertainties and risks discussed under Item 1A. "Risk Factors" in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021, and in any of our subsequent Securities and Exchange Commission filings. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and we undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect the impact of circumstances or events that arise after the date the forward-looking statement was made.

For more Bank of America news, including dividend announcements and other important information, visit the Bank of America newsroom and register for news email alerts.

www.bankofamerica.com

Investors May Contact:

Lee McEntire, Bank of America

Phone: 1.980.388.6780

lee.mcentire@bofa.com

Jonathan G. Blum, Bank of America (Fixed Income)

Phone: 1.212.449.3112

jonathan.blum@bofa.com

Reporters May Contact:

Christopher Feeney, Bank of America

Phone: 1.980.386.6794

christopher.feeney@bofa.com

Cision

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/bank-of-america-announces-redemption-of-1-5-billion-of-floating-rate-senior-notes-due-may-4--2023--301523216.html

SOURCE Bank of America Corporation
NEW YORK, April 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- CanAm Enterprises , a leading full-service financial firm specializing in immigration-linked investment funds, is pleased to announce that last month, the U.S. Congress has reauthorized the popular EB-5 green-card-by-investment visa program.

In anticipation of the EB-5 Program reopening, CanAm has launched two investment projects that fully qualify under the new rules with respect to Targeted Employment Area (TEA), job creation requirements and minimum investment amount.

"We, alongside all our investors, are thrilled that a long-term reauthorization of the EB-5 Program has finally been won. CanAm has long advocated for Program reform that would get us out of the cycle of short-term reauthorizations that simply do not suit the long process required of an EB-5 investment. The predictability that a long-term reauthorization, along with sought after provisions like grandfathering, will protect our investors, which has always been CanAm's top priority," said Tom Rosenfeld, President and CEO of CanAm. "We are excited to share the good news with all our investors as USCIS adjudication resumes."

In anticipation of the EB-5 Program reopening, CanAm has launched two investment projects that fully qualify under the new rules with respect to Targeted Employment Area (TEA), job creation requirements and minimum investment amount.

"At CanAm, we have years of experience managing our EB-5 investments through the ever-changing immigration legislative environment and the ups and downs in U.S. economic cycles. CanAm has kept up-to-date with the legislative changes that were expected to be introduced in the new EB-5 legislation and have further enhanced our due diligence processes to ensure that we are able to comply with the new requirements," said Walter S. Gindin, Director of Legal Affairs at CanAm. "We are confident that these two projects will meet the new EB-5 program rules so that investors can qualify for their green cards," commented Gindin.

All regional center operators as well as other stakeholders will also have to comply with new requirements in the legislation. "We are pleased that the newly modified EB-5 Program will provide better protection to our investors. For 35 years, CanAm has sought to promote program integrity in the immigration investment industry," commented Mr. Rosenfeld. "We are proud to set an example by repaying more than 4,000 investor-families in full, totaling more than $2 billion in EB-5 capital. CanAm's track record not only reinforces our leadership position in the industry but reaffirms our strong commitment to make decisions that first consider the best interests of our clients," added Rosenfeld.

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For more information, please visit www.canamenterprises.com .

Contact: Clare Chen, 212-668-0690, clarechen@canamenterprises.com

In anticipation of the EB-5 Program reopening, CanAm has launched two investment projects that fully qualify under the new rules with respect to Targeted Employment Area (TEA), job creation requirements and minimum investment amount.

SOURCE CanAm Enterprises
MONTERREY, Mexico, April 12, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Fomento Economico Mexicano, S.A.B. de C.V. (FEMSA or the Company) (NYSE: FMX; BMV: FEMSAUBD, FEMSAUB) announced today that Envoy Solutions (Envoy), FEMSAs specialized distribution subsidiary in the United States, reached an agreement to acquire Sigma Supply of North America Inc. (Sigma Supply), an independent specialized distribution company based in Hot Springs, Arkansas.



This transaction represents another important step in FEMSAs strategic path to build a leading national distribution platform in the United States. Sigma Supply will add significant capabilities in packaging materials distribution, solutions and services, and it will expand Envoys footprint to include the key state of Texas while enhancing its presence across the South to the Mid-Atlantic region. Sigma Supply operates 18 distribution centers, and this transaction will expand Envoys distribution network to include almost 70 facilities covering 34 states. Sigma Supplys revenues were approximately US$370 million in 2021.

The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions and approvals and is expected to close during the second quarter of 2022.

About FEMSA

FEMSA is a company that creates economic and social value through companies and institutions and strives to be the best employer and neighbor to the communities in which it operates. It participates in the retail industry through a Proximity Division operating OXXO, a small-format store chain, and OXXO Gas, a chain of retail service stations; through a Health Division, which includes drugstores and related activities; and through FEMSAs Digital Division, which includes Spin by OXXO and OXXO Premia, among other loyalty and digital financial services initiatives. In the beverage industry, it participates through Coca-Cola FEMSA, the largest franchise bottler of Coca-Cola products in the world by volume; and in the beer industry, as the second largest shareholder of Heineken, one of the worlds leading brewers with operations in over 70 countries. FEMSA also participates in the logistics and distribution industry through its Strategic Business Unit, which additionally provides point-of-sale refrigeration and plastic solutions to its business units and third-party clients. Across its business units, FEMSA has more than 320,000 employees in 13 countries. FEMSA is a member of the Dow Jones Sustainability MILA Pacific Alliance, the FTSE4Good Emerging Index and the Mexican Stock Exchange Sustainability Index, among other indexes that evaluate its sustainability performance.

CONTACT: Media Contact (52) 555-249-6843 comunicacion@femsa.com.mx www.femsa.com Investor Contact (52) 818-328-6167 investor@femsa.com.mx https://femsa.gcs-web.com/




Anthony Firkser has found a new home as a free agent.

The former Tennessee Titans tight end signed a one-year deal with the Atlanta Falcons, the franchise announced Tuesday.

Firkser, 27, brought pass-catching value at the tight end position for the Titans. In four seasons with Tennessee, he had 106 receptions for 1,107 yards and five touchdowns.

Undrafted out of Harvard in 2017, Firkser was not expected to be back in Nashville after his play didn't take another leap amid Jonnu Smith's departure. Firkser had 34 catches for 291 yards in 2021, but had career-highs in receptions (39) and receiving yards (387) the previous season.

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The Titans have bolstered their tight end room this offseason with adding three-time Pro Bowler Austin Hooper in free agency and re-siging Geoff Swaim.

In Atlanta, Firkser will be reunited with Arthur Smith, the Falcons coach who was the Titans offensive coordinator from 2019-20. Quarterback Marcus Mariota, linebacker Rashaan Evans and long snapper Beau Brinkley are other former Titans under contract with the Falcons.

Firkser is the seventh player who has left Tennessee in unrestricted free agency so far, joining Evans (Falcons), fellow inside linebacker Jayon Brown (Raiders), safety Dane Cruikshank (Bears), running back D'Onta Foreman (Panthers), defensive tackle Kyle Peko (Raiders) and wide receiver Marcus Johnson (49ers).

But the Titans have also retained 13 of their own free agents, most notably outside linebacker Harold Landry and center Ben Jones on multi-year extensions.

Ben Arthur covers the Tennessee Titans for The USA TODAY Network. Contact him at barthur@gannett.com and follow him on Twitter at @benyarthur.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Ex-Tennessee Titans TE Anthony Firkser signs with Atlanta Falcons
Company Logo

Synthetic Lubricants Market

Synthetic Lubricants Market

Dublin, April 12, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Synthetic Lubricants Market - Global Outlook & Forecast 2022-2027" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The synthetic lubricants market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 3.48% during 2021-2027

The global synthetic lubricants market is expected to witness stagnant growth during the forecast period. The consumption of synthetic lubricants is majorly driven by automotive and transport sector.

GEOGRAPHICAL ANALYSIS

APAC is the leading market for synthetic lubricants. The region accounted for 45% market share in 2021. The growth in the region is associated with the increasing demand for automotive and high-performance industrial machinery and equipment.

APAC region consists of emerging as well as developed economies such as Japan, China, India, South Korea, and Australia. These countries have considerable demand for automotive, agricultural, and construction vehicles. APAC region is also a hub for the growth of new industrial developments such as advanced manufacturing, smart cities, smart construction, and so on.

GLOBAL SYNTHETIC LUBRICANTS MARKET SEGMENTATION

Automotive and transportation are the largest segment by end-use. Automotive and transportation synthetic lubricants accounted for 32.20% market share in 2021.

The automotive and transportation segment is expected to register a CAGR of 3.76% during the forecast period. Advantages driving the demand for synthetic lubricants in this segment are wear and tear prevention, reduced friction, proper heat dissipation, oxidation and corrosion prevention, component stress relieving, and maintaining proper engine functionality.

VENDOR ANALYSIS

Shell (US), ExxonMobil (US), British Petroleum (UK), Chevron (US), and Sinopec (China) are some of the key players in the synthetic lubricants market. The market is largely commoditized, with price serving as a significant differentiator. Manufacturers are constantly involved in developing new and sustainable products as per customer requirements and safeguard environment as well.



Developments:

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The FUCHS Group, had signed an agreement to acquire the lubricants business of Gleitmo Technik AB, and is expected to integrate it into its subsidiary FUCHS LUBRICANTS SWEDEN AB.

Sinopec entered into the South African market by acquiring a majority stake in Chevron's lubricant facility.

Shell Indonesia announced investment to double the production capacity of its lubricants oil blending plant (LOBP) located in Jakarta, Indonesia. When completed the plant would produce up to 300 million litres of finished lubricants, annually.

Key Vendors

Royal Dutch Shell

ExxonMobil

British Petroleum

Chevron

Sinopec

Other Prominent Vendors

Total Energies

Fuchs

Idemitsu Kosan

Lukoil

Petronas

Indian Oil

Dow

Morris Lubricants

Sasol

Valvoline

Penrite oil

Bharat Petroleum

Liqui Moly

Peak Lubricants

Amalie Oil

Eni

Addinol

Engen Petroleum

Croda International

Petro-Canada Lubricants

Key Topics Covered:



1 Research Methodology



2 Research Objectives



3 Research Process



4 Scope & Coverage

4.1 Market Definition

4.2 Base Year

4.3 Scope of the Study



5 Report Assumptions & Caveats

5.1 Key Caveats

5.2 Currency Conversion

5.3 Market Derivation



6 Market at a Glance



7 Introduction

7.1 Overview



8 Market Opportunities & Trends

8.1 Increasing Demand for Reduction in Emission

8.2 Demand for Higher Fuel Economy Vehicles

8.3 Increasing Demand for High-Performance Lubricants



9 Market Growth Enablers

9.1 Growing Use in Automotive Sector

9.2 Increasing Use in Wind Turbine Industry

9.3 Rising Use in Electric Vehicles



10 Market Growth Restraints

10.1 Emergence of Bio-Based Lubricants

10.2 High Cost of Synthetic Lubricants



11 Market Landscape

11.1 Market Overview

11.2 Market Size & Forecast

11.3 Five Forces Analysis

11.4 Regulatory Outlook

11.5 Impact of Covid-19



12 Application

12.1 Market Snapshot & Growth Engine

12.2 Market Overview

12.3 Engine Oil

12.4 Transmission Fluids & Hydraulic Fluids

12.5 Metalworking Fluids

12.6 Grease

12.7 Others



13 End-User

13.1 Market Snapshot & Growth Engine

13.2 Market Overview

13.3 Power Generation

13.4 Automotive & Transportation

13.5 Heavy Equipment

13.6 Food & Beverage

13.7 Others



14 Type

14.1 Market Snapshot & Growth Engine

14.2 Market Overview

14.3 Polyalphaolefin (Pao)

14.4 Polyalkylene Glycol (Pag)

14.5 Esters



15 Geography

15.1 Market Snapshot & Growth Engine

15.2 Geographic Overview

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/evimyb

Attachment

CONTACT: CONTACT: ResearchAndMarkets.com Laura Wood, Senior Press Manager press@researchandmarkets.com For E.S.T Office Hours Call 1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call 1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900




AS LHV Group

As of 1 May 2022, Keith Butcher will become a member of the Board of Directors of LHV UK Limited, a subsidiary of AS LHV Group. He is the second Independent Non-Executive Director to join the Board of Directors of LHV UK Limited. Keith will also become a member of the Risk Committee, Audit Committee, Remuneration Committee and Nominations Committee of LHV UK Limited.

Keith is a seasoned Chief Financial Officer having held several positions during his executive career for internationally listed high growth e-commerce, fintech and online payments businesses. In 2014, he was awarded the CFO of the Year Award at Grant Thornton Quoted Company Awards.

Keith is currently Chief Financial Officer for Boku Inc. He joined Boku Inc in 2017 following the IPO as an Independent Non-Executive Director and Chair of the Audit Committee until he assumed the role of CFO in 2019.

From 2010 to 2015 Keith was CFO at PaySafe Group Plc (formerly Optimal Payments Plc) during a transformational five-year high growth period. He was also Finance Director for DataCash Group plc during a successful six-year growth period which resulted in the Company being sold to MasterCard.

Keith graduated with BSc (Hons) in Management Sciences from the University of Warwick in 1984. In 1993, he joined KPMG where he qualified as a Chartered Account. He is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants.

Madis Toomsalu, Chairman of the Board commented on Keiths appointment: "We are delighted to appoint Keith to the LHV UK Board. He brings a wealth of industry experience as well an impressive track record of taking high growth internationally listed businesses to the next level. His Independent Non-Executive and Chair of Audit experience is a welcomed addition to the Board."

Keith Butcher and the persons related to him do not hold shares of AS LHV Group.

LHV Group is the largest domestic financial group and capital provider in Estonia. LHV Groups key subsidiaries are LHV Pank, LHV Varahaldus, and LHV Kindlustus. LHV employs over 690 people. As at February, LHVs banking services are being used by 332,000 clients, the pension funds managed by LHV have 135,000 active clients, and LHV Kindlustus protects a total of 145,000 clients. LHVs UK branch offers banking infrastructure to 200 international financial services companies, via which LHVs payment services reach clients around the world.

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Priit Rum

LHV Communications Manager

Phone: +372 502 0786

Email: priit.rum@lhv.ee




The largest and longest-running R&B concert series, Funk Fest Tour, is back. Returning to Orlando, Fla. from June 3 to 4, the family reunion style experience brings together great food and a great time. Following its two-year pandemic-related hiatus, the lineup for its return is stacked.

Mary J. Blige, Anthony Hamilton, Jazmine Sullivan, Raheem DeVaughn, Trina, Carl Thomas, and Tweet are among those taking the stage. Jodeci will also be performing after the conclusion of The Culture Tour and the two-day event will be complete with a No Limit Records reunion featuring Master P, Mia X, Silk The Shocker, and Mystikal.

Video: Mary J. Blige looks back at 'My Life' in 2021 documentary

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Weeks later, Funk Fest will head to Louisville, Ky. where a handful of the aforementioned legends including Jodeci, Carl Thomas, Tweet, and the No Limit crew, will take the stage once more.

Not to mention, for the first time in 20 years, the tour is going international in association with Power To Exhale. PowerFest will be held in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, from Aug. 18 through Aug. 22. With performances from Anthony Hamilton, Jeezy, Babyface, Bell Biv DeVoe, Rick Ross, Ginuwine, Ying Yang Twins, SWV, and more, this is an affair you dont want to miss.

PowerFest will also include a host of activations including speed dating, cognac tasting, and even a spades tournament.

In light of rising COVID cases, both events will adhere to local COVID-19 protocols while also monitoring local, county, state, and federal health guidelines.

Tickets for both nights start at $100 and are currently available for purchase, along with hotel packages and parking passes.

Click here to read the full article.
Hello and welcome back to Max Q. It was a big week for private spaceflight. As usual, send feedback, comments and tips to aria.techcrunch@gmail.com. You also can catch me on Twitter at @breadfrom.

In this issue:

Axiom Space's first mission heads to the ISS

Astranis purchases a dedicated Falcon 9 flight

A week with founder and VC Jordan Noone

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Axiom Space's inaugural fully private space mission is a go. The four-person crew took off from NASA's Kennedy Space Center inside a SpaceX Crew Dragon atop a Falcon 9 rocket on Friday, where they headed to the International Space Station for an eight-day stint.

This is the first of many planned missions for Axiom, which aims to send its next batch of private citizens to the ISS in 2023. Axiom is not only in the business of private spaceflight  the company was also tapped by NASA to install commercial modules on the ISS, with the first module going up in late 2024. The companys eventual aim is to separate the modules and operate them as a new station upon the ISS retirement at the end of the decade.

Rewatch the mission here:

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5nLk_Vqp7nw]

San Francisco-based startup Astranis has purchased a dedicated launch on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. That's right: Instead of using a "rideshare" model, where multiple companies split the cost of launch, Astranis has booked out the entire rocket, in an exclusive mission that the company says will put its package of four communications satellites closer to their target orbit in a much faster amount of time.

Were actually using substantially less than the max capability of a Falcon 9, Astranis CEO and founder John Gedmark explained. This is just four small satellites that [will be] on there. So were actually able to use all of that extra performance to put those four satellites much closer to GEO than you would normally be able to do with this kind of launch.

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Astranis manufactures MicroGEO satellites, so named because they are much smaller and lighter than the typical geostationary communications satellites that are in orbit today, coming in at around 1/20th the size and cost. The four satellites that will launch next summer already have dedicated customers, including Latin American telco company Grupo Andesat and Anuvu, which provides internet connectivity on airplanes and cruises.

Astranis MicroGEO satellite

Image Credits: Astranis (opens in a new window)

This week with...Jordan Noone

Jordan Noone is co-founder and founding CTO of Relativity Space, and also co-founded both Embedded Ventures and KittyCAD. Before that, he led University of Southern Californias Rocket Propulsion Laboratory for two years, overseeing the development and launch of the first two entirely student-built rockets with capability of reaching the altitude of space, over 100km high. Those flights resulted in him becoming the first student, and youngest person in the world, to get FAA clearance to fly a rocket to space. From there, he worked on crewed spaceflight propulsion systems at both Blue Origin as an intern, and then SpaceX full-time, before starting Relativity in 2015 when he was 22 years old.

Image Credits: Embedded Ventures (opens in a new window)

TechCrunch: What are you working on?

Jordan Noone: My time is split between Embedded Ventures, the venture capital fund that Jenna Bryant and I founded together in 2020, and KittyCAD as CEO, which is a startup we spun out of the fund last year. Embedded invests in dual-use space startups beyond launch, riding the disruption wave of falling launch costs from the last two decades of commercial launcher development. KittyCAD brings code to hardware, providing code infrastructure for hardware design automation. They both branch out from my co-founding Relativity Space and as CTO for the first six years -- Embedded: investing in the future applications of launch, next-generation additive manufacturing and next generation digital engineering tools for hardware design -- and KittyCAD: solving the bottlenecks on the design floor of cutting-edge hardware companies, rather than what we solved through 3D printing on the factory floor at Relativity.

Whats something that happened in the news in the last week that you cant stop thinking about?

My alma mater, USC, through a donation from the Embedded Ventures team, brought back Project Payload: a program in which middle school-aged girls experience what it's like to have a career in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) through the design of rockets, payloads and satellites, along with programming. These hands-on programs are instrumental in creating interest in STEM for individuals under-represented in those fields today. A portion of the donation from Embedded Ventures will be made in honor of Summer Medford, a 2019 Project Payload alumna, who passed shortly after graduation from the program. We first learned about the program when Relativity sent volunteers to support the project years ago, however after that year, the previous donor cut the support for the program.

What are you looking forward to next week?

Ive been fortunate to be on the entrepreneurial journey that Ive had. The only goal that has ever resonated with me is to make the opportunity for that journey easier and more accessible for the next generation. Thats why we started Embedded, to support founders and tech areas overlooked by the mainstream venture community. Thats why we support programs like Project Payload and our other education outreach work. KittyCAD provides the tools needed by innovators designing world-changing hardware, Relativity allows iteration and imagination to flow freely in some of the worlds most complex hardware projects. I look forward to next week, and all my weeks, because they are full of the work required to see that goal happen. I am surrounded by equally ambitious people and teams working towards either the same goal, or goals that I believe in seeing happen.

What song has been on repeat?

The beat from KittyCADs new website.

More news from TC and beyond

Amazon's Project Kuiper, its massive plan to build a high-speed internet satellite constellation, came closer to materializing when the retail giant signed major launch agreements with United Launch Alliance, Blue Origin and Arianespace. The three agreements could be worth up to 83 launches and billions of dollars.

Astroscale will resume its orbital debris clean-up demonstration mission, despite four of the eight thrusters on the spacecraft being out of commission. The company paused the mission in January due to a number of technical issues, including the thrusters.

NASA is developing two space-based methods for monitoring climate change: one provides global estimates of aboveground forest biomass and carbon stores, and the second uses satellite data to develop a method of monitoring underground water loss.

Rocket Lab will attempt a mid-air capture of the Electron rocket for the first time during the company's next mission, which is scheduled to launch during the second half of this month.

SpaceX has hit another bump in the road to the first orbital test flight of its super-massive rocket Starship. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers suspended the company's application to expand the Starbase launch facility due to SpaceX's failure to provide certain information, Bloomberg reported.

SpinLaunch scored a NASA contract to test the company's unique approach to sending payload to space. SpinLaunch is developing a system that uses a large, vacuum-sealed chamber and a hypersonic tether to spin a spacecraft at a high enough velocity to escape the atmosphere.

Type One, a U.S.-based VC firm, is launching a $50 million fund for space and deep tech companies. The new fund will be based in the U.S. with an office in London.

"America's multi-use spaceport"

NASA spaceport

Image Credits: NASA/Jamie Peer (opens in a new window)

My favorite photo of the week: A view of SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket next to NASA's Space Launch System, the first time two different types of rockets made to carry humans have been on launch pads at Kennedy Space Center at the same time. The photo was tweeted out on KSC's Twitter page.

Max Q is brought to you by me, Aria Alamalhodaei. If you enjoy reading Max Q, consider forwarding it to a friend.
By Azernews





By Vugar Khalilov

Azerbaijan joined the first meeting of the Global Alliance for the Missing, which took place in Geneva, Switzerland on April 7, the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry has reported.

The meeting was attended by representatives from 10 member countries (Azerbaijan, Argentina, Estonia, Kuwait, Mexico, Nigeria, Norway, Peru, the Republic of Korea, and Switzerland), the report added.

The Foreign Ministry and the diplomatic mission in Geneva represented Azerbaijan at the event.

International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Vice-President Gilles Carbonnier opened the event, by stating that the global number of missing people has increased by 75 percent in the past five years, reaching 173,800.

He stated that the Global Alliance for the Missing was formed to bring global attention to the issue and to promote the implementation of global commitments in this area.

The Azerbaijani representatives informed the participants about the missing people in Azerbaijan and the work being done at the national level to determine their fate.

The diplomats emphasized the difficulties in identifying the remains of those killed in the massacre, as well as discovering mass graves in the villages of Dashalti, Edilli, Sirkhavand, and Farrukh following the liberation of Azerbaijani territories from Armenian occupation.

It was stressed that mine-littered areas are the main obstacle in discovering human remains in Azerbaijans liberated territories.

Furthermore, the diplomats highlighted Azerbaijan's efforts to draw international attention to this problem, citing the UN General Assembly's resolution on "Missing Persons".

Hope was expressed that the Global Alliance would draw global attention to the importance of clarifying the fate of missing persons and make a significant contribution to cooperation in this area.

The Global Alliance for the Missing was established at the ICRC initiative in Switzerland on May 11, 2021. Azerbaijan joined the initiative in January 2022 at the invitation of the ICRC.

On May 11, 2021, the ICRC initiative in Switzerland established the Global Alliance for the Missing. ICRC invited Azerbaijan to join the initiative in January 2022.

It should be noted that Azerbaijan joined the Alliance at the request of ICRC President Peter Maurer, due to its commitment to international obligations to clarify the fate of thousands of people missing as a result of the conflict, as well as its cooperation with the ICRC in the field of data collection and technical support for missing persons since the 1990s.

Maurer also emphasized the significance of Azerbaijan's role at the global level as a co-author of the UN General Assembly Resolution on Missing Persons.

Baku has urged the international community to put pressure on Yerevan to fulfill its obligations regarding the fate of Azerbaijani citizens who went missing during the first Karabakh war (1988-1994).

It was recalled that, under the 1949 Geneva Convention and its relevant protocols, as well as general international humanitarian law, Armenia is required to provide information on civilian and military Azerbaijani citizens (who were systematically killed by Armenian armed forces) and the location of their mass graves.

Armenia has to provide information about the mass graves of 3,890 missing Azerbaijani citizens (including 71 children, 267 women and 326 elderly people).
DAS Health

TAMPA, Fla., April 12, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- DAS Health Ventures, LLC (DAS Health), an industry leader in health IT and business solutions services, announced that Michelle Jaeger has been appointed as the companys President, in addition to her role as Chief Operating Officer.



I am proud to be formally passing the baton to Michelle to lead the company during this next phase of our growth, explained David Schlaifer, who will continue in his role as the companys Chief Executive Officer. Michelles career history and broad healthcare experience uniquely position her to be President of DAS Health. I am proud to work closely with her to continue building upon our companys success.

Jaeger joined DAS Health in May 2021, and since then, she has successfully led all client-facing operations, including the organizations extensive technology offerings which encompass MSP, cloud hosting, security, and compliance. She also has accountability for the client success team as well as the broad administrative services and product offerings designed to support both practice and enterprise healthcare clients. During her decades-long career, she has served in numerous senior leadership roles, most recently as Senior Vice President of Global Growth for UnitedHealthcare where she successfully transformed growth for the insurance and care delivery business in Brazil. Prior to that position, she held the role of Senior Vice President of OptumRx Client Management and Executive Director at Medco Health Solutions  now Express Scripts. Throughout her career, Mrs. Jaeger has been driven by a passion to improve the healthcare experience for all parties involved.

I am honored to be appointed President of DAS Health and look forward to continuing our mission to expand opportunities for our clients while affecting real change in healthcare, said Mrs. Jaeger. I am delighted to be part of a company that is unparalleled in its ability to provide clinicians with technology and business solutions to provide better clinical, operational, and financial outcomes for their organizations. Together with our team, I look forward to leading DAS Health to continued success in the years ahead.

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About DAS Health

DAS Health, a Sheridan Capital Partners portfolio company, has been a leading provider of Health IT and business solutions and a trusted consultant to independent and enterprise physician groups, hospitals and healthcare systems across North America since 2003, and has been recognized as an Inc 5000 fastest growing company for a record nine times. Headquartered in Tampa, FL, with regional offices in Nevada, New Hampshire, Ohio and Texas, and employees in 22 states, DAS delivers superior Information Technology, MSP managed IT, cloud hosting, RCM medical billing, value-based care, patient engagement, compliance, and practice management solutions for over 30,000 users nationwide impacting patients comprising over 5% of the US population. It includes representation and support of dozens of various Practice Management and EHR platforms, including as a NextGen Premier Partner and the largest reseller of Aprima and e-MDs solutions. Visit DAShealth.com to learn more.

NextGen is a registered trademarks of QSI Management, LLC. Aprima is a registered trademark of Aprima Medical Software, Inc., an eMDs Company; eMDs is a trademark of eMDs, Inc.

Media Contact

Chris Werfel

chris.werfel@dashealth.com | 224-220-5555




Late Greenland Police Chief Michael Maloney is being fondly remembered 10 years after his death on April 12, 2012.

GREENLAND  Former town administrator Karen Andersons official confirmation Police Chief Michael Maloney had been killed by gunfire in the line of duty 10 years ago came when the state attorney general called.

Attorney General Mike Delaney reached her by phone and said, "You need to swear in a chief. And that was the first confirmation that we had that he really had died.

On the night of April 12, 2012, Maloney and local law enforcement agencies responded to a residence at 517 Post Road for a drug raid operation. It was there that Maloney, assisting the New Hampshire Attorney Generals Drug Task Force in the search warrant, was shot and killed by 29-year-old Cullen Mutrie, who later killed himself, a woman in his home and wounded four local police officers.

Greenland Police Chief Tara Laurent reflects Tuesday, April 12, 2022, on the night Police Chief Michael Maloney was killed in the line of duty and she was sworn in as chief 10 years ago. She is documenting people who came into the station to sign a wall in his memory.

Maloney, just eight days from retirement after 26 years in law enforcement, was 48 years old at the time of his death.

Standing inside the Greenland Police Department on Tuesday morning, Anderson, now the town administrator in Hampton Falls, shared memories of the confusion and grief town staff felt as the incident unfolded. She joined others in writing a message to the late chief on the walls of the station as part of the departments "Graffiti the PD (with Memories of Maloney)" daylong remembrance Tuesday.

Former Greenland Town Administrator Karen Anderson signs a wall at the police station to honor fallen Police Chief Michael Maloney Tuesday, April 12, 2022, on the 10th anniversary of his death.

Maloney, a graduate of Winnacunnet High School, grew up in North Hampton and later graduated from Hesser College with a bachelor's degree in criminal justice. A graduate of the 76th New Hampshire Police Academy, his first law enforcement job was as a part-time officer in Rye, though he soon became a full-time officer for his hometown department. In 1997, he was named North Hamptons police chief, leaving for Greenlands police chief job in 2000.

Several of Maloneys siblings and his mother, Joan Buchanan, attended the "Graffiti the PD event, catching up with familiar faces and reading the personalized notes written to Maloney.

He was a joy, Buchanan said of her son.

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"He was the nucleus of our family," said his younger sister, Kathleen Lahey.

Former Greenland police officers David LoConte, center, and Tom Simmons greet Michael Maloney's mother, Joan, at the station on the 10th anniversary of his death April 12, 2022.

Greenland's Chief Laurent: 'He was bigger than life'

While Maloney, hailed by colleagues and loved ones as a lovable figure quick to crack a joke, was the focus of Greenland polices Tuesday event, his unwavering legacy within the department is well-documented.

Aside from the heartfelt messages scribbled on the buildings walls from visitors, a patrol room inside the station is named after Maloney. One framed photograph on the wall highlights the numerous local businesses that paid tribute to the fallen chief in the aftermath of the shooting.

A monument rests at the base of a flag pole in front of the Greenland Police Station. Chief Michael Maloney died in the line of duty 10 years ago, on April 12, 2012, at the age of 48.

Hamptons Old Salt Restaurant was one of those businesses, writing on a sign outside the establishment, Gods Finger Touched Him and He Slept. R.I.P.

Greeting and hugging old colleagues, town residents and members of Maloneys family on Tuesday, Greenland police Chief Tara Laurent remembered the countless stories she heard about Maloney in the days after his death.

I always laugh and giggle every time I hear them because he was bigger than life, she said. He was one of those guys with the big laugh.

Laurent was privately sworn-in after Maloney was killed

When the shooting occurred, Laurent was already lined up to succeed Maloney as Greenlands next police chief, though she had not yet signed a contract. Then a detective sergeant with Newmarkets police force, Laurent had never held a chiefs position, but was six weeks away from taking leadership of the Greenland department.

On April 12, 2012, around 6:30 p.m., Laurent received a text message from a coworker alerting her to the incident. About a minute later, Laurent, also a negotiator, received a text message from the responding SWAT unit with a directive: Respond immediately.

Greenland Police Chief Tara Laurent, seen Tuesday, April 12, 2022, recalls being sworn into duty weeks earlier than planned the night Chief Michael Maloney was killed 10 years ago.

Minutes after that, Anderson called Laurent asking her to report to Andersons Town Square office. That night, inside Andersons office, a handful of town officials gathered with Laurent for her impromptu swearing-in as Greenlands police chief upon the news Maloney had died.

The lights in the room were shut off and paper was taped over the window panes. Because the building was filled with reporters, they couldnt see her getting sworn in because then they would immediately have known that we didnt have a chief, Anderson said.

It was surreal, Laurent said. I think all the lights were off and there were maybe 10 of us. Were all standing there and everybody was crying, trying to get through.

The morning after Maloney's death: 'I was completely lost'

For the morning of April 13, 2012, the towns newly-minted chief, thrust into unthinkable circumstances, took part in a walk-through of the police station.

I was completely lost, Laurent said.

Laurent noted that at the time of the shooting, Greenlands police force had only seven full-time officers. Maloney, known for his love of Hawaiian shirts and sporting shorts year-round, would organize fishing and ski trips for Greenland police and Christmas shopping outings, where department members would ride in style in a limousine.

These people werent just his employees. They were close, she said.

Former Greenland Police officer David LoConte hugs Chief Tara Laurent on Tuesday, April 12, 2022, the 10th anniversary of the death of Chief Michael Maloney. LoConte was at a drug raid with the chief when gunfire broke out.

Following the shooting, Greenland officers didnt return home until about 4 a.m. once the scene on Post Road was secured. Laurent, hours into her new job, instructed department members to stay home the next day with their families.

Laurent returned to the police station at 7 a.m. on April 13, 2012. Within an hour, each member of the Greenland Police Department was back in the station after a sleepless morning.

I was like, Why is everyone here? And no one had an answer, she said. They just needed to be together. That happened that way for probably two weeks. I was like, No one is taking calls, why are you guys here? But theyd come on back.

Rye police chief: Maloney was smiling 'even on the worst day'

The shooting sent shockwaves through the nations law enforcement community and shattered the small town of a few thousand residents. Rye Police Chief Kevin Walsh, who met Maloney in 1994 when he joined the Rye department, was shopping at Lowes with his son when he received a report that a search warrant had gone awry.

Sitting at a traffic light on Ocean Road, Walsh watched a police cruiser speed past in such a way that he knew a crisis was unfolding. Minutes later, the news came in over his radio: Maloney was dead.

Its still a long road to recovery, he said.

Walsh praised the tiny Greenland police forces ability to rally together. He said he has told Laurent that one day, she should author a book about the entire experience and title it My First Day.

It tells you something about the character of the police officers that were working there, he said.

Greenland Police K-9 Officer Willow comes out from under a table to greet people Tuesday, April 12, 2022, as they arrive to pay tribute to fallen Police Chief Michael Maloney on the 10-year anniversary of his death.

When he was a member of the state Police Academy in 1987, Walsh and fellow students were taught about ways to try and handle an incident like the one resulting in Maloneys death.

Mike would always have a smile on his face, even on the worst day, Walsh said.

Ex-Greenland town administrator's recollection of April 12, 2012

Anderson had taken the afternoon of April 12, 2012 off but returned to her office later in the day for a quick errand.

Before leaving, a member of the responding SWAT team banged on her door asking where the towns police department was located. Anderson pointed it out to him and he left in a hurry.

Twenty minutes later, she heard a cacophony of about 30 individual sirens driving to Post Road. Little did she know that Maloney had dragged several critically wounded officers to a nearby patrol car on scene to safety before returning to the line of fire himself, where he would lose his life moments later.

Still to this day, I lose it if I hear more than a couple sirens go by at once. It brings it all back, Anderson said.

Maloneys bravery was commended with numerous posthumous awards and recognitions, including the New England Chiefs of Police Association Medal of Valor, the Career Achievement award from the New Hampshire Congressional Law Enforcement Panel and the 2012 New Hampshire Union Leader Citizen of the Year award.

How Anderson helped a fellow state community in mourning

Andersons days and months following Maloneys death were seemingly never-ending, marked by the late chiefs funeral services, outreach to his family and loved ones, assisting the police department in its grief and transition period and maintaining her various duties as town administrator.

Joan Maloney Buchanan, the mother of fallen Greenland Police Chief Michael Maloney, arrives at the department with family Tuesday, April 12, 2022 on the 10th anniversary of his death. Maloney was killed in the line of duty.

But her personal experience with the death of Maloney, however, allowed her to help another ailing community facing tragedy two years later. In May 2014, Brentwood police officer Stephen Arkell was shot and killed while responding to a residence in town that was set ablaze by the shooter, who killed himself.

A fellow town administrator in New Hampshire asked Anderson if she would report to Brentwood to help town officials in the days following its own tragedy.

I was able to help them, which helped me, she said. At that point, I think the knowledge and the experience is what kicked in.

Greenlands response to Maloneys death and Andersons assistance to the Brentwood community led her to giving a presentation on the entire ordeal at an emergency management conference.

How to handle a town in crisis, she said of the presentation, because the crisis (in Greenland) lasted six months.

Ten years later, the sorrow has not disappeared.

With a purple marker, Anderson jotted a simple message to Maloney before leaving Greenland on Tuesday: Chief, you are missed more than you know.

Former Greenland Town Administrator Karen Anderson signs a wall at the police station to honor fallen Police Chief Michael Maloney Tuesday, April 12, 2022, on the 10th anniversary of his death in the line of duty.

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Greenland NH: Chief Michael Maloney died decade ago on April 12, 2012
Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro talks with a sailor at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island Monday.

BANGOR  The Navy is "deeply committed" to a multi-billion dollar modernization effort at its shipyards, including its largest in Bremerton, as new generations of aircraft carriers and submarines will require upgraded dry docks and facilities for maintenance work, President Joe Biden's Navy secretary said at Naval Base Kitsap-Bangor on Monday.

"Recapitalizing the shipyards is incredibly important," said Carlos del Toro, a Navy veteran who commanded a destroyer during his 22-year career as a Navy officer. "... These are major, major investments."

It was the first trip through the shipyard and other northwest Navy installations for Del Toro, the 78th secretary of the Navy in the country's history. Biden's pick for secretary was confirmed by the U.S. Senate in August.

In an interview with the Kitsap Sun, Del Toro defended the president's proposed Navy budget for next year  including $1.7 billion for the shipyard modernization effort  but acknowledged challenges the Navy faces, including a steep rise in the cost of living for sailors based in the Pacific Northwest. The budget meets the broad challenges the country faces from a Russia invading Ukraine, a rising China and missile-launching North Korea, and more, he said.

"I do feel the president's budget fulfills that strategy," Del Toro said.

Born in Cuba, Del Toro's family immigrated to New York City in 1962, the same year as the Cuban missile crisis. He graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1983 and was the first to command the guided-missile destroyer USS Bulkeley. That included a year when the ship was still docked at a shipyard  an aspect he said gives him perspective on issues facing places like the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard.

Here come funds: Navy inks contracts to bring billions to Puget Sound Naval Shipyard

New dry docks needed for Columbia class, others

Del Toro referenced the incoming Columbia-class submarines that will soon replace the Ohio class as the fleet of nuclear missile-armed subs patrolling the seas, many of them based at Bangor. They'll need a deeper dry dock and one more sophisticated to make the repairs and keep the class deployable, he said. The first Columbia-class submarine should debut in 2027.

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The shipyard is currently looking to build a new "multimission" dry dock capable of the Navy's newest vessels, including fast-attack subs of the Virginia class and the newest era of aircraft carrier, the Gerald Ford class.

Budget calls for 'capability' before 'capacity' in Navy fleet

Del Toro acknowledged the budget for next year decommissions 24 ships  including nine Littoral Combat Ships  while adding only nine. The secretary said the goal must be "capability" before "capacity." The budget keeps the focus on building out the Columbia class and the new Ford-class aircraft carriers like the USS Doris Miller.

The secretary's visit came as the Bremerton-based USS Nimitz, the oldest of its class of carrier, nears what could be among its final deployments. The warship is due to be decommissioned in 2025, though its service life could be extended  and Del Toro told the Kitsap Sun that will depend on whether the price is right.

"We'll have to look at that calculus," he said of the extension's cost.

Read more: USS Nimitz completes a 99,000-mile journey likely not done since WWII

Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro meets with sailors at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island Monday.

USS Connecticut will be back, Del Toro vows

Another vessel Del Toro said he's watched closely is the USS Connecticut, one of three of the Seawolf-class vessels homeported here. The Connecticut was damaged and some of its crew injured in a crash with an underwater mountain in the South China Sea in October.

The boat, which received $50 million in emergency funds to begin repairs, has been in dry dock at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard. Del Toro said that not only will the elite submarine return to service, it's likely to include upgrades to help it carry out its mission.

"She will return to service, I am confident of that," Del Toro said. "And will probably emerge more capable than before."

Cost of housing a concern

Del Toro, who also visited Naval Air Station Whidbey Island on Monday, noted he's been hearing from sailors about the skyrocketing cost of housing in the Pacific Northwest.

"That's an issue I am taking back to Washington, D.C. with me," he said.

Basic Allowance for Housing for newly enlisted sailors in Kitsap starts at about $2,000 a month for those with dependents and $1,600 for those without. In San Diego or Pearl Harbor, it's roughly $600 more for those with dependents, $400 without.

"We have an obligation to take a look at that," Del Toro said.

Related: Navy's 1896-built homes preserved on Bremerton's base, but it comes at cost

Josh Farley is a reporter covering the military and Bremerton for the Kitsap Sun. He can be reached at 360-792-9227, josh.farley@kitsapsun.com or on Twitter at @joshfarley.

This article originally appeared on Kitsap Sun: Navy secretary Carlos Del Toro visits Naval Base Kitsap-Bangor
ReportLinker

Forecasts by Solution (Storage Management, Disposal Management, Other), by Waste Type (Very-Low-Level Waste (VLLW), Low-Level Waste (LLW), Intermediate-Level Waste (ILW), High Level Waste (HLW), Other), by Source (Decommissioning/Remediation, Nuclear Reactor Operations, Military and Defense Programs, Nuclear Applications, Nuclear Fuel Reprocessing/Fabrication) AND Regional and Leading National Market Analysis PLUS Analysis of Leading Companies AND COVID-19 Recovery Scenarios

New York, April 12, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Nuclear Waste Management Market Report 2022-2032" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p06267775/?utm_source=GNW



The Nuclear Waste Management Market Report 2022-2032: This report will prove invaluable to leading firms striving for new revenue pockets if they wish to better understand the industry and its underlying dynamics. It will be useful for companies that would like to expand into different industries or to expand their existing operations in a new region.



There is great deal of radioactive waste generated globally that drives the waste management market



Tens of thousands of metric tonnes of radioactive waste collected by commercial power plants and years of national military operations continues to age at various locations across the world. The stockpile grows as the hazardous substance and the containers it is stored in await permanent disposal. Globally, the amount of HLW is rising by around 12,000 tonnes each year. Every year, a 1000-megawatt nuclear power station generates around 27 t of spent nuclear fuel (unreprocessed). The quantity of ash generated by coal power stations in the United States is estimated to be 130,000,000 t per year, with fly ash releasing 100 times more radiation than a comparable nuclear power plant.



The nuclear power sector also produces waste even though in lesser quantity



In comparison to other industrial operations, the nuclear power sector generates a modest quantity of waste. 97 percent of garbage generated is categorized as low- or intermediate-level waste (LLW or ILW). For many years, such garbage has been widely disposed of in near-surface sites. Only 0.2 percent of all radioactive waste by volume is designated as high-level waste in France, where fuel is reprocessed (HLW). The quantity of HLW generated (including spent fuel when deemed waste) during nuclear production is minimal; a typical big reactor (1 gigawatt) generates around 25-30 tonnes of used fuel per year.



Environmentalists And Nuclear Power Specialists Have Expressed Concern About Nuclear Waste Management



Environmentalists and nuclear power specialists have expressed concern about the manner waste is being kept at Europes largest nuclear power facility in crisis-torn Ukraine. The Guardian uncovered nearly 3,000 spent nuclear fuel rods inside metal barrels within towering concrete containers in an open-air yard adjacent to a perimeter fence at Zaporizhia during a recent visit to the facility, which is 124 miles (200 km) from the present front line.



Another risk is the unintentional release of radiation from spent nuclear fuel rods kept in pools of water at reactor sites. This would occur if the water in the pools leaked, causing the fuel to overheat. While the amount of spent fuel held on site is very minor, a far bigger amount of highly radioactive waste (including spent fuel) is stored at five regional sites around Ukraine. On February 27, one of them near Kyiv was apparently struck by a Russian aircraft. The fact that no radioactive debris was released was primarily down to chance and cannot be relied on in the future.



What Are These Questions You Should Ask Before Buying A Market Research Report?

 How is the nuclear waste management market evolving?

 What is driving and restraining the nuclear waste management market?

 How will each nuclear waste management submarket segment grow over the forecast period and how much revenue will these submarkets account for in 2032?

 How will the market shares for each nuclear waste management submarket develop from 2022 to 2032?

 What will be the main driver for the overall market from 2022 to 2032?

 Will leading nuclear waste management markets broadly follow the macroeconomic dynamics, or will individual national markets outperform others?

 How will the market shares of the national markets change by 2032 and which geographical region will lead the market in 2032?

 Who are the leading players and what are their prospects over the forecast period?

 What are the nuclear waste management projects for these leading companies?

 How will the industry evolve during the period between 2020 and 2032? What are the implication of nuclear waste management projects taking place now and over the next 10 years?

 Is there a greater need for product commercialisation to further scale the nuclear waste management market?

 Where is the nuclear waste management market heading? And how can you ensure you are at the forefront of the market?

 What can be the best investment options for new product and service lines?

 What are the key prospects for moving companies into a new growth path? C-suite?



You need to discover how this will impact the nuclear waste management market today, and over the next 10 years:

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 Contains in-depth analyse of global, regional and national sales and growth

 Highlights for you the key successful trends, changes and revenue projections made by your competitors



This report tells you TODAY how the nuclear waste management market will develop in the next 10 years, and in-line with the variations in COVID-19 economic recession and bounce. This market is more critical now than at any point over the last 10 years.



Forecasts to 2032 and other analyses reveal the commercial prospects

 In addition to revenue forecasting to 2032, our new study provides you with recent results, growth rates, and market shares.

 You find original analyses, with business outlooks and developments.

 Discover qualitative analyses (including market dynamics, drivers, opportunities, restraints and challenges), cost structure, impact of rising nuclear waste management prices and recent developments.



This report includes data analysis and invaluable insight into how COVID-19 will affect the industry and your company. Four COVID-19 recovery patterns and their impact, namely, V, L, W and U are discussed in this report.



Global Nuclear Waste Management Market (COVID Impact Analysis)

 Value (USD Million)

 Volume (Thousand MT)



Global Nuclear Waste Management Market (COVID Impact Analysis) by Solution

 Storage Management

 Disposal Management

 Other Solutions



Global Nuclear Waste Management Market (COVID Impact Analysis) by Type

 Very-Low-Level Waste (VLLW)

 Low-Level Waste (LLW)

 Intermediate-Level Waste (ILW)

 High Level Waste (HLW)

 Other Waste Type



Global Nuclear Waste Management Market (COVID Impact Analysis) by Source

 Decommissioning/ Remediation

 Nuclear Reactor Operations

 Military and Defense Programs

 Nuclear Applications

 Nuclear Fuel Reprocessing/Fabrication

 Not Determined



In addition to the revenue predictions for the overall world market and segments, you will also find revenue forecasts for 4 regional and 20 leading national markets:



North America Nuclear Waste Management Market, 2022 to 2032 Market Outlook

 U.S. Nuclear Waste Management Market, 2022 to 2032 Market Forecast & COVID Impact Analysis

 Canada Nuclear Waste Management Market, 2022 to 2032 Market Forecast & COVID Impact Analysis

 Mexico Nuclear Waste Management Market, 2022 to 2032 Market Forecast & COVID Impact Analysis



Europe Nuclear Waste Management Market, 2022 to 2032 Market Outlook

 Germany Nuclear Waste Management Market, 2022 to 2032 Market Forecast & COVID Impact Analysis

 Spain Nuclear Waste Management Market, 2022 to 2032 Market Forecast & COVID Impact Analysis

 Russia Nuclear Waste Management Market, 2022 to 2032 Market Forecast & COVID Impact Analysis

 France Nuclear Waste Management Market, 2022 to 2032 Market Forecast & COVID Impact Analysis

 Ukraine Nuclear Waste Management Market, 2022 to 2032 Market Forecast & COVID Impact Analysis

 Rest of Europe Market Forecast & COVID Impact Analysis



Asia Pacific Nuclear Waste Management Market, 2022 to 2032 Market Outlook

 China Nuclear Waste Management Market, 2022 to 2032 Market Forecast & COVID Impact Analysis

 Japan Nuclear Waste Management Market, 2022 to 2032 Market Forecast & COVID Impact Analysis

 India Nuclear Waste Management Market, 2022 to 2032 Market Forecast & COVID Impact Analysis

 Australia Nuclear Waste Management Market, 2022 to 2032 Market Forecast & COVID Impact Analysis

 South Korea Nuclear Waste Management Market, 2022 to 2032 Market Forecast & COVID Impact Analysis

 Rest of Asia Pacific Market Forecast & COVID Impact Analysis



LAMEA Nuclear Waste Management Market, 2022 to 2032 Market Outlook

 Brazil Nuclear Waste Management Market, 2022 to 2032 Market Forecast & COVID Impact Analysis

 Argentina Nuclear Waste Management Market, 2022 to 2032 Market Forecast & COVID Impact Analysis

 Namibia Nuclear Waste Management Market, 2022 to 2032 Market Forecast & COVID Impact Analysis

 South Africa Nuclear Waste Management Market, 2022 to 2032 Market Forecast & COVID Impact Analysis

 Kazakhstan Nuclear Waste Management Market, 2022 to 2032 Market Forecast & COVID Impact Analysis

 Rest of Latin America, Middle East and Africa Nuclear Waste Management Market, 2022 to 2032 Market Forecast & COVID Impact Analysis



The report also includes profiles and for some of the leading companies in the Nuclear Waste Management Market, 2022 to 2032, with a focus on this segment of these companies operations.



Leading companies and the potential for market growth

 Augean PLC

 Bechtel Group Inc.

 Enercon Services Inc.

 EnergySolutions Inc.

 Fluor Corporation

 Holtec International

 Perma-Fix Environmental Services, Inc.

 Stericycle Inc.

 Studsvik AB

 Toshiba Corp

 US Ecology

 Veolia Environnement SA



Overall world revenue for Nuclear Waste Management Market, 2022 to 2032 in terms of value the market will surpass US$xx million in 2022, our work calculates. We predict strong revenue growth through to 2032. Our work identifies which organizations hold the greatest potential. Discover their capabilities, progress, and commercial prospects, helping you stay ahead.



How the Nuclear Waste Management Market, 2022 to 2032 Market report helps you?



In summary, our 522-page report provides you with the following knowledge:

 Revenue forecasts to 2032 for Nuclear Waste Management Market, 2022 to 2032 Market, with forecasts for value, volume, solution, type, source each forecasted at a global and regional level discover the industrys prospects, finding the most lucrative places for investments and revenues

 Revenue forecasts to 2032 for 4 regional and 20 key national markets  See forecasts for the Nuclear Waste Management Market, 2022 to 2032 market in North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific and LAMEA. Also forecasted is the market in the US, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Germany, France, China, India, Japan, and Australia among other prominent economies.

 Prospects for established firms and those seeking to enter the market including company profiles for 20 of the major companies involved in the Nuclear Waste Management Market, 2022 to 2032 Market.

Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p06267775/?utm_source=GNW



About Reportlinker

ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place.



__________________________

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CONTACT: Clare: clare@reportlinker.com US: (339)-368-6001 Intl: +1 339-368-6001




Proactive

New York, April 12, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Proactive, provider of real-time news and video interviews on growth companies listed in the US and Canada, has covered the following companies:

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About Proactive

Proactive is a unique tech-enabled platform providing companies globally with a comprehensive investor engagement solution across their business lifecycle.

With six offices on three continents, Proactive works with innovative growth companies quoted on the worlds major stock exchanges, helping executives to engage intelligently with investors.

In 2020, Proactive featured in 809 million search results, our content was viewed over 165 million times and our readers spent over 10 million hours on our websites. Proactive has produced over 300,000 articles and 20,000 executive interviews since it was established in 2006.

For more information on how Proactive can help you make a difference, email us at action@proactiveinvestors.com




HOUSTON, April 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Simon Bolivar Foundation, a 501 (c)(3) non-profit private foundation, in collaboration with Baylor College of Medicine is offering to fund up to seven scholarships to medical professionals working in Venezuela for a world-class Diploma Course in Tropical Medicine from Baylor's National School of Tropical Medicine.

Simon Bolivar Foundation logo

The Fundacion Academia Nacional de Medicina Francisco Antonio Risquez in Venezuela will play a key role in assisting the Foundation with dissemination of information to potential scholarship candidates in the country and the development of an objective process to identify qualified candidates to be recommended to apply for a scholarship to Baylor College of Medicine for a Diploma in the Tropical Medicine program.

"We see this collaboration as the first step towards a long-term, mutually beneficial strategic relationship with Baylor College of Medicine and the Fundacion Academia Nacional de Medicina Francisco Antonio Risquez," said Mariela Poleo, President of the Simon Bolivar Foundation. "This charitable program provides capacity-building for medical professionals in Venezuela, given the evidence of loss of health professionals in Venezuela and the need to re-build capacity, while at the same time providing bidirectional knowledge transfer. I am particularly pleased with the invaluable collaboration that will be provided by the Venezuelan National Academy of Medicine in identifying candidates to be recommended to apply for a scholarship for a Diploma in the Tropical Medicine program," she added.

The Tropical Medicine program is an intensive non-degree online program designed for physicians, consisting of four modules addressing Epidemiology, Public Health, Tropical Bacteriology and Virology, Tropical Parasitology and Mycology and Application of Travel and Tropical Medicine via webinars, in four months. This program will develop skills needed for health care professionals to work in the tropical medicine field and will prepare them to sit for the CTropMed Certificate of Knowledge in Clinical Tropical Medicine and Travelers' Health.

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Among the program objectives, candidates will be able to (i) describe the principles and management of childhood illness, reproductive healthcare, and current approaches to address health needs of women and children; (ii) apply diverse clinical sub-specialties focused on the tropics; and (iii) discuss the differential diagnosis for returning travelers with fever and/or eosinophilia, all in line with the Foundation's charitable mission to develop capacity to assist those in need in this area.

Applicants are expected to present their credentials as physicians, three letters of recommendation, and an essay on their motivation to obtain this Diploma and have sufficient English language skills to successfully complete the TOEFL test.

Baylor's application process for the program is currently scheduled to begin in June 2022 and be completed in September 2022, with the program commencing in January 2023. The Simon Bolivar Foundation, in collaboration with the Venezuelan National Academy of Medicine, will issue a call for candidates and identify qualified candidates to recommend to apply for scholarships to Baylor College of Medicine for a Diploma in the Tropical Medicine program.

Pre-selected candidates will be recommended to apply to Baylor College of Medicine which will have the final decision on acceptance to the program in accordance with its selection criteria.

For more information about the scholarship program, please visit the Simon Bolivar Foundation or Academia Nacional de Medicina websites.

About the Simon Bolivar Foundation

The Simon Bolivar Foundation is the 501(c)(3) non-profit, private foundation of CITGO Petroleum Corporation. The Foundation supports initiatives, leverages existing resources and invests in organizations to meet the immediate and long-term health needs of the most vulnerable individuals particularly in and from Venezuela with a special focus on the health and well-being of children and their mothers.

Cision

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/simon-bolivar-foundation-collaborates-with-baylor-college-of-medicine-to-train-venezuelan-physicians-301523599.html

SOURCE CITGO Corporation
Award-winning South African drama Good Life is set for a U.S. release after sales agent Angel Oak Films inked a deal with distributor Level 33.

Set in Cape Town and Greece, Good Life tells the story of Olive Papadopoulous (played by Erica Wessels), a thirty-something year-old with a broken heart. Fleeing to a small town in Greece, she finds herself even more miserable thanks to the villagers hostility  until she hires a 7-year-old Albanian refugee, Jet (played by Caleb Payne) as her guide and negotiator. Before long, Jet becomes her friend too, teaching Olive how to live a good life.

More from Variety

Robyn Scott (After Life of The Party), Leon Clingman (The Mauritanian), Marco Mintaka (What Lies Beneath) and Sven Ruygrok (Around the World in 80 Days) also star in the film.

Good Life was written, directed and produced by Bonnie Rodini and is loosely based on Rodinis own experiences. It represents her directorial feature debut.

Following prizes at the Berlin and Toronto Independent Film festivals, Good Life is now set for a U.S. on demand release on April 15. The film will be available via Apple TV iTunes Store, Amazon, Spectrum, Xfinity/Comcast, DirecTV, Verizon, Microsoft, Google Play, YouTube Movies, Vudu, Hoopla Digital in the USA.

Angel Oak has also closed sales in Poland and Spain via respective distributors Best Film and Twelve Oak Pictures.

Last year Angel Oak Films pre-sold upcoming Aaron Eckhart and Terrence Howard thriller Afterward in multiple territories with Lionsgate in North America, Grindstone in Latin America and YouPlanet in Spain.

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Sign up for Varietys Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Click here to read the full article.
States Leading the Charge on Renewable Energy  2022 Edition

Renewable energy will play a pivotal role in the world's attempt to curb the effects of climate change. The landmark Paris Agreement signed by 196 countries seeks to limit global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. To do this, global emissions of carbon dioxide must fall 45% by 2030 and be virtually eliminated by 2050.

The good news is the world is making progress expanding renewable energy. By 2026, global renewable electric capacity is projected to rise more than 60% from 2020 levels. The bad news? Renewables must grow even faster than these forecasts to achieve net zero emissions by 2050, according to the International Energy Agency.

In the U.S., the adoption of renewable energy varies from state to state. To determine what parts of the country are leading the charge, we compared the 50 states across the following seven metrics: renewable energy as a percentage of total energy production, five-year change in renewable energy production, carbon dioxide emissions per capita, five-year change in carbon dioxide emissions, total amount of U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) funding for renewable energy, average amount spent on energy programs and number of policies and incentives that focus on renewables. For more details on how we analyzed the data and compiled the rankings, read the data and methodology section below.

This is SmartAsset's third study on states leading the charge on renewable energy. You can read the 2021 study here.

Key Findings

North Carolina remains No. 1. For the second year in a row, North Carolina is leading the charge on renewable energy. The state increased its production of renewables by nearly 52% between 2014 and 2019, which is double the average of all 50 states. The Tar Heel State also received by far the most USDA funding from 2004 to 2021: $1.5 billion.

Emissions are falling, but not quickly enough. Though many researchers estimate that carbon emissions must be cut in half over the next decade, recent national decreases have been minimal. From 2013 to 2018, U.S. carbon emissions fell by only -1.40%. Across the 50 states, Arizona leads the way for its five-year change in carbon emissions (-15.16%) while Mississippi ranks worst (10.85%).

West Virginia is last, again. Known for its coal mining, it's no surprise that West Virginia ranks last for its focus on renewables. In fact, this is the third time the state is at the bottom of our rankings. West Virginia has the fewest statewide policies and incentives geared toward renewable energy (8) and ranks second-worst for renewable energy as a percentage of total energy production (0.81%).

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1. North Carolina

Over the five-year period from 2014 to 2019, North Carolina increased its renewable energy output by 51.92%, which ranks eighth-highest across all 50 states. In addition to receiving the most USDA energy investments between 2004 and 2021, North Carolina also has the 11th-most policies and incentives focused on renewable energy (69). Finally, renewable energy made up 36.72% of all energy produced in the state in 2019, which ranks 21st out of the 50 states.

2. California

The nation's most populous state is also second-best for its focus on renewable energy. California had the second-fewest carbon dioxide emissions per capita in 2018, at 9.04 metric tons per person. California also had the 10th-largest increase (48.75%) in renewable energy production between 2014 and 2019. The Golden State received the third-most USDA funding for renewable energy from 2004 to 2021, when the state took in about $557.8 million in federal dollars. Additionally, no state has more incentives and policies geared toward renewables than California, which has 170.

3. Massachusetts

Massachusetts jumped six spots in this year's rankings thanks in part to having the fourth-fewest carbon dioxide emissions per capita (9.38 metric tons per person). Renewables comprised 76.54% of all energy produced in the Bay State in 2019, the 13th-highest percentage across our study. Massachusetts also has the eighth-most policies and incentives geared toward renewable energy (84) and the 17th-largest reduction in carbon dioxide emissions, with emissions falling by 3.70% from 2013 to 2018.

4. Vermont

Vermont, which entered the top 10 after being ranked 12th overall a year ago, has the third-fewest carbon dioxide emissions per capita (9.36 metric tons). The state also recorded the 15th-largest increase in renewable energy production between 2014 and 2019, when output jumped 24.52%. Despite being one of the least populous states in the country, Vermont ranks 20th for its number of policies and incentives focused on renewable energy (63).

5. Arizona

Arizona ranks seventh for energy assistance from the USDA ($353.1 million) and fifth for average amount spent per program ($556,910). Between 2013 and 2018, Arizona cut its carbon dioxide emissions by 5.50%, which ranks as the 17th-largest reduction in the nation during that five-year period.

6. New York

The Empire State ranks No. 1 for carbon dioxide emissions per capita (9.00 metric tons per person) and fourth overall for its number of policies and incentives geared toward renewable energy (110). New York also received the 14th-most USDA assistance between 2004 and 2021, having taken in $264.1 million in federal funding for renewable energy and energy efficiency projects.

7. Oregon

Oregon has the fifth-fewest carbon dioxide emissions per capita, at 9.53 metric tons per person. The state also has the fifth-most policies and incentives focusing on renewable energy in the country (109) and received the eighth-most USDA investments ($343.9 million) for renewable energy and energy efficiency projects from 2004 to 2021. Finally, renewables make up nearly 100% of the state's total energy production.

8. Nevada

No state allocates more USDA dollars per project than Nevada, at nearly $1.5 million per initiative. The state, which received the ninth-most total USDA funding ($317.5 million), also posted the sixth-largest increase in renewable energy production from 2014 to 2019 (63.53%).

9. Illinois (Tie)

Illinois entered this year's top 10 after ranking 14th overall in our 2021 study edition. The state recorded the sixth-largest reduction of total carbon dioxide emissions from 2013 to 2018 when emissions fell by 9.29%. The Land of Lincoln also has the 12th-most policies and incentives geared toward renewable energy (66).

9. Missouri (Tie)

Like Illinois, Missouri cracked this year's top 10 after its No. 15 rank a year ago. Between 2014 and 2019, the state increased its renewable energy production by 49.88%, the ninth-best rate across our study. Missouri also made progress on reducing its carbon footprint, cutting total carbon dioxide emissions by 6.85% from 2013 to 2018 (the 10th-best).

Data and Methodology

To find the states leading the charge on renewable energy, SmartAsset looked at data for all 50 states. Specifically, we compared the states across the following seven metrics:

Renewable output as a percentage of total energy production. This is renewable energy production divided by total energy produced in each state. Data is for 2019 and comes from the Energy Information Administration (EIA).

Five-year change in renewable energy output. Data comes from the Energy Information Administration (EIA) and is for 2014 to 2019.

Carbon dioxide emissions per capita. Data comes from the Energy Information Administration (EIA) and is for 2018. Units are in metric tons of carbon dioxide per person.

Five-year change in carbon emissions. Data comes from the Energy Information Administration (EIA) and is for 2013 to 2018. Units are million metric tons of carbon dioxide.

Total USDA energy investments. This is the total amount of funding received by the state from 2004 to 2021 from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for renewable energy and energy efficiency projects and investments. Data was pulled in February 2022.

Average USDA funding per program. This is the total USDA energy investment amount divided by the number of USDA-funded programs in the state. Data was pulled in February 2022.

Number of policies and incentives encouraging renewable energy development. This includes grants, loans, rebates and tax credits. Data comes from the Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency (DSIRE) and was pulled in February 2022.

To create our final score we ranked each state in each metric. Then we found each state's average ranking, giving equal weighting to all metrics except total USDA energy investments and average USDA funding per program, which each received a half weight. We used this average ranking to create our final score. The state with the best average ranking received a score of 100. The state with the worst average ranking received a score of 0.

Tips for Being More Sustainable

Consider a home solar system. If you're a homeowner, solar panels can help you reduce your carbon footprint and save you money on electricity. Scott Lasky, president of the Santa Cruz, California-based Sandbar Solar & Electric, recommends taking advantage of a 26% federal tax credit on systems installed in 2022. That tax incentive will drop to 22% in 2023 and expire in 2024. "You are also able to send excess energy back to your utility company through a program called Net Energy Metering (NEM) for energy credits you can use to offset your night-time electricity use," Lasky said.

Purchase offset credits. Not everyone has direct access to renewable energy sources to power their homes. "Instead, many retailers have options where they purchase the offsets on your behalf if you choose to be supplied by green energy," said Rhea Henry of EnergyRates.ca. "The money funds the start and maintenance of renewable projects, such as wind and solar farms, and even if your grid is powered by fossil fuels, your own consumption of this energy will be mitigated."

Plan and save with a financial advisor. Whether it's buying an electric vehicle or outfitting your home with solar panels, a financial advisor can help you plan and save for these major expenditures. Finding a qualified financial advisor doesn't have to be hard. SmartAsset's free tool matches you with up to three financial advisors who serve your area, and you can interview your advisor matches at no cost to decide which one is right for you. If you're ready to find an advisor who can help you achieve your financial goals, get started now.

Photo credit: iStock.com/artJazz

The post States Leading the Charge on Renewable Energy  2022 Edition appeared first on SmartAsset Blog.
Crypto Marketing Agency Crypto Upvotes

Dubai, United Arab Emirates, April 11, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- On March 25th and 26th, 2022 StreamCoin and MeiTalk accomplished another milestone  the conclusion of the highly-successful World Live Streamers Conference (WLSC). WLSC was organized by TNC Group and took place at the Dubai Festival Arena, UAE. The conference saw over 30,000 attendees from around the world, including visitors from the USA, Canada, Switzerland, South Korea, Pakistan, and more.

The conference entertained Web 3.0 enthusiasts as it showcased companies based on futuristic technology. Among the many, StreamCoin, alongside MeiTalk, held the limelight as a Platinum Sponsor for the conference.

Michael Ein Chaybeh, CEO of StreamCoin, was given the honor of welcoming the attendees at the conference during his keynote speech. Michael also formally introduced MeiTalks Alpha version, wherein he walked the audience through MeiTalks many features. Among these features, one that intrigued the audience was MeiTalks Producer Lounge.

Michael also took the opportunity to introduce StreamCoins latest developments including StreamCoins utility token, GaStream (GSTRM). He also went on to give insights on the companys upcoming Stream Chain (Mainnet 1.0 and 2.0) and the Stream NFT Marketplace. During the conference, he also participated in a panel discussion where he advocated the increasing adoption of NFTs.

Visitors at the MeiTalk booth got the chance to experience the multi-streaming feature of MeiTalk. Influencers that visited the booth experienced the multi-casting feature of MeiTalk as major events of the conference were live-streamed onto various prominent platforms such as YouTube, Instagram, and Twitch. Attendees of the conference were also astounded by the convenience for minting video NFTs on the Stream NFT Marketplace. The company's future plans consist of integrating the Stream NFT marketplace with MeiTalk.

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StreamCoin also entertained the attendees by installing a VR game section. Winners of the VR game were announced at the end of each day and were rewarded with STRM.

Toward the end of the first day, Michael presented the MeiTalk Top 100 Influencer Awards. Meanwhile, the second day of the conference concluded with the TNC Miss SuperTalent of The World 2022 Grand Finale.

Michael expressed his thanks to all partners and participants who made WLSC a success:

On behalf of the entire StreamCoin team, I would like to thank everyone for the generous support that you have given to us. The amount of appreciation that we have been receiving from our visitors  not to mention the invitations for partnerships from other companies and investors  bears testament to the success of our efforts to pave the way for the future of live streaming.

As StreamCoins ICO is in its third and final phase, the conference has presented better opportunities for the team to connect with investors who are looking to take part in revolutionary projects within the blockchain space. The ICO will end on April 30, 2022.

Media Contact:

Company: StreamLive

Email Id: social@stream-coin.com

Contact Person : Michael Ein Chaybeh

Location : Dubai, United Arab Emirates





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 any recommendation. Readers are encouraged to do there own research.Newsroom: socials.submitmypressrelease.com




Chinese envoy calls for end to Ukraine conflict to spare women, children from violence

Xinhua) 08:14, April 12, 2022

People evacuate in Irpin, Ukraine, March 11, 2022. (Photo by Diego Herrera/Xinhua)

Only by ending the conflict as soon as possible can the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine be fundamentally solved and can women and children be kept away from violence, a Chinese envoy said.

UNITED NATIONS, April 11 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese envoy on Monday called for an early end to the conflict in Ukraine in order to fundamentally solve the humanitarian crisis and spare women and children from violence.

Women and children are the most vulnerable to violence, and should be given priority protection in armed conflicts, said Dai Bing, China's deputy permanent representative to the United Nations.

"We call on parties involved in the situation in Ukraine to strictly abide by international humanitarian law, effectively protect women and children, respect and guarantee the civilian nature and safety of facilities such as schools and hospitals, and provide special care to women and children in evacuation, rescue, and medical assistance," he told a Security Council meeting on Ukraine.

China deplores that dozens of civilians, including women and children, were killed or injured in the attack on Kramatorsk train station. The relevant circumstances and specific cause of the incident must be established and verified, and any claim should be based on facts, he said.

Residents walk near damaged buildings in Mariupol, April 10, 2022. (Photo by Victor/Xinhua)

A large number of Ukrainian women and children have taken refuge in neighboring countries. China appreciates these neighboring countries and other countries for opening their borders and providing shelter and humanitarian assistance. All refugees, regardless of skin color, race, or religion, should receive equal protection under international refugee law, said Dai.

The humanitarian needs of Ukraine and neighboring countries remain immense. Relevant UN agencies should continue to mobilize and coordinate international support for humanitarian assistance for all those in need. The special needs of women and children should be considered, and targeted medical treatment, psychological counseling, and social services should be provided to them. And children's rights to education should be ensured, he said.

"We are deeply concerned about reports that women and children seeking asylum were subjected to abduction, human trafficking and abuse," he said. "We call on international agencies such as UN Women, the UN Children's Fund, the UN Refugee Agency, and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights to strengthen monitoring and support relevant countries to take measures to resolutely prevent this group of people from being harmed a second time."

Dai stressed the need to bring an end to the conflict.

Only by ending the conflict as soon as possible can the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine be fundamentally solved and can women and children be kept away from violence, he said.

Local residents are seen outside the damaged buildings in Mariupol, April 7, 2022. (Photo by Victor/Xinhua)

"Dialogue and negotiation are the only way to peace. We support the parties involved to continue negotiations, strive to overcome difficulties and differences, create conditions for a cease-fire, and make positive efforts so that women and children can see the dawn of peace at an early date. All other parties in the international community should do more to facilitate dialogue and negotiations, and create the necessary environments and conditions for progress in the negotiations," he said.

Simply imposing sanctions and sending weapons will not bring peace. The ever-intensifying extensive and indiscriminate sanctions have triggered food and energy crises and soaring prices for necessities, for which the entire world population is paying a heavy price. Tens of millions of women and children in Afghanistan, Yemen, the Horn of Africa, and the Sahel have been hit the hardest, said Dai.

"China once again calls on all parties to exercise restraint, adopt a responsible attitude, and make constructive efforts to properly resolve the crisis in Ukraine and restore peace at an early date," he said.

(Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun)
By Azernews





By Vugar Khalilov

Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov and EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus Toivo Klaar have discussed regional issues, as well as a future peace deal with Armenia, the ministry reported on April 12.

In a telephone conversation, the sides discussed the latest regional developments, steps to normalize relations between the two countries, including the preparation of a future peace agreement, following the meeting held between the Azerbaijani and Armenian leaders in Brussels with the EU Council president's mediation and participation, as well as exchanged views on humanitarian issues.

On April 11, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov and his Armenian counterpart Ararat Mirzoyan discussed the work on the preparation of the future peace treaty, the convening of the Joint Border Commission, as well as humanitarian issues.

The direct phone conversation between the Azerbaijani and Armenian ministers, the first in about 30 years, is a follow-up to the agreements reached at the level of both states' leaders in Brussels on April 6.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and European Council President Charles Michel met in a trilateral format in Brussels on April 6.

The meeting was held for a continuation of the discussions on the situation in the South Caucasus region and the development of EU relations with both countries.

The leaders took stock of developments since their last meeting in Brussels in December 2021 and their videoconference, together with French President Emmanuel Macron, in February 2022. They reviewed progress on the implementation of undertaken commitments. The leaders discussed the recently reported tensions and reiterated the necessity of adhering fully to the provisions of the 9/10 November 2020 trilateral statement.

Both Aliyev and Pashinyan have expressed a willingness to work quickly toward a peace agreement between their countries. To that end, it was decided to instruct foreign ministers to begin work on drafting a future peace treaty that would address all of the issues.

At the same time, it was also agreed to convene a Joint Border Commission by the end of April. The Joint Border Commission's mandate will be to: delimit the bilateral border between Armenia and Azerbaijan, and ensure a stable security situation along and in the vicinity of the borderline.
The total aggregate equity value of the joint venture will be INR 53 billion (C$866 1 million), with CPP Investments' equity commitment at INR 26 billion (C$438 million).

Joint venture will be seeded with two assets with a gross asset value of INR 80 billion (C$1.3 billion) alongside an intention to further allocate capital investment of up to INR 20 billion (C$333 million) for future acquisitions.

MUMBAI, India, April 12, 2022 /CNW/ - TATA Realty and Infrastructure Limited and Canada Pension Plan Investment Board ("CPP Investments") today announced a new joint venture to develop and own commercial office space across India. The joint venture will target stabilized and development assets, aiming to reach over INR 50 billion (C$800 million) in assets under management.

Intellion Park (CNW Group/Canada Pension Plan Investment Board)

The joint venture will be seeded with two assets, Intellion Park Chennai (GLA2: 4.6 million square feet) and Intellion Edge Gurgaon, National Capital Region of Delhi (GLA: 1.8 million square feet), which are currently owned and managed by TATA Realty and Infrastructure Limited. Intellion Park Chennai, one of India's leading office parks, is a LEED platinum rated asset occupied by leading domestic and international businesses.

The joint venture would also pursue Grade A commercial developments in key gateway cities in India, with an equity allocation of INR 20 billion (C$333 million). Cities under consideration include Mumbai, Delhi, Pune, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Chennai which collectively contribute the majority of India's total Grade A office space stock and demand.

Sanjay Dutt, MD & CEO, TATA Realty and Infrastructure Limited, said, "TATA Realty and Infrastructure Limited believes in building centers of excellence that provide tenants with high-quality spaces that enable businesses to grow and evolve. With CPP Investments as a strategic long-term partner, the vision of this joint venture is to provide world-class sustainable office space solutions to a diverse set of businesses. This will enable the opening up of new business opportunities for TATA Realty and Infrastructure Limited, allowing us to accelerate our current growth."

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Hari Krishna V, Managing Director, Head of Real Estate India, CPP Investments, said, "This new relationship with TATA Realty and Infrastructure Limited, one of India's leading operators, provides an excellent avenue from which to explore opportunities in the fast-growing commercial real estate sector. It is an important step in expanding CPP Investments' relationships with leaders in the market, to deliver solid long-term adjusted risk-adjusted returns to CPP contributors and beneficiaries."

About TATA Realty and Infrastructure Limited

TATA Realty and Infrastructure Limited is a 100% subsidiary of Tata Sons and one of the leading real estate development companies in India with an extensive portfolio of over 50 projects across 15 cities. With an agenda of dispensing intelligent, collaborative, and dynamic projects, TATA Realty and Infrastructure Limited has developed ~16.8 mn. sq. ft. of commercial projects and has ~30 mn. sq. ft. of projects under development & planning.

After establishing its strong foothold in Chennai, Gurugram, and Mumbai, TATA Realty and Infrastructure Limited aims to add 10 mn. sq. ft. in the next 3 years and move towards its goal of having a portfolio of 45 million sq. ft. by 2027.

Keeping with the Tata philosophy of leadership in sectors of national economic significance, TATA Realty and Infrastructure Limited and Infrastructure Ltd was set up to identify the most promising opportunities for growth in the Indian real estate and infrastructure arena. TATA Realty and Infrastructure Limited is currently focused on long-term infrastructure projects of national significance, as well as mixed-use projects in the real estate sector. As is with all Tata companies, the selection of projects is a specialized process, with the eventual selection list scoring high not only on business objectives but also on the guiding Tata values and policies. Tata is one of India's largest conglomerates, with annual revenue of over $100 billion, and 107 operating companies in seven business sectors, employing over 750,000 people worldwide.

For More Info: https://www.tatarealty.in : www.intellion.in

About CPP Investments

Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPP Investments) is a professional investment management organization that manages the fund in the best interest of the more than 21 million contributors and beneficiaries of the Canada Pension Plan. In order to build diversified portfolios of assets, investments are made around the world in public equities, private equities, real estate, infrastructure, and fixed income. Headquartered in Toronto, with offices in Hong Kong, London, Luxembourg, Mumbai, New York City, San Francisco, Sao Paulo and Sydney, CPP Investments is governed and managed independently of the Canada Pension Plan and at arm's length from governments. On December 31, 2021, the Fund totaled C$550.4 billion. For more information, please visit www.cppinvestments.com or follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, or Twitter.

___________________ 1 C$ = INR 60.0 2 GLA: Gross leasable area

CPP Investments Logo (CNW Group/Canada Pension Plan Investment Board)

Tata Realty and Infrastructure Limited Logo (CNW Group/Canada Pension Plan Investment Board)

SOURCE Canada Pension Plan Investment Board

Cision

View original content to download multimedia: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/April2022/12/c4173.html
The funding from the Government of Ontarios Ontario Together Fund will enable ventureLAB to create a MedTech-specific stream to fuel Ontario-made medical solutions and to build a new MedTech lab in Vaughan

MARKHAM, Ontario, April 12, 2022--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Leading technology hub, ventureLAB, has announced a $2.5 million investment from the Government of Ontario to establish a MedTech-specific stream within its Hardware Catalyst Initiative (HCI), Canadas only lab and incubator for hardware and semiconductor companies. The funding is part of the Ontario Together Fund, from the Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade, and builds on a $9.7 million investment from the Government of Canada through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario). The timely investment will enable ventureLAB to support made-in-Ontario medical solutions and will strengthen Ontarios MedTech sector and technical capacity to fight COVID-19 and respond to future pandemics.

Since opening in 2020, ventureLABs Hardware Catalyst Initiative has supported 24 Ontario hardware and semiconductor companies that have raised millions of dollars in investment capital, created new jobs, and generated valuable intellectual property. To establish an IP-rich semiconductor industry in Ontario that will generate a wealth of economic and employment opportunities  and to meet the growing demand for homegrown hardware companies  the funding will expand the Hardware Catalyst Initiatives state-of-the-art testing and prototyping capabilities.

The funding will also be used to establish a MedTech-specific stream, with a new lab in Vaughan, Ontario, focused on the unique hardware and semiconductor needs of healthcare companies. By accessing HCIs network of 35+ global industry leaders  who have committed over $50 million in resources and mentorship  as well as ventureLABs in-house experts with decades of designing, manufacturing, and go-to-market expertise, MedTech founders will experience accelerated commercialization time, reduced cost, access to deep sector expertise, and intensive growth capital. The two-year project will result in high-quality employment opportunities as well as a range of made-in-Ontario technologies, innovations, and intellectual property.

"Hardware and semiconductors underpin virtually all modern devices, and as we navigate our new normal, they are especially key in healthcare technologies, along with other sectors critical to economic recovery and growth," explains Melissa Chee, President and CEO, ventureLAB. "The Ontario Together Fund enables ventureLAB to create a MedTech-focused HCI stream and empower a new generation of founders that will innovate, scale, and commercialize IP-rich healthcare solutions  transforming the face of patient care in Ontario while also attracting and retaining the very best talent in the world."

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The Critical Role of Semiconductors in MedTech

Virtually every piece of technology used today requires semiconductors and sensors, including transformative healthcare solutions, life-saving medical devices, vaccine development, and products that help fight airborne viruses. COVID-19 highlighted numerous healthcare gaps, including operational inefficiencies, limited capacity to manufacture or secure PPE and ventilators, and challenges surrounding patient service delivery across the continuum of care.

"The Ontario Together Fund is helping Ontario businesses to fully develop their ideas and innovate in our diverse life sciences sector," said Vic Fedeli, Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade. "Our government is proud to partner with innovative, homegrown companies like ventureLAB as they help make Ontario the home for next-generation medical technologies, jobs and intellectual property."

New MedTech Lab to be Located at Vaughan-Based Sterling Industries

Vaughan is emerging as the epicentre of healthcare innovation in Canada and, as such, is the perfect host for ventureLABs new MedTech lab. Vaughan is home to Cortellucci Vaughan Hospital, Canadas first smart hospital, and is leading a first-of-its-kind initiative, the Vaughan Healthcare Centre Precinct, which will bring further innovation and healthcare jobs to the region.

The new Hardware Catalyst Initiative MedTech lab will be located within Vaughan-based Sterling Industries to benefit from its resources, product development and production expertise. As an end-to-end contract manufacturer and assembler of medical devices and components, Sterling Industries is a proven industry leader with manufacturing facilities and distribution channels in the U.S. and Europe.

"Establishing a thriving MedTech sector requires investing in technology, top engineering talent, and a commitment to providing resources and mentorship to emerging companies looking to scale," says David Van Slingerland, CEO, Sterling Industries. "We immediately recognized the value in ventureLABs new MedTech program because it ticks all of those boxes. If we want to move beyond COVID-19, and be better prepared for the next health emergency, we need to start building the foundation now."

"I am pleased to welcome the announcement that ventureLAB will receive a $2.5 million investment through the Ontario Together Fund to help advance its innovative Hardware Catalyst Initiative. This significant funding contribution will help address a critical and immediate need for transformative healthcare solutions," says Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua, City of Vaughan. "Vaughan is proud to partner with ventureLAB on many city-building opportunities, including a first-of-its-kind initiative to transform the 82-acre parcel of land adjacent to Cortellucci Vaughan Hospital into the Vaughan Healthcare Centre Precinct. This unique partnership aims to pool and leverage our resources to bring healthcare, innovation and jobs to our growing community. I want to extend my sincerest gratitude and appreciation to Melissa Chee and her dedicated staff for their ongoing collaboration to ensure innovation is at the forefront of healthcare delivery."

To learn more about the Hardware Catalyst Initiative, see here.

About ventureLAB

ventureLAB is a leading global founder community for hardware technology and enterprise software companies in Canada. Located at the heart of Ontarios innovation corridor in York Region, ventureLAB is part of one of the biggest and most diverse tech communities in Canada. Our initiatives focused on raising capital, talent retention, commercializing technology and IP, and customer acquisition have enabled thousands of companies to create over 4,700 jobs and raise more than $250 million in investment capital. At ventureLAB, we grow globally competitive tech titans that build-to-scale in Canada, for global markets.

ventureLABs Hardware Catalyst Initiative is Canadas only lab and incubator for founders building hardware and semiconductor-focused products, enabling the creation of transformative technologies that will power our products of tomorrow. Funded in part by the Government of Canada, through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario), the Hardware Catalyst helps tech companies accelerate their time to market in a sector that normally incurs lengthy entry and scale times, enabling Canadian hardware and semiconductor companies to grow and scale locally, and compete globally.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220412005188/en/

Contacts

Media:

Vin Heney, NorthPR

vin@northpr.ca

416-805-9332
A thing that one might notice about the people who settled in the new state of Ohio in the wake of the American Revolution is that those folks were unfailingly optimistic about themselves.

Ohio was named a state in 1803, and its first capital was in the frontier village of Chillicothe. That area once had been home to generations of Native Americans and was at the time the home of several legislative leaders. But the town apparently was a bit too far south for several legislators. So the capital was moved to Zanesville for a brief time until a new home was created for a capital city called Columbus.

Ed Lentz

Founded with great enthusiasm by its local proprietors, the new town grew quite slowly after its founding in 1812. Then the Ohio and Erie Canal and the National Road arrived in 1831, and by 1834, a village of 2,000 people had become a city of 5,000.

While all this was happening, it was becoming increasingly clear that the brick statehouse on Statehouse Square was becoming too small and modest for a rapidly growing state. To solve the problem, the Ohio General Assembly did what it often did and appointed a three-man commission to address it.

The commission announced a capital design contest, and 60 entries were submitted. In the end, first prize was won by Henry Walter of Cincinnati, with a second prize to Martin Thompson of New York and a third to Thomas Cole of Catskill, New York.

This rendering is of the Ohio Statehouse in 1873.

Elements of the work of all three were used in the final design of the new capital building  and a truly astonishing building it would be. A new capital building with its massive stone columns and cylindrical dome, it would be second only to the U.S. Capitol in size and grandeur, and this coming from a state that had existed only for a single generation or so. But it was a state that was growing rapidly in size and influence, and it was filled with people with great confidence in their future.

On July 4, 1839, that confidence was shown when the cornerstone of the new building was laid. Columbus was a town of about 6,000 at this time. On this day, a crowd estimated at more than 6,000 had gathered in, around and about Statehouse Square. They saw quite a show.

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Former Ohio Gov. Jeremiah Morrow

An early history of Columbus described the events of the day: The day of the ceremony was ushered in with an artillery salute and a burst of martial music. The weather was propitious. Three military companies had arrived the previous evening before from Lancaster.  After passing over the route mapped out for it, the procession, which was very large for those days, entered the Capitol Square.

The ceremony of depositing the cornerstone was performed by ex-Governor Jeremiah Morrow, whose brief and appropriate address concluded with the following sentences: 'I pronounce that Ohio, a member of this great republic, by her assembled people this day lays the cornerstone of her future capital. Let the foundations be deep and strong; let the materials be of natures most lasting gifts, durable, imperishable; let the edifice rise in solemn, simple grandeur, a monument of chaste and classic beauty. And may the lightnings of heaven, which scathe, and the whirlwind and storm which prostrate the works of man, pass by and spare this home erected by a mighty people and consecrated to social and constitutional government.

'And may the councils of truth and justice and public virtue preside in its halls; may discord and faction be put far from them; and may a free and united people, who reared it, and whose temple it is, watch over and cherish within its walls the form and spirit of their republican institutions. And may the blessings of a divine Providence, now and through all coming time, rest upon this people, and upon this house, the work of their hands. I now lay the cornerstone of the Capitol of Ohio!'

As It Were: Early Columbus residents had variety of options to unwind

The early history continued with a description of the rest of the day: The stone was then lowered to its place. The ceremonies then being completed, Rev. Mr. Cressy pronounced a benediction, after which the procession was again formed, and moved to the corner of Broad and Fourth streets where a soul-stirring ode by William D. Gallagher was sung by an excellent choir, and a Fourth of July oration was delivered by John G. Miller.

After this oration, the procession returned to Capitol Square where a superb dinner prepared by Mr. George was served up under a very tastefully arranged bower. At this dinner numerous toasts were proposed and responded to.

Following the enthusiastic beginning, the actual construction of the Statehouse was a more convoluted story. The building originally was proposed to be completed in two years at a cost of about $200,000. Due to delays for reasons political, economic and social, the building took 22 years to build at a cost of about $2 million. But it did get done just in time to welcome President-elect Abraham Lincoln in 1861.

The hopes of Jeremiah Morrow were fulfilled.

Local historian and author Ed Lentz writes the As It Were column for ThisWeek Community News and The Columbus Dispatch.

This article originally appeared on ThisWeek: Ed Lentz column: Statehouse cornerstone was laid in Columbus amid great fanfare
Germanna Community College will host a virtual discussion at 7 p.m. Thursday, as its next Community Conversation, "Judging a Book by its Cover? The Recent Rise of Book Banning Across the United States."

From Art Spiegelmans "Maus" to Toni Morrisons "The Bluest Eye," book banning is on the rise across the United States. The discussion will explore the historical context, present controversies and educational impact of book banning, and discuss what it means for the future.

The panel will feature Erik F. Brooks, provost and vice president for academic affairs at Central State University; Darcie Caswell, youth services coordinator for Central Rappahannock Regional Library; and Cory McLaughlin, assistant professor of English at Germanna Community College.

The virtual discussion is free and open to all. Register to attend at germanna.edu/conversations.

Staff reports
By CULPEPER STAREXPONENT

Come July 1, it will be legal to hunt Sundays on public land, per a bill signed this week by Gov. Glenn Youngkin, ending a ban in place since colonial times.

Fairfax Democrat State Sen. Chap Petersen introduced the legislation to allow Sunday hunting on public land more than 200 yards from places of worship, according to a release from the governors office.

Previously, Wildlife Management Areas and National Forests were only open to hunters every other day of the week, but not on Sundays.

This legislation encourages Virginians to take full advantage of the many outdoor opportunities our great Commonwealth has to offer, said Youngkin in a statement. This legislation will open up new opportunities for hunters to enjoy the sport they love.

The Board of the Department of Wildlife Resources passed a resolution last fall supporting changes to the law to allow hunters access on Sundays.

Virginias sportsmen and women are a significant economic forcespending more than $1.5 billion, supporting more than 39,160 jobs, generating more than $1.17 billion in salaries and wages and $242 million in state and local taxes, according to the governors office.

The ban on Sunday hunting in Virginia has been in place in one form or another (with exceptions for raccoons and waterfowl) since 1643, when it was passed by the House of Burgesses, the forerunner of todays House of Delegates, according to Virginia Mercury.

The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries maintains 44 management areas totaling more than 225,000 acres and offer a variety of outdoor recreational opportunities, including hunting. These lands are purchased and maintained in part with hunting fees.
On Friday, Gov. Glenn Youngkin signed into law a bill that will require schools to notify parents when their children are assigned books or other materials with sexually explicit content. Further, it requires school districts to adopt the state guidelines for enforcing this law when they are announced this summer.

The measure is very careful to specify that this law shall not be construed as requiring or providing for the censoring of books in public elementary and secondary schools.

Predictable battle lines have formeddetractors saying the bill is a form of censorship, supporters saying this bill censors nothing.

The bills supporters are right. This new law will ban no books teachers want to use in a class and stop no one who wishes to access said books.

This doesnt mean the law is a good one.

It allows any parent offended by anything remotely sexual at any grade level to demand alternate materials, while assuming a different assignment will be just as good.

Its the separate but equal doctrine repurposed for parents who want their children protected from what they fear.

This approach is doomed to fail. It will also deny some students access to the best Western society has to offer. Consider just two examples.

A parent who objects to Romeo and Juliet as inappropriate because it could lead to sexual arousalone of the criterion for sexually explicit content in the new lawwould deprive a 14- or 15-year-old student (the age when many English classes assign the work) access to a play that has influenced literature, film, stage, and popular culture for more than 500 years.

What other play about young love exists that avoids any hint of sexual arousal and provides the literary excellence of Shakespeares classic?

Then theres The Grapes of Wrath. Considered by many one of the greatest American novels, this book contains sexual conduct, another criterion for sexually explicit content. It is possibly the best book ever written about the Great Depression. Its also a classic examination of humanity, inhumanity, and dehumanization; of the enduring power of hope that the idea of America inspires; and the price people pay for pursuing that dream. There is no book that deals with these issues in the same way as John Steinbecks classic.

Depriving students of these types of works does very real short-term damage. Students unfamiliar with these types of books will be at a distinct disadvantage on Advanced Placement exams; theyll also find themselves well behind their classmates in college classrooms.

And for those who dont attend college? Both these works are part of our shared Western culture. They are works that politicians, neighbors, writers, and public intellectuals reference often. To not know them is to render someone a poorer citizen.

Theres another problem, too, with this law.

It permits parents to postpone the inevitableallowing children to begin to grow as adults.

Parental obsession with sex in books and classroom instructional materials stems in part from their own difficulty accepting that their children are maturing, sexual beings. Denying them these works will not change the sexual awakening these students are undergoing.

At what stage we introduce these ideas is a debate worth having. But passing laws that allow parents to continue denying to themselves that their children, even during puberty and beyond, are becoming sexual beings is just bad policy.

This is not an issue limited to todays socially conservative parents. This law builds upon an increasingly worrying pattern of parental behavior.

In 1969, researchers first described a problem they termed helicopter parenting, which describes people who hover around their childrens lives, never giving them space to mature. In 2011, we learned of Tiger Moms, who over-structure every step of their childrens academic and social lives to ensure professional success.

Parents inability to separate from their children has a number of negative impacts, among them: increased childhood anxiety and depression, poor social skills, and an inability to deal with failure.

Its past time to stop kidding ourselves. Parental obsession with sex in literature has little to do with our children, and much to do with parents who simply cannot let go.

Our students sensitivity, mental acuity, and resilience to ideas that worry their parents are greater than people want to realize.

Mom and dad, its time to let go.
PLATTSMOUTH  A former Weeping Water woman has paid more than $50,000 in restitution for her role in three large burglaries in Weeping Water.

Kooper C. Stohlmann, 26, appeared in Cass County District Court on Monday morning for a plea hearing. She pled no contest to one Class II felony charge of burglary as part of a plea bargain.

Prosecutors agreed to dismiss eight additional felony charges that were pending against Stohlmann. These included two other counts of burglary and three charges of theft-unlawful taking-more than $5,000. The three other charges were for alleged possession of oxycodone, hydrocodone and alprazolam.

Prosecutors required Stohlmann to pay restitution upfront as part of their plea negotiations. She appeared in court with defense attorney Michael Bianchi multiple times over the past few months to request continuances in order for her to gather the money.

Stohlmann delivered a check for $50,306.50 to the Cass County Courthouse last week for the restitution payment. Cass County Attorney Colin Palm requested a one-week continuance on April 4 to make sure her check for $50,306.50 cleared the bank. They proceeded this week when he received word that the restitution had been paid and deposited.

Prosecutors will recommend probation for Stohlmann as part of the plea agreement. Stohlmann agreed to take a drug and alcohol evaluation and follow any recommendations that may come from it. She also agreed to testify truthfully if there is a future trial for any co-defendants in the burglaries.

Stohlmann took part in three burglaries during January 2020. The owners of three homes in Weeping Water were family members who went on vacation together out of the country. Stohlmann knew the families were out of town when the burglaries occurred between Jan. 25 and Jan. 30.

Stohlmann had been living in Weeping Water at the time the burglaries took place. Court records list her having a current residence in Red Oak, Iowa.

Investigators learned Stohlmann and co-defendants took items worth approximately $30,000 from one of the homes. These included a large number of rare and valuable coins. The list included a James Polk dollar coin, Indian head pennies, 1908 and 1909 coins, Roman coins and a 1917 dime.

Items worth more than $8,500 were taken from a second house. These included a Mothers Day ring, diamond earrings and cash.

Palm presented a factual basis Monday about the third burglary, which was the charge Stohlmann entered a plea to. Stohlmann and a co-defendant went to the house at 1:30 a.m. Jan. 26. The homeowners had a surveillance system installed in the front doorbell, which showed a male and female standing in the doorway.

Palm said the male noticed the surveillance system when they approached the home. Authorities found a broken door handle on a lower screen door in the rear of the home. A bracelet, watch, video game system and multiple video games were taken from the house. There was also an estimated $4,000 worth of damages to the exterior of the home.

Cass County Sheriffs Office investigators interviewed a relative of Stohlmann soon after learning about the burglaries. They then interviewed her about the crimes. Stohlmann initially denied being at the home where the third burglary took place, but the surveillance footage showed otherwise.

Authorities obtained a search warrant for Stohlmanns residence in Weeping Water. They found the 1917 dime and James Polk dollar coin hidden under a couch cushion. They also found other evidence that verified she had taken part in the burglaries.

Bianchi told the court he accepted the facts that Palm presented. He also said Stohlmann believes there are parts of the story that would mitigate some of Palms statements. He did not go into detail about those claims during the court hearing.

Stohlmann remains free on bond. Judge Michael Smith ordered her to obtain a chemical dependency evaluation before her sentencing hearing. Smith set a sentencing date of June 13.

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MADISON, Wis. (AP)  A Republican district attorney and candidate for attorney general on Tuesday filed a complaint with Democratic Gov. Tony Evers seeking the removal of five members of the bipartisan Wisconsin Elections Commission, even though an attorney for the Legislature says he can only remove two of them.

Fond du Lac County District Attorney Eric Toney submitted a complaint with Evers asking him to remove two Republicans and three Democrats from the board because they did not allow special voting deputies into nursing homes in 2020 to assist residents with voting.

The election commission's decision affecting nursing homes has been cited by Republican critics of how that election was run as opening the door to potential voting fraud in nursing homes. The Racine County Sheriff, a supporter of former President Donald Trump, called for prosecuting the board members but no prosecutor has filed charges. The action was also cited in a widely discredited report from Michael Gableman, a former Wisconsin Supreme Court justice hired by Republican Assembly Speaker Robin Vos to investigate the election.

The Racine County district attorney, a Republican, declined to bring charges against commission members in February, saying she didn't have jurisdiction because none of them live in her county. District attorneys in Milwaukee and Green Lake counties have also declined to bring charges, saying there wasn't enough evidence to prove commission members living in those counties committed a crime.

Toney said he also doesn't have jurisdiction, but that he can ask Evers to remove the board members.

They went rogue," Toney said of the commissioners. "What they did was illegal. They committed crimes and they should be held accountable.

A spokesman for the elections commission, Riley Vetterkind, had no immediate comment. Evers' spokeswoman, Britt Cudaback, referred to past comments Evers has made defending the actions of the commission.

Toney insisted that Evers has the legal authority to remove the commissioners. But a nonpartisan attorney with the office that advises the Legislature said that Evers could only remove the two commission members he appointed. The other three  two Democrats and one Republican  could be removed by the legislative leaders who appointed them, said Legislative Council attorney Peggy Hurley.

Toney also asked the elections commission itself to refer the matter to county prosecutors to bring charges. And if no charges are brought, he asked that a special prosecutor be appointed. That is highly unlikely to happen because the commissioners he wants to have criminally charged would have to vote to refer the matter for investigation.

Toney's Republican challenger in the Aug. 9 primary for attorney general, Adam Jarchow, called the complaint a political stunt.

My focus is on restoring order and keeping our citizens safe in Milwaukee, Green Bay, and other places across the state where violence is out of control, Jarchow said in a statement.

The winner of the primary will face Democratic Attorney General Josh Kaul in November.

State law requires local election clerks to send so-called special voting deputies to nursing homes to give residents an opportunity to vote. After trying to make two visits, the deputies can mail absentee ballots to the residents instead.

But early in the COVID-19 pandemic, when the Wisconsin Elections Commission made its decision not to send in the deputies, the state was under a safer-at-home order and nursing homes were severely limiting who could come into their facilities, often not even allowing immediate family members inside.

The elections commission in March 2020 voted unanimously that poll workers could not be sent into nursing homes. The commission voted 5-1 in two follow-up votes extending the order through the November 2020 election before rescinding it in March 2021. Instead of sending in voting deputies, the commission directed clerks to mail absentee ballots to nursing home residents who had requested them.

Toney was not seeking the removal of the one commissioner who changed his vote, Republican Bob Spindell.

The nonpartisan Legislative Audit Bureau determined that the commission broke the law by not sending in the voting assistants.

Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
CEDAR RAPIDS  A judge has ruled Cedar Rapids Democrat Abby Finkenauer cannot appear on the June 7 primary election ballot.

His decision late Sunday, which is likely to be appealed, would prevent the former congresswoman from appearing on the ballot to determine the Democratic nominee who likely will face Republican U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley in November, provided that Grassley wins a GOP primary against a state senator.

Finkenauers nomination petitions were challenged by Republican Kim Schmett, a former congressional candidate himself, and Leanne Pellett, co-chair of the Cass County Republicans, who argued Finkenauer did not qualify to be on the ballot because she failed to submit the required number of valid signatures.

Despite a decision by the State Objection Panel  comprised of the Iowa secretary of state, attorney general and state auditor  to accept her nominating petitions, Polk County District Court Judge Scott Beattie said the panels interpretation of the law was incorrect.

The court takes no joy in this conclusion, he wrote. This court should not be in the position to make a difference in an election, and Ms. Finkenauer and her supporters should have a chance to advance her candidacy. However, this courts job is to sit as a referee and apply the law without passion or prejudice. It is required to rule without consideration of the politics of the day.

As a candidate for U.S. Senate, Finkenauer was required by state law to acquire at least 3,500 signatures, including at least 100 signatures each in at least 19 counties. After the panels review, Finkenauer finished with exactly 19 qualifying counties, including one with exactly 100 signatures and two more with 101 each.

The panel members disagreed about whether some signatures that contained incorrect or illegible dates should be allowed. Miller and Sand argued the information on the forms was sufficient, while Pate argued the signatures were not completed to the letter of the law and should have been disqualified.

The Finkenauer campaign issued a statement Thursday suggesting Republicans are presenting the legal challenge to remove Finkenauer from the ballot because they fear she would defeat Grassley in the November election.

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As Covid-19 numbers reach pandemic lows across the United States, many Covid-19 testing sites have begun closing their doors.

Some testing sites have been open for almost two years, many seeing hundreds or even thousands of people a day. Now, home tests are more readily available, and demand for testing sites is falling.

Sarah Henderson, director of the Public Health Services Division of the Haywood County Health and Human Services Agency in North Carolina, says most states will see closures soon, if they haven't already.

"We were seeing an excess of 100 patients at our testing site in the first few days [of January], which doesn't sound like a lot, but our community is very small," Henderson said. "The last couple of weeks, we have seen single digits every day. I certainly won't speak for other counties, but I think we're probably heading in that direction where if they're not closing down, they're decreasing hours and staff."

Henderson cited the difficulty of keeping sites staffed as a big part of the decision. Federal funding for Covid-19 has been depleted, leaving many states with no money to keep their testing sites running. Many are operated through a third party, such as Quest Diagnostics or Nomi Health. They provide staff and the means to conduct free on-site tests.

However, with federal money running out, these sites are becoming very expensive for the states who are responsible for them.

Palm Beach County, Florida, Mayor Robert Weinroth spoke about closures in his county on Twitter in mid-March, announcing that with federal funding "exhausted," all noncommercial facilities will close.

States across the US, including Texas, Delaware, Washington and Massachusetts, are also closing sites. In January, the Delaware Health and Social Services announced on Twitter that all state service center testing is canceled, and multiple testing sites are closed. Texas closed its Pflugerville site in March after it was open for less than two months.

Henderson believes home tests also play a part in the closures across the country. As home testing becomes more popular and with the government offering hundreds of millions of free tests through the US Postal Service, the number of people utilizing on-site testing has decreased.

"We're also in a different place where a lot of the employers and your school systems who were initially requiring tests from a provider are now accepting those home tests, which is good for everybody involved because it doesn't put unnecessary strain on the health care system, either," Henderson said.

She says Americans should be "cautiously optimistic" about the future, as this is not the first time the country has attempted to get ahead of the pandemic. Testing sites began closing in the spring of 2021, when numbers started falling. However, many were forced to reopen as case numbers rose significantly because of the Delta variant.

"In public health, we're excited to get back to some sort of normalcy, whatever the new normal may be. But we watched those numbers. We also realize that while test positivity rate is down, we also think about how many people are actually testing," Henderson said. "So we also worry that there's a higher positivity rate out there that we just can't put our finger on."

Speaking on CNN's "New Day" on Monday, White House Covid-19 Response Coordinator Dr. Ashish Jha said "one of the costs" of home tests is that there may not be as clear a picture of the number of infections.

Asked by CNN's John Berman about whether the country is getting an accurate look at cases and whether the case load could be much higher, Jha first said that he was a "huge fan" of home tests and that he thinks it's great that people have testing at home.

"This is why it's really important to also look at hospitalizations," he said. "If we were to see a huge spike in cases, we'd also see that eventually trickle into hospitalizations. We're not seeing that; hospitalizations right now are at the lowest level since March of 2020. That's good news.

"So, no doubt home tests means we miss some cases, but that said, I think we've got other metrics we're tracking, as well."

The importance of testing

But will closing testing sites have troubling consequences? The message from public health experts is clear: While the end of the pandemic appears to draw closer, victory is not guaranteed.

Mara Aspinall is the managing director of the Health Catalysts Group, which provides data and analytics to health care organizations in order to improve the quality of care for patients. She thinks education is the key to preventing another dire situation like when the Omicron variant caused a huge spike in hospitalizations.

"We have to be doing education, because some states are closing sites because nobody's showing up for testing. So it's not closing the site that's the issue," Aspinall said. "It's the fact that we need to educate people on the importance of testing. Testing is only one aspect of the bigger issue, which is encouraging testing for essential workers, for people working and interacting with the vulnerable, elderly and the unvaccinated."

Testing matters now more than ever. Although the Omicron coronavirus variant is 59% less likely to lead to hospital admissions than the previous Delta variant, its subvariant BA.2 accounts for more than 72% of cases in the US. With 13 states reporting cases trending upward, many public health officials are worried about what's just over the horizon.

It's almost impossible to get an accurate look at where things stand without a thorough testing program.

"I think it will leave us to repeat the mistakes that we made such a short time ago, which is underestimate the virus," Aspinall said. "Yeah, we all desperately want this to be over, but prematurely ... saying it's over and stopping funding for testing and for treatment is destined to be a problem. I think we have to hope for the best but prepare for the worst."

A Health Catalysts Group newsletter that tracks Covid testing says it has been only 100 days since every state recorded its first Omicron case. "It feels like we have been to hell and back," the newsletter says.

The ever-changing nature of the virus is why many sites that are now closing are prepared to reopen if needed.

"The hardest part is getting [a testing site] started," Henderson said. "You know, it's finding a vendor that that can meet the needs of our community, it's finding the employees you know that can staff that testing site. So building that initial relationship is kind of over and done now. So yeah, I think that it would be very easy for us to reopen our site if we needed to."

Where to get tested

Even as some sites close, tests are still widely available.

Commercial testing locations are still, for the most part, open. Places including CVS Pharmacy and Walgreens are offering free Covid tests. Health centers also provide testing, and you can find those locations and more at the US Department of Health and Human Service's website.

Every household in the US can also get two free sets of four testing kits through the federal government at covid.gov. They are rapid antigen tests that provide results within 30 minutes.

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By Trend

Azerbaijani delegation led by the head of the Caucasian Muslims Office (CMO) Sheikhulislam Allahshukur Pashazade will visit Turkey, the CMO told Trend.

The purpose of the visit, which will be carried out on April 13-16 at the invitation of Ali Erbas, head of the Turkish Directorate of Religious Affairs, is to hold the first constituent assembly of the Council of Religious Leaders of the Organization of Turkic States on April 15 in Istanbul.

At the event, which will be held under the leadership of the Secretary General of the Organization of Turkic States Baghdad Amreyev, Pashazade will make a presentation report on the establishment of the council.

During the visit, the CMOs head will also hold consultations with Erbas and the religious leaders of the Turkic states. They will jointly participate in praying at the Hagia Sophia and Eyub Sultan mosques.
Militants from a banned Pakistani group claimed responsibility for an attack that killed five police officers and wounded four others in a northwestern region.

A police official told RFE/RL that a rocket struck a police van they were riding in on April 11 in the district of Dera Ismail Khan.

The outlawed Tehrik-e Taliban (TTP) claimed responsibility for the attack, which took place near South Waziristan, an area on the border with Afghanistan that was once the headquarters of the group.

Also known as the Pakistani Taliban, the TTP has increased its attacks in the northwest, targeting the security forces over the past few months.

The incident occurred hours after parliament elected opposition lawmaker Shahbaz Sharif as the country's new prime minister. It was unclear if the attack was related to Sharifs election.

Shortly before the vote, lawmakers from the party of the ousted Prime Minister Imran Khan collectively resigned from parliament.
Wildwood Casino on Tuesday will become the third Cripple Creek gaming giant to unveil plans for a hotel, all to attract more visitors to the historic mining town.

American Gaming Group plans to start work in mid-May on the $14 million, 104-room Wildwood Hotel next to the casino it opened in 2008 on the gaming districts north end. The four-story hotel is to open by late August 2020. The City Council will consider a series of rezonings and related development approvals at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday.

The three new hotels would nearly double total rooms, to more than 400, before the 30th anniversary of Colorados legalized gambling in late 2021. Bronco Billys Casino and Triple Crown Casinos earlier announced plans for 150-room hotels next to their complexes in the heart of the gambling district.

Everyone in Cripple Creek knows the town needs more hotel rooms. Its been an ongoing issue thats kept the town from achieving its full potential, Wildwood co-owner Joe Canfora said in a news release. There is a need for quality rooms in this market, and we will be the first to deliver.

The project is financed through STORE (Single Tenant Operational Real Estate) Capital Inc., a Scottsdale, Ariz.-based real estate investment trust, which Canfora said will allow the hotel to be the first under construction and the first to open of the three. The Triple Crown is slated to open in the second half of 2020, and Bronco Billys hotel is set to open in late 2020 or early 2021.

The Wildwood Hotel will replace a parking lot on the casinos north side. The lot will be moved to the west and connected to the gaming hall with a heated, covered entry. The hotel will have 10 high-roller suites, including four that can be converted into hospitality suites, a 1,000-square-foot multipurpose space and a rooftop area for events with up to 100 people. Room rates are expected to average $100 a night, Canfora said.

The recipe for success in Cripple Creek includes many ingredients, including meeting space, a small convention center to help fill these rooms, employee housing, attracting (tour) bus groups and marketing Cripple Creek as a tourist destination, he said. Once everybody adds (hotel) product, I see nothing but positive for Cripple Creek. I see Cripple Creek prospering more with fewer valleys in business.

American Gaming began planning for the hotel early last year after restructuring its ownership, buying out smaller partners and adding 125 slot machines to the Wildwood Casino, Canfora said.

The casinos current hotel, the 67-room Gold King Inn, will be renamed the Wildwood Inn and continue to provide rooms and overnight accommodations for bus tours. The 22-year-old hotel recently got extensive renovations, including a remodeled lobby and updated rooms.

The casino is the largest single gaming property in Cripple Creek, though Bronco Billys and Triple Crown are larger when their multi-casino properties are combined. Wildwood operates 506 slot machines and 14 tables for poker, blackjack, craps and roulette, which it says is the most of any of the citys 12 casinos.
David is a Senior Investigative Reporter at The Gazette and has worked in Colorado for more than two decades. His work has been recognized by, among others, Investigative Reporters and Editors, the Society of Professional Journalists, the Scripps Howard Foundation, the Society of Business Editors and Writers, the National Association of Real Estate Editors, at the National Headliner Awards. He has worked at publications in New York City, St. Louis, Detroit and Denver over a journalism career that began in 1982.
Democrats appear to be open to the idea of lowering the threshold for a felony offense for drug possession to 1 gram, instead of the current 4.
By Trend

The World Bank (WB) plans to implement the second rural enterprise development project in Uzbekistan, Communication Officer of the WB Representation in Uzbekistan Matluba Mukhamedova told Trend.

"The project development objective is to support the expansion of rural enterprise activity, investments, and job creation in regions supported by the project," she said.

According to Mukhamedova, the project will be implemented in 10 regions of the country including Tashkent, Syrdarya, Jizzak, Samarkand, Kashkadarya, Surkhandarya, Navoiy, Bukhara, Khorezm, and Karakalpakistan.

The communication officer noted that the project consists of three main components.

According to her, the first component will facilitate the establishment and growth of farms, agribusinesses, and rural enterprises in the targeted rural areas through the provision of technical support and business facilitation activities.

As part of this, the component will disseminate the information on the climate change adaptation and mitigation measures, organize awareness raising workshops, strengthen the project beneficiaries knowledge of climate-smart agricultural practices, promote partnerships to address climate change consequences, and demonstrate climate-smart technologies for small- and medium-sized agribusinesses and for farm enterprises in the project regions.

"The second component will address key constraints to accessing finance faced by farmers, agribusinesses, and other beneficiaries engaged in agriculture and rural economic activities. The component will support the expansion of two financing instruments: a credit line and a partial credit guarantee mechanism", Mukhamedova said.

The communication officer reported that the last component will support the implementation, management, monitoring and evaluation of the project.








An incarcerated man allegedly told his supervisor of faulty equipment on a work assignment and ended up losing two fingers as the result of an accident, but the federal appeals court based in Denver has thrown out his lawsuit alleging cruel and unusual punishment.
A person and an El Paso County Sheriff's Office K9 were shot and killed in Manitou Springs on Monday night after a suspect fired at officers, according to the Colorado Springs Police Department.

Manitou Springs police officers and El Paso County sheriff's deputies responded to a business on the 900 block of Manitou Avenue to a report of a person menacing others with a firearm.

Shortly after arrival, officers were shot at by the suspect, according to CSPD. An El Paso County sheriff's K9, Jinx, was struck and killed.

At least one Manitou Springs police officer and at least one El Paso County sheriff's deputy returned fire, striking the suspect.

Life-saving efforts were unsuccessful, and the person died at the scene.

The involved officers and deputies have been placed on administrative leave. Per Colorado Revised Statute 16-2.5-301, the Colorado Springs Police Department is the lead investigative agency for this officer-involved shooting.

The last officer-involved shooting in Manitou Springs was in 2013, officials said.

A funeral procession was held in Colorado Springs on Tuesday morning for Jinx. It started at 5520 N. Nevada Ave., moved south on Nevada Avenue, turned west on East Vermijo Avenue and concluded at the Sheriff's Office.

Jinx joined the Sheriffs Office in March 2020 and was just over 3 years old.

"The El Paso County Sheriffs Office is heartbroken to announce that K9 Jinx was killed in the line of duty last night," the Sheriff's Office said on Facebook. "The loss of K9 Jinx cannot be put into words as his passing leaves a hole in our EPSO Family. Our thoughts go out to his handler, his family, and the EPSO K9 Unit. Good boy, Jinx. Rest easy."

As part of the effort to help the community "process the tragedies," Manitou Springs officials Tuesday morning announced a partnership with UCHealth to provide behavioral health support to residents at no cost Tuesday and Wednesday at City Hall.

The city also canceled its regular work session scheduled for 6 p.m. Tuesday.
When Colorados revised social studies framework is presented to the state Board of Education on Tuesday, it will not include a proposed revision that would have allowed discussion about LGBTQ people's historical contributions and issues in lower-grade civics and social studies classes.

The Social Studies Standards Review and Revision Committee has withdrawn its plans to add, in its revision of state standards, references to the queer community in classes below fourth grade after receiving public feedback asserting that such references are inappropriate for young children, according to a slideshow presentation prepared by the agency.

The committee, comprised of social studies teachers and professors from across the state, presented the first draft of revision recommendations to state board of education in November.

The provisional changes were made in accordance with House Bill 19-1192, Inclusion of American Minorities in Teaching Civil Government, which states, in part, that social studies and civics classes should include the history, culture and social contributions of American Indians, Latinos, African Americans and Asian Americans, and the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals within these minority groups.

When the revisions were made available for public feedback, numerous concerns were raised about the appropriateness of referencing LGBTQ people in lower grades.

During the public feedback window from Nov. 12 to Feb. 1, the state board received 17,344 items of feedback, primarily in the form of emails and letters. Of those, 4,499 indicated disagreement with specific revision recommendations, according to the presentation.

The slideshow notes that half of the negative feedback came from six respondents. One respondent provided more than 1,000 comments in disagreement.

Of the 11,609 responses of agreement, about half came from eight respondents, the committee noted.

The presentation summed up the themes of the negative feedback, which included concern that the proposed standards emphasized negative elements of American history and suggestions that the revisions provide a more balanced view.

Steve Durham, a state board of education member representing Colorado's 5th Congressional District, said many parents were concerned about the appropriateness of discussing LGBTQ issues in a lower-elementary classroom setting.

What were trying to do is direct those discussions to the home where they belong and put parents in charge of their childrens education, particularly at these young ages, Durham said. Most parents are uncomfortable, I think, with those discussions taking place in a school setting at those ages.

For instance, Durham said, one of the recommendations suggested discussions of LGBTQ issues in kindergarten.

From my own perspective, I just could really not imagine what a conversation among children that age would look like, and I think most parents would agree with that, he said.

Alissa Smith, of Inside Out Youth Services, said that such discussions are appropriate among the lower grades because they revolve around history and civics, not sex.

What were seeing here is the thinking that LGBTQ identities are inherently sexual, which they are not, Smith said. So the idea that parents are uncomfortable with just acknowledging that queer people exist in the classroom is just an erasure of history.

Smith said the revised standards are similar to a recently-passed law in Florida that bans the teaching of LGBTQ issues in lower elementary grades  commonly known among opponents as the Dont Say Gay bill.

An acknowledgement of queer identities, Smith said, would allow grade-schoolers to realize that these identities are perfectly fine and as acceptable as any other identity. I dont know why you wouldnt want that, if our goal is to make students safer.

Durham said decisions about whether to discuss LGBTQ issues should be made at the district school board level instead of being dictated by the state.

Colorado is a local-control state, he said. Local school boards should be weighing in on these issues and setting realistic policies in their own districts.

Leaving the decision to school boards would create statewide inconsistencies in how history and civics are taught, Smith said.

In theory, it sounds great, they said. But it means some kids are going to have comprehensive education that includes queer people from history, and some kids will not, which reinforces inequities that are already in place in our school system.

Durham said discussions about LGBTQ issues should primarily take place between parents and their children, and that an increasing number of parents have indicated a willingness to have these conversations.

Parents, as we know, have become more involved of late, Durham said. And thats a good thing.

The final recommendations for the social studies standards will be presented to the state board in May. The board is expected to approve the standards over the summer.
Continued dry conditions, blustery winds and warmer-than-normal weather have forced Stage 1 fire restrictions to go into effect in Fountain and unincorporated parts of El Paso County.

Fountain officials announced the restrictions within city limits Monday afternoon, and the El Paso County Sheriff's Office announced the restrictions in the county's unincorporated areas Sunday night.

The restrictions, in both jurisdictions, include:

Open burning, excepting fires and campfires within permanently constructed fire grates in developed campgrounds and picnic grounds; charcoal grills and wood burning stoves at private residences in areas cleared of all flammable materials.

The sale or use of fireworks.

Outdoor smoking except within an enclosed vehicle or building, a developed recreation site or while stopped in an area at least three feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all flammable materials.

In Fountain, additional restrictions include:

Outdoor blasting, welding and torches, except with a permit.

Use of model rockets.

Public prescribed burning or burn permits.

Outdoor cooking on private property, unless the area is smaller than three feet in diameter and fewer than two feet high, and is kindled for purposes of cooking food using only clean, dry, untreated wood or charcoal contained by fireplaces, fire pits, barbecues or other city-approved systems.

Outdoor fires in private recreational fire pits, except if the fire is contained within liquid-fueled or gas-fueled stoves, indoor fireplaces and wood burning stoves, or in permanently constructed fire grates, charcoal grills and wood burning stoves in outdoor areas cleared of all flammable materials, using dry, untreated wood or charcoal.

The restrictions come after multiple fires were reported across Colorado over the weekend. On Sunday, a fire south of Falcon damaged at least two structures, burned nearly 40 acres and forced mandatory evacuations before the order was lifted; meanwhile, a grass fire west of the Colorado Springs Airport early Sunday forced evacuations before it was put out.

Another fire reported Sunday afternoon near the Paws Animal Shelter in Pueblo burned about 18 acres and forced evacuations.

The fire restrictions in Fountain and in unincorporated El Paso County will remain in effect until further notice.

Teller County has enforced a burn ban until noon Wednesday.
A coalition of business leaders and law enforcement officials made the case Monday for making simple possession of fentanyl a felony, one day ahead of a House panel hearing a sweeping bill that seeks to confront Colorado's opioid crisis.

JJ Ament, president and CEO of the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce, thanked Speaker of the House Alec Garnett for sponsoring the bill and creating the platform for the discussion. But, he said, the bill as introduced does not go far enough to address the concerns of the business community.

"Restoring to felony status the possession of such a deadly substance" must be part of this bill, Ament insisted.

Fentanyl, used legitimately as a medical anesthetic, is a synthetic opioid that has become a dominant player in the illicit market, and it's increasingly being mixed into other substances. It's cheaper and produces a stronger, more fleeting "high," according to experts. But its potency in small quantities makes it unlike any other substance that preceded it in the drug supply, spurring heated debate about how to address it.

Like the rest of the country, deaths from fentanyl are skyrocketing in Colorado  from just over 100 in 2018 to more than 800 in 2021, based on a new report released Monday from the Common Sense Institute, a nonpartisan institution guided by traditionally conservative principles. According to data from the state Department of Public Health and Environment, fentanyl was involved in at least 896 fatal overdoses in 2021, nearly half of the state's 1,829 drug deaths.

A bipartisan Congressional report published in February attributed the nationwide overdose crisis to a combination of a shift in the drug supply, in which fentanyl is replacing heroin and filling the hole left by crackdowns on legitimate opioid prescriptions, and to the pandemic.

The issue  and legislators' response via House Bill 1326  have driven opposing views on how to handle the crisis. On one side are health, harm reduction and criminal justice experts and advocates. Last month, more than 60 organizations wrote an open letter to legislators, urging them to eschew a tough-on-crime approach and to instead treat fentanyl as a public health crisis and focus on treatment and prevention.

Those organizations, led by the Colorado Criminal Justice Reform Coalition, argue that further tightening drug laws will do nothing to help slow deaths and will instead return the state to what they describe as the failed policies of the War on Drugs, waged for decades without preventing the deadly highs. The War on Drugs, they maintain, came at a tremendous societal cost, sending low-level offenders to prison, breaking up families as a result and fiscally burdening local governments as incarceration takes a bigger and bigger portion of their budget.

On the other side stand many in law enforcement, including Attorney General Phil Weiser and trade organizations for county sheriffs police chiefs. Monday's coalition fits firmly into that camp. The group includes leaders from the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce; the Colorado Chamber of Commerce; former district attorneys George Brauchler and Mitch Morrissey; and Basalt Chief of Police Greg Knott, who heads the statewide association of police chiefs.

While they applauded the General Assembly's efforts to deal with the problem, they indicated during a Monday news conference that the legislation introduced last month falls short of what's necessary to confront the crisis.

That debate, in particular, revolves around simple possession.

In 2019, bipartisan legislation lowered the penalties for possession of Schedule II drugs  which include heroin, methamphetamines, cocaine and fentanyl  from a felony to a misdemeanor. The threshold for felony charges is now at possession of 4 grams.

Even one pill can kill, said Brauchler, Knott and Morrissey, who are advocating for changes to HB 1326 to reverse the 2019 law as it applies to fentanyl.

Fentanyl is a barrier to attracting new business, said Ament, who added that full recovery is necessary to generate the economics and services to address the problem.

Morrissey said there is no middle ground on the issue of simple possession, given that one pill is enough to kill.

Many users don't know what they're taking, he said, adding fentanyl also puts first responders at risk.

"It's not time for a middle ground," Morrissey said, adding that policymakers should treat fentanyl like "the deadly" substance it is.

As for the issue of intent, Morrissey said existing state law already addresses that. In order to be convicted of possession of a controlled substance, the person charged must be aware of what it is, he said.

Those who oppose further criminalization warn that fentanyl's presence in other drugs, notably heroin, cocaine and even fake Xanax pills, make it harder to legislate fentanyl in a vacuum. More users of a variety of substance will be caught up in the criminal justice system, opponents argue, and hard-fought efforts to change how the system approaches substance use will be undone.

Christie Donner, executive director of the Colorado Criminal Justice Reform Coalition, previously said making simple possession of low quantities of fentanyl a felony would "obliterate" the state's approach to drugs as reflected in changes made to laws in 2019. She and others, like harm reduction advocate Lisa Raville, have said tightened criminal penalties will lead to more overdoses and more inmates.

Morrissey and Brauchler teamed up to work with the Common Sense Institute on a new report on the effects of fentanyl on the state's economy.

The CSI report, which put the total cost of the 1,104 opioid-related deaths at $15.2 billion, said the share of opioid deaths attributed to fentanyl increased from 19% in 2017 to 73% in 2021. Similar numbers have been reported by the state.

Fentanyl's share of that cost stands at $11.1 billion, the report claimed, citing data and methodology from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CSI report said it "inflated" the per death cost in each category by the Personal Consumption Expenditure Price Index (excluding energy and food), raising the cost per death from $11.5 million per person to $13.7 million per person.

The CDC does not break out fentanyl separately in its statistics on overdose deaths. The agency tracks deaths resulting from synthetic substances, of which fentanyl is the primary cause of death, the agency told The Gazette last week. According to that data, Colorado's overdose rate from synthetics is below the national average and is still outstripped by states on the East Coast, which have battled the opioid crisis longer and in higher numbers than elsewhere.

But Colorado's rate of increase since 2018, when the agency began to collect this data, is now among the highest in the nation.

The CSI report pointed out that none of Colorado's neighboring states singles out fentanyl in drug laws, and that Wyoming, Utah, New Mexico and Oklahoma treat simple Schedule II possession as a misdemeanor, just as Colorado's 2019 law did. Nebraska, Kansas and Arizona treat possession of Schedule II drugs as a felony.

In its own briefing on the subject, the Criminal Justice Reform Coalition said there's no correlation between Colorado's drug possession law and its overdose rate. According to the coalition, Colorado has the 29th-highest overdose death rate in the country, behind 16 states that treat possession as a felony.
Adrian Vasquez is a step closer to becoming the next Colorado Springs police chief.

On Monday, Colorado Springs Mayor John Suthers announced that he nominated Vasquez, the interim police chief, to become the city's top law enforcement boss.

He was favored by his former boss, Vince Niski, who retired March 4 as the police chief.

"Interim Chief Vasquez offers Colorado Springs a long history of experience in law enforcement and deep ties within the community," Suthers said in a news release. "Adrian understands both the challenges and opportunities to serve our city, and he brings a strong commitment to continually improving CSPDs high performance and relationships."

Vasquez was selected through a national search process. About 20 candidates applied for the position, city officials said; four finalists were interviewed last week, including Vasquez.

Vasquez, 56, was the lone local candidate in the search, city officials said.

His nomination by the mayor must be confirmed by the Colorado Springs City Council. That meeting could happen sometime over the next couple months, Suthers said.

Vasquez joined the Colorado Springs Police Department in 1995 after serving in the United States Air Force for nine years. He has served in the Sand Creek Division; the Metro, Vice, Narcotics and Intelligence Division; and on the DEA Task Force.

Vasquez was promoted to lieutenant in 2011, where he served in patrol, before transferring to the Violent Crimes Section to oversee the homicide, assault, robbery and victim advocacy units.

Vasquez was promoted to the rank of commander in 2016, when he was assigned to the Stetson Hills Division. In 2017, he transferred to the Specialized Enforcement Division, where he oversaw the Tactical Operations Section, Patrol Support Section and Protective Security Section.

In April 2019 he was promoted to deputy chief, where he has oversight of the Patrol Operations Bureau, and later became the deputy chief of the Operations Support Bureau.

Vasquez has a bachelor of science degree in sociology from Colorado State University and a masters degree in criminal justice from the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs. He is a graduate of the Center for Creative Leadership and the FBI National Academy.

Of Niski's three deputy chiefs, Vasquez was the only one to apply to be police chief.

Vasquez was appointed as Niski's deputy chief one month into his tenure as police chief. Niski stepped into his role as chief during February 2019, leading the department during an era marked by national protests, the coronavirus pandemic and the local officer-involved shooting of De'Von Bailey.

Though he didn't name the candidate, Niski told The Gazette in February that one of his deputies applied to be police chief. He added he was "very confident he can do the job" and he was "excited to see where hes going to take the organization."

Vasquez was named the interim police chief Feb. 28.

In a media appearance, Vasquez said some of his top priorities, if he is confirmed by the city, include addressing the rise in violent crimes, the fentanyl crisis and staff shortage within the department and building

"I have a strong desire to build on what our past police chiefs have done," Vasquez said. "I think the one things I fully understand is not only our department and the areas where are already growing on, but I have also been very engaged in the community."
By Trend

Oliver Varhelyi, the European Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement, handed over the European Union membership questionnaire to the Georgian Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili on Monday, Trend reports citing Agenda.ge.

The questionnaire contains 369 questions, significantly less than ones received by other EU partners. Previously, forms including about 2,000-5,000 questions were received by countries aspiring to join the Union.

After the Georgian authorities respond to the questionnaire, the European Commission will prepare its report and forward it to the European Council. Georgia has 1.5 months to complete the questionnaire.

On March 11, the European Council invited the European Commission, the executive branch of the European Union, to submit its opinions on the EU membership applications of the Republic of Moldova and Georgia.

Georgia officially applied for EU membership on March 3, with Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili signing the countrys membership application.
By Trend

Italy clinched an agreement on Monday to ramp up gas imports from Algeria by around 40% in its first major deal to find alternative supplies, Trend reports citing Reuters.

In a visit to Algeria, Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi said agreements reached were a significant step in Italy's drive to cut its reliance on Russian gas.

"Others will follow," he told reporters in Algiers following a meeting with Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune.

Italy, which sources about 40% of its gas imports from Russia, has been scrambling to diversify its energy supply mix.

Draghi has previously said while replacing 30-40% of supplies from Russia could be done immediately, it would be much harder to replace the rest.

In a statement, Italian energy group Eni (ENI.MI) said it had agreed with Algeria's Sonatrach to gradually raise flows in the Transmed pipeline starting this year and reach 9 bcm of extra gas per year by 2023-24.

Ecological Transition Minister Roberto Cingolani told Italian TV 3 bcm of that would come on line immediately.
By Azernews





By Vugar Khalilov

A number of COVID restrictions may be lifted in Azerbaijan, local media has reported.

Although Azerbaijan has taken some measures to mitigate the effects of the pandemic, some decisions are still in place.

The recent decline in COVID cases and the successful continuation of vaccination in the country also raises the question of lifting some of the bans.

MP Mushfig Mammadli, a member of the parliamentary health committee, said that the government can easily lift the requirement on wearing masks, as well as a number of restrictions, as the current situation requires.

The recent decline in infection rates and the number of active patients has led to the lifting of a number of restrictions, he added.

According to Mammadli, taking into account the initial measures carried out in Azerbaijan regarding the coronavirus pandemic, and the vaccination process in the world, some restrictions are expected to be lifted in the coming days, in particular, the requirement of wearing masks.

Azerbaijan registered 16 new COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours, Operational Headquarters under the Cabinet of Ministers reported on April 11.

Some 19 patients have recovered and no patients have died in the reported period.

So far, 792,253 COVID-19 cases have been registered in the country. Some 782,351 patients have recovered, and 9,703 people have died. Currently, 199 people are under treatment in special hospitals.

Over the past day, 2,624 tests were conducted in Azerbaijan to reveal coronavirus cases.

In general, 6,746,085 tests have been conducted in Azerbaijan so far.

So far, some 13,549,308 COVID-19 vaccines have been provided to Azerbaijani citizens.

Azerbaijan is taking effective measures in the fight against coronavirus, and four types of COVID-19 vaccines out of nine existing have been imported to Azerbaijan.

Vaccination has been carried out in Azerbaijan since January 18, 2021, and it is still being carried out successfully. The epidemiological situation in Azerbaijan remains stable due to the active participation of the population in vaccination.

The nationwide vaccination is free and voluntary, and it is in accordance with the "Vaccination Strategy Against COVID-19 in Azerbaijan for 2021-2022".

The country began vaccinating citizens with China's Sinovac on January 18, AstraZeneca's Vaxzevria vaccine on May 3, Russia's Sputnik V on May 18, and Pfizer from the United States on June 7. From May 10, the country began offering COVID-19 vaccination to citizens over the age of 18.

Simultaneously, on August 9, Azerbaijan began issuing vaccination exemption certificates to citizens who have contraindications to coronavirus vaccines approved for use in the country.
Azizi Developments, a leading private developer in the UAE, has announced its appointment of three subcontractors specialised in providing marble and granite of Italian and Norwegian origins for its mega-project Riviera in MBR City.

As per the deal, Al Imran Marble & Granite, Al Aiham Marble & Granite and MIR Ali Technical Services will be supplying Italian and Norwegian granite in the arcade and retail areas of seventeen buildings of Azizis Riviera.

CEO Farhad Azizi said: "We are delighted to announce our signing with these three reputable contractors, given their exceptional track record and know-how. The partnership comes as a testament to our continuous efforts to explicitly work with top-tier suppliers and contractors."

"Through our partnership with these three subcontractors, we strive to meet and exceed our customers and investors expectations," he added.-TradeArabia News Service
The Historic Park Inn Hotel has been without a restaurant attachment since June 2021, following the closing of the 1910 Grille.

However, that won't be the case for long.

On Monday, Indigo Road Hospitality Group (IRHG) announced in a press release that it would open a new restaurant in the space formerly operated by the 1910 Grille.

The new restaurant will be called Markley & Blythe, named after James Markley and James Blythe, the two attorneys who introduced Frank Lloyd Wright, architect of the Historic Park Inn Hotel, to Mason City.

As Frank Lloyd Wrights last remaining hotel in operation, The Historic Park Inn is already on the map as a design destination, and we want to add a restaurant concept worthy of such a storied property, Steve Palmer, founder and chief vision officer of The Indigo Road Hospitality Group, said via press release. We are proud to soon open our first restaurant in the Midwest and add Markley & Blythe to our portfolio of 25-plus restaurants.

Markley & Blythe is described as a "sophisticated American tavern" that will feature a selection of snacks, starters and entrees. Examples of items that will be on the menu include Iowa cheese curds, duck pot pie, short rib ravioli and bone marrow bread pudding.

Jonny Worley of Mason City was named Executive Chef of Markley & Blythe. Worley is originally a native of Greene, and has extensive experience in the culinary craft. Worley previously worked in Minnesota at fine-dining Italian restaurant Bella Cucina, and recently served as a food service manager for Hy-Vee.

IHRG said it anticipated Markley & Blythe would open later this spring.

The Historic Park Inn, located in downtown Mason City, began operations under new management group IRHG on Jan. 1, 2022, following the decision from HPI Partners LLC to not renew its management contract at the end of 2021.

In June, the 1910 Grille closed in wave of controversy after several staff members quit within a short period of time.

The disgruntled workers cited being overworked and underpaid as the reason for their departure from the 1910 Grille. Owner Steve Noto asserted that he closed the restaurant because of staffing issues caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Historic Park Inn Hotel names new GM, prepares for big 2022 The Historic Park Inn Hotel is under a new management group, and it has big plans for the hotel heading into 2022, including the reopening of the restaurant.

IRHG is a group based out of Charleston, South Carolina, operating over 30 properties across the United States.

Editor's note: This story has been updated to reflect a change in management at the restaurant and to correct superimposed letters in two words.

Zachary Dupont covers local government and business development for the Globe Gazette. You can reach him at 641-421-0533 or zachary.dupont@globegazette.com. Follow Zachary on Twitter at @ZachNDupont

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CEDAR RAPIDS (AP)  Authorities on Monday identified the two people killed when two gunmen opened fire inside a crowded Iowa nightclub over the weekend.

Cedar Rapids police said that 25-year-old Michael Valentine and 35-year-old Nicole Owens were killed. Both lived in Cedar Rapids.

Sunday's shooting at the Taboo Nightclub and Lounge in Cedar Rapids also injured 10 other people.

Guilty verdict in fatal robbery trial A Waterloo man has been found guilty of robbery in an August 2020 holdup where his brother allegedly shot and killed a man in a garage

Police didn't provide an update Monday on the condition of everyone who was wounded. A day earlier, officials said one person was in critical condition Sunday while the other injuries ranged from minor to serious.

Police continued investigating the shooting Monday. No arrests have been reported.

The clubs owner, Mod Williams, told the Cedar Rapids Gazette on Sunday that he doesnt know many details about the shooting.

Its an extremely disturbing thing that happened and currently Im just being as cooperative as I can to help the police, Williams said.

Mayor Tiffany ODonnell expressed dismay about the shooting and lauded the police response.

We as citizens need to do our part, too. We must head off incidents like this before they happen. That means respecting one and other, resolving issues peacefully and holding ourselves accountable, ODonnell said in a statement.

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Sabic, a global leader in the chemical industry, has announced SR6.75 billion ($1.8 billion) cash dividends for the second half (H2) of 2021 at SR2.25 per share representing 22.5% of the share value, in addition to SR5.25 billion ($1.4 billion) dividends for H1 at SR1.75 per share (17.5% of the share value), thus bringing the total dividends for 2021 to SR12 billion ($3.2 billion).



Shareholders eligible for the second half dividends are those who own shares on the due date  the AGM date (April 10)  and those registered in the companys share registry at the Depository Center at the end of the second trading day following the due date. The dividends will be distributed on April 25, 2022. The total proposed dividend for 2021 is SR12 billion at SR4 per share, representing 40% of the nominal value per share.



The Assembly elected the Board of Directors members for the next Board term of three years starting April 10.



Speaking at the meeting, Khalid Hashim Al-Dabbagh, Sabic Chairman, said two particular global challenges stood out for Sabic in 2021, the COVID-19 pandemic and the threat of climate change.



He said: To this very day, the coronavirus lingering persistence is causing market volatility and supply-chain disruption. Nevertheless, Im heartened by how we persevered with our business to achieve an admirable performance in 2021.



As for our response to climate change, the expectations of our customers, lenders, and other stakeholders are now sky high, so to speak. Fortunately, we are incorporated in a country whose wise leaders have a vision of how the goals of the Paris Agreement can best be met in a way that respects the principles of sustainable economic growth.



Yousef Al-Benyan, Sabic Vice Chairman and CEO, described the companys 2021 performance as extremely robust and said: Sabic achieved an EBITDA of SR48.3 billion in 2021, which was 139% higher than the previous year and the fourth highest in Sabic's history. We also followed through on our transformational strategy, achieving a great value realization with Saudi Aramco. And we continued to focus on strong capital discipline, which helped to support higher dividends and position Sabic well for future growth opportunities.



Al-Benyan highlighted Sabics commitment to make all operations under its control carbon neutral by 2050, taking into account the different regional and national circumstances.



We made a public commitment for all operations under our control to be carbon neutral by 2050, taking into account the different regional and national circumstances. This aligns us with the Paris climate-change agreement and guides us in pursuit of solutions, he said.



We have positioned ourselves to become the preferred world leader in chemicals. But there is no room for complacency. We will extend our synergies with Saudi Aramco and further evolve our business model to continue to create value. We will meet stricter ESG standards as we promote sustainable development more broadly around the world and drive forward a circular economy for plastics. And we will embrace new norms that instil greater resilience to external disruptions and greater agility of response, Al-Benyan concluded.  TradeArabia News Service
Editor's note: This story has been updated to reflect the correct title for Tamara Scott, the Republican National Committeewoman for Iowa.

On Monday night, Republicans from across Iowa met for the Cerro Gordo County GOPs Meet the Candidate night.

Candidates running in races across the state were in attendance, including those seeking election of positions at the federal, state and local levels.

Candidates in higher-profile federal and state campaigns were U.S. Senate candidate Jim Carlin, who will primary Sen. Chuck Grassley; Rep. Jane Bloomingdale, Sen. Waylon Brown, and Iowa House candidates Doug Campbell and Deb Hild.

Also in attendance were a handful of those seeking county positions including Cerro Gordo County Treasurer candidate Nikki Fessler, current supervisors Tim Latham, Casey Callanan and Chris Watts and county supervisor candidate Don O'Connor.

Sen. Chuck Grassley and U.S. Rep Ashley Hinson didn't attend the event in person, but sent representatives to speak on their behalf. Hinson also provided a pre-recorded video for attendees.

The night was kicked off by county GOP chair Julie Billings introducing the guest speaker of the evening Tamara Scott, who is the Republican National Committeewoman for Iowa, and host of the Tamara Scott Show on Lindell TV.

Scott spoke on how important God is to the moral compass of this country, and to the platform of the GOP, as well as the importance of Republicans getting to the polls in November.

"Faith is a bedrock of the Republican Party... We may not be perfect, but at least we pray," Scott said. "It's time to take this country back."

The talking points spoken on by Scott were reiterated by many throughout the night, with one of the most-spoken about topics of the night being passing anti-abortion legislation.

Carlin spoke about the importance of the "heartbeat bill" which he played a part in passing in 2018, and would have made abortion illegal upon a fetal heartbeat being detected.

The legislation was later blocked in court and declared unconstitutional by an Iowa judge in 2019.

"What does that tell you, I protected the unborn," Carlin said.

The senator also went on to assert that a federal bill which would "legalize abortion 28 weeks post-birth," was on its way to becoming law, stating that anyone who didn't want to keep a birthed baby could end the child's life up to 28 weeks after giving birth. "They're legalizing infanticide," said Carlin.

That statement is untrue.

Campbell, who is seeking election to the Iowa House of Representatives District 59, also discussed his desire to pass anti-abortion legislation. Specifically, Campbell spoke about wanting to nullify Roe vs. Wade in Iowa and described voting for the Life Amendment as a "bucket-list item," for himself.

To do this, Campbell urged attendees not just to vote for him, but to vote out Iowa Supreme Court Justices who are against nullifying Roe vs. Wade.

"I want you to do it; I want you to know who those judges are, what they did, what their judgments were... and then I want you to vote them off (the bench)," Campbell said. "That is the quickest and easiest way to do it (nullify Roe vs. Wade)."

Medical freedom was another talking point discussed by nearly every candidate who spoke, with each discussing the perceived importance of not allowing the government to tell them what they can and can't do with their bodies.

Bloomingdale, who is currently seeking election in District 60 of the Iowa House of Representatives, was one of the candidates who talked about the active role she has already played in getting Iowans these medical freedoms.

"We don't need to be told what vaccines we need to get," Bloomingdale said.

Bloomingdale said she played a major role in getting employers to allow for COVID-19 vaccine exemptions for medical and religious reasons.

Echoing those speaking points was Hild, who is running against Bloomingdale in District 60, who advocated for legislation prohibiting businesses from discriminating against individuals who have not been vaccinated as either employees or customers.

"It's unclear what the support of that bill was in our own party," Hild said.

The primary elections for these races are just around the corner on June 7, 2022, with the general election following in the fall on Nov. 8, 2022.

Zachary Dupont covers local government and business development for the Globe Gazette. You can reach him at 641-421-0533 or zachary.dupont@globegazette.com. Follow Zachary on Twitter at @ZachNDupont

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The Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved the fiscal year 2023 county and school budgets Monday.

The Monday meeting took place one week after a public comment hearing, during which county residents had an opportunity to offer their opinions concerning the proposed budgets.

Both budgets passed 7-0.

Chair Vic Ingram, of the Tunstall District, commended the budget process as a success, which he attributed to Interim County Administrator Clarence Monday and Finance Director Kim Van Der Hyde.

Let me thank you Mr. Monday and Kim for the fabulous work that you guys did to not only give us a balanced budget, but no tax increase, stated Ingram.

In an emailed response to the Register & Bee, Westover District Supervisor Ron Scearce attributed the success of the budget to decisions made by previous administrators, as well as prior increases in both meals and sales taxes.

Scearce said a huge effort that helped in keeping the property tax rate low were the efforts of David Smitherman and Richard Hicks in accepting outside garbage from multiple communities last year.

Monday acknowledged this boon in his official budget letter to the supervisors, in which he laid out the specifics of the 2023 proposals. He shared the Dry Fork Landfill currently generates $1.78 million annually, and indicated the county will continue to seek to expand monetization opportunities for this resource.

Monday explained at the April 4 public comment meeting that these proposed budgets are tentative pending the passage of the commonwealth of Virginias state budget.

There is no state budget thats been adopted at this point, Monday said. I will remind you, board members and members of the public, that what we are operating under would be good-faith estimates of the revenue, he explained.

Should these estimates turn out to be lower than the reality, Monday indicated this can be corrected with future budgetary amendment votes.

According to the official Pittsylvania County website, the total proposed county budget of $218.87 million represents an increase of $7.55 million from fiscal year 2022.

Most of the increase is the result of State and Federal Funds, the website states.

The 2023 school budget is currently set at $122 million, with contributions from local coffers totaling $21.09 million. Monday indicated the school budget is included within the overall County budget.

Concerns over fiscal waste

As most of the discussions and debate concerning the 2023 budgets took place in closed session, the Danville Register & Bee reached out to all seven Pittsylvania County supervisors via email for comments.

Scearce responded and shared his disappointment that the county was unable to decrease the property tax rate, as had been his hope.

...When you have extra costs like paying $209,000 in an unnecessary severance pay, and earmarking $500,000 in this years budget of the estimated $1 million property reassessment cost ... keeping the property tax rate level was the best we could hope for this year, he said.

The unnecessary severance pay refers to the ousting of former County Administrator David Smitherman in a controversial move that has marred the board with tension and disrepute since January.

The $500,000 earmark will go toward the required 2024 property value reassessment, as the board voted in March to nullify the 2022 assessment conducted by Brightminds, LLC after public outcry.

Jim Scearce, of the Pittsylvania County Tea Party, was the only member of the public to speak at the April 4 public comment hearing. He said the reassessment debacle will cost Pittsylvania taxpayers on both ends, as Brightminds had identified more than 4,800 taxable structures that the previous assessment company Wingate Appraisal Services had missed.

Brightminds reassessment brought up many unanswered questions, one of those being that they identified over 4,800 taxable structures that were not on the current tax log, Jim Scearce said.

These new structures were estimated to have a value of $100 million, he said. In the current real estate tax rate, that would have brought in an estimated $620,000 of tax revenue to the county.

Jim Scearce called on Ingram and Commissioner of the Revenue Robin Goard to take action to ensure that these 4,800 structures are properly assessed and included within the tax logs, citing the public interest of Pittsylvania taxpayers and fairness to those who currently pay taxes on identified taxable structures throughout the County.

As reported by Jim Scearce, Goard has the authority to conduct these assessments, and that the board of supervisors has the ability to request assistance for these assessments from the state taxation office.

Learn more about the budgets at https://www.pittsylvaniacountyva.gov/budget.

The Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors will convene at 7 p.m. April 19 for its regular monthly business meeting in Chatham.
UNITED NATIONS  Nearly two-thirds of all Ukrainian children have fled their homes in the six weeks since Russias invasion and the United Nations has verified the deaths of 142 youngsters although the number is almost certainly much higher, the U.N. childrens agency said Monday.

Manuel Fontaine, UNICEFs emergency programs director who just returned from Ukraine, said having 4.8 million of Ukraines 7.5 million children displaced in such a short time is something he hadnt seen happen so quickly in 31 years of humanitarian work.

Ukraines U.N. ambassador, Sergiy Kyslytsya, claimed Russia has taken more than 121,000 children out of Ukraine and reportedly drafted a bill to simplify and accelerate adoption procedures for orphans and even those who have parents and other relatives.

Most of the children were removed from the besieged southern port city of Mariupol and taken to eastern Donetsk and then to the Russian city of Taganrog, according to Kyslytsya.

Fontaine said that of Ukraines refugee children, 2.8 million are displaced within Ukraine and 2 million more are in other countries.

KEY DEVELOPMENTS IN THE RUSSIA-UKRAINE WAR:

 Mariupol mayor says siege has k illed more than 10K civilians

 Biden, Modi to speak as US presses for hard line on Russia

 Ukrainian nuns open their monastery doors to the displaced

 US doubts new Russian war chief can end Moscows floundering

 Analysis: War, economy could weaken Putins place as leader

 Go to https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine for more coverage

OTHER DEVELOPMENTS:

Russian opposition activist Vladimir Kara-Murza Jr., who was twice sickened in incidents he suspected were poisonings, has been detained in Moscow by police, another prominent opposition figure said Monday.

Ilya Yashin said on Twitter that Kara-Murza was detained Monday near his Moscow residence. It was unclear whether he had been charged.

Kara-Murza was hospitalized with poisoning symptoms twice, in 2015 and 2017. A journalist and associate of Russian opposition leader Boris Nemtsov, who was shot and killed in 2015, and oligarch-turned-dissident Mikhail Khodorkovsky, Kara-Murza nearly died from kidney failure in the first incident. He suspects he was poisoned but no cause has been determined.

Kara-Murza was taken to a hospital with a sudden, similar illness in 2017 and put into a medically induced coma. His wife said doctors confirmed that he was poisoned.

PARIS __ Societe Generale has announced it is ending its Russian activities -- making it the first big Western bank to announce its quitting Russia.

SocGen is also selling its entire stake in Rosbank to a company linked to a Russian oligarch, costing the French bank some 3 billion euros ($3.3 billion).

Rosbank is a heavyweight in the Russian banking sector, and Societe Generale was the majority shareholder.

After several weeks of intensive work, the bank said in a statement, it had signed an agreement with Russian investment fund Interros Capital to sell all of its stake in Rosbank as well as its insurance subsidiaries in Russia.

Interros is one of the largest funds in the country, which holds assets in heavy industry and metallurgy.'

MILAN  Italian Premier Mario Draghi secured a deal Monday for more natural gas imports across a Mediterranean pipeline from Algeria, in the latest push by a European Union nation to reduce dependence on Russian energy following its invasion of Ukraine.

Draghi told reporters in the Algerian capital after meeting with President Abdelmadjid Tebboune that an agreement to intensify bilateral cooperation in the energy sector along with the deal to export more gas to Italy are a significant response to the strategic goal of quickly replacing Russian energy.

Russia is Italys biggest supplier of natural gas, representing 40% of total imports, followed by Algeria, which provides some 21 billion cubic meters of gas via the Trans-Mediterranean pipeline.

The new deal between Italian energy company ENI and Algerias Sonatrach would add up to 9 billion cubic meters of gas from Algeria, just eclipsing Russias current 29 billion cubic meters a year. The increased flows will start in the fall, ENI said in a statement.

LVIV, Ukraine  The mayor of the Ukrainian city of Mariupol tells The Associated Press that more than 10,000 civilians have died in the southeastern city since the Russian invasion in February.

Mayor Vadym Boychenko told The Associated Press by telephone Monday that corpses were carpeted through the streets of our city and that the death toll could be more than 20,000.

Boychenko also said Russian forces have brought mobile crematoria to the city to dispose of the bodies and accused Russian forces of refusing to allow humanitarian convoys into the city in an attempt to disguise the carnage.

The mayor had previously claimed 5,000 dead. He explained that these data were on March 21, but thousands more people were lying on the streets, it was just impossible for us to collect them.

WASHINGTON  The Pentagons latest assessment is that Russia is gearing up for, but has not yet begun, an intensified offensive in the Donbas.

A senior U.S. defense official said the Russians are moving more troops and materiel toward that area and are focusing many of their missile strikes there. The official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss internal U.S. military assessments.

The official said a lengthy convoy of vehicles that is headed south toward the eastern city of Izyum contains artillery as well as aviation and infantry support, plus battlefield command-and-control elements and other materials.

The official said the convoy appeared to originate from the Belgorod and Valuyki areas in Russia, which are shaping up as key staging and marshalling grounds for the Russian buildup in the Donbas.

The official said the Russians also are bolstering their presence in the Donbas by deploying in recent days more artillery southwest of the city of Donetsk.

 By Robert Burns

VIENNA  Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer says his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow was very direct, open and tough.

In a statement released by his office after the meeting, Nehammer said Monday his primary message to Putin was that this war needs to end, because in war both sides can only lose.

Nehammer was the first European leader to meet Putin in Moscow since Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine in February.

The Austrian leader stressed that the Monday trip was not a friendly visit, but rather his duty to exhaust every possibility for ending the violence in Ukraine.

Nehammers Moscow visit comes after a trip on Saturday to Kyiv, where he met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

In his conversation with Putin, Nehammer said he raised the issue of serious war crimes committed by the Russian military in the Ukrainian city of Bucha and others. All those who are responsible will be held to account, he added.

Austria is a member of the European Union and has backed the 27-nation blocs sanctions against Russia, though it so far has opposed cutting off deliveries of Russian gas. The country is militarily neutral and is not a member of NATO.

UNITED NATIONS -- The U.N. childrens agency says nearly two-thirds of all Ukrainian children have fled their homes in the six weeks since Russias invasion, and the United Nations has verified that 142 children have been killed and 229 injured though these numbers are likely much higher.

Manuel Fontaine, UNICEFs emergency programs director who returned from Ukraine last week, told the U.N. Security Council on Monday that of the 3.2 million children estimated to have remained in their homes nearly half may be at risk of not having enough food, and attacks on water system infrastructure and power outages have left an estimated 1.4 million people in the country without access to water.

He said the situation is worse in cities like Mariupol and Kherson in the south, which have been besieged by Russian forces where children and their families have spent weeks without running water, sanitation or a regular supply of food.

Hundreds of schools and educational facilities have been attacked or used for military purposes, Fontaine said. Others are serving as shelters for civilians.

He said school closings are affecting the education of 5.7 million school-age children and 1.5 million students in higher education.

SARAJEVO, Bosnia-Herzegovina  Relatives of the victims of the genocide in Srebrenica are worried that the history is repeating itself in the war in Ukraine.

Hundreds of women who lost their sons, husbands and other relatives in the 1995 massacre of some 8,000 people in the eastern Bosnian town, on Monday demanded that all those who committed war crimes be brought to justice.

An association of the relatives of the Srebrenica victims, the Mothers of Srebrenica, has been active in keeping the memory alive of the Bosnian Serb execution of the Bosniak men and boys  who are mostly Muslim  in the late months of the 1992-95 War in Bosnia.

Sehida Abdurahmanovic says we spent all these years working to prevent this Srebrenica (killings) from happening to anyone else. But, she adds, we are really sad to say, but in todays Europe its happening again - Srebrenica is happening again.

LONDON  The World Bank says Ukraines economy will shrink by 45% this year because of Russias invasion, which has shut down half of the countrys businesses, choked off imports and exports, and damaged a vast amount of critical infrastructure.

Unprecedented sanctions imposed by Western allies in response to the war, meanwhile, are plunging Russia into a deep recession, lopping off more than a tenth of its economic growth, the Washington-based lender said in a report Sunday.

The report said economic activity is impossible in large swathes of areas in Ukraine because productive infrastructure like roads, bridges, ports and train tracks have been destroyed.

Ukraine plays a major role as a global supplier of agricultural exports like wheat but thats in question now because planting and harvesting have been disrupted by the war, the report said. The war has cut off access to the Black Sea, a key route for exports, including 90% of Ukraines grain shipments.

WARSAW, Poland  The mayor of Warsaw says a disputed compound administered by Russias diplomatic mission is being taken over by the city and will be made available to the Ukrainian community.

Mayor Rafal Trzaskowski was at the site Monday and said that a bailiff had entered the two apparently empty buildings, dubbed spyville by Warsaw residents, to check their condition and to mark them as seized by the Town Hall.

It is very symbolic that we are closing this procedure of many years now, at the time of Russias aggression on Ukraine, Trzaskowski said on Twitter.

Russias Embassy, which had the tall apartment blocks built in the 1970s, has been refusing court orders to pay lease or to hand it over. Once busy, the buildings became empty in the 1990s, after Poland shed its communist rule and dependence from Moscow and after the Soviet Union dissolved.

Ever since, Poland has been saying that lease on the plot of land had expired and demanded it be returned.

BUDAPEST, Hungary - Hungary plans to modify its natural gas contract with Russian energy company Gazprom in order to satisfy a demand by President Vladimir Putin that Russian gas be paid for in rubles.

Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto told a news conference on Monday that the subsidiary of Hungarys energy group MVM, CEE Energy, would pay its gas bills in euros to Russias Gazprombank, which would convert the payments into rubles and transfer them to the gas provider Gazprom Export.

Putin, in retaliation over sanctions against Russia by the European Union, has demanded that countries pay for Russian gas in rubles or risk having their supply shut off.

While Hungary has voted with the European Union on most sanctions against Russia, it has lobbied heavily against blocking Russian energy imports, arguing that would cripple its economy.

Szijjarto said that modifying Hungarys contract with Gazprom ensured the countrys energy supply while staying in line with the EUs sanctioning policy.

COPENHAGEN, Denmark  The Danish Health Authority said Monday it will buy 2 million iodine tablets in case of a nuclear accident in our immediate area.

The COVID-19 pandemic has shown us that it is important to be prepared, while the war in Ukraine shows that the world is unpredictable, the health authority said, adding it had based its recommendation on advice by the Danish Emergency Management Agency as well as impact calculations for the risk of a nuclear incident in Denmarks immediate area.

The tablets would cover the risk group which includes those up to age 18, health and emergency personnel under the age of 40, and pregnant and breastfeeding women.

BUCHAREST, Romania  The Republic of Moldova received on Monday in Luxembourg a questionnaire from the European Commission to assess the small countrys readiness to become a European Union member, authorities said.

A period of hard work is ahead starting today, Foreign Minister Nicu Popescu wrote online.

The former Soviet republic of around 2.6 million people is one of Europes poorest nations. Sandwiched between Romania and Ukraine, Moldova has pushed to accelerate joining the EU since Russia launched its attacks on Ukraine in late February.

Becoming a EU member will take years and be contingent on reforms, including cleaning up widespread corruption.

VILNIUS, Lithuania  Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte on Monday became the latest Western leader to visit Ukraine to express support to the nation under Russian attack,

Today, my visit in Ukraine started in Borodyanka. No words could possibly describe what I saw and felt here, Simonyte wrote on Twitter. She also posted photos of her looking at the at the blackened hole in a high-rise apartment building in Borodyanka, northwest of Kyiv.

During the unannounced visit, she is expected to meet with the Ukrainian President Volodymir Zelenskyy, who plans to address the Lithuanian parliament on Tuesday.

BRATISLAVA, Slovakia  Slovakia has denied its S-300 air defense missile system it transported to Ukraine has been destroyed by the Russian armed forces.

Our S-300 system has not been destroyed, Lubica Janikova, spokeswoman for Slovakias Prime Minister Eduard Heger said in a statement sent to The Associated Press.

She said any other claim is not true.

Earlier on Monday, the Russian military said it destroyed a shipment of air defense missile system provided by the West on the southern outskirts of the city of Dnipro.

The Russian side said Ukraine had received the air defense system from a European country that he didnt name. Last week, Slovakia said it has handed over its Soviet-designed S-300 air defense systems to Ukraine, which has pleaded with the West to give it more weapons, including long-range air defense systems.

COPENHAGEN, Denmark  Latvia has arrested a citizen of Belarus, who is suspected of spying for Belarusian special service by allegedly gathering information about the Baltic countrys Armed Forces and critical infrastructure facilities, news report said Monday.

The Baltic News Service, the regions main new agency, said Latvias State Security Service (VDD) and the Military Intelligence and Security Service detained the man in February.

The Belarusian suspect had been secretly filming and taking photos, BNS said, adding that the state security service had seized technical equipment and data carriers.

Latvian public broadcaster LSM said criminal proceedings were initiated on Feb. 15.

Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
GREENSBORO  A NASA mathematician and a civil rights pioneer could have new Guilford County schools named after them.

The Guilford County Board of Education's facilities naming committee is recommending that the new K-8 school in the southwestern part of the county be named after Katherine Johnson of "Hidden Figures" fame and a planned "newcomers" school in High Point be named for Sylvia Mendez, who helped end school segregation in California.

The new K-8 building is one of eight major school construction projects being funded by bonds approved by voters in 2020. The building is expected to also house a regional science, technology, engineering and mathematics center, which could be used by students from multiple schools. It's currently in the design phase.

The committee recommends it be named after Johnson, who performed calculations for NASA missions, including John Glenn's orbit of the Earth in 1962 and the 1969 lunar landing. She was among a series of Black women who played important roles at NASA and were profiled in Margot Lee Shetterly's nonfiction bestseller "Hidden Figures," which was later adapted into a film. She died in 2020 at age of 101.

The new "newcomers" school, which will serve recently immigrated children, will be in the Tomlinson building on the campus of High Point Central High School. Like the Doris Henderson Newcomers School in Greensboro, the school in High Point is intended to jumpstart students English learning and help them acclimate before they transition to other schools in the district.

The committee recommends it be named for Mendez, a Hispanic-American woman who helped pave the way for the desegregation of schools across the United States.

As a girl growing up in California, she was denied entry to a public school that did not admit Hispanic students. Her parents fought back, joining with other families and taking their case all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court in 1947.

Mendez v. Westminster forced four local school boards to stop segregating Hispanic students and allowed Mendez to attend the school in question. The case served as a precedent for the U.S. Supreme Court's 1954 Brown v. The Board of Education decision that proclaimed school segregation was unconstitutional.

Mendez became a nurse and travels the country giving lectures about the desegregation effort.

On Tuesday, school board members are expected to vote on whether to accept the nominations and post them for a 30-day public comment period ending May 12. If they do vote, the nominations would then come back to the board for consideration on June 14.

Contact Jessie Pounds at 336-373-7002 and follow @JessiePounds on Twitter.
Officers responded about 7:45 p.m. to the 2300 block of Randleman Road for a report of a shooting and found two people with injuries not considered life-threatening, police said in a news release. EMS took both shooting victims to a local hospital.
Actor-director Ron Howard had a "family adventure" on the North Carolina coast over the weekend and has been gushing about the experience on social media.

It could be considered a quasi-homecoming for the two-time Academy Award winner, who famously got his start as a child actor on The Andy Griffith Show  a series based on the fictitious North Carolina town of Mayberry.

Howard tweeted a photo Monday, April 11, of himself and reported he and his wife, Cheryl, visited Manteos Burrus House Inn over the weekend. The island is between the mainland and the Outer Banks.

He also mentioned North Carolina native Andy Griffith, who was living on Manteo at the time of his death in 2012.

Cheryl & I had a great weekend at #BurrusHouseInn #ManteoNC. The Inn deserves (its) high rating on Trip Advisor, wrote Howard, who lives in California.

#AndyGriffith always spoke so lovingly of beautiful Manteo. Terrific for fishing & family adventure. Not far from #KittyHawk of #WrightBrothers 1st flight fame.

Howard didnt say if he went fishing along the Outer Banks, which is believed to be the East Coast mating spot for great white sharks.

The Burrus House Inn also shared the photo on Facebook, but did not give specifics about Howards stay.

We sure did enjoy having Ron and Cheryl Howard this week at The Burrus House Inn. We hope they left loving our little slice of heaven we call the Outer Banks, the inn wrote.

Howard was born in Duncan, Oklahoma, and starred in 239 episodes of The Andy Griffith Show, before moving onto shows such as Happy Days and an even more successful career as a director.

Among his best known films as a director are Splash, Apollo 13, A Beautiful Mind and The Da Vinci Code.
CHARLOTTE  Mekayla Rodgers says she understands that without the Juvenile Court Intervention Program, shed be in the streets or locked up.

After two stints in juvenile detention, the 18-year-old Rodgers decided to make changes in her life and set goals for herself  inspired by one person in particular.

I want to go into the military, and I want to go to school to do hair, and I just want to be a good mother for my son, said Rodgers, who has a 6-month-old.

The diversion program, started two years ago by the Mecklenburg Council of Elders, is helping her work toward those goals. Rodgers is working toward earning a GED, and shes learning life skills.

Camille Stephens, her teacher, says Rodgers has come a long way since joining the program.

She desires to ... be the best mother that she can be to her child, and so shes doing that, and thats a blessing for herself and for her child as well.

The Council of Elders, a nonprofit network of organizations that work in criminal justice, launched the program with just 45 students in an effort to create viable citizens.

This year, the program hopes to reach 150 students, ages 8-21, executive director Maria Macon said.

The biggest problem in Charlotte right now is young people getting guns and using them, Macon said.

At least 24 guns have been found on Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools campuses this academic year. And, at least three teenagers 17 and under have been killed due to gun violence, CMPD data show.

Anger management, adverse childhood experiences and trauma are some of the root causes of the violence, Macon said, and the program focuses on them.

The diversion program works with judges, social workers and the community to help the students cope with adverse experiences, Macon said.

Helping them understand themselves

For Stephens, the diversion program allows her to fulfill a passion: working with kids and shaping the future.

Stephens, whose Locked Out Love group works within the jail and juvenile detention center, teaches moral recantation therapy and Work Smart, which focuses on soft skills for the workplace.

The recantation therapy class is a 12-step program that focuses on helping young people realize and understand where trauma begins, where their life is now and was in the past, and what their goals could be for the future.

What I hope kids get out of the program is to be able to utilize the tools that are provided to keep the recidivism down to nothing, Stephens said.

Tysha Pressleys Abusive Childhood Experiences class tries to help students understand what trauma is and how to alleviate its symptoms.

Pressley, a licensed clinical mental health counselor, said a typical classroom period lasts about 30 minutes. She starts by asking students about their day, then she may teach them a little about trauma followed by a mindfulness activity like yoga.

If theres one thing Pressley wants her students to learn from her class is that they matter.

Its really an amazing time, just coming together and helping them to kind of understand themselves a little bit more, she said. Thats what I really hope that they get out of it. I really hope that they get that, number one, (...) they matter, and theyre not just one dimensional, they are three-dimensional beings.

Pressley said sometimes when society looks at youth violence in the community, it just looks at behavior, not at the root of the behavior.







Change the mindset

Some of the programs classes are hands-on and include occupational training, volunteer work and martial arts. Others are more introspective and focus on soft skills for the workplace, anger management, and healing childhood trauma.

Lorenzo Steele, a former Rikers Island guard, shows his photos from inside the New York jail facility and discusses life inside a prison with his students  but dont call his class a Scared Straight program. Steele instead hopes to help his students make informed choices.

Many teens dont understand the consequences their actions can have, Steele said. He created an art series and podcast called Behind These Prison Walls that shows what a life in prison can look like, from being arrested, to living in a 6-by-8-foot cell, to being slashed with a razor blade in an attack.

Rodgers, the teenage mother, said she used to have a negative mindset.

I never planned on changing, but it really was my baby that made me change, Rodgers said.
Makenzie Rankin is a military spouse and mother of two. She loves gardening and crafting and can be found volunteering at the Childrens Storybook Garden and Museum in historic downtown Hanford every weekend. Rankin's blog can be found at www.anchorsandwhiskers.com, where she uses her voice to uplift members of the community.
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.
Wipro Limited, a leading global information technology, consulting and business process services company, has appointed Anis Chenchah as member of the Wipro Executive Board and CEO, APMEA (Asia Pacific, India, Middle East and Africa).

Chenchah has over two decades of experience in Consulting, IT and Business Process Services. He joins from Capgemini where he was the Global CEO of Capgemini Business Services and member of the Group Executive Committee. Prior to that, Anis held various leadership roles in Capgemini Financial Services across Europe and the Middle East.

I warmly welcome Anis to Wipro. His appointment is a bold indication of our ambition for exponential growth and leadership in APMEA as we tap into its promising future. With his successful track record of driving high growth in diverse contexts, managing complex transformations and building high-performance teams, Anis is well-positioned to accelerate our success in this strategic market, said Thierry Delaporte, CEO & Managing Director, Wipro.

I admire Wipros purpose and its extraordinary commitment to social good and am impressed by the effectiveness of its transformation over the past two years. It is a privilege to lead Wipros business in a region that I am deeply passionate about, and to partner with our clients as they accelerate their business and digital transformation, said Chenchah.

Chenchah holds a Masters degree in Engineering from ENSISA in France.-- TradeArabia News Service
Patient advocates fear the Montana State Hospital could fall further into a tailspin as the state-run facility is poised to lose federal funding for services starting Tuesday because of repeated failures to maintain health and safety standards.

In interviews Monday, mental health professionals gave a grim picture of the availability of beds elsewhere in the state for patients who may have to relocate from the state-run hospital due to the loss of funding.

Because of the end of reimbursement for services by the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid for people covered by either of those insurance programs, state officials said Monday they are exploring transfers for some patients. CMS will continue making payments for 30 calendar days for patients admitted on or before April 11.

"The department is evaluating how transfers may benefit certain patients," department spokesperson Jon Ebelt said in an email. While the termination does not require patients be transferred, the state will no longer get paid by CMS for some services it provides those covered by Medicaid or Medicare.

The governors office declined to make Gov. Greg Gianforte available for an interview Monday about the recent notice from CMS, but appeared to remain optimistic about the future of the state psychiatric facility.

Montana State Hospital has faced long-standing challenges that have spanned the administrations of many governors, the Governors Office said in a statement. The governor is encouraged with DPHHS commitment to reforming the facility and ensuring there are no disruptions to patient care.

The loss in reimbursements will result in a reduction about $7 million annually, the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services said Monday. Ebelt said most psychiatric services at the state hospital, which had 142 patients on its main campus as of last week, are not reimbursable. Ebelt did not provide information about how many patients are insured by Medicare or Medicaid.

Ebelt did not immediately return an email asking how or if the state will backfill the costs of services once paid for by federal reimbursement dollars.

The Legislature appropriates about $47 million a year from the states general fund to pay for the state hospitals operations. Ebelt said the $7 million annually from CMS in the past has been paid back into the state general fund.

When the CMS notified the state last Friday it would no longer reimburse for services at the state hospital, the facility had received four immediate jeopardy designations since February. Those designations were placed on the facility for:

failing to maintain an infection control plan during a fatal COVID-19 outbreak;

failing to protect patients from falling, including one patient who died after several falls;

failing to properly train employees on the use of psychotropic medications.

According to Fridays letter from CMS, the hospital failed to ensure patients were free of abuse, and the attack resulted in the female patient suffering significant injuries that will require, among other things, reconstructive surgery.

After the fourth immediate jeopardy finding, as well as learning the three earlier problems had not been corrected, CMS withdrew its offer for an extension on coming back into compliance, and issued the termination notice.

Overall, Montana State Hospital remained out of compliance with Medicare Conditions of Participation for Hospitals, Fridays letter to MSH administrator Kyle Fouts stated. As such, termination of the provider agreement is authorized under (federal law).

Mary Windecker, executive director at Behavioral Health Alliance of Montana, said Monday there are few options for the state to transfer patients to community placements.

As an example, she pointed to how many children have to be sent out of state for care because of the lack of treatment beds in Montana for children who require acute mental health services.

If the same issue is going to be true with the adults as is true with the children, were looking at a massive amount of state money now being taken from other programs, because they're going to have to backfill what Medicaid isnt going to cover, Windecker said.

There are no winners, Windecker said of CMS announcement. This is just a really, really difficult time for everybody in the mental health arena.

Democrats were enraged Monday with what they said is the Gianfortes administrations lack of urgency over the crisis at the state hospital.

This goes far beyond politics  this is a crisis of leadership, Sheila Hogan, executive director of the Montana Democratic Party, said in a press release. This is not an issue that exists simply inside the four walls of the State Hospital. This has far-reaching consequences for our most at-risk patients, the Warm Springs and Anaconda workforce, our already overburdened criminal justice system, and our community public safety statewide.

A spokesperson for Gianforte on Monday said the issues at Montana State Hospital were inherited from previous administrations. Fouts, the hospital administrator, was hired under Democratic Gov. Steve Bullock. Hogan was the director of DPHHS under Bullock.

But no one who spoke to the Montana State News Bureau for this story, including a recently departed employee who had worked at the state hospital since 2002, could recall the department losing its funding agreement with CMS before this. When asked for this story if a state facility had ever lost their CMS funding before, Ebelt said DPHHS cannot comment.

The four preventable deaths and a fifth that the hospital failed to properly investigate took place under the current administrations watch.

Asked Monday why Gianfortes office did not act on the issues at the state hospital sooner, a spokesperson for the governor issued the following statement:

Since the governor was made aware last year of the longstanding challenges at MSH, he has shared DPHHS commitment to reforming MHS and ensuring there are no disruptions to patient care, Brooke Stroyke said Monday. After previous administrations ignored the problem, the governor is encouraged by the diligent work of his administration to address it.

Windecker agreed the state hospital has been in a precarious balance due to inadequate funding for decades, including the 2017 state budget cuts that cratered case management in communities. She said the house of cards was finally toppled by the COVID-19 pandemic, which sparked a nationwide workforce crisis and simultaneously flared mental health issues in communities.

We got it from both sides and we were just unable to continue limping along, especially at the rates that people were being paid, Windecker said.

Earlier this year, DPHHS did provide considerable raises for certain positions at the state hospital after the initial immediate jeopardy designations went into place.

Bernadette Franks-Ongoy, executive director of the federally mandated advocacy group Disability Rights Montana, said a critical question is how the state will fund services at Warm Springs, not only for the patients who need them, but for the employees whose livelihoods hang on work at the state hospital.

This is a big deal that this has happened to the state hospital and these services are very expensive, Franks-Ongoy said.

Ebelt said Monday the state hospital will reapply for certification to once again receive federal reimbursement assistance when ready programmatically.

Once an application is submitted, MSH will have to successfully undergo two surveys before it will be a certified facility again, Ebelt said.

In November, DPHHS put out a call to contractors to take over temporary executive management of its health care facilities. Ebelt said Monday the state has officially contracted with Alvarez & Marshal Public Sector Services, LLC.

The organization, whose website says it assists the public sector to improve operations at a lower cost, will conduct a comprehensive assessment of all DPHHS-operated health care facilities and develop a strategic plan to enhance quality of care and improve operations, Ebelt said.

DPHHS Director Adam Meier, when pressed by lawmakers at an emergency hearing earlier this year to identify solutions for the hospitals troubles, said he prefers a more measured, data-driven approach. He said the upcoming contract work would lay a stronger foundation for the hospitals longevity than actions driven by emotion.

On Sunday night, a patient at Galen, the forensic unit of the state hospital complex where criminal defendants are held for evaluations, escaped the facility, according to a report shared with the Montana State News Bureau on Monday. The report states the patient was found by security and returned to the facility around 1:10 a.m. Monday.

Ebelt said Monday afternoon the incident was under review.

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DECATUR  The Decatur Police Department is seeking the publics help in solving a string of robberies, this week's Crime of the Week.

Various gaming parlors, as well as restaurants with gaming machines, have been burglarized during the past several weeks in Decatur.

The burglaries happen in the early morning hours. They are often discovered by employees who find forced entry to the business. For most of the burglaries, the suspect will steal or attempt to steal cash located in the gaming machines.

Anyone with information on these crimes should call Crime Stoppers at 217-423-TIPS. You do not have to give your name. Crime Stoppers will pay $500 for information.

Contact Donnette Beckett at (217) 421-6983. Follow her on Twitter: @donnettebHR

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URBANA  A Decatur man was sentenced Monday to eight years and six months in federal prison for possession of child pornography.

Justin Rotramel, 38, was arrested in November 2020 after a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging him with possession of child pornography in April 2020.

According to a news release from the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Central District of Illinois, Rotramel pleaded guilty in November 2021 to the single-count indictment.

In addition to the prison time, Senior U.S. District Judge Michael Mihm ordered Rotramel to pay $12,000 in restitution to a victim of the child pornography images he possessed. Rotramel's prison sentence will be followed by 10 years of supervised release.

The case was investigated by the Macon County Sheriffs Office, with the cooperation of the Macon County States Attorney. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elly Peirson represented the government in the case.

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DECATUR  A police officer, trying to deescalate the situation, kept backing away from a Decatur man who was menacing him with a machete, a sworn affidavit said.

But Decatur Police Officer Charles Lane, who signed the affidavit, said the 37-year-old man would not put the weapon down and repeatedly approached him Friday afternoon.

The incident started at 3:30 p.m. in the 1900 block of North Lowber Street and, by 4:11 p.m., the man was under arrest and booked on a preliminary charge of the aggravated assault of a police officer.

When (he) was approaching me, given his agitated demeanor and his unprovoked confrontation, I feared that if I allowed him to close the distance between us, he would have tried to batter me with the machete, Lane said.

I also feared that if I were to have drawn a weapon to protect myself, he would have escalated even farther and tried to batter me with the machete.

Lane said at one point the shirtless man had held up the machete and pointed it at him. (He) yelled something to the effect of Are you going to shoot me? added Lane, who kept backing away from the man on foot, and then in his squad car.

The officer said the trouble started while he was parked and filling out paperwork related to another call that had nothing to do with the man. He said the man emerged onto the street and began yelling about my presence in front of his home, while brandishing the machete.

A check of Macon County Jail records Monday showed the man remained in custody with bail set at $30,000, meaning he must post a bond of $3,000 to be released.

All preliminary charges are subject to review by the state's attorneys office.

Contact Tony Reid at (217) 421-7977. Follow him on Twitter: @TonyJReid

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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. J.B. 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.

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A Texas State Forest Service, Fredricksburg Task Force strike team firefighter, walks the ridge-line of a controlled burn-out that was started to manage the area of a large wildfire Apr. 9, 2022 at Joint Base San Antonio - Camp Bullis demolition range area. U.S. Air Force photo by Brian Boisvert
ABINGDON, Va.  A group of area lawmakers discussed the states still unresolved budget, school construction funding and the quest to attract passenger rail service during a Monday legislative breakfast.

Five members of Southwest Virginias General Assembly delegation also recounted some of the sessions legislative victories during an event at the Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center hosted by the Bristol Chamber of Commerce called SWVA Pancakes and Politics.

Lawmakers were called back to Richmond last Monday but were unable to vote on a budget after conferees failed to strike a compromise.

House Majority Leader Del. Terry Kilgore, R-Gate City, said the $176 billion budget provides the road map for the upcoming year and predicted a compromise will occur over the $3 billion difference of opinion. Republicans need two members of the Senate to support their proposal.

Were going to have to negotiate. Each side is going to have to give a little bit, Kilgore said. But I think well be able to get Gov. [Glenn] Youngkins tax rebates through on the grocery tax and gas tax. The gas tax holiday, I think, is just a no-brainer. I think well get there. It may be a couple of weeks. It may be a month.

Del. Will Wampler, R-Abingdon, a member of the House Appropriations Committee, said the state should also hang onto some of its surplus cash.

You really do have to be smart about parting with the monies that you have in good years to make sure we have those reserves in place when economic hardships occur, Wampler said. I think the extent of the pandemic  from an economic stance  is still to be determined. A lot of small businesses that were here in 2018 and 2019 are no longer with us in 2022. A lot of restaurant and hotel workers displaced during the pandemic still have not found their way back to the same level of employment.

Besides the proposed rebates to taxpayers, the budget includes several key components.

I think youll see a great budget for Southwest Virginia  school construction, teacher raises, law enforcement raises. There is a lot in the budget, and we have the largest education budget ever, Kilgore said.

School construction

Both House and Senate versions of the budget include provisions for school construction, but the House version is more robust, according to Deputy House Majority Leader Del. Israel OQuinn, R-Bristol, who said this has been the most difficult issue hes ever worked on.

Weve had a bipartisan press conference where I put forth a plan, members of House Appropriations Committee stood up there with us, excited about this plan. And that very same afternoon, those same members killed that bill, he said of previous years.

The issue received bipartisan support in 2022, in part because a 2021 Virginia Department of Education report estimated it would cost $24.7 billion to replace all of the schools in the state that are 50 or more years old.

The House and Senate have different approaches to school construction.  Technically well have at least $500 million in federal funding that is in the original budget, but that is one-time money, OQuinn said.

The House version would include two tiers. The first tier provides a 30% rebate on principle and interest for up to $1 billion in construction projects for divisions that apply. The second tier offers interest-free loans based off the states AAA bond rating.

The plan includes using the $500 million, additional money from the state literary fund and  starting in year three  using gaming tax revenues generated by the states commercial casinos.

Something will make it through this time. The goal, on our side, is to make sure its long-lasting and actually meaningful, OQuinn said. We are going to see something and have real funding, and that is good news for Southwest Virginia students.

In the 12 school districts of far Southwest Virginia, 87 of 131 school buildings  66%  are 50 or more years old, according to the 2021 study. Bristol has the oldest median age for all its school buildings at 70 years, while seven other localities have a median age of 50 years or more for all buildings.

Passenger rail service

Senate Bill 75 was signed by Gov. Youngkin last Friday, giving Southwest Virginia a seat on the Virginia Passenger Rail Authority Board, patron Sen. Todd Pillion, R-Abingdon, said.

The authority was established in 2020 to design, build, finance and maintain rail facilities. It will own all rail assets and right of way and will partner with others to operate passenger and commuter rail service, according to its charter. The authority is governed by a 15-member board.

We are hopeful it will be someone from Bristol. Someone from Southwest Virginia will finally have a seat at the table. Prior to this, seats were determined by ridership, and since we have no ridership, we knew we would never get a seat at the table, Pillion said. We want to put someone on that board that could seek available funds and keep the momentum going to get the train to Bristol.

Current state plans are to add a second Amtrak train to serve Roanoke each day and extend service to the New River Valley by later this decade, possibly as soon as 2026. That is expected to cost about $257 million.

The next step is to make sure we secure federal infrastructure dollars and language that puts Bristol on track to be the next stop, then [go] further into Tennessee, Pillion said in response to a question. Weve been working with our Tennessee legislators and TDOT, making sure we have their support to get some momentum on their side. If we also have more than the Virginia federal delegation, if we also have the Tennessee delegation, then we will have much greater opportunity at having success.

Addressing learning loss

Testing results show public school students statewide suffered learning loss when schools were closed or classes held virtually in 2020 and 2021, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Del. Wampler co-sponsored legislation he termed the most consequential to help some of the youngest students who are struggling.

This is an attempt to put resources in our public school systems across the entire state, to put reading interventionists in each school system, Wampler said. Every kid that isnt reading at grade level, theyll be able to intervene and help bring that student up to grade level.

This is going to change kids lives throughout Virginia. If kids are not reading on grade level by third grade, they will continue to suffer economically, socially, educationally for the rest of their lives. I think well see some game-changing results in the lives of young people, Wampler said.

Waste coal cleanup

Hundreds of thousands of tons of waste coal remain above ground at former mining sites scattered across the region, Wampler said. He and Sen. Travis Hackworth, R-Tazewell, worked to fund a study by the Department of Energy to identify where those are and find ways to clean them up.

I would say that gob coal next to the Clinch River is one of the most drastic water-quality issues that we have, Wampler said.

A 2022 study by the Appalachian School of Law and EConsult Solutions recommended the state seek a share of $11.3 billion recently allocated under the Infrastructure Bill to clean up mine sites and improve water quality.

The study recommended Virginia aggressively pursue and/or support efforts to pursue these funding opportunities, prioritize GOB pile remediation among infrastructure spending, and assure Virginia has capacity to support a programmatic remediation effort.

That waste coal could eventually be used to create energy at Dominion Energys Virginia City Hybrid Energy Center in St. Paul.

Were hoping to get some favorable results, and that could benefit that plant greatly, Hackworth said. Were hoping next year or the following year to maybe get some tax credits to help remove that. I think the location and hauling time will be critical. We have a plant that is the cleanest plant in North America. What better way to clean up our environment than taking this out of the ground and using it for energy that produces jobs and generates taxes back to the locality?

Different tone

This years session had a drastically different tone than past years, with many area legislators serving in leadership positions in the House and on key committees, OQuinn said.

During the entire session, every time you turned around, someone from Southwest Virginia was leading legislation through the process on the House floor, OQuinn said.

A lot of delegations dont have the same cohesiveness or even get along. Some legislative delegations across the state have World War III amongst themselves, OQuinn said. Were closer to six other state capitals than our own, so if we cant get along amongst ourselves, were dead in the water when we get to Richmond.

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A South Fork Utility District (SFUD) board member has responded to claims of potential conflict of interest violations facing the Bristol, Tennessee utility district and its predecessors.

SFUD Commissioner Jim Graham released a statement Monday in response to a Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury (COT) report that says SFUD and previous entities Holston Utility District (HUD) and South Bristol-Weaver Pike Utility District (SBWTUD) paid its district manager, or companies in which he had ownership interest, more than $1.6 million from May 2018 to June 2021.

There was no criminal intent in our dealings, Graham said in the release. Instead, mistakes were made to expediently rebuild district services to better serve our customers, with an antiquated and inefficient infrastructure that was losing 50% of its water because of leaks in the system.

According to the release put out by Johnson City public relations firm Creative Energy, SBWPUD hired Gary Smith as a full-time district manager in April 2020.

Gary Smith has an independent construction company with expertise in utility infrastructure, the release said. He has helped our district modernize our infrastructure, improving service to our customers and operational efficiencies.

According to the COT investigation, Smith is a former HUD commissioner who resigned in April 2018 and was hired as a contracted manager for the district the following month. That August, he took the same position at SBWPUD before moving the two districts into the same office building  one the report says he owned  and using his two construction companies for most of the districts repairs and maintenance work.

In August 2020, the two districts merged to form SFUD, which serves water to about 3,400 customers in Sullivan County.

When our investigation began, these utility districts lacked many of the policies and procedures that are required for sound financial management, Comptroller Jason Mumpower said in a news release. Some basic fiduciary tasks were also not being performed by the boards, such as reviewing bank and financial statements to ensure questionable transactions did not escape notice.

The COT found invoices lacking sufficient support for payments and a general lack of formal purchasing policies and personnel policies.

The investigation also found the districts purchased more than $6,000 in fuel from the managers gas station, and HUD paid more than $9,000 in electric bills for the managers restaurant, also located in his building housing district offices.

Despite the investigation, there have been no resignations by Smith or any board members to date, according to Tony Treadway of Creative Energy, who distributed Grahams release.

Any deficiencies found in the [COT] report are being addressed, Graham stated. I will work to assure continued, plentiful water for our customers and work with the State of Tennessee to assure that we comply with all applicable laws and regulations in the future.  Our board stands behind our decisions to improve the utility district and its service to our customers.

Sullivan County Mayor Richard Venable released a statement Friday calling on the district manager and its board of directors to resign so operations can continue under new leadership while this matter is resolved by the State of Tennessee, he said.

Tennessee Sen. Jon Lundberg of Sullivan County said Monday he also thinks resignations are necessary.

There is clearly a conflict of interest that theyve violated, Lundberg said. The board members clearly did not do the due diligence that they are charged with undertaking.

Lundberg said hes never seen an investigation into a utility district like this one.

Its an anomaly with the amount of potential criminal actions in there, Lundberg said. Ive never seen that many.

The investigation also found that the districts paid reimbursements to the district manager and his construction company without sufficient supporting documentation and that there were multiple district projects that were not bid for, including the construction of a 5,000-square-foot garage on the managers property.

We have statutes in place that deal with conflicts of interest, and these were not minor, Lundberg said. These are blatant, flagrant conflicts of interest.

According to John Dunn, COT communications director, the Tennessee Utility Management Review Board will consider taking actions, to include removing commissioners, at its April 28 meeting.

District Attorney Barry Staubus says he hopes to have an administrative hearing before the board on the matter.

Its a bad situation, but it was discovered, uncovered relatively early, and appropriate action will be taken, Lundberg said.

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The banking Trojan dubbed Fakecalls masquerades as a banking app and mimics the telephone customer support of the most popular South Korean banks.

Unlike regular banking Trojans, it can discreetly intercept calls to real banks using their own connection. Under the guise of bank employees, the cybercriminals try to coax payment data or other confidential information out of the victim.

Kaspersky researchers uncovered the Fakecalls banking Trojan in January 2021. During their investigation they found that when a victim calls the banks hotline the Trojan opens its own fake screen call in place of the banks authentic one.

Imitating a standard greeting

There are two possible scenarios that unfold after the call is intercepted. In the first, Fakecalls connects the victim directly with cybercriminals who present themselves as the banks customer support. In the alternative scenario, the Trojan plays prerecorded audio that imitates a standard greeting from the bank and mimics a standard conversation using an automated voicemail.

From time to time, the Trojan inserts small audio snippets in Korean. For example, Hello. Thank you for calling our bank. Our call centre is currently receiving an unusually large volume of calls. A consultant will speak with you as soon as possible.

This enables cybercriminals to gain the trust of their victims by making them believe that the call is real. The main objective of such calls is to coax as much vulnerable information, including bank account details, from their victims as possible.

Fakecall screen

However, cybercriminals using this Trojan have failed to consider that some of their potential victims may use different interface languages, for example, English instead of Korean.

The Fakecall screen only has a Korean version, which means some of the users using the English interface language will smell a rat and uncover the threat.

When downloaded, the Fakecall app, disguised as an authentic banking app, asks for a variety of permissions, such as access to contacts, microphone, camera, geolocation and call handling.

These permissions allow the Trojan to drop incoming calls and delete them from the devices history, for instance, when the real bank is trying to reach its client.

Spoofing outgoing calls

The Fakecalls Trojan is not only able to control incoming calls but is also able to spoof outgoing calls. If cybercriminals want to contact the victim, the Trojan displays its own call screen over the systems one. As a result, the user does not see the real number used by the cybercriminals but the phone number of the banks support service shown by the Trojan.

As fraudsters are trying to convince the victim that the app is real, Fakecalls completely mimic the mobile apps of well-known South Korean banks. They insert the real bank logos and display the real support numbers of the banks as displayed on the main page of their official websites.

Trojan imitates the apps

Banking clients are constantly told to be aware of calls from scammers. However, when they are directly trying to reach bank customer support themselves, they do not expect any danger. Generally speaking, we trust bank employees  we call them for help and, therefore, we may tell them, or their impersonators, any requested information.

The cybercriminals who created Fakecalls have combined two dangerous technologies: banking Trojans and social engineering, so their victims are more likely to lose money and personal data.

When downloading a new mobile banking app, take into consideration what permissions it asks for. If its trying to get suspiciously excessive access to device controls, including call handling access, then it is most likely that the app is a banking Trojan, comments Igor Golovin, security researcher at Kaspersky.-- TradeArabia News Service
Come July 1, it will be legal to hunt Sundays on public land, per a bill signed this week by Gov. Glenn Youngkin, ending a ban in place since colonial times.

Fairfax Democrat State Sen. Chap Petersen introduced the legislation to allow Sunday hunting on public land more than 200 yards from places of worship, according to a release from the governors office.

Previously, Wildlife Management Areas and National Forests were only open to hunters every other day of the week, except Sundays.

This legislation encourages Virginians to take full advantage of the many outdoor opportunities our great Commonwealth has to offer, said Youngkin in a statement. This legislation will open up new opportunities for hunters to enjoy the sport they love.

The Board of the Department of Wildlife Resources passed a resolution last fall supporting changes to the law to allow hunters access on Sundays.

Virginias sportsmen and women are a significant economic forcespending more than $1.5 billion, supporting more than 39,160 jobs, generating more than $1.17 billion in salaries and wages and $242 million in state and local taxes, according to the governors office.

The ban on Sunday hunting in Virginia has been in place in one form or another (with exceptions for raccoons and waterfowl) since 1643, when it was passed by the House of Burgesses, the forerunner of todays House of Delegates, according to Virginia Mercury.

The Virginia Dept. of Game and Inland Fisheries maintains 44 management areas totaling more than 225,000 acres for the benefit of all citizens for a variety of outdoor recreational opportunities, including hunting. These lands are purchased and maintained in part with hunting fees.

Closest to Culpeper, the Rapidan wildlife management area in Madison totals nearly 11,000 acres and there are three state public land areas in Fauquier.
We long ago lost the war on drugs. Its time to make a tried-and-true change to methadone access for people who use opioids.

I met a man Ill call Mr. R on my hospital rounds. He had been hospitalized after being found unconscious at home. Decades of cigarette use meant he was on oxygen to prevent suffocation. Mr. R also had pain, emotional and physical, as a result of time he spent in the Army. Every day, Mr. R injected heroin to manage his pain.

He told me, I have PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder). My drug abuse covers that pain so I can function normally. Mr. R preferred heroin, but lately it was scarce. Fentanyl, however, was ubiquitous. The fentanyl high was intense but short-lived, and the withdrawals wreaked havoc on his body.

It was clear Mr. R was experiencing opioid withdrawal  he was anxious and jittery and had goose bumps, and his breathing was ragged and weak. We started methadone to treat his opioid withdrawal. He felt better immediately. His symptoms lessened, his breathing became steady, and he remained in the hospital to receive medical treatment for his lung disease.

COVID-19 has magnified the drivers of drug use  isolation, job loss, worsening mental health and lack of social support. This, in combination with illicit fentanyl contamination of our drug supply, has contributed to a tsunami of overdose deaths in the U.S. More than 100,000 people died from a drug overdose in the 12-month period ending in April 2021, a 28% increase from the prior year. Not surprisingly, hospitalizations related to the complications of drug use have soared during the pandemic, further straining our health care workforce.

Despite the death and despair, there is a silver lining. In the U.S., there are no legal restrictions on the use of methadone to treat opioid withdrawal in the hospital setting. If a hospitalized patient develops opioid withdrawal, their doctor has legal authority to use methadone to keep them out of withdrawal.

This is a win-win because patients are more likely to complete their medical care, and their medical team gains a sense of satisfaction and meaningfulness by providing high-quality health care.

Hospitalization is a critical time to identify patients with addiction and offer lifesaving treatment. When taken regularly, methadone is associated with an almost 50% reduction in death. People feel better and live longer when they are prescribed methadone to treat opioid use disorder, or OUD.

Mr. R wanted to remain on methadone after hospital discharge. In the U.S., methadone for OUD can be accessed only through federally licensed opioid treatment programs, or OTPs, which are commonly known as methadone clinics. There are fewer than 1,700 OTP locations in the U.S., and many rural areas lack OTPs. People have to complete a four- to six-hour intake at the OTP, followed by a daily visit (except Sundays) to receive their methadone dose.

Patients living in rural areas can spend an average of 12 hours each week on travel just to receive their methadone dose, which doesnt include traffic, construction or delays with public transportation. This lack of treatment access to a lifesaving medication is unnecessary and punitive. With more than 100,000 drug overdose deaths last year, weve lost the war on drugs. Its time to rethink our antiquated federal regulations and oversight of methadone for OUD.

Lets consider an alternative approach. Imagine if primary care providers were given legal authority to prescribe methadone for OUD in their clinics. Patients could pick up their daily methadone at a local pharmacy. The pharmacy would ensure safe distribution of methadone with oversight from the community doctor. In this scenario, drive times would drop dramatically. This change could greatly increase access to treatment  a key aspect to stem overdose deaths in the U.S.

Methadone prescribing in primary care with pharmacy dispensing of methadone is not a radical idea. This has been standard practice in Australia, Great Britain and Canada for 50 years. Providing easy access to lifesaving treatment is essential to saving lives.

Scientists have warned, under our current practices and policies, more than 1.2 million Americans will die of an opioid overdose by 2029. We urgently need to change the status quo. Doctors prescribing methadone in their clinics and pharmacies dispensing methadone will increase access to treatment for our loved ones struggling with OUD and reduce death.

Sadly, Mr. R did not make it to the methadone clinic. The daily visits with his oxygen tank and lack of transportation were too onerous. Three months after hospital discharge, Mr. Rs daughter found him in his apartment. He died alone from an overdose.

Susan Calcaterra is an associate professor of medicine at the University of Colorado. She focuses on the treatment of addiction in the hospital setting.
" " Goodfreephotos Statue of Athena in the Parthenon , Nashville, Tennessee.

Greek gods are, by nature, pretty multifaceted. Take Aphrodite, for example. She's known for her otherworldly beauty and love of love, but she's also remembered as the deity who fed a guy's horses magical water that caused them to crush and eat his body after he denied her advances. So, yeah, you could say these mythological characters are kind of complex.

Case in point: Athena. Regarded as the goddess of wisdom and war, the patron of Athens is also considered the goddess of all things crafty. She's the one you can thank for the gifts of cooking and sewing, but she's also the skilled and courageous immortal who lent a hand to guys like Hercules, Perseus and Odysseus, so they could go down in history as heroes. Here are seven more facts that make Athena a legend with many layers:

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1. She Represents a Unique Form of Intelligence

"She is the essence of cunning intelligence, for which the Greeks had a word: 'metis,'" says Richard P. Martin, Antony and Isabelle Raubitschek Professor in Classics at Stanford University. "It is not 'wisdom' or learning in the senses we usually think of. Instead, it is the skill at judging a situation and figuring out, on the fly, exactly what moves to make. It is through metis that people know how to steer ships in rough seas, or command a rushing chariot team, or put together complicated carpentry projects (like the wooden Trojan Horse  Athena taught the carpenter Epeios to make that). It's savoir-faire, savvy, know-how and it does not always respect rules or color inside the lines. That's what makes her appealing."

2. She's Considered the Greek Equivalent to the Roman Minerva ... but She's Definitely Distinct

One common misconception that Martin wants to correct? "That she is abstract, neutral and rather boring 'wisdom,'  that's a later allegorical interpretation, which comes to the fore when the Romans start to associate Athena with their own native goddess, Minerva."

3. Her Origin Story Is Kind of Crazy

"The story went that Zeus had impregnated a goddess, Metis  her name means that category of 'cunning intelligence,'" Martin explains. "But then learned that the eventual offspring would be stronger than he was and would overthrow him. So, he swallowed the goddess, got a huge headache, and had his son Hephaestus split his skull with an axe. Out popped a full-grown, fully-armed Athena."

4. Athena Had a Hand in Offing Medusa

When Perseus, the only son of Zeus and Danae, set out to behead a monster known for turning men to stone, he needed some help. Enter Athena and fellow god, Hermes. The duo gifted the half-mortal Perseus a few items to make battling Medusa a bit easier: winged sandals, the helmet of Hades, Athena's shiny shield so he could see Medusa's approach, and a special bag in which to tote his enemy's head around. Athena also supposedly guided Perseus' hand as he sliced the snake-haired monster's head off.

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5. She's a "Shark Tank"-worthy Inventor

The number of everyday tools and artsy supplies Athena is credited with producing is astounding. Farmers can thank her for inventing the plow, rake, yoke and bridle. She's also considered the inventor of the chariot and she designed the first ship. Other trademark Athena items include the earthenware pot, flute and trumpet. And did we mention she's considered the first one to teach the science of mathematics, in addition to coming up with stuff like spinning, weaving and cooking?

6. Athena Was a Badass Warrior With a Crafty Side

"The craft of war is another one of her cunning-intelligence based skills," Martin says. "How to fight, parry, plan tactics etc. So was the craft of weaving, hence her connection with the giant robe." Giant what? More on that in a second.

7. Her Birthday Was Considered a Big Deal in Ancient Greece

"Her birthday was celebrated in Athens every year in late July with a huge procession to her temple on the Acropolis (the Parthenon  still mostly standing from the fifth century B.C.E.)," Martin says. "A woven cloak as big as the sail of a boat was actually hoisted onto the mast of a boat that was put on a wheeled carriage  like a modern parade float. It was later folded up and brought to be deposited in her temple  a sort of birthday present from the whole city for their patron goddess."

Now That's Interesting Athena was famously a virgin and never married or had children ... except for that one kid she kind of had. According to myth, Hephaestus, the god of blacksmiths and fire, tried to rape Athena after she visited his workshop for weapons. While she managed to get away, some of his semen fell on her thigh. She wiped it away with a piece of wool and threw it on the ground, but in true mythology fashion, a son named Erichthonius was born from the discarded semen. Some argue he's actually the son of Hephaestus and Gaia (Earth) since he sprouted from the ground.
Concord Fire Department hosted a special guest Friday, April 6, when retired Assistant Chief Joe Misenheimer came for a visit. Chief Joe, now 95, worked for more than 30 years for the department. Misenheimer took a look around, seeing the vintage firetruck and taking the opportunity to check out some of the newer equipment. He also looked at some of the historic photos on display at the downtown station on Church Street.
The Australian Information Industry Association is urging the next government to create a new cabinet level Minister of Government Services and the Digital Economy.

The AIIAs proposed agency will ensure that Australia is a leading digital government by 2025 and then a leading digital economy by 2030.

The AIIA says there is now a need to better align and coordinate the various digital economy initiatives under one Minister and one portfolio.

The current Digital Economy Minister  the minister AIIA suggested  has already been coordinating digital economy initiatives and policy and arguing for important budget initiatives. AIIA says the having a Digital Economy Minister has been a solid step but the next opportunity is that the Minister should have focus and broaden the scope of digital accountabilities within that portfolio.

The new responsibility will entail overseeing tech regulation, which must pursue productivity of the economy. It will see the creation of a Council of Technology Regulators which AIIA has previously called for.

Red tape will plague the digital economy  from cyber to technology regulation  which needs to be addressed and coordinated.

Technology is an essential driver to economic growth that will create employment opportunities, improve services, and enable us to be globally competitive. Now is the time for the government to recognise the opportunities that the technology sector will provide and ensure the right processes and systems are in place to make this a reality. The Federal Government has important and achievable goals to be a leading digital government and digital economy. To do this, the AIIA calls for a Minister for Government Services and Digital Economy, explains AIIA CEO Ron Gauci.

The new proposed AIIA portfolio must incorporate strategic domestic procurement policies to ensure it is aligned with the government's policy and direction.

This must include critical AI and Quantum strategies, tech commercialisation and incentives policies.

The portfolio would sit inside the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet. Its expanded responsibility includes:

1. Government digitisation services and whole of government architecture that is the role of the Digital Transformation Agency (DTA to remain and keep this responsibility but report to Minister)

2. Digital Identity and data sharing programs that the DTA supports

3. The work of the Digital Economy Taskforce

4. Tech Regulation including cyber regulation for non-critical industries (as defined by CI SoNS)

5. The work of the Modernising Document Execution Taskforce and e-invoicing initiatives

6. The AIIA policy of the Made in the Australia Office that supports using government procurements to assist SME capabilities and create long term strategies to support Australian tech procurements

7. Government SME procurement reform and policies

8. Consumer Data Right policies

9. Coordinating role for digital skills initiatives

10. Critical liaison path between industry and defence around critical technologies initiatives

11. Quantum and AI strategies

12. Minister to have a direct say in whole of government commercialisation and incentives strategy including R&DTI, AI and quantum commercialisation and patent box and look for innovation in program delivery

AI and Quantum Computing offers Australia massive economic growth opportunities. Having a minister solely focused on supporting and delivering national strategies for key digital growth areas such as these is a must. Location for these industries is irrelevant, Australia can lead the world, from our cities and our regions, comments Gauci.

Australias capabilities in the ICT sector must be prioritised by our next government. Streamlining strategic domestic procurement policies and critical technologies is needed to support Australias ICT sector, both large providers and SMEs. It is important Australias domestic capabilities in the sector are supported and recognised, we have seen in the past two years that we cant rely on other countries to supply services and talent to fill our shortages, says Gauci.

The skills shortage in the ICT sector is a significant challenge for the next Government to address. Reforming the Australian Curriculum to prioritise the Digital Economy is a way to address skills in the long term, whilst reskilling, upskilling and immigration will play key roles in the short and medium term to improve the shortage being experienced. A Government Services and Digital Economy Minister will need to work with the Cabinet to drive reform to support this and ensure the digital economy can continue to support all economic sectors to improve productivity and growth, recommends Gauci.

Earlier this month, the AIIA has recently released their Federal Government Pre-Budget and Pre-Election Policy Submission 2022, detailing 24 key recommendations to support Australias tech sector to grow and support the Australian economy, selected recommendations include:

Australias Skills Agenda: including recommending reforming the Australian Curriculum to prioritise the Digital Economy and Industry 5.0 capabilities for primary and secondary school students.

Emerging Critical Technologies: Includes a Quantum Strategy to be executed within 12 months, which notes additional funding and establishes a National AI Commercialisation Hub.

Domestic Capability: Establish a Made in Australia Office within the DPM&C.

Commercialisation Agenda: Undertake urgent work to support commercialisation off the back of government-assisted research. Create a separate R&D software tax incentive and expand the limited scope of the proposed patent box.
CHARLSTON  Pagliais Pizza has been honored as the 2022 Local Business of the Year by the Charleston Area Chamber of Commerce.

In an award announcement Tuesday, the Chamber reported that the restaurant was opened in November 1964 by Aldo Pagliai and it was purchased in 1976 by his son, Paul.

The origin of Pagliais Pizza dates back to 1955 when the original Pagliais was opened in Ames, Iowa by Sam and Delores Pagliai. There were a total of 26 storefronts located in small college towns throughout the Midwest.

A couple of other stores still have family connections today, including our Charleston location, said partner Dan Lozano in the announcement. He and his wife, Rosie, Pauls daughter, continue the family legacy by operating the business today with Paul.

Pagliais Pizza, 1600 Lincoln Ave., has employed hundreds of Charleston High School and Eastern Illinois University students since it opened more than 50 years ago.

I started while attending EIU myself, and we currently employ 36. We got as low as 19 during the pandemic, and are still looking for a few more employees, Lozano said. With supply chain issues during these times, we have kept our menu short and sweet  pizza and spaghetti.

However, the Chamber reported that these economic times have not impacted customer satisfaction levels. Among eight different rating services, six equaled 4.5 or more on a 5 point scale. These included Chamber of Commerce.com, Facebook and Google.

Many Charleston area residents have fond memories of Pagliais, said Doug Abolt, president and chief executive officer of the Chamber. Many first dates took place at their restaurant.

Abolt said the Chamber is delighted to recognize another one of the Charleston areas most well-known and established businesses.

There is no other business that defines home more than Pagliais, said area resident Jake Dively in the announcement.

This is the Chambers 18th Business of the Year Award, an honor that is sponsored once again by Machinery Management Service, Inc. The Chamber plans to present this award during its 102nd annual Dinner, sponsored by First Mid Bank & Trust, on April 30 at Easterns Martin Luther King, Jr. Student Union.

Other awards presented that night will include Diplomat of the Year, sponsored by Tomco Insurance; and HEROES of the Year, sponsored by Brick House Bar & Grill/Unique Suites Hotel and Consolidated Communications, Inc.

Immediately following the dinner this year, Brick House/Unique Suite will be both hosting and co-sponsoring a HEROES Reception with Consolidated.

The Farmer of the Year Award, sponsored by Peoples Bank & Trust, will be awarded at Charlestons Red, White & Blue Days celebration of the Fourth of July.

Reservation information for both the dinner and the reception is available at: charlestonchamber.com/newpage5caa36a9. Reservations also can be made by calling the Chamber at 217-345-7041 or visiting its office at 501 Jackson Ave.

Contact Rob Stroud at 217-238-6861.

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URBANA  A Mattoon man was sentenced Monday to 38 years and two months in federal prison for enticement of a minor, sex trafficking of a minor, and receipt and possession of child pornography.

Christopher Ohm, 35, pleaded guilty to the federal charges in October. The charges stemmed from separate incidents in 2020 involving two girls, ages 13 and 15.

Senior U.S. District Judge Michael Mihm sentenced Ohm to a prison term of 36 years and eight months for the 2020 offenses, and a consecutive 18 month prison terms for violating the terms of his supervised release.

According to a news release from the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Central District, Mihm emphasized his concern that the public be protected from Ohm, calling him a dangerous person.

Following his release from the Bureau of Prisons, Ohm will serve the remainder of his life on supervised release.

According to court documents, law enforcement identified Ohm after he met with a 13-year-old minor through a popular dating application, Grindr. Ohm arranged to meet the minor for sexual activity at an abandoned railroad track in Janesville, Illinois, and offered the minor money if the minor agreed.

The minor escaped from Ohms vehicle, and Ohm was arrested shortly afterward when he tried to meet the minor again at a cemetery. When law enforcement reviewed the contents of Ohms phone, they learned that Ohm tried to meet another minor, a 15-year-old, in a park in Bloomington in July 2020, also using Grindr.

In addition, law enforcement found a tablet that Ohm discarded at the cemetery where he was arrested that contained thousands of images and videos of child pornography.

Ohm was previously convicted of transportation of child pornography and in September 2012, was sentenced to serve almost 10 years in prison. Ohm was released from the Bureau of Prisons in September 2019, and was serving a term of supervised release when he was arrested by Cumberland County officials in September 2020 in relation to the incident involving the 13-year-old girl.

A federal grand jury charged Ohm with one count of enticement of a minor, one count of sex trafficking of a minor, and one count of commission of a sex offense as a registered sex offender in November 2020, and Ohm was transferred to the custody of the U.S. Marshals service, where he has remained.

In January 2021, the federal grand jury added counts involving the second minor and the child pornography materials located on Ohms tablet. The grand jury returned a superseding indictment charging Ohm with one count of enticement of a minor, one count of receipt of child pornography, and one count of possession of child pornography.

HSI will continue to do everything it can to protect the most vulnerable members of our community, said Homeland Security Investigations Chicago Special Agent in Charge Angie Salazar. Ohms reprehensible actions underscore the importance of talking with our children about the dangers they could encounter online.

Offenders who repeatedly victimize children have shown by their actions that are unwilling or unable to conform to the bounds of the law, and todays sentence reflects the need to remove dangerous child sex offenders from the community, said Assistant U.S. Attorney Elly M. Peirson. We appreciate the swift attention that our law partners gave to the investigation of this recidivist offender."

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations and the Cumberland County Sherriffs Office conducted the investigation.

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CHARLESTON  The Embarras River Basin Agency, Inc., in cooperation with the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity through the Community Services Block Grant, will have scholarships available for income eligible individuals who want to attend college this fall.

ERBA serves the following nine counties: Clark, Coles, Crawford, Cumberland, Douglas, Edgar, Jasper, Lawrence and Richland. A limited number of $500 Scholarships will be awarded to eligible applicants in each of these counties.

To be eligible for consideration, applicants must be attending an Illinois college, university or community college as a full-time student during the fall 2022 semester, have at least a C average, and must meet CSBG income guidelines. All interested individuals are encouraged to apply.

You may pick up an application at the local ERBA office in the county, which you reside, or on www.erbainc.org website, and schedule an appointment to return your completed application before June 17.

The Coles County ERBA office is located at 696 Castle Dr., Charleston IL 61920 and its phone number is 217-500-3120.

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Mark Maxwell, who has been the Illinois Capitol bureau chief for WCIA in Springfield since 2017, will join the news team at KSDK in St. Louis later this month.

Maxwell also hosted a Sunday public affairs show that was carried by station affiliates in Illinois and Indiana.

With elections looming later this year, KSDK news director Art Holliday said Maxwell will prove to be a valuable asset because he possesses "extensive experience as a political reporter and investigative reporter.

Maxwell said in a statement, "Covering Illinois politics has been a wild ride. When I heard about the chance to cover politics on both sides of the Mississippi, I just couldn't turn it down."

An Indiana native, Maxwell earned a bachelors degree from Hyles-Anderson College. Before WCIA, he worked as a producer, anchor and editor in Chicago and Florida.

Joe Holleman  314-340-8254 @stlsherpa on Twitter jholleman@post-dispatch.com

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A recent escape attempt made by a man who allegedly murdered a Wayne County Sheriff was thwarted, according to police.

Ray Tate, 40, of Hopkinsville, Kentucky allegedly escape his cell at the Jefferson County Jail early Sunday morning.

As Tate attempted to escape the facility he was taken into custody without incident or injury, the Jefferson County Sheriffs Office said in a news release.

Due to the jail already being on night shift lockdown status when Tate was apprehended, deputies and officers from the Mt. Vernon Police Department were requested to set up an exterior perimeter of the Justice Center while a headcount and security check was conducted.

No other detainees were involved and all were present and accounted for, according to police.

The initial investigation into the escape attempt revealed Tate discovered a way to get out of his cell because of a flaw in the original construction of the Justice Center.

Jail property was damaged at several locations.

However, none of the damage rendered the jail unsuitable to continue housing detainees and inmates, with the exception of Tates cell.

Repairs to all damaged areas are being coordinated by the Sheriff's Office Maintenance Supervisor, police said.

Further investigation revealed the aforementioned flaw was limited to only three specialty cells.

No other information about this escape attempt will be released because of security protocols, police said.

Sheriff Jeff Bullard Sr. will be communicating through the Sheriffs Association the details of the flaw so other jails with similar construction will be able to take corrective steps.

Tate was originally charged with the first-degree murder of Deputy Sean Riley by the Wayne County States Attorneys Office late last year, Illinois State Polices Criminal Division Zone 8 said in a release.

Riley was allegedly shot and killed by Tate while responding to a motorist assist call on eastbound Interstate 64 at mile marker 115.

Excluding any future charges related to the escape attempt, Tate is facing a total of 38 different counts.

This includes one Class X felony, one Class 2 felony and 36 Class X felonies, according to Judici, an online court records database.

Tate plead not guilty to all 38 counts on Feb. 9.

His sentencing hearing is for 9 a.m. on April 22 in the Wayne County Court.

The incident

At about 5 a.m. on Dec. 29, 2021, Illinois State Police Criminal Division Zone 8 was requested to assist with a shooting involving an officer.

Preliminary reports indicate that Riley was dispatched for a motorist assist call on eastbound Interstate 64 at mile marker 115.

A short time later, another responding officer located Riley dead at the scene. The deputy's squad car was missing, and then located abandoned a short time later just east of the scene.

ISP said it's believed the suspect, Tate, carjacked a semi-trailer near where Rileys squad car was located.

The driver of the semitrailer said he was held against his will and drove Tate to a gas station in St. Peters, Missouri, police said.

While in Missouri, a series of carjackings, robberies and shootings occurred, police said.

Tate allegedly traveled back into Illinois with a kidnapped victim in another stolen vehicle, ISP said. That stolen vehicle was located at a residence in rural Carlyle.

Police say Tate committed a home invasion and took the homeowner and the kidnapped victim hostage at a residence in rural Clinton County.

At 1:42 p.m., ISP S.W.A.T. officers made entry into the residence and took Tate into custody without incident. The homeowner and kidnapped victim were located uninjured.

After a manhunt that lasted several hours, Tate was taken in custody and transported to the Clinton County Jail.

However, Tate currently awaits the continuation of his trial at the Jefferson County Jail.

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Russia "in favor" of continuing negotiations with Ukraine: Russian FM

Xinhua) 08:36, April 12, 2022

Photo taken on March 10, 2022 shows the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia. (Xinhua/Bai Xueqi)

Lavrov said that Moscow will never play a subordinate role in the current world order.

MOSCOW, April 11 (Xinhua) -- Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Monday that Moscow prefers to continue its negotiations with Kiev.

Despite Ukraine's inconsistency and tendency to reject its own proposals, Russia prefers to continue the negotiation process, said the minister during an interview with the Rossiya 24 broadcaster.

The Russian top diplomat further explained that Moscow will be patient and persistent throughout the negotiations, however, will never play a subordinate role in the current world order.

"Russia, with its history ... its traditions, is one of those countries that will never occupy a subordinate position. We can only be members of the international community on equal terms, under conditions (that guarantee) the indivisibility of security," Lavrov said, adding that these principles were agreed upon and then ignored by the West.

(Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun)
Ford has trialled connected traffic light tech that could automatically go green to offer clearer routes for ambulances, fire engines and police vehicles, helping reduce the risk of an accident caused by first responders driving through red lights.



Whether its a fire engine attending a blaze or an ambulance that is en route to an accident, the last thing anyone wants is for these drivers to be caught up among other vehicles waiting for the lights to change, said Martin Sommer, research engineer, Automated Driving Europe, Ford of Europe.



Congestion, as well, could be reduced with traffic lights sending the red-green timing information to approaching vehicles.



The trial was part of a broader project that involved testing automated and connected vehicles and networked infrastructure in highway, urban and rural areas. This research exemplifies Fords commitment to using connectivity and innovation to improve the driving experience.



How it works



In order to test the technology, Ford utilised a road with eight consecutive traffic lights and two stretches with three consecutive traffic lights just outside the city, all set up by the projects partners.



The Ford Kuga Plug-In Hybrid test vehicle, equipped with on-board units (for communicating with the infrastructure) and rapid control prototyping hardware (for running the prototype software in the vehicle), acted as an ambulance and passenger vehicle for the different test scenarios.

For testing an emergency response situation, the test vehicle signalled to the traffic lights to turn the light green. Once the vehicle passed through the junction, the traffic lights returned to standard operation.



For testing daily driving situations, the test vehicle received the timing information for when the traffic lights turned from red to green and green to red. Fords Adaptive Cruise Control technology then adapted the vehicles speed to help ensure a higher proportion of traffic encountered a green light.



When the traffic light was red, the vehicles speed was reduced well ahead of the junction to time the vehicles approach to arrive at the light the moment it turned green, for example from 50 km/h to 30 km/h.



For vehicles encountering a red light, the technology could still help to minimise harsh braking and the time spent at a standstill. The vehicle received the traffic light information well ahead of the junction and slowed down earlier, helping to reduce congestion.



The communication between vehicles and traffic lights is enabled by C-V2X (Cellular Vehicle-to-Everything) technology, a unified platform that connects vehicles to roadside infrastructure, other vehicles and other road users.



Exchanging data between cars, emergency vehicles and traffic lights in real time using the latest mobile phone technology makes road traffic safer and more efficient, said Michael Reinartz, director, Consumer Services and Innovation, Vodafone Germany. Intelligent traffic light control helps save lives when every second counts and also reduces unnecessary waiting times and cuts CO2 emissions.



Ford engineers tested this system as part of the Corridor for New Mobility Aachen-Dusseldorf (ACCorD) project, funded by the German Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport and supported by RWTH University Aachen, Vodafone, Straen.NRW (the road authority for North Rhine Westphalia) and the City of Aachen. The project ran from Jan. 2020, to March this year.- TradeArabia News Service
The revival of the former Big Kmart site in Clemmons now includes three new retail tenants: Five Below, Ross Dress for Less and Ulta Beauty.

Wilmington-based Harbour Retail Partners, owner and developer of the property, lists those retailers on its Clemmons property website.

Harbour officials could not be immediately reached about when the three stores will open. Ross has placed an opening soon sign at its entrance, which is on the northern end of the property.

In July 2019, an affiliate of Harbour paid $5.5 million for the building and 10.5-acre site at 2455 Market Center Drive. The property fronts Lewisville-Clemmons Road. It was Harbours first property in the Triad.

The anchor of the shopping center is the Aldi grocery store, which opened Nov. 4. It took 25,260 square feet in the 94,841-square-foot building, dedicating about 12,000 square feet to retail space.

According to an artist rendering, Ross is taking the largest remaining retail space.

It is Ross third store in Forsyth County counting those in the Hanes Commons and Oak Summit shopping centers.

Ross Stores Inc. said March 7 that it plans to open 75 Ross and 25 dds Discounts stores during fiscal 2022.

We recently raised our store potential targets for both Ross and dds Discounts, Gregg McGillis, group executive vice president for property development, said in a statement.

Our return to stronger unit growth in 2022 reflects our belief that Ross can ultimately grow to 2,900 locations and dds Discounts can become a chain of 700 stores given consumers ongoing focus on value and convenience.

The chain currently operates a combined 1,952 Ross Dress for Less and dds Discounts locations in 40 states, the District of Columbia, and Guam.

Five Below and Ulta appear to be taking similar square footage, with a fourth tenant space unclaimed next to Aldi.

Five Below also is in Hanes Commons and Oak Summit shopping centers, while Ulta is in Hanes Commons.

The former Big Kmart  the largest single retail site in the center since it opened in 1992  had been dormant since December 2019.

Jim Whelan, Harbours director of asset management, said in March 2021 that were actively negotiating with several other nationally recognized softgoods tenants to occupy the balance of the building, Whelan said. Softgoods typically involve clothes, home decor and accessories and other personal items.

Whelan said the goal is to have Clemmons Market 100% occupied in 2022.

An outparcel site contains a recently opened Bojangles restaurant. Whelan said there are no current plans for additional outparcels.

Harbour lists three main focuses: redeveloping existing shopping centers and/or repositioning or replacing anchor tenants; start-from-scratch projects, typically grocery-anchored, mixed-use centers; and joint ventures.

The tenants that will be alongside Aldi can play off the vibrancy of the Clemmons market and dont necessarily have to be situated next to Aldi, Whelan said. It matters more to be in Clemmons.

We like to think we know the retail markets in North Carolina well, and Clemmons checked so many boxes for us with population growth, the demographics, retail demand and the sites location in Clemmons, as well as off Interstate 40.

We thought, and we think many would agree, that the Kmart site was ripe for a better and higher use.

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Forsyth County does have the option of declining to participate in a proposed statewide foster-care services plan, the states top Medicaid official told a legislative oversight committee Tuesday.

However, deputy Medicaid secretary Dave Richard is urging the Forsyth Board of Commissioners  and other commissioners  to allow the state Children and Families Specialty Plan to be fully developed before making a final decision.

Richard said the plan is projected to cover about 31,000 youths statewide through providers already participating in the states Medicaid program.

About 218 youths in Forsyth have received foster-care services from Partners Health Management since Forsyth became part of the behavioral health managed-care organizations network on Nov. 1.

We want to create a consistency of what (services) would be available for foster children everywhere in the state, Richard said. There has been a broad array of support for us to do something different in this plan.

On April 7, Forsyth commissioners submitted a letter to Richard and state Health Secretary Kody Kinsley requesting approval of its opt-out request.

Forsyth commissioners and DSS staff have expressed satisfaction with Partners handling of foster-care service. Davie, Surry and Yadkin also are members of Partners.

Richard said he has received the Forsyth commissioners letter, but hasnt responded.

Forsyth has the ability to opt out, but they cant make a pre-emptive (decision); theres nothing to opt out of right now, Richard said.

Richard acknowledged that legislators across the state have received similar letters from other county boards of commissioners over the past month.

Sen. Joyce Krawiec, R-Forsyth, expressed concern that a statewide plan and MCOs tailored plans on parallel paths could lead to more fragmentation in foster-care services.

Krawiec said she was under the impression that until recently, there was general support for a statewide plan.

Now, all of a sudden, a statewide plan is not so good, Krawiec said. If that was a problem, we should have been working on them a year ago.

Conversations

Richard began his presentation by stating that the foster-care program is a very serious issue in North Carolina, and we want to get it right ... and figure out the best solution.

That includes plans to continue conversations at the county and legislative levels before submitting a revised plan and seeking legislative funding approvals and contracting with providers.

We want a statewide plan for fostering youth because of people moving counties, that the service array is the same across the state, so coordination is a key component of the plan, Richard said.

With that in mind, Richard said DHHS is not committing currently to a launch date.

DHHS goals for a statewide plan include having a single accountable entity serving children, youth and families no matter where they are in the state, and individuals and families having a choice of plan.

Another primary goal is an emphasis on keeping families together whenever possible, while providing access to continuous services and maintaining treatment plans and providers when children experience a change in placement.

Richard said that from April 2021 through January, DHHS held discussions with county DSS directors and the board of directors for the N.C. Association of County Departments of Social Services on developing the plan.

Cardinal Innovations factor

However, during that timeframe, a major change occurred involving Cardinal Innovations, once the states largest behavioral health managed-care organization with 20 counties, including Alamance, Davidson, Davie, Forsyth, Rockingham, Stokes and Yadkin in the Triad.

Significant dissatisfaction about Cardinals performance in general, and with foster care in particular, led Forsyth and several other county board of commissioners to gain approval from then-state Health Secretary Dr. Mandy Cohen to leave Cardinal in 2021.

Richard said the statewide plan process began more than two years ago from an outcry, frankly, from DSS and local communities, providers and others about this population to address foster care in a holistically process statewide.

Up until three or four weeks ago, there was not an outcry about a statewide plan, and frankly general widespread support.

Partners said Monday that the states foster care plan was conceived a while ago when the landscape was very different and at the height of concern about Cardinal and its refusal to work with counties on their most difficult cases with children.

The landscape significantly changed with the realignment of Cardinals counties, and county/MCO collaboration around care for our most vulnerable children has resumed with urgency.

Partners said that local relationships and collaboration are critical to addressing the complexities of care for our most vulnerable children and families.

Those relationships exist now with each MCO and their counties and will remain a cornerstone of the operation of the tailored plans.

Tailored plans

The state Department of Health and Human Services said Tuesday that tailored plans could serve about 175,000 North Carolinians, or about 7.6% of the 2.3 million Medicaid recipients.

The launch of tailored plans, however, has been delayed until Dec. 1.

Individuals who need certain services to address a serious mental illness, serious emotional disturbance, severe substance-use disorder, intellectual or developmental disability, or traumatic brain injury, may be eligible to enroll in a tailored plan.

Richard said one option for the states six behavioral health MCOs is to collaborate on their own statewide bid on providing services.

I am thrilled that counties are feeling really good about their relationships with MCOs at this point, Richard said. Many of those counties were complaining pretty vigorously about their previous MCO relationship.

But, it wasnt just the Cardinal counties who said they wanted to see a statewide plan.

Rep. Larry Potts, R-Davidson, expressed concern that the statewide plan could end up as the weakest of what could be seven plans if all six behavioral health MCOs provide quality foster-care services through their tailored plans.

Richard stressed that the statewide plan would serve children beyond those in foster care.

Rep. Kristin Baker, R-Cabarrus, said she would prefer giving the states Medicaid transformation plan  which debuted July 1 as a whole-body solution for behavioral health patients  more time to take hold before embarking on a statewide plan focused on foster care.

Duplicative efforts?

Rep. Gale Adcock, D-Wake, expressed concerns about duplicative efforts by the MCOs and the proposed statewide plan.

We have a burgeoning de-facto state plan ... because these MCOs are working well together and the counties are working together to put together both a comprehensive, holistic, whole-person approach, Adcock said.

I wonder if we need more time for the tailored plans to come to fruition, see how thats going to work, before we add something that could be a disruption to the children, to the families and to the system.

If you make too many changes in either a person or a system at one time, you can crash the whole thing because you are trying to do too many good things at one time, and we want to avoid that, Adcock said.

Adcock said DHHS should take additional time to listen to the county commissioners and DSS officials to gauge their support of the MCOs ability to implement what could become a statewide plan.

They are asking to opt out of something they havent even seen yet; theres a real message there, Adcock said.

If enough counties opt out, there would be a statewide plan with a lot of holes in it.

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An Ohio man is suing a Myrtle Beach-area hotel after a roach crawled in his ear while he was staying there, causing hearing loss, according to court documents.

Todd VanSickle filed the lawsuit in March against Sands Ocean Club Homeowners Association and Ocean Annie's Operations, Inc., who operates Sands Ocean Club Resort on Shore Drive.

VanSickle stayed at the Horry County hotel in July 2021, when he was awoken by extreme pain caused by a roach crawling in his ear, according to the lawsuit.

A spokesperson with the hotel declined a request for comment Monday.

The lawsuit states the defendants were negligent for various reasons, including not inspecting for roaches, not implementing a pest control program, and not cleaning VanSickle's room.

The roach incident has caused VanSickle to incur medical expenses and "suffer pain and discomfort," according to the suit.
We might not be writing about Rep. Madison Cawthorn (N.C.-14) at this time if not for recent legal decisions and their application in other arenas as well as their implications for weightier issues.

No, not the traffic stops  three times in five months for speeding, driving left of center and driving with a revoked license, among other charges. The issues that concern us are more of a constitutional and electoral nature.

Back in January, a group of 11 North Carolina voters sued Cawthorn, who is running for reelection in North Carolinas 11th Congressional District  we checked a few times to be sure about that  to disqualify him from running for a second term because of his support for the insurrectionists who attacked the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.

The suit was dismissed at first, but it was recently revived by a federal court of appeals. A hearing to determine its legitimacy will be held May 3.

The theory behind the lawsuit is that Section 3 of the 14th Amendment bans from eligibility those who, after previously taking an oath to support the Constitution, then engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies.

Cawthorn says he didnt participate in an insurrection.

But he did vote to decertify the results of the 2020 election  which we now know was part of a larger scheme to overturn a free and fair election in which Bidens win was decisive. He also spoke at the rally preceding the storming of the Capitol and has repeatedly praised those who followed through.

Is that aid and comfort? The court will decide.

Cawthorn is not alone; similar lawsuits have been filed against Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.), Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wisc.) and other Republicans.

This is a frivolous suit. Its been dismissed everywhere they tried it because it is factually and legally baseless, Rory McShane, a campaign consultant, said of the charges against Gosar.

But if supporting the insurrectionists isnt enough to constitute a violation of his oath, what would be?

We cant guess what the outcome of any of these trials will be. But the fact that were here  that members of Congress are running for reelection after essentially supporting a coup  leads to many other questions worth considering.

Like: Why havent their supporters already made it clear that they wont continue to support such schemers? Is this really how American elections should be decided  through questionable legal maneuvers and a physical attack that attempted to override the will of the voters?

And: Are these districts sending us their best?

They obviously arent. Even before the insurrection, we witnessed a downgrade in the quality of candidate, as if some districts limited the field to WrestleMania brawlers rather than experienced, accomplished community leaders with demonstrated integrity and intellectual heft. Its a trend that needs to be reversed.

This lawsuit isnt Cawthorns first brush with controversy. Many supported him even after learning that he lied about his personal life; even after he prepared to abandon his district for friendlier waters, then changed his mind; and even after he seemed to indicate support for Russias invasion of Ukraine. Its disappointing that it took his recent claim to have been invited by Republican colleagues to cocaine orgies for House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy to finally chastise him.

It is somewhat comforting to know that other Republicans, including Sens. Richard Burr and Thom Tillis, have announced their support for one of Cawthorns Republican competitors.

But its disappointing that Cawthorn still has enough support to make a win possible.

There are superior candidates in both parties. As far as we know, none of them have ever advocated overthrowing the government.

But standards should exceed that low bar.

Readers lists of candidate qualifications will vary, oftentimes including adherence to partisan goals. But we suggest a few that every candidate should meet:

The ability to be honest even when its not politically advantageous.

A commitment to serving constituents rather than developing a Twitter following.

And most of all, at this crucial time, a commitment to lowering the temperature, to helping this divided nation find common ground and common cause. We dont need more congressional flamethrowers.

As weve written before, wed welcome more sober, rational Republican officials who reject conspiracy theories and, instead, count pennies and support the military. It would be better for the country, especially North Carolinas 11th Congressional District.
Numbers

It seems to me that President Biden could improve his numbers if he would visit the border instead of Greensboro. Come on, man!

Peggy Taylor

Winston-Salem

QAnon brain

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, the lifeblood of the Republican Party, last week claimed that the three Republican senators who say theyll vote in favor of Judge Ketanji Brown Jacksons confirmation to the Supreme Court  Sens. Lisa Murkowski, Mitt Romney and Susan Collins  are pro-pedophile because they support the judge who followed the sentencing guidelines that Congress wrote.

This is your brain on QAnon.

Mary Linda Knox

Winston-Salem

Bad behavior

As one who leans conservative I must say I was disgusted by Republicans treatment of soon-to-be Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson during her confirmation hearing and by their behavior during the Senate vote. Watching the childish efforts to impugn her character and professional qualifications was demeaning in every way and did more to call into question the character and professional qualifications of the questioners rather than the one being questioned. Conceding that Jackson will likely lean left in her judgments provides no license to treat her so discourteously.

Jackson appears to be a lady of conspicuous character, capability and professionalism. While many conservatives will not agree with every decision she makes as a Supreme Court justice, Jackson represents an important addition to the Supreme Court. Not only do her race and gender add important components of diversity and viewpoint to the high court, but it is fair play to see the Democrats place a nominee of their own on the court following the motherlode three that conservatives saw confirmed during the previous administration.

What I would have rather seen from Republicans was a reasonable questioning of the nominee that stopped short of character assassination and the bipartisan approval of an eminently qualified nominee. Imagine the positive message these two things would have made to our nation at large and to the African American community in particular. Only Sens. Mitt Romney, Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski found the high road; other Republicans should follow their example.

Keith Lyall

Wilkesboro

Accepted endorsement

My mother gave me sound advice which has served me well. She said you can always judge a person by the friends they keep. That advice can also be used in judging a political candidate.

The former disgraced 45th president of the United States spoke at the grossly inappropriately named Save America rally held in Johnston County on April 10. Trump continued to spew lies about the 2020 election being stolen from him when in fact more evidence comes out each day that he and his cronies were hatching a plan to steal the election from Joe Biden. A federal judge declared recently that Trump more likely than not tried to illegally obstruct Congress from certifying Bidens election on Jan. 6. Described by his niece, Mary Trump, as a habitual liar and a man with fascist tendencies, Trump revved up his right-wing supporters, concluding with a glowing endorsement of Ted Budds candidacy for U.S. Senate.

Budd proudly accepts that endorsement.

How can Budd accept the endorsement of a man who according to The Washington Post made 30,573 false or misleading claims during his four years in office? How can Budd accept the endorsement of a man who believed Russian President Vladimir Putin over his own intelligence agency? In light of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, how can Budd accept the endorsement of a man who tried to weaken our alliance with NATO?

In my opinion, any candidate who accepts Trumps endorsement is not worthy of holding political office.

Rudy Diamond

Lewisville
Comedian Chelsea Handler is looking for a few things when she brings her stand-up tour to Omaha this week: a good steak and someone who will laugh so hard that they wet themselves.

I like it when somebody pees in their pants from laughing too hard, she said in an interview with the Omaha World-Herald. Theres always one person.

The actress, writer, producer and television host will perform at the Holland Performing Arts Center at 8 p.m. Saturday. Handler is also a best-selling author and has appeared on Time Magazines 100 Most Influential People list. Among several other television and film projects, she hosted the late-night comedy series Chelsea Lately on E! for seven years and later the talk show Chelsea on Netflix. Her latest televised stand-up special, Chelsea Handler: Evolution, is now streaming on HBO Max.

Her newest book, Life Will Be the Death of Me, is being turned into a show for Peacock that Handler will star in. In the meantime, she said she is enjoying her tour and her return to the stage.

Youre up there with a microphone in front of a crowd and you get to say whatever you want and youre not reading somebody elses lines, youre writing them, she said. Thats the artistic freedom that I like. My whole career has been built around my point of view and my personality, what I want to do and what I want to say. And that has been a huge advantage for me and a huge comfort.

I dont have to take a lot of direction from other people. Im known as a comic and a personality who has my own opinions and who shares them.

Like most of the world, the COVID pandemic sidelined Handler for a couple of years, but she said she takes it in stride and discusses it in her live show.

I dont really have anything to complain about. It was an interesting time for trying to date, she said. I had people over and would give them COVID tests in my backyard. And if they said anything annoying, I would just come out and tell them they were positive  so I had fun with that.

Handler is working on a new book about her romantic relationship with comedian Jo Koy. The couple have been friends for years and Koy was a frequent guest on Chelsea Lately.

It really is a love story and its so sweet, she said. It happened to someone like me who had written off men for a long time. I think it will be inspiring for a lot of women.

Saturdays show will also address other personal anecdotes with vibes of female empowerment and stories about her two dogs who, she says, have no respect for her. With or without accidental urination, she said her hope for the show is to remind people about togetherness, humanity, hilarity and laughs.

It used to be that someone used to be really wasted and would be removed. But now, with growing older that has transitioned into someone actually urinating on themselves, she said. And I take a lot of pride in that. I like to make people laugh so hard that they lose their faculties. So wear a diaper, I guess.

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The coronavirus pandemic has exacerbated an existing health care worker shortage, prompting hospitals large and small to have to turn to staffing agencies and traveling nurses to fill holes caused by resignations, retirements and workers out sick with COVID-19 or something else.

But that strategy is only a short-term one, and it's very expensive. Average pay for travel nurses is currently about $3,300 a week, according to health care recruiting company Vivian Health. That's up from about $1,800 a week before the pandemic.

CHI Health, which owns St. Elizabeth and Nebraska Heart Hospital in Lincoln, is a perfect example.

Timothy Plante, division vice president of patient care, said the company spent $8 million on traveling nurses in February. Before the pandemic, its average yearly spending on traveling nurses was less than $2 million.

"Obviously, this model is not sustainable," Plante said. "So we had to get creative."

That solution is to create its own system of traveling nurses. Called the CHI Health Midwest Internal Travel Program, it allows existing CHI Health nurses, technicians, lab scientists, pharmacists and other employees to travel within the health system's footprint on 6- to 12-week assignments. The program also is open to experienced health professionals who don't currently work for CHI Health.

Plante said it has two levels, one for people who only want work in hospitals in Nebraska and southwest Iowa, and another tier for those who are willing to travel to CHI Health hospitals in Minnesota and North Dakota.

He said the company is able to provide its staff travel nurses the same rate of pay they would get from a staffing agency but still save money because it doesn't have to pay staffing agency fees. In addition, the workers get the stability of a regular job along with benefits such as vacation and retirement that aren't typically provided with traveler contracts.

Plante said the system works well, because in many cases it is keeping employees within the CHI Health fold who might have otherwise left to take a traveler position.

"One thing to keep in mind is that if somebody really wants to go do this, they're probably going to do it anyway, so having a way to keep them internal within our own organization is really important," he said.

That was the case for Makalia Abrahamson. The 13-year CHI Health employee was working in a management position at Bergan Mercy in Omaha but was feeling a "tug at my heart" to return to patient care.

"It was one of those contemplations of leaving CHI and going traveling across the country or staying close to home," she said, which was an easy decision because, "I didn't want to leave."

Abrahamson took a contract to work at CHI St. Elizabeth and has enjoyed it so much she extended her term through June.

Another nurse in the program, Kate Syzmanski, said she's loving the program as well.

"It's been the best thing for me," said Syzmanski, who is currently working at CHI St. Francis in Grand Island but who has worked at a number of other hospitals, including St. Elizabeth. "I've been able to stay home but still travel and get a lot of the travel money that as nurses we want to get."

Plante said there are currently about 40-50 employees in the traveler pool, but the goal is to expand to about 100.

Reach the writer at 402-473-2647 or molberding@journalstar.com. On Twitter @LincolnBizBuzz.

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A warrant went out Monday for the arrest of a 51-year-old Lincoln man who used his phone to film underneath the shirt of a sleeping girl at a slumber party in February, police said in court records.

Gerardo Sanchez has been charged with filming sexually explicit conduct of a minor and possessing child pornography.

The warrant comes more than a month after a 12-year-old girl told police she had awakened to Sanchez lifting her shirt and bra as she slept at his west Lincoln residence Feb. 26, Investigator Robert Norton said in the affidavit for Sanchez's arrest.

After Sanchez left the room, at about 2 a.m., the girl hid under a bed and texted her mother, asking when she could pick her up, Norton said.

Investigators seized Sanchez's phone and later obtained a search warrant for his iCloud account, where they found a video that supported the girl's description.

Police haven't yet arrested Sanchez.

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A Raymond man was cited and his two dogs were seized after deputies say he repeatedly failed to properly care for the animals, avoided help from veterinarians and failed to show up to needed surgery for his 7-year-old Labrador retriever, according to court records.

Jason Vosburg, 42, was charged Tuesday with felony neglect of an animal, punishable by up to two years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.

The citation comes nearly two months after animal control first found Zip, the lab, and transported him to the Capital Humane Society for treatment in mid-February, deputies said in an affidavit for a search warrant.

Veterinarians at the humane society noted Zip's right front foot was "extremely swollen" and a bacterial infection had spread up much of the leg, prompting concern that cells throughout the entire leg could ultimately die, Lancaster County Sheriff's Investigator Jeremy Schwarz said in the affidavit.

Less than a month later, Schwarz said, Vosburg took Zip and Dakota, a 3-year-old boxer, to Nebraska Animal Medical Center after bones in Zip's infected foot had become visible.

Dakota was being treated for non-mobility issues.

Staff at the center told Vosburg that Zip would need surgery on the foot. Grant funding was acquired to cover the cost, Schwarz said. But Vosburg failed to show up to three different surgical appointments at the Omaha facility where Zip was scheduled to be operated on in March.

When the sheriff's office contacted Vosburg at his home near Northwest 140th Street and West Branched Oak Road, Schwarz said he was argumentative and told a deputy the dogs' health was "none of his business" when the deputy asked to examine the animals.

After a Lancaster County judge signed a warrant authorizing the seizure of the dogs April 7, deputies retrieved Zip and Dakota from the property, along with Vosburg's cellphone.

Vosburg is scheduled to appear in court Thursday.

Reach the writer at 402-473-7223 or awegley@journalstar.com. On Twitter @andrewwegley

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At a trial where Majdal Elias is accused of shooting into a carload of teens and a 20-year-old, killing a 15-year-old Lincoln boy, both sides agreed on one thing: Elias was a drug dealer.

In a packed courtroom Tuesday, Deputy Lancaster County Attorney Jeff Mathers said Elias was apparently pretty good at it, too. He had made quite a bit of money.

He'd been ripped off before and wasn't going to let it happen again, the prosecutor said.

Mathers said that's why, on the night of Sept. 29, 2019, when Elias saw Mohammed Al-Haidari driving around with his face covered, lost in The Links apartment complex where Elias lived, he followed.

"He thought they were there to rob him. And he wasn't going to let anyone take his drugs or his money," Mathers said. "That is why he confronted them with a Glock 9 mm; that is why he fired at and into the car; and that is why Ali Al-Burkat is dead before his 16th birthday."

On the other side, the defense argued that while Elias admittedly brought THC products back from Colorado and sold them in Lincoln, it didn't make him the killer.

"He had a lot of guns, and he was a drug dealer. But that's not why you are here today," said Elias' attorney, Chad Wythers.

He said Elias already has been convicted and sentenced for the drugs and the guns found in a search of his apartment a month later. Wythers said the state told the jury about that to provide "some sort of motive" for him killing Al-Burkat, a passenger in Al-Haidari's car.

"It's confusing," the attorney said. "But the only thing you have to decide is whether Majdal Elias shot the gun that killed Ali Al-Burkat."

Wythers said the teenage brothers in the front seat of the Chevy Malibu that night couldn't ID Elias as the shooter and gave different descriptions of the SUV involved. One described it to police as lighter, the other as darker. And police never found the Glock 9 mm gun that fired at least four shots at the car as the brothers tried to get away.

The defense attorney acknowledged there were a handful of things that tie Elias to the scene, such as his DNA on an empty, disposable gun magazine found on the side of the road a mile away and cellphone records.

"Just because somebody's DNA is on a clip that you don't know has fired a live round doesn't mean that person is a murderer. And just because somebody's cellphone pings in an area doesn't mean he's a murderer," Wythers said.

He argued Al-Burkat could have died as a result of the "shenanigans" of people in the car, pointing to the young man in the back seat of the Malibu with Al-Burkat, who had bought a gun off the street that night described as a wild West-style pistol with a hair trigger.

Wythers suggested the 20-year-old got out to confront the driver of the SUV who followed them and accidentally fired into the trunk of the car, hitting and killing Al-Burkat.

In the state's rebuttal, Deputy Lancaster County Morgan Smith said the defense was trying to get jurors to look in the wrong direction.

Ballistics evidence shows Al-Burkat was shot with a Glock 9 mm, not a wild West-style gun, he said. And the shots came from a Ford Explorer, such as the one Elias drove.

"Why haven't they been able to identify him? Why haven't we got a better description from them? They were shot at in a car at night. Kids, 15, 20. A carful of kids, a stranger rolls up and just starts shooting. It's a traumatic event," Smith said.

Then there were the jail calls about a map Elias sent to an ex-girlfriend from jail and calls trying to get her to follow it to a field not far from his apartment. Smith says police went there later to find Elias' mother and another family member walking through a ditch. They said they were looking for Easter eggs, but police believe they were looking for the gun he tossed from his SUV.

Smith said all the facts point to one thing: "Majdal Elias shot and killed Ali Al-Burkat."

The jury got the case to begin deliberations just before noon Tuesday and went home without a verdict. It is set to return Wednesday morning.

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The Red Sea Development Company (TRSDC), the Saudi developer behind the worlds most ambitious tourism project, has achieved ISO22301:2019 Security and resilience  Business continuity management systems certification, awarded by the prestigious British Standards Institution (BSI).

The globally renowned certification recognises the achievement of TRSDC in guiding development of its flagship project, The Red Sea, despite significant challenges presented by the pandemic. It also reflects TRSDCs commitment to meeting and exceeding existing international standards.

It also demonstrates TRSDCs ambition to set new responsible business benchmarks across its developments, with the certification achieved with zero non-conformities and zero comments from the BSI.

On the key achievement, CEO John Pagano said: "Our top priority at TRSDC is our people. This means we must always endeavour to make our organisation not only one of the most sustainable tourism developers in the world, but the most resilient, which is able to protect our community from any risk or economic shock."

"Despite impacted supply chains for construction materials and significant disruption of public health and global tourism systems, we did everything in our power to protect the health and wellbeing of our employees, while maintaining progress on site. We are honoured to see this work recognised by the BSI," he added.

TRSDC built a full Business Continuity Management System and developed this existing framework to address the challenges posed by the pandemic. This included creating temporary accommodation for social-distancing employees, along with temperature checks and screening programs for site-based personnel.

A programme of over 45,000 online meetings and 15 live webinars was delivered to ensure employees were fully updated on all testing, quarantine and border requirements, helping workers to travel from the project site and maintain contact with their friends and family.

BSI (Saudi Arabia) General Manager Abdullah Alabdulwahid said: "On behalf of BSI, I offer my congratulations to TRSDC on demonstrating that it continues working according to recognised best practices. Business Continuity Management (BCM) has become a vital discipline, bringing benefits that go far beyond helping organizations recover from unexpected disruptions."

"A robust BCM process offers advantages such as process improvements to business expansion and brand enhancement," he added.-TradeArabia News Service
ASHLAND  Just as talk of renovating a historic Ashland structure was heating up, the Beetison House was destroyed by fire Tuesday morning.

At 2:20 a.m., the Ashland Volunteer Fire Department was called to a working fire in the Iron Horse neighborhood. Upon arrival, firefighters found the 148-year-old Beetison House fully engulfed in flames.

It was heavily involved from the basement to the roof, said Fire Chief Mike Meyer.

The roof timbers were falling in as firefighters mounted a defensive attack, using an aerial truck to spray water onto the blaze. Meyer said they were lucky that a hydrant was just 700 feet away.

The fire expanded to a nearby grassy area, Meyer said, and threatened a nearby neighborhood. The vacant house is between holes on the Iron Horse Golf Club.

Meyer said the wind was a factor in spreading the blaze. No injuries were reported.

A total of 18 personnel fought the fire. The department was on scene until 5:06 a.m., Meyer said.

The Nebraska State Fire Marshal's Agency said an investigation into the cause of the fire was continuing Tuesday afternoon but no information was available.

Meyer estimated the building to be a total loss. He said the wood components of the structure were completely gone, and the limestone stones that make up the buildings exterior developed extensive cracks from the heat of the fire.

Multiple posts and comments on social media just hours after the fire indicated many suspect the fire was intentionally set. But the investigation could take some time to complete, Meyer said.

The State Fire Marshals Agency is asking for anyone who has information about the fire or security camera footage of the area to call 888-992-7766. Callers can leave a message if no one answers and may remain anonymous.

Members of the Beetison family shared their anguish over the fire on social media.

Furious and heartbroken, Maria Beetison said on Facebook Tuesday morning. We didnt own it but the memories Jason Beetison and his family and friends made in this house were so precious to them. To have a glimmer of hope that it would be restored only to have it go up in flames a few weeks later is devastating.

Just two weeks before the fire, a developer announced at a public meeting that they were interested in purchasing the Beetison House site as a potential senior housing development. Peter Katt, an attorney from Lincoln and partner in Epcon Communities, indicated they were aware of the buildings history and the communitys attachment to the home.

Ive heard it loud and clear. The community loves it, Weve tried to save it, weve tried to do a lot of things over the years. And I said, Well, weve got to address that, Katt said at the March 29 meeting, which drew about 100 people to the Ashland Public Library.

The Beetison House is part of a 20-acre parcel in the third phase of the Iron Horse development and is still owned by The Land Co., formerly known as Boyer Young Land Development.

At the public meeting, representatives from Historic Resources Group and RO Youker, a structural engineering firm, said it would take at least $1 million to restore the home, which was built nearly 150 years ago by Israel Beetison. Other estimates put the number even higher.

Krista Beetison-Sender, a descendant of Israel Beetison, said on Facebook Tuesday morning: It breaks my heart to see whats become of it.

Beetison-Sender thanked the fire department for extinguishing the fire and the Ashland community for its devotion to the home her grandparents lived in.

And to all the people of the Ashland community who loved the house, thank you for all your support in trying to bring my grandparents beautiful old home back to life, she wrote.

Ashland Mayor Rick Grauerholz said community members are disappointed by the loss of the historic structure at a point in time when it was seemingly being brought back to life.

A story on possible renovation plans was published in Monday's edition of the Journal Star.

Its sad to lose that when there was some interest from some people to get it restored, he said Tuesday morning.

Although the fire had not officially been ruled suspicious as of Tuesday morning, Grauerholz and City Council Member Bruce Wischmann said they were ready to donate money to a reward fund if necessary.

Israel Beetison hired the Dalton brothers, local masons, to build the limestone house in 1874 on a site near the Oxbow Trail. Teams and scrapers uncovered the limestone at quarries in South Bend and Louisville. The hand-chiseled limestone exterior had 18-inch-thick walls. The two-story Italianate design included arched windows, bracketed eaves, decorative corner stonework and a low-pitched hip roof, according to the Ashland Historical Society. Israel Beetison had a cupola built at the top of the house to watch for Native tribes, which would camp on the east side of the home, according to an article written by Dwight Beetison for the 1983 Saunders County Historical Society book.

The Beetison family received the Aksarben Pioneer Farm Family Award in 1974 for 100 years of agriculture on the property. The home was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1977 but has been vacant since the property was sold to Boyer Young in 1999.

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Nebraskas next governor wont get a pot of money to use in luring or keeping businesses after all.

Sen. Brett Lindstrom of Omaha pulled LB729 from the agenda Monday after it became clear the measure had lost too much support to advance.

The measure would have created the Quick Action Closing Fund within the Department of Economic Development that the governor could have used to help land a high-impact business project or facility or to keep a business already located in the state. A high-impact business would be one expected to create a net benefit, through jobs and investments, compared with the cost of the incentive.

Assuming a project met the necessary requirements, including thresholds for jobs and salaries, the bill would have given the governor the discretion to award the funding.

But several senators Monday objected to giving that kind of power to the governor, including Sen. Mike Flood of Norfolk, who argued that the bill would diminish the Legislatures power over the state purse strings.

Our ancestors fought a war to get rid of the king, Flood said.

Sen. Steve Erdman of Bayard said the proposal would give governors a slick way to pay back political favors without much control by legislators.

You tell me if that isnt a slush fund, he said.

Supporters of the proposal took issue with the term slush fund, describing the fund as an extra tool that the state could use in trying to compete with other states for businesses.

Sen. Matt Williams of Gothenburg said he has seen cases in which Nebraska lost out because state officials could not offer enough incentives under existing laws. Supporters said the fund could have helped in situations when the Legislature is not in session and cannot react quickly.

I think LB729 sends a clear message that we are open for business, Williams said.

Lindstrom, who is a Republican candidate for governor, said LB729 was inspired by a similar program created in Oklahoma in 2011. He said that program has awarded about $14 million to seven companies, which resulted in the creation of 3,500 jobs and $3.4 billion in investments by those companies.

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OMAHA -- Prolific Omaha personal injury attorney Ronald Palagi, known for his pioneering advertisements and gregarious spirit, died earlier this month at 75.

His decades practicing law earned him a reputation as an empathetic attorney, taking on clients he believed had been wronged and, in some cases, winning sizable settlements. Palagi died at home with family on April 3 after health complications resulting from a fall.

Born in Montana but raised in Omaha, the Benson High School graduate built The Law Offices of Ronald J. Palagi, a well-known personal injury practice. At its peak, the firm had three offices in the Omaha area.

Palagi was among the first lawyers to successfully use advertising after the practice was legalized in 1977. His firms slogan, Were On Your Side, was on radio and TV commercials by the early 1980s.

In 1992, Palagi told now-defunct Omaha-based Italian newspaper The American Citizen: It occurred to me in the early 80s when I was thinking of using TV: If its good enough for presidential candidates, the highest office in the land, it should be OK for me.

Paul Critchlow, a recently retired communications executive and lifelong friend, said Palagis interest in law emerged from a painful and frustrating experience as a young adult.

According to Critchlow, Palagis early college years focused on business and industrial engineering. His interests took him to Chicago, where he worked as an engineer for UPS Inc.

In 1968, Palagi was hit by a taxi on the streets of Chicago. The driver took him to get medical attention, but he was hospitalized and out of work for several weeks. He suffered back problems throughout life as a result of the crash.

As he recovered, Palagi scrambled to piece together the incident  calling the cab company, which had no record of the incident; attempting to track down passersby; hiring a lawyer. All to no avail.

He was frustrated because he just couldnt pin down what happened, Critchlow said. It triggered this interest in representing average working-class people who did not have a voice in the justice system.

Palagi graduated from Creighton Law School in 1974. He toyed with criminal law, as Critchlow described it, but it didnt stick. He opened a firm as a solo practitioner, tackling everything from divorces to bankruptcies  but Palagi knew that he belonged in court doing trial work.

He started to specialize in personal injury cases and gained a reputation.

Large corporations and hospitals took his call with a bit of a shudder, Critchlow said. They knew he would have his case well-studied and well-argued. He really was one of the first personal injury attorneys in the Midwest to win some very significant settlements.

When a chemotherapy clinic in Fremont infected 99 people with hepatitis C due to poor infection control protocols, Palagi represented one such patient and his wife in the first case from the incident to go to trial. The couple won a $685,000 settlement.

More recently, Palagi helped win a $3.2 million judgment for an Omaha couple after the husband sustained severe brain damage during a boating accident.

Critchlow said that Palagi, having been injured himself, had a certain degree of empathy for his clients that set him apart from the competition.

I think thats where he runs counter to the classic stereotype of the personal injury attorney: He was no ambulance-chaser, Critchlow said. He really felt that people who had been injured or harmed through no fault of their own deserved to have a chance in court. And thats why he did it.

Outside of the courtroom, friends describe Palagi as a larger-than-life figure with a taste for good food, music and conversation. He was twice-married and twice-divorced, and had three daughters: Alisha, 49; Mia Palagi-Glass, 42; and Anna, 29.

Alisha, an actor and entertainer, said her father was always a source of support and encouragement.

If one of us had a passion, he would find a way to bond with it, she said.

Described as extremely stern at times but always caring, Anna said her father taught her how to truly enjoy life.

Mia described his love as incredible.

When he found out he was going to be a grandpa, I swear most of Omaha knew before my first OB appointment, she said. When we called and said we were having twins, he called numerous times that evening. Twins? Oh my gosh, twins?

Palagi collected art and had an extensive personal library, often typing up pages of notes as he read. When he wasnt working, he was often reading or entertaining. He loved to gather and cook for people  family and friends, which was all the same to him.

He was intellectually curious, Critchlow said. He loved to talk about politics and the art of just about everything  from science, to medicine, to love.

Friends and family agree that Palagis legacy is one of service.

If he made any mark, it was helping people who didnt have a voice, Critchlow said.

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"I don't know if you can ever prepare for something like this, honestly," said Arapahoe Fire Chief Brian Sisson. "We're prepared for grass fires, but not to this magnitude. With the wind, it just moves so quick."
Across the Madonna Rehabilitation Hospitals system, youll find nursing staff in all phases of their careers. Some, like Michaela Aulner, NA, are just starting out. Others, like Jody Luzum, LPN, have been with Madonna for decades.

Aulner chose a pre-med curriculum as a freshman at Northwestern College, in Orange City, Iowa. After graduating magna cum laude in May 2019 with a bachelor of arts in biology, 23-year-old Aulner began applying to medical schools when she felt a calling to switch to nursing. She earned her certified nursing assistant credentials and joined the Lincoln Campus Specialty Hospital in August of 2019. Her time at Madonna inspired her to start the intensive, one-year Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing program at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. Shes working less in hopes she can return full-time to Madonna as a registered nurse.

Helping patients in the rehabilitation setting is rewarding and my faith aligns with Madonnas core values, Aulner said.

Aulners compassionate heart is abundantly clear as she interacts with her patients at Madonna. Arthur Gary West spent 100 days battling COVID-19. A simple gift from Aulner gave him strength to keep fighting  a shaving kit with a heartfelt note. She said she felt connected to West because her own grandfather, also named Arthur, had died of COVID-19 just before Thanksgiving.

I felt the Lord prompting me to do something generous for Gary, so I went to Target and bought the shaving kit and dropped it off at the front desk with my note, Michaela said. Garys razor wasnt working the best and I remember how my grandpa liked to be clean shaven.

Aulner said shes looking forward to being part of hundreds of other patient journeys as she continues to grow in her nursing career. She said she is grateful to be surrounded with role models who exemplify Madonnas core values every single day.

Jody Luzum knows exactly how Aulner feels. She started her nursing career with Madonna when she was just 18. Luzum began working as a nursing assistant, stroke unit secretary, float LPN, and has had roles in Adult Day Services and Employee Health. She is now an LPN with Employee Health Services. She jokes she has really done it all at Madonna! Now, shes celebrating 40 years with the organization.

Madonna is my family, Luzum said. I have always loved their values and that they are Christ centered.

As the organization navigates a global pandemic and an unprecedented vaccine rollout, Luzum said shes busier than ever. She was central to organized and efficient vaccine clinics for Madonna staff, helping with data entry. If you ask how shes doing, Luzum is quick to say shes living the COVID dream.

Looking back on her decades-long career, Luzum said shes stayed at Madonna so long because of the people. Its allowed her to meet people from all walks of life and from around the world, developing lifelong relationships in the process.

I always tell new hires that longevity speaks well of any company but especially in healthcare, Luzum said. If you are treated well, that speaks volumes about a place.

Luzum said 40 years have flown by faster than she could have imagined, but not a day has gone by where she didnt smile or have a good belly laugh while at work. When she retires, Luzum said shell look back on her career with gratitude and a big smile on her face.

Learn more about a career at Madonna Rehabilitation Hospitals at Madonna.org/nursing/grow-with-us.
Wheat futures rose for the second consecutive day with worries about short-term supply and adverse weather for crops.

Adverse weather across the U.S. plains states is giving support to futures, while the Ukrainian grain association expects that its harvest could shrink to 18.2 million tons, almost halving last years output. Both the U.S. Department of Agriculture and United Nations cut their outlooks for Ukrainian corn shipments on Friday.

The wheat market is rallying ahead of this afternoons weekly crop progress report after last weeks report showed the second-lowest ratings on record for early April for the winter wheat crop, said Arlan Suderman, chief commodities economist at StoneX. The condition of the U.S. crop matters a lot more with Ukraine absent.

Futures gained as much as 3.4% with strong volume, before closing 2.9% higher at $10.89 per bushel.

Corn reversed an early rally in Chicago, closing slightly lower after gaining as much as 1.3%. Futures slipped despite signs that China is booking more corn from the U.S. old crop to replace Ukrainian grains, as there are worries about slow demand and a big crop in Brazil. Soybeans sank 2% to $16.5525 a bushel.

The supply constraints are expected to persist into the 2022-23 season, with Ukraines grain association projecting the corn crop to sink 39% from last year. Focus is turning to the weather across the rest of the Northern Hemisphere as plantings kick off, at a time when pricey fertilizer could limit sowing.

The market is certainly more worried about global corn stocks with Ukraine out of the picture, Mato Grosso leaning drier through pollination and U.S. Midwest forecasts showing risks for this summer. said Suderman.

In the U.S., a significant winter storm may bring heavy snow to the northern Plains states beginning Monday night, according to the National Weather Service. Cooler-than-usual weather is also expected in the central U.S. next week, at a time when spring planting typically begins to accelerate.

In South America, rains will benefit crops this week, especially in Paraguay and Southern Brazil. Starting on April 20th, a drier pattern should form in the middle-west, keeping most of precipitation to the southern and northern parts of the country, according to Somar Meteorologia. The middle-west region is responsible for almost 70% of the second corn crop that should be harvested in June.

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RACINE  An alleged drug dealer has been charged in a Jan. 27 overdose death in the 900 block of Wisconsin Avenue.

Daniel J. Henigan, 36, of the 1800 block of Franklin Street, was charged with felony counts of second degree reckless homicide, delivery of Schedule I or II narcotics and possession with intent to deliver cocaine between 5-15 grams.

According to a criminal complaint:

On Jan. 27, officers were sent to the 900 block of Wisconsin Avenue for a rescue call.

Upon arrival, officers found a man who had died from a suspected drug overdose. On a coffee table near him was a baggie containing cocaine and fentanyl. The Milwaukee County medical examiner determined that the cause of death was acute mixed ethanol and fentanyl toxicity.

An investigator conducted an investigation and found text messages between the man and Henigan. Henigan told the man he had something he might want and warned him to take it slow because it was super strong, raw heroin.

On Thursday, Henigan was arrested; found on him was 8 grams of cocaine laced with fentanyl. He admitted to providing the man with what he believed was heroin, and that he provided the drugs the last time he saw him alive.

Henigan was given a $25,000 cash bond in Racine County Circuit Court on Monday. A preliminary hearing is set for April 20 at the Racine County Law Enforcement Center, 717 Wisconsin Ave., online court records show.

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MADISON  A Republican district attorney, who is also a candidate for attorney general, on Tuesday filed a complaint with Democratic Gov. Tony Evers seeking the removal of five members of the bipartisan Wisconsin Elections Commission.

Fond du Lac County District Attorney Eric Toney submitted a complaint with Evers asking him to remove two Republicans and three Democrats from the board because they did not allow special voting deputies into nursing homes in 2020 to assist residents with voting.

The complaint filed Tuesday echoes the demand of Racine County Sheriff Christopher Schmaling and Lt. Michael Luell, whose investigation into a Mount Pleasant nursing home led to allegations that WEC instructing local clerks to not send SVDs into nursing homes may have led to some elderly people being pressured into voting. While the allegations have been touted by those who have sought to have Joe Bidens 2020 election win overturned, the Sheriffs Office has not directly elevated such a claim; rather Schmaling and Luell have focused on what they believe was illegal guidance given by WEC and addressing that by criminally charging five commissioners.

Luells and Schmalings investigation was also cited in a widely discredited report from Michael Gableman, a former Wisconsin Supreme Court justice hired by Republican Assembly Speaker Robin Vos to investigate the election.

The Racine County District Attorney Tricia Hanson declined to bring charges against commission members in February, saying she didnt have jurisdiction because none of them live in her county. District attorneys in Milwaukee and Green Lake counties have also declined to bring charges, saying there wasnt enough evidence to prove commission members living in those counties committed a crime.

Schmaling, Hanson and Gableman are all Republicans, and Schmaling has endorsed Toney. Milwaukee Countys DA is a Democrat, and Green Lake Countys DA was appointed by Democratic Gov. Tony Evers.

Toney said he also doesnt have jurisdiction, but that he can ask Evers to remove the board members.

They went rogue, Toney said of the commissioners. What they did was illegal. They committed crimes and they should be held accountable.

A spokesman for the elections commission, Riley Vetterkind, had no immediate comment. Evers spokeswoman, Britt Cudaback, didnt immediately respond to a message seeking comment.

Criticizing Toney, Rachel Rodriguez, Dane County elections management specialist, said in a tweet Tuesday Ignoring the ridiculousness of the reason Toney is asking for members of the Elections Commission to be removed, it appears Toney doesnt realize that the governor only controls the appointments of two members of the Elections Commission. If Toney wants Dean Knudson (one of the Republican appointees) to be removed for the Elections Commission, he needs to talk to Robin Vos, Wisconsins Assembly speaker, a Racine County Republican.

Responding to Rodriguez, A.J. Bayatpour, Capitol bureau chief at Madison TV station at WKOW, said Toney acknowledged this in the presser. His reasoning is Evers should move first because the legislature isnt in session. Wouldnt give a straight answer to follow ups on whether Vos and LeMahieu should rescind their appointments regardless.

According to reporting from the Milwaukee-Journal Sentinel, Knudson said Toneys complaint to Evers was clearly an election year stunt, a desperate attempt to save his sinking campaign after yesterdays disclosures that he released a violent 9-time felon who went on to kill a firefighter while out on $500 bail.

As the Journal Sentinel reported: In 2019, prosecutors in Toneys office did not object to setting bail at $500 for a Wausau man who was charged with possession of counterfeit narcotics with the intent to sell and had nine previous felony convictions, including crimes involving firearms. Less than two weeks after he was released on bail, Houston shot and killed an Appleton firefighter in a police shootout that also left Houston dead.

AG race

Toney faces former Republican state Rep. Adam Jarchow in the Aug. 9 primary for attorney general. Jarchow called Toneys complaint a political stunt.

My focus is on restoring order and keeping our citizens safe in Milwaukee, Green Bay, and other places across the state where violence is out of control, Jarchow said in a statement.

The winner of the primary will face Democratic Attorney General Josh Kaul in November.

Kaul in November called the Racine County Sheriffs Offices investigation a publicity stunt and abuse of authority.

SVDs

State law requires local election clerks to send special voting deputies to nursing homes to give residents an opportunity to vote. After trying to make two visits, the deputies can mail absentee ballots to the residents instead.

But early in the COVID-19 pandemic, when the Wisconsin Elections Commission made its decision not to send in the deputies, the state was under a safer-at-home order and nursing homes were severely limiting who could come into their facilities, often not even allowing immediate family members inside.

The elections commission in March 2020 voted unanimously that poll workers could not be sent into nursing homes. The commission voted 5-1 in two follow-up votes extending the order through the November 2020 election before rescinding it in March 2021. Instead of sending in voting deputies, the commission directed clerks to mail absentee ballots to nursing home residents who had requested them.

Toney was not seeking the removal of the one commissioner who changed his vote, Republican Bob Spindell.

The nonpartisan Legislative Audit Bureau determined that the commission broke the law by not sending in the voting assistants.

Adam Rogan of The Journal Times contributed to this report.

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MOUNT PLEASANT  A Kenosha man has been arrested for allegedly hitting a pedestrian with his car, then driving away on Newman Road in Mount Pleasant on Saturday night.

Christopher S. Castillo-Moreno, 23, of the 4700 block of 20th Avenue, was charged with felony counts of hit and run causing great bodily harm and second degree reckless injury.

According to a criminal complaint:

On Saturday, officers were sent to the 800 block of Newman Road for a hit and run with injuries. A witness said that he saw a vehicle strike a man and then drive away. He saw two vehicles and said that the two were drag racing.

The passenger of the striking vehicle said that he saw two people in the road and told the driver to look out. He then heard a loud smash and the driver, identified as Christopher S. Castillo-Moreno, kept driving. They eventually pulled over and Castillo-Moreno reportedly got out to survey the damage to his car and wipe the blood away.

He was arrested Sunday, the Mount Pleasant Police Department reported.

The victim as been identified as Kris A. Bullock, 55, of Racine. He is reported to be in critical but stable condition at Froedtert Hospital in Wauwatosa.

Castillo-Moreno was given a $2,500 cash bond in Racine County Circuit Court on Monday. A preliminary hearing is set for April 21 at the Racine County Law Enforcement Center, 717 Wisconsin Ave., online court records show.

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The 26-year-old Racine man convicted in the 2018 shooting death of Joseph Riley at a home in Wheatland will spend the rest of his life behind bars.

Anthony Harris was convicted by a Kenosha County jury in February of first-degree intentional homicide, which carries a mandatory life sentence, and was sentenced Friday. He was also convicted of attempted first-degree intentional homicide in the shooting of Eva Lofton, along with felony conspiracy to commit armed robbery and felony burglary. He was sentenced to another 33 years in prison on the last three counts.

Hes been in custody in the Kenosha County Jail since Nov. 21, 2018.

The sentence I hope reflects the seriousness of the crimes and will deter others, Kenosha County District Attorney Michael Graveley said Monday. His sentence is life in prison. ... It was a horrible crime and it scared people West of the I.

Harris now is the fourth of five people charged in the home invasion case to be convicted.

Markeith Wilson, 23, of Racine, was convicted by a jury of the same four charges and earlier sentenced to life in prison with no chance for parole. Hes currently housed at Dodge Correctional Institution in Waupun.

DeMarco Hudson, 22, of Racine, pleaded guilty to felonies of murder during an armed robbery and recklessly endangering safety in February. His sentencing hearing is set for May 6.

Christina May, 44, of Lake Geneva, pleaded guilty last April to conspiracy to commit armed robbery and is serving a nine-year prison sentence.

Also charged is Augustine Sanchez, 23, of Racine. His case is making its way through the court system. He is charged with first-degree intentional homicide, attempted first-degree intentional homicide, conspiracy to commit armed robbery, felony burglary and first-degree recklessly endangering safety. A status conference is set for May 31.

Whats really gratifying is the family of Joe Riley and Eva Lofton, they got some justice today, Graveley said after Harris was convicted in February. I think were a lot closer to some finality for them, so thats really great.

According to the criminal complaint, May, who was friends with Riley, was behind in rent and in need of money when she contacted Sanchez and told him Riley would be a soft target and would be in possession of marijuana and cash.

A potential robbery was set up for Nov. 14, 2018, but it didnt go as planned. The following night, all four men came to the house and kicked in the door, then Riley, Wilson and Harris exchanged gunfire. Riley was killed and Lofton suffered extensive injuries.

One key piece of evidence came from Mike Sorenson, an examiner with the Wisconsin State Crime Lab, who testified during the four-day trial that each of the bullets recovered from Riley came from Harris gun.

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Several luxury hotels in the UAE, including the St. Regis Downtown, Four Seasons Resort Dubai and Caesars Palace Dubai, among others, have chosen sustainable straws by the Finnish company Sulapac to be used in their restaurants.



In addition to hotels, high-end restaurants, wellness centres, and clubs, such as Iris Lounge and Bar Du Port (managed by Addmind), and Tashas Restaurants, Flamingo Room, and Avli (managed by Tashas Group) are making the switch to sustainability and have started incorporating sustainable straws.



UAE luxury hotel, The St. Regis Downtown Dubai, has taken sustainability to the next level and started using the sustainable straws in all of its restaurants and bars, in-room dining services and takeaway options.



We are delighted to partner with BIRD Collaborative and move towards a more sustainable operation here at The St. Regis Downtown Dubai. We all need to focus on sustainability and simple solutions, like using alternatives to conventional plastic for everyday products, are an easy starting point, said Raja Zeidan, General Manager at St. Regis Downtown Dubai.



Currently, local regulation limiting the use of single-use plastics is being prepared in the UAE. The aim is to phase out the most common single-use plastics, such as straws, plastic cups, lids, cutlery, stirrers and food containers, which account for the largest share of marine waste.



Meanwhile, campaigns against single-use plastics are being regularly launched by private and public companies. In 2020, Dubai Airport imposed a full ban on single-use plastics. Abu Dhabi, the capital of the UAE, is to ban all single-use plastics by the end of 2022. This considerable shift in attitude toward single-use plastic is a concrete step towards a more sustainable and cleaner environment.



James Thompson, Executive Assistant F&B at Caesars Palace Dubai said: The UAE government is always driving forward with great initiatives, and the move towards sustainability is a positive one. Hospitality as an industry has a tremendous role to play in driving this change at many levels.



Through food and beverage particularly, we have an opportunity to educate, bring awareness for and affect behavioural change in small ways  like reducing the demand for single-use plastics. Moving to eco-friendly straws is a small step in the right direction and we are committed to collaborate on on-going sustainability initiatives in the city.



Made of wood chips from industrial side streams and plant-based binders, the sustainable straws by Sulapac are supplied by BIRD Collaborative, a UAE-based startup specialized in supplying real plastic alternatives to the GCC market. The straws are industrially compostable and biodegrade without leaving permanent microplastics behind, becoming CO2, water and biomass.



Nabil Mhanna, Founder at BIRD, said: We are serious about sustainability. It took us years to find an alternative to conventional plastic that is truly sustainable and leaves no microplastics that choke our beloved Earth.



We are really proud of our partnership with Sulapac, they offer the best alternatives to traditional plastic backed by science and sustainable innovation. Also, the UAE government is doing a great job in launching awareness campaigns that work in the favour of all sustainability companies who truly want to make a difference, he continues.



However, the availability of user-friendly sustainable straws has been a challenge.



Dr Suvi Haimi, CEO and Co-founder of Sulapac said: What we are seeing is a third wave in the evolution of straws. First, people became aware of how harmful traditional single-use plastic straws are for the environment. Then, people tried paper straws and found them very frustrating to use as they get soggy and break before their drink is even finished. Now, more user-friendly and sustainable options are finally available. This makes it easier for people to make the switch from not using conventional plastic and helps reduce plastic waste.



The Sulapac straws are usable for up to 24 hours without becoming soggy and have a unique, pleasant feel.



One of Sulapacs long-term ambitions is to scale the manufacturing of its products, such as straws and cutlery, locally in the target markets, using locally available raw materials. Cutlery made of Sulapac material is already being manufactured in the United Arab Emirates for the local market.  TradeArabia News Service
The ballots cast in the Racine Unified School Districts $1 billion, 30-year referendum, which passed by five votes in April 2020 following a recount, will not be reviewed by an outside group, the Wisconsin Supreme Court unanimously ruled Tuesday.

This decision will likely allow RUSD to move ahead with projects put on hold while the referendums fate was in the hands of the courts.

With the state Supreme Court ruling is an affirmation that not just any member of the public has the right to review ballots in a recount.

The group that brought the lawsuit alleged that votes were not counted properly either the first time (which found the referendum passed 16,748 votes to 16,743) or during a recount in Festival Hall (which, the Board of Canvassers found, the referendum passed 16,715 votes to 16,710.)

Those seeking another recount  led by James Sewell of Racine, the late George Meyers, and former Racine aldermanic candidate Dennis Montey, with support from the local group Honest, Open, Transparent Government  had argued that fraud was committed by the Board of Canvassers, but had no evidence to back up the claim. Theres been no evidence of ballot tampering or anything of the sort.

Sewell does not identify in his petition for review or brief precisely how the Board of Canvassers failed to follow its statutory duty in conducting the recount; he nevertheless claims error, wrote Justice Patience Roggensack, a conservative, in delivering the unanimous decision. All of the ballots were reviewed and recounted by hand in open sessions of the Board of Canvassers. Accommodations, including the use of large projection screens and moveable carts to transport ballots so that closer inspections could be made of requested ballots, were provided to participants in the recount.

Among the reasons the case was taken on by the state high court was that it raised a novel argument about how recounts are to be conducted. According to state statute 7.54: In all contested election cases, the contesting parties have the right to have the ballots opened and to have all errors of the inspectors, either in counting or refusing to count any ballot, corrected by the board of canvassers or court deciding the contest. The ballots and related materials may be opened only in open session of the board of canvassers or in open court and in the presence of the official having custody of them.

Those seeking another recount argued that, since they demanded a recount in open court, one must be carried out in addition to the one carried out by the Board of Canvassers. Attorneys representing RUSD disagreed, and the state Supreme Court found in favor of RUSD. They said that since one or the other type of recount was carried out, the statute was followed.

The Supreme Court also ruled that the challenge was improperly raised since the allegations of errors were related to the Board of Canvassers that carried out the recount, but allegations of errors were not directly raised regarding the original count itself, which also found that the referendum had passed.

Today is a great day for Racine Unified students and for our entire community, RUSD spokesperson Stacy Tapp said in an email. We are eager to get to work creating excellent learning environments for our students!

We will immediately begin reviewing our long-range facilities master plan and updating timelines and budgets. Much has changed in two years.

Among the edits to the districts plans that have been instituted since the referendum passed but the challenge forced RUSD to pause has been changes to the order in which outdated schools are being closed.

In a statement Tuesday afternoon, H.O.T. Government said "H.O.T. is disappointed with the decision and more surprised by the unanimous decision by the court. However disappointed we due (sic) respect the decision of the court."

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WIND POINT  Besides being known for hosting the area-famous Halloween display Hollows Way every year for the last 50 years, Wind Point resident Nick Comande has always been safety-conscious  to the point of being passionate about it.

Comande worked at the Racine Fire Department as a firefighter/paramedic for 32 years, and for two years after was a certified carseat inspector. And for the last 18 years he and his company have fought the Federal Aviation Administration to change its policy on allowing for a certain child protection vest to be used during all phases of a flight.

The FAA states on its website the safest place for a child on an airplane is in a government-approved child safety restraint system or device, not on a parents lap, because parents arms arent capable of holding the child securely, especially during unexpected turbulence.

The mission of the vest is to secure the lap child in the parents arms.

The vest, made by company Baby BAir, of which Comande is vice president, is worn by an infant, looped through the parents seatbelt, and if passengers experience turbulence, the lap child does not become a projectile. The infant can be held, fed or changed, and the parent can read, eat or nap while they both remain fastened in their seat.

However, its only allowed to be used during in-flight time, and not during taxi, takeoff or landing.

The Child Aviation Restraint System (CARES) is the only FAA-approved harness-type restraint for children weighing 22-44 pounds that can be used during all phases of flight. This type of device provides an alternative to a hard-backed seat, is approved only for use on aircraft and complies only with children sitting in their own seat.

The Baby BAir vest fits children up to 40 pounds, according to its website, but works for any child who can fit the vest under 2 years old  as lap children must be under 2 years old.

In the 18-year battle, Comande and Baby BAir have been fighting the FAA, exchanging letters, attempting to set up meetings, presenting petitions and even getting the help of government officials to try to change FAAs policy. But the FAA has consistently denied the requests for approval of wearing of the vest during taxi, takeoff and landing, or hasnt responded.

Were trying to get the FAA to approve the vest, re-look at the rules and have the ruling change, Comande said. What makes us so frustrated with the FAA is theyre not doing anything.

Baby BAir is not asking the airlines to mandate the vest product.

We just want the people that do buy them to be able to use them for their maximum potential, Comande said. We have to protect those that are too young to protect themselves.

An FAA spokesperson said in an email to The Journal Times that the agency evaluates any product submitted for consideration, but does not comment on conversations with petitioners.

Fighting for safety

Comande has long fought for the vest  and not just against the FAA.

Comande and his wife, Lisa, in 2002 got the last two seats on a Midwest Express flight, so they traveled with their infant daughter Rachel as a lap child.

Finding the vest in a baby catalogue and thinking it was a good idea, Comande bought a Baby BAir vest for Rachel for extra protection.

However, Midwest didnt allow Rachel to wear the vest because it was against its policy. Comande, with the help of then-U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., were able to convince Midwest to change its safety procedures to allow the vest to be used on its airlines.

But that policy change didnt cover any other airlines  and, the FAA didnt approve and still doesnt approve wearing of the vest during taxi, takeoff and landing.

Baby BAir President Greg Nieberding, who founded the company, said the idea for the product began when he heard of an incident where his niece, at 9 months old, was thrown from his sisters lap during a flight to Florida. His niece was launched forward overhead and landed in a strangers lap.

Luckily, everyone was unharmed, but Nieberding wanted to make sure such an incident never happened again. Ever since, hes been hearing time and time again of incidents where a lap baby has bounced out of a parents lap during a flight.

Its not a one-in-a-million occurrence; it happens, Nieberding said. The FAA can fly a kite as far as Im concerned. I know that Ive got a product that saves children. All I want is for any parent that wants to keep their lap child safe to be able to use this product without any hassle.

Hes also heard stories from customers and flight attendants alike who have reported the vest saved some babies lives, he said. The success stories are what keeps him going and fighting for full use of the product.

Im not going to let the FAA do something that is dangerous for children, Nieberding said. We will get this done. I really firmly believe this, because it is the correct product. This is the right solution for lap children.

Since 2013, Baby BAir has been going to Washington every year  except for the last couple, due to COVID-19  to present the vest at Air Line Pilots Associations safety forum. ALPA has endorsed the product, as demonstrated in a letter dated Feb. 3 to the U.S. Department of Transportation, a copy of which was provided to The Journal Times.

Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting Working Group has additionally endorsed the product, as exhibited in a letter dated Aug. 22, 2017, provided to The Journal Times.

The company at various ARFFWG and ALPA conferences has obtained more than 1,000 signatures on petitions to the FAA. Every firefighter Baby BAir has showed the product to at ARFFWGs conferences says the product is a no brainer, Comande said.

U.S. Sens. Mark Begich, Amy Klobuchar, Mazie K. Hirono, Mark Udall and Tammy Duckworth have all supported the product, as demonstrated in a letter to the FAA dated Nov. 25, 2013, provided to The Journal Times.

Were doing everything right, Comande said. Weve been jumping through all the hoops that we can find because the FAA has been giving us a whole lot.

One airline pilot told Comande that when he learned the vest was only allowed for in-flight, he will have to change his speech for those traveling in the airplane, saying, were coming in for a landing, please put your seats and tray tables in the upright position and unbuckle your children.

Because to use the vest, thats what it means  its not hurting anyone, Comande said. We just want to provide the equivalent level of safety for all passengers on an aircraft, including lap children. Lap children are our most precious cargo an airplane will carry. So why can we not protect them during taxi, takeoff and landing instead of just in flight?

Denying requests

In a letter dated March 9, from Acting Executive Director of Flight Standards Service Robert C. Carty, representing the FAA, the agency issued another denial of the vest-wearing proposal along with a letter, information and previous denial for exemption with dates spanning from 2002-2004.

In Denial of Exemption No. 8417 (copy enclosed), the FAA found that a grant of exemption is not in the public interest and could adversely affect safety, Carty wrote. Specifically, the petitioner did not provide any substitute safety standards or safety data with which the Baby BAir Flight Vest would comply, and against which the FAA could evaluate the Baby BAir Flight Vest. Without approved safety standards or safety data, the FAA cannot find, to the slightest level of certainty, that the Baby BAir Flight Vest provides an equivalent level of safety to that provided by the affected sections.

Exemption No. 8417 is from 2004. Evidence supporting FAAs denial includes information from the International Brotherhood of Teamsters that states the Baby BAir Flight Vest does not provide adequate child restraint or protection.

devices that attach the child to the accompanying adult have been shown to contribute to injuries when the adult rotates over his/her seatbelt during deceleration, the denial for exemption stated.

In addition, the Association of Flight Attendants states that the vest does not provide proper protection for children under the age of 2.

Children between 25 and 50 pounds are best protected in a passenger seat lap belt or forward-facing child restraint device than in a vest-and-harness type device, the FAA wrote in the denial. Booster seats and vest-and-harness type devices put children in a potentially worse situation than the alternatives.

Still trying

After Baby BAir received the rejection from the FAA in 2004, the company got to work, appointing others to run tests to prove the vests safety.

United Airlines donated eight rows of airplane seats for crash testing. Kettering University in Flint, Michigan, tested the vest with the donated seats as well as some mannequins to determine durability.

Testing was performed in a number of days under the supervision of Janet Fornari, Ph.D., and was completed in June 2017. Thomas Malay of Pervasive Technologies additionally created a computer model and independent analysis of the Kettering data.

The results stated that the vest is safe and doesnt harm parent or child. United additionally issued a statement saying the vest is beneficial to use, Nieberding said.

Baby BAir has since sent the new testing information counter arguing the agencys reasons for denial. So with the new information available, Comande said it doesnt make sense the FAA responded with the same denial for exemption from 2004.

Its a slap in the face to all the people that just want to protect their children, Comande said. This is what the real kick in the teeth is; why do you use the 2004 denial letter when all new test-related data and everything has been submitted? They dont look at any of it.

Nieberding said hes going to keep fighting for full-use approval of the vest.

We have proven ourselves over and over, Nieberding said. I am in the right. I am right on this. I dont care if its been 18 years, 19 years. Until I take my last breath, I am not going away.

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Knowing the origin of the fruits and vegetables being packaged at Kwik Trip gives kitchens operations manager Bob Karr a sense of security.

It used to be pre-packaged everything, said Karr. Now, its a fully integrated process.

The produce operation switched to in-house a year ago and is the latest chapter in Kwik Trips embrace of vertical integration as a defining business model. Customers can purchase a Snickers bar or bottle of Pepsi at Kwik Trip, but most of whats on sale at a typical Kwik Trip store is processed by the company itself.

Kwik Trip production director Brad Clarkin said vertical integration is foundational to how Kwik Trip does business.

We produce it, we ship it, we sell it, Clarkin said.

The entire process takes place at Kwik Trips 130-acre manufacturing campus in La Crosse. In addition to the kitchens operations, where prepared meals (cheeseburgers, pizzas, salads, take-home meals, etc.) are made, Kwik Trip runs its own sweets bakery, bread and buns bakery and dairy plant.

The operations produce a substantial quantity of food and beverages. On a recent Thursday, for example, the kitchens operation put out 25,000 sandwiches, 14,000 salads, 50,000 burritos, 7,000 parfaits, 30,000 take-home meals and 26,000 produce cups.

Karr said the inventory is shipped as soon as its produced. He said if something is produced on a Thursday in La Crosse, it will be on a retail store shelf no later than Saturday morning.

Its less than two days from the time we make it to when it goes to retail, Karr said. We want to get everything from a raw state to retail as soon as possible.

The dairy is also a busy place. Director of dairy operations Jeremy Nickelatti said Kwik Trips facility is more than double the size of an average Class I dairy with 15 milk trucks arriving every day. All the milk comes from four dairy cooperatives in Wisconsin and Minnesota located within 250 miles of La Crosse.

He said milk is never held in a silo for more than 72 hours, and is often processed faster than that.

It can go from a cow to a table within 24 hours, Nickelatti said.

Vertical integration goes beyond milk and other dairy products. The dairy already manufactures its own gallon and half-gallon containers and will make the smaller containers in-house by the end of August, when a 45,000-square-foot expansion is complete.

At the sweets bakery, director of bakery operations Jamie Gay oversees production of a wide variety of baked goods, ranging from cookies to muffins to donuts. Glazers are shipped out fresh daily and appear on store shelves the same day theyre made.

Production lines allow 400 Glazers, 240 cookies and 130 muffins to be produced every minute, and more than 43 million Glazers were produced in 2021.

Gay said a motivated group of employees is critical to keeping the product line moving.

We have daily improvement meetings to talk about what we did yesterday and what were doing today, she said. Were always into continuous improvement and what we need to do to improve safety and make things more efficient. We have a lot of good workers here. They care about their jobs.

Clarkin said vertical integration gives Kwik Trip a competitive advantage over other convenience stores.

At the core, its all about the quality, Clarkin said. We can get our arms around quality. We own it.

He said vertical integration also has distribution advantages and has allowed Kwik Trip to mitigate many of the recent supply chain bottlenecks.

We can be quicker. We can react quicker based on guests demands and guests needs, he said.

Distribution is critical to Kwik Trips policy of selling fresh products, Clarkin said. Kwik Trip limits itself to stores where trucks can deliver its products within a day.

Clarkin said Kwik Trip has yet to reach the maximum extent of its geographic footprint. It already operates over 800 stores in nearly 400 communities in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa and Illinois and will add a fifth state when Kwik Trip opens two stores in Michigans upper peninsula later this year. The company also anticipates opening 25 new stores in Wisconsin, nine in Minnesota and nine in Iowa in 2022.

Clarkin said the eastern Dakotas could be added in 2023.

In 2023, you will see us expand into the I-29 corridor of the Dakotas, he said. It will be a good new market.

Take-home meals

As Kwik Trip expands geographically, its also expanding its fresh food offerings. The company recently took a major plunge into the take-home meal market.

Meals are individually packaged with cooking instructions on the label and include offerings such as chicken penne, macaroni and cheese, fettucine alfredo, turkey dinner with mashed potatoes and gravy, spaghetti and meatballs, and beef stroganoff.

Its a segment of our business we didnt have two years ago, Clarkin said. Its certainly something new  were working with raw proteins. Its something that nobody in our industry has successfully executed, but there is a demand out there for this.

Our history is that we try a lot of new ideas.

Clarkin said the launch into take-home meals and fresh produce processing required a 120,000-square-foot addition that includes a fry line, a grill line and sous vide line. He said there is still room for future expansion at the present campus and that the company is committed to maintaining production in La Crosse.

I would contend that as retail continues to grow, we are absolutely mindful on how we can support that growth out of La Crosse, Wisconsin, he said.

Kwik Trip dates back to 1965, when the company was founded by Don Zietlow, who still serves as president and CEO. The company employs 33,000 people (4,200 at the La Crosse production facility) and remains privately held and family-owned.

Clarkin credits Kwik Trips growth to offering choices to consumers that arent found elsewhere in the convenience store industry.

Theres definitely a different feel, Clarkin said. You maybe dont appreciate it as much until you go outside the area, and then you come back and say, Man, I missed this.

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1. Yes. Raising the bar for future developments will boost the citys housing market.

2. Yes. It will help in newer areas, but more needs to be done to change Killeens image.

3. No. The new standards will just slow down homebuilding and drive away developers.

4.No. The ordinance will do little more than drive up the price of new homes in the city.

5. Unsure. Its hard to say what the effect will be until they have been in place for a while.

Vote

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MINDEN  Pioneer Village claims its collection of antiques is so vast that visitors to the Minden Attraction can see how America grew.

In three to four months, viewers of the popular History Channel program, American Pickers, will get a glimpse of what Pioneer Village has to offer.

A production crew was in Minden today (Tuesday) filming Pioneer Village highlights along with two of the shows stars, Mike Wolfe and Robbie Wolfe.

Among other things, the stars interviewed members of the board of directors of Pioneer Village.

The board announced earlier this year its plans to clean up and organize displays to breathe new life into the attraction that opened in 1953, and now houses more than 50,000 items on its 20-acre complex.

Cody Holland, American Pickers production supervisor, said the Minden shots are part of a sweep across the Southwest and Midwest sections of the United States. The headquarters for American Pickers, the Antique Archaeology shop, is in Le Claire, Iowa. Recently a second location was added in Nashville, Tennessee.

Without clearance from the History Channel, Holland was not able to describe what was involved in todays filming. He said no access to the stars was possible and that Pioneer Village board members access was restricted until approved by the History Channel.

Were here and were excited about it, Holland said.

Minden residents said they are excited to have the popular History Channel show in their town.

Faith Hampton of Minden immediately recognized the familiar white Antique Archaeology van parked outside Pioneer Village Monday night and snapped a photo for Facebook

We were driving by on the way home from the lake. We saw the camera crew. There were maybe two or three, Hampton said. We thought it was kind of neat. We watch the show regularly.

American Pickers follows antique and collectible buyers as they search the United States for rusty gold and buy  or pick  various items to resale, or for clients or for their personal collections.
KEARNEY  Jeffrey Langenberg of Kearney has been sentenced to 1-5 years in prison for possessing thousands of images of child pornography.

Langenberg, 38, had earlier pleaded no contest to the felony charge in Buffalo County District Court. In exchange for his plea the Buffalo County Attorneys Office agreed to not file additional charges.

Judge John Marsh gave Langenberg credit for 142 days already served in jail.

Langenberg must register with the Nebraska State Patrol as a convicted sex offender.

Court records indicate on Aug. 1 thousands of photos and videos of young girls in various stages of undress were located on two separate phones belonging to Langenberg.

Police obtained a search warrant for Langenbergs house, vehicles and electronic devices. Records indicate hundreds of photos of prepubescent females in various states of undress and provocative poses were found on his electronic devices.
KYIV, Ukraine  The mayor of the Ukrainian port city of Mariupol said Monday that more than 10,000 civilians have died in the Russian siege of his city, and that the death toll could surpass 20,000, with corpses that were carpeted through the streets.

Speaking by phone Monday to The Associated Press, Mayor Vadym Boychenko also said Russian forces brought mobile cremation equipment to the city to dispose of the bodies, and he accused Russian forces of refusing to allow humanitarian convoys into the city in an attempt to conceal the carnage.

The mayors comments emerged as Russia claimed that it destroyed several Ukrainian air-defense systems in what appeared to be a renewed push to gain air superiority and take out weapons Kyiv has described as crucial ahead of an expected broad new offensive in the east.

In one strike, Moscow said it hit four S-300 launchers near the central city of Dnipro that had been provided by a European country it did not name. Slovakia gave Ukraine just such a system last week but denied it had been destroyed. Russia previously reported two strikes on similar systems in other places.

Moscows initial invasion stalled on several fronts as it met stiff resistance from Ukrainian forces, who prevented the Russians from taking the capital and other cities. The failure to win full control of Ukraines skies has hampered Moscows ability to provide air cover for troops on the ground, limiting their advances and likely exposing them to greater losses.

With their offensive in many parts of the country thwarted, Russian forces have relied increasingly on bombarding cities  a strategy that has left many urban areas flattened and killed thousands of people. The war has also shattered Ukraines economy, with the World Bank estimating it will shrink by more than 45% this year.

Ukrainian authorities accuse Russian forces of committing atrocities, including a massacre in the town of Bucha, outside Kyiv, airstrikes on hospitals and a missile attack that killed at least 57 people last week at a train station.

In Bucha on Monday, the work of exhuming bodies from a mass grave in a churchyard resumed.

Galyna Feoktistova waited for hours in the cold and rain in hopes of identifying her 50-year-old son, who was shot and killed more than a month ago, but eventually she went home for some warmth. Hes still there, her surviving son, Andriy, said.

Meanwhile, the U.N. childrens agency said that nearly two-thirds of all Ukrainian children have fled their homes in the six weeks since Russias invasion began, and the United Nations has verified that 142 children have been killed and 229 injured, though the actual numbers are likely much higher.

Elsewhere, Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer said he met Monday with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow for talks that were very direct, open and tough.

In a statement released by his office, Nehammer said his primary message to Putin was that this war needs to end, because in war both sides can only lose. Nehammer said he also raised the issue of war crimes committed by the Russian military and said those responsible will be held to account.

Austria is a member of the European Union and has backed the 27-nation blocs sanctions against Russia, though it so far has opposed cutting off deliveries of Russian gas. The country is militarily neutral and is not a member of NATO.

In other developments, the head of the separatist rebel government in Donetsk said Ukrainian forces have lost control of the port area of Mariupol.

Regarding the port of Mariupol, it is now under our control, Denis Pushilin, president of the Donetsk Peoples Republic, told Russian state television, according to Russian news agencies. The claim could not immediately be confirmed.

Russia has appointed a seasoned general to lead its renewed push in the eastern Donbas region, where Moscow-backed separatists have been battling Ukrainian forces since 2014 and have declared independent states. Both sides are digging in for what could be a devastating war of attrition.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy pleaded for more Western aid, saying his forces need heavier firepower to resist the coming onslaught and push Russian forces back. Echoing his remarks in an AP interview, Zelenskyy said Sunday that the coming week could be crucial and that Western support  or the lack thereof  may prove decisive.

To be honest, whether we will be able to (survive) depends on this, Zelenskyy said in a 60 Minutes interview. Unfortunately, I dont have the confidence that we will be receiving everything we need. In a video address to South Korean lawmakers on Monday, he specifically requested equipment that can shoot down Russian missiles.

But those armaments could increasingly come under attack as Russia looks to shift the balance in the 6-week-old war.

Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov said the military used cruise missiles to destroy the four launchers Sunday on the southern outskirts of Dnipro. He said the military also hit such systems in the Mykolaiv and Kharkiv regions.

The Russian claims could not be independently verified.

The Pentagon said it had seen no evidence to support Russias claims. A senior U.S. defense official said Russia did conduct an airstrike Sunday on the airport in Dnipro, destroying some equipment, but the official said the U.S. has seen no indication that an air-defense system was knocked out.

Lubica Janikova, spokeswoman for Slovakias prime minister, denied Monday that the S-300 system it sent Ukraine had been destroyed. She said any other claim is not true.

Ukraine has specifically asked for more S-300s in recent months, though it already had a number of the Soviet-built systems and other long-range air-defense systems. It also has received batches of portable, shoulder-fired Western anti-aircraft weapons like Stingers, which are efficient against low-flying aircraft.

Questions remain about the ability of depleted and demoralized Russian forces to conquer much ground after their advance on Kyiv was repelled by determined Ukrainian defenders.

Britains Defense Ministry said Monday that Ukraine has already beaten back several assaults by Russian forces in the eastern Donetsk and Luhansk regions  which make up the Donbas  resulting in the destruction of Russian tanks, vehicles and artillery.

Western military analysts say Russias assault increasingly is focusing on an arc of territory stretching from Kharkiv, Ukraines second-largest city, in the north, to Kherson in the south.

On Sunday, Russian forces shelled government-controlled Kharkiv and sent reinforcements toward Izyum to the southeast to try to break Ukraines defenses, the Ukrainian military said.

A residential area in Kharkiv was struck by incoming fire on Monday afternoon. Associated Press journalists saw firefighters putting out the fire and checking for victims following the attack, and saw that at least five people were killed, including a child.

Oleh Synyehubov, the regional governor of Kharkiv, said earlier Monday that Russian shelling had killed 11 people over the last 24 hours.

In Mariupol, Russia deployed Chechen fighters, reputed to be particularly fierce. Capturing the city on the Sea of Azov would give Russia a land bridge to the Crimean Peninsula, which Russia seized from Ukraine and annexed eight years ago.

Mariupols residents have lacked food, water and electricity since Russian forces surrounded the city. Hundreds of thousands have fled, though Russian attacks have also frustrated evacuation missions.

Vladislav Usovich, an 18-year-old conscript serving in Russia-backed separatist forces, advanced slowly with other fighters through residential areas around a factory Sunday in Mariupol.

I thought it would go better. I thought it would be faster. Everything is going slowly, he said. The Ukrainians are prepared fighters. NATO trained them well.

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La Crosse County and the School District of La Crosse are hoping to collaborate on a neighborhood child care program using COVID relief funds.

Superintendent Aaron Engel presented a budgeted plan to the La Crosse County Board on Monday, which calls for installing two child care centers at two elementary schools.

Its estimated that implementing the proposal will require about $377,000 from the American Rescue Plan Act for its first year, and about $711,000 in total over a three-year trial period.

Child care is an area the board has already earmarked to support using ARPA funds, and the group will vote next week on whether to spend the money on this specific proposal.

We feel that an investment at that earliest age for our children through that high quality child care will make a positive, generational impact on our children and our community, Engel said.

The program has multiple facets, but one of its largest goals is to provide affordable and accessible child care to families experiencing poverty.

Engel said the district wants to place child care centers at Northside and Hintgen Elementary Schools, each with the capacity to serve 30 kids ranging from six weeks to four years old.

The district is hoping to hone-in on certain neighborhoods in the city where there are child care deserts, and Engel said that through his work hes found that most people want child care near their home, not work.

About half of the spaces at these centers would be reserved for children of school district staff, and the other half for families experiencing poverty.

State support is likely to help lower the costs for families in need, but the district also estimates that there will be about $137,000 annually needed to offset the support to impoverished families.

Engel said that this model will in-part be cost efficient because the district currently has space at its existing facilities due to declining enrollment, meaning well-kept buildings with amenities such as maintenance, food service and more are already there to be used.

We just have empty classrooms, essentially, Engel said. We can free up some space for child care in facilities that already exist.

About $190,000 is estimated to be used for one-time renovation and resource fees at both locations.

Additionally, the plan is aimed at improving the regions workforce both broadly and in the child care sector.

The district hopes to link its students interested in a career in child care with the daycare centers and local technical colleges that can help them gain their certificates.

Engel said that currently, students can sometimes earn their child care certification as early as their junior year and their lead teacher certifications by the time they graduate. He said he hopes the district could produce 60 students a year with their child care credentials.

The district wants $5,000 annually to offer tuition support for child care classes at Western Technical College to its students.

Because there will be fewer overhead costs from reusing the schools facilities, the district hopes to use that extra funding to pay the workers at the child care centers between $15-18 an hour.

Engel said its still unclear whether the district itself would hire, pay and provide benefits for the child care employees or whether it would contract out to another existing child care provider that would manage the centers.

Additionally, the district hopes this will help attract more workers to the district, and more generally, child care has been deemed an essential step in helping people get back to work around the region.

Its also expandable to any school district, Engel said of the child care model. He pointed to other districts outside of La Crosse County such as Blair-Taylor and Arcadia that have implemented similar programs.

While Im thinking about it through the lens of the School District of La Crosse, theres no reason that any other school district in the county couldnt do the same, Engel said.

County associate administrator Jane Klekamp said staff would be reaching out to other districts in the next week with the proposal. And while supervisors showed early support for the project, many were adamant that it be used to support the rural parts of the county as well.

In total, Klekamp said, the $3.3 million in ARPA funding set aside for child care could support four child care centers. That would mean if the two centers in the La Crosse School District were approved, two more could be implemented at other districts around the county.

Engel said he thought the only major hurdle other districts might find is facility space, but that otherwise it could be a program that fits in with other schools in the region. He said that it would hopefully be easier for them to try and replicate now that La Crosse has done some of the heavy lifting.

While the ARPA funding could help this program get off the ground, its only one-time funding, and keeping this going beyond a few years will take fundraising, Engel said.

But he said there has already been interest from community members wanting to donate and support this program.

And Engel noted that while the district isnt looking to make a profit from the child care centers, it would still hope to break even on the costs.

The La Crosse County Board will vote on a resolution to approve these funds next week.

If approved, Engel said that, while its an aggressive timeline, he would hope to have the child care centers open by Sept. 1.

We cant afford to wait a day, he said.

Other ARPA funds on the move

The board received an update on the various other ARPA-funded projects at Mondays meeting, and while most still need more time and planning before the county can cut a check, one other project will go before the board next week.

County staff is asking that some ARPA funds be used to continue its Neighborhood Revitalization Acquisition and Demolition Program.

The program began after the sale of industrial property between the county and city of La Crosse on the promise that the county invest in neighborhood revitalization. The program currently helps people purchase and replace dilapidated housing in targeted neighborhoods in the city.

So far, the county has invested just over $1 million into the neighborhoods, boosting the tax base by about $29 million  though that number is a bit skewed because of the investment made in the massive, new, multimillion dollar 5th Ward housing project. The program now has only about $230,000 in funding left.

Community development specialist Brian Fukuda said that using ARPA funds would allow the county to newly invest in neighborhoods all over the county, not just in the city of La Crosse.

A resolution for this funding will go before the board next week. The county previously earmarked $2 million for housing redevelopment grants.

Most other ARPA projects wont be ready for approval until the second quarter of the year or later, staff said, including the funding for bridge housing for families and adults experiencing homelessness.

This story was updated at 9 a.m. Tuesday morning to include more details about ARPA projects.

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FORT McCOY  A select group of 15 Soldiers in the Wisconsin Army National Guard competed in the 2022 State Best Warrior Competition April 7-10 at Fort McCoy.

Seven non-commissioned officers and eight enlisted Soldiers had the opportunity to represent Wisconsin in the upcoming regional Best Warrior Competition at Camp Atterbury, Indiana, next month.

Sgt. Josia Bell, a resident of Rochester, Minnesota, with B Company, 1st Battalion, 128th Infantry Battalion, emerged as Wisconsins Noncommissioned Officer of the Year, while Spc. Joshua Kleinhans, a resident of Kiel, Wisconsin, with B Battery, 1st Battalion, 121st Field Artillery Battery, will compete in the regional competition as Wisconsins Soldier of the Year.

For three days, competitors from all over Wisconsin faced off against one another in challenges that tested their mental and physical aptitudes. Events included the Army Combat Fitness Test, M4 carbine, M17 pistol, and M249 machine gun qualifications, a physical appearance board, essay writing, land navigation, calling for fire, a simulated medical range, a written test, 12-mile ruck march, and hand grenade qualification.

The purpose of the Best Warrior Competition is to bring the best of the best together to try to determine the best non-commissioned officer (NCO) and Solider within the state and within every company, battalion, and brigade, said Command Sgt. Maj. Curtis Patrouille, the Wisconsin Army National Guards senior enlisted leader. They have gone through several competitions to try to determine their best representative to send to the competition.

Soldiers and NCOs had hectic days  the events of the competition were kept a secret from them until they showed up at the event itself. In addition, the sergeants major incorporated multiple mystery events like the dead mans hang and reorganizing flags in order of precedence.

What I love about this event every year is the sheer determination that I see from the individuals competing year in and year out  total exhaustion, sleep-deprived, and yet they just keep pushing and pushing. said Patrouille.

Competing in this competition is definitely an asset to becoming a better Solider all around, said Sgt. Tyler Buska, with Company D, 1st Battalion, 147th Aviation. Theres a lot of events throughout the competition that better yourself as a Solider and as an NCO. Its a very good experience, and I highly recommend it to all NCOs and Soldiers to give it a shot.

Each competitor brings with them a sponsor who has been with them in preparation for this event and during the entire competition. Without them, the event wouldnt be possible.

One of the fun things about being a sponsor is seeing these events and the competition between the different Soldiers, said Sgt. Adrianne Maniscalco, a sponsor from Company D, 147th Aviation. Theres a lot of Soldiers here from different units and jobs with different strengths and weaknesses.

The Indiana National Guard will host the regional Best Warrior Competition May 11-15 Camp Ripley, Minnesota.

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MADISON  A Republican-authored bill to legalize medical marijuana in Wisconsin will be getting its first public hearing next week, achieving one goal of backers and the latest sign of progress for those who want to loosen the state's laws.

The bill won't become law this year because Legislature has adjourned and won't be back until 2023. But the April 20 Senate committee hearing on the medical marijuana bill will give supporters their highest profile chance to make the case for loosening Wisconsin's marijuana laws.

Thirty-seven states have legalized medical marijuana and 18 have fully legalized it, including Illinois and Michigan. Wisconsins other two neighbors, Iowa and Minnesota, allow medical marijuana.

I want to encourage every Wisconsinite who has an interest in this to come engage in the process, share your perspective, and learn about the bill, said the measure's sponsor, Republican Sen. Mary Felzkowski, of Tomahawk, in a statement Monday announcing the hearing.

Whether you think the bill goes too far, or not far enough, whats important is that we all come together to have an open, honest and respectful discussion about moving this idea forward, she said.

Felzkowski also chairs the Senate committee on insurance, licensing and forestry that will be holding the hearing. The Legislature's largest hearing room was reserved for the hearing.

Democratic Sen. Melissa Agard, the chief proponent for full legalization, said holding a hearing on the bill after the Legislature had adjourned was a cynical political ploy that gives people false hope about the prospects of this legislation."

Agard said she was encouraged that people will have a chance to testify, but she was disappointed it didn't happen while the Legislature was in session.

Sadly, Republicans are all talk and no action when it comes to legalization efforts in Wisconsin," she said.

This session in Wisconsin there were bills from Democrats and Republicans that would legalize medical marijuana, from Democrats that would also legalize it for recreational use, and a bipartisan measure that would decriminalize the possession of marijuana.

All of those measures died when the Republican-controlled Legislature adjourned its session in February.

But the hearing next week will bring new attention to the issue and perhaps provide momentum for next session. Assembly Speaker Robin Vos has voiced support for medical marijuana, while Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu has said legalization is a federal issue.

Felzkowski introduced the same medical marijuana bill last session but it died without a hearing.

She has said the proposal was written in a limited way  it doesnt allow for smoking medical marijuana, for example  in order to gain support from Republican lawmakers. The Democratic medical marijuana bill would have allowed for smoking it.

Medicine is never one-size-fits-all, and its time for Wisconsin to have the conversation on adding this additional option which may help patients find the relief they need, Felzkowski said.

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Bail was set at $1 million Monday for a Madison man who was charged last week with taking part in what has been called an "execution" outside the Dane County Jail last month that left another man dead.

Amond D. Galtney, 25, who prosecutors said was driving an SUV that led police on a high-speed chase after the shooting death of Dwayne L. Collins Jr., 32, on South Carroll Street, is charged with being a party to first-degree intentional homicide and attempting to elude police.

During a court appearance by video, Neporsha Hamlin, a sister of Collins, said Galtney knew Collins and had grown up with him and "set him up" to be shot to death by Demone M. Cummins, 20, of Chicago, on March 30.

"This is someone who set my brother up, who knew him, who grew up with him, who is in childhood photos with my brother," Hamlin said. She added, directly to Galtney, "You set him up to be gunned down in front of the courthouse."

Hamlin also told Galtney, "You had a solid mind to stop everything that was in order. You knew the victim. And you still decided to go ahead and have him murdered in cold blood."

A criminal complaint filed last week details how the shooting happened, the video evidence that police have linking Cummins and Galtney to the crime, and details about the chase that followed, which ended with both men abandoning the SUV Galtney was driving and trying to flee on foot near the Alliant Energy Center. Both were captured a short time later.

The complaint also describes how the SUV and another car were driven together from Madison's South Side to the area around the Dane County Public Safety Building, where occupants of both vehicles waited and circled nearby until Collins left the jail. Collins had just appeared in court to face misdemeanor battery and disorderly conduct charges for an incident at home.

Collins' mother, Angela Briggs, who had driven Downtown to pick up her son, watched the shooting unfold in front of her.

But the complaint does not state why the shooting happened.

Reed Cornia, an attorney appearing for Galtney, said there's no evidence Galtney knew what Cummins was going to do. He asked for bail to be set at $50,000.

Galtney was briefly hospitalized late last week for an unspecified medical issue.

The complaint charges Cummins with shooting Collins using a semi-automatic handgun that was modified to be fully automatic, firing 15 rounds within an estimated three seconds.

Cummins, like Galtney, was jailed on $1 million bail. After his arrest, the complaint states, Cummins is heard on recorded jail phone calls in which he appeared to be telling the people on the other end of the line that there was a good chance he would be spending the rest of his life in prison.

Deputy District Attorney William Brown said Monday that street video "very clearly shows (Galtney) was driving the vehicle that essentially engaged in stalking the area around the Dane County Jail waiting for someone to be released."

When Collins came out, Brown said, the SUV Galtney was driving slowed alongside Collins, and the passenger, Cummins, jumped out "and does execute the victim right essentially in front of the jail."

Police quickly found the SUV, which led officers on a chase at up to 80 mph on city streets.

"Many people were endangered by this defendant's fleeing," Brown said.

Galtney is currently under state Department of Corrections supervision, which may be revoked, for a prior conviction, Brown said.

Galtney and Cummins are scheduled to appear at a preliminary hearing next week.

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KIAMBU COUNTY, Kenya (AP)  Monica Kariuki is about ready to give up on farming. What is driving her off her 10 acres of land outside Nairobi isnt bad weather, pests or blight  the traditional agricultural curses  but fertilizer: It costs too much.

Despite thousands of miles separating her from the battlefields of Ukraine, Kariuki and her cabbage, corn and spinach farm are indirect victims of Russian President Vladimir Putins invasion. The war has pushed up the price of natural gas, a key ingredient in fertilizer, and has led to severe sanctions against Russia, a major exporter of fertilizer.

Kariuki used to spend 20,000 Kenyan shillings, or about $175, to fertilize her entire farm. Now, she would need to spend five times as much. Continuing to work the land, she said, would yield nothing but losses.

"I cannot continue with the farming business. I am quitting farming to try something else, she said.

Higher fertilizer prices are making the world's food supply more expensive and less abundant, as farmers skimp on nutrients for their crops and get lower yields. While the ripples will be felt by grocery shoppers in wealthy countries, the squeeze on food supplies will land hardest on families in poorer countries. It could hardly come at a worse time: The U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization said last week that its world food-price index in March reached the highest level since it started in 1990.

The fertilizer crunch threatens to further limit worldwide food supplies, already constrained by the disruption of crucial grain shipments from Ukraine and Russia. The loss of those affordable supplies of wheat, barley and other grains raises the prospect of food shortages and political instability in Middle Eastern, African and some Asian countries where millions rely on subsidized bread and cheap noodles.

Food prices will skyrocket because farmers will have to make profit, so what happens to consumers? said Uche Anyanwu, an agricultural expert at the University of Nigeria.

The aid group Action Aid warns that families in the Horn of Africa are already being driven to the brink of survival.

The U.N. says Russia is the worlds No. 1 exporter of nitrogen fertilizer and No. 2 in phosphorus and potassium fertilizers. Its ally Belarus, also contending with Western sanctions, is another major fertilizer producer.

Many developing countries  including Mongolia, Honduras, Cameroon, Ghana, Senegal, Mexico and Guatemala  rely on Russia for at least a fifth of their imports.

The conflict also has driven up the already-exorbitant price of natural gas, used to make nitrogen fertilizer. The result: European energy prices so high that some fertilizer companies have closed their businesses and stopped operating their plants, said David Laborde, a researcher at the International Food Policy Research Institute.

For corn and cabbage farmer Jackson Koeth, 55, of Eldoret in western Kenya, the conflict in Ukraine was distant and puzzling until he had to decide whether to go ahead with the planting season. Fertilizer prices had doubled from last year.

Koeth said he decided to keep planting but only on half the acreage of years past. Yet he doubts he can make a profit with fertilizer so costly.

Greek farmer Dimitris Filis, who grows olives, oranges and lemons, said you have to search to find ammonia nitrate and that the cost of fertilizing a 10-hectare (25-acre) olive grove has doubled to 560 euros ($310). While selling his wares at an Athens farm market, he said most farmers plan to skip fertilizing their olive and orange groves this year.

Many people will not use fertilizers at all, and this as a result, lowers the quality of the production and the production itself, and slowly, slowly at one point, they wont be able to farm their land because there will be no income, Filis said.

In China, the price of potash  potassium-rich salt used as fertilizer  is up 86% from a year earlier. Nitrogen fertilizer prices have climbed 39% and phosphorus fertilizer is up 10%.

In the eastern Chinese city of Taian, the manager of a 35-family cooperative that raises wheat and corn said fertilizer prices have jumped 40% since the start of the year.

We can hardly make any money, said the manager, who would give only his surname, Zhao.

Terry Farms, which grows produce on 2,100 acres largely in Ventura, California, has seen prices of some fertilizer formulations double; others are up 20%. Shifting fertilizers is risky, vice president William Terry said, because cheaper versions might not give the crop what it needs as a food source.''

As the growing season approaches in Maine, potato farmers are grappling with a 70% to 100% increase in fertilizer prices from last year, depending on the blend.

I think its going to be a pretty expensive crop, no matter what youre putting in the ground, from fertilizer to fuel, labor, electrical and everything else, said Donald Flannery, executive director of the Maine Potato Board.

In Prudentopolis, a town in Brazil's Parana state, farmer Edimilson Rickli showed off a warehouse that would normally be packed with fertilizer bags but has only enough to last a few more weeks. He's worried that, with the war in Ukraine showing no sign of letting up, he'll have to go without fertilizer when he plants wheat, barley and oats next month.

The question is: Where Brazil is going to buy more fertilizer from?" he said. "We have to find other markets.''

Other countries are hoping to help fill the gaps. Nigeria, for example, opened Africa's largest fertilizer factory last month, and the $2.5 billion plant has already shipped fertilizer to the United States, Brazil, India and Mexico.

India, meanwhile, is seeking more fertilizer imports from Israel, Oman, Canada and Saudi Arabia to make up for lost shipments from Russia and Belarus.

If the supply shortage gets worse, we will produce less, said Kishor Rungta of the nonprofit Fertiliser Association of India. Thats why we need to look for options to get more fertilizers in the country.

Agricultural firms are providing support for farmers, especially in Africa where poverty often limits access to vital farm inputs. In Kenya, Apollo Agriculture is helping farmers get fertilizer and access to finance.

Some farmers are skipping the planting season and others are going into some other ventures such as buying goats to cope, said Benjamin Njenga, co-founder of the firm. So these support services go a long way for them.

Governments are helping, too. The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced last month that it was issuing $250 million in grants to support U.S. fertilizer production. The Swiss government has released part of its nitrogen fertilizer reserves.

Still, there's no easy answer to the double whammy of higher fertilizer prices and limited supplies. The next 12 to 18 months, food researcher LaBorde said, will be difficult.''

The market already was super, super tight" before the war, said Kathy Mathers of the Fertilizer Institute trade group.

Unfortunately, in many cases, growers are just happy to get fertilizer at all, she said.



Asadu reported from Lagos, Nigeria, and Wiseman from Washington. Contributing to this story were: Tatiana Pollastri in Sao Paulo, Brazil; Debora Alvares in Brasilia, Brazil; Sheikh Saaliq in New Delhi; Lefteris Pitarakis in Athens; Jamey Keaten in Geneva; Joe McDonald and Yu Bing in Beijing; Lisa Rathke in Marshfield, Vermont; Dave Kolpack in Fargo, North Dakota; Kathia Martinez in Panama City; Christoph Noelting in Frankfurt; Fabiola Sanchez in Mexico City; Veselin Toshkov in Sofia, Bulgaria; Tarik El-Barakah in Rabat, Morocco; Tassanee Vejpongsa and Elaine Kurtenbach in Bangkok; Ilan Ben Zion in Jerusalem; Edie Lederer at the United Nations; and Aya Batrawy in Dubai.
U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey came to Lancaster County on Monday to listen to, and learn from public health experts and elected officials about the ongoing opioid epidemic.

The Republican, who is not running for reelection this year, said he wanted suggestions on what he could do to fight the epidemic. Hes held such roundtables elsewhere in the state.

I am now in my final year in the Senate. And this is the subject I've had more meetings on with constituents than any other single subject. Its probably bigger than most other topics put together, Toomey said. That's how just terrible this whole situation has been and how much concern there is and it's across the entire commonwealth.

While fatal opioid overdoses in Lancaster County had been declining  from a high of 168 in 2017 to 99 in 2019  the number of deaths increased the past two years: 143 deaths in 2020 and 136 in 2021, according to LG Healths Alice Yoder.

And more and more, according to panel speakers, fentanyl is surpassing heroin in use  whether the user is intentionally using heroin, or getting it mixed in with other drugs  and danger.

District Attorney Heather Adams said she is seeing an increase in fentanyls presence in fatal overdose cases that lead to criminal charges.

Cutting red tape

Toomey left with a few topics to follow up on, including tweaking how funding to fight addiction can be used, legislation that would allow Medicaid payments for people incarcerated during the 30 days before their release, and legalizing drug test strips.

Rick Kastner, executive director of the Lancaster County Drug and Alcohol Commission, said hes been frustrated with how he has to manage state and federal funding.

I receive allocations for alcoholism. I receive allocations for opioid addiction. I receive allocations for stimulant addictions. And so that becomes a problem because I may have a surplus in one of those categories and need funding and another and I can't move that money around, he said. If I don't utilize it, I have to give it back.

Another hurdle is treating addicts who are released from jail or prison, many of whom are excluded by law from Medicaid eligibility. That means while they may get treatment for their addiction while incarcerated, they may not have the financial means without Medicaid when they are released to continue treatment.

Colin Suber, a program supervisor at The Rase Project, which serves people in recovery, spoke of his experience with the status quo. He was released from jail in Philadelphia in 2016 and could not get Medicaid reestablished for several months.

I was able to stay sober through my addictions and my mental illness for about a month But after a month, I couldn't do it anymore and had to self medicate, Suber said. If I would have had those services, things might have turned out differently.

Currently, drug test strips  commonly called fentanyl strips  are illegal in Pennsylvania because theyre considered drug paraphernalia. But the strips also allow drug users to detect fentanyl that may be cut into other drugs, including marijuana and counterfeit pain pills to boost potency without the user being aware, according to Dr. Mike Reihart, director of emergency services at Penn State Health Lancaster Medical Center.

Reihart, who previously worked at Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health, said hes also seen an uptick in the use of methamphetamine coupled with fentanyl.

Ive been here 25 years and Im seeing more methamphetamine than Ive ever seen in my life, Reihart said.

District Attorney Adams agreed, saying police are seizing more methamphetamine.

Dr. Mitchell Crawford, director of addiction services for WellSpan Philhaven, said the opioid epidemic cuts across geography, race and class.

We started seeing every single person being affected, whether it was a CEO or a CEOs child or someone who was homeless, said Crawford, whose sister died of a heroin overdose. That really opened my eyes that this is something that, one, I didn't understand at all; and two, why all this affects everyone: We're all susceptible.
Philadelphia became the first major U.S. city to reinstate its indoor mask mandate on Monday after reporting a sharp increase in coronavirus infections, with the city's top health official saying she wanted to forestall a potential new wave driven by an omicron subvariant.

Confirmed COVID-19 cases have risen more than 50% in 10 days, the threshold at which the citys guidelines call for people to wear masks indoors, said Dr. Cheryl Bettigole, the health commissioner. Health officials believe the recent spike is being driven by the highly transmissible BA.2 subvariant of omicron, which has spread rapidly throughout Europe and Asia, and has become dominant in the U.S. in recent weeks.

If we fail to act now, knowing that every previous wave of infections has been followed by a wave of hospitalizations, and then a wave of deaths, it will be too late for many of our residents, said Bettigole, noting about 750 Philadelphia residents died in the wintertime omicron outbreak. This is our chance to get ahead of the pandemic, to put our masks on until we have more information about the severity of this new variant.

Health inspectors will begin enforcing the mask mandate at city businesses on April 18.

Most states and cities dropped their masking requirements in February and early March following new guidelines from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that put less focus on case counts and more on hospital capacity. The CDC said at that time that with the virus in retreat, most Americans could safely take off their masks.

Philadelphia ended its indoor mask mandate March 2, and Bettigole acknowledged it was wonderful to feel that sense of normalcy again.

Confirmed cases have since risen to more than 140 per day  still a fraction of what Philadelphia saw at the height of the omicron surge  while only 46 patients are in the hospital with COVID-19. The CDC says community spread in Philadelphia remains low, a level at which the agency says that masking can be optional.

The restaurant industry pushed back against the city's reimposed mask mandate, saying workers will bear the brunt of customer anger over the new rules.

This announcement is a major blow to thousands of small businesses and other operators in the city who were hoping this spring would be the start of recovery, said Ben Fileccia, senior director of operations at the Pennsylvania Restaurant & Lodging Association.

PolicyLab at Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia said Friday that while it expects some increased transmission in the northern U.S. over the next several weeks, hospital admissions have remained low and our team advises against required masking given that hospital capacity is good.

Bettigole said requiring people to mask up will help restaurants and other businesses stay open, while a huge new wave of COVID-19 would keep customers at home. She said hospital capacity was just one factor that went into her decision to reinstate the mandate.

I sincerely wish we didnt have to do this again, Bettigole said. But I am very worried about our vulnerable neighbors and loved ones.

In New York City, Mayor Eric Adams has paused his push to unwind many of the citys virus rules as cases have risen, opting for now to keep a mask mandate for 2 to 4-year-olds in city schools and preschools. But Adams, a Democrat who has said New Yorkers should not let the pandemic run their lives, has already lifted most other mask mandates and rules requiring proof of vaccination to dine in restaurants, work out at gyms or attend shows.

Adams was asked at a virtual news conference Monday afternoon if he was considering reimposing the New York City mask mandate in light of Philadelphias decision. The mayor said he would listen to his team of medical doctors for their advice on whether to bring back any restrictions. Adams himself tested positive for COVID-19 on Sunday.

New York City is now averaging around 1,800 new cases per day, about three times higher than in early March when New York began easing rules. That does not include the many home tests that go unreported to health officials.

The latest outbreak has struck many high-profile officials in Washington, including Cabinet members and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and the governors of New Jersey and Connecticut. Some universities have reinstated mask mandates.

D.C. health officials say they have no immediate plans to change virus protocols, but they reserve the right to change course down the road.

Rubinkam reported from northeastern Pennsylvania. Associated Press reporter Michelle L. Price in New York contributed to this story.
PIERRE, S.D. (AP)  The South Dakota House on Tuesday impeached state Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg over a 2020 car crash in which he killed a pedestrian but initially said he might have struck a deer or another large animal.

Ravnsborg, a Republican, is the first official to be impeached in South Dakota history. He will at least temporarily be removed from office pending the historic Senate trial, where it takes a two-thirds majority to convict on impeachment charges. The Senate must wait at least 20 days to hold its trial, but has not yet set a date.

Ravnsborg pleaded no contest last year to a pair of traffic misdemeanors in the crash, including making an illegal lane change. He has cast Joseph Boevers death as a tragic accident.

In narrowly voting to impeach the state's top prosecutor, the Republican-controlled House charged Ravnsborg with committing crimes that caused someones death, making numerous misrepresentations to law enforcement officers after the crash and using his office to navigate the criminal investigation. A Senate conviction would mean Ravnsborg would be barred from holding any state office in the future.

When were dealing with the life of one of your citizens, I think that weighed heavily on everyone, said Republican Rep. Will Mortenson, who introduced the articles of impeachment.

Ravnsborg said in a statement he is looking forward to the Senate trial, where I believe I will be vindicated.

Meanwhile, Tim Bormann, the attorney generals chief of staff, said his staff would professionally dedicate ourselves to their work while Ranvsborg is forced to take a leave.

Ravnsborg, who took office in 2019, was returning home from a Republican dinner in September 2020 when he struck and killed Boever, who was walking along a rural highway. A sheriff who responded after Ravnsborg called 911 initially reported it as a collision with an animal. Ravnsborg has said he did not realize he hit a man until he returned the next day and found the body.

The Highway Patrol concluded that Ravnsborgs car crossed completely onto the highway shoulder before hitting Boever, and criminal investigators said later that they didnt believe some of Ravnsborgs statements.

The House rejected the recommendation of a GOP-backed majority report from a special investigative committee, which argued that anything wrong he did was not part of his official duties in office. But even Republican lawmakers who argued his actions did not meet constitutional grounds for impeachment said Ravnsborg should resign.

He should have stepped down, should have done the honorable thing, said House Speaker Spencer Gosch, who oversaw the House investigation and voted against impeachment.

The articles of impeachment required approval from a majority of the 70 members of the House and passed by just one vote.

Of the 36 people who voted in favor, eight were Democrats and 28 were Republicans. The 31 against it were all Republicans. Republican Rep. Scott Odenbach recused himself because he had given legal advice to the attorney general after the crash. Two other Republican lawmakers were absent.

Ravnsborg, who had been largely silent about the crash and was not present for the vote, sent lawmakers a pair of defiant letters Monday night urging them not to impeach him.

In a few hours, your vote will set a precedent for years to come, Ravnsborg wrote. No state has ever impeached an elected official for a traffic accident.

He also accused Republican Gov. Kristi Noem of interfering in the investigation and of supporting impeachment because of the attorney generals investigations into her behavior.

After Ravnsborg fell out with the governor following the crash, he pushed a pair of ethics complaints against Noem to the states Government Accountability Board. His office is also investigating whether an organization aligned with the governor broke campaign finance disclosure laws.

Noem lauded the vote on Twitter, writing that the House did the right thing for the people of South Dakota and for Joe Boever's family.

The decision brought some relief for his family, who his wedding photo as they watched from the House gallery during the vote. They have decried the criminal prosecution as a slap on the wrist for Ravnsborg.

Were a step closer to justice. Were not done, said Boevers cousin, Nick Nemec.

Now we just need the Senates help on this because these laws need to be changed badly, said Jennifer Boever, who was married to Boever. People are getting hurt and killed, and the pedestrian has no self-defense against a 4,000 pound (1,814 kilogram) vehicle.
The Lancaster County Board of Commissioners on Wednesday are expected to approve the final guidelines for public proposals on how the county should spend a portion of the $106 million received under the federal American Rescue Plan Act.

At Tuesdays work session, board Chairman Ray DAgostino explained that the county waited until final spending rules were released by the U.S. Treasury Department on April 1, and the county is ready to move quickly to solicit public input.

But the commissioners did not commit to reserving a specific portion of funds for projects like broadband internet buildout or affordable housing, and they said county departments are also preparing proposals for ARPA dollars, leaving uncertain how much of the $106 million will be allocated based on proposals from the general public versus community organizations and nonprofits.

It would be premature and not prudent to carve out specific amounts, said Chairman Ray DAgostino. We dont know yet what the community is going to say or propose.

Commissioner John Trescot, responding to a public request that a certain amount of money be held in reserve for broadband projects, said it was a reasonable question but echoed DAgostinos point that the commissioners want to see the publics ideas first.

Overall, the board telegraphed a methodical approach to spending the ARPA funds. Its not wise to go out and spend this money quickly. We ought to be slow and careful as weve said from the beginning, said Commissioner Josh Parsons.

Parsons also noted that Congress is considering legislation to loosen the rules on how local governments can spend the funds. If thats approved and signed into law, he noted, more ARPA funds could be used to fund the new prison project.

ARPA process

The call for public proposals on ARPA funds notes that the money can only be spent on water, sewer, broadband, clean water and public safety projects, as well as technology modernization, workforce training, affordable housing and public health improvements at hospitals or nursing homes.

Per ARPAs rules, the county must review and approve specific proposals accounting for its full ARPA budget by the end of 2024, though payments can continue until the end of 2026.

The county set an August 31 deadline for the first round of proposals, to be reviewed and funded on a rolling basis. A second window is possible, the commissioners indicated, depending on the number of requests ahead of the first deadline.

The commissioners said they expect applications for ARPA funds to start coming in from organizations and the public almost as soon as the guidelines are approved and the application posted to the county website.

The county guidelines can be read online at https://lanc.news/ARPA.
When: East Petersburg Borough Council meeting, April 5.

What happened: Lancaster County Commissioner John Trescot, who was appointed in February to finish the unexpired term of Craig Lehman, told East Petersburg officials he wants to help the county fix its chronic employee retention problem. Trescot said he is a centrist Democrat with a long career in engineering and managing huge budgets. He said he has ideas for the remaining American Rescue Plan Act funds allocated to the county in 2021, to support COVID-19 response efforts, replace lost revenue, and support economic stabilization for households and businesses. Of the $106 million, he said that $15 million is already spent. Trescot takes the long view for investing these funds saying he wants to help spend the remainder to benefit all 30 to 40 years from now.

Questions for the commissioner: When council members asked what he would spend it on, Trescot named three projects: rental housing for low- and mid-income people; clean water actions that would benefit us all; broadband access across the county that could change your wealth factor. Council President Debra Miller asked if the commissioners could form a coalition to address increased traffic fatalities in East Petersburg Borough. Trescot said he will bring it to the attention of the county Board of Commissioners.

Quotable: Broadband access across the county could change your wealth factor, Trescot said.

Knock, Knock: Council agreed to advertise an ordinance amendment that regulates when peddlers and solicitors can rap on your door in the borough. The changes come in response to residents complaints of door-to-door canvassing late at night, Borough Manager Karen St. Clair explained in an email. St. Clair said the ordinance states transient retail businesses may not engage in any business activity except by prior appointment, at any time on a Sunday or legal holiday; or at any time before 9 a.m. or after 6 p.m. A legal holiday now encompasses all holidays that result in the borough office being closed.

Quotable: Residents have the power, said Adam Gochnauer, pro-tempore member, referring to the peddling and soliciting ordinance.

Congratulations: Council member Sandra Valdez, was honored last month during National Womens Month by the Spanish American Civic Association for her outstanding work in the community, including being the first Latina elected to the East Petersburg Borough Council.

Whats next: Easter Egg Hunt at East Petersburg Community Park is at noon April 16. Councils committee meeting is at 6 p.m. April 28. The regular borough council meeting is at 7 p.m. on May 3.
KYIV, Ukraine (AP)  Vladimir Putin vowed Tuesday that Russia's bloody offensive in Ukraine would continue until its goals are fulfilled and insisted the campaign was going as planned, despite a major withdrawal in the face of stiff Ukrainian opposition and significant losses.

Russian troops, thwarted in their push toward Ukraine's capital, are now focusing on the eastern Donbas region, where Ukraine said Tuesday it was investigating a claim that a poisonous substance had been dropped on its troops. It was not clear what the substance might be, but Western officials warned that any use of chemical weapons by Russia would be a serious escalation of the already devastating war.

Russia invaded on Feb. 24, with the goal, according to Western officials, of taking Kyiv, the capital, toppling the government and installing a Moscow-friendly regime. In the six weeks since, the ground advance stalled and Russian forces lost potentially thousands of fighters and were accused of killing civilians and other atrocities.

Putin insisted Tuesday that his invasion aimed to protect people in parts of eastern Ukraine controlled by Moscow-backed rebels and to ensure Russias own security.

He said Russia had no other choice but to launch what he calls a special military operation, and vowed it would continue until its full completion and the fulfillment of the tasks that have been set.

For now, Putin's forces are gearing up for a major offensive in the Donbas, which has been torn by fighting between Russian-allied separatists and Ukrainian forces since 2014, and where Russia has recognized the separatists claims of independence. Military strategists say Moscow appears to hope that local support, logistics and the terrain in the region favor its larger, better-armed military, potentially allowing Russia to finally turn the tide in its favor.

In Mariupol, a strategic port city in the Donbas, a Ukrainian regiment defending a steel mill claimed a drone dropped a poisonous substance on the city. It indicated there were no serious injuries. The assertion by the Azov Regiment, a far-right group now part of the Ukrainian military, could not be independently verified.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that while experts try to determine what the substance might be, The world must react now. Evidence of inhuman cruelty toward women and children in Bucha and other suburbs of Kyiv continued to surface, he added, including of alleged rapes.

Not all serial rapists reach the cruelty of Russian soldiers, Zelenskyy said.

The claims came after a Russia-allied separatist official appeared to urge the use of chemical weapons, telling Russian state TV on Monday that separatist forces should seize the plant by first blocking all the exits. And then well use chemical troops to smoke them out of there, the official, Eduard Basurin, said. He denied Tuesday that separatist forces had used chemical weapons in Mariupol.

Ukraine's Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar said officials were investigating, and it was possible phosphorus munitions  which cause horrendous burns but are not classed as chemical weapons  had been used in Mariupol.

Much of the city has been leveled in weeks of pummeling by Russian troops. The mayor said Monday that the siege has left more than 10,000 civilians dead, their bodies carpeted through the streets. Mayor Vadym Boychenko said the death toll in Mariupol alone could surpass 20,000.

Zelenskyy adviser Mykhailo Podolyak acknowledged the challenges Ukrainian troops face in Mariupol. He said via Twitter that they remain blocked and are having issues with supplies, while Ukraine's president and generals do everything possible (and impossible) to find a solution.

For more than 1.5 months our defenders protect the city from (Russian) troops, which are 10+ times larger," Podolyak tweeted. Theyre fighting under the bombs for each meter of the city. They make (Russia) pay an exorbitant price.

British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said the use of chemical weapons would be a callous escalation in this conflict, while Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne said it would be a wholesale breach of international law.

U.S. President Joe Biden for the first time referred to Russias invasion as a genocide. He was even blunter later Tuesday, repeating the term and saying: It's become clearer and clearer that Putin is just trying to wipe out the idea of even being a Ukrainian.

Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said in a statement that the U.S. could not confirm the drone report. But he noted the administrations persistent concerns about Russias potential to use a variety of riot control agents, including tear gas mixed with chemical agents.

Britain, meanwhile, has warned that Russia may resort to phosphorus bombs, which are banned in civilian areas under international law, in Mariupol.

Most armies use phosphorus munitions to illuminate targets or to produce smoke screens. Deliberately firing them into an enclosed space to expose people to fumes could breach the Chemical Weapons Convention, said Marc-Michael Blum, a former laboratory head at the Netherlands-based Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons.

Once you start using the properties of white phosphorus, toxic properties, specifically and deliberately, then it becomes banned, he said.

In Washington, a senior U.S. defense official said the Biden administration was preparing yet another package of military aid for Ukraine possibly totaling $750 million to be announced in the coming days. The official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss plans not yet publicly announced. Delivery is due to be completed this week of $800 million in military assistance approved by Biden a month ago.

In the face of stiff resistance by Ukrainian forces bolstered by Western weapons, Russian forces have increasingly relied on bombarding cities, flattening many urban areas and killing thousands. The war has driven more than 10 million Ukrainians from their homes  including nearly two-thirds of the country's children.

Moscow's retreat from cities and towns around Kyiv led to the discovery of large numbers of apparently massacred civilians, prompting widespread condemnation and accusations of war crimes.

More than 720 people were killed in Kyiv suburbs that had been occupied by Russian troops and over 200 were considered missing, the Interior Ministry said early Wednesday.

In Bucha alone, Mayor Anatoliy Fedoruk said 403 bodies had been found and the toll could rise as minesweepers comb the area.

Ukraines prosecutor-generals office said Tuesday it was also looking into events in the Brovary district, which lies to the northeast.

It said the bodies of six civilians were found with gunshot wounds in a basement in the village of Shevchenkove and Russian forces were believed to be responsible.

Prosecutors are also investigating allegations that Russian forces fired on a convoy of civilians trying to leave by car from the village of Peremoha in the Brovary district, killing four people including a 13-year-old boy. In another attack near Bucha, five people were killed including two children when a car was fired upon, prosecutors said.

Putin falsely claimed Tuesday that Ukraine's accusation that hundreds of civilians were killed by Russian troops in the town of Bucha were fake. Associated Press journalists saw dozens of bodies in and around the town, some of whom had their hands bound and appeared to have been shot at close range.

Speaking at the Vostochny space launch facility in Russia's far east, in his first known foray outside Moscow since the war began, Putin also said the West would fail to isolate Russia and its economy has withstood a blitz of sanctions.

Addressing the pace of the campaign, he said Moscow was proceeding calmly and rhythmically to achieve the planned goals while minimizing the losses.

The Russian defense ministry said Tuesday that it used used air- and sea-launched missiles to destroy an ammunition depot and airplane hangar at Starokostiantyniv in the western Khmelnytskyi region and an ammunition depot near Kyiv.



Karmanau reported from Lviv, Ukraine. Associated Press writer Robert Burns in Washington, and AP journalists around the world contributed to this report.



Follow the APs coverage of the war at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine
THE ISSUE

Gov. Tom Wolf and Democratic state Rep. Jordan Harris of Philadelphia visited Millersville University on Thursday to promote the Nellie Bly Scholarship Program proposal that would pay for Pennsylvania students attending state community colleges or one of the 14 Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education colleges and universities, including Millersville University, LNP | LancasterOnlines Ashley Stalnecker reported Friday. This is a renewed attempt to establish the program after it failed to win support over funding concerns. It would be a $200 million scholarship program focusing on what the Wolf administration calls high-workforce needs, such as health care, education and public service. Student recipients could use the scholarships to pay for tuition or related costs, including supplies. House Bill 2497, which would create the program, has been referred to the state House Education Committee. Harris is the bill's prime sponsor.

Elizabeth Jane Cochran, born in 1864 near Pittsburgh, attended a year of college at what is now Indiana University of Pennsylvania, but was forced to drop out because of her familys financial woes.

She began her journalism career at the Pittsburgh Dispatch. We know her by her pen name: Nellie Bly.

A pioneering investigative journalist, Bly famously feigned mental illness so she would be admitted to what was then known as a lunatic asylum; she spent 10 days there, detailing the harrowing conditions in a series of articles for the New York World. She also bested Jules Vernes fictional character, Phileas Fogg, by traveling around the world in 72 days, an exercise that revealed some of her flaws as well as her tenacity.

Nellie Bly succeeded professionally despite her lack of a college degree, but times have changed. Now, attending a university or a postsecondary institution such as Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology is generally essential to making a good living.

According to the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce, a bachelors degree is worth $2.8 million on average over a lifetime. Setting aside the wild cards of race/ethnicity and gender  and those are significant factors  individuals with a bachelors degree earn 31% more than those with an associates degree and 84% more than those with just a high school diploma. The data are clear: a college degree is key to economic opportunity, that centers website states.

Its also key to the commonwealths economic future. Pennsylvania employers  including its hospitals and other health care facilities  need skilled and educated employees.

For these reasons, wed like to see the state Legislature finally approve the Nellie Bly Scholarship Program.

The hitch? As Stalnecker reported, the program would be funded by both the federal American Rescue Plan Act and the Race Horse Development Trust Fund. The fund comes from assessments that casinos pay on slots revenue, and is used to aid horse breeders and related businesses, she explained.

Predictably, Pennsylvanias horse racing industry is opposed.

We understand that some racehorse breeding farms are family-owned and employ Pennsylvania workers. But, as weve written before, wed rather see state tax revenue go to college students in need of financial assistance than to racehorses.

Were not sure why so much public money  about $240 million a year in state tax revenue from slot machines  is going toward propping up the horse racing industry.

Meanwhile, more than 2.1 million Pennsylvanians have unpaid student loans, according to the media organization PublicSource.

And, as Gov. Wolf said Thursday at Millersville University, the average debt for a Pennsylvania student was $39,000 in 2020. According to the Institute for College Access & Success, the state has the third-highest average debt per student in the nation.

Of course, a $200 million scholarship program isnt going to solve the student debt crisis in the commonwealth. But it would help.

And this scholarship program would pay dividends to Pennsylvania employers and taxpayers: Recipients would be required, after graduation, to live and work in Pennsylvania for the same amount of time that they received the scholarship benefit.

As Millersville University President Daniel Wubah said, Investing in the students who enroll in our state universities and community colleges is a strategic investment in the commonwealths future.

Were not on board with the idea of sweeping student loan forgiveness. But we do support programs aimed at making college more affordable and at keeping students from racking up onerous amounts of debt.

We cannot tell our young people that education is an elevator out of poverty and then give them a broken elevator, Rep. Harris, a Millersville University graduate, correctly said. We have to give them all of the tools that are necessary, and right now we have the resources to do this.

We know the odds are long for the Nellie Bly Scholarship Program.

As PennLive reported in February, state House Appropriations Committee Chairman Stan Saylor, R-York County, said the program was dead on arrival. ... The General Assemblys been very clear on that.

But a June 2021 Franklin & Marshall College Poll found that 83% of voters surveyed said the state should use tax revenue generated from slot machines for purposes other than the Race Horse Development Trust Fund. And 82% either strongly favored, or somewhat favored, using some of these tax dollars to fund scholarships for state system students.

College students, employers in the commonwealth and schools in the state system could use the boost that the Nellie Bly Scholarship Program would provide. State lawmakers should stop saying nay to the idea.

Or they should come up with a similarly beneficial idea of their own.
Brad Clubbs father, Clint, was an owner of Wickersham Construction in Lancaster, so it was no surprise that Brad would join the business after attending the University of Delaware 40 years ago. But it wouldnt be long before the son would find a niche of his own. While overseeing site contractors at Flyway Business Park near the Lancaster Airport, Brad convinced his father to let him rent some equipment and cut in the streets.

Three years later, at age 26, I went into the excavating business, he says. We did $1 million in sales in the first year, probably a fair amount of money back then for a kid who didnt know what he was doing. Brad Clubb clearly did know what he was doing back in 1987. That company, Flyway Excavating, is still going strong, with 35 employees and an estimated $15 million in sales in 2022.

While the company has done public and private work since day one, it has found its niche in municipal projects and environmentally friendly projects such as waterway restoration and dam removal and rehabilitation. And Clubb has taken steps to ensure its success will continue.

After 34 years as company president, Clubb is stepping down from day-to-day operations and assuming the role of CEO. Along with that transition, the Mount Joy company has announced the following additional personnel changes:

Ross Clubb, Brads son, has assumed the role of president. He joined Flyway in 2006 as a seasonal employee, working as a laborer and completing estimating take-offs. After earning a degree in civil engineering from the University of Delaware, Ross started full time as a field supervisor in 2011 and became part of the second-generation ownership team in 2013. Most recently he served as vice president of estimating.

Peter Hartmann joined Flyway earlier this year as an estimator/project manager. Hartmann, of Lititz, previously worked in municipal government serving in technology and engineering roles with a focus on municipal wastewater engineering and geographic information systems. A graduate of Shippensburg University with a degree in geography, he has worked extensively with subdivision and land development projects with an emphasis on leveraging technology to improve and implement workflows.

Bryce Workman joined Flyway this year as a business development representative. Workman, of Lititz, worked for Flyway as a seasonal employee in high school and college. A 2019 graduate of Juniata College with a degree in fisheries and aquatic sciences, he previously worked at the Lancaster County Conservation District where he continued to build on his knowledge of environmental practices. In his new role, Workman will combine his education and field experience to help the company continue its environmental work.

Kent Martin, an employee of Flyway since 2012, recently became the newest member of the second-generation ownership team, which also includes Ross Clubb and two other members of the Flyway management team, Vice President of Project Management Jeremy Coble and Secretary/Treasurer Bryan Martin. Kent Martin began his career with Flyway as a full-time lowboy driver and has since held positions as site supervisor and project manager. He currently serves as safety director and general superintendent.

Brad Clubb began building that new generation of ownership back in 2013. I didnt want Ross to have to wear all the hats I wore, Brad says. Flyway has continued to grow. It allowed us to have a broader base of skills so one person didnt have to be an expert at everything. We each have our own area of expertise, Ross Clubb says. At one point Brad had to do all that. It just makes us stronger.

While the companys management and ownership has changed, its mission remains the same  focusing on environmentally friendly projects and the repurposing of areas, rather than development.

Flyway Excavatings recent award-winning projects include the floodplain restoration of two tributaries to Fox Run in York County and the revitalization of Culliton Park in southwest Lancaster city, with a complete overhaul of the stormwater system and recreational facilities.

The firms latest project is the reconstruction of Ewell Plaza, formerly Lancaster Square, on North Queen Street in the city.

Since 1987, Flyway Excavating has provided high-quality, environmentally friendly excavation and waterway improvement services to the Mid-Atlantic region. We bring a safety first mentality to each job, proven by our outstanding safety record. When you rely on Flyway, youll have the peace of mind to focus on what you do best. See more of Flyway Excavating's successful projects here.
The United States has sharply increased the number of Ukrainians it is admitting into the country through Mexico.

Officials in the Mexican city of Tijuana said last week that about 1,000 refugees from Ukraine were waiting to cross into the U.S. Tijuana sits just across the border from San Diego, California.

The Mexican city has become a final stop for Ukrainians seeking refuge in the U.S. as Russia continues its military campaign in Ukraine.

Information has spread on social media that a volunteer group is helping to guide hundreds of refugees daily from Tijuanas airport to temporary shelters. The group is made up largely of Slavic churches in the western United States.

In less than two weeks, the volunteers were able to set up an effective network that provided food, security, transportation and shelter, The Associated Press reported.

Refugees generally spend two to four days in the shelters before receiving approval to enter the U.S. They are permitted to enter on a program that aims to meet urgent humanitarian needs.

U.S. officials said they started processing Ukrainians on April 6 through a pedestrian crossing in San Diego that had been temporarily closed to the public. The crossing seeks to process 578 people a day with the help of 24 officers, said Enrique Lucero, Tijuanas director of migrant affairs.

We feel so lucky, so blessed, said Tatiana Bondarenko. She traveled through Moldova, Romania, Austria and Mexico before arriving in San Diego with her husband and three children. She said her goal was to reach Sacramento, California, to live with her mother, who she had not seen for 15 years.

Another Ukrainian family took pictures near a sign for the U.S. Customs and Border Protection at San Diego's San Ysidro port of entry. Volunteers offered food to refugees who waited for family to pick them up or for buses to take them to a nearby church.

We realized we had a problem that the government wasnt going to solve, so we solved it, said Phil Metzger. He is with Calvary Church outside San Diego. Some refugees stay in the homes of church members, while others sleep on temporary beds inside the church.

Metzger told The Associated Press that Ukrainian refugees seeking to reach the U.S. through Mexico see it as an easier path than seeking refuge in busy Europe, where millions of Ukrainians have settled.

The administration of President Joe Biden has said it will admit up to 100,000 Ukrainians. It set an overall refugee limit of 125,000 in the 12-month period that ends September 30. But only 8,758 had been accepted by March 31, including 704 Ukrainians.

One refugee reaching Mexico was 36-year-old Oksana Dugnyk. She said she fled the town of Bucha with her husband and three young children. The family left before Russian troops invaded. After Russian forces withdrew from Bucha, Ukrainians discovered many bodies on the streets and in mass graves.

Dugnyk said at first she worried about the violence in Mexico because she has children. But the large volunteer presence in Tijuana helped make her feel safe. We have food. We have a place to stay," Dugnyk said a day after arriving in Tijuana. She added: "We hope everything will be fine.

After crossing the border, her family was planning to travel to Ohio to stay with a friend.

Im Bryan Lynn.

The Associated Press reported this story. Bryan Lynn adapted the report for VOA Learning English.

________________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

church  n. a building where Christians to worship God

pedestrian  n. a person who is walking and not traveling in a vehicle

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LEXINGTON  The 2021 tornado season was, extremely unique, one south central Nebraska forecaster put it. Nebraska saw zero tornadoes in June and a record 28 on a single day in December.

Dawson and Gosper counties fall under the watch of the National Weather Service in Hastings. In addition, they monitor a total of 24 central Nebraska counties, as well as six Kansas counties.

During 2021, NWS Hastings reported 14 tornadoes, five in May and nine in December, more than the five tornadoes reported in 2020, but several were outside of the traditional severe weather season for the area, said NWS Hasting Warning Coordination Meteorologist Mike Mortiz.

The five tornadoes reported in May were landspouts.

These types of tornadoes are not associated with a supercell, a rotating thunderstorm featuring a mesocyclone. Landspouts are usually narrow and translucent and can form over a temperature or vorticity boundary.

Landspouts are typically weaker than their supercell counter parts and because they do not form from a mesocyclone or pre-existing rotation in the cloud, they are rarely detected on radar.

Statistically, May and June are the most active periods for severe weather and tornadoes for Nebraska. Spring is the estuary in which the strong winds aloft from winter mix with the moisture of the summer, both are important ingredients for tornado producing storms.

However, Nebraska reported zero tornadoes in June 2021, the month that the state statistically sees its highest number of tornadoes. Mortiz said there was no single reason for why June was so quiet, but one factor was the area was exiting the La Nina weather pattern and the overall pattern simply didnt favor tornado producing conditions.

Exiting the traditional tornado period, Nebraska had recorded just 16 tornadoes, but 10 days to Christmas, central and eastern Nebraska saw one of the most historic weather days in recorded history.

On Dec. 15, a fast moving storm system starting in southwest Kansas moved up through Nebraska and deposited a near catastrophic array of tornadoes, wildfires, high winds, hail and even some winter weather across the area.

Severe weather in December is not unprecedented, Mortiz said, tornadoes have occurred during the month as recently as Christmas Day 2016.

However, Mortiz said Dec. 15 was, the busiest day in my 28 year career. The NWS Hastings area saw record highs ahead of the storm, nine tornadoes, forward storm motion of 70 mph, wildfires in Kansas and winter weather in their western region, including Dawson County.

Mortiz said there were 120 severe weather reports, the most severe weather reports NWS Hastings has fielded in a single day and it came in the middle of December.

Prior to this day there had only been five tornadoes confirmed in the entire state of Nebraska in December since 1950. On Dec. 15, 28 were reported, all on one day, the most December tornadoes for the state in a single year.

Another peculiar factor, none of the tornadoes NWS Hastings reported in 2021 were spawned from supercells, but were embedded in thunderstorm lines or were landspouts.

Mortiz said Dec. 15 was a true testament to the fact that severe weather can occur anytime of the year and people need to be weather ready and have a plan in place, not just during the months severe weather or tornadoes are most likely to occur.

Looking ahead to spring and Nebraskas typical severe weather season, Mortiz said the United States is still under La Nina conditions, which has larger impacts for the southern areas of the country. A clear factor for the area is the ongoing drought, drier conditions can mean less storms.

Drought conditions are also in place in Oklahoma and Texas and this can affect the moisture transport to Nebraska, as abundant moisture is an ingredient in severe weather.

Mortiz said he expects the severe weather trend to be down again in 2022, and tornado numbers will also likely be down.

As the severe weather season for the area approaches, it is important to understand how the public is forewarned of impending weather threats.

Weather watches, such as those for severe thunderstorms and tornadoes, are issued by the Storm Predication Center in Norman, Okla. Mortiz said the local weather offices collaborate with the SPC on the timing, location and duration of the watches. Once they are issued, the local weather offices can make changes as necessary.

When it comes to warnings, for everything from flooding, to severe storms, tornadoes, etc., those are all handled by the local weather offices, said Mortiz.

When it comes to the public reporting severe weather, Mortiz said if it is an emergency, call 911, all other events should be reported to the local NWS office, emergency management or on a non-emergency line to law enforcement.

In the event of a tornado, finding shelter underground is the safest option, a basement or storm shelter. If underground is not an option, find an interior room and put as many walls between oneself and the outside, avoiding any windows.

The NWS is always looking for weather information, especially when severe weather is ongoing. Reports of tornadoes, funnel clouds, wall clouds and storm structure, hail of any size, damaging winds and flooding are all important.

There is a plethora of weather information online and on social media these days but Mortiz said it is important to have multiple credible weather sources in the event of severe weather. Have multiple ways to access information in case of disaster and be safe in the event.

Mortiz concluded by saying residents need to be weather ready, but that doesnt mean weather proof. Severe weather will strike and its important to have a plan in place to lessen any impacts.

He said material property can be replaced, but a life cannot; Mortiz said people need to be ready and to make smart decisions when the time comes.
LEXINGTON  The images of Ukrainian refugees fleeing their country after Russian forces invaded have tugged at the souls of all who have seen them. The Family and Consumer Science students at Lexington High School decided to create something for the Ukrainian children affected by the invasion.

LHS Family and Consumer Science teacher Barb Gydesen said the students began sewing small stuffed teddy bears. She found the design, Warren Bear, on Pinterest and the students have used it as a template.

The 24 students, ranging from sophomores to seniors, began working on the project 17 days ago and were finishing their final stitches on Monday, April 11, Gydesen said. They created around 200 teddy bears during that time.

Gydesen said when the idea was first presented to the students, there wasnt a single one who hesitated or said they did not want to do it, she said they all got on board right away.

The students saw the need, Gydesen said, It was something they could do for others.

During this time, Gydesen said the students are usually learning how to quilt or working on individual sewing projects, but those were put on hold as they worked on the bear project.

Several of Gydesens students noted donating the bears during Ramadan would count toward one of their good deeds. Ramadan is in the ninth month of the Islamic calendar and is observed by Muslims worldwide as a month of fasting, prayer, reflection and community.

Once finished, the teddy bears should be conveyed to those in need by the Orphan Grain Train, Gydesen said.

According to the United Nations Refugee Agency, over 4.5 million Ukrainians have fled the country after Russias invasion in February. Around 2 million have arrived in Poland, nearly 700,000 in Romina and 400,000 in Hungary.

The United States announced on March 4 that Ukrainians would be provided Temporary Protective Status. On March 24, President Joe Biden announced that up to 100,000 Ukrainian refugees would be accepted into the United States; especially, focusing on those with family already in the country.

The invasion caused Europes largest refugee crisis since World War II, the first of its kind since the Yugoslav Wars in the 1990s and one of the largest refugee crises in the world in the 21st century, with the highest refugee flight rate in the world.
JOHNSON LAKE  Just four days after a 35,000 wildfire burned its way through Gosper and Furnas counties, multiple area fire departments responded to a field fire near Johnson Lake on Monday, April 11.

Around 3:44 p.m., Elwood firefighters were dispatched to an area north of DC Express at Johnson Lake for the report of a grass fire. Ten minutes later, the Lexington Volunteer Fire Department was paged for mutual aid.

At 4:11 p.m., the Cozad Volunteer Fire Department was paged as well and fire units from Farnam were put on standby.

Local farmers hurried to the scene with tractors and discs to help create breaks in the field to prevent the fire from spreading.

The fire appeared to start in the Highway 283 ditch before spreading into the field.

Gosper County, along with most of central Nebraska, was under yet another Red Flag Warning due to southerly winds blowing at 15-25 mph and gusting up to 45 mph. Relative humidity values were also just under 20 percent.

Fire units were headed back to their respective fire halls around 5:15 p.m.

The fire departments were assisted on scene by the Gosper County Sheriffs Office.
Lapwai, ID (83501)

Today

Cloudy with periods of rain. Thunder possible. High 51F. Winds WSW at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 80%..

Tonight

Partly to mostly cloudy. Low 37F. Winds SW at 10 to 20 mph.
Hurts Donut Company in Middleton closed abruptly after getting seven health code violations last month.

A sign at the shop at 2831 Parmenter St. thanks customers, saying it had been "a privilege to serve your community since 2017."

Hurts actually opened in Middleton in October 2016, selling what it advertised as a rotating lineup of up to 70 doughnut flavors 24 hours a day.

It specialized in oversized specialty donuts and donut milkshakes in a two-story, 6,000-square-foot space.

Four of Hurts' March 3 health code violations were considered "priority," including "food contact surfaces of cooking and baking equipment for cinnamon rolls soiled with food debris."

Public Health Madison and Dane County said that Hurts needed to correct this by washing, rinsing and sanitizing the surfaces at least every 24 hours.

Records note that the cinnamon roll frames were cleaned and sanitized during the inspection.

Another violation showed that half & half and French vanilla creamer held in a self-service refrigerated dispenser were not date marked.

A public health inspector had the shop throw away the creams that were not date marked, improperly date marked, or held past the allowed seven days. This was corrected right away, the report said.

No reinspection was needed for any of the violations, the health department report showed.

"There were no immediate closures as a result," said Morgan Finke, a spokeswoman for the public health department. "The facility also received information for reaching our staff if there were any questions or concerns about the inspection, as is standard practice."

The phone number for the Middleton shop has been disconnected and its Facebook page has been shut down.

The sign on the door says, "We sincerely apologize and hope that we will see you again soon at one of our 21 other locations."

Hurts began in 2013 in Springfield, Missouri, and before its heralded opening in Middleton, had been featured on the Food Network. The shop's Nutella donut made BuzzFeed's list of "33 donuts to try before you die."

Seth Corless, who lives in Springfield, opened the Middleton shop with two friends.

He wouldn't talk by phone, but said by text that he sold the shop to a couple, but wasn't sure how to spell their last name. He didn't respond to messages asking when he sold it. Officials from Middleton's City Hall didn't have information on the most recent owners and the owners of the property didn't return calls or emails.

Read more restaurant news at: go.madison.com/restaurants

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Two people were arrested Tuesday after someone fired multiple shots from their vehicle toward another moving car on the Beltline, Monona police said.

"We are very fortunate that no one was physically hurt as a result of this brazen act," Monona Police Chief Brian Chaney Austin said in a statement.

One of the vehicles was hit multiple times by bullets, but the occupants were not hit. Chaney Austin said police believe the shooting was "targeted."

One of the people who was taken into custody, Matthew M. Rhone, of Fitchburg, was tentatively charged with first-degree recklessly endangering safety for the shooting, Chaney Austin said.

The gunfire and subsequent investigation resulted in the closure of the Beltline for about 40 minutes, but the Beltline was safe and reopened shortly before 5 p.m., Monona police said.

Monona police responded to a report of a weapons violation on the Beltline at South Stoughton Road around 3:40 p.m., Chaney Austin said. A witness told officers that multiple rounds were fired as the vehicles drove eastbound and gave police detailed descriptions of the vehicles involved.

The suspect vehicle was spotted as it drove onto Interstate 94. Officers pulled over the car and arrested the two people inside, Chaney Austin said. Their identities were not released. A firearm was recovered during the stop.

Around 4:10 p.m., all eastbound lanes of the Beltline were closed while officers recovered evidence from the scene of the shooting, Chaney Austin said. The closure caused traffic backups, but all lanes were reopened by 4:50 p.m.

Rhone was also tentatively charged with carrying a concealed weapon, criminal damage to property, possession of a firearm by an adjudicated delinquent and bail jumping, Chaney Austin said. He was taken to the Dane County Jail.

The Madison Police Department, Dane County Sheriff's Office and Wisconsin State Patrol also responded to the incident, a Dane County dispatcher said.

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Federal authorities have charged a town of Madison man with three gun possession-related crimes, all stemming from an alleged armed robbery in Fitchburg last month in which police said he robbed a would-be marijuana customer of his cash and his gun.

Katoine L. Richardson, 19, who was charged last year with firing a gun during a struggle with Madison police officers on State Street, was free on $11,000 bail posted by local activists at the time he was arrested for the armed robbery, alleged to have happened in Fitchburg on March 18.

Charges in the Fitchburg incident comprised Richardsons 11th open criminal case.

On Friday, federal prosecutors filed a criminal complaint that charged Richardson with receipt of a firearm by a person currently under indictment, receiving a stolen handgun and possessing a handgun in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, all related to the Fitchburg incident for which Richardson already faces a 14-count criminal complaint in Dane County Circuit Court.

Following an initial appearance in circuit court on the robbery charge on March 24, Richardson was jailed on $30,000 bail.

Then last week, Dane County Circuit Judge Chris Taylor declined a request by Richardson and his lawyer, state assistant public defender Stanley Woodard, to reduce Richardsons bail to about $7,500, which Woodard said Richardson and his family could pull together. Instead, Taylor said she would reduce it to no lower than $20,000.

When I look at the cases in front of me, Im not optimistic Im going to get compliance, Taylor said. Richardsons behavior has been unchanged, she said, even when a lot of cash is posted on his behalf.

A warrant for the new federal charges was issued Friday. When Richardson eventually appears in federal court, a magistrate judge will decide whether Richardson will remain in custody or be released with a set of conditions to follow. The federal court in Madison generally does not set cash bail.

An FBI agents affidavit filed with Richardsons federal charges largely mirrors the complaint filed last month in Dane County.

The affidavit states a man initially told police he was robbed while delivering food, then admitted that his marijuana dealer, Kado, later identified as Richardson, had robbed him. After Richardsons arrest, the affidavit states, he admitted being present but denied taking the mans gun, pinning it on his accomplice, who was not identified. But Richardson said he had the stolen gun in his possession at some point, the affidavit states.

Last year, Richardson was charged with reckless endangerment, illegal firearm possession, resisting police and carrying a concealed weapon after an Oct. 10 incident on State Street. Police allege that during a struggle with police, who were trying to arrest Richardson for a suspected bond violation, he fired a shot. The gun was not pointed at anyone and the shot did not hit anyone.

One officer accidentally shot another during the incident, however, in what was deemed friendly fire.

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One person died and another was injured Tuesday in a head-on crash between a semitractor-trailer and an SUV in Sauk County, authorities said.

Emergency crews responded to the crash on Highway 14 east of County Line Road in the town of Spring Green around 7:50 a.m., Sauk County Sheriff Chip Meister said in a statement.

Meister said a Toyota RAV4 was traveling eastbound on the highway when a semi in the westbound lane crossed over the center line, hitting the Toyota. Both vehicles ended up in the ditch and sustained "extensive damage," Meister said.

The driver of the Toyota died on scene from injuries suffered during the crash, Meister said. The semi driver suffered minor injuries and was taken to a local hospital. Neither of their names have been released because family needs to be notified.

Highway 14 was closed for roughly four hours as the Sheriff's Office investigated the crash, Meister said.

The Wisconsin State Patrol, Spring Green Police Department, Spring Green Fire, Spring Green EMS, Lone Rock Fire and the Sauk County Highway Department assisted on scene.

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A man who has been on the lam since being charged in the September 2021 killing of a Madison 20-year-old is facing extradition from Illinois after being arrested during a traffic stop, Madison police said.

Jeremiah L. Cain was arrested in Chicago on March 22 and is being held there on a Dane County homicide warrant, said police spokesperson Stephanie Fryer.

Cain, who had a gun when he was arrested, was taken into custody after fleeing a traffic stop following a minor traffic violation, Fryer said.

Cain faces first-degree homicide charges in Dane County for the Labor Day killing of Nicholas Cooke, a Madison native and Memorial High School graduate.

According to a criminal complaint, Cain shot Cooke twice in the chest during an argument outside an apartment complex near the intersection of Martha Lane and Acewood Boulevard in the early evening hours of Sept. 6.

Cains sister identified him to police from video surveillance stills, according to the complaint.

Two other men were with Cain during the shooting, according to the complaint. They have not been identified or arrested for Cookes death.

Cookes family said the 20-year-old had started an online clothing business and was attending Madison Area Technical College.

Cookes death was Madisons sixth homicide last year. The city had ten homicides in 2021, tying a record from the previous year.

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A Wisconsin judge says the state Department of Natural Resources cannot enforce the states pollution law without first establishing a definitive list of hazardous substances approved by the Legislature.

Waukesha County Circuit Judge Michael Bohren ruled Tuesday in favor of the states top industry lobby and an Oconomowoc dry cleaning business, finding the DNR cannot legally require cleanup of toxic PFAS compounds and other contaminants because they are not identified as hazardous substances.

Bohren said the DNR has a responsibility to enforce the law, but the current policy is invalid because the agency has not created a list of hazardous substances or explained how it determines when a substance is dangerous.

It isnt a game basically of take your best shot and see if youre a winner, Bohren said. It has to be that the responsible party and other members of the public know what the rules are ahead of time.

Assistant Attorney General Gabe Johnson-Karp said the state would appeal once Bohren issues a written order, which could negate the DNRs authority to require polluters to clean up spills.

Bohren agreed to put the order on hold until at least June 6 to avoid what Johnson-Karp said would be regulatory uncertainty caused by the potentially sweeping effects of the ruling.

There is significant concern about the impact this will have on properties currently in remediation (such as) brownfield projects, Johnson-Karp said.

A coalition of environmental and public health advocates warned the decision, if not reversed, would remove the only meaningful protection we have to address PFAS contamination.

Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce, which brought the lawsuit, said the decision assures the business community that regulators must operate within their own authority.

When the government ignores the rulemaking process, employers are left in the dark as to what regulations they must follow, said WMC spokesperson Scott Manley. Businesses cannot afford to have that kind of uncertainty, and we do not think it is too much to ask for DNR to simply follow the law as written.

PFAS pollution

WMC has sought to block the DNR from requiring cleanup of unregulated emerging contaminants, including PFAS, which has polluted groundwater in sites across the state, including Madison, Marinette, La Crosse and Wausau.

The plaintiffs claimed the DNR is subverting the law by requiring polluters to clean up spills without first defining what substances are hazardous.

State law requires anyone responsible for spilling a hazardous substance to clean it up under the oversight of the DNR.

Under state law, a hazardous substance is anything that can cause harm to human health and safety, or the environment, because of where it is spilled, the amount spilled, its toxicity or its concentration.

That could mean toxic chemicals or substances like manure, fertilizer or even milk spilled in a creek.

Saying the DNR seems to make determinations on a whim and a fancy, Bohren said the agency must draft administrative rules in order to require cleanup.

But that process takes years and is subject to political interference, which supporters of the law say would prevent the DNR from stopping ongoing pollution, requiring cleanup or even forcing polluters to provide bottled water when wells are contaminated.

The Department of Justice said WMCs claims border on the absurd, noting that polluters have complied with the spills law for more than 40 years all without any list from DNR stating which substances meet the statutes broad definition of hazardous substance.

Testing ordered

The ruling stems from a case filed last year by WMC and Leather Rich Inc.

According to the complaint, Joanne Kantor and her late husband operated the dry cleaning business for more than four decades before she decided to retire and sell the property in 2018.

GOP lawmakers wary as Wisconsin regulators move to align conservation, climate goals The vote is another step in the commissions process to shape the 23-year-old programs direction over the next four years, when most of the states remaining coal-fired power plants will be replaced with wind, solar and battery power.

Kantor informed the DNR that the site was likely contaminated with volatile organic compounds and entered a voluntary remediation program.

According to court documents, the DNR approved a cleanup plan but required additional testing for PFAS, which were commonly used in dry cleaning, without specifying which of the thousands of compounds to target.

DNR kept moving the goalposts, attorney Delanie Breuer told the court. They can decide unilaterally if somethings hazardous and then, poof, its a regulated contaminant.

Wisconsin regulators approve contentious Cambridge solar farm Koshkonong is the twelfth and largest solar project approved by the commission but the first of its size in Dane County. It includes the largest battery storage component yet approved in Wisconsin.

State responds

But the state said thats a misreading of the law, which puts the burden of cleanup on polluters; the DNRs enforcement role is secondary.

Johnson-Karp said the plaintiffs essentially seek a permission slip for Leather Rich  and, by extension, anyone else in Wisconsin  to escape these undisputed statutory cleanup obligations, discharge toxic PFAS into the environment without consequence, and thereby threaten public health.

Johnson-Karp argued the Legislatures broad but unambiguous definition of hazardous substances precludes the sort of list WMC seeks, noting that polluters have adapted to the discovery of new hazards, such as PCBs.

As science evolves the Legislatures definition of hazardous substances still applies, Johnson-Karp said. What changes is the amount of knowledge of the world.

Second case

The case is one of two WMC has brought against the DNR in an effort to fight the regulation of PFAS.

Earlier this year, a Jefferson County judge sided with the industry group, ruling the state has the authority to test wastewater but cannot bring legal action against polluters without first establishing water quality standards.

WMC has also opposed the DNRs efforts to establish those regulations. In February, Republicans who control the DNRs policy board voted down groundwater standards for two PFAS compounds and dozens of other contaminants.

Democratic Attorney General Josh Kaul last month sued Johnson Controls and Tyco Fire Products over the release of firefighting foam that has contaminated water in the Marinette area.

Its not clear if Bohrens ruling would affect that case.

Every Wisconsinite should be able to count on the safety of their drinking water, Kaul said in a written statement. But if this decision remains in effect, state laws protection of clean water would be substantially narrowed, endangering the health of Wisconsinites, and making it easier for polluters to escape accountability.

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The Wisconsin Public Service Commission has spent more than $800,000 to defend a former utility regulator over accusations of bias since state attorneys cut ties amid revelations he traded encrypted messages with utility executives.

Records released to the Wisconsin State Journal show the PSC has authorized 10 payments totaling nearly $806,000 to an attorney representing former Commissioner Mike Huebsch, who is a defendant in legal challenges to two PSC decisions.

The invoices span an eight-month period between July and February when Huebsch fended off efforts to question him and inspect his cellphone for messages, a fight that eventually landed in the state Supreme Court.

Under state law, legal expenses are assessed to the utilities involved, in this case American Transmission Co., ITC Midwest and Dairyland Power Cooperative, which dont serve retail customers but charge transmission rates that ultimately affect electricity costs.

Almost all the fees stem from challenges to the 2019 approval of a $492 million power line between Dubuque, Iowa, and Middleton known as Cardinal-Hickory Creek.

In an effort to stop the project, two conservation groups  along with Dane County and other local governments  sued the PSC in state and federal courts, claiming among other things that Huebschs vote was tainted by his service on an advisory board for the regional grid operator, which supported the line.

Opponents later discovered Huebsch had traded text messages with utility executives while the case was before the PSC and, after leaving the commission, applied to lead one of the utilities that received the construction permit, though he didnt get the job.

GOP lawmakers wary as Wisconsin regulators move to align conservation, climate goals The vote is another step in the commissions process to shape the 23-year-old programs direction over the next four years, when most of the states remaining coal-fired power plants will be replaced with wind, solar and battery power.

Huebsch, a former state legislator who served in Gov. Scott Walkers cabinet before joining the PSC in 2015, says the messages were purely personal exchanges with old friends and that he never discussed PSC business outside of official proceedings.

The Supreme Court is now considering whether such relationships create an appearance of bias that could invalidate the permit.

Through his attorney, Huebsch blamed the plaintiffs for running up the tab on utility customers who will ultimately absorb the costs of defending the PSCs decisions.

The best outcome for ratepayers in Wisconsin and across the country would be for this unfounded bias claim to be dismissed as soon as possible, Huebsch said. Every dime they have had to pay until now  including for the co-owners numerous law firms and PSC legal staff  is because of the plaintiffs and their choices.

Huebsch said if the Supreme Court doesnt throw out the bias claim, ratepayers will end up paying to litigate an untold number of copycat bias lawsuits.

Wisconsin regulators approve contentious Cambridge solar farm Koshkonong is the twelfth and largest solar project approved by the commission but the first of its size in Dane County. It includes the largest battery storage component yet approved in Wisconsin.

An open wallet

Howard Learner, executive director of the Environmental Law and Policy Center, which is representing the conservation groups at no charge, said it shocks the conscience for the PSC to be paying a private attorney for a former state official.

Holy moly. That is a staggering number, Learner said when informed of the amount. That is just an open wallet.

Wisconsin law requires the government to provide legal representation or pay reasonable attorney fees and costs to defend officials for actions taken while carrying out their official duties.

According to court records, the PSC notified Huebsch on June 24 that it would no longer represent him in three state and federal cases and advised him to hire an outside attorney.

The commission did not provide any explanation other than to say his interests and those of the Commission may be adverse in light of new information it had not yet reviewed.

That was four days before the utilities notified the courts and the PSC that they had discovered Huebsch had used the encrypted messaging app Signal to communicate with utility executives while the permit application was before the PSC.

PSC spokesperson Matthew Sweeney said the commission has unique obligations and could have different interests and duties relating to transparency than former Commissioner Huebsch would have in his capacity as a private citizen, which could have created a conflict of interest for PSC attorneys.

Climate report: Despite dire warnings, UW-Madison prof optimistic Greg Nemet, a professor at UW-Madisons La Follette School of Public Affairs, was one of the lead authors of a report on ways to slow climate change released Monday by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

Huebsch then hired attorney Ryan Walsh, who argued Huebschs case before the Supreme Court and is representing him in the federal lawsuit as well as a separate state court challenge to the PSCs approval of Dairyland Power Cooperatives plans to build a $700 million natural gas plant in Superior.

Challenge on hold

Huebsch voted to approve Dairylands application in January 2020, just days after announcing plans to step down. In April of that year, two months after he left the commission, Huebsch applied to be CEO of Dairyland, though there is no indication he was seriously considered for the position.

The challenge to the Dairyland permit is on hold pending the Supreme Courts ruling on the bias claims in the Cardinal-Hickory Creek case.

A federal judge last year ruled the power line cannot cross a Mississippi River wildlife refuge because of problems with the environmental review but did not address the conflict-of-interest charges.

That case is now under appeal as the utilities continue work on other parts of the line, which they say is needed to deliver wind and solar energy to Madison and other population centers to the east.

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Greeks, Armenians and Assyrians Join in Genocide Recognition March

The Greek Australian, Armenian Australian and Assyrian Australian communities will March for Justice in Sydney and Melbourne on Sunday, April 24, the Armenian National Committee of Australia (ANC-AU) has reported.

The march participants will be calling on Australia's Prime Minister and Government to accurately characterise the 1915 massacres suffered by their ancestors as Genocide.

Sydney's March for Justice will begin at Hyde Park at 3pm and will be led by the Homenetmen Australia Scouts and Marching band, religious and community leaders, as well as political representatives.

People will march through Sydney's Central Business District before settling at Sydney Town Hall for a short program featuring cultural performances and speeches.

Melbourne's March for Justice will follow a similar format, starting at 2pm at Parliament Square before concluding with a special program at the Victorian State Library.

ANC-AU Political Affairs Director, Michael Kolokossian, said the marches will send a strong message to the Federal Government.

"United, our communities will send a direct and clear message to Prime Minister Scott Morrison and his Government, that we will speak truth to power until we receive accurate recognition of the 1915 Genocides," Mr Kolokossian said in a press release.

This year's #MarchForJustice will again be held under the auspices of the Joint Justice Initiative, established in February 2020 by the Armenian National Committee of Australia, the Assyrian National Council Australia and the Australian Hellenic Council, as well as the Armenian Genocide Commemorative Committee.
Republican U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson told backers at a recent event in Wisconsin that his plastics company benefited from a key provision he pushed for in former President Donald Trumps tax bill in 2017, addressing a line of attack being made against him during his reelection bid.

Johnson made the comments in reaction to a question from an audience member at an event Friday in Medford, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported Monday.

Johnson said that his company, Pacur LLC, some of his prominent donors and many other businesses benefited from the small-business tax provision.

Now, did my business benefit? Sure. Did some of my donor businesses? Sure. When you give tax relief to everybody, everybody benefits, Johnson said. The Journal Sentinel posted audio of the interaction.

So they want to make it sound like I carved out some loophole for a couple of people, Johnson said in reference to attack ads on the issue. What I did is I made sure that 95% of American businesses werent left behind in tax reform. Im really proud of that achievement.

Johnson is seeking a third term in November. Nearly a dozen Democrats are running for a chance to take him on in a seat that could determine majority control of the Senate.

ProPublica reported in August that the tax break Johnson championed resulted in hundreds of millions of dollars in deductions to megadonors who funded his campaigns.

Johnsons campaign spokesman, Jake Wilkins, said the audio is exactly what Senator Johnson has said in public and private for years.

Despite strong opposition, he secured tax relief for more than 90% of U.S. businesses who benefited from it after it became law, Wilkins said. It is a gross distortion to imply his tax cuts were a special deal for a few. His tax cuts benefited the many.

Johnson, in his comments at the Friday meeting, criticized the distorted attack ads that have run against him.

They said I doubled my wealth, he said. Thats true.

Johnson explained that after he got elected in 2010, he took all of his marketable securities and placed them in cash so that he would have no conflicts.

He said the reason his wealth doubled is that he sold his business.

I sat on cash, he said. Im still sitting on cash. I knew during the COVID recession that this was a good time to invest in the stock market. I didnt. I stayed invested in, Ive just got cash, OK.

He added: Im not asking anybody to feel sorry for me.
A fire that engulfed a home in the town of Bradford early Monday morning has resulted in the death of two dogs, as well as $140,000 in damages, the Rock County Sheriff's Office said.

Just before 7 a.m. Monday, Rock County Sheriff's deputies along with fire safety officials from southern Wisconsin and northern Illinois responded to reports of a house fire on the 12000 block of E. Minkey Road in the town.

When crews arrived, they found the blaze had fully consumed the residence.

The sole occupant of the home was able to evacuate the home, but two dogs perished, authorities said.

Investigators from the Clinton Fire Department said it suspected there was no evidence of foul play at the scene.

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After a nearly six-month investigation into one of its members, the Sun Prairie School Board Monday voted unanimously to establish policies that better handle open records requests and complaints against board members, but rejected a bid to censure the board member.

The vote comes after former board member and Sun Prairie Area School District resident John Welke filed a complaint in October against current board member Alwyn Foster. The complaint asserts Foster violated state law and board policy by failing to completely fulfill Welkes public records requests and refusing to communicate with constituents who dont share his views.

A third-party investigation of Welkes allegations by Milwaukee-based law firm MWH Law Group found Foster generally ignored Welkes several requests.

But after the district recruited its attorney to help Foster respond, cooperation improved.

There were, however, periods of unresponsiveness, the report states, which adds Foster was not forthright about all the records Welke sought  including a text message that Foster received during a July 2021 board meeting in which a member of the public had questions about the meetings subject matter.

Foster may have also, according to the report, destroyed at least one record after (district legal counsel Danielle) Tierney cautioned him not to delete documents.

Not only has he potentially violated state law governing public records, but he has also created mistrust with at least one community member through his actions, the report said. Very simply, Mr. Fosters actions with respect to Mr. Welkes open records requests did not comport with the standards of conduct expected from (a Sun Prairie) board member.

I dont know Mr. Welke personally, Foster said in a statement Monday. Im not even sure that the action we take tonight will satisfy his desires.

But he said lessons have been learned regarding future open records requests.

In addition to recommending better training on handling open records requests and complaints against board members, the firms investigation called for new board member training materials to include a stronger focus on the responsibilities of board members as record custodians, the development of a clearer policy for record retention and the implementation of a mandatory training program for all board members relative to their responsibilities under open records law.

The school board voted unanimously to adopt all the firms recommendations but one  to censure Foster, which failed on a 5-2 vote.

But the board did not go into detail Monday night about exactly how it would establish the proposed new policies and trainings.

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Fond du Lac County District Attorney Eric Toney  a Republican candidate for attorney general hoping to win over conservative voters ahead of the August primary  filed a complaint Tuesday calling on Gov. Tony Evers to remove five members of the Wisconsin Elections Commission.

Toney said the election commissioners broke the law when they refused to send special voting deputies into nursing homes during the 2020 election, one of many longstanding charges of election malfeasance made by Republicans.

The commissions directive led to the Racine County Sheriffs Office recommending charges against the commissioners last year, saying that a lack of voting deputies led to residents with diminished cognitive abilities to vote in the election. Such voters are allowed to vote unless prohibited by a court order.

The Racine County District Attorneys Office declined to take up the charges, citing a lack of jurisdiction. The Milwaukee and Green Lake County district attorneys offices also declined to file charges, saying there was a lack of evidence that election commissioners committed a crime.

The Fond du Lac County District Attorneys Office also doesnt have jurisdiction, Toney noted. Case law and statutes requires election law violations to be filed in an offenders county of residence.

I think its important, as we see voters and members of our state who wonder why isnt Racine doing something, or why arent other offices doing something? Toney said at a press conference Tuesday at the State Capitol.

What we saw from the Wisconsin Elections Commission is they in fact went rogue, Toney said. What they did was illegal.

The commission has long contended that no crimes were committed in their directive to halt special voting deputies. The directive was made unanimously by the bipartisan commission in March 2020 at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic out of fear of spreading the virus to nursing homes.

State law

Under state law, clerks must attempt to send voting deputies into a nursing home twice before mailing a ballot. The commissions direction waived the requirement of two in-person attempts before mailing the ballot in response to feedback from clerks that nursing homes werent allowing deputies in because of COVID.

The commission reversed its guidance on special voting deputies in March 2021.

The nonpartisan Legislative Audit Bureau, which conducted a review of the 2020 election, found that the election commission didnt follow the law in its directive to not send special voting deputies to nursing homes.

By not seeking a legal opinion from the attorney general on the directive, election commissioners broke the law since they didnt have the authority to take election powers away from the governor and the Legislature, Toney contended.

Toney also said he has not asked Republican leadership to remove their appointed members of the election commission.

Under the complaint process, the elections commission will determine if there is probable cause to refer the complaint to the district attorneys offices.

The election commission does not comment on confidential complaints, said spokesperson Riley Vetterkind.

Campaign battles

Locked into a mud-slinging campaign with former state lawmaker Adam Jarchow in the Republican primary for attorney general, Toney dismissed the idea that his complaint is a political move to boost his campaign.

Were not here to get into the politics, Toney said. The reason that this is important is to defend the integrity of our election and to make sure the public has trust in our election commission.

Toney said no one else with the Fond du Lac County District Attorneys Office worked on a complaint except a staffer who made edits.

In a statement, Jarchow called Toneys public foray into the 2020 election saga a political stunt, saying that Toney didnt pursue criminal probes into the election until becoming a candidate for attorney general.

My focus is on restoring order and keeping our citizens safe in Milwaukee, Green Bay and other places across the state where violence is out of control, Jarchow said.

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Thanks to billions of dollars in new federal cash soon to be flowing from last years Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), it seems halcyon days are coming for Amtrak riders.

Americas anemic rail network will soon get much bigger and, given all the stress on roads and air travel, even its longtime detractors are seeing more of a role for the train in modern-day America.

This is good for Chicago, the agencys Midwest hub, and it suggests that all the attention being paid to Chicagos Union Station is expedient.

Common sense dictates that Midwest corridors deserve upgrading: Students should be able to take the train to Ann Arbor, with one running every couple of hours and arriving on time. And were glad to see plans for a second train on the Empire Builder route to Minneapolis, allowing college kids better access up north and letting families take the train to Wisconsin Dells, even if the planning has taken a comically long time.

Cleveland should connect to Columbus and Cincinnati. And the network, currently rooted in the traditional industrial states, should expand in the South and West where massive population growth means choked roads.

But train riders, and those who hope to be one, should heed a warning shot fired by Amtraks own Office of the Inspector General.

In a report published March 31, that office said, The sheer size of the IIJAs funding and requirements could strain the companys ability to manage its current operations while concurrently planning and managing a long-term multibillion-dollar infrastructure portfolio.

Anyone with experience of Amtrak would reply: Ya think? Chaos might well be ahead.

The report goes on to detail four challenges. Demonstrating fiscal responsibility, including transparently and accurately accounting for IIJA funds; building a skilled workforce to plan and execute IIJA projects; working collaboratively with partners to achieve common IIJA goals; improving program and project management for IIJA endeavors.

All of that sounds to us like common sense. But its also a cautionary reminder that Amtrak is about to be asked to handle a colossal expansion at taxpayer expense (on state and federal levels) while also making sure the existing trains run on time, not that they often do, but you get our point.

All levels of government should pay attention to the report, especially given the current challenges in building that all-important skilled workforce. The Biden administration has given Amtrak a big vote of confidence for good or ill. It now has yet more of your money to spend and a huge challenge on its hands.
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.

Michael Paul Williams is a Pulitzer Prize winning columnist with the Richmond Times-Dispatch in Richmond, Va.; read more of his columns on Richmond.com.
A 529 plan can pay for up to $10,000 a year for tuition at K-12 schools. MoMo Productions/DigitalVision via Getty Images

The college savings plan known as a 529 is often touted as a smart way to save for a childs college education. But these plans involve more than just putting away money for college. Here, Robert H. Scott III, an expert on 529s, shines light on how the plans work.

What are 529 plans?

A 529 college savings plan is an investment account that families can open to save for college by investing money that grows tax-free. The name of the account comes from Section 529 of the U.S. tax code.

The money can be used for qualifying education expenses, such as tuition, room and board, textbooks, computers and travel.

People can add money to a 529 account whenever they like, or set up automatic withdrawals from their checking account.

When money is placed into a 529, its not as if the money is just sitting there. You will have several possible investment options to choose from that comprise stocks, bonds or a combination of the two. There are usually preset investment portfolios based on a childs age. When a child is young, these portfolios are mostly stocks and are invested more aggressively. But as the child ages, the portfolio automatically transfers more money to bonds, which are usually less volatile. So the effectiveness of a 529 plan depends on how well the stock market performs.

Is the money only for the first four years of college?

It is also possible to use 529 plans for graduate school. So if a child earns a full scholarship as an undergraduate, then the money from the childs 529 plan can be saved for graduate school.

A recent change in 529 plans allows them to be used for education before college. More specifically, they can be used to pay up to $10,000 per year for tuition at K-12 schools.

For college, however, there are no limits on how much can be withdrawn to cover education expenses.

Do 529 plans vary by state?

Every state in the United States, plus Washington, D.C., has its own 529 plan. However, not all plans are the same. For that reason, it is important to research which plans have the lowest fees, the best investment options and the best overall returns.

There are no residency requirements. In other words, you dont have to live in a particular state to invest in the states 529 plan. However, if a state offers a tax deduction for investing in its 529 plan, then you have to live in that state to get the deduction.

What if the beneficiary of the 529 doesnt go to college?

It is possible to move funds in 529 plan accounts from one beneficiary to another. Beneficiaries who do not use their 529 plan funds can even transfer the account to their own children or another family member without penalty.

The biggest problem with 529 plans is that money not used for qualified education expenses incurs a 10% penalty on investment earnings. Those earnings are also subject to federal and sometimes state income taxes if they are not used for education expenses that qualify under a 529 plan.

Who should invest in 529 plans?

Families unable to qualify for financial aid are the target investors for 529 plans.

A 529 plan account with a large balance could keep a student from being eligible for financial aid, even if the balance is much less than the overall cost of the degree. So, in cases like this, a 529 plan could cost families money rather than help.

Grandparents whose grandchildren are unlikely to qualify for financial aid are also common investors in 529 plans.

Parents, grandparents or anyone with the ability and desire can contribute up to $16,000 each year if a childs parents are not married  or $32,000 if they are married  and not pay gift taxes. People can contribute up to this maximum amount each year for each beneficiary. So, if a grandparent has two grandchildren whose parents are married, they can contribute $32,000 in one year to each childs 529 plan.

Each state has different rules on how much someone can contribute over a lifetime to any one 529 plan, but it ranges from $235,000 in states such as Georgia and Mississippi to $550,000 in Missouri.

Do 529 plans work?

Yes. They are a way for families to invest money in the stock market and, if all goes well, enjoy financial gains that they can withdraw for their childrens education without paying taxes. They work best under several conditions.

First, if a family is unable to qualify for financial aid, 529 plans offer an effective way to save for college because the money is invested in the stock market and can grow faster than other options, such as savings accounts. Plus, the gains are not taxed as they would be if invested in a non-529 plan investment account.

Second, because the investment time horizon is short  possibly less than 18 years  your money does not have much time to grow, so you have to invest early. There is no age limit for beneficiaries of 529s. You can start one for yourself or someone else at any age.

Third, if you live in one of the states that offer a tax deduction for investing in a 529 plan, that is a factor to consider. Specifically, a 529 holder should look at whether the value of the tax deduction is large enough to outweigh the fact that there are fewer or worse investment options.

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Fourth, anyone can contribute to a persons 529 plan, so it makes a great gift that will not end up being broken or thrown away.

Fifth, grandparents or other relatives, and even family friends, can set up 529 plans for grandchildren, stepchildren, nieces and nephews. In general, its probably more efficient to have one 529 plan, but some people like to retain some control over the plan they invest in, so some kids may have several. For instance, I have 529 plans for both of my kids, but their grandparents have 529 plan accounts for them, too.

There are other situations that allow you to withdraw 529 plan funds and not be subjected to the 10% penalty, such as when a beneficiary dies, becomes disabled or earns a full scholarship. Relatives might find this type of saving more emotionally rewarding than gifting money now or giving a larger inheritance at death.

Are there any drawbacks?

There are two primary problems with 529 plans, even for families that might benefit from them the most.

First, timing when to withdraw money is more challenging than, say, for retirement. For example, if the market is having a down year, but a beneficiary is in college and you need to pay tuition, then the benefits can be smaller overall. Say you have $50,000 invested in a 529 plan, and the market falls 10% right before you withdraw the money. If that happens, then you would only have $45,000 to withdraw. On the other hand, if the market increased 10% right before you needed the money, then you would have $55,000 to withdraw.

Second, your investment options are limited. If your state offers a tax deduction for investing in a 529 plan you might choose to invest in your states plan even if that plan might not be very good, such as if it has expensive fees. Alternatively, you might choose to invest in another states 529 plan and lose the state tax deduction, but have more investment options and fewer fees. This could save you more money in the long run.

___

Robert H. Scott III does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

___

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DENVER (AP)  The nonprofit that distributed most of the $350 million in donations from Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg to election offices in 2020 said Monday that it wont disburse similar donations this year after backlash from conservatives suspicious that the contributions tilted the outcome of the presidential race toward Joe Biden.

Instead, the Center for Technology and Civic Life is launching a different program. Dubbed the U.S. Alliance for Election Excellence, the $80-million, five-year effort is intended to create a network for the nations thousands of local election officials, who can apply for aid to improve their technology and processes.

Unfortunately, years of underinvestment means many local election departments often have limited capacity and training. The U.S. Alliance for Election Excellence is bringing together world-class partners so that local election officials no longer have to go it alone, said Tiana Epps-Johnson, CTCLs executive director, who was scheduled to announce the new program at the TED2022 conference.

The 2020 effort by Zuckerberg and his wife, Priscilla Chan, amid the COVID-19 pandemic fueled conservative anger and distrust of the presidential election outcome. At least eight GOP-controlled states passed laws last year banning private donations to election offices in reaction to Zuckerberg's donations. Suspicion that the contributions  routinely referred to as Zuckerbucks by conservatives  helped Biden, a Democrat, has become a staple among those who believe in former President Donald Trump's election lies.

Several Republican election officials have said the program was vital and nonpartisan and dismissed criticism of it as conspiracy theories.

A spokesperson for Zuckerberg and Chan confirmed that the couple is not funding election offices this year.

As Mark and Priscilla made clear previously, their election infrastructure donation to help ensure that Americans could vote during the height of the pandemic was a one-time donation given the unprecedented nature of the crisis, Ben LaBolt said. They have no plans to repeat that donation.

Epps-Johnson said the group saw in 2020 just how woefully underfunded many local election offices are. Elections in the U.S. are run at the local level, sometimes by a small staff of city or county workers and volunteers. One jurisdiction, CTCL said, used its 2020 grant to replace century-old election tabulation equipment, and many struggled to maintain usable websites that could provide voters information on mobile devices.

The network will work with technology experts at Stanford University and elsewhere, Epps-Johnson said. Local election offices will be able to apply for assistance, but things will work differently than two years ago.

In 2020, election offices were scrambling to switch to mail voting as the pandemic made traditional polling places harder to maintain. Negotiations over additional money for election offices collapsed amid partisan acrimony in Washington. In late August of that year, Zuckerberg announced his donations, and CTCL swiftly distributed the funds to 2,500 election offices for a wide range of expenses, including new ballot counting equipment, pickup trucks to haul voting machines and public relations campaigns advertising new ways to cast ballots.

Conservatives were immediately skeptical. Many have long distrusted Zuckerberg, believing he uses his social media platform to help Democrats. CTCL is a nonpartisan group respected by election administrators of both parties, but its founders have roots in liberal politics. And although the grants went to conservative and liberal areas, Democratic-leaning counties received a disproportionate share of the money in battleground states like Florida and Pennsylvania.

CTCL has spent much of the time since the 2020 contests pushing for greater government funding of election offices, saying that would be better than another round of private donations. The nonprofit was encouraged by Biden's request for $10 billion in election funding in the federal budget he released last month.

Still, the movement fueled by Trump's false claims of widespread voter fraud has latched onto the 2020 donations as one of its many grievances over how the election was conducted. For example, at Colorado's GOP Assembly on Saturday, candidate after candidate referred to Zuckerberg and Zuckerbucks as they claimed the election was stolen from Republicans.

Mark Zuckerberg and his shadow forces should never be in charge of our elections, said Tina Peters, a county clerk under indictment for her role in the illegal download of voting software last year that was provided to Trump supporters. She made the comments to the crowd in Colorado Springs as she advanced to the partys primary ballot for the states top elections office, secretary of state.

Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Q: Besides completing a missing person report, do the police have a guideline for searching missing persons for families and friends?

A: While this is not an all-inclusive list of actions, this will offer some helpful steps to take while searching for a loved one, suggestions about how to cope with trauma, and a list of resources for navigating this difficult situation, Twin Falls County Sheriffs Sgt. Ken Mencl.

We encourage you to dial 911 or contact law enforcement immediately when a person younger than 18 years of age disappears or if the missing person is at immediate risk of injury or death, Mencl said.

U.S. Code Title 42 Section 5779 requires that any missing person under the age of 21 be entered into the National Crime Information Center.

Each missing loved ones situation is unique, and will not apply in every situation, Mencl said. One of the first things law enforcement will start to look at is if the person wandered away on their own from the home. This is especially true of the elderly suffering from Alzheimers or dementia.

If it is determined that the person left on foot, we would encourage people to not go out and look for that person before we arrive on scene with our K9s. When multiple people start a ground search before we get there, it ruins the K9s ability to track the odor he said. As law enforcement is organizing and conducting a K9 search, specialists from the Sheriffs Office Search and Rescue will work at coordinating that initial effort coupled with aerial searching by drone and helicopter.

If those efforts dont yield anything in our search, our next method of search will be a ground search, Mencl said. Volunteers from Search and Rescue will begin a systematic grid search. Volunteers, family members, friends, etc... can be included in this grid search so long as they are working in harmony with the law enforcement command center staff.

Upon receiving a missing person call, immediately enter a call for service  no waiting period is required to take a missing person report, the Idaho Policing Policy says.

Keep in mind, however, some adults may have voluntarily left their home for personal reasons and may not wish to be found by those reporting them as missing, the policy says.

The policy recommends the following info for preliminary investigations:

Full name, address, date of birth, physical and clothing description of the missing adult including scars, tattoos, piercings or any other unique

characteristic

Full

name, address and contact numbers of the person reporting the

disappearance

Reason

(known or suspected) for person to be

missing

Where

and when last

seen

Full

name, address and contact numbers of friends or

relatives

Employment/school

information and locations the person is known to

frequent

Name

of persons dentist whenever

possible

Recent

photograph, if available, preferably a full-frontal face view of the subject

smiling

Name

of case worker, probation officer or other community liaison, if

applicable

Whether

or not the individual took personal items such as clothing, money, cell phone,

etc.

The policy guidelines add that if there are any suspicious circumstances, the missing persons status should be updated to a critical level in the following cases:

The person may be the victim of foul

play

The

person may be unable to properly safeguard or care for

himself/herself

The

person suffers from diminished mental capacity or medical conditions that are potentially life threatening if left

untreated

The

person has a history of mental illness and is considered dangerous to themselves or

others

The

person is missing after a

catastrophe

Any

other circumstances which lead you to believe that there is an immediate threat to his/her

life

Gooding County Sheriff Shaun Gough said SIRCOMM can ping a cell phone for the sheriffs office.

Have a question? Just ask and well find an answer for you. Email your question to Kimberly Williams Brackett at timesnewscuriousmind@gmail.com with Curious Mind in the subject line.

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TWIN FALLS  A Tuesday morning fire destroyed the Radio Rondevoo Building in historic downtown.

Black smoke billowed from the building at 241 Main Ave. W., along with flames coming out of the centers roof.

No injuries were reported.

At least four fire engines were on scene at 8:30 a.m.

Main Avenue was closed between Gooding Street and Fairfield Street. Second Avenue West was blocked for several hours but was open by 1:30 p.m.

City spokesman Josh Palmer said the fire was knocked down by 11:30 a.m., much sooner than initially anticipated, due to help from so many assisting agencies. Firefighters then began to enter the building to put out hot spots.

Firefighters spooled their hoses at about 5 p.m.

Just after 8 a.m., 324 customers were without power, due to damage from the fire, company spokesman Brad Bowlin said.

We isolated the damaged pole... and restored all but 65 customers at 8:37 a.m., Bowlin said in an email. We had to wait for the fire to be controlled and get the all-clear from the fire chief to make sure the scene was safe before starting any repairs.

Sparklight Internet and Idaho Power Co. both responded to the fire.

Electricity on Main Avenue was out until 2:45 p.m. for many Idaho Power customers. Many businesses in the area in the area closed for the day, including the Times-News.

The initial call about the fire came in at about 7:30 a.m.

Twin Falls Fire Marshal Tim Lauda was later on scene to start the investigation. A Facebook post said investigators from Idaho State Fire Marshals Office will assist Lauda.

Jerome and Buhl fire departments and the Twin Falls and North Cassia rural fire districts assisted. An instructor from the Mountain Home Fire Department brought trainees to see the fire, too.

The residents of the Old Town Lodge were evacuated. The back side of the motel has fire damage, Palmer said. The city is working to find assistance for the residents.

Businesses in the same building as Radio Rondevoo or directly next to it include Angel Paws Pet Grooming, Tacos Villa Mexican restaurant, Poindexters Novelty and Costume Store, and Eve and the Outlaw Bail Bonds.

This was considered an all-call fire, said Palmer, meaning all area agencies that can responded. About 100 firefighters, police and paramedics were on scene by 10 a.m.

Palmer said the roof of the Radio Rondevoo collapsed and the structure is not sound. It appears part of the buildings back wall also collapsed.

Firefighters cleared the alley behind the building in case more of the building collapses.

The city has called in Twin Falls County Emergency Management to assist the residents of Old Town Lodge who cant return to their apartments, Palmer said. By late morning, most Lodge residents had returned to their homes, but a few are staying elsewhere because of smoke damage.

Poindexters and other neighboring businesses were sprayed with water to try to prevent the fire from spreading.

All Twin Falls School District phones and emails were off because power to the building that houses the districts servers was disconnected, spokesperson Eva Craner said. Parents have been notified.

Canyon Ridge High School was set to have its prom at Radio Rondevoo this weekend. By 11 a.m., social media run by the schools student council said the prom has been moved to the Fieldhouse & Event Center, 302 Third Ave. S.

In September 2018, a fire caused major damage to another Main Avenue business, Guppies Hot Rod Grille, which was at 110 Main Ave. W. The fire marshal was unable to determine how that fire started, but found it had ignited in a room behind the kitchen where a washer and dryer were kept.

The Radio Rondevoo Building encompassed seven city lots, according to historical information from the city Historic Preservation Commission.

Florence Gardner hired Anthony Daniel Bobier to construct the building for the headquarters of her brothers radio station, KTFI. Stanley Soule started the station  then KGIQ  in 1928. The call letters changed in 1930 to reflect the name of the town while broadcasting from the Herriott Building on Second Avenue West.

KTFI began broadcasting from the second floor of the Rondevoo building in 1940, while the first floor was used as a ballroom.

The building was sold in 1960 to Western Broadcasting and the ballroom was converted to a skating rink.

Calvary Baptist Chapel moved into the building in 1984.

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Tens of Thousands of Assyrians Join in Palm Sunday Procession in Iraq

Christians once again filled the streets of Qaraqosh for Palm Sunday: Syriac Catholic Patriarch Ignace Joseph III Younan, visiting from Beirut, led the procession of more than 20,000 people.

The celebration was a stark contrast to Patriarch Younan's first visit there in November 2016, following Qaraqosh's liberation from the Islamic State after nearly two years. During that visit, Patriarch Younan spoke of the "ghost town" and celebrated Mass on a makeshift altar in the empty, broken, incinerated Syriac Catholic Church of the Immaculate Conception.

But on April 10, the patriarch told the faithful during the revived traditional gathering: "I cannot express my joy in words ... Bakhdida is 'the pearl' of our Syriac Catholic Church. I would not be exaggerating if I said today that it is the heartbeat of this church, not only in Bakhdida, but in Iraq and all the world."

Qaraqosh, also known as Bakhdida, was once the most populous Christian town in Iraq. In a single night during the summer of 2014, the town's entire population of some 50,000 Syriac Catholics was forcibly uprooted by Islamic State militants. In all, more than 100,000 Christians were evicted from the Ninevah Plain and Mosul that summer. They fled to the Kurdish region in northern Iraq.

This year, Patriarch Younan noted that the huge number of participants for the Palm Sunday celebration "expresses the affiliation of our children in Bakhdida to their ancient Syriac Church, which, along the path of its long history, has gone through many trials and persecutions."

About 60% of Qaraqosh's 50,000 Syriac Catholic residents have returned from their exile in the Kurdistan region to their homes, which had been destroyed and burned by the terrorists and repaired with the help of Catholic organizations, including the Knights of Columbus, Aid to the Church in Need and L'oeuvre d'Orient. Many families have emigrated abroad.

During Pope Francis' visit to Iraq in March 2021, praying the Angelus at the Church of the Immaculate Conception, the pontiff told the faithful that "terrorism and death never have the last word."

Before the Palm Sunday procession, Patriarch Younan celebrated Mass at the church and told the faithful: "We are here in Bakhdida living our faith in hope and complete trust in the Lord, no matter how stormy the storm is ... no matter how many challenges, no matter how severe the persecutions are. The people of Bakhdida are called to remain steadfast in their land, no matter what."

"Today is Palm Sunday, the feast of joy; we all rejoice in Jesus, who came to reign over the hearts of men with peace and love. He rode a simple donkey, not like those who rule and frighten the world with their might."

During his visit to Iraq, the patriarch also inspected the restoration work at other churches nearly destroyed by Islamic State and inaugurated a church-run nursery.
While caseloads for social workers across Idaho are still high and foster families are still needed, the outlook within the Child Welfare division of the Department of Health and Welfare is better than it was a few months ago now that Gov. Brad Little has signed new funding for the department into law.

The Idaho Legislature approved a budget bill in March that included $96.6 million for Idahos child welfare system, with 24 additional employees, pay increases and increases to the reimbursement rate for foster families.

Family and Community Services Program Specialist Julie Sevcik said many foster parents responded to a survey conducted by Health and Welfare in 2020 with comments related to the rates, saying the cost of fostering a child is significantly greater than the reimbursement. Depending on age, the rate worked out to about $13 a day for some families, which survey respondents said was too low for the care of any child.

We have also heard from potential foster parents in the Treasure Valley that they were unable to become foster parents, as the cost of obtaining housing that would provide for a bedroom for children in foster care was out of reach, Sevcik said.

The increase went into effect April 1, after the Legislature approved a retroactive rate increase to cover the last three months of fiscal year 2022, which ends in July.

Reimbursement rates for Idaho foster families increased 30-60% in April

Cameron Gilliland, administrator of the Family and Community Services department, said foster families received letters notifying them of the increase this week. For some families, he expected the news would be a pleasant surprise.

No foster parent gets into foster care for the money, they get into it because theyre driven to help children and families, Gilliland said. I think this keeps (them from having to) pay money out of their own pocket on top of all that time and service. I think this is adequate to meet that need or come closer to it.

Sevcik said the department will hear more feedback from parents in the coming weeks, but some have already said the increase is wonderful news and a huge improvement.

Prior to the increase, reimbursement rates ranged between $395 and $674 per month depending on the age of the child, which was the lowest rate among Western states. The new rates range between $632 and $876, which Gilliland said puts Idaho in the mid-range among the states.

The Idaho Capital Sun reported late last year that the department was struggling to find foster families for placement, to the point that nearly 70 children had stayed in Airbnb residences for 10 days or longer between June and December of 2021. Gilliland said there is still a shortage of families, but recruitment is improving now that COVID-19 case numbers have dwindled, and test positivity rates are low statewide.

The department is working to improve the speed of its training process for foster families, Gilliland said, and there is a high need for foster parents who can work with children who have more complex behavioral needs.

Social worker shortage continues, but outlook is better

The approved budget includes funding for 21 new social worker positions in case management and safety assessment, two of the highest priority areas for the Child Welfare division. Three new positions were also added for psychosocial rehabilitation specialists, who support social workers with more administrative tasks.

Case workers are still managing as many as 20 cases in parts of Idaho, Gilliland said, which is too high. The high caseloads are partially caused by high turnover among social workers, which the Idaho Capital Sun reported about last year in a series of stories. During the 2021 fiscal year, 83 people voluntarily quit their jobs in the Child Welfare division of the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare. At least 24 of those resignations were mid-level social workers, who said in their exit interviews that stress and workload was the primary reason they quit.

Delmar Stone, executive director and lobbyist for the Idaho chapter of the National Association of Social Workers, told the Sun in January that he was extremely disappointed with the governors request for 21 new social worker positions, even though it was double what the department said it planned to ask for in December.

We needed at least 55 new social workers back in 2017, Stone wrote in an email.

Gilliland said the department has a recruiter who is looking for social workers, but the backup plan is to continue using support staff to fill in the gaps as much as possible.

Theres a whole pool of folks out there who dont have social work degrees but are interested in social work, and a lot of people move to Idaho and apply for those jobs, he said. We are staffing some of those up and using them for parts of case management work that doesnt require that degree.

How can you help?

Those interested in becoming foster families can call the Idaho CareLine at 211 or 800-926-2588, or text 898211 to connect with a specialist. More information about the foster care program is located on the Idaho Health and Welfare website.

To report suspected child abuse, neglect or abandonment, call:

Statewide: 855-552-KIDS (5437)

Treasure Valley: 208-334-KIDS (5437)

211 or local law enforcement

Client services technicians are part of the support staff who help transport foster children to various appointments as needed. That position has existed for about nine months, and until recently made about $13 per hour, Gilliland said. The department has increased that to $16 per hour, which he hopes will help with retention and recruitment efforts for those employees.

They really love that job and helping oversee those positions, he said. With that increase, we hope to be able to hire more and not have our case managers have to do that as much.

Case managers and safety assessors will also receive a salary increase of 7%, on top of a statewide 3% increase. After the department requested a change from the Idaho Division of Human Resources, those workers also now receive overtime pay instead of comp time.

Gilliland said hes working on outreach efforts to make sure workers feel better supported. He hosts Cams Corner with staff every other week, and a fireside chat once a month to hear feedback and any suggestions for improvement. Health and Welfare Director Dave Jeppesen will also visit offices across the state to job shadow with social workers.

Gilliland said the department started a monthly wellness class hosted by a psychiatrist called From Burnout to Joy, and a new initiative called The Year of the Employee focused on employee appreciation.

If we can help people deal with their stress while decreasing staff load, I think it will make a real difference this upcoming year, Gilliland said.

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PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP)  Tesla CEO Elon Musk's great Twitter turnabout  in which he disclosed his massive stake in the social media company, got a seat on its board, publicly floated drastic changes and then turned down the board role  all happened in a week.

But its aftermath could linger if the mercurial billionaire who now holds a roughly 9% stake in Twitter continues to push forward his ideas for reshaping the business of social media.

WHY DIDN'T MUSK JOIN THE BOARD?

Musk said he informed Twitter on Saturday that he wouldn't be joining its board of directors, after being invited five days earlier, according to a financial disclosure. He didn't explain why but the Saturday decision coincided with a barrage of now-deleted tweets from Musk proposing major changes to the company, such as dropping ads  its chief source of revenue  and transforming its San Francisco headquarters into a homeless shelter. Musk left a few clues on Twitter about his thinking, such as by liking a tweet that summarized the events as Musk going from largest shareholder for Free Speech to being told to play nice and not speak freely.

WHAT IS TWITTER SAYING?

Twitter CEO Parag Agrawal said Musk's not joining was for the best but didnt give explicit reasons in a statement Monday. Agrawal also left some clues, noting that Musk had been awaiting a background check and suggesting that Twitter wanted him on the board  rather than just as a major shareholder  because as a fiduciary hed be legally and ethically bound to act in the best interests of the company and all of our shareholders.

HOW DID MUSK BUILD HIS STAKE?

Musk has been tweeting for a long time, but he began buying Twitter stock in earnest only a few months ago. He started on Jan. 31, when he bought a little more than 620,000 shares at $36.83 apiece. On nearly every single trading day from then through April 1, he bought hundreds of thousands or millions more of shares.

Altogether, Musk was in control of 73.1 million Twitter shares as of the most recent count, or 9.1% of the company. He spent $2.64 billion buying them all on the open market. The market value for all of Twitter, including Musks stake, is roughly $38 billion.

HOW BIG IS MUSKS STAKE COMPARED WITH OTHERS?

Musk seemed to be Twitters biggest shareholder until investment giant Vanguard Group filed a report late last week showing it had supplanted him.

Vanguard controls 10.3% of the company through investments made by its suite of mutual funds and ETFs. Vanguard and other fund giants are often the biggest investors in any company, as money keeps pouring into their index funds from retirement savers and other investors. But these fund giants are typically much more hands-off as owners than activist investors, who can push for new management teams or big changes in strategy.

WHAT COULDNT MUSK DO IF HE HAD JOINED THE BOARD?

Had Musk joined the board, he'd have been only one of several voices in strategy discussions. And he might have chafed at not being able to order the company around.

The responsibility of the board of directors is to represent the shareholders, said Harry Kraemer, clinical professor at Northwestern Universitys Kellogg School of Management and former chairman and CEO of Baxter International. Theyre not there to represent themselves.

By turning down a seat on Twitters board, Musk also gets out of a promise to keep his ownership stake of Twitter at 14.9% or below. Free of that cap, he has the option to build a bigger stake, where he could try to take over the company or help elect a slate of directors more aligned with his thinking.

That 15% is an arbitrary number, said Kraemer. Its not like if you own 15%, you can or cant do something else. Im speculating, but maybe the thought was: If we bring him on as a director, and he cant buy more than 15%, that literally stops him from taking control of the company.

DIDNT MUSK SAY HE WOULD BE JUST A PASSIVE INVESTOR IN TWITTER?

When Musk first unveiled his Twitter stake through a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, he did it with a type of form often used by investors who dont plan to push for big changes at a company. But he has since amended that filing to use a broader type of form, one that doesnt have the same restrictions.

WHAT HAS MUSK SAID HELL DO WITH HIS SHARES?

He said in a filing with regulators on Monday that he owns the shares for investment purposes. He said he may buy more, sell or simply hold the shares, depending on what happens with its price and other factors.

He also said that he may talk with Twitters board and its management team from time to time about strategy, as well as possible mergers, sales or acquisitions, among other things. The widely followed tweeter was sure to note that he may express his views to the company through social media or other channels.

Musk said he has no present plans or intentions, but that his plans could change at any time.

WHAT DOES MUSK REALLY WANT?

Much of Musk's vocal criticism of Twitter over recent weeks has centered around his belief that it falls short on free speech principles. The social media platform has angered followers of Donald Trump and other far-right political figures who've had their accounts suspended for violating its content standards on violence, hate or harmful misinformation. Musk also has a history of his own tweets causing legal problems.

But as long as his attention is sustained, it's unlikely that Musk would make such a big play for Twitter if he didn't also have strategic business interests, said Enrique Abeyta, a former hedge fund manager and editor of Empire Financial Research. It's nearly impossible to start a new social media platform, so Twitter offers the digital equivalent of prime beachfront real estate that just needs some tinkering and fresh ideas, which could range from taking it private to shifting to a subscription-based model with fewer speech restrictions, Abeyta said.

He clearly has shown an interest in combining his philosophical beliefs and interests with his economic ones, he said. I think it would be very dangerous to discount him."

COULD MUSK BE TWITTER CEO?

Probably not. Neither Musk  who already serves as CEO of Tesla and SpaceX and has dabbled in a number of other technology ventures  nor most investors are likely to think that's a good idea.

Hed rather be the chairman, the spirit animal, the man who saved Twitter and also made $10 billion on it, Abeyta said. He's the richest person in the world. Being CEO sucks.

Choe reported from New York.

Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

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INDIANAPOLIS (AP)  Relatives of five of the eight people who were shot and killed last year at an Indianapolis FedEx warehouse by a former employee sued the shipping giant and a security company on Monday, accusing them of negligence and failing to ensure that the workplace was safe.

The federal lawsuit, which names as defendants the FedEx Corporation, three of its operating units and Securitas Security Services USA, alleges that gunman Brandon Scott Hole, 19, had exhibited emotional and mental instability on multiple instances before the April 15, 2021, shooting.

The suit contends the defendants knew or should have known of Holes potentially violent and dangerous propensities, which were reasonably likely to result in injuries to himself and others.

The families complaint, filed in U.S. District Court in Indianapolis, seeks unspecified damages.

The plaintiffs are relatives of shooting victims Amarjeet Johal, 66; Amarjit Sekhon, 48; Jasvinder Kaur, 50; John Weisert, 74; and Karli Smith, 19.

The families of the three other people killed  Matthew R Alexander, 32; Samaria Blackwell, 19; and Jaswinder Singh, 68  are not involved in the suit.

Johals youngest son, Gary Johal, said that hurt and pain remain ever-present for him and his relatives nearly a year after her death.

It sucks that we have to go through this when this whole incident was 100% preventable, he said at a news conference with two of the plaintiffs' attorneys.

The suit alleges that FedEx should have taken additional security measures to protect the Indianapolis facilitys staff in light of previous mass shootings at other FedEx facilities, including an April 2014 shooting at a FedEx center in an Atlanta suburb where a gunman wounded six people.

After Hole arrived at the Indianapolis facility, he confronted Securitas security staff and began banging on a door and causing a disturbance, according to the lawsuit, which also contends the actions should have been recognized as those of a potentially dangerous person.

The suit accuses Securitas of failing to adequately train its staff to respond to dangerous or potentially dangerous situations, and failing to realize that Hole was a potential threat.

After he was denied entry to the building, the suit states, Hole returned to his car and opened fire minutes later in the parking lot and then at the facilitys entrance, killing the eight victims and wounding five other people.

Obviously there wasnt enough in place," said Melvin L. Hewitt, one of the plaintiffs attorneys.. Its our position that it was an entirely preventable."

FedEx said in a statement that it was aware of the lawsuit and was reviewing the allegations. The company added that it continues to mourn the loss of our team members in the senseless tragedy.

Securitas Security Services USA said it does not comment on pending litigation.

Indianapolis police and federal authorities said at a July 2021 news conference that Hole, a former FedEx employee, acted alone and used the attack as an act of suicidal murder. Four of the victims were Sikh, but authorities said the attack was not racially or ethnically motivated and that Hole believed he would demonstrate his masculinity and capability while fulfilling a final desire to experience killing people.

Hole was able to legally purchase the two rifles he used in the shooting, even after his mother called police in March of 2020 to say her son might attempt suicide by cop. Police seized a pump-action shotgun from Hole, then 18, when responding to his mothers call.

Lawyers for the victims have said the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department and the Marion County prosecutors office failed to follow Indianas red flag law when they decided not to file a case with the courts to suspend Hole's gun rights in March of 2020.

Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

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ASHEVILLE  On Monday, April 4, Labor Commissioner Josh Dobson was honored as the 2022 Steve Jordan Lighthouse Award recipient at this years North Carolina Providers Council (NCPC) annual conference held at the Hilton DoubleTree Biltmore in Asheville.

This award recognizes Dobsons previous work as a legislator in the North Carolina House of Representatives, working across the aisle to enact changes to the states mental health law regarding involuntary commitment (IVC) of individuals in behavioral crises.

I am honored to receive the Steve Jordan Lighthouse Award and proud of what we were able to accomplish during my time as a state representative, Dobson said. My approach to politics has always been a bipartisan one. Adopting that philosophy has allowed us to develop more compassionate mental health policies in our state.

His efforts while serving as chair of the House Appropriations Committee and the Health Policy Committee were instrumental in bringing about the first major change to IVC legislation since the adoption of the states Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Abuse Act of 1985.

The Lighthouse Award was created in memory of Steve Jordan, who served as president of NCPC in 2010, and honors those who have made extraordinary contributions to intellectual and developmental disabilities, mental health and/or substance abuse disorder systems in North Carolina.
Means of promoting cooperation in the field of justice between Morocco and Qatar were at the center of a meeting, Monday in Rabat, between the Minister of Justice, Abdellatif Ouahbi and his Qatari counterpart, Masoud Bin Mohamed Al Ameri, currently visiting Morocco.

This meeting was an opportunity for the two parties to express their shared resolve to promote bilateral legal and judicial cooperation, said Abdellatif Ouahbi, expressing the wish to raise bilateral relations to the level of the aspirations of the two countries leaders.

The means to strengthen judicial cooperation between Morocco and Qatar were also at the center of talks between the Qatari official and public prosecutor at the Court of Cassation, president of the public prosecutors Office, El Hassan Daki.

On this occasion, the two parties discussed the prospects of cooperation in the judicial field and the exchange of experiences and expertise to improve the judicial system.

Daki gave the Qatari minister a brief overview of the Moroccan judicial system as well as the developments in the justice sector, in light of the 2011 Constitution.

He then outlined the missions, roles and prerogatives of the Presidency of the Public Prosecutors Office and the prosecution offices of the various jurisdictions of the Kingdom.

The Qatari Justice Minister praised the Moroccan experience in the field of independence of justice, outlining the main features of the judicial system in his country, including the work done by the various judicial bodies.
The Court of Cassation of the Democratic Republic of Congo on Monday annulled the decision of the Court of Appeal which sentenced Vital Kamerhe, the former chief of staff of President Felix Tshisekedi, to 13 years in prison for embezzlement of public funds, and referred the case to new judges.

The Court of Cassation () accepted the appeal [of Vital Kamerhe] and said it was well-founded, quashed the contested judgment with referral. Refers the case to the Court of Appeal of Kinshasa-Gombe otherwise composed, said Judge Christophe Mukendi at the end of a public hearing lasting one and a half hours.

The court found that the appeal judge had violated the right of defense of Mr. Kamerhe in rendering his decision sentencing him to 13 years in prison for embezzlement of public funds, when the case was not in a state to be tried, he argued.

Vital Kamerhe, 63, a former president of the National Assembly, was sentenced in April 2020 to 20 years in prison for embezzling nearly $50 million to build prefabricated houses for the military and police as part of a program to launch President Tshisekedis term.

This sentence was reduced to 13 years in prison on appeal in June 2021. During the hearings, his lawyers denounced a political trial to prevent him from running in 2023.

In December, the same court granted Kamerhe conditional release on health grounds.

In 2018, Kamerhe withdrew in favor of Tshisekedi at the end of the presidential campaign and, according to an agreement between the two men, was to be a candidate in the next election scheduled for 2023.
Nigerian Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo announced on Monday that he is entering the race for the February 2023 presidential election in Africas most populous country and said he is running in his partys primary.

Elected vice president in 2015, Osinbajo made the announcement after months of speculation about his ambition to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari, who after two terms decided not to seek re-election. The 65-year-old lawyer and former university professor said his years of service under President Buhari made him the best man for the job.

It is for this reason that I formally declare today, with utmost humility, my intention to run for the office of presidentthrough our great party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), he said in a recorded statement.

The ruling APC will nominate its candidate in a primary to be held by June. APC leader and former Lagos governor Bola Tinubu has already announced his candidacy along with Transport Minister Rotimi Amaechi and Kogi State governor Yahaya Bello.

If he wins, Mr. Osinbajo, a native of Lagos, has promised to continue Mr. Buharis policies and programs, including major infrastructure projects such as roads and railroads.

Security will be a major issue in the election as the country is plagued by widespread insecurity. The nigerian military is deployed on multiple fronts, including in the northeast, the scene of a jihadist insurgency for more than 12 years, and in the northwest, where criminal gangs loot, kidnap and kill people.

The ruling partys candidate will face the candidate who emerges from the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Former vice president Atiku Abubakar, 75, who has run for president five times in the past, announced his candidacy under the PDP banner last month.
Nigers former Interior Minister (2010-2011), Ousmane Cisse, was jailed on Friday for his alleged involvement in two coup attempts, including the one in March 2021, a Nigerien official and a prison source said on Monday.

Ousmane Cisse, the former Minister of the Interior, has been placed under a detention order in the prison of Birni NGaoure (south of Niger) for his involvement in two coup attempts foiled in March 2021 and recently in March 2022, said a Nigerien official, without further details. A prison source confirmed that the former minister has been incarcerated in a prison in Birni NGaoure, about 100 km south of the capital.

Mr. Cisse was summoned Friday to the gendarmerie and then heard for several hours by a judge who placed him under a detention order, the official said. It is not known what charges have been brought against him or what role he may have played in the two aborted putsches.

On March 31, 2021, the Nigerien government announced the arrest of several people after an attempted coup, two days before the swearing in of the current president Mohamed Bazoum. The alleged mastermind of the coup attempt, Sani Gourouza, an air force captain, was arrested in April 2021 in neighboring Benin and handed over to Nigerien authorities.

The arrest of Ousmane Cisse is also linked to a last foiled coup in March 2022, when President Bazoum was in Turkey, the Nigerien official added. The authorities have not publicly communicated about this second failed coup.

Ousmane Cisse, 60, is a police officer who served as Interior Minister from 2010-2011 in the transitional government set up by General Salou Djibo, head of the military junta that overthrew former President Mamadou Tandja in February 2010.

Mr. Cisse had been appointed advisor to President Issoufou and had held important positions including director general of the national police and director general of external security. He served as ambassador for Chad and the Central African Republic from 2016 until last February.
H&S Invest Holding announced, on Monday, the takeover of WB Africa Group, a Lebanese company, by becoming the majority shareholder with 52% of the Communication, Media and Press group which operates in several African countries.

Our increase in the capital of WB Africa Group allows us to consolidate the groups financial results but also to create synergies in the marketing, media and digital value chain beyond our expertise as manufacturers and distributors of major brands of consumer products, H&S Invest Holding CEO Moncef Belkhayat said.

We will also continue to consolidate our partnership with Starcom, Zenith and Spark of the Publicis Media group as well as our association with the Amethis investment fund, which owns 28% of the Group, he said.

For his part, Bassel Mneinmeh, CEO of the selling company MMindz said we are happy to carry out this sale of all of our shares in WB Africa Group to H&S Invest Holding. We will remain in close collaboration with all of the groups top management while providing managerial transition support until the end of 2022.

WB Africa Group was created in 2016.
Joyful Iraqi Assyrians Return to Nineveh Plains to Celebrate Holy Week

Around 25,000 Assyrians in Baghdede (Qaraqosh) participated in the Palm Sunday procession on April 10, 2022. ( Bashar Yameel Hanna/CNA) After almost a decade of death and destruction, and one year after the historic visit of Pope Francis to Iraq, more than 25,000 Assyrian Christians in Qaraqosh chanted "Hosanna to the Son of David. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, Hosanna."

Qaraqosh, a majority-Christian Assyrian town located at the heart of the Nineveh Plains in northern Iraq, is less than 20 miles southeast of Mosul, the city that in 2014 was the de facto capital of the Islamic State (ISIS) in the region.

Two decades ago, Mosul, Qaraqosh, and other towns in the Nineveh Plains were the home of approximately 1.5 million Christians in northern Iraq. After the second U.S. invasion in 2004 and the ISIS uprising in 2014, only about 300,000 Christians remained.

But on Palm Sunday, April 10, the town became the Christian epicenter of Iraq during a procession and a Mass presided by His Beatitude Ignatius Ephrem Joseph III Yonan and Patriarch of Antioch and all the East for the Syriac Catholic Church.

Accompanying them were Archbishop Mitja Lescovar, the apostolic nuncio to Iraq; Bishop Nathanael Nizar Samaan, metropolitan of the Syriac diocese of Hydiab-Erbil and the rest of the Kurdistan Region; Archbishop Ephrem Youssef Abba Mansour, of the Syriac Diocese of Baghdad, and Bishop Atanasius Firas Mundher Dardar, patriarchal vicar for the Syriac Catholics in Basra (Basorah) and the Arabian Gulf.

The multitude of the faithful surrounded and walked along with Patriarch Younan, who was carrying a cross adorned with olive branches.

The procession around the town set off from the Great Church of St. Mary at Al-Tahira, the largest church building of the Syriac Catholic Church, and the largest church in Iraq since its consecration in 1952. The church was desecrated and burned by ISIS, but thanks to the help of Catholic organizations in the West, such as Aid to the Church in Need, it was restored in time for Pope Francis' visit in March 2021.

His Beatitude Ignatius Ephrem Joseph III Younan, Patriarch for the Syriac Catholic Church, at Palm Sunday ceremony in Qaraqosh, Iraq, on April 10, 2022. ( Bashar Yameel Hannah/CNA)

Walking through the streets of the city, praying the rosary in Arabic and Syriac, and singing Palm Sunday songs were Christians from surrounding villages, different regions of Iraq, and even Iraqi expatriates from Europe, the United States, and Australia.

Among the returnees was Sabah Yacoub, who was visiting from Germany.

"(Qaraqosh) lives in our blood because it is our rock. And all of Iraq lives in our blood, because it is our original land. We were forcibly displaced from it because of ISIS, who wanted to kill us, our families, our daughters, so we had to migrate from the country to a safe place," Yacoub told ACI MENA, CNA's Arabic-language sister news agency.

"I settled in Germany," Yacoub continued, "but when we fall asleep it comes to our minds, so every year I come to Iraq on the holidays, in particular, and I consider it a pilgrimage to my country, and we wait for the day when we can find stability in (Qaraqosh) and our beloved Iraq."

Qaraqosh has been only partially rebuilt and it is estimated that only half of its original Christian population is back. But the Catholic clergy, the first group to enter the town after ISIS' defeat, continues to lead the reconstruction effort.

The Palm Sunday procession was decorated with palm fronds, roses, bright colors, and folkloric costumes characteristic of Holy Week and Easter.

As one of the six members of the Hana Qasha family told ACI MENA: "All people are rejoicing in the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. We welcome our Lord Jesus Christ with songs, hymns, chants, various folk costumes and bright colors, the colors of spring. This is (Qaraqosh's) wedding."

The procession included the participation of the traditional confraternities of the Immaculate Conception and the Sacred Heart, and the catechumens who will be received into the Catholic Church on Easter.

"We are here to announce to the world that we are in this region as the children of hope, the children of love who want to live a life of dignity under the banner of the cross and the banner of the one Iraqi flag," Patriarch Younan said.

"Here we celebrate the occasion of the Lord's entry into Jerusalem, as even the stones cry out, 'Hosanna to the son of David,' and the church that was burned down by the Islamic State, was restored to scream, as its stones cry out, 'Hosanna to the son of David,'" he said in closing.
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The diameter of the thoracic aorta is a biomarker for heart attacks and other adverse cardiovascular events in women and men, according to a new study published in the journal Radiology.

The aorta is a large artery that carries oxygenated blood to the heart and other parts of the body. The portion that passes through the chest, known as the thoracic aorta, is divided into an ascending aorta that rises from the left ventricle of the heart and a descending aorta in the back of the chest.

The thoracic aorta grows as we age, but changes of vessel size and structure, a phenomenon known as vascular remodeling, have a systemic nature involving hemodynamicbasic measures of cardiovascular function and blood circulationand biological processes that are also linked to cardiovascular disease.

"While enlargement of the thoracic aorta is a frequent finding in clinical practice, few longitudinal data regarding its long-term prognosis for major cardiovascular disease outcomes at the population level exist," said study senior author Maryam Kavousi M.D., Ph.D., from the Department of Epidemiology at Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam in Rotterdam, the Netherlands.

Dr. Kavousi and colleagues assessed these associations in 2,178 participants from the population-based Rotterdam Study. Participants underwent multi-detector CT scans between 2003 and 2006 and were followed for nine years, on average. Thoracic aorta diameters were indexed for body mass index (BMI).

Larger BMI-indexed ascending and descending thoracic aortic diameters were significantly associated with increased risk of adverse cardiovascular outcomes like stroke and death in both women and men.

"Our results suggest that imaging-based assessment of diameter of thoracic aorta can be considered as a risk marker for future cardiovascular disease," Dr. Kavousi said.

In women, greater ascending aortic diameter was associated with 33% higher cardiovascular mortality risk. Remodeling of the aging aorta seems to be different between women and men with faster deterioration in women.

"Aging could affect aortic health and structure more adversely in women than in men," Dr. Kavousi said.

The study findings suggest that cardiovascular risk assessment associated with thoracic aortic size among asymptomatic women and men could lead to effective, sex-specific prevention strategies.

"As the aortic diameter is significantly related to body size, use of aortic diameters indexed for body measurements could improve its prognostic value for cardiovascular outcomes," Dr. Kavousi said.

Thoracic aorta size assessment could easily be added to existing screening methods, the researchers said. The cardiac CT scans deployed in the study are already commonly used to assess coronary calcium. Thoracic aortic diameter could also be measured routinely, for example as part of CT-based lung cancer screening.

The current study was based on a single CT-based assessment of thoracic aorta among a large group of participants from the general population, followed up for nine years for incidence of cardiovascular outcomes and mortality. The researchers have recently repeated the CT-based assessment of thoracic aorta among these participants after a median of 14 years.

"This provides an exciting and unique opportunity to study sex-specific risk profiles and patterns of growth in thoracic aorta in the general population," Dr. Kavousi said.

Explore further Q&A: Thoracic aortic aneurysms

More information: Oscar L. Rueda-Ochoa et al, Thoracic Aortic Diameter and Cardiovascular Events and Mortality among Women and Men, Radiology (2022). Journal information: Radiology Oscar L. Rueda-Ochoa et al, Thoracic Aortic Diameter and Cardiovascular Events and Mortality among Women and Men,(2022). DOI: 10.1148/radiol.210861
Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

A study released today indicates that SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) spreads extensively in households, with children being a significant source of that spread. Approximately 50% of household members were infected from the first-infected individual during the study period. Although kids were less likely to spread the virus compared to adults, children and adults were equally likely to become infected from the first-infected individual.

The antibody surveillance study "Household transmission of SARS-CoV-2 from unvaccinated asymptomatic and symptomatic household members with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection" published in CMAJ Open included 695 participants from 180 households in Ottawa between September 2020 and March 2021. The study included households with at least one member having had a confirmed COVID-19 infection, and each participating household enrolled had at least one child within their household.

"Our study was conducted when we were dealing with a less transmissible virus and pandemic restrictions were strongly in place, and we still had a 50% transmission rate within households. Flash forward to where we are today with an extremely transmissible variant of COVID-19 and the majority of pandemic restrictions lifted; it's safe to say transmission rates will be higher even though we have a high vaccination rate amongst those who are eligible," said Dr. Maala Bhatt, the study's lead author and Associate Professor of Pediatrics in the Faculty of Medicine.

"I know many want to 'live with COVID' and abandon the layers of protection that were previously mandated, but it's important to be aware of the high transmissibility of this virus in closed, indoor settings, such as schools. Our most vulnerable and our youngest children who are not yet able to be vaccinated are still at risk for COVID infection."

The level of COVID-19 in Eastern Ontario is on the rise. The COVID-19 wastewater viral signal in Ottawa is at record levels. In addition, test per cent positivity across the region is high, according to regional public health units. In recent weeks, the number of COVID-19 positive admissions to CHEO has been approaching the levels seen in January and early February. Three-quarters of all children admitted to CHEO with COVID-19 have come during the Omicron wave. Since the beginning of January one in three of the roughly 4,900 monthly visits to the Emergency Department were for symptoms associated with COVID-19.

The study hypothesized that children would act as "an even greater source of spread within households with the emergence of more infectious variants." Children also have "considerable potential to spread" in settings such as school and daycare, where they congregate indoors for long periods, especially now when masking is not required in many jurisdictions.

"While we're lucky hospitals aren't currently overloaded, emergency departments are and positivity rates are on the rise, even amongst children," said Dr. Bhatt, pediatric emergency physician and Director of Emergency Medicine Research at CHEO and an Investigator at the CHEO Research Institute.

"We continue to learn more about COVID-19 and its potential long-term health impacts, and we still aren't clear about how long immunity lasts; these are all things researchers continue to study. As significant COVID-19 transmission continues within households and throughout the community, it's important to continue doing what you can to keep yourself and those around you safemask while indoors, wash your hands, get vaccinated with all the doses you are eligible for, stay home if you're sick, and limit close contacts."

Explore further Insight into how often COVID-19 spreads through households

More information: Maala Bhatt et al, Household transmission of SARS-CoV-2 from unvaccinated asymptomatic and symptomatic household members with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection: an antibody-surveillance study, CMAJ Open (2022). Maala Bhatt et al, Household transmission of SARS-CoV-2 from unvaccinated asymptomatic and symptomatic household members with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection: an antibody-surveillance study,(2022). DOI: 10.9778/cmajo.20220026
Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

For cancer patients, COVID-19 poses a particular risk due to their often compromised immune systems, weakened by therapy or disease, which is why vaccination is very important for their protection. Now, a recent study led by MedUni Vienna shows that, due to omicron, there is an increasing number of breakthrough infections in people with cancer, especially while they are undergoing cancer therapy. The researchers of the study, which has just been published in the journal Cancer Cell, emphasize that adhering to protective measures and development of vaccines adapted to virus variants is important to affected individuals.

A total of 3,959 patients who are or have been treated for cancer at University Hospital Vienna and at the Franz Tappeiner Hospital in Merano (Italy) were examined in the study. Eighty-five percent of patients had received at least one vaccination with one of the SARS-CoV-2 vaccines authorized in the EU. Between February 2020 and February 2022, a total of 950 of the 3,959 cancer patients (24 percent) had become infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus. As the research shows, the number of breakthrough infections increased significantly with the emergence of the omicron variant in January 2022: 70 percent of infected patients were vaccinated. Thus, the risk of vaccine breakthrough for cancer patients due to omicron tripled compared with the delta variant that prevailed between October and December. Breakthrough infections were significantly more common among those who were undergoing systemic treatment than among those without ongoing cancer therapy.

To obtain reasons for the higher rate of breakthrough infections with omicron compared to delta, the researchers examined, among other things, the concentration of protective antibodies in the blood in samples from 78 cancer patients and 25 healthy individuals. Strikingly, both in people with solid tumors and blood cancers, there was greatly reduced inhibition of the omicron variant by specific vaccine antibodies as compared to people without cancer. However, there was also a trend toward shorter hospital stays for vaccinated versus unvaccinated patients. In addition, breakthrough infections only required intensive medical care in rare cases.

Matthias Preusser, head of the Division of Oncology at the Department of Medicine I at MedUni Vienna and University Hospital Vienna, says, "The increasing rates of breakthrough infections and hospitalizations of vaccinated cancer patients associated with omicron underscore the need for further protective measures not only to effectively combat the ongoing pandemic, but also to prepare for the potential emergence of additional SARS-CoV-2 variants. Vaccines adapted to the particular SARS-CoV-2 variant could help to better protect cancer patients and maintain life-sustaining cancer treatment during the pandemic."

More information: Maximilian J. Mair et al, Enhanced SARS-CoV-2 breakthrough infections in patients with hematologic and solid cancers due to Omicron, Cancer Cell (2022). Journal information: Cancer Cell Maximilian J. Mair et al, Enhanced SARS-CoV-2 breakthrough infections in patients with hematologic and solid cancers due to Omicron,(2022). DOI: 10.1016/j.ccell.2022.04.003
Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

A new study published in Diabetologia finds that exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)a large and diverse group of industrial chemicals found in many everyday productsis associated with an increased risk of developing diabetes in midlife women. The study is by Dr. Sung Kyun Park and colleagues at the Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, U.S..

PFAS are a group of more than 4,700 synthetic chemicals, first developed in the 1940s and which are widely used in industry as well as in consumer products such as non-stick cookware, water and stain-repellent coatings, food packaging, carpeting, firefighting foam, and even cosmetics. Their molecular structure is based on a linked chain of carbon atoms with one or more fluorine atoms attached, and the extreme stability of those carbon-fluorine bonds make PFAS highly resistant to being broken down. This durability causes PFAS to persist and accumulate in the environment as well as in the bodies of humans and animals where they can remain for years, leading to them being referred to as "forever chemicals".

Their ubiquity and persistence in both the environment and the human body has led to PFAS exposure becoming a serious public health concern, resulting in restrictions and even bans on their use. At least one type of PFAS was present in the blood samples of nearly every American tested by the US Biomonitoring Program, and they were also detected in the drinking water supply of more than 200 million people in the U.S.. A recent review of possible health effects of these chemicals suggests that exposure to some may be associated with pre-eclampsia, altered levels of liver enzymes, increased blood fats, decreased antibody response to vaccines, and low birth weight, although causal relationships have yet to be established.

Many PFAS have molecular structures which resemble those of naturally occurring fatty acids, resulting in them having similar chemical properties and effects on the human body. Fatty acids act on a class of protein molecules found in cells called peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs), which act as fat and insulin sensors and are the main regulators of the formation and development of new adipocytes (fat cells) as well as the control of the body's fat and glucose levels. Structurally and chemically similar PFAS compounds could potentially interact with the same PPARs, disrupting their regulatory behavior and suggesting a possible mechanism for these substances to affect diabetes risk.

Experimental studies with cell cultures suggest that exposure to the high levels of PFAS found in some humans may interfere with PPAR function, leading to increased production of fat cells, changes to fat and sugar metabolism, and abnormal inflammatory responses.

The sample group for the study was selected from the Study of Women's Health Across the Nation (SWAN), an ongoing multi-site, multi-ethnic, community-based prospective cohort study of midlife women to characterize the menopausal transition and its association with subsequent health endpoints. A total of 3302 premenopausal participants aged 42-52 years who met the selection criteria for SWAN were recruited at seven locations in the U.S. during 1996-1997, and given a baseline clinical examination which was repeated annually.

The SWAN-Multi-Pollutant Study (SWAN-MPS) was initiated in 2016 to evaluate the roles of environmental pollutants in chronic diseases during and after the menopausal transition. It analyzed the stored blood and urine samples from 1400 of the study participants, which had been collected by SWAN from the third follow-up (1999-2000) onwards. These were tested for the presence of environmental chemicals including seven PFAS.

After excluding women who had diabetes at SWAN-MPS baseline, as well as participants for whom insufficient data was available, the authors were left with a final sample of 1237 women with a median age of 49.4 years who had been monitored from 1999-2000 through to 2017. During the 17,005 person-years of follow-up there were 102 cases of incident diabetes: a rate of 6 cases per 1000 person-years. Compared to participants who remained free of the disease, those who developed diabetes were more likely to be black, from Southeast Michigan (a more socioeconomically disadvantaged area), less educated, less physically active, have a larger energy intake and higher BMI at baseline.

The authors observed that: "Higher serum concentrations of certain PFAS were associated with higher risk of incident diabetes in midlife women." They also note: "The joint effects of PFAS mixtures were greater than those for individual PFAS, suggesting a potential additive or synergistic effect of multiple PFAS on diabetes risk".

Serum concentrations of PFAS were categorized into high/middle/low exposure groups (tertiles), and a hazard ratio (HR) for incident diabetes was calculated by comparing the incidence rate in the 'high' or 'middle' tertiles to that in the lowest tertile (reference group). The team found that combined exposure to the seven different PFAS had a stronger association with diabetes risk than was seen with individual compounds. Women in the 'high' tertile for all seven were 2.62 times more likely to develop diabetes than those in the 'low' category, while increased risk associated with each individual PFAS ranged from 36% to 85%, suggesting a potential additive or synergistic effect of multiple PFAS on diabetes risk.

The strength of the association between combined exposure and incident diabetes rates also suggests that PFAS may have substantial clinical impacts on diabetes risk. The authors point out the 2.62 times increased risk was roughly equivalent to the magnitude of having overweight or obesity (BMI between 25 kg/m2 and 30 kg/m2) compared with having normal weight [(BMI less than 25 kg/m2 (HR 2.89)], and even greater than that for current smokers vs never smokers (HR 2.30) observed in their study population. They say: "Given the widespread exposure to PFAS in the general population, the expected benefit of reducing exposure to these ubiquitous chemicals might be considerable."

This prospective cohort study supports the hypothesis that exposure to PFAS, individually and as mixtures, may increase the risk of incident diabetes in midlife women. Although the effect sizes in men and other populations not included in their study are unknown, if these results are also applicable to men as well as to individuals of all ages and ethnicities regardless of location, then approximately 370,000 cases (around 25%) out of the 1.5 million Americans newly diagnosed with diabetes each year could be attributable to PFAS exposure. These findings suggest that PFAS may be an important risk factor for diabetes and have a substantial public health impact.

The authors conclude: "Reduced exposure to these 'forever and everywhere chemicals' even before entering midlife may be a key preventative approach to lowering the risk of diabetes. Policy changes around drinking water and consumer products could prevent population-wide exposure." They advise that regulations which focus on a few specific compounds may be ineffective and persistent PFAS may need to be regulated as a 'class'. Finally, they note that clinicians need to be aware of PFAS as unrecognized risk factors for diabetes and to be prepared to counsel patients about sources of exposure and potential health effects.

Explore further Study on PFAs and fatty liver disease: Women more affected than men

More information: Sung Kyun Park et al, Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances and incident diabetes in midlife women: the Study of Women's Health Across the Nation (SWAN), Diabetologia (2022). Journal information: Diabetologia Sung Kyun Park et al, Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances and incident diabetes in midlife women: the Study of Women's Health Across the Nation (SWAN),(2022). DOI: 10.1007/s00125-022-05695-5
Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

In the fall of 2020, before vaccines were readily available, the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA) surveyed nearly 24,000 middle-aged and older adults to test their willingness to get vaccinated. The new study from McGill and McMaster and Universities, published recently in the American Journal of Epidemiology, provides insight into the factors that may lead to vaccine hesitancy among older adults, who are known to be at increased risk of severe symptoms from COVID-19.

Only a small percentage of people are hard to convince

The researchers found that roughly 84% of adults surveyed over age 50 were very or somewhat likely to get a COVID-19 vaccine, approximately 10% were uncertain, and only 6% per cent were very or somewhat unlikely to receive the vaccine.

The results of the survey are similar to current vaccination uptake rates in Canada, suggesting that both those who were uncertain and those who were very or somewhat likely to get vaccinated when surveyed, actually got vaccinated once they became eligible. Those who expressed uncertainty about it, did not.

"Even before COVID-19 vaccines became available in Canada, most older adults were willing to get vaccinated and they followed through once they could," said Nicole Basta, the lead author on the study and an associate professor in the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics at McGill University. "Our study suggests that little headway has been made in convincing the small percentage of people who were initially unwilling to get vaccinated to actually get vaccinated in the year since vaccines became available."

Safety concerns common among vaccine hesitant

The researchers determined that those who were unwilling to receive the vaccine were more likely to be younger (between 50 to 64 years old), female, have lower education and income, be non-white and live in a rural area. Concerns about safety and vaccine effectiveness were the most common reasons motivating those unlikely to receive the vaccine.

Previous vaccine history was another important factor associated with COVID-19 vaccine willingness. Individuals who had previously received a flu shot or had plans to receive a flu shot were also more willing to be vaccinated against COVID-19. In addition, willingness was also associated with believing one had never been infected with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, as was experiencing negative pandemic consequences.

Targeted outreach to improve vaccination rates

"Ensuring high COVID-19 vaccination ratesespecially among older adults who are at increased risk for severe symptomsis critical," said Raina, a professor in the Department of Health Research Methodology, Evidence, and Impact at McMaster and the scientific director of the McMaster Institute for Research on Aging. "Our primary goal was to identify those who would benefit most from targeted outreach to improve COVID-19 vaccine uptake and provide much-needed evidence to inform vaccination programs."

Explore further Vaccine hesitant in the US unlikely to change their minds: study

More information: Nicole E Basta et al, Factors Associated with Willingness to Receive a COVID-19 Vaccine among 23,819 Adults Aged 50 years and Older: An Analysis of the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging, American Journal of Epidemiology (2022). Journal information: American Journal of Epidemiology Nicole E Basta et al, Factors Associated with Willingness to Receive a COVID-19 Vaccine among 23,819 Adults Aged 50 years and Older: An Analysis of the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging,(2022). DOI: 10.1093/aje/kwac029
Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

Pregnancy complications can recur, and interconception preventive care may help reduce some pregnancy complications. Preventive visits after an index pregnancy were associated with reduced hypertension in the subsequent pregnancy, according to a study published in the Journal of Women's Health.

Pregnancy complications such as gestational diabetes, pregnancy-induced hypertension, and prematurity may recur across pregnancies and are increasingly recognized as risk factors for long-term cardiovascular disease in women. The goal of the study by Emily Gregory, MD, from the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, and co-authors, was to assess whether preventive care during the year following a birth was associated with a reduction in complication recurrence among a population of Medicaid patients.

Nearly half of the women included in the study experienced a complication in their subsequent pregnancy. Women with diabetes had the highest rate of recurrence (48.3%), followed by hypertension (38.0%) and preterm birth (28.1%). There was a decreased odds of any pregnancy complication in the subsequent birth for women who had preventive visits. This was driven by a decrease in odds of hypertension recurrence. There was no association between preventive care and the outcomes of diabetes or preterm birth.

"Women who experience pregnancy complications should have access to high-quality interconception health care, but may also require additional support to ensure optimal health in subsequent pregnancies and throughout the life course," conclude the investigators.

"These authors found that 47.7% of Medicaid-insured women who experienced prematurity, hypertension, or diabetes during an index pregnancy experienced one of these complications during their subsequent pregnancy. Interconception preventive care is a helpful strategy in reducing the risk of recurrence of hypertension as a complication of the subsequent pregnancy," says Journal of Women's Health Editor-in-Chief Susan G. Kornstein, MD, Executive Director of the Virginia Commonwealth University Institute for Women's Health, Richmond, VA.

Explore further Study shows preterm birth risk most strongly linked to pre-eclampsia

More information: Emily F. Gregory et al, Interconception Preventive Care and Recurrence of Pregnancy Complications for Medicaid-Insured Women, Journal of Women's Health (2022). Journal information: Journal of Women's Health Emily F. Gregory et al, Interconception Preventive Care and Recurrence of Pregnancy Complications for Medicaid-Insured Women,(2022). DOI: 10.1089/jwh.2021.0355
Kathleen Martin, Ph.D. Credit: Yale University

A renewed interest in intravenous ascorbic acid, also known as vitamin C, could improve long-term success outcomes for patients undergoing solid-organ transplant.

Published June 11 in the journal Circulation, the study explores a mechanism for enhancing TET2 (TET methylcytosine dioxygenase 2) enzymatic activity with high dose injections of ascorbic acid.

Allograft vasculopathy is a devastating complication that occurs when the immune system recognizes the blood vessels of a transplanted organ as foreign. Ascorbic acid may reduce complications that can occur after a heart transplant by increasing TET2 activity. "Our new work shows that TET2 is depleted during this immune response, leading to transplant vasculopathy," said Kathleen Martin, Ph.D., the study's senior author. "We speculated that enhancing TET2 expression and activity with vitamin C might slow the disease."

Martin, a professor of medicine and pharmacology and co-director of the Yale Cardiovascular Research Center (YCVRC), co-authored the study with Allison Ostriker, Ph.D., now a scientist at Dicerna Pharmaceuticals.

The research team discovered that injecting ascorbic acid in mouse models could prevent allograft vasculopathy, a condition that limits the long-term success of heart transplantation. This vasculopathy affects almost half of transplanted hearts recipients 10 years after surgery and contributes to 30 percent of patient deaths post-transplant.

The Martin lab aims to understand the unique plasticity of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) that contributes to cardiovascular disease. This study expands the potential role of the TET2 enzyme in vascular abnormalities. Martin previously identified TET2 as a master regulator of gene expression in vascular smooth muscle cells that helps maintain a healthy blood vessel wall. In a 2017 paper in Science with researchers at Boston University School of Medicine, the lab helped demonstrate a protective role for the epigenetic modifier enzyme TET2 in atherosclerotic plaque development.

Previous clinical trials of oral ascorbic acid post-transplant have had mixed results. Martin and Ostriker theorize that high-dose ascorbic acid treatment could offer a safe and cost-effective potential therapy to prevent vascular injury due to transplant failure.

Lavanya Bellumkonda, MD, an associate professor who specializes in heart transplantation, adds that standard post-transplant protocols differ across institutions. "In general, transplant patients who are considering routine vitamin supplementation should speak to their transplant team first. This study supports the need for further investigation of how these enzymes may prevent vascular injury and coronary allograft vasculopathy in transplant recipients," said Bellumkonda.

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More information: Allison C. Ostriker et al, TET2 Protects Against Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell Apoptosis and Intimal Thickening in Transplant Vasculopathy, Circulation (2021). Journal information: Circulation , Science Allison C. Ostriker et al, TET2 Protects Against Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell Apoptosis and Intimal Thickening in Transplant Vasculopathy,(2021). DOI: 10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.120.050553
Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

Some Latino children diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) were more likely to experience relapse than non-Hispanic white children, according to data presented at the AACR Annual Meeting 2022, held April 8-13. The study found that among patients without minimal residual disease (MRD), often considered a strong predictor of cure, relapse was more frequent in the Latino population.

ALL is the most common type of cancer diagnosed in children. Thanks to advances in treatment, the five-year survival rate for children diagnosed with ALL is approximately 90 percent.

Nevertheless, approximately 15 percent of children with ALL will experience a relapse, explained the study's lead author, Philip Lupo, Ph.D., professor of pediatrics at Baylor College of Medicine, director of the Epidemiology and Population Sciences Program at Texas Children's Cancer and Hematology Center, and member of the Dan L Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center at Baylor.

"Outcomes after relapse are much worse, with only 35 percent of children surviving after disease recurrence," Lupo said. "Additionally, poor outcomes are more common among Latinos, who are also more likely to develop ALL compared to non-Latino whites."

Detection of MRD in the bone marrow after the first month of treatment is the strongest prognostic factor for ALL relapse. However, about half of all relapses occur in children who are MRD-negative. In this study, Lupo and colleagues sought to examine associations between MRD status and Latino ethnicity, and to characterize other factors associated with relapse.

The researchers examined data from the Reducing Ethnic Disparities in Acute Leukemia (REDIAL) Consortium, which includes patients diagnosed with ALL at six major pediatric cancer centers in the southwestern United States. The study included 1,620 children diagnosed with ALL between 2004 and 2018 with a median age at diagnosis of 5 years. The majority were Latino (60.1 percent) and male (56.9 percent).

In all, 382 (23.5 percent) of the subjects were MRD-positive. Of these, 73 (19.1 percent) experienced a relapse, compared to 136 of 1,238 (11.0 percent) MRD-negative patients. Among the MRD-positive patients, Latinos were less likely to have a relapse compared to non-Latino whites. However, Latinos who were MRD-negative were about 65 percent more likely to have a relapse than non-Latino whites. This finding suggests that MRD status may not be as strong a prognostic factor in predicting the risk of relapse in Latino children with ALL compared to non-Latino whites, according to Lupo.

Among other factors identified in the study, patients who had been diagnosed with ALL after 15 years of age were nearly twice as likely to relapse as those between ages 1 and 5 years. Patients enrolled in a therapeutic clinical trial for ALL were less likely to have a relapse.

Lupo said the study highlights the importance of examining the roots of cancer health disparities.

"We were surprised that Latinos who were MRD-negative were more likely to experience ALL relapse compared to non-Latino whites," he said. "This highlights the need to identify factors that contribute to relapse among Latinos so that we can achieve better outcomes for children of all racial and ethnic backgrounds."

Lupo said that while MRD should still be considered as an important prognostic factor in ALL, this study indicates that it may not have the same prognostic implication across all populations.

The REDIAL Consortium is also continuing to research other ethnic disparities in ALL and acute myeloid leukemia. They are investigating why Latinos are more likely to develop leukemia and are also examining the frequency and risk factors that may increase the development of treatment-related toxicities.

Lupo noted that one limitation of the study is that the researchers did not have complete information about all factors that could have influenced relapse risk. He added that future research will incorporate other important factors into predictive models of ALL outcomes, including biological features inherent to the leukemia, inherited genetic factors, and social determinants of health.
The DREAM Laboratory constructed and tested 12 different face masks using a thermal manikin. Credit: Farzan Gholamreza

Wearing a face mask, when combined with other protective measures, has been shown to help slow the spread of the virus that causes COVID-19.

But there remain many misconceptions about the relationship between a mask's level of protection and its comfortnamely that more protective models such as N95 respirators are less comfortable to wear.

Kevin Golovin, an assistant professor of mechanical and industrial engineering in the University of Toronto's Faculty of Applied Science & Engineeringalong with his Durable Repellent Engineered Advanced Material (DREAM) Laboratory research teamrecently completed a comfort assessment of face masks to determine the relationship, if any, between mask comfort and protection.

While the group found that all masks cause a degree of discomfort for the user, there was no evidence to suggest more protective masks were more uncomfortableand that the most important factors in selecting a comfortable face mask include size and fit.

Writer Lynsey Mellon spoke with Golovin about the findings, which were recently published in the open access journal PLOS ONE.

Why did the DREAM lab decide to conduct this experiment?

We know wearing a face mask helps to minimize exposure toand stop the spread ofCOVID-19. We've also learned that multi-layer masks offer the best protection. However the most common reason individuals give for not wearing a mask, or for choosing to wear a mask that offers less protection, is comfort. We wanted to validate if there was actually a correlation between face mask discomfort and the level of protection the mask offers. To do so, we collaborated with the Apparel Innovation Center in Calgary, as well as textile scientists at the University of British Columbia.

What kind of discomfort do people experience when wearing a mask?

Most of the discomfort people experience when wearing a face mask is thermophysiological, meaning the mask interferes with our body's ability to regulate its temperature through heat transfer. The hot air we exhale increases the temperature and moisture levels in the areas covered by the mask. This can lead to the wearer feeling too warm, a damp feeling on the mask or the mask clinging to the skin, which some wearers may find difficult to tolerate for long stretches of time.

What type of face masks did your team investigate in this study?

We constructed 12 different layered face masks in three sizes using a variety of commercially available fabrics such as silk, polyester/cotton blends, cotton and polypropylene. We also studied the effect of N95 filters as well as antimicrobial and water repellent finishes on some of the fabrics. We wanted to systematically compare enhanced-protection masks, such as an N95, with those that offer less protection, such as a two-layer fabric mask.

How were the tests performed?

To test the various face masks that we constructed, we used a sweating thermal manikin, Newton, that was fitted with heaters, temperature sensors and sweating nozzles. The thermal manikin is modeled after the average adult male.

Each of the masks was fitted onto the manikin and then we assessed how the thermophysiological comfort levels were impacted by the mask size, fit and fabric properties.

Can you give us a summary of your findings?

Our research showed that wearing any face mask affects the body's ability to transfer heat and moisture in the areas covered by the mask, meaning all face masks are somewhat uncomfortable. However, we found that adding the additional layers of protection, such as an N95-grade filter or an anti-viral coating, had a statistically insignificant effect on heat and moisture transfer.

These results show that added layers of protection do not cause any significant decrease in thermophysiological comfortso individuals should opt for a mask that offers the highest level of protection and ensure it is the proper size and fit for their face to maximize both protection and comfort.

Contrary to popular belief, safer masks are not more uncomfortable.

Explore further Video: How to decide what mask is best for you

More information: Farzan Gholamreza et al, Enhanced protection face masks do not adversely impact thermophysiological comfort, PLOS ONE (2022). Farzan Gholamreza et al, Enhanced protection face masks do not adversely impact thermophysiological comfort,(2022). DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0265126
MRI images of a female patient's brain taken on days 2, 6 and 13 after a subarachnoid hemorrhage. The areas marked in red show the development of new ischemic strokes during the course of the first two weeks after the patient's initial hemorrhage. Imaging data were analyzed using automated image analysis. Credit: Charite | Jens Dreier

Subarachnoid hemorrhage is a type of bleeding stroke which can lead to a delayed ischemic stroke after just a few days. Researchers from ChariteUniversitatsmedizin Berlin have shown that massive electrochemical waves in the brain act as a marker announcing an impending ischemic stroke. Electrodiagnostic monitoring of these waves enables clinicians to identify the signs of an impending stroke early, particularly in comatose patients receiving intensive care following a subarachnoid hemorrhage. The researchers' findings, which have been published in Brain, could serve as the basis for the development of new treatments.

Subarachnoid hemorrhage is caused by bleeding into the space between the protective membranes surrounding the brain. This type of hemorrhagic stroke represents a neurological emergency, which is why patients with this type of stroke require immediate intensive care. When the brain's normal blood supply is disrupted due to an acute blockage rather than a brain bleed, this is called an ischemic stroke. However, an ischemic stroke can also occur as the result of a subarachnoid hemorrhage. More than half of all patients who have had a severe subarachnoid hemorrhage will develop an ischemic stroke within the first two weeks after their brain bleed.

Charite researchers have identified a biomarker which indicates that a patient is at high risk of an impending stroke post-subarachnoid hemorrhage. "It is difficult to judge when a new stroke might be developing, especially in patients who are in a coma and hence unable to tell us anything about their health status," explains first author Prof. Dr. Jens Dreier of Charite's Center for Stroke Research. He continues: "In our study, we have shown that electrodiagnostic monitoring makes this moment visible. This means that treatment can be started in time, even in comatose patients, before it is too late."

The discovery made by Prof. Dreier and his team was based on a phenomenon known as 'spreading depolarizations', massive waves of electrochemical energy release caused by the toxic by-products of blood breakdown following hemorrhagic stroke. Affected areas of the brain require large amounts of energy in order to restore normal conditions. In a healthy brain, very brief periods of depolarization (a change in the membrane potential) of nerve cells are normal and linked to blood supply: the brain can widen blood vessels as required, thereby balancing increased energy needs with an increase in blood flow. After a subarachnoid hemorrhage, however, pathologically massive and long-lasting spreading depolarizations can disrupt signaling cascades between nerve cells and blood vessels, so that the depolarization of nerve cells triggers extreme blood vessel constriction. This in turn deprives the nerve cells of energy, rendering them incapable of restoring normal electrochemical gradients. If depolarization persists for too long, these nerve cells will begin to die off.

"One scientific insight from the last few years has been crucial: namely, that the depolarization wave remains reversible up to a certain point in time," emphasizes Prof. Dreier. He adds: "This means that cells can recover fully if circulation, and consequently oxygen supply, is restored in time."

This was the starting point of the current clinical study, which was conducted across five different university hospitals. In order to take accurate measurements of spreading depolarizations, the researchers employed electrocorticography, a procedure used to measure brain activity in neurological intensive care patients. To enable these types of measurements, patients admitted with subarachnoid hemorrhage had electrodes implanted under the dura mater (the brain's tough outer membrane). The researchers also used imaging technologies such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT), analyzing approximately 1,000 brain scans from 180 patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage. The largest clinical study on spreading depolarizations to date revealed that the average patient loses 46 milliliters of brain tissue during the early phase after their brain bleed, i.e., by the time they reach hospital. The average patient then loses a further 36 milliliters of brain tissue during the first two weeks after their hemorrhage, i.e., while in intensive care.

"These 36 milliliters of brain tissue are in effect salvageable," explains Prof. Dreier. He continues: "Electrodiagnostic monitoring enables us to identify developing strokes at a stage in time when the process can still be reversed and modified. Spreading depolarizations can therefore serve as a biomarker in real time. To an extent, this replaces an exchange with the patient who is unable to express their symptoms and impairments as a result of their being unconscious. This enables us to initiate early and appropriate treatment measures in patients found to be at risk of further stroke. Similarly, it prevents additional medicine being given to individuals found not to be at risk of further stroke. Potential side effects can thus be avoided."

This approach follows the principles of precision medicine, which aims to tailor treatments to the needs of the individual patient. The researchers plan to test spreading depolarization monitoring as an early warning system for use in routine clinical practice, where they hope it will help to improve treatment options for people with stroke. Artificial intelligence-based methods are likely to play a major role in this regard. The automated analysis of electrodiagnostic data will be necessary to ensure intensive care physicians are notified in real time when an unconscious patient's brain tissue is at risk of further damage.

Explore further Researchers identify the electrophysiological sign of cerebral infarction

More information: Jens P. Dreier et al, Spreading depolarizations in ischaemia after subarachnoid haemorrhage, a diagnostic phase III study, Brain (2021). Jens P. Dreier et al, Spreading depolarizations in ischaemia after subarachnoid haemorrhage, a diagnostic phase III study,(2021). DOI: 10.1093/brain/awab457